JetBlue starts their daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Holguin's Frank Pais Airport in Cuba.

The low-cost American carrier is continuing to expand its service in Cuba, holding 42 non-stop flights every week. The airline is planning to add more in November with the launch of Havana, according to Business Wire.

"Each time we launch a new Cuba destination we expand affordable, customer-friendly air service further between the U.S. and Cuba," Robin Hayes, president and CEO of JetBlue, said. "These historic flight launches are great news for those traveling between our two countries."

Holguin is the fourth largest city in Cuba and the center of the city offers a lot of tourism attractions, like colonial buildings, plazas, and museums while the province consists of national parks, mountains, nature reserves, beaches and scenic cays.

JetBlue is aiming to increase their commercial Caribbean flights as the airline cemented a successful service for the last five years, gaining strong associations with the Cuban authorities.

JetBlue will also provide service between Havana's Jose Marti International Airport and New York's JFK Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood in the latter part of November. This will increase the flights of the airline between various US cities and Cuba.

JetBlue offers cheap fares between Holguin and Fort Lauderdale with a starting one-way price of $54. It also includes the Cuban-government required health insurance that is a must for all travelers having a trip to Cuba. JetBlue also makes it easier for travelers to acquire and fill up affidavit stating the reasons for the trip.

"We commend the work of both U.S. and Cuban officials for making today possible. We also commend the Cuban Ministry of Transportation, IACC, and the Holguin Airport for entrusting us to operate this route and look forward to our long-term partnership as we continue to grow our presence in Cuba," Hayes stated.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Google's personalized travel planner, Google Trips, helps prospective travelers effectively plan vacations and voyages on a mobile phone. The app, released on Monday, integrates your personal preferences, crowd-sourced reviews, and Google's map technology. Here's how you can use it on your iOS or Android mobile to get the best vacation you could have imagined.

In a report by The Verge, Google Trips is a breakthrough in travel planning applications around the world. The app is a quick and easy way of organizing everything from plane tickets to travel itinerary. The app rivals several paid subscription apps in terms of service and functionality.

The first thing you need to know about the Google Trips app is that it heavily relies on a Gmail account, so you'll have to create one if you don't have one already. The app is programmed to save your preferences and mark suggestions based on the information it gathers from your inbox.

The application features an easy-to-use destination search. All you have to do is mark your intended travel destinations, your travel dates, and the app will automatically create an itinerary specifically designed to suit your preferences. These trips are changeable, so users are free to add or remove activities as you see fit.

With more than 200 major cities marked and prepared to offer complete guides, the app is capable of making suggestions for accommodation reservations, important landmarks, transportation, activities, and culinary experiences. However, as stated by the New York Times, the app may not be adequately equipped for smaller destinations.

The Google Trips app provides useful information via a "Need to Know" feature. This feature provides information regarding ideal traffic routes, currency conversion, and local emergency contact numbers. This feature may also be used to find information regarding flights, hotel, restaurant, and rental car reservations you have made.

In addition to the ready-made itineraries, the app features a "Things to Do" list which creates unique itineraries depending on trip destinations and trip duration. This feature expands when connected to the internet, adjusting itineraries to accommodate operation hours and local weather reports.

The application is available for free via the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. It is worth noting that the app may be taken offline, however, some features may require internet connection and GPS location for full functionality.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
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Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday informed Lok Sabha that the government had instituted an inquiry into the accident of Patna Express near Kanpur on Sunday by Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).

Informing this, the minister in a statement said the inquiry would find out the correct cause of the accident. There shall be separate comprehensive investigation aided by latest technical and forensic analysis by an appropriate agency to look into all possible angles. Strictest possible action would be taken against the guilty, he added.

The minister said that as per available information, till now 133 passengers had lost their lives, 58 passengers sustained grievous injuries and 122 others suffered minor injuries in the accident.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Immediate efforts were made to provide relief and rescue. Local ambulances were rushed to the site and the injured passengers shifted to nearby hospitals. Railway medical vans from Kanpur and Jhansi were moved to the accident site. General Manager and Chief Safety Officer, North Central Railway, rushed to the site immediately to supervise the relief and restoration works, the Minister informed the House just before Question Hour was taken up amid noisy scenes. The agitated opposition members were in the well protesting against the governments decision to demonetise high-value currency notes.

The Minister through his statement also informed the House that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and Army battalions were rushed to the site for rescue and relief operations.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, Member Rolling Stock and Member Engineering also rushed to the site. I, along with Chairman Railway Board, visited the site of the accident and met the injured passengers admitted to the hospital, the Minister said.

Giving details of the relief to the affected passengers, Prabhu said, On humanitarian grounds, an enhanced ex gratia amount of Rs 3.5 lakh each to the next to the kin of the deceased, Rs 50,000 to the grievously injured and Rs 25,000 to those who suffered injuries are being paid.

He said the Prime Minister had also announced additional ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured passengers.
Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 21

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has given five seats to the Lok Insaf Party of the Bains brothers as a result of the tie-up between the two parties.

This was announced at a press conference here on Monday. Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains and AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Gurpreet Ghuggi were present at the conference.

Talking about the alliance, Simarjit said he had respect for former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, with whom they had floated the forum, Awaaz-e-Punjab.

Talking about the two main parties in the state, Simarjit said the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal were two sides of the same coin, and people had hope only from the AAP.

Talking about the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal issue, Sanjay Singh said the AAP was with Punjab on this and believed that Punjab had no extra water to give others.

Simarjit said that even after the AAP, which had its government in Delhi, they were of the view that Punjab should recover cost of sharing waters with Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

The five seats and candidates

The five Assembly seats where AAP has entered into an alliance with Bains brothers party are: Ludhianas Atam Nagar represented by Simarjeet Singh Bains, Ludhiana (South) represented by Balwinder Singh Bains, Ludhiana (Central) where they are likely to field Gurpreet Singh Khurana, a councillor of the party, and Ludhiana (North) where Randhir Singh Sibia, a councillor will be fielded.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Simarjeet Bains who contested as an Independent got a large number of votes from the abovesaid Assembly segments.
To thousands of Gelugpas and Dorje Shugden practitioners all over the world, the name Dagom Rinpoche is a very familiar one. When the ban on Dorje Shugden was first enforced decades ago, His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche was one of the first lamas who openly defied the Tibetan leadership. Whilst others were pressured into giving up their practice, Dagom Rinpoche refused to do so and insisted on continuing.

For his devotion to his gurus and commitment to his practice, Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche paid a very heavy price in the monastic community. The previous 12th Dagom Rinpoche was a scholar, writer, prolific teacher, yogi and a great tantric master who taught tirelessly and had thousands of students. After the Dorje Shugden ban, most of his monastery (Drepung Gomang Monastery) turned against him. The students he had so compassionately taught began to throw rocks at his house in Drepung. As a result of the harassment and violence, he moved to Nepal where he established a large Ladrang. It was in this Ladrang that my students and I had the merits to have audience with Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche one final time before he entered parinirvana in 2007.

A very gentle, kind teacher, the 12th Dagom Rinpoche is one of the teachers I miss very much. It was amazing that the Tibetan leadership used to target him and try to silence him because he was so gentle, so kind and very learned. I am so glad His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche is back and will be powerful again in Tibet. No one can stop him in Tibet.

Amidst immense pomp and ceremony, thousands of Tibetans watched as the young reincarnation (tulku) of His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche was enthroned as the 13th Dagom Rinpoche. According to the locals, there were at least 20,000 people in attendance. In this life, he has the name Lobsang Khyenrab Tenpai Wangchuk and was born in Lhorong County six years ago. I heard rumours that they had identified him some time ago but his identity was kept secret until earlier this year, for security reasons because he is a prominent Dorje Shugden lama.

I am so happy that the incarnation of one of my holy teachers has returned in perfect form, and has been recognised and enthroned as per tradition. Enjoy the pictures and videos of this enthronement ceremony, which was very well-attended by the sangha, various dignitaries and the locals. In the videos, you can see the Tibetans from far away offering khatas by throwing them in his direction, as a sign of respect. The attendance of the enthronement is a very good sign and auspicious omen for things to come. Not only for the lamas taking rebirth inside Tibet and having the ability to spread the lineage freely, but I really rejoice to see Tibetans still have so much faith in their lamas.

And please read below about the great works of Dagom Rinpoches previous incarnation, from whom I had the great honour to receive teachings from. It will help you to understand the calibre of this lama and the merits we needed for him to return to us. The fact he came back perfectly and easily is a sign that his students samaya with him is clean. And not only does Kyabje Dagom Rinpoches return show proof of reincarnation, but it is also evident that relying on Dorje Shugden has no negative impact on our rebirth. Contrary to claims by the Tibetan leadership, those who rely on Dorje Shugden as a Dharma protector do not take rebirth in the three lower realms.

I offer my prayers for this incarnations long life and successful studies. May the attainments of his previous lives manifest swiftly in this incarnation, and his works fruition quickly. I am really so happy to see all of this.

Tsem Rinpoche

The Enthronement of His Eminence the 13th Dagom Rinpoche

Born in 2010 in Lhorong County (Chamdo), His Eminence the 13th Dagom Rinpoche Lobsang Khyenrab Tenpai Wangchuk () was recognised by Zonglo Chocktrul Rinpoche Jampa Khedrup (), the second highest lama of Jampa Ling Monastery in Chamdo.

In front of approximately 20,000 faithful practitioners and devotees, the young incarnation was enthroned on November 21, 2016. The enthronement ceremony took place in Lhorong County, Chamdo at Shodo Monastery (). This is the mother monastery of the previous Dagom Rinpoche; in other words, it is the monastery that the Dagom Rinpoche lineage of incarnations belongs to.

After his enthronement, the six-year-old incarnation will be educated in Jampa Ling Monastery. Also located in Chamdo, the monastery is home to over 1,300 monks. Below are some images and a video from the grand enthronement ceremony of His Eminence the 13th Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche in Chamdo, Tibet.



Or view the video on the server at:

https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DagomRinpoche.mp4

The road to the monastery was lined with sangha and lay people hoping to catch a glimpse of His Eminence the 13th Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche

The young incarnation next to Chamdo Jampa Ling Monasterys Zonglo Chocktrul Rinpoche Jampa Khedrup

Zonglo Chocktrul Rinpoche Jampa Khedrup

Many people can see that in South India, the number of monks in the monasteries are starting to dwindle. The Chinese leadership are actively allowing Tibetan monks and lay people to return to Tibet where living conditions are better, and the monastic communities and institutions receive the funding and support they need. The Chinese authorities are even allowing gatherings and events of such scale and magnitude to be held, as long as the proper permits are applied for and all procedures are possible.

Hence the trend now is to return to Tibet as more monks wish to return to Tibet, seeing the conditions are better. Thus, as the monasteries in India shrink, the monasteries in Tibet continue to grow and swell in numbers as hundreds of monks return to China. In these pictures, we can see that it is just like the Tibet of old where people come out in droves to welcome His Eminence the 13th Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche. Tens of thousands witness his enthronement, just like in the olden days.

His Eminence the 12th Dagom Rinpoche

The 12th Dagom Rinpoche

The previous 12th Dagom Rinpoche was born in 1953 in Shota Lhosum, Tibet. When he was just six years old, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche recognised him as the 12th Dagom Rinpoche and the reincarnation of Ra Lotsawa, the enlightened sorcerer who battled 13 lamas to defend his teacher who gave him the practice of Vajrabhairava Yamantaka and Krishna Yamari. Dagom Rinpoche himself was known to have become one with Yamantaka, having accomplished the practice.

In 1959, the year he was recognised, Dagom Rinpoche left Tibet. He joined Drepung Gomang Monastery in Mundgod, India and for 16 years, he studied the major and minor Buddhist sciences. It was at Drepung Gomang Monastery that Dagom Rinpoche received his novice ordination in 1968. He was just nine years old. Then in 1974, when he was 21, he also received his Bhikshu vows (full monastic ordination) here.

Amongst Dagom Rinpoches illustrious teachers were Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche and Yongzin Kunchok Gyatso. Under the tutelage of these great masters, Dagom Rinpoche completed all of his studies and in 1983, he was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree. It is the highest degree available within the Tibetan monastic system and the equivalent of a PhD in Buddhist studies.

Four years later, in 1987, Dagom Rinpoche passed his tantric examinations. He then served as the proctor of the Gyume Tantric College in Hunsur, India for one year. From there he went on to teach various high lamas, sangha as well as laity at various venues. You can read about the prolific works that Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche engaged in here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/lamas/dagom-rinpoche

Addendum  His Eminence the 13th Dagom Rinpoche Offers Gold to Dorje Shugden

His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoches incarnation is in Lhasa visiting. He is visiting the 350-year-old Trode Khangsar chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. He is paying homage to the powerful statue of Dorje Shugden housed in this sacred chapel. Both the chapel and statue of Dorje Shugden were commissioned by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. The Great 5th Dalai Lama also composed a prayer to be recited daily to Dorje Shugden.

Dagom Rinpoches previous lives were great masters, scholars and practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Now this new incarnation of Dagom Rinpoche is offering gold on the face of Dorje Shugden in homage and worship to this very sacred statue of Dorje Shugden housed in Lhasa for the last 350 years. This is a very traditional Tibetan method of paying homage to holy images, which is by offering gold with prayers.

The Tibetan leadership wrongly says if you practise Dorje Shugden you will take rebirth into the three lower realms. Hundreds of lamas from the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa schools of Buddhism have practised Dorje Shugden and their incarnations returned. Many of the incarnations are recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. So this shows if you practise Dorje Shugden, only benefits come and no harm will come. The very fact Dagom Rinpoches incarnation is back, is clear evidence that Dorje Shugdens practice is beneficial.

May Dagom Rinpoches current incarnation live a very long life.

Tsem Rinpoche

To read more about Trode Khangsar  A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa

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Or view the video on the server at:

https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DagomRinpocheOfferingGoldonDorjeShugden.mp4

For more interesting information:



Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 13 of the Malaysian Copyright Act 1987, allowance is made for fair dealing for purposes such as non-profit research, private study, criticism, review or the reporting of current events. The Operator and author(s) of TsemRinpoche.com, a not-for-profit blog, do not claim ownership on the intellectual property rights of the contents, images and/or videos reproduced in this article. Any subsisting intellectual property rights shall belong to the legal owner of the contents, images and/or videos.
Speaking in Greece on his valedictory trip to Europe as president, Barack Obama struck a familiar theme: (We) are going to have to guard against a rise in a crude form of nationalism, or ethnic identity, or tribalism that is built around an us and a them 

The future of humanity and the future of the world is going to be defined by what we have in common, as opposed to those things that separate us and ultimately lead us into conflict.

That the worlds great celebrant of diversity envisions an even more multicultural, multiethnic, multiracial America and Europe is not news. This dream has animated his presidency.

But in this day of Brexit and president-elect Donald Trump new questions arise. Is Obamas vision a utopian myth? Have leaders like him and Angela Merkel lost touch with reality? Are not they the ones who belong to yesterday, not tomorrow?

Crude nationalism, as Obama said, did mark that bloodiest of centuries, the 20th. But nationalism has also proven to be among mankinds most powerful, beneficial and enduring forces.

You cannot wish it away. To do that is to deny history, human nature and the transparent evidence of ones own eyes.

A sense of nationhood  I am not a Virginian, but an American, said Patrick Henry  ignited our revolution.

Nationalism tore apart the evil empire of Ronald Reagans depiction, liberating Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, Romanians and Bulgarians, and breaking apart the Soviet Union into 15 nations.

Was that so terrible for mankind?

Nationalism brought down the Berlin Wall and led to reunification of the German people after 45 years of separation and Cold War.

President George H.W. Bush may have railed against suicidal nationalism in Kiev in 1991. But Ukrainians ignored him and voted to secede. Now the Russified minorities of the southeast and the Crimea wish to secede from Ukraine and rejoin the Mother Country.

This is the way of the world.

Out of the carcass of Yugoslavia came Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo. As nationalism called into existence Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, it impelled South Ossetians and Abkhazians to secede from Georgia.

Was it not a sense of peoplehood, of nationhood, that drove the Jews to create Israel in 1948, which today insists that it be recognized as a Jewish State?

All over the world, regimes are marshaling the mighty force of ethnonationalism to strengthen and sustain themselves.

With economic troubles looming, Xi Jinping is stirring up Chinese nationalism by territorial disputes with neighbors  to hold together a people who have ceased to believe in the secularist faith of Marxism-Leninism.

With Communism dead, Vladimir Putin invokes the greatness and glory of the Russian past and seeks to revive the Orthodox faith.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invokes nationalism, Attaturk, the Ottoman Empire, and the Islamic faith of his people, against the Kurds, who dream of a new nation carved out of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

So my vision ... may not always win the day in the short run, Obama said in Greece, but I am confident it will win the day in the long run. Because societies which are able to unify ourselves around values and ideals and character and how we treat each other, and cooperation and innovation, ultimately are going to be more successful than societies that dont.

What is wrong with this statement?

It is a utilitarian argument that does not touch the heart. It sounds like a commune, a cooperative, a corporation, as much as it does a country. Moreover, not only most of the world, but even the American people seem to be moving the other way.

Indeed, what values and ideals do we Americans hold in common when Obama spoke in Germany of darker forces opposing his trade policies, and Hillary Clinton calls Trump supporters racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic ... bigots.

Did not the Democrats just run an us and a them campaign?

Less and less do we Americans seem to be one country and one people. More and more do we seem to be separating along religious, racial, cultural, political, ideological, social and economic lines.

If a more multicultural, multiethnic America produces greater unity and comity, why have American politics become so poisonous?

Trumps victory is due in part to his stand for securing the U.S. border against foreigners walking in. Merkel is in trouble in Germany because she brought in almost a million Muslim refugees from Syria.

The nationalist parties that have arisen across Europe are propelled by hostility to more immigration from the Third World.

Outside the cosmopolitan elites of Europe and North America, where in the West is the enthusiasm Obama detects for a greater diversity of races, tribes, religions, cultures and beliefs?

Who owns the future? is ever the question.

In 2008, Obama talked of Middle Pennsylvanians as poor losers clinging to their bibles, bigotries and guns as they passed from the scene.

Yet, now, its looking like it may be Obamas world headed for the proverbial ash heap of history.
Nellie Kelly got personally involved when the story of a childs death appeared in the Tulsa World 16 years ago.

A reporter with the newspaper at that time, Kelly stepped forward to volunteer as a foster parent. Since then she has provided foster care for 15 children and adopted four.

I stopped being a foster parent because with four children, I felt my plate was full, she said. I didnt take all the foster children at once  just one or two at a time. They either returned to their natural home, were placed with relatives or adopted.

Stepping out of the foster care role has provided Kelly with a new challenge. Now she is the Tulsa County Child Protection Coalition executive director and is helping 26 member agencies that often helped her.

Kelly took over the agencys leadership in October and is building on her 14 years of service in the nonprofit world.

I appreciate the fact that so many agencies in Tulsa are working to help our most vulnerable citizens, especially abused children, she said.

Coalition members work together to provide a variety of services, including legal protection, counseling and medical cases. Kelly said it is an honor to lead the coalition because she now can reciprocate for services she received.

Foster parents are badly needed in Tulsa and statewide, she said. In Tulsa County, there are an estimated 1,400 children in foster care with 759 foster homes available, and agencies need 78 beds for children in care.

That would help children who live in Tulsa County to stay there, she said, and not be placed in other counties. Kelly noted some are placed in homes as far away as Lawton.

It would be doable if families would think about becoming a foster parent, especially sibling groups, she said. One of the most heartbreaking things is to have three siblings with one placed in Tulsa, one in Broken Arrow and one in Muskogee. That is a scenario that absolutely happens every day.

Being a foster parent can be rewarding, Kelly noted. She hears from some foster children she helped over the years, and her oldest, an adopted son, 20, is a college student.

She is in close contact with grandparents who adopted a granddaughter. Kelly feels good knowing that children received permanency either by going home or being adopted.

Every child deserves love, safety and permanency, she said, and those children coming from abusive situations are no different.

That is where the coalition steps in.

Each of the 26 agencies has a variety of responsibilities, and caring for abused children is just one part of their work. The coalition keeps agencies working together on specific issues.

The needs of the children are at the forefront of the meetings. They are acting together and not working on their own piece of the puzzle.

Kelly is quick to credit her 14 years of work in the nonprofit world as a training ground for her current position. She worked for the Red Cross and dealt with a variety of disasters involving the Tulsa chapter.

That included Hurricane Katrina, two Tulsa ice storms, the flood in Miami when the Neosho River flooded and the wildfire in Muskogee County. She also worked for Lindsey House, a home for homeless women and children; the American Heart Association and Dillon International.

It was at Dillon International that she came closest to working with needy and homeless children.

I feel like being in those places prepared me to lead the Child Protection Coalition, she said. I have seen how nonprofit organizations work together when services are coordinated. My work as a feature writer at the Tulsa World encouraged my curiosity about nonprofit work because it exposed me to so many issues in the community. It was an opportunity to work with people in all walks of life.

Coalition members meet monthly and discussions can be heated, she said. One of the its biggest concerns is the closing of the Laura Dester Center. Legislative issues that impact members are reviewed and discussed. The goal is to get topics on the table before there is a misunderstanding.

With 2016 winding down, plans are being made for the coalitions council meeting in January. While the council will set the agenda, Kelly feels that education of elected officials and the community would be part of the work next year.

Our goal is to provide a positive role in protecting children, she said. If people are worried about a child, they need to report the suspected problem to authorities.

The Journey to Safety tour will continue. This provides people an opportunity to see how professionals in the county are working together to end child abuse and neglect, which occurs at every socio-economic level.

Our job is to protect those children who are too young to vote or to call their legislator even though their parents may not be involved, she said.

Coalition meetings are held six times a year and are open to the public. The December meeting is set at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Indian Health Care Resource Center, 550 S. Peoria Ave.

Members include Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare, Child Abuse Network, Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa, Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma, CREOKS Behavioral Health Services, Preferred Family Health doing business as Dayspring Community Services and Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Others include DVIS, Emergency Infant Services, Family & Childrens Services, Indian Health Care Resource Center, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children & Family Services, National Resource Center for Youth Services, The Parent Child Center of Tulsa, Sand Springs Childrens Home, Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children, Tulsa CASA, Tulsa County District Attorney and Tulsa County Juvenile Court, Tulsa County Sheriffs Office, Tulsa Indigent Parents Attorneys, Tulsa Lawyers for Children, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Public Schools and Youth Services of Tulsa.

Collaborative partners include Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association and Tulsa Childrens Consortium.

918-581-8480
A Tulsa paralegal was one of four pro bono Legal Aid volunteers honored during the Oklahoma Bar Association annual meeting.

Roni Lee Clark, a Hall Estill paralegal, was praised for her efforts to assist others by Dwight L. Smith, Legal Services Oklahoma board president.

Others honored were McAlester attorney Pay Layden, David Miley with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and retired Judge Duane Woodliff of Okmulgee County.

Clarks volunteer work started in 2007, Smith said. Since that time she assisted dozens of Legal Aid clients in preparing estate planning documents and deeds.

She also served as a Guardian Ad Litem appointed by the Tulsa County guardianship judge under a special Legal Aid partnership with the court to assist guardians in filing their annual reports. She handled three times as many cases as any other volunteer in that special program.

Karen Langdon, Tulsas Pro Bono coordinator, said Clark went to retirement communities or individual homes to meet with clients to sign their end-of-life documents or guardianship reports if they were unable to meet her at her office.

Clark, who has been with Hall Estill since 2001, got involved with Legal Aid in 2007 because I liked helping people and knowing I can make a difference in their life.

The work generally involves preparing end-of-life documents, she said. Many times I have heard people sigh and say, Now I dont have to worry about that anymore.

Clark was surprised by the state recognition, but the first honor from Legal Aid occurred in February when Langdon said she was honored as the volunteer of the month.

I didnt know I was getting the latest award, she said. Its nice, and I am humbled to be a recipient.

Some are concerned that Clarks work might not be valid because she isnt an attorney, but those concerns often disappear after being assured that all documents are reviewed by an attorney prior to final signatures. They are told upfront that she cannot give advice on legal issues.

Clark said barriers often come down following the initial client meeting and it is determined what is needed.

We often share life experiences, she said. I just want people to be comfortable with me.

Clark admitted she didnt realize that when she answered the call to help Legal Aid that it would provide another opportunity for her to serve others.

Judge Terry Bitting conducted a volunteer training session to give lawyers and paralegals an opportunity to help the court. She was hooked after her first appointment to serve as a guardian ad litem for a 15-year-old client.

Other court appointments followed, and Clark began helping people with real estate planning and end of life documents.

Clark appreciates the law firms support that gives her flexibility in her daily work schedule so she can reach out to others who cant afford a lawyer. She plans to maintain her Legal Aid involvement and help as many people as assigned while at Hall Estill.

Eventually she will retire, but she still wants to be involved with helping others.

Hall Estill co-workers say Clark is one of a kind  someone with a huge heart and unselfish willingness to volunteer time to help those truly needing her.

Miley, assistant general counsel with ODOT, and a group of volunteer attorneys, legal secretaries and Legal Aid staff participate in an outreach clinic providing free legal advice to low-income individuals and senior citizens in Oklahoma City, Smith said. Miley has volunteered for the Third Saturday Legal Clinic for about 15 years and approximately 500 hours during that time.

Miley is kind and extremely patient with every clinic participant he has helped, Smith continued. He spends as much time as needed to allow participants to talk out their situation which often has as much to do with life advice as it does legal advice.

Layden has volunteered many years to promote equal access to justice in Oklahoma, Smith said. While he volunteered his services to Legal Aid as an attorney, he most recently answered the call from the office to provide legal representation to a young mother involved in a custody battle for her 1-year-old daughter.

Layden later won the case and halted the separation.

Woodliff joined his father, Kirk Woodliff, in private practice in Henryetta after returning from duty with the Army Judge Advocate Corps. He became a special judge, and then he was elected as an associate district judge in 2007.

During that time he established the Okmulgee County Drug Court, the Anna McBride Mental Health Court and Family Drug Treatment Court.

Following his retirement in 2014, Woodliff joined Legal Aid in 2015, working in the Oklahoma City offices two or three days for week and assisting in multiple workshops. He volunteered 265 hours and helped nearly 100 senior citizens with wills, estate plans, guardianships, consumer and other issues.
Travis Lawley could have slept in on Monday. He could have spent the day celebrating his birthday or he could have taken the day off because his pizza parlor is closed on Mondays.

However, Minuteman Pizza and Rib Crib used their ovens this week to cook around 60 turkeys for the 23rd Annual Sand Springs Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Thanksgiving will be celebrated Thursday, Nov. 24, and Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn said the community meal is about making sure everyone has a hot, delicious meal on Thanksgiving.

Travis is closed on Mondays and today is his birthday, Gunn said at Minuteman Pizza Monday morning. Over at Rib Crib Cody (Worrall) is cooking turkeys too. Codys been doing for three or four years and he can cook about 30 turkeys.

Lawley and Gunn were just starting to cook the turkeys Monday morning, and the same preparation was going on at Rib Crib across town.

Lawley, owner of Minuteman Pizza, said he can cook around 30 turkeys at a time in his industrial pizza oven, and then they are taken to the Sand Springs First United Methodist Church. The 60 chickens are de-boned and prepared.

The Church is located at 4th and Main, but they arent serving the meals there in the Family Life Center. The meals are prepared at the church, but they are delivered to houses by volunteers.

Anyone interested in delivery meals can just show up on Thursday at the church. Anyone needing a meal delivered can call 918-289-8057.
Interest in local school board service has declined in recent years even as public education has risen in status as a top issue on Oklahoma voters minds.

Tulsa World headlines at the end of the last three annual candidate filing periods illustrate the downward trend in Tulsa County. From December 2015: School board filing period ends with just one contested race. From December 2014: School board candidate filings close with no contested races. And the story in 2013 was similar: School board candidate filing period ends with few filers.

All board vacancies across 14 Tulsa County school districts plus the Tulsa Technology Center board ended up in contested races in only five instances over the last three years. In one case  Unions Office 4  no candidate emerged in December 2013, so the remaining board members had to appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

Because each of the 77 counties maintains its own school board candidate records, the state has no way of tracking school election trends. But two officials in Oklahoma City said they have not seen the Tulsa areas trend playing out there.

Thats shocking. To have no contested or very few in the entire county seems like it would be kind of unusual, said State Election Board spokesman Bryan Dean.

Doug Sanderson, secretary of the Oklahoma County Election Board, said he has noticed no decline in school board candidates in the 26 districts with student attendance areas inside his countys boundaries.

It fluctuates, and in some cases, well have uncontested races, particularly with an incumbent, but I dont take that to be anything negative, Sanderson said.

Shawn Hime is executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, which is a statewide organization that trains locally elected school board members and represents their collective interests in matters of state policy. He said interest in public service on a school board tends to vary from town to town.

Some communities seem to have a lot of interest any time a seat is open or someone decides not to run for re-election. In other communities, they have a difficult time finding anyone to run and tend to have to appoint someone to the position, Hime said. Overall, interest in running for school board tends to depend on whether or not the community is happy with the leadership  the direction of the board and superintendent.

It doesnt help that the gig comes with a great deal of responsibility but little to no thanks.

It can be a daunting task as a citizen who has never run for any office to put your name on the ballot, Hime said. Its a voluntary position that comes with an extreme amount of pressure and responsibility for educating the children of the community. Things can also be controversial at times, and having your name associated with those issues, that makes people think twice. Still, I would have to agree that school board members and city officials have far more impact on our day to day lives than anyone at the state or federal levels.

Why serve?

Ruth Ann Fate is the longest serving member of the Tulsa school board. Since her first election in April 1996, she has been opposed for re-election only once, and that was nearly 17 years ago.

Her own three children were already grown by then, and in the subsequent years, she has seen four of her five grandchildren graduate from Tulsas Memorial High School, as well.

People always ask me, Why do you keep doing that? The reason I have stayed with it is because of the tremendous personal rewards, Fate said. I love it when I get to go and judge a science fair or see what kids are doing in a class.

As for the deterrents to school board service, Fate thinks public education critics and the size of the job are largely to blame.

In Oklahoma, education has been a dirty word to a lot of people. All they can think of is what their experience in school was like. But things are very, very different than they used to be, Fate said. Also, even the people who file and run dont really understand the intensity of it, the time dedication it requires.

When Union Public Schools came up empty-handed in the candidate filing period of December 2013, the school board advertised the position on the districts website and through word of mouth and then selected an appointee through an interview process, said Gretchen Haas-Bethell, a district spokeswoman.

Ultimately, Stacey Roemerman, the mother of three Union students and PTA president at Unions Jefferson Elementary School, was selected.

It has been a fantastic experience, Roemerman said of her service on the school board. Its kind of an odd position to be in because you are ultimately responsible and answerable for everything that happens, but you make very few decisions. As a board member, you are mostly in a position to make sure people working in the district are making the right decisions.

Roemerman said she, like almost every other board member at Union, came to the position after being very involved in a school PTA, foundation or booster club. But even the most involved parents cant begin to know what school board members must quickly learn, she said.

There is such a vast wealth of information that the average person doesnt know about how a school is actually run, from the state and federal laws, to the crazy (school) finance formula, she said. My perspective has changed a lot. This is an amazing group of people who work so hard to do everything the absolutely best it can be done. You cant really appreciate that until you are inside and see it happening.

Roemerman added, Also, whats changed is I feel like all of the kids are my kids. I may be related to three of them, but I have 16,000 kids. As a board member, you are looking out for every single childs best interests.
A University of Tulsa mechanical engineering senior has been awarded a 2017 Rhodes Scholarship  one of only 32 recipients in the nation.

Kirk P. Smith was announced as an honoree on Sunday, following two days of interviews.

This is a momentous occasion for The University of Tulsa, for our College of Engineering and Natural Sciences and for Kirk. He exemplifies the best of what TU seeks to inspire in each of its students: intellectual curiosity, integrity and service in a changing world, TU President Gerard Clancy said in a statement.

Rhodes finalists are selected for their outstanding scholarly achievements, character, commitment to others and potential career leadership. Rhodes Scholars receive two years of full financial support to pursue a degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

A St. Louis native, Smith is a captain of the Golden Hurricane cross country team, a TU Presidential Scholar, an inaugural member of TUs Global Scholars program and a National Merit Scholar. At Oxford, he plans to pursue a doctorate in engineering science, TU said in a news release.

Kirks ambition to engineer energy sustainability is already hitting stride. His research in Tulsa, Colorado and Germany is evidence of his creativity, collaborative skills and persistence, said TU Provost Roger Blais in the statement.

Kirks research mentors testify to the depth and scope of his work in their labs as well as his readiness to take on graduate studies in any competitive setting in the states or overseas.

As a scholarship recipient of the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst  DAAD), he was invited to participate in the Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE Germany) program in the summer of 2016. He interned at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt and assisted doctoral students with thesis research on polymeric solar thermal collectors.

We are proud of Kirks accomplishments thus far and look forward to seeing what the future brings. His research holds great promise for the energy industry and long-term renewable energy efforts, said James Sorem, dean of TUs College of Engineering and Natural Sciences.

Smith is TUs first Rhodes Scholar since 1988.

TU students and alumni have won more nationally competitive awards than all other Oklahoma colleges combined, the release said.
As lawmakers look for a way to bring more money to the state, a trim of a growing wind tax credit likely will be front and center next legislative session.

Senate President Pro Tem-nominee Mike Schulz, R-Altus, said he anticipates legislation to accelerate the sunset of the so-called zero-emissions tax credit, which applies to power generation facilities, such as wind, that do not generate emissions.

A consultant has made recommendations to the states Incentive Evaluation Commission on a dozen business incentives, including the zero-emissions credit.

The consultant, PFM Group, said the zero-emissions tax credit is too generous and should either be capped or ended by 2018, before the sunset date of Jan. 1, 2021.

The Tax Commission says the tax credit cost the state $59 million in 2014, the last year of available data. The PFM Group put that fiscal impact at $113 million for tax year 2014.

The two numbers differ because the Tax Commission looks at tax credit costs, while the consultant report looked at total tax credits claimed. Not all credits claimed result in immediate costs to the state, depending on the tax liability of the claimant, but could result in future costs.

Dave Bond, of the conservative lobbying group OCPA Impact, said any savings on tax credits could be important as legislators look for money to fund a potential pay raise for the states more than 40,000 teachers. Schulz also said teacher pay raises will get serious attention in next years legislative session.

On Nov. 8, voters defeated a measure that would have raised the state sales tax by one penny per dollar to fund $5,000 teacher raises and to provide other education funding.

As we were going around the state during the past year visiting with folks about (State Question) 779 and about the urgency of a teacher pay raise, it was a no-brainer for most Oklahomans, regardless of where we were, regardless of whether they worked in public education or not, that its a much higher priority to use existing taxpayer dollars for teacher pay raises as opposed to subsidies for foreign and out-of-state wind companies, Bond said.

Wind energy advocates say the state has already moved to limit wind-energy tax incentives and that the states economy reaps major benefits from the industry, which provides clean power that is attractive when recruiting companies to the state.
Dear Amy: When I was 15, I was sexually assaulted by two men.

I met a man online who lied about his age. We spoke on the phone for a couple of weeks. He convinced me to sneak out of my house to go to a party. Against my better judgment, I met him and he drove me to his house, where his friend was waiting. The attack was brutal and traumatic.

After the incident, I never heard from him again. I spent many years blaming myself for the crime. My mother blamed me as well.

I did not get counseling until much later. I never reported the crime. After counseling, I have healed and no longer blame myself. However, I have a lot of guilt, knowing that I did not report the crime and because I didnt, this might have happened to someone else.

It has been 20 years. I only have one of the perpetrators names. It is a common name and, quite honestly, mightve been fake. I would have to do a lot of searching to find him, almost like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Do you think there is more that I should/could do? Should I try to find this man and report it now?  Two Decades of Guilt

Dear Guilt: Lets stipulate that at age 15, you probably didnt have better judgment. Your reasoning at the time reflected the very typical cognition of a young teen. This was not your fault, and Im so sorry it happened.

I applaud your desire to do something about this now. Your impulse is an adults instinct to create meaning from trauma, and you should go ahead and try to bring a case.

You should not play detective and try to locate this man. States have different statutes of limitations regarding sex crimes. You should take your story to the local police department in the town where this happened. Give law enforcement all of the details you remember, including the name the man used, his email address, the online platform he used to contact you, identifying characteristics, the address or street where this happened and any records you might still have of your contact with him.

Also, be aware of the possibility that this search might be a triggering event for you. It would be wise for you to check back in with your counselor as you go.

Contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Follow her on Twitter @askingamy or like her on Facebook.
Residents in Valsayn South are said to be marooned in their homes. Councillor for the area S
Australias Next Top Model has its Grand Final tomorrow night on FOX8 as Sabine (pictured, left) , 17 from New South Wales and Aleyna (pictured right), also 17 from NSW, battle it out for the 2016 title.

Both will be joined on the runway by this years top 11, as well as 40 models from all past 9 series including previous winners Gemma Sanderson, Simmone Duckmanton, Madeleine Rose and Amanda Ware.

Aleyna:

Born in Sydney but grew up in Newcastle NSW. Alena likes to spend her weekends shopping and hanging out with friends. Before applying to be on Australias Next Top Model Aleyna was at school in year 11. Aleyna describes herself as quirky and her vibe as hipster. Aleyna is incredibly passionate about the world of fashion and beauty. Modelling has always been something she has wanted to pursue. Her goal is to be a successful editorial model, working daily and possibly moving to New York for her career.

Sabine:

Sabine comes from Polish decent and is an aspiring model who describes her look as exotic and unusual. She grew up on a self-sustained farm in Byron Bay and recently moved to Sydney to finish school. The first time she thought of being a model was when she came to Sydney for Work Experience in year 10 and got a taste of the fashion world. Her favourite winner from Australias Next Top Model is Tahnee from Season 5 because she has a healthy look and she portrays a strong woman.

7:30pm Tuesday on FOX8.
SKY News presenter Dan Bourchier will become ABC News Canberra presenter, as a permanent replacement following the departure of Virginia Haussegger last month.

From February 16 he will front bulletins from Monday to Thursday, with Craig Allen presenting on Friday to Sunday.

Bourchier will also host the Breakfast radio program on 666 ABC Canberra.

These are two incredible opportunities and I appreciate the chance to join the experienced ABC Canberra team, he said. I cant wait to explore the stories which are affecting 666 ABC Canberra listeners as they are starting the day, and talk through the matters that are most important to them, Bourchier said.

Im also looking forward to joining Canberrans at the other end of the day  presenting the news of the day in the ACT, around the nation, and across the globe.

Director of News Gaven Morris said: Were delighted to have Dan joining ABC News and thrilled to have him leading our flagship 7pm News in the nations capital with Craig, who is already well-known to ACT audiences.

Starting in print reporting, Dan has developed into an accomplished broadcast journalist with an impressive track record in Indigenous affairs and political reporting. He will be an asset to the team in the ABC Northbourne newsroom.

Bourchier relocated from SKY News Darwin to Canberra in October 2015. He was formerly with NITV.
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Russian-backed militants launched 15 attacks on the positions of Ukraines Armed Forces in Donbas over the past day, the ATO Headquarters press center reports.

In Mariupol direction, militants shelled Ukrainian positions near Krasnohorivka, Novotroitske, Vodiane using 82-mm mortars, armored personnel carrier, grenade launchers, and small arms.

In Donetsk direction, Ukrainian troops came under mortar, grenade launcher fire near Luhanske and Avdiivka.

In Luhansk direction, the enemy used mortars, grenade launchers against Ukrainian soldiers near Makarove, Zhovte, Krymske and Triokhizbenka.

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The Ukraines Defense Ministry delegation during the visit to Germany discussed ways to improve cooperation with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

This has been reported by the press service of the Defense Ministry.

The Ukrainian and German parties held talks and focused on security situation, progress of defense reform in Ukraine, as well as prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and work of German advisers in Ukraine.

As Germany chairs the OSCE, the parties discussed the possibilities of improvement of cooperation of the Defense Ministry, Armed Forces of Ukraine and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

The delegation ended its tour by visiting two Ukrainian servicemen undergoing treatment at Berlin military hospital.

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The German-Ukrainian Fund (GUF) states it is ready to invest 18 million euros into the development of small and medium-sized business in Ukraine, the press service of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reports.

According to Oleh Strynzha, the director of the NBU financial controlling department and acting executive director of the German-Ukrainian Fund, the NBU supports the governmental development strategy for small and medium-sized business till 2020.

He noted that the NBU is currently reviewing the Comprehensive Program of the Ukrainian Financial Sector Development up to 2020. The updated program will include issues on resuming crediting, which will unite a number of measures to ease the process of obtaining financing for the Ukrainian business, as well as to solve the issue of troubled debts of enterprises.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic.

The sides during the meeting discussed the issue of energy cooperation between the two states.

Im glad that the Republic of Croatia has plans to build an LNG-terminal, and today weve discussed the issue of diversification of gas supplies to Ukraine, and it could be a very good opportunity for deepening our cooperation and strengthening our energy independence, Groysman said at a press briefing following the meeting on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The meeting took place in the framework of an official visit of the premier of the Republic of Croatia to Ukraine.

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The bilateral trade turnover between Ukraine and Japan totaled USD 449.3 million for eight months of 2016 and increased by 14.8% compared with the corresponding period of the last year.

This has been reported by the Ministry of Economic Development on Facebook.

"Ukraine and Japan have close trade relations. For eight months of 2016, the bilateral trade between the countries amounted to USD 449.3 million and increased by 14.8% compared with the corresponding period of 2015," reads a statement.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian delegation headed by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Stepan Kubiv paid a working visit to this country.

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Two Chinese firms plan to build a solar power plant in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.

GCL System Integration Technology (GCL-SI), a subsidiary of the GCL Group, said it would cooperate with China National Complete Engineering Corp (CCEC) on the project in Ukraine, with construction expected to start next year, Reuters reports.

"There will be remarkable social benefits and economic ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy," Shu Hua, the chairman of GCL-SI, said in a press release.

The 1-gigawatt plant was part of the group's plan to build an international presence, he added.

The Chernobyl plant, which is due to be covered next year by a 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) steel-clad arch, is surrounded by a 2,600 square km (1,000 square mile) exclusion zone of forest and marshland.

GCL-SI did not say where the plant would be built, or give details of the construction plans.
Ukraine and Croatia will develop cooperation in customs affairs, disaster prevention and investment protection.

The Government portal reports this referring to relevant international documents signed at a meeting between Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Kyiv.

In particular, representatives of the two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation, the protocol of amendments and changes to the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on mutual assistance in customs affairs and the additional protocol between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on amendments to the intergovernmental agreement on mutual protection of investments.

In the presence of the two prime ministers, the documents were signed by Croatian Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts Martina Dalic on the part of the Republic of Croatia and Ukrainian State Emergency Service Head Mykola Chechetkin, Ukrainian State Fiscal Service Head Roman Nasirov, Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade First Deputy Minister Maksym Nefyodov on the part of Ukraine.

We have a rather strong potential in terms of the development of trade relations, tourism industry and joint investment in the economies of our countries, Groysman told journalists while commenting on the meeting outcomes.

In his turn, Plenkovic expressed hope that today's meeting and the aforementioned documents will promote the development of bilateral economic relations.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says that due to the association agreement, the share of the European Union in Ukraines foreign trade has reached 41%.

The agreement [on Ukraine-EU association] has started to yield the results: the share of the European Union in our foreign trade has already reached 41%, Poroshenko said during events in Mystetskyi Arsenal Complex in Kyiv on Monday on the occasion of the anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity.

According to him, the EU market has started to gradually compensate the huge blow to the Ukrainian economy, social sphere, living standards, caused by Russias hybrid war against Ukraine, in particular when it closed the access for Ukrainian goods to Russias market and transit shipments to other markets.

At the same time, President Poroshenko stressed that since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in Crimea and Donbas, our Government has felt the united support of the democratic world, first of all, by the Group of Seven countries and the European Union.

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An aerial view, taken by a drone camera, of shelters housing displaced people at the Sayam Forage refugee camp in Niger.  UNHCR

NIAMEY, Niger  For many people drones conjure up images of remotely piloted aircraft bristling with missiles, used for military ends. But in conflict-affected parts of Africa, versions of the technology are being used by humanitarian aid organizations like UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to plan relief responses and save lives.

Drones are increasingly in use in countries like Niger, Burkina Faso and Uganda to help map huge populations of displaced people, assess their needs and figure out how best to get assistance to them. They are also being used to evaluate environmental damage caused by displacement.

There are numerous peaceful applications of this technology, whether in human rights, aid delivery, or settlement mapping, says Andrew Harper, head of UNHCRs Innovation unit, noting that the potential use for drones is overwhelming.

The technology has come into its own at a time when record numbers of people have been uprooted from their homes by wars and persecution, more than three million of them by conflicts in South Sudan, Nigeria and Mali that have caused widespread displacement both within and across national borders.

There are numerous peaceful applications of this technology."

In eastern Nigers Diffa region, the need for enhanced information management has become increasingly urgent since Boko Haram attacks last June forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes or refugee camps.

As of late October, more than 250,000 men, women and children had been displaced since 2015, many of them seeking shelter in up to 100 informal sites that had sprung up on either side of the main west-east highway from the capital Niamey, with some 20,000 in two camps.

The desperate mix of humanity included internally displaced people (IDPs) as well as Niger returnees and Nigerian refugees. Vulnerable to Boko Haram raids, the population is very mobile, making it difficult to track and map them as they move in search of safety and assistance.

UNHCR turned to a self-taught Nigerian drone maker, Aziz Kountche, to help understand the dynamics of the population movements. He created a simple but effective drone that looks like a model airplane. The T-800 M, which has government authorization to operate in a frontline area, captured video and still images to convert to accurate maps of the new settlements, which will be crucial in supporting the humanitarian response across an area the size of Belgium.

With the use of the drone images, we want to provide a new level of mapping to strengthen our analysis of the context, said UNHCR External Relations Officer Benoit Moreno. The images enabled the UN Refugee Agency and its partners to visualize the situation in the sites and identify and meet needs for multiple services, including water systems, latrines, education facilities and health care. It also aided registration of the displaced.

An aerial view, taken by a drone camera, of tents and shelters housing IDPs around the village of Kindjandi in Niger.  UNHCR

The small aircraft was used to provide detailed birds eye images of the two camps in the region, Sayam Forage refugee camp and Kabelawa IDP camp, and it revealed the considerable environmental damage caused by people cutting firewood around the spontaneous sites in an area where two thirds of the land is affected by desertification. The next drone flight should take place early next year.

In neighbouring Burkina Faso, where more than 32,000 Malian refugees remain four years after fleeing conflict in their homeland, UNHCR has been using a more sophisticated drone to monitor the needs of refugees. Many live in the arid Sahel region, too fearful of returning to Mali despite the signing of a peace accord last year.

At sprawling Goudoubo camp, home to some 9,640 refugees near the town of Dori, UNHCR recently piloted a four-propellor drone over the camps 12-kilometre-long and five-kilometre-wide area. Unlike the Diffa drone, this one used a video camera to film the shelters, primary school, market, health centre and the road to Dori.

In this harsh, beautiful and extensive environment, use of the drone has provided invaluable video information on how to provide assistance and ensure a sustainable daily life in an area of very few natural resources and infrastructure.

"We want to provide a new level of mapping to strengthen our analysis."

Aerial views and camp mapping can help reshape our ability to respond to short-term and long-term needs. For instance, we could track the evolution of the locations of the shelters and the movements within the camps, but also document the evolution of the environmental context and the available natural resources in and around the camps. This would also help better prevent and mitigate the risks of natural disasters, said Alpha Oumar, head of the UNHCR field office in Dori.

Meanwhile in Uganda, which hosts more than half-a-million South Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers, UNHCR hopes to use drone technology to look at how refugee settlements grow and evolve. The project will focus on Bidibidi, which was opened in August and now shelters more than 200,000 people who have fled fresh fighting that erupted in Juba in July.

Part of a strategy to make more systematic use of drones, the machines will be used to show the settlement in various stages, from a small settlement in August to becoming one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world.

For UNHCR, the projects in hand are likely just the beginning. We must recognize technological opportunities for the now, and more importantly for the future, Harper says. This is one example of technology coming online that we must utilize for the organization. If we can harness the potential of these interventions, we will not only do our job more efficiently but have a greater impact on persons of concern."
As everyone is getting ready for the pod testing in California this January 2017, executives are settling something on the side. Chief Executive Officer Rob Lloyd speaks about a settlement between Hyperloop One and four other previous employees.

Like many other companies, Hyperloop One is still a business. With high school, college students and university researchers are getting ready to test their pods and move forward to the next stage of advanced transportation, some are said to be focusing on other things. Namely, stealing company secrets, cites USA Today. Lloyd insists that everyone is looking forward to the Q1 milestones and feature Hyperloop One as the future of transportation. This is the CEO's way of steering everyone away from the "Gang of Four" law suit. Dubbed "Gang of Four" because it comprises of former CTO Brogan BmBrogan, David Pedergast William Mulholland and Knut Sauer.

After SpaceX CEO and co-founder Elon Musk challenged the world to stay with him on making a transportation system that would take them from Los Angeles to San Francisco in thirty minutes or less. While a lot of people were on board with this solution as an address to the world's traffic and transportation problems, some had other plans.

In July 2016, BamBrogan and the three other Hyperloop One employees filed a law suit. They cited that Uber investor Shervin Pishevar has violated his fiducial duties. They also wrote of wrongful termination and breach of contract. But Hyperloop One countersued and accused the four of stealing company secrets.

While students are busy building and testing their pods, Hyperloop One is ensuring that the technological, commercial and entrepreneurial aspect of the track is on schedule. Hyperloop One is looking at commercially creating a track overseas, most likely in Dubai. The company is also looking t Holland, Finland and Moscow.

While Hyperloop is battling internal affairs, Elon Musk's dream is still not budging. Many are still looking forward to January 2017 when high school, college and university teams are going to test their pods at the California site.
Stanford University has spoken up against increased reports on hostile and hateful acts against people from different backgrounds and beliefs. This comes after more and more minority students are being attacked in campuses across the United States.

It was previously reported that the victory of Donald Trump at the 2016 U.S. election has caused a surge at the hostile acts being done against minorities in campuses. Students at Texas State University were greeted with fliers saying, "Time to organize tar and feather vigilante squads and go arrest and torture those deviant university leaders spouting off that diversity garbage."

The fliers were part of several incidents that suggest how Donald Trump's victory at the U.S. 2016 election has sparked backlash among the minority groups on campuses. Universities have been trying to pacify fears about the nation's future by organizing meetings and counseling sessions.

A Muslim woman at San Jose State University in California reported to the police that she was grabbed by her hijab and choked. Investigations are being made on the accusations.

Another student at the University of Michigan was threatened to be torched by an unknown man if she refused to take off her hijab. The woman complied and reported the threat to the Ann Arbor Police Department.

In its official website, Stanford issued a statement on campus climate and immigration. The school explained that being intolerant of others based on their background, identity or views is "antithetical" to their values. The institution also addressed the issue of the future of undocumented students on campus.

"To be clear, Stanford will continue to provide services and support to our students without regard to their immigration status," Stanford wrote. "The university supports the ability of undocumented students to continue their studies at Stanford and earn a degree."

Stanford also noted that it does not collect or share information about a student's immigration status. It does not disclose the ethnicity or religion of individual students as well.
The United States remain the prime destination of students from other countries in getting a degree. This is evident in the latest statistic released by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE). According to the report, 5.2 percent of foreign students make up the population of higher education across the US. The total number of international students in the US is 1,043,839. Here are the 10 countries that send more students in America than any other.

Although Mexico is near the US, it only hold the tenth spot in this list. According to statistics, there are more than 16,000 Mexicans in different universities and colleges last year.

At number 9 is Japan where 19,060 of its students are studying in American universities from 2015 -2016. Brazil and Taiwan occupy the 8th and 7th spot with 19,370 and 21,127 students respectively.

Vietnam, which has a population of 90 million, sends 21,403 students in the US making them seventh in the list of 10 countries that have more students studying in the US.

Another US neighbor, Canada, occupies the fifth spot. According to the report released by IIE, there are 26,973 Canadian students attending American colleges and universities last year.

The fourth, third, and second spot are South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India respectively. In 2015, a total of 61,007 South Korean students went to the United States in pursuit of higher education. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, sent 61,287 students to study in the US last year. India, with a population of 1.3 billion, sent 165,918 students to study in US universities and colleges last year.

The top spot belongs to the country with the most population - China, which still gives premium to US education. In the 2015-2016 statistic report, there have been a total of 328,547 Chinese students in American universities and colleges.
In a large, prospective study, we found a significant association between chronotype and total prostate cancer risk. Chronotype, or diurnal preference, is characterized by an individuals preference for morning or evening activity. Somewhat evening types were at a 30% higher risk compared to definite morning types. Further, chronotype significantly modified the relationship between shift work and prostate cancer risk. We found no association between sleep duration, sleep quality, or shift work and risk.This study was conducted in a large population of Finnish twins with 30 years of follow-up data and linkage to national registries. This unique population allowed us to also examine associations within twin pairs, thereby controlling for potentially confounding genetic and shared early environmental factors. Our co-twin analyses did not detect an association for any of the circadian- or sleep-related factors under study. This may have been a chance finding due to lower power of the discordant twin pair analysis, or it may suggest that the significant association between chronotype and risk in the overall study population was driven by an unaccounted for shared genetic or environmental confounder.Shift work may increase prostate cancer risk through mechanisms of sleep disruption, circadian disruption, and/or light-induced suppression of melatonin secretion. Recent evidence suggests that chronotype may influence adaptability to various work schedules and thereby act as a unique marker of susceptibility to sleep and circadian disruption. Our findings highlight the importance of looking beyond cancer risk associated with working in a particular time window to a more personalized examination of the risk associated with working in a time window that is not compatible with ones diurnal preference.Written by: Barbra Dickerman
Oct. 26, 2022

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.  Cadets got the unique experience of interacting with and learning from the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2022 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Sept. 27-29. The National Character and Leadership Symposium sponsored the visit and three days of activities.The 12
UWs David Bruch Honored at National Pharmacy Meeting

David Bruch

A University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy faculty member recently was honored for excellence in teaching at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Annual Meeting.

David Bruch, an assistant lecturer, was honored as one of the 2016 Teachers of the Year. Each year, AACP recognizes outstanding faculty at regular and associate member colleges and schools of pharmacy.

UW pharmacy students selected Bruch for the award, and UW School of Pharmacy Dean Kem Krueger submitted his nomination to the association.

I am truly humbled and grateful to receive such an award in a climate where all of my colleagues are so worthy, Bruch says.

Bruch teaches courses in pharmacy practice, physical assessment and patient/professional interactions.

Bruch received his bachelors degree in mathematics/science (1998) and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree (2010), both from UW. After working in a community pharmacy for two years, he joined the UW School of Pharmacy faculty in 2012.
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State President Tran Dai Quang (first, right) attends the dialogue and group meeting with the APEC Business Advisory Council in Lima, Peru on November 19, 2016.

State President Quang highlighted the determination of APEC economies to consistently pursue free trade and investment, accelerate growth quality, and support businesses, especially micro and small businesses to grasp opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution and digital era.

He took the occasion to ask for continued support and cooperation of the APEC business community for Viet Nam in 2017 as the country hosts the APEC forum.

The same day, State President Quang delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit which was attended by around 1,000 business leaders in the region.

He conveyed the message of welcoming all APEC businesses to the CEO Summit that will take place within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders Week in the central city of Da Nang in 2017.

Viet Nam has gained numerous achievements after 30 years of reform to become a middle-income country and one of the fastest growing markets, said Mr. Quang, highlighting the nations goal to achieve the average growth of 6.5%-7% from now till 2020.

The country is now home to many multi-national corporations and has signed more than ten free trade agreements involving 59 partners, including 18 APEC economies, he said.

State President calls for implementing TPP soon

State President Quang, US President Barack Obama and leaders of other 10 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) met in Peru on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Week.

Speaking at the meeting, the Vietnamese leader highlighted Viet Nams determination to realize the new-generation free trade agreements, including the TPP.

State President Quang stressed the necessity to put the TPP into operation soon amid global trade slowdown and rising protectionism.

He also asked the TPP member countries to strengthen technical assistance and capacity building so that all members enjoy benefits of the trade deal.

The TPP was signed in Auckland, New Zealand on February 4, 2016.
General view of an economic leaders' meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit at Lima's Convention Centre on Nov 20, 2016 in Lima. (Photo: AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

The broad consensus at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which features some of the world's most powerful leaders on both sides of the Pacific, is that free trade is a force for good.

But the assembled leaders - US President Barack Obama, China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Japan's Shinzo Abe and others - are under pressure to defend that view against a rising tide of populist, anti-globalisation sentiment in the United States and Europe.

The summit in Lima, Peru was briefed Sunday morning on the state of the world economy by International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde. Leaders then held a meeting on "challenges to free trade and investment."

The summit will issue its closing statement later in the day, seeking to live down old jokes that APEC is "four adjectives in search of a noun and a verb" - an ill-defined group that struggles to take decisive action.

A draft version of the statement seen by AFP praises open markets, denounces protectionism and warns that curbing free trade will slow the ongoing recovery of the world economy.

It is a far cry from the fiery language and visceral appeals Trump used on the campaign trail to appeal to working-class supporters who feel globalisation has made them worse off.

The brash billionaire's attacks on free trade deals and vows to cut back the US role as "policeman of the world" are causing jitters in the Pacific Rim, where Washington and Beijing compete for influence.

Trump has vowed to kill Obama's signature trade initiative in the region, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP - an arduously negotiated 12-country agreement.

He campaigned against the proposal as a "terrible deal" that would "rape" the United States by sending American jobs to countries with cheaper labour.

In a region hungry for trade, this has left even longtime US allies looking to a once unlikely place to fill the void: China, which was excluded from TPP.

China's Xi has set himself up as the anti-Trump at this week's summit, defending open markets and offering leadership on other trade agreements to rival TPP.

That has made it an uncomfortable summit for Obama, who is facing awkward questions from allies about the future of US policy in his last foreign visit as president.

Despite attacking Trump as an unfit successor during the campaign, Obama urged the world to give the president-elect time to get his feet under the desk.

"How you campaign isn't always the same as how you govern," he told a town hall meeting of young Latin Americans in Lima, defending democracy even as he admitted it can be "frustrating."

'TRUMP PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP?'

It is unclear whether there is any future for the TPP.

Some experts say Trump's attacks on the agreement and his Republican allies' control of Congress mean it is dead in the water.

Others say the deal-making real estate mogul could negotiate a number of changes and then claim credit for turning it around.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key joked Saturday that it could be rebranded the "Trump Pacific Partnership."

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was hopeful TPP would survive the unexpected "twist in the road" presented by the US election.

"I share President Obama's hope that after the new administration has settled in, deliberated on the matter, and taken advice, it will in due course take a considered decision," he said. "In the meantime, the other TPP partners should carry on with the ratification process."

Alternatively, China is backing a free trade zone across APEC - a 21-member group that accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the world's population and nearly 60 per cent of the global economy.

It is also pushing a 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that excludes the United States.
The symposiums speakers and delegates joined forces to find creative measures for improving Vietnamese rice quality and brand positioning

The company has been the key sponsor of the annual Rice Symposium, organised by the Vietnam Economic Times. Themed How to Enhance Vietnamese Rice Quality and Brand Positioning to Meet Market Needs, the 4th Rice Symposium gathered more than 150 delegates representing key stakeholders across public and private sectors nationwide, including government bodies such as the Party Central Committee Commission for Economics, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vietnam Food Association, agricultural and scientific institutions, and rice value chain partners.

The symposium was organised to address the significant challenges that farmers of rice and other crops are facing, such as severe drought and high salinity intrusion due to climate change. And Vietnamese firms have to sell its wares in a tighter export market.

Bayer is committed to tackling farming challenges with high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions and services for modern and sustainable agriculture. We at Bayer believe that the challenges will be best addressed and solved in a close co-operation among all stakeholders, said Kohei Sakata, general director of Bayer Vietnam, one of the keynote speakers at the symposium.

This is why Bayer supports the idea of this Rice Symposium to further engage in dialogue with all key stakeholders in the sector  not only to acknowledge the issues of agriculture in Vietnam, but more importantly introduce concrete innovative solutions to help Vietnamese farmers overcome these challenges and thereby intensify agricultural production in a sustainable way, he added.

In 2016, Vietnams rice industry has faced many challenges. A severe drought earlier in the year resulted in high salinity levels in the Mekong Delta, raising concerns over the deltas future. Rice production fell by 1.1 million tonnes according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition, Vietnams rice export is estimated to drop to 5.65 million tonnes in 2016, down 14 per cent against the previous year  and 800,000 tonnes lower than initially forecast.

Since 2014, Bayer Vietnam has developed and implemented its four-point action plan as a holistic approach to deal with farming challenges in Vietnam. The plan includes leading innovation to address the key challenges of rice farming; enabling farmers by providing them with tools, technology, and training; raising agricultural productivity in an environmentally-compatible and sustainable manner; and expanding partnerships across the rice value chain, and between the public and private sectors.

At the Rice Symposium, Bayer Vietnam showed newly developed solutions for Vietnamese farmers to overcome challenges from climate change and to improve rice quality and yields. The companys effort to strengthen the public-private partnership across the rice value chain was also highlighted.

Bayer Vietnam, in partnership with the Cuu Long Rice Research Institute, introduced an innovative solution which helps farmers to manage weeds more effectively  called the Dry Direct Seeding Technology. This technology is considered an alternative crop establishment method for rice, where seeds are sown directly into dry soil without raising them in a nursery. After being sown, the dry seeds can remain viable in dry soil from 15 to 20 days. They then will germinate with the first significant rain.

Bayer Vietnam has also launched two new rice varieties to meet the rising demand for diversified rice breeds and pressure from climate change.

We are proud to offer BTE1 and TEJ Vang hybrid rices to Vietnamese farmers. Due to heterosis, these hybrid rices have significant advantages over in-bred rice. They offer up to 20 per cent higher yields, higher tolerance towards biotic stresses, and stronger root systems for better water and nitrogen-use efficiency, said Sakata.
A yacht sails in the Han River during the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race. Photo Clipper World Race

Deputy Director of the citys tourism department Nguyen Xuan Binh told Viet Nam News a certificate recognising the honour was handed over by a representative of the magazine in Da Nang last week.

Binh said a Nang has been listed in the annual magazines Top 10 Holiday Destinations since 2013.

In the readers vote this year, Da Nang ranked ninth, tied with Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Chengdu, China.

The Rong (Dragon) Bridge lights up in the Han River in Da Nang city.Photo ASA Studio

HCM City, a trade hub in Viet Nam, was listed in the Top 10 Cities for Business, while HCM City-based Park Hyatt Saigon was included in Top 25 Conference Hotels.

The Nam Hai Hoi An in Hoi An city and Banyan Tree Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue were listed in the Top 25 Spa Hotel and Resorts.

The Nam Hai resort, situated on the coast of Hoi An, and Sofitel Legend Metropole in Ha Noi, ranked second in the Top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts.

a Nang also received an award for Asias Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism in a Nang this October.

The central city hosted 4.6 million tourists, of which 1.25 million were foreign tourists, in 2015.
The group includes saxophonist Samy Thiebault, pianist Adrien Chicot, contrabassist Sylvain Romano and percussionist Philippe Soirat who were trained in the prestigious Higher National Conservatory for Music of Paris.

Saxophonist Samy Thiebault has conquered and earned international reputation on the Jazz scene in a few years. Hes also described as A Coltrane specialist in the best sense of the term (Le Nouvel Observateur).

His Asia tour this time will be an opportunity for him and his quartet to unveil the highly anticipated compositions from his new albums: Wild Songs, released in October 2016.

The concert is part of the European Music Festival 2016 that being held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from November 18-December 3.

In this 15th edition of the festival, Vietnamese audience will enjoy 16 top-notch performances by virtuoso artists from Austria, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussel), France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden.
Ho Ho hydropower plant

Head of the ministrys Water Resource Management Department Hoang Van Bay said that the plant was fined over VN115 million (US$5,100) for five violations.

The plant had no annual plan to adjust water from its reservoir, was not reporting on the reservoirs operation and not following regulations on water resource observation.

In October, the plant released water, causing caused intensive flooding in central Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.

According to a Ministry of Industry and Trade report, water was released by the Ho Ho power plant from 5.30pm on October 14 to 2am the next day, with a capacity of 192cu.m. per second, increasing the water level in lowland areas.

Torrential rainfall in these provinces at the same time as the release caused floods and submerged thousands of houses.

The plant, located between Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, was put into operation in 2010. It has power of 14 megawatt and reservoir capacity of 38 million cu.m.
Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Koshi (L) meets with Deputy Standing Secretary of the municipal Partys Committee Tat Thanh Cang in HCM City on Saturday. - VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu

Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Koshi made the remark at a meeting with Deputy Standing Secretary of the municipal Partys Committee Tat Thanh Cang in the city on Saturday.

He said the Japanese government, localities and businesses hope to push ahead with co-operation with Viet Nam and HCM City in particular, adding that the recent rapid increase in the number of Japanese investors in the city demonstrates the Japanese sides wish for stronger co-operation.

According to Koshi, Japans official development assistance (ODA) projects, including transport infrastructure projects, are being carried out on schedule in HCM City.

Cang proposed that Japan continue helping the city implement projects using Japanese ODA, especially the Ben Thanh metro station and the metro line 3A connecting the city with southern Binh Duong and ong Nai provinces.

He expressed his wish for stronger collaboration with Japan in various fields from health, culture, and education to trade, investment and hi-tech agriculture.

The official urged Japan to speed up the implementation of the Cho Ray hospital project, organise a Vietnamese cultural week in Japan, and support human resources training at electronic chip factories.

Local authorities were willing to create the best conditions for Japanese firms to invest in the city, and pledged to work with enterprises to ensure the efficiency of ODA-funded projects, he said.

Use of ODA funds

The HCM City Peoples Committee confirmed with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in its recent report that the Official Development Agency (ODA) and other preferential capital resources were used for the right purpose and right timeline; ensured planned targets and efficiency; and greatly contributed to the citys socio-economic development.

ODA and other preferential capital resources have played a very important part in the citys socio-economic development, especially in developing infrastructure, environment, agriculture and healthcare.

To ensure the highest efficiency in using ODA and other preferential capital resources, the municipal Peoples Committee has balanced its State budget and maintained corresponding capital following the timeline of ODA projects.

On the other hand, the city has paid attention to priority projects in the context of increasing public debts and reviewed all projects to maintain the highest investment efficiency.

In implementing projects, the city has set a detailed timeline for different parts of project and co-operation mechanisms among related authorities, especially for those which had a large amount of ground clearance and compensation.

The municipal Peoples Committee has instructed ODA project management boards to be responsible for all anti-corruption activities.

At present, HCM City has deployed 20 projects with ODA capital for a total investment of VN114 trillion (US$5 billion).

The disbursement levels of ODA and preferential capital resources are not equal among industries and sectors. Transport and environment projects, such as Ben Thanh  Suoi Tien urban railway project and the second phase of a water improvement project for Tau Hu - Ben Nghe  oi  Te canal system have total investment much higher than other projects in agriculture and healthcare.

In another news, at a reception meeting with Shinya Eima, deputy president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in HCM City on Friday, Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee confirmed that Japan always is the biggest ODA sponsor for Viet Nam in general and HCM City in particular.

HCM City hopes the Japanese Government, through JICA, will continue providing ODA for HCM City to deploy other water improvement and urban railway projects in the future, he said.

The city would like JICA to introduce its urban railway projects to Japanese companies in order to expand public-private-partnership co-operation and help the city to train experts, engineers, professional workers, transfer technology and share experiences in operating metros.
US President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru. (Photo: AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

"Our partners made clear they want to move forward with TPP," Obama said at a press conference after meeting leaders in Peru. "They would like to move forward with the United States.

It is unclear whether there is any future for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a vast, arduously negotiated agreement between 12 countries that are currently at different stages of ratifying it. It does not include China.

Trump campaigned against the proposal as a "terrible deal" that would "rape" the United States by sending American jobs to countries with cheaper labor.

The agreement must by ratified in the US Congress -- which will remain in the hands of Trump's Republican allies when the billionaire mogul takes office on January 20.

Without the United States, it cannot be implemented in its current form.

However, some have suggested Trump could negotiate a number of changes and then claim credit for turning the deal around.

Obama defended the increasing integration of the global economy at the close of his final foreign visit as president -- a trade summit held against the backdrop of rising protectionist sentiment in the United States and Europe, seen in both Trump's win and Britain's "Brexit" vote.

He said that "historic gains in prosperity" thanks to globalisation had been muddied by a growing gap "between the rich and everyone else."

"That can reverberate through our politics," he said.

"That's why I firmly believe one of our greatest challenges in the years ahead across our nations and within them will be to make sure that the benefits of the global economy are shared by more people."

And he sent a message to a world that is growingly wary of globalisation.

"The answer is to do trade right," he said.
Q: Hello Tewfic. You just published a photo book about the practice of hau dong and became the first-ever non-Vietnamese photographer to do so. I think the book is fantastic and very informative. Why did you decide to focus your project on hau dong?

New York based photographer Tewfic El-Sawy (Photo: VOV/Dieu Ha)

A: Hau dong attracted me because it combines a lot of elements such as fashion or theatre. I call hau dong a spiritual theatre. It brings in the Gods into the temple and uses dance, music, sacred songs, costumes, colors, fashion, and spiritual ideas to the whole performance. Thats why it is totally different from the other religion of the world. Its a happy and joyful religion.

When I accidentally found out about hau dong, I went back to New York city and researched everything I could about hau dong and Dao Mau. I googled and looked at books, but I found that no non-Vietnamese photographers have ever done a documentation about hau dong.

I found many, many beautiful pictures from many talented Vietnamese photographers but nobody from the US, Europe or even Asia. So I decided to take pictures of hau dong as many as I could to make into a book and introduce hau dong to the West. I want to tell them that hau dong is a very important cultural tradition and a very important religion to the people in Vietnam. And perhaps the book will help Vietnam to get UNESCO to approve the inclusion of Dao Mau to its list of heritages.

Q: The practice of hau dong and Dao Mau is so complicated that not every Vietnamese can understand it. How can you conduct such a detailed project into this ceremony?

Le Thi Tam, a former actress in cheo (Vietnam's traditional popular opera), is now a master medium. (Photo: Tewfic El-Sawy/Dieu Ha)

A: I read a lot of books by Vietnamese professors and scholars which was translated into English, and also books by American professors about Dao Mau.

The other difficulty is the language because I dont speak Vietnamese so I dont understand everything but after attending 30-40 ceremonies, I started to understand its meanings. I learnt that a lot of the Gods in hau dong are historical figures or national heroes. Hoang Bay, for instance, is real.

He existed. He was in Lao Cai province and when the foreign invaders came to invade Vietnam, he pushed them back. So I think its the essence of Vietnam and the nationality of Vietnam.

Q: When joining a hau dong ceremony, can you really immerse into the surrounding environment?

- Not really but what I felt a lot is the music. I joined in by the music. I think its the music that grabbed me in and made me feel happy. The act of spirituality itself did not impact me. But as one medium told me, maybe because Im not Vietnamese, I cant feel it. In fact, I dont believe in any religion. Thats what I am. But again, the music is fantastic.

Q: As a traveling photographer, you must have been to many different places around. Have you seen any similar ritual practice like hau dong in other countries?

Tewfic is the first non-Vietnamese photographer to publish a book about hau ong in English. (Photo: VOV/Dieu Ha)

A: Like hau dong? No. There are other ceremonies in other religions but they are not like hau dong at all. They are very different. I went to India and went to a ceremony but it was more severe and not happy. It was a little bit scary. Hau dong in Vietnam is otherwise, it is fun. I think its the happiness of the audience that is striking to me.

And I think whenever the medium noticed me, he or she usually were generous to acknowledge my presence and said thank you. Those moments were when I felt a lot of appreciation for the people in the people who accepted me, told me to come in and join them. I felt the sense of community with the audience, with the Vietnamese people. Im not Vietnamese but I felt like a Vietnamese and happy.
Leaders take group photo at the the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum in Lima, Peru. - VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

Economics, trade and investment co-operation had become a foundation to propel bilateral relations forward, he said, noting that two-way trade had increased by 20 per cent over the past four years to reach US$45 billion at present, with the US a leading trade partner and seventh biggest investor in Viet Nam.

Quang recalled that during US President Barack Obamas visit to Viet Nam in May, Vietnamese and US leaders recognised the remarkable contributions of the US business community to developing the two nations partnership.

The two sides agreed that trade and investment promotion was important for mutual benefits as well as for peace and stability, he added.

The President informed US businesses about the socio-economic situation in Viet Nam, and reaffirmed the Vietnamese States policy of accelerating the renewal process to obtain rapid and sustainable development.

Viet Nam was improving its legal framework to create a stable and healthy business environment, as well as bettering infrastructure, attracting foreign investment and protecting the environment, he said, reiterating the countrys policy of protecting the rights and interests of overseas investors.

He also informed the businesses that Viet Nam is making preparations to host the 2017 APEC Year, with the central city of a Nang the main venue.
Myanmar police personnel stand guard at a supermarket where three bombs exploded in Yangon on Nov 20, 2016. (Photo: AFP / YE AUNG THU)

Security forces locked down the area with sniffer dogs after the blasts went off around 5.30pm in Thakeyta township.

"No one was injured in three small explosions this evening," Yangon regional social minister Naing Ngan Linn told AFP from the scene.

"According to initial inspections by security forces, they are handmade bombs. Soldiers and police are still inspecting the area now."

The explosions came hours after two civilians were killed in clashes in a northern town on Myanmar's border with China.

Fighting broke out between the military and four ethnic armed groups, including the powerful Kachin Independence Army, reigniting a years-long conflict that has displaced 100,000 people.

One of them, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, denied having any hand in the Yangon explosions.

"We are men. We fight openly," said spokesman Phone Win Naing.

The clashes are another blow to de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi's hopes of forging a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmar's restive hinterlands.

They also come days after authorities pledged to step up security at Yangon's Shwedagon pagoda, Buddhist Myanmar's most revered holy site, over concerns about terrorist attacks.

Local media said increased security measures were put in place after a surge in violence in northern Rakhine state after attacks on police border posts last month.

Troops have poured into the area, mainly home to the Muslim Rohingya minority, killing dozens of people and displacing more than 30,000.
Nguyen Thu Hang, operational risk director of VietinBank, gave a presentation

Pioneer in operational risk management

This is the second conference on operational risk management held by VietinBank in two consecutive years. As the pioneer bank in operational risk management in Vietnam, VietinBank has been updating the best international practices in the industry.

This year, under the theme Operational Risk Management - International Practices and Applications in Vietnamese Commercial Banks, the conference addressed three prevalent topics: operational risk appetite and the three lines of defense; loss data collection and sources to record loss; and fraud management and customer profile. This conference attracted great interest from the authority, domestic and foreign experts and other commercial banks.

With the presence of experienced and prominent speakers from VietinBank, HSBC, CMA Australia, Deloitte and other well-known industry players at this conference, VietinBank hopes that it will be a truly meaningful professional forum for participants to share experience and have in-depth discussions on issues related to operational risks, thereby making valuable recommendations for the future development of the banking sector, said Bui Nhu Y, deputy CEO of VietinBank.

Bui Nhu Y, deputy CEO of VietinBank with experts

Capacity building and institutional development

The Vietnamese and international banking sector recently suffered from a series of financial frauds and scams, as well as ATM skimming and fake credit card incidents. In addition, the growing popularity of online financial services, which leads to declining use of cash and fading physical barrier, is also another trend that can increase operational risk if the authority and commercial banks do not take preventive or remedial actions.

Kevin Green, chief risk officer of HSBC Vietnam said that the current types of operational risks in Vietnam included external fraud such as fraudulent cash withdrawals or payments, trade finance facilities, internal fraud, information security risk and legal risk. These are all major challenges to banks.

In order to manage risks, according to Green, an effective solution would be strict implementation of an operational risk management cycle, including four steps: identification and assessment, monitoring, mitigation/management, and reporting.

One of the most important yet complicated aspects of risk management is reporting losses and identifying sources to record losses. This is also a matter of special interest for VietinBank in the recent period.

At the conference, Nguyen Thu Hang, operational risk director of VietinBank, gave a presentation on Operational risk provision - International practice and recommendations for application at Vietnam commercial banks.

Hang recommended that credit institutions should be allowed to proactively use appropriate resources instead of financial reserves only, as prescribed by current practice, to cover operational losses since it is quite lengthy and difficult to tap the financial reserves. Hang also suggested the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam to allow credit institutions to set provisions for exogenous, uncontrollable and unmanageable operational risks whose sizes and frequencies can be reliably estimated.

Le Thanh Ha, vice director of VietinBanks Card Center also stated that in order to ensure the sustainable development of the card market, it should be both critical and urgent to have regulations and guidance on establishing and using non-credit provisions in general and card-related non-credit provisions in particular.

During the session Fraud management and Customer profile, experts from Deloitte and Krungsri Bank from Thailand presented the new trends in fraud management. They also elaborated on key solutions to help banks improve their ability to respond to financial crimes.
Digital banking poses opportunities and challenges to the Vietnamese banking system. - Photo dantri.com.vn

The conference themed Digital bank - the future of banking? was held in Ha Noi last week.

At the conference, experts discussed challenges to the security of digital banking and the future of banking.

Digital banking poses opportunities and challenges to the Vietnamese banking system, said Tu.

Digital banking was different from traditional banking, forcing banks to continuously learn and develop, he said.

William Anthony Jennings, vice chairman of the management board of the Institute of Manpower, Banking and Finance said that the digital technology era for banks had arrived.

Up to 50 per cent of customers would want to switch to digital banking soon, said the vice chairman. He advised banks to consider the trend and plan accordingly.

At the workshop, Douglas Jackson, regional director in the Southeast Asia for Boston Consulting Group (BCG), said that Vietnamese customers were still dependant on cash transactions.

Thus, it was necessary for customers to change their thinking first before banks thinking changed, he said.

Viet Nam is a young country, whose human resources are in the golden population structure, which creates young human resources using digital technology, according to Jackson.

Dang Tuyet Dung, deputy general director of Maritime Bank, said that the bank had implemented digital banking. "Currently, the services we offer for our customers include not only internet banking but also combo packages.

Recently, as customers at big banks lost money due to online fraud, many blamed the lost money on weak security of banks.

"Investments to improve information technology infrastructure and enhance security is crucial. Besides the general principles of security applying to the entire commercial banking system under the direction of the State Bank, banks also need to develop their own security measures," said Phan Thai Dung, deputy director of the Informatics Technology Department under The State Bank.

At the conference, the BCG revealed the findings of study of 200 clients, which are financial institutions, to find their difficulties in digital banking.

The results showed that though banks have many routes they lack a common vision for digital banking. Interfaces and systems are not integrated, infrastructures are outdated and ability to access multi-channel data is poor.

However, according to Douglas Jackson, if banks can overcome these obstacles, the benefits of digital banking are huge such as increasing revenue and market share, improved performance and a competitive advantage versus competitors which can not afford digital features.


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The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has rejected a United Nations proposal to create an autonomous zone east of Aleppo, saying it infringes on Syrian sovereignty. Government forces backed by Russia continued bombarding rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Sunday. Rebel fighters shelled government controlled districts of the city, with casualties reported on both sides. VOA's Zlatica Hoke has more.
Torture and other forms of ill treatment persist in Bahrain despite reforms introduced by the Gulf Arab kingdom to address alleged human rights abuses after a 2011 uprising, Amnesty International said on Monday.

An Amnesty report assessing the work of oversight bodies set up to deal with grievances or guard against further abuses said it had found "serious shortcomings" in the work of two British-supported institutions whose work is cited by Bahraini and UK authorities as evidence of progress in upholding human rights.

The Bahraini oversight agencies are the Ombudsman of the Ministry of Interior and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Both are within the Public Prosecution Office, which were established in 2012, and both receive training and capacity building from Britain, a staunch ally of Bahrain.

"There is no denying that the Bahraini government has taken a step in the right direction by setting up institutions to investigate human rights violations and hold those suspected to be responsible accountable," Lynn Maalouf, deputy research director at Amnesty International's Beirut regional office, said in a statement.

"Sadly, these reforms remain woefully inadequate. Torture and other ill treatment by security forces persist within a system of entrenched impunity marked by the lack of an independent judiciary, she added.

Officials from the Western-allied Gulf Arab state did not respond to a request by Reuters for a comment on the report. The government strongly denies any systematic abuse by police.

Limited judicial action

The report said that while at least 93 members of the security forces had been charged with alleged involvement in unlawful killings, injuries, torture and other ill treatment since November 2011, only a small number had been convicted and most sentences failed to reflect the gravity of the crime.

"No senior officers or officials have faced prosecution for the serious human rights violations committed during the suppression of the 2011 uprising, despite the BICI's call for further investigations and criminal prosecution of those suspected of being responsible," the report said, referring to an international inquiry that investigated how authorities dealt with the protests led by Bahrain's majority Shi'ite Muslims.

Host of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, Bahrain is seen by other Sunni Muslim-ruled Gulf kingdoms like Saudi Arabia as a bulwark against the influence of their Shi'ite adversary Iran.

But the island has seen years of low-level violence between Shi'ite protesters and police, and the government repeatedly has been accused of heavy-handed tactics.

Bahrain has repeatedly pointed to the existence of the Ombudsman and the SIU to deflect international criticism of alleged continued human rights violations and assert its commitment to human rights and accountability, Amnesty said.

"In reality, the creation of the Ombudsman and the SIU does not appear to date to have significantly deterred human rights violations," the report said.
Police fired tear gas and water at hundreds of protesters in the freezing North Dakota weather late Sunday and early Monday, in the latest violent clash over a pipeline project running through the state.

An estimated 400 protesters mounted the Backwater Bridge just north of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and attempted to force their way past police in what the Morton County Sheriff's Department described as an "ongoing riot."



The $3.7 billion Dakota Access project has drawn steady opposition from activists since the summer, led by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, whose tribal lands are adjacent to the pipeline. Native American activists and environmentalists say the line threatens water resources and sacred tribal lands.

Sides clash over bridge

A joint statement from several activist groups said protesters Sunday were trying to remove burned vehicles blocking Backwater Bridge in order to restore access to the nearby Standing Rock Sioux encampments so emergency services and local traffic can move freely.

Police fired volleys of tear gas at the protesters to prevent them from crossing the bridge. Law enforcement also fired rubber bullets and sprayed protesters with water in temperatures that reached as low as minus 8 Celsius overnight.

"It is below freezing right now and the Morton County Sheriff's Department is using a water cannon on our people  that is an excessive and potentially deadly use of force," said Dallas Goldtooth, a spokesman for the Indigenous

Environmental Network, one of the organizations involved in protests.

Completion of the pipeline, set to run 1,885 kilometers (1,172 miles) from North Dakota to Illinois, was delayed in September so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could re-examine permits that would allow construction under the Missouri River, near to the tribe's lands.

Pipeline to carry crude oil

The main company behind the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners LP, is building the line to bring crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois en route to the Gulf Coast.

A statement from the sheriff's' department said one arrest had been made,

2-1/2 hours after the incident began near Bismarck, the North Dakota capital. About 100 to 200 protesters remained after midnight.



The Morton County Sheriff's Department said officers on the scene of the latest confrontation were "describing protesters' actions as very aggressive."

Demonstrators tried to start about a dozen fires as they attempted to outflank and "attack" law enforcement barricades, the sheriff's statement said. Police said protesters had hurled rocks and burning logs, striking one officer.

Tribe leader blames law enforcement

Dave Archambault, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, said law enforcement is escalating the violence.

"They say these are non-lethal weapons, but a water cannon in freezing weather is lethal. Using concussion grenades with tear gas can be lethal," he said.



The latest confrontation began Sunday evening, after protesters attempted to remove a truck that had been on the bridge since October 27, police said.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed the Backwater Bridge, which crosses Cantapeta Creek north of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's camp, after vehicles were burned on October 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had also asked Morton County law enforcement to prevent protesters from trespassing on federal land.

Pipeline the safe route

Supporters of the pipeline said the project offers the most direct route for taking shale oil from North Dakota to Gulf Coast refineries and would be safer than road or rail transportation.

The Army Corps of Engineers last week said they will need more consultations with Native American tribes, even though the Corps said they had followed all legal requirements for permitting.



President-elect Donald Trump has not commented specifically on Dakota Access, but he has in the past been supportive of pipeline development. Should a decision be delayed to his term, the pipeline could be approved.
U.S. President Barack Obama finished his final foreign tour in Peru the same way he began it in Europe, trying to reassure other world leaders who are anxious about a possible sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy under President-elect Donald Trump.

Obama met with the leaders of the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Lima Sunday, still expressing his support for international trade agreements and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, while conceding it is not up to him anymore. He said there already is talk of a new trade agreement with lower standards that would not provide the same level of protection for American workers.

The president said the 21 Asia Pacific economies represent nearly 3 billion people, a majority of the global middle class, and he expressed the hope that the U.S. still could join the TPP, saying trade done right can deliver progress. But Trump strongly opposed TPP on the campaign trail.

Obama said the APEC leaders are moving ahead with making their economies more inclusive  helping more women become entrepreneurs and gain access to all kinds of career paths. Continuing implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change also is a priority, he said.

U.S. policies on trade, climate change and other issues could change dramatically in nine weeks when President-elect Trump takes office, based on statements he made during the campaign.

Obama said he spoke very briefly in between APEC sessions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and Syria. He said he told Putin the United States is still deeply concerned about the bloodshed and chaos that is being sown in constant bombing attacks by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Russian military on civilians in Aleppo. Obama said the issue of Russian interference in the U.S. elections did not come up because that is behind us.

At the end of the final news conference of the trip, Obama had some sobering words of advice for the incoming president, saying America is indispensable in protecting the world order and ensuring peace and stability.

If we are not on the side of what is right, the American president, then it collapses. And there is nobody to fill the void.

A reporter asked if Obama would refrain from criticizing Trump when he takes office, just as former President George W. Bush refrained from criticizing him. Obama said he planned to take his wife Michelle on vacation, and to get some rest. He said he would be respectful and give the new president space. But Obama did not rule out speaking out if he believed core American values and ideals were threatened.

On Saturday, Obama got a rock stars welcome from 1,000 young leaders from all over Latin America and the Caribbean at a university in Lima. He sought to reassure everyone in his young audience and asked them not to assume the worst of Trump.

Democracy means that sometimes you have to compromise, and it means that the outcomes of elections dont always turn out the way you would hope.

During his farewell overseas trip, Obama told travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet that the millions of miles he traveled during his eight years in office and the young people he met all over the world give him hope for the future.
Growing up as the son of immigrants in London, actor Dev Patel did not feel much connection to India. In fact, he says he spent most of his youth trying to distance myself from my culture."

That all changed after shooting five films in India. The latest of those, Lion, is an adoption drama about a young man conflicted about his identity, and the film seems tailor made for him.

It's kind of been the most nourishing experience of my career so far, said Patel.

Film based on true story

Patel, 26, made his name as the star of the 2008 Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Lion, out in U.S. movie theaters Thursday, is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, who as a 5-year-old boy was separated from his family in rural India when he accidentally boarded the wrong train.

Unable to remember his home town or his mother's name, Saroo is placed in an orphanage, adopted by an Australian family and taken to live in Tasmania. More than 20 years later, he uses the Google Earth map tool to try and find his home in India.

Childhood memories return

I could really relate to it. As someone who hadn't been to India as a young man and tried to hide [his Indian ethnicity] for a long time, when I went there for Slumdog, it kind of opened my mind to a whole new level of consciousness and acceptability of who I am, Patel said.

Patel, who also appeared in the two Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies, said he now finds India enthralling and exciting and a place that brings out the innermost feelings of your soul.

All those preconceived notions that I had as a young boy were broken, and it's a love affair with [India] now, he said. In Lion, the adult Saroo considers himself Australian, but little moments start to jog his childhood memories of India. He becomes obsessed with trying to find his way back home to his birth mother and family.

The actor said he hopes the film will highlight the plight of the thousands of street children in India.

Stories like this can help generate a dialogue to get these kids off the street and put them in the right homes because there are thousands of people around the world who want to adopt children and don't know how to, he said.
Former Greek president Constantine Stephanopoulos, a veteran conservative politician, has died at age 90.

Stephanopoulos had entered the Henry Dunant Hospital in Athens Thursday and his condition deteriorated rapidly. He died late Sunday (11:18 p.m. local time - 2118 UTC) from "complications of pneumonia."

His doctors released a statement Saturday saying he was suffering from multiple organ failure and was not responding to treatment.

Known widely as Costis, Stephanopoulos served two full presidential terms from 1995 to 2005, as allowed by the Constitution.

A moral man with a lofty vision,'' said leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a conservative, called Stephanopoulos a model of selfless, dignified and consistent service for the public good.''

Although the president has a largely ceremonial role in Greece, Stephanopoulos won wide popularity with his modesty and lack of bombast while in office.

He was known for getting along well with politicians across the spectrum, especially with moderate socialist prime minister Costas Simitis, whose mandates ran from 1996 to 2004.

A lawyer by profession and a son of a lawyer and politician, Stephanopoulos was born in the southeast city of Patras on August 15, 1926 and held various ministerial portfolios in the right-wing government from 1974 to 1981.

He attempted to run for the presidency of the conservative New Democracy Party (ND) in 1981 and 1985.

In 1995, he was elected president by the parliament, succeeding Constantin Caramanlis, former leader of the ND. Stephanopoulos was re-elected in 2000 and retired from politics at the end of his second term in 2005.
Former prime minister Francois Fillon is favorite to become the French center-right's presidential candidate after a voting upset that puts him in pole position for a showdown with far right leader Marine Le Pen in next year's election.

Fillon, who has said he will cut public sector jobs and rein in government spending, won 44 percent of votes in Sunday's first-round of voting for the centre-right's nomination. He faces a second-round vote against another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, who trailed him by 15 percentage points.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy came third and was eliminated.

The outcome adds to uncertainty about the result of next year's presidential election, likely to be decided in a runoff in May. It could increase a still remote risk that the anti-immigration, eurosceptic National Front leader Le Pen can win it, although there is no clear evidence Fillon would fare worse against her than Juppe.

The surprisingly big lead hands Fillon, 62, a strong advantage in next Sunday's runoff. An admirer of late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he is probably the closest thing France has to an economic liberal and social conservative.

Although Fillon's triumph on Sunday was a surprise, opinion pollsters had said he made a late surge in campaigning, and several stalwarts from the conservative Les Republicains party threw their weight behind him after his first-round success.

"I will vote for Francois Fillon because it is he who will best defend the values of the right," said party president Laurent Wauquiez, a close Sarkozy ally.

A snap poll by Opinionway after Sunday's results showed Fillon winning the head-to-head contest against Juppe with 56 percent of support.

With the French left in turmoil under deeply unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande, the opinion polls indicate that whoever becomes the center-right challenger is likely to face Le Pen in May's presidential election runoff.

The polls have suggested Le Pen has only a remote chance of winning that runoff but the more centrist Juppe, 71, had been seen as the best placed candidate to defeat her in a two-horse race.

Targets for National Front

A BVA poll in September showed Fillon, who drives racing cars for a hobby, would beat Le Pen by a margin of 61 percent of votes to 39 percent if they contest a presidential election runoff.

But that consensus predates Donald Trump's U.S. election win, which exposed the same popular anger against political elites as in Western European countries such as France, Italy and Austria that Le Pen has tapped into.

It also raised questions over the accuracy of opinion polls, which were under scrutiny again on Monday in France.

With his socially conservative and pro-business policies, Fillon lacks the broad appeal of the more centrist Juppe, and so may increase the perceived risk that Le Pen could take power.

Fillon stood down as social affairs minister after big street protests in 2003 when he championed reforms extending the age at which people are entitled to retirement pension payments.

"To some extent, we believe Fillon's lead introduces additional uncertainty when it comes to the presidential election," said Raphael Brun-Aguerre of JP Morgan in a research note.

But Juppe, who served as prime minister from May 1997 until June 1997 under President Jacques Chirac, would also be vulnerable to National Front barbs.

"Either of the candidates would probably be targeted by far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen being for part of the old political guard, and Juppe, on this front appears relatively more vulnerable," said Morgan Stanley in a research note.

Juppe was not giving up.

"I believe more than ever that the people of France need to come together to turn the page of a disastrous five-year term that has demeaned our country and to block from power the National Front which would lead us into the worst of adventures," he told supporters on Sunday night.

Opportunity for left?

Fillon and Juppe have clashed most forcefully over Fillon's proposals to slash the cost of government, notably by axing 500,000 public sector jobs over five years.

Fillon's proposals for market-oriented reforms  including scrapping the 35-hour working week and raising the retirement age  go beyond what his challenger advocates for a country where the state remains a powerful force in the economy, even for the center-right.

"My fellow Frenchmen have told me, everywhere, they want to break away from a bureaucratic system which saps their energy," Fillon told his campaign faithful on Sunday night.

Born in a western region of France where the secular nation's catholic roots remain strong, Fillon has said France faces a problem "linked to Islam". Juppe has sought a more conciliatory tone with France's large Muslim minority.

Any registered voter can take part in the conservative primaries, and polls showed many of those that did on Sunday were from the left and extreme right.

"The only chance for Juppe is a strong turnout in the second round, including from left-leaning voters. He will try to present himself as the man of the centre. His message will be: we need reforms, but nothing that is horribly painful," said Claire Demesmay, an expert on Franco-German ties at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

The ruling Socialists and their allies will hold their own primaries in January. Hollande, whose popularity ratings are abysmal, has yet to announce whether he will stand again.

Some on the left hope that if Fillon wins the conservative ticket, its candidates could find new impetus as a space opens up for them in the center.



Another beneficiary could be Emmanuel Macron. The former investment banker who quit his job as Hollande's economy minister in the summer launched his independent run for the presidency last week.

Macron, who says he is neither of the left or right, ranks as one of France's most popular politicians, though polls indicate his chances of reaching the election's second round are slim.
France said it had foiled a militant plot and arrested seven people in the southern port city of Marseille and the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the seven people of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin, aged 29 to 37, had been detained on Sunday.

Two were arrested in Marseille. Most of the others, he said on Monday, were arrested in Strasbourg  a city where one of oldest and largest Christmas markets is set to open this week.

"An attack has been foiled... The scale of the terrorist threat is enormous and it is not possible to ensure zero risk despite everything we are doing," he added.

He gave no information on the target of the planned attack.

But a source close to the inquiry told Reuters that Strasbourg had not been targeted.

The mayor of Strasbourg said it appeared that the plot had focused on "the Paris region."

Islamist militants killed 17 people in Paris in January 2015 in an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Another 130 people were killed when gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the capital in November 2015, and 86 more were killed when a man drove a truck into crowds in the city of Nice on July 14.

Islamic State, whose strongholds in Syria and Iraq are being bombed by French jets, has urged followers to continue attacking France.
Haitians are awaiting preliminary results from Sunday's long-delayed presidential election, which took place after balloting in October of last year was annulled due to allegations of fraud.

Six million people were eligible to vote for one of 27 presidential candidates, as well as for some members of both houses of parliament.

Reports have suggested that businessman Jovenel Moise, chosen by the ruling PHTK, took the lead in the early voting tallies. The party of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristid said its candidate, Maryse Narcisse, was ahead. In response to these comments, electoral authorities urged candidates not to make premature announcements. Narcisse is one of two women seeking the presidency.

Haitians are hoping their new national leader will end a year of uncertainty and struggles, while uniting the country and creating jobs. Many Haitians are still suffering from the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew, which struck the country last month.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department called Sunday's vote "an important step toward returning Haiti to full constitutional rule and addressing the serious challenges the country faces." Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

In a statement, State Department spokesman John Kirby also noted "isolated incidents" of violence and intimidation during the vote, and urged authorities to bring those responsible to justice under Haitian law.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was quoted as saying the electoral process "is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum in Haiti and urged all parties to show statesmanship at this critical time for the country.

Final results are expected in about a week. Unless one candidate wins more than half the vote, a runoff between the top two contenders is scheduled for January 29.
Imagine a world where almost everyone can be tracked, and everything can be seen by cameras linked directly to the Chinese government.

The rapid growth of a little known Chinese manufacturer of high-powered surveillance technology has some people concerned that it's no longer a theory.

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, a company controlled by the Chinese government, is now the world's largest supplier of video surveillance equipment, with internet-enabled cameras installed in more than 100 countries.

Capable of capturing sharp images even in fog, rain or darkness, Hikvision claims its most advanced technologies can recognize license plates and tell if a driver is texting while behind the wheel. They can also track individuals with unrivaled "face-tracking" technology and by identifiers such as body metrics, hair color and clothing.

In the United States alone, the company's surveillance systems can be found everywhere from prisons to airports to private homes and public schools, and even in places with sensitive national security concerns, such as Fort Leonard Wood military base in Missouri. Abroad, its cameras were installed in the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

According to a U.S. government procurement document published on IPVM.com, the worlds largest online video surveillance trade magazine, U.S. embassy officials decided in August 2016 to allow only Hikvision suppliers to bid on the installation contract.

Stephen Bryen, a widely published expert on international affairs and cyber security, wrote an article outlining his concerns about the purchase, saying the Hikvision cameras were never proven to be any more secure than comparable models.

If the procurement officer actually thought these cameras were more secure than others, that would have been claimed as part of the sole-source justification, he said of the embassy purchase agreement, adding that no claims of any kind were made regarding the Hikvision products.

The issue is that the U.S. embassy is installing commercial cameras in one if its most sensitive locations, Bryen wrote. This is a big mistake, and mistakes like this can cost lives.

On Monday, a State Department official confirmed the installation via email.

"A Hikvision camera system was initially installed to monitor non-sensitive electrical closets for theft prevention," the official said of U.S. Embassy Kabul. "The procurement in question was to either expand this or to install a new system. The procurement was cancelled September 2016 and the previously installed cameras were removed."

It is not known whether other Hikvision products have ever been installed in other U.S. embassies.

Spreading the word

Edward Long, a former employee of a video surveillance equipment company in Florida, recently petitioned the U.S. government with a letter warning that Hikvision cameras are sending information back to China.

Over the past year, [Hikvision has] ... flooded the United States with their equipment, he wrote. Every time one of their machines is plugged into the internet, it sends all your data to three servers in China. With that information, the Chinese government can log in to any camera system, anytime they want.

Frank Fisherman, a general manager for Longs former employer, IC Realtime Security Solutions, tells VOA that Hikvision devices are engineered for effortless hacking.

They have their encrypted information set up so they can access even if you change the admin [passwords] and the firewall, he said, adding that Hikvision may have set aside a "back door" in the production process, such that the manufacturer can monitor devices remotely without the users being aware.

IPVM President John Honovich, however, strikes a less alarmist tone.

So far, we havent found any evidence showing these cameras are sending information back to China, and there is no evidence of such back doors, he told VOA, cautioning, however, that these facts alone do not rule out a possible security threat.

The issue that still remains is that maybe [back doors] havent been found yet," he said. "All devices have firmware, [which is] updated all the time, just like you update your computer [or] your PC. At any point during the firmware upgrade, back doors can be added by the manufacturers.

Among well-known video surveillance equipment manufacturers, Honovich added, Hikvision products may not be worth the risk.

"There are hundreds of security camera manufacturers in the world, he said. One can [find a reliable system] without the risk of buying products made by a company largely owned and controlled by the Chinese government.

A Beijing incubator company

Established in 2001, Hikvision, which originated as a Chinese government research institute, maintains strong ties with that government. More than 42 percent of the company is owned by Chinas state-owned enterprises, with the remaining stock owned by a combination of general public stockholders and venture capital investors, including 18 percent from private equity in Hong Kong.

In 2015, when Chinese President Xi Jinping went on an inspection tour of the southern city of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, he visited Hikvision's main office instead of the famous Alibaba headquarters. Xi also met with Pu Shiliang, 38, Hikvision's head of research and development.

According to the official website of Zhejiang Police Academy, Pu is also the director of a technology laboratory within Chinas Ministry of Public Security, the main domestic security agency that has long been criticized for tracking and detaining dissidents and perceived Communist Party opponents of any stripe.

Beginning in 2015, China's state Development Bank and Export-Import Bank provided Hikvision with 20 billion yuan (nearly $3 billion) in low-interest loans and a 20 billion yuan line of credit. Loans of this size are typically unavailable to Chinese or foreign companies.

Invisible to consumers

Despite the enormous security implications, the United States appears to have made no national security assessment of Hikvision products. As indicated by Longs online petition, which ultimately closed with only 15 supporters, Hikvision's links to Beijing are virtually invisible to American consumers.

In April, a New York Times report addressed similar concerns about Chinese drone maker DJI  the world's largest manufacturer of small drones. The report says the company issued a user agreement that warns customers: "if you conduct your flight in certain countries, your flight data might be monitored and provided to the government authorities according to local regulatory laws."

In Britain, where many Hikvision cameras have been installed, some government officials have begun voicing concerns.

If you've got cameras that are IP enabled, or potentially could covertly be so enabled ... they could potentially be used for malign purposes, Nigel Inkster, a former British intelligence official, told The Times.

Canadian-based Genetec, one of the world's leading video surveillance software companies, recently announced that it would no longer offer free technical support for products from either Hikvision or Huawei  a Shenzen-based multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company  citing ongoing "security considerations."

Issuing the announcement, Genetec cited government and corporate clients who called Hikvision and Huawei products "too risky."

Voice of America received no response to multiple attempts to contact Hikvisions headquarters in Hangzhou and its branch in California.

Jeffrey He, president of Hikvisions U.S. and Canadian branch, defended the company during an undated interview with U.S. security monitoring website SourceSecurity.com.

"There have been some misguided accusations targeting Hikvisions public and industry image, sometimes seeking to create controversy where none exists," he said. "These questions are geared in general not just to Hikvision, but also to many Chinese manufacturers, and none of these accusations have been proven to be true. These accusations are baseless.

"The Cold War was officially over when the Berlin Wall came down, but I am seeing that, in the minds of some, it never ended," he added. "We all would be better served if, instead of living in the past, we would look toward the future and the realities of world changes and technology changing along with it.

Hikvision now has 35 branches in mainland China and 21 overseas subsidiaries with more than 18,000 employees.
Human Rights Watch says it has satellite evidence that more than 1,000 homes in minority Rohingya villages have been destroyed in northwestern Myanmar, also know as Burma. The organization has called on the government to invite the United Nations to conduct an investigation into the "widespread destruction" of the villages HRW believes has been done by government troops.

Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director said, "These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted."

Adams called on Myanmar's government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, to stop "responding with military-era style accusations and denials," urging it instead to "simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people ... whatever their religion or ethnicity."

Humanitarian aid groups say tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the recent violence with many of them attempting to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.

HRW says while the government maintains that terrorists are responsible for the destruction and that international journalists should investigate the claims, Myanmar continues to block not only journalists, but also humanitarian aid workers and human rights investigators from traveling to the impacted areas.

Yanghee Lee, U.N. special rapporteur on Myanmar, said "The security forces must not be given 'carte blance' to step up their operations."
Pakistans military says intense clashes with India along the disputed Kashmir frontier Monday killed at least four Pakistani civilians and wounded 10 others.

The armys media wing, in a statement said, effective retaliatory fire" killed six Indian soldiers.

It did not cite sources for the Indian casualty toll and there has been no immediate reaction from India on the Pakistani claims.

On Saturday, Pakistan alleged that unprovoked firing by Indian forces on civilian areas in Kashmir killed at least four children.

Islamabad summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to the Foreign Ministry earlier on Monday to issue a formal protest over the incident and to urge New Delhi to respect the Kashmir cease-fire truce, according to an official statement.

Clashes between the two nuclear-armed rival nations in the divided Kashmir region have become routine in recent weeks, causing civilian and army casualties on both sides.

Islamabad and New Delhi blame each other for firing the first shot in violation of a 2003 cease-fire deal in the Himalayan region.

The military tensions have raised fears of a wider conflict between them as a wide-ranging bilateral peace dialogue remains suspended.
In a canyon walled by drab gray and brown high-rises, a ragged line of men, women and children hold red helium balloons, ascending a staircase that ends in a spiral at an opening in the roof, where a single giant balloon slips into the blue sky. Two people at the top lift their heads in wonder.



Seen by thousands of eyes a day at one of Boston's busiest intersections, the giant outdoor mural by Iranian artist Mehdi Ghadyanloo is a stunning expression of optimism he hopes can lead to better understanding between his homeland and the United States.



The 76-by-70-foot mural, painted on the side of a building across the street from South Station, appears almost three-dimensional, as if the admirer can join the line and find out what great secret awaits above.



I wanted to create something hopeful, especially now you always see so much bad news from all around the world, Ghadyanloo said. I think what we need as humans is hope to keep going and enjoy our lives.



It's the fifth mural at the site commissioned by the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy , which oversees a narrow, 1.5-mile-long strip of land created when the elevated highway that used to run through the city was torn down.



Iranians and Americans don't really understand each other, Ghadyanloo said.

The U.S. has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1980, the year after 52 American diplomats were taken hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Ghadyanloo, 35, had not even been born yet.

But he wants Americans to know that despite political tensions, Iranians and Americans are not that different. They have dreams, they yearn and they love. His art, he hopes, can explain that.



I think art is the international language, he said. It's like a bridge between all cultures.



Ghadyanloo studied hospital administration at the University of Tehran but found it boring. He soon discovered art was where his passion and talent lay.



After graduation in 2004, he answered an open call from the Iranian capital's beautification bureau to submit proposals for murals to brighten the city. He ultimately painted more than 100 between 2005 and 2012.



But he became weary of painting murals, until he was online and saw a previous mural on the same Boston building - which is actually an air intake for a subterranean highway - by the Brazilian twins known as Os Gemeos.



I said, `This is the wall that can be next for me, he said.



Across the ocean, Lucas Cowan, the Greenway's public art curator, was already an admirer of Ghadyanloo's work.



I'd been following him for about two years and when I contacted him through Facebook to see if he'd be interested in doing something in Boston I was thrilled he already knew the space, he said.



Spaces of Hope will stay up for a year before being covered up by another mural, and Ghadyanloo accepts his work's fate.



At least I can have a little bit of a positive effect on everyone's life, he said.
A contingent of Japanese troops arrived in South Sudan on Monday to join U.N. peacekeepers  a mission with an expanded role that critics fear could embroil them in their country's first overseas fighting since World War II.

The newly arrived soldiers will help build infrastructure in the landlocked and impoverished country torn apart by years of civil war.

But, under new powers granted by the Japanese government last year, the troops will be allowed to respond to urgent calls for help from U.N. staff and aid workers. There are also plans to let them guard U.N. bases, which have been attacked during the fighting.

The 350 soldiers are taking over from a previous contingent of Japanese peacekeepers who served in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, but were not authorized to use force.

Tsuyoshi Higuchi, a Japanese military information official, told Reuters that 67 troops arrived Monday morning. Another 63 are expected to land in the afternoon. The last of the 350 troops are scheduled to arrive December 15.

Japan policy

The new mandate is in line with security legislation enacted last year to expand the overseas role of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF), as the military is known. Critics said the move violates the country's anti-war constitution and could embroil Japan in overseas conflict.

South Sudan has been mired in violence since clashes erupted in December 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar.

Fighting largely along ethnic lines has caused the economy to sink, killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 2 million, and created a dire humanitarian situation, with nearly 5 million believed to be severely food insecure.

Machar returned to Juba this year after the sides reached a peace deal, but fresh fighting erupted outside the presidential palace on July 8 while Machar was inside.
A newly launched weather satellite could save lives by better predicting extreme weather.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations GOES-R satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on November 19 and will be in geostationary orbit some 36,000 kilometers above Earth. NOAA said it could  boost the nations weather observation network and NOAAs prediction capabilities, leading to more accurate and timely forecasts, watches and warnings.

NOAA said the satellite will require testing of its six instruments and will be operational within a year.

The next generation of weather satellites is finally here. GOES-R is one of the most sophisticated Earth-observing platforms ever devised, said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan. GOES-Rs instruments will be capable of scanning the planet five times faster and with four times more resolution than any other satellite in our fleet. With these new instruments and powerful new capabilities, GOES-R will strengthen NOAAs ability to issue life-saving forecasts and warnings and make the United States an even stronger, more resilient Weather-Ready Nation.

The greater detail will help improve hurricane tracking and intensity forecasts, the prediction and warnings of severe weather, including tornadoes and thunderstorms, according to a NOAA news release. Additionally, GOES-Rs improved rainfall estimates will lead to more timely and accurate flood warnings.

GOES-R will also help the aviation industry by giving better estimates of wind strength, as well as better detection of fog, ice or lightning.

One of the six instruments aboard GOES-R allows scientists to monitor lightning strikes and map them. This, NOAA says, will help track severe storms and issue more detailed warnings.

GOES-R will significantly improve the ability of emergency managers across America to prepare for, and respond to, weather-related disasters. Better situational awareness will result in better outcomes -- from where to best position resources ahead of a storm to delivering more targeted information to local officials to decide if an evacuation is necessary, said Craig Fugate, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator.

In addition to better weather forecasting, the satellite will be part of an international satellite-based search and rescue network and will be equipped with a special transponder that will be able to detect distress signals from emergency beacons.
President Barack Obama says he wants to be "respectful" of the office and give his successor the chance to present his platform without someone "popping off" all the time.

At his last scheduled international news conference following an APEC summit in Lima, Peru, Sunday, a reporter asked Obama if he will speak out if he sees Donald Trump undoing many of the policies that defined the Obama White House.

Obama said his plans right now are to finish his term, take first lady Michelle on vacation, spend time with his daughters, write, and think.

Obama said the job of president will force Trump to adjust on how he approaches the issues, which means he will have to govern more by reality and less on the rhetoric that helped him win the election.

He also said the Democratic Party does not need an overhaul despite the drubbing it took on election night. Obama noted that most Americans still agree with Democratic positions on gun control, health care and raising the minimum wage.

On Russia, Syria

Obama said the issue of alleged Russian interference in the election did not come up when he met on the sidelines of the Lima summit with President Vladimir Putin.

Obama said if the U.S. has elections that are not focused on the issues but are driven by fake news, false information, and distractions, he is more concerned about what Americans are doing to themselves from the inside than what is done from the outside.

He described his brief talk with Putin as candid and courteous, saying it focused on Syria and Ukraine.

Obama said he would like to see the Minsk peace deal for Ukraine come into full force before his term is up in exactly two months.

But the president said he is "not optimistic" about short-term prospects in Syria with Russia and Iran backing President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo.

Obama said he spent the last five years "wrestling" over how the U.S. should get involved in Syria.

There may have been a moral justification, but the president said there was no legal basis for military intervention, saying it would have been a strategic mistake.

He said the U.S. has to make sure to avoid statements that would further radicalize Muslims around the world, especially those he calls law-abiding Muslims in the United States and Europe.

The president called them "key allies."
Relatives of people who were victims of the regime of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos asked the Supreme Court Monday to exhume his remains from a Manila cemetery where they were recently buried.

The group says it did not have enough time to appeal a ruling that allowed his burial in the country's Heroes Cemetery.

"How can a plunderer and despot and violator of human rights be given that honor of being buried in the memorial of good men," said Congressman Edcel Lagman, brother of an abducted anti-Marcos dissident who was never seen again.

Another group Monday asked the Supreme Court to hold the Marcos family and the military in contempt for the "hasty, shady and tricky" burial of the long-dead president.

A major demonstration protesting Marcos' burial at the memorial is planned for Friday.

The Supreme Court recently endorsed a decision by President Rodrigo Duterte to bury the dictator at the cemetery.

Marcos was ousted in 1986 in a mostly non-violent "People Power" revolution when millions of Filipinos took to the streets demanding he step down.

His rule was marked by massive human rights violations.

In addition, he and his wife, Imelda, and their cronies looted billions of dollars from state coffers, plunging the country into crippling debt.

Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His remains have been on public display in his northern Philippine hometown.

Previous presidents refused to allow Marcos to be buried in the Heroes Cemetery.
Texas police have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a veteran Texas policeman, one of four officers shot in the line of duty Sunday in multiple states.

Police say the 31-year-old suspect, Otis McKane, was arrested without incident Monday evening following an extensive manhunt. They say they do not yet know the motive for the shooting.

The San Antonio detective was killed as he sat in his police car during a routine traffic stop outside the city's police headquarters.

Officials say the gunman pulled his car behind the policeman, walked up to the squad car, and shot the officer in the head through the car window. They say the gunman had briefly entered police headquarters earlier in the day to ask a question of the clerk.

Two shootings in Missouri

Also Sunday, there were shootings against police officers in Missouri and Florida, resulting in injuries.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement Monday that the shootings are "reprehensible acts" that "cannot be tolerated."

She said recent statistics show that 2016 has been an especially dangerous year for police officers with a significant increase in the number of officers killed in the line of duty. "As Attorney General, I regard this increase with the utmost seriousness and the Department of Justice is working closely with our partners in the field to improve officer safety and resilience," she said.

In Missouri on Sunday, a 46-year-old St. Louis police sergeant was shot in the face as he sat in his police car at an intersection. Officials say he is expected to survive and was able to speak after the attack. The suspect was killed later in a shootout.

Also in Missouri, a police officer in Kansas City was shot and wounded during a struggle with an armed suspect after a traffic stop. The suspect was killed in the incident.

Wounded officer treated, released

In Florida, a fourth police officer was shot, this time in the shoulder, during a traffic stop. Officials say the officer has been treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. The suspect was apprehended at his home.

Following the spate of shootings, police in Dallas urged police officers to work in pairs. Police in nearby Fort Worth, Texas, have instituted a mandatory two-officers-per-call policy, including on traffic stops.

The shootings Sunday come less than five months after deadly shootings against the police in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five Dallas police officers were killed in July when a black military veteran killed the officers to protest recent police shootings of minorities. Days later, a gunmen killed three police officers in Baton Rouge.
Pope Francis has extended to all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, according to an apostolic letter published on Monday.

The measure, previously in place temporarily for the duration of the just-ended Holy Year of Mercy, is now extended indefinitely.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," the pope wrote in the apostolic letter.

The right to forgive abortion was previously reserved only for bishops or special confessors.

Francis, however, stressed that abortion is a grave sin since it puts an end to an innocent life, but added there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the [Heavenly] Father.

The letter, entitled Misericordia et Misera (Mercy and Misery), was signed by Francis at the end of a mass closing the Holy Year of Mercy on November 20 but released a day later.

"May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation," he wrote.

The forgiveness also extends to all those involved in the act of abortion.

Conservatives in the church have criticized Francis over this flexible attitude and willingness to adapt the Catholic teachings.

In the past, he has asked for mercy for those who are divorced and seeking to remarry adding that remarried couples should be able to receive communion.

The Argentine pope has repeatedly called for "a poor Church for the poor, and also said gays should be respected but did not change the Church's position on same-sex unions, saying there are "no grounds" for its equation with heterosexual marriage.

On abortion, the pope has previously said, "No alleged right to one's own body can justify a decision to terminate that life, which is an end of itself."
President Vladimir Putin says Russia will take steps to counter NATO's expansion to nations on its borders.

In remarks made as part of a documentary film produced by American filmmaker Oliver Stone, to be aired Monday night by Russia's REN-TV, Putin suggested Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine was motivated by fear over the fate of Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea fleet is based.

Putin said the appearance of U.S. and NATO forces in Sevastopol would have been "very serious."

He added, apparently referring to the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO: "When a country becomes a member of NATO, it is already very difficult to resist the pressure from such a large country as the United States, the leader of NATO."

Watch video report from VOA's Zlatica Hoke:

'I don't always understand'

After a country joins NATO, Putin said, "anything" can appear there, including a missile defense system, new bases and a new missile strike system.

"And what should we do? We should in this connection take countermeasures. That is, place under the threat of our missile systems those facilities which, in our opinion, begin to threaten us," he said.

"I don't always understand the logic of our partners," Putin added. "Sometimes it seems that they need to hold in submission, and establish discipline over, their own Western, so-called Atlantic camp. This requires an external enemy. Despite all the apprehensions, Iran does not amount to that."

Missiles reportedly deployed

Meanwhile, the Interfax news agency reported Monday that Russia's military has deployed state-of-the-art Bastion mobile defense missiles in Kaliningrad, located on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania.

Also Monday, Viktor Ozerov, the head of the defense committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, said Iskander ballistic missiles and S-400 air defense missiles will be deployed in Kaliningrad, which is Russia's westernmost territory.
As Greece struggles to cope with refugees trapped within its borders, some are going the extra step to help. And for one man who has opened up his house for a Syrian family to live in, the refugee story is one that resonates particularly deeply. John Owens visits a Syrian family and their new host, whose grandparents themselves fled to Athens amid persecution.
In advance of World AIDS Day on December 1, a new report finds that more people with HIV than ever before are receiving life-saving treatment, leading to fewer deaths from AIDS-related illnesses around the world.

The report says just over 1 million people died from AIDS-related causes last year, compared to twice that number a decade ago. UNAIDS says this is because of the large number of people with HIV  18.2 million  who now have access to antiretroviral treatment. The agency also says the world is on track to reach the target of 30 million people with treatment by 2020.

The disease can be conquered if the necessary investment is made in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention programs, according to Peter Ghys, director of the UNAIDS Strategic Information and Evaluation Department.

We estimate that if indeed, like the funding is there and the coverage targets that are set out to be achieved by the year 2020, then that will lead to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030," Ghys said. "If the money is not there, then it is almost impossible to achieve that end.



Currently, the agency estimates $19 billion globally is available to spend on HIV-AIDS annually. UNAIDS says the global AIDS response will need about $26 billion yearly by 2020 to achieve the goal of ending the epidemic by 2030.

As in previous years, sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest prevalence of HIV-AIDS. Ghys says young girls transitioning to womanhood, particularly in that part of the world, are at high risk of becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

"There is evidence presented in the report that shows that young women between the ages of 15 and 19 represent a very large majority of new infections in that age group, ranging up to 90 percent in some studies in southern Africa, he said.

These young women usually do not know they are HIV-positive, Ghys says, so they do not get treatment and are likely to spread the disease to others.

The report finds that nearly 37 million people are living with HIV and, worldwide, 2.1 million people became newly infected in 2015.

There have been no declines in new HIV infections among adults since 2010 but, the report notes, new HIV infections among children have decreased by 50 percent since 2010, to 150,000 last year.
Russia outpaced the United States last season in wheat exports for the first time in decades and is forecast to secure its position this year as the worlds largest wheat exporter.

Good weather and effective management were credited with producing a record harvest this year and getting it onto world markets.

Russias Ministry of Agriculture said the overall grain harvest for 2016 is expected to be the biggest in four decades.

Grain production is projected to be more than 110 million tons, with 72 million of it being wheat.



The ministry said Russia plans to export 28 million tons of wheat in the 2016-2017 agricultural year.

Russias shrinking economy means there is less financing available for agriculture, says the president of Russias Grain Union Arkady Zolochevsky.

There is, however, an upside. At the same time the ruble downfall caused by the sanctions policy has improved their competitiveness in the foreign markets and became a basis for record wheat exports last season. And, this factor still continues.

Quality affected

But Russias dramatic rise to the top of world wheat exports has been accompanied by a drop in the overall quality of grain being produced.



Grain market experts say the unexpected reduction in the quality of Russian wheat exports was one factor that shrank earlier forecasts this year from an even higher expected 30 million tons.

It always happens when the crop is big that the quality of wheat is lower, says Zolochevsky. But that doesn't mean that we'll have fewer high-quality resources. It means that percentage-wise, its share becomes less. But in numbers, in quantity, the high quality wheat may be of the same amount as last year when the crop was not very big. Perhaps even more.

Animal feed wheat

The greater share of lower quality wheat includes fifth class grain usually sold as animal feed.

Russian media expressed some alarm at reports of animal feed quality wheat being mixed with higher quality wheat to make flour for bread sold domestically.



The fact that lower-quality grain of the 5th class, sometimes the fodder grain is used in making flour is not new and is known since the Soviet times, says Zolochevsky. The cost of food in Russia is cheap, unjustifiably cheaply. It is impossible to get good quality in a cheap product.

Zolochevsky says lower quality wheat does not pose any risk to health, it simply has less protein and less flavor; a small problem for factories producing cheap loaves of bread, but a bigger concern for Russias bakeries.

Id say that I haven't noticed much of it. But we are constantly watching the flour quality, says bakery owner Sergey Zhuravliov. If it gets worse, we start using another brand. We are constantly looking for new suppliers, for those who will provide a good quality and a good price.

To improve bread quality, Russian authorities should end price controls, argues Zolochevsky, and instead offer direct assistance to those in need.

A shift from subsidizing grain producers to increasing market competition and consumer purchasing power, he says, would also ensure a healthier economy.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliances actions over the years have been "defensive and proportionate, in line with international commitments.



Addressing a NATO parliamentary assembly meeting in Istanbul Monday, Stoltenberg touched on relations with Russia, the failed coup attempt in Turkey and presidential elections in the United States.



On relations with Russia, Stoltenberg said the alliance is pursuing a two-track approach of "strong defense coupled with meaningful dialogue."



"Everything NATO does is defensive, proportionate and fully in line with our international commitments. Before Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, NATO had no plans to send troops to the Eastern part of our alliance. NATO's aim is to prevent a conflict, not to provoke a conflict. Moreover, we firmly believe and we are firmly committed to a two-track approach to Russia; strong defense, coupled with meaningful dialogue."



Turkey coup attempt



He described the failed July coup attempt in host Turkey as a "sober reminder" democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted and must be "vigorously defended."





"We are meeting here in Turkey four short months after the failed coup attempt," he said. "This should be a sober reminder to us all, a reminder that democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted, they must be vigorously defended. In September, I met members of the parliament from all major political parties. They rushed to the parliament on the night of the coup attempt and stood together in defense of their democratic institutions. It made a lasting impression on me and I want to salute them today for their courage and their dedication to democracy."



Europe, US partnership



Stoltenberg said he is looking forward to working with the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Donald Trump, adding that better burden sharing will further strengthen the Trans-Atlantic bond.





"The partnership between Europe and the United States has been rock solid for almost 70 years. A partnership that has always received bipartisan support in the United States. Better burden sharing will make the Trans-Atlantic bond even stronger," he said.



Fighting terror



Addressing the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara needs the support of the world in the fight against terror, but he accused particularly the European Union and the United States of being ambivalent concerning such groups.



Erdogan said that without Turkey to act as a buffer between "terror organizations" and the rest of the world, "terrorists will set fire to the whole world and turn it into a bloodbath."



"Turkey is a veritable barrier between terror organizations and the rest of the world, especially Europe. If we fail in this fight [against terrorism], if this barrier is demolished, terrorists will set fire to the whole world and turn it into a bloodbath," he said.



Erdogan called on the United States and other nations to reassess his country's proposal for the creation of a no-fly zone in northern Syria.



"Let's announce a safe-zone, which will be cleared of the terrorists there [in Syria]. Let's [as Turkey] train and equip [local forces]. And there, we can undertake the [re-]construction of especially the residential areas, if you support us financially. Three: let's announce a no-fly zone."



Erdogan again criticized the allies' reliance on Syrian Kurdish fighters to battle the Islamic State group. Turkey considers the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters an extension of outlawed Kurdish militants in Turkey.
Top United Nations aid officials warned Monday that health care services in Syria have been devastated by bombings and the nearly six-year-old conflict.

"Over half the country's public hospitals and primary health care centers are either closed or only partially functioning," the World Health Organization's representative in Syria, Elizabeth Hoff, told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council via a video link from Damascus.

"Almost two-thirds of all health professionals have left the country; domestic production of medicines has dropped by two-thirds and vaccination coverage rates have dropped by half," she said.

Hospitals, clinics are targets

The result is that many Syrians are dying of preventable diseases, not just war injuries. Hospitals and clinics have also become a prime target of government and Russian warplanes.

Hoff said that in the first nine months of this year, there were 126 such attacks. Just this month, 11 hospitals were attacked in Aleppo, Idlib and Hama governorates  some more than once.

"Many patients are simply too afraid to travel to hospitals or clinics because they fear attacks, detention or abuse," Hoff reported.

"As of yesterday, there are barely any functional hospitals left in eastern Aleppo able to treat those who have escaped death, as all the hospitals are being bombed into oblivion," U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said.

Since July, eastern Aleppo has been the focal point of a massive military air offensive by the Assad regime backed by Russia. After a few weeks of relative calm, intensive bombing began again last Tuesday.

"Let me be clear," an angry O'Brien told the council. "This is not business as usual. What has been unleashed on civilians this past week is yet another low in an unrelenting inhuman onslaught."

Food stocks are gone

Some 275,000 civilians are under siege by government forces in opposition-held eastern Aleppo. On November 13, the last food stocks that the World Food Program had in that part of the city ran out. The government has not allowed aid workers into the east of the city since July. Medical supplies are also dangerously low.

O'Brien said residents there will soon face a "harsh winter without heating or the bare essentials for life."

They are not the only ones who will be suffering. O'Brien said the number of Syrians living in "besieged" parts of the country have nearly doubled over the past six months from 486,700 to nearly one million.

Accountability

"Russia and the Assad regime's merciless attacks must end," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council. "And those behind such attacks must know that we and the international community are watching their actions, documenting their abuses, and one day they will be held accountable."

She proceeded to name five Syrian commanders who she says Washington believes have been involved in military assaults on cities, residential areas and civilian infrastructure that could amount to war crimes.

"Now I know right now, today, with wind at their backs, these individuals feel impunity," Power said. "So, though, did Slobodan Milosevic, Charles Taylor, and countless war criminals before them. Today's atrocities are well-documented, and the civilized world's memories are long."

The American envoy also read out the identifying numbers of four Syrian military intelligence branches, an Air Force intelligence investigation branch, Sednaya prison, and the Tishreen and Harasta military hospitals, where she said torture has taken place and continues to take place.

She said the international community would be watching the officers who command those locations as well, and that they would also "one day be held accountable."

Russian skepticism

Russia's envoy, Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov, questioned the veracity of U.N. data on numbers of besieged Syrians.

"The purpose of such mathematical contortions is obvious. It is trying to present the government of Syria as the main party responsible for the suffering," Safronkov said. "If this is the case, it's an unacceptable approach."

He said it is not clear how the U.N. makes its calculations, as fighters do not allow the U.N. on their territory. He also criticized the U.N. for under-reporting the number of Syrians in government-controlled areas who are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Regarding attacks on eastern Aleppo, Safronkov said that since October 18, Russian war planes have not conducted airstrikes over Aleppo or within 10 kilometers around it.
Taiwan is planning an unusual military drill in the contested South China Sea to show its rivals and major world powers that it wants to ease a festering six-way maritime dispute rather than inflame it.

The coast guard and navy will hold a search-and-rescue exercise near Taiping Island, a Taiwan-held feature also known as Itu Aba. They will practice helping, for example, sailors battered in a storm and needing shelter. The drill in the Spratly archipelago advances Taiwans efforts since 2015 to be seen as a humanitarian player in an otherwise fractious dispute centered on how to accommodate Chinas quick expansion.

Taiwan has long been trying to frame itself as a regional peacemaker in the South China Sea dispute, said Jonathan Spangler, director of the Taipei-based South China Sea Think Tank. Humanitarian and search-and-rescue operations near Itu Aba would be a logical next step in backing up that political rhetoric with action.

Taiwan's claims

Taiwan claims virtually the whole 3.5 million-square-km (1.4 million-square-mile) tropical sea that spans from its south coast to Singapore. China makes the same claim and since 2010 it has stepped up landfilling  an estimated 3,200 acres (1,294 hectares) to date  and militarization of the ocean thats rich in fisheries and possible fossil fuel reserves.

Chinas moves have worried the smaller Southeast Asian claimants: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Because China also claims Taiwan itself and squelches its international diplomatic efforts, the government in Taipei lacks formal relations in Southeast Asia. The search-and-rescue campaign may get attention as a contrast to China's activity in the sea.

The legal basis for Taiwans South China Sea claim also took a hit in July when a world arbitration court found that Taiping Island doesnt qualify for an ocean exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles (370 km) offshore. The tribunal also rejected Chinas nine-dash line basis for calling 95 percent of the sea its own.

Historic claims

China and Taiwan cite the same historic records to support their claims. Taiwans legal entity, the Republic of China, developed the underlying argument for both when it ruled the mainland. China and Taiwan have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of 1940s.

Its pretty obvious the world doesnt really care about Taiwans claim to this sovereignty, said Nathan Liu, an international affairs and diplomacy professor at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. And then it would be very difficult for Taiwan to clarify that, because thats based on the claim Taiwan represents the whole China, so Taiwan is in a very difficult situation right now.

A search and rescue center

The coast guard-controlled Taiping Island is 1,400 meters (4,593 feet) long by 400 meters wide. It already has an airstrip, a clinic and lodging. Personnel there have rescued seamen from Vietnam, for example, who were hit by storms.

The shift toward building a humanitarian presence for Taiwan began under former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou. He issued a South China Sea peace initiative in 2015 suggesting that the six claimants shelve sovereignty disputes and find a way of developing the seas resources together.

Current President Tsai Ing-wen directed the coast guard in July to establish Taiping Island as a humanitarian search and rescue center, the coast guard said in a statement Sunday. The coast guard is now planning the search-and-rescue drill with an exact date dependent on weather, it said. The agency would not specify a scale, timeline or types of equipment to be used.

Military action would normally anger other claimants, especially Vietnam because its own Spratly holdings are near Taiping Island. Taiwan controls just one other Spratly archipelago feature, an uninhabitable sandbar.

Other claimants are unlikely to react publicly to Taiwans search-and-rescue drill, at the risk of appearing to concede sovereignty or upsetting China. But privately they may support it, analysts say, as their sailors someday could need help.

But Taiwan may win favor from its major informal allies, such as Japan and the United States, many of them skeptics of Chinas maritime expansion. Washington has asked that the South China Sea claimants strive to get along. Strong ties with world powers give Taiwan recognition it cannot get from diplomacy with its 22 formal allies, which are mostly small and impoverished countries that look to it for aid.

Its a way to change the narrative about Taiwan in the South China Sea -- not necessarily with the other claimants, but the narrative will be influenced in places like Washington, Tokyo, Canberra and Brussels, said Fabrizio Bozzato, an associate researcher specialized in international affairs at Tamkang University in Taiwan.
An attempt to block creation of an independent expert to challenge violence and discrimination directed at homosexuals and other persons based on gender identity failed Monday in the U.N. General Assembly human rights committee.



African states, led by Botswana, retroactively sought to block the work of Vitit Muntarbhorn, whose mandate came into effect on November 1 as the first U.N. Independent Expert on the Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). The position was created by the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council last June.



No nation or group of nations should pretend to hold a monopoly over cultural norms and therefore seek to impose those values on others, Botswanas U.N. ambassador Charles Thembani Ntwaagae told the committee.



The issue of LGBT rights is a divisive one among the organizations 193 member states. The U.N. says homosexuality is still a crime in more than 70 nations. Some countries oppose homosexuality based on religious or cultural grounds.

Botswana proposed a resolution to delay Muntarbhorns appointment until at least next September, so member states could confer further on whether there is basis in international law for establishing the position. The amendment had support from Russia, as well as many Muslim countries.



Its outrageous of parts of the African group to try to overturn the decision by the Human Rights Council, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters. Several states agreed that the challenge to the councils authority was inappropriate.

South Africa was one of the few African states that did not support delaying Muntarbhorns appointment.



South Africa is still healing the deep wounds caused by racial discrimination. We are not going to add fresh wounds to these wounds we are trying to heal in South Africa, their envoy said.



Latin American states, supported by many Western countries, submitted an amendment to the resolution deleting the request for the postponement. That amendment was adopted, as was the revised resolution, allowing the appointment to go forward.



Nearly 800 civil society groups signed an open letter calling on states not to block the SOGI appointment.



The establishment of the Independent Expert does not seek to create new standards, but simply to address within the existing framework provided by established international human rights law a protection gap for individuals facing violence and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, the letter reads in part.



Several states said Monday that they would not recognize or cooperate with the special rapporteur.
It sounds like a great idea: Forget passwords, and instead lock your phone or computer with your fingerprint. It's a convenient form of security - though it's also perhaps not as safe as you'd think.

In their rush to do away with problematic passwords, Apple, Microsoft and other tech companies are nudging consumers to use their own fingerprints, faces and eyes as digital keys. Smartphones and other devices increasingly feature scanners that can verify your identity via these "biometric'' signatures in order to unlock a gadget, sign into web accounts and authorize electronic payments.



But there are drawbacks: Hackers could still steal your fingerprint - or its digital representation. Police may have broader legal powers to make you unlock your phone. And so-called "biometric'' systems are so convenient they could lull users into a false sense of security.



"We may expect too much from biometrics. No security systems are perfect,'' said Anil Jain, a computer science professor at Michigan State University who helped police unlock a smartphone by using a digitally enhanced ink copy of the owner's fingerprints.



Bypassing the password



Biometric security seems like a natural solution to well-known problems with passwords. Far too many people choose weak and easily-guessed passwords like "123456'' or "password.'' Many others reuse a single password across online accounts, all of which could be hacked if the password is compromised. And of course some use no password at all when they can get away with it, as many phones allow.



As electronic sensors and microprocessors have grown cheaper and more powerful, gadget makers have started adding biometric sensors to familiar products.



Apple's iPhone 5S, launched in 2013, introduced fingerprint scanners to a mass audience, and rival phone makers quickly followed suit. Microsoft built biometric capabilities into the latest version of its Windows 10 software, so you can unlock your PC by briefly looking at the screen. Samsung is now touting an iris-scanning system in its latest Galaxy Note devices.



All those systems are based on the notion that each user's fingerprint _ or face, or iris _ is unique. But that doesn't mean they can't be reproduced.



Lifting prints, faking faces



Jain, the Michigan State researcher, proved that earlier this year when a local police department asked for help unlocking a fingerprint-protected Samsung phone. The phone's owner was dead, but police had the owner's fingerprints on file. Jain and two associates made a digital copy of the prints, enhanced them and then printed them out with special ink that mimics the conductive properties of human skin.



"We tried the right thumb and it worked right away,'' Jain said.



Researchers at the University of North Carolina, meanwhile, fooled some commercial face-detection systems by using photos they found on the social media accounts of test subjects. They used the photos to create a three-dimensional image, enhanced with virtual reality algorithms. The spoof didn't work every time, and the researchers found it could be foiled by cameras with infrared sensors. (The Microsoft face-recognition system uses infrared-capable cameras for extra precision.)



But some experts believe any biometric system can be cracked with sufficient determination. All it takes are simulated images of a person's fingerprint, face or even iris pattern. And if someone manages that, you can't exactly change your fingerprint or facial features as you would a stolen password.



To make such theft more difficult, biometric-equipped phones and computers typically encrypt fingerprints and similar data and store them locally, not in the "cloud'' where hackers might lift them from company servers. But many biometrics can be found elsewhere. You might easily leave your fingerprint on a drinking glass, for instance. Or it might be stored in a different database; Jain pointed to the 2015 computer breach at federal Office of Personnel Management, which compromised the files - including fingerprints - of millions of federal employees.



Compelled to unlock



Most crooks won't go to that much trouble. But some experts have voiced a different concern - that biometrics could undermine important legal rights.



U.S. courts have ruled that authorities can't legally require individuals to give up their passwords, since the Fifth Amendment says you can't be forced to testify or provide incriminating information against yourself. In the last two years, however, judges in Virginia and Texas have ordered individuals to unlock their phones with their fingerprints.



There's a legal distinction between something you know, like a password, and something you possess, like a physical key or a fingerprint, said Marcia Hofmann, a San Francisco attorney who specializes in privacy and computer security. While you can't be forced to reveal the combination of a safe, she noted, the Supreme Court has said you can be required to turn over a physical key to unlock a door.



"Getting your thumb print or iris scan is not the same as making you speak,'' agreed Orin Kerr, a law professor at George Washington University. "In practice it's another way of getting access to the computer, but through a very different means.''



The issue hasn't been tested yet in higher courts, though it's likely just a matter of time.



Even with vulnerabilities, some analysts say the convenience of biometric locks is a plus - not least because it may give the password-averse another easy option to secure their devices. "It's bringing secure authentication to the masses,'' said Joseph Lorenzo Hall, a tech policy expert at the nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology.



Others say the best approach would combine biometric systems with other protections, such as a strong password or PIN.



"It's good to see biometrics being used more, because it adds another factor for security,'' said Jain. "But using multiple security measures is the best defense.''


The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is failing to service is ESKOM and Mozambique power import accounts due to cash shortages.

ZESA chief executive Josh Chifamba told parliaments Mines and Energy Committee that the central bank is allocating the power utility $1.5 million weekly instead of the required $5 million.

Chifamba said Zimbabwe would be plunged into a crisis if power is switched off by ESKOM and Mozambiques power utility due to its huge debt.

He said ZESA would have to introduce more load shedding which will affect millions of Zimbabweans and local companies.

Chifamba refused to answer questions on Dema Power Plant said to be run by President Robert Mugabes son in law, noting that he cant speak on behalf of a private company.

He said further said ZESA was refurbishing its power plants and constructing new ones to ensure adequate power supplies in the country.
The aircraft carrier Amiral Kuznetsov has finally arrived off the coast of Syria, where it has been awaited for more than three months. As soon as it was positioned in the area, a bombing campaign by the Russian air force and navy began, both from the flotilla and from the air base in Hmeimim.

The flotilla fired a number of Kalibr mid-range missiles, while the bombers entered into action in the provinces of Idleb, Homs, and Aleppo. The main targets were the arsenals, arms factories and toxic gas laboratories.

For the last week, the Syrian Arab Republic has addressed SMS messages to the connected telephones in the zones currently targeted. It encouraged all the people living close to these targets to evacuate immediately.

The appropriate medical products and material have been distributed to hospitals in the proximity of the targets in order to be able to care for people who may be wounded by the dispersion of the weapons of mass destruction hit by the aviation.
The Supreme Military Council of the Army of Conquest has put a bloody end to the demonstrations of 17 and 18 November 2016 in East Aleppo.

The Syrian inhabitants were protesting against the decision by the Supreme Military Council to forbid them to leave the city. The Coucil answered them with live ammunition. According to the spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defence, Igor Konachenkov, during the first demonstration - 17 people, including two adolescents of 13 and 15 years old, were killed on the site, with 40 others wounded. The terrorists arrested about ten men whom they considered to be the leaders of the riots and took them to an unknown location. They were shot the same evening.

The Supreme Military Council, which already controls the tunnels, sowed land-mines along the access points to the city, thereby preventing anyone from entering or leaving the city by road.

The Supreme Military Council is composed of foreign jihadists, and placed under Saudi command.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: Actress Gabrielle Union attends The Birth Of A Nation International Premiere screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI) Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI

Since taking on a non-speaking role as a slave who is raped in Birth of a Nation, Gabrielle Union has become a vocal advocate for women of color and sexual-assault victims. In a new interview with Harpers Bazaar, the actress explains that she took the role in part because it would give her a platform to speak out about the history of sexual assault being used as a weapon of mass destruction against black female bodies.

I was going to then go on a press tour and be able to say all the things that Ive wanted to say, that Ive been saying for the past 25 years  whether that be testifying before Congress or state legislatures  to the biggest audience I was ever going to get to listen to me talk about sexual assault, explains Union, who is herself a rape survivor.



Birth of a Nation, once hailed as a possible Oscar-winner, lost momentum after it was revealed that writer, director and star Nate Parker had been accused of rape when he was a college student at Penn State in 1999. This is something we all signed up for with this very specific goal, says Union. Black liberation. Black resistance from the perspective of a sexual-assault survivor. And we dont even get to talk about that.

Union says she is particularly disappointed that the films female stars, like Aja Naomi King, who played Nat Turners wife, Cherry, arent getting the recognition they deserve. Its like we all got thrown out, she says. Its like the baby and the bathwater all went down the drain.

While Birth of a Nation may not have been the platform she had hoped for, Union isnt giving up her megaphone anytime soon. In the far-reaching profile  worth reading in full  Union describes the bullshit that comes with being a black actress (When do you stand up and point out every micro-aggression, and when do you stand down so youre not the angry black person all the time?), learning to embrace her blackness, and how she is calling out women in Hollywood like Kate Upton, Lena Dunham, and Amy Schumer for their white girl privilege. Union says she has already had one conversation about these issues with Dunham, and has suggested more conversations with white women in Hollywood would help to explain the oppressive systems that have benefited and allowed them to say these careless, insensitive and offensive things.

Going forward, Union says she would like to take on more behind-the-scenes responsibility on film projects, perhaps serving as an executive producer. Maybe the next slave narrative, Ill have a little more control, she says.
I spend a lot of my time watching and writing about reality TV. Probably more than I should for the sake of my health and well-being. Probably more than any person could justify. Of all the reality TV I watch, I love The Real Housewives of Atlanta the most because these bitches keep it moving. Every hour-long episode just flies by. Even with all their conversations about conversations, they pack in enough drama and emotion. You could say a lot about these Housewives  theyre petty, theyre childish, theyre spiteful, their wigs and weaves are so large theyre at risk of becoming sentient  but Ill be damned if these ladies dont keep me giggling. Phaedra and Porsha complimenting the trees on their waist-training corsets is so bizarre and absurd that you cant help but laugh. What are these women talking about?

This week, Kenya and Matts relationship returns to its full glory. Porsha, Phaedra, and Sheree are meeting to talk shit about Kenyas relationship like any good girlfriends would. Sheree thinks that Kenya has been sleeping her way to the top of the Z-list DVD rack, which is a read but also impenetrable. Kenya and Matt are driving to Cincinnati to attend his family reunion. (If any of you readers are in Cincinnati, please go see my friends at the Cincinnati Playhouse in Second Citys Holidazed and Confused. I would be in that show, but it required me to go live in Cincinnati for two months and I passed. Say hi to my old castmates, though!) Kenya and Matt have been back on for two weeks and theyre spending most of their time banging and working out in her unfinished front yard. Kenya is concerned that the age difference is going to scare Matts family off. Somebody should be scared off.

Kandi is at her office trying to organize the grand opening for the OLG when Kris Kelli comes in. Kris has a lot of nerve to just stroll in on a fake-ass business meeting, sit down, and start making demands like Let your deadbeat baby daddy have more contact with his daughter when no one wants that (including him). The stunned faces as Kris walks into the office are amazing. All those jaws need to be picked up. Todd is so shook he has to just walk away. Kandi holds her ground and lets Kris know that if Block wants to see his daughter, its up to Riley and him to work something out  and at the end of the day, its up to Block to make the effort and Riley gets to say no. Everyone keeps saying every daughter should get to know her daddy. Sure, if your daddy isnt a jerk who sends his girlfriend to do his business.

Kenya and Matt arent flying to Cincinnati  theyre driving a whole eight hours together so they can bond. That involves Kenya complaining for four hours, sleeping for two, and watching her dogs fight each other for the other two. What bonding. Meanwhile, Sheree is going to visit her ex-husband Bob who parades his thighs around and makes her a terrible smoothie. All of this is to ask her if he can move back in for no real reason. Does he want to save money on rent? He says its to spend more time with the kids, but he spends most of the visit making eyes at her and trying to grab her booty. Bob never apologized for anything that went down during their marriage or divorce, so hes got a lot of nerve trying to grab a handful of that booty. Can we just ban men from Atlanta? Theyre nothing but trouble.

Cynthia invites her mom and her sister over to help her daughter make beignets and get some of the gossip on Peter. It turns out Peter has been calling her sister to cry about how much he misses his wife. Okay, well, maybe if you were a better husband your wife wouldnt be gone. Cynthia is scared of being alone at age 50, but shed rather be alone than trapped in an unhappy marriage. She asks her mom for advice and her mom is just excited that Cynthia made good money and bought her a BMW.

Phaedra and Porsha meet up for a hike and display their booties to the wild. Porsha thinks its time to have a child and she doesnt need a husband to do so  but she is talking to her ex-boyfriend again and if he would like to, he could supply some baby-making materials to the good cause. Porsha goes to Krav Maga with her ex, Todd, and asks him if he would like to donate some sperm. Im sure the donation process would be fun for him, but he says he wants to be involved in her life. Theyre pretty cute. He looks like Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Kenya and Matt make it to Cincinnati and meet his family for brunch. Kenya tries to make nice, but when she tries a little too hard to be diplomatic, Matts sister Hallison sees right through her. Are you a cougar? What are you after? How does Matt feel about this? Kenya prepared for Mama Mattie to grill her, but not Hallison. Matts father, the man Pops from Black-ish is based on, jokes that Kenya is really the alpha male in the relationship. Oh, goody! Rigid gender roles! Later at the reunion, Kenya dances with some adorable children in their summer gingham and Mama Mattie takes Kenya aside and lets her know that they were all worried that the relationship wasnt going to work out. Kenya reassures her theyre both taking the relationship seriously. Mama Mattie thinks Kenya is going to make a great daughter-in-law.

The episode ends with Kandi and her issues with Block. While one of her friends is hanging out with Block, he tells a very different story, but hes not exactly willing to put in the effort to see his daughter. Riley also seems perfectly comfortable with just letting her dad talk his talk without creating a new relationship. Kandi goes to work out with Sheree and tells her shes kept a lot of things from Riley about how terrible Block was. Kandi swears she never stood in the way of Block and Riley. Its always hurt her to see Block let her daughter down because Kandi never had a relationship with her father. When Riley was a baby, Kandi told Block, Youll never have to worry about her. Youll need her before she needs you, and she seems to have been right. Shell give Block a chance, but shes not holding her breath.
Alia Shawkat as Dory. Photo: TBS

Would anyone even care if something bad happened to me? Dory Stewart (Alia Shawkat), the heroine of TBSs Search Party, asks that question early in this new comedy-drama about friends searching for a classmate whos gone missing. Its a testament to the shows precise control of tone that we read it for what it is: a rhetorical question, and maybe a philosophical inquiry directed at Dory herself. No, nobody would care if Dory disappeared. Well, not nobody  maybe Dorys family and some of her friends might. But would they take action? Not most of them. Theyd tweet or up-vote or text emoji to each other and then tell the same handful of like-minded people about how upset they were, as if describing their horror were the same as doing something about it.

Its rare to encounter a TV series that could accurately be described as a satire, much less an unsparing one, but Search Party  which TBS is airing all ten episodes of this week, beginning tonight  absolutely qualifies. Its a mystery about people trying to get to the bottom of a young womans disappearance, but thats just whats happening on the surface. The mystery is the gimmick that draws you in so that this exceptional and surprising show  credited to a rogues gallery of executive producers, including Michael Showalter, Sarah-Violet Bliss, and Charles Rogers  can work its dark magic. Dory hangs out with a group of New York twentysomethings who could be minor characters on HBOs Girls  comfortable, liberal, oblivious, white. But in many ways, this is the series that I always wanted Girls to be: sharper, cooler, more exact in its choice of targets, and less inclined to beg sympathy for fundamentally unsympathetic characters. It seems less influenced by any other TV series about twentysomethings than by such pitch-black, satirically minded art-house classics as The Exterminating Angel. How in the hell did this thing end up on commercial television?

Dory and her friends have all been confronted with an awful reality: One of their own, a classmate with the Thomas Pynchon-esque name Chantal Witherbottom (Clare McNulty), has vanished. Missing posters have gone up in Dorys neighborhood, and when she spots one for the first time, in the opening scene of the pilot, the image strikes her in a deep place. But its their reaction to this horror that really drives the series. Search Party is not mainly a procedural, although it does have that aspect, attempting to answer the question, If something like this happened in your life, what could you do to get to the bottom of it?

Chantals vanishing is a device that the show uses to explore Dorys world and make uncomfortable observations about modern life, in particular the tendency to confuse the ego-stroking virtual busywork of the text- and social media-driven era for actual, meaningful action. Dorys friend Elliott (John Early), a gay male version of a model-actress-whatever, learns of Chantals disappearance and greets it with barely a shrug, then instantly posts of his distress on Twitter. In shock. Sad news about a sweet girl. Keep an eye out, people. Portia (Meredith Hagner), an actress who prides herself on her ability to cry on cue, struggles to remember if she slept with one of the waiters serving her brunch, then announces that shes so sad she might weep; she is more consumed with her resentment of her more famous and accomplished sister and her cherished gig on a police procedural that seems rather like one of the many not-bad-so-why-change-the-channel series that are TBSs bread and butter. A fight between a couple on a lower Manhattan street ends with the camera panning to reveal a bystander who captured the entire thing on his iPhone and is probably going to upload it to Twitter.

Dorys boyfriend, Drew (John Reynolds), might be the most appalling of the bunch because he presents as a Nice Guy. When he and Dory overhear a possibly violent fight happening in the apartment of a couple that lives upstairs, she wants to intervene or at least report the disturbance, and he offers reason after reason why that would be pointless. Something terrible could be happening, Dory protests. Something terrible is happening everywhere, all the time, he counters. When he finally does intervene, the language he uses is so stalker-creepy  telling the young woman shes welcome to sleep on their couch and use their shower  that she curses him out.

Theres an even deeper level to this series, something on the order of an existential quest, a long journey into the heroines emotional interior. I dont know if its the nighttime New York settings or the generally dreamlike aura, but parts of Search Party reminded me  no joke  of Eyes Wide Shut, a gloss on the narrative structure of The Odyssey, but where the hero of that film keeps encountering women who represent aspects of his views towards his dissatisfied wife (Penelope to his Odysseus), here Dory keeps encountering women who seem to reflect shards of her own scattered, numbed psyche  in particular her fear that shes either imagining a lot of this or that shes going insane.

The condition of believing oneself sensitive while feeling very little has rarely been examined with such exactness. The cast is exceptional, never carrying themselves as if they are above the often confused, petty, or weak characters they portray; Shawkat in particular is a revelation, at times channeling the doe-eyed distress of Mia Farrow in Rosemarys Baby. This is just a great show, refreshingly unafraid to twist the knife  a late-breaking candidate for best series of 2016, arriving near the end of a year thats had so many candidates I can barely keep track of them.
The aftermath of the Hamilton-Trump feud turns ugly in Chicago, gets weird in Canada

Meanwhile in Canada. . .

By Travis M. Andrews November 21On Saturday evening, fans of Broadways smash hit Hamilton poured into downtown Chicagos PrivateBank Theatre for a showing put on by the musicals traveling cast.They were not throwing away their shot.Presumably, everyone was excited to see the show  tickets, after all, soared to more than $600 for some seats.John Palmer, 56, was presumably not in this number, though.In the song Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down), the cast sings Immigrants / We get the job done. When the cast reached this line at the Chicago show, the crowd cheered, as has become commonplace.Palmer, by contrast, stood and yelled profanities, audience member Brea Hayes told the Chicago Tribune. He continued ranting for two songs, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Jodi Cohen, who happened to be in attendance.During the song Dear Theodosia, Palmer allegedly yelled, We won. You Lost. Get over it. F you. He was escorted from the theater with little incident, although he allegedly initially resisted.He started raising his voice and throwing up middle fingers at anyone who looked at him, including me and my best friend, audience member Ken Keacher told pop culture website Pajiba.Kate Hoyt, who was with Keacher, said, He was saying things like, We won. Trump is president. Get over it. At some point Ken [Keacher] leaned into the aisle to try and tell him to leave and the guy then put up both his fists and said, Lets go, Democrats. Ill kill you all. Venue staff members told Broadway World that he was intoxicated. Palmer was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land after causing a disturbance at the performance and refusing to leave and has an initial court date set for Jan. 9, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.Audience members claimed the cast didnt skip a beat  literally  at the disruption.Finally, some of the fallout has been slightly humorous, such as what occurred in Canada. (Thats right  not even our neighbors to the north are safe from the collision of two of Americas most hotly discussed topics of 2016  Hamilton and Trump.)Hamilton Theatre Inc. in Hamilton, Ontario, staged a performance of The Toxic Avenger on Friday night. Riane Leonard, who was running the lights, checked her phone after the show to find a string of tweets directed at the small company.Excited, she looked through them. Quickly, her stomach tied itself into knots.The first one was something like, Im never supporting Hamilton Theatre again!  she told CBC. She said she thought,  Oh, sweet God, what did we do that was so wrong?Slowly, it dawned on her.Dozens of angry Americans tagged the Hamilton theatre companys Twitter account instead of the official Hamilton musical account, Leonard told CBC.Although the tweets led to a moment of panic, Leonard said she supports the casts decision.They had an opportunity to have their voice heard by someone who is very high up in their government, she said. I think it wouldve been a missed opportunity if not.With that in mind, she doesnt mind the mix-up.If we helped take any of the heat off our friends on Broadway, were here to help, she said.Wow. The Kanadian Klan is even dumber'n the American one!
Air Asia Year End Holiday Sale

Countdown to the Year-End Holidays, Air Asia is offering special promotion. Fly from Kuala Lumpur, to Kota Bahru, Krabi, Solo, Kolkata, Mauritius, Sydney and many more destinations from only RM29. This promotion is available for booking from now until 27 November 2016. Travel from now until 30 April 2017. Terms and conditions apply. Limited promo seats available.



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Asias leading airline was established with the dream of making flying possible for everyone. Since 2001, AirAsia has swiftly broken travel norms around the globe and has risen to become the worlds best. With a route network that spans through to over 20 countries, AirAsia continues to pave the way for low-cost aviation through our innovative solutions, efficient processes and a passionate approach to business. Together with Air Asia associate companies, AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines AirAsia Inc and AirAsia Japan, AirAsia is set to take low-cost flying to an all new high with belief, Now Everyone Can Fly.

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The Baylor Symphonic Band and the Baylor Wind Ensemble will present a free Lyceum Series concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Jones Concert Hall in Baylor Universitys Glennis McCrary Music Building.

H. Robert Reynolds, principal conductor of the Wind Ensemble at the University of Southern California, will be the guest artist for the program.

Reynolds retired from the University of Michigan after 26 years, and he has more than 30 years experience as conductor of the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings.

For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/music or call 710-3991.

Toys for Tots

The Salvation Army, 1225 S. Jack Kultgen Expressway, will continue Toys for Tots registration through Nov. 30.

Registration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays through Fridays.

Adults registering a child for the Christmas toy assistance program will need to bring a photo ID for all adults in the household; proof of income and expenses for the previous 30 days; proof of residency, which could include a bill or a lease; and a birth certificate to verify the childs age.

For more information, call 756-7271.

Community dinner

Edwards Chapel A.M.E., 3600 N. 21st St., will host a free, communitywide Thanksgiving Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

For more information, call 548-5251.

Medicare and More

The Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging will present a Medicare and More program from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Heart of Texas Council of Governments offices, 1514 S. New Road.

The program will cover Medicare parts A, B, C and D; supplemental insurance; Medicare advantage plans; and Social Security.

The open enrollment period for Medicare Part D ends Dec. 7.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call 292-1800.

MCC minimester

Registration for McLennan Community Colleges winter minimester will continue through 6 p.m. Dec. 12.

Minimester classes will run Dec. 13-28 and will cover a full semesters work in about two weeks.

Spring semester registration continues through 6 p.m. Jan. 14, with classes set to start Jan. 17.

Current MCC students can register through WebAdvisor at webadvisor.mclennan.edu.

New students should visit www.mclennan.edu/BeAHighlander.

For more information, call 299-8622 or visit the MCC Enrollment Services Center.

Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com.
Triumph Warehouse Sale

Triumph is having warehouse clearance sale. This promotion is only valid from 28 November  4 December 2016, from 10am  10pm at AEON Permas Jaya. Enjoy discount up to 50% and FREE Mystery Gift giveaway. Terms and conditions apply. Limited quantity and designs available, while stock last.



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Did you know that Catholics have the opportunity to attend Holy Mass more than just on Sundays? Daily Mass is offered in almost every parish, sometimes more than once per day. Priests preach and teach the Gospel within the Mass on a daily basis.

The Mass is also referred to as the Eucharist. Eucharist comes from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving.

Two favorite childhood memories of Thanksgiving Day stand out in my mind. The first is that we as a family would attend Mass that day at 9:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, Beatrice. The second memory is of my Grandpa Hajek leading our Thanksgiving meal prayer in his deep, devout voice.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, The Eucharist contains more than just receiving; it contains also the satisfaction of Christs hunger. He says, Come to me. He hungers for souls.

Jesus has no need for us to thank Him. It does not add to His greatness. But He chooses to have His hunger and thirst be satisfied and satiated by our prayerful worship.

This Thanksgiving, I celebrate being alive and being blessed with many gifts. I will remember you at the altar as I celebrate Holy Mass on Thanksgiving Day.
About this time of the year, bosses of the big four banks steel themselves for a showdown over the billions of dollars they lend to fossil fuel projects.

Environmental groups rightly want to hold banks accountable to their rather vague public support for fighting climate change, and many do this by asking tough questions about financing of big polluters at the banks' annual general meetings.

The Commonwealth Bank's annual meeting earlier this month was briefly brought to a standstill by chanting protesters, and you can be sure the ANZ Bank, the National Australia Bank and Westpac will face similar questions at their AGMs next month.

This year, critics of the banks also have a bit more ammunition.
Zara, Uniqlo and Topshop may have been embraced by Australia shoppers, but advocacy group Oxfam has urged the international giants to shed light on where and how their apparel is made.

Ahead of the key Christmas period, Oxfam has released its annual "Naughty & Nice" list detailing which big retailers operating in Australia are disclosing the location of their factories.

In a letter to donors, Oxfam said: "Wouldn't it be nice to know that the brands you buy from this Christmas are treating the women in their factories fairly?

"Since the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh shocked the world in 2013, many companies have promised to improve their practises, updated their code of conduct and sign on to pledges designed to protect workers.
George Brandis has been caught on camera calling his state party colleagues "very, very mediocre" in the latest embarrassing misstep for the Attorney-General.

The same tape also recorded Senator Brandis revealing the Coalition was alarmed about the growing popularity of Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party.

Preparing to deliver a special address at the Victorian Liberal Party annual meeting on Sunday, Senator Brandis was recorded criticising the Queensland state opposition and Labor government.

The video shows Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger asking Senator Brandis how the Liberal National Party opposition and its leader, Tim Nicholls, were performing ahead of the next state election in late 2017 or early 2018.
Independent MP Bob Katter arrives at the High Court to show his support for Senator Rod Culleton on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen 'I'm not committing to any dates. ". . . Judge me on my character, judge me as a proud West Australian for my constituents. ". . . I need to financially rehydrate my piggy bank, it's been damaged over the last few months." Adjourning to consider the senator's argument for more time, Justice French returned and said it was in the public interest - that being the composition of the Senate - to resolve the matter quickly, ruling the matter be dealt with next month, with further submissions due by the end of the month.

But he also ruled that given the complexities of the narrow legal argument, if Senator Culleton was unable to appoint his own counsel, the Commonwealth, through Senator Brandis' office, appoint a barrister to make the case to the court against the disqualification, enabling the senator to continue representing himself. "Wouldn't that be [like] sleeping with the enemy?" Senator Culleton asked, not ruling out appealing the decision to the "full bench of the High Court" as he said "it's flogged already before I even look at it". Justice French explained the narrow nature of the case to the senator again, which the senator greeted gleefully, asking whether in the justice's opinion, it was "best we go to George Brandis and we hug . . . and say, is there a way forward?" "I won't comment on your personal relationship," the Justice replied, before dismissing Senator Culleton's matter and moving on to the case of former Senator Bob Day, which he found to be much more legally complicated and adjourned until February. Surrounded by his staff, Senator Culleton took his time leaving the court, allowing Kennedy MP Bob Katter time to arrive and declare his support for the One Nation member, who he said had been dealt "rough justice".

"I'm not, like everyone else, abandoning Culleton, no, I am going to stand right beside him with as much aggression as I can possibly show and one has to have a little bit of suspicion that when you take on the big boys, people like the banks and the major parties of Australia, and it seems to be your own leader, then we get thrown and smashed to pieces and I have just seen this happen too many times," Mr Katter said. "I supported Pauline Hanson when it was happening to her and I am going to support Rod today, when it's happening to him." But despite his support, Mr Katter said he had not approached Senator Culleton to join his party, but had become "very angry" when a third party did. "I said at the time, we don't take rats and if Culleton is leaving a sinking ship or whatever it might be and coming to us, we don't take rats," Mr Katter said. "But I know Culleton and he ain't a rat, right, so he won't come anyway.

". . . But you know, if Rod is out in the cold, these are decisions for him to make . . . and I just wish Pauline was down here showing loyalty to her troops as well. And I'm certain that she'll come back to the fold, but at the present moment, that is not the case. " . . . He's not a rat, his party has ratted on him it would appear . . . and if it turns out, that he hasn't ratted, but he has been ratted on, well that is a horse of a different colour, a very different colour indeed." Emerging himself just moments later, surrounded by his loyal staff Senator Culleton made it clear he was "not a rat" and was "One Nation at the moment", and if he was to go, it would be up to others. As for the case, he said it came down to what "annulment actually means" and he would wait for the government submissions until making his next move. But he said he had already made his mark on Australian political history.

"I've already won," he said. "I've come here, I've got the royal commission [into banks] now, which will go ahead in Perth and I've done it so well for Malcolm [Turnbull], he just has to sign it and drive away no more to pay, I'll even throw a radio in, and we've looked at the courts for a fair go and here we go, we are going to argue about an annulment, I mean really. ". . . I am going to have a jury on this and that is what we want, because I want a fair trial and I do want a jury." But while Senator Culleton would not comment on his party leader's support, or lack of it, he sought to downplay any suggestions his mental health was suffering as a result of the case. "Can I be very frank with you - my wife is a psychologist and I can tap in 24/7 and the last report I got out of her, she said I was a machine," he said.
But it was not all good news for the Government.

One of the two pieces of legislation passed in a badly-needed win for the Turnbull government. Employment Minister Michaelia Cash managed to woo every single crossbencher except Tasmanian Jacqui Lambie. [ My report/Fairfax ]

The Senate sat well into the early hours of Tuesday morning, debating the Government's union-busting bills.

Even before the sleep deprivation there were some tense moments when the Nationals split and voted against Turnbull's ban on the Adler shotgun. What's more, they were driven to the defiance by the government's own "inaction" on the issue, say at least two government MPs. [My report/Fairfax]

This comes after the extraordinary swing against the Nationals in the Orange byelection and Attorney-General George Brandis' careless admission that the LNP party in his home state of Queensland may split. [Philip Coorey/Financial Review]

Senator Kimberley Kitching. Credit:Andrew Meares

Before we leave the Senate, take note of this motion passed against Bill Shorten's Captain's Pick for the senate - Kimberley Kitching. The government, , passed a motion noting she was found to have provided untruthful evidence to the Fair Work Commission. [Michelle Grattan/The Conversation]

The motion is only symbolic but the attack on Kitching and its implications going forward for Shorten are critical and should be watched closely.
Okay, time for me to wind things up. What happened?

One Nation senator Rod Culleton appeared before the High Court ;

appeared before the ; his case will be heard by a full bench of the court in December;

the government's registered organisations legislation looks unlikely to be voted on tonight;

looks unlikely to be voted on tonight; Immigration Minister Peter Dutton found himself in hot water over comments on migrants in question time ; and

found himself in hot water over comments on in ; and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be back on home soil tomorrow.

My thanks to Alex Ellinghausen and Andrew Meares for their exemplary work today and, to you, for reading and commenting.

You can follow me on Facebook.

Alex, Andrew and I will be back in the morning. See you then.
Hospitals across Victoria have been left reeling after an unprecedented number of people suddenly fell acutely sick on Monday evening, in what is believed to be a mass incident of "thunderstorm asthma".

Ambulance Victoria was flooded with calls after a storm hit Melbourne shortly before 6pm, prompting a "major disaster response" from emergency services.

The demand was so great that Ambulance Victoria ran out of ambulances and had to call in police officers, non-emergency patient vehicles and field doctors trained for disasters to help with transporting acute patients to hospital.

State health commander Paul Holman said in his 40 years as a paramedic he had never seen an event like it.
PLATTSMOUTH  A local resident pled guilty Monday morning to his third charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Union resident Kevin D. Booher, 42, appeared in Cass County District Court for a hearing on one Class W misdemeanor count of DUI-third offense. The state agreed to reduce its original Class IIIA felony charge of DUI-third offense-.15+ in exchange for Boohers guilty plea. The plea deal did not contain any language regarding sentencing.

Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm told the court a Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy stopped Booher for speeding at 7:47 p.m. April 21. The deputy pulled Booher over on Highway 75 in between Bay Road and the Platte River Bridge. The deputy smelled the odor of alcohol when he approached Boohers car.

Booher had slurred speech and had trouble walking once he got out of the car to speak with law enforcement. Palm said the deputy observed multiple signs of impairment during a field sobriety test. A background check also revealed Booher was driving on a suspended license for a DUI conviction in Arkansas.

The deputy arrested Booher and transported him to Cass County Jail. A chemical test conducted at the jail revealed a blood-alcohol content level of .166.

Palm said Booher had two previous DUI convictions on his criminal record. The first offense took place in 2005 in Oklahoma. The second conviction took place in Arkansas in 2010.

Booher remains free on bond. The court set a sentencing date of Jan. 17.
Bangkok: The fate of dozens of babies carried by Cambodian surrogate mothers for Australian biological parents is uncertain amid a crackdown on commercial surrogacy in Cambodia.

Authorities in the capital, Phnom Penh, have called a meeting for Thursday where Australian officials are expected to appeal to the Cambodian government to put in place transitional arrangements to protect babies, surrogate mothers and intending parents.

Australian nurse Tammy Davis-Charles is questioned by Cambodian police in November of last year. Credit:Cambodian National Police

The Australian embassy asked Australian couples in the city who have babies born or on the way to go to the embassy on Monday with their paperwork to discuss the crisis.

Cambodia's Health Ministry issued a proclamation on October 24 banning commercial surrogacy, throwing into doubt the future of hundreds of surrogacy arrangements in the country that became the latest hub for surrogacy after booming commercial surrogacy industries in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka were shut down.
It began when a few families made a daring and dangerous voyage across the Atlantic. Braving icy waves in leaky ships, they risked everything for the freedom to follow their beliefs and build a better life. When they landed at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, they had little food and no shelter. Relying on help from Native American Indians of the Patuxet tribe, these pilgrims endured New Englands bitter winter and gave thanks.

Tomorrow, we celebrate Thanksgiving with food, friends, and, most importantly, family. At home in the Sandhills, our table is usually laid with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and the famous green bean casserole. My husband Bruce has to have his cranberries. The kids like lots of whipped cream on the pumpkin pie.

This year, though, I will spend Thanksgiving with the men and women who make our family celebration possible: members of our armed forces. This holiday season, many of them will be serving in far-flung corners of the world. We are so grateful for their service; we also understand the responsibility it places on us.

Thanksgiving celebrates American ideals: freedom of religion, a quest for community, and hope for a better life for our family and families to come. Our service members give us the chance to live those ideals, but we must act on this opportunity.

After this historic election, I believe we will.

The American people have spoken. They want to see our country set out in a new direction. They have been frustrated these past eight years. I have too. Thats why I am excited to work with President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence. Together, we will chart a new course. We will help our families by reining in expansive government. With our Republican Congress, we will work to grow economic opportunity, strengthen our safety, and make it easier for families to pursue their dreams with hope.

The pilgrims came to America seeking these things. Throughout our history, we have remembered their courage and willingness to endure great hardship in the pursuit of freedom. At times, this pilgrim pride has surprised foreign travelers and diplomats.

In the early 1800s, the famous French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville made a powerful observation. He noticed many small towns across America publicly displayed carefully preserved fragments of Plymouth Rock. He was amazed that our people honored a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant. Reflecting on this, the French diplomat asked an important question: What has become of the gateways of a thousand palaces?

Plymouth Rock is a national symbol of our beginning. The diplomats question points to the power of freedom. In America, a simple rock is more meaningful and sacred than a mighty castle.

America is a country built on freedom. Our service members guard it for us, and I am honored to be spending Thanksgiving with them this year. In your home, between helpings of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie this holiday, please spare a thought for the members of our military. Better still, offer a prayer. And lets all remember the opportunity we have because of them. Like the pilgrims before us, we can follow our faith, build better lives for our families, and, in peace and safety, become the great people we know we can be.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
At the invitation of the African Union (AU) Commission, the WCO Secretary General participated in the 8th Ordinary Meeting of the African Union Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs (AUSCDGC). The meeting entitled From Barriers to Bridges - Implementing One Stop Border Posts (OSBP) for Improved Trade Facilitation was held on 17 and 18 November 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The meeting was attended by Directors General of Customs and representatives from approximately 25 Customs administrations together with AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and International Organizations. Discussions were brought on the African Unions important agenda of creating a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) within the framework of Boosting Intra African Trade (BIAT) for economic growth and development on the African continent. The significance of OSBP as a concept for removing barriers to trade at border posts was therefore highlighted as a trade facilitation measure that would speed up the establishment of the CFTA.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Happias Kuzvinzwa, Acting Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), who welcomed participants to Zimbabwe and to the 8th Ordinary Session of the AUSCDGC. He applauded the meetings theme noting how it related to the subject of turning trade barriers into bridges that facilitated smoother movement of goods and people and improved connectivity amongst African States, recalling the benefits brought to the region by the Chirundu OSBP between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The meeting was also characterized by interventions from Mr. Deo Rugwiza Magera, Director General of Democratic Republic of the Congo Customs and Excise, and outgoing Chairperson of the AUSCDGC, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Lazarus Kapambwe, Special Adviser on Economic Affairs to the African Union Commission Chairperson, and Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO.

In his address, Secretary General Mikuriya thanked the AU Commission and the outgoing Chairperson of the AUSCDGC for inviting him to the meeting and also expressed his appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe for their warm welcome and hospitality. The Secretary General recalled the theme of the meeting and highlighted its alignment with the WCO Vision Statement of Borders Divide, Customs Connects. He reiterated the WCOs support for AU programmes aimed at Boosting Intra African Trade through the development of several instruments and tools to enhance economic competiveness among African Member States. Mr. Mikuriya noted the encouraging developments to ensure trade facilitation and economic competitiveness through the WTO TFA and reiterated the WCOs active involvement through the Mercator Programme providing tailor-made support to Customs administrations, especially in Africa.

In his concluding remarks Dr. Mikuriya emphasized technological development as a driver to current global trade. Referring to the WCO's 2016 theme, Digital Customs: progressive engagement, he pointed to the critical role played by technology in improving Customs procedures. In this regard, he informed the audience that the WCO would further explore this focus in 2017 with the theme of Data Analysis for Effective Border Management.

The second day of the meeting included a panel discussion session on OSBP comprising WCO Secretary General Mikuriya and representatives from Cote dIvoire, Zimbabwe, the Pan African Parliament, African Development Bank, and the East African Community. During his presentation, Dr. Mikuriya provided concrete examples of OSBP in Europe and Asia, and described the instruments and programmes developed by the WCO in support of OSBP. He also referred to the OSBP Source Book developed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the AU and RECs with the support of the WCO, as well as the WCOs work to develop Transit Guidelines in support of OSBP.

The 8th Ordinary Meeting of AUCSDGC was preceded by a three-day Experts Meeting.
In June 2014, the Central Customs Laboratory (CCL) of Japan became Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL) for the Asia-Pacific Region and since then has undertaken a number of activities. The most recent was a WCO regional workshop on capacity building of Customs laboratories, which took place at the CCL in Kashiwa, Japan, from 9 to 11 November 2016. The seminar was organized by ROCB Asia-Pacific in cooperation with Japan Customs and funded by CCF-Japan. Twenty-nine Customs laboratory and high-level staff from 23 countries in the region participated in the workshop, which focused on the sharing of good practices on Customs chemical analysis.

Representatives from the Central Expert-Criminalistic Customs Administration (CECCA) of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, which became Central Customs Laboratory for the WCO Europe Region in October 2016, also attended and made presentations on the structure of the Customs laboratory work in the Russian Federation and on methods for identifying polymers. A representative from the European Commission, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, made a presentation on the Customs Laboratories European Network (CLEN), including details on the database containing analytical methods applied by the Customs laboratories in the EU.

In his opening speech, Mr. Hiroshi Kishimoto, Deputy Director General of the Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan, welcomed all participants and stressed the importance of the scientific work carried out by Customs laboratories in relation to revenue collection and protection of society and the environment, as well as trade facilitation. In order to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the laboratory work in the region, Japan Customs had published the first version of "Good Practices on Customs Chemical Analysis" and Japan Customs would continue the work in this regard. However, further regional cooperation was required and he invited all participants to share their good practices.

The WCO and ROCB A/P representatives echoed the importance of sharing good practices and analytical methods and noted that the workshop would provide a good example to other Customs laboratories on how to enhance the work using a regional approach, set forth in the approved Action Plan for Phase III of the Revenue Package. The participation of colleagues from the Russian Federation and the EU was also seen as an important step for more inter-regional cooperation.

During the workshop, participants learned about the WCO and its mission, the HS-2017 amendments in the chemicals sector, the Customs Laboratory Guide, the role of a Customs Laboratory, the role of the Asia-Pacific RCL and the WCO-Japan Regional Customs Laboratory Programme, and the ROCB Asia-Pacific activities.

On the main topic "Sharing of good practices on Customs chemical analysis", 30 presentations were made by the participants and staff from the CCL, covering analysis of minerals, inorganics, petroleum products, fats and oils, polymers and rubbers, ground-nuts, ceramic tiles, drugs, as well as the establishment and improvement of Customs laboratories. These presentations were well received and showed the goodwill of cooperation in the region.

The practical work of a Customs laboratory was also shown during a tour of the CCL where examples of the use of non-intrusive instruments, DNA analysis on food products, and drug testing were given.

In his closing speech, Mr. Noriaki Oka, Director General of the CCL/RCL, stated that the workshop had provided a good opportunity to gain knowledge and to exchange experience and he invited the participants to make use of the knowledge and to use the network that had been established. He emphasized that Japan will continue to cooperate and noted that the second version of the "Good Practices on Customs Chemical Analysis" was under development and would be published in due course. The workshop had also paved the way for further international cooperation on Customs laboratory work.
By: CBS News

November 21, 2016

SAN ANTONIO (CBS News)-- After a massive manhunt, police in San Antonio have made an arrest in the fatal shooting of an officer who the chief said was targeted because of his uniform.

The San Antonio detective writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist was shot to death in his squad car late Sunday morning outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, authorities said.

San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the officer as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

The 31-year-old suspect was arrested Monday afternoon driving in a car with a woman and a two-year-old child, McManus said. He was taken into custody by a SWAT team and no one was injured, McManus said.

Sunday evening, police posted a picture of a person they said they were hoping to identify in connection with the case. Police also released video of the person via their Facebook page on Monday, calling him a suspect and showing him apparently entering the public safety headquarters. McManus said the suspect they arrested is believed to be the person seen in the video.

Marconi was among four officers shot across the nation Sunday. A St. Louis sergeant shot in the face was also believed to have been targeted because he was a police officer. He was released from the hospital Monday.

Speaking at a Monday morning press conference, McManus said investigators have several ideas about why the suspect may have been at the headquarters, but wouldnt detail them.The suspect asked a desk clerk a question but left before receiving an answer, said McManus, who declined to say what the man asked. Police also released a photo of the suspects car, which they believe is a 2009-2015 black Mitsubishi Galant with custom rims.

The suspect was driving a different car at the time of his arrest, McManus said.

McManus declined to explain why police believe the man shot Marconi, saying he didnt want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

CBS San Antonio affiliate KENS-TV reports Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, knew Marconi personally. He said Marconi leaves behind two adult children.

Ben was a great guy. People loved him, and certainly, he had an aura about him, Helle said. You had to go out of your way to not like him. So hes that good of a guy.

McManus said he doesnt believe the suspect has any relationship to the original motorist who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified. The original motorist was questioned and released, McManus said.

McManus said he believed Marconi was slain because he was a police officer.

I think the uniform was the target, and the first person who happened along was the person he targeted, McManus said.

Sundays fatal shooting in San Antonio came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

Its always difficult, especially in this this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country, McManus said.

By: CBS News

November 21, 2016

(CBS News) -- Two police officers have been shot in separate incidents in what authorities are calling targeted attacks. One died; the other was shot twice in the face but was expected to survive.

They were two of four officers shot Sunday in four incidents.

A San Antonio detective writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist was shot to death in his squad car late Sunday morning outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, authorities said.

San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the officer as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

Sunday evening, police posted a picture of a person they said they were hoping to identify in connection with the case. Police also released video of the person via their Facebook page on Monday, calling him a suspect and showing him apparently entering the public safety headquarters:

Suspect in Capital Murder of SAPD Det. B. Marconi SAPD Chief McManus will hold a media briefing at Police Headquarters at approximately 10AM and we will be going LIVE here on Facebook. This video is a slowed 10 sec clip focusing on the suspect's face as he enters Public Safety HQ. Posted by San Antonio Police Department on Monday, November 21, 2016

Speaking at a Monday morning press conference, McManus said investigators have several ideas about why the suspect may have been at the headquarters, but wouldnt detail them. Police also released a photo of the suspects car, which they believe is a 2009-2015 black Mitsubishi Galant with custom rims.

McManus declined to explain why police believe the man shot Marconi, saying he didnt want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

CBS San Antonio affiliate KENS-TV reports Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, knew Marconi personally. He said Marconi leaves behind two adult children.

Ben was a great guy. People loved him, and certainly, he had an aura about him, Helle said. You had to go out of your way to not like him. So hes that good of a guy.

Police said the search for the suspect was still underway early Monday and that no arrest had been made. McManus said he doesnt believe the suspect has any relationship to the original motorist who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified. The original motorist was questioned and released, McManus said.

McManus said he believed Marconi was slain because he was a police officer.

I think the uniform was the target, and the first person who happened along was the person he targeted, McManus said.

McManus called the suspect extremely dangerous to both the police and the public and urged anyone who sees him not to approach him, but to call police.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the slaying of Marconi a horrific act of violence. Abbott said in a statement that attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals were helping the San Antonio Police Department in the search for the suspect, federal officials told CBS News. Abbott announced a reward of $15,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case, bringing the total reward offered in the case to $25,000.

San Antonio officers were being instructed not to carry out traffic stops alone after the shooting, KENS reports.

In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot twice in the face Sunday night in what the police chief called an ambush. Police reported early Monday that the suspect was later killed in a shootout with police.

CBS St. Louis affiliate KMOV-TV reports the shootout started when the suspect again shot at officers.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old sergeant, a married father of three and 20-year veteran of the department, was shot twice in the face.

Fortunately for the blessing of God the officers going to survive, Dotson said during a brief news conference after the shooting. He declined to name the sergeant.

The sergeant was not involved in a call or a traffic stop but was sitting in traffic about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when another car pulled up alongside his marked police vehicle. The officer told police he heard at least two shots.

This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officers window, Dotson said.

Police reported that officers later pulled up behind the suspects vehicle and that he fled on foot. Police said the man fired shots at the officers, who returned fire, killing him. No officers were shot.

Police said the suspect was wanted for violent crimes and likely feared being recognized. Police tell KMOV they knew the suspect by name and believe he could be connected to several robberies and possibly a carjacking and a homicide.

KMOV reports officers uncovered a pistol at the scene with a high capacity magazine and investigators say they believe the gunman had additional magazines. Following the shooting, all officers in the city were to begin patrolling with a partner.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay told KMOV the sergeant was shot without provocation.

He didnt deserve this, Slay said. He was just doing his job, but he was targeted because he was a police officer.

Two other police officers were also shot Sunday night, but it wasnt clear whether the incidents were targeted attacks.

An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot, along with a suspect. A Sanibel, Florida, officer was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop Sunday night, and was treated for his injuries and released.

Kansas City police issued a statement Monday morning saying that late Sunday night, Gladstone PD stopped a vehicle on a traffic violation. Someone ran from the vehicle, and Gladstone police chased the person on foot. Officers tried to take the suspect into custody and a struggle ensued during which the suspect produced a handgun. Shots were fired and the suspect was fatally wounded. A Gladstone PD officer was also shot, suffering non-life threatening injuries. The driver was taken into custody but was later questioned and released.

Sundays fatal shooting in San Antonio came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

Its always difficult, especially in this this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country, McManus said.

McManus said there was no apparent link between the St. Louis and San Antonio shootings.

I will say certainly that its a coincidence, but were not going to venture to say that its connected, McManus said.
Along with the change of season comes new beginnings at Keep Fremont Beautiful. After spending nearly five years in the Main Street Collective
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An Omaha man was sentenced to a multiple-month prison sentence Monday morning in Dodge County District Court for committing two felonies in mid-September.

Tien Nguyen, 41, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted burglary and being in possession of methamphetamine, both Class IV felonies.

Through a joint agreement, the defendant, represented by attorney Brad Nick, was sentenced by Judge Geoffrey Hall to spend six months in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Under the current law, Nguyen could have faced two years in prison, nine to 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine.

Nguyen was credited with serving 68 days in Saunders County Jail and under the Good Time Law of Nebraska, could be eligible for release in 98 days.

The defendant was arrested Sept. 14 when a Dodge County Sheriffs Office Deputy was patrolling the area of County Road 16 and County Road Q in Ames  four miles west of Fremont, court records show.

While patrolling the area, law enforcement noticed a red Toyota Tacoma leaving the driveway of a residence, and a traffic stop was subsequently conducted at Highway 77 and County Road P after the driver of the car ran a stop sign while attempting to pull onto the highway.

Contact was made with the driver of the vehicle, Nguyen, and his passenger, 39-year-old Christopher Lewis, of Ralston.

One deputy who responded to the scene went back to the residence the vehicle left from and made contact with the property owner. An investigation of the property led to the discovery of muddy footprints around a locked building on the grounds, and video footage from trail cameras showed Nguyen and Lewis attempting to gain access inside of the building, records show.

Both suspects still had mud on their shoes when deputies stopped the vehicle.

They said they were there (on the property) for the purpose of stealing gas, Dodge County Sherriff Steve Hespen said during a September interview.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of methamphetamine and a machete-type instrument under one of the seats. Its believed that the weapon was in the suspects possession prior to the attempted theft.

Nguyen was arrested and charged with attempted burglary, possession of methamphetamine, criminal trespassing, carrying a concealed weapon and driving during revocation.

Lewis was arrested and charged with attempted burglary, possession of methamphetamine and criminal trespassing.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. 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Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 Nomad Foods: A Defensive Stock on the Move Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot Uber Stock Surge On The Back Of Profitabilty

S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 Nomad Foods: A Defensive Stock on the Move Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot Uber Stock Surge On The Back Of Profitabilty

S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 Nomad Foods: A Defensive Stock on the Move Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Without Graphite, There Would Be ZERO EV Batteries! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot Uber Stock Surge On The Back Of Profitabilty
Ballot proposal asks Kentucky voters whether there's a right to an abortion
Advertisement

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 20, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 20, 2016 | 04:14 PM | PADUCAH, KY

On Saturday, Nov. 26 historic downtown Paducah will host the "Dickens of a Christmas Small Business Saturday" event organized by Paducah Main Street From 10 am until 4 pm.



Downtown Paducah will be transformed into a Dickens atmosphere for the event, with free Victorian carriage rides, dancers, carolers, and characters in costume. Downtown Development Specialist/Paducah Main Street Director Melinda Winchester says, Our Small Business Saturday event is a chance to spend the day with family and friends while supporting your local businesses. This event keeps dollars in the community and creates a thriving downtown. Local small businesses look forward to helping customers find perfect holiday gifts.



Winchester adds, This is our third year of hosting Dickens of a Christmas and the community reaction to participate has been outstanding. I believe it will be bigger than last year. Its a perfect way to wrap up your Thanksgiving holiday and kick off Christmas shopping. Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Princesses will parade down Broadway in the carriage to the gazebo promptly at 10 am.



Other activities on the 26th include a free gift wrapping station and free hot chocolate, wassail, and coffee. There will be roasted nuts and s'mores at the fire pit near the gazebo. Holiday craft stations for kids will be at three locations hosted by MAKE Paducah, McCracken County Public Library, and the Art Guild of Paducah. McMurry & Livingston will host Christmas story-time from 1 until 3 pm at 201 Broadway. Four of the Disney Princesses, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Rapunzel, will be at the Market House Theatre to meet and greet. Plus, The Grinch Who Stole Dickens will be creating havoc in downtown. Later, the Grinch will be in his sleigh for pictures at 333 Broadway. Elsa and Olaf from the movie Frozen will be at Farmers Daughter Soap Company located at 104 Broadway.



Sponsors for this years event are Paducah Bank and Paducah Economic Development. Partners include Paducah Tilghman High School, Paducah Middle School, Graves County High School, local scouting troops, Daughters of the American Revolution, Paducah Youth Symphony and the Childrens Choir, and many talented local vocalists.



Founded by American Express in 2010, Small business Saturday is dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country.
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In loving memory of Lillian Elizabeth Duncan (Haney)  Oct. 28, 1924 to Nov. 18, 2016.

Lillian was born and raised on a farm near Fremont; she was the youngest of eight children. She received a teaching certificate from Midland College and taught school for several years. Lillian met Ronald Duncan from Pilger while he was home on leave from the Navy. After a short courtship they were married and lived in Norfolk, Va. They returned to Fremont after Ron was discharged. Lillian and Ron had three children: Steven who passed away at birth, Karen and Greg. In the mid-1950s, Ron accepted a job in Southern California, so the family moved, eventually settling in Spring Valley and there they bought their home and raised their children.

Lillian was a stay-at-home mom until the kids were grown. She was very active in the community and received many honors for her community work. She served as an officer in multiple Parent Teacher Associations, she also served in multiple womens clubs including, Spring Valley, La Presa, Los Donas, and the General Federation of Womens Clubs.

She was an officer for Spring Valley Community Aid, and served on the Lemon Grove-Spring Valley Nutrition Board. Lillian was a lifetime member of the Spring Valley Historical Society. After the kids were grown she continued her community work and also worked for Grossmont College.

Because of Rons declining health and the need to be closer to family, Lillian and Ron moved to Oregon in 2007. Ron passed away in 2008. Lillian was also preceded in death by all her siblings, both parents, her infant son, and a grandson, Jacob Duncan.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen, of Oregon; son, Greg, of Nebraska; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Funeral Home in Walla Walla, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 21, 2016 | 06:27 AM | MARSHALL COUNTY, KY

Marshall County Emergency Management has put together a database that will pinpoint the exact location of all personal storm shelters in Marshall County. Emergency Management Director Curt Curtner said the purpose of this database is to make sure personal storm shelters are checked after a disaster has struck.

It's possible a shelter could have debris blown over the top of or in front of the entrance, Curtner said. We believe it is important that when we're responding to a scene not to overlook these shelters in case someone is trapped inside.

Curtner said the program is voluntary and no fees are associated with it. Information recorded will include the owners name, telephone number, location and a description of the shelter.

Curtner said Emergency Management personnel will conduct visits to complete the registration process. To register your shelter, email or call the Marshall County Emergency Management Office at curt.curtner@marshallcountyky.gov, Darlene.lynn@marshallcountyky.gov or 270-527-4739.
Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EVENTS

The Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg

has announced its next dinner speaker, Angela Preteau, CPA, CA, Partner, Frostiak & Leslie Chartered Professional Accountants Inc. Preteau will be presenting on the rules around U.S. persons living in Canada, basic U.S. tax concepts as well as FATCA reporting. The meeting is for registered members and their guests and will be held at the Winnipeg Winter Club on Monday, Dec. 5, at 5:00 pm. For membership information please phone Andy Hamilton at (204) 415-0512 or visit the website at www.epcwinnipeg.com.

BOARDS

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Winnipeg Section

has announced its 2015-16 executive and board of directors: Cindy Lazar, president; Michelle Glass, past president; Carolina Fridman, vice-president; Yelena Maleyev, treasurer; Heather Gillman, secretary. Members at large: Sharon Allentuck; Rose Aziman; Silvana Benesdra; Iael Besendorf; Kathy Cobor; Rita Gunn; Judy Lipsey; Maia Kredentser; and Aida Strocovsky. Established in 1897, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, a non-profit voluntary organization, is the oldest Jewish womens organization in Canada. It is dedicated to furthering human welfare through an integrated program of education, service and social action.

The Canadian Institute of Management  Manitoba Chapter

has announced its 2016/17 board of directors: Gilles Abraham, president; Thomas Ritter, past president; Dennie Cormack, secretary-treasurer; Steve Lupky, vice-president, education; Kalimukwa Sinyama, vice-president, marketing & communications; Louise Doberstein, vice-president, membership; Stephane Bisson, director, communications & technology; Giselle Pieczonka Pagani, director, events; Chuck Ibezimako, director, marketing & chamber of commerce; Tim Brown, director, professional development and chartered manager.

APPOINTMENTS

Marina R. James has been named the new CEO of Winnipeg Realtors. Earlier this year, James completed a seven-year tenure as president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. where she directed all aspects of their activities including Yes! Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg. James has more than 22 years of executive management experience in real estate development and asset management, community economic development, business investment attraction, indigenous relations and tourism development. She has an MBA from the University of Guelph, graduating with distinction and with a major in finance.

Steven Raber has been appointed the chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution committee of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. The institute is the Canadian professional association of patent agents, trademark agents, and lawyers practising in intellectual property. Steven is a Fellow member of the IPIC.

Got a promotion or a new contract? Email your submissions to: bizlistings@freepress.mb.ca.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saturdays opening of a 65,000-square-foot Save-On-Foods marks roughly the halfway point in a multi-year, multimillion-dollar revitalization of the Northgate Shopping Centre.

The out-of-province family that owns the 250,000-square-foot McPhillips Street property is investing $20 million to transform it from an outdated, enclosed mall into a modern open-air shopping centre.

They hope to complete the transformation by November 2017.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Northgate Shopping Centre owners are investing $20 million to renew the McPhillips Street property and attract new tenants.

Its been a massive undertaking, said Michelle Constant, vice-president of retail with Cushman and Wakefield Winnipeg, which is the leasing agent for the centre. Its being totally reinvented.

The mall fell on tough times after the 120,000-square-foot Zellers closed and left it more than half-empty.

Adding to its woes was the high cost of maintaining an enclosed mall, which made it challenging to attract and retain tenants.

As part of the transformation, the owners are demolishing a back portion of the L-shaped mall, redoing the exterior of the remaining complex, and building several new single- and multi-tenant buildings on the property. Theyre changing the look of the centre and giving it a new lease on life.

Constant said with Save-On-Foods taking a good chunk of the former Zellers space, plus other recent signings, the centre is almost 90 per cent leased.

The 26,000 square feet of vacant space includes units ranging in size from 1,200 to 10,000 square feet.

In addition to Save-On-Foods, other tenants include a Cinema City movie theatre, Dollarama, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Royal Bank branch, Joeys Seafood Grill, Medicine Shoppe pharmacy, Magicuts salon, a Reider Insurance outlet and two Petro Canada outlets.

Also coming are Tim Hortons, Booster Juice outlet, a Jollibee restaurant and a 25,000-square-foot gym.

You can come and get your nails done, you can get your hair cut, you can drop off grandma at the grocery store, you can see a movie at the theatre, Constant said.

We wanted it to really thrive as a stand-alone development, she said. Were also trying to create a community within a community.

She said landing a big anchor tenant such as Save-On-Foods, which will draw new shoppers, was critical.

While she and her colleagues have been working on the project for years, theyve only been able to aggressively market the space recently. They had to finanalize leasing arrangements with existing tenants, some of which have had to relocate to other areas in the centre to allow for part of the building to be demolished.

She said the response theyve been getting from prospective tenants is encouraging.

Weve got lots of interest, but we still welcome any new fresh ideas or uses (for the space), she said.

She noted when the owners decided to convert the mall into an open-air shopping centre, they lost some long-term tenants who wanted it to remain enclosed

They took a big hit on their cash flow for many years in order to get where we are today.

****

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Northgate mall declined after the Zellers store closed a few years ago.

The Walmart store in the Grant Park Pavillions retail development on Taylor Avenue is getting a new neighbour.

A 5,600-square-foot Scotiabank branch is under construction on the site, which is being developed by Winnipegs Shindico Realty Inc. The branch is expected to open in March.

Scotiabank is the second tenant signed for the $200-million development. The 160,000-square-foot Walmart outlet opened in January 2015.

John Pearson, a commercial real estate broker/developer with Shindico, said the firm is in discussions with other prospective tenants, but no deals have been finalized.

The bank branch will replace three older, smaller Scotiabank branches  at 1220 Pembina Hwy and two on Corydon Avenue.

We dont do that (consolidate branches) lightly. We recognize it affects our clients, said Martin McCool, Scotiabanks district vice-president for Winnipeg. But this gives us an opportunity to really modernize and serve our customer base in that part of the city far better than we do now.

McCool said the new branch will be equipped with the latest technology, including three automated banking machines and a drive-through  things it couldnt offer at the three smaller locations.

He said the bank was thrilled to acquire a spot in the development.

Its a place where people shop and its in a growing area of the city. Its an excellent development.

McCool said the bank will open a branch next month in Bridgwater Crossing  the first new branch in the city in 10 years.

He said it will open a new branch next year on Pembina Highway, and its commercial banking and wealth management unit will move into the new True North Square development downtown when it opens in 2018.

So were spending a lot of money in Winnipeg by the time you add it all up.

Know of any newsworthy or interesting trends or developments in the local office, retail or industrial real estate sectors? Let real estate reporter Murray McNeill know at the email address below, or at 204-697-7254.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/11/2016 (2173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Retired soldier, general and senator Romeo Dallaire brought the face of post-traumatic stress disorder in the military to public attention in Canada.

In Winnipeg Sunday, a standing-room only audience greeted the man and paid tribute to the heart-wrenching account of his personal struggles in his new book Waiting for First Light, My Ongoing Struggle with PTSD.

In an hour-long talk with moderator and CBC broadcaster Terry MacLeod at the Grant Park McNally Robinson bookstore, Dallaire sketched the broad outlines of the 1993 Rwandan genocide and the reasons his appeals for help fell on deaf ears from the United Nations on down, to practically every international power.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSRomeo Dallaire speaks about his book Waiting For First Light - My ongoing battle with PTSD at a book launch at McNally Robinson Sunday, November 20, 2016.

Canada sent him two Hercules aircraft and 11 staff officers.

He talked about the burden of PTSD on returning soldiers. Dallaire calls PTSD an operational brain injury.

He urged the audience that crammed into every nook and cranny in the bookstore to hear him to take on the burden of his personal mission and help soldiers get the therapy and care they need.

They gave him a standing ovation.

Therapy for war vets who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder is a still an emerging issue in Canada and providing treatment and care through the military is only now gaining attention from the Canadian public and the countrys political and military leaders.

Dallaire said there are 250,000 war vets in Canada, soldiers and reservists who have accumulated more time in combat than veterans from the Second World War. But PTSD is still stigmatized and the programs that once routinely greeted those vets two or three generations ago, such as free university tuition, arent available today, let alone the kinds of aid soldiers with psychological scars desperately need.

If you dont treat treat PTSD as soon as you can it gets worse, he said Sunday. And it can be terminal.

There were 158 soldiers who were killed in combat in the Canadian mission to Afghanistan. Since then, there have been 70 suicides and counting, Dallaire said.

Dallaire served as the commanding officer for a ill-fated UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda in 1993-1994, and tried to stop the genocide waged by Hutu extremists against Tutsis and Hutu moderates.

In 1997, the lieutenant general with the Canadian military went public with the psychological trauma caused by the atrocities he witnessed.

PTSD led to Dallaires medical dismissal from the military in 2000. From 2005-2014, he served as a senator and is now best known as a humanitarian, author and public speaker.

Dallaire is a prominent international voice for the prevention of war crimes and outlawing child soldiers, through his best seller Shake Hands with the Devil.

Dallaires decision to became the public face of post-traumatic stress disorder led him naturally to his latest mission, he said. He speaks on behalf of returning soldiers in Canada and their struggles with PTSD.

He was expected to do a reading from his latest book but never got to it Sunday. Instead Dallaire etched out the calculated plans laid ahead of time by Hutu extremists to conduct the genocide and to use child soldiers as their weapons to carry it out.

That campaign resulted in the 100-day genocide of 800,000 Rwandan civilians.

Dressed in a suit and tie, the former soldier delivered his statements with passion and frank language.

Not only do we have soldiers who have committed suicide, you have teenagers in their families who are committing suicide. Teenagers who cant handle it and their schools, their communities dont know how to support them.

Its important to go home and say there are people hurting out there who deserve to be protected. They shouldnt have to fight all sorts of bureaucratic crap to get help, Dallaire said.

Child soldiers are now common in conflicts around the world and the psychological impact it causes soldiers who face kids on the battleground cant be underestimated, Dallaire said.

Its one of the reasons vets from earlier wars, including aged vets from the Second World War, are demanding the more recent returnees get help, he said.

Weve got soldiers who have more time in combat than World War II vets and we have World War II vets who are fighting for us, to say we should be getting at least what they got, Dallaire said.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/11/2016 (2173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Manitoba will improve its tracking of drug overdoses, expand access to the opioid-antidote naloxone and better monitor painkiller prescriptions.

The province made those commitments under a new national action plan in response to the opioid crisis.

Provincial Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said Saturday the province isnt looking to introduce a supervised drug-use site despite the fact the federal government intends to amend legislation to make it easier to establish them.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen is in Ottawa for the two-day national conference.

The British Columbia government has asked Ottawa to repeal the former Conservative governments Respect for Communities Act, which makes establishing new, supervised drug-consumption sites almost impossible.

At the close of two-day national conference in Ottawa on the opioid crisis, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said changes to that law are coming, possibly within weeks.

Goertzen said nobody has been pushing for a supervised drug-consumption site in Manitoba.

Well see what the federal government brings forward, but there are no requests here, he said.

With illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana increasingly showing up laced with opioids, safe-drug sites are being promoted as a way to curb the problem.

Goertzen said he would rather see an analysis about the effect of existing harm-reduction strategies, such as the Winnipeg Regional Health Authoritys safe needle-exchange program, before considering a supervised drug-consumption site.

The former federal Tory government was strongly opposed to safe-injection sites and fought against Vancouvers Insite  the first site in Canada  all the way to the Supreme Court. It lost.

Goertzen wouldnt say where he stands on the issue. He said Manitobas Progressive Conservative party is not the same as the federal Conservatives, and whatever decision is made about harm-reduction programs has to be made based on evidence, not ideology. He said what works in Vancouver might not be the best fit for Manitoba.

I think the harm-reduction program that exists now has been well-received, he said. Wed want to see our own analysis and our own data and see if our own harm-reduction programs are working.

Goertzen said there is no plan to launch a new analysis of the programs, although it may come as part of the provinces commitment to a national plan to combat the opioid crisis.

Its estimated as many as 2,000 people may die of opioid-related overdoses in Canada this year, and the numbers are growing exponentially.

Philpott said Saturday the numbers are indeed frightening.

British Columbia, considered ground zero in Canadas opioid problem, has had more than 600 overdose deaths this year, about 60 per cent of them related to opioids such as fentanyl. First responders are reviving dozens of people every day with naloxone, including in Winnipeg.

Manitoba is just starting to see alarming growth in fentanyl overdoses, but Goertzen said the fact the province hasnt been hit as hard as other places yet doesnt mean it can be complacent.

In Manitoba in 2014, there were seven deaths linked to fentanyl.

In 2015, that increased to about 18.

On Thursday, the chief medical examiner said there were nine confirmed cases of fentanyl-related deaths from January to May of this year. Another five deaths were related to carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer used to sedate elephants, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Three people in Winnipeg died last week in what is believed to be a fentanyl-related overdose. In October, two men were found dead in a car in the North End in what is suspected to be fentanyl overdoses.

Improving data collection on drug overdoses  fatal and non-fatal  is one of Manitobas priorities under a joint statement of action to address the opioid crisis.

The lack of solid data has hampered efforts to understand the depth of the opioid crisis.

Manitoba intends to roll out better access to the opioid-antidote naloxone early in the new year, making it more easily available in rural areas, not just in Winnipeg.

Across the country, there will be a push to improve prescribing practices of narcotics, including introducing new guidelines for when they shouldnt be prescribed.

Canada has one of the highest rates of prescriptions for opioids in the world.

Nationally, the number of claims for prescription opioids under drug plans grew almost 33 per cent from 2006 to 2013. In Manitoba, it was slightly faster, growing at 35 per cent.

The federal government will publish a report on Canadas opioid action plan no later than February and will update it every three months.

Provincial ministers are negotiating a new arrangement for health funding with the federal minister, emphasizing new money for mental health and addictions.

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins said Canada has to do better at treating both problems.

We need to reach the point in society and as a country where we treat individuals with mental illness and addiction no different than we would treat a cancer patient or a cardiac patient, he said.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/11/2016 (2173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Manitoba has reached a tentative agreement with its striking faculty members that could see students back in class by Tuesday.

University administration announced late Sunday evening that the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) executive is recommending an acceptance of the agreement to its members, who will vote on Monday.

Classes are expected to resume Tuesday if the deal is approved by UMFA members.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Law student Emily Scoville Cormack joins striking University of Manitoba faculty members on the picket line at Chancellor Matheson Road and Pembina Highway.

The faculty went on strike on Nov. 1 after being without a contract since March 31. The key sticking points between UMFA and the administration surrounded issues on workload protection for professors, instructors and librarians

Other issues included job security for instructors and librarians, and fair assessment practices of professors.

The administration said negotiating teams spent the weekend going over the key issues.

The last few weeks have been challenging, and at times divisive, but it is my hope that our community will reunite in support of our commitment to our shared mission of teaching, discovery and engagement, said David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor, in a news release.

To our students, I want to say that I understand and appreciate the extent to which the events of the past few weeks have disrupted your academic programs and shaken your perceptions of this institution. Please know that we are committed to providing a rapid transition back to class so that you can successfully complete the academic year.

The administration said it will not discuss details of the tentative agreement until the UMFA executive has briefed its members. Students should continue checking umanitoba.ca/strikeinfo for updates. All students can expect to receive an email Monday with detailed information about class and exam schedules, as well as available student support services.

In a text message to the Free Press, Mark Hudson, president of UMFA, confirmed they have reached a tentative deal. The ratification vote will be Monday and classes will resume Tuesday if the agreement is approved.

No details of the deal can go out until after the ratification, he texted.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a year already overwrought with historical comparisons, its nevertheless worth asking: what will be this centurys Franz Ferdinand moment?

Possibly, as with that assassination of the Austrian archduke in 1914, most people will dismiss it as unimportant when it happens. But hindsight is 20-20, and the unfolding of surprising results in Great Britains Brexit vote as well as in the United States presidential election have led some to make comparisons to 20th-century developments that were downplayed at the time, only to take on great significance later.

On the campaign trail, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump targeted identifiable groups, claiming Mexico was sending its rapists and other criminals to the U.S. and calling for a ban on Muslim immigration. Comparisons to Germanys Adolf Hitler dogged Trump, and Trumps support from white supremacists, such as the Ku Klux Klan, did little to assuage peoples fears. And the former head of the U.K. Independence Party, Nigel Farage, was one of the leaders stoking anti-immigration fears and tying them to Britains membership in the European Union.

AMEL EMRIC / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Archduke Franz Ferdinand

So what does this mean? Academic Tobias Stone argues that humans periodically go through periods of great destruction. He points to the Black Death, the First World War or the famines that were the direct result of government policies in the Soviet Union and Communist China.

The First World War, touched off by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, cascaded into catastrophe in large part because of numerous military pacts between European powers that drew them into the conflict. There was no European Union or United Nations to serve as a buffer; in fact, those treaties may have served as a deterrent to stave off aggression.

Now, thanks to globalization and economic neo-liberalism, the countries of the world are more interconnected economically than ever. This time around, with a world population several times greater than it was 100 years ago, and resources scarce, disaster could take a different form, and cascade quickly through a globalized economy.

For all our thoughts that we could never let a third world war happen, we should listen to the signs. When xenophobia plays well in national politics, its a sign people are more ready to fight for what they think theyre losing rather than for whats right. And with other global problems facing us, not the least of which are climate change and economic inequality, a global war would be disastrous and cause untold suffering.

In 1914, the Napoleonic wars had largely passed out of living memory. Today, the same has happened for the First World War and, increasingly, the Second.

Its well to remember every Remembrance Day the sacrifices made in those conflicts, but we should also be vigilant against what led to them: militarization, deep social inequality and a tendency for a countrys leaders to find an easy target for its citizens rage.

When a potentially pivotal moment comes, even though its unlikely to involve an archduke this time, if we arent already working to solve the huge problems that face us, we may find the desire for a scapegoat plunges us into an even worse catastrophe.
At least one person was injured in a Monday morning broadside crash in Wabasha County.

A Ford Explorer driven by Duane Kahn, 65, of Minneiska, was northbound on Hwy. 61 near the intersection of state Hwy. 60 near Wabasha, when an eastbound Ford pickup on Hwy. 60 driven by Michael Lynch, 65, of Wabasha, entered the intersection and broadsided the Explorer, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Kahn suffered unknown injuries and was transported from the scene to a Wabasha hspoital, the Patrol said. Lynch's condition was not released.

The Wabasha County Sheriff's Department and Wabasha Police Department assisted at the scene.
The following editorial appeared Wednesday in the Chicago Tribune:

Cubs win the World Series.

Donald Trump wins the White House.

What do those two epochal events have in common? Both were considered highly unlikely. And both happened.

Many fans didnt expect the Cubs to come back from a 3-games-to-1 deficit against the Cleveland Indians. But they knew from data that it was statistically possible: Five teams in history had done just that.

Most Americans probably didnt expect Donald Trump to overcome a polling deficit against Hillary Clinton to win the presidency. And those polls were all but unanimous: The odds against Trump, as those against the Cubs, looked daunting.

But daunting and impossible arent synonyms.

In the aftermath of the alleged Epic Big Data fail on Election Day, many Americans will judge predictions, projections and premonitions with more skepticism. Theyve learned an important, even comforting, lesson about the limits of polling and other measures: Big Data is not destiny.

Algorithms are formulas written by humans to take the guesswork out of what other human beings will do under certain circumstances. Will they buy this toothpaste? At what price?

Survey responses to pollsters, consumer buying habits, internet site visits, etc. can be plugged into computer models to suggest peoples future behavior. The understandable hope is always that if you start with knowable measurements and crunch them through well-constructed formulas, youll produce a reliable preview of what will happen.

Not necessarily.

Computers dont read minds. Nor do pollsters. People dont always say what they think. Or they change their minds. People can be convinced and unconvinced. Some people say one thing but do another. You will never write a program to take into account all those nuances and many others.

To a computer, predicting behavior is an efficient but wisdom-deprived matter of manipulating ones and zeros. But the real world isnt always binary.

  People mistake having a large volume of polling data for eliminating uncertainty, writes Nate Silver of the website FiveThirtyEight.com, one of many prognosticators who whiffed the election call. It doesnt work that way. Yes, having more polls helps to a degree, by reducing sampling error and by providing for a mix of reasonable methodologies. Therefore, its better to be ahead in two polls than ahead in one poll, and in 10 polls than in two polls. Before long, however, you start to encounter diminishing returns. Polls tend to replicate one anothers mistakes.

Big Data can lead to Big Mistakes. Google Flu Trends, for instance, sought to use data from internet searches to estimate when influenza season would peak and at what level. But it drastically overestimated peak flu levels in the 2012-13 season. That failure doesnt erase the value of big data, wrote David Lazer of Northeastern University and Ryan Kennedy of the University of Houston in Wired magazine. What it does do is highlight a number of problematic practices in its use  what we like to call big data hubris.

Wed say that many alleged political pros suffered a serious case of that affliction before voters set them straight Nov. 8.

Should we toss out data and rely only on experience, or on anecdotes, or on what we hear (true or false) from people with whom we agree?

That would be a dangerous overreaction to the election flub. If people believe the data cannot be trusted, they may turn instead to trusting anecdotes from friends, family and tribe, political blogger Erick Erickson writes in The New York Times. Policies will be based on what people think are good ideas, not what data show. This will potentially further divide the country and further segment an already divided nation, he warns, aptly.

Humans embrace Big Data  more than they would if it were more accurately billed as Big Guesses or Big Evidence-based Hunches  because we live in an unpredictable universe that is often capricious. People feel comforted when they think they know what is going to happen. They see patterns in random chance. They purge from their thoughts the reality that a 74 percent chance of victory is a 26 percent chance of defeat. Superstition endures.

Reality is elastic. Every moment brings new possibilities. Thats what makes life intriguing.

Many predictions proved wrong on Election Day.

As did many predictions when the Cubs were down 3-games-to-1.

Thats why we vote.

Thats why we play the games.
As Winona County commissioners consider their upcoming vote on the frac sand mining ban, I hope that you would be willing to help the neighbors around places like the proposed Wachholz mine above Farmers Park, near Lewiston. I know that the mining company hasnt applied for a permit yet, but we must remember that this industry plans 10 years-plus ahead.

I have three major concerns about the frac sand industry, out of many more:

One: Air quality. Dennis Egan, of the Minnesota Industrial Sand Council, said this summer that frac sand mine workers would have to wear face masks. Doesnt that prove that frac sand pollutes the air (like black lung disease for coal miners)?

Two: Water. My well is 300 feet deep and is good water. Its about at the depth of the proposed Wachholz mine. The people in our neighborhood that have had to go deeper for water have had trouble with contamination of iron bacteria. They have to have special equipment to treat their water with bleach and such chemicals, and the water tastes terrible. I cant drink it. Just ask the town of Lewiston. They occasionally have to warn the people not to give this water to infants or expectant mothers. Ask Michigan residents how important good water is, and what it cost the city or state or federal government to take care of the sick people because of the water.

Three. The beauty of the area (the Arches). Northern Minnesota is a completely different territory than this southeast part of the state. The towns were created up north because of the mining and the people had a choice to move there and live by the mine. This is a farming community. The neighbors here purchased their property for the location, beauty, and tranquility, before the proposed mine. Shouldnt they have the right to keep what they have?

The neighbors to the mine should have rights for what they have purchased in the past and they shouldnt be taken away. Please pass the frac sand ban.

Robert Borck,

Winona
Clever guys, these Wisconsin Republicans.

Youve got to hand it to them for putting piece after piece together the past six years to give them the one-up come election time. And it paid off big time Nov. 8 when Hillary Clinton lost Wisconsins 10 electoral votes to Donald Trump by a total of roughly 29,000, putting the GOP presidential candidate over the 270 Electoral College votes he needed to win.

Although they continue to deny it, theres little doubt the Republicans have methodically worked to tip the scales in their direction, starting with the demolition of one of the biggest thorns in their side, the public employee unions.

Act 10 not only negated union contracts so that teachers and other public workers would be required to pay more of their health insurance and pension contributions, Scott Walker and his legislative minions went a step further and effectively destroyed the unions ability to remain financially viable.

Where once employee unions could stand toe to toe at election time with the likes of the reliably conservative and free-spending Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, helping fund campaigns and organizing phone banks and door-to-door canvassing, the unions were essentially silenced by the draconian requirements in Act 10  no bargaining except for cost of living raises, no more dues through payroll deduction, and an unheard of requirement that the unions annually re-certify their right to represent employees, a laborious and costly process.

In one fell swoop, the Republicans essentially eliminated a longtime, formidable opponent.

Then came the most extensive gerrymandering of legislative districts in state history. Done mainly behind closed doors with no or little input from Democrats, the states legislative and congressional district boundaries were drawn in such a way to all but guarantee Republican victories. That showed up in spades Nov. 8 in races for the state Senate and Assembly.

And then, of course, theres the completely unnecessary voter ID law, which no matter how you slice it made it more difficult for minorities and the elderly  traditionally backers of Democrats  to exercise their right to vote.

Voter ID and the confusion around its requirements, many of which were found unconstitutional, undoubtedly was a contributing factor in a lower turnout in Milwaukee County, for example, where 62,000 fewer votes were cast this year than in 2012. Clintons share was down 42,452 from President Obamas 2012 vote, a significant number when a difference of 29,000 would have won her Wisconsin.

The GOP was able to accomplish all this because it has had complete control of state government  both houses of the Legislature, the governor, and a healthy conservative majority in the state Supreme Court to back them up.

Now, the federal government is in a similar state  both houses of Congress, the presidency, and a Supreme Court appointment away from having conservatives in the majority of the court.

It shouldnt go unnoticed that Wisconsins Scott Walker has interjected himself into the scene. He thinks Republicans need to take the bull by the horns and pass their conservative agenda immediately, and to do so he has recommended that the Senate change its rules to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster rule.

What irony, since it was that 60-vote threshold to get legislation on the Senate floor that Republicans used against President Obama on just about every initiative he proposed during his last six years in office.

We should be wary of what this complete control of Washington might bring. Here in Wisconsin were just beginning to see the effects of Republican control  cash-strapped public schools, a hobbled university system, deteriorating infrastructure, an archaic internet system, weakened public transportation, corporate giveaways that put an extra burden on individual taxpayers, and all too much more.

Yet they cleverly march on.
Columbus Books and Beer will read My Sisters Mother by Donna Urbikas for their next gathering on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at The Black Kettle, 139 N. Ludington St., Columbus. Urbikas memoir is the searing tale of war, trauma and survival of her mother and half-sister when they were taken from their Polish farm in 1940 and sent to be slave laborers in Siberia.

Urbikas was born after WWII in Coventry, England and then grew up in the Midwest unable to share the profound bond between her mother and half-sister that was created from the misery they endured. In 1940, Janina Slarzynska and her 5-year-old daughter Mira were taken by Soviet secret police (NKVD) from their small farm in eastern Poland and sent to Siberia with hundreds of thousands of others, beginning their odyssey of hunger, disease, cunning survival and ultimate escape across the continent. But in the 1950s, baby boomer Donna yearned for a normal American family while Janina and Mira were haunted by the past. In her unforgettable memoir, Urbikas recounts her family history and her own survivors story, finally understanding the damaged mother who had saved her sister.

In 1976, Urbikas took her first trip to Poland to meet relatives and explore her parents home towns. This trip came on the cusp of the Solidarity Movement and much of her travel was restricted by the Communists. A second visit to Poland, this time with her son, came after the fall of Communism and allowed her to finally visit her mothers birthplace.

Urbikas holds a degree in biology from the University of Chicago, first teaching high school biology before earning a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She worked on water and wastewater compliance at coal and nuclear power plants. After spending time as a full-time mother at home, she returned to her work on hazardous waste clean-up projects, permitting and wastewater treatment. Now, she works as a real estate broker and writer, living in Chicago with her husband. They have three adult children.

My Sisters Mother: A Memoir of War, Exile, and Stalins Siberia was published this spring by the University of Wisconsin Press. Hardcover copies are available at the Black Kettle for $25 and online in e-book format for those who wish to read in advance of the Dec. 8 gathering.

Books and Beer is a different type of book club that engages local and regional authors with readers in the community in a fun, casual setting. Anyone who is interested in the book discussion is encouraged to attend.

In addition to the Dec. 8 event, upcoming featured authors and titles include Larry Scheckels Seneca Seasons: A Farm Boy Remembers on Jan. 26, Billie Jean Diersens A Thinner Skin on Feb. 23, and Elizabeth Caufield Felts Syncopation: A Memoir of Adele Hugo on March 30. More information can be found on the groups Facebook page Books and Beer Columbus.
Zion Lutheran Church and School, located at 822 Western Ave., Columbus, will host a free CHRISTmas for Kids program for children age 3 through fourth grade on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Children will gather in Zions gym to learn about the real CHRISTmas through crafts, stories, songs and other activities.

Register and direct any questions to Zions office at 623-5180. Registration is appreciated but not required.
Items are listed under the day of the event only, running as space permits prior to the event. To submit items, call 745-3511, email jcutsforth@capitalnewspapers.com or visit www.portagedailyregister.com. Include name and phone number.

MONDAY, NOV. 21

Clinic: 8 a.m. to noon, Columbia County Public Health Walk-In Clinic, Columbia County Division of Health, 2652 Murphy Road, Portage. Use door No. 4. Bring childs immunization record. Visit www.co.columbia.wi.us for more information.

Clinic: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Marquette County Immunization Clinic, Marquette County Health and Human Services Building, 428 Underwood Ave., Montello. Bring childs immunization record.

Second Harvest mobile food pantry: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. St. Marys Catholic Church, 318 S. Main St., Pardeeville. Do not line up before 3 p.m. Bring boxes, bags, wagons, etc., to carry food. Volunteers are needed by calling Cindy at 429-3030.

Portage Historical Society: 5:30 p.m. Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage.

Euchre card party: 6:30 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage. Public welcome. Contact: Cloe, 429-2363.

Seniors Bowling Social: 2 p.m. Fireball Lanes, 817 E. Wisconsin St., Portage. Cost is $6 and includes three games of bowling and shoe rental.

Zumba/Zumba Toning: 6 p.m. Harrisville. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.

TUESDAY, NOV. 22

Library event: Childrens Department Thanksgiving Party for all preschoolers ages 3 to 5, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. This will be the only preschool story time for the week (there will be no Wednesday Preschool Story Time). Preschoolers, their siblings and their families will enjoy stories, games, songs, crafts and refreshments. Registration is not required. For more information, call 742-4959 ext. 211.

Portage Family Skate Park public meeting: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Gerstenkorn Administration Building, 305 E. Slifer St., Portage. All interested people are welcome to attend. If the Portage Schools are closed or released early the PFSP meeting will be canceled and announced on our Facebook page with a new meeting location as soon as possible.

Zumba Toning: 4:30 p.m. Woodridge Primary School, Portage. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23

Bingo: 5:30 p.m. 131 Restaurant, North Main Street, Pardeeville. Bingo will be played every Wednesday, except the first one of the month.

Clinic: 8 a.m. to noon, Columbia County Public Health Walk-In Clinic, Columbia County Division of Health, 2652 Murphy Road, Portage. Use door No. 4. Bring childs immunization record. Visit www.co.columbia.wi.us for more information.

St. Vincent de Paul free medical clinic: 9 a.m. to noon. Wilz Drugs lower level, 140 E. Cook St., Portage. No appointments needed. Information needed is name, date of birth and a contact number. A chiropractor is available from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. A foot clinic is available every week. The clinic can do exams and prescribe medications. Physical therapist available. Discounted medications are available at Wilz and Wal-Mart. Call Bonny Oestreich, RN, at 608-234-0159 for information.

Texas Hold em card tournament: VFW Hall, 215 W. Collins St., Portage. Register at 6 p.m. Cards begin at 6:30 p.m. Entry fee is $20. One hundred percent payout. Open to the public. For information, call the VFW Hall at 742-5350.

Free blood pressure screenings: There will be no blood pressure screening today due to the holiday. Screenings will resume Nov. 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Divine Savior Healthcare, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. No appointment is necessary. Call 745-6405 for more information. Do not eat, smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior.

Zumba/Zumba Toning: 5 p.m. Montello. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.

Zumba: 5:30 p.m. 1208 Northport Road (the former Freedom Carpeting building). This is a $5 drop-in class. For more information, contact Deb at DJMACK00001@yahoo.com or Rena at 697-6713.

THURSDAY, NOV. 24

Free Thanksgiving Dinner: noon to 2 p.m. St. Mary School gym, Conant Street entrance, Portage. Free turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Call the Parish office at 742-6998 to make reservations or to arrange to have a meal delivered (Portage area only). All are welcome.

Portage Public Library: Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

FRIDAY, NOV. 25

Chili Dump: 5 p.m. Commerce Plaza, corner of Cook and Wisconsin Streets, Portage. Runs during the Holiday Parade. Sponsored by the Portage Presbyterian Church. Purchase a bowl of chili while supplies last.

Free blood pressure screenings: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Divine Savior Healthcare  Pardeeville Clinic, 102 Gillette St., Pardeeville. No appointment necessary. Call 745-6405 for more information. Do not eat, smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior.

Free kids movie: 10 a.m. Portage Theatres, West Wisconsin Street, Portage. Admission is a non-perishable food item donation for the Portage Food Pantry. The movie will be Ice Age: Collision Course.

Portage Holiday Lighted Parade and Tree Lighting: 6 to 8 p.m. The parade will wind its way downtown, and end up with Santa lighting the holiday tree in Commerce Plaza. There will be hot beverages and treats on the streets. The parade will start at 6 p.m. near Pauquette Park, proceed down Conant Street turn right onto Wisconsin Street, left onto Cook Street and follow to Adams Street, where it will end. If watching in the downtown area, please be aware that the parade will take time to get to your area.

Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Portage World War II Museum, 119 E. Cook St., Portage. Free tours for veterans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The tours take 2 1/2 hours. For information, call 608-697-3690.

Portage Public Library: Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Santa Fly-In: 10 a.m. Portage Municipal Airport, Silver Lake Drive, Portage. Come help welcome Santa as he arrives at the airport.

Unique Singles: 5 p.m. Susies Steak and Seafood Restaurant, county Highway CX, Portage. All single men and women older than age 50 welcome. The group is strictly social with no dues or officers.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26

Portage Public Library: Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage.

SUNDAY, NOV. 27

Zumba: 5:30 p.m. Rusch Elementary School, Portage. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.
PARDEEVILLE  The wind was gusting on Friday afternoon, but Paul Schreiber and Don Silver didnt care that the under-construction pavilion in Veterans Memorial Park doesnt yet have wind-breaking walls.

They were just happy that the concrete slab is in place before the snow flies.

It was five years in the making, declared Schreiber, a Vietnam War veteran who is a member of Pardeevilles Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10263, the organization spearheading the project.

We had three raffles, Schreiber said, and I sold 1,900 tickets for this.

VFW members, who are paying for the pavilions construction, took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather earlier this month to get the concrete poured. Workers from David Dreyer Construction of Portage did the work, and Silver and Schreiber couldnt be happier with how it turned out.

Now, said Silver. it will have to cure over the winter.

The construction of the pavilion was a long time in coming because it took several meetings before village officials and the VFW members could agree on the pavilions size and placement.

What was finally decided on, and whats going up, is a 48- by 28-foot structure, with the long side running east to west in the northeast corner of Veterans Memorial Park  situated so it wont block the view of a memorial to Pardeeville military personnel who have died in battle, dating back to the Civil War.

It will be a good place, Silver said, for people to watch events like Pardeevilles Memorial Day observance when theres inclement weather, as well as a spot for picnics and gatherings.

Schreiber said it would look similar to one of the shelters in nearby Chandler Park  open-sided, mostly, with a roof and just enough corrugated metal walls to provide shelter from wind and rain.

Before any other construction can proceed, he said, village officials will need to extend electric power to the structure.

Schreiber said he doubts that the pavilion will be completed in time for Memorial Day 2017.

Although the VFW is building it, the pavilions upkeep will be the responsibility of the village of Pardeeville.

Silver said the pavilion is becoming a reality because of the efforts of a small but dedicated VFW post  a post that has 35 members, fewer than half of whom regularly attend the meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Angie Williams Cox Library.

The younger members, in particular, took leadership in the effort.

And none of them came close to surpassing Schreiber in the sale of raffle tickets over the last several years.

Schreiber would set up shop at local businesses, and sometimes at events like the Labor Day Weekend car show at Chandler Park, to sell chances on cash prizes (and once, on an array of prizes that included hunting rifles). He said he saw the sale of tickets as an opportunity not just to raise money, but also to connect with people  Pardeeville area residents, tourists coming to Pardeeville events and campers spending the summers at nearby campgrounds.

The community is the heart of this project, Schreiber said. Its for them, and for us, too.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877.

JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture.

JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries.

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone.

The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types.

The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products.
The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Petersburg Products International" LLC, "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, 1837 LLC, Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., Agile Pursuits Inc., Ambi Pur, Arbora & Ausonia, Arbora & Ausonia S.L.U., Avon - Giorgio Beverly Hills, Billie, Braun GmbH, Braun Shanghai Co. Ltd., Celtic Insurance Company Inc., Charlie Banana USA LLC, Corporativo Procter & Gamble S. de R.L. de C.V., DDFSkincare, Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery Shanghai Co. Ltd., Fameccanica North America Inc., Farmacy Beauty, Fater Central Europe SRL, Fater Eastern Europe LLC, Fater Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Fater S.p.A., Fater Temizlik Urunleri Ltd STI, First Aid Beauty, First Aid Beauty Limited, Folgers Coffee, Fountain Square Music Publishing Co. Inc., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette China Limited, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Shanghai Ltd., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay S.A., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, Inversiones Plaza LLC, LLC "Procter & Gamble - Novomoskovsk", LLC "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", LLC Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, Laboratoire Mediflor S.A.S., Laboratorios Vicks S.L.U., Lamberts Healthcare Ltd., Liberty Street Music Publishing Company Inc., Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones C.A., Merck Consumer Healthcare, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, Native, Nature's Best Health Products Ltd., New Chapter Canada Inc., New Chapter Inc., Nioxin Research Laboratories, Noxell Corporation, OUAI, Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Consumer Health Germany GmbH, P&G Distribution East Africa Limited, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding Inc., P&G Health Austria GmbH & Co. OG, P&G Health France S.A.S., P&G Health Germany GmbH, P&G Healthcare Zhejiang Limited, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Investment Management Ltd., P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G Japan G.K., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G South African Trading Pty. Ltd., P&G-Clairol, PG13 Launchpad Alpha Inc., PG13 Launchpad Beta Inc., PG13 Launchpad Gamma Inc., PGT Healthcare LLP, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Pressbox, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chengdu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble China Ltd., Procter & Gamble China Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent Beijing Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deutschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distributing Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Distribution Company Europe BV, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe LLC, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana S.A.U., Procter & Gamble Far East Inc., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finance U.K. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble Ghana Trading Limited, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Technology Innovation Co. LTD., Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care LLC, Procter & Gamble Health & Beauty Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Belgium BV, Procter & Gamble Health Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Ltd., Procter & Gamble Health Poland Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Hellas Single Member Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holding Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Holdings UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Honduras S de RL, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership KKT, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings Inc., Procter & Gamble Indochina Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama S. de R.L., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International Sarl, Procter & Gamble Investment Company UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Italia S.p.A., Procter & Gamble Jiangsu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea Inc., Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble L&CP Limited, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA Pty Ltd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Tianjin Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Mataro S.L.U., Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Philippines Business Services Inc., Procter & Gamble Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo Higiene e Saude S.A., Procter & Gamble Product Supply U.K. Limited, Procter & Gamble Productions Inc., Procter & Gamble RHD Inc., Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services Sarl, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Switzerland SA, Procter & Gamble Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology Beijing Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Trading Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Vietnam Company Limited, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil Ltda., Procter & Gamble do Brazil LLC, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble doo Beograd, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Procter and Gamble Lanka Private Limited, Procter and Gamble SA Pty Ltd., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Recovery Engineering, Redmond Products Inc., Richardson-Vicks, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Riverfront Music Publishing Co. Inc., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Series Acquisition B.V., Seven Seas Limited, Shulton Inc., Snowberry, Snowberry New Zealand Limited, Sunflower Distributing LLC, TAOS - FL LLC, TAOS Retail LLC, THIS IS L, TULA, Tambrands, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving, The Art of Shaving - FL LLC, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Iams Company Inc., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company LLC, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., This is L. Inc., Thomas Hedley Co, US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon Shanghai Academy, VitaminHaus Pty Ltd, Walker & Co. Brands Inc., Walker & Company Brands, Wella AG, Zenlen Inc., Zirh, and iMFLUX Inc..

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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.
The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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Annual BLSA Thanksgiving basket competition helps families in need

Touching many lives: Members of BLSA make a huge difference every year by helping provide Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in the community. Photo by David F. Morrill

Touching many lives: Section eight's entry, "Assault and Battery," took the prize for both Best Content, but also Most Creative Display. Photo by David F. Morrill

Touching many lives: Section 15's entry, "Supreme Court," came in second in best overall category. Photo by David F. Morrill

Touching many lives: Section seven's entry, "Photo Booth," came in third. Photo by David F. Morrill Photo - of - Hide Caption

A replica of the Supreme Court building. A rendition of Winterfell Castle from Game of Thrones. A slice of pumpkin pie (with whipped cream) and a fork. A William & Mary photo booth.

These were just some of the creative entries in this years 16th annual Thanksgiving Basket Competition sponsored by William & Mary Law Schools Black Law Students Association (BLSA).

This is BLSAs biggest community service activity for the year, and what makes it so special  beyond that it touches so many lives within the Williamsburg community  is the fact that it is a community effort, said Shevarma Pemberton J.D. 18, coordinator of this years competition. We received a lot of support from faculty and staff, students, and local grocery stores and for that we are immensely grateful.

{{youtube:medium:left|PDmkL2lz54U, Turkeypalooza 2016}}

During the competition, first-year students representing sections of the Legal Practice Program create displays from a wide variety of canned and boxed foods. The idea is to engineer an inspiring display and collect the most amount of food items.

This years competition saw 1L students collect 2,000 canned and boxed food items and coupons. BLSA also raised $610 and was able to provide 19 turkeys thanks to generous donations from W&M Law School faculty and local grocery stores Farm Fresh and Food Lion on John Tyler Highway, The Fresh Market and Walmart Neighborhood Market.

All items were then delivered to the William & Mary Campus Kitchen, which organizes the food into baskets, adds a turkey and delivers them to local families.

And what of the competition? This year saw the first-ever sweep, with section eights Assault and Battery taking not only the prize for Best Content, but also Most Creative Display and Judges Choice" for overall winner. Section 15s entry (Supreme Court) came in second, and section sevens Photo Booth came in third.

A lot of people thanked us for doing the drive, but we really could not do it without their support, Pemberton said. Working behind the scenes with all the wonderful, generous people who helped to make this year's drive such a success, made this experience a special one for me.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has signed an agreement with the German Deutsche Bahn AG for the establishment of a specialized mobility & transport center, and sharing expertise in the rail and transport sectors.

The agreement provided for establishing a mobility & transport center to run intensive training programs to qualify & upgrade the competency of managers & engineers in the rail and transport sectors at RTA with special emphasis on rail technologies & systems. Deutsche Bahn will contribute to establishing a fully-fledged training center at RTA such that it will be up-and-ready to hold the inaugural training course in the Q1 of 2017.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said, The two parties share many common objectives and can exchange the best expertise in the field of rail operation and maintenance as well as the planning, designing and constructing rail projects. This agreement is a manifestation of the MoU signed between RTA and Deutsche Bahn last year. The MoU provided for boosting cooperation and sharing expertise in the rail sector and transferring transport knowledge to Emirati employees at RTA. It also provided for developing and implementing educational and training programs periodically for RTA staff, generating opportunities for exchanging experts in various specialties of relevance between RTA and Deutsche Bahn, and facilitating deputizing employees for 6-12 months to meet urgent needs for experts, and skills between the two parties.




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New schedule agreed for Iter fusion project

21 November 2016

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An updated schedule for the Iter fusion project has been approved by the Iter Council, which represents the countries taking part in the project. Under the new schedule, first plasma is now slated for 2025 and the start of deuterium-tritium operation is set for 2035.

The Iter site, pictured in June 2016 (Image: Iter)



A two-day meeting of the Iter Council at the Iter headquarters at Saint-Paul-lez-Durance in France unanimously approved the project's baseline - its overall schedule and cost. The project is to build the world's biggest tokamak fusion reactor at Cadarache in southern France. It should be large enough and hot enough to reach 'ignition' and maintain a stable heat-generating plasma for minutes.

"The overall project schedule was approved by all Iter members, and the overall project cost was approved ad referendum, meaning that it will now fall to each member to seek approval of project costs through respective governmental budget processes," the Iter Organization said in a statement yesterday.

The Council concluded that project construction and manufacturing have sustained a rapid pace for the past 18 months, "providing tangible evidence of full adherence to commitments". The successful completion of all 19 project milestones for 2016, on time and on budget, is "a positive indicator of the collective capacity of the Iter Organization and the Domestic Agencies to continue to deliver on the updated schedule", it said.

The Iter Council added, "The staged approach as selected in the updated schedule after first plasma increases confidence and minimizes risk by focusing on completing Iter in stages and carrying out fusion power experiments in between each stage. This approach is the best way forward in alignment with the priorities and constraints of all Iter members."

The Iter Council is responsible, in accordance with the Iter Agreement, for the promotion and overall direction of the Iter Organization. The two regular meetings every year - in June and November - can be supplemented by an extraordinary meeting for the examination of specific issues.

Thirty-five nations are collaborating to build Iter. The magnetic fusion device is designed to prove the feasibility of the fusion of hydrogen nuclei as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy. The EU is funding half of the cost while the remainder comes in equal parts from six other partners: China, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea and the USA. Construction began in 2010.

First plasma was originally scheduled for 2018 with the start of deuterium-tritium operation set for 2026. However, in July 2010 the Iter Council agreed a new schedule under which first plasma is slated for November 2019, with deuterium-tritium operation starting in March 2027.



Researched and written

by World Nuclear News



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Tajikistan is a landlocked country in central Asia bordering four countries including Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The country has experienced numerous internal security incidents since 2010, chief among them the armed conflict between the government forces and the local militia made up of criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan. Tajikistan remains the poorest of the former Soviet countries. The economy is facing challenges, which include relying on remittances from workers in Russia and the major drug traffickers in the country.

Dushanbe

Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital and largest city hosts a population of 778,500 people, and between 1929 and 1961 the city was known as Stalinabad. The city is located between rivers Varzo and Kofarnihon. Archaeological findings indicate that the Dushanbe region was inhabited in the 5th century BC. In 1676 there were only 8000 people comprising 500 households living in the area. By 1875, there were almost 10,000 people living in the present day Dushanbe. Today the city of Dusnabe is divided into four districts of Avicenna, Ferdowsi, Ismail Samani, and Shah Mansur. The largest ethnic groups are the Tajiks, Uzbeks, ethnic Russians, and others. The city has numerous sights which are popular with tourists like Tajikistan national museum, Vahdat Palace, Dushanbe Zoo, and the Gurminj. Dushanbe Flagpole is within the city standing at 541 feet (165 m), and it is the worlds tallest free-standing flagpole.

Khujand

Khujand ranks second among the largest cities in Tajikistan and is in the province of Sughd with a population of 169,700 people. The city of Khujand is on the site of the earlier city of Cyropolis that was founded by King Cyrus the Great just before his death. Later Alexander the Great built the city in 329 BC as the farthest Greek settlement and named it Alexandria Eschate and retained its Hellenistic culture to as late as 30 BCE. The city would later become a major staging point on Silk Road and attracted different famous Persian scientists and poets becoming a major cultural hub. In the 8th Century fell under the Muslim conquest and became part of the Umayyad and later Abbasid Caliphates. In the subsequent years, the city was under different empires until 1842 when it was under the rule of Russia and was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1929 when it was named Leninabad in 1936. It existed as part of the Soviet Union until 1991 when it reverted to its original name after the Soviet Union's breakup in 1992. The city is made of different ethnic groups, and the largest are the Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Russians among others. The major religions in the city include Christianity and Islam.

Kulob

Kulob is the third largest city in Tajikistan located in the district Kulob of Khatlon province. It has an estimated population of 99,700 people. Historians trace the city to 737 AD, but records indicate the city was founded much earlier and the present name could have been adopted about 250 years ago. After Russia had conquered part of central Asia, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic was created within the USSR in 1929 Kulob city became one of the largest cities in the Republic. In 2006 the city was celebrating its 2700th anniversary. Presently, the city is served by Kulob Airport.

Qurghonteppa

Qurghonteppa is another major city in Tajikistan with a population of 101,600. It is in the Southwestern part Tajikistan in the province of Khatlon, and it is the capital of the province. The population of the city keeps fluctuating with seasons as a result of immigrant workers from Russia. Qurghonteppa and Dushanbe are the most diverse cities compared to other cities in the country like Kulob or Khujand. The ethnic communities in the city include the Tajiks, Uzbeks, Russians, Tatars, Greeks, Kazakhs, and Ukrainians among others. The city suffered much damage during the civil war of 1992-1997 when most Russians left the city. Qurghonteppa International Airport connects the city to other cities in the country and other neighboring countries of Kazakhstan and Russia. The city is a major regional hub for telecommunication and banking industries.

The Urban Problem

More than half of the population in Tajikistan are poor and live on less than $2 a day and poverty is worse in the southern parts of the country because of the widespread lack of employment opportunities. Almost half of the countrys labor force work abroad. Close to half of the population (40%) do not have safe drinking water. As a result of the war, most houses were destroyed during the war, and now slums are sprawling in almost all cities, and crime is on the rise because of lack of employment.
The Tana is the longest river wholly within Kenya. The country is also one of the 11 countries sharing the waters of the Nile River. Kenyas extensive highlands provide catchment areas for the countrys abundant rivers. The countrys rivers are of great ecological value to the rich flora and fauna they support along their course.

Tana

The River Tana stretches for 621 miles from the Aberdare Mountains to the Indian Ocean. The River Delta supports a range of habitats as it winds its way to the ocean such as mangroves, palm savanna, grasslands, forest patches and sand dunes. Since ancient times, the river has been significant for fishing and as a water source while developments in the modern era have enabled irrigation, hydro-electric power tapping, and small-scale navigation. The river provides a habitat for abundant water bird species such as ibises, egrets, geese. The endangered Malindi Pipit and Basra Reed-warbler bird species have been observed in the rivers habitats. The river is a critical component of the larger Tana Delta and supports fauna such as crocodiles, hippopotamus, monkeys, and turtles. The river is severely threatened by agricultural projects, deforestation which continues to cause sedimentation in the river and development of tourism infrastructure. The river is inadequately protected against these threats and conservation is done on a small scale such as in the Tana River Primate Reserve.

Ewaso Ngiro

From its source waters in Mount Kenya, the Ewaso Ngiro River stretches for 435 miles and eventually joins the Jubba River in Somalia. The banks of the river support a broad range of wildlife including the elephant, buffalo, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards and Zebras. Protection areas such as the Lewa Conservancy and Samburu Game Reserve, both in Isiolo were founded to protect the vulnerable wildlife. The river has, however, been affected by degradation of its catchment areas. Recent drought periods have taken their toll on the water amount of the river. Proposed developmental projects have also raised environmental concerns over the sustainability of the rivers ecosystem. The river has also taken center stage in tribal disputes, especially among communities which inhabit the regions of Samburu and Isiolo.

Athi-Galana-Sabaki

The Athi-Galana-Sabaki is one of the most significant rivers in Kenya at a length of 242 miles. The river begins as Athi River at the mouth and drains into the Indian Ocean as Galana River, otherwise known as Sabaki River. The river has been significant through history for local communities through fishing. The river supports abundant fish species, most of them in the Cyprinidae and Aplocheilidae Families. Pollution in the river is, however, threatening fish in the river. An alarming number of fish species from the river has been found to have heavy metals in them. The river is protected at various points, such as in the Tsavo East and Nairobi National Parks. Various fauna including hippopotamus, pythons, crocodiles and water birds inhabit the rivers ecosystem.

Mara

The Mara River flows for 245 miles from the Mau Escarpment and drains into Lake Victoria, stretching through both Kenya and Tanzania. The river is economically important to local communities through small-scale agriculture and herding of the Maasai tribe. The river flows through the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and provides an ecosystem for animals such as giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, and cheetahs. Several threats to the river have been identified, and they include degradation of catchment areas, large-scale irrigation projects, over-grazing and water pollution. These concerns continue to be addressed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resource in the country.

Other Major Rivers and Environmental Concerns

The largest river to pass into Kenya, the Nile River, stretches through a total of 4,258 miles in 11 countries. Some of the other major rivers in the country are the Dawa at 280 miles and shared with Somalia, the Turkwel at 211 miles and shared with Uganda, and the Nzoia River at 160 miles. Kenyas rivers play an important economic and ecological role, and concerns such as pollution and deforestation need to be adequately addressed to ensure the rivers sustainability.
Ecuador is Spanish speaking nation located in the northwestern regions of South America. It has its capital in Quito while Guayaquil is the largest city in the country. The Mestizo is the predominant ethnic group making up 78% of the entire population. The country is a unitary presidential system nation and has a total population of 16,144,000 people. According to the Conservation International, Ecuador is one of the 17 mega diverse countries with over 16,000 plant species, over 1,600 animal species, and over 6,000 butterfly species. It also has a high level of endemism. In this article, we discuss some of the native fish species in Ecuador

Banded Toadfish

The Banded Toadfish is a relatively small fish which is white on the underside and gray on the upper sides, and has numerous small white spots. It is a fish which lacks scales but has embedded spines in some instances. The skin and some internal organs of the fish are toxic, and the members of the species can fill their abdomens with air and water to appear huge in case a predator poses a danger. On average, they grow to a maximum length of eight inches and have a life expectancy of six years reaching sexual maturity after two years. Spawning takes place during the months of October to January and takes place in the shallow coastal waters. The males and females release their sperms and eggs into the water where fertilization takes place. They feed on crustaceans, and marine worms at a tender age, and mature ones feed on mussels. The banded toadfish are preyed on by tuna, tailor and mulloway species which are resistant their toxin.

Redtail Catfish

The Redtail Catfish is a huge fish, weighing around 180 pounds and measuring up to six feet in length. It is colorful with a brown back, yellow sides, and either orange or red dorsal, and caudal fins. Due to the color of the fish, the natives do not consume it, but the authorities have crossbred it with other fish such as the Tiger Shovelnose to create a more viable fish food. The juvenile catfishes are kept in aquariums despite their eventual large size. The friendly and good nutrition in aquariums enables the fish to grow extremely fast. However, the death of most catfishes in aquariums has been linked to overfeeding. They are omnivorous and highly predatory. They are known to be territorial with their kind and will consume anything that fits In their mouth. Red tail catfish are aggressive and must be handled with great caution.

Emerald Catfish

The colors of this fish will often depend on the kind of light it is viewed in. The body might appear either metallic green, blue-green, or mostly bluish. The pectoral, ventral, and anal fins are yellowish as well as the whole of the ventral area. The females are larger and appear to be pink while the males are mostly yellowish. It habits waters with dense vegetation, especially along the banks. It is a relatively small fish measuring three inches in length and feeds on worms, crustaceans, and insect Larvae. The female lays eggs in submerged vegetation and does not guard the eggs. The fish has been described as friendly and less demanding. These attributes have made it a popular fish for domestication in aquariums. They are shy especially when kept alone and are best kept in groups.

Cuiu Cuiu

The Cuiu cuiu is a thorny catfish with lengths of up to 39 inches that attains a weight of up to 29 pounds. It has lateral spikes for self-defense. It inhabits muddy areas in streams and lakes and feeds on detritus, chironomid, crustaceans. It feeds by shifting through the sand and mud and detecting eatable parts using the receptors in the top and bottom of the mouth. Domestication of the cuiu cuiu is on the rise in Ecuador. It is a shy fish and should be provided with hiding places in the aquariums.

Threats to the Fish of Ecuador

Predation, over-fishing, and changes to habitats are the major threats to these species of fish. Over fishing has led to decrease in their number while predation by other fish has led to a small number of fish developing to adulthood. Climate change is also changing the temperature of the water and the fish are migrating toward unfamiliar places that is less conducive for their survival.
The South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean partially enclosed by islands, archipelagos, and peninsulas from the open ocean. Its trail begins from the Karimata Strait, which connects the South China Sea to the Java Sea, and Malacca Strait stretching from Malay Peninsular to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It flows all the way to the Taiwan Strait which separates the land of Taiwan from the Peoples Republic of China. The Sea is located to the South of China, West of Philippines, North of the Bangka-Belitung Islands and Borneo, and East of Vietnam and Cambodia. Nine major rivers flow into the sea. Namely, these include the Min, Mekong, Pearl, Red, Pampanga, Pahang, Pasig, and Jiulong Rivers. Several natural resources are found in the sea, for instance, crude oil, and natural gas. It is an important ecosystem with diverse marine life despite the depletion of fish due to excessive fishing.

5. Historical Background of the Disputes -

In the early parts of the 20th Century, the islands within the sea had not been occupied, but by the end of the Second World War in 1946, China started to establish temporary settlements in the Woody Islands. The following year saw French and Vietnamese attempt to occupy the same Island but instead settled on a nearby Pattle Island. During the time, the sea had not grown popular and there was no rush to claim it. However, between 1955 and 1956, accelerating interest grew among the neighboring nations. China and Taiwan were the first to establish permanent settlements on the major Islands in the Sea. The rush to occupy the Islands cooled off until the early 1970s when oil was suspected to be below the sea. The Philippines became the first country to occupy this oil-rich area for oil exploration, but China staged an invasion to occupy other islands.They complained of the Philippines invasion which later led to the halting of the exploration. Disputes on both the Island and maritime claims arose because most of the Worlds trade passes through this particular sea. The sovereign states who are interested in controlling the sea want the rights to fishing areas, exploration, mining, and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas.

4. Multiple Countries, Disputes, and Incentives -

The countries of China, Taiwan, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam all desire to have control over different parts of the South China Sea and its maritime routes, and therefore disputes involving maritime boundaries and the possession of islands therein have arisen. The first notable dispute was the nine-dash line area which was claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and was later claimed by the Peoples Republic of China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Dialogues among these nations have been conducted by Singapore as it played a neutral role. The second dispute was between Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam and the contention being the maritime boundary along the Vietnamese coast. Another Dispute arose between Brunei, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam on the maritime border, North of Borneo. Some islands in the sea, such as the Spratly Islands, have become other centerpieces of conflicts between Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The fifth dispute arose between Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam on Maritime Boundary, North of Natuna Islands. On top of that, the Maritime boundary, off the coast of Palawan and Luzon was the center of the disagreements between Brunei, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Another dispute between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines arose on the Maritime Boundary, Land territory and the Islands of Sabah. The last dispute arose between Singapore and Malaysia on Maritime Boundary and Islands in the Pedra Branca, located in the eastern Singapore, but was resolved amicably between the two countries.

3. Petroleum Reserves, Trade and Commerce, and Strategic Military Presence -

Research conducted in the South China Sea has revealed the presence of over 7.7 billion barrels of known oil reserves and, further fueling the territorial disputes, the entire sea has been estimated to contain up to 28 billion barrels of oil cumulatively. Natural gas, another important resource have been expected to cover a volume of up to 266 trillion cubic feet under the sea. Through fishing and exploitation of the natural resources present in the sea, international trade done and passing through the region can add up to 5 trillion US dollars, this makes it an important region for both trade and commerce. The sea is the second most used shipping lane by the vessels in the world for trading. It has been approximated that more than 10 million barrels of crude oil get shipped through the Strait of Malacca and the Sunda Strait. The Peoples Republic of China has expanded the military activities in the South China Sea by creating islets from the reefs. These islets have been used for military purposes, such as the maneuvering of armed missiles and aircraft used for conducting drills in the region. In response to military activities done by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, India, Philippines, and Vietnam have joined the United States in conducting patrols as well.

2. Notable Maneuvers to Expand Territory -

The contentions over the rights to exploit the oil and natural gas found in the South China Sea have led to the growth of the military presence of China in the region. China has sought to modernize its military, particularly its naval capabilities. This move was to enable them to reinforce the jurisdiction and sovereignty over the sea. Due to the rising of various contingencies among the nations with interest in the sea, Chinas move was to ensure that in time of conflict, the United States military forces will be at risk and their control will not be overthrown.

1. Current Situation -

Due to the disputes that have arisen over the years, the Philippines launched an arbitration case against the Peoples Republic of China in January of 2013. The arbitration proceedings began an investigation on claims that they had historically exercised powers over the Nine-dash line. On July 12th, 2016, arbitrators arrived at a conclusion that there was no substantial evidence over Chinas claims. The ruling faced rejections from both Taiwan and China with claims that it was not based on reliable facts and evidence. The United States, on the other hand, has also increased its military presence in the surrounding areas, an act to reassure its partners on their commitment to ensuring their security against the Chinese forces.
Crispin Lane Armed Police  No Arrests Or Firearms Recovered

This article is old - Published: Monday, Nov 21st, 2016

Following an incident yesterday where armed police were seen on Crispin Lane in town, police have said there no arrests nor firearms recovered.

In a statement this morning police told us, North Wales Police can confirm that they executed two connected firearms warrants at an address in Crispin Lane, Wrexham, on Sunday November 20.

No firearms were recovered and no one was arrested.

Superintendent Sian Beck said, Id like to reassure local residents that we were acting on information received and that to ensure the safest response firearms officers were deployed

No firearms were recovered during the warrants and I would like to thank the local community for their understanding.

More detail can be found on our article here from yesterday afternoon.

Thanks to Zoe and Ryan for the top picture.
Ultrafast Broadband Work Begins  The First In North Wales

This article is old - Published: Monday, Nov 21st, 2016

Work has begun on a ground-breaking ultrafast broadband link for Wrexham from Virgin Media  a first for North Wales.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas met staff on site at Wrexham Industrial Estate, one of the first locations where Virgin Media is installing its network in Wrexham.

Mr Lucas said, It was in December of last year when I first challenged Tom Mockridge, the Chief Executive of Virgin Media, to bring ultrafast broadband to Wrexham during a House of Commons Select Committee hearing. Virgin Media spoke to me, I put them in touch with Wrexham Council and told both sides I would offer them whatever help they needed to bring the project to Wrexham.

Just months later, I am delighted that Virgin Media has begun the practical work which will make these plans a reality. Virgin Media is beginning some initial work on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, where it has started the detailed planning required to connect the estate to its network.

When I speak with industrial estate businesses, one of their main concerns is improving the communications infrastructure in the area  and I am sure many will welcome news this project is beginning.

I will be keeping in close touch with Virgin Media as its project progresses and links both Wrexham businesses and homes to its network. I was delighted to see Virgin Media start its work here this week.

Michelle Beech, Regional Director for Wales at Virgin Media, added: Residents in Wrexham will soon be getting the ultrafast broadband and top-notch TV they deserve. Investing and delivering better connectivity to communities such as Wrexham shows that ultrafast broadband isnt just for the big cities  we urge more communities to come together and register their interest. You could be next.

Wrexham Council has also welcomed the news, with Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, saying: This is indeed excellent news and will be welcome by businesses and residents alike. I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this much needed ultrafast broadband to Wrexham.

Cllr Neil Rogers, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: The Council has acknowledged the need for this technology for some considerable time and we are very grateful that Virgin Media has recognised the potential market there is here in Wrexham.

I know it will be very welcome in particular to the many businesses on our large Industrial Estate who will be keen to get on board very quickly.

Wrexham.com noted there was no member of Wrexham Council at the photocall, we did ask them why that was but have had no reply. Local MP Ian Lucas, Michelle Beech, Regional Director for Wales at Virgin Media, and Paul Hartley, Senior Project Manager, Network Expansion at Virgin Media are pictured above.

We did have a line from WCBC that added The Council has established an excellent working relationship with Virgin Media over the last few months and has helped facilitate their project to achieve the important goal of bringing this ultrafast connectivity to Wrexham.
The uncertainty, instability and political recalibrations being produced in governments around the world by Donald Trumps win in the US presidential election were on display at this weekends Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru.

Formally, the US was represented by its lame duck president, Barack Obama, but Trumps election cast a long shadow over the gathering of 21 government leaders. There was a clear sense of growing pessimism as the incoming Trump administration adopts a more nakedly protectionist, nationalist and militarist policy.

With his threats of imposing 45 percent tariffs on Chinese and other imports, supposedly to protect American jobs, Trump has cast aside the pretences of free trade through which previous administrations sought to maintain the US post-World War II economic domination of the region.

Following Trumps win, Obama dumped his previous commitment to use his lame duck period to seek US congressional ratification of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Far from representing free trade, this pact was itself an aggressive American-led trade bloc that sought to exclude China and establish unchecked US economic power over the region.

As Obama repeatedly stated, the TPP was the economic arm of his administrations pivot to Asia to combat Beijings rising influence. Via the TPP, the US would write the rules of global trade, not China, he declared. Trumps America First protectionism, however, dispenses with the fig leaf of free trade and open markets and belligerently asserts US interests over all its rivals, especially China.

Throughout the protracted US election campaign, Trump sought to deflect intense domestic working-class discontent and alienation from the US corporate and political establishment by declaring he would make America great again by protecting American jobs at the expense of US rivals, notably China and Japan.

Trumps blunt assertion of US interests is compelling every other government to re-position itself for direct economic conflict.

In a speech at the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping assertively promoted a Chinese-led Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which would include India but exclude the US and other North and South American members of APEC.

For diplomatic reasons, Xi depicted the RCEP as a step toward a broader Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) that would cover all 21 APEC members. In return for support for Chinas plans, Xi promised to further open up Chinas markets and its cheap labour force to be exploited by transnational corporations.

We will give greater access to foreign investment and continue to set up high-standard pilot free trade zones in China, Xi said. Chinas investment climate will be more open, favorable and transparent, thus allowing foreign companies to share in Chinas growth opportunities.

His pitch escalated Beijings efforts to woo former US allies away from their enlistment in the US pivot against China by promising investment and commercial opportunities. In recent weeks, such largesse has been showered on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

While still publicly holding out hopes of reviving the TPP, Australia and New Zealand warned that they could be forced to follow Chinas lead if those hopes were dashed. Both countries are caught in an intensifying dilemma: they depend heavily on exports to China but they have relied upon military and strategic alliances with the US since World War II.

Speaking of the RCEP, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters: Its not as far-reaching as the TPP but the more access we can get to more markets for our exports, the better. On his way to the APEC summit, Turnbull sought a meeting with Trump, but his request was denied, intensifying the angst in Canberra about the implications of the new president-elect.

Likewise, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the US was an important partner in the region but China would fill the void if the Trump administration backed away from so-called free trade. Key spoke of the tremendous despair triggered by Trumps trade views.

Japans ruling elite faces an acute crisis. One of the Beijing regimes most stridently nationalistic outlets, the Global Times gloated over the impact of Trumps policies on Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abes government had counted heavily on the TPP as a means of reversing the countrys long economic stagnation.

Trumps claims that he will discard the TPP and pressure Japan to pay for American military stationed in Japan have left Abe uneasy and have placed Japans strategy of relying on the US to contain China at risk of bankruptcy, a Global Times editorial stated. It asserted: China is more capable of shaping Asia-Pacific geopolitics.

The Japanese government, which still heads the third largest global economy, may seek to refashion the TPP as a Japanese-led bloc to assert its own imperialist interests. According to the Japan Times, the leaders of the 12 TPP states agreed on Saturday to step up efforts to ratify the agreement domestically. It quoted Abe saying: If we stop our domestic procedures, the TPP will be completely dead.

On his way to the APEC summit, Abe made a hastily-organised trip to New York to meet Trump, reflecting the concern in Tokyo over the implications of Trumps policies. While that meeting produced empty statements reiterating the importance of the US-Japan alliance, Abe also used the APEC gathering to attempt to strengthen Tokyos ties with other governments, including Russia, South Korea and the Philippines, as a means of offsetting the US shift and countering China.

The APEC summit concluded with a token statement committing all 21 members to keep our markets open despite the rising skepticism over trade. In the pages of the corporate media, however, different conclusions are being drawn.

Writing in Murdochs Australian today, Henry Ergas forecast that Trumps protectionism could provoke trade wars that would be enormously costly for Australia and the world. Whereas some political and media pundits have peddled illusions that, once in office, Trump may soften his aggressive policy, Ergas warned that the pain of further job losses in the US Rust Belt would make it harder and harder for Trump to back away from the anti-trade rhetoric that dominated his campaign.

As in the 1930s, trade war leads inexorably to military war. Trump has vowed to expand the US army to 550,000 and the navy to 350 shipsa decision that one of his advisers, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, last week declared would ensure that China cant match us in the Pacific.

The disarray generated by Trumps victory is a prelude to explosive and potentially catastrophic economic and military conflicts over which ruling elite will dominate the Asia-Pacific.
Last Wednesday, nearly 100 students attended a meetingorganized by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin. The theme of the meeting was The election of Trump: Political causes and lessons. The large attendance and intense discussion at the meeting indicates that a new generation of young workers and students is being radicalized and is seeking a political perspective to oppose reaction and war.

Following the introductory report by World Socialist Web Site editor Johannes Stern, which we have already reported, many of the mostly very young students participated in the discussion and left their contact details after the meeting. A number of questions were raised.

There was an intensive discussion as to what extent Trumps victory could be compared to the development of fascism and war in the 1930s.

Johannes Stern remarked that unlike Hitler, Trump did not emerge from a Munich beer hall, but rather from Wall Street. Trumps ascent was, like Hitlers in Germany, the result of a deep crisis of capitalism, to which the ruling elite had responded. But, Unlike Hitler, he said, Trump did not come to power at the head of a fascist mass movement, but under conditions where workers and young people are increasingly orientating to the left, but lack an international, revolutionary, anti-capitalist and socialist mass movement.

This is mainly due to the role played by the trade unions and the official left. In reality, they have nothing to do with left politics, but rather represent the interests of wealthy middle class layers, Stern said, which base themselves on various forms of identity politics. They have only contempt for the interests of the workers. They thereby enabled far-right and nationalist forces to channel these growing social antagonisms.

Peter Schwarz, editor of the German-language WSWS, added that the danger of a Trump administration should not be underestimated. Even if at the moment Trump lacked a fascist mass movement, the forces he had mobilized could quickly develop in this direction. It is less about the question of his person than about the fact that democracy is collapsing due to huge social tensions. Trotsky once compared democracy to an electric circuit that could blow when social tensions became too intense. That is exactly what happened with the election of Trump, he said.

When asked by one participant whether a socialist revolution was needed and whether there was not a less radical alternative to defuse the situation, Schwarz replied, Is it possible to solve the problems of social inequality and war without challenging the basis of the capitalist system, private ownership of the means of production, and the enormous power of finance capital? The last 25 years have proved that this is not possible. What is needed is a socialist program, and you can only do this when you gain support and mobilize the working class. This is the central task.

In his closing comments, the meeting chairman and IYSSE spokesman at HU, Sven Wurm, appealed to the students: We cannot choose the period to live in. Whether we want it or not, we are returning to a period of war and revolution and we have to prepare accordingly.

The main focus of the work of the IYSSE was the struggle against war propaganda at the universities, Wurm said. He referred to the IYSSE open letter to Professor Thomas Sandkuhler, who had called on students in his courses not to attend IYSSE meetings. In the letter we explain how he defends the key positions of Professor Jorg Baberowski and seeks to suppress any discussion about the ideological preparation for war and dictatorship taking place at the HU.

The IYSSE, however, is not intimidated, but rather stepping up its work. At the meeting of the student parliament on Monday it would be submitting a motion against the campaign by the Bundeswehr to recruit newcomers at the HU.

After the meeting, Katja, a member of the IYSSE group and a member of the student parliament, spoke with two students of German literature and philosophy at the HU, Celeste and Alessia.

Its good that people are mobilized and shaken awake, Celeste said. She declared she is relatively speechless about the election of Trump, he is more of a joke figure.

Alessia added, What does it say about humanity when, after all that has happened in history, such a man comes to power 80 years later? It is incomprehensible that the [far-right] AfD wins such a large number of votes. The shift to the right in Europe and all over the world is extremely disturbing, she said.

Regarding the meeting she said: I think its right to wake people up and that this discussion is taking place. One should not trivialize the election of Trump, as was said today. Obama has now said he will ensure that a smooth transition takes place. But that is just politics. Trump was quite different in his election campaign. Apart from his racist commentaries, he also put forward extreme positions against women. That is not only misogynist, but also anti-humanistic.

In fact the whole system has completely broken down, continued Alessia. The fallacy of the democratic system in America is that there are only two parties to choose from and nothing in between. She could not take the Democrats seriously, even though she would rather have Clinton elected than Trump.

She was more thoughtful when Clintons right-wing policy as a representative of Wall Street and American militarism was raised: Yes, perhaps politics would be simply carried out under a cloak of a democratic ideology. The presentation of politics would perhaps be different with Clinton, but the facts on the ground would probably be very similar.

Clintons role in the NATO war against Libya was also raised. Thats a catastrophe. They just went into Libya, shot Gaddafi and then went away again, Alessia said angrily. The state is completely disorganised; there is no leadership at all. And then everyone wonders why thousands of people are trying to get to Europe. This is the payback for the sabotage of these countries for years. And now one feigns surprise.

Celeste was concerned about the growing threat of a Third World War under Trump. America is financing itself with war. Now, with such a choleric man as the worlds leader, she said, nuclear war may be on the agenda. Alessia added: Trump has always said that it was necessary to wipe out ISIS. The danger of war is now much higher than under Obama. This is a terrible development.
Up to 15,000 students and lecturers marched in London Saturday, in opposition to government attacks on Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE). Students marched several miles from Park Lane, with the protest concluding with a rally at Millbank, near Parliament.

The protest was called by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU) under the heading United for Education. Most of those protesting were young people, with many bringing their own homemade banners such as Education not Bombs, No fees, no cuts, no debt, Drop Fees Not Bombs and Education, not Deportation.

In August, the ruling Conservatives scrapped maintenance grants worth around 3,500 for the UKs poorest students, replacing them with additional maintenance loans that students have to pay back once they are in employment. Theresa Mays government is pressing ahead with its Higher Education and Research Bill, under which universities will be ranked according to quality. Those at the top of the table will be allowed to raise tuition fees well above their present level of 9,000 per annum. The Bill also makes it easier for new institutions, including for-profit companies, to gain university status.

Over the last decade, the UCU has barely lifted a finger against FE and HE cuts, closure of educational institutions and the casualization of lecturers jobs, terms and conditions. University staff have seen pay fall in real terms by 14.5 percent since 2009. In May, lecturers struck to protest a pay increase of just 1.1 percent.

Likewise, the NUS have done nothing to oppose the hike in tuition fees, which began under the 1997 Blair Labour government. Despite it being a joint NUS/UCU protest, neither organisation proposed any joint action. All that was urged from the platform was for students to boycott the National Student Survey (NSS)an annual census of universitieswith the NUS claiming this was required to stop the government carrying out its plans of ranking universities.

World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to some of those attending the demonstration.

Emily and her friend came from Leeds. She said she was concerned about the election of US President Donald Trump:

This has happened before in history. It happened in Germany and it happened in Italy. The thing is today the world is internationally more connected and we can fight against it in different countries and the people in America can fight it with us too, she said.

Emily had heard about the mass protests of students and young people in the US against Trumps election. She said Trump got all his support due to the disillusionment of many in the policies of US President Barack Obama during the two terms of his presidency.

She was worried about the danger of new wars, saying, I think Britain has to get rid of nuclear weapons. At the moment, it doesnt feel like the world is going to be here for my lifespan. My friends are really worried too. I have an American friend and she was so distraught because she did a few months teaching in Laos and saw the effects of Agent Orange. She saw the horrors of what it had done to people in the US bombing of Laos. She had seen children who were still suffering. And the company that made Agent Orange backed Hillary Clinton. Because of that, she did not want to give any support to Clinton, nor did she support Trump. They say America is the home of democracy, but I dont think it has been that for a long time now.

As the rally reached its destination, an open microphone was made available for those in attendance. Socialist Equality Party member Tania Kent told students that the election of Donald Trump in the US marked a watershed and had implications for the entire globe. Just like you, who have marched and taken up protest today, tens and thousands of youth and students across the US have participated in daily protests across the country on the election of Trump and the dangers that are posed.

Trump, in the week since his election, has restated his determination to ban abortions, carry out mass deportations and pursue extreme right-wing policies across the board.  The election of Trump signified the move by the American ruling class to a policy of authoritarianism and state violence against social opposition.

The election of Trump was not inevitable, however. It is the product of a protracted process, the lessons of which must be drawn. She called on students to attend a December 17 meeting in London on the significance of the election of Trump, which will be addressed by David North, a leading American Marxist and author of the new book, A Quarter Century of W ar : The U.S. Drive for Global Hegemony 1990-2016 (details to be announced shortly).

Prehan told the WSWS he came to the protest because I dont think the NSS is a good metric to standardize how well a university teaches. The NSS will influence elitism in the universities that already exists. It will put universities into three ranks of bronze, silver and gold. Gold universities, which Im guessing includes the University of Manchester where I study, will charge 12,000, which is not good.

Prehan said, I think the election of Trump will be bad, but I dont see any difference between him and Hillary Clinton. I dont think any less countries will be bombed. They both support war. Ive always been a socialist. Its just logical to me that if you can help people then you just should.

Stephanie, a lecturer at Kings College in London, was protesting with her husband, also a lecturer, and child. She said, I have been teaching here for three years. Ive been horrified with the increasing of monetisation, measurables, the increasing casualization of staff, the rise in fees. My husband is on an insecure contract as a lecturer, so we see every side of it to some extent.

I think something in the order of 50 percent of lecturers are now on casual contracts. Its disastrous for students, disastrous for the culture of universities. Im really glad these students are really pushing back.

Stephanie said, Trump does not have a popular mandate. I do not support Clinton but she won the popular vote by more than a million votes. Trump was elected by an outmoded electoral college. This is not the majoritys desire. He is now trying to run America as a business  he is not a politician. This is not helping the interests of the working people.

Asked what she thought about the Democratic Party, Clinton and Obama, she said, In the general media and among the elite, they have lauded the Democratic Party. There was an escalation of wars under Obama and there was an escalation of a lot of the Republican Party policies during his two terms  We cant forget how disastrous the foreign policy has been under Obama and thats how foreign policy would have been under a Clinton administration.

Alan graduated from university last year with student loan debts over 54,000. He said he was disgusted with all the political parties as none of them talk about the student loan debt crisis.

Alan said he knew many graduates that cannot find suitable employment in relation to their studies and are now working in low pay zero-hour contracts just to survive. ... Private debt collectors are being used to chase after outstanding loan payments, which is costing far more than the debt.

The author also recommends:

UK university lecturers strike against pay cuts and casualisation

[28 May 2016]
Yesterday, Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe obtained the most votes in the first round of the Les Republicains (LR) primary. They will run against each other in the second round of the primaries next Sunday, to become LRs president candidate in the AprilMay 2017 presidential elections.

Fillons unexpected surge in the polls, after long being in third or fourth position in the LR primary, pushed former President Nicolas Sarkozy back into third position. He was eliminated with 20.6 percent of the vote. Fillon took 44.2 percent, beating Alain Juppe, who obtained 28.6 percent, by a wide margin.

Other candidates, including Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Frederic Poisson and Jean-Francois Cope altogether received less than 8 percent of the votes.

Sarkozy acknowledged defeat from his campaign headquarters, as did Le Maine. Both called on voters to elect Fillon in the second round.

There was heavy voter participation in the primary, with around 4 million voters going to vote. This level of participation easily surpassed that of the Socialist Party (PS) government in 2011, when 2.6 million electors went to the ballots to select the current president, Francois Hollande, as PS candidate.

The PS is now deeply undermined by the vast unpopularity of Hollandes policies of austerity and war. The media presented LR primary as choosing the candidate who will most likely run against Marine Le Pen of the neo-fascist National Front (FN) in the second round of the presidential elections next year. These calculations doubtless played a significant role, as well, in the significant rise of voter turnout for the LR primaries.

Moreover, the LR primary took place under the shock impact of the surprise election of Donald Trump, just over a week before, as US president.

After trailing Juppe and Sarkozy during most of the campaign, Fillon gradually won support in the month of October, with his approval rating jumping 10 points in 5 weeks, from 12 to 22 percent of the vote at the beginning of November. After Trumps victory, just over a week before the LR primary in France, Fillon surged ahead in the polls, moving past Juppe and Sarkozy and taking 30 percent of the votecompared to 29 percent for the other two, according to an Ipsos poll.

During the last televised debate of the right-wing presidential candidates, on Thursday, Fillon was found most convincing according to two polls.

Fillons rise came at the expense of Juppe, whom the polls systematically presented as the inevitable winner in October.

Juppe and Sarkozy are both candidates who have run discredited governments. Juppe is closely tied to the ultra-free-market policy he carried out as prime minister under President Jacques Chirac, the Juppe plan that provoked a vast wave of strikes in 1995, called on the basis of defending pensions and social security.

After Trumps election, Juppe rejected all claims that there is a social contradiction between the population and the elites, an expression which Sarkozy used as a rallying cry throughout the campaign.

In a remark that underscores his aristocratic contempt for the masses, Juppe denounced the idea that a social gulf exists between the working masses and the elites as an idiotic statement. He added, We need elites, it is what pulls us upwards.

Sarkozy, for his part, had praised Trumps election as validation of his own claims to speak for the silent majority and as a victory for a democracy and the principle of listening to the people. Trump is unpopular in France, and Sarkozys open support for Trump doubtless played a role in his elimination in the first round.

Sarkozy explicitly centered his campaign around stigmatizing Muslims as well as occasionally moving closer to Russian policy, and his campaign was visibly close to the FN.

With the FN virtually certain to progress on to the second round, given the unpopularity and the discrediting of the PS, LR voters in yesterdays primaries were no doubt considering which candidate might have the best chances to beat Marine Le Pen. As a candidate who is not as openly contemptuous of the voters as Juppe, and less aggressively linked to far-right and nationalistic forces than Sarkozy, Fillon apparently was able to profit from his lower media profile and from the difficulties facing his rivals.

However, Fillons political program and those of all the LR candidates show that the ruling class is preparing to wage deep attacks on the working class.

Fillons program has no fundamentally significant differences from that of Sarkozy. He wants to launch massive attacks against workers social rights, including public sector job cuts, drastic tax cuts for corporations and the super-rich, and reinforcing the polices repressive powers.

The character of the policies proposed by Fillon and Juppe stand as a warning to the working class. After the wars, austerity policies, and police-state policies under Hollande, the ruling class is preparing a set of deep attacks against the working class.

Fillon and Juppe both support attacks on workers social rights and police-state measures like the current state of emergency imposed by the PS.

Faced with deep opposition to austerity in the French population, the fact that the LR candidates are so openly advancing such deeply anti-working class programs will doubtless reinforce the FN and Le Pen.

The FN will attempt to extract the maximum political profit from all of these parties promotion of reactionary policies to demagogically present its campaign as the only one to oppose traditional politicians and ruling elites.
An incident occurred last week that is a small taste of things to come.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended Friday nights performance of the Broadway show Hamilton: An American Musical. His presence in the theater was met with a mixture of cheers and (mostly) boos. Following the show, Brandon Victor Dixon, one of the shows lead actors, addressed Pence on behalf of the cast and the musicals creators.

Dixon asked Pence, in the process of leaving his seat at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on West 46th Street in Manhattan, to remain and listen to his remarks. The actor then explained that the cast had a message for you, sir. We hope that you will hear us out.

Dixon continued, Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical, we really do. We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect usour planet, our children, our parentsor defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us.

Again, we truly thank you for sharing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men [and] women of different colors, creeds, and orientations.

The statement was written by Hamiltons creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, in collaboration with the shows director, Thomas Kail, and lead producer Jeffrey Seller, with input from cast members. Hamilton, which has been hugely successful, is a musical based on Ron Chernows 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton (1755/571804), a significant figure in the American Revolution and the early days of the United States.

In 2016, the show received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations and took home 11. It was also the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

President-elect Donald Trump responded to Dixons polite and conciliatory--one might say, overly polite and conciliatory--remarks aimed at the incoming vice president (when audience members booed at the mention of Pences name, Dixon told them, Theres nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen. Theres nothing to boo here. Were all here sharing a story of love), with a series of thuggish Tweets Saturday and Sunday.

Trump first wrote, Our wonderful future VP Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!

How would Trump propose to prevent such comments? It is no idle threat when an individual who will soon have the FBI and the intelligence-military apparatus at his disposal insists that This should not happen! Dixon replied, in a Tweet of his own, that conversation is not harassment, sir.

Trumps next message read: The theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize! And finally: The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior.

The demand that critics should apologize for criticizing a public official is an expression of authoritarianism. Along the same lines, Trumps first response to protests after the November 8 election blamed the demonstrations on professional protesters, incited by the media. One of those being considered for the post of director of Homeland Security in a Trump administration, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, wrote a series of Tweets last week calling for a state of emergency to be declared and for the ongoing anti-Trump protests to be quelled by the military.

Pence struck a more dignified pose than Trump in response to the Hamilton incident. He told Chris Wallace of Fox News, I really enjoyed watching Hamilton. It was a real joy to be there. I heard a few boos. I wasnt offended by what was said.

This is mere posturing. The vice president-elect is a hardened right-winger. As a talk show host, congressman and governor of Indiana, Pence advanced views typical of the Christian fundamentalist and Tea Party right. He strongly supported the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the Bush administrations war on terror, and each measure aimed against Iran and Syria. He voted in favor of every attack on democratic rights and the expansion of NSA and CIA surveillance powers.

Pence has been hostile to social spending and public education and is a furious opponent of abortion and gay rights. The Indiana congressman gloated in 2005 that Hurricane Katrina had cleared the way for free market solutions in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast generally.

In 2015, as governor, Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which permitted individuals and companies to discriminate based on their religious beliefs. Advance America, an ultra-right Christian outfit, explained on its web site that the law means Christian bakers, florists and photographers should not be punished for refusing to participate in a homosexual marriage!
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minnesota man who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling 27 years ago apologized in court Monday for his evil acts as he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a child pornography count.

The sentencing let authorities close the books on a mystery that had haunted Minnesota and Iowa for nearly three decades.

Danny Heinrich, 53, led authorities this summer to the field where he buried Jacobs remains. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to charge Heinrich with murder.

I am truly sorry for my evil acts, Heinrich said as he stood before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, Jacobs parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, and the boys siblings.

Jerry Wetterling is a 1967 graduate of Mason City High School. His parents, Erwin Erv and Lillian Wetterling, were longtime Mason City residents until their deaths in 1997 and 2008.

Heinrich told the Wetterling family in court that his actions were heinous and unforgivable, and apologized for what he took away from them. He said he kept silent for nearly three decades because of his fear. But he offered no explanation for why he killed Jacob.

When he confessed in court in September, Heinrich quoted a handcuffed Jacob as saying, What did I do wrong?

Jacobs mother, Patty Wetterling said Heinrich deliberately set out to hurt a child the night he abducted Jacob on Oct. 22, 1989, while her boy was biking with his brother and a friend near their home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph.

She pointed out that by Heinrichs own admission, he put two bullets into his gun and shot Jacob with them.

You didnt need to hurt him. He did nothing wrong. He just wanted to go home, Patty Wetterling said.

Patty Wetterling also told her sons killer she wont waste a minute of time thinking about him from this day forward.

The sentence was the maximum the law allowed, and Heinrich technically could complete it in 17 years with good behavior, but the plea deal allows state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator at the end of his federal prison term, which could prevent him from ever going free.

Tunheim said he wont pretend that the sentence is only about child pornography.

What youve done is so heinous, so brutal and so awful that I dont believe society will let you go free, Tunheim said.

While some of Jacobs siblings said they want Heinrich to spend the rest of his life in prison, the family agreed with prosecutors and investigators that the plea deal was their best hope of learning Jacobs fate.

Early during the investigation, authorities questioned Heinrich, who maintained his innocence. But he came under renewed scrutiny when authorities decided to take a fresh look at the case around the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping.

As part of that effort, investigators used new technology to go back to a sex assault cause of a 12-year-old Cold Spring boy that happened nine months before Jacobs disappearance.

They found Heinrichs DNA on that boys sweatshirt, and used that evidence to get a search warrant for Heinrichs home in Annandale, where they found his child pornography collection last year.

After months of denials, Heinrich agreed in late August to confess to killing Jacob and the Cold Spring sex assault.

Heinrich detailed his crimes in chilling detail in court in September, recounting how he drove the boy to a gravel pit near Paynesville and molested him. After a patrol car with siren and lights passed nearby, he fired two shots at Jacobs head, killing him.

Patty Wetterling became a national advocate for missing children after Jacobs disappearance. A 1994 federal law named for Jacob requires states to establish sex offender registries.
It was the mob that took us out of the European UnionWe, the people, must stand against the mob.

This was only a small part of an extended and sometimes vulgar rant by economist, former Observer editor and Guardian columnist Will Hutton.

Hutton delivered his verdict on the outcome of the Brexit referendum on June 23 at a conference earlier this month of the trade union think tank, the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS). He spoke alongside Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, fellow Guardian journalists Paul Mason and Owen Jones, Unite union General Secretary Len McCluskey and other erstwhile left/liberal notables.

An atmosphere of despondency permeated the proceedings, as another opinion poll showed the Labour Party trailing behind the Conservatives. Hutton summed up the panic with a string of phrases: We are in a mega deep pit. Its the biggest post-war crisis. Its existential. Its a civil war. A constitutional quagmire. A legal quagmire. An economic quagmire. Parties on the verge of splitting. A calm before the storm.

For Hutton this is all the fault of the mob. He regaled the well-heeled CLASS audience with how a chef working in the same restaurant kitchen as his son declared following the Brexit vote, I can say this now. I cant stand coons, before he asserted, In hundreds of pubs, bus queues, all around the country, people are saying things they couldnt before June 23rd misogyny, anti-Semitism, racism.

Hutton seized on the High Court ruling two days prior to the conference that the Conservative government cannot trigger Article 50 and start Brexit negotiations with the European Union (EU) without consulting parliament.

Theres an opportunity to contest the whole bloody thing, he declared. He all but screamed at his audience, Why are we conniving with the idea that the noble EU project is an ignoble project before demanding another referendum is held to go back in.

Huttons outbursts are part and parcel of the reactionary project of a leading section of the ruling elite to overturn the result of the Brexit referendum. To safeguard British membership of the EU, he and others are urging that the Labour Party is either refashioned into the main pro-EU, anti-Brexit party or incorporated into some sort of progressive alliance government that can unite, in Huttons words, the centre and left--and the best of the conservative tradition.

This is seen as all the more urgent now that Brexit forces dominate the Conservative Party and Donald Trump has been elected US President. Immediately after the Brexit referendum, Hutton was complicit in the coup launched by Labours Blairite wing aimed at removing Corbyn as leader--accusing him of ambivalence towards the EU and opposition to nuclear weapons and war. Hutton lambasted the wretched Labour campaign headed by one inadequate manCorbynwho has come to personify all the perennially unresolved contradictions in left politics that cripples it politically.

Making the ludicrous claim that Corbyn sought to overthrow capitalism, Hutton called for a well-led Labour Party with a crafted cluster of policies to secure a better capitalism. Hutton sees the recent relaunching of the Fabian group of Labour MPs as a new movement to make the case.

Huttons appeal is directed to upper middle class layers who have benefitted from the EU, young people fearful for their own future and that of the UK, and the identity politics crowd. At the CLASS conference he called for a substantial reform of capitalism, remaking the unions and collective bargaining, reframing social security so that it really becomes a cradle to grave entitlement, a proper Constitution and a federal Britain.

If Hutton were remotely serious about such reformist nostrums, it would put him to the left of Corbyn and render his vitriol incomprehensible. But Hutton has spent nigh on three decades churning out such purely rhetorical prescriptions--from the publication in 1986 of The Revolution That Never Was: An Assessment of Keynesian Economics through The State Were In, The World Were In, The Writing on the Wall to last years How Good We Can Be: Ending the Mercenary Society and Building a Great Country.

Huttons promotion of the myth of a benevolent capitalism will intensify the dangers posed by the growth of right-wing movements such as the UK Independence Party. To encourage illusions in a political and economic system that is committed to austerityimpoverishing vast sections of the working classand brushing aside the resulting hardships, only legitimises UKIPs demagogic posturing as the voice of the people against the elites and helps cement dangerous divisions in the working class.

Hailed as the New Keynesian guru for his arguing against the excesses of neoliberal capitalism and for greater state intervention, Hutton has by turns extolled the virtues of various benevolent capitalist modelsbefore the 1990s asset price collapse, Britain under New Labour, and the German social market before Chancellor Angela Merkelcovering up the reality of the situation facing working people under these benevolent regimes. He has then watched them crumble one after another and give way to yet more right-wing regimes in the face of capitalisms escalating crisis.

Today, especially in the aftermath of the 2008 crash, economies throughout the world are based upon ever escalating attacks on the working class in order to feed the rapacious demands of the banks, major corporations and the super-rich. Austerity, which Hutton claims to oppose, is a class policy, not just an economic programme.

At the CLASS conference, other speakers also attempted to present a new vision for Labour. All claimed to be aimed at making capitalism more humane and all are in reality recipes for economic, social and political reaction. All were based on demands for the working class to rally behind their capitalist exploiters against workers in other countries.

Mason declared the crisis was so deep that alliances had to be made with all sorts. To placate the mob, a significant, temporary retreat from freedom of movement of EU citizens had to be undertaken.

Jones declared that the divisions in the Labour Party were overestimated and that it had to focus on what unites us. The leadership had to create a vision backed up by message discipline. Banging the same nationalist drum, he boasted, We are the real patriots and urged that a new social movement based on this central idea be created.

This was a theme taken up by McCluskey, who also declared free movement of labour to be a utopia... which all socialists must recognise. Without shame, he invoked Karl Marx to provide a benediction for his own insistence that immigrants were a threat to British workers due to their being a source of cheap labour. Marxs answer to all such efforts to exploit national divisions in the working class was to demand Workers of the world unite! in the struggle to overthrow capitalism and establish socialism. McCluskeys answer is for a political alliance with the employers based on the demand, Workers of the world fight each other! British jobs for British workers!
At 8PM on Tuesday November 8, the Hindu-supremacist BJP government led by Narendra Modi made a shock demonetisation announcement invalidating all Rupee (Rs.) 500 and 1000 currency notes (approximately $US7.50 and $15) as of midnight that day.

The government set a December 31 deadline for depositing the withdrawn currency bills into bank accounts and fixed a daily Rs. 4,000 limit for the exchange of old notes for new currency. This limit was later decreased to 2,000 rupees per day.

The social impact has been immediate and widespread with lengthy lines forming outside banks across the country. Tens of millions of people, many of them on a daily basis, are being forced to spend hours at a time to either deposit their old bills or exchange them, severely disrupting daily life and economic activity.

Bank ATMs all over the country have repeatedly run out of lower denomination currency as people desperately try to obtain money to spend on everyday purchases.

In rural areas and in small towns where banks or even an exchange mechanism do not exist the effect has been nothing less than catastrophic, with people unable to purchase daily necessities such as food and fuel. In addition, small farmers have been unable to sell their perishable produce to middle-men, since these transactions are almost always conducted in cash.

The greatest impact has been on the working class, other toilers and the poor who comprise the overwhelming majority of Indias 1.2 billion people. On the morrow of the November 8 announcement, many were unable to eat as they did not have valid currency for making food purchases. Others were unable to obtain urgent health care.

According to press reports, at least 55 deaths since November 8 are attributable either directly or indirectly to the disruption caused by demonetisation. The Modi government has maintained a stony silence on the reported deaths, undoubtedly viewing them as inconvenient but acceptable collateral damage.

So contemptuous is the Modi government of the suffering masses, that Urban Development Minister Vankaiah Naidu claimed that any disruption and hardship was "temporary pain for long term gain.

Such callous political indifference brought a caution from the Supreme Court. At a hearing on an emergency motion for the demonetisation to be suspended, Indias highest court warned the government that if it does not take immediate steps to allieviate the mass distress there could soon be riots.

Donning the guise of a corruption fighter, Modi, a self-styled Hindu-strongman and unabashed political agent of big business, has presented the governments shock demonetisation as a surgical strike against black-money, tying it metaphorically to the unprecedented, illegal and highly provocative military strikes India carried out inside Pakistan in late September.

For years, declared Modi in a nationwide televised address, this country has felt that corruption, black money and terrorism are festering sores, holding us back in the race towards development. To break the grip of corruption  we have decided that the currency notes presently in use will no longer be legal tender from midnight tonight.

The pliant and sycophantic corporate print and television organizations have fallen over each other to hail this move as a masterstroke against what is termed as black money, i.e., monies that are undeclared to tax authorities and kept hidden in the form of real estate, gold, cash hoards and overseas or even domestic bank accounts.

The vast majority of Indias black money, as is commonly known, is held by the most privileged sections of Indian society: businessmen, rural moneylenders, politicians and the upper middle class. This was effectively admitted in an Indian Express column by the businessman and neo-liberal economist Surjit S. Bhalla. He argued that the rise of black money was an understandable, even laudable, response to the high-tax rates imposed on the rich and well-to-do by Indira Gandhis Congress Party government in the late 1960s and the regulatory powers of government bureaucrats.

Modis demonetisation scheme will have little to no impact on these layers and their illegal fortunes.

The posturing about cracking down on corruption is a smokescreen. The governments real aim is to further shift the burden of the capitalist crisis onto the massesto prop up Indias banking system at their expense; and increase, as with the BJP governments push for a new nationwide 18 percent Good and Services Tax, the tax bite on working peoples incomes.

Not surprisingly, Indian and international big business have hailed Modis demonetisation.

We support the measures to fight corruption and illicit financial flows in India, declared an IMF spokesperson.

Demonetising high denomination notes can be an effective means of checking accumulation of wealth in cash," said Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President Naushad Forbes.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Harshavardhan Neotia congratulated Modi and his government for an extremely bold move. It will have, claimed Neotia, a debilitating impact on the parallel economy in the country as well as deal a body blow to terror financing.

Far from being high-value, as the cheerleading corporate media and business spokespersons claim, the targeted currency notes make up the overwhelming majority of all currency in circulation and are indispensable for daily transactions. The demonitised 500 rupee notes comprised 47.8 percent of all currency in circulation and the 1,000 rupee notes a further 38.4 percent.

The first aim of the governments demonetisation scheme is to inject desperately needed cash into Indias mainly state-owned banking sector. The Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are hobbled by mounting Non-Performing Assets (NPA), primarily business loans that are not being repaid or paid only sporadically. Because the threat from their NPAs is so large, Indias banks have cut back their lending to Indias capital-starved and already overstretched business houses. The paucity of lending threatens in turn to gut economic growth, which has already declined sharply in key sectors including industrial production, IT, and merchandise export.

As of June 2016, the banks total NPS stood at Rs. 6 trillion ($90 billion), but these figures probably grossly understate the problem.

In any event, by November 14, just 6 days after demonetisation, total new Indian bank deposits already exceeded Rs. 4 trillion ($60 billion). Although most of these deposits are expected to be withdrawn for spending, the head of the giant State Bank of India, Arundhati Bhattacharya, estimates that about 10-15 percent of these deposits will be retained within the banking system.

By compelling cash-holders to deposit their funds into the bank, the government is also hoping to collect a tax windfall so as to help plug its large fiscal deficit. The government has warned that if the total of demonetised-currency deposited in an account exceeds Rs. 250,000 ($3,700) before December 31 and there is a mismatch between income and deposits, the account-holder may be subject not only to paying additional tax, but also to penalties of up to 200 percent.

It is also estimated that about Rs. 3 trillion ($45 billion) out of the Rs. 14 trillion of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes that were in circulation prior to November 8 will not be deposited or exchanged for new bills. This sizeable sum can be marked as a credit on the balance sheet of the Reserve Bank of India, then transferred to the government exchequer as a dividend.

A third benefit, from the standpoint of the avidly pro-big business BJP government and the ruling elite, is that the demonetisation scheme will compel greater popular participation in the banking system. Large numbers of people in India do not have a bank account. This either because they do not have easy access to a bankbanks do not exist in many rural villagesor because they are so poverty stricken that they have little if anything to deposit.

As a result, most economic activity, even in urban areas, is carried out in cash. By forcing people to open bank accounts the Modi regime is trying to modernize Indias historically belated, backward capitalist economy by strengthening the Indian bourgeoisies banking system and its reach. The BJP government has already made clear that one of its principal goals moving forward will be to privatize large parts of the banking system.

To what extent the BJP government and Indias elite will realize the true, surreptitious goals of their demonetisation scheme remains to be seen. Whatever palliative impact it has on the Indian banking system and government finances in the short-term, demonetisation is further fueling mass popular discontent and under conditions where Indias economy, notwithstanding Modis claims of a high-growth rate, is being battered by the world capitalist crisis. Last week Indian President Pranab Mukherjee admitted that India, whose labour force is growing by 10 million people per year, added less than 150,000 jobs in all of 2015.
At least 127 people were killed and more than 200 injured early Sunday morning when 14 carriages from the Patna-Indore Express train suddenly derailed at Pukhrayan, about 100 kilometres from Kanpur in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The train was carrying over 500 passengers.

The disaster highlights the poor safety conditions and lack of maintenance in Indias massive railway network. The death tollthe highest from an Indian rail accident in the past six yearsis expected to increase as rescue workers gain full access to two of the derailed carriages. Many more passengers are still trapped, Anil Saxena, a senior railway official in New Delhi, told Reuters yesterday.

Yaqoob Ahmed, one of those admitted to Kanpurs UHM hospital, told the Hindustan Times: I woke up suddenly, at around 3:10 a.m. and felt a tremor. The train came to a screeching halt. All of a sudden, I was crushed under a crowd of people everyone was screaming for help.

Faizal Khan was travelling with his wife and two children, all of whom survived the accident. He said: Suddenly I could feel the carriage overturning. I immediately held onto the metal rod near the bathroom door. Rajdeep Tanwar, another survivor said: I can see bodies lying near the tracks, everyone is in a state of shock. There is no water or food for us.

While it is not yet known what triggered the disaster, some reports suggest it was caused by a fracture in the railway line. Suresh Prabhu, Indias railway minister, tweeted on Sunday that the strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible for the accident. In reality, Indian authorities, as they have done before, will attempt to find scapegoats in order to divert attention from their own negligence toward basic safety standards.

Several senior officials from the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP)-led government have suggested that the disaster was the result of a conspiracy.

Murli Manohar Joshi, a senior party leader and the MP for Kanpur, claimed the accident was part of an attempt to defame the railways and the government.

Railway Minister Prabhu said the government would launch an immediate investigation into the derailment. Numerous official inquiries have been held following similar train disasters. None has produced any serious improvements in basic railway safety, and the death toll continues to rise. Reports calling for maintenance improvements and rigorous safety checks and procedures have been ignored by successive Indian governments.

In an attempt to contain popular anger over Sundays disaster, senior Indian government officials and the relevant state administrations have feigned concern, shedding crocodile tears and announcing compensation payments for the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was anguished beyond words on the loss of lives.

The Modi government will pay just 200,000 rupees ($US3,225) to the relatives of those killed, along with 200,000 rupees from the Madhya Pradesh state government and 500,000 rupees from the Uttar Pradesh state government. The three governments agreed to pay 50,000 rupees to each of those seriously injured and 25,000 rupees for those with minor injuries.

Congress Party leader Madhu Yashki Goud denounced the Modi government over the accident. The prime minister is busy travelling to Japan and talking about bullet trains but his tenure has ignored railway safety, he said. This is an utter failure by the railways minister.

Another Congress leader, Ahmed Patel, condemned the governments refusal to guarantee basic railway safety standards. There are over 1.22 lakh (122,000) vacant positions in the railways with 75 percent of these pertaining to safety, he said.

However, the dangerous state of Indias railway network, including the run-down of safety jobs, is a direct product of successive Congress and BJP governments that have refused to provide the necessary funds. Rail passengers are the tragic victims.

The Indian railway system is the worlds fourth largest and one of the oldest. Carrying more than 20 million people and 1.49 million tonnes of freight each day, it is notorious for derailments, collisions and other accidents. Most of these are caused by poor maintenance and the lack of safety upgrades.

The number of fatal train accidents has risen sharply since the 1980s. In the fiscal year 20132014, 54 people died in 71 accidents, whilst in 20142015 the death toll rose to 123 in 80 accidents.

The High-Level Safety Review Committee, which was established by the railway ministry, warned in 2012 that the Indian Railways were at the brink of [financial] collapse unless measures are taken. The committee blamed the rail authorities for not taking concrete measures and for covering up the role of governments in failing to allocate sufficient funds. According to some analysts, the railways need 20 trillion rupees ($293.34 billion) investment by 2020.

The Modi government has cynically exploited the financial problems confronting the Indian Railwaysa crisis it has exacerbatedto push ahead with plans to privatise the system and allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment in the rail sector.

Privatisation of the rail network and the drive for profit will result in the destruction of thousands of jobs, elimination of working conditions and a further deterioration of maintenance and safety standardsprecisely the processes that produced Sundays disaster.
At the end of October, rail haulage company Pacific National (PN) announced another 120 job cuts across its New South Wales (NSW) operations.

The move is part of an ongoing restructure by the company, in collaboration with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), to slash costs and increase profit margins. The cuts will begin next month.

PN was formerly a division of ports and rail group Asciano. It was sold earlier this year to a consortium, including Global Infrastructure Management, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Chinas CIC Capital Corporation and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, as part of a $9 billion asset sell off.

The majority of the job cuts will be train crew positions at PNs Port Waratah coal-haulage operation in Newcastle, where 67 positions are being axed. Another 23 jobs will be shed at Port Kembla on the states south coast. Others will be destroyed in the NSW regional districts of Greta, Gunnedah and Narrabri.

The latest downsizing follows a spate of job cuts since 2014, including 160 in PNs bulk division and another 46 at its Newcastle operations. Those sackings followed Ascianos announcement that it would take aggressive measures to drive up cost savings from $150 million to $300 million by 2018.

The company previously merged its Pacific National Rail and Pacific National Coal divisions to slash jobs and push through speed-ups. Workers were told they would have to reapply for their jobs.

A letter from management last month spelt out the companys agenda, declaring that PN had made a definite decision to reduce our full-time positions... and to increase our use of flexible labour (labour hire and direct casuals) to meet above-average demand for labour. It said new rosters would increase the number of available working days per cycle for drivers.

PNs attacks on jobs and working conditions are taking place in the wake of a global slump in commodity prices, including for coal and iron ore. This has decreased production in mining and industry, leading to a fall in freight volumes. Coal volumes through Australian ports were down 0.9 percent for the fiscal year till the end of February.

Before Asciano sold PN, it reported falling revenues from its freight haulage business of 2.3 percent from 2015 to the 2016 figure of $2.37 billion. Bulk rail was down 3.8 percent over the same period.

PNs restructuring is an attempt to gain a competitive edge over rivals such as Queensland-based freight hauler Aurizon.

Last year, in a bid to increase its market share, Aurizon announced a restructure, including the destruction of 800 jobs across its operations, to achieve cost savings of up to $380 million. The company had already cut its national freight workforce from 9,390 to 6,977 since it took over the assets of QR National, which was privatised by the previous Queensland state Labor government in 2010.

In October, PN lost an eight-year contract with energy producer AGL Macquarie, to Aurizon. The deal involved hauling 8.7 million tonnes of coal each year from the Wilpinjong and Mangoola mines to AGLs power stations in the NSW Hunter Valley.

The fierce competition is part of a global cost-cutting drive in the haulage industry. In March, German railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced 2,100 job cuts at its freight transportation subsidiary DB Cargo after recording losses of 1.3 billion for 2015. The unions immediately pledged their support for the attack.

Australian federal and state governments, both Liberal-National and Labor, fully support the demands of the corporate elite for the lowering of haulage costs in the mining sector, so as to bolster profits and maximise government royalties. The NSW Liberal-National government forecasts royalties from coal of $1.26 billion this financial year and $1.82 billion for 201718.

The RTBU has likewise signalled its support for PNs restructuring. While it is issuing mealy-mouthed denunciations of casualisation, the union has systematically worked with PN in the destruction of jobs and working conditions via successive enterprise bargaining agreements (EBA).

The current EBA, signed off by the union in 2014, allows the company to move to a workforce that is 49 percent casualised. Job destruction is allowed by the EBA through voluntary redundancies and redeployment.

The union has repeatedly appealed for greater collaboration with the company. When 49 job cuts were announced in April, RTBU NSW branch secretary Alex Claassens called on PN to do everything within its power to find alternate employment for these employees.

The RTBUs major complaint is that the company did not consult with the union or look at redeployment options and advertise for redundancy throughout the company. In other words, the union is concerned with its own position at the bargaining table, and warning that the company would have been better off destroying jobs through voluntary redundancies, overseen by the union.

A PN worker told the WSWS there was no opposition from the unions to the latest sackings, saying: It just seemed like business as usual. He said workers were unaware of the details in work agreements negotiated by the union. The union claims they werent expecting PN to attempt to casualise like this but what do they expect will happen when they put such clauses into the EBA?

He expressed sympathy for the casuals being hired, noting: Many of them have lost full time jobs elsewhere and are just trying to make a living. Theyve been told theyll have a guaranteed number of hours, but with this company, I just dont see that happening.

According to the worker, casuals do two weeks training in a classroom with no pay. How that is even legal is beyond me.

A PN driver in the state of Victoria said the RTBU had not raised anything about the job cuts taking place in NSW. As far as I am concerned, the unions work hand-in-hand with the company. Dozens of train drivers jobs have already gone, particularly from the Rural and Bulk division, which mainly hauls grain.

The company just sacked a lot of workers here and told them they could re-apply as casuals. What they want, and are getting with the help of the union, is a totally flexible workforce. At the moment, there is a big grain harvest in Victoria and NSW so PN has engaged labour hire companies to bring in workers from all over the country to work their trains.

We are currently going through negotiations here for a new EBA. There have been no updates on progress by the union, outside of telling us that conditions are not good and that we shouldnt expect much. I think all railway workers must stick together and reject being divided by the union and the company on an enterprise-by-enterprise basis and being played off against workers in other companies. We should oppose the job cuts at PN in NSW and nationally, and at other haulage companies.
In an interview published Friday, President Barack Obama told Der Spiegel and German public broadcaster ARD that he would not pardon Edward Snowden before leaving office in January. The former National Security Agency contractor remains in exile for exposing the illegal surveillance operations of the NSA and other U.S. spying agencies, which target countless millions of people in the U.S. and around the world.

Obamas decision will leave Snowden in grave danger from the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who is putting together a far-right government committed to expanded spying, torture and militarism. Trumps pick for new CIA director, Kansas Republican Congressman Michael Pompeo, called for Snowdens execution in an interview with the C-SPAN public affairs network last February.

In his typically dishonest manner, Obama sought to conceal the political meaning of his denial of a presidential pardon to Snowden, well aware that the young man enjoys popular support in the U.S. and around the world for his heroic actions. A campaign initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urging Obama to grant Snowden a pardon has won the support of prominent artists, academics and others.

The outgoing Democratic president reiterated the bogus argument that mass surveillance, a blatant violation of democratic rights, is necessary to defend the people of the U.S. and the world from terrorism.

Asked if he was going to pardon Snowden, Obama said, I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves, so that's not something that I would comment on at this point. I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns.

How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community. If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system.

The claim that the president cant pardon Snowden is a lie. The U.S. Constitution confers on the president unlimited power to pardon anyone, except in cases involving impeachment. As several defenders of Snowden have pointed out, an 1866 Supreme Court ruling held that this power extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment.

As Noa Yachot, who is leading the ACLU campaign, noted, Richard Nixon hadnt even been indicted when Gerald Ford issued a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in over the course of his presidency. In January 2016, Yachot pointed out, Obama pardoned three Iranian-Americans charged with violating trade sanctions against Iran before they had stood trial. This was part of a prisoner exchange that helped seal the US-Iran nuclear deal.

Obamas claim that Snowden should have followed procedures is no less bogus. Previous whistleblowers, including Thomas Drake, a high-ranking NSA official who exposed illegal spying ten years before Snowden, were arrested, charged with crimes and financially and professionally ruined. President Obama has prosecuted more whistleblowers than all previous US presidents combined, and has repeatedly used the 1917 Espionage Act against government leakers and reporters.

In his remarks in Germany, Obama said, At the point at which Mr. Snowden wants to present himself before the legal authorities and make his arguments or have his lawyers make his arguments, then, I think, those issues [a pardon] come into play. Until that time, what I've tried to suggestboth to the American people, but also to the worldis that we do have to balance this issue of privacy and security.

Despite Obamas claims that Snowden would receive a fair trial in the U.S., the Espionage Act implicitly excludes Snowdens main defense: that he was providing information to the media and the public to defend their democratic rights against the intrusion of the government. All the prosecution has to prove in an Espionage Act case is that the defendant disclosed classified defense information to someone unauthorized to receive it, such as a journalist, something Snowden has already admitted. Nothing else is admissible.

As Snowdens lawyer, the ACLUs Ben Wizner, explained, When Daniel Ellsberg stood trial under the Espionage Act, his attorney asked him why he decided to leak the Pentagon Papers to journalists. The prosecution objected to the mere question, and the judge sustained the objection. No matter the egregiousness of the governments actions, a whistleblowers motivation has no place in an Espionage Act trial.

Obama denounced those opposed to massive government spying, saying, Those who pretend that there's no balance that has to be struck and think we can take a 100 percent absolutist approach to protecting privacy don't recognize that governments are going to be under an enormous burden to prevent the kinds of terrorist acts that not only harm individuals, but also can distort our society and our politics in very dangerous ways.

He continued, I want my governmentand I think the German people should want their governmentto be able to find out if a terrorist organization has access to a weapon of mass destruction that might go off in the middle of Berlin.

That may mean that, as long as they do it carefully and narrowly, that they're going to have to find ways to identify an email address or a cell phone of a network But we shouldn't assume that government is always trying to do the wrong thing.

Trumps pick for CIA director, Michael Pompeo, supports the lifting of virtually all restrictions on NSA spying. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, he has called for the NSA to resume its phone records program and urged Congress to pass a law reestablishing collection of all metadata, and combining it with publicly available financial and lifestyle information into a comprehensive, searchable database.

In an interview on C-Span last February, Pompeo said, It's absolutely the case that we have not been able to secure all the American information that we needed to, and that we've had the traitor Edward Snowden steal that information. He should be brought back from Russia and given due process, and I think the proper outcome would be that he would be given a death sentence for having put friends of mine, friends of yours, who served in the military today, at enormous risk, because of the information he stole and then released to foreign powers.

According to State Department sources, Hillary Clinton is reported to have said, Cant we just drone this guy, during a 2010 internal discussion on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

In December 2010, Democratic strategist and Clinton supporter Bob Beckel told Fox News: The way to deal with this is pretty simple. We've got Special-Op forces. I meana dead man can't leak stuff. This guy's a traitorI am not for the death penalty, so if I am not for the death penalty, there is only one way to do it Illegally shoot the son of a bitch.
25 Years Ago | 50 Years Ago | 75 Years Ago | 100 Years Ago

25 years ago: Haitian refugees die on the high seas

Late on November 22, 1991, a boat carrying 160 refugees sank in the straits between Haiti and Cuba, with all those aboard lost. The bodies of men, women and children continued to wash up on the Cuban shore over several days. This was but one of many boats overcrowded with Haitian refugees. The responsibility for the deaths of such innocent people lay with the US government.

In the aftermath of the Haitian militarys overthrow of the elected government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Bush administration sanctimoniously condemned the coup and demanded the return of democracy in Haiti. With estimates of over 1,500 killed in the coup itself and daily reports of military round-ups, shootings, torture and invasions of working class neighborhoods, the State Department decreed that Haitians fleeing their homeland were economic refugees, undeserving of the democratic right to political asylum.

To deny them this right, the Coast Guard mounted a permanent blockade in Haitian waters, halting refugees on the high seas, detaining them and burning their boats.

The previous week, Washington ordered 538 of the refugees sent back into the clutches of the Haitian junta. Following a temporary court injunction against this patent violation of even the meager rights granted refugees under US immigration laws, those captured were held by the hundreds on the open decks of Coast Guard cutters, in some cases in shackles and under conditions almost as foul as those of the old slave ships which plowed the same waters in an earlier epoch.

On November 26, the Pentagon announced the dispatch of hundreds of troops to the US Naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba to erect a concentration camp in which Haitian refugees would be housed in tents, ringed by barbed wire and under the guard of military policemen armed with M16 rifles.

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50 year ago: Chinese Red Guards attack workers

On November 23, 1966, the newspaper of the Chinese Red Guards reported a violent clash between student members of the Red Guards and factory workers in Beijing. The battle lasted for 15 hours, after students from an engineering college went to the Machine Tool Factory 1 to attempt to spur greater production from the workers by propounding the thought of Mao Zedong.

Workers responded with hostility to the intrusion and closed the factory gates. The students sent for reinforcements and a battle reportedly started after they scaled the walls. Despite the arrival of military police, the fighting went on into the middle of the next day. The paper reported 60 people injured. Only with the arrival of a top Chinese Communist Party official were the sides separated.

The next day Stalinist CCP leaders asked Red Guards from the countryside to leave Beijing within 72 hours. The officials claimed that acts of torture and violence on the part of the Red Guards would be punished.

The battle at the Machine Tool Factory 1 came in the midst of an influx of Red Guards into Beijing as part of an ongoing purge of the top leadership of the Chinese Communist Party by the faction headed by Mao. Posters appeared in the capital denouncing Liu Shao-chi, the Chinese head of state since 1955 and formerly the number two figure in the bureaucratic hierarchy. The Red Guard posters denounced Liu as a bourgeois reactionary.

Also targeted by the Red Guards were Communist Party General Secretary Deng Xiaoping and another leading Stalinist bureaucrat, former Beijing Mayor Peng Chen. The demonstrations by the Red Guards were accompanied by increased armed patrols and the strengthening of guards at government buildings.

On November 29, Red Guards from Beijing Normal University sacked and defaced the tomb of Confucius, who, according to tradition, had been interred at the site in 478 BC. Confucius was targeted as part of Chinas feudal history that the Cultural Revolution sought to eradicate.

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75 years ago: Red Army defeats Wehrmacht at Rostov

On November 21, 1941, as part of the attack upon the Soviet Unions Caucasus region during Operation Barbarossa, German forces entered the Soviet city of Rostov and seized a bridgehead across the River Don. Hitler was overjoyed, believing the Soviet Unions North Caucasus oilfields within striking distance.

The Russian city of Rostov-on-Don lies at the mouth of the Don River where it flows into the Sea of Azov, part of the Black Sea. The city is strategically located and was an important target for the Wehrmacht as the gateway to the Caucasus, and ultimately the oil around Baku and Grozny. The North Caucasus provided 80 percent of the Soviet Unions oil supplies.

When news of Rostovs fall arrived in Berlin, Goebbels propaganda machine immediately announced, to much fanfare, that the gateway to the Caucasus had been opened. But as journalist William Shirer noted It did not remain open very long. Only days after German forces took Rostov, on November 27, defended by poorly-armed Hungarian troops on their left flank and overextended on both their northern and southern flanks, Red Army Marshal Timoshenko seized the opportunity and counterattacked across the frozen solid River Don. The Soviet 37th Army sent General von Kleists panzer army into headlong retreat.

General von Kleist wanted to retreat to a secure defensive position at the River Mius which flowed into the Sea of Azov. But Hitler forbade such a move and demanded the retreat be halted immediately. Field Marshal von Rundstedt, the senior officer in the German Army, refused to conduct the order seeing it as military madness to order distant troops to stand fast regardless of their peril.

Hitler relieved von Rundstedt of his duties the next day and replaced him with Field Marshal von Reichenau, a devoted Nazi. Nevertheless, later that same day, von Reichenau telephoned to report that Red Army troops had broken through the line drawn by Hitler and requested permission to retreat to the line von Rundstedt had initially demanded. Hitler agreed to the retreat and subsequently compensated von Rundstedt with a birthday present of 275,000 Reichsmarks.

Shirer notes of the events: The retreat from Rostov is another little turning point in the history of the Third Reich. Here was the first time that any Nazi army had ever suffered a major setback. The leader of German Panzer units, Colonel General Heinz Guderian, commented afterwards, Our misfortune began with Rostov, that was the writing on the wall.

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100 years ago: Austrian Emperor Franz Josef dies

On November 21, 1916, Emperor Franz Josef I, the Habsburg ruler of Austria-Hungary, died in Vienna at the age of 88. His nearly 70-year reign symbolized the historical decay and stagnation of the 450-year-old Habsburg dynasty, which collapsed two years later under his successor, Carl Franz Josef.

Franz Josef was born in the revolutionary year of 1830 and ascended the throne amid even greater revolutionary struggles in 1848, which had forced the abdication of his uncle. During the early years of his reign he presided over two disastrous wars that cost Austria nearly all of its Italian territory and its hegemony over the German states.

After the formation of the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867, an alliance with rising German capitalism seemed to restore the Habsburg Empire to its former glory, but World War 1, whose immediate cause was the assassination of the heir to the Habsburg throne, brought about the final collapse of the rotting and senile regime.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire contained at least 11 major ethno-language groups, includingin addition to Germans and HungariansPoles, Czechs, Slovaks, Ruthenians (Ukrainians), and several South Slav nationalities, whose national aspirations were constantly crushed with an iron fist. The Balkan wars strengthened the states to Austrias south, including Serbia, Romania, and Greece. Serbia was allied to Russia and set on union with the South Slav peoples of the Habsburg Empireand through the creation of a Yugoslavia with access to the Adriatic Sea.

The emperors death nearly coincided with a statement by Great Britain and France, couching their imperialist war aims in the language of the rights of nationalities. They called for dismembering the Habsburg Empire by reconstituting an independent Poland and urging the Czechoslovaks, Italians, Romanians and Slavs of Austria-Hungary be freed from foreign domination.

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Segregation in Virginia public schools has increased by 60 percent since 2003, according to a report by the Commonwealth Institute published this month. This follows a similar pattern across the nation as politicians slash social services to make working people bear the cost of the economic crisis.

Nearly 70 years after the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling, in which formal segregation in schools was struck down, the capitalist system is incapable of providing an adequate education to students from all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds.

Analyzing data from the Virginia Department of Education, the report found 136 schools in Virginia, covering around 75,000 students, are considered isolated by race and income. Schools are classified as isolated if 75 percent or more of their students receive free or reduced lunch and 75 percent or more are black or Hispanic.

From the school years 2003 to 2014 (the most recent data available), there were 38,500 more students attending such schools in the state of Virginiaabout 1 in 5 black students and 1 in 10 of Hispanic students in the state. Compared to other schools, so-called isolated schools offer disproportionately fewer math and science courses and have higher rates of suspensions and expulsions of students, according to the Government Accountability Office.

If the opportunities afforded to its youngest generation are a measurement of a healthy society, this report is an indictment of the vast gulf in opportunities between rich and working class youth. While the largest number of segregated schools was found in the Richmond area, where nearly every child qualifies for free and reduced lunch, segregated schools were also found in some of the nations wealthiest districts. The northern Virginia regionwhich has four of the top 10 richest counties in the nationhad the third largest concentration of segregated schools.

Some of the increase in the number of schools isolated by poverty and race can be attributed to a growing enrollment of black and Hispanic students. However, the authors note a significant proportion is due to a shortage of resources for students who face significant challenges at home, including poverty and food insecurity. In Virginia, one in four people lives in a food desert, without access to affordable, healthy food, and about one in seven children lives in a household below the poverty line.

Lower resources in schools are intimately tied to education budgets being slashed under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Contrary to claims by the Obama administration, there has been no recovery in the quality of education experienced by the most vulnerable students in the state.

In the aftermath of the recession, Virginia faced a budget shortfall of more than $300 million. Lawmakers responded by tailoring the formula used to allot education funding in a way that disproportionately affected poorer school districts. As a result of this adjustment, a separate study by the Commonwealth Institute found, the poorest schools lost three times more in funding than wealthier schools.

Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe announced earlier this year that the state faced a budget deficit of $1.5 billon, declaring there were tough decisions ahead, including using $125 million that would have been allocated to give raises to teachers and state workers to pay for the budget shortfall. According to the Virginia Department of Education, over 5,000 teaching positions have been slashed at the state level since 2008, while the student population has grown by nearly 50,000.

Just one B-1 Spirit bomber, priced at $2.4 billion and manufactured in Virginia by defense contractor Northrop Grumman, would be more than enough to pay for the entire states funding deficit.

Rising school segregation in Virginia follows a national trend. During the same time period, the percentage of all K-12 public schools that were considered isolated climbed from 9 to 16 percent, according to a GAO report.

Due to a growth in the student population, the number of students attending isolated schools more than doubled, from 4.1 to 8.4 million students. Overall, one in every six schools in the US is considered isolated.

The response of the Obama administration to the crisis in public schools has been the implementation of programs such as Race to the Top, which incentivized states to adopt standardized tests and merit-based pay or face being replaced by for-profit charter schools.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of charter schools grew nationally by over 30 percent between 2009 and 2014. According to the San Jose Mercury News, K12, the largest for-profit charter operator in the nation, with headquarters in Virginia, has received more than $310 million in state funding over the past decade, despite a bleak record of academic achievement.
DES MOINES  Its a good time to be a turkey in Iowa.

The turkey industry has recovered from the avian influenza that decimated flocks in 2015.

And four Iowa turkeys will be spared places as highlights of the Thanksgiving table this year thanks to pardons from Gov. Terry Branstad and President Barack Obama.

Branstad pardoned two Iowa-raised turkeys, an annual Thanksgiving-week tradition, on Monday morning at the governors mansion on Terrace Hill in Des Moines.

The two turkeys chosen to be spared the carving knives are named Bryant and Rizzo, a nod to Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

The turkeys come from the farm of Noel Thompson of Ellsworth.

I, Terry E. Branstad, governor of the state of Iowa, do hereby proclaim Rizzo the turkey and Bryant the turkey free from the harm of the carving knives and gravy for this Thanksgiving Day, Branstad declared Monday.

Meantime, two more Iowa turkeys were chosen to be pardoned by Obama in the annual ceremony at the White House on Wednesday.

Those lucky birds, who will be named by the president and his staff, are from the farm of Chris and Nicole Domino in northwest Iowa near Early. The Dominos farm was chosen for the presidential pardoning ceremony by the chairman of the National Turkey Federation.

Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation, said it is the seventh time an Iowa turkey has been pardoned by the president.

Iowa farmers produce 11 million turkeys annually, the eighth-most in the nation.

In 2015, the avian flu caused the death of more than 1 million turkeys in Iowa. Irwin said Monday that the industry has rebounded.

This years been a really great year for the Iowa turkey industry. Our numbers continue to increase in our turkey production, and weve added a few more farmers in Iowa, which is always great, Irwin said. Its doing quite well right now in Iowa.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Tallahassee Community College announced that they have been awarded three major gifts, during the TCC District Board of Trustees meeting on Monday.

The gifts are part of the foundation's $10 million "TCC, We Rise" campaign.

More than $7 million was received from one of the gifts, which is the largest single donation the college has ever been given.

That $7 million donation will be devoted to scholarships, and will be paid out over a 30-year period.

Trustees also recognized student Haley Hall, who was selected as the chancellor's Clark Maxwell Scholar Student of the Month for the Florida College System.

Hall received a $150 dollar award with the honor.

At the same time, student Reanna Bowman was presented with a $500 Sunkist/Schweppes Education scholarship.

"Financial barriers are the number one reason why people don't attend college at all, even an institution as affordable as Tallahassee Community College," said Heather Mitchell, "But to have this type of investment in scholarships means we'll be able to throw that net much broader and wider for students we can help get into our system."

Mitchell hoped the new donations will continue higher-educational success for future TCC students.
A roundup of state government and Capitol news items of interest for Monday, Nov. 21, 2016:

FIRST LADYS OPINION KEY: During his weekly news conference Monday morning, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said if he is offered a position in the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, his wifes opinion would carry great sway. Listen, were not doing anything without her blessing. Thats for sure, Branstad told reporters Monday morning at his weekly news conference. I dont really want to speculate about (a possible position in the Trump administration). But Ill just say that I love my wife, weve been married for 44 years and I want to stay married. Branstad again mostly deflected reporters questions on whether he would accept a position on the Trump administration if asked. Political observers and media have speculated Trump may ask Branstad to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China given the governors long personal and working relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Branstad first was asked about the possibility Saturday night at his annual birthday party fundraiser. He said a position in the Trump administration is not something hes thinking about, and that he is focused on serving as governor. But he would not rule out accepting a position in the administration, if offered. Im a team player. I love the country. And if the president of the United States were to ask me to consider something, before I even know what it is, Im not going to rule it out, Branstad said Monday. But thats not my interest. Thats not my focus. My interest and my focus is Iowa.

NO PLANS TO CLOSE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES: Branstad said there are no plans to close any state-run mental health facilities or prisons. State agencies are just beginning to make their budget requests to the governors office, and Branstad said Monday that although he is always looking for ways to make state government smaller and more efficient, he has no plan to call for the closure of any state-run facilities. At this point were just beginning the budgeting process, but there are no plans at this point to close additional facilities, Branstad told reporters. In recent years, Branstad has closed state-operated mental health facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. Similar facilities remain in Independence and Cherokee, and the state operates 11 prisons.

PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS: Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan said Monday Iowa is seeing an influx of high-potency marijuana and pot-related items like edibles and candies from states where recreational marijuana is now legal that raise concerns about impaired driving and negative impacts on young people. Ryan told Gov. Terry Branstad during a state budget hearing Monday that Iowa is seeing the effects of marijuana even though it is not legal here, with concerns that growers may try to build on Iowas plant genetics successes to produce high-potency plants here. Ryan requested a nearly $2.55 million boost in state general funds on top of this years $97.8 million budget and another $1.98 million in other one-time sources to upgrade Iowas secure radio communications among state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Much of the overall state funding would go for salaries and benefits for public safety operations that would include a status-quo force of 362 Iowa State Patrol troopers, she said.
Meirabelle Brown is a junior at Naches Valley High School and is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republics Unleashed program for teen journalists. 
DES MOINES  Opponents of the Dakota Access underground oil pipeline that passes through Iowa began a hunger strike Monday outside the headquarters of the Iowa Utilities Board  a state regulatory agency that approved permits for the project  in hopes of convincing IUB members to reverse their decision.

They need to change their minds, said Jessica Reznicek, a Des Moines woman who began a protest fast outside the IUB headquarters. When the pipeline breaks, the whole state of Iowa will be fasting. Its time the Iowa Utilities Board does the right thing and shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Reznicek said she and other members of a group calling themselves the Mississippi Stand Water Protectors, planned to stage their vigil until state regulators agree to withdraw the permits for the underground pipeline that is close to completion in Iowa but still is not carrying crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in northwestern North Dakota due to protests on Native American land in that state.

Organizer Frank Cordaro said the effort is part of the Mississippi Stand  an encampment started in Lee County last August in opposition to the drilling underneath the Mississippi River in Iowa that has grown into a mobile caravan of resistance across the state. He said the effort to hold IUB members accountable will go on indefinitely and they are urging other opponents to join in the fast.

Dakota Access, a Texas-based company, is building the pipeline slated to span 1,134 miles from North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa, to a distribution hub in Illinois. Dozens of protesters have been arrested in Iowa along the 346 miles of pipeline crossing 18 counties from northwest to southeast.

Julie Brown, a hunger strike participant who grew up in Jasper County, said even though much of the pipe for the Iowa leg is in the ground there is still time to halt the project so it doesnt transport oil that could leak and cause environmental issues and foul Iowas waters.

Pipelines do leak, Brown said. Its not a matter of if but when.

Officials with Dakota Access did not respond to a request for comment.
Two El Al flights were canceled on Sunday morning, and a third was moved to a Portuguese airline amid the ongoing labor dispute between Israel's flag-carrier airline and its pilots.

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The company explained, "Despite contacting dozens of pilots, asking them to man the flights, all the efforts of the management to man the flights with the company's pilots failed. We apologize to the passengers."

The day before, four flights were delayed or cancelled, and a fifth plane flight was transferred to a leased plane. The pilots' alleged unavailability is seen as "work-to-rule" industrial action on the pilots' parts to pressure El Al to improve workers' conditions and increase their salaries.

El Al plane (Photo: Robert Cosa)

On Monday, some 6,000 El Al employees will vote in secret ballots on the future of the company, and they will attempt to organize a majority so that the Histadrut (Israel's organization of trade unions) will be able to apply to the Labor Court to declare a work dispute in El Al. The management is accusing the pilots of "scandalous conduct" that is seriously harming the company and the traveling public.

The El Al pilot's committee commented, "One pilot is missing, and in his place are 610 first officers and another at least 6 captains ready to take the flight and return immediately to continue their monthly schedule. Including the fleet directora man from the management! But the inflexibility of the company and its failed management prefer to harm hundreds of additional passengers."
LIMA -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin says he and President-elect Donald Trump share an interest in normalizing relations between the US and Russia.

At a press conference following an economic summit in Peru, Putin said that Trump "reaffirmed his intent to normalize relations with Russia" in their recent phone call, "and I naturally said the same."

Putin says that there is a big difference between "pre-election rhetoric and actual policy" in most countries, and that it remains to be seen how well the situation will evolve and how successful Trump will be at solving the challenges facing the country.

Putin also commented on his brief discussion with President Barack Obama earlier in the day, saying they both acknowledged dialogue between the US and Russia "was hard." He says he would be happy to see Obama in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed to him he was willing to mend ties, though he also said he would welcome President Barack Obama in Russia.

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"The President-elect confirmed he is willing to normalize Russian-American relations. I told him the same. We did not discuss where and when we would meet," said Putin.

Trump and Putin have already signaled they may pursue a less antagonistic relationship after Trump takes office in January. In a phone call shortly after Trump was elected, Putin congratulated him and expressed readiness for a "partner-like dialogue," the Kremlin said.

Russian President Putin (Photo: AP)

The meeting came as Obama, on the last day of his final overseas tour as president, sought to reassure world leaders gathered at an economic summit in Peru that their longstanding ties with the US wouldn't falter under Trump.

Trump's election overshadowed every stop on Obama's trip. The president went to once unimaginable lengths to defend the real-estate mogul and reality TV star who he had repeatedly denounced during the campaign as "temperamentally unfit" and "uniquely unqualified" to be president.

"I think it will be important for everybody around the world to not make immediate judgments, but give this new president-elect a chance to put their team together, to examine the issues, to determine what their policies will be," Obama said in response to a question about Trump during a forum here Saturday with some of Latin America's future leaders.

"As I've always said, how you campaign isn't always the same as how you govern," he added.

Leaders in every region of the world have expressed concern about Trump's stances on immigration, trade, NATO and other matters.

Photo: EPA

Meanwhile, Obama spoke briefly Putin about Syria and Ukraine on Sunday, in their first known conversation since Donald Trump was elected the next US president. The White House said the conversation lasted four minutes.

The two leaders were seen chatting at the start of the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima. They stood off to the side together momentarily with aides close by before shaking hands and then taking their seats around a table.

Putin said he thanked Obama during Sunday's meeting in Lima "for the years of joint work".

Obama and Putin in Peur (Photo: EPA)

"I told him that we would be happy to see him (Obama) in Russia anytime if he wants, can and has desire", Putin said.

Although reporters present couldn't hear what they said, the White House said Obama encouraged Putin to uphold his country's commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict. Both the White House and the Kremlin said the leaders had agreed that US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov should keep working throughout Obama's final months on initiatives lower violence in Syria and alleviate suffering.

The short interaction came amid intense speculation and concern about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory US approach to Russia. Under Obama, the US has enacted severe sanctions on Russia over its aggressive behavior in Ukraine and has sought unsuccessfully to persuade Moscow to stop intervening in Syria's civil war to help prop up Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the one who announced the appointment of his new ambassador to Israel . A moment before boarding a plane, Erdogan faced the media, explained that after they (Israel) made a selection, referring to the appointment of diplomat Eitan Naeh as Israels ambassador to Turkey , its our turn to fulfill the agreement.

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Kemal Okem, 50, an expert in Middle Eastern affairs, was snatched from his position as foreign policy advisor to the Turkish prime minister and sent to do his homework. He has previously served as a diplomat in Britain and Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The reconciliation agreement has not been fully resolved (Photos: AP, Kobi Gideon/GPO)

The journalists in Turkey, those who survived the arrests and the shutdown of leading media outlets, are covering the Israeli ambassadors appointment with kit gloves. He is receiving news headlines, has been defined as a worthy appointment, and his hosts seem to be particularly interested in one of his former positionIsraels ambassador to Azerbaijan. In Turkey, as in Israel, Azerbaijan is seen as a country with special strategic importance due to its close neighbor, Iran, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is almost as preoccupied with it as Erdogan is.

Suddenly, after six years of a diplomatic crisis, Erdogan urgently wants to turn over a new leaf. Its hard to say, however, that Ankara and Jerusalem see eye to eye on current affairs. Erdogan wants to get rid of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Netanyahu is indifferent. Erdogan suspects that Israel is luring the Kurds behind his back, and Israel isnt denying it. Turkey is stuck in a deep crisis in its relations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is consistently rejecting Ankaras courting efforts because of his quarrels with the Muslim Brotherhood. Erdogan is gritting his teeth over the collaborations in Sinai.

The reconciliation agreement between Turkey and Israel has not been fully resolved, either. Erdogan insisted on lifting the Gaza blockade, while Israel only agreed to have limited Turkish presence in the strip. On the other hand, Israel's demand to expel Hamas military wing from Turkey is being ignored. Saleh al-Arouri, who is responsible for the abduction of the three teenagers murdered on the eve of Operation Protective Edge, remains a guest in Turkey along with his friends. While their activity has been limited, and there are no signs pointing to terrorism attacks originating in Turkey, Erdogan has firmly refused to distinguish between Khaled Mashaals Hamas political bureau and the military wing led by al-Arouri, who moves freely between Qatar, Sudan and Turkey.

The ambassadors return aims to indicate a normalization orf relations. Specifically,it signals the promotion of exports and imports, economic deals and the agreement to transfer gas through Turkey, which has been signed by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz. We should also pay attention to the fact that Stenitz's Turkish counterpart, Berat Albayrak, is one of the strongest figures to come out of the presidential palace. The same Albayrak is married to Esra, Erdogans daughter. He would not have signed an agreement with Israel without the sultans blessing.

At the height of the affair between Tel Avivs Kirya Base and Ankaras generals (who were almost all arrested or dismissed in the July Revolution), Israel surpassed Turkey at the top rungs of the administration in Washington. The advisors were stressed out by Donald Trumps victory in the presidential election. According to sly Erdogans analysis, Netanyahu beat him to it. The Israeli prime ministers position is secure both in Washington and in Moscow.

The Israeli ambassador to Ankara wont have an easy time. The Islamist newspapers intentionally ignored his appointment. Erdogans Turkey is carrying on with the witch-hunt against those marked as secret supporters of the exiled oppositionist Fethullah Gulen. It will be interesting to see if the defense industries resume their cooperation, if the Air Force planes go back to performing exercise flights in Turkeys airspace, if the interests can blur the differences of opinion.

The amassador arriving in Tel Aviv and the one leaving for Ankara are recalculating their routeTurkey and Israel are sending their ambassadors to walk on eggshells.
EAGLE GROVE | An Eagle Grove man accused of sexually abusing three children earlier this year faces criminal charges.

The 37-year-old man was charged Friday with two counts each of incest, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child and one count each of second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse.

All are felonies.

Officials with the Wright County Attorney's Office say the man victimized three children over the fall and summer in Eagle Grove.

He's also charged with two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure.

The Globe Gazette is not publishing the man's name in order to avoid identifying the three children. It is newspaper policy to not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.

Jail staff said the man was being held Monday at the Wright County Jail in Clarion. His bond is $250,000 cash.

-- Molly Montag
The head of the IDF Workers Union wrote a letter to the union's workers on Sunday describing the pressure put by attorney David Shimron and his client Miki Ganor on the Israeli Navy to outsource the maintenance work on its submarines to a German shipyard.

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Israel's submarine deal with Germany includes two main parts: The acquisition of three submarines and the signing of a contract for long-term maintenance work with the German shipyard that Ganor represents. It is the latter contract that would be more profitable to Ganor, according to defense officials.

The Israeli Navy's shipyards currently employ Israeli civilians to do maintenance work on its submarines, and it is them that would be affected if the work is outsourced to a private company.

Attorney David Shimron (Photo: Yaron Brener)

In his letter, which was obtained by Yedioth Ahronoth, IDF Workers Union head Moshe Friedman confirms that Ganor and Shimronwho is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal lawyermet with him and with Avi Nissenkorn, the head of the Histadrut Labor Federation, to pressure them against trying to foil the efforts to outsource the maintenance work.

"Decency obliges me to note that attorney Shimron informed me right at the outset of the meeting that this was not a political meeting, but a business one," Friedman wrote. "His account made it clear that it would be better for the German company and the IDF Workers Union to negotiate and reach an agreement rather than being dictated by a decision from the Defense Ministry."

On Ganor, Friedman wrote: "I was surprised and saddened to hear Mr. Ganor's account that the Navy was cooperating with them and that the move to outsource to the German shipyard was made, according to him, with the Navy's support and on its behalf. The attempts to recruit the Histadruts support were accompanied by serious accusations made in an effort to tarnish the shipyard employees."

Friedman also raised claims about the ties Ganor cultivated with the senior command in the Navy, adding that "Mr. Ganor showed great familiarity, describing the Navy's different docks, which he seeks to have for the German shipyard's work. He claims that the Navy's shipyards do not measure up to standards, added that the German shipyard is cheaper, and claimed there were strikes at the (Navy) shipyards."

Friedman emphasized that Ganor "claimed these comments were coming from the Navy and not from him. I learned from his account that he also checked the possibility of the Haifa Port allocating additional areas on its docksthat belongs to the Navyfor the German shipyard. It's still unclear to me whether his account was of the Navy's work plan or whether it was his own business plan."

Friedman finished his letter with a promise to the workers: "The civilian workers in the IDF are the source of knowledge, the ones familiar with different weapons to the smallest detail. I did not agree and will not agree to change the status of the employees from IDF workers to workers of a private company, out of the understanding that the knowledge accumulated by the IDF's civilian workers belongs to the people of Israel. Maintaining the security of the State of Israel by ensuring we keep the professional knowledge in the hands of the IDF and not give it to foreign countries or for-profit companies, and protecting the livelihood of the workers we representthat is the mandate we've been given."

On Sunday night, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and State Attorney Shai Nitzan announced there was no suspicion of criminal wrongdoing in the affair. Mandelblit did, however, order an examination of the possible conflict of interest between Prime Minister Netanyahu and his attorney David Shimron.
Several former IDF commander have come out against a bill proposal that would result in the IDF integrating women in combat roles that are currently not open to them.

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MK Merav Michaeli, a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, introduced the legislation that would require the IDF to design a model to fill personnel needs regardless of gender.

"What the American armed forces are doing now is what the IDF was recommended to do ten years ago," said Michaeli. "Every day that goes by without exhausting human resources is a waste of quality manpower and motivation. Instead of giving female soldiers with high motivation every opportunity, the IDF is dragging its feet because of prejudice and pressure from rabbis."

Photo: Mihael Chai

Former IDF Ground Forces commander Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yiftah Ron-Tal slammed the proposal on Sunday, asserting that "Putting men and women together inside a tank is crazy."

Speaking to a radio station, Ron-Tal, who is the current chairman of the Israel Electric Corporation's board of directors, claimed that left-wing organizations were behind attempts to integrate women into combat positions.

"There was a study done a few years ago to see who was leading the significant and disproportionate integration of more women into combat roles in the IDF," he said. "Now it turns out that the people behind this initiative aren't even women's groups. It is left-wing organizations that are putting women at the forefront of their efforts."

He went on to claim that "there is evidence that the purpose of this initiative (to integrate women into combat roles) is weakening the IDF."

He later backtracked on that comment, with a Facebook post, saying "I may be vehemently opposed (to women serving in tanks)... but I apologize from the bottom of my heart if it was understood from my words that left-wing organizations are behind the move, out of the intention to weaken the IDF's power.

Yiftah Ron-Tal (Photo: Meir Ohayon)

Ron-Tal, who wrote the order for the appropriate integration of women into the IDF, said in the radio interview, "I am vigorously opposed to this. I think it is a mistake, and not just a mistake, but a scandal which has the ability to harm everything, including the IDF's abilities."

According to Ron-Tal, "The IDF is a people's army and as such, it is true that everyone should serve, and it is important to allow every group to serve. In my eyes, it will be very damaging to the abilities of religious soldiers to serve and preserve their basic values and morals. Putting men and women together in a tank is colossally crazy; I don't have a more subtle expression."

Ron-Tal added, "Even submarines don't have men and women together and there are a number of other positions that don't accept women. Overall, more than 80 percent of positions in the IDF are open to women and I think that is fine. For the record, women are already in the armored corps. In the 460th Brigade, women are tank instructorsI made this happen."

In regards to why exactly women would encounter difficulties as combat soldiers in the armored corps, Ron-Tal said, "There is physiological harm to women from being in a tank. I conducted a study with the US Army on female combat soldiers in tanks. Where is all this craziness coming from? There are a lot of female combat soldiers in the US armed forces, but not in tanks. There is no such thing as men and women together. A woman who has to wear the vests that men have to wear can suffer serious bodily injury that can affect her for the rest of her life."

Brig. Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani, a former minister, also objects to integrating women into combat roles in the Armored Corps.

"I think it's a mistake. I also think it won't happen," he told the same radio station on Monday. "There's no reason in the world to take women and have them charge into the trenches of the Beaufort Castle (in Lebanon) with a knife between their teeth... there are enough men to do this job."

Avigdor Kahalni climbing out of a tank during the Yom Kippur War (Photo: Tom Hayman)

He rejected the issue of the physical differences between men and women; focusing instead on the mental toll an injury can take. "A girl coming out of a war, some of the wars I've been through, she'll have a completely different mental damage," Kahalani said. "Besides, just thinking about seeing women injured in war in the way some of my soldiers were, it's horrifying to me."

He explained that "When I was injured, I was burned and I couldn't get out of the tank and I was calling out one thing: 'Mom!' ... I think a woman's job is to be a mother and bring children into the world and I think that after enduring the trauma of war, she'll be completely different. A mother's instinct, a mother's embrace, that ability to bear children and breastfeedit wouldn't be the same, I have no doubt about that."

He asserted that while the integration of women into more roles in the army was a good thing, "anything that requires pulling the trigger and killing a man is the kind of thing men do. What can you do about it?"

He also argued that there are greater chances of being killed or injured in the Armored Corps and the Infantry.

However, not everyone would agree with Ron-Tal and Kahalani. Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yigal Slovik, the former commander of the 52nd Battalion and the 401st Armored Brigade, also studied the issue.

"After a meeting with the Marines, I realized that Israel is lagging behind many western armies in regards to opening combat positions for women. Women can reinforce ground forces, especially armored forces."

Photo: Ido Erez

In regards to the physical challenges female soldiers would need to endure, Slovik believes the IDF can make the necessary adjustments. "If a woman can fly a jet or command a ship in the Navy, there is no reason she can't command a tank. She doesn't need to be a loader, but she can be a gunner, a driver or commander. In any case, the army should adapt itself to the idea. You can find a thousand reasons why not, but everything has a solution if we want it to."
Israel does not appear shocked by the appointment of racist anti-Semites to senior positions in US President-elect Donald Trumps administration. There is no wonder there. First of all, it is not in our power to change it. Our complete dependence on the United States forces us to hold our tongue and restrain ourselves.

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Second, a world view which supports white supremacy matches our governments interests. If Trumps people are more disgusted by Arabs than they are by Jews (the liberals, the Wall Street people, journalists from the East Coast, lovers of black people, Hillary Clintons friends), we have struck quite a good deal. Trump and his friends see Israel as a forefront against the barbarians, and they are not exactly very observant.

To do the Netanyahu government justice, let me qualify my statement by saying that all forms of Zionism hold the perception that a certain extent of anti-Semitism benefits the Zionist enterprise. To put it more sharply, anti-Semitism is the generator and ally of Zionism. Masses of Jews leave their place of residence only when their economic situation and physical safety are undermined. Masses of Jews are shoved to this country rather than being attracted to it. The yearning for the land of Zion and Jerusalem is not strong enough to drive millions of Jews to the country they love and make them hold on to its clods.

Steve Bannon, Trump's controversial new chief strategist (Photo: AFP)

As the Jews in Israel long for immigrants with a certain affiliation to their people, and as Zionismlike any other ideologyneeds constant justification, we have a secret hope in our hearts that a moderate anti-Semitic wave, along with a deterioration in the economic situation in their countries of residence, will make Diaspora Jews realize that they belong with us.

Is proof even necessary? No one will protest the assertion that the rise in anti-Semitism in France gave us some satisfaction, in the sense of we warned you, didnt we? Late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon did not hesitate to make such a declaration, angering the French government and many Jews who see themselves as unconditional French citizens. Thousands of Jews from France who see Israel as a lifeboat, as an insurance policy, purchased apartments here and raised real estate prices in the coastal cities. Thats good. It proves Zionism was right.

Furthermore, no one can deny that the economic crisis in the Soviet empire, coupled with the nesting anti-Semitism there, were the cause of the immigration to Israel of about 1 million Jews and their non-Jewish relatives, most of whom have no affiliation to Jewish culture. Neither can anyone contradict the embarrassing fact that Israel worked to lock the gates to the US, the opening of which may have directed many of these Jews and their relatives there, and perhaps even most of them.

It was not the Jewish immigrants welfare that we saw before our eyes, but the states reinforcement. While the act of blocking and directing the Jews to Israel is ethically dubious, it was justified by the Zionist ideology which asserts that a normalization of the Jewish situationin other words, concentrating the Jewish people in its own territoryis the only thing that will save us from another Holocaust and, according to some people, will even speed up the Messiahs arrival.

The Jews comfortable situation in America raises doubts as to whether it was worthwhile to gamble on the establishment of a Jewish state. The normalization did not provide us, the Israelis, with a normal existence and did not lessen the anti-Semitism which is now drawing some of its arguments from the way we are managing the conflict with the Palestinians. There are Israelis whose parents or grandparents immigrated to Israel out a belief that this is where the agonizing historical journey will end, and now their offspring are learning that the promise has not been fulfilled.

In order to remove these malignant doubts, it would be good to have some anti-Semitism in America. Not serious anti-Semitism, not pogroms, not persecutions that will empty America from its Jews, as we need them there, but just a taste of this pungent stuff, so that we can restore our faith in Zionism.
ANKARA -- Turkey's president has called on the United States and other nations to re-assess his country's proposal for the creation of a no-fly zone in northern Syria.

Addressing a NATO parliamentary assembly meeting in Istanbul on Monday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan again criticized allies' reliance on Syrian Kurdish fighters to battle ISIS. Turkey considers the US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters an extension of outlawed Kurdish militants in Turkey.

Although Turkey has repeatedly called for secure zones to protect Syrians, Washington has been unwilling to wade too deeply into the conflict.

Erdogan said: "I hope that in the upcoming process, this will be reassessed especially by the United States and positive steps will be taken so that terrorism's back is broken and Turkey is rid of the threat of terrorism."
The government approved on Sunday an additional NIS 43 million to the budget allocated for yeshivas as part of the coalition agreement with the ultra-Orthodox parties, bringing the overall yeshiva budget to all-time record of NIS 1.167 billion.

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The increase in budget comes a result of demands by the Haredim to provide financial assistance to foreign students who are studying in yeshivas in Israel. This assistance is meant to cover 95 percent of a student's needs and is an increase from the original 60 percent that was the norm until now.

Ultra-Orthodox protesting (Photo: AFP)

An additional change is the cancellation of a condition for assistance which required foreign yeshiva students studying in Israel to attend "Israel heritage" programs put on by the Ministry of Education.

The previous record for yeshiva budget was recorded in June 2016 and stood at NIS 1.119 billion. At the beginning of 2014, the budget dropped drastically to NIS 564 million following a demand by then-Minister of Finance Yair Lapid. With this latest approval, the budget for aid to yeshiva students has grown 107 percent.

It is worth noting that this budget does not take into account income support, which could add another NIS 100 million. This addition is expected to be discussed Wednesday in the Knesset.

Yair Lapid (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Residents of the north, who are struggling to have the budget for development of the Galilee approved, expressed outrage at the decision. Nissan Zeevi from Metula, head of "Shinuy Kivun," (Hebrew for 'changing direction') said, "It is unfortunate to see the government's priorities, which has repeatedly demonstrated contempt and lack of concern for the northern periphery. There is no budget for us."

For Lee Garcia, aged 46 from Kibbutz Dafna, who suffers from cancer and was forced to move to the center to receive radiation and chemotherapy treatment, the decision is "crazy." According to her, "The prime minister is trying to ruin us. He wants us to die quietly and I don't plan on it. These horrible priorities cannot dictate our lives in the dying north."

Liz Almakayis, 27, from Kiryat Shmona, who recently lost her job as a coordinator of demographic growth in the Galilee, said, "They allocate budget to whoever threatens to bring down the government. The north isn't threatening politicians' seats and because of that, they don't pay attention to us."
JUBA -- Japanese peacekeepers, with a broader mandate to use force, land in South Sudan, the first overseas deployment of the country's troops with those expanded powers in nearly 70 years.

The 350 Self-Defense Forces will replace a contingent of Japanese peacekeepers who served in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, but did not have the mandate to use force. The incoming troops will be tasked with engineering and construction in the capital, Juba.

Experts say the deployment indicates Japan's growing trust in its Self-Defense Forces.
The High Court of Justice issued a temporary injunction on Monday delaying the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim to the post of Chief Rabbi of the IDF following past remarks he made against homosexuals and women and permitting soldiers to refuse orders, requesting him to file a deposition clarifying his past comments and his current positions.

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The ceremony inducting the IDF Chief Rabbi was scheduled for Wednesday but it was later confirmed that it would be postponed by the IDF.

During a hearing on a petition filed by the Meretz party against the appointment, Chief Judge Miriam Naor, said, "We want to hear what he has to say. What his position was then, what it is now and if he has changed his mind."

During the hearing, Naor raised "a hypothetical questionlet's say an army rabbi can say it's okay to rape women during war, would the Chief of Staff still appoint him? Let's assume that the candidate wrote it and he doesn't deny it, he just says 'that's my opinion.' The question becomes the matter."

Col. Eyal Karim (Photo: BaMahaneh)

Judge Neal Hendel said Karim needs to decide where he stands. "We want to hear what he has to say and what he really thinks. That is all we are asking at this time," he said.

"The statements made are shocking to say the least," said Judge Salim Jubran during the hearing.

The IDF Spoksperson's Unit added that Karim will offer a prepared statement, explaining his inflammatory comments to the High Court, despite right-wing repesentatives who urged him not to do so.

Karim (left)

Uri Keidar, representing Meretz, said, "The IDF chief rabbi provides religious services to those serving and the position is a symbol of morality and ethics, like the president of the state. You demand more from a person whose job it is to give people motivation and spiritual support. A person in that role should be more of an example to others."

When asked about his opinions concerning homosexuality, Karim commented in the past that gays and lesbians should be treated with love and support, but also referred to them as "sick or deformed," saying they "must be helped to escape their situation, with a lot of sensitivity and patience."

The rabbi gave a more shocking answer when asked if soldiers were permitted to rape women during war. Karim replied that, as part of maintaining fitness for the army and the soldiers' morale during fighting, it is permitted to "breach" the walls of modesty and "satisfy the evil inclination by lying with attractive Gentile women against their will, out of consideration for the difficulties faced by the soldiers and for overall success."

Officials at the IDF's Chief Rabbinate were surprised by the High Court's decision. "Rabbi Karim has finished his training with (current Chief Rabbi) Peretz, and is confident that just as the IDF chief was convinced by his stately positions, which match the IDF's values, so will the judges of the High Court, who will approve the appointment even before Wednesday," one official said.

The official went on to claim that "the remarks attributed to Rabbi Karim were distorted and taken out of context and the issue had already been resolved between Karim and the IDF chief."

A forum of former IDF rabbis also condemned the court, saying "This is a bad decision that will be remembered as disgraceful. There's no end to Meretz's abuse of any Jewish characteristic in the IDF. In a biased manner, they took the rabbi's words out of context and distorted them. It's very regretful that the High Court's judges are cooperating with these elements who seek to weaken the military rabbinate while also weakening the entire IDF."

Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) came out in Karim's support, saying "Dear Rabbi Karim, don't allow this attempt to silence you and don't go back on halachic rulings you believe in."

After Karim was announced as the intended new IDF chief rabbi, members of Knesset and women's rights organizations called for the decision to be revoked. The head of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Joint List), said, "Col. Karim's ruling on permitting raping non-Jewish women is similar to the fatwa of a murderous organization that's not so far from Israel's borders. I will contact the attorney general and oppose the appointment, and I call on female and male members of Knesset to join my request."
ANKARA -- Germany says Russia and Iran are partly responsible for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people besieged by Syrian government forces in Aleppo.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert says the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad wouldn't be able to continue pounding the city without the help of its foreign allies.

Seibert told reporters in Berlin on Monday that "it's obviously the Russian and Iranian support for the ... Syrian regime which has caused a dramatic worsening of the situation for the population."

He acknowledged that Germany has few options other than to keep raising the issue in public.

Asked whether Germany would consider seeking sanctions against Russia and Iran over their actions in Syria, Seibert said that "all options must remain on the table."
As we struggle to gain our bearings after the shock and awe of Donald Trumps victory in the US, one question has become pertinent: will Trumpism crush technological growth or will innovation prevail? The ill-at-ease performance of tech shares in the past week indicates that this question is not without foundation.

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There are hundreds of millions around the globe who perceive technology as a threat. Here in London, you all know about the Luddites, who in the early 19th century resisted the technological progress of the industrial revolution. Such resistance has all but disappeared in the 21st century.

Americans along the rust belt, who lost their low-tech industries, voted for Donald Trump. He won in the states that were left behind when American technology from Silicon Valley took over the world. That is also why he lost California and New Yorkboth leaders of technological innovation.

Trump on Election Day (Photo: Reuters)

By the same token, Israeli populist leaders won the elections by harnessing the indignation of those who felt left behind. I can only assume that the same sentiment played a pivotal role in the Brexit.

This is a widespread phenomenon: while technology can be instrumental in closing gaps and reducing social inequality, not everyone feels invited to the party. Religious extremists, fundamentalists and racists of all sorts, find an easy foothold for spreading hatred and anger among youngsters who feel theyre missing out on the spoils of technology.

I would like to say this to entrepreneurs and investors: You must not ignore the 21st century Luddites.

When you develop new technologies and push innovation forward, it behooves you to consider the hundreds of millions who feel left behind, for failing to do so might prove to be detrimental. Technology and innovation must act as a means of just social changeto reduce social gaps and inequality, to ensure that every person on this planet has a chance to enjoy the fruits thereof, and to make the world a better place.

This is the worlds only chance for real prosperity in the 21st century.
Following the death of Pnina Grynszpan-Frymer last week, Yedioth Ahronoth located and interviewed the last remaining fighters from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

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"It is very sad that another hero from the ghetto has passed away. We never thought of ourselves as heroes. We did it to save the honor of the humiliated and trampled Jewish people," said Aliza Vitis-Shomron, 88, in Kibbutz Giv'at-Oz.

Aliza Vitis-Shomron

Vitis-Shomron was born in 1928 in the Jewish Quarter of Warsaw, which would eventually become the Warsaw Ghetto. "I was in the ghetto in 1941 and until the uprising broke out. Two days before the uprising, I was sent out of the ghetto by the Jewish Combat Organization and I hid in a Polish house. During the uprising I served as the link between the two parts of the ghetto, bringing orders and information to the fighters," she said.

In 2013, the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Vitis-Shomron spoke at a conference at Yad Vashem and described the terrible scenes which she witnessed. "It's my mission now," she explained. "I plan to continue to live and tell the younger generation about what we went through. Its the most important thing to me, bringing the experience to the younger generation so it doesn't become just another historic event without human experiences."

Simcha Rotem

Simcha "Kazik" Rotem, 92, is probably the oldest surviving fighter out of the uprising survivors still alive today.

When World War II broke out, Rotem was sent by his parents to family members in Klwow, near Radom, but returned to Warsaw in 1942 and joined the Jewish Combat Organization. During the uprising, Rotem was a courier going from bunker to bunker on both the Aryan side of the wall and in the ghetto. At the end of the uprising, he managed to sneak out the last of the fighters from the burning ghetto and escape through the sewers and into the forests.

Hella Rufeisen-Schuepper

Hella Rufeisen-Schuepper, 95, lives in Bustan HaGalil and was also a courier for the Jewish Combat Organization during the uprising and fought in both the Warsaw and Krakow ghettos. After the war, she testified in the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, was a torch-bearer at Yad Vashem and wrote a book called Farewell to Milta 18.

"Mom always said they didn't go to battle in order to win, because they knew the Germans would overwhelm them. Instead they went for three lines in history to prove they didn't go meekly to the slaughter," says her son Dotan.
MASON CITY  In spite of recent violent incidents in Mason City, most residents are at no more risk of being victims of violence than they do getting struck by lightning, the chief of police says.

Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said the killings of Melinda Kavars and Caleb Christensen, who were found Thursday morning, are not related to shootings last month in downtown Mason City and North Washington Avenue.

I would continue to assert that our community is safe, Brinkley said. The actors in most of these incidents are making choices that put them in these situations that, while a couple of them have happened in places that there were bystanders or the public, overall, the community at large is not at risk for these kind of incidents based on the choices that they make.

Quiet Mason City neighborhood rattled by double homicide MASON CITY  Residents in the Highlands area of Mason City were stunned by a double homicide

The man police say killed Kavars and Christensen, Peter Veal, was arrested 15 minutes after their bodies were found in Christensens home at 1620 N. Hampshire Ave. He remained in jail Friday on two counts of first-degree murder.

Shooting suspect Revell Tony, 19, of Mason City, was arrested approximately 90 minutes after a man was shot in the buttocks and arm in the plaza outside the north entrance of the Southbridge Mall on Oct. 23.

Tony was charged with attempted murder.

Police continue to investigate the Oct. 18 shooting that wounded a woman near North Washington Avenue and Ninth Street Northwest. No arrests have been made.

Police are continuing to investigate the death of Kavars and Christensen. Autopsies are scheduled with the Iowa Medical Examiners Office.

Were following up with putting all our reports together, (and) running down additional interviews as we put all the pieces of the puzzle together, Brinkley said.

Though police said they were called to Christensens resident for a shooting, they have not said how the two victims died.

Investigators also havent revealed what they think motivated their deaths, or if they believe Christensen, Kavars and Veal knew each other.

Brinkley says residents can help keep the community safe by reporting suspicious incidents to police.

We really want people to work with us to make Mason City a safer community, and I think when we do that the results of that kind of partnership are really exciting from a public safety standpoint, he said. And, we can really solve a lot of problems when we use those kind of partnerships.

Before Thursday, the last homicide in Mason City was the death of Thomas Barlas Sr., on July 18, 2013.

Investigators said Barlas Sr. was stabbed to death by his son, Thomas Barlas Jr., who was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A day after the attorney general and state attorney said there was no suspicion of criminal wrongdoing in Israel's submarine deal with Germany, leaders in the opposition called on Monday for a more comprehensive investigation.

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It recently came to light that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu closed a deal to purchase three new submarines for the Israeli Navy from a German shipyard, despite objections from many in the defense establishmentincluding former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon.

Isaac Herzog (Photo:Gil Yohanan)

The affair became even more entangled when the prime minister's personal attorney, David Shimron, was discovered to have also been representing Miki Ganor, an Israeli businessman who mediated the deal with the German shipyard that is to build the submarines, which lead to suspicions of a conflict of interests.

"For three days now, I have been witnessing an attempt to make the submarine affair disappear, but this won't work," said Yesh Atid Leader Yair Lapid. "This isn't a political story. This is a toxic and dangerous mix of savvy lawyers and the IDF, our soldiers, our sons, our security."

Yair Lapid (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Lapid went on to argue that "Those who buy submarines end up not buying reinforced APCs or the 'Trophy' protection system for tanks, or Iron Dome batteries or bulletproof vests. It comes out of the same budget. And when making such decisions, the considerations need to be clean of any foreign influences. When such decisions are made, the prime minister's work environment must be the most transparent it can be."

Lapid questioned Netanyahu's claim that he did not know that his attorney was also representing Ganor. "If the prime minister didn't know anything, that's very wrong," he said.

"This issue needs to be investigated. Why didn't attorney Shimron say anything to the prime minister? Why was this kept from the cabinet and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee? How much money did he get? What was he paid for? Why did they choose to hire him, specifically? No one hires the prime minister's personal attorney to promote the biggest security deal in Israel's history unless they're convinced they have something to gain," asserted Lapid, who was a cabinet minister at the time the deal was struck.

"Shimron has been working with them for six years. What did they get out of it? What commission did Miki Ganor's company get?"

The German business newspaper Handelsblatt published an investigation on the case, in which it estimated that Ganor is expected to earn anywhere from 10 to 30 million Euro (or NIS 123 million) from the Israeli submarine deal between Israel and the German shipyard company, with Shimron acting as Ganor's legal representation in the deal. The newspaper's investigation found that the deal is estimated to cost 4.5 billion Euro, and the the German government has agreed to fund one third of it.

An IDF submarine (Photo: Roy Idan)

ThyssenKruppthe multinational corporation that manufactures the submarines in question and is represented in Israel by Ganorresponded to the investigation. The company claimed that Ganor is its sole representative in Israel, and that he had breached the terms of his contract with them when he involved Shimron in the proceedings.

Sources within ThyssenKrupp told Handelsblatt that Ganor's commission on the deals he was involved in could reach 2% of their sum total, and that Shimron indeed came to one of Ganor's meetings with ThyssenKrupp representatives. Despite this, the sources claimed that ThyssenKrupp does not at present have concrete evidence of wrongdoing by Ganor, though the company has issued a statement saying that following Israeli reports, it will launch an investigation of its own into the matter.

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), for his part, also reponded to these suspicions on Monday, saying that he intends to raise to a vote at the Knesset a request to launch a parliamentary inquiry commission to investigate the submarine affair.

"I call on all Knesset members to vote in favor of finding out the truth," he said.

Attorney David Shimron (Photo Yaron Bren)

Herzog addressed a letter written by the head of the IDF Workers Union and obtained by Yedioth Ahronoth , which details a meeting he and Avi Nissenkorn, the head of the Histadrut Labor Federation, had with Shimron and Ganor, who tried to pressure them against trying to foil the efforts to outsource the submarines' maintenance work to the German shipyard.

"This morning, Yedioth Ahronoth uncovered a letter written by IDF Workers Union Chairperson Moshe Friedman that exposed the severe and consistent pressure that those close to Netanyahu used in an effort to transfer the new submarines' possesion out from the IDF Navy to the German shipyard. The entire affair warrants an examination and investigation by all the relevant parties, including the state comptroller and attorney general. If there is any truth to his letter, it constitutes a case of severe damage to IDF workers and even the IDF's intelligence security," added Herzog.

Zionist Union MK Shelly Yachimovich also commented on the meeting between the labor union heads and the representatives of the German shipyard, saying "this meeting is horrifying and reminiscent of a scene from 'House of Cards.'"

MK Shelly Yachimovich (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Yochimovich added that "According to IDF Workers Union Chairperson Moshe Friedman's detailed and credible account, Shimron placed a (proverbial) gun on the Histadrut Labor Federation Avi Nissenkorn's table, and politely advised him to surrender in advance instead of fighting for the livelihood of Israeli dock workers, since the Defense Ministry will nonetheless send down a decree to transfer the work over to the German shipyard."

"This business meeting, which would have never come about if it hadn't been for Shimron's complete classification as an extension of Netanyahu's, is one of many details that the attorney general must immediately investigate, since there are already top and credible officials who will testify to the way Shimron conducted his private businesses while using the security intel he possessed simply due to the time he spent with the prime minister, as he waved around his powr and abilities."

MK Merav Michaeli (Zionist Union) tweeted her own response to the report. "While Shimron's closing deals with German submarines, his partner (Isaac) Molcho is acting as the prime minister's mouthpiece when dealing with the German government. Doesn't this constitute the appearance of a conflict of interests, Mr. attorney general?"

MK Merav Michaeli (Photo: Ido Erez)

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who toured Be'er Sheva earlier in the day while accompanied by foreign journalists, said that "There are those who always insist on tranishing Israel. There's what I call 'the industry of depression'constantly saying how bad things here are. They are also those who constantly throw around wild accusations, but these accuations fall as fast as they are thrown. Take it easy, you can calm down. I'm going to be here with you for a long time."

Netanyahu added that "If you want to convince the publicpresent your own positions. The public will be the judge. This is how a democracy works. We will continue deidcating our time to fortifying Israel's security, developing its economy and ensuring its welfare."
Seven hundred new olim from Brazil are set to move to Israel by the end of 2016 marking a significant leap in the annual number of immigrants hailing from the Land of Samba, according to figures released by the Jewish Agency.

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The figures represent a particularly stark increase when compared to the previous two years which saw 496 Brazilians move to Israel in 2015 and 280 in 2014.

I have arrived at the home I looked for my entire life, Rafael Stern, 27, told Ynet on Sunday evening.

Rafael Stern: 'Israel is where I am supposed to be.'

Rafael, who moved to Israel earlier this year, is currently completing his doctorate in Environmental Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot.

He grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Manaus and explained that throughout his life he always felt connected with Israel. I went to a Jewish school and was educated in a Zionist youth movement and I was always extremely connected with Jewish and Israeli culture, he said.

In the past, Rafael had visited Israel and actually lived there for two years during which he learned in a Jewish Agency institute and even volunteered to work on a Kibbutz. It is hard being an oleh. It isnt easy to be alone without family, without the language but I feel that this is the place I am supposed to be, he added.

The publication of the statistics coincided with a visit by Jewish Agency Chair Natan Sharansky to the South American nation. The Jewish community of Brazil is Zionistic and warm with deep bonds with Israel, Sharansky commented. Since the establishment of Israel more than 15,000 people have moved there from Brazil and they have contributed to the character of Israeli society and its strength.

Natan Sharansky with olim from Brazil (Photo: Roy Yerushalmi)

Three years ago, the average rate of aliyah from Brazil stood at 200 people per year. According to a Jewish umbrella organization in Brazil, the Jewish population stands at around 120,000 people, which is the second largest in South America, second only to Argentina. Sao Paulo is home to 55,000 Jews while Rio de Janeiro is home to around 30,000. Ten thousand Jews reside in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil.

The new boost in the number of olim moving to Israel appears to indicate that an earlier governmental initiative to stimulate further immigration from Brazil is paying dividends. Indeed, in February this year The Knesset Committee for Aliyah and Absorption allocated NIS 1.18 million to encourage the immigration of Brazilian Jews to Israel.
Turkey's deputy prime minister has criticized as "unacceptable" an Israeli proposal that would force mosque muezzins to reduce the volume of loudspeakers issuing their call to prayer.

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Speaking following a Cabinet Monday, Numan Kurtulmus told reporters the proposal was contrary to religious freedoms and went against Jerusalem's historic multi-religious culture.

Kurtulmus said: "Bringing the restrictions on the call to prayer at Al-Aqsa and other mosques on the agenda is in no way acceptable." He was referring to the main mosque in Jerusalem.

Photo: AFP

His comments come as Israel and Turkey are preparing to exchange ambassadors as part of a reconciliation deal.

Supporters of the Israeli bill have argued that the issue is one regarding quality of life rather than any kind of attempt to curtail the religious freedoms of Muslims. However, Muslims and Arabs have vociferously voiced their opposition to the initiative, with some Arab MKs taking to the Knesset podium and imitating the calls to prayer which are blasted into the streets in the small hours of each morning.

The bill, tabled by MK Motti Yogev (Bayit Yehudi) and Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu), came a week and a half after demonstrations were staged by residents of the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev who also emulated a muezzin call in front of the Beit Hakerem residence of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to protest ongoing disturbances caused by Muslim calls to prayer emanating from the Shuafat, Beit Hanina and A-ram neighborhoods.

Last week the Palestinian Authority also criticized the bill. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass office warned of the ramifications of voting the bill into law and threatened to turn to the UN Security Council and other international organizations if this were to happen.

Jordan also issued a harsh response against the approval of the bill.
UN humanitarian chief says conditions in Syrian rebel-held eastern Aleppo have gone "from terrible to terrifying and now barely survivable."

Stephen O'Brien told the UN Security Council on Monday that the last available UN food rations were distributed on Nov. 13 and only "a handful of rations" from local non-governmental organizations remain in the besieged area.

He says food in markets is scarce, prices have skyrocketed and fuel and gas for cooking is reportedly unavailable in most neighborhoods. Additionally, the number of Syrians living in besieged areas has more than doubled in the past year to nearly 1 million people.
The Israeli team at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was booed by the audience in Malta on Sunday night as it was awarded points in what has been described by a member of the Israeli delegation as "horrible."

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The reason for the jeering, however, is the dubject of dispute. While some ascribed the chanting to a political statement, others stated that it was merely due to the fact that Israel granted the host country Malta only one point. Russia was also booed for the same reason, they said.

The crowd boos as the votes for Israel are announced (  1)

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Yoav Ginai, a member of the Israeli delegation, expressed his frustration on his Facebook page. Ive been to many song competitions, but Ive never seen anything like this. As the vote was cast, our charming representative was being filmed and the word Israel was announced, the crowd began to yell boo in unison. Its sad we live in a world where politics manages to seep into a childrens song competition.

The Israeli representatives, Timothy Sannikov (L) and Shira Freiman (Photo: Rafi Daluya)

Thirteen-year-olds Timothy Sannikov and Shira Freiman, who represented Israel with the song Follow My Heart, reached 15th place out the 17 countries that competed in this years competition. Georgia was declared the winner after narrowly beating Armenia and Italy.

Sannikov and Freiman compete at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (  1)

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Aliza Dayan Hamama, who headed the delegation and manages the Childrens Department in Channel 1, said, Its unfortunate that these things happen in a childrens musical contest, which acts as a way to connect through music. Were proud of Shira and Timothy for their lovely, professional and moving performance, and well continue to proudly represent Israel anytime and anywhere.
Iraq's foreign minister said on Monday that the fight to wrest back control of Mosul from ISIS was making progress, citing what he called better-than-expected cohesion within Iraqi security forces and the US-led coalition.

Ibrahim Al-Jaafari said it was difficult to predict how long the battle would take, but more than 1,000 ISIS fighters had been killed, 650 had been taken prisoner, and about one-third of the area had been freed.

"Those are very good signs for the positive results of the operations. It's going better than we expected," al-Jaafari told reporters after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
African states failed on Monday to halt the work of the first UN independent investigator appointed to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination. The 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, created the position in June and in September appointed Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand, who has a three-year mandate to investigate abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

In an unusual move, African states put forward a draft resolution in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly third committee, which deals with human rights, calling for consultations on the legality of the creation of the mandate. They said the work of the investigator should be suspended. However, Latin American countries, supported by Western nations, successfully proposed an amendment that gutted the African group draft resolution. The amendment was adopted in the third committee on Monday with 84 votes in favor, 77 against and 17 abstentions. The amended draft resolution, which makes no change to the work of the gay rights investigator, was then adopted by the third committee with 94 votes in favor, three against and 80 abstentions.

Russia and Egypt, speaking on behalf of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, said they would not recognize the mandate of the gay rights investigator and would not cooperate with Muntarbhorn. Britain urged all countries to cooperate with the investigator.

Being gay is a crime in at least 73 countries, the U.N. has said. The issue of gay rights consistently sparks heated debate at the United Nations. In 2014, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the UN would recognize all same-sex marriages of its staff, allowing them to receive U.N. benefits. Russia unsuccessfully tried to overturn it last year, with Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, India, Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria among 43 states that supported Moscow.
A well-known German neo-Nazi has again been convicted of Holocaust denial and sentenced to prison, but is showing no signs of changing her views.

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The DPA news agency reported that in her closing statement in Verden District Court on Monday, 88-year-old German author Ursula Haverbeck talked of the "Auschwitz lie" and said the infamous death camp was actually a labor camp where nobody was killed by gas.

Ursula Haverbeck (Photo: AP)

Haverbeck has been charged with Holocaust denialwhich a crime in Germanyover the content of several articles she wrote for the Voice of the Reich magazine. She was sentenced for two and a half years in prison.

Haverbeck said she would appeal her conviction.

She is currently free as she appeals other convictions from courts in Detmold and Lueneburg.
The High Court of Justice held discussions on Monday on whether the policy of home demolition should be extend to Jewish murders of Arabs. The talks took place on the heels of a petition submitted by the family of Mohammed Abu Khdeir ,16who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by Jewish terrorists in July 2014calling for the homes of the culprits to be destroyed.

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The policy is frequently carried out as a deterrence measure against Palestinians who have committed terrorist attacks.

During the discussions, the High Court justices posed difficult questions to representatives of the state by asking if, and why, different protocol should be applied to Arabs and Jews committing acts of terror.

There cant be double standards. There has to be a demolition of the houses of murderers, said the lawyer representing the Khdeir family.

The state representative rebuffed the point by stating that the demolitions are designed to serve as a deterrence and prevent the next murder.

Mohammed Abu Khdeir (Photo: Reuters)

Taking this point further, Justice Neal Hendel responded by asking, What does it matter to me if it is an Arab or a Jew?, if indeed the policy is intended to prevent a murder. If we say that we are prepared to employ this policy against a specific group of people and not against another it raises certain problems.

Offering an answer to the question, which has long been asked in the Israeli establishment and society as a whole, the state lawyer cited the revulsion felt by the families of Khdeirs killers which rendered the need to issue a demolition order pointless.

It is said that in Arab society there are more supporters and that the deterrence will be infinitely stronger, said Elyakim Rubinstein, vice president of the High Court. But still, since there are extremists in Jewish society that have done these kinds of terrible things, even if the deterrence is carried out on the assumption that it will influence a small number people, it will still save lives, he posited.

Justice Neal Hendel (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Elyakim then laid out a hypothetical situation to illustrate the point. If five attackers in the Jewish society planned five separate attacks and three of them are deterred from doing so because they dont want to lose their homes, we have achieved something.

Justice Hendel was also reluctant to accept the apparent discrimination existing between the states responses to terrorists of different religions and ethnicities.

If this is the result for Arabs but not for Jews, we need to ask ourselves whether we are asking the right questions: are there standards? Because unfortunately, we are not dealing with one or two cases, there are more. So why not ask this?

The state lawyer rejected the notion that the culprits should be treated on an even footing by propounding that the scope of the phenomenon of terrorism remains disparate for Arabs and Jews.

Convicted killer Yosef Ben-David (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The claim prompted Justice Zvi Zilbertal to ask, If its possible to prevent one murder through preventative action, will they do it only after 20 murderous attacks are be carried out? When were talking about human life, it is not the quantity that counts.

Justice Hendel echoed his sentiment by adding, If it can prevent five murders, then it is justified. It would be justified if it prevented even one such incident.

Justice Rubenstein noted that while it is quite possible that home demolition in this particular case may not be warranted, the possibility of its application to other incidents involving Jewish terrorists should not be ruled out.

The states attorney responded by saying, The state has not said that this mechanism could not be implemented with Jews. If a change were to occur, the circumstances would be considered, and a different decision could be reached, if God forbid there would be a Jewish wave of terrorism.
ROCKWELL  A Rockford man whose pickup broke through a utility pole near Rockwell was listed in critical condition Monday night.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office says Dale Westendorf, 65, lost control of a southbound pickup on County Road S-56, or Thrush Avenue, around 9:40 a.m.

The red 2005 GMC truck entered the east ditch, the sheriffs office said, striking a utility pole and rolling several times.

He and the heavily-damaged truck were found in a field about a half-mile south of 190th Street. The bottom half of the utility pole was gone, the upper half suspended in the air by utility lines.

The road was closed briefly to allow Mercy Air Meds helicopter to land and pick up Westendorf for transport to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

He was in critical condition Monday evening, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Rockwell/Swaledale EMTs provided assistance at the scene.

 Globe Gazette staff
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

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This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

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Health News

San Francisco, California - A Mayo Clinic study is shedding light on why some rheumatoid arthritis patients respond poorly when treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, part of a class of drugs call biologics. It comes down to proteins: specifically, a protein in the body that drives inflammation in the disease, the research found. The discovery is an important step toward better personalizing rheumatoid arthritis treatment, helping to avoid trial and error when prescribing medications. The findings were presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in San Francisco.

Researchers found that patients with a higher amount or higher proportion of an inflammatory protein called type 1 interferon beta compared with another inflammatory protein, type 1 interferon alpha, do not respond as well to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors as others. They looked at white blood cells called monocytes, a major cell type involved in rheumatoid arthritis, and found that those cells behaved differently in one group than in the other.

The discovery paves the way for a more personalized approach to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis based on the biology of a particular patients disease.

Investigating these pathways may identify other targets for therapy or other markers that predict treatment response, says first author Theresa Wampler Muskardin, M.D., a rheumatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. It will help rheumatologists find the right drug for each patient and spare patients medications that wont work for them.

The Rheumatology Research Foundation funded the study. Mayo rheumatologist Timothy Niewold, M.D., was the studys senior author.

In other studies presented at the meeting, Mayo Clinic researchers found:

Sarcoidosis, the growth of tiny clusters of inflammatory cells called granulomas, carries a higher risk of heart disease and venous thromboembolism. Researchers also found there is seasonal variation in the incidence of sarcoidosis: Rates are consistently lower in autumn. Physicians believe that sarcoidosis may be triggered by the bodys immune response to environmental factors, such as something inhaled from the air.

The risk of coronary artery disease among patients with polymyalgia rheumatica is 70 percent higher than it is among others.

Heart and circulatory abnormalities are common in Takayasus arteritis, a form of vasculitis in which large blood vessels become inflamed.

Mayo rheumatologists and cardiologists formed the Mayo Clinic Cardio-Rheumatology Clinic to research and pioneer better prevention, detection and treatment of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Health News

Rochester, Minnesota - The eyes outermost tissue, the cornea, is a bit more substantial than you might imagine. Its made up of lots of types of cells and structural proteins, arranged in highly organized layers. At about 560 m (1/45 of an inch), the cornea is transparent, but about as thick and bendy as a credit card. For clear vision, it must be free of cloudy areas, but disorders can roll over it like a storm - the most common being an inherited, degenerative disease called Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Fuchs (pronounced fooks) affects almost five percent of middle-aged patients with some variance across ethnicities.

Most people remain symptom free, but many lose their vision altogether; Fuchs accounts for more than 14,000 corneal transplantations in the U.S. annually.

On Mayo Clinics Rochester, Minn. campus, surgeon Keith Baratz, M.D., meets and treats Fuchs patients almost every day. The disease slowly kills off the cells responsible for regulating the amount of fluid entering the cornea. As the cells die, the first symptom patients usually notice is blurred morning vision. This happens because when their eyes are shut as they sleep, fluid builds up in the cornea, causing it to swell. While their eyes are open over the course of the day, the excess fluid evaporates, so they usually see better by evening. But as the disease advances, the periods of swelling, impaired vision and pain last longer.

Currently, there is no treatment for Fuchs other than transplant surgery for late-stage patients. Dr. Baratz wants to change that. He is working with two Mayo Clinic investigators  Michael Fautsch, Ph.D. and Eric Wieben, Ph.D.  to learn how the disease manifests. All three have embraced the problem passionately. [Fuchs] impacts reading and driving, then it gets harder to tell your knife from your fork, and to recognize the people you love, explains Dr. Fautsch. Together these three researchers are clearing the way to controlling disease progression, and perhaps to preventing it altogether.

Finding the gene, building the team

It has long been clear that Fuchs is an inherited disease. Typically, if you have it, and one of your parents had it, each of your children has about a 50-50 chance of being affected. Even so, the genetic basis for the majority of cases remained a mystery until about five years ago when Dr. Baratz began to compare the DNA of people who did and didnt have the disease.

A gene is basically a stretch of molecules called nucleotides that code for a protein. Different versions of the same gene are called alleles. People inherit two alleles for most of their genes, one from each parent. Sometimes a single nucleotide  A, T, C or G  differs between people; this is called a single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP (pronounced snip).

In 2010, working together with Albert Edwards, M.D., Ph.D. (who was then at Mayo Clinic and is now in private practice in Eugene, Oregon), Dr. Baratz came across a SNP that was several times more common in his Fuchs patients than in people without the disease. This SNP was located to a gene called transcription factor 4 (TCF4). (Transcription factors provide instructions for making proteins that, by binding to specific regions of DNA, help control the activity of other genes.) Drs. Baratz and Edwards were the first to identify TCF4 as the major contributor to adult-onset Fuchs in most families. Their discovery began a flurry of new research worldwide, and provided a genetic marker that can be used to identify individuals with the disease.

Another Mayo Team Science cadre: (l-r) Keith Baratz, M.D., Michael Fautsch, Ph.D., Eric Wieben, Ph.D.

As exciting as this result was, Dr. Baratz wanted to learn more; it is one thing to know what gene is affected, but quite another to figure out how the defect causes disease. So he took his results across the Rochester campus to Dr. Eric Wieben, head of the Medical Genome Facility  the part of Mayos Center for Individualized Medicine that gives investigators access the latest genomics technologies.

Erics the main guy. I never expected that hed take an interest, said Dr. Baratz.

It was five years ago yesterday when Keith first showed up in my office, Dr. Wieben said Dr. Wieben. His story was unusual in a couple of ways. Most genetic diseases are incredibly rare  this ones incredibly common. And the strength of his [result] was pretty much unheard of. Genetic diseases vary in incidence across the globe and by ethnic group, and most affect only one person in thousands or even millions. Among Caucasians, by midlife, about five people out of 1,000 have symptoms caused by Fuchs dystrophy.

Needless to say, Dr. Wieben was all in, and the two decided that a third member was needed on their team  Dr. Mike Fautsch, who had been Wiebens graduate student many years ago, now brought another area of expertise to the table. I do the molecule-based assays, and Mike does the cell-based assays; Keith has the samples and we have the technology to test them, explained Dr. Wieben.

Under the microscope: why corneal cells?

I got involved, continued Dr. Fautsch, who specializes in studying eye tissues and cells in culture in his laboratory, because I could go a step beyond the genetic data by looking at cells from normal and from Fuchs patients. One of the things we want to understand is, why is this mutation affecting only the corneal cells and not the other cells in the body?

In vivo confocal microscopy images of corneal endothelium from a normal (left) and Fuchs (right) patient. Normal corneal endothelium appears as a smooth surface covered by highly organized hexagonal shaped cells. In contrast, the corneal endothelium in Fuchs shows areas that are uneven and reduced cellular organization. The dark areas represent guttae, small bumps on the corneal endothelium.

The answer, he says, may be oxidative stress  the burden placed on the cells of our bodies by the constant production of free radicals, which are made during the normal course of metabolism and as a result of other pressures that the environment brings to bear. In this case, that pressure is the ultraviolet radiation hitting your corneas during, say, an afternoon sledding with the children, or a chat over the hedge with your neighbor. (Another reason to wear a wide-brimmed hat during the bright hours of the day, even in winter.)

UV exposure is a well-understood environmental stress factor that generates free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are harmful to cells. Since the cornea is the first target of UV-light entering the eye, it is especially susceptible to damage from ROS. It is not only exposed regularly to sunlight, but also to atmospheric oxygen, mainly dioxygen, which produces ROS.

The cornea makes its own antioxidants to scavenge reactive oxygen, but certain diseases  including Fuchs  are marked by increased levels of oxidative stress markers, indicating that oxidative stress may play an important role in their development and progression.

Toxic RNA

By 2012 Drs. Baratz and Wieben had pinpointed the Fuchs mutation to an intron (a noncoding section of DNA thats spliced out before a gene is translated into a protein) within the TCF4 gene (PLoS One). Typically, a mutation in an intron can keep a gene from being transcribed at all, or it can dramatically change the protein thats made. In this case, the change is a set of three nucleotides (specifically, CTG) thats reiterated (CTG CTG CTG etc). This is called a trinucleotide repeat. If a gene has only a few repeats, its DNA can usually still be copied accurately, but when there are a lot of them, problems occur. Generally, the larger the expansion, the more liable it is to cause disease and to increase disease severity through generations in a family.

The trinucleotide repeat expansion in TCF4 that they found turned out to be the specific genetic defect that leads to adult-onset Fuchs in most families. In a healthy person, there may be 15-25 CTG repeats in TCF4, whereas in a person with Fuchs, there may be ten to 100 times that many (i.e. 2000 repeats). Thats a devastating change.

Drs. Baratz and Wieben now also work closely with Joel Gottesfeld, Ph.D., a senior investigator at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, who saw their publication about the three base-pair expansion and became intensely interested, given that hed been studying neurological and neuromuscular diseases caused by similar repeat expansions (e.g. Friedreichs ataxia, myotonic dystrophy and Huntingtons disease). In 2015, Drs. Wieben, Baratz, Gottesfeld and their research teams published results (J. Biol. Chem.) demonstrating that the expansion in TCF4 creates a problem called RNA toxicity. Normally, the RNA transcripts of the TCF4 gene are meant to deliver a message from the gene in the cells nucleus to the protein expression system in its cytoplasm. But the RNA copies (transcripts) of the bad DNA are so long that the cellular machinery doesnt recognize them and transport them like its supposed to. Instead, the transcripts are bound up by proteins to form little chunky obstructions called RNA foci that stay in the nucleus, eventually mucking up the expression of other genes as well.

In Dr. Fautschs corneal cell cultures, he can actually stain for and see these RNA foci, and test for conditions that accelerate or decelerate their formation. Drs. Gottesfeld and Fautsch are developing a continuous cell line for cell-based assays, making it easier to study Fuchs and to test drug candidates in the laboratory. One of their goals is to find a drug that may be able to slow disease progression and improve patients quality of life. They are also looking at aspects of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy, that might eventually be able to stop progression altogether.

Through the Medical Genome Facility, Dr. Wieben is testing large libraries of biological molecules to understand the differences between Fuchs and healthy corneal cells by checking out where, when and at what level different genes are being expressed and proteins made. Hes generating millions of data points and collaborating with a virtual army of biostatisticians to help make sense of them.

Tuesday morning coffee club

Dr. Baratz, Fautsch and Wieben meet almost weekly. Its how we start our Tuesday mornings, explained Dr Wieben. We discuss progress and holdups, and what things to push. They also decide together where the corneal samples provided by Dr. Baratzs patients will go  to Dr. Fautschs laboratory to develop cell lines to study the physiology of Fuchs and to test drug candidates, to Dr. Gottesfelds laboratory to feed into the development of stem cell therapy, or to Dr. Wiebens facility for gene expression profiling. Its the most fun Ive had in the 32 years Ive been at Mayo, working on this project, says Wieben.

Its a collaboration between a clinician and basic scientists, explains Dr. Fautsch, the kind of success story Mayo prides itself on.

When this all began, explains Dr. Baratz, I wasnt all that interested in genetics. But now I want to figure it out to the end, all the way through the biochemical pathways and then to realistic options to treat patients.

For Dr. Baratz, it starts and ends with his relationship with patients. Im their Doc, he says.
Health News

Phoenix, Arizona - Researchers at Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a biomaterial that has potential to protect patients at high risk for bleeding in surgery.

The Nov. 16 cover article, An Injectable Shear-Thinning Biomaterial for Endovascular Embolization, in the journal Science Translational Medicine reports on a universal shear-thinning biomaterial that may provide an alternative for treating vascular bleeding.

Endovascular embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that treats abnormal blood vessels in the brain and other parts of the body beginning with a pinhole puncture in the femoral artery. This procedure is accomplished by inserting metallic coils through a catheter into a vessel, which induces clotting to prevent further bleeding.

For patients unable to form a clot within the coiled artery or patients on high doses of blood thinners for their mechanical valves or cardiac assist devices, coil embolization could lead to complications, such as breakthrough bleeding, according to the study.

Despite its improvement over open surgical procedures, rebleeding after coil embolization is common and can be life-threatening, states the study.

The studys lead co-author Rahmi Oklu, M.D., Ph.D., a vascular interventional radiologist at Mayo Clinics Arizona campus, explains shear-thinning biomaterial offers many advantages over metallic coils, the current gold standard.

Coils require your bodys ability to create a clot in order to create that occlusion. Our shear-thinning biomaterial, regardless of how anticoagulated the patient may be, will still create that occlusion, says Dr. Oklu, who began researching the shear-thinning biomaterial three years ago while working at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in collaboration with his colleague, Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Oklu says the shear-thinning biomaterial, which can be injected through an endovascular catheter, creates an impenetrable cast of the vessel, preventing further bleeding. This shear-thinning biomaterial is easier to deliver and see on a CT and on MRI, enabling physicians to better assess the outcomes of the procedure, says Dr. Oklu.

Research on the shear-thinning biomaterial continues at Mayo Clinic. The goal is to address unmet patient needs, including possible treatment of vascular malformations, varicose veins, aneurysms and traumatic vascular injuries, as well as a drug delivery device in cancer treatment.

The studys other co-authors are:

Hassan Albadawi, Division of Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic; Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Reginald Avery, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University

Yu Shrike Zhang, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, and Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michael Duggan, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Dushyant Sahani, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Bradley Olsen, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ali Khademhosseini, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Harvard- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Sloan Foundation.

Dr. Oklu has a financial interest related to the technology referenced.
An up-to-date spot for library staff serving youth around Wisconsin to find relevant news, events, and resources. Links should be correct at the time of publication. If a link is incorrect, please contact the blog administrator within a month of publication. Links on older posts may have changed. Any YSS member wishing to write posts, please e-mail Marge Loch-Wouters at lochwouters@gmail.com.
California: New studies have suggested that drinking V8 100 percent vegetable juice may be a simple way for people to increase their vegetable intake and may help them manage their weight. A study, conducted by researchers at the University of California-Davis, found that adults who drank one, 8-ounce glass of vegetable juice each day, as part of a calorie-appropriate Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, got nearly twice as many vegetable servings a day than those who did not drink any vegetable juice. Additionally, nine out of 10 participants who drank V8 100 percent vegetable juice said they felt they were doing something good for themselves. Researchers attribute the results to the ease, convenience and enjoyment of vegetable juice as a way to get more vegetables. "This study suggests that it`s not enough to just educate people on the importance of vegetables, you need to show them ways to easily incorporate them into their daily routine," said study co-author Carl Keen, professor of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at the University of California-Davis. "What we found was that something as simple as drinking your vegetables can be an effective tool in achieving behavior change," she said. Eating more vegetables can be a helpful strategy to manage weight because they are `low-energy-dense`, meaning they have more nutrition for fewer calories. Again, vegetable juice can play a key role. A study from Baylor College of Medicine showed that overweight individuals with metabolic syndrome who drank one to two servings of V8 100 per cent vegetable juice as part of DASH diet lost more weight compared to non-juice drinkers. Over the 12-week study period, the juice drinkers lost an average of four pounds compared to the non-juice drinkers who lost one pound. In addition to weight loss, the vegetable juice drinkers had significant increases of vegetable intake, vitamin C and potassium over the course of the study compared to the non-juice drinkers. "Making vegetable consumption easy is critical because it has so many benefits, from disease prevention to weight management," said John Foreyt, Director of the Behavioural Medicine Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. ANI
STACYVILLE  A judge has ordered a Stacyville man to pay a $100,000 penalty for illegally operating a waste tire collection site and repeatedly dumping tires onto his property and a nearby creek.

Gary Eggers, 60, who operates an unlicensed salvage yard, was ordered to pay the penalty after he failed to respond to a state environmental lawsuit filed in September, according to a default judgment filed last week by District Court Judge James Drew.

Eggers is to pay the $100,000 penalty on top of a previously unpaid $10,000 penalty,

The lawsuit alleged that since at least 2013, Eggers has illegally stored and dumped waste tires on his property.

Since 2013 the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has investigated several complaints that Eggers unlawfully disposed of tires, waste tires had washed into a nearby creek and onto a neighboring property, and that Eggers was burning tires, according to a press release from the Iowa Attorney Generals Office.

In 2015 the DNR issued two notices of environmental violations. On Aug. 31, 2015, the DNR issued an administrative order to cease collecting tires, provide documentation of properly disposed-of existing tires, and pay a $10,000 penalty.

Eggers did not comply with the order or pay the penalty, according to the Iowa Attorney Generals Office. He has allegedly continued to dump tires on his property and allowed existing tires to wash into a creek and onto a nearby property.

In addition to ordering Eggers to pay the two penalties, the Mitchell County District Court order prohibits Eggers from storing or dumping any additional tires and requires him to provide proof of properly disposing of existing tires, if they exceed 500, within 60 days.

Eggers must also cease salvaging vehicles until he obtains a state vehicle recycler license and proper storm water permit.
District of Columbia: One policeman was shot dead and three others shot and wounded in four US cities on Sunday, coinciding with an epidemic of racially-tinged gun violence involving law enforcement.

Police were shot in San Antonio, Texas, Sanibel, Florida, and in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and Gladstone, local police departments said.

There was no known connection between the shootings.

In San Antonio, authorities were hunting for a suspect who fatally shot 20-year service veteran Detective Benjamin Marconi twice in the head after being pulled over in traffic in front of police department headquarters.

Police, who are receiving support from federal and state law enforcement, offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, describing the unnamed suspect as a black male wearing a hoodie and baggie pants.

A police officer in Sanibel, on the picturesque island of the same name off the Florida coast, was shot and wounded during a "routine" traffic stop, officials said.

The suspect, who has been arrested, drove by and shot the officer after he had stopped another driver, Sanibel Police Chief Bill Tomlinson was quoted as saying.

In St. Louis, a suspect shot a police sergeant through his rolled up window as he sat in a marked police car in slow traffic.

"It was not a traffic stop. The officer was not trying to detain that person. That individual pulled up next to the officer and started shooting at him," Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters.

Dotson said the suspect, a black man believed to have been responsible for a "series of crimes" in recent days in the area, including robberies and possibly a carjacking and a homicide, was later shot dead by police after he exchanged fire with other officers.

In western Missouri, another police officer was shot in Gladstone but was expected to live, the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police said on Twitter. The condition of the suspect was unknown.

Sunday`s shootings occurred less than five months after a gunman killed five police officers in Dallas, Texas who were monitoring a protest against high-profile police shootings of black men.

Just 10 days after the Dallas attack, a man ambushed and killed three law enforcement officers and wounded as many others in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

And two officers from the Des Moines, Iowa area were shot and killed early this month in a pair of similar attacks while they sat in their patrol cars.
Houstan: A police officer was killed by a driver on Sunday while writing a traffic ticket outside the police headquarters in San Antonio, a city in the southern part of the US state of Texas.

The 50-year-old Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the police force, had pulled over a vehicle later Sunday morning. When he was inside his vehicle writing a ticket, a vehicle pulled up behind him, Xinhua reported.

The driver of that vehicle got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot the officer in the head, the suspect then reached into the window and shot Marconi a second time.

He was rushed to a hospital but died on Sunday afternoon, San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a press conference Sunday.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare," McManus said, adding that "It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, when police are being targeted across the country."

Until further notice, police officers will not be allowed to conduct traffic stops alone and they must have cover.

The suspect, who was as a black male wearing a hoodie, baggy pants and possible facial hair, has not yet been arrested and a motive is not known.

Police are now looking for a black car which is believed to be the suspect's vehicle.
White House: US President Barack Obama said he told Vladimir Putin on Sunday that he wants to reach a settlement that solves the Ukraine crisis before he leaves office in January.

"I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done," Obama told a press conference in Peru.

"I urged him to instruct his negotiators to work with ourselves, with France, with Germany, with Ukraine to see if we can get that done before my term is up."
JACKSONVILLE, Florida  Harlan Krieder was home alone in February 1951 in rural Rockford when the phone began to ring.

I wasnt allowed to answer it, but I thought Id better, because no one was here, Harlan said.

Harlan, then 15, received the news his brother, Army Sgt. Leighton Kreider, was missing. He had been taken prisoner Feb. 12 during combat near Wonju, South Korea.

Its still emotional for me, said Harlan, now 81 and living part-time in Jacksonville. It was just one of those things youre not ready for.

Leighton, whom Harlan remembers as a typical stubborn farm boy, joined the National Guard his senior year of high school. He later volunteered for the Army in 1949 or 1950, and was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division.

During active duty, Leighton was hospitalized with hives several times before deployment to Korea in August 1950.

We thought maybe they would have let him out because of medical, but they ignored it and sent him overseas anyway, Harlan said.

As a prisoner of war, Leighton was marched north  in subfreezing conditions during which exhaustion, disease, exposure, malnutrition and lack of medical care were common  first to prisoner of war Bean Camp near Suan, arriving there in late March or early April, according to military records.

Near the end of April, he was taken further north to the Mining Camp, where he died in late spring or summer 1951, around the age of 20. The Army set his date of death as Aug. 31, 1951.

Harlan believes his brothers remains are buried near the camp, which is 30 miles south of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. At the time of Leightons death, his mother decided against bringing his remains to Iowa, unsure of what shed receive.

Harlan joined the Navy in 1953, with a mission in mind.

I decided I was going to go in and find my brother, he said. If you look back at it, it was totally impossible, because I had no control about where I would go or what I would do.

Although he and Leighton werent that close growing up, due to a four-year age difference, Harlan has been committed to bringing his brothers remains home and seeking posthumous honors for his service.

Harlan has attended the annual Korean War Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency briefings in Washington, D.C., since the late 1990s, hopeful Leightons remains will be returned to join family members.

In the late 1990s North Korea turned over 200 caskets representing over 600 servicemen, which Harlan said couldnt be identified at the time. Their bodies had been buried with chemicals that stripped DNA.

New techniques have allowed researchers to identify bones, Harlan said, with more than 70 matched to servicemen this year. Some who have been identified were imprisoned near the same area as Leighton.

Weve been told there was a 50-50 chance he was in those boxes, so we wait, he said.

If Leighton is not among those remains, Harlan said future recovery efforts in North Korea are highly unlikely due to political tension.

South Korea, however, has been welcoming to veterans families.

During a 2015 trip to the country that included memorial services and tours of the DMZ and military academies, Harlan and his wife, Connie, accepted an Ambassador of Peace medal from the government on Leightons behalf. The medal is considered an expression of gratitude to Americans who served in the war.

It made you feel really good, like they really cared about what we did, Harlan said.

He also lobbied for a Purple Heart for his brother.

If you died in prison camp  not of wounds  but starved to death, you didnt get a Purple Heart, Harlan said.

He wrote letters to his congressional representatives; that stipulation was later reversed by legislation in 2008.
Kabul: A massive suicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Kabul killed at least 27 people Monday and wounded 35 as worshippers gathered for a religious ceremony, officials said.

"It was a suicide bomber who blew himself up among worshippers inside the mosque, killing 27 and wounding 35," senior police official Fridon Obaidi said.

Police cordoned off the area around the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the Afghan capital.

"I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming," Ali Jan told AFP.

Worshippers were gathering to mark the Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen, which comes 40 days after the major festival of Ashura.

Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was assassinated in the year 680.

His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan.

Arbaeen marks the end of the mourning period over his death.

Earlier this year a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It came days after twin attacks claimed by Islamic State, which also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday`s blast.
Yangon/Shanghai - Myanmar's eight-month-old government faced a fresh crisis on Monday, after four ethnic armed groups attacked security forces in the north of the country, dealing a major blow to leader Aung San Suu Kyi`s top goal of reaching peace with ethnic minorities.

Eight people were killed and 29 wounded when a coalition of northern rebels attacked military and police outposts and a business centre near an important trading hub on Myanmar`s border with China on Sunday, the government said.

China put its army on high alert and said it was providing shelter for some people who fled across the frontier to escape fighting in the towns of Muse and Kutkai, in Myanmar`s northeastern Shan state. Beijing called on the parties involved to exercise calmness and restraint.

The sudden escalation of fighting comes as the government grapples with a conflict in northwestern Rakhine that has sent hundreds of Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh, posing a new challenge to Nobel peace prize winner Suu Kyi, who swept to power last year on promises of national reconciliation.

In an important realignment of ethnic armed forces, one of Myanmar`s most powerful militias, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), joined three smaller groups that have been in a stand-off with the Myanmar military since clashes on the border last year.

The fighting last year pitted the army against the predominantly ethnic Chinese Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and its allies, the Ta`ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA).

The three groups said they had joined with the KIA to attack the military over the weekend.

"The Burma armed forces have been assaulting to destroy all political and military struggles of the ethnic peoples because they have no will to solve Myanmar`s political problem by politically peaceful negotiation methods," the four groups said in a statement.

STUTTERING PEACE PROCESS

One of the government`s peace negotiators, Hla Maung Shwe, told Reuters the fresh violence may severely delay the stuttering peace process.

"It was really regrettable that civilian areas have come under attack. This is likely to further complicate the peace process," he said.

The fighting threatened to derail whatever progress has been made by Suu Kyi since she organised a major peace conference with most ethnic armed groups in August.

"We will increase the operations to secure these areas and protect the civilians," said Ministry of Defence spokesman Major General Aung Ye Win. He did not comment on questions regarding the military`s next steps.

Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups in Shan state, which is home to several large groups operating close to the borders with China and Thailand.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said a stray bullet from the fighting had wounded a Chinese resident and China has lodged a protest.

China was infuriated last year when five Chinese people were killed when the fighting spilled over into Chinese territory.

"The Chinese army is on high alert and will take the necessary measures to safeguard the country`s sovereignty and safety, as well as protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens living along the border," the ministry statement said.
Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Shariff began his farewell visits on Monday, about a week before he is expected to retire.

The visits also ended speculation that he may opt for extension as as chief of Army staff.

Gen Shariff addressed a huge gathering at the garisson city of Lahore. He was also expected to visit several other places, the Dawn quoted Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as saying.

In his address, the general that it's a matter of great pride for him to have commanded the the world's finest Army.

Raheel Shariff was appointed as the countrys 15th army chief on November 29, 2013. He will retire on November 29 this year.

A panel of three general officers is sent to the prime minister by the defence ministry.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry has sent the names of three officers to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to consider one of them as the next Army chief.
Ankara: Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation.

Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack, Xinhua quoted Anadolu Agency as saying.

Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day.

The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey`s border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources.

On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.
Islamabad: Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that it was a golden opportunity for Pakistan to step up and build an immediate liaison with the US President-elect Donald Trump as he was not "well-versed with political dynamics" of the region and has yet to formulate a strategy vis-a-vis South Asia.

"This is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, the Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) needs to step up and build an immediate liaison with the new (US) administration," Musharraf said in an interview to Dunya News on Sunday.

India, he said, wants to maintain "hegemony" in the region. India sees itself as a "future economic giant" not only in the region, but in the world.

"India wants to isolate Pakistan not only economically but also diplomatically," he said.

The former Pakistan Army chief said that the India caucus in the US Senate was more vigilant and proactive. Pakistan needs to "derive an effective strategy as well to counter the Indian narratives" in the US circles.
Guwahati: Many groups of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres travelled to Pakistan during the 1990s to receive training with the help of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as per a report in Hindustan Times.

The media house quoted a new book on the spy agency Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan by Hein G Kiessling as saying that links between Pakistan and militant groups in Indias northeastern states date back to the 1960s.

This was when Pakistan had supplied weapons to Naga militants.

He further writes that there was a temporary halt to weapons supplies after the 1971 war. But ties between Pakistan and militant groups in the northeastern states were never completely broken off.

They supposedly revitalised in the 1980s.

The historian is said to have forged contacts with Pakistani military and intelligence officials while living in the country between 1989 and 2002.

In 1990, via the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and United Liberated Front of Asom (ULFA) developed contacts with the ISI In January 1991, with the help of the ISI, several high-ranking ULFA leaders travelled to Pakistan to sign a training agreement for ULFA cadres. The ISIs auxiliary support for operations of this kind covered more than just the training courses in Pakistan. Well in advance, new identities and fake passports had to be procured, travel routes determined and the financing of the whole operation had to be secured, as per the book.

The book also says, as per HT, In this way, the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka became an important ISI station, the hub of its operations in northeast India. In the ISI directorate in Islamabad, they must have been content with the results of the first training courses for ULFA fighters, since they continued through the 1990s and were extended to include other underground groups. In Thailand, after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from the 1980s onwards, light weapons and light machine guns awaited prospective buyers, so new supply opportunities opened up. Thus in 1991 the ISI provided weapons from Thailand to a group of 240 NSCN members."

Moreover, the book quotes an unnamed prominent Naga militant (imprisoned by Indian authorities) as saying that he received $1.7 million in three instalments from the ISI in the 1990s for weapon purchases.

In this way, the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka became an important ISI station, the hub of its operations in northeast India. In the ISI directorate in Islamabad, they must have been content with the results of the first training courses for ULFA fighters, since they continued through the 1990s and were extended to include other underground groups.

The ISI procured weapons for the northeastern militant groups from countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, from where they were shipped to Bangladesh before being smuggled into India.

In Thailand, after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from the 1980s onwards, light weapons and light machine guns awaited prospective buyers, so new supply opportunities opened up. Thus in 1991 the ISI provided weapons from Thailand to a group of 240 NSCN members, the book says.

Small boats brought the weapons to the Bangladeshi port of Coxs Bazaar, which became the hub for weapon supplies in the region. NSCN and ULFA fighters fetched the weapons from Bangladesh and took them back to their bases.

An unnamed prominent Naga militant, imprisoned by Indian authorities, is quoted in the book as saying that he received $1.7 million in three instalments from the ISI in the 1990s for weapon purchases.

There are indications that the ISI is still present and active in northeast India, Kiessling writes.

The Assam Police in August 1999 had announced the arrest of two ISI officers and two local agents who "came from Karachi and Lahore".

The ISI uses such agents for special missions, constructs sleeper cells, infiltrates local organisations, brings counterfeit money into the region and is responsible for acts of terror. Nor could they pass up the chance to expand their influence over madrasas in Northeast India through their network of contacts and confidants," the book says.
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she would seek a fourth term in elections next year to defend democratic principles in the face of looming threats at home and abroad.

Predicting her toughest campaign to date, Merkel said the forces of populism as well as the uncertainty created by poll triumphs for Brexit and Donald Trump meant she had a "duty to serve my country".

"We are facing struggles in Europe and internationally for our values and our interests and, simply put, for our way of life," Merkel, 62, told reporters at the headquarters of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"This election will be more difficult than any before it, at least not since national reunification" in 1990, she added, citing a strong "polarisation of our society".

Merkel, the EU`s longest serving leader, said she had "endlessly" weighed her choice and knew that in "distinctly difficult, even insecure times", many leaders were looking to her as a source of stability.

"I am indeed honoured but I also find it grotesque and even absurd" that some commentators have suggested she should be considered the new "leader of the free world", she said.

Speaking to German television channel ARD, she vowed to seek a "strong Europe" after Britain voted to leave the bloc.

Merkel ended months of feverish speculation earlier by telling CDU leaders that she would stand again, a decision they welcomed with "thunderous applause", party sources told AFP.

She has governed Europe`s top economic power, which does not have term limits, since 2005.

Another full four-year mandate, which pollsters say she is likely to win, would tie the post-war record set by her mentor Helmut Kohl, who presided over the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Merkel is the first woman, the youngest person and the only candidate who grew up in communist East Germany to lead the reunited country.

A pastor`s daughter and trained physicist, Merkel is popular among Germans who see her as a straight-shooter and a safe pair of hands in a crisis.

However her decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers over the last two years dented her support.

It also revived the fortunes of the rightwing populist Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which has harnessed widespread anxiety about migration.

Nevertheless, observers said the recent seismic shifts in global politics were likely to drive traditionally risk-averse German voters back into her arms.

"Merkel is the answer to the populism of our time," said Saxony state premier Stanislaw Tillich of the CDU, welcoming her candidacy.

"She is basically the anti-Trump," he told the newspaper group Redaktionsnetzwerk.

More than half of the electorate -- 55 percent -- want Merkel to stay in office, up from 42 percent in August, a poll for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed.

While the globe braces for potentially radical changes in US leadership under Trump, Britain is wrestling with the fallout from the Brexit vote, and France is facing a presidential poll in May that could see far-right candidate Marine Le Pen snatch victory.

Underlining her relative strength, Merkel gathered outgoing US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Italy at her chancellery Friday for talks on the fight against terrorism, climate change and the strategic threat posed by Russia.

Obama praised Merkel as an "outstanding partner", adding that if "I were German and I had a vote, I might support her."Misgivings about Merkel`s refugee policy were blamed for a string of CDU state election defeats, and sparked an open revolt by its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, which demanded a strict upper limit on incoming asylum seekers.

A survey Sunday showed that 33 percent of German voters backed Merkel`s conservatives, down nine points from the last national election in 2013.

The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Merkel`s "grand" coalition, were a distant second with 24 percent.

The AfD and the opposition Greens were neck-and-neck with 13 percent and 12 percent respectively, according to independent opinion research institute Emnid.

It is still unclear who will carry the SPD`s banner into the race, with party leader Sigmar Gabriel potentially facing a challenge from European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

News website Spiegel Online said the CDU would have to "motivate and mobilise" supporters who might be suffering from "Merkel fatigue".

"Even though there is no Trump in sight in Germany, the US showed that the unimaginable can become real," it said.
Bhubaneswar: In two separate incidents, Odisha Police arrested a youth on charge of circulating fake Rs 2,000 notes and recovered Rs 4.8 lakh stocked in the newly-introduced denomination post the Centre's demonetisation move.

Madhusudan Meher of Jharsuguda was arrested, while he was trying to use the fake currency at petrol pump in Sunarimunda, a senior police officer said.

The petrol outlet staff handed him over to the cops.

"The note is a colour photocopy of an original Rs 2,000 currency. A case has been registered at the Jharsuguda police station and investigation is underway," Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Jharsuguda, Bijay Nanda said.

Meanwhile, in Bolangir district, police seized over Rs 12 lakh from the house of a recruitment agent of migrant labourers, popularly known as 'dadan sardar' on charge of stashing huge amount of cash.

The police raided the house of Khirasagar Bag, a dadan sardar at Tingra village under Saintala police station limits last night and seized Rs 12,75,900, Bolangir SP Asish Singh said.

Singh said, though they raided house of Bag on a tip-off about fake notes but the police could not find any.

Out of the total amount recovered, Rs 2,000 notes were also stored which totalled upto Rs 4.8 lakh, he said.

"The police were investigating as to how Bag could arrange so many Rs 2,000 notes while people stand in lines to get cash from banks and ATMs," Singh said.

Police suspected that the man was using local people to get demonetised notes exchanged for new the Rs 2,000 notes in different banks.

Bag, however, could not be arrested as he absconded before the raid took place, police said.
New Delhi: Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh will leave for China on a four-day official visit from today.

He will lead a high-level military delegation comprising of senior military officers whose major aim will be to engage China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, including terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace keeping training.

This visit will prove a great opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations.

The delegation will meet a number of high ranking dignitaries of the People`s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Central Military Commission (CMC).The visit comes at a time when a joint military exercise between the two armies is underway in Pune.

This will be followed by the visit to the Western Theatre Command by PLA Commander General Zhao Zongqi in the second week of December.
Beijing: India and China on Monday agreed to keep borders between the two countries tranquil and peaceful.

Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh, who is on a four-day visit to China, called on China's General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman (Central Military Commission) and PLA Commander General Li Zuocheng.

#COAS called on Gen Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman, CMC. Both of them reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges. pic.twitter.com/vrhJKKH7oc  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 21, 2016

#COAS being presented Guard of Honour by 3 Div PLA on his first day of visit to China. #COASinChina pic.twitter.com/DkGPNApg9z  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 21, 2016

#COAS with Vice Chairman CMC & Cdr PLA during his visit to China. #COASinChina pic.twitter.com/ycmLXzgQja  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 21, 2016

Singh had left for China yesterday.

He is accompanied by a high-level military delegation.

"This visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations," a statement by the Army had said earlier.

The visit is aimed at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace keeping training, the Army had said, as per PTI.

The visit comes amidst growing stronger economic and military ties between the emerging Asian giants and follows high-level diplomatic and military exchanges between the two neighbours.

The visit also coincides with a joint military exercise (Exercise Hand in Hand), between two armies which is underway in Pune.

It will be followed by visit of General Zhao Zongqi, Commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA in the second week of next month.

While issues relating to the Line of Actual Control continues to exist, the northern borders have remained calm.

However, India is in the process of beefing up its borders with China through raising of a mountain brigade, deployment of modern artillery and tanks besides creating greater airfield infrastructure among others.

(With Agency inputs)
Mumbai: Amid growing tensions with Pakistan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said while good relations with neighbouring countries are always welcome, it cannot be at the cost of national security.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made efforts to maintain relations with the neigbouring country and the people criticized him for it. We would welcome good relations with any neighbours and being friendly helps, but it cannot be at the cost of national security," Parrikar said.

He said the Indian Army does not initiate any action on the Line of Control unless provoked from across the borders, referring to the continuous violation of ceasefire by Pakistan.

Referring to Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chauhan of Maharashtra, who inadvertently cross the LoC last month, he said standard procedures are being implemented to bring him back and the Pakistan government has assured he is alive and safe.

Earlier, Parrikar commissioned the third indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, INS Chennai into the Indian Navy, marking the completion of the crucial Project 15A.

"This is a historic day for the Indian Navy... It will add new a dimension to our navy`s attack capabilities," Parrikar said, lauding the indigenously designed and constructed, Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer built by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.

Present on the occasion was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, top naval officers of the Western Naval Command and other dignitaries.

While INS Kolkata was the first ship in this class commissioned on August 16, 2014, the second was INS Kochi commissioned on September 30 2015.

After commissioning, INS Chennai shall be placed under the operational and administrative control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

It will undergo certain additional sea trials of the ship-borne systems before she will assigned to the Western Fleet and based in Mumbai.

Among the largest destroyers constructed in India, INS Chennai is 164 metres long with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes, and sail at a top speed of over 30 knots (around 55 kms) per hour.

Equipped with formidable prowess of missile technology, the vessel is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 Long Rang Surface-to-Air missiles.

Its undersea warfare capability includes indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar HUMSA-NG, heavyweight torpedo tube launchers, rocket launchers and Towed Arrau Sonar capability.

For defence against enemy missiles, INS Chennai is fitted with `Kavach` chaff decoy system and for protection from enemy torpedoes, it had `Mareech` torpedo decoy system, both developed in India.

A potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, the vessel can carry and operate two multi-role helicopters.

INS Chennai is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas propulsion plant consisting of four reversible gas turbines.

Its very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks on board includes ATM-based integrated Ship Data Network, Combat Management Systems, Automatic Power Management System and Auxiliary Control System.

The ship`s crest depicts the outline of the iconic Fort St. George of Chennai in the background, a part of the adjacent beach and a sloop on blue and white waves.

The crew of the ship abides by the Sanskrit motto, `Shatro Sanharaka` meaning Vanquisher of Enemies, epitomizing the warrior spirit and strong resolve to prevail and succeed in combat.
New Delhi: While Congress plans to corner the Narendra Modi government in Parliament on the demonetisation issue, its vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday took stock of banking and ATM services in Delhi post Centre's announcement to ban old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 on November 8.

According to ANI, the Congress vice president visited city's Jahangirpuri, Inderlok and Zakira areas and interacted with the people standing in queues outside ATM machines.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi meets people outside ATM in Delhi's Inderlok area. pic.twitter.com/iy2SZMX5oE  ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

It has been 13 days since the Narendra Modi government banned high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to tame the black money menace and to fight corruption.

The move led to chaos across the country as people queued up for hours to get valid currency notes to meet their daily expenses.

It is the second time in the week when the Congress leader met people in the Capital in this regard.

On November 17, Rahul visited Sarojini Nagar market and met a group of street vendors to enquire how Modi government's currency ban move has affected their business.

However, the Congress leader was left red-faced after he was greeted with pro-Modi chants by the BJP workers.
Bellary: Days after lavish wedding of Janardhan Reddy's daughter, Income Tax officials on Monday raided his Obulapuram mining company.

The I-T raids were conducted at Reddy's Obulapuram mining company in Karnataka's Bellary.

The lavish wedding had raised a firestorm of controversy.

A blockbuster wedding of mining baron and former minister B Janardhan Reddy's daughter marked by unmitigated opulence took place at the sprawling Palace Grounds in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.

It was claimed in several media reports that Reddy had spent Rs 500 crore on the wedding.

The five-day extravaganza with ceremonies held against the backdrop of lavish settings concluded on Wednesday as the ostentatious wedding stirred a huge row over its timing when people across the country are reeling under cash crunch after demonetisation of high value currencies due to demonetisation.

The who's who of the Kannada and Telugu film industry attended the wedding ceremony and wished the newly wed.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Energy Minister D K Shiva Kumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa were among prominent leaders who attended the wedding.
New Delhi: A court here on Monday framed terror charges against five Islamic State suspects accused of conspiring to target the Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar besides strategic locations in Delhi.

According to court sources, District Judge Amar Nath, during in-camera proceedings, framed the charges dealing with criminal conspiracy and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The suspects are Mohammad Azeemushan, Osama, Akhlakur Rehman alias Akhlaq, Meraj alias Monu and Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed.

After the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, the court set December 15 for recording the statement of prosecution witnesses.

Sayyed was arrested on February 5 while the other four were arrested on January 19.
New Delhi: The government on Monday allowed farmers to purchase seeds with the demonetised bank notes of Rs 500 value.

The seeds, using old notes, can be bought from the outlets of central or state governments, state-run enterprises and national or state seeds companies and agricultural universities upon furnishing a valid proof of identity.

"The government is committed to ensure that the farmers are suitably facilitated during the Rabi season," an official statement said.
New Delhi: The Opposition parties joined hands in the Parliament on Monday to corner the government over the demonetisation drive.

As soon as both houses convened for the day, members of the Opposition parties marched into the well of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to demand Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence during the ongoing debate on the fallout of demonetisation of Rs 1000/500 notes on November 8.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and some other Opposition parties insisted on a discussion on demonetisation under Rule 56, which entails voting and through an adjournment motion that implies suspension of all other business.

On the other hand, in the Rajya Sabha, treasury benches also resorted to slogans after Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to the Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad`s statement that more people had died because of demonetisation than had been killed in the Uri terror attack on September 18 this year.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) members protested outside Parliament over the complications faced by the people after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

MPs Derek O`Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay were among the protesters.



Last week, TMC head and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met President Pranab Mukherjee along with leaders of National Conference and a few other opposition parties seeking the withdrawl of the demonetisation move.

PM meets senior ministers

Amid the pandemonium in the both houses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met senior cabinet ministers in his chamber in Parliament to counter the opposition.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to its party`s Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the House for three days starting today.

Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned last Friday following furore over the Centre`s move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned the terror attack in Kabul and said that for regional peace, all support to such terrorists must end.

The PM tweeted: "We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack today on a Shia shrine in Kabul and condole loss of innocent lives. India stands with Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism."

"For regional peace and security, all sanctuaries, safe havens and support to such terrorists must end," he said.

We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack today on a Shia shrine in Kabul & condole loss of innocent lives.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2016

India stands with Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2016

For regional peace and security, all sanctuaries, safe havens and support to such terrorists must end.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2016

A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital today, killing at least 27 people, the UN office said, the second large-scale attack targeting minority Shiites in Kabul in just over a month.

Officials said the attacker entered the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque shortly after midday as worshippers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi`ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

Meanwhile, Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack.

A statement in Arabic from Islamic State`s Amaq news agency said one of its fighters had attacked the mosque, as per Reuters.

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi`ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.

Islamic State, based mainly in the eastern state of Nangarhar on the border with Pakistan, has gradually expanded its reach since emerging in Afghanistan last year.

Prior to Monday, it had claimed responsibility for two major attacks on Shi`ite targets in Kabul, including a suicide bombing which killed more than 80 people at a demonstration by the mainly Shi`ite Hazara community, the worst single attack on civilians since 2001.

Last month, it claimed an attack in which 18 people were killed when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Kabul for Ashura, one of the holiest occasions in the Shi`ite calendar.

(With Agency inputs)
Srinagar: A massive fire which erupted early on Monday destroyed over a dozen houses in the Kashmir Valley.

Police said flames from one house in Buchwara in Dalgate area of Srinagar quickly spread to neighbouring houses in the densely populated area.

Seven fire tenders battled the flames, adding that timely evacuation from the burning houses saved lives.
Delhi: The NIA has begun removing online contents of banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), including alleged hate speeches by its founder Zakir Naik, PTI reported on Monday.

On November 19, the NIA had registered a case against the Islamic preacher and his organisation under anti-terror laws and for allegedly promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race.

The anti-terror probe agency's action had come barely four days after the Union government had declared IRF a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

After registering case against the 51-year-old Naik, IRF and others, NIA sleuths along with Mumbai police had carried out searches at 10 places in the megapolis, including residential premises of some of the office bearers of the foundation, which was earlier put on restricted list by the Union Home Ministry for receiving funds from abroad.

Naik, who has been staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his name surfaced during probe into the Bangladesh terror strike earlier this year, has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.

"Many documents have been seized," NIA Director General Sharad Kumar had told PTI.

However, Kumar had refused to divulge further details about the search operation and had said, "it will be too premature for us to say anything as of now".

But sources in the probe agency had said Rs 13.5 lakh cash and some gold had been seized from one of the locations.

The charges slapped in the FIR, registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch, also included sections 10 (being member of an unlawful organisation), 13 (punishment for being member of illegal organisation) and 18 of UAPA (punishment for being involved in a conspiracy for committing any terror act).

IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.

Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday said the opposition is anxious by the way the people are supporting the demonetisation move, adding that the ban on high-currency notes cannot be rolled back.

"The government is ready to discuss the demonetisation issue in Parliament. The Prime Minister is trying to provide maximum help to the people and they are happy with the move due to which the opposition is anxious," Meghwal told ANI.

He further said that the Centre is expecting some positive suggestions from the opposition parties and added that demonetisation cannot be rolled back in any case as it will help to curb corruption.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a meeting with senior ministers in his chamber in Parliament to counter the opposition, which is up in arms against the Centre on the issue of demonetisation. Meanwhile, the opposition parties in both Houses have decided to stage a protest at the Gandhi statue in Parliament on November 23 against the demonetisation move.

This has come as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier on Saturday issued a whip to its party`s Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the House for three days starting today. Both the Houses of Parliament were earlier on Friday adjourned following furore over the Centre`s move to scrap Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and some other opposition parties insisted on a discussion on demonetisation under a rule, which entails voting and through an adjournment motion that implies suspension of all other business.

In both Houses, the opposition parties insisted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s presence while opposing demonetisation.
MASON CITY  Monday, Nov. 28, is the final day to pre-register to vote in the Mason City Council runoff election Dec. 6.

Andy OBrien and Paul Adams placed first and second in a special election in September, but neither received the 50 percent-plus 1 total to win the election outright.

The winner will fill the at-large position that became vacant with the death of Councilman Alex Kuhn July 15.

O'Brien and Adams will be in Mason City Council runoff MASON CITY  Andy OBrien and Paul Adams, a pair of political newcomers, finished first and 

To register to vote, a person must:

Be 18 years old by election day.

Be a U.S. citizen and Iowa resident.

Not have been convicted of a felony; or if convicted, had voting rights restored.

Not judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Not given up the right to vote in any other place.

The Cerro Gordo County Auditors Office will be open until 5 p.m. on Nov. 28. Completed voter registrations may be mailed to the auditors office but must be received by the deadline or postmarked on or before Nov. 21.

A person who registers at the polls on Election Day must provide acceptable proof of identity and residency in the precinct.

Call the auditors office at 641-421-3041 with questions or visit www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us.

As required by law, the Cerro Gordo election system will be publicly tested at 1 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Election Annex, 121 Third St. N.W. The test is open to the public.

In the runoff election, voters will use paper ballots that will be counted by optical-scan machines.

A ballot-marking machine will be available in each precinct for voters requiring assistance.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J.P. Singh to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a protest over "unabated violations of ceasefire" at the Line of Control (LoC).

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, the government registered its protest over "bloodshed of innocent" people at the border.

A protest dossier was handed over to J.P. Singh by Director General of South Asia desk Dr Mohammad Faisal, Zakaria said.

The latest "unprovoked" Indian firing at the border has claimed two lives on Monday, while damaging five houses, he said.
New Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah on Monday, met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at Parliament House, reportedly to discuss the issue of demonetisation.

What transpired during the half an hour meeting, was not immediately clear but informed sources said, the demonetisation move, which has led to a cash chaos, figured prominently.

The sources said, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Secretary Shaktikant Das, also attended the meeting.
Panaji: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the armed forces in Kashmir have complete power to shoot at those wielding guns, instead of waiting for the terrorists to open fire and "getting martyred".

"When I took over as the Defence minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyone's hand, don't expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him," Parrikar said addressing BJP's election rally at Vasco last evening.

"In Kashmir our army was fighting with the terrorists. Congress government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you don't retaliate," he said, claiming that the morale of the Army has gone up since Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has come to power in the Centre.

In the backdrop of intense ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Parrikar said the Indian troops have complete power and they are giving apt reply to the enemy.

"Our soldiers now don't need to seek permission from the Defence Ministry to fire at the person who fires at them. They have complete power and they are giving apt reply to our enemy. I feel bad that some of our soldiers are martyred," the former chief minister said.

Parrikar said it took almost six to eight months for him to understand the functioning of the ministry.

"I was initially not understanding how Defence ministry works.It took 6-8 months for me after that I understood," the former Goa Chief Minister said.
New Delhi/Srinagar: Three unidentified gunmen looted a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Budgam district on Monday.

As per preliminary reports, the gunmen barged into the Charari Sharif branch of J&K Bank and looted yet unspecified amount of cash.

Security forces have launched a massive manhunt launched to nab the culprits.

More details are awaited.
Jammu: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan died and three others were seriously injured as Pakistani army resorted to heavy cross-border firing in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir late on Sunday.

One BSF head constable Rai Singh lost his life in heavy shelling by Pakistan in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, reported ANI.

This was third ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops since Saturday.

"Pakistani Army resorted to heavy cross-border firing in the Rajouri sector, in which four of our soldiers have been injured," an Army officer said.

He said the Army was giving befitting response to the Pakistani fire and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in.

The ceasefire violation came a day after a BSF jawan and a woman were injured and two houses were damaged when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortar attacks and small arms fire.

On Saturday morning, Pakistani army resorted to violation of the ceasefire in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon, they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas.

On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu district.

Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.

There have been 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29.
Allahabad: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday recalled the sacrifices made by her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for national unity because of which she continued to live in the hearts of people.

Accompanied by children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, the Congress chief, while inaugurating a photo exhibition on the life of Indira Gandhi at the Nehru-Gandhi family's ancestral home here, remembered the former PM's courage and compassion and exhorted everyone to draw inspiration from her life that was full of challenges.

"The most important takeaway from this exhibition is the inspiration Indiraji's brave and courageous life gives us. Courage was her unique quality with which she fought all adversities. We still remember her sacrifices for the sake of national unity. She lives in the hearts of people. We can draw lessons from her glorious life," Sonia Gandhi said at Swaraj Bhavan, where Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917.

On the occasion of the photo show titled, "Indira - A Life of Courage", Sonia Gandhi spoke of the former Prime Minister's dedication to the cause of national unity and her struggles against separatist forces.

She told Congress leaders present there that adversities can be overcome.

"Indiraji's life was dedicated to the poor and the underprivileged for whom she took personal pains. She stood by all Indians and believed in India's diversity. She bravely fought the separatist forces that sought to divide our country. Indiraji loved the people and got their generous support in return," she said.

With senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheila Dikshit, Raj Babbar, Pramod Tewari besides family friend and journalist Suman Dubey present, Sonia said Indira Gandhi faced many challenges in her 16 years as Prime Minister with courage.

"She faced challenges on the economic and foreign policy front, challenges of war and terrorism but was determined in all situations.

"Her concern was that our country should remain united and we should stand on our own feet. She wanted to make India a nation where everyone is safe, a nation in which everyone takes pride," she said as Priyanka sat among the select audience.

This was Priyanka's first formal public appearance in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh where she is likely to play a major role during the campaigning for the 2017 elections.

Priyanka had recently attended a core committee meeting of UP Congress signalling her readiness to canvass for the party outside of Amethi and Rae Bareilly, Lok Sabha constituencies represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother respectively.

Her formal appearance in UP was long expected to be at Allahabad and more precisely from her family home where she was present with her mother and brother today.
Kolkata: A fire broke out in West Bengal`s largest state-run hospital here on Monday, officials said.

However, there were no casualties or injury at the SSKM Hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed.

"The fire is under control. All patients are safe. Some patients were shifted. Nobody was injured," said Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital.

There was panic as smoke billowed out from the top floor library of the Ronald Ross building.

The plastic surgery department complex and male and female wards are located a floor below the library, where the blaze occurred.

Sixteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was under control now, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sovan Chatterjee said.

The Chief Minister said an investigation has been ordered.

"The library caught fire. The cause of the fire will be probed by the fire department, police and the health department," Banerjee announced and assured the panicked relatives of patients that there was nothing to worry about.

"The government has decided to set up a permanent fire station in the hospital premises. An office and two fire tenders will be stationed from tomorrow (Tuesday)."

This is the third fire in a West Bengal government hospital over the past three months.

On August 20, fire broke out in the operation theatre of Katwa sub-divisional hospital in Burdwan district. No injuries or casualties was reported.

Only a week later, two women died and seven patients were injured in a stampede after a blaze engulfed a part of the state-run Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur.
Paris: French anti-terror police have arrested six men in the cities of Strasbourg and Marseille, security sources told AFP on Monday.

Four men were arrested in eastern Strasbourg overnight on Saturday to Sunday, with another two detained in southern Marseille the same evening, several sources close to the case told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Serious information made these arrests necessary," one source told AFP, asking not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the case.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve is set to give more details about the arrests later in the day.

Strasbourg has been on high alert ahead of the opening of its Christmas market, with local officials warning it could be suspended or cancelled if there were serious threats.

France remains in a state of emergency a year since attacks by Islamic State jihadists on Paris which left 130 people dead.
Vatican City: Pope Francis, making permanent a temporary measure put in place for the Vatican`s jubilee year, declared Monday that all priests would have the right to forgive abortion.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter marking the end of the "Year of Mercy", which wound up Sunday.

"The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary," he wrote.

The 79-year old Argentine said he had to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life".

On Sunday, as he brought the jubilee to an end by closing the bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peter`s Square, Francis gave an interview in which he slammed abortion as "a horrendous crime".

But he said Monday that the end of the special year did not mean the end of mercy itself, and so-called sinners must be given a chance to repent. The Church considers abortion to be a sin.

"I can and must state that there is no sin that God`s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," he said in the letter.

"May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation."

The watchword of mercy has meant helping the unfortunate, and welcoming outcasts back into the fold.

The pope hopes greater compassion from a more open-minded Church will not only counter xenophobia but also draw people to pews.
Lima: US President Barack Obama said that reality will force his successor to the White House, Donald Trump, to adjust his approaches on many issues he defended during his campaign.

Obama, during his press conference at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, advised the world to "take a wait and see approach" to Trump`s proposals, Efe news reported.

Obama explained that since Trump won the election on November 8, his goal has been to be respectful to his successor and give the President-elect an opportunity to set up his team and put forward his policies.

However, Obama said he would speak out if core US "values and ideals" were threatened by the Trump Presidency.

The president described himself as "an American citizen who cares deeply" about his country.

The press conference Sunday in Lima will likely be Obama`s final press conference abroad, during his final presidential trip overseas visiting Greece, Germany and Peru.

Throughout the tour, Obama has tried to reassure other countries about Trump`s presidency, given the uncertainty and fear generated by Trump`s proposals during his campaign.


TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSX:SEA) (NYSE:SA) announced today it has received a licence from the Government of Canada required for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Water Storage Facility and associated ancillary water works at its 100%-owned KSM Project located in northwestern BC.



The licence, as authorized within the International Rivers Improvement Act (IRIA), regulates all structures and activities situated on transboundary waters shared with the United States that have the potential to impact water quality and quantity. The Water Storage Facility (WSF) and its ancillary water works (water diversion ditches and tunnels) are the primary water management control systems for the KSM Project. These facilities separate water which has not contacted mined material from so-called contact water originating from disturbed areas of the mine site and then contain the contact water prior to treatment and eventual release to the receiving environment. These facilities are situated on Mitchell and Sulphurets creeks, tributaries of the transboundary Unuk River system that flows into Alaska. The licence was granted for a term of 25 years under the International Rivers Improvements Regulations as administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Seabridge Gold Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk stated: "This important permit highlights the Government of Canadas continued support for the environmental standards incorporated into our design of the KSM project. This approval further validates the Environmental Impact Statement approval received in 2014, also from the Government of Canada, which concluded that the KSM Project would not result in significant impacts to the environment, including those waters which flow into Alaska. On behalf of Seabridge and its stakeholders, I would like to express our thanks to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and her technical team for reviewing and approving our permit application.

Seabridge Gold holds a 100% interest in several North American gold resource projects. The Companys principal assets are the KSM and Snip Gold properties located near Stewart, British Columbia, Canada and the Courageous Lake gold project located in Canadas Northwest Territories. For a breakdown of Seabridges mineral reserves and resources by project and category please visit the Companys website at http://www.seabridgegold.net/resources.php.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, nor their Regulation Services Providers accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All reserve and resource estimates reported by the Corporation were calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding mineral reserves and resources of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include regulatory issues, market prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Rudi Fronk"

Chairman and C.E.O.
Seoul: South Korea`s main opposition, the Democratic Party announced on Monday that it will initiate impeachment proceedings against President Park Geun-hye, if she does not step down after having been declared an accomplice in a corruption case.

"Park must step down. Under this stance, we will review her impeachment and the issue of forming an interim Cabinet at a proper time," opposition leader Choo Mi-ae said in a meeting with party members.

Choo added that the party will immediately start the necessary formalities for the impeachment process in parliament although she warned it could take up to six months, according to a statement issued by the party.

The announcement comes a day after prosecutors said Park acted as an accomplice in a corruption and influence peddling case, that has sparked strong indignation in the country and intensified demands for her resignation.

The prosecutors on Sunday said that Park colluded with her close friend and confidant, Choi Soon-sil, and another two former aides to pressure over 50 companies to donate a total of $65.7 million to two foundations.

Until now, the main opposition parties, who have a majority in the parliament, had not raised the possibility of initiating an impeachment process believing it would be rejected by the Supreme Court at the last moment.

The so-called "Choi Soon-sil Gate", which came to light a month ago, has caused Park`s popularity ratings to plummet to a record low and led the opposition and a large section of society to demand her resignation.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seoul on Saturday demanding that Park steps down.

The indignation largely stems from the widespread perception that the president`s friend, who has never held public office, secretly intervened in State matters and used her influence to illegally embezzle funds and secure academic privileges for her daughter.


Kabul: A massive suicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Kabul killed at least 27 people Monday and wounded 35 as worshippers gathered for a religious ceremony, officials said.

The attacker was among worshippers inside the mosque when he detonated the bomb, senior police official Fridon Obaidi said, giving the toll.

Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the blast occurred around 12.30 pm (0800 GMT). Police cordoned off the area around the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the Afghan capital as ambulances rushed to the scene.

"I heard a blast and dust covered the whole mosque," said worshipper Nadir Ali.

"When the dust settled down, I saw the mosque was full of flesh and blood. I was injured in my waist and had to crawl out of the mosque."

"I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming," another worshipper, Ali Jan, told AFP.

President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement he strongly condemned the "barbaric" attack.

Mosques in Kabul generally do not have any security -- though police patrols can be seen near some on Fridays -- and some eyewitnesses criticised the government over the lack of protection Monday.

"They know that Daesh (IS) who is able to conduct attacks in Europe, can reach places in Afghanistan easily. They should provide security to sacred places," said one man who gave his name as Rahmat.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday`s blast.

Worshippers were gathering for the major Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen, marking the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was assassinated in the year 680. His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan.

Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims gather each year in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world`s largest religious events. Officials there have said they expect up to 20 million visitors this year.

The pilgrimage is seen as a major potential target for sectarian attacks.

Earlier this year a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It followed twin attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, that also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

In July, IS jihadists claimed responsibility for twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 people and wounding more than 400 others.

The bombings marked the deadliest single attack in the Afghan capital since the Taliban were ousted from power in a 2001 US-led invasion.
Kabul: Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded mosque in Kabul on Monday, that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens, its third major attack on minority Shi`ites in the Afghan capital since July.

Officials said, the attacker entered the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque shortly after midday as worshippers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi`ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

A statement in Arabic from Islamic State`s Amaq news agency said one of its fighters had attacked the mosque.

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi`ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people had been killed and 35 wounded, while the United Nations said at least 32 had been killed and more than 50 wounded, including many children.

"I saw people screaming and covered in blood," one survivor told Afghanistan`s Ariana Television, adding that around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene.

Another witness said, he had helped to carry 30-35 bodies from the mosque.

Islamic State, based mainly in the eastern state of Nangarhar on the border with Pakistan, has gradually expanded its reach since emerging in Afghanistan last year.

Prior to Monday, it had claimed responsibility for two major attacks on Shi`ite targets in Kabul, including a suicide bombing which killed more than 80 people at a demonstration by the mainly Shi`ite Hazara community, the worst single attack on civilians since 2001.

Last month, it claimed an attack in which 18 people were killed when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Kabul for Ashura, one of the holiest occasions in the Shi`ite calendar.

At least 14 people were killed in an attack on a Shi`ite mosque in northern Balkh province, for which no group has so far claimed responsibility.

The Taliban, itself fiercely opposed to Islamic State, had already denied any involvement.

"We have never attacked mosques as it`s not our agenda," said the movement`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

But as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next year, the attack underlines the potential threat to Afghanistan that continues to pose as a haven for militant groups like Islamic State or al Qaeda that may try to use it as a base for attacks on targets outside the country.

Afghan security officials have been concerned that, if Islamic State is forced out of its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, Afghanistan could become a new target.

"If they`re put under pressure in the Middle East, a lot of their fighters from central Asia could end up in Afghanistan," said one senior official closely involved in security policy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Any resurgence of sectarian or ethnic violence stoked by the movement could threaten the fragile stability of the government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, who described the mosque blast as an attempt "to sow seeds of discord".

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said, Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".

"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he tweeted.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in the 15 years since the Taliban government was brought down in the U.S.-led campaign of 2001.

In July, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 1,601 civilians had been killed in the first half of the year, a record since it began collating figures in 2009.
Beijing: United Nations Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres will visit China from November 28 to 29 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the announcement on Monday, saying that China values the visit by Guterres, Xinhua news agency reported.

During his trip, Guterres will meet Chinese leaders and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, but specific arrangements are still under discussion, Geng said.

The Chinese leaders and Guterres will discuss the current international situation, the future development of the UN, China-UN cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, he said.

China hopes the trip will boost mutual trust and map out the future cooperation between the two sides, Geng added.
A 48-hour ceasefire ended on Monday in Yemen, after failing to stem violence across the country, with both sides blaming each other for deadly "violations" of the US-backed truce.

The ceasefire, aimed at ending the chaos and bloodshed that has gripped Yemen since March 2015, came into effect on Saturday, following the intervention of US Secretary of State John Kerry.

But despite a lull in air strikes on the rebel-held capital, both parties traded accusations over hundreds of violations.

The Saudi-led coalition said, the truce ended at midday (0900 GMT) on Monday and accused Iran-backed insurgents of repeatedly breaking it.

"There is no respect (for the truce), only violations," coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri, told AFP.

"There have been more people killed in (the southwestern city of) Taez and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles, so automatically the conditions are not there" for prolonging the ceasefire deal, he said.

"At the military level, for the moment, we have no orders to extend the ceasefire. It`s over."

The coalition had said, the truce could be renewed if the rebels abided by the deal and allowed aid deliveries to besieged cities.

But both sides have accused each other of incessantly breaking the conditions of the deal, and violence flared as its expiration loomed.

Fifteen rebels and nine loyalist troops were killed in clashes overnight in and around Taez, military and medical sources said.

Four civilians were also killed and 11 others wounded in rebel bombing of loyalist-held neighbourhoods, the sources said.

On early Monday, forces loyal to Hadi attacked Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on the western outskirts of Taez, according to military officials.

The offensive targeted an air defence base, the officials said, while witnesses reported loud explosions.

Four of the Huthi casualties were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

Coalition warplanes hit rebel positions in Nahm, north of rebel-held capital Sanaa, and in the Huthi`s heartland in Saada province, witnesses said.

And warplanes also conducted numerous sorties over Sanaa on early Monday. The ceasefire was the latest international effort to put an end to Yemen`s 20-month conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 7,000 people and wounded nearly 37,000.

Yemen`s Huthi rebels overran Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country in September 2014, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to intervene six months later in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Pro-Hadi forces said on Monday, they repelled a rebel attack on their positions in Sarwah, in Marib province, east of the capital.

The ceasefire appeared to be shaky from the outset, Assiri accused the rebels of 563 violations in Yemen and an additional 163 cross-border violations in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for renegade Yemeni troops allied with the rebels, accused the pro-Hadi forces of more than 100 ceasefire violations.

Local aid activists and witnesses also accused the rebels of blocking a relief convoy of 18 lorries from reaching the city of Taez on Sunday.

The UN children`s agency UNICEF says nearly three million people in Yemen are in need of immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children suffer malnutrition, including 370,000 enduring very severe malnutrition that weakens their immune system.
CARY, N.C., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its recently announced strategy to become a leader in high-value, high-growth specialty market segments in the crop protection industry, Arysta LifeScience has placed biosolutions at the center of its focus. Executing on this strategy, the company recently signed an agreement with Beem Biologics, Inc., in which Arysta LifeScience will license a new, novel, plant extract-derived biostimulant technology from Beem Biologics. The strategic alliance between the two companies will further expand Arysta LifeSciences leading product portfolio in the fast-growing segment for plant stress management and stimulation.



With this agreement, Arysta LifeScience reaffirms its position as a global leader in biostimulants, representing an important step in the execution of our new strategy, said Diego Lopez Casanello, President, Arysta LifeScience.

The alliance with Arysta LifeScience represents a milestone in our mission to become a premium provider of biological technologies to growers around the world, added Stephen Butler, CEO of Beem Biologics.

The announcement of the agreement came a few days after Arysta LifeScience reported its third-quarter results, noting that biosolutions sales have contributed meaningfully to the companys overall performance in 2016. The companies did not disclose the terms of the agreement.

A Novel, New Plant Extract

The proprietary biostimulant being licensed by Arysta LifeScience is a natural biological complex that reduces the impact of stress on the growing crop while promoting vigorous and healthy plant growth. Field trials through university, private research firms and in-house studies over the past 24 months confirm this new biostimulant significantly promotes healthy yet rapid early plant development, enhanced flowering, fruiting and higher yields in a wide range of crops, said Lance Beem, Inventor & Consultant.

Arysta LifeScience has licensed exclusive global rights to the proprietary technology for uses in agricultural markets all around the world. The parties intend to collaborate to develop and commercialize new formulations and uses of the technology.

This exciting, new and unique biostimulant works well in combination with conventional crop protection products and will be a valuable new tool that we can offer to growers who are adopting sustainable agricultural practices, explained Neil Stapensea, Global Head, Biostimulants & Innovative Nutrition Product Management, Arysta LifeScience.

About Arysta LifeScience

Arysta LifeScience is a global agricultural company specializing in the marketing and distribution of innovative crop protection and life science brands. With more than 200 active ingredients, Arysta LifeScience has a well-integrated biological and chemical portfolio to provide complete solutions to growers. The companys wide range of offerings includes biosolutions, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and seed treatments. Arysta LifeScience, which has more than 4,000 employees working in over 100 countries to serve customers worldwide, had 2015 revenues of US$1.8 billion. Arysta LifeScience is owned by Platform Specialty Products (www.platformspecialtyproducts.com), a global innovator of technologically advanced specialty chemical products and provider of technical services. For more information on Arysta LifeScience, visit www.arystalifescience.com.

About Beem Biologics

Beem Biologics, Inc (www.beembiologics.com) is a product developer and manufacturer of biological compounds for the crop protection industry. Through discovery, product development and trials, BBI developed isoprenoid compounds (ISO-Extracts) derived from desert, mountain and sea plants that are highly effective, economical to use, and have broad application in various formulations for fertilizer, stimulant and pesticides.




Press release

London, 21 November 2016











Marine Renewable Energy:







Tidal demonstrator to be built by HydroQuest and the CMN group











At the International Tidal Energy Summit, being held in London on November 22 and 23, HydroQuest and CMN (Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie) announce the launch of an innovative demonstration project for the tidal energy sector.







Implemented with support from the University of Caen Normandie, this project involves installing an ocean-based 1 MW hydrokinetic tidal turbine at the Paimpol-Brehat site, as part of an agreement with EDF, from the second half of 2017.



The project was selected in France's call-for-projects, "Marine renewable energies and pilot river turbine farms", funded by the State in the context of its Investments in the Future Program and operated by ADEME.







The demonstrator's goal is to validate this machine's performance under real operating conditions, with plans for commercialisation on an international scale by 2019.







Pierre Balmer, CEO of CMN, explains: "The partnership surrounding the demonstrator is part of our growth strategy for marine renewable energies, a sector which will become one of the pillars for our company over time, in addition to our historical activity in naval construction. This project, which further solidifies the collaboration we have established with HydroQuest over the past several years, confirms the launch of a French tidal hydrokinetic turbine industry in which we are now present alongside HydroQuest."



Jean-Francois Simon, CEO of HydroQuest, says: "Being selected by ADEME demonstrates real recognition by the State of our HydroQuest hydrokinetic turbine technology, which has already proven its effectiveness in river scenarios. Following the validation of our demonstrator's operation, our goal will be to implement pilot farms with a few turbines in France and around the world. We will then move forward with the installation of commercial farms starting in 2019, thus participating in the energy transition that is already taking place."







Technology with high potential for energy and the environment







The HydroQuest Ocean turbine offers many benefits, including:







High performance: with unique technology featuring two vertical axes, free of any prominent central obstacles, the turbine offers efficient hydrodynamic output with nominal power of 1 MW. In addition, this cross-flow turbine is essentially unaffected by current direction, enabling the unit to be fixed to its foundation without any production loss.

Robust design: the all-metal structure improves resistance to water-related constraints while reducing the cost of maintenance operations.

Adjustable height: the machine will be developed with one or two levels to adapt to the various depths of worldwide water resources.

Cost-effectiveness: manufacturing and maintenance costs are reduced, offering one of the best price/MW ratios available for equipment today.



HydroQuest Ocean will be built at CMN workshops in Cherbourg, then ocean-tested under real operating conditions for several months.




























SMITHFIELD, Va., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has begun the process to acquire Clougherty Packing LLC from Hormel Foods Corporation. Through this agreement, which is expected to be complete within a month pending closing conditions and regulatory approvals, Smithfield will add the Farmer John and Saags Specialty Meats brands to its lineup as well as two processing facilities and three farms to its operations.



By folding Farmer John into our operations, we are better positioned to take advantage of our long-term strategic growth goals, which includes an increasingly diversified customer and consumer base and greater supply chain efficiency, said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and CEO of Smithfield Foods. As we continue this transition and expand our operations, we are proud to welcome these new West Coast employees into our growing Smithfield family.

Clougherty Packing LLC is based in Southern California and is a leading integrated producer and processor of a full line of branded pork products. Founded in 1931, Farmer John is the No. 1 bacon and sausage brand in Southern California. Saags Specialty Meats is a premium brand of deli meat and specialty sausage made without any artificial flavors, colors, fillers, extenders or MSG. Along with two California-based processing facilities, Smithfield will acquire three PFFJ LLC farms located in Arizona, California and Wyoming. Altogether, the operations will add 2,000 employees, growing Smithfields total workforce to 52,000.

The purchase price for Clougherty Packing LLC is $145 million, pending capital adjustments at closing. The transaction is expected to take place within the next 30 days pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

This news release may contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include statements concerning the company's outlook for the future, as well as other statements of beliefs, future plans and strategies or anticipated events, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking information and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks and uncertainties include availability and prices of livestock, raw materials and supplies, livestock costs, livestock disease, food safety, product pricing, the competitive environment and related market conditions, ability to make and successfully integrate acquisitions, operating efficiencies, access to capital, the cost of compliance with environmental and health standards, adverse results from ongoing litigation and actions of domestic and foreign governments.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, John Morrell, Cook's, Kretschmar, Gwaltney, Curly's, Margherita, Carando, Healthy Ones, Krakus, Morliny and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
"I want to begin the work of ensuring we have a positive, strong and productive relationship with our closest neighbours," David Davis said in a statemet

Brexit minister David Davis held his first talks on Monday with the European Commission's top negotiator Michel Barnier on how to tackle Britain's divorce from the EU.

The pair both insisted that the "courtesy coffee" in Brussels lasting about half an hour did not mark a formal start to negotiations, saying that would have to wait until Britain formally triggers the exit process.

"I want to begin the work of ensuring we have a positive, strong and productive relationship with our closest neighbours," Davis said in a statement about the talks with Barnier in Brussels.

Frenchman Barnier, a former European Commissioner, said on Twitter in French and English that his British counterpart had asked for the meeting.

"This morning courtesy visit from David Davis at his request. No negotiation without notification. My work is now focused on EU27. #Brexit", Barnier tweeted.

Officials said they were not aware which language the talks were conducted in. Last month Barnier said the official language for the Brexit negotiations had yet to be decided, denying reports he had insisted they be in his native French.

European Union leaders have ruled out any formal Brexit negotiations before Britain invokes Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the official exit procedure, following its June vote to leave the 28-nation bloc.

- 'Series of visits' -

Davis's ministry, the Department for Exiting the European Union, said that Davis wanted to "reestablish their relationship", having both known each other when they were Europe ministers in the 1990s.

"They agreed that they would work towards an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU once the UK has notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw," the ministry said.

Davis will head to Strasbourg in France on Tuesday to meet the European Parliament's Brexit pointman Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister, the Davis's spokesman said.

The ministry also said that Brussels and Strasbourg visits would be "the first of a series of visits across the EU".

Story continues

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to invoke Article 50 by the end of March, which will start a two-year countdown for Britain's exit.

But she has revealed little about what kind of deal she is aiming for, saying only that she wanted to cut EU migrant numbers and retain access for British businesses to Europe's single market.

EU leaders have said the two aims are incompatible, while a senior official involved in the negotiation said last week that the two-year timescale is also likely to be too short for arranging a full deal for new trade arrangements.

In comments widely interpreted as referring to a possible transitional arrangement with Brussels, May told business leaders in London on Monday: "We don't want a cliff-edge".
British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses delegates at the annual Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in London on November 21, 2016

Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the "cliff-edge scenario" of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment.

May made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, shortly after industry leaders warned her about the impact of an abrupt departure from the EU and its customs union.

"Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario -- a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions," Paul Drechsler, CBI president, said Monday.

"If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no man's land."

In comments widely interpreted as referring to a possible transitional arrangement with Brussels, May said: "We don't want a cliff-edge".

Businesses "want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward. That will be part of the work we do in terms of the negotiation," she said.

But companies at the gathering voiced their concerns.

"I'm not too optimistic about Brexit," a representative from German engineering firm Bosch told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I don't see things moving in the right direction".

Some business leaders have called for a temporary deal to set the terms of trade between Britain and the EU if a full deal cannot be reached in the two-year window available to arrange Britain's divorce from the bloc.

"It's really about making sure that we have a transition in term of regulatory regime," Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, told AFP.

- Research boost 'important' -

The prime minister has so far refused to outline what she will demand from EU leaders, but promised to update business on plans.

"If we approach the difficult negotiations to come in the right way, with the right spirit, we can strike a deal that's right for Britain and right for the rest of Europe too."

One of her government's top priorities would be to secure an "early agreement" on the status of British nationals in Europe and EU nationals in Britain.

Story continues

The continued availability of a European workforce is a key concern for British businesses.

May also announced her government would invest an extra 2 billion a year ($2.5 billion, 2.3 billion euros) in science research and development by 2020 and committed to the plans of the previous government to introduce the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20.

"Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery," she said. "We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success."

Mark Lloyd Davies, senior director of Johnson & Johnson, called the announcement "very positive".

"We can always want more but it's not trivial," he said. "It's not a gesture, it's actually important".

May spooked some industry leaders last month when she slammed "dysfunctional" markets and warned tax-avoiding multinationals she was "coming after" them during her first keynote speech as leader.

However, she struck a softer tone on Monday, saying her government "will always believe" in free markets, capitalism and business but insisted they needed to serve the interests of everyone.

Other speakers at the one-day conference included Paul Kahn, president of Airbus Group UK, and Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook's vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The social networking site on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with 500 extra jobs.

The British economy has remained resilient in the face of post-referendum uncertainty, but finance minister Philip Hammond is expected to announce a downgrade in future growth prospects when he presents the government's first major post-Brexit financial statement on Wednesday.
Exchange ratio increased to 1.20 shares of Transocean per Transocean Partners common unit in the all equity transaction



Zug, Switzerland / London - November 21, 2016 - Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) and Transocean Partners LLC (NYSE: RIGP) today announced that Transocean has agreed to increase to 1.20 Transocean shares (from 1.1427 Transocean shares) the consideration for its pending acquisition of each outstanding common unit of Transocean Partners not already owned by Transocean in a share-for-unit merger transaction. Transocean expects to issue approximately 23.8 million shares in the merger.



The transaction is subject to the approval of the holders of Transocean Partners' common units pursuant to its limited liability company agreement. As Transocean has already committed to voting its approximately 21.3 million common units in favor of the merger, a vote in favor of the merger by approximately 9.9 million (or approximately 50.1%) of the approximately 19.7 million common units not held by Transocean will be required to approve the merger. Subject to customary approvals and conditions, including receipt of approval from Transocean Partners common unitholders, the transaction is expected to close in early December 2016.



The Transocean Partners special meeting, which has been adjourned, reconvenes on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. local time at Transocean Partners' offices at 40 George Street, 4th Floor, London, England W1U 7DW, United Kingdom.



The increase in consideration was approved on behalf of Transocean Partners by the Conflicts Committee of its Board of Directors, which is comprised of the members of its Board of Directors who are independent and unaffiliated with Transocean.



The Board of Directors of Transocean Partners and the Conflicts Committee of Transocean Partners have each recommended that Transocean Partners' common unitholders vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the amended merger agreement providing for the increased consideration and the merger.



Unitholders who need assistance in voting their Transocean Partners' common units, or who have questions, are encouraged to contact the company's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at (888) 750-5834 from U.S. and Canada or (412) 232-3651 from other countries.



About Transocean



Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and believes that it operates one of the most versatile offshore drilling fleets in the world.



Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in, and operates a fleet of 57 mobile offshore drilling units consisting of 29 ultra-deepwater floaters, seven harsh-environment floaters, four deepwater floaters, seven midwater floaters and 10 high-specification jackups. In addition, the company has five ultra-deepwater drillships and five high-specification jackups under construction or under contract to be constructed.



For more information about Transocean, please visit: www.deepwater.com.



About Transocean Partners



Transocean Partners was formed as a growth-oriented limited liability company by Transocean Ltd. to own, operate and acquire modern, technologically advanced offshore drilling rigs. Transocean Partners' assets consist of 51 percent interests in subsidiary companies that own and operate three ultra-deepwater drilling rigs.



For more information about Transocean Partners, please visit: www.transoceanpartners.com.



Forward-Looking Statements



This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The statements regarding the proposed transaction, including its effects, benefits and costs savings, opinions, forecasts, projections, expected timetable for completion, expected distribution and any other statements regarding Transocean Partners and Transocean's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. We can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, among other things, satisfaction of the closing conditions to the merger, the risk that the contemplated merger does not occur, negative effects from the pendency of the merger, the ability to realize expected cost savings and benefits, failure to obtain the required vote of the Transocean Partners' common unitholders, the timing to consummate the proposed transaction, the adequacy of and access to sources of liquidity, Transocean Partners' and Transocean's inability to obtain drilling contracts for rigs that do not have contracts, Transocean Partners' and Transocean's inability to renew drilling contracts at comparable dayrates, operational performance, the impact of regulatory changes, the cancellation of drilling contracts currently included in each company's reported contract backlog, and other risk factors that are discussed in Transocean Partners' and Transocean's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-Ks, as well as its other filings with the SEC available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of them in light of new information, future events or otherwise.



Additional Information



This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC REGARDING THE TRANSACTION CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. These documents contain important information about the proposed transaction that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the proposed transaction. Investors may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by Transocean Partners and Transocean through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Transocean are available free of charge on Transocean's internet website at: www.deepwater.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Transocean Partners are available free of charge on the Transocean Partners' internet website at: www.transoceanpartners.com. You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by Transocean and Transocean Partners with the SEC at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 or visit the SEC's website for further information on its public reference room.



Participants in Solicitation



Transocean Partners, Transocean, their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers may be considered, under SEC rules, participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Transocean Partners is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016, its proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of unitholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016, and in the joint proxy statement/prospectus, which was filed with the SEC on October 6, 2016. Information about the directors and executive officers of Transocean are set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016, and its proxy statement for its 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2016. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests in the transaction, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials that may be filed with the SEC.



Analyst Contacts:

Bradley Alexander

+1 713-232-7515



Diane Vento

+1 713-232-8015



Media Contact:

Pam Easton

+1 713-232-7647






A world body of fishing and shipping nations approved a catch quota Monday to protect the overharvested Mediterranean swordfish, the EU and conservation group Oceana said.

The limit was set at 10,500 tonnes for 2017 at a meeting of the 51-member International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Vilamoura, Portugal.

It will be reduced by three percent per year between 2018 and 2022.

"It's done. Finally, ICCAT on its 50th anniversary moved a step forward on this too long-neglected stock," Oceana's Ilaria Vielmini told AFP in the coastal town where the commission held its annual meeting.

According to Oceana, stocks of the fish are "practically exhausted" after 30 years of overfishing.

The European Union, which takes about 80 percent of Mediterranean swordfish catches and which proposed the quota, said this was a decisive step towards the conservation of the stock.

"The European Union holds a special responsibility to saving swordfish. We owe it to our fishermen, especially the small-scale ones," it said in a statement.

"Thousands of jobs would be on the line had we not agreed this important step today."

While the swordfish species as a whole is not threatened, its Mediterranean sub-group is "overfished", according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which keeps a "Red List" of species that are endangered or at risk of becoming so.

The Mediterranean stock has fallen an estimated two-thirds from 1985, and 70 percent of total catches were of immature fish that had not yet had a chance to reproduce.

Italy is the main taker of Mediterranean swordfish -- a gourmet favourite -- followed by Morocco, Spain and Greece.
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's competition chief said on Monday she did not see any concerns over a British assurance to Japanese carmaker Nissan <7201.T> related to Brexit, but that she was still waiting for details to have more clarity about the case.

Nissan agreed last month to new UK investments after Prime Minister Theresa May assured it the government would provide support to counter any loss of competitiveness caused by Britain leaving the EU.

The European Commission subsequently asked for more details.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who makes sure companies do not unfairly benefit from subsidies granted by governments in the 28-country European Union, said British authorities had yet to provide the required information.

"Before we know more, we have no concerns," Vestager told reporters at the sidelines of the Chillin' Competition Conference in Brussels.

Vestager can ask national authorities to recover subsidies that breach the bloc's strict state aid rules. She has ordered Ireland to claw back up to 13 billion euros ($13.8 billion) in back taxes from iPhone maker Apple <AAPL.O>.

The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have also been told to recover millions of euros from various companies for illegal sweetheart deals.

($1 = 0.9402 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Mark Potter)
Competency-Based Education

Rasmussen College Launches CBE Program for Business Ed

Students at Rasmussen College have a new, more flexible way to earn a business degree. The private, regionally accredited institution has launched Flex Choice Competency-Based Education, a program model that allows students to choose between traditional and self-paced competency-based education (CBE) courses. The model will roll out first to Rasmussen's seven business bachelor's degree-completion programs and then expand to other degree programs, according to the college.

The Flex Choice CBE program awards students credit for skills they already have, enabling them to focus on acquiring the additional skills they need to complete a degree. Students can demonstrate their skills from previous college or work experience, or by completing project-based coursework. "Students can show what they know as soon as they know it  meaning student learning is measured by the demonstration of skills and competencies, more so than by hours spent in a classroom," according to a statement from the college. College officials estimate that students can complete the Flex Choice CBE programs in as little as 18 months.

"Colleges and universities across the country are looking for innovative ways to prepare students to flourish in today's ever-changing, demanding workforce," said Trenda Boyum-Breen, president of Rasmussen College, in a press release. "Rasmussen College developed its Flex Choice CBE program model with the goal of helping the estimated 37 million Americans with some college credit earn a college degree and advance their careers. We believe competency-based education is a compelling and in-demand option for the challenges facing higher education."

The Flex Choice CBE programs will offer degrees in Accounting, Business Management, Finance, Healthcare Management, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership, Marketing, and Supply Chain and Logistics Management. Enrollment is available now, with classes beginning in January.

For more information, visit the Rasmussen site.
Re: The National Security Act of 1947 created a national military establis [ #permalink

1 Kudos
Expatriates, those wanderlust U.S. citizens who pull up stakes and move to another country, seem to be on to something.

Data from the Association of Americans Resident Overseas shows that approximately 8 million Americans lived in foreign lands as of 2015.

[See: 10 Affordable Places to Retire Overseas in 2016.]

According to a recent study by LinkedIn, the vast majority of U.S. expats say they enjoy their new country experiences, with London, Sydney and Toronto high atop the list of countries expats call home.

Now, with a volatile U.S. presidential election still fresh in the rear view mirror, and some Hillary Clinton supporters vowing to move out of the U.S., the question is as relevant as ever -- is the expat life for you?

What are the best countries to move to? "No one answer fits everyone," says Jeff Broadhurst, a technology company chief executive who has moved his family from the U.S. multiple times, living in China and the Czech Republic.

"You need to factor in age, family status, political climate, and level of comfort in exploring new things -- knowing that all will cause great differences in answers. Some people think that moving to the U.K. is stretching their comfort zone and others are comfortable exploring the wonderful people and geography of places like Mongolia, Cambodia and Nepal," Broadhurst says.

"Personally, I would not mind moving to a place like Chiang Mai, Thailand," he says. "There is a decent-sized expat community, great people, good schools for children, very good medical care, low cost of living, warm weather and best of all, excellent food. The chief downside is the rainy season."

How do you handle residency issues? It's different in each country, Broadhurst says.

"The easiest way is to have a good job that the government looks kindly on," he says. "In China for example, if you go there looking for a job, it will be very difficult without skills that are very much in demand. If you go with a job managing a factory, for example, the government envisions you training their people and passing skills along, which is win-win Essentially, most countries want to bring talent and assets into their country and don't want people that will compete with their people for jobs."

Story continues

Where is English spoken the most in foreign lands? According to a new study by EF Education First, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and Poland are at the top of the list of "English-friendly" countries. If communicating in English is a big priority, you can't go wrong with any of the these.

Do you have to give up your U.S. citizenship? Not at all, says Abby Eisenkraft chief executive officer at Choice Tax Solutions.

"No, expats don't have to give up their citizenship in order to reside overseas," Eisenkraft says. "However, regardless of where they live, they must continue to file U.S. tax returns, and FBARs (Foreign Account Reports) to report all of their overseas financial accounts and interests.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

What about taxes? The U.S. will grant credit for foreign taxes paid, and in certain cases, foreign earned income can be excluded, Eisenkraft says.

"But one still needs to file in order to get the credit for taxes paid and the exclusion," she says. "Remember, the U.S. has a long reach and agreements with many countries. So tax-wise, there's nothing to hide."

Where should I start? When you've chosen a possible landing spot, go on a tourist visa first, says Matt Antonino, marketing manager at Ultimate Shutter in Victoria, Australia.

"Visit the place you think you want to live," he says. "Live there for 30 to 90 days and use what you learn to make a more informed decision. Too often we make the decision on living abroad from the comfort of home. It definitely isn't for everyone."

What's the best country for getting a tourist visa? John Paul Engel, an expat who has lived in 12 countries, says Japan is at the top of his list for workers coming into the country as tourists.

"In Japan, you just show up and say you're there for vacation. Stay six months, and when your visa is about to expire go to Taiwan or somewhere else and then you can come back and get another six months," Engel says.

"There's also lots of opportunities for employment for foreign workers. Japanese people are very kind to foreigners and many will seek to be your friend. You'll never fully fit in to the society though -- there is no melting pot in Japan. But the key to success as an expat is to learn about the language and culture of your knew home."

What's your best tip on becoming an expat? Don't try to bring a lot of your culture with you, Broadhurst says.

"Accept that each culture does things differently and don't judge which is better," he says. "Get out and immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are living in and enjoy it."

The expat experience may not be for everyone, but if you do have a bit of wanderlust, and if you feel stressed out by petty U.S. partisan politics, maybe a year or more in Japan, Australia, or the Netherlands is just what the doctor ordered.

[Read: 3 Ways to Invest in Skiing and Winter Sports.]

You really won't know until you try.





More From US News & World Report


English German

Falcon Private Bank appoints Arthur Vayloyan as new Global Head Products & Services and Member of the Executive Board, effective December 1, 2016.

Arthur Vayloyan, a senior professional with a proven international track record and almost 25 years of banking experience joins Falcon Private Bank after a long-standing career at Credit Suisse. He pioneered Credit Suisse's investment opportunities in microfinance and the creation of the award winning advisory process. He held various management positions at Credit Suisse, including Global Head of Investment Services and Products, Head Private Banking Switzerland and Global Head External Asset Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Berne and an MBA from INSEAD.

As a Member of the Bank's Executive Board, Arthur Vayloyan will report to Walter Berchtold, CEO of Falcon Private Bank. Walter Berchtold on the nomination: "The appointment of Arthur Vayloyan, a very senior private banking professional and expert in the field of investment products and innovation, complements our Executive Board perfectly. He will be responsible for redesigning our products and services strategy, enhancing our digital capabilities and supporting the Bank on its path of transformation to future growth. We are delighted to welcome Arthur Vayloyan in our team."

Arthur Vayloyan on his appointment: "I am convinced that the Bank holds a remarkable potential for future innovation and growth and I am looking forward to be part of this exciting transformational endeavour."

The Executive Board of Falcon Private Bank will consist of Walter Berchtold (CEO), Urs Zgraggen (CFO), Erich Pfister (Global Head Private Banking) and Arthur Vayloyan (Global Head Products & Services) as of December 1, 2016.

Media contacts



Falcon Private Bank Ltd.

Gianmarco Timpanaro

Head Marketing & Communications

Phone +41 44 227 57 45

Mobile +41 79 404 37 73

gianmarco.timpanaro@falconpb.com

Falcon Private Bank Ltd.

Urs Fehr

Deputy Head Marketing & Communications

Phone +41 44 227 57 45

Mobile +41 79 694 47 65

urs.fehr@falconpb.com
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pam Fansler, whose banking career in Knoxville has spanned more than four decades, will become chairman of First Tennessee Banks East Tennessee region as Dave Miller, executive vice president of consumer banking, moves into Fanslers position as region president. The changes will take place March 1 as Fansler prepares to retire in July.



Pam Fansler has been the face of First Tennessee in Knoxville for 15 years, and she will continue to provide community leadership, mentoring and business development as she works with Dave Miller on his transition into her former role, said David Popwell, president of banking for First Tennessees parent company, First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN). Pam and I carefully considered which of the talented bankers on our team could best fill the presidents role and carry on the strong First Tennessee traditions in East Tennessee. Dave Miller was the obvious choice to fill this important position.

During his 22-year career with First Tennessee Miller, 46, has held leadership roles in marketing and corporate strategy and investor relations, where he earned national honors from IR Magazine and Institutional Investor. As the executive overseeing First Tennessees retail, private client and wealth management teams and digital and consumer product strategy, he has been a member of the companys 15-member Executive Management Committee.

Miller has been active in the Memphis community, having served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, United Way, the Better Business Bureau, Families Matter, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and the First Tennessee Foundation. He is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and earned a degree in physical sciences from Harvard University. He and his family will complete their move to Knoxville in the next few weeks.

Fansler, 64, joined First Tennessee  actually the former Valley Fidelity Bank, which First Tennessee acquired  in 1976. She was named president of First Tennessee in Knoxville in 2003. Under her leadership the Knoxville bank has grown deposits by 50 percent, and First Tennessee has been voted Best Bank by readers of the Knoxville News Sentinel for 16 years in a row. She was named president of the East Tennessee region in 2011.

Like Miller, Fansler strongly believes in giving back to the community. She was the 2011-2012 United Way of Greater Knoxville campaign chair. She has served on the boards of Covenant Health, the Knoxville Symphony, the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, the Central Business Improvement District, Leadership Knoxville, YMCA of East Tennessee, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council and Friends of Literacy. She also served as a Knoxville Chancellors Associate for the University of Tennessee and a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

She is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, the Southeastern School of Banking and the LSU Graduate School of Banking and participated in The Wharton School executive development program.

About First Tennessee Bank

First Tennessee was founded during the Civil War in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. First Tennessee has the largest deposit market share in Tennessee. The FTB Advisors wealth management group has 313 financial advisors and $25 billion in assets under administration. First Tennessee, FTN Financial and FTB Advisors are part of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), which has 4,300 employees and is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Working Mother and American Banker. More information is available at www.FirstTennessee.com.

FHN-G
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The FBI has arrested a Brooklyn man for allegedly "providing material support" to ISIS after traveling to Yemen last year.

Mohammed Rafik Naji, 37, was arrested for allegedly traveling to Yemen and Turkey in March in an attempt to join the terrorist groupwhile in Yemen, police say he "persistently tried to travel to areas" controlled by the Islamic State, and once emailed an "associate" to say he was on his fifth attempt to try and reach ISIS-controlled territory. In April 2015, he emailed his friend a video file with sounds of gunfire, reportedly saying "First day on the job."

According to the FBI, Naji began expressing support of ISIS on social media shortly beforehand, in December 2014. He returned to the United States from Yemen in September 2015, and allegedly continued expressing support for ISIS after his return. After the deadly Bastille Day attack in Nice, in which a truck driver killed 84 people by barreling into crowds watching a fireworks displace, Naji expressed support for a similar attack in Times Square. In 2015, he allegedly claimed his allegiance to ISIS, saying "I belong to Islamic State only."

"They want an operation in Times Square, reconnaissance groups already put out a scene," Kaji reportedly told an FBI informant in July 2015. "The Islamic State already put up scenes of Times Square ... I said that was an indication for whoever is smart to know."

Earlier this month, an online, English-language ISIS magazine recommended the 90th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as an "excellent target" for an attack that could be carried out by a lone wolf. The magazine said that anyone behind the wheel of a large truck can inflict just as much damage as a regular military fighter, the NY Post reports. (The NYPD announced last week that security will be tight and officers are on high alert for this year's parade.)

"The defendant was persistent in his efforts to join ISIL and support its terrorist objectives, U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers said in a statement. "We will continue to identify and prosecute individuals like Naji who seek to empower our nation's enemies and endanger our citizens and partners around the world."
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That's Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" he's reading.

Netflix has released the first trailer for their movie Barry, which tells the story of a young Barack Obama. Perfect timing, as most of the nation is currently holding on tight to the last great President we'll have for a while.

The movie (which currently has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) centers around Obama, known to his friends as Barry, as he arrives in NYC. We meet up with him during his junior year at Columbia University after he transfers from Occidental College. It's 1981, and (per the film's description) New York is "a crime-ridden and racially charged environment," where we see the future President get targeted by a racist cop, punched in the face, and confronted by a number of other obstacles. "Barry is the story of a young man grappling with those same issues that his country, and arguably the world, are still coming to terms with 35 years later," the description adds.

Barry is played by excellent newcomer Devon Terrell, who really seems to get the voice down:

In his memoir, Dreams From My Father, Obama described his East 94th Street apartment and surroundings at the time: "It was an uninviting block, treeless and barren, lined with soot-colored walk-ups that cast heavy shadows for the rest of the day. The apartment was small, with slanting floors and irregular heat and a buzzer downstairs that didnt work, so that visitors had to call ahead from a pay phone at the corner gas station, where a black Doberman the size of a wolf paced through the night in vigilant patrol, its jaws clamped around an empty beer bottle."

Meanwhile, during these same years, Donald Trump was building his Dark Tower on 5th Avenue and his failed casino in Atlantic City.
admitted that it took a while to figure out how to cover a presidential candidate who lied repeatedly in debates, at speeches, etc. and didn't modify his assertions even after he had been proven wrong or refused to provide any justification for what he said. I noticed the phrase "stated without evidence" started to come up even in regular news stories as well as opinion pieces. How does this apply to an actual president-elect and eventually the president? I'm thinking in particular of how you deal with on and off the record conversations in situations where he is making the media outlet the whole story (off the record conversation threatening media not to be "unfair" to him?). Do you disclose that the president elect called together media outlets, accused them of lying and told them they couldn't tell anyone about it? Attacking journalists is a big story, especially if there is any implied threat of anything (like restricting access). I'm also curious if "off the record" means anything if the information turns out to be untrue. The whole point of off the record is that you get good information from a knowledgeable source that isn't authorized to disclose that information and can use it as a way to find information/confirmation you wouldn't otherwise know to look for. It isn't a method for an administration to lie to reporters.
Dollar rises, euro falls in Armenia

Russia MFA spox comments on Zangezur corridor prospects

Armenia finance minister: Expenditure for PM's office will be reduced next year

Finance minister: Expenses for needs of parliament staff, Armenia President will increase considerably in 2023

Zakharova on meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs in Sochi

Armenian President congratulates Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Azerbaijani special forces conduct exercises on border with Iran

Armenia defense minister meets with head of EU monitoring mission

Nikol Pashinyan: It is necessary to continue the work to reduce cash turnover

Russia resumes its participation in grain deal

UK shortage of F-35 fighter pilots

Premier: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Foreign Intelligence Service will be established in Armenia in 2023

Shoigu: The NATO grouping near Russia's borders has grown 2.5 times since February

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad hopes to continue talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Security Council chief receives head of EU monitoring capacity mission to Armenia

Pashinyan: Armenia-Azerbaijan borders existence was recorded both in Sochi and Prague

Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan to take part in rally on November 5

Canada to welcome 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025

Armenia PM: Communication difficulties, challenges in relations with Turkey have been overcome

Pashinyan: Armenian side suggests extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

MFA: Armenia has no misunderstandings with Iran

Russia position on Karabakh status corresponds to Armenia government approach, PM says

Pashinyan: Armenia attaches great importance to further development, deepening of relations with Brazil

Premier: Armenia defense spending will increase by 113% in 2023 compared to 2018

Deputy PM Grigoryan to attend Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, security commissions 3rd meeting

Pashinyan: Armenia has set new record for registered jobs

Israir Airlines launches flights between Tel Aviv, Yerevan

Armenia envoy briefs UK House of Commons defense committee chair on impact of recent Azerbaijan attack

PM: Armenia's economy is booming today

Seoul, Pyongyang launch missiles

Newspaper: Armenia ruling political team is in favor of western version of peace treaty with Azerbaijan

State Department: US will contribute to Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Turkey parliament approves extending mandate of countrys military in occupied Aghdam of Karabakh

Sweden to reach NATO's defense spending goal of 2% of GDP by 2026

Lebanon raises electricity price for first time since 1990s

Lavrov and Cavusoglu discuss situation over 'grain deal'

Turkey not satisfied with Sweden's promises

Azerbaijan claims to have 'exposed' Azerbaijanis who acted 'under control of Iranian secret service'

Taliban sets up female Interior Ministry unit in Afghanistan to disperse protests

U.S. concerned about Iran's 'threats' against Saudi Arabia

Lebanon is facing a power vacuum, left without a president

Gas exports from Iran to Armenia to double

In first 9 months about $1.7 billion is transferred to Armenia

Baerbock and Scholz disagree on China

Delegations of Ukraine, Turkey and UN temporarily suspend movement of ships in framework of Black Sea grain deal

Qatar Energy Minister calls EU proposal to limit gas prices hypocritical

Jamshidi: Any capturing of further territories is occupation

Putin: Kiev must give real guarantees of strict compliance with the Istanbul agreements

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Blinken goes to Germany to meet with G-7 colleagues

Iranist: Cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran will prevent further Turkish activism

U.S. military conducts field weapons inspections in Ukraine

Defense Ministers of Russia and Turkey once again discuss suspension of 'grain deal'

Armenian President and ICRC representatives discuss Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan

Aliyev's aide visits Nakhchivan

Berlin urges Serbia to choose between EU and Russia

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister and USAID representatives discuss bilateral cooperation

Erdogan: Turkey continues to make necessary initiatives on grain deal

Macron promises Ukraine to survive winter and strengthen air defense

The Collins British Dictionary chooses main word of 2022

Medvedev: Western countries are pushing the world into a global war

Deputy Minister: 50,5 bln AMD will be allocated to North-South transport corridor construction in 2023

Georgia begins preparations for multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2023

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Paruyr Hovhannisyan receives Erin Elizabeth McKee

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Head of Armenian State Revenue Committee: In 2022, the state budget will lack about AMD 84.8 billion

Russia's richest billionaires will become $83.4 billion richer in 2022

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Russia and Iran to sign deal on free trade zone with EEU

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Hearings on South Caucasus to be held in US Senate

Central Bank chief: High activity in Armenia economy is maintained in third quarter of 2022

OPEC Secretary General: Europe and U.S. are heading for economic recession

Pashinyan briefs Raisi about talks in Sochi and their results

Ardshinbank and Mastercard offer to pay with Apple Pay and get cashback

Nine people arrested in India after mass deaths in bridge collapse

CSTO meeting on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation to be held on November 23 in Yerevan

Zas: CSTO working towards proposals regarding situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

Clinton sues Trump to recover $1 million from him

Lukashenko: Armenia turned down proposed settlement plan

Raisi: Iran-Armenia trade can be increased to $3bn

Zas discusses Baku-Yerevan conflict in Minsk

Raisi: Foreigners interference will deepen problems of Caucasus

State Security Service conducts operation in Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture

Iran expands sanctions on U.S.

Cavusoglu discusses relations with Azerbaijan with his Iranian counterpart

European gas price falls to $1,246 per 1,000 cubic meters in October

Legislature vice-speaker thanks visiting European Parliament lawmakers for supporting Armenia

Armenia revenue committee chief: No initiative to ban import of Turkish goods

Economy minister: Authorities plan to increase number of tourists in Armenia to 2.5mn annually by 2026

Armenia official: Our border checkpoints are ready to receive Azerbaijanis

Flight restrictions extended at 11 airports in south and center of Russia until November 9

Sergey Kopirkin: Unblocking of communications must be based on respect for countries sovereignty

Storm Nalgae in the Philippines leaves 110 people killed

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Ambassador: Russia justifies itself as Armenias ally
Armenia finance minister: Expenditure for PM's office will be reduced next year

Finance minister: Expenses for needs of parliament staff, Armenia President will increase considerably in 2023

Zakharova on meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs in Sochi

Armenian President congratulates Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Azerbaijani special forces conduct exercises on border with Iran

Armenia defense minister meets with head of EU monitoring mission

Nikol Pashinyan: It is necessary to continue the work to reduce cash turnover

Russia resumes its participation in grain deal

UK shortage of F-35 fighter pilots

Premier: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Foreign Intelligence Service will be established in Armenia in 2023

Shoigu: The NATO grouping near Russia's borders has grown 2.5 times since February

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad hopes to continue talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Security Council chief receives head of EU monitoring capacity mission to Armenia

Pashinyan: Armenia-Azerbaijan borders existence was recorded both in Sochi and Prague

Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan to take part in rally on November 5

Canada to welcome 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025

Armenia PM: Communication difficulties, challenges in relations with Turkey have been overcome

Pashinyan: Armenian side suggests extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

MFA: Armenia has no misunderstandings with Iran

Russia position on Karabakh status corresponds to Armenia government approach, PM says

Pashinyan: Armenia attaches great importance to further development, deepening of relations with Brazil

Premier: Armenia defense spending will increase by 113% in 2023 compared to 2018

Deputy PM Grigoryan to attend Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, security commissions 3rd meeting

Pashinyan: Armenia has set new record for registered jobs

Israir Airlines launches flights between Tel Aviv, Yerevan

Armenia envoy briefs UK House of Commons defense committee chair on impact of recent Azerbaijan attack

PM: Armenia's economy is booming today

Seoul, Pyongyang launch missiles

Newspaper: Armenia ruling political team is in favor of western version of peace treaty with Azerbaijan

State Department: US will contribute to Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Turkey parliament approves extending mandate of countrys military in occupied Aghdam of Karabakh

Sweden to reach NATO's defense spending goal of 2% of GDP by 2026

Lebanon raises electricity price for first time since 1990s

Lavrov and Cavusoglu discuss situation over 'grain deal'

Turkey not satisfied with Sweden's promises

Azerbaijan claims to have 'exposed' Azerbaijanis who acted 'under control of Iranian secret service'

Taliban sets up female Interior Ministry unit in Afghanistan to disperse protests

U.S. concerned about Iran's 'threats' against Saudi Arabia

Lebanon is facing a power vacuum, left without a president

Gas exports from Iran to Armenia to double

In first 9 months about $1.7 billion is transferred to Armenia

Baerbock and Scholz disagree on China

Delegations of Ukraine, Turkey and UN temporarily suspend movement of ships in framework of Black Sea grain deal

Qatar Energy Minister calls EU proposal to limit gas prices hypocritical

Jamshidi: Any capturing of further territories is occupation

Putin: Kiev must give real guarantees of strict compliance with the Istanbul agreements

Putin and Erdogan discuss results of meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Sochi

Blinken goes to Germany to meet with G-7 colleagues

Iranist: Cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran will prevent further Turkish activism

U.S. military conducts field weapons inspections in Ukraine

Defense Ministers of Russia and Turkey once again discuss suspension of 'grain deal'

Armenian President and ICRC representatives discuss Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan

Aliyev's aide visits Nakhchivan

Berlin urges Serbia to choose between EU and Russia

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister and USAID representatives discuss bilateral cooperation

Erdogan: Turkey continues to make necessary initiatives on grain deal

Macron promises Ukraine to survive winter and strengthen air defense

The Collins British Dictionary chooses main word of 2022

Medvedev: Western countries are pushing the world into a global war

Deputy Minister: 50,5 bln AMD will be allocated to North-South transport corridor construction in 2023

Georgia begins preparations for multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2023

Armenia and Iran discuss bilateral energy cooperation

Paruyr Hovhannisyan receives Erin Elizabeth McKee

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

Erdogan plans talks with Putin and Zelenskyy in coming days

Head of Armenian State Revenue Committee: In 2022, the state budget will lack about AMD 84.8 billion

Russia's richest billionaires will become $83.4 billion richer in 2022

Expert: expansion of relations between Tehran, Yerevan may prevent corridor creation

Governor of Armenias Gegharkunik briefs EU mission on condition of settlements affected by Azerbaijan shelling (PHOTOS)

Russia and Iran to sign deal on free trade zone with EEU

Armenia National Assembly opposition factions representatives meet with visiting European Parliament members

Hearings on South Caucasus to be held in US Senate

Central Bank chief: High activity in Armenia economy is maintained in third quarter of 2022

OPEC Secretary General: Europe and U.S. are heading for economic recession

Pashinyan briefs Raisi about talks in Sochi and their results

Ardshinbank and Mastercard offer to pay with Apple Pay and get cashback

Nine people arrested in India after mass deaths in bridge collapse

CSTO meeting on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation to be held on November 23 in Yerevan

Zas: CSTO working towards proposals regarding situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

Clinton sues Trump to recover $1 million from him

Lukashenko: Armenia turned down proposed settlement plan

Raisi: Iran-Armenia trade can be increased to $3bn

Zas discusses Baku-Yerevan conflict in Minsk

Raisi: Foreigners interference will deepen problems of Caucasus

State Security Service conducts operation in Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture

Iran expands sanctions on U.S.

Cavusoglu discusses relations with Azerbaijan with his Iranian counterpart

European gas price falls to $1,246 per 1,000 cubic meters in October

Legislature vice-speaker thanks visiting European Parliament lawmakers for supporting Armenia

Armenia revenue committee chief: No initiative to ban import of Turkish goods

Economy minister: Authorities plan to increase number of tourists in Armenia to 2.5mn annually by 2026

Armenia official: Our border checkpoints are ready to receive Azerbaijanis

Flight restrictions extended at 11 airports in south and center of Russia until November 9

Sergey Kopirkin: Unblocking of communications must be based on respect for countries sovereignty

Storm Nalgae in the Philippines leaves 110 people killed

Lukashenko on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: Why did they engage EU? Why are they engaging CSTO there?

Ambassador: Russia justifies itself as Armenias ally

Kopirkin: September battles between Armenia, Azerbaijan were stopped by Russia militarys efforts

Gold price remains stable
Turkish police detained the mayor of the southeastern city of Mardin Ahmet Turk as part of the ongoing terror probe on links between the PKK terrorist organization and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) municipalities, Daily Sabah reported.

The police are conducting searches in the Mardins city administration.

Earlier, Turkish authorities announced the decision to dismiss 28 heads of local administrations of regions in the southeast of the country for their link with PPK. This decision was made as part of the state of emergency imposed in the country after the failed coup attempt which took place on July 15.

Ten deputies pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic party and mayors of a number of cities inhabited mainly by Kurds in the southeast of Turkey, including Diyarbakir and Van, were arrested on charges of having links with PKK.
YEREVAN.  Agriculture Minister of Armenia, Ignati Arakelyan, on Monday met with a delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The delegation is in Armenia to oversee the Infrastructure and Rural Finance Support Programme (IRFSP), the Ministry of Agriculture informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The said delegation is led by Rami Abu Salman, IRFSP Country Programme Manager for Armenia.

Salman presented the course of the IRFSP, whose objective is to improve the socioeconomic condition of the population of the selected rural areas. The head of delegation noted with satisfaction that, though still very little time has passed since the launch of this program in Armenia, it already can be considered a success.

He stressed that IFAD stands ready to expand cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, and develop and implement new programs in the country. Salman noted, however, that these programs need to be consistent with the current priorities and key challenges of the agriculture sector.

In this context, the Armenian agriculture minister, in turn, underscored several matters. Arakelyan also highlighted the need for management and efficient use of the water resources of Armenia.
New Yorkers eager to carry the momentum of recent anti-Trump protests through our President-elect's inaugurationbut for whom a trip to Washington D.C. presents logistical challengesnow have an NYC option: a sister march to the planned Women's March On Washington is in the works for the day after inauguration.

Nearly 3,000 people have already committed to the march on Facebook, which will assemble in Union Square around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21st ahead of a march on Trump Tower.

And while women are organizing this march, it's eminently clear that all are welcome.

"Marching to the doorsteps of this tower to promote the advancement of equality and human rights for all women, minorities, and immigrants sends a clear message to the incoming cabinet that we are watching," wrote organizers Katherine Siemionko and Hayley Dwight in a public Facebook event posted last week. "This march also sends a message to the millions of foreign onlookers that the United States of America is not racist, sexist, or anti-gay."

While hate incidents have spiked in the aftermath of Trump's electionfollowing a campaign that stoked racist, sexist, and homophobic sentimentopposition to that hate has been swift and fierce.

Earlier this morning, Mayor de Blasio addressed New Yorkers' resilience in a speech at Cooper Union in Manhattan. "The results of an election don't change who we are," he said. "A single office-holder doesn't change who we are; a law that gets passed in Washington doesn't change who we are. We are 8.5 million strong, and we ain't changing. We are always New York. Somos siempre Nueva York."

Dozens of other sister marches are planned for January, 21st, from New Jersey, to London. You can find a full rundown here.
YEREVAN.  Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Head of the NA Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and member of the PACE European Conservatives Group, Hermine Naghdalyan, on Monday met with chairperson of the PACE European Conservatives Group, Ian Liddell-Grainger.

Naghdalyan noted that the PACE European Conservatives Group is an important partner for Armenia, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. She also spoke about the ongoing reforms, and reflected on the recent constitutional reforms in the country.

At the ensuing talk, the interlocutors discussed the chances for Armenias passing from a monitoring to a post-monitoring procedure. Deputy speaker of the parliament noted that the country has achieved considerable progress in the fulfillment of its commitments before the Council of Europe.

Hermine Naghdalyan also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) peace process. She added that Armenia views the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group as the sole internationally recognized format that is engaged in resolving this conflict. Naghdalyan stated that the efforts toward moving the conflict settlement process to other platforms can lead to unpredictable consequences.

Liddell-Grainger, for his part, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing reforms in Armenia. He also stressed that the OSCE Minsk Group is the only body that is mandated to find avenues for resolving the Karabakh conflict, and it needs to have all conditions to carry out its respective activities.

Several other matters also were conferred on during this talk.
I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.

A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.

Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on the issue of cooperation between UN and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The latter includes six countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. According to the SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov, the adoption of the resolution signals the launch of a new stage of partnership relation development with the UN.

Since December 2004, the SCO has had a status of an observer in the UN. In April 2010, the Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the UN and SCO Secretariats was adopted, he said, Radio UN reports.

In Alimovs words, on November 22 a special high-level event dedicated to practical issues of such cooperation will be held in the UN on November 22. He also noted that in near future two more organizations  Pakistan and India  will join this regional organization at the SCO summit in Astana.
Volkswagen's (VLKAY) agreement to reduce employment by 30,000 comes with a key sweetener for German unions and for the province of Lower Saxony, the automaker's 20% owner.

VW disclosed it will build its own battery and electric motor plants in Germany, supplying 3 million batteries a year by 2025, a major investment that underscores the seriousness of its assertion that a quarter of VW's vehicles will be electric. VW's shift toward electric and self-driving cars will create 9,000 jobs in its home market, according to a pledge by management.

Nevertheless, several analysts deemed the cuts too small. In the wake of VW's diesel emissions crisis, the company has put aside $19 billion to pay for fines, damages and repairs following the admission last year that it had cheated on regulations in the U.S.

"The deal may be the best the company could negotiate with labor but it's not a victory for either side," Erik Gordon, a business professor at the University of Michigan, told Reuters. "The cuts are too small to make VW cost competitive with Toyota and other global rivals."

I wouldn't count VW out of the race for global supremacy too quickly, however. Notwithstanding the talent it has lost -- and will lose -- once the investigation into the cheating scandal is complete VW will still employ a deep reservoir of young, capable and dedicated engineers and managers.

The future of personal mobility looks more and more like one that will be dominated by electricity and by artificial intelligence. No one knows how soon the technologies will be ready for prime time, though the imminent emergence of cars like General Motors's (GM) Chevrolet Bolt EV in the U.S., which is to be sold as the Opel Ampera in Europe, will speak volumes about how a no-compromise electric car is accepted by mainstream consumers.

VW's $300 million investment in Israeli start-up Gett earlier this year ratified the company's seriousness in the area of ride-hailing. Over the weekend, VW also disclosed that it had spoken to Uber about a collaboration, though the talks foundered because the San Francisco ride-hailing leader wasn't interested in a partnership.

"They [Uber] saw us more in the role of a supplier. But we said: 'OK guys, this is a contest which we are happy to take on. We will remain in command,'" reported German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, which quoted Mattias Mueller, VW's CEO.

Uber's stance mirrors the one taken when it and Volvo agreed on a $300 million supply contract to use Volvo XC90 crossovers for self-driving testing in Pittsburgh.

Competition for superiority in mobility's latest technologies has a deadly selfish quality to it. Only the fittest will survive, the reason VW and its unions can agree to trim down to fighting weight.

Doron Levin is the host of "In the Driver Seat," broadcast on SiriusXM Insight 121, Saturday at noon, encore Sunday at 9 a.m.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
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Digital Coupon Integration with Unatas Platform is Huge Success for Lowes Foods

Lowes Foods experiences 420% increase in coupon redemption after integration with Unata Digital Platform

TORONTO and WINSTON-SALEM, NC  Nov 21, 2016  Lowes Foods, a Carolinas-based grocer with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, announces the rapid success following their launch of Unatas Integrated Coupons. Lowes Foods is the first grocery retailer to embed digital coupons directly into their Unata-powered eCommerce and eCircular experiences so that their guests can clip and redeem coupons while they shop or plan their list online.

Lowes Foods has experienced a 422% increase in average coupon redemptions over the last six weeks compared with the average for the six weeks prior to launch

Lowes Foods also saw a 242% increase in average unique coupon clippers for this same time period.

This is a first for U.S. digital grocery; never before have grocery retailers been able to directly connect coupons and products so that shoppers have visibility to coupons available on the products they are adding to their cart, and the ability to clip those coupons, without having to go to another website or portal to do so. The result is one seamless shopping experience that increases visibility of coupons and as a result, opportunities for the shopper to save.

Lowes Foods has seen a dramatic increase in redemption because of this newly streamlined coupon experience; shoppers now have a way to track coupons they have clipped in their eCommerce cart, see any related products they still need to add to fulfill redemption and have those coupons redeemed automatically when they check out online or scan their loyalty card in-store. In addition, the cart total automatically factors in coupons, more accurately reflecting what the shopper is going to spend, effectively freeing up more of their budget to be spent on more products.

We implemented this experience as part of our ongoing effort to provide the best possible customer experience and we are thrilled to see our guests embracing this so quickly, said Klaus Werner, SVP and CIO of Alex Lee, a parent company of Lowes Foods. Its clear that this was a missing piece from our offering and were thrilled to be the first grocery retailer to offer this capability.

The success that Lowes Foods has experienced is a great example of the power of a seamless shopping experience, said Brandon Carlos, Unata Senior Director of Client Services. The easier our retail partners can make the online experience for their shoppers, the more their shoppers will engage with the retailer.

Watch this video on Integrated Coupons to learn how it works

Watch our On-Demand Webinar to learn more about how Lowes Foods coupons integration has proved a massive benefit to their customers.

About Lowes Foods, LLC

Founded in 1954, Lowes Foods employs nearly 9,000 people and operates 97 full-service supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Locally owned and operated, Lowes Foods is truly a homegrown company committed to bringing community back to the table by providing guests with the freshest and most innovative local products from local farmers and suppliers. The company maintains a strong focus on exceptional attention to their guests. To learn more, visit www.lowesfoods.com or follow Lowes Foods on Facebook or Twitter. Lowes Foods, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alex Lee, Inc.

ABOUT UNATA

Unata powers industry-leading digital experiences for some of North Americas most well-respected grocers, with the mission to innovate the future of the grocery shopping experience. Unata enables 1-to-1 eCommerce, eCircular and eLoyalty experiences, powering the entire digital grocery experience through a single platform. Unatas award-winning work is featured by retailers including Lowes Foods, Raleys, Longos and more. To learn more, visit www.unata.com

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This article was first published on 20 November 2016 and has been updated on 10 February 2020 to include new updates on the deferred implementation of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), as well as reduced toll charges for entry.

Singaporeans who drive into Malaysia will know the drill. You enter Malaysia with as little fuel as you dare risk without getting caught, head over to a restaurant for an inexpensive but mightily satisfying seafood meal, stock up on some household necessities such as milk powder, milo, detergent, toilet paper followed by a car wash and full top up of petrol for your car before heading back to Singapore.

Getting all these things done in Johor Bahru allow Singaporeans to save a bit of money thanks to our favourable exchange rate. With the Singapore Dollar (SGD) trading on about S$1 = RM3 to the Malaysia Ringgit (MYR), Singaporeans believe they can get much more value and an enjoyable road trip for their hard-earned money in Malaysia.

However, with the introduction of the RM20 (S$6.70) road charge for foreign vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore, the price for cars to enter Malaysia has gone up, thus reducing the amount we can save when we go into Malaysia.

Read Also: How Does The Bid-Ask Spread For Forex Work?

How Much Does It Cost To Enter Malaysia Today?

Since 1 February 2020, toll charges for entry into Malaysia has been reduced. The toll charges for cars, buses and taxis at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints will also be reduced from 2 March 2020.

Here is how much it costs today for one Singapore car to enter and exit Malaysia from the Woodlands Checkpoint.

Singapore Woodlands Check Point (Departure) S$0.80 Singapore Tuas Check Point (Departure) S$2.10 (5am  10am, 3pm  11pm)

$1.10 (other hours) Malaysia Check Point (Arrival)

Malaysia PLUS Toll Charge RM20 (S$6.70)

RM2.90 (S$0.97) Malaysia Check Point (Departure)  Singapore Check Point (Arrival)  Total $8.50 (rounded up)

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In total, vehicle owners pay $8.50 for their round trip to Malaysia.

If we assume that travelling from your home to the Causeway, and then into Malaysia takes 25km one-way, then we need to factor in an extra 50km worth of fuel for that trip. If your car fuel consumption is 10km/l, you will use 5l of petrol for the trip, of which 2.5l would be at SGD fuel price and the remaining 2.5l at MYR fuel price

Price of Petrol (SGD) S$2 X 2.5 = S$5 Price Of Petrol (MYR) RM2.3 X 2.5 = RM5.75 (S$2.90) Total Petrol Cost S$6.90

Once we add petrol cost to toll fee, we would have spent about S$15.40 for a round trip to Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia.

Read Also: What Happens If Your Singapore Car Gets Stolen In Malaysia?

How Much Must You Spend To Recover The Cost Of Going Into Malaysia

Given that drivers travelling to Malaysia already start off with a cost of $15.40, the question now turns to how much one needs to spend in Malaysia for it to be worth their time travelling

While the foreign exchange (Forex) rate between SGD and MYR is about 3 times today, it doesnt automatically mean Singaporeans save 3 times more when they spend their money in JB.

According to website Expatistan, which measures cost of living between different cities including JB and Singapore, JB is about 60% cheaper compared to Singapore.

However, when it comes to food (groceries, meals) and personal care, we are looking at prices that are between 48% and 42% cheaper. On average, that would be 45%.

Its still a significant saving but not as much as the three times that some people might assume. This number is in line with an article we wrote earlier this year about how much a Singaporean friend of ours save because he is living in JB.

On a rough estimate for a basket of goods, for every RM300 (S$100) spent in Malaysia, you would expect the same basket of goods to cost about S$181. Its not rocket science, and you may save more (or less) depending on what you actually buy, and where you buy it from.

Travelling all the way to Malaysia to spend RM300 (S$100), and save about $81, of which $15. goes into the toll and fuel charge, isnt all that great a deal once you consider the time youve spent for the excursion.

Here is a simple breakdown of how much you may spend in Malaysia, JB, and how much a similar basket of goods could cost in Singapore, how much savings that translates into, and how much you are saving for each hour spent there based on an 8-hour trip.

Amount Spent IN JB Similar Basket Of Goods In Spore Estimated Amount Saved, After Toll And Petrol Saving Per Hour (assuming 8-hour trip) RM200 (SGD 66) S$120 S$38.60 S$4.825/hour RM300 (SGD 100) $181 S$65.60 S$8.20/hour RM 500 (SGD 167) $303 S$120.60 S$15.075/hour RM 750 (SGD 250) $454 S$188.60 S$23.575/hour

In our opinion, it only starts being worth your time (and money) to travel to JB if you are able to save more than $10 per hour. Think of it as a job, and how much you would expect to be paid to do that extra work.

For example, if your intention is to buy a basket of goods (e.g. groceries, meals, petrol) which would cost you about $303 in Singapore, you might be able to get the same basket of goods at Johor for about $167, thus giving you savings of $120.60, or about $15.0755 per hour after toll and petrol costs.

If that amount increases to a spend of $454 in Singapore, you may be able to get the same basket of goods in Malaysia for S$250, thus allowing you to save $188.60, after toll and petrol, or about $23.575 per hour.

Read Also: Why The SGD Is Depreciating Against The USD, And Why The MYR Is Even Worse Off

Reduced GST Relief Since 19 February 2019

As announced in Budget 2019, travellers who spend less than 48 hours outside of Singapore will get GST relief on only the first $100 worth of goods purchased overseas, instead of $150 previously. Additionally, those who spend 48 hours or more outside Singapore will get GST relief on only $500 worth of goods, instead of $600 previously.

Read Also: Singapore Budget 2019: Here Are 4 Of The Most Important Announcements That Affect All Of Us

Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) To Be Mandatory From 2nd Half 2020

In April 2019, the Malaysian Government announced that from 1 October 2019 onwards, they will require foreign vehicles entering Malaysia to have a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP). In order to comply with this regulation, drivers will need to apply for a VEP and receive a RFID tag, which will be installed on the vehicles windshield or headlamp.

As part of the VEP registration, each VEP will be linked to a Touch n Go wallet, which will be used to automatically pay for Road Charges. VEP applications are valid for 5 years. However, due to the bottlenecks in installing the RFID tags, the implementation has beeen deferred for another 6 months, as announced in January 2020.

A Personal Preference

Whether the additional savings you enjoy is worth the amount of time you spend in Malaysia, plus the additional risk of travelling into JB, is a personal preference. For some people who might have spent $300 or more in Singapore, heading to Malaysia to get their goods at a cheaper price could be worth their personal time. For others, it may not the case.

Are you a regular visitor to Malaysia? How much do you reckon you spend and save each time you travel there? Are our estimates in line with yours? Share with us your experience on Facebook.

The post How Much Does It Cost For Singapore Cars To Enter Malaysia? And Is It Worth Your Time (And Money)? appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
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American politics usually have limited impact on the rest of the world. But whats happening in the U.S. right now has the potential to affect Singapore  in particular  because of the anti-free trade stance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trade through Singapore accounted for 326% of the countrys GDP in 2015  the third-highest ratio in the world, after Hong Kong and Luxembourg. In fact, that figure has been at 300% or higher for Singapore since 1976, according to data from the World Bank (except for 1986 when it was 295%). The trade-to-GDP ratio reflects how open a country is to international trade  and it also shows how much an economy relies on trade.

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Since trade plays such an outsized role in Singapores economy, any threat or change to the global trade regime has the potential to have a bigger impact on Singapores economy than just about anywhere else in the world.

With that in mind, here are three ways a Trump presidency could impact Singapore:

No more TPP

In October 2015, the U.S. government signed the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) along with 11 other nations, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. The TPPs goal is to make it easier for the participating countries to trade with each other by reducing or removing tariffs and other barriers to trade.

The World Bank has estimated that the agreement could raise GDP by an average of 1.1% in each participating country by 2030. The 12 signatory countries account for approximately 40% of world GDP and 25% of global exports. Thats a lot of potential trade that could benefit Singapore.

But in Trumps eyes the TPP is a terrible deal for the U.S. One of his biggest issues with the deal is that he said that he thinks China (which is not a TPP signatory) would somehow benefit from the TPP through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone. (He may be right about that, as we wrote here.)

And now that Trump will be the next U.S. president, the deal is dead in the water. The signatories in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, that hoped the deal would increase trade and grow their economies, will be the big losers in Trumps ongoing issues with China.

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A U.S.-China trade war

On the campaign trail, Trump took a hard stance on a wide range of policies. Most relevant to Singapore were his claims that Asia  specifically China  is a main cause of Americas problems. He thinks Asia has stolen Americas manufacturing jobs.

He also thinks China has been intentionally manipulating its currency lower, in order to make its goods cheaper to the world. As a result, Trump has said that he wants to slap import tariffs on Chinese goods to make U.S. goods more competitive.

This could bring the two countries closer to a trade war, in which theyd put tariffs or quotas on each others imports and exports. This wouldnt be good for anyone  including Singapore. Thats because higher tariffs or quotas will slow global trade. And, as mentioned, few countries benefit from global trade more than Singapore.

Even though Singapore is not a major manufacturing centre, a lot of what is produced in other Asian countries passes through Singapore on its way overseas. A slowdown in Asian manufacturing means a slowdown in Singapore trade.

A shift in the Singapore-U.S. trade relationship

The U.S. is Singapores fourth-largest trading partner as measured by total trade (imports plus exports). Trade between the two countries is dominated by the exchange of different kinds of machinery and commercial services, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

(China is Singapores biggest trading partner. This again shows how much of an impact a trade war between Singapores largest and fourth-largest trading partners would have on the local economy.)

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Under Trump, the U.S. may decide to encourage more manufacturing at home. Or, it could impose new, higher tariffs on goods produced anywhere in Asia, not just China. In either scenario, Singapores trade relationship with the U.S. would change for the worse, at least from Singapores perspective.

Or it might not be that bad

Of course, Trump may have been all rice and no chicken on the campaign trail. He may not follow through on everything (or even anything) he said or threatened. He is known for speaking off the cuff and taking back things he previously said.

Plus, he was a successful businessman. If he likes a deal, hell take it. So despite all his bluster, Trump may end up taking a more pragmatic approach to the U.S.s trade relationship with Asia once he takes office.

But based on what hes already said, the new American president could cause some major headaches for Singapore.

For all the details on what a President Trump will mean for Singapore and the rest of Asia, and how you can protect your portfolio, make sure to read our free report on how Asia is Trumped! You can download your copy here.
Singapore fell 10 places for city investment prospects, revealed a report authored by the Urban Land Institute and Price Waterhouse Cooper. Singapore last topped the ranks in 2012...

Core assets such as office spaces in Singapores CBD are favoured by investors and institutions, but yields and returns have declined on the back of a weaker macroeconomic outlook.

Singapore fell 10 places for city investment prospects, dropping to 21 from its 11th spot a year ago, a report authored by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), revealed. As recently as 2012, Singapore had topped the ranks of real estate investment favourites.

Singapores low ranking in this years report has been attributed to various factors including overcapacity in office space, falling retail sales and a residential market correction said Dr Seek Ngee Huat, Chairman of ULI Asia Pacific and Chairman, Global Logistic Properties.

Amidst a market slowed by cooling measures and a weaker economic outlook, the Urban Redevelopment Authoritys (URA) price index for Singapores private residential market slid 1.5 percent to 137.9 in in the third quarter of this year, its 12th consecutive quarter of decline. Meanwhile, retail sales fell 1.9 percent year-on-year (YOY) in September over 2015s numbers.

However, the report findings indicate that investors still believe in the long term fundamentals of Singapore and are on the look out for investment opportunities, Dr Seek continued.

Focusing on the positive, we could be close to the bottom of the cycle and we are seeing opportunities to invest. I hope, given the uncertainties in local and global economy, there will be an increase in transactions across asset classes over the next twelve months, said Yeo Chee Keong, Real Estate and Hospitality leader for PwC Singapore.

While a weaker core market in Singapore has made assets in the city state more attractive, the report suggests that prices have yet to fall enough to attract serious buyers. However, Chinese investors are rumoured to be looking in Singapore, and may be early buyers as they are relatively less price sensitive.

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Topping the list of investment prospects this year are Bangalore, Mumbai, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen. The rise of these cities in emerging markets is part of a trend where investors, both institutional and private, are finding it hard to source for core, high value assets, even as yields and returns continue to decline.

The report Emerging Trends in in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2017 is authored annually by ULI and PwC, and solicits the opinions of 604 real estate professionals, including investors, developers, property company representatives, lenders, brokers and consultants.

This article was written by Chang Hui Chew.
The Mekong Initiative for Startup Tourism has support from many government agencies, providing a useful network for startups

Travel startups working in what is commonly called the Greater Mekong Subregion (in this case, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) have a new opportunity to meet mentors and connect with market opportunities and investors.

The programme is named The Mekong Initiative for Startup Tourism (MIST) and in early-2017 it will be hosting its first event  a reverse hackathon and startup competition that will take place in Danang, Vietnam in December.

A reverse hackathon is typically described as an event in which traditional companies and larger corporates pitch to startups (instead of the startups pitching to investors as is common in the startup world).

The best startups from each country will be invited to a bootcamp and Demo Day at the Mekong Tourism Forum in 2017. For Vietnam, the best local startups will have the opportunity to pitch at a Demo Day at the APEC Investment Summit in November 2017.

MIST has the advantage of being aligned with two regional initiatives  the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025 and the GMS Tourism Marketing Strategy 2015-2020  giving it significant connections within the industry.

The strategy for MIST is to identify local players  giving emphasis to local Founders  and then solicit global solutions from industry veterans in order to foster collaboration between startups and larger companies.

Also Read: From diaspora to a brighter digital future: Why investors are betting on Vietnam

Thanks in part to positive macro economic trends, the Mekong region is seeing a boom in tourism, but it is largely driven by traditional companies, making it an excellent opportunity for startups.

The Greater Mekong Subregion is a magnet for tourism, but accelerating tourist volumes have also brought challenges to drive inclusive growth. The region will need to develop and innovate if it is to sustain todays growth over the long term, said Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in an official statement.

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Along with the MTCO, the official organisers for MIST is the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI). The MTCO receives funding from the governments of Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The MBI is funded by the Asia Development Bank and the government of Australia.

Dominic Mellor, of the MBI, explained the reasons for starting the MIST programme:

Innovation and technologies are transforming the worlds tourism sector, but the Mekong region has lagged behind. We are eager to see the regions startups innovate and create new avenues for tourism growth.

The Danag event is co-organised by the Danang Business Incubator and is partnered with the Seoul Global Startup Center and the SECO Entrepreneurship Program (funded by the Swiss government).

Also Read: Online design studio with a twist wins Echelon Vietnam 2016 Top 100 pitching competition

The programme was officially launched at Echelon Vietnam 2016.



Copyright: urfl / 123RF Stock Photo

The post Doesnt get any easier than this: This Mekong regional initiative aims to help travel startups boost tourism appeared first on e27.
"Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

-- George Orwell, Politics and the English Language
Sites like Twitter and LinkedIns communication features arent only beneficial for small businesses with a specific client base. B2B companies can use them to their advantage as well. Thats why we asked 12 members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

What B2B social media tips can companies use to communicate with potential customers?

Here are some YEC community members B2B social media tips:

1. Create Valuable Content

Most social networks allow you to tag other accounts. Create content that is valuable to a prospect and tag them. This is a great way to show them that you exist. This technique is most effective if you can show off your companys skills and what you can do for your prospect with the content you share. ~ Andrew Namminga, Andesign

2. Provide Them With the Value They Need

As a B2B, there are a variety of ways to communicate and appeal to current and potential customers. Unlike B2C, your social media may not be full of viral posts, but it is still important to humanize your brand and offer a personal, creative appeal. Create content such as e-books, videos and articles that are full of valuable information specific to the needs of your target audience. ~ David Tomas, Cyberclick

3. Focus on Brand Identity

Its easy to see why humorous, inspirational or amazing content drives engagement. Social media at its best focuses on what we care about most deeply. This is true for B2B companies and each of us personally. This doesnt limit a company from focusing on sales or conversion but provides a lens to present the content in a way thats meaningful to customers and prospects. ~ Curtis Thornhill, Apt Marketing Solutions

4. Show Expertise

When potential customers are seeking a partner, they want an expert. And often, they look long before they decide to purchase. Creating consistent, relevant content that illustrates your expertise, approach, culture and core values will help keep you top of mind whenever potential customers are ready to make a decision. When they research options, they will find your company. ~ Angela Harless, AcrobatAnt

5. Use Different Mediums

Using social media, you can utilize great graphics/visualizations, videos, and blog posts to show your customer your platform (or solution). Share content on how your product can create value for them, solve a need, or save money, time or other resources. Keep a pipeline of interesting content and examples of your solutions for potential customers intrigued about your service. ~ Nemoy Rau, US Biometrix

6. Network and Broadcast Company News

Word of mouth can be a powerful tool. Social media can help you create a strong network of influencers and top organizations to position yourself as an expert and influencer in your industry. You can also broadcast exciting company news, participate in industry/charity events, and write articles or blog posts that provide potential customers insight into why they should want to work with your company. ~ Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic

7. Listen Across Social Networks

With the myriad of social monitoring tools available, B2B companies can listen and monitor to conversations online. Using tools such as Mention or Brandwatch, you can find potential customers talking about your competitor or even asking questions about a particular problem that your product or service solves. You can engage them directly. Theyve already started the conversation. ~Jon Tsourakis, Revital Agency, LLC

8. Humanize and Relate Breaking News to your Brand

B2B companies should create and share content that humanizes their brand on social media. It is most effective if the content tells a story that supports your brand and shares something about the company values/mission. Figure out a way to make breaking news relate to your brand and then create media that supports the message. The news grows quickly on social media and can spotlight your brand. ~ Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design

9. Identify What Connects You

Skill set and reputation matter. But people do business with folks they like and with whom they have some shared interests. That said, identify your targets and find similarities. Do they share photos of team building? Chime in and share a few of yours. If you were networking in person, youd look to identify what you have in common. Social media is no different. ~ Megan Smith, Brownstone PR

See Also: 5 Alternative Ways To Share Content Other Than Social Media

10. Create Trust

Ever research a restaurant or businesss Facebook page to see how active they are as a way to determine the quality of their product/service? This is a very common research step these days that many businesses fail to comprehend. Having social media pages isnt enough. They must be used as a platform for building trust and backing up your UVP  or the potential customer will move on. ~ Wesley Mathews, High Level Marketing

11. Use Surveys to Reach Out

Since social media is designed around sharing opinions. Its a good idea to leverage this intent through the use of surveys to reach out and communicate with new customers. Not only do you get the benefit of collecting intelligence on what potential customers really want, but you also have a list of names and contact information to share evidence that you can fuflill their desires. ~ Murray Newlands, Due.com

12. Have Real Conversations

Too often, we forget that social media is, at its core, just another tool for conversation. Rather than spending all of your time broadcasting your thought leadership and ideas, invest in starting one-on-one conversations with people you want to get to know. Setting up private Twitter lists based on account names or keywords and then sending personal messages is a great place to start. ~ Alyssa Conrardy, Prosper Strategies.
Akim Vann is the owner and founder of The Bakery on Bergen, a very popular and busy spot thats known for its delicious and creative cookies, cakes and pastries. The Bakery on Bergen just celebrated its second anniversary and Vann couldnt be more proud. But as a busy mother of four energetic children, Vann knows firsthand just how difficult it can be for small business owners to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Watch this quick video and youll see that Vanns attitude toward work and family is a big part of the reason why The Bakery on Bergen is so successful:

When youre a busy entrepreneur, achieving a healthy balance between work and family life can be a daunting task. But there are things you can do to make it easier. For starters, be sure to respect the boundaries that you create for yourself.

If it makes sense, leave your work at work. But if youre like many people and also have to work from home, try to work only during pre-scheduled times, and create a workspace thats separate from the rest of the goings on in the house. By setting and respecting boundaries, youll reduce stress and your family will always know when its work time and when its play time.

You should try to maintain a positive attitudejust like Vann doesbecause that will always benefit your business and family.

Watch more of Carbonites Small Business Storytellers videos.
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"A little fill here and there may seem to be nothing to become excited about. But one fill, though comparatively inconsequential, may lead to another, and another, and before long a great body may be eaten away until it may no longer exist.

Our navigable waters are a precious natural heritage, once gone, they disappear forever," wrote the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 1960 opinion resolving Hixon v. PSC and buttressing The Public Trust Doctrine, Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution.
RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's trade deficit rose 15.8 percent to 149.17 billion Moroccan dirhams ($14.87 billion) in the first 10 months of 2016 compared with the same period a year ago, due to higher imports, the foreign exchange regulator said on Monday. Equipment imports rose 23.8 percent to 95.30 billion dirhams, while auto imports were 35.5 percent higher at 11.98 billion dirhams, the data showed. Wheat imports also jumped as bad weather hurt the local harvest last year. The value of imports rose 38 percent from a year earlier to 10.24 billion dirhams at the end of October. The North African kingdom's energy import bill fell 21.5 percent to 44.16 billion dirhams compared with a year earlier, thanks to lower prices in the international market. Morocco is the biggest energy importer in the region. Total exports rose 1.5 percent from a year earlier to 184.48 billion dirhams, led by a 12.2 percent rise in auto exports. Phosphate sales fell 12.8 percent to 32.88 billion dirhams. Tourism receipts rose by 4.1 percent, while remittances from the 4.5 million Moroccans living abroad were 4.2 percent up to 53.12 billion dirhams. Foreign direct investment fell 12.6 percent to 27.75 billion dirhams. Figures are in billions of dirhams: Jan-Oct Jan-Oct Jan-Sep 2016 2015 2016 EXPORTS 184.48 181.68 164.82 IMPORTS 333.65 310.50 298.40 BALANCE -149.17 -128.81 -133.57 MIGRANT REMITTANCES 53.12 50.96 48.28 TOURISM RECEIPTS 55.47 53.30 50.64 FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT 27.75 31.75 23.11 ($1 = 10.0330 Moroccan dirham) (Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Dominic Evans)
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday denied a new trial for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year prison sentence for plotting to sell missiles to people he thought were Colombian rebels.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said a trial judge did not abuse her discretion by refusing to dismiss Bout's indictment and rejecting his claim that new evidence justified overturning his November 2011 conviction.

Bout, 49, was convicted of conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers by agreeing to sell arms to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration informants posing as members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

The U.S. government has called FARC a foreign terrorist organization.

In seeking a new trial, Bout said he could not have conspired with former business associate Andrew Smulian, who testified against him at trial, because Smulian already had been recruited as a DEA informant.

But the appeals court said the evidence suggested merely that the agency "saw Smulian as a way to get to Bout."

Alexey Tarasov, a lawyer for Bout, had no immediate comment. The office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An earlier appeal by Bout was dismissed by the 2nd Circuit in September 2013.

Bout, the subject of the 2007 book "Merchant of Death," was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 following a global sting operation. He is now in a prison in Marion, Illinois, and eligible for release in January 2030.

The case is U.S. v. Bout, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-3592. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Trott)
Kristin Leigh, deputy director and director of community engagement at Explora, has received the Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award for Leadership in the Field by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC).

Marketta Damonte, qualifying broker at Vista Encantada Realtors LLC, has received the Peggy Comeau Leadership Award from the Realtors Association of New Mexico (RANM). Damonte has been serving the Realtor community for over 35 years and always presents a professional image for the brokerage community. She has served on many GAAR and RANM committees, as well as being a member of the New Mexico Real Estate Commissions education steering committee. Damonte is a NMREC-approved instructor for over 20 continuing education classes for licensees and was instrumental in setting up RANMs new ombudsman program.

The 2016 New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards have announced the winners of the Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award; and the Friend of Nursing Award.Connie Fiorenzio, executive director of NurseAdvice New Mexico, has been named the Distinguished Nurse of the Year.

Ingrid Hendrix, the nursing services librarian at the Health Sciences Center Library and Information Center, and also a principal lecturer at the School of Medicine at UNM since 2001, received the Friend of Nursing Award.

Associated Builders and Contractors of New Mexico has announced the winners of its annual Excellence in Construction Awards. They are:

 Commercial: under 25,000 sq. ft.  Enterprise Builders Corp. for the Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless First Street Campus expansion.

 Commercial: over 25,000 sq. ft.  HB Construction for the Monte Vista HB headquarters.

 Renovation: under 25,000 sq. ft.  Klinger Constructors LLC for the Old Santa Fe Inn renovation.

 Renovation: over 25,000 sq. ft.  BRYCON Corp. for the Skorpios Technologies Tenant improvement.

 School  Thompson Construction Inc. for the new 6th-grade building and fine arts complex at Ernie Pyle Middle School.

 Churches  HCI LLC for the Church on the Move.

William Rock Collins, president and COO of CSI Aviation, has received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, St. Olaf College. Collins, currently a major general in the Marine Corps Reserve, graduated from the Minnesota college in 1984 with a bachelors degree in sociology and religion.

Susan Sanchez has earned the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) designation from the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). Sanchez is affiliated with the Aztec Animal Clinic.

Corrine L. Holt, Esq., of Allen, Shepherd, Lewis & Syra, has been named the 2016 Young Lawyer of the Year by the New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association. She received the award in recognition of her exemplary achievements in the legal profession.

Brenda Begley has joined Clear Channel Outdoor Americas as vice president of sales for the Albuquerque market. Begley has 29 years experience in media, and previously worked as field marketing manager for Dreamstyle Remodeling and as the advertising director for the Albuquerque Journal.

Denise M. Chanez, an attorney and director at Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb PA, has been appointed to United Ways Hispano Philanthropic Society as a council member. Chanez is also the president of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association and was recently honored as the 2016 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of New Mexico.

Jeremy Flattley has joined FootPrints Home Care as a care supervisor. Flattley has extensive experience in customer service.

Ric Romero has joined boomtime as vice president of sales. Romero has extensive experience in sales, and previously worked as director of sales for Sonic SEO and as the vice president of sales for Directory Plus.

Dianne Ledesma has joined New Mexico Mutual as director of provider network, relations and quality. Ledesma has 25 years experience in the health care industry, and previously advised health care executives as the owner of an independent health care consulting, credentialing and medical billing firm. She also worked at several local health care organizations, including Womens Specialists of New Mexico, where she was the director of business services, and as the administrator at Cardiac Care Consultants of New Mexico. She has a bachelors degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.

Comfort Keepers of Santa Fe has hired three new staff members. They are:

Theresa Vigil, full-time scheduling coordinator. Vigil has 29 years experience in the medical field, including in administration, as a medical assistant and as a caregiver.

Bea Johnson, client care manager. Johnson previously was a teacher and principal for a private school in Santa Fe, and also worked as a caregiver for 12 years.

Diane Padilla, client care manager. Padilla previously worked as a patient medical coverage coordinator at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.

Isleta Resort & Casino has promoted two staff members. They are David Moran, general manager of the hotel at Isleta Resort & Casino, and Malcom Grubbs, director of facilities maintenance.

Mike Gorman has been promoted by Sandia Laboratory FCU to vice president of payment services. Gorman has worked for the credit union for 13 years, and previously was the compliance officer and treasury management officer. He has a bachelors degree in technology and also serves as an ambassador for Albuquerque Economic Development.

Bonnie Pepin has opened a Farmers Insurance office at 3736 Eubank NE, Suite A. Pepin provides insurance products for everything clients need. For additional information, call 505-998-7245 or email bpepin@farmers agent.com.

Items for consideration for Briefcase should be typed and sent to Business Outlook, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103.
Lets paint a scenario: A U.S. manufacturer based in El Paso, Texas, makes plastic injection parts that it sells to a company in Juarez, Mexico, that manufactures components for the auto industry. The Mexican companys parts are combined with other suppliers parts from Canada, Europe and Asia, and are incorporated into a General Motors vehicle being manufactured in Kentucky.

The relationship between the El Paso and Juarez companies was made possible because the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) reduced the tariffs for the U.S. company to sell its products into Mexico and for the Mexican company to sell its products to the Kentucky GM plant.

The company in Juarez employs 200 and the company in El Paso 66  I am using these numbers based on the formula that economists at agencies such as the Federal Reserve use, which states that, for every 10 jobs created in Mexicos maquiladora (twin plant) industry, three are created on the U.S. side of the border in either manufacturing or logistics.

The Mexicans working in the Juarez plant take the pesos they earn and buy products/services on the U.S. side of the border, accounting for approximately one out of every eight dollars spent in El Pasos retail sector. The Mexican workers also purchase U.S.-made products/services at places in Mexico, such as Home Depot, Walmart, McDonalds and Applebees.

Enter President-elect-Donald Trump. Without understanding the intertwined nature of the U.S. and Mexican economies, which depend heavily on each other for their own economic health, he cancels NAFTA or weakens it. With the help of Republicans in Congress, he also manages to slap tariffs on Chinese imports. The Mexican government retaliates against new U.S. tariffs on its manufactured products, as does the Chinese government.

The Juarez company finds that it is not cost-competitive to manufacture its products in Mexico because of new U.S. tariffs on products manufactured in Mexico. It does production-cost calculations and concludes that, in spite of tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S., the more economical labor in China is the best way to remain in business. It closes its plant in Juarez and gives the pink slip to 200 workers, who now do not have the money to buy U.S. products and shop in El Paso. Out of desperation, many of these workers will illegally cross into the U.S. to seek economic opportunities, thus increasing the flow of illegal immigration.

Mexicos economy takes a hit because of the aggressive U.S. action and the peso plunges. This makes U.S. goods sold in Mexico more expensive for Mexicans, who buy less of them. Conversely, it makes Mexican products sold in the U.S. cheaper for Americans, who gobble up more consumer electronics, furniture, medical products and food. This causes the U.S. trade deficit to balloon.

Meanwhile, the El Paso company loses its major client in Mexico and decides to close its operation because it cant compete against Chinese plastic-injection operations. All 66 of its employees lose their jobs, and the economic multiplier effect of the company and its employees spending money to buy products and services in El Paso vanishes.

The owner leasing the building to the plastic-injection operation now has empty space. Maintenance costs and taxes accrue without good prospects to lease the space in the future because what happened to the plastic-injection company is happening to thousands of businesses on the U.S.-Mexico border that depend on a cross-border trade relationship free of tariffs and nontariff barriers. Oh, and by the way, the new automobile that you were planning to buy will cost several thousand dollars more.

Although simple in its explanation, this is not a far-fetched scenario. The point is that, in todays interconnected global economy, you cannot tinker with one element and not expect effects in other areas. Unraveling NAFTA is an example of how a trade relationship can be damaged when trying to convert political rhetoric into reality to appease supporters after you have made free trade, NAFTA and Mexico a scapegoat in the presidential campaign. I would expect a struggling and possibly uneducated person who has seen automation and globalization transform traditional industry in the U.S., to view trade as a scapegoat. I am surprised that Trump, a self-declared business genius, would not understand the complexities of world trade. Perhaps he does and he was smart enough to know that this wedge issue would help him get elected.

By Trumps campaign rhetoric, he claims he will bring back all of the jobs to the U.S. that were lost to globalization. As we can see from my simple scenario, it is not that easy. Ironically, many people with whom this part of the Trump message resonated are the uneducated, unskilled workers that will not be able to benefit from increasingly technical production jobs.

My biggest takeaway from the presidential election is the education component and how stratified the U.S. is becoming from an opportunity standpoint between those who have an education that allows them to get ahead in life and those that dont. This influences the ability of a person to understand complex world economics, while being in a position of having skills that can secure a good job and a promising economic future.

Hopefully, the new administration and Congress will focus on bridging this education gap for the benefit of our countrys future, and stop demonizing trade, which will continue to create opportunities for U.S. companies in the future.

Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.
NEW YORK  Small and independent retailers are strategizing to try to make the most of an uncertain holiday season.

The last three months of the year are critical for many retailers, who may get half their annual revenue during that time. But consumers who may be hesitant to splurge have led retailers to be increasingly creative about special promotions and discounts, and also prompted many to use technology to help determine what customers want.

Weve had such a protracted, sluggish economy that I assume thats the way its going to be, says Brian Reardon, owner of Monster Music, which sells musical instruments and provides music lessons in Levittown, N.Y.

Reardon has found it harder to get more people to buy lessons  while the store has 600 students, thats little changed over the past two years. To encourage prospective students or their parents to sign up, he gives away an acoustic guitar when they pay for six months of lessons that cost $600.

Although overall spending at retailers across the country rose in September and November, it remains weak at many stores that get much of their revenue from the holidays. Sales at department stores fell more than 5 percent the first 10 months of the year, according to the Commerce Department. At electronics stores, they were off more than 3 percent and they edged up just 0.4 percent at clothing stores. Forecasters generally have predicted retailers will see holiday sales increase a decent 3 percent to 4 percent.

Theyre going to have to provide some level of added value, innovation and quality, says Joe Brusuelas, chief economist with RSM US, a consulting firm whose clients include retailers. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores have lost business not only to the internet, but also to consumers growing preference for travel and other experiences over possessions, he says.

Mark Aselstines wine-club and gift-basket sales growth has been flat. So hes planning to give customers more options when they order from Uncorked Ventures; alongside the companys $150 baskets will be some priced $115, with cheaper shipping. The baskets can be preselected or customized.

The market quite honestly simply hasnt moved in our direction as much as wed hoped over the past few years, says Aselstine, whose company is based in Berkeley, Calif.

Some of his customers are looking for good bottles, but at lower prices. Hes seeing more interest in pinot noir from New Zealand, which costs half of what the California version does. Choices like that have brought down the price of baskets the company sells  while two years ago the average price was $322, now its $45 to $50 less.

Even companies that seem like they might not have to worry during the holidays are offering deals.

Jacques Torres, who sells his high-end chocolate and other food at nine locations in New York and online, has a special promotion with a sandwich, beverage and ice cream for $10 at his cafe in Grand Central Terminal. Torres, whose chocolates retail for nearly $40 a pound, has a lot of competition and rising expenses like rent and wages.

We never used to discount anything. Now we do, because we need the sales, we need the advertising, we need the buzz, he says.

Still, retailers cant assume shoppers will opt for the cheapest gifts. Customers of Daddies Board Shop are eager to buy skateboards and snowboards with price tags that run into the hundreds of dollars, but are choosy about lower-priced staples, president Daron Horwitz says.

People are comfortable spending on things that are fun and different, and they spend less on the more banal products like backpacks and shoes and shirts, says Horwitz, who sells through his store in Portland, Ore., and its website.

And strategy doesnt necessarily have to be about price.
Individual cheese cakes and flan at SweeTea. (Jim Thompson/Journal) Individual banana nut bread at SweeTea. (Jim Thompson/Journal) SweeTea co-owners Tammie Nguyen and Anh Nguyen. (Jim Thompson/Journal) The Coconut Craisin Butterfly is a coconut craisin custard-filled baked bread at SweeTea. (Jim Thompson/Journal) New International bakery and cafe called SweeTea. (Jim Thompson/Journal) Co-owner Tammie Nguyen adds freshly baked goods to serve-yourself bins at the new international bakery and cafe called SweeTea. It is located in Montgomery Plaza at Montgomery and San Mateo NE. (Jim Thompson / Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 6 Next

Friends Anh Nguyen and Tammie Nguyen have some different ideas about banana bread.

And cheesecake.

And, for that matter, the kind of food and atmosphere that will appeal to Duke City denizens.

The pair last week opened the SweeTea Bakery Cafe at Montgomery Plaza, an eatery that blends their Vietnamese heritage with cuisine from around Asia and beyond. Their concept includes a host of sweet and savory baked goods, plus heartier made-to-order fare like banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli noodles, rice bowls and spring rolls. They also do coffee drinks and  of course  teas, including flavored and milk versions.

We feel like this is the right time to enter the market and bring the different regions together in one store, Anh says.

Anh, a pharmacist, and Tammie, a former software engineer, spent the past year honing the concept and developing their restaurant expertise. They even traveled back to Vietnam earlier this year to learn baking techniques and took care to refine recipes to suit Albuquerques high altitude and low-humidity climate.

They will stock their cases with a changing array of baked goods, and their repertoire includes cinnamon rolls, shredded pork buns, flan, custard buns, matcha-flavored tiramisu, Tokyo cheesecake  an airier version of the common dessert  and what they call Not Your Typical Banana Nut Bread, a treat made with fresh, rum-soaked bananas and baguette soaked in coconut milk.

Customers can pick out most of the treats  save for the refrigerated options  from a series of self-serve cases. The owners based the setup in part on places theyve seen elsewhere, including the 85AC bakery chain, a worldwide operation with a heavy presence in California.

But they say they have veered in a slightly different direction by also adding the heartier dishes. Customers at the counter can, for example, order a grilled sausage banh mi ($6.25), a pair of grilled chicken spring rolls ($4.50) or a steamed pork bun ($4.25).

SweeTea took over the 1,810-square-foot space last used by House of Pho, which closed earlier this year after the owners were killed by an estranged family member. Anh and Tammie say they were somewhat uneasy with the history, but the space, which they found with broker Anthony Johnsons help, suited them well in terms of location, size and visibility. They spent several months  and what Anh says is approaching $200,000  to completely transform it, upgrading everything from the baseboards to the light fixtures to the bathrooms.

While they expect to be mostly a grab-and-go establishment, they have seating for about 15 people, divided between countertops and a roomy red sectional sofa they had custom-made.

We wanted a different atmosphere  something new, something fresh, something modern and welcoming, Tammie says.

SweeTea is located at 4656 San Mateo NE, at Montgomery. It is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The phone number is 582-2592.

Snow crab on Silver Ave.

Theres a new seafood stop in Downtown.

Crackin Crab is now serving buckets of king crab legs, clams, shrimp and more in a new 64-seat location in the Imperial Building. The local restaurant chain, owned by Rack and Vanh Mingkhamsavath, now has three locations across the city. A fourth is still in the works for Winrock Town Center, according to Richard Gallegos Jr. of SVN Team Southwest, who represents the chain in real estate deals.

The family started Crackin Crab last year in a spot near the Century Rio 24 movie theater, inside a space they had previously run as a sushi restaurant. They expanded to the West Side by the end of 2015.

They sell most seafood by the pound at market price, flavoring it with lemon pepper sauce or the house blend, described as a garlic spicy Cajun sauce. Owners say customers tend to prefer the house blend, with some literally drinking the remains from the bucket after finishing all the meat.

The most popular menu item is the family pack, with a pound each of snow crab and black mussels, a half-pound each of scallops and shrimp, and one sausage, one potato and a piece of corn. (Current price: $44.98.)

Tables inside the restaurant are covered in butcher paper and most everything on the menu  including the No Crackin Needed options like oysters, calamari and hot wings  is eaten without a fork.

No ones judging you, said Cathy Kongphouthakhoun, who is running the Downtown location with her mom, Viengxay, sister of owner Vanh. Just get messy.

Crackin Crab also has a list of sides and 12 beers on tap. Owners plan to add wine, too.

It is located at 205 Silver SW. Its hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

Goodbye, cat cafe

Albuquerques first cat cafe is soon to be history.

Gatos y Galletas is set to close  likely today  after about seven months in business.

While the spot in East Downtown had some fervent fans, owner Julia Grueskin says it was not making enough money to cover expenses.

It wasnt going to in the right direction as far as that was concerned, unfortunately, Grueskin says.

Payroll proved particularly costly since it was a staffing-intensive operation; given a divided setup  there was a cat side and a restaurant side  it generally required at least three workers at all times.

Grueskin says there remains a possibility a new owner could buy in and take over, but nothing had been settled as of last week. Grueskin, who specializes in vegetarian food, says she plans to go back to personal chef and catering gigs.

The cafe did change some feline lives during its brief run at 412/414 Central SE; Grueskin estimates that the cafe helped facilitate the adoption of 10 rescue cats.

In other news:

 Old Jerusalem Cafe has signed a lease for a defunct Pizza 9 at 13400 Wenonah SE, according to the propertys listing broker, Atuoma Ezeh of Allen Sigmon Real Estate Group.

The building sits just southeast of the Four Hills Village Shopping Center, which has welcomed a trio of big tenants  Sprouts Farmers Market, Icon Cinema and Burkes Outlet  as part of a redevelopment effort kick-started by the Daskalos familys 2014 purchase of what had been a largely vacant property.

Ezeh said he had multiple users interested in the 2,400-square-foot pizzeria space prior to signing the Middle Eastern restaurant.

Not only is the Four Hills (Village) Shopping Center bringing attention, its also affecting the adjacent centers, as well, he said.

 Hot dog purveyor Wienerschnitzel has opened a new location at 2551 Corona NW, near the Walmart at Coors and Interstate 40. The restaurant, operated by local franchisee Jason Albritton, is just the second location anywhere in the chain to feature the Heritage design, a new model that hearkens back to the companys 1960s A-frame architecture. Wienerschnitzel now has five Albuquerque locations, but the two-year plan includes more sites in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Los Lunas, according to a spokeswoman.

 Nob Hills Schushop is celebrating its fourth anniversary by hosting a shoe drive Wednesday through Sunday to benefit The Barrett Foundation. Those who donate gently worn shoes will get a 15 percent discount on their purchase at the store, located at 109-B Carlisle SE.

If you have retail or restaurant news to share, contact me at jdyer@abqjournal.com or 823-3864. For more on Albuquerque shopping and dining news, visit my blog at abqjournal.com or follow @abqdyer on Twitter.
CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST  John Ussery and his 25-pound dog Cub were finishing a hike in the Cibola National Forest on Saturday when Ussery heard terrible screaming.

Ussery and a friend rushed from the road and through the forest brush to find the unleashed Cub, his front right leg stuck in a metal animal trap.

They freed him while Cub nipped at their hands. The device didnt break Cubs skin, and he only limped for a few hours. On Sunday, he was rollicking with no clear sign of a previous injury.

He was in terrible pain, Ussery told the Journal on Sunday. Those things are indiscriminate. Those things catch anything that comes along.

Ussery said he fears other dogs  or maybe even an adventurous child  might step on the trap because it is close to a popular trail.

Its hard to spot the device, or the required identification of the person who placed it, since the metal trap is covered in dirt and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish forbids tampering with traps.

It is tucked amid stringy weeds and fallen, decaying trees about 80 feet from N.M. 536, the winding road to the Sandia Crest. Standing near the trap, a hiker can see the road, a picnic table and the beginning of the Tree Spring Trail.

In New Mexico, trappers can place traps on national forest land, but not nearby picnic areas, dwellings or public roads or trail. According to the state departments 2016-17 rules and information, traps must be placed at least a quarter of a mile from rest or picnic areas and at least half a mile from a public camp ground.

Its also against the law to place a trap within 25 yards, or 75 feet, of a public road.

As of Sunday, Ussery, a commercial real estate agent who lives in Sandia Park, had not yet reported the trap to Game and Fish, the agency that oversees hunting in New Mexico.

The department did not return calls or emails on Sunday. The U.S. Forest Service also did not a return a call.

Trapping game in New Mexico has been a contentious issue.

In August 2015, the New Mexico State Game Commission adopted a revision to the Bear and Cougar Rule that repealed a ban on recreational trapping and snaring of cougars. The revision allowed additional trapping on private land and on 9 million acres of state trust land.

Animal Protection of New Mexico and the Humane Society of the United States in June 2016 filed a lawsuit asking a U.S. District Court to prevent state officials implementing the change.

The Department of Game and Fish is in charge of licensure for trapping. A license to trap for a New Mexico resident costs $20. According to a Game and Fish harvest report for 2015-16, there were 10 animals caught through a trapping license in Bernalillo County. About 1,670 trapping licenses were sold statewide in the 2015-16 reporting period.
What we do next may very well determine the fate of our state.

Will we continue the divisive, dismissive and disingenuous rhetoric of recent months to seek political victory merely for the sake of winning? Or will we thoughtfully discuss solutions to the complex problems we face so that New Mexico might have the educated and motivated workforce that employers desire; so that millennials might stay in New Mexico  or, even better, move here from elsewhere  so that the states chronically high poverty, crime and unemployment rates might finally drop; so that tax revenue to the treasury might increase; and so that we might spend the money necessary to improve our schools, roads and bridges, public safety and health programs, and cultural amenities?

Will we create a cycle of prosperity rather than continue a cycle of poverty?

Making the right choice is easy; actually acting on it will be hard. This will be especially true after this election season, as our leaders must set aside personal feelings and move past the misstatements that marked the campaigns in favor of an honest, open discussion.

We cannot fix a long-term imbalance between state revenue and expenditures by scraping together unspent money from various accounts any better than a family living on the edge of poverty can achieve prosperity by holding a yard sale.

We cannot reduce New Mexicos perpetually high crime rate by putting criminals who have already committed crimes in jail for longer periods of time.

We cannot create jobs without social and educational systems that create good workers.

Its time for the difficult discussion weve delayed for years: How can New Mexico raise the money it needs to improve the education our children receive, both at home and in school, divert our young people from a life of crime toward a life of financial security and civic involvement, and support the economy and quality of life we desire? Properly addressing early childhood development, child abuse, drug addiction, alcohol dependency, mental illness, obesity and the needs of the elderly, our veterans and those with special needs  all of which is expensive  is paramount to making New Mexico a great place to live and work.

How does New Mexico raise more money without damaging our fragile economy and how do we spend less money without damaging our struggling education, health and safety programs? The current budget is balanced on paper, but only because the states General Fund balances are essentially zero, guaranteeing that it wont last more than a few more months.

New Mexicos tax system needs to be simple, consistent and progressive so that it raises the money we need to educate our children, repair our roads and bridges, keep our communities safe and ensure that our residents are healthy. We must diversify our economy, support the creation of jobs by improving our system of selecting and funding infrastructure projects and resist the temptation to earmark tax revenue.

We also cannot afford to increase spending beyond our means. We have already cut the state budget to the point that citizens will begin to notice a decrease in services, so further cuts must be extremely targeted.

Middle class families are struggling to make ends meet and get the services they need.

Policymakers have taken all the easy steps already.

Now its time to make the really tough decisions.

All of us have to be involved in the conversation  from top policymakers, including the governor, to teenagers who in just a few short years will be making critical decisions about whether to remain in New Mexico or move to another state.

And it has to be a conversation. We must leave the slogans and posturing at the door. The future of New Mexico demands nothing less.
SAN DIEGO  Heres a valuable lesson that escapes some presidential candidates: Those who dont take responsibility for mistakes, failures and setbacks are bound to suffer more of all three. When you do wrong or come up short, dont blame others. When a plan goes haywire or an opportunity fades, own it. This shows class and character.

Sadly, some of those who have aspired to the White House have shown themselves to be low on both.

During a conference call with fundraisers and donors following the 2012 election, Mitt Romney blamed his loss on President Obamas policies, referring to them dismissively as gifts to young people, Latinos and African-Americans. Before the election, Romney told supporters that there were 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what because they think theyre victims, believe that government must care for them, and feel entitled to benefits. Romney said these folks needed to take personal responsibility for their lives.

That was rich coming from a presidential candidate who wasnt able to take responsibility for his own defeat.

Its bad form. Its also bipartisan.

Recently, during a call with top campaign funders, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton blamed her loss to Donald Trump on FBI Director James Comey and the way he bungled an investigation of a private email server that she used as secretary of state.

On Oct. 28  just 11 days before the election  Comey sent a letter to Congress announcing that the bureau was reopening an investigation into whether Clinton mishandled classified information because there were thousands of new emails to examine. Then, on the Sunday before Election Day, Comey said that, after a review of the emails, he continued to believe  as he had said in July  that no reasonable prosecutor would bring a case against Clinton.

Still, the damage was done. According to three people who were on the call, Clinton said that her campaign team had drafted a memo that looked at opinion polls leading up to the election and that the Comey letter was a turning point. Clinton said it eroded support  particularly in the crucial Rust Belt states of the upper Midwest  and motivated Trump voters to turn out on Election Day.

First, its nice to see to see that the Clinton campaign has finally discovered that there even are places like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. They have been criticized in recent days  by fellow Democrats, no less  for not campaigning there early enough and ignoring the working-class whites in those states who helped decide the election.

Next, there are dozens of reasons as to why Clinton lost that have nothing to do with the FBI or Comey.

Speaking to reporters after the election, Obama emphasized how hard he worked to get elected president, implying that Clinton didnt put in enough effort or ask for every vote. Bernie Sanders said that Clinton didnt recognize the level of fear that many working-class Americans are experiencing at how quickly the world is changing.

There are even reports that Bill Clinton tried to convince campaign insiders John Podesta and Randy Mook that they needed to send Hillary to meet with working-class whites in the Rust Belt and African-Americans in the inner city, but he was ignored.

Speaking of African-Americans, they didnt turn out like they did for Obama, and those Latinos who did cast ballots gave nearly three out of every 10 votes to Trump.

Clinton was also hurt by WikiLeaks, the perception that rules dont apply to her, an air of entitlement, and the faulty assumption that most women would rally to her side in their eagerness to make history.

It also wasnt smart to make Trumps unfitness to lead the central point of the campaign, because, once voters decided that he was fit, there was nowhere to go.

Finally, lets not forget that the entire affair having to do with Comey and the FBI stemmed from the original sin of Clinton having an ill-advised private email server in the first place. This entire mess was Clintons fault.

I understand why she doesnt see this. Admitting fault requires humility, introspection and an understanding of ones limitations. Those qualities are in short supply these days, and theyre virtually unheard of in politicians.

Taking responsibility is never easy. Neither is being president. But if you aspire to the latter, you had better learn how to do the former.

Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group
Real ID is now the real deal.

Last week, the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division started issuing Real ID-compliant licenses and ID cards. And if the Journals Thursday front page was any indication, change is hard.

Even when it has been nine months in the making.

Gov. Susana Martinez signed HB 99 in March, finally putting the state into compliance with the federal Real ID Act of 2005, which was passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. It sets stringent rules for issuing licenses and identification cards that can be used for federal purposes, such as boarding a commercial flight or entering a secure government facility.

And by stringent, they mean you will need to take four, yes 4, documents with you to get your new license or ID  one proof of identification number, one proof of identity, and two proofs of residency. (To be clear, new license applicants have had to take these very same documents for years  whats different is all the folks renewing a license have to round them up as well.)

SO WHAT DO I TAKE? The complete list of accepted Real-ID documents is posted here on our website, ABQJournal.com, as are those to get a non-Real-ID driver authorization or ID card. I checked with Tiffany Smyth at the state Taxation and Revenue Department, which oversees MVD, and she explains that for the vast majority of applicants who want a Real ID-compliant license it breaks down like this:

 Proof of ID number  Take your Social Security card. The Social Security administration does not allow it to be laminated because that obscures some of the safety features, so MVD will not accept it if it has been laminated. In lieu of your card, you can take a W-2 or 1099 tax form, which have your full Social Security number on them.

 Proof of identity  Take your passport or birth certificate. The passport can not be expired; the birth certificate has to be an original or certified copy.

 Proof of residency  Take two of these: your rental lease, mortgage statement, property tax bill, or any of these that have your physical address and are dated within the past 60 days: a utility bill (no cellphone bills allowed), an insurance bill or card or binder, a bank statement or credit card bill, a pay stub, a school transcript or report card, or a state medical or public assistance card. Drivers who are homeless or in temporary lodging can provide a notarized letter from a service provider and an affidavit of residency.

WHAT IF I HAVE A P.O. BOX? Most of the above mentioned forms of residency have a physical address in addition to the mailing address  utility statements include your service address, and rental, mortgage and property-tax documents include the property address. A document with just a P.O. Box will not be accepted.

WHAT IF ALL STATEMENTS ARE IN SOMEONE ELSES NAME? Then you need to either get something in your name or produce a document that links you to that person, such as a marriage certificate. In December 2012, I wrote a column about a young man who was living with his family, rode his bike everywhere and did not have two proofs of residency. The family planned to have him open a bank account and put the satellite TV bill in his name.

WHAT IF ALL STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE? If you use electronic billing and get all your statements online, MVD will accept a printout.

WHAT IF MY NAME HAS CHANGED? If your bills or statements are in a different name than your birth certificate or Social Security card, for example, then you need to show the linking document, such as your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court name-change document. You do not need to get all those documents changed, you just need to show why your name changed.

WHICH MVD OFFICE DO I GO TO? You can get a Real ID-compliant license or ID card at any state, municipal or contract office. The only time you have to go to a specific state office is if you cannot prove legal immigration status AND your N.M. license has expired or its your first time getting a license  then you have to be fingerprinted per the state law. Only these state offices have the digital equipment to take the prints and transmit them to State Police: Albuquerque-Special Services; Alamogordo; Carlsbad; Clovis; Espanola; Farmington; Las Cruces-Del Rey; Raton; Roswell; Ruidoso; Silver City; Truth or Consequences; Tucumcari.

WHAT IF I HAVE A REAL ID LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE? Then that will take care of your proof of identity, no passport of birth certificate required.

ANNUAL RENEWAL AGE NOW 79: One added provision in the Real ID legislation raises the age at which drivers have to annually renew their licenses. The age had been 75; it is now 79. So a senior going to renew a license can get a multiyear license that lasts up to his/her 79th birthday  the hook is they have to pay for them. Only the mandatory annual renewals are free.

DO I NEED TO GO TO MVD NOW? Only if your license is expiring. Current drivers licenses are Real ID-compliant under an agreement with Homeland Security, so drivers dont need to visit MVD until its time to renew. You can renew your license up to 89 days before it expires. The one exception is if your license goes beyond the Oct. 1, 2020, deadline to comply; those folks need to go in before that date and will have their new license pro-rated.

HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO DO THIS? Once you have produced the documents to get a Real-ID-compliant license or ID card, you do not have to repeat the process  unless you let your license/ID expire.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to assistant editorial page editor DVal Westphal at 823-3858 or road@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

LAS CRUCES  The well-worn route Central American migrants have taken north is shifting, from southern Texas atop freight trains to Ciudad Juarez by bus.

Although they continue to cross illegally in New Mexicos desert borderlands, Central American migrants  including many parents with children  have been increasingly waiting in line at El Pasos international bridges, where many claim asylum and hope for leniency.

They are arriving by the hundreds per month: 7,693 so far this year.

One evening last week, a group of such immigrants  parents and children from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras  gathered inside First Christian Church in Las Cruces.

The warmly lighted hall is a next-to-last stop before they reunite with spouses, siblings and cousins around the country. About a dozen local families volunteered to host them for a night in their homes.

Were going to house them, feed them and protect them as a good Christian would do, said Steve Blinks, a nurse and member of First Christian. And well send them on their way.

Overwhelmed by another wave of Central American families, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been releasing them with orders to check in with immigration agents while they await their day in court  where the backlog of cases nationwide has topped half a million.

To ensure they comply with orders to appear, ICE had fitted all the adults with black GPS ankle bracelets.

Central American men and women traveling with children began flooding the Southwest border by the tens of thousands two years ago. Tougher enforcement by Mexico, under U.S. pressure to stop the migrants at its southern border, helped curb the flows in 2015  but not for long.

The number of family units apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol at the southwest border in fiscal 2016 rose to 68,080, nearly double the 34,565 apprehended in fiscal 2015 and more than the 66,144 apprehended in 2014.

In the El Paso sector that includes New Mexico, Border Patrol apprehended 4,662 family units in fiscal 2016, up from 530 in 2014.

Meanwhile, at the international bridges, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported the number of inadmissible Central American migrants processed at its ports of entry in New Mexico and West Texas rose seven months straight from around 300 per month in February to almost 1,300 in September.

After ICE dropped off 20 Central American families in the parking lot of First Christian, Catholic Deacon Loni Briseno began matching hosts with migrants as toddlers played games of chase and older children tried on donated shoes.

Dinora Campo arrived with her 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son from El Salvador. She came because of the crime, out of fear for my daughter, she said.

Murderous criminal gangs have gripped daily life in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, and weak institutions in those Northern Triangle countries have struggled to tame them.

We prefer humane treatment of folks, said Linda Mervine, pastor at First Christian. We dont see them as criminals  just folks looking for kindness and a way to take care of their families.

Briseno brought home a Honduran man, Ivis Sanchez, and his two children, Ivis Jr. and Tahile. They first moved to southern Mexico to escape the violence in Honduras. He told his host that two close family members had been gunned down when they refused to pay taxes extorted by gangs  but then, he said, the crime began to spill over from Guatemala.

As the kids ate pizza, Sanchez said, speaking of Honduras, There is so much crime. The country is devastated.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Sunday that she would seek re-election next year, a step that could provide a powerful counterpoint to the anti-globalization, anti-immigration narrative put forth by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Merkel, facing a backlash against asylum seekers, ended months of speculation about whether she would seek a fourth term and again take up her partys standard as a populist tide rises across Europe. Polls have shown she still enjoys strong support, if less so than before Germany, a country of about 80 million people, opened its doors to nearly 1 million new arrivals last year.

I want to serve Germany, Merkel, 62, told reporters in Berlin after meeting Sunday with members of her party, the Christian Democratic Union. She acknowledged, though, that this election will be difficult like no other election since reunification  the joining of the communist East with West Germany in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Germanys economic dominance has made Merkel the most important leader in Europe, and she won plaudits for her calm handling of an array of crises, from the threat to Europes common currency to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Elections are set to take place in the fall of 2017.

At her news conference, Merkel rejected the notion that with U.S. President Barack Obama nearing the end of his second term, she assumes the primary role as a defender of liberal democracy in the West, saying it was absurd to think such a role could fall to any one person. But she has aligned herself firmly with the legacy of Obama, who last week made his last visit to Germany as president.

Together, the two leaders penned an op-ed noting that our countries share a joint responsibility to defend institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and international agreements such as the Paris climate accord.

Standing beside Obama at a news conference Thursday, Merkel stressed the need to defend the values of democracy, freedom and human rights  echoing language she had used in a congratulatory but distinctly admonitory message to Trump after his election win.

Merkel acknowledged that the increasing integration of the world economy had left some behind, and that inequalities needed to be addressed. Globalization, she said, needs to be given a human face.

During his campaign, Trump had criticized Merkel, predicting she would be forced from office.

Merkels popularity ratings, rock-solid for most of a tenure that began in 2005, fell substantially after the record-breaking wave of immigration in 2015. Her party suffered a string of setbacks in subsequent state elections. Anxiety over asylum seekers bolstered a right-wing party, the Alternative for Germany.

The chancellor came under strong pressure from the Christian Democrats sister party in the southern state of Bavaria  the main landing point for migrants making their way to Germany via its Balkan neighbors  to set strictly enforced limits on new arrivals.

Merkel for months strongly defended her decision to open the borders to hundreds of thousands of arrivals, mainly from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In September, though, she acknowledged that she wished she could have turned back the clock to better prepare her country for such an influx, comments widely read as a mea culpa.

For some time, we didnt have enough control of Germanys frontier, she said then.

Despite the immigrant issue backlash, polls suggest that a majority of Germans  55 percent  hope Merkel will serve another term. A poll published Sunday by the Emnid research institute suggested if the elections were held now, her party would win easily, though by smaller margins than previously.

Merkel, a Protestant pastors daughter and Germanys first leader to have come of age in the communist East, is widely regarded as moderate and sober-minded, traits that are attractive to a traditionally risk-averse German electorate.

Angela Merkel stands for stability, reliability and thoughtfulness, a senior party colleague, Julia Kloeckner, told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

If Merkel wins the election and serves out a full term, it would match the record set by former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who was at the helm when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Unlike the United States, Germany has no term limits.



2016 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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A Texas middle school teacher who was impregnated by a 13-year-old student could face up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Alexandria Vera, who was arrested in June, told police that she fell in love with one of her students after the two began a relationship through Instagram messages. The 24-year-old former eighth-grade English teacher at Stovall Middle School in Houston also said that the boys family was supportive of the affair.

Vera, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, was initially charged with continuous sexual assault of a child, which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. By pleading guilty to a lesser charge, her sentence was capped at 30 years, according to the Houston Chronicle.

She also is eligible for deferred adjudication, in which case she will be placed on probation and will have no felony on her record if she successfully completes the terms, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Were very much hoping for deferred adjudication, Veras attorney, Ricardo Rodriguez, said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Vera told police that she met the boy during summer school in 2015. She said she initially resisted the boys advances until sometime last fall, when she agreed to hang out with her student.

Prosecutors say Vera and the teen had sex almost every day for nine months. She told investigators that they love each other, according to court documents. During the relationship, Vera told her neighbors that the boy was her brother, according to KHOU, a CBS affiliate.

The boys parents had known of the relationship since October of last year, and they accepted it, Vera told police.

A police investigation began earlier this year after the school principal received a tip about Vera. She told police that she had gotten pregnant and had an abortion after Child Protective Services questioned her about the relationship in February, according to KTRK-TV, an ABC affiliate.

Vera has been free on a $100,000 bail and has been wearing a GPS ankle monitor. Shes scheduled for a sentencing hearing in January.

The now-14-year-old boy, who also admitted to the sexual relationship, is in foster care and will remain there at least until August, according to KHOU. The boys mother also was investigated by Child Protective Services, according to media reports.

texas-teacher
The weekend shootings of police officers in Texas and Missouri follow a string of surprise attacks  many of them deadly  that have targeted officers around the country.

In San Antonio, a detective was shot and killed while writing a traffic ticket in his squad car Sunday morning outside police headquarters, authorities said. In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday evening after he was shot twice while sitting in traffic in a marked police vehicle. In other cases:

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Nov. 2: Two Des Moines, Iowa area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars. Scott Michael Greene, an unemployed 46-year-old father, is charged with killing first-year Urbandale police officer Justin Martin, 24, and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio, 38, within minutes of each other.

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July 17: A Missouri man armed with two rifles and a pistol and wearing a ski mask ambushed and killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The gunman, Gavin Long, was killed by police. His mother said the Iraq war veteran suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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July 7: A gunman in Dallas opened fire on police officers working at a protest about recent killings by police of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The attacker, Micah Johnson, killed five officers and wounded nine others and two civilians before police killed him with a robot-delivered bomb when negotiations failed. Authorities say Johnson, who was black, told negotiators he wanted to kill as many white police officers as he could. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

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Dec 28, 2015: Officer Guarionex Candelario Rivera showed up unannounced at his police station in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and fatally shot three fellow officers. Candelario, a 19-year police veteran, killed Lt. Luz Soto Segarra, Cmdr. Frank Roman Rodriguez and policewoman Rosario Hernandez De Hoyos. Candelario was shot twice but survived.

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July 13, 2014: Jersey City, New Jersey Officer Melvin Santiago was shot in the head by a man who had grabbed a security officers gun, waited for police to arrive and then opened fire outside a drug store. The shooter was killed by other officers. Investigators later said the suspect had alcohol and PCP in his system and cocaine in his possession.

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Dec 20, 2014: Two New York City police officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were ambushed and fatally shot while in their vehicle without warning by a man who approached the passenger window of their marked police car. The suspect, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, then fatally shot himself. Brinsley was black; the officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. The shooting came amid heightened tensions between law enforcement and minority communities.

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September 12, 2014: A survivalist ambushed two Pennsylvania state troopers outside of a police barracks late at night, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass. Suspect Eric Frein led authorities on a 48-day manhunt through the heavily wooded Pocono Mountains before U.S. marshals captured him at an abandoned airplane hangar. He has pleaded not guilty.

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June 8, 2014: A man and a woman ambushed two police officers eating lunch at a Las Vegas pizza restaurant, fatally shooting them before fleeing to a nearby Wal-Mart where they killed a third person and then themselves in an apparent suicide pact. Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo died.

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May 25, 2013: Bardstown, Kentucky Police Officer Jason Ellis was fatally shot in an ambush as he cleared debris from a parkway exit ramp. Investigators believe tree limbs were put on the exit ramp to force Ellis to stop.

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Aug. 28, 2010: Two police officers were ambushed in a tiny Alaskan village of Hoonah before a SWAT team and dozens of other law officers surrounded a house where the gunman took refuge. Officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka died after the shooting. Hoonah resident John Marvin Jr. was captured and charged in the deaths.

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May 20, 2010: Two West Memphis, Arkansas, police officers doing anti-drug work were shot to death by two men wielding AK-47s along a busy Arkansas interstate. Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans died at a nearby hospital. The suspects were later killed in a shootout that injured the local sheriff and a deputy at a crowded Wal-Mart parking lot.

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Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
Paige Briggs has been named director of Rural Sourcing Inc.s software development center in Albuquerque.

Briggs most recently served as the director of Office of Institutional Analytics at the University of New Mexico, overseeing the strategic direction and technical oversight, according to a news release from RSI. Before that, she managed the UNM Student Information Systems team and managed six grants supporting neuroimaging research programs with correctional facilities in New Mexico and Wisconsin for the Mind Research Network.

Briggs started her IT career with Sandia National Laboratories as a senior member of the technical staff supporting Oracle applications. She has an MBA in Management Information Systems from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelors of Business Administration from New Mexico State University.

The software development center is located in the former Flying Star Cafe Downtown. RSI also has development centers in Augusta, Ga. , Jonesboro Ark. and Mobile, Ala.
MOSCOW  Russias President Vladimir Putin is warning his forces could target NATO sites if the country feels threatened, sharply raising the stakes against the Western alliance even as President-elect Donald Trump calls for greater outreach with the Kremlin.

We must take countermeasures, that is strike with our missile systems the targets that, in our opinion, begin to threaten us, Putin said in an interview with American filmmaker Oliver Stone for a documentary broadcast Monday.

The Stone-produced documentary  about the conflict in Ukraine between pro-Moscow separatists and the Western-allied government  premiered on Russian television after advance transcripts of Putins remarks were circulated by Russian state-run media.

Putins comments were among his sharpest rebukes to NATO as the alliance increasingly focuses on perceived threats from Russia. Earlier Monday, Russia announced it has bolstered its defensive missile strength in the Eastern European enclave of Kaliningrad.

For years, the Kremlin has voiced concerns about the membership in NATO of former Soviet republics and countries from the former East Bloc. Putin said smaller NATO countries would find it next to impossible to resist pressure from a major NATO leader such as the United States to deploy missile systems or host new bases.

And what are we supposed to do? We are forced to take counter measures, that is, to aim our missile systems at those facilities which we think pose a threat to us, he stressed. The situation is heating up.

NATO, meanwhile, has moved to strengthen its presence along its eastern flanks, including the Baltic states. But a major wild card has been introduced by the election victory of Trump, who has suggested that his administration will seek to improve relations with Russia.

Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATOs decision-making, Putin said in the interview for Stones Ukraine on Fire.

Hours before the broadcast, Russia said it had deployed mobile coastal defense missiles to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave wedged between Lithuania and Poland. In October, Putin stationed nuclear-capable cruise missiles in Kaliningrad, further arming a region already bristling with weaponry on both sides.

The growing brinkmanship also extends to defenses against possible cyberattacks.

Finlands undersecretary of state, Jori Arvonen, told reporters Monday that a joint NATO-European Union center is planned for Helsinki to study hybrid warfare, including cyberespionage and propaganda via social media.

Arvonen said the planned center seeks to battle online incursions that could be diplomatic, military, technological or financial in their nature.

U.S. intelligence officials suspect high-level Russian involvement in emails hacking targeting Hillary Clintons campaign chief and others during the presidential campaign.

Putin has expressed optimism that the election of Trump, who has questioned the U.S. commitment to NATO allies, might improve relations with the United States, currently at a post-Cold War low. On Sunday, Putin told reporters in Lima, Peru, that the U.S. president-elect confirmed his intention to normalize U.S.-Russia relations.

Putin also met for what was probably the last time with President Obama, whose relationship with the Russian leader soured over Moscows annexation of Crimea, its proxy war in Ukraine, and its aerial and missile bombardment in Syria of forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.

I said both of us always treated each others positions with respect, although the dialogue between our two countries was rather complicated and sometimes it was difficult to work with each other, Putin told reporters at an economic summit in Lima. I thanked him for the years of joint work and said we would be glad to see him in Russia anytime if he found it possible or necessary or had a wish to go there.



Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

russia-1stlld-writethru
WASHINGTON  President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are drawing up plans to take on the government bureaucracy they have long railed against, by eroding job protections and grinding down benefits that federal workers have received for a generation.

Hiring freezes, an end to automatic raises, a green light to fire poor performers, a ban on union business on the governments dime and less generous pensions  these are the contours of the blueprint emerging under Republican control of Washington in January.

These changes were once unthinkable to federal employees, their unions and their supporters in Congress. But Trumps election as an outsider promising to shake up a system he told voters is awash in waste, fraud and abuse has conservatives optimistic that they could do now what Republicans have been unable to do in the 133 years since the civil service was created.

You have the country moving to the right and being much more anti-Washington than it was, said former House speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., a leading Trump adviser who serves on the president-elects transition team.

Were going to have to get the country to understand how big the problem is, the human costs of it and why its absolutely essential to reform, said Gingrich, who urged Trump to shrink big government and overhaul the job-for-life guarantee of federal work.

Gingrich predicted that Stephen Bannon, a former Breitbart News chief who helped steer Trumps campaign and is now one of his most influential advisers, would lead the effort. Its a big, big project, he said.

The project aligns with Bannons long-stated warnings about the corrupting influence of government and a capital city rampant with crony capitalism.

Breitbart headlines also provide a possible insight into his views, with federal employees described as overpaid, too numerous and a privileged class.

Number of Government Employees Now Surpasses Manufacturing Jobs by 9,977,000, the website proclaimed in November. There are 2.1 million federal civilian employees.

Top Republicans on Capitol Hill say their first priority will be making it easier to fire employees regarded as incompetent or who break the rules.

Its nearly impossible to fire somebody, said Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. When the overwhelming majority do a good job and the one bad apple is there viewing pornography, I want people to be held accountable.

Chaffetz said he plans to push through wholesale changes to the generous retirement benefits that federal workers receive, by shifting to a market-driven, 401(k)-style plan for new employees.

He said the model would be his home state, which six years ago replaced the defined benefit pensions that have disappeared at most private companies with a defined contribution plan for new state and municipal workers.

We have a Republican president who will help us drive this to the finish line, Chaffetz said.

The promises go hand in hand with Trumps promise to shrink the size and reach of government, from eliminating some agencies outright to lifting regulations and running the bureaucracy with fewer people.

Gingrich said the Trump administration probably would look for guidance from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, R, who stripped public employee unions of most of their collective-bargaining rights and forced workers to pay more into their pensions and for health care in what became a bitter political fight.

The White House also can look for lessons from policies advocated by Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

As Indiana governor, Pence battled public employee unions and approved pay increases for state workers who receive good performance reviews, a strategy tried at the Defense Department under President George W. Bush but which was poorly managed and eventually abolished. The pay-for-performance idea is nonetheless a rebuke to the governments system of raises based on longevity.

Were going to be playing defense for at least a couple of years, acknowledged William Dougan, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, the third-largest federal union.

The most immediate worry is: How are we going to shrink government? Dougan said. Are we going to lay people off? Eliminate whole agencies or do it through attrition?

Trump has promised that in his first 100 days in office he will freeze hiring by not replacing employees who leave. The military and employees in public health and safety roles would be exempt, according to the president-elects Contract with the American Voter.

He has pledged to eliminate two regulations for every new one passed and shut down the Education Department and parts of the Environmental Protection Agency.

But he also wants a military with more ships, planes and troops. He has said he wants to triple the number of immigration enforcement agents and beef up the border patrol by thousands.

So a selective hiring freeze may be more realistic, Trump advisers say, where agencies Republicans dislike shrink and ones they like grow.

Trump can freeze hiring without Congress approval, with an executive order or less formal instructions to federal agencies.

Democrats and federal employee unions are preparing to fight the image of government workers as a privileged class and the bureaucracy as a bloated mess.

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D, whose Northern Virginia district includes thousands of federal workers, said, What study are they citing saying there are too many federal employees? Are you going to make a bunch of exceptions, in which case your plan looks like Swiss cheese?

Others raise the specter that Republican proposals could allow political favoritism to creep into a system Congress created in 1883 to remove federal jobs from patronage ranks.

Of course we want accountability, said Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who will enter the Senate in January, but we also want to protect against political favoritism. Its important that we not allow the civil service to be politicized.



Many inside and outside government agree that change to the way federal workers are hired, promoted and disciplined is long overdue. Employees under investigation for breaking the rules can sit at home for years  collecting paychecks and benefits  while their cases drag on. Performance rankings are widely panned as a joke, because the vast majority of workers are rated as exceeding expectations or doing outstanding work.

Federal workers are seldom fired for poor performance  and it can take years for managers to make a successful case for dismissal for misconduct. About 0.5 percent of the civil service gets fired every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The civil service system fails at almost everything it was designed to do, said Paul Light, a civil service expert at New York University. Its very slow at hiring, negligent in disciplining, permissive in promoting.

Theres a private awareness among Democrats and Republicans alike that we need to do something about this, he said.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in an email that he will reach out to federal employee unions as his panel works to enact long-overdue reforms to our civil service.

Said Johnson: If we start with areas of agreement, I am confident that we can make continuous improvements to the functionality of the federal workforce.



Eric Yoder contributed to this report.

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Helena Regional Airport Authority commissioners will seek community financial support for a federal grant to expand local air service.

The airports grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Program will be to add service to Portland, Oregon, which is the second-most popular destination for those on flights from Helena, said Jeff Wadekamper, Helena Regional Airport director.

Seattle is the top destination for those boarding flights from Helena, and the airport remains interested in having a second daily flight to there restored, he added.

Airport Authority commissioners agreed to renew their effort for local fundraising and hope to secure pledges for $100,000 by March 1, several months before the airport will again look to the federal program for funds.

Money from local fundraising and funds from the grant would be used to provide a guarantee of revenue for Alaska Airlines should it be willing to provide service to Portland.

Those who administer the federal program like to see at least a 20 percent local match for each grant application, Wadekamper said.

Its uncertain yet how much money will be available through the federal program and the $100,000 from local fundraising would allow the airport authority to seek $500,000 -- the same amount sought earlier this year in hopes of restoring the airports second daily flight to Seattle.

Alaska Airlines was interested in restoring that second daily flight with a revenue guarantee of $500,000 to $600,000, Wadekamper noted.

But he also saw a $500,000 revenue guarantee as perhaps a minimum for the airline.

Meeting the $100,000 fundraising goal wont necessarily be easy because of other needs facing the community, Wadekamper said.

While saying that meeting a local funding goal of $100,000 wont be easy with all of the community needs, such as those for schools and detention space, Wadekamper said he thought it was probably a reasonable goal to try and achieve.

A larger grant could also be sought, he explained, based on the communitys financial support.

Airports arent legally able to allocate funds for revenue guarantees, Wadekamper said, but noted that airports can assist with marketing efforts.

The Federal Aviation Administration and airlines want to see community support for new air service as opposed to an airports desire to add flights, he explained.

Specifics on what days and at what times a Portland flight could operate from Helena, should Alaska Airlines be agreeable and both local fundraising and the grant application be successful, have yet to be resolved.

When asking the airport authority for its support to again apply to the federal program and begin fundraising efforts, Wadekamper outlined some possible scenarios.

After the airport authority meeting, he said service to Portland could be offered initially only a few days a week initially to better gauge demand.

Because of the frequent Alaska Airlines flights between Seattle and Portland, Wadekamper said he saw the possibility of a Portland flight to Helena and the restoration of the airlines late-night arrival here from Seattle complementing each other.

Airport officials had applied in May for a $500,000 grant from the federal program in hopes of enticing Alaska Airlines to restore its second daily flight between Helena and Seattle. Local financial pledges of support produced $57,900 toward a match for the federal funds.

However, Wadekamper was notified in June that the application wouldnt be funded. The $5.15 million that was awarded through the program was divided among nine other communities that included Missoula, which was awarded $600,000, and Billings that received $750,000.

This same grant program was tapped in 2008 by Helena Regional Airport to successfully entice United Airlines to offer service between Helena and Denver, Wadekamper said.

Despite failing this year to win federal funding to restore the second daily Alaska Airlines Seattle flight, airport officials learned that airports seeking new air service were more successful than those attempting to expand existing service, Wadekamper said previously.

Helena had a second daily Alaska Airlines flight until it was discontinued in August 2015. The flight arrived from Seattle late at night and returned early the next morning.

An undated letter in support of the federal grant application earlier this year from Ben Brookman, director of network planning for Alaska Airlines, said the second flight into Helena was discontinued because of resource constraints.

In place of that flight and the afternoon flight that also served Helena, Alaska Airlines initiated a midday flight into Helena with nonstop service to Seattle. Helena previously shared its afternoon flight with Great Falls.

The loss of the late night arrival and morning departure from Helena meant people who commute to Seattle for work couldnt leave Helena and return the same day.

Another concern voiced was that those connecting to other flights in Seattle now had to spend the night there before continuing their travels.
Rudolph W. Giuliani branded himself the man who cleaned up New York City, and not long after he left the mayors office, he insisted on seeing some of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Mexico City  albeit in an armored convoy with a huge security force  to assess how he could do the same there.

A consortium of Mexican businesses had paid Giulianis consulting firm $4.3 million for a comprehensive review of the citys justice system  everything from police training, to internal affairs, to the prison system, said Bernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner who helped manage the project.

The work  which Giuliani would go on to shop around Latin America  made the politician dubbed Americas mayor a wealthy man. He wrote in a 2007 financial disclosure form that the holding company for his business interests was worth $5 million to $25 million.

But the effect Giulianis advice had on reducing crime is debatable. And now  as President-elect Donald Trump considers whether to appoint him to a Cabinet post  government ethics analysts and even a prominent Republican senator are questioning how Giuliani might be able to set aside financial entanglements with foreign interests should he return to public office.

If he were anywhere in the U.S. government, said Richard Painter, who was chief ethics lawyer for then-President George W. Bush, these things would have to stop immediately.

Kerik said concerns about conflicts are political garbage.

If he wound up taking over State, hes going to represent the interests of the [United States], Kerik said. Hes not going to give a damn who he had dealings with in the past.

Giuliani is perhaps best known for his time as the mayor of New York. He was in office during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and drew widespread praise for his response. Crime also decreased in the city on his watch, and he has claimed  somewhat dubiously  that his policies drove the decline. Crime in the city was falling before he became mayor, part of a national trend.

When he left office at the end of 2001, Giuliani entered the lucrative world of consulting  forming a company, Giuliani Partners, and a subsidiary, Giuliani Kerik, and using his reputation as a crime fighter to drum up business.

Giulianis 2003 Mexico City proposals, which were endorsed by that citys mayor, were largely the ones that he had implemented in New York  an aggressive approach to petty crime, with increased arrests and stiff fines, police training, and zero tolerance of the graffiti and broken windows that made residents feel unsettled in their communities. The contract led to many more around the world.

Were here to give advice to a Belgrade mayoral candidate about economic development and how to organize a program to redevelop Belgrade, make it into a great world city, Giuliani said in a 2012 interview on Serbian television, reported by CNN. He said his company had worked in Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Colombia and the Middle East.

My company gets paid for it, I dont get paid for it, he said. Thats what my company does; gets paid for giving advice.

In some places, Giuliani has been tapped largely to show up and look tough. In Peru in 2011, law-and-order presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori employed him to accompany her on the campaign trail to project a crime-fighting image.

There is no complete public accounting of all of Giulianis clients, and it is difficult to assess just how much money he has made  and from whom  throughout the years. A person with knowledge of Giulianis firms finances told The Washington Post in 2007 that its staff had quadrupled in its first five years of existence and that it had grossed more than $100 million. Giuliani Safety & Security, a subsidiary of Giuliani Partners, says on its website that it has affiliations and engagements in 63 countries across six continents.

Even in places where crime decreased, it is difficult to attribute the drops to Giulianis prescriptions. In a 2011 address to Juarez Competitiva, a two-week event designed to showcase the city to the world and transform its image as Mexicos murder capital, Giuliani spoke of similarities between New York and Juarez and praised the potential for broken windows theory in the crime-ridden metropolis, said Kate Swanson, a professor at San Diego State University.

Studies of the Juarez turnaround, however, attribute it more to government restructuring, business contributions and revitalization of the judicial system.

Assessment is similarly difficult in Mexico City, where Giuliani has said his policies substantially reduced crime. Subsequent studies by academics have assessed that reductions were primarily in heavily policed upper-class neighborhoods and tourist areas, and that Giulianis recommendations were ill-suited for societies where as many as half of all workers participate in an informal economy and the greatest fear of many is of the police.

Given vast inequalities [economically, socially and racially], high levels of police corruption and limited infrastructural resources, zero tolerance in Latin America is often implemented in a way that explicitly targets the poor, Swanson wrote in a 2013 study.

In Colombia, where Giuliani has been paid for government consultations, and where his recommendations have been followed to some degree in the cities of Medellin, Cali and Bogota, officials attribute a decrease in homicides, if not other forms of crime, at least in part to his methods.

He came twice and gave me advice on how to be more effective, and how to focus our capabilities, including law enforcement and the military, on specific areas or hot spots, said Juan Carlos Pinzon, Colombias defense minister at the time and now its ambassador to the United States.

I see it as a positive, Pinzon said.

Giuliani has said on Fox News Channel that his group reduced crime in Cali by 42 percent. Others say that the beginning of the drop predates Giuliani and that it began with innovative social and law enforcement policies adopted by then-Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero, a Harvard-trained epidemiologist.

Asked if he thought Giulianis security work was effective in Mexico City, Kerik said he could not force the implementation of his advice.

We werent paid to manage the city, he said. We were paid to tell them what the problems were.

Kerik left Giulianis company in 2004; he was later convicted of tax fraud and lying to the government as he was being vetted for administration posts.

Neither Giuliani nor representatives of the company returned messages seeking comment for this article. Mike DuHaime, who managed Giulianis unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2008, said that he did not discount people questioning Giulianis work abroad, but that he did not think it would be problematic.

I also think hes going to be judged on his totality of public service, DuHaime said.

Giuliani has entertained speculation that he would take the State Department job. When he was asked at a Wall Street Journal CEO Council meeting Nov. 14 if his title would soon be secretary, he said, One never knows.

Lawyers specializing in government ethics said Giulianis receipt of payments from governments or organizations abroad would not preclude him from serving as secretary of state  although they could present problems at his confirmation hearing or force him to recuse himself from certain issues, depending on how recently he was paid by a foreign entity.

Painter said that federal law would force Giuliani to recuse himself from dealings with any entity that had paid him in the past year, and that he probably would have to rid himself of interests in his company. He also could be forced to disclose his dealings to win Senate confirmation, and  given Republicans intense criticism of the foreign entanglements of the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton, Trumps Democratic challenger, was secretary of state  that might raise some eyebrows.

Giuliani, like Clinton, has been rewarded handsomely for paid speeches. He wrote in his 2007 financial disclosure form that he had grossed nearly $12 million from such engagements, earning six-figure sums from businesses including JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch and German shredding company HSM.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has said Giuliani would face a stiff, uphill climb to win his support for secretary of state, because of his foreign dealings and his support for the Iraq War.

I think it is worrisome, some of the ties to foreign governments, Paul said on CNN. He added later: Whether or not you have divided loyalty obviously is very important.

Giulianis foreign work has not been limited to Latin America. He gave speeches on behalf of an Iranian dissident group that was once listed as a foreign terrorist organization. The New York Times reported that his company had contracts with the government of Qatar and the Canadian company building the Keystone XL oil pipeline. He also has ties to a company called TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on Eastern Europe that includes on its advisory board Ara Abramyan, a business executive who it says is a very close Advisor to the Russian Governments inner circle including the President and the Prime Minister.

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A man robbed a pizza restaurant in Towson, Md., in a unique outfit  his birthday suit.

Authorities released a surveillance video, with the inappropriate parts covered up, showing the burglar throwing equipment.

Police in Baltimore County said the incident happened about 6 a.m., when the store was closed, on Nov. 10. The man made his way through the roof of Slice Pizza on West Pennsylvania Avenue, police said.

Once inside, police said, he took his clothes off.

Police told WBAL TV that he may have ripped his pants on the roof.

Inside the restaurant, the man tried to cover himself using what appears to be a shirt. At one point, the shirt is on his head, and he is seen on the video throwing items around. Police said he took cash from the registers before fleeing.

The restaurant put up an ad on social media offering free pizza to anyone who could help identify the naked burglar. They dubbed it the case of the #nakedsliceburglar.

On Monday, police said they had arrested Jonathan K. Newman, 23, and charged him with second-degree burglary and other counts.

The owner of the pizza restaurant  Yianni Rizas  told WBAL that he came in that morning, noticed the door was open and the place was ransacked. He then looked at surveillance video and saw the burglar.

Seeing it was weird, Rizas said. Knowing someone was running around naked in the store.

Newman was released on $50,000 bail, police said.
If you have a kid diagnosed with asthma, it probably is not news to you that the environment in which children with the condition spend their time can play a major role in how well they are doing. As such, you may have ripped out all of the carpets in your home and banned pets. You may also obsessively wash dust-mite pillow covers and other bedding several times a week.

But if you are like most Americans, you have little control over what your little one is exposed to during school hours  and that, according to new research, may be a big problem.

Asthma is the No. 1 chronic illness in children, affecting 1 out of every 10 youngsters, and that number is growing for reasons no one has been able to explain. There has been a lot of scientific research about allergens at home and how they may trigger symptoms, but there is surprisingly little about the threats at schools.

In a rare school-based study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers looked at 284 children with asthma in a city in the northeastern United States. The students, who were between ages 4 and 13 and enrolled in 37 public schools described as being in the inner city, were followed by doctors for one school year. The research team, led by Wanda Phipatanakul of Bostons Childrens Hospital and Harvard Medical School, also took classroom and home dust samples from floors, as well as from desk and chair surfaces, and analyzed them for allergens.

Researchers found cat and dog allergens in common quantities. Dust-mite levels were lower, and cockroach and rat allergens were mostly undetectable. Interestingly, none of these airborne allergies appeared to be linked with worse asthma outcomes.

The source of the only allergen of significance in the study was a surprise  mice, which showed up in 99.5 percent of the school samples. The concentration of the allergen was significantly higher than in homes. And the children with higher exposure to mouse allergen in schools had increased asthma symptoms and lower lung function after adjusting for variation in exposures at home.

Previous studies in Germany and Sweden found a similar link between exposure at schools to cat and dog allergens, according to a review in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In the United States, a 2003 study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found a link between asthma prevalence rates and levels of cockroach allergen in schools.

The mouse finding has a practical significance, according to the researchers in the latest study.

A child in a classroom with a mouse allergen level at the 25th percentile exposure of our study will have an estimated 0.6 fewer days of asthma symptoms in a 2-week period compared with a child in a classroom with mouse allergen exposure at the 75th percentile, they explained. This would translate to 61 days of asthma symptoms versus 73 days during the school year  or 12 fewer days.

Phipatanakul and her co-authors cautioned that generalizing the results to other areas may not be possible, because there may be different allergens because of differing climate and sociodemographic conditions.

In a commentary piece accompanying the study, researchers Elizabeth C. Matsui and Meredith C. McCormack of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine wrote that the results raise many important questions about childrens health.

Should school environments be tested for allergens? they asked. If so, how should the results be interpreted, given that there are no clear healthy thresholds for allergens? Is it feasible to implement interventions to reduce allergen levels in schools, and how would such interventions be funded? These same questions can apply to indoor pollutants, which are also linked to asthma morbidity.

Matsui and McCormack noted that the study did not account for dampness, mold, indoor pollution and outdoor pollution that may have affected the childrens health. Yet they called the study a first step in research on the effects of childrens exposure to allergens in schools and said they hoped it would pave the way for future work on this issue.

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The Hamilton actor who delivered the Broadway shows viral message to Vice President-elect Mike Pence after a performance Friday said there is nothing to apologize for in response to President-elect Donald Trumps many tweets demanding one from what he deemed a very rude cast of an overrated show.

Speaking on CBS This Morning on Monday, Brandon Victor Dixon  who plays Aaron Burr in the musical  said that he felt the popular musical was a platform through which they could deliver a plea for understanding and inclusion after a divisive presidential election.

Art is meant to bring people together. Its meant to raise consciousness, Dixon said. And when you have a platform like that  I called [show producer] Jeffrey Seller after the show and said I applaud you all for not throwing away your shot, for taking a moment to spread a message of love, to spread a message of unity. Were not here to boo. Were here to cheer each other on.

Dixon told CBS This Morning hosts he received a call from the producers of Hamilton about an hour before Fridays performance started, asking if he would be willing to speak on behalf of the show.

Im not sure why they decided to ask me, but I was happy to, Dixon said. I was honored to represent our cast in our show in that way.

After the show, several dozen of the musicals cast members zeroed in on Pence during their curtain call. Still dressed as Burr, Dixon stepped forth and cut through the applause.

You know, we have a guest in the audience this evening, he said to audience laughter. And Vice President-elect Pence, I see you walking out, but I hope you will hear us just a few more moments. Theres nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen. Theres nothing to boo here. Were all here sharing a story of love. We have a message for you, sir. We hope that you will hear us out.

As he pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket, Dixon encouraged people to record and share what he was about to say because this message needs to be spread far and wide.

Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical. We really do, Dixon said to further applause. We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Again, we truly thank you truly for seeing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations.

Twitter exploded late Friday night over the Hamilton casts message, with responses that cleaved into two camps: Those who cheered the cast for voicing their concerns so directly and those who found the exchange inappropriate.

In the latter camp was President-elect Donald Trump, who said that the cast members had harassed Pence with cameras blazing and demanded they apologize.

The Theater must always be a safe and special place, Trump tweeted as a follow-up. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!

Trump would continue to tweet about the Hamilton incident into the next day, insisting at 6:22 a.m. Sunday that the cast and producers of the show, which I hear is highly overrated, should apologize to Pence.

On Twitter, some Trump supporters called for a boycott of the musical. During the Saturday evening performance of Hamilton in Chicago, one audience member reportedly became so upset at an oft-applauded line in the musical  Immigrants, we get the job done!  that he began berating those near him with profanities, before fully erupting two songs later.

We won. You Lost. Get over it. (Expletive) you, the man, identified as 56-year-old John Palmer, yelled during Dear Theodosia, a tender number about a fathers unconditional love for his newborn child. Palmer was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

On Monday, CBS This Morning host Gayle King recounted the Chicago incident and asked Dixon whether he feared he had set a precedent for similar interruptions during Hamilton or other productions.

No, and Ill tell you that is certainly not the first time nor will it be the last that somebody went into a theater and began to act inappropriately or stand up and interrupt the show, Dixon said.

Over the weekend, Dixon had initially responded to Trump on Twitter, saying that conversation did not amount to harassment and that he appreciated that Pence stopped to listen.

Trump tweeted, Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!

Dixon tweeted, @realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.

Dixon reiterated that on CBS This Morning and extended an invitation for Trump to see the show.

We welcome Donald Trump here at Hamilton,  Dixon said. Because I think the power of our show and the way we tell it is undeniable. I think its important for everybody to see a show like ours.

Trumps tweets  in their tone and substance  were sharply different from those of Pence on the incident.

Speaking to Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, Pence acknowledged that he was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers when he arrived at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City with his daughter and her cousins.

I nudged my kids and reminded them thats what freedom sounds like, Pence said.

The vice president-elect said he was not offended by the casts message and that he really enjoyed the show.

I did hear what was said from the stage, and I can tell you, I wasnt offended by what was said, Pence told Wallace on Sunday. Ill leave to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it.

He added that he wanted to address the casts message, which a Hamilton publicist said was composed collectively by show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, producer Jeffrey Seller and Dixon, with input from members of the company.

I know this is a very disappointing time for people that did not see their candidate win in this national election. I know this is a very anxious time for some people, Pence said. And I just want to reassure people that what President-elect Donald Trump said on election night, he absolutely meant from the bottom of his heart. He is preparing to be the president of all of the people of the United States of America.

Miranda tweeted, Proud of @HamiltonMusical. Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love. And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.

Hamilton is a musical about the rise of Alexander Hamilton from his humble beginnings as an orphan and an immigrant to become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Inspired by historian Ron Chernows biography, the show uses Hamiltons life to relay the complicated, fraught story of the American Revolution. The musical is, among many things, about the difficulty of independent governance and about the Founding Fathers struggle to establish a democracy, despite their human flaws and differences. It is all told through a mix of hip-hop, R&B, rap and pop songs.

Since its Broadway debut, Hamilton has attracted numerous celebrities and politicians from both sides of the aisle, including Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump and Richard B. Cheney. (Lynne Cheney, who is a historian, told the New York Times that she and her husband loved the show: The music was terrific. . . . Its a play about human beings who achieved greatly.)

In the past year, however, the musical has become increasingly politicized. The Obamas have been vocal and unabashed fans of the musical, as well as Mirandas body of work. In October, Miranda and actress Renee Elise Goldsberry rewrote the lyrics to Ten Duel Commandments and performed the rap in support of Clinton at a fundraiser for the Democratic presidential nominee.

The vice president-elect told Wallace on Fox News Sunday that he could be counted among the musicals new fans.

Hamilton is just an incredible production, incredibly talented people. And it was a real joy to be there, Pence said.

Chris, if you havent seen the show, go to see it, he told the host. It is a great, great show.

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The day after the election, some people at Hampshire College reacted to news of Donald Trumps victory by calling for removal of the American flag at the center of campus, saying it was a symbol of racism and hatred. That night, some lowered it. And the following night  sometime before dawn on Veterans Day  people burned it.

The flag was quickly replaced, but the college board announced it would be flown at half-staff, both to acknowledge the grief and pain experienced by so many and to enable the full complexity of voices and experiences to be heard.

That didnt work, Jonathan Lash, the president of the small liberal-arts college in western Massachusetts said Monday.

Lowering the flag to half-staff offended many, and the backlash was immediate, especially from veterans and military families who saw it as disrespectful of the tradition of national mourning.

On Friday, Lash told the campus community that its efforts to convey respect and sorrow had had the opposite effect, and announced that the college would remove the flag entirely.

He said there is a tremendous range of views on campus, people for whom the flag is a very powerful symbol of fear theyve felt all their lives because they grew up as people of color, never feeling safe  and people for whom its a symbol of their highest aspiration for the country.

Dissent over the flags meaning has intensified nationally in recent months, with some seeing it as a symbol of unity and pride, and others as one of oppression. Lash said he was trying to find a way to allow the community to have a direct, open, respectful conversation about those contradictory ideas. He hopes removing the symbol will free people up to talk.

Similar debates are playing out on other campuses, where protests and demonstrations followed the election results, some of them with anger directed at the national symbol.

At Brown University, some students tore up and stomped on flags from an event honoring veterans last week, while others hurried to replace and protect the flags.

At American University the day after the election, students upset about Trumps victory burned flags and shouted F white America!

And at many campuses, minority students have been targeted and harassed in the days after the election, with swastikas scrawled on doors, womens hijabs yanked off, black students being called racial slurs and racist posters glued to campus walls.

In a message to the Hampshire community earlier this month, board leaders wrote that the divisions and conflicts of the presidential campaign that erupted after the election were felt acutely and personally. On campus we have seen numerous expressions of pain, fear, anger, and vulnerability  understandable given news reports from across the country about acts of hostility and violence against people of color, immigrants, international citizens, and Muslims, it said.

In an email to the campus community Friday, Lash wrote that college leaders hoped that removing the flag will enable us to instead focus our efforts on addressing racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and behaviors.

He also wrote, Some have perceived the action of lowering the flag as a commentary on the results of the presidential election  this, unequivocally, was not our intent.

The decision was met with anger, outrage and derision from many on social media.

Lash said in an interview that he is hopeful the college community will find a way to listen to one anothers concerns in the next month or two while the flag is down, but acknowledged that may be difficult. I dont think the country did it very well, he said. Im hoping we can as a campus.

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Roxanne Shuttleworth was in shock.

Her 31-year-old daughter had called her on the phone to explain that she and a friend had overdosed on a drug that, unknown to them, was cut with carfentanil, a deadly synthetic opioid that authorities say is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than its cousin, fentanyl.

Her daughter was in a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she had been brought in as an unknown, or a Jane Doe  too ill to communicate with the medical team that was trying to keep her alive. Once she regained consciousness, she called her mother and told her that she had died but that doctors had then saved her with an opioid overdose antidote known as naloxone.

She had died, and she was back, Shuttleworth told The Washington Post. I just immediately said, Ill be there. Ill be right there.'

It was Nov. 7 when Shuttleworths daughter overdosed on a deadly drug cocktail that has police and medical personnel across Canada and the United States alarmed. Theres a wave coming, and its scary, Shuttleworth said. Ive yet to meet a family who is not affected by drug addiction. Im talking about people from every walk of life. Its everywhere.

Shuttleworth, who is indigenous, said she worries not only about her own daughter but about others in their communities. She said the reason she is sharing her daughters story is because she wants to raise awareness about the threats from opioids, specifically carfentanil. Its amazing how many people dont now about it  that its being cut with other drugs, and how dangerous it is, she said.

The 55-year-old Winnipeg mother said she did not know which drug her daughter and her daughters friend thought they were about to use earlier this month but that they had no idea it was apparently mixed with carfentanil, a drug that was typically used as elephant tranquilizer before humans began ingesting it, with deadly results.

Her daughter, whom Shuttleworth declined to name, said that a friend had tried it first, tasting the blend of drugs from the tip of his pinkie. Then, Shuttleworths daughter did the same.

Moments later, Shuttleworth said, her daughters friend was leaning over. She jokingly pushed him and said, What are you doing?' Shuttleworth said. Then he fell back on her. His were lips were turning blue.

The daughter called 911; when paramedics arrived, she started to collapse. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Shuttleworths daughter was given naloxone every two hours. The friend died of an overdose, Shuttleworth said.

In the hospital, Shuttleworth said: I asked her what happened. How had she ended up here. My main question was why? She said she and her friend tried it together, but they didnt realize. She was very sick, very very sick. She was hardly speaking. . . . They had to keep her on the antidote until her system had cleared the drug.

Her daughter has since been released from the hospital, Shuttleworth said. Shes grieving right now. Her friend didnt make it,  the mother said. She has a bit of survivors guilt. Its an emotional time right now.

Officials said they cannot be certain the drug taken by the daughter and friend was cut with carfentanil, though they presume it was.

Both Canada and the United States have been battling a fast-moving and far-reaching opioid epidemic. Canada is reported to be the second-highest opioid consumer in the world, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse released a report last week about the countrys opioid epidemic, which has led to a spike in overdose hospitalizations. In 2015, about 2,000 Canadians died from opioid overdoses, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, though experts say that these numbers are merely estimaties.

Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is one of the deadliest on the market, has been used as an elephant tranquilizer. When mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, it gives users a more potent, longer-lasting high. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently issued a warning on carfentanil, which, it said, has been linked to a significant number of overdose deaths across the United States.

Carfentanil is surfacing in more and more communities, DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg said. We see it on the streets, often disguised as heroin. It is crazy dangerous. Synthetics such as fentanyl and carfentanil can kill you.

In Canada  specifically, Manitobas capital Winnipeg  authorities are seeing an increase in fentanyl and its deadlier cousin, carfentanil. They first found carfentanil in Winnipeg last summer during a raid at a hotel room, according to the Canadian Press.

Where before a paramedic would go to one or two overdoses a year, now were seeing firefighter-paramedics attending to overdoses every single day, Alex Forrest, with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, told the Canadian Press. Our guys and girls are going out to these calls and going to these events, and sometimes we have two or three individuals that were reviving that are on the verge of cardiac arrest because of the fentanyl use.

Authorities in Winnipeg have urged opioid users, as well as their families and friends, to get naloxone overdose prevention kits, which are available at local pharmacies without prescriptions.

Bronwyn Penner-Holigroski, a spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, said each time there is a suspected overdose in Winnipeg, emergency personnel try to treat the patient based on the symptoms. That may include collecting diagnostic information, ventilation, starting an IV and/or using pharmaceutical intervention (such as naloxone), she said in a statement to The Post.

Margaret Thompson, the medical director of the Ontario Poison Centre, told The Post that medical personnel may work on the presumption that severe opioid overdoses are from carfentanil, but hospitals in Canada have no way to test for it. It may be that the only facility that can do conclusive testing for the drug is a laboratory available to Canadian law enforcement agencies, Thompson said.

In the case involving Shuttleworths daughter, Thompson said, we can only say it was a very potent opioid. We cannot say it was carfentanil. However, she said, based on reports that the woman and her friend had such a severe reaction to the drug after tasting only a small amount from their finger tips, it suggested it was very potent.

Shuttleworth said her daughter experienced a trauma when she was 12 years old and soon started struggling with drug addiction.

Addictions are just a symptoms; theres always a deeper trauma, Shuttleworth said. Its basically taught me faith because, as any family member of an addict will tell you, theres really nothing you can do  just support and love without enabling. There have been days and months and years where shes been in Gods hands, and thats what kept me going.

Shuttleworth said her daughter had never overdosed before and that although she has recovered, she does not know how long it will be before her daughter starts using again.

Theres no shame and blame in addiction, the mother said. Its a symptom of something far deeper.

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SANIBEL, Fla.  Authorities say theyve arrested a man who randomly shot and wounded a Florida police officer parked roadside.

Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra says Officer Jarred Ciccone was filling out paperwork during a routine traffic stop when 49-year-old Jon Webster Hay drove by and shot at the officer, hitting him in the shoulder.

The city manager says a pursuit ensued and Hay was wounded during a standoff and shootout with police. Hay was arrested about 90 minutes after the initial shooting. Authorities havent disclosed a motive.

He was released from the hospital Monday and booked into jail on an attempted murder charge. Jail records didnt list an attorney for Hay, who was being held without bail.

It wasnt immediately clear which officer shot Hay. State law enforcement officials are investigating.
NEW YORK  Engineers suffering from sleep apnea must have the fatigue-inducing disorder under control before they will be allowed to operate trains for the New Jersey commuter railroad whose train slammed into a station in September, killing a woman and injuring more than 100 people.

New Jersey Transit disclosed the policy change to The Associated Press on Monday as federal regulators prepare a safety bulletin that will urge all railroads to screen for sleep apnea. The engineer in the Sept. 29 crash in Hoboken was later found to have the condition.

New Jersey Transit said Monday it previously allowed engineers with sleep apnea to keep working as long as they were being treated. It changed the policy in early October, banning engineers with the disorder from operating trains until they get medical certification that the condition has been corrected or controlled, spokeswoman Jennifer Nelson said.

If an employee shows any indication of potential fatigue symptoms they are declared not fit for duty, Nelson said.

Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg told The Associated Press this weeks safety advisory will urge railroads to screen and treat sleep apnea and call on them to install inward-facing cameras in train cabs to record engineers actions and aid investigations.

The FRA first recommended sleep apnea testing in 2004, suggesting that railroads prohibit diagnosed employees from performing safety-sensitive tasks, such as operating a train, until the condition responds to treatment.

Metro-North, the suburban New York railroad that had a deadly sleep apnea-related crash in 2013, allows its engineers to operate trains as long as theyre undergoing treatment, spokesman Aaron Donovan said. Metro-Norths screening program found that 1 in 9 of its engineers suffers from sleep apnea.

NJ Transit has screened engineers and other employees in safety sensitive positions for sleep apnea since 2005. NJ Transit would not say if the engineer in the Sept. 29 crash, Thomas Gallagher, was screened, citing medical privacy and the ongoing investigation.

Gallaghers lawyer, Jack Arsenault, said NJ Transit was informed on Oct. 7 that a doctor concluded Gallagher was likely suffering from sleep apnea. Gallagher underwent a sleep study that confirmed the diagnosis, Arsenault said, and the results were sent to federal investigators on Oct. 31.

Gallagher had passed a physical in July and was cleared for duty, Arsenault said. The engineer told investigators he felt fully rested when he reported to work.

Sleep apnea sufferers are repeatedly awakened and robbed of rest as their airway closes and their breathing stops, leading to dangerous daytime drowsiness. Treatments include wearing a pressurized breathing mask, oral appliances or nasal strips to force the airway open while sleeping. Some severe cases require surgery.

At least one deadly commuter train crash and two freight train crashes in the last five years have been blamed on sleep apnea.

You end up with an engineer who is so fatigued theyre dozing off, theyre falling asleep in these micro bursts and they often have no memory of it, and theyre operating a locomotive at the time, so theyre putting hundreds of people in danger, Feinberg said.

The FRA advisory, akin to a strong recommendation, is a stopgap measure while regulators draft rules that would require all railroads to screen engineers for sleep apnea. That process could take years, and Feinberg said railroads shouldnt wait for the government to force action.

At this point its unacceptable to wait any longer, Feinberg said.

Gallagher told investigators he had no memory of the crash and only remembered waking up on the floor of the engineers cab after his train slammed into a bumping post at double the 10 mph speed limit.

Metro-North started testing for sleep apnea after the 2013 New York City crash, in which a train sped into a 30 mph curve at 82 mph and derailed, killing four people. The engineer had fallen asleep at the controls. The Long Island Rail Road is in the process of starting a testing program.

NJ Transits updated screening policy, instituted after a new agency physician reviewed existing procedures, mirrors federal regulations for airline pilots with sleep apnea. They arent allowed to fly unless theyve been successfully treated.

Regulators are also pushing for bus and truck drivers to get tested.

Currently, train engineers are required to undergo vision and hearing testing at least every three years. Some railroads require annual physicals, but there are no federal standards for comprehensive medical exams.

Railroads are already facing a December 2018 deadline to install positive-train control, GPS-based technology designed to automatically slow or stop trains that are going too fast. Regulators say the system can take over control of a train when an engineer is distracted or incapacitated.
The blessings and curses of families are not limited to holiday gatherings, graduations, weddings and funerals. They also exist at the transition of the matriarch or patriarch from life to death.

Like many elderly Americans, my father wanted to die at home. He was clear on that point. But also like many elderly Americans, he gave mixed signals about what treatment he would accept or decline with that goal in mind.

So when at age 92 my father began his decline from aging with grace to decaying from old age several years ago, my sisters and I began creating a plan that would allow him to reach the end as he wished.

First, we reinforced his household help. Then we scheduled a series of periodic days-long supportive, reconnaissance visits. (None of us live near him.) My father told us that he did not want to be resuscitated if he collapsed. But how should we deal with a nonfatal emergency without losing him to overly aggressive care? Would it be possible, in fact, to do nothing?

My siblings deferred to me, the only physician in the group, for medical advice. My oldest sister was the first to visit his apartment in our new rotation. Knowing his desire to die at home, she was anxious about what she should do if something happened, and she peppered me with questions.

What should I do if he falls and hurts himself?

If he is in pain, call 911, then call me.

What should I do if he seems to be having a stroke?

Call me. And if you cant get me right away, call 911.

What should I do if he gets pneumonia?

Call me.

What if I find him dead in bed?

Wait until he is cold and blue, then call 911.

Okay. I get it.

After digesting my responses and discussing them with our two other sisters, she typed up a plan that carefully explained our reasoning. She (or whoever was visiting) was to call for help if our father was in pain. Whoever was in attendance was not to take action about other medical problems until I had a chance to weigh in.

Most families are not as united as my sisters and I were around the concept of a painless death at home. If the opportunity for such a death arose, we would seize it. This is what his advance directive stipulated, and it is what he frequently verbalized. I have lived too long and I want to wake up dead were his mantras. We wanted to honor his wishes.

Participation in the slow decline of an aged parent comes with obligations. There are dues to be paid  for example, showing up regularly for visits, no matter how inconvenient, and taking time to check in with siblings and provide detailed updates. Teamwork, coordination and cooperation help smooth this emotion-wrought journey. When family members do not or cannot work through disagreements, the result can end up punishing the person everyone is trying to comfort and protect.

Unfortunately, my experience as a physician and hospice trustee has shown me, an odd sort of competition can crop up in these situations. Some patterns are predictable. The most common is when siblings compete to prove who cares the most. This is frequently seen upon the arrival of an estranged family member at the deathbed, and it has been described in medical journals as The Daughter From California Syndrome. Classically, the syndrome unfolds as the guilt-ridden newcomer urges overly aggressive treatments.

Other patterns are less predictable. In some families, a previously restrained sibling will assert dominance as the designated agent or proxy with power of attorney for health care. That one child has been designated as health-care proxy is not to be envied or taken as a sign that he or she is preferred over another.

Sometimes a financially successful sibling will dominate the decision-making, thinking that the managerial skills that built their business will now translate into medical decision-making ability.

Frequently, religious schisms will arise. I have seen, for example, one siblings conservative religious belief that the patient should fight on compete with another ones new age spirituality urging everyone to let go.

The fault lines in decision-making that result from any of these scenarios will prolong some aspect of the dying process, usually to the detriment of patients like my father who have asked for a non-medicalized death at home.

Even though a single person (the competent patient or the health-care proxy for an incompetent one) has the technical responsibility and authority to make difficult medical decisions, the choice to accept or decline a high-risk procedure  such as heart-valve replacement or emergency surgery  is usually the result of a discussion among family members during or after a consultation with the treating physicians.

This is because these discussions most often involve a sick, weak, impaired elderly parent or grandparent and a de facto family committee. It is the rare physician who will exclude family members from a consultation and limit the discussion to the one with power of attorney. It is rarer still for a physician, in the heat of urgent care, to parse the advance directive signed by the patient specifying what they do  and dont  want if an agitated family member is demanding action.

Doctors are most comfortable proceeding with a high-risk treatment or withdrawing life-sustaining technology such as a mechanical ventilator when the family is unified. On the other hand, if the family is fragmented, doctors are more likely to move the conversation toward, and then proceed with, what they think is best. Often this will be an expedient combination of what is medically acceptable, legally conservative and reflective of the doctors best interpretation of the familys majority opinion, even if it defies the patients wishes. What the doctor thinks best will also likely be influenced by his or her own end-of-life philosophy.

I have seen many families unable to come to agreement. I have seen many patients overtreated or undertreated in defiance of their wishes. I have seen agonizing scenes of dysfunction, such as a son demanding that cardiac resuscitation be performed on his just-deceased mother. This situation occurred because the mother did not include him in her final conversation with physicians, when she changed her status from full code  which had instructed them to intercede if her heart stopped or she stopped breathing  to do not resuscitate.

Although my family was in good agreement about my fathers wishes to die at home and to take no measures to prolong his life, our tools were limited. He was not yet a candidate for home hospice  that requires a life expectancy of six months or less  and a new type of very specific advance directive (called a POLST order) was unavailable to him.

In the absence of such orders, I could think of various scenarios that would test our teamwork and resolve.

What if our father developed exceptionally upsetting symptoms such as seizures or massive bleeding from the bowels? What if he became unmanageably delirious? What if the need for emergency surgery arose because of a bowel obstruction or a fall with a major fracture?

Would the pain compromise his resolve to use such an acute medical problem as an exit strategy, a way to die naturally? Would one of us become guilt-ridden about our active passivity regarding medical intervention? At the very end, the inability to let them go is a common development.

Fortunately for my siblings and me, there were no dramatic decisions to make in the two years between our first family consultation and my fathers death at age 94. A year before his death, he had stopped seeing his physicians for checkups. Six months before his death, he enrolled in home hospice, and three months before the end, he stopped taking his non-palliative medications (blood pressure pills, cholesterol lowering pills, water pills, potassium supplements).

This will be our last visit, my father said as I kissed him goodbye and left for the airport following a 10-day visit. He was prescient. My oldest sister arrived the next day, and he died two weeks later. I was tempted to return as it was clear the final day was approaching, but there was little point. We had all said our goodbyes. We had all reconciled ourselves. The hospice nurses were visiting him daily, and he was protected, as he wished, from aggressive intervention. The eldest embraced her responsibility to care for him, and the rest of us embraced our obligation not to interfere. We were a team. We were his family.

  

What is a POLST?

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLSTs, are available in about 25 states.

Unlike a traditional advance directive, which expresses wishes in general and requires interpretation by emergency and hospital physicians, POLST orders are developed and signed by the patients primary-care physician to expand Do Not Resuscitate orders to include options for comfort care only or to set limitations on breathing support, feeding tubes, antibiotics, transfusions, etc. When they arrive in the emergency room with the patient, these orders are immediately implemented and require no interpretation by emergency physicians. They are appropriate for seriously ill or elderly, frail patients.

More information about POLST can be found at polst.org.

  

Harrington, a retired gastroenterologist and former hospital trustee in the Johns Hopkins Medical System, is writing a book about end-of-life decision-making.

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ISTANBUL  Human rights activists fighting a wave of repression across the Middle East are bracing for an American president they fear will empower autocrats and roll back U.S. support for democracy initiatives in the region.

President-elect Donald Trump has shown little regard for human rights issues, activists say, and has praised authoritarian leaders in countries including Turkey and Egypt.

The Obama administration  which sold arms to despots in the region even as they cracked down on opponents  has disappointed many rights advocates. But President Barack Obama has also pressed Middle East governments to curb abuses and enact democratic change.

Trump, by contrast, has not only lauded some of the regions strongmen but also called for torturing terrorism suspects and killing the families of Islamic State fighters as a way to defeat the extremist group. His rhetoric has alarmed local human rights defenders who say their situation is tenuous enough already.

The most repressive times we lived through have been while Obama was president, said Gamal Eid, executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information in Cairo. Eid is one of about a dozen prominent rights activists under investigation in Egypt and is banned from leaving the country.

But now that Trump has been elected, Eid said, what is coming is worse.

According to Human Rights Watch, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi has presided over the most serious human rights crisis in his countrys modern history. The government he now heads, which came to power in a military coup in 2013, has jailed political opponents, launched a campaign of mass arrests and stifled protests.

Obama halted, then later resumed, U.S. military aid to Egypt. But Trump, after meeting Sissi in September, hailed the Egyptian leader as a fantastic guy in an interview with the Fox Business Network.

Sissi, who was defense minister when Egypts elected civilian government was toppled, was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump the morning after his election.

It seems like the United States under Trump will give Sissi a green light to oppress more, Eid said. The United States will not hold Egypts regime accountable for repression, and it is obvious Trump is developing stronger ties with tyrants worldwide.

Critics of the Obama administration say the United States never unequivocally pressured Middle East allies to rein in abuses, even as governments moved to crush the democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring.

Obama had vowed to back off from the democracy rhetoric of his predecessor, George W. Bush, preferring to more quietly encourage change in a way that strengthens bilateral relationships, according to Brian Katulis, a national-security fellow at the Center for American Progress.

As places such as Libya, Syria and Yemen subsequently descended into chaos, the administrations focus shifted to ensuring that other countries in the region cooperated on counterterrorism and the war against the Islamic State. Military aid and weapons sales resumed to Egypt and Bahrain.

Hisham Kassem, a Cairo-based publisher and political analyst, said that while the United States put on a good show for the world, its efforts to promote civil and political rights have always been limited.

Our relationship with the United States was always built on security concerns, he said. I dont think the fact that Obama was president restrained anyone from doing anything.

But activists say that while the administrations support for human rights ebbed, they could still engage with U.S. diplomats and raise their concerns.

With Trump, they worry there will not even be a dialogue.

His comments on the Middle East have included pledging to destroy the Islamic State and rip up the nuclear deal with Iran. There is no indication he recognizes the work of local rights activists.

At least when you met with [the Obama] administration, you could use human rights language, said Maryam al-Khawaja, an activist in Bahrain, where an uprising in 2011 was brutally suppressed.

The only reason I am not still in jail is because one of the actors that got involved in my case, that called for my release, was the U.S. government, said Khawaja, who was arrested in Bahrain in 2014. With a Trump administration, Im not sure whether we could meet with [them] and discuss human rights. I doubt that administration will use anything close to human rights discourse.

In a poll conducted in nine Arab countries, just 14 percent of respondents said they thought Trump would have a positive impact on U.S. policy in the region. The survey was published by the Arab Center Washington D.C., a nonprofit group, on Nov. 1.

In Turkey, a U.S. ally, rights advocates are also unsure what to expect. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cracked down on dissent, jailing tens of thousands since a failed coup attempt in July. Erdogan initially spoke out against Trumps rhetoric about Muslims but has since congratulated him on his victory and criticized those protesting his election.

With Trump in the White House, the United States will be less concerned about human rights, less concerned about democracy, less concerned about civil society and other things, said Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a Turkish human rights lawyer. And this is a huge loss.

Turkey is also a recipient of U.S. military largesse. But the Obama administrations sporadic criticism worked very well in Turkey, Cengiz said.

They criticized the terrible situation for freedom of expression and the media, and some journalists were set free from prison, he said. We are losing this leverage. This is a bad thing for us.

  

The Washington Posts Heba Habib in Stockholm and Heba Farouk Mahfouz in Cairo contributed to this report.

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Development plans for the former Caird Engineering Works site remain a work in progress, said Alan Nicholson who through Queen city Crossing LLC has owned the property since January.

And, he noted, a few years will be needed before construction starts.

It takes a long time to do these, Nicholson said and explained that this is a small market and not growing as rapidly as Bozeman and Kalispell.

Nicholson revitalized a wide swath of Helena through creation of the Great Northern Town Center -- a complex of commercial and residential uses as well as a hotel and Cinemark theater.

But more than five years was needed before the hotel was constructed, he said, and five years of planning went into the theater.

So his plans for the property are continuing to evolve, he agreed and said, Everything here is at least a five-year project.

While evaluating options to reconfigure the existing 25-foot wide lots on the Caird property into larger sizes more conducive to development, Nicholson said he remains concerned by the possibility that access to the 2.7-acre site could be restricted by the state or federal governments.

His concern remains focused on Boulder Avenue, which borders the south side of the property and connects to Montana Avenue that extends along the west side of the property.

City Manager Ron Alles said in October 2015 that Montana Department of Transportation officials previously advised him they wanted to close the left-turn bay that southbound traffic on Montana Avenue uses to access Boulder Avenue.

Alles asked state officials for two years to plan for how that decision would affect traffic patterns in Helena.

Montana Avenue is more than just a local street and carries east-west traffic from Hwy 12, a strip of generally two-lane blacktop, that links eastern and western Montana.

According to the Department of Transportation website, a section of roadway in front of the property that extends to Prospect Avenue had an average of 19,350 vehicles per day in 2015.

When southbound traffic on Montana Avenue makes a left turn onto Boulder Avenue, it crosses the northbound lane, which concerns Department of Transportation officials.

The possibility of losing that left-turn access onto Boulder Avenue from Montana Avenue affects what type of development is placed on the Caird site, Nicholson said.

Both state and federal officials have a say in what happens on Montana Avenue, he added.

He agrees with representatives of the two governments that its not reasonable for them to say the left-turn bay on Montana Avenue at Boulder Avenue will never be closed.

Boulder Avenue is not the only avenue for concern with future access to the property. In January, shortly after purchasing the property, Nicholson noted that any future change to the nearby five-legged intersection, known locally as Malfunction Junction, could have consequences for the Caird property too.

Closing Helena Avenue, which has been mentioned as a way to convert the intersection into a four-way stop, would also affect how people traveling from the west can reach the property.

Its this uncertainty with future traffic flow that affects plans for the mix of uses that may be proposed for the site -- a concern he also noted in January.

Nicholson said he continues to examine alternatives for the property and is encouraged that people who live in the neighborhood want to see their area improved.

Retail stores could be selected to focus more on neighborhood needs, he said of a possible direction for developing the site.

An anchor tenant such as a Cabelas, a large store with a wide appeal to shoppers for outdoor gear and apparel, isnt among his plans nor is a gas station, he said.

Housing is a possibility for the property just as is student housing for nontraditional students at Helena College and even Carroll College, he added.

Perhaps a hotel, intended to complement the areas historic railroad character, is also among possibilities Nicholson mentioned as was a specialty grocery store.

I havent really ruled anything out, he said.

But whatever is built on the site, he said, he wants it to be attractive.

Nicholson expressed interest in a development that would meet cutting-edge standards for energy conservation such as those from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and in the use of new building materials such as paving for parking lots that allow storm water to percolate into the soil instead of being funneled for detention or disposal.

Just as residents have shown interest in discussions and planning for their neighborhood, city officials and those with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are also interested in what happens to the area.

Officials with the EPA have facilitated talks about the neighborhood, and small groups continue to meet independently for discussions.

The idea is to revitalize the area without losing the historic character, said Pam Attardo, the city of Helena/Lewis and Clark County historic preservation officer, who is part of a group that is discussing the citys historic railroad corridor.

The city recently created a tax increment financing district for the area that will allow taxes from new development and improvements made to existing properties to be set aside for improvements such as to streets, sidewalks and street lighting.

Another possible use for tax increment money thats been mentioned is for the city to partner with developers who are seeking assistance to clear land of old buildings to prepare those properties for future development.

Property taxes from new construction on those vacant sites would contribute to the pot of funding for use in tax increment financing projects.

Whatever is built on the Caird site would also see its property taxes pooled for use by the district. But when the district was discussed prior to its creation, city staff cautioned that five years or more could be needed before there would be money for improvements.
PHOENIX  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday his confidence in Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries has been shaken by recent reports of drinking at a DES event.

The Republican governor told reporters that he launched an investigation after the Arizona Republic reported that Jeffries rewarded DES workers in Nogales for giving up civil service protections by hosting a party where alcohol was served. The April event happened during normal work hours, although Jeffries has said it was after hours.

Mondays comments are the first time that Ducey hasnt strongly supported Jeffries despite repeated controversies. The governor stripped him of firing authority last month after the Republic reported that roughly half the 500 DES workers fired by Jeffries since he took office in February 2015 had top performance reviews. The administration has also set up a hotline for fired workers who hope to get their jobs back.

The Arizona Capitol Times also reported that one DES official was fired for criticizing a DES memo he believed was political in nature. Emails obtained by the newspaper showed Jeffries called the employee an idiot. Jeffries also has been criticized for sending emails to all DES employees opposing a marijuana legalization proposition and for soliciting prayers he would deliver to a Catholic shrine in France.

Im going to evaluate any agency head by the totality of the work that they do and the performance thats happening in the agency. I will say that Im disappointed by much of what Ive read lately on the happenings in DES, Ducey told the Capitol Times Monday. I will say the confidence that I have has been shaken by some of what has been reported. But we want to determine what the facts are on our own.

Jeffries traveled to Nogales on April 13 on a state aircraft with some staff members. He acknowledged last week that he bought alcohol and food for DES staff as a reward, while maintaining that the drinking came after regular hours.

Leah Landrum Taylor, a former state legislator who is now an assistant DES director, told the Republic that the event mostly shut down the Nogales office as Jeffries took about 20 staffers to a restaurant and bar.

Landrum Taylor said Jeffries paid for everything and that she did not drink alcohol, although other workers did.

___

Information from: Arizona Capitol Times, http://www.arizonacapitoltimes.com
We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
Well, Rep. Tom Burnett (R-Bozeman) and two cohorts of his have gotten the biennial discussion with Montanas cities and towns off to a wretched start with his editorial in the Nov. 10 Independent Record, Fervor for infrastructure merits skepticism." Speaking of "infrastructure," heres Rep. Burnetts money quote:

Cities vie for top ranking, clawing for more than their share of the tax haul, like magpies around a carcass.

Thanks Tom. I cry for my beloved state if Rep. Burnetts views are shared by his colleagues in the 65th Montana Legislative Session.

Here in Helena, we are looking at approximately $125 million of "infrastructure" projects over the next several years. These fall into two major categories: compliance with environmental regulations, primarily in the areas of water, waste water and storm water; compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, primarily in the areas of streets and buildings.

The city of Helena dances to the tunes called by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Montana Department of Transportation, the Montana Department of Justice and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. These state agencies themselves are charged with implementing federal regulations coming from federal agencies pursuant to federal legislation (Clean Water Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and others). So, Rep. Burnett, its a bit of a taffy pull -- a very complicated public policy exercise -- to differentiate between "local projects" and local projects arising out of state and federal requirements and regulations. You dont even bother to think. You just call it "pork." Meanwhile, were raising utility rates for these improvements on every Helena household.

Instead of comparing our cities to "magpies around a carcass," perhaps youd care to learn a little about what were facing here in Helena. Consider this a cordial invitation to come with me and visit our public works department, the street department, or the finance department to find out what is really going on with "infrastructure" in the capital city.

The hostility and antipathy of the Montana State Legislature toward its counterparts at the local level is near legendary. Maybe this invitation to Rep. Burnett, if accepted, will help his own understanding; and perhaps lead to a more productive dialogue between the Legislature coming to town in January and Montanas 129 cities and towns.

Jim Smith is the mayor of Helena.
Published On Nov 21, 2016 07:03 PM By Khan Mohd.

Of late, the Hyundai Santro has been in the news with rumours claiming the relaunch of the highly cherished Santro brand in the country. However, it seems that these arent just rumours. Hyundai is seriously working on the car and is likely to bring its most popular hatch by next year. When launched, the Santro will replace the i10 in this part of the world.

First introduced in 1998, Hyundais best-selling car, the Santro, was discontinued in 2014 to make way for the Grand i10. In most markets across the globe, the Grand i10 replaced the i10; however, in India, the Korean carmaker continued retailing both the generations side by side and thus had to halt the production of the Santro to make sure there wasnt any cannibalisation within its portfolio.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, the upcoming Santro will be built on a completely new platform and will feature an 800cc or a 1.0-litre Kappa petrol motor. It will be linked to a 5-speed manual transmission. When launched, the car will slot between the entry level Eon and the Grand i10. However, the feature which made it an instant hit in the late 90s and 2000s  the tall boy design  will be shed this time to make room for other modern amenities.

To make it more appealing, the Santro will be completely revamped  inside-out  and will be given broader dimensions than its predecessor.

With the small car segment experiencing an all-time high, the re-entry of the Santro is a welcome move by Hyundai. Given the brand value that the Santro badge carries, it should not be a problem for the carmaker to dent sales of its old foe  the WagonR  and the later entrants in the segment, such as the Renault Kwid and Datsun redi-GO. The prices are likely to hover around the Rs 4 lakh mark.

Source: Hindustan Times

Read More on : Hyundai i10
Published On Nov 21, 2016 02:45 PM By Alshaar

Indias second largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has joined forces with Chandigarh Polytechnic Colleges Professional Development Centre in Mohali. The facility will train students as per the requirements of the modern automobile industry.

In line with the latest technologies, HMIL will support enhancement on education standards through tie ups with Polytechnic Institutes with specially designed curriculum, training material, car, engine, gear box & other learning aids; it informed in a press release.

Through a new syllabus, the company aims to expose automobile trade students to modern automobile technologies, thereby increasing the opportunities of employability and career prospects. At a time when innovation and cutting-edge machineries have taken centre stage, the Indian automotive service industry will benefit from the desired results of this project.

On the occasion, senior vice president (Sales and Marketing), Hyundai Motor India, Rakesh Srivastava said: We wish to contribute towards a marked increase in the availability of skilled manpower in the automobile service industry. We are committed to provide the best to students, which will eventually benefit the industry and society on the whole.

Earlier this month, Indias number one car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Limited had also announced its plans to setup the Japan-India Institute of Manufacturing by August 2017. With this, the carmaker aims to impart training to around 300 youths annually in technical trades and Japanese shopfloor practices.
Modified On Nov 25, 2016 02:05 PM By Raunak

A few days ago, Toyota announced that it will be introducing an in-house venture for the development of electric vehicles. Tesla, the popular all-electric American automaker, has been riling the established manufacturers around the world with its uber-successful models  such as the Model S and X  and Toyota is no different.

The in-house venture will be introduced next month and, interestingly, will consist of just four people initially. We guess Japanese automakers have an obsession with numbers; for example, the four master craftsmen  Takumi  are responsible for hand-building every twin-turbocharged V-6 engine of the Nissan GT-R on this planet. In Toyotas case, every member of this new endeavour will come from different subsidiaries of the Japanese automaker, such as Toyota Industries Corporation, Aisin Seiki Co., Denso Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota has been a leader in hybrid vehicles for quite a long time. For the uninitiated, Toyota is the worlds first automaker to mass-produce hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles  the Prius and the Mirai, respectively. Both the green vehicles were also showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. That said, electric vehicles are the need of the hour and Toyota  the worlds largest automaker  doesnt want to be left behind when it comes to the new segment that's rapidly gaining popularity. Many other leading manufacturers have revealed their plans to go all-electric, including Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar.

No timeline has been set for the introduction of the debutant vehicle from this new venture as of now, neither have the Japanese revealed the name of the new sub-brand. Things might get clearer next month. Stay tuned to CarDekho.

Recommended Read: Half Of All New Jaguars To Be Electric By 2020
CDC adds Montserrat to interim travel guidance related to Zika virus

Media Statement For Immediate Release: Monday, November 21, 2016

Contact: Media Relations,

(404) 639-3286

CDC is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing spread of Zika virus. Today, CDC posted a Zika virus travel notice for Montserrat. CDC has issued travel notices (level 2, practice enhanced precautions) for people traveling to destinations with Zika. For a full list of affected countries/regions, visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information.

As more information becomes available, CDCs travel notices will be updated. Travelers to areas with active Zika virus transmission who have not already been infected with Zika virus can get it from mosquito bites. Mosquitoes that spread Zika bite during the day and night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites. Zika virus can also be passed through sex.

Some travelers to areas with Zika will become infected while traveling but will not become sick until they return home, or they might not have any symptoms. To help stop the spread of Zika, travelers should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after travel to areas with Zika.

Some people who are infected do not have any symptoms. People who do have symptoms have reported fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The sickness is usually mild with symptoms that last from several days to a week. People usually dont get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. Travelers to areas with Zika should watch for symptoms or sickness upon return. If they become sick, they should tell their healthcare professional when and where they have traveled.

CDC has received reports of Zika virus being spread through sex with sick returning travelers. Until more is known, CDC continues to recommend that pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant take the following precautions.

Pregnant women

Should not travel to any area with Zika.

If you must travel to or live in one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.

If you or your partner live in or travel to an area with Zika, use condoms from start to finish every time you have sex or do not have sex during the pregnancy. Sex includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Women trying to get pregnant

Before you or your partner travel, talk to your healthcare provider about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection.

If you do travel to an area with Zika, you and your partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.

For additional information on preventing the spread of Zika through sex, visit www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/sexual-transmission.html. Current CDC research suggests that Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS. CDC is continuing to investigate the link between GBS and Zika to learn more.

For more information on Zika, visit www.cdc.gov/zika .

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon
The government is working on reforms to help small charities win more contracts, the minister for civil society Rob Wilson has said.



Speaking at the annual conference of chief executives body Acevo in London last week, Wilson promised that measures would be announced shortly.



"I want to support the sustainability of the sector by helping more small and medium sized charities access the public service market," he said.



"These small charities are the lifeblood of our communities. They bring local expertise, knowledge and connections to the public services they provide. They have the potential to deliver better outcomes for those in need.



"Despite these benefits there are clearly barriers that are making it difficult for smaller charities to take part. Reform is needed to help these organisations engage with commissioners and start taking an active role in delivering public service contracts.



"We are working to establish a long-term plan to deliver change and open up these opportunities. I will be making an announcement on the next steps on that shortly."



Wilson also said he expected to empower charities by improving their relationship with business.



"Businesses are key partners in increasing this countrys culture of giving and volunteering and there is more that can be done to harness this in the workplace," he said.



"This includes tapping the potential of initiatives such as payroll giving and employer supported volunteering schemes - that enable staff to mentor, lend their skills and help others."



He also said he hoped to announce measures to help support giving.



"I am also keen that we maximise giving to support small and local charities and that we encourage further giving from high income individuals," he said.



"We have just concluded a series of Giving Roundtables exploring these themes and in July I announced up to 1 million over the next two years to take forward ideas. I hope to say more on this shortly."

More on
Friday nights televised Children in Need appeal, the first since the death of host Sir Terry Wogan, raised 46.6m on the night, beating last years total of 37.1m.

Sir Terry, who died in January, hosted the show for 35 years until poor health forced him to pull out of the 2015 show. A montage of the presenters best moments was shown on the night.

A fundraiser of the year trophy was awarded in Sir Terrys memory for the first time. The Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year Award 2016 was won by Lauchlan Muir, from West Lothian, a boy who raises funds by being a "human statue".

The appeal show featured special editions of Strictly Come Dancing with Team GB Olympic squad members. There were also appearances from Ricky Gervais in his David Brent character and a sketch where Eddie Redmaynes character from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them met Sue and Mell from the Great British Bake Off.

Money is still being sent into the charity and a final fundraising total will be announced next summer. The final total for 2015 was a record breaking 55m.
Charities need to be prepared to sack people who are not prepared to embrace new ways of working and delivering services, delegates at the Charity Technology Conference heard last week.

Speaking in separate sessions at Civil Society Medias annual Charity Technology Conference on Thursday, Julie Dodd, director of digital transformation and communication at Parkinsons UK, and Mandy Johnson, former director of partnerships at Change.org, told delegates that digital was now so important that if staff would not, or could not, get behind it they should not be there.

Dodd said that most people will adapt to the introduction of new technologies and increased automation of routine tasks, but that there will be a small proportion not prepared to go on that voyage" and that they would have to leave.

We just need to be ok with that, she said. If you have no people get rid of them - they are damaging your organisation.

She also said that digital teams need to work closely with human resources to change the culture of the organisation to be more willing to adapt to technology.

Trying to do this without involving HR is at best difficult and at worst completely futile, she said.

Digital disruption

Johnson said during a panel discussion on digital disruption that: If you have people who are not adaptable then they need to leave the sector  we dont want them anymore.

Tris Lumley, director of development at NPC, added that this principle of rooting out those unwilling to change should be extended to the board, because governance is the single biggest challenge we face.

He added that to benefit from the opportunities of digital there needed to be more investment and greater collaboration.

We have got to approach this together, he said. We need to stop thinking we can do this in our silos.

Sam Sparrow, associate at the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology, said: It can be very hard to get charities out of their individual mindsets - they feel like theyre giving something away.

She added that the current structures in the sector doesnt necessarily allow for deep collaboration.

Challenges from individuals and start-ups

Johnson also warned that digital has changed how people support organisations, and is in some cases taking resource away from traditional charities.

She highlighted the number of crowdfunding campaigns from individuals in reaction to the Calais migrant crisis, including some who were being offered support from corporate partners.

Digital means that individuals feel more empowered than before, she said.

Damien Austin-Walker, chief technology officer at the Do-it Trust, added that in some cases charities were competing against start-ups with a social purpose who have access to different financial income streams that perhaps charities dont have access to.

And he said that charities need to disrupt themselves before others get there first.

The other thing that charities need to be very aware of is what they bring to the table, he added.

We do have a headstart, he said, because charities already have a large network of supporters and beneficiaries.
Movember has changed strategy and approach in recognition that the moustache wasnt going to engender the same energy forever, an audience of charity leaders heard last week.

Paul Mitcheson, European country director of Movember, told the annual conference of charity leaders' body Acevo that his organisation had been too focused on fun, and had not paid enough attention to its charitable cause  mens health.

We have gone through a period of massive change, he said. When we first arrived in the UK from Australia, we did everything by gut feel.

We were leading too much on the fun. Weve become much more upfront about how we stand for mens health. We exist because men are dying too young. And weve realised we need to shift the dial.

He also said that as the appeal of growing a moustache began to reduce, the charity was trying to invent more ways of fundraising in order to remain relevant, such as its Move campaign which is based around exercise.

He said the charity had also lost out because its technology platforms were no longer better than those of other organisations. When Movember started, he said, it was an easier cause to give to online than other charities, but the intervention of services like JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving had closed that gap.

He said it had been difficult for Movember to make these changes.

Change is rarely easy, he said. It doesnt happen overnight. If it does youre probably missing the main truth out there.
We adamantly oppose this pipeline going through our farm, says a letter signed by Francis and Janice Goebel, as there are no guarantees it will never have leaks or other environmental problems. This only benefits ETP, or Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, and not me, my wife or any public purpose.

Before the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota began its months-long, public standoff with Energy Transfer Partners and the Morton County Sheriffs department over the Dakota Access Pipeline, saying that the project put their water supply at risk and that they weren't properly consulted, landowners, environmental scientists, and agricultural experts in Iowa voiced similar concerns about the project.

The Goebel family, like other Iowa landowners in the path of the Dakota Access Pipeline, wrote letters to the Iowa Utilities Board in July 2015 urging the agency to reject necessary permits there for the project. Our century-plus-old farm was taken care of for four generations and I will do my best to keep it that way, they wrote in their objection.

Some of the landowners describe being threatened by Energy Transfer Partners with eminent domain, even before the Iowa Utilities Board granted its approval for the pipeline. The piece of land on my farm which Bakken wishes to condemn has been in our family for over 80 years, Herman Rook wrote to the Iowa Utilities Board.

Iowas soil is an irreplaceable resource that should not be subject to irreversible damage from the construction of a pipeline and potential spills after the pipeline would be in use...Use of eminent domain for a pipeline is unfair, says another letter, signed by Catherine Scott. And Iowan farmers Sandra Renegar and Candace Chesney, whose land is also in the path of the pipeline, wrote to the state utility agency that they had been given no information about the project and wouldnt have unless we had shown initiative to seek it ourselves.

Researchers and scientists give warning

Several months later, in October 2015, the Iowa Utilities Board held a hearing to determine whether they should grant the permits to Energy Transfer Partners. Testimony from experts in land and the environment suggests that the local farmers' concerns werent unfounded.

Dr. Erwin Klaas, an ecology professor at Iowa State University who used to work for the United States Department of Interior and then served on his countys soil conversation district, told the Iowa Utilities Board that pipeline construction will immediately and directly affect more than 6,200 acres of land in Iowa, most of it prime agricultural land.

Klaas also told the board, according to hearing transcripts, that construction will remove three soil horizons that will be impossible to restore to its original productivity." The temperature of the oil in the pipeline may prevent farmers' soil from freezing, he added,which would subject the land to erosion.

Dr. James Hansen, the prominent climate scientist formerly at NASA and currently at Columbia University, who once described the Keystone Pipeline XL Pipeline as game over for the planet, testified in his home state that the impacts of this pipeline would spread much further than the borders of Iowa.

While Hansens research has already suggested that humans have pumped too much carbon into the atmosphere to prevent climate change, he testified to the Iowa Utilities Board that much of the damage can still be stopped: Restoration of our climate system, and thus, protection of our childrens future, is still possible if we act with reason, courage, and no further delay."

Short on details

The immediate environmental impacts of the pipeline construction on Iowan land, according to the experts who testified against it last year, are also unclear because Energy Transfer Partners studies were short on details, they said. Dr. John Doershuk, Iowas State Archaeologist, said that Energy Transfer Partners never consulted with him before seeking permits for the project, and he described their archeological investigations on the route as woefully inadequate.

Doershuk, as well as Hansen, Klaas and six other experts provided their testimony against the Dakota Access Pipeline on behalf of Sierra Clubs Iowa chapter, which unsuccessfully organized a campaign to stop the project.

In June of this year, despite the objections from landowners and experts, the Iowa Utilities Board gave Energy Transfer Partners the go-ahead to begin pipeline construction on all state land outside the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates most of the pipeline's route and has already granted approval for much of the project. The utilities board was not swayed by the expert opinions testifying on Sierra Clubs behalf. No, just the opposite, Wily Taylor, the Chair of Sierra Clubs Iowa chapter, tells ConsumerAffairs.

Pipeline gains ground

By September, Energy Transfer Partners announced that the entire Dakota Access Pipeline project was already 60 percent complete. The 1,172 mile pipeline is supposed to transfer crude oil from North Dakotas Bakken oil fields to Illinois, and is crossing South Dakota and Iowa along the way.

I am proud of our work on Dakota Access, CEO Kelcy Warren said in a letter to shareholders at the time, as controversies at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota began attracting national attention. We have designed the state-of-the-art Dakota Access pipeline as a safer and more efficient method of transporting crude oil than the alternatives being used today, namely rail and truck. (Spokespeople for the Energy Transfer Partners have not returned a recent interview request).

To be sure, reports and studies do suggest that transporting crude oil via pipeline is safer than rail or truck, where accidents can create lethal explosions. But environmentalists say that pipeline leaks are not uncommon and have more long-lasting consequences.

Although an explosion from a rail car is more dramatic, the damage is much less severe and is more restrictive in terms of area, Pam Mackey-Taylor of Sierra Club Iowa tells ConsumerAffairs. Regardless, Sierra Club's goal is to curb fossil fuel dependency all-together, they say, rather than propose alternative methods to transport oil.

Feds threaten protesters with eviction

On December 4, military veterans plan to arrive at the protest camps in North Dakota to defend the water protectors, as the protesters on the reservation call themselves. The Army Corps of Engineers, coincidentally or not, announced last week that they would evacuate the main protest camp on December 5 and set up a free speech zone further from the construction area.

But the federal agencies that have allowed the pipeline to cross through four states have also lent some timid approval to the protesters in recent months. The Corps of Engineers announced on November 14 that they would temporarily halt planned pipeline construction under Lake Oahe, a source of water for the Sioux and now the site of intense protests.

That follows an announcement President Barack Obama made this year that he would ask Energy Transfer Partners to "voluntarily" halt construction on federal land near Lake Oahe, which connects to the Missouri River through the Oahe Dam.

Whether Energy Transfer Partners has followed that request is unclear. The Corps only says that they expect the pipeline company to follow all federal laws. The pipeline company has not been granted the easement that is required before any horizontal drilling beneath USACE [United States Army Corps of Engineers]-managed federal lands at Lake Oahe can begin, Corps spokesperson Moira Kelley tells ConsumerAffairs via email.

The easement necessary for the pipeline to cross USACE-managed federal land at Lake Oahe is currently under review. We expect all parties involved to adhere to federal law. There is no timeline for this review period. A determination is expected in the near future.
Harvest Caye, the new destination built by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in Southern Belize, has welcomed its first guests.

It is the only port in Belize with a cruise ship pier, according to Norwegian.

"Located just one mile offshore, Harvest Caye offers Caribbean travelers an authentic Belizean experience that highlights the countrys beauty and nature, along with resort-style amenities including a sprawling pool and private luxury beach villas; a variety of eco-activities and interactive wildlife programs; and an exhilarating cross-island zip line. With its close proximity to the mainland, Harvest Caye also offers guests easy access to a wide variety of adventure excursions," said a statement from Norwegian.

Harvest Caye is truly the ultimate Belizean experience and we are delighted to welcome our first guests today, said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. We have worked closely with the government of Belize to ensure that that this spectacular destination was authentic for our guests, provided economic opportunities for the local community and preserved and protected Belizes incredible natural beauty. Were overjoyed with the results of this four year development project, and we look forward to seeing Harvest Caye and Southern Belize grow as we delight the many guests that will call on the destination.

Guests onboard Norwegian Dawn, sailing from New Orleans, today were the very first to experience all that Harvest Caye has to offer.

Colin Murphy, senior vice-president of destination and strategic development for NCLH led a ribbon cutting ceremony and official grand opening, where he was joined by the Honorable Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for Belize, Honorable Edmond Castro, Minister of State for National Emergency Management for Belize, and Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow, Wife of Belizes Prime Minister Dean Barrow.

Today is the product of the governments continued pledge to entrench tourism as a top national priority and to promote tourism as a main engine for overall economic growth of the country. This investment alone is projected to generate 500 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs by the year 2020, said Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for Belize. We have embarked on an unprecedented and incomparable journey. The growth in cruise tourism over the past 20 years proves that Belize is a destination of choice for those seeking adventure, a host of natural wonders, and most importantly friendly and hospitable people. Today, we say to cruise guests, Welcome to Southern Belize.
Community bankers have lost millions of dollars in commercial loans to credit unions that can offer more favorable loan terms because of their tax exemption, the Independent Community Bankers of America contends in its latest salvo in the legal battle over the NCUAs new Member Business Loan rules.

When credit unions compete against ICBAs member banks for commercial loans, they do so on an uneven playing field, Christopher Cole, ICBAs executive vice president and senior regulatory counsel, said in documents filed asking a federal judge in Virginia to reject NCUAs motion to dismiss the suit.

In the suit, the ICBA argued that at the same time, the NCUA is loosening regulatory oversight, creating risks for consumers and the financial system. The bankers asked that the rules be voided.

In its motion to dismiss, the NCUA argued that the recently issued MBL rules simply removed the requirement that credit unions seek agency approval for non-member business loan acquisitions that, when combined with the credit unions member business loans, exceed a statutory cap.
This summer, Wells Fargo executives admitted that they had fired 5,300 employees who were found, under pressure to meet sales goals, to have opened 1.5 million unauthorized deposit accounts and 500,000 credit cards. Such high profile cases provide a vivid illustration of what can happen when an organization does not emphasize compliance throughout its culture.

The investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau revealed that thousands of Wells Fargo employees felt that their jobs and pay depended on meeting sales goals.

Managers created this problem with the stressful requirements to close a certain number of accounts, notes Cindy Williams, VP/regulatory compliance for PolicyWorks, Des Moines, Iowa.

Compliance gets more difficult and harder to police as credit unions grow and offer more diverse products and services, she says. Thats why its important that a compliance representative has a seat at the table when a credit union is planning any new product, process or procedure.

The Wells Fargo case also illuminates the need to consider carefully what kinds of behaviors an organization might be encouraging with sales incentives. Any initiative that pushes frontline staff to promote products that arent in members best interests might seem to justify bad behavior, she cautions.
When thinking about how to launch a new product or bring in new customers, too many companies focus on what people are currently buying.

They use existing purchase data to define their markets quite narrowly. They begin to think of themselves as booksellers and PC companies. Then when sales dip or management makes aggressive growth demands, they end up asking the wrong questions. How can we sell more books? How can we build a better PC? This tunnel-visioned approach to market definition creates a very small solution space, and it can blind companies to threats from untraditional sources.

The jobs customers look to brands to accomplish exist independently from what people are buying, making it essential to see the world from the customers perspective rather than from the vantage of a company that happens to be selling something. As the late Harvard Business School Professor Theodore Levitt famously told his students, People dont want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole.
Overconfident: US Will Win A Cyber War With China

In 2015, the Rand Corporation published a courageous assessment of the war-fighting potential of China and the United States. It assessed that the Americans would have a clear advantage in cyber war scenarios involving Taiwan or the Spratly Islands in 2017.

The authors confidence was buttressed by their conclusion that out of another 16 sets of conventional military capability comparisons (such as naval and air), the United States forces enjoyed at least parity in eight and a clear advantage in another six. In other words, China loses in almost all scenarios of military confrontation.

This report is one of the best ever net assessments of US and Chinese military capabilities that is available in the public domain. The report flies in the face of the defeatism and pessimism endemic in US political discourse about threats from a rising China. The report received surprisingly little serious media coverage in the United States, and has fared only modestly in subsequent coverage by US scholars.

That said, a case can be made that the authors understated or under-estimated the degree of US military superiority. There are many ways in which this might be argued, but one stands out above all others to me. The factor that has not been accorded sufficient weight by the authors in assessing kinetic forms of military capability, such as naval or air combat, is the impact of cyber strategies and attacks on that capability.

The report follows the Rand orthodoxy that cyber operations are primarily support operations, mere add-ons instead of potentially transformational tools in naval and air force combat operations. The shortcomings of this position are reinforced by two questionable statements.

The first is that the direct effects of cyber operations can be reversed relatively quickly. This is only true if one confines ones view to the damage done to the particular IT system. But in war, the intent of almost all cyber-attacks will be to create a military or political effect beyond the IT system. For example, in a Taiwan-related scenario, the United States would aim cyber-attacks against the forward-deployed combat platforms and the headquarters to slow down the rate of delivery of attack sorties by Chinese forces.

The military and political impact of retarding the intensity of enemy attacks even for 24 hours cannot be reversed by software repairs to the IT system. In fact, a high success rate by the United States in slowing down the intensity of Chinese air attacks in a Taiwan war scenario may be the difference between victory and defeat for China. Sure the specialist may fix the IT system but the war has been lost almost in the same time it takes them to repair the software.

And the software of Chinese weapons systems, command and control, and intelligence systems is only one possible vector of attack on cyber systems. There are seven others: the hardware, the payload, the networks, the power supply, the personnel, the policy chain, and the information ecosystem. In all eight vectors of attack, the United States would not stake everything on a single cyber assault and sit back while Chinese IT specialists found one piece of malware.

The United States would plan sustained multi-phase and multi-vector cyber-attacks, supported by a variety of non-cyber information operations, which would prevent the relatively weak Chinese cyber defenses from having the luxury of quickly reversing those particular attacks they were able to identify in a timely fashion.

The second questionable statement in the Rand study is that cyber operations almost never involve force-on-force confrontations. In the US military strategy, most cyber-attacks are reserved exclusively for force-on-force confrontations. Thomas Rids book Cyber War Will Not Take Place points us very firmly away from acceptance of this statement by the Rand authors.

The 2015 Vision Statement by the Commander of US Cyber Command, Admiral Mike Rogers, titled Beyond the Build, talks of the aim of providing cyber options for all phases of operations, meaning all force-on-force confrontations.

In fact, the authors appear to recognize this later in the conclusion of the relevant chapter when they say that Cyber warfare matters only to the extent that it affects the outcome of other military operations. The authors also recognize this in their very strong analysis of possible cyber-attacks on the logistics capability of an enemy.

The authors analyse strategic cyber warfare (a dubious concept anyway) and operational cyber warfare but they focus the latter topic narrowly around logistics. Their treatment of attacks on command and control or deployed weapons systems is more in the realm of may or may not have decisive effect.

The authors also note correctly that attacks on Chinese air defense and intelligence and surveillance assets are most likely to be successful early in a conflict. This, in fact, is the very reason why the United States would seek to maximize disabling cyber-attacks against any military cyber systems if such attacks could degrade Chinas ability to achieve its war aims.

The analytical shortcoming is compounded in the reports analysis of classic kinetic modes of warfare such as naval and air combat. It assumes for the most part that extant capability and platforms in the navies and air forces can all make it to the front line and that none of their preparedness has been in any way degraded by cyber-attacks on the platforms themselves, the command and control systems guiding them, or real time intelligence feeds on which their combat effectiveness may depend.

It is now time to focus more on the ways in which cyber military capability can transform military power in wartime. As Chinas Military Strategy published in 2015 says: Outer space and cyber space have become new commanding heights in strategic competition among all parties.

AsiaTimes: Three Pronged Attack: Chinese Military In Cyberwarfare Buildup: Future War - Extremely Fast And Lethal:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2016 -- There are three times more cooking fires -- the most common cause of house fires -- on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. And the thousands of "turkey-fryer explosion" videos on YouTube are a testament to why frozen turkeys and hot oil are an especially dangerous mix. With the holiday coming up, Reactions teamed up with the District of Columbia Fire Department to explain the chemistry behind grease fires, how they happen and how to avoid them this Thanksgiving. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/t9Dhhxnvt2Y.

Subscribe to the series at http://bit.ly/ACSReactions, and follow us on Twitter @ACSreactions to be the first to see our latest videos.

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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A new study finds that the nicer, or more agreeable, a woman is at work, the lower her salary is likely to be. The new research, published in The European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, examines status inconsistencies between men and women through the lens of traditional male and female characteristics.

Dominant, assertive women, who clearly express their expectations and do not retreat from their demands, are compensated better than their more accommodating female peers. According to the researchers, the same goes for dominant men versus their more conciliatory male counterparts -- but even dominant women earn far less than all of their male colleagues, dominant or otherwise.

The study was conducted by Prof. Sharon Toker of the Tel Aviv University Coller School of Business Management, Dr. Michal Biron of the Department of Business Administration at the University of Haifa, and Dr. Renee De Reuver of the Department of Human Resource studies at Tilburg University in The Netherlands.

Sugar and spice and everything nice?

"We have witnessed dramatic changes in the definition of traditionally male and female qualities over the past several decades. But some people still really cling to the idea that some qualities are exclusively male and exclusively female," Prof. Toker said. "Some professional women are still afraid to exhibit a trait that's incongruent with presumed notions of female character. The result is financial retribution."

"We found that women aren't aware that more agreeable women are being punished for being nice," said Dr. Biron. "The nice women we polled in our study even believed they were earning more than they deserved."

For the purpose of their study, the researchers surveyed 375 men and women at a Dutch multinational electronics company with 1,390 employees. The subjects were selected at random from all 12 of the company departments.

The researchers used both objective and subjective criteria for the study. For objective data, they analyzed tenure, education, and performance data relative to income and promotion statistics. For subjective data, they examined how the individual perceived the fit between their education, experience, and performance on the one hand, and their income and rank on the other.

More effort for less return

"We found that women were consistently and objectively status-detracted, which means they invest more of themselves in their jobs than they receive; and are compensated less than their male colleagues across the board," Dr. Biron said.

"But dominant women were not punished for reflecting such female-incongruent traits as extroversion and assertiveness," Dr. De Reuver said. "In fact, we found that the more dominant a woman is at work, the less likely she is to be status-detracted. We found a similar pattern among men -- the more dominant a man is, the more likely he is to be better compensated. But alarmingly, dominant women were still found to earn less than even the most agreeable men who aren't promoted."

In the subjective part of the study, nearly all the employees responded that they felt dissatisfied with their input-compensation ratio, but agreeable and non-dominant women answered that they felt they earned too much.

"This blew our minds," said Prof. Toker. "The data shows that they earn the least -- far less than what they deserve. And they rationalize the situation, making it less likely that they will make appropriate demands for equal pay."

The researchers hope to replicate the study in Israel and the U.S.

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Tel Aviv University (TAU) is inherently linked to the cultural, scientific and entrepreneurial mecca it represents. It is one of the world's most dynamic research centers and Israel's most distinguished learning environment. Its unique-in-Israel multidisciplinary environment is highly coveted by young researchers and scholars returning to Israel from post-docs and junior faculty positions in the US.

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) enthusiastically and industriously pursues the advancement of TAU in the US, raising money, awareness and influence through international alliances that are vital to the future of this already impressive institution.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Icebergs contribute more meltwater to Greenland's fjords than previously thought, losing up to half of their volume as they move through the narrow inlets, according to new research.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is almost entirely covered by a permanent ice sheet that has been shrinking and melting as global warming increases temperatures. In fjords, narrow inlets where glaciers meet the sea, ice breaks off from glaciers to form dense packs of icebergs.

The new study finds 10 to 50 percent of iceberg melting happens in the fjords, not in the open ocean as assumed by previous research. As a result, more than half of all meltwater entering Greenland's glacial fjords can come from these dense packs of icebergs, outweighing the amount of freshwater coming from the island's glaciers, according to the new study.

"We should now be able to better measure the freshwater fluxes that are coming off of Greenland," said Ellyn Enderlin, a glaciologist at the University of Maine in Orono, and lead author of the new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union. "That could be really important when we're thinking about how Greenland melts, how that influences ocean circulation and climate."

The new study could help scientists better understand what happens at the ice-ocean interface where glaciers meet the water, according to Jason Amundson, a geophysicist at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, who was not involved in the new study.

"The reason that's interesting is that there's been quite a few studies in the past 20 years that have shown that the stability of ... glaciers depends on what happens at the ice-ocean interface," he said.

Melting point

The Greenland Ice Sheet releases more than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles) of meltwater per year, according to the authors. Previous research found half of this meltwater comes from icebergs and half comes from glaciers, but the amount icebergs melted in fjords before they reached the ocean remained a mystery.

In the new study, Enderlin and her colleagues used satellite images of two Greenland fjords to calculate the total volume of icebergs within them. Tracking the icebergs over the course of days, weeks and months allowed the researchers to calculate how much volume the icebergs lost through melting before they reached the ocean.

The researchers determined that from October to April, melting icebergs dominate the freshwater flux into the fjords losing up to half of their volume -- glaciers barely melt during the cold winter months. At their peak, these dense packs of icebergs melted at a rate of around 1,000 cubic meters per second (260,000 gallons per second), the equivalent of filling an Olympic-sized swimming pool every two and a half seconds. Even during the warm summer months, underwater glacier melting only occurs at a maximum rate of 400 cubic meters per second (about 100,000 gallons per second).

Icebergs are tiny in size compared to glaciers, but they contribute such a large fraction of meltwater to fjords because their large surface area allows them to melt more quickly, according to Enderlin.

"If you took an ice cube and put it in your drink, one solid ice cube would melt pretty slowly, but if you took it out, hit it with a hammer and put it back in, it would melt a lot faster," she said.

Enderlin and her team also used satellite images to estimate the iceberg distribution in the two fjords, which they used to calculate the icebergs' total underwater surface area. Multiplying the melting rate by the total underwater surface area, Enderlin and her colleagues found more meltwater in the fjords was coming from icebergs than from glaciers throughout most of the year.

"What I see now is that iceberg melting is huge, and so if you don't take that into account you're going to come up with some crazy high estimates for glacier melting that might not be representative," Enderlin said.

Melting icebergs in the fjords create a layer of cold freshwater near glaciers. This freshwater can affect water circulation in the fjords, which can affect how glaciers melt and recede, Enderlin said.

Ocean circulation patterns could also be disrupted depending on where the icebergs melt and release their freshwater, according to Enderlin. Ocean circulation is a major driver of heat movement from the tropics to the poles, and disruptions to it could cause chaotic and unpredictable changes to weather and climate, she said.

Enderlin hopes to expand her studies on iceberg meltwater flux to other areas, like Antarctica. She said she will continue the work she started with Gordon Hamilton, who was a glaciologist at the University of Maine in Orono, and a co-author of new study. Hamilton died in October while doing research in Antarctica.

"I would say that really this was sort of our joint brainchild," Enderlin said. "I bounced lots of ideas off of him ... He was really instrumental to [the research] and it was sad that he couldn't see it come to be finally."

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Notes for Journalists

This research article is open access for 30 days. A PDF copy of the article can be downloaded at the following link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL070718/pdf.

After 30 days, journalists and public information officers (PIOs) of educational and scientific institutions who have registered with AGU can download a PDF copy of the article from the same link.

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Please provide your name, the name of your publication, and your phone number.

Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Title:

"Iceberg meltwater fluxes dominate the freshwater budget in Greenland's iceberg-congested glacial fjords"

Authors:

Ellyn Enderlin, Gordon Hamilton: Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, U.S.A.;

Fiammetta Straneo: Department of Physical Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S.A.;

David A. Sutherland: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A.

Contact information for the authors:

Ellyn Enderlin: ellyn.enderlin@gmail.com; 1-610-703-6599.
Type-1 diabetes occurs when immune cells attack the pancreas. EPFL scientists have now discovered what may trigger this attack, opening new directions for treatments.

Type-1 diabetes is the rarest but most aggressive form of diabetes, usually affecting children and adolescents. The patients own immune cells begin to attack the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, eventually eliminating its production in the body. The immune cells target certain proteins inside the insulin-producing cells. However, it is unclear how this actually happens. EPFL scientists have now discovered that the immune attack in type-1 diabetes may be triggered by the release of proteins from the pancreas itself, as well as the package they come in. The work, which has significant implications for therapy strategies, is published in Diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body produces inadequate or no amounts of the hormone insulin, which regulates sugar levels in the blood. Insulin is produced by a group of cells in the pancreas called beta cells. In type-1 diabetes, the patients immune cells specifically attack beta cells, thereby disrupting the production of insulin. However, we dont actually know what causes the immune cells to attack in the first place. Self-destructive signals

Scientists from EPFLs Institute of Bioengineering, led by Steinunn Baekkeskov, have now discovered that pancreatic beta cells actually secrete proteins that are targeted by the immune attack. But its not only the proteins that cause problems; the researchers found that it is also their packaging.

That packaging comes in the form of small vesicles called exosomes, which are secreted by all cell types to distribute various molecules with different functions. But previous studies have shown that exosomes can also activate the immune system. Building on this, the EPFL researchers looked at exosomes from human and animal pancreatic beta cells.

The results showed that rat and human pancreatic beta cells release three proteins known to be associated with type-1 diabetes, and are in fact used by clinicians to diagnose its onset in people.

The researchers might have also discovered why the immune attack on the pancreas begins in the first place: When insulin-making beta cells were exposed to stress, they released high amounts of exosomes, which they also decorated with proteins that activate immune cells. These powerfully inflammatory proteins may be involved in induction of autoimmunity in the disease.

The hope is that this will lead to new directions in developing more effective treatments that focus on developing exosome mimics that contain molecules inhibiting rather than stimulating immune cells. These synthetic molecules would be taken up by the patients immune cells and would block them from attacking beta cells.

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This work was carried out at the EPFLs Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), by lead authors Chiara Cianciaruso and Edward A. Phelps, with contributions from EPFLs Proteomics Core Facility, Bio-Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Bio-Imaging Core Facility, the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research. It involves a collaboration with the European Consortium on Islet Transplantation (ECIT) Islets for Basic Research Program at the University Hospital of Geneva and at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute of Milan. It was funded by JDRF and EPFL. Reference

Chiara Cianciaruso, Edward A. Phelps, Miriella Pasquier, Romain Hamelin, Davide Demurtas, Mohamed Alibashe Ahmed, Lorenzo Piemonti, Sachiko Hirosue, Melody A. Swartz, Michele De Palma, Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Steinunn Baekkeskov. Primary human and rat beta cells release the intracellular autoantigens GAD65, IA-2 and proinsulin in exosomes together with cytokine-induced enhancers of immunity. Diabetes 21 November 2016. DOI: 10.2337/db16-0671


The turkeys we'll be sitting down to eat on Thursday have a history that goes way back. Archaeologists have unearthed a clutch of domesticated turkey eggs used as a ritual offering 1,500 years ago in Oaxaca, Mexico -- some of the earliest evidence of turkey domestication.

"Our research tells us that turkeys had been domesticated by 400-500 AD," explains Field Museum archaeologist Gary Feinman, one of the paper's authors. "People have made guesses about turkey domestication based on the presence or absence of bones at archaeological sites, but now we are bringing in classes of information that were not available before. We're providing strong evidence to confirm prior hypotheses." The results were published in an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Feinman, along with lead author Heather Lapham from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and co-author Linda Nicholas also of The Field Museum, discovered the eggs during an excavation in Oaxaca that was home to the Zapotec people going back thousands of years. "It was very exciting because it's very rare to find a whole cluster of intact eggs. This was very unexpected," says Feinman.

"Heather Lapham is an archaeologist who studies animal bones, and she knew immediately that we had found five intact or unhatched eggs that were left as an offering alongside seven newly hatched baby turkeys, of which only their tiny bones survived," says Feinman. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the eggshells confirmed that they were indeed laid by turkeys.

"The fact that we see a full clutch of unhatched turkey eggs, along with other juvenile and adult turkey bones nearby, tells us that these birds were domesticated," says Feinman. "It helps to confirm historical information about the use of turkeys in the area."

The eggs, according to Feinman, were an offering of ritual significance to the Zapotec people. The Zapotec people still live in Oaxaca today, and domesticated turkeys remain important to them. "Turkeys are raised to eat, given as gifts, and used in rituals," says Feinman. "The turkeys are used in the preparation of food for birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and religious festivals."

The new information about when turkeys were domesticated helps amplify the bigger picture of animal domestication in Mesoamerica. "There were very few domesticated animals in Oaxaca and Mesoamerica in general compared with Eurasia," explains Feinman. "Eurasia had lots of different meat sources, but in Oaxaca 1,500 years ago, the only assuredly domestic meat sources were turkeys and dogs. And while people in Oaxaca today rely largely on meat from animals brought over by the Spanish (like chicken, beef, and pork), turkeys have much greater antiquity in the region and still have great ritual as well as economic significance today."

The turkeys that are so important to the Zapotec today are similar birds to the ones that play a role in the American tradition of Thanksgiving. "These are not unlike the kinds of turkeys that would have been around at the first Thanksgiving, and similar to the birds that we eat today," says Feinman.

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Published today in the open-access journal GigaScience, is an article that presents the genome sequence of Ginkgo biloba, the oldest extant tree species. The research was carried out by a team of scientists at BGI, Zheijiang University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who tackled and analyzed an exceptionally large genome, totalling more than 10 billion DNA "letters". Ginkgo is considered a "living fossil", meaning its form and structure have changed very little in the 270 million years since it first came into existence. Given its longevity as a species and unique position in the evolutionary tree of life, the ginkgo genome will provide an extensive resource for studies concerning plant defenses against insects and pathogens, and research investigating early events in tree evolution and in evolution overall.

To study the ginkgo's extraordinary biology at a genetic and molecular level, sequencing its genome was high up on the wish list of plant biologists. However, because of its size as well as the presence of an enormous number of repeat sequences, assembling the whole genome sequence would be a difficult task. The ginkgo genome stretches over more than 10 Gb, which is 80 times larger than the "model plant" Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The tree's genome is also larger than other plant species known for extremely big genomes, such as maize or orchids. The great interest in the history and biology of gingko, however, made the work of sequencing and assembling the genome a challenge the researchers from China felt worth taking, and one they succeeded in accomplishing.

Wenbin Chen from BGI explains some of the difficulties that they had to overcome: "A huge amount of raw data (~2 TB) was generated, and the computing capability for genome assembly was challenged by both the huge data and the remarkably high proportion of repetitive sequences. So an incredible amount of memory was required." He went on to highlight several genome features: "The large genome of ginkgo may have resulted from whole genome duplication and insertion of a remarkably high proportion of repetitive sequences, at least 76.58%, and the longest introns among all sequenced species due to insertions of transposable elements."

Meeting the sequencing challenge was worth it for a variety of reasons. One certainly relates to its status as a "living fossil", at title shared by few other species, including the horseshoe crab and the nautilus. As the only surviving representative of a highly unusual group of non-flowering plants that appeared at least 270 million years ago, the ginkgo has retained traits over millions of years, such as the emblematic fan-shaped leaves, that are not seen in any other surviving plant species surviving. It further holds a very unique position in the plant evolutionary tree.

Professor Yunpeng Zhao, one of the authors from Zhejiang University, explains how this evolutionary placement is of great interest to researchers: "Ginkgo represents one of the five living groups of seed plants, and has no living relatives. Such a genome fills a major phylogenetic gap of land plants, and provides key genetic resources to address evolutionary questions like phylogenetic relationships of gymnosperm lineages, evolution of genome and genes in land plants, innovation of developmental traits, evolution of sex as well as history of demography and distribution, resistance and conservation of ginkgo."

Researchers are also fascinated by the ginkgo's resilience under adverse conditions-- it is worth noting that ginkgo trees were one of the few living things to survive the blast of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This hardiness likely helped the ginkgo survive periods of glaciation in China that killed many other species, and may also promote the longevity of individual trees, some living up to several thousand years, according to reports. The ginkgo is also able to defend itself against a wide range of attackers, employing an arsenal of chemical weapons against insects, bacteria and fungi.

To better understand the ginkgo's defensive systems, the authors analysed the repertoire of genes present in the genome that are known to play a role in fending off attackers. An initial analysis of the tree's more than 40,000 predicted genes showed extensive expansion of gene families that provide for a variety of defensive mechanisms. Genes that enable resistance against pathogens are often duplicated. Additionally, ginkgo has a double-knockout punch in its fight against insects by synthesizing chemicals that directly fight insects and by releasing volatile organic compounds that specifically attract enemies of plant-eating insects. These findings indicated that having multiple mechanisms -- the expansion of gene families, higher doses of specific genes, and versatility in its defence genes -- might be linked to the ginkgo's extraordinary resilience. This information may then be useful to aid in understanding plant defence system with an eye to improving food security.

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In keeping with the journal's goals of making the data underlying the analyses used in published research fully and freely available, all data from this project are available under a CC0 waiver in the GigaScience database, GigaDB, in a citable format (http://dx.doi.org/10.5524/100209), and, as a standard, the sequence data is available in the NCBI public repository under accession number PRJNA307642.

Further Reading:

Rui Guan, Yunpeng Zhao, He Zhang, Guangyi Fan, Xin Liu, Wenbin Zhou, Chengcheng Shi, Jiahao Wang, Weiqing Liu, Xinming Liang, Yuanyuan Fu, Kailong Ma, Lijun Zhao, Fumin Zhang, Zuhong Lu, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Xun Xu, Jian Wang, Huanming Yang, Chengxin Fu, Song Ge, Wenbin Chen: Draft genome of the living fossil Ginkgo biloba. GigaScience 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13742-016-0154-1.

Notes to News Writers:

1. Publication in GigaScience includes storage of relevant associated data in the journal's affiliated database, GigaDB, where every dataset is provided with a digital object identifier (DOI), making it possible to cite and track data in standard scientific literature, which serves as a strong incentive for researchers to more rapidly release expensive and work-intensive datasets for community use. For this papers this is: Guan RZ, Y; Zhang, H; Fan, G; Liu, X; Zhou, W; Shi, C; Wang, J; Liu, W; Liang, X; Fu, Y; Ma, K; Zhao, L; Zhang, F; Lu, Z; Lee, S, M; Xu, X; Wang, J; Yang, H; Fu, C; Ge, S; Chen, W: De novo sequencing of Ginkgo biloba. GigaScience Database 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.5524/100209

2. GigaScience is co-published by BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, and BioMed Central, the world's largest open-access publisher. The journal covers research that uses or produces 'big data' from the full spectrum of the life sciences. It also serves as a forum for discussing the difficulties of and unique needs for handling large-scale data from all areas of the life sciences. The journal has a completely novel publication format -- one that integrates manuscript publication with complete data hosting, and analyses tool incorporation. To encourage transparent reporting of scientific research as well as enable future access and analyses, it is a requirement of manuscript submission to GigaScience that all supporting data and source code be made available in the GigaScience database, GigaDB, as well as in publicly available repositories. GigaScience will provide users access to associated online tools and workflows, and has integrated a data analysis platform, maximizing the potential utility and re-use of data. Follow GigaScience on twitter @GigaScience; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GigaScience/, and keep up-to-date with our blog http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/gigablog/.

Media Contacts

Scott Edmunds

GigaScience, BGI Hong Kong

Tel: +852 3610 3531

Mob: +852 92490853

Email: scott@gigasciencejournal.com
Due to the burning of biomass and fossil fuels and, above all, due to agriculture, excessive quantities of reactive nitrogen are still being released into the atmosphere, soil and water -- with negative effects on biodiversity, the climate and human health. However, a differentiated analysis of nitrogen input pathways from the different sources reveals significant differences. While nitrogen inputs into soils -- primarily due to agriculture -- have elevated nitrate concentrations in the groundwater of many regions to values above the threshold of 50 mg per litre, atmospheric pollution is decreasing in large parts of Europe and North America due to emission-reducing measures. This means that less nitrogen is released into soils and water via atmospheric depositions. Long-term measurements over the past 20 years clearly indicate that this is the case in Germany: On average 35 mg less atmospheric nitrogen was released into the soils per square metre per year. According to studies conducted by UFZ scientists, this leads to 0.08 mg less nitrate per litre per year entering streams and drinking water reservoirs. "It does not sound like much, but in a number of natural areas not or hardly impacted by industry and agriculture, pre-industrial conditions will set in over time," says UFZ hydrogeologist Dr. Andreas Musolff. "At less than 6 mg of nitrate per litre of water in some cases, conditions are far from the problematic nitrate concentrations measured in regions heavily impacted by industry or agriculture."

That this positive development can also have negative implications became apparent when scientists started studying the causes of a brown colouration of water in reservoirs increasingly observable in Germany, northern Europe and North America. This brown colouration is especially problematic for drinking water treatment. In reviewing various hypotheses, they noted that the brown colouration of the water was strongly correlated with the decreasing concentrations of nitrate in the riparian soils surrounding the tributary streams of the reservoirs. This is due to the fact that the presence of nitrate in the riparian wetlands where most of the stream flow is generated ensures that carbon, phosphate and various metals remain bound to oxidised iron. Lower nitrate levels allow a chemical reduction of iron compounds and thus the mobilisation of previously adsorbed substances. Thus, compounds previously bound to soil particles become mobile and are released into the streams with the rainwater. In the case of carbon this means that the concentration of dissolved organic carbon increases and is visible as the brownish colour of the water. In just under 40 percent of the 110 tributaries of drinking water reservoirs that were studied, the scientists found significantly increased DOC concentrations with an average of 0.12 mg more DOC per litre per year. The most significant increase was found in natural, forested, where nitrate concentrations in the water were less than 6 mg per litre.

In addition to DOC, phosphate concentrations are also increasing significantly in over 30 per cent of the tributaries. The calculated average 7 g per litre per year tends to favour algae growth and is equally problematic for water quality in the long run. There is evidence that not only DOC and phosphate, but also adsorbed metals such as arsenic, vanadium, zinc and lead are increasingly becoming mobilised. "We solve one problem by making the air cleaner, but in turn create a different problem in other areas," says biologist Dr. Jorg Tittel, head of the project at the UFZ, explaining the unexpected effect. "None of the dissolved substances is toxic at this low concentration and the substances are also largely removed by water treatment. However, water treatment is becoming more expensive."

Initial evidence confirming this hypothesis was provided by the evaluation of data collected for a small 1.7 km2 catchment in the Erzgebirge mountains near the Wilzsch, a tributary of the Zwickauer Mulde, which flows into the Carlsfeld reservoir. Thereafter scientists chose a much larger scale, focusing on 110 streams and their catchments entering a total of 36 drinking water reservoirs. Despite a much greater diversity in terms of the size of the streams and their catchments, their topography, the amount of precipitation, land use and the chemical characteristics, the hypothesis could be confirmed based on this much larger data set as well: The observed increase in DOC is closely correlated with the decreasing amount of nitrate in the water.

In the meantime a discussion has begun as to how the results of this meta-analysis can be translated into practical measures to halt the increase in DOC, in partnership with the relevant authorities. "The study helps to focus future research on the relevant processes and to plan appropriate field experiments that further improve the basis for decision-making in terms of concrete measures," says Andreas Musolff.

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The research findings were produced within the framework of the project "Pollution of drinking water reservoirs by dissolved organic carbon: outlook, precautions, courses of action (TALKO)", which up until 2015 was funded with more than one million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The aim of collaboration between the UFZ, reservoir administrations, water suppliers, public authorities and an engineering office was to find ways to reduce discharges into reservoirs, improve predictions and optimise water treatment technologies.
On average, as lives get longer, the difference in the age at which people die becomes smaller. By analyzing data from 44 countries, researchers have now proven that life expectancy and the variation of individual lifespans are tightly bound together by a mathematical relationship. If life expectancy decreases in times of crisis, then, according to the same mathematical logic, the distribution of the lengths of lives widens.

"Since life expectancy very probably continues to rise, we can expect that fewer people have to die earlier than the average," says Alexander Scheuerlein, scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany. Scheuerlein has now published these results on lifespans together with MPIDR director James Vaupel and an international team of researchers in the science journal PNAS.

Fewer people have to die prematurely

Among women in the US, the effect accounts for a compression of mortality by ten years between 1933 and 2014 (see graph). In 1933, American women had a life expectancy of 62.8 years, while half of all deaths occurred within a time span of 26.3 years around the average age of death. In contrast, by 2014, life expectancy had risen by almost 19 years to up to 81.3 years, while the time span that half of all deaths occurred in had shrunk to only 16.3 years.

According to Scheuerlein, the continuing convergence of the ages at death not only means that less people are dying clearly prematurely, but also that less people are living far beyond the average age of death. "The extent to which people benefit from gains in lifespan is becoming increasingly similar," says Scheuerlein.

One rule for vastly different societies

This relationship between life expectancy and the converging of the ages at death can be observed not only over time within a single country, but across very different countries, historical epochs, and societies--and between men and women. No matter which types of populations the researchers compared, they always found a fixed relationship between the difference in life expectancy levels and the difference in the variance in the distributions of deaths over age.

The same mathematical conditions apply even to extreme cases. For example, this is true for modern Japanese women, who hold the world record with a life expectancy well beyond 80 years. It also applies to traditional hunter-gatherer societies (with a life expectancy around 40 years), and the historic population of freed US slaves in Liberia, who temporarily had an average lifespan of only a few years.

Given the diversity of the human populations who appear to be governed by this newly discovered rule, it is not yet possible to determine its causes, Scheuerlein says. "The universality of the relationship is striking. The only thing that is obvious to us right now is that it must have to do with the sociocultural way humans organize their societies."

Increasing length of life despite low infant mortality

The PNAS study confirms recent research which suggests that gains in life expectancy are to be expected at higher ages, Scheuerlein points out. In the past, individual lifespans have been more diverse mainly due to high infant mortality. Deaths had accumulated in two distinct age groups, that of early childhood and, for those who survived, that of adulthood. As the centers of these groups had been quite distant, it was no surprise that when infant mortality decreased to almost zero, the variation of lifespans shrunk and life expectancy rose at the same time.

Meanwhile infant mortality has been at sustained low levels for many years, and the vast majority of deaths is centered around higher ages. Nevertheless, recent developments also follow the newly discovered rule. The age range within which most deaths occur is still becoming narrower, even though the time span for this process has already become considerably smaller than in the past and now takes place later on in the second half of life. Simultaneously, life expectancy continues to reach ever-higher values. "Our newly discovered rule adds to a growing body of research that does not give any evidence that humans are approaching a looming limit to life expectancy," says Scheuerlein.

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Original publication:

Fernando Colchero, Roland Rau, Owen R. Jones, Julia A. Barthold, Dalia A. Conde, Adam Lenart, Laszlo Nemeth, Alexander Scheuerlein, Jonas Schoeley, Catalina Torres, Virginia Zarulli, Jeanne Altmann, Diane K. Brockman, Anne M. Bronikowski, Linda M. Fedigan, Anne E. Pusey, Tara S. Stoinski, Karen B. Strier, Annette Baudisch, Susan C. Alberts, James W. Vaupel: The emergence of longevous populations, PNAS DOI 10.1073/pnas.1612191113
Doctors who work in one of the busiest ERs, in one of the busiest tourist areas of the US, offer tips for healthy travel

Orlando, Fla. - If you've ever had to seek medical attention for an illness or an injury during a vacation, you're not alone. A new national survey by Orlando Health finds one in four vacations includes a trip to the ER and doctors say many patients are simply not prepared for the situation.

"When you're going on vacation the last thing you want to think about is a medical emergency, but with just a few simple steps, you can rest assured that you will be prepared for any situation" said Steven Corbett, MD, an emergency medicine physician with Dr. P. Phillips Hospital at Orlando Health.

Because it's located in the heart of one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the emergency department at which Corbett works is one of the busiest in the country, treating more than 80,000 patients per year. "We really see the gamut," said Corbett. "If you can think it or imagine it, quite honestly, we've seen it."

The facility is so busy, in fact, that it offers overnight accommodations through the Cynthia C. and William E. Perry Pavilion to friends and family who bring in loved ones for emergency care. "We have an entire department that does nothing more than help the families and friends of our patients," said Corbett. "Not only are they welcome to stay here for a per-night donation, but we will ferry them back and forth to their hotels and even pick up their car for them from the theme park where they may have left it."

Corbett says many travelers make the same mistakes when it comes to medical emergencies on vacation, and he offers a few tips to make sure you're prepared for your next trip:

Don't Force it - If you are sick or injured before your vacation begins, stay home. "I understand that we only get so many days off throughout the year and we spend a lot of time planning our vacations," said Corbett, "but I see people every day who think they can manage their conditions only to wind up in the ER, which ruins the trip for everyone involved."

Carry Your Medical Information with You - If you are dealing with a medical issue at the time of your trip or if you have a chronic condition, be sure to carry pertinent information with you. "You can store a lot of information on your phone," said Corbett. "Make a list of allergies you might have, take photos of your prescriptions and upload images to your phone like x-rays, MRIs or EKG results. The more information you can provide to us, the more efficiently we can treat you." There is a side note, however: be sure someone else knows how to unlock your phone and retrieve that information. "It's great if you have those things, but it does no good if we can't get to it. Make sure your phone is unlocked and the information is readily available."

Refill Prescriptions Before You Leave - One of the most common mistakes people make is that they run out of their medications in the midst of their vacation. Getting a refill in an unfamiliar place can be a challenge and going without your medication is never a good idea, so be sure you have enough to cover the duration of your trip. Also, in case your luggage is lost, be sure to pack all medications in a carry-on bag so you can have it with you at all times.

Speak Up if You Don't Feel Well - Corbett says many patients wind up in the emergency department because they didn't speak up when they first started feeling ill. "They don't want to be responsible for ruining everyone else's fun, so they don't just keep quiet," he said. "That can be very dangerous, especially if someone is having symptoms like chest pains or dizziness that can be sign of something serious. So, if something doesn't seem right, speak up immediately."

Invest in Travel Insurance - Healthcare is expensive and it's important to remember that your insurance may not work. Medicare and even some private plans don't cover medical costs outside the United States and the rules for Medicaid can vary by state. Corbett suggests investing in travel insurance, especially if you are traveling out of the country.

Everything in Moderation - Perhaps the most common mistake tourists make is simply overdoing it. "They spend too much time in the heat and humidity and get dehydrated, they're on their feet much longer than normal or they go on rides they shouldn't," said Corbett. "I treat hundreds of patients each year who would never have come to the ER had they only paced themselves." Drinking too much alcohol and overeating are common mistakes as well, especially indulging in exotic foods you're not used to eating.

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Orlando Health is a $2.1 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of physician practices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers throughout Central Florida. The organization is home to the area's only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics and is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. Nearly 3,000 physicians have privileges at Orlando Health, which is also one of the area's largest employers with more than 15,000 employees who serve nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides more than $270 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at http://www.orlandohealth.com.
Up until now, atmospheric models and hydrodynamic models have remained separate to a large extent in the Great Lakes region, with only a few attempts to loosely couple them. In a new study, published online this week in the Journal of Climate, an integrated model brings together climate and water models.

The collaborative work is the product of researchers from Michigan Technological University, Loyola Marymount University, LimnoTech and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Pengfei Xue, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan Tech, led the study through his work at the Great Lakes Research Center on campus.

"One of the important concepts in climate change, in addition to knowing the warming trend, is understanding that extreme events become more severe," Xue says. "That is both a challenge and an important focus in regional climate modeling."

To make those connections, the model specifically uses two-way coupling and 3-dimensional modeling to connect atmospheric and lake body interactions. Two-way coupling is like a two-way street and enables feedback between variables; other models use preset inputs that act more like one-way streets. Current models also rely on 1-D lake models that cannot account for the dynamic nature of hydrologic processes in bodies of water as large as the Great Lakes.

For comparison, most widely used global climate models use only tens of grid points (roughly 0.5 degree resolution) to cover all of the Great Lakes, if they account for the lakes at all. To create a more nuanced view, like what has been accomplished already in ocean coastline modeling, the new model simulates the hydrodynamics of the Great Lakes region with 3-D hydrodynamic model constructed of 40 vertical layers and 2-kilometer horizontal grid resolution. That's roughly 50,000 grids for each layer, which enables feedback between air and water data.

The datasets used are so large that they can only run on a supercomputer. Xue uses the Superior supercomputer at the Great Lakes Research Center. Xue and his team vetted the model's accuracy by comparing its simulations to historical records and satellite data.

"This kind of approach has been recognized as a critical step in the Great Lakes region that has been building over the past decade," Xue says.

The next stage of the research will expand the model to include surface water runoff. Refining the model is a community effort, and the team plans to work with current collaborators to apply and test the limits of the model.

In its current version, the new model provides better footing to further Great Lakes research. By doing so, scientists will glean more information about everything from regional climate change and shipping to oil spill mitigation and invasive species.

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FORT LAUDERDALE/DAVIE, Fla. - The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) recently announced Nova Southeastern University (NSU) College of Optometry Professor Rachel A. "Stacey" Coulter, O.D., M.S.Ed., FAAO, FCOVD, as the recipient of the prestigious 2016 William Feinbloom Award. Dr. Coulter was recognized at the Academy 2016 Anaheim Awards Ceremony on November 11, 2016.

Each year the AAO recognizes distinguished individuals who have made countless contributions to advancing the profession of optometry. Established in 1983, the William Feinbloom Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a distinguished and significant contribution to clinical excellence and the direct clinical advancement of visual and optometric service and thus the visual enhancement of the public.

"The individuals nominated for awards this year were all exceptional individuals, which made it a difficult but rewarding task to come up with leading candidates," Chris A. Johnson, Ph.D., D.Sc., FAAO, Awards Committee chair. "I am indebted to those who performed the nominations and those who served on the awards committee. The high quality of candidates is an indication of the success, improvement and influence of the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Foundation, and its members."

According to the AAO, Dr. Coulter demonstrates the link between her clinical research expertise while raising the standards of routine clinical optometric practice. She is an outstanding role model for individuals aspiring to combine research and clinical practice in their career goals.

Dr. Coulter is professor and chair of the Optometric Sciences Department at NSU's College of Optometry. She has served in various roles since joining Southeastern University of the Health Sciences (now NSU) in 1992.

She has authored numerous refereed journal articles in publications such as Strabismus, Optometry and Vision Science, Optometry, and Optometry & Vision Development. She has also authored a textbook chapter in the 5th edition of Bartlett and Janus's text Clinical Ocular Pharmacology. She serves on the Editorial Review Board for Optometry & Vision Development and has served as a guest reviewer for several journals.

Dr. Coulter has significant research experience in the areas of autism and vision, convergence insufficiency, preschool vision screening and ocular motility and attention. She has presented scientific research at conferences and continuing education lectures on topics including binocular vision and pediatric optometry.

Dr. Coulter is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. She is a diplomate in binocular vision, perception and pediatric optometry. She has held several positions for AAO, including chair of the Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry Section, vice- chair of the Membership Committee, and two-time member of the Nominating Committee. She also is a past chair of the Children's Vision Committee for the Florida Optometric Association and was elected as a distinguished practitioner to the National Academies of Practice in 2009.

Dr. Coulter received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 1983 and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1991. She completed a residency in pediatric optometry and vision therapy at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

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About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): Located in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional degree levels. A private, not-for-profit institution, NSU has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while maintaining a presence online globally. For more than 50 years, NSU has been awarding degrees in a wide range of fields, while fostering groundbreaking research and an impactful commitment to community. Classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is 1 of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private, not-for-profit institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education's criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit http://www.nova.edu for more information about NSU and realizingpotential.nova.edu for more information on the largest fundraising campaign in NSU history.
Stunningly underwhelming, species of the genus Isoetes, commonly known as quillworts, bear amazing similarity to grass plants with which they are often confused. The US state of Mississippi has now given its name to a new species of the enigmatic quillwort group. The study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.

The new species, Isoetes mississippiensis, is an unusually large representative of the genus, first discovered in 1996 by Mr. Steve Leonard. For years it was known by the informal name "Big Dog", a reference to its size.

Further microscopic and cytological study by Rebecca Bray, Lytton Musselman, and Peter Schafran (Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA); and W. Carl Taylor (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.) revealed that this is in fact a new species, rather than a strange form of a wide-ranging Midwestern species of Isoetes.

Interestingly, despite considerable field work, only two populations of I. mississippiensis are known from a tributary stream of the Pearl River, suggesting the extreme rarity of this Mississippi endemic, which already puts the new species at risk of extinction from human development.

What is the importance of this discovery and why does this often overlooked group matter? Despite their understated looks, quillworts can have an important role in biodiversity and conservation science, helping us interpret the environment -- water quality, phytogeography, and evolution.

The unexpected and unexplored diversity of quillworts in the American South, for example, could be due to the machinations of glaciers, according to scientists. The last glacial epoch pushed northern quillworts south where they could cross with previously isolated species.

"Understanding the diversity of quillworts and their genetic makeup allows making hypotheses as to the movement of these plants and, by extension, to other plants in the same flora," comments one of the co-authors Dr. Musselman. "We do not know how old this species is but we do know that it has been able to survive in its present habitat despite extensive perturbation of hydrology and natural vegetation."

"When one southern Senator was told about an endangered quillwort in his state, he made a public statement questioning why anyone would be interested in this "grass"," shares Musselman. "Despite their ecological importance, quillworts are largely ignored due to their understated appearance. No one knows how many quillworts have been extirpated without being described, and what those could tell us about the past and future of their environment."

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Original source:

Schafran PW, Leonard SW, Bray RD, Taylor WC, Musselman LJ (2016) Isoetes mississippiensis: A new quillwort from Mississippi, USA. PhytoKeys 74: 97-106. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.74.10380
Findings come from first study to assess and characterize racial and ethnic differences in food allergies in the US

(CHICAGO) - Allergy and immunology experts at Rush University Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have conducted the first study designed to assess and characterize the racial and ethnic difference in food allergies among children in the U.S.

The researchers found that both African American and Latino children had significantly higher rates of corn, shellfish and fish allergies compared to white children, confirming that race and ethnicity play an important role in how people are affected by food allergy.

Results of the study were published in the upcoming Nov. 21 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, In practice.

"Food allergy is a prevalent condition in the U.S., but little is known about its characteristics and severity in racial minority groups," said Dr. Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, study principal investigator, lead author and allergy and immunology expert at Rush. "Our goal was to characterize the food allergy related outcomes in these children and to identify any disparities in health care usage among African American, Latino and white children with food allergy."

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the food individuals are allergic to can trigger signs and symptoms, such as digestive problems, hives, breathing problems or anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction). Food allergy is major public health concern affecting eight percent of children in the U.S. with an estimated economic burden of $24.8 billion annually.

"It has been well documented that the prevalence of food allergy has been increasing in children in the U.S., but little data and research exists about its frequency, severity and outcomes among minority race and ethnicities in the U.S.," said Mahdavinia.

Mahdavinia and her colleagues at Rush, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Lurie Children's conducted a large study of children from birth to age 17 who were diagnosed with food allergy and were seen in allergy/immunology clinics at two urban tertiary care centers in the U.S.

The study included 817 children in all and was composed of 35 percent African Americans (285 children), 12 percent Latino (99 children), and 53 percent non-Hispanic white children (433 children).

Results of the study indicate that compared with non-Hispanic, white children, African American children had significantly higher odds of having asthma and eczema, as well as significantly higher odds of allergy to wheat, soy, corn, fish and shellfish.

"We found African American children had a significantly higher rate of wheat allergy than did white children," said Mahdavinia.

"Wheat-based bread is a staple in the U.S. and consumed on a daily basis in most U.S. households with an average consumption of more than 130 pounds per person per year.

Wheat allergy can be a significant financial burden, especially for low-income families," said Mahdavinia. "The higher rate of wheat allergy among African American children could potentially explain the higher rates of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate care, and the emergency room visits observed in this population."

Latino children had significantly higher odds of allergy to corn, fish and shellfish, but a similar rate of asthma compared to non-Hispanic white children. The rate of corn allergy in Latinos could due to corn being a major food staple in Mexican and Hispanic families.

The study also found that compared with whites, African American and Latino children received less follow-up care for food allergy from an allergy specialist and had higher rates of food allergy related anaphylaxis and emergency room visits.

In this study, 55 percent of African American, 18 percent of Latino and 11 percent of white children were covered by Medicaid, indicating lower income rates among the African American families participating in the study.

Low income children incur higher costs for emergency room visits and hospitalization and spend less on specialty care. Shorter follow-up duration can negatively affect food allergy outcomes and can increase rate of death.

Peanut was the most common food allergen in all three groups. The only allergen more common among white children than African American and Latino children was tree nut. Tree nut allergies are distinct from peanut allergy because peanuts are legumes, whereas a tree nut is a hard-shelled fruit.

"A major concern is that African American and Hispanic children had significantly higher rates of food-induced anaphylaxis than White children. Furthermore, African American and Hispanic children also had higher odds of emergency room visits for food allergy related reactions compared to White children," said Mahdavinia.

"The three centers evaluated their patient population separately, but when we pooled the data together we saw the striking similarity of the findings among the centers, which confirmed our initial suspicion that food allergies present differently in various races. This is an important issue to make pediatricians and allergist aware of so they can look for the relevant allergies in each of the various races," said Dr. Amal Assa'ad, study co-author and allergy and immunology expert at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

"We found a difference in the insurance coverage among the various races, which may impact access to care and adherence to follow up visits and avoidance measures," added Assa'ad.

"We need to conduct further research to identify food allergy and food sensitivities among all races and ethnicities so we can develop culturally-sensitive and effective educational programs to improve food allergy outcomes for all children," said Mahdavinia.

"It is critically important for us to understand food allergy in children of different races and ethnicities, so we can improve management for all children," said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, senior author of the study and pediatrician and researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

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Co-authors from Rush, Cincinnati Children's, and Lurie Children's include Dr. Amal Assad, Dr. Erica Palmisano, Dr. Aisha Mohamed, Dr. Christine James, Bridget Smith, PhD, Dr, Zeeshan Zahid, Dr. Mary Kay Tobin and physician assistant Susan Fox.
Researchers have discovered a way to remove specific fears from the brain, using a combination of artificial intelligence and brain scanning technology. Their technique, published in the inaugural edition of Nature Human Behaviour, could lead to a new way of treating patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias.

Fear related disorders affect around one in 14 people and place considerable pressure on mental health services. Currently, a common approach is for patients to undergo some form of aversion therapy, in which they confront their fear by being exposed to it in the hope they will learn that the thing they fear isn't harmful after all. However, this therapy is inherently unpleasant, and many choose not to pursue it. Now a team of neuroscientists from the University of Cambridge, Japan and the USA, has found a way of unconsciously removing a fear memory from the brain.

The team developed a method to read and identify a fear memory using a new technique called 'Decoded Neurofeedback'. The technique used brain scanning to monitor activity in the brain, and identify complex patterns of activity that resembled a specific fear memory. In the experiment, a fear memory was created in 17 healthy volunteers by administering a brief electric shock when they saw a certain computer image. When the pattern was detected, the researchers over-wrote the fear memory by giving their experimental subjects a reward.

Dr. Ben Seymour, of the University of Cambridge's Engineering Department, was one of the authors on the study. He explained the process:

"The way information is represented in the brain is very complicated, but the use of artificial intelligence (AI) image recognition methods now allow us to identify aspects of the content of that information. When we induced a mild fear memory in the brain, we were able to develop a fast and accurate method of reading it by using AI algorithms. The challenge then was to find a way to reduce or remove the fear memory, without ever consciously evoking it".

"We realised that even when the volunteers were simply resting, we could see brief moments when the pattern of fluctuating brain activity had partial features of the specific fear memory, even though the volunteers weren't consciously aware of it. Because we could decode these brain patterns quickly, we decided to give subjects a reward - a small amount of money - every time we picked up these features of the memory".

The team repeated the procedure over three days. Volunteers were told that the monetary reward they earned depended on their brain activity, but they didn't know how. By continuously connecting subtle patterns of brain activity linked to the electric shock with a small reward, the scientists hoped to gradually and unconsciously override the fear memory.

Dr Ai Koizumi, of the Advanced Telecommunicatons Research Institute International, Kyoto and Centre of Information and Neural Networks, Osaka, led the research:

"In effect, the features of the memory that were previously tuned to predict the painful shock, were now being re-programmed to predict something positive instead."

The team then tested what happened when they showed the volunteers the pictures previously associated with the shocks.

"Remarkably, we could no longer see the typical fear skin-sweating response. Nor could we identify enhanced activity in the amygdala - the brain's fear centre," she continued. "This meant that we'd been able to reduce the fear memory without the volunteers ever consciously experiencing the fear memory in the process ".

Although the sample size in this initial study was relatively small, the team hopes the technique can be developed into a clinical treatment for patients with PTSD or phobias.

"To apply this to patients, we need to build a library of the brain information codes for the various things that people might have a pathological fear of, say, spiders" adds Dr Seymour."Then, in principle, patients could have regular sessions of Decoded Neurofeedback to gradually remove the fear response these memories trigger".

Such a treatment could have major benefits over traditional drug based approaches. Patients could also avoid the stress associated with exposure therapies, and any side-effects resulting from those drugs.

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Koizumi et al. "Fear reduction without fear through reinforcement of neural activity that bypasses conscious exposure" Nature Human Behaviour.
Results of a new study led by Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal's School of Psycho-Education show that the more children are exposed to household tobacco smoke in early childhood, the greater their risk of adopting antisocial behavior toward others, engaging in proactive and reactive aggression, having conduct problems at school, and dropping out at age 12.

"Young children have little control over their exposure to household tobacco smoke, which is considered toxic to the brain at a time when its development is exponential," said Pagani.

"The detection of early environmental factors that influence later child well-being represents an important target for individual and community health. Parents who smoke near where their children live and play often inadvertently expose them to second and third hand smoke. It was already known that environmental smoke places children at risk of short- and long-term health problems. However, now for the first time, we have compelling evidence which suggests other dangers to developing brain systems that govern behavioural decisions, social and emotional life, and cognitive functioning," she added.

Pagani, her graduate student Francois Levesque-Seck, and fellow Professors Isabelle Archambault and Michel Janosz, came to their conclusions after examining data from a longitudinal birth cohort of Quebec boys and girls born in 1997 and 1998. The Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development is a public database administered and coordinated by the Institut de la statistique du Quebec. Every year, parents of 1,035 children from the longitudinal study reported whether anyone smoked at home when their children were aged 1.5 to 7.5 years. At age 12, their children self-reported their antisocial behaviour and academic characteristics. Overall, 60 percent of families reported never being exposed to tobacco smoke, while 27 percent reported intermittent exposure, and 13 percent reported chronic exposure. Pagani's team then analyzed the data to identify whether there was a significant link between early household smoke exposure and later signs of child deviance. This was done while eliminating the influence of numerous confounding factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy, and other parental and family characteristics that could have explained the observed link between early household smoke and later child deviance.

"Our goal was to eliminate any pre-existing conditions of the children or families that could shed a different light on our results or serve as alternative explanations," said the researcher.

Animal studies have suggested that exposure to tobacco smoke is toxic to the developing brain at a time when it is most vulnerable to environment input. Abnormal brain development can result from chronic or transient exposure to toxic chemicals and gases in second hand tobacco smoke. These compounds eventually solidify and create third hand smoke. Antisocial behavior is characterized by proactive intent to harm others, lack prosocial feelings, and violate social norms. Such behaviors include aggression, criminal offenses, theft, refusal to comply with authority, and destruction of property. In later childhood, antisocial behavior is often associated with academic problems, as highlighted in the study. Deviance and dropout risk are costly to society as a whole.

"These long-term associations should encourage policy-makers and public health professionals to raise awareness among parents about the developmental risks of second hand smoke exposure. In addition, schools could incorporate this knowledge into curricula at all grade levels in an effort to prevent further exposure to neurotoxins," she concluded.

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About the study

Professor Linda Pagani, her graduate student Francois Levesque-Seck, and Professors Isabelle Archambault and Michel Janosz published the article "Early Childhood Household Smoke Exposure Predicts Later Delinquent Behaviour and Dropout Risk at Age 12" online in Indoor Air, the official journal of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, November 21, 2016. DOI: 10.1111/ina.12353

Linda Pagani, Isabelle Archambault, and Michel Janosz are professors at the School of Psychoeducation and researchers at the FRQSC School Environment Research Group, at the University of Montreal.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a hopeful sign for the health of the nation's brains, the percentage of American seniors with dementia is dropping, a new study finds.

The downward trend has emerged despite something else the study shows: a rising tide of three factors that are thought to raise dementia risk by interfering with brain blood flow, namely diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Those with the most years of education had the lowest chances of developing dementia, according to the findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine by a team from the University of Michigan. This may help explain the larger trend, because today's seniors are more likely to have at least a high school diploma than those in the same age range a decade ago.

With the largest generation in American history now entering the prime years for dementia onset, the new results add to a growing number of recent studies in the United States and other countries that suggest a downward trend in dementia prevalence. These findings may help policy-makers and economic forecasters adjust their predictions for the total impact of Alzheimer's disease and other conditions.

"Our results, based on in-depth interviews with seniors and their caregivers, add to a growing body of evidence that this decline in dementia risk is a real phenomenon, and that the expected future growth in the burden of dementia may not be as extensive as once thought," says lead author Kenneth Langa, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the U-M Medical School, Institute for Social Research and School of Public Health, and a research investigator at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

"A change in the overall dementia forecast can have a major economic impact," he adds. "But it does nothing to lessen the impact that each case has on patients and caregivers. This is still going to be a top priority issue for families, and for health policy, now and in the coming decades."

Nearly three-point drop

Langa and colleagues used data and cognitive test results from ISR's long-term Health and Retirement Study to evaluate trends from 2000 to 2012 among a nationally representative sample of more than 21,000 people age 65 or over.

In all, 11.6 percent of those interviewed in 2000 met the criteria for dementia, while in 2012, only 8.8 percent did. Over that time, the average number of years of education a senior had rose by nearly an entire year, from 12 to 13.

"It does seem that the investments this country made in education after the Second World War are paying off now in better brain health among older adults," says David R. Weir, Ph.D., senior author of the paper and director of the Health and Retirement Study. "But the number of older adults is growing so rapidly that the overall burden of dementia is still going up."

Even as these new results come out, the Health and Retirement Study team is in the middle of another large study of dementia in the U.S. that will help refine the techniques for better understanding who has dementia in the American population, and allow them to be used in other countries around the world where HRS "sister studies" are also collecting data.

Langa, who is the Sturgis Professor of Internal Medicine and a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, notes that the differences in dementia risk according to education level mark an important health disparity now, and likely into the future.

"More Baby Boomers have completed some higher education than any previous generation, but the trend toward more education appears to be leveling off in the U.S. And there are clear disparities in educational attainment according to wealth and ethnicity," he says. "These differences in education and wealth may actually be creating disparities in brain health and, by extension, the likelihood of being able to work and be independent in our older years."

Years of formal education was the only marker tracked among the study participants. But, says Langa, it is likely that the other ways that people challenge and use their brains throughout life--reading, social interactions, what occupation they have, and how long they work -- may also have an impact on dementia risk in later life.

All of these pursuits can help build up a person's "cognitive reserve" of brain pathways that can survive the assault of the physical factors that lead to dementia.

Next steps

Researchers hope to learn much more about the cognitive reserve concept with new funding from recent federal initiatives that aim to increase dementia-related research and discovery.

Continued focus on reducing cardiovascular risk -- through increased physical activity and controlling hypertension and diabetes in younger and middle-aged people -- may also help reduce future dementia rates.

Growing evidence has shown that dementia in older adults is usually due to multiple causes, including Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, as well as vascular dementia, which results from brain tissue not receiving enough blood due to blockages and leaks in the brain's blood vessels.

For those who do develop dementia, Langa notes, the challenge for America going forward will be to address the need for long-term care at home and in institutions, in the face of smaller families with fewer members to act as caregivers.

Even if the slide in dementia incidence continues, the Baby Boom generation's sheer size will mean challenges for those who fund care or provide it.

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In addition to Langa and Weir, the study's authors are Eric B. Larson, M.D., M.P.H. of the Group Health Research Institute, Eileen M. Crimmins, Ph.D. of the University of Southern California, and University of Michigan researchers Jessica D. Faul, Ph.D., Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., and Mohammed Kabeto, M.S. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (AG00974, AG040278, AG053760, AG024824)

Reference: JAMA Internal Medicine, 2017:177(1):1-9. Doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.6807.
Most of the extra heat trapped by human-generated emissions is ending up in the oceans. But tracking the temperature of the world's oceans to monitor the change is trickier than it might seem. While satellites monitor surface temperature, measuring the ocean's interior temperature poses a logistical challenge.

A University of Washington oceanographer has proposed a method to cheaply monitor temperature throughout the depths of the world's oceans. He improves on a similar method, proposed in the 1970s, that later caused concerns for harming marine mammals. The paper was recently published in Geophysical Research Letters.

"We want to monitor global ocean warming, not just for tomorrow or next year, but for decades," said author Zhongxiang Zhao, an oceanographer at the UW's Applied Physics Laboratory. "Using internal tidal waves is cheaper and more reliable than any existing method."

Satellites can take the temperature of the ocean's surface. Below the surface only ocean vessels and, more recently, robotic floats that travel vertically through the water can take direct measurements of water temperature. Maintaining these instruments throughout the world's oceans, however, is expensive.

Acoustic tomography, an idea proposed in the 1970s by one of the world's most famous oceanographers, Walter Munk, seemed to offer a solution. Sound travels faster in warmer water, so he proposed measuring the time for an acoustic pulse to travel across the ocean. Unfortunately, over time the sonar blasts caused public concern for their harmful impacts on marine mammals, and a major experiment using this method was ended in 2006.

Zhao has developed a way to instead monitor the travel time of internal tidal waves that travel silently in the middle of the ocean. Everyone is familiar with the tides that slosh on beaches at the surface. But the ocean is made up of layers of liquid with different properties that slosh around as they feel the tug of the moon.

"Internal tidal waves start from submarine bumps," Zhao said, when tidally driven currents pass over an oceanic ridge or other bottom feature. These secondary waves then travel with a wavelength of about 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a speed of 3 to 4 meters per second (7 to 9 miles per hour) depending on latitude. Climate change is warming the upper ocean more quickly than the layers below, and this increases the speed of internal tidal waves.

Zhao's method uses satellite data to see tiny changes in the height of the ocean's surface that are caused by water motion deep below.

"We have an internal wave inside the ocean that is 20 to 50 meters (60 to160 feet) high," Zhao said. "But at the surface we have a height change of only about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches), compared to about 1 meter (3 feet) for the surface tides."

Zhao has spent about a decade perfecting his method to track these smaller bumps and sort out interference between internal waves. By analyzing the travel times over the past 20 years, he showed a 1 percent increase in speed over that time along two paths in the Atlantic Ocean. He also compared his technique with Argo observations since 2005, showing a good match between the two methods.

"The internal tidal wave is a naturally occurring ocean phenomenon, so monitoring its long-term variability is very cheap," Zhao said. "This method offers a cost-effective way to measure temperature changes over the whole depth of the ocean."

The popular Argo oceanographic floats only measure the top 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the ocean, less than half the average depth. Upcoming Deep Argo floats aim to monitor to 3 miles depth, where some human-generated heat may be hiding. But new floats would add to the pro

gram's existing $24 million annual budget, and spatial coverage would depend on how many floats were deployed.

The new method takes a satellite's-eye view of the Earth using tomography, the same imaging technique that is used in many medical practices.

"If you are a doctor, you are scanning the health of your patient -- I am like a doctor scanning the Earth, who can see if it is getting a temperature," Zhao said. "This method offers a long-term, cost-effective, environmentally friendly technique for monitoring global ocean warming."

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The paper's acknowledgments note support from three leading physical oceanographers: Peter Rhines at the UW School of Oceanography, Eric D'Asaro at the UW Applied Physics Laboratory and Carl Wunsch at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

For more information, contact Zhao at 206-897-1445 or zzhao@apl.washington.edu.
LOGAN, UTAH, USA -- Utah State University professor Lisa Berreau has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the nation's top national science honors. One of 391 honorees recognized nationwide, she will be formally honored in a Feb. 18 ceremony during the association's 2017 annual meeting in Boston.

An inorganic chemist, Berreau, who serves as executive associate dean for USU's College of Science, is recognized for her innovative work in understanding reaction involving metals and dioxygen that lead to carbon-carbon bond cleavage and the influence of hydrogen bonding on metal-centered reactivity. Her work investigates the role metal ions play in human health, the environment and catalysis.

"Designation as an AAAS fellow is a distinct honor reserved for the nation's top scientists," says USU President Stan Albrecht. "It's not only an honor for Dr. Berreau to be recognized for her outstanding contributions, but also for Utah State University."

"Dr. Berreau is a most deserving awardee and we are thrilled she is receiving this prestigious recognition," says Maura Hagan, dean of USU's College of Science. "She promotes the role of science not only as an accomplished researcher, but also as a dedicated educator and administrator."

In addition to her administrative and research efforts, Berreau, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches and mentors a team of graduate and undergraduate students in research. She also serves as treasurer of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry.

Berreau, who joined USU's faculty in 1998, received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Research Fellowship and was also named a Herman Frasch Foundation Fellow. In 2006, she was named "Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year" for USU's College of Science.

A native of Brewster, Minn., Berreau earned a bachelor's degree from Mankato State University in 1990 and completed a doctorate from Iowa State University in 1994. She returned to her home state in 1995, where she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota until 1998. At USU, she advanced to full professor in 2011 and served as interim dean for the College of Science from 2014-2015.

Berreau joins fellow USU AAAS Fellows James "Jim" MacMahon, emeritus trustee professor of biology and former dean of the College of Science; Lance Seefeldt, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Patricia Lambert, professor in the Department of Sociology, Social Studies and Anthropology.

###

The AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of a number of academic journals, including the association's flagship publication Science.
A new analysis points to surprisingly low rates of serious impacts from medication errors affecting nursing home residents, despite the fact that these errors remain fairly common. The investigators noted that it's unclear whether medication errors resulting in serious outcomes are truly infrequent or are under-reported due to the difficulty in ascertaining them. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Medication errors can cause considerable harm, and older adults in nursing homes may be especially vulnerable. To assess the prevalence of medication errors leading to hospitalizations and deaths in nursing home residents, and to determine the factors associated with these errors, Joseph Ibrahim, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, an academic physician in geriatric medicine at Monash University in Australia, and his colleagues conducted a literature search of relevant studies published between 2000 and 2015. After identifying 11 studies, the researchers examined three types of medication errors: all medication errors, transfer-related medication errors, and potentially inappropriate medications.

Medication errors were common, involving 16 percent to 27 percent of residents in studies examining all types of medication errors. Transfer-related medication errors occurred in 13 percent to 31 percent of residents, while 75 percent of residents were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication.

The team found that serious impacts of medication errors were surprisingly low, however, and they were reported in only zero to one percent of medication errors, with death being a rare event.

"This is an important step to addressing the global issue for improving the quality and safety of medications for older people," said Prof. Ibrahim. "Nursing homes should review their systems of care from prescribing to administration. Good practice requires using a team-based approach involving the resident, care and nursing staff, pharmacists, and medical practitioners."

###

Media interested in a copy of the study should contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com.

Article: "A systematic review of the prevalence of medication errors resulting in hospitalization and death of nursing home residents. Noha Ferrah, Janaka J. Lovell, and Joseph E. Ibrahim. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; Published Online: November 21, 2016 (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14683).

URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jgs.14683

Author Contact: Tania Ewing, at taniaewing@taniaewing.com or +61 408378422.

About the Journal

The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is a comprehensive and reliable source of monthly research and information about common diseases and disorders of older adults. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jgs.

About Wiley

Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.
Cards and Payments in Lithuania Global Market Segmentation and Major Players Analysis 2022

WiseGuyReports.com adds "The Cards and Payments Industry in Lithuania: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2021 " reports to its database.

--

'The Cards and Payments Industry in Lithuania: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Lithuanian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, check payments, payment cards, cash transactions and direct debits during the review period (2012-2016).

Get Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/746191-the-cards-and-payments-opportunities-to-2021

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, and transaction values and volumes during the review period and over the forecast period (2017-2021). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.

Summary

'The Cards and Payments Industry in Lithuania: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Lithuanian cards and payments industry, including:

o Current and forecast values for each market in the Lithuanian cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.

o Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, cash transactions, payment cards, direct debits and checks. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

o E-commerce market analysis.

o Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

o Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.

o Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.

o The competitive landscape of the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

Scope

o This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

o It provides current values for the Lithuanian cards and payments industry for 2016, and forecast figures to 2021.

o It details the different demographic, economic, infrastructural and business drivers affecting the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

o It outlines the current regulatory framework in the industry.

o It details marketing strategies used by various banks and other institutions.

Reasons to Buy

o Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Lithuanian cards and payments industry and each market within it.

o Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

o Assess the competitive dynamics in the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

o Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Lithuania.

o Gain insights into key regulations governing the Lithuanian cards and payments industry.

Key Highlights

o Lietuvos Bankas - the central bank of Lithuania - has taken a number of initiatives to bring a larger proportion of the population into the formal financial system. In October 2016, it mandated banks in Lithuania to provide a basket of basic services - a checking account, payment card, and electronic banking facility with a minimum of 10 online transfers - for a maximum monthly fee of US$1.7 (EUR1.5). For low-income consumers, the monthly charges cannot exceed US$0.83 (EUR0.75).

o Lithuania became a member of the EU on January 1, 2015. Its accession means Lithuania is required to adopt the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) framework, and other regulations that apply to all member states, such as the capping of interchange fees for credit and debit cards at 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. SEPA requirements came into effect from January 2016, and are anticipated to have a major impact on profitability in Lithuania's payment cards market. With interchange fee revenues reduced, issuers are likely to cut card offerings and consumer benefits, and look at new ways to generate revenue.

o To protect consumers from financial burdens, the central bank amended responsible lending regulations (RLR) in November 2015. According to the new guidelines, the maximum monthly credit repayment amount cannot exceed more than 40% of the borrower's monthly income, and the maximum maturity of credit cannot exceed 30 years. The regulation was introduced following a survey conducted by the central bank in January 2016, according to which 75% of families with an income below US$388.8 (EUR350) were indebted to credit issuers, and 71.8% of indebted families were unable to save during the last quarter of 2015. The RLR regulation requires card issuers to assess borrowers' credit repayment capabilities before issuing credit cards.

Table of Contents

1 DEFINITIONS AND METHODOLOGY

1.1 Definitions

1.2 Methodology

2 KEY FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS

4.1 Current Payment Environment

5 E-COMMERCE AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENTS

5.1 E-Commerce Market Analysis

5.2 Alternative Payment Solutions

5.2.1 Medicinos Bankas mobile wallet

5.2.2 Mokipay mobile wallet

5.2.3 Paysafecard

5.2.4 Boku

5.2.5 WoraPay

6 REGULATIONS IN THE CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY

6.1 Regulatory Framework

6.1.1 SEPA cards framework

6.2 Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

6.3 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Regulations

7 ANALYSIS OF CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY DRIVERS

8 PAYMENT CARDS

9 DEBIT CARDS

9.1 Debit Cards Market Analysis

9.2 Competition in Debit Cards Market

9.3 Debit Cards Comparison

10 PAY LATER CARDS

10.1 Pay Later Cards Market Analysis

10.2 Competition in Pay Later Cards Market

10.3 Pay Later Cards Comparison

Access Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/746191-the-cards-and-payments-opportunities-to-2021

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Contact Info:

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Organization: WiseGuy Reports

Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India

Phone: +1-646-845-9349

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/cards-and-payments-in-lithuania-global-market-segmentation-and-major-players-analysis-2022/147496

Release ID: 147496

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A leading dairy researcher has claimed there is no place for high-input dairy systems in the UK.

Pat Dillon, head of animal and grassland research and innovation at one of the worlds leading dairy research centres  Teagasc  in County Cork, Ireland, said fully housed, year-round calving herds were less efficient.

From an efficiency point of view no one should be operating an all-year-round calving system.

Instead, he believes all herds should be maximising the use of pasture by moving to autumn and spring blocks to lower costs and drive labour efficiencies while maintaining a level supply year-round.

See also: 7 ways to help you achieve a six-week calving

He also argued that the UK dairy industry had set itself back by three years over the past year because it didnt have systems strong enough to withstand volatile milk prices and said greater cohesiveness was needed to drive profitability at farm level.

Everyone can produce milk when the price is high. The best test is when milk price reduces, and if you look to countries that didnt reduce milk production  they have the resilient systems, Dr Dillon told delegates at the Ireland genetics conference in Gloucester last week (16 November).

UK milk production for September was down almost 10% compared with the same time the previous year and cow numbers fell dramatically by 37,000 (2%) to 1.8 million in the 12 months up to July 2016.

In comparison, Irish production has increased 39% between 2005-15, with milk solids produced increasing from 357,965t to 495,868t and volume rising from 4.9bn litres to 6.4bn litres. Meanwhile, cow numbers peaked at 1.2 million.

Dr Dillon said this would hamper the UKs ability to meet growing global demand from countries such as China.

Low-cost model

He said the UK should learn from Irelands low-cost of production model, where 85% of herds were now operating spring-calving systems.

There is no relationship between milk yield per cow and profit per litre.

However, he said there was a clear link between profit and grass used.

Data from the Nation Farm Survey in 2015 showed that there was a clear correlation between grass utilised per hectare and gross margin.

Dr Dillon said UK farmers had the same comparative advantage as their Irish counterparts  to produce milk cheaply off grass  with both countries alike in climate and soil type.

Unity

But to help achieve this he said the UK industry must unite and identify common goals to make greater strides in breeding and grassland research and development.

In Ireland, genetic improvement is being driven through the non-profit, national Irish Cattle Breeders Federation database, which was set up in 1998, with information such as genetic evaluations, milk recording, health and disease and carcass data, fed back to farmers and the industry to identify areas of improvement.

Your views on calving herds Do you think there is a place for year-round calving herds? We would like to hear from you. Please write to fwlivestock@rbi.co.uk

It is estimated the Economic Breeding Index has delivered improvements in fertility and production to the tune of 631m to the Irish dairy industry and will deliver a further 1.13bn in the next five years.

It took a while to plan [but] we have all joint programmes now with all of the companies and we have agreed what we are doing with the main milk processors and we have all brought into one approach.

[In the UK] you need a couple of innovative farmers and companies that will say we are here for the good of the industry  it has to be the way to go.

Gareth Davies, manager of Ireland Genetics UK and an independent grassland consultant, said:

All that information that feeds into the ICBF database would be available in this country but we cant make use of it because it is all in different places and theres so much self-interest.




Haiti - Special elections : Several hundred fraud reports #HaitiElections





In Cap-Haitien a member of Pitit Desalin who wanted to make mess was arrested.



The Anti-Fraud Emergency Center of the Ministry of Justice has already received more than 300 reports of fraud. 80% of the calls received are linked to the voting centers. Please contact us at 4929-0101 only for cases of fraud.



The candidate Dr. Maryse Narcisse (Fanmi Lavalas) has just voted at the national school of Freres.



Some hours after the opening of the voting center of Lycee of Cite Soleil the affluence was weak. The situation is calm and on the spot a strong police presence is visible.



Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles went to Chansolme to fulfill his duty as a citizen "I invite all citizens who hold their cards to fulfill their civic duty."



13 arrests have taken place so far, of which 7 for rocks launched, 1 candidate for the Senate https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19287-haiti-special-elections-logistical-problems-arrest-of-a-candidate-violence-haitielections.html and 4 for disturbance of public order. The PNH recalls article 201 of the electoral decree of March 2, 2015, which stipulates "is punished with imprisonment from six (6) months to three (3) years and a fine of ten thousand (10,000) to one hundred thousand (100,000) gourdes, tha fact by any person: a) To prevent or attempt to prevent the operation of a polling station; b) o disturb the order by assault or violence or by any other maneuver detrimental to the electoral process." In addition, several vehicles were seized in Boucan-Carre as part of the election day.



At midday, at the exit of the churches there is a clear increase of the presence in several voting centers, notably at the level of Cite Soleil.



The candidate Jude Celestin (LAPEH) went to the Voting centre of the Lycee of Petion-ville in order to fulfill its duty of citizen.



The candidate Moise Jean Charles (Pitit Desalin) will go to Milot in order to vote.



According to Ariel Toussain, President of the Communal Electoral Office (BEC), everything is going very well in St-Marc for now.



In Gressier, the Haitian National Police (PNH) moved three vehicles parked less than 100 m from the Voting centre.



In Pestel the citizens came out under rain to go vote.



"I have just voted to express my solidarity with the electoral process. I invite all the people to do the same. Elections must be conducted in an impartial and neutral manner. The State is getting away from the process," declared Camille Junior Edouard Minister of Justice when he voted this morning at the Petion-Ville High School.



Juan Raul Ferreira, Head of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States, declared "I would like to take this opportunity to invite all citizens of Haiti to come out and vote en masse. Thank you and good vote."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Special elections : A wounded by bullet in Ouanaminthe, weapons seized in Cap-Haitien... #HaitiElections





In a press conference, the CEP informed that at Vallieres, Northeast and Roseau in the Grand'Anse, four voting centres could not open their doors because of bad weather. According to Leopold Berlanger, President of the CEP "We see that it was a calm and serene day that has gone smoothly so far", voking isolated incidents in Port Margot (fire attempt - two ballot boxes burned) to isance and Trou du Nord, as well as several arrests "[...] when we take the day roughly and according to the testimony we have, the day is going well in a satisfactory way, that is to say without major incident, without serious violence, without disturbance of polling and no tension in the streets... citizens freely exercise their right to vote [...]" Concerning a possible extension [the offices close at 4:00 p.m.] he indicated that at 4:00 p.m. voters who will still be in line can vote. For voting centers that have opened late, evaluation will be done on a case-by-case basis, depending on attendance.



On the other hand, in Ouanaminthe (North East), there was a gunshot wounded in a confrontation between supporters of two candidates to the Senate of Northeast.



5 people were arrested including a police officer in Cap-Haitien and weapons were seized according to the spokesman of the PNH. he National Police arrested 8 individuals and seized three vehicles in the Artibonite. 18 troublemakers arrested throughout the territory according to the mid-day report.



It would seem that an unknown number of police officers, representatives, and supervisors are deprived of their right to vote if they are not in their respective areas, the CEP will have to explain.



We are told a great affluence to the Voting centre Don Bosco (Vertieres) in Cap-Haitien in the North.



At St. Anne's Church (Soleil 19) ), individuals exert pressure on voters by telling them for who to vote.



The voting takes place well at downtown Petit-Goave. People began shyly to vote in the various voting centers. The police provide security for voters. No incidents so far recorded. HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19289-haiti-special-elections-several-hundred-fraud-reports-haitielections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19288-haiti-special-elections-over-10-arrests-and-irregularities-haitielections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19287-haiti-special-elections-logistical-problems-arrest-of-a-candidate-violence-haitielections.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Special elections : End of the Election Day #HaitiElections





At 4:00 pm the electoral day ends, although voters still in the queue will be able to vote, and the voting centers that have opened late will be studied on a case-by-case basis and in relation to attendance to determine whether or not there is an extension.



Now begins the tallying step followed by tabulation that will last 10 days, from 21 November to 30 November, preliminary results for the presidential and legislative 1/3 senate are scheduled on 1 and 2 December according to the revised electoral calendar of the CEP.



The representatives of Fanmi Lavalas reported several incidents of bullying of voters in the Archaie. Incidents have been reported in Cite Soleil where individuals have pressured voters to vote for Fanmi Lavalas.



In Dame-Marie some fifty citizens were not able to find their names on the lists. One person reported that his name was on the lists inside the voting center but not outside, this problem was also found at Les Cayes.



In Aquin (South) it is estimated that 100 voters had to return home because their names were not on the lists.



To Cite Soleil the representatives of the PHTK and Fanmi Lavalas indicated that the names missing on the lists were a big problems.



Jameson Jeune-Gens, was arrested in the commune of commune after he tried to enter the Makandal National High School Voting Center with an illegal weapon and 12 bullets.



The partial record of the elections of 20 November is 18 arrests, 4 vehicles seized 2 rifles seized / 1 gun caliber 9mm.



A landslide would have occurred at Marfranc, the road is cut between Jeremie and Moron up to Carcasse. There would be 5 communes completely isolated, which would be complicated the following of electoral process for this area.



According to the former mayor of Port-au-Prince at the Stadium there are voters who arrive and who discovers that others have voted in their place.



"Whatever the individual choice, we all voted for Haiti," declared former Prime Minister Evans Paul.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19290-haiti-special-elections-a-wounded-by-bullet-in-ouanaminthe-weapons-seized-in-cap-haitien-haitielections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19289-haiti-special-elections-several-hundred-fraud-reports-haitielections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19288-haiti-special-elections-over-10-arrests-and-irregularities-haitielections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19287-haiti-special-elections-logistical-problems-arrest-of-a-candidate-violence-haitielections.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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According to a study conducted by researchers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the USA, Yoga practice improves executive function by attenuating stress levels.

An abstract of the study posted online from the December 2016 edition of Biological Psychology journal, stated: An 8-week Hatha yoga intervention attenuated stress response in an older adult sample.

It concluded: Eight weeks of regular yoga practice resulted in improved working memory performance that was mediated by an attenuated response to stress.

According to UIUC News Bureau: Researchers found that eight weeks of hatha yoga classes moderated stress levels and led to better performance on challenging cognitive tests. This study, supported by National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, was conducted at Exercise Psychology Laboratory of UIUC directed by Professor Edward McAuley.

US-based Hindu religious leader Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, called the UIUC looking into the usage of multi-faceted yoga in stress levels and cognitive performance a step in the positive direction. Zed urged all major world universities to explore various benefits yoga offers.

Yoga, referred as a living fossil, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.

Rajan Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a worldheritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a 2016 Yoga in America Study, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.

According to Oxford Dictionary of Hinduism, hatha-yoga (yoga of force) is a form of yogic practice designed to bring about liberation and immortality in this life, through the purification and manipulation of the practitioners body.

UIUC, founded in 1867, claims to be a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement and pioneer innovative research that tackles global problems. Robert Jones is the Chancellor.

Source : From Our Correspondent
Beijing : Forget the String of Pearls theory about how China is supposedly surrounding India on the high seas. China is not just on the sea, but also on land, in air and deeply involved in the economies of all of South Asia and beyond. Two events in Indias neighbourhood taking place on a single day, November 14, show the extent to which the Chinese reach has extended and is expected to grow phenomenally. They need to be taken into account by Indias strategic planners.

One was Pakistans Gwadar port going operational and the other was the announcement in Dhaka that Bangladesh was getting its first-ever submarine from China.

Last Monday, the first major trade cargo departed from Gwadar, marking the operationalisation of the port designed and built by China. That also marked the completion, in just about two years, of the project to feed the port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Chinese One Belt-One Road initiative.

Flagging off the cargo, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the CPEC will integrate development and commerce of various regions across Asia and Europe by increasing connectivity. He further said that it seeks to transform Pakistan into a regional hub of trade, commerce and manufacturing by harnessing its geo-strategic location into a geo-economic advantage.

Taking in the big picture, he said the CPEC will help integrate South Asia, China and Central Asia and offer opportunities for people in this region, and investors all over the world.

The CPEC is central to the Sino-Pak vision and also to the Pakistani leadership as a panacea to all the ills affecting the country and of an acute feeling of being isolated after the United States under Barack Obama and much of Europe leaned towards India. At the event, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif. Both have attributed Pakistans current tensions with India to part of the latters efforts to frustrate the CPEC.

The November 14 departure of trade cargo from Gwadar marks a decisive arrival for China in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf region. From there, two ships  Al Hussain Zanzibar and Cosco Wellington  set sail for ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union.

The Chinese have moved fast in Pakistan when, by contrast, there is little push on the India-Iran-Afghanistan accord to develop the Chabahar port in Iran  less than 100 km from Gwadar  and build a railway line that would link Chabahar to landlocked Afghanistan and thence to Central Asia.

The project, with the blessings of the Obama administration, was also to get Japanese participation with the likely visit to Iran of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But a Japanese official recently said there was no word from the promoters of Chabahar seeking any financial participation.

The announcement in Dhaka about it getting its first-ever submarine from China comes a few weeks ahead of the visit to India of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, likely in the latter half of December. A range of political and economic issues are expected to be on the agenda.

However, Bangladesh has for long placed its military eggs in the Chinese basket. Irrespective of the political colour of the regime in Dhaka, this has been a continuing and expanding process, making China the largest trade partner and the No. 1 supplier of military hardware to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Chinas deep involvement in Myanmar is a continuing story irrespective of whether the generals rule the country or the present civil-military leadership. So is Chinas commitment on several projects in Nepal, including a railway line that can be extended right up to the Nepali border with Bihar.

Nepal wants to maintain careful equi-distance with India and China. Similarly, Sri Lanka, under heavy debt to China, wants to compensate the latter with several projects that the Maithripala Sirisena government has held back.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in July proposed to Chinas Ambassador Yi Xianliang varying degrees of control over some of Sri Lankas biggest infrastructure projects, including the Mattala International Airport and portions of the Hambantota deep-sea port, and wondered if Sri Lanka could receive some debt relief.

China refused the suggestions saying it was not possible under Chinese law. But it has continued to promise fullest cooperation and that such deals should be conducted via investors on proper commercial terms. While Chinas government will not swap debt for equity, it will help clear the road for Chinese companies to take over key projects in Sri Lanka. IZP, a Chinese information technology company, has been put forward as a potential purchaser of Mattala International Airport, while COSCO is looking into expanding operations at the Hambantota deep-sea port.

The fact of the matter is that India has neither the capacity, nor the political intent, to reach out to its neighbours with investments and projects. Indeed, many of the projects awarded to it have lagged behind for several reasons.

That being the case, India has much more to worry and work on beyond countering the String of Pearls. The Dragon has arrived in the Indian Ocean.

Source : One India
Lahore: A nine-member Islamic State cell that was recruiting and transporting people to Syria and Afghanistan has been busted here, police said.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab said it busted a cell of the militant Islamic State (IS) group operating in Lahore and arrested nine people.

The cell was recruiting and transporting new members to Syria and Afghanistan. The cell had already managed to send nine recruits to Syria.

After the arrest of these nine people, the total number of IS group members who have been arrested in different parts of Punjab in recent months reached 45.

According to the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab Police, the nine members of the IS group were arrested in a raid in Cantonment area last week.

Those arrested, included Lahore IS chief Nabil Ahmed alias Abu Abdullah.

The cell was not only recruiting militants but also radicalising youths and transporting them, along with their families, to Syria or Afghanistan. It was also allegedly working to develop its capacity to establish organisational structure of IS in Pakistan, the CTD said.

The group was also working on a plan to accelerate its activities in Pakistan after announcing a caliphate in the country.

According to a CTD official, those arrested were also involved in robbing banks and looting shrines and houses of the Shia and Ahmadi community members to raise funds for militant activities.

The CTD has identified some IS recruits, including some families based in Lahore and their handlers in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey, the official said, adding that the recruits, who were planning to leave for Syria and Afghanistan, had already sold their property to bear the transportation expenses.

During the raid on IS Lahore chief Nabils house, the CTD team recovered IS literature, video clips, pamphlets and stickers containing content against the Pakistan Army, besides laptops and mobile phones used by the cells members.

The official said Qari Abid, Nabeels uncle, has been living in Syria for more than a year where he joined the IS.

The Pakistanis contacting the IS leadership in Syria for joining the group were referred to Qari Abid. Later, Abid directed them to contact his nephew, Nabil in Lahore, he said.

The CTD said the recruits had to take the oath of allegiance to self-proclaimed caliphate of Abu Bakar Al- Baghdadi. Then they would be given a choice to either go to Afghanistan or Syria.

It said Nabil was responsible for preparation of the recruits travel documents.

Those willing to go to Syria were first taken to Iran and then to Turkey. They were later moved to Syria from Turkey.

Sorce : Times Of India
Many of the friends and loved ones who have donated to Luke's fund have added personal messages. Here are some examples:"Luke you will always be a legend. Rest easy buddy.""Luke was truly an amazing person and he helped me in my darkest times. Love and miss you Luke.""I just started becoming friends with Luke this year. Really smart, funny person who's view on the world was very unique and could always put a smile on someone's face. Thoughts and prayers to his family. He will always be remembered."The memorial fund page reads:Lukes Memorial FundThe family of beloved teen Luke Smith wants us to remember him fondly. He was a bright, shining soul whose life was cut short too soon.Please help help the family by contributing to this memorial fund.Help spread the word!Donations to Luke's memorial fund can be made at:
The College Awareness Week 2016 survey asked Oireachtas Members who was the biggest influence on their decision to go to college, one in three said their mammy.

Over 40% of those polled in the survey said they were the first in their family to attend a further education course, while one in ten did not attend further education at all.

The findings suggest that prospective third-level students should consider advice offered by family and guidance counsellors, as well as by the wider community.

Kathleen OToole-Brennan, College Awareness Week Campaign Founder and Programmes Manager with Trinity Access Programme, said: The purpose of this survey was to look at a cohort of people that was representative of society and to highlight the many educational opportunities available to all, regardless of age and socio-economic backgrounds.

"While those surveyed all work in the Oireachtas now, the career paths and qualifications that brought them there are diverse.

The survey found that TDs and Senators are not just drawn exclusively from the well-represented professions of law, teaching or accounting, as half did not continue beyond degree level to obtain a professional qualification.

Oireachtas Members have completed courses on everything from music and media technologies to ecology and marketing. Before being elected to either the Dail or Seanad, they came from a wide variety of occupations such as farming, fishing, childcare and engineering, among others.

Asked what they would say to prospective students to help them become college ready, they gave the following advice:

One exam will not define you, but never ever turn down an opportunity to learn more, to question or to examine the world around you.

Decide on a career path that excites you  consult with people in that career  explore all options on how to achieve this including college courses.

Look at all the options carefully, take your time and realise that there are many different ways to achieve the career you want.

Just one sleep to @CollegeAware week! See Leaders & Learners by primary school children at @gpowithistory! https://t.co/RAjoG3bxq3 #CAW16  College Awareness Week (CAW) (@CollegeAware) November 20, 2016

College Awareness Week, which is in its third year, runs from 21-27 November. It aims to inspire and inform all students of the importance of having a post-secondary education plan.

It advocates for students to have the choice to pursue the course best suited to their interests, abilities and future plans, whether that is a PLC qualification, an apprenticeship or a university degree.

Launching College Awareness Week today (Monday) in South County Dublin Library, Tallaght, Senator Lynn Ruane said: It is an honour to be part of this amazing initiative which promotes education for all. It is important that everyone realises their potential and is aware of the many options available to them, whether as a school leaver or someone seeking to return to education.

More information can be found here.
Waterford radio star Billy McCarthy has died following a short and sudden illness, local station WLR FM announced today.

He first presented The Good News Programme on Saturday mornings when WLR was a pirate station from 1983 to 1988, before becoming programme director of the station from 1989 to 2014.

Managing director at the station, Des Whelan, said: Billy was a much loved friend and colleague of all of us here at WLR FM.

His untimely death is a huge loss not just to our listeners but to all of us who had the fortune to work with him for many years.

His Deise AM programme has consistently been the most listened to radio show in Waterford for the last 27 years.

He also won a national PPI Radio Award for Best Current Affairs Programme in 2003.

Mr Whelan added Billy and I first met when we were teenagers, even at that young age he was always listening to music and practising how to be a radio presenter.

He was very proud to have the opportunity to be a part of RTEs schedule when the national stations community service first started broadcasting in Waterford in the 1970s.

Billys friends and colleagues at WLR FM and everyone at the Broadcast Centre are all shocked & deeply saddened by his passing and extend their sincere sympathies to his partner Des OKeeffe, his mother Kay, his sister Celine, brothers Declan and Ronan and his extended family, relatives and many friends. To his listenership, for whom to many, Billy was an integral part of their daily lives.

Programme Director Michael Byrne who worked closely with Billy said this is a huge loss for his partner Des, his family and all his friends at the station; he was a brilliant colleague and an even better friend.

He had great passion for radio, he loved Waterford and most of all loved broadcasting to Waterford and beyond every morning. Ill miss him very much.

A special programme to remember Billy McCarthy will be broadcast on WLR FM on Monday Nov 21st from 10am  midday and online via www.wlrfm.com.
Christmas Choral Concert

Nov. 21, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Illinois Wesleyan Universitys School of Music will present a Christmas Choral Concert on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church (704 N. Main St., Bloomington).

The concert will feature performances from both the Collegiate Choir and the University Choir, conducted by Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities J. Scott Ferguson. Visiting Instructor of Music Education Andrew Dahan will conduct the vocal jazz ensemble Fridays at Noon. Special guests are the Metea Valley High School Chamber Choir from Aurora, Ill. The high school choir is conducted by Nathan Bramstedt.

The program will include works by Busto, Fulton, Gretchaninoff, Hassler, Howells, Lawson, Poulenc, Tavener, Stopford, Willan, and others. Suggested donations for the performance are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and Illinois Wesleyan alumni, and $2 for high school and college students.

For additional information, please contact the School of Music at (309) 556-3061.

By Vi Kakares 20
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 21, 2016) - Silver Bear Resources Inc. ("Silver Bear" or the "Company") (TSX:SBR) is pleased to provide a development and construction update for its Vertikalny mine at the Mangazeisky Silver Project in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia.

Mangazeisky Project Update

Mine development is well advanced at the Vertikalny Central deposit, with construction now approximately 60% complete. Project expenditure to date is approximately US$30 million of the proposed US$49.9 million budget with the project expected to come in under the Feasibility Study budget. Due to an unusually early winter the summer overland supply route has been curtailed until the winter road is fully frozen, which has resulting in a short delay in starting production ramp- up from early in Q1 2017 to the end of Q1 2017.

During and subsequent to Q3 2016 the following milestones were achieved:

Project financing completed, with first tranche drawdown of US$42.9 million in September; Ball mill installed and set into place, mechanical assembly close to completion; Process Plant Weather-shield completed and boiler heating system commissioned; Open pit pre-stripping completed; ore stockpile and implementation of detailed mine plan to begin in Q4 2016; Updated Feasibility Study resulting in significant improvements in IRR (pre-tax) / (post-tax) from 43.6% to 86.1% / 40.2% to 81.9% and NPV (pre-tax) / (post-tax) at 5% discount from US$79.6 M to US$132.6 M / US$70.7 M to US$123.1 M with minimal impact on CAPEX and OPEX; and Detailed mining plans in line with the Updated Feasibility Study being developed and additional mining equipment required secured through new lease agreements with Caterpillar Finance and Scania.

Silver Bear's CEO, Graham Hill commented: "I am very proud of our team and our contractors for the development progress they have accomplished since 2015, and I would like to thank them for their dedication and excellent work. As a Company we have accomplished many milestones over 2016, and the energy at site continues to be focused and motivated as we push towards commissioning and production. We are building up the operational team, with senior operating heads recruited and on site. I am very happy that we have been able to secure the services of some excellent professionals so that our operations will be to the highest standards. At this time our team is actively preparing systems, procedures and detailed operational readiness plans in preparation for commissioning.

In addition to the mine development at Mangazeisky silver project, the Company has also successfully expanded its mineral resource base in all categories. These improvements have resulted in the Company updating its feasibility study for the Vertikalny deposit in October resulting in significant benefits and in the initiation of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at its Mangazeisky North deposit, which assessment is scheduled for completion early in Q1 2017."

The following important construction and development milestones were completed in 2016 to date:

Remaining materials and equipment required for construction and commissioning are either now on site, or being prepared for transport from Yakutsk to site.

Mangazeisky mine camp is near completion, including the engineers' quarters and crew dormitory, technical and medical offices, Wi-Fi and communications centre and cafeteria.

The diesel power station has been installed and in the process of being connected to fuel supply and power cables with commissioning works planned for late November.

Foundations and installation of fuel tanks and boiler system; installed the first phase of the main process building and adjacent garage heating system and completed the pre-commissioning testing of the heating system. The system is now in operation.

Tailings storage facility design updates are being reviewed and detailed final design being completed to allow construction work to commence.

Water supply borehole No. 2 is being drilled, water continues to be pumped from borehole No. 1. Water testing is ongoing for quality and further testing of water volumes will be done when borehole No. 2 is completed.

Construction and weather sheeting of the main processing plant has been completed; the foundation and installation of ball mill within the plant has been completed and the mechanical assembly is close to completion.

Completed the cyanidation tanks foundation and installed tanks, now working on completing the piping installation across the processing facility as well as continuing with the installation of electrical cabling.

The workshop, warehouse and reagents storage facilities are near completion and are being fitted for heating and electrical systems.

Filing of Updated Feasibility Study Technical Report

The Company is also pleased to announce that on November 17, 2016 it filed the NI 43-101 technical report ("Technical Report") for the Updated Feasibility Study on the Mangazeisky silver project, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russian Federation. The Technical Report supports the Company's announcement of October 4, 2016. To view and download the Technical Report, please visit www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. The Technical Report will also be available on the Company's website at www.silverbearresources.com.

Amendment to the October 4, 2016 Press Release

Due to a typographical error, the Company would also want to apologize to Mr. Michael Beare of SRK Consulting (UK) whose name was inadvertently listed under the Qualified Persons list for the Updated Feasibility Study. Mr. Beare was one of the Qualified Person responsible for the NI 43-101June 2016 Feasibility Study. Below is the revised Qualified Person's list for the October 4, 2016 press release.

Tetra Tech

Anton von Wielligh, BSC (Hons), PrEng, SAIMM

Arunasalam Vathavooran, PhD, CEng, MIMMM

Damian Hicks, MIEAust CPEng

Guy Roemer, PE

Jacques du Toit, CEng, PrEng, MScEng, PMP

Laszlo Bodi, MSc, CEng, PEng

Rene Gharapetian, PEng

Robert Davies, BSc (Hons), CGeol, EurGeol, FGS

Sabry Abdel Hafez, PhD, PEng

Saunjay Duggal, MSc, Peng

SRK (UK)

Houcyne El Idrysy, PhD, CGeol, FGS

Krysztof Czajewski, BSc, PEng

Max Brown, BSc, MSc, CEng, MIMMM

ERM

Derek Chubb, PEng

About Silver Bear

Silver Bear (TSX:SBR) is focused on the development of its wholly-owned Mangazeisky Silver Project, covering a licence area of approximately 570 km2 that includes the high-grade Vertikalny deposit (amongst the highest grade silver deposits in the world), located 400 km north of Yakutsk in the Republic of Sakha within the Russian Federation. The Company was granted a 20-year mining licence for the Vertikalny deposit in September 2013 and recently updated its Feasibility Study in Q4 2016. Other information relating to Silver Bear is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.silverbearresources.com.

Cautionary Notes

This release and subsequent oral statements made by and on behalf of the Company may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations. Wherever possible, words such as "intends", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "anticipates", "believes" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Silver Bear cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause events and achievements to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to risk factors identified by Silver Bear in its continuous disclosure filings filed from time to time on SEDAR. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve significant known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause Silver Bear's actual results, events, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Silver Bear has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and Silver Bear assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, unless otherwise required by law.
Amarc Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: AHR) ("Amarc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it plans to acquire a 100% interest in two important-scale porphyry copper deposit targets located in north-central and central British Columbia ("BC") respectively, known as JOY and DUKE. Both properties represent significant potential for the discovery of porphyry copper-gold and copper-molybdenum deposits. Along with Amarc's IKE porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit and the promising porphyry copper ( gold  molybdenum  silver) deposit targets proximal to the IKE discovery, JOY and DUKE will serve to diversify and strengthen the Company's portfolio of quality porphyry projects.

The JOY porphyry copper-gold deposit target lies some 15 km north of the productive Kemess porphyry gold-copper district, where Northgate Minerals produced 3 million ounces of gold and 784 million pounds of copper over a 12-year period to 20101 (Kemess South), and AuRico Metals recently announced a 628 m intercept grading 0.53 g/t Au and 0.41% Cu2 (Kemess East). The Kemess District is well-known to Amarc's technical team as Hunter Dickinson Inc. ("HDI"), with whom Amarc is associated, is credited as the first company to recognize its true porphyry potential  acquiring both the early-stage Kemess South and Kemess North prospects and advancing them into significant porphyry copper-gold deposits. Additionally, three past-producing silver-gold mines occur just 10 to 20 km west of JOY. The Lawyers, Baker and Shasta precious metal mines produced a total of 5.5 million ounces of silver and 234,000 ounces of gold from epithermal veins, stockworks and breccias between 1989 and 20003.

The DUKE deposit target is located within the well-known Babine porphyry-copper district, just 30 km north of former mines (Bell and Granisle) operated by Noranda Minerals Inc. between 1966 and 1992, producing a total of 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 634,000 ounces of gold and 3.5 million ounces of silver4. DUKE is also just 10 km northeast of the Morrison Deposit, a 225 million tonne copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit with a completed Feasibility Study5.

Amarc has entered into two separate transactions  one with a company owned by director Robert A. Dickinson, and the other directly with Robert A. Dickinson. The first is for the purchase of a 100% working interest in the JOY and DUKE porphyry copper deposit targets. The two projects are being acquired at the vendor's direct costs of $492,639. In order to fund these acquisitions, Amarc has signed a Loan Consolidation Agreement with Mr. Dickinson, pursuant to which a previous two-year loan of $1 million coming due November 26, 2016 has been extended for three years on customary conditions, and increased to $1.5 million. The Loan remains unsecured and will bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum. Amarc will issue a Loan bonus of 10,000,000 three-year term common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of $0.08 per share. Both of the transactions are subject to regulatory approval.

JOY PROPERTY

The JOY property is located 310 km north-northwest of Mackenzie in an area of moderate topography in the prolific Kemess porphyry belt of the Toodoggone Region of north-central B.C. The 7,200-hectare property is accessed by seasonal roads or helicopter from the Kemess Mine Site, located approximately 25 km due south. Seasonal roads to the nearby Pine and Brenda porphyry copper deposits come within 2.0 km and 0.5 km, respectively, of the JOY property boundary.

Recorded work by various past operators on the JOY claims began in 1968 and continued intermittently through to 2004. Over 2,000 soil samples, 840 rock samples and 30 silt samples were collected, but no ground geophysical surveys or drilling have been done, and there has been little geological mapping.

Compilation of all historical sampling along with a recently completed confirmation soil survey, has revealed the presence of several extensive areas of coincident and overlapping soil and rock anomalies, the most significant of which is Deposit Target 1 (DT-1) with a core area of 4.5 km2 within a larger cluster extending over approximately 9 km2. The extensive coincident copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, lead and zinc soil anomalies at JOY are interpreted to potentially represent a shallowly buried copper-gold porphyry deposit.

Amarc has acquired 100% of the JOY mineral claims subject only to an underlying 3% NSR royalty from production, which has now been capped at $3.5 million.

DUKE PROPERTY

The DUKE property is located 80 km northeast of Smithers BC, in subdued topography 25 km east of Babine Lake on the Nechako Plateau. The 6,600-hectare property is accessible from Smithers by road and a barge crossing of Babine Lake from Granisle. A longer, all road-based commute is available from Fort St. James, 150 km to the southeast.

DUKE was intermittently explored between 1965 and 2010 with geochemical, induced polarization ("IP") and magnetometer surveys and also 30 shallow diamond drill holes. Extensive glacial cover precludes geological surveys and hinders geochemical survey interpretation, but many of the holes drilled intersected significant lengths of copper-molybdenum-silver-gold porphyry mineralization that remains open both laterally and to depth. One example, DDH-14, intersected 87 m of 0.40% Cu, 0.021% Mo, 2.2 g/t Ag and 0.05 g/t Au from 29 m to the end of the hole. In addition, IP survey results suggest the mineralized sulphide system may be offset by faulting, leaving a significant area of prospective ground yet to be drilled.

Amarc has secured a 100% interest in the DUKE property as well as extensive adjacent mineral claims over nearby second-order exploration targets.

About Amarc Resources Ltd.

Amarc is a BC-based mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team that is focused on advancing the IKE Project, a major new porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery combined with at least four nearby, important-scale and drill-ready porphyry copper deposit targets. With the IKE Project underway and Centerra Resources on board as a funding partner, Amarc has also acquired the JOY and DUKE porphyry copper projects in BC. The Company is now assessing plans for how best to advance these exciting new acquisitions.

Amarc is associated with HDI, a diversified, global mining company with a 25 year history of porphyry discovery and development success. Previous and current HDI porphyry projects include some of BC's and the world's most important mineral resources, such as Pebble, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, Kemess North, Gibraltar, Prosperity, Xietongmen, Newtongmen, Florence, Sisson and Maggie. From its head office in Vancouver, Canada, HDI applies its unique strengths and capabilities to acquire, develop, operate and monetize mineral projects to provide superior returns to shareholders.

Source: Amarc Resources
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 21, 2016) - Sage Gold Inc. (the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:SGX) is pleased to announce that it has completed a C$1.85 million equity investment (the "Equity Investment") by way of a private placement with CRH Mezzanine Pte. Ltd ("CRH Mezzanine"), and has executed a C$9.65 million secured gold prepayment investment (the "Gold Prepayment") with CRH Funding II Pte. Ltd. ("CRH Funding"). Both CRH Mezzanine and CRH Funding are wholly-owned by Cartesian Royalty Holdings Pte. Ltd. The Equity Investment and Gold Prepayment comprise of the previously announced financing package of C$11.5 million (the "Financing") provided by Cartesian Royalty Holdings Pte. Ltd. to fund the development and restart of the Corporation's Clavos project situated in the Timmins mining camp in Ontario, Canada.

Sage's President and CEO Nigel Lees commented, "We announced the financial package of C$11.5 million with CRH on September 29th. Since then we have completed the following;

Purchased the 40% minority interest in Clavos from Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. for C$1.0 million

Received a Change in Project Status for Clavos and is now permitted for production

Completed a C$1.85 million equity placement with CRH

Signed a binding toll milling agreement with Primero Mining's Stock Mill

Executed a C$9.65 million Gold Prepayment Agreement to retire the current secured debt and finance the Clavos restart

We are looking forward to dewatering and rehabilitating the underground workings at Clavos which will allow the Corporation to begin to define the stope blocks and provide underground drill stations to test the down plunge extensions of the existing zones. The change of project status allows Sage to produce up to 700 tonnes a day."

About the CRH Equity Investment

Under the terms of the Equity Investment, CRH Mezzanine has invested C$1.85 million for (i) 10,700,000 units (the "Units") of the Corporation at a subscription price of C$0.10 per Unit, and (ii) 7,800,000 special warrants (the "Special Warrants") of the Corporation at a subscription price of C$0.10 per Special Warrant. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each warrant exercisable for one common share at a price of C$0.1575 cents for a period of three years. Each Special Warrant entitles CRH Mezzanine to acquire one (1) Unit for no additional consideration. The Equity Investment has been structured such that CRH Mezzanine will not at any time own more than 19.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation. In addition, CRH Mezzanine has the right to acquire its pro rata share of future equity investments completed by Sage as long as it exercises control or direction over 5% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares of Sage.

About the Gold Prepayment Agreement

Under the terms of the Gold Prepayment, CRH Funding will provide the Corporation with C$9.65 million payable in three tranches, subject to fulfillment of customary conditions. In consideration, the Corporation will deliver to CRH Funding 15.0% of gold produced at Clavos commencing on the latter of; (i) the beginning of Commercial Production and (ii) 12 months from the date of payment of the first tranche of the Gold Prepayment, but in all cases no later than December 27, 2017, for a period of 72 months of Commercial Production, subject to a minimum total delivery of 16,100 ounces of gold ("Minimum") and a maximum of 26,000 ounces of gold ("Maximum"). In the event that the Minimum has not been delivered within 72 months of Commercial Production at Clavos, the delivery obligation will continue until the Minimum has been delivered to CRH Funding. The obligations of the Corporation under the Gold Prepayment are secured against all of the assets of the Corporation, including its interest in the Clavos project.

About the Purchase of the 40% Clavos Interest

As part of the closing of the Financing, Sage completed the previously announced acquisition of the remaining 40% interest in the Clavos project from St Andrew Goldfields Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. The acquisition was completed for C$1.0 million and a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty. The C$1.0 million was satisfied from the proceeds raised from the Equity Investment. Sage now owns a 100% interest in the property.

Sage currently plans to complete a reserve estimate and a prefeasibility study regarding the Clavos project. In the event that a production decision is made that is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, readers are cautioned that there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with such production decisions.

Before giving effect to the Equity Investment, Nigel Lees, President and CEO of the Corporation owned and controlled, directly or indirectly 4,282,881 common shares of the Corporation, representing approximately 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation. After giving effect to the Equity Investment, the number of common shares Mr. Lees beneficially owned, directly or indirectly over which control or discretion is exercised was diluted causing his common share ownership to fall below 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation. This notification of the decrease in Mr. Lees share ownership below the early warning reporting threshold is being issued in accordance with National Instrument 62-103, The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. For the purposes of this disclosure, the address of Mr. Lees is 200 University Avenue, Suite 1301, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3C6. . The early warning report respecting the transaction will be filed on System for Electronic Document Analysis and Review (SEDAR) under Sage's issuer profile. To obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Lees, please contact the Corporation at 416-204-3170 or refer to SEDAR under Sage's issuer profile.

Shares for Debt

Sage further announces that it intends to complete a debt settlement transaction (the "Debt Settlement") with certain creditors ("Creditors"), providing for the settlement of approximately $112,263 through the issuance of an aggregate of 935,528 common shares of the Corporation ("Common Shares") at a deemed issue price of $0.12 per Common Share. The Debt Settlement is subject to regulatory approval. The Corporation expects to complete the Debt Settlement shortly after such approval is obtained.

About CRH

CRH Mezzanine and CRH Funding are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Cartesian Royalty Holdings Pte. Ltd. ("CRH"). CRH offers innovative financing structures with the goal of creating long-term growth and value in world-class gold projects around the globe. CRH is an affiliate of Cartesian Capital Group, LLC, a global private equity firm with proven expertise in assisting closely-held companies develop into global market leaders. Cartesian Capital Group manages more than US$2.4 billion in capital and has offices in New York, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Warsaw, and Bermuda.

About Sage Gold Inc.

The Corporation is a mineral exploration and development company which has primary interests in near-term production and exploration properties in Ontario. Its main properties are the 100 % owned Clavos Gold property in Timmins and the 100% owned Onaman copper, gold, silver property and other exploration properties in the Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Camp. Technical reports and information relating to the properties can be obtained from the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) website at www.sedar.com and www.sagegoldinc.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this report. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Company's exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Company's properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Company's ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities.

Wherever possible, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "may" and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, satisfaction of conditions for drawdown of the tranches of financing pursuant to the Gold Prepayment financing, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in Canada or other countries in which the Company does business or may carry on business in the future, operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities and grades of mineral reserves, contests over title to properties, especially title to undeveloped properties, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other geological data, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding, limitations of insurance coverage and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and should be considered carefully.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this report is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure 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 the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Company 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. No stock exchange, regulation services provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.
Midas Gold Corp. (TSX: MAX / OTCQX: MDRPF) today announced the first assay results from its ongoing resource enhancement drill program on the Stibnite Gold Project, Idaho. As reported on August 23, 2016, Midas Gold initiated this drill program with a goal of improving, expanding and de-risking the mineral resources defined in the December 2014 preliminary feasibility study ("PFS") before commencing a feasibility study ("FS").

Two holes completed at the north end of the Yellow Pine deposit intersected significantly higher than anticipated grades, as compared to the PFS mineral resource block model. The additional data from these holes extends a higher-grade trend approximately 100m northeast and is anticipated to support conversion of the mineral resource in this area from the inferred mineral resource category to the indicated mineral resource category. A third exploration hole intersected anomalous gold in a prospect outside of the mineral resource area. Highlights are tabulated below while complete results are attached at the end of the press release.

"The 2014 preliminary feasibility study identified several areas where further drilling could potentially enhance the economic returns for the Stibnite Gold Project through resource conversion and/or extending higher grade areas," said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold Corp. "Our first two drill holes, completed in a sparsely drilled portion of the Homestake area of the Yellow Pine deposit, achieved both objectives -- resource conversion and higher grade." These two holes targeted an area of inferred mineralization, and returned similar widths as reported in the PFS block model, but returned gold grades 2-3 times higher than predicted. "These inferred mineral resources are located within the PFS mineral reserve pit and were treated as waste rock in the PFS financial model. Conversion of these inferred mineral resources into indicated mineral resources and, subsequently, mineral reserves, would reduce strip ratios, increase payable gold and Project NPV," said Mr. Quin. "Additional drill results from the central and southern portions of the Yellow Pine deposit are pending."

Highlights of Recent Assay Results - Yellow Pine Deposit, Stibnite Gold Project Hole ID Type From To Interval Gold Silver Antimony (m) (m) (m) (1) (g/t) (g/t) (%) MGI-16-411 Core 118.7 153.9 35.2 3.10 0.7 0.00 including 123.4 141.7 18.3 4.96 0.8 0.00 MGI-16-412 Core 86.8 109.7 22.9 4.70 2.1 0.15

* The reported drill hole intercept widths are close to true widths, but true widths may be slightly less once modelling is completed.

Holes MGI-16-411 and MGI-16-412

The area targeted by drill holes MGI-16-411 and -412 is situated along a stretch of a linear, northeast trending, 25-50m wide, steeply dipping structure discovered during 2012 Midas drilling, which was named the Hidden Fault Zone ("HFZ") due to its lack of exposure. The drill holes targeted a gap in drilling along the projected trace of the structure. This area was modeled as inferred mineral resources in the 2014 PFS and was estimated to have a grade of 1.3g/t gold, but fell within the boundaries of the reserve pit. As a result, the inferred mineral resources were treated as waste rock in the PFS mine plan and financial model, having a negative impact on strip ratio and Project economics.

The HFZ structure, which has been systematically drilled over an approximately 1km length, is open to the northeast of the drilled area and southwest of the current limits of the Yellow Pine Deposit. It is located along a distinctive topographic linear that extends for several km in both directions beyond the deposit area. The zone is marked by extensive multi-stage brecciation, silicification, and gouge development. The granodiorite and granite intrusive host rocks show pervasive illite alteration of feldspars and micas and potassium feldspar flooding along with sulphide replacement of biotite.

DDH MGI-16-413

Extensive drilling by prior operators and Midas Gold indicates the presence of mineralization to the northeast of the Yellow Pine deposit, but on the east side of the Meadow Creek Fault Zone ("MCFZ"). Unlike the Yellow Pine deposit, which lies to the west of the MCFZ, the mineralization in this area is hosted in sediments, not intrusive rocks. Both narrow structurally controlled high grade and broadly disseminated lower grade gold mineralization occur locally in the metasedimentary package southeast of, adjacent to, and within, the MCFZ and other structural corridors. Mineralization in the metasediments in this area occurs in a package of altered carbonate rocks lying between two quartzite packages and is associated with vuggy silica veining, silica flooding and silica cemented breccia material. Breccia and silica flooding fabrics in the mineralized zones have variable orientations and the lack of good geological control due to negligible outcrop exposure creates uncertainty in determining mineralized trends in the subsurface.

Midas Gold hole MGI-12-307, drilled in 2012, intercepted 49.4m grading 5.4g/t Au, including multiple consecutive samples assaying over 10 g/t Au, but falls below the PFS mineral reserve pit. Historic hole B-043 intercepted 14m grading 5.9g/t Au approximately 100m to the south of this intercept.

Recently completed hole MGI-16-413 was situated northeast of the intercept in hole B-043 and above hole MGI-12-307 and targeted shallower mineralization cut in scattered nearby Midas Gold and prior operator's drill holes. Alteration and sulphide mineralization in the hole occurs throughout the carbonate package and is localized in bedding parallel lenses and laminations, disseminated in small cross cutting breccia zones and/or localized quartz-carbonate microveinlets. Anomalous gold grades were intercepted in four zones that averaged between 0.17g/t and 0.70g/ over widths of 4-12m. While the mineralization and alteration intercepted were encouraging, additional work is required to better understand the controls on mineralization in this area of complex interaction between favourable stratigraphy, major and minor structures.

Details of the previous news releases, the Project and the Prefeasibility Study can be found filed under Midas Gold's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or at www.midasgoldcorp.com.

To view the locations of current drill holes, please see the figures at the end of this release.

Sampling Procedures, Quality Control and Quality Assurance

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI43-101") and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at the Stibnite Gold Project were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Stibnite Gold Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.005g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t gold are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 0.5g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t silver are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Antimony is analyzed via a 4-Acid digestion with ICP finish with a 5g/t lower reporting limit. Samples reporting values >500g/t antimony are reanalyzed using XRF fusion. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS Chemex in their Reno and Elko, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are inserted at appropriate intervals and used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company's Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.

About Midas Gold and the Stibnite Gold Project

Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries are focused on the exploration and, if warranted, site restoration and development of gold-antimony-silver deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho that are encompassed by its Stibnite Gold Project.

Summary Drill Assay Results - Yellow Pine Deposit, Stibnite Gold Project HOLE-ID Hole

Type Collar

Azimuth Collar

Dip TD(m) From

(m) To

(m) Width (m)

(1) Au

(g/t)

(2) Ag

(g/t) Sb

(%) MGI-16-411 Core -45 186 182.9 40.5 57.9 17.4 0.82 1.1 0.00 74.7 82.3 7.6 0.42 0.7 0.00 118.7 153.9 35.2 3.10 0.7 0.00 Incl 123.4 141.7 18.3 4.96 0.8 0.00 MGI-16-412 Core -45 158 135.6 54.9 64.0 9.1 0.36 0.6 0.00 86.8 109.7 22.9 4.70 2.1 0.15 MGI-16-413 Core -35 180 106.2 No Significant Intercepts

(1) The reported drill hole intercept widths are close to true widths, but true widths may be slightly less once modelling is completed. (2) Composites are generated using a 0.5 g/t Au cutoff grade over a minimum 6-meter downhole length and may include internal waste below cutoff grade.

Source: Midas Gold
By Jun Ji-hye

Opposition parties officially began moves to impeach President Park Geun-hye, Monday, in what could be a long, uphill battle with the scandal-ridden leader who has defied public calls to voluntarily step down.

This comes after the prosecution described Park as an "accomplice" to her aides and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil who were indicted in the worst-ever corruption case in the country's modern history.

Park has refused to comply with the prosecution's requests for questioning, reneging on her earlier promise to cooperate with the investigation.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) unanimously adopted a statement to push for Park's impeachment at a party meeting. Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said the party will establish a panel dedicated to reviewing the procedures and methods needed to impeach Park.

"Once the National Assembly passes an impeachment bill, and the Constitutional Court makes the right decision through a review of criminal charges against Park that have been exposed so far, the impeachment will be accomplished," Choo said.

The second largest opposition People's Party made Park's impeachment its official stance, saying it will cooperate with other opposition parties as well as lawmakers from the Saenuri Party who have stood up to the President.

Under the law, more than two thirds of sitting lawmakers must vote in favor of the impeachment bill to pass it. This means that at least 200 votes are needed, but the three opposition parties hold only 165 seats. Even if six independent lawmakers join with them, at least 29 votes from the Saenuri Party are necessary, meaning that cooperation from the governing party is essential.

"The political and ethical conditions required for Park's impeachment are now in place," said Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-chairman of the People's Party. "There is no need to postpone tabling the impeachment bill."
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President-elect Donald Trump accused the "Hamilton" cast Saturday of harassing Vice President-elect Mike Pence at a performance Friday evening after the actors called on Pence to "uphold our American values."

"Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!" Trump tweeted Saturday morning.

He followed up: "The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!"

Cast member Brandon Dixon, who portrays Aaron Burr in the Broadway show and delivered the statement to Pence during the curtain call, soon replied on Twitter, "@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen."

Trump fired back Saturday evening, reiterating his feelings about the statement and taking a jab at Dixon for reading it from a cue card. In a tweet that was later deleted, Trump wrote, "Very rude and insulting of Hamilton cast member to treat our great future V.P. Mike Pence to a theater lecture. Couldn't even memorize lines!"



Very rude and insulting of Hamilton cast member to treat our great future V.P. Mike Pence to a theater lecture.Couldn't even memorize lines!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

Word spread on social media Friday night that Pence was in the house for the hit show, and during the curtain call, Dixon urged Pence to "work on behalf of all of us."



Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway . After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs  Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016

"Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at 'Hamilton: An American Musical.' We really do," Dixon said.

"We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us."

Dixon, who urged the audience not to boo Pence, said the show was performed by "a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations."

The crowd loudly cheered and applauded Dixon's remarks.

Sam Rudy, a publicist for "Hamilton," said Pence was exiting the theater at the time and stopped to listen to Dixon. Rudy described Dixon's remarks as a "polite request" and said he can "see no way whatsoever how the cast of 'Hamilton' can be seen as being rude."

"I don't know what (Trump) qualifies as harassment," Rudy added.

Messages left with Pence representatives were not returned.

Pence, who has been in New York to assist with Trump's transition, was greeted inside the theater earlier in the night by a chorus of boos and some applause.

Stevie Van Zandt, a guitarist who is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, blasted Dixon's actions as a form of "bullying" and called on Dixon to apologize to Pence.

"When artists perform the venue becomes your home," Van Zandt tweeted. "The audience are your guests. It is nothing short of the same bullying tactic we rightly have criticized Trump for in the past. It's taking unfair advantage of someone who thought they were a protected guest in your home."

Despite Trump's harsh rebuke of the confrontation, Dixon's rhetoric was not dissimilar to remarks Trump himself has made in the past about uniting the country.

"I'm asking America to join me in dreaming big and bold, and dream for wonderful things in our future. Let's close the history books on the failures in Washington and let's open a new chapter of success and prosperity for all of our people. We have a divided nation, a seriously divided nation. All of our people -- that is how we will truly make American great again," Trump said in Washington last month.

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is no stranger to politics, having backed Hillary Clinton during this year's election cycle. In addition to endorsing Clinton, Miranda held a benefit showing of the musical in July, where admission to the show supported the Clinton campaign -- some tickets reportedly went for as much as $10,000.
Ghanaian filmmaker and actress Luckie Lawson is hopeful 'Trokosi' will be a topical issue at the 2016 edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) as Leila Djansi's directed film about the subject 'Like Cotton Twines' screens at the festival this week.

'Trokosi' is a practice in rural Ghana, Togo and Benin where traditional religious shrines take young girls, usually virgins, in payment for services or as religious atonement for a supposed offense of a family member still persists.

The actress who played a role in the film is expected to leave Ghana today for the festival in India.

She described the practice as critical and unfortunate, and it needs world attention to stop it.

It is great opportunity for me attend to this year's IFFI. It is a big platform for filmmakers from around the world and I am hopeful to network with others who will be attending. 'Like Cotton Twines' is a great film which is already making headlines from previous festivals. The issue of Trokosi is critical and I hope talking about it on platforms like this will give attention to it so as to help end it. I don't understand why a young girl should be paying for a crime she has not committed. It is unfortunate and we must all join hands to condemn it say 'No To Trokosi', Luckie said on Sunday.

'Like Cotton Twines' is about a 14-year-old Ghanaian girl who is supposed to become a slave to the gods as part of an appeasement of her father's sins. She then meets an African-American volunteer who is teaching in her village. It is a touching story.

The film has already been screened at the Savannah Film Festival and the Urban world Film Festival.

It will be screened at the IFFI on November 23 in Goa as one of the masterpiece films of the festival.

The IFFI founded in 1952 is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. It is held annually in the state of Goa, on the western coast of India. The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world.

By Francis Addo (Twitter: @fdee50 Email: [email protected] )
The god MC of Ghanaian hip hop M.anifest made time with multi content platform creator Ebenezer Donkoh also known as NY DJ on the new Webisode #BehindTheMovewithNYDJ.

The conversation surrounded the most controversial song of the year god MC, No Where Cool album, the gathering a huge fan base on social media during the release of god MC and many others.

M.anifest also spoke on the call by some fans to dumb down his lyrics and his resolution not to do so even more than ever.

Watch M.aniest on Behind The Move with NY DJ.
One of Ghana's celebrated actresses, Martha Ankomah, has launched her Martha Ankomah Foundation to cater for the needy in the society.

The launch ceremony which was held at the African Regent Hotel in Accra attracted a number of personalities from the clergy, members of the foundation's advisory board, representatives from corporate institutions, celebrities and a section of the media.

Some of the celebrities who were present at the ceremony include Ekow Smith-Asante, Abeiku Acquah, Gloria Osei Sarfo, Vincent Macauley, Abeiku Sagoe and Mercy Little Smith.

Speaking at the launch, the actress who was the face of Vita Milk's Viora in 2014 said her foundation is a social organisation which was registered three years ago.

According to her, the foundation with its objectives which include child care support programme, health awareness project, community development projects, among others, over the past few years, has collaborated with Autism Ambassadors to create awareness for children living with autism.

She disclosed that very soon the foundation would embark on a new project, the Martha Ankomah Foundation's Quality Education Project.

The aim of the project, according to her, is to provide children living in deprived communities with learning materials and resources which will enhance their aptitude in education.

At the launch, a documentary was shown on some of the places that Martha and her team, with support from Stallion Group of Companies, have been to make donations to some of these deprived communities much to the delight of the community leaders.

Martha also used the ceremony to present citations to some of her sponsors, Stallion Group of Companies, African Regent Hotel and Media Sam Company Limited.

At the end of the launch, there was fundraising and guests contributed to the foundation.

Martha Ankomah who joined the Ghanaian movie industry in 1994 has featured in many movies, including 'Power Of The Gods', 'Shakira', 'Sin Of The Soul', 'Heart Of Men', 'Somewhere In Africa', 'Sugar Town', 'A Trip To Hell' and several others.

By George Clifford Owusu
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Benghazi (Libya) (AFP) - A car bomb attack near a hospital in Libya's second city of Benghazi killed at least four people and wounded 13 others on Monday, a medical source said.

The source, asking not to be named, said the attack took place in front of the coastal city's Al-Jalaa hospital and he warned that the death toll could rise.

It was not immediately clear if the attack was a suicide bombing, said an officer in Libya's special forces, Mohamed al-Jali.

Benghazi, birthplace of Libya's 2011 revolution which toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has been the scene of daily clashes for the past two years between armed forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar and jihadists holding onto pockets of the city.

Five years after the revolution, the country is embroiled in violence and political chaos as militias and two rival administrations vie for power.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A bid by African countries to delay the appointment of the first-ever UN expert tasked with investigating LGBT rights abuses worldwide was defeated on Monday.

A draft resolution demanding talks on the legality of the new expert's mandate had been put forward by the African group of countries in the General Assembly's human rights committee.

The measure however was gutted of its key demand when a group of Latin American countries presented an amendment deleting the request to delay the appointment.

The amendment was adopted by a vote of 84 to 77, with 17 abstentions.

South Africa broke ranks and voted in favor of the amendment, while European countries, the United States, Canada and South American countries also voted to maintain the expert in his post.

Somalia and Rwanda abstained. China, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia were among the countries that supported the African bid to suspend the appointment.

The new amended draft resolution -- without the suspension of the LGBT rights expert -- was adopted by a vote of 94 to 3, with 80 abstentions.

The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.

That appointment was agreed following a stormy debate that also saw several African states vote against the decision.

Muntarbhorn, who began his new mandate this month, has been appointed for three years.

He will carry out country visits, raise allegations of LGBT rights violations with governments and work to protect rights defenders.

Challenging the legal basis

At the General Assembly, the African bid was led by Botswana, which argued that sexual orientation and gender identity were not defined under international human rights law.

"The African group is wondering which international legal instrument defines the concept of sexual orientation and gender identity," said Botswana's UN ambassador Charles Ntwaagae.

"These notions are not enshrined in any international human rights instrument," he said.

"The African group is of the view that the mandate of the independent expert lacks the necessary specificity to be carried out fairly."

A total of 73 countries -- almost 40 percent of all 193 UN members -- still have laws on their books making homosexuality a crime.

In Africa alone, 33 countries have anti-gay laws including Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Mauritania.

The measure is now expected to go to the General Assembly for a vote, but it is unlikely that the bid to block the LGBT expert will be revived.

Nearly 800 human rights organizations and civil society groups had urged UN member-states in a joint letter not to overturn Muntarbhorn's appointment.

The outcome of the vote "affirms that the right to be protected from violence and discrimination applies equally to LGBT people," said Boris Dittrich, LGBT rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

"It also respects the integrity of the Human Rights Council, as the UN's top human rights body, to ensure that mechanisms are in place to protect rights not just in theory, but in practice."
Bamako (AFP) - Alleged jihadists killed five Malian soldiers transporting ballot boxes while a civilian also died in separate attacks aimed at sabotaging Mali's municipal elections, security sources told AFP on Monday.

Mali voted Sunday in its first elections since 2013, with turnout low as security jitters remained elevated despite an international military intervention.

"After the voting on Sunday, an army convoy taking the ballot boxes for counting was attacked in the north by jihadists. Five Malian soldiers were killed," the security source said.

Another Malian security source said the assailants were unable to make off with the ballots, but confirmed the jihadists "wanted to sabotage the elections".

Separately, a local official recounted an attack on the town of Dilli, southwestern Mali, where presumed jihadists stole vehicles and killed a civilian.

Officials count ballots at a polling station in Bamako on November 20, 2016

"They arrived early Monday in Dilli. They attacked a council building. The jihadists then took off with two ambulances and a vehicle, after which they killed a civilian and made off for the Mauritanian border," a local official said, requesting anonymity.

It is alleged the jihadists were looking for ballot boxes in the building while counting takes place.

Voters are electing 12,000 councillors across Mali as the government wrestles with implementing a 2015 peace deal and warding off the stubborn jihadist threat in the north.
Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord said on Monday that they are closing in on the last Islamic State group fighters in the coastal city of Sirte.

The pro-GNA forces said they managed to dislodge IS fighters from a fortified school in the Al-Giza Al-Bahriya district that the jihadists had fiercely defended.

Artillery pounded IS positions as pro-GNA fighters mainly from the western town of Misrata advanced house by house, said an AFP correspondent who reported seeing wounded.

But the pro-GNA forces gave no casualty figures.

Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, had a population of 120,000 before IS seized it in June 2015 and residents began to flee.

The pro-government forces announced the launch of the battle for Sirte on May 12 and, within weeks, they recaptured large chunks of the coastal city.

But the pro-GNA forces slowed down the offensive in an effort to avoid losses among their own ranks and to protect civilians trapped in the city.

The fighting has left at least 667 GNA fighters dead and 3,000 wounded. The death toll for the jihadists is not known.
By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA

Beposo, (WR) Nov. 20, GNA - Mr. Eric Cobbinah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shama, has said the NDC Government views access to primary healthcare as crucial to sustaining the health needs of the citizenry.

In view of this, he said, the NDC Government had constructed a number of health facilities across the country, including eight Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds, since 2009, to enhance healthcare delivery in the Shama District.

Mr. Cobbinah said this at Beposo at the handing over ceremony of some classroom blocks and CHPS compounds in the district over the weekend.

He said the facilities would reduce the prevalence of cholera outbreaks and other communicable. 'Now expectant mothers wouldn't have to travel long distances to the district capital of Shama to deliver and it will also minimise maternal and infant mortality in the district.'

The Assembly commissioned two CHPS compounds at Beposo and Lower Inchaban at the cost of GH98,680.39 and GH101,242.93, respectively.

It also handed over six and three classroom blocks and ancillary facilities to the District Education Directorate at Fawomanye, Supormu-Dunkwa, Ituma, Atwerebonda and Shama-Kumase.

The DCE announced that the Assembly had constructed 35 new classroom blocks, since 2009, a District Education Administrative block and provided vehicles for the staff to improve monitoring and supervision across the district.

These, he said, had enhanced the academic performances of candidates in the Basic Education Certificates Examinations (BECE) and increased school enrolment, adding: 'We have increased the number of schools under the School Feeding Programme from five to 34 since 2009.'

He said the district recorded 76 per cent pass rate in the BECE in 2015 from the previous record of 33 per cent.

The DCE explained that education was the foundation of every country's development, therefore, he urged parents and guardians to take proper care of their wards and enroll them in school for a brighter future.

The Assembly, he said, was constructing a modern market at Inchaban, drainage at the Beposo Market and would inaugurate a Small Town Water System at Supormu-Dunkwa to improve supply of potable water to the residents.

Dr. Abraham Tachie-Menson, the District Director of Health, lauded the Assembly for putting up the facilities and gave the assurance that the Management and Staff would take proper care of them to last longer.

Mrs. Jocelyn Ekuba Amihere, the Human Resource Officer at the Shama Education Directorate, also expressed her gratitude to the Assembly for the new facilities, saying, 'It would enhance teaching and learning'.

Mr. Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie, the Member of Parliament for the area, gave the assurance that he would lobby for more development projects to the area should the constituents renew his mandate in the December 7 Elections.

GNA
By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA

Adukrom, Nov. 20, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to the electorate to make his third appearance on the ballot paper victorious by voting massively for him on December 7.

He said he had a great vision and good intentions for Ghana, therefore, when given the nod he would work hard to transform the economic failure that the nation had been plunged into by the current government, into a successful growing economy to benefit all.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who was addressing the chiefs and people of Okere, the Nifa Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area, to begin a five-day tour of the Eastern Region, said the electorate should, therefore, look beyond party affiliation and vote for him to get the opportunity to change the cause of Ghana,

He reiterated his promise of providing 'One factory for each district', and explained that the project would be based on mainly the agriculture produce of the locality to create jobs as well as a market for the farmers.

The flag bearer promised that when elected, he would ensure that Okere became a district to be able to benefit fully from the factory concept since farming was the mainstay of the people.

He told the chiefs and people that: 'Okere is blessed with a hardworking and respectable M, who is a stalwart of the NPP, but he needs a President from his party to represent and further your cause even better.'

The flag bearer ,who was accompanied by the MP for Okere, Mr Dan Botwe, Mr Alan Kyerematen, a leading member of the Party, and Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, the National Women's; organiser, received a rousing welcome from hundreds of people from all corners of the Constituency.

Earlier, Nana Opese Kunadu, the Chief of Awukugua and the acting Nifahene of Akuapem Traditional Area, said it was high time Okere was accorded a district status and, therefore, appealed to Nana to consider that when elected.

GNA
Ho, Nov. 20, GNA - Mr Prosper Bani, the Minister of The Interior, has said the security forces are prepared to usher the country through the December 7 General Election peacefully.

'I know their alertness, their professionalism, and their commitment to duty will take us through the elections,' he stated.

Mr Bani who was addressing this year's Bands Competition of the Security Agencies (BACOSA) in Ho, therefore called on the citizenry to have confidence in them and collaborate with them for peaceful polls.

He, however warned that any citizen or group of people who disturbed that process would be 'addressed' within the confines of the laws.

The Minister cautioned against the misuse of social media on Election Day, saying, though the Government had decided not to interfere in the use of social media during the period it was important that users of the mediums did so responsibly by transmitting only credible information on the elections.

He reminded the public that it was only the Electoral Commission that had the responsibility to announce the official results of the elections.

Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Volta Regional Minister, in a speech read on her behalf, assured of a free, fair and peaceful elections in the Region.

'The Volta Region is enjoying a high level of respect, cooperation and support among members of the security services, so we are sure of safety and free fair elections,' she explained.

GNA
20.11.2016 LISTEN

Tarkwa (W/R), Nov. 20, GNA - Two men from Takyi-Krom near Asankrangwa in the Western Region have been jailed for 20 years by the Tarkwa Circuit Court on four charges.

Kwadwo Kyere, a 24-year old illegal miner and Goma Clement, 31, a farmer and a watch dog committee member, pleaded guilty to all the charges and they were thus convicted on their own pleas.

The charges are conspiracy to commit crime, attempted robbery, possession of fire arms without lawful authority and abetment of crime.

Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah, informed the Court that the complainant was a Chinese national and small-scale miner, who lived in the same vicinity with the convicts.

He said on September 11 this year, at about 0430 hours, Kyere, with Osuman and two others on the run, went to the complainant's house to rob him.

According to Detective Amponsah, Kyere who was armed with a gun entered the complainant's room and pointed the gun at him, while he was fast asleep.

He said the complainant suddenly woke up, gathered courage and disarmed Kyere, and then kicked him down.

The convict and his accomplices, sensing danger, run out of the yard and escaped through a nearby bush, he said.

Detective Amponsah said the complainant, thereafter, pursued them, but he could not trace them.

He said on the same day, at about 1400 hours, Goma confessed to a witness, who was a unit committee member at Takyi-Krom that he released his gun to Kyere for the attempted robbery.

The witness then informed the Police and the two were arrested to assist the Police in their investigation.

During investigations Kyere told the Police that Goma conspired with them to carry out the operation.

GNA
Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - The Ga-Dangme Shifimo Kpee, a youth advocacy group in Greater Accra, has called for the restoration of the lagoons along the coast of Accra to Ada to create job opportunities.

It said to stem the tide of armed robbery and other social vices along the coastal belt, the lagoons must be turn into fish farming, salt mining and beach resort ventures to help reduce the unemployment rate.

In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, signed by Asafoatse Nii Akorbuah III, the spokesperson for the group, they mentioned the La Lake Africa, Kpeshie, Teshie Sango, Kpone, Gaa and Laalei, Tema Sakumo , as some of the lagoons that could be revamped into viable projects.

The group appealed to the authorities to involve fishermen in the planning of their needs to holistically address their challenges, mentioning pair-trawling, light-fishing and cost of fishing gears as challenges of the industry.

They called on Ga chiefs to meet regularly to deliberate issues on improving their welfare and offer alternative means of job creation for the unemployed youth.

They noted that the Ga Language was being adulterated and was also not widely spoken as other languages and, therefore, recommended that it be seriously taught in the basic schools.

The group urged all Ga-Dangmes to unite and fight for their rights.

GNA
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Anton Wilhelm Amo, the first African and black professor and philosopher of the European Enlightenment (Henry Louis Gates, Jr. /Emmanuel Akyeampong, Dictionary of African Biography, Vol. 6).

GOTTHELF LOESCHER ON ANTON WILHELM AMO

A passage from an address made by Gotthelf Loescher, the professor who chaired Amos successful defense of this second dissertation in April 1934 gives some idea of the high regard in which he was held:

We proclaim Africa and its region of Guinea, separated by a very great distance from us, and formerly the Gold Coast, so called by Europeans on account of its abundant and copious yield of gold, but known by us as your fatherland, in which you first saw the light of day, the mother not only of many good things and treasures of nature but also of the most auspicious minds:

We proclaim her quite deservedly! Among these auspicious minds, your genius stands out particularly, most noble and distinguished Sir, seeing that you have excellently demonstrated felicity and superiority of genius, solidity and refinement of learning and teaching, in countless examples before now, and even in this university, with great honor in all worthy things, and now also in your present dissertation.

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE

This latest segment concludes the three-part series on Anton Wilhelm Amo, our little attempt to scratch the surface of a giant in Western (and African) philosophy but who and whose influential academic works, unfortunately, most Ghanaians that we have come across are not familiar with.

However, before readers even begin to peruse this piece, we shall first ask them to take a look at NOTES FOR OUR READERS (at the end of this article) for an important information.

Alas, there is more to the Anton Wilhelm Amo intellectual and academic mystic but we have to end it here and take it up again sometime in the future.

ANTON WILHELM AMO IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

In 1734, Anton Wilhelm Amo, a West African student and former chamber slave of Duke Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel, defended a philosophy dissertation at the University of Halle in Saxony, written in Latin and entitled On the Impassivity of the Human Mind. A dedicatory letter was appended from the rector of the University of Wittenberg, Johannes Gottfried Kraus, who praised the natural genius of Africa, its appreciation for learning, and its inestimable contribution to the knowledge of human affairs and of divine things. Kraus placed Amo in a lineage that includes many North African Latin authors of antiquity, such as Terence, Tertullian and St. Augustine.

In the following decade, the Scottish philosopher David Hume would write: I am apt to suspect the Negroes, and in general all other species of men to be naturally inferior to the whites. There never was any civilized nation of any other complection than white, nor even any individual eminent in action or speculation.

Hume had not heard of Amo, that much is clear. But we can also detect a tremendous difference between Humes understanding of human capacities and that of Kraus: the author of Amos dedicatory letter doesnt even consider the possibility of anchoring what individual human beings are capable of doing to something as arbitrary as complection. For Kraus, Amo represents a continent and its long and distinguished history; he does not represent a race.

Another two decades on, Immanuel Kant, considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of the modern period, would manage to let slip what is surely the greatest non-sequitur in the history of philosophy: describing a report of something seemingly intelligent that had once been said by an African, Kant dismisses it on the grounds that this fellow was quite black from head to toe, a clear proof that what he said was stupid.

Kraus, the rector of Wittenberg, had been expressing an understanding of the nature of human diversity that was, in 1734, already in decline, soon to be thoroughly drowned out by the fundamentally racist view of human populations as dividing into a fixed set of supposedly natural, species-like kinds. This is the view lazily echoed by Hume, Kant, and so many of their contemporaries.

In his lifetime, Amo was principally known as a legal theorist. His first publication, in 1729, which has since been lost (or, one might suspect, intentionally purged), was a jurisprudential treatise, On the Right of Moors in Europe. Here he argues, on the basis of a reading of Roman history and law, that in antiquity the kings of the Moors were enfeoffed by the Roman Emperor Justinian, and that every one of them had to obtain a royal patent from him. This meant, in Amos view, that African kingdoms were all recognized under Roman law, and therefore all Africans in Europe have the status of visiting royal subjects with a legal protection that precludes their enslavement.

Historically, this is highly implausible, since much of the continent of Africa was unknown to Europeans at the time of Justinian. Still, Amos understanding is remarkably different from, say, Kants account of global history, on which black Africans stood, from the very beginning and as if by definition, beyond the pale of history, and therefore led lives of no intrinsic value, lives that could only be given value through absorption into a global system dominated by Europe.

Scholars have been aware for a long time of the curious paradox of Enlightenment thought, that the supposedly universal aspiration to liberty, equality and fraternity in fact only operated within a very circumscribed universe. Equality was only ever conceived as equality among people presumed in advance to be equal, and if some person or group fell by definition outside of the circle of equality, then it was no failure to live up to this political ideal to treat them as unequal.

It would take explicitly counter-Enlightenment thinkers in the 18th century, such as Johann Gottfried Herder, to formulate anti-racist views of human diversity. In response to Kant and other contemporaries who were positively obsessed with finding a scientific explanation for the causes of black skin, Herder pointed out that there is nothing inherently more in need of explanation here than in the case of white skin: it is an analytic mistake to presume that whiteness amounts to the default setting, so to speak, of the human species.

The question for us today is why we have chosen to stick with categories inherited from the 18th century, the century of the so-called Enlightenment, which witnessed the development of the slave trade into the very foundation of the global economy, and at the same time saw racial classifications congeal into pseudo-biological kinds, piggy-backing on the divisions folk science had always made across the natural world of plants and animals. Why, that is, have we chosen to go with Hume and Kant, rather than with the pre-racial conception of humanity espoused by Kraus, or the anti-racial picture that Herder offered in opposition to his contemporaries?

Many who are fully prepared to acknowledge that there are no significant natural differences between races nonetheless argue that there are certain respects in which it is worth retaining the concept of race: for instance in talking about issues like social inequality or access to health care. There is, they argue, a certain pragmatic utility in retaining it, even if they acknowledge that racial categories result from social and historical legacies, rather than being dictated by nature. In this respect race has turned out to be a very different sort of social construction than, say, witch or lunatic. While generally there is a presumption that to catch out some entity or category as socially constructed is at the same time to condemn it, many thinkers are prepared to simultaneously acknowledge both the non-naturalness of race as well as a certain pragmatic utility in retaining it.

Since the mid-20th century no mainstream scientist has considered race a biologically significant category; no scientist believes any longer that negroid, caucasoid and so on represent real natural kinds or categories. For several decades it has been well established that there is as much genetic variation between two members of any supposed race, as between two members of supposedly distinct races. This is not to say that there are no real differences, some of which are externally observable, between different human populations. It is only to say, as Lawrence Hirschfeld wrote in his 1996 book, Race in the Making: Cognition, Culture, and the Childs Construction of Human Kinds, that races as socially defined do not (even loosely) capture interesting clusters of these differences.

Yet the category of race continues to be deployed in a vast number of contexts, and certainly not just by racists, but by ardent anti-racists as well, and by everyone in between. The history of race, then, is not like the history of, say, witches: a group that is shown not to exist and that accordingly proceeds to go away. Why is this?

Philosophers disagree. Anthony Appiah identifies himself as a racial skeptic to the extent that the biological categories to which racial terms refer have been shown not to exist. Yet at the same time he acknowledges that the adoption of racial identities may often be socially expedient, and even unavoidable, for members of perceived racial minorities.

Ron Mallon has in turn distinguished between metaphysical views of race on the one hand, which make it out to describe really existent kinds, and normative views on the other, which take race to be useful in some way or other, but not real. Mallon divides the latter into eliminativist and conservationist camps, supposing, variously, that the concept can only be put to bad uses, and must be got rid of, or that some of its uses are worth holding onto. On his scheme, one may very well coherently remain metaphysically anti-realist about race but still defend the conservation of the concept on normative grounds.

But given that we now know that the identity groups in modern multicultural states are plainly constituted on ethno-linguistic and cultural grounds, rather than on biological-essential grounds, it remains unclear why we should not allow a concept such as culture or ethnie to do the semantic work for us that until now we have allowed the historically tainted and misleading concept of race to do. We have alternative ways of speaking of human diversity available to us, some of which are on vivid display in Amos early life and work, and which focus on rather more interesting features of different human groups than their superficial phenotypic traits.

It is American culture that is principally responsible for the perpetuation of the concept of race well after its loss of scientific respectability by the mid-20th century. Even the most well-meaning attempts to grapple with the persistence of inequality between blacks and whites in American society take it for granted at the outset that racial categories adequately capture the relevant differences under investigation (see, for example: Thomas B. Edsalls recent column, The Persistence of Racial Resentment). This may have something to do with the fact that the two broad cultural-historical groupings of people in this country, which we call white and black and which have been constituted through the complicated histories of slavery, immigration, assimilation, and exclusion, tend at their extremes to correlate with noticeably different phenotypic traits.

An African-American is likely to look more different from an American of exclusively European descent than, say, an Orthodox Serb is likely to look from a Bosnian Muslim. This creates the illusion that it is the phenotypic difference that is causing the perception of cultural-historical distinctness, along with the injustice and inequality that has gone along with this distinctness. This also creates the illusion of American uniqueness: that our history of ethnic conflict cannot be understood comparatively or in a global context, because it, unlike conflict between Serbs and Bosnian Muslims or between Tutsi and Hutu, is supposedly based on race rather than history, politics, and culture. But where people are living with a different historical legacy, as in much of European history prior to the high modern period hailed in by Hume and Kant, the supposedly manifest phenotypic differences between blacks and whites can easily recede into the background as irrelevant.

Amo did not meet a happy end in Germany. His original manumission and education appear to have been a strategy on the part of Duke Anton Ulrich to impress Tsar Peter the Great of Russia, who had recently adopted his own chamber slave, Abram Petrovich Gannibal, as his own son. Gannibal would go on to a career as a brilliant engineer, military strategist, and politician; Amo, for his part, would be largely abandoned by his sponsors when the geopolitical winds shifted, and Russia fell off the dukes list of priorities.

For a while the African philosopher eked out a living as a tutor in Jena and Wittenberg, and in 1747, after being made the butt of a libelous broadside accusing him of falling in love with a woman beyond his station, he returned to West Africa in disgrace. A French seafarer, David-Henri Gallandat, finds him there a few years later, and writes of meeting a man who was very learned in astrology and astronomy, and was a great philosopher. At that time he was around 50 years oldHe had a brother who was a slave in the colony of Suriname.

The hopefulness of the 1734 dissertation was now long behind him. It is not known when Amo died, or under what circumstances. What we can say for certain is that he would not spend his final years as a successor to Augustine and Terence, but rather in the degraded position where someone like Kant supposed he belonged: outside of history, philosophically disenfranchised and entirely defined by something as trivial as skin color.

As long as we go on speaking as if racial categories captured something real about human diversity, we are allowing the 18th-century legacy of Kant and Hume, which was never really anything more than an ad hoc rationalization of slavery, to define our terms for us. We are turning our back on the legacy of Anton Wilhelm Amo, and of his European contemporaries who were prepared to judge him on his merits.

NOTES FOR OUR READERS



Justin E.H. Smith. (2013, February 10). The Enlightenments Race Problem, and Ours. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/why-has-race-survived/?_r=0
PANA  A Pana man remained under guard in a hospital Monday after police say he cut his own throat and chased a terrified woman from her home before burning it to the ground.

The Christian County State's Attorney's Office now has a warrant against Brian Ferguson, 55, accusing him of home invasion with a deadly weapon. Additional charges are pending for aggravated arson and domestic battery following the incidents, which started unfolding late Sunday afternoon.

Pana police received a call at 4:21 p.m reporting a domestic disturbance in progress at 8 Highpoint Drive, the camper home of a 61-year-old woman that on the shore of Pana Lake. The woman told police Ferguson had walked into her camper and, armed with a knife, began to cut his own throat in front of her, according to Pana police Chief Daniel Bland.

The woman fled her home, and Bland said she told police she saw Ferguson dumping gasoline around her camper as she ran for help to a neighbor's home. The woman then reported to police her residence was fully engulfed in flames, according to Bland, as police and firefighters were dispatched.

A Pana police officer later saw Ferguson, who lives nearby, walking on 6th Street. Ferguson saw the responding officer approach and began to make additional slashing motions to his throat with a knife while motioning for the officer to stay back, Bland said Monday.

Ferguson fled into his home and police sealed off the area as firefighters battled the fierce blaze, which burned the camper down to its frame and destroyed a nearby shed and several vehicles.

Pana police, meanwhile, called in help from the Illinois State Police and Christian County sheriff. The State Police SWAT team, a helicopter unit and its Crisis Negotiation Team also deployed. Contact was lost with Ferguson, and police sealed off the Lake Pana area, barring residents from their homes, while they tried to communicate with him.

Illinois State Police agents approached (the house) and established contact with Ferguson at 10:24 p.m., Bland said. He was located inside his residence lying on the floor with serious apparent knife cuts to his throat area. Pana Ambulance, which was staged nearby, quickly responded.

Ferguson was rushed to Pana Community Hospital and later airlifted to St. John's Hospital in Springfield for emergency surgery. An update on his condition was not available Monday.

Bland said the suspect had enjoyed a friendly relationship with the victim over several months. We don't know his thoughts but there was a separation of their relationship, which we believe triggered this response, added Bland, 46.

Kurt Levon and his wife, Donna, are Pana Lake residents who live nearby. They said all their neighbors are talking about what happened. Kurt Levon said he had seen Ferguson at the woman's home almost every day doing yard work. I just don't know what happened there; they fell in and out of love, I guess, said Levon, 53.

Levon has lived by the lake for 30 years and describes it as a beautiful place. So peaceful here, the water just calms you; it's nice, he added. It's just a shame what happened.
Ghana's total public debt has hit 112.4 billion cedis equivalent to 28.3 billion dollars, as at September 2016.

The figure represents about 14 percent increase from the 98.8 billion cedis recorded in January this year.

The latest Economic and Financial Data released by the Bank of Ghana also indicated that the country's total debt represents 67.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The external component of the debt is estimated at 65 billion cedis; representing 39 percent of GDP while the domestic component of the debt is estimated at 47.4 billion cedis; representing 28.4 percent of GDP.

As at July, the provisional figures released by the central bank indicated that the debt to GDP ratio had dropped from the 71.6 percent mark to 65.9 percent.

The external component of the country's debt had been declining between January and June.

The figure dropped from 60.7 billion cedis in January to 60.4 billion cedis in June.

This translated into a debt to GDP ratio of 36.4 and 36.2 percent respectively.

However, the external component of Ghana's debts increased by 2 billion cedis in July, went up again in August and reached the 65 billion cedis at the end of September.

Meanwhile the local component of the debt has been increasing throughout the nine month period.

It moved from 40.4 billion cedis in January (24.2 percent of GDP) to 47.4 billion cedis in September (28.4 percent of GDP).

In addition, total expenditure as a percentage of GDP increased significantly from 1.4 percent in January 2016 to 14 percent in July 2016.

Total revenue and grants to GDP for the period also increased by over 700 percent; from 1.3 percent to 11.1 percent.

Similarly, tax revenue accruing to the state for the seven month period went up from 1.1 to 9 percent between January and July this year.

External sector performance

The country's performance on the external sector still raises concern as imports still continue to rise and affecting the balance of payments.

Merchandise exports (gold, cocoa, oil) increased from 2.54 billion dollars in the 2016 first quarter to 7.94 billion dollars by the end of the third quarter.

Also, merchandise imports (oil and non-oil imports) increased from 3.29 billion dollars in the 2016 first quarter to 9.75 billion dollars.

The current account component of Ghana's balance of payments reached (-1344.6 million dollars) at the end of the third quarter of this year from (-593.4 million dollars) recorded in the first quarter.

Meanwhile the capital account component increased from 64.2 to 150.2 million dollars between the first and second quarters of 2016.

Debt to cross 70% mark?

Economist Dr. Eric Osei Assibey has cautioned that Ghana's debt to GDP ratio could hit the 70 percent threshold if the base rate for calculating the figure, is adjusted to reflect current growth targets.

The projection was about 4.9 percent based on the revised budget. If that is what was used to obtain the 65.9 percent and now the IMF has revised the country's growth target to 3.3 percent thereby reducing the base. Calculating the debt levels with the relatively lower growth rate will result in a higher figure, he warned.

Crossing the 70 percent mark is also likely to affect Ghana's international credit rating.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
The Convention Peoples Partys (CPP) Presidential Candidate, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, has hinted of the party's resolve to use all its arsenals to retain the Kumbungu Parliamentary seat in the Northern Region.

According to him, the party is restrategizing to safeguard the only seat they are bragging with nationwide.

The party's incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya, won the seat through a by-election in 2013.

He is facing stiff competition from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary candidate, Ras Mubarak, and the New Patriotic Party's Iddrisu Muktar Dems in the 2016 race.

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet during his campaign tour of the constituency, appealed to the chiefs and people there to renew Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya's mandate.

He said the MP deserved another term to build on the solid foundation he has laid.

According to him, Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya's achievements within three years are unmatched with his predecessors.

The CPP Presidential candidate assured the Kumbungu constituents of accelerated development when he is elected into office.

He advised them to ignore the NDC and NPP campaign promises, and massively vote for the CPP at the polls.

Ivor Greenstreet addressed Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the constituency, and encouraged them to consider him as their saviour in the 2016 Presidential race.

He reiterated the CPP's commitment to give the nation's PWDs free education, health care, employment and transportation.

He paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Kumbungu, Dalung, Zangbaling, Gbulung and Zugu where he addressed mini rallies.

Kumbungu MP

Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya claimed his track record warranted renewal of his mandate. He promised to lobby for more projects to uplift the constituency's image.

The Kumbungu Legislator thanked his constituents for their support to the CPP. His campaign slogan is Titumya, kanayentum to wit we have worked and yet to do more.

Hon. Moses Amadu Yahaya has so far seen to the construction of feeder roads, bridges, supported some selected women with micro finance credit, provided scholarship packages and helped smallholder farmers with farm inputs.

Kulnyevila bridge construction

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet earlier inspected a temporary bridge at Kulnyevila constructed by the CPP Sagnarigu candidate, Hajia Zelia Issah.

He said the party supported her as an assembly member of the Sagnarigu electoral area to construct the bridge. The CPP Presidential candidate promised to reconstruct a permanent bridge in addition to other priority needs.

The chief and residents of Kulnyevila showed their appreciation for the project which they described as lifesaver.

According to them, the Kulnyevila stream's deadly shape during rainy season, once killed a woman who got drowned in 2015.

They promised to reciprocate the kind gesture by voting for the CPP for more projects.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
HOPE Campaign, a political group made up of diverse professionals, has announced its support for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo for the December polls.

The support for the NPP flagbearer the group said came after a careful consideration of the promises from the various parties and also importantly how the flag bearers have conducted themselves in this campaign period in the race to annexe the Flagstaff House, said the group in a statement.

Speaking at a colourful event held on Saturday in Accra to announce the groups decision, Spokesperson for the group Kweku Quarshie explained that the climax of its campaign, it has become necessary to identify the leader who stands true to what the HOPE campaign believes in.

In our selection of this candidate, we have been careful to ensure that this leader really embodies the objective that this campaign has been all about.Fortunately, The HOPE campaign has identified that leader who offers the hope we need at this seriously challenging time in our countrys destiny.

We of the HOPE campaign declare that we endorse Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the 2016 presidential elections. In this ongoing political campaign, Nana Addo has addressed real issues on his campaign platforms. Issues that are central to the feelings of most Ghanaians, he said.

Explaining the rationale behind the campaign, Kweku Quarshie said the key pillars of the campaign have been the four letters of the word: H.O.P.E. which represents Honesty, Opportunity, Prosperity and Education.

Prior to endorsing Nana Addo, Mr Quarshie said in the last few months since the campaign was launched, it has advised and educated voters to consider serious issues of livelihood before they vote for a leader.

The campaigns spokesperson concluded that indeed, the NPP flagbearer to their best of knowledge is the only candidate who has established his commitment to giving Ghanaians HOPE for the future.

Therefore, on December 7, we the members of HOPE and many other people who are encouraged by what HOPE stands for, will meet with Nana Addo at the point of our common destiny in the ballot box and we will choose him, he added.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Two women personalities in the Upper East Region who have contributed significantly to women empowerment and the welfare of children, have been honoured at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the region.

The two women personalities are Mankazia Ashekan Afagachie, a 95 year-old woman, who was the first woman Member of Parliament under the first republican regime of Ghana and, Mrs Madam Melanie Kasise, an 83 years old woman who was the first manager of the Catholic Education Unit in the Upper East Region and also served as the first female Presiding Member of the Kassena-Nankana District Assembly.

Whilst Mankazia Afagachie was also lauded for playing an important role is pushing for the involvement of women to be part of the Regional and National House of Chiefs and sharpening them to contribute to the decision-making process, Mrs Kasise was also acknowledged for the setting up of the Sirigu Women's Association of Pottery and Art(SWOPA) , for the economic empowerment of women and the youth.

The event which was organized by the Our Lady of Mercy Community Services (OLAM), was witnessed by the President of the Queen Mothers Association of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, Pognaba Alice Ayamga, other Queen Mothers and the Kaana Manga Women Association among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Project Director of OLAM, Mr Emmanuel Atiiga , explained that the event was not only meant to recognize the contributions of the personalities to humanity, but to also served as an inspirational to women in general particularly the Kaana Manga Women Association to aspire higher by also contributing to national development.

Whilst lauding the efforts of Kaana Manga Women Association for complementing the efforts of OLAM in women empowerment, he appealed to them not to relent in their efforts in championing issues pertaining to women and children growth and welfare.

The occasion was also used to inaugurate Kaana Manga Women Association who were made up of women of substance and role modules.

The President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs Queen Mothers Association, Pognaba Alice Ayamga, challenged the women group to also work hard by also contributing their quota to their communities and the nation as a whole.

The President of the Kaana Manga Women Association, Madam Victoria Asuliwono, gave the assurance that the Association would double up its efforts to help promote issues relating to the social and political advancement of women.
The northern regional unit of the Ghana Islamic Education Unit held a week long celebration in Tamale to entertain, motivate, encourage and asses performance of Islamic schools in the region.

The celebration which started on Friday November 13th and ended on Saturday November 19th saw participatory schools competed in activities such as; English and Mathematics quiz, Seerah and sporting.

They also paid a courtesy called on prominent persons in the regional capital Tamale to seek advice and blesses towards the development of Islamic education in the country.

Speaking at the climax of the celebration at the GNAT on Saturday, the general manager of the Islamic education units of Ghana, Mr. Abdul Karim Bapuni thanked teachers and Arabic instructors for their immense contributions to the development of Islamic education in the country.

He said the unit has contributed immensely to the educational development in the world especially, Ghana.

And called on parents to enroll theirs wards into Islamic institutions and also support teachers so that they can execute their duties well.

He appealed to proprietors of the Islamic institutions to cooperate with teachers especially heads of those institutions to enable them do their job without hindrances.

Mr. Bapuni however lamented over the increase indecent behaviours in character and dressing by students in Islamic schools and appealed to teachers to take their work serious, saying that will bring back discipline into the schools and society at large.

He mentioned lack of effective monitoring system as one of the challenges facing and unit in the country.

According to him, the unit has no monitoring funds to enable it carry out effective supervision on teachers and other staffs under the unit.

Speaking on the theme for the celebration"The role of Islamic education unit in promoting peace and stability" Northern regional manager of the Unit, Issah Alhassan Abubakari called on Ghanaians to see peace as an instrument for national development.

He said without peace, no nation can attained the desired development and urged parents to live a peaceful lives at home and as well encourage their wards to do same.

" Naa- chairman, I am singularly honored for this rare opportunity given me to talk on Peace and Stability: Islamic perspective" a topic that is so dear to my heart and heart of those who are troubled by numerous clashes that have been registered so far as we approach the December 7, polls. The importance of this topic therefore cannot be over emphasized and could not have come at a better time" he said.

"Peace in it's broader perspective is viewed as an environment or a relationship that is operating harmoniously and without violent conflict, and its understood as absence of hostility and misunderstanding. Others look at peace to be absence of war, or agreement or a treaty to end hostilities, quarrels and disagreements" he added.

He said Islam uphold peace higher than anything in peace. Coating prophet Ibrahim when he first prayed for peace for the land called Makkah before asking for food.

According him, it only when there is peace that one can have time to enjoy food or moneys.

He said in Islam, killing one innocent soul is equals killing the entire humanity whiles saving a live like saving the entire beings in the world.

"It is for this reason we prescribed to the Israelites that whoever kills an innocent soul that hasn't taken any live or has caused destruction on the earth he is as if he has taken the lives of the entire human kind and whoever safeguards the live of a single soul is as if he has safeguarded the lives of the entire human kind" he coated the Qu'ran.

The region he said has over 600 Islamic schools spread across the region.

And noted however that, only six schools were selected to part take in this year's celebration due to time and space.

These schools included; Nahdah Islamic JHS, Nuriya Islamic JHS, Sobriya Islamic JHS, Hillaliyah Islamic, Choggu Ruri-Islamic JHS,As-Shaakiriya Islamic Institute.

At the end of the activities, Nuria Islamic JHS came first in the English and Maths quiz followed by Hillaliya Islamic JHS whiles Sibriyah Islamic JHS came third.

Nahdah Islamic JHS and Choggu Nuri-Islamic JHS came fourth and firth in that order.

For the category 2 which was about the biography of the Holy prophet Mohammed (SAW) known as "Seerah" ,An-Nahdah Islamic institute came first, followed by An-Nuriya Islamic Institute with As-Shaakiriya institute.

The winning schools went home with cash amounts, dictionaries, exercise books qu'rans, pens, wall clocks, globes among other valuable materials to encourage teaching and learning in the schools.

Present were; the regional chief imam, reps from the Ambariya Islamic institute, chiefs, both current and former managers of the unit, students, teachers, parents and the media.
Some Ghanaians harbour a sophistic view that we (Ghanaians) should all join hands together and carry an elected government aloft in palanquin for putting up both epochal and inconsequential infrastructural projects in the midst of economic downslide.

However, I, for one, will not be part of such coalition. In fact, I will dare state that such a notion is an instance of an isolated thinkers thought process. And, some of us will do no favours to ourselves if we blissfully join the apple-polishing bandwagon and fail to ward-off the apparent wrench.

Worst of all, I could hardly conceal my arousing disgust when the disputatious followers continue to argue somewhat inanely that we should even be thankful that the government did not embezzle all our taxes and the gargantuan loans, but chose to erect infrastructural projects.

It is indeed depressing to keep hearing such ridiculous arguments from the government apologists who only follow narrow party coloration, devoid of patriotism and reasoning. But then again, one has to contain his/her emotional intelligence and composure, for after all, havent sycophancy, partisanship and lack of patriotism been our greatest nemeses?

Given the circumstances, we can logically conclude that vague apprehension of governance exists in the minds of many Ghanaians and thus prefer to heap undeserving praises on an elected government for providing infrastructural projects and failing to fix the ailing economy.

It would, however, seem that we, Ghanaians, and Africans as a whole, are possessed with grovelling characteristic of a sordid mind which hates anything quality and would thus prefer to worship mediocrity, hence our current sorrowful state.

As a matter of fact and observation, our leaders, having first-hand knowledge of our mediocrity worshipping, tend to take us for granted and continue to provide us with mediocre leadership and services.

In any case, those who hold a view that we should thank the contractor (the government) for providing us with social amenities and infrastructural projects such as public toilets, schools, roads, water, electricity and many others, may be suggesting so, out of courtesy or earnest gesture of goodwill.

However, what the contractor (the government) should not be doing is to keep boasting for putting up the infrastructural projects, for after all, the financiers (the tax payers) do not go about beating their chests for funding the projects.

For the purposes of this periodical, I will define a contractor is an individual or an organisation that agrees to perform services or work for a specified reward.

Actually, governance is encapsulated in the theory of social contract. Social contract theory emerged during the era of enlightenment.

Once upon a time, human beings lived without rules or laws. In fact, human beings neither had government nor laws to regulate the activities of mankind.

Consequently, there were unbridled hardships and oppression, and in order to remedy the appalling situation, human beings entered into social contract.

In hindsight, citizens came together and pledged to obey an authority and surrendered the whole or part of their freedom and rights to an authority. The authority, in turn, guaranteed everyone protection of life, property and to a certain extent liberty.

Thus, citizens agreed to establish society by collectively and mutually abdicating the rights they had against one another in the State of Nature and they vested authority in someone or assembly of persons to enforce the initial contract.

In a great scheme of things, human beings agreed to live together under common laws and created an enforcement mechanism for the social contract and the laws that constitute it.

Thus, our contemporary authority or government came into being, as a result of the emergence of the social contract. So it was against that backdrop that President Mahama and his NDC Party entered into agreement with Ghanaians prior to the 2008 and 2012 general elections.

It goes without saying that President Mahama solicited votes from Ghanaians, and in exchange, President Mahama guaranteed everyone protection of life, property, provision of social amenities, better socio-economic standards of living and to a certain extent liberty.

So, governance is not reducible to only provision of infrastructural projects, but it also involves thinking outside the box and coming up with expedient policies to improve upon the socio-economic standards of living.

If you may remember, prior to the 2008 and 2012 general elections, President Mahama and his NDC Party gave a slew of Manifesto promises, including one-time NHIS premium, free SHS, making dumsor a thing of the past, putting money in Ghanaians pocket, creating more jobs for the jobless, stabilising the economy, protecting Ghanaians from the menaces of galamsey and Fulani herdsmen, bringing an end to dubious judgement debt payments, fighting the rampant sleaze and corruption, working with lean government etc.

So, after giving all those promises and failing to honour them, why must President Mahama and his NDC apparatchiks then hide behind the provision of infrastructural projects?

K. Badu, UK.
The 19th of November, marked the World Toilet Day. It was a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

The Miss Tourism Ghana Queen, Geraldine Sappor and the second Princess, Daniella Awuma partnered with the Abibiman Foundation to observe the day on the theme, toilets and jobs, focusing on how sanitation, or the lack of it, can impact peoples livelihoods. The UN states 2.4billion people living in the world are without a toilet.

Miss Lydia Abena Nyarko and Gifty Baaba Hewton, representatives from the Green Club department of the Abibiman Foundation together with the Miss Tourism Ghana ladies inspected a newly built modern toilet facility by Hon. Kofi Brako for the Community 8 Nr.3 Basic School. The Tourism Ambassadors were happy about the facility noting it significance to the pupils and teachers. The facility has both male and female sessions with hand washing features to enhance hygiene and avoid contamination.

The Member of Parliament for Tema Central Constituency, Hon. Kofi Brako in his bid to ensuring the wellbeing of his constituents has also refurbished a toilet facility at the Community 8 market.

In a related development the Project Condinator of the Abibiman Foundation, Robert T.K Amiteye led the tourism ambassadors with Ghana's Most Beautiful 2009, Lamisi Sam Awinongya to a float. It commenced at the Mandela Park in Ashiaman and was made possible by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development under the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in collaboration with the World Bank.

The float was to create awareness for the day, and also to introduce people of the towns to the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project. There is an on-going promotion which will run till December 2016. Households without toilet facilities would be lucky this time to get a toilet at a 50% discount. The float was in four constituencies; Ashiaman and Tema Central, Tema West and Tema East.

Officials from Tema Metropolitan Assembly in charge of the project had quite a number of people with interest who paid full and some in instalments to acquire the new facility.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 organised a 2-day launch of the Caring Gold Mining Project which seeks to eliminate child labour in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in the country.

The Caring Gold Mining Project which has 40-month duration, was being funded by the United States Department of Labour, and was duly launched by Hon. Nii Osah Mills, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ghana.

Other dignitaries in attendance includes Mr Robert Jackson, the US Ambassador to Ghana; and Mr Dennis Zulu, Director of ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana and Cote dIvoire amongst other stakeholders.

In a brief statement, Nii Adjetey-Kofi of ASMAN expressed concern on the fact that child labour in ASGM is as confusing as Galamsey therefore needs wholistic educational advocacy on the defination and interpretation of the ASGM child labour component of the project, which cannot be overemphasised.

This was also collaborated by Prof. Peter Arroja Eshun of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), who then commented on the Memorandum of Understnding (MoU) between UMaT and the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), as part of measures to boost cooperation between ASGM Operators and the University, to promote sustainable small-scale mining in Ghana.

On his part, the General Secretary of GNASSM, Godwin Amarh is more concerned about the continuity or otherwise aftermath of the Caring Gold Mining Project and pledge the unflinching support and cooperation of GNASSM to the success of the Project.

Madam Lalaina Razafindrakoto, the Project Director, said the project seeks to convene stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to reduce Child Labour and improve working conditions in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), which components to be pursued in a limited 40-month period.

She said the project has four components including working on the laws, policies, and action plans to address child labour and working conditions in ASGM; for strengthened, enforced, and/or implemented; and looking at access of vulnerable households living in ASGM communities to social protection services and increased in improved livelihood programs.

Also to develop and implement mechanisms to increase transparency and monitoring of child labour and working conditions in gold mining supply chains, particularly in ASGM; and finally, global networks to reduce child labour and improve working conditions in countries where ASGM is significant and operational.

She concluded that, the project was targeted in six (6) communities in the Western and Ashanti Regions including Dadieso, Achimfo, Morchikrom, Sewum, Abedwum and Adumenu near Obuasi.

ASM Africa-Network (ASMAN) is a non-governmental organization involve in the natural resources and environmental governance advocacy, which operates in addresing the concerns and development of artisanal, small and medium scale mining initiatives.

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Embattled National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, has alleged that former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Alamisi Amidu, once attempted beating former President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.

According to Mr Woyome, the incident happened when Martin Amidu was summoned by President Mills over a comment the former made about the late presidents health.

Amidu is pursuing the NDC businessman in court for the GH51.2 million fraudulently paid to him as judgement debt.

Mr. Woyome, who made the allegation at a press conference in Accra on Friday, claimed, I am challenging Martin Amidu to come out and tell us what happened between him and the late former President Atta Mills.

Martin was called by President Atta Mills during that time because of an issue concerning his health and in that meeting, Amidu attempted to beat the late president.

So he was supposed to be sacked. Immediately Amidu went out and made accusations that his colleague ministers and every other person are corrupt among others. So the president asked him, 'Martin I am giving you seven days; give me proof of those corruptions or I sack you, Woyome asserted.

He said after Martin was given a seven-day ultimatum to prove his claim, he then went and latched onto his (Alfred Agbesi Woyomes) issue which he (Woyome) alleged Amidu himself was involved in.

He said the seven days elapsed but Mr Amidu was not able to prove any single corruption case against any NDC government minister so the late president sacked him.

I challenge Martin to bring the list of ministers in the government of Atta Mills that were corrupt.

This is the truth about what happened that Martin was relinquished of his duty through sacking, Woyome alleged.

Amidu Wanted Veep

Still rambling on Amidu, Woyome said prior to Amidus appointment as the Attorney General, he (Amidu) had an ambition of becoming the vice president to the late President Atta Mills.

He explained that when he (Martin) failed in his ambition to become vice president, he went haywire, causing problems in the NDC government.

Martin wanted to be the vice president so when the current president, Mahama, was chosen as the running mate, Amidu went haywire.

When the election was won, Martin was giving problems so they gave him an office in the Castle to work. When Martin was in that office he was still giving troubles because he was not given the vice president position.

So they gave him a position in the interior ministry. Martin was still complaining that he did not get this and that and party foot soldiers were coming to him and that it was his right to be the Attorney General of Ghana.

So Betty Mould Iddrisu was asked to move from the Attorney General's Department to the Ministry of Education and Martin was given that position. And since then he felt that anybody at the Department under the NDC regime must listen to him. If you dont do that you are in trouble with him.

Amidus Problem

Mr. Woyome said Amidu has a problem, explaining that he was being used by unseen forces as a weapon against innocent people (like him Woyome) and people who are doing very well, including President John Mahama.

In fact, those using Martin are using him against himself. That is why sometimes I feel restrained to sue him for defamation because I understand the problem of Martin.

He is very inconsistent. People who know about it dont want to send Martin to jail because he has an issue. I didnt want to talk about him but enough with Martin. Ghanaians should not take Martin serious because I dont take him serious, he fumed.

Woyome claimed that Martin Amidu's actions were nothing more than sour grapes.

He said Mr Amidu's crusade is not in defence of the Constitution as he would want Ghanaians to believe, but in the furtherance of his own anger against the NDC and the government.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld an application filed by Mr Amidu to orally examine Woyome over the GH51.2 million paid to him by the NDC government.

By Cephas Larbi

[email protected]


Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's economy contracted in the third quarter as businesses struggled to access foreign exchange and rebels continued to bomb oil pipelines in the restive south, official data showed Monday.

"The nation's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by -2.24% year-on-year," the country's National Bureau of Statistics said.
DECATUR  The Judy Mason Thanksgiving Basket Project uses mass production techniques to deliver holiday joy to needy families on an industrial scale.

A volunteer worker army, estimated at around 1,000 men, women and children, gathered in a donated warehouse Sunday afternoon to pack boxes of food that will be picked up for distribution today.

There were 4,000 boxes in all, laid out in vast cardboard lines. Experienced volunteers known as line leaders supervised squads of box-fillers who dashed up and down the rows, dropping in more than 18 food items and also including other essentials like hand soap. A 4-pound ham will get added today and then the boxes will be picked up by dozens of Macon County organizations ranging from churches to food pantries which then distribute the boxes to people who need help finding enough to eat.

Julia Livingston, the project organizer, says hunger never takes a day off, and never misses a holiday. We've been at the 4,000 box number for the past 10 years, added Livingston. And the reality is the 4,000 are not enough. I have organizations that ask for more boxes every year and, if we could grant every wish, we'd probably need another couple of thousand boxes.

Livingston doesn't doubt an economic recovery has taken place, but says many of today's jobs don't pay enough for working families to be able to feed themselves all the time. So this helps families stretch their money a bit further over the holidays, she said.

The Judy Mason Thanksgiving Basket Project was started 20 years ago by Terry Mason and his late former wife, Judy. They wanted to help a handful of families at Thanksgiving in their church and started out filling seven laundry baskets with food. The project grew from there and now has a budget of some $100,000, all raised from donations and every penny spent on the food.

Terry Mason, 67, said the project is able to help so many because there is no overhead. The Demirjian family of Decatur, for example, has donated the vast warehouse space for the last three years. The forklift trucks are donated, the boxes are donated and just look at all these volunteers, said Mason. We've got a volunteer army here, and I think it's because everyone just wants to be part of something positive for the community.
NPP-Canada is alarmed by the unwarranted attack on the house of an unsuspecting Ghanaian citizen by persons supposedly going on a Health-walk. When the health-walkers are associated with the ruling NDC party and the house happens to be the Nima residence of the presidential candidate of the NPP, that makes it doubly alarming.

NPP-Canada is gratified that there were no casualties.

NPP-Canada is not very hopeful that the ruling NDC Party and its Presidential Candidate, President Mahama, will caution its members to desist from such provocative acts. NPP-Canada is however cautiously optimistic that the Ghana Police would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

Going by the pronouncements of President Mahama and some of his leading Party members, they would like nothing better than to have an opportunity to link Nana Akufo-Addo to disturbances and violence. Consequently, NPP-Canada calls on Party members to show restraint in the face of any and all provocations.

We believe in Ghana.

Gilbert Adu Gyimah

Director of Communications, NPP/Canada

[email protected]

www.nppcanada.org

Tel: 587-708-9915 / 289-627-7557


We have learnt that today the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon, will host the 2nd High Level Meeting Of National Leaders. It is under the auspices of unsurprisingly the National Peace Council and the National House of Chiefs.

The theme of the discourse or engagement is Strengthening Ghana's Democratic Stability, Peace And Unity. We do have reservations about what the high-profile engagement would achieve under the prevailing circumstances of hypocrisy and insincerity of not only the presidency, but also the institutions created to manage such subjects as law enforcement and the maintenance of peace  the National Peace Council not being an exception.

We wish we were dishing out plaudits to the Council under the chairmanship of Most Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante and others who are quick to turn up for such high-notched occasions which are full of rhetoric and display of traditional attire, even as the Naaba Abdulais continue to spill blood and boast about the criminality on the airwaves.

We are unable to doff our hats for the Peace Council because the Council, like the Ghana Police Service, has not lived up to expectation, their performance adding little or nothing to the maintenance of peace  empirical evidence not in shortage to buttress our conclusion.

We have heard that one of the highlights of today's engagement is the signing of an undertaking by the leaders of the political parties to keep the peace. Nothing can be so hypocritical. In 2012, a similar signing of a deal was choreographed in Kumasi under the usual television cameras, the dividend thereof non-existent.

As we compose this commentary, some Ghanaians  not NDC supporters  are nursing their wounds in hospitals after cutlass attacks by hoodlums who would not be arrested because they belong to a protected political grouping.

We can state that the Kumasi choreograph of 2012 achieved nothing as would today's: it only paved the way for the ruling party to be emboldened to encourage their members to be more blood-thirsty since after all, the buck stops with them.

Under the circumstances, we cannot afford not to be brusque because the nation is at crossroads. We cannot engage in such naked theatricals when these have no effect on the mindset of politicians whose ethnocentric remarks in their campaigns threaten the peace of the nation.

Naaba Abdulai continues to threaten everybody but himself and the NDC, with death because, as he put it, he and his gang have killed many and would not depart from that gory path, in a country which is supposed to be ruled by law and not by the NDC.

The fact is that such choreographed and formal engagements do not mean anything when politicians at the helm turn their attention from the violent conduct of their supporters; who may be acting on their behalf anyway.

The president continues to spew ethnocentric rhetoric each time he is in the Northern Regions and the Peace Council does not find anything unusual with such conduct?

Such un-presidential conduct is an impetus for the continuous polarization of a country which is witnessing its worst nightmares in recent times.

We are unable to, as are other compatriots, endorse today's meeting, especially the signing of an undertaking to keep a peace that is incessantly threatened by the government which does not find it worthwhile to maintain it.
Nana Akufo-Addo installed as Torgbui Dunenyo Dzigbordifia I of the Afife Traditional Area of the Anlo State

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was installed chief by the traditional authorities of Afife in the Anlo State ahead of a massive rally at Aflao in the Volta Region yesterday.

He was given the stool name Torgbui Dunenyo Dzigbordifia I of the Afife Traditional Area (to wit: King of Patience or the Patient King).

The rally was held at the border town of Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.

The event, which attracted thousands of the party supporters from all parts of the region, affirmed the growing love for the NPP in the region, which is described as the World Bank of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The crowd at the Aflao rally

NDC sources have recently confessed to DAILY GUIDE that the growing love and support for the NPP had become a great source of worry for the hierarchy of the party.

The development  which has obviously been causing fear and panic  has compelled the NDC to undertake unprecedented strategies to douse the heightening euphoria for the NPP.

Residents at Aflao could be seen openly doing the 'change' gesture as the flag bearers convoy passed by, with others singing and chanting Change is coming.

Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Volta Region gets its fair share of national development when voted into power on December 7.

According to him, the inspiration of the NPP's 2016 campaign was born in the region and that the party is working hard to strengthen the relationship between it (NPP) and people in the region.

He said, During my campaign tour of the Volta Region, I promised to develop the Volta Region and Ghana. I have come here to renew that pledge.

I am standing ready to work with you to develop the region and develop Ghana.

He said his government would accelerate the exploration of oil in the Volta Basin to ensure that what we did in the Western Region also happens in the Volta Region.

Nana Addo stressed that his government, with support from the private sector, would build a new habour at Keta, as well as landing beach sites and storage facilities needed to improve the fishing communities along the coast.

He said the NPP has a programme for national redevelopment and expansion involving the industrialization of our country; and every district is going to have one factory to accelerate our development. We are going to redirect the capital expenditure of our nation so that the money comes right down inside our system.

Every constituency from next year onwards is going to get an equivalent of $1 million to address issues of infrastructural development in the constituency.

From Fred Duodu and Gibril Abdul Razak, Aflao
LEADER OF Independent Peoples Party (IPP), Kofi Akpaloo, has dispelled speculations that New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, is arrogant.

According to him, those fanning that wild rumour about the NPP standard bearer are doing so with a diabolic intention of denting the enviable reputation of the astute politician.

Mr Kofi Akpaloo and his IPP have thrown their weight behind the NPP flag bearer for the December polls on account of the policies of the major opposition party which he says reflect some polices in the IPP's manifesto.

Akpaloo, who met Nana Akufo-Addo recently, noted that the NPP presidential candidate is one of the most accommodative and down-to-earth persons he has met in his life.

It is not true that Nana Akufo-Addo is an arrogant person as it had been spread around by some politicians, just to dent the high reputation of the astute politician

Nana Akufo-Addo descended to my level and related to me in a very positive manner and I am even surprised about the warm reception that he accorded me, he recounted.

Akpaloo, who was speaking with Lord Innusah of Ashh FM in Kumasi, said he, like many other Ghanaians, were made to believe that Nana Akufo-Addo is an arrogant person in the past.

He indicated that it was when he finally had a fruitful chat with Nana Addo recently that he realized that all the negative attributes about Nana were false.

The IPP founder stated that his political party had decided to offer its unflinching support for Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP during the December 7 polls.

He explained that the NPP has the best message and programmes to develop the country when voted into political office, adding that the IPP is backing the NPP to win massively.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi


The leader of the Tijaniyya Movement from Algeria has urged Muslims in Ghana to continue to live and co-exist peacefully and harmoniously with other religious bodies in the country.

The scholar , Sheikh Said Ammar , added that he was amazed to notice the manner in which Ghanaians inter-relate with each other peacefully regardless of religious affiliations without any skirmishes .

The Algerian national made these observations during a an interactions with a cross section of journalists in Accra as part of his reciprocal visit on the Head of the Ghana Tijaniyya Movement, Sheikh Abul Faila.

He said the relationship between the Tijaniyya movements of both Algeria and Ghana dates back to the reigns of their respective fathers when Sheikh Abdulai Maikano , paid a working visit to Algeria.

He said currently , the Tijanniya movement is flourishing and spreading at a faster rate as it now has more than 300 million membership worldwide and that they have achieved greatly as a movement.

On the success of the movement, the Algerian cleric mentioned that they have built educational facilities from the basic to tertiary levels as well as hospitals in countries such as Sudan, and Darfur.

We have also witness the acceptance of Islam by non-muslims at a higher rate worldwide , whilst ensuring peaceful inter-relationship amongst Muslims and other religious bodies globally.

Responding to a question on the plans they have for the Movement in future, he said they have better plans and projects which are far advanced for the movement but he however remained tight lipped on the kind of projects they have put in place for the future.

He advised the Tijaniyya followers and Muslims in Ghana generally to be law abiding citizens so as to contribute their quota for national development.
The Federation of Islamic Senior High Schools in Ghana[ FISHSIG] , had announced that all is set for the first batch of students to write Arabic as an examinable subject in the 2017 WASSCE exams.

According to the Federation, all necessary procedures and registration processes have been followed by the respective schools to ensure the students sit for the Arabic exams without any challenge.

During a press briefing organized by the Federation in Accra on Thursday, its General Secretary, Mr. Sumaila Mohammed indicated that even though the subject is examinable to all senior high schools in Ghana , the first batch is comprised only of students from the Islamic Senior High Schools.

He also indicated that Arabic which used to be an examinable subject during the GCE O and A levels era is for now only an elective examinable subject for any student or school that wishes to take the language as part of its curriculum .

On whether there is a curriculum for Arabic as an examinable subject, He responded in the affirmative and added everything has been put in place to ensure the smooth take off , continuation and retention of the subject in the countrys educational curriculum .

He pointed out that the efforts to re-introduce Arabic as an examinable subject in Ghana has been a long standing one as it has proved futile since the early 2000s.

The FISHSIG, together with the Baraka Policy Institute , an educational Think Tank , in consultation with the Federation of Muslim Councils[ FMC] and the Office of the National Chief Imam, intensified the efforts since last year to ensure the re-introduction of the language into Ghanas examinable time-table.

A research conducted by the Baraka Policy Initiative in all the Islamic Senior High Schools in Ghana indicates the readiness of these schools to write the subject at the WASSCE come 2017.

The research amongst other things found out that the schools are already using the WAEC approved syllables to teach Arabic, the schools have competent Arabic teacher graduates from reputable universities in Ghana and beyond as well as using WAEC prescribed textbooks in teaching the subject.

Furthermore, Mr. Sumaila Mohammed stated  the WAEC Ghana office already has examiners from Ghana who moderate and mark papers in Arabic written by candidates from other member countries.

He maintained that the re-introduction of Arabic as an examinable subject into Ghanaian schools has enormous economic benefits to the schools and Ghana at large since Arabic is one of the six international languages used by the United Nations.

The FISGSIG General Secretary called on the media to spread the news on the benefits of learning Arabic as a language by students and condemned the notion that the re-introduction was to score points for the Islamic religion.

He commended President John Dramani Mahama and all those who made efforts in ensuring the realization of this goal and further added his voice to the call to ensure a peace before, during and after the December polls.
Being rude in public discourse is about lack of civility, not free speech, most people are made to believe. Most people are confused about what free speech means and also not taken into consideration that our democracy, the backbone of expression, is in its youthful stage. People in the western world, whose philosophy we have adapted, are mindful of their speech  they dont talk by-heart. Free speech simply means that you have the right to say what you want without governments having the power to stop you or to punish you for what you say.

It seems as though rude people want to use it as a way to avoid the consequences of their rudeness. Its time we realized what free speech really means, and civil society must stand up for public civility and educate people. Weve become a rude and mean society, with many people believing that its acceptable to verbally trash others or publish defamatory stories with ill-concealed sentiment. Our rudeness have been either political, cultural or based in some form of tribalism, and its about time we reject these character assassination.

Our democracy is missing some ingredients and those we had expected much from have all become greedy and selfish in the name of politics. Whats missing in our democracy is a sense of civility that we can all strive to live up to. We dont all have to agree with each other or ascribe to same political stance. We dont even have to like each other, but were stuck living with one another, one nation, one people, one destiny. Democratic politics cannot make every sad heart glad nor did it ever promise to do so, What makes democracy strong is learning to disagree without the hate and incivility that have become so commonplace.

Ghanas politics is afflicted by indiscipline and low level thinking, to an extend that any common minded person has the platform to insult respectable men and leaders of our country. In public discourse incivility is manifested in a range of forms, including hate speech and reckless remarks and populist discourses, all of which consist of an offensive language used against leaders. What kind of public discourse is constructed on insulted emotions? How are hurt feelings strategically employed for various ends in public discourse? Scholars of linguistic politeness admit that being insulted may be an outcome of a hearers perception or construction of a speakers behavior, with or without any relation to the offenders words or ill-intentions. However, it is emphasized that the role of the hearer in perceiving insulting behavior is more offended than the attacked.

It is however sad and unprofessional to hear our upcoming young men, taken the freedom of expressions into their hands, to badmouth section our leaders. Let us not forget that, these are people who could be our parents, teachers or someones spouse. One should note that the height which the great men reached and kept were not attained by a sudden flight. And if becoming a president of Ghana is mere won on a silver platter, I believe any stupid person can become a president. In fact, Ghanas presidential and parliamentary polls is one of the hard fought fiercely battled like that of United States. Both losers and winners show brevity and deserve recommendation.

It is therefore barbaric and nonsensical for Manasseh Azure Awuni to tell the President of Ghana to use his common sense. In his earlier provocative article titled Any idiot can borrow money and build projects later changed to Manassehs folder: Common sense appraisal of Mahamas massive projects, Mr. Azure Awuni in logical rudeness insulted and degraded the President of the Republic of Ghana. I am not interested in discussing his length which he involved other distinguished men. A few months ago Chancellor Merkels allowed a German comedian be prosecuted after insulting Turkeys president. In this modern democratic world some countries have lese-majeste laws incriminating people who insult leaders. Countries like The Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand, Venezuelan and Saudi Arabia, do not tolerate rudeness.

Thanks to some of the bold infrastructural policies Dr Kwame Nkrumah took, people like Manasseh Azure Awuni have come to enjoy free secondary school and the chance to attend School of Journalism and still enjoying praises. It took 400 hundred years for Israelis to travel a mere distance of 43 km from Mount Sinai to Canaan, and it would have taken Manasseh Azure Awunis father 1000 years to travel from Bongo to Keta to seek greener pasture if there were no infrastructure. When was the last time Manasseh Azure Awuni discredited Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam Interchange, was it because it was done by NPP? If any stupid person can go for a loan to build a project in Ghana, why didnt NPP succeed in scandalous IFC and CNTCI scam loans which caused financial loses to Ghana and nearly brought down the Kufuor administration on two separate occasions?

Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni should go back to school to learn the ethics of journalism and after which he needs basic economics teachings to enlighten him about economic development. For Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni information, journalistic ethics calls for reporters and editors to maintain a high standard of professional behavior. Gone were the days when there were presss irresponsibility, sensationalism, and warmongering. Since the upgrade of our school of journalism, we have seen standard risen because better curricula has make journalism well paid job. But painfully beware that public opinion will turn against them, swiftly, cruelly, even gleefully, anytime they involve in committing a journalistic sin. The journalistic sin I mean, are deception, conflict of interest, bias, insults, fabrication, theft, burning a source, and plagiarism.

Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni should know that, the relationship between economists and journalists should be symbiotic. They have much to learn from each other. The media are obviously an important source of economic information, and economists have a considerable amount of information about how the economy works that should be useful to journalists. Most economists are at odds with the way in which economic information is reported and distorted as Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni does. It is no wonder that most economists accuse the press of ignorance, distortion and a misplaced emphasis on recent numbers rather than trends. At other times, however, journalists are faulted for claiming trends without sufficient evidence. Journalists, for their part, find much of what economists do both incomprehensible and irrelevant. Many of the issues with which academic economists are preoccupied, appear remote from the concerns of average citizens. Economists are, in fact, deeply concerned about policy.

It is common, even in the most esoteric thinking of professional journalists, to find statements which draw implications for policy. Yet one can be sure that the likelihood that actual policy makers will be aware of these insights is extremely low. One reason is that the language of economists is utterly unintelligible to the layman as well as journalists who are poorly equipped to undertake the necessary translation. Its factual that some journalists are charged with being factually sloppy; oversimplifying, sensationalizing; focusing on personalities over issues, discrete events over trends, the short-run over the long-run, and bad news over the good.

If we cant rely on press reports about their independence and truthfulness, where individuals are right to find such reporting confusing, errant, or at times maliciously misleading, how are we to act rationally in pursuing our private or collective interests? But, as many of us know, these journalists are good for nothing because they are failures and are being insensitive to, or simply ignorant of, broad fundamental understanding of leadership.

Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni insult and rudeness to the president is because money spent on development were not putting in his pocket. In the first place, how many countries in Africa pay social benefits to citizens? Besides, funding most of projects are through external financing because of the trust they have in our government. How does infrastructure affect the development of communities? First, a robust infrastructure system will ensures smooth movement of goods and services, and quick means of travels.

In order to attract investors to create jobs, communities need functioning infrastructure. public infrastructure projects boost the amenities and economic development of communities. The damage of not updating our infrastructure will affect future generations just as much if not more than unemployment. Infrastructure plays an important role in promoting rapid economic growth and making this growth more inclusive by sharing the benefits of growth with poorer groups and communities, particularly in remote and isolated areas and hinterlands. Infrastructure facilitates the access of the poor to basic services and helps increase their income generating capacity. Physical connectivity through cross-border infrastructure development is crucial for enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration

Broadly defined, infrastructure can be categorized into hard and soft infrastructure. The former refers to physical structures or facilities that support the society and economy, such as transport, energy, telecommunications, and basic utilities. The latter refers to non-tangible aspects supporting the development and operation of hard infrastructure, such as policy, regulatory, governance, and institutional frameworks and mechanisms. With their massive development, president-elect Donald Trump of USA has promised trillion-dollar infrastructure plan which he will put before Congress as soon as he is sworn in. Even before then American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) had said the US needs to spend $1.6 trillion before 2020 just to maintain their old infrastructure.

Our colonial masters punished us with hard labour, stole our treasures, didnt set up schools and universities and totally neglected the infrastructure. The infrastructure, the educational institutions, the bridges, and the road, needed for trade, semblance of national capital were never developed.

Infrastructure development is essential to the realization of Ghanas goal of economic integration and is indispensable to Ghana's future success. The nations apathy concerning the state of our infrastructure is one of the most dangerous factors affecting the development of the economy. In view of the ongoing global financial and economic crisis, now more than ever, the development of infrastructure needs to be accelerated to enhance physical connectivity and to encourage resource-sharing for rebalancing the countrys growth towards a middle income economy.

For Ghana to promote cross-border trade and investment, improve countries' productivity and competitiveness, and raise domestic output and linkage to market centers, it is imperative to be connected through improved and integrated roads, railways, airways, ports and energy and tele-communication networks. Unfortunately for Ghana, the railway which was suitable to carry bulky goods to the location of industries or port cities was made to collapse under the auspices of NPP government. We cannot downplay massive development infrastructure developments President John Dramani Mahama has done within his short time in office. Qualitatively if not quantitatively, John Mahama has produced the greatest development projects in Ghana besides Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

I will entreat young Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni to render unqualify apology to the President of the Republic of Ghana and also retract his provocative article.

Long Live Ghana,

Long Live Our Young Democracy

Lewis Kwame Addo

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
It couldnt be better to have businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome come face to face probably with his fiercest critic in Ghana, former Attorney General Martin Amidu. Whats uncertain though is whether Mr. Amidu will be able to get the most out of the troubled NDC-financier (in terms of the truth) on Thursday November 24.

Yes, Jack (Mr. Woyome) goes back into the Box to be cross-examined by the man nicknamed Citizen Villante (Mr. Amidu) as observers predict it could be feisty and intriguing. But some legal experts have varied viewpoints regarding the much anticipated cross-examination.

According to them the court is expected to exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of examining the business man and at the same time ensure that he presents evidence so as to make those procedures effective for determining the truth.

Already, lawyer for the beleaguered businessman Mr. Chris Akumey had advised his client (Mr. Woyome) not to be evasive during the oral examination. It appears hes inkling as to the wrath or storm to come.

I will pray that Woyome should be forthright in giving answers to which Martin will be putting up to him. He must be very honest to the court. He must not hide any information so that those listening can determine if he has been truthful person in the box, he said.

Also I pray there should be cooperation between both, because it affects Ghana and it is Ghana which is at stake, the private legal practitioner made the statement on Saturday on a local radio in Accra.

As much as possible the court will ensure that the parties avoid wasting time. It is the responsibility of the court to protect witness from harassment or undue embarrassment.

A legal analyst based in Alberta Canada Mr. Lawrence Ainoo says usually cross-examination should not go beyond the subject matter of the direct examination and matters affecting the witnesss credibility. The court may allow enquiry into additional matters as if on direct examination.

In addition to that, lead questions should not be used on direct examination except as necessary to develop the witnesss testimony. Ordinarily, the court should allow leading questionscross examinations and when a party calls a hostile witness, an adverse party or a witness identified with an adverse party.

So, who told you that the Judiciary cant crack the whip?

I can assure you, the Judiciary isnt a toothless bulldog. It can bark and bite. Indeed, public confidence in the court tanked after undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw exposed dozens of judges who were purportedly involved in a bribery scandal.

However, it didnt take long for the court to put her house in order ---putting back on her enviable and dignified garment. In a matter of three weeks or less than that the apex court has made what I describe as two major rulings. It ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to give all disqualified presidential candidates for the 2016 general elections a second chance to fix errors on their nomination forms, and just last week it granted former Mr. Amidus request to cross examine businessman Mr. Woyome.

Even though the embattled businessman has said he disagrees with the courts judgement on Wednesday November16. He thinks the Supreme Court is pursuing him, because the former had rejected his mode of payment of the GHc 51.2million.

According to him he wanted to pay GHc 4 million and spread the rest over a period of time, but his appeal was rejected. The Supreme Court further ordered the Attorney General to valuate his properties. But he thinks the move was to disgrace me, he said.

I proposed to pay GHc4 million and pay the rest in the following monthsbut the Supreme Court denied and threw it out.

At a press briefing in Accra Mr. Woyome said: I wrote it and the cheque has been paid and cleared, anybody who wants to know have the means to know, it is not faked, the number of people who are ready to help me paid this money and theyre angry the Justices of the Supreme Court if they erred, theyve erred because they were misled, and I will insist and press on it until justice is done, because this justice will be used on anybody because its a precedent. The erroneous impression that I said I will not pay is not true.

Early this month Mr. Amidu filed an application to examine Woyome in connection with attempts to retrieve the GHc 51 .2 million. Appearing elated Mr. Amidu said: I have this morning 4th November 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court for leave to examine the Judgment Debtor as the citizen public interest Plaintiff in favour of whom the case was decided for the Republic of Ghana.

His action followed a move by the Attorney General to discontinue oral examination of Mr. Woyome. He believes that the AGs application not to pursue the case involving its financier is one more such trick to deceive the public and obstruct the course of justice, he submitted.

Here is a brief history of the whole Woyome saga:

Mr. Woyome was paid GHc51.2million after he claimed that he helped Ghana to raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting CAN 2008 Nations Cup. However, an Auditor Generals report released in 2010, said the amount was paid illegally, to the NDC financier.

In 2004, per that development the Supreme Court ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the amount after citizen Villante Martin Amidu challenged the legality of the judgement debt paid to the businessman, Waterville and Isofoton.

It was difficult for them to retrieve the money. And the undue delays would compel the Supreme Court judges to unanimously grant the Attorney General clearance to execute the courts ruling ordering Woyome to refund the money to the state.

Still, Mr. Woyome remained resistant. In April 2016, he disallowed officials from the Attorney Generals Department and the Lands Commission from having access to his Kpehe residence in Accra for valuation. This again, was another attempt by the Supreme Court to retrieve monies illegally paid to him Mr. Woyome. To him the planned valuation ordered by the apex court in his own words was illegal.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has appealed to residents of Cape Coast in the Central Region not to sell their votes for pans, slippers and other freebies ahead of the general elections.

Some politicians do not respect people in the coastal areas and that is why they only provide them with pans, wire marsh, slippers, among others, to enable them win elections instead of undertaking developmental projects in the areas, according to him.

He added that the money was for the State and that the electorate should not allow politicians to influence them to vote for the wrong people to steer the affairs of the country.

Former President Kufuor gave the advice during a massive rally at Cape Coast over the weekend.

Thousands of supporters of the party thronged the venue to drum and dance to NPP songs. Members of the Asafo companies also performed brilliantly at the rally.

He added that the people in the area deserve better things since Cape Coast was the first capital of Ghana.

He indicated that the country has been endowed with a lot of natural resources but people are suffering due to bad governance.

Former President Kufuor described Nana Akufo-Addo as a good captain who can manage the country well with his good team.

If you are not a good apprentice, you can never be a good master, so give Nana Addo the chance since he would not come and deceive Ghanaians but make the country a better place to stay, Nana Addo has a lot of investors who are ready to come and invest in the country immediately he is given the mandate, he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the NPP government would save Ghanaians from misery.

He said he would establish more cold stores and landing sites to boost the fishing activities in the area if given the nod.

In attendance were former Ministers of State, former Districts and Municipal Chief Executives (MCE), regional and constituency executives of the party, among others.

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast

Email:[email protected]
The President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ing. Dr. Kwame Boakye, says for Ghana to have sustainable development, political parties must incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation (STEI) into their manifestos.

Ing. Dr. Kwame Boakye said this when he delivered the 47th Presidential Address last Thursday at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.

Speaking under the theme: Ghana must embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation to achieve sustainable development, Ing. Boakye said most development problems are essentially engineering problems.

Any war against poverty, disease, illiteracy and environmental degradation can succeed only by making use of STEI, he said.

In Ghana, much lip-service is paid to leveraging science and technology for national development, but there is currently a poor appreciation of the importance of and the benefits that STEI can deliver to the competitiveness of the economy and to national development in general, the president added.

Ing. Boakye said that a country that aspires to become an upper middle income country requires a vision of development which fully applies and integrates STEI into national development strategies to achieve national objectives for poverty reduction, competitiveness of enterprises, sustainable environmental management and industrial growth.

This, he said, must be a tenet of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and be accepted by all the political parties.

By Cephas Larbi

[email protected]
CHICAGO (AP)  The indictment of a 35-year-old disgraced former Republican congressman jolted residents of his Central Illinois district, shaken by prosecutors' claims that Aaron Schock illegally dipped into campaign and government coffers to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, including his Capitol Hill office done up in the style of "Downton Abbey."

Perhaps more stunning was an allegation found on page 34 of the charging document: Schock's apparent willingness to pocket thousands of constituents' dollars by arranging annual Washington tours combined with meet-and-greets.

"I know that some people feel very hurt, angered and betrayed," said Quincy insurance agent Jack Freiburg, who attended such an event in 2014.

State political observers say the alleged scheme stands out  even with Illinois' long-established reputation for corruption, including a former governor's attempt to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. House rules require excess fees from such visits be returned to constituents or donated to charity.

"That's a new one on me," said David Melton of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "I have never heard of anything quite that audacious."

The three-day extravaganza attended by Freiburg and about 50 others in July 2014 included bus rides to the National Zoo and a reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence. Freiburg paid a $785 "Fly-in Conference Fee" to Schock's office  meant to cover meals, transportation and other hosting costs  on top of $2,000 to $3,000 for a plane ticket, hotel room and other expenses.

Schock, the once-rising GOP star and prodigious party fundraiser, secretly kept at least $11,000 from that event, the indictment said.

Freiburg recalled that many on the trip were well-off but others weren't, including several recent college graduates. "Some sacrificed financially to go," the 63-year-old said.

Prosecutors say in 2011, Schock set up a Florida bank account under the name of a factious company, "Global Travel International," and instructed staff to deposit that year's fly-fee money into it. He allegedly kept at least $4,482 from the 2011 fly-in, which happened in the same month he appeared on the cover of Men's Health, his shirt unbuttoned to show off his six-pack abs. Landing the magazine cover  with the blurb "Rep. Aaron Schock is willing to give you the shirt off his back"  drew mockery on late-night TV but boosted Schock's profile nationally.

Schock, who resigned last year as scrutiny of his spending intensified, issued a statement on Nov. 10 responding to the charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds and other things, saying "we might have made errors" but that "no one intended to break any law."

A spokesman for Schock and his legal team, Mark Hubbard, said Sunday "that funds received for the events were used for that purpose," adding that the fly-ins were always widely praised by participants. He said Schock's understanding was that "small amounts" of funds that were left over "could be used for future events."

"There was no intent in this case of criminal conduct," Hubbard said.

Schock successfully marketed himself during six years in Congress as an unwavering fiscal conservative. A 2012 campaign flier claimed his frugality started as a farm kid, saying he saved up $4,000 and invested it in his own IRA when he was 14. But the indictment paints a picture of him treating his elected office as a kind of ATM.

He allegedly spent $40,000 in government funds to redecorate his office, including $5,000 on a chandelier, and used $8,000 in campaign cash to take a private plane from Peoria to Washington because he feared missing a connecting flight to Europe. The indictment also says he bought four Super Bowl tickets in January 2014 for $10,025 with campaign funds and resold them at a $1,975 profit.

A 2011 Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce news release says at least half a dozen members attended Schock's fly-in that year. Messages left for several of them seeking comment weren't returned. One man who went, Bill Fleming, said he didn't detect much dwelling on Schock these days  even after the indictment: "Everyone has moved on."

Freiburg says he's more disappointed than anything, and suspects early fame went Schock's head. A conviction on just one fraud count carries a maximum 20 years behind bars.

"I think he really is a Icarus figure who crashed he was flying too high and got too close to the sun," he said.
Lulama Xingwana (left), Miriam Okwabi, Dr. Francis Oppong, (2nd left), James Kutsoati (1st right) and some of the investors in a pose

A group of investors from South Africa, led by Lulama Xingwana, South Africa's High Commissioner to Ghana, have visited Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) on Friday to explore investment opportunities in the country's cocoa subsector.

Commending the unique flavor of chocolate produced from Ghana's cocoa, Xingwana expressed the hope that the encounter with COCOBOD would be mutually beneficial for the two countries.

The delegation also expressed optimism in partnering COCOBOD in cocoa beans supply and development of new products from by-products of cocoa and shea.

Among the investors were Nompumelelo Maisela of the Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa (Black Industrialist) together with her counterparts, Mmaphutego Zitha, Department of Trade and Industry (Trade Invest Africa) and Nontwenhle Mchunu, Mkabayi Group (Business).

Addressing the delegation on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Dr. Francis Oppong, Deputy Chief Executive in-charge of Agronomy & Quality Control, said cocoa is indispensable to Ghana's economic growth, adding that the crop injects over $2 billion into the economy every year.

He explained that Ghana's cocoa had remained the benchmark for measuring world cocoa mainly because COCOBOD, through its subsidiaries and divisions, ensures that the best agronomic practices are observed throughout the cocoa value chain.

He entreated the investors to identify specific areas of interest in the cocoa sector for investment.

Dr. Oppong told the delegation that investment opportunities abound in cocoa farming, particularly in agro-input supply, cocoa processing to the tertiary level, internal marketing of cocoa beans, as well as the development of new products from cocoa and shea by-products.

Miriam Okwabi, Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration), COCOBOD and James Kutsoati, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) COCOBOD, were also there to host the delegation.

Mrs. Okwabi said COCOBOD promptly paid for produce bought through prudent financial transactions with a consortium of local and international banks.

By Melvin Tarlue
Sometimes one wonders where our public officials who claim to know everything, particularly the designated field in which they hold open positions, get the job. It is not surprising to hear a public statement by the Deputy Attorney General pronouncement on the recent judgement by Justice Anin Yeboah.

The Deputy Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine is warning of a bad precedent being set by the Supreme Court when it granted Martin Amidus request to orally examine businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome. He is also predicting a cul-de-sac in the Martin Amidus showdown with Woyome.

See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Amidu-vs-Woyome-Supreme-Court-setting-bad-precedent-Ayine-487878

What dangerous precedent is the Deputy AG denoting? We cannot undermine the importance of the judgement because a private prosecution has conventionally been seen as a valuable safeguard against unwillingness or misbehaviour by official prosecuting authorities.

Generally speaking, the office of the Attorney General, of which Mr Ayine holds a high position should be prosecuting and defending on our behalf (Ghanaians). Instead, he is attempting to undermine the decision by the Supreme Court Judge. The Attorney Generals department has made a clear decision to protect, the offender, Mr Alfred Woyome and his unlawful assurances.

The Attorney Generals department is facing the new embarrassment after citizen vigilante; Martin Amidu won the right to orally examine what is thought to be an unprecedented private examination of a swindler for perverting the course of justice.

Martin Amidu has triumphed in the battle to personally and orally examine charges against a fraudster, Alfred Woyome, who is alleged to have made false claims for illegally receiving fifty-two million cedis (52m) in a sworn statement.

It is believed to be the first time in Ghanaian legal history that an individual, rather than the Attorney Generals department, has managed to launch a private orally examination against an incumbent government private party financier.

The judgement raises fresh questions about the Attorney Generals conduct  years after the apex court issued the honesty and integrity of Alfred Woyome implicated in the Woyomegatuan collusion.

Someone has perpetrated an offence against taxpayers, Dr Ayine and his department, as the public prosecutor is not willing to prosecute the offender. Or worse, Ghanaians are the victim of the departmental professional misconduct and as the public prosecutor does not want to pursue the case because the department feels there is or maybe incumbent government officials implicated or lack of interest to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. However, instead of welcoming the assistance from Martin Amidu to support the case, Dr Ayine is trying to undermine the Supreme Court Justice judgement.

Dr Ayine behaving on the general delusion that only the Attorney General bodies can bring about prosecutions.

It is such attitude of public officials like Dr Ayine why we should wholeheartedly embrace the action of Mr Martin Amidu to ensure justice prevails. The judgement must be a lesson to Dr Ayine that the Attorney Generals department should not be complacent about prosecuting cases before them.

Chief Asare
The Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other partners, is organizing the 9th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 18 to 21 July 2017.

The competition, which is held in English, is open to undergraduate and masters law students from universities around the world . Students are invited to argue a hypothetical human rights case before a panel of top international lawyers.

The competition is expected to bring together up to 75 participants from as many as 25 universities representing the five UN regional groups.

We would like to encourage you to spread the word among academic institutions in your countries . The deadline for registration is 12 June 2017.

The rules of procedure, the hypothetical case, and registration details are available at www.chr.up.ac.za/worldmoot .

As a new feature, the 2017 edition of the competition will include a one-day event designed to expose students to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the Human Rights Council. This will involve personal interaction with senior staff members of both institutions who are involved in key activities and processes.

The World Human Rights Moot Court Competition has been presented every year for the last eight years, and has become a leading human rights educational event. It is unique in bringing together some of the brightest law students from universities around the globe to debate contemporary human rights issues on the basis of a common UN human rights system, influenced by national and regional perspectives and experiences.

The executors of the estate of Nelson Mandela in 2014 agreed to have the competition renamed after him, and the competition will be promoted in the context of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July).
Dakar (AFP) - Above the sacks of seeds and coal, three kerosene lamps gather dust in the tiny shed that Kenyan chicken farmer Bernard calls home.

He prefers to use solar energy to light up his evenings, listen to the radio or watch television, after abandoning a diesel generator he said was expensive to maintain and burned fuel too quickly.

"Solar panels are a good, cheap solution," he told AFP.

Across the continent, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes and small businesses, even as African governments unveil massive new solar projects seemingly every month to expand their grids.

According to International Energy Agency projections, almost one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will gain access to the grid by 2040, but by that time 530 million will remain off-grid, almost comparable with the 600 million who cannot access power today.

Across Africa, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes

Governments have ramped up their efforts: on Africa's Atlantic coast, Senegal last month inaugurated a massive 20 megawatt (MW) project that will deliver energy to 160,000 people, which President Macky Sall saluted as ushering in "a new, clean-energy era".

But aaMouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, director-general of national utility Senelec, underlined upcoming problems in an interview with AFP.

"We actually have an excess of 100MW of power," he said. "But we have a distribution problem. We have been thinking in terms of roads and railways... but not about electricity highways."

With around 55 to 65 percent of homes receiving electricity, Senegal's grid strength is above average for sub-Saharan Africa, whereas in South Sudan and Liberia this hovers between one and two percent.

But even in Senegal, neighbouring Mauritania and Rwanda, which have all invested in large-scale solar projects as the cost of panels tumble, the twin challenges of limited grids and Africa's demographics remain.

'Space for innovation'

"The grid and the off-grid are so far apart right now that it's creating a huge space for innovation," enthuses Andrew Herscowitz, coordinator for US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative.

Senegal now has an excess of power, though it still has a distribution problem

Power Africa, which identifies governments and businesses requiring sustainable and affordable energy and offers funding and expertise in more than 15 countries, has taken a particular interest in solar.

Power Africa is pushing this renewable source so that people "don't have to wait for the grid to arrive to them, they can access a company today and have a solar panel put on their roof," Herscowitz told AFP.

Half of sub-Saharan Africa's power is generated in South Africa, while north Africa has built effective grid systems that largely serve their populations with a constant flow of energy.

But for the rest, off-grid systems and the technology needed to make them reachable to the sub-continent's poorest homes have reached a tipping point in the last five years, spurred by advances that have lowered costs.

Solar panels in Tafoughalt, in Morocco's eastern Berkane province

Lighting homes with kerosene and candles remains expensive, dangerous and polluting, but in Kenya micro-solar firms have brought power to 30 percent of the off-grid population.

"A person can for the same amount of money they were spending to buy kerosene just for that little flicker of light use that money to buy a small solar panel that can power safe lightbulbs," Herscowitz said.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of British "pay-as-you-go" solar panel firm Azuri, noted that the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity in the West was around 15 US cents, while kerosene was 53 times higher and candles 105 times higher on average for African consumers.

Azuri and rival M-Kopa offer a package of solar-powered lightbulbs, radio, and phone charging ports for as little as 50 US cents a day.

Simon Bransfield-Garth (right) receives a sustainability award from Arnold Schwarzenegger in Copenhagen

Solar-powered televisions are available for a little more and fridges are expected to follow.

The firms have made their mark in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, which also have the heaviest uptake of mobile money systems, allowing users to pay for these services automatically through cheap and easy-to-access bank accounts provided by telecoms firms.

In these markets, customers are often so sparsely distributed that even if they have the opportunity to connect to the grid, doing so is still often more expensive than solar packs.

Sunshine continent

Investment in the sun to feed Africa's grids is appreciable: by the end of 2014 output stood at 1,334 MW, more than ten times larger than in 2009 (127 MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Barack Obama (left) talks with June Muli about solar power in Nairobi last year

As consultancy firm KPMG put it in a recent report, solar power is "the most widely available source of renewable energy in Africa", and could "bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without the need for expensive large-scale grid level infrastructural developments."

The uptake of solar still remains extremely low compared to coal and biomass, accounting for less than five percent of overall grid power, but solar is getting cheaper and easier to install than ever.

Besides, most off-grid communities have no other option, as Africa Power's Herscowitz noted: "the amount of money needed to solve the energy deficit in Africa is hundreds of billions of dollars. No government has that money."
The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) hosted the 23rd International African Writers' Day (IAWD) in Accra.

In a message of solidarity to the writers on the occasion, the African Union (AU) urged PAWA to make it possible for greater numbers of writers, young and old, men and women, urban and rural, to find market and readerships for their works.

Towards this end, the AU believes the Union and our governments must therefore create the necessary policy environments to ensure that the creative industries flourish adding that the Commission would continue to exchange ideas with organizations such as PAWA on how to achieve this and to strengthen the culture of writing and reading in West Africa.

The solidarity message was authored by the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Dlamini Zuma who noted that African writers have given expression to the diversity of African voices, telling the many African stories and celebrating the unity of the Pan African narrative adding that their expressions of the feelings, values and ideas of Africans have become critical to the realisation of the African Renaissance and Agenda 2063.

The ceremony took place at PAWA House where Prof Atukwei Okai, Secretary General of PAWA revealed that an abiding preoccupation of African writers had to do with the twin problems of publishing and low reading.

In this connection, he lauded the efforts of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), the Mozambican Writers Association (MWA), the Malawi Writers Union (MWU) and the Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in particular, for their special outreach programmes to schools and the communities to encourage and nurture the interest of the youth in reading at a time when the new technology was also luring young people away from reading books.

Contributing at the ceremony, Nana Gyan-Apenteng, President of the GAW, stated that GAW continues to mobilize Ghanaian writers for the task of nation building, economic development, the deepening of democracy, cultural assertiveness, freedom of expression, human rights and social justice asserting that the Association is at the forefront of the advocacy for greater literacy for all of our people, especially our youth.

At their meeting in Cotonou, Benin in 1993, the African Ministries of Culture and Education, established that the birthday of PAWA, 7th November should be celebrated throughout the continent as International African Writers' Day not only as a recognition by our African people of the role of writers in the development of our continent, but also a moment of pause within which to reflect on the nature of that contribution.
A leader without principle, a leader without commitment, a leader incapable of maintaining the truth and telling the truth to the people. Such a leader does not deserve the trust of the people of Ghana. He does not deserve the trust of the people of Ghana. We cannot trust Mahama. The Ghanaian people cannot trust John Dramani Mahama.

These were the words of the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at a rally in Akim Oda, on Saturday, November 19, 2016, the last day of his 4-day tour of the Eastern Region.

The NPP flagbearer noted that with 16 days to the holding of the December 7 election, President Mahama's desperation will reach new heights through the announcement of a plethora of phantom promises to the Ghanaian electorate, and will also flip-flop on key issues.

One such desperate move and change in stance on the part of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo recounted, was the decision to restore the allowances of nursing training students, albeit it partially.

It will be recalled that President Mahama on September 8, 2016, publicly stated that it is better to lose on principle than win using falsehoods. We'll not reverse the decision.

The NPP flagbearer noted that despite President Mahama's opposition to the restoration of the allowances all these years, he has suddenly changed his mind with trainee nurses now being paid GH150 as their monthly allowance.

This, Nana Akufo-Addo observed, is a clear indication that he (President Mahama) is not a man of principle, he is not a man of commitment, and he is not a man of truth. We cannot put our destinies in the hands of such a man.

To this end, Nana Akufo-Addo is urging Ghanaians to repose their confidence in him and in the NPP, assuring that we have the men and women who can give us a first class government and return us onto the path of progress and prosperity within a very short spate of time.

An Akufo-Addo government, God-willing, from January 2017, he told the thousands gathered at Akim Oda, will help create jobs and bring wealth to the people of Ghana, assuring that we will change the face our nation and bring progress and prosperity to our country.
The members of the Security Council were briefed by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ellen Lj, the United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng, and the Chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee on the situation in South Sudan.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan reportedly carried out by the SPLA, the SPLA in Opposition, as well as militias, and unidentified armed groups.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all instances of attacks against civilians, ethnically targeted killings, hate speech, and incitements to violence. The members of the Security Council agreed with Special Advisor Adama Dieng that what began as a political conflict has transformed into what could become an outright ethnic war, and it called on the Government of South Sudan to immediately address increasing hate speech and ethnic violence, and to promote reconciliation among its people, including through a process of justice and accountability.

The members of the Security Council underscored that the only way forward in South Sudan is through a genuine and inclusive political process, based on the framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan which allows for all voices to participate in shaping the future of South Sudan. The members of the Security Council also underscored that all parties must commit themselves to peace and take meaningful steps to end violence and ceasefire violations. The members of the Security Council called upon the parties to immediately agree on implementation of an effective cessation of hostilities in order to avoid escalation of the conflict in the upcoming dry season and reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict.

While recalling Resolution 2304 (2016), the members of the Security Council expressed concern that while the Government of South Sudan has made further commitments since the 4 September 2016 Joint Communique with the Security Council, that progress was insufficient and has yet to translate into concrete improvements on the ground. They called on the Government of South Sudan to immediately uphold its commitments.

The members of the Security Council signaled their readiness to consider taking additional measures in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and conflict, including potential sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation.

The members of the Security Council committed to work closely with the African Union High Representative for South Sudan, former President Alpha Oumar Konare, the Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission former President Festus Mogae, as well as other stakeholders, in the reinvigoration of the political process and the design of a clear political strategy for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in South Sudan.
The Police in Koforidua-Effiduase have arrested 35-year-old Kwesi Boadu for allegedly threatening to set ablaze the residence of Haruna Apaw-Wiredu, the NDC parliamentary candidate for New Juaben north constituency.

The suspect, who is believed to be a member of the NPP, together with some young men reportedly pelted the house with stones at Asokore-Zongo.

A police patrol team and some young men apprehended the suspect who hid in a nearby house after they got wind of police presence there.

The other suspects are at large.

Meanwhile, the Eastern regional police command is meeting with the NDC and NPP parliamentary candidates and a few of their followers at the police headquarters to find ways to deal with the issues that led to clashes at the weekend.

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com
On Friday, 11th November 2016, Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Dr Ali Mohammed Shein launched a Norwegian-funded pediatric ward at the Mnazi Mmoja National Hospital, Zanzibar. The pediatric ward has been financed by Norwegian taxpayers through the Royal Norwegian Embassy which provided Tshs 1.4 Billion, Zanzibar Ministry of Health which provided Tshs. 500 Million and a Norwegian philanthropist, Mr Trond Mohn who contributed Tshs 2.2 Billion.

Furthermore, Haukeland hospital in Bergen, Norway and Fredskorpset (Norwegian Peace Corps) have engaged in capacity building through staff exchange with the Mnazi Mmoja hospital for the past decade  This stands as an excellent example of mutual institutional cooperation between Norway and Zanzibar. With the already existing technical support, it is impressive to note that Mnazi Mmoja hospital records show that neo-natal mortality rate has now (2015/16) dropped down to 10% from 40% in 2011.

Building on existing technical cooperation, the Embassy believes the new pediatric ward will act as a catalyst towards reaching global Sustainable Development Goal of reducing neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortalities to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

On his part, the President of Zanzibar has praised the long standing historical cooperation between Zanzibar and Norway and expressed his gratitude to Norwegian government for the technical support in health and many other sectors it has been supporting for years.

It should be noted that the support extended by the Norwegian people to Zanzibaris has been spread widely to many other key development sub-sectors too, ranging from electricity where Norway has financed the deep water electricity cable that brings electricity to Pemba, in addition to the many roads we have rehabilitated worth Tshs 20 billion.

Norway has also continued to support Zanzibar electrification through ZECO where she has contributed Tshs 76 billion for capacity building, infrastructure maintenance and generation of reliable electricity to all Zanzibaris.

Given the importance of Zanzibar as a future oil state and the need to balance between development and preservation of nature, Norway supports the Oil for Development project with a particular focus on environment and enactment of oil and gas legislation (Petroleum Policy and Act). Through the Oil for Development program, Norway is sharing her experience in managing the resources of oil and gas in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, towards the right path to a brighter future.

Norwegian government has also supported sustainable forestry practices all over Pemba and Unguja through REDD projects. It has also provided scholarships at the Kizimbani Agricultural Training Institute, supported a Tshs 3.7 billion Public Financial Management programme, and celebrate our great cultures through support to Sauti za Busara World Music Festival.
Bereft of solid campaign message to win the hearts of the electorate, President Mahama has decided to engage in petty, dirty, tribal campaign, especially among the people of the North, after creating the opportunity for his family and friends to steal funds meant to promote their well-being.

But what is clear is that President Mahama is pursuing the Northern agenda for his personal gains. He cares not about the severe socio-economic plight of the Northerner, and the evidence is clear on the ground.

Paralyzed with the premonition of his demise as far as the upcoming elections are concerned, Mr Mahama is engaging in a type of campaign which defies logic, and virtually reduces him to the level of a typical NDC serial caller or footsoldier.

His latest rendition of attacks on Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP running mate, baffles all Ghanaians who are clothed with decency. For a president to descend into the gutter to speak like a footsoldier is tragically paradoxical. Mr Mahama has become too pedestrian with his politicking to deserve another term of office.

Having exhausted all the arsenals coined and saved for the ultimate benefit of Dr. Bawumia, who has become more than a thorn in his flesh, Mr Mahama now makes the most weird, unreliable and politically infantile claim that the NPP would use and dump Dr Bawumia eventually.

According to President Mahama, therefore, the good people of the North should vote for him not because he has promoted their well-being, but because the NPP will now allow Dr Bawumia to run on its ticket for the presidency because they did same to the late Aliu Mahama.

This comment could only have been generated from a feeble mind, and we at the Daily Statesman never felt the leader of Ghana could think that way, and go to the extent of inviting others to think same.

The NPP has always used democratic means to elect it Presidential Candidates since its inception in 1992, and the decision of the delegates has always prevailed. Where therefore lies the sagacity in the presidents claim that the party did not allow the late Aliu Mahama to become the president?

We are challenging the president to come out now to declare his Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Authur, the automatic NDC Presidential Candidate for the 2020 elections, and tell all his party members to accept it, if he wants to be seen as a person with any modicum of sincerity in his genes.

President Mahama has failed woefully to deliver opportunities to the people of the North. These people he claims as his own are wallowing in acute poverty; they are helpless. And the worst of it all is that an initiative such as SADA that was supposed to be used to promote their well-being was used as a conduit by President Mahama and his family and friends to amass wealth.

And now they want these same people they have consigned to abject poverty to give them another mandate so that they can enjoy their ill-gotten wealth in comfort. Mr President, this wont happen because the people wont allow you to take them for fools again. They are paying you back according to your lack of care for their well-being.

Now, unlike Mr Mahama who is asking the people of Northern Ghana to vote for him because he is from the North, Nana Akufo-Addo, during his tour of the Eastern region, which is his home region, asked the people, particularly his own Akyem tribesmen, to vote for him note because he is one of them, but because he has "better policies and programmes to positively transform the lives of all Ghanaians".

"Mr. President, please campaign on your record in government and stop the tribal politics. That's bad leadership," Nana Akufo-Addo challenged the president while addressing a rally at Akim-Oda.

Indeed, the good people of the north are not stooges. They will vote for a party whose policies will address their demeaning status. Nana Akufo-Addo's Northern Development Authority will not be like the corrupt smokescreen called SADA.

Ghana is a unitary state where resources are to be equitably distributed, and political leadership must be obtained solely on merit and not through senseless divisive bigotry.

The Daily Statesman therefore wish to encourage our brothers and sisters in the north to rise and demand absolute discontinuation of Mr Mahama's divisive, shameful, childish and dangerous northern rhetoric which has no place in modern day politics among any decent group of people.
Armenian Minister of Agriculture Ignaty Arakelyan today hosted an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) delegation tasked with monitoring the Infrastructure and Rural Finance Supprt Prograame in Armenia.

This programme is designed to generate income growth and sustainable employment opportunities by strengthening agricultural production systems and linkages to value chains for cash crops. It has four components:

Rural finance

Water infrastructure for rural areas

Awareness raising and support for farmers

Programme management
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Ebo Quansah in Accra..

In the words of William Shakespeare, When beggars die, there are no comets seen, the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. The death of Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, officially announced at the Manyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday, is vibrating all over the country, in spite of the fact that officially, her influence did not extend beyond the Asanteman Traditional Area.

The official bulletin on her passing to glory, signed by Mr. Kofi Badu, Chief of Staff to the Asantehene, said on Thursday, November 17, 2016: Manhyia Palace announces with profound sorrow, the passing to her Eternity Village of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa and Mother of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. She was 111.

According to the official statement: The 13th Queen Mother of the Asante Kingdom reigned for 39 years. She has been the pillar of strength and source of wisdom behind the transformational reign of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene.

As a sign of respect for the fallen Queen Mother, the Kumasi Traditional Council has banned all funerals in Asanteman until the mortal remains of the late Queen Mother had been laid to rest. Until then, there is also a ban on noise making.

Political parties responded to the announcement by suspending all campaigns for the 2016 elections in Kumasi, and the Ashanti Region, generally.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ii broke the news at an emergency meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council at Manyia on Thursday. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, according to the official bulletin.

Following the official announcement, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia II, Bantamahene, on behalf of the Kumasi Traditional Council, conveyed the deepest condolences of the council and the people of Kumasi to the Monarch, who has also lost his mother.

Born in 1907, the Asantehemaa was enstooled Queen Mother of Asanteman on February 6 1977. Her coronation took place at a colourful ceremony in Kumasi, on June 2, 1977, under the direct supervision of her late brother, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the late Asantehene.

She was the 13th Queen Mother of Asante, succeeding Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko II, who reigned from 1945 to 1977. The idea of a Queen Mother for the unified Asante Kingdom began the moment Okomfo Anokye commanded the Golden Stool to land on the laps of Osei Tutu I, in 1695. The first Queen Mother was Nana Nyarko Kusiamoa, who was enstooled in 1965 and passed into glory in 1722.

She was followed by Nana Ntim Nketia Abama, from 1722 to 1740. On her death, Nana Abama was succeeded by Nana Akua Afriyie, from 1740 to 1768. In other words, the third Queen Mother of Ashanti reigned for 28 years. She was followed by Nana Konadu Yiadom on her death in 1768. Nana Yiadom was Asantehemaa from 1798 until 1809, when she was also called to join her maker.

Nana Akua Adoma replaced Nana Yiadom as Asantehemaa when she died in 1809. Asanteman welcomed Nana Ama Serwa I as Asantehemaa, from 1809 to 1828, when the old lady went to the village. Nana Yaa Dufie took over as the spiritual head of Asanteman and the keeper of genealogical knowledge. Nana Dufie was Asantehemaa from 1828 to 1836, when she died.

On her death, Nana Dufie was succeeded by Nana Afua Sarpong as the eighth Queen Mother of Asanteman. She was on the throne for 21 years, when she also departed this world and was replaced by the ninth Ohenmaa, Nana Afua Kobi I. Nana Kobi reigned for 23 years, when the icy hands of death snatched her from this world. Nana Yaa Akyaa was enstolled the 10th Queen Mother of Asanteman in 1880. After 37 years on the stool, Nana Yaa Akyia ended her reign, when she died in 1917.

The 11th Queen Mother of the Ashanti Kingdom was Nana Konadu Yiadom II, who was enstooled in 1917, until she died in 1945. Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko II became the new Queen Mother in 1965 until she died in 1977.

On the death of Nana Nyarko, her successor was named as Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, mother of five, the youngest son being Barima Kwaku Kodua, who was to be enstooled as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool in 1999.

Nana Ampem's eventful reign, spanning 39 years, ended with her passing away peacefully in her sleep, as was announced by an official Manhyia bulletin on Thursday.

In tune with Asante custom and practice, the final funeral rites for the 13th Queen Mother of Asante would be announced at the one-week commemoration of her passing on to glory on Thursday, November 24, 2016.

These are trying moments for the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has not only lost his wise counsel in the late Asantehemaa, but has also lost his biological mother. Otumfuo and the entire Asanteman have lost the custodian of the genealogical knowledge of Asante Kings.

Nana Afia Kobi SerwaaAmpem II would long be remembered not only for being one of the longest Asantehemaa in history. The late Asantehemaa's memory would remain in Asante history for the prompt decision she took in naming Barima Kwaku Duah as the 16th Asantehene, which curtailed intense lobbying for the position, following the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in 1999.

In Akan tradition, it is the Queen Mother who proposes the person to be the next King. According to Mr. K. Nkansa Kyeremanteng, in his book 'The Akans of Ghana: Their customs, History and Institutions,' when the stool becomes vacant, it devolves on the Krontihene to summon a meeting of the Oman, in this case, the Kumasi Traditional Council.

The meeting sends the Gyaasehene and a linguist to the Queen Mother, with a request to give the council a candidate to fill the vacancy. According to Asante custom, the Golden Stool should not be vacant for more than 40 days after the deceased occupant had been sent to Breman, the burial grounds for Asante kings.

The Queen Mother presents the new candidate through the Gyaasehene. In Akan custom, the people, through their divisional chiefs, have a right to reject Ohenemaa's candidate, but reasonable grounds have to be adduced for any such rejection.

Some of the grounds for the rejection of a nominee chief are: if it is established that the candidate has leprosy, is impotent, deaf, deformed or a drunkard.

Generally, the Queen Mother is regarded as the mother of the entire society, and, therefore, the symbol of unity of the royal family. In the case of Asante  the Royal Oyoko Clan.

According to Mr. K. Nkansa Kyeremanteng, the role of the Queen Mother in Akan society is likened to the queen ant in the ant hill, as well as the moon in the universe. Though her title implies that she exercises jurisdiction over women in society, her role in practice goes beyond that. She is the chief's rallying point for women in the community, and mobilises them for any necessary action. She also serves as their voice. The Queen Mother is responsible for nominating the next chief, and acts as his wise counsel.

In Akan society, the Queen Mother is distinguishable in society by her hairstyle, which normally should be in the shape of the moon (Dansikran). Her hair must be dyed deep.

When she dresses for political functions (In her society), her cloth consists in two parts  one tied around the waist and fastened with a silk handkerchief, with a knot made at the end of the left side. The second one is put on the left shoulder, leaving the right hand free, but covering her breasts at the same time, my apologies to Mr. Kyeremanteng.

The choice of the next Queen Mother for the Asante Kingdom would test Asantehene Osei Tutu II. While it was the late Queen Mother who nominated him, Otumfuo would have to be heavily involved in the choice for the 14th Asantehemaa.

According to Akan tradition, when the stool becomes vacant, it is the prerogative of the chief to nominate a candidate for election by the elders of the royal family (the Royal Oyoko Clan). If the elders of the royal family are not comfortable with the choice, they would request the chief to re-nominate. If the choice is accepted, the person would be acclaimed by pouring powder on her, signifying victory.

All these elaborate ceremonies would have to wait while the grand funeral is performed to give the deceased a grand send-off. On Thursday, when the one-week commemoration of Asantehemaa's death is organised at the Manhyia Palace, the official date for Nana Serwaa Ampem's funeral would be communicated to Asanteman, through the various divisional chiefs, and to prepare for the grand send off for her.

It is an Akan traditional belief that life continues in the next world, where our ancestors intercede with the Supreme Being (God) on our behalf. That is the rationale behind the Akan concept of a grand funeral for the departed.

In times past, it was held that any person passing on to glory would continue with life as the person lived on earth. That was why unfortunately, in the past, there was human sacrifice after a chief's death. The idea was for the dead chief to travel to the next world with a cortege of maids, wives and other attendants to attend to him or her.

Times have changed. Now chiefs have no human companions to the next world. All the same, dead people ought to be seen off properly for our ancestors to continue to have favour on us. Akans also believe in the re-incarnation of people who, for one reason or other, have their previous lives curtailed, according to Mr. Kyeremanteng.

From next Thursday, when the one-week commemoration of the death of the 13th Queen Mother of Asanteman is officially observed at Manhyia, to the day to be announced for the remains to join her ancestors, expect the funeral rites of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II to throw up what is rich and pageantry in the culture of the people of the Asante Kingdom.
21.11.2016 LISTEN

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

The Kumasi Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Right Rev. Christopher Nyarko Andam, has told the security agencies that it is their duty, particularly the police, to ensure that peace and order prevails in the country.

Bishop Andam noted that the fate of the nation has been entrusted into hands of the security agencies, particularly the police, at this critical period of elections, stressing: It is your duty to ensure that lives and properties are protected.

The life of the person voting must be protected in a way that the voter can freely exercise his or her franchise. The provision of security should create a conducive atmosphere that would allow each vote cast to be counted, but once, he said.

He admonished the security agencies to quell any act or event that could potentially bring disorder to Ghana, adding that we can only have free and fair elections if the security would rise up to the occasion, and ensure that the polling stations are well protected.

Bishop Andam made these observations during the Ashanti Regional Inter-Security Prayer Service for peaceful Elections 2016, organised by the chaplains of the security agencies, under the theme: Free, Fair and Peaceful election, our business.

Free, fair and peaceful elections

Intercessory prayers were said for the various security agencies and the media during the inter-security prayer service, which was attended by the Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Prisons Service, Fire Service, and the media.

He told the security agencies that Ghanaian voters must enjoy a peaceful environment on December 7, as they cast their ballots, hoping that Ghana would, once again, go through a successful election, if all work towards having free, fair and peaceful elections, by safeguarding voting rights.

He said: Indeed, the right to vote is fundamental in any democratic state. Ghana, as a nation, believes in this constitutional right of all qualified Ghanaians to vote, but the crucial issue is the extent to which this right of the individual is protected. The electoral process faces several challenges as a result of human interference, and this is where the security agencies have a business of ensuring that there is law and order.

Bishop Andam charged the police to take full control and act professionally in exercising their duties without fear or favour.

The Methodist Minister said for democracy to work, everyone must agree to accept the results of freely held elections. The people and parties, who have lost power, or those who failed to gain it, must be willing to accept defeat. If the loser refuses to accept the winner, the elections legitimacy is diminished, and the political system may be marked by conflict and instability.

According to him, elections are about credibility, integrity and trust in the candidates, coupled with the requisite competence to manage resources efficiently for the majority of the people.

He said, in ensuring peaceful elections, the conduct of politicians and party members is crucial, and warned that candidates declaring themselves winners before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission can be a dangerous path to take, and pointed to some African countries which have gone through such paths and ended up with wars, confusion, destruction of human life and infrastructure.

Right Rev Andam said elections, though a good and vital exercise, have the potential of wrecking a nation, and advised Ghanaians to learn valuable lessons from the Ivory Coast experience.

The Methodist prelate said God has been gracious to Ghana, having successfully gone through five previous elections under the 4th Republic, and hoped that in spite of occasional offensive threats, God would continue to be merciful and gracious to Ghanaians, and see us through.

He warned, however, that we do not take our peaceful situation for granted, but rather work to maintain and sustain the grace God has provided us.

Bishop Andam, therefore, urged party supporters to refrain from the use of abusive language, and avoid any situation that may result in violence, and suggested that peaceful health walks and peace walks (free of violence) should be conducted and held across the country.

Defining election, he said: An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office, and stressed that It is an important event that helps the citizenry to come out or decide on who they would want to be their leader  to give it a political tone, who should govern over them.

Elections must be periodic, genuine

According to the Methodist prelate, unlike electoral systems, there are no precise definitions for regular, free, and fair elections. However, international human rights conventions have established a basic consensus, most importantly Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that elections must be periodic, genuine, and by secret ballot.

Bishop Andam stated that a free and fair election calls for a situation where there are no burdensome impediments to voting for any citizen, noting that the situation is to have maximum participation in elections, and that the principle of one person, one vote, is a key principle within the framework of free and fair elections.

Continuing, he said, a secret ballot means that no one, except the voter, should know how he/she has voted. If a voters choice is observable to others, voters may be subject to intimidation and reprisals by others, and would affect the person's decision on who to vote for. Such an election would then have no integrity, he explained.

From the biblical point of view, Rev Andam indicated that: Peace is Gods idea, and constitutes the basis for national development. Peace secures the future and destinies of nations. Peace builds unity and togetherness. The opposite is true. Disruptive elections destroy lives and properties. Disruptive elections impoverish, not just a person, but many generations to come. It leads to an uncertain future for the children and the youth. Trained and productive human capital is lost, and many more setbacks ensue.

Role of the media

He urged the media to be circumspect in reportage, saying the importance of the media cannot be overemphasised, pointing to the fact that discussions on radios, and the style of reporting these days, leave much to be desired, describing some presenters as alarmists who could cause fear and panic where there is none.

My appeal to the media is to ensure that the right messages are presented at the right time. Messages must be managed in such a manner that they would not create chaos. Your reporting should be constructive and not destructive, the Bishop admonished.

On right of voters, the Kumasi Methodist Diocesan Bishop was of the view that democracy assumes a wild range of practices and methods for selecting leaders for a country, and said: Voting is always a critical milestone in the electoral process, and encouraged all voters to exercise their franchise.

Bishop Andam noted that when all comport themselves, a peaceful election is the ultimate result, explaining that although peace may be variously described, the basic definition is the absence of war.

The prosperity of our dear nation, the future wellbeing of a nation, will, undoubtedly, depend on the prevalence of peace.
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Last week, the Supreme Court granted former Attorney General, Martin Amidu permission to cross-examine Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome over the GH51.2 million wrongfully paid to him by the government.

Martins application to the court became needful, following a process filed by the Attorney General, Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, to discontinue an earlier application to orally examine the businessman.

Mr. Amidu had earlier told the court that an opportunity to question the businessman would unravel how Mr Woyome spent the money paid to him by the government in 2010 for no work done. This, he said, was crucial in ensuring a speedy retrieval of the money.

The A-Gs Department and lawyers for Woyome opposed the motion, arguing that Mr. Amidu couldnt be allowed to do the oral examination, because he was not a direct beneficiary of the amount.

The court, in its ruling read by Justice Anin Yeboah, noted that though the amount in contention was colossal, no serious effort had been made to retrieve it, since the judgment was delivered two years ago, ordering the retrieval of the money.

And just after the judgment of the court had been delivered, businessman Woyome organised a press conference, the product of which was the occupation of the airwaves with some alleged contemptuous comments against the apex court of the land.

Mr. Woyome felt that the Supreme Court was fighting against him, saying: I think the Supreme Court is persecuting me, instead of prosecuting the law, as he appealed for the intervention of the Chief Justice.

I have not been given any hearing to evaluate my evidence, leading to a total shut of the door to justice on me. I am really being persecuted; I am being oppressed by the apex court now, he said, and described the stance of the Supreme Court as worrying.

The Chronicle is worried about the behaviour Mr Woyome has been putting up ever since the court gave Mr. Amidu the go-ahead to grill him.

Most of his comments, undeniably, are in bad taste, especially where he convinces himself that the Supreme Court is persecuting him. This is contemptuous, as assessed by some lawyers in the country.

The Chronicle reminds Mr. Woyome that, instead of engaging the media and the Ghanaian public by pouring out his frustrations, he should head to the courts if he thinks he has not been fairly treated.

Those tantrums will not in any way change the unanimous decision of the court. Mr Woyome should also be made to understand that as to whether there are forces behind the works of the Citizen Vigilante or not, Ghanaians do not care to know! What they need is their money being paid back.

At this point, what should occupy the mind of Mr. Woyome, The Chronicle holds, is how to convince the judges on the terms of payment. He should never lose sight of the fact that the citizens of this country are concerned about him paying the money back into government chest.

It is also a worthy cause to draw the attention of the parties to the task ahead of them being a legal battle, not a court of public opinion encounter.

And this is the very reason the paper wants to urge Mr. Woyome and Mr. Amidu to look nowhere, except to slug it out before the judges, who are equally worried about the state's disinterest in retrieving that huge amount of money.

Thats what Ghanaians are patiently waiting for!
Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP), taking inspiration from the constitution of Ghana and other legislations which recognises the role of the media and Civil Society Organisations/Community groupings as key stakeholders in our decentralisation and governance system organised a parliamentary debate Sunday evening, November 19,2016, at the Damongo Lorry Station.

The debate which was scheduled to feature four(4) parliamentary candidates had two of the candidates honouring and battling it out in the ideas of youth development.They are the incumbent MP and parliamentary candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) hon . Adam Mutawakilu and the candidate of the convention peoples party (CPP) Mr.Hamdal.

The two parliamentary candidates took their turn to address the youth on questions centred around youth empowerment and employment, youth-in-agriculture,education & health,youth-in-skills training and entrepreneurship and youth-in-local security and sustained peace promotion.

The incumbent MP and candidate of the NDC in responding to questions from the thematic areas reiterated the fact that if reelected,he was going to establish a Youth Development Fund with an annual Gh30,000.00 seed capital for youth development, entrepreneurship and skills training. The fund according to him will be fully owned and manged by the youth under strict auditing and oversight monitoring conditions.He equally pledged his continues support for the youth-interms of education, health, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, and that he was going to expand his Vegetables Farmers Association to cover as many youth as possible.

He challenged Damongo Youth Parliament to submit a working proposal to him for adoption and further action.

His contender from the CPP indicated that he was going to lead a youth revolution if elected.He will make sure the youth with support from DYP police the natural resources of the district,and that he was going to adopt Damongo Youth Parliament and introduce members through mentorship to the full structures of the parliament of Ghana. He also promised to acquire a plot of land and establish an office for Damongo Youth Parliament to operate from.

In a keynote address, the guest speaker, Most Rev . Dr . Clement Aapegnua challenged the youth to rise up and pursue their dreams. He cautioned the youth against election related violence and called on our leaders to have confidence in and invest in the youth.

The candidate of the NPP who could not honour the debate gave a rather later response to our invitation through his party secretary after several follow-ups of his inability to honour the debate because he had an emergency meeting to attend.The PPP candidate had indicated that he was away in Accra for other important schedules.

Damongo Youth Parliament was highly commended by all and sundry for the good initiative and works. The parliament was encouraged to sustain such efforts into the future.

The about three (3) hours debate was carried live on our own radio station-Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).
1. Policy of Trump-Led Administration Toward Africa Remains Unclear

(Bloomberg Intelligence) -- The policy of a U.S. administration led by President-elect Donald Trump toward Africa remains unclear, creating uncertainty for the economy of Sub Saharan Africa. But U.S. aid to the region is less important than that from the European Union and is unlikely to be a major sticking point for the new administration. The same applies for trade concessions under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Still, the

indirect impact from a radical shift in U.S. economic policy would be challenging for the continent.

Key Points:

U.S. Trade With Africa Unlikely to Be Policy Priority for Trump

U.S. Tariffs Against China May Hurt Demand for Africa's Exports

Less Aid to Africa From EU Is Greater Threat Than U.S. Cut

2. U.S. Trade With Africa Unlikely to Be Policy Priority for Trump

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), giving duty-free access to the U.S. for a range of exports from Sub-Saharan Africa, is unlikely to be a top priority for the incoming U.S. administration given that its impact on U.S. jobs is minimal. Oil accounts for the majority of shipments under AGOA, which has suffered from increased U.S. shale oil production. In addition, the $4 billion in non-oil shipments to the U.S. under the program equates to less than 1% of Sub-Saharan Africa's total exports. Africa Trade Hit by U.S. Shale Output

3. U.S. Tariffs Against China May Hurt Demand for Africa's Exports

Sub-Saharan exports to the U.S. have traditionally been dominated by oil and minerals with a higher share of agricultural and manufactured goods going to the EU. In addition, China and India have both emerged as more

important export destination than the U.S. in recent years. As such, if the U.S. imposes tariffs on imports from China that could have a bigger impact, through reduced demand for African commodities, than any loss of

preferential access to the U.S. market for African countries. Africa Exports More to China, India Than U.S.

4. Less Aid to Africa From EU Is Greater Threat Than U.S. Cut

Africa is arguably at greater threat from a reduction in foreign aid from the austerity-plagued EU than a more isolationist incoming U.S. administration led by president-elect Donald Trump. The U.S. is the largest bilateral

donor to Africa, giving on average $9.1 billion in Official Development Assistance in 2010-2014, with about 40% of that going to health care. But, the ODA aid from EU countries and institutions combined amounted to $22.7 on average every year in 2010-14, according to OECD statistics.
21.11.2016 LISTEN

On 4th July 1995, in an important legal precedent, the UK Supreme Court issued a verdict against AMNESTY at the time when only three weeks were left for the organization to conclude an intensive campaign against Sudan. The campaign  the Tears Of Orphans started on 25th January 1995 and continued until 31st July 1995. Based on narrations of Sudanese opposition, without making any field visit to Darfur, AMNESTY, eventually, issued its report  The Tears of Orphan  which was prepared in its Headquarters in London.

Therefore, the report of the Amnesty was published from Londons main office without visiting Sudan as the organization turned down the invitation made by the then Sudanese Minister of Justice Abdulaziz Shiddo. The publication of the report was orchestrated with similar publications in Kenya and South Africa.

The UK Supreme Court issued its verdict on 4th of July 1995 that Amnesty is banned from using British broadcasting. The ruling of the court came after 32 years of establishment of the international organization. However, despite court verdict, AMNESTY is still reveling by using the international service of the British Broadcasting which is funded by the British Government, namely Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amnesty, illegally, broadcasts programs directed at its international audience while its domestic British audience neither listen nor watch it. Additionally, the organization intensively uses British printed media.

BBC international service has never been away from this debacle; Amnesty international has frequently used the service to diffuse political propaganda and deliver its messages against political opponents all over the world using both radio and TV.. It may not be a surprise to many that the list of the British Government opponents is the same list as Amnesty opponents.

The courts ruling against Amnesty was well received by British newspapers; Daily Telegraph, Times and the Independent published stories in their 5th July 1995 issues, while the Independent published a legal OPED on 1st of August 1995, in which it endorsed the supreme courts ruling against Amnesty.

Amnesty was established in 1963, during the cold war era (1945-1991). Its Headquarters is in London, the United Kingdom while it has 8000 branches in 70 countries in the world. It receives support from UK and British NGOs, western countries and western NGOs as well. This is why UK and its European allies hastily support, and even adopt, reports of the organization. So, when Amnesty published its 29th September 2016 report accusing Sudanese government of using chemical weapon in Darfur, they adopted the report and became part of the campaign against Sudan.

As Amnesty enjoys observer status in the United Nations, it receives support from the international body. It has also a declared political partnership with the British foreign office during the tenure of Minister Robin Cook.

The recent report of Amnesty on Darfur is just part of the British negative role against Sudan. The recently disclosed type of nexus between Amnesty and the British Government reveals that the former was originally a clandestine intelligence organ affiliated to the latter. Amnesty is a British clone of the American National Endowment for Democracy which preceded Amnesty in working under the umbrella of the State Department. Therefore, Amnesty is not just a pressure group; it is, in essence a British Intelligence organization which is a part of the Government decision making system.
21.11.2016 LISTEN

The very respectable English University of Cambridge has resorted to the discredited argument of security of artefacts in Nigeria for its hesitation or refusal to return a looted Benin artefact.

The Benin Cockerel above was looted by the British invasion army in 1897 during their notorious Punitive Expedition in which they stole 3500 Benin artefacts from the palace of the Oba of Benin.

Readers will no doubt recall that a few months ago, because of student agitation, the University of Cambridge was said to be considering the return of a looted Benin artefact, Okukor, the so-called Benin Cockerel, to its rightful owners in Benin, Nigeria. It has now been reported that the venerable university is reluctant or hesitant about the wisdom of returning the Benin treasure to Benin since such an artefact is likely to be stolen again. (1)

We have in several articles demonstrated that this pseudo-argument about the security of returned looted artefacts is untenable. (2) The argument based on the supposed security or lack of it does not sit well at all when advanced by looters or their successors. They should, in all honesty, be ashamed even to think of advancing such an argument or excuse in view of the history of the Benin Bronzes. The whole world now knows by now that the British stole, or if you prefer, looted some 3500 precious treasures in 1897, during their invasion of Benin which had refused to submit to British imperialist domination. Resistance to British hegemony resulted in the punishment meted to the people of Benin by the notorious Punitive Expedition of 1897 which looted artefacts, killed innocent women and children and burnt down Benin City. There is something perverse about looters refusing to return stolen goods by alleging that they would be stolen again. Whom do they expect to steal again these artefacts which Western museums illegally detain and refuse to return to the owner, the Oba of Benin? Whom will the thieves be working for?

As we have often stated, looters have no standing to complain or worry about the future security of looted objects they hold. A thief who has stolen my Mercedes Benz can surely not argue that my garage is not secure and that he has better and secure facilities, for the objects in question as well as for other looted objects he is holding.

The laws and customs of Benin do not provide a supervisory role in the protection of artefacts for the University of Cambridge and other illegal holders or looters of Benin artefacts.

Besides, who looked after the Benin Bronzes for hundreds of years before the British invading army stole them in 1897?

Members of the nefarious Punitive Expedition of 1897 posing proudly with their looted Benin artefacts.

We do not know whether the attitude of the University of Cambridge is influenced by the resurgent extremism, fuelled by arrogance and racism, that seems to be prevailing in many Western States. We would of course expect the venerable university to stay above such prevailing currents, especially when they are based on ignorance or disregard of historical facts. But the resort to the discredited argument of security leaves us wondering.

As the Cambridge students agitation seemed to be successful, we were informed that the Nigerian Commission for Museums and Monuments(NCMM) was in contact with the student agitators and that the Commission regarded the students victory as a confirmation of its policy of quiet diplomacy. (3) Is the Commission still in touch with the students? Has the Commission been in contact with the Cambridge authorities too? Has the Commission objected to the discredited and insulting argument about Nigerians not being able to protect returned looted artefacts when indeed hardly any looted artefacts have been returned to Nigeria by Western cultural institutions, as distinguished from routine customs and police seizures of illegal transfers?

Queen-Mother Idia, Benin, Nigeria, now in captivity in British Museum, London, United Kingdom. The symbol of Pan-African culture the British Museum refuses to return to Nigeria.

Surely, our sense of justice should tell us that a looter or his successor cannot be the final judge in determining the conditions under which a looted object should be returned to its rightful owner. In the present case, Captain George William Neville, a looter from the 1897 Benin looters, bequeathed the cockerel, Okukor, to Jesus College, Cambridge where his son had been a student. Thus, the university received the stolen artefact from the looter, knowing that it had been looted. The university cannot have more rights than the original thief.

Kwame Tua Opoku.

NOTES

1. Cambridge under pressure to return looted Benin bronze ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/08/cambridge-under-pressure-to...

Jesus under renewed pressure to return looted bronze cockerel

www.varsity.co.uk/news

2. K. Opoku, Would western museums return looted objects if Nigeria and other African States were ruled by angels?...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../would-western-museums-retur.

My views on the security argument are summarized in K. Opoku, Compromise on the restitution of the Benin Bronzes? Comments on article by Prof. John Picton on restitution of Benin artefacts

With regard to this repeated argument about lack of secure facilities in Nigeria and elsewhere, we should bear the following in mind:

a) We are all in favour of secure museums and nobody contests the fact that Nigeria could, and must, improve the conditions of its museums.

b) Stealing from museums is, unfortunately, a practice which occurs everywhere in the world, including the so-called developed countries of the West. Museum Security Network and other internet sites report daily and often hourly, of numerous art thefts in Britain, France, Netherlands and Germany. There are other reports showing that American museums are not secured against fire and water damages.

c) Those Nigerian artefacts that have not been looted by the British or stolen by those encouraged by the Western market, are well cared for as demonstrated in the recent Ife exhibition.

d) All stolen/looted African and other artefacts end up in Western museums or private collections in the West. Is there a link here? Added to this is the preaching of false prophets who argue that the West has a right, if not a duty, to purchase artefacts irrespective of their provenance.

e) The argument on security and facilities could be used to keep forever the looted artefacts of others. Since when is it acceptable that those who have looted artefacts of others can set themselves up as judges and decide that the original owners are not worthy of the objects because they do not have adequate and secure facilities?

f) Does the absence of security and adequate facilities mean then that Nigerians and others are not to continue their cultural development and practices since whatever they have created or create could be detained in the West with the security and facilities argument?

g) When the people of Benin and elsewhere request the return of their looted artefacts, they do so, not on the basis of the facilities they have but simply by virtue of their rights of ownership which even the opponents of restitution do not deny.

h) The questions of ownership must be strictly separated from any other question such as that of security which may be related but cannot be used to negate ownership rights.

i) We have not heard a single Western State or museum declare that they are willing to return Benin objects if Nigeria/Benin had adequate facilities. The issue of facilities is brought up as a supplementary argument to support the determination not to return the artefacts.

j) No system of justice could function correctly by allowing wrongdoers to negate its fundamental principles and rights by virtue of their wrongdoing.

The persistent debate on restitution continues basically because of greed and the desire to control others.

3. K. Opoku, What are they really celebrating at the Musee du Quai Branly, Paris? https://www.modernghana.com/news/689178/what-are-they-really...
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will hold its regional rally at the Tamale Jubilee Park, Tuesday November 22, 2016.

The party's Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia among other party bigwigs are to address the event.

The outspoken NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu ahead of the event at a news conference on Monday said adequate arrangements have been made to make the event successful.

According to him, party supporters from all 31 constituencies in the region will attend the rally.

He cautioned jubilant supporters especially motorcycle riders against radicalism.

He disclosed that about 150 police personnel would be deployed to the rally ground to guarantee maximum security.

He asserted that the rally would disintegrate the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) propaganda in the Northern Region.

Daniel Bugri Naabu anticipated that the NPP could win 25 out of the 31 Parliamentary seats in the region.

He mentioned the eastern corridor, Mamprugu land and Gonjaland as areas where the NPP could win more seats to increase the already 10 secured ones.

The NPP Northern Regional Secretary, Sule Salifu insinuated that President John Dramani Mahama has disappointed Ghanaians especially northerners for which reason the NDC does not deserve a second term.

Northern politicians must demonstrate to the whole world that they are capable of handling affairs when they are giving the opportunity and I believe all of us will agree to the fact that Dr. Bawumia has demonstrated that he is a man of competence.

He touted Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia as a shinning northern star with international stardom.

In this country, the NDC does not fear anybody in terms of intellectual debate than Dr. Bawumia. Dr. Bawumia will not insult anybody, Dr. will not say things he cannot prove, Dr. will not say anything he doesn't have evidence because the evidence is always available before Dr. Bawumia speaks so the NDC fears him.

The number of questions he has asked the NDC to answer have not been answered and how many are we left into the elections, he asked.

Sule Salifu condemned what he described as President Mahama's tribal campaigns saying, Once you are a northerner and you have demonstrated that you are competent I believe that the Ghanaians will give you the opportunity to govern.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
During the past two weeks, Ghana has witnessed political violence between the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in three separate incidents.

By the medias count, at least nine have been injured. This should be worrying. Ghanaians go to the polls barely 17 days.

The NPP and the NDC clashed right in front of the residence of the NPP presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo two Sundays ago.

Since then at two more clashes have been reported last Sunday. First in the Asokore in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region and later in the Ketu South Constituency in the Volta Region.

The incident at Asokore in the Eastern region was particularly bloody.

See photos below



-Myjoyonline
By Laudia Sawer, GNA

Tema, Nov 20, GNA - Mr Nenyi Pobee Sam, Tema Central parliamentary candidate for the Convention People's Party (CPP), says phe will be the voice of all residents when voted as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area.

Mr Sam speaking to the Ghana News Agency said, the constituency currently had nobody talking on its behalf even though it had an MP.

'Am appealing to the electorate to consider voting for me as the MP, and I will restore the voice', he said.

He stated that even though the incumbent MP, Mr Kofi Brako, who is seeking re-election had embarked on some personal projects in the constituency, his voice was conspicuously missing in lobbying for developmental projects for the area.

According to him, he would score the sitting MP's performance, four out of ten, since he had failed to fully speak for the residents of Tema Central.

He said Tema was the heartbeat of the CPP and therefore, he with the support of the party, would ensure that defunct companies and industries established by Dr Kwame Nkrumah would be revived through public private partnerships.

The revival of these companies, he noted, would provide the numerous unemployed youth in Tema Central with jobs to do.

Mr Sam indicated that he would also create additional jobs through the planting of high yielding coconut trees along the streets of Tema Central.

He explained that the coconut which could be harvested within eight months, could be sold by residents to earn some income.

Mr Sam announced that an MP's secretariat would be established by him to research and collate data on the available job openings and other opportunities in the area and subsequently connect skilled unemployed people to them.

He further stated that he would use his personal income to establish a purified water production factory for Persons Living With Disability in his constituency.

The CPP candidate said he would present the product (Challenge Water) from that factory to parliament and lobby for its usage during official functions.

He also promised to build a four-storey building to house the increasing number of squatters scattered in the constituency.

The squatters, he said, would be required to pay a small fee to use the facility explaining that the amount would be used to maintain the structure.

On sanitation, the parliamentary candidate stated that he would zone the communities in Tema Central and establish a fund which would be used to manage the sanitation situation.

According to him, the fund would be managed by a committee headed by him with members drawn from religious establishments, educational institutions and other stakeholders in the communities.

Mr Sam said he would put a seed money of 100 cedis into the said fund and community members would be levied to pay between two and ten cedis which would be used to purchase tricycles to convey refuse from houses to a mini transfer station and subsequently to the Kpone landfill site.

On education, he gave the assurance that a mathematics and science clinic would be established in the Constituency and help of renowned mathematics teachers would be sought for students in the area.

He explained this would boost the interest of students in the subjects as well as help schools in Tema Central to score better grades in the BECE and WASSCE.

Mr Sam said when elected the MP, he would interact with management of Tema General Hospital which is located in the constituency and seek support from companies to better resource the facility.

The CPP candidate is a 39-year old trained marketing officer, who is not married and has no children.

Mr Sam, who is the founder of Planters Prayer Cathedral in Tema, is determined to win about 70 per cent of the votes to be cast in Tema Central during the December 7 general election.

He is contesting the seat with the incumbent MP, Mr Kofi Brako of the NPP and Miss Ebi Bright of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

GNA
For more than 60 years, Hoards Dairyman readers could rely on a good laugh facilitated by the tip of Chuck Stiles pen. His Ed and Emma cartoon series was one of the longest running cartoons in the world running in Hoards Dairyman from 1953 to 2015. Along the way, Stiles charmed the magazines readers as they joined in the adventures of the two signature characters he created  Ed and Emma.

The long-time cartoonists relationship with Hoards Dairyman began in a most inconspicuous way. Stiles was waiting at a taxi stand in Washington D.C. and happened to pick up a copy of Hoards Dairyman from a little table. He mailed Hoards Dairyman editor Bill Knox a letter and a dozen or so cartoons. That 1951 letter resulted in a few Stiles' cartoons appearing in the magazine. The first versions of his cartoons in 1952 depicted a married couple discussing various topics related to dairy. In 1953, the cartoon characters received the names Ed and Emma along with their home across from the editorial comments.

The rest is history.

At the end of October, Hoards Dairyman lost a great friend when Stiles passed away peacefully at the age of 95 following a long career in newspaper and art.

Stiles was raised in a small North Dakota town where his interest in drawing and newspaper was born. His father was a country newspaper printer, and it was at his feet that Stiles got his start. In a 2002 Hoards Dairyman article, Stiles recalled helping with the newspaper by pasting labels on to the newspapers before hauling them to the post office in his little red wagon.

During World War II, Stiles served in the Joint Assault Signal Corp that directed naval gunfire during the Pacific Campaign. A Bronze Star medal for meritorious service acknowledged his service as a Sergeant during the campaign.

Following the war, Stiles attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago for a year on the GI bill. He then chose to return to his newspaper roots working for a string of different newspapers in North Dakota, Washington, and California. He spent the largest portion of his career at Riverside Press Enterprise in Riverside, Calif.

His side job, creating agricultural cartoons, is the one that won the hearts of Hoards Dairyman readers. Ed and Emma was one of Stiles' proudest accomplishments as he penned every single one of the more than 1,400 cartoons himself. To come up with content for the cartoons, he relied heavily on his experiences growing up in rural North Dakota as well as ideas spurred from reading the pages of Hoard's Dairyman.



























During the 62 years that Ed and Emma ran, every issue featured a new episode. Nearly every installment of the cartoon showed Ed on the left and Emma on the right as Ed was often depicted making a remark and Emma a truthful, yet not sarcastic, retort.

Stiles said he was careful to avoid sarcasm in Emma's responses as he found readers didnt enjoy the sarcasm as much. The imaging of the cartoon was especially important to Stiles, and he made sure to make the drawing a focal point.

Perhaps Stiles storied cartoon career was best summarized in a quote he provided for the 2002 Hoards Dairyman article, I look at life and smile. Thats the motto I live by, Stiles said. If somewhere out there someone who was once miserable is made happy, then it is all worthwhile.

Thanks, dear friend, for all the smiles and laughs you brought to our team and our readers.

The author is an associate editor. She covers feeding and nutrition, youth activities and heads up the World Dairy Expo Supplement. Maggie was raised on a 150-cow dairy near Valley Center, Kansas, and graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in agricultural communications and animal sciences.




By Maxwell Awumah, GNA

Hohoe, Nov. 21, GNA - The world's first malaria vaccine immunisation campaign is to commence in 2018 and funds for the phase one of the pilot deployment of the vaccine in Sub Saharan Africa had been secured.

A release by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the Ghana News Agency said the assurance comes after the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had approved 15 million dollars for the malaria vaccine pilot, assuring full funding for the first phase of the programme.

The vaccine, known as Mosquirix or RTS,S and developed by the British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, is only partially effective and needs to be given in a four-dose schedule.

It was developed in partnership with the non-profit PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The WHO said while the new vaccine was promising it should be deployed only on a pilot basis before any wide-scale use was given its limited efficacy.

Pedro Alonso, the Director of the WHO's Global Malaria Programme, said: "Securing funding and being able to trial the vaccine in Africa would be a milestone in the fight against malaria.

"These pilot projects will provide the evidence we need from real-life settings to make informed decisions on whether to deploy the vaccine on a wide scale".

Earlier this year, the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and UNITAID announced commitments of up to 27.5 million dollars and 9.6 million dollars respectively for the first four years of the programme.

Malaria infects around 200 million people a year worldwide and killed an estimated 440,000 in 2015. The vast majority of malaria deaths are among babies in sub-Saharan Africa.

GNA
By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA

Kumasi, Nov 21, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Alhassan Yakubu, has urged the political parties to overcome intolerance to end the episode of doomsday hysteria.

He said it was important for them to get right with the law and to demonstrate genuine commitment to the peace, unity and stability of the nation.

There should be absolutely no reason for Ghanaians to live in fear and uncertainty over the choice of who should lead them, he added.

Mr. Yakubu was speaking at a forum held at Old Tafo in Kumasi to aid the people to have better understanding of the electoral laws and what they should not do on voting day.

The programme, jointly organized by the NCCE and the Small Arms Commission, brought together representatives of the political parties, traditional and religious leaders and youth groups.

The NCCE Director's call comes amid reported nasty clashes between supporters of the two major parties - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in parts of the country.

He asked that everybody used the appropriate channels to get their grievances addressed, telling them that, taking the law into their own hands was not the right thing to do.

Mr. Yakubu warned that lawlessness and impunity could only throw the nation into turmoil.

He also underlined the need for all to respect the outcome of the ballot in good faith.

He counseled voters not to carry any offensive weapons to the polling centres on voting day and said any offender would be arrested to face the law.

Mr. Jones Applerh, Executive Secretary of the Small Arms Commission, said its research conducted in 2014 showed that many people were buying weapons for fear of being attacked.

He said that could pose real threat to the security of the nation in the event of an election conflict and this was something that all needed to work together to avoid.

He called for responsible conduct to dial down tension as the nation readied to go to the polls.

GNA
By Iddi Yire, GNA

Anyinam (E/R), Nov. 21, GNA - The Blue Cross Foundation has urged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to facilitate passage of policies that seek to promote the welfare of the aged in the country.

Ms Faustina Gyimah, the Founder of the Blue Cross Foundation, bemoaned the plight of some of the aged in the country due to neglect from their families and communities.

She said the Foundation's objectives were to create the awareness on the need to give back to society, particularly to the elderly.

Ms Gyimah made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the weekend during a medical outreach programme held at Anyinam in the Eastern Region.

The exercise, which registered 650 residents, was supported by Pharmanova Limited, Alive Pharmaceutical, M & G Pharmaceutical, Shalina Pharmaceutical, Radio 1, Ahotor FM and Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

It was conducted by a medical team comprising pharmacists, doctors and nurses drawn from the Kwabeng Health Care, Bonsu Cocoa Clinic and Healthline Medical, Anyinam.

Ms Gyimah said the beneficiaries of the exercise were taken through hypertension, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and malaria tests, and offered free medication as well as educating participants on the importance of living healthy.

She said the Foundation had embarked on a number of such programmes in the Greater Accra Region, particularly within the deprived communities, as it planned to organise more medical outreach programmes across the country.

'I'm appealing to all benevolent individuals, churches and organisations who are concerned about the aged to financially support the activities of Blue Cross Foundation' she said.

Ms Gyimah appealed to pharmaceutical companies to support the worthy course adding; 'caring for the aged and the vulnerable in society is a social responsibility'.

She said the Foundation and its partners would embark on a similar health screening exercise at the weekend at Kyebi in the Atiwa East Constituency.

Mr Foster Asante, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Atiwa East, said issues relating to health were one of the constituency's major challenges and that there was the need for people to periodically check their health status.

He said most of the people were engaged in farming activities and so had no time to undergo the various tests being conducted by the medical team.

Mr Asante expressed excitement over the success of the programme and commended all sponsors and participants for the enthusiasm.

He urged Ghanaians to develop interest in regular health check-ups in order to safeguard their health.

He said he would partner with Healthline Medical to embark on similar initiatives that focused on preventive healthcare than curative healthcare.

GNA
By Dennis Peprah, GNA

Wenchi, (B/A), Nov. 21, GNA - Mr Richard Kwadwo Adu, the Wenchi Constituency Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has admonished the youth to come out in their numbers and vote for the Party in the December 7, polls.

He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Wenchi that the high youth unemployment should be enough reason for the youth to vote against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the general election.

Mr Adu who is the assemblyman for Ntoase in the Wenchi Municipality indicated that voting was not only a civic responsibility, but an opportunity for the youth to partake in decision making processes.

He said the NDC had shown it had no regard for and failed the youth in all areas, saying the level of frustrations and desperations the youth had endured under the government was too much to bear.

Mr Adu expressed discomfort that policies such as the Youth Employment Programme, Free Maternal Healthcare, National Health Insurance and the Mass Cocoa Spraying exercise introduced by the NPP had virtually collapsed.

He advised the electorate not to be swayed by partisan politics but look into their socio-economic condition and vote on merit in the general election.

Mr Adu said it was only an NPP government that could make life easier for the ordinary Ghanaian, and entreated the electorate to vote for the party in the elections,

GNA
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Tarkwa(W/R), Nov. 21, GNA - The National Democratic Congress(NDC)Parliamentary Candidate for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mr Seth Kwame Dzokoto has asked the electorate to vote for him, in order to continue with his developmental initiatives and humanitarian gestures.

He said the electorate must see in him as a symbol of hope to push for more developmental projects and better their living conditions.

Mr Dzokoto, who is a popular actor in the film industry, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that though he was not a Member of Parliament yet, he was using his popularity and connections to lobby for more development to the Constituency.

He said he had lobbied for an asphalt overlay for Tarkwa township, which had beautified the area and given the municipal capital, a face lift.

The NDC Parliamentary Candidate said he had also written to the Lordina Foundation to procure medical items for the Nsuaem hospital which was in dire need of such items.

Mr Dzokoto added that he had facilitated the release of 12,000 electricity reading meters and secured street lights from the Ministry of Power for many communities to beef up security especially during the night.

He said he applied for the expansion of electricity at in Nsuaem and Kinako communities due to the rapid socio-economic development of those areas.

He said the construction of a bus terminal for the Adeiso community was also underway as well as the construction of boreholes and reservoirs for 10 communities in the area.

Touching on his passion for sports, Mr Dzokoto said he had secured jerseys for every community in the Constituency in a bid to unearth their innate capabilities and also improve their physical fitness.

He appealed to people in the Municipality to consider all that he had started for the area and give him their mandate to articulate their concerns in Parliament.

GNA
With the increasing reports of clashes between political party supporters, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Ablekuma North, Sally Amaki Darko Attopee, has urged her supporters to shun any acts of violence.

Supports of the NDC and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have clashed across the country most notably in Wulensi, New Juaben, Odododiodio and at the residence of the NPP flagbearers residence at Nima.

But Mrs. Attopee implored the NDC supporters in her constituency to put peace above everying else.

I urge the youth to stay calm during and after the elections, in Ablekuma North and the entire country. Peace is a gem on which development is fashioned, she said in her letter.

Mrs. Attopee also assured that she is committed to accepting the outcome of polls in a free and fair election.

She will be looking to win the Ablekuma North seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who will be represented by to Nana Akua Owusu-Afriyie, onetime Ablekuma North Constituency Women Organiser of the NPP.

Find below her letter to her supporters

Dear Comrades,

Weve been on the campaign trail for unending weeks. Weve brought you the good news of President John Dramani Mahama, The NDC and also The NDC-Ablekuma North. As we enter the fifteenth day mark, I would want to thank every supporter that has worked hard to bring positive change to Ablekuma North, by campaigning, coming for rallies, walks and contributing in cash and kind. I pray that God replenishes you.

I Sally Amaki Darko Attopee, trust that Ablekuma North has come of age; with the ability to see the deplorable conditions in which we live and the courage to make a change that weve waited 20years to herald. Look at how your houses flood, look at your roads, look at how inaccessible your MP has been and vote for Sally to bring you the best.

As a career teacher and a mother, I appreciate the ingenuity of the Ghanaian youth; I understand the energy that they possess and the impact they have. I urge the youth to stay calm during and after the elections, in Ablekuma North and the entire country. Peace is a gem on which development is fashioned.

Come the 7th of December 2016, go out and vote for number 3 on the presidential ballot, vote for Sally Amaki Darko-Attopee in Ablekuma North and vote for the NDC. I am committed to accepting the outcome of polls in a free and fair election.

God bless the NDC, God Bless Ablekuma North, God bless John Mahama and God bless Ghana.

Yours in service, Sally Amaki Darko Attope, Aka Madam Tilapia



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Eastern Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has rubbished claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2016 flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, that the party has made significant gains in the NDC's strongholds in the region.

According to the NDC, although the NPP flagbearer is an indigene, that is not enough grounds for residents to vote for him in the upcoming elections.

The Eastern Regional Director of Communications for the NDC, Jamal Koneh, told Citi News in that the NDC is sure of winning 50 per cent of the votes in the region.

He [Akufo-Addo], comes from this region, but as an indigene or somebody who comes from the Eastern Region, you are welcomed with a demonstration or a group of people who demonstrate against your arrival then that is even an indictment on you.

Nana Akufo-Addo has spent the last few days in the Eastern Region urging the people to vote out the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and vote in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

While in the region, he visited constituencies considered NDC safe seats such as Lower Manya Krobo and the Afram Plains, with the aim of whittling down the NDCs support base.

But Jamal Koneh says the NDC's plans to split the Eastern Region votes equally are on course.

'Vote out Mahama for economic mismanagement'

Nana Addo has said President Mahama has displayed he is inability to manage the country's economy hence plunging Ghanaians into serious difficulties.

His running mate, Dr. Bawumia, has also criticized government for what he describes as unbridled borrowing and unnecessary spending.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @jnyabor
Anti-corruption campaigner, Martin Alamisi Amidu, should have been put in the witness box to proof why he thinks President John Mahama was behind government's discontinuance of an oral examination of Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the man behind the controversial GHc51 million judgment.

A member of the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) legal team, Abraham Amaliba, said this in an interview with Citi News.

This is the same allegation that Martin Amidu could not substantiate. I was of the view that Martin Amidu should have been kept in the witness box for him to prove this allegation that the President had authorized the Attorney General not to cross examine Woyome, that for me could have been a perfect situation but he was left of the hock, he said.

Mr. Amaliba made the comment in response to claims by Mr. Amidu that the President was intimidating him ahead of his oral examination of Woyome.

Mr. Amidu was last week granted permission by the Supreme Court to examine the businessman after the Attorney General (AG) discontinued the case to quiz Mr. Woyome on the judgment debt saga despite serving an earlier notice.

The anti-corruption campaigner, who is also a former Attorney General, had prior to the Supreme Court's ruling accused the president of personally directing the AG to discontinue the case.

In his latest outburst, he has also accused President John Mahama of intimidating him ahead of the oral examination.

The conduct of the President convinces me as a senior and foundation member of the governing NDC, that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the examination orally on oath of the lootee for whom his Government looted the public purse, may not come on 24th November 2016, he said in his latest epistle.

But Amaliba argued that,Mr. Amidu is going on that tangent in a bid to pitch Ghanaians against the President ahead of the elections.

For me, I think that it is much ado about nothing, it is about his crusade to get the President Mahama removed from office. And he made that clear last week when he said that the only way we could get this money back is to vote President Mahama out, and in furtherance of that, he is throwing in all manner of things and thinking that the people will consume it; but the people are discerning.

Court strikes out Martin Amidu's 'false claim' against Mahama

The Supreme Court in its ruling also dismissed Amidu's claim that President Mahama personally ordered the discontinuation of the application by the Attorney General to examine Woyome.

Background

Alfred Woyome was paid 51 million after he claimed that he helped Ghana to raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.

However an Auditor General's report released in 2010, said the amount was paid illegally to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier.

The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back 51 million fraudulently taken from the state, after Mr. Martin Amidu, a former Attorney General challenged the legality of the judgment debt paid the businessman, Waterville, and Isofoton.

Following delays in retrieving the money, the Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court's judgment ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state.

Woyome prevents officials from valuing residence

Mr. Woyome in April 2016 prevented officials of the Attorney General's Department and the Lands Commission from having access to his Kpehe residence for valuation.

The move was part of a directive from the Supreme Court to retrieve monies illegally paid to him.

But Woyome resisted the move, saying the planned valuation was illegal. Mr. Woyome had earlier won the criminal prosecution that sought to imprison him for the offence.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Sociology of the University of Ghana, Professor Kodjo A. Senah says the canker of lateness in the Ghanaian society can be curbed if effective systems are put in place.

According to him, "if we have efficient public transport system, good roads, and other effective alternative systems of transportation, the problem of lateness can be solved".

Prof Senah made this known at the maiden Mini Timekeeping Dialogue series held at the Columbian Ambassador's Residence in Accra to discuss and find possible ways of improving Timekeeping in Ghana.

The Timekeeping initiative is being implemented in partnership with Transformational Leadership Concepts (TLC) Ghana, an NGO; Gelis Communications Ltd, a communications consultancy; and Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA), a media and business advocacy group.

He therefore urged authorities in the country to start putting measures in place to address the systemic challenges which cause lateness in the country.

Prof Senah who spoke on the topic ' Timekeeping in Ghana: A Socio-cultural Analysis' maintained: "Systems have a way of swallowing. We can curb lateness if we also start programs on time and if the organisers are late we walkout or demand our money".

"We need to be radical in our thinking to enable us change our poor timekeeping habit", he stated.

Prof Senah who is also a renowned Medical Anthropologist however debunked the long-held notion that lateness is in the Ghanaian DNA.

Tracing the genesis of lateness, he wondered why as a nation we do not have national discourse on time management which is the art of arranging, organizing, scheduling, and budgeting ones time for the purpose of generating more effective work and productivity.

The habit of poor time management or timekeeping has cut deep into the fabric of the Ghanaian society and even among its top officials like, the Executive, judiciary, legislature and the private sector.

Prof Senah said the person, environment and the concept of time were the major issues when it comes to the timekeeping, empasising: "Traditionally, we reckon time en block".

"Timekeeping was not part of our tradition. But with our contact with the Europeans made us to reckon time", he argued.

The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng who is a founding partner of the initiative noted: The amount of resources that are wasted due to lateness runs into billions of cedis in money terms. People who are late to work are obviously not working because they are not at work.

But they are also preventing other people from working, because almost every work depends on other kinds of input or belongs to a chain that becomes incomplete or less effective if part of it goes missing. This is a loss the country suffers every day, he said.

Mr Gyan-Apenteng added that; "lateness is a hidden drain on our political, economic, cultural and social fabrics and it is prudent for us to take definite actions to improve the situation and turn this debilitating national malaise around.

The Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA), Prof Atukwei Okai and Columbian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Mrs Claudia Torbay pledged their unflinching supports to ensure that lateness is uprooted in the Ghanaian society.

The Executive Director of TLC Ghana, Mr. Emmanuel J. A. Fiagbenu used the occasion to announce the other phases of the timekeeping campaign. "We started the socio-cultural dialogue. The next phases will be to look into lateness between the male and the female genders, the economic impact of lateness, among others", he stated.

Mr Fiagbenu explained that the initiative was launched to improve the chronic lateness and the lack of respect for time in the country.

As we all know, almost every event that happens in this country starts late. People do not respect time in business, in the public sector, social activities and in their personal initiatives. We all have to work together to improve the timekeeping situation in Ghana, he added.

The Timekeeping Initiative is targeted at policy makers, media, legislators, politicians, teachers, professional people, traders, men, women, children, and the youth.

The monthly seminar is to enable speakers to do diagnosis of the problem and address the issue from different perspective whilst working towards a national dialogue during which all shades of opinions will be represented and every voice heard. The national dialogue will then propose collective recommendations and actions towards a national campaign.

The underlying motive for the Time conference is self-evident; no country can achieve its objectives when almost every event, including routinely scheduled activities, start late.

National leaders throughout this nations life have spoken against the countrys apparent lack of time consciousness but to no avail. Although this is a critical issue, it had never received any attention at the national level until it was launched in March 2016 by TLC and its partners.

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Kigali (AFP) - The Catholic Church in Rwanda has again asked for forgiveness "for all Christians" implicated in the 1994 genocide that killed around 800,000, the head of the country's bishops commission said Monday.

A letter of apology signed by the bishops representing the nine dioceses in Rwanda, a copy of which AFP received, had been read in all churches on Sunday marking the end of the Holy Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis.

"We ask for forgiveness for all Christians who were involved in the genocide," said the bishops commission president Philippe Rukamba, recalling that the Church had already called for understanding in 2000.

The bishop added however that the Church was seeking forgiveness for individuals and not for the institution as such. "The Church did not participate in the genocide," he said.

That comment came after Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said on Twitter late Sunday: "The Catholic Church of Rwanda apologises for its role in the 1994 genocide, 22 years later! Better late than never!"

Since the genocide, whose victims were mostly from the Tutsi minority, the Catholic Church has been accused of being close to the Hutu extremist regime in power in 1994 and some of its priests and other clergy were implicated in the massacres.

A number of churches became scenes of mass killings as the Hutu militiamen found people seeking refuge there, sometimes turned over by the priests, with no way out.

Several Catholic priests as well as nuns and brothers were charged with participating in the genocide and tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and by a Belgian court, leading to some convictions while others were acquitted of the charges.

The highest-ranking Church official to be tried for genocide was the late bishop Augustin Misago, who was acquitted and freed from prison in June 2000.

During the 20th anniversary commemorations in April 2014, Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused the Catholic Church of having "participated fully" in establishing the colonial ideology that created the divide between Hutus and Tutsis which he claimed led to the genocide.

Around half of Rwandans are Catholic, but since the genocide many of them have turned to pentecostal churches.
Over the weekend, while campaigning in the Upper West Region, the President of Ghana and leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), His Excellency John Dramani Mahama opted to use very ethnocentric and divisive campaign language.

The President, while addressing party supporters in Lawra as part of his campaign tour of the Region, made comments to suggest that the New Patroitic Party (NPP) only uses northerners to win power and dump them afterwards.

The President alleged that if vice-presidential candidate of the NPP Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia decides to contest as presidential candidate in the NPP, he is likely to be rejected by the party .

He then went on to cite the NPP presidential race in 2008 in which 16 other candidates contested the then vice-president of the erstwhile President Kuffour administration, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, for the Presidential candidacy of the party.

President Mahama also allged that unlike the NPP, the NDC gives everyone the chance to ascend to the high office including northerners and it is that opportunity in the NDC that has made it possible for him to become president after the demise of the late President, John Evans Atta Mills.

The MFWA considers the comments of President Mahama highly divisive and unfortunate and condemns same in no uncertain terms. As a leader of the country, President Mahama is expected to act in ways that will unite rather than divide the people of this country.

The MFWA therefore calls on the President to publicly apologise for his comments. We take this opportunity to urge other political figures to avoid the use of hate speech, ethnocentric and divisive comments in their political campaigns.
Embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome says he holds no grudge against the former president Jerry John Rawlings for calling him a thief in a judgement debt scandal.

The NDC financier said the former President who is a friend would not have come to that conclusion if he was made aware of the full facts of the case.

President Rawlings in March 2015, described Woyome as a thief despite a High Court ruling that said the businessman was not guilty in any criminal conduct when he pocketed GHC51.2m as a judgement debt payment.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings was of the belief that state officials acted in concert to help free Woyome of any crime.

"I just read that the thief called Woyome had been freed. Why? Because his accomplices [Betty Mould and one other person] who were in government were not produced in court for vital evidence to incriminate him. Rawlings said.

Speaking on Joy News channel The Pulse Monday, Woyome blamed the media for the greatly misinforming the public since the scandal broke in 2011.

He said the media for five years having mounted a vilification "concert" against him every day "including Sunday". He condemned journalist for insisting that the payment was illegal.

According to him, the court said it was unconstitutional but not illegal because he obtained judgement for the payment through a court of competent jurisdiction,the High Court.

It was the Supreme court which held that because per the constutition Woyome's agreement with the state was not approved by parliament, the subsequent payment for his services could not be grounded in law.

Alfred Woyome also said the Supreme Court which ordered him to pay back the money was also misled to come to the conclusion that they did in July 2014.

According to Woyome, the money was lawfully owed him and he has the right to spend it the way he deems fit.

The state had began a process to question him in court about his assets in a bid to help retreive the money.

But the state in a u-turn declined to do so explaining that it had reached an agreement on a payment plan hence there was no immediate need to orally examine Woyome.

But former Attorney-General who won judgment against Woyome in 2014 to pay back the money, took up the opportunity to do the state's work.

The Supreme Court granted his application last week Thursday and set November 24 for the highly-anticipated showdown.

Woyome stressed in the interview with Joy News' Francis Abban that has pledged again to pay back the money. Despite promising to pay back the money by December 2015, Alfred Woyome has reneged.

"My word is my bond", he told Francis and added that he will do this although he strongly disagreed with the 2014 ruling.

Woyome said he would not challenge the Supreme court decision but warned that after coughing out the money, the state will pay him so much more than it took.

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|[email protected]
A group of supporters of the National Democratic Congress in Maamobi, in the Ayawaso North Constituency, have benefited from free medical screening and treatment organized by the Loyal Ladies Movement of the New Patriotic Party in Accra.

The social outreach program, which was aimed at helping persons in the Zongo community in the constituency, attracted the NDC supporters, who, on their way to campaign for President John Dramani Mahama, stopped to benefit from the medical screening and treatment, as well as food supplied.

Yahya Iddrisu, leader of the NDC group which benefitted from the NPP-Loyal Ladies medical outreach programme, pledged their support for Nana Akufo-Addo to achieve his vision of saving the country from its current situation.

We were surprised to be welcomed and screened by the Loyal Ladies for Nana Akufo Addo, whom we thought would turn us away because of our political affiliation. Instead, they allowed us to benefit from the screening and food supplies Yahya said.

The Ayawaso North Parliamentary Candidate of the NPP, M.Z Aminu, said the NPP welcomes everyone to its fold, and that the kind gesture by the Loyal Ladies towards the NDC supporters was a testament of the all-inclusive nature of the Akufo-Addo-led NPP.

You may not belong to our party, but you cannot be excluded from any social intervention that is geared at enhancing the well-being of people in the Zongo community, Mr. Aminu assured the beneficiaries.

The Ayawaso North NPP Parliamentary candidate thanked the NDC supporters for their resolve to support and vote for him and his presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in the upcoming General Elections.

Vice President of the NPP Loyal Ladies in-charge of the Zongo mobilization, Suraka Zainab, said Nana Akufo-Addo's Zongo Development Fund is a policy initiative that will transform conditions of people in the Zongo community.

The Zongo Development Fund proposed by Nana Akufo-Addo holds the key for transformation in all the Zongos in the country. It spells hope for the Zongo dweller who equally deserve a better life, whether they are in the NPP or NDC Ms. Zainab indicated.

Some NDC supporters at the Health Screening

She added that the mission of the Loyal Ladies, which is made up of professionals from all spheres, is to promote the vision of Nana Akufo-Addo in bringing hope to all Ghanaians before, during, and after the 2016 elections.

Regional Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Prince Obeng, used the opportunity to reiterate the need for peace.

He condemned the recent attack on members of the NPP Loyal Ladies in Suhum and pleaded with the youth in the country, no matter their party affiliation, to choose peace over violence.

The one-day outreach program benefited about 2000 people, who got different food supplies, and also screened and treated 1,500 other people from all walks of life with different health problems.

-Adomonline
The Economist magazine has observed that despite the fact that the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress has messed up the Ghanaians economy, it is determined to rig the December 7 elections.

According to the magazine, a cabinet minister in the current government has also admitted to cheating in the 2012 elections.

The 2012 election was won because of me, I'm the one who did the gerrymandering, one government minister boasted, according to the magazine.

The economist pointed out in a report, titled Nkrumah's heirs: A country that should be a beacon of African democracy is ailing, that the Mahama government, instead of focusing on important issues to convince the electorate to vote for him, relies on patronage, and on spending money it does not have.

It added that the NDC government, led by President Mahama, is so fiscally undisciplined that it had to rely on the International Monetary Fund for a bailout.

However, with public debt hovering at about 70% of GDP (and debt repayments accounting for a third of government revenue), its finances are precarious. Worse, it has already squandered the windfalls it expects from the development of large offshore oilfields. The roads are full of potholes, there are regular power cuts and big companies talk openly about moving across the border into Ivory Coast, the economist disclosed.

Describing the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, as an accomplished lawyer and economist, the magazine said the NPP with Nana Akufo-Addo can turn the fortunes of the country around with a mix of market- and investment-friendly policies.

Although the NPP's instincts are relatively liberal, it has tacked in a populist direction, with slogans such as one district, one factory and 'one village, one dam', in a bid to broaden its appeal, it added.

The magazine stated emphatically that even though the NPP stands a greater chance of winning the December 7 elections, the actions and inactions of the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, must be a source of concern.

Charlotte Osei, the head of the electoral commission, insists that this will be the cleanest vote in Ghana's history, but she will face a tough task convincing voters of that. Many complain that the electoral roll has been stuffed with supporters of the ruling party who are ineligible to vote, because they are too young or are not citizens the report added.

However, the economist stressed that whichever party wins the December 7 polls will have the difficult task of putting the country back into shape.

Whichever party wins will have its work cut out, not only in trying to stabilize the economy, but also in tackling some of Ghana's deeper problems. If Ghana is to live up to its reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa, it needs to clean itself up, it ended.

-Economist Magazine
Bamako (AFP) - A series of deadly attacks and targeted disruptions have marred Mali's long-delayed municipal elections, security sources said Monday, leaving six people dead as vote counting began.

The election of 12,000 councillors on Sunday was due to take place in 2014 but ongoing political instability caused by jihadists and rival militias has pushed the vote back several times.

Turnout was expected to be below 20 percent in the capital Bamako due to continuing security fears and fatigue among voters who complain the government has failed to deliver peace.

Results were not yet available by early evening on Monday.

Highlighting the entrenched problems faced by those upholding law and order, five Malian soldiers died on Sunday in an ambush while transporting ballot boxes in the north.

A Malian security source said the assailants -- thought to be jihadists -- "wanted to sabotage the elections" but were unable to make off with the ballots.

A second attack in the town of Dilli in southwestern Mali on Monday saw a group of alleged jihadists seize several vehicles, attack a council building, and kill a civilian.

Officials count ballots at a polling station in Bamako during municipal elections on November 20, 2016

A security source said the assailants were possibly hoping to find ballot boxes in the building where counting was under way.

Officially only 15 of Mali's 703 communes were unable to register ballots, but in reality voting did not take place in several areas in the north and centre due to the presence of armed groups made up of former rebels.

French troops were deployed in 2013 to repel Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who had overrun several northern towns, joining forces with these Tuareg-led rebels claiming autonomy for the region.

Some 11,000 UN military and police have followed, attempting to maintain security, but the jihadists remain active in the north while also spreading to the west African country's central regions.

In the northern city of Kidal, Malian and UN flags were burned by activists who claim northern Mali is a separate entity that should not be controlled from Bamako.

Meanwhile in Timbuktu on Sunday, unknown attackers seized and burned electoral papers in multiple raids.

Armed group to join peace process

The government has wrestled with implementing a 2015 peace deal signed by the ex-rebels, with the state still absent from vast swathes of its northern territory.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita casts his ballot in Bamako during municipal elections on November 20, 2016

Sunday's election -- held two years later than scheduled -- coincided with the first anniversary of a jihadist attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako that left 20 people dead, many of them foreigners.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Saturday for a peaceful vote in areas "where political and security conditions allow" in a nation still under a state of emergency.

In a rare bit of good news amid militia infighting and jihadist attacks, one armed group in the country's centre said Monday it would lay down arms.

Oumar Aldjana, secretary-general of the National Alliance for the Protection of Peul Identity and Restoration of Justice (ANSIPRJ) told AFP the group founded to protect the country's ethnic Peul community would "join the peace process".

ANSIPRJ claimed responsibility for a July attack that killed 17 soldiers, along with Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist outfit Ansar Dine.
Citi News has intercepted a document suggesting that the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC), have embarked on an exercise to add the names of more Police officers and recruits to the special voters list.

Although the exercise for the creation of the special voters list ended on October 28; 42 clear days ahead of the December election as stipulated by law, the latest directive by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) allows the various levels of Commands in the Service to liaise with EC officials to add more names to the list.

The memo, which was written by the Director General of Police Service, COP Chistian Tetteh Yohunu on behalf of the IGP, is in two aspects.

The first aspect of the memo is instructing all Divisional Commanders, all Regional Commanders, and all Commanders in charge of Police training schools to key in the names of Police officers whose names are not on the special voters' register.

The second aspect of the memo, is also directing the aforementioned commanders, especially the commanders of the Police Training Schools, to make sure that all recruits have their names on the special voters' list.

This directive is expected to cover new recruits of the Police Service.

The memo was released on Thursday November 17, 2016, and the deadline for the directive to be effected was November 20, 2016.

However, Citi News cannot confirm immediately whether such persons have been added to the existing list, as officials of the police and the Electoral Commission, have declined comment on the matter.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah
By Caesar Abagali, GNA

Tamale, Nov. 21, GNA - Mr Albert Atutiga, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has praised President John Mahama for the various infrastructure development efforts initiated under during his tenure.

He said the mark of every good leader is to have the nation at heart and that his quest for the country's infrastructural development and expansion of existing projects would improve the living conditions of the people.

Mr Atutiga, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said although he was a committed member of the CPP, he admired President Mahama for having the political will to embark on development projects saying, 'Good governance is about serving the people with humility and providing them with basic amenities, which President Mahama is currently doing'.

'With the pace of development in John Mahama's short term in office as compared to that of Dr Nkrumah, I will rate the current president higher in terms of development and I believe God will help him to win the December elections to serve a second term as other presidents did', he said.

Mr Atutiga said the forces that were against Dr Kwame Nkrumah when he embarked on such developments efforts are the same forces against John Mahama today adding that 'if the country wants continuous development it is better to ignore the agents against development and vote to retain the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for continuity'.

He said it was true that conditions were hard but questioned whether workers' salaries were not being paid and that 'no one has the magic wand to conjure money into the pockets of those who are not working'.

Mr Atutiga said the President's development agenda has touched on every aspect of life ranging from education, health, ICT, roads and agriculture- this is the reason why he deserves a second term.

He said as a member of an opposition political party, 'I hear people admitting that the president has indeed worked and if bad propaganda is not used against him the margin between the NDC and the closest party would even be higher'.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Nov. 21, GNA - Islamic clergy and chiefs have been urged to work towards demystifying the notion that some Moslem communities harbor extremists who are capable of easily fomenting violence.

Reverend Eric Adjei Nmai, a Board Member of the National Peace Council, said this at an orientation workshop held recently at Bolgatanga.

Aimed at ensuring peaceful election, the programme which was organized by the Islamic Foundation for Peace and Development with support from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Danish International Development Agency, attracted the Islamic clergy, chiefs and the youth.

Reverend Nmai said research shows that it was only a minority of Moslems who were violent and urged the Islamic clergy to use their various platforms such as the mosques to reform the few who would want to mar the reputation of Moslems.

He said during the Rwanda genocide, some Moslems played a very significant role by saving the lives of many people and this act led to many converting to Islam.

The stakeholders pledged to embark upon peace talks using various platforms including the mosque, market place and their homes to educate the youth on the need to stay away from violence.

Mr Garba Auwudu -Talle, the Executive Secretary of Islamic Foundation for Peace and Development, said his outfit has organized similar programmes in all the ten regions of the country.

He called on the stakeholders to use dialogue and laid down channels in addressing grievances instead of resorting to violence.

Mr Rejoice Afadzinu, Programme Assistant of the UNDP, said the issue of peace and security was very crucial to UNDP and impressed upon the electorate not to do anything that would jeopardize the peace in the country.

'During electoral violence, it is the electorate who suffer; not the politicians who often escape with their families to other countries', she said. GNA
Madina(GAR), Nov. 21, GNA - World Toilet Day was over the weekend commemorated at Madina Central Market by officials of the Environmental Health Unit of the La-Nkwantana-Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA).

The World Toilet Day, celebrated annually on November 19, was instituted in 2001 by the United Nations and has been adopted by 122 countries.

The Day was instituted to address sanitation concerns in the world.

On the theme: 'Own a Toilet', the LaNMMA celebration of the Day, observant at the event included school children, traders and market women.

LaNMMA officials used the occasion to unveil a prototype portable toilet structure supplied by the World Bank.

This prototype is equipped with a water closet and a hand wash-basin.

Mr David Duncan, the Chief Officer for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), said there is the need for all to end open defecation acts and install toilets in each household.

Mr Joseph Quacoe, the Head of LaNMMA Environmental Health, called on interested person who want toilets to be built in their homes to register with them as the World Bank will absorb half of the payment.

GNA
By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Arusha, Tanzania

Arusha (Tanzania), Nov. 21, GNA - The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, has affirmed its jurisdiction to deal with all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning interpretation and application of the African Charter.

The jurisdiction covers, the Protocol and any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the States concerned and also has the power to render an advisory opinion on any legal matter relating to the Charter or any other relevant human rights instruments, provided that the subject of the opinion is not related to a matter being examined by the Commission.

African Court re-affirmed its original jurisdiction at the international symposium to mark a decade of human rights protection on the continent currently underway in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.

Justice Sylvain OrA President of the African Court noted that the continental legal body also seeks to promote amicable settlement in cases pending before it in accordance with the provisions of the Charter; and to interpret a judgment it had rendered.

The African Court also has jurisdiction to review its own judgment in light of new evidence in conformity with its rules.

Justice Ore explained that the procedure before the African Court shall consist of written, and if necessary, oral proceedings.

'The written procedure shall consist of the communication to the African Court, the parties, as well as the African Commission, as appropriate, of applications, statements of the case, defences and observations and of replies if any, as well as all papers and documents in support, or of certified copies thereof.

'The oral proceedings shall consist of a hearing by the African Court of representatives of parties, witnesses, experts, or such other persons as the Court may decide to hear,' he said.

He said every party to a case shall be entitled to be represented or to be assisted by legal counsel and/or by any other person of the party's choice.

On Cooperation of the States; Justice Ore explained that the States Parties to a case have the obligation to cooperate so as to ensure that all notices, communications or summonses addressed to persons residing in their territory or falling under their jurisdiction are duly executed.

'The same rule shall apply to any proceeding that the African Court decides to conduct or order in the territory of a State Party to a case.

'When the performance of any of the measures referred to in the preceding paragraphs requires the cooperation of any other State, the African Court President shall request the government concerned to provide the requisite assistance,' he said.

About 150 delegates including the academia, civil society organisations, Organs of the African Union, judiciary representatives of regional and sub-regional human rights institutions, media practitioners are attending the two day commemoration.

Themes being discussed include: The historical genesis of the Court; The jurisdiction of the Court, similarities and peculiarities in comparison to other regional and sub-regional bodies; Challenges to judicial protection to human rights in Africa and ; Enhancing institutional legitimacy and protection of human rightsa persistent challenge of emerging human rights institutions: The case of the African Court.

Other issues are Accessibility of the Courteconomic, legal and other obstacles; a critical analysis of jurisprudence of the African Court; Ten years of African Courtlessons learnt and; Institutional co-operation between the African Court and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The German International Development Agency has facilitated the two-day Symposium in collaboration with the African Court. GNA
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Jinijini (B/A), Nov.21, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Governments' continuous investment in education is to secure the future of the youth.

He said the NDC's investment in education was not an election gimmick but a priority of the Government.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this when he inaugurated a Girls' Dormitory Block for the Jinijini Senior High School in the Berekum West Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The event forms part of the Vice President's campaign tour of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur was accompanied by Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Madam Barbara Serwah Asamoah, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Ghana's Ambassador to Algeria, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, former National Organizer of the NDC among others.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the first priority of the 2016 NDC Manifesto was to improve health and education thereby putting the people first.

He said the priority of the Government was also to give the youth the chance to improve themselves adding; 'when the youth are properly empowered it is easy to secure their future.

He said investing education was something that they intended to continue, adding that whether there were elections or not they would continue to provide educational facilities.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said improving teacher education to be able to impart knowledge to the students was important to the Government.

He said providing quality facilities to the school would enable it to compete with other good schools in the country.

He encouraged the students to make the best use of the facilities provided them by learning very hard.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur called on the students, especially those who are 18 years and above, to vote massively for President John Mahama to continue with his transformation agenda.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also addressed NDC supporters at mini rallies in Koraso and Nsoatre.

He introduced Mr Dickson Kyere Duah and Mr Justice Samuel Adjei to the people as the NDC Parliamentary candidates for Berekum West and Sunyani West respectively.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Garu (U/E), Nov. 21, GNA - Some communities in the Upper East Region have over the past five years been empowered to rehabilitate 86 dams, embark upon 97 Climate Change intervention subprojects and the rehabilitation of 100 (349.1Km) feeder roads.

The Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) together with the district assemblies and other collaborating institutions such as Irrigation Development Authority, Department of Feeder Roads and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture assisted the communities.

Mrs Adwoa Asotia-Boakye, the Upper East Regional Coordinator of GSOP, said this when she accompanied Mr Henry G.R. Karali, the World Bank Country Director to Ghana, on a working visit to some of the subprojects of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) in the Upper East Region.

The visit was to ascertain how the Project was affecting the livelihoods of the beneficiary communities.

The implementation of GSOP, which begun in the region in 2011, is a Government of Ghana and World Bank funded intervention which seeks to deepen social protection efforts in the country.

The project aims at improving social protection programmes and providing income support to poor households through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) grants and the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) infrastructure in targeted districts.

Under the LIPW component of the Project, the beneficiaries are engaged in climate change mitigation activities such as re-afforestation and the establishment of fruit tree plantations, the rehabilitation of small earth dams/dugouts and the rehabilitation of feeder roads.

The first point of call by the World Bank Country Director was the seven hectares mango plantation sub project at Targanga in the Garu-Tempane District where he interacted with some of the beneficiaries and the chief of the area.

Briefing Mr Karali and his team, Mrs Asotia-Boakye, said the four year mango plantation project have been handed over to the District Assembly and the beneficiary community.

She said the total cost of the project was GH262,769.64 out of which GH191, 821.00 was paid as wages to the 596 beneficiaries who participated in the project.

Nab Akudug Aleem, the Chief of Targanga, said the beneficiaries received wages for a period of three years from the Project and have harvested the fruits on a number of occasions.

The proceeds, he said, have been lodged into an account they had opened at a rural bank in the area. Another subproject the team visited was the Zesiri Small Earth Dam where 283 beneficiaries predominantly women were working to rehabilitate the dam.

GNA
By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Arusha, Tanzania

Arusha (Tanzania), Nov. 21, GNA - Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania said the establishment of the African Court has enabled the development of a body of human rights jurisprudence on the continent.

'The past 10 years has seen the African Court deliver on the promises of justice, despite the immense challenges along the way.

'As a Host Country, we are happy and satisfied with the level of performance of the Court, especially with regard to cases being brought before it from within the Tanzania,' Dr Mwakyembe stated to open the international symposium on a decade of human rights protection by the African Court.

About 150 delegates including the academia, civil society organisations, Organs of the African Union, judiciary representatives of regional and sub-regional human rights institutions, media practitioners are attending the two day commemoration.

Dr Mwakyembe noted: 'By standing firm to your call of duty, you have proven that no challenge is insurmountable. I urge you to keep up this spirit, and more so, the momentum.

'For all of us, this anniversary therefore is a special occasion, a time of celebration, a time for a deserved sense of achievement and once the festivities are over, a time of contemplating a new Chapter.'

He observed that prior to the establishment of the African Court there was not any other mechanism in Africa for enforcement and compliance of human rights obligations.

'The African Commission on Human and People's Rights was in existence, but it was only mandated to, among other things, deal with human rights complaints and making recommendations to Member States for improvement of human rights situation.

'We now have the Court - a competent judicial body to address the many human rights questions, and more especially the individual rights,' he said.

The Tanzania Minister noted that equally, with the creation of the African Court, complementary between the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and the African Court has been ensured.

'The African Court's jurisdiction has been expansive in its scope by applying other international and regional instruments that concerned States have ratified. This has widened the horizon for those seeking enforcement of their rights,' he said.

He said: 'It is also fair to say that, the establishment within the Court of the Legal Aid Scheme has been a milestone. The Scheme has enabled a number of indigent/less privileged applicants to get legal representation before the Court, hence ensure justice to people from all walks of life.

'It can also be noted that, sessions held at the African Court help attorneys and lawyers in horning their litigation skills and provide them with practical experience on how matters are handled at international legal institutions. This has enriched their ways of addressing legal questions before the Court.'

Dr Mwakyembe however expressed concern about 24 countries that have not ratified the Protocol establishing the African Court.

'Only 30 out of 54 Member States have signed and ratified it, and therefore it means they do not recognise this Court, thereby denying their citizens the basic right of access to the Court, which is our own creation.

'My immediate appeal would be for those countries that have not ratified this Protocol should consider doing so a matter of priority,' he said.

He also noted a number of countries that have made the Declaration to accept the competency of the African Court to receive human rights cases is just so discouraging.

'Only seven (after the withdrawal of one member state) have made this important Declaration. This is a clear testimony that the political will is too low and therefore many people on the continent cannot access the Court established solely for them. It is time for us to see this commitment differently,' he said.

He called on the African Court to conduct more programmes among African Nations so as to create awareness about the work of the Court.

'This will give the African Court its deserved visibility and it will also encourage more members to take up their share of responsibility,' he said.

He said: 'Indeed, the success of the African Court can only be realised if we are all committed to the promotion and protection of human rights by discharging our obligations in utmost good faith and also if individuals are informed of their rights.

'We should, in our respective countries see to it that the National Human Rights Institutions take up their active role of independently monitoring the role of Governments and Civil Society in supplementing efforts by the Government, through many ways, including through resource mobilisation.' GNA
By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA

Aflao (V/R), Nov. 21, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has renewed the pledge to bring fast-tracked development to the Volta Region.

'I will never let you down,' he said, given the assurance that the 'new leaf of relationship' between the Region and the NPP would result in exploration of oil, construction of a harbour and a landing site with storage facilities at Keta.

Nana Addo was addressing the first regional rally at Aflao in the Ketu South District of the Region on the theme: 'The role of the Voltarian and the change agenda for jobs.'

He reiterated the commitment of the next NPP government to re-direct the capital expenditure of the country by establishing a factory in every district and giving every constituency a million dollars.

Nana Addo also promised to revive the National Health Insurance Scheme and implement the free Senior High School policy.

'I promise to implement each of these. We are building a new Ghana where promises are worked out for the progress of the peoplewe are embarking on a new path of development and progress and you must all ride on the back of the elephant for victory in 2016,' he said.

Nana Addo said President Mahama: 'Can see the stool shifting under him and [resorting] to tribal politics but we in NPP are turning away from tribal politics and politics of yesterday.'

Alhaji Mahumudu Bawumia, NPP Vice Presidential Candidate said a new Ghana would be given birth to in a few days to see the restoration of leadership of integrity and restoration of allowances to teachers and nurses.

Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, Women's Organiser of the NPP said Nana Addo was not coming into power for himself but for the people and said he was the only one who could transform the country's economy.

Mr Sammy Awuku, NPP National Youth Organiser expressed gratitude to the Region for 'showing love to the NPP' and said this year's election was a fight for the youth and survival of the country and asked the electorate to go out and vote massively for the NPP.

Mr Peter Mac Manu, NPP National Campaign Manager said he was excited that the Region had accepted the 'agenda for change' and said the signs were clear on the walls for change and asked the people to help the NPP protect the ballot.

Mr Peter John Amewu, Regional Chairman of the Party said the Region remained committed to its 'Operation Eagle Eye' on Election Day and reminded the electorate to be vigilant at the polling stations.

Nana Addo introduced parliamentary candidates of the Party in the Region to the electorate and urged them to vote for them.

GNA
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - Peter Owusu, an electrician who had sex with a four- year old girl at Nungua, has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Owusu, 30, charged with defilement is said to have taken advantage of the victim who was loitering in Nungua in the night.

Owusu went through full trial and was found guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku therefore handed down a deterrent sentence on Owusu.

Prosecuting Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant was the victim father. Accused and the complainant reside within the same vicinity at Nungua.

On September 3, night, the accused met the victim loitering around Nungua Authority area and he lured her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.

Prosecution said the complainant was informed about the act hence he interviewed the victim who narrated her ordeal to him and mentioned the accused person as the culprit.

Detective inspector Atimbire said the complaint reported the incident to the Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service, where a medical form was given to him to send the victim to the hospital for examination

GNA
21.11.2016 LISTEN

Accra Nov. 21, GNA - A minor, who allegedly poured acid on a 15 year old boy following a scuffle over a mobile phone at Ofankor on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

The minor aged 12 is being held for causing harm while his father, Kwabena Ameyaw, a driver has been charged with abetment of crime.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court has admitted them to bail in the sum of GH8,000.00 each.

This is to enable the prosecution put their house in order in respect of the charges preferred against the 12 year old student.

The two accused persons are to reappear before the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku on December 13.

Prosecuting Detective Inspector Judith B. Asante told the court the complainant, Mary Osei is a trader residing at Ofankor, Accra. The victim is the son of the complainant.

According to the prosecutor, Ameyaw is the father of the 12 year old minor and they also reside at Ofankor.

Inspector Asante said about two weeks ago, the victim gave his mobile phone to a friend called Ernest Clottey a witness in the case for uage to be returned later Clottey however refused to return the phone.

On October 16, this year, at about 8:30 pm, the victim met Clottey in the neighbourhood and demanded his mobile phone.

Prosecution said Clottey informed the victim that he had also given the phone to the 12 year old culprit to use.

The victim therefore followed Clottey to house of the 12 year old culprit but he (12 year old culprit) refused to release the phone and this resulted in a scuffle.

During the struggle between the victim and the culprit, the prosecutor said the 12 year old in the absence of his father entered their porch and picked a silver saucepan containing acid and poured on the victim.

Prosecution said victim who sustained various degrees of injuries managed to reach home and informed her mother about his ordeal.

The complainant therefore rushed the victim to the Korle Bu Teaching hospital for treatment. Later the accused persons were arrested.

GNA
Ho, Nov. 21, GNA - Women in Ho and its environs have presented peace messages to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ho ahead of the December polls.

The messages, signed by Ms Adwoa Bame, the National Co-ordinator of Women's Situation Room Ghana (WSR-Ghana), a women focal group, called on leaders and members of the political parties to affirm their absolute commitment to peaceful elections in December.

The women said women and children suffered most during violence and appealed to all stakeholders in the impending polls to make peace a priority.

Presentation of the peace messages was preceded by a walk through the principal streets of Ho by the women with placards some of which read: 'We stand for Peace,' 'Ballots not Bullets,' and 'Votes not Violence'.

Mr Richard Kwadekpo, the Ho Central Constituency Chairman of NPP, who received the message, applauded the women for the initiative and pledged the party's commitment to peace.

Colonel Cyril Necku (Rtd), the Regional Vice Chairman of NDC, also affirmed the party's commitment to peaceful elections.

Nana Kugbeadzor Bakateyi II, the Queen mother of Likpe Abrani Traditional Area and the Regional Co-ordinator of WSR-Ghana, said the peace-march was to ensure that women led the peace process in the upcoming elections.

GNA
By Lydia Asamoah, GNA

Tuobodom (B/A), Nov. 21, GNA - The Lordina Foundation, with support from Medshare US, has presented various medical supplies and equipment to the Tuobodom Health Centre in the Techiman North Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The equipment are to help in providing better health care for the residents of Tuobodom and its environs as government makes preparation to build a bigger district hospital for the people.

At a presentation ceremony at the Hospital premises in Tuobodom, where chiefs and queen mothers of the area together with the medical staff gathered to receive the medical supplies, First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama, said her Foundation sought to support most health centres and hospitals in all the districts to ensure effective care for the citizenry.

She said the Lordina Foundation, with the support of Medshare partners and other sponsors had over the years assisted a number of districts hospitals across the 10 regions with such medical supplies that included hospital beds, mattresses, gloves, wheelchairs, syringes, and blood pressure machines as part of efforts to support efforts of government at providing universal health care for Ghanaians.

She used the occasion to address the issue of universal and quality education for children, most especially, early childhood education and development.

She said it was a known fact that easy access to education liberates generations of families from the shackles of poverty and that education was a basic right, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

'Therefore every girl and boy should have the right to a quality education so that they can have more chances in life, including employment opportunities, better health and also to participate in the political process,' Mrs Mahama said.

She explained that the 2015 report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), had stated that sub-Saharan Africa remained the home to the largest out of school population of children in the world.

More so, despite the fact that Ghana had achieved universal enrolment of children in primary school, there are still a significant number of children, especially girls, in the rural areas that were not in school.

'This informs my call for equal opportunities to education for every child when I addressed a large gathering of chiefs and queen mothers, and other dignitaries at a colourful durbar to mark the 7th Annual Convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) at Worcester, Massachusetts in the US,' the First Lady said.

She said it was just not enough to get children in school and that parents and stakeholders in the education sector needed to ensure that children learned to read, count, and acquire the necessary life skills.

'A special focus has to be given to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups including children living in fragile and conflict-affected areas, children with disabilities, and girls who are most likely to be affected because of inadequate learning materials and unsuitable education infrastructure.

'Let us remember, that education is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future to eradicate poverty, and create wealth,' Mrs Mahama said.

She reassured the people of government's commitment to improving education in the country, saying, under education, which falls under 'Putting people first', one of the four themes of the National Democratic Congress manifesto, the President, among other things, promised to establish colleges of education for the sole purpose of training teachers in early childhood care and development.

She said the government was also determined to eliminate all schools under trees by 2021 and to pilot the use of electronic textbooks at the JHS and secondary level where students would receive tablets that have their core textbooks on it.

'By bringing in this innovation, the government believes that education would become easier for our children,' Mrs Mahama explained.

She said: 'This and other things show how committed government is in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is to 'Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all' by 2030'.

The First Lady used the opportunity to urge the people to live in harmony with each other and promote unity at all times saying: 'We are the same people but with different understandings so let us be mindful of our utterances'.

She said as Ghana prepares to go to the polls on December 7, there was the need to preach and maintain the peace Ghana was enjoying wherever people found themselves.

Ms Cecelia Bonbanye, Techiman North District Health Director, who received the items on behalf of the Health Centre promised to put them into good use, as they work towards the delivery of total healthcare of the people.

Nana Sarpong Kumakuma Gyan, Nifahene of Tuobodom and Nana Owusu Amankwa, Akwamuhene of Tuobodom, both thanked the First Lady for her many benevolence programmes, she had provided to the whole of the Brong Ahafo Region, especially, the Tuobodom Township.

They both promised to ensure that peace was maintained within community before, during and after the 2016 elections.

Mr Alex Kofi Kyeremeh, Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Techniman North said government would continue to bring more development to the area if voted into power to allow President Mahama to serve his second term as President of the state.

Mr Eric Opoku, Regional Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Tourism Minister, accompanied the First Lady on the presentation ceremony.

GNA
Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - MTN Ghana, a telecommunication service provider, has won an Engineering Business Management award for its 4G LTE network project, at the 2016 Engineering Excellence Award.

The event organised by the Ghana Institute of Engineers was to recognise the valuable contributions and performance of the various players in the engineering industry.

The Engineering Excellence Award was given to MTN for successfully rolling out its 4G LTE network to customers in record time.

According to MTN, the 4G LTE network project, which was launched on June 21, 2016, was aimed at creating distinct customer experience and providing superior data services to its customers.

It said the project was also in line with the company's vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world.

An amount of $ 96 million according to the telecommunication service provider has been injected into the creation of reliable network service projects including the award winning 4G LTE.

The company has also invested in an advanced internet protocol and multi-protocol label switching network to increase transmission speed and improve network redundancy and capacity

Mr Mohammed Ruffai, the Chief Technical Officer of MTN said the project had since its introduction fuelled the growth of many companies as it contributed to improved data speed for businesses.

Mr Ruffai said the company would continue to champion and spearhead prudent digital network projects to ensure viability of businesses.

'MTN Ghana will continue to make significant investments in our network to provide enhanced coverage and customer experience as well as create unlimited opportunities for our over 18 million customers,' he said.

MTN Ghana is the first mobile telecommunication operator to offer the widest 4G data services to customers.

GNA
- Fulani herdsmen have attacked three villages in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, killing 3 persons and abducted no fewer than 10 persons with a week

- At Huni-Gade village, four persons were abducted while last Saturday, at the same Darka village the same armed men attacked, killed two persons, injured two others and four persons kidnapped

- The herdsmen attacked Darka Village on Sunday, November 13 when a 28-year old man, Zakariyya Nuhu, was killed Six persons were kidnapped

Fulani herdsmen

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked three villages in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, killing 3 persons and abducted no fewer than 10 persons with a week.

According to Daily Sun, the herdsmen attacked Darka Village on Sunday, November 13 when a 28-year old man, Zakariyya Nuhu, was killed Six persons were kidnapped.

Also, at Huni-Gade village, four persons were abducted while last Saturday, at the same Darka village the same armed men attacked, killed two persons, injured two others and four persons kidnapped.

READ ALSO: Stop killing Shiites, U.S tells President Buhari

Spokesperson of the Coalition of FCT Indigenous Associations, Mr. Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, said he was still in the affected community as at Press time.

There was a fresh attack in the village. The terrorists have even threatened to return if they were not given N150 million by the villagers as ransom. I am in the village with some other people. FCT Police Command has deployed some security agents in the affected communities.

We wrote a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). On Saturday, four additional people were kidnapped by the suspected terrorists. The name of the village is Darka.

During the attack, two people were killed in the process. One of them died instantly. The other died later in the hospital from bullet wounds. There are three other people in the hospital who were shot and are receiving treatments.

We suspect that these people are Boko Haram members. The kind of sophisticated weapons will scare you. This is the fourth attack happening in the area in two months.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Suicide bomber killed in Maiduguri (PHOTOS)

They were initially asking for N150 million. The people begged and they have reduced the ransom to be paid on the first set of kidnapped people to N2 million.

Meanwhile, Minister of FCT, Muhammad Bello, has called for calm, saying security agencies were on top of the situation.

The minister promised of more security after an emergency security meeting with some of the stakeholders of the affected communities in Kuje.

Recall that at least 35 persons were yesterday killed in renew attacks on four villages in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Source: Legit.ng
- The minister of solid minerals and steel development, Dr Kayode Fayemi has rebutted a report that made rounds recently

- Dr Fayemi denied statements credited to him disparaging former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

- The minister said he would never abuse or disrespect Tinubu

The minister of solid minerals and steel development, Dr Kayode Fayemi has rebutted a recent media report with the headline Tinubu as a leader is responsible for his misfortunes, says Fayemi.

Fayemi and Tinubu are long time political allies

In a statement sent to Legit.ng by Fayemi's media aide, Olayinka Oyebode, the minister said Tinubu remained a leader he would continue to hold in high esteem.

READ ALSO: Buhari minister confesses, says Nigeria is a tough country to do business

Part of the statement read: Dr Fayemi subscribes to the highest moral and ethical standard of the Yoruba and as such would not speak evil or seek to demean Asiwaju Tinubu or any of our respected leaders under no circumstance whatsoever.

For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Fayemi has always held and will continue to hold Asiwaju Tinubu in high esteem.

The bond that exists between them dates back to decades of cordial relationship and no peddler of falsehood or group of blackmailers hiding under the guise of politics can put asunder.

The highly mischievous and malicious report is nothing but a tissue of lies. It must be stressed that Dr. Kayode Fayemi never granted any interview where he made disparaging comments about the person of our highly revered leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Dr Fayemi was one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains who showed up alongside President Muhammadu Buhari at the grand finale of the party's governorship rally in Akure, Ondo state.

The presence of Buhari and the APC stalwarts confirmed the rumours of cracks in the ruling party.

Tinubu had refused to accept the emergence of Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the party's gubernatorial candidate in the state.

READ ALSO: Ondo election: Group reacts to alleged power sharing deal between Oke, Tinubu

Tinubu also accused the APC chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of manipulating the process leading up to the emergence of Akeredolu, even as he called for the resignation of Oyegun.

Source: Legit.ng
- The inability of Muhammadu Buhari's administration to resolve the Nigerian economic crisis has severally been attributed to some ministers

- The Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Forum for National Development (NYEFOND) has mentioned one of the ministers derailing the government

The Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Forum for National Development (NYEFOND) has accused the minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, of derailing the economic progress of the Muhammadu Buhari administration by her body language, actions and utterances.

The organisation said since Adeosun was appointed to head the finance ministry, she had statements that she should not have made.

Mrs Adeosun recently said: 'recession is just a word'

Leadership reports the NYEFOND as saying through a statement signed by the groups secretary-general, Victor Nse: We have watched with dismay as the minister has tried, albeit in vain, to bring the current administration into disrepute, through her actions; most times, without even knowing it and, other times, so brazenly that it is difficult to know if she is intent on bringing down the governments efforts or bent on seeing the governments policies work.

The minister has displayed great incompetence in handling the Nigerian economy, owing to her poor understanding of how things really work.

So far, the minister has refused to heed the presidential directive to take action against directors in the ministry who were indicted in the budget padding scandal. Rather, she has covered up for them and retained them within the ministry.

Worse, she has refused to pay the salaries and entitlements of former head of states and displayed great inexperience and confusion in tackling issues relating to the recession."

READ ALSO: World Bank boosts Nigeria's agric sector with $600m

The organisation said in the history of the Nigerian civil service, Adeosun was the first to be turned upon by the civil servants in the ministry, who demanded that she should go, due to huge debts owed them.

The minister has shamelessly and blatantly urged the federal government to borrow billions of dollars to salvage an economy which she described as 'not really being in recession; recession is just a word', thus mortgaging the future of our children and giving the next administration a huge bill of debt to pay.

How can we borrow to pay the salaries of our civil servants? When we want to construct rails and invest in the agricultural sector, what are we going to do, if we run to borrow billions of dollars just to pay salaries?

"The regularity of workers salaries has been lost since 2014 and our foreign reserves have been depleted prodigally by the last regime and all a minister, in this era of change can tell us is that we are not in any form of trouble, but she can encourage the borrowing of billions of dollars?

It is embarrassing, shameful and heart-breaking to watch a minister who is supposed to know better run around seemingly confused and without direction.

READ ALSO: Buhari ministers in fierce rivalry over budget implementation

Is this how she is helping to promote the policies of this government? Is this how she will help the country get out of the recession?

"Sadly, she is derailing the progress of the current administration, no thanks to her confusing statements and body languages, the group said while advising the government to urgently decide whether it wants to keep her or do away with her.

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari says there is evidence to prove that the Fulani herdsmen have been infiltrated by invaders from Mali and Libya who escaped from the war-torn country with small arms

- This, he says explains the recent increase in attacks on various communities across the country by the herdsmen

President Buhari says Fulani herdsmen have been overtaken by invaders

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed the current Fulani herdsmen attacks across the country on infiltrations by invaders from Mali and Libya.

READ ALSO: Achebes family at war with Chinua Achebe Centre over Buharis loan

Daily Trust reports that according to President Buhari, the small arms brought by the invaders from the war-torn countries were the cause for the increase in herdsmen attacks.

The President said this at the graduation ceremony of Senior Executive Course (SEC) 38 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau state capital.

The president, who was represented at the event by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said there was evidence to show that militants running away with light and heavy arms from the troubled countries like Mali in West Africa and Libya in northern African had settled among Nigerian herders.

READ ALSO: Please stop, Buhari begs Niger Delta militants over pipelines

He however, warned that criminal violence in whatever form would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked three villages in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, killing 3 persons and abducted no fewer than 10 persons with a week.

According to Daily Sun, the herdsmen attacked Darka Village on Sunday, November 13 when a 28-year old man, Zakariyya Nuhu, was killed Six persons were kidnapped.

Source: Legit.ng
A company co-founded by Nigerias minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, African Capital Alliance Ltd (ACA), has been sued alongside other defendants in a $249 million suit involving breach of contract, breach of confidentiality obligations and unlawful interference with economic interests.

Enelamah was the CEO of ACA until his appointment as minister late last year.

Okechukwu Enelamah

The plaintiff, Petroleum Zion Exploration and Production Ltd, in a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, claims that the said company unlawfully interfered with the plaintiffs transaction to purchase Afrens stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 26, with a production potential over 10,000 barrels of oil per day.

Joined in the suit, as co-defendants, are PJT Partners UK Ltd, FHN 26 Ltd, Wilmington Trust (London) Ltd, Vertex Energy Ltd, Department of Petroleum Resources, and Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Others parties are Simon Jonathan Appell, Daniel Imison and Ms Catherine Williamson (who are being sued in their capacity as UK administrators of Afren UK Plc and Afren Nigeria Holdings Ltd).

READ ALSO: CCB summons ministers, top officials of Buhari's government

In the court papers, the plaintiff contends that, sometime in 2015, Afren Plc (a UK listed Pan- African Oil and Gas Company currently under insolvency) mandated PJT Partners (a subsidiary of Blackstone Group UK) to liquidate all its assets in Nigeria, including its 100 percent stake in FHN26 (a special purpose vehicle of that owns a 45% interest in OML 26).

The plaintiff expressed interest in acquiring the said stake in OML 26 (the Sale Asset) and was eventually declared preferred bidder, whereupon it commenced negotiations, in good faith, and reach agreement to execute a Sale Purchase Agreement in respect of the Sale Assets (SPA).

According to Petroleum Zion, due to the global fall in oil prices, which impacted the value of the Sales Asset, the deal was later renegotiated during which price sensitive and propriety information was divulged on confidential basis for 10 months between August 2015 and May 2016.

However, PJT Partners in handling the transaction on behalf of Afrens administrators breached their confidentiality obligations owed to the plaintiff, unlawfully disclosing the plaintiffs bid price and other sensitive information to ACA (who secretly joined the bid process later) and now on the verge of concluding the transaction leveraging the sensitive information unlawfully obtained from PJT Partners to its advantage.

READ ALSO: Saraki says MTNs $13.9bn can end recession

The plaintiff contends that PJT Partners disclosed the sensitive informations it gathered from it (Petroleum Zion) including renegotiated terms to ACA, which made it easy for ACA to want to close the transaction.

Petroleum Zion is, inter alia, asking the court for an order mandating First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Company Ltd and or Wilmington Trust (as Security Trustees of the Sale Asset) to execute the draft SPA in the form agreed with Petroleum Zion as at May 24, 2016.

The plaintiff is also seeking $230 million as damages against PJT Partners UK for disclosing its sensitive information to competitors and an additional $8.94 million as compensation for expenses it incurred as a result of the defendants bad faith.

Further, Petroleum Zion is seeking $10 million as damages against ACA for unlawful interference with the plaintiffs economic interests.

Meanwhile five of the defendants in the suit have filed notices of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the suit.

READ ALSO: 7 ministers of President Buhari who are not 'visible'

Justice M. Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos fixed January 27, 2017 for ruling on whether it has jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Source: Legit.ng
- President Buhari is set to visit Equatorial Guinea for a two-day trip

- The president is expected to endorse the Malabo Declaration and Action Working Plan for 2017-2019

- The issue of Boko Haram insurgency will also be discussed

President Muhammadu Buhari is going on a two-day trip to Equatorial Guinea to attend the 4th Africa-Arab Summit.

In a statement by Femi Adesina who is the special adviser to the president on media on publicity, he said the president will depart on Wednesday, November 23.

READ ALSO: Leadership is not the problem of Nigeria and Africa

He noted that the essence of the summit is to promote trade and economic ties that will implement priority projects in trade, investment, transportation, communication and energy in Africa.

President Buhari would also discuss the issue of Boko Haram insurgency in the north east and humanitarian situations.

Read the statement below:

President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the 4th Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.

The summit, which will be attended by Heads of State and Government from Gulf and African countries, is expected to endorse the Malabo Declaration and Action Working Plan for 2017-2019 to promote trade and economic ties.

The two-year plan seeks to implement priority projects in trade, investment, transportation, communication and energy in Africa.

In Malabo, President Buhari is also expected to hold discussions with Arab leaders, aimed at reviewing agreements to strengthen partnerships that bolster agriculture and infrastructure development in Nigeria through long term concessionary loans and technological skills transfer.

READ ALSO: Lagos takes over presidential lodge in Marina

President Buhari will also explore the opportunity of the summit to seek support for the ongoing fight against Boko Haram and the humanitarian situation in the North east.

Jointly organised by the African Union Commission and the League of Arab States, the summit focuses on promoting development by strengthening trade, investments, transport, communication and energy among Gulf and African states.

Source: Legit.ng
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- A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has heard how N27m disappeared from the bathroom of Justice Sylvester Nguwta

- The FG counsel, Charles Adeogun Philips made the disclosure on Monday, November 21

- Philips made the disclosure while arguing against the bail application for embattled Justice Ngwuta

Charles Adeogun Philips told an Abuja Federal High Court that N27m in cash was found at the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, was ordered to be removed by the embattled Judge himself.

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta in court on Monday, November 21

Philips made the claim while arguing against the bail application by Ngwutas lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN.

Earlier, the apex court justice had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Alleging that the apex court judge gave the order for the money to be removed on October 9, the Federal Governments lawyer informed the court that Ngwuta attempted to conceal evidence.

According to Daily Post reports, Philips claimed that Ngwuta first instructed a witness to go and get rid of those cars, adding that the second instruction was go to my bathroom you will find two bags.

"The bags contained 27m in cash, and that they were moved from the location.

"There are sufficient grounds that the defendant will interfere with potential prosecution witnesses and with evidence.

"We object to bail being granted because we are of the opinion that the defendant may conceal or destroy evidence."

READ ALSO: Political Scandal: Wike attacks Amaechi, Onu

The Federal Governments counsel urged the court not to grant the accused judge bail because he possessed multiple identities, and could jump bail because he once left the country with false identification.

Agabi, however, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms and self recognition, stressing that the offence Ngwuta was standing trial for was bailable.

Justice John Tsoho after listening to the argument of both lawyers adjourned the matter for an hour to deliver a ruling.

The court on Monday granted bail to Justice Sylvester Nguta, with a bond of N100 million.

Ngwuta is among seven judges arrested by operatives of the State Security Service on October 8, after a midnight raid on their residences by the SSS.

After pleading not guilty to the 15-count charge, the judges lawyer, Kanu Agabi, asked the court to admit his client on bail.

The Department of State Services (DSS), had on Saturday, October 8, arrested Ngwuta alongside some judges over alleged corrupt practices.

Source: Legit.ng
If there were founding fathers of the craft beer movement, California would definitely be one of them. With 700 breweries all over the Golden State, California has become a beer mecca for beer lovers, connoisseurs, and simply those in search of the perfect small batch brew.

The craft beer movement began in San Francisco in the mid-1960s and today is responsible for a whopping $7.288 billion of the states economy. This monumental industry began in small batch breweries often searching to find the perfect mix of craftsmanship and science. Their experimentation has elevated the palates of modern day beer drinkers to appreciate what people are making at smaller scales in a big way. While many have driven a along the California coastline for the panoramic views and scenic vistas, the next time around travel from the self-proclaimed birthplace of craft beer in San Francisco to Santa Rosa to learn what makes the Nor Cal beer culture truly unique.

Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Brewing Company can be traced back to the California Gold Rush in 1849. They have maintained a high-level of craftsmanship for over 100 years with a year-round rotation of several seasonal and popular beers. Anchor Brewing Company is most known for their unique steam beer brewing techniques. Made from brewing larger yeasts at warmer fermentation temptations, the Anchor Steam was first brewed in 1896 and is still beloved today.

ThirstyBear Brewing Company

ThirstyBear Brewing Company is the first, and only, San Francisco brewery to to brew certified organic beer and become a certified Green Business. Celebrating 20 years in August, ThirstyBear is best known for their flagship brews, cask conditioned ales and barrel-aged releases taking a German influence on west coast brewing. Their brewpub serves up an array of Spanish tapas dishes and uniquely has launched a charcuterie and beer-pairing menu.

Cellarmaker

Cellarmaker has been making waves in the craft brewing industry for their small batches of experimental beers. Their rotating tap aims to include the perfect mixture of budding brews to provide a variety in their tasting room that compliments their different styles of brewing. This ever changing and evolving list of beers allows Cellarmaker to experiment with different hops, grains, barrels and yeasts. There is never a dull moment in their bustling taproom on Howard Street serving one-third of their beer on-site and the rest distributed to local bars and restaurants in the Bay Area.

21st Amendment Brewery

21st Amendment Brewery is aptly named after the constitution that ended prohibition. With a restaurant location a few blocks away from AT&T Park and a larger factory, tour and event space in San Leandro, the 21st Amendment Brewery has found a way to brew award-winning handcrafted house beers in an inviting gathering space. They are best known for their El Sully, a Mexican-style lager, but be sure to give the India-style Red Ale Toaster Pastry, the black IPA Back in Black or one of their seasonal beers a try.

Linden Street Brewery

Linden Street Brewery is dedicated to creating handcrafted beers made by head brewer Shane Aldrich with only the finest ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. While their rustic brewery exuded the industrial vibe of Oakland, they will soon be opening their new home in the city with a bigger indoor space to hold tasting tours and other on-site events. Expand your palate by giving the Thai Gose and rich Barrel Aged Imperial Porter a taste.

Drakes Brewing Co.

Drakes Brewing Co. (pictured at top) has had a longstanding love affair with the Bay Area. Over the years, their beers have adapted to the changing brewing styles and flavors of the West Coast to become one of the most sought after beers in California. Whether you are touring their brewery and barrelhouse in San Leandro, or swinging by Drakes Dealership restaurant for a flight and bite to eat in Oakland, their industrial vibe has struck a cord with locals as Drakes continues to expand.

Trumer Braueri

Trumer Braueri (pictured at top) is internationally renowned for their precise technique of creating an Austrian Pilsner with a sister brewery in Salzburg.

The Rare Barrel

Berkeley has quickly become a spot for experimentation and craftsmanship along the east shores of San Francisco Bay. The Rare Barrel has created a roster of all-sour beers dedicated to perfecting this unique fermentation process to create fruitful beers ages in oak barrels.

Triple Rock Brewing

A fair bit of brewing history can also be found within this college town, which has the fifth open and now oldest standing brewpub, Triple Rock Brewing along Shattuck Avenue.

Russian River Brewing Company

Beer lovers travel far and wide to make the pilgrimage to Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. Founded in 1997, they have quickly developed an almost cult like following of beer lovers flocking for a taste of some of their limited brews and batches. They are regarded as one of the most innovative microbreweries in the country and credited for inventing the Double India pale ale style (Imperial IPA). However there are a number of newer breweries on the scene that are quickly making their mark in Sonoma wine country.

Plow

The grit and ingenuity of Plow falls largely to the owner and brewmaster Kevin Robinson who has put his heart and soul into the outfitting and the construction of the brewery by hand. Set in an industrial park, Plow serves up four great beers in their relaxed taproom that has helped to name Santa Rosa as a world-class beer destination.

Cooperage

Just a stones throw away from Plow, Cooperage gives guests a livelier pub atmosphere in their brewery. A well-known home brewer in the area, Tyler Smith turned his passion into a career by making a standout range of beers influenced by Belgian, stout, porter, sour and other funky styles, bringing out the curt flavors of well-loved beer varieties in his own new way.

Fogbelt Brewing Company

Approaching beer making in a similar way to wine, Fogbelt Brewing Company follows the natural harvest season when it comes time to create their beer. Founded by Paul, the son of Sonoma County winemakers, and Remy, a UC Davis graduate in brewing, the Fogbelt Brewing Company has become an agricultural innovator in the beer industry, locally growing 400 of their own vines at the Fogbelt Hopyard in Healdsburg. Their beers rotate regularly and seasonally and are named after coast redwood trees as a tribute and are paired with their outstanding brewpub fare.

Bear Republic

Born from a passion and love for home brewing, Bear Republic has quickly grown to become one of the staples in Sonoma craft beer culture. Launched by third and fourth generation Sonoma County residents, this family owned brewery is known all over the state for their India Pale Ale Racer 5. Since their launch in 1995, Bear Republics roster of beers has continued to expand to now include year-round brews like the Big Bear Black Stout and the Hop Rod Rye as well as a selection of seasonal, barrel ages, limited edition and draft specialty beers. Their brewpub in Healdsburg, California infuses their dishes with their own brews.

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is one of Californias biggest beer exports producing nearly one million barrels of beer each year from their brewery in Chico. Best known for their Torpedo Extra IPA, this hoppy beer is aggressive on the palate with aromas of citrus, pine and tropical fruit. It is one of the highest selling IPAs in all of the USA; they produce over 180,000 barrels a year. Drop by their brewery and tap room for a tour of the decade old brewing process at Sierra Nevada. They offer daily guided and self-guided tours and tasting options based on your level of beer loving. The Engineering Tour takes a deeper look at the technological advances in their brewing process whereas the Beer Geek Tour, one of the more expensive options, offers guests a sensorial tasting experience, sampling a variety of beers throughout the tour straight from the tanks.

Caleigh Alleyne is a travel and lifestyle writer and editor of The Creators Commune.
Morning briefing: Reince Priebus: Trump plans no Muslim registry, but it's not ruled out
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Wealthy Americans are expected to look for new and safe homes

By: Residency Bond Program Ltd

1 2 3 Passport of of the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship of Cyprus Real estate Dominica

End

-- Many Americans were frenzied by president-elect Trump. The huge number of online searches on immigration to the north actually crashed Canada's Citizenship and Immigration website. However, immigration to Canada can be a difficult process  even for Americans. It isn't quite as simple as packing up and driving north.Events of the past months such as the attempted Turkish coup d'etat, terror attacks, Brexit and now the Trump presidency are having a serious impact on the thinking of wealthy people in alternative residence and citizenship."People are becoming uncertain and unsatisfied everywhere in the world," says Laszlo Gaal, founder and managing director of Residency Bond Program Ltd , a boutique immigration advisor firm that specialises in relocations for the wealthy. "Masses of poor people are headed to Europe to find a better and safer life, hoping to be satisfied in a wealthy country. Rich individuals face the same problem. The world is not safe, the future is unpredictable. Wealthy people are in the position to step on the way forward, seeking to resolve uncertainty and secure a safe future for their children. A second passport, or even a second residency, is also the key to a second  presumably safe  home."In times past, second passports were  like revolvers  the preserve of spy novels. Today, high net worth individuals see buying citizenship or residency rights "as a means to improving international mobility, tax planning, and family security," the IMF said in a report last year.A second passport is a mobility insurance policy for you and for your family. The situation may get bad in your native country. If you have a second passport in your pocket, you can show a clean pair of heels; you always have the right to live elsewhere.What are the best options for high net worth individuals looking for dual citizenship by investment? How good is a second passport? A passport is as good as many countries you can enter without a visa. However, the underlying citizenship is as good as the high level of safety and rights you gain.For example, citizens of Cyprus have the right to live, work and get an education within the European Union, in addition to visa-free travel to over 158 countries including Europe and Canada.Cyprus offers a high standard of life with access to reputable British schools, medical facilities and a highly favourable tax system. Cyprus enjoys a very low crime rate that is only one-tenth of the average rate of European countries. You are not required to live on the island prior to or during the application process, or even after citizenship has been granted. Citizenship of Cyprus will be obtained within 3-6 months. Any drawback? You should invest at least 2 million euro in a property for at least three years.At the opposite end, you can get a second passport by donating as little as 100,000 USD to the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Your donation will be part of a national capital mobilisation portfolio towards an ultimate goal of national development for Dominica. A passport of Dominica offers visa-free travel to 119 countries, including Hong Kong and European countries. It makes it easy to obtain visas to other countries. As a Commonwealth citizen, you and your family have the privilege to work and study in the United Kingdom. In addition, you can optimise your taxation as well.Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Dr. Didacus Jules, suggested that the Trump Presidency could provide a "special opportunity"for countries in the sub-region with citizenship programs.Citizenship-by-investment programs offer new citizenship and a second passport legally, relatively quickly and simply, without significant disruption to a client's life. Residency Bond Program Ltd selected the seven best citizenship programs in the world. Each of them is the best in one sense or another.
NOVAtime successfully provided Ohio Valley Manor a solution that easily integrates with their existing Payroll system, as well as providing them with a simple means to file their CMS PBJ reports.

NT7000 Smart Time Clock / Kiosk (Red Wallpaper)

Contact

Brian Meharry

sales@novatime.net

877.486.6682 Brian Meharry877.486.6682

End

-- NOVAtime Technology, Inc. ( http://www.novatime.com ), a forward thinking Workforce Management/Time & Attendance company, has provided a cloud-based Workforce Management Solution, capable of assisting with the Center of Medicaid Service's Payroll Based Journalism (CMS PBJ) reporting requirements, to Ohio Valley Manor.When Ohio Valley Manor, a healthcare facility providing a vast array of award-winning nursing, rehabilitation, and therapeutic services, went looking for a new Workforce Management Solution, they needed a system that would be able to integrate with their existing payroll system, Sage. After trying a solution that was unable to meet this requirement, Ohio Valley Manor found NOVAtime, which was effortlessly able to integrate with Sage using a custom-built payroll bridge. "After all the hassle we went through trying to integrate another system with Sage, it was so refreshing how simple it was to integrate NOVAtime with Sage," said Sarah Fite of Ohio Valley Manor.While Ohio Valley Manor originally went to Cincinnati Time Systems, an authorized NOVAtime reseller, searching for a system that could easily integrate with their payroll, NOVAtime was recently able to increase the usefulness of their NOVAtime 5000 Cloud Based SaaS solution by providing Ohio Valley Manor with a CMS PBJ reporting module, automating the often complex reporting requirements. Additionally, NOVAtime was able to accurately support the use of shift differentials, reducing the headache of tracking shift differentials manually. Ohio Valley Manor rounded out their NOVAtime solution with biometric clocks, completely eliminating the possibility of buddy punching.NOVAtime did not simply provide the solution; they were also able to provide the expertise and staff necessary to fully implement the PBJ reporting solution. "The assistance our Implementation Engineer, Paul, provided us with setting up our PBJ reporting module was invaluable. His patience and knowledge made the project possible," Sarah said.Through the ease of Payroll integration and the addition of easy PBJ reporting, NOVAtime was able to show Ohio Valley Manor what so many other NOVAtime customers know: NOVAtime does not only provide a boxed solution, but the expertise, knowledge, and support truly necessary to implement these solutions in a wide variety of environments.For more information on NOVAtime ( http://www.novatime.com ) and how they can help you streamline your workforce management needs, please emailor callOriginal post published here at http://www.prweb.com/ releases/2016/ 11/prweb13844078.htm
Contact

Lakshmi Ramarajan

***@expotrade- me.com Lakshmi Ramarajan

End

-- Continuing the success of the summit in Abu Dhabi this year, organizers Expotrade today announced the 6edition of the Middle East Smart Lighting and Design Summit 2017 will be held in Dubai. Bringing together lighting consultants, designers, architects, engineers, developers and government officials from across the GCC, the sixth edition of the summit will be held on 26-27 April 2017 at The Oberoi, Dubai.The event will lay a strong emphasis on public lighting, urban lighting and street lighting along with smart controls & automation. The summit will see experts speaking on topics pertaining to connected lighting - the future of lighting industry for smart living; importance of lighting in sustainable design; the essence of new age lighting controls; enhancing led street light performance with smart control systems and planning your led retrofits to achieve maximum energy savings.Industry reports indicate that in 2015, GCC region's LED market was worth US$900 million and over the next five years, the demand for LED technology is expected to grow by 16-17 per cent annually. The demand is fueled by government's smart lighting initiatives undertaken across all emirates. It is expected that by the year 2018, RTA will replace all street lights in Dubai with LED lights.said, "UAE leads the way in implementing smart public lighting initiatives that offer its residents an enhanced experienced of the city at night. The summit presents a platform to discuss all aspects pertaining to public, urban, street lighting and lighting controls and automation. At the 6Annual Middle East Smart Lighting and Design Summit, leading regional and international speakers will present case studies on integrated urban lighting strategy implemented in other regions."Experts including Tanas Khoury, CEO, Light Concept; Faraz Izhar, Senior Lighting Designer, KEO International Consultants;Martin Valentine, Lighting Expert, Executive Director Office, Abu Dhabi City Municipality and Gerald Strickland, Director, Middle East Lighting Association (MELA) are some of the speakers who have confirmed their participation at the summit in advance.The summit will also have leading lighting manufacturers showcase some of their most prominent products and applications to senior lighting consultants, designers and architects at the Smart Lighting lounge. The previous edition of the summit saw Bajaj Electricals, Philips, Facade Lighting, LCT-light stone, Telensa, ACS Wireless and Valmont to name a few, participate at the summit.At the close of the summit, Vyasan Bhaskar, Deputy Manager - International Sales, Bajaj Electricals Ltd, said, "It is a very well-coordinated event. It gave us an opportunity to interact on a one-on-one basis with several key personalities from the industry as well as from the Abu Dhabi City Municipality. Additionally, the topics covered at the event were very informative."More information on the summit is available now at http://www.lightingsummit.com/ . Follow the Summit on social media with the hashtag #MESLDS2017.Expotrade is a global conference and event organizer with its head office based in Melbourne, Australia and a regional office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Expotrade has delivered some of the largest, most successful B2B industry conferences and events. For almost 15 years, our unique blend of knowledge, experience and flexibility has accomplished an array of consistently top quality events. Today, Expotrade events enjoy such a distinctive edge, they are amongst the best patronized in the calendar.For more information, visit www.expotradeglobal.com
Prof. Debapratim Purkayastha, associate dean of ICFAI Business School Hyderabad, emerges as best-selling case author.

ICFAI Business School

End

-- Adding one more accolade to ICFAI, Prof. Debapratim Purkayastha associate dean of ICFAI Hyderabad grabbed top spot in best-selling case author at the United Kingdom-based Case Center's best selling case authors for the year 2015-2016.Among 8,000 case writers from across the world, who were currently registered with case center, list of top 40 designated author were selected. According to record about 19,000 copies of his case were sold last year which define expertise and excellence of Debapratim Purkayastha. The other best seller case authors were from international reputed B Schools like Harvard Business School, IMD, INSEAD, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. According to sources, each of these prestigious institutes bring their own perspective to the case method and the art of case writing.While talking to J. Mahender Reddy, the Vice-Chancellor of ICFAI University on this achievement he said, "To get enrolled in Case based Management Program at ICFAI Business School, a pioneer name among B schools in India ( http://admissions.ibsindia.org/ ibsat2016/landingpage/? utm... ), MBA aspirants have to fill IBSAT 2016 application form. Candidate can buy IBSAT 2016 application form from any marketing office or they can fill form online also.ICFAI Business School (IBS) (http://admissions.ibsindia.org/ibsat2016/landingpage/?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=prlog) is a constituent of ICFAI group and was incepted in 1995. Since then it is providing quality business and management programs and is one of the pioneer B School in India. IBS Business School provides globally accepted programs and 100% case based learning. MBA/PGPM Program offered by IBS Business School in 9 campuses across India. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune campuses provide PGPM program and Dehradun, Hyderabad and Jaipur provide MBA program.For more information about IBS Business School please visit http://ibsindia.org/ IBS Admissions Office# 65 Nagarjuna Hills, Punjagutta,Hyderabad  500082, TelanganaContact: 040-23440963SMS IBSAT2016 to 56363Toll Free: 1-800-425-55 66 77
Contact

Dunbar Jones & Associates

On behalf of Norwegian Seafood Council

***@dunbarjones.com.sg Dunbar Jones & AssociatesOn behalf of Norwegian Seafood Council

End

-- 28-year-old Chef Neo Poh Boon from Jaan has emerged the winner of the, which saw 15 young chefs from Singapore's top restaurants pitting their culinary skills in an intense three-hour cook-off on Saturday, 19of November.Wowing the judges with his impressive spread of Norwegian Seafood dishes, Chef Poh Boon has won a one-week internship tour to Norway, where he will get the chance to not only work directly under one of Norway's celebrated Michelin-starred chefs, but also to get up close to Norwegian aquaculture practices with visits to breathtaking Fjords to witness salmon farming in the cold, clear waters of Norway.Chef Poh Boon's creationsexemplified the culinary versatility of fresh Norwegian seafood and complemented the seafood with a creative play on ingredients. The main course of, which Honorary President Mentor and judge Chef Otto Weibel thought was executed exceptionally well and cooked to perfection, contained buckwheat that added texture to the dish. The fish was accompanied with marinated quinoa, yoghurt and confit lemon that made the dish light and refreshing. Overall, Chef Otto thought that Chef Poh Boon presented a great balance of flavours and textures across all three dishes.The contestants, all below the age of 32, hail from reputable leading restaurants across Singapore namely Anti:dote, Ash & Elm, Chef's Table, Esquina, Fairmont Singapore, Jaan, Labyrinth, Ocean, Odette, Ola, Osteria Art, Pete's Place, Sky on 57, Stellar at 1-Altitude, Waterboat House."Congratulations to Chef Poh Boon, who has certainly demonstrated not only great skill, but also a remarkable understanding of presenting fresh Norwegian produce in his winning dishes, and we look forward to broadening his culinary horizons with the exciting activities we have lined up for the trip to Norway," said Mr Jon Erik Steenslid, Regional Director of Southeast Asia, Norwegian Seafood Council, one of the judges present at the competition. "My deepest appreciation to all the finalists for their hard work, as well as their employers for recognising the importance of allowing their young talents to step up and participate in this competition,"he added.Also gracing the panel of judges were respected figures from Singapore's culinary scene, Chef Frederic Colin of Bistrot Gavroche Sydney, Chef Edmund Toh, President of Singapore Chefs Association, and Chef Markus Dybwad from Norway, who is currently based in Singapore.Established by the Norwegian Seafood Council in the name of Chef Otto Weibel to honour his tireless work in mentoring young culinary talents, theaims to promote Norwegian seafood among young, aspiring and upcoming chefs in Singapore and to support these talents in expanding their knowledge and culinary experience. The competition is hosted by the Norwegian Seafood Council, supported by the Singapore Chefs Association and co-hosted by ITE College West.
Zayed University celebrates innovation week with an array of activities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses

Contact

Sara Hassan

Media Relations Specialist

***@zu.ac.ae Sara HassanMedia Relations Specialist

End

-- As part of the UAE's National Innovation Strategy launched in October last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Zayed University celebrated innovation week with an array of activities in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses.The UAE innovation week, which aims to celebrate the best ideas on innovation from the spectrum of government and private sectors, started yesterday (Sunday) and will run until November 26 at Zayed University.Professor Reyadh AlMehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University, inaugurated the innovation week at Zayed University in Dubai campus yesterday (Sunday) in the presence of Dr Marilyn Roberts, Provost, Dr Abdel Mohsen Onsy, Associate Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Maitha Al Ali, Executive Director of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness and Chief Innovation Officer, Sadiq AlMulla, Chief Administration and Finance Officer, as well as various academic and administrative staff and a large number of students.As part of Zayed University's Innovation Week 2016, the Office of Graduate Studies hosted a lecture on strategic graduate enrollment management (SGEM), which was delivered by Dr Tom Green, Associate Executive Director, Consulting and SEM, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) in Abu Dhabi campus.Dr Green's presentation introduced deans of colleges and faculty members at Zayed University to the basics, benefits, and anticipated enrollment growth and the role of faculty in SGEM.The female promenade also saw the latest real time rendering engine technology that was displayed by the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (CACE). Using this technology, students will display their work building virtual worlds and interactive spaces. These spaces can be explored on traditional displays, or for a fully immersive experience, using virtual reality headsets.Guests were also able to see demonstrations of how CACE uses technology to bridge the different creative disciplines;product packaging designed in one course is then turned into digital 3D models in another course, and can be viewed in virtual reality using a mobile phone.Professor AlMehaideb praised innovative projects that were displayed by faculty members and students saying: "Zayed University has always been committed to discover students talents, encourage their innovation and creativity, and instill team spirit to create original and sustainable projects that benefit the university community and society alike. Therefore, innovation has been acknowledged as a fundamental quality and one of Zayed University's core objectives to respond in a quick and flexible way and remain competitive in a challenging market of innovative ideas."The College of Humanities and Social Science also featured their 'Digital Heritage' project in Dubai campus, which integrates technology systems for archaeological purposes and showcases the Emirati heritage in the upmost advanced technology on national, regional, and international levels.Developed by Stanford University's design school, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course taught now at the University College aims to equip the next generation of leaders in the UAE with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. Central to the course is the process of design thinking in order to help students become creative thinkers and innovative leaders.Therefore, the University College conducted an innovation competition in both campuses that will include the finalists from design thinking projects, who will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges to be rewarded and recognized.Zayed University is today the premier national university in the United Arab Emirates and a regional leader in educational innovation and change. It has created and implemented a skills-rich, outcome-based general education program that systemically develops student skills, knowledge, and values associated with liberal learning and provided a solid foundation for pursuit of disciplinary majors and future careers. Zayed University welcomes national and international students, and provides them with a high quality education, offered by seasoned teaching scholars to prepare them to shape the future of the United Arab Emirates.Zayed University offers Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in the following Colleges: College of Arts & Creative Enterprises (recognized as substantially equivalent by NASAD), College of Business (Accredited by AACSB), College of Communication & Media Sciences (Accredited by ACEJMC), College of Education (Accredited by NCATE), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.aeMedia contacts: Sara Sabry, Media Relations Specialist at the Office of the Vice President at Zayed UniversityDir-Tel: 025993630Mobile: 0566561059E-mail: Sara.Hassan@zu.ac.aeWeb: www.zu.ac.ae
Mimo Sevilla is the culinary company's second location in Spain

By: San Sebastian Food

Contact

Marti Buckley Kilpatrick

***@mimofood.com Marti Buckley Kilpatrick

End

-- San Sebastian Food has opened a new two-story gourmet shop and tour company in Sevilla, under the name Mimo Sevilla. The new venture is dedicated to celebrating the best of Sevilla and Andalusian cuisine and is located in the gorgeous landmark Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel.Mimo Sevilla offers a range of experiences designed to give visitors to Sevilla a taste of Andalucia: the Tapas Tasting Tour, the Definitive Ham & Sherry Experience, and the Spanish Food & Wine Tasting. The gourmet shop features artisan Spanish products, over 60% of which are from Sevilla and Andalucia. The second floor of the shop is devoted to wine (with a custom built vinoteca), jamon iberico, and olive oils, where clients can mix their own coupage from the monovarietal olive oils. All of the shop's product have been specially curated, with lots of care and mimo, the hallmark of Basque food that is spanish for the love you give a babyor a homemade dish."We are excited to offer our clients our services in a new city," says Jon Warren, managing director and founder of San Sebastian Food and Mimo Sevilla. "Mimo perfectly describes the way we strive to treat our guests, with lots of love and care. It felt like the perfect name for a business born of seven years of expertise, passion, and a desire to craft excellent experiences.""We believe that Mimo Sevilla and San Sebastian Food have their finger on the pulse of modern travel," said Carlo Suffredini, General Manager of the Hotel Alfonso XIII, A Luxury Collection Hotel. "We can now provide more value to our guests with the presence of a gourmet shop and food & wine experiences, helping them enjoy their stay in Sevilla even more."The Tapas Tasting Tour is the Andalusian equivalent of San Sebastian Food's Pintxo Tasting Tour, named one of the top-10 rated food tours in the world by Trip Advisor, where visitors taste local dishes at five of the city's best bars. The Definitive Ham & Sherry Experience and the Spanish Food & Wine Tasting are specially designed pairings, led by a wine expert, in the Tasting Room of Mimo Sevilla's second floor.For more information please visit mimofood.com or explore our social media for a taste: https://www.instagram.com/ mimosevilla/
Contact

EJR-Quartz

Lisa Guilpain

***@esa.int EJR-QuartzLisa Guilpain

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-- Nineteen months after the undersea-operations project was launched, DexROV has successfully completed its first funding review as part of the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme.In October, DexROV's seven consortium partners met with the Horizon 2020 funding board, supervised by Gabriel Mialocq, in Brussels to evaluate progress on the 5.3 million project. The DexROV review comes only a few months after the first testing and integration activities were successfully conducted in June this year. The European Commission is funding about 85 percent of the project."We have come to the point where we have successfully tested many of the critical technologies needed in DexROV. Partners are all moving together in the right direction. We think that the diversity of our testing, for offshore energy, archaeology and science, will show DexROV's relevance and effectiveness for many different types of applications. We are very much looking forward to validating all of these capabilities in deep sea," said Jeremi Gancet, the project coordinator for Space Applications Services, the Belgian company leading the consortium.The next major test for DexROV  an abbreviation for dexterous remotely operated vehicle  is scheduled for June 2017, when it will be deployed to a sea depth of 100 meters. The project's ultimate goal is to perform underwater operations at depths of up to 1.3 kilometres using a semi-autonomous ROV and a vessel equipped with a satellite communication link. This will be connected to an onshore control centre that operates the ROV using exoskeleton technologies.DexROV will greatly reduce the costs, hazards, and number of offshore personnel involved in underwater operations in the fields of energy, communications infrastructure, science, archaeology and shipwreck recovery by enabling delocalized supervision for deep-sea inspection and maintenance work.The European Commission launched its seven-year Horizon 2020 programme in 2014 as part of the Europe 2020 initiative to safeguard the region's global competitiveness and to promote economic growth. With almost 80 billion earmarked for the funding of selected projects, Horizon 2020 is the European Union's largest research and innovation programme ever."The project is progressing well. I have seen a lot of positive results at the review. There were very comprehensive presentations about the teleoperations and information sharing between the ROV and the piloting centres, and I look forward to seeing the next technical developments. We are interested in the planned focus on exploitation opportunities to help the people who might need this technology in the future learn more about its development,"said Mialocq, the European Commission's coordinator for the DexROV project.DexROV is subject to periodic reviews by the European Commission. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2018.For more detailed information on DexROV, visit the website at:Follow DexROV on Twitter:Follow DexROV on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DexROVOps/For more information on the Horizon 2020 programme, visit:https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/For media contact:Communications Manager, EJR-Quartz for DexROVEmail: info@dexrov.euTel: +49 0 175 118 1995
The agreement aims at providing UK based customers using Oracle technologies with a low-code, cost effective solution for developing enterprise-grade web applications.

Contact

Cristian Anechitei

***@tryfoexnow.com Cristian Anechitei

End

-- FOEX GmbH announces today the signing of a new partnership agreement with Zippy Zebra, an UK based software development company specialized in working with Oracle technologies.The partnership enables Zippy Zebra to diversify their portfolio of solutions to target new types of customers and at the same time strengthens FOEX's presence on the UK market for its low-code enterprise rapid application development solution, the FOEX Plugin Framework.Peter Raganitsch, the Chief Executive Officer of FOEX GmbH declared "We've been present on the market for sometime now and have experienced a growing interest for our solution in this region. Therefore, finding the right partner to work with us was an important next step to support our growth strategy. The agreement signed with Zippy Zebra supports both companies into achieving their business objectives for the future by allowing our customers to develop web applications much more efficiently''.Markus Lauda, the Sales Director of FOEX later added "This partnership enables us to enhance the scope of our main solution, FOEX Plugin Framework to the UK market and provide better support for our existing and potential new customers.""We are looking forward to our partnership with FOEX, we see this as a strategic move that will enhance our offerings to our clients. We believe this partnership will enable us to bring new clients into the world of Oracle APEX" stated Jonathan Rhind, the Director of Zippy Zebra Ltd.Zippy Zebra is a UK based company founded in 2006. We specialise in developing cost effective, scalable, web based solutions using Oracle Application Express (APEX). As well as our own packaged products we provide a range of services for designing, developing and delivering bespoke application systems.Customer focus is not a term we take lightly, it is our number one priority. We work hard to fully understand our customer's requirements achieving this by working closely with our customers, building good relationships and most importantly by simply listening. Zippy Zebra is proud to be an Oracle Gold Partner.For more information about Zippy Zebra, please visit http://www.zippyzebra.co.uk FOEX GmbH is an Austrian IT company founded in 2012 and based in Perchtoldsdorf (near Vienna, Austria). We are experts in developing plugins & add-ons which enhance the standard Oracle APEX platform, allowing developers to build the best products imaginable without the overheads from traditional software development.Our mission is to simplify the way enterprise-level applications are being built and provide a robust platform which enables developers to create such applications in a fast, easy and secure way. By using the FOEX Plugin Framework developers can significantly reduce the complexity of creating and maintaining data-heavy web applications, thus lowering IT costs and increasing efficiency.To learn more about FOEX, please visit http://www.tryfoexnow.com
State Debate: Racine Journal Times calls on Donald Trump to condemn vandalism, racist incidents done in his name
By: Rotary Club of Fort Myers South

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-- The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South recently raised $1236 from members to benefit ShelterBox, a humanitarian relief charity that assists survivors of disaster and humanitarian crises around the globe.ShelterBox provides humanitarian aid,emergency tent shelters and other supplies such as stoves, blankets, water filtration systems and other tools to help families rebuild their lives after losing their homes and possessions following a disaster such as earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict."You never know when the next disaster might strike," said Kerri Murray, president of ShelterBox USA. "With generous donations such as this one from the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, we can continue our mission of providing shelter, warmth and dignity to disaster survivors around the world."ShelterBox is currently responding to disasters in Haiti, Ecuador, Niger, Cameroon, Iraq, Tanzania and the Syrian region.Gerry Poppe, president of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, said, "The members of more than 33,000 Rotary Clubs around the world place value in the 'Service above self,' philosophy. We have a commitment to helping others in need."Those interested in supporting ShelterBox can make a tax-deductible donation at www.shelterboxusa.org or by mailing a check to 8374 Market St. #203, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202. For information or to make a contribution by phone, please call (941) 907-6036 ( tel:941%29%20907- 6036 ).Rotary Club of Fort Myers South has more than 130 members who are among the 1.3 million Rotarians worldwide. Service Above Self is the motto of Rotary International, which has contributed more than $1.2 billion and tens of thousands of volunteer hours toward polio eradication in addition to projects such as water quality, world peace and literacy. Meetings are held each Monday at 12:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza, 13051 Bell Tower Drive. For more information, visit www.rotarysouth.org.Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided humanitarian aidemergency tented shelter and other supplies, such as stoves, blankets and water filtration systems, among other tools to help families rebuild their lives after losing their homes and possessions following a disaster such as earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, among other tools for survival. ShelterBox's American affiliate, ShelterBox USA, is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. Individual tax-deductible donations to ShelterBox USA can be made at www.shelterboxusa.org or 941-907-6036.
Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its Stop Shop retail park portfolio with the acquisition of eight locations in Slovakia and Hungary. The purchase price for these properties totals approx. 79.0 million. The newly acquired retail parks have an occupancy rate of roughly 98% and generate annual rental income of

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Yamaha FZ25 and KTM Duke 250 were launched a few days back in the 250 cc entry level sport motorcycle segment. Now on sale across India, it will be interesting to see how these two motorcycles compete with each other. In this post, we will show you how the two rivals fare on paper.

Along with that, we also have two special videos, thanks to PowerDrift  which show the 0-60 kmph, 0-100 kmph and top speed time videos of both the bikes.

KTM Duke 250

Talking about the new KTM Duke 250, it carries a similar styling update as seen on the Duke 125 and the Duke 390. In the front is a similar headlight cluster as before, with the addition of new LEDs. It does not get the bifurcated headlight like the we saw on the Duke 390. Paint job is same as that of the new Duke 390. It also gets the new exhaust system as the belly mounted exhaust is no longer to be seen.

Powered by a 248.8 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine is essentially a downsized version of 390s 373.2 cc mill. The motor which tips the scales at just 37.2 kg produces a healthy 31.3 PS and 24 Nm of torque. A 6-speed transmission is mated to the motor by means of a slipper clutch.

Like the new 390, the quarter litre KTM employs steel trellis frame, WP inverted telescopic front fork, rear monoshock. Duke 250 has a kerb weight of 139 kg. In India it is not offered with ABS, and Metzeler tyres. It comes with MRF RevZ tyres. Another point worth mentioning is that the Duke 250 does not get the technological updates which the Duke 390 received. For eg, the smart touchscreen instrument panel.

Yamaha FZ250

New Yamaha FZ25 gets a similar styling as seen on the current FZ 150 But that is where the similarity ends. Built from the ground-up by Yamaha India R&D, new FZ25 is priced at just INR 1.2 lakh, which is about INR 55,000 lesser than the KTM Duke 250. This makes the Yamaha FZ25 a brilliant value for money preposition.

Talking about the engine, it is powered by a 250 cc air cooled FI engine. This engine delivers 20.9 hp power and 20.4 Nm torque via a 5 speed gear box. This when compared to what the KTM Duke 250 has to offer, seems very inferior. But, as in the real world conditions, the two are not very different when it comes to comparing 0-60 kmph, 0-100 kmph acceleration numbers. Same is the case when it comes to comparing top speed.

KTM Duke 250 does a 0-60 kmph in 3.44 seconds, 0-100 kmph in 8.64 seconds and has a top speed of 142 kmph. On the other hand, Yamaha FZ25 does a 0-60 kmph in 3.37 seconds, 0-100 kmph in 8.58 seconds and a top speed of 142 kmph. Yes. Hard to believe. Right?

Also Read  KTM Duke 250 Review  Is it a worthy Duke 200 upgrade?

Surprisingly the more affordable Yamaha FZ25 is not only matching the Duke 250 on top speed, it is also quicker than the KTM do do 0-60, and 0-100 kmph. Watch the two videos below from PowerDrift and see for yourself.

KTM Duke 250 0-60, 0-100, Top Speed Video

Yamaha FZ25 0-60, 0-100, Top Speed Video

Yamaha FZ25  Photos

KTM Duke 250  Photos
Volkswagen India has confirmed that it will be launching the much-awaited Tiguan All Space on 6th March and T-Roc SUV on 18th March

The T-Roc had made its Indian debut at VWs media night, just before the 2020 Auto Expo and now VW has disclosed the launch date of the mid-size SUV. VW will be bringing in the T-Roc as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and it will go on sale from 18th March, 2020.

Volkswagen will be selling the T-Roc only with a petrol motor and there will be no diesel engine on offer. It will draw its power from a 1.5 litre BS 6 emission norms compliant TSI petrol motor. The engine will be able to dish out 148 bhp and 240 Nm of max torque, and will come mated to a 7-speed DSG unit as standard.

The T-Roc will be a feature packed product and will include multiple creature comfort features. These would include, Vienna leather upholstery, touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, start/stop button, a panoramic sunroof, dual zone Climatronic AC and much more.

On the safety front, being a VW product, the T-Roc wont disappoint. It will come with a host of safety features. These would include ESC (Electronic Stability Control), TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System), ABS, reverse parking camera, park distance control and 6 air bags for safety of occupants. Upon launch, the T-Roc will be competing with the likes of Jeep Compass and Hyundai Tuscon. Pricing is expected to be around the INR 20 lakh mark.

Under its India 2.0 strategy, Volkswagen (along with Skoda) is committed to bring in multiple new products for the Indian market. The T-Roc is part of a long list of SUVs which VW intends to bring in to the country. Considering the segment, we dont expect the T-Roc to be a big number churner for Volkswagen, however its other planned products like the Taigun certainly have the potential to turn things around for the German carmaker.

The Taigun will be a compact SUV which will be based upon the India-specific MQB AO-IN platform and will compete with the likes of Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. Other upcoming SUV launch from VW happens to be the VW Tiguan All Space which is scheduled for a launch on 6th March, 2020. Tiguan All Space is a larger, 7 seater variant of the Tiguan which is currently on sale in India. It will rival the likes of Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, etc.
In a race to topple Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai India have announced a major stepping stone. The second largest Indian car manufacturer has surpassed the 7 million production mark. The South Korean brand achieved this milestone in 18 years, much faster than Maruti Suzuki, who is the only other car company that has produced more than 7 million cars in India.

A major contributor to these 7 million cars was the Hyundai Santro, which was discontinued in January 2015. Hyundais i10 is also a noteworthy contributor from among current models in production while Grand i10, the new i20 Elite and Active, along with Creta and Eon have played a major role in Hyundai achieving this feat so fast.

Hyundai India started car production from their plant in Chennai back in 1998. The first millionth was produced in 2006, taking 8 years. With the company picking pace, every next million took lesser time to come out of the plant. The company aims to produce their 10 millionth car by first half of 2021.

The 7 millionth car was a Creta AT. MD, Mr. Y.K Koo was in the passenger seat, and VP production, Mr. Ganesh Mani S. in the drivers seat when the car rolled off the production line earlier today.

Of a total of 2.6 million passenger vehicles sold in India during FY15, 1.17 million units were sold by Maruti Suzuki while 420,668 unit sales were contributed by Hyundai Motors during the same period. Hyundai Motors, the largest exporter of passenger vehicles in the country, currently operates from two plants in Chennai with total capacity of 680,000 units per annum. A third plant is also in the offing which would considerably add to company growth in the future.

News Release

The new Hyundai RN30 Concept
Setting out four months ago in a 2004 Mahindra Maxi Cab, Joerik and Pauline have come to the end of their adventure travel from Kerala to Holland. They have tackled various landscapes across India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Europe and have finally arrived home in Holland.

Their adventures in the 2004 Mahindra Maxi Cab commenced when they quit their jobs and left home. It was a giant step to take but their journeys across desert, sun, sand, snow and rain besides the treacherous Himalayas have left them ecstatic and elated.

They started their travel adventures in July 2015 when they backpacked across India, Nepal and Indonesia. Mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the region, the people they met on the way and some exciting and trying experiences they faced left them a great deal cleverer and a whole lot closer to each other.

The couple had been together for four years, but it was on the banks of the holy river Ganga that Joerik got down on his knees and proposed to Pauline while they got married in Ubud, Bali on December 12, 2015.

The duo now started getting ready to head home, back to The Netherlands. This is where the Mahindra Maxi comes in. The duo did not want to end their journey in India by flying back home. Instead they decided to drive home to their country in a Mahindra Maxi Cab.

The planning of the trip entailed a whole lot of research, accumulation of details of the vehicle, procurement of visas and planning of routes. The couple spent time collecting necessary equipment such as pots, pans, bed linen, gas stoves and also worked on crowd funding, set up a facebook page, logo and other things.

Joerik and Pauline have now completed their 13,560 km road trip. The adventure was not undertaken to accomplish any record but has created some unforgettable memories for the couple, some of which they will cherish for life.

Below are some photos from their journey.

For a detailed report, please visit their Facebook page  Bring Us Home
Launched in October last year, Mahindra is celebrating the first anniversary of their flagship motorcycle  Mojo by launching the new Mojo Tourer Edition. Though this edition was launched back in October 2016, we have now managed to get images of this edition in the new Sunburst Yellow Mojo.

The new Mahindra Mojo Tourer Edition comes with six additional, and much-needed accessories for those riders who are always on the explore mode when riding their bikes.

The six new acceries on offer are 

 Magnetic Tank Bag

 Saddle Bag and Carrier

 Mobile Holder

 Front Guard

 Pannier Mount

 Fog Lamp and Mount

New Mojo 300 cc motorcycle has successfully managed to uplift the brands image in the two wheeler segment. The first true adventure tourer in the segment, Mahindra wants more and more people to join their idea of adventure and freedom on two wheels, called the Mojo Tribe.

To promote the same, Mahindra has launched first short film titled Born for the Road. Created by Flying Cursor and directed by Littil Swayamp Paul, the campaign was shot in Rajasthan by IKIGAI Collective. You can watch the video below.

Mahindra Mojo is powered by a fuel injected 295 cc single cylinder liquid cooled engine which generates peak power of 27 bhp at 8,000 rpm and peak torque of 30 Nm at 5,500 rpm. Mated to a six-speed gearbox, Mahindra Mojo comes with upside down forks in the front, mono shock rear suspension, Pirelli tyres, disc brakes, dual exhaust, twin headlamps, analogue/digital instrument console, large 21-liter fuel tank and a comfortable riding posture.

Mahindra has designed the Mojo as an adventure tourer which is ready to go on long road trips, whatever be the road condition. Mahindra is actively working towards making the Mojo even more versatile. They have already confirmed the launch of a more versatile motorcycle based on Mojo in 2 years time.
Employers who are looking to hire creative problem-solvers should consider candidates with strong curiosity traits, and personality tests may be one way to tease out those traits in prospective employees, new research from Oregon State University shows.

People who showed strong curiosity traits on personality tests performed better on creative tasks and those with a strong diversive curiosity trait, or curiosity associated with the interest in exploring unfamiliar topics and learning something new, were more likely to come up with creative solutions to a problem, the researchers found.

The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that testing for curiosity traits may be useful for employers, especially those seeking to fill complex jobs, said Jay Hardy, an assistant professor in OSU's College of Business and lead author of the study.

As workplaces evolve and jobs become increasingly dynamic and complex, having employees who can adapt to changing environments and learn new skills is becoming more and more valuable to organizations' success, he said.

"But if you look at job descriptions today, employers often say they are looking for curious and creative employees, but they are not selecting candidates based on those traits," said Hardy, whose research focuses on employee training and development. "This research suggests it may be useful for employers to measure curiosity, and, in particular, diversive curiosity, when hiring new employees."

The findings were published recently in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Co-authors are Alisha Ness of University of Oklahoma and Jensen Mecca of Shaker Consulting Group.

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Past research has shown that curiosity is a strong predictor of a person's ability to creatively solve problems in the workplace. But questions remain about how, why and when curiosity affects the creative process, Hardy said. The latest research helps to pinpoint the type of curiosity that best aids creative problem-solving.

Diversive curiosity is a trait well-suited to early stage problem-solving because it leads to gathering a large amount of information relevant to the problem. That information can be used to generate and evaluate new ideas in later stages of creative problem-solving. Diversive curiosity tends to be a more positive force.

On the other hand, people with strong specific curiosity traits, or the curiosity that reduces anxiety and fills gaps in understanding, tend to be more problem-focused. Specific curiosity tends to be a negative force.

For the study, researchers asked 122 undergraduate college students, to take personality tests that measured their diversive and specific curiosity traits.

They then asked the students to complete an experimental task involving the development of a marketing plan for a retailer. Researchers evaluated the students' early-stage and late-stage creative problem-solving processes, including the number of ideas generated. The students' ideas were also evaluated based on their quality and originality.

The findings indicated that the participants' diversive curiosity scores related strongly to their performance scores. Those with stronger diversive curiosity traits spent more time and developed more ideas in the early stages of the task. Stronger specific curiosity traits did not significantly relate to the participants' idea generation and did not affect their creative performance.

"Because it has a distinct effect, diversive curiosity can add something extra in a prospective employee," Hardy said. "Specific curiosity does matter, but the diversive piece is useful in more abstract ways."

Another important finding of the research, Hardy noted, is that participants' behavior in the information-seeking stage of the task was key to explaining differences in creative outcome. For people who are not creative naturally, a lack of natural diversive curiosity may be overcome, in part, by simply spending more time asking questions and reviewing materials at the early stages of a task, he said.

"Creativity to a degree is a trainable skill," he said. "It is a skill that is developed and can be improved. The more of it you do, the better you will get at it."
For the first time, Smithsonian researchers and collaborators have designed a marine reserve network to protect species threatened by overfishing while boosting fishing yields on nearby fishing grounds, resolving a long-standing global "conserve or catch" conflict in marine conservation efforts.

A team led by scientists from the Smithsonian's Marine Conservation Program report in the journal Conservation Letters Nov. 17 that they have designed a model network of marine reserves off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, which can support the long-term preservation of spiny lobsters within the country's waters while also increasing fishing yields of the species in fishing areas outside the reserves' borders.

"Placing marine reserves across existing fishing grounds can often be very contentious," said Stephen Box, senior author on the study and lead marine biologist of the Marine Conservation Program at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Fla., a marine biodiversity and ecosystem research center of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. "Fishers may oppose plans they see as taking away a large proportion of their fishing area, which could threaten their income without clear benefits being apparent. Our design approach resolves this point of tension showing that it is possible to design reserve networks that provide measurable benefits to fishers, improving catches while sustaining the target population. This really is important as it can help align fisheries stakeholders and conservation practitioners behind a joint plan, removing a key obstacle to reaching sustainable conservation successes with economically important marine species."

Fully protected marine reserves are an important tool for managing the ocean's resources. By protecting the plants and animals that live within them, reserves protect a portion of exploited populations to recover and persist for future generations. But increasingly, researchers and conservationists are recognizing that for these reserves to succeed, they must balance their long-term conservation goals with the more immediate needs of local communities. Economic and sustainability objectives are often seen as being in conflict with one another, but according to the authors of the new study, both can and should be considered during the initial planning of a new reserve network and can be balanced effectively.

"We want to protect [the ocean's resources] so they will be available in the future, but we also want to let people keep using them," said Iliana Chollett, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the Marine Conservation Program and at the University of California, Davis.

Designing a reserve that will benefit local fisheries requires deep knowledge of the ecosystem and the species the reserve is designed to protect. With reliable data about animal behavior and ocean currents, computer models can calculate how a reserve will affect the abundance of a particular species in fishing areas outside its boundaries, as well as the reserve's impact on long-term sustainability. Such models have been used to assess existing or proposed reserves, but because they require massive amounts of data and intense computer processing, they have been considered impractical for use in the design phase to identify the best locations to place a new reserve network.

Chollett, whose research aims to find alternatives to dangerous and unsustainable fishing practices that are currently used in Latin America and the Caribbean, knew it would take a lot of time and effort to use this approach to design a new reserve -- but she believed it could be done. She and her colleagues set out to design a network of reserves to restore and preserve populations of spiny lobsters in the waters off the northeastern coast of Honduras. The spiny lobster is the most economically valuable marine resource in the Caribbean and a key component of the commercial fishery in Honduras, but its numbers are believed to be threatened due to overfishing.

Researchers from the Smithsonian Marine Station, Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of California, Davis and the University of Queensland worked together to collect and analyze the relevant biological and oceanographic data. Their analysis incorporated marine biologists' findings about how spiny lobsters grow, reproduce and die and how adult lobsters move across the ocean floor. Data about ocean currents, which can carry and distribute tiny lobster larvae far from the places where they hatch, and habitat maps of the seafloor were also essential.

The team used these data to determine where in the ocean lobster populations would increase if particular patches were protected by reserves and how these areas would seed and spill over into fished areas. They ran the model repeatedly, using the Smithsonian's high-performance computer to predict the effect of numerous reserve networks in order to optimize the design. They found that by protecting 20 percent of the fishing grounds, they could ensure the long-term survival of the lobster population while also increasing the numbers of lobsters expected to inhabit local fishing areas available to the local fishers. A crucial finding was that the network enabled a sustainable fishery only if current levels of fishing effort remain stable into the future.

Chollett says the reserve network that the team has designed could be an important component in a larger effort to introduce models and strategies to improve Honduran fishing practices and make them more sustainable. She also hopes the approach will be broadly applied to the design of marine reserves around the world.
Breastfeeding is a topic that creates discussion and at times even controversy. However, some basic questions about its biology still remain. For instance, does successful infant feeding depend on the mechanics of the breast and, conversely, does breast health depend on breastfeeding? It has been virtually impossible to study these complex dynamics and the delicate interplay that makes breastfeeding possible, but a pair of researchers are working together to build a biomimetic breast that will allow scientists to study how the breast behaves during its primary function: infant feeding. Nicole Danos, an assistant professor of biology at the University of San Diego, and her collaborator, Rebecca Z. German, a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Northeastern Ohio Medical University, are working together to address a gap in our understanding of breastfeeding mechanics.

The work will be presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics held in Portland, Oregon, Nov. 20-22, 2016.

The idea that mechanics is critical for controlling milk production and flow is already well understood and there is even evidence that it might contribute to breastfeeding's protective function against cancer. Work done by German has provided significant improvements in our understanding of how infants coordinate sucking, breathing and swallowing and what happens during some of the most common neurological traumas of the head and neck in infants. What has been missing is an understanding of the paired mother-infant interaction. This is especially true in an evolutionary context, where there is a need to better understand how important the gland's anatomy and mechanical properties are to infant feeding and how, in turn, infant feeding controls lactation. The development of a biomimetic breast would allow study of this complicated but very basic biological function.

A biomimetic breast is a working model that mimics the form, structure and function of a lactating breast. The first phase will include several iterations of feeding bottles that will have varied exterior wall stiffness and diameter of the tubes through which the milk flows. In the next phase, they want to increase the complexity of the device to add structures that mimic some of the supportive connective tissues. "The strength of our approach, though, lies in the use of the breast device with an animal model of infant feeding along with cutting edge imaging techniques to visualize both milk flow and the function of soft and hard structures in the infant mouth and larynx," Danos said.

This research will fill a void in how we study lactation mechanics. Studying lactation with real mother-infant pairs presents two challenges: Visualizing the flow and tissue mechanics is either impossible or very difficult, and manipulating the mechanical properties of the maternal gland in a controlled way that gets at the factors significantly affecting infant feeding cannot be done. Developing a biomimetic breast will allow both while working in the lab under controlled conditions, and researchers can finally get at what the natural mechanics of breastfeeding look like. Data from these studies will provide the controlled mechanical environment for studies of breast cancer mechanobiology. They may also lead to better feeding bottles for infants and milk pumps for both humans and agricultural mammals. "Our research could even lead to the design of infant feeding devices that closely mimic natural breastfeeding allowing other caretakers, like dads, to feed infants without the limitations of bottle feeding which can be especially critical for infants with health problems," Danos said.
Investigators hit the jackpot when they discovered that a cell phone belonging to the suspect in a Reedsburg drug case had saved more than 1,000 of her conversations.

The recordings assisted Sauk County prosecutors in bringing criminal charges against 31-year-old Kelly A. Merfeld of Reedsburg.

Digital forensic experts say they have never heard of anything similar to Merfelds case, but that it is not outside the realm of possibility.

According to the criminal complaint, police began to collect and search trash from Merfelds mobile home in March 2015 after they learned from informants that her live-in boyfriend, 34-year-old Derek R. Harvey, was a heroin dealer.

The trash allegedly contained numerous drug-related items. And a raid on the trailer later turned up an assortment of drug-related paraphernalia, more than 30 grams of heroin, and $10,000 in cash.

But when she was interviewed by a detective, Merfeld claimed she did not know her boyfriend was using or dealing drugs.

Merle even told a detective she had not noticed a heroin rock and razor blade sitting in her bathroom cabinet next to her prenatal vitamins. Merfeld said she very seldom used this portion of the cabinet and said the pills she used were in the kitchen, a detective reported.

During the search, officers confiscated Merfelds cell phone. And according to the complaint, she gave them permission to search it.

A detective later learned that the phone had been recording incoming and outgoing calls, and he was able to listen to over 1,000 conversations.

The recordings allegedly included multiple conversations between Merfeld and Harvey in which they openly discussed his drug dealing. Merfeld complained of drug traffic coming and going from the trailer.

In one conversation, she allegedly spoke with Harvey as a police car followed her through Reedsburg. Harvey asked her if she had thrown it out the window yet and encouraged her to crotch it, according to the complaint.

Harveys case has since been resolved, and he is serving a 2 -year prison sentence for heroin possession with intent to deliver.

Its unclear exactly how Merfelds phone might have recorded so many conversations, or if she intended it to do so. The Reedsburg detective who made the discovery was not available for comment Friday.

She has been charged with one felony count of maintaining a drug home and a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer. The felony carries a maximum penalty of 3 1/2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Robert Namowicz, a Milwaukee-based certified computer forensic examiner, said cell phones can record conversations if their owner  or someone who intends to spy on them  installs the correct software.

However, he said, cell phones dont keep copies of conversations unless they are programmed to do so.

You cant go back into a phone and grab conversations if theyre not already residing on the phone, Namowicz said.

Michigan-based expert Larry Dalman, who has been doing computer and cell phone forensics analyses since 1998, said most people would be amazed at the personal information that can be gleaned from their smart phones.

For example, he said, if a person walks into a McDonalds and their phone automatically connects to the restaurants WiFi, their phones location is time-stamped. Its those small pieces of data that can be valuable to law enforcement, or others who know how to access the data.

Dalman said he once received a phone call from his son, who lives in Virginia.

He said, You and mom are in the living room and youre watching Sons of Anarchy on TV, Dalman said.

As a gag, his son had downloaded software onto his fathers phone that allowed him not only to remotely track its location, but to activate its microphone and listen in.

Dalman said its nearly impossible for someone to conceal what has been on their phone without completely restoring the device to its factory settings.

You delete your text messages and you think youre safe, Dalman said. Someone like me is going to get that back.
Note to elite swimmers: Are you looking for a competitive edge in the hydrodynamics of your front crawl? Start by considering your stroke. If you are paddling, swimming with fingers pressed together like a blade, try spreading your fingers apart and rake the water for greater efficiency. The rake position of spread fingers increases the drag of the hand and reduces the slip velocity between the hand and the water. This diminishes the power dissipated for propulsion and as a result, increases your swimming efficiency.

That's the conclusion of new research from the Netherlands in which a team of fluid dynamicists built and printed a 3-D hand model using the public domain software Make Human, tested it in wind tunnel experiments and then combined those results with computer-based fluid dynamics simulations. While previous studies suggested spread fingers do, in fact, boost swimming efficiency, this is the most comprehensive evidence to support the concept. The team presents their findings at the American Physical Society annual meeting, Division of Fluid Dynamics, held Nov. 20-22 in Portland, Oregon.

The increase in efficiency from spread fingers is small, offering 2 to 5 percent increase in the drag coefficient related to the thrust that powers a swimmer. "However, when you are a top swimmer, this very small effect, only a few percent, can make the difference between a gold medal and no medal at all," said doctoral student Josje van Houwelingen, a swimmer herself, who does research at Eindhoven University of Technology as part of a team that also includes researchers from Delft University of Technology and the J.M. Burgers Centre for Fluid Dynamics in the Netherlands.

Spreading the fingers gives a small efficiency advantage by obstructing flow with the spaces created between spread fingers. This increase in drag also increases thrust. The higher the drag coefficient, the more efficient the pull.

Researchers measured force and torque under five different conditions of finger spread in which the thumb remained in a fixed position. Measurement began with the closed position of 0 degrees all digits pressed together, similar to a paddle and fingers spread progressively wider through 5 degrees intervals to a maximum of 20 degrees of spread.

They took measurements on various spread conditions in both the wind tunnel and through numeric modeling. Because air and water both behave as fluids, a wind tunnel seemed an ideal setting for a fine-grained force analysis of a hand swimming in water, using two force sensors fitted in tandem.

Results favored a spread finger position. Compared to a closed paddle hand position, even the smallest spread-finger hand position of 5 degrees enhanced the drag coefficient by 2 percent in the numerical simulation, and by 5 percent in the wind tunnel experiment. Investigators also found the optimal finger spreading of 10 was the same in experimental and numerical simulations.

While the day-to-day practical effects may be small, given the few swimmers who swim well enough to benefit, the team sees a wider philosophical and aspirational benefit to this finding. "It may inspire other swimmers who are not Olympic-caliber to think about fluid dynamics, and contemplate the fluctuating forces which their hand and fingers experience while doing those boring laps."

The findings also set the stage for the next phase of research in which drag is analyzed under conditions of acceleration. Explains the team: "We will next put our hands in a big water tank and make realistic swimming movements using a robot, and again, combine this with numerical simulations."
Have you ever taken a good look at a cat's tongue? If so, you may have noticed the tiny, sharp "spines" on its surface.

Watching her cat lick a thick, microfiber blanket and immediately become stuck tongue out was all it took to inspire Alexis Noel, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, working in the Hu Biolocomotion Lab at Georgia Tech, to explore the odd "spines" she noticed while helping to disentangle her cat.

If you've never looked closely at a cat's tongue, imagine that it's covered in tiny Velcro-like hooks and as it glides over fur, these hooks catch tangles and snags. "When the cat's tongue hits a snag, it pulls on the hooks, which rotate to penetrate the snag even further. Like a heat-seeking missile for snags, the hook's mobility allows the cat to better tease tangles apart," said Noel.

During the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD), being held Nov. 20-22, in Portland, Oregon, Noel will describe this concept, which she likens to using stiff versus soft hairbrushes, and what it might enable.

"A typical hairbrush has spines that stick straight out. When hair collects on the brush it forms a thick mat that must be removed by hand," Noel explained. "In comparison, the cat's flexible spines make it easier to clean. When not in use, the spines on a cat tongue lie nearly flat against its surface, like overlapping shingles. This configuration provides openings in a single direction, enabling the mat of hair around the bristles to be removed with a single finger swipe. These openings face the cat's throat and [are] also why cats swallow their hair and end up with hairballs."

Taking the concept to the lab and using macro- and high-speed videography equipment, Noel and colleagues were able to zoom in and observe the unique shape and flexibility of the tongue spines during grooming. "In terms of shape and sharpness, it reminds me of cat claws. And this opens yet another question of why all claws are shaped so similarly," Noel said.

To help explore their theories, the researchers became the first group to 3-D print a cat tongue mimic at 400% scale.

What did they learn? "Both the cat tongue and mimic are very good at cleaning and removing tangles in fur samples," she said. "We also discovered that the cat tongue is self-cleaning it's easy to remove hair beneath the spines by simply brushing the tongue from tip to end."

This may have important implications for the world of soft robotics, in which researchers are still struggling to find ways for soft materials to grip surfaces. "The cat tongue is flexible, but it can pull apart tangles in fur," Noel said. "So we're trying to develop a cat tongue-inspired surface based on our 3D-printed mimic. The flexibility of cats' tongue spines may have broad-reaching applications from an easy-to-clean hairbrush to wound cleaning within the medical field."

Next, the group plans to explore how the spacing of cat tongue spines affects frictional resistance. "With this knowledge, we can develop a hairbrush suitable for human grooming," said Noel. "We'd also like to study the tongues of tigers, lions and other large cats to understand how tongue spines scale across the cat family."

In the meantime, Noel and colleagues are planning to develop the cat tongue mimic technology through the Innovation Corps at Georgia Tech and talk to consumers, beauty specialists and medical device specialists around the U.S. about application opportunities. "We've already submitted a technology disclosure form and intend to file a patent within the next year," she added.
A team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, exploring how air bubbles rise within a complex fluid, like those found while processing wet concrete, wondered if they could actually get them to sink instead by shaking the mixture in the right way.

During the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD), being held Nov. 20-22, in Portland, Oregon, Randy Ewoldt, an assistant professor who runs the Ewoldt Research Group in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, and Jeremy Koch, a doctoral candidate, will present their work studying bubbles within complex fluids.

"Certain complex fluids are 'solid-like' when you don't push on them very hard," Koch explained. "One consequence of this is that they can trap air bubbles and hold them in place indefinitely."

This phenomenon begs the question: How do you get the air bubbles to move? "We can stir the fluid and move the bubbles around manually, or we can also put the fluid's container on a centrifuge and force the bubbles out," Koch said. "How does the centrifuge make this happen, and why do the bubbles move in the direction that they do? By understanding those questions, we'll be able to describe how to move the bubbles in other directions."

In terms of the basic concepts behind the group's work, one is acceleration, which requires force. "Shaking, aka 'accelerating,' a container of liquid creates a pressure force through the liquid," Ewoldt said. "The air bubbles inside are along for the ride and feel the same force as the liquid, but at a lower density so the force they feel is 'larger' than needed to match the liquid acceleration. When this force counteracts buoyancy, it can potentially move air bubbles downward within the surrounding fluid."

To put their theories to the test, the group introduced bubbles and solid spheres with diameters on the order of a few millimeters into fluids of various thicknesses. They used a rigid container to control the movement of the immersed particles.

Their results revealed the necessary conditions and fluid properties to prevent or produce the sinking motion of the bubbles and heavy particles both with and against gravitational forces.

"Complex fluids are actually quite common in everyday life, from whipped cream to custard to pumpkin pie and fresh concrete," Ewoldt said. "All of these materials can be sculpted into a shape (in a liquid state) and hold their shape even under gravity (as a solid)."

In other words, their work shows that rigid-body accelerations affect buoyancy and weight in the same way gravity does. "But you can't simply accelerate a container indefinitely in one direction, so we focused on periodic motion: the container returns to its initial position and speed after a certain time interval," Koch said.

They demonstrated a scenario in which bubbles sink while dense steel spheres rise, which is counterintuitive to common expectations of how buoyancy works. Intuition says bubbles will rise and steel objects will sink within the liquids, although they found the exact opposite was true. "Archimedes' famous law of buoyance doesn't consider accelerations or 'complex' fluids," Ewoldt said.

This made the group wonder: Has it really taken humans this long to reveal this basic behavior? And, if so, what else are we missing?

There are countless applications for suspensions within real-world fluids and, thanks to this work, more information is now available to help make better decisions. When the motion involved is periodic, does it mean the effect is cancelled out? "If viscosity is constant, the answer is yes," Ewoldt said. "But if viscosity isn't constant if it changes the more you flow the fluid the answer is no."
Wind energy is a key part of the global energy future, expanding rapidly throughout the world in onshore and offshore settings. But to be sustainable, large scale, multi-megawatt (multi-MW) wind farming's economic efficiencies need to be maximized and knowing where to place the turbines within the wind farm is a first step.

Without proper and strategic placement of wind turbines, the low-speed wind behind turbines, called a wake, decreases the efficiency of the wind farm. Wind tunnel tests have been used to guide placement, but their conditions are not representative of the complex flow behaviors in the field conditions of actual wind farms. So the question is, how to overcome this?

Bring on the drones. Moreover, design novel instrumented drones with a suite of sensors capable of gathering precise field data in the complex flow and terrain of an actual wind farm.

This was the approach of researchers from Switzerland. Team members with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich developed novel instrumented drones that made high-resolution measurements of wind speed, wind direction and turbulence encountered in actual wind farms. Results show detailed flow behaviors around the wind turbines, useful for developing simulation tools that can be used to optimize placement of wind turbines within the wind farms. This offers the turbines the most efficient use of the wind resource.

The researchers represent an interdisciplinary collaboration of hardware and software experts including aerodynamics, atmospheric flow physics, energy technology and materials science. They present their findings at the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics annual meeting, Nov. 20-22, in Portland, Oregon.

"In wind farms, the power output of wind turbines can decrease by up to 40 percent if the wind turbines are in the wake of upstream wind turbines, so there are intensive efforts to develop simulation tools that can be used to optimize the placement of wind turbines within wind farms," said lead researcher Ndaona Chokani, lead researcher of the study.

In particular, the team is the first to develop and field test an instrumented drone used to measure, in detail, the airflow and mixing near and downwind of the wind farm. Chokani said, "These measurements shall accelerate the development of simulation tools that can be used to optimize the placement of wind turbines in onshore and offshore wind farms."

The key to the current work is a seven-sensor, fast-response, aerodynamic probe used to make the time-resolved wind measurements. The probe is based on measuring technology used in conventional power plants, which was developed over the past two decades at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich.

Developing tools that can guide decision-making on where to place wind turbines for maximum effect is a desirable goal because through improved efficiencies, clean energy prices will come down and environmental impacts will be reduced. "This will substantially reduce CO2 emissions and the usage of water in the electricity generation sector, and further diversify the electrical energy mix," Chokani said.

The European Union's 2020 energy targets require 15 to 17 percent electricity from wind, up from 8 percent at end of 2013. In the U.S., energy goals for wind power call for wind supplying 10 percent of the nation's electrical demand in 2020.

Next, Chokani and his colleagues intend to extend the proof-of-concept established by their drone's measurements. They will use multiple instrumented drones flying in a swarm to make simultaneous measurements.
A suite of sensors can predict heart failure events by detecting when a patient's condition is worsening, according to Dr. John Boehmer, professor of medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, who presented the findings at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans.

Heart failure is responsible for more than 1 million hospitalizations each year and more than $20 billion in costs. The new technique could help prevent costly hospitalizations and poor health outcomes including death.

Current efforts to manage heart failure by monitoring weight and symptoms have not significantly reduced hospitalizations. More than one in five patients are readmitted within 30 days after being hospitalized for heart failure.

An international team of researchers set out to investigate if implantable devices already used in heart failure patients could be retrofitted with sensors to track their condition. Their results will also to be published in JACC Heart Failure.

Nine hundred heart failure patients were followed for up to one year. At the beginning of the study, the researchers uploaded software to each patient's implanted defibrillator, a battery-powered device that delivers an electric shock if the patient's heart stops beating.

The software allowed the defibrillators to also act as sensors, monitoring the patients' heart rate, activity, breathing, heart sounds and electrical activity in the chest.

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Over the study period, the suite of sensors detected 70 percent of heart failure events in patients. This detection was often more than a month before the events occurred. Sensitivity at this level far exceeded the researchers' goal of greater than 40 percent detection.

While there were false positives, the number was within an acceptable range.

"If you're going to monitor a hundred patients, it becomes a fairly manageable number of alerts that you have to deal with," said Boehmer, a cardiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Boston Scientific developed the system and funded the study. They named the system HeartLogic.

"This is a new and clinically valuable measure of worsening heart failure, and it combines a number of measures of the physiology and heart failure much like a doctor will look at a patient," Boehmer said. "Doctors look at all their signs and symptoms, get some tests and put it all together and make a decision about how well or ill the patient is. HeartLogic does it similarly. It integrates a number of measurements of what's going on with the patient, including breathing, activity and heart sounds, and puts that all together to give us an index that we believe is both sensitive and specific for heart failure."

Boehmer said the technology can help monitor the patient's condition so heart failure events can be prevented before they happen.

"It's like having high blood sugar if you're managing diabetes," Boehmer explained. "The doctor doesn't need to know about every high blood sugar and every high blood sugar doesn't result in a hospitalization. But you want to treat it before it gets very high and the patient becomes so symptomatic they become ill and end up in the hospital. This is the same concept."

A pilot study and intervention trials to test the system's safety, physician acceptance and use and patient outcomes are planned to investigate benefits to patients.
New research from North Carolina State University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Linyi University has found evidence of original keratin and melanosome preservation in a 130-million-year-old Eoconfuciusornis specimen. The work extends the timeframe in which original molecules may preserve, and demonstrates the ability to distinguish between ancient microstructures in fossils.

Eoconfuciusornis, crow-sized primitive birds that lived in what is now China around 130 million years ago, are the earliest birds to have a keratinous beak and no teeth, like modern birds. Previous studies argued that the feathers of these and other ancient birds and dinosaurs preserved small, round structures interpreted to be melanosomes -- pigment-containing organelles that, along with other pigments, give feathers their color. However, without additional evidence, it was not possible to prove that these structures weren't just microbes that had coated the feather during decomposition and fossilization.

Yanhong Pan, associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and corresponding author of a paper describing the research and co-author Mary Schweitzer, NC State professor of biology with a joint appointment at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, examined feathers from an Eoconfuciusornis specimen taken from the Jehol Biota site in northern China, which is renowned for excellent fossil preservation.

"If these small bodies are melanosomes, they should be embedded in a keratinous matrix, since feathers contain beta-keratin," Schweitzer says. "If we couldn't find the keratin, then those structures could as easily be microbes, or a mix of microbes and melanosomes -- in either case, predictions of dinosaur shading would not be accurate."

Pan, Schweitzer and their team used both scanning and transmission electron microscopy to get microscopic details of the feather's surface and its internal structure. They also utilized immunogold labeling -- in which gold particles are attached to antibodies that bind to particular proteins in order to make them visible in electron microscopy -- to show that filaments within the feathers were keratin.

Finally, they mapped copper and sulfur to these feathers at high resolution. Sulfur was broadly distributed, reflecting its presence in both keratin and melanin molecules in modern feathers. However copper, which is only found in modern melanosomes, and not part of keratin, was only observed in the fossil melanosomes. These findings both support the identity of the melanosomes and indicate that there was no mixing or leaching during decomposition and fossilization.

"This study is the first to demonstrate evidence for both keratin and melanosomes, using structural, chemical and molecular methods," says Pan. "These methods have the potential to help us understand -- on the molecular level -- how and why feathers evolved in these lineages."
<p>Born Free Foundation</p>

The lion was tethered to a wooden shack with a 3-foot metal chain. Not only did the chain prevent the lion from moving around, it also rubbed against the lion's neck, causing his mane to disappear. He was so emaciated, you could count the bones in his ribcage.

Born Free Foundation

He stayed like that for four long years. The lion - named Dolo by his rescuers - lived in captivity on a private residence in southern Ethiopia, near the Somali border. While it's unclear exactly why or how Dolo came to reside here, Victoria Lockwood, PR officer for Born Free Foundation, believes Dolo's owner captured him when he was just a cub, and kept the lion on his property as a kind of status symbol.

Born Free Foundation

Whatever the case, what the owner did was illegal. "It's illegal in Ethiopia to keep wild animals as pets," Beth Brooks, press officer for Born Free, told The Dodo. "So when the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) were alerted to his plight they undertook to confiscate him. However ... there were no funds and no facility in Ethiopia to offer him a new home."

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Animals Melt Into This Woman's Arms When She Sings To Them

Born Free Foundation

This is when Born Free stepped in to help. Working with the EWCA, the team moved Dolo to a temporary enclosure in Awash National Park in Ethiopia. According to Brooks, Dolo's health immediately improved. "He became more alert," Brooks said. "He could at last have good food and medical treatment."

Born Free Foundation

However, the veterinary team had some bad news: Dolo had a problem with his eyes. "Dolo has retinal atrophy, probably due to a nutritional deficiency when [he was] young and this has left him with very limited vision," Laura Gosset, programs officer for Born Free, told The Dodo. "He would therefore take longer to get used to his new environment; a space far bigger and more complex and stimulating than anything he has experienced before."

Born Free Foundation

Even with his bad eyesight, Dolo's life went from good to better. In March 2011, Dolo was moved to his permanent home at Ensessakotteh, Born Free's 190-acre rescue center outside Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa. Since Dolo had spent four years in captivity, he wouldn't be able to be released into the wild, so keeping him at Ensessakotteh was the best solution for him.

Born Free Foundation

The process of getting Dolo onto the transport truck and moving him to Ensessakotteh was anything but straightforward. "The team stretchered him out, pushed the stretcher through the crate, put it down, rolled him off, got the stretcher out, the back door was closed and finally the front doors could be dropped and bolted in position," Gosset said. "The crate was then winched onto the truck and they hit the road."

Born Free Foundation

After a long, arduous journey through towns and villages, and through Addis Abada's heavy traffic, Dolo finally arrived at Ensessakotteh. The truck reversed up to Dolo's shelter, and his crate was winched to the ground.

Born Free Foundation

"Unsurprisingly Dolo didn't come bounding out," Gosset said. "He didn't want to leave his box and roared his displeasure. That [roar] was unexpected, deafening and more than a little bit frightening, but after an extended pause he sauntered out into his new home."

Born Free Foundation

Dolo quickly got used to his new life at Ensessakotteh, according to Brooks. His favorite activities are exploring the bushes and trees in his enclosure, snoozing in shady spots when it's hot, and basking in the warm sun when it's cool. These are things Dolo could never do when he was tethered to a shack with a 3-foot chain.

Born Free Foundation

A few months after Dolo arrived at the refuge, he was introduced to Safia, a lioness rescued from similar circumstances as Dolo. When they first met, they actually didn't get along, and there was a lot of snarling and growling between the two of them. But they soon grew to love each other. "Dolo is not as active as his companion Safia but he enjoys basking in the warm sun or sleeping in the shade in the company of the feisty Safia," Brooks said.

Born Free Foundation

"Dolo has always been a favourite for everyone at Born Free," Brooks added. "His tragic start to life acts as a stark reminder, everyday, of what an impact we can have on the lives of the animals in our care."

Born Free Foundation
She was just an anonymous pile of matted fur, wandering alone in a Texas neighborhood - until a woman came along who was determined to help her.

Judy Obregon, founder of the Texas rescue organization The Abandoned Ones, spends much of her life looking for lives she could help save. Over the past six years, she's rescued hundreds of neglected and abandoned dogs from areas all around Fort Worth. She's sometimes known as "the dog lady." When residents of Deer Creek, a Fort Worth neighborhood, told Obregon about a dog who had been seen intermittently wandering alone for the past two years, Obregon was immediately on her way. Obregon drove over and spotted the neglected, scared dog in the subdivision. The dog was jumpy, but Obregon refused to give up on her - even if it took tremendous patience to gain the dog's trust.

Obregon filmed some of her first attempts to get near to the dog. Her shadow was cast ahead of her as she slowly came close to the white ball of fur cowering in the corner of a yard. But the dog ran away.

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Wild Horse Loves To Play With A Little Donkey

Obregon watched from her car for a while as the dog walked in circles on the pavement. Obregon surveyed the dog's every move and learned the spots where she slept and rummaged for food.

Finally, Obregon's presence became familiar and unthreatening to the dog, who finally allowed her to get close enough. Obregon scooped up the filthy dog and rushed her to get help. "I can't believe she has survived this long," Obregon said.

The dog's fur was terribly matted and dirty. Even though rescuers wanted to clean the dog up right away, Obregon knew the dog needed time to calm down. Her whole world had just changed.

For perhaps the first time ever, the stray dog got a name: Livvy.

"Livvy gets groomed for the first time after two years on the streets of being a stray," The Abandoned Ones said on Facebook, when the dog had calmed enough for grooming.

As the matted vestiges of her life on the streets were shaved off, Livvy's personality began to shine through.

Then Livvy - who will be fostered in Obregon's volunteer network until she finds a forever home - was checked for a microchip, but none was found. She was given what was probably her first collar, with her new name on it.

And she was also given what was likely her first little sweater - pink with white hearts.

Livvy is staying at Obregon's home currently. "She is eating well and has been resting," The Abandoned Ones wrote in an update to Livvy's fans on Facebook. She's even learning how to snuggle.
Take a look at the stories from around our area and world that are making news today.

Late deciders loomed large in Trump Wisconsin win: Craig Gilbert of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: "Donald Trump won Wisconsin after never leading in a single public poll all year.He won Michigan and Pennsylvania after trailing in all but one public poll during the summer and fall. How did that happen? Part of the answer may lie with flaws in the polling. And part may lie with late shifts in the vote. Late-deciding voters in these three Great Lakes battlegrounds broke sharply for Trump  a shift that largely occurred after people stopped polling. In no battleground state was Trumps dominance among late deciders more dramatic than Wisconsin, a review of the exit polling suggests. Voters who decided in the last week  14% of the electorate  broke for Trump over Clinton by 29 points, 59% to 30%, according to the Wisconsin exit poll." Read more.

Donald Trump meeting suggests he is keeping up his business ties: Eric Lipton and Ellen Barry of the New York Times report: "President-elect Donald J. Trump met in the last week in his office at Trump Tower with three Indian business partners who are building a Trump-branded luxury apartment complex south of Mumbai, raising new questions about how he will separate his business dealings from the work of the government once he is in the White House. A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump described the meeting as a courtesy call by the three Indian real estate executives, who flew from India to congratulate Mr. Trump on his election victory. In a picture posted on Twitter, all four men are smiling and giving a thumbs-up. 'It was not a formal meeting of any kind,' Breanna Butler, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said when asked about the meeting on Saturday. One of the businessmen, Sagar Chordia, posted photographs on Facebook on Wednesday showing that he also met with Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. Mr. Trumps children are helping to run his businesses as they play a part in the presidential transition." Read more.

For Trump adviser Stephen Bannon, fiery populism followed life in elite circles: Matea Gold, Rosalind S. Helderman, Gregory S. Schneider and Frances Stead Sellers write for the Washington Post: "In the fall of 2015, before Stephen K. Bannon became a trusted adviser to the next president, he launched a daily three-hour radio show that catered to what he called 'those low-information citizens who are mocked and ridiculed by their betters  the clueless elites.' Bannon welcomed guests whose views, he often said, had been suppressed by the lefts political correctness. He gave regular airtime to Milo Yiannopoulos, who was banned from Twitter after cheering on supporters who barraged 'Ghostbusters' actor Leslie Jones with racist and sexist tweets. Bannon described an anti-Islamic activist who campaigns against what she calls 'creeping sharia' in the United States as 'a voice in the wilderness.' A former Heritage Foundation staffer who had argued that Hispanic immigrants have lower IQs was 'one of the smartest brains out there in demographics, demography, this whole issue of immigration,' Bannon said." Read more.

House Democrats lament blue-collar collapse: Maggie Severens and Theodoric Meyer write for Politico: "Democrats shrinking ranks of House members from blue-collar districts watched glumly as President-elect Donald Trump ran up the score in their backyards earlier this month, fearing their party is forfeiting wide swaths of America  and with it, any prospect of taking the House for years to come. Democrats made modest House gains by netting a half-dozen Republican seats, but they lost all of the 12 GOP districts they targeted with the highest shares of whites without college degrees, mostly by double-digit margins. The party nearly suffered surprise losses in several of their own districts with the most blue-collar whites. And while some glass-half-full Democratic representatives are already hoping a backlash against Trump lifts their fortunes in these districts in 2018, others fear that the partys move toward urban and suburban voters will eventually shut Democrats out of former white working-class strongholds, where many districts were redrawn after 2010 to be tougher for Democrats and have only gotten more forbidding since. One of Democrats' remaining members from those regions, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), last week launched an underdog leadership challenge against House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on the grounds that the party needs to shake things up to have a shot at retaking the majority." Read more.
Stories of building delays are not uncommon on the front lines of Torontos condo craze.

But when Tracey DaSilva bought in the Union Lofts in the Junction Triangle four years ago, she expected her inconvenience and uncertainty would eventually be rewarded with the key to a dream home in a boutique church conversion in one of the citys coolest neighbourhoods.

Instead, she was handed a refund for her deposit and builder upgrades and now faces the prospect of watching the developer resell the original condos for a higher price.

Although the original purchasers of Union Lofts are getting first right of refusal and a $20,000 discount off the new offering, one buyer said he expects his unit will have a price tag more than $100,000 above what he paid.

DaSilva, who was forced to move several times through a series of construction delays and promises, has been so upset by the cancellation of her sale  not to mention more than three years of lost equity in a climbing market  she cant even bear to visit the site.

I dont even know if I can drive by it to see it completed, said the 38-year-old marketing manager.

Its rare that a Toronto condo project goes south before its built. Only 1.5 per cent of developments are cancelled after being publicly offered for sale, according to BuzzBuzzHome, an online real estate hub.

But it does happen and buyers need to be aware of the risk, say legal experts.

Its a cautionary tale to read the contract and make sure you know what youre getting into, said real estate lawyer Bob Aaron. Its all a question of whats in the purchase agreement.

Buyers need to know if the builder has an out if it cant complete the project.

Theres some escape clauses in the agreement, which are there to protect both the builder and the purchasers against certain situations that can happen, said lawyer Ted Charney, who specializes in real estate class-action suits.

Sometimes those clauses are abused.

But, in other circumstances, if the clause is in the agreement and it was properly negotiated and it was relied on in circumstances where it legitimately should be, one of the risks of buying these condos is, years down the road, you could just end up with your money back, Charney said.

Windmill Development Group partner Alex Speigel said the Union Lofts outcome is the last thing his company wanted or expected when it undertook the tricky conversion of a designated heritage church, and put it on the market in November 2012. But under refinancing conditions, it has no choice but to resell the project for more money.

The letter it sent buyers cites a paragraph in the purchase and sale agreement that releases the developer from its contract because it is unable to meet the current outside occupancy date set out in that agreement.

Weve done our best to try and mitigate the losses for everybody, but clearly people are very disappointed and I certainly understand that, Speigel said.

Union Lofts originated with a Windmill partner called Cornerstone Lofts Ltd. Windmill was in charge of design and marketing. Cornerstone was in charge of construction, including hiring a general contractor.

Speigel had worked on similar projects, including The Loretta and Tip Top Lofts, prior to joining Windmill. He said that with a 43-unit development, getting a builder of the right size can be difficult: it has to be able to build something bigger than a house but smaller than a skyscraper.

Mark McGroarty of Cornerstone said the developers went to see another project on Spadina Ave. by the same builder and it looked good.

But within six to eight months of starting on Union Lofts, in the fall of 2013, construction was behind schedule and then the contractor disappeared without paying its subtrades, said Speigel.

The trades put liens against the project and the developers funding was frozen.

It took us a huge amount of time and effort to get the liens cleared, Speigel said. He said Windmill, which specializes in green development, expects to lose money on the project, but declined to provide specifics of the loss they were expecting.

A project of this size is typically in the $20 million to $30-million range, said Speigel. He would not say what Union Lofts will cost overall.

The Star found records of numerous liens against Union Lofts, but could not contact the contractor.

Because its the Ottawa-based developers first Toronto project and it is trying to maintain its reputation and do the right thing, Speigel said Windmill chose to complete Union Lofts rather than walk away.

A number of the (buyers) Ive spoken with, although theyre very disappointed, kind of understand the situation and have expressed interest in actually repurchasing units in the new project were going to launch so that gives me some small comfort, he said. Its not a great situation, but at least it acknowledges we havent burned bridges.

In addition to returning buyers deposits, he said, Were also giving them back their upgrade deposits which were not actually required to do. Were going beyond what were legally required to do in order to be as fair as possible, Speigel said.

Cornerstone is still part of the limited partnership that owns the property but is not involved in day-to-day management, said McGroarty.

Its a very unfortunate situation we found ourselves in. I certainly have empathy toward the purchasers, he said. On the other side of the coin, we have suffered a huge financial setback. Its not like were going to walk away making all sorts of money, because were not.

Asked if the developers would make any money on the project, McGroarty said no.

Construction on the new Union Lofts offering is already underway at the old Perth Ave. Methodist Church. The original 43 units have been reduced to 40 to create some bigger apartments. A Nov. 14 letter to purchasers said the project will be relaunched in early 2017 with a new identity and some new unit types at current market prices.

Those who have not yet received refunds will get them in mid-December, according to the letter. Purchasers interested in the new condo offering will have that opportunity before the public is invited to buy.

Ive made an effort to speak personally with as many purchasers as I can. We feel terrible about the way this has gone, Speigel said. Ive been in this business 35 years and Ive never had a project go this way.

Windmill has focused on salvaging the project rather than pursuing the builder, which it might consider in the future, he said.

None of that matters to DaSilva and the other buyers, who have had their purchases cancelled.

DaSilva already owned a condo downtown four years ago when she got a flyer advertising the Union Lofts. Two weeks later, she bought the corner unit near the church doors at the corner of Wallace and Perth Aves.

I had the most ideal unit. It would have been my own personal door. It was such a great idea of being actually in the church, she said. I literally signed and sealed on that day: I came back and deposited a $5,000 cheque.

She was convinced that the 800 sq. ft. unit with patio was a great investment for $427,000.

She bought in November 2012, with the condo to be ready in November 2014. In April 2014, she got a letter saying it wouldnt be ready until the following April.

DaSilva put her old condo on the market to avoid competing with a new phase that was coming on the market in that location.

As soon as her sale closed, she got a letter saying Union Lofts wouldnt be ready until July. DaSilva moved into accommodations with a series of friends and relatives.

I dont remember when I got a notice saying July wasnt going to be happening, she said. But visits to the site showed there was no progress.

By late last year, DaSilva rented a place downtown. The landlord even agreed to discount her rent until this July, when Union Lofts was finally supposed to be finished.

The day that I closed the lease agreement, I got a notice saying that July wasnt going to happen and they were going to delay it. A couple of weeks later, I got a notice saying that, as an original owner, I had to sign something that would allow a refund of the property and relinquish all of the ownership, said DaSilva.

There was no guarantee when the money was coming through. They were going to see how many people would go for the refund, DaSilva said.

Her lawyer advised taking the refund and getting out.

I didnt want to because, emotionally, I was so invested. I had been waiting three-and-a-half years. Id been living just to make that place work, she said.

In March, she got a letter telling her to pick up the cheque for $67,000. She has since purchased another condo downtown  a resale.

Other buyers who spoke to the Star said they were angry and suspicious, but would not agree to have their names published for fear the developer might hold back refunds or because they were considering paying more to stay at Union Lofts.

One man said he and his partner bought the smallest unit on offer  $297,000 for 550 sq. ft. Now, they cant afford to buy at the new price that he anticipates will be about $125,000 higher, based on current market value.

Its not just a financial issue, its a personal issue, too. I dont think they should be allowed to get away with this, he said.

His spouse had planned to retire due to a chronic pain condition that is making it difficult for her to work. Their plan had been to use their existing home as a rental that would pay for the maintenance fees on the new place.

Another buyer, part of a family group of investors who planned to rent their condo to relatives, said he expects the unit they bought for $449,000 will be resold for about $564,000.

That money they raised  it shows how much we would have earned in that time period, said the investor.

It just feels like they took us for a bit of a ride  because maybe they underpriced (the condos) at the beginning. It doesnt sit right, he said.

I just want what I paid for.

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Kanye West has abruptly pulled the plug on his Saint Pablo Tour.

A representative for the rapper said Monday the remaining dates of Wests current tour have been cancelled. No reason was given.

The tour, which had dates scheduled through the end of the year, was set to hit Toronto on Dec. 18.

Other shows in Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C., are among the cancellations.

The move comes after a complex weekend for the musician, who abruptly ended a concert in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, then cancelled a performance Sunday in the Los Angeles area.

Saturdays truncated show became a hot topic on social platforms, as amateur videos circulated of a 10-minute tirade by West about Beyonce, Jay Z, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the radio and MTV.

Fans in attendance said on social media that West played only a few songs before ending the show abruptly after only 30 minutes. The angry audience booed, and many are seeking refunds for the aborted show. Some paid around $250 (U.S.) for a pair of tickets.

The performer said he was putting his life, career and public well-standing at risk by talking to the fans in the audience like this, adding that his Saint Pablo tour is the most relevant (expletive) happening.

He continued: I am here to change things. And things wont change until people admit their own falsehoods. I got the visions, bro. Thats what Ive been blessed with. My vision. Im not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way. But Im going to say how I feel.

Wests representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment.

West has been known for going on tweetstorms, but he remained silent on his social media accounts over the weekend. His Instagram account, which until Sunday only had one photo, suddenly became populated with dozens of blurry fashion photos.

With files from The Associated Press and The Washington Post

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Hamilton Theatre Inc. received dozens of angry tweets over the weekend, but not because theyd done something wrong.

Many angry Americans had mistaken the Ontario theatre companys Twitter handle  @HamiltonTheatre  for that of Hamilton, the hit Broadway musical (@HamiltonMusical), the cast and crew of which had criticized Donald Trumps running mate Mike Pence Friday night.

Riane Leonard, a member of the Canadian companys production team and manager of its Twitter account, first noticed the online activity on Friday night and thought it was just audience members talking about enjoying The Toxic Avenger, the show now being staged by the Steeltown troupe. She said Sunday that once she read the tweets  one said the company should be held accountable for their human rights violations  she thought, What could we possibly have done to deserve this?

From the New York stage, after Fridays performance, actor Brandon Victor Dixon told Pence  the U.S. vice-president-elect  that he and the cast and crew of the Broadway show fret that Trump and his future administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. .

President-elect Trump took to Twitter early Sunday to say that Pence had been harassed, and demanded an apology from Hamiltons cast and producers.

Trump supporters, joining in, contacted the wrong theatrical Hamilton. Leonard said she corrected a few of them but she didnt want to get into a never-ending fight.

If they only had looked at our profile, it says Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, several times. That just goes to show something about hate-mongering on the Internet and the lack of effort people put forward.

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OTTAWARussias ambassador to Canada says the U.S. election of president-elect Donald Trump was a victory for common sense and pragmatism.

Alexander Darchiev told CTVs Question Period that Trumps presidency will provide a promising opening for Russian-American relations, which he acknowledged are not currently in great shape.

Trump frequently called Russian President Vladimir Putin a stronger leader than U.S. President Barack Obama during the election campaign and primaries.

Trump also questioned American security guarantees under NATO in Europe and said he would look into removing sanctions imposed on Russia in relation to the conflict in the Crimea.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, and the director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement last month that directly accused the Russian government of directing the email hack of U.S. persons and institutions, including from U.S. political organizations.

Darchiev told CTV the assertions of Russian interference were simply election campaign rumours.

I think that was the blunder on the part of Hillary Clinton to flex cheap Russophobia at the centrepiece of her election campaign, said Darchiev.

Trump openly invited Russian hackers to help him find deleted emails of his Democratic presidential opponent in July.

Russia, if you are listening, I hope you are able to find the 33,000 emails that are missing  I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press, he said at a news conference in Florida.

Darchiev called the idea preposterous that foreign interference could influence Trumps election to lead a key world power like the United States.

His election is a victory of common sense and pragmatism, of time-proven geopolitics where national interests  not ideological cliches  do matter, Darchiev told CTV.

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CALGARYClosing arguments in a sexual assault retrial that was ordered after controversial comments by a Calgary judge have been delayed for a day.

Alexander Wagar was brought to court today for closing arguments, but the matter was put over until Tuesday afternoon. No reason was given.

Wagar, 29, was acquitted in 2014 by Judge Robin Camp who ruled Wagar was a more credible witness than the 19-year-old complainant.

Camp called the complainant the accused throughout that trial and asked her why she couldnt just keep her knees together. He also told her pain and sex sometimes go together.

The verdict was overturned on appeal and a new trial was ordered. The case is now being heard by Judge Jerry LeGrandeur.

The current trial has heard from both the complainant and the accused.

The complainant, who is now 24, told court she had been living in homeless shelters and had alcohol and drug addictions. She was at a party in a Calgary home when the alleged assault occurred in December 2011.

She said Wagar had been flirty and was making it clear he wanted to have sex with her. Later, she said when she was in the bathroom, Wagar came in, locked the door and ripped her clothes off. The sexual assault lasted 15 to 20 minutes, she said.

I told him to stop, she told court. I was scared. I was very drunk.

Wagar testified that the sex was consensual. He said the two had been smoking pot in the bathroom before it happened and he decided to go for it.

She didnt shy away from me in any shape or form, he said. She said she liked me.

Wagar said he would never force himself on a woman.

If she would have said no, I would have stopped, he said. My mother put it in my mind since I was a kid that if a woman says no, it means no.

Under cross-examination, Wagar acknowledged the complainant never said yes directly.

LeGrandeur decided earlier this month to admit the testimony of a woman at the original trial. The defence has not been able to find the woman, who was at the party where the alleged sexual assault occurred.

Camp is now a judge on the Federal Court. A panel of the Canadian Judicial Council

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Centennial College will build a new aerospace campus at the old Downsview air force base with $44.2 million from the federal and Ontario governments, better linking students with the industry.

Were trying to break down the barriers, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Monday in announcing the funding with federal Science Minister Kirsty Duncan.

Ontario taxpayers are providing $25.8 million toward the $72 million project slated to open in 2019, with the federal government ponying up $18.4 million and Centennial College and other donors making up the remaining $28 million.

The campus will include the historic de Havilland building  where 1,000 lightweight two-engine Mosquito bombers were made during the Second World War.

You could say this is hallowed ground, said Centennial president Ann Buller, who added the campus at Downsview Park just east of Keele and Sheppard will help good jobs flourish in a part of the city that needs them.

The location will help Centennials aerospace program, now operating in cramped quarters in Scarborough, strengthen already close ties with aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, Buller told about 100 students, educators and aerospace industry members gathered in a restaurant on the old air force base closed in 1996.

The college will triple the number of students in its aerospace program with the new quarters, said Duncan.

That will boost the countrys and the provinces reputation for being part of the knowledge economy, added Wynne, who will tout the project on a trade mission to Asia later this month.

If were going to punch above our weight, we have to innovate, the premier said after a tour of the site in the unexpected blast of winter weather.

It will incubate and grow well-paying jobs and professionally rewarding jobs.

The campus was hailed as a first step toward the creation of a better hub of aerospace activity in the area by Andrew Petrou, executive director of the Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research consortium of educational institutions and companies.

The group estimates such a hub can lead to the creation of 14,400 jobs and $2.3 billion in economic activity over the next 20 years.

The opportunity that Downsview provides for companies, colleges, and universities to work together in close proximity on aerospace education, research and product development cannot be overstated, said David Zingg, a professor at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace Studies.

It is a partner in the Downsview aerospace consortium along with Centennial, York and Ryerson Universities, and eight companies including Pratt and Whitney Canada, Honeywell and Bombardier Aerospace.

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The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ordered the Sri Lankan government to make reparations for the alleged detention and torture of a Canadian man over the course of three years.

The committee says Sri Lanka must prosecute and punish those responsible for imprisoning Roy Samathanam while he was in the country for a visit in 2007 until his release in 2010.

They say Samathanam was tortured and forced to sign a confession to being part of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, a rebel group.

Samathanam now lives in Toronto with his wife and child and says he finally has a measure of justice.

The Canadian Centre for International Justice helped Samathanam file a complaint with the committee three years ago.

The centre commends the committees decision and is calling on the Sri Lankan government to implement the measures outlined by the UN committee.

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The pews of Torontos Metropolitan Community Church brimmed with silent support Sunday for its embattled pastor, currently on trial for the alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy in the 1970s.

More than a hundred people attended the morning masses at the Riverdale church, during which there was only a fleeting direct mention of Rev. Brent Hawkes trial, reminding congregants of the churchs listening groups if anyone felt the need to talk.

But after the service, those in attendance emphasized that their longtime pastor is in their prayers.

Rev. Deana Dudley said the church is handling the matter the same way we deal with anything.

We offer support, we offer prayer, we offer love, we offer acceptance, she said.

I know some people have been upset by whats going on, so then we just do more of the same  we offer more love, more acceptance, more support, more prayer.

Hawkes, who performed the countrys first same-sex marriage ceremonies, is the cornerstone of inclusivity and unconditional love that the church is known for, said congregant Ian Campbell.

Campbell, like many of his fellow churchgoers, has been following the pastors trial.

Its a difficult situation for everyone involved. Going through a trial never leaves anyone, no matter who they are, unchanged, he said.

Earlier this week, a man testified that Hawkes, then a teacher in Nova Scotia, forced oral sex on him during a drunken get-together at Hawkes trailer.

Hawkes, who has pleaded not guilty, testified that the sex act never happened.

As the judge-alone trial continues, so does the churchs search for a new senior pastor. The church has said the hiring is consistent with Hawkes planned retirement at a point following his 40th anniversary as our pastor.

On Sunday morning, Rev. Sandra Morris gave words of encouragement to a congregation which, already missing Hawkes, was also mourning the recent death of a popular deacon.

Some of us are scared and empty and we are running on fumes, Morris said. I want you to keep filling each other up with as much kindness and goodness and generosity as you can. How about we remind each other that were here for each other?

She added, Because it can get really cold out there and it can get really bitter, and God knows we can all use some warmth.

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After a year of controversy over carding practices that disproportionately targeted black individuals, disturbing reports of officer misconduct and a new survey that reveals low staff morale, Peel Police Chief Jennifer Evans was questioned about her claims that things have never been better.

With her contract up for renewal next year, after months of battle with a new police board calling for sweeping changes, Evans commissioned a community survey of 1,200 Brampton and Mississauga residents this past summer. It shows that 93 per cent are satisfied with the work of Peel Regional Police. As Evans repeatedly used the statistic presented in a report at Fridays police services board meeting, members, residents and rights groups openly questioned her data.

Im also skeptical, said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, following questions by two rights group representatives who scrutinized the data. Crombie said that in the last municipal election my opponent had me losing by nine per cent (according to his own survey of residents). I ended up winning with 63 per cent (of the vote), she told the meeting. She later told the Star that survey results can be manipulated.

Howard Morton, a member of the Law Union of Ontario and former head of the provinces Special Investigations Unit, had been presenting to the board on the negative effects  due to the loss of trust in police  of carding, known in Peel as a street check.

Evans, a vocal supporter of street checks who last year refused the boards request to suspend the practice, disagreed with Morton, citing the statistics from the survey. Morton challenged the data and after the meeting pointed to the forces own data revealed last year showing black individuals were three times more likely than whites to be stopped in a street check. So is this survey not capturing any of the groups being criminalized by police?

Knia Singh, representing the Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice and the African-Canadian Coalition of Community Organizations, told Evans, the numbers would probably be very different . . . if you get a reflection from another segment of the community. He later told the Star that Evans really needs to hear from the community, directly, so she can understand how they really feel.

Board members also questioned if the surveys respondents reflected Peels diversity. They asked what questions were asked and wanted other details of the surveys methodology.

Kerry Dangerfield, of Winnipeg-based firm, Prairie Research Associates, which conducted the survey, told the Star that survey questions were provided by Peel police  they were not included in the public document. Board chair Amrik Ahluwalia asked Dangerfield if the survey respondents accurately reflected the 62 per cent of residents who are visible minorities. The reports methodology section states that the survey had quotas by age and gender, but there is no mention of race or ethnicity being included in the survey methodology.

Dangerfield told the board that those who dont speak English as a main language were not surveyed. He acknowledged that visible minorities were under-represented, but said the results were weighted to account for the discrepancy. He did not explain how this was done or how this might have changed the results.

When asked by the Star why no questions about street checks were asked in the survey, considering the controversial practice has dominated many public discussions in Peel for more than a year, Dangerfield said, Sorry, I cant comment.

During the meeting Crombie continued to question the survey methodology, saying, If I phone one pocket of Mississauga, the result could be quite different than in another pocket. Dangerfield said the survey was divided evenly in each of the forces four main divisions, and that specific areas were selected, but did not explain how neighbourhoods were chosen or which ones were used. Ahluwalia said that results could be quite different in more affluent areas.

Evans responded to the scrutiny by telling the board, There seems to be some skepticism in the results. Ahluwalia called the low number of visible minority respondents skewed.

Dangerfield told the board that focus groups used alongside the survey of 1,200 residents said Peel police does not reflect the community it serves. His public report says the force needs to Increase diversity of officers . . . to reflect the diversity within the community. Evans did not address this.

Statistics provided by the force to the Star last year, show that 13 per cent of Peel polices uniform staff were visible minorities. In the glossy two-page front introduction section of the survey report presented Friday, five of the eight Peel officers who can be identified in the promotional pictures appear to be visible minorities.

Board members also questioned how the survey could be so far off data presented later in the meeting from an internal survey of Peel Police staff, conducted by Korn Ferry Hay Group. The internal results showed that only 49 per cent of the forces staff responded favourably when asked if they feel the Peel police force is well run  and only 44 per cent of staff had a favourable rating on trust and confidence in Senior Management.

This was much lower than the other survey, Crombie stated during the meeting. There seems to be a disconnect.

Evans was asked after the meeting to explain how less than half her staff think the force is well run, but according to the other survey 93 per cent of respondents in the community are satisfied: What I can say to you is that the residents were surveyed and 93 per cent of the residents are satisfied with the work of Peel Regional Police.

Our chief is so dug into her position, which is almost the opposite of what the community, rights groups and the board has been telling her all year, said Ranjit Khatkur, chair of the Peel Coalition Against Racialized Discrimination, after the meeting.

Earlier in the year Khatkur provided the board with published reports that Peel police had rates of officer misconduct three times higher than the rate of the Ontario Provincial Police over the last five years.

Regarding Evans community survey, Khatkur said, does anyone believe that kind of support after calls at public meetings for her to resign, data that shows street checks targeted certain groups and (reports that) one-third of the forces uniform officers have recently been disciplined for misconduct. And she tells us things have never been better.

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Male. Canadian-American. Registered Republican. Trump supporter. Muslim.

Boston-resident Ammar Afif, 45, had two reasons to vote for Donald Trump. One was a desire for change  he was done with establishment politics and did not see merit in Bernie Sanders fairy-tale-ish vision of free health care and free education.

The second was a desire to make America safe again, to see his country return to its pre-Islamophobic, pre-9/11 days.

We know that there are bad Muslims living in the U.S. who are often caught trying to go overseas to fight, or trying to obtain weapons or plotting. I want the government to take tough actions that are required to find these people in the U.S. and lock them up and also to prevent them from coming to the U.S., he says.

If this means more surveillance, tough immigration laws and tough action overseas to root out these people, I support that.

Get rid of terrorists, kill Islamophobia.

Afif is a well-travelled chartered accountant, a world-peace-loving kind of guy. His wife disagrees with his political choice, but his simple philosophy is rooted in a deeply personal fear.

Islamophobia terrifies me for my two young daughters as the U.S. is their home, the place they were born in and (they) cannot imagine living anywhere else.

With Hillary it was going to be the same. More attacks overseas and the anti-Muslim sentiment here would continue to rise.

While the lens on Trump voters has focused on his core-support group of right-wing whites, little has been said about the minorities that Americas liberals failed to convince.

Apart from 53 per cent of the white womens vote, Trump also won 29 per cent of the Latino vote, 29 per cent of the Asian vote and 8 per cent of the black vote.

North Americas right is no advocate for equality, but these numbers forced me to see inadequacies of its left and lessons for Canada: exclusionary discussions of race, erroneous assumptions about minorities and poor understanding of nuance.

If Trump had not won, these minority voices would have gone unheard.

One takeaway is obvious. Racism does not hurt everyone equally. Hardest hit are blacks  the historically brutalized people of the United States who continue to face unfathomable discrimination. They had no incentive to change their traditional voting preference this year, Kanye West notwithstanding.

Why would so many other people of colour endorse a man with racist views for president?

Look inward.

Liberal discourse straddles two extremes.

On the one hand it is reduced to a sound bite, a headline, 140 characters or a short paragraph on a post. Does the photoshopped image of Ellen DeGeneres riding Usain Bolts back make her racist? No, but maybe it was a tad insensitive. Then again shes a comedian and . . . never mind. The reader with a fragmented attention span has already moved on.

On the other hand is Ivory Tower condescension. In traditional media, journalists turned to academics for their expertise in an area. Today, academics, untrained in journalistic communication, are often themselves the messengers. Where an editor would have chipped away at complex words, jargon and obscure references, instead we get stories that are inaccessible to the layperson.

The result? Discussions  even to scoff at accusations of elitism  ricochet in their own echo chamber, failing those whom they champion.

Exclusion has another side effect.

The intellectuals sensitivity to precision in language is seen as superficial, while Donald Trumps rhetoric  that his antagonists consider vulgar and demeaning  becomes refreshing and authentic.

Shushilla Bhukhan, a Guyanese-Canadian who juggles jobs cleaning houses by day and taking care of seniors by night, has no time for discussions on either macro-level policies or micro-aggressions. Trump is a good man, she says. He speaks from the heart.

So Trump used vulgar language, says Afif. That was hard to hear. What about Clintons actions? Her lies? I dont think deep down hes a racist.

Then there is the assumption  even by those who champion equality  that people of colour must be united by their experience of racism. Not so.

I dont see any racism in U.S. or Canada, says Ruchir Agarwal, an Indian and a downtown Toronto resident for four years.

I mean, look, our defence minister is a person of Indian origin . . . I feel if youre qualified, and do things in the right way, these countries (U.S. and Canada) do support you.

Then, there is this uncomfortable fact: Racism is not the monopoly of whites.

A Torontonian of colour pointed out that if voting Trump would empower white supremacists, then I could say voting for Hillary would free up blacks and Muslims to do what they want and harass others.

Clintons team likely thought they had the minority vote stitched up by being not-Trump. True, given Trumps incendiary campaign, that was sufficient comfort for a majority of minorities.

For others, though, one thought took race right out of the equation.

Discrimination would happen anyway, says Agarwal. That doesnt come out of presidency. Thats part of the culture.

Shree Paradkar tackles issues of race and gender. You can follow her @shreeparadkar

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A man suspected of shooting another man in a North Side apartment Sunday night was in Madison police custody Monday afternoon.

Hasson Williams, 29, turned himself in to police about 3:20 p.m., police spokesman Joel DeSpain said.

Police had considered Williams armed and dangerous and had urged anyone seeing him to call 911.

The 30-year-old victim was in critical condition, police said. He was shot in an apartment in the 1600 block of Wright Street, with the incident reported to police about 9 p.m. Sunday. The nature of the dispute leading to the shooting remained unknown to police Monday afternoon.

The suspect and victim are known to each other, and this was not a random act of violence, DeSpain said.
A promise from Premier Kathleen Wynne to take more sting out of high electricity bills will not include the return of a 10-per-cent discount scrapped last January.

Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault has ruled out a reincarnation of the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, which cost taxpayers $1 billion annually.

Things like the OCEB, their time has come and gone, Thibeault told reporters Monday. He said Ontarians will have to wait and see what other measures he can devise.

Wynne surprised delegates at a Liberal convention in Ottawa on the weekend with a mea culpa over hefty hydro bills, which she called a mistake, and pledged to find more ways to lower rates.

Thibeault said he is meeting with a variety of groups, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and social service agencies, to get ideas.

If its 50 cents or $50, Im going to continue to work to find a way to help.

Measures so far include waiving the 8-per-cent provincial portion of the HST on electricity bills starting in January, removing the debt retirement charge from bills and scrapping a planned $3.8 billion round of renewable energy projects to keep another $2.45 a month from being slapped on hydro bills in future.

We know thats not enough; theres more that needs to be done, Wynne said Monday.

The government is also working with the Ontario Disability Support Plan to get more people who receive social assistance on a program that will give them monthly financial help with their bills, Thibeault added.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ontarians shouldnt get their hopes up for a new miracle solution to hydro prices from the government, given that a lot of costs are built into the system through long-term energy contracts.

Do I think they can come out with some major silver bullet? For the people of Ontario, I hope so, but I doubt it very much.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said he would like to see details of existing contracts, particularly with renewable energy suppliers, to see if there are any exit ramps that could allow the government to cancel them without paying massive penalties.

The premier said the search for ways to lower hydro bills is a continuing effort, but that she has not set a specific deadline.

Well do it as quickly as we can.

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The Ontario government is facing renewed pressure to reduce delays in the court system after a first-degree murder charge, laid four years ago, was stayed.

The tossing of the murder charge in Ottawa last week is believed to be a first for such a serious crime. On Friday, the Ministry of the Attorney General announced it is appealing and seeking a new trial.

Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier said charges are stayed in almost half of all criminal cases in Ontario, a rate among the worst in the country.

The keystone to a safe and secure society is our criminal justice system, Hillier told reporters at Queens Park. When nearly half of all cases are being tossed before trial, that has to be a concern, and it has been a concern  the auditor general has been raising these flags for a number of years in her reports.

He said that right now, some 6,000 cases across the province are in jeopardy of being thrown out just on the delay mechanism.

This is pervasive; its not confined to one or two courthouses, this is across the province. And when you look at our numbers in relation to every other province, in Quebec 8 per cent of cases are tossed before trial, here we are at 43 per cent, added Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington), his partys justice critic.

A Supreme Court of Canada ruling earlier this year  citing complacency in the criminal justice system  set new deadlines to avoid unreasonable delays for accused, allowing 18 months for provincial cases from the time charges are laid, and 30 months for Superior Court cases, with some exceptions.

Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi said since that decision, my ministry has been working with crowns, court services staff, the judiciary and the criminal defence bar, and we have taken a number of steps.

We are assessing the state of cases in the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. Weve been organizing local bench, crown and bar meetings to discuss local solutions, he told the Legislature.

In light of the appeal of the Ottawa case, on Friday, Naqvi said he has been briefed on the matter and I support this decision. As this matter is before the Court of Appeal I cannot comment any further.

Adam Picard, an ex-soldier, was charged in 2012 after the body of a man was found in the woods near Calabogie, south of Renfrew. The man had been shot in what was suspected to be a drug-related crime.

The judge who stayed the charge noted the Crown had previously opposed a motion to expedite the case, while also facing heavy workloads.

On Friday, Naqvi told reporters his ministry is looking at better case management and that it continues to evaluate quite regularly the number of charges stayed, with Crowns putting in additional resources as needed.

I take this matter very seriously  and I am concerned  It is absolutely important that our justice system works for everyone: works for the victims, works for the accused, and it should work for the public across the province.

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITIHaitis repeatedly derailed presidential election finally got underway on Sunday more than a year after an initial annulled vote as the nation tried to get its shaky democracy on a sturdier track.

Clutching their national identification cards, citizens patiently waited as numerous voting centres opened well after the 6 a.m. scheduled start. Voting routinely starts late in Haitian elections.

I will wait as long as I need to, said Alain Joseph, a motorcycle taxi driver and father of four who wore a bright pink sweatshirt to show his loyalty to the Tet Kale party of ex-President Michel Martelly. Pink is the factions colour.

The Caribbean nations roughly 6 million registered voters dont lack for choice: 27 presidential candidates are on the ballot. The top two finishers will meet in a Jan. 29 runoff unless one candidate in the crowded field somehow manages to win more than 50 per cent of the votes.

No results are scheduled to be released for eight days, and electoral council director Uder Antoine has said it might take even longer.

The balloting will also complete Parliament as voters pick a third of the Senate and the 25 remaining members of the Chamber of Deputies.

Helene Olivier, 72, said she was inspired to vote for the first time in her life because shes had it with all the testosterone in Haitian politics. She believed that Fanmi Lavalas candidate Maryse Narcisse, one of two female presidential contenders, would improve the nation because of her gender.

Women protect women. They make good changes. The men, they boss you and beat you too hard, Olivier said after casting her ballot at a high school in Petionville, a hillside district above Port-au-Prince.

Results of an October 2015 vote were annulled after a special commission reported finding what appeared to be significant fraud and misconduct.

Most Haitians typically stay away from the polls, in part because they are repelled by the chronic ineffectiveness and broken promises of their elected officials. But some remain hopeful new leaders might be able to relieve Haitis chronic poverty and political turbulence.

Nothing will stop me from voting. We all have to step up and help solve Haitis problems, said Mickenson Berger, who has been cutting hair on a Port-au-Prince street corner since his barber shop was destroyed in the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Haiti has had a caretaker government for nearly a year, and the new president will face a slew of immediate and long-term challenges.

With the depreciation of the currency, the gourde, the cost of living has risen sharply. Haiti is deeply in debt and public coffers are largely depleted. The southwest is in shambles from last months Hurricane Matthew, and parts of the north have been battered by recent floods.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the hemisphere and one of the most unequal in the world.

Public institutions remain weak, and life-crushing poverty remains the daily reality of most of its citizens. Environmental degradation has left the population and the countrys productive infrastructure highly vulnerable to shocks, said Robert Maguire, a Haiti expert who is an international affairs professor at George Washington University.

A revamped Provisional Electoral Council, known as the CEP, has gotten high marks for organizing Sundays vote with some $25 million from the government. It replaced a council that was marred by internal discord and widespread allegations of fraud.

So far, this CEP has done a good job. Their credibility is very high, said Rosny Desroches of the Haitian group Citizen Observatory for Institutionalizing Democracy, which had 1,500 observers monitoring the national vote.

Delegations from the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community were also watching the election. The European Union withdrew its monitors in frustration after officials annulled results from the 2015 vote.

As always with Haitian elections, security was a concern. A total of 2,026 U.N. police officers and 1,468 peacekeeper troops were assisting nearly 9,500 members of Haitis national police force.

Another 5,400 security agents were hired by the Provisional Electoral Council to help keep order at voting centres.

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By the time Richard B. Spencer, the leading ideologue of the so-called alt-right movement and the final speaker of the night, rose to address a gathering of his followers on Saturday, the crowd was restless.

In 11 hours of speeches and panel discussions in a federal building named after Ronald Reagan a few blocks from the White House, a succession of speakers had laid out a harsh vision for the future, but had denounced violence and said that Hispanic citizens and black Americans had nothing to fear. Earlier in the day, Spencer himself had urged the group to start acting less like an underground organization and more like the establishment.

But now his tone changed as he began to tell the audience of more than 200 people, mostly young men, what they had been waiting to hear. He railed against Jews and, with a smile, quoted Nazi propaganda in the original German. America, he said, belonged to white people, whom he called the children of the sun, a race of conquerors and creators who had been marginalized but now, in the era of president-elect Donald Trump, were awakening to their own identity.

As he finished, several audience members had their arm outstretched in a Nazi salute. A video posted on The Atlantics website shows Spencer saying Heil Trump, heil our people, heil victory, as the crows salutes and cheers.

These are exultant times for the racist alt-right movement, which was little known until this year, when it embraced Trumps campaign and he appeared to embrace it back. He chose as his campaign chairman Stephen K. Bannon, the media executive who ran the alt-rights most prominent platform, Breitbart News, and then named him as a senior adviser and chief strategist.

Now the movements leaders hope to have, if not a seat at the table, at least the ear, of the Trump White House.

While many of its racist views are well known  that President Barack Obama is, or may as well be, of foreign birth; that the Black Lives Matter movement is another name for black race rioters; that even the U.S.-born children of undocumented Hispanic immigrants should be deported  the alt-right has been difficult to define. Is it a name for right-wing political provocateurs in the internet era? Or is it a political movement defined by its white supremacist tenets?

At the conference on Saturday, Spencer, who said he had coined the term, defined the alt-right as a movement with white identity as its core idea.

Weve crossed the Rubicon in terms of recognition, Spencer said at the conference, which was sponsored by his organization, the National Policy Institute.

And while much of the discourse at the conference was overtly racist and demeaning toward minorities, for much of the day the sentiments were expressed in ways that seemed to be intended to not sound too menacing. The focus was on how whites were marginalized and beleaguered.

One speaker, Peter Brimelow, the founder of Vdare.com, an anti-immigration website, noted that if Hispanics had the National Council of La Raza and Jews had the Anti-Defamation League, why were whites reluctant to organize for their rights? Some speakers made an effort to distance themselves from other, more notorious white power organizations like the Ku Klux Klan.

But as the night wore on and most reporters had gone home, the language changed.

Spencers after-dinner speech began with a polemic against the mainstream media, before he briefly paused. Perhaps we should refer to them in the original German? he said.

The audience immediately screamed back, Lugenpresse, reviving a Nazi-era word that means lying press.

He suggested that the news media had been critical of Trump throughout the campaign in order to protect Jewish interests. Spencer mused about the political commentators who gave Trump little chance of winning. One wonders if these people are people at all, or instead soulless Golem, he said, referring to a Jewish fable in which the golem is a clay giant that a rabbi brings to life to protect the Jews.

Trumps election, Spencer said, was the victory of will, a phrase that echoed the title of the famous Nazi-era propaganda film Triumph of the Will. But Spencer then mentioned, with a smile, Theodor Herzl, the Zionist leader who advocated a Jewish homeland in Israel, quoting his famous pronouncement, if we will it, it is no dream.

The United States today, Spencer said, had been turned into a sick, corrupted society. But it was not supposed to be that way.

America was, until this last generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity, Spencer thundered. It is our creation, it is our inheritance and it belongs to us.

But the white race, he added, is a race that travels forever on an upward path.

To be white is to be a creator, an explorer, a conqueror, he said.

More members of the audience were on their feet as Spencer described the choice facing white people as to conquer or die.

Of other races, Spencer said: We dont exploit other groups, we dont gain anything from their presence. They need us, and not the other way around.

The ties between the alt-right movement and the Trump team are difficult to define, even by members of the alt-right.

Bannon was the chief executive of Breitbart News, an online news organization that has fed the lie that Obama is a Kenyan-born Muslim. As recently as last year, Breitbart published an op-ed article urging that every tree, every rooftop, every picket fence, every telegraph pole in the South should be festooned with the Confederate battle flag.

Bannon told Mother Jones this year that Breitbart was now the platform for the alt-right.

But in an interview last week with The Wall Street Journal, Bannon said that the alt-right was only a tiny part of the viewpoint represented on Breitbart.

Our definition of the alt-right is younger people who are anti-globalists, very nationalist, terribly anti-establishment, he told The Journal, adding that the alt-right had some racial and anti-Semitic overtones.

When asked about Bannon, the conferences speakers said that they might have shaken Bannons hand on occasion, but that they did not know him well.

Brimelow said that he had met Bannon once, earlier this summer, before he ascended to Olympus. Brimelow said he had told Bannon that he was doing great work at Breitbart. He agreed, Brimelow recalled to the audience.

As for Trump, Brimelow said he had once met him about 30 years ago at a conservative affinity meeting in Manhattan. But that was it.

Trump and Steve Bannon are not alt-right people, Brimelow said, adding that they had opportunistically seized on two issues that the alt-right cares most about  stopping immigration and fighting political correctness  and used them to mobilize white voters.

Spencer said that while he did not think the president-elect should be considered alt-right, I do think we have a psychic connection, or you can say a deeper connection, with Donald Trump in a way that we simply do not have with most Republicans.

White identity, he said, is at the core of both the alt-right movement and the Trump movement, even if most voters for Trump arent willing to articulate it as such.

And Spencer described the movement as a kind of body without a head.

At various points, he and other speakers outlined where they differed from Trump. They see him as too beholden to Israel. They do not see any reason to start a trade war with China, and they are not necessarily opposed to the Iran nuclear deal.

For them, immigration is the most potent mobilizing issue, less for economic reasons than because of the prospect that white Americans will someday represent less than half of the population of the country.

For the alt-right, the most exciting thing about Trump was that he built a campaign around the issues that mattered most, and that white people had voted for him in numbers that left the political establishments of both parties stunned. Now, Spencer said, it is up to the alt-right to formulate the ideas and policies to guide the new administration.

I think we can be the ones out in front, thinking about those things, he hasnt quite grasped yet, who are putting forward policies, Spencer said, that actually have a realistic chance of being implemented.

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Three police officers in three different states were shot in apparently unprovoked attacks in a 12-hour period Sunday, attacks described as targeted and ambush-style by officials.

A fourth was shot in a suburb of Kansas City, Mo., but the circumstances were unclear early Monday morning.

The first and only fatal shooting took place just before noon in San Antonio, Texas, directly outside the police station, as a 20-year veteran of the police department issued a traffic ticket from inside his patrol car. The assailant, seemingly unconnected to the original motorist, shot the officer twice in the head before fleeing in a black car.

Later Monday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said 31-year-old Otis Tyrone McKane was arrested and charged with capital murder in the slaying of Det. Benjamin Marconi. He was arrested in a car driven by a woman on Interstate 10 at Farm-to-Market Road 1516 on the eastern fringe of San Antonio.

The second shooting was reported at about 7:30 Sunday evening in St. Louis. A 46-year-old officer was sitting in traffic in his patrol car when another car pulled up alongside him. Someone inside shot the officer twice in the face then fled. The 19-year-old suspect was later shot and killed by police when authorities say he fired at officers searching for him. The officer who was shot in the face is expected to survive.

At 8 p.m., the third ambush-style shooting shocked the small coastal Florida town of Sanibel, where for the first time in the citys history an officer was shot in the line of duty. Like the attack in San Antonio, the Florida officer was sitting in his car after a routine traffic stop when, according to the News-Press, a drive-by shooter opened fire. The injured officer was treated and released from a hospital, officials said, and the suspect was arrested after a shootout with police.

An officer with the Gladstone Police Department was shot later Sunday night near Kansas City, reported the Kansas City Star. According to WIST, the shooting began with a traffic stop, after which the suspect, a passenger, ran from the vehicle and struggled with police when they caught up with him.

During the struggle, police say the man pulled a handgun, wounding an officer before being killed in an exchange of fire. He was not named, but identified as a white male in his late teens.

Sundays targeted shootings are the most recent in a string of similar attacks that have made headlines this year, beginning with the most extreme of them all, the ambush-style killings of five Dallas police officers in July. Since then, at least a dozen officers have been shot in what officials have called unprovoked attacks.

At least five other officers have been targeted and shot just this month: two fatally in Iowa; one fatally and another non-fatally in Pennsylvania; and one fatally in California.

At a news conference in San Antonio Sunday afternoon, Mayor Ivy Taylor said the shooting there was shocking and sobering, and asked the community to remain calm and prayerful.

Marconi was a 50-year-old father and grandfather. He had been with the force for 20 years and was a sex crimes detective who excelled at his work at the time of his death, a former colleague told NBC News.

He was a great father, he was a great officer, retired detective Roy Naylor told NBC News.

Marconi conducted a traffic stop in front of police headquarters at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday, the chief said. While he was sitting inside the patrol car, another vehicle  the black sedan with chrome rims  pulled up behind the officer. The suspect got out of the car, walked up to Marconis driver side window and fired one shot. It struck Marconi in the head.

The suspect then reached in through the open window and fired a second shot, the chief said. It hit Marconi in the head again.

The gunman walked back to the vehicle and drove away.

Marconi was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the slaying a horrific act of violence, and added that attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas.

Police chief McManus compared the shooting to the targeted attacks on police officers this year, reported NBC News.

Its happened here, he said. Its everyones worst nightmare.

The motive remains unclear, the chief said, but the department is investigating all leads, including a possible connection to an officer-involved shooting that happened elsewhere in the city earlier Sunday.

The motive for the ambush shooting in St. Louis was more clear.

After a five-hour manhunt Sunday night, the suspect, a 19-year-old male, was shot and killed by police after he opened fire on them, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson said at a news conference.

Dotson told reporters the suspect was known to police before Sunday and was wanted for a host of crimes that had been committed in the city and county, including several robberies. He might also be connected to a carjacking and homicide, the chief said.

Authorities believe thats why he fired on the officer Sunday night; he was afraid hed be recognized.

The chief did not release the name of the injured officer, but said he was a 46-year-old father of three and had been on the force for nearly 20 years. He was in critical but stable condition at a hospital.

Fortunately for the blessing of God the officers going to survive, Dotson said.

The officer was stalled in traffic when the suspect pulled up alongside him. He saw the muzzle flashes and felt the glass breaking in his window as the shots came through and struck him in the head, according to the chief. He heard at least two gunshots and was aware enough to see that the suspects car was silver. The officer radioed for help, and when authorities arrived they found him still sitting in the drivers seat, strapped in his seat belt, gun holstered.

He didnt have time to react to this threat, Dotson said.

A source told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the officer thought the man in the car was going to ask him a question.

This officer was not involved in a traffic stop. This officer was not trying to pull this car over, Dotson said. This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed.

At the news conference, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said the attack was unprovoked and a reminder of how dangerous it is to be a police officer. He called the shooting traumatic and said the officer didnt deserve this.

He was just doing his job, Slay said. He was targeted because he was a police officer.

Local and federal authorities spent the evening searching by air and land for the 19-year-old suspect. They were mandated to travel with at least one other officer for safety. Officials found the suspects car abandoned in a parking garage downtown and learned that hed been picked up by a female friend. The two returned to the same neighbourhood where the shooting occurred, Dotson said.

There, officers were scouring the area, and when a police car located the suspect and his friend and tried to pull their car over, the female driver slowed down and the suspect fled, the chief said. He ran down an alley and into the view of another police car, this one unmarked. The suspect fired at the car, Dotson said, shattering the windshield. The officers inside were uninjured.

More police arrived and began to converge, according to the chief. There was more gunfire, and the suspect was shot and killed. A pistol with an extended magazine was recovered from the suspect. Police also found an additional magazine with more bullets. An investigation into how many shots were fired at the suspect is ongoing, and it was unknown early Monday morning if the female driver would face charges.

While addressing reporters, Dotson mentioned the fatal San Antonio police shooting earlier in the day and spoke of the climate facing American officers.

When officers are driving down the street and are ambushed, it makes us all take pause, he said.

The fatal shooting in San Antonio was the 58th death of an officer by gunfire this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Those sites have calculated that the number is between a 61 and 71 per cent increase from gunfire-related deaths in 2015.

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BERLINA woman was seriously injured when she was dragged through the streets of a northern German town behind a car with a cord tied around her neck. Her ex-partner later turned himself in to authorities, prosecutors said Monday.

Police in Hameln said they were treating Sunday evenings incident as an attempted killing. The 28-year-old local woman had a cord tied around her neck, which was attached to the cars trailer hitch, they said.

The car drove through several streets, dragging the woman behind it. Police say the woman was found lying on a sidewalk with grave injuries.

At around the same time, a 38-year-old man from nearby Bad Muender went to a police station and said he was the perpetrator. He was arrested.

The man was the victims ex-partner, Hannover prosecutors spokesman Thomas Klinge said. However, there was no immediate information on a possible motive.

Both the suspect and victim are German citizens of Kurdish origin, police spokesman Jens Petersen said, according to news agency dpa.

The victim underwent an emergency operation on Sunday evening and was then flown to a specialist clinic.

Police said they couldnt confirm reports on social media that there had also been a shooting. They called for witnesses to come forward, particularly anyone who might have seen how the victim was uncoupled from the car.

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If U.S. president-elect Donald Trump keeps his word, America will soon pull out of the fight against global warming. Canada and other signatories to last years climate-change accord say they will carry on. Without the U.S., do they have a chance?

Certainly, Trump has shown that he has no time for global warming. He has called it a hoax. He has said it is based on faulty science and manipulated data.

He has been particularly scornful whenever the weather turns cold.

In one oft-quoted tweet, he said (incorrectly) that the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

He has vowed to terminate President Barack Obamas executive actions aimed at reducing carbon emissions from power plants. And he has said he will walk away from the 2015 Paris climate accord.

In short, hes been pretty clear.

Given that the U.S. is the worlds second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, this appears to pose a real problem for those trying to fight climate change.

Still, the world carries on. At an international climate-change summit in Marrakesh, Morocco last week, delegates issued a proclamation confirming the Paris accord and pledging that the battle against global warming would continue to be a matter of urgent priority.

Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said Ottawa will forge ahead with its plans to reduce carbon emissions by, in one way or another, taxing them.

Chinas delegate to the conference said tackling climate change is a global trend that is irreversible. His remarks were echoed by delegates from all the big emitters, including India, the European Union, Japan, the Middle Eastern oil states and Brazil.

In part, the worlds decision to carry on with the Paris accord is made easier by the fact that the agreement itself is so weak. It allows countries to set their own emission targets and provides no penalties for those that fail to meet them.

A recent report from the United Nations Environment Program calculates that the commitments made to date under the Paris agreement are well below what is needed to stave off global catastrophe. Some, like Canada are not even on track to meet the modest carbon reduction commitments they have made.

But the other factor at play is that fighting climate change has finally become a profitable business activity. China in particular is cashing in. The Chinese invested $103-billion in renewable energy last year, more than one-third of the worlds total.

The UN reports that, as solar and wind technology evolve, the price of renewable energy is coming down around the world.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describes his climate-change strategy as good economics. Indeed, at times it seems to be more about economics than climate.

How else to explain the governments recent decision authorizing a Pacific coast liquefied natural gas project that is destined to massively increase carbon emissions?

Still, the Liberal government seems intent on pursuing its somewhat inconsistent climate-change policy with or without the U.S. That is new.

When U.S. President George W. Bush withdrew from the Kyoto accord on climate change in 2001, he effectively killed the treaty. There was no country able to take Americas place.

On top of this, Canada was reluctant to take any action that might put its businesses at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis the U.S.

Optimists say matters have changed since then. York University climate-change expert Mark Winfield argues Trump will find it more difficult than he thinks to undo everything Obama has put in place.

More to the point, there is China. It wants to be recognized as a world leader. It is willing to spend money to achieve that goal. It is attracted to renewable energy in part to deal with its own coal-based smog pollution. But it also sees renewable energy as part of a long-run industrial strategy.

Will all of this be enough to prevent the coastal flooding and extreme weather associated with climate change? Id be reluctant to buy any properties on the Florida seaboard.

But in spite of Trump, there is still a chance the world will survive without climate-induced mayhem.

A chance.

Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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The Trudeau government has taken important steps to assert Canadian leadership on environmental issues after years of neglect under the Harper government.

It played a key role in negotiating the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, and in October it announced it will impose a national price on carbon starting in 2018. Now it plans to phase out almost all use of coal to generate electricity by 2030, a move that will cut greenhouse gas emissions while producing significant health benefits from cleaner air.

The usual suspects are grumbling, but the government deserves credit for pressing ahead on an issue that is arguably the most important this country, and all countries, must face: climate change.

The plan to get rid of coal essentially involves speeding up a plan developed under the Conservatives in 2012. It will require the four provinces that still have coal-fired electricity plants to shut them down, install carbon-capture technology, or achieve equivalent emission reductions elsewhere.

The government says that will have the same greenhouse-gas effect as taking 1.3 million cars off the road and will ensure that 90 per cent of Canadas power sources are sustainable (up from 80 per cent now). And health groups say eliminating coal burning will prevent more than 1,000 premature deaths and save billions in health costs.

Only Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is griping and he is mostly isolated on this issue, now that Alberta is moving in a more environmentally responsible direction under its NDP government. It would be too much to expect every province to just fall in line.

Other critics say phasing out coal risks putting Canada badly out of step with the United States once Donald Trump is installed in the White House.

Its true Trump has pledged to dump the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, which he calls a war on coal. That won him support in coal country, but its far from clear that Trump can actually deliver on his promise to revive the industry and the communities that depend on it.

The fact is coal has been a dying industry for decades as utilities abandon it for cheaper, cleaner-burning natural gas and renewable alternatives. There used to be a quarter of a million coal mining jobs in the U.S.; now there are just over 50,000. Even Trump cant do much to prop up an industry in such terminal decline.

In the face of all this, the Trudeau governments plan makes eminent sense. But that doesnt mean there wont be trade-offs, and the provinces will have to make sure it doesnt lead to sharply higher electricity prices.

For that, they should learn from the mistakes of Ontario. This province did away with coal-fired plants several years ago and moved boldly towards greener energy. But its now all too apparent that the government made a lot of mistakes along the way, and the Liberals are paying a high political price  as Premier Kathleen Wynne ruefully acknowledged over the weekend.

All governments must walk a fine line: take effective action on the environment without alienating the public. The federal government has made a good start on the first part. The second part, as Ontario is finding out, is bound to be more tricky.

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Re: Photo radar coming to school zones, Nov. 9

Photo radar coming to school zones, Nov. 9

It is an appropriate move to re-introduce photo radar in Ontario, even with the proposed limited deployment. There is one thing that must be defined in the legislation, and it is that one thing that was previously missing and caused the major uproar: the legislation must define the trigger speed in relation to the posted limit.

Ontario has a long history of not enforcing the posted speed limits, but rather some la vetisse du jour, which was often 10 to 20 km/h above the posted limit.

The trigger must be defined in the legislation as one km/h above the posted limit, or else the posted maximum is meaningless. A maximum is a maximum is a maximum.

Now to get photo radar on the 400 series highways, with a posted limit of 125 and a trigger of 126.

Brian Williams, Belleville

If this not a money grab then I do not know what is. The Ottawa mayor predicts speeders will be penalized with a heavy fine and possibly demerit points. My question is how will the picture of a license plate show who is the driver of the speeding car, the registered owner yes but not the actual person driving so who has to lay out the fine, the owner and who gets demerit points, no one because they cannot identify the driver.

So the question is will it really slow down drivers or speed up filling the coffers of government so they can waste more dollars? If the cameras are stationery, someone will have to check them daily to ensure they are in proper working order and are free of dust, dirt snow and ice, another hidden cost.

Want to slow down cars in school zones, construct speed bumps leading to and in front of school areas, because once the radar cameras get involved they will multiply faster than rabbits to all areas of the province.

J.C. James, Mississauga

Photo radar to reduce speed on our roads is a great idea but why restrict it to school zones? Seniors are over-represented in pedestrian deaths and they shouldnt have to hang around school zones to be safe.

Albert Koehl, Toronto

Its about time that penalties will be imposed upon those that endanger our children as they attempt to attend school or leave for home after school. Yes, photo radar is a big brother response but, when it comes to protecting our children, then yes, we need this response.

A school zone should cause every driver to slow down and be observant to the possibility that a young child might suddenly appear in front of them. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

I give credit to Mayor John Tory for getting this initiative put in place. Now, lets hope that it will include the warning signs that photo radar is in place. That way, we can avoid the expense of actually putting up the devices (which are a heck of a lot more expensive than putting up a warning sign) in all locations.

I laugh, but am happy to see that speeding drivers brake heavily when seeing the photo radar signs in place  even when the cameras have been moved from the intersection.

J. Brunins, Britt

Photo radar, whether in school zones, highways, or roadways, when implemented after proper analysis, influences driver behaviour in a positive way and enhances traffic safety.

Highly visible signs, indicating the presence of photo radar, will deter drivers from offending by warning them that they are very lightly to be caught. Research clearly shows that if people believe they will be apprehended, they are less likely to offend. In a cash strapped economy, electronic enforcement has another benefit: it enables police to improve traffic enforcement without increasing overall costs, but it should never be seen as a cash machine. The provincial and municipal governments must ensure the administration of justice is never tied to revenue generation.

Without question, there is no substitute for strong police visibility in problem areas, and there is no substitute for a strong commitment to continuing public education. But police cant be everywhere -and besides, there are people who cant be persuaded to change their aggressive driving habits. Think about how dangerous it is for police to chase speeders on busy highways, roads, and in school zones. The risk involved in catching offenders is often unacceptable both for the officers and the public.

Photo radar, as studies have concluded, can be an effective and efficient means to manage traffic speed , reduce collisions and injuries, and combat the huge resulting economic burden to society.

The value of photo enforcement can be quantified by assessing targeted locations, before and after the cameras are put in place, to record the number of offences and collisions, with related injuries and fatalities. These tools cannot and must not be a substitute for visible, effective enforcement. Police must be active and visible in problem areas.

Many of those opposed to electronic enforcement, including some politicians, say they are concerned about the privacy issues raised by photo radar and red-light cameras. But speeding drivers have no right whatsoever to pose a threat to people. Public health, safety and injury prevention are the issues at hand. Public safety and traffic safety must always trump politics and ideology.

Unfortunately, the alternative to photo radar may simply be to let irresponsible drivers continue to endanger the public. That is why these tools can be such an important element in the on-going effort to make our roads safer. It is time to bring back photo radar in Ontario, and not only in school zones.

Emile Therien, Ottawa

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Re: Canada could have its own Donald Trump, Nov. 14

Re: PM has good reason to make nice with Trump, Nov. 11

Canada could have its own Donald Trump, Nov. 14

Im unsure if getting rid of NAFTA is really a good idea for either side, and perhaps a renegotiation would leave everyone involved better off. My reasoning for this is that stopping foreign corporations from challenging Canadian laws could be a double-edged sword.

Yes it would mean we could preserve our ideals in the face of the big bad corporations yet allow us to still export to the U.S. with ease. But at the same time it could also discourage foreign corporations from expanding into Canada and creating jobs and providing services to Canadians.

Joseph Pancoe, Hamilton

To the disgust of most Canadians, Americans have chosen to elect Trump despite his racist campaign policies, his apparent avocation of misogyny and sexual assault, and his avowed plans for an assault on the environment. My choice is to no longer vacation in the U.S. I have unsubscribed from various tourist email services from U.S. locations, and will not direct my vacation dollars to such a country during Trumps presidency.

Don Hughes, Lindsay

Although I have lived in New Zealand for over 40 years I am still a true blue Canadian. Just letting you know that whatever help is required to build that wall, Ill come back, just call me.

Trina J. Northcott, Inner Kaiti, New Zealand

Its curious that when I first caught a glimpse of Trumps iconic hat on the TV screen I read Make America Hate Again!

Now after reading your editorial Memo to Trump, I realize that my first reading turns out to have been true after all. America got his message.

Tony DAndrea, Toronto

Perhaps Mr. Trumps win is proof of Carl Sagans insight into nature Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception. Good luck to all of us.

Charles Campisi, Oakville

Trump didnt win in America. The country lost.

John Purvis, ColborneLiberals and Democrats selected their newest leaders the same way. Insiders anointed known names. It would have been a cozy relationship for Justin Trudeau if Hillary Clinton had won. Both would have followed Europes lead with open borders, free trade and unfettered immigration and tolerated its attendant racism, crime and massive welfare.

America opted for sovereignty over globalization, just as Britain has. Other EU members will follow suite and wrest decision-making from the unelected Brussels bureaucrats.

On the plus side, North American energy can now expand and OPECs power will diminish. Climate change will take a back seat to the economy and foreign and domestic policies in the U.S., issues that went awry during the Obama years.

Canadas Liberal practices will distance us from our closest neighbour and partner. Aside from trade, security considerations may well become prominent.

Len Bennett, Ottawa

Its unfortunate that Alicja Siekierskas polling (Majority say Trump will be bad for Canada, Nov. 12) did not ask whether that same majority included the Ontario voters who said Kathleen Wynne would be good for us. Now that would have given us a revealing measure of how good that polling really is.

R. Michaels, Burlington

PM has good reason to make nice with Trump, Nov. 11

Reporter Paul Wells seems to be suggesting that openness to renegotiating or even abrogating NAFTA is somehow now become a rightist position. Such an analysis would be willful revisionism of the rankest stripe. Legions of Kellie Leitches are even invoked, to drive home the scary image of right-wing anti-trade hordes, emerged from thin air but eager suddenly to knock over everything good and true.

But it was hardly the right that opposed the FTA in 1988, or NAFTA in 1993, nor not any of their bastard ilk either that have come along since. Rather, it was the labour-anchored left whose mission has always been to oppose whatever screwy deals, like for example a bunch of trade deals that arent even trade deals, and who yet still lead the struggle to overturn such plainly destructive treaties as CEDA and TIPP.

George Higton, Toronto

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SUN PRAIRIE  Julie Wagners fourth-grade classroom at Horizon Elementary School was a happy place Monday morning when therapy dog Ted made the rounds to be petted.

Ted was brought by Cindy Brosig, who runs Operation: HEEL (Heal and Empower Every Life). She offered the animal-assisted activity to Wagners class, which includes students with relatives in the military now or in the past, during Military Family Month. Brosig was accompanied by her daughter, Ruth, who was a student of Wagners last year and is training to work with therapy animals.

As Brosig gave a talk about Ted, her background and her program, the rescue dog roamed around the students sitting in a circle.

Fourth-grader Lydia Zenobi was impressed that he seemed to know how to mingle so no one felt left out. In interviews afterward, the students said they could see his value.

He would  support people when theyre sad and make them happy again, said Mia Foy, whose father served in the Navy. Hes super fun to pet and he makes me happy.

Brosig, who is an Air Force veteran, said Operation: HEEL grew out of her personal experience of being a military spouse and mother. When she felt stressed, in part by her husband flying helicopters over the Middle East, her dog was a source of support.

She also said Wagner was one of the teachers who has supported her family when Brosigs husband has had to leave for training or emergencies as a member of the Wisconsin National Guard.

Brosig used the GI Bill to get a masters degree in nursing and conducted two years of research on how animal-assisted therapy, as a complementary therapy, is a vital intervention to support military members and their families.

Brosig, who was honored last month as the Wisconsin Woman Veteran of the Year by the state Department of Veteran Affairs, offers free animal-assisted activity to groups and plans to offer one-on-one animal-assisted therapy in the future.

By keeping our military kids healthy and resilient at home we are truly supporting our military members by allowing them to focus on the dangerous job they do away from home, said Brosig, who also handed out stickers and yellow rubber wristbands that say Support our Troops.

Having the dog in the classroom made some students think of family members. Abhishek Jerome thought of a great-grandfather who served in the Indian Armed Forces. James Lennington said he thought of his aunt, who died of cystic fibrosis, who was helped by a therapy dog.

The visit made Piper Jackson think of her service dog, Raven. Piper has diabetes and Raven helps detect when her blood sugar is low.He loves people and he doesnt really bark, fourth-grader Josie Blanchard said about Ted.
Re: Liberals give $25 million to controversial Palestinian aid agency, Nov. 16

Liberals give $25 million to controversial Palestinian aid agency, Nov. 16

We were most concerned when we saw this inaccurate report in your paper, which is sadly inaccurate in many details.

For example: UNRWA is a UN agency and not a Palestinian aid agency. Stephen Harper continued to fund until 2012 and the so called allegations of ties to Hamas were never raised or proved.

We are most sensitive to inaccurate reports since we support Palestinian human rights and wish the Canadian government did so too.

Christine and Melville Johnston, Victoria

I was very disappointed in your article about the resumption of UNRWA funding by Canada. There are many errors in your article, and there are many misleading points.

First, I point out that the Harper government funded UNRWA through 2012  contrary to the articles assertion that funding stopped in 2010.

Second, the headline refers to UNRWA as a Palestinian aid agency. This is wrong: it is a UN agency  thats why they call it UNRWA  the UN stands for United Nations. It is a UN agency providing aid to Palestinian refugees.

Third, I find it very disingenuous that you suggest that Stephen Harper stopped funding because of alleged ties to Hamas. I was unaware of any such statement by the Harper government at the time that aid was discontinued  in 2012.

Also, it would be journalistically appropriate for you to mention that UNRWA alleged ties to Hamas have not been proven. The U.S. General Accounting Office and many other organizations have thoroughly audited UNRWA, and have found its accounting and work to be extremely reputable. It did not find ties to Hamas.

Thomas Woodley, president, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Montreal

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Editors' pick: Originally published Nov. 18.

Determining what markets are ripe for the next real estate investment can be a daunting task.

One of the most important factors is to identify a market that has a significant gap between supply and demand. Once an investor has identified a market that fits that description, it is important to look at both the micro and macro factors that are driving that demand.

Doing due diligence before making an investment is critical to the overall success that can be achieved, and real estate is no exception.

Let's take a look at four important factors to consider before deciding where to make the next real estate purchase.

1. Economy

It is important to take a look outside one's local market to make the best possible real estate investment decision. The economy of the market being considered is the most important factor to consider.

A diversified economy that doesn't rely on just one to two industries leads to stable growth and makes for a much more appealing market.

Looking for trends indicating a growing economy is the first step. To do this from a macro standpoint, look at the year-over-year growth in gross domestic product of a state.

Once a growing economy is identified, drill down into more specific data such as whether the area is investing in infrastructure, is business friendly, and has a low or no state income tax.

"This is typically a good sign [of] long-term growth prospects in the market and a healthy economy" said Sean Ryan, chief executive and founder of Greystone Residential.

Some particularly interesting markets that meet these criteria include Charlotte, N.C., and Dallas.

2. Job market

Diversity within industries that are not only growing but are also seeing new players enter the market is a good sign. This creates strength and resilience in the market should some of the industries hit a drop in output or production.

Having several industries support the economy will prevent a decrease in population, which in turn would negatively affect home values and renter demand.

"You need to look at what is driving that economy. If it's multiple industries and new businesses entering the market, you know you are going to have job growth," Ryan said.

"Tech, medical and finance are good industries right now," he said. "If you are looking at a city where a lot of the jobs are industrial and manufacturing, you may want to steer clear from that market."

3. Population growth

An upward trend with a younger demographic moving into the area is another positive sign. Population growth is an indication of the desirability of an area from several different standpoints.

Simply put, people move to where jobs and opportunities are.

4. Wages versus cost of living

Affordability is key, as people tend to migrate to areas that are growing but still maintain an affordable cost of living. The cost of living in respect to the median income is another important metric to consider.

A steady increase in both represents a healthy growing market where appreciation in both value and rents are expected.

"Median income is one of the things we look at when we address a market. A median income that it is in line with the cost of living, something that is conducive to a great quality of life" Ryan said.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- OPEC and Russia met in Doha on Thursday to discuss a cutback in oil production ahead of the oil cartel's official meeting on November 30. The deal is meant to help curtail the global oil glut's negative effect on oil prices.

Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Faliah said he was optimistic about OPEC coming to an agreement during yesterday's meeting.

Bloomberg News' Manus Cranny reported on the meeting from Doha on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Americas" on Friday morning."I think we've shifted gears a little bit. The one word I've written down here is preparation," he said.

The Saudi Arabians and Algerians are shifting their focus back to a 32.5 million barrel per day (bpd) cut, which is the lower end of the previously proposed deal for a target of a 32.5 million bpd to 33 million bpd cut.

"Noureddine Bouterfa, the Algerian minister, is one of the great protagonists and architects of the Algeria accord back in September," Cranny said.

Rather than trying to control prices, this deal is more about "messaging to the world that the cartel still has relevance," he claimed. If it can effectively send that message out, then it can change the price of a barrel of oil.

But "preparedness" for November 30 is the overall theme of yesterday's meeting, he reiterated. "I have never heard so much talk to get a deal done."
This has been a spectacular year for United States Steel (X) . The stock has zoomed up more than 250% and could continue its long-term upward trajectory, particularly if President-elect Donald Trump fulfills his plans to launch a massive infrastructure initiative.

Just a year ago, the stock was hovering around a dismal $8 per share.

United States Steel seems to have benefited from star hedge fund manager David Einhorn's acquisition of a stake in the company, a souring on low-cost Chinese steel and rising global prices. The Trump presidency has heartened investors further. The stock is up about 5% since last week's surprising election result.

Still, there are issues to consider before buying shares.

It's been a good year for a number of steel companies. Year to date, Mechel is up 254%.Peer AK Steel is up 255%. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, Olympic Steel and Steel Dynamics all have had strong gains.

United States Steel should remain an investor favorite as steel demand remains robust.

Investors should exercise caution, however. The stock is already trading more than 40% higher than analysts' median price target.

But earnings have missed expectations. United States Steel underperformed third-quarter earnings estimates by a wide margin.

The company earned 40 cents a share excluding items, which was half of the 80 cents a share that analysts had expected. Revenue was $2.686 billion, less than the expected $2.82 billion.

"We faced some operational challenges that limited our ability to realize the full benefits of an improved pricing environment," United States Steel CEO Mario Longhi said in a statement earlier this month.

The company said that earnings were impacted by planned power outages tied to maintenance projects and unplanned outages. The company believes the maintenance projects will improve efficiency.

United States Steel could continue to be an outstanding investment, but be prepared for some bumps.

---

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The author is an independent contributor who at the time of publication owned none of the stocks mentioned.
Oil prices ticked sharply higher Monday after Iraqi and Iranian officials offered hope that OPEC will deliver a promised production cut at a meeting next week in Vienna.

West Texas Intermediate futures for delivery in December rose 1% to $46.15, while Europe's benchmark Brent crude futures for delivery in January rose 1.1% to $46.39. Monday's gains take WTI's increase to just over 6.5% over the past week, while Brent has risen by a similar amount.

Iran's oil minister Bijan Zangeneh said it was "highly probable" that OPEC members will reach agreement on the production cuts, according to quotes published over the weekend by Iran's state-backed oil news service Shana. On Monday, Iraq's Oil Ministry said its nation's "demands should not be perceived as an obstacle to reaching a new agreement."

OPEC members have been holding informal meetings ahead of their decisive get together on November 30, when they are due to agree the terms of a production cut agreed in principal in Algiers on Sept. 28. The 14-nation oil cartel has promised to reduce output to between 32.5 million and 33 million barrels of oil per day, a target that will require the removal of about 1.5 million barrels a day, or about 5% of current production.

Iran had previously insisted it should be allowed to increase output to the level it was at prior to the imposition of sanctions. That position appears to have softened, partly due to a rapid increase in production, with reports suggesting Iran will accept a production cap, though not a reduction. Iraq has claimed that it should be exempt from any deal as it needs cash to fund its battle against Isis.

The possibility that neither Iraq, which is OPEC's No.2 producer, or Iran, which ranks No.3, will cut production has raised fears that Saudi Arabia will abandon a deal that will fall most heavily on its output.

"We expect OPEC to agree to a face-saving statement," noted Barclays analysts. The bank also highlighted the problems inherent in OPEC's efforts to increase prices, warning that oil prices beyond $50 would result in increased output from U.S. shale oil producers.

Oil prices have fallen more than 50% since 2014 after Saudi Arabia opened its spigots, flooding the market with excess oil in an effort to protect market share from a resurgent Iran and U.S. shale oil producers.

The International Energy Agency warned earlier this month that failure to agree a production cut will leave the oil market in surplus for all of 2017. Analysts, including Goldman Sachs, have also noted OPEC members past failures to abide by production quotas, warning that even if a deal is agreed it may have little long-term effect on the oil price.
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A panel of federal judges on Monday ruled that Wisconsin's 2011 legislative redistricting plan, created by Republican leaders virtually in secret, is an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

The map "was intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters  by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats," wrote federal appeals court Judge Kenneth Ripple, the senior judge on the three-judge panel, adding that "the discriminatory effect is not explained by the political geography of Wisconsin nor is it justified by a legitimate state interest.

"Consequently, Act 43 constitutes an unconstitutional political gerrymander," Ripple wrote.

The 116-page decision, with a 40-page dissent from U.S. District Judge William Griesbach, was issued several months after the panel heard testimony in federal court in Madison. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, the third judge on the panel, joined Ripple in the court's 2-1 decision.

The panel did not say what should happen as a result of its ruling. Instead, the court ordered both sides to file briefs on an appropriate remedy within 30 days, with response briefs to follow 15 days later. Both sides also must tell the court if they believe additional testimony is required before the court decides what happens next.

Ruth Greenwood, one of the lawyers for the Democratic voters who brought the case, declined to discuss what remedy the group intends to seek from the court.

The ruling comes nearly six months after the judges heard arguments in the case, brought by a group of state Democratic voters who have called the 2011 redistricting plan "one of the worst partisan gerrymanders in modern American history."

The Democrats contend they have found a way to measure unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders designed to give a "large and durable" advantage in elections to one party  a measure the U.S. Supreme Court said was lacking in previous redistricting cases. The measure, called the efficiency gap, shows how cracking (breaking up blocs of Democratic voters) and packing (concentrating Democrats within certain districts) results in wasted votes  excess votes for the winners in safe districts and perpetually inadequate votes for the losers.

Lawyers for the Democrats said the 2011 plan, which changed boundaries for all of the state's Congressional and state Senate and Assembly districts, was drawn specifically to disenfranchise Democratic voters.

Republicans have countered that as the majority party, they can draw the maps any way they choose, short of creating districts that disenfranchise racial minorities.

"Today is a historic day and I am thrilled with the result not only for our plaintiffs but for all Wisconsin voters," said Peter Earle, one of the lawyers representing the Democrats. "This decision will finally give voters in Wisconsin the power they deserve to shape their democracy. Now a fairer system will be created here in Wisconsin so all voters, not just a select few, will be able to have their voices heard."

Gerry Hebert, director of the Campaign Legal Center, which represented the Democrats in court, called the decision "truly a monumental victory for the plaintiffs in this case, but more importantly this is an historic moment for our nation and the betterment of democracy."

Hebert added that the fact that the court accepts the Democrats' method of determining the efficiency gap means "there will be, for the first time, a standard to identify this harmful practice."

State Attorney General Brad Schimel said he was evaluating the decision but planned to appeal. He added that the decision does not affect the results of any election, including the Nov. 8 election, and that legislative district boundaries remain unchanged until the court decides what the remedy will be.

When the lawsuit was filed, the Democrats asked that a three-judge panel made up of district and appeals judges hear the case so that it could be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the original intent that it be heard before the 2016 elections. The Supreme Court now stands at a 4-4 deadlock between its conservative and liberal wings and will likely remain so until the Senate confirms President-elect Donald Trump's replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy in March, but he is unlikely to receive a confirmation vote in the Senate before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

Crabb was appointed to the bench in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. Ripple was appointed to the U.S. Appeals Court for the Seventh Circuit in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan. Griesbach, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, was appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush.

Judge: Map guaranteed GOP win in any scenario

In its ruling, the two-judge majority rejected the state's contention that partisan scores determined by GOP map-makers were created simply to gain a historical understanding of voter behavior. The maps were created in a tightly controlled room at the Madison law office of Michael Best & Friedrich, and Democrats were not allowed to take part in the process.

"Their measure was only useful to them," Ripple wrote, "and the exercise of calculating the composite was only worth the effort, if it helped them assess how Republican representatives in the newly created districts likely would fare in future elections."

Several alternative maps were created, Ripple wrote, and comparisons were made of old and new districts, with little regard to factors that had traditionally been used to create district boundaries. While the final map complied with traditional principles, he wrote, "it nevertheless had as one of its objectives entrenching the Republicans' control of the Assembly."

Geography favors Republicans

The new map secured a majority for Republicans by allocating votes in such a way that in any likely election scenario, the number of GOP seats wouldn't drop below 50 percent.

"It is clear the drafters got what they intended to get," Ripple wrote. "There is no question that Act 43 was designed to make it more difficult for Democrats, compared to Republicans, to translate their votes into seats."

In 2012, Republicans got 48.6 percent of the statewide vote but won 60 seats in the 99-seat Assembly. In 2014, the party got 52 percent of the vote and won 63 Assembly seats. Democrats in 2012 received 51.4 percent of the vote but only won 39 Assembly seats, later winning just 36 seats when they received 48 percent of the vote in 2014.

"The evidence establishes, therefore, that even when Republicans are an electoral minority, their legislative power remains secure," Ripple wrote.

Republicans have a modest natural advantage geographically, because Democrats tend to be concentrated in Milwaukee and Madison, Ripple wrote, but that doesn't explain the partisan effect of the 2011 redistricting.

GOP drafters created and passed on several plans that would have been more modest, Ripple wrote, concluding that the burden on Democratic voters imposed by the 2011 redistricting plan is not justifiable.

In his dissent, Griesbach wrote that he could not accept proof of intent to act for political purposes as a part of any test to determine whether a redistricting plan was unconstitutional.

"If political motivation is improper," he wrote, "then the task of redistricting should be constitutionally assigned to some other body, a change in law we lack the authority to effect."

He said the Democrats' case was also "a poor vehicle for the remedying of any grave injustice" because it's likely that Republicans would have won control of the Legislature in 2012 and 2014 "even without the alleged gerrymandering."

Griesbach also said that the efficiency gap is inadequate as a measure of partisan gerrymandering, and that it fails to adequately account for the political geography in Wisconsin, in which Democrats are naturally packed into urban areas like Madison and Milwaukee. He also called the efficiency gap "highly volatile" and possibly triggering court interventions in redistricting when it isn't necessary.
The following companies are subsidiares of Johnson & Johnson: 3Dintegrated ApS, ALZA Corporation, AMO (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Beijing Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Guangzhou Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., AMO ASIA LIMITED, AMO Asia Limited (Korea Branch), AMO Asia Limited Taiwan Branch (Hong Kong), AMO Australia Pty Limited, AMO Australia Pty Limited (New Zealand Branch), AMO Canada Company, AMO Denmark ApS, AMO Development LLC, AMO France, AMO Germany GmbH, AMO Groningen B.V., AMO International Holdings Unlimited Company, AMO Ireland, AMO Ireland Ireland Branch, AMO Italy SRL, AMO Japan K.K., AMO Manufacturing USA LLC, AMO Netherlands BV, AMO Nominee Holdings LLC, AMO Norway AS, AMO Puerto Rico Manufacturing Inc., AMO Sales and Service Inc., AMO Singapore Pte. Ltd., AMO Spain Holdings LLC, AMO Switzerland GmbH, AMO U.K. Holdings LLC, AMO United Kingdom Ltd., AMO Uppsala AB, AUB Holdings LLC, Abott Medical Optics, Acclarent Inc., Actelion Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc., Actelion Treasury Unlimited Company, Akros Medical Inc., Albany Street LLC, Alios BioPharma, Alza Land Management Inc., Anakuria Therapeutics Inc., Animas Diabetes Care LLC, Animas LLC, Animas Technologies LLC, AorTx Inc., Apsis, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, Atrionix Inc., Auris Health, Auris Health Inc., Backsvalan 2 Aktiebolag, Backsvalan 6 Handelsbolag, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co. 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Ltd., Cilag AG, Cilag GmbH International, Cilag Holding AG, Cilag Holding Treasury Unlimited Company, Cilag-Biotech S.L., CoTherix Inc., Coherex Medical Inc., ColBar LifeScience Ltd., Company Store.com Inc., Conor MedSystems, Cordis International Corporation, Cordis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Corimmun GmbH, DePuy Hellas SA, DePuy International Limited, DePuy Ireland Unlimited Company, DePuy Mexico S.A. de C.V., DePuy Mitek LLC, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., DePuy Products Inc., DePuy Spine LLC, DePuy Synthes Gorgan Limited, DePuy Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Institute LLC, DePuy Synthes Leto SARL, DePuy Synthes Products Inc., DePuy Synthes Sales Inc., Debs-Vogue Corporation (Proprietary) Limited, Dutch Holding LLC, ECL7 LLC, EES Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EES S.A. de C.V., EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Europe) GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC, Ethicon Inc., Ethicon LLC, Ethicon PR Holdings Unlimited Company, Ethicon Sarl, Ethicon US LLC, Ethicon Women's Health & Urology Sarl, Ethnor (Proprietary) Limited, Ethnor Farmaceutica S.A., Ethnor del Istmo S.A., FMS Future Medical System SA, Finsbury (Development) Limited, Finsbury (Instruments) Limited, Finsbury Medical Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics International Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited, GH Biotech Holdings Limited, GMED Healthcare BV, GMED Healthcare BV (Branch), Global Investment Participation B.V., Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech Co. 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Ltd., McNEIL MMP LLC, McNeil AB, McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., McNeil Denmark ApS, McNeil Healthcare (Ireland) Limited, McNeil Healthcare (UK) Limited, McNeil Healthcare LLC, McNeil Iberica S.L.U., McNeil LA LLC, McNeil Nutritionals LLC, McNeil Panama LLC, McNeil Products Limited, McNeil Sweden AB, Medical Device Business Services Inc., Medical Devices & Diagnostics Global Services LLC, Medical Devices International LLC, Medos International Sarl, Medos International Sarl succursale de Neuchatel (Branch), Medos Sarl, MegaDyne Medical Products Inc., Menlo Care De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Mentor B.V., Mentor Deutschland GmbH, Mentor Medical Systems B.V., Mentor Partnership Holding Company I LLC, Mentor Texas GP LLC, Mentor Texas L.P., Mentor Worldwide LLC, Micrus Endovascular LLC, Middlesex Assurance Company Limited, Momenta Ireland Limited, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata UG (haftungsbeschrankt), Netherlands Holding Company, NeuWave Medical Inc., Neuravi Limited, Novira Therapeutics, Novira Therapeutics LLC, NuVera Medical Inc., OBTECH Medical Sarl, OGX Beauty Limited, OMJ Holding GmbH, OMJ Ireland Unlimited Company, OMJ Pharmaceuticals Inc., Obtech Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals NV, Ortho Biologics LLC, Ortho Biotech Holding LLC, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical LLC, Orthospin Ltd., Orthotaxy, PT Integrated Healthcare Indonesia, PT. Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, Patriot Pharmaceuticals LLC, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pharmadirect Ltd., Pharmedica Laboratories (Proprietary) Limited, Princeton Laboratories Inc., Productos de Cuidado Personal y de La Salud de Bolivia S.R.L., Proleader S.A., Pulsar Vascular Inc., Regency Urban Renewal Associates, RespiVert Ltd., RoC International, Royalty A&M LLC, Rutan Realty LLC, SYNTHES Medical Immobilien GmbH, Scios LLC, Sedona Singapore International Pte. Ltd., Sedona Thai International Co. Ltd., Serhum S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Elsker For Mother & Baby Co. Ltd, Shanghai Elsker Mother & Baby Co. Ltd Minghang Branch, Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sightbox LLC, Sodiac ESV, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Company, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Partnership, SterilMed, SterilMed Inc., Surgical Process Institute Deutschland GmbH, Synthes Costa Rica S.C.R. Limitada, Synthes GmbH, Synthes Holding AG, Synthes Holding Limited, Synthes Inc., Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, Synthes Produktions GmbH, Synthes Proprietary Limited, Synthes S.M.P. S. de R.L. de C.V., Synthes Tuttlingen GmbH, Synthes USA LLC, Synthes USA Products LLC, TARIS Biomedical, TARIS Biomedical LLC, TearScience Inc., The Anspach Effort LLC, The Vision Care Institute LLC, Tibotec LLC, Torax Medical Inc., UAB "Johnson & Johnson", UAB Johnson & Johnson Eesti Filiaal (Estonian Branch), Vania Expansion, Verb Surgical, Verb Surgical Inc., Vision Care Finance Unlimited Company, Vogue International, Vogue International LLC, Vogue International Trading Inc., WH4110 Development Company L.L.C., XO1, XO1 Limited, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Beijing Branch Office, Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Shanghai Branch Office, Zarbee's Inc., and Zarbee's Naturals.

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Award: The Business Forum announced that Mayra Medrano has been named the recipient of the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. Medrano is a business community services manager for Madison Gas & Electric. The award honors those who excel in their field and devote time and energy to their community. Medrano is the current president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County. Her leadership and creativity has resulted in new funding sources for the organization from Dane County Community Development Block Grant. In addition, she has demonstrated initiative by helping the Latino Chamber of Commerce forge more partnerships with the Wisconsin Womens Business Initiative and Black Chamber of Commerce.
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Q: We have an 8-by-10-foot terrace on the sixth floor of a condo building. About three years ago, we installed Bison ipe deck squares on roof deck pedestals. Last year we noticed a few spots on the wood. They are multiplying, but inconsistently. There are some on the teak furniture as well. The terrace has south and west exposures, and the sun hits directly overhead because there is no roof. What is causing these spots, and what is the best way to get rid of them?

Washington

A: Youre dealing with mighty mysterious spots. They dont look like the things that typically cause stains on wood decks.

John Bozeman, a territory manager for Bison Innovative Products in Denver (800-333-4234; bisonip.com), ruled out mildew, because the spots dont look like mildew and because ipe is so dense that its hard for the fungi that cause mildew to work their way into the wood. It looks like something was spilled, he said. Some condiment or something. But the way the spots are confined to individual boards undercuts that theory, he acknowledged. Spills, by their nature, tend to land where they will.

Equally puzzled was Mike Wiemann, one of two scientists who staff the U.S. Forest Services Center for Wood Anatomy Research in Madison, Wis.

The center studies the properties of various woods, including tropical species such as ipe. Wiemann, too, ruled out mildew. He noticed that the lighter-colored boards appear more splotched than the darker ones, which might indicate that those boards have sapwood  the outer layers in a tree, which even in ipe are softer than the darker hardwood toward the trees center. But why would sapwood be just in spots? he asked, discarding that theory. Then he hit on what might be the best explanation: Could someone have dripped stuff on these boards before they installed them? Perhaps the top boards in each stack were hit with something that, over time, has caused the places where the drips landed to darken. The spots dont look like the kind of stuff that comes out of the wood itself, he said. It looks like someone splattered oil or something on it.

You may be able to get rid of the spots by cleaning the deck tiles. Bison offers cleaning recommendations through the Resources section of its website. Click on Specifications & Details, then Wood Tiles Cut Sheet, and scroll to the final page.

It recommends cleaners from several companies. Bozeman said his customers have praised Messmers Wood Cleaner and Brightener, made by one of the recommended companies. The wood cleaner is caustic, and the brightener is acidic, so using one and then the other neutralizes the wood after it is cleaned. Its important to follow all of the safety advice.

Because your terrace is on the sixth floor, you have extra concerns. Talk to the maintenance crew before you do any work to make sure runoff from your cleaning doesnt damage a membrane on the terrace floor (if there is one), cause problems in the terrace drain system or run onto condos lower down. You might be able to spot-clean in a way that results in little runoff, or you could haul the deck tiles elsewhere for cleaning. If you cant come up with a way to avoid damage, youre better off just living with the spots. Whatever their cause, they arent ruining the wood; they are just a cosmetic concern.

Q: The plastic diffuser in our solar tube fell out years ago. It is in a stairwell where it cannot be reached without a ladder. In the winter, water or ice condenses in the tube at night and then drips when the day warms up. Now, besides replacing the diffuser, we need to have the tube cleaned because it has dark streaks of mold or mildew. It seems like too much for us to do. How and who does such a job?

Falls Church

A: Start with a company that installs this type of skylight, which channels light that hits the roof through a reflective tube and delivers it through a lens (the diffuser) on a ceiling.

If you know the manufacturer, call a company that installs that brand, which you can find via a Web search. Or, if you dont know the brand, an installer may be able to figure out that detail for you.

Amazing Skylights in Manassas (703-738-4674; amazingskylights.com) installs Solatube equipment. The company charges $75 for a service call, which would include an inspection of the roof, the tubing in the attic, and the parts visible from inside your house. Youd get a recommendation, and the service-call fee would apply toward the cost of any repairs that the company could do. If the inspection shows a roof leak is part of the problem, youd need to call a roofer to fix that. But the cleaning, we can obviously do that, a spokeswoman for Amazing Skylights said.

Solatube makes 10- and 14-inch tubes and sells replacement diffusers through dealers, which set the prices. (Amazing Skylights is the dealer in the Falls Church area.) For older models, its often necessary to install an upgrade kit to accommodate the companys current design for holding the diffuser. The kit includes a new ceiling ring and a foot of tubing that slips up into the existing piping.

Marshall Roofing, Siding & Windows (703-550-0055; marshallroofing.com), which has a showroom in Manassas but is based in Lorton, deals with Sun Tunnel equipment, made by Velux (veluxusa.com/products/sun-tunnels). Chris Butler, Marshalls vice president, said his company offers a free inspection and evaluation. But if there is work to be done, and if your solar tube was installed by a different company, the minimum repair charge is $325. If the pipe is too long and narrow to be cleaned in place, it might need to be dismantled, cleaned and reinstalled, he said.

Sun Tunnel tubes come in 10-, 14- and 21-inch models and previously in a 22-inch design. Depending on the size, Velux (800-888-3589; veluxusa.com) sells replacement diffusers for $20 to $40, but to order youd need the serial number.

Butler said its highly likely that the lack of a diffuser is whats causing the condensation problem. Warm air carries more moisture than cold air, so without a lens to block air from moving up the tunnel, hot air fills the tubing in the attic. As the air cools, moisture then condenses and eventually drips down. Plus, without a diffuser, youre losing a lot of heat through what otherwise would be an energy-efficient skylight.


The Cessna 172 being piloted by John Hicks and flight instructor Bernie Charlemagne crashed into a mountain in a remote corner of northwestern Virginia on Nov. 8, 2014. (Bob Shiflet)

They had been flying for a half-hour when John Hicks noticed that the Cessnas airspeed had dipped, so he mentioned it to the flight instructor. His teacher, sitting next to him in the cramped cockpit, pushed in the throttle, accelerating the aircraft with such power that Hickss head was rocked back. It was then that he lifted his eyes, peered out the windshield and saw what was directly before them in the darkness enveloping the George Washington National Forest: a mountain.

At more than 120 mph, the 2,500-pound plane sliced through a cluster of Appalachian hardwoods in a remote corner of northwestern Virginia. The tip of the left wing snapped off and the right wing struck a tree so hard that it streaked the trunk with red paint. Hicks heard metal rip, glass shatter, tree limbs break, the engine scream. And yet the Cessna 172, he realized, hadnt stopped moving.

Then it did.

Hicks had longed to learn to fly since childhood, but hed been convinced that people like him  whod grown up poor, barely graduated from high school, worked blue-collar jobs  simply didnt do things like that. He often took lunch breaks at airport parking lots just to watch the planes take off. Then two years ago, at age 50, his roofing business had done well enough that he could afford the $10,000 it would cost to get his pilots license  formally known as an airman certificate.

And so, on the evening of Nov. 8, 2014, already with 23 hours of experience in the air, Hicks and his German-born teacher, Bernie Charlemagne, had taken off from Frederick, Md., in what was supposed to be the student pilots longest flight to date. Instead, their small plane became one of more than 1,200 private U.S. aircraft to crash that year.

Seconds after the impact, Hicks opened his eyes. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard gurgling.

Were in water, he thought, now afraid of drowning. Were sinking.

The Cessna had slammed into a rock, leaving a metallic scar in the mountainside before sliding 20 feet down. Just yards from plummeting off a steep incline, the plane had been caught by an oak tree and settled with its nose straight down and its cracked tail pointed into the night sky.

To Hickss right, Charlemagne gasped for air.

Panic engulfed Hicks, even as he realized  by smell  that the gurgling sound he heard was fuel flowing out of the ruptured tanks in the wings. What if it caught fire? He ripped the key out of the ignition and switched off the yellow lights on the instrument panel. Hicks unbuckled his harness, but he remained trapped. The wreck was so violent that it had shoved the pedals beneath the seat, trapping his legs.

I cant breathe, Charlemagne shrieked.

Hickss heart pounded. He had to get out.

He yanked on his blue Levis until he freed his feet, then crawled out and slumped onto the open plane door, now serving as a platform.

He inhaled. He exhaled.

It was nearing 6:30 on a winter night, and at 3,100 feet above sea level, the temperature on the mountain would soon approach freezing. His left foot, snapped below the shin, was pointed back to his knee, and his right foot had been crushed at the ankle. Inside the plane, the man to whom he had entrusted his life sounded certain that he was about to die. And soon Hicks would begin to fear that because of bad luck and worse judgment, they might never be found.



John Hicks had survived a childhood of poverty and years of addiction before the 2014 plane crash in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. He still teaches hunter safety courses in Maryland. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

In a sense, though, what he faced that night felt familiar. Hicks had already endured a half-century of struggle, and none of it  not his tumultuous childhood, years of addiction or near collisions with death  had broken him.

Now he had to find a way to survive once more.

Get me out!

Hicks needed a plan.

He had just severed the harness around Charlemagne, who then slumped through the blown-out windshield with his feet still pinned beneath the seat.

Get me out! Charlemagne pleaded. But Hicks, strong and stout at 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, couldnt free him.

And now, as always, he focused on his next step. Whats the plan? Hicks would say so often that friends repeated it just to tease him.

Hed developed that obsession with what would come next because as a child he rarely knew.

His father, a mechanic, was a drunk who on especially bad nights beat Hickss mother, Margaret. When Hicks was 6, she left his dad and moved with him and his younger brother, Bobby, to an unkempt apartment in Silver Spring, Md., where the boys found cockroaches beneath their bunk beds and shared meals on a plywood slab laid across stacked car tires. To support her boys, Margaret took a job at the phone company that paid $75 a week.

Their poverty embarrassed Hicks, who hated when do-gooders left cans of food on their doorstep. He never did homework, but he did learn to fight and steal bicycles and, at age 11, drink alcohol. Around 15, after his mother had remarried, he drank so much Southern Comfort one evening that when he stumbled into the back yard vomiting, she called an ambulance.

The chaos in his life nearly killed him that night, and on many other occasions in the years that followed as he collapsed into drug abuse. What saved Hicks a decade later was a plan that led him to meetings where every night he introduced himself the same way: Hi, my name is John. Im an addict.

Sprawled on the door of the wrecked airplane, he worked on another plan: We have to get off this mountain.

His cellphone had been clipped to a pocket of his jeans, but now it was gone, presumably crushed on the mountainside. Charlemagnes was missing, too. Beneath a full moon, Hicks searched through two flight bags and found an emergency radio kit, but its battery had died.

Dread gripped him.

His fiancee, Michele Bossard, had left for Moscow on business, which meant only her son, JB, would notice Hickss absence. At just 13, would JB know what to do? Even if he did make a report, Hicks realized, JB was likely to tell authorities that the plane was headed to Charlottesville, the original destination. The boy did not know that the flight instructor had decided before takeoff that they would instead travel to Hot Springs, more than 60 miles west.

Charlemagne hadnt filed a flight plan with the Federal Aviation Administration or, before leaving the Frederick Flight Center, written their intended destination on the whiteboard, as he usually did. The light to the planes emergency locator transmitter was on, but Hicks suspected its antenna had broken.





No one, he thought, would know how to find them.

Both men were quiet now, Hicks on the door and Charlemagne, 49, trapped upside down in a cockpit splattered with blood. Theyd first met weeks earlier and flown together seven or eight times. To Hicks, Charlemagne was quirky but enthusiastic, a description used by many who knew him. Friends said he found his greatest joys in both teaching and learning. Hed studied politics in Washington and economics in London and had traveled through Europe, Africa and South America, developing a dry but charming sense of humor. His wife, Irene Mueller, supported his many passions  flying, camping, engraving, tinkering  and spent weekends with him at flea markets.

Hicks knew almost none of that about Charlemagne, but there they were on the side of a mountain, with the moon climbing higher and the night growing colder.

Im sorry, Charlemagne told him. I love my wife. I just want to be home.

Then he said nothing more.

Please, God, let John be okay

JB woke up at 11 that night, hours after hed fallen asleep in their Monrovia, Md., home. He had expected Hicks back around 8 for dinner.

The teenager checked the garage and saw that their blue Dodge Challenger was still gone.

He texted and called, leaving messages: John, if you get this, please call back.

JB tried his mother but couldnt reach her in Russia. He sat down in the living room next to their dog, Lulu, and began to cry.

His biological father had killed himself before he was born, and he had struggled with that reality for years. He was just 3 when his mother met Hicks, who had taught JB how to tie a hook to a fishing line, control his breath while aiming a hunting bow and taunt Flyers fans at Caps hockey games.

At their favorite Italian restaurant after JBs basketball practice the night before, Hicks could talk about nothing but his upcoming flight.



James JB Bossard, left, John Hicks and Michele Bossard in Frederick, Md., in spring 2015. John Hicks survived a small-plane crash in 2014. (Family photo)

And now JB feared that the man who helped raise him had died in a crash.

Please, God, he prayed, let John be okay.

He called 911.

His dad was a student pilot, JB told the dispatcher. He had flown that night but still had not come back. JB insisted, until investigators believed him, that something had gone wrong.

I had already lost one father, he said later. I didnt want to lose another.

Stop. Think. Observe. Plan.

A chill swept over Hicks.

The temperature had descended into the 30s, and all that protected him were his jeans, a T-shirt and a thin Harley-Davidson sweatshirt.

Earlier, he had tried to toss Charlemagnes jacket down to him, but it had landed on the ground beneath the planes nose.

Now Charlemagne was dead, and Hicks began to wonder what had gone so wrong. Their plane lacked equipment that could detect dangerous terrain, although not once had the flight instructor consulted an aeronautical chart for the area.

Investigators would later learn that Charlemagne did not take one on the flight.

Every small-aircraft crash is different. Of the 257 that led to deaths in 2014, many were due to pilots simply losing control, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. But thats not what happened to Charlemagne: He had inadvertently flown an under-control Cessna into a mountain.

The accident would baffle the pilots who admired Charlemagne and the federal investigators who studied it. Charlemagne had nearly 6,000 hours of experience and, according to the safety boards inquiry, had showed no signs of distress in the days before his last trip.



An air traffic controller looks out over the airfield at the Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland in 2013. Bernie Charlemagne and John Hicks used the airport while Charlemagne was teaching Hicks to fly. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

If Bernie was flying, I would go to sleep. Hes conscientious, hes safety-minded, said Arthur Chausmer, a physician who knew Charlemagne through the Civil Air Patrol. Everybody I know makes mistakes.

But Charlemagnes mistakes had cost him his life  and left Hicks fighting to escape the same fate.

[You are not going to die out here: A womans terrifying night in the Chesapeake]

After half an hour of fishing for his flight jacket with a tree limb, Hicks snagged it. It was wet with fuel, but he still put it on.

Fearing frostbite, he retrieved a white Nike tennis shoe that had come off in the cockpit. His right foot was so swollen that he had to loosen the sneakers laces. As he slid it on, his bones crunched. It felt as if he had stepped into a blender.

Still frigid, Hicks spotted a loose piece of carpet in the baggage area above him. He ripped it out and covered his lap.

He remained doubtful that anyone had reported them missing, and yet, he felt a peace. Hed faced death before.

At age 26, two months after hed been caught driving drunk, Hicks returned to his Maryland apartment drunk again. He hated the person hed become.

Trouble, he said, just followed me everywhere.

Hicks smoked PCP and chugged Jack Daniels. He slumped onto his hallway floor and put the barrel of a 9mm pistol in his mouth.

His finger curled around the trigger. Seconds passed, but he couldnt squeeze. Hicks realized he wanted to live.

He opened a phone book and called the first substance-abuse hotline he could find.

During his recovery, a friend took him deer hunting for the first time. Hicks found refuge in the woods and soon began to share his passion at a hunter-safety course, where year after year he taught people how to face crisis. STOP, he repeated hundreds of times: Stop. Think. Observe. Plan.

But his expertise wasnt all that buoyed him. Hicks was driven, too, by his sheer orneriness. He hated to relent, ever. Johns an a-----e, his brother liked to say, and Hicks never disputed it. That attitude had damaged relationships, including one with his adult daughter, from whom he was estranged, but it had also sustained him through a violent motorcycle crash, a recession that jeopardized his roofing business, and the constant temptation to drink or use drugs again.

And so, as his feet turned purple, Hicks concentrated on the night sky, refusing to acknowledge his bodys anguish. And while glimmers passed that he knew were probably satellites, Hicks signaled at them with flashlights for hours, refusing to just sit there. And when he heard the heavy footsteps of an approaching black bear, Hicks screamed and cursed and slammed the tree limb into the side of the Cessna, refusing to live through a plane crash only to die from a mauling.

Hicks made another plan, too: If he wasnt rescued soon, he would start a massive fire; and if that didnt work, he would make splints for his legs and rescue himself.

There it is



Bob Shiflet, left, and Phil Hoover at the Clover Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Dayton, Va. They were the first two people to reach the crash site. The newspaper articles feature their rescue efforts. (John Woodrow Cox/The Washington Post)

The sun had just risen when Bob Shiflets pager began to beep.

Aircraft incident, the dispatcher said, so Shiflet left the northwest Virginia farm where hed lived all of his 65 years and drove the one mile to the Clover Hill fire station.

Soon, he and another volunteer firefighter, Phil Hoover, headed out in the units Hummer. Each had received calls like this before, but they seldom found anything.

We kind of thought, Shiflet said, we were going on a wild-goose chase.

Investigators had tracked the planes final radar contact, a signal from its emergency transponder and, most critical, a ping off Hickss cellphone, which had landed intact just 20 feet uphill from the wreckage.

Air Force search and rescue is attempting to locate you, said a message sent to Hickss phone at 5:31 a.m.

He had no idea.

Still, the search area was vast. Shiflet and Hoover drove to a clearing at the mountains top, then hiked into the forest.

Word that Hicks was missing soon reached his family. In Georgia, his brother, a former Army Ranger who had seen comrades killed in crashes, suspected that Hicks was dead. In Moscow, Bossard read an email and collapsed on the floor of her hotel room.

About 8 a.m. in Virginia, Nolan Dean, a retired locksmith, got a call from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office: A small plane may have gone down near him. The 67-year-old wheeled a Cessna 150 out of his spacious garage and, joined by a deputy, took off. He had planned to ascend to 5,000 feet and fly in widening circles, but as the morning sunlight washed over a distant mountainside, something shiny caught his eye.



Nolan Dean pilots his Cessna 150 near where he spotted a crashed plane in Virginia two years ago. (Norm Shafer/For The Washington Post)

Zeb Lilly was the flight paramedic on a three-person crew that helped rescue John Hicks. (Norm Shafer/For The Washington Post)

Through leafless trees, the wrecked plane came into view.

There it is, Dean said, relieved that theyd found it so quickly but certain no one could have survived the crash.

Dean was soon joined in the air by an Air Care helicopter. Nearing the wreckage, the crew spotted movement.

Zeb Lilly, a paramedic onboard, was stunned.

Were being signaled by a survivor of the crash, the 33-year-old radioed to the rescue teams on the ground.

With the coordinates recorded, both aircraft left.

On the ground, Hicks was convinced the plane and helicopter crews hadnt seen him.

That, he said, was the epitome of despair.

News of a survivor invigorated Shiflet and Hoover, who drove halfway down the mountain, where a Rockingham fire captain had mapped a path to the site.

The pair set off around 9, faced with a brutal mile-plus hike up a 30-degree slope. Every four minutes, their radio sent a signal to the firefighter tracking their course.

Bear left, he told them again and again.

Hicks heard voices in the distance. He screamed and whistled, but no one replied. What if, even now, they couldnt find him? The thought was overwhelming.

Then, suddenly, Hoover appeared from around a wing of the plane.

For a moment, Hicks struggled to process it. His chest pulsed. Finally, he smiled.

Was he okay, the firefighter asked?

Both of his legs were broken and maybe an arm, Hicks told him.

Had anyone else survived?

Bernie didnt make it, Hicks said, and at last he began to sob.



John Hicks awaits rescue beside the crumpled Cessna after searchers reached him on Nov. 9, 2014. (Bob Shiflet)

Rescuers carry Hicks from the site of the small-plane crash that killed flight instructor Bernie Charlemagne. (Bob Shiflet)

Just grateful to be here

Two years later, Hicks shuffled across the driveway and eased into a white Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

Around both ankles, which he could no longer bend, were white streaks from two surgeries that left cadaver bone with eight screws in his left leg and two titanium plates with 14 screws in his right.

Today is not a good day, he said. The cold, I can feel it.

Usually, Hicks carried a purple pill case packed with Celebrex for arthritis, Lyrica for nerve damage and Percocet for the ache in his legs and his back, because two vertebrae had cracked on impact.

But Hicks needed a new painkiller prescription, so he had returned to Maryland from his home in Florida, where the warm weather allayed his discomfort.

He turned onto Interstate 70, and as the SUV cleared a line of trees coated in fall foliage, the Frederick airport appeared on his right. Hicks glanced over, as he always did. Goosebumps coated his skin.

The nightmares had begun in the hospital. Sometimes, he imagined being trapped in the cockpit again. Other times, he heard Charlemagnes voice.

He would wake suddenly, gasping and with eyes wide. During his two weeks in the hospital, Hicks asked his fiancee and brother never to leave him alone.

Charlemagnes wife called him there, and Hicks recounted her husbands last words. It was the first time Bossard had ever seen him cry.

The crash emotionally rewired Hicks. On his boat dock in Florida, he would catch himself breaking down at the thought of his mother, who died 11 months after his rescue, or his daughter, with whom he still hadnt reconciled.

He pulled into his doctors office and limped inside, where a nurse tested his blood pressure.

It says Im going to live, right? he asked, then laughed.

Yes, youre going to live, she said, smiling.

Humor, he had found, was therapeutic. In disagreements with Bossard, he liked to play the plane-crash card for sympathy. Nothing, hed argue, trumps that.

Im just grateful to be here, he often said, as much for himself as anyone else.

After his rescue, it took him three months to walk again and a year, with the aid of a cane, to go with JB to a Washington Capitals game. On some mornings, his feet throbbed with such intensity that he needed 20 minutes to get from the bed to the bathroom.

An insurance settlement from the flight center allowed him to pay off his more-than $200,000 in medical bills, move to Florida and buy a boat and a Sierra Denali pickup.

Doctors told him hed never work on roofs again, so he started a company, South Florida Arms, selling guns. Business is slow, but he hasnt given up.

Hicks got his prescription from the doctor and drove toward home. On the way, he took a detour, pulling into a parking spot that faced the Frederick runways. On a chain-link fence in front of him hung a tattered, windblown sign: LEARN TO FLY.

I think Ill never do it again, he murmured.

Hicks couldnt pilot a plane while on such powerful medications, but he still loved the idea of flying. That feeling had brought him back to the airport time and again.

Hicks watched a man walk toward a four-seat Piper with a maroon underbelly. He nodded at it.

I flew that with Bernie, he said.

Hicks had memorized what came next: preflight check, radio the tower, taxi to the runway.

A different plane took off, then another and another. Hicks waited. At last the Piper sped down the runway and lifted into the air, soaring toward a cloudless blue sky.

Angela Fritz and Magda Jean-Louis also contributed to this report.
With their arms resting on their desks, kindergartners listen to their teacher at Democracy Prep Congress Heights in Southeast in September. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

The Districts finances were in shambles. The citys schools were widely underperforming. Drugs and violence continued to decimate the citys poorest neighborhoods in the 1990s, rendering Washington the nations murder capital.

Malcolm Mike Peabody, a real estate developer and activist, believed that the failing schools and a lack of opportunities for poor black residents were a civil rights issue. He wanted to mend these impoverished neighborhoods by improving schools, but he thought it would be impossible given the hold the teachers union had on the school system.

His solution: public education that could exist outside the D.C. Public Schools. He started a local charter school advocacy organization, becoming one of the leading voices in the nascent education movement, which advocated for schools that could receive public funding but function apart from a traditional public school systems bureaucracy.

This was the next major thing in civil rights, said Peabody, now 88. Im not for charter schools, Im for a better education.

[Peabodys focus on city schools led him to help establish D.C. charters]

The Districts charter school movement turned 20 at the start of this academic year. During the past two decades, charters have grown from three schools educating 160 students to more than 100 independent schools that educate almost 42,000 students, close to half of the Districts public school enrollment.

The city has one of the highest percentages of students enrolled in charter schools in the country, behind New Orleans and Detroit. School choice advocates hail the citys charter schools as a model for the nation, while critics say that parents have more chance  a lottery ticket to get into one of a limited number of sought-after schools  than real choice.

When the charter movement began in the mid-1990s, the D.C. financial control board was in place, with a federally appointed panel managing most day-to-day city functions. Peabody said it was a perfect time to seek federal legislation allowing charter schools.

The Districts charters were approved by a Republican Congress  led by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich  in April 1996, over the objections of many public school officials. The legislation was viewed as a politically palatable alternative to private-school vouchers, and it ultimately won bipartisan support. The legislation also allowed city funds to be allocated to adult education charter schools.

[Five myths about charter schools]

Erika Bryant  executive director of the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, one of the citys first charter schools, founded by Bryants mother  recalls the initial wariness of parents to remove their children from the traditional public school system. She said the first children to enroll in the school were from the citys poorest families, those who had lost faith in the public schools but didnt have much other choice.

About 90 percent of students at Elsie Whitlow qualified for free and reduced-price lunches. Now, about 50 percent do, Bryant said, indicating that many in the citys growing middle class are also attracted to charter schools.

More parents are not just now comfortable with sending their kids to charters, but they want to, Bryant said.

Many of the citys top-performing charter schools  including Washington Latin, BASIS DC and Washington Yu Ying  now attract long wait lists each year because of their academic successes.

Charter schools academic performance varies widely, but on the whole, charter school students post slightly higher scores on annual math and reading tests and graduate at slightly higher rates than students in traditional public schools.

While some tout the citys charter schools as examples of how school choice can rescue students from struggling public school systems, the charter movement also has raised numerous concerns about its effect on local schools and the ability for the public to oversee how they are spending taxpayer funds.

Traditional public school advocates argue that the charters strip neighborhood schools of students and resources. They dont have the same legal obligation to teach the citys toughest students, and some charter schools outright fail. And while the D.C. Public Charter School Board oversees the citys charter schools, each operates as its own school system, which has led to issues involving transparency and accountability, especially when schools contract with for-profit management companies.

[D.C. charter board votes to shutdown Potomac Prep]

In 2013, local and federal officials alleged that managers at the Districts Options Public Charter School used the school to enrich themselves with millions of tax dollars meant for at-risk and disabled students. A former senior official at the charter school board who was responsible for financial oversight of the schools was alleged to have been part of the scheme. Options reopened under new leadership in September 2014.

[Options reopens with new leadership and new mission]

When charter schools first opened in the District, the most high-profile exposure the average resident had to them was in 1997, when the principal of Marcus Garvey Public Charter School was convicted of assaulting a reporter. The school closed soon after amid financial management concerns.

Were all in it for accountability, Peabody told The Washington Post in 1998. If Garvey gets closed, that is good news. Schools that dont do it right ought to close.

At the start, there were two authorizers that approved new schools or closed bad ones: the D.C. school board  then overseeing all D.C. public schools, and widely seen as troubled  and the Public Charter School Board. When mayoral control passed in 2007, the old school board went away and all charter schools were brought under the charter board, which has a national reputation for holding schools accountable, closing those that dont meet academic targets.

At a recent event celebrating 20 years of charter schools, Scott Pearson, the executive director of the Public Charter School Board, warned a room full of parents and supporters that despite charters large presence in the District, the movement is still in its nascent stages and charter schools are still political lightning rods. He said advocates should always be prepared for pushback and threats to funding.

Every one of you is part of a revolutionary change in public education, Pearson said. Its important that we all realize that and feel that so when there is someone who says we shouldnt do it that way  we should fund it less  you are part of the movement that needs to stand up and say yes. 

Going forward, Pearson wants further collaboration between D.C. Public Schools and charter schools. He views the competition between the two sectors as healthy, one that forces both to find creative ways to educate children. He wants to develop a program that allows charter high school students to take courses at D.C. public schools, and vice versa.

Pearson said he wants to continue to bring expulsion and suspension rates down. Charter schools have long had higher rates of suspensions and expulsions, giving opponents the chance to argue that charters dump the most challenging students back into the traditional public school system.

[Suspension and expulsion rates at D.C. schools continue to drop, report finds. ]

Pearson doesnt believe charter schools will upend the citys traditional public schools; he says he expects both sectors to grow as the citys population rises.

Its unclear what Donald Trumps presidency could mean for education in the nations capital. Trump has said he wants to expand school choice through vouchers, charter schools and magnet programs, but Pearson said the new administration has him nervous because there has been no talk of how to hold schools accountable.

Im concerned that they will overplay their hand and try to impose a radical plan of school choice that does not have any accountability, Pearson said. Our school choice works here because it has an accountability component.


Ben Goldman, co-founder of Liberty Writers News, cranks out fake stories in the apartment he shares with co-founder Paris Wade in Long Beach, Calif. (Stuart Palley /For The Washington Post)

Charnice Milton.

Thats whom those two guys cranking out fake news in a California apartment should have given some thought to during this election cycle.

Milton was a 27-year-old journalist fatally shot at a bus stop in Southeast Washington last year, on her way home from covering a late-night community meeting at Eastern Market.

She was used as a human shield in a gunfight, her killing still unsolved. And she was at that deadly place because of the precise way she practiced her craft, the real journalism that so much of America walked away from during the presidential campaign.

Instead of relying on the kind of quality reporting done by dedicated, trained journalists who value facts, too many Americans devoured the kind of fake news that the likes of Paris Wade and Ben Goldman vomit into the universe.

Our audience does not trust the mainstream media, Goldman, 26, told The Washington Posts Terrence McCoy.

McCoy hung out during election week with the fake-news guys, who describe themselves as the new yellow journalists.

Puhleeze, guys. You dont get to call yourselves any kind of journalists.

These knobs, who were unemployed restaurant workers six months ago, make more money pounding out false news from a California beach town rental than the vast majority of legitimate journalists who devote their lives to covering school board meetings, city council sessions, community gatherings  the ones who stay until the end of a late meeting to make sure they dont miss a thing. Like Milton did.

Fake-news hucksters dont leave their apartment to find stories, they dont interview any humans, they dont have any sources.

They are part of the snake-oil empire that had more engagement on Facebook in the past three months of the presidential campaign than the top stories from major news outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, NBC News and others, according to an analysis by BuzzFeed.

Theres not a ton of thought put into it, Wade told The Post, about the way he manufactures fake stories from his sofa, such as: BREAKING: Michelle Obama holds Feminist Rally At HER SLAVE HOUSE! or THE TRUTH IS OUT! The Media Doesnt Want You To See What Hillary Did After Losing.

And what do they get for this?

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST TO REPORT THE TRUTH. Thats the kind of love they get from a faithful reader.

Charnice Milton, a 27-year-old reporter, was fatally shot near a bus stop in Southeast Washington in May 2015 as she was on her way home from covering a community meeting. (Courtesy of Capital Community News)

I wish readers like that got a chance to hang out with these two guys, trolling the universe from their living room, sometimes making the average American workers yearly salary in just one month of fabricated news. And then I wish those readers had followed Milton around on her beat one day.

Milton wasnt one of The Posts foreign correspondents dodging gunfire in a war zone. Nor was she bloodied while trying to interview people during a riot. And she wasnt running toward a deadly tornado while everyone else ran in the other direction. Those are all things real reporters do. Last year, at least 72 journalists were killed around the world doing some of those things, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Milton was at a community meeting late at night to chronicle mundane details about merchant parking, Farm Fresh Tuesdays, neighborhood brochures and construction progress. They are the kinds of stories just about all real reporters have written at some point in their careers.

And, like so many of them, Milton was determined to stay until the very end of the meeting so she wouldnt miss a fact. A vote. A topic. So she got it right for her readers.

And because she stayed so long, she had to take a late bus, which put her in an unsafe place and led to her death.

The kind of reporting she did is in danger of disappearing as local newspapers struggle to make money in the digital age. And the explosion of fake news has further eroded the media landscape.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said last week that the company is trying to find ways to curb the hoaxes and fake reports that rocket across the globe using its engine.

The problems here are complex, both technically and philosophically, he wrote in a post, explaining that Facebook has a balancing act in finding the right place between censorship and propagating dangerous untruths.

For anyone who cares about democracy in the age of Donald Trump, there is nothing more disturbing than two guys sitting on a couch, fabricating stories and counting the cash they get with thousands of clicks.

Charnice Milton didnt do that. We have to find a way to honor her life and her work by valuing real reporting.

Twitter: @petulad
Giovani Jimenez, top center, wipes a tear with his son, Alex, 13, left, and daughter, Lucia, 7, as supporters of Wendy Uruchi Contreras rally outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in the District. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Protesters gathered outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters Monday to demonstrate against the imminent deportation of a local immigrant rights activist.

As police watched, about 40 protesters  many of them undocumented immigrants  marched in the whipping wind to demand the release of Wendy Uruchi Contreras, 33, an undocumented activist held in federal custody since she pleaded guilty to drunken driving this summer. Among the protesters were her husband, Giovani Jimenez, and their two children.

[She fought to keep immigrants from being deported. Now she faces the same fate.]

My wife is not a criminal, said Jimenez, calling his wifes arrest near their house in Northern Virginia something that can happen to anybody and asking ICE officials to reunite his family in time for Christmas.

I beg them to release her, he said, breaking into tears as workers hung golden holiday wreaths on ICE headquarters behind him.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump unveiled a 10-part immigration policy plan during a speech in Phoenix on Aug. 31 after meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto earlier in the day. (The Washington Post)

The protest came at a crucial moment for both Uruchi and undocumented immigrants around the country. Uruchi, who was profiled in The Washington Post in September, could be deported to Spain any day now after her appeal was recently rejected. Her supporters are hoping Mondays protest pressures ICE officials to reverse their decision.

The election of Donald Trump, meanwhile, has stirred fear among undocumented immigrants locally and across the country. During his campaign, Trump called Mexican immigrants rapists and promised to deport the more than 11 million people in the country illegally. More recently, he has vowed the immediate removal of 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants who have criminal records. Protesters said they feared he would keep his word.

Im afraid of the racism that is on the rise since Donald Trump was elected, said Ana Gonzalez, a 45-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, as she held a sign reading Justice and dignity for immigrants.

There is a lot of fear in our community right now, said another undocumented immigrant who declined to give her name.

[I dont feel safe: Undocumented immigrants fear what Trump will do as president]

The demonstration was organized by CASA, the immigrant rights organization where Uruchi worked before her arrest. Born in Bolivia and raised in Madrid, Uruchi had come to America in 2002 to escape from an abusive stepfather. As a Spanish citizen, she entered the country under the United States visa waiver program, which allows visitors from 38 countries to stay for up to 90 days without a visa.

Uruchi stayed beyond her 90 days, however, instead starting a life with Jimenez, another undocumented immigrant from Bolivia. They married, had children and settled in Fredericksburg, Va. He worked as a truck driver; she cleaned hotel rooms. Three years ago, Uruchi joined CASA, first as a volunteer and then, in 2014, as a paid, full-time community organizer.

At the protest, friends and co-workers described how Uruchi had helped undocumented immigrants, even as she hid her own undocumented status.

She helped a pregnant woman access prenatal care, said Naldy Sandoval, 44, who is from Guatemala. The woman was six months pregnant and had never seen a doctor.

The work took a toll on her marriage, however. And on May 28, after drinking margaritas and discussing her marital problems with a friend, Uruchi was pulled over by a Stafford County sheriffs deputy. Her blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit for driving of 0.08 percent.

She has been held in a jail in Williamsburg, Va., since July.

Under Obama administration guidelines, her drunken-driving conviction makes her a priority for deportation. And because Uruchi entered the United States under a visa waiver, she is not entitled to see an immigration judge.

For the past four months, Jimenez and his two American-born children, Lucia, 7, and Alex, 13, have driven 200 miles round-trip every Sunday to visit Uruchi in a tiny interview room, divided in two by plexiglass. With the help of CASA and an immigration lawyer, the family filed a last-ditch appeal in early October asking ICE officials for a stay of deportation.

On Nov. 4, Uruchi learned that her appeal had been denied. She was given documents authorizing her deportation to Spain but refused to sign them. During a telephone interview from jail Sunday, she said she thought the protest would change officials minds.

I still have faith that somebody in immigration will hear my case, she said. The Obama administration promised to keep families together. So I hope in my case they will keep my family together, let me stay in the United States with my kids, who are citizens, and my husband. I really miss them.

During the protest, Jimenez told reporters that Alex, who has been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, had only just realized that his mother could be deported at any moment. The teenager took the microphone but struggled to address reporters, prompting cries of You can do it, Alex! from fellow protesters.

I have a hard time making friends and communicating with others, he said, adding that he was struggling without his mom, who would try to bring the best out of me.

Jimenez said the family hadnt yet decided what they would do if Uruchi was deported. Even if, against all odds, she is released, Uruchi would be far from safe in Donald Trumps America, he said.

She now has a bad record, he said. She would be the first person they will come looking for.
CHICAGO  Many Americans, afraid of almost everything these days  so afraid of being afraid that theyre easily herded like political livestock  will look to Thanksgiving with just one thing on their minds:

Fear.

Its true and you know it. Youre afraid somebody will say something. And youre afraid that youll respond, and you will.

Thats when the jellied cranberry hits the floor.

And Mom starts saying, No! No! No! and a Mr. Kass archetype shouts at you to move to Canada and dont come back, and soon, old and young are wrestling on the floor saying hurtful things like I hate you! that cant be unsaid.

Thats when your loving Thanksgiving family becomes just like the Twittersphere, but with real people you know and once loved, instead of hatefully anonymous cartoon heads.

But dont worry.

Ive come up with a few hints so you may have a nice Thanksgiving without having to call 911 and wait in the driveway for the cops like a jabbering sweaty mob.

I know what youre afraid of. Its the political talk. It just might be safer in our postmodern America to argue about religion.

Because if you talk politics, and you know that you will, some jolly conservative uncle might trigger you with comments about the Electoral College and minority rights and the future of the republic.

Or the brilliant liberal niece covered in safety pins might do the triggering, condemning half of the dining room table as racists, Cheetos lovers and illiterates.

And that nice Rockwell moment, with Dad in his cardigan carving the brined turkey, will turn to hell as everybody shouts curses and Grandmother begins to weep.

Whats worse is that after the fight, the hostess will have to be brave and say, her eyes terribly bright: Anyone for dessert?

And everyone will feel guilty, until somebody says something and it starts all over again.

So to not let that happen, heres what you might consider:

Drinking.

I dont mean a timid sip of sherry either, but pounding down a series of scotch and sodas or Manhattans or martinis even before you reach for the lightly salted mixed nuts.

(And just as an aside, why is it that somebody always rudely picks out all the Brazil nuts and the cashews and leaves the peanuts? Dont you hate that?)

So drink instead, preferably on an empty stomach, and drink hearty. Alcohol, which is often given a bad name at family gatherings, might make you happy and funny and content and tolerant of opposing views. It might cause you to compose limericks that make everyone laugh in thanks.

Or, when your conservative uncle says that democracy is really two wolves and a lamb voting on dinner, you might just stab his hand with a fork, pinning it to your aunts dinner table, as you smile and watch his eyes.

On second thought, dont use alcohol. But we have to do something.

What about segregation, not racial, which everyone knows is wrong, but gender-based?

Just send all those evil white males in the family down into the basement and lock the door. If you dont have white males at Thanksgiving, youre cool.

You dont have to be cruel. Toss a turkey leg down the steps. Maybe send a child with a tray of queso dip and chips.

How long? some might whine.

You: For eternity!

I watch CNN, so why do I have to stay here with the uneducated? another might bleat.

You: Shut up and check your privilege!

Dont give in no matter how they beg. Keep them in the basement until theyre about 80 years old and relatively harmless.

Unless of course, there is a war or space alien attack. Then you may let the young ones out to join the Army to defend us.

But for Gods sake, keep those who are over 35 down there for a good 40 years until theyre no longer dangerous.

After a few days, theyll begin to devour each other.

Now, you might get lucky and have a Thanksgiving gathering of people who dont give two figs for politics. But that means you have a house full of 7-year-olds and all theyll want is mac and cheese, so good luck with that.

But what if your liberal relations and friends start acting up on Thanksgiving? Theyre agitated still. And they might be surly. Youll know theyre spoiling for trouble if they say something like, A book? Youve actually read a book? Without pictures? and titter into the backs of their hand.

Or, what if a few accuse the host and hostess of promoting a deplorable feast as gluttonous thanks to a Supreme Being that they insist does not exist?

Youre in charge of the means of production and you offer this groaning table while others are in need? What would Elizabeth Warren say?

You cant very well lock them downstairs with the white males. So the best thing would be to just shut up and smile and apologize for everything. Dont provoke them. Just stare at the festive holiday Jell-O on your plate, examining the floating fruit chunks in that horrid gelatinous mass, and give silent thanks that youre all together again in one house.

On Thanksgiving.
BLOOD DONATIONS

Blood drives Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, 801 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., First Potomac Realty Trust, 45610 Woodland Rd., Sterling, 800-733-2767; Dec. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Leesburg Public Safety Center, 65 Plaza St. NE, Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Dec. 20, 3-7 p.m., Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd., Leesburg, 866-256-6372.

Inova Blood Donor Center Mondays noon-8 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays 6 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays noon-4 p.m. Dulles Town Center, 45745 Nokes Blvd., Sterling. 866-256-6372 or inova.org/donateblood.

FIRST AID

First aid/adult, infant and child CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Fauquier Hospital Medical Office Building, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. Call for schedule. 540-316-3588. $85. Registration required.

HEARING

Disability Resource Center Technical assistance through the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and presentations to businesses, civic groups and schools. Third Tuesdays 2-5 p.m., Workplace, 205 Keith St., Warrenton. Call for an appointment, 800-648-6324; TDD, 540-373-5890. Free.

Free hearing tests Age 18 and older. Mondays-Thursdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. 703-858-7620. Registration required.

Hearing loss, tinnitus and Menieres syndrome support For all ages, including parents of children with hearing loss. First Fridays at 2 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2906.

Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Age 18 and older, second Tuesdays 10 a.m., Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400.

Hearing loss outreach Free referrals. Fourth Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Loudoun County Workforce Center, 102 Heritage Way, Leesburg; third Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Free appointments: 703-430-2906 or nvrcloudoun@aol.com .

MENTAL HEALTH

Counseling for sexual violence survivors Provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice. 703-771-9020.

Crisis Intervention Treatment and Assessment Center Provides emergency mental-health, substance-use and developmental services to individuals in the Loudoun community. Daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. 102 Heritage Way NE, Suite 102, Leesburg. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 703-777-0320.

Crisislink Suicide and crisis intervention. Community education, a volunteer crisis response team and CareRing, a telephone outreach program for the elderly and disabled. 703-527-6016, volunteer@crisislink.org or crisislink.org.

Piedmont Chapter, National Alliance on Mental Illness Serves Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. Support group, education classes and events for people living with mental illness and their family members. First Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. Fauquier Hospital, 500 Hospital Dr., Sycamore Room A, Warrenton. 571-426-8213.

Mental health first-aid A public education program offered by the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services that can help communities understand mental illness, seek intervention and save lives. Go to loudoun.gov/mhfirstaid.

Northern Virginia Chapter, National Alliance on Mental Illness A support group, classes and programs for people living with mental illness and their family members. naminorthernvirginia.org.

PREGNANCY, PARENTING

Adoptive family preservation Adoptive families discuss common experiences; registration required. Third Tuesdays 12:30-2 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd. Call 703-941-9008, Ext. 23, or email jmellario@umfs.org .

Birthright of Loudoun County Free pregnancy tests, baby clothing, transportation and support throughout pregnancy, 823 S. King St., Leesburg. 703-777-7272.

Bond Between Us A nonprofit organization that offers support to birth parents when children have been placed for adoption. Fourth Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. Call for location. 703-771-7844.

Breastfeeding support Mondays 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588.

Dad support New and expectant fathers share ideas. First Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. 703-858-6360.

For the Childrens Sake A group for separating or divorcing parents to share advice. Four-hour session weekly. Information: 703-391-8599 or fitsfoundation.org.

La Leche League Mother-to-mother support and breastfeeding information. 10 a.m. second Wednesdays in Warrenton, 540-351-6103. Third Fridays 10:15-11:45 a.m., call for location, 703-444-7386. Second Fridays 10:15 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd., 703-829-0349; Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Panera Bread, 43670 Greenway Corp. Dr., Ashburn, email lllashburn@gmail.com. Third Fridays 10:15 a.m., Christ the Redeemer Church, 46833 Harry F. Byrd. Hwy., Sterling, 540-338-4637.

Loudoun Fatherhood Program Fathers discuss the joys and challenges of being a parent. Meets every other Saturday for two hours for four months; sponsored by Northern Virginia Family Service. 571-748-2796. Free.

Loudoun Nurturing Parenting Program Positive parenting techniques; children attend with parents. Registration required. Call 703-771-3973, Ext. 27, or email nurturingprogram@lcsj.org. Free.

Mothernet/Healthy Families Loudoun Program links first-time parents with medical, social and educational resources to give children a socially and physically healthy start in life. Family support workers meet with participants in homes. English-Spanish translation provided. 703-444-4477, Ext. 217 , or inmed.org.

New mother support Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. Inova Loudoun Medical Pavilion, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg. Babies welcome. 703-858-6360.

Young parent services Support for teenage parents. Loudoun County Department of Family Social Services, 52 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg. Call for times. 703-771-5375.

Online childbirth education program Inova Loudoun Hospitals Web-based program uses animation, videos and interactive activities to guide users through the basics of childbirth, breastfeeding and caring for newborns. 703-858-6360 or thebirthinginn.org/classes.

Parenting Alone group For parents of school-age children who have lost a spouse or partner to cancer. Second Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call 703-698-2536 or email jennifer.eckert@inova.org .

Pregnancy and childbirth support Childbirth Solutions Resource Center, 8393 W. Main St., Marshall. 571-344-0438.

SENIORS

Exercise equipment Weights, treadmills, bikes and a cardio-glide. Instruction provided. Age 55 and older. Weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

Fitness for people 55 and older Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1-1:45 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400. $36, 12-visit card.

Eye care LensCrafters staff members will clean glasses and make minor repairs. Second Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2397. Free.

Inova Loudoun mobile van Blood pressure checks. Second and fourth Tuesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling, 571-258-3280; first Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039.

Laughing yoga for seniors I mprove flexibility and balance. Thursdays 9:30-10 :30 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

Loudoun Adult Day Centers For seniors with physical limitations or memory loss, a safe and social environment, therapeutic activities, individualized care and respite for caregivers. Limited transportation. Sliding-scale fees. Weekdays in Leesburg, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 703-771-5334; Purcellville, 571-258-3402; and Ashburn-Sterling, 571-258-3232.

Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Senior Center at Cascades. First and third Wednesdays 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280.

Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Sign up in the Leesburg Senior Center lobby. Second and fourth Thursdays 11 a.m.-noon and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

Senior Outreach Services Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Carver Center. First and third Mondays, 12:30-5 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 703-737-8741. Free.

Tai chi Stretching and strengthening movements. Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

Zumba gold class Age 55 and older. Wear rubber-soled shoes and comfortable clothing; bring water and a towel. Tuesdays 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. Senior Center of Leesburg, 102 North St. NW, Leesburg. 703-737-8039. $24 per month.

Zumba For people 55 and older who are learning Zumba for the first time, or those who prefer a lower-impact version. The fitness program combines Latin and international music with dance.Thursdays 11 a.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280. $12.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Al-Anon Service Center of Northern Virginia A volunteer is available 24 hours with information for spouses, family members and friends of problem drinkers. 703-534-4357 or 877-339-8350. Mondays 8 p.m. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 125 W. Washington St., Middleburg, 540-554-2747; Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, 877-339-8350; Fridays 8:30 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church, 6507 Main St., The Plains, 800-344-2666; Tuesdays 12:15 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, Route 29 N., 540-347-7448; Tuesdays 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 p.m. Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 91 Main St., 800-344-2666.

Alcoholics Anonymous Various meeting times and locations in Loudoun County. 800-208-8649 or 703-876-6166. nvintergroup.org.

Alzheimers caregiver support For those who care for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Fourth Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m. The Villa at Suffield Meadows, 6735 Suffield Lane, Warrenton. 540-316-3800.

Alzheimers caregivers support For those caring for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Second Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-430-9229. galileeumc.org.

Alzheimers caregiver support Emotional, educational and social support for family members and friends of people with the disease. Third Saturdays 10 a.m. Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, 20145 Ashbrook Pl., Ashburn. Call 703-771-5407 or email lesley.katz@loudoun.gov.

Alzheimers caregiver support group Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 540-903-6831 or alz.org.

Alzheimers support First Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. Spring Arbor Assisted Living, 237 Fairview St. NW, Leesburg. 540-338-6520.

Alzheimers support First Wednesdays 4 p.m. Leesburg Adult Day Center, 16501 Meadowview Ct., Leesburg. 703-771-5334.

Alzheimers support Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400.

Talk About Curing Autism A nonprofit organization educating and supporting families affected by autism. tacanow.org.

Autoimmune support Last Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jackson Building, 209 Gibson St., Leesburg. autoimmunesupport@hotmail.com.

Bereaved parent support One-on-one counseling is available. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. scsm.tv.

Bereavement support For those experiencing loss because of the death of a loved one. Age 18 and older. Third Mondays 1 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-957-1800.

Breast cancer support Fourth Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Tower, Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-0588.

Breast cancer support For those with new diagnoses or starting treatment. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 5-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857.

Breast cancer support For those who have finished treatment, have had a recurrence or metastatic breast cancer. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857. Free.

Breast Cancer Support Assistance Fund Loudoun County residents who have received a diagnosis or have undergone treatment in the past 12 months are eligible to apply for financial assistance. Areas included are wigs, bras, puffs and prostheses, mammograms and medical bills, food and help with utilities, rent or mortgage, and transportation costs. The Pink Assistance Fund has been established by the Loudoun Breast Health Network. lbhn.org.

Cancer support Oncology nurses, social workers and spiritual-care providers offer education and support to patients, families and caregivers. Second Mondays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2273.

Cancer support Life with Cancer, for patients, family members and friends. Second Thursdays 7 p.m. Ashburn Presbyterian Church, Room 202, 20962 Ashburn Rd. ashburnpresbyterian.org or 703-729-2012.

Caregiver support Provides emotional, educational and social support. Encourages caregivers to maintain their personal, physical and emotional health while caring for people with dementia or other chronic illness. Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 540-903-6831.

Caregiver support and resource group Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.-noon (no meeting first Wednesdays), Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. scsm.tv.

Caring for Aging Parents Support group. Confidential. Fourth Wednesdays 7:30 p.m., Family Focus Counseling Service, 20-B John Marshall St., Warrenton. 540-349-4537.

Chadd parents support For parents of children with ADD/ADHD. Fourth Sundays 3 p.m. KinderCare, 44051 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza. chadd.nova loudoun@gmail.com .

Chronic illness support Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministries, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814 or scsm.tv.

Coffee and Conversation Support for those discouraged because of illness, bereavement, caregiving or a loved one in the military. Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814.

Compassionate Friends For parents who have experienced the death of a child. First Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg. 540-882-9707.

Creating and Connecting Two-hour art therapy and relaxation workshop for cancer patients. Every other month, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-858-8850.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Western Loudoun Saturdays 3 p.m. Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main St., Carruthers Room. Call 703-431-7160 or email kathy@dbsanca.org.

Drop-in grief support For those coping with a death. Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. St. Davids Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Pkwy., Ashburn. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-597-1781.

Families Overcoming Drug Addiction Support group. First and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. myfodafamily@gmail.com or 540-316-9221.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and parent support A group in partnership with Metro DC PFLAG. Fourth Sundays 4-6 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 22135 Davis Dr., Sterling. 703-328-6518.

Griefshare Open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. Tuesdays through Dec. 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. Purcellville Baptist Church, 601 Yaxley Dr., Purcellville. Call 540-338-0918 or email caring@purbap.org . Workbook, $15.

Griefshare Nondenominational seminar and support group. Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Free.

Grief support Sponsored by Hospice Support of Fauquier County. Individual counseling available. First and third Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m. Hospice Support Office, 42 N. Fifth St., Warrenton. Registration required. Call 540-347-5922 or email hospicesupport@verizon.net.

Grief support Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814.

Hospice support Free medical-equipment loan facility for Fauquier County residents. Especially needed are donations of wheelchairs, bedside commodes, rolling walkers, electric hospital beds, shower benches and chairs, adult diapers, lift chairs, Ensure and hospital bed mattresses. 540-347-5922.

Look Good, Feel Better For women undergoing or emerging from cancer treatment. Every other month, 6:45 to 9 p.m. ,Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-776-2820. Free.

Loudoun CHADD support Led by Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Third Thursdays 7 p.m. Leesburg Town Hall, lower-level conference room, 25 W. Market St. 703-669-2445.

Loudoun Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous Fellowship and support. For locations and times, call 571-420-2012. oa.org.

Lyme disease support Fourth Sundays 2-4 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Conference Room A and B, Leesburg. Go to natcaplyme.org or email loudounlymeadvocates@gmail.com.

Lyme disease support Third Thursdays at 7 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, 6398 Lee Hwy. Access Road, Warrenton. 540-347-7265 or email lymeinfauquier@gmail.com.

Lyme disease support Third Thursdays at 7 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, 6398 Lee Hwy. Access Road, Warrenton. 540-347-7265 or email lymeinfauquier@gmail.com.

Lyme disease support Age 18 and older. First Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. Email charphealy@yahoo.com.

MADD Loudoun victim support For those who have been affected by drunken driving. Third Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. 210 Wirt St., Leesburg. 540-338-6491.

Man-to-Man Cancer Support Sponsored by Loudoun Cancer Care Center, for prostate cancer patients and their families. Second Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Call 703-858-8857 or email karen.archer@inova.org.

Menopause support Third Thursdays 6:30-9 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg (second floor, Patient Education Room). 703-858-8060.

Multiple sclerosis support Saturdays 10:30 a.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-2826.

Multiple sclerosis support Last Sundays 2-4 p.m. Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Pl., Potomac Falls. 703-771-4256.

Nar-anon family support For those affected by loved ones with addiction. Meaningful Mondays, 7-8 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-203-9792; Wisdom Wednesdays 7-8 p.m., St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 37730 St. Francis Ct., Purcellville, 703-606-7125; Serenity Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Market St., Leesburg, 703-606-7125.

Parkinsons support Open to those with Parkinsons disease, their family members and caregivers. First Tuesdays 1:30-3 p.m. Call for Ashburn location. 571-442-8851.

Post-partum support Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Cornwall Campus, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg. Call 703-909-9877 or email lamckeough@gmail.com. Registration required.

Reach to Recovery Home visit program for mastectomy and lumpectomy patients. Temporary prostheses, exercise instruction and encouragement. 703-938-5550.

Sexual assault and incest survivors group counseling Services provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice and the Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter are free and confidential. 703-771-9020.

Sexual assault survivors empowerment support Sponsored by Sexual Assault Victims Volunteer Initiative. Child care available with 48 hours notice. Mondays; call for times and locations. 540-349-7720.

Spiritual support group For cancer patients, family members and friends. Third Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8850.

Stroke survivors and caregivers support Second Wednesdays 11 a.m.-noon, Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second floor, Patient Education Room. 703-858-6199 or jill.lieb@inova.org.

Suicide counseling Third Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Office, Conference Room 2, lower level, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. 703-587-1618 or survivorsofsuicidelossleesburg@gmail.com.

Womens support Sponsored by Services to Abused Families. Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Confidential location. 540-825-8876.

Widows and widowers support Third Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039.

Womens cancer support Woman to Woman, first Wednesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Registration required. 703-858-8850.

MISCELLANEOUS

Brain trauma survivors brown bag lunch For survivors and caregivers. First Tuesdays, noon-1:30 p.m., Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second-floor Patient Education Room. Call 703-737-3150 or email jberg@braininjurysvcs.org. Free.

Child developmental screenings For ages 2-5. Children may not be kindergarten-age-eligible. Sponsored by the Loudoun County public schools Child Find Center. 571-252- - 2180.

Cholesterol screenings Weekdays from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Fauquier Health LIFE Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2640. Registration required. $35.

Emergency food supplies Loudoun County residents in need can receive a free three-day supply of groceries. Supplies are distributed Mondays through Saturdays by Loudoun Hunger Relief. Call 703-777-5911 or go to loudounhunger.org .

Fauquier free walk-in medical clinic Patients must call Thursdays from 12:30 to 1 p.m. to register for the clinic, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Patients are also seen by appointment Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fauquier and Rappahannock residents only. Bring proof of address for the first visit. Patients cannot have Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. Information: 540-347-0394 Tuesdays or Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fauquier Hospital Bistro Senior Supper Club Nutritious meals and fellowship for people 55 and older. Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Bistro on the Hill, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. $5.49.

HEROES (Hometown Enabling Relationships, Opportunities and Empowerment through Support) is a program for military families. A trained volunteer provides support to military members and their families, from pre-deployment up to two years post-deployment. Assistance includes financial help, job placement, family care and mental-health services. caring@purbap.org or heroescare.org.

Inova Loudoun Hospital Mobile Health Services blood pressure screenings, Monday 9-11 a.m. William Watters House, 22365 Enterprise St., Sterling; Tuesday 9 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling; Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-noon, Lansdowne Woods, 19400 Leisure World Blvd., Leesburg. For information, call 703-858-8818 or go to inova.org/mobilehealth. Free.

Loudoun Cares information and referral help line Call 703-669-4636 for help in finding resources for county residents who are dealing with rent eviction, utility cut-offs, needed health care and employment.

Motor skill screenings Birth to 21 months. First Thursdays, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. Call for an appointment. 703-858-7620. Free.

Northern Virginia long-term care ombudsman Call 703-324-5861 for help in resolving complaints related to long-term-care facilities.

Road to Recovery For cancer patients who need rides to appointments. Call 410-781-6909 or email jen.burdette@cancer.org. Free.

Safe sitter classes For girls and boys ages 11-14. First Saturdays except for holiday weekends. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. To receive a Safe Sitter Certificate, students must pass practical and written tests on babysitting concepts and handling an emergency. Bring a lunch or buy lunch in the cafeteria. $70, includes handbook and snacks during the day. Registration required. Call 703-858-8818 or email charlene.martin@inova.org.

Seven Loaves Food Pantry Individuals and families can receive a three-day supply of food, distributed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon. Go to sevenloavesmiddleburg.org or call 540-687-3489.

Tree of Life Food Pantry Serving western Loudoun County. Food is delivered Wednesdays and Saturdays. 703-554-3595.

 Compiled by Sandy Mauck

TO SUBMIT AN ITEM

Email: ldliving@washpost.com

Fax: 703-777-8437

Mail: Health Calendar, The Washington Post, 104 Dry Mill Rd. SW, Suite 101, Leesburg, Va. 20175
Food drive is seeking nonperishable items

Wolf Furniture in Leesburg has partnered with Loudoun Hunger Relief, formerly Loudoun Interfaith Relief, to ease area hunger. Nonperishable food donations may be dropped off at Wolf Furniture, 131 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg.

Store hours for donations are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m., through Dec. 21.

Suggested items include cereal; dried beans; canned meats, fruits and vegetables; dried packages of macaroni and cheese; soups; peanut butter; cooking oil; rice; whole-grain pasta; and gift cards to grocery stores.

For information, go to loudounhunger.org or call 814-742-4380, Ext. 1130.

Toys being collected for children in hospitals

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office has partnered with the nonprofit group Coles Closet to bring seasonal cheer to children in hospitals during the holidays.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys (ages infant through 17) will be accepted weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Dec. 16, at the following locations:

Eastern Loudoun Sheriffs Station, 46620 E. Frederick Dr., Sterling.

University Station, 45299 Research Pl., Suite 100, Ashburn.

Dulles South Public Safety Center, 25216 Loudoun County Pkwy., Chantilly.

Western Loudoun Station, 47 W. Loudoun St., Round Hill.

Sheriffs office headquarters, 803 Sycolin Rd. SE, Leesburg.

Inova Loudoun Hospital emergency room, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg.

For information, call 703-777-0625.

Updated map shows pedestrian and bike accident sites

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has updated its online map indicating the location of bicycle and pedestrian accidents, injuries, fatalities and property damage across the region for 2014 through mid-July 2016.

The information for the maps was provided by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

For details and to see the map, go to arcg.is/2cJSEwk.

Vacancies on county boards, commissions

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is looking for residents to serve on county and regional advisory boards, commissions and committees.

For a list of board and committee vacancies and a link to an application, go to loudoun.gov/advisory-vacancies.

For information about specific vacancies, call 703-777-0204 or email coadmin@loudoun.gov.

 Compiled by Sandy Mauck
Maryland medical cannabis regulators are set to award preliminary licenses to open medical marijuana dispensaries on Nov. 28, to the ire of a Maryland lawmaker challenging the state over a lack of racial diversity in the burgeoning industry.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission will meet in Ellicott City to authorize retail marijuana sales based on applications scored by third-party experts, with the identities of the owners redacted. The meeting, originally set for Monday, was delayed a week.

The agency plans to reveal the identities of the winners Dec. 9.

Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, objects to the commission authorizing additional business operations after lawmakers implored it to halt the program until the panel deals with what critics are calling the underrepresentation of African Americans in the industry.

None of the companies authorized by the commission in August to grow medical marijuana are led by black executives, despite provisions in state law calling for diverse cultivation companies.

Glenn says the black caucus is scheduled to meet Dec. 7 to decide on legislation addressing medical pot diversity. She says she is leaning toward pushing a bill that would authorize regulators to rescind the licenses they have awarded so far and restart the process, this time taking into account the racial makeup of the ownership teams of prospective growers.

Commission spokeswoman Vanessa Lyon said it was premature to characterize the diversity of the industry, noting that businesses with preliminary licenses must pass additional vetting before they are authorized to operate.

The Commission believes it is in the best interest of sick people to move the pre-approval process forward, however, the Commission is committed to working with the legislature on these complex issues, said Lyon.

The commission has also been sued over racial diversity by a cannabis firm that did not receive a license and whose ownership is majority African American.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials have raised alarms about a comprehensive plan amendment under consideration by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that would allow new homes near runways at Washington Dulles International Airport.

At recent meetings of the boards Transportation and Land Use Committee, airport officials expressed serious concerns about an option in the Silver Line comprehensive plan amendment  known as Alternative A  that would change the designation of two parcels currently zoned for nonresidential uses to urban mixed use. If approved, the change would allow retail businesses, offices and homes in those areas.

Airport officials said allowing more housing near the runways would lead to an increase in noise complaints, which could place pressure on elected officials to limit airport-related activities.

The parcels are between two planned Metro stations: the Loudoun Gateway station at Route 606 and the Ashburn station at the western terminus of the Silver Line.

Several supervisors have expressed interest in allowing residential development on the land to generate more revenue from the special tax districts created around the Metro stations. The revenue could help offset the countys costs of extending the Silver Line into Loudoun.

In October, when the committee first discussed Alternative A, Supervisor Ron A. Meyer (R-Broad Run) said the mixed-use development would bring us the most revenue and make this the most tax-positive in the long term  not just for the next 10 years, like data centers would.

Michael J. Cooper, manager of state and local government affairs for the airports authority, told supervisors Alternative A was a shocking development for the airports authority.

This is a huge tract of land that will be exposed to departures [and arrivals] every day, constant, 24/7, he said, referring to the larger parcel, which is along the east side of the Loudoun County Parkway. What you are buying is an increase in noise complaints that will come inevitably to you and your successors.

Meyers response was stern. Its a really dangerous poker game youre playing, Mr. Cooper, and you need to be careful, he said. This county is committed to protect the airport, but things can change pretty rapidly.

After the committee voted, 3 to 2, to recommend Alternative A to the full Board of Supervisors, the airports authority and the Metropolitan Washington Airlines Committee, which represents 37 airlines serving Dulles Airport, sent letters to the county expressing strong concerns about building more residences near the airport.

When Cooper addressed the committee again at its Nov. 10 meeting, he pointed to Reagan National Airport as a cautionary example.

Residents are asking their elected officials to limit the nighttime and aviation activity coming off the runways of Reagan National Airport over their homes, Cooper said. At Dulles, we have a very different dynamic. We have developers who are petitioning their elected officials to put homes under the flight paths.

What youve got is working. And what were asking you to do today is to stay the course, he said.

Cooper said the parcel along the Loudoun County Parkway is directly in line with both arrivals and departures that are occurring today off the fourth runway.

Arriving aircraft fly over the parcel at heights between 400 and 600 feet, he said, noting that the Washington Monument is 555 feet tall. Departing aircraft, with full fuel tanks and engines running at full throttle, would be even louder, he said.

There is no amount of residential they could put at the 606 station that would offset the negative economic impact of the airport on this county, this region and this commonwealth that will occur if nighttime operations are curbed, and if future aviation growth cannot occur, Cooper said.

Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she was frustrated by the airports authoritys position.

I feel like Im Charlie Brown and you all are Lucy, and you all keep moving the ball, she said.

Randall said she had consistently opposed building homes within zones deemed incompatible for residential development under FAA standards because of aircraft noise but that the two parcels are outside those zones.

Youre acting as if youve been saying these things to us all along, and we just ignored it, she said. This is new information. Every time we come here, theres new information, and I am frustrated by it.

The full Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss the issue at a special meeting Nov. 29.
There were promises of romantic rendezvous and sob stories about mounting hospital bills or tanking foreign businesses. The stories were slightly different, but the endgame was the same: to get the person on the other end of the phone call, text or email to send cash, and lots of it.

The four behind the elaborate series of ruses made off with millions before they were finally caught, authorities said.

Earlier this month, they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering connected with schemes that involved messaging vulnerable people to develop romantic relationships before talking them into wiring money.

A jury convicted three men and one woman in the scam after a 17-day trial in federal court in Greenbelt: Gbenga Benson Ogundele, 58; Victor Oyewumi Oloyede, 42; Babtunde Emmanuel Popoola, 34; and Mojisola Tinuola Popoola, 42. All are from the Laurel or Bowie area in Maryland.

[Md. man convicted of fraud in Internet romance scheme]

Witnesses testified that members of the conspiracy used false stories and promises to convince the victims to provide money to the conspirators, including fake hospital bills, plane trips to visit the victims, problems with overseas businesses and foreign taxes, according to a statement from the office of Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Ogundele, Oloyede and Popoolas and other conspirators opened bank accounts, called drop accounts, in order to receive millions of dollars from the victims.

Victims would send anywhere from $1,720 to $50,000 directly into drop accounts or via check, the government said. The group then moved the money around or wrote checks to others in an attempt to hide where the funds came from, prosecutors said.

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced early next year and face as much as 20 years in prison.
A driver struck and injured a Maryland state trooper who was in his cruiser on the Capital Beltway in Prince Georges County.

The incident happened about 7 p.m. Sunday as the trooper was sitting in his patrol car in the median crossover on the Beltway near Route 5 in the Camp Springs area. A Buick LaSabre left the roadway, police said, and hit the troopers car.

The driver of the LaSabre was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and other counts. Police said Christopher Howard, 43, of Indian Head, Md., was released after he posted a $3,500 bond. He was not injured in the crash.

The trooper was taken to a hospital for his injuries and later released, according to police.
A naked man robs a pizza restaurant in Towson, Md., on Nov. 10. He is seen on this surveillance photo from the store. (Courtesy of Baltimore County Police)

A man robbed a pizza restaurant in Towson, Md., in a unique outfit  his birthday suit.

Authorities released a surveillance video, with the inappropriate parts covered, showing the burglar throwing equipment.

Police in Baltimore County said the incident happened about 6 a.m., when the store was closed, on Nov. 10. The man made his way through the roof of Slice Pizza on West Pennsylvania Avenue, police said.

Once inside, police said, he took his clothes off.

Police told WBAL TV that he may have ripped his pants on the roof.

Jonathan Newman was charged with second-degree burglary in a case dubbed the #nakedsliceburglar. (Courtesy of Baltimore County Police)

Inside the restaurant, the man tried to cover himself using what appears to be a shirt. At one point, the shirt is on his head, and he is seen on the video throwing items around. Police said he took cash from the registers before fleeing.

The restaurant put up an ad on social media offering free pizza to anyone who could help identify the naked burglar. They dubbed it the case of the #nakedsliceburglar.

On Monday, police said they had arrested Jonathan K. Newman, 23, and charged him with second-degree burglary and other counts.

The owner of the pizza restaurant  Yianni Rizas  told WBAL that he came in that morning, noticed the door was open and the place was ransacked. He then looked at surveillance video and saw the burglar.

Seeing it was weird, Rizas said. Knowing someone was running around naked in the store.

Newman was released on $50,000 bail, police said.
A man is dead after his vehicle crashed into a ravine in Prince Georges County on Monday, authorities said.

At about 8:40 a.m. Monday, officers responded to the 13000 block of Old Fort Road in Fort Washington, where they found 30-year-old Jamon Beecham of Fort Washington dead in his SUV, Prince Georges County Police said in a statement.

An investigation showed Beecham was traveling north on Old Fort Road when he crossed into the southbound lane, left the roadway and ultimately came to a stop in a ravine, the statement said.

The cause of the crash was still under investigation, police said. They asked anyone with further information to call them at 301-731-4422 or submit a tip at pgcrimesolvers.com.
CHICAGO  There were plenty of agitated and even hysterical reactions to Donald Trumps election victory, but none more surprising than the one expressed in a direct mail letter I got a couple of days afterward.

Our worst nightmare is staring us right in the face, it declared. The attacks will be hitting everywhere, every day. It invited me to fill out a survey. By answering this survey today, youre drawing a line in the sand  making it clear to politicians across America that youre not going to stand by while extremists trample our individual liberties.

Planned Parenthood? The American Civil Liberties Union? The Council on American-Islamic Relations? No, this shriek of terror came from the National Rifle Association.

Apparently, CEO Wayne LaPierre was among the smug, tone-deaf East Coast elitists who confidently anticipated a Hillary Clinton presidency. Otherwise, its hard to explain why he would make such a point of proclaiming that the organization is fighting gun-hating politicians and fighting to deny confirmation of judicial nominees who refuse to affirm that the Second Amendment guarantees your individual right to own and use a firearm.

The NRA endorsed Trump. The letter inviting me to join was obviously written and sent before his victory materialized. But it illuminates a problem the organization and its allies will have over the next four years: how to sustain the fear and anxiety that have been so useful to them over the past eight.

As a gun owner, recreational shooter, former NRA member and longtime advocate of Second Amendment rights, I like to see cogent criticism of gun control proposals and anti-gun propaganda. But under President Barack Obama, the NRA has occupied itself sowing groundless panic and fighting imaginary villains.

Obama made it plain in his first presidential campaign that gun control was not a hill he was willing to die on. He assured gun owners, I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe in peoples lawful right to bear arms. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I wont take your handgun away.

He has repeated that position over and over. He has spent more time trying to assuage the concerns of gun owners than he spent wooing Michelle, with far less success.

But in an era in which facts dont matter, the president should have saved his breath. In 2008, LaPierre dismissed Obamas promises: Never in NRAs history have we faced a presidential candidate ... with such a deep-rooted hatred of firearm freedoms. The NRA insisted he planned to ban all handguns, ban use of firearms for home defense, increase federal taxes on guns and ammunition by 500 percent, and require a federal license to buy a gun.

Obama has had eight years to pursue these sinister goals. Were still waiting.

He did sign bills allowing people to carry concealed handguns in national parks and check guns on Amtrak, expanding the gun rights of troops on U.S. military bases, and preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from banning lead ammunition. His anti-gun proposals amount to ending the manufacture and sale (though not possession) of assault weapons, limiting magazines to 10 rounds and requiring background checks for all firearm purchases, not just those from licensed dealers. These changes would have a minimal impact on law-abiding gun owners.

Faced with this record, LaPierre has done the only thing he could do: lie about it. When I said Barack Obama would come for our guns and do everything in his power to sabotage the Second Amendment, they savaged me, he said recently. But every one of those predictions came true. Sure they did. And Adam Sandler won an Oscar.

The strategy has clearly served to frighten some gun owners and stimulate them to buy more firearms  you know, before Obama could outlaw them. Gun sales have set records under him, and gun companies have prospered. The NRA has found that it can only gain by stoking chronic fear of draconian gun laws.

But how will it be able to do that with President Trump, a Republican Congress, GOP dominance in governorships and legislatures, and a Supreme Court that has given new force to the Second Amendment? The rights of firearm owners are more secure today than the gold in Fort Knox.

The NRA can go on depicting a dystopian nightmare in which gun owners are cruelly deprived of their right to protect themselves. But its a Halloween house of horrors, not the real world.
Hundreds gather in Silver Spring for a rally titled Stand-up for the Montgomery Way in light of the unease after the presidential election results. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Hundreds gathered in downtown Silver Spring on Sunday at a rally designed to bolster spirits and remind people that Marylands largest county remains a place that values diversity, inclusion and respect for all.

Dubbed Stand Up for the Montgomery Way, the rally came as county officials sought to calm a community roiled by one of the most divisive elections in U.S. history.

Since Election Day, students unhappy with the election of Donald Trump as president have staged protests, and several churches have been vandalized with racist graffiti. Officials said Sunday that there has been a spike in hate crimes in recent days.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and other speakers, including Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who was recently elected to the U.S. Senate, and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez were flanked by dozens of religious leaders.

All sought to assure the crowd that the values the county residents have long embraced will not change with the election. They also sought to quell fears that people would be targeted because of their religion, immigration status or race.

We are a county that welcomes all people and treats people with dignity and respect, Leggett said.

Montgomery Police Chief Tom Manger told the crowd that his officers had no interest in a persons immigration status. Rather, his department goal is to keep all residents safe. That message was echoed by Montgomery County schools chief Jack R. Smith, who was also at the rally.

John and Nancy Paul and their children, Amelia and Miles, were among those who braved the high winds and low temperatures to be at the rally.

Nancy Paul said that she had been feeling anxious following Trumps election and uncertain about how best to address those feelings.

Instead of sitting and reading Facebook, I was looking for direction, she said. She found it in the message of tolerance that speakers emphasized.

I feel uplifted, John Paul said.

The rally was one of several solidarity events held across the region.

Earlier Sunday, people from across the county joined the congregation at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour for morning worship services, which drew worldwide attention after an incident last week.

Church leaders had arrived for services at the Silver Spring church on Nov. 13 to discover Trump Nation and Whites Only painted on the back of a church sign. The same messages was scrawled on a brick wall in an alcove outside. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

The Rev. Robert W. Harvey of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour said he was overwhelmed by the messages of support that had flooded in following the incident. He said he had done interviews with news media from Japan, the Czech Republic, Spain and Brazil.

This has been a remarkable week, Harvey said. After reeling from the shock of the graffiti incident, Harvey said, the conversations that followed have reinforced his belief that while such attitudes exist, they are held by a minority.

Its not clear why the church was targeted, but its congregation is the most diverse in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Harvey said. Members of the congregation come from more than 50 countries. Eighty percent of those who worship at the church are immigrants, he added.

Michelle High, of Chevy Chase, Md., was in a group of folks who gathered to hand out yellow carnations. Yellow, she said, is the color of friendship.

We just want [people] to know that the voices of hate are by far the minority, High said.

After the second of three worship services at the Episcopal church held Sunday, worshipers, encouraged by Harvey, gathered in a circle in front of the building and sang We Shall Overcome.

We want to show our neighborhood that we stand against hate, he said.

Bundled up in scarves and heavy coats, people leaned on each other and held hands as they sang the hymn.

Nearby, children from the church joined with children from the Unitarian Universalist Church two blocks away and scribbled messages of hope with chalk on the sidewalks along busy New Hampshire Avenue.

Ten-year-old Noelani Sitholes message in yellow chalk on a sidewalk was simple: LOVE  something she said, everyone needs more of these days.
Virginias health commissioner on Monday declared opioid addiction to be a public health emergency and issued a standing prescription for any resident to get the drug Naloxone, which is used to treat overdoses.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said the actions are in response to not only the rising problem of painkiller overdoses, but also to evidence that a synthetic large-animal sedative called Carfentamil is being abused in Virginia.

Massachusetts declared opioids to be a public health emergency in 2014, and a bipartisan group in the Ohio legislature is urging Gov. John Kasich (R) to take the same step. Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a report urging the nation to treat addiction as a chronic illness and calling the crisis a moral test for America.

Nationally, 78 people die every day from opioid overdoses, according to Murthy. In Virginia, three people die every day from an overdose and more than two dozen are treated in emergency rooms, according to the state health commissioner. Emergency room visits for heroin overdoses were up 89 percent through September in Virginia compared with the same period last year.

[Opioid addiction epidemic affecting children]

Too many families across Virginia and the nation are dealing with heartbreak and loss as a result of prescription opioid and heroin abuse epidemic, McAuliffe said in a news release. The emergency declaration does not carry the force of law, but McAuliffe said that it is designed to heighten awareness of this issue, provide a framework for further actions to fight it, and to save Virginians lives.

McAuliffe signed bills last year that made Naloxone more readily available to emergency first-responders and allowed pharmacists more leeway in dispensing it. But those steps still required users to have a prescription, and caused pharmacists to work with physicians to determine who could qualify for a standing prescription.

Created in the early 1960s, Naloxone is a type of drug that blocks opioid receptors in the body and can quickly counteract the effects of an overdose. It has no addictive properties of its own, and studies have found no evidence of adverse side effects. Emergency responders generally have described it as a near-miracle drug for preventing overdose deaths.

On Monday, Virginia Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine issued a standing order permitting all Virginians to have access to the drug - in effect, a blanket prescription for all residents. The states roughly 2,000 pharmacies should have an adequate supply, she said.

We realized there were still gaps in terms of where in the commonwealth people could have access to Naloxone, Levine said. Many smaller pharmacies, she said, didnt have the resources to work with doctors to issue standing orders for patients in need.

Her order, which she said was drawn in consultation with other states and localities that have done the same thing, does not carry funding to pay for expanded access to the drug.

She said preparations for the order have been going on for some time, but that the matter was made more urgent just last month when the departments forensics sciences unit determined that the drug Carfentanil had turned up in Virginia. That synthetic opioid is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl - a synthetic pain killer, according to the health commissioner.

[Her daughter died from an opioid overdose. And then she was back]

The shift toward such powerful synthetic drugs puts added pressure on health officials already straining to keep up with the epidemic of addiction, state Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel said in a news release.

The overdose rates in Virginia have led me to agree with Dr. Levine that we are indeed experiencing a public health emergency, Hazel said. This declaration helps us respond in a nimble way to a rapidly changing threat, while the Naloxone standing order from Dr. Levine broadens our ability to get life-saving medication into Virginians hands.

The state has established a new web site - www.VaAware.com - that provides resources for dealing with addiction.
ENVIRONMENT

Mining claims halted near Yellowstone

Federal officials on Monday moved to block new mining claims at the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park, the latest push by the Obama administration to protect environmentally sensitive areas during its final months in office.

Mining claims would be prohibited on about 30,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land near the parks northern entrance in Montana. The prohibition will remain in effect for two years while officials gather public comment and evaluate whether to designate the area off-limits to new mining claims for an additional 20 years.

The move comes as two gold-mining exploration proposals north of Yellowstone draw opposition from local environmentalists and business owners, who argue that the projects would industrialize areas crucial to migrating wildlife and could harm tourism. The two-year prohibition issued Monday wouldnt explicitly block the existing proposals, but it could hamper them.

 Brady Dennis

MINNESOTA

Killer of boy in 1989 gets 20-year sentence

A Minnesota man was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison on a federal child pornography charge as part of a plea agreement earlier this year in which he confessed to assaulting and killing a boy in 1989, the Justice Department said.

Danny Heinrich, 53, was handed the sentence in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. Heinrich confessed in September to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and fatally shooting 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in October 1989, in a case that stumped investigators for decades. In his confession in September, Heinrich recounted shooting Wetterling twice and also admitted to sexually assaulting another 12-year-old boy.

Heinrichs confession, in addition to helping lead police to the spot where he buried Wetterlings body, was part of a deal in which he pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge, but did not face charges in the killing.

Wetterlings parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, became advocates for missing children after his disappearance.

Heinrich was named a person of interest in the abduction of Wetterling in October 2015 and was charged with possession and receipt of child pornography.

 Reuters

Germany buys Thomas Manns Los Angeles home: Germany has purchased a Los Angeles house once owned by Thomas Mann, averting demolition of the home where the Nobel Prize-winning novelist lived for a decade after fleeing the rise of Nazism. The home, built in 1941, was bought for $13.25 million and officials said it will be renovated and used as a residency for artists. An online petition called on the German government to save the home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Mann fled Germany in 1933 and lived in Switzerland before moving to the United States.

 Associated Press
IRAQ

Troops dig in as battle for Mosul rages

Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State militant group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern about the safety of civilians.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighborhoods on Sunday. They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than 1 million people.

The government sent a half-dozen trucks loaded with food supplies into the recently liberated areas.

Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces said his men were searching homes in areas retaken from the Islamic State, looking for militants and vehicles rigged with explosives. Troops in those areas continue to be hit by mortar rounds, sniper fire and suicide bombers, he said.

In the newly liberated areas, roads are blocked by car wrecks and sandbags, and tanks are deployed on wider streets. Snipers on tall buildings watch for suicide bombers or other intruders.

The troops laid siege Sunday to the al-Zohour neighborhood, about five miles from the city center. The arrival of the troops at the neighborhoods fringes prompted hundreds of civilians to emerge from their homes waving white flags. The special forces later drove militants out of two other neighborhoods.

The military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, the extremist groups last major urban bastion in Iraq. Most gains have been made by special forces operating in the section of Mosul east of the Tigris River. Other forces are advancing on the city from different directions, and a U.S.-led coalition is providing airstrikes and other support.

The Islamic State captured Mosul in the summer of 2014 as part of a blitz that placed nearly a third of Iraq under the groups control.

 Associated Press

RWANDA

Catholic bishops issue apology over genocide

The Catholic Church in Rwanda is apologizing for the churchs role in the 1994 genocide.

In a statement read out in parishes across the country Sunday, the Conference of Catholic Bishops said it regretted the role of church members in planning, aiding and executing the genocide, in which Hutu extremists killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The statement said: We apologize for all the wrongs the church committed.

Some survivors have said that priests and nuns were involved in some killings.

Local church leaders had resisted pressure from the government and survivors to acknowledge the churchs complicity in mass murder, saying those church officials who committed crimes acted individually.

The bishops statement is seen as a positive development in Rwandas efforts at reconciliation.

 Associated Press

Egypt to try nearly 300 over attacks, assassination plot: Egypts state news agency said nearly 300 suspects linked to the Islamic State militant group have been referred to a military tribunal over attacks and an alleged plot to assassinate President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi. The Middle East News Agency reported that the 292 suspects are accused of taking part in attacks and of plotting to kill Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. An Islamic State affiliate in the northern Sinai Peninsula has carried out scores of attacks in recent years.

8,800 geese to be culled in Germany: The news agency DPA reported that about 8,800 geese on two farms will be culled in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein because some of the animals are infected with the bird flu virus. DPA said it was not clear whether the birds were infected with the H5N8 strain that was detected in wild birds across 10 German states since Nov. 8. Last week, 30,000 chickens were destroyed in Schleswig-Holstein after H5N8 was detected in their enclosure.

20 dead in Libya clashes: Activists and medics said tribal clashes that erupted in the southern Libyan city of Sabha after three young men turned a pet monkey loose on a high school girl have killed at least 20 people. The girls family sought revenge after the monkey scratched and bit her last week. Her relatives killed all three men and the animal.

 From news services
President-elect Trumps plan to once again reset U.S.-Russia relations is already encountering stiff resistance from a Washington foreign policy community that insists on confronting Russian mischief in the United States and around the world. The incipient battle will be the first test of whether Donald Trump can fundamentally reorient U.S. foreign policy against the wishes of the establishment.

Throughout the campaign, Trump promised to find an accommodation with the government of Vladimir Putin and expressed doubt about the reality and significance of various widely reported Russian transgressions, including the hacking of major American political organizations and interference in the U.S. election process. Now that Trump has been elected, lawmakers and Russia watchers in both parties fear his team will implement a change in the bilateral relationship that not only absolves Moscow of responsibility for its bad behavior but sacrifices the interests of the United States and its European allies.

The battle in Washington to stop Trumps Russian spring began last week when Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) called a Trump plan to cooperate in Syria with Putins government unacceptable and publicly demanded the incoming administration confront Russia for its ongoing atrocities there. McCain and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) have a detailed plan to push back against Trump on Russia policy.

My view has not changed even though Trump won. [The Russians] are a bad actor in the world, they need to be reined in, Graham said. Hes the commander in chief but Congress does have a say and a role in all this.

Before Trump takes the oath of office, McCain and Graham will lead a congressional delegation to Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia to reassure these European partners that Washington is still committed to confronting Russian aggression. Starting in January, the pair will hold a series of hearings highlighting Russias transgressions around the world, including war crimes in Syria, cyberattacks, propaganda campaigns and threats to Baltic states.

In addition, Graham has said he wants to use his chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations subcommittee to steer new funds to European allies for battling Moscow.

Although Trump dismissed the U.S. intelligence communitys assessment that the Russian government was responsible for hacking and leaking to influence U.S. politics this year, most members of Congress remain determined to press for some sort of response or punishment. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote in The Post last week that Russia must be held to account for interfering in American politics. He also promises to introduce legislation to confront Russian actions in Syria and Ukraine and support a European Democracy Initiative to increase funding for countries resisting Russian political tampering. Theres also new legislation in the House to increase sanctions on Russia.

Congress is trying to put as much of a frame around this policy as they can before it is created, said Heather Conley, director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Exactly what form Trumps Russia policy will take is unknowable, she said, because key national security appointments have not been made. But the Senate confirmation process will be another lever for lawmakers in the new Congress to vet incoming administration officials on the issue after inauguration.

Trump could find some support in Congress for his Russia reset among noninterventionists such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and pro-Russia lawmakers such as Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.). But most Russia experts believe that Trumps outreach to Putin will eventually become politically unpalatable for Trump because he will soon realize he is getting a bad bargain. Thats because the strategy of political interference is ingrained in Russian foreign policy, part of a long-term strategy to undermine the stability and confidence of liberal Western democracies.

The new administration will likely get burned by Russia at some point, even if there is a cozying up, said Alina Polyakova, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. A new report by the council details how Russia has been using a combination of overt and covert means to foster the rise of pro-Russian political parties in several Western European countries, including Britain, France and Germany.

Moscow views the Wests virtues  pluralism and openness  as vulnerabilities to be exploited, former Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski writes in the foreward to the report. The Kremlins blatant attempts to influence and disrupt the U.S. presidential election should serve as an inspiration for a democratic push back.

Even President Obama, who has received some well-deserved criticism for his overly optimistic view on the potential to cooperate with Russia, is publicly calling on Trump to think twice before moving U.S. policy in a pro-Russian direction.

As president, Trump will have the prerogative to ignore the evidence and dismiss calls from allies to stand up to Putin. But more than a few in Washington are betting on a combination of pressure and persuasion on the incoming administration to stop the next Russian reset before it even begins.

Read more from Josh Roginss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Honoree Diane Rehm at the International Women's Media Foundation's 27th annual Courage in Journalism awards ceremony in New York last month. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IWMF)

Regarding the Nov. 17 Style article WAMU selects successor for Diane Rehms NPR time slot:

Joshua Johnson, a former radio anchor in Northern California, spoke freely about being an African American in a 15-minute introduction on Diane Rehms Nov. 16 show. He is quick, knowledgeable and fun to listen to.

But the change has a crippling cost: It closes out a woman from continuing the best news-cultural program in American radio  indeed, in the whole male-dominated media sector. Ms. Rehms show has proved beyond doubt that women provide a fundamental and irreplaceable perspective in radio. My wife and I have enjoyed the Diane Rehm Show for years now, like others across the United States.

Perhaps WAMU and NPR think this is a nice liberal trade-off, that an African American male might somehow match the rich perspective and experience of womankind. But au contraire: The qualities of a woman-led program are intrinsically deeper and richer. In particular, Ms. Rehms show has added much more than any man could.

One incomplete cure might be to create a second, parallel program led by a woman and staff it as brilliantly as Ms. Rehms. In the past year, many excellent women have filled in for Ms. Rehm. Surely other brilliant, talented women are available.

William G. Shepherd, Washington
Donald Trump at a roundtable discussion on national security in his offices in Trump Tower in New York in August, with Ret. Army Gen. Mike Flynn, left, and Ret. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. (Gerald Herbert/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In his Nov. 17 op-ed, Dont join this team, former State Department counselor Eliot A. Cohen urged his conservative national security brethren not to join President-elect Donald Trumps team, at least for a couple of years. He is worried about what might cause his fellow conservatives to quit, be forced to make excuses and compromise ones integrity. Really?

Does Mr. Cohen really want the countrys national security to suffer for two years just to satisfy his bruised conservative ego? He doesnt seem to appreciate that its not about him, its about service to the nation. If I were Mr. Trump, I wouldnt call. I would want someone with higher character and sense of duty to serve in my administration.

John Perry Geis, Alexandria
A YEAR ago, just after he said he favored requiring Muslims in the United States to register in a government database, Donald Trump was asked how that would differ from Nazi Germanys policies in the 1930s singling out Jews, including by having them register property. You tell me, he said repeatedly, then refused to answer further.

Under fire, Mr. Trump soon backpedaled to suggest that Muslims in the United States might be subject to surveillance, including a watch list, rather than a registry. That stance now seems the kernel of policy, judging from remarks by Mr. Trumps transition team and allies.

In recent days, Kris Kobach, a prominent anti-illegal immigration hard-liner working on Mr. Trumps transition, said the team was considering whether to formally recommend a national registry for visitors and immigrants from Muslim countries. A day later, Carl Higbie, who was spokesman for a highly visible super PAC behind the Trump campaign, said a registry for Muslims would pass constitutional muster. As precedent, he cited the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II  not that he is urging prison camps for Muslims, Mr. Higbie noted comfortingly.

At the least, those incendiary remarks suggest that the transition team hasnt gotten the memo from Mr. Trump, who has pledged publicly to seek national reconciliation. If the president-elects camp is trying to scare the bejeezus out of Americas 3.3 million Muslims, its doing a fine job.

Mr. Kobach, the Republican secretary of state in Kansas, suggested that a registry might revive elements of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, a measure enacted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that required visitors and immigrants from higher-risk countries, mainly Muslims, to submit to fingerprinting, interrogations and in some cases parole-like check-ins with authorities.

That program was suspended in 2011 under criticism by civil rights groups, which said it stigmatized Muslims. Unlike the internment of Japanese Americans, it did not apply to U.S. citizens, but it certainly affected the relatives of many citizens.

A registry for Muslims, even if masquerading as one for people from risky countries, is no less odious than Newt Gingrichs proposal this summer, after the terrorist attack in the French city of Nice, to submit all Muslims in the United States to a test and deport those who believe in sharia law. Both approaches would screen people based on identity  faith or ethnicity  rather than deeds, and single them out for intrusive and indiscriminate government snooping.

Such a step would be a boon to extremist recruiters and fodder for the Islamic State and other radical groups, which would use it for propaganda purposes as proof of Americas hostility toward Muslims. Equally self-defeating, a religious test or registry would risk alienating Muslim citizens of the United States, whose assimilation and loyalty to America are a bulwark against domestic terrorist threats.

In the campaign, Mr. Trump, after dropping his initial proposal for a blanket ban on Muslim immigrants, endorsed what he called extreme vetting  specifically, an ideological test to determine whether immigrants are suitable for entry. Rigorous immigration screening is one thing; for the most part, it already takes place. A registry of immigrants is another and would propel the United States into an era of officially induced fear and suspicion.
GUN CONTROL was a central tenet of Hillary Clintons unsuccessful campaign for president, but it would be wrong to interpret the results of the Nov. 8 elections as a slam dunk for those opposed to sensible gun laws. Three states approved ballot initiatives for strengthened gun-control measures despite stiff opposition from the national gun lobby. In statehouse races across the country, gun-control advocates had some success in helping to oust longtime gun-safety opponents. There should be no illusions about the difficulty that lies ahead in sustaining and furthering reform, but it is encouraging to see these signs of an increasingly robust grass-roots movement.

In a year that saw a record number of ballot initiatives, voters in Nevada, California and Washington state gave their approval to strengthened gun-safety measures while an effort in Maine to expand universal background checks failed narrowly. Nevadas move to expand background checks to private gun sales and transfers was seen as particularly significant since the National Rifle Association invested heavily there with an aggressive campaign that included opposition from the governor and attorney general. According to Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, the win in Nevada means that nearly half of Americans will now live in states that have closed the background-check loophole. Eight states did so in the years that followed the slaughter of schoolchildren at Sandy Hook.

Other bright spots: Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.) showed that Republicans who support gun control can still win reelection while Sen. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) proved that Republicans who oppose gun safety can lose. And in Oregon every elected leader up for election who voted yes on the states 2015 background-check bill won reelection. Of course, factors other than gun issues played a role in these elections, and the NRA, which spent a record $30 million, had its victories. But even its early and aggressive backing of Donald Trump was offset by the fact that the most aggressively pro-gun-control presidential candidate in history won the popular vote.

That, of course, is not likely to stop the gun lobby from wanting to cash in on its investment by pushing extreme measures such as repealing the federal gun-free school zone law, establishing national reciprocity for concealed-carry permits, gutting efforts to crack down on illegal gun trafficking and more. Gun laws in the District unfortunately will be particularly vulnerable. So lets hope that the mettle that gun- control advocates have shown in recent years in stopping NRA-backed bills in statehouses will prove successful in meeting the coming challenges.
Yes, democracy is still the best system, and it will survive.

I think.

I hope.

If we work at it.

Even before Donald Trumps election, democracy was in crisis.

Russia and China, each with its own version of a corrupt one-party state, were ascendant. Nations that had been democracies, from Turkey to Thailand to Venezuela, were increasingly autocratic  often under leaders who came to power democratically.

The worlds surviving democracies were wringing their hands as hundreds of thousands of children, women and men faced bombing or starvation in Aleppo, Syria  an abject end to an American presidency that introduced itself to the world at Berlins Brandenburg Gate more than eight years ago with a vow to never forget our common humanity.

And then, Donald Trump.

His victory is a challenge to democracy because he chose to make it so, not because he is a Republican, or a conservative, or a Washington outsider. Trumps campaign often displayed contempt for democratic norms, by trading in lies and conspiracy theories, celebrating violence, disdaining a free press, deriding minorities and minority rights and threatening to wield the powers of government against political enemies.

During the campaign, Trump spoke admiringly of dictators and dismissively of democratic allies. Echoing the propaganda of the Russian state that helped elect him, Trump himself talked democracy down: The system was rigged, politicians were for sale.

The basic argument that China and Russia make is not that their system is better, but that we are the same  just as corrupt, sordid and undemocratic, says Tom Malinowski, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor. Trump essentially endorsed that view.

So his victory presents a challenge.

But it is far from a final verdict.

First, we do not know, and should not assume, that the worst tendencies of the campaign will find expression in a Trump presidency.

That is why Hillary Clinton was right to graciously concede, though Trump might not have done the same. It is why President Obama was right to offer a transition with utmost respect and optimism, though he has been criticized as naive.

It is why the media should hold Trump accountable for actions and statements going forward, not pre-judge, and why Democrats are right to remain open to the possibility of cooperation.

If Trump, after waging an ugly and divisive campaign, remains within the bounds of democratic behavior, that in itself will be a kind of vindication for the system.

And if his administration strays beyond those bounds, democracy will have to defend itself. Congress, the courts, the civil service, the media, civic institutions  ultimately, the citizenry itself  will have something to say about it.

Last week, a young democracy activist from Hong Kong, Joshua Wong, was in Washington seeking support in Congress and elsewhere. His message was applicable to more than his own city-state on the other side of the world.

For several years, Communist leaders in Beijing have been nibbling away at their promise to allow Hong Kong to maintain its liberty. Book publishers who offended Chinas rulers have been kidnapped from Hong Kong and elsewhere to be imprisoned in mainland China. Press freedoms have eroded. Recently the party intervened to bar two pro-democracy politicians from taking their seats on Hong Kongs legislative council.

Wong, 20, a third-year university student, leads a movement to resist these encroachments, at times helping to bring tens of thousands of compatriots into the street to protest for democracy.

I realize its a long-term battle to fight the largest Communist Party regime in the world, Wong told us. But even if we dont achieve immediate results in our short-term battles, we will continue fighting to create a miracle.

Recently, when the China-friendly autocrats of Thailand detained Wong in the Bangkok airport to keep him from delivering a speech in their country, a statement of protest was issued by a small organization that had formed only a few months earlier  the Network of Young Democratic Asians. With activists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, the network seemed to be anticipating a moment when democrats will have to come to each others aid, perhaps  at least for a time  without support from the government that has long styled itself the leader of the free world.

Visiting Washington, Wong helped remind us of a few things weve always known: that democracies are fragile, that the fight for freedom is never finished, that regimes in power will do almost anything to stay in power.

But also this: that human beings in every culture and every nation share a desire for dignity and self-determination. Thats true in Burma, and South Africa, and Cuba  and the United States.

Read more from Fred Hiatts archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Alt-right leader Richard Spencer, chairman of the National Policy Institute, at its conference in Washington on Nov. 18. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Im afraid I missed the conference of white supremacists in Washington this weekend.

I was hosting my daughters bat mitzvah.

But I have a pretty good picture of what happened, because luckily  for me, if not for them  several other journalists attended Saturdays gathering of alt-right leader Richard Spencers National Policy Institute at the Ronald Reagan federal building.

Attendees shouted heil and Lugenpresse, a Nazi term that means lying press. Some of the few hundred attendees applauded mention of the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website. Reality-TV personality Tila Tequila tweeted an image of herself and others giving a Nazi salute and the misspelled words Seig heil!

White nationalists and counter-demonstrators clashed violently in the street outside the gathering in downtown Washington, and, as The Washington Posts John Woodrow Cox reported, inside and outside a family restaurant, Maggianos, in northwest Washington.

About 200 people protested a gathering of white nationalists sponsored by the National Policy Institute at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Nov. 19 in downtown Washington. (Facebook/Tauhid Chappell)

The scenes seemed as if from another time and another place, but in Donald Trumps America, they are here and now. And if Trump doesnt do something more forceful to disown his neo-Nazi hangers on, they will continue their brazen march into the mainstream.

The New York Times quoted Spencer at the conference saying that we have a psychic connection, or you can say a deeper connection, with Donald Trump in a way that we simply do not have with most Republicans.

Weve crossed the Rubicon in terms of recognition, Spencer said, arguing that America was, until this last generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity. It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us.

Politico quoted Spencer saying the alt-right was a head without a body and the Trump movement was a body without a head. Now, I think, moving forward, the alt-right can, as an intellectual vanguard, complete Trump.

The Los Angeles Times quoted Spencer saying that Trumps election was an awakening and that were not quite the establishment now, but I think we should start acting like it.

The white nationalists are emboldened by Trumps selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Stephen K. Bannon to top jobs in his administration.

Bannon, who boasted that the Breitbart news outlet he ran was the platform for the alt-right, was praised lavishly by Spencer, who said its very interesting and very hopeful for me that Bannon is at least open to these things. And The Posts David Weigel quoted Spencer saying Sessions  tapped to be attorney general  is eye to eye with us on immigration. (Sessions has tried to restrict legal immigration.) The fact that he is going to be at such a high level is a wonderful thing, Spencer said.

Shortly after the election, Trump said his supporters who were harassing Muslims and Latinos should stop it.

But they arent stopping. In the past few days, a city park in Brooklyn was defaced with swastikas and the message Go Trump! while an Arab American Uber driver in Queens filmed another driver shouting at him: Trump is president so you can kiss your [expletive] visa goodbye, scumbag. . . . Theyll deport you soon.

While the white nationalists were meeting in Washington and clashing with protesters, Trump was engaged in a Twitter fight with the cast of the Broadway musical Hamilton. Trump demanded the actors apologize for urging Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who attended the show, to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.

Rather than quarrel with that unobjectionable message, perhaps Trump could listen to the George Washington character in Hamilton sing One Last Time:

Like the scripture says:

Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree

And no one shall make them afraid.

This passage, from Micah 4:4, is in Washingtons letter to the Jews of Newport, R.I., in 1790. The rabbi recalled these words during my daughters bat mitzvah this weekend.

Happily, Washington wrote, the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

Continued the first president: May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants  while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

Please read Washingtons words, Mr. President-elect, and repeat them to Richard Spencer and his ilk as you brush off the white nationalists riding on your coattails.

There is room for cooperation on much of Trumps agenda. But cooperation is difficult, if not impossible, when a president gives sanction to bigotry.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the incoming Senate minority leader, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in June. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

Senate Democrats think they can hold Donald Trump accountable by challenging him to deliver on issues where he has made populist noises.

Supporters of this strategy insist that offering to work with Trump where he shares Democratic goals is the best way to split the Republican Party or, alternatively, to expose Trumps flimflam if he fails to deliver for working-class Americans whose cause he rhetorically championed.

In normal circumstances, this approach might be just the ticket. Unfortunately, this moment is anything but normal.

Millions feel vulnerable to Trumps moves on immigration and doubt his commitment to equality before the law. We should be alarmed by his flouting of widely accepted norms governing conflicts of interest and the right to dissent. There is good reason to ask Democratic leaders to send unambiguous signals of resistance.

His selection of right-wing figures such as Stephen K. Bannon and Michael Flynn for White House posts and of longtime civil rights foe Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general only feed legitimate demands for a strong pushback.

N.Y. Sen. Chuck Schumer will succeed Harry Reid as Democratic Party leader in the Senate. In a statement, Schumer vowed to go 'oe to toe against the president-elect whenever our values or the progress we've made is under assault. (The Washington Post)

It is not a form of paranoia to worry about our basic liberties under the rule of a thin-skinned and vindictive man who lashes out at even the restrained criticism issued by the Hamilton cast on Friday.

This should not happen! tweeted the birther who spent years questioning Barack Obamas legal right to be president. Memo to Trump: Criticizing the president is everyones right in a democratic republic.

Charles E. Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, insists there will be no backing down when his party finds itself implacably opposed to Trump.

Where he goes divisive, where he opposes our values, Schumer said in a telephone interview, well oppose him with everything we have. Opposition, he promises, will be unrelenting on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and Wall Street reforms and in many other areas.

But the senator from New York defends the idea that Democrats should set tough standards on trade, infrastructure and other economic concerns and offer to work with Trump if he meets them.

For example, Schumer says, his party is looking for a real plan on roads, bridges and transit and would not go along with Trumps tax-break scheme disguised as an infrastructure proposal.

Democrats will either win significant policy victories, Schumer says, or show Trumps working-class backers where the new presidents priorities really lie.

Refusing to work with Trump altogether, Schumer said, would be to close the door . . . when middle-class jobs and incomes are at stake and be unfair to our constituencies.

The Senate Democrats Schumer leads are an ideologically polyglot group confronting tough political terrain. In the 2018 midterms, 25 of their caucus members face reelection. Ten represent states Trump carried, five of them deeply red.

The lets-test-Trump approach brings the philosophical ends of Schumers team together.

Democrats from the most conservative states (notably Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia) are wary of closing the door on a politician very popular with their voters even before he takes office.

Progressives such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders want to win back blue-collar voters and see an offer of cooperation as a way of pressing Trump to keep pledges that fall outside the conservative ideological comfort zones and exposing the contradictions of Trumpism.

I should say here that I have known Schumer for decades and respect his savvy and toughness. I also share his view that Democrats need to address the legitimate concerns of the economically pressed white voters they lost to Trump on Nov. 8.

For his part, Schumer says his caucus will embrace its role as a barrier against Republican excess. We have no illusions about Donald Trump, he asserted, and pledged to oppose Trump nominees if even a scintilla of bigotry . . . remains attached to them.

Sessionss nomination will be an early test of this commitment, given the Alabama Republicans extreme history on race and civil rights.

But this is just one part of the burden on Democrats. However attractive an old-fashioned lets-pass-good-stuff strategy might seem, the alarming signals emanating from Trump Tower require more than politics as usual.

If Democrats do not issue very clear warnings and lay out very bright lines against the most odious and alarming aspects of Trumpism, they will be abdicating their central obligation as the party of opposition. This is not a time for ideological and factional positioning or for focusing on the 2018 elections.

Before they even get to infrastructure, Democrats and all other friends of freedom must make clear that if Trump abandons the basic norms of our democracy, all the roads in the world wont pave over his transgressions.

Read more from E.J. Dionnes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Who will Donald Trump nominate as Justice Antonin Scalia's successor? Washington Post reporter Robert Barnes identifies potential Trump nominees for the Supreme Court. (elyse samuels/The Washington Post)

Who will Donald Trump nominate as Justice Antonin Scalia's successor? Washington Post reporter Robert Barnes identifies potential Trump nominees for the Supreme Court. (elyse samuels/The Washington Post)

Since Donald Trump won the presidential election, I have been consistently asked three questions about the Supreme Court. Two seem obvious, and the third, at least to me, was surprising.

Can President Obama simply appoint Judge Merrick Garland to the court since the Senate has refused, for 250 days and counting, to act on the nomination?

How likely is it that the courts jurisprudence on abortion will change now that Trump will be choosing justices?

And can Trump nominate his sister, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in Philadelphia, to the high court?

The Post's Robert Barnes tackles an idea gaining traction that suggests President Obama can sidestep the Senate to appoint Merrick Garland. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Garlands fate

The first question is the most controversial. Even those who insist that Obama has the power to force the issue on Garlands nomination agree it is unlikely he would try.

The Constitution provides that the president shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint . . . Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States.

The Republican-led Senate, of course, has refused to even hold a hearing on Garlands nomination, much less consent to his appointment. The Republicans position since Justice Antonin Scalias death in February has been that the next president should choose Scalias replacement.

In the past, it has been generally assumed that the Senate can kill judicial nominations simply by refusing to act upon them until the president leaves office. Two current members of the court  John G. Roberts Jr. and Elena Kagan  had their earlier nominations to lower courts end without the Senate taking votes.

But millions have signed petitions urging another view  that Obama gave the Senate a chance to advise him on Garlands nomination, and because lawmakers did not vote one way or the other, the president is free to move on to the shall appoint part of the Appointments Clause.

Those who are urging such an approach often point to a Washington Post op-ed in the spring by lawyer Gregory L. Diskant. Note that the president has two powers: the power to nominate and the separate power to appoint,  Diskant, a former Supreme Court clerk, wrote. He acknowledged that following this approach would draw a lawsuit.

[Opinion: Obama can appoint Garland if Senate does nothing]

For starters, President Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, can go back to his day job. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Diskant has found little support among constitutional experts, most of whom have said that advise and consent means what it has traditionally been understood to mean. Otherwise, the document would have said the president can make appointments unless the Senate steps in to veto his actions.

And a federal judge last week dismissed a lawsuit that would have forced the Senate to vote.

Liberals also have suggested a recess appointment for Garland. The chance would come in early January, in the time between when the current Congress ended and the next one began. Other justices have been appointed in recesses and later confirmed by the Senate.

But eventual confirmation is impossible in the current scenario, and Garlands term would last only about a year.

The New Republic last week championed the idea in an article headlined Obama Can and Should Put Merrick Garland on the Supreme Court. But after proposing the idea, author David Dayen concluded: This would be completely out of character for Obama, and the gambit would have an extremely low likelihood of permanent success  even if the [Supreme] Court didnt rule the Garland appointment unconstitutional (and it probably would), hed be out in a year.

Notably, in separate events last week, liberal justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said that Trump will be choosing the courts ninth justice.

Abortion

In a post-election interview on CBSs 60 Minutes, Trump repeated his pledge to nominate antiabortion justices who could help overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that said a woman has a constitutional right to seek an abortion.

[What abortion could look like without Roe]

If that happened, Trump said, abortion decisions would go back to the states, and some could ban it. Asked whether he was comfortable with the idea that women might have to go to other states to end their pregnancies, Trump replied: Well, well see what happens. Its got a long way to go.

Almost everyone can agree on that.

It became clear at the end of the courts last term that there is a majority on the court to maintain Roe and the line of subsequent cases that have expounded on that constitutional right. The court has acknowledged the states interest in protecting fetal life but also has said a states restrictions cannot put an undue burden on a womans right.

The court in June found that Texas had violated that right with a law that, among other things, required doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and imposed expensive standards on clinics.

[Supreme Court strikes down Texas abortion clinic law]

In a detailed and legalistic opinion, Justice Stephen G. Breyer said Texass assertion that the requirements were to protect womens health could not be proved and were a pretext for simply making it more difficult for women to obtain the procedure.

Ginsburg more pithily said in a concurrence that laws that do little or nothing for health but rather strew impediments to abortion, cannot survive judicial inspection.

The decision was 5 to 3, which meant that even if Scalia had been voting, the law would have been struck down.

But whats lost to neither side is that three of the five in that majority are Ginsburg, 83, Breyer, 78, and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, 80. The replacement of only one would shift the balance.

Even so, the court moves incrementally. It is far from clear that even a majority of those who disagree with Roe would move quickly to dismantle it. But the possibility is motivating those on both sides of the divisive issue.

Judge Maryanne Trump Barry

Trump himself has mused about nominating his sister to the Supreme Court, although he has said it is unlikely.

I would love to, but I think she would be the one to say, No way, no way,  he said in a Fox News interview last year.

[Trump says his sister wouldnt be interested in Supreme Court]

Judicial ethics experts said that federal laws would not prohibit Trump from nominating Barry, who was elevated to the appeals court by President Bill Clinton in 1999.

I doubt the anti-nepotism statute covers it because its not a branch of government he controls, said Richard Painter, a University of Minnesota professor who served as an ethics enforcer in the George W. Bush administration.

He and Stephen Gillers, a law professor at New York University, also agreed that a Justice Barry would not be constrained from ruling on all issues involving the federal government.

She would probably have to recuse herself on those cases in which President Trump was seen to have a significant interest, Gillers said. That would not be every case involving the U.S. It would not be most such cases.

But obstacles abound. For one, Barry is not on the list of 21 people from whom Trump has pledged to pick his nominee. For another, Barry, 79, is the older sister of the oldest man ever elected president. Presidents like their Supreme Court nominees to be a lasting legacy; Barry took senior status five years ago.

Also: See Abortion, above. The National Review has called Barry a pro-abortion extremist judge.

Barry, who served on the appeals court with Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., was part of a panel that struck down a New Jersey ban on the later-term abortion procedure critics call partial-birth abortion.

Barry called the law a desperate attempt to undermine Roe. Besides pointing out that the Supreme Court had struck down a similar state law, she wrote that it was based on semantic machinations, irrational line-drawing, and an obvious attempt to inflame public opinion instead of logic or medical evidence. (The Supreme Court later upheld a federal version of the ban.)

So for those who supported Trump because of the importance of the Supreme Court, Barry is probably not what they were looking for.
President Obama spent the last day of his final foreign trip attempting to make headway on one of the most painful aspects of his foreign policy portfolio: the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Just before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit opened its first formal session Sunday, Obama spoke briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was standing by his seat at a massive circular table around which all the participants were arrayed.

The four-minute discussion, which a White House official described as brief and informal, represented the first time the leaders had spoken in person since members of the Group of 20 convened in China in September.

I am not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria, Obama told reporters Sunday. Once Russia and Iran decided to back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a brutal air campaign, then it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time, he said.

The president said that his administration would continue to press for a deal to stop the killing in the rebel holdout of Aleppo, but he displayed little optimism.

Were just not getting help or interest from those parties that are supporting Assad, he said.

Obamas tone was serious and even slightly melancholy when he spoke of the United States role on the world stage and the advice he would give President-elect Donald Trump. Trump at times has spoken of scaling back U.S. commitments overseas and making allies share a larger portion of the burden of working toward world peace.

The United States really is an indispensable nation in our world order, Obama said. If the United States does not play a central role in fighting pandemics, countering aggression, managing global institutions and speaking up for human rights, Obama warned, the world will become far more dangerous.

Then it collapses, and theres no one to fill the void, he said of the post-World War II order. There really isnt.

Obamas remarks came against the backdrop of more bloodshed in Aleppo. On Saturday, Syrian warplanes launched strikes there that killed at least 20 people. Meanwhile, Russia announced the same day that it was launching an offensive in the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province as well as in central Syrias Homs province.

Beyond pleasantries, the president urged President Putin to uphold Russias commitments under the Minsk agreements, underscoring the U.S. and our partners commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic matters. On Syria, the president noted the need for Secretary [of State John F.] Kerry and Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov to continue pursuing initiatives, together with the broader international community, to diminish the violence and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

[In his last foreign trip, Obama tries to shore up U.S. outreach to Asia-Pacific]

But there is little prospect that much will change even though Obama and his top aides have been sharply critical of Russias support for Assad and the atrocities he has carried out in Aleppo, where about 275,000 people still remain. Trump has spoken much more favorably about Putin and Assad, and has said the fall of Aleppo is inevitable.

Putin no longer has a reason to negotiate with president Obama and instead will look for better terms on Syria from President Trump, Ilan Goldenberg, who directs the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said in an email. For the next two months, the Russians will ignore American and international entreaties and work with Assad and the Iranians to do all they can to pulverize Aleppo and destroy the Syrian opposition.

On Saturday, national security adviser Susan E. Rice condemned the fact that all remaining hospitals in eastern Aleppo, as well as several staging locations for first responders, have been destroyed in attacks by forces loyal to Assad.

There is no excuse for these heinous actions, Rice said in a statement. For years, the United States has worked with our international partners to support their relief efforts and provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian people suffering as a direct result Assads war against his own people, which Moscow has aided and abetted. The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond.

Goldenberg said that although Putin is likely to lobby Trump to accept the idea that Assad should stay in power, the problem remains that the alliance of Russia, Syria and Iran does not have the ground power to retake and hold all of the necessary territory in Northwest Syria. Instead they will destroy what is left of the acceptable opposition and drive it into the hands of extremists.

In addition to his informal talks with Putin, Obama met one-on-one with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

After speaking with Turnbull, Obama said he had conveyed his confidence that there would be a strong handoff and continuity in the next administration.

Turnbull emphasized the views that he and Obama share, noting that on trade we are quite of the same mind, on the importance of open markets. He added, looking at Obama, We want America to succeed under the next president, just as it has succeeded under your leadership. Obamas term ends in January, and Trump had promised on the campaign trail that he would rip up U.S. trade deals.
A supporter of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi demonstrates in front of police separating him from anti-Sissi protesters near the Egyptian Embassy in Athens in December 2015. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

Human rights activists fighting a wave of repression across the Middle East are bracing for an American president they fear will empower autocrats and roll back U.S. support for democracy initiatives in the region.

President-elect Donald Trump has shown little regard for human rights issues, activists say, and has praised authoritarian leaders in countries including Turkey and Egypt.

The Obama administration  which sold arms to despots in the region even as they cracked down on opponents  has disappointed many rights advocates. But President Obama has also pressed Middle East governments to curb abuses and enact democratic change.

Trump, by contrast, has not only lauded some of the regions strongmen but also called for torturing terrorism suspects and killing the families of Islamic State fighters as a way to defeat the extremist group. His rhetoric has alarmed local human rights defenders who say their situation is tenuous enough already.

[Trumps favorite dictators: In reviled tyrants, he finds traits to praise]

A man walks past graffiti with an image of jailed human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja on a wall in Sitra, Bahrain, in September 2014. (Hasan Jamali/AP)

The most repressive times we lived through have been while Obama was president, said Gamal Eid, executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information in Cairo. Eid is one of about a dozen prominent rights activists under investigation in Egypt and is banned from leaving the country.

But now that Trump has been elected, Eid said, what is coming is worse.

According to Human Rights Watch, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi has presided over the most serious human rights crisis in his countrys modern history. The government he now heads, which came to power in a military coup in 2013, has jailed political opponents, launched a campaign of mass arrests and stifled protests.

Obama halted, then later resumed, U.S. military aid to Egypt. But Trump, after meeting Sissi in September, hailed the Egyptian leader as a fantastic guy in an interview with the Fox Business Network.

[The politics of restoring Egypts military aid]

Sissi, who was defense minister when Egypts elected civilian government was toppled, was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump the morning after his election.

It seems like the United States under Trump will give Sissi a green light to oppress more, Eid said. The United States will not hold Egypts regime accountable for repression, and it is obvious Trump is developing stronger ties with tyrants worldwide.

Critics of the Obama administration say the United States never unequivocally pressured Middle East allies to rein in abuses, even as governments moved to crush the democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring.

Obama had vowed to back off from the democracy rhetoric of his predecessor, George W. Bush, preferring to more quietly encourage change in a way that strengthens bilateral relationships, according to Brian Katulis, a national security fellow at the Center for American Progress.

As places such as Libya, Syria and Yemen subsequently descended into chaos, the administrations focus shifted to ensuring that other countries in the region cooperated on counterterrorism and the war against the Islamic State. Military aid and weapons sales resumed to Egypt and Bahrain.

Hisham Kassem, a Cairo-based publisher and political analyst, said that while the United States put on a good show for the world, its efforts to promote civil and political rights have always been limited. Our relationship with the United States was always built on security concerns, he said. I dont think the fact that Obama was president restrained anyone from doing anything.

But activists say that while the administrations support for human rights ebbed, they could still engage with U.S. diplomats and raise their concerns.

With Trump, they worry there will not even be a dialogue.

His comments on the Middle East have included pledging to destroy the Islamic State and rip up the nuclear deal with Iran. There is no indication he recognizes the work of local rights activists.

At least when you met with [the Obama] administration, you could use human rights language, said Maryam al-Khawaja, an activist in Bahrain, where an uprising in 2011 was brutally suppressed.

The only reason I am not still in jail is because one of the actors that got involved in my case, that called for my release, was the U.S. government, said Khawaja, who was arrested in Bahrain in 2014. With a Trump administration, Im not sure whether we could meet with [them] and discuss human rights. I doubt that administration will use anything close to human rights discourse.

In a poll conducted in nine Arab countries, just 14 percent of respondents said they thought Trump would have a positive impact on U.S. policy in the region. The survey was published by the Arab Center Washington D.C., a nonprofit group, on Nov. 1.

In Turkey, a U.S. ally, rights advocates are also unsure what to expect. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cracked down on dissent, jailing tens of thousands since a failed coup attempt in July. Erdogan initially spoke out against Trumps rhetoric about Muslims but has since congratulated him on his victory and criticized those protesting his election.

With Trump in the White House, the United States will be less concerned about human rights, less concerned about democracy, less concerned about civil society and other things, said Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a Turkish human rights lawyer. And this is a huge loss.

Turkey is also a recipient of U.S. military largesse. But the Obama administrations sporadic criticism worked very well in Turkey, Cengiz said.

They criticized the terrible situation for freedom of expression and the media, and some journalists were set free from prison, he said. We are losing this leverage. This is a bad thing for us.

Heba Habib in Stockholm and Heba Farouk Mahfouz in Cairo contributed to this report.

Read more:

What happened when Trump met his favorite Middle East strongman

Republican debate highlights GOP obsession with Egypts Sissi

Under Egypts Sissi, crackdown on human rights groups expands

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani walks through the streets of Mexico City under heavy security in 2003 after meeting with police officials to come up with a crime-fighting plan. (Victor Caivano/AP)

Rudolph W. Giuliani branded himself the man who cleaned up New York City, and not long after he left the mayors office, he insisted on seeing some of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Mexico City  albeit in an armored convoy with a huge security force  to assess how he could do the same there.

A consortium of Mexican businesses had paid Giulianis consulting firm $4.3 million for a comprehensive review of the citys justice system  including police training, internal affairs and the prison system, said Bernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner who helped manage the project.

The work  which Giuliani went on to shop around Latin America  made the politician dubbed Americas mayor a wealthy man. He wrote in a 2007 financial disclosure form that the holding company for his business interests was worth $5 million to $25 million.

But the effect Giulianis advice had on reducing crime is debatable. And now  as President-elect Donald Trump considers whether to appoint him to a Cabinet post  government ethics analysts and even a prominent Republican senator are questioning how Giuliani might be able to set aside financial entanglements with foreign interests should he return to public office.

[In the private sector, Giuliani parlayed fame into wealth]

President-elect Donald Trump meets with former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani in New Jersey on Nov. 20, saying he's a candidate for secretary of state and "other things." (The Washington Post)

If he were anywhere in the U.S. government, said Richard Painter, who was chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, these things would have to stop immediately.

Kerik said concerns about conflicts are political garbage.

If he wound up taking over State, hes going to represent the interests of the United States, Kerik said. Hes not going to give a damn who he had dealings with in the past.

Giuliani is perhaps best known for his time as the mayor of New York. He was in office during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and drew widespread praise for his response. Crime also decreased in the city on his watch, and he has claimed  somewhat dubiously  that his policies drove the decline. Crime in the city was falling before he became mayor, part of a national trend.

When he left office at the end of 2001, Giuliani entered the lucrative world of consulting  forming a company, Giuliani Partners, and a subsidiary, Giuliani Kerik, and using his reputation as a crime fighter to drum up business.

Giulianis 2003 Mexico City proposals, which were endorsed by that citys mayor, were largely the ones that he had implemented in New York  an aggressive approach to petty crime, with increased arrests and stiff fines, police training, and zero tolerance of the graffiti and broken windows that made residents feel unsettled in their communities. The contract led to many more around the world.

[Trumps claim attributing the 20-year New York City crime decline to Giulianis policies]

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is a big fan of Donald Trump  and he said some strange things while campaigning for the Republican nominee. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Were here to give advice to a Belgrade mayoral candidate about economic development and how to organize a program to redevelop Belgrade, make it into a great world city, Giuliani said in a 2012 interview on Serbian television, reported by CNN. He said his company had worked in Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Colombia and the Middle East.

My company gets paid for it, I dont get paid for it, he said. Thats what my company does; gets paid for giving advice.

In some places, Giuliani has been tapped largely to show up and look tough. In Peru in 2011, law-and-order presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori employed him to accompany her on the campaign trail to project a crime-fighting image.

There is no complete public accounting of all of Giulianis clients, and it is difficult to assess just how much money he has made  and from whom  through the years. A person with knowledge of Giulianis firms finances told The Washington Post in 2007 that its staff had quadrupled in its first five years of existence and that it had grossed more than $100 million. Giuliani Safety & Security, a subsidiary of Giuliani Partners, says on its website that it has affiliations and engagements in 63 countries across six continents.

Even in places where crime decreased, it is difficult to attribute the drops to Giulianis prescriptions. In a 2011 address to Juarez Competitiva, a two-week event designed to showcase the city to the world and transform its image as Mexicos murder capital, Giuliani spoke of similarities between New York and Juarez and praised the potential for broken-windows theory in the crime-ridden metropolis, said Kate Swanson, a professor at San Diego State University.

Studies of the Juarez turnaround, however, attribute it more to government restructuring, business contributions and revitalization of the judicial system.

Assessment is similarly difficult in Mexico City, where Giuliani has said his policies substantially reduced crime. Subsequent studies by academics have assessed that reductions were primarily in heavily policed upper-class neighborhoods and tourist areas, and that Giulianis recommendations were ill-suited for societies where as many as half of all workers participate in an informal economy and the greatest fear of many is of the police.

Given vast inequalities [economically, socially and racially], high levels of police corruption and limited infrastructural resources, zero tolerance in Latin America is often implemented in a way that explicitly targets the poor, Swanson wrote in a 2013 study.

In Colombia, where Giuliani has been paid for government consultations, and where his recommendations have been followed to some degree in the cities of Medellin, Cali and Bogota, officials attribute a decrease in homicides, if not other forms of crime, at least in part to his methods.

He came twice and gave me advice on how to be more effective, and how to focus our capabilities, including law enforcement and the military, on specific areas or hot spots, said Juan Carlos Pinzon, Colombias defense minister at the time and now its ambassador to the United States.

I see it as a positive, Pinzon said.

Giuliani has said on Fox News Channel that his group reduced crime in Cali by 42 percent. Others say that the beginning of the drop predates Giuliani and that it began with innovative social and law enforcement policies adopted by then-Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero, a Harvard-trained epidemiologist.

Asked whether he thought Giulianis security work was effective in Mexico City, Kerik said he could not force the implementation of his advice.

We werent paid to manage the city, he said. We were paid to tell them what the problems were.

Kerik left Giulianis company in 2004; he was later convicted of tax fraud and lying to the government as he was being vetted for administration posts.

Neither Giuliani nor representatives of the company returned messages seeking comment for this article. Mike DuHaime, who managed Giulianis unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2008, said that he did not discount people questioning Giulianis work abroad, but that he did not think it would be problematic.

I also think hes going to be judged on his totality of public service, DuHaime said.

Giuliani has entertained speculation that he would take the State Department job. When he was asked at a Wall Street Journal CEO Council meeting Nov. 14 if his title would soon be secretary, he said, One never knows.

Lawyers specializing in government ethics said Giulianis receipt of payments from governments or organizations abroad would not preclude him from serving as secretary of state  although they could present problems at his confirmation hearing or force him to recuse himself from certain issues, depending on how recently he was paid by a foreign entity.

Painter said that federal law would force Giuliani to recuse himself from dealings with any entity that had paid him in the past year, and that he probably would have to rid himself of interests in his company. He also could be forced to disclose his dealings to win Senate confirmation, and  given Republicans intense criticism of the foreign entanglements of the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton, Trumps Democratic challenger, was secretary of state  that might raise some eyebrows.

Giuliani, like Clinton, has been rewarded handsomely for paid speeches. He wrote in his 2007 financial disclosure form that he had grossed nearly $12 million from such engagements, earning six-figure sums from businesses including JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch and German shredding company HSM.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said Giuliani would face a stiff, uphill climb to win his support for secretary of state, because of his foreign dealings and his support for the Iraq War.

I think it is worrisome, some of the ties to foreign governments, Paul said on CNN. He added later, Whether or not you have divided loyalty obviously is very important.

Giulianis foreign work has not been limited to Latin America. He gave speeches on behalf of an Iranian dissident group that was once listed as a foreign terrorist organization. The New York Times reported that his company had contracts with the government of Qatar and the Canadian company building the Keystone XL oil pipeline. He also has ties to a company called TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on Eastern Europe that includes on its advisory board Ara Abramyan, a business executive who it says is a very close Advisor to the Russian Governments inner circle including the President and the Prime Minister.

Read more:

Is Rudy Giuliani okay?

Sen. Rand Paul says neither Giuliani nor Bolton would get his vote for secretary of state

Giuliani was paid advocate for shady Iranian dissident group
President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 20, 2016. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

 Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that his forces could target NATO sites if his country feels threatened.

But its not so much the warning thats important; its the timing.

We are forced to take countermeasures  that is, to aim our missile systems at those facilities which we think pose a threat to us, Putin said in an interview with American filmmaker Oliver Stone for a documentary broadcast Monday. The situation is heating up.

Putins harsh words for the Western alliance were broadcast on Russian television as President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of NATO, pulls together a team and calls for closer ties with the Kremlin.

[European leaders caution Trump on warming to Russia]





The broadcast of Putins warning came just days after his spokesman suggested that Trump could build confidence in Moscow by persuading NATO to move its forces back from the Russian border.

Just hours before the Kremlin leaders threat hit the airwaves, Russia announced that it had bolstered its defensive missile strength in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave wedged between NATO members Lithuania and Poland.

The Stone-produced documentary  about the events that led up to the conflict in Ukraine between pro-Moscow separatists and the Western-allied government  premiered on Russian television after advance transcripts of Putins remarks were circulated by Russian state-run media.

Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATOs decision-making, Putin said.

Smaller NATO countries would find it next to impossible to resist pressure from a major NATO leader such as the United States to deploy missile systems or host new bases, he said.

And what are we supposed to do? Putin said in the interview for Stones Ukraine on Fire.

Putin and his diplomats have threatened to strike NATO in self-defense before, as the alliance increasingly focuses on the threats it perceives from Russia.

But for the Stone interview, Putin probably guessed that this documentary would be aired when the new POTUS was already elected, so in part thats messaging to the new president, said Simon Saradzhyan, founding director of the Russia Matters Project at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Putin probably expected that his message would be heard by Hillary Clinton. But a major wild card has been introduced by the election victory of Trump, who has called the alliance a bad deal for America and has suggested that his administration will seek to improve relations with Russia.

In October, Putin stationed nuclear-capable land- and ship-based cruise missiles in Kaliningrad, following a July decision by NATO to send additional troops to the region.

[Trumps pick for security adviser says NATO needs a reboot]

The brinkmanship also extends to defenses against possible cyberattacks.

Finlands undersecretary of state, Jori Arvonen, told reporters Monday that a joint NATO-European Union center is planned for Helsinki to study hybrid warfare, including cyberespionage and propaganda via social media.

Arvonen said the planned center will seek to battle online incursions that could be diplomatic, military, technological or financial in their nature.

U.S. intelligence officials suspect high-level Russian involvement in email-hacking targeting Clintons campaign chief and others during the presidential campaign.

Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

Fearing closer Trump ties with Putin, Latvia prepares for the worst

Russian warplanes keep buzzing the Baltics. Heres how NATO scrambles.

Ukrainians worry theyre the big losers in the U.S. election

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A suicide bomber slipped into a crowded Shiite mosque in Kabul on Monday and blew himself up during a prayer ceremony, killing at least 30 people and wounding scores in the latest attack claimed by the Islamic State on Afghanistans Shiite minority.

The Amaq news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic State, carried a statement saying that a member of the militant group had carried out the blast, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online messages from extremist factions.

The midday attack occurred in the Baqir-ul Ulum mosque and cultural center in a Shiite district in western Kabul during a ceremony marking the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period since Ashura, one of the holiest days in the Shiite calendar. An attack on another Kabul mosque during Ashura killed 17 people.

Several hours after Mondays blast, volunteers were sweeping glass from shattered windows and rolling up bloodstained carpets in the main worship hall.

I heard a huge noise and the room filled with smoke. When it cleared, I saw bodies everywhere, said Hussein Ali Nazari, 37, one of the volunteers.

An injured Afghan man lies on a stretcher outside the Estiqlal Hospital. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images)

Huge chunks from the badly damaged stone pillars lining the large prayer room littered the floor. Near the ceiling, a sign in Arabic said, A mosque is only for spiritual pursuits.

Nazari said several hundred men and boys had been praying in the main hall at noon when the bomber struck among them. Women and girls had been gathered on an upstairs balcony. He said survivors used scarves and shawls to carry the dead and wounded outside until ambulances arrived.

[A humanitarian crisis looms in Afghanistan as the number of displaced climbs]

The Ministry of Public Health reported late Monday that at least 30 people were killed, including children, and about 80 injured. Earlier in the day, Faridoon Obaidi, head of Kabuls criminal investigations department, said 27 people were killed and 35 wounded.

Officials from the United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack as an atrocity, noting that the bomber had targeted civilians at a special ceremony that had drawn a particularly large congregation. In a statement, U.N. official Pernille Kardel expressed revulsion at this latest effort by extremists to stoke sectarian violence in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Embassy and the U.S. military assistance mission also issued statements condemning the attack.

The blue-domed mosque and cultural center is in the heart of Kabuls Shiite and ethnic Hazara enclave, a bustling but poor area lined with used-clothing and vegetable stalls, as well as bicycle-repair and carpentry shops.

The bombing was the third deadly attack in five months on the Shiite and Hazara community. All the attacks have been claimed by a local affiliate of the Islamic State, which views Shiites as heretics.

During Ashura ceremonies on Oct. 11  commemorating the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad  gunmen attacked a Shiite shrine in Kabul and left 17 dead. On July 23, a peaceful protest by young Hazara activists in the capital was bombed, killing 80 people.

The attacks appeared intended to stoke sectarian tensions in a country where the majority Sunnis and the minority Shiites, who make up about 15 percent of the population, have historically had amicable relations.

That tolerance has been tested as Sunni Taliban insurgents have continued their assault on the state and as Hazara rights groups have become more vocal. The provocative injection of the Islamic State, a rival of the Taliban, has generated both fear and defiance among local Shiites.

Several people visiting the mosque on Monday afternoon noted that Sunnis had been among the worshipers at the prayer service. They said their community was determined not to let outside forces sow divisions.

The people who did this want to create fear among Shiites and divide us from Sunnis, but we know they are the enemies of all Islam and all Afghans, said Ali Hadi Laghwani, a worshiper and member of the Hazara high council.

Schemm reported from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Read more:

Islamic State claims role in deadly Shiite shrine attack in Kabul

Latest Afghan attack raises questions on security

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Residents of Flint, Michigan, who still do not have access to clean drinking water after a two-year lead-in-water crisis, will soon begin receiving water shutoff notices, according to city officials.

Flint residents, who pay the highest water rates in the country for unsafe drinking water, will receive notices in the coming days stating that, unless they pay their current balances and at least 10 percent of their past due balances, their water will be shut off.

Shutoff warnings have already gone out to commercial water customers in the city, including owners of large-sized apartment buildings. Entire apartment communities face the possibility of water shutoffs and forced relocations if the commercial bills, some with amounts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, are not paid.

The renewed assault on workers right to water is being carried out in line with a state directive stating that the city must achieve a 70 percent collection rate on water bills or else risk losing the water relief funding the state has allocated. Under the current arrangement, commercial customers receive a 20 percent credit on water bills, while residential customers receive a 65 percent credit. The credits do little to relieve the financial burden on Flint residents, more than 40 percent of whom live below the poverty line while still paying the highest water rates in the country. Residents who are unable to pay their bill will lose even this paltry credit.

Additionally, according to a recent report from the Michigan Department of Treasury, water bills in the city are set to double over the next five years.

The Flint water crisis began in April 2014, when a bipartisan conspiracy of local, state, and federal officials worked to switch the citys treated water supply from the Detroit system to the heavily polluted Flint River. This was done supposedly as an interim water source until the city was able to connect to the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline when construction was completed. This was presented to residents as a cost saving measure that would ultimately reduce their water bills. In fact, it was an attempt by powerful financial interests to seize control of both Flints and Detroits water systems for monetization and eventual privatization.

The corrosive river water destroyed the protective scale inside the pipes, causing lead to leach into the water. Lead is a potent, irreversible neurotoxin that can cause permanent neurological damage, particularly to children and infants.

Health experts maintain that the citys water remains unsafe for human consumption and may still contain dangerous amounts of lead and other harmful compounds. Residents must use water filters and drink bottled water in order to live. Efforts at replacing lead service lines in the city have proceeded at a snails pace, with only a scant fraction of the thousands of lines having been replaced. A bill to grant a small amount of federal funding for lead pipe replacement remains mired in Congress, which has entered its lame duck session. Meanwhile, the city is seeking a renewal of its state of emergency, which was first declared in December 2015.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered the state of Michigan to begin door-to-door bottled water delivery to Flint residents. Until now, Flint residents have had to obtain bottled water for drinking, cooking, and other uses from distribution sites in the city, placing a particularly heavy burden on residents who lack the transportation or physical ability to reach the sites.

In his decision, judge David M. Lawson said, In modern society, when we turn on a faucet, we expect safe drinking water to flow out. As the evidence shows, that is no longer the case in Flint. The Flint water crisis has in effect turned back the clock to a time when people traveled to central water sources to fill their buckets and carry the water home.

The state of Michigan has announced its intention to challenge the federal court order. In a motion for a stay, the state argued that the order places an immediate insurmountable burden on the state. A spokeswoman from the governors office stated that the herculean effort required by the court order would be on the magnitude of a large-scale military operation, and warned that complying with the order would require the activation of the National Guard.

The bipartisan attack on Flint residents was likely a strong contributing factor to the dropoff in voter turnout in the 2016 election. More than 5,000 fewer residents of Genesee County, where Flint is the largest city, cast their votes in the 2016 election compared to 2012. The abstentions occurred despite a parade of politicians who visited the city for debates and publicity stunts, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.

With the entire political establishment now prostrating before Trump, Democratic officials have sought to foster illusions that his fascistic incoming government will offer relief to the citizens of Flint. Many have signaled their willingness to collaborate with him in further attacks on Flint residents. Democratic US Representative Dan Kildee recently told reporters I will work with Republicans and Democrats, including President-elect Trump, to make sure the people of Flint get the resources they need to recover, as though such resources will not be even more hoarded by the reactionary financial elite whom Trump represents.

The callous and vengeful attitude of government officials toward Flint residents is more than an expression of individual corruption or malevolence. It is the essential attitude of the capitalist state, which views workers as expendable tools in the profit drive of the corporate elite. The resources necessary for the rebuilding of Flint and the water infrastructure across the US require more than just the reversal of decades of spending cuts, but trillions of dollars to be invested in the social needs of the population.
Cailler, the 200-year-old Swiss chocolate brand, is returning to the U.S. for the second time in its history with a pop-up shop in New York City, open through Nov. 26.

Get Gold-Topped Cronuts in These Fancy Celeb-Designed Boxes (Slideshow)

Cailler recruited Barneys New Yorks ambassador-at-large, Simon Doonan, to create the window art for the pop-up.

Simons reputation of visual storytelling is akin to our belief that Cailler premium Swiss chocolate products are works of art inside and out, Paul Hodges, head of Cailler International, said in a press release. Not only are you tasting the rich heritage and generations of recipes and techniques in each bite, but every box has a papercut design incorporated into it that reveals a different part of the Cailler story. Were thrilled to bring the rich heritage of Cailler Switzerland to the traditions of the New York holiday season.

Adding to the full sensory experience, guests are invited to a complimentary chocolate tasting, explore Switzerland with a virtual reality headset, and try the limited-edition Winter Selection box.

The pop-up shop is located at 408 W. 14th Street between Ninth and 10th avenues. The New York retail dates and times are:

Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m.  9 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m.  8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.  9 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m.  9 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m.  9 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 24, Closed

Friday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m.  9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m.  9 p.m.

If you cant make it to the pop-up, Cailler will also be available through Amazon, its primary retailer in the U.S.
Father of Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Claims His Family Was Booed on Flight to Take His Body Home

The father of a soldier who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan last Saturday claimed that several people aboard his flight to bring his sons body home complained about the family receiving special treatment.

Stewart Perry, along with his wife and daughter, were on their way to recover the remains of his son, Sgt. John Perry, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last week. On a delayed flight from Sacramento to a connecting flight in Phoenix, the captain made an announcement that the Gold Star family needed to deplane first, which was met with a lot of backlash from the familys fellow passengers.

To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more, Perry told CBS.

According to the Army Times, Perry doesnt remember the captain mentioning military personnel as he explained the reasoning behind the family getting off the plane first.

I believe that the passengers knew there was a Gold Star family on board, he told the Army Times. The woman sitting directly behind us touched me on the shoulder and asked if I was the father of the soldier killed in Afghanistan  It was very disappointing. Its just enough to put you over the edge. He also told The Stockton Record that he overheard passengers making statements like, This is just baloney, and I paid for first-class for this?  Perrys son was preparing for a Veterans Day 5K when he and one other soldier were killed in the explosion at the Bagram Airfield early Saturday morning, according to the Stockton Record. Pfc. Tyler Iubelt was also killed, along with two U.S. contractors working on the base. Sixteen other U.S. service members and one Polish soldier suffered injuries from the explosion.

RELATED VIDEO: Family of Fallen Muslim Soldier Fire Back at Trump After He Made Comments About Wife

Now, Perry said he wants people to respect his son and the sacrifice he made, and called out President-elect Donald Trump for his comments about the Khan family.

One example would be Donald Trump speaking badly about a Gold Star family, who I now am, but it also bothers me that people dont want to talk about the terrorism that killed my kid, he told CBS. My kid was over there to help put a stop to this garbage, and he died.




Colin Farrell is not a movie star. At least thats what he told Yahoo Movies when we had him in our Los Angeles studio to discuss his lengthy filmography. Of course, considering hes got a thriving career thats well into its second decade, one might disagree with the 40-year-old Irish actor. We asked Farrell about several of his most notable performances as a part of our ongoing series, Role Recall. Here are some of the highlights:

Tigerland (2000)

Colin Farrell as Pvt. Roland Bozz. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Film Corp.)

Farrell was 24 and an unknown in the United States when he got cast in director Joel Schumachers Vietnam War-era military film. I was kind of spoiled, straight out of the gate, Farrell said. It was a script that was about something  it felt like there was a kind of social or moral profundity to it.

Farrell says that he and his castmates got anything but the star treatment. It was just like a glorified theater troupe, he said. We did boot camp for two or three weeks. We stayed in the barracks and did the whole thing  we got up to the rattling of a stick in a bin at 5 oclock in the morning, foot marches for two or three hours.

Farrell points to this film as the beginning of his movie career. The film was pretty well received, and I got some decent notices, it all kind of went ape s***, he said. After that, it went mad.  I dont know if you can ever be prepared for the kind of success that was being offered to me so fast, you know?

Minority Report (2002)

Colin Farrell as Danny Witwer. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Film Corp.)

One thing Farrell was quick to point out was that he wasnt always the first choice for many films during his early career, including the 2002 sci-fi thriller. I think Matt Damon was supposed to do the role, originally, he told us. And I think there was some clash with his schedule, and I got a call from my agent saying, Steven Spielberg wants to meet you, which was a shocker. I had grown up watching Jaws and Close Encounters and Indiana Jones. We sat down and we talked, and I shared a sardine sandwich with him, which was enough for me. If I didnt get the role, just to share a sardine sandwich with Steven Spielberg  I had nailed the day.

Story continues

His co-star, of course was a bona fide movie star, Tom Cruise. He would be very competitive and very physically engaged, Farrell said. I remember him walking on the set and screaming, Are we making an action movie? Then why dont I hear action?

Phone Booth (2002)

Colin Farrell as Stu Shepard. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Film Corp.)

Chances are Phone Booth might be the first movie you think of when it comes to Farrell, and that probably wouldnt be so upsetting to him considering the amount of love he has for it.

Phone Booth was a lot of fun, he said. I think nine days in the booth, we shot one day in Times Square. A feature film in 10 days  it just never happens.

Again, Farrell said he wasnt the first choice for director Joel Schumacher. Jim [Carrey] was going to do it. He dropped out for whatever reason, and then Joel called me because we had worked on Tigerland together, Farrell said. He said, Listen, I have this script, would you have a look at it? I read it and loved it and saw it as the challenge that it became.

Crazy Heart (2009)

Colin Farrell as Tommy Sweet. (Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Farrell has an uncredited supporting role as a country-music star in the 2009 drama starring Jeff Bridges. While his part might have been small, the sets he acted on werent. I got to get up onstage at a Toby Keith concert, which was weird, in front of 14,000 people, he said. I was expecting to be glassed, but everyone was supportive when they were told [we were filming]. We had 12 minutes to shoot, so they had the cameras set up. Myself and Jeff [Bridges] got out and people had been warned that we were doing a film and they were into it and engaged with what was going on.

The Lobster (2016)

Colin Farrell as David. (Photo: Despina Spyrou, A24/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Farrell had a critical and commercial hit with this bizarre indie drama from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos about a dystopian society thats built around finding a mate. I read the script, and I didnt quite know what to make of it, Farrell admitted. It was like, What the f*** is going on?

One of the most notable things about the film was Farrells physical transformation. The normally svelte actor had to gain weight to play the mild-mannered, schlubby David. Over the course of eight weeks, Farrell overindulged his way to an additional 40 pounds.

I ate a lot of ice cream, he said. I would just melt it in the microwave and chug it back. And cheeseburgers and fried foods for breakfast. It gets boring when you have to eat. Part of the fun of doing it is knowing youre not supposed to. When you have the directive that youre supposed to, it got very boring very fast.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Colin Farrell as Graves. (Photo: Warner Bros./Courtesy of Everett Collection)

Farrell plays an antagonist in the first of J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter spinoff films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is in theaters now. Farrell was already a fan of Rowling, as he told Yahoo Movies. Her script got Farrell excited for the role. A really beautiful read, he said. I mean, so fantastical, her imagination and the logic that she creates within this world of fantasy.

Though he enjoyed being a part of the big-budget movie, he does tend to appreciate smaller movies. Usually in independent films, which I probably prefer, youre dealing with decent long takes all the time, he said. The process is a lot more simple, and within that simplicity, it allows you a lot more freedom.
The U.S. News Best Places Data Drill Down, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that sheds light on multiple data points to help readers make the most informed decision when choosing where to live in the United States. Visit our 2016 Best Places to Live ranking to see which of the 100 most populous metro areas made it to the top of the list based on good value, desirability, a strong job market and a high quality of life.

When it comes to protecting your home from criminals, it's a little bit about where you live and a lot about how well-prepared you are. Like any crime, home burglaries can occur just about anywhere, and they're more likely when a criminal spots an easy target.

In fact, many burglaries are crimes of opportunity rather than the result of planning, according to a 2012 report from the University of North Carolina--Charlotte Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology. Homeowners make it easy for criminals to get in by failing to lock doors and windows or leaving curtains open with a clear view of easily accessible valuables and proof that no one's around.

[Read: 4 Steps to Take Immediately After Your Home Is Burglarized.]

But location does play a part in how much time, effort and resources are needed to secure your home to keep criminals from gaining access.

"There are certain places that are just flat [out] more dangerous and have more thefts and burglaries than any other place," says Chris McGoey, a crime prevention expert based in Los Angeles.

U.S. News analyzed the FBI's data on reported burglaries in the 100 largest metro regions in the U.S. during 2014, the most recent complete data set available. After calculating each metro area's burglary rate per 100,000 people, the resulting places with the lowest burglary rates included a mix of major cities and sprawling rural areas.

For the major cities that made the list, larger populations help dilute crime rates, but there's something to be said for the population density that deters criminals for fear of being caught. "Seeing and being seen is the key to crime prevention," says Paul Ciepiela, president of the Maryland Crime Prevention Association and a detective for Baltimore County Police.

Story continues

To avoid becoming a victim of a home burglary, McGoey suggests assessing where you live -- city, neighborhood and even where your home is located on the block -- and securing the entry points into your house appropriately for the amount of crime that happens there. You may only need a strike plate installed on the door and diligence when it comes to locking doors and windows, or the situation could require bars on any windows accessible at ground level. An alarm system can also be effective, McGoey notes, as long as the homeowner consistently and properly uses it.

The best way to figure out how a burglar could get in: "Burglarize yourself," McGoey says, noting that acting out how a person could get in and easily find items of value helps you identify weaknesses in your home and better enforce entry points so you can protect what's hard to replace.

Here are the top 10 metro areas with the lowest burglary rates in 2014.

10. Madison, Wisconsin

The home of the University of Wisconsin--Madison had just 374.6 reported burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014. In addition, Madison has long maintained low violent crimes rates over the past 15 years and beyond, with a steadily declining rate of property crime as well.

9. San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico's capital saw a significant drop in crime in 2014 with increased federal funding and assistance to curb crime rates. With just 371.2 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014, San Juan has the ninth-lowest burglary rate out of the 100 largest metro regions in the country.

[See: 10 Ways Millennials Are Changing Homebuying.]

8. Pittsburgh

Not the only Pennsylvania metro area on the list, Pittsburgh had just 367.2 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014. The Steel City's overall property crime rate in 2014 was also lower than similar-sized metro areas Charlotte, North Carolina, Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon.

7. Santa Rosa, California

Settled in California wine country, Santa Rosa maintains low property crime rates, with just 364.5 per 100,000 burglaries in 2014. However, the metro area's violent crime rates are slightly higher, on par with the national average in 2014 at 363.9 reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2014.

6. Boise, Idaho

Boise's low homicide and other property crime rates make it the safest metro area in the country per the U.S. News 2016 Best Places to Live ranking. And the city had just 355.5 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014. With consistently low rates of both property and violent crime from year to year, many Boise residents don't always feel the need to lock their doors at night.

5. Boston

Despite being a metro area with more than 4.5 million residents, Boston maintains a low average crime rate, with 349.9 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014. Like any major city, Boston has pockets that see higher crime, but its dense population and quiet suburbs lead to a low rate of home break-ins.

4. Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A metro area with a significant portion of rural communities, the Lancaster metro area sees low crime rates overall, with 329.3 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014. However, the city of Lancaster is often noted as one of the most dangerous small cities in the country: For a city of less than 60,000 people, there were 403 violent crimes and nearly 2,300 property crimes in 2014.

3. Washington, District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has come a long way over the past few decades in reducing crime, and in 2014 there were 291.8 burglaries per 100,000 people. While crimes of opportunity occur throughout the metro area, crime is now mostly limited to concentrated pockets within the District.

2. El Paso, Texas

One of the safest metro areas in the country, El Paso had just 280.7 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2014, combined with low rates for other property crime and homicide as well. The West Texas city is particularly recognized for its ability to maintain relatively low crime rates because just over the Mexican border, Ciudad Juarez is known for gang activity and violent crime.

[See: The 30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S.]

1. New York City

It may come as a surprise to some that the city that inspired the "Law & Order" franchise has the lowest burglary rate in the country, but New York's sheer size and variation in boroughs and neighborhoods combines for just 250.82 burglaries per 100,000 people. It's also possible that the dense population raises residents' awareness of the possibility of a break-in, leaving less room for criminals to find an opportunity to strike.





More From US News & World Report


Photo credit: Inside Edition

From Cosmopolitan

The 13-year-old girl who claims she was groped on an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, spoke out for the first time on Friday.



In an interview with Inside Edition, Mackenzie Miller talked about the traumatic incident. On a June flight, Miller flew from Dallas to Portland with American Airlines on their Unaccompanied Minor Program. This program was established so that minors can fly alone and still be safe.

However, Miller says she was anything but - in fact, she claims that on the flight, Chad Camp, a 26-year-old man seated next to her, touched her inappropriately. He family has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the airline in response.

Photo credit: Inside Edition

According to the suit, Camp allegedly groped Miller for a full 30 minutes, moving up to the girls upper thigh and crotch. It wasn't stopped until a flight attendant saw Camp with his hand allegedly on the girl and the teen had a tear falling from her cheek."



Camp was arrested when the flight landed and charged with abusive sexual contact. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

In July, an American Airlines spokesperson told People that the company is reviewing the suit and [we] continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in their investigation of the suspect."

In the brave interview, Miller speaks about the alleged sexual assault, and it's upsetting.

I would never think this would happen, she said. You see this stuff and you think, Thats crazy, and then it happens to you and its shocking.



He was able to touch her, her mom Rachel Miller added. He was basically able to do whatever he wanted.

Her lawyer also spoke about the incident.

She was devastated," he said. "And she didn't want to be on an airplane again when I talked to her after the flight. She didn't even want to be touched or hugged by her mom."



Follow Laura on Twitter.

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WHAT WE LIKE: Like so many rail cars hitched to a locomotive, our Range Rovers logbook contains a long chain of associations made between the SUV and a train. Staffers continue to be impressed by the Rovers straight-ahead stability and willingness to draw itself toward the horizon, the diesel engine chugging along silently while being relatively miserly with fuel. Our recorded fuel economy hasnt changed since our last report and remains an impressive (at least for something this big and heavy) 26 mpg, which, combined with the 23.5-gallon fuel tank, is good for more than 600 miles of range per fill-up.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: The Land Rover may be trainlike when traveling in a straight line, but it goes catawampus when dealing with any steering inputs. The softly tuned suspension, complete with air springs, fails to keep the Rovers tall body in check during aggressive lane changes, or when coming to a hard stop or accelerating with any verve. As deputy editor Daniel Pund remarked, the SUV is such a floppy tater. Other comments have doubled down on this line of criticisms, noting extreme dive under braking and almost nautical levels of squat when the go pedal is floored.

That rightmost pedal continues to draw flak for its languid response to driver inputs, which gives the sensation that the torquey diesel V-6 engine is incapable of waking up unless you really give it the boot. Also, the fuel-saving auto stop/start function has drawn ire for its lack of smoothness during engine cranking.

Getting into the really nitty-gritty stuff, the parking sensors and attendant beeping alert calling attention to the Rovers proximity to other vehicles can annoyingly go off in stop-and-go traffic, even when no collision is imminent. And one editor wondered about the $1850 Meridian sound systems lack of loudness when listened to from outside of the Rover while tailgating. There is no word on whether he was tailgating at the East Coast Open polo match or the HarvardYale Regatta.

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WHAT WENT WRONG: Shortly after the Range Rovers first scheduled service, called for at the 16,000-mile mark, the driver-information screen began intermittently showing a suspension error message. Although nothing about the suspension seemed amiss, we took the SUV to the dealer anyway, just to be sure. A quick update to the chassis control module and an air-spring silencer (a muffler of sorts for the blowoff valve that releases pressure to lower the suspension), both performed under warranty, cured the ill. During the same visit, we replaced the wiper blades for an eye-watering $132. Tallying that with the $777 bill for the 16,000-mile service (tire rotation, oil change, pollen-filter replacement, fuel-filter replacement, and diesel exhaust fluid top-off; we also had a warranty fix performed at the same time to remedy an inoperative 12-volt power socket in the center console) gives a steep total, but its not as bad as it seems when you consider that most cars will have seen at least two full services by this mileage.

WHERE WE WENT: The Range Rover took a long trip to Cape Cod and continued to rack up visits to northern and western Michigan, as well as a few jaunts to Ohio. Translation: The SUVs rapid pace of mileage accumulation hasnt let up even as summer-road-trip season wound down, and just six months after the Rover showed up at our office, the odometer read 23,356 miles.

Months in Fleet: 6 months Final Mileage: 23,356 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 26 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 23.5 gal Fuel Range: 610 miles

Service: $777 Normal Wear: $132 Repair: $0

Urea-Solution Additions: $59

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback



PRICE AS TESTED: $110,006 (base price: $94,945)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve diesel V-6, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2993 cc

Power: 254 hp @ 3500 rpm

Torque: 443 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 115.0 in

Length: 196.8 in

Width: 78.1 in Height: 72.3 in

Passenger volume: 113 cu ft

Cargo volume: 32 cu ft

Curb weight: 5515 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 7.5 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 22.4 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 43.0 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 8.4 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.2 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 5.8 sec

Standing -mile: 15.8 sec @ 87 mph

Top speed (drag limited): 132 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.75 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 22/29

C/D observed: 26 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

6 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/50,000 miles roadside assistance;





It may seem like a strange time to adopt a diesel-powered vehicle for a 40,000-mile test, what with Volkswagen being bent over a barrel for skirting emissions laws with its TDI cars. Yet we maintain that diesels, at least those without cheaty devices for giving the EPA the runaround, offer an excellent mix of torque and efficiency for most American driversparticularly in larger SUVs and trucks. When Land Rover redesigned the Range Rover for 2013, we were smitten, and that emotion was joined by intrigue when a diesel option was added to the available U.S. lineup of supercharged gas engines for 2016.

Here, we figured, was the missing link in the redesigned Range Rover story. After shedding hundreds of pounds by switching to an all-aluminum unibody, the Rover was still barely more efficient than its truckier predecessors, thanks to its powerful gas engines. The dieseldubbed Td6 by Land Rover and offered for years overseason the other hand promises lofty EPA fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. After more than 5000 miles of highway-biased driving so far, were averaging 26 mpg.

The efficiency doesnt come at the expense of performance. While the turbocharged diesel 3.0-liter V-6 produces 254 horsepower, the smallest figure in the Range Rover stable (excluding the four-cylinder Evoque), it also stirs up 443 lb-ft of torque at just 1750 rpm. That torque figure is 18 lb-ft shy of the 461 lb-ft shoved out by the Range Rovers 510-hp 5.0-liter supercharged gasoline V-8, and it peaks at 750 fewer rpm. Land Rover pairs the diesel with the same eight-speed automatic transmission thats standard across the full-size Range Rover family, which shuttles torque to the ground via the same all-wheel-drive system with multiple terrain settings.

British Understatement

Although it cant be paired with either the long-wheelbase body style or the higher-zoot Autobiography trim level, the diesel can be had on the humbler base Range Rover or the HSE model. Our long-term test selection started with the $94,945 HSE, which comes standard with 20-inch wheels, four-corner adjustable air springs, 14-way power front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, a heated steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, front and rear parking sensors, a power-opening split tailgate, and a 380-watt Meridian sound system.

Wed consider an un-optioned HSE to be perfectly adequate, but this is a Range Rover, and its option sheet presents too many enticing goodies to ignore. To kick things up a notch, we added the $2900 Four Zone Climate Comfort package, which separates the rear-seat climate control into left- and right-side zones, fits a massage function to the front seats and power adjustability to the rear seats, and adds a cooling system to the center-console bin. The $2500 Vision Assist package brought fog lights, bixenon headlights with automatic high-beam control, interior mood lighting, blind-spot monitoring, All Terrain Progress Control (Jaguar Land Rovers low-speed traction-control function), and an enhanced Terrain Response system. Our final large option group, the $2900 Driver Assistance package, added lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition, a self-parking system, a 360-degree parking camera, a head-up display, and pre-wiring for onboard Wi-Fi. Because we plan on taking advantage of our Rovers 7716-pound towing capacity, we opted for the $900 Tow package for its tow-hitch receiver, seven-pin connector, and full-size spare tire.

Since an 825-watt Meridian sound system is surely more entertaining than the standard 380-watt setup, we ordered that $1850 goody. Adaptive cruise control added $1295, shadow walnut wood trim added $1510 and looks great, and painting the roof a contrasting Santorini black hue cost $650. We resisted adding the optional 22-inch wheelseven though they look fantastic, we foresaw only tire-repair or -replacement bills springing from every Michigan pothole, so we stuck with the basic, and likely better riding, 20s. (Imagine that: a vehicle that can make 20-inch wheels seem small.) To ensure our Rover emits a subtle old-money luxury feel, we opted for Aintree Green paint and an Espresso and Almond interior color scheme.

Whod Have Guessed, Its Popular!

With its fancy duds and its generous room for fourand for staffers with kids, even a middle rear seat thats habitable for medium-size youthsthe Range Rover has been a popular sign-out choice since it first landed in our parking lot. Praise has been doled out for the rigs cushy ride, sumptuous leather, and obvious curb appeal. The Rover was even called upon to tow our LeMons racer to Denver, the rigs towing capacity proving more than adequate for transporting a 1988 Honda Prelude aboard a steel trailer.

Disappointingly, an electric snafu sidelined the Land Rover just days after its arrival. The instrument-cluster display announced that the urea/water fluid (which lowers the diesels emissions to acceptable levels) was of insufficient quality, despite the fluid having been filled at the factory. This warning was accompanied by a mandated countdown: After 530 miles of driving, the computer wouldnt allow the engine to be started until the supposedly faulty fluid was replaced. We took the vehicle to the dealer, where some fluid was added and a 50-mile shakedown test performed, both of which led to the warnings disappearance at zero cost to us.

A few editors have expressed frustration at the Range Rovers confusing driver-information display in the gauge cluster, which is operated by a small button on the end of the turn-signal stalk. The unit divides information like trip mileage and fuel economy such that they cant be displayed simultaneously, forcing the driver to tap-tap-tap through individual nuggets of info until he or she finds the desired data. The diesels lazy accelerator-pedal response has come under fire, as well, with momentary delays between inputs and the engine actually moving the Land Rover from a stopdespite the engines torque peak hitting just off idle. (The transmissions Sport mode doesnt solve the problem, either.) Finally, the SUVs buttery-soft ride comes at the expense of body control, a particularly noticeable demerit given the drivers high seating position. Steer the Rover into a corner, and the suspension does little to quell body roll (or dive or squat when braking or accelerating)one driver felt compelled to warn his passengers of an impending highway off-ramp with the command: Brace yerselves, scalawags! Were a-listin!

We have recorded zero capsizing events so far, and the suspensions squish has had little effect on the Range Rovers forward progress, either literally or figuratively. The Rover is so popular at the sign-out board, in fact, that we needed to wrangle the keys away from vacationing staffers just to photograph the thing.

Months in Fleet: 2 months Mileage: 5,956 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 26 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 23.5 gal Fuel Range: 610 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback



PRICE AS TESTED: $110,006 (base price: $94,945)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve diesel V-6, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2993 cc

Power: 254 hp @ 3500 rpm

Torque: 443 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 115.0 in

Length: 196.8 in

Width: 78.1 in Height: 72.3 in

Passenger volume: 113 cu ft

Cargo volume: 32 cu ft

Curb weight: 5515 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 7.5 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 22.4 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 43.0 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 8.4 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.2 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 5.8 sec

Standing -mile: 15.8 sec @ 87 mph

Top speed (drag limited): 132 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.75 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 22/29

C/D observed: 26 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

6 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/50,000 miles roadside assistance;





WHAT WE LIKE: Everyone continues to appreciate our 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Td6s style, luxurious cabin, and sumptuous ride quality. Some editors have joked that this SUV is the perfect long-term test vehicle, as it combines a cool, brag-worthy vibe with family-friendly space, long-distance comfort, and the ability to tow our various jalopies, boats, and campers behind it.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: Our biggest complaint with the Range Rover is self-inflicted and conditional. Thanks to the Land Rovers appeal, it is nigh on impossible for staffers to regularly get behind its leather-wrapped steering wheel, to the point where some have taken to calling it the phantom Range Rover. The popular SUV simply isnt often found in our office parking lot, because it is constantly signed out for long trips, vacations, and even to serve as a stable-riding platform for our photographers to hang out of while shooting other cars. Four months into its stay, it has accumulated miles at a blistering pace, with the odometer already nudging 13,000 miles.

Several actual quibbles have bubbled to the surface, as well. For starters, in heavy traffic or during low-speed maneuvers near other cars or guardrails, the parking sensors and sometimes the ultra-sensitive forward-collision warning suddenly erupt with beeps and flashing lights when no collision is imminent. The diesel engines laggardly acceleration when moving away from a stop continues to garner flakat higher speeds, the engine is more responsive, though, so this complaint hasnt deterred anyone set on road-tripping the diesel Range Rover. Other logbook commenters have thrown barbs at the glitchy navigation system and the frustrating, unintuitive driver-information displays mixture of controls on the steering wheel and the turn-signal stalk.

WHAT WENT WRONG: So far, outside of the loss of the Range Rovers trailer-hitch cover and its electronics filing a request for better-quality diesel exhaust fluidthe chemical used to scrub the engine exhaust cleanearly in its stay with us, nothing has gone wrong. Still, the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) has emerged as noteworthy. The fluid, a urea and water solution injected into the diesel engines exhaust reduces nitrogen oxide to harmless nitrogen and water vapor, is an effective (and necessary) way to reduce the Range Rover Td6s emissions. Without the DEF, the Rover diesel V-6 doesnt comply with U.S. emissions regulations, so Land Rover (like other diesel manufacturers) builds in programming that wont let the engine restart after the fluid runs out. While thats all fine, what doesnt make sense is how little feedback the Range Rover gives drivers when it comes time to refill the fluid.

The Rover begins to warn of low DEF levels before the fluid runs dry, but these warnings, which appear in the driver-information display between the gauges, flash for only a moment each time the engine is started and then disappear. The owners manual even quantifies the brief warning time, stating that when there are multiple warnings (including reminders to buckle your seatbelt or that a door is still open), each is shown for two seconds. The manual does not specify that low DEF warnings begin with about 1500 miles to go (we found that info on a U.K. Land Rover website; Land Rover says these numbers are dependent on driving style and conditions) nor does it say how to find the distance-to-empty readout for the DEF in the gauge-cluster menus. A second warning will sound when there are 515 miles until the DEF runs outit just says the level is too lowand thankfully that warning stays in the cluster along with a mile countdown until the engine wont be allowed to restart.

Online copy chief Rusty Blackwell was in the middle of a 1500-mile round trip to Alabama when the first low-fluid warning appeared with about 10,000 miles on the odometer. Unsure of how to proceedor how long he had until the fluid ran outBlackwell detoured to a Land Rover dealer and purchased two half-gallon bottles of AdBlue-branded DEF. After adding one bottle, the warning went away. Upon returning to C/D HQ, the warning was back, and another two gallons of AdBlue were added, fully topping off the 4.75-gallon tank.

Not for lack of trying, Blackwell couldnt find the range-to-empty readout for the DEF tank, and it became clear why when we eventually figured out the process. Checking the distance-to-empty range requires tapping the starter button to enter the vehicles accessory-power mode (but only while the engine is off) and then selecting a Service Menu in the driver-information display that doesnt appear when the engine is running. In that menu, one selects the Next Service heading, and the distance to empty for the DEF is listed below the countdown to the next service interval. Nowhere is this process detailed in the owners manual. Since we fiddle with cars all day, our hunch that the DEF level could be checked somewhere in the Service Menu paid off, but how many owners might figure that out? Even then, they would need to have spied the small note in the manual stating that the Service Menu is accessible only when the car is in accessory mode.

Since running out of DEF has the same effect as running out of diesel fuelcar no go!this situation clearly leaves room for improvement. Perhaps Land Rover wants owners to visit the dealer soon after the first DEF warningand its probable that most owners will do thatbut the company also says the fluid likely will need to be topped off between the Rovers 16,000-mile service intervals. The 500-mile countdown, which appears with the more serious too low warning, strikes us as being too short for a vehicle that boasts long driving range (as much as 610 miles between fill-ups in our experience) and is likely to be used for extended journeys. After all, its not hard to find yourself more than 500 miles away from a Land Rover dealership in America.

Topping off the fluid yourself requires popping the hood and unscrewing a cap near the left fender, screwing on an upside-down bottle of DEF, and pushing down on the bottle to release the fluid into the reservoir. The fluid can be purchased at gas stations, truck stops, and auto-parts stores for less money than at the Land Rover dealer, and doing it yourself avoids a labor charge. Its not hard, but truck stops, fiddling under the hood with chemicals, and $100,000 luxury SUVs are things that dont seem congruent. Will owners find the hassle (or extra dealer visits) worth the fuel-economy payoff? Were averaging 26 mpg so far, astounding for a vehicle of this size and capability, and were still not so sure.

WHERE WE WENT: Its easier to say that the Range Rover hasnt been at our office very often, but well elaborate. The Land Rover Td6 went to Alabama, Chicago, and the western and northern reaches of Michigan (repeatedly).

Months in Fleet: 4 months Current Mileage: 12,913 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 26 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 23.5 gal Fuel Range: 610 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Unscheduled Urea-Solution Additions: $58.72

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback



PRICE AS TESTED: $110,006 (base price: $94,945)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve diesel V-6, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2993 cc

Power: 254 hp @ 3500 rpm

Torque: 443 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 115.0 in

Length: 196.8 in

Width: 78.1 in Height: 72.3 in

Passenger volume: 113 cu ft

Cargo volume: 32 cu ft

Curb weight: 5515 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 7.5 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 22.4 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 43.0 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 8.4 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.2 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 5.8 sec

Standing -mile: 15.8 sec @ 87 mph

Top speed (drag limited): 132 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.75 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 22/29

C/D observed: 26 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

6 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/50,000 miles roadside assistance;




The Rhodes Trust on Saturday released a list of 32 students chosen to represent the United States as Rhodes Scholars for 2017.

The Rhodes Scholarships, referred to as the oldest and best known award for international study, and arguably the most famous academic award available to American college graduates, by the American Secretary of the trust Elliot F. Gerson, provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England.

Created in 1902 by British philanthropist the Will of Cecil Rhodes, the first class of American Rhodes Scholars entered Oxford in 1904.

The recipients of the scholarship are chosen in a two-stage process  endorsement by a college or university and personal interviews. This year about 2,500 students sought endorsements out of which 882 were endorsed by 311 different colleges and universities. The strongest applicants are then invited to appear before Committees of Selection in 16 U.S. districts for the interview.

Some renowned Rhodes scholars are the former Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal, Grammy winner Kris Kristofferson, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow  who was also the first openly gay American to win the scholarship and U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

Here is a list of the students chosen as Rhodes scholars:

District 1:

Joshua B. Pickar, University of Chicago Law School and The George Washington University

Maia Silber, Harvard University

District 2:

Sarah A. Waltcher, Dartmouth College

Laura A. Courchesne, University of Georgia

District 3:

Nancy Ko, Harvard University

Noah Remnick, Yale University

District 4:

Spencer D. Dunleavy, Harvard University

Meghan M. Shea, Stanford University

District 5:

Cameron D. Clarke, Howard University

Aryn A. Frazier, University of Virginia

District 6:

James C. Pavur, Georgetown University

Jory M. Fleming, University of South Carolina

District 7:

Lucinda M. Ford, United States Naval Academy

Christian E. Nattiel, United States Military Academy

District 8:

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Kirk P. Smith, University of Tulsa

Mikaila V. Smith, University of Texas at Austin

District 9:

Morgan K. Mohr, Indiana University

Christa Grace Watkins, University of Notre Dame

District 10:

Olivia A. Klevorn, Yale University

Pasquale S. Toscano, Washington and Lee University

District 11:

Aaron C. Robertson, Princeton University

Ahmed M. Ahmed, Cornell University

District 12:

Lauren C. Jackson, University of Virginia

Shegufta A. Huma, University of Kansas

District 13:

Hannah K. Carrese, Yale University

Joshua Carter, Montana State University

District 14:

Pema McLaughlin, Reed College

Anthony Wilder L. Wohns, Harvard University

District 15:

Oscar De Los Santos, University of Southern California

Alexis A. Doyle, University of Notre Dame

District 16:

Nicole A. Mihelson, Johns Hopkins University

Caylin L. Moore, Texas Christian University

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One police officer is dead and two others were wounded following three separate incidents across three U.S. states on Sunday.

A San Antonio, Texas officer was inside his vehicle writing out a ticket during a stop in front of the city's police headquarters when cops say the driver of a black sedan pulled up from behind.

Read: Family of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Reportedly Booed On Flight to Meet His Body

The motorist then allegedly walked up to the officer, Benjamin Marconi, and fatally shot him. Marconi, 50, was a 20-year veteran of the force and father of two.

On Monday, authorities said 31-year-old Otis Tyrone McKane was taken into custody without incident at around 4:30 p.m. local time.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said McKane was a passenger in a car that was pulled over on Interstate 10. A woman was driving the car, which was also carrying a 2-year-old child, although Mckane's relationship to them was not immediately released.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the slaying as an "horrific act of violence."

"Attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice," Abbott said in a statement.

Hours after the San Antonio incident, another officer was shot in St. Louis, Missouri.

While apparently unrelated, the San Antonio incident bore a striking similarity to the shooting in St. Louis, where an officer was shot in the face as he sat in his cruiser. A suspect in car is believed to have pulled up next to the officer, fired and fled.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Police Chief Sam Dotson said during a news conference.

In this instance, the officer is expected to survive. Police said he was speaking and conscious when help arrived.

Dotson said a suspect, who was not named, was later located by police. The suspect was shot and killed, he said.

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Also in Missouri, an officer with the Gladstone PD outside Kansas City was shot Sunday when police say a struggle followed a traffic stop around 10:30 p.m.

Shots were fired and the officer received non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was shot and killed, per the Kansas City Star.

Read: Woman Recently Engaged and Father of 3 Among Four Victims Killed in Air Ambulance Plane Crash

In a fourth incident, this one in Florida, an officer with the Sanibel PD was shot in his patrol car after a routine traffic stop. The officer was treated for a shoulder wound and later released.

The shooting was a first for the upscale Gulf coast tourist town. The city posted an official update to its website around 10 p.m. Sunday indicating a a suspect was apprehended.

Watch: Daughter Adorably Kisses Veteran Dad As He Struggles With Stutter To Read Story

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In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. BHI reported a rise in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country)  the eighteenth increase in 21 weeks. This can be attributed to addition in the tally of oil-directed rigs as commodity prices tick up and efficiencies improve.

Importantly, bulk of the gains (11 out of 20) were in the Permian Basin of West Texas, an area that continues to be profitable even at the current low oil prices.

Analysis of the Data

Weekly Summary: Rigs engaged in exploration and production in the U.S. totaled 588 for the week ended Nov 18, 2016. This was up by 20 from the previous weeks rig count and resumes the trend of recent increases that has only been snapped thrice since June. Rig counts have generally been rising during the last six months since plunging to an all-time low of 404 in May, with the addition of a flood of new units.

Despite the steady climb, the current nationwide rig count is considerably lower than the prior-year level of 757. It rose to a 22-year high in 2008, peaking at 2,031 in the weeks ending Aug 29 and Sep 12.

For the week under review, units engaged in land operations  which rose by 17 to 563  were the primary reason for the gain in rig count. Meanwhile, inland waters activity was up by 1 to 2 rigs, while offshore drilling units increased by 2 to 23.

Oil Rig Count: The oil rig count  that bottomed at 316 in May 2016  improved further (by 19) to 471. In fact, the number of active domestic oil rigs have gone up in twenty-two of the last 24 weeks. As a result of this sustained gain, the current tally is now the highest in 10 months. Nevertheless, they are well below the previous years rig count of 564 and only about 35% of the peak of 1,609 in Oct 2014.

Natural Gas Rig Count: The natural gas rig count  which plunged to their lowest level on record in Aug  increased for the ninth time in 12 weeks to 116 (a gain of 1 rig from the previous week). Still, as per the most recent report, the number of natural gas-directed rigs are languishing 93% below the all-time high of 1,606 reached in late summer 2008. In the year-ago period, there were 193 active natural gas rigs.

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Miscellaneous Rig Count: The miscellaneous rig count (primarily drilling for geothermal energy) at 1 remained unchanged from the previous week.

Rig Count by Type: The number of vertical drilling rigs increased by 7 to 66, while the horizontal/directional rig count (encompassing new drilling technology that has the ability to drill and extract gas from dense rock formations, also known as shale formations) was up by 13 to 522. In particular, horizontal rig units jumped by 13 from last weeks level to 470  the highest since Jan.

Gulf of Mexico (GoM): The GoM rig count was up by 2 to 23  all searching for oil.

Conclusion: Nows the Time to Buy: The Baker Hughes data, issued since 1944 at the end of every week, acts as an important yardstick for energy service providers in gauging the overall business environment of the oil and gas industry.

This generates considerable excitement among energy investors and has long been deployed to help predict future oil and gas production. When number of rigs decline, fewer wells are drilled. This means less new oil and gas are discovered, and ultimately production slows down.

As a result, an increase or decrease in the Baker Hughes rotary rig count heavily weighs on the demand for energy services  drilling, completion, production, etc.

With the U.S. rig count continuing its upward movement, it might be a good time to add a few energy-related stocks to your portfolio.

How to Identify the Outperformers?

With a wide range of energy firms thronging the investment space, it is by no means an easy task for investors to arrive at stocks that have the potential to deliver attractive returns. While it is impossible to be sure about such outperformers, this is where the Zacks Rank, which justifies a companys strong fundamentals, can come in really handy.

Finally, the chosen ones have VGM Score less than or equal to B. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. However, it is important to keep in mind that each Style Score will carry a different weight while arriving at a VGM score.

Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) offer the best upside potential. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

5 Stocks to Invest In

Ultra Petroleum Corp. UPLMQ: Houston, TX-based Ultra Petroleum is an independent energy firm engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and production of oil and gas properties. The companys operations are focused on the Green River Basin of southwest Wyoming, mainly covering the Pinedale and the Jonah fields.

Zacks Rank #1

VGM Score A

ULTRA PETRO CP Price

ULTRA PETRO CP Price | ULTRA PETRO CP Quote

Braskem SA BAK: Together with its subsidiaries, Braskem SA produces and sells thermoplastic resins. Headquartered in Brazil, the company is the largest petrochemical operation in Latin America.

Zacks Rank #1

VGM Score A

BRASKEM SA Price

BRASKEM SA Price | BRASKEM SA Quote

Ocean Rig UDW LLC ORIG: Nicosia, Cyprus-headquartered Ocean Rig mainly provides services related to offshore drilling to the upstream energy players. The companys drilling units specialize in operating in harsh-environment.

Zacks Rank #1

VGM Score A

OCEAN RIG UDW Price

OCEAN RIG UDW Price | OCEAN RIG UDW Quote

Archrock Partners L.P. APLP: Houston, Texas-based Archrock Partners is a leading provider of natural gas contract compression services to clients spread all over U.S.

Zacks Rank #2

VGM Score B

ARCHROCK PTNRS Price

ARCHROCK PTNRS Price | ARCHROCK PTNRS Quote

CONE Midstream Partners L.P. CNNX: Headquartered in Canonsburg, PA, CONE Midstream Partners is a master limited partnership focused on natural gas and condensate gathering in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Zacks Rank #2

VGM Score B

Bottom Line

As per industry data, the U.S. rig count -- a proxy for activity in the sector -- is now at its highest since Jan. Therefore, this is the perfect time to indulge in some energy stocks to make sure your portfolio is perfectly oiled up!

CONE MIDSTREAM Price

CONE MIDSTREAM Price | CONE MIDSTREAM Quote

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You don't have to own a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to know that what you carry aboard an airplane matters. Whether you're planning to fly or drive, it's a smart idea to pack strategically. Before you map out items to place into your suitcase, use these tips to ensure you comply with ever-changing TSA airport security rules, take advantage of the latest luggage inventions and add some cheer -- and comfort -- to your holiday travels.

[See: 8 Ways You're Annoying Passengers During the Holidays.]

Get Smart on Carry-on and Checked Bag Regulations

Once you've booked your holiday vacation, plan for the journey. In the case of Samsung, the FAA banned the transport of original and replacement devices as "forbidden hazardous materials." Before your trip, brush up on what else the FAA considers hazardous. While many items might seem obvious, dangerous substances can be found in common items. For instance, the rubber cement kids like to use to make glitter Christmas cards, old camping stoves and aerosol spray starches for ironing holiday outfits are all banned items. And kids can carry scooters aboard, but drones will be disallowed -- even in checked luggage -- if they contain a lithium ion battery that is 100Wh or above. Also keep in mind at present, pies, cakes and turkeys are OK to carry on, but cranberry sauce, dips, jams and gravy must be checked. Unfortunately, the TSA has a different TSA Prohibited Items list. Make sure to stay up to date on the latest regulations by visiting TSA.gov/travel on packing day.

Given the TSA's constantly changing rules, it's a wise idea to avoid gift-wrapping things that might need to be hand inspected. During the holidays, several hubs, including Heathrow Airport, LaGuardia Airport and San Diego International Airport provide gift wrap after security, either free of charge or with nominal fees that benefit charity. Alternatively, carry decorative folding gift bags with you.

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Carry Your Luggage Aboard

In 2016, the Department of Transportation reported six checked bags were lost for every 1,000 passengers -- a number that's declining thanks to self-checking bag kiosks, but a holiday nightmare if it happens to you. U.S. airlines have reduced the number of carry-ons customers are allowed to take on board because plane cabins have become smaller and fuller, translating to less overhead bin space. American Airlines is currently testing tall bins to accommodate rollaboards stored on their sides, but until that becomes standard, 21-inch and smaller carry-ons are your best bet.

[See: 10 Frequent Flier Secrets Every Traveler Should Know.]

Pack Lightly

Consider which items are essential to travel with, and learn how to fit everything into a smaller bag before your trip with a how-to packing guide, that includes how to best fold garments, and prepare for a variety of climates and scenarios. Also keep in mind, with the rise of extended stay hotel brands like Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, many hotels now have on-site laundry facilities, so you don't need to pack excessive clothing. Laundry facilities are becoming more readily available on cruise ships, too.

Avoid Checking Two Bags

To lighten your load, consider investing in clothing full of handy pockets from Scottevest.com. A stylish Women's Trench Coat (available for $195) has 18 pockets that can be used for a tablet, smartphone, water bottle, cosmetics and more. Pair it with Margaux Cargaux travel pants (available for $95) and you may not need that second suitcase. Meanwhile, the men's Off the Grid Jacket (available for $215) has 29 pockets to hold your laptop or iPad, an RFID-blocking pocket to secure your passport and space to fold in clothes.

If all else fails and you must check more than one bag, avoid paying hefty baggage fees by asking a travel companion to check it, because second bag fees are exponentially higher than first bag fees with most major airlines. Alternatively, if you're carrying an overweight suitcase, consider shipping your luggage. Services like SendMyBag.com and the free Shyp app (an online marketplace for consumers looking to ship at a low cost) can be much cheaper than paying a steep fee for a second bag.

Take Advantage of Luggage Innovations

If you haven't upgraded your luggage in the past three years, it's time to gift yourself -- and everyone on your list -- with a new suitcase. The latest models offer extra space, along with durable materials, a lightweight style, wheels and added mobility. But keep in mind bag models (and prices) can vary widely, so make sure to read customer reviews and do your homework before purchasing.

Multi-level Oregami Luggage (available $179), whose innovative design was crowd funded through Indiegogo, never has to be unpacked. Contained within a rugged fabric case on spinner wheels, the bag features foldout trays that enable you to organize your gear and display it for easy access. Meanwhile, the LS Magnetousa (available for $147) is a three-wheeled scooter that's a conventional hard-sided, 23-inch rollaboard suitcase. It's a kick scooter which folds down from the frame so you can scoot through the terminal, and is a TSA-friendly trolley that holds other bags. Ideal for families, scooter suitcases are at Toys "R" Us, Target and other stores selling kids' versions themed to "Star Wars," cartoon characters and more.

Another high-tech option is the motorized Modobag (available $1,095). This battery-powered suitcase travels up to 8 miles (at up to 8 miles per hour) on one charge, and is easily steered with a touch control dashboard. An added bonus: two USB charging ports to top up your own devices, and GPRS-GSM real-time tracking that allows you to find the bag with an app. And at 22 inches, it fits in most overhead bins.

[See: 10 Outrageous Travel Fees Every Traveler Should Know About.]

If you're traveling with youngsters in tow, consider investing in the Buddy Ball (available for $19.99), a cuddly plush teddy bear that folds into a soft-sided ball that little ones can safely play with in a hotel. Bears come in a variety of colors, and feature a zippered pocket that's ideal for storing a few toddler essentials.
Expatriates, those wanderlust U.S. citizens who pull up stakes and move to another country, seem to be on to something.

Data from the Association of Americans Resident Overseas shows that approximately 8 million Americans lived in foreign lands as of 2015.

[See: 10 Affordable Places to Retire Overseas in 2016.]

According to a recent study by LinkedIn, the vast majority of U.S. expats say they enjoy their new country experiences, with London, Sydney and Toronto high atop the list of countries expats call home.

Now, with a volatile U.S. presidential election still fresh in the rear view mirror, and some Hillary Clinton supporters vowing to move out of the U.S., the question is as relevant as ever -- is the expat life for you?

What are the best countries to move to? "No one answer fits everyone," says Jeff Broadhurst, a technology company chief executive who has moved his family from the U.S. multiple times, living in China and the Czech Republic.

"You need to factor in age, family status, political climate, and level of comfort in exploring new things -- knowing that all will cause great differences in answers. Some people think that moving to the U.K. is stretching their comfort zone and others are comfortable exploring the wonderful people and geography of places like Mongolia, Cambodia and Nepal," Broadhurst says.

"Personally, I would not mind moving to a place like Chiang Mai, Thailand," he says. "There is a decent-sized expat community, great people, good schools for children, very good medical care, low cost of living, warm weather and best of all, excellent food. The chief downside is the rainy season."

How do you handle residency issues? It's different in each country, Broadhurst says.

"The easiest way is to have a good job that the government looks kindly on," he says. "In China for example, if you go there looking for a job, it will be very difficult without skills that are very much in demand. If you go with a job managing a factory, for example, the government envisions you training their people and passing skills along, which is win-win Essentially, most countries want to bring talent and assets into their country and don't want people that will compete with their people for jobs."

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Where is English spoken the most in foreign lands? According to a new study by EF Education First, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and Poland are at the top of the list of "English-friendly" countries. If communicating in English is a big priority, you can't go wrong with any of the these.

Do you have to give up your U.S. citizenship? Not at all, says Abby Eisenkraft chief executive officer at Choice Tax Solutions.

"No, expats don't have to give up their citizenship in order to reside overseas," Eisenkraft says. "However, regardless of where they live, they must continue to file U.S. tax returns, and FBARs (Foreign Account Reports) to report all of their overseas financial accounts and interests.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

What about taxes? The U.S. will grant credit for foreign taxes paid, and in certain cases, foreign earned income can be excluded, Eisenkraft says.

"But one still needs to file in order to get the credit for taxes paid and the exclusion," she says. "Remember, the U.S. has a long reach and agreements with many countries. So tax-wise, there's nothing to hide."

Where should I start? When you've chosen a possible landing spot, go on a tourist visa first, says Matt Antonino, marketing manager at Ultimate Shutter in Victoria, Australia.

"Visit the place you think you want to live," he says. "Live there for 30 to 90 days and use what you learn to make a more informed decision. Too often we make the decision on living abroad from the comfort of home. It definitely isn't for everyone."

What's the best country for getting a tourist visa? John Paul Engel, an expat who has lived in 12 countries, says Japan is at the top of his list for workers coming into the country as tourists.

"In Japan, you just show up and say you're there for vacation. Stay six months, and when your visa is about to expire go to Taiwan or somewhere else and then you can come back and get another six months," Engel says.

"There's also lots of opportunities for employment for foreign workers. Japanese people are very kind to foreigners and many will seek to be your friend. You'll never fully fit in to the society though -- there is no melting pot in Japan. But the key to success as an expat is to learn about the language and culture of your knew home."

What's your best tip on becoming an expat? Don't try to bring a lot of your culture with you, Broadhurst says.

"Accept that each culture does things differently and don't judge which is better," he says. "Get out and immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are living in and enjoy it."

The expat experience may not be for everyone, but if you do have a bit of wanderlust, and if you feel stressed out by petty U.S. partisan politics, maybe a year or more in Japan, Australia, or the Netherlands is just what the doctor ordered.

[Read: 3 Ways to Invest in Skiing and Winter Sports.]

You really won't know until you try.

Brian O'Connell is a Bucks County, Pennsylvania, business writer and author. A former Wall Street bond trader, O'Connell is the author of two best-selling books, and is a frequent contributor to TheStreet.com, CBS News, Bloomberg and other major media business platforms.
Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam wholeheartedly endorses Congressman Mike Pompeo (photo above) to head the CIA. In a statement, Roskam said:

Congressman Mike Pompeo has dedicated his life to the safety and security of the American people. I served with Mike on the Benghazi Committee and have seen firsthand his commitment to both our national security and our individual rights under the Constitution. There is nobody I would trust more in this important role. President-elect Trump promised to surround himself with the best people  with the nomination of Mike Pompeo to head the CIA, hes off to a great start.
If you've stepped foot into any store lately, you've probably noticed that retailers are already in full-on holiday mode. They've hauled out the decorations and piped in the jingle bells, which depending on your personality, can either make you feel excited for the shopping season ahead or stressed that you have no idea what to buy for anyone on your list.

There's so much to choose from. Here's an idea that may help you stay focused and fulfilled as you wind your way through the decked halls: Make it a point to buy gifts that give back.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

Shoppers will spend $656 billion between now and Jan. 1, according to the National Retail Federation. Imagine how great you'll feel if every dollar you spend on your loved ones also helps a needy individual. Buying from companies that donate products at a one-to-one rate with every purchase is a great, no-sacrifice way to make your money go further, all while making a difference in the world.

You can do good, feel good and, by narrowing your scope of possible gifts, create a better shopping experience, too. Need ideas? Here are eight gifts that give back.

The gift: Cozy socks. Most people appreciate a nice, warm pair of socks during the holidays.

The good: For every pair sold, Bombas ($12 and up; bombas.com) will donate a second pair to a homeless shelter, as socks are commonly requested items. To date, the company has donated more than 1.3 million pairs.

[See: 7 Ways to Avoid Financial Stress Over the Holidays.]

The gift: Snow boots or slippers. Imagine how grateful your loved one will feel when he or she opens up a box of cozy new Toms snow boots ($69 and up) or wooly slippers ($38 and up; toms.com).

The good: Now imagine how grateful a person who has no shoes at all will feel when opening up a box of boots or slippers? You can make that person happy. For every pair of Toms shoes or boots sold, the company donates a pair to someone in need. So far, they have donated 66 million pairs.

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[See: 9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards.]

The gift: A better night's sleep. If you've got a baby or know anyone who is pregnant, pick up a Little Lotus baby swaddler ($75 and up; littlelotusbaby.com). Made with NASA-inspired fabric first used for spacesuits, it helps babies regulate their temperatures and sleep more soundly.

The good: Every swaddler sold ensures that a baby in the developing world will have access to the Embrace Warmer, a low-cost incubator developed by the same team, which has so far saved the lives of more than 200,000 premature or underweight babies in 14 countries.

The gift: Cool specs. Cheap sunglasses are fine, but if you want to make someone feel really special, splurge on a pair from Warby Parker ($95 and up; warbyparker.com).

The good: Based on the number of pairs it sells, Warby Parker will donate enough to its nonprofit partners to cover sourcing glasses in developing countries. It then trains a workforce to sell them at affordable prices.

The gift: A wooden watch. WeWood, an Italian company, manufactures stylish timepieces for him and her ($55 and up; we-wood.com) made entirely out of wood. They're eco-conscious and lightweight.

The good: For every watch sold, WeWood will plant a tree through either the American Forests' Global Releaf Campaign or Trees for the Future's Planting Seeds of Hope campaign. So far, it's planted nearly half a million trees, and its goal is to plant a million in the next three years.

The gift: Fancy soaps. Sea mineral, coconut and pomegranate are just a few of the types of SoapBox soaps ($4 and up; soapboxsoaps.com) that, when wrapped in pretty paper with a fancy ribbon, would make a perfect stocking stuffer.

The good: The company's motto is "soap = hope." For every bar sold, it donates another to someone in need. Its soaps go to orphanages, nursing homes and schools around the world, so no matter what their circumstances, underserved people can have the dignity of being clean.

The gift: Comfy nontoxic tee. More than half of holiday shoppers plan to splurge on a little something for themselves, according to the National Retail Federation, and this might be a nice way to do it. Made of 100 percent organic cotton, the "Kiss Me I'm Non Toxic" T-shirt by Tata Harper Skincare is vegan-friendly. As you treat yourself, you'll also support a cause.

The good: With every purchase of the limited-edition tee, $30 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Fund's Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, helping to raise awareness about harmful ingredients in personal care products and advocating for legislation that protects our health.

The gift: A treat for Fido. You can't forget your furry best friend during the holidays. Pick up a nice chew toy, maybe a new leash and order a bag of dog chow from Bogo Bowl and plunk a bow on it.

The good: For every bag purchased, Bogo Bowl ships one to an animal shelter, pet rescue or animal foster program.

Sara Skirboll is the resident shopping and trends expert for savings destination RetailMeNot. A principal author of the RetailMeNot Shopper's Trend Report, she researches consumer sentiment and analyzes information from a database of more than 500,000 offers for 60,000 retailers. With more than a decade of experience working within the retail, fashion and beauty arenas, Sara has her finger on the pulse when it comes to shopping habits, shopping trends and spending practices.
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Police searching the house of the man accused of killing British member of parliament Jo Cox found Nazi materials including books and an eagle ornament bearing a swastika, a prosecutor told his trial on Monday. Thomas Mair, 53, had also collected newspaper clippings about Cox, including a print-out of an article she wrote for her local paper about why she wanted Britain to stay in the European Union. Labour MP Cox, 41, was shot three times and repeatedly stabbed on the street in the town of Birstall, part of her electoral district in northern England, a week before Britain voted to leave the EU in June. Local man Mair is accused of her murder, as well as causing grievous bodily harm to a pensioner who came to her aid and illegally possessing a firearm and knife. Mair declined to enter a plea at a pre-trial hearing in October, so a judge recorded pleas of not guilty to all charges on his behalf. His trial has been told how Cox suffered a ferocious attack when she arrived at the Birstall library to give an advice session to local residents, and that when apprehended by police Mair had said "It's me" and described himself as a political activist. Jurors heard Cox's assailant had shouted something like "Keep Britain independent" and "Britain first" during the attack. On Monday, prosecutor Richard Whittam showed the jury at London's Old Bailey criminal court police pictures of Mair's sparsely furnished home in Birstall, where he had lived for the last 20 years. The Nazi eagle was on top of a bookcase in one of the bedrooms, while on neatly organised shelves were dozens of books about German military history, Nazi racial theory and white supremacism. The books included titles such as "Hitler's Hangman", "Fascism in Britain" and the anti-Semitic text "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion", while there was also a Nazi Waffen SS book on race theory and mate selection guidelines. During the police search, Whittam said officers found a newspaper cutting about Anders Breivik, a Norwegian far-right extremist who killed 77 people in 2011 and a number of articles about Cox. These included a column she penned with a Conservative lawmaker for the Guardian newspaper titled "British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria". He had also read articles about the far right British National Party, the Ku Klux Klan and Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, the court heard. The trial continues. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Police searching the house of the man accused of killing British member of parliament Jo Cox found Nazi materials including books and an eagle ornament bearing a swastika, a prosecutor told his trial on Monday. Thomas Mair, 53, had also collected newspaper clippings about Cox, including a print-out of an article she wrote for her local paper about why she wanted Britain to stay in the European Union. Labour MP Cox, 41, was shot three times and repeatedly stabbed on the street in the town of Birstall, part of her electoral district in northern England, a week before Britain voted to leave the EU in June. Local man Mair is accused of her murder, as well as causing grievous bodily harm to a pensioner who came to her aid and illegally possessing a firearm and knife. Mair declined to enter a plea at a pre-trial hearing in October, so a judge recorded pleas of not guilty to all charges on his behalf. His trial has been told how Cox suffered a ferocious attack when she arrived at the Birstall library to give an advice session to local residents, and that when apprehended by police Mair had said "It's me" and described himself as a political activist. Jurors heard Cox's assailant had shouted something like "Keep Britain independent" and "Britain first" during the attack. On Monday, prosecutor Richard Whittam showed the jury at London's Old Bailey criminal court police pictures of Mair's sparsely furnished home in Birstall, where he had lived for the last 20 years. The Nazi eagle was on top of a bookcase in one of the bedrooms, while on neatly organized shelves were dozens of books about German military history, Nazi racial theory and white supremacism. The books included titles such as "Hitler's Hangman", "Fascism in Britain" and the anti-Semitic text "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion", while there was also a Nazi Waffen SS book on race theory and mate selection guidelines. During the police search, Whittam said officers found a newspaper cutting about Anders Breivik, a Norwegian far-right extremist who killed 77 people in 2011 and a number of articles about Cox. These included a column she penned with a Conservative lawmaker for the Guardian newspaper titled "British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria". He had also read articles about the far right British National Party, the Ku Klux Klan and Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, the court heard. The trial continues. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Photo credit: Spencer Plattundefined

From Esquire

On Friday, swastikas were spray painted on a jungle gym in Adam Yauch Park in the Brooklyn, New York. The park is a memorial to Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) who died in 2012. Beneath the swastikas (which were so poorly drawn, it might be funny if they weren't, you know, swastikas), the words "Go Trump" were painted.

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Surviving Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz (a.k.a. Ad-Rock) was so distraught that he announced that Sunday they would hold an anti-hate rally at the Brooklyn Heights park in response. "Hate has no place in Brooklyn, NYC, or America. Join us on Sunday to stand against hate messages," the Beastie Boys account tweeted.

Hate has no place in Brooklyn, NYC, or America.

Join us on Sunday to stand against hate messages.

11:30, Adam Yauch Park, Brooklyn, NYC pic.twitter.com/DZXcUyZauP - Beastie Boys (@beastieboys) November 19, 2016

The mayor also tweeted about the incident, saying, "Adam Yauch stood for tolerance. Call 911 if you see vandalism, harassment or hateful acts. #NotInOurCity." The New York Police Department and Parks Department have begun an investigation into the vandalization.

Hundreds were in attendance at the rally, where attendees carried signs that read, "No sleep til' justice in Brooklyn" and "Trump, where's your anti-hate rally?" Many also left flowers and messages of love on the once-defaced jungle gym.

"Spray painting swastikas in a children's playground is a messed-up thing to do," Horovitz told the crowd. "And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and bandmate for over 30 years. But he was also someone who taught non-violence in his music, in his life-to all of us, and to me."

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Ben Stiller, New York State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Kathleen Hanna, who is married to Ad-Rock, also attended.

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Dakar (AFP) - Above the sacks of seeds and coal, three kerosene lamps gather dust in the tiny shed that Kenyan chicken farmer Bernard calls home.

He prefers to use solar energy to light up his evenings, listen to the radio or watch television, after abandoning a diesel generator he said was expensive to maintain and burned fuel too quickly.

"Solar panels are a good, cheap solution," he told AFP.

Across the continent, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes and small businesses, even as African governments unveil massive new solar projects seemingly every month to expand their grids.

According to International Energy Agency projections, almost one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will gain access to the grid by 2040, but by that time 530 million will remain off-grid, almost comparable with the 600 million who cannot access power today.

Governments have ramped up their efforts: on Africa's Atlantic coast, Senegal last month inaugurated a massive 20 megawatt (MW) project that will deliver energy to 160,000 people, which President Macky Sall saluted as ushering in "a new, clean-energy era".

But Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, director-general of national utility Senelec, underlined upcoming problems in an interview with AFP.

"We actually have an excess of 100MW of power," he said. "But we have a distribution problem. We have been thinking in terms of roads and railways... but not about electricity highways."

With around 55 to 65 percent of homes receiving electricity, Senegal's grid strength is above average for sub-Saharan Africa, whereas in South Sudan and Liberia this hovers between one and two percent.

But even in Senegal, neighbouring Mauritania and Rwanda, which have all invested in large-scale solar projects as the cost of panels tumble, the twin challenges of limited grids and Africa's demographics remain.

- 'Space for innovation' -

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"The grid and the off-grid are so far apart right now that it's creating a huge space for innovation," enthuses Andrew Herscowitz, coordinator for US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative.

Power Africa, which identifies governments and businesses requiring sustainable and affordable energy and offers funding and expertise in more than 15 countries, has taken a particular interest in solar.

Power Africa is pushing this renewable source so that people "don't have to wait for the grid to arrive to them, they can access a company today and have a solar panel put on their roof," Herscowitz told AFP.

Half of sub-Saharan Africa's power is generated in South Africa, while north Africa has built effective grid systems that largely serve their populations with a constant flow of energy.

But for the rest, off-grid systems and the technology needed to make them reachable to the sub-continent's poorest homes have reached a tipping point in the last five years, spurred by advances that have lowered costs.

Lighting homes with kerosene and candles remains expensive, dangerous and polluting, but in Kenya micro-solar firms have brought power to 30 percent of the off-grid population.

"A person can for the same amount of money they were spending to buy kerosene just for that little flicker of light use that money to buy a small solar panel that can power safe lightbulbs," Herscowitz said.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of British "pay-as-you-go" solar panel firm Azuri, noted that the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity in the West was around 15 US cents, while kerosene was 53 times higher and candles 105 times higher on average for African consumers.

Azuri and rival M-Kopa offer a package of solar-powered lightbulbs, radio, and phone charging ports for as little as 50 US cents a day.

Solar-powered televisions are available for a little more and fridges are expected to follow.

The firms have made their mark in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, which also have the heaviest uptake of mobile money systems, allowing users to pay for these services automatically through cheap and easy-to-access bank accounts provided by telecoms firms.

In these markets, customers are often so sparsely distributed that even if they have the opportunity to connect to the grid, doing so is still often more expensive than solar packs.

- Sunshine continent -

Investment in the sun to feed Africa's grids is appreciable: by the end of 2014 output stood at 1,334 MW, more than ten times larger than in 2009 (127 MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As consultancy firm KPMG put it in a recent report, solar power is "the most widely available source of renewable energy in Africa", and could "bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without the need for expensive large-scale grid level infrastructural developments."

The uptake of solar still remains extremely low compared to coal and biomass, accounting for less than five percent of overall grid power, but solar is getting cheaper and easier to install than ever.

Besides, most off-grid communities have no other option, as Africa Power's Herscowitz noted: "the amount of money needed to solve the energy deficit in Africa is hundreds of billions of dollars. No government has that money."
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A bid by African countries to delay the appointment of the first-ever UN expert tasked with investigating LGBT rights abuses worldwide was defeated on Monday.

A draft resolution demanding talks on the legality of the new expert's mandate had been put forward by the African group of countries in the General Assembly's human rights committee.

The measure however was gutted of its key demand when a group of Latin American countries presented an amendment deleting the request to delay the appointment.

The amendment was adopted by a vote of 84 to 77, with 17 abstentions.

South Africa broke ranks and voted in favor of the amendment, while European countries, the United States, Canada and South American countries also voted to maintain the expert in his post.

Somalia and Rwanda abstained. China, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia were among the countries that supported the African bid to suspend the appointment.

The new amended draft resolution -- without the suspension of the LGBT rights expert -- was adopted by a vote of 94 to 3, with 80 abstentions.

The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.

That appointment was agreed following a stormy debate that also saw several African states vote against the decision.

Muntarbhorn, who began his new mandate this month, has been appointed for three years.

He will carry out country visits, raise allegations of LGBT rights violations with governments and work to protect rights defenders.

- Challenging the legal basis -

At the General Assembly, the African bid was led by Botswana, which argued that sexual orientation and gender identity were not defined under international human rights law.

"The African group is wondering which international legal instrument defines the concept of sexual orientation and gender identity," said Botswana's UN ambassador Charles Ntwaagae.

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"These notions are not enshrined in any international human rights instrument," he said.

"The African group is of the view that the mandate of the independent expert lacks the necessary specificity to be carried out fairly."

A total of 73 countries -- almost 40 percent of all 193 UN members -- still have laws on their books making homosexuality a crime.

In Africa alone, 33 countries have anti-gay laws including Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Mauritania.

The measure is now expected to go to the General Assembly for a vote, but it is unlikely that the bid to block the LGBT expert will be revived.

Nearly 800 human rights organizations and civil society groups had urged UN member-states in a joint letter not to overturn Muntarbhorn's appointment.

The outcome of the vote "affirms that the right to be protected from violence and discrimination applies equally to LGBT people," said Boris Dittrich, LGBT rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

"It also respects the integrity of the Human Rights Council, as the UN's top human rights body, to ensure that mechanisms are in place to protect rights not just in theory, but in practice."
Tokyo (AFP) - Master yachtsman Ben Ainslie said the sport has "huge potential" in Asia after he powered to victory in the first America's Cup event held in the region.

Ainslie's Land Rover BAR won the two-day event in Fukuoka, western Japan, on Sunday, sealing the America's Cup World Series title and gaining bonus points for next year's qualifying competition.

Thousands of Japanese fans turned out for an event which included SoftBank Japan, and Ainslie said he could feel the sport was growing more popular in the region.

"The Japanese people have been really supportive of Softbank Team Japan. It's great to have an Asian team involved in this America's Cup, to be racing in Asia," he told AFP.

"It's a part of the world where we want to increase interest in the America's Cup and add fanbase. So it's been a huge success I think, this weekend."

Ainslie, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, guided Oracle Team USA to a brilliant come-from-behind victory at the 2013 America's Cup.

He is now aiming to make Land Rover BAR Britain's first ever winner of the world's oldest sporting trophy, which dates back 165 years.

Ainslie said he hoped more Asian countries would host America's Cup events, adding that young Asian sailors were already among the best in the world.

"Sailing is a great sport, it's a very diverse sport, it's very inclusive," he said.

"I think in Asia it has huge potential because the conditions in Asia are generally quite light winds, but actually for young people to start and to learn to sail in light winds, it's much safer, it's much less intimidating."

Fukuoka was the final stage of a protracted qualifying process that counts towards the 2017 America's Cup Challenger Series, the winner of which will take on Oracle in the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda.

The America's Cup dates back to 1851 when the yacht America won a race around the Isle of Wight off the south coast of Britain.

Only teams from four countries -- the United States, Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia -- have won the America's Cup since then.
* Aixtron in close contact with U.S., German authorities

* First time companies have resisted CFIUS objection

* Experts say concerns hinge on gallium nitride technology

* Aixtron shares down 6.6 pct after hitting 6-month low (Recasts and writes through, adds experts on gallium nitride, updates shares)

By Harro Ten Wolde and Sabine Siebold

FRANKFURT/BERLIN Nov 21 (Reuters) - Concerns over China gaining access to the secrets of producing a little known material used in military equipment appear to be behind the U.S. block on a 670 million-euro ($713 million) Chinese bid for German chip equipment maker Aixtron.

Gallium nitride, a powdery yellow compound used in light-emitting diodes (LED), radar, antennas and lasers, is grown using Aixtron-manufactured technology, which has in the past been sold to U.S. military equipment maker Northrop Grumman .

Aixtron said on Friday that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) would recommend that its takeover by China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC) be blocked.

CFIUS never gives reasons for its decisions. But sources have previously told Reuters it blocked the $3.3 billion sale of Philips' lighting business, Lumileds, to a consortium of Chinese investors last January over gallium nitride concerns.

Experts suggest the United States would want to stop China and Russia getting hold of gallium nitride technology, which can boost the power and sensitivity of weapons systems while reducing their cost as it requires less electricity.

The technology is being used to upgrade the radars of both U.S. and foreign-owned Patriot missile defence systems - which are key to defeating air and missile attacks by enemy countries.

Colin Humphreys, a physics professor at Cambridge University, said the technology enabled military radars to operate at much higher frequencies and are used in jammers that allow fighter jets and other aircraft to fly undetected.

In order to sense such radar waves, potential enemies such as Russia or China would have to have access to military technology using gallium nitride, he said.

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"I'm not aware that the Chinese or the Russians have such weapons systems at the moment," said Humphreys, an expert on gallium nitride.

Another European expert, who did not wish to be named, said he believed fewer than 10 countries had access to the technology, including the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Japan.

The global gallium nitride market is expected to grow to $1.1 billion in 2020 from an estimated $518 million last year, according to research firm Technavio.

The U.S. resistance to the Aixtron deal shows concern is rife in Washington about a leading manufacturer of the gallium nitride technology coming under Chinese ownership.

"The Americans' big problem is not Moscow, but Beijing - in economic terms and maybe also in military terms," the European expert said, adding he would expect U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to significantly raise export restrictions for the technology.

A German economy ministry spokeswoman said its review of the Aixtron deal was ongoing and independent of the United States.

The German government withdrew its approval for Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP (FGC), a Chinese investment fund controlled by businessman Zhendong Liu, to take over Aixtron last month, citing security concerns.

OUT OF OPTIONS?

Aixtron on Monday defied calls to scrap the sale, saying it had "objective arguments" to overcome U.S. and German concerns about it being bought by Fujian, without elaborating.

"We are in close contact with the authorities in the USA and Germany," a spokesman said. He added it was up to customers to decide to what use they would put Aixtron equipment.

Aixtron's decision to stick to the plan marks the first time that companies involved in such a takeover have tried to press ahead with a planned merger despite CFIUS objections. After concerns were raised over the Lumileds sale, the parties walked away from that deal.

Aixtron is seen as having a bleak future as a standalone company as it struggles with overcapacity in a market dominated by Chinese buyers.

The decision will now be referred to U.S. President Barack Obama, who must block or allow the transaction within 15 days.

Shares in Aixtron were down 7 percent to 4.38 euros by 1414 GMT, at the bottom of the German technology index, which was down 0.3 percent, and well below Grand Chip Investment's offer price of 6.00 euros per share.

Earlier, the stock hit a 6-month low of 4.25 euros.

"What Aixtron needs is a white knight from Europe or the U.S. (e.g. Applied Materials) as the company has no viable future as a stand-alone business, in our view," said analyst Tim Wunderlich at German brokerage Hauck & Aufhaeuser in a client note, sticking to its "sell" recommendation. ($1 = 0.9401 euros) (Reporting by Harro ten Wolde in Frankfurt, Anneli Palmen in Duesseldorf and Sabine Siebold and Andrea Shalal in Berlin.; Additional reporting and writing by Caroline Copley.; Editing by Georgina Prodhan and Alexander Smith)
Children as young as nine could be jailed in the Philippines for certain crimes under a proposed law backed by the president, sparking concern Monday from the United Nations and rights groups.

President Rodrigo Duterte's allies have been pushing to pass laws by December that would restore the death penalty and lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9.

Duterte won May elections largely because of a vow to kill tens of thousands of drug dealers, also promising on the campaign trail to close a loophole in the juvenile justice system that he said allowed traffickers to use minors as narcotic couriers.

"Adult criminals knowingly and purposely make use of youth below 15 years of age to commit crimes, such as drug trafficking," Pantaleon Alvarez, one of the proposed law's main backers, said in an explanatory note.

While Duterte wanted the age threshold dropped to 12, his allies went one step further by calling for it to be lowered to nine.

The UN children's agency UNICEF reminded the Philippines of its international obligations.

Manila is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says criminal responsibility below the age of 12 is not acceptable.

"Jail is no place for a child. It is alarming for children to be institutionalised (sent to a penal institution)," UNICEF said in a position paper sent to AFP Monday. "It will be retrogression on the part of the Philippine Government."

Rights organisations launched a campaign called #ChildrenNotCriminals to urge lawmakers to reconsider their support for the law.

One of the groups, Plan International, told AFP that children on the wrong side of the law were often victims of criminal gangs.

"It is unfair that it's always the children who are blamed. This will result in children becoming hardened criminals," said Ernesto Almocera of Plan International Philippines.

The advocates appealed to Duterte to explore factors that led children to commit crimes, such as poverty and lack of parental guidance and education.

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"We cannot hold children to the same standard as we hold adult offenders," Melanie Llana of the Philippine Action for Youth Offenders told AFP. "Are we really going to jail 9-year-olds who we know are not fully mature?"

Duterte's hardline approach to criminals has drawn criticism from its ally the United States, the UN and human rights groups.

Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in police operations and 2,800 have died in unexplained circumstances since Duterte took office on June 30, according to official figures.

Critics allege some of these deaths amount to state-sponsored extrajudicial killings, a charge Duterte has rejected.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Alibaba Cloud plans to open four new data facilities outside China, the cloud unit of Alibaba Holdings Ltd said on Monday, as it seeks to grab global market share from leading players Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft.

The data facilities in Dubai, Germany, Japan and Australia will extend the reach of China's leading cloud computing service provider to every major continent, and marks the latest step in the unit's $1 billion infrastructure investment drive.

Also known as Aliyun, the unit has flourished domestically thanks to Beijing's strategic emphasis on building homegrown cloud technology, while foreign firms have grappled with stringent licensing restrictions in the country.

However, it accounts for a much smaller slice of the global market for cloud computing, defined as the storage of data on remote networks rather than local servers, which is expected to reach $135 billion by 2020, according to research firm Canalys.

Alibaba Cloud is forecast to take 7.8 percent of that market, while leading players Amazon.com Inc, Microsoft, International Business Machines Corp and Alphabet Inc are expected to account for 69.1 percent.

Yu Sicheng, general manager of Alibaba Cloud's international business, said the unit's strength in China was a significant advantage and a lynchpin in the company's globalization plans.

"We have the U.S., Europe plus China, which is quite difficult," he told Reuters in an interview.

The new additions bring Alibaba Cloud's total number of foreign cloud facilities to eight, surpassing the six within China, though the majority of the company's data volume remains squarely within China.

It will launch the data facilities through partnerships with Vodafone in Europe, Softbank Group Corp in Japan and YVOLV in Dubai, a joint venture between Alibaba Cloud and Meraas Holdings LLC.

Yu, however, declined to comment on when the unit will likely post a profit, even as it has seen six quarters of consecutive triple-digit growth, to become Alibaba's fastest growing business sector.

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"Our focus is to keep expanding our market leadership and presence and this is our priority for now," he said.

(Corrects title of Alibaba Cloud executive Yu Sicheng)

(Reporting by Catherine Cadell; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Who says they dont make em like they used to? Allied is what movies were once meant to be. A sweeping and glorious return to great storytelling in a film that has it all: a beautiful love story wrapped in an intelligent suspense thriller with wonderful performances from Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. As I say in my video review above, director Robert Zemeckis has made a gorgeous movie. And I am not just talking about the two stars  who use every possible morsel of star wattage, reminding you of the greats of the past  but also the superb production values right down the line that make Allied look like some sort of cinematic dream from the 1940s era in which it is set. Its also a compelling and romantic spy thriller that should have great appeal for contemporary audiences.

Pitt plays Max, a Canadian military intelligence officer on a mission in Morocco. It takes him in the movies first half to none other than Casablanca (yes, that Casablanca) and unites him with Marianne (Cotillard), a French resistance fighter there to pose as his wife. The two are strictly professional spies, but they do exude a certain connection that leads to an invitation to a party at the German ambassadors place. It is there that all hell breaks loose, along with the beginnings of what becomes a real relationship between the two, leading to marriage, a child and a seemingly domestic bliss in London for the films second half.

Complications arise when Max is informed that his wife might not be who he thinks she is, and it is up to him to prove them wrong. Screenwriter Steven Knight has crafted a nifty story that isnt just a mere imitation of something you could imagine Ingrid Bergman and William Holden doing, even though wearing a certain hat in one scene Cotillard looks exactly like Bergman in the 1943 classic Casablanca. This one has all the requisite trappings including Nazis, bombed-out cities, foreign intrigue and impossibly good-looking stars. But Pitt and Cotillard are such good, and persuasive, actors that they quickly make you forget that they also happen to look the part. It is really their show, but the supporting cast includes Jared Harris and Simon McBurney as officers who deal with Max and Lizzy Caplan as Maxs sister. Matthew Goode is effective in his relatively brief appearance.

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Brad Pitt plays Max Vatan and Marion Cotillard plays Marianne Beausejour in Allied from Paramount Pictures.

After a decade-long detour into performance-capture animation projects, Zemeckis is back in his sweet zone making movie movies such as the terrific Denzel Washington vehicle Flight, the greatly underappreciated and under-seen The Walk and now the supremely entertaining Allied. He is helped enormously by great craftspeople including cinematographer Don Burgess, production designer Gary Freeman and costume designer Joanna Johnston. Composer Alan Silvestri, a regular collaborator with Zemeckis since 1984s Romancing the Stone, has contributed one of his best scores, perfectly keyed to the movies changing motifs. A special shout-out to the visual effects team that managed to make a bombed-out London and a Casablanca of 70 years ago look like they just stumbled on those locations today.

In answer to my initial question, Who says they dont make em like they used to?: It was a bit of a deception on my part because though Allied is a throwback, the way it was made is thoroughly modern with all the bells and whistles that CGI can offer. Certainly there is no director who uses these toys better than Zemeckis. Producing the film along with Zemeckis is his longtime partner Steve Starkey, as well as Graham King. Paramount releases the film on Wednesday, an adult treat for the holidays.

Do you plan to see Allied? Let us know what you think.

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Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt in Allied (Paramount)

By David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Not once but twice in Robert Zemeckis dreary spy thriller, Allied, Marion Cotillards character, an undercover World War II operative, says, I keep the emotions real. Thats why it works. Sadly, neither the director nor the cast appear to have absorbed that message in this inert period piece, which suffers from an absence of chemistry between leads Cotillard and Brad Pitt, undercutting the romance on which much of the supposed suspense should hinge. Plodding and pedestrian even in the technical magic that is a Zemeckis trademark, this is a case of a director out of his element with a script that fails to generate much heat.

Pitts marquee pull will be Paramounts best hope of finding an audience. But whether all the noise surrounding the actors messy divorce from Angelina Jolie (as well as the unfortunate echoes of the couples onscreen duel in Mr. & Mrs. Smith) will help or hurt marketing remains to be seen.

Its actually somewhat mystifying what drew Pitt to this role, given that finding depth in straight-up romantic drama has never been his strongest suit. (By the Sea, anyone?) Theres also an element of fatigue in watching him return to a WWII setting yet again, having explored the period with such flavorful bad-boy edge in Inglourious Basterds and then revisited it with gruff bravado in the visceral Fury. Stuck here playing a gentleman secret operative from Canada working for the British governments Special Operations Executive, Pitt gives a constricted, stiffly internalized performance that too often just reads as disengaged.

Related: After His First Post-Split Red Carpet, Brad Pitt Talks Allied With Marion Cotillard

The major disappointment, however, is the flaccid screenplay by Steven Knight, who showed such a gift for detailing character and milieu in Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises, and uncanny skill at building tension with audaciously minimalist means in Locke, which he also directed. Both the dialogue and action set-pieces here lack punch, and while the drama was inspired by a true story, Zemeckis seems less interested in finding emotional authenticity in the scenario than in paying homage to 1940s Hollywood, with Casablanca top of the list.

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Allied opens with Max Vatan (Pitt) parachuting into the desert in French Morocco, before being retrieved and delivered to a Casablanca nightclub where he is to meet Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard), the fellow operative assigned to pose as his wife. Their mission is to gain entry to a reception where they will assassinate the German ambassador. As they build up their cover by putting on a show of marital bliss for neighbors and fellow socialites in a Vichy-controlled town crawling with Nazi officers, they begin to develop feelings for one another. Max, in particular, is beguiled by Marianne, so much so that after they complete their mission  rather improbably, without a hitch  he asks her to accompany him to England as his wife.

All this feels somewhat flat and mechanical, and neither Pitt nor Cotillard is terribly persuasive at conveying the smoldering passions that catch Max and Marianne off guard after their initially circumspect interactions. Knights lackluster dialogue doesnt help, nor do faintly ridiculous scenes like one in which they get physical for the first time in a car parked in the Saharan dunes while a massive sandstorm whips the vehicle. (Were spared the drudgery of them digging out afterwards.) In lighter moments, Marianne works on Maxs accent, drilling him to iron out his French-Canadian pronunciation and sound more Parisian, but as foreplay, this is a yawn.

Related: How Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard Got the Bespoke Treatment in Allied

To a large extent, Marianne is meant to remain remote. Shes evasive with Max as he questions her about what went wrong when her French Resistance network was exposed, forcing her to flee Paris. That gives Cotillard something more textured to play, but somehow the ambiguity stirs up only minimal intrigue.

Back in London, Max and Marianne settle into cozy domestic life in Hampstead, while he continues to work for the SOE, reporting to Colonel Frank Heslop (Jared Harris). But a year after the birth of their daughter, it emerges that classified information is being leaked to Berlin, causing Max to act against orders to prove the allegations untrue, or face the unthinkable.

Sluggish pacing throughout saps most of the tension, but the real issue is the absence of a solid foundation for the central romance. Since the love between Max and Marianne never generates real sparks, the possibility that their alliance is built on duplicity unfolds in frenetic late-action plotting without much emotional investment. Cotillard is such a magnetic screen presence that she overcomes the odds on occasion, registering some affecting moments that keep us wondering about her enigmatic characters loyalties. But Pitt has rarely been less interesting.

Related: How the Brangelina Split Will Impact Pitts Upcoming Movie With Marion Cotillard

This being entirely a two-person show, theres not much going on around the principals either. Harris has a thankless role, all stiff-upper-lip seriousness and underlying decency; Lizzy Caplan wafts around without much to do as Maxs bohemian sister, mostly draped over her Polish cellist girlfriend; and Matthew Goode gets the stock part of the bitter fallen comrade, seething away behind a mangled face after being left high and dry by the SOE. Simon McBurney brings his usual needling character probe to the emotionless senior SOE official who spells out the agencys grim findings for Max, and the drastic action that will be required of him, but hes on and off in a single scene.

The film looks handsome enough, shot by Zemeckis regular Don Burgess in subtly desaturated colors and crafted with stylish period detail by production designer Gary Freeman and costumer Joanna Johnston. The warren of offices at the SOE, with their jaundiced walls, provides a sharp contrast to the elegance and airiness of the Casablanca sets. But the London nighttime air raids, which would appear on paper to hit the sweet spot of a technical wizard like Zemeckis, look distractingly artificial and movie-ish. Then again, a CG Blitz seems appropriate for a drama built on patently fabricated feelings.

Marion Cotillard Discusses Sex Scenes With Brad Pitt in Allied:
Add Amber Heard to the growing docket of lawsuits over London Fields, which was to debut at Toronto last year before being pulled amid legal wrangling between the pics director and producers. Now the actress, who is set to play Mera in a pair of Justice League movies for Warner Bros, is being sued for $10 million over her refusal to comply with her contractual obligations.

The noirish dark thriller, based on Martin Amis 1989 novel, focuses on Nicola Six (Heard), a clairvoyant femme fatale who has been living with a dark premonition of her impending death by murder. She begins a tangled love affair with three uniquely different men, one of whom she knows will be her murderer. Lionsgate/Grindstone picked up the title during Toronto 2015, a day before director Mathew Cullen sued producers Christopher Hanley and Jordan Gertner, claiming that they hijacked the film and never paid him. Now the producers are suing Heard for $10 million for not complying with her clear-cut contractual obligations.

Heard had previously also, in concert with other actors in the Picture, engaged in the following improper conduct: failing to render acting services in conformance with the shooting script; conspiring with Cullen to make unauthorized, material changes to the shooting script; aiding Cullen and conspiring with him to violate his contractual agreements with Plaintiff; and failing to render ADR services in accordance with her contractual obligations and conspiring with others to do the same, alleges the 24-page complaint filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court (read it here). Additionally, Heard participated in a concerted campaign of disinformation against Plaintiff and the Picture, which has significantly damaged both. As a result of Beard s tortious misconduct and breaches, the Picture remains in limbo-its sale, distribution, and release have been thwarted, and the investments of Plaintiff and the Pictures other investors have been severely, if not irreparably, harmed.

Attorneys Mathew Rosengart and Robert Gruber of Greenbarg Traurig in Los Angeles are repping the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial and claims breach of contract and more.

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Amber Heard is the latest to face court action over London Fields, a film based on Martin Amis' celebrated novel, once set to make a splash at the Toronto International Film Festival only to be stuck in legal purgatory without a distributor. On Monday, the film's producers sued Heard, who stars in the picture as a promiscuous psychic about to be murdered.

More than a year ago, the debut of London Fields at Toronto prompted controversy with much of the movie's talent refusing to show up in support. Mathew Cullen, the film's director, sued Christopher Hanley's Nicola Six Limited for fraud, claiming producers hijacked the final cut of the movie. Hanley struck back with counterclaims accusing Cullen of failing to deliver the film on budget and on time. Adding to the intrigue were news report how London Fields might have been a factor in Heard's divorce from Johnny Depp, who has a small role in the movie.

Now, Heard is facing claims of breaching contract and committing tortious interference. (The complaint, which can be read here, also briefly nods to the film's supposed role in the Heard-Depp divorce.)

"While the inherent tension between actors and directors (on the one hand) and producers (on the other) is nothing new in Hollywood, the unauthorized and unlawful acts of Heard, Cullen, and others - most notably, their campaign to damage Plaintiff, the Picture, and the Picture's investors - are perhaps unprecedented," states the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. "Indeed, as a result of their misconduct, which continues to this day, the very promising Picture remains in limbo, hijacked and placed under a cloud by Heard, Cullen, and others."

According to the complaint, Heard disregarded contractual obligations by failing to render acting services in conformity with the shooting script and later by refusing to attend the Toronto premiere or engage in other promotional services. She's also charged with conspiring with Cullen to violate his contractual agreements.

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Cullen has made it clear that he's unhappy with the producers' cut of the film, which according to his lawsuit, included "incendiary imagery evoking 9/11 jumpers edited against pornography."

The actors are clearly supporting Cullen, and the latest lawsuit against Heard discusses some of the background drama on London Fields, which has been cursed from inception in more ways than one.

For example, the suit against Heard discusses what happened in November 2014, upon submission of the movie to the Sundance Film Festival.

"In an effort to intimidate Nicola Six, Heard ly claimed to Nicola Six that she had not contractually agreed to allow the use of nudity in the Picture," states the complaint. "Heard also ly claimed that she had not granted Nicola Six the right to the results and proceeds of her acting services in the Picture."

Producers say that various agreements provided such rights and allowances, and that objections to the contrary were part of a conspiracy to undermine the film.

"As a result of Heard's refusal to comply with her contractual obligations - including her improper refusal to act in provocative scenes contained in the pre-approved script - key scenes in the script had to be removed and/or rewritten to accommodate Heard's behavior," continues the lawsuit.

Afterwards, Heard is alleged to have refused to participate in dialogue replacement, and by mid-2015, she and the film's other stars including Depp and Billy Bob Thornton are said to have forwarded their correspondence with Hanley to Amis. According to the complaint, "This act, along with Heard's other disclosures of confidential information, was in violation of Heard's agreements with Nicola Six  in which she promised not to disclose confidential information regarding the Picture or Nicola Six."

The producer is represented by Mathew Rosengart, a former prosecutor now at Greenberg Traurig, who is seeking at least $10 million in compensatory damages.
Amber Heard is the latest to face court action over London Fields, a film based on Martin Amis' celebrated novel, once set to make a splash at the Toronto Film Festival only to be stuck in legal purgatory without a distributor. On Monday, the film's producers sued Heard, who stars in the picture as a promiscuous psychic about to be murdered.

More than a year ago, the debut of London Fields at Toronto prompted controversy with much of the film's talent refusing to show up in support. Mathew Cullen, the film's director, sued Christopher Hanley's Nicola Six Limited for fraud, claiming producers hijacked the final cut of the movie. Hanley struck back with counterclaims accusing Cullen of failing to deliver the film on budget and on time. Adding to the intrigue were news report how London Fields might have been a factor in Heard's divorce from Johnny Depp, who has a small role in the movie.

Now, Heard is facing claims of breaching contract and committing tortious interference. (The complaint also quickly nods to the film's supposed role in the Heard-Depp divorce.)

"While the inherent tension between actors and directors (on the one hand) and producers (on the other) is nothing new in Hollywood, the unauthorized and unlawful acts of Heard, Cullen, and others - most notably, their campaign to damage Plaintiff, the Picture, and the Picture's investors - are perhaps unprecedented," states the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. "Indeed, as a result of their misconduct, which continues to this day, the very promising Picture remains in limbo, hijacked and placed under a cloud by Heard, Cullen, and others."

According to the complaint, Heard disregarded contractual obligations by failing to render acting services in conformity with the shooting script and later by refusing to attend the Toronto premiere or engage in other promotional services. She's also charged with conspiring with Cullen to violate his contractual agreements.

Story continues

Cullen has made it clear that he's unhappy with the producers' cut of the film, which according to his lawsuit, included "incendiary imagery evoking 9/11 jumpers edited against pornography."

The actors are clearly supporting Cullen, and the latest lawsuit against Heard discusses some of the background drama on London Fields, which has been cursed from inception in more ways than one.

For example, the suit against Heard discusses what happened in November, 2014, upon a submission of the movie to the Sundance Film Festival.

"In an effort to intimidate Nicola Six, Heard ly claimed to Nicola Six that she had not contractually agreed to allow the use of nudity in the Picture," states the complaint. "Heard also ly claimed that she had not granted Nicola Six the right to the results and proceeds of her acting services in the Picture."

Producers say that various agreements provided such rights and allowances and that objections to the contrary were part of a conspiracy to undermine the film.

"As a result of Heard's refusal to comply with her contractual obligations - including her improper refusal to act in provocative scenes contained in the pre-approved script - key scenes in the script had to be removed and/or rewritten to accommodate Heard's behavior," continues the lawsuit.

Afterwards, Heard is alleged to have refused to participate in dialogue replacement, and by mid-2015, she and the film's other stars including Depp and Billy Bob Thornton are said to have forwarded their correspondence with Hanley to Amis. According to the complaint, "This act, along with Heard's other disclosures of confidential information, was in violation of Heard's agreements with Nicola Six... in which she promised not to disclose confidential information regarding the Picture or Nicola Six."

The producer is represented by Mathew Rosengart, a former prosecutor now at Greenberg Traurig, who is seeking at least $10 million in compensatory damages.
Were living in an age when some of our most valued and dynamic companies are offering cloud storage and ride-sharing apps, but were unable to factor it into how we measure productivity.

Take, for example, the time you save by requesting an Uber through the app while you finish up your work instead of waiting on a street corner trying to hail a cab. Or, what about the efficiency in searching on Google for a question about President-elect Donald Trumps various businesses rather than heading to the library and sifting through an encyclopedia or newspaper archive to find the answer.

Still, members of the Federal Reserve have repeatedly cited a decline in productivity growth as a primary reason for slower economic growth in the US.

Last month, Fed vice chairman Stanley Fischer said there has been a slowdown in productivity gains, with business-sector productivity rising  percent, on average, over the past five years, compared to 2% gains per year from 1976 to 2005. On Friday, St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard said higher capital spending and tax reform, two of Trumps potential policies, could improve US productivity.

But, is lagging productivity greatly exaggerated? Dave Roux, partner at Silver Lake, a private equity firm that focuses on leveraged buyouts and investments in technology and tech-enabled industries, believes that we are actually a hyper-productive generation, and credits advanced technological developments for dramatically improving the welfare of our society.

The most important problem is that were missing hyper-productivity. Its so dramatic that you miss it because its not priced, said Roux.

Think of search photo-sharing sites like Instagram or dating apps like Tinder. How do you think about the success of such companies? Successful hook ups per hour? Theres no money changing hands and its not measured. Yet, think about how youre spending your time. These companies are a core part of it, Roux told Yahoo Finance. Time is money, after all.

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Productivity: an esoteric indicator?

The problem with measuring productivity has been around since computers were in their infancy. You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics, Robert Solow, Nobel laureate in economics, said in 1987. He illuminated the chasm between the amount of money invested in information technology (IT) and how little that investment has contributed to the countrys gross domestic product (GDP).

This inability for new technology  apart from the era between 1996 and 2004  to reflect increased productivity in the economy is now fittingly known as the Solow paradox. Thirty years after Solow identified this perplexing predicament, we are still confronted with this inability to calculate how digital, intangible investments are leading to a more productive economy.

The US bureau of labor statistics (BLS) defines productivity as a way to measure how efficiently inputs are converted into output. The standard measure is GDP per hour worked. GDP was an concept created in the 1930s, when the Department of Commerce commissioned economists to develop a way to measure the total value of final goods and services, like bushels of wheat or housing services.

Of course, this measurement was created in a pre-Internet era, and as Googles (GOOG, GOOGL) chief economist Hal Varian has pointed out, does not fully recognize the value added by Internet companies.

Productivity was a useful measure in the pre-Internet world, when the US economy relied much more on manufacturing, which peaked as a source of jobs in the US in 1953, when the sector employed 26% of American workers. Today, manufacturing accounts for around 8.4% of US jobs.

Though last quarter, US productivity showed its fastest growth in the last two years, its overall trend is still historically soft. But Roux says a large swath of the new economy doesnt have a price and therefore isnt being measured.

The biggest gamechanger of this generation is the wide adoption of mobile and the varied ways we utilize our smartphones.

San Francisco Fed economist John Ferland added another example. Mobile has had a major effect on how we live, reducing transaction costs of day to day living. Coordinating when were going to meet and dramatically changing how we entertain ourselves, he told Yahoo Finance.

Mismeasurement: an age-old problem

Though it may appear that its been a novel phenomenon that our goods and services are unable to be captured by the limited view of output in the traditional economy, Ferland said the Internet isnt the only reason productivity is difficult to measure of late; its a longstanding problem often aggravated by mismeasurement.

There has been a longstanding shift of the economy to focus on services. Manufacturing as a share of what people do has been declining. Try to measure the real services of a lawyer or of a medical professional. But this has always been true, he told Yahoo Finance.

Some components of real output, including the services provided by information technology, are indeed poorly measured. Yet for mismeasurement to explain the productivity slowdown, growth must be mismeasured by more than in the past, he elaborates in his working paper, Does the United States Have a Productivity Slowdown or a Measurement Problem?

He points out that mismeasurement has not gotten worse since the start of the digital revolution in the early 2000s. Our adjustments turn out to make the post-2004 slowdown in labor productivity even larger than measured. The slowdown of business-sector total factor productivity (TFP) growth is only modestly affected, writes Fernald.

The need for reinvention

Roux argues that the innovation of this past decade has been disruptive enough to reinvent the idea of productivity entirely.

He said we have to start from ground zero to redefine productivity as a measurement. When you get into a complicated situation and you cant understand it, its time to start fresh. The places that are attracting the most money and attention, generating the highest growth, like Google and Facebook, are those that are selling things that are free, he said.

Economists like Ferland, however, say its important to contextualize productivity  as merely one economic indicator.

Were still valuing [productivity] as a measure. Part of the world that is within the scope of what businesses do is going up more slowly in the past. Were missing some of that improvement but we were always missing it.

Roux said despite it being a single indicator of the health of the economy, its vital for us to come up with a new way to measure just how productive we are as a society.

Companies in the digital economy have a core value proposition  Im going to give you something thats very valuable for free, said Roux. They have been able to monetize your attention, which is a very cool thing that no one has figured out how to measure yet.

The US economy is only 27% digitalized, according to Morgan Stanleys head of telecommunications research Francois Meunier. There are lots of inefficiencies to be unlocked, which could increase the level of digitalization to 43% over the next 5 to 10 years. If we dont choose to find a new way to measure productivity now, well be forced to in the imminent future.

Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance.

Read more from Melody here & follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm.
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj hit the American Music Awards stage together Sunday night to perform their song "Side to Side."

The performance had the audience dancing in the aisles featured an elaborate tropical set complete with sand and palm trees, an entourage of backup dancers and a full swing grind train.

The AMA stage isn't new to either of the pop vocalists; this year's performance of their hit song marked their second AMA performance together.

Grande has now performed at four consecutive AMAs, first in 2013 to with "The Way" and "Tattooed Heart," again in 2014 with "Bang, Bang" alongside Jessie J and Minaj and "Love Me Harder" with The Weeknd, and then in 2015 with her hit single "Focus."

Minaj also took the AMA stage for the fourth time after performing a medley of "Sweat," "Turn Me On" and "Super Bass" with David Guetta in 2011, followed by a solo performance of "Freedom" in 2012, and then a solo "Bed of Lies" performance and the "Bang, Bang" collaboration in 2014.

Minaj is also scheduled to perform "Do You Mind" with DJ Khaled, August Alsina, Future and Rick Ross at Sunday night's AMAs.

A three-time AMA nominee, Grande is up for 2016's highest honor, artist of the year.

Minaj is a six-time AMA winner and eight-time nominee.

Read more: American Music Awards: The Complete Winners List

Other artists scheduled to perform include Justin Bieber, Niall Horan, Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar, James Bay, Carlos Vives, Fifth Harmony, Lady Gaga, DJ Khaled, Green Day, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, Twenty One Pilots, The Weeknd, a special duet from The Chainsmokers and Halsey, and the American Music Award of Merit honoree and performer Sting.

The nominations for the fan-voted awards show, produced by Dick Clark Productions, were revealed last month. Drake leads with a record 13 noms, while Rihanna has seven and Adele and Justin Bieber each have five. Beyonce and The Chainsmokers follow closely behind with four and Bryson Tiller, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood, Fetty Wap and the Weeknd each have three. Keep up with the latest winners here.

The 2016 American Music Awards show, airing on ABC, is executive produced by Allen Shapiro and Mike Mahan, with Larry Klein, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco serving as producers.
Bruno Mars kicked off the American Music Awards Sunday with some of his 24K Magic and that was just the beginning of a long night with amazing performances. Lady Gaga gave us a Million Reasons to love her performance, while Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj walked Side to Side through their performance. And Sting used Every Breath during a musical montage, before accepting the American Music Award of Merit. Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid were the hosts of the evening, and even though Jay is known for his impressions, it was Gigis impression of Melania Trump that had people talking and not in a good way. Although, the hosts werent the only ones who brought politics into the show, Chrissy Teigen made headlines for her revealing dress and for revealing her opinion about the election, which had the censors working overtime. Plus, Idina Menzel and Mark Cuban joked about not being invited to Trumps inauguration, with Idina saying, Us unsafe, scary theater people won't be invited either... I love you, Hamilton!" The biggest statement of the night was made by Green Day during their performance of Bang Bang, when frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong decided to add a few new lyrics. Billie stood in the middle of the stage chanting, No Trump, no KKK, no Fascist USA! Although, the night wasnt all about music and politics, some of it was just goofy and fun. Jay Pharoah spoofed Taylor Swifts Apple Music commercial, where she wipes out while running on a treadmill, listening to Drake and Futures Jumpman. Jay recreated the commercial, wearing a blonde wig, and taking a spill on a treadmill. Then Jay premiered a new ad featuring Drake working out to Taylors Bad Blood. Like any award show, there were some emotional moments as well. Selena Gomez made her first public appearance since taking a career hiatus earlier this year, and when she won Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Selena gave a powerful speech. And Selena wasnt alone, when Purple Rain won Top Soundtrack, more than 30 years after it was released, Princes sister, Tyka Nelson, had a hard time holding back the tears. Tyka ended her speech with, Until we see you again, this is for you, as she held the award toward the sky.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will not step down, a spokesman said on Monday, after a German magazine raised the possibility amid mounting speculation about senior jobs in Brussels and Berlin. "The president is not going to resign," a Commission spokesman told a news briefing when questioned about the report in Der Spiegel that Juncker had threatened to quit if European Parliament President Martin Schulz has to give up his post. The spokesman declined further comment on words attributed to Juncker, a center-right former premier of Luxembourg who has formed a close alliance with Schulz, a German Social Democrat. Both have been pushing for Schulz to have a third 30-month term as speaker in January, despite opposition from the center-right in the EU legislature who want to hold him to a previous deal that he make way for a conservative. Adding to the intrigue, Schulz is also seen in line for high-profile positions at home, as foreign minister since this month's nomination of Frank-Walter Steinmeier as German head of state. Schulz may also be the SPD's candidate to challenge conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in September. Others have also questioned whether Schulz should go at a time of turbulence for the Union since Britain's vote to leave. It would leave all three main EU institutions led by the center-right and could see pressure on European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair negotiations on Brexit Tusk's first 30-month term expires at the end of May. Juncker has a five-year term that runs until October 2019. The center-right and center-left in the legislature formed an effective grand coalition after Juncker defeated Schulz in 2014 to be parliament's choice to run the executive Commission. Since then, Juncker and Schulz have formed a close partnership, notably in confronting a strengthening challenge from eurosceptics. The center-right European People's Party (EPP) wants the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) to honor the promise that Schulz step down. Last week, the EPP re-elected its German leader, Manfred Weber, as head of the group in the Parliament. Weber, from Merkel's allied CSU party in Bavaria, has not ruled out seeking Schulz's post himself. The EPP is expected to choose in December its candidate for the position. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Mitra Taj and Jeff Mason LIMA (Reuters) - Pacific Rim leaders vowed on Sunday to fight protectionism and Chinese officials said more countries are looking to join a China-led trading bloc after Donald Trump's election victory raised fears the United States would scrap free trade deals. Trump campaigned for U.S. president on a promise to pull out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, and also threatened to impose steep tariffs against China and Mexico. Regional leaders responded on Sunday, saying they would push ahead with the TPP. "We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism," they said at a summit meeting of the 21-country Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group in Peru. On his last foreign trip before he leaves the White House in January, President Barack Obama said abandoning TPP would be a mistake for the United States. "I think not moving forward would undermine our position across the region and our ability to shape the rules of global trade in a way that reflects our values and our interests," Obama told a news conference at the end of the summit. Obama negotiated the TPP but has stopped seeking its congressional approval and says its ratification is now up to the incoming Trump administration. China is not part of the TPP and has been pushing an alternative vision of free trade in Asia under the so-called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does not currently include countries in the Americas. Tan Jian, a senior member of China's delegation at the summit, said more countries are now seeking to join its 16-member bloc, including Peru and Chile, and that current members want to reach a deal as soon as possible to counter rising protectionism. In a final declaration, APEC leaders said the TPP and RCEP were both valid paths to a broader Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, which has long been a goal of the APEC bloc that accounts for 57 percent of the world economy. "We encourage that all regional undertakings, including TPP and RCEP, remain open, transparent and inclusive and draw on each other," they said. Some APEC leaders in Lima have suggested the TPP could continue without the United States, but others said that would require a complete renegotiation. Another way forward might be to make some cosmetic changes that would allow Trump to change his mind on the TPP without losing face, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key suggested. Obama said he was already hearing calls for a "less ambitious" free trade agreement with fewer protections for workers and environmental standards, a likely reference to the China-led RCEP. "That kind of agreement would obviously exclude U.S. workers and businesses and access to those markets," he said. China's delegation warned against the "politicization" of trade agreements and said they should not just be for rich economies. "If you have such high standards, then developing economies will have difficulty with trade," Jian told Reuters. A "low threshold for developing economies ... that is also important." Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who hosted the summit, said it was too early to write off the TPP and that Trump's support was due more to "difficult economic conditions" than to fierce protectionist sentiment. Canada, a member of TPP but not RCEP, is keeping its options open on future trade deals, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Australia, similarly, said it was pursuing various opportunities, including RCEP. "Well as I've indicated previously, Australia doesn't have all its eggs in one basket," Trade Minister Steven Ciobo told reporters. "It's not a case of the TPP is all that there is for Australia." (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, Mitra Taj, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Jeff Mason, and Caroline Stauffer; Additional reporting by Jane Wardell in Sydney; Editing by Mary Milliken and Kieran Murray)
Buenos Aires (AFP) - An official in Argentina's government denied Monday that Donald Trump had asked President Mauricio Macri to approve a building project by one of his companies in Buenos Aires.

Macri's government was under pressure to respond to a report that the US president-elect made the request when the two spoke on the telephone after the outspoken magnate's shock election win this month.

The claim was made by prominent Argentine journalist Jorge Lanata in a television show on Sunday.

A close advisor to Macri who asked not to be named told AFP on Monday that Trump did not "in any way" make such a request to the president.

"All they talked about was maintaining relations between their two countries," said the official.

The adviser added that Trump and Macri also "recalled the personal relations they had years earlier" when they met as fellow real estate businessmen in New York in the 1980s.

YY Development Group, a partner in Trump's real estate empire, is planning to build a 35-floor office building in central Buenos Aires, sources in the company said.

Macri said after calling Trump last week that he hoped for a "constructive relationship" with the new US president.

A source in Buenos Aires city hall told AFP it had "nothing to say" about the building project.
arrival alien language

Its not often you see a sci-fi blockbuster centered on linguistics. Thankfully, "Arrival" is fairly accurate in its portrayal of the field, according to professor Jessica Coon, who consulted on the movie.

"Early on before they started filming, I read a few drafts of the screenplay, and I was asked to give feedback on some of the more linguistically relevant parts," Coon, who teaches linguistics at McGill University, recently told Business Insider. "A lot of the comments they took into account. Some of them they said, 'Linguists in the end are not Hollywood's main audience, it'll be all right if some of these don't make it in.' In the end, it turned out great, I think."

"Arrival," based on the short story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang, focuses on humans trying to communicate with mysterious aliens, called heptapods, who appear around the world. It stars Amy Adams as linguist Louise Banks.

The production, filmed in Montreal, turned to McGill professor Morgan Sonderegger for help creating a strange spoken language, splicing whale songs, big cat purring, and more.

Production designer Patrice Vermette and his wife, artist Martine Bertrand, took the lead in visualizing the written language, creating around 100 swirly circular symbols. Stephen Wolfram, founder of Mathematica coding software, and his son, Christopher Wolfram, helped analyze the symbols. And then Coon got involved.

"I worked a lot with the set crew, helping get the visual aspect of being a linguist and doing linguistics right," Coon said. "They came to the office, they took pictures of everything, they borrowed books off the shelf, they had me go in and write on the white board in Amy Adams' office. They brought me to the military cryptography tent and wanted to know what's going to be on the white boards here where they're deciphering the language, what's their to-do list look like? How would somebody annotate these logograms? So they sent me a stack of these logogram printouts and said, well, you're a linguist, figure it out."

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arrival alien language

In the movie, Banks and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) focus on cracking the written language, which is portrayed in the smoke-like symbols.

"The way a linguist would approach this is the same way a linguist would approach understanding the grammar of a human language, which is looking for patterns," Coon said. "In the movie, one of the scenes they show is Ian walking and they're trying to get the heptapod equivalent of 'Ian walks' or 'Ian is walking.' Then maybe they would ask for 'Louise is walking' and look at these two symbols and say what do they have in common?"

The idea is that you have to figure out those basics before you can build up to complex questions.

"What the film gets exactly right is both the interactive nature but also that you really have to start small," Coon said.

amy adams arrival

Aside from looking and sounding strange, the heptapod language has some unique features. One is the disconnect between the spoken and the written versions.

"A really interesting thing about this heptapod language is it doesnt have any relationship to the spoken heptapod language," Coon said. "As far as Im aware, human written languages are always based on human spoken language... A heptapod might wonder why did we waste this medium just writing down the same thing that we would say."

Analyzing the languages, of course, took creative license.

"[The creators] are the first to admit that its not a full language, this is not the next Klingon," Coon said.

Indeed, it would not have been possible to create an alien language that lived up to its description in the book, since understanding the timeless language supposedly unlocked the ability to see into the future.

"Its an artistic idea of how complex a language could be, how different a language could be," Coon said, "but, no, this is art."

arrival logograms

arrival logogram

SOYL CPT 008

Coon says consulting for a sci-fi film was a rare treat.

"Its never happened, and Im not sure it will ever happen again, but thats something thats so great and unusual about this movie," she said. "Here we have a movie where an academic is the protagonist, and not just an academic, an academic linguist, the hero of a sci-fi movie."

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Two months after giving birth, Behati Prinsloo made her first post-baby red carpet appearance at the 2016 American Music Awards on Sunday night.

Wearing a low-cut black dress with a high, structured waist, the Victoria Secret Angel sizzled on the carpet as she headed to the show, where her husband, Adam Levine, is set to perform with his band.

The Maroon 5 frontman, 37, and Prinsloo, 27, welcomed their first child on Sept. 21 in California. Daughter Dusty Rose is the first child for both Adam Levine and Prinsloo, who were married in 2014.

Want to win a trip to L.A.? Enter now for your chance to be at the Oscars Red Carpet

This isnt the first time Prinsloo has celebrated her body after baby. After documenting every step of her pregnancy on Instagram, the new mom uploaded her very first post-baby selfie in October.

After 3 weeks of breastfeeding every 3 hours, no sleep and nursing my nipples back to life lol, I left the house to see my girls for dinner, Prinsloo, 27, captioned the mirror selfie taken in a walk-in closet. However, shes not complaining about motherhood.

Even though their baby girl is only 8 weeks old, Dusty Rose already has Levine wrapped around her finger.

I dont know anything, but its part of the beauty of it, honestly, Levine told Ryan Seacrest in October about being a new dad. There are a lot of instincts, a lot of things that kick in and switch on. Its a beautiful experience.




Hollywood funnyman Ben Stiller and his daughter joined the protest against hate in Brooklyn this weekend, and he proudly shared a snap of the gathering on social media. The Zoolander 2 actor also clarified that the rally was not directed toward President-elect Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Stiller took to Twitter to share a snap of the gathering in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn Heights. He also revealed in his tweet that his daughter, 14-year-old Ella Olivia, was with him and that they were in the presence of NY State Senator Daniel Squadron and the people of Brooklyn who are also standing up against hate.

Immediately after sharing the photo, however, a fan questioned if the actor joined a rally that was against hate or against President-elect Donald Trump. Stiller was quick to respond that the movement was not at all a protest against Trump, but a move to stand up against all sorts of hate crimes against the people of the United States.

When the fan pointed out that Trump is not the person behind the hate crimes as proven by Trumps call to his supporters to stop hate crimes during his 60 Minutes interview, Stiller retorted that Trump can still do more to prevent these crimes. The comedian suggested that President Obamas successor could continue denouncing these acts and tweet about them since his election to the Oval Office clearly caused a spike in the number of hate crimes.

Another fan also joined the conversation to tell the actor that Trump is also against hate crimes and that he should give the president-elect a chance. To this Stiller replied that the Brooklyn protest was basically against hate crimes and was never about politics or giving Trump a chance.

A day prior the protest, Stiller already confirmed on Twitter that he is coming to the rally when he retweeted a post that gives specific details about the movement. Per the infographic, the protest was joined by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and City Council members Stephen Levin and Brad Lander. Elected officials and community and faith leaders were also part of the rally that was organized after swastikas and Go Trump writings began appearing in Adam Yauch Park.

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Ben Stiller

Photo: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

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MILAN (AP) -- Silvio Berlusconi would stay on as honorary president at AC Milan after selling the club to Chinese investors if he can retain powers impacting the squad.

''I would have to have some abilities to intervene, like yes or no on buying or selling players or on playing formations,'' Berlusconi told reporters early Monday following Milan's 2-2 draw with Inter in the city derby, confirming that the Chinese group offered him the position.

''If I'm assured of that I'll try to accept even the honorary presidency,'' he added.

The closing for the club sale is slated for Dec. 13.

The deal with the Chinese group, which includes the participation of a Chinese state investment fund, values Milan at 740 million euros (about $800 million).

Whether he becomes honorary president or not, it was likely Berlusconi's final derby as Milan's owner and the Rossoneri fans paid tribute in their pre-match choreography, unveiling a giant banner with a picture of him and all the trophies won during his tenure.

Berlusconi owns 99.93 percent of the club, which he purchased 30 years ago. The three-time former premier and billionaire businessman has been negotiating for more than a year to sell the seven-time European champions.

Fininvest, Berlusconi's holding company, is still waiting for the Chinese group to pay the final chunk of 440 million euros ($465 million). The Chinese group - of which all the members have not been named yet - has already provided a 100 million euro ($105 million) deposit.

''We have very precise assurances from the banks that the deal will be closed the 13th,'' Berlusconi said. ''So we'll wait until the 13th and see what happens. If it's not concluded then we'll see what to do.''

The Milan sale comes after Suning, the Chinese retail giant, took control of 70 percent of Inter in June.

Berlusconi also wants longtime club vice president Adriano Galliani to stay on at Milan, even though Galliani has indicated he would be interested in running for Serie A president.

''I really hope there's space for him,'' Berlusconi said. ''I'm going to make that one of the conditions for me accepting the honorary presidency.''
Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont criticized President-elect Donald Trump's infrastructure plan Monday as "a scam" that benefits "billionaires" who "are already doing phenomenally well."

In a Medium post, the independent senator from Vermont and former Democratic presidential candidate roiled Trump's blueprint.

Sanders, along with many other Democrats, had expressed a willingness to work with Trump on infrastructure spending, a longtime priority of the party that many Republicans had eschewed in recent years.

"During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump correctly talked about rebuilding our countrys infrastructure," Sanders said. "But the plan he offered is a scam that gives massive tax breaks to large companies and billionaires on Wall Street who are already doing phenomenally well. Trump would allow corporations that have stashed their profits overseas to pay just a fraction of what the companies owe in federal taxes. And then he would allow the companies to invest in infrastructure projects in exchange for even more tax breaks."

It was Sanders' strongest rebuke of Trump's plan, which incentivizes companies to invest in infrastructure projects through tax breaks rather than direct spending. He has proposed an approximately $1 trillion plan to invest in rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, though it has seen backlash from both sides of the aisle.

"Trumps plan is corporate welfare coming and going," Sanders wrote.

Sanders contrasted the plan with his own, the Rebuild America Act, which he said he will reintroduce in Congress in January. The plan calls for $1 trillion in infrastructure investments over five years.

"Importantly, at a time when we need to reverse the 40-year decline of the American middle class, this legislation would create and maintain at least 13 million good-paying jobs, while making our country more productive, efficient and safe," he wrote. "Unlike Trumps plan, which creates new tax loopholes and is a corporate giveaway, my Rebuild America Act would be paid for by eliminating tax loopholes that allow hugely profitable multinational corporations to stash their profits in offshore tax havens around the world."

Story continues

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows how drastically split different demographics are this election





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With the final season of "Dead to Me" dropping on Netflix on Nov. 17, Applegate said, "This is the first time anyones going to see me the way I am. I put on 40 pounds; I cant walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that."
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / BioSig Technologies, Inc. (BSGM), a medical device company developing the PURE EP(TM) System, a novel cardiac electrophysiology (EP) signal acquisition and analysis system, announced today that its President and CEO, Gregory Cash will be presenting at the 9th Annual LD Micro Main Event on Wednesday, December 7 at 11:30 AM PST / 2:30 PM EST at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. Gregory Cash and BioSig's Executive Chairman, Kenneth Londoner will be available for meetings with investors. Please email info@biosigtech.com to schedule a one on one meeting.



The LD Micro Main Event is the largest independent conference for small/microcap companies and will feature 240 presenting names.

View BioSig Technologies' profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/BSGM

News Compliments of Accesswire

About BioSig Technologies

BioSig Technologies is a medical device company that is developing a proprietary technology platform designed to improve the $4 billion EP marketplace (1) (biosigtech.com). Led by a proven management team and a veteran, independent Board of Directors, Minneapolis-based BioSig Technologies is preparing to commercialize its PURE EP System.

The PURE EP(TM) System is a surface electrocardiogram and intracardiac multichannel signal acquisition and analysis system engineered to assist electrophysiologists in making clinical decisions in real-time by acquiring and displaying high-fidelity cardiac signal recordings and providing clarity of data which may be used to guide the electrophysiologists in identifying ablation targets - areas of tissue to treat that otherwise create a heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia).

Analysts forecast the global market for EP devices will grow at a 12.1 percent compound annual growth rate, from $2.5 billion in 2012 to $5.5 billion by 2019(1), making it one of the fastest growing medical device segments. Just in the US, the number of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) arrhythmia ablations is forecast to grow at 10.5 percent from 2012 to 2017(2).

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BioSig has partnered with Minnetronix on technology development and is working toward FDA 510(k) clearance for the PURE EP System. The Company has achieved proof of concept validation and tested its prototype at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Cardiac Arrhythmia Center; and has performed pre-clinical studies at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Additionally, an Advanced Research Program at Mayo Clinic began in June 2016. The Company is also collaborating with other prestigious cardiac arrhythmia centers including Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

(1) Electrophysiology Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019

(2) HRI 2013 "Global Opportunities in Medical Devices & Diagnostics" report; triangulation of multiple sources; AF includes left atrial tachycardia, left WPW, left atrial flutter.

About LD Micro

LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event).

In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and microcap universe.

For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com/events for more information.

Contact:

Investor Relations:

Brian McLaughlin

BioSig Technologies, Inc.

bmclaughlin@biosigtech.com

917-370-9817

Robert Haag

Managing Partner

IRTH Communications

BSGM@irthcommunications.com

866-976-4784

SOURCE: BioSig Technologies via LD Micro
Kabul (AFP) - A massive suicide blast targeting Shiites killed at least 27 people and wounded 64 as worshippers gathered at a Kabul mosque Monday, officials said, the latest sectarian attack claimed by Islamic State in the Afghan capital.

The attacker was mingling with worshippers inside the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the city when he detonated the bomb, said senior police official Fridon Obaidi.

The blast around 12:30 pm left a large crater inside the two-storey mosque. Bodies covered in blood could be seen on the ground among shattered glass. Police cordoned off the area as ambulances rushed to the scene.

"I heard a blast and dust covered the whole mosque," said worshipper Nadir Ali.

"When the dust settled down, I saw the mosque was full of flesh and blood. I was injured in my waist and had to crawl out of the mosque."

Another worshipper, Ali Jan, told AFP: "I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming."

The worshippers were gathering for the major Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen marking the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was assassinated in the year 680. His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan.

The death toll given by Obaidi was confirmed by health ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi, who said Monday evening the wounded toll had jumped from 35 to 64. Women and children were among the injured.

The UN gave a different toll of at least 32 dead and more than 50 wounded.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack in a statement via the jihadist-linked Amaq news agency.

President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement he strongly condemned the "barbaric" attack, which the UN called an "atrocity".

NATO commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson offered condolences and the US embassy in Kabul also condemned the blast, which Amnesty International called "horrific and deliberate".

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"(Afghan authorities) have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shia Muslims from attacks," said Champa Patel, Amnesty's South Asia director.

- Call for security -

Mosques in Kabul generally do not have any security -- though police patrols can be seen near some on Fridays -- and some eyewitnesses criticised the government over the lack of protection.

"They know that Daesh (IS), who is able to conduct attacks in Europe, can reach places in Afghanistan easily. They should provide security to sacred places," said one man who gave his name as Rahmat.

Last month a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It followed twin attacks claimed by IS that also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

In July IS jihadists claimed twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 and wounding more than 400 others.

Those bombings marked the deadliest single attack in the Afghan capital since the Taliban were ousted from power in a 2001 US-led invasion.

Fighters from IS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, have been making steady inroads in Afghanistan, challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country's east.

The Taliban, who are waging a bloody war to topple the US-backed Afghan government, said they were not involved in Monday's attack.

The assault underscores rising insecurity in the war-torn country nearly two years after US-led NATO forces formally ended their combat operations.

Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims gather each year in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious events. The pilgrimage is seen as a major potential target for sectarian attacks.
By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England (BoE) has proposed raising the guarantee on bank account deposits back to 85,000 pounds from Jan. 30, 2017, to reflect the sharp fall in sterling following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

The level of deposit account protection is set under EU rules at 100,000 euros or its equivalent in member states that do not use the single currency.

It was cut to 75,000 pounds in Britain in 2015 following a regular five-year adjustment under the bloc's rules. A weaker euro against the pound was the reason for the cut.

The BoE's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which regulates banks in Britain and requires them to fund the guarantee, said a change in the pound's value against the euro after the Brexit vote in June, meant it could be adjusted.

Sterling lost about a fifth of its value against the euro in the aftermath of the June referendum, and the EU rules allow for adjustments due to unforeseen events.

"Restoring the limit to 85,000 pounds  the level in effect for almost five years prior to 3 July 2015  is intended to provide a measure of memorability and consistency," the PRA said in a statement, announcing a consultation on the matter.

Lenders would have until the end of June 2017 to implement the changes to systems.

"The PRA will continue to monitor fluctuations in the exchange rate but, barring unforeseen events, will seek to avoid making further adjustments to the deposit protection limit," the watchdog said.

Andrew Tyrie, chairman of parliament's Treasury Select Committee, described the cut in 2015 as absurd.

Tyrie said on Monday the PRA's consultation was a recipe for more uncertainty, but Brexit should allow Britain to write its own rules for protecting depositors.

"The absurd situation, in which the UK is left vulnerable, at the discretion of the European Commission, to frequent changes in our deposit scheme, must be brought to an end," Tyrie said in a statement.

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"Brexit should give the UK the opportunity to set its own level of protection. We should take it."

Paul Edmondson, head of financial services at law firm CMS, said: "There is little doubt that putting the level of financial protection back to its pre-2015 sterling level of 85,000 pounds serves the UK's domestic agenda."

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday revived a lawsuit accusing Bank of America Corp <BAC.N> of defrauding Tutor Perini Corp <TPC.N> by selling the construction company millions of dollars of auction-rate securities it knew were on the brink of collapse.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston said a lower court judge erred in dismissing federal and Massachusetts state securities fraud claims against the second-largest U.S. bank.

Tutor Perini said Bank of America pushed it to buy auction-rate securities in late 2007 and early 2008 despite knowing the market was "one step away from illiquidity."

The $330 billion auction-rate market seized up in February 2008 when dealers stopped supporting it, saddling investors with illiquid debt that had often been marketed as a cash substitute.

In dismissing Tutor Perini's lawsuit in August 2015, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton said Bank of America made numerous disclosures to the Sylmar, California-based company and "had no duty to disclose all facts" reflecting the risks.

Writing for the appeals court, however, Circuit Judge Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson said deteriorating conditions might have obliged Bank of America to warn of new risks that made its earlier recommendations stale.

Citing emails, Thompson said "a reasonable jury could find that while (the bank) was taking steps to protect itself, it urged an unsuspecting Tutor Perini to walk right off the cliff."

Bank of America spokesman Lawrence Grayson declined to comment.

Tutor Perini estimates its losses at more than $50 million, including interest.

Its lawyer, George Carpinello, a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner, said the company was "very pleased" with the decision.

"The court recited chapter and verse from Bank of America's own emails as to how the bank knew the market was on the verge of collapse, and decided that one way out of the crisis was to dump securities on unsuspecting investors," he said.

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Bank of America was among more than one dozen companies that agreed to repurchase more than $61 billion of auction-rate securities to settle claims by Andrew Cuomo, then New York's attorney general and now its governor.

Tutor Perini said corporate investors such as itself were ineligible for these settlements.

The case is Tutor Perini Corp v Bank of America Securities LLC et al, 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-1945.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
US coast guard yola vessel drug smuggling

US Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations agents seized 328 pounds of cocaine from a vessel near Puerto Rico on November 15, in what is the latest sign that traffickers may be returning to once popular Caribbean smuggling routes.

A CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft picked up a small, wooden "yola" vessel traveling eastward about 8 miles west of Desecheo Island, off the western coast of Puerto Rico.

CBP vessels were deployed to intercept the suspect boat, and agents observed two men on board the small wooden ship take packages from a cooler and toss them overboard.

Agents reached the vessel and arrested the two men. A search uncovered two compartments on the boat loaded with bricks of what tested positive for cocaine.

Agents also recovered the two bricks thrown into the water, and the total haul amounted to 328 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $4.2 million.

This seizure comes less than a month after CBP agents intercepted a similar vessel near Puerto Rico carrying 283 pounds of cocaine worth $3.6 million, and the two incidents appear to be the latest high-value seizure events.

Drug-smuggling routes through the Caribbean and into the southeastern US  South Florida in particular  were heavily trafficked in the 1980s, contributing to an upswing in drug violence in that part of the state.

Those trafficking corridors fell in popularity as enforcement efforts increased, and traffickers moved to sea and land routes in Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

But a number of US officials have warned that the smuggling pendulum would swing back to the eastern routes through the Caribbean, and recent seizures would seem to confirm an increase in such activity.

Desecheo Island Puerto Rico Caribbean drug smuggling trafficking

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In 2014, US officials estimated that the proportion of drugs shipped through the Caribbean had tripled, with the amount of cocaine traveling through the region increasing from 5% of the total to 16%. The then-head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's Caribbean division, Vito Salvatore Guarino, estimated that smugglers moved 90 to 100 tons through the region, more than the about 70 tons of previous years.

According to the CBP, during Fiscal Year 2015, which ran October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015, there were 49 drug seizures like the November 16 one in the Caribbean. During Fiscal Year 2016, which ended September 30, that type of seizure nearly doubled, hitting 95.

According to US Foreign Military Studies Office data, 80% of drugs smuggled into the US in 2012 came via maritime routes, and 30% of the drugs that came to the US by sea were carried on narco subs  though given criminal control of parts of western Colombia and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, it's likely that narco subs will continue to ply the US's western approaches, and recent narco-sub seizures have occurred in the Pacific.

In spite of that trend, however, most of the cocaine getting to the US still travels through Mexico via Central America. The DEA said in its 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment that 87% of the cocaine flowing to the US came through that area, while just 13% traveled through the Caribbean.

NOW WATCH: Some of the craziest ways cartels smuggle drugs into America





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(Adds quotes, comments throughout)

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer warned on Monday that the national debt could swell to the size of the country's gross domestic product within eight years should public spending not be brought under control and fiscal reforms not enacted.

Speaking to an advisory council of business leaders, Temer vowed to send a proposal to Congress next month to reform the pension system once lawmakers pass a spending cap. He asked the council to back the cap to revive confidence in the economy.

A 20-year-long ceiling on federal spending cap should pass Congress without changes in a few weeks, he added. The measure has cleared the lower house and is expected to win approval by the Senate by Dec. 13.

"The nature of Brazil's crisis is fiscal. For too long, governments have spent more than they earned," said Temer, who replaced leftist Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached and ousted earlier this year from breaching budgetary laws.

In consolidated terms, the budget deficit is expected to close 2016 at around 10 percent of GDP for a second year, and the public sector debt currently stands at 71 percent of GDP.

It is expected to balloon to about 80 percent of GDP in a few years and could exceed 100 percent of GDP if spending is not curbed, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles told the council.

Consolidated public sector data encompasses the pension system, the central bank as well as federal, state and municipal governments.

Temer's pension reform plan is expected to face fierce opposition from leftist parties and labor unions when it is debated in Congress next year. Most state governments in Brazil are "practically bankrupt" due to a heavy pension burden, Temer said.

Billionaire Abilio Diniz urged Temer to accelerate plans to proceed with auctions to build and operate infrastructure projects and licenses, so foreign investment would flow back to Brazil.

Diniz, the chairman of BRF Brasil Foods SA, the world's largest poultry exporter, said Brazilian companies and households are steeped in debt.

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Brazil's economy has shrunk 10 percent in two years of recession, incomes have suffered and weak consumer demand has delayed recovery, according to Luiz Carlos Trabuco, chief executive officer of Banco Bradesco, Brazil's No. 2 private-sector bank.

The so-called Economic and Social Development Council, which convened to advise Temer, includes top businessmen. Among them are Jorge Paulo Lemann, Brazil's richest person with a fortune estimated at around $28 billion, and Roberto Setubal, the outgoing CEO of Itau Unibanco Holding SA, the nation's largest bank by market value.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Additional reporting by Silvio Cascione and Alonso Soto in Brasilia; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Guillermo Parra-Bernal and W Simon)
London (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II could host Donald Trump within months of him becoming United States president, with the British government confirming Monday that it was considering a state visit next year.

Royal officials said that the government was responsible for organising state visits, and a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Theresa May said that the proposal was "under consideration".

The world's longest-reigning monarch would host the new president and his wife Melania at her Windsor Castle residence, according to a report in The Sunday Times, citing government ministers.

Trump told May that he was a "big fan of the Queen" when the pair spoke by telephone following his victory, and is also reported to have told British politician and ally Nigel Farage that his late mother Mary would be "chuffed to bits when I meet the Queen".

Britain is keen to build bridges with Trump after many leading government figures criticised the president-elect during his divisive, but successful election campaign.

Britain is also interested in sounding out a US trade deal as it plots its departure from the European Union.

Farage had offered to be a go-between to smooth relations, but the government instead looks set to unleash its most valuable diplomatic asset.

"An old friend in the Secret Service said to me that the last weapon of diplomacy is tea with the Queen," historian Peter Hennessy told the Times newspaper.

"She is the most potent weapon we have. It sounds like teacups are being made ready far sooner in the cycle than is normal," he added.

Britain will not issue an invitation to a president-elect, but is expected to make its move shortly after Trump's inauguration on January 20.
London (AFP) - Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the "cliff-edge scenario" of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment.

May made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, shortly after industry leaders warned her about the impact of an abrupt departure from the EU and its customs union.

"Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario -- a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions," Paul Drechsler, CBI president, said Monday.

"If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no man's land."

In comments widely interpreted as referring to a possible transitional arrangement with Brussels, May said: "We don't want a cliff-edge".

Businesses "want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward. That will be part of the work we do in terms of the negotiation," she said.

But companies at the gathering voiced their concerns.

"I'm not too optimistic about Brexit," a representative from German engineering firm Bosch told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I don't see things moving in the right direction".

Some business leaders have called for a temporary deal to set the terms of trade between Britain and the EU if a full deal cannot be reached in the two-year window available to arrange Britain's divorce from the bloc.

"It's really about making sure that we have a transition in term of regulatory regime," Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, told AFP.

- Research boost 'important' -

The prime minister has so far refused to outline what she will demand from EU leaders, but promised to update business on plans.

"If we approach the difficult negotiations to come in the right way, with the right spirit, we can strike a deal that's right for Britain and right for the rest of Europe too."

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One of her government's top priorities would be to secure an "early agreement" on the status of British nationals in Europe and EU nationals in Britain.

The continued availability of a European workforce is a key concern for British businesses.

May also announced her government would invest an extra A2 billion a year ($2.5 billion, 2.3 billion euros) in science research and development by 2020 and committed to the plans of the previous government to introduce the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20.

"Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery," she said. "We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success."

Mark Lloyd Davies, senior director of Johnson & Johnson, called the announcement "very positive".

"We can always want more but it's not trivial," he said. "It's not a gesture, it's actually important".

May spooked some industry leaders last month when she slammed "dysfunctional" markets and warned tax-avoiding multinationals she was "coming after" them during her first keynote speech as leader.

However, she struck a softer tone on Monday, saying her government "will always believe" in free markets, capitalism and business but insisted they needed to serve the interests of everyone.

Other speakers at the one-day conference included Paul Kahn, president of Airbus Group UK, and Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook's vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The social networking site on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with 500 extra jobs.

The British economy has remained resilient in the face of post-referendum uncertainty, but finance minister Philip Hammond is expected to announce a downgrade in future growth prospects when he presents the government's first major post-Brexit financial statement on Wednesday.
Warren Buffett (Credit: Reuters)

Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A), weighed in on embattled retail bank Wells Fargo (WFC).

Buffett, 86, met with 20 MBA and undergraduate students from Boston University, Columbia University, Concordia, Grinnell College, Marquette University, St. Louis University, the University of Maryland, and Yale University. The Oracle of Omaha spent more than 2 hours answering questions from the students. Audio and video recording were prohibited, but attendees were allowed to take notes.

Buffett told the students that Wells Fargo will be fine. He also expects that the number of depositors will be higher in a year, according to notes posted by Dr. David Kass, a professor of finance at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Question 15: What are your views on Tim Sloan (new CEO at Wells Fargo)?

WB: One-third of the country does business with Wells Fargo (WFC). WFC broke a bond of trust, but the number of depositors will be higher one year from now. Its balance sheet is $1 trillion  $2 trillion. Former CEO John Stumpf created an incentive system with perverse consequences. He should have acted quickly, but he did not. John Gutfreund at Salomon Brothers in 1989 also was slow to respond. One should face up to a problem fast. Get it right, get it fast, get it over. WFC will do fine over time. Berkshire has not sold any of its shares. Charlie says: an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

Since September, Wells Fargo has been rocked by a scandal involving employees at the retail bank opening up approximately 2 million fraudulent accounts to meet sales targets. More than 5,000 employees were subsequently fired.

Soon after, the banks now-former CEO, John Stumpf, was grilled on Capitol Hill over the cross-selling scandal with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) slamming him for gutless leadership. Just two weeks later, Stumpf, a 35-year veteran at the bank, retired as chairman and CEO. He was immediately replaced by Tim Sloan, who was previously the COO and president.

Story continues

Immediately after the scandal broke, the bank saw the number of new account openings drop in September. More recently, the bank indicated that it saw a significant slowdown in traffic in October. New account openings fell 44%, while account closures had risen 3%. The bank also saw a 50% drop in credit card applications.

In October, the San Francisco-based bank lost its accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. Wells Fargo is currently under investigation by the DOJ, the SEC, and state attorneys general and prosecutors offices.



Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance.

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california students protest trump presidency

In 2018, the issue of whether California should secede from the union could come to a head.

Yes California Independence Campaign, a fringe political group that calls for the state to become an independent nation, filed a proposed ballot measure with the Attorney General's Office on November 21, The Sacramento Bee reports.

If it garners the half a million signatures required to appear on the 2018 gubernatorial ballot, the measure would strike language from the state constitution that would help clear a path to secession.

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Still, a state holds no right to secede under federal law. Californians would need to pass an amendment to the US Constitution, which requires the blessings of the other 49 states.

The measure would also survey voters on whether a "Calexit" is something that interests them. If a clear majority declares their support for a Brexit-style departure, the state would hold a special election in March 2019 asking voters again if they want California to secede.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Louis Marinelli, president of Yes California, described the plans as a "double opt-in" process.

Far-fetched as it may sound, Calexit started gathering steam as Californians came to terms with a Donald Trump presidency on November 9. The campaign became a nationwide social media trend in a matter of hours, but has since fizzled.

The movement initially found an impressive backer in Shervin Pishevar, a well-known angel investor. He took to Twitter on election night urging California to become its own nation and offering to bankroll a secession campaign. Pishevar has since walked back those claims.

Marcus Ruiz Evans, Yes California Independence Campaign, calexit

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Yes California isn't giving up hope. It knows first-hand the challenges that lie ahead.

In 2015, Marinelli paid $200 each to get nine initiatives related to secession on a statewide ballot, according to The Los Angeles Times. None garnered the nearly 400,000 signatures necessary to appear on the ballot. So Marinelli and his followers were forced to start over.

The difference this time is that Trump is headed to the White House, Marinelli said.

"I think that we've seen  in my lifetime  a gradual, but steady deterioration of the system and the health of the republic, basically. I think that at one point or another, it's going to crumble," Marinelli said. "I think a lot of Californians just came to that realization."

Marinelli warns that if the American public could vote a controversial nominee such as Trump into office, the presidential candidates who follow will push the envelope again.

"Who are they going to elect next time? I think the people in California would certainly not like to find out, personally," Marinelli said. "So, let's get out of that system so we can elect fair-minded, rational politicians to office."

In the unlikely event Californians vote to approve the ballot measure put forth by Yes California, the state would repeal one important sentence from the California Constitution. It reads, "The State of California is an inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land."

For the special election in 2019 to be valid, at least 50% of the state's registered voters must participate and more than 55% must vote "yes," according to the measure's text.

Even so, it would be incredibly difficult for California to pull off a Calexit.

NOW WATCH: People in California are calling for a 'Calexit' after Trumps victory





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By Alastair Sharp

TORONTO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Canada's competition watchdog concluded on Monday that the country's largest stock exchange operator, TMX Group Ltd, did not violate anti-competitive rules despite its refusal to share private market data with a rival.

The statement followed an investigation prompted by a December 2015 complaint by Aequitas Innovations Inc, which operates the newly minted Neo Exchange, that contracts between TMX and investment dealers stymied its plans to offer a cheaper data pool sourced directly from the dealers.

The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency, said it found evidence that TMX refused to share the data but that the conduct likely did not violate competition rules.

TMX welcomed the news and said in a statement it "remains firmly committed to conducting business with integrity in full compliance with the Competition Act and in keeping with our public interest mandate."

TMX runs the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture for junior issuers and the Montreal Exchange for derivatives, among other businesses.

Aequitas attributed the decision to not enough investment dealers demonstrating support for its plan. It said it would now ask an umbrella group of Canadian securities regulators to mandate access to consolidated market data for all investors.

In Canada, each trading platform can set its own fees for trading data, unlike the United States, where markets pool such data and brokers and other market players pay a fee for the consolidated pool. The different U.S. venues then split the fees based on their market share of trading volumes.

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Netflix subscribers will be able to watch Captain America: Civil War over the holidays. Marvels superhero team-up will hit the streaming service in late December.

While most of Netflixs new movies will hit the streaming service on Dec. 1, others are delayed and released throughout the month. Captain America: Civil War falls into the latter category. Steve Rogers will be on Netflix on Christmas Day. It will hit Netflix Sunday, Dec. 25.

The third Captain America flick doesnt pit Steve (Chris Evans) against a big villain, but it instead shows him fighting Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). The government wants to regulate superheroes. They introduce the Sokovia Accords, a law that would force superheroes to work for the government. The Avengers wouldnt be able to decide when to leap into action. They would need officials to sign off. Similarly, they would have to help where ever the government decided they were needed.

Steve cant trust the government so soon after Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., but Tony cant handle the weight of all the casualties the Avengers have left behind. Another layer is added to the argument when the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is framed. Cap wants to save his best friend against government wishes. Iron Man wants to keep the Winter Soldier away from innocent people. Their argument divides the Avengers and forces them to fight each other.

While the dispute is the main focus of the Civil War, the introduction of new heroes was more exciting for some viewers. Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland) was introduced, marking his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Black Panther/TChalla (Chadwick Boseman) also put on his vibranium suit for the first time. Both will have standalone movies in July 2017 and February 2018, respectively.

The Marvel movie, which was in theaters in May, is the one of several Disney-owned movies that will be shown exclusively on Netflix. In September, a new contract between the two companies went into effect, according to Forbes. The deal gives Netflix exclusive U.S. rights to Disney films, which includes movies made by Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar. That means that you wont see Captain America: Civil War on cable any time soon.

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Captain America Civil War Netflix release date

Photo: Marvel

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By Rajendra Jadhav and Arpan Varghese

MUMBAI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Exports of 1 million bales of cotton from top producer India have been delayed after a government move to ban high-value currency notes prompted farmers, who prefer cash payments, to postpone sales, industry officials told Reuters.

The supply crunch has driven up prices in India to levels higher than in the global market and could force buyers to switch to other producers like the United States, Brazil and African countries. It could also curb India's total exports in the 2016/17 year marketing year that started on Oct. 1.

"Supplies are very limited in the market. Farmers are not selling cotton right now as they need payments in cash and it is not available," said Chirag Patel, chief executive officer of Indian exporter Jaydeep Cotton Fibers.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee bills to crack down on corruption. But the move disrupted trading of farm commodities like cotton and soybean as most farmers prefer payments in cash.

"November remains a peak supply month but now supplies have stopped due to the cash crunch. We are ready to give farmers cheque, but they are insisting on cash," said Pradeep Jain, a ginner based in Jalgaon in Maharashtra.

Expecting a bumper crop of 35 million bales, Indian traders had contracted 2 million bales for exports to China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan for shipments in November to January. But traders have managed to ship only around 300,000 bales and nearly 1 million bales that were due to ship in November and December are getting delayed, three exporters told Reuters.

India's inability to ship promptly could force buyers to switch to other suppliers like Brazil and the United State, said Keith Brown, principal at cotton brokers Keith Brown and Co in Moultrie, Georgia. "In fact, this may be one reason why U.S. cotton is going higher at harvest time."

New York cotton futures last week touched a high of 72.75 cents per pound, the loftiest since August. They have risen about 5 percent over the past fortnight, versus a 10 percent gain in Indian prices.

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The surge in local prices is also making signing new export deals difficult for India as overseas prices are lower than local prices, Jaydeep Cotton's Patel said.

The disruption in exports will have an impact on global prices as it reduces the overall supply, said Rebecca Pandolph, statistician of International Cotton Advisory Committee. "How much of an effect will depend on how long the situation lasts."

However, industry officials say the crunch is temporary and prices will moderate as India is set to harvest a bumper crop. Last year, the country shipped out 6.9 million bales.

"The Indian crop is still very big and if price pressure doesn't come now, then it's only being delayed and that pressure will arrive at some point," said a cotton trader from Britain.

(1 Indian bale = 170 kg)

(Additional reporting by Vijaykumar Vedala and Swati Verma in BENGALURU; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
The Catholic Church in Rwanda apologized Sunday for the church's role in the 1994 genocide, in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred. The church said in a statement issued by the Conference of Catholic Bishops that it regretted the actions of those who participated in the massacre.

"We apologize for all the wrongs the church committed. We apologize on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed. We regret that church members violated (their) oath of allegiance to God's commandments," the statement read, adding that church members planned, aided and executed the genocide.

The church had so far not officially admitted the roles of its members in the deadly massacre  which was sparked by a contentious plane crash that killed the then-President Juvenal Habyarimana.

The church's statement is seen as a positive development in Rwanda's efforts at reconciliation.

"Forgive us for the crime of hate in the country to the extent of also hating our colleagues because of their ethnicity. We didn't show that we are one family but instead killed each other," the statement said.

Bishop Phillipe Rukamba, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Rwanda, said the statement was timed to coincide with the formal end Sunday of the Holy Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis to encourage greater reconciliation and forgiveness in his church and in the world.

Jean-Damascene Bizimana, the executive secretary for the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, has welcomed the church's move.

"That the whole clergy sat down and apologised together for the role played in the genocide is a positive move; it shows their position and makes it clear for some who questioned the church's position on genocide. We also ask that all church members who committed genocide come up and apologise, there are priests and nuns who were accused of genocide and we ask that they apologise too," he said.

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A 42-year-old child care worker was arrested on Friday in Minneapolis after allegedly hanging a 16-month-old boy  who survived  and then leading police on a chase that left two more people injured, PEOPLE confirms.

Nataliia Mykhaylivna Karia remains in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department but has not been formally charged with any crime, records show. Information regarding her bail was unavailable Monday.

A motive in the case, which authorities have described as a horrific series of events, also remains unclear.

Officers were first summoned to a child care facility that Karia ran out of her home shortly before 10 a.m. Friday after a parent who arrived for drop-off called 911 about an injured child, police said in a statement.

Soon after arriving at the scene, police learned a 16-month-old boy had been hanged inside Karias residence.

The statement does not specify how the child had been hanged or where in the house the incident occurred but notes that the parent who called 911 freed the boy. A handful of children were in the home at the time, according to police.

The child was removed from the home and transported to a nearby hospital, where he continues to receive treatment. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

Authorities allege Karia fled the home before officers could arrive. Not long after, she allegedly ran down a man as he was exiting his vehicle.

The hit-and-run  which was soon succeeded by two others  was reported 14 minutes after the initial 911 report, according to the police statement.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter

After striking the man, Karia allegedly kept driving and ended up dragging the man a significant distance, leaving him with numerous scrapes and several broken bones, police said in their statement.

Karia then allegedly struck a bicyclist, breaking one of his legs, before colliding with a car that was being driven by a pregnant woman, according to police. All three people received medical attention.

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Some 20 minutes after the initial 911 call, police allege Karia was seen on a highway overpass where she was threatening to jump to her death. But a number of passersby held Karia down until police took her into custody as she allegedly tried to fight them off.

Karia  who does not have a lawyer at this time  is being evaluated at an area hospital, according to the police statement. She will be booked into the Hennepin County Jail in Minnesota as soon as she is released from the hospital.




BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Monday it was willing to consider any application from NATO-member Turkey to join a Russian and Chinese-led security bloc, after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his country could join. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001 to fight threats posed by radical Islam and drug trafficking from neighboring Afghanistan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Turkey was already a "dialogue partner" of the regional bloc and had for a long time closely cooperated with it. China attached great importance to Turkey's wish to strengthen that cooperation, he told a news briefing. "We are willing, together with other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and in accordance with the rules of its legal documents, to seriously study it on the basis of consensus consultation," Geng added, without elaborating. Erdogan was quoted on Sunday as saying that Turkey did not need to join the European Union "at all costs" and could instead become part of the SCO. Turkish government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday that closer ties with the SCO would not mean Turkey turning its back on other allies. "Turkey, with its history, culture, geopolitics and potential, is one of the few countries in the world that can cooperate with every corner of the world simultaneously," he told a news conference in the capital Ankara. "A step taken (with the SCO) does not mean it will end Turkeys relations with another country." Turkish membership of the bloc would nonetheless be likely to alarm Western allies and fellow NATO members. Having long been critical of Turkey's record on democratic freedoms, European leaders have been alarmed by Erdogan's crackdown on opponents since a failed coup attempt in July, and Turkey's prospects of joining the EU look more remote than ever after 11 years of negotiations. The EU is treading a fine line as it needs Turkey's help in curbing a huge flow of migrants, especially from Syria, while Ankara has grown increasingly exasperated by what it sees as Western condescension. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan speak Turkic languages, and Ankara signed up in 2013 as a "dialogue partner" saying it shared "the same destiny" as members of the bloc. Mongolia, India, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are observers, while Belarus, like Turkey, is a dialogue partner. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Andrew Roche)
Chipotle Chorizo 6

A handful of Chipotle customers are suing the burrito chain, claiming it misled people into thinking its chorizo burrito contained fewer calories than it actually does.

The lawsuit centers on the menu boards at three Chipotle restaurants in California. The boards said the chorizo burrito had 300 calories, the customers said. In reality, they contain about 700 calories.

Three customers filed the class-action complaint against Chipotle in California last week, alleging that the chain broke the law by inaccurately representing the healthiness of its food.

"[B]y providing false nutritional information for their menu items, consumers are lulled into a false belief that the items they are eating are healthier than they really are," the suit reads.

The number of calories in a chorizo burrito varies based on other toppings, but it typically contains more than 700 calories. The tortilla alone is 300 calories.

As Chipotle later clarified on Twitter, the chorizo, which is seasoned meat containing ground chicken and pork, contains 300 calories on its own.

@ChipotleTweets if a tortilla from chipotle has 300 calories by itself, how does a chorizo filled burrito also have only 300 calories??? pic.twitter.com/inepf71HKC  Spencer Blank (@SB22_) November 9, 2016

@SB22_ Sorry for any confusion. We're working on a more clear menu panel. Check out our nutritional info here: https://t.co/5O89zztuo3. -Dre  Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets) November 9, 2016

According to the suit, the three plaintiffs all ordered chorizo burritos at Chipotle after seeing "chorizo" as a promoted item on the menu board and noting its apparent low calorie count.

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"After eating the Chorizo Burrito, [Plaintiff David] Desmond felt excessively full and realized that the burrito couldn't have been just 300 calories," the complaint reads.

Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold told Business Insider that the company doesn't discuss details surrounding pending legal actions as a matter of policy.

"I will note that we work very hard to maintain transparency as to what is in our food, including our practices for disclosing nutrition information," Arnold said. "I'd also note that a lawsuit is purely allegation and is proof of absolutely nothing."

Chipotle introduced chorizo to its menu earlier this year in an effort to combat plummeting sales following an E. coli crisis that rocked the chain in 2015.

In October, the company reported sales were down 22% from the same quarter in 2015.

NOW WATCH: Why McDonald's and Chipotle test new food concepts in Ohio





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Model Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend struck quite the pose at the 2016 American Music Awards on Nov. 20, 2016. (Photo: Michael Kovac/AMA2016/Getty Images for FIAT)

So thats what needles and thread are for! On Sunday night, Chrissy Teigen hit the American Music Awards red carpet in a floor-length black dress that basically amounted to two flaps of cloth held together by giant safety pins. The only problem? It turned out that two pins arent enough to keep an entire dress in place, which caused the 30-year-old model to flash her lady parts to the world  and put her in the ranks of other stars who have showed off a bit more than they banked on.

Teigen seemed blissfully unaware of the wardrobe malfunction at the time, and to her credit, she did look pretty amazing for someone who had a baby just seven months ago. But while her legs are certainly second to none, she should probably consider a dress with a bit more, umm, staying power next time around.

Photo: Splash News

Obviously, Chrissys not the first lady to put herself on full display by going commando. Selena Gomez showed off her nether region twice in one day (she was really working the sexy look). From up-to-there jean skirts to elegant black dresses that needed just a slight adjustment, the outfits worn by Justin Biebers ex have proved that shes comfortable risking it all for style.

Photos: AKM-GSI

And let us not forget Cara Delevingne at the world premiere of Pan in London last year. The 24-year-old model (who isnt exactly known for being shy) opted for a flirty, feathery, micro-mini dress and decided underwear would just be way too formal.

Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage

When it comes to leaving little to the imagination, it seems that models really have the market cornered. While at Cannes in May, Bella Hadid (whose sister, Gigi Hadid, was skewered on social media for her hosting job at the AMAs last night, just FYI) suffered a malfunction of her own. Walking the famous red carpet at the glamorous event, the 20-year-olds slinky Alexandre Vauthier Couture dress opened a bit farther than Bella probably intended.

And last, but certainly not least, is the queen of this list: Paris Hilton herself. The hard-partying heiress has had more wardrobe woes than we can count over the years, but to her credit, she never let a little slip-up like flashing her nether region to the press stand in the way of a good time. For her birthday party in 2014, she rocked a hot-pink, breezy, Alon Livne dress that left little to the imagination.

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Photo: Araya Diaz/WireImage

But hey, she also wore a tiara, so there was that.

No word yet from Chrissy on what she thought of the oops (or if shell change her styling strategy moving forward), but something tells us that the new mom will take it in stride.  Her husband, however, maybe not so much.

Update: Chrissy has responded to people on Twitter criticizing her for the mishap by tweeting, I was walking. It floated. Its over. I cant take it back. Here is a formal apology. What else would you like?

@MbCkoko @brinehart714 I was walking. It floated. It's over. I can't take it back. Here is a formal apology. What else would you like?  christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) November 21, 2016




LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Citi joined JPMorgan as the world's most systemically important banks, replacing HSBC in a group of 30 lenders who must hold extra capital from 2019 to preserve financial stability.

The group of 20 economies (G20) agreed after the 2007-09 financial crisis that top lenders, whose size and complexity means that a collapse could wreak havoc in markets, should hold extra capital, according to the level of risk they present.

In the annual update of rankings published on Monday by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), Citi has replaced HSBC in the top "bucket" of a 2.5 percent capital surcharge on top of the global minimum requirements.

HSBC joins Bank of America, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank in the next category down, with a surcharge of 2 percent.

The FSB, a G20 regulatory task force, also updated its list of 9 globally systemically important insurers, which was unchanged from last year.

(Reporting by Huw Jones, editing by Carolyn Cohn)
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CTXR), a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing adjunctive cancer care and critical care drug products, announced today that it will be presenting at the 9th Annual LD Micro Main Event on Tuesday, December 6 at 9:30 AM PST / 12:30 PM EST at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

During the conference, Chairman, Mr. Leonard Mazur will deliver the Company's corporate presentation and discuss recent business highlights. Management will also be available for one-on-one meetings. To arrange a meeting with management, please contact Mr. Andrew Scott: ascott@citiuspharma.com.

The LD Micro Main Event is the largest independent conference for small/microcap companies and will feature 240 presenting names.

View Citius Pharmaceuticals' profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/CTXR

News Compliments of Accesswire

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Citius is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of critical care products with a focus on anti-infectives, cancer care and unique prescription products using innovative, patented, or proprietary formulations of previously approved active pharmaceutical ingredients. We seek to achieve leading market positions by providing therapeutic products that address unmet medical needs. By using previously approved drugs with substantial safety and efficacy data, we seek to reduce the risks associated with pharmaceutical product development and regulatory requirements. We focus on developing products that have intellectual property protection and competitive advantages to existing therapeutic approaches (www.citiuspharma.com).

About LD Micro

LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event).

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In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and microcap universe.

Safe Harbor

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com/events for more information.

Contact:

Andrew Scott

Vice President, Corporate Development

646-522-8410; ascott@citiuspharma.com

SOURCE: Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. via LD Micro
Sanaa (AFP) - A fragile 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen ended on Monday after failing to stem violence across the country, with each side blaming the other for violating the US-backed truce.

The ceasefire, aimed at ending the chaos and bloodshed that has gripped the Arabian Peninsula country since March 2015, came into effect on Saturday following the intervention of US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Despite a lull in air strikes on the rebel-held capital during the ceasefire, residents said Saudi-led coalition warplanes hit a district in eastern Sanaa on Monday.

Both parties had traded accusations about hundreds of violations throughout the short-lived ceasefire.

The coalition said it ended at midday (0900 GMT) Monday, and accused Iran-backed insurgents of repeatedly breaking it.

"There is no respect (for the ceasefire), only violations," coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri told AFP.

"There have been more people killed in (the southwestern city of) Taez and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles, so automatically the conditions are not there" for prolonging the ceasefire, he said.

"At the military level, for the moment, we have no orders to extend the ceasefire. It's over."

The coalition had said the truce could be renewed if the rebels abided by the it and allowed aid deliveries into besieged cities.

But violence flared as its expiration loomed.

Fifteen rebels and nine loyalist troops were killed in clashes overnight in and around Taez, military and medical sources said.

Four civilians were also killed and 11 wounded in rebel bombing of loyalist-held neighbourhoods, the sources said.

Early Monday, loyalist forces attacked Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on the western outskirts of Taez, military officials said.

The offensive targeted an air defence base, they said, and witnesses reported loud explosions.

Four Huthis were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

- Drone strike -

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Coalition warplanes hit rebel positions in Nahm, north of rebel-held capital Sanaa, and in the Huthi heartland of Saada province, witnesses said.

"Battles have resumed across various fronts," a spokesman for pro-government forces, Brigadier Abdo Majli, said in remarks published on the loyalist sabanew.net.

Military operations will continue "until legitimacy is restored", he said, adding that the coalition-backed army has "achieved new victories in Taez province and succeeded in liberating the air defence base north of the city".

The ceasefire was the latest international attempt to end Yemen's 20-month conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 7,000 people and wounded nearly 37,000.

The Huthis overran Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished country in September 2014, prompting the coalition to intervene six months later in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Pro-Hadi forces said on Monday they repelled a rebel attack on their positions in Sarwah in Marib province, east of the capital.

The ceasefire had appeared shaky from the outset, and Assiri accused the rebels of 563 violations in Yemen and another 163 across the border in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for renegade Yemeni troops allied with the rebels accused pro-Hadi forces of more than 100 violations.

Local aid activists and witnesses also accused the insurgents of preventing an 18-truck relief convoy from reaching Taez on Sunday.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says nearly three million people in Yemen need immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children are suffering from malnutrition, including 370,000 with severe malnutrition that weakens their immune system.

Separately on Monday, a US drone strike on a vehicle killed a suspected Al-Qaeda Islamic judge in the central province of Baida, a security official told AFP.

The suspected militant was identified as Abu Hammam al-Ibbi, who was also an imam in Baida.

Washington regards Al-Qaeda's Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous, and has kept up a long-running drone war targeting its commanders.

Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, which have exploited the conflict to gain ground in lawless parts of Yemen, are generally excluded from ceasefires and are attacked by both the coalition and US drones.
Fixing Americas health care system is more than addressing rising costs according to Dr. Toby Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most technically advanced medical facilities in the country.

I think the delivery system has to recognize that we have to take cost out and we have to do it through efficiency, he told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

He adds that consolidation specifically would give hospitals more purchasing power and avoid duplication of services without substantially raising costs.

Hospital occupancy across the United States is about 65%. For example, in Ohio, we have 202 hospitals across the state. One of the concerns right now is with decreasing payments that hospitals are getting for their services they provide, we are seeing almost a quarter of the hospitals now running in the red. So ultimately, if we do not see consolidation and increase efficiency, we are going to see hospital closures across the country, he said.

Cosgrove expects to see more consolidation across other aspects of the health care industry as well.

I think we are going to see consolidation across the insurance industryacross the pharmaceutical industryacross devices and I think we are going to see it amongst the hospital providers. He added: This is what the response is to the demands to have more efficiency in our health care delivery system. Theres no question that if the insurance industry consolidates, we are going to have to consolidate as providers who negotiate with them, he said.

The Cleveland Clinic CEO also stressed the importance of keeping the current 20 million people with health insurance covered.

We have to continue to keep those people covered otherwise the premise for hospitals of more patients, even though we are being paid less, is going to cause more and more hospitals to have major economic problems. We need to continue to cover those individuals, the question is how we do it, and we do it most efficiently, he said.

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SHENZHEN, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / China Information Technology, Inc. (CNIT), a growing provider of cloud-app technologies for Internet-of-Things (IoT) platforms, digital advertising delivery and other internet-based information distribution systems throughout China, today announced that, in a letter to shareholders, chairman and CEO Mr. Jianghuai Lin said he expected CNIT to be "moderately profitable" by the second half of next year - and that this profitability should improve steadily as the company's new cloud-based business services gain traction.

The following is the complete text of Mr. Lin's letter.

Dear Shareholder,

It is my pleasure to inform you that 2016 has been a year of remarkable progress for CNIT. During these twelve months, we have made great strides in transitioning our company from a provider of low-margin system integration for government IT projects to a respected marketer of high-margin cloud-app terminal technologies for private enterprise. In this letter I will summarize this progress and provide for you, our loyal supporters, a vision of where I believe CNIT can go in the near future.

I'll begin by discussing our cloud-based elevator digital display terminals. Since last August we have signed contracts for the sale of about 50,000 of these terminals. Besides displaying local information such as news and weather, these terminals carry advertising that allows viewers to make purchases or request information about displayed products and services. Many of these terminals also have face recognition technology, enabling them to "remember" the product preferences of viewers and transmit these preferences to other terminals in the same network. So far, most of our terminals have been installed in elevators of commercial office buildings and residential apartment buildings but we are also starting to develop related products - such as a USB dongle used to upgrade existing display terminals - to retail stores, shopping malls, government office buildings, financial institutes, and other high-traffic venues. Through these efforts, we expect to expand our business and become a major "city IoT" product and service provider.

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During this year, we have also developed and marketed two new cloud-based business services which integrate with these terminals. The first is a content delivery system called Yunfa Net, which allows advertisers to use a PC or mobile app to design an ad and send it to any digital display terminal anywhere in China. Not only can these advertisers edit the ad and have it update automatically at specific terminals, they can also receive back from the terminal information on how many viewers actually looked at the ad and either requested information or purchased its featured products or services. Although still in its early stages, Yunfa Net was honored earlier this year by being awarded the highly esteemed Golden Peacock Award for the most innovative digital ad system in all of China - an achievement that is helping us to market this system and accelerate its adoption among major advertisers.

The second follow-on service we have marketed this year is our Internet-of-Things (IoT) modules for increasing passenger safety in elevators - something our government has announced is urgently needed in China. These modules collect elevator data and transmit it to our cloud server, which then generates reports that automatically alert building management, elevator manufacturing and maintenance companies and local police in the event of emergency situations. As one of only about four or five companies with such a service, we conservatively estimate we can market it to as many as half of China's 4.26 million elevators and become a leading provider in this field by the year 2020.

Both our Yunfa Net and IoT services yield far higher profit margins - nearly double - than do our sales of terminal equipment alone. These offerings are still new and thus are not expected to contribute more than 10 percent to our cloud-based revenue in 2016. But, by 2020, we are confident that at least half our revenue will come from these two sectors. Our bottom line is also being improved by our continual reduction of expenses. For example, in the first six months of this year, we reduced our interest expense by $1.9 million, our selling expense by $.7 million and our R&D expense by $.5 million, helping us cut our six-month net loss from 22 cents per share to 18 cents per share, and reduce our loss, excluding non-cash items, from 19 cents a share to only 7 cents a share, compared to the first six months of last year.

How far do we think we can expand? Currently, we are selling our cloud-app terminals in 11 cities in China. By 2020, however, we expect to cover another 45 cities, bringing coverage to virtually all major metropolitan centers in China. This expansion, we believe, will also bring a major increase in adoption of our Yunfa Net system and its higher-margin revenue. We have a similar outlook for our IoT services division, which is currently selling in four provinces and municipalities, Guangdong, Tianjin, Shangdong and Jiangsu. But by 2020, we expect to be selling this service in at least 25 provinces.

So, where does that leave us as far as profitability is concerned? We estimate that 2016 will likely produce a moderate net loss. The first half of 2017 will probably be slightly profitable or break even. But the second half of 2017, we estimate, will be moderately profitable - and as we continue our migration away from equipment sales and toward the higher-margin IoT and cloud-based services, this profitability should improve steadily.

As we proceed on this path toward profitability, we are confident that our growth in all three of the company's business segments can be managed through cash-on-hand and cash flow from operations. If required, we also have access to additional capital through favorable loans and other credit facilities.

Of course, every company can go only as far as its management team can take it. And our team, including our chief operating officer, chief technical officer and our many savvy and innovative IT technicians, are, in my opinion, among the most talented in China. Together, we are committed to achieving the many goals that lie ahead - and I offer you my personal assurance that we will devote the full extent of our energies and talents in order to make these objectives a reality.

Again, thank you for your continued support of CNIT. I look forward to sharing positive news with you in the months to come.

Sincerely,

Jianghuai Lin

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

About China Information Technology, Inc.

China Information Technology, Inc. (CNIT) is a leading Internet service company that provides integrated cloud-based solutions enabling innovation and smart living in the fields of new media, city safety management, education, etc.

Through continuous innovation, CNIT is aiming to leverage its proprietary Cloud-Application-Terminal technology to level the competitive landscape in the new media industry and deliver value for its shareholders, employees, customers, and the community. To learn more, please visit http://www.chinacnit.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

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SOURCE: China Information Technology, Inc.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partners on Monday accused her of running out of ideas and accelerating Europe's decline after the conservative leader announced she would stand for a fourth term in next year's parliamentary election. The center-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partner to Merkel's conservatives in their ruling "grand coalition", accused the chancellor of a "pretty feeble performance" in announcing her candidacy on Sunday evening. By saying she will seek a fourth term, Merkel has effectively fired the starting gun on campaigning for the election in September next year, though she must govern with the SPD until then. "I can't see how Angela Merkel wants to improve this country and prepare it for future challenges," SPD Secretary General Katarina Barley told reporters, adding that Merkel had run out of steam after nearly 12 years in office. SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor, accused Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble of neglecting European integration. "Twelve years of Merkel and Schaeuble haven't stopped the decline in Europe, but rather accelerated it," Gabriel told the RND network of regional newspapers in an interview to be published on Tuesday. The SPD has been in a "grand coalition" with Merkel's conservatives for nearly eight years. Gabriel said the SPD would announce its nominee for chancellor at the end of January. Candidates under discussion include Gabriel and European Parliament President Martin Schulz. He said the SPD would focus on substantive policy issues aimed at preventing a further breakup of Europe after Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union. Gabriel has repeatedly called for increased public spending on schools, roads and digital infrastructure to lift overall growth in the euro zone's largest economy while Merkel's conservatives back lower taxes. Sticking to his austerity policy, Schaeuble on Monday said the European Commission's call for Germany and other euro zone countries to loosen overall budget policy next year to create more growth and jobs was "the wrong path". "I think Mrs Merkel has her merits, but she doesn't stand for the future anymore," said Manuela Schwesig who sits in Merkel's cabinet as minister of family affairs. The SPD politician was answering a question whether she experienced Merkel as being feeble in the cabinet, too. Merkel, 62, said on Sunday that next year's election would be more difficult than any since reunification in 1990 due to the threat from the right, social divisions and the possibility that Germany's leftist parties could form a coalition. An Emnid poll on Sunday put support for Merkel's conservative bloc down 1 point at 33 percent, 9 points ahead of her nearest rivals, the Social Democrats. (Reporting by Holger Hansen and Michael Nienaber; Writing by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Alison Williams/Richard Balmforth)
The US Coast Guard and a local marine emergency team rescued six fishermen from a sinking scallop boat near Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts on Sunday morning.

The 72-foot scallop boat, named Captain Jeff, was heading for New Bedford Port to offload its catch when it started taking on water as reported by The Standard Times.

The Coast Guard and the Buzzards Bay Task Force worked together to evacuate the vessel after attempts to clear the water using bilge pumps failed. The crewmen were evaluated by paramedics for exposure to the cold but no injuries were reported.

The video shows the evacuation of the fishing boat. Credit: US Coastal Guard District via DVIDS via Storyful
Photo: Coldplay  Lushington Entertainments

(Update at 3.30pm on 21 November: Live Nation Lushington issued a press release on the ticket numbers and clarified about access to the ticketing system.)

Just like the title of Coldplays second album, the feverish anticipation for the UK bands upcoming Singapore concert has been sending a rush of blood to the heads of fans as all tickets for the general public were sold out within 90 minutes on Monday (21 November) after they were released at 10am.

In total, including the allocated tickets that were sold on previous days, concert promoter Live Nation Lushington said on Monday that over 40,000 tickets have been taken up. Tickets for the concert range from $78 to $298.

Calling it a never-before-seen response, Live Nation Lushington said the Sports Hub Tix hotline and website had close to 20,000 unique users trying to dial in or access the ticketing site on Monday. Hundreds of walk-in patrons had queued, some overnight, at the Indoor Stadium main Box Office and SingPost outlets, it added.

Within 10 minutes of the public sale, all ticket inventory had either been snapped up or held in the online shopping carts while the customers completed their payment transactions, Live Nation Lushington said.

The promoter also clarified that its ticketing system did not crash, saying that it simply could not open up inventory to those (thousands) waiting in the queue system as the tickets were either being transacted or held pending payment clearance.

Due to the overwhelming demand for the bands concert on 1 April 2017 at the National Stadium, Live Nation Lushington are in discussions with the relevant parties to release more tickets.

In a post on Facebook on Monday at 11.30am, Live Nation Lushington said it is confident that it can open up a little more inventory in the coming days to cope with the very significant demand.

Live Nation Lushington added it hopes to announce any additional capacity that it can offer for sale by Wednesday or Thursday.

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The frenzy for the hottest concert tickets in town began on Thursday when all 12,000 pre-sale tickets, which were allocated for Citibank credit-card holders, were snapped up in under an hour after they were released for purchase online.

Similarly, all tickets allocated for Live Nation Lushingtons mailing list subscribers on Sunday were sold out quickly.

The demand has led to tickets being offered on e-commerce sites like Carousell at inflated prices, with some going for more than $1,000.

Live Nation Lushington has warned Coldplay fans not to buy tickets from resellers.

We will also continue to curtail the secondary tickets being sold at inflated prices. We have since voided a number of tickets found on the resale market as this contravenes our terms and conditions of sale.

We would like to urge all fans to refrain from purchasing tickets through unauthorised resellers as these may have already been voided and holders will be denied access to venue.

A petition calling for a second concert by Coldplay in Singapore has been set up by a fan shortly after Live Nation Lushington announced the tickets for the general public were sold out.

Last Monday, Coldplay fans were treated to a teaser video posted on social media to promote the bands A Head Full of Dreams tour, which listed a number of concert stops around the world including Singapore.

Managing director of Live Nation Lushington, Michael Roche, described the ticket demand for Coldplays concert as unprecedented, saying that the only other time that a similar demand was seen in Singapore was during Michael Jacksons Dangerous Tour in 1993, according to a report on Friday by the Straits Times. Jackson thrilled close to 100,000 fans over two days of his sold-out concerts at the old National Stadium.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - About half a dozen listed Chinese companies, mainly in the pharmaceutical sector, have temporarily halted production in China's northern city of Shijiazhuang as part of a Chinese government anti-pollution drive, the companies said on Monday. Shijiazhuang has suspended factory production in seven industries until the end of this year, affecting plants in the pharmaceutical, cement, foundry, iron and steel, coal-electricity, coking and boiler sectors, the companies said. Companies including ENN Ecological Holdings Co Ltd and Jikai Equipment Manufacturing Co Ltd were told by the Shijiazhuang government to suspend production at their factories, they said in separate statements. Several pharmaceutical companies, including CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, SSY Group Ltd, North China Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, received similar orders, according to their statements. "The group has been actively cooperating with the government on environmental protection work and is making an application to the Shijiazhuang municipal government for permission to continue its normal pharmaceutical production in Shijiazhuang," CSPC said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange China has been trying to tackle pollution over the past few years by implementing various measures to reduce the blankets of smog which shroud many of the country's northern cities in the winter and have been hazardous to health and traffic. (Reporting by Lee Chyen Yee in Singapore and Meg Shen in Hong Kong; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Istanbul (AFP) - The direct appointment of university rectors by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since July's failed coup has stirred up tensions on campus and prompted claims of political interference in the education sector.

The state-run Bosphorus University in Istanbul is one of the most prestigious in the country. With its green lawns reminiscent of the Ivy League or Oxbridge, it is the traditional starting point for the Turkish elite.

But beneath the gilded surface, tensions are simmering after Erdogan this month appointed Professor Mehmed Ozkan in place of the popular Gulay Barbarosoglu as the university rector.

He made the appointment under a measure allowed by the state of emergency which was imposed by the government following the failed bid by a rogue army faction to oust him.

Elections for rectors in Turkey's 181 universities -- 111 of them state-run -- were suspended after the July 15 coup, with Erdogan picking winners from a pool of candidates selected by the education authority YOK.

If Erdogan doesn't pick one of the candidates proposed by YOK within a month, he can choose the rector directly.

- 'Shocked and frustrated'-

Outgoing rector Barbarosoglu won 86 percent of the vote among Bosphorus University academics in the July 12 election, held just three days before the coup.

Ozkan, an academic at the university's biomedical engineering department and brother of a ruling party MP, did not run in the race.

After Ozkan's appointment, Barbarosoglu said she was stepping down from her academic career.

"I bid farewell to our university where I have contributed for over 40 years at various levels, as student, academic and administrator, and finalise my academic career."

The government has defended the new system, with Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus saying that such elections had polarised universities.

"We know how much that harmed universities," he said, expressing hope that the new rules would not lead to hostility among academic staff.

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Academics and students, however, slammed the appointment as a blow to the university's autonomy.

"Am I worried? Very much. Students are also shocked and frustrated," an associate professor at the university told AFP on condition of anonymity.

- Crackdown on liberal academia -

The academic hailed Barbarosoglu as a dean who always advocated the university's democratic tradition and suggested that she was replaced because she defended staff who signed a January petition criticising the military campaign in the south-east.

An Istanbul court in March arrested three academics, including Esra Mungan of Bosphorus University, on charges of "terror propaganda" after the three read out the joint petition signed by over 1,000 academics urging an end to Ankara's crackdown on Kurdish rebels.

Barbarosoglu "went to the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office and demanded that Esra Mungan be set free," the academic told AFP.

Some opponents compared the president's direct appointment of rectors to the move to install government-appointed trustees in municipalities in the south-east after several mayors were removed over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

#KayyumRektorIstemiyoruz (We do not want a trustee rector) has become a popular hashtag on Twitter.

The secular Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu blasted the move which he said was reminiscent of the days after the 1980 coup, when the military junta punished universities for their role in the upheaval, dismissing thousands of students and staff.

"We are facing a ruling party that internalised the spirit of that coup," he said.

- 'Academic autonomy'-

There have been sporadic protests at the university since Ozkan's appointment on November 12, with police briefly detaining two students last week although they were later released.

"We are not making a political fight... but defending academic autonomy so that the universities can remain outside of politics and produce science," said Mert Nacakgedigi, head of Bosphorus University's students' committee.

"The university was not consulted... there was no discussion," he told AFP on campus.

Soon after taking office, Ozkan vowed to protect free thought at the university in a message to staff.

"You should never doubt that I will persevere so that you can achieve your academic objectives and lead a university life at Bosphorus in peace and freedom," he said.

But Nacakgedigi was pessimistic, saying the appointment could harm the tradition of students of all political stripes finding a place for themselves at the university.

"At our university, opposition students representing dissenting political views or other different world views could so far find a place for themselves very easily," he said.

"We do not know clearly how an appointed rector rather than an elected one will approach students at this point."
Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas sits in federal court in Manhattan, New York, December 17, 2015, in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Late on Friday, after several hours of deliberation, jurors filed back into a New York courtroom and handed down a guilty verdict against two nephews of the Venezuelan first lady.

Their decision, the culmination of an often sordid trial that began on November 7, may not lead to more scrutiny on officials in Venezuela, one of the Western Hemisphere's most dysfunctional countries where high-level officials are suspected of running a wide-ranging drug-trafficking enterprise.

Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, 31, and Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 30, were arrested in Haiti almost a year ago and immediately extradited to the US, where this week they were convicted of conspiracy to import nearly 1,800 pounds of cocaine to the US via Honduras in a multimillion-dollar drug deal.

Over the last several months, however, the prospects of their case became more uncertain, as a steady stream of details made the government's key witnesses, themselves drug traffickers, look ever more unreliable.

The US government paid about $1.2 million to Jose Santos-Pena, 55, and his son, Jose Santos-Hernandez, 34, for information about drug deals over the last few years. The pair also traveled internationally at the behest of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, meeting with suspected traffickers and making secret recordings for US investigators.

This spring, however, US prosecutors learned that Santos-Pena and Santos-Hernandez were themselves smuggling drugs while working for US agents. At the end of this summer, the two of them pleaded guilty to drug charges, admitting that they had dealt drugs for at least four years.

Efrain Antonio Campo Flores (2nd from L) and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas stand with law enforcement officers in this November 12, 2015 photo after their arrest in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Courtesy of U.S. Attorney's Office Manhattan/Handout via REUTERS

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Santos-Hernandez did not testify, but Santos-Pena did, and more details about his misdeeds soon emerged.

At a hearing in September, he confessed to prosecutors that he had used a prostitute twice during a trip to Caracas and that he had allowed a friend of his son to be present at DEA-arranged meetings with the two Venezuelans being investigated. He also confessed to using cocaine while working for the US.

During the trial, the defense tried to paint the prosecution's case as deeply flawed.

Amid the proceedings, defense counsel Randall Jackson revealed jailhouse recordings showing that Santos-Pena had kept communicating about drug deals in the weeks before the trial.

Prosecutors decided to disregard the cooperation agreement they had reached with Santos-Pena, doing away with potential leniency for his role in the case and meaning he could face 10 years to life in prison.

"He lied in your face!" defense attorney David Rody told the jurors. "You saw a rare thing, a government cooperator get ripped up in court."

"He was slime," juror Robert Lewis, a 69-year-old architect from Westchester, New York, said of Santos-Pena. Despite that distaste, Lewis said that other evidence in the case, like recordings, transcripts of conversations, and texts messages, were enough to convict the nephews. "We had to rely on those things," he told the Associated Press.

Some of those recordings were of poor quality, but at least one showed the nephews handling a brick of cocaine, and in another recording, Campo is heard to say, "I'm 30 years old. I've been doing this work since I was 18."

The recordings were central to the prosecutors' case, which argued the pair were not minor players, but driving figures behind a plan to pull of a multimillion-dollar drug scheme and funnel money into their aunt's political campaign.

Venezuela narco nephews Flores drug trial

"It's the nature of the business to have cooperators with really unseemly pasts," Daniel C. Richman, a law professor at Columbia Law School, told the AP after the trial. Santos-Pena, the elder of the two witnesses, had admitted to being part of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cartel prior to working for US authorities.

"A lot of them come from a criminal background," Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, told Business Insider before the case went to trial. "And we in the government use them to get in-depth information that we would not normally get, and as a result of that a lot of times they come under attack by defense attorneys."

The two nephews will likely be sentenced in early March next year, and while the face a minimum of 10 years, they could get up to life in prison.

"A conviction for conspiracy can bring a life sentence, but if this is the first time the two nephews have been convicted, I dont think the judge will give them life sentences, but 10 or 20 years," Vigil, author of of "Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel," told CNN after the verdict was announced. "Everything depends on the judge."

'Venezuela now is a principal point for the transit of cocaine'

Throughout the case, details emerged that suggested high-level Venezuelan officials had involvement in the drug trade.

Flores de Freitas and Campo Flores are nephews of the country's first lady, Cilia Flores, who is married to embattled President Nicolas Maduro, who is grappling with a deteriorating economy and fractious political situation. Maduro's approval rating slipped to 19.5% in October, down from about 22% the month prior. The poll, which was not pubic, found about 78.5% of Venezuelans disapproved of Maduro, according to Reuters.

Judge James Cott (L), attorneys John J. Reilly (C) and Rebekah J. Poston (R) with defendants Efrain Antonio Campo Flores (foreground, R) and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas (foreground, C) during a hearing in U.S. district court in the Manhattan borough of New York in this courtroom sketch from November 12, 2015. REUTERS/Christine Cornell

Documents filed by US prosecutors and seen by Insight Crime alleged that the two intended to secure a large quantity of cocaine from the FARC, a Colombian rebel group active in the drug trade, and that they were going to use the presidential airplane hanger at Caracas' international airport to move the drugs north to Honduras.

A Honduran trafficker arrested in relation to the case allegedly served as a contact in that country for a Venezuelan trafficking network called the Cartel of the Suns, which is believed to operate in cells in the branches of Venezuela's military.

In a recorded conversation cited by Insight Crime, Campo Flores said that "government executives" and the Cartel of the Suns "were the only ones who worked" in drug trafficking in Venezuela, and that they were "in charge of fumigating [eliminating] anyone who tried to enter to work in the country."

During the trial, a DEA agent also testified that an information told him a high-ranking Venezuelan police official named Bladimir Flores, who is also Cilia Flores' brother, helped set up a meeting between the two nephews and a well-connected Honduran trafficker. That Honduran trafficker was killed less than a month after the pair was arrested.

Cilia Flores (C), deputy of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV) and wife of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, talks to the media after a failed session of the National Assembly for lack of quorum in Caracas, January 12, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello

The US has been carrying out investigations of high-level Venezuelan officials accused of complicity in drug trafficking for some time.

In August, the US unsealed indictments against two senior Venezuelan officials, accusing them of cooperating with traffickers.

Those indictments were the result of a US government investigation targeting high-level officials who are suspected of turning Venezuela "into a global hub for cocaine trafficking and money laundering," The Wall Street Journal reported last year.

According to Vigil, institutional weaknesses and rampant corruption in Venezuela, coupled with the FARC's extensive involvement in the drug trade, have helped turn the Venezuela-Colombia frontier in a trafficking nexus.

"Venezuela has a very weak judicial [system], and corruption in Venezuela is supremely widespread, and Im talking about at the highest levels, so it doesnt surprise me that were talking about the FARC," Vigil told CNN. "and Venezuela now is a principal point for the transit of cocaine from Colombia to the United States and Europe also."

There is a possibility that the two nephews will be open to cooperating with US authorities, perhaps revealing other Venezuelan officials involved in drug trafficking, Vigil noted.

"Our client's obviously disappointed, but we want to see what the next steps are," said Randall Jackson, a lawyer for Campo Flores, according to Reuters.

NOW WATCH: Some of the craziest ways cartels smuggle drugs into America





More From Business Insider


HONG KONG, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Shares of Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad Group Ltd slid to a four-year low on Monday after the company flagged a drop in full-year profit amid stiff competition, the latest part of the LeEco empire to come under pressure.

Coolpad's warning came just weeks after Chinese conglomerate LeEco, which has invested in high-tech products from electric cars to smartphones, said it was grappling with a shortage of cash and suffering from expanding too fast.

LeEco's billionaire founder and chief executive, Jia Yueting, said in a letter sent to Reuters that the firm was facing "big company disease" after having expanded at an "unprecedented rate".

Shares of Coolpad, which has a market value of HK$5 billion ($645 million), plunged as much as 12 percent to HK$0.90, their lowest since October 2012, lagging a flat overall market.

The smartphone maker has faced difficulties competing in an increasingly saturated smartphone market in China with the likes of Samsung Electronics, Apple Inc, Lenovo , Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Huawei Technologies.

In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Friday, Coolpad said it expected a loss of HK$3 billion for the full year 2016, a sharp drop from the HK$2.3 billion profit it posted in 2015.

The company said its performance was hit by a downturn and fierce competition in the domestic smartphone market, and it was focusing on clearing inventories.

The news comes amid concerns that the cash-strapped group could run into a crisis or abandon its electric car ambitions - a project which has already cost it 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in development, according to Jia himself.

Leshi Holdings said earlier this month that it had secured commitments for $600 million to support its automotive unit and LeEco high-tech business.

($1 = 7.7564 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting By Donny Kwok and Jess Yu; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Rachel Bloom as Rebecca. (Credit: Robert Voets/The CW)

Who misses Greg more: Rebecca or Josh? Based on Crazy Ex-Girlfriends fifth episode, Why Is Joshs Ex-Girlfriend Eating Carbs? were leaning toward Josh. While it wasnt easy for Rebecca to watch Greg get on that Atlanta-bound plane, which also spirited Santino Fontana away from the series, shes now occupying her mind with thoughts of mending fences with Valencia, Joshs original girlfriend turned ex-girlfriend. That quest takes the odd couple to the middle of the desert for a music festival/pharmaceutical circus where they bond over their mutual frustration with Josh and the freedom that accompanies dropping trou and urinating on electronics equipment.

Related: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: We Talked to Josh Chan!

Mr. Chan, on the other hand, is at loose ends since his best friend blew town. And thats not a good headspace for him to be in. When hes in the company of friends and girlfriends, his natural gregariousness overrides his self-doubt. Left to his own devices and company, though, hes a bundle of nerves  nerves that are further frayed by the discovery that his two exes are suddenly close buddies. At least Josh wont have to be solo for long: Hes got a new distraction in the form of the lovely Anna (Brittany Snow), who is poised to become the rebound to his rebound. That should help fill the Greg-shaped hole in his heart.

Alone With My Thoughts

What its about: Weve seen several songs  most recently Ping Pong Girl  where Rebecca tries to imagine herself in Joshs head. Here, Josh tells us directly whats going on inside his head, and it sounds like a pretty messy place, with dark memories and strange digressions clouding out the sunny self-image he tries to project to the world.

Sounds like: A stream-of-consciousness Jack Johnson track.

Best lyric: That reminds me that I barely passed lifeguard school/Thats why that kid almost died in that pool/Thats a bad thought/I dont like that thought.

Funniest sight gag: All the thought bubbles that Josh is desperately trying and failing to pop.

What it reveals about Josh: His train of thought is constantly in danger of becoming a runaway locomotive. Also, his spirit animal is President Obamas dog, Bo.

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Dream Ballet

What its about: Valencia and Rebecca express their conflicted feelings about Josh through a psychedelic-enhanced dance number.

Sounds like: A vintage Rodgers and Hammerstein dream ballet in the tradition of Oklahoma and Carousel.

Best lyric: Ballets are generally lyric-free, but Rebecca is hilariously on point when she remarks: Rawr, Im a triceratops!

Funniest sight gag: Rebecca the Triceratops rips out Joshs still-beating heart and feasts on it with relish  hold the mustard.

What it reveals about Valencia and Rebecca: While Josh is dead to both of them post-beakup, they have very different versions of how he perishes. Valencia, for example, sees him as the rampaging dinosaur that ruins her life until shes forced to stab him in a tragic act of mental murder. Whereas Rebecca envisions herself as the rampaging dinosaur that stalks and kills her elusive prey, who is pathologically afraid of being with her.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on the CW.
In the two weeks since Donald Trumps stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, hundreds of acts of harassment and intimidation aimed at supporters of both candidates have been reported around the country. In response, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo created a special police unit to address the explosion of hate crimes in the state.

The ugly political discourse of the election did not end on Election Day, Cuomo said on Sunday at a church in Harlem. In many ways, it has gotten worse.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there have been more than 700 incidents of hateful harassment, including more than 40 in New York state alone.

I wish I could say our beautiful state of New York was immune from this poison, but its not, Cuomo said. If you sow fear, you reap hysteria. If you sow divisiveness, you reap anarchy, and we are seeing that today.

A toll-free hotline that allows New York residents to report incidents of bias and discrimination has received more than 400 calls since its launch on Friday, according to Cuomos office.

This election season vented and fostered peoples anger, and no doubt that the anger is real and it comes with good cause, Cuomo continued. This fear and this anger  misdirected  seeks an enemy. It seeks a target, and that target has become people who we see as different than ourselves  people who look different, who have a different skin color, a different religion, a different sexuality, and they have become a target for this anger. But demonizing our differences injects a social poison into the fabric of our nation.

Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz speaks at an anti-hate rally at Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn on Sunday. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The new police unit, Cuomo said, was set up to address the explosion of hate crimes in our state.

In a radio interview on Sunday, New York City Police Commissioner James ONeill said there has been a little bit more than an uptick in hate crimes, with 328 documented this year, compared to 250 in 2015.

Additionally, Cuomo said he will seek to expand New Yorks Human Rights Law in order to protect students who are bullied or face discrimination.

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The governor also vowed to set up a legal defense fund for immigrants who fear they might be deported under a Trump administration.

If there is a move to deport immigrants, then I say start with me, Cuomo said. I am a son of immigrants. Son of Mario Cuomo, who is the son of Andrea Cuomo, a poor Italian immigrant who came to this country without a job, without money, or resources and he was here only for the promise of America.

Cuomos comments came the same day a rally was held in a Brooklyn park that had been vandalized with swastikas and pro-Trump graffiti.

The playground, named after late Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch, was attended by more than 300 people, including actor Ben Stiller and surviving Beastie Boys band member Adam Horovitz, better known as Ad-Rock.

Spray-painting swastikas in a childrens playground is a messed-up thing to do, Horovitz said. And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and bandmate for over 30 years. But he was also someone who taught nonviolence in his music, in his life  to all of us, and to me.
Consumers who are not looking to deal with the chaotic crowds on Black Friday will rejoice over the many sales offered on Cyber Monday. This year, many retailers are getting a jumpstart on the celebrated shopping say by kicking off sales before the actual day. Whether it is electronics, apparel or appliances, consumers will find a variety of items on sale. Below are a few of the companies offering Cyber Monday deals.

Walmart: The company plans on beginning its Cyber Monday deals starting Friday at 12:01 a.m. EST, the retailer stated in a press release Monday. Discounts will be offered on computers, cellphones, video games, appliances, televisions and more. The sale includes $1,200 off of a 65-inch HD smart TV by Samsung, Michael Kors watches starting at $99.99, $300 off of Dell laptops, up to $3,000 in diamond jewelry savings and more. There are other deals at specific times.

Walmart Cyber Week Deals starting Friday at 12:01 a.m. EST include:

Walmart Cyber Monday Deals starting Nov. 28 at 12:01 a.m. EST include:

Samsung HDTVs over 50 percent off MSRP

Samsung 65" 4K Ultra HD LED Smart TV for $999 ($1,200 savings)

VIZIO 50" 4K Ultra HD SmartCast Smart LED TV for $379.99 ($148 savings)

Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming Edition Laptop PC for $999.99 ($300 savings)

Call of Duty Dragonfly Drone with Camera for $89 ($10.99 savings)

Drones from DJI, Parrot, Autel, Yuneed and more starting at $199

Nerf N-Strike MEGA Mastodon Blaster with Free Blaster for $51 ($28 savings)

Sunglasses from Prada starting at $99.99, with other savings on brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, Miu Miu, Cartier and more on Marketplace

Watches from Michael Kors starting at $99.99, with other savings on brands like Omega, Movado and more on Marketplace

Handbags from Rebecca Minkoff starting at $71, with other savings on brands like Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Fossil and more on Marketplace

Boots from brands like Frye and UGG starting at $135 on Marketplace

Outerwear for the family starting at $9

Diamond jewelry savings up to $3,000

Target: On Sunday and Cyber Monday, Target will be announcing surprise deals available both in stores and online, BGR reported. The company is offering free shipping through Jan. 1 and REDcard members will save an additional five percent on almost all items. Those who are not willing to wait for the sale announcements can try their luck with Targets 10 Days of Deals which started Saturday. On Monday, the retail chain will be offering 20 percent off of kitchen items from Threshold, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Keurig, Ninja, Calphalon and OXO. On Tuesday, customers will see sales on beauty items followed by pizza discounts, Black Friday doorbuster deals on Thursday and Friday and $50 off when you spend $100 in the Wondershop.

Best Buy: Although the company has not announced what type of sales they will be offering on Cyber Monday, the sale will start online at 11:59 p.m ET Sunday and will last until the items are sold out. However, the same deals will be offered in store and will be available until Nov. 30.

Starbucks: Coffee enthusiasts will be offered an automatic 25 percent off and free shipping on qualified items when they spend $60 or more.

True Religion: The brand will begin its Cyber Monday deal Sunday at 9 p.m. and end on Nov. 20. Customers will be given 40 percent off their purchase and receive a free beanie.

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At the top of the Empire State Building on Monday, new dad Ben McKenzie took a break from diaper duty to chat with PEOPLE about his hit Fox show Gotham and his first holiday as a dad.

McKenzie, 38, plans to spend the holidays in New York City  but it wont be a traditional turkey dinner!

Were doing Middle Eastern food, he says, My sister-in-law is Armenian, so were rocking that this year.

With an 8-month-old daughter with Gotham costar-turned-partner Morena Baccarin, theyve decided to take the easy route. Were not going to cook, were just going to order. Too lazy! he jokes.

He and Baccarin, 37, welcomed baby Frances Laiz  Frankie for short, in March  and told Harry Connick Jr. on his talk-show Harry that they named her after his mother and shes the cutest thing in the world.

Its something Ive wanted for a long time, McKenzie, 38, previously told PEOPLE of fatherhood.

While this is his first holiday as a dad, it wont be his first non-traditional holiday. I spent Thanksgiving (in New York) a couple of years ago  eating Chinese food he says, and adds, I really like holidays in New York, it feels appropriately wintery.

And with Gotham shooting in Manhattan, he wont have to travel far when its time to return to work. In what McKenzie describes as an explosive season 3 of the hit Fox show, he reveals some old characters reemerge, who we may have thought were dead.

McKenzie has long been a fan of the comic world, sharing, I grew up watching the old Adam West version and playing with Batman figurines  I think everyones a Batman fan on some level.

Gotham airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.




Dave Chappelle is headed to Netflix.

The comic has set three new stand-up comedy specials at the streaming giant, it was announced Monday.

Chappelle and director Stan Lathan will produce an original stand-up comedy special exclusively for Netflix, with its premiere date to be announced. The two other never-before-seen specials hail directly from Chappelle's personal comedy vault. Directed by Lathan and filmed at Austin City Limits Live in April 2015 and the Hollywood Palladium in March of this year, the specials mark the comedian's first concert specials in 12 years and are slated to be released simultaneously in 2017.

"Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy - searing, vital and now more than ever, essential," said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix vp, original documentary and comedy. "Dave's three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy, and we are honored he will mark his global return on Netflix."

The news comes fresh off Chappelle's Saturday Night Live hosting debut, which nabbed the show its best rating in three years. The specials also will mark the comic's first major TV project since he surprisingly and suddenly stepped away from his Comedy Central sketch series Chappelle's Show in 2005, arguably at the height of the series' popularity. The comedian subsequently spent several years out of the public eye, but has slowly returned to the mainstream. Chappelle performed 10 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in 2014, and also appeared in a small role in Spike Lee's film Chi-Raq last year. He has continued to perform stand-up across the country, performing more than 500 shows over the past three years.

For Netflix, the deal comes not long after the streaming giant landed two new stand-up specials from Chris Rock as part of a stunning $40 million deal. As it ramps up originals, Netflix has become a major player in the stand-up space, competing against Comedy Central and HBO, among other platforms. Earlier this year, the streamer was able to land Dana Carvey's first stand-up special in 20 years. In September, Patton Oswalt won an Emmy for his Netflix stand-up special, Talking for Clapping.

"For us, it's about having enough of a global audience and anticipated engagement that we can get behind all of these projects," Nishimura told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month when discussing Rock's eagerly awaited specials.
Photo: Lester Cohen / Getty

by Kate Stanhope

Dave Chappelle is headed to Netflix.

The stand-up comic has set three new stand-up comedy specials at the streaming giant, it was announced Monday.

Chappelle and director Stan Lathan will produce an original stand-up comedy special exclusively for Netflix, with its premiere date to be announced. The two other never-before-seen specials hail directly from Chappelles personal comedy vault. Directed by Lathan and filmed at Austin City Limits and the Hollywood Palladium, the specials mark the comedians first concert specials in 12 years and are slated to be released simultaneously in 2017.

Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy  searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential, Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP, original docuementary and comedy, said. Daves three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy, and we are honored he will mark his global return on Netflix.

The news comes fresh off Chappelles SNL hosting debut, which nabbed the show its best rating in three years. The specials will also mark Chappelles first major TV project since he surprisingly and suddenly stepped away from his Comedy Central sketch series Chappelles Show in 2005 arguably at the height of the shows popularity. The comedian subsequently spent several years out of the public eye, but has slowly returned to the mainstream. He performed 10 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in 2014, and also appeared in a small roll in Spike Lees film Chi-Raq last year. He has continued to perform stand-up across the country, performing over 500 shows in the past three years.

For Netflix, the deal comes not long after the streaming giant landed two new stand-up specials from Chris Rock as part of a stunning $40 million deal. As it ramps up originals, the streamer has become a major player in the stand-up space, competiting against Comedy Central and HBO, among other platforms. Earlier this year, the streamer was able to land Dana Carveys first stand-up special in 20 years. In September, Patton Oswalt won an Emmy for his Netflix stand-up special, Talking for Clapping.

For us, its about having enough of a global audience and anticipated engagement that we can get behind all of these projects, Nishimura told THR earlier this month when discussing Rocks highly anticipated specials.
Dave Chappelle has cut a deal with Netflix for three new comedy specials.

The projects will mark Chappelles first standup TV specials in 12 years, and it marks another aggressive push by Netflix in the standup comedy arena.

Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy  searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential, said Lisa Nishimura, Netflixs VP of original documentary and comedy. Daves three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy.

The deal calls for Chappelle and director Stan Lathan to produce an original special for Netflix. Two other unreleased projects will come from Chappelles vault  one produced out of the Austin City Limits Live venue, the other from a performance at the Hollywood Palladium.

The projects from the vault are set for release simultaneously next year. Theres no premiere date yet for the new special.

Chappelle is coming off a strong performance earlier this month as host of Saturday Night Live, which generated the shows highest ratings in three years. He is among the most prolific and successful touring comics in country, staging some 500 shows during the past three years.

Netflix made headlines last month by setting a $40 million deal with Chris Rock for two new comedy specials.

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Tete (Mozambique) (AFP) - The death toll from a petrol tanker explosion last week in Mozambique has risen to 80, officials said Monday, after the blast ripped through crowds jostling to illegally collect fuel.

The government said people had used hose pipes and jerry cans to collect the petrol, which had also spilt around the truck when the blaze erupted.

The tanker exploded in Tete province, a remote western region near the border with Malawi, killing 43 people on the spot, with more than 100 others badly burnt, including many children.

"For now, the total number of deaths is up to 80," Tete's deputy hospital director Veronica de Deus told the daily O Pais newspaper, adding that 35 people were still in a critical condition.

An inquiry has been launched into the cause of the blast.

The truck was reported to be carrying fuel from Mozambique's port city of Beira to landlocked Malawi.

The government in Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries, recently increased the price of fuel after the value of the local currency -- the metical -- fell sharply.
By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - - The proportion of older Americans living with dementia fell between 2000 and 2012, according to a new study. The exact reasons for the drop aren't clear yet, researchers say. "If we can do a better job of pinpointing those (reasons), not only will we be able to estimate future burden better but (we could) focus on intervening factors that have strong impact on dementia risk," said study leader Dr. Kenneth Langa, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Dementia impairs patients' memory and cognitive skills. The number of people with dementia is expected to triple by 2050 due to an aging population, the researchers write in JAMA Internal Medicine. Past research has suggested that some high-income countries may see a decline in dementia rates, however. In one study from Massachusetts, the annual number of new dementia cases fell by 20 percent over about three decades. For the new study, Langa and colleagues analyzed data from a U.S. survey of people 65 years and older, including 10,546 people in 2000 and 10,511 in 2012. The prevalence of dementia in 2000 was 11.6 percent, compared to 8.8 percent in 2012. The decline occurred despite an increase in heart health risk factors like high blood pressure and obesity between 2000 and 2012, the researchers write. They also report that more years of education was tied to a lower risk of dementia. The average length of education among participants increased from about 12 years in 2000 to about 13 years in 2012. "The really important and optimistic conclusion you can take away from our study and some of the other studies is that there are things we can do as individuals and societies to reduce dementia risk," Langa told Reuters Health. The new report and previous studies suggesting a declining prevalence of dementia are encouraging, Ozioma Okonkwo and Dr. Sanjay Asthana write in an editorial accompanying the new study. "The focus now should be on better understanding the factors that underlie this trend, and translating that knowledge into interventions that can reduce the risk of dementia for both individuals and the society as a whole," write Okonkwo and Asthana, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. Langa's team is trying to analyzed the factors associated with the falling dementia rates. Also, he said, it's important to continue monitoring the prevalence of dementia, because the decline in rates may be halted or reversed due to increases in obesity and diabetes. "We just dont know if there may be an uptick of dementia risk going forward because of those other changes," said Langa. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2gbrTFv and http://bit.ly/2gbpT03 JAMA Internal Medicine, online November 21, 2016.
On Sunday, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is apparently a contender for head of Department of Homeland Security, went to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He brought along his Department of Homeland Security Kobach Strategic Plan for First 365 Days  and was photographed with it facing outward for all the world to see. So much for security:

Here's the DHS plan Kobach was holding in photo w/ Trump. It ncludes NSEERS, questioning "high-risk aliens" on Sharia law.

(From @CJOnline) pic.twitter.com/1J2hYKfXGp  Brad Heath (@bradheath) November 21, 2016

The first part of the plan (and the only one not partially obscured by Kobachs hand and arm) is to Bar the Entry of Potential Terrorists. This is a three part section. The first is the reintroduction of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System to track all aliens from high-risk areas. Kobach was reportedly the architect of NSEERS  which, to be clear, is a registry for certain immigrants  in former President George W. Bushs Justice Department.

The second part is the addition of extreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens on topics such as jihad, the U.S. Constitution; gender equality; and Sharia law. Sharia law, it should be noted, has a much more pejorative connotation to many Americans (including, as a completely random example, the Kansas secretary of state) than it does to Muslims, who define it as the code according to which Muslims should live, and includes prayer and donating to the poor.

The third section calls for reducing the Syrian refugee intake down to zero using the 1980 Refugee Act.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency and the government of Turkey, there are, as of earlier this month, over 4,800,000 registered Syrian refugees worldwide.

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There is, of course, more to Kobachs plan, including:

The Homeland Security plan Kobach was holding while photographed wtih Trump also includes items about voter registration. pic.twitter.com/TMtGJuIpVg  Brad Heath (@bradheath) November 21, 2016

The partially obscured plan also included mention of voter rolls.

Kobach was one of several numerous patriots with whom Trump met on Sunday, according to the president-elects Twitter account. Either this was a prop used to throw journalistic outlets off Trumps scent, or this particular patriot from Kansas wants to let no Syrian refugees into the country and institute religious conditions for others entry.

Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Every year, migrants send hundreds of billions of dollars worth of remittances back to friends and family in their home country. And there's a massive industry that facilitates these payments  and has for more than a century.

The legacy remittance industry has been long dominated by cash, which requires physical locations where customers can hand over or pick up money. Building out those retail networks is a huge investment. It's left just a few players, called Money Transfer Operators (MTOs), controlling a bulk of the industry.

BII Money Transfer Operator Market Share By Channel

But these companies' comfortable hold on the industry is now being challenged by digital remittance startups. Digital-first remittance companies are competing on fees and usability, and capitalizing on the way people's expectations have changed with the advent of digital and mobile channels.

In a new report from BI Intelligence, we size the total remittance market, company-specific market share, digital's market share, and digital's growth at major remittance firms. We also assess how disruptive digital startups have been by comparing their fees with market leaders, and by juxtaposing their business models with those of legacy companies.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Digital's share of the global remittance industry is still fairly small at 6%  but growth is extremely fast at digital-first startups and legacy companies.

Fourteen year-old Xoom makes more revenue from electronic channels than 75 year-old MoneyGram, the second-largest remittance company in the world.

Startups are undercutting incumbents' fees in certain corridors; however, legacy firms have matched prices in many major corridors.

Legacy firms' businesses are already responding to the threats posed by digital by lowering fees and adjusting business strategies. However, they face lower margins if they continue to compete with startups on pricing.

In full, the report:

Sizes the remittance market and calculates major remittance companies' market share.

Estimates digital's share of the market vs. cash.

Quantifies digital's impact at remittance startups and legacy firms.

Breaks down the business models employed by each type of remittance company, and determines which ones are in a better position for growth.

Compares transfer fees in various corridors to assess the competitiveness of each firm.

Explores other platforms that could completely upend the industry from the outside.

Determines how legacy remittance companies will fare in the digital age  the answer may surprise you.

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Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now





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Harry Reid

President-elect Donald Trump wrote a letter to then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada in 2010 following his victory over Republican opponent Sharron Angle congratulating him and adding "you are amazing!"

The letter, which was provided by Reid's office to BuzzFeed on Sunday, came after Trump ridiculed the outgoing Senate minority leader in a weekend tweet.

"I have always had a good relationship with Chuck Schumer," Trump wrote. "He is far smarter than Harry R and has the ability to get things done. Good news!"

Trump donated $4,800 to Reid's 2010 campaign. Schumer, the incoming Senate minority leader and a New York senator, received the most in donations from Trump of any sitting member of the Senate.

Here's the letter:

You Are Amazing! Donald Trump Wrote To Harry Reid In 2010 https://t.co/sRGFLSZWWB (This was *after* Trump's conversion to conservatism.) pic.twitter.com/SZz4Jmw1yq  McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) November 21, 2016

NOW WATCH: 'HOLD UP!': Watch Obama defend a Trump protester and scold the crowd at a Clinton rally





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In the span of an hour on Monday, one of the biggest foreign policy issues the incoming Trump administration will be forced to confront was exposed in two combative, and sharply contrasting, statements from Capitol Hill.

After becoming the first Democratic lawmaker under consideration for a cabinet post to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii outlined the one issue on which the two fully agree: ending the Obama administrations attempts to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. She also had harsh words for neocons who have escalated the drumbeats of war in seeking Assads removal.

Gabbard blasted U.S. involvement in Syria, which she warned would drag us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government. The lawmaker has long been an opponent of U.S. involvement in arming Syrian rebels, calling the American actions in Syria illegal.

She added that during Mondays meeting, she and Trump discussed my bill to end our countrys illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government, and the need to focus our precious resources on rebuilding our own country, and on defeating al Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist groups who pose a threat to the American people.

Trump has repeatedly indicated he might end American support for the thousands of U.S.-backed Syrian rebels and refocus efforts on fighting the Islamic State in eastern and central Syria. He has also said he would be open to cooperating with Russia  Assads largest benefactor  to defeat the terrorist group.

Just last week, Assad applauded Trumps election, calling him a natural ally in the fight against terrorism. The Obama administration has long called for the ouster of Assad, and while most of Washingtons effort has been focused on backing local Arab and Kurd forces to beat back the Islamic State, there is an active CIA program that trains and equips some rebels to battle the regimes forces.

Gabbard and Rep Austin Scott (R-Ga.) introduced a bill in November 2015 that would bring an immediate end to the illegal, counter-productive war to overthrow the Syrian government, according to a statement released by the lawmakers.

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Syrian and Russian warplanes have been bombarding rebels and civilians alike for the past year. They have made little effort to separate the two groups, especially in places like the eastern half of Aleppo, where about 275,000 people are without medical care or resupply of food.

Following Gabbards statement, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tore into the Obama administration for standing by as the Syrian regime and Russian forces continue their brutal assault on Aleppo.

Citing months of fruitless negotiations with Moscow to establish a ceasefire, the two senators added, Putin and Assad will not do what we ask of them out of the goodness of their hearts, or out of concern for our interests, or the suffering of others. They do not want to broker peace. They want to win a war. And American inaction is helping them to do it.

Last month, McCain wrote an op-ed calling for safe zones in Syria where civilians would be protected by U.S. airpower, and demanded that Washington issue an ultimatum to Assad: stop flying or lose your aircraft. Russian planes should also be warned that they assume a greater risk if they continue to bomb civilian targets.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone last week and agreed to normalize relations and pursue constructive cooperation on the broadest possible range of issues, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

Gabbard bucked her partys establishment earlier this year by backing Sen. Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, and was one of only 47 Democrats who voted in favor of a Republican-sponsored bill requiring refugees from Iraq and Syria to undergo FBI background checks. She also declined to sign a letter earlier this month condemning Trumps appointment of Steve Bannon as his top Oval Office advisor. The letter was signed by 169 Democrats.

Photo Credit: SERGEY VENYAVSKY/AFP/Getty Images
Donald Trump was not a fan of Saturday Night Live's most recent episode, in which Alec Baldwin made his first post-election appearance.

"Google, what is ISIS?" Baldwin's Trump character asked his computer to start the skit. "Siri, how do I kill ISIS?"

The episode continued with Baldwin's Trump going back on most of his promises, saying "just leave it" to multiple policies in place that the real Trump campaigned on overturning. He also agreed with Jason Sudeikis' Mitt Romney that working together would never pan out (though the actual Romney is reportedly in the running for a cabinet position) and mentioned that Vice President-elect Mike Pence got a "free lecture" at Friday night's Hamilton performance.

Read more: 'Hamilton' Broadway Cast Addresses Mike Pence in Audience: "Work on Behalf of All of Us"

The president-elect took to Twitter on Sunday morning to complain about SNL's content. "It is a totally one-sided, biased show - nothing funny at all. Equal time for us?"

I watched parts of @nbcsnl Saturday Night Live last night. It is a totally one-sided, biased show - nothing funny at all. Equal time for us?

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

Baldwin responded to Trump, telling him to shift his focus away from SNL and toward his presidential duties ahead: "You know what I would do if I were Prez? I'd be focused on how to improve the lives of AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE. I'd be focused on improving our reputation abroad, including actually fighting for freedom and not just oil. I would make every effort 2 retrain Americans so 2 cre8 jobs. 1 way u make America gr8 again is 2 put it back 2 work. I would make appointments that encouraged people, not generate fear and doubt."

...@realDonaldTrump

Equal time?

Election is over. There is no more equal time. Now u try 2 b Pres + ppl respond. That's pretty much it.- ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) November 20, 2016

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...@realDonaldTrump

You know what I would do if I were Prez? I'd be focused on how to improve the lives of AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE.- ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) November 20, 2016

...@realDonaldTrump

I'd be focused on improving our reputation abroad, including actually fighting for freedom and not just oil.- ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) November 20, 2016

...@realDonaldTrump

I would make every effort 2 retrain Americans so 2 cre8 jobs.

1 way u make America gr8 again is 2 put it back 2 work.- ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) November 20, 2016

...@realDonaldTrump

I would make appointments that encouraged people, not generate fear and doubt.

.- ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) November 20, 2016
In 1929, the embittered English writer Robert Graves published a farewell memoir to his country called Good-Bye to All That. A veteran of the Great War, scarred and traumatized at the Battle of the Somme, Graves offered his epitaph to a world brought down by the myopia of a waning ruling class. Unable to see forward, British rulers yearned to restore a bygone age, to make Britain great again, only to destroy the flower of their youth. No sooner did Good-Bye hit the bookstands than governments responded to a financial crisis by throwing up trade barriers, turning currencies into weapons, plunging the world into depression, and then deporting, or later exterminating, foreigners as well as their own citizens.

With the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, the United States seems about to swerve in a similar direction, to go from leading the world as a stabilizer to leading the world as a destabilizer. Whats propelling this about-face is nostalgia for an earlier age of supremacy. In truth, that supremacy has long since passed.

Americas continued claim on global leadership is mostly an inheritance from the aftermath of World War II, when American leaders laid the multilateral foundations of what we now call globalization. Diplomats, economists, and philosophers charted a grand bargain for the world, a kind of global new deal. It rested on two pillars.

The first concerned cooperation in the world economy. To prevent a backslide into the protectionist, inward-looking policies that crushed the global economy in the 1930s and led to war in Europe and Asia, global rebuilders hitched national economies to norms, rules, and principles of free trade. The result was a boom. From 1950 to 1973, world per capita incomes grew by 3 percent per year  powered by a trade explosion of 8 percent per year. Cooperation triumphed; interdependence brought prosperity.

The second pillar concerned national policies. To cope with the dislocations of free trade and interdependence, governments created safety nets and programs at home to manage the risks and to shelter the castaways. From welfare to workplace protections, from capital controls to expanded education, national policies buffered market perils and helped families adapt to commercial and technological changes. Whats more, many of these programs extended to the dislocated who left home altogether, like those who departed Puerto Rico for the United States, Italy for Canada, Algeria for France, Cambodia for Australia. Education, workplace protections, and pathways to citizenship were part of a bundle of rights conferred on immigrants.

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This was the global new deal that buoyed the postwar liberal order: a coherent, complementary set of policies that opened borders while protecting societies from the hazards of integration across those borders.

It was unsustainable. Both pillars eventually collapsed like Greek columns. Over seven decades, their foundations shifted beneath them. We are now witnessing, in Trumpism, its death throes. And there is no way to re-create the conditions that led to the original global new deal, and the years of relative stability and tolerance that came with it; we may never see its like again.

At the dawn of the Washington-led rebuild in 1945, the U.S. economy was larger than all of Europe, Japan, and the USSR combined  the result of a global war that leveled the productive capacity of almost every other major power. The effects of the war yielded a global Leviathan unlike any wed seen before  but one that did not impose itself, like Rome, on its neighbors. It did not have to. Indeed, what was remarkable about the long reconstruction process was how much elites and workers across Europe and Asia agreed on the fundaments of postwar integration. For them, after all, the global new deal offered them resources  Marshall Plan aid, U.S. foreign direct investment  and markets upon which to reassemble flattened economies and societies. For the United States, markets for manufactured goods and investment, shut down by the inward turn of the Great Depression, got thrown back open. According to recent estimates by one team of economic historians, the postwar export surge generated between 1.3 million and 1.97 million American jobs.

This new deal didnt depend on a hegemon to force others to get on board. It did, however, depend on one to coordinate the elaborate set of systems involved in managing currencies, to facilitate the negotiations involved in dismantling trade barriers and agreeing on standards  in other words, it required a leader to ensure all the pieces were in place for the new system to function as a whole. That liberal Leviathan, it was always clear, would be the United States. It is easy to lead when you are that dominant.

In short order, however, the success of this model began to eat away at that dominance  and thus, U.S. ability to coordinate and lead. Postwar global integration was so successful that soon Japan, Germany, and eventually China, South Korea, and Brazil were scrambling for market share. By the 1960s, Ford had to compete on its home turf with Toyota. Global trade would continue to boom in the decades to come; from 1980 to 2011, world trade grew by an astonishing 8.2 percent per year  twice as fast as world output. China leaped from a meager 0.89 percent of world export shares in 1980 to 10 percent in 2011, muscling past the United States. As a share of world exports, the United States slipped from approximately 12 percent to 8 percent over the past quarter century. In that period, the United States held its own as the worlds safety net for imports  consuming 12.3 percent of the worlds imports (China trails with 9.5 percent) and creating a trade imbalance of unprecedented proportions. China currently commands the same share of world exports that the United States enjoyed in 1968  almost 14 percent.

The slipping dominance of the United States nearly caused this system to fall apart much earlier. In the 1970s and 1980s, the first great malaise set in in the West, and the signs of a spreading precariat were everywhere. Factories closed; New York went bankrupt; in the winter of 1978-79, the lights went out in Britain and people shivered in the dark; Fords global market share began to nosedive. The global Club of Rome think tank in 1972 predicted the end of growth and the beginnings of a dark age of scarcity. Even Hollywood got into the gloom business, with Sally Field playing Norma Rae in a dying mill town in North Carolina and Jennifer Beals playing a hard-luck steelworker whose way out of the Rust Belt was exotic dancing.

Then, the global system got two, improbable lifelines.

One came in the form of credit. Moneylending took off as banks got deregulated. After 1973, the global financial industry soared; within a decade, financial markets had grown 400 percent. The value of daily trading on the New York Stock Exchange grew from $10 million in 1970 to over $1 billion by 2005. Now, it was not just commodities that sutured the world into one market, but capital. An alarming amount of financial interdependence, however, took the form of debt  both household and governmental. Total credit market debt (public and private) in the United States doubled from 1970 to 1998. Then it soared and never looked back. According to McKinsey, the global stock of debt to gross domestic product rose even more after the crisis of 2008. Last year, it ballooned to $152 trillion  over 225 percent of world output. Half the debt load rests on government shoulders. Private and public debt kept spending afloat even though tax bases and personal incomes for the bottom half sagged.

The second was cheap fossil fuels. The discovery of new crude oil reserves and rising use of natural gas licked the second oil crisis of the late 1970s, and, except for a brief spike during the presidency of George W. Bush, energy prices continued their long-term decline. Despite warnings that we would bake the planet, ever more coal, gas, and oil was combusted to move the worlds vehicles, spread its factories, and cool its homes  except liberalized trade, and Asias growing middle classes, meant the world included more of each. Liberalizing world trade and industrializing Asia released 4 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere in 1970; the figure is now 10 billion. Fully half the fossil fuel-induced CO2 emissions worldwide since 1750 have taken place since 1985.

I said these were improbable lifelines because those of us who watched the figures in the 1970s and 1980s tended to see the energy crisis and the debt crisis as chokeholds on global prosperity. It turns out that they were the opposite.

At the same time, rising global competition ravaged national welfare states. Governments facing cheap imports still abided by treaties that barred them from turning to protectionist measures; instead, with the victories of Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Ronald Reagan in the United States, a drive to free up markets, dismantle labor protections, and slash taxes aimed to help industries best their rivals by slashing their costs. Despite economic growth, Americas working class braced for a 35-year stagnation in real hourly wages.

What had once been a comprehensive, integrated system of policies that allowed free trade and social safety nets to work in tandem became, in the absence of strong global leadership, a race to the bottom, sustained by carbon and credit. Domestic safety nets got torn up in a fever to make economies more nimble. Deregulators, privatizers, and a free market orthodoxy took hold, shredding the pacts that once eased the effects of globalization. Trade unions, once key to manufacturing the consent behind the global new deal, got crushed. As supply chains outsourced automobile parts production to Indonesia and T-shirt-making to Bangladesh, dependence across societies produced greater inequality within them. And yet the system bumped along: Public services and protections softened market risks before 1973; in the decades afterward they were replaced by the private comforts of combustion and monthly credit card bills.

If access to carbon and credit appeared to solve the problem for a time, there was an additional, sustaining shock. In 1989, American leadership got a new lease on life  at least for a while. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the breakup of the USSR, and some gloating about the end of history created some sense of renewed American grandeur and the triumph of free markets. This euphoria, however, masked underlying structural shifts that eroded U.S. dominance still further; while the Soviet bloc collapsed, behind the scenes, there was a dramatic retooling of the Asian economies. Germany also upgraded its automobile, aircraft, and pharmaceutical prowess.

The reckoning could not be put off forever. The dual addictions to carbon and credit are now under assault. The bill for relying on fossil fuels is turning up in the form of climate change, while swaths of the unprotected precariat work part-time jobs in Walmart and Home Depot to cover the monthly interest on their Visa cards.

And now: Not since 1930 has the global trading order been more threatened. No one is coming to the rescue. David Cameron botched the Brexit campaign. Hillary Clinton stumbled through questions about the misunderstood Trans-Pacific Partnership and cringed whenever NAFTA came up. In the vacuum, wall-builders promise to revive a zombie version of American grandeur with more carbon, more credit, and a mercantilist crusade.

Global integration relied on the United States playing a vital stabilizing role in an otherwise turbulent world. After a long life, the seven decade-long American-led order is now exhausted. It was running out of steam anyway. But what comes next is not a simple process of slow sputtering out. In order to make America great again, a coalition of wall-builders and treaty-shredders will aim to upend the grand strategy that informed generations of thinking and policymaking since 1945. What the new regime in Washington promises to do now is to become the single-most important source of global instability.

Meanwhile, the emergent world order will be one deprived of a dominant actor. The world has yet to master the idea of leadership without dominance. And the unique moment in global history that produced the liberal Leviathan and allowed it to cobble together wholesale a system that gave the world relative peace and prosperity for decades is giving way to a more uncertain, fragile successor. The long cycle of integration and relative tolerance forged by U.S. leadership since World War II is now headed in reverse.

Photo credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images
To drone or not to drone?

One of the most controversial policies of President Barack Obama's administration has been its drone policy. According to estimates, Obamas use of drones killed up to 4,666 people including 765 civilians. And now with Donald Trump set to take over the White House, uncertainty remain over how he would use the technology.

Trump, even before winning the election, made statements about bombing the s--- out of ISIS. Based on such statements, it can b expected that the Islamic State group (also called ISIS) will be bombed even more heavily under his administration. The U.S. military uses remotely piloted drones to bomb targets. They have been mostly used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria.

Chris Woods, who helped establish the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in London, told the Independent: Obama warned us during his own campaign trail back in 2008 that he would escalate drone warfare. He mentioned approximately 30 times that he would take the war against al Qaeda to Pakistan. Thats why we have to worry about Donald Trump. You have to listen to have [sic] he has already said. Hes already said he might deliberately target the families of senior Isis militants  which would be a war crime.

He also indicated the situation could become dangerous due to Trump's lack of experience in international politics.

Trump has no insider experience and I think he has been taking that at face value. Maybe in Trumps mind when he hears that bombs dont kill civilians he thinks he can just blitz cities without any collateral damage.

For increased strikes, Trump would need to raise funds from Congress, which is controlled by his own Republican party.

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Drakes Views won favorite rap/hip-hop album at the 2016 American Music Awards Sunday night, but his acceptance speech referenced a part of his career some fans might forget: his days on Degrassi. Former The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev presented his award with Julianne Hough, and the rapper didnt pass up the opportunity to acknowledge their shared past.

Me and Nina were on Degrassi together, by the way, Drake said at the podium at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Weve come a long way, you know? Congratulations on all your success.

Drake, who was credited on the teen drama as Aubrey Graham, was on the show from 2001-2009. He portrayed Jimmy, a student who became wheelchair bound after getting shot. Dobrev, meanwhile, played teen mom Mia from 2006-2009.

The rapper went on to thank the city of Toronto, which is his hometown and also where he and Dobrev filmed Degrassi.

While Drake is winning awards for his music, Dobrev has moved on to the film world. She is currently promoting xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, which hits theaters Jan. 20.

The 2016 AMAs are airing on ABC. Find out how to watch the event HERE.

Drake AMAs 2016

Photo: Getty Images

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By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health)  - A blood-thinning medication used by people with a type of irregular heartbeat should not be taken with certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, a study suggests. The blood thinner, Pradaxa (known generically as dabigatran), is often prescribed for patients with an arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. It helps prevent blood clots and strokes, which are a particular problem with atrial fibrillation, or A-fib. But people who take dabigatran along with the cholesterol-lowering statin drugs simvastatin or lovastatin have a higher risk of major bleeding compared to patients who take other statins, researchers say. The study was conducted because simvastatin and lovastatin would be expected to increase the amount of (dabigatran) that is absorbed and thereby increase the risk of bleeding with this drug, a property not shared by the other statins, said lead author Tony Antoniou of St. Michaels Hospital and University of Toronto. The researchers conducted two studies of Ontario residents age 66 and older who began taking dabigatran between 2012 and 2014. First they examined a set of patients who had experienced ischemic stroke, then patients who had major hemorrhage, each matched to four similar people without these conditions. All participants in the study were using a statin drug in the two months prior to the study. Among almost 46,000 people taking dabigatran, there were 397 cases of ischemic stroke and 1,117 cases of major hemorrhage. Using simvastatin or lovastatin was not tied to risk of stroke, but they were tied to about a 46 percent increased risk of major hemorrhage, as reported in CMAJ. The nature of our databases don't allow us to gauge the severity of bleeding, Antoniou told Reuters Health by email. However, we tried to capture only major episodes of bleeding by identifying those instances that resulted in either a hospital admission or emergency department visit. Dabigatrans bleeding risk is highest for people over age 75 and with kidney problems. Lovastatin and simvastatin can block the activity of a protein that limits the amount of (dabigatran) that enters the body from the gut, Antoniou said. With less of the bouncer P-glycoprotein, more dabigatran enters the body, and bleeding risk increases, he said. Other statins do not block P-glycoprotein and would not be expected to interact with dabigatran, he said. Because other statins would not be expected to interact with (dabigatran), preferential use of those drugs should be considered in patients treated with (dabigatran) to attain the benefits of statin therapy while minimizing the excess risk of bleeding associated with lovastatin or simvastatin, he said. A-fib affects at least 2.7 million people in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2gD4jTG CMAJ, online November 21, 2016.
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Tyson Foods (TSN)  The poultry and beef producer earned an adjusted 96 cents per share for its latest quarter, missing estimates of $1.17 a share. Revenue and forward guidance missed, as well. Tyson also announced that President Tom Hayes will succeed Donnie Smith as chief executive officer on December 31.

3M (MMM)  3M was downgraded to "sell" from "neutral" at Goldman Sachs.

Facebook (FB)  Facebook announced a stock buyback of up to $6 billion, to begin in the first quarter of 2017. Separately, Facebook said its Chief Accounting Officer Jas Athwal will leave the company on February 17.

Netflix (NFLX)  Brean began coverage of the video streaming service with a "buy" rating, saying Netflix has created an "unstoppable lead" in the internet TV business.

Citigroup (NYSE:C)  Citi replaced HSBC (London Stock Exchange: HSBA-GB) in an annual list of 30 banks deemed globally systemic by the G-20's financial stability board. Those banks are required to hold extra capital to insure financial stability.

Novartis (Swiss Exchange: NOVN-CH)  Novartis is buying privately held U.S. drugmaker Selexys Pharmaceuticals for up to $665 million. Selexys specializes in treatments for blood diseases.

GlaxoSmithKline (London Stock Exchange: GSK-GB)  The drugmaker filed for U.S. approval of its new three-in-one inhaled lung drug, meaning it could reach the market ahead of similar treatments by rivals AstraZeneca (London Stock Exchange: AZN-GB) and Novartis (Swiss Exchange: NOVN-CH). The drug is designed to offer a single treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Blackstone (BX)  The private-equity firm is in talks to sell as much as $2.3 billion in Japanese property to China's Anbang Insurance, according to sources quoted by Reuters.

Wal-Mart (WMT)  The retailer plans to begin offering Cyber Monday deals on Black Friday, following up its recent announcement that it plans to increase its online inventory significantly.

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LifeLock (LOCK)  LifeLock will be bought by cybersecurity software maker Symantec (SYMC) for $2.3 billion or $24 per share. LifeLock specializes in identity theft protection services.

Apple (AAPL)  Apple will replace iPhone 6s batteries for free for customers who are experiencing an unexpected shutdown problem. Apple said there is no safety issue and the problem affects only a limited number of phones.

Wells Fargo (WFC)  Wells Fargo was hit with new management restrictions by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, with the bank now required to get approval before making various business decisions or giving out executive severance packages. The restrictions cancel some aspects of the OCC's September settlement with Wells Fargo.

Headwaters (HW)  Headwaters is being bought by Australian construction firm Boral for $1.86 billion in cash, or $24.25 per share. Headwaters is a Utah-based maker of building products.

GoDaddy (GDDY)  GoDaddy is finalizing a roughly $1.8 billion bid for European web hosting firm Host Europe Group, according to London's Sunday Times. GoDaddy is competing with United Internet for Host Europe, with Deutsche Telekom having dropped out of the bidding.

Intel (INTC)  Intel is cutting its investment in wearable device technology and may exit the market altogether, according to sources quoted by TechCrunch. However, the chip maker is denying that this is the case.





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Despite the continuation of clashes in eastern Mosul, 1,000 food baskets were delivered on behalf of the Kuwaiti government to the residents of the citys al-Samah neighborhood on Sunday, November 20.

Kuwaiti state media said that the humanitarian aid delivery was coordinated with the Nineveh provincial government, and will continue to flow into newly captured areas of the city in light of the growing humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a car bombing attack at the entrance to the al-Samah neighborhood on Sunday, underscoring the ongoing threat of attacks in newly captured areas of the city. Credit: YouTube/al-Mawsleya via Storyful
An artist's impression of the future of space travel.

The Journal of Propulsion and Power, a peer-reviewed journal published by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), published a paper this week asserting that radio frequency cavity thrusters such as the electromagnetic thruster, or EmDrive, are theoretically viable.

The possibility of an EmDrive, which provides thrust by containing electromagnetic radiation within a closed microwave cavity, was first presented by British scientist Roger Shawyer in 1999, according to Science Alert. However, Shawyer has faced considerable skepticism and criticism because his theoretical rocket thruster, which would neither require propellent fuel nor produce exhaust, violates a fundamental law of physics.

Newtons Third Law of Physics states, To each action theres an equal and opposite reaction.

But theres the problem  an equal and opposite reaction means something needs to be pushed out the back of propulsion system in order for it to move forwards, and the EMDrive doesnt have an exhaust, Science Alert explains.

Despite this theoretical quandary, NASA and other space agencies and research facilities have been conducting experiments with an eye towards constructing a functional EmDrive thruster.

Shawyers ideas first attracted the attention of scientists in China.

A Chinese team led by Prof Yang at Xian Northwestern Polytechnic took up the challenge in 2008, David Hambling writes in a Popular Mechanics article that provides a brief history of EmDrive development. They published a series of theoretical and experimental papers, and by 2012 claimed to have produced a device producing a few ounces of thrust for a few kilowatts of input, comparable to conventional ion thrusters.

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NASA reported similar positive results from experiments it performed in August of 2013.

However, several scientists still doubted the results and raised questions about the methods employed in the research.

Martin Tajmar, a physicist at the Dresden University of Technology, investigated the effect in 2015, Hambling writes. Previously Tajmar had shown that claims that of electrostatic torquethe twisting force supposed to occur between charged spheres, was actually caused by the experimental setup, and that the alleged gravitational shielding was really due to an error in a gyroscope. Yet when Tajmar built his own EmDrive, he was surprised to find that it really did appear to produce thrust.

Tajmar could not identify any potential experimental errors that might have caused the positive results he found.

Nasa says EmDrive does work and it may have also created a Star Trek warp drive https://t.co/7psUVG9BEt via @IBTimesUK  Kelly Balthrop (@Kelly_Balthrop) November 10, 2016

In April, The International Business Times reported that NASA scientists at the Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory (also known as Eagleworks lab) at NASAs Johnson Space Center performed tests on a EmDrive prototype submitted for study. Those tests, too, yielded surprising results.

Thrust measurements of the EmDrive defy classical physics expectations that such a closed [microwave] cavity should be unusable for space propulsion because of the law of conservation of momentum, The International Business Times quoted Jose Rodal, Jeremiah Mullikin, and Noel Munson from a post on the NASA Spaceflight website.

Those results led to an announcement in August that the Eagleworks EmDrive research would be published by The Journal of Propulsion and Power, with the paper being titled Measurement of Impulsive Thrust from a Closed Radio-Frequency Cavity in Vacuum.

The paper is now available online.

The following month, in September, Cannae Inc. CEO Guido Fetta announced his company would be sending a Cannae Drive into outer space, according to Hamblings Popular Mechanics article. The Cannae Drive is the companys version of a reactionless thruster.

While passing peer review is an important step in gaining reputability within the scientific community, it still does not necessarily prove that a thesis or theory is true.

[T]he peer-review process usually means that an independent panel of experts reviewed the work and determined that it is sufficient to merit further consideration, Matt Williams writes in a post for Universe Today. It does not mean the conclusions reached are correct, or that they wont be subject to contradiction by follow-up investigations.

Williams is right to point out that questions remain and that future studies could contradict any current findings. After all, if the EmDrive works it will contradict some long-held foundations of physics.

One thing is for certain, after passing peer review, EmDrive technology is going to be getting a whole lot more attention.

[Featured image by Evans/Getty Images]

EMDrive Peer-Reviewed Essay May Prove NASAs Impossible Rocket Thruster Really Works is an article from: The Inquisitr News
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged the European Union and other Western nations to step up support for Ankara's fight against Kurdish militants, as he addressed a meeting of NATO lawmakers.

Erdogan said he expected the backing of NATO countries in Turkey's fight against "all terror groups" including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the group blamed by Ankara for the failed July 15 coup.

He called on the European Union to tighten its approach to the PKK, which Brussels designates as a terror group but whose members, according to Erdogan, are allowed to roam freely within the bloc.

"Those who have a hesitant attitude against terrorist organisations will be hit themselves sooner or later," he said in a speech to deputies at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 but its bid to join the European Union has been further set back by disputes over the extent of its crackdown in the wake of the coup.

Erdogan had at the weekend mooted that Turkey could join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a loose security and economic bloc led by Russia and China sometimes seen as an eastern counterpart to NATO.

But he did not refer to this in his speech in Istanbul to the NATO meeting.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meanwhile emphasised the alliance's "solidarity" with Turkey in the wake of the coup and said Ankara "has the right" to prosecute those responsible.

Pressed by a Dutch lawmaker to condemn the crackdown that has seen over 35,000 arrested, Stoltenberg said he had told Turkish leaders all measures had to be taken within the rule of law.

He said he welcomed cooperation between Turkey and the Council of Europe over the legal measures after the coup, saying this should be an "important tool" to ensure the rule of law and human rights are applied.

He added he wanted to see "more assurance measures" from NATO states to help Turkey on its unstable borders, in addition to the current surveillance flights and deployment of missile batteries on the Syrian frontier.

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Stoltenberg said last week Turkish officers serving in NATO command posts had asked for asylum following the failed putsch.

Later Monday in a statement Stoltenberg said he had spoken with the Turkish president about the filling of Turkish posts in the alliance's command structure, which he described "as a national decision for Turkey  as it is for any other NATO ally".

He added that "NATO's commitment to the security of Turkey is absolute."
European markets closed higher on Monday as the dollar strength took a breaker and oil prices jumped to their highest level in three weeks on heightened investor expectations that OPEC could reach a deal to cut production.





The pan-European Stoxx 600 (London Stock Exchange: RIO-GB) ended 0.25 percent higher on Monday after fluctuating for much of the morning session. Sectors were mixed though basic resources outperformed their peers, rising over 2 percent, amid a spike in metal prices.

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi defended the bank's actions to date and suggested that the ECB must continue with its current level of monetary support in order to help inflation grow.



Draghi told the European Parliament on Monday, "The return of inflation towards our objective still relies on the continuation of the current, unprecedented level of monetary support, in spite of the gradual closing of the output gap."

In France, former President Nikolas Sarkozy conceded defeat in the primaries for the 2017 presidential election. The second round to select the candidate for the ring-wing Les Republicains will be disputed next weekend by Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed expectations that she will run for a fourth term in office. Meanwhile, the German economy should slowdown in the last quarter of this year, after a solid performance in the first six months of 2016, the finance ministry said Monday.

Oil was trading at a three-week high on Monday as OPEC members seemed closer to a deal to cut output following comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Europe, oil and gas stocks spiked by more than 3 percent.

Brent crude was around $48.60 a barrel, up 3.69 percent at the European close, while WTI crude was selling at $47.35 a barrel, up 3.63 percent.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average continued higher as investors anticipated what President-elect Donald Trump's economic policies could mean for the markets.



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The Nasdaq composite climbed to reach an all-time high in early trading on Monday and was up 0.57 percent at 11.30am ET. The S&P 500 topped its all-time intraday high of 2,193.81 hit on August 15 as energy stocks traded 2 percent higher.

Essentra (London Stock Exchange: ESNT-GB), the plastic and packaging components supplier, was at the bottom of the European benchmark, dropping more than 20 percent. The company announced it was cutting its full-year adjusted operating profit on the back of restrictions in the Chinese market.



Rio Tinto (London Stock Exchange: RIO-GB) announced job cuts Monday in its iron ore division due to "tough market" conditions, helping shares to rise by nearly 1 percent at the close.

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By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former consultant to Iran's mission to the United Nations pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that he filed a false tax return substantially understating how much he was paid and conspired to violating a U.S. sanctions law.

Ahmad Sheikhzadeh, 60, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn to charges that he conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and aided in the preparation of false individual income tax returns.

As part of a plea deal, Sheikhzadeh agreed to not appeal any sentence of 5-1/4 years in prison or less, said Steve Zissou, his attorney. Sheikhzadeh, who has also agreed to pay over $147,000, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30.

Sheikhzadeh was arrested in March, two months after when world powers led by the United States and the European Union lifted crippling sanctions against Iran in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Prosecutors said Sheikhzadeh had been a long-term consultant to Iran's U.N. mission since 2008 and had been paid a regular cash salary, often through a someone employed there, which he deposited into a Citibank checking account.

Prosecutors said from 2008 to 2012, Sheikhzadeh under-reported his U.N. income on his person tax returns.

The indictment said he also used his Citibank account for side transactions with two U.S.-based co-conspirators who wished to invest in Iran, and at their request directed an Iran-based co-conspirator to funnel money to people in that country.

Prosecutors said Sheikhzadeh did not obtain any license from the U.S. Treasury Department authorizing these and other activities.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
On a sweltering Friday in early September, Jonathan and Drew Scott are showing no signs of New Orleans' late summer heat -- 95 degrees by early afternoon -- as they film their new series, Brothers Take New Orleans. The two "Property Brothers" are with their third sibling, J.D., and Hoda Kotb at the Court of Two Sisters in the heart of the city's French Quarter discussing that week's results of their latest challenge: remodeling a duplex destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The show, which premieres Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 9 p.m. ET, is the latest spin-off of the Scott brothers' successful Property Brothers franchise, which includes Buying and Selling, Brother vs. Brother, Property Brothers: At Home and Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch.

"I will say that Hoda is loved more by one of the brothers," Drew tells ET from upstairs at the Court of Two Sisters, where the crew has retreated from the heat after filming the segment. "And made the other cry."

MORE: Drew and Jonathan Scott Rib Each Other New 'Brother vs. Brother' Bloopers

Kotb is one of several celebrity judges -- including NCIS: New Orleans' Scott Bakula and Ben and Erin Napier of HGTV's new series Home Town -- tasked with determining a winner as the brothers renovate different spaces in side-by-side shotgun-style homes over four weeks.

"The cool thing is that we're all friends and obviously Drew does great work," Jonathan adds. "But I'm confident that I'm making this house beautiful too. So regardless which way it goes, we're getting families back together. We focus on the fact that we're helping someone in need and not the fact that it's just a sibling rivalry."

HGTV

Partnering with SBP, a New Orleans-based nonprofit with a mission to minimize the time between disaster and recovery, Jonathan and Drew are not just filming another spin-off, they're also contributing to the area's ongoing recovery in the decade since Hurricane Katrina laid waste to large parts of Louisiana.

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"We've got neighbors coming over saying, 'I didn't think that house was ever going to get fixed up' and 'I miss our neighbor,'" Jonathan says of the show's renovated property, which sat vacant for 11 years. The project will mark SBP's 1,140th home rebuild.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, the brothers first visited New Orleans in 2007 during Mardi Gras and have felt connected to the community ever since. They also distinctly remember watching the devastation unfold in late August of 2005, and admire how that fighting spirit lives on.

"There's a lot of love for the city and, even after the devastation of Katrina, a lot of love and support for people here," Drew says. "That's why we wanted to come be a part of that."

MORE: Hurricane Katrina 10 Years Later -- How Brad Pitt's Foundation Gave One Family a Second Chance

"People here are so warm and they're so inviting," Jonathan adds, reflecting on the floods that affected several parishes throughout southern Louisiana weeks prior to ET's visit to the set. "You see everyone come together. You see everyone here go down to help there because when Hurricane Katrina happened in New Orleans, everyone came from Baton Rouge to help here."

Of course, there are all the other pleasures of New Orleans that both brothers love. "The food, the music, the fun vibe down here," Drew says, listing off the reasons they continue to come back.

"We've been trying to eat as much food as possible," Jonathan adds.

HGTV

Brothers Take New Orleans will not be strictly focused on the renovation, giving audiences a chance to explore the city with Jonathan and Drew. There's live jazz music in the streets, beignets at Cafe du Monde, the world-famous cemeteries and wresting with alligators.

"When we're shooting any of these shows, we want to find the craziest places we can go to," Jonathan says. "I'm going antiquing one day and Drew wants to stop. He wanted me to wrestle an alligator!"

Even with their tight production schedule, the brothers were able to set aside some time for adventure, including getting in a pen with a 900-pound alligator. "There was nothing between us and certain death," Jonathan jokes, adding: "I can't say wrestling gators was even on my bucket list, but it was fun."

MORE: Watch the 'Property Brothers' Drew and Jonathan Scott in First-Ever Music Video

One thing that probably won't make it on the show is Drew's shoe obsession. Jonathan told Parade magazine that his brother has 180 pairs. While Drew wouldn't cough up how many he actually has, he did admit: "I have a lot of shoes."

"I brought just the bare minimum," he says when asked how many made it down to New Orleans for the production. "I did not bring suits because it's, you know, 117 degrees and 95 percent humidity."

OK, so maybe the heat did get to them just a little.

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Panama City (AFP) - Panama needs to immediately boost transparency and regulation of its financial sector to shake off its reputation -- deepened by the "Panama Papers" scandal -- of being a hub for tax evasion, a report released Monday said.

"Decisions, investment, legislation and a high degree of commitment by the authorities and regulatory bodies of Panama" are needed to keep Panama off lists that would punish it as a designated tax or money-laundering haven, the report by the government-appointed international Committee of Independent Experts said.

Automatic sharing of tax information and holding lawyers to higher standards were among its key recommendations.

"The moment has come. The country can no longer postpone decision-making in this field," it said.

The panel was established by Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela in April, days after the "Panama Papers" revelations showed how a law firm in the Central American nation set up companies to help the world's wealthy shield their assets from scrutiny.

It was seen as an effort by Varela to limit the damage from the scandal, which sparked tax probes in several countries around the world, protests that led to the resignation of Iceland's prime minister, and prompted France to put Panama back on its blacklist of uncooperative tax havens.

Transparency International, a corruption watchdog, said the experts' report "does not go far enough."

It tweeted a reaction from its international advocacy coordinator, Max Heywood, saying: "Unless Panama decides to join the handful of countries that have committed to creating a public register that names the real owners of all corporations and trusts, the criminals will continue to win the fight against corruption."

- Vital services sector -

Panama's services sector accounts for 83 percent of its economy, which is rated a "star growth performer" in Latin America by the International Monetary Fund.

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The seven-member Committee of Independent Experts was initially headed by Nobel-winning US economist Joseph Stiglitz. But he and a Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth resigned in August, saying Varela's government was curbing their independence in making the panel's findings public.

They released their own report which called on the United States and Europe to lead a global fight against financial centers seen to be lax in cracking down on financial corruption and tax dodging.

Since the "Panama Papers," Panama has declared itself committed to reforms to protect its financial activities. It notably signed an agreement last month with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for the multilateral exchange of tax information.

Varela last week warned France of "diplomatic measures" from January 2017 if it kept Panama on its blacklist. Panama's parliament has already approved a law that, if approved by Varela, would impose tax and migratory penalties on France.

European Union finance ministers in early November met to discuss drawing up a list of countries deemed to be uncooperative in sharing tax information.

"It's a big step towards an international blacklist" that could emerge by the end of 2017, Slovakian Finance Minister Peter Kazimir said at the time.
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Passengers on a Swiss A320 had a memorable flight on Sunday when their pilot decided to abort a dangerous landing at the last possible second.

In the clip, the airplane can be seen attempting to land at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport while battling a heavy crosswind. Although the plane coming in for a landing at a heavy angle may be concerning for some watchers, this is actually the typical technique and not as scary as it may look.

Regardless of how it looks from the ground, when a pilot ditches a landing it will surely come as a surprise to passengers, especially if the plane briefly makes contact with the ground such as in this case.

Thankfully, the plane made a successful landing 10 minutes later. on its second pass.

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(Reuters) - A decision on the Dakota Access Pipeline was delayed further by federal authorities in mid-November as protests continued. In addition, Donald Trump's unexpected win in the U.S. presidential election could overturn a surprising victory by Native American and environmental groups in September to delay the Dakota Access Pipeline. The following is a timeline of the project: December 2014 Energy Transfer Partners LP applies to build a 1,172 mile (1,885 km), 570,000 barrel-per-day pipeline to deliver crude oil from North Dakotas Bakken shale fields to Patoka, Illinois, crossing South Dakota and Iowa to the North Dakota Public Service Commission, kicking off a year of public hearings in the state. January 2016 North Dakota regulators approve the pipeline unanimously April 29 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers holds a hearing for Native Americans on the pipeline. There was near unanimous opposition to the project, according to local media reports. July 25 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved three easements for water crossings for the pipeline at Sakakawea, the Mississippi River and Lake Oahe. Lake Oahe is an ancestral site for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. July 27 The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sues the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in connection with the pipeline, citing violation of multiple federal statutes that authorize the pipelines construction and operation, and seeks an emergency order to halt construction. The tribe also alleges the pipeline threatens their environmental and economic well-being and would damage and destroy sites of historic, religious and cultural significance. The Sioux Tribe say that because the pipeline goes underneath Lake Oahe, approximately half a mile upstream of the tribes reservation, leaks from the pipeline would be directly in the tribes ancestral lands. Aug. 24 Celebrities including Susan Sarandon, Riley Keough and Shailene Woodley joined members of the Tribe outside a courthouse in Washington, D.C., to protest the pipeline saying that it could pollute water and desecrate sacred land. Sept. 3 Private security guards hired by Energy Transfer Partners used attack dogs and mace after violence erupted at a private construction site along the pipeline route. Six people were reportedly bitten by dogs, a scene that was captured on video and broadcast widely. Sept. 6 Brian Cladoosby, president of the National Congress of American Indians, which represents more than 500 tribes, spoke to nearly a dozen of President Barack Obama's Cabinet-level advisers at a Sept. 6 meeting of the White House's three-year-old Native American Affairs Council. Cladoosby delivered an impassioned request to his audience: stand with Native Americans who have united with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and block construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Sept. 9 U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington rejected a broad request from Native Americans to block the project. He, however, rules that no construction activity on the Dakota Access may take place between Highway 1806 and 20 miles to the east of Lake Oahe. Construction activity to the west of Highway 1806 may proceed. The tribe appeals the decision. Sept. 9 Less than an hour after Boasberg's decision, the U.S. Justice and Interior Departments and Army made an unprecedented move and ordered a stop to construction near Lake Oahe until the Army Corps of Engineers reviews its previous decisions and decides if it needs to conduct a fuller environmental and cultural review. Sept. 13 Energy Transfer Partners told employees in a letter, provided to media, that the company was committed to completing the project. The midstream operator cited that the pipeline was 60 percent complete, and that it had already spent $1.6 billion so far on equipment, materials and the workforce. Oct. 9 The U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit said that an administrative injunction related to the emergency motion of the Standing Rock Tribe would be dissolved, citing that Dakota Access has rights to construct on private land up to Lake Oahe. Oct. 11 Environmental activists across four states disrupted the flow of millions of barrels of crude from Canada into the United States in a rare, coordinate action that targeted several key pipelines simultaneously. The protest group, the Climate Direct Action, said their move was in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. As a safety precaution, companies operating the pipelines shut off sections of the lines for several hours while they investigated. Earlier in the day, Energy Transfer Partners said it looked forward to prompt resumption of construction activities east and west of Lake Oahe on private land. Oct. 25 Government-to-government tribal consultations began across six regions on how federal government decision-making on infrastructure projects could better include tribal concerns. Nov. 8 Energy Transfer Partners says it has built the pipe to the edge of Lake Oahe and reiterates its intentions to complete the project. Nov. 9 Following the surprise victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election, climate activists and the Standing Rock Sioux say they still hope President Obama will be able to kill the pipeline definitively. Analysts say the line is more than likely to go through. Nov. 14 The U.S. government, in a joint notice issued by the Department of the Interior and the Army Corps of Engineers, delayed a final decision on permitting. They said the permit had followed all legal requirements, but said more consultation with Native American tribes was needed. Nov. 18 Energy Transfer Partners' CEO Kelcy Warren told the Associated Press that the pipeline would not be re-routed. The statement came as protests grew more heated. (Reporting by Catherine Ngai and Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
In the wake of a campaign cycle that saw fake news widely shared on social media  and widespread criticism that his company did not do enough to combat it  Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg announced late last week that his company is working to address the problem of misinformation being spread on the site.

Our goal is to connect people with the stories they find most meaningful, and we know people want accurate information, Zuckerberg wrote Friday in a Facebook post. Weve been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously. Weve made significant progress, but there is more work to be done.

Zuckerberg outlined several projects aimed at detecting and reporting fake stories, fact-checking questionable content and disrupting fake news economics.

A lot of misinformation is driven by financially motivated spam, he wrote.

Paul Horner, a writer who makes his living off writing fake news stories that go viral, told the Washington Post that he believes Donald Trump won the election because of him.

I think Trump is in the White House because of me, Horner said. His followers dont fact-check anything  theyll post everything, believe anything.

During the campaign, several of Horners intentionally false pieces were picked up and shared on Twitter by members of Team Trump. In March, Corey Lewandowski, Trumps campaign manager at the time, posted Horners story about an anti-Trump protester supposedly being paid $3,500 to protest at one of his rallies.

Ive gone to Trump protests  trust me, no one needs to get paid to protest Trump, Horner said. I just wanted to make fun of that insane belief, but it took off. They actually believed it.

I thought theyd fact-check it, and itd make them look worse, he added. But Trump supporters  they just keep running with it! They never fact-check anything!

Neither, it seems, does the president-elect.

The day after the election, a Twitter user in Austin, Texas, posted a photo of buses that he said were being used to transport paid protesters to demonstrations against President-elect Trump.

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Except they werent. According to the New York Times, the buses were hired by a software company that was holding a conference in Austin. But that didnt stop conservative websites from picking up the story.

The report may have even made its way to Trumps Twitter feed.

Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016

Just had a very open and successful presidential election, Trump tweeted the next day. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!

Thanks to the election, the fake news industry is booming.

A recent BuzzFeed study found that during the final three months of the presidential campaign, the top-performing fake election news stories on Facebook generated more engagement than the top stories from major news outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post  and others.

And its lucrative.

Paris Wade and Ben Goldman, self-described new yellow journalists who run the website Liberty Writers News, told the Post they are making so much money that they feel uncomfortable talking about it because they dont want people to start asking for loans. Horner said he makes about $10,000 a month from advertising on his stories.

To combat fake news, Zuckerberg said Facebook is looking into cracking down on the ads on fake news.

Still, Zuckerberg added, We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves.

That statement didnt sit well with the Times media columnist, Jim Rutenberg.

Truth doesnt need arbiters, Rutenberg wrote. It needs defenders. And it needs them now more than ever as the American democracy staggers into its next uncertain phase. With a mainstream news media that works hard to separate fact from fiction under economic and political threat, Facebook  which has contributed to that economic threat by gobbling up so much of the online advertising market  is going to have a special responsibility to do its part.

Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan suggested its time for Facebook to do something bolder, like hire an executive editor.

Zuckerberg may not want to call this person an editor, since he has been insistent that Facebook isnt a media company, Sullivan wrote. He sees it as a technology company, a platform for connectivity. And indeed, Facebook itself does not produce news content but merely allows its community members to share their own offerings  whether baby pictures or hoaxes about political candidates. Thats fine. Call this person the chief sharing officer or the engagement czarina.

Whatever the title, she wrote, Facebook needs someone who can distinguish a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph from child pornography and who can tell a baseless lie from a thoroughly vetted investigative story.

"Fake news" breeds confusion. People in power benefit from confusion. So outsmart them  refuse to be confused. https://t.co/AnU746VAv1  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 20, 2016

But according to CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter, Facebook users need to do some personal reflection too.

Fake news sources like Liberty Writers News are just a symptom of a disease, Stelter said on Reliable Sources on Sunday. The disease is distrust. The folks who click on these links and share these stories dont trust real sources.

Fake news stories sow confusion, Stelter added. People in power, all around the world, benefit from confusion.  So users should outsmart them. Refuse to be confused.
Fabled London nightclub Fabric is to reopen after the local council on Monday reversed its decision to revoke its licence following several drug-related deaths, in exchange for a strict new door policy.

Judge Robin McPhee at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in north London ruled that the club could operate again after Islington Council said it would not oppose Fabric in its appeal, which was due to start next week.

London mayor Sadiq Khan called the ruling "fantastic news".

"Fabric re-opening shows we can find common-sense solutions that protect both the future of clubs and the safety of all clubbers," he wrote on Twitter.

Islington council revoked Fabric's licence in September at the request of police, following the deaths of two teenagers from suspected drug overdoses.

Fabric is globally renowned for its drum and bass, techno and house nights, and its closure highlighted the plight of London's clubs, which have halved in number in eight years, according to Khan.

Islington Council said it had approved the deal after Fabric "offered many new additional conditions to be added to its licence, all of which are designed to ensure a zero tolerance approach to drug possession, consumption and sale within the club."

New measures include the use of an ID scanning system, enhanced searching procedures, covert surveillance within the club, life-time bans for anyone found in possession of drugs and a ban on those aged under 19.

The most recent death was of an 18-year-old man, who had taken Ecstasy during a visit to Fabric in August. That came six weeks after another 18 year-old died in similar circumstances.

Since 2011 there have been a further four deaths, leading the Metropolitan Police to make an application to revoke its licence.

Khan previously described Fabric as an "essential part of our cultural landscape" and said that its closure pointed "to a wider problem of how we protect London's night-time economy, while ensuring it is safe and enjoyable for everyone".

Fabric has attracted many of the world's top DJs and claims six million people have stepped through its doors since its opening in a old meat-processing area of north London in 1999.
Designer Elisabeth Weinstock's python-print snakeskin motorcycle jacket is a custom tag art billboard of sorts, scattered with hand-painted roses, ocean waves, punk band names, and the lyrics from "Hold On" by Green Day, circa 2000 ("As I stepped to the edge beyond the shadow of a doubt").

The L.A. native, who has made snakeskin handbags and accessories her signature, recently feted her resort 2017 collection, along with celebrating 30 years clean after a teenage heroin addiction that almost took her life at age 19.

Yes, her snakeskin handbags and accessories have been toted by the likes of Justin Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kylie Jenner, Justin Timberlake, Lenny Kravitz, Drake, A$AP Rocky and Usher. But the untold story is her dedication to those less fortunate.

For the past 20 years, Weinstock has partnered creatively with former L.A. gang member Alex Izquiero, who contributed ideas for some of the graffiti work on her handbags.

Courtesy of Elisabeth Weinstock

"Alex is the one who really encouraged me to do the art," says Weinstock. "We have regular think tanks; he keeps me going and pushes me creatively."

"I grew up in a rough area of South Central L.A.," says 36-year-old Izquiero. "I never trusted anybody. But I met Liz when I was 16 years old at the recreation center A Place Called Home. She didn't try to change me, but I grew into trusting her, little by little. I give her ideas and she helps me brainstorm ideas for my video and film work. She likes to help people. I've learned so much from her."

More recently, Weinstock and design partner Belen Hormaeche enlisted four undiscovered L.A. artists to hand-paint patterns on resort 2017 bags - bold red-and-black graffiti on python-print snakeskin and a storybook mushroom-and-star print on black watersnake. A romantic floral-and-peacock pattern on white snakeskin will be added for spring. Prices range from $830 for a zip-top clutch to $2,472 for the large Belgravia tote bag. Pieces can also be customized with lettering of choice at the brand's West Third Street flagship or elisabethweinstock.com.

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Courtesy of Elisabeth Weinstock

"Some of the artists are in recovery, some are newly sober, others have been locked up many times," says Weinstock. "Many had never had a job anywhere before, or even an art lesson, but could just do what they're doing. Of course, they have to have a certain aesthetic that matches the brand, but we are bringing in more artists all the time. One of my artists has been sober for 160 days now and he's doing really well. That's all I care about."

"Liz texted me earlier this year and said, 'Can you paint a mushroom?" says 23-year-old former heroin addict and street tag artist Josh Grunfeld. "When I was 13, I became friends with the tagging crew and I would go out in the streets and paint letters, which felt liberating. After years of doing that, I progressed and got better. My friends are crazy-good artists, but they still do bad stuff, so they aren't channeling their talent in positive ways. Now I'm doing things in my life that lead to opportunities. Russell Simmons' company All Def Digital just hired me to tag rap lyrics on a wall in their office. It all started by painting one mushroom bag."
International terror groups are warning of several impending attacks surrounding national holidays and events, from New York Citys Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade to Washington, D.C.s Inauguration Day. The FBI is warning police departments across the nation of the uptick in terror threats, telling them to prepare for a multitude of attacks, from drones carrying explosives to bombings in crowded areas.

The latest issue of Al-Qaedas Inspire magazine warned of imminent threats to the United States during the holiday season, including drones carrying IEDs, lone gunman attacks and explosives in target rich zones in Washington, D.C., and neighboring regions, including northern Virginia. This week, the Islamic State released its own magazine edition, Rumiyah, purporting potential terror and pointing to the Macys Day Parade as an "excellent target." The FBI is also warning of threats targeting Inauguration Day as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on Jan. 20.

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Photo: Reuters

An uptick in terror threats often occurs during the holiday season, with roughly 100 million U.S. travelers taking to the air and roads. While the Macys Day Parade prepares for one of the most crowded events in history, hotels and travel services throughout Washington, D.C., are reporting extreme surges in bookings and reservations for the highly anticipated inaugural event. Both events and their possible record-high turnouts pose unprecedented challenges for police departments across the country.

In a section of its latest issue of Rumiyah entitled "Just Terror Tactics," the Islamic State pointed to the attacks in Nice, France, on July 16 as a prime example of what could happen to New York City during its annual Thanksgiving parade. The attacks killed 86 and injured 434 after a 19-ton truck plowed through crowds celebrating the countrys Bastille Day festivities.

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The New York Police Department reassured those planning to attend the upcoming holiday at the parade will be protected from any international terror threats and should continue with any scheduled plans. John Miller, the NYPDs deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, told "CBS This Morning" on Monday that the parade will be lined with blocker cars at every intersection of that route to prevent any similar tragedies to the Nice attacks.

The citys counterterrorism strategies recently instructed 135 of the 200 facilities renting trucks in the metro area on how to identify and report suspicious behavior.

"Macy's works closely with the NYPD and federal law enforcement agencies each year to put in place comprehensive security plans for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," Macy's said in a statement last week. "Our interagency partners lead security efforts along all areas of the Parade route and we are in constant communication with these agencies as they actively monitor and evaluate parade security. "

Last years Macys Day Parade attracted 3.5 million spectators, while the last Inauguration Day event brought at least 1 million visitors to the nations capital.

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Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - Syrian government forces advanced quickly inside rebel-held east Aleppo on Monday, as the UN raised the alarm for nearly one million people living under siege in the war-wracked country.

UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council that 974,080 people were now living under siege in Syria, more than double the number from six months ago.

The assessment follows mounting international concern over the fate of Aleppo, where 250,000 people are trapped in the east of the city under a government siege.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime lost control of the eastern part of Syria's second city to insurgents in 2012, and its recapture would be its biggest victory in the country's brutal five-year conflict.

Rebel forces have steadily lost ground since regime ally Russia intervened to bolster Assad's government last year.

They faced a new blow Sunday when government forces backed by Iranian and Russian troops and fighters from Lebanon's Shiite movement Hezbollah entered Aleppo's Masaken Hanano district -- the first neighbourhood the rebels controlled in 2012.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said control of the northeastern Aleppo district could give regime forces an edge and isolate rebels from other areas held by insurgents.

The monitoring group's chief Rami Abdel Rahman said it was the biggest advance regime forces have made so far inside eastern Aleppo.

"If they take control of Masaken Hanano, the regime will have line of fire control over several rebel-held neighbourhoods and will be able to cut off the northern parts of rebel-held Aleppo from the rest of the opposition-held districts," he said.

Milad Shahabi, a member of Masake Hanano's council, told AFP that "civilians started to flee the neighbourhood" where fighting was still underway and they were heading to southern areas.

- 'Nothing to eat' -

Al-Watan newspaper, close to Syria's government, described the neighbourhood as the "most important stronghold of the gunmen" in Aleppo.

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Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

A European diplomat said the government's capture of east Aleppo appeared to be a matter of time.

"Now, it's just a question of how long they (rebel forces) can hold on," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"There is nothing to eat, no more hospitals and the bombardment is non-stop. They are under very strong pressure."

Government forces have pounded east Aleppo with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire since last Tuesday, in the latest phase of an operation the army announced in late September.

The Observatory says more than 100 civilians have since been killed in east Aleppo, including at 15 who died Monday in regime air strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire.

Rebels have also fired rockets onto government-held west Aleppo, killing 10 people including eight children on Sunday.

- 'Deliberate tactic of cruelty' -

But the new assault could spark a fresh humanitarian catastrophe, the UN's Syria envoy has warned, and prompt a mass exodus of those trapped under regime siege.

No aid has entered the east since government forces surrounded it in July, prompting food and fuel shortages in opposition-held neighbourhoods.

In New York, UN aid chief O'Brien drew a bleak picture of life under siege for nearly one million Syrians, in his briefing to the Security Council.

"Nearly one million Syrians are living tonight under siege," he said, including in the rural Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus.

"Civilians are being isolated, starved, bombed, denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee."

O'Brien condemned this "deliberate tactic of cruelty" and said the sieges were mostly perpetrated by government forces against civilians.

"The situation is horrific, catastrophic," said French ambassador Francois Delattre who accused the government of waging a "total-war strategy to take back Aleppo, no matter the price".

On Sunday, US President Barack Obama said he was "not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria".

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Monday wrapped up a visit to Damascus after the government rebuffed his plan for a truce in Aleppo that included opposition administration of eastern areas.

"We told him that we reject that completely," said Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

De Mistura warned time was "running out" for east Aleppo, adding that there was concern about "an acceleration of military activities" in the city and other parts of Syria.

Meanwhile the US on Monday named a dozen Syrian generals and officers accused of leading attacks on civilian targets, with its UN ambassador Samantha Power warning they would face justice one day.

"The United States will not let those who have commanded units involved in these actions hide anonymously behind the facade of the Assad regime," Power told the Security Council.
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Relatives of MH370 passengers will travel to Madagascar next month in hopes of re-kindling efforts to find and recover seaborne debris from the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines jet, next-of-kin association Voice370 said Monday.

The Boeing 777 jet was carrying 239 passengers and crew when it disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

It is believed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean, but an extensive deep-sea hunt off Australia's west coast has so far failed to find a single piece of debris from the plane, with the search set to end by early 2017.

Voice370 has repeatedly complained about the lack of a coordinated search in the western Indian Ocean and along the African coast despite the recovery there of several pieces of debris which were either confirmed or declared highly likely to have come from MH370.

"Despite these hugely important finds, there has been no systematic, organised search by any responsible party," a statement by the group said.

"This leaves the NOKs no other choice except to take it upon ourselves to do something to find answers and closure."

Seven Voice370 next-of-kin will visit Madagascar December 3-11 to raise awareness, urge search efforts by local organisations and the public, and look for debris themselves.

Many families are sceptical the right area is being searched, and Voice370 has previously called for a full public re-examination of satellite data that was used to determine the site of the suspected crash.

The scattered seaborne fragments of MH370 found closer to Africa confirmed the plane went down but have shed no light on what caused the jumbo jet to inexplicably divert off-course.

The first piece of debris found from MH370 -- a two-metre wing part known as a flaperon -- washed up on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion in July 2015.

Since then a range of debris linked to the flight has been found along western Indian Ocean shorelines.

Amateur investigator, Blaine Gibson, a lawyer from Seattle who has travelled the world trying to solve the MH370 mystery, has also recovered other possible MH370 debris, but authorities have yet to confirm if any of the pieces belong to the missing plane.

A report released this month by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the search, said the plane was likely out of control when it plunged into the ocean with its wing flaps not prepared for landing, casting doubt on theories a pilot was still in charge.
Fedor Emelianenko has signed with Bellator and will fight next February. Could GSP be next? (Twitter)

One of the greatest heavyweights of all time is coming to Bellator.

During the broadcast of Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson, the MMA promotion announced the signing of Fedor Emelianenko and that The Last Emperor will be making his promotional debut at Bellator 172 on Feb. 18 against Matt Mitrione at the SAP Center in San Jose.

Its great to be back in business with Fedor, Bellator MMA president Scott Coker said about the man he worked with during his time at Strikeforce. The man is a legend both inside and outside of the cage and Im elated to bring him back stateside for the American MMA fans to witness him fight Matt Mitrione in San Jose. He and I go quite a ways back, and I look forward to continuing to build our partnership here in Bellator MMA.

Interestingly enough, Fedor will return to the very arena where he suffered defeat at the hands of Fabricio Werdum in a massive upset back in 2010. It was Fedors first loss in nearly a decade and the Russian fighter hasnt quite been the same since. In his last outing, he barely survived against journeyman Fabio Maldonado but ended up being gifted with a controversial decision.

Regardless, the return of Fedor is still a coup for Bellator as they continue to chip away at the UFCs popularity. Along with Chael Sonnen vs. Tito Ortiz, the promotion is looking to make a significant impact on the MMA world in early 2017.

But what would make that impression even more significant is if the promotion could manage to pull away Georges St-Pierre, who is in the midst of a contact dispute with the UFC.

There was some buzz about GSP, who was in attendance at Bellator 165 and posted a photo of him backstage alongside Coker, Fedor and Rory MacDonald. The image led to speculation that the French-Canadian could be considering joining the growing promotion. MacDonald, who trains with St-Pierre, joined Bellator as a free agent earlier this year despite being one of the top-ranked welterweights in the UFC.

Hanging out with @rory_macdonald tonight, I had the pleasure to meet one of my idols, the baddest man that ever lived: @Fedoroskol pic.twitter.com/wDTq68vx9D  Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) November 20, 2016

With GSP meeting with the new UFC owners early next year in an effort to hash out a new deal, it is possible that he could return to the promotion. But its always wise to keep your options open and this could be exactly what the former champion is doing.
By Tim McLaughlin and Ross Kerber

BOSTON (Reuters) - Long-time Fidelity Investments Chairman Edward C. Johnson III will retire next month and will be succeeded by his daughter, Abigail Johnson, the company said on Monday.

During his nearly 40-year run as chairman of Boston-based Fidelity, Johnson turned the family-controlled company into a mutual fund powerhouse with $2.1 trillion in managed assets. His innovations include creating the first money-market fund with a check writing feature.

But over the past decade Fidelity's advantage has slipped as investors each month pour billions of dollars into passive investment strategies, namely index funds run by archrival Vanguard Group.

The elder Johnson's retirement was not unexpected, as he is 86 years old and Abigail Johnson, 54, has been running the U.S. mutual fund giant on a day-to-day basis as chief executive officer since 2014. She will add the chairman's title and her father will keep regular office hours as chairman emeritus, Fidelity spokesman Vincent Loporchio said.

In recent months, the elder Johnson was seen walking with the aid of a cane along Charles Street in Boston's tony Beacon Hill neighbourhood. But his retirement is not related to health reasons, Loporchio said.

Founded in 1946 by Abigail Johnsons grandfather, Edward Johnson II, Fidelity remains a leader in the administration of retirement plans, such as keeping records on $5.6 trillion in assets that include corporate 401(k) accounts. And its online brokerage business has more than 17 million retail accounts.

The Johnsons were not available for comment.

John Bonnanzio, editor of Fidelity Monitor & Insight, an independent newsletter for Fidelity investors, said Abigail Johnsons new title was no surprise.

At this point, with the clear transition that has taken place over a decade, was it ever in doubt? The only shocker here would have been for something other than this to happen. Effectively, its been hers to run for a while now," he said.

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But Fidelity was slow to respond to the mutual fund industry's seismic shift into passively managed index funds. The fallout continues to hurt Fidelity.

During the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, for example, investors made nearly $41 billion in net withdrawals from Fidelity's stable of actively managed mutual funds, according to Morningstar Inc. By contrast, Vanguard's passive funds collected $234.1 billion in net deposits during that period.

Under the direction of Abigail Johnson, however, Fidelity has launched a flurry of index funds in recent years. Those passive funds had $241 billion in assets at the end of October, but still a small figure compared to Vanguard's nearly $2.5 trillion in passive assets, according to Morningstar.

Fidelity's actively managed funds had $1 trillion in assets at the end of September, led by the $100 billion-plus Contrafund (FCNTX.O), which alone generates several hundred million dollars a year in management fees.

Actively managed funds have been the linchpin of the Johnson family's fortune. The clans net worth is estimated at $26 billion by Forbes magazine, making them the 9th-richest family in the United States.

James Lowell, editor of Fidelityinvestor.com, an independent newsletter for investors, said he expects Abigail Johnson to increase Fidelitys outreach to the financial advisers and other intermediaries who steer clients to its funds and retirement accounts.

Shell be very focused on the gatekeepers, Lowell said. They are as important to her as new products were to her father.

(Reporting By Tim McLaughlin; Editing by Chris Reese, Bernard Orr)
Producer Dana Brunetti has won his appeal to receive the Producers Guild of America's p.g.a. mark for his work on the upcoming film Fifty Shades Darker, he announced Sunday on social media.

The mark, which consists of the letters "p.g.a." after a producer's name, is awarded when the Producers Guild rules that a credited producer has substantially contributed to producing a film. It was created in 2012 to recognize working producers as opposed to financiers or others who were granted producing credits without working on a film.

Although Brunetti received the mark for 2015's Fifty Shades of Grey, the PGA originally ruled that only his fellow producers Michael De Luca and author E. L. James would receive the credit on the follow-up, scheduled for release on Feb. 10 by Universal.

Read more: 'Fifty Shades' Producer Dana Brunetti Sparks 'Produced By' Credit Debate: I Won't "Bow Down to These Fers"

In addition to launching an appeal, Brunetti vowed he'd go to war with the guild over the way it decides who deserves the p.g.a. mark. "The PGA has reversed its decision for my mark," he announced. "I've won the battle, but not the war."

The producer elaborated that his appeal consisted of nothing but a simple statement from his fellow producers on the film testifying that he'd been "personally and substantially involved - in a decision-making capacity - for a major portion of producing functions throughout all phases of the film."

"No additional evidence was presented, yet they overturned their original decision," Brunetti wrote, saying he would continue his fight. "So why am I still 'whining' or 'complaining' as some have called it? It is clearer than ever their system is broken and needs to be fixed. This was never about me, but about an unfair system that has the potential to do harm to people's careers and reputations."

The PGA reversed it's decision for my mark. I've won the battle, but not the war. Hopefully more to come.

A photo posted by Dana Brunetti (@dana) on Nov 20, 2016 at 12:02pm PST
By Richard Lough PARIS (Reuters) - Former prime minister Francois Fillon is favorite to become the French center-right's presidential candidate after a voting upset that puts him in pole position for a showdown with far right leader Marine Le Pen in next year's election. Fillon, who has said he will cut public sector jobs and rein in government spending, won 44 percent of votes in Sunday's first-round of voting for the center-right's nomination. He faces a second-round vote against another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, who trailed him by 15 percentage points. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy came third and, after being eliminated, endorsed Fillon for the second-round vote next Sunday. The outcome adds to uncertainty about the result of next year's presidential election, likely to be decided in a runoff against the anti-immigration, eurosceptic National Front leader Le Pen in May. There is, though, no clear evidence Fillon would fare worse against her than would Juppe. The only near certainty is that the deeply divided ruling Socialist Party is headed for a drubbing. Even so, some senior left-wingers expressed optimism that an eventual defeat for Juppe would open a space for them in the center. The surprisingly big lead hands Fillon, 62, a strong advantage in the runoff. An admirer of late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he is probably the closest thing France has to an economic liberal and social conservative. Although Fillon's triumph on Sunday was a surprise, opinion pollsters had said he made a late surge in campaigning, and several stalwarts from the conservative Les Republicains party threw their weight behind him after his first-round success. "I will vote for Francois Fillon because it is he who will best defend the values of the right," said party president Laurent Wauquiez, a close Sarkozy ally. A snap poll by Opinionway after Sunday's results showed Fillon winning the head-to-head contest against Juppe with 56 percent of support. With the French left in turmoil, the opinion polls indicate that whoever becomes the center-right challenger is likely to face Le Pen in May's presidential election runoff. The polls have suggested Le Pen has only a remote chance of winning that runoff but the more centrist Juppe, 71, had been seen as the best placed candidate to defeat her in a two-horse race. TARGETS FOR NATIONAL FRONT A BVA poll in September showed Fillon, who drives racing cars for a hobby, would beat Le Pen by 61 percent to 39 percent if they contest a presidential runoff vote. But that consensus predates Donald Trump's U.S. election win, which exposed the same popular anger against political elites as in Western European countries such as France, Italy and Austria that Le Pen has tapped into. It also raised questions over the accuracy of opinion polls, which were under scrutiny again on Monday in France. With his socially conservative and pro-business policies, Fillon lacks the broad appeal of the more centrist Juppe, and so may increase Le Pen's chances of taking power. Fillon stood down as social affairs minister after big street protests in 2003 when he championed reforms extending the age at which people are entitled to retirement pension payments. "We believe Fillons lead introduces additional uncertainty when it comes to the presidential election," said Raphael Brun-Aguerre of JP Morgan in a research note. But Juppe, who served as prime minister form May 1995 until June 1997 under President Jacques Chirac, would also be vulnerable to National Front barbs. "Either of the candidates would probably be targeted by far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen for being part of the old political guard, and Juppe, on this front appears relatively more vulnerable," said Morgan Stanley in a research note. Juppe was not giving up. "I believe more than ever that the people of France need to come together to turn the page of a disastrous five-year term that has demeaned our country and to block from power the National Front which would lead us into the worst of adventures," he told supporters on Sunday night. OPPORTUNITY FOR LEFT? Fillon and Juppe have clashed most forcefully over Fillon's proposals to slash the cost of government, notably by axing 500,000 public sector jobs over five years. Fillon's plans for market-oriented reforms - including scrapping the 35-hour working week and raising the retirement age - go beyond what his challenger advocates for a country where the state remains a powerful force in the economy. Born in a western region of France where the secular nation's catholic roots remain strong, Fillon has said France faces a problem "linked to Islam". Juppe has sought a more conciliatory tone with France's large Muslim minority. Any registered voter can take part in the conservative primaries, and polls showed many of those that did on Sunday were from the left and extreme right. "The only chance for Juppe is a strong turnout in the second round, including from left-leaning voters. His message will be: we need reforms, but nothing that is horribly painful," said Claire Demesmay, an expert on Franco-German ties at the German Council on Foreign Relations. The ruling Socialists and their allies will hold their own primaries in January. President Francois Hollande, whose popularity ratings are abysmal, has yet to declare if he will stand again. Some on the left hope a Fillon candidacy would provide an opportunity to win back the center ground. "Ultra-conservative, ultra-liberal, ultra anti-social. Fillon ticks all the boxes," Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, the Socialist Party's secretary general, told France Info radio. Cambadelis appealed to the fragmented field on the left not to split the vote. He urged former economy minister Emmanuel Macron not to run as an independent but instead join the primary contest. Macron swiftly rejected the call, Le Monde reported. The former investment banker who quit Hollande's government in the summer launched his outsider run for the presidency last week saying that he was neither of the left or right. Although a popular politician, polls indicate Macron's chances of reaching the election's second round are slim. (Additional reporting by Andrew Callus in Paris and Noah Barkin in Berlin, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Paris (AFP) - The surprise winner of the first round of France's rightwing presidential primary immediately came under attack Monday, with Francois Fillon's rivals slamming his radical reform agenda as "ultra-conservative" and "unworkable".

Former prime minister Fillon, an admirer of Margaret Thatcher, pulled off a stunning upset Sunday, coming from behind to knock his former boss Nicolas Sarkozy out of the race and beating the favourite, Alain Juppe, into distant second.

Fillon will go head-to-head with fellow former premier Juppe in a run-off Sunday that is widely expected to decide France's next leader after a prospective duel next year with far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

An Opinionway poll showed Fillon winning the primary by 56 percent to Juppe's 44 percent.

His rivals on Monday sought to halt his march with Juppe on Monday saying Fillon had an "extremely traditionalist and even retrograde vision on the role of women, the family and on marriage."

Former centre-right prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a close Juppe ally, slammed his plans to cut half a million civil service jobs and force public servants to work longer hours.

"There is no chance of implementing reforms through brute force," Raffarin told BFM television, calling them "unworkable".

- 'Time to turn the tide' -

An advisor to President Francois Hollande described 62-year-old Fillon as a "red rag to left-wing voters".

At the other end of the spectrum, the vice-president of Le Pen's National Front (FN), Florian Philippot, said Fillon's economic proposals were "the most extreme" of all candidates.

But Fillon appeared unfazed on Monday saying: "I believe the French people have chosen ... and given me a large margin."

"I therefore do not fear a setback," he told TF1 television. Fillon also accused Juppe of misrepresenting his programme to "recover lost ground."

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With the Socialists in disarray under the spectacularly unpopular Hollande, the second round of the presidential election in May is shaping up as a showdown between the winner of the rightwing primary and Le Pen.

Polls show both Juppe and Fillon would easily defeat the far-right leader but her rivals have warned that all bets are off in a country where the anti-elite sentiment that propelled Donald Trump to the White House is running high.

- 'Mr Nobody' -

Sarkozy's defeat at the hands of his former premier Fillon, a man he once nicknamed "Mr Nobody", brought the curtain down on the ex-president's attempt to revive his 40-year career.

His hard-right campaign and failure to enact many of his promises when in power from 2007-2012 spurred millions of voters to the polls to block his comeback.

Around 15 percent of the four million voters who took part in the open-to-all primary were leftist supporters, an Elabe poll showed. Many are thought to have voted against Sarkozy.

Fillon, a car-racing enthusiast, emerged as a compromise choice between Sarkozy and Juppe, a moderate nine years his senior whose reform agenda is seen by many conservatives as too timid.

Results from over 95 percent of polling stations on Monday gave Fillon 44.1 percent of the votes cast, ahead of 28.5 percent for Juppe and 20.6 percent for Sarkozy. Four other candidates each scored under five percent.

- Burkini ban -

Voters appear to have been won over by Fillon's assured performances in three pre-vote television debates.

On Sunday night he declared his programme was one of "hope" and "strong change".

His pledges to shed 500,000 civil service jobs and increase the working week from 35 to 39 hours for both public and private sector workers went further than any other candidate, including Sarkozy.

On social issues, the devout Catholic and father of five from Le Mans, a town 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Paris famous for its 24-hour car rally, is also more conservative than many of his rivals.

He opposes gay adoption and supports a ban on the full-body Islamic "burkini" swimsuit.

Fillon has also called for closer ties with Russia and voiced support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

- Poll fail -

Fillon had emphasised the fact he was only one of the frontrunners with no skeletons in his closet.

"Who can imagine General de Gaulle being charged with a crime?" he said on the campaign trail, citing the French war hero to take a swipe at Sarkozy and Juppe who have both had legal problems.

The nomination of the rightwing candidate on November 27 is expected to trigger an announcement from Hollande on whether he intends to bid for re-election despite having the lowest popularity ratings of any post-war president.

Last week, he suffered a further setback when his star former economy minister Emmanuel Macron announced he would run as an independent.
Paris (AFP) - Francois Fillon, thrust into pole position to become France's next president, has a mild-mannered exterior that masks a radical economic programme and hardline social conservatism.

Fillon, 62, is a Catholic free-market reformer whose proposals have earned comparisons with the ideas of Britain's reforming 1980s prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

His surprise runaway victory in the first round of the rightwing presidential primary reversed the balance of power with his former boss, ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy dismissed Fillon as an "employee" when he served as his prime minister from 2007 to 2012.

On Sunday, as he crashed out of the race behind Fillon and the veteran Alain Juppe, Sarkozy pledged his support for the man who in office was an unflappable antidote to the frenetic president.

"Francois Fillon seems to me to have best understood the challenges facing France," Sarkozy said.

With the French left riven by division, the winner of next Sunday's second round of the rightwing primary is forecast to reach the runoff of the presidential election in May.

There, if polls are to be believed, he would almost certainly face Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front (FN).

Fillon's clear lead over 71-year-old Juppe in the first round suggests he will comfortably clinch the nomination.

"We are several laps ahead," Fillon, a motor-racing enthusiast who was born in Le Mans, home of the world-renowned 24-hour race, told his supporters.

Perhaps it was because of his soft-spoken style that his rivals failed to see his late acceleration in the two-month primary campaign -- at the start he was a distant third place in opinion polls.

Fillon's economic proposals clearly struck a chord with rightwing voters -- he wants to scrap the 35-hour week, one of the sacred cows of the French left.

That is coupled with a pledge to slash an eye-popping 500,000 jobs from the bloated public sector.

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On Monday, his rivals were seeking to paint him as a dangerous reformer whose proposals will never fly.

- 'I'm a pragmatist' -

He already fought off such accusations in a candidates' TV debate before the vote.

"I'm tagged with the label of an (economic) liberal in the same way they would daub crosses on the doors of lepers in the Middle Ages," Fillon said. He argued he was merely "a pragmatist".

Fillon's social beliefs reflect his personal life as a father of five children and practising Catholic who has been married to his Welsh wife Penelope for more than 30 years.

He voted -- unsuccessfully -- against gay marriage when it was introduced by Socialist President Francois Hollande and has said he wants to amend the 2013 law.

He has also voted against allowing single women or lesbians to have medically assisted pregnancies.

While Sarkozy made the headlines with his hard-right views on Islam, Fillon's own opinions were controversial, but expressed carefully in a book on the "risk" France faces from radical Islam.

Meanwhile, Fillon's stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin will be closely watched.

The two were close when they were both prime ministers and Fillon has called for a rapprochement with Putin on Syria, where Russian forces have tipped the war in the regime's favour.

Fillon said during the campaign that to defeat the Islamic State jihadist group, the West should make alliances with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, although he stopped short of calling for Assad to be allowed to stay in power.
Paris (AFP) - Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe, the two men set to duel next Sunday for the French rightwing presidential nomination, both advocate deep economic reforms, including scrapping the 35-hour work week, a totem of the French left.

But the two former prime ministers disagree on how much to cut France's bloated civil service and on several other key domestic and foreign policy points.

- ECONOMY -

FILLON: Proposes cutting 500,000 public sector jobs over five years and scrapping the 35-hour working week. Allow bosses and private sector workers to negotiate working time directly, within an EU limit of 48 hours a week. Require civil servants to work 39 hours a week.

Increase the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65 years. Cut corporation tax from 33 to 25 percent. Scrap a wealth tax on top earners. Cut public spending by 100 billion euros ($106 billion).

JUPPE: Cut 200,000-300,000 public sector jobs. Increase the working week from 35 hours to 39 hours for private sector workers but allow for flexibility. Require civil servants to work longer hours (number of hours not specified).

Cut public spending by 85-100 billion euros. Increase the minimum retirement age to 65. Scrap a wealth tax on top earners. Cut income tax by two billion euros.

- IMMIGRATION -

FILLON: Reduce immigration to a "strict minimum" via quotas approved by parliament. Increase deportation of illegal migrants. Link development aid to Africa to commitments by countries to take back illegal immigrants.

JUPPE: Introduce parliament-approved quotas on immigration. Increase deportation of illegal migrants.

- SECURITY -

FILLON: Strip jihadists who travelled to Syria or Iraq to fight alongside Islamic State of their nationality and bar them from returning to France. Allow municipal police to carry guns. Increase prison capacity by 16,000.

JUPPE: Arrest jihadists returning from Iraq or Syria. Place suspected Islamist radicals believed to pose a threat under house arrest. Increase prison capacity by 10,000.

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- ISLAM -

FILLON: Introduce a national ban on full-body "burkini" Islamic swimsuits.

JUPPE: Opposes national burkini ban.

- FOREIGN POLICY -

FILLON: Develop closer ties with Moscow. Lift sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of the Crimea peninsula. Bring Russia into the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition, along with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Develop closer ties with Iran. Create a eurozone government to harmonise economic policy. Work towards a "Europe of nations" that "respects French sovereignty."

JUPPE: Critical of Russian bombardments of the Syrian city of Aleppo and its support for the Assad regime. Reform the EU to make it less bureaucratic. Strengthen European defence cooperation.

- GAY MARRIAGE -

FILLON: Wants to amend a 2013 gay marriage law to prevent same-sex couples jointly adopting. Proposes making it harder for children born to foreign surrogate mothers to obtain French citizenship.

JUPPE: Would leave gay marriage and adoption untouched.
Film Roman said today that it has partnered with Baja California-based animation facility Boxel Studios to create Film Roman Baja J.V. The joint venture, located in Tijuana, is a full-service animation and visual effects studio that specializes in traditional and 3D animation. Current client productions include Mattels animated series Max Steel.

The ventures driving purpose is to execute high-quality, cost-effective animated properties across a broad spectrum of platforms; including features, television and new media productions, said Film Roman CEO Steve Waterman.

Boxel co-founder and creative director Uriel Reyes Botello and co-founder and director Andres Reyes Botello are overseeing day-to-day operations with Waterman and founder Phil Roman providing senior management and oversight to the Baja studio.

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HELSINKI (Reuters) - Several NATO and EU countries are planning to establish a center in Helsinki to research how to counter "hybrid" warfare, a senior Finnish government official said on Monday. Finland has a 1,300-km (800-mile) border with Russia, which has been accused of mounting "hybrid" campaigns in the Ukraine conflict - combining conventional and unofficial military means with cyberwarfare, propaganda and other indirect tactics. The Nordic state, a militarily non-aligned EU member, last month voiced concern about what it sees as an intensifying propaganda campaign against it by the Kremlin. Under-Secretary of State Jori Arvonen told reporters Finland had discussed the Helsinki "center of excellence" with the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and the Baltic countries, as well as with EU and NATO officials. "These countries have expressed strong support for founding this center. Some of them are yet to confirm their participation, but nevertheless we have enough support to move forward," he said. He said hybrid attacks could be "diplomatic, military, technological or financial in their nature". "For example, there has been a lot of talk here in Finland about Russia's influencing of information," Arvonen said. He named Islamic State as another organization employing "hybrid" tactics, saying it used disinformation to radicalize people in Europe. "The aim of the center is to strengthen the involved parties' resistance and prepare for hybrid threats by training, research and exchanging of best practices," Arvonen added. Germany last week said it was alarmed that Russia might try to interfere in its national elections next year, echoing concerns raised in the United States before Donald Trump's presidential election victory. (Reporting by Jussi Rosendahl; editing by Andrew Roche)
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions appointment to Attorney General has been met with fierce opposition from critics who allege the senator made racist remarks decades ago.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft weighed in on the matter during an interview on the FOX Business Networks Varney & Co.

I think [the allegations] demonstrate the very severe poverty of the objection to Senator Sessions, Ashcroft said. Theyre misleading, theyre false. Its the equivalent of a political drive-by assassination.

He added the comments against Sessions are demeaning to the body of government he serves, because his responsibility as Senator is to vet, advise and consent to nominations from the president.

Ashcroft also deemed the wrongful labeling of someone as a racist as one of the most egregious assaults and most irresponsible assaults that could be possibly undertaken, especially in regard to Sessions, whom he says he has known for decades and served alongside in the Senate.

I observed his conduct as Attorney General of the State of Alabama. I know for 12 years prior to his attorney generalship in Alabama he was a Justice Department prosecutor, and he prosecuted based on his what I would call his DNA as a person who respects equity and fairness in the law. And he was aggressive in prosecuting those who abused the rights of others. So he stood up for African-American individuals, Ashcroft said.

The former Attorney General added he doesnt believe Sessions deserves the character assassination by those who dont bring forward substantive objections to his appointment.

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London (AFP) - The UK Independence Party was thrown into further disarray on Monday with the resignation of Diane James, an MEP who last month quit as party leader just 18 days after her election.

James announced her decision to quit UKIP and stand as an independent within the European Parliament, citing continued problems with fellow party politicians.

"In recent weeks, my relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on. I wish the party well for the future under new leadership," she said in a statement.

The announcement follows her surprise decision last month to give up the UKIP leadership, just 18 days after being elected by party members.

James reiterated on Monday that her quitting the leadership came after finding she "had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned."

Her resignation from the party itself was criticised as "yet another act of irrational selfishness" by interim leader Nigel Farage, who said she was no longer fit to sit as an MEP.

James' announcement is the latest crack within UKIP, which emerged from the fringes of British politics earlier this year thanks to its role in the June vote to leave the European Union.

While the moment was a triumph for UKIP and its co-founder Farage, who stepped down from the leadership following the referendum, the party has since struggled to capitalise on the vote and has been beset with infighting.

The favourite to replace James as party leader, Steven Woolfe, was hospitalised last month after an altercation in the European Parliament with a fellow UKIP member.

Woolfe subsequently quit the party and claimed UKIP was "ungovernable" without Farage at the helm.

A new leader is due to be announced on November 28, with four candidates hoping to take over.

Farage has repeatedly said he will not be heading the party again, instead proposing to act as a conduit between Washington and London after he met US President-elect Donald Trump.

The suggestion has prompted the ire of the ruling Conservative party and was swiftly rejected by Prime Minister Theresa May, whose spokeswoman said there was no need for a "third person" in the relationship.
Washington (AFP) - One policeman was shot dead and three others shot and wounded in four US cities on Sunday, coinciding with an epidemic of racially-tinged gun violence involving law enforcement.

Police were shot in San Antonio, Texas, Sanibel, Florida, and in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and Gladstone, local police departments said.

There was no known connection between the shootings.

In San Antonio, authorities were hunting for a suspect who fatally shot 20-year service veteran Detective Benjamin Marconi twice in the head after being pulled over in traffic in front of police department headquarters.

Police, who are receiving support from federal and state law enforcement, offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, describing the unnamed suspect as a black male wearing a hoodie and baggie pants.

A police officer in Sanibel, on the picturesque island of the same name off the Florida coast, was shot and wounded during a "routine" traffic stop, officials said.

The suspect, who has been arrested, drove by and shot the officer after he had stopped another driver, Sanibel Police Chief Bill Tomlinson was quoted as saying.

In St. Louis, a suspect shot a police sergeant through his rolled up window as he sat in a marked police car in slow traffic.

"It was not a traffic stop. The officer was not trying to detain that person. That individual pulled up next to the officer and started shooting at him," Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters.

Dotson said the suspect, a black man believed to have been responsible for a "series of crimes" in recent days in the area, including robberies and possibly a carjacking and a homicide, was later shot dead by police after he exchanged fire with other officers.

In western Missouri, another police officer was shot in Gladstone but was expected to live, the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police said on Twitter. The condition of the suspect was unknown.

Sunday's shootings occurred less than five months after a gunman killed five police officers in Dallas, Texas who were monitoring a protest against high-profile police shootings of black men.

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Just 10 days after the Dallas attack, a man ambushed and killed three law enforcement officers and wounded as many others in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

And two officers from the Des Moines, Iowa area were shot and killed early this month in a pair of similar attacks while they sat in their patrol cars.
French authorities prevented a major terrorist attack when they arrested seven people Sunday who were suspected of planning an "enormous" act of terror. Seven men, aged 29 to 37, were arrested in Strasbourg and Marseille while antiterrorism raids were being conducted by officers from the General Directorate for Internal Security and the Research, Assistance, Intervention and Deterrence unit, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

France has never faced such a [terrorist] threat before, said Cazeneuve. The men were French, Moroccan and Nigerian and six of the seven were unknown to authorities, according to Cazeneuve. Most were arrested in Marseille, where a large Christmas market will open this week. The mayor of Strasbourg said the plot was centered on Paris, according to France24.

An attack has been foiled, said Cazeneuve. The scale of the terrorist threat is enormous and it is not possible to ensure zero risk despite everything we are doing.

Officials in France have been hypervigilant about guarding against terrorism in the wake of multiple attacks in recent years. In January 2015, the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were attacked and 12 inside were killed. In November 2015, an attack at the Bataclan nightclub and other simultaneous attacks throughout Paris killed 130. The most recent major terrorist attack in France came in July when a man drove a semi-truck through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice and killed 84.

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Photo: Reuters

The threat level from terrorism in France is maximal according to a statement made by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in September. The U.S. Department of State warns anyone traveling to Europe, including France, to be vigilant about terrorist attacks. The United Kingdom issued a travel warning for anyone heading to France on the government website.

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Due to ongoing threats to France by Islamist terrorist groups, and recent French military intervention against Daesh (formerly referred to as IDIL), the French government has warning the public to be extra vigilant and has reinforced its own domestic and overseas security measures, the statement reads. You should be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local French authorities.

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The Hague (AFP) - France is "ready to cooperate" with the International Criminal Court to probe Islamic State jihadists in Syria for war crimes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday.

The ICC, founded in 2002, is the world's only permanent war crimes court. But moves so far to refer Syria to The Hague-based body have been unsuccessful as Russia has blocked them with its veto in the UN Security Council.

The UN go-ahead is needed as Syria is not a member state.

Ayrault told AFP that action "can be launched it they concern (French) nationals who are engaged in the war in Syria alongside Daesh," using another name for the Islamic State group.

"We are ready to cooperate and give our backing if there is a track to follow," he said. "Even if the margin for manoeuvre is limited, it's a chance to recall that we do not accept impunity."

Russia dealt the International Criminal Court a blow Wednesday saying it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal's founding Rome Statute.

"The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent," Russia's foreign ministry said, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient".

Ayrault said the "action is symbolic and political which I regret because it would have been preferable that Russia does the opposite" and ratifies the founding Rome Statute.

He was in The Hague for the annual meeting of the court's member states who ware discussing among other things how to bring those guilty of crimes in Syria to justice.

In May 2014, France presented a draft resolution calling for war crimes to be investigated in Syria, but the measure was defeated when Russia and China vetoed the request.

A country that has signed up to the Rome treaty or whose citizens have been the victims of crimes may refer cases to the ICC's chief prosecutor for investigation.

Cases may also be referred by the UN Security Council, and the prosecutor can initiate her own investigations with permission from the judges providing member states are involved, or a non-member state can agree to accept the court's jurisdiction.
By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Former French prime minister Alain Juppe sought to regain momentum on Monday in the battle for the center-right's presidential nomination, accusing his rival Francois Fillon of pushing a "brutal" economic program that would break France. Fillon, prime minister between 2007 to 2012 under Nicolas Sarkozy, won 44 percent of votes in the first-round of the center-right's nomination race, some 15 percent more than Juppe, whom he now faces in the second-round runoff. "On the economic front, his program is of a very big social brutality. Cutting 500,000 civil servant jobs, taking working hours to 39 hours (from 35 hours), increasing VAT by 16 billion euros are measures of a certain brutality and which some can't be implemented," Juppe told France 2's evening news bulletin. "A break from the past should not consist of breaking the house. The house is fragile. You have to carry out reforms and mine are audacious, but are realistic and credible," he said. A snap poll by Opinionway after Sunday's results showed Fillon winning the head-to-head contest against Juppe with 56 percent of support, putting him in pole position for a showdown with far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the election next spring. "What we're seeing today is the reconstitution of team Fillon-Sarkozy that led us from 2007-2012," said Juppe, who prior to the first round had been the favorite to win the contest. "When you're prime minister for five years under one president, then you are obviously entirely accountable for what was done," said Juppe, who was defense and foreign minister during the same period. With just six days to go before the second-round, Juppe has little time to turn the momentum around, but he is clearly banking on trying to appeal to undecided and left-wing voters who may be tempted to turn out in higher numbers to oppose Fillon's socially conservative and pro-business policies. For just two euros anybody can take part in the primaries. Tuesday's front-page of the left-leaning Liberation newspaper depicted Fillon as the late British conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher under the headline "Me, President" with his more radical measures put under the microscope. Fillon has acknowledged that his measures would be tough, but says they would ultimately provide an electro-shock to the country. Juppe also said some of Fillon's positions on society including women and gay rights were "backwards". "Fillon is part of a traditionalist family. I am more open to modernism," he said, referring to his rival's "ambiguous statements" on abortion rights. (Additaional reporting by Yves Clarisse and Myriam Rivet; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Former prime minister Francois Fillon, favorite to become the French center-right's candidate for president in an election next year, said on Monday that Russia did not constitute a security threat and it was "completely stupid" to push it away. French officials have been pressing for an extension of European Union sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine and suggested that further sanctions over its role in Syria may be necessary given the Russian-backed Syrian government attacks on rebel-held areas of Aleppo. "You spoke about an enthusiasm to get closer to Russia. There's no enthusiasm," Fillon told TF1 television. "I just see that it (Russia) is the biggest country in the world and we're pushing it towards Asia in a completely stupid way. In no way does it threaten our security." After the U.S. election of Donald Trump, who has said he wants closer ties with the Kremlin and has questioned the cost of protecting NATO allies, some analysts predict an emboldened Moscow could become more assertive in eastern Europe after already annexing Crimea in 2014. A senior pro-Kremlin lawmaker was quoted as saying on Monday that Moscow will deploy S-400 surface-to-air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad in retaliation for NATO deployments in the region. Fillon's comments are in tune with some in the French foreign policy establishment who accuse President Francois Hollande of pursuing an American-aligned "neo-conservative" agenda and thus weakening Europe as a whole. Fillon meets another former prime minister Alain Juppe in a runoff vote on Nov. 27 for the conservative ticket. But, given the 44 percent of the votes he secured in Sunday's first round of voting for the center-right nomination, many see him as being in pole position for a showdown with far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the election next spring. Fillon also sought to clarify his position on the crisis in Syria. Under his premiership, Paris closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012, two years after he traveled to Syria to meet President Bashar al-Assad to promote bilateral ties. He has previously proposed restoring some diplomatic links with Assad, although he has said the Syrian leader cannot be a long-term solution. "The situation in Syria has been going on for four years. It's not because the United Nations is offended or that what we're seeing on TV is terrible that it's going to stop," he said. "To stop, you need to reach an agreement. If you want to find an agreement, you have to speak with everyone on the ground. All those who complain about the violence offer nothing to find a solution. I propose to get out of this by speaking to those who can stop this massacre," he said, without explaining his strategy. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
By Gerard Bon PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Monday it had foiled a possible militant attack after detaining seven people, including some who had been in the ranks of Islamic State in Syria. The arrests come a year after a state of emergency was imposed to counter a wave of Islamist attacks, and at a sensitive time in France ahead of next spring's presidential elections where security will be a major theme. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the seven people, of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin aged 29 to 37, were taken into custody on Sunday after an eight-month operation that ended with the DGSI internal intelligence agency laying a trap. "Yesterday, a terrorist act on our soil that was being prepared for a long time was foiled thanks to the work of the DGSI," Cazeneuve told reporters. "The scale of the terrorist threat is enormous and it is not possible to ensure zero risk despite everything we are doing." French officials are worried that Islamic State, which is fighting to defend territory it seized in Syria and Iraq, will call on its followers and jihadists returning from the region to increase attacks in the West. More than 230 people have been killed in attacks on French soil since January, 2015, including 130 in coordinated gun and suicide bomb strikes in Paris in November last year. A second source said some of those arrested had spent time in the Syria-Iraq region and one of them had been identified after a tip-off from the Portuguese government. Four handguns and a submachine gun were recovered during house searches, the source said. Two were arrested in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille and four in Strasbourg in the east. Cazeneuve did not say where the seventh was arrested. The minister gave no information on the target of the planned attack. The mayor of Strasbourg said it appeared the plot had not concerned his city but rather the Paris region. The source said the plotters were caught after intelligence services leaked information to one of their coordinators - most likely in Syria - that there was a weapons cache in the Paris region. After several months of surveillance the suspects finally approached the cache, the source said. "Things moved recently because the suspects were determined to act and their cautiousness slipped. They started to make mistakes and got closer to the weapons," the source said. (Additional reporting by Brian Love, Matthias Blamont and Chine Labbe; writing by John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough and Robin Pomeroy)
By Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) - In 2007, on his first visit to Berlin as French prime minister, Francois Fillon gave Angela Merkel an antique edition of "Radioactivity", a work by one of her heroes, fellow physicist Marie Curie. The book, now prominently displayed in the Chancellery in Berlin, is a symbol of Franco-German friendship and a reminder that Fillon, favorite to win the French presidency after his resounding victory in the first round of the Republican primary on Sunday, is a known quantity in Berlin. Particularly on the issue of economic reform, where Fillon is proposing a shock-and-awe approach involving deep cuts to public spending, he is viewed by Merkel's government as an ally. But on other issues, from Russia and Turkey to migration and Europe, Fillon could prove a far more difficult partner for Merkel, who announced on Sunday, as Fillon was surging to victory, that she would seek a fourth term as German chancellor. Germany and France have been the driving forces of European integration for over half a century. And it is likely to fall to Berlin and Paris to try to lead the EU out of an existential crisis triggered by Britain's decision to leave the bloc. For months, people in Merkel's entourage have been whispering that Alain Juppe, another former prime minister who came in a distant second to Fillon on Sunday, represented the best hope for achieving that. Like Merkel, Juppe is staunchly pro-European. He is a voice of moderation on issues of immigration and national identity. And he supports a hard line on Russia that mirrors the stance that Berlin has taken. But after Sunday, Juppe - who faces off against Fillon in a run-off vote one week from now - appears to be a long-shot and Germany must begin preparing for a French president who is likely to distance Paris from Berlin on a range of important issues. NO EASY PARTNER "The first reaction in Berlin is one of relief. Fillon stands for the kind of economic reforms that Germany wants to see," said Claire Demesmay of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin. "But if you look a bit deeper, it's clear that he would not be an easy partner." Fillon, 62, and born four months before Merkel in the race-car city of Le Mans, developed a close relationship with Vladimir Putin when both were prime ministers from 2008 to 2012 and raised eyebrows by greeting the Russian president as "dear Vladimir" in a speech several years ago. He has criticized President Francois Hollande for aligning France too closely with the United States and Germany against Moscow, and like U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, wants closer cooperation with Putin to resolve the conflict in Syria. On migration, Fillon could end up closer to right-wing leaders in Hungary and Poland than Berlin. He has accused Merkel of underestimating the risks from Islamic militants with her decision to allow hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter Germany last year. And he is a critic of the EU-Turkey deal on migrants that was driven by Merkel. Fillon voted against the Maastricht treaty, which laid the groundwork for the creation of the euro, and broke ranks with his party in opposing the EU constitution, which died in 2005 when French and Dutch voters vetoed it in referendums. It fell to the newly elected Merkel to pick up the pieces from that setback and forge agreement within the EU on the less-ambitious Lisbon treaty. UNPREDICTABILITY There was relief in Berlin on Monday at the exit of former president Nicolas Sarkozy from the French race. From 2007 to 2012, Merkel and Sarkozy worked extremely closely together on Europe's response to the global financial and euro zone crises, earning the moniker "Merkozy". But the relationship was always rocky and German officials had been leery about Sarkozy's candidacy for two reasons: his adoption of what Berlin viewed as dangerously populist positions on immigration and the fear that he might struggle to beat Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, if he faced her in a presidential run-off. That risk is reduced with Fillon. A BVA poll in September showed him beating Le Pen in a theoretical runoff by 61 percent to 39 percent. Still, some German officials voiced concerns on Monday that Fillon's economic proposals - which include plans to cut 500,000 public employees in five years - could leave him vulnerable as a crowded French campaign unfolds, with centrist candidates like Emmanuel Macron and Francois Bayrou jockeying for position. "Personally I have always favored Juppe because he had the best chance of rallying French voters of the right and left against Marine Le Pen," a senior German diplomat said. Demesmay of the DGAP added: "If Fillon does emerge as the candidate, then the (political) center is wide open ... Things become a bit less predictable." After the shocks of Brexit and Trump, it may be this degree of unpredictability that Fillon brings to the race that - like the subject of the book he offered Merkel back in 2007 - could prove truly "radioactive". (Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke and Jan Strupczewski, editing by Peter Millership)
Paris (AFP) - Police broke up a terror ring plotting an attack in France after arresting seven suspects in Strasbourg and Marseille over the weekend, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Monday.

The arrests of the alleged plotters from France, Morocco and Afghanistan "enabled us to prevent a long-planned terror attack on our soil," Cazeneuve told a televised news conference.

Investigators are trying to determine whether "the foiled attack was a coordinated attack aiming to target several sites simultaneously on our soil."

Police raids were carried out overnight Saturday in the eastern city of Strasbourg and Marseille in the south following an investigation by security services lasting more than eight months.

"Credible information made these arrests necessary," one security source told AFP earlier who was not authorised to comment on the case and spoke anonymously.

The mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, said the interior ministry had told him the targets were "in the Paris region" and not in his city, which will open a major Christmas market this Friday.

France remains under a state of emergency that gives security forces enhanced powers to mount surveillance and launch raids, a year after attacks by jihadists on Paris that left 130 people dead.

Security and fears about Islamic extremism are key issues in campaigning ahead of France's presidential elections due in April and May next year.

"The threat of terrorism has never been so high on our soil," Cazeneuve said Monday. "Zero risk cannot be guaranteed and anyone promising this is lying to the French people."

He linked the latest suspects, aged from 29 to 37, to alleged extremists who were arrested shortly before the Euro 2016 football championship hosted by France in June and July.

Only one of the detainees was known to security forces, a Moroccan who had been flagged by a "partner country," Cazeneuve said.

Story continues

Some members of the network are thought to have spent time in Syria, a security source told AFP.

The interior minister said 418 people had been arrested for suspected links to terror networks since the start of the year.

- Election next year -

The centre-right Republicans party held the first round of a primary election to select its presidential candidate on Sunday which was won by the conservative Francois Fillon.

As well as promising more police and prison places, 62-year-old Fillon proposes stripping French jihadists of their nationality and published a book recently titled "Beating Islamic Totalitarianism".

He will face off against centrist Alain Juppe to clinch the nomination next Sunday, with the winner tipped to meet the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the final round of next year's election.

France has suffered three major attacks since January 2015 when gunmen targeted the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and a Jewish supermarket, followed by last November's atrocities in Paris.

In July, a self-radicalised extremist drove a truck through crowds watching fireworks in the southern city of Nice, killing 86.

In between, a host other killings inspired by the Islamic State group, from the murder of a priest in his church to the fatal knifing of a police officer and his partner at home, have deepened fears among the French public.

"Everything is being done at all times to protect the French people," President Francois Hollande said in a statement on Monday which also praised the security forces for their work.
PARIS (Reuters) - The Paris prosecutor's office said on Monday it had opened an investigation into whether documents left lying on President Francois Hollande's desk in front of reporters constituted a breach of national security. The inquiry could be embarrassing for Hollande, days before he is expected to announce whether he will run for a second term in next spring's presidential election. It relates to an article published in Le Monde newspaper on Aug. 24 in which two reporters recall a meeting with Hollande three years earlier, as he waited for U.S. President Barack Obama to decide whether to launch air strikes in Syria. The article later appeared in a book by the reporters, covering the period April 2012 to July 2016, when they met Hollande some 60 times. They describe being in his office with files and documents stamped "classified" lying on his desk. "Hollande consults one (document) in particular. We acquired a copy. Written the day before, Aug. 29, by his chief of staff. It details the timeline of the (French) raid. It's the vade-mecum of the French intervention," the article states. The reporters did not say how they obtained the copy. They also publish extracts of the document in question detailing the operation that would have seen Rafale fighter jets from the French base in Abu Dhabi launching five Scalp missiles on Syrian bases if Hollande gave his go-ahead. The operation never went ahead as Obama eventually decided not to launch strikes. The official at the prosecutor's office said the Ministry of Defence had been asked to confirm that the documents were classified and to check the extent to which they compromised national security. The president's office declined to comment. The investigation comes after opposition conservative lawmakers earlier this month started a process to activate Article 68 of the constitution, potentially allowing parliament to impeach the president, following other revelations in the same book, "A President Shouldn't Say That". The authors quoted Hollande as saying in October 2015 that he had authorized four targeted killings. He appeared to backtrack a month later by saying formal clearance was not given in such cases, but only suggestions to go ahead with a hit. Parliamentary party leaders are due to decide on whether to continue the process on Wednesday, although it is not expected to go much further. Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, a key Hollande ally, has previously said neither incident breached national security. (Reporting by John Irish and Gerard Bon; additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey; editing by Andrew Roche)
Frontier Communications Inc. FTR is leaving no stones unturned to drive its business. The telecom operator, who primarily provides services to rural areas and small and medium-sized towns and cities in the U.S., recently announced the rollout of Vantage TV IPTV and broadband services in North Carolina. By foraying into the region, Frontier Communications will challenge major incumbents like AT&T Inc. T and Charter Communications Inc. CHTR.

Frontier Communications launched its Vantage premium services earlier this year to deliver HD TV, ultra-fast broadband and enhanced Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Frontier Communications Vantage TV service rollout in North Carolina is likely to leverage from its recent acquisition of Verizon Communications Inc.s VZ wireline assets in the state. Notably, the Vantage platform will use both copper and fiber to the network (FTTN) for the deployment of the services. The company has also upgraded its fiber plant for the purpose of supporting the service rollout.

Competition Rife

Although Frontier Communications is aiming high in North Carolina, competition from larger rivals is a matter of concern. AT&T, who has a large presence in the area, is set to launch DirecTV Now services in early 2017. Meanwhile, Charter Communications, who recently acquired Time Warner Cable, will alo look to gain a strong foothold in the state. Moreover, Alphabet Inc, who presently provides 1Gbps service in Morrisville, is seeking to expand in other parts of North Carolina. However, through attractive pricing, Frontier Communications can gain substantial customers in North Carolina.

Frontier Communications has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

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Wuppertal (Germany) (AFP) - A German court on Monday ruled that a group of Islamists did not break the law in forming "sharia police" street patrols and telling people to stop drinking, gambling and listening to music.

The ultra-conservative Muslim group around German Salafist convert Sven Lau sparked public outrage with their vigilante patrols in the western city of Wuppertal in 2014, but prosecutors have struggled to build a case against them.

The city's district court ruled that the seven accused members of the group did not breach a ban on political uniforms when they approached people while wearing orange vests bearing the words "Sharia Police".

Judges said there could only be a violation of the law -- originally aimed against street movements such as the early Nazi party -- if the uniforms were "suggestively militant or intimidating", a court spokesman said.

In this case, they found that the vests were not threatening and noted that one witness said he thought the men were part of a bachelor party.

The same court had already thrown out the case last year, but was overruled on appeal by a higher court which agreed with prosecutors that the ban on uniforms could be applied in this case.

Monday's verdict is not yet final and may still be appealed.

The "sharia police" members walked the streets of Wuppertal in September 2014, telling nightclub-goers to refrain from drinking alcohol and listening to music, and arcade customers not to play games for money.

Lau, the organiser, is one of Germany's most controversial and best known Islamist preachers. He is currently on trial in a separate case on charges of backing "a terrorist group" fighting in Syria.

So-called "sharia patrols" by sometimes violent radical young Salafists have also been seen in other European cities such as London, Copenhagen and Hamburg.
Gina Rodriguez keeps wearing black dresses in this one style and we want IN

One of our favorite things about Gina Rodriguez is her confidence in her style because her looks are ALWAYS on-point. Perfect example: Over the weekend, Rodriguez hosted the inaugural Marie Claire Young Womens Honors awards in Marina Del Rey, California wearing the most stunning black mesh dress.

The actress not only served as host but also produced the awards show, which will air on December 19th, at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. The show will honor and highlight some of the most AMAZING young women, who are busy shaping the world for a better future.

Rodriguez pulled out all the stops in putting the show together, so she had an even bigger reason to put her best look on.

My goal in creating Young Womens Honors is to generate positivity, inclusivity, unlimited potential, and the possibility every woman is born with, Rodriguez told Marie Claire. As a young Latina, I had to break down barriers and overcome naysayers. When you see someone following their dreams, it gives you allowance to follow your own.

My sisters. Thank you for what you did for @WomensHonors last night. @MsJackieCruz pic.twitter.com/L3k1MzjzWt  Gina Rodriguez (@HereIsGina) November 20, 2016

This isnt the first time the Jane the Virgin star has stunned in a black dress with mesh accents. Last month, at the Paley Center for the Medias Hispanic achievements tribute, she pulled out a similar look from designer Vivian Chan.

The Paley Center for Media's Hollywood Tribute to Hispanic Achievements in Television

Rodriguez is one of the hardest working women in Hollywood and shes spent so much time making sure others are recognized for their hard work. She seems so busy, we have no idea how she has the time to look this fabulous all the time!

Young Women's Honors

We absolutely love Gina and are desperate to find look-alikes for both her stunning black mesh gowns. Seriously though, well be watching out for her next killer look.

The post Gina Rodriguez keeps wearing black dresses in this one style and we want IN appeared first on HelloGiggles.
GKids has acquired the North American distribution rights to the upcoming French animated film Mune: The Guardian of the Moon.

A new, English-language version of the movie  from the producers of The Little Prince  will be released theatrically in early 2017. The film is directed by Alexandre Heboyan and Benoit Philippon.

GKids has always championed international storytellers using the animation medium in new and exciting ways, said David Jesteadt, senior VP of distribution. We are proud to share the beautiful, bold world, and rich mythology that infuse every frame of Mune: Guardian of the Moon with audiences nationwide.

The film takes places in a fantastical world where a young faun named Mune is unexpectedly entrusted with the monumental title of Guardian of the Moon. The news excites Necross, the nefarious ruler of the Underworld, a corrupted ex-guardian who decides to take advantage of Munes weakness and steal back the sun for himself.

Mune: The Guardian of the Moon won the young peoples jury award at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival and nabbed best film at the Toyko Anime Awards. Meanwhile, composer Bruno Coulais was nominated for soundtrack composer of the year at the World Soundtrack Awards.

The film was sold by Kinology, which is also a co-producer on the film.

GKids movies have generated eight best animated feature Oscar nominations  second only to Disney/Pixar  with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, and Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016.

Gkids is also an executive producer on Cartoon Saloons The Breadwinner, slated for domestic release stateside in 2017.

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GKids Joins Angelina Jolie Pitt on Animated Movie 'The Breadwinner'
Athens (AFP) - Greece on Monday said it expects to post 2.7-percent growth in 2017 after years of nearly consecutive recession in a budget that also predicts an above-target primary surplus.

The budget, to be voted on by parliament on December 10, includes extra taxation on cars, cellphones, pay TV, fuel, tobacco, coffee and beer.

Greece's economy this year is set to shrink by 0.3 percent according to the latest estimates, continuing a slide uninterrupted since 2009 except for one year, 2014.

Under the terms of its latest EU bailout, Greece must register primary budget surpluses (before debt service) of 0.5 percent of GDP this year, 1.75 percent in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018.

The budget tabled Thursday said Greece beat its 2016 target by posting a 1.09-percent primary surplus, and will do so again in 2017 with a surplus of 2.0 percent.

It kept the growth target of the draft budget tabled in October, but improved the surplus, which at the time had been listed at 1.8 percent.

There are some, including the International Monetary Fund and Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras, who say the 3.5 percent target in 2018 is unrealistic.

Because of this difference of opinion, the IMF has said it won't give a penny to the latest bailout -- Greece's third since 2010 -- until it sees a concrete plan from the Europeans to cut substantially Greece's massive debt burden.

Outgoing US President Barack Obama, while on an official visit to Greece last week, also called for debt relief.

Even with structural reforms, Obama argued, "it is very difficult to imagine the kind of growth strategy that is needed, without some debt relief mechanism."

The talks are continuing, but Greece is hoping for a breakthrough on the issue by the end of the year.

Despite strong opposition by Germany, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem last week said "short-term debt measures" could be discussed in December.

"There are some things we can do now and in the coming years a number of measures can be set up for the end of the programme," Dijsselbloem said.

Story continues

The debt will grow to 315 billion euros ($334 billion) or around 180 percent of output this year, the ministry said.

And privatisation proceeds are forecast at over 2.0 billion euros next year, including 1.2 billion from the sale of regional airports.

The Greek government has undertaken to cut the pensions and benefits of civil servants if it fails to reach the targets and to proceed with a controversial new round of privatisations.
Green Day, no stranger to political statements, chanted No Trump during the performance of their single Bang Bang at Sundays American Music Awards.

No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA, the band chanted from the stage. The line is a twist on the 1982 song Born to Die by MDC, which contains the line No war, no KKK, no fascist USA.

Co-hosts Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid also mentioned Trump, mocking him and his wife Melania during their opening monologue and demonstrating their impressions of the soon-to-be First Couple.

Also Read: AMAs 2016: Host Gigi Hadid Roasted for 'Cringeworthy' Performance, Melania Trump Impression

I gotta do the face right, Hadid said before pouting her lips and putting on an exaggerated accent to mock the future First Ladys record of plagiarism. I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children, Sasha and Malia.

Pharoah followed up her performance with his impression of Donald Trump, joking that the Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson hit Uptown Funk was actually inspired by the president-elect. It was all totally about me, it was originally called Uptown Trump,' he joked, with Trumps signature accent.

Trump was also mentioned when Mark Cuban of Shark Tank and Idina Menzel of Frozen took the stage to present one of the nights awards. Menzel joked that scary Broadway types wouldnt be allowed at President Trumps inauguration after Vice President-elect Mike Pence was called out by the cast of Hamilton on Friday night.

Also Read: AMAs 2016: Complete Winners List (Updating)

This is not the first time Green Day has protested Trump. In an interview with Kerrang in August, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong compared the then-candidate to Adolf Hitler.

He just said, You have no options and Im the only one, and Im going to take care of it myself. I mean, thats fing Hitler, man!, he said.

Watch Green Day call out Trump below:

No KKK, No fascist USA, No Trump! pic.twitter.com/Lv2pRgOJJX  Green Day Authority (@GDA) November 21, 2016

Related stories from TheWrap:

AMAs 2016: Host Gigi Hadid Roasted for 'Cringeworthy' Performance, Melania Trump Impression

AMAs 2016: Complete Winners List

AMAs 2016: Red Carpet Arrivals (Photos)
(Adds link to report from Group IB)

By Jim Finkle

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year, using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB.

Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, the world's two largest ATM makers, said they were aware of the attacks and have been working with customers to mitigate the threat. The newly disclosed heists across Europe follow the hacking of ATMs in Taiwan and Thailand that were widely reported over the summer.

Although cyber criminals have been attacking cash machines for at least five years, the early campaigns mostly involved small numbers of ATMs because hackers needed to have physical access to cash out machines.

The recent heists in Europe and Asia were run from central, remote command centers, enabling criminals to target large numbers of machines in "smash and grab" operations that seek to drain large amounts of cash before banks uncover the hacks.

"They are taking this to the next level in being able to attack a large number of machines at once," said Nicholas Billett, Diebold Nixdorf's senior director of core software and ATM Security. "They know they will be caught fairly quickly, so they stage it in such a way that they can get cash from as many ATMs as they can before they get shut down."

Group IB declined to name banks that were "jackpotted," a term used to describe forcing ATMs to spit out cash, but said the victims were located in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Britain and Malaysia.

Indeed, Dmitry Volkov, head of threat intelligence with Group IB, told Reuters he expects more heists on ATMs.

MORE HEISTS EXPECTED

Hackers have moved from stealing payment card numbers and online banking credentials to more lucrative hacks on bank networks, giving them access not only to ATM machines, but also to electronic payment networks.

Story continues

A February attack on servers at Bangladesh's central bank that controlled access to the SWIFT messaging system yielded more than $81 million in one of the biggest digital heists on record. Russian banks lost over $28 million in a series of wire-fraud cases that were identified earlier this year.

"What we are seeing demonstrated is the new model of organized crime," said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who helps banks and governments investigate cyber attacks and reviewed Group IB's findings.

Diebold Nixdorf and NCR both said they had provided banks with information on how to thwart the new types of attacks.

"We have been working actively with customers, including those who have been impacted, as well as developing proactive security solutions and strategies to help prevent and minimize the impact of these attacks," said Owen Wild, NCR's global marketing director for enterprise fraud and security.

Disclosure of the campaign follows two ATM hacks in July: $2.5 million was stolen from Taiwan's First Bank and $350,000 from Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank.

Hackers remotely infected ATMs at both banks, forcing them to spit out cash that was collected by teams of "money mules," who authorities say traveled to Asia from Eastern Europe.

ONE CRIMINAL GROUP?

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month sent a private alert to American banks, warning them to be on the lookout for attacks on ATMs following the heists in Taiwan and Thailand, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the attacks in Europe.

Group IB released a report describing its findings late on Monday, saying it believed the attacks across Europe were conducted by a single criminal group which it dubbed Cobalt. (http://www.group-ib.com/cobalt.html)

It named them after a security-testing tool known as Cobalt Strike, which the perpetrators used in the heists to help them move from computers in the bank network that were infected with tainted emails to specialized servers that control ATMs.

Group IB believes that Cobalt is linked to a well-known cyber crime gang dubbed Buhtrap, which stole 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) from Russian banks from August 2015 to January 2016, because the two groups use similar tools and techniques.

Buhtrap stole money through fraudulent wire transfers, not ATM jackpotting.

The ATM Security Association declined to comment on Group IB's findings.

Members of the group, which works to improve ATM security, include ATM maker Diebold Nixdorf as well as banks ABN Amro, Bank of America Corp, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Wells Fargo & Co..

Representatives of Europol, which coordinates investigations of cyber crimes across Europe, had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Dan Grebler and Bernadette Baum)
By Jim Finkle

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB.

Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, two of the world's biggest ATM makers, said they were aware of the attacks and have been working with customers to mitigate the threat. The newly disclosed heists across Europe follow hacks of ATMs in Taiwan and Thailand, which were widely reported over the summer.

Group IB declined to name banks that were "jackpotted," a term used to describe forcing ATMs to spit out cash, but said the victims were located in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

Dmitry Volkov, head of threat intelligence with Group IB, told Reuters that he expects more heists on ATMs.

Hackers have moved from stealing payment card numbers and online banking credentials to more lucrative hacks on bank networks, giving them access not only to ATM machines, but also to electronic payment networks.

A February attack on servers at Bangladesh's central bank that controlled access to the SWIFT messaging system yielded more than $81 million in one of the biggest digital heists on record. Russian banks lost over $28 million in a series of wire-fraud cases that were identified earlier this year.

"What we are seeing demonstrated is the new model of organized crime," said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who helps banks and governments investigate cyber attacks and reviewed Group IB's findings.

ATMS INFECTED REMOTELY

"We have been working actively with customers, including those who have been impacted, as well as developing proactive security solutions and strategies to help prevent and minimize the impact of these attacks," said Owen Wild, NCR's global marketing director for enterprise fraud and security.

Story continues

Disclosure of the campaign follows two ATM hacks in July: $2.5 million was stolen from Taiwan's First Bank and $350,000 from Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank.

Hackers remotely infected ATMs at both banks, forcing them to spit out cash that was collected by teams of "money mules," who authorities say traveled to Asia from Eastern Europe.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month sent a private alert to American banks, warning them to be on the lookout for attacks on ATMs following the heists in Taiwan and Thailand, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the attacks in Europe.

Group IB said it believed the attacks across Europe were conducted by a single criminal group, which it dubbed Cobalt.

It named them after a security-testing tool known as Cobalt Strike, which the perpetrators used in the heists to help them move from computers in the bank network that were infected with tainted emails to specialized servers that control ATMs.

'SMASH AND GRAB' APPROACH

Cyber criminals have been attacking cash machines for at least five years, though early cases were limited to small numbers of ATMs.

Hackers have traditionally required physical access to cash machines, making it tougher to steal large sums, said Shook, the independent security consultant. They are now using methods like the Cobalt gang, enabling them to attack larger numbers of machines in "smash and grab" operations, he said.

Group IB believes that Cobalt is linked to a well-known cyber crime gang dubbed Buhtrap, which stole 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) from Russian banks from August 2015 to January 2016, because the two groups use similar tools and techniques.

Buhtrap stole money through fraudulent wire transfers, not ATM jackpotting.

The ATM Security Association declined to comment on Group IB's findings.

Members of the group, which works to improve ATM security, include ATM maker Diebold Nixdorf as well as banks ABN Amro, Bank of America Corp, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Wells Fargo & Co..

Representatives with Europol, which coordinates investigations of cyber crimes across Europe, had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Dan Grebler)
By Jim Finkle

(Reuters) - Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year, using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB.

Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, the world's two largest ATM makers, said they were aware of the attacks and have been working with customers to mitigate the threat. The newly disclosed heists across Europe follow the hacking of ATMs in Taiwan and Thailand that were widely reported over the summer.

Although cyber criminals have been attacking cash machines for at least five years, the early campaigns mostly involved small numbers of ATMs because hackers needed to have physical access to cash out machines.

The recent heists in Europe and Asia were run from central, remote command centres, enabling criminals to target large numbers of machines in "smash and grab" operations that seek to drain large amounts of cash before banks uncover the hacks.

They are taking this to the next level in being able to attack a large number of machines at once, said Nicholas Billett, Diebold Nixdorfs senior director of core software and ATM Security. They know they will be caught fairly quickly, so they stage it in such a way that they can get cash from as many ATMs as they can before they get shut down.

Group IB declined to name banks that were jackpotted, a term used to describe forcing ATMs to spit out cash, but said the victims were located in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Britain and Malaysia.Indeed, Dmitry Volkov, head of threat intelligence with Group IB, told Reuters he expects more heists on ATMs.

MORE HEISTS EXPECTED

Hackers have moved from stealing payment card numbers and online banking credentials to more lucrative hacks on bank networks, giving them access not only to ATM machines, but also to electronic payment networks.

Story continues

A February attack on servers at Bangladesh's central bank that controlled access to the SWIFT messaging system yielded more than $81 million in one of the biggest digital heists on record. Russian banks lost over $28 million in a series of wire-fraud cases that were identified earlier this year.

"What we are seeing demonstrated is the new model of organised crime," said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who helps banks and governments investigate cyber attacks and reviewed Group IB's findings.

Diebold Nixdorf and NCR both said they had provided banks with information on how to thwart the new types of attacks.

"We have been working actively with customers, including those who have been impacted, as well as developing proactive security solutions and strategies to help prevent and minimize the impact of these attacks," said Owen Wild, NCR's global marketing director for enterprise fraud and security.

Disclosure of the campaign follows two ATM hacks in July: $2.5 million was stolen from Taiwan's First Bank and $350,000 from Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank.

Hackers remotely infected ATMs at both banks, forcing them to spit out cash that was collected by teams of "money mules," who authorities say travelled to Asia from Eastern Europe.

ONE CRIMINAL GROUP?

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month sent a private alert to American banks, warning them to be on the lookout for attacks on ATMs following the heists in Taiwan and Thailand, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the attacks in Europe.

Group IB released a report describing its findings late on Monday, saying it believed the attacks across Europe were conducted by a single criminal group which it dubbed Cobalt. (http://www.group-ib.com/cobalt.html)

It named them after a security-testing tool known as Cobalt Strike, which the perpetrators used in the heists to help them move from computers in the bank network that were infected with tainted emails to specialised servers that control ATMs.

Group IB believes that Cobalt is linked to a well-known cyber crime gang dubbed Buhtrap, which stole 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) from Russian banks from August 2015 to January 2016, because the two groups use similar tools and techniques.

Buhtrap stole money through fraudulent wire transfers, not ATM jackpotting.

The ATM Security Association declined to comment on Group IB's findings.

Members of the group, which works to improve ATM security, include ATM maker Diebold Nixdorf (DBD.N) as well as banks ABN Amro (ABNd.AS), Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS.L) and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC.N).

Representatives of Europol, which coordinates investigations of cyber crimes across Europe, had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Dan Grebler and Bernadette Baum)
Hamilton star Brandon Victor Dixon has no intention of apologizing (as requested by Donald Trump) for his curtain call message to Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Saturday night following the performance of the multi-Tony Award-winning show.

Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr in Hamilton, appeared on CBS This Morning Monday saying theres nothing to apologize for. Dixon said that Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda assisted in crafting the Dixons post-show remarks with Dixon making some adjustments.

We wanted to stand up and spread a message of love, of unity, Dixon said. He added that Trump and Pence are welcome to meet with the cast at any time, adding Art is meant to bring people together, its meant to raise conscientiousness.

When it was noted by co-host Gayle King that a Trump supporter disrupted a performance of the show in Chicago, saying something to the order of Get over it, we won, Dixon denied that he was setting a precedent for audience disruptors. That is not the first time nor will it be the last that somebody went into a theater and began to act inappropriately or stand up and interrupt the show.

Trump tweeted Saturday that Pence had been harassed by the cast, called them very rude and demanded they apologize.

Pence told CBS Face The Nation on Sunday that he wasnt offended by Dixons message. You can watch Dixons response below:

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The ongoing controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline exploded late Sunday when authorities doused protestors with water in subfreezing weather, leading several to be hospitalized.

Native American and environmental activists have protested the Dakota Access Pipeline for months, opposing the 1,200-mile project on the grounds that it violates the rights of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and will add to detrimental climate change. The demonstrations have drawn national headlines as police have violently cracked down on growing opposition, using pepper spray, dogs and arrests.

Heres what you need to know:

What happened on Sunday ?

From Sunday night into early Monday morning, authorities blocked nearly 400 protestors trying to remove a roadblock on Blackwater Bridge, near the site of the pipeline, using tear gas, rubber bullets and water hoses, the Associated Press reported. Temperatures were in the low 20s.

At least 17 protestors were taken to hospitals, suffering from hypothermia and head injuries after being hit by rubber bullets, Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network told the AP. He said one person had a heart attack.

It is below freezing right now and the Morton County Sheriffs Department is using a water cannon on our peoplethat is an excessive and potentially deadly use of force, Goldtooth told Reuters.

The protestors, who call themselves water protectors, were trying to remove two burned-out trucks on the bridge on Highway 1806, which had been blocking the bridge since October. They wanted to remove the blockades to allow the nearby Standing Rock encampments access to emergency services, and so local traffic could move freely, Reuters reported.

According to the AP, Morton County Sheriffs spokesman Rob Keller denied a water cannon was used to douse protestors. Keller said water hoses owned by the Mandan Rural Fire Department were used to turn back protestors during a violent clash and put out fires they had set.

Story continues

What is the Dakota Access Pipeline?

The Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is set to build the 1,200-mile pipeline in order to transport about 570,000 barrels of crude oil every day from North Dakota to Illinois. The nearly $4 billion project was proposed in 2014 and was expected to complete this year. Proponents of the project say the pipeline will provide the most direct and safest route of transporting shale oil from North Dakota to Gulf Coast refineries.

Why are the Sioux and other environmental activists protesting the pipeline?

The Standing Rock Sioux have been at the center of opposing the pipeline, uniting a number of different interest groups around their cause. A main concern is that the pipeline would tamper with the primary drinking water source for the Sioux, a tribe of about 10,000 with a reservation in central North and South Dakota. The Sioux also argue that the pipeline traverses a sacred burial ground. Environmental activists have joined the opposition, arguing that the pipeline would contribute to man-made climate change by adding to oil infrastructure in the U.S.

Opponents of the pipeline have grown to the thousands and have protested for months to delay and, eventually, stop the pipeline. The demonstrations have attracted celebrity figures like Shailene Woodley, who was arrested at a protest in October, Mark Ruffalo and Jesse Jackson, who have traveled to North Dakota to stand in solidarity.
A 2000 year old dolmen has been vandalized by a Harry Potter fan in Vigo, Spain. pic.twitter.com/s3oh1wKo4p  9GAG Tweets (@9GAGTweets) November 16, 2016

Much of the overall lore of the Harry Potter universe is connected to ancient artifacts or ideas. The idea of dark magic stretching back thousands of years, or a trio of magical objects that would give the owner complete and unbeatable power if they possessed all three, or picturesque locations all throughout Europe that hold a special meaning because they are featured in the film adaptations of the book series. So its no surprise that Potter fans assign meaning to similar sites or cool objects, especially if they are in some way connected to the ideas and events of the wizarding books.

Sometimes that obsession and passion can go too far, as it has with an instance of vandalism in Spain this week. A group of fans, presumably as they have yet to be identified, spray painted the Deathly Hallows symbol alongside the word Always on a 2,000 year old tomb in Spain. Although the tomb is on private property, it is a landmark managed by the city council and widely recognized as a masterpiece of ancient stonework.

The Always of course refers to Severus Snapes everlasting love for Harrys mother Lily, and his commitment to protect Harry in her honor and memory. While the impetus behind the vandalism may have been out of intense fandom for the series and the loving meaning behind the combination of the symbol and phrase, it is still an awful instance of vandalism that will permanently affect the ancient and before now unmarred historical site. The people responsible are still at large.

(via The Mirror)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f291491%2fscreen_shot_2016-11-21_at_09.54.59

So much for that idyllic video of a polar bear and a dog sharing an unlikely cuddle by the water. The harsh reality of how the animals interact has come crashing down following an incident in Manitoba, Canada.

A polar bear had to be immobilised after it killed and ate a sled dog from the same pack.

SEE ALSO: This polar bear petting a dog is proof that everything is going to be just fine

"That was the only day we didn't feed the fking bears, the only night we didn't put anything out," local resident and dog keeper Brian Ladoon told CBC News.

There were nine bears around the area where Ladoon keeps his dogs chained up. One of the bears reportedly ate one of his dogs.

The report was corroborated by a spokesperson for the Manitoba Sustainable Development. "Conservation officers had to immobilise a bear in that area last week and move it to the holding facility because it killed one of his dogs," the spokesperson told CBC News.

"A mother and cub were also removed because there were allegations the bears were being fed and the females' behaviour was becoming a concern," the spokesperson said. In Manitoba, it's forbidden to feed endangered species such as polar bears.

The video from last week (below) was filmed by local resident and part-time guide David de Muelles.

Different bear, different dog. It has nothing to do with what I [recorded], I dont appreciate it. Its sickening," de Muelles told Global News, maintaining that the dog in his video is still alive

BONUS: This polar bear petting a dog is proof that everything is going to be just fine
Jeff Bridges believes that his latest film shines a light on why the election went the way that it did.

In a Q&A with EW, the Hell or High Water actor revealed that he is rooting for President-elect Donald Trump and that the election showed how seriously disappointed many people have been in the way that the government is running.

While many people are concerned with Trumps unpredictability (he recently said that certain areas of his plan for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border could be a fence instead), Bridges says that its one of the things thats most appealing about him.

A less kind word might be his hypocrisy, but unpredictability and hypocrisy are things that each of us human beings share, Bridges said. Its something we all struggle with and work with. I was pleased to hear his acceptance speech.

The actor also weighed in on foreign policy, specifically discussing American-Russian relations.

Well see how the deal with the Russians go and all of his court cases. Its a fascinating time.  President Obama has set a good tone, and so has Hillary, Bridges said.

The Q&A comes ahead of Hell or High Waters release on Blu-ray on Tuesday. Bridges also discussed the momentum that drives him to keep acting and what drew him to the films script.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons popular vote victory continued to grow Monday as millions of ballots remained uncounted, according to the latest ballot tally published by the Cook Political Report. The first female major-party nominee has secured nearly 2 million more votes than her opponent, billionaire Donald Trump, despite an Electoral College vote in his favor.

Trump managed to secure well over the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency, but Clinton appears to have soundly won the popular vote by an ever-expanding margin. She received about 63,600,000 votes to the president-elect's 61,900,000, according to the Cook Political Report. Updated ballot counts show her receiving at least 48 percent of the national vote compared to Trumps 46.7 percent.

Clintons lead has already exceeded the 540,520-vote gap former Democratic candidate Al Gore maintained over former President George W. Bush before the former conceded in the 2000 election.

This year's election results roll in as protests continue erupt throughout the country. Students have been staging walk-outs against Trumps divisive campaign and vitriolic rhetoric, and millions have circulated online petitions demanding the Electoral College vote in conjunction with the popular vote as "faithless electors."

The newly announced margin also comes as Trump and his Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who is heading the campaigns transition to the White House, staff the next administrations West Wing and adviser positions. Recent controversial appointments to Trumps staff  including CEO of the right-wing tabloid site Breitbart Stephen Bannon and conspiracy theorist proponent and president of the Center for Security Policy Frank Gaffney  have also sparked alarm from organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Meanwhile, Clinton has stepped out of the political limelight since officially conceding to Trump Nov. 9. In her concession speech, she urged Americans to give the president-elect a chance at uniting the nation as he reportedly seeks to bring massive reforms and overhauls to Washington, D.C.

Story continues

"I still believe in America, and I always will," Clinton said earlier this month. "And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead."

RTX2TU71

Photo: Reuters

The total popular vote count will remain unknown for some time, as ballots are still being counted from high-volume areas across the country. Many reports indicate Clintons lead could grow even further, as the majority of uncounted regions are primarily Democratic strongholds.

The Cook Political Reports editor David Wasserman said Sunday there were still nearly 7 million uncounted votes. "A majority of them are on the coasts, in New York, California, and Washington, he told The Atlantic. She should be able to win those votes, probably 2-1."

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Could the Clinton Foundation's prodigious fundraising ability suffer a similar fate as Hillary Clinton's dashed political ambitions?

During her bid for the White House, the nonprofit bearing the names of Clinton, the former president and their daughter came under withering scrutiny for its fundraising and management practices. The foundation, which operates a range of philanthropic projects around the world and pulled in more than $200 million in revenue in 2014, has raised around $2 billion since its foundingbut that money has come with a cost.

Despite scoring relatively high in accountability and transparency by nonprofit watchdogs, the foundation nonetheless became a flash-point in the 2016 election. It was dogged by accusations of influence peddling, self dealing and conflicts of interests, due in large part to hefty contributions from foreign governments and other influential donors. Since the organization's inception, tens of millions from big donors have flowed to the organization, according to the Foundation's public database.

As emails disclosed by WikiLeaks laid bare internal concerns about how the Clinton Foundation's funding might impact the former Secretary of State's run for the Oval Office, former President Bill Clinton announced in August that the nonprofit would reject corporate and foreign donations if Hillary Clinton prevailed in her campaign.





Yet as the country prepares to inaugurate President-elect Donald Trump , the point may be moot at best, philanthropy experts told CNBC recently. That is because neither Clinton will occupy a prominent role in government in the immediate futurecurtailing the willingness of at least some big donors to try and curry favor with the foundation by writing large checks.

Because Hillary Clinton is no longer seen as a president in waiting, contributors may look elsewhere and the foundation may have to rethink its scope and priorities, these experts say.

The foundation did not respond to numerous requests for comment from CNBC.

Story continues

"I would expect there will be much greater difficulties in fundraising for the organization," Leslie Lenkowsky, a professor with Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, told CNBC in an interview.

Hillary Clinton "technically has no political prospects ahead of her. They're both important people, but dealing with a past president and future president were attractive to a number of donors," Lenkowsky said. Some of the largest checks came from a range of influential donors like the governments of Norway, Australia and Kuwait.

"Some of that goodwill will disappear, [and] they will have to raise money the old fashioned way, which is proving they deserve it," he added.





Meanwhile, projects like earthquake-stricken Haitiwhich earned the foundation the scorn of grassroots Haitian activists that accused the foundation of mismanaging millions that did little to alleviate the poverty-stricken country's recoveryblemished the organization's reputation.

A 2013 Government Accountability Office audit in found a litany of problems with the recovery efforts spearheaded by the Clinton Foundation. It's part of what Lenkowsky said was an example of the organization "trying to do too much."

John Wonderlich, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation, argued that Clinton's aborted political ambitions could be a "double-edged sword" for the foundation, liberating it to become more of a traditional nonprofit that's less susceptible to conflicts of interest.

"The Clintons had to create some sort of arm's length" between the organization and the prospect of a second Clinton White House, Wonderlich said, "but now there's no need for any arm's length. I can imagine this is a vehicle they pour themselves back intonow it's sort of uncomplicated," he added.

"In a sense they might have an easier time fundraising, but [for potential donors] there's no longer the appeal of getting close to a future president," Wonderlich said.

To be certain, the Clinton Foundation has a host of loyal contributors that are interested in the organization's work, and no one expects the money spigot to shut completely. Major donors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationone of the organization's top donors which has given more than $25 million.





Others, however, were less sanguine about the foundation being able to raise the same sums for its initiatives. Indiana University's Lenkowsky cited the experience of former GOP nominee Bob Dole, who once operated a nonprofit for employing people with disabilities that shuttered shortly after his political career ended.

"It's just a fact of life that people in the public eye attract money for all sorts of reasons," Lenkowsky said. "Once they are not in the public eye, the money starts to dry up."

While no one expects the Clinton Foundation to close its doors, a few observers expect a reorganization of priorities and management, at a minimum.

"Obviously they're not going to attract that much money, but they're becoming more of a legitimate foundation with a professional staff," said Pablo Eisneberg, senior fellow at the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center at Georgetown University. He cited last year's hiring of former University of Miami president Donna Shalala as part of the organization becoming more of a "regular foundation."

Hillary Clinton's loss "gives the Clinton Foundation an opportunity to focus," said Lenkowsky . "It needs to be much more focused and less involved with the political and financial interests of the Clintons, and more focused on all the things it's actually accomplishing."







More From CNBC


The Democrats' big loss could be MSNBC's gain: The network of Bush-era backlash again finds itself in the opposition. But the impending Donald Trump presidency comes at a unique crossroads for cable's left-ish news net. Reassured by much-improved ratings, MSNBC must choose between leaning back into a proven formula (covering a unified GOP government with a liberal slant, as it did to great success during the Iraq War) or preserving the mandate to focus more on breaking news. "Being in the opposition is always better for ratings," says USC journalism professor Gabriel Kahn. "That has been true for Fox News during President Obama, and it should hold true for MSNBC during Trump."

There's little evidence of how MSNBC plans to handle the future - mostly because breaking news and politics continue to be one in the same. The network has made one key decision by keeping The 11th Hour With Brian Williams for now. The politics-focused late-night show originally was planned to last only through the election. Sources at the network say MSNBC still will become less partisan - an edict from Andy Lack, who assumed the role of NBCUniversal News Group chairman in 2015 and was tasked with igniting a ratings turnaround. "We made a conscious decision to not be just politics and point-of-view during the day," says MSNBC managing editor Rashida Jones. "Politics will be a big part of our coverage through the inauguration. But it really is a daily assessment of what's important."

THR Staff

Although the network trails Fox News and CNN, MSNBC this year has grown its primetime average an unrivaled 142 percent among adults 25-to-54. Much credit there goes to lauded liberal Rachel Maddow, whose show remains the network's top-rated. Another bankable success is the equally politicized Morning Joe, where host Joe Scarborough gives MSNBC its most consistent victories over CNN. Analysts say MSNBC might evolve into a hybrid - sandwiching broader news coverage and primetime commentary. Says Kahn: "This is a golden moment to stake out that ideological ground. In a crowded news environment, it doesn't make sense for them to try to be anything but vaguely partisan. Otherwise, you're melba toast."

This story first appeared in the Dec. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

Read more: Critic's Notebook: In Order to Survive, Cable News Should Go Full Anti-Trump
Windhoek (AFP) - The number of HIV-infected people taking anti-retroviral medicine has doubled in just five years, the UN said Monday, while highlighting high infection rates among young African women.

A new report by UNAIDS said it was on course to hit a target of 30 million people on ARV treatment by 2020.

"By June 2016, around 18.2 million people had access to the life-saving medicines, including 910,000 children, double the number five years earlier," UNAIDS said in a statement.

But the report showed the huge risks that some young women face.

Last year more than 7,500 teenagers and young women became infected with HIV every week worldwide, with the bulk of them in southern Africa.

"Young women are facing a triple threat," UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe said at the report's launch in the Namibian capital Windhoek.

"They are at high risk of HIV infection, have low rates of HIV testing, and have poor adherence to treatment. The world is failing young women and we urgently need to do more."

Sidibe hailed progress made with HIV treatment, but warned any advance was "incredibly fragile".

The high rate of infection among young women and girls is often driven by relationships with older men, known as "sugar daddies" or "blessers".

The report said data from South Africa showed that young women and teenagers were catching HIV from adult men.

Many men catch HIV much later in life, and then continue a cycle of infection.

The report noted a study in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, that revealed only 26 percent of men knew their HIV status and only five percent were on treatment.
Jellyfish Collagen

Dr. Nigma Talib's stable of starlets - including Kate Bosworth and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - swear by her Serum No. 1 ($205), Creme No. 1 ($165) and specialty facials incorporating jellyfish collagen ($495). "Nothing in it stings you," reassures Talib. "It just reverses signs of aging, builds up collagen and works with [active-ingredient-transporting] water technology for hydration and skin firmness." The London-based naturopathic doc (with an awards-season residency at Four Seasons Beverly Hills) adds that jellyfish collagen is very similar to human collagen, so it doesn't elicit allergic reactions. healthydoc.com

Read more: Stars' Secret Weapons: Hollywood's Top 25 Beauty Products Revealed

Frozen Stem Cells

Armie Hammer, Nicola Peltz and a regular roster of power agents and execs duck into Swiss esthetician Lena Bratschi's under-the-radar Carasoin Day Spa and Skin Clinic for the Stem Cell Facial ($275), which uses human cells, cryogenically frozen and incubated in embryonic fluid from cows. These stimulate the skin to create more stem cells, which release collagen and elastin to firm, tighten and repair. Bratschi's latest treatment, the Jet Peel Facial ($400), harnesses the power of rocket science, literally: A machine developed for Russia's aerospace program shoots out microdroplets of saline at 125psi for super-fast exfoliation. carasoin.com

Blood Cream

Barbara Sturm, a German-based physician who specializes in facial aesthetics who pioneered the "vampire facial," in which a patient's blood is injected back into her face, now offers a take-home potion also made with a patient's plasma. Sturm works with a huge array of top models as well as Sienna Miller and Gwyneth Paltrow, spinning and mixing their blood into a custom cream called MC1 ($950) that harnesses white blood cells to slow aging, diminish redness and reduce pore size. dr-barbara-sturm.com

This story first appeared in the Dec. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
As the legend goes, the first "doorbuster"appeared in the 1980s when a Philadelphia department store ran a special on calico. Offering the coveted material at a penny a yard, the deal drew crowds of eager customers. When an overzealous shopper broke a door window, a store official famously said, "The bargain certainly was a doorbuster."

The term stuck. Today, stores continue to use "doorbuster" to denote exceptional deals offered for a brief time or in limited quantities. Doorbusters traditionally pop up during Black Friday sales as retailers battle for holiday shoppers' attention.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

This Black Friday, stores are launching hundreds of enticing doorbuster deals to draw you through their doors. To help you catch these legendary deals before they disappear, here's a guide to some of the year's hottest Black Friday doorbusters.

Best TV Doorbusters

-- Target: Samsung 50-inch 4K UHD for $397.99 (regularly priced at $749.99)

Target will take $352 off the Samsung 50-inch 4K UHD when its doors open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The deal will be available in limited quantities both in stores and online.

-- Kohl's: Samsung 40-inch HD LED Smart TV with built-in Wi-Fi for $249.99 (regularly priced at $529.99)

On Monday, November 21 -- days before other retailers launch their sales -- Kohl's will release a Samsung 40-inch Smart TV at 53 percent off. To sweeten the deal, the store is throwing in $75 in Kohl's Cash. Call your local store for hours or shop all day online at Kohls.com.

-- Target: 32-inch Polaroid LED TV for $85

This ultra-cheap TV will be available at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving at Target stores and on Target.com.

[See: 8 Big Budgeting Blunders -- and How to Fix Them.]

Best Electronics Doorbusters

-- Dell: Inspiron 11 3000 for $99.99 (regularly priced at $199.99)

Dell has promised $99.99 Inspiron laptops beginning at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

-- Best Buy: Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch display for $799.99 (regularly priced at $999.99)

Story continues

On Thanksgiving, Best Buy will reduce the price of its Apple MacBook Air by $200. The doorbuster will be available at 5 p.m. in stores and midnight online.

-- Best Buy: Amazon Fire HD8 8-inch tablet for $59.99 (regularly priced at $89.99)

Best Buy is shaving $30 off the price of this Amazon Fire tablet. Shop the deal on Thanksgiving after 5 p.m. in stores or at any time online.

-- Kohl's: Fitbit Alta fitness wristband for $99.99 (regularly priced from $129.99 to $149.99)

The retailer will offer a choice of Fitbit Alta or the exclusive Fitbit Alta special edition for $99.99 online starting November 21. The doorbuster includes $30 in Kohl's cash.

-- Target: Xbox One S Console 500GB Battlefield 1 or Minecraft Bundle for $249.99 (regularly priced at $299.99).

In addition to taking $50 off, Target will hook shoppers up with a free $40 Target gift card when they purchase one of these video game bundles.

[See: 9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards.]

Best Toy and Entertainment Doorbusters

-- Toys R Us: Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar for $29.99 (regularly priced at $49.99)

On Black Friday at midnight, Toys R Us will offer this educational toy at $20 off regular price, exclusively in stores.

-- Best Buy: DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399.99 (regularly priced at $499.99)

This Thanksgiving, Best Buy will slash the price of its DJI Phantom 3 by $100. You can snatch up this doorbuster in stores starting at 5 p.m. or all day online.

-- Kmart: DVDs and Blu-rays for $1

During its Black Friday sale, Kmart will distribute its vast collection of DVDs and Blu-rays for $1 each. Shop from 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving until supplies run out.

Best Appliance and Mattress Doorbusters

-- Macy's: Bella slow cooker or waffle maker for $10 with $10 rebate (regularly priced at $29.99)

After the $10 rebate, these Bella two appliances are essentially free. The doorbuster is available in stores on Thursday at 5 p.m. Limit one per customer.

-- Sears: Kenmore French door bottom-freezer refrigerator for $999.99 (regularly priced at $2,199.99)

Sears will reward early shoppers with 54 percent off its Kenmore French door bottom-freeze fridge. The deal will run in limited supply from 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving to 1 p.m. on Black Friday.

-- Sears: Serta Coralee Queen Mattress for $139 (regularly priced at $449.99)

In addition to the price cut, Sears will offer shoppers $50 in points when they purchase a Serta Coralee queen mattress. You can take advantage of the deal starting at 6 p.m. on Thanskgiving.



Maria Lalonde honed her deal-hunting skills while traveling through South America and Southeast Asia, combing colorful local markets for unique finds. Her love of blogging and thirst for deals brought her to Offers.com, where she blogs about savings tips.
As the legend goes, the first "doorbuster"appeared in the 1980s when a Philadelphia department store ran a special on calico. Offering the coveted material at a penny a yard, the deal drew crowds of eager customers. When an overzealous shopper broke a door window, a store official famously said, "The bargain certainly was a doorbuster."

The term stuck. Today, stores continue to use "doorbuster" to denote exceptional deals offered for a brief time or in limited quantities. Doorbusters traditionally pop up during Black Friday sales as retailers battle for holiday shoppers' attention.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

This Black Friday, stores are launching hundreds of enticing doorbuster deals to draw you through their doors. To help you catch these legendary deals before they disappear, here's a guide to some of the year's hottest Black Friday doorbusters.

Best TV Doorbusters

-- Target: Samsung 50-inch 4K UHD for $397.99 (regularly priced at $749.99)

Target will take $352 off the Samsung 50-inch 4K UHD when its doors open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The deal will be available in limited quantities both in stores and online.

-- Kohl's: Samsung 40-inch HD LED Smart TV with built-in Wi-Fi for $249.99 (regularly priced at $529.99)

On Monday, November 21 -- days before other retailers launch their sales -- Kohl's will release a Samsung 40-inch Smart TV at 53 percent off. To sweeten the deal, the store is throwing in $75 in Kohl's Cash. Call your local store for hours or shop all day online at Kohls.com.

-- Target: 32-inch Polaroid LED TV for $85

This ultra-cheap TV will be available at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving at Target stores and on Target.com.

[See: 8 Big Budgeting Blunders -- and How to Fix Them.]

Best Electronics Doorbusters

-- Dell: Inspiron 11 3000 for $99.99 (regularly priced at $199.99)

Dell has promised $99.99 Inspiron laptops beginning at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

-- Best Buy: Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch display for $799.99 (regularly priced at $999.99)

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On Thanksgiving, Best Buy will reduce the price of its Apple MacBook Air by $200. The doorbuster will be available at 5 p.m. in stores and midnight online.

-- Best Buy: Amazon Fire HD8 8-inch tablet for $59.99 (regularly priced at $89.99)

Best Buy is shaving $30 off the price of this Amazon Fire tablet. Shop the deal on Thanksgiving after 5 p.m. in stores or at any time online.

-- Kohl's: Fitbit Alta fitness wristband for $99.99 (regularly priced from $129.99 to $149.99)

The retailer will offer a choice of Fitbit Alta or the exclusive Fitbit Alta special edition for $99.99 online starting November 21. The doorbuster includes $30 in Kohl's cash.

-- Target: Xbox One S Console 500GB Battlefield 1 or Minecraft Bundle for $249.99 (regularly priced at $299.99).

In addition to taking $50 off, Target will hook shoppers up with a free $40 Target gift card when they purchase one of these video game bundles.

[See: 9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards.]

Best Toy and Entertainment Doorbusters

-- Toys R Us: Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar for $29.99 (regularly priced at $49.99)

On Black Friday at midnight, Toys R Us will offer this educational toy at $20 off regular price, exclusively in stores.

-- Best Buy: DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399.99 (regularly priced at $499.99)

This Thanksgiving, Best Buy will slash the price of its DJI Phantom 3 by $100. You can snatch up this doorbuster in stores starting at 5 p.m. or all day online.

-- Kmart: DVDs and Blu-rays for $1

During its Black Friday sale, Kmart will distribute its vast collection of DVDs and Blu-rays for $1 each. Shop from 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving until supplies run out.

Best Appliance and Mattress Doorbusters

-- Macy's: Bella slow cooker or waffle maker for $10 with $10 rebate (regularly priced at $29.99)

After the $10 rebate, these Bella two appliances are essentially free. The doorbuster is available in stores on Thursday at 5 p.m. Limit one per customer.

-- Sears: Kenmore French door bottom-freezer refrigerator for $999.99 (regularly priced at $2,199.99)

Sears will reward early shoppers with 54 percent off its Kenmore French door bottom-freeze fridge. The deal will run in limited supply from 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving to 1 p.m. on Black Friday.

-- Sears: Serta Coralee Queen Mattress for $139 (regularly priced at $449.99)

In addition to the price cut, Sears will offer shoppers $50 in points when they purchase a Serta Coralee queen mattress. You can take advantage of the deal starting at 6 p.m. on Thanskgiving.







More From US News & World Report


The Income Tax Department has come calling to coal baron and former BJP leader G Janardhana Reddy, days after the lavish wedding of his daughter in Bengaluru led to huge uproar across India. For many, the extravagant wedding gala was a brazen display of ill-gotten wealth, especially in the middle of a currency crisis, when the ordinary Indians have been compelled to queue up outside banks to access rationed quantities of their own hard-earned money.

Reddy has taken over a royal palace and flown in Brazilian dancers at a reported cost of 75 million dollars to celebrate his daughters wedding, as the country reels from a cash crisis. Heres a look!
Haarlem (Netherlands) (AFP) - A very rare handwritten poem by Jewish diarist Anne Frank goes under the auctioneer's hammer Wednesday, amid a flurry of interest which may push the price well above the 30,000 euros ($32,000) reserve.

"These things are so rare that I've never seen anything like it," said Thys Blankevoort, co-director of the Bubb Kuyper auction house based in the western Dutch town of Haarlem.

"Any document that's written by Anne Frank is rare," he told AFP Monday, adding only about four or five items signed by her had come to light in the past 40 years.

"There are some chance finds, some books from the libraries. But these are not manuscripts, they are owner entries," he added, referring to books which have been found with Frank's name written inside.

Dedicated to "Dear Cri-cri," the poem, written in Dutch in black ink on a notebook-size piece of white paper which has slightly discoloured with age, is signed "in memory, from Anne Frank."

Frank wrote the 12-line text, dated March 28, 1942, in a friendship book belonging to the older sister of her best friend only three months before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam.

"The Diary of a Young Girl," which Frank penned while in hiding from June 1942 to August 1944 has sold more than 30 million copies in 67 languages.

She died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany in early 1945 less than a year after the Nazis captured her and just before the end of World War II.

- 'Buoyant' market -

A reserve price of 30,000 euros has been put on the text, but the auctioneer said while it could go up to 50,000 euros it was impossible to say what it would finally sell for as once museums and institutes became involved bidding could become "totally unpredictable."

"It might go higher," Blankevoort said, adding there had been a lot of interest from both private collectors and museums.

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"Historical documents by famous people are really sought after. That's a separate niche in the market that's quite buoyant."

The poem is being sold by Jacqueline van Maarsen, Frank's primary school friend, who over the years has worked to keep her pal's story alive. Frank also wrote a poem in Jacqueline's book, but she is too attached to it to sell it, Blankevoort said.

While the first four lines of the text are well-known among such poems "written by girls, for girls", the auction house has so far not traced the origins of the final four lines.

"The second half might possibly even be composed by" Anne Frank, Blankevoort acknowledged. It follows the vein of such poems which often contained a moral about love and friendship, calling on girls to work hard and be diligent.

A series of letters between Anne and her sister Margot with American penpals sold for $165,000 in 1988. And a 1925 edition of Grimm's fairy tales, with both girls' names written on the title page, went for $62,500 in May in a New York auction -- fetching twice the estimated price.
New York (AFP) - Hugo Boss and Vera Wang are skipping Fashion Week in New York next February in a sign of the upheaval rippling through the industry.

In a presentation to investors, the Hugo Boss group explained it wants to concentrate more on its men's ready-to-wear clothes.

The fashion house will take part in late January in the menswear fashion show that precedes Fashion Week for women's wear.

The group said it will continue to work with Jason Wu, its artistic director for women's clothes since 2013.

Also, Wang announced she will not be at Fashion Week, either.

Instead, she told Women's Wear Daily she will present her new collection in a short film.

It will be released on February 28, the day that fashion week in Paris starts and Wang will receive the Legion d'honneur award in the French capital.

For several seasons now, New York's Fashion Week has been in upheaval, and several designers have changed their approach to it.

In September, in the last edition, Derek Lam, French designer Sophie Theallet, Diane von Furstenberg and Kate Spade avoided fashion shows and instead opted for presentations in which models stand still so they can be observed more easily.

Others such as Theory chose to present their collections after Fashion Week by organizing individual viewings.
Budapest (AFP) - Hungarian prisoners have finished building the first part of a second anti-migrant fence on Hungary's southern border with Serbia, state television reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the plans for a second fence line in August to reinforce the existing barrier erected last year along the 175-kilometre-long (110-mile-long) border.

The risk that the European Union's deal earlier this year with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants might not last means Hungary needs to strengthen its border defences, Orban said.

Orban has emerged as the standard-bearer of those opposed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" policy, in the wake of Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II.

Dubbed a "smart fence" by local media due to its high-tech features, construction by prisoners of the three-metre-high (10-feet) and 10.3-kilometre-long (6.4 mile-long) barrier began a month ago.

The new fence is equipped with heat and movement sensors, as well as night cameras installed at regular intervals, according to media reports.

When fully built it is expected to cut the numbers of troops and police officers required to patrol the border, said the M1 pubic television news channel.

The government will decide later on when the rest of the fence line will be built, said the channel.

In 2015 over 400,000 migrants trekked through Hungary, a border of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone, toward northern Europe.

After the first fence line was completed in September last year, and another one along the Croatian border a month later, the number of migrants entering Hungary slowed to a trickle.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / According to Scott Briggs of Retirement Strategies of Michigan, the idea of leveraging one's assets and maximizing one's estate with life insurance is a well-known concept used by many retirees for decades. "If done properly, this concept can be the most significant estate planning tool to own within a portfolio of investments."

Briggs noted that, "There is a new type of life insurance policy gaining popularity in recent years that provides 'living benefits' or 'accelerated benefits'. It is often referred to as hybrid life insurance because the insured doesn't have to die to take advantage of the policy's death benefit."

How it works - the insured's amount of death benefit is determined by the amount of the one-time deposit, age, gender, and health. Often that single deposit can be multiplied by two or more when determining the policies guaranteed death benefit. This means for a person with average health, commonly a non-smoking female that contributes $100,000 could realistically recognize an immediate $200,000 tax-free death benefit.

In the prior example, the death benefit can be provided to the heirs of their estate probate free as assigned beneficiaries to the policy, allowing the insured to transfer her wealth tax-free and increase the amount her beneficiaries will inherit. Many insurance companies that specialize in this concept provide the option to accelerate the policies death benefit to be used for chronic illness and long-term care expenses.

For the person with bank savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, brokerage accounts, and even annuities that like the idea of being able to always have access to their money, some of these hybrid policies guarantee 100% return of premium, other policies allow withdrawals of the policies cash value. Many have growth based on either fixed rates of interest or an indexed rate of interest, that can be substantially better than a savings account, CD, or an annuity. For many people, the added benefits make hybrid life insurance an attractive alternative to cash in the bank.

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Scott Briggs of Retirement Strategies of Michigan says, "For people over the age of 65, the common misconception is that the required underwriting process is burdensome and requires perfect health to qualify. This is simply not the case, simplified underwriting makes getting qualifiedsimple." No medical exam or blood test are needed. Advanced underwriting process and technology adopted by insurance carriers expedites approval and only requires a few medical questions to be answered along with a brief telephone interview.

Hybrid life insurance can be a valuable planning tool with favorable tax benefits and guarantees. With every type of investment, Briggs says there are pros and cons, and it's important to work with a competent professional with the knowledge and experience to help make an educated decision about this unique estate planning tool. Those interested in learning more about hybrid life insurance can visit the official website of Retirement Strategies of Michigan at www.retirementstrategiesmi.com.

Contact Retirement Strategies:

Scott Briggs

(248) 473-1111

info@retirementstrategiesmi.com

21999 Farmington Rd., Suite 500, Farmington Hills, MI 48336

SOURCE: Retirement Strategies
So comprehensively soundproofed from the western world is the totalitarian dictatorship of North Korea that its hard to think of any musicians suitable for the honor of playing the countrys first ever international rock concert. Still, youd have to travel awfully far down the list before landing on Laibach, the high-kitsch Slovenian art-metal veterans best known for their doomy neo-classical covers of such pop cheese nuggets as Live is Life and The Final Countdown. Yet in August 2015, they went where no band had gone before  and this bizarre, one-off culture clash is chronicled with droll, highly entertaining bemusement in Liberation Day. Billed as a documentary musical, this potential crowd-pleaser gets considerable comic mileage out of the friction between two very different brands of cultural eccentricity  but it succeeds as more than a diverting novelty, packed as it is with pointed observations on diplomacy and censorship in a country thats still a mystery to many.

Given its accessible blend of politics and pop curiosity, as well as its built-in event possibilities  the films IDFA premiere was followed by a live Laibach mini-gig, introduced by celebrity philosopher Slavoj Zizek  Liberation Day should march easily into further festival berths, as well as healthy multi-platform distribution. (Sales agent Dogwoof has already bagged U.K. rights.) Any superfans of the Slovenian pomp-rockers may, however, be surprised to find that theyre a compliantly passive presence in the film; instead, its Morten Traavik, their shows intensely driven director (and co-helmer of the film itself), who emerges as the unlikely star of proceedings.

A nattily mustachioed artist and concert impresario who engineered the bands improbable visit to Pyongyang to begin with, Traavik cuts an odd, affecting figure as he repeatedly attempts to reconcile Laibachs cultivatedly offbeat image with the suffocating bureaucratic demands of Kim Jong-uns administration  particularly sensitive in this case, given that the concert was held to mark the 70th anniversary of Koreas liberation from Japanese rule. (Footage from last years Last Week Tonight, in which John Oliver raucously mocked the occasion, sets much of the scene.) Quite how Traavik ever convinced the powers that be that Laibach were the right fit for this occasion is never quite explained in the film; also notably unaddressed are the moral rights or wrongs of pursuing the gig in the first place. Even with such blind spots, however, his blend of earnest determination and sidelong humor is persuasive; the longer rehearsals progress, hobbled by one complaint after another from their unbending hosts, the more the concert appears to be a surreal dream that he alone has willed into waking life.

Against all odds, however, Laibachs presence in this oppressively controlled state comes to seem symbolically apt  albeit for reasons the North Koreans may not acknowledge. The bands career-long fixation with fascistic and military iconography, which has fueled debates within their fanbase over ironic protest versus complicity, certainly cuts both ways in this context  a parallel underlined by a furiously paced introductory montage intercutting historical Korean archive material with the bands video imagery, set to their deathly-inspirational take on Rodgers & Hammersteins The Sound of Music. (Do-Re-Mi also gets a memorable airing.) Its a juxtaposition that could be viewed as tacitly critical of the countrys regime, though Traaviks Korean enablers reserve their fight for lower-stakes battles. Cutting nude statues out of one performance video backdrop, for example, seems the least significant of the issues at hand here, so naturally it becomes a major sticking point.

Notwithstanding its fractious political undertow, Liberation Day finally sits squarely in the lets-put-on-a-show subgenre of documentary, and the show that Traavik and his crew put on turns out to be rather rousing  despite, or rather because of, the compromises that have gone into its production. The seated audiences reaction to Laibachs climactic rendition of their march-inspired 2014 single The Whistleblowers is edited in a gradual, tentative arc from positively fearful bewildermant on some faces to guarded appreciation on others. There are all kinds of music, one viewer politely states afterwards. Now we know theres this kind of music too. It reads like a supremely dry burn, but coming toward the end of this funny, thoughtful, knowingly absurd study of contrasting aberrations, it sounds a little more like an oh-so-gentle shift in awareness.

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IDFA: Wide House Takes 'Too Black To Be French?' 'Bolingo, The Forest of Love' (EXCLUSIVE)

IDFA: 'Love,' 'Exodus,' 'Sasuke' Among New 108 Media Acquisitions

Sergei Loznitsa: 'Austerlitz' Director Talks Art, Life, A Return To 'Good Old Cinema' In New Film 'A Gentle Creature'
Exodus, Cold Love, and Passionate TV are among the six new pick-ups of Toronto-based distribution-worldwide sales company 108 Media which will be presented at Amsterdams IDFA documentary festival-market.

Documentaries subjects range from sports, to demographic, migration and riproaring characters  this last group takes in four titles and is offered under the 108 Believe label, an arm launched last year to provide stronger representation of inspiring and real life stories, according to 108 Media.

Depicting the impact of climate change, Deia Schlosbergs Cold Love turns on the journey of the Arctic explorer Lonnie Dupre who trudged more than 15,000 miles by non-motorized means of travel dog sled, skis and kayak throughout the High Arctic and polar regions.

In Footprint, Valentina Canavesio puts the spotlight on what challenges an overpopulated planet will face in the next future. Over-consumption and limited resources are severe menaces. 108 has worldwide rights to Footprint, excluding North America.

A five half-hour TV series, Passionate TV focuses on the encouraging stories of five successful people who following their dreams of trying to make the world a better place.

T-Rex tells the story of Claressa T-Rex Shields who was the first U.S. woman boxer to win a gold medal, at Londons Olympic Games in 2012 when she was seventeen.

All these four documentaries are party of the 108 Believe brand.

In addition, 108 Media brings to IDFA Sasuke and Exodus. A best editing winner at Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Mikiko Saskis The Great Sasuke portrays a regional Japanese wrestler and local politician  Masanori Murakawa who never took off his mask during his political career, which finished when he lost in the Iwate governor elections.

A Syrian-American genre director, Elias Matar (Ashes) chronicles in Exodus the journey of three thousands Syrians seeking refuge and crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey towards the Greece shoreline in the winter of 2015 in the hope of finding asylum in the European Union. A very real problem that is simply not being addressed by traditional news and media sources. It puts a human face on an international crisis, at a time now more then ever, when a little bit of humanity can mean the difference between life and death, Matar told Variety.

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108 Media CEO Abhi Rastogi said: Weve always had a passion for thought-provoking documentaries and these titles offer a global perspective on some truly moving and astonishing life stories.

Related stories

IDFA: Wide House Takes 'Too Black To Be French?' 'Bolingo, The Forest of Love' (EXCLUSIVE)

Sergei Loznitsa: 'Austerlitz' Director Talks Art, Life, A Return To 'Good Old Cinema' In New Film 'A Gentle Creature'

IDFA: Arte Boards Alleycats' 'Trophy Hunters' as Sideways Rolls Out Its Sales (EXCLUSIVE)
This weekend's news cycle was surprisingly dominated by Broadway, after VP-elect Mike Pence attended Hamilton on Friday night (Nov. 18) and was booed by his fellow audience members. After sounding off about the situation on the red carpet ahead of the American Music Awards on Sunday night, Broadway vet Idina Menzel shouted out the Hamilton cast and mocked the situation while presenting an award at the AMAs.

Menzel presented an award with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who joked that he was not getting an invite to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration in January. "I know how you feel," Menzel quipped. "Us unsafe, scary theater people wouldn't be invited to the inauguration, either. I love you, Hamilton!"

On Friday night, the Hamilton cast acknowledged Pence's presence at their performance and issued a statement about his anti-inclusive politics; Trump took to Twitter to denounce the speech as Pence being "harassed." On the AMAs red carpet, here's what Menzel had to say about the situation to Billboard:

"I think they were extremely courageous, 100 percent appropriate. The theater is not just about about being a safe place but its about being thought-provoking, educating yourself, empathy, learning to step in other peoples shoes, stories and existence. If you're not prepared to do that you need to open your heart. That's what the theater is all about. Plus I think they were eloquent and non-antagonistic. I just wish the future would embrace the arts and freedom of speech and welcome it and celebrate it because that's what makes a great country. That's what our leaders should be excited about. Unfortunately things get a little cheapened these days."
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit against Tenet Healthcare Corporation ("Tenet" or the "Company") (THC). Investors, who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between February 28, 2012 and October 3, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the December 6, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased Tenet shares during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, Tenet made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: the Company illegally paid kickbacks to induce the referral of patients to Tenet's hospitals for labor and delivery; that Tenet defrauded the Georgia Medicaid program through this scheme; and that as a result of the above, statements about Tenet's business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On August 1, 2016, Tenet announced that it reached an agreement in principle with federal and state authorities that the Company would pay nearly $514 million to settle allegations that four Tenet hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina paid kickbacks for obstetric referrals. Under the settlement, two Tenet subsidiaries would plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate federal kickback laws. On October 3, 2016, Tenet issued a press release and filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, announcing the Company finalized the agreement in principle announced on August 1, 2016. When this information emerged to the public, shares of Tenet dropped in value, causing investors harm.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit at no charge, or if you have questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contacts

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
Reince Priebus, the incoming White House chief of staff, spoke out about the "problematic" aspects of Islam. His comments Sunday came while defending former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn's controversial comments about Muslims.

Asked on ABC whether future National Security Adviser Flynn advocates President-elect Donald Trump's view of Islam, Priebus answered: "I think so." Flynn reportedly said Islam is a political ideology that hides behind being a religion.

"Look I'm not going to rule out anything," Priebus reportedly said. "We're not going to have a registry based on a religion. But what I think what we're trying to do is say that there are some people, certainly not all people... there are some people that are radicalized. And there are some people that have to be prevented from coming into this country."

He added, "And Donald Trump's position, President Trump's position is consistent with bills in the House and the Senate that say the following: If you want to come from a place or an area around the world that harbors and trains terrorists, we have to temporarily suspend that operation until a better vetting system is put in place."

"Clearly there are some aspects of that faith that are problematic and we know them; we've seen it," Priebus reportedly said. "It certainly isn't a blanket for all people of that faith, but Mike Flynn is one of the most highly respected intelligence officers in America. Certainly no one can deny that."

However, Priebus did not explicitly define the aspects of Islam he thought "problematic."

Last week, Flynn said he agreed with Trump's initial proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. He also accompanied Trump to his first top-secret national security briefing in August this year.

I am pleased that Lieutenant General Michael Flynn will be by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad, Trump said in a statement last week. General Flynn is one of the countrys foremost experts on military and intelligence matters and he will be an invaluable asset to me and my administration.

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By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is trying to boost sales of its low-quality coal by offering more of the fuel at home and initiating steps to lower freight costs, while global prices are high, with the government hoping the moves will help cut imports.

State-controlled Coal India, the world's largest miner of the fuel, has sharply boosted output in the past two years but has struggled to sell all of that due to softer domestic demand and the availability of superior-grade foreign coal at competitive rates, until recently.

Benchmark Australian coal prices have more than doubled this year, helped by reduced Chinese mining and strong demand across Asia and Europe just when exporters cut output. But prices have begun to recoil this month as China eased restrictions on domestic mining.

"Our prices are already very competitive," India's Coal Secretary Anil Swarup told Reuters. "If transportation costs can be brought down, more and more private companies will bid to buy from Coal India."

Swarup met Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu late last month to discuss lowering the charges to move coal in some routes to lure private firms away from foreign coal, according to a government source with knowledge of the matter.

Swarup declined to comment on the meeting. Railways spokesman, Anil Kumar Saxena, did not respond to calls seeking comment.

A senior Coal India official said cutting freight charges has been a long-standing demand of the company's clients and should help boost sales if the government moved ahead.

Daily dispatches of coal had already jumped by a fifth this month to around 1.6 million tonnes, he said, and the company is set to make a record amount of coal available to be sold through auctions. The company typically sells only 10 percent of total output through auctions to private companies but the government has relaxed that limit.

"We are offering more and more in auctions," Swarup said. "We can scale up production as and when needed; exposed coal is available."

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Higher international prices and the rise in local output are expected to cut India's imports by around 20 million tonnes this fiscal year from the 181 million tonnes brought in for the year ended March 31, 2016, said the Coal India official, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media.

Coal imports fell 16 percent to around 10 million tonnes in September, the lowest level since April 2013, according to brokerage Motilal Oswal.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.)
By Jitendra Prakash and Rupam Jain PUKHRAYAN, India/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian rescuers on Monday called off a search of the mangled carriages of a derailed train after pulling more bodies from the wreckage, taking to at least 146 the number of passengers killed in the disaster. Sunday's derailment in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh was India's deadliest train tragedy since 2010 and has renewed concern about poor safety on the state-run network. A lifeline for millions, the railways suffer from chronic underinvestment, which has left it with ageing tracks and outdated rolling stock. Rescue teams worked through the night with cranes and cutters to disentangle the train before police halted the search of the 14 carriages that derailed in the early hours while most passengers slept. "The rescue operations are over. We don't expect to find any more bodies," said Zaki Ahmed, the police inspector general in the city of Kanpur, about 65 km (40 miles) from Pukhrayan, the crash site. All of the carriages, some crumpled beyond recognition, have since been removed from the tracks. The crash came during India's busy wedding season and media said blood-stained bags of saris and wedding cards carried by at least one wedding party on board were scattered beside the wreckage. The derailment injured close to 200 people, scores of them seriously, officials said. After the tragedy, relatives thronged hospitals in a search for survivors. A railways spokesman said the train carried 1,000 people traveling on reservations, but 700 more were estimated to have squeezed into the unreserved carriages. AGEING BADLY The largely colonial-era railway system, the world's fourth largest, carries a saturation-level total of about 23 million people daily. Ageing badly, its average speeds top just 50 kph (30 mph) and train accidents are common. The crash is a stark reminder of the obstacles facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering on his promise to turn the railways into a more efficient, safer network befitting India's economic power. Modi this year pledged record levels of investment and has announced a new high-speed line funded by Japan, but the main network has made little progress on upgrading tracks or signaling equipment. He has also shied away from raising the highly subsidized fares that leave the railways with next to nothing for investment. By some analysts' estimates, they need 20 trillion rupees ($293.34 billion) of investment by 2020. Modi held a political rally on Sunday about 210 km (130 miles) from the crash site in Uttar Pradesh, which heads to the polls early next year in an election his Bharatiya Janata Party is vying to win. Mayawati, the state's former chief minister who uses only one name and is a Modi critic, said the government should have "invested in mending tracks instead of spending billions and trillions of rupees on bullet trains", media reported. Junior railway minister Manoj Sinha said a fractured track might have caused the train to roll off the rails on its journey between the central Indian city of Indore and the eastern city of Patna. The government has ordered an inquiry to determine the precise cause. Sunday's crash is India's worst rail tragedy since the collision of a passenger and a goods train in 2010, which the government blamed on sabotage by Maoist rebels. In 2005, a train was crushed by a rock and another plunged into a river, each disaster killing more than 100 people. In what was probably India's worst rail disaster, a train fell into a river in the eastern state of Bihar of 1981, killing an estimated 500 to 800 people. (Reporting by Rupam Jain and Jitendra Prakash; Additional reporting by Krishna N. Das; Writing and additional reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Rescuers on Monday ended their search for survivors amongst the twisted remains of a derailed train as the death toll from one of India's worst rail disasters rose to 146.

Parts of the train were mangled beyond recognition when the Indore-Patna Express derailed, sending carriages crashing into each other in the early hours of Sunday in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Rescuers worked through the night, picking through the wreckage with sniffer dogs in hopes of finding more survivors.

But they called off the search on Monday afternoon as the last of the carriages was removed from the tracks.

"We recovered eight bodies today and the rescue operations were called off late afternoon. There is no hope for more survivors," said Anil Shekhawat, spokesman for the National Disaster Response Force.

Another 179 people are being treated in hospital, 60 of whom are in a serious condition, a spokesman for Indian railways told AFP.

"The rail line has been cleared and some restoration work is on. The line will be fit for traffic in few hours from now," added spokesman Vijay Kumar.

At least 2,000 people are believed to have been on the train at the time -- many travelling without reserved seats or any ticket at all.

- Missing children -

Many of the injured were young children who had become separated from relatives.

Doctors were using WhatsApp to try to reunite children with relatives -- sharing photos of their unidentified patients with other hospitals in the area via the messaging app.

"This way, if anyone from his family or acquaintances was at the other hospital looking for him, we were able to unite them swiftly," A K Srivastava, a senior doctors at one of the local hospitals, told AFP, scrolling through pictures of the injured on his phone.

Eight-year-old Sejal Yadav was found by her brother Rahul, 18, thanks to the app.

Yadav, who remains in intensive care, was travelling with her grandfather and two uncles. All three died.

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"In what little she has said, she has complained about her grandfather and uncles not responding to her calls for help after some loud bang noise on the train," Rahul said.

The disaster occurred at the peak of India's marriage season, and at least one wedding party was on board the train.

Local media said wedding clothes, jewellery and invitation cards could be seen spilling from abandoned bags.

Eleven-year-old Abhay Srivastava was travelling to a wedding with his parents and two sisters. He is the only member of his family who survived.

Whimpering in pain with multiple broken bones and stitches all over his body, Srivastava repeatedly called out for his mother.

"'Tell her I am calling'. This is all he has been saying since yesterday," his uncle Rajesh Kumar Srivastava told AFP.

"How can I tell the child that everything that was his is lost," he added.

A fracture in the track is thought to have caused the train to derail at around 3 am (2130 GMT Saturday), and Railways minister Suresh Prabhu has promised a thorough investigation.

"Forensic enquiry has been ordered to look into all possible angles. Guilty will be given strictest possible punishment," he said, addressing a rowdy crowd of lawmakers in the lower house of parliament on Monday.

India's railway network, one of the world's largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.

A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India's railways and described the loss of life as an annual "massacre".

The government has signed numerous deals with private companies to upgrade the ageing rail network.

Last year Japan agreed to provide $12 billion in soft loans to build India's first bullet train, though plans remain in their infancy.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's chief of police warned on Monday that demonstrators may try to storm parliament to protest against the Christian governor of the capital Jakarta, who, they say, insulted the Koran. Police used tear gas and water cannon on Nov. 4 to disperse more than 100,000 protesters demanding that the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, resign. He has denied blasphemy but nevertheless apologized for his comments. Purnama is standing for re-election in February and will compete with two Muslims for the job - a powerful position that was a stepping stone for Joko Widodo to the presidency in 2014. According to local media, police chief Tito Karnavian and military chief Gatot Nurmantyo, said on Monday: "There are hidden methods by certain groups to enter and occupy parliament... If (actions) are intended to overthrow the government, that's a violation of the law." Karnavian did not elaborate on the identity of these groups and could not immediately be reached for comment. Police last week widened an investigation into the comments made by Purnama, the first Christian and ethnic Chinese politician to hold the position.The blasphemy complaint was brought against him by Muslim groups, and prosecutors are expected to bring a case to court in the coming weeks. Purnama could face up to five years in prison if found guilty. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim majority nation and is also home to sizeable Christian and Hindu populations. Many Muslims have been protesting for weeks against Purnama and Widodo, who is seen as one of his major supporters. Karnavian called on all sides to respect the legal process. Moderate Muslim groups have echoed this sentiment, but some conservative groups have pushed for police to detain Purnama. Authorities are expecting anti-Purnama rallies to be held on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. It is unclear how many protesters will attend. (Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Louise Ireland)
The walls of the waiting area in the West Los Angeles headquarters of Breitbart News Network are decorated with three TV screens, one each for Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. On the coffee table is a Ronald Reagan picture book and Donald Trump coloring book, where the president-elect is portrayed as various superheroes and historical figures.

For security reasons, the front door remains locked, and there is no signage indicating that this nondescript location is in fact ground zero of a media movement that helped elect one of the most polarizing presidential candidates in memory. Breitbart, in fact, not only promoted Trump on its popular news and opinion site but also loaned its executive chairman, Steve Bannon, to Trump, first to run his campaign and now as his chief counselor.

On Nov. 17, a dozen writers huddle in a room mostly made of glass - their "hashtag war room" - a nod to founder Andrew Breitbart who, before his death in 2012, declared war on the "Democratic-Media Complex." The mostly 30-something staffers are remarkably jovial, considering the Democrats' descriptions of the staff as hateful bigots who threaten the very fabric of the nation (the group fancies itself as America-loving patriots). Most of them, in fact, can tell stories of cousins, friends, long-lost school mates - even Uber drivers - who've launched unprompted attacks on their character. They are unable to fathom how anyone could work for Breitbart or Bannon and not be a racist, homophobe or anti-Semite.

"It's a complete smear campaign from the mainstream media to undermine our influence and undermine the power Bannon has now," says Breitbart News CEO Larry Solov. "It didn't work against Trump, and it won't work against us. This is a political war, and it can get ugly." The Southern Poverty Law Center is accusing the site of publishing stories that "demonized immigrants" and also is collecting 360,000 signatures on a petition telling Trump to fire Bannon.

"This is all the left has - they call us names," says editor-in-chief Alex Marlow, who denies claims of racism and defends provocative headlines like "Political Correctness Protects Muslim Rape Culture." "They do this every election. The vitriol against George W. Bush was nearly as bad. It's always, 'You're a racist, sexist, bigot.' That's easier than debating ideas," says Marlow.

Read more: Ringside With Steve Bannon at Trump Tower as the President-Elect's Strategist Plots "An Entirely New Political Movement" (Exclusive)

Solov, an attorney, claims to be considering a lawsuit against a major media company that has been advancing the notion that Breitbart is "promoting white nationalism." (CNN and MSNBC are among those who've insinuated that.) But it's the bit about him running a company that's anti-Semitic that really galls him, given he is Jewish, as was Breitbart, and the two formulated the concept of their media company while on a trip to Jerusalem in 2007, swearing that their coverage "would be unapologetically pro-freedom and pro-Israel."

But defending Breitbart from charges of bigotry - while also convincing readers it is more than a mouthpiece for Trump - is only the first step in a broader plan to extend Breitbart's reach and take advantage of a surge in popularity (comScore says unique visitors to Breitbart.com more than doubled in two years to 15.8 million in September).

Solov says he will open bureaus in Germany and France in the next few months, as well as expand its existing offices in Jerusalem, Texas, London and Washington. Breitbart is adding to its staff of 115 worldwide, and insiders say there are talks to expand its Breitbart Daily show on Sirius XM into an entire channel on the satellite radio platform. Plus, Solov says he wants to "take the next step into video and television" with a channel streamed online or via traditional cable.

"Breitbart is to the Trump campaign as Area 51 is to the Air Force - a mysterious site for weapons testing," says John Pitney, a professor of American politics at Claremont McKenna College. "In his policies, Trump may have to bow to the realities of politics and arithmetic. If so, he will need a voice on the right to defend his reversals and compromises. Breitbart could play that role."

Solov acknowledges coverage of Trump is likely to be positive, but only as long as he remains true to the values that got him elected, primarily cracking down on illegal immigration, striking fair-trade deals and repealing Obamacare, which are the three issues that resonate most with Breitbart's readers, according to Marlow.

Bannon is on a leave of absence from Breitbart while working for Trump, but Solov acknowledges that access to the White House makes Breitbart "uniquely positioned for best-of-class coverage. We're used to being the opposition press. The Obama administration never blew us any kisses, that's for sure, and for good reason."

Three days after Trump beat Hillary Clinton, Breitbart senior editor at large Joel Pollak placed flowers on Andrew Breitbart's grave at Hillside Memorial Park, a Jewish cemetery in Culver City. "Not to celebrate Trump's victory, but because Andrew succeeded in leveling the playing field," Pollak says. "That's all he ever wanted. Just a fair and open debate where people aren't judged on evil motives impugned to them."

Pollak is an orthodox Jew who wears a yarmulke to work everyday, and says he and the others who share his faith (including five staffers in Jerusalem) are actually "energized" by what he says are theaccusations that Breitbart is anti-Semitic.

That charge, covered in depth for several days, stems mostly from a single headline on an opinion piece by David Horowitz that reads, "Bill Kristol: Republican Spoiler, Renegade Jew." The progressive watchdog group Media Matters for America has been pushing the headline to sympathetic reporters nationwide.

Read more: Protesters Call on Donald Trump to Dump Steve Bannon

"Why does he have to say Bill Kristol is a Jew? What does that have to do with anything," said Joy Behar during a discussion of Bannon and Breitbart on the Nov. 15 episode of ABC's The View. "This is what fascism looks like and it scares the hell out of me."

"They're unprincipled pricks," Horowitz tells The Hollywood Reporter, "and in the case of Joy Behar, blithering idiots. Behar attacks Bannon and me without having read the article or understanding why I called Kristol a 'renegade Jew.'  Calling defenders of Israel like Bannon and myself Nazis is beyond idiotic."

Like many at Breitbart, Pollak has several anecdotes about what it's like working for a media outlet under siege, like when he covered an anti-Bannon protest at City Hall in Los Angeles on Nov. 16 and required a police escort after some of the demonstrators recognized him from TV appearances.

Before one recent appearance, his Uber driver, completely unaware of who Pollak was, launched into a tirade about evil Breitbart and Bannon. "Here I am headed to NBC studios to answer the very charges she's making and I can't tell her who I am because she's already driving erratically. Complete strangers suddenly think I'm the worst person in the world," he says.

Marlow, meanwhile, has been dealing with fallout from a BuzzFeed story about his high school alma mater, Harvard-Westlake School, where former students have been debating whether the school should distance itself from its 2004 graduate. When Marlow's wife defended her husband and Bannon, BuzzFeed posted a photo of her.

"You have to have thick skin to do what I do, but things got really creepy when BuzzFeed cherry-picked stuff to imply I may or may not be a Nazi," he says. "To bring my wife into it shows how disgusting the dialog around Breitbart has become. It's a new low. Privately, some people have been supportive, but publicly they don't want to be in the crosshairs of the mainstream media."

During Pollak's post-election visit to Andrew Breitbart's grave, he says he was thinking of the title of his memoir published just prior to his death, Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World.

"I think Andrew saved the world," says Pollak. "It may not look like it now because everyone's running around like crazy people accusing people of stuff, but this election will remind Democrats that there should be checks and balances on the presidency."

***

TIMELINE: THE RISE OF BREITBART

1995: Matt Drudge launches the Drudge Report and later makes Andrew Breitbart the site's first employee.

2004: Breitbart meets Steve Bannon as the latter makes and markets a Ronald Reagan documentary he's producing.

2005: Breitbart launches news aggregator Breitbart.com.

2007: With best friend and attorney Larry Solov, Andrew Breitbart founds Breitbart News Network.

May 28, 2011: Breitbart News reports that Rep. Anthony Weiner sexted with a 21-year-old woman. Weiner resigns June 21.

July 2011: Bannon premieres his Sarah Palin documentary, The Undefeated, in Pella, Iowa, and taps Andrew Breitbart to introduce the former vp candidate to the crowd.

March 1, 2012: Andrew Breitbart dies of heart failure at age 43. Bannon is named executive chairman of Breitbart News, and Solov is named CEO.

June 16, 2015: Donald Trump formally announces his bid for the presidency. Coverage of his campaign over the ensuing months is noticeably positive at Breitbart News.

March 10, 2016: Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields accuses Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of manhandling her. Breitbart News appears to side with Lewandowski, and Fields resigns three days later.

April: Breitbart News is linked to the "alt-right" for the first time via an article from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Aug. 17: Trump names Bannon CEO of his presidential campaign.

Nov. 13: President-elect Trump names Bannon his chief strategist and senior counselor.

A version of this story first appeared in the Dec. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
When Pandora Media (ticker: P) sought seed money from venture capitalists in its early stages, Tim Westergren, a record producer and composer, met with firm Garage Technology Ventures, a Los Altos, California, venture capital firm. Although music wasn't the firm expertise, Pandora was unique enough to command attention.

Instead of pirating music or fighting the music industry, Westergren "had a pathway to being a friend of the music industry," says Bill Reichert, managing director of Garage Technology Ventures.

Pandora worked with musicians to catalogue music types, and then applied a mathematical algorithm to match the taste of people who streamed music online. It used the algorithm to offer new and similar artists to the listener, and gave the option to buy the songs.

[See: High-Tech Investing: 7 Sectors to Watch.]

Generally, when investors give seed money to start-up tech companies, they are locking up their money for a long time. It wasn't obvious Pandora, then known as Savage Beast Technologies, would make millions of dollars for investors. Still, the firm cut Pandora a check in 2000.

"What we look for, since we are a seed and early-stage investor, are companies that have a novel technology that is not easily replicated that gives them a sustainable competitive advantage for some extended period of time," Reichert says.

More than a decade later, the shares that the firm bought for less than $1 soared to $16 in an initial public offering. Pandora stock is now more than $11 and has a valuation of nearly $2.6 billion.

"Pandora was an 11-year overnight success," Reichert says with a laugh.

Tech investment methods vary. Old-school tech investors seed a few companies with cash and then watch them like a generous uncle. As the companies develop, if they are a promising technology, the investment firms often offer more money, Reichert says. The hope is that they will become successful or be bought for a healthy profit by a larger company.

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"You don't make your entire bet at the beginning. This is a misunderstanding that a lot of new angel investors have which gets them into trouble," Reichert says. "A lot of angel investors think it's about putting a little bit of money in at the beginning at a low price and then riding it out into the wind. Generally, if you don't have the ability to do follow-up investments, there's a good chance you're going to get into trouble. Because a lot of companies go through bumps along the way and you need to be able to protect your position by investing more."

So-called new-school investors sprinkle money like fairy dust over a large number of firms, hoping a few will succeed or become a unicorn (a tech company that will eventually be valued at $1 billion or more).

The newer investment style might now be creating a "mini-bubble in the seed stage of venture capital, and has caused some of us old school guys to be anxious that start-up companies are getting overpriced," Reichert says.

Startups often fail, and the majority can't raise enough money to keep going, Reichert says, but Garage, which includes rounds of investment funds from both institutional and angel investors, has seen success when it invested in Voke VR (3D live virtual reality), which was recently bought by Intel; LeftHand Networks (data storage), bought by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. ( HPE) and Coremetrics (data monitoring), bought by International Business Machines ( IBM).

"If they're a new investor, my recommendation is that they should always join an angel group and work with other seasoned experienced investors and take advantage of the leverage you get working with a group," he says.

[See: The 9 Best Investors of All Time.]

Here are some companies in Silicon Valley and Asia attracting investor attention:

Knightscope. A California tech company with robotic security guards that can patrol, read license plates in parking lots to find out if any are stolen or suspicious vehicles, listen, navigate and provide alerts with 360-degree HD video and thermal imaging. The K5 robots patrol in pairs and sound an ear-piercing alarm if attacked, says Reichert, whose firm has invested in the company. The company says it is "exploring a mini IPO" and has already raised $14 million.

Findo. This firm solves the search problem with computers by using natural human language, which means you no longer need to remember the name or keyword of your file. For example, when Reichert (whose firm has invested in the tech startup) was searching for the name of a person he met a conference, he simply typed, "what was the name of the guy I met at the IBM conference who works with founders?" California-based Findo found an email associated with the conference with the man's name.

Quikr. Launched in 2008, the Indian classifieds company offers a web and mobile based platform that allows users to sell, buy, rent or find things ranging from laptops and mobile phones to cars, real estate and jobs. "The online classifieds markets globally are rapidly consolidating into a limited number of winners, we have seen this play out in China with GanJi and 58.com and believe Quikr is going to be the winner in India," says Upal Basu, a partner in Nokia Growth Partners. The company has gone from an online industry leader to lead across online and mobile media within a short span of time.

Garena. Founded in Singapore, Garena is a social gaming platform with popular global titles ("FIFA," "League of Legends") with "millions of highly engaged users. (They) are able to leverage their user base into other verticals including classified listings, online payments, communication and has the potential for even more initiatives," says Eli Schwartz, the director of international marketing at SurveyMonkey, who served as a mentor in incubators in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.

GoJek. This Indonesia company combines motorbike booking with Stubhub, TaskRabbit, Instacart "and anything else that has been migrated to a sharing economy," Schwartz says.

[Read: How to Buy Security Technology Stocks.]

Toutiao. This hot news aggregation app by Beijing Bytedance Technology Co. has more than 450 million registered users with more than 45 million daily active users. Toutiao is considering raising about $1 billion in its latest round, The Wall Street Journal says.

Christine Giordano is a freelance business journalist with a passion to help consumers make educated decisions. Also a columnist for Newsday, you can follow her on Twitter @chrisgiordano.
By Lisa Baertlein (Reuters) - Forty-five large investors collectively managing $1.2 trillion in assets are pressing some of the nation's largest meat producers to set policies for reducing water pollution in their feeding, slaughtering and processing operations. The investors, who are members of sustainability non-profit advocate Ceres and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), sent letters to Cargill Inc [CARG.UL], JBS, Perdue Farms and Smithfield Foods [SFII.UL]. In those letters, they asked the companies to assess the pollution impacts of their direct operations and supply chains to develop comprehensive plans for protecting waterways, safely storing and managing animal waste and minimizing fertilizer runoff from feed production. "We believe that robust management of water quality challenges is a critical aspect of risk management in the meat industry, and one of increasing importance in the context of climate change and growing weather extremes," the investors wrote. "Broad mismanagement of local water resources can lead to devastating regulatory, reputational, and litigation risks, weakening a company's ability to operate profitably," said Kristel Verhoef, active ownership specialist at ACTIAM, which has 56 billion euros under management. The campaign lands a month after Hurricane Matthew flooded manure lagoons and left behind millions of drowned hog, chicken and turkey carcasses, raising water contamination risks in the U.S. southeast. Ceres last year released a report ranking major food companies on water risk. Several meat companies, including Tyson Foods Inc and JBS, were identified among the worst performers. "With climate change, business-as-usual management of the more than 300 million tons of manure produced annually by the U.S. livestock industry is no longer feasible," said Brooke Barton, senior program director of Ceres' Water and Food Programs. Cargill in a statement said it is working with customers, competitors, suppliers and conservation groups to improve water stewardship across supply chains in North America and beyond. "Water is critical to supporting the agricultural economy, and we are committed to advancing sustainable solutions," Cargill said. Perdue said it strives to operate at or better-than compliance levels, and to move quickly to address issues. "Environmental stewardship is part of our company values and a factor in our incentive programs," Perdue spokesman Joe Forsthoffer said. JBS and Tyson officials were not immediately available for comment. Smithfield, which the Ceres report ranked as No. 1 among meat producers for water management, said it uses "cutting-edge science to handle manure responsibility" as part of ongoing efforts to address water pollution risks across its operations. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles)
By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Donald Trump's victory and the war on Islamic State have given Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps what it sees as a unique opportunity to claw back economic and political power it had lost. Sidelined after a nuclear deal was reached with Iranian reformist leaders and the administration of President Barack Obama and major nations, the IRGC is determined to regain its position in Shi'ite Iran's complex governing structure. Republican Trump said in the campaign that he would abandon the 2015 deal that curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. His tough stance, in contrast to Obama's olive branch, is expected to empower hard-liners who would benefit from an economy that excludes foreign competition. In addition, the Quds force, that conducts IRGC policies overseas, has played a successful and key role on the battlefields of Iraq increasing the Guards' kudos at home. "Trump and the Islamic State militants were gifts from God to the IRGC," said a senior official within the Iranian government, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity like other figures contacted within Iran. "If Trump adopts a hostile policy towards Iran or scraps the deal, hard-liners and particularly the IRGC will benefit from it," a former reformist official said. Elected in a landslide in 2013 on a promise to end Iran's diplomatic and economic isolation, pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani has struggled to reconnect Iran's economy to world markets and to attract foreign investment. Uncertainty over the nuclear deal, unilateral U.S. sanctions, political infighting in Iran alongside complex regulations, labor issues and corruption have hampered a post-sanctions economic revival causing concern to Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who blames the government. SANCTIONS BENEFITED IRGC Deeply loyal to Khamenei, the IRGC was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution. The IRGC first secured a foothold in the economy after the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War when the clerical establishment allowed them to invest in leading Iranian industries. Involved in a wide range of businesses, from energy and tourism to car production, telecoms and construction, the IRGC's empire grew by taking billions of dollars in projects vacated by Western oil companies because of sanctions imposed to curb the nation's nuclear ambitions. Trying to limit IRGC influence, Rouhani's government stalled or canceled some major projects with the IRGC, including a $1.3 billion deal with National Iranian Gas Co. in March 2014. Under the nuclear deal, international sanctions were lifted in January opening up the Iranian economy, thereby threatening the IRGC power base. Now the Guards see an opportunity to lever back their position in the Iranian hierarchy. "The IRGC will use Trump's win to convince the clerical rulers to give them more political and economic backing. This is what they have been hoping for since the deal was reached," said the senior government official, who declined to be identified. "If Trump's presidency scares away foreign investors from Iran, then it is the IRGC that will regain its economic power," said a former reformist official close to Rouhani. "More economic involvement of the IRGC means a riskier market for foreign investors. It will hinder Rouhani's planned economic growth and will give more political power to the IRGC and their hard-line backers," the reformist official added. GUARD AGAINST UNCERTAINTY Senior members of the IRGC and its front companies remain under unilateral U.S. sanctions for what Washington said was supporting "acts of terrorism". Anxious about losing economic power, the IRGC accused Rouhani of favoring foreign firms rather than domestic ones, demanding a bigger role in the economy and calling for implementation of Khamenei's vision for a self-reliant Iran. "The IRGC-linked companies cannot compete with the foreign firms. Therefore, they will want a limited presence for foreign firms in Iran," said Tehran-based trader Mohammad Ali, adding: "Money means power." Foreign companies need an Iranian partner to do business in Iran, which for big projects often means firms controlled by the IRGC. Most of IRGC front companies are not formally owned by the Corps, but by individuals and firms linked to it. The IRGC remains opaque to outsiders. "The Guards have different layers. The roots of the IRGC are seasoned and senior commanders who idolise the supreme leader and are ready to sacrifice their lives for pillars of the revolution and have influence in political and overseas activities of Sepah (IRGC)," a retired IRGC commander told Reuters, declining to be named. "Also there is another layer and not at the top that have been involved in business activities. They gained more economic power under former president (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad." The future of the nuclear deal will have a direct bearing on IRGC military, political and economic ambitions and it is unclear if Trump will carry out his threat to abandon it. During the campaign, Trump dismissed the deal as "one of the worst deals I've ever seen negotiated". But Trump has in the past made contradictory statements so foreign governments are unsure how much of his rhetoric will be translated into policy. Middle East political analysts expected the powerful clerical establishment's political backing of the IRGC to harden in reaction to the uncertainty concerning a Trump presidency. THE SUNNI CRESCENT "The IRGC will gain more power at least until the dust settles after Trump's win ... the atmosphere in Iran will be militarized because of more power that will be provided to the IRGC," political analyst Hamid Farahvashian said. "Uncertainty over Trump's Iran and regional policies, Iran's presidential election in May and economic hardship that might lead to street protests will force the establishment to give more power to the IRGC." It was the IRGC that suppressed student protests in 1999 and also silenced pro-reform protests that followed Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. Analysts and officials say Tehran's Shi'ite Muslim clerical rulers are adamant that the IRGC is the key to help preventing the emergence of a so-called "Sunni crescent" of power from the chaos of the Middle East conflicts. In rivalry with Sunni Saudi Arabia, Iran has fought decades of sectarian proxy war in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and other regional countries. Quds force commanders have been active recently on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq. "The IRGC will adopt a more aggressive and tougher approach in the coming months," the former reformist official said. Western governments and Israel accuse the Quds Force of arming various militant groups in the Middle East. "The Corps are in charge of preserving Iran's national security and its overseas activities. So, having a threat like Daesh (IS) at our borders and the regional crisis make the Guards essential for Iran," a senior Iranian security official said, on condition of anonymity. "No matter who is the president in America or elsewhere, we will support our allies and our Guards will do that." (Writing by Parisa Hafezi, editing by Peter Millership)
Tal Afar airbase (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi militia fighters peered from a front line position at Tal Afar, a town still held by jihadists, as sniper bullets rang overhead and mortar rounds crashed nearby.

After storming a former airbase, they have pushed forward to around four kilometres from the strategic town, 55 kilometres (35 miles) west along the road running from the Islamic State group's bastion of Mosul to territory under its control in Syria.

"God willing, we are going to advance forward!" field commander Abu Hanan al-Kanaani said. "The enemy knows us, nothing will stop us and we are coming to liberate, to let the people live in freedom and safety."

The push by the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces -- a paramilitary umbrella group dominated by Tehran-backed Shiite militias and nominally under the Iraqi prime minister's command -- is part of the broader offensive to retake Mosul, IS's last major hub in Iraq.

But while the forces' thrust should be a vital move to cut off IS escape routes, its involvement around Sunni-majority Mosul and its targeting of Tal Afar have proved deeply divisive.

Alleged executions and abuses carried out by Hashed fighters in territory taken from IS elsewhere have stoked local fears and, given its close ties to Iran, its advance has sparked warnings of a possible intervention from Tehran's regional rival Turkey.

On the battlefield, however, the group is bullish after recapturing what was once a major Iraqi military facility that IS fighters seized as they swept through the country in 2014.

On Sunday, the paramilitary group drove a group of Western journalists six hours on a press trip through the desert to showcase the capture of the airbase.

"Daesh sent several car bombs at us but when they saw we would not back off, they fled," representative Mohammed al-Barghuthi told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "It took us about an hour to capture."

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- Regional game -

Now the group has Tal Afar firmly in its sights and is waiting for orders to move.

"We are waiting to tighten our grip around the city and trying to secure a route for the civilians to leave," said Abu Mohamed al-Ettabi, a senior commander on the Tal Afar front.

The likely capture of Tal Afar -- a mainly Turkmen city -- by the Popular Mobilisation has drawn the ire of the president of Sunni neighbour Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He cautioned that Ankara -- which has some hundreds of soldiers based at Bashiqa, north of Mosul, and more along the borders -- would "not look favourably" on an attack by Shiite militias on the town.

Ettabi said the plan was for local units from the area fighting under the banner of the Popular Mobilisation force to try to move into the city.

"But if they cannot make it, then we are going to intervene," he said.

He dismissed the potential threat of Turkish military action if the militias take the town.

"Turkey is not Iraq -- they can't impose what they want on us," the senior commander said. "Iraq will decide what it wants and no one can interfere."

The role played by the Hashed remains a potential flashpoint and the group -- which includes US terror-listed organisations -- is not receiving air support from the US-led coalition fighting IS.

But Ettabi angrily lashed out at suggestions the group was part of a plan by Iran to carve out a corridor of control to neighbouring Syria, where it is fighting to prop up President Bashar al-Assad.

"Let's stay far away from these political plots and focus on the issue that our population has been attacked," he said.
By Tom Bergin

LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) said on Monday it was trying to ascertain if Yahoo! Inc's decision to scan clients' email accounts at the behest of the U.S. authorities last year broke European law.

Sources have told Reuters that Yahoo used a software programme to sift through millions of emails for specific information related to national security.

At the time last month, the DPC said it was seeking more information from Yahoo. Now it has begun actively investigating the case, it said on Monday.

"We are in regular contact with Yahoo! EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in clarifying certain facts of this case and will then proceed to take appropriate next steps," a DPC spokeswoman said in a statement.

Yahoo did not respond to a request for comment.

Last month, it declined to confirm whether Europeans' emails were intercepted as part of the programme. Yahoo said it complied with the laws of the United States.

Lawyers said mass surveillance of EU citizens email would be against incoming European Union data rules.

The DPC, the lead European regulator on privacy issues for Yahoo because its European headquarters are in Dublin, is trying to ascertain what exactly Yahoo did and whether it breached the privacy rules that prevailed last year.

"We are receiving active and engaged responses to our queries," the spokeswoman said.

Analysts said the email scanning could prompt Verizon Communications to rethink the terms of a planned $4.8 billion takeover of Yahoo.

(Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by David Clarke)
(LONDON) Irish novelist and playwright William Trevor, a master of short stories that often explored lifes disappointments, has died at the age of 88 in his adopted English home, his publisher announced Monday.

Trevor set his tales mainly in his native Ireland or in England, where he had lived since graduating from Trinity College Dublin in 1952. He won one of Britains top literary prizes, the Whitbread, three times; was short-listed four times for the Booker Prize, most recently in 2002 for The Story of Lucy Gault; and was a perennial object of speculation as a potential Nobel literature laureate.

But Trevor studiously avoided the spotlight, even in his own works, where his voice melted away into the inner worlds of his often scarred, socially isolated protagonists.

My fiction may, now and again, illuminate aspects of the human condition, but I do not consciously set out to do so, Trevor told one interviewer. I am a storyteller.

Graham Greene praised Trevors 1973 collection Angels at the Ritz as the best set of short stories since Dubliners, James Joyces 1914 collection. While preferring the short story form, Trevor also was a novelist, playwright and TV dramatist.

He told The Guardian newspaper in 2009 that he considered short stories the best vehicle for studying character.

You can take a relationship and almost photograph it. And there it is, he said.

Often that relationship can get lost in the bigger shape of the novel. I like to isolate it and really look at the characters.

Born William Trevor Cox on May 24, 1928, in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Trevors themes often seemed to reflect the difficulties of his early years, growing up with parents stuck in an unhappy marriage.

It wasnt so much that they quarreled; I never heard my father shouting or anything like that. They just simply didnt get on. There was no respect, nothing, he told The Guardian.

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Ive always thought that something actually happened, the way that quite often in a marriage or a relationship something happens, and nobody knows because its kept away from the rest of the world, because theres shame or something. Theres a big question mark.

His family was Protestant in a newly independent nation dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, a minority regarded as strangers and visitors as he put it in the short story The News From Ireland.

Trevors own marriage to his Trinity College sweetheart Jane Ryan in 1952 was happy and endured, but the gloominess of his childhood stuck to him. His characters tended not to triumph over their problems.

If you take away the sadness from life itself, he told The Guardian, then you are taking away a big and a good thing, because to be sad is rather like to be guilty. They both have a very bad press, but in point of fact, guilt is not as terrible a position as it is made out to be. People should feel guilty sometimes. Ive written a lot about guilt. I think that it can be something that really renews people.

Irelands depressed economy drove Trevor to move to England in 1952, where initially he taught art and produced sculptures. His first novel published in 1958, A Standard of Behaviour, won little attention and was later disowned by the author.

Moving to London in 1960 to work in an advertising agency gave him enough free time to produce a second novel, The Old Boys, which won the Hawthornden Prize, honoring the best work of imaginative literature. He adapted the play for television and the stage, a success that inspired him to move his family to rural Devon in southwest England.

Trevor flourished in the theater and television, and in 1973 he had three plays staged in London.

He produced all of his stories on blue paper  a habit from his ad agency days  on a manual typewriter, followed by much revision.

Its like cutting a film, he said in a BBC interview.

Daniel Murtagh, reviewing Trevors short story collection The Hill Bachelors in Commonweal magazine, said the editing paid off.

One can open this book, pick a paragraph at random, and imagine dozens of ways Trevor could have written it less effectively and did not, ways he could have added, or failed to excise, a word or phrase that would have made it easier, more explicit, but less focused in its power to disturb or to force recognition, Murtagh wrote.

Trevor won many honors, including the Benson Medal of the Royal Society of Literature for Angels at the Ritz and Other Stories; the Allied Irish Bank Prize for literature and the Heinemann Award for fiction in 1976; and the Whitbread Prize three times: in 1978 for The Children of Dynmouth, in 1983 for Fools of Fortune and in 1994 for Felicias Journey. The latter was made into a 1999 film starring Bob Hoskins.

Although he remained an Irish citizen, he won three honorary titles in Britain: Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, Companion of Literature in 1994 and a knighthood in 2002.

He is survived by his wife and two sons. Funeral arrangements were not announced.
As many as 292 suspects will be tried in an Egyptian military court over charges that include assassination attempts on President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, 2014 bombings in North and South Sinai and plans to kill the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. The suspects are alleged members of Sinai State, the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.

Suspected Islamist militants twice plotted to assassinate Sisi, according to reports Sunday. The alleged terrorists first attempted to assassinate the Egyptian president in 2014 when he was on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to state-run Middle East News Agency. The second attempt was plotted by a seven-member terrorist unit that planned to target Sisis convoy when it travelled to Cairo, the report added without mentioning the year. The unit reportedly comprised of six former police officers and a dentist.

Authorities did not say how they foiled the assassination plans, but said 66 suspects confessed during a year-long investigation.

According to the authorities, the former police officers involved were part of a bearded police officers group that came up in 2012. Its members grew their beards as per their interpretation of Islamic teachings, but Egypts interior ministry called it a violation of police and military codes, and reportedly sent the officers to its reserve forces.

The suspects also planned to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the Gulf kingdom, as well as five Egyptian judges, Agence France-Presse reported citing a prosecution official.

All suspects supported jihadist ideology and perceived state officials and members of the army, police and the judiciary are infidels.

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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to boost trade and investment with Argentina during a state visit Monday to the country with Latin America's third-biggest economy.

Argentina currently lags behind its neighbors Brazil and Chile in doing business with the Asian giant, but Japan says it wants to boost economic ties a year after a new conservative government took power in Buenos Aires.

"We have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties," Abe told reporters after meeting with Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the presidential palace.

"We hope to promote political and economic links and the exchange of people."

The two signed bilateral deals but gave no details of them during a brief appearance to the media.

Macri said he hoped for a "strategic alliance" between the two countries.

It was the first visit to Buenos Aires by a Japanese prime minister in 57 years. The last was by Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, in 1959.

Japan's ambassador in Buenos Aires, Noriteru Fukushima, said in July that Japan wanted to multiply investment in Argentina over three years to as much as $3.0 billion a year from its current level of $100 million.

Japanese carmakers such as Honda, Toyota and Nissan are already key players in Argentina's auto industry.

Toyota, for example, is looking to expand there, said Belisario de Azevedo, an economist at Argentine consultancy Abeceb, ahead of the visit.

Japan has trading agreements with Brazil, Mexico and Chile, but not with Argentina.

Japanese exports to Argentina were worth about $1.2 billion in 2015, according to the Argentine state statistics institute.

That was twice the amount that Argentina exported to Japan.

Macri has been working to boost Argentina's trade ties since he took office a year ago after 12 years of protectionist policies under his leftist predecessors.

French President Francois Hollande, his US counterpart Barack Obama, Italian leader Mateo Renzi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have each traveled to Buenos Aires this year.
LIMA (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday that he aims to improve ties with China by capitalizing on key anniversaries for bilateral relations in the next few years, a Japanese government spokesman said. The two leaders held impromptu talks while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima. Abe told Xi he would like to seek comprehensive improvement of ties with eyes on the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year and the 40th anniversary of the Japan-China peace and friendship treaty in 2018, the spokesman said. China's Foreign Ministry said the brief talks happened at the request of the Japanese side. "President Xi Jinping stated clearly China's principled position on developing Sino-Japan relations," the ministry said, without elaborating. Ties between China and Japan, the world's second- and third-largest economies, have long been strained by a territorial dispute. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Alan Crosby and Sandra Maler)
Nov 22 (Reuters) - Japanese and Russian state-backed lenders will create a fund to jointly invest in Moscow's "priority development projects", as the two countries look to promote business and diplomatic ties, the Nikkei reported.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Russian Direct Investment Fund will form an about 100 billion yen ($901 million) fund, and each will contribute roughly half of the total amount to launch the development projects in 2017, the report said.

The fund will invest in projects in fields of medicine, urban development and involve upgrades to manufacturing facilities, the Japanese daily reported.

JBIC will form a venture with Russia's Far East Investment and Export Agency and the Far East and Baikal Region Development Fund to encourage investment in a special economic zone, the report said.

JBIC will also extend a new line of credit worth around 30 billion yen to Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, subject to Western sanctions, the Nikkei reported.

Progress on the economic side hinges on making headway on disputed islands off Hokkaido, Reuters reported earlier this month.

"The territorial issue and economic cooperation are two sides of a coin," a Japanese government official had told Reuters. "It's meaningless if only economic cooperation moves ahead." ($1 = 111 yen) (Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
* Oct exports -10.3 pct yr/yr vs forecast -8.6 pct * Imports -16.5 pct yr/yr vs forecast -16.3 pct * Trade balance 496.2 bln yen vs forecast 615.4 bln yen * Strong yen, lower export volume weigh on trade (Adds details, analyst quotes) By Minami Funakoshi TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Japan's exports fell in October for a 13th consecutive month and by more than expected as the strength of the yen and sluggish foreign demand weighed on trade, although current yen weakness could change the outlook.

Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Monday that exports fell 10.3 percent in the year to October, pulled down by a strong rise in the value of the yen and lower export volumes, much weaker than the expected 8.6 percent drop and September's 6.9 percent decline.

The trade results came on the heels of recent data showing Japan's economy expanded for a third quarter in July-September as exports recovered and imports fell.

Exports dipped 1.4 percent in volume terms in the year to October, falling for the first time in three months and following a 4.7 percent gain in the previous month.

"Overall exports are starting to stall and this month's results are disappointing," said Yuichi Kodama, chief economist at Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.

"The data once again shows that global economic recovery isn't necessarily smooth sailing," said Kodama, adding that overall economic growth in October-December may stall.

But Marcel Thieliant, senior Japan economist at Capital Economics, took a different view saying that the dramatic fall in the value of the yen since Donald Trump's election to U.S. president could help turn around Japan's export performance.

"Looking ahead...we expect it (the yen) to decline further next year, which should lift trade values.

"We also expect growth among Japan's main trading partners to pick up marginally, and have pencilled in a 1.5 percent rebound in export volumes next year," Thieliant said in a commentary after the trade figures were posted.

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Imports in October fell 16.5 percent versus the median estimate of a 16.3 percent fall. The trade balance came to a surplus of 496.2 billion yen ($4.47 billion), versus the median estimate for a 615.4 billion yen surplus.

The value of exports to China fell 9.2 percent in October from a year earlier, for the eighth straight month, as shipments of communication devices fell.

Shipments to Asia, which account for more than half of Japanese exports, fell 9.9 percent, marking a 14th month of declines. U.S.-bound exports decreased 11.2 percent, posting an eighth falling month.

However, a private business survey showed that Japanese manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in nine months in October as output and new export orders picked up.

(Reporting by Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Eric Meijer)
JUBA (Reuters) - A contingent of Japanese troops landed in South Sudan on Monday, an official said - a mission that critics say could see them embroiled in their country's first overseas fighting since World War Two. The soldiers will join U.N. peacekeepers and help build infrastructure in the landlocked and impoverished country torn apart by years of civil war. But, under new powers granted by their government last year, they will be allowed to respond to urgent calls for help from U.N. staff and aid workers. There are also plans to let them guard U.N. bases, which have been attacked during the fighting. The deployment of 350 soldiers is in line with Japanese security legislation to expand the military's role overseas. Critics in Japan have said the move risks pulling the troops into conflict for the first time in more than seven decades. Tsuyoshi Higuchi, from the military's information department, told Reuters in Juba that 67 troops arrived in the morning while another 63 were expected to land in the afternoon. The last of the 350 are expected to arrive on Dec. 15, he said. South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 - a development greeted at the time with mass celebrations in the oil-producing state. Aid agencies and world powers promised support. But fighting, largely along ethnic lines, erupted in 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked his longtime political rival Riek Machar from the post of vice president. A peace deal, agreed under intense international pressure and the threat of sanctions, brought Machar back to the capital Juba in April, but he fled after more clashes and the violence has continued. (Reporting by Denis Dumo; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Edmund Blair and Andrew Heavens)
- By James Li





Auxier Asset Management president Jeff Auxier (Trades, Portfolio) provides long-term capital appreciation to his shareholders through a "dedicated, diligent research effort" from his employees. The fund manager invests in companies that offer compelling value potential through several characteristics, including strong and consistent operating results, potential for high returns on invested capital and competent shareholder-oriented management. As of Sept. 30, Auxier has over 52% of the portfolio in consumer defensive (consumer staples) and health care companies. The manager took stakes in Celanese Corp. (CE), LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD) and Methanex Corp. (MEOX). Auxier also expanded his position in Biogen Inc. (BIIB) and Allergan PLC (AGN).





Celanese Corp.

Auxier purchased 30,375 shares of Celanese at an average price of $65.38. The company has a profitability rank of 7 despite modest financial strength. Although Celanese has a high Piotroski F-score of 7, suggesting a good business operation, the company has mild distress based on its Altman Z-score.

The Dallas-based chemical company reported solid third-quarter earnings, including record earnings per share of $1.83 based on generally accepted accounting principles. Management of Celanese praised the company's robust Materials Solutions and Acetyl Chain operating models and constant focus on productivity, both contributing to a $11 million increase in operating income from second quarter 2016. Additionally, the operating incomes increased $35 million from third-quarter 2015. Likely due to increasing operating incomes, Celanese's operating margin currently outperforms 61% of global chemical companies. The company also has above-average net margins and returns on equity.

Dodge & Cox and Pioneer Investments (Trades, Portfolio), who own the largest and third-largest stakes in Celanese Corp. respectively, both increased their position by over 7.2% during the latest quarter. The former owns 13,585,809 shares as of Sept. 30, representing about 9.49% of outstanding Celanese shares.

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Methanex Corp.

Auxier purchased 19,700 shares of Methanex, a chemical company that focuses on methanol products. The company averaged $29.48 during the third quarter.

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Methanex has a slightly weaker business outlook than does Celanese, with a financial strength rank of just 4 and a modest profitability rank of 6. The company has a moderate debt burden, with a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.15 and an Altman score of 1.61. The former is currently near a 10-year low and underperforms 82% of global chemical companies.

Despite poor financials, Methanex still reported strong earnings performance during the third quarter, including record sales of 2.476 tonnes. CEO John Floren further discussed the strong third-quarter performance and presented a positive fourth-quarter outlook as methanol prices improve. The company's management paid $25 million in dividends during the third quarter.

Methanex's stock price increased about 4.48% from its previous close of $37.95. Likely due to the promising fourth-quarter outlook, Auxier and three other gurus invested in Methanex. Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio) purchased 418,500 shares, the largest number of shares among the gurus.

LinkedIn

Auxier purchased 7,078 shares of LinkedIn at an average price of $191.68. The California-based professional networking company has satisfactory financial strength and profitability, both ranking 6 out of 10. The company has a strong Altman Z-score of 6.72 and a good Beneish M-score of -3.12, the latter suggesting minimal earnings manipulation.

As previously announced on June 11, LinkedIn definitively agreed to a merger with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), which will acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in a $26.2 billion transaction. LinkedIn's shareholders approved the merger on Aug. 19 and the company expects to close the merger by the end of 2016.

The company produced solid third-quarter results, including an 18% year over year increase in cumulative users and 20% year over year increase in profile page views. CEO Jeff Weiner praised the company platform's strong engagement, which contributed to a year over year total revenue growth of 23%. GAAP earnings per share increased 42 cents from third-quarter 2015.

Several gurus have increased their positions in LinkedIn, including Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) and Jeremy Grantham (Trades, Portfolio). The former increased his position over 155% while the latter increased his position 64.76%.

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Biogen and Allergan PLC

Auxier purchased 4,650 shares of Biogen and 5,700 shares of Allergan PLC, increasing his position in the two biotech companies 25.85% and 542.86%, respectively, from the previous quarter. Biogen's share price averaged $296.18 while Allergan's averaged $244.37.

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Both biotech companies have modest financial strength, but Biogen has a profitability rank of 9 and a five-star predictability rank. The Massachusetts-based biotechnology company currently has operating margins and returns on equity near a 10-year high, both outperforming over 96% of competitors. As discussed in the company's earnings report, total revenues and GAAP earnings per share increased 6% and 13%, respectively, from third-quarter 2015. Increased revenues in several of the company's products contributed to the increase in total revenues. CEO George Scangos highlighted the company's solid performance from its leading sclerosis business and several pipeline programs.

A previous article discussed Allergan's strong third quarter.

See also

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The premium plus membership gives further access, including backtesting for up to 10 years, the Manual of Stocks for all U.S. companies, and over 4000 institutional 13F and 13D filings. Please refer to the membership levels page for all member benefits. If you are not a member, we invite you to a free seven-day trial.

Disclosure: The author has no position in the stocks mentioned in this article.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Getty Image

Theres a near constant debate brewing between overzealous pet owners who consider their animals to be their children, and parents of actual real human babies who take endless umbrage with the insinuation that taking care of pets could possibly compare to their experience. Its no secret as to which side Jennifer Lawrence falls under, as the proud owner of a tiny brown mutt she has lovingly named Pippi Longstocking  who even has her own (unverified) Twitter account.

In a cover story Vanity Fair interview released today in which Lawrence discusses everything from her friendship with Emma Stone (they text each other every day) to working with Chris Pratt (who youll be shocked to learn is a morning person), the Passengers star talks about her relationship with her dog and takes pet parentage to a weird and wild new place.

Last Christmas, Lawrences mother commissioned a portrait of Pippi from a 14-year-old fan of Lawrences in New Zealand. At first, the actress hung the portrait in her Los Angeles home only when her mom visited before realizing, Fuck it. I am the person who has an acrylic painting of her dog, and proudly showcased it above her fireplace. I am a psychotic dog mom in a way that I am genuinely embarrassed about. If I could put her inside me and give birth to her I would. Because of this, Lawrence jokes that having actual children would be dangerous. My kids would be incredibly jealous because I would still be way more attentive to Pippi than I would to them.

On one hand, as someone who has a painting of my dog hanging on my wall (a gift commissioned from an Etsy artist) I cant judge too much. The whole putting my dog inside of me and giving birth to her thing might take a bit more convincing, though.

(Via Vanity Fair)
This is what Jennifer Lawrence has to say about her rumored boyfriend

Jennifer Lawrence isnt afraid to open up about pretty much everything. But shes remained fairly quiet about her most recent romance. The star of the upcoming sci-fi romance, Passengers, appeared on the December issue of Vanity Fair and sat down with the magazine for a life-chat. Although she didnt confirm her relationship with director Darren Aronofsky, Lawrence did say something about her alleged beau.

He is a visionary, Lawrence told Vanity Fair. She shot Mother in Montreal last summer, a home-invasion horror flick directed by Aronofsky.

After six years of blockbusters like @thehungergames, V.F. Holiday cover star Jennifer Lawrence is showing no signs of slowing down with next months @PassengersMovie. Link in bio for full story. Photograph by @therealpeterlindbergh. A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on Nov 21, 2016 at 5:04am PST

Vanity Fair made it clear that Lawrence is currently more focused on professional endeavors more so than romantic ones. She said all her friends are currently getting married and having kids. As fun as the weddings are, Lawrence is exhausted with being a bridesmaid.

Weddings rock, but I will never be a bridesmaid again, Lawrence admitted, having been a bridesmaid four times now. There needs to be a bridesmaids union. Its horrendous. If anyone asks me again, Im going to say, No. That part of my life is over. I appreciate the ask.'

And what about in her future wedding? If I do ever get married, Lawrence told Vanity Fair, I dont think I will have bridesmaids. How can I rank my friends?

Jennifer Lawrence has blazed a new path in Hollywood. Read the Holiday 2016 cover story at the link in bio. Photograph by @therealpeterlindbergh. A photo posted by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on Nov 21, 2016 at 2:06pm PST

Aronofsky, who also directed Black Swan, was seen canoodling with Lawrence during filming for Mother. Several sources have supposedly confirmed their low-key relationship, but until the cat is out of the bag (or not), we certainly wont press for details.

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// if I don't look this good when I'm older, I'm suing [ #JenniferLawrence ] A photo posted by spread positivity  (@sparkingjay) on Nov 21, 2016 at 2:29pm PST

In a 2015 interview with Diane Sawyer, Lawrence said candidly, I dont know if I ever will get married and Im OK with that. She continued, I dont feel that I need anything to complete me. I love meeting people, men, women, whatever, I love people coming into your life and bringing something.

Were so glad that Lawrence came into our lives because she brought a lot. Keep doing your thing, girlfriend.

The post This is what Jennifer Lawrence has to say about her rumored boyfriend appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Jennifer Lawrence isnt afraid to mix business and pleasure.

The Oscar winner is on practically every directors wish list, but she was so excited to work with now-boyfriend Darren Aronofsky that she took a role in his upcoming horror movie, Mother, before its script was even completed.

In Vanity Fairs holiday issue, featuring the 26-year-old actress on the cover in a plunging red dress, Lawrence admits she had wanted to work with Aronofsky since seeing Black Swan.

He is a visionary, she said.

Although the new romance between Lawrence and the 47-year-old director is the talk of Hollywood, Lawrence, who did not discuss the relationship during the interview, had no plans of being involved in a wedding anytime soon  and shes not even talking about her own.

All of my friends are getting married and having babies. Weddings rock, but I will never be a bridesmaid again, she said. There needs to be a bridesmaids union. Its horrendous. If anyone asks me again, Im going to say, No. That part of my life is over. I appreciate the ask. If I do ever get married, I dont think I will have bridesmaids. How can I rank my friends?

Lawrence has a circle of friends that includes fellow A-list celebrities such as Amy Schumer and Emma Stone, and she says she appreciates that her Hollywood pals understand the craziness of the business.

I love my job, Lawrence explained. I dont know what I would be without acting. So if there is someone who loves the same thing, it should bring us closer. But it depends on how that person is, and Emma is so normal and lovely. If I wasnt her biggest fan, I wouldve Tonya Hardingd her in the kneecaps.

Stone returned her friends sentiments, telling Vanity Fair in an email that I know wed be friends even if we didnt do the same job.

She may not even know this, but there was definitely a time early on when I was like OH HEY MY EGO IS GOING NUTS SHES SO GREAT AND VIBRANT AND TALENTED IM SCREWED ILL NEVER WORK AGAIN GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD,' Stone recalled. Then I chilled the f out  and remembered were completely different and there is room for everyone, even if its an industry that doesnt really seem to support the idea up front.

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Hopefully directors, including her boyfriend, feel the same way  Lawrence admits that she has dreams of directing but hasnt gotten chance to try out the role just yet. But thats all shell say on the matter.

I would prefer to just do it, she said.




Freddie Mercury's mother, Jer Bulsara, passed away on Nov. 13 at the age of 94. Kashmira Cooke, Mercury's sister, confirmed the news of her mother's death on Sunday (Nov. 20) in a statement to the press, saying that she died in her sleep.

Queen's Brian May paid tribute to his late bandmate's mother with a touching letter posted on his website: "Jer was a warm and devoted Mum to Freddie, and, like Freddie, always had a strong twinkle in the eye. Although she was also devoted to her husband Bomi, and lived in the Zoroastrian faith as a good Parsee, she had an independent spirit and a strong sense of humour."

"Of course I knew her for over 50 years, and when I first used to go around to Freddie's parents' house in Feltham, only a few yards from where I lived, in our student days, Jer was a busy Mum, full of life and optimism," May continued. "And even then, fiercely proud of her children, Freddie and Kashmira."

"It's probably true to say that Freddie's father, strongly committed to the Parsee faith, didn't find it easy that Freddie took the path he did, as a Rock musician, and a fairly irreverent one, at that. Nevertheless the support was always there. But Jer was always a keen follower of our progress as a band, and always came to see us when we played nearby, always with huge enthusiasm. Freddie was very close to his Mum, and, I think, took a mischievous pleasure in trying to shock her," he said.

"In private moments with us, away from the glare of the spotlights, in latter years Jer was always ready with a cup of tea when we visited, and we were always able to speak about 'My Freddie' without shyness, feeling that he was not far away," said May.

"Freddie adored his strong mum. RIP Jer," Queen's Roger Taylor commented.

Bulsara will have a private Zoroastrian funeral ceremony.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Mercury's death. The Queen frontman passed on Nov. 24, 1991.
Justin Timberlake discusses his iconic denim on denim look, and its hilarious

Justin Timberlake has been in the spotlight for a long time, so hes definitely learned some things. In a recent interview with Australian show The Project, Justin dishes on some of the things that hes learned over his years in the spotlight. And one thing hes learned comes from a textbook Justin Timberlake outfit that he wore with Britney Spears, his then girlfriend. The pair rocked some serious denim at the American Music Awards in 2001, and most of us still remember those looks.

Many of us remember Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears hitting the red carpet hand in hand in head to toe denim.

The 28th Annual American Music Awards

Yeah, that is a LOT of denim. When the host of The Project Peter Helliar asked Justin what hes learned about the industry that he didnt know then, Justins reply is SO perfect.

If you wear denim on denim, it will get documented.

HA! Were glad that Justin has a good sense of humor about this look, because it has definitely followed him for the last fifteen years.

Justin admitted that denim on denim is a tough look, and not many people can pull it off.

The 28th Annual American Music Awards

Justin insisted, You know what, I dont think even I could even bring that back.

Although Justins 2001 look was very extreme, there are definitely some chic ways to double up on denim. Justin agrees. He went on to say that when done well, denim on denim can work. But Justins still haunted by some of his NSYNC fashion choices, because when host Waleed Aly brought up how cool NSYNC was, Justin had something to say.

Did you see those outfits we wore?

We did, Justin. And we loved every second of it.

Although, we cant deny that NSYNC had some seriously ~out-there~ looks!

Were just glad to see that Justin can laugh about some of his fashion choices now!

The post Justin Timberlake discusses his iconic denim on denim look, and its hilarious appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Kandi Burruss may be busy potty training her 10-month-old son Ace Wells with husband Todd Tucker. But its her 13-year-old daughters biological father who is really giving her trouble.

On Sundays all-new Real Housewives of Atlanta, the 40-year-old Grammy winner broke down over the baby daddy drama shes experienced with ex Russell Block Spencer  father to her only daughter and first child, Riley Burruss.

Calling him a poster boy for deadbeat, Kandi explained that Spencer had gone years without checking in on Riley.

We really dont talk, she said. Ive always tried to be open whenever he reach out I dont respect him no more.

She then tearfully revealed to friend Sheree Whitfield that when she first learned she was pregnant with Riley, Spencer called her and said he wasnt going to have anything to do with her baby.

I told him that day, Thats fine motherf, because youll never have to worry about how she is. Youll need her before she needs you. And I meant that s. I meant it, Kandi said.

While Kandi told Whitfield she hadnt tried to interfere with Spencers relationship with their daughter, she said that if she was ever truly honest with Riley about what her father had done, she knows their relationship would be even more damaged.

Even if I cant stand his punk a  if he wants her to call him, I make her call him, she said. But if I really say the s that hes done that she aint privy to, thats gonna hurt my daughter.

The discussions about Spencer began when his girlfriend, Kris Kelli, made a surprise visit to the Kandi Factory to speak with Kandi about why Riley seems so closed off to her father.

I know it might seem funny to you for me coming out of the blue like this, but its kind of a concern that Ive been having, the Jamaican recording artists explained  adding that shes encouraged Spencer to reach out to Riley more. Im really all about families. I would love to see you both come together.

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Though Kandi appreciated Kellis sentiment, she explained that her daughter and Spencer havent connected on their own. Riley at a certain point used to reach out to him, and he never really would reach back, Kandi said. And she put up this wall She doesnt want to deal with it.

The fact that the two dont have a relationship isnt something that makes Kandi happy. In fact, she said it kills her on the inside. I didnt have a relationship with my father, Kandi said. And I dont want to see my child go through that.

Whitfield sympathized with Kandi and Riley. I didnt have a relationship with my dad either, she said. Little girls  they want their daddies involved. All Riley has is your word to hold on to. So when you dont show up, that is devastating. Its sad.

Sometimes, I dont know if these men know how to be good fathers  because they didnt have that themselves, she added.

Tucker  who didnt learn about his daughter Kaela until later in life  encouraged Riley to reconnect with her father. I think every daughter should know their dad, he said. It aint about him or Kandi. Its about Riley. And youve got to do whats best for her at the end of the day.

But Riley didnt seem interested in making things work with her dad  even saying in flashbacks that I dont really care if I have a dad or not.

She was less harsh on Sundays episode. I dont really want to say that I dont care, but its like  they call that void,  she told her mom  using a slang term that implied she was declining the relationship.

He should be the one , not his girlfriend, she continued.

As for Spencer, he painted a different picture than both his daughter and her mother.

People dont know, but I was there when she was born, the record label owner said. I mean  even when was saying I wasnt doing nothing, I was doing something.

RELATED VIDEO: What Did RHOAs Kenya Moore Think About Porsha Crashing Her Housewarming Party?

If she dont urge my daughter to call me, Im not fitting to make you come see me, he added. Im not gonna do that.

The estrangement really seemed to bother Kelli. They have shut him out  completely, she said.  thinks that if she brings Riley around again, he wont show up.

We need a conversation about doing the right thing, Kelli said.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.




By Jill Serjeant (Reuters) - Rapper Kanye West abruptly canceled the remainder of his tour on Monday, citing exhaustion, following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and rants about politics. Concert promoters Live Nation said in a statement that the remaining 21 U.S. dates on West's Saint Pablo tour had been canceled, and that tickets would be fully refunded. Live Nation gave no reasons, fuelling speculation about the state of West's mental and physical health. A source close to the "Gold Digger" singer denied West was having some kind of breakdown, telling celebrity outlets People and Us Weekly that West was a workaholic who was simply worn out. "Hes just exhausted. Hes been working around the clock on fashion design, both on his own line and the Adidas line. He's a notorious workaholic, so balancing both that work  which is extremely important to him  and the rigors of the tour every night, it really wore him out," a source told People. The tour cancellation followed a demanding three months for West, who unveiled the new season of his Yeezy fashion line with an elaborate performance art event in September in New York. In October, West's reality star wife, Kim Kardashian, was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, forcing the family to reassess their security and their high public profile. The influential rapper, who is promoting his current album "The Life of Pablo," made headlines last week when he was booed at his San Jose, California concert for declaring his support for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He canceled a concert in Los Angeles at the last minute on Sunday, and on Saturday walked off stage in Sacramento, California after 30 minutes during which he took aim at Beyonce, Jay Z, the media, and the music industry in general. West later flooded his Instagram account with dozens of photos of fashion items. Billboard magazine estimated that the tour cancellation would mean $27 million in ticket refunds and untold amounts in other tour expenses. West has a history of unpredictable and controversial behavior. Last year, he declared he was considering running for U.S. president in 2020. In 2009, he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York saying the honor should have gone to Beyonce. In 2006, he posed as Jesus Christ on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and earlier this year he released a music video for "Famous" featuring portrayals of nude celebrities including Trump, Swift and comedian Bill Cosby lying asleep in bed with him. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alan Crosby)
UPDATE: 11:05 a.m. EST  The remaining dates on Kanye Wests Saint Pablo Tour have been cancelled. According to Pitchfork, a representative for the rapper confirmed the news and said tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase.

Original story:

After giving perhaps his most controversial show on Nov. 19 in Sacramento, California, Kanye West then canceled his Nov. 20 show in Los Angeles and his Nov. 22 show in Fresno, California. Following the cancellation, there is speculation that the remaining dates on the Saint Pablo Tour may be in jeopardy.

According to Los Angeles Time writer Gerrick D. Kennedy, sources say Kanye told his crew the remaining United States tour dates for the show would be nixed. The tour has 21 dates left, including the final show: a New Years Eve concert in Brooklyn, New York. While the U.S. dates may be canceled, Kennedy said there is no word on the European dates planned for 2017. Kanye has yet to respond to the reports.

During his Nov. 19 show in Sacramento at the Golden 1 Center, Kanye showed up 30 minutes late and only performed three songs before going on a lengthy rant. In his rant, the rapper attacked Jay Z, Beyonce and Drake.

The rant featured Kanye making a plea for Jay Z to get in touch with him and asking that the rapper not send killers at him. I know you got killers. Please dont send them at my head, he said.

The rapper also called out radio stations for overplaying singles from performers such as Drake and not supporting other artists. Drake is great, hes a great artist, but Frank Ocean is great, too, West said. But you know who the greatest of all of us? Kid Cudi.

It appears that Kanye knew his rant would make headlines because the rapper finished his show off by saying: Right now, press, get ready to write your passive aggressive, LeBron James, racist comments Get ready to have a field day press, get ready, get ready, cause the shows over.

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For fans who were in attendance at the Nov. 19 show, Ticketmaster is issuing refunds and is expected to give refunds for further cancelled shows.

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Kanye West canceled his remaining Saint Pablo tour dates on Monday.

The remaining dates on the Saint Pablo Tour have been cancelled, a rep for West told E! News in a statement. Tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase.

The rapper was scheduled to perform in cities like Fresno, Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia and more through Dec. 31.

Also Read: Kanye West Cancels LA Concert Within Hours of Show

On Sunday, Kanye West: The Saint Pablo Tour was canceled at The Los Angeles Forum, giving ticket holders less that three hours notice.

The cancellation comes only one day after the rapper created a stir during a concert Saturday night in Sacramento. West was more than an hour late for his show, sang a couple of songs, then went on a profanity-laced tirade about Beyonce, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Drake and Hillary Clinton, before dropping the mic and walking off stage.

More to come
Twenty-one time Grammy Award winner Kanye West has canceled the remaining dates on his current tour after cutting short a November 19 concert in Sacramento.

Tickets will be fully refunded for unperformed shows scheduled as part of the Saint Pablo tour, a Kanye West representative has told The Fader.

Three songs into what was typically a 31-song performance, West broke off a rendition of "Famous" and embarked on a 15-minute speech speaking about radio, sections of his fanbase, other musicians, Facebook, and US presidents and presidential candidates.

November 20th's show in California was canceled; those looking to his Instagram account for comment found its image count upped from 1 to 100 as a bevy of fashion photos (from Maison Margiela lookbooks, reports Billboard) were posted over the course of the evening.

The 63-date North American Saint Pablo tour started August 26 and had been slated to continue through to December 31, 2016. Seventh studio album "The Life of Pablo" was released in February.
UPDATE: Pitchfork has confirmed with a representative for Kanye West that the remaining tour dates of the Saint Pablo tour have been cancelled. The representative has also confirmed that "tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase."

Kanye West's Saint Pablo tour hasn't been going particularly smoothly as of late. After rescheduling a show at Los Angeles' The Forum following a three-song concert earlier this month, Kanye canceled the show last night just hours before the performance. Now, as FACT points out, there are reports that Kanye has decided to cancel the rest of the tour in North America, too.

Kanye has faced serious backlash since his Trump rant last week. Kany said "If I would have voted, I would have voted on Trump," and the crowd responded with boos. Twitter didn't react too kindly to his comments, either.

Now this. Last night, Los Angeles Times writer Gerrick D. Kennedy said on Twitter, "Just got word from a source that @kanyewest informed his crew that remaining dates of U.S. #SaintPabloTour are nixed."

ABC News anchor Veronica Miracle also reported on Twitter that sources had told her similar news, tweeting, "@kanyewest in Fresno CANCELED per sources scheduled to work the concert."

The rest of the venues on the Saint Pablo tour have yet to confirm the reports regarding cancellation of the forthcoming shows, but we expect to hear word from venues soon.

Just got word from a source that @kanyewest informed his crew that remaining dates of U.S. #SaintPabloTour are nixed.  Gerrick D. Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) November 21, 2016

#BREAKING: @kanyewest in Fresno CANCELED per sources scheduled to work the concert. @savemartcenter officials havent confirmed, meeting now  Veronica Miracle (@VeronicaABC30) November 21, 2016

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Look, it was hard to pick one Joan Rivers story for this book. I'll always miss her. I have countless meaningful and hilarious memories of our time together. But here's a story that will blow your mind. It may have a couple of surprises, but I think it encompasses so much about Joan that I loved.

In 2011, she called me and said, "Chuck and Camilla are having a two-night event, one night at Windsor Castle, one night at Buckingham. It'll be very fancy. Do you want to come as my plus one?" Now, I knew Joan was friendly with Prince Charles and Camilla, but what I didn't know was that she hung with them, as in, she rolled deep with them. As in, she went out to Balmoral Castle on a painting vacation with them. Seriously. Hence, calling him "Chuck." At the hotel, with our adjoining rooms, we were like a couple of teenagers getting ready to go to the prom. After we'd gotten ready for the first night, and we headed out to Windsor freaking Castle. Have I mentioned I'm from Forest Park, Illinois?

When we got inside, I was a nervous wreck. My eyes were like saucers. Joan immediately started cracking me up by making fun of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who divorced Chuck's brother Andrew. "Can you believe her? How stupid. How stupid! She could have had this ... forevuh!" I played along and fanned the flames. "Maybe she was unhappy," I said. Joan was all, "Ugh! Please! Ugh! How could she ... stupid, stupid, stupid!" I loved it. I can tell you it's quite nerve-racking to be standing inside Windsor Castle, but Joan was prancing me around, acting like it was her vacation home. She gave me the lay of the land, pointing out the global movers and shakers in attendance, the secret old-money types who aren't famous but have this kind of access.

Read more: Kathy Griffin Memoir: Caught in Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty's Lovers' Quarrel

Now, I realize that gay men everywhere are all about Harry, but for me, it was always Prince Charles. Sorry, boys, Chuck and Camilla are my royals. When Joan introduced me to Charles, she said, "This is my friend Kathy, and she's a very outspoken, outrageous comedian in the United States." Then Charles pulled me in and said, right in my ear, "Well, if it weren't for comedians and journalists, who would keep us honest?" Way to go, Charles! We don't hear that from power brokers, much less royalty. We also don't hear a comment that I admit was in the back of my mind when I was speaking to him. I'm only human.

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I'll tell you right now, I've always found the surreptitiously recorded remark he made about wanting to be Camilla's tampon to be nothing short of charming. Seeing how obviously thrilled he was to see Joan that night was very moving. It was obvious they had chemistry. He put his arms around Joan, and she was politer than I've ever seen her. Someone made a joke: "Well, it's a good thing Camilla's not here tonight, because in fact, Joan is the love of Charles's life!" Later, alone, I said to Joan, "And you thought Sarah Ferguson was stupid? You're the one who blew it! Charles could have been your tampon!"

When Joan passed away, I was devastated. It took me some time, but I finally worked up the courage to ask her longtime assistant, "I'm curious, have you heard from the royals?" She told me the Queen, Prince Charles, and Camilla had all called. Of course they did.

Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index is out Nov. 22. (Copyright  2016 by the author; excerpt reprinted by permission of Flatiron/Holtzbrinck.)

Courtesy of Flatiron Books
I, Kathy Griffin, was an extra in the Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial in 1984 where his effing hair caught fire! I have two points to make.

POINT 1 You know what a Forrest Gump moment is, right? It's when you happen to witness or be present during an iconic moment in history, good or bad. I've had a few of those, and this was one.

Back then, I did as much work as an extra as I could because it was the closest I could get to feeling like a part of show business. On a side note, not only was I never destined to be an overnight success, but I also spent years as an extra for $35 a day just to have the opportunity to try to get my foot in the door. I did this while I was taking acting classes, improv classes and keeping my day job at whatever nine-to-five office would have me considering I have absolutely no office skills. Needless to say, I was excited when I got the call in late January for a two-day shoot in downtown Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. Two days at $35 a day was $70!

Read more: Kathy Griffin Memoir: Joan Rivers Took Her to Windsor Castle to Meet Prince "Chuck"

Not only was the money fantastic, but when I learned it was to work on a commercial with the Jackson 5, I was the first in line. I was one of a thousand in a standing-only crowd that day, watching Michael Jackson do take after take of his big stairway entrance onto a glitzy rock 'n' roll-like set and jamming with his brothers to a reworked version of "Billie Jean," incorporating "You're the Pepsi Generation" into the song. It was fascinating just to be in that audience watching how a really big commercial is made with one of the biggest stars in history.

At one point, I noticed my buddy Jon Lovitz in the crowd - we were both in the Groundlings then - and when I asked why he was there, he introduced me to his pal Miko Brando, son of Marlon and one of Michael Jackson's bodyguards.

Philip Ramey/Corbis via Getty Images

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POINT 2 This was all before the internet, social media, TMZ, cellphones with cameras, all of it. The public wouldn't know of a news event of this magnitude until much later. So when people ask me about what it was like to be there that day, I have to remind them of this. Here's what happened that day from an extra's point of view. You can see it online now because Us Weekly got hold of the footage of when a pyrotechnic effect went off too early and posted it in 2009. But at the time, the last thing a production would do following an accident like this would be to announce to hundreds, if not thousands, of extras something like, "There's been a horrible accident. Everybody go home!" I just remember we were all abruptly excused for the day. By the time I'd driven my parents' Toyota Corolla back to our Santa Monica apartment, it was all over the news. Over the years, it's been very strange to realize that I had been there for a momentous showbiz incident - one many believe led to Michael Jackson's debilitating addiction struggles and tragic death - and not known what had happened at the time. I still believe he molested all those kids, though.

Courtesy of Flatiron Books

Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index is out Nov. 22. (Copyright  2016 by the author; excerpt reprinted by permission of Flatiron/Holtzbrinck.)

This story first appeared in the Dec. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
Nairobi (AFP) - Twenty-six poachers have been caught at night after a new thermal and infrared camera and software system was introduced in Kenya's famed Maasai Mara and its other national parks, WWF said on Monday.

The technology combines the imaging with human detection software and was developed by the World Wildlife Fund.

"Nine months after the techs installation, more than two dozen poachers have been arrested in the Maasai Mara and two poachers have been apprehended at another undisclosed national park in Kenya," a statement said.

Africa's elephant population has been reduced by about 30 percent overall in just the period 2007 to 2014, the journal Nature Communications said this month. The dramatic fall is mainly due to poaching.

"Poachers can no longer use the cover of night to run and hide. Their days of evading arrest are over," said Colby Loucks, WWFs Wildlife Crime Technology project leader.

"This groundbreaking technology allows them to search for poachers 24 hours a day, from up to a mile away, in pitch darkness," he said.

Brian Heath, CEO and Director of the Mara Conservancy, said the "remarkable" new technology was helping rangers distinguish potential poachers from a large distance.

"The last three people our team arrested were flabbergasted as to how they were detected. Normally they simply sneak away when an ambush is sprung and avoid detection. Now, their heat signatures are picked up by the thermal camera. Were catching them."
Kesha will be honored with Billboard's Women in Music Trailblazer award at the 11th annual event, to be held Dec. 9 in New York City and airing nationally on Lifetime on Dec. 12.

"By combining artistic fearlessness with unbounded creative energy, Kesha has continually pushed the limits of what was once thought possible in pop music," said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. "She's a force on stage, an inspiration in person and a true Trailblazer for millions of music fans around the world."

Kesha's debut single "Tik Tok" held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks in 2010 and still claims the fifth-best digital sales week ever with more than 610,000 units sold of the single. Her first album, Animal, topped the Billboard 200 that same year and her follow-up, Warrior, hit No. 6 in 2012.

Over her career, Kesha has had nine top 10 tracks on Billboard's Pop Songs chart, with four No. 1s in the bunch: "Tik Tok," "Your Love Is My Drug," "Die Young" and "Timber" (Pitbull feat. Kesha). Her work has received 885.7 million on-demand U.S. streams across audio and video platforms to date and her songs have sold 32.1 million digital downloads in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen Music.

Over the past few years, Kesha has been in the spotlight for a highly publicized lawsuit against longtime producer Dr. Luke alleging sexual assault, battery and more.

Billboard previously announced that Madonna will be named this year's Woman of the Year. Shania Twain will receive the Icon award, Halsey will receive the Rising Star award, Andra Day will receive the Powerhouse award, Meghan Trainor will receive the Chart Topper award and Maren Morris will receive the Breakthrough Artist award.

Day, Halsey, Morris and Trainor are all performing at the Women In Music event.
A week after a U.S. court denied a motion to dismiss the charges against Kickass Torrents owner Artem Vaulin, his lawyers have replied in a new brief that accuses the government of again failing to prove the shuttered site's owner had committed any copyright infringement.

Last month's motion to dismiss argued that websites like Kickass Torrents are "devoid of content files," rather, "KAT is nothing more than a search engine, no different in any material way from Google and other popular website search engines." It went on to say that "such files contain textual information assembled by automated processes and do not contain copyrighted content."

U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon responded several weeks later, rebuffing the search-engine analogy and arguing that torrent sites are inherently harmful to rights holders. "These indexed files enabled users to obtain copyrighted content from other users, including from the defendant's own servers," Fardon said. "KAT therefore functioned like a flea market for infringing movies, television shows, video games, music, and computer software."

In a reply to the rejection, filed late last week (via TorrentFreak), Vaulin's legal team said "no actual infringers or infringements  were alleged in the indictment. The [government's] response fails to counter the overwhelming authorities provided in the motion to dismiss that the storage or transfer of dot torrent files is not direct infringement."

Vaulin's lawyers also took issue with how the government pointed out that Vaulin and others were involved in sites that offer direct downloads or streams, including rolly.com, solarmovie.com and iwatchfilm.com. "More fatal to the indictment -- there are no facts alleged that such works were uploaded, stored, or downloaded" from those mentioned third-party download sites.

The government's response also accused KAT of "aiding and abetting," meaning it "sought out infringing material and trumpeted that to their users, targeting the infringement minded with rewards and honors for posting torrents for copyright infringement material."

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KAT's response to that response is that "aiding and abetting" was removed from the Copyright Act in 1976. "Aiding and abetting is applied to an accessory to an actual crime committed by a principal and no such actual crime is alleged in the Indictment," it argued.

The case is now in the hands of Illinois District Court.

Vaulin, a Ukraine native, was arrested on July 21 in Poland and remains in custody.
Kim Kardashian West's first public outing since her robbery in Paris last month will be for an especially meaningful event.

Kim is confirmed to attend the Angel Ball in New York City on Monday, a source tells ET, alongside her mother, Kris Jenner, and two of her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian. The three sisters' father, the late Robert Kardashian, is being honored at the annual black-tie event, which celebrates individuals who have made significant humanitarian and philanthropic contributions in support of cancer research. The famous attorney died from esophageal cancer in 2003.

However, the source says Kim definitely won't be doing interviews on Monday night, and isn't sure if she's walking the red carpet -- but she will likely pose for photos inside the event.

WATCH: Kim Kardashian's Assistant Shares Never-Before-Seen Pics from Thailand and Topless Photo Shoot

As for Kim's brother, Rob Kardashian, the new father will not be attending the event with his famous family, the source notes. Rob welcomed his first child with his fiancee, Blac Chyna, on Nov. 10.

Kim has kept a low profile since her terrifying robbery in Paris, most noticeably, taking a big step back from social media. Though she returned to Instagram last week to follow celebs like Paris Hilton and Ariana Grande, she has stayed silent since the incident.

Earlier this month, a source told ET that the 36-year-old reality star will most likely address the robbery for the first time in a magazine interview along the lines of Vogue, Vanity Fair, or Harper's Bazaar, rather than doing a big sit-down interview.

"Kim is not looking to monetize from this incident and do a big interview that will be solely focused on this incident," the source said. "She doesn't want to relive this again. She is truly in no rush to get back into the spotlight."

"The entire family is hoping she can recover from this," the source added about Kim's current mindset. "They're giving her her space but are there for her whenever she needs."

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WATCH: Rob Kardashian Posts Look-Alike Pic of Newborn Daughter Dream and Late Father Robert Kardashian -- 'An Exact Copy'

Meanwhile, it appears there's also drama brewing when it comes to Kim's husband, Kanye West. West canceled the remaining dates of his Saint Pablo tour on Monday, after bizarre rants at his latest shows, and abruptly cutting his Saturday concert in Sacramento, California, short after just 30 minutes.

Watch below:

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a fun return to the Wizarding World for many Harry Potter fans, but some already want more. Luckily, the magical adventure was just one of five movies. Though the first has only been in theaters for a few days, we already have information on the next one. Screenwriter J.K. Rowling and director David Yates have let out some spoilers for Fantastic Beasts 2.

1. Grindelwald  Expect much more Johnny Depp in the sequel. Director David Yates even revealed that the 2018 sequel will have less focus on Newts (Eddie Redmayne) creatures to accommodate Grindelwalds storyline. Currently the beasts feature slightly less in the second film, and Grindelwald takes more of a foreground, Yates admitted to the Leaky Cauldron.

2. European Adventures  The second film will leave New York. Yates also confirmed that Paris and the U.K. would be explored. We do go back to the U.K. in the second film as well  its U.K. and Paris, he said. Im not sure where Jo is setting the rest of the movies, but theyll be European-centric. I think it will be difficult to ignore America, but the next one is predominately Europe.

3. Dumbledore  The Fantastic Beasts producers are starting the casting process for a young Dumbledore. Those who read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows know that he is very connected to Grindelwalds story.

4. Returning Characters  Newt will obviously be featured, and Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie (Alison Sudol) will also return. However, it isnt clear if Jacob (Dan Folger) will join them. The ending of Fantastic Beasts showed his memory getting wiped, but Queenie still visited his bakery.

Fantastic Beasts

Photo: Warner Bros.

5. Lestrange Family  When Zoe Kravitz was announced in a mysterious small role, the Hollywood Reporter revealed that she could have a meatier role in the sequel. The first film makes it clear that Newt and Leda Lestrange were once friends (and maybe more), and its hard to imagine the other movies not delving into their history.

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6. Timeline  Expect Newt to get older over the next four films. Rowling revealed that the first film starts in 1926, but the fifth film will wrap up in 1945.

7. Release Date  You can already start the countdown for the sequel. It is scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 16, 2018.

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When it comes to getting a good deal on a rental, checking out Trulias Market Overview for median rent prices in your city is a great starting point to confirm you arent overpaying. But there are other factors to consider when moving into that posh Philadelphia, PA, apartment. Although it may cost more to live closer to your office, that proximity to work could also save you some cash by cutting your commute (especially if it lets you ditch your car and all the costs that go along with it)! Plus, if you take advantage of common apartment amenities, like a pool or fitness room, you can save money on outside membership fees. Here are some other considerations to weigh when determining whether youre getting a deal on your new place  or overpaying.

Get to know the neighborhood

Its important to like both the neighborhood and the apartment complex. If you dont like your neighborhood, even if the rent is low, you might not feel as though youre getting a good deal. I make sure my renters get familiar with the location if they are not already, says Denise Supplee, co-founder of SparkRental.com, a full-service rental automation service. I suggest that they drive by the neighborhood at different times of the day and night. This will give a feel for noise, busyness, and even a possible parking situation.

Consider the age of the building

An old apartment building might be great  if its been maintained and, ideally, recently renovated. Otherwise, you might be faced with drafty windows, rattling pipes, and peeling paint. Low rent might not be such a bargain if the apartment is in disrepair. Make sure to ask when the apartment was last updated and take note if the property needs repairs, suggests Cliff McCue of GC Realty Investments in Chicago, IL. Look to see whether theres water damage, turn on the water faucets and shower to make sure they work well, and confirm the appliances work. If you find problems, it could mean the manager or landlord is not attentive, says McCue. If you move in, things might not be repaired in a timely fashion.

Find out about taxes

While taxes are primarily a concern for homeowners, renters should take heed as well. Moving to a new city can plop you into a new county, and the taxes withheld from your paycheck may increase. Many cities, townships, and boroughs have wage taxes, some as high as 4%, like in Philadelphia, says Supplee. Its good for someone who is renting to understand this. This can be a fairly sizable chunk out of their paycheck. If youre not careful, this withheld portion of your paycheck could dip into your monthly rental budget. Suddenly, that dream apartment that seemed reasonable may be out of reach if your monthly income decreases.

Call your auto insurer

The amount you pay in car insurance is partially determined by your home ZIP code, along with your driving record, age, the type of car you drive, and how far you drive to work. Auto insurance rates are based on safety, car theft reports, and sometimes just what the area commands in price, says Supplee. Contact your auto insurance agent and run the potential address by them just to be sure you wont be surprised later. Your apartment deal may not be so great if your commute forces an increase on your insurance.

Read between the lines

A lease is different from the privacy policy on your iPhone  you should read it carefully before you agree (and sign). A lease is not designed to trick you, but you should still know what youre getting into. Asking questions and understanding the nitty-gritty details can make a difference when signing off on a new apartment.

If you have a pet, make sure you know the pet policy. If you think you might need or want to sublease down the road, check the lease to see whether thats allowed. Are you responsible for utilities or minor repairs? Do you need to buy renters insurance? All these things can end up costing you money, and you can find the answers in your lease. If you dont understand something, or if you have a question that is not addressed in the lease, ask. You might even be able to modify the lease.

Note that a verbal agreement from the property manager or landlord doesnt mean anything when theres a lease  any and all modifications to it must be in writing. If the lease isnt very thorough, or so complicated that you cant understand it, take a step back, says McCue. Never move into a place without fully understanding what youre signing and agreeing to.

Know how to negotiate

Dont be afraid to negotiate paying a little less than the advertised rental rate. The worse thing that could happen would be that your request is denied. But there are ways to go about negotiating rent that could give you a fighting chance. Simply asking for lower rent isnt the best strategy. Negotiation points for me as a landlord and property manager are length of lease and credit, says Supplee. If you have a credit score worth bragging about, point this out to the management. Another option? Offer to sign a lease longer than one year. Turnovers cost money, says Supplee. So if someone is willing to sign a long-term lease, I am definitely willing to negotiate rent.

Did you get a good deal on an apartment? Tell us about it in the comments!

The post How Do You Know If Youre Getting A Good Deal On An Apartment? appeared first on Trulia's Blog.
"Pulled out in the hood Toyota/ Drove back to the hood Lambo," Travis Scott sings on "Beibs in the Trap," a standout track on his latest album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight. It's a line that pretty much sums up Scott's transition from a relatively unknown Texas artist to one of hip-hop's premier acts and creative minds.

The journey not only influences Scott's music, but also the clothing for his upcoming 2017 tour. Beginning a three-day pop-up store trek in as many cities on Friday (Nov. 18) in Los Angeles (with New York and hometown Houston to follow), Scott converted an empty store lot on La Brea Avenue into a boutique space and sold Travis Birds, a collection only fans could fully understand. The featured decorative piece was a vintage Toyota MR2.

"The Toyota, that's [my] favorite car," Travis said, tucked in the back of the store as fans scrambled for merch. "That's where I lost my virginity. And my homie Dozie used to pick me up in his Toyota Camry. That was our story we have from when we were growing up. That was our whip."

Thank u Man U kids are one of a kind I love u Tour soon.

A photo posted by flame (@travisscott) on Nov 20, 2016 at 6:31pm PST

With Travis present, the vibe of the shop leaned towards that of a concert, but not because Scott ever really performed. As he stepped into a crowd of fans, they yelped lyrics from "Through the Late Night" -- another Birds track, which blared over Sonos speakers -- and shoved their new purchases his way for him to sign with his Sharpie.

"He signed it, bro!" one teen yelled to a buddy, referring to a grey Levi's denim trucker jacket with a pink-headed eagle on its back. "I'm from Texas," Travis explained. "The bald eagle is just our whole shit."

And the eagle has a name. "That's Jack," he teased. "You'll know more about that when you come on tour."

Story continues

Two weeks ago at his ComplexCon performance in Long Beach, attendees were treated to a preview of his 2017 tour staging, which features a massive, gothic black eagle with red eyes, and a cage that it appears to have escaped from.

"Now you're dialing in," he said as he adjusted his black dad hat (also for sale) and realized that I attended the show. "Now you're connecting with me. That stage that you saw is only a fourth of my stage that I'll have on tour. It's a full production. It's so crazy."

As far as the design of his clothing is concerned, Travis was at the helm. "I work with my guys Quentin and Mark on the designing," he explained. "The three of us, we figure it out. I draw most of this shit out and then I pass it on and they make it way iller."

He also mentioned that Antwerp, Belgium design studio Uber and Kosher assisted "with the Hood Toyota shit," which is boldly written in white on a pair of grey sweatpants on sale in the shop. "I like reaching out to different people and catching their vibe."

Let us kids fly !

A photo posted by flame (@travisscott) on Nov 20, 2016 at 6:35pm PST

As kids piled in 30 at a time, each happily left with tour merch and a sighting of their rager rap hero. "I met Travis Scott!" one girl squealed as she exited.

"It's cool, bro," Travis said, taking it all in with a smile that revealed his dazzlingly jeweled grill. "I just [recreated] the merch booth from my tour. That's all I wanted to do. I couldn't fit a car in my merch booth on tour, so I had to make an extensive merch booth here."
paul krugman

Paul Krugman, the Nobel-winning economist and New York Times columnist, once again took to Twitter on Monday to express his discontent with the future Donald Trump administration.

In a series of tweets, Krugman decried the possibility of corruption within the Trump administration, particularly in regard to Trump's massive proposed infrastructure plan and foreign policy.

"We're about to enter, or may already have entered, an era of corrupt governance unprecedented in US history," Krugman tweeted on Monday.

Krugman suggested he believes that the public-private co-investment strategy of Trump's proposed $550 billion infrastructure package would allow the president-elect to give favorable contracts to associates or even his own companies. Krugman wrote that Trump's family could take $10 billion "skimmed off the top" without anyone noticing.

"Expect to see lots of privatization and a general shift from transparent to murky so that favors can be traded," Krugman wrote.

Trump has already prompted questions about his business dealings and family as he transitions into the presidency. Presidents typically put their private business interests in a blind trust during their terms. Trump has said that his business interests would be shifted to his children.

Yet Ivanka Trump sat in on a meeting last week with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which critics have said is a conflict of interest.

Additionally, Krugman said the president-elect's foreign policy would be tilted toward authoritarian governments that could trade favors with Trump.

"And think about the pro-tyrant bias of foreign policy," Krugman wrote.

"Democratic regimes  say, in Europe  are by their own rules unable to offer de-facto personal bribes to the US president," he continued. "Putin's Russia or, for that matter, Xi's China, will be fine with sending huge business to the profiteer-in-chief. And that will cause a tilt of US policy toward authoritarian regimes."

Story continues

Krugman has taken to Twitter frequently since Trump was elected to express concerns over various parts of a Trump presidency.

Krugman concluded Monday's tirade by telling people to "stay alert."

Here's the entire tweetstorm:

We're about to enter, or may already have entered, an era of corrupt governance unprecedented in U.S. history. What does it mean? 1/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

Important to realize that the money stolen by the first family is a minor issue; $10 billion, say, skimmed off the top is rounding error 2/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

What matters much more is the distortion of policy in directions that can be monetized. Gratuitous private investors in infrastructure 3/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

is just the start. Expect to see lots of privatization and a general shift from transparent to murky so that favors can be traded 4/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

And think about the pro-tyrant bias of foreign policy. Democratic regimes -- say, in Europe -- are by their own rules unable to offer 5/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

de facto personal bribes to the U.S. president. Putin's Russia or, for that matter, Xi's China, will be fine with sending huge business 6/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

to the profiteer-in-chief. And that will cause a tilt of U.S. policy toward authoritarian regimes. Stay alert 7/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

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La La Land has won the Palm Springs International Film Festivals Vanguard Award, in recognition of the films ensemble cast. Stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are expected to attend the ceremony alongside writer-director Damien Chazelle. The awards gala will be held January 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. La La Land tells the story of an aspiring actress, Mia (Emma Stone), and a struggling jazz musician, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), struggling together in Los Angeles. This becomes the latest hardware to be accumulated by the Lionsgate/Black Label Media awards season front runner, which won the Peoples Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, the Volpi Cup for Stones performance at Venice, the Audience Award at the Hamptons Film Festival and Best Cinematographer for Linus Sandgren and Best Producer for Marc Platt at the Hollywood Film Awards. The picture opens December 16.

Director and writer Damien Chazelle delivers a resonant cinematic masterpiece with La La Land, said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner in a statement. This visually stunning film pays tribute to classic Hollywood musicals with a contemporary love story driven by pitch-perfect performances by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to La La Land.

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KINSHASA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A landslide killed at least 13 people last week in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo after thousands of artisanal miners began invading a copper mine controlled by Freeport-McMoRan Inc, the provincial governor said on Monday.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 illegal miners have descended on the Tenke copper mine, one of the world's largest, since last week, Richard Muyej, governor of Lualaba province, told U.N.-sponsored Radio Okapi.

"The Tenke Fungurume site is overrun by clandestine miners who organise incursions into the heart of the private concession," Muyej said. "The report I received indicated that 13 bodies were taken from the site."

It was not immediately clear what accounted for the surge in artisanal miners on site. Freeport did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Freeport agreed in May to sell its 56 percent stake in Tenke to China Molybdenum and Toronto-based Lundin Mining announced last week it would sell its 24 percent stake to BHR Partners, a Chinese private equity firm.

But state miner Gecamines, which owns the remaining 20 percent, is trying to block the sales, saying they violate its right to purchase the stakes for itself.

Deadly accidents are common in Congo's mostly unregulated artisanal mining sector, where diggers use rudimentary tools, but far rarer at its large industrial mines.

Tens of thousands of people in Congo's southeast depend on small-scale mining to support their families and often operate within the perimeters of industrial mines. Congo is Africa's largest copper producer.

(Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) recapture large chunks of the coastal city of Sirte that IS jihadists seized in June 2015 as a staging post for an expansion into North Africa. But they are struggling to dislodge the last pockets of IS fighters, holed up in the fiercely-defended district of Al-Giza Al-Bahriya, in a costly battle that has left at least 667 dead and 3,000 wounded in GNA ranks.
The producers of London Fields filed suit Monday against Amber Heard, the films star, accusing her of sabotaging the film and costing them more than $10 million.

The adaptation of Martin Amis dystopian novel remains in limbo more than a year after its disastrous debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. The director, Mathew Cullen, sued producers Chris Hanley and Jordan Gertner at the opening of the festival, accusing them of fraud. The premiere screening was cancelled, and the critics who managed to see it gave it scathing reviews.

Two months later, the producers counter-sued Cullin, accusing him of breaching his contract. Among other things, the producers alleged that Cullin went $4.5 million over his $8 million budget.

In the new lawsuit, the producers contend that Heard also conspired to sabotage the film, going so far as to campaign for its cancellation at Toronto. According to the suit, much of the conflict with Heard related to the issue of nudity. The producers contend that Heard worked with the director to eliminate some of the more provocative scenes. The suit also claims that Heard objected to versions of the film that included some nudity and simulated sex, though she had agreed to the scenes in her contract. Heard stars as Nicola Six, a femme fatale with clairvoyant powers.

Heard understood the nature of the role  and the tenor of the screenplay, which was salacious, provocative, and contained nude scenes, the lawsuit states.

The suit reiterates the producers complaints with Cullin, accusing him of falling behind schedule and failing to deliver a timely cut of the film. The suit contends that Heard sided with Cullin against the producers. The producers ultimately took the film away from Cullin, finishing their own edit of the movie. Heard is alleged to have failed to perform dialogue replacement during post-production, and to have conspired with Cullin and other actors to damage the pics prospects.

Story continues

Heard attended the 2015 Toronto fest to promote The Danish Girl, in which she had a smaller part, and Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp, to whom she was married to at the time. She did not promote London Fields, creating an unavoidable public relations problem for the film, according to the suit. Heards agent urged the festival to pull the film from the schedule, the suit contends.

The Toronto fiasco prompted nearly all of the films potential distributors to break off talks with the producers, according to the suit.

Heards attorney declined to comment on the allegations.

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London nightclub Fabric is set to reopen after a judge signed off a new agreement by owners and local officials. The Independent reports that Fabric management has agreed upon a set of nearly 40 conditions with the Islington Council -- the body that closed the club in September -- including age restrictions, CCTV monitoring, ID scanners and strict rules on drug dealing and/or possession.

"We are now satisfied revocation of the license is not necessary," the council's Ranjit Bhose told the Islington Gazette. "Fabric has accepted procedure for searching and drug dealing within the club were not sufficient. It has now accepted 38 new conditions as well as its 155-page operating manual. The authority is satisfied Fabric understands what has to be done."

Judge Robin McPhee said he was "satisfied that the council and Fabric pulled together to get a set of workable conditions to prevent drug use and supply future."

Fabric owners released a statement following the decision:

We are hugely thankful to be able to confirm the news that we have won our licence back. We owe everything to our supporters. We really would not be here today without your unparalleled support and generosity. So many different people stepped up to put their voices to our cause, artists from all corners of the music community, fellow promoters who have put on huge events from us and clubbers from around the world who all united behind us. We've even seen people sporting their #savefabric T Shirts on the other side of this planet showing just how big this thing is.

So, thank you to all of you. Without the strength of your backing this would not have happened.

You saved Fabric.

The long-running club was forced to lock its doors on Sept. 7 after the Islington Borough Council revoked its license following the drug-related deaths of two 18-year-olds earlier this year. The Council's decision sent shock waves through the dance music community worldwide and led to multiple fundraising efforts to help with Fabric's legal expenses.

Story continues

London mayor Sadiq Khan, who had previously urged both parties to reach an agreement, said on Monday that the club's re-opening "shows we can find common-sense solutions that protect both the future of clubs and the safety of all clubbers."

Fantastic news. Confirmed that Fabric has reached a new agreement with Islington Council and will reopen. Thank you Islington.

- Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) November 21, 2016

This is a developing story.
Macy's

Macy's is about to kick off its next wave of store closures.

The retailer revealed plans in August to shut down 100 stores in early 2017 as it battles slowing sales and growing online competition.

Macy's Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet provided an update on the closures at a conference last week, and said some stores will start shutting down before the end of the year, according to the Cincinnati Business Journal.

Hoguet didn't reveal how many closures are imminent, but said "All 100 will not close at year end," according to the Business Journal.

"Many of those have leases, so it makes no sense to pay rent and not operate," she said. In other words, stores owned by Macy's will be the first to close.

Macy's has not released a comprehensive list of stores that will close. The company did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on how many stores would close before the end of the year.

"When we have more to share, we will announce accordingly," Macy's spokeswoman Holly Thomas said.

Macy's employs more than 150,000 people, and the closures represent 15% of its store base.

The only impending closures that Macy's has confirmed are the following:

Carolina Place in Pineville, North Carolina

Oakwood Mall in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Greenwood Mall in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Quail Springs Mall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (closed earlier this year)

Lancaster Mall in Salem, Oregon

Southwest Morrison St. in Portland, Oregon

Douglaston Mall in Douglaston, New York

Macy's Men's store in Union Square in San Francisco

In August, Morningstar analysts identified 28 stores that are most at risk for closures.

They include:

Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dover Mall and Commons in Dover, Delaware

South Towne Center in Sandy, Utah

Lakeland Square Mall in Lakeland, Florida

Friendly Center in Greensboro, North Carolina

Lakewood Center in Lakewood, California

The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, Florida

Crossroads Center in Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Battlefield Mall in Springfield, Missouri

Sangertown Square in New Hartford, New York

Westfield Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut

Montgomery Mall in North Wales, Pennsylvania

Starwood National Mall Portfolio in Plano, Texas

Peachtree Mall in Columbus, Georgia

Glenbrook Square in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, Georgia

Visalia Mall in Visalia, California

Willowbrook Mall in Houston, Texas

Town East Mall in Mesquite, Texas

Bend River Promenade in Bend, Oregon

Tucson Mall inTucson, Arizona

Sunvalley Shopping Center inConcord, California

Meadowood Mall in Reno, Nevada

Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, New Hampshire

Story continues

The business analytics firm 1010data has also made a prediction on where closures are most likely.

The firm identified the most at-risk areas for closures based on a review of consumer spending data that showed where Macy's is losing the most market share to competitors including Dillard's, Nordstrom, and Lord and Taylor.

Here are the top 10 cities where Macy's lost the most market share between 2014 and 2015  and where the company is most likely to close stores as a result, according to 1010data.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin  14% loss Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  12% loss Hartford, Connecticut  9.4% loss Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  9.1% loss Detroit, Michigan  8.2% loss Cincinnati, Ohio  7.5% loss Daytona Beach, Florida  7.4% loss St. Louis, Missouri  6.2% loss Columbus, Ohio  5.9% loss Cleveland, Ohio  5.7% loss

Macys experienced the biggest losses in market share in large cities in the Midwest, such as Cincinnati and Milwaukee. But areas in the South, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest also experienced significant declines, according to 1010data.

Here's a heat map showing the areas that experienced the most losses in market share.

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Thailand may be getting ready for its crown prince to finally become its king.

When King Bhumibol Adulyadej died after a 70-year reign in October, his son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, was almost immediately named as his successor. But after more than a month, the scandal-plagued Vajiralongkorn still hasn't formally announced the day he'll take over for his late dad.

Speculation was mounting this week ahead of the rumored Dec. 1 acension date recently reported by Reuters. Vajiralongkorn returned to the country on Nov. 11 after spending weeks abroad. Thai lawmakers were instructed Monday not to leave the nation between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 in case Vajiralongkorn ascended and they needed to have a last-minute meeting, Anadolu Agency reported.

Even so, Pornpetch Vichitchaikul, president of the National Legislative Assembly, emphasized that the early December date was not concrete. "As of right now, nothing special is planned," he told the Agency.

The vague timeline isn't new. In October, Vajiralongkorn took time to grieve after his father's death, with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha telling the public the crown prince would "perform his duty as heir" to the throne "when the right time comes." Vajiralongkorn's coronation is not planned to happen for another year  after his father's cremation, the New York Times reported.

Whenever it happens, many Thai leaders aren't likely to be thrilled about Vajiralongkorn's new position. Strict lese-majeste prevent the public from criticizing or defaming the royal family, but foreign media reports indicate Vajiralongkorn does not have the illustrious reputation his father did.

The 64-year-old crown prince has been married at least three times, been involved in an international custody battle, and is reportedly in a relationship with a former flight attendant in Germany. He's been linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was exiled amid accusations of corruption, and once named his dog Foo Foo an air chief marshal.

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Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Rights groups condemned Malaysia's government on Monday for a crackdown on organisers of a weekend anti-government rally, including the arrest of the protest leader under a tough law aimed at terrorism.

Tens of thousands of people flooded Kuala Lumpur with the yellow colours of the reformist movement Saturday to demand Prime Minister Najib Razak resign and face justice over a massive corruption scandal.

Authorities arrested more than a dozen people before, during and after the demonstration including Maria Chin Abdullah, the leader of the "Bersih" civil society alliance that staged the rally.

Most detainees have since been released but Chin remains in solitary confinement under a national security law that allows detention without charge for 28 days and can bring a lengthy prison sentence.

Six Asian human rights organisations in a joint statement called the crackdown a grave breach of basic rights.

"These arrests violate international human rights standards," it said, calling for all those arrested to be freed and all charges dropped.

The statement was released by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance.

The groups said they were especially "alarmed" at Chin's detention under a national security law introduced in 2012 by Najib's government with a promise it would not be used against political opponents.

"However, the authorities are instead using it to prevent the exercise of fundamental human rights, constituting an abuse of law," the statement said.

- 'Horrific abuse of power' -

The protest was the second in 15 months by Bersih to highlight allegations that billions of dollars were plundered from sovereign fund 1MDB, Najib's pet investment project.

Najib, 63, and 1MDB deny wrongdoing. But the US Justice Department earlier this year detailed an audacious campaign of fraud and money-laundering by his family, associates and an unnamed "Malaysian Official 1" -- an apparent thinly-veiled reference to Najib.

Story continues

Najib last year abruptly fired the attorney general and shut down domestic investigations. His government has increasingly throttled the media and whistle-blowers to contain the scandal.

Bersih, in a statement Monday, said Chin was being held in a tiny windowless cell with no mattress.

Bersih is "shocked and outraged that the authorities have gone to such extreme lengths to silence their critics", it said.

It called for international pressure on authorities and said nightly vigils would be held on her behalf at central Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square.

Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has threatened still more people could be detained.

Critics accuse Najib's government of trampling rights following a 2013 election in which his ruling coalition lost the popular vote.

Since the 1MDB scandal exploded last year, opponents accuse him of an outright lurch toward autocracy to suppress it.

Last week a leading opposition politician was convicted of releasing confidential documents on the scandal, and the chief editor of the country's leading independent news website was charged over a 1MDB-related news video.
Nov 21 (Reuters) - Malaysia will not host a Formula One Grand Prix after the current agreement expires in 2018, the Malay Mail reported on Monday. "The current agreement is from 2016 to 2018. So once that ends, there will be no more (F1 in Malaysia)," Malaysia's Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz told reporters at parliament, the paper said. "F1 attendance is dropping and there is less attraction now. We are spending RM 300 million ($68 million) a year," he added. ($1 = 4.4170 ringgit) (Editing by Ed Osmond)
Singapore State Courts (Photo: Yahoo Singapore/Safhras Khan)

A Singaporean man pleaded guilty on Monday (21 November) to posting a hate message on Facebook in June.

Muhammad Naim Sahib Marican, 30, admitted to one charge of deliberately wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person before District Judge John Ng in the State Courts.

Reading from the statement of facts, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mansoor Amir said that Muhammad Naims posted the message on 4 June 2016 at about 8 am.

Muhammad Safiyuddin, who is a friend of Muhammad Naim, saw the post at about 9 am and found it inappropriate. He reported the post to Facebook, which removed it around noon on the same day.

Later that day, Muhammad Safiyuddin lodged a police report against Muhammad Naim, saying that the accused had been posting hate messages on Facebook for several months. He provided the police a copy of the screenshots that he had taken of the posts.

Muhammad Safiyuddin said in the report that Muhammad Naim might pose a danger to certain groups of people in Singapore as the accused had been showing signs of advocating violence.

Another similar charge against Muhammad Naim, who was represented by his lawyer Ashwin Ganapathy, was taken into consideration. The messages posted by Muhammad Naim were previously highlighted by socio-political website The Independent.

The prosecution pointed out that Muhammad Naim is suffering from schizophrenia, citing a report from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). The court heard that the medical condition significantly contributed to his actions.

Ganapathy said that his client has been taking his medication regularly since and following orders by his doctor.

District Judge Ng instructed the defence to get an assessment report on Muhammad Naims condition from the IMH for him to consider a Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO). The case will be mentioned again on 13 January 2017.
Just one day after Donald Trump officially moves into the White House on Jan. 20, more than 100,000 people from all across the United States will march to the new presidents home during a massive Womens March on Washington. The march, which was announced on Facebook, will travel from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House on Jan. 21.

Breanne Butler, one of the marchs organizers, told the New York Times Thursday the event was scheduled for Trumps first day in office because the group wanted to make a statement.

The marginalized groups you attacked during your campaign? We are here and we are watching. And, like, Welcome to the White House, Butler said.

Another one of the event planners, Evvie Harmon, said the march was not an anti-Trump protest, but more so a reaction of women and minorities across the world who are very disturbed by the rhetoric that was said by Trump during his campaign. The inclusive event is aimed at unifying women, immigrants of all legal statuses, the LGBTQ community, Muslims and other religious groups, minorities, the economically impoverished, disabled people and those who have been victims of sexual assault, according to a statement on the events official Facebook page.

In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Womens March on Washington will send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us, read the statement.

Although organizers told the Times that they had no official funders for the march, other volunteers in various states have organized trips and launched GoFundMe pages to help get state participants to and from the nations capital on the day of the march. Bus and train services, like Rally, will provide round-trip transportation from several East Coast cities to the march at discounted rates.

Story continues

Other organizers affiliated with The Women's March on Washington will also host marches in individual cities including Los Angeles and New York City on Jan. 21 for those who are unable to travel to D.C. for the event.

The Womens March on Washington is set to start at 10 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and will end at the White House gates at 5 p.m. General participation in The Womens March on Washington is free.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will tell business leaders on Monday that she wants to cut corporation tax to the lowest among the world's 20 largest economies, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. The newspaper said May could cut corporation tax to lower than the 15 percent rate promised by Donald Trump before the U.S. presidential election. Cutting corporation tax from the 20 percent headline rate could attract companies away from other parts of the European Union to Britain and challenge Ireland's preeminence as Europe's low tax home for large international companies. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Kate Holton)
The day after Donald Trump was elected president, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray visited a local school. Many of the students, he says, were Latino, undocumented and upset about the new president-elect, who vowed during the campaign to deport millions of people just like them.

In the face of Trumps threat and his electoral victory, Murray has vowed to preserve Seattle as a sanctuary city, one of dozens across the country where local officials refuse to comply with federal immigration orders that could lead to deportation.

If we were forced to cooperate, those young people who spent their whole lives here would be ripped out of this city and sent to a place they dont know, Murray says. And I think that is immoral.

The stark differences over immigration policy have set up a clash between the incoming Republican administration and predominantly Democratic mayors around the country. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have both pledged to keep their cities sanctuary status, and mayors in roughly two dozen other cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Baltimore, Newark, N.J., and Providence, R.I., have reaffirmed their policies not to comply with federal immigration agents.

Trump, meanwhile, has taken aim at these cities; in his first 100 days, the president-elect has pledged to slash federal money for cities that refuse to work with immigration agents who ask local officials to detain potentially undocumented immigrants. On Sunday, Reince Priebus, Trumps incoming chief of staff, told CNN that cutting funding for those cities is something the administration will be looking into. But the threatened budget cuts have not dissuaded mayors determined to protect undocumented immigrants.

Read more: Donald Trumps Immigration Hard Line Would Affect Millions

Its my personal belief that its the morally right thing to do, says Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. But in addition to that, its the economically smart thing to do. Immigrants helped reverse decades of population decline in our city and theyre responsible for almost all our small business growth.

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The debate over sanctuary cities can be confusing. Thats in part because theres no legal definition for the term, which originated in the 1980s when churches began housing Central American refugees fleeing civil war, says Angela Garcia, a University of Chicago sociologist who studies immigration. A number of cities began adopting policies that allowed the release of undocumented immigrants who had been arrested for low-level crimes but had served their punishment. Local authorities believed that those kinds of policies could aid law enforcement because potential witnesses to a crime would feel more comfortable coming forward. Others implemented similar policies to prevent racial profiling by police.

Today, the term sanctuary city is often used to describe cities that refuse to cooperate with detainee requests from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, although many work with federal officials if the person detained has a felony record. Lena Graber, an attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, says more than 500 counties and about 40 cities routinely reject ICE detainee requests. More than 2 million immigrants were deported under President Obama, many of whom were targeted under the ICE Secure Communities Program, which created stronger ties between local officials and federal agents. In 2014, however, the Obama administration backed away from the program after backlash from some cities and immigration activists. The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has remained at around 11 million, according to the Pew Research Center, appearing to show that new arrivals have balanced removals.

During his campaign, Trump regularly criticized cities with sanctuary policies, often discussing the death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle, who was shot in San Francisco in July 2015. The suspect, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, was a Mexican national who had been deported five times before the shooting. Trump often pointed to cities like San Francisco as havens for undocumented immigrants, which he said could lead to an increase in crime. Studies, however, have shown that sanctuary city policies do not appear to have an effect on crime rates.

If Trump makes good on his promise to punish sanctuary cities, billions of federal dollars could be cut from local budgets across the country, money that goes to a host of programs. New York City, for example, gets roughly $10 billion in federal funding each year, supporting child services programs and public housing. In San Francisco, roughly 5% of the operating budget comes from Washington, while officials in Santa Fe, N.M., and Minneapolis say federal money comprises about 2% of their budgets.

Read more: Heres How Campuses Could Protect Undocumented Students From Donald Trumps Deportations

Any changes in federal funding would almost certainly have to be approved by Congress, however, and immigration experts say it may prove difficult to determine which cities should be subject to cuts.

Since theres no legal definition of a sanctuary city, they would have to make up what their definition is and then try to figure out which cities actively have a policy on the books that is creating sanctuary, Garcia says.

Local officials also argue that their policies are perfectly legal. The focus of many cities resistance involves whats called a detainer, a legal document federal immigration officials send to local law enforcement requesting that they hold someone whos already in custody.

For a very long time, those were honored unquestionably, says Christopher Lasch, a University of Denver law professor who studies sanctuary policy. Then it came to light that maybe the legal basis for these is extraordinarily shaky.

Read more: Jorge Ramos Says Donald Trump Should Act on Immigration

Around 2010, a number of jurisdictions argued that they werent under a legal obligation to follow federal orders, citing the 10th Amendments separation of powers between federal and local authorities as well as a 1997 Supreme Court decision protecting local officials from complying with a federal gun control law. In 2014, a federal court in Oregon determined that detainee orders also violated the Fourth Amendments prohibition of holding someone without probable cause.

There are very strong legal reasons why many jurisdictions have adopted these policies, Lasch says, adding that there would likely be serious legal challenges if President-elect Trump cuts federal funding to sanctuary cities.

In Seattle, which spent roughly $85 million in federal funds last year on programs and departments like homelessness services, transportation and the police, Mayor Murray says hell do what he can to prevent budget cutspotentially including litigation.

I think for the federal governmentfor the president and the Republicans in Congressto start reaching into very intricate programs that send money to the cities is going to be a big lift, Murray says. Under the current law, we are legally a sanctuary city and we will remain one under the rule of law.
When the cameras stop rolling, Suits star Meghan Markle is off and running to support one of her many humanitarian causes.

And the L.A.-born actress, who has captured the heart of Prince Harry, is being praised for her intelligence and compassion by those who have met her through One Young World, a U.K.-based charity that gathers together the brightest young leaders from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change.

The actress, who has just wrapped her filming the latest season of Suits, is a counselor for the organization.

Thuli Madonsela, a senior South African lawyer who recently won the Forbes Africa Person of the Year, met Markle in Ottawa earlier this year.

What struck me about her was her personality, compassion and her brain. She is extremely bright, Madomsela tells PEOPLE.

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I wanted to know why she was involved in helping young people to discover themselves, she continues. She encountered some forms of discrimination and awkward moments. When she had this platform, she thought it was her job to make it easier for other young people to discover themselves and lead their fullest life.

Madonsela adds, Apart from being smart, shes a very balanced, mature, original thinker.

Phiwokuhle Nogwaza had a memorable encounter with Markle in Ireland at the organization summit in 2014.

She came across and genuine and warm, she tells PEOPLE. Her speech still resonates with me today. It was a call to action  if someone like her can be involved in the work she is involved in then not a lot of us have any reason not to be active.

This is not her paying lip service, Nogwaza, a lawyer, adds, as human rights are close to her heart.

She was mobilizing people to get involved in whatever little way that you can. She is basically saying this is a problem we all have to deal with and we need to put the right voices are put their weight behind it, which she is happy to do.

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She is really soft and gentle. She is friendly and very warm and engaging. It didnt feel like I was speaking to someone from one of the biggest shows on TV. It was like talking to a regular girl. She knew the problems in detail, which I found incredible. She is humble and really down to earth.

Markle and Prince Harry share a passion for humanitarian causes. The actress, who began dating Prince Harry earlier this year, is head over heels for the royal and doing everything she can to make the relationship work, a friend of the actress told PEOPLE. Its been an absolute fairy tale for Meghan.

The busy couple has been fitting in time with each other when possible. Markle made a short trip to London recently to visit her boyfriend before he took off for his two-week tour of the Caribbean on behalf of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth.




Photo credit: Chip Somodevillaundefined

From Esquire

Donald Trump has already made it pretty clear that he's not thrilled to live in the White House, and it turns out he's not alone. In fact, Melania and Barron Trump aren't going to be living in it at all, according to the New York Post.

"Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign," a source "close to Trump's transition team" told the New York Post. "The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum."

Barron will be remaining in Trump Tower so that Barron can keep going to prviate school in the Upper West Side. The future first lady will be traveling to the White House "as needed," but will primarily remain in Trump Tower to focus on Barron.

"Melania is very supportive of her husband and is fully on board of doing everything that's needed as first lady," another source told the Post.

Of course, this situation will be a total nightmare for New Yorkers, as two of the five lanes on Fifth Avenue between West 56th and 57th streets will be closed off because of security barriers. Former Delta Force commander and president of global security company TigerSwan, Jim Reese, told the Post:

"[Trump Tower] is going to become the White House of New York. The Secret Service is going to have to keep that whole area cordoned off so that some wacko can't get close and detonate a car bomb."

In other words, the Trump family is going to make the next four years as terrible as possible for us.

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Melania Trump will not be taking up residence at the White House until at least next summer because she wants her 10-year-old son Barron to finish the school year.

Read: Comedian Who Writes Fake News Claims: Trump Won the Election Because of Me

Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that his wife and fourth-grade son, who attends a private school in Manhattans Upper West Side, will eventually move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, just not in January.

Very soon. After hes finished with school, Trump told reporters.

A source close to Trumps transition team told the New York Post Sunday: Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign. The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum.

The future first ladys decision to not move into the White House right away has been called unprecedented. Nearly every first lady has lived in the White House after their husbands were inaugurated since the doors of Americas most famous home opened in 1800.

Read: Crowd Boos as Kanye West Says He Didn't Vote But Would've Picked Trump

George Washington and his wife Martha were the only couple not to live at the White House because it was still being built during the first presidents two terms.

Watch: Floyd Mayweather Visits President-Elect at Home, 2 Years After Trump Called Win 'a Total Joke'

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Mike Pence said he wasnt offended by Hamilton casts message, which is a good thing for everyone

After the cast of Hamilton broke the fourth wall during bows at Friday nights performance, weve all been waiting to for Vice President-elect Mike Pence to break his silence on the event, the boos, and the casts message to the newly elected leader. As it turns out, Mike Pence wasnt offended by the Hamilton cast at all, so that might actually be a good sign that open dialogue is a thing that still exists. Unlike the president-elect, who tweeted his dissatisfaction with the Broadway casts message, Pence stayed silent on the matter on social media and spoke up instead on Fox News Sunday.

According to Reuters, Pence said simply, I wasnt offended, and while Donald Trump may have asked for an apology, Pence did not. At the very least, were all about open minds over here and if Pence is willing to let people speak their minds, everyone is better off. Even if he does have some questionable views on womens reproductive rights that we should talk to him about, perhaps.



Mike Pence on "Hamilton": "I heard the remarks that were made at the end and, you know, I wasn't offended by what was said" pic.twitter.com/4AwyYJhiWO  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 20, 2016

In a separate interview on CBSs Face the Nation, Pence stated,

I want to assure people who were disappointed in the election results, people who are feeling anxious about this time in the life of our nation, that President-elect Donald Trump meant exactly what he said on election night, that he is going to be the president of all the people of the United States of America.

That is either very reassuring to voters or not at all, which is why the cast of the hit Broadway musical felt the need to speak up in the first place, since they had a one in a million chance to be heard by the next vice-president. Because its super unlikely the cast will be invited to the White House again like they were last year).

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Pence also added that he thought the show was incredible, though his boss, Donald Trump, called it overrated. Lets hope these two guys can start agreeing on things soon.



The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

While Vixen, who plays controversial past Vice President Aaron Burr in Hamilton, read the statement to the audience, The New York Times reported that Lin-Manuel Miranda preemptively co-wrote the statement.After Fridays show, Miranda tweeted his support to the unconventional curtain call:

Proud of @HamiltonMusical. Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love.

And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.  Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 19, 2016

According to CBS, audience-members booed Pence before the show and cheered during relevant lyrics such as, Immigrants, we get the job done! If anything, the theater was a perfect place to talk politics. Hamilton is largely about the foundation of American values and turning the tables on conventional American history lessons. Maybe it was good that someone from the next White House was in attendance at a time when Americans are more divided than ever.

While many of the brilliant lyrics of Hamilton eerily apply to the state of our country today, one of the most important to sing loud and proud is from The World Was Wide Enough. It goes:

America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me / You Let me make a difference / A place where even orphan immigrants / Can leave their fingerprints and rise up.

With so many important issues, like immigration and other civil rights on the line, were so lucky to have Lin-Manuel Miranda to serve as the voice of reason. And a guy like Pence who at least heard the message. At least.

The post Mike Pence said he wasnt offended by Hamilton casts message, which is a good thing for everyone appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Milwaukee (AFP) - On North Avenue, young black men with nothing to do wander past boarded-up buildings and dilapidated shops. It is a sad, desolate landscape.

They and other African Americans in Milwaukee contributed to Hillary Clinton's crushing defeat in the presidential election: not only did they not vote for her, as had been expected, some even backed Donald Trump.

Wisconsin's largest city is also America's most racially segregated one, according to a study based on the 2010 census.

And Wisconsin served up one of the biggest surprises of an election day that shocked America and the world: no one thought the midwestern state would fall to the Republican billionaire.

Clinton was so sure of victory she did not even bother to campaign here after the Democratic primaries, instead sending her daughter Chelsea or her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

"She probably thought she had Wisconsin wrapped up," said Ronald Roberts, a 67 year old retiree, as he left a shop called Bill the Butcher. Its aging sign is missing the R.

"You can't take the voters for granted because they'll stay home," said Roberts, who used to work as an auto mechanic.

That is just what happened here, according to exit polls taken on November 8. Stop anyone in this part of town, where there is not a white person in sight, and they will tell you as much.

"I feel that she is no better than Trump. That's why I didn't vote," said Brittany Mays, a young woman who works in a beauty salon.

Around her decay abounds: empty housing developments or boarded up homes symbolizing the economic woes of families that fell on very hard times.

- Divide deepened -

Barack Obama had won over the state's traditionally Democratic electorate in 2008 and 2012, and Clinton had been banking on a strong turnout here among African Americans as she campaigned with the blessing of the nation's first black president.

But in Milwaukee, turnout slumped the most in poor, black areas of the state, compared to wealthier -- whiter -- areas.

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Many black people here were left out of the economic recovery that Wisconsin enjoyed after the Great Recession.

"Now you have got a lot people walking around here with no job. There is not a lot of money circulating," said Roberts.

In Milwaukee, practically all of the white people have moved to the suburbs, and Trump campaigned there, of course.

Black residents moved here from the south in the 1960s, just as the city's manufacturing base was starting to decline. The settled in the north of the inner city, and Hispanics set up in the south.

Over time, little by little, the racial divide has deepened. These days the unemployment rate among black people is three times that of whites. African Americans hold the national record in school drop-outs.

In Milwaukee County, more than 50 percent of black people aged 30 to 40 have spent time in jail, meaning they are barred from voting for a while.

What is more, a recent law forces people to show a photo ID in order to vote. Advocacy groups argue that this was designed to limit minority turnout in the presidential election.

"In some case, voters were wrongly turned away," said Andrea Kaminski, who runs the Wisconsin chapter of the League of Women Voters, which deployed 250 observers on Election Day.

- 'Dismal picture' -

"You cannot count the number of people who did not even try to vote because of the voter ID law. But that's probably a much bigger number than the people who were actually turned away," Kaminski said.

"I do know a few people who did not have ID or were restricted to vote and they feel like it was unfair to them," said Derricka Wesley, 24, who works at a Walmart store.

Hard hit by drug abuse, violence, a collapse in real estate prices and unemployment, many people in black neighborhoods of Milwaukee have simply lost hope, said LaTonya Johnson, a black local elected official.

"You see this dismal picture where people aren't really seeing the correlation between actually casting their ballot and improving their living conditions," Johnson said.

She argued that Trump's relentless campaign rhetoric about corruption discouraged people from voting.

"Trump was talking about all the corruption in politics and the rigged voting. So you got a lot of people who just really felt like their vote wasn't going to matter," said Johnson.

Some black voters reasoned themselves into backing the real estate tycoon with no experience in government.

"I voted for Trump because I believe he can create jobs. Period," said Dennis Johnson, a 39-year-old truck driver.

"He said, 'Hey, what have you got to lose?' To me, it just made perfect sense," said Johnson.

He added: "Now, listen, this country will survive four years of Trump. We survived eight years of Obama and eight years of Bush."
(ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon - see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets)

MILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - European shares were slightly lower in early trading on Monday as weakness in defensives, particularly pharma and consumer staples, offset gains across the mining sector.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.2 percent. Strength in miners helped UK's FTSE index stay in positive territory, while healthcare dragged the Swiss index SMI into the red.

Italian banks continued to be under pressure amid concerns over capital hikes at Monte Paschi and UniCredit, as well as over an upcoming constitutional reform referendum. Italy's benchmark FTSE MIB hit a six-week low.

In deals news, a U.S. regulator moved to stop a planned Chinese takeover of the German chip designer Aixtron sending its shares more than 8 percent lower.

UK midcaps were also on the backfoot following outlook warnings from Essentra and Mitie, raising concerns over the impact of Brexit on domestic UK companies.

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Editing by Vikram Subhedar)
The American Music Awards took aim at Donald Trump and his family Sunday night, much to the anger of Trump's supporters across the Twitterverse.

Read: Crowd Boos as Kanye West Says He Didn't Vote But Would've Picked Trump

Host Gigi Hadid squinted her eyes, pursed her lips and put on a fake accent to mock Melania Trump as she said: "I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children Sasha and Malia."

Some fans watching at home took offense to the models impression and took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Gigi Hadid showed the highest form of disrespect possible to the next first lady. Unforgivable! #AMAs  Gary Moring (@GaryMolten) November 21, 2016

@TommyHilfiger @GiGiHadid Her imitation of Melania Trump was like a mean girl in high school. Disgraceful.  Lisa Forsberg-Ley (@lisaforsbergley) November 21, 2016

@GiGiHadid @MELANIATRUMP Has class & dignity. She's a great mother, you owe her an apology for that disgusting display on #AMAs #GigiHadid  57States (@57States) November 21, 2016

Green Day performed their latest single, Bang Bang, but also used their airtime to protest the president-elect with a cover of the underground Texas punk band MDC song, No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA.

Read: Jennifer Lopez and Ex-Husband Marc Anthony Lock Lips at Latin Grammys

It is not the first time they have used their TV time to chastise a president. In 2004, they pulled a similar stunt while performing their single American Idiot, which was aimed at then-President George W. Bush.

Billionaire Mark Cuban also took aim at his foe, Donald Trump, when he was asked by Idina Menzel what he would be looking forward to in 2017, he replied: Not being invited to the inauguration.

Watch: Floyd Mayweather Visits President-Elect at Home, 2 Years After Trump Called Win 'a Total Joke'

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Andy Murray became just the 17th player to end the year ranked No. 1 in the world, after clinching top spot in the most dramatic way possible. For the first time in the history of the mens tour, the prize of finishing the year on top of the world came down to the final match.

Murray had been the dominant player in the second half of the year and usurped Novak Djokovic to take the No. 1 spot for the first time in his career two weeks ago. It was fitting therefore that the two men met in the final of the ATP World Tour finals in London on Sunday. And it was a contest that was true to the form guide.

Murray, the first British man to top the rankings, triumphed in straight sets against Djokovic, whose lead atop the rankings had looked insurmountable when he followed up victory at the Australian Open by landing the French Open title in June.

Djokovic had finished the last two years, and three of the last four, as world No. 1, but it is now Murray who will begin 2017 as the man every other player is looking to topple.

I would like to try and stay there, obviously, Murray said in a press conference after his win at Londons O2 Arena. It's taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there. I would obviously like to stay there. I'm aware that's going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year. I only managed to do it by one match. To repeat that again next year is going to be extremely difficult.

Murray ended 2016 on a 24-match winning streak. And since his defeat to Djokovic in the final of the French Open, he posted a 44-2 record, encompassing seven titles, including his second Wimbledon crown. Those numbers dont even include his Olympic gold medal, for which he received no ranking points. Had the same points been allocated in Rio as they were in London four years ago, Murrays position at the top of the rankings would have been settled without the need for Sundays final drama.

As it was, Murray came within a single point of losing top spot when saving a match point in his semifinal against Milos Raonic. Even with that loss, the Canadian rose up a spot in the rankings to finish 2016 in a career-high position of No. 3. U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka moved down to fourth after exiting in London at the round-robin stage.

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The rankings reflect the shakeup of the Big Four era in 2016. Both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have endured years significantly hampered by injury. Federer first suffered a knee injury following his loss to Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open and eventually called time on his year after Wimbledon in order to recover fully for 2017. The Swiss, who has spent a record 302 weeks at No. 1, ends the year ranked at 16, the first time he has finished a season outside of the worlds top 10 since 2001.

It is a similar story for Nadal. The Spaniard returned to the tour after withdrawing from the French Open because of a wrist injury but his efforts to get back on the court for the Olympics caused him further pain and led him to announcing his year was done after the Shanghai Masters in October. The 14-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, ends 2016 ranked at No. 9, the lowest he has finished a year since 2004, when he was aged just 18.

Despite the drop off of Federer and Nadal, the next generation has still not been able to step up and claim the sports biggest prizes. Indeed, 23-year-old Dominic Thiem, at a career high of No. 8, is the only player aged under 25 ranked inside the top 10.

ATP Year-End Rankings 2016



1. Andy Murray



2. Novak Djokovic



3. Milos Raonic



4. Stan Wawrinka



5. Kei Nishikori



6. Marin Cilic



7. Gael Monfils



8. Dominic Thiem



9. Rafael Nadal



10. Tomas Berdych



11. David Goffin



12. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga



13. Nick Kyrgios



14. Roberto Bautista-Agut



15. Lucas Pouille



16. Roger Federer



17. Grigor Dimitrov



18. Richard Gasquet



19. John Isner



20. Ivo Karlovic

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Two NASA artifacts that were used to help astronauts who were landing from space, albeit on two different worlds in two different eras, have themselves landed at a museum near where they were last used.

A Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) that was used to practice lunar landings for NASA's Apollo program in the 1960s and a Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) used to move astronauts from space shuttle orbiters after they landed in California in the 1990s have been loaned by the Armstrong Flight Research Center to the nearby Air Force Flight Test Museum on Edwards Air Force Base.

The LLRV, which because of the way it looks, gave way to its nickname, the "Flying Bedstead," was a test craft flown by pilots to develop the techniques for vertical takeoffs and landings on the moon. The second of two LLRVs built, the Armstrong example first went into service at the California center on Oct. 30, 1964. [NASA's 17 Apollo Missions in Pictures]

The aluminum-alloy-framed LLRV was constructed around a central vertical jet engine that stood in for an Apollo lunar module's descent engine. The testbed at first incorporated an ejection seat and rocket-powered control thrusters.

The controls and cockpit configuration were then modified to match three Lunar Landing Training Vehicles (LLTVs), a newer vehicle that integrated the design changes enabled by LLRV flight data. By the Apollo program's conclusion in 1972, one LLRV and two LLTVs had crashed, leaving the Armstrong center's LLRV as the sole survivor of its type.

The late Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the center's namesake since 2014, famously had to eject from the first LLRV on May 6, 1968 due to a control problem. The crash marked the last flight of an LLRV, in part because the LLTV was soon to enter service.

Workers drive NASAs space shuttle Crew Transport Vehicle, or CTV, to the Air Force Flight Test Museum. NASA/Lauren Hughes

The sole surviving late-model LLTV is displayed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA used the space shuttle program-era CTV to transfer astronaut crews from on board the orbiters to Armstrong's (then Dryden's) medical facilities after the shuttles touched down at Edwards Air Force Base.

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Flight surgeons performed basic medical examinations on astronauts inside the CTV. The vehicle, acquired in 1990, is a former people mover from Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. The mover's interior was modified for it to support its role as a mobile medical facility.

A similar CTV, used at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was transferred to the Wings of Dreams Museum at the Keystone Heights Airport in Starke, Florida, in 2013.

The Air Force Flight Test Museum in California, is free and open Tuesday through Friday for people with access to the Edwards Air Force Base, including visitors on public tours offered monthly. In addition to Armstrong's LLRV and CTV, which arrived at the museum Oct. 13, the facility exhibits a NASA M2-F1 "Flying Bathtub" lifting body and an SR-71A Blackbird high-altitude aircraft.

Follow collectSPACE.com or Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.

Editor's Recommendations
Two very different mysteries are afoot this Tuesday on NCIS (CBS, 8/7c), as the team juggles the Case of the Week with helping Bishops three (!) visiting brothers figure out which colleague is courting their kin.

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Indeed, the Thanskgiving-time episode offers a major mix of emotions, Emily Wickersham says in the Q&A below. In investigating a Navy chaplains murder, Bishop must accept some harsh realities about the Guantanamo Bay guilty. All the while, some familiar fellas at HQ (McGee included!) are getting grilled about possibly mixing work with play.

Heres what Wickersham had to say about the eventful hour.

TVLINE | When I saw you at the summer TCA party, I suggested that Bishop would be single and ready to mingle this season  and when you concurred, you apparently werent kidding.

I wasnt! I didnt know exactly where they were going to go, but I knew a little bit. Here we go!

TVLINE | Outside of her three brothers, who are visiting for Thanksgiving, who at the office dives deepest into the mystery of Bishops boyfriend?

Theres a bit of gathering and digging done by many people at NCIS. But its Abby who at one point leads us through a visual presentation. [Laughs]

TVLINE | Do Bishops brothers have distinct personalities, or is there more of a hive mind thing going on?

NCIS Bishop Dating



There is a running thread of similarities between the three, but theyre all played differently  and together, they are a major force coming in and making their presence known. Jesse Johnson (Killing Lincoln) plays Bishops youngest brother, Robbie, and he is probably the most similar to her, I would say, in terms of mannerisms. Ryan Doom (Raising Hope) plays George, her oldest brother, and then you have Jesse Bradford (Guys With Kids) as John It was really so fun to work with those guys.

Story continues

TVLINE | A lot of their scenes arent with you  and its quite hysterical as they forage for intel and interrogate suspects. Did you swing by to watch any of that being filmed?

Thats good to hear  theyve definitely got the funny down! I watched bits and pieces, but I didnt want to butt in too much. Their stuff with Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Reeves (Duane Henry), I cannot wait to see.

PHOTOSNCIS: Mary Stuart Masterson to Recur, Bond With [Spoiler]

TVLINE | When it comes to revealing with whom Bishop is breaking Rule 12, did you know what that final scene was going to be, or not until you read the script?

NCIS



No, I had known for a little while who it was going to be, but I didnt know how the storyline was going to unfold. Were you surprised?

TVLINE | I have to say, I had no idea who it was going to be, because as much as any of the suspects denies it, youre talking about professional spies, undercover agents and such. I was frankly at a point where if Michael Weatherly walked through the door at the end, I would have been like, Sure, OK. They spun a fun little mystery.

They did, yeah. Good! Im happy to hear that.

RELATEDCBS NCIS Renewed Through May 2018

TVLINE | On a more serious note: Tell us about the Case of the Week that Bishop gets involved in.

Bishop goes to Gitmo to gather evidence for a Navy chaplains murder case, and within that she starts questioning her work at the NSA, and how certain innocent people have been sent to Gitmo. That brings up all of these questions for her, about how many innocent people are there  and how many has she contributed to?

TVLINE | Between the brothers and the Gitmo case, this must rank among your favorite episodes.

I always love the episodes where we get to learn more about Bishops family, and have more character things come out. Thats always the most fun to play. And this one especially, I loved how theres a major mix of a lot of fun and then some super-serious stuff. And there are also some really sweet things.

RELATEDNCIS Remembers Dearly Departed Showrunner Gary Glasberg

TVLINE | Youre the first cast member I have spoken to since [showrunner] Gary Glasbergs passing. Is there a specific remembrance youd like to share?

Garys passing came as a shock to us all. He is really missed with our NCIS family, and will always be. He was very encouraging to me, and really gave me a shot  and I will always be thankful to him for that. But most importantly, I will remember his sweet, generous spirit.

Want more scoop on NCIS, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matts Inside Line.

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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Nearly one million people are living under siege in Syria, the UN aid chief said Monday, announcing revised figures.

The new figure of 974,080 people marks a dramatic increase from 486,700 Syrians living in besieged areas just six months ago, Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council.

"Nearly one million Syrians are living tonight under siege," O'Brien said.

"Civilians are being isolated, starved, bombed, denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee."

Some of the areas added to the UN's siege list are located in the Eastern Ghouta region of rural Damascus.

Condemning this "deliberate tactic of cruelty," O'Brien said the sieges were mostly perpetrated by Syrian government forces against civilians.

O'Brien, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, renewed his call for an end to besiegement.

The council was meeting to discuss the crisis in Syria as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded rebel-held parts of northern Syria including Aleppo, where food rations were running out.

"The situation is horrific, catastrophic," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre who accused the Damascus government of waging a "total-war strategy to take back Aleppo, no matter the price."

Delattre said the strategy would fail, pushing more Syrians to join the Islamic State group and fueling the terrorism that the Damascus government maintains it is combating.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the Russian-backed Syrian bombing of Aleppo was "barbaric" and called on Moscow and Damascus to stop.
By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A deal to buy three German-made submarines has come under public scrutiny in Israel after Israeli media discovered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal lawyer represents the local agent of the German conglomerate set to build the vessels. Both Netanyahu and his attorney, David Shimron, have denied any impropriety, and the shipbuilder, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, said it has no contractual connection with the lawyer. Opposition legislators have called for a parliamentary inquiry and the Justice Ministry said late on Sunday that the attorney-general is looking into whether there had been any conflict of interest. In a statement, the ministry said evidence collected so far did not warrant opening a criminal investigation by police. Shimron represents Miki Ganor, an Israeli businessman described by the Kiel-based shipyards as its sales partner. A Shimron spokesman told Army Radio on Monday that the lawyer did not discuss the submarine purchase with Netanyahu and looks after a wide range of Ganor's legal interests. The three submarines, costing about $1.5 billion, are due to replace aging vessels, with delivery only in about another 10 years. Israel currently has a fleet of five German submarines, with a sixth due to go in service around 2018. With the Israeli media largely focused on Shimron and whether his representation of both Netanyahu and Ganor was ethical, the prime minister, now in his fourth term, did not appear to be in any immediate political danger. Nor has there been any indication that the deal itself, which Netanyahu, 67, defended in public remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, is in any jeopardy. The German-supplied submarines are widely believed to be capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads and serve as a second-strike deterrent against Iran, should it ever build atomic weapons. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear arms and Israel has never acknowledged that it has any of its own. "These are strategic weapons systems that ensure the future, and I tell you, the very existence of the state of Israel for decades to come," Netanyahu told the cabinet at its weekly meeting. "Increasing the security and strength of the state of Israel is the only consideration that guided me in acquiring the submarines," he said. Amos Harel, military affairs commentator for the left-wing Haaretz daily, wrote on Monday that even if Netanyahu and Shimron never discussed the submarine issue, there should have been "a Great Wall of China" between the attorney as the prime minister's lawyer and as Ganor's representative. First elected to Israel's top office two decades ago, Netanyahu has weathered several scandals, including a police investigation and state audits into his family's spending. A former defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, who was removed by Netanyahu and is now a political rival, has said that the new submarines are surplus to requirements. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; editing by Mark Heinrich)
A joke protest from a wedding party has made national headlines. (Photo: Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

On Nov. 12, downtown Chicago was host to about 1,000 demonstrators, protesting Donald Trumps election, and many paused by the Trump International Hotel and Tower as a symbol of the president-elect. Just across the Chicago river, a couple were celebrating their wedding at the Art Institute of Chicago. They traveled to the Riverwalk with their wedding party to pose for portraits with their photographer. News photographer Bilgin Sasmaz, who had been covering the nearby protests for the Anadolu Agency, took the opportunity to capture this moment for the rest of the world: The bride and groom and 15 others, dressed to the nines, have their backs to the camera and their middle fingers raised high to the Trump name that adorns the building.

We did not make this the main focus of our wedding, and frankly it was not our intention for this to be a public statement, the groom told Yahoo Style via email from his honeymoon. (Due to the political climate, he asked that his name not be used in this story.) We didnt expect the attention that it has gotten, and in fact, we did this for our own wedding photographer, only for ourselves. After two takes (and two minutes spent doing this) we were surprised to turn around and see a crowd of people.

The groom said their hotel was near the Trump Tower, and they had been surrounded by protests that weekend.

We never joined in any of the protests  it was our wedding day, after all, and we had other things to be doing, the groom said, but they wanted this photo to record our sentiments of the time and place.

These newlyweds had an early preview of what many families are bracing themselves for this Thanksgiving, when loved ones with opposing political views will be gathered for the holiday. Other than this striking photograph, they managed to avoid politics altogether at their party.

We did have Trump supporters at our wedding, but this was our wedding day, and everyone there was there to support us, the groom said. It wasnt about politics; this was about us.

Story continues

Earlier this year, Yahoo spoke with Nancy Mitchell, owner of the Etiquette Advocate in Washington, D.C., for tips on how to keep weddings civil in these divided days.

If someone is trying to draw you into a political discussion and you feel that it is neither the time nor the place for it, take the high ground and finesse your response, Mitchell said. She suggested using a neutral, general statement like, This has been an interesting race.

Mitchells advice here can count for both weddings and holidays: Take a deep breath and remember that you are a polite guest and that the event is not about you, your confronter, or about debating politics.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration, delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Nigerian government forces believe that terrorist group Boko Haram has been defeated. Although there are still some active members, officials have stated that they will continue to work until the group is wiped out, Nigerian online news publication Premium Times reported Monday.

It is very clear that the terrorists have been defeated; there are no doubts about it, lieutenant general Tukur Buratai told journalists in Maiduguri, Nigeria. What we are doing now is a mop up operations aimed at ensuring that we clear the rest of them. It is one thing to defeat, and it is another issue for the terrorists to surrender."

Although the option for Boko Haram to surrender is still on the table, officials have stated that there are no plans to wait for the group to decide. That corridor is still open; however, we will not wait until they surrender, Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Defense Staff, stated.

Despite the governments confidence that the group is done, there is evidence that this is not the end. There is little to indicate the group is nearing its end or even that it is severely weakened, an expert on Nigeria and militancy at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Dakar William Assanvo told The Guardian.

Last month, the group led an attack in Borno which resulted in 83 missing troops and several wounded soldiers. Army spokesperson, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said that the attack was simply a temporary setback that was carried out by remnants of Boko Haram.

On Sunday, two suspected members of the terrorist group were captured. It was believed that the men were seeking out STD treatments and sexual enhancement drugs. Troops from the 112 Task Force Battalion followed the two men until they realized they were armed, the soldiers fired and killed the men.

Troops found a shopping list on the suspects that included items such as MMC Sex Men, Viagra, medical supplies, treatments for gonorrhea, Viamax power coffee which is known to increase the libido in men and other drugs.

Story continues

Officials plan to continue to work towards a solution to bring the group to an end. We are working on their final surrender in the remaining enclaves where they are now. And very soon we will achieve that objective, Buratai told the media.

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The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York is anticipated to turn down the appeal made by two of the worlds biggest banks  Nomura Holdings, Inc. NMR and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc RBS regarding to a settlement agreed in 2015. Per the terms of the settlement, the banks were ordered to pay $839 million over misrepresentation of documents in selling of mortgage backed securities.



Notably, the banks were accused by the Federal Housing Finance Agencys (FHFA) of providing fraudulent details regarding mortgages sold to the government-backed mortgage financiers, Federal National Mortgage Association FNMA and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. FMCC.



David Tulchin, Nomura's lawyer argued, "The district court excluded all evidence that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or any reasonable investor standing in their shoes knew about the underwriting practices at the time."



U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Wesley retorted with the statement "Couldn't Fannie and Freddie rely on you to do your job?"



The members of the three-judge panel enquired Tulchin and RBS's lawyer as to how the banks were not guilty if the quality of the loans represented by them on which Fannie and Freddie relied on while buying the mortgage bonds were fraudulent.



Background



The FHFA has accused the Japan-based Nomura, sponsor of the above mentioned securities, and Royal Bank of Scotland, the underwriter, of providing it with misleading details about securities worth $2 billion. Both were found guilty in May by U.S. District Judge, Denise Cote, in Manhattan after a non-jury trial and were directed to pay $806 million including $26.6 million to Fannie Mae and $779.4 million to Freddie Mac. Further, in Sep 2015, they were directed to pay an additional $33 million over and above $806 million.



Many financial institutions resorted to inappropriate, misleading, aggressive and fraudulent methods to boost their mortgage operations during the pre-crisis period that fuelled the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Consequently, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae reached the brink of bankruptcy and the government intervened to rescue these lenders.



In order to avoid such fiascos in the future, the regulators started implementing stringent restrictions. Consequently in 2011, the FHFA sued 18 financial organizations, including Wall Street majors like The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS and Bank of America Corp. BAC for selling faulty mortgage-backed securities to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae that caused investors severe losses. FHFA has reached nearly $17.9 billion in settlements with several of these banks.



Conclusion



Banks across the globe have been facing increasing scrutiny for their business practices. Many of the firms have paid billions of dollars as fines and compensation to settle lawsuits and probes. Many investors have lost their hard-earned money as a result of such business malpractices. Such settlements help restore their confidence in law enforcement agencies. Moreover, it reduces the existing litigation burden of banks.



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By Jeff Mason LIMA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday that chaos in Syria could persist for "quite some time" and that Russian and Iranian support for President Bashar al-Assad's air campaign had emboldened the Syrian leader's crackdown on rebels. "I am not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria," Obama said at a news conference in Lima at the conclusion of a summit with leaders of Pacific Rim countries. "Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back Assad and a brutal air campaign and essentially a pacification of Aleppo regardless of civilian casualties, children being killed or wounded, schools or hospitals being destroyed, then it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time," he said. Obama, a Democrat who will be succeeded on Jan. 20 by Republican President-elect Donald Trump, said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima that he was deeply concerned about the bloodshed in Syria and that a ceasefire was needed. "At this stage, were going to need a change in how all parties think about this in order for us to end the situation there," Obama said, adding: "Theres no doubt that there will continue to be extremist forces in and around Syria because its still going to be in chaos for quite some time." Under Obama, the military aid program overseen by the CIA has given arms and training to moderate rebels in coordination with countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan. Trump has signaled opposition to U.S. support for the rebels, saying he wants to focus on fighting Islamic State. He has said he might even cooperate on fighting the militant group with Russia, Assad's most powerful ally, which has been bombing the rebels for over a year in western Syria. Obama's trip to Peru was the last stop on an international farewell tour that included visits to Greece and Germany and was often overshadowed by questions about Trump's election. Obama said he had wrestled with the question of U.S. involvement in Syria for five years. He said he concluded the United States did not have a legal basis for military involvement in Syria and that doing so would have been a "strategic mistake" given the effort to stabilize Afghanistan and Iraq and the need to fight Islamic State. (Reporting by Jeff Mason in Lima and Dustin Volz and Caren Bohan in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)
(Adds quotes from Putin and Obama)

LIMA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke for around four minutes on Sunday at the APEC summit about Syria and Ukraine, in what is likely to be their last in-person meeting before Obama leaves office.

The two men met at the start of the summit meeting in Lima, Peru's capital. They exchanged pleasantries and remained standing as they spoke.

Obama later said at a news conference he told Putin the U.S. is deeply concerned about bloodshed and chaos in Syria "sown by constant bombing attacks" by the Syrian and Russian militaries, and that a ceasefire and political transition were needed.

"As usual I was candid and courteous but very clear about the strong differences we have on policy," Obama said.

Putin said at a separate news conference he thanked Obama during Sunday's meeting in Lima "for the years of joint work".

"I told him that we would be happy to see him (Obama) in Russia anytime if he wants, can and has desire", Putin said.

Obama and Putin have had a challenging relationship. The U.S. president said last week he had warned Putin about consequences for cyber attacks attributed to Moscow that were seen as trying to influence the U.S. election.

Obama said he also urged President Putin to help implement the Minsk peace agreement by working with France, Germany, Ukraine and the Uited States to halt the conflict in Donbass region of Ukraine.

During his race for the White House, Republican President-elect Donald Trump praised Putin. Putin said on Sunday that Trump had confirmed to him that he was willing to mend ties.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk, Caroline Stauffer and Mitra Taj; Editing by Alan Crosby and Simon Cameron-Moore)
LIMA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke for around four minutes on Sunday at the APEC summit about Syria and Ukraine, in what is likely to be their last in-person meeting before Obama leaves office. The two men met at the start of the summit meeting in Lima, Peru's capital. They exchanged pleasantries and remained standing as they spoke. Obama later said at a news conference he told Putin the U.S. is deeply concerned about bloodshed and chaos in Syria "sown by constant bombing attacks" by the Syrian and Russian militaries, and that a ceasefire and political transition were needed. "As usual I was candid and courteous but very clear about the strong differences we have on policy," Obama said. Putin said at a separate news conference he thanked Obama during Sunday's meeting in Lima "for the years of joint work". "I told him that we would be happy to see him (Obama) in Russia anytime if he wants, can and has desire", Putin said. Obama and Putin have had a challenging relationship. The U.S. president said last week he had warned Putin about consequences for cyber attacks attributed to Moscow that were seen as trying to influence the U.S. election. Obama said he also urged President Putin to help implement the Minsk peace agreement by working with France, Germany, Ukraine and the United States to halt the conflict in Donbass region of Ukraine. During his race for the White House, Republican President-elect Donald Trump praised Putin. Putin said on Sunday that Trump had confirmed to him that he was willing to mend ties. (Reporting by Jeff Mason, additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk, Caroline Stauffer and Mitra Taj; Editing by Alan Crosby and Simon Cameron-Moore)
Lima (AFP) - US President Barack Obama bid farewell to the world stage Sunday, pondering his legacy, offering advice to his successor and discussing his post-presidential life at the end of his final foreign tour.

His historic presidency and charisma have made Obama a rock star on the international scene, even at times when the daily grind of politics dimmed the glow around his election as the United States' first black president in 2008.

Obama spoke to both the American people and the world as he gave his final foreign press conference in Lima, Peru.

But ultimately, those two audiences are inseparably linked, he insisted.

It was a key message as he prepares to hand over to President-elect Donald Trump -- who has spooked some in the international community with his volatile style and isolationist rhetoric.

Several of Obama's fellow world leaders said an emotional goodbye as they wrapped up a summit.

"It's a great moment, but a sad moment, to have our last meeting," said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

"I am going to miss having Barack around," said Canada's Justin Trudeau, in comments that were tinged with a sense of uncertainty about things to come.

Here are some key points from Obama's remarks:

- Globalization -

Obama's last presidential trip was dominated by the deep uncertainty Trump has unleashed about the postwar world order with his attacks on free trade and the US role as "policeman of the world."

Obama said an increasingly borderless world has brought "historic gains in prosperity, education and health," but acknowledged globalization had both winners and losers.

"When jobs and capital can move across borders, when workers have less leverage, when wealthy corporations seem to be playing by a different set of rules, then workers and communities can be hit especially hard," he said.

"That can reverberate through our politics. That's why I firmly believe one of our greatest challenges in the years ahead across our nations and within them will be to make sure that the benefits of the global economy are shared."

Story continues

- President Trump -

It was an awkward trip for Obama, who campaigned against Trump as an unfit successor but now wants to reassure US allies on the future.

He asked the world to treat the brash billionaire as he himself vowed to do: "Wait and see."

At the same time, he sought to pre-empt his successor on some key issues.

He announced his signature trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific, the TPP, was still alive despite Trump's vows to kill it, and said he wanted to reach a deal on the Ukraine crisis before leaving office.

He said Trump's presidency would likely be far different from his candidacy.

"Once you're in the Oval Office, once you begin interacting with world leaders, once you see the complexities of the issues, that has a way of shaping your thinking," Obama said.

- Syria -

The brutal war in Syria has been the most difficult foreign policy challenge of Obama's eight years in the White House.

He defended is decision not to invade the country, but warned no end to the bloodshed was in sight.

"I am not optimistic about the short term prospects in Syria," he said, blaming Russian and Iranian support for the Bashar al-Assad regime.

"Assad has been emboldened. This is man who has decided that destroying his country, turning it to rubble and seeing its population scattered or killed was worth it for him to cling to power," he said.

"At this stage, we're going to need to have a change in how all parties think about this."

- Legacy -

Obama voiced regret that, despite high approval ratings, he was stymied on issues like gun control, a minimum wage increase and infrastructure spending.

But he defended the values of his presidency.

"The touchstone is what's good for the American people," he said.

"At the end of the day and at the end of eight years, I can look back and say that I consistently did what I thought was best. Doesn't mean you don't make mistakes. But it means you're being true to your oath and the commitments you made to the people who elected you."

- Life after presidency -

Obama was clear about his first priority for post-presidential life: "Take (First Lady) Michelle on vacation."

The president said he wants to "get some rest, spend time with my girls and do some writing, do some thinking."

He does not plan to immediately wade back into politics.

"I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform," he said.

But Obama didn't rule it out altogether.

"As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there's specifics that have less to do with some proposal or battle but goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals then I'll examine it when it comes," he said.
Lima (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said he told Vladimir Putin on Sunday that he wants to reach a settlement that solves the Ukraine crisis before he leaves office in January.

"I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done," Obama told a press conference in Peru, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

"I urged him to instruct his negotiators to work with ourselves, with France, with Germany, with Ukraine to see if we can get that done before my term is up."

Russia backs a separatist, pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

Moscow, which annexed Crimea from pro-Western Ukraine in 2014, denies either sending troops or weapons across its border to fuel the conflict, despite eyewitness testimony to the contrary.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande launched efforts in October to revive a stalled peace process during talks with Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko in Berlin.

Those involved are trying to draw up a roadmap for applying the frayed 2015 Minsk peace accords following months of impasse.

The shock election victory of Donald Trump in the United States has been met with trepidation in Kiev because of the mogul's praise for Putin.
Lima (AFP) - US President Barack Obama made a strident case for his successor Donald Trump to retain America's support for a liberal world order Sunday, warning world peace and prosperity depend on it.

"The main advice that I give to the incoming president is the United States really is an indispensable nation in our world order," Obama said in Peru as he wrapped up his final foreign visit.

The United States' ability to uphold "international norms and rules. That's what's made the modern world," Obama said, admitting that Washington had not always fulfilled its own ideals, but remained vital to global security.

"Here in Latin America there's been times when countries felt disrespected and on occasion had cause for that."

But he argued history served as a warning for those imagining or flirting with a revised global order.

"Take an example like Europe before that order was imposed. We had two world wars in a span of 30 years. In the second one, 60 million people were killed. Not half a million, not a million but 60 million. Entire continents in rubble."

"We're not going to be able to handle every problem, but the American president and the United States of America, if we're not on the side of what's right, if we're not making the argument and fighting for it even if sometimes we're not able to deliver it 100 percent everywhere, then it collapses."

"There's nobody to fill the void. There really isn't," he said.
Photo credit: ABC 7

From Cosmopolitan

You guys, it might actually be the apocolypse. I'm pretty sure this is what happens right after the locusts.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the ooze started oozing at about 11 a.m. on Friday in Santa Clara, California. Although it was initially a ~mystery~ as to how a Northern California city turned into an Ibiza in 2007, the Santa Clara Fire Department is blaming it on a malfunctioning fire suppression system at a nearby airport.

Its essentially like bubbles in your bathtub, San Jose Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow said.

Check out the pictures and try not to think about the end of days/an amazing frat party:

It's drawing quite the crowd in San Jose, this foam blob from a fire retardant malfunction filled Martin st pic.twitter.com/O7QQRf5LpK - Susie Steimle (@SusieSteimle) November 18, 2016

Police are on scene near #SanJose airport as foam is expanding, flooding the surrounding streets: https://t.co/Lqod1grfXQ pic.twitter.com/OhznDxtoJC - ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) November 18, 2016

And, uh, here's hoping this kid doesn't have tip-to-toe cancer now:

Guy just rode his bike through the foam. Now police are blocking it off to prevent copycats. pic.twitter.com/QF0ubBFXUp - Ann Rubin (@AnnRubinKTVU) November 18, 2016

Actually, he'll be fine. Probably. According to ABC7, the foam is non-toxic and will dissipate on its own."

Follow Laura on Twitter.

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As the new administration mulls what steps to take on border security, it's worthwhile to consider how much a discriminatory databasethe Muslim registrywill hurt us economically.

The rhetoric coming out of the Trump transition team about such a registry is ramping up. Last week, one member, Kris Kobach, talked about re-establishing a discredited post 9/11 database of non-citizens arriving from Arab or Muslim countries. Then, in a horrifying interview, Carl Higbie, a Trump surrogate and co-chair of Great America PAC, justified such an effort by pointing out that the United States had done it before, when it put Japanese Americans in internment camps.

The United States has always depended on immigrants to fuel its economy. Forty percent of the companies in the Fortune 500 in 2010 were founded by an immigrant or the child of an immigrant, according to the bipartisan Partnership for a New American Economy.

What is less well known are the contributions of entrepreneurs and business people from Arab and Muslim countries.

There are the exceptional people who have found the spotlight for one reason or another, like the celebrity CEO Farouk Shami, a Palestinian and a business associate of Donald Trump's, who came here with $71 and founded Farouk Systems, a Texas-based global hair care company. Shami's autobiography is titled, by the way, "American by Choice."

There are also communities of immigrants that have made a difference here, in ways that are crucial but aren't typically measured. In the beginning, immigrant communities are fragile, built by word-of-mouth and ease-of-travel; it's those communities that are likely to be lost in an environment hostile to immigrants.

Take Iranian Americans, many whose families traveled here after the Iranian Revolution. One study found they had more than three times the rate of self-employment compared with native-born Americans.

Many of them landed in Silicon Valley. Little noticed by mainstream America, Iranian Americans have founded, funded or been deeply involved in some of the greatest tech success stories of the last generation.

Story continues

There is, for instance, Pierre Omidyar, the son of Iranian immigrants who first went to Paris and then the United States. Omidyar founded eBay. There's Farhad Mohit, a brilliant serial entrepreneur, who founded Bizrate.com and Shopzilla and is now working on another startup. There are funders, like Ali Partovi, who like his brother is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and VC. Partovi's company, LinkExchange, was acquired by Microsoft in 1998 for $265 million, and he's since gone on to become one of the best-connected angel investors in Silicon Valley, investing in or advising companies including Dropbox, Facebook and Uber, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Then there's Omid Kordestani, the current executive chairman of Twitter, who was Google's 11th employee and its first business executive, responsible for all revenue and partnerships. "Among the many flaws of this idea is the reality of people's beliefs and faiths irrespective of where they are born. For example, I actually went to an Italian Catholic school in Iran. I respect all religions but do not practice any and only believe in science!" Kordestani wrote in an email.

One of the great waves of Iranian immigration happened after the 1978-79 revolution in Iran, when it would have been easy to create an environment of fear and rejection in the United States. If that had happened, would highly educated Iranians have come here? In such numbers? Would they have been able to form the kind of community that has helped create one of America's biggest assets, its high-tech industry?

Inherent flaws and a waste of energy

Officials in the new administration, tasked with moving fast to put some of Mr. Trump's promises into action, may argue that the new database is just a re-instatement. It was damaging before, and didn't work. In the current environment, it is likely to do much more damage, because it will be seen even as an expression of bigotry.

The energy and focus wasted on labeling people by irrelevant factors, like geography, aren't being spent on what matters, like recognizing the patterns of action that show the intent to harm others. The Department of Homeland Security recommended scrapping the previous iteration of this database, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. It said one of the reasons was that "information from flight manifests, travel and ID documents and intelligence was more valuable to determine who poses a potential national security risk."

The impact of a registry

In the business community, there may be no hue and cry over a registry. Most business people have little taste for controversy. But in a global marketplace of talent, where cities from Amsterdam to Dubai and Singapore are rising fast, people will go where they feel wanted and safe. Entrepreneurs, or budding entrepreneurs, of all races and creeds will give a second thought to coming to America.

How could they, in good conscience, recruit top Muslim employees from the rest of the world to relocate here? Those conversations will likely go on in the corporate sector, too. American companies with plenty of money may invest in U.S. manufacturing plants. Meanwhile, they'll build their research labs and partnerships elsewhere, in the cities and countries where the best employees want to live.

The struggle for identity

Research suggests that anti-immigrant backlashes are driven by an identity crisis. Security in this case is the convenient vessel containing the debate, but the heart of the question is a struggle about what kind of country America is.

I'm the descendent of, among many others, an Irish coal miner who landed in Pennsylvania, a German immigrant who built a bustling retail empire in Baltimore, and a British farmer who took up arms as an aide to George Washington.

On Nov. 9, a friend of mine from the Arab world sent me a sad note: "Liberty's lamp went out," it said, and I felt overwhelming grief for the stain on a part of America's identity that I particularly cherished. "It's only dimmed," I said.

Not everyone will feel as I do, and we can argue over what America's identity is or ought to be, a secure home for its citizens or a generous nation where anyone can come and prove himself, or herself. I hope it can be both.

But we should recognize the cost if we overstep in the name of security. What some people may label reasonable measures could bar or dissuade the next generation of entrepreneurs and dreamers from coming to America. History tells us they could as easily be from Iran, or Egypt or the UAE, just as much as from Ireland, Germany or Great Britain.

Immigrant entrepreneurs from everywhere have helped make America great through its whole history  and will again, if we don't keep them out.

Commentary by Elizabeth MacBride, a freelance writer and editor who writes about entrepreneurs and the Middle East. Follow her on Twitter @editoremacb.







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(Reuters) - Business software maker Oracle Corp said on Monday it would buy Dyn, a monitor of global internet performance and traffic, to allow cloud customers to optimize their infrastructure costs and increase web-driven revenue.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Dyn, whose customers include Netflix Inc, Twitter Inc and Pfizer Inc, was crippled by high-profile cyber attacks last month that disrupted some of its clients' websites.

Oracle's cloud business stores enterprise software and data on remote servers. The company said Dyn would help its cloud customers improve access and page-load speeds for their websites using internet performance information.

Manchester, New Hampshire-based Dyn acts like a switchboard for internet traffic, and helps businesses monitor, control and optimize internet applications and cloud services. It is also a provider of domain name services.

When a domain name services provider is attacked, it can cause massive disruptions as such companies are responsible for forwarding large volumes of internet traffic.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)
Four people, including two children, were killed Monday and ten others wounded in cross-border fire in disputed Kashmir, the latest casualties in ongoing skirmishes between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

"At the Line of Control (LoC) four civilians embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and 10 were injured," Pakistan's military said in a brief statement.

"There are reports of heavy casualties of Indian soldiers due to effective retaliatory fire by Pakistani troops," it added, claiming at least six Indian soldiers had been killed.

There was no immediate response to the allegation from Indian officials.

Local Pakistani officials said two children and a woman were among those killed Monday in heavy shelling by Indian troops in three separate sectors along the LoC in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The latest casualties occurred two days after three children were killed when mortar shells fired by Indian forces hit a village along the LoC.

Tensions across the long-disputed de facto Himalayan border reached dangerous levels in September, after India blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on an army base that killed 19 soldiers.

India said it had responded by carrying out "surgical strikes" across the heavily militarised border, sparking a furious reaction from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place.

There have since been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries including of civilians.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region.
By Asad Hashim ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's powerful army chief Raheel Sharif began a round of farewell visits on Monday, his spokesman said, damping speculation he might receive an extension when his three-year term ends this month. The general has been immensely popular among ordinary Pakistanis, who see him as having effectively tackled crime and corruption, besides carrying the fight against Islamist terrorism to unstable tribal areas. Sharif, who is due to retire on Nov. 29, had never said he would seek an extension, but speculation of such a move has recently been rife in the media and among politicians. "Army chief kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," military spokesman Lieutenant-General Asim Bajwa said on social network Twitter, adding that Sharif would meet soldiers on the visits. "Accomplishment of peace and stability no ordinary task," he added. "Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in offsetting all odds." The army has ruled Pakistan for roughly half its 69-year history, and tension with civilian governments - including that of current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - often runs high. Sharif himself was ousted from power in 1999 by a military coup. Pakistan's last two army chiefs, including Pervez Musharraf, who led the coup against Sharif, were both given extensions. Prime Minister Sharif has until Nov. 28 to name his choice of a replacement for the retiring army chief. Typically, the military provides the prime minister the dossiers of three or four contenders from which to choose. Contenders this year include Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Ramday, Lieutenant General Zubair Hayat, Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad and Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa, three of the prime minister's aides told Reuters in September. The succession will also be closely watched overseas. With nearly 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan fighting the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups, Washington is losing patience with what it calls Pakistan's failure to hunt down insurgents who launch attacks on Afghanistan from Pakistani territory. Pakistan denies this. India has also ratcheted up rhetoric against Pakistan, alarmed at an escalation of violence in the disputed region of Kashmir, where an attack on an army base killed 18 soldiers. Islamabad denies accusations it was behind the raid. At home, military operations under Sharif have targeted Islamist militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, in 2014, besides a crackdown on crime in the southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan's largest. Overall violence has fallen since, but large-scale attacks have surged recently, with at least 185 people killed in three major attacks since August. (Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The Palm Springs International Film Festival will present the film La La Land with the Vanguard Award at its annual awards gala on Jan. 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The award is presented to the films cast and director recognizing its outstanding creative ensemble. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who play the leads, and director/writer Damien Chazelle are expected to attend.

Director and writer Damien Chazelle delivers a resonant cinematic masterpiece with La La Land,' said festival chairman Harold Matzner. This visually stunning film pays tribute to classic Hollywood musicals with a contemporary love story driven by pitch-perfect performances by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to La La Land.'

Chazelle directed from his own script about an aspiring actress and a dedicated jazz musician, both struggling to make ends meet in modern-day Los Angeles. La La Land premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 31 and will be released Dec. 9 in the U.S. by Lionsgate.

It has also opened the Denver and Chicago Film Festivals, along with screenings at Telluride, Toronto, and the AFI Fest in Hollywood. Stone and Gosling will be honored on Feb. 3 by the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for its 2017 outstanding performers of the year award for their work in La La Land.

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PARIS (Reuters) - Paris' Champs-Elysees avenue was lit up with Christmas sparkle on Monday to welcome in the festive period in the French capital. Hundreds of onlookers watched as blue and gold twinkling lights were switched on along both sides of the famed avenue, which is lined with museums, theatres and luxury shops and leads up to the Arc de Triomphe monument. Revellers also enjoyed a nearby Christmas market, tasting roasted chestnuts and chocolate-covered churros. (Reporting By Miranda Alexander-Webber; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Paris (AFP) - Paris prosecutors have opened a probe into the leaking of a confidential document on planned French air strikes in Syria in 2013, which in the end were never carried out, judicial sources said Monday.

The document was obtained by two journalists from the daily Le Monde who recently published a tell-all book based on interviews with Socialist President Francois Hollande.

The investigation into possible compromising of national defence security was opened at the behest of rightwing lawmaker Eric Ciotti, the sources said.

Journalists Gerard Davet and Fabrice Lhomme wrote in Le Monde on August 30 that they had obtained a copy of a document marked "confidential" from the president.

Drafted the previous day, August 29, by Hollande's own chief of defence staff, "it detailed the timeline of the coming raid. It's the veritable handbook of French intervention," they wrote.

The article, headlined "The day Obama dropped Hollande", reported that France decided against taking part in US-led air strikes in Syria in the face of indecision by US President Barack Obama.

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian played down the leak earlier this month, saying: "What was involved? The publication in a newspaper of information... on events of three years ago and on an operation that did not take place."

France joined the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria in September 2015.
On Nov 18, we issued an updated research report on Waltham, MA-based PerkinElmer, Inc. PKI  a leading global provider of scientific instruments, consumables, and services to pharmaceutical, biomedical and environmental testing markets. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2016 earnings fell by 4 cents to $2.76 per share. The stock recorded an earnings surprise of 3.03% in the last reported quarter and has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of almost 11.3%.

PerkinElmer ended the third quarter on a mixed note wherein adjusted earnings surpassed managements guided range and the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, revenues lagged the guided range and also deteriorated on a year-over-year basis.

Human Health and Environmental revenues declined massively on a year-over-year basis in the just-reported quarter, due to softer capital equipment end-markets. Additionally, lower-than-estimated sales in the U.S. and Europe caused a drag on Environmental sales.

The decline in sales at the Medical Imaging segment raises concern. PerkinElmer faced significant headwinds in the radiochemical and capital-intensive businesses as well.

Additionally, managements decision to eliminate certain slower growth segments from the priority list has marred the short-term prospects for PerkinElmer.

We believe a sluggish European macro-economic environment and restrained spending and challenges in Japan are also likely to hurt the top line in the near term.

Nevertheless, with an enhanced focus on product innovation and expansion into emerging markets like China, PerkinElmer holds considerable promise for the coming quarters.

Key Picks

Better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space include Cogentix Medical, Inc. CGNT, CryoLife Inc. CRY and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX. Notably, IDEXX Laboratories and Cogentix sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while CryoLife has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Cogentix Medical registered a positive earnings surprise of 100% in the last reported quarter. Notably, the company has a solid one-year return of roughly 73.7%.

CryoLife has a stellar one-year return of roughly 90.7%. In the last reported quarter, the company registered an impressive earnings surprise of 225%.

IDEXX Laboratories represents a solid one-year return of almost 67.8%. The company has a long-term expected growth rate of roughly 14.96%.

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Philosopher Richard Rorty in 2004. (Photo: Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP)

The victory of Donald Trump caught countless progressives and establishment conservatives by surprise. Since Election Day, theres been no shortage of ink spent trying to sort out the underlying factors behind his startling rise to the Oval Office. But for late philosopher Richard Rorty, the writing was on the wall.

In 1998, Rorty, who most recently taught at Stanford University, argued in Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth-Century America that old industrialized democracies are heading toward a period in which populist movements are likely to overturn constitutional governments.

He said the left had embraced identity politics at the expense of economic justice. Resentment would fester among the working class as they realized that the powers that be were not fighting to stop wages from shrinking or jobs from being sent overseas.

He suggested that many would turn to a strongman to flip the script on the smug, overpaid and deceitful who had long neglected their suffering. The author said the progress made on behalf of ethnic minorities, homosexuals and women would then run the risk of being rolled back.

One reason Rorty perceived something many other left-leaning academics missed might have to do with his chosen philosophical tradition: pragmatism, which emphasizes practical consequences. He died in 2007, so we will never know for sure what he would have thought about Trumps highly unconventional campaign.

A few days after Trumps surprise victory, Queens University law professor Lisa Kerr and others posted a particularly prescient passage from Achieving Our Country on Twitter. The three paragraphs swiftly caught fire on social media and were shared thousands of times. The New Yorker cited the passage in a profile of President Obama, and the New York Times analyzed the words in-depth.

Here is the slightly condensed version of the passage that Kerr posted online:

[M]embers of labor unions, and unorganized unskilled workers, will sooner or later realize that their government is not even trying to prevent wages from sinking or to prevent jobs from being exported. Around the same time, they will realize that suburban white-collar workers  themselves desperately afraid of being downsized  are not going to let themselves be taxed to provide social benefits for anyone else. At that point, something will crack. The nonsuburban electorate will decide that the system has failed and start looking around for a strongman to vote for  someone willing to assure them that, once he is elected, the smug bureaucrats, tricky lawyers, overpaid bond salesmen, and postmodernist professors will no longer be calling the shots. One thing that is very likely to happen is that the gains made in the past 40 years by black and brown Americans, and by homosexuals, will be wiped out. Jocular contempt for women will come back into fashion. All the resentment which badly educated Americans feel about having their manners dictated to them by college graduates will find an outlet.

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Amid the renewed attention, online searches for Achieving Our Country skyrocketed and there was a run on the book at Harvard University Press, which is reprinting the book and plans to make it available online as soon as possible.

Lindsay Waters, executive editor for the humanities at Harvard University Press, recalled having big arguments with Rorty before the book was published because he thought it was too old-style liberal.

He thought some of the liberals from the 1930s were really fabulous. He was trying to revive the left with this book. He was trying to kick them in the rear end so they would stop doing stuff that was easy and lazy however trendy it looked, Waters said in an interview with Yahoo News.

According to Waters, Rorty was a clear-thinking provocateur who refused to play it safe and retained the ability to see larger trends, the big picture. He said a lot of scholars in academia think of themselves as left-wingers but dont actually do anything.

Achieving Our Country was first published in 1998 by Harvard University Press in Cambridge, Mass. (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Rorty was trying to get people to think. Thats the philosophers job, he continued. He was trying to get people to prepare for being more responsive to the political situation in America.

Waters, who started publishing Rortys work in the early 1980s, said his late friend really upset other philosophers with the 1979 release of Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature.

The reason we love poets and philosophers is that they almost have some sixth sense. They pick up vibes that the rest of the world is not sensitive to or refuses to see, he said. He was being Cassandra: If you people dont wake up, things are going to get a lot worse. The enemy is going to win. Can I make that any more clear to you?

The crux of Rortys thesis in Achieving Our Country is that the sins of the United States past do not need to define its future. He criticized the American left of retreating into theory at the expense of taking an active role in civic life.

Rorty lamented that many of his fellow liberals had come to view American patriotism as an endorsement of past atrocities, such as slavery or violence against Native Americans. He encouraged his peers to re-embrace the patriotism of the old left and work toward a more hopeful future, much like Walt Whitman and John Dewey had before.

In the relevant passage, Rorty goes on to suggest that after his imagined strongman comes to power he will quickly make peace with the international super-rich and invoke memories of past military victories to encourage military adventures for short-term prosperity. But, Rorty continued, the strongman will ultimately be a disaster for the world and people will wonder why there had been so little resistance to his ascent.

[Rorty] was a big-picture guy, Waters said. He was inspired by [Ralph Waldo] Emerson and William James and was concerned about the soul of America and whats happening in America. I suppose thats one of the things that makes him the most different from other people. He dared to think about the country and whats good for the country.
(Reuters) - Aberdeen Asset Management's (ADN.L) chief executive said Italian bank UniCredit (CRDI.MI) had priced its Pioneer fund unit too high at 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion), prompting the British firm to drop a takeover bid, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

Martin Gilbert said the firm was through to the second round, but "couldn't quite afford" the price tag, Bloomberg reported. http://bloom.bg/2g8IfLp

Gilbert told Reuters last week that Aberdeen had bid for Pioneer, but had decided not to proceed.

"I think we felt we weren't going to win so it was better to withdraw graciously," Gilbert told Reuters.

Reuters reported this month that UniCredit had received four binding offers for Pioneer, including from a consortium led by Italy's post office, France's Amundi (AMUN.PA), Australia's Macquarie (MQG.AX) and U.S.-based Ameriprise Financial (AMP.N), valuing the business at more than 3 billion euros.

UniCredit, which is reportedly aiming to take a final decision on the buyer by Dec. 10, is looking to sell the asset manager and other businesses to boost its stretched capital.

Pioneer is Europe's sixth-largest asset manager with assets under management of around 225.8 billion euros.

Aberdeen did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment on Monday, while a spokeswoman for Pioneer said the company did not comment on market rumours.

($1 = 0.9405 euros)

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Stanley Carvalho in Dubai; Editing by Susan Fenton)
LONDON (Reuters) - Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and his French co-star Marion Cotillard bring their new movie "Allied" to Europe this week, hitting the promotional trail for the World War Two thriller. Pitt has kept a low profile since his split from Angelina Jolie in September after an incident in which the 52-year-old actor was reported to have lost his temper in front of one or more of their children. Earlier this month he attended an "Allied" fan event in Los Angeles, hours after he was cleared of child abuse allegations. Resuming promotional duties for the film, in which he plays Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan alongside Cotillard's French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour, Pitt attended the film's premiere in Paris on Sunday night, where he was greeted by cheering fans asking for selfies and his autograph. He and Cotillard were due to hit the red carpet in London later on Monday for the movie's British premiere. In the film, which kicks off in 1942 North Africa, Vatan and Beausejour join forces to assassinate a German ambassador. They portray a married couple for their mission and later fall in love. However, their relationship is put to the test when Beausejour's allegiances are questioned. "This one was more a universal story about ... love, I would say trust," Pitt said in Paris. "Trust in the person you love, trust in your intuition, trusting even the job you are doing, the mission itself, and that's what I most liked about the script. That's what I focused on really". "Allied" hits cinemas worldwide from Wednesday. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Warsaw (AFP) - Polish President Andrzej Duda has said he fears EU-British ties will suffer after Brexit if "obstinate politicians" from the bloc continue to use hardline rhetoric against London.

His comments came after Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem last week described the UK's approach to Brexit as "unrealistic", while Italian Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda said its aim of retaining common market access while restricting immigration was "wishful thinking".

"I propose a glass of cold water to cool emotions, so that in the end it doesnat turn out that we all lose -- both the EU and the UK," Duda told Bloomberg in an interview published Monday.

"It would be a great loss for the EU if it got cut off from the UK economy and the ties of good, open cooperation between the two were severed," he said in the interview conducted last week.

Duda added that there was the danger that a "group of obstinate politicians" will "attempt to punish the British people, or the UK, for daring to leave the EU."

Britain voted to leave the European Union in a June referendum and British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will trigger Article 50 -- the formal procedure for departure -- by the end of March at the latest.

One of the key factors behind the Brexit vote was the influx of hundreds of thousands of citizens from other EU states into Britain every year to find work.

May has said she wants to cut these numbers while retaining "maximum" access to the EU single market for British firms, but EU leaders have ruled this out, saying Britain would have to accept free movement of people.

Poland has a huge stake in the issue because around 800,000 Poles are thought to be living in Britain, one of its biggest minority groups.

Poland has also joined Britain in leading the fight against centralised authority in the EU.

Populists in both countries, and elsewhere in eastern Europe, have attacked the powerful executive European Commission as a federalist assault on sovereignty.

In contrast, EU supporters attribute Europe's flaws to the fact that stronger centralised institutions and democracy have been thwarted by national interests.
On Monday, NATOs Multinational Corps Northeast began exercises in Szczecin, Poland. The purpose of this practice, according to commander Maj. Zbigniew Garbacz, is to allow the NATO Corps to achieve high combat readiness, which means shortening its reaction time. Though he did not say to what the corps would be reacting, given that these are NATO exercises, the implication is clear: Russia.

Indeed, as the New York Times wrote Saturday, Polands highly conservative, nationalist ruling Law and Justice party might have well been excited about the U.S. election of Donald Trump had it not been for the American president-elects consistent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and occasional criticism of NATO. Some small comfort was taken in video that surfaced of Trump promising to help Poles get wreckage back from Russia of the Smolensk plane crash  in which the former president, and brother of the Law and Justice party leader, died. Nevertheless, unlike in other European countries, in Poland, where some still remember the Soviet era, to be a peoples party is not to be pro-Putin.

But neither is it to be pro-liberalism. In the wake of Trumps election, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said, Democracy won despite the liberal propaganda. This idea  that it is elections, not elections and liberal civic institutions, that constitute democracy  is, in fact, a very Putin-esque idea.

And it is the idea toward which Poland is rapidly moving. Last Wednesday, the Polish parliament approved the creation of a defense force that in theory will keep Poland safe from Russia  but that, in practice, could be a militarized extension of the ruling party. The units will have military responsibilities, yes, but so, too, are they to be tasked with anti-crisis measures, anti-subversion, anti-terrorism and anti-disinformation in defense of civil security and the cultural heritage of the Polish nation.

Whats more, shortly after coming to power, the Law and Justice party moved to appoint justices to Polands highest court  and remove those who were put in place by its political predecessor. The government was then given official warning by the European Union, which said the ruling party was putting its own countrys rule of law at risk. Now, however, it looks as though Warsaw will not need to heed that warning. As the Financial Times explained last Thursday, the European Commission needs member states support to make any good on its threats  and Hungary is expected to block any action as regards this case. And so European officials expect that, on December 19, when the court chairmans term expires, the Law and Justice Party will have control of the constitutional tribunal.

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And what will the court look like when it does? When the Law and Justice party rules not just the government, but also the courts?

The closest thing it [the current government] resembles is the structure of the Communist Party, said Marcin Buzanski, director of the Peace and Stabilization Strategies Programme in Warsaw. This is the part of reality that were facing.

The NATO exercises, then, may be performed to resist return of Soviet style governance from outside. But they cannot protect the Polish people from the resurgence within.

Photo credit: WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP/Getty Images
(Adds details)

By Chris Michaud

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters opposed to a North Dakota oil pipeline project they say threatens water resources and sacred tribal lands clashed with police who fired tear gas at the scene of a similar confrontation last month, officials said.

An estimated 400 protesters mounted the Backwater Bridge and attempted to force their way past police in what the Morton County Sheriff's Department initially described as an "ongoing riot," the latest in a series of demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

A statement from the agency said one arrest had been made by 8:30 p.m. local time (0230 GMT Monday), about 2 1/2 hours after the incident began 45 miles (30 miles) south of Bismark, the North Dakota capital. About 100 to 200 protesters remained after midnight.

The Backwater Bridge has been closed since late October, when activists clashed with police in riot gear and set two trucks on fire, prompting authorities to forcibly shut down a protesters encampment nearby.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department said officers on the scene of the latest confrontation were "describing protesters' actions as very aggressive."

Demonstrators tried to start about a dozen fires as they attempted to outflank and "attack" law enforcement barricades, the sheriff's statement said.

Police said they responded by firing volleys of tear gas at protesters in a bid to prevent them from crossing the bridge.

Activists at the scene reported on Twitter that police were also spraying protesters with water in sub-freezing temperatures and firing rubber bullets, injuring some in the crowd.

Police did not confirm those reports, but later said protesters had hurled rocks, striking one officer, and fired burning logs from slingshots.

The clashes began after protesters removed a truck that had been on the bridge since Oct. 27, police said. The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed the Backwater Bridge due to damage from that incident.

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The $3.7 billion Dakota Access project has been drawing steady opposition from Native American and environmental activists since the summer.

Completion of the pipeline, set to run 1,172 miles (1,185 km) from North Dakota to Illinois, was delayed in September so federal authorities could re-examine permits required by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Plans called for the pipeline to pass under Lake Oahe, a federally owned water source, and to skirt the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation by about half a mile. Most of the construction has otherwise been finished.

The Standing Rock tribe and environmental activists say the project would threaten water supplies and sacred Native American sites and ultimately contribute to climate change.

Supporters of the pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer Partners, said the project offers the fast and most direct route for bringing Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries and would be safer than transporting the oil by road or rail.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Steve Gorman and Susan Fenton)
By Chris Michaud and Stephanie Keith NEW YORK/CANNON BALL, N.D. (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas and water at hundreds of protesters in the freezing North Dakota weather late Sunday and early Monday, in the latest violent clash over a pipeline project running through the state. An estimated 400 protesters mounted the Backwater Bridge just north of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and attempted to force their way past police in what the Morton County Sheriff's Department described as an "ongoing riot." The $3.7 billion Dakota Access project has drawn steady opposition from activists since the summer, led by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, whose tribal lands are adjacent to the pipeline. Native American activists and environmentalists say the line threatens water resources and sacred tribal lands. A joint statement from several activist groups said protesters Sunday were trying to remove burned vehicles blocking Backwater Bridge in order to restore access to the nearby Standing Rock Sioux encampments so emergency services and local traffic can move freely. Police fired volleys of tear gas at the protesters to prevent them from crossing the bridge. Law enforcement also fired rubber bullets and sprayed protesters with water in temperatures that reached as low as 18 Fahrenheit (minus 8 Celsius) overnight. It is below freezing right now and the Morton County Sheriffs Department is using a water cannon on our people - that is an excessive and potentially deadly use of force," said Dallas Goldtooth, a spokesman for the Indigenous Environmental Network, one of the organizations involved in protests. Completion of the pipeline, set to run 1,172 miles (1,885 km) from North Dakota to Illinois, was delayed in September so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could re-examine permits that would allow construction under the Missouri River, near to the tribe's lands. The main company behind the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners LP , is building the line to bring crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois en route to the Gulf Coast. On an analyst call Monday to discuss ETP's merger with its sister company Sunoco Logistics Partners LP , officials said they still expect final approval for the pipeline by the end of this year. Officials did not address the protests. A statement from the sheriff's' department said one arrest had been made by 8:30 p.m. local time (0230 GMT Monday), about 2-1/2 hours after the incident began 45 miles (30 km) south of Bismarck, the North Dakota capital. About 100 to 200 protesters remained after midnight. The Morton County Sheriff's Department said officers on the scene of the latest confrontation were "describing protesters' actions as very aggressive." Demonstrators tried to start about a dozen fires as they attempted to outflank and "attack" law enforcement barricades, the sheriff's statement said. Police said protesters had hurled rocks and burning logs, striking one officer. Dave Archambault, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, said law enforcement is escalating the violence. "They say these are non-lethal weapons, but a water cannon in freezing weather is lethal. Using concussion grenades with tear gas can be lethal," he said. The latest confrontation began Sunday evening, after protesters attempted to remove a truck that had been on the bridge since Oct. 27, police said. The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed the Backwater Bridge, which crosses Cantapeta Creek north of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's camp, after vehicles were burned on Oct. 27. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had also asked Morton County law enforcement to prevent protesters from trespassing on federal land. Supporters of the pipeline said the project offers the most direct route for taking shale oil from North Dakota to Gulf Coast refineries and would be safer than road or rail transportation. The Army Corps of Engineers last week said they will need more consultations with Native American tribes, even though the Corps said they had followed all legal requirements for permitting. President-elect Donald Trump has not commented specifically on Dakota Access, but he has in the past been supportive of pipeline development. Should a decision be delayed to his term, the pipeline could be approved. (Reporting by Chris Michaud in New York and Stephanie Keith in Cannon Ball, North Dakota; Editing by David Gaffen and Lisa Shumaker)
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday closed the Roman Catholic Church's "Holy Year of Mercy," a period that inspired hope among many followers but was also marred by conflicts around the world and infighting within the Church itself. At a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis closed its "Holy Door," through which the Vatican says some 20 million pilgrims walked since it was opened on Dec. 8, to seek special blessings and symbolically pass from sin to grace. Holy Years normally take place every 25 years unless a pope decrees an extraordinary one - such as the one that closed on Sunday - to bring attention to a particular need or topic. The next one was to be held in 2025 but the 79-year-old Francis, concerned about growing divisions and conflict in the world and polarization among Catholics, called a special one on the theme of mercy, a major part of his push for a less judgmental and more inclusive Church. Catholics around the world were asked to forgive each other and the pope made numerous appeals to world leaders to make gestures of peace and reconciliation. In his homily at a Mass before 70,000 people in St. Peter's Square, celebrated together with 17 new cardinals installed on Saturday, he called for the spirit of hope and mercy to continue. "Let us ask for the grace of never closing the doors of reconciliation and pardon, but rather of knowing how to go beyond evil and differences, opening every possible pathway of hope," he said. During the year, both Cuba and Paraguay responded to papal appeals by granting amnesties to prisoners and the pope held a historic meeting of reconciliation with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church after a rift of nearly 1,000 years.. But his many appeals for ceasefires in Syria and peace in places such as Ukraine during the year achieved little result. Division also reared its head within his 1.2 billion member Church. Last week, four conservative cardinals made a rare public challenge to Francis over some of his teachings in a major document on the family, accusing him of sowing confusion on important moral issues. In Rome, the year was a disappointment to hoteliers, who had hoped for a boom similar to one during the last Holy Year in 2000. A majority of the pilgrims who came to the capital were Italian day-trippers and many who stayed overnight did so in low-cost residences, many run by the Church, or in private homes. Ordinary Romans were also critical of their civic leaders because most of the projects slated to improve public transportation, repair pot-holed streets and upgrade infrastructures for the Holy Year were never begun or left incomplete. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Clelia Oziel)
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Monday extended indefinitely to all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a right previously reserved for bishops or special confessors in most parts of the world. Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving Roman Catholic Church a characteristic of his papacy, made the announcement in a document known as an "apostolic letter" after Sunday's close of the Church's "Holy Year of Mercy". He said he wanted to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life" but "there is no sin that Gods mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with (God)". Francis had already temporarily granted the power to all priests to give what is known as "sacramental absolution" for abortion during the Holy Year, from Dec. 8 to Nov. 20, but the solemn tone of his words in Monday's letter suggested that the change would last for at least the rest of his papacy. In Roman Catholic teaching, abortion is such a serious sin that those who procure or perform it bring automatic excommunication on themselves as they are knowingly committing a sin the Church considers grave. In the past, only a bishop or a designated special confessor could grant absolution for an abortion and lift excommunication. Although bishops in some dioceses in developed countries such as the United States and Britain had already delegated this authority to parish priests, the old practice was still in effect in most of the world. "Not only is this a change in Church policy, it changes Church law," said Father James Bretzke, a professor of moral theology at Boston College. "I think its very significant in the context of Pope Francis theme of his pontificate, which is going to go down as the pontificate of mercy; he sees mercy as absolutely the key." At a news conference at the Vatican, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who oversaw Holy Year activities, said the new norms applied to all Roman Catholics involved in an abortion, including the woman and medical staff. Fisichella rejected suggestions that some people could see the move as putting abortion on the same level as lesser sins. "There is no type of laxness here," he said, repeating the pope's words that while abortion was very grave, there was no sin that could not be touched by God's mercy. In a document last year, Francis described the "existential and moral ordeal" faced by women who have terminated pregnancies and said he had "met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision". (Editing by Louise Ireland)
Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis declared Monday that all priests would have the right permanently to forgive abortion, seen as a significant outreach by the Catholic Church to women.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter marking the end of the "Year of Mercy", which wound up Sunday.

"The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended," he wrote, making permanent a temporary measure put in place for the Vatican's jubilee year.

The 79-year-old Argentine pontiff said he had to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life".

On Sunday, as he brought the jubilee to an end by closing the bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peter's Square, Francis gave an interview in which he called abortion "a horrendous crime".

But he said Monday that the end of the special year did not mean the end of mercy itself, and so-called sinners must be given a chance to repent. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a sin.

"I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," Francis said in the letter.

"May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation."

The forgiveness stretches not only to women who have abortions but also to those who carry them out or are involved in any way.

- 'A powerful gesture' -

The watchword of mercy has meant helping the unfortunate, and welcoming outcasts back into the fold.

Francis hopes greater compassion from a more open-minded Church will not only counter xenophobia but also draw more people to the pews.

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"The concession on abortion has had little practical effect in places such as the United States, where many bishops had already delegated permission to priests to forgive the sin," wrote Vatican expert John Allen on the Catholic Cruxnow.com website.

"But symbolically it's been interpreted as a major gesture of outreach to women," he said.

Church leaders in Brazil, which has the worlds biggest Roman Catholic population, welcomed the development.

"With this initiative, Pope Francis recalls the seriousness of abortion and the extraordinary strength of divine mercy to cure all human wounds," said Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, secretary general of the national conference of bishops.

The pope's order amounts to a "powerful and significant gesture," he said in a statement.

- 'Handcrafted' mercy -

The letter, entitled Misericordia et Misera ("Mercy and Misery"), was signed by Francis at the end of a mass closing the jubilee.

Critics have said his emphasis on mercy reduces the gravity of perceived sins, but the pope said rigidly sticking to "the level of the law is equivalent to thwarting faith and divine mercy".

He also stressed that priests had to help members of their flock on a case by case basis, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach to "sinners", saying: "The works of mercy are 'handcrafted', in the sense that none of them is alike".

Francis has been challenged by traditionalists over his "flexible" attitude to Church teachings, particularly regarding the hot-button issue of whether divorced and remarried couples should be able to receive communion.

The pontiff, who has repeatedly called for "a poor Church for the poor", also said in the letter that he wants the Church to celebrate a World Day of the Poor in November each year.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach holding papers that accidentally reveal part of his strategic plan for the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach inadvertently revealed some of his agenda for the Department of Homeland Security when he was photographed heading into a Sunday meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.

Kobach, who is said to be a potential pick for Trumps administration and is assisting him with the transition, was clutching a piece of paper titled Department of Homeland Security: Kobach Strategic Plan for First 365 Days when he posed for a photo with Trump on Sunday. The Topeka Capital-Journal zoomed in on the sheet, which reveals he is suggesting that the U.S. immediately stop accepting Syrian refugees, begin asking extreme vetting questions of immigrants from high-risk areas and reinstate a post-9/11 registry program to track immigrants from high-risk countries.

The visible part of the plan notably does not mention temporarily halting immigration from Muslim-majority nations altogether, an idea that Trump championed during his campaign.

Update and reintroduce the NSEERS screening and tracking system (National Security Entry-Exit Registration System) that was in place from 2002-2005. All aliens from high-risk areas are tracked, the document reads. Add extreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens: question them regarding support for Sharia law, jihad, equality of men and women, the United States Constitution.

NSEERS was a post-9/11 program that tracked male visitors to the U.S. over 16 years old from 25 countries, almost all of them Muslim-majority nations. The program did not result in a single terrorism conviction, according to CNN, but did result in the deportation of more than 13,000 people. A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report recommended the program be terminated, citing that new technology had rendered the registry obsolete.

President-elect Donald Trump and Kobach at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., on Nov. 20. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Kobachs plan also calls for accepting zero Syrian refugees going forward. The U.S. accepted 12,000 Syrian refugees since the civil war there began five years ago. Trump made halting the flow of Syrian refugees a focal point of his campaign. It could be one of the great Trojan horses of all time, Trump said of Syrian refugees seeking entry to the U.S.

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The document also apparently mentions drafting amendments to the National Voter Registration Act, but the text that explains how it would be amended is obscured by Kobachs arm. In Kansas, Kobach championed a state law that required Kansas residents to prove their citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. The Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Arizona in 2013, with a majority opinion written by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.

Kobach could seek to amend the legislation to make it easier for states to demand proof of citizenship from voters. Requiring citizens to show photo ID to vote disproportionately affects poor, older and black voters. (About a quarter of black citizens over 18 years old do not have a photo ID, compared to 8 percent of white voters, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.)

The document also refers to 1,989 miles of a border wall, potentially alluding to Trumps promise to build a wall along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, and references a plan to deport in the first year a record number of undocumented immigrants who have been arrested for any crime.
Preschool sweethearts Amy Giberson and Justin Pounders have tied the knot!

The couple first met as toddlers at Sunshine Pre-K in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they shared a shy schoolyard romance playing tag and building blocks together. But like many first loves, they drifted apart when they attended different elementary, middle and high schools. Eventually, forgetting about each other altogether.

That is until 30 years later when Pounders, 34, ran across, Giberson, 34, on an online dating website. It was only after a year of dating that the couple realized they had been childhood loves at Sunshine Pre-K so many years ago.

And after spending two wonderful years dating, the forever loves exchanged vows on Saturday in their hometown of St. Petersburg in front of 200 friends and family.

Its a dream come true, Giberson tells PEOPLE. Im so excited to start this next chapter of our lives together.

After PEOPLE magazine shared their incredible love story last November, Pounders surprised Giberson with a marriage proposal on a live taping of ABCs The View, recruiting toddlers from their former preschool to hold up a sign that read: Amy, will you marry me?

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I truly feel it was fate! says Giberson. Our hearts met at the age of 3 and we had our own journeys to go through for 30 years, but ultimately our hearts were meant to love each other.

Everyone wants a dream love story, and somehow it happened to us!

Their dream wedding took place on November 18  on the one-year anniversary of their engagement. Giberson wore a beautiful, sweetheart gown from Kleinfeld and former co-host of The View, Michelle Collins, officiated the ceremony that took place at Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg.

Need a little inspiration? Click here to subscribe to the Daily Smile Newsletter for uplifting, feel-good stories that brighten up your inbox.

We chose Mahaffey because thats where I put on all of my dance performances as a little girl, explains Giberson. But this time I was doing the most important two dances of my life  our first dance as husband and wife and my first dance with my dad.

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The brides favorite part of the wedding? Custom-made glasses with palm tree prints in honor of Sunshine Pre-K, where the newlyweds first met.

He is my world and I love him more than I could ever describe, says Giberson of her new husband. Marrying Justin is my dream come true, it was nothing short of perfection.

The couple hopes that by sharing their love story, they will encourage others looking for love to never give up.

Every minute of every day, I thank my lucky stars, says Giberson. The amount of coincidences and connections weve uncovered through our years together is unbelievable.

Always keep your heart open to love, because you never know when youll find it.

Giberson and Pounders, who are headed off on a two-week honeymoon to the Caribbean, say they are blown away by the way their story has touched so many people.

We are so extremely grateful for the outpouring of love, well wishes and support from total strangers from around the world, says Giberson. While we dont know them, theres definitely a connection we share as we are all looking for that one great love. I read comments, messages and reply as often as I can. Everyone will find love, so keep your heart open for it.

The preschool sweethearts also hope to start a family soon.

Stay tuned! says Giberson with a laugh.




If you've been thinking about converting your traditional individual retirement account into a tax-free Roth, get a move on: to count in the 2016 tax year, the process -- a simple instruction to your fund company, bank or brokerage -- must be done before Jan. 1.

And it's worth remembering that the government offers an escape hatch: the right to "recharacterize," or turn your Roth back into a traditional IRA, then convert to a Roth again when conditions are more favorable. This right makes it easier to convert in the first place, knowing you could still benefit from a market plunge or tax cut from the Republican dominance of Washington.

[See: 10 Reasons to Save for Retirement in a Roth IRA.]

Would it make sense to convert now? Given the stock market's gains in recent years, many investors find their traditional IRAs are more valuable than ever. That means a conversion would be taxed to the max, since converted sums are added to taxable income.

"Each client's tax situation is different and must be considered in all financial decision-making," says Sallie Mullins Thompson, an accountant with her own firm in New York. "However, I generally do encourage my 50-something clients to consider converting a portion, over time, of their traditional IRAs to Roth IRA, to lower their tax liability during retirement."

Young investors, as well as those in retirement, can benefit as well if circumstances are right.

Traditional IRAs provide tax deferral on investment gains, and for many people a deduction on contributions. But withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. Roth IRAs offer no break on contributions, but all withdrawals are tax free, including investment gains and the original contributions.

The law allows investors to convert traditional IRAs into Roths, but the converted sums are added to the year's income and taxed. The flood of conversion income can even lift the investor to a higher tax bracket, making the sting worse.

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In a perfect world, an investor would convert during a temporary market plunge, when the sums involved are smaller and produce a smaller tax bill. But with stocks at all-time highs, that opportunity doesn't seem likely before the end of this year.

Still, some investors can make a conversion pay even now -- mainly those who are in a low tax bracket this year because their income is unusually low, or if they have an unusually large amount to claim in deductions.

Generally, a conversion pays if you think your tax rate at the time is lower than it will be when you take money out of your traditional IRA. By converting, you pay a low tax now to avoid a higher tax later. If you think your tax rate will fall later on, conversion may not make sense, since you'd pay a high tax now to avoid a low one in the future.

No one knows what rates will be years from now, but President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to lower income tax rates. Converting now could be more expensive than doing it when rates are lower.

[See: 7 Reasons to Invest in an IRA.]

Another factor to consider: Withdrawals from traditional IRAs, since they are added to income, can increase the portion of your Social Security benefit subject to income tax, while Roth withdrawals, since they are not added to income, don't do that.

An individual with income between $25,000 and $34,000 can be taxed on 50 percent of the benefit, or 85 percent if income is higher. Couples filing joint returns are taxed on 50 percent if income is $32,000 to $44,000, and 85 percent if income is higher. Those thresholds are based on adjusted gross income from the tax return, plus non-taxable interest earnings from things like municipal bonds, plus half of your Social Security benefit.

With a Roth you also won't face the requirement to start minimum required distributions after turning 70.5, as you would with a traditional IRA. And your heirs will not be taxed on withdrawals from a Roth they inherit from you, as with a traditional IRA.

So, when you put it all together, it may pay to convert even if your traditional IRA is at an all-time high. Search for "Roth conversion calculator" for tools to help you decide. "(Conversions) also make sense for younger people since paying the tax now (is better than) paying tax in the future on presumably a higher future value," says Irv Munn, accountant with Munn & Morris Financial Advisors of Dallas.

Convert only if you have other funds to pay the tax bill, so the Roth does not have to make up the tax bite before breaking even, he says.

Investors who have converted also have the right to reverse the process in a "recharacterization." Generally, that pays if your Roth has fallen in value since the conversion. By going back to the traditional IRA, you can avoid the tax bill and then convert again when conditions are better.

A recharacterization can be done as late as Oct. 15 of the year after the conversion. To reconvert, you must wait until 30 days after the recharacterization, or until the next year, whichever comes later. However, you can convert from a different IRA with no waiting period.

"If your Roth conversion incurred a substantial drop in value, you may want to recharacterize and undo the Roth conversion," says Peter Nigro, chairman of the Finance Department at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. "Alternatively, if the funds grew, you will want to keep the conversion."

Since markets are up in 2016, it probably won't pay to recharacterize a conversion done this year, unless, perhaps, you find your tax rate is much higher than expected, or you don't have the cash to pay the tax. But if you're thinking of converting, it's worth keeping this second chance in mind. Knowing you can undo it could make it easier to decide to convert in the first place, and a market plunge later is always possible after a long bull market and with a lot of uncertainty in Washington.

"If the Roth IRA decreases in value, such as through a stock market downturn, you would want to recharacterize the conversion," Munn says.

"You could then do a new conversion and only pay tax on the reduced value.on the taxable portion of your traditional IRA for the year of the conversion. The amount of income tax you pay is based on the value of your IRA on the date you converted it. Therefore, you may want to recharacterize your contribution to a Roth IRA if your Roth IRA decreases in value (e.g., through a stock market downturn) after the conversion date," he says.

[Read: 5 New 401(k) and IRA Rules for 2017.]

"You may also want to undo your conversion simply because you need the tax money for some other reason.on the taxable portion of your traditional IRA for the year of the conversion. The amount of income tax you pay is based on the value of your IRA on the date you converted it. Therefore, you may want to recharacterize your contribution to a Roth IRA if your Roth IRA decreases in value (e.g., through a stock market downturn) after the conversion date. You may also want to undo your conversion simply because you need the tax money for some other reason. You may also want to undo your conversion because you need the tax money for some other reason."

Jeff Brown spent nearly 40 years as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor, including 20 years writing about investing, personal finance, the economy and financial markets. He spent 20 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer and has been freelancing since 2007.
The debate over the potential inclusion of several Trump family members in the next administration isnt a new one. In fact, John Adams and other early Presidents faced criticism for employing relatives in key positions.

JohnQuincyAdams

John Quincy Adams

So far, the speculation is that President-elect Donald Trump may want Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, in an advisory position in his new administration. Critics point to a 1967 law, the Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute, as preventing this. The statute, known as Section 3110, was passed as part of a Postal Service reform law, and it states that an executive agency official cant appoint relatives, including sons, daughters and sons-in law, to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control.

However, others have said that if Kushner, or another Trump family member, is in an unofficial role and doesnt receive compensation, there isnt a conflict with the statute. A similar debate, ironically, also took place in the 1990s when President Bill Clinton asked Hillary Clinton to lead a health-care task force that held closed-door meetings. In a 1993 lawsuit, a federal judge ruled that some of the Clinton task-force meetings needed to be held in public, but he also rejected the argument that the First Lady was a government employee.

In the years after that, several academics have argued that the Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute doesnt really apply to the President, since the President has powers directly vested by the Constitutions Appointments Clause. Article II, Section 2, provides that some officials need to be approved by the Senate, while other inferior officers may be appointed directly by the President.

In 2012, Gerard Magliocca from the Indiana University School of Law argued that Section 3110 clearly didnt apply to the President. First, as far as I can tell, this is the only statutory limit on the Presidents authority to choose his political appointees. Separation-of-powers would suggest that Congress cannot intrude so bluntly into his discretion to choose close advisors, Magliocca wrote on the blog Concurring Opinions.

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Another law professor, Steve Vladeck from the University of Texas, told CNN last week that while the statute could be challenged, the risk is that a court could rule that any action taken by the relative in an official role could be questioned.

While its true that the penalty for violation of the statute is just to withhold salary or other financial remuneration from the wrongfully appointed employee, theres also the possibility that any action taken by such a wrongfully appointed employee could be subject to legal challenge and potentially even be voidable, Vladeck said.

Before 1967, there was a rather long history of presidential relatives serving in appointed and unofficial government positions. The most famous example was President John F. Kennedys nomination of his brother, Robert, to become Attorney General. Robert Kennedy was confirmed in a voice vote by the Senate in 1961 and he served until September 1964.

Robert Kennedys nomination was controversial at the time, since he lacked vast legal experience, but it wasnt the first high-profile debate over the nepotism issue. Back in 1797, incoming President John Adams retained his son, John Quincy Adams, as a diplomat and appointed him as the United States minister to Prussia, over public criticism.

More vexing was William Stephens Smith, the Presidents son-in-law, whom Adams nominated for several government positions. Smith had been involved in land speculation schemes, but President Adams was eventually able to appoint Smith as a customs agent in New York. In 1806, Smith was implicated in a scandal to invade Venezuela with 200 men. Adams also appointed his brother-in-law as a postmaster and named his son John Quincys father-in-law as superintendent of stamps.

Other Presidents retained relatives at the White House in secretarial roles, including James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler and James Buchanan. Zachary Taylor kept his brother and son-in-law on the government payroll, using military commissions, as unofficial presidential advisers. President Ulysses S. Grant had many direct family members on the government payroll or at the White House. His brother, Orvil, was implicated in scandals involving Indian trading posts.

In later years, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower had family members as secretaries or aides. Kennedy also appointed his brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver, as the first head of the Peace Corps.

Scott Bomboy is the editor in chief of the National Constitution Center.

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Princes sister Tyka Nelson gave such a beautiful tribute to her brother at the AMAs, and were in tears

When we lost Prince this year, the world got quiet. Not only was he a legend in the music industry, but he kept such a quiet life that we had no idea that he might have been in pain. Last night at the AMAs, Princes sister Tyka Nelson honored him with a tribute that was both beautiful and heartwarming.

Nelson was at the ceremony to accept an award for Prince, as he won the Top Soundtrack category for the re-release of Purple Rain. Interestingly enough, this wasnt the first time that such an incredible soundtrack dominated this award category  not only did it win a Grammy back in 1985, but it won the American Music Award that same year for best Pop/Rock Album.

Nelsons speech was powerful, showcasing how much Prince was loved and respected, by both his family and the music industry.

He had the courage to be different, Nelson said. With his vision and God-given talent, hes still one of the worlds most respected and loved artists.



Nelson wrapped up her speech with one incredible statement, quoting Prince himself.

In the words of Prince, with love, honor, and respect, for every living thing in the universe, separation ceases and we all become one being singing one song, she said.

So powerful.

Were so happy that Purple Rain got one last award, since its such an important album to people of all ages. And, were also happy that Princes award will be placed in his Paisley Park home, right where it belongs.

The post Princes sister Tyka Nelson gave such a beautiful tribute to her brother at the AMAs, and were in tears appeared first on HelloGiggles.
One of the surprise moments of the 2016 American Music Awards was the presentation of the Top Soundtrack award, which went to a record that first won AMA recognition a full three decades ago.

The honor went to the late Princes classic smash 1984 set Purple Rain, a soundtrack that took honors for Favorite Album in both Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B back in 1985. According to the AMAs criterion  which is based on album and digital single sales, radio airplay, streaming, social activity, and touring  Purple Rain was a contender due to its resurgence following Princes death on April 21.

Princes younger sister, Tyka Nelson  who as the superstars only full biological sibling was his closest living relative at the time of his passing  gave an emotional speech accepting on behalf of her late brother.

Prince defied the odds  a black teen from Minneapolis with a goal to electrify the world, Nelson noted. He had the courage to be different. With his vision, and God-given talent, he is still one of the worlds most respected and loved artists. What he told me was that he wanted to be known as the worlds most prolific songwriter. And with 984 titles to his credit and counting, he has done just that.

In the words of Prince, with love, honor, and respect for every living thing in the universe, separation ceases. And we all become one being, singing one song, she continued, before naming all of her other siblings names and breaking down in tears.

GettyImages-624762642

Well keep this for you at Paisley Park. Until we see you again, this is for you, she concluded.

Princes classic disc beat out the soundtracks Suicide Squad and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the latter of which was helmed by lauded composer John Williams.

The American Music Awards were aired live from in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2016.
Drew and Jonathan Scotts newest show takes place in New Orleans, but after the Big Easy, the duo are off to Texas.

Although the Property Brothers main home away from home will be Galveston, the 38-year-old twins are also planning to drop by Waco to visit another favorite HGTV family: Fixer Uppers Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Theyve got the cutest kids on the planet, so Im good to do some babysitting, Drew says of his plans for visiting the small town made famous by the Gaineses.

Jonathans intentions, however, are a little less honorable. As long as theyll have a hot dinner on the table then Im totally cool with that, he jokes.

RELATED: Heres Everything You Need to Know to Recreate Chip and Joanna Gaines Flawless Friendsgiving Party

WATCH THIS: HGTVs Chip & Joanna Gaines: Why the Fixer Upper Stars Will Always Choose Family over Fame

After Texas, the Brothers will continue their tour down south with a stint in Nashville, Tennessee, but theyre looking for suggestions on where to head after that. Drews advice for fans: They should message us on social media and let us know to come to their city, he says.

RELATED: The Property Brothers on Girlfriends, Using Magic to Get Dates and Pole Dancing

Until then, you can catch their latest series, Brothers Take New Orleans, which premieres November 23 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HGTV, where theyll be battling it out to renovate a shotgun-style home. You wont want to miss the sibling rivalry, celebrity judges or extravagant practical jokes the two are prone to pulling.

Theres never a shortage of pranks, Jonathan says.




Washington (AFP) - Hundreds of people protesting a North Dakota oil pipeline project clashed early Monday with police who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon, soaking the crowd in subfreezing temperatures.

Protest organizers said 167 people were hurt, including three Native American tribal elders, and that seven people have been hospitalized for severe head injuries.

"The police... targeted the heads and legs of Water Protectors," read a post from the head medic of the Oceti Sakowin Camp, referring to people protesting the contentious project, which is opposed by Native Americans who say it is being built on ancestral lands.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department put the number of protesters at 400, saying they were engaged in a "riot" and had started a dozen fires.

The Bismarck Tribune quoted the sheriff's department as saying protesters threw rocks and logs at officers, and one officer was struck in the head.

One person was arrested, the report added.

"We have seen at least four gunshot wounds, three of them I know to the face and head, rubber bullets," medic Leland Brenholt said in a video posted on social media, adding that police were also using water, pepper spray and tear gas on protesters.

"Right now, we are trying to keep people warm, we're trying to get them decontaminated, and treating all kinds of different wounds. People have been hit with (tear gas) canisters in the chest or the leg and that sort of thing."

Twitter user Ruth Hopkins commented: "WHAT EVIL LOOKS LIKE. Police spraying innocent civilians with water cannons. Current temp. 25, you could die #NoDAPL."

Last week the US government put a halt to the pipeline construction project, saying more analysis and debate are needed.

Pipeline operators Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics Partners struck back, asking a court to stop regulators from further delaying the project, to be built under the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe in North Dakota.

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The waterways are the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's drinking water source, and it has objected to building the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometer) pipeline underneath the river and lake, for fear that it might leak.

The tribe, which now believes it has the momentum in its battle against the companies, wants the pipeline's route altered away from lands near its reservation. It also claims those lands contain sacred historic artifacts.

The conflict between the tribe and the oil pipeline company has galvanized North American native tribes and supporters, who have camped in the thousands near the construction site for months in an effort to block it.

There have been sympathetic protests nationwide, with celebrities, politicians and environmental activists joining the cause.
Traders apparently believe that declines will be limited in Ziopharm Oncology.



OptionMonster's tracking programs detected the sale of about 4,700 December 6 puts for $0.40 to $0.55 today. This represents new positioning, as volume was more than 7 times the open interest in the strike.



Short puts lock in a price where investors must buy a stock, while letting them collect premium. Traders use the technique when they like a stock and think that the risk of a big drop is limited. (See our Education section)



ZIOP is up 3.32 percent to $6.53 in midday trading and has jumped 9 percent in the last month. The cancer-treatment developer is expected to report earnings after the close on Feb. 23.



Overall option volume is about average in ZIOP so far today.





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By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan NEW YORK (REUTERS) - When one of your first jobs involves filing insurance paperwork for pocket change at your dad's office, it's easy to see how you would yearn later on for something more glamorous. Marla Malcolm Beck went for ultra-luxe. But the early lessons on dollars and cents were valuable, and with the aid of an MBA from Harvard Business School, Beck turned luxury into big business when she founded the high-end beauty retailer Bluemercury in 1998 with her husband Barry. They now have over 100 stores across the country, as well as a skincare line, M-61. In 2015, Macy's purchased the Washington, D.C.-based Bluemercury for $210 million and Beck, 46, remains chief executive. Beck talked to Reuters about her unusual business path. Q: What early lessons about money stuck with you? A: I remember when Izod shirts were hot, my mom wouldn't buy me one because she thought it was ridiculous to spend $20 more just so you could have the Izod symbol. That always stuck with me in two ways: (her message that) if you want a shirt like that, you have to earn your money and buy it yourself. Also, that with brands, sometimes to make a brand where there's this one little extra twist that you have, and some people believe it and some people don't. Q: What did starting a business in the beauty industry teach you about finances? A: Dont run out of money. Within the first six months of launching in the late 1990s, we had $150,000 in the bank and we had an Internet site, but we were a little too early, so revenue for e-commerce wasn't building fast enough. Because we couldn't raise more, we had to learn how to build a profitable business. Q: What did you do with your first paycheck? A: I remember buying a really fashionable black jacket and then being sort of disappointed afterward. After that, I just let my bank account fill up and I used some of it for spending money in college. It was very gratifying to build up your own bank account. Its a powerful feeling. Q: What has running a company taught you about finances? A: When you set up a company, you have your core mission, your strategy and you have your metrics. It's so critical. Every two hours, I get a report on what the store sales and digital sales are. Q: What drives you to give? A: We have areas of interest that we give in - schools, entrepreneurship, religion - and then direct giving of those in need. This would be handout money to families that have hit a hard time. There are certain funds that do that - one of our religious groups, one of the schools our kids go to, for example - so we know who's handing out the money. It might be someones out of work and needs to pay their utility bill, that sort of giving. Its very satisfying to know you can help a family or individual thats fallen on a hard time. We talk about it with our kids. We always talk about how they have to save and give, how you should always be able to reduce the amount you're spending on, teaching them not to buy as much and how to make little gifts. That's important. Q: What money lessons do you pass down to your three kids? A: We always encourage them to be debt free. I remember the day I paid off my student loans - it was six or seven years after my we started Bluemercury. That debt had hung over me until I was able to pay it off myself. I also try to teach the kids entrepreneurial lessons. One of our daughters just started an entrepreneur group. Our other daughter is starting a nonprofit to raise money for orphan diseases (which affect a small number of people) and shes asking questions like, How do I set up a 501(c)(3)? The nonprofit will help with diseases that affect a small number of children but need more research. (Editing by Beth Pinsker and Bernadette Baum)
By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (PTI) In two separate incidents, Odisha Police arrested a youth on charge of circulating fake Rs 2,000 notes and recovered Rs 4.8 lakh stocked in the newly-introduced denomination post the Centres demonetisation move.

Madhusudan Meher of Jharsuguda was arrested while he was trying to use the fake currency at petrol pump in Sunarimunda, a senior police officer said.

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The petrol outlet staff handed him over to the cops.

"The note is a colour photocopy of an original Rs 2,000 currency. A case has been registered at the Jharsuguda police station and investigation is underway," Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Jharsuguda, Bijay Nanda said.

Meanwhile in Bolangir district, police seized over Rs 12 lakh from the house of a recruitment agent of migrant labourers, popularly known as dadan sardar on charge of stashing huge amount of cash.

The police raided the house of Khirasagar Bag, a dadan sardar at Tingra village under Saintala police station limits last night and seized Rs 12,75,900, Bolangir SP Asish Singh said.

Singh said though they raided house of Bag on a tip-off about fake notes but the police could not find any.

Out of the total amount recovered, Rs 2,000 notes were also stored which totalled upto Rs 4.8 lakh, he said.

"The police were investigating as to how Bag could arrange so many Rs 2,000 notes while people stand in lines to get cash from banks and ATMs," Singh said.

Police suspected that the man was using local people to get demonetised notes exchanged for new the Rs 2,000 notes in different banks.

Bag, however, could not be arrested as he absconded before the raid took place, police said. PTI AAM SUS ASV

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Global Music Rights (GMR), the boutique performance rights organization launched by well-known industry executive Irving Azoff in 2013, is looking to charge the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RLMC) over $42 million for a blanket license to play the music it controls. The RMLC represents nearly 10,000 U.S. commercial radio broadcasting stations.

In response to that price tag, the RLMC, which has been in protracted negotiations with GMR over the deal, filed a lawsuit against GMR last week, alleging that the small PRO is operating as a monopoly. The RMLC is hoping that, instead of the $42 million price tag it considers unfair, the rate it charges can be determined via arbitration.

According to the suit, GMR has amassed a bundle of "essential works" -- about 20,000 songs written or performed by artists like Adele, Aerosmith, the Beatles, Bruno Mars, Jay Z, Madonna, Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder, the Steve Miller Band, Taylor Swift, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and U2, among many others.

The RMLC complaint alleges that while GMR's share of radio performances sits between 5 and 7.5 percent, it's charging as though it represents 15 percent.

"It is 'take it or leave it' pricing fully divorced from market constraints," argues the RMLC's suit, brought by the firm Latham & Watkins.

A lawyer representing Global Music Rights sees things differently. "We have tried to negotiate with them in good faith, and instead they secretly prepared this Thanksgiving Day ambush," says Daniel Petrocelli, a partner with the law firm O'Melveny & Myers. "It's an unprincipled use of the judicial system by radio stations to play songs on the radio without paying anything -- and without being sued."

The RMLC filed its lawsuit in the same Pennsylvania court as a previous suit it brought against the performance rights organization SESAC, which it won. SESAC subsequently settled with the RMLC, acceding to nearly all of the radio group's requests, including arbitration.

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Petrocelli says these stations do not currently have the rights to play a number of songs that they regardless are spinning -- without paying royalties. (The RMLC's complaint seems to imply that its member stations can play those songs, due to ASCAP and BMI licenses-in-effect, which apparently expire Dec. 31, 2016.)

Other so-called injustices alleged by the RMLC include GMR's demand that its blanket license operate fractionally, and not under "full-work." (Full-works licensing operates such that if either PRO -- ASCAP or BMI -- issues a license from a song with multiple writers, then the licensee only needs a license from one of the writers to play that song. In fractionalized licensing, as GMR is seeking, licensees must obtain a license from all contributors to a composition.)

In addition to insisting on fractionalized licensing, GMR also is refusing to issue "carve-out" by not allowing its songwriters to be a part of direct licenses cut by themselves or apparently their publishers. Licensees often try to cut direct deals with publishers, and less often with songwriters; and since those deals provide payment to those publishers and songwriters the licensee often insist upon a discount from the blanket rate, a carve out, if you will, since they don't want to pay twice for the songs included in the direct deal.

The U.S. Dept. of Justice ruled this summer that ASCAP and BMI, which both operate under government-mandated consent decrees, have a year to implement full-works licensing for their catalogs. So far, BMI's rate court Judge has knocked down the Dept. of Justice's interpretation of its consent decree, though the Department plans to appeal the decision. It remains unclear what that BMI decision means for ASCAP's own consent decree, or the DoJ's interpretation of it.

Because of the Dept. of Justice's ruling, the RMLC could do an end-run around GMR, if it could source a complete list of contributors to each of the songs GMR controls, pull any that GMR fully controls, and then license those songs with contributions from ASCAP members. Without a full accounting of GMR ownership, however, RMLC stations risk infringement suits that could cost up to $150,000 per song.

The complaint alleges that GMR lured songwriters to sign with it by promising to pay out 30 percent more than its competitors, and that GMR has claimed its share of compositions is roughly three to four times greater than SESAC's share.

"If GMR succeeds in imposing its artificially inflated rates, radio stations could be forced to pay monopoly rents to these regulated PROs as well," the RMLC complaint says. Consequently, "GMR... functions as a naked cartel, and the blanket-license fee that it imminently threatens to charge amounts to a form of price-fixing between horizontal competitors."

The lawsuit adds: "Only an entity that wields tremendous monopoly power could compel radio stations to pay absurdly high prices for licenses of unknown scope and value."

However, music publishers (consistently and repeatedly) point out that, of all the different types of licensees that rely heavily on music, radio pays the lowest percentage of revenue for music. Some place that amount at about 2.5 percent of advertising revenue. Pandora pays about 8 percent of revenue, and on-demand streaming services pay at least 10.5 percent of revenue. Other services paying even higher rates. Moreover, terrestrial radio has the added advantage of not being required to pay anything to master rights owners (typically a record label), while most other licensees have to pay anywhere from 24 to 60 percent of revenue to those rights holders.

"Our songwriters are being stiffed, and [GMR] is not going to let that happen," Petrocelli says. "They have a real fight on their hands now."
Los Angeles (AFP) - An extremely rare Pokemon trading card -- the "Pikachu Illustrator" -- was purchased for a record $54,970 at auction, organizers of the sale said Monday.

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions said the card, of which 39 were ever made, sold to an unidentified Hong Kong collector at Saturday's auction in Beverly Hills.

"The Pikachu Illustrator card was given in January of 1998 to winners of the CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest," Michael Halperin, a spokesman for Heritage Auctions, told AFP.

He said only 10 of the cards are known to be in mint condition and it is unclear how many are still privately owned.

The "Pikachu Illustrator" first sold in the early 2000s for around $23,000, Halperin said.

The card, considered the most valuable and iconic Pokemon card among collectors, was designed by Atsuko Nishida, one of the chief Pokemon graphic illustrators.

The card depicts the fan-favorite yellow rodent Pikachu, holding what appear to be drawing utensils.

It was put up for auction by a private collector in the United States in the wake of the popularity surrounding the Pokemon Go app, which has more than 20 million active users.

Halperin said the seller, who is in his mid-20s and did not wish to be identified, had begun collecting Pokemon cards in his teens.

The Pokemon phenomenon first emerged in Japan in 1996 before becoming a global sensation.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Reserve Bank of India said on Monday that people can withdraw up to 250,000 rupees ($3,670) for wedding related expenses, provided they submit adequate proof and the wedding is on or before Dec. 30.

The cash withdrawals will be allowed out of the balance in the account as of close of business on Nov. 8, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement. (http://bit.ly/2g9nZt1)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped a bombshell on Nov. 8 by abolishing 500 and 1,000 rupee notes that accounted for 86 percent of cash in circulation. The move was aimed at cracking down on the shadow economy but has brought India's cash economy to a virtual standstill.

Modi's decision to withdraw the high-value bills in the middle of the wedding and seed sowing season has drawn widespread criticism from Indians forced to queue at banks to exchange bills or without cash to pay for goods and services.

The RBI said the wedding withdrawals could be made by either of the parents or the people getting married after submitting an application.

People looking to withdraw have to also submit evidence of the wedding, including the invitation card and copies of receipts for advance payments, and a detailed list of people who will receive the cash.

The RBI also said it would allow farmers to withdraw cash up to 25,000 rupees a week from their loan or deposit accounts subject to their accounts. (http://bit.ly/2guTdiv)

Earlier on Monday, the Indian government allowed farmers to purchase seeds with old 500 rupee banknote from state-run outlets.

($1 = 68.1385 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy; Editing by Alison Williams)
TV and film fan startup Reelgood has launched a web-based aggregation service that lets users find their favorite shows across multiple streaming providers including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HBO.

As streaming video content becomes fragmented between several services, Reelgood (via reelgood.io) is offering a way for viewers to find out where their favorite films and shows are.

The website searches available content from Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Showtime, Starz, and FXNow, TechCrunch reports.

Users can view trailers, build watchlists, and go to the relevant streaming service's relevant page.

Members of the team previously worked on free torrented media streamer Popcorn Time, popular but opposed by the MPAA, while its founder was a product manager at Facebook.

Reelgood launched a social network for movie fans on iOS in 2015, and previously debuted an Apple TV version of its web-based content search portal.
By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Election tensions spilled onto Haiti's streets on Monday with shots fired outside the presidential palace as various candidates claimed victory in a re-run vote in the impoverished Caribbean country. Haitians are counting on their next president to lift the country out of political limbo and repair damage from Hurricane Matthew, which devastated the country last month, killing up to 1,000 people and leaving 1.4 million needing aid. With paper ballots counted laboriously by hand, election results typically take a week to be announced in Haiti. But less than 24 hours after polling centers had closed, some candidates and their supporters claimed they had won, leading to chaotic scenes in the capital where guards were forced to shoot into the air to clear a celebrating crowd. The provisional electoral council (CEP) released a statement urging the public to disregard any premature victory announcements. "We call on the population not to believe or transmit any pseudo-result, even partial, that has reached them," it said. "Any result circulating on the internet or social media is not attributable to the CEP." Electoral officials said they did not expect to have preliminary results until later on Monday, but it could well be longer as tally sheets arrived later than planned and a vote website faced problems. The head of Haiti's electoral council, Leopold Berlanger, said he expected to publish final results within a maximum of eight days. Voter turnout in the election was less than 22 percent, an electoral observation coalition said on Monday. The vote was first held in October 2015, but then annulled over complaints of fraud in the first round after Jovenel Moise, the candidate of former President Michel Martelly's Bald Heads Party, finished ahead of Jude Celestin, previously boss of a state construction company. Further disputes ensued and a fresh vote due last month was postponed when Hurricane Matthew struck. All told, more than two dozen candidates competed in Sunday's vote, including Moise, Celestin and Maryse Narcisse, who is running for the Fanmi Lavalas party and is backed by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Former Senator Moise Jean-Charles is also in the running. On Monday, a spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Haitians to come together to fill the current political vacuum, reject violence and intimidation and use legal means for any possible challenges. LONG-DELAYED VOTE Narcisse's campaign and that of Moise, an entrepreneur who was tipped to prevail by one recent opinion poll, both claimed they had won. "According to the report of our tally sheets, we are saying that Jovenel Moise is the elected president of the country," said Calvin Cadet, a spokesman for Moise. "Given that we respect the institutions of our country, we wait for the provisional electoral council to announce the results." Narcisse's supporters marched to the presidential palace on Monday, where they were met by security officials who shot warning shots into the air. A contingent of national police officers then dispersed the supporters. Martelly left office in February, and since then Haiti has been in the hands of a caretaker government. To win outright in the first round, the top candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote or a lead of at least 25 percentage points. Failing that, a Jan. 29 second round run-off is likely for the top two finishers. The victor is due to take office in February, and faces a formidable task rebuilding the country after Matthew. The deadly storm battered homes, farms and schools across southern Haiti, piling fresh misery onto the nation of more than 10 million people on the western half of the island of Hispaniola that is still recovering from a major earthquake in 2010. There were a number of reports of voting fraud on Sunday, although election observers made a broadly positive assessment, suggesting it had gone more smoothly than last year. (Additional reporting by Makini Brice in Les Cayes; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Andrew Hay)
Reese Witherspoon and Otter Media, the joint venture formed between The Chernin Group and AT&T, have started up a new company called Hello Sunshine which will focus on telling female-driven stories across all platforms. That will include not only film and TV but also daily social and short-form digital content. To that end, Hello Sunshine starts launching content in 2017 at Hello-Sunshine.com.

Leading the effort will be newly named CEO Kerry Tucker who joins the new venture directly from The Video Genome Project. While at VGP, she built and managed the strategy and operations as COO, and served as one of the principal architects of its sale to Hulu. Before that, she was executive VP/CMO of Victorias Secret, and earlier than that, she served as marketing head for all divisions of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

The announcement was made today by Witherspoon and Sarah Harden, President of Otter Media. Reese is a phenomenal partner with a unique sensibility, and together with Kerry, who has championed womens voices throughout her career, we are excited to launch a company that is anchored in the ambitious vision of reflecting and inspiring women everywhere. We look forward to producing content that resonates deeply with our community in all formats, and through all channels, said Harden in a statement.

Hello Sunshine will operate under Otter Medias umbrella and will leverage Otters expertise in content, distribution and monetization models, as well as its strong track record in investing, building and scaling content brands and OTT video services, they say. AT&T and The Chernin Group formed Otter Media in April 2014 to acquire, invest in and launch global over-the-top (OTT) video services.

Its portfolio includes Fullscreen Media (which owns Rooster Teeth); social marketing agency McBeard; Ellation (which manages Crunchyroll, a subscription and ad-supported video platform for Japanese anime); VRV, a multichannel video platform built for a community of fans who love anime, animation, gaming, comedy, fantasy and technology; and Gunpowder & Sky.

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Seth Rodsky, Founding Partner of Strand Equity Partners, is partnered with Witherspoon on the deal and will join the Hello Sunshine board.

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Barack Obama

President Barack Obama told reporters Sunday that he was not concerned he might be the last Democratic president.

But the president, speaking with reporters at an economic-cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, did acknowledge that the Democratic Party had some soul-searching to do.

"I am not worried about being the last Democratic president  not even for a while," Obama said at a news conference. "And I say that not being cute  the Democratic nominee won the popular vote, and obviously this is an extremely competitive race, and I would expect that future races will be competitive."

Earlier this year, when a Donald Trump victory still seemed a long shot, George W. Bush said he feared he would be the last Republican president. The comments prompted a Fox News reporter to ask Obama on Sunday whether he felt the same way about his party since the tables had turned and Republicans had control of the presidency, both houses of Congress, nearly two-thirds of state legislatures, and more than 30 governorships.

"I certainly think it's true that politics in America right now are a little bit up for grabs," Obama said. "That some of the old alignments in both parties, Democrat and Republican, are being reshaped. Democrats do have to do some thinking about how do we make sure that the message we have is received effectively and results in winning elections."

Reports of infighting in the Democratic Party began surfacing in the days after Trump's surprise win in this month's presidential election. Party leaders are preparing for years of self-examination.

Obama suggested that the Democratic election strategy of "micro-targeting" specific demographic groups  like the black and Hispanic voters that were crucial for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton  may not be the most effective strategy.

"One message I do have for Democrats, that a strategy that's micro-targeting particular discrete groups in a Democratic coalition sometimes wins the election, but it does not win you the broad mandate you need," Obama said.

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He added: "And the more we can talk about what we have in common as a nation and speak to a broad set of values, a vision that speaks to everybody, and not just one group at a time, the better off we will be."

NOW WATCH: Its surreal to watch this 2011 video of Obama and Seth Meyers taunting Trump about a presidential run





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A senior party leader, requesting anonymity, told Mail Today that like the Assembly election AAP will get mammoth vote in municipal election scheduled early next year and they have been approached by 11 Congress councillors to fight the election on AAP ticket

By Shashank Shekhar: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is planning to make a huge dent in ruling BJP and Congress vote bank in the upcoming civic polls by claiming that they have been 'contacted' by 11 Congress councillors to join the party. However, no decision has been taken yet as the party claims people from the BJP and Congress will be taken only after thorough background check.

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TALKS OF LEADERS CHANGING SIDES

A senior party leader, requesting anonymity, told Mail Today that like the Assembly election AAP will get mammoth vote in municipal election scheduled early next year and they have been approached by 11 Congress councillors to fight the election on AAP ticket. The municipal election is still six months away and talks of political leaders changing sides will become more rampant as deadline approaches.

Without revealing any names, the AAP leader said that a maximum of five councillors will join from South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). "In past one month, five Congress councillors have approached us from SDMC. There are three corporators from East and North Delhi Municipal Corporation each, who are speaking to us and are willing to join the party," he said, adding that the Congress termed it as a rumour and took a dig at AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, asking as to why AAP which calls everybody in other political party corrupt is now ready to take them in their party.

CONGRESS CHALLENGE

Congress also challenged AAP to make names of these councillors public if they are ready to change the party. But AAP sources claimed that the announcement will be made once the party gives a goahead to accept them, which will happen only after background verification. "The party is seriously considering the interest shown from the Opposition. Not all those who apply from other parties will be taken but AAP may accept at least three of those who are ready to shift," he added.

However, the move by AAP may indicate their popularity but how will it impact the BJP in all the three municipal corporations is yet to be seen. Exit of sitting councillors from the party will serve as a major blow to the Congress, which has been riding high on success of the municipal by-polls which took place on 13 seats in May earlier this year. AAP got a major share in the by-polls as they managed to bag close to 29 per cent of total votes with BJP winning overall voteshare of 34.2 per cent.



ALSO READ:

Bains brothers enter into pre-poll alliance with AAP in Punjab

Kejriwal accuses Amarinder of having Swiss bank accounts





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After wowing fans with his single "Find Me," Rhode Island rapper Khary returns with his new video for "I'm Sorry Freestyle." The dark and gloomy visual finds an apologetic Khary spilling out his emotions for a lost partner.

"Essentially me and Deyo wanted to make something that would bring the cover art for the single alive," he tells Billboard over e-mail. "We came up with the idea of using the changing colors of lights to reflect the emotions that one might go through during a dwindling relationship. The revolving camera represents time and we added the animations to add depth the concept."

After rocking the stage at New York's S.O.B.'s for Hot 97's Who's Next showcase last month, Khary -- who released his Intern Aquarium project in May -- has been diligently pushing his very own clothing line INTERN.

"Intern Aquarium was an idea that I initially thought of 2 years before it was actually released and a year before I even wrote a song for it," he explains. "So I had a lot of time to conceptualize a bunch of projects that coincided the mixtape. The merch is one of those projects. Most artists approach merch on a super basic level like tastelessly pasting their cover art on a tee shirt and I didn't want to do that. I wanted to make something that was a statement and could stand alone without the mixtape. Anyone who wears it can't go a day without someone asking a question about it and that was the goal. It came out dope."

Khary is also set to deliver more material once the time is right. "I like to leave room for the unexpected but there are a few things that I know I will accomplish. I will wrap up my Intern Aquarium project with more videos, go on a big tour, and release two projects (an EP and a full-length). 2016 has been life changing but I've only reached fifty percent of my potential."

Right before the year wraps, Khary will hit the road with Sylvan LaCue for a seven-city tour, including a pit stop in his native Rhode Island.

Check out Khary's "I'm Sorry Freestyle" video below.
WWE Network

Ric Flair certainly knows his way around a good story. But enough about him bumping Lil Naitches with Halle Berry; his latest tale is literally unbelievable.

Flair stopped by ESPNs Dan Le Batard Show this past week and held court and told stories about the old days, as he tends to do. He of course told some great stories about Andre the Giant, but at one point he told a tale that was so baffling that we simply must single it out.

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Flair claims that back in the 1970s, he was once struck by lightning while getting off a plane in Richmond, Virginia. Somehow, the lightning struck his umbrella and ended up killing another man, while Flair made it out unscathed and wrestled Ricky Steamboat that evening in the Richmond Coliseum.

I got off the plane and was walking, he said. I didnt go 10, 15 feet when all of a sudden I felt this pressure boom, and man, my umbrella shot 50 feet in the air. I thought, What the hell? Lightning hit the top of my umbrella, bounced off and hit the guy in the eye five feet behind me and killed him. Right there. I just stood there looking at the guy and froze, it scared me to death. People were running out the door to get the guy. Flair was then jokingly asked by Le Batard how he was was still alive. I dont know, Flair replied. Ive always wondered what kind of a lawsuit that was, because it was really a big deal, hence probably the steel tips coming off umbrellas at that point.

If you have an impeccable memory, you might remember that Flair actually told that story on WWE television once, although that time he said it happened in 1981. (Skip to the 3:20 mark.)

Thats certainly up there in the pantheon of wrestling tales, tall or otherwise. Im surprised Hulk Hogan didnt barge in to claim the lightning was a result of him bodyslamming Andre several years in the future, the kinetic energy of which traveled into the past to bounce off Ric Flair and kill a bystander, who was actually a CIA assassin.

Kudos to the Le Batard gang for just asking one follow-up question and moving on, because I would have been able to talk to Ric Flair about nothing else but this Chain Lightning attack for the rest of my natural life.
We live in an era of polyglot television, where shows from Europe, Asia and South America sit tidily alongside must-watch U.S. series on Netflix and Amazon and international series have become farm teams for American adaptations - see Homeland (Israel), The Killing (Denmark), The Returned (France) and Humans (Sweden). So it should come as no surprise that the International Emmys, which honor the best in TV made outside the U.S., continue to grow in size and importance. The 44th International Emmys, to be held Nov. 21 in New York, feature nominees from five continents and a range of programming that embraces everything from 19-2, a gritty Canadian cop show set in Montreal, and Puppet Nation ZA, an African news satire featuring rude puppets, to Deutschland 83, a German Cold War spy drama set to an '80s pop soundtrack, and Hoff the Record, a surreal British comedy starring David Hasselhoff as  David Hasselhoff.

And that's just the fiction categories. In the nonscripted sphere, this year's competition features reality TV innovations such as Googlebox, the U.K. series that turns the cameras around to watch ordinary Brits as they watch TV; I Can See Your Voice, a South Korean twist on the singing competition show, which features tone-deaf contestants alongside would-be stars; and La Banda, Univision's hit format, created by Simon Cowell and produced by Ricky Martin, which aims to find the next big Latino girl or boy band.

Read more: International Emmy Host Alan Cumming on His Fears (And Hopes) After Trump Election

American Bruce Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which hosts the event, notes that membership in the international academy has doubled during the past decade to more than 700 members as overseas talent continues to raise the bar for small-screen productions.

"The range of storylines and characters among the 2016 nominees is a reflection of the incredibly diverse world we live in, and the strong interest and appetite audiences have for their domestic programs [are] increasing for international programs as well," says Paisner.

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Hal Shinnie/BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Only 10 years ago it would have been very rare to see French dramas, German dramas or even the quantity of U.S. dramas that we have today. The world feels like a smaller place," adds British producer Derek Wax, whose miniseries Capital, starring Toby Jones and Lesley Sharp, is nominated in the best TV movie or miniseries category. "There's a huge sense of what's possible, particularly in terms of the scale and ambition of storytelling."

Like many of this year's International Emmy nominees, Capital employs a very local approach to tell a story with global appeal. Residents of the fictional Pepys Road in South London, an area undergoing a property boom, all receive the same mysterious postcard reading, "We want what you have."

Courtesy of Yan Turcotte

"It's both a jealous threat and also expresses something positive, the sort of fundamental yearning at the moment between the world of the haves and the have-nots," says Wax. "I think it could play as well in Paris, in Berlin or in Brooklyn." Similarly, Deutschland 83, a best series nominee, is hyperspecific in its time and place - divided Berlin during the Cold War - but, according to co-creator Anna Winger, uses the period setting "as a metaphor for modern-day politics and current events."

With the International Emmys taking place just two weeks after Donald Trump's shocking victory in the U.S. presidential election, expect modern-day politics to rear its head at the ceremony - and not just as a metaphor. Scottish actor Alan Cumming, an outspoken LGBT activist and sharp critic of Trump, will host this year's awards. Cumming, best known to U.S. audiences as the host of PBS' Masterpiece Mystery! and for his Emmy-nominated turn as campaign manager Eli Gold on CBS' The Good Wife, cut his teeth as an actor and biting satirist on the British stage and screen.

Don't expect him to pull any punches.

"Alan Cumming's humor is notorious," says Paisner. "I will just leave it at that  for now."

***

3 WOMEN TO WATCH

From Scandal to Nordic noir, these global TV leaders will be in the spotlight.

Adriana Cisneros (Gala Chair)

The CEO of Venezuela's Cisneros Media will preside over this year's gala and present the lifetime achievement honors.

Shonda Rhimes (Founders Award)

TV's top showrunner produces shows that air to more than 300 million viewers in some 67 languages worldwide.

Maria Rorbye Ronn (Directorate Award)

The CEO of the Danish Broadcasting Corp. has perfected Nordic noir with such series as The Bridge and The Killing.

This story first appeared in the Dec. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
Shark Tank star and Dancing with the Stars alum Robert Herjavec is with The Doctors to share his personal connection in helping the fight against cancer and how patient care is improving through advances in medical technology.

Watch: How Ovarian Cancer Develops

My mom passed away from ovarian cancer about 9 years ago, and actually thats why I did 'Dancing with the Stars,' he shares. My mom was in the hospital a lot towards the end and every Monday wed go there and wed watch Dancing with the Stars my mom would watch and say, One day, do you think you would be on 'Dancing with the Stars?' The show meant so much to her, so when they asked me to do it. I did it right away for my mom.

When hes not busy in the "Tank" negotiating deals, Robert is also working with Astellas Oncology, which held a competition, the C3 Prize, to encourage advancement in patient care regarding cancer treatment.

C3 Prize champ Joowon Kim, Chief Technology Officer at OnComfort, also joins The Doctors to speak about her winning product. She explains that her virtual reality product helps patients with their stress levels and can improve their recovery time. The use of the OnComfort can also lead to less time spent in the hospital.

Watch: How Exercise Can Fight Cancer

The Doctors applaud advances like these that help patients improve with their fight against cancer. Check out more with Robert and the rest of The Sharks on Shark Tank, Fridays at 9/8c on ABC.
If theres one thing bestselling author and TV personality Robin McGraw knows plenty about, its taking care of her skin. And unlike many women, who dont start a regimented routine until they hit their 20s or 30s, McGraw started focusing on her complexion in her early teens.

When I was probably 10 years old, I got sunburned really bad, the 62-year-old philanthropist, television personality and wife of Dr. Phil McGraw, told PeopleStyle. I have fair skin, freckles and red hair. I grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, so the suns really harsh. I knew far back then I was going to be very careful with my skin.

So it doesnt come as a surprise that the self-proclaimed research queen and skincare lover would eventually come out with her own luxury skincare line, Robin McGraw Revelation, which she just launched with close friend and Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu. I get thousands of letters every day from women all over the country  I call em my girlfriends Ive never actually met  and always get asked about aging skin, problematic skin and more, McGraw said. I pooled all of those questions and thought, What can we do to help as many women as possible? And thats what we did here.

RELATED PHOTOS: Sheet Masks You Didnt Know You Needed  but Now Cant Live Without

The line features a range of 14 products with the idea to make quality skincare affordable and accessible to every woman, something that was very important to McGraw and Wu. I read the statistic that said fewer than 10 percent of women have access to a skincare professional like a dermatologist or aesthetician, Wu shared. We thought, Lets create products that are the same high level I recommend to my patients in my office.'

McGraw turned to her husband throughout the two-and-a-half year product development process to make sure they were just right  for everyone! Its kind of funny because Phillip calls guinea pig, McGraw laughed. I would try something on him because this is not really just for women. Men can use it too.

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And although Dr. Phils known for being the one to give health advice on The Dr. Phil Show, when it comes to skin, Robin teaches him everything he needs to know.

I will say, Hun, you need to put this on! You need to put this on. And he will do whatever I say because he trusts me. He totally relies on me to tell him what to do, she said.

The number one product in the collection that McGraw cant stop talking about is the Twinkle Twinkle, Youre A Star! Triple Action Brightening Polish, which she insisted they create. I could not live without the scrub. Its essential. I do my own makeup and wear a lot of makeup, so I know how much is on my face, she said. When I get home I really want to cleanse my face and make sure I get it off!

Will you try Robins skincare line? Tell us!




Fans of Roma clashed with riot police on November 20, after their team was beaten 2-1 by home side Atalanta in Bergamo.

Reports said 400 police officers were deployed to contain the Roma fans and prevent them for coming into contact with rival supporters. Credit: Facebook/LEco di Bergamo via Storyful
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow will deploy S-400 surface-to-air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad in retaliation for NATO deployments, a senior pro-Kremlin lawmaker was quoted as saying on Monday. Russia has previously said it periodically sends Iskanders to Kaliningrad, but until now it has said these were routine drills. Moscow has not linked the moves explicitly with what it says is a NATO military build-up on Russia's western borders. After the election as U.S. president of Donald Trump, who has said he wants closer ties with the Kremlin and has questioned the cost of protecting NATO allies, some analysts predict an emboldened Moscow could become more assertive in eastern Europe. Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said in remarks reported by RIA news agency that Russia was forced to react to the planned U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe. "As response measures to such threats we will have... to deploy additional forces... This reinforcement includes deployment of S-400 and Iskander systems in Kaliningrad," the agency quoted Ozerov as saying. The defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Ozerov's remarks. Also on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted talking about how Russia has to respond to what it perceives as a threat from U.S.-led forces in eastern Europe. "Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATO's decision making," RIA quoted him as saying in an interview for a documentary that will be broadcast by Russian TV later on Monday. "What should we do? We have, therefore, to take countermeasures, which means to target with our missile systems the facilities, that, in our opinion, start posing a threat to us," Putin said. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova and Polina Devitt; Editing by Christian Lowe)
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between Lucknow and Delhi by almost half to 5-6 hours.

By Manjeet Negi: Agra-Lucknow Expressway was thrown open to public today with fighter jets of the Indian Air Force touching down on it after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated what is now India's longest expressway.



Air Marshal S B P Sinha Air Officer Commanding in Chief Central Air Command was present at the venue to oversee the operations. A number of military and civil officials witnessed this unique feat by our Air Warriors.



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THE FIGHTER JET SHOW



03Mirage-2000 and 03SU-30 aircrafts of the Indian Air Force carried out a 'touch and go' on a portion of the newly constructed Agra-Lucknow Expressway.

The portion of the Expressway used for the purpose has an RCC construction and has been reinforced and appropriately marked to facilitate aircraft landings. The portion of the Expressway used for today's operations is located at Ganj Moradabad in Unnao District of UP.

The aim of the exercise was to check feasibility of Expressways being used as alternate airstrips in case of dire emergencies or non availability of runway for any reason.

WATCH:



The entire operation began with the first 3 Mirages coming overhead at around 1 pm and culminated with a touch and go by the final SU-30 fighter jet around 1.30 pm.



#WATCH Unnao: IAF Mirage 2000 jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow expressway pic.twitter.com/xiZtjzZzHy ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2016

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and now Rajya Sabha MP Mayawati alleged that the ruling Samajwadi Party threw an under-prepared expressway open to general public.

READ| PM Modi won't speak on demonetisation in Parliament, says government; Opposition steps up attack

BSP chief Mayawati said, "As the chief minister of UP, I began the construction of Agra-Lucknow Expressway. At the time of the last assembly elections, I was advised to inaugurate it and throw it open for public use. But, I rejected the suggestion as it would have put people's life at risk."

"The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is still not complete but the incumbent CM is inaugurating it with the hope of reaping electoral benefits," Mayawati said.



WATCH:



Along with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the 6-lane Greenfield Agra-Lucknow Expressway at Bangarmau in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh.

Issuing a statement earlier, the state government said, "302-km six-lane Expressway expandable to 8-lane would start from Agra to reach Lucknow via Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Oraia, Kannauj, Hardoi,Kanpur Nagar and Unnao."

READ| Akhilesh Yadav hits Agra-Lucknow expressway to check quality; video goes viral

The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between two cities to three and half hours. It will further reduce the journey time between Lucknow and Delhi by almost half to 5-6 hours.

Unnao: IAF jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow expressway pic.twitter.com/ffFHoXPO7Q ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2016

--- ENDS ---

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Hummus lovers, you should sit down for this -- and put down that carrot.

Sabra Dipping Co. recalled dozens of hummus products Saturday because of listeria concerns, according to a Food and Drug Administration statement. The problem was found at the production facility and not in the products themselves.

Though the company is recalling a plethora of products, it points out that its Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips remain unaffected.

The dozens of items included in the recall have a "Best Before" date through Jan. 23, 2017. They include the Sabra Hummus Caramelized Onion 10 ounce (UPC 040822014700 and SKU 040822014700) and the Sabra Hummus Lemon 10 ounce (UPC 040822011648 and SKU 301483). A full list of the items consumers are advised to toss is available in the FDA statement. The company had another listeria-related recall in April 2015.

Sabra provided an update on its website Sunday, noting that it's following "industry-leading food safety procedures." Consumers can call Sabra's consumer relations line between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST for more information: 1-866-265-6761. They can also head to www.sabrahummusrecall.com to find out more about product reimbursement.

Listeria is often the culprit of food recalls. While healthy people could experience short-term symptoms like high fever, nausea and diarrhea, infection can be dire for certain populations. It's possibly fatal in young children, the elderly and people with poor immune systems. For pregnant women, it may also lead to miscarriages and stillbirth.

Top Reasons Children End Up in the Hospital

Can You Trust Your 'Yuck' Reflex?

David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.
Texas police are searching for a gunman who allegedly fatally shot an officer as he sat in his patrol car outside of the police departments headquarters on Sunday, PEOPLE confirms.

San Antonio police said Ben Marconi, 50, was writing out a ticket in his patrol vehicle at around 11:45 a.m. when the gunman drove up beside him in a black car and allegedly fired two shots into the vehicle, striking Marconi in the head. The suspect allegedly fled the scene and Marconi was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

We consider the suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public, Chief William McManus said at a Sunday press conference.

Officials described the suspect as a black man between 20 and 30 years old. He is believed to be at least 57 and has a slim build with a goatee. Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Our hearts go out to Detective Marconis family, McManus said. Most families will be celebrating the holidays, SAPD will be burying one of its own because of an ultimate act of cowardice by a suspect who will be caught and brought to justice.

In a Monday press conference, McManus said police spoke with a person of interest in the investigation, and noted that the person was questioned and released.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

Officials also released a surveillance video showing the suspect walking through the departments headquarters.

McManus described Marconi as a 20-year veteran of the department and Roy Naylor, a former colleague of Marconis, told NBC News that Marconi was a sex crimes detective who excelled at his work.

He was a great father, he was a great officer, Naylor told NBC, adding that Marconi had two children from past marriages as well as grandchildren.

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Four Officers Shot in 24-Hour Span

Marconi is one of four officers shot over a 24-hour period, reports say.

A St. Louis, Missouri, a police sergeant was shot twice in the face Sunday night, but is expected to survive, CBS News reports.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay told KMOV the sergeant was just doing his job, but he was targeted because he was a police officer.

A Gladstone, Missouri, police officer was shot Sunday night but is expected to survive, according to Fox. Meanwhile, a cop in Sanibel, Florida, was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop but was treated and released, CBS reports.

Of the shootings, McManus said, I feel they were targeted.




Dec. 2 will mark one year since a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, killed 14 and injured another 22. Fifty-seven people survived that day as a husband and wife opened fire at a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center. With the anniversary just days away, those survivors say theyre no longer getting the medication and counseling they need.

More than 20 survivors met with San Bernardino County officials Thursday to discuss their lack of adequate medical care, the San Bernardino County Sun reported. The survivors said they were cut off from necessary medications like anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills, as well as counseling. Sixteen of the survivors are still on leave from San Bernardino Countys Environmental Health Services department.

County risk management director Ken Hernandez told the Sun that the survivors are receiving proper medical care and that there is a lengthy process by which medications and treatment get approved before being administrated.

Were not denying any medication or treatment thats been approved, he said. If its non-certified through utilization review, thats not the country denying medication.

Santa Ana workers compensation attorney Geraldine Ly represents eight of the survivors and said that four have been cut off from medications and three have been cut off from counseling.

RTX1X40B

Photo: Reuters

Anniversaries of traumatic incidents such as terrorist attacks are high-risk times for survivors health, according to findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs. An increase in distress is so common around such times that its known as an anniversary reaction. Symptoms can range from feeling mildly upset to feeling clinically depressed or even suicidal.

Quitting medications like anti-depressants suddenly is dangerous. Stopping such medications cold turkey can result in a relapse of depression or anxiety or symptoms like headaches and insomnia, according to Harvard Health. Instead, doctors are advised to wean patients off, slowly tapering the dosage to give the body time to adjust.

Related Articles
Munchery dish

San Francisco food delivery startup Munchery is reportedly throwing away so much of the food it makes, it's almost quadruple what some restaurants waste.

According to a new piece out from Bloomberg's Eric Newcomer, the amount of food the startup throws away has begun to raise eyebrows among food waste experts and former employees alike. While typical restaurants waste between 4% and 10%, Munchery is wasting 16% of the food it makes, Bloomberg reports.

Financial documents obtained by Bloomberg show that Munchery has been massively overproducing food for years: Between September 2014 and July 2016, Munchery's kitchen in San Francisco made about 653,400 dishes that were never sold. The excess food was both donated to charities and thrown away, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg calculated that over a two-year period, Munchery threw out $1.9 million worth of food, based on an average dish costing $2.96 during that time period.

Munchery sent Business Insider a statement regarding the reports, which you can read in full below:

Munchery doesnt waste food. Anything not sold is donated at the end of each day to organizations that deliver them to the homeless and other residents in need. We take deep pride in this.



We try to keep overproduction to a minimum. We have made progress as a startup but we are always trying to do better. The proper amount of production is a challenge that all food businesses deal with. Restaurants, catering facilities, and even online platforms like ours have to determine how much food to produce ahead of demand. We predict customer demand on a weekly basis, and execute our menu ahead of customer orders. We are continuing to try to find the right balance.



Munchery is already the leading company in the fully integrated food preparation and delivery space. We are profitable in San Francisco, our most mature market, and contribution margin positive in our three other markets. One would be hard pressed to find a competitor that could make these claims. And even more importantly, our customer base and revenue are growing.



We are extremely excited for the future of our company under the leadership of our new CEO James Beriker.

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The startup  which was founded in 2010 by Vietnamese immigrant Tri Tran, who was just replaced as CEO  has raised more than $118 million in venture capital funding and was most recently valued at $300 million. But the company has gone through hard times lately, according to Bloomberg, and may be looking to some of its current investors, which includes Shervin Pishevar and director Jon Favreau, for more funding.

For more on the challenges facing Munchery, head over to Bloomberg to read the complete piece.

NOW WATCH: Scientists have discovered why American honey bees are turning into zombies





More From Business Insider


Santa may need to take off some of his jolly layers this Christmas: The North Pole  the northernmost point on the globe (where Mr. Claus lives)  is more than 36 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) warmer than it has been in past decades, a new report finds.

Moreover, the entire Arctic, a region that includes the North Pole, is almost 13 F (7.2 C) warmer today (Nov. 18) than in past years, the report found.

These analyses come from Sean Birkel, a research assistant professor at the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute. He updates the temperature difference for the Arctic every day on ClimateReanalyzer.org, saying he hopes to raise awareness about how the Arctic is heating up overall, in some places as much as 36 F above normal. [8 Ways Global Warming Is Already Changing the World]

Birkel calculates his forecast temperature anomaly maps for the Arctic by comparing the current day's values against a 1979 to 2000 climate baseline period for the same day of the year. The method uses U.S. weather forecast and reanalysis models, he said.

The finding is no surprise to climate scientists who have kept a close eye on the Arctic for years.For most of 2016, the Arctic has had record-low sea iceand record-high temperatures, said Jennifer Francis, a research professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

"The Arctic has been in uncharted territory pretty much all year long, ever since last fall," Francis told Live Science.

Though a variety of factors are likely behind the record-breaking temperature spikes, overall, "the broader background is that the climate is warming, [and] the Arctic is warming very much so, more so than any other part of the globe," Birkel said.

Ice sheets reflect the sun's energy back into space, but as ice melts, the newly exposed ocean absorbs the sun's heat instead. As the water warms, it releases water vapor, which traps heat within the Earth's atmosphere. The vapor also leads to cloud formation, which traps even more heat, Francis said.

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In turn, the warmer ocean and increased water vapor and clouds further decrease sea-ice cover, which exacerbates the problem, she said.

"The loss of the sea ice, the increased melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the thawing of permafrost, the changes in the weather patterns, the rising sea level  it's all consistent with our expectations for the response of the climate system to increases in greenhouse gases," Francis said. "It's been totally expected. What's not expected is how fast it's been happening."

A map showing cold (blue) and hot (orange) places, according to 1-day-average temperatures taken on Nov. 18, 2016. ClimateReanalyzer.org Climate Change Institute The University of Maine

Arctic effects

The record-low sea ice doesn't just send temperatures higher, but it also is causing a frigid winter in central Asia, Francis said. That's because the jet stream (a fast-moving air current) tends to swing northward in the region north of Scandinavia and western Russia. When the sea ice in that region the Arctic Ocean is lost, the warmth tends to intensify the jet stream's northward swing, said Francis, who credited Judah Cohen, a forecaster with Atmospheric and Environmental Research, for figuring out the effect. [Images of Melt: Earth's Vanishing Ice]

That extra swing allows the jet stream to dip farther south in regions east of Scandinavia and western Russia, just over central Asia, she said.

"That allows the cold air from the Arctic to plunge farther south, and it tends to create snowfall earlier in the fall, which is exactly what we've seen this year," Francis said. "In fact, it's been a record amount of snowfall in northern Siberia. And when you get snow on the ground there, that makes it colder, and that intensifies the southward dip even more."

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted this effect on Twitter, saying, "Extraordinary #Arctic warmth and #Siberia cold, likely linked to record-low #seaice, expected to persist into December, per model forecasts."

Extraordinary #Arctic warmth and #Siberia cold, likely linked to record-low #seaice, expected to persist into December, per model forecasts. pic.twitter.com/QTwU6qUHCA  Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) November 18, 2016

The loss of sea ice will likely harm animals that depend on it for survival, including the polar bear, Francis said. In addition, researchers are learning that increases in sea-surface temperatures are changing the type of plankton that live in the water column, which could alter the entire food web, she said.

Perhaps these climate changes will prompt people to take action to slow planetary warming, Francis said.

"We are doing irreparable damage to our planet," Francis said. "As a society, we need to get a grip and get serious about doing something about it."

Original article on Live Science.

Editor's Recommendations
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / RenovaCare, Inc., (RCAR), developer of the patented CellMist and SkinGun technologies* for isolating and spraying a patient's own stem cells onto burns and wounds for rapid self-healing, today announced the appointment of Roger Esteban-Vives, Ph.D. as Director of Cell Sciences.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the RenovaCare team to help bring to market the company's breakthrough stem cell spray technology, the SkinGun," said Dr. Roger Esteban-Vives. "What makes the SkinGun unique is its ability to gently spray large areas of wounds and burns with a patient's own stem cells, within only minutes of arriving in an emergency ward. Best of all, the process is entirely natural, quick, and gentle."

Watch video: Remarkable 'before-after' patient recovery using RenovaCare SkinGun.

RenovaCare is developing its patented SkinGun to spray a liquid suspension of a patient's stem cells  the CellMist Solution  onto wounds. RenovaCare believes the technology will be a promising new alternative for patients suffering from burns, chronic and acute wounds, and scars. In the U.S. alone, this $45 billion market is greater than the spending on high-blood pressure management, cholesterol treatments, and back pain therapeutics.

Key to the RenovaCare approach is its ultra-gentle delivery of regenerative stem cells to the wound site. The company's SkinGun achieves uniform distribution of fluids with 200 times greater coverage than conventional methods, according to tests conducted at Stem cell Systems GmbH (Berlin, Germany).

Dr. Roger Esteban-Vives, Director, Cell Sciences, RenovaCare, Inc.

In addition to laboratory tests showing high distribution and concentration patterns, the SkinGun has also demonstrated its ability to spray powerful yet delicate skin stem cells ultra-gently, without damaging the cells. Cell viability is essential to regenerating skin for burns, wounds, and cosmetic applications.



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SkinGun achieved impressive 97.3% cell viability after spraying, according to studies conducted by scientists at one of the world's largest university hospitals, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), a translational research center at Charite  Universitatsmedizin Berlin.

"We've achieved some impressive technical results to-date. The next steps for us are to advance our breakthrough technology towards market through the regulatory and clinical studies process," said Thomas Bold, President and CEO of RenovaCare, Inc. "I especially welcome the addition of Dr. Esteban-Vives to our team. He is one of the few scientists in the world with such deep experience in the isolation and spray of human stem cells, and we're fortunate to have him join us."

Among the world's leading experts in the isolation of specific stem cells that are ideal for spraying onto burns and wounds, his research includes epidermal-dermal isolation of stem cells and investigations of post-spray dressings and their effect on freshly isolated keratinocytes.

Previously, at the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine (University of Pittsburgh), Dr. Esteban-Vives worked extensively with skin stem cells, their spray application to burns, and investigation of the impact that commercially-available wound dressings have on such cells.

Dr. Esteban-Vives received his bachelor in molecular biology at the University Autonoma of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). He worked as a molecular biologist from 2001 through 2003 at IRTA in Cabrils, Spain.

In 2003 he joined the pharmaceutical company, Oryzon Genomics in Barcelona, Spain, and was instrumental in developing a new technology to induce and detect mutations in organisms via high-throughput molecular detection systems. From this work, he received his Ph.D. in biotechnology from the University of Barcelona.

Dr. Esteban-Vives is published in various scientific journals and lectures at national and international scientific conferences around the world. He is also an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Acute Disease, and serves as a scientific reviewer for a myriad of scientific journals.

*RenovaCare products are currently in development. They are not available for sale in the United States.

About RenovaCare:



RenovaCare, Inc. is developing first-of-its-kind autologous (self-donated) stem cell therapies for the regeneration of human organs. Its initial product under development targets the body's largest organ, the skin. The company's flagship technology, the CellMist System, uses its patented SkinGun to spray a liquid suspension of a patient's stem cells  the CellMist Solution  onto wounds. RenovaCare is developing its CellMist System as a promising new alternative for patients suffering from burns, chronic and acute wounds, and scars. In the US alone, this $45 billion market is greater than the spending on high-blood pressure management, cholesterol treatments, and back pain therapeutics.

For additional information, please call Drew Danielson at: 888-398-0202 or visit: http://renovacareinc.com

To receive future press releases via email, please visit: http://renovacareinc.com/investors/register/

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For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQ's page: http://renovacareinc.com/investors/faqs/

Media Contact:

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Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using SEC filings and press releases. We use our website and social media to communicate with our subscribers, shareholders and the public about the company, RenovaCare, Inc. development, and other corporate matters that are in the public domain. At this time, the company will not post information on social media that could be deemed to be material information unless that information was distributed to public distribution channels first. We encourage investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review the information we post on the company's website and the social media channels listed below:

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* This list may be updated from time to time.

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No statement herein should be considered an offer or a solicitation of an offer for the purchase or sale of any securities. This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although RenovaCare, Inc. (the "Company") believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the timing and success of clinical and preclinical studies of product candidates, the potential timing and success of the Company's product programs through their individual product development and regulatory approval processes, adverse economic conditions, intense competition, lack of meaningful research results, entry of new competitors and products, inadequate capital, unexpected costs and operating deficits, increases in general and administrative costs, termination of contracts or agreements, obsolescence of the Company's technologies, technical problems with the Company's research, price increases for supplies and components, litigation and administrative proceedings involving the Company, the possible acquisition of new businesses or technologies that result in operating losses or that do not perform as anticipated, unanticipated losses, the possible fluctuation and volatility of the Company's operating results, financial condition and stock price, losses incurred in litigating and settling cases, dilution in the Company's ownership of its business, adverse publicity and news coverage, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives and research scientists, and other risks. There can be no assurance that further research and development will validate and support the results of our preliminary research and studies. Further, there can be no assurance that the necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained or that the Company will be able to develop commercially viable products on the basis of its technologies. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports and filings may be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: RenovaCare, Inc.
By Alastair Macdonald

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Scottish government is pushing for Britain and the European Union to give Scotland special terms in any Brexit deal to keep it closer than England to EU markets, its lead negotiator said in Brussels on Monday.

Telling an audience that included EU officials and diplomats that only the "softest" break with the EU would suit Scotland, Edinburgh's Brexit minister Mike Russell said that if that were not possible, then Scotland should vote again on independence.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's drive to restrict immigration from the EU and end EU judicial oversight made it unlikely, Russell said, that Britain would remain in the EU single market.

As a result, he said, the letter May promises to send the EU by March to trigger withdrawal should include commitments to negotiate special terms for Scotland as well as those expected to be required to accommodate Northern Ireland's problems in modifying what is now an open land border with EU member state Ireland.

"What we need to see in the letter is a recognition that there will not be a uniform Brexit for every part of the UK but that there will be different arrangements," Russell said on the day when London's Brexit minister, David Davis, was in Brussels for a first meeting with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

May herself set out plans on Monday to get big business behind her Brexit strategy, toning down proposals to put workers on company boards and promising to spend billions of pounds on science, technology and research.

Russell said creative solutions for Scotland would be needed on both sides, but that unprecedented arrangements to keep Scotland close to EU markets, and even to maintain EU citizenship for Scots, should not be ruled out.

The pro-independence government of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has embarked on a charm offensive with the EU since Scots voted heavily to remain in the bloc when Britain as a whole voted to leave in the June 23 referendum.

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A new senior director took over running the Scottish mission in Brussels on Monday and the government published a pamphlet aimed at making Scotland's case to fellow Europeans for its rights and wishes to stay in the bloc. Wary of secessionists in other EU states, the Union was cool to Scottish pleas to stay in the bloc during an independence referendum in 2014.

The Brexit vote has brought sympathy for a country voicing support for the much criticized bloc but Russell said that it remained to be seen what the EU was ready to do to help.

"We are having good conversations," he said. "Sympathy, fascination, support do not necessarily translate into anything. But there are important issues at stake here for the EU upon which I hope there is reflection by all the member states."
They are quite literally poles apart but both the North Pole and the South Pole have something unfortunate in common at the moment: They are both seeing the lowest levels of sea ice since modern record-keeping began.

News about the Arctic sea ice being at its lowest level ever for this time of the year  it hits its minimum in September and starts to build up again in October as the six-monthlong polar winter sets in  came a few days ago. Temperatures near North Pole are said to be 36 degrees higher than normal for this time of the year, and the sea ice level  which has fallen by about half since records began in 1979  is lesser than its previous low of 2012.

On the other end of Earth, Antarctica behaves very differently from the Arctic, and many years have seen an increase in Antarctic sea ice. In fact, after increasing for three consecutive years, Antarctic sea ice had reached its maximum recorded extent in 2014 before falling back to average levels in 2015, but as NASA pointed out, the decrease in Arctic sea ice was three times greater than the increase seen in the Antarctic at the time.

The increase in Antarctic sea ice levels is often cited by climate change skeptics and deniers as evidence for their arguments (If climate change is real, why doesnt it affect the South Pole ice? or other similar arguments), but now, latest data collected by NASA shows that Antarctic sea ice is also at a record low for this time of the year.

In a statement, NASA said: Antarctica is heading into austral summer, a period of rapid sea ice melt in the Southern Ocean. But this year the sea ice loss has been particularly swift and the Antarctic sea ice extent is currently at the lowest level for this time of year ever recorded in the satellite record, which began in 1979.

Walt Meier, a research scientist with the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, told CNN: It looks like, since the beginning of October, that for the first time we are seeing both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice running at record low levels.

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The observation is no proof that it will become a trend but it certainly quashes claims that Antarctic sea ice was constantly increasing. Climate change is a complex collection of various phenomena, affecting different parts of the planet differently, and global warming is only one aspect of it.

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Fox News star Megyn Kelly continued to get under the skin of her primetime colleagues over the weekend, when an interview prompted Sean Hannity to defend himself on Twitter.

During an appearance on the networks Media Buzz on Sunday, Kelly said that pro-Donald Trump television hosts would arrange with Trump in advance to ask him certain critical questions or do certain hits on him so they would appear to have some credibility.

Hannity, who is about as pro-Trump as a TV host can be, seems to have assumed Kelly was referring to him.

Also Read: Kellyanne Conway Defends Trump's Twitter Attacks on 'Hamilton,' 'SNL': 'Why Do You Care?' (Video)

Curious who she was referring to. I am transparent, I want to defeat Isis, protect the homeland and get people out of poverty and working! https://t.co/tranPp7y2k  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 20, 2016

Also Read: Sean Hannity Says CNN, NY Times and Washington Post Should Lose White House Credentials

Kelly has been all over television recently while promoting her book Settle for More, and also drew criticism from Fox News host Bill OReilly.

OReilly took shots at Kelly twice last week, starting with an appearance on CBS This Morning Tuesday. Im not interested in making my network look bad at all, he said when Norah ODonnell asked about Kellys book, which contains details about sexual harassment by former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes. Later in the day, OReilly made similar comments on his show, The OReilly Factor.

Also Read: Megyn Kelly's Memoir: 7 Eye-Openers From 'Settle For More'

Kelly addressed OReillys comment, saying, I believe that Roger Ailes made the company look bad.

She also said that while OReilly might have the No. 1 show on cable news, she has the No. 1 news show on cable news.

His is an opinion show and there is a difference because, let me tell you, as a news person sometimes its harder to put ratings on the board because you just report the news, Kelly said. If the news is boring, its boring.

Also Read: Megyn Kelly: Roger Ailes 'Tried to Kiss Me 3 Times' (Video)

Last month, Hannity and Kelly appeared to make up after a different Twitter battle when he accused Kelly of being biased toward Hillary Clinton in the heated presidential race. The Kelly File host tweeted a cheery photo of the pair together with the caption, Were Irish. Its complicated. #friends.

Hannity even denied one Twitter users accusation that they had been ordered to make nice by their corporate masters. He wrote, Actually, thats just not true. 2 friends just worked out a MINOR disagreement.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Megyn Kelly Takes Jab at Bill O'Reilly's Claim to 'No. 1 Cable News Show'

Megyn Kelly Fires Back at Bill O'Reilly: 'Roger Ailes Made the Company Look Bad' (Video)

Megyn Kelly: Roger Ailes 'Tried to Kiss Me 3 Times' (Video)
Gigi Hadid warned us were in for a night of epic wardrobe changes, and judging by her first gown alone, she was not exaggerating! The supermodel kicked off her co-hosting duties at the American Music Awards walking the red carpet in a sheer white lace gown. And when we say sheer, we mean completely see-through. See for yourself from every angle, below.

Hadid chose an off-the-shoulder gown featuring a delicate lace design and flowy train. And naturally accessorized with a sparkly silver choker (her favorite) paired with high teased hair and a pink lip. But more of her sexy, romantic look is not whats in store for the rest of the night. Im wearing Cavalli and its a bit different to kind of what I have in the show, but I think thats why I wanted to do it for the carpet. It is kind of its own moment, she told E! during the pre-show.

As ethereal as she looked walking the carpet, white may not have been the best color to chose during a L.A. downpour, because the carpet started dyeing the dress red. Its the first time its rained in L.A. in months  you know what happens when you put red, wetness and white together, Hadid said.

Want to win a trip to L.A.? Enter now for your chance to be at the Oscars Red Carpet

The Victorias Secret model recently told PeopleStyle she is planning on keep her wardrobe choices throughout the night really eclectic to surprise people. While her first certainly made an unforgettable entrance, she confirmed were in for five more shockers tonight.

RELATED PHOTOS: Better From the Back? Stars Most Jaw-Dropping 360

I think like 10 but some shots are a little close up so you miss the outfits, so we went with five, she explained. Five that Im really happy about, but its better to do that than force it.

Shes hosting Sundays show alongside Jay Pharaoh, which marks only her second major hosting gig. But considering that her plans tonight consist of making the stage her runway, we have a feeling shell feel right at home.

What do you think of her sheer gown?




By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) Continuing with the robust growth rate of over 23 per cent, domestic airlines flew 86.72 lakh passengers in October while no-frills carrier IndiGo saw its market share surge to 42.6 per cent during the same period. Reflecting strong demand, the domestic passenger numbers rose 23.2 per cent last month compared to 70.39 lakh people seen in September. "Passengers carried by domestic airlines during Jan-Oct 2016 were 813.70 lakh as against 660.60 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering a growth of 23.18 per cent," aviation regulator DGCA said in its report on domestic aviation sector for the month of October.

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IndiGo cornered the largest market share in October at 42.6 per cent, higher than 40 per cent seen in September. During the same period, national carrier Air India saw its pie decline to 13 per cent from 14.7 per cent recorded in the previous month. Apart from Air India, the market share of Jet Airways and GoAir fell last month to 14.7 per cent and 7.9 per cent, respectively. SpiceJets share rose marginally to 12.9 per cent while that of AirAsia India inched up to 2.7 per cent. According to DGCA, load factor in October almost "remained constant compared to previous month primarily due to the end of tourist season". SpiceJet registered the highest load factor - an indicator of seat occupancy - at 91.9 per cent, followed by IndiGo (84.9 per cent) and GoAir (84.4 per cent). When it came to On Time Performance (OTP), SpiceJet was against on top with 86.1 per cent. At the second and third positions were Vistara (83.6 per cent) and IndiGo (81.2 per cent), respectively. Last month, the overall cancellation rate stood at 0.72 per cent, with Air Carnival clocking the highest at 8.74 per cent, followed by Trujet (6.79 per cent), Air Costa (2.52 per cent) , Air India (1.29 per cent) and IndiGo (0.79 per cent). As many as 790 passenger-related complaints were received by the local airlines in October.Most complaints pertained to customer service, flight problem and baggage. PTI RAM IAS RG

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AMSTERDAM  Although he caused a splash on the international circuit in 2010 when his fiction feature debut My Joy was selected for competition in Cannes, Sergei Loznitsa has long been known in documentary circles, having made his debut at IDFA with the 1996 short Today We Are Going To Build A House.  After that, he recalls, I did one film every year, all documentaries. Although Loznitsa returned to fiction  and the Cannes competition  with 2012s wartime drama In The Fog, he has continued to explore the real world, notably with 2014s Maidan, which documented that years violent unrest in his native Ukraine.

Loznitsa arrived at IDFA for several reasons; the subject of a retrospective, he also gave a masterclass and curated a top ten of personal favourite documentaries, including films by Italys Vittorio De Seta, the U.K.s Peter Watkins and Russias Dziga Vertov. The director then gave an extended Q&A after a screening of his newest film, the Venice entry Austerlitz. Perhaps his most spare and poetic film to date, this carefully composed monochrome film shows us scenes of modern-day tourists at Holocaust sites in German and asks troubling questions about mans ability to consume and yet, at the same time, forget the past.

You make fiction films as well as documentaries  do you have a preference?

Sergei Loznitsa: No. For me, both genres are quite interesting, and I like them both equally. In feature films, I can do things that Im not allowed to do with documentary. And feature films are more open for fantasy. With documentary you have more limitation  by, lets say, life around us, which we cant fix. You cant always express yourself how you want. The rest is the same. I work with documentary and feature-film footage in more or less the same way. Documentary footage is something I do not influence. I dont provoke the situation, its a pure observation. My only provocation is the camera. But with a feature film we provoke and we create. Another difference, of course, is the amount of people who work with you. With documentary cinema you are more free. You have four people on the set and thats enough. You can travel and spend your time without thinking how much money every hour is costing.

Your background is in maths and science. Did you always want to be a filmmaker?

No, I didnt think about that. When I studied mathematics I didnt think about cinema. A few films that I saw changed my opinions about this art form, that made me accept it as serious art not just as advertising  Le Bal [1983] by Ettore Scola and 8  [1963] by Federico Fellini. Two films, I remember, that made me think that cinema was also a possibility for me, maybe. But it was already late [by then], when I finished my maths-graduate education, and I started work at the cybernetic institute. But after that It was a time when the Soviet Union collapsed, when there was the illusion that all roads were open and you could go right or left. I was quite young at that time. I was 25 or 26 and finally I found myself at film school in Moscow in 1991.

Although you studied mathematics, your films dont seem to draw conclusions  theyre very open-ended. Is that a contradiction?

No, no, no! Every film is based on structure. There is a skeleton inside, there is construction inside, but after that, you make it invisible. Because, for me, a film, first of all, has to recreate or create emotion for me, re-create  and it must give you a feeling of something. And leave open the possibility of self-discussion  a discussion with yourself  about this feeling. All these things you have to create with all the tools that you have, with style, with editing, with dramaturgy, with sound, all the possibilities that we call the language of cinema. You have to know how to select the material, because normally we stay in the world where the meaning of everything is the same. This process starts when you decide where to set the camera and you have to choose what kind of composition you would like. And why. So thats based on science. But I dont divide between the two. Nowadays they say that science is science and art is art, and theyre both on opposite sides of the street. But I prefer the time when it was the same thing. Leonardo Da Vinci was a scientist and a great artist.

Before your first fiction film, My Joy, you did something like 15 documentaries, long and short. Do you see that film as a departure?

I made this film when it was possible for me to make a feature, and I based it on stories I had seen or heard from my travels in Russia. [Laughs] It was based on real stories  if you think its surreal, its [Russias] relationship with the norm! But, of course, its a surreal society, and we now live more and more in a surreal world. Its like a world that was described by [Franz] Kafka. I dont think its that far from my previous documentaries  some of them also discovered the surreal, like my Russian propaganda film Revue [2008].

What attracts you as a subject for a documentary?

Er Life? [Laughs] Life. It works just like that. Different things impress you, and after that, you start to discover what kind of impression they make. Not so far from [Marcel] Proust. He showed the way.

Are your influences especially literary?

Yes. But cinema is a very young art form. Literature is much older than all of us.

After My Joy, the follow-up, In The Fog, seemed much more traditional. Would you agree?

Yes, its quite a traditional film. For me, its a tragedy, and I dont see now, in the former Soviet Union, the possibility for making a tragedy, so I had to go back to the Second World War. Why? Because in that time there still existed a certain kind of person. Tragedy exists because of people, and people without a certain kind of personality cannot be a tragic hero. Another chance I had to make a tragedy was when I made Maidan, which was a tragedy because people made a decision in Steppe and paid, for their destiny, for their dignity, a price  their life.

You now live in Berlin. Did you have censorship problems in Russia?

No. I dont have censorship problems. But you know, now, censorship works in a different way. For example, in TV theres also censorship. They call it format  52 minutes. Somebody asked me if I had a 52-minute version of Austerlitz. How is it possible to have a version of an idea? Of course not! With Maidan there were only a few screenings in Moscow. And that was all. You could call that censorship, but it wasnt forbidden.

Do you think that art has a chance to change the world?

No. [Laughs] No. But it can change us. The world we live in depends on us, and our way of thinking about the world. That way it can change the world

What are you working on now?

Im close to finishing editing my new film. Its about the present, but structurally it is shall we say good old cinema. Its a fiction film, dedicated to the cinema that we remember. The big cinema! Its a contemporary story about a Russian woman and the injustice around her. It starts when she receives a package from a prison. Its a package that she sent to her husband in prison, and it was returned without explanation. So she tries to find out what happened to him. And after that? [Laughs] Welcome to cinema! Its a drama, phantasmagory, grotesque, tragedy and comedy. You dont know sometimes whether to laugh or cry. Its a little reminiscent of My Joy, but at the same time how we tell the story is something new. Its called A Gentle Creature, after a short story by Dostoevsky. But thats just an inspiration. Because in my story shes not so gentle.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:

To: All Persons or Entities who purchased Headwaters Incorporated (HW) stock prior to November 20, 2016 .

You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of Headwaters to Boral Limited for US$24.25 per share. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/headwaters-hw or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:



To: All Persons or Entities who purchased Universal American Corp. (Universal American) (UAM) stock prior to November 17, 2016 .



You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of Universal American to WellCare Health Plans, Inc. for $10.00 per share. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

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or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.



Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.





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Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke weighed in on gun violence in Chicago, the recent string of attacks on police officers and the allegations of racism against Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Clarke discussed the dispute over shoes that led to the fatal shooting of the grandson of Illinois Rep. Danny Davis, which has brought renewed attention to the issue of gun violence in Chicago.

Youre talking about this senseless bloodshed over shoes, thats cultural dysfunction. This is the thing that Donald Trumptalked about on the campaign trail, about the lawlessness and the need for law and order in the American ghetto and cities like Chicago, Clarke told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney.

Despite the violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has vowed that Chicago will always be a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. According to Clarke however, it will not be up to Emanuel, especially with an incoming administration that is expected to have a stronger stance against illegal immigration.

First of all, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants are not citizens. His [Emanuels] duty and obligation first is to the law-abiding citizens of the city of Chicago. And in the end its not going to be up to him as to whether he will deport, that will be up to immigration and customs enforcement and the border control as well.

Clarke then reacted to four recent attacks against police officers that took place within 24 hours.

This senseless slaughter of the American police officer continues. A lot of this has to do with the negative, dangerous rhetoric that has been bandied about over the last several years. This isnt anything recent.

Clarke then weighed in on allegations that Sen. Jeff Sessions, (R-Ala.), President-elect Donald Trumps pick for Attorney General, made some racially insensitive remarks decades ago.

Well, first of all, you wont find a more fair, a more qualified, a more dedicated to the rule of law in the United States Constitution and justice for all persons than Sen. Jeff Sessions. Clarke continued, I know Jeff SessionsIve met him, Ive worked with him on Capitol Hill  he doesnt have a racist bone in his body.

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Jeffrey Donovans phony psychic has a real sixth sense beat into him in this exclusive new trailer for Hulus Shut Eye.

RELATEDThe Path Gets Hulu Return Date, Plus The Handmaids Tale Premiere

Premiering all 10 episodes on Wednesday, Dec. 7, Shut Eye promises a darkly comedic look at the world of Los Angeles storefront psychics and the 2,000-year-old history of belief and fraud behind them. Burn Notice vet Donovan plays Charlie Haverford, a con-man clairvoyant whose world is rocked by a blow to the head, after which he begins to experience real visions. All the while, Charlies enterprising wife Linda (Private Practices KaDee Strickland) is angling to improve upon their mediocre life by breaking away from Fonso (Fargos Angus Sampson), the man who lords over them as the boss of Los Angeles psychic scammer empire.

Isabella Rossellini and Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage) co-star on the series, which hails from Les Bohem (Extant) and the executive producers of Breaking Bad.

Watch the new trailer above and tell us if Shut Eye is in your future.

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Amount raised on SGX surged three-fold while market cap more than doubled.

As at 21 November 2016, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) had the largest share of IPO proceeds among the six Southeast Asia stock markets.

IPO proceeds for shares and market capitalisation on SGX raised S$2.3 billion and S$4.4 billion respectively, resuming its top spot in the region in 2016, according to data from Deloitte Singapore.

Listings this year on the SGX bounced back from 2015 and contributed 16% of total IPO listings in Southeast Asia, which is equivalent to 36% of the total funds raised in the region in 2016.

The SGX also saw 16 IPO listings this year to date. This includes two company IPOs that raised S$235 million with S$1.3 billion market capitalisation as well as three REITs on the SGX Mainboard with S$1.9 billion in proceeds and S$2.6 billion market capitalisation at IPO. The Catalist board backed by 11 new equity listings to date raised S$106 million funds and S$529 million in market capitalisation versus 12 Catalist listings by the end of 2015 with S$237 million funds and S$1.5 billion in market capitalisation.

Responding to the performance of the Singapore IPO market for 2016 after ten months, Dr Ernest Kan, Deputy Managing Partner (Markets), Deloitte Singapore, expressed optimism for Singapores capital markets. Singapores IPO performance has taken a better turn with a 342% increase in amount raised and 133% increase in market capitalisation, representing the strongest share for IPOs in the region in 2016. The total capital raised surged in 2016 and this was boosted by three REITs listings that contributed S$1.9 billion of fresh funds.

The top performing industries in the last three years are Consumer Business (13 deals, S$1.2 billion), Real Estate (10 deals, S$3.9 billion) and Energy & Resources (9 deals, S$754.5 million). REITs accounted for 61% of total amount raised from all IPOs in the last three years. Overall, there is a strong uptrend in Singapores IPO market, with confidence that this performance will continue into 2017, barring unforeseen circumstances, added Dr Kan.

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The spectacle. Its good TV. Or at least good advertising. Politicians, retired generals, and other officials posed and smiled for the cameras in front of the Trump-branded property in Bedminster, N.J. over the weekend, interviewing for top slots in the president-elects cabinet. The latest to enter the reality TV-style setup is retired Marine Corps general James Mattis, who met with Trump Saturday and who has been the subject of several tweets from the president-elect over what a great job hed do as his Defense Secretary.

The highly respected Mattis  who retired from the Corps in 2013  has long since morphed into a living legend for some pretty solid quotes delivered to troops he commanded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as head of the U.S. Central Command from 2010 to 2013.

Mattis and Iran. The former generals dim view of the threat posed by Iran falls directly in line with that of the incoming administration, and especially fellow retired general Mike Flynn, who will be Trumps National Security Advisor. Another thing the two share is having been pushed out of their last military posting by the Obama administration. In Mattis case, it was for pushing civilian officials to consider taking a harder line on stopping Iranian shipments of weapons to Syria, and Yemen.

President-elect Trump also met with retired Marine Corps general John Kelly over the weekend, who may be under consideration for Secretary of State. In July, FPs Molly OToole sat down with Kelly, who was warning follow retired generals to stay out of the cesspool of domestic politics.

On Iran. The Obama administration is looking at ways to shore up the nuclear deal in the final weeks before Januarys transition of power, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Team of rivals? The group of cabinet members Trump has already chosen could return 9/11-era policies to the White House and back an all-out war on Islamist terrorists that will alarm U.S. allies, raise the risk of confrontation with Iran, and potentially jeopardize civil liberties at home, reports a team of FP scribes.

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The appointments unveiled Friday, with retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security advisor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as attorney general, and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) as CIA director, represent a sharp U-turn to the mentality that prevailed after the 9/11 attacks. George W. Bushs administration declared a no-holds-barred war on terror to justify expanded presidential powers  including the use of torture and unilateral military action. Trumps new team offers plenty of echoes: Pompeo has defended the use of waterboarding, Sessions has argued federal agents shouldnt be limited in their use of other enhanced interrogation techniques, and Flynn has decried military rules designed to avoid civilian deaths as limitations that are crippling U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Scraps at the top. One of the big stories carrying the week will be the drama surrounding reports that top Obama administration officials have pushed to fire National Security Agency chief, Adm. Michael Rogers. The recommendation, delivered to the White House last month, was made by Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr., reports the Washington Post.

The news comes as Rogers is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to be his nominee for director of national intelligence to replace Clapper as the official who oversees all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. In a move apparently unprecedented for a military officer, Rogers, without notifying superiors, traveled to New York to meet with Trump on Thursday at Trump Tower. That caused consternation at senior levels of the administration, according to the officials.

Hitting the phones. President-elect Donald Trump is already conducting his own foreign policy, two months before he steps into the Oval Office. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday Trump confirmed to him he was willing to repair the relationship between the two countries. The President-elect confirmed he is willing to normalize Russian-American relations, Putin said. I told him the same. We did not discuss where and when we would meet. No word from Trump Tower on the talks.

Good morning and as always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley

POTUS

President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for an abrupt exchange of views on the subject of Ukraine over the weekend. Both leaders were in Peru for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation being held there. The White House readout of the four minute conversation implies that Obama had some thoughts to share on Russias involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, with an official saying the president told Putin to to uphold Russias commitments under the Minsk agreements.

PEOTUS

Muslim-American civil rights groups are growing increasingly anxious about the emerging Trump national security cabinet picks. So far the Trump transition team has anti-Islamic figures such as retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn who has described Islam as a cancer. But its not just American Muslims on edge. A former Jordanian ambassador to the U.S. tells the Washington Post that Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric could complicate U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the Middle East. Still, not all officials from Islamic countries are despairing. Egypts Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan have both publicly celebrated Trumps victory.

Add nuclear policy to the list of issues world leaders are uncertain about in the next administration. During the presidential campaign, Trump suggested that countries like Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia should develop their own nuclear weapons rather than count on their alliances with the United States for security. Trump later tried to walk back the remarks. In the days after the election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye both spoke with Trump and pronounced themselves assured of American security guarantees.

A poll carried out by Military Times and the Institute for Military and Veterans Families says one in every four service members is worried that President Trump could order them to violate the laws or norms of the military. A full fifty-one percent of those surveyed said they support Trump. Most respondents said they thought Trump would be able to increase the defense budget and take on the Islamic State. But concern was highest among women in the military, 55 percent of whom said theyre concerned about their jobs under a Trump administration.

Sweden

The Cold War is back and so are the weapons used to fight it. Sweden, newly concerned about the threat of Russian aggression, is having to raid weapons museums in order to defend its coastline. The Local reports that Swedish defense officials brought launch trucks for the Saab Robotsystem 15 anti-ship missiles out of retirement from the museums where theyve been housed ever since the system was shelved in 2000. Analysts say the move is part of Swedens attempt to beef up its defenses along the Baltic Sea as Russia becomes more active in the region.

Syria

Russia and Turkey are looking to exploit the lame duck period between now and when the Trump administration comes into power by carrying out more operations in Syria, intelligence officials tell the Los Angeles Times. In the absence of a clear sign from the Trump transition team about its future Syria policy, both countries are hedging by trying to claim as much territory as possible to create facts on the ground before a new administration. For Russia, that means an increase in its bombing of rebel-held cities, whereas Turkey may try to push to take the city of Al Bab from the Islamic State.

Opposition areas in eastern Aleppo came under heavy bombardment over the weekend and hospitals once again took the brunt of the attacks. The Syrian American Medical Society tells CNN that the uptick in airstrikes has knocked out all of eastern Aleppos hospitals, including the last childrens hospital. Some activists say that as many as five medical facilities are still open, albeit operating at diminished capacity. Human rights groups like Amnesty International have accused Russia of repeatedly and deliberately targeting civilian hospitals with airstrikes in Syria.

Business of defense

The State Department has notified Congress that it plans to sell as many as 26 Certifiable Predator B drones to Britains Royal Air Force. The deal, worth about a billion dollars, would add to Britains existing fleet of ten Reaper drones. The Certifiable Predator B aircraft are cleared for flight in civilian airspace in NATO countries.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Mike Pence in 2000 and part of his statement from his 2000 campaign website regarding cigarette smoking. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News. Photos: Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images, Getty Images)

For much of the last eight years, Barack Obama has been struggling to keep a promise he made to his wife to quit smoking when he ran for president. As recently as last year, he was photographed in Germany holding something that looked suspiciously like a pack of cigarettes. (His spokesman denied it.) So public health advocates might be relieved that the White House will soon be occupied by a nonsmoker, president-elect Donald Trump.

Except that several key members of Trumps transition team have ties to the tobacco industry  ties that have the anticigarette group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) absolutely worried about the Trump administration, a spokeswoman told Yahoo News. Of all the apocalyptic concerns that critics have raised about prospective members of the Trump administration, tobacco policy ranks far down the list. But it represents, in microcosm, the overlap between the transition team and the swamp of corporate lobbying and influence Trump had pledged to drain. And it will be one area to watch as the new administration sets in motion Trumps announced plans for a wholesale dismantling of the modern regulatory state.

The worry for ASH began when Trump chose as his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who as a congressional candidate in 2000 wrote on his campaign website Time for a quick reality check. Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesnt kill. His evidence  that 2 out of every 3 smokers does not die from a smoking related illness  suggested he was stretching the limits of logic to make his case, although he pointedly stopped well short of saying that smoking is good for you. In his career as a congressman, Pence went on to collect tens of thousands of dollars in tobacco industry campaign contributions, according to the liberal watchdog group ThinkProgress, and to vote against the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009  a bill that even most Republicans supported.

Pence is also the head of Trumps transition team, which includes Cindy Hayden, a lobbyist for the Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris. Hayden heads the Homeland Security team, an appointment presumably owing less to her tobacco industry experience than to her role in killing immigration reform bills as chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

And then there is Myron Ebell of the right-wing think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute, who heads the transition for the Environmental Protection Agency, and who, according to this profile by Jeremy Symons of the Environmental Defense Fund, was part of a tobacco-industry-funded effort in the 1990s to make cigarette regulations politically unpalatable.

Cigarette smoking has been on the decline in the U.S. for decades; only around 15 percent of the adult population smokes (although the figure in Pences home state of Indiana is 20.6 percent). Theres no reason to conclude that a Trump administration would actively seek to reverse that trend, but ASH sees a risk that future progress could be endangered. There are a number of public health measures at risk if this administration remains closely tied to the tobacco industry, Chris Bostic, ASH policy director, wrote in an email. They could defund the Center for Tobacco Products at the FDA [which is working to strengthen warning labels on cigarette packages] or the Office on Smoking and Health which runs the very effective Tips from Former Smokers campaign. Bostic is also on the alert against any attempts to roll back federal tobacco taxes, widely agreed to be the most cost effective way to cut smoking rates.



Its too early to say if the new administration would do any of this, but it would be consistent with promises made by Trump as recently as October to eliminate 70 percent of regulations by the federal government. Do Americans think the federal government is doing too much to protect them from food poisoning? A fact sheet posted on the Trump campaign website  and later removed  denounced inspection overkill by the FDA food police, including rules on farm and food production hygiene, food packaging [and] food temperatures.

The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment on its regulatory agenda.

The hot-button regulatory issue is, of course, climate change, in particular the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a third. For a candidate whose stated plans for the EPA are to get rid of it in almost every form, Ebell seems like the ideal choice to head the transition team. His special expertise lies in climate change denialism, which he carries to extremes beyond even what his funders in the fossil-fuel industry are willing to say openly. The main issue with Myron is that hes been a hired gun for a long time, funded by the fossil fuel industry and before that by the tobacco industry to say crazy stuff, says John Coequyt, the Sierra Clubs director of federal and international climate campaigns. Until now it didnt matter there was this guy out there saying, those people dying in heat waves were going to die anyway. Only now it does matter, from the point of view of the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Fund, and of food-safety and health and consumer-protection advocates, that the forces they have been fighting for years will be setting the agenda in Washington.
By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali politicians and clan elders have reported violence and irregularities in voting for a new parliament, limited to just 14,000 citizens due to an Islamist insurgency, and the president urged all parties to embrace mediation if disputes arise. The election of the 275-seat parliament is due to end this month after voters including elders and prominent figures spent several weeks electing lawmakers for each region. The lawmakers will then pick the next president. Islamist militant attacks meant authorities could enfranchise only a tiny fraction of Somalia's 11 million people, who have endured more than two decades of conflict and chaos. Diplomats said the limited franchise is still a step forward from 2012, when just 135 elders elected parliament's lawmakers. Several participants and senior officials in federal regions taking part in the vote have lodged complaints about the voting process, which began in late October and is due to end this week. However, experts say it could now last until Nov. 30. "The list of legal voters from my clan was rejected and the government brought a fake list and voters from Mogadishu," Mohamed Mohamud Gure, the public works minister for the semi-autonomous Galmudug region, told Reuters. He said he and another clan elder were fired upon when they went to register a complaint with the electoral authorities, and they were then detained for several hours by the authorities. Hussein Nur, a clan elder in a different district of Galmudug, said an elder from his clan, Abdullahi Arale, was shot dead when he accused some voters of being impostors. "We urge all electoral institutions to investigate the existing complaints," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement issued at the weekend. "If disputes cannot be resolved traditionally, it is important they be transferred to the electoral commissions so that legal solution in accordance with election processes agreed upon be reached." Traditional dispute resolution in the Horn of Africa country usually involves adjudication by clan elders. Opponents of the government say the voting system is open to abuses such as vote buying and also accuse officials of manipulating voter lists to ensure the president is re-elected. The Mogadishu government denies charges of abuses and says complaints must be assessed by independent election panels. (Additional reporting by Feisal Omar in Mogadishu and Abdiqani Hussan in Puntland; Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Akhilesh rode in to power in 2012 by projecting himself as a tech-savvy environmental engineer, but soon gave into superstitions and avoided visiting Noida, a major hub of the state's economic activity.

By India Today Web Desk: For nearly three decades, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh have preferred to keep a safe distance from Noida, thanks to an age-old superstition. It is believed that any sitting chief minister who visits the Delhi suburb during their tenure loses the CM's post shortly afterwards.

So far, the incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has avoided visiting Noida, but chances are the 43-year-old leader will break the three-decade-old 'Noida jinx' in the run-up to the forthcoming Assembly election, due early next year.

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And if the jinx actually holds water, then Akhilesh is likely to be risking his chair if he goes ahead with his scheduled visit to the city in the first week of December as part of his ongoing Vikas Rath Yatra.

Akhilesh rode in to power in 2012 by projecting himself as a tech-savvy environmental engineer, but soon gave into superstitions and avoided visiting Noida, a major hub of the state's economic activity.

Also read: Will Akhilesh Yadav dare to break the 'Noida jinx'?



He has so inaugurated all the Noida or Greater Noida projects by remote from capital Lucknow. In August 2012, Yadav inaugurated the Yamuna Expressway from Lucknow. In August this year, he inaugurated a private university from his official residence in Lucknow.

While the Dadri lynching was a national headline, the Samajwadi Party stayed away and invited Mohammad Akhlaq's family to Lucknow to distribute relief. He even skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event in 2015 owing to the jinx.

WHAT IS NOIDA JINX?

Noida jinx started in 1988 when the then Chief Minister Vir Bahadur Singh came visiting and lost the next elections. ND Tiwari followed suit soon after he visited Noida. The trend continued till as recently as 2011 when Mayawati visited Noida to inaugurate the Dalit Prerna Sthal and lost the 2012 Assembly polls.

Also read: Building brand Akhilesh



Akhilesh's fear is not fully unfounded as the jinx has had its effect on the Yadav clan too in the past. His father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had visited Noida when he was Chief Minister in 1995, lost the election held immediately thereafter.

Also read: Demonetisation: Akhilesh Yadav bats for private hospitals



What remains to be seen is if Akhilesh sticks to his plan to bring his Vikas Rath Yatra to Noida, will he manage to shed his image of being superstitious? Or will the Noida jinx strike again and end up makinh him lose his chair?

But, if he does visit as scheduled and still manages to win, he will break the three-decade jinx for all the future chief ministers of India's most populous state.

Also read: Muslims hold key to electoral outcome in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls



--- ENDS ---

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Someone created a recipe for a weed margarita because the internet loves us

There comes a moment in adult life when the need for R&R arises, but finances, work or other obligations may not align with an island escape. In that case, you could have a meltdown, re-center with yoga or let the internet guide you through a recipe for a weed margarita.

Yes, this is real life: The crafty YouTubers over at WatchCut concocted a weed margarita and were generous enough to share the recipe online. If you happen to reside where pot is legal and arent already sipping on a glass of weed-infused wine (um, why not?), then heres a way you can take your margarita to the next level.

The ingredients are pretty straight-forward:

If youre wondering where TF you buy weed tequila, its made by taking an eighth of an ounce of pot and pouring it in the tequila, shaking and then straining it. The video recommends storing the liquid from anywhere between two days and a month. However, if your nerves are particularly frazzled, you might want to hit that yoga pose we discussed earlier until your tequilas ready to go.

And from there, the steps are basically the same as making a normal margarita.

So, drink up (and safely, of course)! Whatever you do, just be sure to avoid too much sunlight while sippin on your new favorite drink. From what we hear, sun exposure combined with dander from certain citrus fruits like lime can bring on a nasty case of margarita sunburn, which honestly sounds like the most painful buzzkill ever.

The post Someone created a recipe for a weed margarita because the internet loves us appeared first on HelloGiggles.
A curtain fell on western Burma on Oct. 9, the moment after police said Islamic militants attacked three security outposts along the border with Bangladesh, killing nine officers. Since that announcement six weeks ago, more than 100 people have been killed, hundreds have been detained by the military, more than 150,000 aid-reliant people have been left without food and medical care, dozens of women claim to have been sexually assaulted, more than 1,200 buildings appear to have been razed and at least 30,000 people have fled for their lives.

Humanitarian workers and independent journalists have been banned from affected areas as the Burmese army, known locally as the Tatmadaw, carries out what it calls clearance operations. The government, which is headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, said that those killed were jihadists  information that was gleaned, it said, through interrogations. The government said the rape allegations were false. It said that Muslim terrorists burned down the buildings themselves in an attempt to frame the army for abuse and claim international assistance.

Counterterrorism operations are still under way in Maungdaw, the northernmost township of Arakan state, also known as Rakhine. The township is mostly populated by Rohingya Muslims, a minority that is denied citizenship and is viewed as one of the worlds most persecuted peoples. Elsewhere in the state, as in much of Burma, Buddhists are the majority. There are an estimated 1.1 million Rohingya in Burma. They are systematically denied political representation. They are demonized in the national media. They are so geographically and economically isolated that tens of thousands have fled on dangerous boat voyages, attempting to reach Malaysia.

Read More: Rohingya Women Raped at Gunpoint in Burma Army Sweep for Suspected Jihadists, Report Says

Suu Kyi, whose party secured a landslide win in elections in Nov. 2015, has made few public remarks on the conflict simmering along the countrys western coast. While human-rights advocates have criticized her silence, some political analysts say the issue has exposed the limits of her power; the military still controls the key Ministries of Home Affairs, Border Affairs and Defense.

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Events since Oct. 9 have been bleak. It is difficult to envision a positive outcome for the Rohingya, who have been subjected to what Human Rights Watch has called ethnic cleansing. Others have claimed that the Burmese government has laid the groundwork for genocide. There are also allegations that some among this marginalized community may have turned to violent extremism. This unknown number of suspected militants, armed with sticks, spears, slingshots and a few hundred stolen firearms, has summoned the force of one of Asias most formidable national armies against an entire community of poor and disenfranchised villagers.

This is how the events in Arakan unfolded:

Oct. 9: Police said three border-guard posts were attacked by hundreds of Islamic militants, killing nine policemen. Eight assailants were reportedly killed by security personnel immediately following the attacks. Police initially claimed the attackers had links to a group called the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, a militant group that is largely believed to have been defunct for decades. The area was put on military lockdown and declared a counterterrorism operation zone.

Read More: The Military Continues to Search for Suspected Jihadists in Western Burma

Oct. 10: Humanitarian aid was completely suspended. Troops were deployed to the areas surrounding Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung towns in northern Arakan state. An estimated 162,000 people in the area normally receive life-saving assistance from the World Food Programme and other U.N. agencies.

Within days of the lockdown, more than 800 Arakanese Buddhists arrived in the state capital Sittwe. More than 1,200 Muslims fled their villages and sought shelter in Buthidaung town. State media reported that Buddhists were being evacuated by helicopter citing safety concerns; Buddhists reportedly feared that their villages would be ambushed by mobs of armed Muslims.

The New York Times reported that a dozen people may have been extrajudicially killed since the initial attacks.

Oct. 14: The government said the assailants were members of a jihadist group, Aqa Mul Mujahidin, which authorities claimed was led by a man who was trained by the Taliban in Pakistan and financially supported by foreign terrorist groups. A few days later, while on a trip to India, Suu Kyi told the Hindustan Times, That is just information from just one source, we cant take it for granted that its absolutely correct.

Oct. 27: Fiona MacGregor, a Scottish investigative journalist for the Myanmar Times, reported that rights groups had documented dozens of sexual-assault cases allegedly committed by Burmese security forces against Rohingya women in the operation zone. The following day, Reuters reported the same allegations. The editorial staff of the Myanmar Times, which is the countrys paper of record and its only private English-language daily, was instructed not to report on the situation in Arakan until further notice. (Coverage resumed on Nov. 18 under a new policy.)

MacGregor was targeted by the former Information Minister Ye Htut and presidential spokesperson Zaw Htay on social media. Online harassment ensued.

Read More: Burmese Police Say They Will Arm and Train Non-Muslims to Counter Suspected Jihadists

Oct. 31: MacGregor was fired for damaging the good name of the paper. She had worked there for more than three years, and wrote a popular column focused on womens issues. She routinely covered issues such as sexual assault and womens health, particularly in conflict zones.

It is profoundly concerning for womens rights, media freedom and democracy as a whole in Myanmar, that the civilian government is using bullyboy tactics to intimidate journalists and attempt to silence allegations of rape by the military, MacGregor tells TIME. We should not forget that at the center of this propaganda war are real people who are allegedly the victims of the most horrible and brutal crimes.

Her editor, Douglas Long, was also fired two weeks later for undermining the mission of the paper shortly after he spoke about the incident with international media and a representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

With each passing day, Long told TIME just days after MacGregor lost her job and a week before he lost his, the current government is starting to look more and more like the pre-2010 government.

Nov. 1: State-controlled media began publishing op-eds refuting journalism that contradicted the official narrative  hearkening back to the prereform era of censorship and heavy-handed propaganda. These columns claimed that Islamic militants had gone too far by attacking security forces, and should be purged. State media also accused international media of working in collusion with terrorist groups to spread fabricated news.

Nov. 2: A delegation of nine diplomats and one U.N. official visited parts of Maungdaw for the first time since Oct. 9. The highly chaperoned trip lasted two days, during which they visited four villages selected by the government. While members of the convoy  which included U.S. Ambassador to Burma Scot Marciel and U.N. resident coordinator Renata Dessallien  were allowed to speak with some villagers, the visit was tightly controlled. Authorities detained at least two Rohingya men while they were speaking with members of the delegation. Ambassador Marciel insisted that they be freed immediately. Reports surfaced that some people who had spoken with the delegation were later detained and beaten.

Members of the delegation declined to comment directly on their observations, stressing that theirs was not a fact-finding mission, and urging the government to allow access to humanitarian workers, technical experts and journalists. The government has yet to adhere.

Nov. 3: Arakan state police chief Colonel Sein Lwin said that local police would begin arming and training a civilian security force of non-Muslim residents. The training scheme, which the International Commission of Jurists has referred to as a recipe for disaster, was meant to begin on Nov. 7 for about 100 recruits. Reuters reports that the plan is already under way in the state capital Sittwe.

Nov. 12: The Burmese army opened fire with helicopters near villages in Maungdaw. The state-controlled newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported that some 60 assailants armed with guns, sticks and spears had attacked soldiers, killing one. The military responded by firing into the fields from two helicopters. The two days of ensuing violence alone displaced an estimated 15,000 people, and videos that have reached international aid workers appear to show dead bodies lying in the fields. The government said 69 violent attackers were killed and 234 were arrested. These numbers are increasing by the day.

Some observers have called the armys response to the alleged terrorist threat heavy-handed, others have compared it to the so-called four cuts strategy used throughout the decades to isolate the countrys myriad armed ethnic insurgent groups. But according to Phil Roberston, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, operations against these ragtag Rohingya militants with a few guns, some sticks and spears are different.

The real comparison is the Tatmadaws penchant for scorched earth tactics when they feel like they are challenged in any way, and thats why some of the Rohingya villages where the authorities suspect militants may have hidden are being targeted for looting and burning, and sweeps have taken away so many men and boys, Robertson tells TIME.

Nov. 15: Burmas state media introduced the True News Information Team of Defense Services, which singled out local and regional media outlets for publishing fabrications about casualties and damaged property. At least one local Muslim journalist has since been subjected to extreme online harassment, including death threats.

Nov. 18: Humanitarian access has not been restored in Maungdaw. Following the diplomatic visit in early November, the U.N. was allowed to deliver limited food assistance to about 7,200 people in four villages. This meager delivery was only expected to last about two weeks, and will expire at a time of year when food scarcity is at its height. Supplies are expected to dwindle sometime this week.

Regular food, cash and nutritional assistance to more than 150,000 people have been suspended since Oct. 9, according to Pierre Peron, a spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Burma. During this period, more than 3,000 children under 5 have not received their treatment for severe acute malnutrition, leaving up to 50% of them seriously at risk of dying. Primary health care to about 24,000 people per month has stopped, which Peron says is very worrying, considering that infant and maternal mortality rates in Maungdaw are historically up to four times the national average.

The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, called on the government Friday to take immediate action. The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations under the smoke screen of having allowed access to an international delegation, Lee said.
Madrid (AFP) - Spain said on Monday it would make a formal complaint to the British government after the Royal Navy fired flares at a Spanish scientific research vessel which entered disputed waters off Gibraltar.

The foreign ministry will file an official complaint to the British embassy over the incident, a spokesman said.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, disrupted the work of the ship belonging to Spain's state Oceanographic Institute, the spokesman added.

"We consider that the waters adjacent to Gibraltar are Spanish. The ship was in Spanish waters while carrying out its tasks," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A Royal Navy patrol boat, the HMS Sabre, fired flares at the research ship Angeles Alvarino, after attempts to contact its crew by radio failed, according to Britain's defence ministry.

The British navy also prevented the vessel from deploying research buoys into the sea.

Britain believes the vessel strayed into its territorial waters off Gibraltar.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Britain would protest "against the incursion directly to the Spanish authorities at a senior level, making clear that such violations of the UK's sovereignty are unacceptable."

The research vessel, which is investigating geological risks to the seabed, left the disputed area after the flares were fired. It arrived at the Spanish port of Fuengirola on Monday.

"Our work in the Bay of Algeciras has finished. Thank you Royal Navy for accompanying us these days," the crew wrote in a Twitter message.

Gibraltar's environment minister, John Cortes, accused the Spanish scientists of acting as pawns to further Spain's claims over the waters around Gibraltar.

"It hurts to see scientists being forced/tricked into playing dangerous games, falsely in the name of science," he said in a Twitter message.

Madrid ceded Gibraltar in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.

Britain has exercised de facto control of the waters around the rocky peninsula attached to Spain at the mouth of the Mediterranean for most of the time since then.

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But Spain still claims sovereignty over the territory and the issue has for years been the source of tension between the two countries.

Britain claims a strip measuring three nautical miles (5.5 kilometres) surrounding Gibraltar as their territorial waters.

But Spain does not recognise any waters off Gibraltar as belonging to the British territory, apart from its ports.
The Institute of Culinary Education is one of the largest culinary schools in the world, offering both professional and recreational programs in New York City. Here, Chef Jenny McCoy, chef instructor in their School of Pastry & Baking Arts shares her take on creative ways to cook with cranberries for Thanksgiving and beyond with PEOPLE.

Cranberry season is in full swing, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, what better time to rethink your cranberry sauce? I find people either love cranberry sauce or dont like it at all. I happen to be someone who loves it. The bright color on my dinner plate pops against the whites, browns and greens of turkey, stuffing and veggies. The super bright and tart flavor is a much-needed contrast against rich and heavy side dishes (often drowned in gravy). Plus, a schmear of cranberry sauce on a leftover turkey sandwich is a crucial component of one of my favorite lunches.

Each year, I change up my recipe to keep myself excited about the sauce, but also to convert a few family members who are convinced they just dont like it. Im sharing a few of my favorite recipes, but before we get into the kitchen, let me tell you a few things about Americas quintessential Thanksgiving fruit.

Cranberries: One of the most American ingredients

Wild cranberries have long been consumed by New Englands Native Americans, for some 12,000 years. The fruit is one of a handful of our countrys indigenous fruits. Cranberries thrive in their natural environments; bogs created by glaciers thousands of years ago. Prized for their culinary purposes, cranberries were also used for medicinal purposes and as a dye for textiles.

Though the early European settlers enjoyed them, larger-scale cultivation of cranberries didnt begin until the early 1800s, when Captain Henry Hall, a revolutionary war veteran, noticed that his cranberries grew best when his bogs were covered in wind-blown sand. He moved his vines to more favorable locations and as his production grew, his method of cultivation spread. Other growers adopted his method of covering their berries in sand, increasing the yields of cranberry production throughout the northeast region, especially in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

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WATCH THIS: Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Harvest time

Have you ever seen a cranberry harvest? You may recall those cranberry juice commercials featuring farmers in waist-high waders, standing in what looked like a pond covered in cranberries. Well, thats precisely how cranberries are picked. Cranberry bogs are filled with water (up to a couple of feet though, not waist-high) the night before harvest. The vines are then raked to loosen the berries from the plants. The berries float to the surface of the water because they contain little air pockets, allowing them to be collected efficiently.

In 2015, over 840 million pounds of cranberries were produced in the United States. While many of us associate New England with cranberry growing, it is Wisconsin that now corners the market, having produced 60 percent of the countrys annual yield.

With 20 percent of the annual harvest eaten on one day of the year  Thanksgiving  lets take a moment to celebrate this most American fruit and discover a few new ways to add cranberries to your Thanksgiving table!

Go Raw Cranberry RelishServes 8 to 10

One 12-oz. bag of fresh cranberries

2 tangerines (with peels)

1- to 2-inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled

 cup light brown sugar

 cup granulated sugar

 tsp. salt

 tsp. black pepper

1. Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and chop until fine.

2. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight or for up to 3 days before serving.

RELATED: Paul Wahlbergs Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Smoky Bacon Cranberry SauceServes 8 to 10

One 12-oz. bag of cranberries

1 cup light brown sugar

Zest of 1 orange, finely grated

 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. smoked paprika

 to  cup cooked bacon crumbles, to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, simmer the cranberries, sugar, orange zest and black pepper until the cranberries have broken down and the liquid has thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature and stir in the paprika and bacon to taste.

3. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days before serving.

RELATED: 20 Thanksgiving Pies That Will Make You Sigh with Happiness

Herbed Cranberry RelishServes 8 to 10

One 12-oz. bag of cranberries

 cup honey

 cup granulated sugar

1 large bunch parsley, stems removed

3 large sprigs fresh rosemary, stems removed

4 cloves garlic

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

 bunch scallions, finely sliced

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, simmer cranberries, honey and sugar until the cranberries have broken down and the liquid has thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature.

3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine parsley, rosemary, garlic and olive oil. Finely chop, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add additional olive oil, if needed.

4. Stir the chopped herbs and garlic mixture into the cooled cranberry sauce. Add the sliced scallions.

5. Add the red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

6. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days before serving.

Want to study with Chef Jenny? Click here for information on ICEs Pastry & Baking Arts program.




How could a piece of meat look so fresh after being left unrefrigerated for 11 days?

It's because it's been packed and gassed in a special process that most people never heard about that uses harmless amounts of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which keeps the meat looking fresh and bright red for longer periods. The process is safe, but some people think that bright red color could be misleading consumers.

Read: Some Restaurants With Lamb on the Menu Are Mixing It With Cheaper Meat, Investigation Finds

Inside Editions Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero spoke to Dr. Ed Mills, a professor of meat science at Penn State University.

How long through this process can you continue to make a piece of red meat look bright red? she asked.



A long time, he replied.

The redness lasts two to three weeks so the color of a piece of meat doesn't necessarily indicate its freshness, he said.



A consumer can't look at the products to tell its two weeks or three weeks old. They have to look at the 'sell by' date of the package, he told Inside Edition.



To demonstrate how well the gas processing can work, Inside Edition left two cuts of lamb out at room temperature. One was gas-packed, the other was not.

After a few days, the untreated meat turned a dark, unappealing color but the gas-packed meat stayed red, even after being left out for eight days. The only visible signs of spoiling are the packaging puffing out and a bad odor when the package is opened.

The meat was analyzed in a lab, which found that both cuts were loaded with bacteria.



Without refrigerated storage, I can't assume the product is safe to consume. 'Sell by' date and refrigeration is what you go by as a consumer, Dr. Mills told Inside Edition.



John Niccolai heads a union that represents butchers in N.J. He thinks meat should be fresh cut in stores by trained butchers.



"A consumer cannot look at the ingredients and see that gas has been added to this package?" Guerrero said.



No, it's not an ingredient so it doesn't have to go on the package, he said. Tell the consumer, put up a big sign and say, we do not cut any fresh meat in the store.

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Niccolai suggested that Inside Edition visit a supermarket in New Jersey and talk to a union butcher. All the meat I see on the display wasn't cut here?" Guerrero asked the butcher.

When he said "no, none of the meat was cut here," Guerrero added: Do you think the customers know there is gas in some of this packaging?

No, I don't believe so, he said. "It's like the Army. Don't ask, don't tell."

Read: No Country for Old Beans: Some Coffee Retailers Selling Years-Old Java

The gas packaging has been approved by both the FDA and USDA and the North American Meat Institute says it has been used safely in meat products for many years.

Watch: Room With a Viewer: Some Hotel Rooms Found to Have Hidden Cameras Installed, Investigation Finds

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By Mirwais Harooni KABUL (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded Shi'ite mosque in Kabul on Monday that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens in its third major attack on minority Shi'ites in the Afghan capital since July. Officials said the attacker entered the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque shortly after midday as worshippers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi'ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. A statement in Arabic from Islamic State's Amaq news agency said one of its fighters had targeted the mosque. Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict. Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people were killed and 35 wounded, while the United Nations said at least 32 had been killed and more than 50 wounded, including many children. It described the attack as "an atrocity". "I saw people screaming and covered in blood," one survivor told Afghanistan's Ariana Television, adding that around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene. Another witness said he had helped carry 30-35 bodies from the mosque. Islamic State, based mainly in the eastern state of Nangarhar on the border with Pakistan, has gradually expanded its reach since emerging in Afghanistan last year with a reputation for hardline fundamentalism and brutality. Prior to Monday's attack, it had claimed responsibility for two major attacks on Shi'ite targets in Kabul, including a suicide bombing which killed more than 80 people at a demonstration by the mainly Shi'ite Hazara community, the worst single attack on civilians since 2001. Last month, it also claimed an attack in which 18 people were killed when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Kabul for Ashura, one of the holiest occasions in the Shi'ite calendar. In addition, at least 14 people were killed in an attack on a Shi'ite mosque in northern Balkh province, for which no group has so far claimed responsibility. The Taliban, itself fiercely opposed to Islamic State, had already denied any involvement. "We have never attacked mosques as it's not our agenda," said the movement's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid. Officials said the attack was a deliberate attempt to stoke sectarian tensions. Any resurgence of sectarian or ethnic violence could threaten the fragile stability of the government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, who described the mosque blast as an attempt "to sow seeds of discord". Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles". "This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he said in a message on his Twitter account. Thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in the 15 years since the Taliban government was brought down in the U.S.-led campaign of 2001. In July, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 1,601 civilians had been killed in the first half of the year alone, a record since it began collating figures in 2009. (Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar and Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Nick Macfie and Mike Collett-White/Richard Balmforth)
Chris Wood confirmed speculations that Mon-El is going to suit up with his own superhero costume in Season 2 of Supergirl.

In an interview with Empire, Wood revealed that he has already put on Mon-Els suit while filming upcoming episodes of the CW series. The suit is awesome and standing next to Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) is going to be a really cool visual, the 28-year-old actor told the magazine. Watching the [first] two episodes [of Season 2] where they were able to have both Tyler [Hoechlin] and Melissa there on camera as [Superman and Supergirl], that was more fulfilling than I thought it would be watching it.  But you cant have 22 episodes of both of them on her show. Its her story. But you can have that same energy with a different superhero thats figuring it out and shes mentoring.

When asked what Mon-Els costume looks like, Wood said it isnt too different from the one in the comics. Theyre always true to the comic, he said. They at least give a severe hat tip to the comics in terms of design, so you neednt worry about that. They stay true like they have with Flash and Arrow and Supergirl.

Fans, however, shouldnt expect to see Mon-El in his superhero costume in the near future, as Wood told Empire that his character has yet to find the purpose that will motivate him to protect the Earth from all evil threats.

At first hes resisting to [be a superhero], because he doesnt feel the same impulse to go save the world [the way Supergirl] does, Wood said of Mon-El. So, his storys going to become one of how does he gain that need? Where does that come from? ... Theres got to be a moment like the one in the pilot for Kara when shes, like, I have to do this. Hes going to have one of those moments at some point, where he is self-motivated to pursue this as a purpose.

An all-new episode of Supergirl airs on Monday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. EST on The CW. Check out the synopsis for Season 2, episode 7, titled The Darkest Place, below:

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While Guardian (Mehcad Brooks) tries to clear his name after being accused of a murder committed by another vigilante, Supergirl heads out on a solo mission to rescue Mon-El who has been captured by CADMUS. While fighting to free Mon-El, Supergirl comes face to face with Cyborg Superman.

Chris Wood as Mon-El

Photo: The CW

Related Articles
Akshay Kumar's villainous turn in Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 will do wonders for his career. But how did Khiladi Kumar, the star of action films with patriotic ideals, come to this point?

By Devarsi Ghosh: Akshay Kumar's first look as the villainous ornithologist Dr Richard from Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 has, for sure, earned the Khiladi thousands of new fans. Not just from down south, but fans of science fiction and quality character acting in cinema can also now look up to Akshay Kumar as someone who is more than the guy who plays goofy man-children or one-dimensional action heroes. On the one hand, Akshay's upcoming films are with directors like Reema Kagti (Talaash) and Subhash Kapoor (Jolly LLB). On the other hand, Akshay has opened up a new market for himself in South India thanks to his villainous turn in Enthiran's sequel 2.0.

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SEE PICS: Akshay, Rajini, KJo, Salman, Rahman all come together for 2.0 first look launch

WATCH: 2.0 hero is NOT Rajini but Akshay Kumar

ALSO READ | Sultan meets Kabali: Salman visits Rajini at first look launch of 2.0

SEE PICS: Thalaivar Rajini vs Khiladi Kumar in 2.0's first look ups curiosity



Little did anyone expect in the '90s, that in the day and age of Khans, Akshay Kumar would go on to become as big a star as he is today. Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty were the biggest action hero products of '90s Hindi cinema. But today, Akshay commands a kind of stardom that Ajay and Suniel does not have. Meanwhile, with each film, Akshay is rising in calibre and charisma that can rival that of the Khans. How?



For one, unlike Ajay and Suniel, Akshay showed his versatility in diverse genres, moving away from masala action films, whenever required. Teaming up with Priyadarshan, Akshay delivered one hit comedy after another (Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, etc). Similarly, he also proved his mettle as a commendable romantic hero with films like Namastey London and Dhadkan. In this regard, Akshay proved himself to be different from Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman as well. While Aamir stuck to big-ticket character roles, SRK limited himself to romance and Salman remained stuck in his brawny, brat image. However, Akshay diversified.



Akshay Kumar's career has seen many highs and lows. While he has been mostly a consistent hit-giver throughout his career with the odd flops every now and then, Akshay saw one of his biggest career high points in 2007 with four back-to-back hits; Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Welcome.

Right after that, Akshay did some big-budget films, including a few with major studios working with him for the first time - Yash Raj Films' Tashan and Warner Bros' Chandni Chowk to China. Akshay's 2009 films Kambakkht Ishq and Blue had humongous budgets. But all these films did not work. Akki soon went back to the drawing board with directors he had been loyal to - regular collaborators like Priyadarshan and Sajid Khan. Soon came Housefull and Khatta Meetha and all was well again.



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But perhaps, Akshay Kumar found his true admirer in A Wednesday! director Neeraj Pandey. Pandey saw untapped talent in him and positioned his action hero image and aura in the midst of taut, smart action-oriented dramas with themes that resonated with every Indian. As such, Special 26 and Baby elevated Akshay's status to someone who is more than a mere entertainer. Soon, AR Murugadoss's Holiday, Raja Krishna Menon's Airlift and Tinu Desai's Rustom, films made in the Neeraj Pandey mold, sustained Akshay's new found stardom and critical appreciation.



At this point, a big-budget science fiction extravaganza like 2.0 starring none other than Thalaivar Rajinikanth is a masterstroke for Akshay's career. For one, 2.0 will give Akshay a pan-Indian following unlike any other Bollywood star at this point. Secondly, Akshay will be seen in an interesting character actor avatar which is different from the usual sincere, straight arrow roles he plays.

From Khiladi to 2.0's Dr Richard, Akshay has come a long way. Here's hoping Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 opens new doors for Akshay Kumar's film career.

(The writer tweets as @devarsighosh .)



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Authorities have named a suspect in the alleged murder of a Kansas woman and the abduction of her six-day-old daughter, PEOPLE confirms.

Yesenia Sesmas, 34, was arrested in Dallas on Saturday following a two-day, multi-state search for newborn Sophia Gonzales, who was allegedly kidnapped after her mother, Laura Abarca-Nogueda, was fatally shot in her Wichita, Kansas, home Thursday.

Police believe Sesmas and Abarca-Nogueda knew each other for a few years, Wichita police Lt. Todd Ojile said at a press conference on Monday, adding that Sesmas allegedly faked a pregnancy in the months leading up to the alleged crimes.

Sesman allegedly lived in Wichita earlier this year before moving to Dallas. She is being held in Dallas for kidnapping and first-degree murder charges, Ojile said.

Sesman has not yet entered a plea. It is unclear whether Sesman has an attorney or if she will be extradited back to Kansas. At the press conference, Ojile told reporters the Sedgwick County district attorneys office is scheduled to review the case on Friday.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

On Thursday, Wichita police responding to reports of gunshots arrived to find Abarca-Nogueda fatally shot in her home. A search was launched immediately for Sophia, who was then 6 days old.

Sophia was discovered in Sesmans Dallas home after an anonymous tip late Friday night, Ojile said. Sesman, her boyfriend, her son and her niece were in the residence when police conducted their search, he said.

Sophia appeared to be unharmed, Ojile said. She was returned to her family Saturday afternoon.

Authorities announced on Saturday that two adults had been taken into custody in connection with the crime. Ojile did not comment on a possible second adult taken into custody and Wichita police did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs inquiries.

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A GoFundMe page has been started to raise money for Abarca-Noguedas funeral.

Laura Orquidea Abarca-Nogueda was a vibrant, beautiful woman, whos life got taken from us far to soon, reads the page description. She was a loving mother to her daughter Sophia, a devoted girlfriend, also a caring sister, and aunt, simply a friend to us all.




STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish government proposes to effectively abolish a newly introduced tax on solar energy after heavy criticism from environmental experts and the opposition, the country's finance minister said on Monday. Earlier this year, Sweden's center-left government introduced an energy tax on solar power production above 255 kilowatt. While the tax did not effect single-family households with solar panels many companies, such as commercial landlords, with bigger production were affected. The tax will be slashed by 98 percent in 2017 but could not be completely abolished due to technical reasons. "This allows for rapid investments (in solar energy), while our long-term ambition is to completely remove the tax on solar electricity," Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a statement. The government, which is comprised of the Social Democrats and the Greens, cited compliance with European Union rules for introducing the new tax but the European Commission later said that was not the case. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Niklas Pollard.)
(Adds quotes from CEO interview)

By Liana B. Baker and Greg Roumeliotis

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Symantec Corp said it would acquire U.S. identity theft protection services company LifeLock Inc for $2.3 billion, in a deal that it hopes will prop up sales at its Norton cybersecurity unit.

Symantec's security software often comes bundled with personal computers. As a result, the company has suffered as consumers use mobile devices more than traditional computers. While Norton remains profitable, its sales have been falling.

"(Norton) had been declining with the declines in PC market share. This acquisition brings $660 million in revenue to the consumer business and returns it to longer sustainable growth," Symantec Chief Executive Greg Clark said in an interview.

Reuters was first to report earlier on Sunday that Symantec was in the lead to acquire LifeLock.

Symantec's purchase of LifeLock is in line with its efforts to diversify its offerings. In August, it bought Blue Coat Inc, which helps firms maintain security over the internet, in a $4.65 billion deal. Clark previously held the top job at Blue Coat, and made the switch after the deal closed.

Based in Tempe, Arizona, LifeLock offers services such as monitoring new account openings and credit-related applications in order to alert consumers about unauthorized use of their identity. It also works with government agencies, merchants and creditors to remediate the impact of identity theft.

Fran Rosch, executive vice president of Norton Business Unit, said that Symantec had dabbled in identity security but had nowhere near Lifelock's 4.4 million members.

"We had to extend our value proposition. It was a no brainer for us to get back to growth," Rosch said.

Symantec expects to finance the transaction with cash on balance sheet and $750 million of new debt.

The Mountain View, California-based company has been moving away from what is sees as more commoditized services, selling its data storage business Veritas in January to private equity firm Carlyle Group LP for $7.4 billion. Technology-focused firm Silver Lake Partners has also made a $1 billion investment in the company in two parts this year.

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Symantec said the LifeLock deal is not expected to have a material impact on its financial results next year, and reaffirmed its fiscal year 2017 and 2018 guidance. The deal also represents a victory for activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp, which had pushed LifeLock to explore its options.

Symantec was advised by Citigroup and JP Morgan , along with Bank of America, Barclays Plc , and Wells Fargo. LifeLock was advised by Goldman Sachs.

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker, Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler, Alan Crosby and Himani Sarkar)
By Liana B. Baker and Greg Roumeliotis REUTERS - Symantec Corp said it would acquire U.S. identity theft protection services company LifeLock Inc for $2.3 billion, in a deal that it hopes will prop up sales at its Norton cybersecurity unit. Symantec's security software often comes bundled with personal computers. As a result, the company has suffered as consumers use mobile devices more than traditional computers. While Norton remains profitable, its sales have been falling. "(Norton) had been declining with the declines in PC market share. This acquisition brings $660 million in revenue to the consumer business and returns it to longer sustainable growth," Symantec Chief Executive Greg Clark said in an interview. Reuters was first to report earlier on Sunday that Symantec was in the lead to acquire LifeLock. Symantec's purchase of LifeLock is in line with its efforts to diversify its offerings. In August, it bought Blue Coat Inc, which helps firms maintain security over the internet, in a $4.65 billion deal. Clark previously held the top job at Blue Coat, and made the switch after the deal closed. Based in Tempe, Arizona, LifeLock offers services such as monitoring new account openings and credit-related applications in order to alert consumers about unauthorized use of their identity. It also works with government agencies, merchants and creditors to remediate the impact of identity theft. Fran Rosch, executive vice president of Norton Business Unit, said that Symantec had dabbled in identity security but had nowhere near Lifelock's 4.4 million members. "We had to extend our value proposition. It was a no brainer for us to get back to growth," Rosch said. Symantec expects to finance the transaction with cash on balance sheet and $750 million of new debt. The Mountain View, California-based company has been moving away from what is sees as more commoditized services, selling its data storage business Veritas in January to private equity firm Carlyle Group LP for $7.4 billion. Technology-focused firm Silver Lake Partners has also made a $1 billion investment in the company in two parts this year. Symantec said the LifeLock deal is not expected to have a material impact on its financial results next year, and reaffirmed its fiscal year 2017 and 2018 guidance. The deal also represents a victory for activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp, which had pushed LifeLock to explore its options. Symantec was advised by Citigroup and JP Morgan, along with Bank of America, Barclays Plc, and Wells Fargo. LifeLock was advised by Goldman Sachs. (Reporting by Liana B. Baker, Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler, Alan Crosby and Himani Sarkar)
Cybersecurity giant Symantec announced plans to buy identity protection company LifeLock for $2.3 billion over the weekend.

At more than 3x its 2012 IPO valuation, it's a solid outcome for a company with some troubles in its past: A former LifeLock CEO reportedly had his identity stolen 13 times after a marketing stunt went awry, and it's had some tussles with the FTC over deceptive advertising, resulting in a $100 million settlement in 2015.

What LifeLock promised to do

Founded in 2005, LifeLock is an identity protection company, where customers pay the company between $10 and $30 a month to monitor their credit score and various financial transactions to protect them against identity theft. If a customer's identity is stolen, LifeLock promises to work with customers to restore it, and promises to reimburse lost funds.

But the company has had some well-publicized stumbles.

From 2006 to 2010, LifeLock cofounder and then-CEO Todd Davis was the star of its marketing campaign, where he posted his social security number on billboards, trucks, and TV commercials for all to see  with a boast that his company's technology would protect him from identity theft.

Like this:



lifelock todd davis

In 2010, though, the Phoenix New Times published the results of an investigation that showed that Davis had his identity stolen at least 13 times between 2007 and 2008. The first time his identity was stolen, in 2007, a man reportedly took out a $500 payday loan in his name. He only found out when the debt went to a collection agency in 2008, the report says.

In 2010, LifeLock paid $12 million to the FTC and 35 state attorneys general to settle charges of false claims. The FTC chairman at the time, Jon Leibowitz, said that while LifeLock "promised consumers complete protection against all types of identity theft, in truth, the protection it actually provided left enough holes that you could drive a truck through it."

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As part of that settlement, the FTC ordered LifeLock to shore up the security of customer data.

The company went public in 2012, raising $141 million and valuing the company at $778 million.

Its fortunes improved from there, but the FTC subsequently alleged that it hadn't made the necessary changes, and in July 2015, LifeLock settled contempt charges by agreeing to pay $100 million, including $68 million to be set aside for possible class action suit resolutions. The news erased almost half the company's value in a single day.

In January 2016, LifeLock announced Davis would be stepping aside as CEO, though he took a new role as Executive Vice Chairman of the board. Hilary Schneider is the current CEO of LifeLock.

Since then, the company has continued to add customers  it claimed 4.4 million as of September 30, according to its latest earnings report, up 8% from the year before  and its stock price had more than doubled since the plunge, before Symantec announced the buy.

Symantec CEO Greg Clark told Business Insider, "We are thoroughly satisfied that any previous issues are in the past. Consumers vote with their wallets and there are 4.4 million happy and committed LifeLock customers  and growing."

It seems Symantec investors share his optimism: Symantec shares ended up about more than 3% following news of the LifeLock purchase, outpacing the rest of the tech market.

NOW WATCH: This is how you're compromising your identity on Facebook





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(BEIRUT)  The Syrian government refused the U.N. envoys latest proposal for a truce in Aleppo on Sunday, calling on insurgents to withdraw and saying it would not grant autonomy to the rebel-held east in exchange for calm.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said restoring government rule was a matter of national sovereignty, and that Damascus would not allow the people of eastern Aleppo to be hostages to 6,000 gunmen.

We agreed on the need that terrorists should get out of east Aleppo to end the suffering of the civilians in the city, he said.

He spoke after meeting with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, who acknowledged a major disagreement with al-Moallem and said a creative if interim solution was required to halt the violence.

We are only proposing that there should not be a radical dramatic change in the administration of Aleppo until there is a political solution, he said.

The envoy warned in a recent interview with the U.K. newspaper the Guardian that the government was chasing a pyrrhic victory in Aleppo if it does not reach a political settlement with the opposition.

He warned the militarys approach would drive more moderate rebels into the ranks of the Islamic State group.

At least 172 civilians have been killed since the government renewed its assault on the besieged enclave six days ago, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The U.N. estimates 275,000 people are trapped inside. By Saturday, the government had damaged or destroyed every hospital in the east, according to the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports hospitals in Syria

The government denies striking hospitals, and de Mistura said there was a difference of opinion about the attacks. He said he had proposed sending an observer team to inspect all the hospitals in Aleppo, but that the idea was not discussed further.

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De Mistura has proposed that the Syrian government grant eastern Aleppo autonomy in exchange for peace, and called on the estimated 900 al-Qaida-linked militants in the east to depart to other rebel-held territory.

Al-Moallem also called on the militants to withdraw, and said he hoped that U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration would cut off support for terrorists in Syria and rein in the states backing them, a reference to Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

President Bashar Assad said earlier this week that Trump could prove to be a natural ally to Damascus.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the intense air assault on eastern Aleppo over the last several days as well as the corresponding shelling of western parts of the city, in a statement released by his spokesman Sunday. He called on all the parties to ensure freedom of movement for civilians and allow unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.

Ban reminded all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime, the statement said. He said those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria must one day be brought to account.

On Sunday, pro-government forces advanced into parts of the strategically important Hanano district, according to state media and the Observatory.

The regime is targeting everything that moves, said Ammar Sakkar, an officer with the Fastaqim rebel faction in the city. He said the government had captured the Zuhour hill, which overlooks parts of the east.

Rebels outside the city have launched two unsuccessful offensives to break the governments siege and have shelled the government-held western districts.

Earlier Sunday, at least eight children were killed when rockets struck a school in government-held western Aleppo, the Observatory said. Syrian state media said a teacher was also killed in the attack.

In the opposition-run village of Nusaybeen, outside Damascus, activists said at least one child was killed in a presumed government airstrike on a primary school.

The government has stepped up its attacks outside Damascus in the western Ghouta region after forcing rebels in eastern Ghouta to surrender earlier this year. The Observatory says at least 30 civilians have been killed in western Ghouta over the past 4 days.

In Aleppo, an airstrike early Sunday killed a family of six in their home in the Sakhour district in the east, according to the activist-run Thiqa News Agency. Witnesses said they smelled chlorine gas, and rescuers said the family appeared to have suffocated from toxic gas.

The allegations could not be independently verified. A U.N. investigative team has said the government used chlorine as a chemical weapon on at least two occasions during the 5 -year conflict.

___

Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria contributed.
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's coastguard has said it plans to hold rescue drills in waters around Taipei's sole territorial holding in the disputed South China Sea at the end of this month, and that the drills could involve its navy. The exercises to be held around Itu Aba, known by Taiwan as Taiping, would include drills in rescuing shipwrecked personnel, the coastguard said. More details would be released later, it said in a statement on its website late on Sunday. "Currently the navy regularly patrols near Taiping Island. We don't rule out the navy playing a supporting role in future humanitarian rescue drills being held near Taiping," the Coast Guard Administration said in the statement. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Taiwan has largely kept out of disputes between China and its neighbors, but the planned drills would be the first since President Tsai Ing-wen took power in May. In July, a judgment by an international court classified Itu Aba was a rock and not an island, thereby making it ineligible to own a greater economic zone of resources off its coast. Taiwan's coastguard has had direct oversight of Itu Aba since 2000, when it took over from the Taiwanese military. More than 100 coastguard personnel are stationed on Itu Aba. China distrusts Tsai and her ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, but Beijing has previously maintained that Beijing and Taipei had a common duty to protect Chinese sovereignty in the waterway. The United States, Taiwan's only major political ally, criticized former president Ma Ying-jeou for visiting Itu Aba earlier this year because it did not want tensions to escalate in the South China Sea. (Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Paul Tait)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A brief exchange between representatives from Taiwan and China at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting is a "positive" development for relations across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's Presidential Office said on Monday. China cut an official communications mechanism with Taiwan in June after new President Tsai Ing-wen refused to commit to the "One China Principle" that says Taiwan is part of the mainland. Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province it has vowed to reclaim by force if necessary. Taiwan has since repeatedly urged Beijing to resume talks and exchanges. Taiwan's envoy James Soong had what Taiwanese media described as a "friendly" exchange with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC meeting in Lima, Peru, at the weekend. "We always welcome any interaction that would help both sides understand each other without political pre-conditions," Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang said. Huang described the brief discussion as "a positive thing". "We are glad to see it," he said. While China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not answer telephone calls to seek comment, Taiwan media quoted a spokesman for the policy-making body as saying the encounter was a "natural, simple exchange of greetings" in a side room at the venue. Relations between the mainland and Taiwan have deteriorated since the island's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party took power in May. APEC meetings have traditionally offered an opportunity for senior officials from Taiwan and China to meet because the group categorizes Taiwan as a member economy, although not a nation. (Reporting by Faith Hung; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Paul Tait)
During his Saint Pablo Tour stop in San Jose, California, Kanye West went on one of his infamous rants, which included the pro-Trump one-liner that shocked many of his concert attendees, resulting in boos and a slew of angry tweets from fans. Following the rant, Twitter was flooded with comments on West's remarks, including hip-hop veteran Talib Kweli, who decided to encourage Kanye amid all the criticism by telling the rapper to "come home."

"The ppl gonna ride w you til the wheels fall off for what you've given us," the Brooklyn MC wrote to Kanye on Twitter. "But only if u ride w the ppl. Come back home. Love."

During West's performance, he told the San Jose crowd, "If I voted, I would have voted on Trump," and later carried on his rant at another Saint Pablo stop in Sacramento, where he admitted he was "hurt" by Beyonce's win over him at the MTV Video Music Awards, among an array of other topics.

Kweli continued to offer support to West, tweeting, "We love u. U r everything u say u are," before calling the Chicago native a "genius" and "icon".

Read Talib Kweli's tweets below:

@kanyewest feelings don't matter fam. Facts matter. Real niggas still got love for you. But our ppl dying out here. Never Trump.

- Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) November 20, 2016

@kanyewest the same way you want Jay to reach out to you, u should reach out to real niggas. Cuz someone ain't keeping it real w u fam.

- Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) November 20, 2016

@kanyewest the ppl gonna ride w you til the wheels fall off for what you've given us. But only if u ride w the ppl. Come back home. Love.

- Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) November 20, 2016

@kanyewest we love u. u r everything u say u are. A genius, an icon. U added greatness to my life. But lifting Trump up kills us. Come home.

- Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) November 20, 2016
Two years ago, on Nov. 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, two police officers shot dead 12-year-old Tamir Rice making the case one of the most high-profile in a series of killings of black men by law enforcement officials. Today, Tamirs mother Samaria Rice is still frustrated with the fact that no one has been held accountable for her sons death.

Im just disgusted with the city of Cleveland and how theyre not afraid for their citizens with these police officers on the loose, Rice said, the Associated Press reported Sunday.

She insists that the two officers  Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback  should be tried and convicted for killing her son.

Loehmann, a white officer, shot Rice in the torso after responding to a call that complained about a male with a gun on the swings at a Cleveland park. The officials later found out that the gun was in fact a replica of Airsoft gun. Rice died at the hospital the next morning. Both the officers were placed on administrative leave after the incident.

I believe if my son was white, he would probably still be here, Rice reportedly said. There is no reason for my son to be dead.

The shooting triggered protests bringing racial profiling of black people under spotlight. The agitation was further escalated after the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor said in December 2015 that Loehmann and Garmback could not be indicted because of lack of enough evidence to support the charges. Following this, the U.S. Department of Justice said that it would review the case.

Now, Rice is planning to establish a foundation in Tamirs name to offer scholarship to children with the help of $6 million she received from Cleveland following a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Its disturbing that I had to put a price on my son, that I was forced to make a decision I didn't want to make, Rice said. I dont wish that decision on nobody.

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By Stephen Nellis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program.

H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.

Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs.

Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor, Sessions said at a February hearing.

A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.

The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently.

By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.

Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

LABOR LOTTERY

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.

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Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co (SCE_pe.A), a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.

Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.

Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.

The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.

Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work.

In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S.

CALLS FOR CHANGE

Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest professional association. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.

That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.

Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.

Were going to advocate for expanding the program, but were also going to advocate for reforming the program, FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview.

The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cyber security firm in San Francisco.

H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less.

"The current system is not working for Americans, and it's not working for immigrants," he said.

'AMAZING PEOPLE'

Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh Shalli Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign.

"He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go, Kumar said in an interview.

But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards.

John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute - a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump - also supports prioritizing H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay.

Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas.

Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34.

Some H-1B visa holders aren't waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card.

Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs, she said. I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible.

(This version of the story has been refiled to clarify that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers represents engineers and not engineering companies)

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Brian Thevenot)
Victor Raga was in disbelief when he received the phone call that his teenage daughter had been shot in the head and was fighting for her life.

Ragas 18-year-old daughter, Evelyn Bunte, moved to Texas from Illinois over the summer in hopes of attending Texas Christian University after tirelessly working to save money.

Read: 'Miracle on the Hudson' Survivors Reunite to Relive Their Incredible Stories of Survival

She was working at Walmart, doing a really good job and keeping me updated. She just sent me a picture of herself before this happened in her Walmart uniform, Raga told InsideEdition.com.

Unbeknownst to Raga, however, he said Evelyn fell into the wrong crowd, leading to the horrible November 5 night that the teen nearly lost her life.

On that night, police said an unidentified person or people made their way into Evelyn's boyfriend's Fort Worth home as she slept.

There was reportedly a struggle and Evelyn was shot three times in the head and stabbed once in the neck.

She fought back and that's when it escalated," Raga said. "They shot her. She just wouldn't die. She fought."

Her father said Evelyn laid there for five hours before her ex-boyfriends mother found her. She was rushed to the hospital for brain surgery.

Police do not believe the attack was random but are still investigating a motive.

But just a few weeks later, despite being left blind and partially paralyzed on her right side, Evelyn is making remarkable strides in her recovery.

If thats not a miracle of survival... Its incredible, Raga said.

The teen can now stand on her own and is regaining her motor skills and speech.

Her spirit is strong. I talk to her everyday about the outpouring of prayer and support that shes getting and it uplifts her, said Raga. She just wants to come home. So we are going to bring her home to Illinois after she is well enough to take a trip.

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Sadly, Raga had to go back to work two weeks after the attack.

Evelyn, who Raga has raised by himself since she was three, is in the hospital alone.

Raga said that her spirit remains the same in the aftermath of the tragedy anyway.

Read: Fireman Speaks Out 1 Year After Face Transplant: 'No More Frightened Children Running Away From Me'

Overall she is so optimistic because thats who she is. Thats how she was before, said Raga. She was my wild child who wanted to go and see the world. She wanted to experience things against everything that I told her.

The whole ordeal has brought father and daughter closer than ever.

Its a shame that it takes a tragedy for something good to happen but my daughter has told me that she wants to mend our relationship and become much much closer.

The family has started a GoFundMe to help with the expenses of Evelyn's recovery.

Watch: See How These Conjoined Twins Are Now Thriving After Being Separated 2 Years Ago

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A police officer in San Antonio, Texas, was fatally shot Sunday near the citys police headquarters during a traffic stop, officials said. The police department posted a photo of a man on its Facebook page saying he may have information on the shooting and is seeking public help to identify the person.

The slain police officer was identified as 50-year-old Detective Benjamin Marconi. The 20-year veteran was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The shooting took place when Marconi was in his police car writing a ticket to a motorist. A driver of a black sedan pulled up behind Marconis car, walked up to him and shot him twice in the head, according to police authorities. The suspect then walked back to his sedan and drove away.

The San Antonio Police Department released photos of the black sedan on its Facebook page and described the suspect as a black male in a hoodie, baggy pants and likely facial hair.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the motorist pulled up during the traffic stop does not have connection with the shooter. The officials are yet to establish a motive for the incident.

We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public, McManus said at a press briefing, adding that an investigation on the capital murder case has been launched.

McManus also likened the incident to the ones in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In July, a gunman killed five police officers during Black Lives Matter protests in the Texas metropolis and only 10 days later three law enforcement officials were killed by another shooter in Baton Rouge. Earlier this month, two police officers were gunned down in separate ambushes in Iowa.

You never want to see anything like this happen. Unfortunately, like Dallas, like Baton Rouge, its happened here now, the chief said. Its always difficult, especially in this day and age where police are being targeted across the country, he said. Hopefully, well solve this one real quick.

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Its not saying much about an awards show when a Drake commercial and a Selena Gomez acceptance speech are the highlights of the night.

In the opening of Sundays American Music Awards, supermodel co-host Gigi Hadid quipped, Dont worry, guys  tonight we dont have to worry about the Electoral College. But this shows fan-elected awards didnt make a great case for the popular vote, either. Some of the shows best and worst moments

HIGH: Selena Gomezs speech

Keeping it real has never been the hallmark of this puffy-and-proud show, so Gomez jolted everyone to attention with an emotional acceptance speech that started by marking the anniversary of her public candor: In 2014, this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically 100 percent honest with all of you. I think its safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I liked it or not. And I had to stop. Because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.

I dont want to see your bodies on Instagram, she continued. I want to see whats in [your heart]. Im not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore. All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be able to share what I love every single day with people that I love. And I have to say thank you so much to my fans, because you guys are so damn loyal, and I dont know what I did to deserve you. But if you are broken, you do not have to stay broken. And if thats anything, whether you respect me or not, thats one thing you should know about me, I care about people. And this is for you, thank you.

Selena Gomez accepts the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist award onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Cynics might see the speech as self-aggrandizing, but for a minute and a half, at least, we could be sure we were seeing a human being onstage, and it was a welcome sight. Lady Gaga, beaming in the audience, seemed to approve the most.

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LOW: Hosts Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid

Ahead of time, plenty of viewers were asking, Why? when it came to this particular couple as hosts. And no answer was forthcoming. Pharoahs main calling card for the gig continues to be his Jay Z and Kanye impressions, but both of those inevitable bits were practically thrown away as afterthoughts, leaving little else for him to do except say, Yeah, yeah, yeah! Hadids Melania Trump impression was actually better than the Twitter universe gave it credit for  it takes one to know one  but she gave little reason to suspect little reason to think shell be back next year. Unless its possible that literally no one else wants the gig?

HIGH: Bruno Marss opening salute to Adidas

24K Magic wasnt Uptown Funk, but if you love the 80s, either for its synths or sneakers, this was a reminder of a better time than the year that was about to be undeservedly celebrated.

HIGH: Lady Gaga, country-fied

Gaga continued her hey, Im organic now tour of televised America, and while Million Reasons is probably not destined to be most of her fans favorite song, it did make for the shows one token country music segment. On top of her shockingly non-shocking, nearly Middle American (albeit Middle-American-in-leather) look, the producers found a way to transplant an entire prairie onto the stage, which deserves some plaudits in itself. All that was missing was actual groundhogs.

LOW: The Chainsmokers

Has any act as personal-charisma-challenged as the Chainsmokers ever had the song of the year before? For better or worse, this time, there was no icky PDA between Drew Taggard and Halsey, as there was three months ago on the MTV Video Music Awards. In fact, the two seemed to have given a pretend you two have no chemistry at all direction. Without the memorable display of underboob that Halsey gave the world at the VMAs, there was nothing to remember about this Closer at all.

Drew Taggart (R), of the Chainsmokers, and Halsey perform onstage at the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/AMA2016/WireImage)

HIGH: Sting gets political without getting political

Hes crafty, this one. While some other folks (like Green Day; more on them later) threw blatant shade at the incoming president, Sting used his lifetime award acceptance speech to basically sub-tweet about Trump, repeatedly describing himself as a proud immigrant and saying the spirit of welcome and inclusion is what made this country the greatest country in the world. Oh, and he performed, and well. We did cock our heads, though, at Robert Downey Jr.s odd introduction, which described the Sting-meister as one of the most talented and giving humans ever to walk the earth and comparing his catalog to a classroom, promising, Later in the semester you will likely learn to care about the fate of mankind.

LOW: Niall Horan, One Directioner-gone-folkie

Substituting tonight in the role of Ed Sheeran is.

Niall Horan performs onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

HIGH: Drakes commercial

The bad news: This years AMAs flogged a premiere that turned out to be an Apple Music commercial unapologetically integrated right into the body of the show. The good news: At least it was a highlight of the show. The bad news: It was a highlight of the show. Lets be honest: However crass this breakdown of the line between content and advertising might have been, it was a kick seeing Drake grunt out Bad Blood while lifting weights but not as big a kick as it wouldve been seeing the 13-time nominee actually perform live, something you know the producers must have begged for.

HIGH: Green Days rock revival

After a lot of years in which there wasnt a single rock band on either the AMAs or the VMAs, this show had three  count em! three!  rock acts on the telecast. Foremost among them was Green Day, who actually found a way to channel the politics the hosts swore we wouldnt be getting into a song, chanting, No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA! But more than that, here was a band getting back to its roots with a blast of energy that seemed to take it for go-for-broke granted that their radio smash days are behind them and they can just punk it up again.

LOW: Justin Bieber phones it in, literally and figuratively

Not very live, in any way, from Switzerland.

LOW: DJ Khaled shouts, and shouts, and shouts

DJ Khaled bragged about having the #1 song in the country, which puzzled a lot of viewers who looked up  and posted to social media  that Do You Mind currently sits at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. But that bragging wasnt as big a sin as his constantly outshouting the three guests he had onstage which maybe isnt that hard when his mic is live and some of the others are clearly lip-synching. OK, one more sin: leaving Nicki Minaj stranded onstage for minutes at a time with nothing to do.

(L-R) Rick Ross, Future, Nicki Minaj, August Alsina and DJ Khaled perform onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LOW: twenty one pilots SNL rerun

Not that many weeks ago, the duo did a galvanizing rendition of their Suicide Squad song on Saturday Night Live with a strong string section backing. How to outdo that recent memory? With, uh, green footlights and smoke blasts. Hard to tell whether to blame the act or the production designers for the lack of imagination, but Weve seen this before, only better is not the feeling you want to leave millions of viewers with. They also wore full face masks, and while we know thats part of their live show, between that and the Weeknd performing from a tunnel that resembled Supermans ice cave, we had to wonder if some of the better acts at the AMAs wanted to establish some sort of plausible deniability that they were even on the show.
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Mexico auto plant

President-elect Donald Trump promised during the election to get tough on undocumented immigrants from Mexico by among other things building a massive wall.

He also attacked the US auto industry and Ford in particular for planning to shift vehicle production to Mexican plants.

This combination might look consistent to Trump supporters  crack down on unlawful immigration and save US jobs  but on closer inspection, it isn't.

For starters, automaker such as Ford want to move production to Mexico because they can't make enough money on small cars when they build them in the US. But they don't want to stop building them for reasons that range from the need to export them to markets where they're more popular to a desire to hedge against a gas-price spike in the future that could sour Americans on SUVs.

Meanwhile, carmakers are running their SUV and pickup truck assembly lines in the US flat-out to satisfy demand. A company like Ford would rather have workers building a new Ford Bronco SUV than a slow-selling Ford Focus.

At the same time, the evolution of Mexico's auto industry has been impressive. According to Thompson Reuters:

Mexico appears to be a primary focus of the global auto industry as companies worldwide are eyeing to invest in the country. Actually, the wave of investments has already started. Mexico is currently the worlds seventh-largest producer of cars. Six years ago the country only was ranked in the tenth position. Mexico is the fourth-largest exporter for the automotive industry, only after Germany, Japan and South Korea. Mexico is almost reaching Japan to become the number 2 supplier of vehicles to the U.S. market. To support this information, in 2014, Mexico manufactured four out of every 100 cars in the world. With this speed of growth in the industry and attraction of investments, Mexico could reach the 4th position in automobile producers after China, USA and Japan.

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The argument from the Trump side is that all that Mexican investment will create auto-industry jobs there that could be created at home. There might be something to that, but American automakers operating plants is nothing new: Ford established its first factory there in the 1960s and built a second in the 1980s.

The automotive supply chain also crosses the border routinely. I review many cars, and with each test car comes something called a "Monroney"  that familiar window sticker. It's required to list the origins of all the "content" that went into the car, and there's often a lot of any given vehicle that comes from Mexico.

Solving two problems

What being overlooked here is that one of the best ways to curtail undocumented immigration from Mexico to the US is to assist Mexico in its economic advancement. And there's also no better industry to turbocharge a country's economic development than automobiles. Japan discovered this after World War II, as did a recovering Germany. China's auto market has already surpassed the US to be the world's biggest.

Auto wages in Mexico are much lower than in the US, but they will inevitably rise as the industry grows, and there enduring lesson that Henry Ford taught a century go is still valid: pay your workers enough to buy the cars they make and you will create a virtuous economic circle.

Immigrants flee Mexico to find greater economic opportunity in the US. But if greater economic opportunity emerges in Mexico thanks to good automaking jobs, then there will be far less incentive to leave.

What about the American jobs? Well, those would rely on automakers building new plants in the US, something they don't want to do because they don't want to be left with high-cost capacity that they will have to idle in a downturn, leading to layoffs. Autos are a cyclical industry, and the downturns always come.

The only major source of concern for auto workers in the US would be a large-scale production shift to Mexico, but that's not going to happen, given how much capital investment the automakers have made in their US plants and how important it is for many of their customers  especially pickup-truck owners  to buy American.

In any case, carmakers have had decades to move production south of the border, and they haven't. Numerous new plants have been built in the US by Japanese and German automakers, in the process employing thousands of Americans.

The bottom line is that while the Mexican auto industry is a great success story, it isn't a threat to the US auto industry. But limiting its growth isn't a smart way to address immigration issues.

NOW WATCH: Trump said he prevented a Ford factory from leaving the US  but the company says the move was never planned





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donald trump

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump took credit via Twitter for preventing a Ford plant from moving to Mexico.

It was unclear whether Trump understood that the plant, in Louisville, Kentucky, makes only a small number of Lincoln MKC SUVs, and that the bulk of its output is the Ford Escape. (The vehicles share a platform.)

In any case, Ford then said it had considered moving MKC production to Mexico so that the Louisville plant could build more Escapes, a hot-selling compact crossover SUV that was designed in Europe.

The carmaker acknowledged the plan had changed and that MKC production would remain in Louisville.

But here's the thing: The move wasn't being contemplated until 2019, when the current Ford contract with the United Auto Workers union expires.

And even if Ford had gone forward with the MKC plan, it said no jobs would have been lost at the factory.

The UAW nonetheless was concerned. From Bloomberg's Keith Naughton:

"Ford didn't inform the union of its long-term plans for the MKC before those tweets went out Thursday night, [a UAW source] said. That's what UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who oversees Ford contract negotiations, and other union leaders were planning to discuss with the company today, he said. Settles and Ford manufacturing chief Bruce Hettle sent a letter to Louisville plant workers Friday promising to meet with them 'in the coming days' to discuss the change in plans on the MKC."

But here the thing: Even if Ford and the UAW weren't in communication about this potential change, it's possible that there still would be no UAW job losses in Louisville because the same workers could simply build the Escape instead of the MKC.

Connecting the blurry dots

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford had been trying to get Trump to lay off his criticism of the company's decision to move some small-car production to Mexico  again, that's with no UAW job losses in the US, as that production capacity would be needed to build new trucks and SUVs. (Ford wasn't succeeding, according to reports.)

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A plausible explanation is that Ford and Trump worked out a way for Trump to "save" jobs in Kentucky by keeping modest MKC production  2,000 vehicles per month, versus 30,000 Escapes  abandoning a plan that wasn't even going to go into effect until late in Trump's first term.

Trump then created a tempest in a teapot by inaccurately tweeting that the entire Louisville plant was a Lincoln factory and that it wasn't being relocated. I'm not saying& that this is what actually happened  just connecting the blurry dots.

There was no way Ford was going to move a plant that's been in operation since 1955, that has been running flat-out to satisfy Escape and MKC demand, and that Ford invested $600 million in to retool in 2010-11.

Unfortunately, that was the message that got out, largely because of Trump's lack of knowledge about how the auto industry operates.

Bear in mind that the change to Lincoln production wasn't even going to occur for three years. Effectively, Ford jettisoned something it was thinking about doing. But by 2019, the auto market could be different. It's running at record sales levels now in the US, and it's a safe bet that even in a downturn, compact SUV sales will hold up. But who knows?

This is the problem with taking credit for a future decision that's contingent on factors that have nothing to do with the present auto market.

NOW WATCH: Trump said he prevented a Ford factory from leaving the US  but the company says the move was never planned





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Nov 21 - The New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, ruled on Monday that the New York Department of State (NYDOS) has the right to review Indian Point's Coastal Zone Management application.

The Coastal Zone Management certificate is one of the items Entergy Corp is seeking as part of its federal application to relicense the two reactors at Indian Point to operate for another 20 years.

Congress adopted the Coastal Zone Management Act to encourage states to protect their coastal resources.

The Court of Appeals reversed the intermediate appellate court's decision that Indian Point was exempt from the NYDOS review under the Coastal Zone Management program.

Entergy is seeking a 20-year license renewal for Indian Point. The plant is located about 40 miles north of Manhattan in the town of Buchanan on the shores of the Hudson River.

To relicense the plant's two reactors, Entergy is seeking three things.

1 - The federal operating license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

2 - A water permit from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC).

3 - A Coastal Zone Management certification from the New York Department of State (NYDOS).

The following is a timeline on Entergy's efforts to relicense the two reactors at Indian Point for another 20 years:

November 2016 - The New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, ruled on Monday that the NYDOS has the right to review Indian Point's Coastal Zone Management application.

July 2016 - NRC ASLB gives the parties opposed to the relicesing of Indian Point until March 2017 to respond to whatever Entergy finds in its analysis of problems with bolts in the reactor.

May 2016 - NRC commissioners told the NRC staff to re-evaluate aspects of a severe accident mitigation analysis as part of Entergy's application to renew the licenses for Indian Point.

February 2016 - Entergy reports tritium leak at the plant.

January 2016 - Entergy asks U.S. federal district court to reject the NYDOS' objection to the plant's Coastal Zone Management Act certification.

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December 2015 - Indian Point 3 license expires. The plant can continue to run so long as the relicensing process is ongoing.

December 2015 - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed state energy regulators to develop a process to prevent the premature retirement of Upstate nuclear power plants. At the same time however, he opposed the continued operation of Indian Point because he does not believe the area around the plant, located about 40 miles north of New York City, can be safely evacuated if there is a problem.

November 2015 - NYDOS objects to federal Coastal Zone Management Act certification for Indian Point. The objection, unless overturned by a court or the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, would prohibit the NRC from renewing the plant's operating licenses.

November 2015 - New York State asks NRC to deny Entergy's application to relicense the two reactors at Indian Point.

November 2015 - Entergy says it will shut the FitzPatrick reactor in Upstate New York by early 2017 due primarily to weak power market conditions brought about by low natural gas prices from shale formations. Unlike his opposition to the continued operation of Indian Point, Cuomo opposed the planned shutdown of FitzPatrick.

October 2015 - Entergy said it would shut the Pilgrim reactor in Massachusetts by June 2019 due primarily to similar weak market conditions harming FitzPatrick.

December 2014 - New York State appeals court finds Indian Point is exempt from review under the New York Coastal Zone Management Program under a grandfathering clause. The decision overturned previous decisions by the state's Supreme Court, the trial court in New York, and a regulatory decision by the NYDOS.

December 2014 - After winning a long relicensing battle with the state of Vermont, Entergy shuts the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor due mostly to weak market conditions.

2014 - Entergy says it could take the NRC until 2017 or 2018 to complete the Indian Point relicensing process. Some analysts have suggested Entergy could strike a deal with New York that would allow the reactors to obtain the 20-year license renewal but shut sometime before the licenses expire to overcome NYDEC concerns about fish kills. That would be similar to Exelon Corp's deal with New Jersey on the Oyster Creek nuclear reactor.

2013 - Entergy wins on eight of nine contentions against the relicensing before NRC's Atomic Safety Licensing Board (ASLB). The losing contention concerns transformers, which Entergy said it would fix. The ASLB, which allowed other contentions since 2012, had at least six other contentions to hear before providing a recommendation on whether to approve Entergy's relicensing application to the NRC commission.

September 2013 - Unit 2 license expired. The unit can continue operating so long as the relicensing process is ongoing.

2013-14 - NYDEC proposes Entergy shut Indian Point reactors for an average of 42 days during summer instead of installing cooling towers to protect fish to qualify for the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Water Quality Certificate, which the plant needs to continue operating.

2012 - NRC ASLB holds hearings on 10 contentions from environmental groups and New York State opposed to the relicensing. With so many contentions, the NRC cannot say when the Commission will make a final decision on relicensing.

2011 - Andrew Cuomo becomes governor of New York. He opposes the continued operation of Indian Point.

2010 - NYDEC denies Indian Point Water Quality Certificate because it believes the plant violates the federal Clean Water Act and wants Entergy to install a closed loop cooling system like cooling towers. Entergy has argued before an administrative law judge and others at the NYDEC that cooling towers would cost up to $2 billion and could not be built before 2029. Instead, Entergy wants to install a $200 to $250 million Wedgewire screen system that would protect more fish because it could be installed in about three years.

2009 - Entergy files with NYDEC for a 20-year Water Quality Certificate that is required before the NRC can relicense the reactors.

2007 - Entergy files with NRC to renew both unit's 40-year operating licenses for an additional 20 years.

2003 - NYDEC determined Indian Point will have to do more to reduce the impact of the plant's cooling water intake system on aquatic organisms. Indian Point withdraws up to 2.5 billion gallons of water a day from the Hudson River. The state and environmental groups have said the cooling system kills over a billion fish, fish eggs and larvae each year. Entergy has been seeking the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System from the NYDEC ever since.

2001 - Entergy buys Indian Point Unit 2 from Consolidated Edison Inc for $502 million plus about $100 million for the fuel.

2000 - Entergy buys Indian Point Unit 3 and the FitzPatrick reactors from New York Power Authority (NYPA) for $967 million.

1992 - Indian Point owners file with NYDEC to renew the plant's State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

1976 - Unit 3 enters commercial service.

1974 - Unit 2 enters commercial service.

1974 - Con Edison shuts Unit 1.

1974 - To help Con Edison weather the financial crisis after the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, New York State ordered the state-owned NYPA to buy and complete a couple of power plants Con Edison was building at the time, including Unit 3 at Indian Point.

1962 - Con Edison gets operating license for the 275-MW Unit 1, a pressurized water reactor.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino)
HOMESTEAD, Fla.  Tony Stewart wanted to make sure he and his team had fun on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the final race of his 18-year Sprint Cup Series career.

It was a tough task after Stewart fell two laps down thanks to an ill-handling race car. But Stewart was committed to making sure his crew was having fun under a caution flag late in the race, asking for a show of hands from his crew of those still enjoying the race.

But the three-time champion, who finished 22nd, showed his fiery side too. He dropped a bunch of f-bombs as he was unhappy with a late-race restart order, perturbed why Landon Cassills car lined up ahead of him and a bunch of others.

Sunday was the full Stewart. Minus a top-10 finish.

I raced, Stewart said when asked if he thought about anything else while in the cockpit of a Sprint Cup Series car for the final time. I did what I do every time I get in the car. I didnt think of anything else other than just racing the race.  At the end the line-up there was, lets say confusing. I was still screaming about that just like I would on any other race. I was true to form all the way to the end.

Yes, he was. Though his wish of retiring (relatively) quietly went out the window before Sundays race. An extra pace lap was added before the race so that Stewart could be honored in front of the field.

Ive said all year I just want to be one of the guys racing, Stewart said. To be put out there its an honor, but its humbling at the same time.

Stewart said Friday that he wanted Sundays race to be about the people he spent his career with. While Jeff Gordons car was mobbed on the grid before his final race in 2015, the scene around Stewarts was more subdued. Stewart was greeted by former crew chiefs Darian Grubb and Steve Addington, posed for pictures with longtime crew chief and current Stewart-Haas Racing competition director Greg Zipadelli and his family, and interacted with countless others.

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And after he strapped into his car, he slowly drove down pit road and slapped hands with nearly every crew member from every other team. It was a moment reminiscent of when Dale Earnhardt was congratulated by rival crew members after capturing his first and only Daytona 500 in 1998. The similarity wasnt lost on Stewart, whose success (49 wins) and temperament made him the closest person the Cup Series had to Earnhardt following the seven-time champions death in 2001.

It made me think back to the moment when Dale Sr. won the Daytona 500, Stewart said. It was just an awesome moment.

But while Earnhardt got a Daytona 500 win, Stewart retires without one, having missed his last shot at a coveted win in 2016 because of a back injury suffered in January. He said Friday that the disappointment of not winning NASCARs biggest race exists, but he was looking on the bright side.

I would be lying if I said I wasnt disappointed that I didnt win a Daytona 500, a Southern 500 and most of all an Indy 500. But, I look at it and look at where I was when I was 15 years old, and 18 years old, I never even thought I would get a chance to race those races let alone in all three of them have opportunities to win the race.

Tony Stewart finished 22nd in his final Sprint Cup Series race. (Getty Images)

In a perfect world, yes, I would have loved to be able to cross those three off the list. But at the same time, I look at the big picture and it was pretty damn cool to just have the opportunity to go race those races.

      

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
The Bains brothers are likely to go with Aam Aadmi Party for contesting the Punjab Assembly polls.

By Ankit Tyagi: After hectic negotiations, Bains brothers have finalised a pre-poll alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab.

Following their meeting with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday evening, both independent MLAs, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains, sealed their deal. Their Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) will contest on five Assembly constituencies. Two out of these constituencies will be the sitting constituencies of the Bains brothers and the remaining three will be decided by them in consultation with AAP.

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ALSO READ | BJP banks on Sukhbir Badal's skills to beat odds in Punjab



The Bains brothers, after parting ways with former BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's Awaz-e-Punjab (AeP), formed LIP and have applied for an election symbol as well. LIP will fight under its own election symbol, with support from AAP.

The announcement of this merger will take place at in Chandigarh.

Sources close to the Bains brothers said they were tired of Sidhu's flip flops and his inclination towards Congress. Both brothers have indulged in anti-Congress politics and Sidhu's growing interest towards Congress and his inability to take a decision resulted in their decision to dissociate from Sidhu's front.

Ever since resigning as BJP's Rajya Sabha MP a few months back, Sidhu has been in search of his next political alternative, swinging between AAP and Congress. AeP was a front launched by Sidhu with Bains brothers and former Akali MLA Pargat Singh.

Sources said Sidhu and Pargat are close to sealing a deal with Congress.

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Prominent journalists and executives from the five largest US television news networks met with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday for an off-the-record conversation.

Here's who was spotted at Trump Tower ahead of the 1 p.m. ET meeting, according to Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Epstein:

ABC

George Stephanopoulos

Martha Raddatz

David Muir

CBS

Charlie Rose

John Dickerson

Norah O'Donnell

Gayle King

CNN

Jeff Zucker

Wolf Blitzer

Erin Burnett

Fox News

Bill Shine

Jack Abernethy

Jay Wallace

Suzanne Scott

NBC

Deborah Turness

Lester Holt

Phil Griffin

Chuck Todd

Kellyanne Conway, the senior adviser to Trump who formerly managed his campaign, said the meetings went well and added that Trump planned to meet with The New York Times on Tuesday.

"Excellent meetings with the top executives of the major networks," she told reporters during a gaggle in the lobby of Trump Tower. "Pretty unprecedented meeting we put together in two days."

The meeting occurred as members of the media increasingly scrutinize Trump for a lack of access for the press.

The real-estate mogul has not held a press conference since winning the election and has yet to accommodate a protective pool, which would allow a member of the media to be with him at all times.

Throughout his campaign, Trump routinely taunted the press, using reporters as a regular punching bag at rallies to fire up his supporters. He has often described the media as "dishonest" and called journalists "scum."

NOW WATCH: Animated map reveals who would win the election if only certain demographics voted





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Since he was tapped as the incoming White House national security adviser  a post that has historically carried with it the ear of the president and enormous power to influence military and diplomatic decision-making  retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn has emerged as an exemplar of the sea-change and controversies that may be approaching U.S. foreign policy.

Flynn has feted Russian propaganda efforts alongside President Vladimir Putin; offered initial support for the attempted July coup against Turkeys president  before changing his position after being hired as a lobbyist for an Ankara-linked outfit  and has described the United States and the West as participants in an apocalyptic clash with Islam, which he has called a cancer.

On the same day the Turkish military was launching its failed coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Flynn praised the putsch in a July 15 speech. The Turkish military, Flynn said, wanted to build a secular nation, in contrast to Erdogans Islamist tendencies. As the crowd began to applaud, Flynn chimed in: That is worth clapping for.

Flynn described Erdogan as actually very close to U.S. President Barack Obama, whose administration quickly sided with the sitting government against the putschists. By vaguely backing the Turkish generals behind the coup, and neglecting to offer support for Erdogans democratically-elected government, Flynn challenged a bulwark of the Obama administrations Middle East diplomacy, and left a NATO ally hanging.

But by a few months later, Flynn had changed his tune. In an Election Day op-ed, Flynn urged the United States to lend more support to Erdogans government and to surrender to its top demand: the extradition of its chief political rival, Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania.

Erdogan has blamed the coup attempt on Gulen and executed a wide-ranging purge against the exiled clerics supporters from Turkeys government and civil society. The Gulen movement is a designated terrorist organization inside Turkey. Yet it appears Ankara has failed so far to provide the U.S. government sufficient evidence documenting his role in orchestrating the coup.

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Writing in the Hill, Flynn called Gulen Turkeys Osama bin Laden  words that echoed what Turkish Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag told reporters in Washington last month after meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss the extradition.

Whatever Osama bin Laden means for the United States and the American people, Fethullah Gulen means the same for Turkey and the Turkish people, Bozdag said.

Two weeks later, Flynn argued the United States should no longer grant Gulen safe haven.

Despite vital U.S. interests in Turkey, the Obama administration is keeping Erdogans government at arms length  an unwise policy that threatens our long-standing alliance, Flynn wrote in the Nov. 8 op-ed.

The change of heart may be explained by Flynns business interests. In September, Dutch firm Inovo BV, which has apparent ties to the Erdogan government, hired Flynns consulting company, Flynn Intel Group. Flynn founded the Virginia-based lobbying and consulting firm after retiring from the Army in 2014.

The exact nature of Flynns work for on Inovo remains unclear, but the contract spurred Flynns firm to file a lobbying disclosure report with the U.S. government. Kamil Ekim Alptekin, Inovos Turkish owner, has denied the firm lobbied on its behalf and only provided it with analysis on world events.

Neither Inovo, any of my other companies, or my person are affiliated to the Turkish government in any form whatsoever, Alptekin told CNN last week. But the Turkish-American Business Council  of which Alpetkin is the chair  helped organize Erdogans trip to Washington in 2015, according to CNN.

The relationship between Inovo and Flynn was first was first reported by the Daily Caller. It comes at an inconvenient time for Flynn and President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to drain the swamp of Washington by excluding lobbyists from his administration.

Last week, Flynn promised to sever all ties to his own firm. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request from FP to describe how far along Flynn is in that process; however, the firms Web site has been taken down and scrubbed of all content. The URL for the site  flynnintelgroup.com  now displays only a generic military-style logo.

If this weekends events are any guide, Flynns shifting positions on Turkey wont be the final imbroglio over his foreign contacts. On Sunday, CNN reported that during a 2015 appearance in Moscow, Flynn questioned whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime was responsible for the use of chemical weapons against its own people in 2013.

Asked whether Turkish intelligence might have been responsible for the sarin attack on Ghouta, Flynn said he did not know. To have that level of knowledge or insight or detail of what an intelligence service is doing to do a false flag  who knows, Flynn said.

At the time of the attack, Flynn headed the Defense Intelligence Agency  and all but certainly would have had access to U.S. spy information concluding Assads forces carried it out. He has not explained why he would consider the possibility that Turkish intelligence agents were instead behind the attack that killed hundreds of Syrians.

Moreover, U.N. investigators, human rights organizations, and journalists have determined that the sarin gas rockets were fired from territory controlled by Syrian-government forces. While a compelling body of evidence points toward the Assad regimes responsibility, the Kremlin has repeatedly cast doubt on the claim as lacking bulletproof evidence.

So when CNN unearthed comments from Trumps incoming national security adviser parroting Kremlin propaganda, RT naturally unearthed the full clip and promoted it:

Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Top executives from the nations TV-news outlets are slated to meet Monday afternoon with President-elect Donald Trump Monday afternoon as questions loom over how much access his team will grant to journalists during his term as the leader of the United States.

The meeting will offer a chance for the the people who run of some of the most-watched independent news sources in America to open a dialogue with Trump and express interest in coverage, according to four people familiar with the meeting. Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, co-presidents of Fox News Channel attended, according to these people, along with Deborah Turness, president of NBC News; Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide; James Goldston, president of ABC News; and Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC. David Rhodes, president of CBS News, was unable to be present, these people said. It was not immediately clear when the meeting was organized, but some news executives are expected to be on vacation this week due to the coming Thanksgiving holiday.

The meeting was organized by officials with the Trump transition team, these people said. A separate meeting with top executives from print media is expected and could take place as soon as Tuesday, according to one of these people.

The news executives will meet with the President-elect as questions about access and coverage of him have surfaced. The U.S. President and President-elect both typically travel with a protective pool of reporters in tow, but in at least two instances in recent days, Trump has moved without a press entourage. He and his family went out for dinner without notifying a pool assigned to him, and he also traveled to Washington, D.C., without press alongside him. The executives may also ask questions about his recent tendency to critique media outlets via a popular account he uses frequently on Twitter.

Several prominent anchors and editors also attended the meeting: Erin Burnett and Wolf Blitzer from CNN; John Dickerson of CBS Face the Nation; Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah ODonnell from CBS This Morning; Chris Isham, Washington Bureau Chief of CBS News; George Stephanopoulos and Martha Raddatz from ABC News; and Lester Holt and Chuck Todd of NBC News. Jay Wallace executive vice president of news for Fox News; Brian Jones, executive vice president of Fox Business Network; and Suzanne Scott, executive vice president of programming for Fox News, were also in attendance.

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The meeting is believed to be off the record, so that the items being discussed will not be disseminated through official means. That will likely not keep certain details from surfacing.

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In The Loop, which arrives in physical form next month, celebrates a decade's worth of remixes from the influential DJ/producer/Fool's Gold label co-founder A-Trak. Reading an amusing, informative booklet that accompanies the release, you might be surprised to learn that A-Trak had a serious problem with punctuality: many of these dancefloor fillers were turned in weeks or even months after the due date.

"I handed things in late many, many times," A-Trak tells Billboard Dance. "There's that great Frank Ocean interview that came out in The New York Times: he said something like, when you're making music, when it's all said and done, no one remembers how long it took -- people remember the work. That's always how I've approached my work, sometimes to the dismay of my management."

Though remixes are often treated as secondary to original compositions -- even if a remix climbs the Billboard charts, for example, the original artist is usually credited, rather than the producer who realigned a song's elements to make it more popular -- A-Trak's In The Loop argues for their importance on several grounds. He credits remixes with teaching him how to produce original songs, and perhaps more importantly, with fostering a sense of community, which in turn aided the growth of his label, Fool's Gold. "They create an ecosystem," he writes of remixes. " They connect bands to DJs, producers among themselves, and all of them to new fans."

A-Trak spoke with Billboard Dance about his decade of remixes on the phone from L.A.; these are edited excerpts from the conversation.

How did you first get into remixes?

Remixes were like a way for me to try my hand at producing. In 2006 or 2007, the music scene was going through transition. Even going back to 2005 or 2006. The music scene was going through a transition. Genres were starting to mesh, and hip-hop, electronic music, everything was merging with indie bands. There were a lot of exciting new sounds, and I was discovering a lot of exciting new sounds in electronic music through blogs, where remixes were like a currency.

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What sort of blogs were you reading at the time?

There was a French blog, Fluo Kids, and a Swedish blog called Discobelle. We would get to know via email or MySpace messages the people who ran those blogs, and we would do tracks and send them to them, and they would premiere them. Even the remix process, in terms of the requests, it often didn't even go through the powers that be and management. A lot of times I would just get an email from someone like, I'm so and so from this band in the U.K., and I'd be like, oh shit, I know this band, and they'd ask me to do a remix and we would just set it up. That was exciting.

There's more of an infrastructure now. The remix process goes through management and labels a lot more. The whole scene didn't even have an infrastructure in those years. Everything was a lot more direct. But sometimes business was sloppy, contracts were overlooked. There's pros to how things are handled now, but I think it's just cool to remember how it was done when were laying the groundwork for how it is now.

You have a hip-hop background -- what did you like about the sound of electronic music?

It was about the energy of the tracks. Not as much the production rules changing -- about making tracks that had the energy that would make people go off a certain way at parties. There's a lot to that from sound engineering to track structure, how to create a breakdown. Hip-hop songs don't have much movement to them generally: structure-wise or dynamically, it's pretty linear. Hip-hop is just the culture of the loop. The best beats are just amazing loops, whether they're sampled or not. You hear that loop once and you can hear it forever. With electronic music, there's a lot more highs and lows, ups and downs, tension builds and releases, things like that.

Did your remix work help fuel the start of Fool's Gold?

2006 was a very crucial year for my music. By the end of that year, I was making my first remixes, a mixtape/remix project called Dirty South Dance. Those were unofficial remixes, I was just grabbing a capellas of rap records and sort of doing mash-ups with electronic beats. That felt sort of like a mission statement: I had ideas for ways to mesh hip-hop and electronic music that weren't cheesy. The Dirty South Dance tape almost felt like a manifesto. And then as 2006 turned to 2007, we started Fool's Gold. It all went hand in hand.

Very quickly as Fool's Gold came to be, my network of DJ connects and production work and remixes intertwined with Fool's Gold's and it became one big network. I might do a remix and have them play one of our parties - it was fluid between all this activities and those networks.

That mixture of hip-hip and dance music is pretty popular now.

Around those years also, a lot of the bigger hip-hop parties started finding out about the parties that my friends and I were DJing at. They would come and hear our homemade remixes and it presented a futuristic sound for hip-hop. A lot of producers then went and created their versions of it. When Fool's Gold released Kid Cudi's "Day N Night," the remix from Crookers, that was a huge remix -- an electronic remix that appealed to any kind of fans and listeners. Tracks like that laid the blueprint for a lot of the music that got made in the following years by Black Eyed Peas and LMFAO.

In terms of the music being made now, some parts of it went 180. Electronic music hit a bit of a ceiling in the last year or so. A lot of people in the scene are trying to figure out what the next sound will be. Everyone kind of realized that people were making songs that all sounded the same because everybody was trying to get on the charts. That feels like it's going through a transition. And right now hip-hop feels so full of inspiration and fresh. It sounds like it's from outer space. The tables turned a little bit.

I love straddling the two genres. Dabbling on one side, going on the hip-hop side and making tracks that are informed by my electronic production, then going into electronic music and making tracks that are a little bit off kilter. That's been my thing as long as I've made music, that plurality.

Do you still look for music on blogs?

I think music blogs are less where it's at. Even simply because blogs don't give music away anymore. In a sense, streaming music, the full arrival of streaming music to where it is now, I think had this side effect where it made all the music on the internet legitimate. There's barely anymore sites where you can just illegally download tracks. Everything is regulated; there's a legal alternative.

There's a lot that I love about streaming: I love that artists are making some money, and I love that there's a quality control, it's the right quality of files that are disseminating, whereas a lot of times on blogs it was like shitty rips, which sucked for the artist. But the downside is there's certain things that don't even exist on the legal services, which are being sort of wiped out. It's hard to find some of these secret stashes on blogs in this regulated climate.

Are you better with remix deadlines now?

I've definitely become more punctual with my deliveries in the last two years. They're less painstaking; I've learned a few lessons. In the early days -- even for the ones where I don't talk about how late they were -- I still spend a month on one. Now I can knock one out in like three days. Then I'll sit on it for a few days, tweak it the following week. Then I'll hand it in. There's a fine line where when you're delivering something to someone else, and you're being late, that can be disrespectful of their time. That's never been my intention.

Even though you're focusing more on your own original tracks, do you still find time to remix?

I still like to do them. It's like if you're looking at the monopoly board -- you've got more pieces. I wasn't even making original A-Trak songs in the early years of the stuff that you hear on the compilation. Now that's more my priority. But I don't know how my songs are gonna perform. I do my best and I throw them out there. By making a couple remixes a year too, it puts more chips out there. And I still just enjoy the exercise. It's like solving a puzzle.
Cheryl Boyce-Taylor's family has come a long way. Her family members are Trinidadian immigrants who came to the United States, working hard to provide for their loved ones. And now, her son Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor, a rapper from A Tribe Called Quest, has been immortalized with a street co-named in his honor.

"My family came to the U.S. in the '50s and '60s and they worked as housekeepers, maids and babysitters so for this to come about in my lifetime still is very surprising to me," Boyce-Taylor, a working poet and actor, tells Billboard Saturday morning (Nov. 19). "I feel very honored, but I'm not surprised that it's Malik. He's always been incredible. Even when he was a little boy, he was incredible."

Taylor, known as ATCQ's cocky, high-pitched MC, died in March from diabetes complications. The rapper/producer spoke about his condition in his music, famously referring to himself as the "funky diabetic" in the group's song "Oh My God."

During the Saturday afternoon ceremony, Linden Boulevard was co-named as Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor Way at the intersection of 192nd Street in the Saint Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Attendees included A Tribe Called Quest co-members Q-Tip and Jarobi White, extended Tribe family Busta Rhymes and Consequence, rapper Cormega, Hot 97 and ESPN radio personality Peter Rosenberg, city government officials and members of Taylor's family. Hundreds of excited fans crowded the corner, holding signs, wearing merchandise from Tribe's pop-up shop in New York City from the previous weekend, and rapping along to the group's lyrics.

The newly revealed street sign is across the corner from a mural that memorializes A Tribe Called Quest on the wall of Nu-Clear dry cleaners; the group shot their video for "Check the Rhime," the hit from their 1991 album The Low End Theory, on the roof of the building. Longtime fans know the block from Tribe's raps, too. "Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden, we used to kick routines and presence was fittin," Q-Tip rhymed on the track. "Linden Boulevard, represent represent," Phife proclaimed on "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)" from Tribe's 1993 third album Midnight Marauders.

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Desha Head Taylor, Phife Dawg's widow, said her husband brought her to the block when they first met in 1998, and would continue to do so every time they would visit New York City.

"When we first met, we flew into JFK, and there was always a route we had to take. We had to stop by Saint Albans park, and stop by 192 and Linden. He always brought me by grandma's house, no matter how many times we came to New York," she also told Billboard. "He absolutely loved this neighborhood, and this community, and the people he met here growing up."

Most of Saturday's playlist from booming speaker came from A Tribe Called Quest's politically charged final album We Got It From Here Thank You 4 Your Service, released last Friday, days after Donald Trump was named President-Elect. The street was also unveiled hours before Taylor's Nov. 20 birthday. He would have turned 46 years old.

Rosenberg said that he grew up idolizing A Tribe Called Quest. The Queens collective were performers at the first concert he ever attended, where he waited outside four hours to get a front row spot. He specifically related to Phife, and said Tribe's new album shows how important he and his group members were for rap and American culture.

"Someone said recently, as a kid who loved hip-hop, it would be tough to aspire to be Dr. Dre or Eazy E," Roserberg recalled. "But it was easy to relate to a guy who was short, talked a lot of trash, loved sports, loved girls, was funny. I could relate to that. That was Phife Dawg. That was A Tribe Called Quest."

After the street unveiling, Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip spoke to the crowd about Phife Dawg and what the occasion meant to them. Rhymes referred to the block of Linden Boulevard and 192nd as his "home away from home," and to the members of A Tribe Called Quest as his "big brothers" since he grew up an only child.

"I want to be forever clear to everyone listening: Busta Rhymes' life would not be the same if they didn't put me on that "Scenario' record,"" he said. "I don't know what it's like to not be appreciative or thankful. But I know what it's like to never feel, no matter how successful you become in life, as a person who could pay back the love, the blessing and the reward that was constantly bestowed upon me from my big brothers and the opportunity they gave me."

"I know Phife is throwing down New York Jets memorabilia from heaven," Tip then joked. His speech then took a more serious tone, as he noted other New York City streets named after people like legends Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and others.

"Whatever's going on at your moment in that life, when you look up and see those names, those names are there to cement the purpose in your life. You can aspire, and your names can join them," he added.

Head Taylor said she was contacted by New York City Council member Daneek Miller's office about the idea of a street renaming shortly after her husband's death. Fans of A Tribe Called Quest were already circulating a petition to have a street named after the group, and Head Taylor had submitted a request to have it named after the group instead. But Miller said the council wanted to stick with naming it after Taylor, since he grew up on that block. She said the process lasted three or four months.

Saint Albans was also home to other music legends from previous generations like Lena Horne, Count Basie, James Brown and Fitzgerald to more current rap legends like LL Cool J. There are paintings of many of them under the Long Island Railroad, according to Boyce-Taylor, who adds, "This has always been a place that honors their artists."
UPDATE 3:30 p.m. EST  A spokesman for Donald Trump has denied an Argentine media report that claimed the president-elect discussed business interests on a call with Argentina's president.

"Any reports alleging a discussion about personal business interests between President-elect Trump and President Macri are completely untrue," the Trump camp said in a statement. "The Argentine President and his office have also refuted these baseless claims."

Original story:

Business and politics were reportedly indistinguishable during a recent call from Argentina's president to President-elect Donald Trump. In a conversation aimed at congratulating Trump on his Election Day triumph, the United States' next president apparently used his newfound influence to attempt to push along the construction for a planned Trump property, according to a report Sunday from Argentine newspaper La Nacion.

Jorge Lanata, a respected journalist in Argentina, reported that when Argentine President Mauricio Macri called Trump to wish him well, the U.S.' president-elect countered by asking him to deal with a Buenos Aires construction project held up by a maze of red tape. The planned office building has been hampered by issues over financing, complications importing materials and a number of permit requirements, according to liberal-leaning website Talking Points Memo and Spain's El Pais newspaper.

Lanata reported the apparent details of this call in a television appearance. "Macri called him," Lanata said in Spanish. "This still hasnt emerged but Trump asked for them to authorize a building he's constructing in Buenos Aires, it wasn't just a geopolitical chat."

A spokesman for Macri told Public Radio International the reports were "absolutely untrue." The businessmen have long ties. Macri's father, Francisco, sold a New York development project to Trump in the 1980s, the New York Times repored.

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Such a move from Trump would certainly seem like leveraging his newfound, massive power into dollars for the Trump Organization, which is set to be left in the hands of his adult children Eric, Ivanka and Donald Jr.

It's far from the first such conflict of interest in Trump's short tenure as president-elect. Ivanka sat and observed when her father met behind closed doors with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. After Ivanka appeared alongside her father on the news program "60 Minutes," her jewelry line sent out a press release attempting to pitch a bracelet she wore on camera. Trump himself reportedly met with Indian business partners this week in New York City's Trump Tower. Foreign diplomats have even begun to book rooms at Trump's new Washington, D.C., hotel in an attempt to curry favor with the president-elect, the Washington Post reported.

Trump routinely criticized his opponent Hillary Clinton during the campaign for what he alleged were pay-to-play schemes  such as the former secretary of state giving paid speeches to investment banks. The president-elect's camp pushed back this week at allegations of any impropriety.

"Obviously we will comply with all of those laws and we will have our White House counsel review all of these things," said Reince Priebus, who Trump appointed to be his chief of staff, in a CNN interview Sunday. "We will have every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed, and I can assure the American people that there wouldn't be any wrongdoing or any sort of undue influence over any decision-making."

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Some say Donald Trump made too many campaign promises. I say he didnt go far enough. Immigration reform, repealing Obamacare, cutting taxes, repatriating offshore capital and negotiating better trade deals are a good start, but if he really wants to make America great again, hes going to have to pull out all the stops that are holding back the economy.

Since well soon have our first political outsider in the White House  a self-described man of the people who isnt beholden to anyone  heres a list of government reforms that no President has ever had the guts, the mandate or the political capital to tackle. Its long past time we free our economy from the tyranny of big government bureaucracy.

Institute Congressional term limits. We dont need career politicians creating more and more legislation. Instead of breeding lifelong bureaucrats, we need a healthy flow of leaders between the business community and Washington. Term limits are the only way to get Congress working for constituents instead of the next election cycle. Come to think of it, term limits for Supreme Court Justices isnt a bad idea either.

Reform tort law. We used to be a nation of laws, but weve become a nation of lawyers. Professionals, small businesses and corporations base far too many decisions on fear of being sued. Texas and other states have taken measures to limit frivolous lawsuits, but federal loser pays legislation like they have in the UK is a no-brainer thats long overdue.

Radically deregulate. Its time to make the free market free of onerous, oppressive, business-chilling regulations. Im not just talking about repealing Dodd Frank, Sarbanes Oxley and other knee-jerk laws. Im talking about stopping the runaway train that issues thousands of new rules and regulations that make it harder to do business every year. There should be strict criteria for new regulations and a housecleaning of existing ones.

Stop crony capitalism. The notion that regulators keep consumers safe from corporate greed and excess is nonsense. Corporate lobbyists and special interests buy power in Washington while small businesses, taxpayers and consumers get the shaft. Regulatory reform and term limits will help, but more can and should be done to ensure that regulators are not bought and paid for by lobbyists and special interests.

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Reform entitlement programs. This is long overdue, and not just because Social Security and Medicare are non-self-funding Ponzi schemes. The whole notion of retiring on Social Security and Medicare is ludicrous. Its simply not enough for those who really need it and a waste for those who dont. There must be a more effective and efficient way to provide a safety net for the poor and middle class.

Overhaul independent government agencies. I can think of several agencies  the FCC, FTC, EPA and the Fed, for starters  that, in my opinion, do more harm than good. Im not entirely sure which, if any, should simply be abolished, but some, especially the EPA, have gone way off the rails of their original charter and have a far more chilling effect on business creation and GDP growth than is necessary to perform their function.

Balance the federal budget. Of course there are times when the government has to spend more than it takes in, but those times should be exceptions, not the rule, and certainly not in perpetuity as its been for far too long. And heres an idea for tackling the $20 trillion federal deficit: An External Revenue Service to tax other nations for all the services we perform in keeping the world safe.

Restructure the executive branch. Instead of staffing executive departments with hordes of mindless bureaucrats focused more on growing their departments, their power, and their political clout than doing their jobs right, what if we make them meritocracies? Lets incentivize them to become more productive and efficient, do more with less and outsource some of their functions, as in the private sector.

Reform the welfare system. Our labor-force participation rate is at a multi-decade low. Instead of handing out money and food stamps, we need work training and placement programs that actually help people become productive members of society. Except in extreme cases, just about anyone can work from home and at least do part-time work for themselves, companies, the government or non-profits.

Revive our inner cities. If it can be done in New York, it can be done everywhere. I should know. The difference in Times Square, Central Park, Harlem and all over Brooklyn where I grew up is like night and day. Its hard to believe that this safe, thriving city was once full of violent slums and nearly bankrupt.

These initiatives may sound radical, and theyll all require acts of Congress, but if Trump lacks the leadership ability and the will to go to work for the working class, turbocharge the economy and turn around America, then what was the point of electing him in the first place?

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By Andrew Callus and Elizabeth Pineau PARIS (Reuters) - "The polls are still getting it wrong," a friend of deeply unpopular French President Francois Hollande said cheerfully on Monday after the latest voting upset to hit pollsters. Socialist Hollande is weighing whether to make an apparently suicidal run for a second term as president next year in the face of polls that show him unlikely to even reach double figures if he goes ahead as a candidate. The experience of former prime minister Francois Fillon over the past fortnight offers him food for thought, along with Britain's vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election - all adding to questions over the accuracy of such surveys. Fillon raced from behind in the polls and then smashed even the most optimistic projections on Sunday to take pole position for the conservative nomination for the presidential election next May, winning a first-round vote by a 15-percentage-point margin. "Fillon was on eight percent back in August and then 30 percent by Friday - then he gets 44 percent (in the actual vote)," Hollande's friend, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. "Elections are never won in advance, and nothing ever happens the way you expect." The next test of French voters' mood is on Nov. 27 - the second-round run-off for the conservative ticket between Fillon and another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe, who came second in Sunday's first round. The two-round plebiscite is the first time the Les Republicains party and its allies have chosen a candidate through a primary election, and the system is new to France, having been used only once before - by the Socialists in 2011. Anyone on the electoral roll can vote in the primary - and a first-round exit poll by Elabe for BFM TV estimated that 37 percent of those that voted at the weekend had no connection to the Les Republicains party that organized it. STOP SARKOZY FACTOR Fifteen percent identified themselves as from the left, and eight percent from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front. Another 14 were unsure of their affiliation. Many of these, therefore, while clearly seeking to influence the outcome, were not necessarily voting for a candidate they hope will win the presidency. A Harris poll further reinforced the idea that tactical voting was a big factor. Its post-first-round survey said 40 percent of those who voted for Fillon did it to keep the abrasive ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy from winning. Seventy percent of those who voted for Juppe were also trying to block Sarkozy. Anecdotal evidence also suggests Juppe's vote was bolstered by left-leaners who did not want the man who led France from 2007 to 2012 back in power. "I do not want to see Sarkozy in the second round of the presidentials, like a lot of people I think," left-leaning 51-year-old business developer Nathalie Filippini told Reuters after casting her vote for Juppe in Paris on Sunday. Sarkozy came in a distant third. BRUSH WITH THE LAW Sunday's turnout topped four million voters - a bigger showing than the 2.6 million who voted in the first round of the Socialist primaries in 2011. There are 44 million people eligible to vote in France, and the numbers and voting profiles of those who go to their polling stations next Sunday are uncharted territory. Sarkozy is not the only one likely to suffer from tactical or negative voting, according to Patrick Lafarge, a political analyst, who believes Fillon was the beneficiary of a backlash against both his closest rivals because of their brushes with the law. Sarkozy is under judicial investigation for funding irregularities in a past election campaign. He denies wrongdoing. Juppe, meanwhile, in 2004 lost his appeal against a conviction for misuse of public funds. "The French wanted to punish those who have legal issues," Lafarge said on France Info radio on Monday. "I think this was a big issue for Sarkozy and for Alain Juppe." A voting intentions poll by Opinionway published on Sunday night shows Fillon beating Juppe comfortably to the Les Republicains ticket, with 56 percent of the second-round vote. Bookmakers - who like the pollsters called Trump's victory and Britain's EU exit vote wrong - have Fillon as the favorite too. Juppe's London bookmaker odds of between 7-to-1 and 12-to-1 give him an implied chance of winning of just 9.1 percent on average, according to Betfair web site. That is similar to the probability a Reuters/Ipsos poll put on a Trump victory on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. (Additional reporting by Michel Rose in Paris and Guy Faulconbridge in London, editing by Peter Millership)
Washington (AFP) - President-elect Donald Trump is getting an earful -- and lots of advice -- from an actor who lampoons him as an ignorant boob on the comedy show "Saturday Night Live."

Trump repeatedly took aim at SNL -- and at Alec Baldwin's now-classic impersonation of him -- in the run-up to the election, and on Sunday he took to Twitter again to slam the show as "biased."

In the latest edition, Baldwin depicts Trump as bumbling and overwhelmed as he sets about naming a cabinet and fulfilling campaign promises like defeating the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.

"Google, what is ISIS?" Trump, with a wildly enhanced version of the real man's trademark, lip-pursing scowl, says as he pecks away at a laptop. "Oh my, 59 million results."

At another point, trying to keep his cool and build up his confidence, the real estate developer takes a deep breath and chants a mantra: "Big, beautiful boobs and buildings, big, beautiful boobs and buildings, big, beautiful boobs and buildings."

Trump was not amused.

"I watched parts of @nbcsnl Saturday Night Live last night. It is a totally one-sided, biased show -- nothing funny at all. Equal time for us?" he tweeted.

Baldwin responded by ripping into the president-elect with a blast of tweets of his own.

"Equal time? Election is over. There is no more equal time. Now u try 2 b Pres + ppl respond. That's pretty much it," Baldwin wrote.

In other tweets, Baldwin said that if he were president, among other things he would "improve the lives of AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE," and "make appointments that encouraged people, not generate fear and doubt."

This was an allusion to the controversial picks made so far by Trump, including Senator Jeff Sessions, the nominee for attorney general, who is accused of making racist statements in the past, and Steve Bannon, seen as an ideologue of the ultra-conservative alt-right movement, as chief White House strategist.

Addressing Trump, Baldwin concluded thusly: "I could go on. You want more advice, call me. I'll be at SNL."
Stockholm (AFP) - Former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden on Monday downplayed the importance of President-elect Donald Trump and again defended his decision to leak documents showing massive surveillance of US citizens' communications.

"Donald Trump is just the president. It's an important position. But it's one of many," Snowden told an internet conference in Stockholm, speaking via a video link from Russia, where he has been living as a fugitive.

The 33-year-old is wanted in the United States to face trial on charges brought under the tough Espionage Act after he leaked thousands of classified documents in 2013 revealing the vast US surveillance of private data put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

He said he was not worried about the Trump administration stepping up efforts to arrest him and stood by his decision to leak the classified material.

"I don't care," he said. "The reality here is that yes, Donald Trump has appointed a new director of the Central Intelligence Agency who uses me as a specific example to say that, look, dissidents should be put to death.

"But if I get hit by a bus, or a drone, or dropped off an airplane tomorrow, you know what? It doesn't actually matter that much to me, because I believe in the decisions that I've already made."

Snowden also urged his audience not to become discouraged by the result of the US presidential election and to continue to call for governments as well as businesses to respect people's private lives.

"Just as oil companies are starting to face criticism, protests and divestment of investors as a result of the impact of their industry on global climate, we should have the same understanding of the consequences of these companies' operations on our digital climate," he said.
The petition seeks the setting up of the SIT of senior officers of "impeccable integrity and independence" to take over from the CBI the investigation into the deaths of Bansal and his family.

By Ahmad Azeem: The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and the Central Buerau of Investigation (CBI) on a PIL seeking Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the suicide of senior bureaucrat BK Bansal last month.

The petition seeks the setting up of the SIT of senior officers of "impeccable integrity and independence" to take over from the CBI the investigation into the deaths of Bansal and his family.

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Bansal was a senior bureaucrat employed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and was facing graft charges for allegedly helping a pharmaceutical company.

Also read:

CBI responds to NHRC's notice over Bansal family's suicide, says probe ordered



Following his arrest by the CBI, Bansal's wife Satyabala and daughter Neha committed suicide by hanging themselves in their flat in East Delhi's Madhu Vihar area.

Nearly two months later, Bansal and his son also killed themselves at the same flat. In his suicide note, Bansal had alleged torture and harassment by the CBI.

Also read:

BK Bansal suicide case: Yogesh Bansal disclosed Rs 2.39 crore of black money to IT department

DCW pulls up Delhi Police, CBI for lack of progress in BK Bansal suicide case



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As a woman, Hillarys loss was a great disappointment. She came prepared but lost to an egomaniac. I believe Trumps win only reinforces toxic masculinity and meanness. You can be a straight shooter without being odious.

The day after the election, I did a vox pop [an interview with members of the public] in a cafe in Lagos. Most people were surprised and disappointed that Trump won, but they didnt think his presidency would affect Nigeria substantially. They had a lets-wait-and-see view.

Personally, I think Trumps presidency might be a boon for Africa. Say he decides to cut aid to the continent: That could be the beginning of the end of Nigerias perpetual debt cycle, and then perhaps true representation via taxation will finally take root. Nigerian leaders would be forced to listen to electorates instead of foreign donors.

Also, if he refuses to honour trade agreements, trade restrictions across the continent may loosen, and with free movement of goods and people comes the opportunity for African countries to grow their economies.
sea level louisiana

President-elect Donald Trump has said that he does not believe the planet is warming as a result of human activity  despite the research-backed consensus reached long ago by researchers across the globe.

He tweeted in 2012 that "the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive." More recently, Trump has pledged to roll back President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan  a set of rules that requires states to substantially reduce their emissions over the next few decades.

Right now, his transition website says, "America's environmental agenda will be guided by true specialists in conservation, not those with radical political agendas."

The implication seems to be that researchers who accept climate science will have no place in his Environmental Protection Agency, or perhaps his government.

So what will Trump's actual environmental policies look like? Here's what we know.

EBELL copy

Trump has picked a man named Myron Ebell to oversee the EPA transition.

Ebell is not a scientist and has no degrees or qualifications in climate science. But he serves as director of global warming and environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a libertarian advocacy group in Washington, DC.

In practice, that means he spends his time rejecting and trying to discredit scientists who work to understand the global climate.

Ebell believes climate scientists are part of a coordinated 'global warming movement'

In an interview with Business Insider in August, Ebell repeatedly referred to climate scientists as "global warming alarmists" and suggested that climate research is in fact an arm of a coordinated political movement.

"I think that the global warming movement has three parts," he said. "One is to exaggerate the rate of warming, one is to exaggerate the potential impacts of warming and how soon they may occur, and the third is to underestimate wildly the costs of reducing our emissions by the magical amount that they have picked."

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Business Insider spoke with several climate scientists who described Ebell as a kind of gadfly  someone's whose views they must occasionally stoop to address in forums and debates where he's brought in to represent a discredited anti-climate-change perspective, but not a particularly serious person.

"He doesn't really know anything about science," said Gavin Schmidt, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and a top Earth scientist at NASA who has faced off with Ebell in the past. "He uses science like a talisman."

Ebell's technique, Schmidt said, is to point toward "some little fact" and use it to extrapolate some larger irrelevant and scientifically incorrect point.

Even if Ebell's scientific claims may not sit well with actual scientists, there are those who have found his perspective valuable.

CEI used to rely significantly on funding from ExxonMobil. As The Washington Post reports, it now receives funding from Donors Trust.

You know, [Trump] said he was going to drain the swamp in Washington, and instead he's put Myron Ebell  a swamp rat, a DC insider lobbyist  in charge of the transition at the EPA.

"The Virginia-based organization," Post reporter Brady Dennis wrote of Donors Trust, "which is not required by law to disclose its contributors, is staffed largely by people who have worked for Koch Industries or nonprofit groups supported by the conservative Koch brothers."

Good news for deniers, terrible news for environmentalists

Speaking with Business Insider in August before his selection, Ebell outlined his views on the appropriate direction for the EPA.

"When economies get richer, they not only make people wealthier, they generally provide immense environmental benefits," he said. "And so if you actually believe, if someone actually believes that global warming is a crisis that must be addressed ... I think it would be much better to free up the economy and get rid of the EPA rules and a lot of the Department of Energy programs and let the economy boom forward."

Ebell's fellow professional climate science skeptics seem cheered by his selection.

"Ebell is an old friend of mine who works on climate and energy issues at the Competitive Enterprise Institute," wrote Breitbart's James Delingpole, who regularly publishes posts trying to discredit climate science, in a November 9 article declaring that "the left just lost the war on climate change."

"The fact that he's an old friend of mine probably tells you all you need to know about where he stands on global warming," Delingpole wrote.

He concluded: "Yup, greenies. That climate change gravy train you've been riding these last four decades looks like it's headed for a major, Atlas-Shrugged-style tunnel incident."

Dan Lashof, COO of the environmental group NextGen Climate America, was as concerned as Delingpole was thrilled.

"Myron Ebell is a libertarian ideologue," he told Business Insider. "Having him lead the transition team at the EPA is literally putting a tobacco lobbyist in charge of America's lung protection agency. It's not normal."

Lashof said he expects a Trump administration with a Ebell-staffed EPA to work hard to roll back environmental regulations  just as the president-elect's website promises.

Myron Ebell protest

"You know, [Trump] said he was going to drain the swamp in Washington, and instead he's put Myron Ebell  a swamp rat, a DC insider lobbyist  in charge of the transition at the EPA," Lashof said.

Death to 'politically correct technologies'

You won't hear any disagreement from the right that Ebell will push for killing environmental regulations to benefit fossil fuel businesses.

Patrick Michaels, who works for the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington, DC  and, like Ebell, has made a reputation for rejecting the consensus on climate science  told Business Insider that Ebell's selection represents a victory for the idea that removing air pollution rules would in fact lead to cleaner air.

"Rich societies are cleaner," he said. "If you want efficient technologies to come online, the best way to do that is to have a vibrant economy, because that capital will be directed toward producing things with less energy and producing things that use less energy to appeal to consumers."

This position is intolerable to Lashof.

"This is putting somebody who just denies basic scientific facts in charge of a federal agency," Lashof said. "We will lead a resistance against the federal government. We will work with state governments to push back and keep progress going based on state policy."

He said he's confident there will be economic limits on Ebell's and Trump's ability to fight clean energy.

Solar and wind power "are actually cheaper than continuing to run existing coal in a lot of locations," Lashof said. "That depends to some extent on a federal tax credit, which early indications suggest that Congress and the Trump administration are not likely to try to roll back."

Both Ebell and Michaels scoff at the idea that either solar or wind power will play a significant role in the energy future of the country. (Michaels calls them "politically correct technologies.")

"I think in particular I would say the emphasis that the global warming movement or alarmist community or whatever you want to call them on renewables, namely solar and wind, is really short-sighted," Ebell said. "I think that those two technologies, particularly wind, are dead ends."

It's worth noting though that Ebell may have tweaked his public position on this issue in the last couple of months. He told National Geographic after the election that "we love wind and solar." But he clarified that he doesn't think the government should get involved in supporting either.

Ebell argued that any reduction in US emissions in the Obama era is the result of a "stagnant economy," not policies designed to push renewable energies.

"We would like to get rid of all of this stuff," he said. "And we think that the use of energy will become more efficient just through the innovations that will occur in free markets when people are allowed to invest their money in things that can make money."

How does climate denial even work?

Asked to explain why someone would reject the scientific consensus that humans are dangerously warming the planet, Michaels simply denied that any such consensus exists.

For evidence that climate change has been largely falsified, he pointed to an October 28 article by the reporter Paul Voosen in the journal Science.

The argument he drew from the Voosen article is a good example of the approach professional climate deniers like himself and Ebell use to undermine science, so it's worth taking a minute to think about.

"Take a look at the Voosen piece and read between the lines," Michaels said.

Michaels argued that it shows the many models researchers use to understand the climate have been rigged with "fudge factors" to produce incorrect results, and that "scientists are deciding a priori what the answer is."

Here's what Voosen actually reported:

"For years, climate scientists had been mum in public about their 'secret sauce'; What happened in the models stayed in the models. The taboo reflected fears that climate contrarians would use the practice of tuning [models to real world results] to seed doubt about models  and, by extension, the reality of human driven warming. 'The community became defensive,' [scientist Bjorn] Stevens says. 'It was afraid of talking about things that they thought could be unfairly used against them.' ...

"But modelers have come to realize that disclosure could reveal that some tunings [of models] are more deft or realistic than others. It's also vital for scientists who use the models in specific ways."

Voosen's article does not state or suggest any evidence of rigging to falsify warming. Rather, he reports that there has been an effort to bring models in line with observed reality, and that a transparency movement is enabling scientists to more rigorously audit each others' models for quality.

But Michaels finds a nearly opposite interpretation.

With Ebell on the rise, the question than becomes: Are these sorts of denials valid?

"It's complete bollocks. You can quote me on that. It's just rubbish," Schmidt said of Michaels' argument.

"So it's basically a shoot the messenger strategy that they've been pursuing for decades, but most actually scientists have been ignoring them for about the same amount of time."

Schmidt said there is "enormous consensus" among scientists about three points: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will warm the planet, human activity is increasing their presence in the atmosphere, and that activity is responsible for almost all or all of the warming the planet has seen since the 19th century. This is true.

Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, said there's no longer a serious question to ask about the validity of climate change.

"We understand the physics of what's happening pretty well now," he said. "If you load the atmosphere with a greenhouse gas, it will induce a warming. It's all based on an understanding of how electromagnetic radiation and matter interact. It's a very mature science. If you are going to deny that somehow, you'd have to deny that your microwave oven works."

He added that he invites people to come to the NSIDC to download snow and ice data and do their own analysis if they want, though deniers rarely take him up on it.

"People like Michaels and Ebell have been saying that climate modeling isn't science for decades," Schmidt said. "And what they really mean is, 'We don't like the outputs from those climate models, and so therefore instead of trying to demonstrate why they're wrong, we're just going to try to dismiss them out of hand.'

"So it's basically a shoot-the-messenger strategy that they've been pursuing for decades, but most actual scientists have been ignoring them for about the same amount of time."

'Nothing he does affects the science'

Schmidt works for NASA, and Serreze works for the NSIDC. That means they rely on federal funds for their research. Trump has made it clear that scientists who accept the consensus position that human activity is causing climate change will not be welcome in his government, or at least his EPA. And his selection of Ebell only reinforces that point. But neither researcher said he expects to lose his ability to pursue science.

"I'd be lying if I said that there wasn't some level of concern," Schmidt said. "But the federal government is a very, very large place. And the number of appointees is very small."

"During the [George W.] Bush administration, we had climate skeptics rewriting reports and trying to control what's said to the media," he added. "But the planet kept warning. We kept reporting on it. We kept improving the science that underlies our understanding of why it's changing. And we will work to continue to do so."

Serreze said: "I think we remain optimistic that wise heads are going to prevail here. There were concerns in the previous Republican administration under George W. Bush. We got through that. I'm confident we'll get through this."

As for Ebell's newfound power to push his views onto scientists, Schmidt said he's not overly concerned  in part because the EPA has never done much research on its own, but also because Ebell lacks the wherewithal to do so.

"He's not a serious person when it comes to the science," Schmidt said. "Nothing he does affects the science."

NOW WATCH: Scientists may have discovered what caused these mysterious giant holes in Siberia





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Try to buy signature men's wear from Donald Trump's corporate website, and you'll be directed to Amazon.com, where a navy blue necktie will cost you $29.99 and a cashmere blue coat runs close to $110.

It's the same Amazon that Trump harshly criticized during his campaign, saying it operated a monopoly with an unfair tax shelter that's somehow propped up by CEO Jeff Bezos's ownership of The Washington Post.

"Believe me, if I become president, oh do they have problems," Trump said at a rally in February. "They're going to have such problems."



Much of his anger was directed at the Post, which assigned at least 20 reporters to investigate his life during the campaign and published particularly damaging stories about his philanthropy, or lack thereof.

But what kind of problems could a Trump presidency actually inflict on Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), the site that's the default marketplace for his branded men's dresswear.







Nothing in the president-elect's proposed tax policy would hurt Amazon. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

The business tax rate would be reduced to 15 percent from 35 percent today, which would likely bolster Amazon's net income now that the company actually makes money. As for sales tax, Amazon collects it on items shipped to the 29 states and the District of Columbia where it's required.

Meanwhile, any connection that Trump tries to make between Amazon's business and the Post's influence ranges from conjecture to nonsense, like when the president-elect suggested that Bezos uses the newspaper's losses as a way to lower taxes paid by Amazon.



Bezos bought the newspaper in 2013, more than 16 years after Amazon's IPO. The e-retailer has operated at either a loss or at near breakeven from the beginning.

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Amazon shares

"We see this as a defensive, reactionary tactic, where Trump used a mirage of attack points to attempt to implicate Jeff Bezos and, by extension, the credibility of The Washington Post investigation," Gene Munster , an analyst at Piper Jaffray, wrote in last week. "We do not believe that the mechanics are in place for Trump to impact Amazon."



Munster, who recommends buying Amazon shares, doesn't see any potential antitrust violations because the company controls only about 5 percent of U.S. retail sales.

Still, Amazon shares sank for four straight days after the election, before recouping much of their losses. The stock is down 3.5 percent since Election Day, closing at $760.16 on Friday.

There are broader issues of potential concern to Amazon and its investors.

For one, Trump's proposals on immigration and foreign worker admissions could turn away H-1B visa candidates, who depend on employment to stay in the country, or even make the U.S. a less-desirable place to work given the political setting. Amazon, like all big tech companies, hires engineers and developers from around the world.

And, of course, there's the macroeconomic environment.



About 70 percent of Amazon's $107 billion in 2015 revenue was tied to commerce. Trump's views on trade and his threat to place a 45 percent tariff on goods from China may be entirely unrealistic, but any added barriers could harm Amazon. An increasing number of products on the marketplace are sold by foreign companies, and the relative free flow of goods enables Amazon to keep down prices.



But while retail accounts for the vast majority of revenue, all of the profit is coming from Amazon Web Services, the company's cloud-computing division. In the third quarter, AWS generated operating income of $861 million, while income for all of Amazon was $575 million.

With retail and computing, Amazon is building its market share and lowering costs for businesses and consumers. Longtime tech investor Roger McNamee said that even in a down economy, Amazon will flourish because it can grab business from competitors with less scale.

"I view Amazon as a democratizing force in the economy, both in retail and in software," said McNamee, adding that Amazon is the only stock he's bought since the election. "In any scenario, and especially one where the economy is shrinking, Amazon will be one of the last companies standing."



None of that's to say that Amazon won't have some problems with a potentially acrimonious administration. Munster said an investigation, should Trump launch one, would have the potential to "swing U.S. opinion."

Bezos wasn't shy about his anti-Trump views during the election, at one point tweeting that he'd save a seat for him on his Blue Origin spacecraft and later criticizing his attempts to intimidate the press.

Elsewhere within Amazon, executives were getting across a message that became quite familiar in the election's aftermath. Don Katz, CEO of Amazon's Audible audiobook division, wrote a memo to employees to try to boost their spirits.

Katz touted Audible's decision in 2007 to move the company to Newark, New Jersey, and help the city rebound by investing in education and job growth. While the overall tone was uplifting, Katz was clearly addressing the elephant in the room. Here was his message to anyone who felt at risk following the results:

"As a company we will not tolerate a sensibility internally that diminishes anyone who works here because of who he or she is  from where someone comes from to who someone chooses to love  and we will also stand behind any employee whose civil rights or dignity is challenged from outside Audible any way we can."





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The gang's all here.

The election of Donald J. Trump as the next US president is widely expected to propel China, and Chinese president Xi Jinping, into a new role. Trumps talk of increasing trade barriers, disdain for global organizations and agreements, and a focus on a domestic agenda could create a more isolationist US, leaving China to fill the gap.

Already, Xi appears to be embracing the change. Since the US presidential election, Xi has held a flurry of meetings with global leaders, including some historically ignored by Chinas top official in the USs own backyard. China has also swiftly become the new, and surprising, voice on climate change. And with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, designed to counter Chinas influence on Asia trade, all but abandoned, Beijing is already trumpeting the end of the US pivot to Asia.

China has even taken in Myanmarese fleeing violence in the north of the country, and offered humanitarian aid.

Heres a quick rundown of Xis schedule over the past five days:

Nov. 16: Stopped by Sardinia to meet with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, before heading over to Latin America.

Nov. 17: Met with Ecuador president Rafael Correa in Quito (link in Chinese). It was the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Ecuador in 36 years, according to state newswire Xinhua. On the following day, the two leaders celebrated the completion of China-aided disaster-relief projects begun after the nations April earthquake. He is set to visit Chile this week, the first such visit in 12 years.

Chinese premier Li Keqiang has done these visits in the past. In 2015 he visited Latin America for a slew of deals including a $50 billion investment in Brazils infrastructure. This week is Xis golden opportunity to venture into Trumps backyard, the Economist noted.

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Nov. 19: Met with Barack Obama, Russias Vladimir Putin, Vietnams Tran Dai Quang, Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, and Juan Manuel Santos of Colombiaa line-up celebrated by the state-owned Peoples Daily on the front page:

Xi Jinping met with heads of state ahead of the Apec meeting in Lima, Peru, via People's Daily

A busy day for Xi.

During his talk with Obama, Xi re-emphasized that cooperation is the only correct choice of the two sides, the same thing he told Trump during a congratulatory phone call.

Nov. 20: Delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the APEC forum, emphasizing his Belt and Road Initiative, a key policy connecting trading partners along the ancient Silk Road. He also discussed creating the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), a long-term goal of the APEC members initiated in 2006. Beijing is backing a TPP alternative known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which notably excludes the US.

Met with Japanese minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the APEC meeting, at Tokyos request, according to a spokesperson (link in Chinese).

Invited Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying to his hotel for a 45-minute talk, during which he fully endorsed the city governments handling of the recent oath-taking crisis. Xi said very forcefully that theres no room for Hong Kongs independence, Leung told Hong Kong media.

Trump, in contrast, doesnt take office until the end of January, and traditionally, the weeks after a president is elected are tied up in announcing top advisors and the rest of the team that will work in the White House. Trump also met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (the inclusion of his daughter, a manager of his business interests, raised concerns about conflicts of interest). Some of the US president-elects time has been spent in tweeting complaints, including about the one-sided, biased show Saturday Night Live and the cast of the Broadway show Hamilton, and explaining his decision to pay $25 million to Trump University students to settle a fraud suit.

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The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States showed the "massive return" of the people, the leader of France's right-wing National Front party, Marine LePen, told CNBC on Monday.

She claimed to be "very happy" about Trump's election, calling Americans' choice "courageous and advantageous".

"I think that the United States will regain its image which had become very damaged, especially by the administration for which Hillary Clinton worked. The United States cannot have the image of warmongers, with all the potential consequences it could have for our respective countries," Le Pen warned.

"So, that the United States has once again regained an image as an organization of peace is beneficial for us all," she surmised.



Le Pen said there are similarities between Trump's platform and that of her own party as the National Front hopes for France's independence and its return to power. Furthermore, both Trump's and her own party's platform commonly share a refusal to stomach mass immigration, to support factors which drive the growth of the so-called Islamic State and to allow free trade and regulations which would "ravage" France and the European Union (EU).

The National Front leader made clear that she sees now as the time for opportunity, saying a series of recent political developments  from the U.K.'s EU referendum, to the rise of the far-right in Austria and Trump's win  demonstrate that power is slipping from the hands of those whom she describes as "the elites."

"I think that the elites have lived too long among themselves. We are in a world where globalization, which is an ideology, has forgotten, and put aside the people, the people's interests, aspirations, and dreams," Le Pen ventured.

"They have acted like carnivores, who used the world to enrich only themselves, and whether it's the election of Donald Trump, or Brexit, the elites have realized that the people have stopped listening to them, that the people want to determine their futures and in a perfectly democratic framework, regain control of their destiny," she continued.

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"And that panics them, because they are losing the power that they had given themselves."

Asked whether this dynamic augured well for her own presidential ambitions, Le Pen said within a certain framework it could do.

"So yes, in these conditions, if the French people too wish to regain their independence, wish to regain control of their country, and wish to reinforce the elements of security, the borders, the rule of law, economic patriotism, then I will be elected president," she predicted.

Turning specifically to the EU, Le Pen confirmed that if elected she would call a referendum to give French citizens the choice of withdrawing France from the monetary union (the euro (Exchange: EUR=)) and even of leaving the 28-country bloc outright.

Le Pen spoke to the pernicious effect of having France's monetary system controlled by the EU, saying that the institution uses the euro like a weapon held to the country's chest, forcing it to move in certain ways. The National Front leader said that nothing is more important than France regaining control of its currency.

Le Pen also claimed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel , who confirmed on Sunday she would run for a fourth term in 2017, did not fit the mood of the times. She warned her days are numbered given the pace of change currently underway in Europe.

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No one has to convince Tuere Brown that climate change is real. Like many of her neighbors, Brown has grown accustomed to the tide-induced flooding that can disrupt daily life in Virginias Hampton Roads region, where a sinking shoreline meets a sea level now 15 inches higher than it was 80 years ago  thanks to melting Arctic glaciers and changes in ocean currents.

Over the past year, the Chesapeake, Virginia, teacher has been caught four times in what climate scientists here classify as minor flooding, the kind that forces people indoors, washes over cars and submerges roads. In neighboring Norfolk, the most vulnerable city to sea-level rise on the East Coast, people say the water seems to spring up from underground, gushing out of manholes, floorboards and yards.

The flooding is definitely changing and getting more drastic, said Brown, who in the wake of Hurricane Matthew last month found swamp water lapping at the front door of her in-laws house across town. For two days, the family watched residents of the citys Deep Creek neighborhood paddle canoes in the streets. When Browns father-in-law fell ill, paramedics shuttled him to an ambulance by boat.

People cant live like this, she said.

In Virginia, a battleground state won by Hillary Clinton, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe was elected as a clean-energy candidate willing to fight climate change while conservative Republican lawmakers still refuse to utter the phrase. Political gridlock left Brown and others in Hampton Roads pinning their hopes for action on the Clean Power Plan, President Obamas signature climate policy.

The regulation, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year, sets first-ever standards for curbing carbon emissions from power plants, the nations largest source of greenhouse gases. It requires that carbon pollution be pared by nearly a third  compared to 2005 levels  by 2030. The plan is Americas primary vehicle for meeting a commitment to slash emissions under the Paris climate accord.

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Even before Donald Trumps upset presidential victory, the plan faced an uncertain fate. Twenty-seven states, along with coal companies, utilities and trade associations, sued the EPA in federal court to block it, and in February the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a stay, halting the plans implementation.

Trumps arrival in the White House stands to deliver a fatal blow. The president-elect has promised to rescind all the job-destroying Obama executive actions, including the Climate Action Plan, Obamas national blueprint for cutting carbon pollution. On the campaign stump, Trump repeatedly described global warming as a hoax. He named a climate-change denier, Myron Ebell of the libertarian Competitive Enterprise Institute, to head his EPA transition team.

This story is part of Carbon Wars. The fossil-fuel industry is under attack as the world warms and pollution impairs and shortens lives. But industry is fighting back. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Don't miss another Environment investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

If the federal plan disintegrates, utilities, now shuttering coal plants and building solar farms to try to meet its carbon limits, must decide whether to stay the course. An analysis of government energy data compiled by the Sierra Club shows the nations power plants will likely emit 27 percent less carbon this year than in 2005, Politico reported. Thats most of the way to the Clean Power Plans goal of a 32-percent carbon cut by 2030

Environmental advocates question just how quickly a Trump administration can deliver on its campaign promises; a legally binding regulation, they note, is not easy to repeal. It isnt an executive order, so Trump cannot say, Ill just revoke this, said Jackson Morris, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of a dozen environmental law firms intervening to defend the rule against legal challenges.

A court decision upholding the Clean Power Plan or remanding it back to the EPA in various iterations could come as early as December. A Trump administration could then water down or rescind the rule. Theres no way to know what that response could be, Morris said, but it aint going to be fast.

For now, experts say, only one thing seems certain: Without federal guidelines as a road map, the burden to act on climate change will fall even more heavily on states.

If we lose the Clean Power Plan, then we lose the floor that keeps states and utilities from backsliding, said Karl Rabago, executive director of the Energy and Climate Center at Pace University in New York. It will be possible for states to choose to become pollution havens.

William Becker, director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, a trade group representing state air regulators, predicted that utilities would have to navigate a patchwork quilt of state greenhouse-gas programs  a fate worse than the federal guidelines.

Already, there is a wide disparity among the states. Some, like California, Massachusetts and New York, passed laws to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and push utilities toward solar, wind and other renewable-energy sources even before the EPA rule came out. Theres no reason to believe theyll change course.

In Virginia, the picture is murkier. In August, after state lawmakers banned the Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, from implementing the Clean Power Plan, Gov. McAuliffe offered a workaround: He convened a cabinet-level commission to examine what he could do under state law to cut carbon emissions from Virginias power sector. The group is holding listening sessions and in May of next year will make recommendations.

Molly Ward, McAuliffes natural resources secretary, who chairs the commission, said the group will focus on measures the governor could undertake without legislative approval and before his term expires in January 2018.

The governor states over and over again that climate change is real, and the time is now to act, she said.

The states dominant utility, Dominion Virginia Power, prefers an approach that would allow it to build natural gas plants and, in one scenario, a nuclear unit.

In a 2016 planning document filed with the state, the company acknowledges that future regulation will require it to address carbon and carbon emissions in some form beyond what is required today. Yet Dominion is forecasting a significant boost in carbon emissions from its own facilities, data submitted by the company to the state show. Its preferred plan would yield 49 million tons of carbon emissions in 2041  80 percent more than it put out in 2012. Because the Clean Power Plan applies only to existing facilities, Dominion could boost carbon pollution without being out of compliance.

In an interview with the Center for Public Integrity, Dominion officials defended the companys preferred approach and confirmed its carbon projections. But they said the company would still meet the Clean Power Plan's requirements if the projections proved to be true.

The goal is to be in compliance with the rule, and the goal of the rule was to reduce emissions from existing sources, said one Dominion official who asked not to be quoted by name, noting that carbon emissions from new gas plants are covered under a separate regulation.

A Dominion spokesperson declined to comment on what a Trump administration might mean for the utilitys plans.

Given Dominions stated intentions, environmental groups are pushing Virginia to cap the total amount of carbon emitted by all power plants. The state has yet to make any decisions, said Michael Dowd, chief of the DEQs air division, though his department and the governors office want to do whats right.

Tuere Brown, meanwhile, waits for the next flood. Until the 1980s, scientists estimate, Hampton Roads averaged about 20 hours of minor flooding a year. Now its 200  and counting. High tides block major roads to Old Dominion University, Naval Station Norfolk and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The puniest of rain storms can isolate neighborhoods. Already, Brown has lost a car engine to flood waters and had to carry schoolchildren, knee-deep in water, to higher ground.

She wonders what else might happen as the sea creeps inland.

This story is part of Carbon Wars. The fossil-fuel industry is under attack as the world warms and pollution impairs and shortens lives. But industry is fighting back. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Related stories

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump's shortlist of candidates to lead the U.S. Department of Interior has employees and environmental advocates fearful of a shift in the agency's direction, from one focused on preserving public lands to one that would open them up to more drilling and mining. The outcome will have implications for industry access to millions of acres of national parks, reserves and tribal territories stretching from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico and the viability of President Barack Obama's efforts to keep the United States in line with international agreements to reduce the impacts of climate change. Republican Trump, a New York real estate businessman who has never previously held public office, has leaned toward right-wing loyalists for the Cabinet since winning the Nov. 8 election. He is considering oil drilling advocates like Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Alaska's former governor Sarah Palin and Lucas Oil co-founder Forrest Lucas to run the Interior Department, media reports and Reuters sources said. Other contenders are several politicians from Western states who favor easier development of public lands. Any of those picks could trigger battles with environmental groups and cause internal strife at an agency where many workers see themselves as land stewards after nearly eight years of conservation-minded policies under Democrat Obama. "Public lands have been set aside to 'preserve and protect' cultural and scientific resources for future generations," said Geoff Goins, a National Park Service ranger at the Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, adding that with Trump coming in, "people are concerned about their jobs." Other Interior Department employees interviewed by Reuters said they were worried the agency's environmental mandate would be weakened under Trump, and green advocates said they were bracing to resist those changes. "Climate change is a major focus of conservation concern for national parks," said one National Park Service employee in the Northwest who asked not to be identified. "If (Trump's administration) gets in the way of scientists...we are all in deep trouble." During the election campaign, Trump tweeted that "the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive" - a view that is at odds with most but a few scientists who study the impacts of rising global temperatures and extreme weather. Maureen Finnerty, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, an organization of more than 1,200 current and former National Parks employees, said it was ready to launch a public relations campaign against Trump if he pursues an anti-environmental agenda. "We will be vigilant and hope for the best," she said. The Interior Department employs more than 70,000 people across the United States and oversees over 20 percent of federal land. 'KEEP THE LANDS GREAT' Under Obama, the Interior Department played a big role in efforts to curb the effects of climate change by limiting fossil fuel development in some areas. Outgoing Interior Secretary Sally Jewell banned coal mining on public lands, canceled leases for drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic coasts, expanded wildlife protection and cracked down on industry methane emissions. The Obama administration planned on using forest restoration on federal lands as a way to help the United States meet its long-term goals under the 2015 Paris agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement outlines how countries will deal with lowering greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2020. Trump has given mixed messages on his plans for Interior. In an interview with Field and Stream magazine in January, Trump said: "I want to keep the lands great... We have to be great stewards of this land." But he has advocated strongly for boosting energy development on federal lands and has criticized Obama's use of environmental regulation to check oil and gas development. He picked renowned climate change skeptic Myron Ebell to run his transition at the Environmental Protection Agency. U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Trump could consider hiring as his energy secretary Harold Hamm, an oil and gas driller and a pioneer of developing shale oil resources. One potential Interior Department head is Oklahoma Governor Fallin, who met with Trump on Monday. She has been an ardent supporter of Oklahoma's drilling industry and has blocked attempts to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a controversial drilling technology. Fallin's spokesman confirmed she is being considered for the post, but said there has been "no offer given." Also on the shortlist is Palin, who made famous the motto "Drill, Baby, Drill" when she was the vice presidential running-mate to Republican John McCain in 2008, and former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Trump supporter without experience in public lands policy. Governor Butch Otter of Idaho, venture capitalist Robert Grady and U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis and Rob Bishop of Wyoming and Utah are also potential candidates for the job. All declined comment. (Refiles to correct typographical error National Park Service instead of National Parks Service.) (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Richard Valdmanis and Grant McCool)
Telecom and pay-TV behemoth AT&T Inc. T announced the launch of its over the top (OTT) service DirecTV Now on Nov 28. This will mark the companys foray into the OTT space which has incumbents like Dish Network Corp. DISH and Sony offering services such as Sling TV and Playstation Vue, respectively. The customers of DIRECTV will be able to access the service on their mobile devices through a DIRECTV app. The Internet-based service will be launched in more than 100 channels at a price of $35 a month. Moreover, the service will be compatible with all the streaming devices in the market.

Focus on Rich Media Content

AT&T has been gearing up for the launch through the signing of agreements with content providers. The company also reached a merger agreement with Time Warner Inc. TWX that is expected to its boost media content. Thus, by strengthening its video content, AT&T can generate digital advertising revenues through its video streaming apps. Additionally, AT&T has been working on a new mobile Internet portal to support the DirecTV Nows range of new services like video and media streaming.

Whats in it for AT&T?

The online streaming service is gaining momentum which is evident from the growing success of companies like Netflix Inc. NFLX, which is a leading player in this space. This has resulted in massive subscriber losses for pay-TV operators. To put a check on customer churn, many pay-TV operators are adopting this model and AT&T is no exception. Moreover, since AT&T operates its own wireless network, the company can price its DirecTV Now offering by bundling wireless data packages with the OTT service. This will help draw new wireless customers. Additionally, with the advent of a streaming app, AT&T can generate revenues from mobile advertising  a fast growing industry.

The Bottom Line

AT&Ts DirecTV Now can prove to be a major revenue driver in the coming years. However, aggressive pricing related to non applicability of data caps for the service in wireless plans may be subjected to net neutrality scrutiny.

Story continues

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A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, early Tuesday morning local time, prompting fears of a dangerous tsunami.

Japanese officials issued a tsunami warning for Fukushima prefecture for waves of up to three meters (10 feet). Residents along Japan's eastern coast were urged to move inland and seek higher ground.

SEE ALSO: New Zealand's earthquake literally cracked the Earth open

The first tsunami waves, measuring 60 centimeters high, reached Fukushima's Onahama port at 6:49 a.m. local time, Japanese media reported.

Sirens blared early Tuesday as newscasters warned residents to evacuate immediately.

A Japanese news broadcast captures 60-centimeter-high tsunami waves in Fukushima, Japan, Nov. 22, 2016.

Image: NHK World live

In 2011, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake near Fukushima triggered 30-foot waves that killed more than 15,800 people and caused a devastating meltdown at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

Tepco, the power plant's operator, said via Twitter that "no abnormalities" were found at the nuclear reactors as of 5:59 a.m. local time.

No abnormalities found at #TEPCOs #Nuclear Power Stations after Magnitude 7.3 #earthquake off the coast of #Fukushima at 5:59JST Nov 22.  TEPCO (@TEPCO_English) November 21, 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially listed Tuesday's earthquake as magnitude 7.3 before changing it to magnitude 6.9.

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Japan is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults where about 90 percent of the world's earthquakes happen, according to USGS.

New Zealand, another island nation within the ring, suffered a damaging magnitude 7.8 earthquake earlier this month.

Earthquakes happen when two blocks of earth suddenly "slip" past one another on a fault plane.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck near Fukushima, Japan, on Nov. 22, 2016.

Image: U.S. Geological Survey

The large-scale displacement of seafloor can trigger very long waves that coalesce into a tsunami. The waves travel outward on the ocean's surface, like ripples in a pond, and can slow down but grow in size as they come ashore.

In Japan on Tuesday, as news of the tsunami threat first rolled in, pet owners shared photos of their rattled cats and dogs, which were apparently spooked by the morning's earthquake.

UPDATE Nov. 21 8:22 p.m. ET: The tsunami warning was lifted around 10 a.m. Tuesday local time.
Tunis (AFP) - In a series of heartrending televised hearings, a tribunal in Tunisia has begun the long process of healing the wounds of six decades of dictatorship.

Harrowing descriptions of torture and rape moved many to tears during the first sittings of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) broadcast Thursday and Friday.

With more set for December and January, the first hearings have already been hailed as a major achievement.

"They have been probably the most successful first public hearings in recent history," said Refik Hodzic of the International Center for Transitional Justice.

"They have managed to reach a huge number of people who either did not know about what has taken place... or have suppressed it, or have pushed it somewhere deep and did not want to be reminded", he said.

Made possible by the 2011 revolution that toppled the regime of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the tribunal has already spent three years examining decades of abuses under successive dictatorships since independence.

It has a five-year mandate to investigate human rights violations, between 1957, when Habib Bourguiba took power, and 2013, when the IVD was set up in the wake of the revolution.

It aims to hold perpetrators to account and rehabilitate their victims.

Heba Morayef of Amnesty International said the tribunal had the potential to be of "huge historic significance not only for Tunisia but also the rest of the Arab world".

"If the IVD succeeds in its objectives, this success will reverberate far beyond Tunisia at a time when the very concept of accountability seems like a dream of the past," she said.

"The hopes of early 2011 are all but forgotten in the human tragedy of conflict in Syria, Yemen and Libya and brutal authoritarianism in Egypt".

- Deep divisions -

But the tribunal has also exposed deep divisions between Islamists, repressed under Bourguiba and Ben Ali, and secularists who see political Islam as a threat to Tunisia's relatively liberal ways.

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Both are represented in the current government.

French-language daily Le Temps, which generally opposes Islamist parties, said the hearings were a "marketplace of suffering" aimed at "pushing Tunisians to hate one another".

Islamists had "suffered repression" but also needed "to be forgiven by the Tunisian people for all the crimes committed in their name", it wrote.

Neither President Beji Caid Essebsi, who served in government under both Bourguiba and Ben Ali, nor Prime Minister Youssef Chahed attended the sessions.

Arabic-language newspaper Assabah said that amounted to a boycott, and that it was time for Tunisians to ask themselves serious questions.

"Have we done what is needed to prevent us from returning to these odious practices?" it wrote.

"Are we as Tunisians ready to accept the apology of the other... or will this type of session push us to a more painful fate or into a labyrinth of score-settling?"

The paper called on "executioners" expected to testify in future sessions to apologise.

On Thursday evening, after telling of the torture he suffered in Ben Ali's prisons, Sami Brahem appealed to his torturers.

"I am ready to forgive them, on the condition that they confess, apologise and explain," he said.

"Why did they do this? Did they have an ideological position against us? Were they manipulated? Did they want to get a promotion on our backs? Were they forced?"

The tribunal has laid bare a system that needed many parts in order to function: police officers, prison guards, judges and doctors.

Hodzic said a public debate is needed to prevent history from repeating itself.

"Transitional justice is not about revenge... It is actually about changing how the country sees its values," he said.

"How was it possible that at one point in our history, we normalised enforced disappearances (and) police torture? How is it possible that we allowed this to happen?"
By India Today Web Desk: After participating in Bigg Boss 5, Bollywood actress Sunny Leone will once again be part of the controversial reality show, thanks to a special nomination task this week.

The nomination process, to be judged by Sunny, will be called viral video fever and contestants will be divided into two teams. Lopa and Bani will be the captains of the two teams. Lopa's team will have Manu, Mona, Rohan and Om Swami. While Bani's team will comprise of Gaurav, Rahul, Manu and Nitibha.



Also read: Bigg Boss 10: It's very unfair; Karan Mehra opens up on his eviction

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Jism star Sunny Leone, however, will not be entering the house. She will connect with the housemates via TV.

All the members of the losing team will be directly nominated. So get ready to watch Lopa performing a pole dance, Manu kicking Omji,Gaurav and Rahul getting 'intimate'. With so many, viral videos, this nomination episode is surely going to be memorable.

Bigg Boss airs Mon-Fri at 10:30pm and Sat-Sun at 9pm on Colors TV





--- ENDS ---
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Monday denounced as "unacceptable" and an "insult" a bill being discussed in the Israeli parliament to limit the volume of calls to prayer at mosques.

Israel and Turkey had earlier this year finally mended a years-long crisis in relations with the naming of ambassadors, but a considerable potential for tension remains.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the bill, which if agreed would apply across Israel and also to annexed east Jerusalem where more than 300,000 Palestinians live.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that for centuries the Islamic call to prayer, church bells and Jewish prayers had mixed together in multi-faith Jerusalem.

"This is something on which there can be no compromise," Kurtulmus, who is chief government spokesman, said after a cabinet meeting. "It's absolutely unacceptable.

"It's an insult to the culture, past and history of Jerusalem. It makes no sense and is contrary to freedom of belief."

The bill initially met opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews -- who feared Jewish rituals could also be hit -- but could now be revived after efforts were made to meet their concerns.

The bill was drafted in response to complaints about noise from mosques, but would in theory apply to all religious institutions.

Israeli Jews living in settlements in the east of Jerusalem had protested against the volume of Islamic prayer calls.

Relations between Israel and Turkey plunged to an all time low in 2010 after an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship killed 10 Turkish activists heading to Gaza.

But the two sides are already working to bring cooperation back to former levels and are holding talks on building an ambitious pipeline project to pump Israeli gas to Turkey and Europe.

Nevertheless, considerable tensions remain with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presenting himself as a champion of the Palestinians and regularly meeting with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal.

Israel, the United States and the European Union all view Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, as a terrorist organisation.
Edirne (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkish authorities on Monday blocked a delegation of national and European Parliament lawmakers from visiting the leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party who has been held in jail for almost three weeks.

The delegation of a dozen members of the Party of European Socialists (PES) sought to make a visit to the head of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas at the prison in Edirne in northwest Turkey.

But they were blocked by Turkish gendarmes on the approach road to the prison and instead held an impromptu press conference in the street, an AFP correspondent said.

Demirtas' lawyers were however allowed to visit him.

He is one of 10 HDP MPs held, including his co-leader Figen Yuksekdag, following their arrest earlier this month.

They are accused of membership of or promoting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and are under arrest in various prisons across the country pending trial.

"He is not abandoned, he is not alone, our political family is in solidarity with him," said PES president and Bulgarian MEP Sergei Stanishev who was joined by MEPs and national lawmakers from Sweden, France and Austria.

The former Bulgarian premier added that there can be "no compromise" on political criteria, as Turkey seeks to join the European Union in a long-stalled bid.

Hisyar Ozsoy, the vice chairman of the HDP in charge of international affairs, slammed the reluctance of the authorities to allow visits to Demirtas.

"There is a serious policy of isolation... they have reduced relations with the outside world to the lowest level," he said.

According to the HDP, over 50 pro-Kurdish mayors have also been detained in the crackdown, the latest being Mardin mayor Ahmet Turk who was taken in on Monday.

Critics complain the authorities are using the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt to crack down on all opposition, not just the suspected coup plotters themselves.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Millions of us are girding for a hellish prelude to the Thanksgiving weekendnamely, commercial air travel. Yes, were all prepared for the torturous lines, the delayed or canceled flights, the overly intimate TSA pat-downs. And sure, weve grown accustomed to the limitations imposed on what we can bring on a plane3.4-ounce shampoo bottle, yes; blasting caps or herbal vaporizers, no. But what about the Thanksgiving bounty were hoping to haul home for the holidays? After all, no one wants to show up at Grandmas place empty-handed.

Just in time for the big day, were here to help! Heres a quick guide to the common Thanksgiving items youll be able to stash in the overhead binsand the ones youll have to pack in your checked luggage. Enjoy!

Turkey

If youre flying to a far-off land where they dont have turkeys (hey, they do sell out), you will be relieved to know that you can bring your fowl on the plane.

If you want to go through security with a 20-pound turkey, all right then, TSA spokesman Nico Melendez told The Oregonian. We just have to screen it first.

The catch is your turkey has to be frozen. Technically if could be fresh and packed in ice, but if the ice starts melting, it may violate the 3.4 ounce ruleso be sure to drain any of the meltwater before you head through security, and then hope for a good-natured TSA agent.

You should also keep in mind that it will still need to fit in the carry-on size limit of 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches. So, dont go nuts on that fit-for-a-platoon-size bird. Oh, and stow it securely. Remember: Items tend to shift during flight. You dont want your frozen Butterball shifting onto someones noggin.

Mashed potatoes

Sorry guysmashed potatoes are categorized by the TSA as a paste, much like your tube of Colgate. And that means youre limited to boarding with under 3.4 ounces. Which is barely one scoopnot even enough mashed potatoes for your (adorable) 4-year-old nephew Humbert! If that bums you out, just bring your potatoes in solid form (whole, uncooked, or flakes).

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Gravy

Gravy, even if goopy, falls in the liquids categoryand, as such, can be carried on a plane only if you follow the TSAs 3-1-1 rule: Containers must be 3.4 ounces or less; stored in a 1-quart zip-close bag, with a limit of one bag per person. Same goes for canned or fresh cranberry sauce.

Stuffing

Stuffing fans are in luck! Although fluffy, stuffing is categorized by the TSA as a solid, making it A-OK to carry on a plane in any quantity.

Wine and other alcoholic beverages

Just about all forced family gatherings require copious amounts of wine, bourbon, or other libation to take the edge off. But you cant carry any alcohol on a plane; it must be in your checked-in bags (which is sad because youll no doubt stroll past a lot of great liquor stores once youre through security, but nothings stopping you from buying a bottle on your flight back). Oh, and you can pack as much wine as you want, but if youre bringing Scotch or anything with an alcohol content above 24% (aka 48 proof), the TSA limit is 5 liters. Deploy them wisely.

Pies

Good news, aspiring bakers! A long time ago, when we were first starting out, I remember being in the Portland airport at Thanksgiving and people were having to leave their homemade pies behind and they were upset, Melendez recounted to The Oregonian. But since then, better technology enables the TSA to screen pies.

That means that as long as you arent hiding anything suspicious inside that flaky crust, youre golden. However, gooey pies like those with a meringue top may slide into the paste or gel category and require additional screenings (hopefully not a taste test).

Leftovers

Want to take some leftovers back with you? You can indeed carry your turkey scraps through security, but it will need to be in your one and only zip-close bag.

How to check what you can bring

Did we leave something off this list that youre hoping to bring on a plane? Just enter it in the TSAs handy Can I bring my  through the security checkpoint? webpage for your answer.

The post Can Your Turkey Fly? You Wont Believe These Weird Rules For Bringing Holiday Food on a Flight appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.
By Umberto Bacchi LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A bill that could allow men accused of sexually abusing girls in Turkey to avoid punishment if they marry their victim would create a climate of impunity for child abuse in the country, U.N. agencies warned on Monday. The Turkish parliament gave preliminary backing to the controversial proposal put forward by the ruling AK Party last week. MPs are due resume the debate on Tuesday before a second and final vote. Several U.N. agencies criticized the legislation, which they said was akin to an amnesty for child abusers and could expose victims to further suffering at the hands of their abusers. "Any forms of sexual violence against children are crimes which should be punished as such," the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, U.N. Women and the U.N. Development Programme in Turkey said in a joint statement on Monday. "We call on all Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly to do their utmost in ensuring that all girls and boys in Turkey are better protected from all forms of sexual abuse." The proposal, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, would allow sentencing in cases of sexual abuse committed "without force, threat or trick" before Nov. 16, 2016 to be indefinitely postponed if the perpetrator marries the victim. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said its aim was to remedy the situation of men who are in jail and are married to women under the age of 18 in a religious ceremony and with the consent of their family. He rejected suggestions that the plan amounted to an "amnesty for rape". "There are those who got married under age. They don't know the law, then they have kids, the father goes to jail and the children are alone with their mother," Yildirim said on Friday. Civil marriage under the age of 18 is illegal in Turkey, but marriage between men and underage girls through religious ceremonies is not uncommon, particularly in rural parts of the Sunni Muslim nation of 78 million people. Campaign group Girls Not Brides says Turkey has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Europe, with an estimated 15 percent of girls married before the age of 18. The bill drew widespread condemnation from opposition MPs, rights groups and members of the public, with more than 800,000 people signing an online petition for parliament to drop the legislation. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Istanbul and other cities at the weekend, leading the AK Party lawmakers to consider revising the text, local media said. "We hope Turkey will do the right thing and not pass this bill that promotes violence," said Antonia Kirkland of campaign group Equality Now. (Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Ros Russell)
Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isk announced Monday that the two countries were discussing a deal to buy some of Russias most advanced weapons. The move comes nearly a year after Turkish forces exacerbated military tensions by shooting down a Russian fighter jet flying over the Turkey-Syria border.

Turkey wants to buy Russias S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems, which have been used by coalition forces in Syria. The sale of the weapons, known by NATO and western countries as the SA-21 Growler, is far from assured and could face multiple technical delays in the future, according to the Moscow Times.

Among those obstacles are the soured ties between the countries following the downing of that jet last year, potential pushback from Turkeys NATO allies because the S-400 systems arent compatible with their missile systems and Moscow's concerns that selling the missiles to Turkey could pose a significant national security risk to Russia.

The negotiations were disclosed just a day after Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted saying that his country may abandon its effort to join the European Union and instead align itself with a security bloc dominated by Russia, China and Central Asian countries. Turkey and the EU have been in negotiations for 11 years and prospects for admission into the European economic alliance appear to slim. EU leaders have been highly critical of Turkey and its record on democratic freedoms, according to NBC News.

Turkey must feel at ease. It mustn't say 'for me it's the European Union at all costs'. That's my view," Erdogan told reporters on his plane Sunday while flying back from a visit to Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

S-400 Triumph missiles have been used by Russia since 2007 when they were first deployed into combat. They have been set up primarily to defend Russian airspace near Moscow and in the Baltics.

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A Turkish bill that would clear men of statutory rape provided they marry the victim is on the receiving end of criticism from opposition groups that are accusing the government of legitimizing child sexual assault.

The bill received preliminary backing in the parliament Thursday and is due for a second round of voting after a debate next week. Proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the bill would clear those convicted of assault only if they had sex without force, threat, or any other restriction on consent and if they marry the victim.

Violence against women is on the rise in Turkey with nearly 40 percent of cases of sexual and physical abuse reported. Murder of women has also increased by 1,400 percent from 2003 to 2010. The legal age of consent in the country is 18 years but child marriage is widespread.

According to the BBC, the government has said the aim of the bill is not to excuse rape but to rehabilitate those who may not have realized their sexual relations were unlawful - or to prevent girls who have sex under the age of 18 from feeling ostracized by their community.

Critics, which include the opposition, celebrities, an association whose deputy chairman is Erdogans daughter, are worried that the bill  which if passed is likely to quash nearly 3,000 convictions  would also legitimize child marriage in addition to overlooking child sexual assault.

The AKP is pushing through a text which pardons those who marry the child that they raped, Ozgur Ozel, a lawmaker belonging to the opposition Republican Peoples Party reportedly said.

What we are talking about is not being a woman in this country, or being a man, but staying a human being, Turkish celebrity Nurgul Yesilcay said. Protesters took to the streets in Istanbul tearing up copies of the bill and raising slogans like rape is a crime against humanity.

Prime Minister Binali Yldrm said the pardon would be applied only once on past convictions and would cover only those offences committed before Nov. 11, 2016.

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There are people who get married before reaching the legal age. They just dont know the law, he said and added that the proposed bill is aimed at getting rid of this injustice. He accused of the opposition of exploiting the issue for political gain adding that the government had raised the penalties for child rape. He also dismissed the notion that the bill would legalize rape calling such ideas completely false.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag also stood by the bill saying child marriage was an unfortunately a reality in the country and the men involved were not rapists of sexual aggressors.

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Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah were co-hosts of the 2016 American Music Awards. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Gigi Hadid is a top model  but a TV host? Not so much. On Sunday night, the 21-year-old stunner teamed up with Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah to host the American Music Awards. She looked amazing in an array of outfits, including a cutout red dress that left little to the imagination, but her skill set seemed to end there.

Hadid appeared to be a bit out of her element as she took the stage. Just a few minutes in, the opening set turned to politics and Hadid was called upon to do a Melania Trump impression. Now, to be fair, she was up there next to Pharaoh, who is probably one of the best impersonators on the planet, but still  Hadids impression could have used some help.

Related: Ciara Shows Off Baby Bump at the AMAs

This is my Melania Trump impression. I have to get the face right, she announced before turning away from the camera and working her expression into some serious duck lips as she said: I love my husband, President Barack Obama, and our children, Sasha and Malia. (ICYMI, this was a reference to Melanias possibly accidental plagiarism of Michelle Obama during her speech at the Republican National Convention over the summer.)





Not surprisingly, fans and foes took to Twitter to react.

Painful and embarrassing to watch, one viewer said, adding, girl stop please.

#AMAs painful & embarrassing 2 watch #GigiHadid  girl stop please  Paulina (@yyzstylegirl) November 21, 2016

Another compared Gigis attempts at hosting to those of Khloe Kardashian (who was famously terrible on The X Factor years ago).

Getting flashbacks to Khloe Kardashian hosting X-Factor. #GigiHadid #AMAs  Joe 'Monk' Pardavila (@joepardavila) November 21, 2016

Others begged for it to simply end, hoping someone could take the microphone from the model.

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Someone please take the microphone away from #GigiHadid girl, you're pretty, but no. #AMAs  Lea Johnson! (@LeaDJohnson) November 21, 2016

Others said they were uncomfortable with what was happening onstage.

i don't know what makes me more uncomfortable Gigi Hadid's impression of Melania Trump or Melania Trump herself #AMAs  SAN (@Seanlofficial) November 21, 2016

Still, not everyone slammed Gigi. Instead they just encouraged her to stick with what shes good at: modeling.

Gigi Hadid I love you girl but no hosting is not you'd thing stick to what your good at modeling ???????????? #AMAs #GigiHadid  AshKardash (@__AshKardash) November 21, 2016

One sweet fan gave Hadid props for trying.

Yet another wise viewer gave a smart prediction for the future based on what he saw onstage tonight.

Tomorrow morning @realDonaldTrump will tweet demanding Gigi Hadid to apologize for the Melania Trump impression. #AMAs ????  Hafiz Shariff (@HafizDoc) November 21, 2016

Well have to wait and see if the president-elect decides to go after the young model for mocking his wife, but he might still be too caught up in his feud with the cast of Hamilton to be paying much attention.




By India Today Web Desk: Former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested on Saturday, for allegedly sending obscene photos and lewd messages to a hairstylist. The actor was released on a bail of Rs 10,000 by a Mumbai court.

According to Asian Age newspaper, the 36-year-old woman had approached the actor for investing in her business and was asked by the actor to meet him at Filmistan Studios to discuss the details of her project, a couple of days ago.

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Also read: FIR against Bigg Boss 7 contestant Ajaz Khan for sending lewd messages to model

After the discussion, the woman sensed the actor wasn't too keen to invest in her project. But she decided to follow up anyway. She dropped a whatsapp message to him, praising his profile picture and checking his interest in investing. The newspaper report further said that Ajaz started sending pics of his private parts to her on whatsapp and when she objected to it, he started abusing her.

The hairstylist filed FIR against Ajaz on November 15 in Malvani police station, and the actor was taken into custody on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Ajaz was accused by model Aishwarya Choubey for sending lewd messages to her.

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By Dan Levine

Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. customs officials ruled that Arista Networks Inc can import redesigned ethernet switches that had been banned by the International Trade Commission, reducing pressure on Arista as it battles allegations of intellectual property infringement made by rival Cisco Systems Inc.

The U.S. International Trade Commission had ruled earlier this year that Arista infringed three Cisco patents relating to managing and securing communications networks. An import ban on the Arista switches was subsequently upheld by the U.S. Trade Representative.

However, in a securities filing on Monday, Arista said it received a letter last week from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, saying Arista's current redesigned products "are not within the scope" of the ITC import ban.

Marc Taxay, Arista's general counsel, said in a statement that the company looked forward to resuming the importation of its redesigned products.

In a statement, Cisco said it believes Arista's redesign "is a thin veil to cover Arista's ongoing infringement."

Cisco and Arista are expected to begin trial next week in a California federal court over claims of copyright and patent infringement brought by Cisco.

(Reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department and the Denver Sheriff Department on Monday resolved claims that the law enforcement agency had discriminated against immigrants seeking jobs.

A Justice Department probe had found that from the start of 2015 through March 23, 2016, the Denver Sheriff Department had required applicants for deputy sheriff jobs to be U.S. citizens and posted job openings with citizenship requirements, the federal agency said in a statement.

The Denver Sheriff Department, the biggest sheriff's office in Colorado, had no exception from the Immigration and Nationality Act, the statement said.

The law says that employers cannot limit jobs to U.S. citizens unless they are required to do so by law, executive order, government contract or regulation.

Under the settlement, the Denver Sheriff Department will pay $10,000 in civil penalties. It also will identify and consider applicants who may have been disqualified from being weighed for deputy sheriff positions due to the citizenship requirement, the Justice Department statement said.

The department will train its human resources staff on the Immigration and Nationality Act's anti-discrimination provisions and will review its policies to comply with those provisions.

The Denver Sheriff Department had no immediate comment on the settlement.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Alan Crosby)
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May called on business on Monday to invest in innovative companies to spur an economy that is struggling with low levels of productivity and to deliver the change demanded by Britain's Brexit vote. In a speech to the CBI, a leading business organisation in Britain, May also added detail to her plans to improve corporate governance. She said that while she wanted the voices of workers to be heard, companies would not be forced to directly appoint workers or trade union representatives to their boards. "Better governance will help companies to take better decisions, for their own long-term benefit and that of the economy overall," she told business leaders. "So this is an important task. We will work with you to achieve it, and I know you will rise to the challenge." (Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan, writing by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Kate Holton)
Kinshasa (AFP) - UNESCO's director-general Irina Bokova on Monday urged authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo to bring the murderers of a television journalist to justice.

Marcel Lubala was killed at his home in Mbuji-Mayi, central DR Congo, on the night of November 14-15 by armed men. The 59-year-old had worked for the RTNC MbujiMayi television channel that is part of state broadcaster RTNC.

"I condemn the murder of Marcel Lubala. Journalists must be able to do their work informing citizens without fearing for their lives," said Bokova in a statement published in Paris.

"I trust the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice."

According to local authorities in the Kasai-Oriental province, where Mbuji-Mayi is located, an investigation has been opened into the murder and five people have been arrested.

But various charities and media rights organisations decried the fact the murder took place during a curfew between 10pm and 5am, when local security forces were supposed to be in control of the town.

Following the murder, local activists Journalists in Danger (JED) denounced "the increase in targeted attacks against the press".

Joseph Tshilunde, president of the national union of Congolese media (UNPC), told AFP that Lubala was the "16th journalist killed in DRC in 10 years and too often the perpetrators and organisers are not sanctioned".

DR Congo has been wracked by recent violence sparked by a political crisis brought on by the postponing of a presidential election which had been due to take place before the end of the year.

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he succeeded his father Laurent Kabila, who had been assassinated.

Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election having served two terms but his opponents are worried the election postponement is part of a wider bid to hold onto power.

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Anti-Kabila protests have been suppressed by police while authorities have used various means to clamp down on the press.

Kabila's government has frequently blocked the signal of foreign media such as Radio France International any time opposition supporters have organised protests.

Ten days ago, the government also issued a decree affecting foreign broadcasters that gave them a month to hand over a majority share of their companies to locals, a move criticised by the United Nations.

DRC was classed 152nd out of 180 countries in 2016 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

Lubala had worked for RTNC for 15 years, presenting a television show about hygiene and the environment.
uss nitze iranian ship.JPG

In yet another development in an already eventful deployment, US Navy sailors aboard the USS Nitze rescued three stranded Iranians in the Arabian Gulf on Friday.

The Iranians made a distress call after their boat stalled. US Sailors responded quickly, providing a case of water and a new battery for the vessel.

"Our Sailors are trained to respond quickly to those in distress at sea," said Cmdr. Paul Kaylor, commanding officer of Nitze said in a US Navy statement. "We are proud to have assisted in this situation."

Interactions with Iranians in the Arabian Gulf have not always been positive.

The USS Nitze specifically has been the target of "harassing" and swarming behavior like simulated attacks while sailing off Iran's coast.

Last month, Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen fired missiles towards US Navy ships, including the Nitze. In response, the Nitze fired Tomahawk cruise missiles, destroying the radar sites used by the militants to target the US ships. Experts and US military officials attribute blame to Iran over the incident.

Additionally, when US Navy sailors found their boat inoperable in Iranian waters last January, Iranian navy vessels surrounded them and captured them at gunpoint. Iranian state TV then broadcast footage and images of the captured sailors for some time as propaganda. Iran apparently plans to build a monument of the event.

After the October incident, Iranian ships reportedly went to the Arabian Gulf. However, they were nowhere to be found when their countrymen were stranded at sea on Friday.

NOW WATCH: The US struck radar sites in Yemen after rebels tried to attack a Navy ship with missiles





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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Veritas Pharma Inc. (CSE:VRT) (OTC Pink: VRTHF) (2VP.F), ("Veritas" or the "Company"), an emerging-stage pharmaceutical and IP development company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Sechelt Organic Marijuana Inc. ("Privco"), whereby Veritas has been granted the exclusive option to acquire 100% ownership of PrivCo (the "Transaction"), subject to certain terms and conditions including; obtaining an ACMPR/MMPR license and the issuance of a permit by Health Canada for the building of a cannabis growing facility. Further, and as part of the agreement, Veritas will manage and help facilitate the application process with Health Canada, and will pay all out-of-pocket expenses during the approval process.

The target acquisition ("PrivCo"), currently owns a secure commercial facility and land located in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada and, since July 4th, 2014, has had an application pending with Health Canada for a new MMPR (Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations) license. PrivCo personnel includes an experienced grow master who is currently a 'designated grower' under current MMAR licensing guidelines.

Dr. Lui Franciosi (CEO, Veritas Pharma) comments, "This is a win-win scenario for Veritas and its shareholders. We believe this transaction is both tactical and value driven. Further and most importantly, it is representative of the steps we will take to secure and maximize our position along the medical marijuana supply chain.

We are making great strides advancing R&D through our investment in Cannevert Therapeutics Ltd. ("CTL"), targeting pain, nausea and PTSD solutions. This strategic acquisition will bring together our valuable IP surrounding our disease specific medical marijuana strains." Dr. Franciosi continues"With this acquisition, Veritas will control and have ownership of the entire process from developing our patented strains through Cannevert, to cultivation, thereby ensuring our medical marijuana product is ready for market, that is backed by scientific data."

Under the terms of the LOI, Veritas Pharma has the option of acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of PrivCo. Once Health Canada grants to PrivCo the permit to build a cannabis-growing facility and to issue to PrivCo the requisite MMPR license, Veritas will proceed to close the option to acquire PrivCo within 60 days of the approval, to Close the acquisition by making a cash payment of $400,000 for the land and facilities, as well as a common stock payment equivalent to $400,000 for the MMPR license.

The assignment is subject to Exchange approval.

On November 16th, 2016, Veritas announced an increase to its planned private placement. The private placement will be for total of 4,750,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,425,000 (the "offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share ("Share") and one-half Share purchase warrant of the company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.50 per Warrant Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance. All additional terms and conditions of the Offering will remain the same as the announcement on September 16th, 2016. In addition, to this private placement Veritas board has decided to grant stock options to consultants to purchase 500,000 shares of VRT at exercisable price of $0.45.

About Veritas Pharma Inc.

Veritas Pharma Inc. is an emerging-stage pharmaceutical and IP development company, who, through CTL, is advancing the science behind medical cannabis. It is the Company aim, through its investment in CTL, to develop the most effective cannabis strains (cultivars) specific to pain, nausea, epilepsy and PTSD, solving the critical need for clinical data to support medical marijuana claims. CTL's unique value proposition uses a low-cost research and development model to help drive shareholder value, and speed-to-market. Veritas investment in CTL is led by strong management team, bringing together veteran academic pharmacologists, anesthetists & chemists. The company's commercial mission is to patent protect CTL's IP (cultivars & strains) and sell or license to cancer clinics, insurance industry and pharma, targeting multi-billion dollar global markets.

About Cannevert Therapeutics Ltd.

CTL is a private company owned by a unique group of chemists, pharmacologists, and other medical professionals. With offices located on the campus of the University of British Columbia, CTL has obtained permission from Health Canada to conduct research on cannabis strains. CTL has entered a funding agreement with Veritas where, upon advancing $1.5 million to CTL, Veritas will earn an 80% ownership interest in CTL. Although Veritas has advanced $750,000 to CTL, no ownership interest will be earned by Veritas until the entire $1.5 million is received. CTL has also entered a licensing agreement with Veritas, licensing Veritas to market all products developed by CTL.

Veritas Pharma Inc. is a publicly traded company which trades in three countries including Canada, on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the ticker VRT; in the United States, on the OTC under the ticker VRTHF; and in Germany, on the Frankfurt exchange under the ticker 2VP.

For more information, please visit our website: veritaspharmainc.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Veritas Pharma Inc.

"Dr. Lui Franciosi"

Dr. Lui Franciosi

Chief Executive Officer

Further information about the Company is available on our website at www.veritaspharmainc.com or under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the CSE website at www.thecse.com

Investor and Public Relations Contact

Veritas Pharma Inc.

Sam Eskandari

Telephone: +1.416.918.6785

Email: ir@veritaspharmainc.com

Website: www.veritaspharmainc.com

The CSE has not reviewed, nor approved or disapproved the content of this press release.

SOURCE: Veritas Pharma Inc.
Reddy, a former BJP minister and one of the richest politicians in Karnataka, is one of the main accused in the Bellary illegal mining scam.

By Rohini Swamy: Less than a week after his daughter's ostentatious wedding made headlines, the Income Tax sleuths today raided former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy's Obulapuram mining company in Bellary, 300 km from Bengaluru.

Sources said a number of documents have been found and are being examined. His residence is also likely to be raided, sources added.

The income tax raid comes five days after the lavish wedding of the mining baron's daughter raised eyebrows for its pomp and grandeur - held at a time when millions were queueing up outside banks and ATMs for cash.



Reddy, a former BJP minister and one of the richest politicians in Karnataka, is one of the main accused in the Bellary illegal mining scam.

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He is on bail after languishing for 40 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore mining scam that rocked the southern state in 2010-11.

Also read: Why is the big fat Reddy wedding bothering us?



Though Reddy was maintaining low profile after his release in January 2015 on conditional bail by the Supreme Court, an expensive marriage invitation sent out with a LCD screen playing a pre-wedding video raised eyebrows and brought him back into limelight.

BIG, FAT REDDY WEDDING



Billed as one of the most expensive marriages in the sub-continent, the five-day grand event drew all-round flak and envy.

Reddy had hired the royal palace for five days starting November 12, invited several film stars from Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai and other celebrities for the reception.

Reddy had also got a replica built of the Vijayanagara empire at the venue and flown in cultural troupes from abroad, including Brazilian dancers.

Also read: 5 reasons why Janardhan Reddy's daughter's wedding could be a political move



Ahead of the wedding, Reddy told reporters on November 10 at his home town, Ballary, that he would give marriage expenditure account to the income tax department in a month. However, he had declined to share its estimate with the local media.

While an embarrassed BJP instructed its leaders to stay away from the Bengaluru wedding, a host of partymen including state president BS Yeddyurappa attended the blockbuster event.

Except for a local news channel, funded by Reddy, the media was barred from covering the wedding.

SEVEN LOCATIONS RAIDED IN HYDERABAD

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week here. Reddy is also a mining baron.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

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The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.

The questionnaire brought in by the IT dept in Bellary

Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.



Also read: Brahmani Reddy weds Rajeev Reddy: Inside the Biggest Fattest Indian Wedding of 2016

Watch Link:





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By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Authorities in eastern Libya say they have arrested a woman believed to be the wife of veteran Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar after she traveled from southern Libya to the city of Derna to give birth. East Libya's counter-terrorism department said the woman, named as Tunisian Asma Kadoussi, had told investigators that Belmokhtar was alive and living in southern Libya. A spokesman for the department, Sami al-Matrih, told Reuters on Monday that Kadoussi had given birth to a girl 40 days ago. Belmokhtar, leader of the al-Mourabitoun group, has long been a major militant figure in the Sahel with deep connections across the region. He has repeatedly been pronounced dead by authorities before resurfacing to plot attacks or kidnappings, including a raid on an Algerian gas plant that killed 40 workers in 2013. In June 2015, Belmokhtar was targeted by a U.S. air strike in the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya, but his group declared shortly afterwards that he had survived. The east Libyan counter-terrorism office said in a statement that Kadoussi had been traveling with a second Tunisian woman, Afaf Haji, and that the two had stayed with an al Qaeda militant in Derna named as Jibril al-Abd. They were detained on a road south of Derna after hospital staff in the city tipped off authorities because a foreign woman had checked in to give birth without her husband, the statement said. According to initial investigations the two women had earlier been staying in "terrorist camps" in the central Libyan desert region of Jufra with Belmokhtar, and the statement said that "it was him who sent them to Derna for the birth". Authorities posted photos of Tunisian identity cards and forged Libyan passports that they said the women were carrying. Derna has historically been a stronghold for Libyan Islamists, and Islamic State took control of the city in 2014 before being ousted by rival Islamists and other opponents. The city, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Benghazi, is now the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libya's eastern government and an Islamist-led alliance. Militants loyal to both al Qaeda and Islamic State have a presence in the vast expanses of Libya's southern desert, an increasingly lawless space due to the conflict that developed after Libya's 2011 revolution. Now in his 40s, Belmokhtar fought in Afghanistan in the 1980s before joining the Islamic Armed Group (GIA) during the Islamist insurgency in Algeria in the 1990s. He then helped found the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), which later transformed into al Qaeda's North African wing. As well as the 2013 gas plant attack in In Amenas, which authorities said was planned from Libya, Belmokhtar has been blamed for kidnapping foreigners and running lucrative smuggling rings in the Sahara. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Relatives of those who had boarded the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are planning to travel to Madagascar to search for debris that might provide clues to the plane's whereabouts. A next of kin association called "Voice370" stated Monday that it will seek help from local organizations to search for debris from the missing jet.

The group repeatedly complained about the lack of a coordinated search in the western Indian Ocean and along the African coast despite the recovery of several pieces of debris that were either confirmed or declared highly likely to have come from the Boeing 777-200 jet.

Despite these hugely important finds, there has been no systematic, organized search by any responsible party, the group said. This leaves the NOKs [next of kin] no other choice except to take it upon ourselves to do something to find answers and closure.

According to the statement issued by the group, seven Voice370 next of kin will visit Madagascar between Dec. 3 and Dec. 11 to raise awareness and look for debris themselves.

Flight MH370 went missing on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board while on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

A multimillion-dollar search operation of more than 46,000-square-mile area of a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean has so far yielded no concrete clues. Australian authorities announced last month that the search operation is set to end by early 2017. However, in case of any credible clues found during this time, authorities will plan the next level of the search.

Over the last few months, several debris pieces have been found, of which six pieces have been considered certain or highly likely to have come from the missing Flight MH370.

While several conspiracy theories have surfaced since the plane's disappearance, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the search, said in a report this month that the plane was likely out of control when it plunged into the ocean with its wing flaps not prepared for landing, casting doubt on theories a pilot deliberately crashed the plane.

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Vietnam on Monday fined scores of news outlets for publishing now-discredited reports about toxic fish sauce, accusing them of sparking public panic over the staple condiment in a country plagued by food scares.

Reports emerged in mid-October that some fish sauce contained dangerously high levels of arsenic, with local media mainly citing a survey by the state-controlled Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas).

The stories ignited widespread fear in Vietnam, where fish sauce is consumed daily by most of the country's 93 million people -- as a dipping sauce, marinade or in soups.

The government said Monday the reports failed to distinguish between highly-toxic inorganic arsenic, and organic arsenic which is present mainly in seafood and is less toxic.

"The news caused panic in our society, causing consumers to boycott traditional fish sauce... seriously undermining Vietnam's age-old fish sauce production," the Ministry of Information and Communication said on its website.

Traditional fish sauce is made from fermented fish, while more modern versions are made with artificial flavouring. The survey suggested that traditionally-made sauces were toxic.

The ministry fined 50 news organisations for running the reports, including the mainstream Thanh Nien newspaper which was slapped with a nearly $9,000 penalty.

The newspaper, which received the highest fine because it also ran its own independent survey, was accused of "publishing incorrect information that undermined national interests", the ministry said.

Other fines ranged from $450 to $2,200 and the ministry said 560 news items in total were published.

Vietnam rarely has to punish its own media because the communist party controls all newspapers which are filled with state-sanctioned reporting and propaganda.

The reports were declared false after an investigation by the Health Ministry, which later concluded the fish sauce to be safe.

This is not the country's first food scare. In April, tonnes of dead fish began washing ashore in central Vietnam, sparking panic about whether the marine life was safe to eat. The disaster was blamed on a toxic waste dump by Taiwanese steel firm Formosa.

Earlier this year, a video of factory workers in Vietnam injecting shrimp with an unknown substance to make them look fatter went viral, prompting public fury.

Vietnamese consumers have long voiced concern about the use of pesticides at produce farms and cattle ranches, and major food poisoning incidents have become increasingly common, especially at factory canteens.
- By James Li





As discussed in his best-seller, "One Up on Wall Street," legendary investor Peter Lynch compared the company's price line to its earnings line to determine if a company is undervalued. Buying growth stocks at deeply undervalued prices and selling them when the price rises sharply above the earnings line generally leads to good returns.





GuruFocus' Interactive Chart feature allows you to construct charts including the famous Peter Lynch Chart. Additionally, you can construct an eclectic variety of charts, compare financial data between two or more companies and explore when a company stock presents a good investment. Figure 1 presents the Peter Lynch chart for Apple Inc. (AAPL), one of the most popular technology companies in the world.

Figure 1

A user-friendly interface

You can access our Interactive Charts in at least three ways, including:

Typing in a company ticker symbol in the "Search: Enter Ticker, Guru, Company, etc." box at the top of the GuruFocus page, and clicking "company stock name Interactive Chart" among the drop-down menu.

Clicking on the ">> Interactive Charts" link on a company's summary page in the upper-right corner of the Peter Lynch Chart section.

Clicking on the "Interactive Chart" tab among the tabs located in the gray ribbon underneath the blue "Add to Portfolio" button and the "XLS Download" button.

Once you access the Interactive Charts interface, the chart automatically graphs the company's historical stock price line for all years as shown in Figure 2. The position numbers on Figure 1 identify the locations of five basic features of the interface:

This row of buttons allows you to change the chart's timeframe to a predefined time period. You can choose from three months, six months, the year to date, one year, three years, five years, 10 years or all years. The chart will graph the active financial metrics for the recent time period specified. You can customize the chart's time frame with these two boxes. For example, you can graph Apple's stock price from January 2011 to January 2013 using this feature. This area, the core of the interactive chart, displays the active financial series in color-coded lines. These three buttons allow you to download the chart output to Excel, save the chart as an image or embed it to your article. We will discuss downloading to Excel in a future user manual. These four square-shaped buttons represent one of the Interactive Chart's newly added features, the Drawing Toolbox. We will discuss this feature in a subsequent article.

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Figure 2

General Interactive Chart features

Although the 15-year financials feature presents a full account of a company's financials, the arrangement of the data can complicate analyses. The Interactive Chart facilitates the analysis process since the chart usually graphs the historical trend of at most four financial metrics at one time. While there is no limit on the number of lines that can be drawn on the chart, the optimal number of lines is about three to avoid confusion between the graphs.

GuruFocus conveniently organizes the available financial metrics into several tabs. For example, commonly used financial strength and profitability metrics populate the "Valuation and Quality" tab. Other tabs, including "Income Statement" and "Balance Sheet," list appropriate financial metrics underneath the tab.

You can generate an eclectic variety of charts, from a simple chart comparing the Piotroski F-score of two companies to a chart that details when a company is undervalued based on its price-sales (P/S) ratio. Figure 3 displays the historical trend of F-scores for three common technology companies: Apple, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Microsoft Inc. (MSFT).

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Figure 3

Based on Figure 3, we can observe the volatility of Apple and Microsoft's Piotroski F-scores during the past 10 years. Additionally, the Washington-based software company's F-scores generally declined, suggesting a weakening business operation. On the other hand, Google's Piotroski scores have remained flat year over year since 2012.

While the three technology companies had predictable F-scores on an annual basis, the scores sharply fluctuated on a quarterly basis, as illustrated in Figure 4. Each company could have strong F-scores in one quarter and modest scores in the following quarter.

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Figure 4

Up next

So far, we have only introduced the basic features of Interactive Charts. In subsequent articles, we will explore the predefined charts including the P/S valuation bands chart. This chart can identify when a company trades below its fair value based on historical P/S ratios. We will also determine which industries offer good investing opportunities based on P/S valuations.

You can view the user manual on interactive charts by clicking the "PDF Tutorial" button in the upper-right corner, between the "Reset All" and "Video" buttons.

Although free members have limited access to Interactive Charts, most of the features require premium membership. Subsequent articles will discuss these features, including customized series and downloading to Excel. If you are not a premium member, we invite you to a free seven-day trial.

Disclosure: The author has no position in the stocks mentioned in this article.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Voters in Haiti headed to the polls on Sunday, November 20, to cast their ballots in the Caribbean nations much-delayed general election.

Hurricane Matthew pushed back the date of the vote which was a rerun of the October 2015 poll, which was annulled following accusations of fraud. A caretaker government has been ruling Haiti since President Michel Martelly stepped down from office in February. Credit: YouTube/MinustahTV via Storyful
Bamako (AFP) - Mali voted in its first elections since 2013, with turnout low as security jitters remained elevated despite an international military intervention.

Voters are electing 12,000 councillors across Mali as the government wrestles with implementing a 2015 peace deal and warding off the stubborn jihadist threat in the north.

French troops were deployed in 2013 to repel Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who had overrun several northern towns, joining forces with Tuareg-led rebels. Some 11,000 UN military and police followed, but the jihadists were never defeated, merely displaced.

The election -- being held two years later than scheduled -- coincides with the first anniversary of a jihadist attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako that left 20 people dead, many of them foreigners.

"These elections have been delayed four times. That's enough," said President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after casting his ballot in the first vote to be held since his own election.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Saturday for a peaceful vote in areas "where political and security conditions allow" in a nation still under a state of emergency.

He encouraged the government to work with other parties "to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the poll".

Residents and officials reported low turnout in the capital and a string of disruptions to voting in northern and central Mali.

In Timbuktu, unknown attackers seized and burned electoral papers in multiple raids.

Timbuktu Governor Adama Kansaye said there was a good turnout in his town, but noted that "armed groups were roaming in several municipalities" of the Goudam area where voting could not take place, local media reported.

Timbuktu's fabled shrines were destroyed during the jihadist takeover in 2012.

Oumar Moussa, resident of Timbuktu's working class Sareykeyna neighbourhood, said there had been "huge turnout" in his area. "There are concerns, but it's gone well so far," he told AFP.

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Residents were also not voting in Kidal, bastion of the former rebels of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), the Tuareg group that runs the northern town.

Several hundred people demonstrated there against the holding of elections, burning Malian and UN flags, according to a foreign military source in the town.

The CMA had denounced the government's "pig-headedness" in organising the vote before northern interim authorities are set up as per the peace deal, and ahead of the return of "tens of millions of refugees and displaced people" who would be affected by the outcome.

The vote was also cancelled in numerous villages in the neighbouring Gao region.

Opposition candidate Saibou Barry was kidnapped Saturday morning in the central town of Koro, with his party saying his car was found burned and that he had been driven to "an unknown destination".

It was hoped that last year's peace deal between rebels, the government and loyalist militias would bring stability to the north, but since then rival armed groups have repeatedly violated the ceasefire.
Next Sundays episode of AMCs The Walking Dead will focus on two characters we havent seen yet in Season 7: Tara and Heath. In a sneak peek video (seen above) for episode 6, titled Swear, Tara and Heath argue over whether they should return to Alexandria or continue their mission.

As fans may recall, Tara (Alanna Masterson) and Heath (Corey Hawkins) were last seen towards the end of Season 6 when they went on a two-week supply run. So far, they have not appeared in any of the new episodes which mean Tara and Heath have no idea that Denise (Merrit Wever) was killed or that Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) were brutally murdered. They are also in the dark about how dangerous Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is.

The sneak peek teases that the episode will focus mainly on the two characters and show what they have been up to as their group of friends back home deal with the Negan situation. In the video, Tara and Heath are seen sitting in a camper. Heath tells Tara that they went out further than they wanted to, and they should turn around and head back to Alexandria. Tara doesnt want to go back empty-handed and tells Heath that they need to find ammunition and medicine. We cant go back like this. Theres people counting on us, she says. Why you acting like you dont know that?

Heath is disturbed by what happened at The Saviors satellite outpost when Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the others killed some of Negans men in exchange for the Hilltop people providing them with food. Tara explains that they did what they had to do to survive.

A synopsis for episode 6, via TV Guide, doesnt give away too much about what will happen but states: A familiar face stumbles upon a brand new society. Their rules, location and setup are unlike anything that has been seen before.

According to ComicBook.com, its believed that, in next weeks episode, Tara and Heath will stumble upon a group of people living on a beach not far from Alexandria. In Robert Kirkmans comic books, the group is living at a community called the Oceanside. The outlet also reported that the episode could depict Rick showing up to The Kingdom, which is where Morgan (Lennie James) and possibly Carol (Melissa McBride) are at.

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The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on AMC.

The Walking Dead Season 7 episode 6

Photo: AMC

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[Warning: This story contains spoilers from episode 705, "Go Getters," of AMC's The Walking Dead.]

AMC's The Walking Dead returned to the Hilltop Community during Sunday's episode, with viewers seeing Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) for the first time since Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham's (Michael Cudlitz) death in the shocking season premiere.

Maggie - and her unborn baby - are going to be fine, but the Hilltop's resident doctor suggests she take it easy and remain at the community, where Sasha has become fiercely protective of her friend. That doesn't sit well with the group's smarmy leader, Gregory (Xander Berkley), who is upset that Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) group couldn't wipe out the Saviors. He feigns surprise that Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) group is much bigger than he told Rick and company, and feels that Maggie and Sasha's presence at the Hilltop could hurt the group with the enemy.

Told to leave the next morning, Maggie and Sasha wind up saving the day when the Saviors send in a horde of walkers - with Jesus (Tom Payne) now ready to go to bat for them to stay with Gregory, who attempts to turn them over to the Saviors during their raid the next day.

The episode concludes with Enid (Katelyn Nacon) arriving from Alexandria and reuniting with Maggie, who gives her the pocket watch that her father Hershel (Scott Wilson) gifted to Glenn. Sasha, meanwhile, honors her late love interest Abraham by smoking his cigar - and sending Jesus to find out where Negan's compound is. Jesus, for his part, is shocked to find that Carl (Chandler Riggs) - who wound up accompanying Enid to the Hilltop - in the same truck on his way to take out Negan.

For more on the episode, THR caught up with Martin-Green.

Sasha is very stoic following Abraham and Glenn's deaths. How is she coping?

All the loss Sasha suffered before Abraham drove her to a new way of life. Now that she's lost him, too, she feels a focus that she's never felt before. Abraham's legacy, and the legacies of everyone she's lost, can be carried on through Sasha. She's coping by giving her all to a mission that she believes will do that and will ultimately save us all.

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This episode really showcased the strong bond between Sasha and Maggie as they are both bound together by grief. Why is Sasha being so fiercely protective of Maggie here?

She's putting Maggie's needs over her own. Getting Maggie and her baby safe was what we all sacrificed for - and we ended up on our knees. We fight for life and for the future. Sasha has learned that there's nothing more worthy to fight for. Another beautiful thing in the midst of the grief is that Sasha and Maggie keep Abraham and Glenn alive though each other.

Sasha remembers Abraham by keeping his cigar and smoking it as she sharpens her knife. How is she honoring his memory? That scene looked like something Abraham has done in the past.

[Laughing] I was actually smoking it for real, though the cigar was being temperamental! It's a simple yet poignant act, imitating a lost loved one's behavior. It channels them, and you can draw comfort or strength from that. For Sasha, it was savoring in the fun and cool confidence of Abraham, two of my favorite things about him, before sharpening her knife, essentially readying herself for battle.

Sasha sends Jesus out to find where Negan and the Saviors' compound is. What's her larger plan?

We'll definitely see what all the larger plan entails, but you can rest assured that she's taking her time and perfecting each step of the process before she takes action.

Sasha has now lost her brother and two love interests in Bob and Abraham. Is she a black widow? Will she be closed off to romance going forward?

That's interesting, I've heard lots of people say that it seems like Sasha has a death touch. I think it comes down to everyone's path being different in this world. It so happens that Sasha's is riddled with loss. But the loss she's suffered has made her who she is now as Sasha, and for that reason, she accepts it. She will never close herself off to anyone anymore, she's thankfully progressed beyond that.

We see Sasha and Maggie save the Hilltop Colony during the walker attack. What's their larger plan for co-existing at the community with a guy like Gregory, who clearly can't be trusted?

I think the plan is to change the atmosphere. Maggie and Sasha both understand how dangerous Gregory is, for them, for the Hilltop community and for everyone at large. Anyone in support of Negan's philosophy, even if that's through cowardly compliance, is a threat to the world.

Read more: 'Walking Dead': Will Negan's Backstory Be Explored?

Jesus makes a seemingly meaningless comment about Maggie eventually becoming a leader, which was a nice nod to comic book readers. What kind of challenges will Sasha and Maggie have at the Hilltop?

Dealing with Gregory seems like it will be an arduous process. And Maggie, my goodness. She's lost her husband, she's pregnant and still healing from a horrible and life-threatening scare with the baby. It's an unbelievably vulnerable time for her. But she's already showcased an astronomical amount of courage in how she got up and kept going. She's also keeping Glenn and Hershel's legacies alive through her.

How might Maggie respond to learning that Sasha sent Jesus out to find the Saviors?

If she were to find out, she could respond in lots of ways. She could feel betrayed; she could feel represented. She could agree with the decision or disagree. It'll be interesting to see if she does ever find out, and how she would respond if she did.

What can you preview about Carl and Jesus' experience with the Saviors?

It will be very dynamic.

How would you describe the midseason finale?

It's going to be awesome.

What did you think of Maggie and Sasha's experience at the Hilltop? Sound off in the comments section, below. The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC. For more Walking Dead coverage, bookmark THR.com/WalkingDead.




AMC

Here are our five main takeways from this weeks episode of The Walking Dead, Go Getters, which returns to The Hilltop Colony for the first time in nine episodes.

When Will the Universe Stop Expanding?

During the long break between the sixth and seventh season of The Walking Dead, showrunner Scott Gimple and creator Robert Kirkman spoke at length about the world-building the series would undertake this season. They spoke of how the series would expand into the communities on The Walking Dead beyond Alexandria. Five episodes into the seventh season, and they are still working their way outward, beyond Alexandria. We spent an episode in Alexandria, an episode in The Kingdom, an episode in the Saviors compound, and this week, we spent an episode back inside The Hilltop Colony. Next week, The Walking Dead is expected to spend another episode introducing yet another new society, which Tara and Heath will stumble upon.

I appreciate that The Walking Dead is expanding its universe. It couldnt exist inside the prison or Alexandria forever. However, this seasons focus on universe expansion has also stalled the series momentum. Its beginning to feel like several different spinoffs of The Walking Dead, with two or three characters relocating into each settlement as though creating backdoor pilots to The Walking Dead: Hilltop Colony or The Walking Dead: The Kingdom. Its not that I havent appreciated these new settlements, its simply that The Walking Dead cant continue to move forward if its mired in a series of settlement-building episodes.

Assuming, as rumored, another new settlement is introduced next week, that will leave The Walking Dead with two episodes remaining before the break to move the story forward in Alexandria, The Hilltop Colony, The Kingdom, The Saviors Compound, and Taras new settlement. Theres not enough time to advance the plot in any meaningful way by jumping back and forth between the five settlements, but Id also hate to see The Walking Dead rotate through each one with an episode apiece. We went three episodes between Glenns death and seeing Maggie again. We may go three or four episodes before we see Carol and Morgan again. Meanwhile, the rapport between Dwight and Daryl introduced in the third episode has been put on the backburner while the series hops to yet another location.

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Theres an endgame here, we all suspect. These settlements will eventually have to come together and go to war with Negan, and the Alexandrians in each of the colonies will form the glue that binds the other settlements together. Unfortunately, I dont see that glue adhering anytime soon, which may mean that The Walking Dead continues to hop from one colony to the next for the entire seventh season, and that might eventually get frustrating for impatient viewers.

Gregory Is a Spineless Asshole

AMC

Xander Berkely was elevated to a series regular in between seasons, and despite his elevated role, this is the first time weve seen Gregory since the 11th episode of last season, way back in February. I get the feeling that after only one episode, were not likely to see that much more of him in the future, either. Hes the leader of The Hilltop by default, as though his was the only name on the ballot and no one bothered to vote. No one seems to like him. No one seems to respect him. The only quality he brings as leader is the ability to suffer humiliation and still maintain the illusion of power. For that, he apparently earns the right to drink Hilltops scotch and harass the colonys women. Gregory cant even be bothered to lead when his colony is being invaded by walkers. He simply shuts the curtains, lets others do the dirty work, and hopes for the best.

Hes not long for this world, and after Jesus finally stood up to him, his days as the Hilltops de facto leader are definitely numbered. He strikes me, however, as someone like Dar Adal in Homeland, a man with the ability to quickly switch allegiances to suit his own selfish agenda. If Maggie doesnt kill him, look for Gregory to pull a Spencer and defect to the Saviors to save his own life.

Maggie Is The Walking Deads Pregnant Furiosa

AMC

Meanwhile, Maggie didnt let the death of her husband or nearly losing her baby slow her down. Grief is for the weak, she seemed to suggest, as she took charge when The Saviors sent walkers into The Hilltop, ran over a car with a tractor, and later stood up to Gregory with a splendid sucker punch and the best lines of the episode: This is our home now, so youll have to call me by name. Not Marsha. Not dear. Not honey. Maggie. Maggie Rhee. When Jesus suggested a change in leadership was due, everyone knew exactly who he was talking about. Maggie is clearly not going to spend the next six or seven months taking it easy. I hope it doesnt cost her lil Glenn (and when Enid dies, I hope Maggie grabs Glenns pocket watch as a keepsake for the baby).

Meanwhile, once Maggie takes over as leader of The Hilltop, Sasha is going to be a very capable lieutenant, filling a role her late ex-boyfriend, Abraham, filled in Alexandria. Along with Jesus, they make an excellent leadership team, bonded together as they are by loss. However, its one more reason this season has been frustrating. I want to see where the story goes in The Hilltop Colony now, but were not likely to see Maggie and Sasha again for another couple of episodes if the pattern holds.

Carl and Enid Make Some Magic

AMC

Meanwhile, Enid was quick to forgive Carl for locking her in a closet at the end of last season. All it took from Carl was crashing a car, a pair of roller skates, and a willingness to sacrifice his life in order to take out Negan. Romance! I actually love the roller skating scene between Carl and Enid, in part because it felt like something out of one of Romeros 70s zombie flicks, a moment of levity before the apocalypse.

The long and short of it is this: Enid decides to mark Glenns grave with a balloon and reunite with her mother-figure, Maggie, and Carl decides to hop into the back of one of the Saviors trucks and attempt to sacrifice himself to kill Negan. Its not going to work, but we appreciate his reckless bravery. Hopefully, he doesnt get Jesus  who is also in the back of the truck  killed in the process.

Steven Ogg May Be A Better Negan than Negan

AMC

All due respect to Jeffrey Dean Morgan, but Steven Oggs Simon is doing a bang-up job as one of Negans main henchmen, Simon. He has a great voice (which some people will recognize from Grand Theft Auto, where he plays Trevor) and a remarkable presence. Hes also every bit as menacing as Negan. However, hes more effortlessly amusing and relies less on repetitive affectations. He is threatening in a much more casual, matter-of-fact way as opposed to Negans more belabored mannerisms.

Ogg was definitely the MVP of the episode.
Brad Pitt seems to have already moved on from ex-wife Angelina Jolie, and is reportedly sleeping with another actress almost as big as Jolie.

By India Today Web Desk: Brad Pitt already seems to have moved on after his separation with Angelina Jolie. If the grapevine is to be believed, the Hollywood superstar is 'sleeping with an actress who is almost as big as Angelina Jolie'.

The revelation comes from Kris Herzog, a bodyguard who works for both the family and Jolie's father Jon Voight. Herzog claims Pitt has already moved on from Jolie and is secretly seeing someone else.

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"He's started seeing another famous actress. She is a personal friend of mine and has told me they are sleeping together. I can't disclose who it is, but she is almost as big as Angelina," he said.



ALSO READ: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fighting hard to save marriage

ALSO SEE: How the internet reacted to Brangelina divorce (with Jennifer Aniston jokes!)



Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fans were in for a rude shock when news broke that the two had filed for divorce. While the couple is locked in a bitter battle over the custody of their six children, Brad thinks his children are being turned against him. He reportedly stormed out of a meeting with his children.

Pitt actor is concerned that his estranged wife is trying to turn their six children - Maddox (15), Pax (12), Zahara (11), Shiloh (10), and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - against him and that they have even stopped calling him daddy, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Herzog also revealed that Pitt's two supervised visits with his brood have not gone well.

"Brad is so angry. From what I've heard from Brad and Jon, even the kids are turning against him. He's alleging they won't even speak to him and they won't call him daddy or father. They've had two meetings with Los Angeles family services, and in both, none of the kids would talk to him," Herzog told Grazia magazine.

"He stormed out of the second one really angry, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. This fight is going nuclear now," he added.

Despite the Fury star's frustration with his estranged spouse, Jolie, he is unwilling to play dirty in their custody battle because he doesn't want to upset the children further.

It was in September this year that the world learnt of Brangelina having filed for a divorce on September 15, 2016, after two years of marriage. The Hollywood superstars tied the knot in a fairytale wedding on August 23, 2014, in France after being in a relationship for nine years.

ALSO WATCH: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt call it quits



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By Mohammed Ghobari SANAA (Reuters) - A two-day ceasefire after nearly two years of war in Yemen expired at midday (0900 GMT) on Monday would not be renewed, a spokesman for a Saudi-led military coalition told al-Arabiya TV, with each side blaming the other for violations. The 48-hour truce, announced unilaterally by the Saudi coalition on Friday, failed to halt fighting across the country between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-led forces. Gulf Arab states led by Saudi Arabia launched a military offensive on the side of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in March 2015 after the Houthis, backed by government troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, advanced on Hadi's temporary headquarters in Aden. Hadi was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia. The 20-month conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than three million. Residents in the capital Sanaa said that Saudi-led coalition jets had bombed army bases on a mountain overlooking the city earlier on Monday, and the force of the explosions had shaken buildings in several city neighborhoods. Sanaa is controlled by the Houthis, who still hold vast swathes of Yemen. Despite Saudi-led forces gaining territory from the northern Yemeni rebels, they have not succeeded in restoring Hadi to power. OBSERVERS An official from the Saudi-led coalition told Reuters that it would like the international community to deploy neutral observers on the ground to help monitor any future ceasefire. "To help apply a future ceasefire, observers on the ground who can certify any truce is what the coalition is looking for, provided the legitimate Yemeni government agrees," he said, referring to Hadi's government. The official said that the coalition had recorded 563 violations of the truce by the Houthis and their allies in Yemen's military inside the country during the weekend ceasefire, and 163 more across the border in Saudi Arabia. Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for Yemen's exiled government, declined to comment on the proposed deployment of observers but said Houthi violations had made extending the truce meaningless. A spokesman for Yemen's pro-Houthi military said in a statement that coalition and pro-Hadi forces had violated the truce 114 times and that its forces had "reserved the right to respond to violations and abuses of aggression". Visiting neighboring Oman last Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that both sides had agreed to a deal whereby the Houthis would quit Yemen's major cities and the factions would form a national unity government. But Hadi's government rejected the announcement that the warring parties had agreed to an open-ended truce and to work toward forming a joint government. It said it was not consulted about the accord and objected to demands that the Houthis withdraw from cities they had captured since 2014. The Houthis have also said the ceasefire was designed to undermine the agreement reached in Oman. The Saudi coalition has made no comment on the deal. (Additional reporting by William Maclean; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Eat at your own risk.

Ellen Steinberg is a discerning dinner guest. As a food safety specialist with the Georgia Department of Education's School Nutrition Program, she can't help but notice hosts who don't wash their hands, cats that aren't shooed off the counter and cooks who don't use a food thermometer. At restaurants, too, she's tempted to visit the bathroom before ordering. "If the bathroom isn't clean," she reasons, "chances are the back of the house isn't either." But for those of us who aren't food safety experts, how to prepare, handle and store food properly isn't second nature. U.S. News asked Steinberg and other pros to serve up answers to all the questions you are too embarrassed to ask:

Should you wash your turkey before cooking it?

Whether it's a Thanksgiving turkey or a weeknight piece of pork, rinsing poultry, meat or eggs before cooking them is likely to do more harm than good. Besides the fact that any bacteria you think you're washing away should be killed off when cooked, "you're increasing your chances for cross-contamination," since the meat's juices can land in your sink or on your countertop and mingle with other foods, Steinberg says.

Should you wash pre-washed produce?

Giving your spinach or snap peas another scrub-down isn't being safe, it's being sorry for potentially exposing the greens to harmful bacteria in the sink or on your countertop -- and for wasting your time. "If bacteria managed to survive the chlorinated wash in the processing plant, it will likely survive the additional rinsing at home," says Steinberg, who recommends buying non-bagged produce if you're going to wash it anyway. Just be sure to rinse it under running water -- not soap, detergent, bleach or commercial washes, suggests Foodsafety.gov, which is run by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Can you wash potatoes in the dishwasher?

Speaking of detergent, Steinberg has been surprised by how many people think washing potatoes in the dishwasher is a cute hack rather than a bad idea. "The dishwasher wasn't designed to wash food; it was designed to wash dishes," she says. "And whether or not there's soap in there that cycle, you have residual chemicals that have gone through that machine." And don't even try arguing that eating dishwasher-cleaned potatoes is the same as eating off a dishwasher-cleaned plate: Your potatoes, unlike your dishes, are sponges for risky agents, Steinberg says.

Do you need to wash watermelon?

Among the foods you actually do need to wash -- but may assume get a pass -- are fruits with rinds like watermelon, cantaloupe and oranges. "Wash all produce because whatever's on the outside will be transferred to the inside" when you slice into it, Steinberg says. Even food with peels like bananas should ideally be washed since your hands can transfer bacteria on the peel to your mouth. To wash sturdy fruits and vegetables thoroughly (cucumbers count, too!), use a clean produce brush, Foodsafety.gov suggests.

How often do you need to wash your hands when cooking?

In the case of hand-washing while cooking, more is better. Foodsafety.gov recommends doing so for 20 seconds with plain soap and warm water before, during and after preparing food, and especially after handling uncooked eggs, raw meat, seafood or poultry. And don't forget to remove your jewelry before cooking, adds Monica Amsterdam, director of nutrition at the Medical and Wellness Center of New Jersey. "Jewelry can hold and harbor microorganisms contaminating the food that we're eating," she says, as can touch-screen devices. "If you have to use your electronic device while cooking, make sure to disinfect it first," Amsterdam says.

What's a recipe's 'rest time'?

Recipes that have rest times -- or how long the dish should rest off the heat before digging in -- have them for a reason: "to allow the product to cook thoroughly," says Janell Goodwin, a technical information specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Take that goal a step further, she suggests, by using a food thermometer to see if your meal has reached what the USDA considers safe. "The most underutilized utensil that is really the secret of cooking is the food thermometer," Steinberg says, since you're also likely to overcook foods if you rely solely on, say, the juices' color.

Is the 5-second rule legit?

If you drop that steamy, buttery croissant on the ground, resist the temptation to grab it and pretend like nothing happened, Goodwin says. New research supports her: In a recent study, researchers found that all kinds of foods can become contaminated with harmful bacteria after less than one second on the floor, although the longer they're grounded and the wetter the food, the riskier it seems. If your dog or cat licks your food, consider it untouchable, too, Goodwin adds. "Our pets, although we love them dearly, can carry harmful bacteria in their mouths that aren't necessarily harmful to them, but can be harmful to us," she says.

Can you cool food in the refrigerator?

Your guests are hungry and you've got a hot pot of chili to appease them -- key word being "hot." How can you serve it quickly without burning their tongues? While you can put hot food in the fridge, Steinberg says, it's important to do it in smaller portions so that the food cools uniformly and as quickly as possible. "Improper cooling," she adds, "is a big way that people get foodborne illness." If you want to store, not serve, hot food, follow the same protocol or put it in shallow containers or an ice bath, while stirring every 10 minutes or so, Steinberg suggests.

How long is food safe on the counter?

Good food, drink and conversation can make it easy to forget just how long ago you abandoned that casserole on the counter. But if it's been close to or over two hours, don't try to salvage it, experts say. "Throw it out; it should never be reheated" at that point, Steinberg says, since a couple of hours at room temperature is plenty of time to accumulate bacteria that won't be killed off. Hot or cold foods shouldn't be transported at room temperature for more than two hours either, she adds. "Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold."

How long can I keep leftovers?

Nothing beats a thick sandwich stuffed with leftovers from yesterday's Thanksgiving feast. A lot beats a thick sandwich stuffed with leftovers from last week's Thanksgiving feast. "Never [eat leftovers] beyond seven days," says Steinberg, who recommends an even more conservative three or four day limit for meats and poultry. Remaining food, however, doesn't have to go to waste: Almost all food can be frozen indefinitely, Goodwin says. "Freezing ... prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness," she says. Check out the USDA's app to look up the recommended storage times for thousands of foods.

How many times can you reheat something?

Every time you reheat, say, mashed potatoes, you're sending them into what Steinberg calls "the temperature danger zone" -- that range between 40 and 140 degrees F that's prime for harmful bacteria growth. While one zap through the microwave is safe so long as your food's cooked to 165 degrees F, thoroughly stirred and reheated in an explicitly "microwave-safe" container, reheating and re-refrigerating the same batch day in and out just multiplies the food's visits through the danger zone, Steinberg says. Instead, only reheat what you know you can eat. "You get one try," she says.
Ariana Grande is up for the top award at tonight's AMAs, Artists of the Year, and she celebrated the evening with a tropical-themed duet alongside Nicki Minaj of her latest single, the reggae-tinged "Side to Side."

In front of a sandy rainforest backdrop, Grande kept things sultry over the first part of the song, before introducing Minaj, who left AN EXTREMELY SMALL AMOUNT TO THE IMAGINATION while running through her verse with her trademark ferocity, joining the phalanx of backup dancers to grind the track to its conclusion.

While it may not have been as explicit as Nicki's lap dance on Lil Wayne at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, it was right up there with Nicki's more risque national television moments.

"I love Nicki; this is the third song we've done together, and this is one of my favorite songs on the album," Grande said on the red carpet before the show.

"Side to Side" is currently at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, down one spot from last week's No. 6 peak due to the wild ride to No. 1 of Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles," and is Grande's seventh Top 10 track on the chart.

Check out Ariana and Nicki's performance above.
Hundreds of Brooklyn residents gathered at Brooklyn Heights Adam Yauch Park on Sunday morning to rally together after playground equipment in the park was defaced with anti-Semitic and pro-Trump graffiti just days earlier.

Among those who turned up to the rally was Yauchs fellow Beastie Boys co-founder Adam Horovitz  known to most by his stage name, Ad-Rock  who openly spoke out against the hateful messages of the parks graffiti.

I assuming that were all here today because were thinking the same thing, he said. Spray painting swastikas in a childrens playground is a messed up thing to do. And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and bandmate for over 30 years, but he was also someone who taught nonviolence in his music, in his life, to all of us and to me. But this is more about someone in New York City linking Nazi Germany to Donald Trump in a h-ll yeah kind of way in a park where children play.

He then encouraged them to make the positive changes in the world that they wanted to see.

If youre able to volunteer, volunteerif youre a musician, write that anthem. If youre a writer, write. Take what youre good at, and what you truly enjoy, and lend your services to the causes you care most about. Cause we cant, and we wont, and we dont stop.

Ad-Rock was joined by local elected officials and religious leaders in the community, according to Rolling Stone, reporting that Senator Daniel Squadron, who represents the Brooklyn neighborhood, was in attendance. This is just one of other instances of swastikas appearing in acts of vandalism in New York City and around the country since the presidential election; hate crime reports are also on the rise.

Watch Ad-Rocks full speech below.
Two Irish men, father and son, meet up after 15 years to discuss old times in a trailer for short film "The Hope Rooms."

It's a first major credit for director Sam Yates but he's already got some serious assistance from Ciaran Hinds and Andrew Scott in "The Hope Rooms."

Hinds played Mance Rayder in seasons 3 to 5 of "Game of Thrones," Dumbledore's brother in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," and has parts in upcoming Martin Scorsese film "Silence" and superhero movie "Justice League."

Andrew Scott, the younger of the pair, has been returning character Moriarty in the BBC's ongoing production of "Sherlock," and has also appeared in "John Adams," "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and Bond film "Spectre."

With the two men meeting in a London cafe, Polish actress Agnieszka Grochowska of "Child 44" and "In Darkness" appears alongside them as the cafe's Ileana.

"The Hope Rooms" made its world premiere at the Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival earlier this year, where Yates picked up the Filmmaker of the Future award's grand prize.

A first trailer for the short comes courtesy of Screen Daily: youtu.be/NcLcKT_182g
Goldberg made short work of Brock Lesnar on Sunday, stunning the fans at Torontos Survivor Series.

Readers can pretty much watch the entire match below  thats how quick and one-sided it was. Well get out of the way so you can enjoy it. (Or not enjoy it, like many fans reacting unfavorably on Twitter. Well get to those below.)

Also Read: 'Survivor Series': Shane McMahon Elbows Braun Strowman Through a Table (Video)

And heres the Goldberg Jackhammer that won it all, immediately after the dual Spears:

The highly anticipated match marked Bill Goldbergs first return to the squared circle since his 2004 retirement. The WCW legend had previously won his only other meeting with Lesnar, though the first one was far more competitive.

Also Read: The Shield Reunites at WWE's 'Survivor Series' (Video)

The whole main event took less than two minutes, annoying some pay-per-view watchers and WWE Network subscribers, like these folks:

It's been 20 minutes and I still have no idea what the hell I just saw. #SurvivorSeries  RandomMania (@RandomManiaPod) November 21, 2016

Wtf just happened. Horribly done #SurvivorSeries  Roy Fondaw jr (@kalelvslex) November 21, 2016

YO WTF. LESNAR GOT DESTROYED WTF. #SurvivorSeries  Logan (@Its_me_logz) November 21, 2016

The worst thing about it is that it makes Taker, Cena, Rollins, Reigns, Ambrose and Orton all look like nothing. #BrockvsGoldberg  PWM (@ProWrestlingMag) November 21, 2016

The shock is wearing off. The anger is kicking in. All that hype. The Lesnar streak. Utter nonsense. #SurvivorSeries  Adam Blampied (@AdamTheBlampied) November 21, 2016

Related stories from TheWrap:

The Shield Reunites at WWE's 'Survivor Series' (Video)

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Mick Foley Gives 4 Reasons Why Former Rival Big Van Vader Should Be in WWE Hall of Fame

WWE's Undertaker Returns to 'SmackDown'  With a Threat (Video)

WWE's Renee Young Previews Goldberg-Brock Lesnar at 'Survivor Series'

'Survivor Series': Shane McMahon Elbows Braun Strowman Through a Table (Video)

Shane McMahon Appears to Get Really Hurt From Rough 'Survivor Series' Bump (Video)
As President Obama prepares to leave office after eight years, Netflix is presenting Barry, a movie dramatizing the 44th president of United States as a 20-year-old college student in New York City.

The movie, set to debut on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 16, stars Australian actor Devon Terrell as the young Obama arriving at Columbia University in the fall of 1981 to begin his junior year  a pivotal moment in his life that laid the foundation for his views on race, government, and what it means to be an American. Barry depicts Obama struggling to maintain a series of increasingly strained relationships with his Kansas-born mother, his estranged Kenyan father, and his classmates.

In the trailer, a fellow student tells Obama that because hes of mixed race, he can fit in anywhere. I fit in nowhere, Obama responds.

Netflix acquired rights to Barry after its premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. The films director, Vikram Gandhi (Kumare, HBOs Vice), who is a Columbia University grad, approached fellow alum Adam Mansbach (author of Go the F to Sleep) on the project and Mansbach penned the script.

Varietys Owen Glieberman called the movie at once moving and revealing in his review. The film is rooted in the murky, drifting, sleep-late-and-get-stoned-and-do-whatever nature of college life that the movies almost never get right, Glieberman wrote. This one does, and thats one reason it feels bracingly authentic.

Barry is a joint production between Black Bear Pictures and Cinetic Media, produced by Cinetics Dana OKeefe and Black Bears Teddy Schwarzman and Ben Stillman. The movie is the first production for Jon Sloss Cinetic.

The cast of Barry includes Ashley Judd (Divergent, Double Jeopardy) and Jenna Elfman (Friends With Benefits, Big Stone Gap), along with Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood), and Avi Nash (Learning to Drive, Silicon Valley).

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Related stories

Netflix VP on 'Gilmore Girls' Revival: 'Wherever They Lead, We Will Follow'

Amazon Gives Quiet Launch to Prime Video in Australia

Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Trailer Promises Lots of Misfortune, Neil Patrick Harris (Watch)
On Monday, autonomous vehicle software startup nuTonomy announced a partnership with officials of the city of Boston that would allow the company to bring its self-driving cars to the citys streets. Starting later this year, NuTonomy will begin testing its self-driving Renault Zoe electric cars in an industrial park in South Boston.

NuTonomys Boston setup is similar to its tests in Singapore, where its self-driving cars operate within a 1.5-square-mile section dubbed North 1. Singapores Land Transport Authority designated North 1 as a test site for self-driving cars. Unlike other self-driving car tests, nuTonomys cars will be operating in a somewhat closed-off space from pedestrians and traffic.

Boston is ready to lead the charge on self-driving vehicles, and I am committed to ensuring autonomous vehicles will benefit Bostons residents. This is an exciting step forward, and together with our public and private partners, we will continue to lead the way in creating a safe, reliable and equitable mobility plan for Bostons residents, said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in a statement.

Image: nuTonomy

During the Boston tests, an engineer from NuTonomy will ride in the self-driving cars for monitory purposes. The vehicles will not be picking up or dropping off any passengers, at least not yet. The startup is currently partnering with Southeast Asia-based ride-hail company Grab in Singapore, but it will likely be harder to strike up a deal with an American ride sharing company.

For nuTonomy, the tests are a way to provide its unique software a chance to learn local road signs and markings, as well as gain a deeper understanding of driver, cyclist, and pedestrian behaviors in a complicated urban environment. Testing our self-driving cars so near to nuTonomys home is the next step towards our ultimate goal: deployment of a safe, efficient, fully autonomous mobility-on-demand transportation service, said nuTonomy CEO Karl Iagnemma in a statement.

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NuTonomy is an MIT spin-off that is known for its state-of-the-art self-driving cars and autonomous mobile robots.It was founded in 2013. The startup joins other companies testing out self-driving technology in cities across the U.S. Ride-hailing giant Uber is currently operating its cars in Pittsburgh, offering rides to residents since September. Alphabet Inc.s GOOGL Google division has been testing its autonomous cars throughout Austin, Texas, Mountain View, California, and Kirkland, Washington. Both companies are testing their cars in Arizona as well.

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By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Nov 21 (PTI) China today lodged a protest to Myanmar after a Chinese citizen was hit by a stray bullet when Myanmar forces and ethnic armed groups exchanged fire in a border town, Foreign Ministry said, calling on the warring parties to halt fighting and exercise restraint.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area in northern Myanmars Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade centre there.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China has taken measures to enhance border control in a bid to protect the safety and property of Chinese border residents.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement last night reminding Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding conflict areas.

China will continue to follow the development of the situation and maintain communication with Myanmar, Geng said at a daily press briefing.

"We strongly hope the parties in the conflict will exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations to avoid escalation of the situation," he said.

He also called on them to take concrete measures to restore peace in the China-Myanmar border area and prevent harm to Chinas sovereignty as well as the lives and property of border residents.

Eight people were killed yesterday when fighting broke out in northern Myanmar town on the border with China, a region long plagued by ethnic rebel insurgencies.

The clashes are another blow to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyis hopes of forging a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmars many ethnic minority border regions.

Last year, Chinese military deployed its force along the border after five people were killed and several others wounded in firing by aMyanmarjet which was reportedly chasing Kokoang rebels in the border areas.

Themain rebel force in Kokang is theMyanmarNational Democratic Alliance Army (MDAA) who are ethnic Chinese and once formed part of Communist Party forces in the region.

The MDAA is led by ethnic Chinese commanderPeng Jiashengwho has reached a peace accord with theMyanmar government which lasted until 2009.

He again resurfaced last year promptingMyanmarto seek Chinese assistance to crackdown on his outfit.

Reports fromMyanmar last year blamedPengs return as the root cause for resumption of fighting.

Penghas denied any Chinese involvement in interviews to the official media here. PTI KJV PMS

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Bogota (AFP) - A violent backlash against fragile peace efforts to end Colombia's half-century civil war has intensified in recent days with the killings of several community leaders, officials and rebels have warned.

The government and leftist FARC rebels are closer than they have ever been to sealing a historic peace accord, but violence appears to have resurged in places as that deal has faltered.

Observers from the Organization of American States said Sunday that civil organizations in conflict areas reported 33 of their leaders killed this year, including several in recent days.

Just over a week ago, Colombia's government said it had drawn up a revised peace deal to end the 52-year civil war with the FARC leftist rebels.

But remnants of right-wing paramilitary groups who took part in the many-sided conflict are said to remain active.

"A new genocide is taking place against civil and rural leaders," the FARC said in an open letter to President Juan Manuel Santos.

It said three such victims had been killed and two other "attacks" launched in the past two days alone.

The FARC described them as "selective, politically-motivated killings" by parties opposed to the peace process.

That was an apparent reference to the right-wing armed groups and their supporters.

Voters rejected an earlier version of the peace plan in a referendum last month.

Opposition to that accord was led by conservative former president Alvaro Uribe.

The government hopes with Uribe's backing to bring the new agreement into force quickly.

A two-way ceasefire between the government and FARC has been in force since August. But the sides have warned it is fragile.

The FARC called in its letter for the immediate application of security guarantees in the planned peace accord to protect people in conflict zones.

Santos vowed on Twitter "to take action against crimes and attacks on social leaders."

Fears for the ceasefire had already risen last week when two FARC guerrillas were killed in what authorities said was a clash with the army.

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Meanwhile FARC officials who had participated in negotiations in Cuba converged Monday in Bogota with group leaders from around Colombia, for meetings on implementing the agreement, the rebels said on Twitter.

The Colombian conflict started in 1964 when the FARC formed to fight for land rights for rural communities.

It has since drawn in various left- and right-wing armed groups, state forces and gangs.

Recent efforts by the government to start talks with the second-biggest rebel group, the leftist ELN, have failed due to disputes over hostages.

The conflict has killed 260,000 people, according to authorities.

Another 60,630 people -- or one every eight hours -- have gone missing during the last 45 years of conflict, a report by the National Center for Historical Memory (CNMH) said Monday.
WebMD Health Corp. WBMD announced that it has commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 2 million shares of its common stock. The tender offer will expire on Thursday, Dec 15, 2016. At the end of the last reported quarter, WebMD had approximately $1.065 billion in cash and investments. The company will use a portion of its cash and investments to fund the tender offer.



Going forward, we believe that the focus of the company on acquiring new clients will help WebMD Health gain better market traction, which will lead to increased business. It has been a story of constant achievements for the company which provides advertising and sponsorship solutions to targeted demographics and licenses private portal services to employers and health plans.



Based in New York, NY, WebMD Health is a leading provider of health information services, serving consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through public and private online portals, mobile platforms and health-focused publications.



We believe the company is well positioned to capitalize on growth and major changes that are currently affecting the healthcare industry. We also believe that the recent changes in Capitol Hill would make the companys core areas of expertise i.e. the online audience of healthcare consumers and physicians in the U.S. health information market space more geared toward growth.



However, the companys top line is heavily dependent on the advertising and sponsorship budgets of brands at pharmaceutical manufacturers. This we believe is a major overhang on the company. Other major areas of concern for the company include drug patent expiration, increased formulary restrictions on high-priced launches, and restrictions on drug promotion to physicians and consumers.

WEBMD HEALTH CP Price

WEBMD HEALTH CP Price | WEBMD HEALTH CP Quote

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, WebMD Health has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space include Cogentix Medical, Inc. CGNT, CryoLife Inc. CRY and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX. Notably, IDEXX Laboratories and Cogentix sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while CryoLife has a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Cogentix Medical registered a positive earnings surprise of 100% in the last reported quarter. Notably, the company has a solid one-year return of roughly 73.7%.



CryoLife has a stellar one-year return of roughly 90.7%. In the last reported quarter, the company registered an impressive earnings surprise of 225%.



IDEXX Laboratories represents a solid one-year return of almost 67.8%. The company has a long-term expected growth rate of almost 14.96%.

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Amid mounting litigation issues, the U.S. lender  Wells Fargo & Company WFC  has once again caught regulators eyes. On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) intimated the bank about taking regulatory approvals before making business decisions.



Particularly, Wells Fargo is restricted from making golden parachute payments to its departing executives. Moreover, for hiring or laying off senior executives along with changes in business plans, the board of directors will require prior approval from the OCC.



However, nothing was clear on OCCs part regarding the changes in the terms of the agreement which was negotiated in September with the bank. At that time, the bank agreed to a $185 million fine for settling charges related to illegal customer accounts.



We continue to cooperate with the OCC as well as all our regulators and will comply with these requirements, said Jennifer Dunn, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman. She further added, This will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy, rebuild trust and serve our customers, and continue to operate the company for the benefit of all our stakeholders.



After the disclosure of malpractices related to opening of around two million bank and credit card accounts without customer consent, Wells Fargo is facing issues with clients as they are reluctant to do business with the lender. Notably, post-scandal, the bank is disclosing the position of customer accounts monthly at its branches to let investors and the public know about the impact on bank.



In October, the bank witnessed a year-over-year plunge of 44% in new account openings, along with a sequential fall of 27%. The decline was chiefly due to the full-month impact of customers reaction to the sales malpractices settlement announced on Sep 8, 2016, and lower marketing activities. In addition, the customer-initiated account closures rose modestly by 3%, both from the prior year and the previous quarter. Also, the bank noted that survey results of customers satisfaction with their most recent visit were 73.9%, down from 77.4% in Oct 2015.



Conclusion



The allegation led to many setbacks involving the banks shattered image, numerous lawsuits, triggered federal and state investigations, congressional hearings and the banks former CEO  John Stumpf  losing his job. (Read: Will Tim Sloan be the Turnaround CEO for Wells Fargo?). Further, in Oct 2016, the state of Illinois suspended $30 billion in investment activity with Wells Fargo for predatory and illegal banking practices. (Read More: Wells Fargo Loses Illinois State Business in Latest Setback).



However, post-scandal, the bank undertook many steps to restore its reputation. It initiated an internal probe and hired a consultant to review sales practices. Moreover, management proposed to eliminate sales goals for its retail banking business earlier than planned.



While the current crisis at Wells Fargo will take some time to alleviate, we believe that continued growth in loans and deposits, and expansion moves should support its growth profile going forward.



Wells Fargo currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Other Stocks to Consider



The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation BK with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the last 30 days. So far this year, the companys share price has been up more than 18.7%.



Comerica Incorporated CMA has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the last 30 days. Further, the stock has risen over 47.3% so far this year. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.



Fifth Third Bancorp FITB has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the last 30 days. Also, the companys shares have surged nearly 31.4% so far this year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.



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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Westell Technologies (WSTL), a leading provider of high-performance wireless infrastructure solutions, announced today that it will be presenting at the 9th Annual LD Micro Main Event on Tuesday, December 6 at 1 PM PST / 4 PM EST at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. Senior Vice President and CEO Tom Minichiello will be presenting, as well as meeting with investors.

The LD Micro Main Event is the largest independent conference for small/microcap companies and will feature 240 presenting names.

The Westell presentation will be webcast live and recorded. You can access the live webcast at wsw.com/webcast/ldmicro11/wstl. An archived version will be made available for approximately 90 days after the live presentation.

View Westell Technologies' profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/WSTL

News Compliments of Accesswire

About Westell Technologies

Westell is a leading provider of high-performance wireless infrastructure solutions focused on innovation and differentiation at the edge of communication networks, where end users connect. The Company's comprehensive set of products and solutions enable service providers and network operators to improve performance and reduce operating expenses. With millions of products successfully deployed worldwide, Westell is a trusted partner for transforming networks into high quality, reliable systems. For more information, please visit www.westell.com.

About LD Micro

LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event).

In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and microcap universe.

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For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com/events for more information.

Contact:

Name: Tom Minichiello

Phone: 630-375-4740

Email: tminichiello@westell.com

SOURCE: Westell Technologies via LD Micro
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from episode eight of HBO's Westworld.]

A bald man with killer instincts, a sharp gaze and an even sharper knife searches a mysterious world for answers to life's greatest questions: purpose, existence - and above all else, destiny.

Does that description apply to the Man in Black of Westworld or John Locke of Lost? You be the judge. In either case, director Stephen Williams certainly knows a thing or two about both characters.

Williams, who directed several episodes of the erstwhile island drama, was the man behind the lens on Sunday's episode of Westworld, called "Trace Decay," featuring a more vulnerable side of Ed Harris' brooding gunslinger. As the Man inches closer to the maze he seeks, other characters on the board further unravel in their own right: Bernard (Jeffrey Wright), shell-shocked in the wake of discovering he's a host; Maeve (Thandie Newton), now capable of rewriting other hosts' programming with nothing more than voice commands; and Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood), no longer sure where or when she is.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams opens up about all of those storylines and more, including comparisons between Westworld and Lost, and a side of Anthony Hopkins the world desperately needs to see.

Read more: 'Westworld': 10 Key Moments From Episode 8, 'Trace Decay'

As an extremely detail-oriented show and world built on an elaborate mystery, Westworld has earned more than a few comparisons to Lost. As someone who worked on both shows, do you see the comparison, and did you feel it at all as you worked on episode eight?

That's an interesting observation. Really, there are similarities. Just in terms of the overall construction of a huge, epic narrative that has, in many ways, a series of Russian nesting egg mysteries at its core that need to be peeled back by an ever attentive audience and viewership. There are similarities in that regard for sure. They're both complex, epic narratives.

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Last week's episode ended with the bombshell reveal that Bernard is really a host. This is the first full episode where we know the truth. What were your conversations like with Jeffrey about how best to show this new side of Bernard?

The first thing to say about Jeffrey Wright is that he is a legend among actors. He's literally capable of doing anything. There is a subtlety and intelligence to everything he does and everything he brings to the screen, and his essaying of a role. We talked first and foremost about the fact that killing Theresa is horrifying to him. It's a betrayal of everything he was. He genuinely had real feelings for her. The sadness and horror of his manipulation makes that feel even more real. Our discussions were in general terms about how to portray that. But Jeffrey shows up with an incredible actor's toolbox. He needs very little in the way of direction.

Ford remarks that the only thing more sublime than a host's array of emotions is the ability to silence those emotions in an instant. It's certainly sublime within the world of the show, as much as it is in the context of Westworld as a show and as an acting challenge - Evan Rachel Wood refers to these scenes where hosts lose and gain emotional affect on a loop as "the acting Olympics." What were your observations of these performances, from your side of the camera?

Both Jeffrey and Evan are actors that have amazing access to a deep and seemingly endless emotional reservoir. At the same time, they are incredible technical actors. They can turn on a dime. It's really quite astonishing and mesmerizing to watch. What's really cool in that moment in this episode is you're reminded at the same time about the immense power Ford commands as the creator of this place. There's an extraordinary power there. With Tony there, you just don't ever quite know where you stand with him, because of that power and him wielding that power. In many way, it's a symbiotic actor moment.

Bernard asks Ford if he's ever hurt anyone other than Theresa. Ford says no, and as he does, Bernard experiences a vision in which he's choking Elsie. Some are taking that as confirmation that Bernard killed Elsie (Shannon Woodward). Is that the right read?

Very nicely done. (Laughs) Let me refer you to your earlier question about Lost. There's a form of storytelling that I happen to be somewhat partial to, which embraces the thrill of ambiguity. So I will only say this: I will answer your question with this question. Are we in fact sure that that was Elsie?

Elsewhere in the episode, The Man in Black and Teddy (James Marsden) encounter one of Wyatt's minions, someone who looks like Westworld's answer to The Mountain from Game of Thrones. Can you confirm that this is not indeed The Mountain?

That's hilarious. (Laughs) I can neither confirm nor deny.

What did you want to accomplish with the staging of this fight between the Man in Black, Teddy and this mountain man?

The overarching idea is that the Man in Black is on this quest for the maze. The further out from the epicenter of the park he goes, the greater the ante is upped in terms of the dangers he faces. He can be seriously affected, hurt and impacted by the park. In a way, that huge mountain man as you call him is a reflection of the increasing jeopardy that the Man in Black faces as he continues his quest for the maze, using Teddy as his guide to Wyatt, which he thinks will be a key that unlocks his path toward the maze.

We see several of Wyatt's minions at the end of the episode, shrouded in darkness but clearly covered in fur and animal parts. Can you shed any light on Wyatt's followers in terms of character design?

Our costume designer Ane Crabtree is brilliant. She does a huge amount of research into the costumes that everybody wears on the show. She takes great pains and care in having them constructed, the materials that are used. In this particular case, it speaks to the outlier nature of this group of marauders. It's all meant to create a scary and terrifying and feral no-holds-barred, no-rules kind of environment that our heroes confront.

Read more: 'Westworld' Pushes Man in Black Theory Further Down the Path in "Trace Decay"

The Man in Black opens up about his dark past and reasons for playing Arnold's game in what's easily the most revealing scene about the character so far. It's a heavy story he tells, about killing Maeve and her daughter, but he says that he felt "nothing" after the act - and there's an absence of emotion, a weariness or resignation, in how he tells the tale. Was that an active part of your conversations with Ed Harris about how best to relate this story about an atrocious act that made him feel nothing?

I don't think that's actually true. I think he does feel something. I think it resonates and lands with him in a way that only confirms for him his need to continue on this quest. Like so many of the characters on Westworld, he's on a journey of his own self-discovery. While he's outside the confines of this park a titan of industry, and as we got a clue in an earlier episode he's a philanthropist on the outside, he's nonetheless aware that there's a darkness in him that he doesn't quite understand, that he grapples with, and is desperate and needful of unraveling and deciphering and figuring out. He tells that story because it really held a mirror up to himself. The experience he had with his wife and his daughter outside the park really held the mirror up to himself about this dark mystery at his core. He's trying to figure out what that all means.

Throughout the episode, Maeve experiences old memories of her life on the homestead with her daughter, before it was ruined by the Man in Black. These are incredibly emotional scenes, a stark contrast to the modern Maeve, mostly in control of her emotional affect. What are your memories of how Thandie played these scenes?

You mentioned earlier this analogy between athletes and actors. There's an analogy to be had. If in fact being a thespian is analogous to being a creative athlete, then Thandie Newton is an Olympian, straight up. She plays a full spectrum of emotions. She is so in touch with her interior landscape. As a character, Maeve is looking outward and trying to figure out and understand the larger context of this world. She's trying to find meaning in her own story and free herself and come into a knowledge and awareness of herself. Her journey takes her from strength to vulnerability and back again. Thandie is just an amazing actor.

Maeve also gains the power to "write her own story," changing hosts' programming at will, with little more than voice commands. There's a theatricality to it, as Maeve waltzes through Hector's heist and rewrites the hosts. It's dark in many respects, but it's also one of the lighter scenes of the episode.

Right. That whole sequence was tricky to achieve, tonally. We shot it in long takes, particularly once Hector and his gang arrive. But the idea was that Thandie has obviously talked Felix (Leonardo Nam) and Sylvester (Ptolemy Slocum) into updating her core code, which allows her to do two things: one, actually hurt, harm or potentially even kill humans; and secondly, actually impact the behavior of other hosts in a way that beforehand we really largely only saw Ford was able to do. As she tries out this new skill set, this new ability, as she practices it in the real world - and I use that term advisedly - we get to see her shape the narrative that we've seen in previous episodes play out in a particular way. Her growing awareness that she can have that impact is one that obviously pleases her, because it speaks to her ability to assemble the team she's going to need in order to ultimately secure her own freedom. You see her go through that cycle of being tentative at first, trying it out, then growing in confidence and satisfaction as she confirms for herself that she can now actually effect these narratives and rewrite stories in the way we see her do in this episode.

Returning to Lost, you directed "Lockdown," which fans will always remember as the episode with the elaborate blast door map. I can't tell you how many hours I invested in analyzing that thing. Even if it's not a visual, is there something in this episode you feel is worth poring over in as much detail as the blast door map - a scene, a performance, an image, something else?

How about everything? (Laughs) That episode, "Lockdown," the equations that appear on the blast door in the hatch were in fact co-created by Zack Grobler, our production designer on Lost. He's also our production designer on Westworld [alongside Nathan Crowley, production designer for the pilot]. He and his wife cooked up that series of equations. So that's a good place for fans to start: Hit Zack Grobler's e-mail up relentlessly, and hopefully it'll shake something loose from the trees. (Laughs) I also want to mention Jeffrey Wright. He's an actor I have admired for ages. Just before I went off to be a producing director on Lost, Jeffrey generously agreed to appear in an indie movie that I was on the verge of doing, which ultimately we didn't make because of a scheduling conflict with Lost. But I had wanted to work with Jeffrey since 2004, so this was an amazing connection of the circle. And then there's my main man, Tony Hopkins. I have to say, we have become very close. Tony will confirm that he learned how to fist-bump and dance to Drake's "Hotline Bling" by hanging out with me. It's an honor and a privilege to not only work with this material that [showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy] have constructed so elaborately and so painstakingly and so thoughtfully and so carefully, but to have a chance to make all of their hard work manifest with this amazing cast and crew has been an insane opportunity.

Does an Anthony Hopkins "Hotline Bling" video exist somewhere on the planet? How do we see this?

(Laughs) Maybe on the DVD extras of season one.

Follow THR's Westworld coverage for more interviews, news and recaps.




HBO

Each week, Brian Grubb and Keith Phipps will attempt to unpack the latest episode of the HBO series Westworld, a show about an amusement park populated by lifelike robots thats also about other stuff.

The Horrible Truth About Bernard

Keith: This week starts with Bernard waking up, which seems fitting given how last weeks episode ended. He begins the episode in pain over what he did to Theresa and he ends it having lost that pain, its erasure his reward for doing Fords dirty work. Its a contrast to what we learn about Maeve and her own resistance to having her memories wiped (more on that below). But Im not sure Bernard would be so quick to surrender that if he thought it was gone forever. When he asks Ford if hes been made to hurt others before, does he know the answer before he flashes on Elsie? I think something deepers going on here. Also, R.I.P. Elsie? Shes gone, right? Shell be missed if so.

Brian: A few things:

 Ford tries to justify the backstory he gave Bernard by saying the pain gives him heart and heart makes him more real, but the biggest thing I took away from it all was how cruel it was, and how flippant Ford was about it. He created a robot to serve as his number two and he gave the robot a tragic story about a dead child that the robot has to live with forever under the impression that its real.

 Does Bernard, like, age? None of the other hosts appear to. Seems like it would come up after a few years at the company. Happy birthday, Bernard. How old are you? 87. Wow. You look good.

 The Elsie memory flash is interesting because it means at least two things: One, that Bernard has been Fords assassin before, and could have any number of bodies on his list. And two, that if he killed or kidnapped Elsie  this vacation story is a very thin and temporary cover, and makes me think Ford could be whipping up a Robot Elsie to take her place  and Ford wiped his memory, then Bernard could possibly remember Theresa, too. Both their relationship and the murder.

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 Stubbs knows!

 It was very weird that Ford and Charlotte had their passive aggressive argument about the Clementine ruse and Bernards reinstatement while standing over Theresas dead body. Like, dang. Step out into the hallway for a sec. Also, shouldnt someone have called the police? Because it seemed like they just had a butcher for the hosts do an autopsy on a human who died under mysterious circumstances and then everyone moved very quickly to Now, about Bernard

 Hale and Lee the Writer are up to something with Dolores old malfunctioning dad and yet all I can think about it how much Lee sounds like Jimmy from Youre the Worst and how much I now wish Jimmy had been hired to write a narrative.

Dolores Finds Her Way Home

HBO

Brian: I know Doloress story is supposed to tie everything together. I know there are probably a few timelines shes on, all of which was made even murkier by her freaking out and asking William When are we? Is this now?, which seems to imply her at least some of her flashbacks have been to a third period (giving us a Man in Black one, a William one, and an Arnold one?). And I know that the town she was at probably had plenty of significance related to Arnolds past and whatever Ford is planning going forward, based on the church and the old training stuff and her memories of killing everyone. (I guess?)

The problem is that I find myself caring less and less about it each week. Theres so much going on in the show that is interesting to me (the Maeve stuff, the Charlotte/Ford stuff, Bernard being a secret robot assassin) that whenever the show cuts to Dolores and William riding around on horseback and talking about dreams and voices and what to do about massacres theyve stumbled upon, I just start getting restless. It all seems needlessly confusing at this point. I was actually happy to see Logan when he showed up to grab them. I did not expect to ever feel that way about seeing him again.

What about you? Are you digging this more than I am?

Keith: I get where youre coming from but Im not quite there, largely because I find Evan Rachel Woods performance so compelling. The journey this character is on is fascinating even if it sometimes feels like were being driven in circles. Oh, another flashback (its a flashback, right?) Another chilling image that hints at dread possibilities. That said, some of the images Dolores runs into this week are pretty chilling, especially a complacent Maeve going through dance steps without any evidence of a rebellious impulse. In other words, Im taking a wait-and-see attitude with this. If it all leads to an interesting place, itll have been worth it.

The Man In Black Tells All

HBO

Keith: We finally learn the Man In Blacks backstory this week, or at least as much as he cares to reveal to Teddy. Assuming hes telling the truth  and I dont think we have a reason to assume otherwise  it squares pretty well with what we already know: That hes rich and respected back in the real world. It also squares with what we could safely assume about him: That, deep down, hes driven by some pretty demanding demons. I always assumed that whatever he did to Maeve was just another random act of cruelty, but now it looks like it might have been a turning point for him. (To say nothing of it being a turning point for Maeve.) Also, not to get too deep into fan theory territory, but the identity of the survivor (or survivor) of Wyatts attack is significant. Shes the host that brings Wiliam into the park in episode two. (Hats off to this Esquire piece. That would have slipped by me.) Does this confirm two timelines or nah?

Brian: Hmm. It might, right? If so, and the Man in Black is just Old William, thats a heck of a memory dude has. Unless that particular host was his concierge on other trips.

Anyway, Im glad we know a little more about his backstory but I was kind of hoping it would be less The real world is pain and Im here to understand that and find my true self than it was Im just some evil rich guy who likes killing robots. This way is better for the story, long-term, I guess, but it felt a little on-the-nose. Maybe I just didnt want a backstory for him at all. I dont know. R.I.P. Williams wife?

Maeve Tries To Slip The Chain

HBO

Brian: This was, if nothing else, a big episode for Thandie Newton slashing peoples throats and/or shooting people devilish, knowing looks, often while nude. Especially the latter. It happened like five or six times, usually when Sylvester started whining about something, which he did a lot, for reasons that were not entirely unreasonable (tinkering with company property to turn a robot madam into a superhero who has designs on escaping is at the very least a fireable offense), but in a way that was just insufferable as all hell. The show worked very hard to make him unlikable, so his throat getting slit was cathartic, even if it raised a bunch of questions. (Felix, who can barely make a little birdie fly, can alter core code now? And if it was done under Maeves direction, theres no safeguard in place to prevent hosts from getting smart enough to do that themselves? Isnt it odd that the two butchers roped into Maeves plan share names with famous cartoon cats? And so on.)

But the bigger issues with Maeve right now are probably a) her becoming the Neo of Sweetwater, b) us learning her history and how it all ties into the Man in Black, and c) her attempting to recruit an army until her memory went haywire during the Man in Blacks monologue, resulting in New Clementine getting her throat slit, too. I cant say Im exactly sure how that all worked, but I can say that Maeve running around altering the other hosts actions was kind of cool and it would be a very fun power to play with in real life. I would eat so much free pizza. I dont know why free pizza is the first thing I jumped to when dreaming of unlimited power. Apparently I have simple desires.

Point being: Is Maeve gonna kill all those park employees who went to collect her? Is that whats happening here? Or is she gonna pause her plan and let them take her in, risking that they could notice her altered code?

Keith: I dont have answers to those questions, but I am enjoying how Maeve controls the other hosts by essentially writing their actions as if she were composing prose for a piece of fiction. Its another meta touch about the act of storytelling in a series filled with them. Shes a character whos seized control of her own story, but also perhaps discovered that aspects of storytelling are out of her control. You can reshape words but you cant reshape language itself, and it might not be within her power to will herself out of the park, no matter how high Felix pumps her stats.

And, yes, I just caught the cartoon cats reference this week too! Want to unpack it a bit? Felix The Cat is crafty while Sylvester is inept. That sort applies to the shows Felix and Sylvester, but not really. Maybe its best not to read too much into it.

Can I just add that, nothing against New Clementine (which is how shes billed in the credits), but I miss the old Clementine. Between Clem, Theresa, and Elsie (right?), were losing some compelling supporting characters at an alarming rate. And yet Lee shows no sign of getting killed off no matter what stupid things he does.

Whats Going On With Wyatt?

HBO

Brian: So as far as I can tell, this is what we know about Wyatt: Hes some sort of be-all, end-all villain-type who has a horde of horned bullet-resistant goons that roam the uncharted edges of the park; he has a history with Teddy that is mysterious and that caused two soldiers to freak out and take Teddy and the Man in Black hostage upon spotting them; he may or may not have been created by Ford specifically to thwart the Man in Black and prevent him from continuing the Arnold-related quest hes on. This last one is not based on much evidence, admittedly, but feels to me like something Ford would do.

Most importantly, and this is something Ive said before and will continue saying until someone addresses it, he should have a much more evil-sounding name than Wyatt. Like The Conquistador or Hell Chad or Hell Chad the Conquistador. Something like that.

Keith: With you on this. Even Two-Gun Wyatt or something would help. Then again, it helps to manage expectations. Like, if Wyatt turns out to be moderately scary hell have exceeded the expectations created by his name. For a guy named Wyatt, we might say, hes pretty badass. Certainly his henchmen are pretty badass. Whether or not their boss can live up to the build-up remains, like so much of the show as it enters its first seasons home stretch, to be seen.
[Warning: This story contains spoilers for the eighth episode of HBO's Westworld.]

After the shocking ending of Westworld's seventh episode, in which it's revealed Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) is secretly a host, virtually every possibility is on the table - and after the latest hour of the HBO drama, it appears another major fan theory is closer to fruition.

Over the course of "Trace Decay," the eighth episode of Westworld, two different stories inch closer to their desired destinations: Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and William (Jimmi Simpson) searching for the center of the maze, and the Man in Black's (Ed Harris) similar search. Depending on your theory of choice, both of these stories are interlocked, as many fans believe William and the Man in Black are the same person, separated by 30 years of time. While nothing of the sort was outright confirmed in "Trace Decay," a few new details certainly push the "William in Black" theory further along the path - largely thanks to the return of a familiar face.

Here's how the episode played out:

John P. Johnson/HBO

Rebooting Bernard

The episode begins with a distraught Bernard, fresh from learning the truth about his existence, not to mention killing Theresa (Sidse Babett Knudsen). Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) manages to calm Bernard down, explaining that Theresa sought to undo all the beautiful work accomplished in the park over the years. Ford commands Bernard to destroy any shred of evidence of his relationship with Theresa, including his memories of the relationship.

"Best to move forward with clear eyes," Ford tells his robot friend.

Charlotte's Backup Plan

Ford later meets with Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) and Ashley Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) about Theresa's death. Her body was recovered from a ravine, along with a satellite uplink that suggests she was working with outside forces. Clearly, it's part of Ford's staging, but Charlotte isn't able to refute him in the moment. She even agrees to rehire Bernard. But that doesn't mean she's without a plan. She later approaches Sizemore (Simon Quarterman) and brings him to the basement filled with decommissioned hosts. There, out of all the possible shells, they settle on Peter Abernathy (Louis Herthum), Dolores' retired father. Charlotte instructs Sizemore to upload all of Westworld's elaborate data into Abernathy's empty brain, and give him enough of a personality to read as human and successfully escape Westworld with all secrets intact. Definitely nothing wrong with that plan.

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Who Elsie Did Bernard Hurt?

After clearing all of the information about Theresa, Bernard asks Ford a few more questions about the nature of his existence. His most important question: "Have you ever made me hurt anyone like this before?" Ford offers a very quick "no," which counters one of Bernard's memories: He recalls strangling Elsie (Shannon Woodward), missing ever since she started looking into the mole situation. The memories are short-lived, as Ford scrubs Bernard's recollection of the event, but Bernard's not out of the woods yet. Stubbs somehow knows about Bernard's relationship with Theresa, and seems to suspect the scientist might be involved in not only her death, but Elsie's disappearance as well.

John P. Johnson/HBO

End the Suffering

Meanwhile, William and Dolores continue their adventure and discover a bunch of slaughtered soldiers along a riverbank. One soldier remains alive, barely breathing. Dolores wants to revive the man, but William wonders if it's more humane to let him die - especially since he's a host and can be brought back online. Dolores goes to fetch the man water, and when she returns, he's dead. It's not clear if William euthanized the young host during Dolores' brief absence, but if he did, it would certainly follow with the Man in Black trajectory.

A Matter of When

Finally, William and Dolores reach the small town she's seen in her dreams. As she enters, Dolores starts experiencing events across a couple of different possible time periods. It's clear the town was once a training ground for the hosts, in the earliest days of the park. But it also seems to double as the site where the enigmatic Wyatt unleashed a murder rampage. Dolores even sees herself as a possible perpetrator of the violence. William shakes her out of her vision, but Dolores can't tell what's real or not anymore: "Where are we? When are we? Is this now? Am I going mad?" She says that this is what Arnold wanted her to remember - but "whoever Arnold is, he's not here now. I am," William assures her. He whisks her away from the village, thinking she's better off closer to Sweetwater. Unfortunately for both of them, they don't get very far before running into Logan (Ben Barnes) and his new compatriots.

"Man," Logan laughs, "are you two f - ed."

John P. Johnson/HBO

The Rising Sun

Back in her little loop, Maeve (Thandie Newton) experiences some oddities. For one, there's a new Clementine, with all of Clem's quirks and fashion choices, but clearly a different host - and given her current level of intelligence and awareness, Maeve knows the differences all too well. Second, Maeve becomes acutely impacted by memories of her prior build, the life she lived with her young daughter. At the lab, Felix (Leonardo Nam) and Sylvester (Ptolemy Slocum) try to tell her that hosts relive their memories, unlike humans who have hazier recollection. At first, Maeve wants to know more. Then she feels like she's being played like a puppet all over again. She once again demands that Sylvester and Felix help her make some modifications to aid her escape attempt. Sylvester agrees only because he plans to betray Maeve, but Felix remains loyal to the Mariposa madame, giving her all the upgrades she asks for. One such change: Her core programming preventing her from killing humans has been removed, evidenced when Maeve slices Sylvester's throat wide open. She gives Felix a tool with which to save Sylvester's life, not out of the generosity of her heart, but out of necessity. "It's time to recruit my army."

Back to Black

Maeve soon shows off another new side of her programming. It seems that she can now reprogram other hosts virtually at will, with nothing more than voice commands. She uses her new influence to get free drinks at the Mariposa bar, to send certain hosts out of harm's way, to send other hosts into harm's way, and otherwise manipulate reality for her benefit. She's about to hitch a ride out of Sweetwater in a wagon, but once again suffers vivid flashbacks to her past, causing her to kill the new Clementine as she re-creates memories of stabbing the Man in Black. As armed men come at Maeve, the madame manipulates some hosts into stepping into the fray and saving her life - just long enough for her to have another pivotal flashback.

Blast From the Past

First, it's important to understand the Man in Black's role in the next piece of the puzzle. He and Teddy stumble upon a bunch of Wyatt's latest victims, including Angela (Talulah Riley), the same host who greeted William back in episode two. "I would've thought they retired you," the Man in Black says, clearly recognizing the woman - yet another incredibly strong reinforcement of the "William in Black" theory. But before we can process that any further, Teddy has a flash of his own, remembering the Man in Black being abusive toward Dolores. With that memory fresh in mind, and with a battle against one of Wyatt's bigger associates under his belt, Teddy knocks the Man in Black unconscious, and makes him answer some questions later that night.

John P. Johnson/HBO

The Man Behind the Man in Black

Although he doesn't come out and identify himself by name, the Man in Black divulges key details about himself once Teddy asks. Describing himself as "a god, a titan of industry, a philanthropist [and] a family man," the Man in Black proceeds to tell a story about how his wife of 30 years died one year ago, an apparent accidental overdose. But the Man later learned his wife killed herself, too disgusted knowing about the Man's secret sinister activities as a Westworld guest. So the Man returned to Westworld to act out a test: He wanted to see if he had it in him to do something "truly evil," which is why he killed a young girl and her mother - Maeve. In a shocking turn, Maeve actually lashed out at the Man with violence, and the Man watched as a distraught Maeve died with her child in her arms. It's what inspired the Man to return to Westworld to fulfill Arnold's legacy: "In Ford's game, even if I get to the outer edges, you can't kill me. You can't even leave a lasting mark. But there's a deeper game - Arnold's game. And that game cuts deep."

Speaking of Cutting Deep

Two final stab wounds to note. First: Maeve recalls her side of the Man in Black's story, which ended with Ford and Bernard trying but apparently failing to wipe Maeve's memories and rid her of her grief. She even stabs herself in the throat out of pure anguish. How the scientists eventually wiped Maeve and installed her as the Mariposa's main madame remains to be seen. The second stab wound: Teddy, shanked with an arrow by Angela, who isn't one of Wyatt's victims at all, but actually one of his minions. She tells Teddy that Wyatt will need him back in the fold soon - and as she tells him this, the monstrous shadows of Wyatt's army emerge from the woods, surrounding Teddy and the Man in Black.

Follow THR's Westworld coverage for recaps, news, interviews and more.
The conflict over the construction of an oil pipeline in North Dakota flared up again Sunday night. At least 17 protesters were taken to the hospital after authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets and water hoses to disperse a crowd of 400 people who had gathered there in subfreezing temperatures. Some were treated for hypothermia, organizers said, drawing the ire of critics, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who urged President Obama to protect the safety of those peacefully protesting the Dakota Access pipeline. Police defended their decision to use force, citing an ongoing riot.

The clash between protesters and police came a day after actress Kristen Wiig asked viewers of NBCs Saturday Night Live to please stand with Standing Rock, the Sioux Indian tribe whose reservation lies near the pipeline route.

What is the Dakota Access pipeline?

The 1,172-mile pipeline is being constructed across four states  North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois  and is scheduled to carry 470,000 gallons of crude oil a day from fields in North Dakota to an existing refinery in Illinois. Construction on the $3.8 billion project, which gained full state approval in March, is nearly complete.

Why are people protesting it?

A section of the pipeline that is slated to cross under the Missouri River is less than one mile from the Standing Rock Reservation. The tribe and its allies argue that it could leak and pollute Lake Oahe, Standing Rocks sole water source, and disrupt the surrounding religious, burial and cultural sites. But Energy Transfer Partners, the developer of the project, says the pipeline transports oil more safely than trucks and will not harm the tribes sacred land.

When did the protests start?

In April, an elder member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe established the Sacred Stone Camp in Cannon Ball, N.D., to protest the pipeline shortly after construction began. The protests drew indigenous people from all over the country, at one point resulting in what was described as the largest gathering of Native Americans in more than 100 years. On social media, the hashtag #NoDAPL has been used to protest the pipeline.

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Police use tear gas to disperse protesters during a demonstration against the Dakota Access pipeline in Cannon Ball, N.D., on Sunday. (Stephanie Keith/Reuters)

Whos been leading them?

Standing Rock and several supporting Native American tribes, as well as activists including filmmaker and actor Mark Ruffalo and actress Shailene Woodley, who was among 27 people arrested in October during what she described as a peaceful protest. Woodleys arrest was streamed live to tens of thousands of viewers on her Facebook page. Filmmaker Deia Schlosberg and journalist Amy Goodman were also arrested while covering the protests.

Have there been other clashes?

Yes. In late October, violence broke out when a group of protesters tried to create a second camp. According to the Washington Post, hundreds of law enforcement officers in riot gear used pepper spray, rubber bullets and high-pitched noise cannons to disperse the activists who refused to leave, arresting 141 people in the process. Some protesters set fires and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at authorities, and at least one protester fired a gun, police said. Similar clashes have been reported in recent weeks, including the one that occurred Sunday, but most of the demonstrations have been peaceful.

In August, a group of Standing Rock youth traveled to Washington, D.C., to deliver a Change.org petition opposing the pipeline to President Obama and to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The petition now has more than 400,000 signatures.

Actress Shailene Woodley after her arrest in North Dakota last month. (Photo: Handout via Reuters)

Where does Obama stand?

In July, the Standing Rock tribe filed an injunction against the Army Corps of Engineers to stop building on the pipeline. But in September, a federal judge denied the request, and the Obama administration intervened.

The Army Corps will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved  including the pipeline company and its workers  deserves a clear and timely resolution, the Department of Justice, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of the Interior said in a joint statement that month. In the interim, we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.

Earlier this month, President Obama said his administration was considering ways to reroute the pipeline.

My view is that there is a way for us to accommodate sacred lands of Native Americans, Obama said in an interview with NowThis. Were going to let it play out for several more weeks and determine whether or not this can be resolved in a way that I think is properly attentive to the traditions of First Americans.

Whats next?

On Nov. 15, the Army Corps of Engineers formally announced it had again delayed construction on the pipeline to hold further discussion and analysis with Standing Rock Sioux tribe. But the companies behind the pipeline slammed the decision as lacking legal or factual justification, and have asked a federal court to allow them to complete the project.

Until then, the protests will likely continue.

SLIDESHOW: Protesting the Dakota Access pipeline >>>
Farmers Go Legal

With a severe shortage of illegal immigration labor, more and more farmers are utilizing a denigrated guest worker program; H-2A visas. Although the program has seen success, critics argue it takes jobs from American workers and runs the risk of guest workers going AWOL and becoming illegal immigrants.

Dont miss The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan for a breakdown of all the pros and cons beginning today at 2pm ET.

Trump's Transition Watch

The President-elects cabinet is slowly coming together. Most recently, Trump named Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as his nominee for Attorney General, Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) to head the CIA, and Lt. General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser.

Also, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has been sought out as a serious contender for Secretary of State according to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is in the lead to be Commerce Secretary.

Lou Dobbs Tonight will have the latest updates and insight on Trumps newest picks, and whether or not Democrats will try to block his appointments. The show begins at 7pm ET.

The American Music Awards Gets Political

The American Music Awards got political last night when rock band Green Day took the stage to voice their concerns about President-elect Donald Trump  leading a chant No Trump, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A. This happened just a few days after Vice President-elect Mike Pence was lectured by the cast of the popular Broadway musical Hamilton.

Watch Varney & Co. beginning at 9am ET as Varney gives his take on what happened at the AMAs.

Stock Market Records

Make sure to keep your eye on FOXBusiness.com for all things Wall Street. The stock market is nearing record highs, and well be tracking the action throughout the day.

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According to his relatives, Chandrashekharan, a retired BSNL employee was in line to withdraw his pension amount.

By Revathi Rajeevan: A 68 year old man in Kerala died on Monday after he collapsed while waiting in a queue in front of a bank. The deceased, Chandrashekharan was in queue at the SBT branch in Kundara in Kollam district of Kerala when he collapsed at around 3pm.

HOW IT HAPPENED

According to his relatives, Chandrashekharan, a retired BSNL employee was in line to withdraw his pension amount.

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They say he had reached the bank at 9.30am. As he was unable to withdraw the amount even after hours of waiting in queue he went home and returned after a while. However, he wasn't able to withdraw the amount the second time either. He then deduced to give up set to return home but he collapsed abruptly.

Although he was taken to the hospital by those around, Chandrashekharan was declared brought dead.

ALSO READ:

ATM trail fail: Bengaluru man visits 23 ATMs to check if media is spreading lies about demonetisation

Delhi man dies while waiting in bank queue





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TBS

Search Party (TBS, 11:00 p.m.)  This new mystery comedy series from TBS follows a group of 20 somethings searching for an old college roommate who suddenly vanishes. There are a lot of millennial comedies on TV right now but this one may just be the best and if thats not something you really care about, the show also has cults, a handful of pretty awesome guest stars and Alia Shawkat from Arrested Development. In other words, its worth watching.

Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8:00 p.m.)  One couple is sent home as the final four pairs dance two numbers: a redemption dance and a freestyle dance.

Gotham (Fox, 8:00 p.m.)  Bruce delves even deeper into the Court of Owls as Falcone turns to Gordon for help after yet another threat to Mario and Lee is revealed during their rehearsal dinner.

Kevin Can Wait (CBS, 8:00 p.m.)  Still unhappy with his retirement, Kevin tries to convince a few friends to go in with him on a new food truck venue but when his head chef quits, he realizes making it in the food service industry is a lot harder than it looks.

Supergirl (CW, 8:00 p.m.)  Mon-Els been captured by Cadmus so of course Supergirl must save the guy but the rescue mission becomes even more dangerous when she faces off against Cyborg Superman. Meanwhile, Guardian must clear his name after being wrongly accused of a murder committed by another vigilante.

The Voice (NBC, 8:00 p.m.)  The Top 11 artists perform tonight.

WWE Monday Night Raw (USA, 8:00 p.m.)  Lets go ahead and take a look back at what went down during Survivor Series  mainly, that Goldberg-Brock Lesnar showdown.

American Dad (TBS, 8:30 p.m.)  Stan and Steve learn the sacred art of sushi making while Hayley takes Roger to a meditation center where he quickly becomes one of the worlds leading authorities on the mindful practice.

Man With a Plan (CBS, 8:30 p.m.)  The kids have a Thanksgiving feast at school so Adam plans for the big day but Andi has trouble letting him take charge.

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2 Broke Girls (CBS, 9:00 p.m.)  Business is booming at Max and Carolines dessert bar after they hire one of the most popular bartenders in town, but when Han becomes addicted to the cocoa powder in the guys signature cocoa drink, the girls have to step in.

Jane the Virgin (CW, 9:00 p.m.)  Jane is forced to reflect on her own life choices when her cousin comes to visit; Rogelio struggles to open up about his feelings to Xo; and Petra turns to Rafael with her legal troubles.

People of Earth (TBS, 9:00 p.m.)  Ozzie deals with some disturbing visions and hallucinations while Chelsea and Father Doug bond over Bible study.

Lucifer (Fox, 9:00 p.m.)  Maze and Amenadiel tail Charlotte, whos concocted this crazy scheme to make Lucifer so angry that hell want to leave Earth. (Pretty sure pissing off Satan is something you should actively avoid doing.) Meanwhile, Lucifer and Chloe investigate the murder of the owner of the building that houses Lux.

The Odd Couple (CBS, 9:30 p.m.)  Oscar gets picked to present a humanitarian award to his nemesis, Rich Eisen as Felix deals with spotting Emily out at a restaurant.

Martha & Snoops Potluck Dinner Party (VH1, 10:00 p.m.)  Snoop and Martha host Thanksgiving dinner with guests Naya Rivera, 2 Chainz and Chris Bosh.

Scorpion (CBS, 10:00 p.m.)  Paiges estranged mother ropes the team into helping her after she accidentally uncovers a forgotten nuclear reactor thats on the verge of exploding.

Conviction (ABC, 10:00 p.m.)  Wallace lets a documentary crew film the team taking on a new case involving a mentally challenged man accused of burning down a family restaurant and the extra cameras begin to affect Hayes and her colleagues.

Timeless (NBC, 10:00 p.m.)  Agent Christopher finally starts to take a looking into Connor Mason (the billionaire who built his own time machine without the governments approval) as Lucy, Wyatt and Rufus track Garcia Flynn to 1754, where they land in hostile territory and must learn to trust one another to survive.

LATE NIGHT GUESTS

Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Shia LaBeouf, Anna Camp, Green Day

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jason Sudeikis, Kristin Chenoweth, DNCE

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert: Michael Weatherly, Carrie Fisher, the Pretenders

Late Night With Seth Meyers: Kathy Griffin, Dev Patel, Jose Andres

The Late Late Show With James Corden: Anna Kendrick, Billy Eichner, Kurt Braunohler
Several people were arrested in Texas after a group of protesters who identified themselves as a White Lives Matter group faced down a crowd of Black Lives Matter supporters. In total eight individuals were arrested, all charged with misdemeanors, the Associated Press reported Sunday.

Some protesters assaulted other protesters, Sgt. Victor Taylor of the Texas Department of Safety said. We dont know for sure which side they were on. A lot of them were co-mingled, he stated.

The protest began on Saturday morning during the presentation of a monument that honors African Americans and their contributions to the state. The memorial is near several other monuments, including some that honor confederate soldiers who served during the Civil War.

The fact is African Americans have shaped this land that we are on today since long before it was even named the state of Texas. They fought for their own freedom. They fought for the freedom of Texas and the freedom of the United States of America, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot said during the unveiling.

The monument marked the 21st one placed on capitol grounds dedicated to a minority group. Back in 2012, a Tejano monument in honor of Mexican-American history was added.

During the protest, one of the members of the White Lives Matter group stated that they were worried about white peoples preservation. They called other protesters anti-white and anti-American.

Four people were arrested for assault, two people were charged with evading arrest, one person was charged with disorderly conduct and another was charged with interference with public duty.

If you do something to me because you dont like me, you should be charged with a hate crime. Just like if I did something to these people, it should be a hate crime. We are out here as Americans wanting justice, thats it, said a member of the White Lives Matter group.

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The New Location Will Be in the Heart of the Calgary Business District

CALGARY, ALBERTA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Jim Whitehouse, a Portfolio Manager and Vice President with the Whitehouse Wealth Management Group, operating under National Bank Financial Wealth Management of Canada, is pleased to announce the group is moving from its current location to 239 8 Avenue SW in Calgary, Alberta  the heart of the Calgary business core.

To learn more about Whitehouse Wealth Management Group and the innovative, established SWAN process they use to work with their clients, determining their SWAN profile and developing ongoing relationships, please visit: http://whitehousewealthmanagementgroup.com.

As Whitehouse noted, this prime downtown location will significantly enhance the visibility of National Bank Financial Wealth Management in Calgary. The location will also be home to a retail National Bank Branch, offering personal banking services to all of their individual and corporate clients.

Whitehouse comments, "This move will highlight a very successful year for our Whitehouse Wealth Management Group and our clients, with whom we continue to enjoy our ongoing relationships. Our Whitehouse Wealth Management Group, operating under National Bank Financial Wealth Management Group will continue to offer enhanced wealth management strategies, estate planning, financial planning, and taxation and trust services, assisted by our experts at National Bank Trust."

"All of these services are part of the successful SWAN approach that our team at Whitehouse Wealth Management Group provides to our clients, as we continue to build ongoing long-term relationships."

Whitehouse states, "With our four Pillars of SWAN: Communication and Honesty, Conservative Investing, Discretionary Management and Transparent costs we want our clients to experience maximum enjoyment of their wealth now and well into the future, and to Sleep Well At Night."

About Whitehouse Wealth Management Group:

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Whitehouse Wealth Management Group, operating under of National Bank Financial Wealth Management provides professional discretionary management. They work closely with clients to develop an in-depth understanding of their objectives and ongoing SWAN profile. For more information, visit http://advisors.nbfwm.ca/en/james-whitehouse/

National Bank Financial is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. The National Bank of Canada is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NA:TSX). National Bank Financial is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

Contact:

Jim Whitehouse

info@whitehousewealthmanagement.com

(360) 524-7578

SOURCE: Whitehouse Wealth Management Group
As cable and wireless companies become more dependent on each other, one media mogul says he feels positive that much larger consolidation is ahead for the industry.

"I don't know who buys who, or who starts what. But I know from my experience in Europe and Latin America that there's big synergies in combining the two networks," Liberty Media (LMCA) Chairman John Malone told CNBC at the company's annual Investor Meeting last week.

Malone is referring to his international cable business, Liberty Global (LBTYA), acquiring internet provider Virgin Media for $23.3 billion in 2013. The move expanded Liberty into Europe's largest cable market with nearly 80 percent of revenue post-deal coming from the UK, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Since that deal, Liberty has entered into agreements in Ireland and Austria to expand its reach even further.



Those agreements, known as mobile virtual network operator agreements  or MVNO's  allow a cable provider to essentially rent a specified amount of capacity from a wireless operator and that it then re-sells to its customers. Such arrangements allow cable companies to add to their list of services without building out their own wireless infrastructure.



Perhaps not surprisingly, this arrangement actually benefits both the MVNO, or cable operator, as well as the wireless operator. The MVNO can provide more attractive services to its customers, and the wireless operator can increase its market share without spending marketing dollars to attract customers.



Back in July, NBCUniversal's parent company, Comcast (CMCSA), confirmed plans to launch its own MVNO cellular service by mid-2017 in a deal with Verizon (NYSE:V). Like most MVNO agreements, there are strict limits on how Comcast can repackage Verizon's service, and in this case, Comcast can only sell its wireless offering within a bundle of other services. (CNBC is a unit of NBCUniversal and Comcast.)

"We fundamentally believe we can make money for the shareholders through a wireless offering with the unique relationship that we have with the Verizon MVNO," Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said in his most recent quarterly earnings call. "We can't go into detail about that relationship for obvious reasons, but we have the ability to do things that we think put us in a position to make that statement come true and create real value for our shareholders along the way."

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Malone, however, said he believes that it's more likely that consolidation will take place among wireless and cable providers, rather than cable companies launching their own wireless networks.



"At some point, the [wireless] network that's supplying that to you is unhappy with you becoming a full competitor on their capital assets. And you start to get squeezed. You also don't have the ability to innovate services, because you're essentially a reseller of their service," he said.



Malone pointed to further and more aggressive relationships between cable and wireless companies as a solution to that problem.



"It's fine for Charter (CHTR) and Comcast to go down the MVNO road for a while, particular in the [business-to-business] world, because they have a great relationship with Verizon, which is the best technology network," he said. "So you can start that way, but my belief is they will have to have a much deeper relationship with Verizon in the long run to make that work."



Other analysts believe that with the advent of 5G fixed wireless service in the coming years, MVNO agreements could be seen as a good defensive play for cable providers. As wireless providers get 5G into households, potentially supporting broadband, then cable providers could still offer comparable packages for wireless, VoIP phone, video and high-speed internet.



Verizon CEO Francis Shammo echoed this sentiment during Verizon's third-quarter earnings call.



"If you look at the future and you think about the [capacity-boosting] projects that we have going on, and then you look at the whole 5G world for fixed wireless, that's going to enter into a whole new growth trajectory for the entire industry," he said. "We'll respond where we need to respond, and we'll wait to see what happens."





More From CNBC


Police said the woman who's accused of snatching a week-old infant and killing the child's mother in Kansas had faked her pregnancy before the gruesome crime.

Baby Sofia, now 10 days old, was found alive and safe in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday and has since been reunited with her family in Kansas.

Read: Man Who Was Mistakenly Kidnapped by Biker Gang Recalls His Daring Escape

Yesenia Sesmas, 34, reportedly knew 27-year-old Laura Nogueda-Abarca, who was shot to death last week, for a few years, according to police.

Detectives learned that Sesmas had faked a pregnancy over the last several months, said Detective Todd Ojile of the Wichita Police Department.

Police didnt elaborate on any more details of the relationship.

Nogueda-Abarcas boyfriend, the babys father, found the mom murdered and baby Sofia missing when he returned home from work last Thursday afternoon.

Read: Woman Who Kidnapped Newborn, Raised Her for Nearly 2 Decades, Gets 10 Years in Prison

Three other people in the home in Dallas were taken down to a police station for questioning after Sesmas arrest. However, they reportedly knew nothing of her scheme.

Sesmas will be extradited to Kansas to face charges, according to reports.

Watch: Haunting Video Shows Killer Prep Room to Torture Pregnant Woman From Craigslist

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By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) - A woman kidnapped for ransom in southern Washington state was found dead over the weekend, two days after her disappearance and the arrest of a suspect who was known to the victim, police said on Monday.

A passing motorist discovered the body of Sandra Harris, 69, lying in some roadside brush on Sunday several miles from her home in the town of Kennewick, about 200 miles (322 km) southeast of Seattle, according to Kennewick police and the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

The county coroner will perform an autopsy later this week to determine the cause and time of the victim's death, police said. No other details about her fate were immediately available.

Her spouse called authorities on Friday to say she had been abducted from their home, and within hours police and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation made contact with a suspect, who demanded a ransom payment for the safe turn of Harris.

An undisclosed sum of money was dropped at a prearranged location Friday night, and a short time later authorities apprehended the suspect, Theresa L. Wilste, 49, in the neighboring town of Eltopia, where they found her driving a rental car, police said.

Harris remained missing until her remains turned up on Sunday morning, according to police.

Police said Wilste was known to the victim and her husband, Randy Harris, but the nature and duration of their acquaintance remained under investigation, a police spokesman, Sergeant Ken Lattin.

Wilste was the only suspect in custody, but police said they have not ruled out the possibility that other individuals may have been involved, though no other specific persons were being sought in the case.

Lattin said the husband was not a suspect.

Police have determined that Harris was forcibly taken from her home against her will, but "what force was used of what level of force is still part of the investigation," Lattin said.

"Investigators have much work to do yet, and the details that explain 'why' this happened will come forth in court proceedings," police said in a statement.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Alan Crosby, Bernard Orr)
By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) - A woman who faked pregnancy has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a newborn infant girl in Kansas and taking her hundreds of miles away to Texas after killing the girl's mother last week, police said on Monday.

As authorities previously disclosed, baby Sophia Gonzalez, now 10 days old, was found unharmed in Dallas on Saturday morning at the residence of her accused kidnapper, two days after she vanished from her Wichita home.

The baby was reported missing by her father on Thursday afternoon when he arrived from work to find the mother, his girlfriend Laura Abarca-Nogueda, 27, slain inside the dwelling in a case that quickly gained national media attention.

The suspect was identified by police in Wichita on Monday as Yesenia Sesmas, 34, a Dallas resident who police say was known to the mother for a few years, although authorities declined to characterize their relationship.

Police said Sesmas is originally from Texas, spent some time in Wichita and moved back to Texas over the past few months.

Wichita police homicide detective Lieutenant Todd Ojile told reporters at a news conference that an anonymous tip helped lead investigators to Sesmas' home in Dallas, some 360 miles south of Wichita. The baby was found alive and safe and the suspect was taken into custody before dawn on Saturday.

The infant, examined at a Dallas-area hospital and given a clean bill of health, was reunited with her family hours later.

Police detectives have since determined that Sesmas had faked pregnancy during the past several months in order to claim the kidnapped child as her own, although her reasons for doing so remained under investigation, according to Ojile.

She is accused of traveling to Wichita to kill Abarca-Nogueda, abducting baby Sophia and returning to Dallas with the child.

Three other people living at the suspect's house - her boyfriend, her son and a niece - were briefly detained for questioning and released. They have not been charged.

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Sesmas was being held in a Dallas jail on a felony warrant for first-degree murder and kidnapping, and was expected to be extradited to Kansas soon, Ojile said.

The infant's father, whose named has not been publicly revealed, was not considered a suspect, police said.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Photo: Screenshot/NBC

A woman wearing a bandana on a hike was left a note calling her aHijab Wearing B**** in Californias Bay Area last week, according to NBC. The note also said, this is our nation now get the f*** out.

Niki Pancholy, who has lupus and uses a headscarf when outdoors to help manage her medical condition and extreme sensitivity to heat, returned from a hike to find her car vandalized and burglarized. Pancholy is not Muslim and her headscarf was not a hijab, a garment worn as part of religious veiling as a sign of modesty by some Muslim women. She was also born in the United States.

When I saw it, I was in shock, she said. That someone would feel so much hate to do this. I realize that this is the climate after this election. But I didnt realize someone would be so ignorant and in so much pain to cause so much harm.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there were 5,850 hate crimes in the U.S. last year  a 7 percent increase in incidences from the previous year  including a 67 percent increase in crimes targeting Muslim-Americans. And such crimes seem to be on the rise again following the election of President-elect Donald Trump recently. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that monitors hate groups and their actions, there have been 701 incidents of hateful harassment in the United States since the morning after Trump won.

Pancholys not alone in being targeted for wearing a headscarf in the past few weeks. A 19-year old San Jose State University student was assaulted in a parking garage on campus as someone grabbed her hijab from behind and choking her. Then theres the female Muslim student at San Diego State University who was robbed and had her car stolen by two men who made comments about President-elect Trump and Muslims before taking the womans bag and car keys. A hijabi student at the University of New Mexico also reported being attacked on campus the week following Trumps election as she had her hijab pulled off her head in the universitys library by a classmate wearing a Donald Trump t-shirt, who then directed an anti-Muslim hate-speech-filled rant at the woman.

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Zainen Abdullah, who teaches self-defense classes to women, says she has received an influx of requests from Muslim women for such classes since Trumps election  and, specifically, for maneuvers that these women may use if someone tries to attack them by pulling her hijab. A video Abdullah posted to Facebook instructing viewers how to perform some such moves has gone viral, receiving 3.5 million views within a week of it being posted. In addition to self-defense classes, Abdullah now also offers an intensive Hate Crime Survival Seminar.

Many people are reporting incidents of hijab-pulling on social media  and expressing their support for hijabi women, too.

Housemate would like to let it be known if he sees you attempting to pull a Hijab off someone's head, he is going to pants you in public.  SebastianTroy (@00MadHatter) November 14, 2016

On FB gal said someone tried to pull off hijab & told her get out or use it to hang herself! I'm Sickened! #theresistance #NotMyPresident!! https://t.co/jyJO23Cj9s  #GoodTrouble (@peacenik16) November 11, 2016

so yesterday on the bus a man tried to pull my hijab off and said some pretty nasty thingsdon't you just love america   diya  (@DiyaMohanna) November 11, 2016

El Camino Real HS teen says classmate tried to pull off her hijab & told her to get out of America because she's #muslim . Her story at 11pm pic.twitter.com/bLN3tSlpxf  Leanne Suter (@abc7leanne) November 11, 2016

If I see someone try to pull off a hijab, they're getting tackled! I'm 1 of the white guys intolerant of hate. #NotMyPresident #DrainTheHate  Adam Johnson (@MysteryBaristy) November 11, 2016

Someone tried to pull off my cousin's hijab at school just after Tuesday's elections! #Trump2016 won't be easy!https://t.co/ETr5jDt77x  BigZee (@ZeinaZz_) November 11, 2016

the fact that people have the audacity to pull a womens hijab off. So utterly cruel and disrespectful. I'm out of words.  Aske (@straightforari) November 10, 2016

Heard about a few more anti-muslim incidents on the UIUC campus. Attempts to pull of a women's hijab, "go back" shouts outside a coffee shop  Michelle Rodrigues (@MARspidermonkey) November 10, 2016

my friend told me her little sister came home from school yesterday crying bc a boy tried to pull her hijab off.. day 1 of trumps america  ellie???? (@ellieewaibel) November 10, 2016

This spate of attacks against women wearing headscarves comes in the wake of increased visibility, inclusion, and elevation of Muslim women in the worlds of style and pop culture. On Friday night, the first hijabi woman anchored a Canadian television news broadcast and earlier this month CoverGirl named Muslim beauty blogger  and hijabi woman  Nura Afia as its latest ambassador.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
By Tanseem Haider: Based on information, one Scorpio carrying cash was intercepted at Tikri border, west district in Delhi yesterday.

When the officials posted along the Tikri border noticed a vehicle going towards Haryana border, they stopped it. Driver Dinesh Itwari Lal, a resident of Deeghal district in Jhajjar Haryana was questioned and on further checking of the vehicle, a total amount Rs 49,96,000 with invalid notes of Rs 500 and 1,000 were recovered.

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On more questioning, the driver revealed that he was carrying the money on the instruction of allegedly one Anuj Gupta, a resident of Pitam Pura New Delhi. Gupta deals in finance and property.

The money has been seized under the provisions of 102CrPc and the Income Tax Department has been informed. The Income Tax officials are carrying out necessary action and further investigation is on.

Also read: AAP to gherao Parliament on Tuesday to protest demonetisation

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In a speech attempting to ease the quells of New York Citys roughly three million immigrants in the face of Donald Trump's presidency, Mayor Bill de Blasio assured his fellow citizens Monday that the city would not establish a Muslim registry, deport any undocumented residents or reinstate stop and frisk law enforcement practices, all of which were campaign promises from the president-elect, a New York City resident.

A nation that was meant to be built on inclusively has become exclusive against the nostalgic backdrop of taking it to a different time, said de Blasio during the speech. "This is New York. Nothing about us changed on Election Day."

De Blasio spoke directly to immigrants and their family members who fear that Trumps election will result in them being deported or losing their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Trump has said that upon taking office he would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and deport three million undocumented workers immediately.

De Blasio said he would protest any federal government action to deport undocumented persons living in New York City. He said the city government had an emergency legal fund to provide lawyers to immigrants who cannot afford defense legal fees.

De Blasio, who oversaw New York City committing $30 million toward resources for undocumented immigrants this year, urged everyone in the city to sign up for a local program known as IDNYC that grants immigrants free access to government or other municipal services. He said the paperwork required for admittance to the program would remain solely in the hands of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs and wouldnt be turned over to the federal government so that no one will get deported.

I dont anyone to fear getting one. It is something we want all people to hold, said City Counsel Member Vanessa L. Gibson after the speech. The information is not shared with immigration services or anyone. We are simply allowing New Yokers the chance to have an identification.

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De Blasio attributed a recent uptick in hate crimes in New York City to the atmosphere of xenophobia created by the 2016 elections racially charged rhetoric. There were 328 reported hate crimes in New York City through Nov. 13, compared to 150 the city had up until that date last year, a 31 percent increase, according to the New York Police Department.

There were more than 700 incidents of hateful harassment and intimidation since the election throughout the country, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported Friday.

De Blasio said he told Trump in a meeting with the president-elect last week not to forget where he came from, due to the fact that he, like so many other New Yorkers, was able to find success in the city because of the wealth of opportunities there. He said he told Trump to apply lessons from New York City's greatest value, its diversity, to his presidency. De Blasio pointed out that Trump's 2016 election opponent, Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote by millions of votes, exposing a political divide in the country.

De Blasio, who endorsed Clinton, also said he told Trump, who has repeatedly called for a Muslim registry to be created in the country, there were 900 Muslims serving in the NYPD. De Blasio warned he would take legal action against any attempts by the federal government to install a program that targeted people based on their class, race, ethnicity, gender or religion.

Along the same lines, de Blasio said the NYPD would not continue stop and frisk law enforcement practices under his watch as mayor. We will not trade in neighborhood policing for racial profiling, he said.

Trump has praised stop and frisk policies under former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, saying he did a great job of straightening out the city. Under the controversial law enforcement practice, up to 90 percent of people who were stopped by police were not found to have done anything wrong, the Washington Post reported. More than half of the people detained and searched were black, and nearly a third were Latino, according to New York Civil Liberties Union data between 2002 and 2016.

Khalid Latif, the executive director and Chaplain for the Islamic Center at New York University, said after the mayor's speech he was aware of several acts of anti-Muslim vandalism that had occurred on NYU's campus since Trumps election. He said someone spray painted Trump! onto the door of a prayer room in NYUs engineering building and another person wrote Make America White Again on a wall inside of one of the freshman dormitories.

Hates crimes against Muslims in the U.S. increased by 67 percent during 2015, according to the FBI. Mazeda Uddin, who works as a Bengali translator in the mayors office and is one of the leaders of ShebaUSA, a nonprofit providing resources for immigrants communities based in Queens, said after the mayors speech that a 19-year-old youth mental consultant for ShebaUSA, Fariha Nizam, was discriminated against while she was riding the Q43 bus to Hunter College in Manhattan Thursday. Uddin said an elderly white couple tried to physically take the hijab that Nizam was wearing off of her head before telling her to remove it.

Uddin said she feels comfortable walking around New York City with a hijab, especially after de Blasios speech vowing to provide legal and moral support for immigrant and minority individuals in need.

De Blasio also addressed Trumps campaign promise to appoint Supreme Court Justices who will overturn the landmark ruling in Roe C. Wade, which protects a womans right to abortion. Trump has said if the abortion ruling were overturned during his presidency, the issue would then be decided by the states, and women living where it had become illegal would be forced to travel to a state where they can have the operation performed legally.

De Blasio assured women they would receive the health care they needed in New York City.

Sumer Samhoury, a physical therapist and a Muslim, said her children had asked her several times what she was planning on doing if someone attempted to take her hijab or issued a derogatory statement about her religious views. She said she hoped de Blasios message of racial inclusion goes viral, so that people fearful of Islam can open their minds.

I thought it (the speech) promoted tolerance and everything that New York city speaks for, the melting pot, said Samhoury after the speech. I was really proud of our mayor today. It definitely gave me more confidence walking around the streets of New York that we are protected.

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After a wave of hate crimes across the state and the country since the election of Donald Trump as president, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo vowed Sunday to create a state police unit specifically dedicated to protecting civil rights. He cited the spray painting of a swastika onto a Brooklyn park over the weekend and the case of a black freshman at the University of Pennsylvania who was sent pictures of lynching and racial slurs, as recent examples of the divisiveness that had gripped the country, Reuters reported Sunday.

I am ordering the State Police to put together a special unit to address the explosion of hate crimes in our state, Cuomo wrote on Twitter Sunday.

During the speech to a mainly African-American congregation at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, Cuomo, a Democrat, announced he would propose legislation increasing protection against hate crimes among students in public schools.

Cuomo penned an open letter to all students in the State of New York, Sunday that spoke about the incidents of discrimination that had emerged in universities across the state.

Let me be clear: This is the State of New York, not a state of fear. We will not tolerate hate or racism, Cuomo wrote. We cherish our diversity. We find strength in our differences. Whether you are gay or straight, Muslim or Christian or Jewish or Buddhist, rich or poor, black or white or Latino or Asian, man or woman, cisgender or transgender, we respect all people in the State of New York."

Cuomo said that under his plan he would include the expansion of New Yorks Human Rights Law in public schools to protect students who are bullied or discriminated against.

Cuomo also said he would establish an emergency legal defense fund for immigrants who fear prosecution or deportation under a Trump administration, Al Jazeera reported Monday.

"The ugly political discourse of the election did not end on Election Day," said Cuomo during the speech Sunday. "In many ways it has gotten worse, [growing] into a social crisis that now challenges our identity as a state and as a nation and our people."

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There were more than 700 incidents of physical harassment and intimidation across the country since Trumps presidential election victory, the Southern Law Center reported Friday. The New York Police Department said there had been 328 hate crimes this year, compared to the 150 the city had at this time last year.

NYPD Commissioner James O Neill told a New York radio station he was troubled by the recent uptick in hate crimes.

"We've had an uptick in hate crimes, actually a little bit more than an uptick. We're up 31 percent from last year. We had at this time last year 250, this year we have 328, specifically against the Muslim population in New York City -- we went up from 12 to 25, and anti-Semitic is up, too, by 9 percent from 102 to 111," O'Neill said.

While Trump said he would deport 3 million undocumented immigrants immediately upon taking office, mayors of sanctuary cities" across the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, have said they would protest any federal government plans to deport any of its residents. The mayors also maintained they would remain sanctuary cities, which do not assist federal authorities when they are searching for undocumented immigrants, despite Trumps campaign pledge to cut off federal funding to the cities if they did.

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e4b56e07bce5359e1c098a220c3f3bb4

With so much to watch on TV it can be difficult to plan ahead. But were here to help! Here are the five shows you wont want to miss this week.

Kate Plus 8: 10-Year Anniversary: Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 10 p.m. on TLC

Theyre baaaaack, Part 1. Kate Gosselin and her brood celebrate their tin anniversary with a retrospective special that looks all the way back to when it was Jon & Kate Plus 8.

Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade: Thursday, Nov. 24, at 9 a.m. on NBC

New Yorks most popular street parade hits the big 9-0, with Tony Bennett and the Muppets joining in the festivities while balloon versions of the Power Rangers and Pikachu float by overhead.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration: Thursday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. on ABC

Brother and sister act Julianne and Derek Hough MC a two-hour special direct from Disney World with performances by Kelly Clarkson and the power duo of Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life: Friday, Nov. 25, on Netflix

Theyre baaaaack, Part 2. After a nine-year sabbatical, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore pick up their coffee mugs and witty banter without missing a beat in Netflixs highly anticipated return to Stars Hollow.

Legends of the Hidden Temple: Saturday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon

Nicks vintage kiddie game show gets a TV movie makeover, starring a trio of young explorers exploring the titular temple. At least the shows biggest star agreed to return: the talking head, Olmec.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  November 21, 2016  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Africa Oil Corp. (OTC: AOIFF Free Report), BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (NYSE: BPT Free Report) and BP plc (NYSE: BP  Free Report).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog:

Oil Exploration Stocks Reporting Earnings Monday

With the Q3 earnings season drawing to a close, we now have a clearer picture of the earnings trends. We note a sequential improvement in the quarter with a positive year-over-year growth in both earnings and revenues.



So far, 470 S&P 500 members  94% of the indexs total market capitalization  have reported their results. Total earnings for these companies are up 3.8% due 2.6% growth in revenues, both on a year-over-year basis. While 73.2% of these companies beat earnings per share (EPS) estimates, 55.3% surpassed top-line expectations as of Nov 17).



Per the Earnings Trends report, the general outlook for the energy sector has improved vastly as the results were better than expectations. However, the sector continued to underperform on a year-over-year basis with a massive 63.3% decrease in earnings due to a 12.9% plunge in revenues. Excluding the impact of the energy sector, the S&P 500 Index witnessed earnings growth of 7.2% as revenues inched up 4.2%.



With most of the companies already having reported their financial results, lets have a look at how some of these energy companies might fare this quarter when their reveal their Q3 numbers on Nov 21.



Africa Oil Corp. (OTC: AOIFF  Free Report) is primarily an oil and gas exploration and development company. The company has oil and gas interests in Kenya and Ethiopia, primarily in the East African Rift Basin. Africa Oil Corp. has a Zacks Rank #2 but an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. Despite the companys favorable Zacks Rank, our surprise prediction is complicated by its 0.00% Earnings ESP. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises.

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AFRICA OIL CORP Price and EPS Surprise | AFRICA OIL CORP Quote

Headquartered in Houston, TX, BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (NYSE: BPT  Free Report) offers partial ownership in British oil giant BP plcs (NYSE: BP  Free Report) Prudhoe Bay oil field. The trust owners  with interest in the field  get cash payment from the revenues that BP generates after deducting production costs and taxes.



BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trusts Earnings ESP of 0.00% complicates our surprise prediction in spite of its favorable Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .

BP PRUDHOE BAY Price and EPS Surprise | BP PRUDHOE BAY Quote

Confidential from Zacks



Beyond this Industry Outlook, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1 Stock of the Day pick for free.

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Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.

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This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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The groundbreaking ceremony of Guangzhou Infinitus Plaza in the Chinese city of Guangzhou saw Zaha Hadid Architects unveil new visuals of the upcoming complex designed by the recently deceased architect.

The 167,000 square meter Guangzhou Infinitus Plaza was designed by Zaha Hadid "with concepts of integration, connectivity and fluidity," explains Satoshi Ohashi, director of the studio's China office.

The imposing complex is divided into two sections, composed of curves and waves, and connected with skybridges. The building is designed to create a gateway into the new Baiyun Central Business District, which will see six communities developed around the former Guangzhou airport.

Guangzhou Infinitus Plaza is an eight-storey building built like a series of stacked rings. From above, the complex resembles the infinity symbol used in mathematics.

The studio is using a "unitized insulated glazing system" to maximize natural light inside the building and help reduce energy loss. Perforated aluminum screens will protect those inside from direct sunlight while also recovering rainwater. Sensors will even monitor weather conditions, energy use and lighting to ensure efficiency and save power.

The building is expected to be finished in Q2 2020.

Zaha Hadid died of a heart attack in Miami in March 2016. She was a key figure of 20th-century architecture. Born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq, Hadid was the first woman to be crowned with the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the most prestigious in the profession. She is also the first woman to receive the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
By the time Jeanne Rowe, M.D., became chief medical officer of Shore Medical Center in 2012, the small community hospital near Atlantic City, N.J., faced an alarming situation: Its intensive care units had reported 8 infections among its patients in the previous 12 months.

The infections were all traced back to central lines, the intravenous tubes used to supply medication, nutrients, and fluids to patients who need them most. But when not handled properly, central lines can also become host to bacteria, pumping germs straight into the bloodstream of the hospitals most vulnerable patients.

Once there, the bacteriaincluding "superbug" strains such as MRSA that arent easily managed with antibioticscan spread to the heart and other organs.

With that cluster of cases, Shore Medical Center then rated as one of the worst in the country at preventing the infection, according to Consumer Reports hospital ratingsa situation Rowe was well aware of.

And if the poor infection record wasnt fixed, it could cost the hospital more than its reputation. President Barack Obama had recently signed the Affordable Care Act, and among its provisions was one that lowered Medicare payments to hospitals that had too many of these infections.

Rowe, a physician who specializes in internal medicine, had a proven record for improving patient safety at several hospitals where she had worked in the Midwest. We knew we had to do something about it, she says now.

Costly, Deadlyand Avoidable

About 650,000 people developed infections after being admitted to U.S. hospitals in 2011, and 75,000 died, based on the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That would make hospital-acquired infections the nations eighth leading cause of death, just behind diabetes and just ahead of flu and pneumonia.

Central-line infections account for roughly 5 percent of all hospital-acquired infections, striking more than 27,000 people in 2015, research shows. And theyre a particularly important subset, says Arjun Srinivasan, M.D., associate director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs at the CDC.

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For one, they are deadlyproving fatal in up to a quarter of cases, in part because people with the IVs are often already frail. Theyre costly, too, averaging $46,000 to treat, more than other hospital-acquired infections, according to a 2013 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

And theyre almost entirely preventable.

As far back as 2001, Peter Pronovost, M.D., now senior vice president for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, developed a safety checklist similar to one used by pilots prior to takeoff. He showed that when ICU staff adhered to the protocol, central-line infections could be sharply reduced, even eliminated.

Defeating a Deadly Infection

When she arrived at Shore Medical Center, Rowe doubled down on making Pronovosts checklist a priority.

Posters of men and women in Uncle Sam poseright arm out, finger pointedwith the words I Want You to Wash Your Hands were hung all around the hospital. Extra soap and alcohol gel dispensers were placed in and around patient rooms. Nurses began swabbing every patients skin with chlorhexidine, a powerful antiseptic, before inserting central lines, then again when the dressing needed changing.

Fewer central lines mean fewer chances for hospital-acquired infections, so physicians reviewed every day which patients really needed the IVs. A secret team was deputized to roam the hospital and report staff who didnt wash their hands before seeing patients. People behave much better when they think someone is watching, says Valerie DeJoseph, director of quality at the hospital.

Soon, the extra effort paid off. In Consumer Reports most recent ratings of about 2,000 hospitals nationwide, Shore Medical Center earned top marks, going 21 months without reporting a single central-line infection.

Still Too Many Infections

Pronovosts protocols, combined with the threat of reduced federal funding and more public accountability, seem to have helped not just Shore Medical Center but many hospitals.

Though other hospital infections have stayed steady or declined only slightly in recent years, those linked to central lines were cut in half between 2008 and 2014, according to the CDC. Its one of the nations greatest patient-safety success stories ever, says Srinivasan.

Consumer Reports analysis found improvement all around the country, in large urban hospitals such as Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, as well as smaller suburban or rural ones like Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, Fla., and Mercy Medical Center in Merced, Calif.

And yet the problem isnt solved, says Doris Peter, Ph.D., director of Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. Hospitals are moving in the right direction, but progress is slowing and too many hospitals have not adequately addressed the problem of hospital-acquired infections over the past five years.

Thats true even among the nations prominent teaching hospitals, such as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, both of which appear on our list of low-scoring teaching hospitals (see below). Thats counterintuitive, Peter says. They are supposed to be places that represent the best in our healthcare system.

Administrators at these hospitals say they are responding. We identified a problem with our infection rate two years ago and immediately took corrective action, says George Blike, M.D., chief quality and safety officer at Dartmouth. As a result, he says, the hospitals most recent datanot yet published by the government and thus not reflected in our ratingsshow that infection rates are dropping.

And though hospital administrators say they use versions of the Pronovost checklist, they also say their hospitals face special challenges. For example, Ronald Reagan UCLA says its high infection rates were due in part to the complexity of the medical cases and the severity of illness that we treat.

But the CDC actually does try to adjust for those factors. In addition, Consumer Reports analysis found no clear evidence that hospitals with more Medicaid patientsan indication that they treat sicker or underserved populationsperform worse than hospitals with fewer Medicaid patients.

In addition, there are examples around the country of hospitals that serve similar underserved populations but perform very differently against these infections. For example, Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., appears on our list of teaching hospitals with few central-line infections, while nearby SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital has higher-than-expected rates of those infections.

SUNY Downstate is responding by trying to encourage a culture of safety among all team members, says Michael Augenbraun, M.D., director, division of infectious diseases at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

The Path to Zero

Central-line infections were once seen as inevitable when dealing with patients in intensive-care units. We thought we could maybe cut them by 10 percent, says Srinivasan, at the CDC.

But in 2004, Pronovost, at Johns Hopkins, put his checklist to the test at more than 100 Michigan ICUs. Within three months, rates were cut in half, he says, and by 18 months it was down by almost 70 percent. If hospitals are meticulous about following the checklist, most infections can be avoided, he says.

But that requires buy-in from everyonefrom senior administrators and physicians to cleaning staff and nurses.

Maureen Jewell, R.N., director of quality management and performance improvement at Saint Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del., says it was important to make hospital-acquired infections everyones problem to solve.

We spent much of our time empowering nurses to speak up if hospital staff werent following the checklist carefully, she recalls. We had to make it clear that when it came to these infections, the physicians werent calling the shotsthey were. Like Shore Medical Center in New Jersey, Saint Francis Hospital improved from one of the lowest-performing hospitals in 2011 to one of the highest-rated ones.

Even some large hospitals in urban areas have improved. One that stands out: Mount Sinai St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital, in New York City. On the day we visited in October 2016, the whiteboard outside one of its ICUs proclaimed it had gone 969 days without a single central-line infection.

To keep that streak alive, the hospital staff is constantly reassessing how its doing. For example, a monthly staff meeting recently revealed that some nurses werent using a new, more effective antiseptic dressing because it wasnt included in the prepackaged kits used to insert a central line, says Emilia Mia Sordillo, M.D., the physician in charge of infection prevention at the hospital. By the end of the week, all the kits had the right antiseptic dressing, she says.

Rowe, the medical director at Shore Medical Center, says preventing the infections is not costly or all that complicated. It just takes training and patience and commitment to doing the little things right every single day, every single patient.

Preventing Central-Line Infections

The lists below show the highest- and lowest-performing U.S. teaching hospitals at preventing central-line infections in intensive care units from Jan. 1, 2011,to Dec. 31, 2015, the most recent federal data thats publicly available. Hospitals are listed alphabetically. Read more on these hospitals, including their ratings, plus information on how we rate hospitals on central-line infections (PDF).

Hospital Name City, State Atlanta Medical Center Atlanta, GA Banner - University Medical Center Tucson Tucson, AZ Brooklyn Hospital Center Brooklyn, NY Community Regional Medical Center Fresno, CA Cooper University Health Care Camden, NJ Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Lebanon, NH Emory University Hospital Midtown Atlanta, GA Eskenazi Health Indianapolis, IN George Washington University Hospital Washington, DC Grady Memorial Hospital Atlanta, GA Holy Cross Hospital Silver Spring, MD Howard University Hospital Washington, DC Hurley Medical Center Flint, MI Indiana University Health University Hospital Indianapolis, IN Interim LSU Public Hospital New Orleans, LA Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Long Beach, CA MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL Maine Medical Center Portland, ME Maricopa Integrated Health System Phoenix, AZ Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE Palmetto Health Richland Columbia, SC Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles, CA SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital Brooklyn, NY Truman Medical Center-Hospital Hill Kansas City, MO Tulane Medical Center New Orleans, LA UC San Diego Health San Diego, CA UF Health Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL University Hospital Newark, NJ University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa City, IA

Hospital Name Location Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Milwaukee, WI Hahnemann University Hospital Philadelphia, PA HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center Scottsdale, AZ Long Island Jewish Medical Center New Hyde Park, NY Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore, MD Medical Center Health System Odessa, TX Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Pawtucket, RI Methodist Healthcare Memphis Hospitals Memphis, TN Mount Auburn Hospital Cambridge, MA Mount Sinai St. Luke's - Roosevelt New York, NY North Shore University Hospital Manhasset, NY Ochsner Medical Center New Orleans, LA OhioHealth Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH Saint Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center San Francisco, CA Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk, VA St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Ypsilanti, MI St. Luke's University Hospital - Bethlehem Campus Bethlehem, PA Staten Island University Hospital Staten Island, NY The University of Toledo Medical Center Toledo, OH UC Irvine Medical Center Orange, CA UMass Memorial Medical Center Worcester, MA University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics Columbia, MO University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville, TN University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX University of Washington Medical Center Seattle, WA Upstate University Hospital Syracuse, NY West Virginia University Hospitals Morgantown, WV

Keeping Patients Safe: What Needs to Happen

Consumer Reports first focused on hospital infections in 2003, when we urged states to pass laws requiring that hospitals publicly report those events. Once hospitals began doing that, we started rating them on infections, hoping it would nudge hospitals toward solutions, says Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumer Reports Safe Patient Project. That has helped, but more needs to be done.

CR believes that the federal government should require hospitals to:

 Immediately report infection outbreaks or infection-control breaches to patients, healthcare providers, state and federal agencies, and the public.

 Undergo inspections that check not only for infections but also whether they have instituted comprehensive infection-control programs involving everyone from the cleaning staff to the CEO.

 Provide a system for patients to report when infections occur, to improve tracking of those events.

Did you or a loved one develop an infection while in the hospital? Share your story.

Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the January 2017 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

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Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright  2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.
Verizons Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Force are updating to Android 7.0 Nougat as of Sunday, according to several reports shared by users. One reddit user shared an image of the update information on a Moto Z Droid handset, while others shared screencaps of the Android Nougat update information to tech publications such as Android Police.

The Verizon Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Force will receive system version NCL25.86-11, taking them from Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow to Android 7.0 Nougat. The smartphones will also receive Google Daydream compatibility through this update, according to Android Police. Google Daydream is the tech giants virtual reality protocol, which is currently available only on handsets such as Googles Pixel smartphones and ZTE Axon 7.

The wireless Android 7.0 update is 1586 MB in size and can also be prompted manually by accessing Settings > About phone > Software updates. Users are advised to download the update via a Wi-Fi connection and have their handsets charged to at least 50 percent.

Users of other Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Force models should expect the update to hit their devices in the coming days.

Despite having released in August, there are very few devices running Android 7.0 Nougat. There is currently only a 0.3 percent adoption rate, according to stats released by Google. The Moto G4 And Moto G4 Plus, two other Lenovo smartphones, were the first devices not branded by Google to receive the Android 7.0 update.

Many Android 7.0 Nougat updates are expected in the coming week and months. Manufacturers including Samsung and HTC have stated intention of updating their most recent flagships.

Consumers will likely expect to see Android 7.0 running on several upcoming smartphones to be released in 2017.

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Back in October, it was reported that Nokias CEO Rajeev Suri will deliver a keynote speech at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017. Now, the current owner of the Nokia license, HMD Global, will also be attending the event, confirming the announcement of new Nokia smartphones running Android.

HMD Global

Photo: Phone Arena

HMD Globals attendance at MWC 2017 was first spotted by PhoneArena. Last Friday during the Capital Markets Day event, Nokia showed off an investor-focused presentation. One of the slides shown focused on the companys future plans for 2017 and 2018. The most eye-catching part of the slide is Nokia brands return to smartphones which is listed under 2017.

Nokia

Photo: GSM Arena

HMD Global acquired the rights to the Nokia brand from Microsoft earlier this year and is expected to announce two new Android devices before the end of 2016. It was also revealed last month that HMD Global will be launching at least two more smartphones during the second quarter of 2017, according to Microsoft Asia-Pacific CEO of mobile devices James Rutherford, as per Nokia Power User.

The Nokia-branded Android devices from HMD Global that are expected to be released before the end of 2016 are the Nokia P1 and the Nokia D1C. Leaks have indicated that the P1 will come with a 2K AMOLED display and 5.2 and 5.5-inch models, a Snapdragon 820/821 chip and an IP68 waterproof rating.

The D1C, on the other hand, is a mid-range tablet with a 13.8-inch 1080p full HD display, powered by a Snapdragon 430 chip with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Both the Nokia P1 and the Nokia D1C will run Android 7.0 Nougat straight out of the box.

As for the new Android-powered Nokia smartphones in 2017, theres been no leaks about them just yet. HMD Global will most likely showcase the new smartphones during its presentation at MWC 2017 which takes place between Feb. 17 and March 2 in Barcelona, Spain.

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In a separate incident, a 68-year-old man, Chandran RC collapsed while standing in a queue outside a bank.

By Revathi Rajeevan: A 73-year-old man committed suicide in Kottayam after he was unable to withdraw money from a co-operative bank.

He hanged himself in his ancestral home in Erumely in Kottayam district of Kerala.

In a separate incident, a 68-year-old man, Chandran RC collapsed while standing in a queue outside a bank in Kollam's Kundra.

Although he was rushed to the hospital but he was declared brought dead.



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By Jim Finkle (Reuters) - Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year, using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, the world's two largest ATM makers, said they were aware of the attacks and have been working with customers to mitigate the threat. The newly disclosed heists across Europe follow the hacking of ATMs in Taiwan and Thailand that were widely reported over the summer. Although cyber criminals have been attacking cash machines for at least five years, the early campaigns mostly involved small numbers of ATMs because hackers needed to have physical access to cash out machines. The recent heists in Europe and Asia were run from central, remote command centers, enabling criminals to target large numbers of machines in "smash and grab" operations that seek to drain large amounts of cash before banks uncover the hacks. They are taking this to the next level in being able to attack a large number of machines at once, said Nicholas Billett, Diebold Nixdorfs senior director of core software and ATM Security. They know they will be caught fairly quickly, so they stage it in such a way that they can get cash from as many ATMs as they can before they get shut down. Group IB declined to name banks that were jackpotted, a term used to describe forcing ATMs to spit out cash, but said the victims were located in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Britain and Malaysia.Indeed, Dmitry Volkov, head of threat intelligence with Group IB, told Reuters he expects more heists on ATMs. MORE HEISTS EXPECTED Hackers have moved from stealing payment card numbers and online banking credentials to more lucrative hacks on bank networks, giving them access not only to ATM machines, but also to electronic payment networks. A February attack on servers at Bangladesh's central bank that controlled access to the SWIFT messaging system yielded more than $81 million in one of the biggest digital heists on record. Russian banks lost over $28 million in a series of wire-fraud cases that were identified earlier this year. "What we are seeing demonstrated is the new model of organized crime," said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who helps banks and governments investigate cyber attacks and reviewed Group IB's findings. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR both said they had provided banks with information on how to thwart the new types of attacks. "We have been working actively with customers, including those who have been impacted, as well as developing proactive security solutions and strategies to help prevent and minimize the impact of these attacks," said Owen Wild, NCR's global marketing director for enterprise fraud and security. Disclosure of the campaign follows two ATM hacks in July: $2.5 million was stolen from Taiwan's First Bank and $350,000 from Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank. Hackers remotely infected ATMs at both banks, forcing them to spit out cash that was collected by teams of "money mules," who authorities say traveled to Asia from Eastern Europe. ONE CRIMINAL GROUP? The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month sent a private alert to American banks, warning them to be on the lookout for attacks on ATMs following the heists in Taiwan and Thailand, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the attacks in Europe. Group IB released a report describing its findings late on Monday, saying it believed the attacks across Europe were conducted by a single criminal group which it dubbed Cobalt. (http://www.group-ib.com/cobalt.html) It named them after a security-testing tool known as Cobalt Strike, which the perpetrators used in the heists to help them move from computers in the bank network that were infected with tainted emails to specialized servers that control ATMs. Group IB believes that Cobalt is linked to a well-known cyber crime gang dubbed Buhtrap, which stole 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) from Russian banks from August 2015 to January 2016, because the two groups use similar tools and techniques. Buhtrap stole money through fraudulent wire transfers, not ATM jackpotting. The ATM Security Association declined to comment on Group IB's findings. Members of the group, which works to improve ATM security, include ATM maker Diebold Nixdorf as well as banks ABN Amro , Bank of America Corp , Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Wells Fargo & Co. . Representatives of Europol, which coordinates investigations of cyber crimes across Europe, had no immediate comment. (Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Dan Grebler and Bernadette Baum)
By Jim Finkle (Reuters) - Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year, using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, the world's two largest ATM makers, said they were aware of the attacks and have been working with customers to mitigate the threat. The newly disclosed heists across Europe follow the hacking of ATMs in Taiwan and Thailand that were widely reported over the summer. Although cyber criminals have been attacking cash machines for at least five years, the early campaigns mostly involved small numbers of ATMs because hackers needed to have physical access to cash out machines. The recent heists in Europe and Asia were run from central, remote command centres, enabling criminals to target large numbers of machines in "smash and grab" operations that seek to drain large amounts of cash before banks uncover the hacks. They are taking this to the next level in being able to attack a large number of machines at once, said Nicholas Billett, Diebold Nixdorfs senior director of core software and ATM Security. They know they will be caught fairly quickly, so they stage it in such a way that they can get cash from as many ATMs as they can before they get shut down. Group IB declined to name banks that were jackpotted, a term used to describe forcing ATMs to spit out cash, but said the victims were located in Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Britain and Malaysia.Indeed, Dmitry Volkov, head of threat intelligence with Group IB, told Reuters he expects more heists on ATMs. MORE HEISTS EXPECTED Hackers have moved from stealing payment card numbers and online banking credentials to more lucrative hacks on bank networks, giving them access not only to ATM machines, but also to electronic payment networks. A February attack on servers at Bangladesh's central bank that controlled access to the SWIFT messaging system yielded more than $81 million in one of the biggest digital heists on record. Russian banks lost over $28 million in a series of wire-fraud cases that were identified earlier this year. "What we are seeing demonstrated is the new model of organised crime," said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who helps banks and governments investigate cyber attacks and reviewed Group IB's findings. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR both said they had provided banks with information on how to thwart the new types of attacks. "We have been working actively with customers, including those who have been impacted, as well as developing proactive security solutions and strategies to help prevent and minimize the impact of these attacks," said Owen Wild, NCR's global marketing director for enterprise fraud and security. Disclosure of the campaign follows two ATM hacks in July: $2.5 million was stolen from Taiwan's First Bank and $350,000 from Thailand's state-run Government Savings Bank. Hackers remotely infected ATMs at both banks, forcing them to spit out cash that was collected by teams of "money mules," who authorities say travelled to Asia from Eastern Europe. ONE CRIMINAL GROUP? The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month sent a private alert to American banks, warning them to be on the lookout for attacks on ATMs following the heists in Taiwan and Thailand, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the attacks in Europe. Group IB released a report describing its findings late on Monday, saying it believed the attacks across Europe were conducted by a single criminal group which it dubbed Cobalt. (http://www.group-ib.com/cobalt.html) It named them after a security-testing tool known as Cobalt Strike, which the perpetrators used in the heists to help them move from computers in the bank network that were infected with tainted emails to specialised servers that control ATMs. Group IB believes that Cobalt is linked to a well-known cyber crime gang dubbed Buhtrap, which stole 1.8 billion rubles ($28 million) from Russian banks from August 2015 to January 2016, because the two groups use similar tools and techniques. Buhtrap stole money through fraudulent wire transfers, not ATM jackpotting. The ATM Security Association declined to comment on Group IB's findings. Members of the group, which works to improve ATM security, include ATM maker Diebold Nixdorf as well as banks ABN Amro , Bank of America Corp , Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Wells Fargo & Co. . Representatives of Europol, which coordinates investigations of cyber crimes across Europe, had no immediate comment. (Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Dan Grebler and Bernadette Baum)
A tattered flag bearing the Yahoo company logo flies above a building in New York, U.S., October 31, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (Reuters)

By Tom Bergin

LONDON (Reuters) - Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) said on Monday it was trying to ascertain if Yahoo! Inc's <YHOO.O> decision to scan clients' email accounts at the behest of the U.S. authorities last year broke European law.

Sources have told Reuters that Yahoo used a software program to sift through millions of emails for specific information related to national security.

At the time last month, the DPC said it was seeking more information from Yahoo. Now it has begun actively investigating the case, it said on Monday.

"We are in regular contact with Yahoo! EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in clarifying certain facts of this case and will then proceed to take appropriate next steps," a DPC spokeswoman said in a statement.

Yahoo did not respond to a request for comment.

Last month, it declined to confirm whether Europeans' emails were intercepted as part of the program. Yahoo said it complied with the laws of the United States.

Lawyers said mass surveillance of EU citizens email would be against incoming European Union data rules.

The DPC, the lead European regulator on privacy issues for Yahoo because its European headquarters are in Dublin, is trying to ascertain what exactly Yahoo did and whether it breached the privacy rules that prevailed last year.

"We are receiving active and engaged responses to our queries," the spokeswoman said.

Analysts said the email scanning could prompt Verizon <VZ.N> Communications to rethink the terms of a planned $4.8 billion takeover of Yahoo.

(Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by David Clarke)
By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Microsoft will still allow LinkedIn's rivals access to its software and give hardware makers the option of installing other services to try to win EU approval for its takeover of the U.S. firm, people familiar with the matter said. The U.S. software company submitted its LinkedIn concessions to the European Commission last week after the EU competition enforcer expressed concerns about the $26 billion deal, Microsoft's biggest ever acquisition. The offer aims to show that Microsoft will not favor LinkedIn at the expense of rivals, the people said, in an attempt to address a key concern for regulators. Both the Commission and Microsoft, which have not provided details of the offer, declined to comment on Monday. The EU is now seeking feedback from rivals and customers before deciding whether to accept the concessions, demand more or open an investigation which can take up to five months. They have until Tuesday to do so. The Commission is scheduled to rule on the deal by Dec. 6. Professional social networks which have access to Microsoft's API (application program interface) will continue to have this facility once LinkedIn becomes part of the company, the people said. The other key element of the company's concessions is the option for computer hardware makers to install either LinkedIn or rival networks on computers, indicating that the company is keen to avoid any suggestion of packaging products to crush competitors. Microsoft's website shows it has software deals with hardware makers such as Dell, HP , Lenovo <0992.HK>, Acer <2353.TW> and Huawei [HWT.UL], among others. The Commission has fined Microsoft more than 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) over the past decade for various infringements, one of them being the tying of some products to its Windows operating system to stifle competition. LinkedIn generates the bulk of its $3 billion annual revenue from job hunters and recruiters who pay a monthly fee to post resumes and connect with people. (Editing by Alexander Smith)
Over the past few months, Samsung has been hit by repeated recalls of some of its biggest products. The Note 7, a flagship device that was supposed to challenge the iPhone 7 got pulled twice, photos of burning Jeeps were all over the internet, and oh, then some Samsung washing machines started hurting people.

Its a perfect storm (an inferno, even) of bad PR, but it seems that no-one really cares. An opinion poll conducted over the last few weeks shows no real damage to Samsungs brand. In other words: fanboys and fangirls would rather have a stylus and an iris sensor than a non-incinerated car.

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The online poll surveyed 2,375 Samsung owners and 3,158 iPhone owners across all 50 states, giving us an accurate (for a change!) idea of how the Note 7 debacle has affected Samsung. The poll shows that Samsung owners are still loyal to their brand: 91 percent of current Samsung owners would buy another Samsung smartphone, and 92 percent another Samsung product in general. Thats nearly the same as the loyalty shown by iPhone owners to Apple, 92 percent of whom would buy another iPhone.

The poll also showed that the recall hasnt changed anyones likelihood to buy a Samsung device. 27 percent of users who knew of the recall would go to Samsung first if they were thinking of a new smartphone, compared to 25 percent of those who didnt know about a recall. The higher likelihood to buy Samsung among informed users can probably be explained by the overlap of people who know about the recall also being more tech-savvy in general.

The overall message from the survey is a massive relief for Samsung. It shows that even though Samsung botched the initial recall procedure, it hasnt lost any of its brand loyalty. Thats a huge deal for Samsung, which stands alone as one of the few Android manufacturers that commands significant brand loyalty. Without its name, Samsung is competing with a bunch of other excellent Android smartphones, many of which offer similar specs to the flagship Galaxies for hundreds of dollars less.

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Provided that Samsung can rebound properly with a killer Galaxy S8 device sometime early next year, the company should be able to write off 2016 as a bad blip and continue with regularly scheduled programming. If only the rest of us were so lucky.

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Two weeks on, businesses is being hammered by the ensuing cash crunch.

By Reuters: Like millions of Indians fed up with corruption and counterfeiting, Vimal Somani cheered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock move to replace all high-value banknotes. Two weeks on, his business is being hammered by the ensuing cash crunch.

Sales at Somani's aluminium foil maker, Rockdude Impex, have fallen by roughly a quarter in the past week, and the cash shortage that followed the "demonetisation" drive has left his supply chain in tatters: his trucks are stranded with no money for fuel, workers won't load goods for free, and distributors can't pay up.

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Modi's move on November 8 was aimed at cracking down on corruption and flushing out funds stashed away in India's "black economy". But the cancellation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes ($7.3 and $14.7), more than 80 per cent of currency in circulation, threatens to push Asia's third-largest economy into a liquidity crisis.

Consumer spending makes up 56 percent of India's $2 trillion economy. But with just the small stock of smaller denomination notes available and a struggle to get hold of new bills, consumers are holding back.

The government has acknowledged that the disruption would last weeks because of delays in note printing and technical problems with ATM machines, but Modi has made a plea for patience until December 30. The government said it could not have printed new notes or recalibrated cash machines in advance for fear of the move leaking out.

Meanwhile, supply chains at small, medium and even larger companies are breaking down, underlining just how much corporate India - not just the shadow economy - relies on hard cash.

"The entire supply chain has broken," said Somani, who employs 150 people across India from his base outside Mumbai.

Problems at Rockdude go from its network of suppliers to its 1,500 distributors and 150 stockists. Its sales team, spread from Delhi to Nagaland in the east and all the way to the south, is rapidly running short of cash to promote a planned new product, even for the rickshaw rides they use to travel.

Revenues have frozen, Somani says, but fixed costs continue, including wages. These are paid online, but his staff cannot get access without being given time off to queue at the bank.

"We are cutting production," he added. "If this goes on for two more months, then it will hit us very badly."

An executive at a mid-sized hair oil manufacturer, a beauty staple in India, said sales had crumpled as consumers simply stopped buying shampoos and lotions. Wholesale markets, which operate in cash, are shut. Distributors have no cash.

"We are planning to extend some discounts to the distributors so that they at least replenish the amount of stocks they are selling, instead of not buying from us at all," he said.

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"We are cutting production every day," he added.

Like many of the businessmen interviewed by Reuters, he declined to be named, given the sensitivity of the issue.

CASH CRUNCHED

In the year to March 2017, the cash crunch is estimated to pull down India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth from last year's 7.6 percent by as much as 4.1 percentage points. Brokerage Ambit Capital says it does not rule out a contraction in the October-December quarter.

Corporate operating profits are tipped to fall by as much as 40 percent in the current quarter.

People ranging from taxi drivers and street hawkers to big consumer goods firms have seen their earnings plummet by as much as 80 percent in the first week of the swap alone, according to some analysts' estimates.

Those relying on informal, cash-based channels are, unsurprisingly, worst hit. Greengrocer Ranveer Singh, who regularly borrows money to run his shop in New Delhi, sold vegetables on credit to regular customers in the first two days after the cash crackdown, but has been forced to shut up shop.

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"I don't have cash to refill stocks," said Singh, who used to make about $15 a day before the crackdown began.

"If it remains like this for two more weeks, my family might have to go without food."

But even for more sophisticated firms, paying employees is a major challenge, and not just in the construction and building materials sectors, which still pay contractors in cash.

As most Indians do not have bank accounts, most are paid in cash, though reliable statistics are hard to come by.

With the government changing rules for currency withdrawals and exchange almost every day, Somani and others are struggling.

Chandubhai Kothia, head of chemicals company Shree Ganesh Chemicals in Gujarat, with an annual turnover of 1 billion rupees, said a newly imposed 50,000 rupee cash withdrawal limit per week for some businesses that came in as part of the measures was simply not enough.

"The payment of wages to workers and transport are a problem," he said.

While Modi has promised the cash situation would become normal by year-end, Saumitra Chaudhuri, a former economic adviser to the government, estimates it will take six months to replace the stock of cancelled bills.

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EARNINGS CRUNCHED

Some analysts are already reviewing their estimate of company earnings for the rest of the year.

Brokerage Motilal Oswal warned this week that its forecast of a revival in corporate earnings in the second half of the fiscal year 2016/17 was now in jeopardy, with autos, retail, consumer goods, cement, telecom and non-banking financial companies likely to see downgrades.

India's vast services sector, which accounts for two-thirds of GDP, is worst hit.

Credit Suisse estimates more than 90 percent of consumer purchases are made in cash as few Indians have bank cards and infrastructure for online transacions is poor.

In Gurgaon's Cyber Hub, a corporate leisure centre, several eateries reported a crash in their card swiping machines, compelling them to decline customers who didn't have sufficient smaller denomination bills.

In rural areas, where cash is totally dominant, the situation is worse.

In the wheat-growing states, sales of seeds and fertiliser have plunged halfway through the sowing season as farmers told Reuters they had run out of cash.

As the crunch continues, more are beginning to ask whether the government could have done more to ease the impact.

"The Prime Minister to my mind has done an income tax raid in every house in the country," said Abhishek Saraf, joint managing director of SquareFoot, a flooring-maker in Mumbai.

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The company tweeted in October that Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri would deliver the keynote address at the Mobile World Congress.

Nokia has been away from the mainstream smartphone market for a while now. But the company is gearing up to make a comeback next year, possibly at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in February 2017.

The company tweeted in October that Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri would deliver the keynote address at MWC 2017.

Android Authority reported Sunday that we might see Nokia-branded smartphones at MWC 2017. According to an official slide from Nokia, the next year will see Nokia brands return to smartphones.

Who will produce the new Nokia phones?

Following the Microsoft-Nokia deal, Nokia shut shop around the world and brought hardware production to a halt. According to the deal, Microsoft will hold the rights to Nokia's feature phones for a 10-year period. But the deal freed the Nokia brand name from licensing, starting October 2016.

However, now the question emerges about who will produce the new Nokia phones. Microsoft produced the Lumia phones from 2014 to 2016, and Nokia hardware facilities around the world don't exist anymore.

So for the production of its upcoming smartphones, Nokia signed a deal with a consortium of companies including Microsoft in May.

OS

In terms of software, a shift toward Android seems inevitable. The company has already experimented with Windows Phone OS, without much luck and now might be a good time to invest in the Android OS since it has seen a lot of development while Nokia was absent from the smartphone market.

The company launched the HERE maps app for Android in October.

Changed market scenario

The smartphone market has been dynamically changing and ever since Nokia stopped production, things have been turned on their head  Chinese brands such as Xiaomi and LeEco are moving into the U.S. market, Apple has been incurring losses, Samsung's flagships have failed terribly and companies such as Google have begun designing their own phones, with the Pixel already creating a lot of buzz this year.

Story continues

For Nokia to make an impact in such a business environment, it will need to bring its core strengths back to the table  durability and long battery life. However, this time it may have to package these qualities in an Android smartphone.

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Remember Nokia? The once-ubiquitous phone maker could be making a big comeback soon.

According to a new report, we could see new Nokia smartphones debut at Mobile World Congress 2017, just in time to take on the likes of Samsung and LG.

Microsoft's Lumia 950. Photo: Mike Prospero/Tom's Guide

Microsoft's Lumia 950. Photo: Mike Prospero/Tom's Guide

While we haven't seen any leaks or teases from Nokia itself, Android Headlines notes that HMD Global will be at MWC 2017. That's the company that recently acquired the rights to make and release Nokia-branded devices for the next decade, and if HMD is showing up at one of the biggest tech shows of the year, there's a good chance it'll have something big to show off.

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The Nokia license most recently belonged to Microsoft, whose Nokia Lumia Windows phones were fairly popular thanks to their stellar cameras and colorful designs (Microsoft continued to release Lumia devices after dropping the Nokia brand). While you'll never see a Nokia Lumia again, Microsoft did, strangely enough, release two old-school Nokia brick phones in India this past September.

According to a press release from May, HMD Global plans on releasing "beautifully designed, high quality products to people all over the world in line with Nokias brand promise." HMD has confirmed that its Nokia-branded devices will run Android. (Those hoping for a slick new Windows 10 Mobile device will have to check out the HP Elite x3 or wait for the rumored Surface phone.)

Mobile World Congress 2017 kicks off in late February, so it's only a matter of months before we find out whether the new Nokia phone is real or not. We'll be on the ground in Barcelona, so stay tuned for updates.
San Francisco (AFP) - Oracle on Monday announced it is buying Dyn, a Web traffic management firm recently hit with a cyber attack that closed off the internet to millions of users.

Business software and hardware titan Oracle did not disclose financial terms of the deal to acquire US-based Dynamic Network Services Inc, or Dyn.

Oracle planned to enhance its own offerings with Dyn's expertise in monitoring, controlling, and optimizing cloud-based internet applications and managing online traffic.

"Dyn's immensely scalable and global DNS is a critical core component and a natural extension to our cloud computing platform," Oracle product development president Thomas Kurian said in a release.

Dyn was the target of cyber attacks that pounded the underpinnings of the internet in October, crippling Twitter, Netflix and other major websites with the help of once-dumb devices made smart with online connections.

The onslaught incapacitated a crucial piece of internet infrastructure, taking aim at a service entrusted to guide online traffic to the right places by turning website names people know into addresses computers understand.

The hacker was probably a disgruntled gamer, an expert whose company closely monitored the attack said last week.

Dale Drew, chief security officer for Level 3 Communications, which mapped out how the October 21 attack took place, told a Congressional panel that the person had rented time on a botnet -- a network of web-connected machines that can be manipulated with malware -- to level the attack.

Using a powerful malicious program known as Mirai, the attacker harnessed some 150,000 "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices such as cameras, lightbulbs and appliances to overwhelm Dyn systems, according to Drew.

Dyn has more than 3,500 customers including Netflix, Twitter, and CNBC, making tens of billions of online traffic optimizing decisions daily, according to Oracle.
By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program. H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said. Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent. Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs. Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor, Sessions said at a February hearing. A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment. The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers. Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently. By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards. Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment. LABOR LOTTERY H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions. Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co , a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors. Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown. Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers. The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million. Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work. In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S. CALLS FOR CHANGE Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest professional association. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations. That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill. Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards. Were going to advocate for expanding the program, but were also going to advocate for reforming the program, FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview. The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cyber security firm in San Francisco. H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less. "The current system is not working for Americans, and it's not working for immigrants," he said. 'AMAZING PEOPLE' Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh Shalli Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign. "He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go, Kumar said in an interview. But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards. John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute - a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump - also supports prioritizing H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay. Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas. Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34. Some H-1B visa holders aren't waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card. Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs, she said. I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible. (This version of the story has been refiled to clarify that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers represents engineers and not engineering companies) (Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Brian Thevenot)
Now that The Walking Dead episode 5 is past us, we might as well take a sneak peek at next weeks installment. As expected, AMC has posted both a new trailer for episode 706  titled Swear  and a short clip that gives us an extra sneak peek. If youre still behind on this season of the show, then you might be better off avoiding the following videos because there are some spoilers.

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Were back to the usual grind, which means we get to see lots of mundane things happening in these episodes while waiting for the juicier parts  and this isnt necessarily a great recipe for success, so lets just hope that AMC will find ways to keep us entertained.

Next week, were going to discover a new colony, one weve never seen before. A familiar face stumbles upon a brand new society. Their rules, location, and setup, are unlike anything that has been seen before, the official synopsis reads. The new episode will show us Negans camp, which is probably the new society the synopsis teases. But itll also feature scenes from The Kingdom. Tara is back as well, and shes apparently off to hunt with Heath, one of the Alexandria survivors who has finally realized what kind of world hes living in.

Meanwhile, Rosita is working on something, and Rick and Aaron are away on some sort of mission  are they acting on possible intel received from Daryl? Check out AMCs clips for next weeks episode below.

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During a candid discussion with fellow The Daily Show alum John Oliver on Saturday, Stephen Colbert expressed why we are most screwed by a Donald Trump-run White House.

Everyone tried to stop Trump except the people he is going to appoint, they tried to stop Trump and they didnt. He owes them nothing, said the CBS Late Show host.

Thats what scares me, added Colbert during a chat at a fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey (via People). He owes the checks and balances of Washington nothing. Because they tried to stop him and they couldnt. And hes a vindictive person. Merry Christmas.

Also Read: Trump Meets With 'King of Hollywood' Ari Emanuel

Colbert also revealed during his chat with the host of HBOs Last Week Tonight that several of his audience members were crying on election night when he hosted a television special in honor of the occasion.

That show was the hardest thing Ive ever done in my entire life, he said. My audience was sobbing openly.

Also Read: Alec Baldwin Blasts Trump in Sunday Twitter Battle

Colbert called Trumps rhetoric on the campaign trail as being horrifying, explaining that is why it is difficult to give him some rope and a chance to lead.

Both hosts discussed their role in emphasizing that Trumps presidency is not normal. Colbert also blamed fake news as part of the reason why Hillary Clinton was ultimately defeated.

Also Read: Mike Pence: 'I Wasn't Offended' by 'Hamilton' Speech

You have to keep remembering that this is an abnormal version of what weve been through before, said Oliver.

Colbert added: We havent anything to compare it to. We havent flirted with strongmen before.

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Demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes has hit the lower income class hard. An unverified footage from Uttar Pradesh's Deoband shows how people are fighting to ensure a safe spot in the queue in front of an SBI branch.

An unverified footage from SBI Deoband shows people fighting with each other to be first in a queue. Photo: Screengrab from Twitter video

By India Today Web Desk: When PM Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, people who hoard unaccounted money wept. As these folks brooded about converting their black money into white, the lower income class, who deal with cash, was hit hard by the demonetisation drive.

From November 10, bank branches and ATMs across India have been seeing long queues ahead of it of people desperate to exchange the old currency notes with the new 'pink' Rs 2,000 notes or in Rs 100 denomination.

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Read: How PM Modiji's demonetisation drive hit common man and what upset them



Today is the thirteenth day since the announcement of scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from the financial system of India, and the number of people who died, owing to the exhaustion from standing in the queues for hours straight, has gone up to 55, reports say.

On November 18, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur observed that people are now frantic for money and are filing cases "in courts all over". It said that people are affected and that such long queues and desperation may lead to riots.



ATM trail fail: Bengaluru man visits 23 ATMs to check if media is spreading lies about demonetisation

An unverified footage from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district shows how people eagerly waited for a gate to open so that they could rush to form a queue in front of a State Bank of India branch there. In a near-stampede situation after the gate was opened, people could be seen fighting with each other, pulling each other down so that they could be ahead of fellow people in the queue.

The video was shared by Twitter user Pratik Sinha saying, "Another one of those unbelievably horrifying videos, purportedly of SBI Deoband, with scenes of an almost stampede," along with #demonetisation. We cannot verify the authenticity of the location or date of the footage but if true, the Supreme Court may be proved right.

Watch the video here:



Another one of those unbelievably horrifying videos, purportedly of SBI Deoband, with scenes of an almost stampede. #demonetisation pic.twitter.com/fe0cekihCg Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) November 21, 2016

--- ENDS ---
Indian parliament may have witnessed uproarious scenes over demonetisation move, but an MP from neighbouring Sri Lanka wants his country to follow PM Modi's suit.

By India Today Web Desk: The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) has urged the Sri Lankan government to follow the example set by the Modi government in India to destroy the black market. PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila urged the Sri Lankan government to demonetise Rs 5,000 currency note.

Speaking to media, PHU MP Udaya Gammanpila said, "Demonetisation would reveal the identities of those who have black money in the country. We can see if it is with Rajapakse or the central bank thieves."



READ| Side effect of demonetisation: Crime dips in national capital, say Delhi Police

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Udaya Gammanpila lashed out at the Maithripala Sirisena for not making enough efforts to unearth black money stashed abroad and in the country.

He said, "The government had appointed a committee to find stolen state assets. But, despite spending large amounts of public funds travelling the world, the government has not been able to find even a rupee of the funds that were stolen."

WATCH:



No comments have been offered on Gammanpila's demand from either President Maithripala Sirisena's office or Prime Minister Ranil Vikramsinghe's office.



READ| Only 3 per cent against demonetisation; 51 per cent say implementation good



Sri Lanka had demonetized the Rs 100 note in 1973, when Professor NM Perera was the finance minister. "This brought in a lot of funds to the reserves," Udaya Gammanpila said.

Udaya Gammanpila is the opposition leader in Sri Lankan parliament. Recently he was in controversy after he was charged with defrauding a foreign national. He had been barred from leaving the country till last week, when a Sri Lankan court allowed Gammanpila to travel India and Japan.

WATCH:





--- ENDS ---
State Bank of Mysore's manager Lokeshwar Rao, the bank's cashier Elangovan, Axis Bank's Nanganallur assistant manager Mukesh, and Manikandan of Velachery Axis Bank branch were arrested for their involvement.

By Promod Madhav: Seven people including five bank employees were arrested by the Chennai Police for attempting to exchange demonetised money for a commission.

After demonetisation was announced by the Center, many corrupt men in possession of black money have being trying to get rid of it by using unscrupulous ways and means.

In one such incident, State Bank of Mysore's manager Lokeshwar Rao, the bank's cashier Elangovan, Axis Bank's Nanganallur assistant manager Mukesh, and Manikandan of Velachery Axis Bank branch were arrested.

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On Friday, Lokeshwar Rao complained that his cashier was robbed at knife point of Rs 25 lakh near Pallavaram.

When the police inquired as to why Elangovan, the cashier was moving such an amount during late night from a public sector bank to a private sector bank, the plot was revealed.

ALSO READ: Income Tax raids to continue crackdown on black money hoarders

Lokeshwar Rao and Elangovan had promised certain businessmen they would get their old money exchanged for a fee and had contacted two mediators.

When Elangovan was waiting in a secluded place at Zameen Pallavaram, two men robbed him of the money at knife point.

The police caught the robbers as well and they revealed that it was the mediators who had set them up. The seven men have been arrested and sent into judicial custody now.

Elangovan identified the mediators as Gunasekaran and Dinesh who are now being interrogated as to where they would get the new currency from.

Police action in quickly apprehending the culprits and revealing the plot was lauded by the public.

Also Read:



PM Modi assures people that demonetisation will usher in 'bright future'



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Houston, Nov 21 (PTI) The asteroid that ended the age of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago may have nearly punctured the Earths crust, and temporarily caused the surface of the planet to behave like a slow-moving fluid, a new study has found.

The findings may shed light on how such impacts can reshape the face of planets and generate new habitats for life, researchers said.

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Major craters sometimes possess rings of rocky hills in their centres known as peak rings.

Most of these peak rings exist on extraterrestrial rocky bodies such as the Moon or Venus, making it difficult to analyse these structures in detail and pin down their origins.

To learn more about peak rings, scientists from University of Texas at Austin in the US studied the gargantuan Chicxulub crater in Mexico, which measures more than 180 kilometers across. It is the only crater with an intact peak ring on Earth.

The crater resulted from the epic crash of an object about 10 kilometre wide, and the resulting impact is thought to have ended the age of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago.

Researchers examined peak ring samples from under 18 metres of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

They discovered granite that likely once was deeply buried for about 500 million years, said Sean Gulick, a marine geophysicist at UT Austin.

"These deeply buried rocks rose up to the surface of the Earth within the first few minutes of the impact," Gulick told the Live Science.

After the impact, "the earth there would have temporarily behaved like a slow-moving fluid," Gulick said.

"The stony asteroid would have opened up a hole probably almost the thickness of Earths crust, almost 30 km deep, and on the order of 80 to 100 km wide," he added. PTI MHN SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---
The PIL challenged that it was unconstitutional for the Rs 2000 rupee note to carry Devanagari numerals.

The Council also pointed out that there was no provision under Official Languages Act of 1963 to use Devanagari numerals. Photo: PTI

By Pramod Madhav: While hearing a public interest litigation, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court raised questions as to on what authority were Devanagari numerals used in the new Rs 2000 rupee notes.

The PIL challenged that it was unconstitutional for the Rs 2000 rupee note to carry Devanagari numerals.

The petitioner's council argued that as per Article 343, only international form of Indian numerals can be used for official purposes. The petitioner revealed that no law was passed in the Parliament or by the president to use Devanagari form of numerals.

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MINISTRY TO ANSWER

The Council also pointed out that there was no provision under Official Languages Act of 1963 to use Devanagari numerals.

Hearing the argument, the court directed the finance ministry to give a reply.



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The Army Chief met PLA Chief of Joint Staff General Fang Fenghui, and also call on the Vice Chairman of the elite Central Military Commission, General Fan Changlong. The CMC is headed by President Xi Jinping.

By Ananth Krishnan: India's Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Monday held key talks with the People's Liberation Army leadership in Beijing as both sides look to build trust and address issues along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Army Chief was given a welcome ceremony at the PLA headquarters in Beijing and received by Army Commander General Li Zuocheng.

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During talks, both sides agreed to deepen defence exchanges and noted the steps taken to ensure peace and tranquility along the border.

"This is a goodwill visit aimed to send a positive message and to keep communication lines open despite differences," an official told India Today.

The Army Chief also called on the General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission and one of two highest-ranking generals in the Chinese military. The CMC is headed by President Xi Jinping.

An Indian Embassy statement said both had "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful".

During his November 21-24 China visit, the army chief will visit military installations in Xi'an and Nanjing, which hosts the PLA's eastern theater command and an advanced army command college that trains senior officers.

He will visit military installations including an infantry division and army air defence brigades.

An official statement said the four-day visit "is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations".

"The visit aims at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace keeping training," the statement said.

"This visit comes amidst growing stronger economic and military ties between the emerging Asian giants and follows high level diplomatic and military exchanges between the two neighbours."

The visit coincides with the annual ongoing "Hand in Hand" annual joint military exercise currently underway in Pune. A top PLA General Zhao Zongqi, who heads the key western theater command that borders India, will visit India in the second week of December.



Also Read:



Army chief asks border troops to be alert in wake of heightened Indo-Pak tensions



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 21 (PTI) A leader of Gilgit-Baltistan has met BJP general-secretary Ram Madhav in the US seeking his help in creating legislative space for the people of this part of Jammu and Kashmir, as the two senior leaders discussed the violation of religious freedom and rights in the region.

During the meeting, Madhav and Senge Sering, director of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, discussed issues related to the "chronic Kashmir dilemma" with focus on the on-going political development in the region.

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"People of Gilgit-Baltistan continue to suffer due to absence of constitutional rights and Pakistan lacks the legal capacity to grant the locals citizenship. India therefore must create space for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in its legislative institutions and help internationalise the matter," Sering said after meeting Madhav.

Sering spoke on the need to revive dialogue with Pakistan to discuss confidence-building measures related to cross Line-of-Control movement.

Currently, there are over 15,000 people living in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan who belong to separated families and await a decision by both the countries to open Skardo Kargil and Gangche-Nubra roads to facilitate meetings and reunions, he said.

The two leaders shared views on opening Indian educational and health institutions for the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Thousands of Pakistani citizens travel to India to benefit from its health and educational facilities. However, this option is not available to the residents of PoK-GB, a media release on the meeting said.

They also discussed the on-going violations of religious freedom and rights in Gilgit-Baltistan as the Pakistan government recently charged hundreds of people for terrorism for peacefully commemorating Imam Hussain Day in educational institutions.

Talking about jailed political activists, many of whom face a life sentence, Sering explained how abrogation of State Subject Rule has enabled Pakistan to illegally change the socio-economic demography affecting the local culture.

BJPs proposal to elect parliamentarians from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan also came up during the discussion.

Sering said India claims the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as its citizens and it is, therefore, incumbent upon the Indian government to treat the people of Gilgit-Baltistan at par with those living in Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir.

At the moment, 24 seats are vacant in the Kashmir Assembly which are reserved for the people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. PTI LKJ ABH

--- ENDS ---
Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

By Reuters: The main US visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program.

H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.



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Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to US companies looking to slash information technology costs.

Also read: H-1B visa issue may cause friction between India-US ties under Donald Trump

"Thousands of US workers are being replaced by foreign labor," Sessions said at a February hearing.

WHAT IS H-1B VISA?



A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.

The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the US permanently.

By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.

Also read: US introduces bill to prevent Indian firms from hiring on H-1B, L1 visas



Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

LABOR LOTTERY

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in US law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.

Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.

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Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edison's use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.

Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.

The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.

Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to US officials about the cities where they would work.

In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the US.

CALLS FOR CHANGE

Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.

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That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.

Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.

"We're going to advocate for expanding the program, but we're also going to advocate for reforming the program," FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview.

The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco.

H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less.

"The current system is not working for Americans, and it's not working for immigrants," he said.

'AMAZING PEOPLE'

Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh "Shalli" Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign.

"He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go," Kumar said in an interview.

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But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards.

John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute - a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump - also supports prioritizing H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay.

Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas.

Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34.

Some H-1B visa holders aren't waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card.

"Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs," she said. "I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible."



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Cuttack, Nov 21 (PTI) The Orissa High Court today formed a one-man committee to inspect the ongoing repair work of the prayer hall of Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri and submit a report.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking the repair of the prayer hall of the 12th-century shrine, which developed cracks in its pillars and beam.

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The ASI has told the court that the repair work will be over by June next year.

While hearing a PIL in this connection, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran constituted the committee to be headed by retired engineer and advocate N K Mohanty and directed the Puri district administration and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to cooperate with the panel in inspecting the repair work. PTI CORR AAM MD ZMN PS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Mumbai, Nov 21 (PTI) To help crash-starved travellers, the state-run IDBI Bank has deployed its point of sale (PoS) machines at the Mumbai airport.

The PoS machines deployed at both domestic and international airports will allow Visa and RuPay debit card holders of IDBI Bank as well as a few select banks to withdraw cash for urgent needs. A customer can get Rs 2,000 per card.

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"We have deployed around 4-5 PoS machines at the Mumbai airport terminals where people can swipe a Visa or a RuPay card and the bank officials present there would give them cash. The intention is to help travellers meet their immediate cash needs," Deputy Managing Director K P Nair said.

Besides IDBI Bank, Visa and RuPay debit card holders of State Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank and HDFC Bank can also withdraw cash at the IDBI Banks PoS terminals at the airports.

Nair said the bank is now deploying such PoS machines at the New Delhi airport also and is in talks with a few more airports.

He said the facility to withdraw cash from PoS terminals is only for Visa and RuPay cards, launched by National Payments Corporation, as both the companies are certified to undertake this exercise.

"Cash withdrawal on PoS machines requires a certain certification to be done. That certification exercise had already been done by Visa and RuPay," Nair explained.

He said the bank has collected Rs 18,000 crore of deposits between November 10 and November 19. It has exchanged Rs 400 crore of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Out of the 3,300 ATMs of the bank, 500 ATMs are recalibrated to dispense the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. PTI HV BEN GK ARK

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) India is among the lowest four countries in terms of number of rapes but almost every incident is reported by the media, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said today.

She also said that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards rape.

However, her statement drew flak from lawyer Vrinda Grover who asked if she is "denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India".

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Addressing a gathering of women journalists, the Women and Child Development Minister said, "I went to Sweden two years ago when because of Nirbhaya incident, cases were being reported everyday. Someone said to me that no one wanted to travel to India.

"I actually took a look at a table. In the world, we are among the lowest four countries in the area of rape. Sweden is number one. I said in your country it is not reported in the newspapers. Whereas we have zero tolerance (towards rape) and our newspapers will write about it everyday," she said.

"In fact, according to data collated by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Sweden recorded second highest number of sexual crimes - 63.5 per 100,000 inhabitants - in 2010. This is the highest for any European country.

"Botswana was the worst at 92.9 rapes per 1,00,000 people. The figure for Sweden is also more than 30 times the number in India, which recorded 1.8 offences per 1,00,000 people," Maneka said.

Grover argued that comparing crime statistics across countries can be "fraught with problems".

"I find it very unfortunate that a minister might try and tell women of this country that you can be in a worse situation instead of saying that she is working to make things better. Is she denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India?" she asked.

"I would look at whether definition of rape is the same in Sweden as in India. Secondly, there may be a much higher rate of reporting in Sweden," Grover added. PTI JC DIP

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Prez

Jalandhar, Nov 21 (PTI) Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib- Fakim today said India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region.

"India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region," she said addressing the convocation of a private university here.

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She said India is the land of her forefathers and added adding the two countries have many things in common be it traditions, values or culture.

The President said she wanted a kind of education in India and Mauritius which will stop young and ignited minds from leaving their countries.

According to a release by Lovely Professional University, she termed Punjab as the "melting pot" of incredible India and a "land of lions", where bravery and courage rule the hearts of men and women alike.

Moreover, the economic opportunities are endless in Punjab, Fakim said.

On the occasion, Fakim honoured Ph.Ds and toppers of various academic programmes, the release said.

She was also conferred Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the university for her work towards advancement of science, technology and her services to the society.

Before delivering her convocation address, the Mauritian President expressed her condolences to the family members of those who died in yesterdays Indore-Patna Express derailment. PTI SUN ANB TIR

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 21 (PTI) A 41-year-old Indian man was arrested in Nepal today for cheating people on the pretext of exchanging banned high denomination Indian currency.

Harekrishna Shah from West Bengal was arrested in Kalanki in the outskirt of Kathmandu in connection with his fraudulent activities.

He had assured people to provide them with 5 million Nepalese rupees in exchange of INR 3.65 million with higher denominations.

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A special Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Circle at Teku for taking necessary legal action under the fraudulent activities, according to the police.

The Indian government recently banned notes of denominations Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in a bid to tackle black money.

Nepal shares border with India. Indian currency is widely used in Nepal for day-to-day transactions, especially in the border areas. Also, a large number of Nepalese citizens working in India send remittances to their family in Nepal in higher denomination notes. Nepal, a landlocked country, depends on India for trade and supplies. PTI SBP NSA

--- ENDS ---
A close relative said that infant's parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards.

By Press Trust of India: An infant girl died at KEM Hospital after she was allegedly refused treatment by a prominent hospital for her heart condition, apparently over the issue of payment in demonetised currency notes.

However, Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was to be admitted for heart surgery, refuted the claim made by her relatives that their request to accept at least part payment in defunct banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 was turned down.

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A close relative of Amrapali and Gaurab Kunte, parents of the deceased girl, said the doctors had advised them to admit her in Ruby Hall Clinic for heart surgery.

"However, when we went to Ruby on Saturday morning, the billing department gave us quotation of Rs 3.5 lakh and told us to deposit the same before any treatment.

"We then offered to make Rs 1 lakh payment in demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. However, the hospital administration refused to accept these notes," claimed Sudhakar Gawandgave.

Also read:

Demonetisation effect: SBI manager dies in bank due to work load



He said her parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards.

"When they (Ruby Clinic) turned down the demonetised bills, we offered them that we would pay Rs 1 lakh through current cheque and Rs 30,000 through card payment and requested them to allow the remaining payment through another cheque, which needs to be deposited in bank on Monday," Gawandgave said.

He alleged that the hospital administration turned down their offer and instead demanded full payment which he said resulted into wastage of golden hours.

Also read:

Note ban deaths: SBI cashier dies of heart attack while at work in Nagpur



"They made us run from pillar to post to admit the girl. Had she been admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital, the golden hours would not have been wasted.

"The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning," Gawandgave said.

When contacted, Dr Sanjay Pathare, Director, Medical Services, at Ruby Hall Clinic, refuted as "baseless and false" the claims made by the relatives.

Also read:

Demonetisation: Rush for cash kills 2 in Kerala, 1 in Maharashtra; Congress blames Modi govt



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin today visited the Akshardham temple on the bank of the Yamuna river.

Rivlin, accompanied by a number of members of his official delegation, spent around half-an-hour at the temple complex.

Rivlin had arrived in India on November 14 on an eight-day visit and had held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

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The Israeli President will visit Mumbai tomorrow where he will pay homage to the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. PTI MPB MP SMN

--- ENDS ---
Unidentified armed men today robbed the Charar-e-Sharif branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank

By Ashraf Wani: Suspected militants today robbed a bank in Chrar-e-Sharief area of central Kashmirs Budgam district, decamping with nearly Rs 13 lakh cash, police said.

The gunmen barged into the Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Malpora in Chrar-e-Sharief and took away cash from the counters at gunpoint, a police official said.

He said while exact amount of the money taken by the gunmen was being ascertained, the bank officials believe the amount to be around Rs 13 lakh.

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Police have taken cognizance of the incident and started investigations, the official said, adding further details were awaited.

--- ENDS ---
By India Today Web Desk: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's eldest daughter Jhanvi Kapoor is all set to make her Bollywood debut. In a recent interview, Boney revealed that Jhanvi will be entering B-Town under the mentorship of Karan Johar, who has launched the careers of other star kids, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan.

ALSO READ: Sridevi's daughter Jhanvi Kapoor to make debut in KJo project, confirms daddy Boney Kapoor

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ALSO READ: Sridevi livid with Jhanvi for dating Shikhar Pahariya?



Boney's announcement comes after months of speculation about Jhanvi's debut. From Student Of The Year 2 to Shuddhi, names of several films were doing the rounds until Boney cleared the air in an interview with DNA. "Yes, Karan has been talking to us about a film for Jhanvi and we've given consent. But we don't know which project it would be. Since Karan has recently acquired the remake rights of Sairat it is being presumed that our daughter would be launched in this project," he said.

Now, Karan Johar, in an interview with Hindustan Times, opened up about rumours of the Sairat remake being Jhanvi's launch vehicle. "I don't want to make any announcement of any sort as of now. Sairat is a film I absolutely loved. I have great regard for the movie and its film-maker. The movie blew my mind. I don't want to say anything more until the formal details are out," the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director said.

Karan's cryptic answer just piqued our curiosity!



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: of terror havens for long

Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai today welcomed the surgical strikes by Indian Army on terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and said for long his country has been demanding terror sanctuaries be destroyed.

"We have been saying and wishing it since so long that terror sanctuaries be eliminated, and the Indian Army has done the right thing through its surgical strike," said Karzai.

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He was here to attend The Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice, 2016 program, organised by Harmony Foundation.

Speaking to reporters, Karzai said Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is a very serious issue, and his country hopes that the new regime in the the United States (under President-elect Donald Trump) would take it seriously.

Asked how the regime change in the US would affect Afghanistan, Karzai said, "We have a deep association with the US and we have been fighting against terrorism and extremism. However, we find more radical and extremist elements carrying out violent activities. Therefore, we hope that US will continue concentrating to stop the terror sanctuaries and those who are supporting it.

"We also hope that the US strategic approach towards combating terrorism would not change," he said.

Both India and China were extending full cooperation to Afghanistan and the country is looking forward to working with both the countries amicably, Karzai said.

Asked how the Gwadar port project in Pakistan would affect the geopolitical equations, Karzai said, "It is an economic project and as far as its economic value is concerned, we all appreciate it. But since Pakistan is using extremist forces in our region, we feel that this project should not be in support of promoting extremism."

To the question whether the Trump government may adopt "hard policies on Muslims", he said, "We do not hope so. Rather we hope he will work with the Muslim as well as all the sections of the society to keep harmony and peace worldwide." PTI APM KRK TIR

--- ENDS ---
By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a personal attack on Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh alleging that the latter looted the state.

Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) convenor, said, "Captain (Amarinder Singh) had no money to get his house painted in 2002. It was about to be seized."

He alleged that Singh looted Punjab. "His wife and son formed a number of companies and deposited ill-gotten money in Swiss banks," he said

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Kejriwal challenged Singh to file a defamation case against him, if his allegations were false.

There is a striking similarity between Kejriwal's attack on Singh now and on the then Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit ahead of the 2013 Assembly elections in the national capital. He had launched personal attacks also on Dikshit calling her "corrupt". He had claimed to have prepared a 370-page document to prove Dikshit's involvement in several scams, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Also read: AAP to gherao Parliament on Tuesday to protest demonetisation

He had also promised to send Dikshit to jail if he came to power. However, Kejriwal has not taken any action against Dikshit so far, despite coming to power a second time.

Meanwhile, on the Badals, who are ruling Punjab, Kejriwal alleged that they have the maximum black money. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will will not take any action against the Badals. He alleged that Modi was after farmers in the name of waging a war on black money.



Also read: Bains brothers enter into pre-poll alliance with AAP in Punjab



--- ENDS ---
24 sheltered dogs were poisoned in Kerala's Kasargod district, out of which 8 died and the rest were rescued.

By Revathi Rajeevan: Less than a week after the Supreme Court asked vigilante groups in Kerala to stop killing stray dogs, an incident of sheltered dogs allegedly being poisoned to death in the state has come to light, this time in Kasargod district.

A complaint, registered with the Hosdurg police in the district on the November 7, said that the dogs were caged outside the house of owner Susy and were poisoned to death at night.

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Furthermore, the complainant has allegedly been under constant threats and attacks from anti-social elements.

"I have 24 dogs in this shelter run by me. They tried to kill them by giving poisoned fish to eat. I rescued as many as I could. But eight of them died," said Susy to India Today.

Also read: Kerala man lives with needle in his rear for 22 years, finally gets it removed through surgery



Susy said she has been living in fear for the last one and half years. "They have poisoned our well, threatened us, barged into our house."

Hosdurg police said that although her complaint is against those in the neighbourhood, there hasn't been enough evidence yet to make any arrests. "She has been taking care of the dogs at her house in a shelter and some people do not like it. We are waiting for the vet reports on the dead dogs, after which we will take necessary action," said Mohanan, SI of Hosdurg station.

Also read: Kerala's iconic Sabarimala Temple now has a new name

--- ENDS ---
Police forces across the red corridor have reported attempts to move large sums of old currency.

Kiren Rijiju said that north-east insurgents are trying to bring truckloads of old Indian currency to deposit in banks but they will not succeed. Photo: PTI

By Gaurav C Sawant: Insurgent groups of the north-east are trying to smuggle in truck loads of Indian currency from their safe havens in jungle camps of Myanmar back into India.

"Incidents of smuggling of Fake Indian currency notes (FICN) have come down to zero from November 8, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement demonetising old Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes," Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India said today.

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Speaking exclusively to Mail Today, Rijiju said the financial backbone of anti-India terror groups in the north-east, Left wing extremist groups in the Red Corridor, terrorists and separatists has been broken by the prime minister's 'bold initiative,' to fight black money.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the anti-India terror machinery generates Rs 700-800 crore annually, with Left wing extremists running an approximate Rs 300-350 crore empire. Terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir also operated with an additional Rs 20-30 crore.

"Now they have no money. We have an input about north-east insurgents trying to bring truckloads of old Indian currency to deposit them in banks. But they will not succeed. Apart from the police, intelligence agencies are also watching bank deposits very closely," Rijiju added.

RED CORRIDOR UNDER SCANNER

Police forces across the red corridor have reported attempts to move large sums of old currency.

"Villagers have been approached to park funds at Jan Dhan accounts. But along with the police, the state administration is sensitising people against helping terrorists and Maoists convert their black money into white. They will not succeed," he insisted.

The government is also watching developments in the Kashmir valley.

STONE PELTING HAS STOPPED: RIJIJU

The Union minister added, "Stone pelting has come to a stop. Now they don't have Rs 500 or Rs 1000 to pay stone pelters. They may be able to organise an odd incident but they do not have the funds to organise massive stone pelting across the Valley or move people from one area to other for organised stone pelting."

Though incidents of stone pelting had already gone down from July, after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed to October, Rijiju insisted choking of funds supply to terrorists and separatists will mean no more stone pelting.

Demonetisation may have been a set back to terror groups but the government is still working on a project to ensure the multi-million rupee extortion, abduction and terror industry does not continue to flourish in the affected areas.

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"There is a plan. It is being fine tuned. The Modi government will ensure development reaches the terror and insurgency affected areas. Already youth are sending feelers they want to return to mainstream. Minus funds, the terror industry will be crippled," he added

According to the MHA, there are indications that Pakistan backed terror groups are now planning to use drugs and gold as currency to generate funds within India and continue operations.

Watch Link

--- ENDS ---
Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor's bromance is the real deal. Sorry, Ranveer Singh, you have been replaced.

By Anvita Singh: Beloved Indian chat show Koffee with Karan Season 5 recently hit the small screen, and last night the show's third episode was aired. It featured Arjun Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan.

Let's just start by declaring that the episode had EVERYTHING. It had masala; some revelations were made by the two stars, but what really made the show special and super-entertaining was the bromance of the two actors.



Also read: Finally, Mira Rajput to make TV debut with hubby Shahid Kapoor, on Koffee With Karan

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Yep, you read that right.

For the uninitiated, 'Bromance' is a close but non-sexual relationship between two men, according to Google search. Bromance is also when two guys love each other, but do not hesitate to make fun of each other on a public platform.

Now Arjun Kapoor might have moved on from his 'bromantic' relationship with Gunday co-star Ranveer Singh. If that is the case, then it is unfortunate that things have ended between the two (we still hope they are on good terms though). But here is some great news. Varun Dhawan has now taken that place in Arjun Kapoor's life. At least that is what it looked like during last night's show.

So in case you missed all the fun, love, and banter; here are five best bromantic moments of the two stars from last night's show:



Also read: Koffee with Karan Season 5: Comedy genius Kapil Sharma to appear on the show?

When Arjun Kapoor recounted a hilarious incident from their 'acting classes' days



Yes, Arjun and Varun went to the same acting school. As a part of an acting assignment, the two were once asked to enact a prolonged death scene. Arjun Kapoor disclosed that he acted out his death for nearly 30 minutes, mimicking Amitabh Bachchan's character in the movie Agneepath.

The actor also revealed about Varun's competitive streak. Naturally, the latter wanted to outdo Arjun's 30 minutes performance, and so he improvised a death scene that spanned over 36 minutes.

But what had Varun done to prolong his death sequence? He had lit a cigarette.

Martin Scorsese, meet your next Leonardo DiCaprio-Varun Dhawan.

When Arjun Kapoor called Varun Dhawan a snake, lovingly, we might add

Arjun Kapoor told host Karan Johar that Varun Dhawan is a motormouth. And that he will not hesitate in divulging secrets about one friend to another friend, to the extent that his (Varun's) friends often feel betrayed by him, and have taken to calling him a snake for his untoward actions.

Now that is not very nice, Varun.

However, Varun responded rather defensively saying that he is an impulsive guy, and has said many things "harmlessly" to many people on several occasions. Varun further demonstrated what Arjun had meant by his statements when during the Rapid Fire session, he teased Arjun about Sonakshi Sinha and Parineeti Chopra, much to the actor's embarrassment.

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Don't worry, Arjun, everyone has that 'one' friend.

When Arjun Kapoor called Varun Dhawan his "brother from another mother"

Yes, it really happened. Arjun showered love all over his BFF Varun, saying that he is extremely proud of him and his work. He even called Varun his "brother from another mother."

Varun reciprocated the love and said, "Arjun is very protective about me."

The bromance is real, guys.

When they both revealed that they love their naked selves

Both Arjun and Varun disclosed that they love walking around the house (nearly) naked. While Varun admitted that he is basically a nudist, Arjun said that he loves hanging out at his place in a pair of shorts.

Do you see the similarity? Their bromance is meant to be.

And when they fought like children during the Koffee Quiz round

Arjun sat on Varun. Varun complained about cheating, and the faulty buzzer. And Arjun nearly walked out of the sets because he just couldn't get ahead of Varun.

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Now who is the competitive one, Arjun?

But it was all very adorable and done for the laughs, obviously.

So all hail Bollywood's new and budding bromance of Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor.

--- ENDS ---
Project 15A (15 Alpha) Kolkata Class destroyers is a follow-up of the Type 15 Delhi Class destroyers. The concept and function for Project 15A were framed by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: The third ship of Kolkata class destroyer made by Mumbai based Mazgaon Dock Limited(MDL) will get commissioned on Monday in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

PROJECT 15 ALPHA

INS Chennai has been built under the code name of Project 15 Alpha.

Project 15A (15 Alpha) Kolkata Class destroyers is a follow-up of the Type 15 Delhi Class destroyers. The concept and function for Project 15A were framed by the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

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It has a guided missile destroyer, possesses enhanced stealth features and land-attack capabilities and is expected to add a new dimension in naval warfare for the Indian Navy. Project 15A has advanced weapons and sensors and is technologically far more superior than its predecessor Delhi-class destroyers.

Russia had assisted Project 15A with shafting and propellers as well as with the know-how for pontoon-assisted launches.

INS CHENNAI SPECIFICATIONS

INS Chennai's length is 163 meters and width is 17.4 meters and displacement of 7,500 tonnes. The indigenously designed ship will have state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, stealth features, an advanced action information system, a comprehensive auxiliary control system, world class modular living spaces, sophisticated power distribution system and a host of other advanced features.

The destroyer's sides are covered and rounded, which makes detection difficult. This will easily hide all missile launchers and bases of the superstructure.



UNIQUE FEATURES

The two unique features of INS Chennai are 'Kawach' system and 'Star Surveillance Radar'. The electronic warfare and decoy systems includes Elbit Systems Deciever, MK II countermeasures system and Defensive Aids Suite 1. There are two integrated sonars: BEL HUMSA-NG Bow sonar(Hull Mounted Sonar Array, new generation) and BEL Nagin active towed array sonar jointly developed by the DRDO's Naval Science and Technology Laboratory in Visakhapatnam and Bharat Electronics Limited in Bengaluru.

All sensors and weapons are integrated in a state-of-the-art system; the network interface of the weapons and sensors will enable the warship to simultaneously combat multi-threats in different dimensions.

'FULLY LOADED'

INS Chennai is fully loaded with an array of advanced weapons. The destroyer is armed with world's leading supersonic BRAHMOS cruise missile. The BRAHMOS missile system will enable the ship to engage long range shore based and naval surface targets making it a lethal platform to strike against enemy targets. 4 AK-630 rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an MR 130mm gun will enable INS Chennai to provide effective naval gunfire support.

The Destroyer is also armed with indigenously developed twin tube torpedo launchers and 2 RBU-6000 rocket launchers which will add punch to the ship's anti-submarine capabilities. INS Chennai can easily carry two Sea King Medium Lift Transport helicopters.

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With the joining of INS Chennai in Indian Navy's fleet , its strength will substantially increase in naval warfare.

--- ENDS ---
Opposition parties, including Congress and Trinamool Congress, created pandemonium in Parliament over the demonetisation move.

By India Today Web Desk: Parliament today witnessed another day of uproar over cash purge. In Rajya Sabha, a united Opposition of Congress, Left and BSP first discussed a coordinated strategy and then targeted the government on the inconvenience faced by people due to demonetisation.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hit back claiming that the Opposition was only interested in disrupting the House proceedings and were not interested in a debate.



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Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) members today protested outside Parliament over the complications faced by the people after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. MPs Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay were among the protesters.





Here are the LIVE updates:

Instead of announcing new changes on a daily basis, Centre must come up with a proper plan of action: Mamata Banerjee #DeMonetisation pic.twitter.com/Mi5gPIAifY&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm. Pradhanmantri ko parliament mein aane ki zaroorat kya hai? Aajkal pradhaanmantri toh doosre level pe hain: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/wFIhaFHOdo&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Guilty if any, will be punished, says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Kanpur train tragedy. Decisions like this are always taken in such a manner, secrecy is maintained. It was not in haste: Dr.Jitendra Singh,MoS,PMO #demonetization pic.twitter.com/b2NjdQsU5u&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12.34 pm.



BSP supremo Mayawati says PM is evading opposition, he has no answers.



PM Modi speaking outside Parliament but not inside the House, says Mayawati.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon.



Opposition storm the well of the Rajya Sabha #demonetization pic.twitter.com/2eMNCs1kXE&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Opposition not ready for debate, trying new tactics everyday to disrupt the Parliament proceedings, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11:30 am after opposition uproar over demonetisation issue.

Meanwhile, the Opposition wants PM Narendra Modi to speak on note ban.



Left, BSP supremo Mayawati corner government in Parliament on note ban



Opposition parties jointly decided that around 200 MPs will hold dharna in front of Gandhi statue on Wednesday, says Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien.





Delhi: TMC holds a protest against #demonetization at the entrance of Parliament pic.twitter.com/Kk2Lobict4&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Trinamool Congress leaders protest outside the Parliament. We are ready to discuss & are open to suggestions from opposition but #demonetization will not be rolled back: Arjun Ram Meghwal,MoS Finance pic.twitter.com/GYO32GHSYh&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016



Delhi: Meeting of the Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, underway in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/jdCzjhgJpq&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi likely to speak on demonetisation issue in the Lok Sabha today. Will insist for PM Modi's presence as the debate on #demonetization starts in the Parliament: Mallikarjun Kharge,Congress pic.twitter.com/8BC4ahlYMP&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Congress party's parliamentary strategy meeting is scheduled to take place at 10:30 am.

Rahul Gandhi today made a brief stop at three ATMs in the national capital. The Congress vice-president interacted with the people waiting in long queues.



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Congress VP Rahul Gandhi meets people outside ATM in Delhi's Anand Parbat area, talks to them about problems faced due to #demonetization pic.twitter.com/fFM3wGPcbt&; ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

ALSO READ | My government is pro-poor, India is heading for its golden days: PM Modi



--- ENDS ---
From being Bollywood's pin-up girl in early 2000s to fighting off masked men in Paris, Mallika Sherawat has always held her own and made it to the headlines. How?

By Devarsi Ghosh: There was a time Mallika Sherawat was sexy to adolescent boys who grew up in the mid-'90s. In case, you struggle to remember what time that could be, you are definitely not from the generation that thought Himesh Reshammiya was a legit rockstar. But such were the times. Mallika Sherawat with her heaving bosom made the words 'padded bra' a thing of wonder among the school boys of early 2000s and in fact, Mallika, at one point, was such a major cultural phenomenon in India that even Shah Rukh Khan had to acknowledge that and say in Koffee With Karan, "Can I play with her (Mallika Sherawat)?"



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Today, she is culturally irrelevant - a headline at best, a meme at worst. Recently, Mallika Sherawat tragically hit the headlines for being assaulted by a trio of masked men who apparently tear-gassed her and her boyfriend in Paris before proceeding to beat them up. Sherawat then put up an Instagram picture where she is seen speaking to a CNN journalist; the picture is captioned: It takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman.



It takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman. Talking to @cnn @cnni A photo posted by Mallikasherawat (@mallikasherawat) on Nov 18, 2016 at 6:44am PST





In the CNN interview, Mallika was quoted as saying, "I fought them off. They are strong men but I didn't just cower down."

ALSO READ: Mallika tear-gassed and punched by masked men in Paris apartment

ALSO READ: Takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, says Mallika after Paris attack

SEE PICS: Five times Mallika did nude like no other



As martyr-like as the present state of affairs might sound, Mallika Sherawat, from being Bollywood's pin-up girl to somehow grasping at straws to make a career in the West, from singing Happy Birthday for the country's "most elligble bachelor" Narendra Modi to fighting off masked men in Paris, has always managed to be in the headlines. In this respect, she stands apart from other sensations from 2000s who have disappeared into ether over time such as Celina Jailtey, Sameera Reddy, Rakhi Sawant and so on.



But before exploring how Mallika Sherawat has managed to be in news for so long, let us delve into when and how she stopped being sexy.



She was not the only one exposing

Mallika Sherawat's low-cut blouses and Emraan Hashmi's smooching lost its charm when top Bollywood actors, both male and female, began to let go of old hang-ups and started to push the boundaries with regard to on-screen intimacy. Katrina Kaif's Touch Me (Race) and Sheila Ki Jawani (Tees Maar Khan), Priyanka Chopra's bikini body in Dostana, Kareena Kapoor's Fevicol Se (Dabangg 2), etc. were testament to the fact that Tier-A female actors could not wear a little less clothes and get away without any criticism. Where would that leave Mallika without a good script or a top Khan or Kapoor? Yep, nowhere.



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Too much exposure

Mallika Sherawat realised far too late in her career that she couldn't silicon her way into Bollywood's big leagues. Her low-cut blouses slipped out of reel to real and she could be seen wearing horrendous outfits at award shows and public events. This did not earn her any fans, especially because...



No big banner support

Big banners never graced Mallika Sherawat's career. She was saddled with Emraan Hashmi (who since Murder has made sure the Bhatts break even with their film production business every year) and Ranveer Shorey and Rahul Bose as her leads, after all. All competent actors in their own rights, but not people you could be paired with to become an A-lister.

Terrible career choices

To Mallika Sherawat's credit, she has tried to make the best of whatever she could get. But if her films include 2010's Hisss, 2011's Politics of Love and 2012's Kismat Love Paisa Dilli, one can guess the kind of projects she would be offered. Yes, she did try to have a parallel international career, but, well, the West has only hisssed back at her.

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As such, the question is how has Mallika Sherawat been in the news for so long? For one, calling Narendra Modi India's 'most elligible bachelor' in 2013 and singing Happy Birthday for him, a year before BJP came to power at the Centre, pushed her to the front page on account of how ridiculous it was.

That very year, she starred in a reality TV show called The Bachelorette India which was a competition for guys to win the 'perfect bachelor' tag for Mallika.

Since then, Mallika Sherawat has had an active presence on Twitter and Instagram, which she has made full use of at every opportune moment to stay, somehow, in the news.

For instance, when Mallika's The Myth co-star Jackie Chan won an honorary Oscar, this is what she tweeted...

Borrowed glory is still glory as long as people are noticing, right? Well, they are now, thanks to three masked men. Good for her.

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(The writer tweets as @devarsighosh .)



--- ENDS ---
Known for not mincing his words, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the armed forces have been asked not to be on defensive while dealing with terrorists or cross-border firing.

By Saurabh Vaktania: With no sign of easing tension along India-Pakistan border and LoC, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had a clear cut message to the jawans and terrorists as well as Pakistan. Parrikar told the soldiers to up the offensive against cross-border firing.

"When I took over as the Defence Minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyone's hand, don't expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him," Parrikar said.

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READ| Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissions new warship INS Chennai



"In Kashmir our army was fighting with the terrorists. Congress government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you don't retaliate," he said.

PAKISTAN MUST MEND WAYS

Parrikar reiterated that Pakistan needed to shun its policy of fomenting trouble in Indian borders and inside its territory.

"Pakistan should stop offensive. They are firing first after which we have to retaliate. Firing is taking from that side first. It is little less, now," Parriakar said.

"My interpretation is that situation in Kashmir is better than what it was earlier," Defence Minister said.

WATCH:

CAN'T COMPROMISE NATIONAL SECURITY



Parrikar said that under Modi government, many attempts were made to resolve issues with Pakistan amicably, but efforts proved futile.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot for solving problems with Pakistan. It will be better that we have good relationship with the neighbouring country. But, it can't happen at the cost of national security," Parrikar asserted.

READ| Fighter jets to touch down on Agra-Lucknow Expressway as CM Akhilesh inaugurates it



On a question about Pakistan saying that the country was ready for war, Parrikar said, "India will not be aggressive anytime, but we will not put down national security."

Parriakar also said, "We are not underestimating anyone."

In the backdrop of intense ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Parrikar said the Indian troops have complete power and they are giving apt reply to the enemy.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO WATCH:



PARRIKAR SLAMS ABDULLA



To take further his war of words with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdulla, Parrikar slammed the NC leader for indirectly calling him uninformed.

Reacting to Parrikar's statement that demonetisation led to reduction in protests in the Valley, Farooq Abdulla had said, "Did the Defence Minister see Rs 500 distribution. Stones are being thrown, did he see that? He does not know the ground reality of Kashmir valley. There is no peace and stone pelting still continues."

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READ| WHAT FAROOQ ABDULLA SAID ABOUT PARRIKAR ON KASHMIR UNREST

Parrikar again said that after demonetisation Kashmir Valley was getting back to normalcy.





--- ENDS ---
Researchers have found that staying in a long relationship may reduce a woman's sexual desire. For real.

New research claims that women in long-term relationships can face reduced sex drive. Image for representational purpose. Picture courtesy: Instagram/fendiyeah

By Indo-Asian News Service: Long-term relationships may offer many psychological benefits but staying in a monogamous relationship for long may reduce a woman's sexual desire, a study says.

Following over 2,000 premenopausal Finnish women for seven years, the researchers found that those who had stayed in the same monogamous relationship during the study period experienced the highest decrease in sexual drive.

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The decrease in sexual desire was lower for women who had found a new partner over the study duration, said the study published in the journal Psychological Medicine.

"Our results advocate tailored psychobehavioural treatment interventions for female sexual dysfunctions that take partner-specific factors into account," said the study led by Annika Gunst from University of Turku in Finland.

Also read: This woman bled to death after sex. Here's why



The scientists used the Female Sexual Function Index--a short questionnaire that measures specific areas of sexual functioning in women, such as sexual arousal, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and the presence of pain during intercourse--to look at the evolution of female sexual desire over a period of seven years, Medicalnewstoday.com reported.

Analyses were conducted separately for women in different relationship constellations.

Of the functions examined, the researchers found that women's ability to orgasm remained the most stable over the seven-year period, while sexual satisfaction varied widely.

During the seven-year follow-up, the ability to have an orgasm improved across all groups, with single women experiencing the greatest improvement.

Women with a new partner experienced higher improvement in orgasmic ability when compared to women who had been in the same relationship over the entire period of observation.



--- ENDS ---
To explain a concept in Artificial Intelligence, a Mumbai University textbook gives the most bizarre example.

Mumbai Univervsity textbook for Artificial Intelligence has the most bizarre example to explain a concept in Artificial Intelligence. Photo: Imgur\s1ddh4nt

By India Today Web Desk: We all have had our own share of WTF moments with various statements in our textbooks, but this one example from a Mumbai University textbook for Artificial Intelligence beats it all.

Redditer s1ddh4nt shared a photo of the 'interesting example' the author gave to explain a concept in Artificial Intelligence. This is what the textbook had:

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"Now think a result to the abstract problem: The path from Thane to Nashik to Ahmad Nagar to Kopargaon to Vinchur. This abstract solution matches to a large number of more elaborate paths.

For example, we could drink beer between Nashik and Ahamad Nagar, and then smoke pot for the rest of the trip, although this may add to the distance, since we forgot where we were going, but didn't care anyhow."



Wonder what the author was smoking?



We feel you.

Reading what he wrote, he'd now be like...



Here's the photo:

Photo courtest: Imgur (siddh4nt)







--- ENDS ---
By Vivek Surendran: Since prime minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, millions across the country have been rushing to the banks to exchange old notes and deposit money. Bank employees are doing their best to help customers, and while a section of people are whining about the inconveniences the demonetisation drive has caused, many people are doing their bit to make things better. For instance, chaiwalas and paanwalas went cashless, rocking demonetisation with e-banking, in Bengaluru and Delhi, bank had mobile ATMs to help people, and a church in Kerala even opened its collection box to help people with no money.

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Now, a similar story has come from Kerala's Malappuram district. Ramdas Kadavallur, a South Indian Bank employee at Kizhisseri branch in the district wrote a heartwarming Facebook post and thanked the villagers for the kind of support and cooperation they showed in tackling the massive rush the demonetisation drive led to.

Also read: Bengaluru man visits 23 ATMs to check if media is spreading lies about demonetisation

Also read: This photo of some Malayalis in queues is going viral. The reason will crack you up!





Here's a close translation of what Ramdas wrote in Malayalam:

"I have to thank the villagers the most.

In my ten years of service, the last few days have been the most taxing. There were so many people at the bank, standing in queues with notes in their hands. Among them were the ill, elderly, exhausted, those who had to attend to people in hospitals, farmers...and these people form the queue as early as 5 AM. Each day, I cut through them to get to my seat.

In Malappuram district's Kizhisseri village, other than the co-operative banks, most of the people depend on the bank I'm working with - South Indian Bank. Many of our customers are farmers, small-business owners and those who are working abroad. The sudden demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes and lack of enough cash stored in denominations of Rs 100 affected majority of them. Since there are only less number of banks in a 7-km-radius, people from eight to ten nearby villages depend on my bank too.

Photo courtesy: Facebook (Ramdas Kadavallur)

I don't know how to express my gratitude to all these villagers. There have been many instances during my tenure when I could see how humane people are, but the last few days, I experienced humanity the most.

Young men who volunteered to help bank employees pacify frantic crowds, villagers who ensured we ate properly since we were working overtime, people who curbed their impatience and exhaustion from standing in queues for hours and understood problems the staff members were facing...saying "thank you" to all these people would become quite formal, it would be more apt to say "heartfelt love to all".

Photo courtesy: Facebook (Ramdas Kadavallur) Photo courtesy: Facebook (Ramdas Kadavallur)

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Helping others when they need it the most is something that gives immense satisfaction; yet I am sad I couldn't everyone's demands. However, I'm glad to know that they have no complaints when it comes to the way bank employees dealth with them and how transparent the processes were.

Whatever be the conflicting views on the Central government's decision to demonetise these notes, as a bank employee, these views will not affect my duties and responsibilities. Each day begins and ends with listening to many struggles, sorrows and apprehensions of various people. Compared to that, my problems are so irrelevant.



Photo courtesy: Facebook (Ramdas Kadavallur)

Photo courtesy: Facebook (Ramdas Kadavallur)



There is one other set of people I need to thank. Perhaps those who were more tensed than me. It is only on the pay scale that they are junior subordinates to me, otherwise they are my friends. By the time they finish counting all the notes we got in a day and tallying them, clock would have struck midnight.

It is their sacrifice and hardwork that is getting all of us, including me, the kind of love, affection and support we are getting from this Kizhisseri village.

Today, I love my job more than ever."



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Ramdas, possibly the manager of the branch, did not forget to tag his subordinates Sharafudheen Chenganakattil, Riya Francis, Sony Rose and Joseph Poulose in the post.



Here's his full Facebook post for those who can read Malayalam:







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Kepler-452b is the most Earth-like planet ever discovered. Will our future generations migrate to this planet? Let's find out.

By India Today Web Desk: If you have seen Christopher Nolan's ambitious sci-fi epic Interstellar, you would have an idea why the human race has always been in search of another home, another planet to migrate to.

Kepler-452b



In April, 2014, NASA's Kepler mission confirmed the discovery of the most Earth-like, near-Earth-size planet which falls in the 'habitable zone' of a sun-like star. Kepler-452b is 60 per cent larger in diameter than Earth, but its orbit is just five per cent longer. The planet orbits its sun in 385 days. This possibly rocky planet, which gets just enough sunlight to possibly support life has temperatures not too hot or cold for the formation of liquid water.

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Watch a video about the discovery:



Why Earth 2.0?

The position of Kepler-452b makes it Earth 2.0. As mentioned above, it is a Goldilocks planet, that is, a planet that sits in the 'habitable zone' of its star, where the temperature is optimum to support formation of water, says a report in NBC News.

How far is it?

Here comes the catch. Kepler-452b is 1,400 light-years away from our Earth. Let us put that in perspective for you. Imagine a spaceship carrying humans start its journey to Kepler-452b today. The spacecraft will take as much time as it would take for the human species -- Homo sapiens -- to evolve into a different species. In simple terms, millions of years.

So, hold on folks. We ain't goin' anywhere!



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Chelmsford Road is a quiet street, a stark juxtaposition to the nearby Connaught Place, Delhi, which is buzzing with activity, booming speakers and the cyclical dance of traffic lights. As you pull over outside 7 Chelmsford Road, a large rustic gate stands in your way, through which an inconspicuous face looks on suspiciously at prospective entrants. The house stands in silent resilience. Fitting, because so does its only inhabitant, Nilam Katara.

Beaming the most earnest smile at you as you enter the Katara drawing room is a photograph of her son Nitish Katara, murdered and burned at the age of 23 in 2002, by Vikas Yadav, son of gangster and former MP DP Yadav, along with his cousin Vishal Yadav and accomplice Sukhdev Yadav. Nitish was in an intimate relationship with Vikas's sister Bharti at the time. The Yadav brothers did not approve of the relationship and therefore, abducted Nitish from a wedding, honour-killed him and left his body tossed on the side of a desolate street. A year-and-a-half later, in August 2003, Katara's husband, Nishit passed away. He had been suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neurone disease.

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Katara welcomes you with genuine warmth. Her younger son Nitin had just visited from France (he is working with the Interpol). She has also recently won a 14-year-long legal battle against a monied, powerful family and secured justice for her son, as his murderers have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. Through these 14 years, you'd never have seen Katara, 64, cutting a sorry figure, brandishing a sympathy card or backing down even though a mountain of precedence stood in her way.

My first question to her, quite simply, is "How did you do it?" "I was very nave. And I thought this boy must get justice," she says modestly. Her ignorant idealism is what she says gave her the impetus she needed. "And then I was so far in that I didn't want to go back because all the effort would be wasted," she adds.

Growing up in the 50s, Katara's parents made sure she was educated. She went to Loreto Convent in Lucknow. She had been friends with Nishit since after school, and at that time, the English honours graduate decided she would get married to a man of her choosing. "We waited and persuaded our parents. They came around and everything was perfect," she says. Nishit worked with the railways and Katara was a teacher and education adviser with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Board. She worked with the British Council, Oxford University Press, and was an examiner for the IELTS test.

The Katara family was a happy middle class Delhi arrangement. "All four of us in the family used to get into a Gypsy and go to wildlife sanctuaries; there was a lot of gaana bajaana. We would go and eat out for birthdays and things," she remembers. "We've been a very open family. My husband is responsible. He used to call our children 'friends'," she says. "They could talk about anything, even their girl-friends." It was a progressive family, which remained far removed from the notorious world of the Yadavs. On the night of February 16, 2002, Nitish got ready to attend the wedding of his friend Shivani Gaur. "He wanted a shawl and the last thing he said was 'uffo Dad ke colours kaise hain?' He was all dressed up for a wedding," she recalls. The next time Katara saw her son was to identify his charred body a few days later.

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THE FIGHT

"And suddenly, it was crazy. I was having Alprax 50 mg, which used to knock people out but I needed it to work," she says. Katara realised early on that she could not break down. With an ailing husband and a young son in college, she knew things would completely fall apart and so she held it together. Her overprotective maternal instinct for both sons served as the glue that bound her strength to her perseverance. Funding her younger son's education using Nitish's insurance money and the legal battle using both her own as well as her husband's retirement benefits, Katara supervised the entire legal process from scratch. She still remembers seeing Yadav brothers for the first time in the trial court in Delhi.

"Surprisingly, it was not anger I felt. They were young boys so what a pity their parents didn't teach them better," she says. It is things like this that are disarming and inspiring about her. She single-handedly oversaw legal proceedings, dismissed her lawyer's appeal to a judge on emotional grounds, rema-ined determined to win even though all but one of the material public witnesses were either declared hostile or won over. She ignored death threats "Aap iss case ko chhor dijiye, nahi toh aap ko aur aap ke pati ko baizzat apke bete ke paas bhej diya jayega" and focussed on the case at hand.

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AFTER THE RULING

Katara has come out of the struggle with mixed emotions. "I just can't cry now, it's the funniest thing. Sometimes I feel I should go see a doctor," she laughs She is happy with the sentence of 25 years with no remission to Yadav brothers, but cannot understand why they weren't given an entire lifetime in prison if not death, and why close to a total of a 17-and-a-half-year sentence is running concurrently with all of it. She is happy the court has categorically termed this an honour killing, in spite of initial flip-flopping, but she cannot understand why honour killing is not recognised as an offence in itself in our statute books.

She has questions about whether the system identifies as reformative or retributive and wants to fight to remove the affliction of crime and criminals from politics. Now that it's finally over, there may be a book in the pipeline. "Right now, it's too close. I started writing and it sounded like so much of a sob story," she says. With every little chuckle, Katara's composure and strength sits proud under the photograph of her late son. Through a big smile and a soft giggle, she says, "I will probably get dementia and forget everything very soon."

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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) Government think tank NITI Aayog is likely to finalise three-year Action Plan, which will replace over six-decade old practice of five year plans, by December end in view of advancement of presentation of union budget this time.

"The basic exercise to prepare three-year action plan, which would become basis for various central budgetary allocations, will be over in couple of weeks. NITI Aayog is likely to submit final document by December-end," a source privy to the development said.

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Government has already decided to do away with the practice preparing annual budgets on the basis of five year plans from next fiscal. This is the terminal fiscal of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).

The source said, "The three-year action plan is required for going ahead with long drawn strategy of development. Thus, it has to be ready before the General Budget is finalised for presentation on February 1, 2017."

NITI Aayog has also been entrusted the work on the 15-year Vision Document and a seven year strategy which would guide the governments development works till 2030.

However, the source could not confirm whether the action plan would be approved by NITI Aayogs Governing Council headed by Prime Minister with all chief ministers on its board.

Earlier this year, the Aayog had convened a meeting of all chief secretaries and planning secretaries of the states to discuss the vision, strategy and action plan documents with them.

During the meeting, the states were asked to adopt outcome based target and monitoring of infrastructure projects as being done by the central government.

The NITI Aayog has already made a detailed presentation to the Prime Minister on outcome-based targets and monitoring of infrastructure projects. PTI BKS JM

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The main points of this 140 page report card remained the chief minister's ambitious seven resolves program and prohibition.

Nitish claimed that "rule of law" was prevailing in the state and the crime figures had also declined in recent times. Photo: PTI

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today released a report card of his government's achievements on completion of one year of the "Mahagathbandhan government".

The report card was scheduled to be released at a grand event on Sunday but owing to the Indore-Patna train accident, the release was cancelled.

The main points of this 140 page report card remained the chief minister's ambitious seven resolves program and prohibition. Through the report card, Nitish Kumar also laid down the roadmap of an all-round development planned for the state in the next four years.

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He also dismissed allegations in the report card, that were levelled by the Opposition, that the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated.

Nitish claimed that "rule of law" was prevailing in the state and the crime figures had also declined in recent times. He maintained that the state government was acting tough against organised crime.

GROWTH BETTER THAN NATION'S: NITISH

As far as the growth is concerned, Nitish Kumar painted a rosy picture, pointing out how the growth rate achieved by Bihar for 2015-16 remained at 10.59 per cent while the national growth rate figure was at 8.71 per cent for the corresponding period.

Mentioning about prohibition which was imposed in Bihar from April this year, he claimed that it has been a huge success and due to this there has been a tremendous decrease in crime.

BJP, on the other hand said that by releasing a report card on the website, he was evading pertinent questions.

Ever since Nitish Kumar came to power in Bihar in 2005, he has been annually presenting a report card of his government.



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Last week, a number of petitions were filed against the government's November 8 order banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on November 23 a petition filed by the Centre, seeking transfer of all demonetisation cases either to the apex court or any one High Court.

The transfer petition, filed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi before a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, asks for about 8-10 note ban petitions pending in various High Courts to be transferred.

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The Centre also sought direction that all future petitions related to the demonetisation be filed in the same court to which the apex court would refer the existing petitions.

NOTE BAN



Last week, a number of petitions were filed against the government's November 8 order banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes, a move that has triggered massive chaos across the country and protest by the Opposition parties.

The scramble before the banks, ATMs and post offices forced even the Supreme Court to call the note ban "a serious issue".

ALSO READ: Demonetisation Day 10: Supreme Court refuses to stay petitions against note ban in lower courts

Refusing to stop the High Courts from entertaining petitions challenging the demonetisation notification, the apex court said people are seriously affected and that the doors of courts cannot be shut in a situation which "may lead to riots".

In similar remarks, the Calcutta High Court had said the government had done "no homework" before it announced the banning of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

"They are changing it frequently. It is a hasty decision. Where will the common people go? They are getting confused," the High Court noted.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation, had announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes to check black money.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) Delhi Police has seized over Rs 49 lakh in old high-value currency notes from a man, who was taking the money to Haryana, on Tikri border in west Delhi.

Dinesh was yesterday driving towards Haryana in a SUV when his vehicle was stopped and on searching, a bag containing Rs 49,96,000 was found, a senior police officer said.

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"We received a tip-off about a man going towards Jhajjar with a high amount of demonetised currency notes. Dinesh was detained around noon at the Tikri border with the money," the officer said.

Dinesh told police that he works as a driver for Pitampura resident Anij Gupta, who is into finance and it was his employers money that he was carrying, he said.

It is suspected that Gupta had either given Dinesh the money to get it exchanged for new notes or to make a payment to someone in Haryana, he added.

The money has been seized and the IT Department informed. Further investigation is underway.

On November 18, Nazer-e-Alam, a resident of Gorakhpur, was arrested with Rs 96 lakh in old currency notes of Rs 1,000 denominations. He was carrying a bag with Rs 96 lakh and couldnt offer any satisfactory explanation for possessing such a huge amount of cash.

On November 17, police had seized 500 demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 denominations from an employee of a West Bengal-based firm, onboard Sealdah-Delhi Rajdhani train.

Police had detained a paediatrician with Rs 69,86,000 in Rs 100 denominations in central Delhis Paharganj area on November 16. PTI SLB DIP

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Raheel Sharif, who is due to retire on November 29, began a round of farewell visits on Monday.

By Reuters: Pakistan's powerful army chief Raheel Sharif began a round of farewell visits on Monday, his spokesman said, damping speculation he might receive an extension when his 3-year term ends this month.

The general has been immensely popular among ordinary Pakistanis, who see him as having effectively tackled crime and corruption, besides carrying the fight against Islamist terrorism to unstable tribal areas.

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Sharif, who is due to retire on November 29, had never said he would seek an extension, but speculation of such a move has recently been rife in the media and among politicians.

"Army chief kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," military spokesman Lieutenant-General Asim Bajwa said on social network Twitter, adding that Sharif would meet soldiers on the visits.

"Accomplishment of peace and stability no ordinary task," he added. "Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in off-setting all odds."

Also read: Pakistan TV channel claims their navy chased 'Indian submarine' away



The army has ruled Pakistan for roughly half its 69-year history, and tension with civilian governments - including that of current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - often runs high.

Sharif himself was ousted from power in 1999 by a military coup. Pakistan's last two army chiefs, including Pervez Musharraf, who led the coup against Sharif, were both given extensions.



REPLACEMENT FOR ARMY CHIEF



Prime Minister Sharif has until November 28 to name his choice of a replacement for the retiring army chief. Typically, the military provides the prime minister the dossiers of three or four contenders from which to choose.

Contenders this year include Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Ramday, Lieutenant General Zubair Hayat, Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad and Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa, three of the prime minister's aides told Reuters in September.

Also read: One BSF head constable dead after Pak violates ceasefire in Rajouri



The succession will also be closely watched overseas.



US-AFGHANISTAN



With nearly 10,000 US troops in Afghanistan fighting the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups, Washington is losing patience with what it calls Pakistan's failure to hunt down insurgents who launch attacks on Afghanistan from Pakistani territory. Pakistan denies this.

India has also ratcheted up rhetoric against Pakistan, alarmed at an escalation of violence in the disputed region of Kashmir, where an attack on an army base killed 18 soldiers. Islamabad denies accusations it was behind the raid.

At home, military operations under Sharif have targeted Islamist militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, in 2014, besides a crackdown on crime in the southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan's largest.

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Also read: Manohar Parrikar: Told soldiers to shoot enemy, don't wait to be martyred

Overall violence has fallen since, but large-scale attacks have surged recently, with at least 185 people killed in three major attacks since August.

Watch link





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Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the government registered its protest over "bloodshed of innocent" people at the border.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a protest over "unabated violations of ceasefire" at the Line of Control (LoC).

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the government registered its protest over "bloodshed of innocent" people at the border.

A protest dossier was handed over to J.P. Singh by Director General of South Asia desk Dr Mohammad Faisal, Zakaria said.

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The latest "unprovoked" Indian firing at the border has claimed two lives on Monday while damaging five houses, he said.



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By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 21 (PTI) Chinas new envoy to Nepal today assured the Nepalese government that President Xi Jinping would will visit the Himalayan nation atan "appropriate time".

Newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong, who called on Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun here, said that Xi had told Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda that he will visit Nepal atan "appropriate time".

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The Chinese envoy assured the Vice-President that she is working for the visit to take place at the earliest.

Xi was due to visit Nepal in October, but his maiden visit to the Himalayan country was postponed amid reports that China was unhappy with Prachanda-led new government.

There were reports that China was displeased with the lack preparations for Xis visit as well as commitment to implement Chinas Silk Road plan as well as agreements reached by former K P Shama Oli government to step up road and rail links connecting Nepal with Tibet to reduce landlocked Nepal?s dependence on India.

Nepal and China had dismissed the reports.

During the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, the Vice-president said that Nepal is committed to one China policy and will not allow any anti-China activities on its soil.

The Vice-president said the friendly relations between the two countries is centuries old.

"Nepal is ready for any sort of steps to stop anti-China activities on its land," he assured.

Envoy Yu told the Vice-president that China and its citizens will always attach a high priority to Nepal.

She said Nepal and China should move ahead as strategic partners, adding that her country was expanding cooperation with South Asian countries.

The Chinese envoy praised Nepal for pursuing the one China policy. PTI SBP PMS AKJ PMS

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Rahul said, "Wherever I went today, I saw that people were highly inconvenienced. They said they are standing in queue while the banks were giving cash to few persons from backdoor."

By India Today Web Desk: Hours after he met people standing in queues at ATMs to withdraw cash today, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh assault on the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation move. He alleged that the drive will benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coterie while the poor will suffer.

Talking to mediapersons in Parliament, Rahul said, "Wherever I went today, I saw that people were highly inconvenienced. They said they are standing in queue while the banks were giving cash to few persons from backdoor."

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Quoting the people he met in queues, the Congress leader said they were facing a lot of problems.

"The coffers of PM's coterie, comprising 15-20 people, will get filled and their bank loans will get waived off. On the other hand, the poor people, who are standing in queues, will lose from demonetisation move," he said.

Without naming PM Modi, Rahul alleged that the inconvenience being faced by the common man was the direct result of "one man" having all the powers and taking action without thinking. He claimed that the decision has hurt the economy in an unimaginable way, especially fishermen in coastal belts, artisans, labourers working on daily wage and farmers in North India.







Watch the video here:



Parliament: Jaitley defends demonetisation in Rajya Sabha, but Opposition wants PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi visits Delhi ATMs, speaks to people





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During the interaction, Gandhi asked the people about the difficulties they faced after the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited many ATMs in the city and interacted with the people standing in the queue, the Indian National Congress(INC) tweeted.

"Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi met people standing in queue early morning outside an ATM in Jahangirpuri area, Delhi," said the tweet.

The information initially tweeted by the Youth wing of the Congress party was later retweeted by the INC.

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During the interaction, Gandhi asked the people about the difficulties they faced after the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

This was Gandhi's third ATM visit post the Centre's demonetisation move on November 8.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) Russia, Japan and France have condoled the loss of lives in the Indore-Patna Express train tragedy yesterday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extending all assistance required in this difficult time.

In his message to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Kindly accept profound condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the train crash in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

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"I request you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased and wishes of speedy recovery to all injured people."

In his message to Modi, Abe said he was deeply grieved and saddened at the news of the high toll of human lives and heavy damage resulting from the train derailment.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families of the tragedy, and wish for rapid recovery of the injured.

"I am sure that the people of India will get over this tragedy under your strong leadership, and Japan is ready to extend any assistance you may require in this difficult time," Abe said.

The French Foreign Ministry said France offers its condolences to the near and dear ones of the victims of this tragedy and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

"It assures India of its solidarity in this terrible ordeal," the Spokesperson in the French Foreign Ministry said.

Over 140 people have died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpurs Pukhrayan area yesterday. More than 200 passengers were also injured in the accident. PTI PYK ZMN

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By India Today Web Desk: Sometime ago, stories were doing the rounds that Salman Khan shared cold vibes with his Tubelight director Kabir Khan, after major differences cropped up between them. Kabir had responded with a hilarious tweet, putting all rumours to rest.

ALSO READ: SRK-Salman to share screen space in Tubelight? Here's what Kabir Khan has to say



Now, it seems the differences are back again. If a Bollywood Life report is to be believed, Salman is unimpressed with the Tubelight climax and wants Kabir to reshoot it. The report quotes a source as saying that Salman is demanding that Kabir recreate Manali in Mumbai and redo the finishing scenes. Reportedly, the actor is turning a deaf ear to friends who are trying to explain that recreating Manali in Mumbai is not logistically possible.

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Tubelight will be Salman's third film with Kabir Khan, who has earlier directed him in Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Chinese actor Zhu Zhu will be making her Bollywood debut in this period film, which is set in the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

ALSO WATCH:



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By PTI: Islamabad, Nov 21 (PTI) Pakistan has a "golden opportunity" to counter Indian lobbying in the US and build an immediate liaison with the incoming administration of Donald Trump who is "not well-versed" with South Asias political dynamics, former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said.

"This is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, the Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) needs to step up and build an immediate liaison with the new (US) administration," Musharraf said, adding that Trump is "not well-versed with political dynamics of the region and is yet to formulate a strategy vis-a-vis South Asia."

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India, he said, wants to maintain "hegemony" in the region. It sees itself as a future economic giant not only in the region, but in the world. India wants to isolate Pakistan not only economically but also diplomatically, he told Dunya news.

The India caucus in the US Senate is more vigilant and proactive; Pakistan needs to derive an effective strategy as well to counter the Indian narratives in the US circles, he added.

Regarding the civil-military divide in Pakistan, he said that India has exploited this fault-line of the Pakistani political spectra, especially the PML-N regimes. There has always been a rift between the army chiefs and the incumbent government in the PML(N) regimes.

When asked about the future of Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who is set to retire on November 29, Musharraf said he deserves an extension.

Musharraf said that he had previously rooted for Raheel because he is a popular army chief.

"Pakistan comes first. The four candidates for the army chief slot are competent and patriotic officers. Im sure they will serve the flag first and foremost," he said. PTI AMS ASK AKJ AMS

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While the entire country seemed to be standing in queue and opposition up in arms, Delhi Police were pleasantly surprise to notice dip in crime in the national capital after demonetisation decision.

A policeman warns people against breaking the queues as they wait to exchange or deposit discontinued currency notes outside a bank in Delhi (Photo: AP)

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of demonetisation decision is proving to be a kind of surgical strike on the criminals in Delhi. Police are said to be surprised with the scale of reduction in crimes on Delhi roads.

According to Delhi Police, in the first week after demonetisation, not a major incident of looting and robbery was reported in the city. This has come as a welcome surprise for the over-burdened police force in the national capital.

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READ| Only 3 per cent against demonetisation; 51 per cent say implementation good



Delhi Police say that in comparison to the week before the day demonetisation was put into force, the next seven days saw drastic reduction in crimes.

WATCH:

Similar trend has been reported from Mumbai and other places including Punjab. In Mumbai, incidents like cash and jewellery theft, house-break-ins and vehicle theft reduced by about 50 per cent between November 9, when demonetisation was put into effect, and November 14.

READ| Demonetisation cripples underworld operations; groundsmen unpaid



However, reduction in crime in Delhi could also be attributed to some other factors like increased police patrolling in the city.

People have less cash available with them in the aftermath of demonetisation. They are carrying less money compared to pre-demonetisation days making them less vulnerable to crimes like snatching or looting.

ALSO WATCH:





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The actress was seen in the traditional attire at an award function last night.

By India Today Web Desk: It's one thing to rock a traditional Indian saree. It's quite another to rock it with absolutely flat juttis.

Spotted at the award function for Mother Teresa Memorial Award (MTMA) 2016, Sonam Kapoor was at her graceful best in an embroidered Rahul Mishra saree and golden juttis, and we loved the long-sleeved blouse on the svelte beauty. The braided bun and silver-emerald earrings turned out to be the perfect accompaniments for the look.



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At the event, held on the night of November 20, Sonam Kapoor took to the stage to talk about the inspiration that Neerja Bhanot and her family will always remain.

The Mother Teresa Memorial Award is bestowed as an honour on individuals or organisations that aim to promote peace, harmony and social justice. Initiated in 2005, the award is held annually to pay respect to Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

This year, MTMA also paid homage to the brave families of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi was speaking in Allahabad during the inauguration of an exhibition.

By India Today Web Desk: While delivering her speech at an event in election-bound Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi paused and covered her head with sari as soon as the 'azaan' (Islamic call for prayer) was heard in the background.

The 69-year-old leader was speaking in Allahabad during the inauguration of an exhibition to mark the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

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"Indira Gandhi's biggest worry was to make India strong and developed," she had said before a local mosque made the call for prayer.

Her children, Rahul Gandhi - also the Congress heir apparent - and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were also present at the event.

WATCH: RAJDEEP SARDESAI'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SONIA GANDHI ON INDIA TODAY TV AT 9 PM TODAY



Sonia Gandhi's Congress, which has not ruled Uttar Pradesh for 27 years, is making a huge pitch in the forthcoming Assembly election, due early next year.

Uttar Pradesh has nearly 30 per cent of Muslim population.

Also read: Demonetisation to benefit PM Modi's coterie, alleges Rahul Gandhi



Also read: Indore-Patna Express accident: Death toll touches 145, FIR lodged

--- ENDS ---
In an exclusive with India Today, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that there was no comparison between Indira Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

By India Today Web Desk: Senior Congress leader and president of the party Sonia Gandhi is known for her sparse television appearances. But today, for the first time in nine years, she broke her silence to India Today in an exclusive interview to Rajdeep Sardesai. Sonia said that she would not have been in politics had she not been with Indira Gandhi.

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"I thought on my side it was a bit of coward to not join. At that time there was nothing else on mind but to uphold the ideals of not just my mother-in-law, my husband and the party," she said when asked about her stint in politics.

The Congress president spoke extensively about her political career, family and the influence of Indira Gandhi. When asked about the Gandhi dynasty, Sonia said that just like doctors and professors have predecessors from their family, her family too followed the path of the head of the family.

"Just like in a family of doctors, professor business one or another will choose the path of the father. There is a difference in politics as in politics you are elected and defeated democratically," said Sonia.

Also read: It will take several lives to tell Indiraji's story, says Sonia Gandhi



ON EMERGENCY

"I cannot say how she [Indira Gandhi] would see Emergency today, but if she had not felt extremely uncomfortable she would not have called for elections. There were instances when Rajivji was a pilot and on occasions he would meet people who would say this is happening and he would tell his mother. I could see that she heard him and would see her respond," said Sonia.

On being asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi being compared to Indira Gandhi who was reckoned to be a tough leader, Sonia said that such comparisons did not affect her and that her views are clear. "It does not trouble me, I have very clear views, there is no comparison," she said.



INDIRA AS A FREEDOM FIGHTER

Sonia said that Indira grew up during the freedom movement. Indira pioneered the Vanar Sena, a group of children who used to work towards spreading awareness on various issues. In fact, she was jailed as well for a short time.

"Her greatest contribution was her loyalty and dedication to the country. She identified with the people, she was deeply compassionate. She had in her deep compassion and empathy for people who were in need of help. She never felt she was a woman amongst all the men, she always felt she was an equal," said Sonia.



INDIRA THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

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"I came from a completely different culture and background, when it was decided, Rajivji before returning to India met my father and asked if he agreed to the proposal. He was impressed by Rajivji but was worried about me. Then I was given a return ticket to stay in India for two weeks. Eventually my mother-in-law asked me if both of us decided to stay together, and then marry," said Sonia.

The Congress president said that Indira was completely different from what she looked like. The late prime minister understood her difficulties with the culture, language since she did not know English.

Also read: When Sonia Gandhi stopped her speech, covered head for azaan in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh



"She had a cute sense of humour and was a wonderful writer. She used to write letters and little notes for me and other members of the family. She was interested in everything and everybody. She had interests in music, classical and folk art, environment. We still miss her," said Sonia.

Sonia said that Indira never made her feel like an outsider and that she was a very intelligent woman who allowed her space and time to get used to the new life.



ON FUTURE OF CONGRESS

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When asked about the future course of her party, Sonia was hopeful for Congress to get full majority in Parliament in the next elections. She said that in politics one either loses or wins.

When asked about Rahul Gandhi's role and if he will take up leadership, she said that she was not the right person to reply on it.

Upon being asked about the struggles of the Congress party, Sonia said, "We will keep fighting. Indira Gandhi was written off, she fought back, we will fight too."

Sonia, who reserved her comments on Rahul and Priyanka, said that both her children had different aspects of Indira Gandhi in them.

"Priyanka and Rahul have different aspects of Indira in them. I will speak in detail when I write a book, If at all I write," she said.

Also read: Congress plans show of strength on Indira Gandhi's birthday in Delhi



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--- ENDS ---
Senior Congress leader and president of the party Sonia Gandhi sat down for an exclusive interview with India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai.

By India Today Web Desk: Rajdeep: Hello and welcome to this India Today special that's coming to you from the courtyard at the historic Swaraj Bhawan in Allahabad, where former PM Indira Gandhi was born, whose centenary celebrations have begun this week. And joining us today is a very special guest, someone who knew Mrs Gandhi intimately, the Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Appreciate Maam, your joining us and talking about Indira Gandhi.

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The first time you met Indira Gandhi.. do you remember it?

Sonia: Absolutely and very well. She was in London on the way back from New York. I think she had gone for the opening of Nehru exhibition in New York. It was 1965. And Rajiv Ji had already written to her that he had met this girl from Italy whom he liked very much. And she asked him to bring me along to meet her. She wanted to meet me. So, a date was decided. And from Cambridge, Rajiv wrote me down and just a little while before we enter the city, I got cold feet and I said No.. I can't meet your mother. I will not. And I didn't.

Rajdeep: She was already the PM at that time!

Sonia: No. This was in 1965. So, he had to excuse himself and say to his mother that he couldn't take me. He said she had to change her time. Then the next day, I finally said, I will. Ok, I will meet your mother.

Rajdeep: Why were you frightened to meet Mrs Gandhi??

Sonia: I suppose, mother-in-laws are frightening figures. Especially, more so for mother-in-laws to be. And then when I saw and met her, she was staying at High Commissioner's place. I was of course terribly nervous, but pleasantly surprised because she was perfectly natural. I was a little nervous. I could speak English very well..very much at that time. She conversed with me in French. And when she saw that I was terribly nervous, she told me don't be afraid, I was young too and in love and I understand you.

Rajdeep: So, the first conversation between Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi was in French. Is that the quality that appealed to you...the ability she had to reach out to you, even though you in a sense came from a different culture and she made you feel at home almost instantaneously?

Sonia: Absolutely. In fact, I came from a completely different culture, completely different background. And when it was decided...well, it was a longish process, because after I met her, 3 months later Rajiv Ji returned to India and before returning to India, he came to meet my father and asked him if he would agree his daughter marrying him. Then we were away from each other for about a year. And my father sort of relented. He saw Rajiv and he said he is a good man. But his more worried about his daughter, because I was going far to a place completely different... with completely different customs. He felt that perhaps I would not be able to accustom to these new ways. So, he agreed to give me a return ticket to India. I was supposed to stay for two weeks and see for myself. But, then my mother-in-law felt and in fact, she spoke to the two of us. She said well, if you have decided, if you are sure that you love each other, then it is better you go ahead and get married.

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Rajdeep: By then, she was PM?

Sonia: Yes. By that time she was PM.

Rajdeep: When you came to India for the first time and met Mrs Gandhi, what was she like at home?

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Sonia: First I lived with Mrs Bachchan till my engagement, marriage and then of course I moved to Safdarjung Road, where I lived with my mother-in-law.

Rajdeep: What was Mrs Indira Gandhi like at home because outside world saw Indira Gandhi as tough, some even said dictatorial?

Sonia: She was completely the opposite.

Rajdeep: Give me an example of what was she like at home. Was she the lady of the house?

Sonia: She was. But at the same time in a very gentle and sort of understanding way, at least with me. I suppose she understood my difficulties for coming into her home, not knowing the culture, the custom, even the language English for that matter.

Rajdeep: You all spoke in French?

Sonia: No. By that time I could understand English. But she was completely opposite of what people sort of used to say about her. She was warm, very kind. She would make sure that I would be given the kind of things that I would like to eat. She was just like any other mother.

Rajdeep: So, it was not a traditional saas-bahu relationship, because over the years the stereotype which perhaps influenced you to be frightened of Indira Gandhi is that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship can be a tough one!

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Sonia: Yes, it can be. Certainly, it's everywhere in the world, not only in India. As a young girl I was frightened, because that was the situation even in my own country.

Rajdeep: She never made you feel like an outsider. Did she sort of insist that you adjust to Indian culture?

Sonia: She was a very intelligent woman. And she allowed me space and time to get used to new ways. New food, new way of dressing. She allowed me the space. Of course, I mean occasionally she would say, may be perhaps instead of this, it should be that. But always in a manner which would make me want to do so rather than force me.

Rajdeep: I was told that she kept a very very good table. She was clear what people should have for lunch, dinner. Indira Gandhi as you say outside the world of politics was very much a home maker!

Sonia: Yes, she was.

Rajdeep: She sort of taught you and took you through the whole process. Is it?

Sonia: Yes, of course. She had two secretaries - a personal secretary and a social secretary. I used to refer three of them as three mother-in-laws, because they would also help me in ways of the home.

Rajdeep: What influence did she have on your politics in life? I mean even now, 32 years she passed away, how much she has influenced your politics in your life. Was Indira Gandhi the person who influenced your life all time and in the move that you made in your life?

Sonia: Well, I wouldn't be in politics, if I wasn't her daughter-in-law.

Rajdeep: But when you had to take tough decisions in life, have you thought of her? I mean, you had to take a lot of tough decisions in life - your decision not to become PM?

Sonia: Tough decision...the first was whether to join politics or not. I did not join politics. And as probably is known, I did not want my husband to join politics. He was not keen to join politics. He was very happy as a pilot. But, it s precisely because of certain duty that I felt towards my mother-in-law and my husband. Because I saw them struggle, work day and night to uphold certain values, certain principles. And when it came to my call, I felt that I was being cowardly not to respond to them.

Rajdeep: So, you don't hold it against your mother-in-law sometimes that she virtually, as you say, she forced your husband to join politics. You had to enter politics against your initial instincts, because there was duty that you saw towards Mrs Indira Gandhi? She saw politics almost as a duty and therefore, virtually pushed her family members into politics!

Sonia: I don't think she pushed any member of her family to join politics. But I think she brought up her sons in a manner in which they appreciated, they understood the kind of work, the kind of in a way sacrifice she had done to uphold her certain values, because I think she herself did not want to be in politics. Perhaps this is something that very few know.

Rajdeep: She didn't want to be in politics?

Sonia: She was not terribly keen to be in politics.

Rajdeep: But once she was in politics, she was the ultimate power politician. So it seemed almost to the outsider that she was made for politics. You are telling me today that you believe that Indira Gandhi's instinct was not to join potlics!

Sonia: That's my belief. I may be wrong.

Rajdeep: There is some evidence to that that she had in the mid-sixties even planned to go and live in England for a while.

Sonia: Well, I said that it is my belief. I think, left to herself she would have chosen a normal life.

Rajdeep: So, she also saw a sense of duty to Jawahar Lal Nehru?

Sonia: I will always say to her country, to the people of the country.

Rajdeep: You think that was her sense of duty?

Sonia: Without doubt, whatsoever.

Rajdeep: The reason I am asking you this is the one criticism that has always been made against Indira Gandhi, it is made against you. It has been made against Gandhi family that it is promoting its dynasty. That it is almost as if you are saying as if the family members were forced into politics. But somehow, they have all been in politics for four generations. They are sitting in a house built by Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Sanjay, now Rahul. So, it s five generations.

Sonia: Yes. I understand that people do look at it that way. But I would say that just like in a family of doctors, in a family of professors, in a family of business, one or the other within the family will choose the same path as the father. Right!

Rajdeep: You don't think that it is dynasty politics?

Sonia: I would say there is a difference, because in politics you are elected and you are defeated democratically. There is also that difference.



Rajdeep: You believe that Mrs Gandhi, because her father Jawahar Lal Nehru was ultimate democrat. Mrs Gandhi, somewhere was the one who pushed the idea of family before politics?

Sonia Gandhi: No, I don't believe so.

Rajdeep: It was always country first?

Sonia: Absolutely. Country, the people, the country.

Rajdeep: Is that what also eventually led you to take that big decision in 90s

Sonia: Yes yes, because you know at that time, I had nothing else in my mind but to uphold my mother-in-law's ideals, values not my mother-in-law's but those of the Congress.

Rajdeep: When I ask your mother-in-law's values, ideals , what according to you are the central ideals and values that Indira Gandhi represented, according to you?

Sonia: Secularism.

Rajdeep: And secularism in the sub classical way you believe, not as it is described today as minority appeasement because...

Sonia: Absolutely not, absolutely not!

Rajdeep: It was treated on all religions?

Sonia: Absolutely.

Rajdeep: And every citizen?

Sonia: All Indians are... were... are the same, regardless of their background of their religion.

Rajdeep: And she practiced her life like that because we have pictures of Indira Gandhi with tribals of... celebrating Eid...and celebrating Hindu festivals... now many have criticised that over the years saying that, you know, that this has led to appeasement. You believe that there was genuine sense of treating everyone equally?

Sonia: Yes she did, she did... completely... absolutely

Rajdeep: The reason I also ask you this because Mrs Gandhi's secularism has been questioned , whether Mrs Gandhi was genuinely committed on the secularism or what they called vote bank politics. Was Mrs Gandhi playing vote bank politics?

Sonia: I do not like to discuss politics.

Rajdeep: Mrs Gandhi's black mark man was the emergency and till today people in a sense look at Mrs Gandhi with two images. One in 1971 war as the biggest moment and her darkest moment as the emergency of 1975. How do you believe she would see the emergency today . Would she see it as something she deeply regretted as the daughter of Jawahar Lal Nehru?

Sonia: I cannot say exactly, how she would see the emergency today but I can say that if she had not felt extremely uncomfortable with it at some stage, she would not have called for an election.

Rajdeep: That s true, in 77 she did take big decision to revoke the emergency and hold an election that she lost but did she ever personally in conversation with you talk

Sonia: I remember one instance when Rajiv ji was a pilot, he used to fly to various parts of the country. On number of occasions, he would meet with people or a passenger or a friend who would say look, this is happening here. I used to say that look here, I have heard this is happening ...and he would tell his mother and I could see that she would take it and she would listen to it and think about it.

Rajdeep: But she never openly ever told you Sonia?

Sonia: I will write it in my own book.

Rajdeep: You should...Nobody knows

Sonia: Well, let's see

Rajdeep: Let me come to a question about when Indira wanted Rajiv ji to be a political heir after Sanjay Gandhi's death? You'd publicly say that you were against that. Are you saying it today?

Sonia: Yes, I was completely, completely against it.

Rajdeep: It was said in a book you fought like a tigress.

Sonia: Yes, yes.

Rajdeep: Did that change your equation with your mother-in-law?

Sonia: No, again, because she was a very intelligent woman - don't forget. She allowed the two of us to work it out, she never said anything to me.

Rajdeep: Was there a lot of privacy that she gave you as a couple?

Sonia: Yes, yes.

Rajdeep: I mean your public life - daughter-in-law and son of a prime minister - it's not an easy space to be in because your public and your private life often get completely blurred. Did she allow you to keep your private life?

Sonia: She did. Those days, there was less focus on us - the family.

Rajdeep: You didn't have 24/7 television.

Sonia: No, we didn't.

Rajdeep: So nobody was peeking into your life?

Sonia: So, we had quite a lot of space for ourselves.

Rajdeep: Your mother-in-law would ask every evening where are you going?

Sonia: Never.

Rajdeep: Never asked you? Who are your friends - who are coming over?

Sonia: Never. We had friends she would know them, they were introduced. Some of them she knew from long before. They would come for meals to the house at her table.

Rajdeep: You know there are those who say that today the Congress party needs a leader like Indira Gandhi to take on someone like Narendra Modi - the reason they say is Mr. Narendra Modi is a tough prime minister much like Indira and the Congress doesn't have that kind of tough, competitive leadership to take on.

Sonia: I don't agree with that. Don't forget that when Mrs Gandhi entered politics, she became president of the party or later prime minister, she was ridiculed, she was made fun of, she was insulted - there was nothing that she did.

Rajdeep: She was called gungi...

Sonia: From within her own party - I would say perhaps even more than outside, right ?

Rajdeep: And you believe that she was able to overcome that?

Sonia: She was able to overcome that. She did overcome that.

Rajdeep: I am just wondering whether that something you learnt from Mrs Gandhi because there is this fighting spirit that we see in Sonia Gandhi from time to time - is that something you learnt from your mother-in-law because you were attacked - today Rahul is also attacked. Does the family take in a sense confidence from what Indira Gandhi was - you know the world has changed - you need to be more competitive now than even in the 1960s and 70s when the Congress was the dominant party. You didn't have a leader like Modi to take on then that Mrs Gandhi had?

Sonia: You know in every sort of politics in history, it has its own problems, its leaders, its own opposition. No, I think the Congress is taking on the present.

Rajdeep: But did you take inspiration from Mrs Gandhi from what she...

Sonia: May be subconsciously I did. I can't say that sort of I studied her. I never did, consciously. I guess like one imbibes any other family member - as I said you know, I don't know.

Rajdeep: And your children also because now today you say that they can take on. You think they have this spirit? Is it not true that Rahul and Priyanka had more sheltered life, unlike you?

Sonia: Not at all.

Rajdeep: So they can take on life?

Sonia: Absolutely. So much more is expected of us because we have a certain surname because we belong to a certain family. We some sort of gather inner strength to make it possible for us to face such things.

Rajdeep: I know this is a political question. Congress as a party during Mrs Gandhi's time was a dominant political party, now you have come to 44 seats. You don't think that it...

Sonia: I think it is absolutely possible. Not only is it possible but we will come up from 44 seats to the seats needed to have full strength in Parliament.

Rajdeep: You will come back to power?

Sonia: Absolutely, in politics you win and you lose. You come up in power, you go down, it's part of life.

Rajdeep: The reason - you get troubled when people ask you - when political observers or people write, when BJP leaders say Narendra Modi is like Indira Gandhi - he is the power politician - does that trouble you?

Sonia: It doesn't trouble me because I don't believe in it at all. I have my own clear view, there is no comparison.



Rajdeep: There is no comparison?

Sonia: Absolutely not!

Rajdeep: As a power politician?

Sonia: Absolutely not!

Rajdeep: Let me ask you a question that many also ask. Priyanka Gandhi - your daughter is supposed to resemble Indira Gandhi, who in the Nehru Gandhi family today is more likely your mother-in-law, who has been the most....

Sonia : You see every one of us has been influenced by Mrs Gandhi. My mother-in-law and in their case, they are inspired by their grandmother in different ways, right. I have been influenced in my own ways in a particular way, Priyanka in another way , Rahul in another way. There is no model kind of things that ... I am or he is or she is .. we all are influenced in different ways.

Rajdeep: Because my trick question then would be or what people would ask is will Rahul be the person who would take forward this legacy?

Sonia: I am not the person to decide or to reply.

Rajdeep: You know because Mrs Gandhi had strength and was in politics for long, she started in late 50s under Mr Nehru, at 66 became prime minister, 84, 18 years. You have also been Congress president for almost that long and people ask will Mrs Gandhi give way to the new order, Will Rahul take over? Are you ready to retire? You think about this?

Sonia: No politics... Mrs Gandhi only today.

Rajdeep: Fare enough... Mrs Gandhi only today.

Rajdeep: Mam, since we are talking about Mrs Gandhi, you saw her for the first time you said in London in happy circumstances. You saw her the last time in not so much happy circumstances. 31st October 1984, she literally died in your arms in Safadarjung Road, your recollections...

Sonia: Yes, that was a terrible day, I was in my room which was right next to hers She was preparing to offer an interview and I heard some noises. Diwali had just been and sometime Diwali carries on few days later and I heard these noises. I thought there may be Diwali patakhas, but something was different. I sent one lady who worked for me out to see what it is. She came back crying and... of course, a news that something... we were expecting it, my mother-in-law knew, she had spoken to us about it. She had given instructions, she had spoken to Rahul, in particular. I ran out and I saw her ... well ... body with bullets and we took her to the hospital... which was a terrible sort of .... there was no ambulance, nothing. So she was placed in the ambassador in the back seat and I was sitting with her in my arms and there was lot of traffic. Anyway, slowly we reached the hospital.

Rajdeep: Did it take you long time to come to terms with what has happened to your mother-in-law?

Sonia: Yes, it was a terrible blow... for me it was a terrible blow. Of course, for Rajiv ji, for Rahul and Priyanka, for all of us...

Rajdeep: How do you assess mam, her contribution to the country, as you said she was committed to idea of India and country above all, if today as we sit here in Swaraj Bhawan, you have to assess Mrs Gandhi's contribution to this country...

Sonia: Her greatest contribution, I would put it in these words. Her greatest contribution is her loyalty and devotion for people of India... because from that flow everything else.

Rajdeep: What was the special connect that she seems to have ...

Sonia: She identified with them, there was something about her...her deep compassion which made people talk about her.

Rajdeep: President Pranab Mukhrjee told me something interesting. He said that if you had a political meeting in lapland in the Artic circle, Indira Gandhi and the Pope will be the only two people to attract an audience even there

Sonia: No, I don't know about that.

Rajdeep: But she has some kind of connect with the average....

Sonia: She definitely had.

Rajdeep: Did she ever talk about the special relationship that she had with the people of this country, what is it that drove her to work every day?

Sonia: She had in her deep compassion and empathy for the underdog, for the people who were in need of help and support.

Rajdeep: Something that may be missing in today's politics?

Sonia: Very much so, yes.

Rajdeep: The reason I asked you this is because .....she was an Indian women in 1966 to become the prime minister of the country. America could't produce a woman president in 2016. The fact was she was a womn, did that in any way you think, did you see that side of her, was she proud of being a woman, was she ever a feminist or was she someone who wanted to put in the only man in his cabinet. Did she ever..., the fact that she was a women prime minister with all the men around her at that time, it was still a male dominated society. Did that affect Mrs Gandhi in any way... make her tougher?

Sonia : I don't think so. In fact I don't remember she said somewhere that she was a woman amongst all these colleagues of her. She always felt as equal.

Rajdeep: I asked you about her darker moment which was the Emergency, but possibly her greatest Triumph was 1971 and the war and the victory over Bangladesh. Did it changed her in any way at that time. Do you recall Mrs Gandhi in that period, was she very different at home, outside because it must have ......

Sonia: She wasn't different off course she felt strongly for the people of East Bengal because if you remember the terrible atrocities committed on them. I remember her as young. We use to hear horrific stories and she felt terribly pained about.

Rajdeep: Did she take the trouble home, when she came home?

Sonia: She would tell us about what is happening around her.

Rajdeep: The reason which I am asking this is because after 1971, she was made Maa Durga in the eyes of people, is that how she saw herself ....

Sonia: Absolutely not

Rajdeep: She saw herself purely as someone who had a special relationship with the people....

Sonia: Absolutely.

Rajdeep: The younger generation hasn't even seen Mrs Gandhi. What would you like the young generation to see in Mrs Gandhi through the travel exhibition that will take place soon ....

Sonia: They should see, try and understand a woman who was completely and totally devoted to her people. She was willing to give up everything including her own life for the people of her country.

Rajdeep: So it is the sense of sacrifice that she gave

Sonia: Yes.

Rajdeep: Do you think that came from her father and from the fact that she herself has been through that freedom struggle ..........

Sonia: Yes. She grew up during that period, in fact she was jailed not for long but during the freedom movement . She herself has organised a Vanar Sena of young kids who used to go around quietly, pass on information to leaders or seniors because they were watched by the Police and to distribute leaflets against the British Government.

Rajdeep: So her sense of patriotism......

Sonia: I would say patriotism was everything for her.

Rajdeep: The reason I am asking you because we are sitting here is actually is the very space where she was born, where in a sense the influence of Motilal, Jawaharlal it should be still felt in a way.

Sonia: Yes, of course and all the other freedom movement because this was the centre where all of them use to meet and strategise.

Rajdeep: Your favourite Indira Gandhi moment. She had a very good sense of humour .......

Sonia: She had a very cute sense of humour . She was a wonderful writer.

Rajdeep: Did she write you a lot of letters...

Sonia: Yes, not only to me but also to her friends, relatives and colleagues.

Rajdeep: Little notes that she would leave for you..

Sonia: I think another aspect of Mrs Gandhi that perhaps which is not so well known is that she was interested in everything and everybody. She had great interest in classical music, Indian and Western, heritage, classical art, folk art, folk music, etc.

Rajdeep: As you look today into the camera, sense of nostalgia when you think of her, I can see your eyes sometimes well up when you ......

Sonia: Off course we still miss her, Yes we do.

Rajdeep: Mrs Gandhi you have taken the time off to speak to me, it is very rare to get you to speak on TV , I hope the next time you will take the political questions

Sonia: I will try to

Rajdeep: Because my office told me to that you must ask Mrs Gandhi typically they said, when is Rahul Gandhi taking over and I said it is an interview about Indira Gandhi...

Sonia: Let is leave it at Indira Gandhi. May be in future we will meet again.

Rajdeep: Thank You very much that you have given us the chance to do the interview at this historic palace makes it even more special. It is the centenary year and I hope that the exhibition reveals Indira Gandhi to an entirely new generation. I don't know if you know this, Indira Gandhi memorial is the most visited sight even today....

Sonia: I am very close to the memorial. In fact on every Monday, as Monday being closed , I go to memorial and look around and see the things are the way they should be and....

Rajdeep: You still go every Monday to the memorial....

Sonia: Almost... almost every Monday ....Yes.

Rajdeep: This almost seems like a Saas-Bahu relationship which defies every stereotype that India has ever had.....

Sonia: No, I am sure India has many more Mother in laws like, may be not like her but close what she was as a Mother in law.

Rajdeep : Sonia Gandhi you opened yourself up in a way to talking about someone who you knew intimately, Thank you very much for talking to us.

Sonia: My pleasure.



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By PTI: Colombo, Nov 21 (PTI) India will not tolerate a military take over in Sri Lanka and will fully support President Maithripala Sirisena to foil any coup attempt in the country, a senior minister said today amid reports of the opposition warning of a military coup.

Minister of social services SB Dissanayake said Sirisena enjoyed good relations with India and could trust Indian support to foil any military coup attempt in Sri Lanka.

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"President has the Indian support. India will send two ships (to support Sri Lankan government)," Dissanayake told Neth FM radio.

New Delhi would not tolerate a military attempt to take over power in Sri Lanka, Dissanayake said when asked about the opposition warning of a military coup.

The parliamentary leader of the Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament on Friday that there was a threat of a military coup happening in Sri Lanka due to governments alleged curbing of democratic freedoms in the country.

He was addressing Sirisena who was present in the House to take part in the 2017 budget allocations.

The Joint Opposition backs Sirisenas predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa who had blamed the international community including India for engineering his defeat to Sirisena last year. PTI CORR MRJ AKJ MRJ

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The air traffic was suspended on Sunday too due to the bad weather conditions.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : Due to dense fog, flights to and from the Srinagar airport were cancelled on Monday morning. As per officials stationed at the airport, it became impossible for any flight to land at the airport due to lack of visibility.

The air traffic was suspended on Sunday too due to the bad weather conditions. The officials, however, said that the situation would be reviewed if visibility improves later.

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The weather office has forecast rain and snow in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. There has been a considerable temperature dip in the Valley in last one week.

The sky would remain overcast throughout the valley with foggy conditions, airport officials said.

Also read:

Dense fog causes pile-up of 20 cars on Yamuna Expressway, many injured



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By PTI: Cuttack, Nov 21 (PTI) The younger brother of deceased Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra today filed in the Orissa High Court a plea seeking substitution of name to continue proceedings of the latters petition challenging the election of minister Sanjay Dasburma.

Lalatendu (52) died last month after a prolonged illness. He had filed a petition challenging election of Dasburma.

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Dasburma was elected from Brahmagiri Assembly segment in Puri district in April 2014 elections defeating Lalatendu by a slender margin of 1341 votes.

Mohapatra had filed the petition urging the high court to declare the election of the BJD leader from the constituency as "void" on the ground that the poll processes were completely vitiated.

According to the provisions of Representation of the People Act, proceedings in the election petition shall remain operative in the event of the death of the petitioner, if any other voter of the segment offers to be a substitute petitioner.

Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra has filed the plea seeking substitution of name.

"Lalitendu, the brother of Lalatendu is a voter of the same constituency and he has filed a petition seeking substitution of the name," informed the original petitioners counsel Pitanmbar Acharya. PTI CORR AAM MD ZMN

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The attacker entered the Baqir ul Olum mosque during a ceremony, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Afghan security forces keep watch in front of a mosque where an explosion happened in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 21, 2016. Photo: Reuters

By Reuters: A suicide bomber killed at least 27 people and wounded dozens on Monday in an explosion at a crowded Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, officials said.

The attacker entered the Baqir ul Olum mosque during a ceremony, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people were killed and 35 wounded and that the total may rise.

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"I saw people screaming and covered in blood," a survivor told Afghanistan's Ariana Television. He said around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene, but there was no independent confirmation of those figures.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

ETHNIC TENSION

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack as a sign of barbarism but said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".

"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he said in a message on his Twitter account.

In July, more than 80 people were killed in an attack on a demonstration by the mainly Shiite Hazara minority that was claimed by Islamic State militants.

The Taliban, seeking to reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster, condemned that attack and have declared that their fighters have been ordered to prevent civilian casualties as far as possible.

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Hundreds of Congress party workers gathered near Collector's office at north Madras to condemn the Central government and more so about CM Jayalalithaa's silence on the matter.

By Pramod Madhav: Tamil Nadu Congress conducted a statewide protest against Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation decision calling it a total failure and only causing suffering to the people.

Hundreds of Congress workers gathered near collector's office at north Madras to condemn the government and more so about CM Jayalalithaa's silence on the matter.

Tamil Nadu Congress leader Thirunavukarasu asked as to what happened to the money Modi promised to retrieve from the Swiss bank accounts.

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"It is very unfortunate that they (state government) have not taken up the issue properly with the central government. Reserve Bank directions claim not to operate through village credit societies. There are 4800 village credit societies at villages which don't have any banks. These farmers don't have accounts. Where would they go?" he questioned.

ALSO READ | Demonetisation to benefit PM Modi's coterie, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Thirunavukarasu claimed that the cooperative societies have become sick and its workers are going on a strike which is causing distress to the already economically impaled farmers and wishes that the state government takes up the issue with the central government. He believes that though the centre created this problem, the state now has equal responsibility in resolving it.

EVKS Elangovan, the former TNNCC president questioned as to what is happening with the chief minister and why is she not commenting in the issue. "It is confusing. First day they said that she can't speak, so she kept her fingerprint (on candidate affidavit), next day there was a signature of her. After that they said, she spoke to someone over the phone and today I read in the papers that she is being trained to speak and to write. If she is getting trained to write, how can she put her signature few days back?" he inquired.

Elangovan alleged that Tamil Nadu government has not done anything to ease the sufferings of the people. He said that prime minister Modi's demonetisation decision will definitely not curb black money and will only help in changing black money into white.

"All of a sudden he announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes are invalid and the very next day he flew to Japan to shake hands with Japan prime minister. But from November 9 till today, people are suffering a lot and have been standing in queues for long hours," he said.

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Trishala Dutt is the latest to take potshots at Bollywood actors who undergo plastic surgery to make it big in Bollywood.

By Samrudhi Ghosh: Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala took the internet by storm with her jibe at Bollywood actors' love for plastic surgery. Cosmetic enhancement is something of an open secret in the film industry and even actors like Sridevi and Priyanka Chopra who have visible changes in their features have always denied going under the knife.

ALSO READ: Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala takes potshots at Bollywood's love for plastic surgery

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Trishala is right, Bollywood loves plastic surgeries: These before-after pics are proof



Trishala posted a picture on Instagram, where she dressed up as a Bollywood starlet on Halloween. Holding lip injections and having visible scars indicating a breast augmentation surgery, the 28-year-old captioned the photograph: "This is Candy her plastic surgeon @glambyyaz told her in 8-12 weeks when she's fully recovered from her lip injections and breast augmentation, she'll be ready to join & rock Bollywood! She's super excited!!! - Happy Halloween."

Trishala's rather horrific picture (bruised, swollen lips and nasty scars from a breast augmentation) perhaps also hints at surgeries gone wrong. Plastic surgeries do not always go the expected way - from Koena Mitra who has become the poster girl of a bad nose job to Vaani Kapoor whose apparent chin surgery is being heavily criticised.

Trishala is not the only one who took at actors who love going under the knife. Here are other B-Town celebs who did not shy away from taking potshots at Bollywood's love for plastic surgery.

Sonam Kapoor-Deepika Padukone:

Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were at their cattiest best in their episode of Karan Johar's infamous talk show Koffee With Karan. The two not only famously took digs at Deepika's ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, they also made a comment on cosmetic surgery. When Deepika began, "If we have a separate graveyard for actresses," Sonam completed, "We'd know who's done what because all the plastic stuff will be left behind."

Anil Kapoor:

That Sonam Kapoor speaks whatever is on her mind is common knowledge. But her father Anil Kapoor, who usually stays away from controversy, surprised all when he promptly named Shilpa Shetty as the worst case of plastic surgery in Bollywood. Anil said that Shilpa did something to her nose and lips during the shoot of Badhai Ho Badhai, which resulted in continuity problems and threw the entire shooting schedule off.

Vivek Oberoi:

Vivek Oberoi made some shocking revelations on Farah Khan's talk show Tere Mere Beech Mein. Vivek, who opened up on his fight with Salman Khan and the infamous press conference, took digs at his ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Without naming the actor, he said, "Our film industry is famous for having more plastic than Tupperware. Everything is plastic here. Plastic smile, plastic heart..."

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ALSO WATCH:





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A special CBI court issued a fresh arrest warrant against Vijay Mallya to facilitate the investigative agency to extradite him.

By Mustafa Shaikh: The CBI today said it has obtained non-bailable warrant against fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya from a Mumbai court and is forwarding it to the UK government for extradition.

Mallya, who has been declared a proclaimed offender by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) court, allegedly owes thousands of crores of rupees in loans to various Indian banks.

The ED wants Mallya to join its investigation "in person" in connection with probe under the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA), and in cases related to a Rs 900-crore loan from IDBI Bank.

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Also read: Income Tax raid at Gali Janardhan Reddy's mining firm, 5 days after daughter's blockbuster wedding

The counsel said Mallya never cooperated with them in the investigation. After considering the circumstances, the special judge H S Mahajan, who was hearing the plea, issued non-bailable warrant against the liquor baron.



DUES OWED TO BANKS



Last week, facing heat over the State Bank of India reportedly waiving off Rs 7000 crore of NPAs, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a written reply told Parliament that the government is serious about bringing back Mallya.

Around Rs 1,200 crore in dues owed by Mallya's collapsed Kingfisher Airlines has been labelled as "write off" in the books of the SBI, which is the country's largest lender.

"There is a little bit of malapropism involved in this. Don't go by literal meaning write-off, it does not. Write-off does not mean loan waiver. Loan still remains," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley later clarified in Parliament.

Also read: Centre blocks Zakir Naik's websites spreading objectionable content

The CBI, has also filed a case against Kingfisher Airlines Limited, its chief financial officer A Raghunathan and some officials of IDBI Bank for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Recently, the courts had issued two non-bailable warrants against Mallya in separate criminal cases, with both courts observing that he neither had any regard for law, nor any intention to return to India.

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The CBI filed chargesheet against 3 directors and 3 private companies based in West Bengal under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.

By Shivendra Srivastava: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed chargesheet against three directors and three private companies based in West Bengal under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978 and substantive offence thereof in the court of ACJM, Krishnanagar.

The instant case was registered in 2014 against the directors of the private company based on the orders of the Supreme Court. It was alleged that the accused persons being the directors of the these company had fraudulently induced investors to invest money by promising very high returns and also advertising false and fabricated business prospects of the company.

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The accused persons cheated investors and misappropriated the money. The company has allegedly collected Rs 2741 crore (approx) from poor investors. Currently, all directors are in judicial custody.

Also read: Noose tightens around Vijay Mallya, CBI gets non-bailable warrant

Also read: Bansals suicide: Supreme Court notice to Centre, CBI on PIL seeking SIT probe

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WAN-IFRA, the World Editors Forum and the FOJO Media Institute are calling on media worldwide to support stronger protections for women journalists in a text released to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of Swedens Freedom of the Press Act, the first of its kind in the world.

The 2nd December Declaration highlights the need to strengthen and support free, independent and professional journalism as a means of countering disinformation and combatting hate crimes.

Identifying women journalists as frequently the most vulnerable and exposed, the Declaration denounces as a danger to quality journalism - and ultimately democracy itself - those who use threats and hate to silence the women who are making their voices heard.

Professional journalism is our most effective means of countering disinformation and combatting hate crimes. It is the best weapon we have against all types of prejudices, reads the Declaration. Journalists are on the front line when it comes to protecting freedoms in society - and women journalists are often the most vulnerable and exposed. They are targeted, not only because they report on the abuse of power, but because they are women.

At time of press, over 50 media organisations had pledged their advance support for the text.

The Declaration coincides with an event in Stockholm on 2nd December, 2016 that will pay tribute to all women journalists who defy such dangers to pursue their mission of providing citizens with the information needed to make enlightened decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies and their governments.

Prominent women journalists, including Barkha Dutt (India), Laura Castellanos (Mexico), Galina Timochenko (Russia/Latvia), Jessikka Aro (Finland), Anita Sarkeesian (Canada/USA), Miranda Patrucic (Bosnia), Jamela Alindogan (Philippines), Fatuma Noor (Somalia) and Baria Alamuddin (Lebanon) will attend a seminar hosted by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Fojo Media Institute/Linnus University, the Swedish Institute and the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO.

The seminar will draw upon the stories of the invited journalists as a point of departure on how to find strategies to counter hate speech, threats and disinformation.

The 2nd December Declaration in full:

On 2nd December 1766, the Swedish King enacted a Gracious Ordinance Relating to Freedom of Writing and of the Press, the worlds first legislation guaranteeing the right to a free press.

Today, journalists around the world depend on this right to uncover corruption, provide transparency and demand accountability. However, verbal threats and hate speech increasingly put this function at risk.

On the 250th anniversary of this important legislation, we call for greater worldwide efforts to protect all media professionals, wherever they may be challenged.

We, the undersigned, believe in the need to strengthen and support free, independent and professional journalism, however and wherever necessary. Professional journalism is our most effective means of countering disinformation and combatting hate crimes. It is the best weapon we have against all types of prejudices. Journalists are on the front line when it comes to protecting freedoms in society - and women journalists are often the most vulnerable and exposed. They are targeted, not only because they report on the abuse of power, but because they are women.

We therefore draw particular attention to the specific dangers facing women journalists and underline the urgent need to do more to counter the growing hostility felt by women across the globe towards their right to freedom of expression.

We denounce those who use threats and hate to silence the women who are making their voices heard. This constitutes not only a threat to quality journalism, but also to equality and ultimately to democracy itself.

We wish to use this historic day to pay tribute to all women journalists who are defying death threats, sexual violence, physical and psychological abuse, hate speech or online intimidation to pursue their professional calling. Women who continue, despite such pressures, to provide citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about their lives, their communities, and their governments.

The declaration can be signed here
News



Interview of the week Assen CHRISTOV

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

EUROHOLD



The economic environment and the insurance market are fully correlated. Healthy growth of the insurance business is hardly possible without economic growth. Of course, we have been an example of an expanding business in the times of economic downturn, but this expansion also comes along immense managerial and organizational efforts. Details
He also said that, today more than 95 percent of workers have temporary employment contracts, and additionally, that each day five workers lose their lives as a result of work accidents  three of which are construction workers, and two are industrial workers.

In Iran 25 to 30 workers lose their lives due to job related diseases on daily basis, he also admitted, in this same category of jobs, after retirement, on average 5  7 years later, many workers will die as a result of job related diseases, 33% from lung cancer.

In more news, on that same day, the NCRI published an article about the Khorasan Razavi province, in Northeastern Iran, where 477 workers have lost their lives due to workplace accidents within just four months. This, according to a report from the Iranian state run News Agency, ILNA, on November 19.

Although the construction and employment in the province has decreased this year, paradoxically, the human loss of in terms of workplace accidents has increased.

Lack of proper education for workers, and shortage of safety equipment are the main causes of the high death toll, say Labor activists.

The Vice President of the Ministry of Labor stated that each year more than 1,400 people lose their lives due to work accidents, and 8400 people, six times more than that, lose their lives due to Job Disease.

According to Official Forensic statistics between 2010 and 2014, five to seven workers were killed at work on daily basis. In 2014 18,916 incidents occurred in which one or more workers have been killed.
Offord was among the politicians who talked about Britains unsettling business relationship with the regime in Tehran. He said, The current UK policy on pursing business opportunities in Iran in the post-nuclear deal era risks empowering the Revolutionary Guards, adding, This paramilitary arm of the Supreme Leader is the major force in exporting terror out of Iran and suppressing any popular dissent, controlling close to 70 per cent of Irans economy.

An investigation into the events of the summer of 1988 was called for by the conference; when the Islamic Republics founder Ayatollah Khomeini ordered a Fatwa, and some 30,000 political prisoners were massacred in the space of a few months, and buried secretly in mass graves.

Many of the officials responsible for the massacre currently hold some of the highest positions in the regime.

President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Maryam Rajavi, addressed the conference in a video message. She said, The regime preserves its power by these atrocities, even as the anti-government protests spread across the country, and continued, If the international community had not remained silent and passive in this regard, letting the criminals evade justice, the wave of executions and repression in Iran could not have continued to date.

The Iranian authorities carried out over 1000 executions last year, according to the UN and international organizations like Amnesty International.

Amnesty International published a report on January 26 this year, listing 73 executions of juvenile offenders since 2005 and warned that in violation of international law and conventions prohibiting the execution of juveniles, at least 160 juvenile offenders are currently on death row.
The Council stressed Irans harmful acts against Islamic unity and solidarity and its sponsoring of terrorism and promoting sectarianism, citing Tehrans instigation of its agents in Yemen to target Makkah showed the Muslim world the hatred of this country for Islams holiest sites.

Recently, a letter signed by 11 countries was sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, warning that Irans negative role was continuing to cause tension and instability in the region.

Tehrans expansionist regional policies, flagrant violations of the principle of sovereignty and constant interference in the internal affairs of Arab states were all pointed out in the letter, which was signed by the UN ambassadors of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

A Geneva-based monitoring group, UN Watch, welcomed the letter, saying it was important that Muslim countries were speaking out against Iranian policies. Hillel Neuer, UN Watch director stated, Iran likes to dismiss all criticism of its human rights violations and brutality at home and abroad as part of a Western plot, but thats hard to sustain when the accusers are all Muslim governments, including recent allies of Iran like Sudan.
Eastern Aleppo has been faced with further destruction last week when Russian aircraft launched a major offensive. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Shiite militias at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that militias are forming a sophisticated ground coalition that is making Irans influence even more important. They are building a force on the ground that, long after the war, will stay there and wield a strong military and ideological influence over Syria for Iran. And there is not much Assad can do to curb the rising influence of these groups, even though Syrian officials are clearly concerned about this, because the militiamen are literally preventing the overthrow of his government.

Experts say that Iran exerts its power in other countries through the use of Shiite militias. Naylor said: Iran and its militias have frustrated U.S. officials. While both sides find themselves aligned against the Islamic State in Iraq, they are at cross-purposes in Syria, where anti-Assad rebels receive funding and arms from Washington and its allies.

He explains that using militias could be beneficial because if the Syrian government can seize Aleppo, the regional balance would be in Irans favour which will thwart Saudi plans. Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics, said: A defeat of the rebels in Aleppo would be a turning point in which Assad captures most of the urban centers of Syria. It would be a setback for Saudi Arabia in its rivalry with Iran, which, as a result, would see its influence in Syria increase even more.

The situation in parts of Aleppo is worsening  over 200,000 people are faced with a lack of food and medical supplies. Air raids have devastated hospitals, homes and a large part of the citys infrastructure.

Zakaria Malahfiji, a member of the Fastaqim rebel force, affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army, said: They are fighting with passion, and they fight in well-coordinated attacks. I remember one battle where these fighters just kept dying in one spot. One guy would charge, get shot and die, and then another, and then another and then another would do the same thing on the exact same spot. All of them died. They are motivated.

Abdulmunem Zaineddin, a religious scholar dealing with rebel forces in the battles in Aleppo, said that the Iranian-backed militiamen are extremists that are spreading Irans influence and their extremist ideology, but our revolution is not about religion; its about freedom and dignity.

The militias claim they are involved in the Syrian civil war to defend Shiite shrines and to battle extremist Sunni groups. Hisham Al Mossawi of Harakat al-Nujaba, a militia from Iraq, said: We dont want sectarian violence. We want to protect Syria, to protect all that is sacred to everyone from terrorism, from the terrorist groups paid for by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and the U.S.

Naylor said that Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards play prominent leadership roles in Aleppo. They direct the foreign Shiite militiamen, many of whom are recruited by, and trained in, Iran.

Smyth said: History proves that whenever Iranians craft groups like these, such as Lebanese Hezbollah, they dont give up arms, they dont stand down and they dont leave territory that theyve taken. They will be in Syria for years and years, and that will have consequences for everyone.
[November 21, 2016] Vubiq Networks to Develop E-Band Broadband Wireless Connectivity Solution

Vubiq Networks, Inc., the leading innovator in high-speed V-Band wireless broadband solutions, today announced that it is developing a full-duplex 10 Gbps E-Band connectivity solution to broaden the company's existing millimeter wave wireless radio portfolio. Growing market demand for ever greater link distances and bandwidth, as well as the inherent benefits of lightly licensed wireless connectivity links, has prompted Vubiq Networks to intensify its strategy of delivering what the market is asking for. E-Band is the widely accepted spectrum in the wireless internet service provider (WISP) and carrier backhaul markets. By expanding its product portfolio to include E-Band radios, Vubiq will be even better positioned to meet all the backhaul needs of the marketplace. "Our breakthrough V-Band wireless radios - including our HaulPass V60s Gigabit Ethernet link and HaulPass V10g 10 Gbps link - have been extremely well received in the market due to their superior performance, easy deployment, and low price points," said Vubiq CEO John Dilworth. "We are now applying these same design philosophies to the E-Band spectrum forwireless applications that require greater transmission distances."



Thanks to Vubiq's patented Modular Integrated Waveguide (MIW) technology that separates the digital components from the analog components, the company is able to rapidly develop new millimeter wave radios that consistently leapfrog the competition for high-speed wireless broadband applications. "With the flexibility provided by our proprietary MIW technology, our development and delivery of an ultra high-performance E-Band wireless solution will be available within a few short months," said Mike Pettus, founder and CTO of Vubiq Networks. "Our advanced technology allows us to be completely spectrum agnostic in our product designs. What's more, it provides us with the flexibility to utilize the highest performing silicon at the most economical price."

Millimeter wave silicon is becoming available at significantly lower costs and higher performance due to technology innovations in the market. "Our product architecture leverages these new technologies because we have kept the millimeter wave radio modular and independent from the baseband and network portions of the design," concluded Mr. Pettus. About Vubiq Networks Vubiq Networks, Inc. is a privately held wireless networking technology company headquartered in Irvine, California. The company's focus is on broadband V-Band and E-band wireless link transmission products that enable multi-gigabit connectivity for wireless fiber optic extensions, wireless metropolitan area networks, and mobile backhaul applications. For further information, visit www.vubiqnetworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005193/en/

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PARIS -- As of Nov. 1, EZ Care has extended hours. The walk-in clinic is now open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

EZ Care is a service, much like convenient or quick care clinics, offered by Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center. The clinic treats minor, non-emergency health conditions such as ear, nose, and throat infections; flu symptoms; pink eye; rashes; and burns.

EZ Care also has a new department manager and patient-care provider: Steve Martin, certified physician assistant (PA-C).

Martin began seeing EZ Care patients mid-November. His managerial duties include scheduling, compliance for the clinic, and general oversight. He joins providers Susan Arp, FNP-C; Mert Guinto, MD; and Samantha Volstorf, FNP-C.

Martin has been a PA since 2005 when he completed the physician assistant program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. His experience includes family practice, emergency medicine, and urgent care. He is also a Major in the Indiana Air National Guard and has extensive experience as a physician assistant, flight medic, and journeyman in the US military, where he continues to serve since 1995.

EZ Care is currently located in the east corner of the Acklin-Shackleford Clinic, near the Occupational Health Department. However, plans to move the service from the main hospital campus are ongoing. A site has been secured, and the move should be completed by early 2017.
"The people and events depicted within this blog space are hallucinations, chimeras, figments of a completely anarchic imagination.

Any (even faint) similarity to any persons living and/or dead (especially dead), or events, real and/or imaginary (especially imaginary) is purely, totally, completely and/or most probably accidentally coincidental."
1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted.

2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks.

3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown".

4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam).

I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published.
Omaha, Neb., Daniel Griess, MHA, FACHE, has been named vice president of Facility Systems and Ancillary Services of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals.

He began his duties Aug. 15, 2016 and is based at the Omaha Campus. In Griess' dual role, he is responsible for the leadership, organization and direction of the ancillary services lines, contract services and daily plant and related operations for the Lincoln and Omaha Campuses.

Prior to Madonna, Griess spent 24 years at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Neb. Thirteen of those years Griess served as the hospital's chief executive officer, where he oversaw the hospital's $42 million addition project. He started working at the hospital in 1992 as the laboratory manager before being promoted to vice president of Clinical/Support Services. He became CEO in 2003.

"Dan's expansive background provides him a unique skill set that sets him up for success in this dual-purpose role," said Victor Witkowicz, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. "Not only does he have the leadership and collaboration experience, but he also has been in charge of a sizable expansion project during his tenure as CEO of Box Butte General Hospital. We look forward to his vision and guidance in these vital areas."

Griess received a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. His professional affiliations include being an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow since 2011 and memberships with the Nebraska Hospital Association and Nebraska Rural Health Association.

In mid-October, Dan Steinbach, Madonna's director of Facilities Management System, announced his plans to retire. During his 21-year tenure with the organization, Steinbach has been an integral part of the building and expansion projects on the Lincoln Campus and the planning and construction of the $93 million Omaha Campus. "Through Dan's leadership, Madonna's Facilities System is well positioned for the future," said Witkowicz.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals offers world-class medical rehabilitation and research. Specializing in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, pulmonary conditions, stroke and neurological diseases for adults and children, Madonna takes the most medically complex cases. Madonna offers hope and healing and returns patients to their community settings at a higher rate than industry benchmarks.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals-Lincoln Campus is located at 5401 South Street in Lincoln, Nebraska 68506; 402-413-3000. Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals-Omaha Campus is located at 17500 Burke Street in Omaha, Nebraska 68118; 402-413-3000. www.madonna.org.
Pinnacle Bank, Crete, recently named Justin Kozisek vice president. In his new position, Kozisek is responsible for assisting loan customers and managing commercial and agricultural portfolios. Kozisek who started with Pinnacle Bank in October has over 14 years of banking experience.

He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Doane University and continued his education through the Nebraska Bankers Association in the leadership program and commercial lending school.

Kozisek is a Crete native and attended Crete Public Schools. His wife, Betsy, is a special education teacher at Crete High School who also graduated from Doane University. They have two children, a 6-year-old daughter named Tenley and a 1-year-old son named Harrison. In the community, Kozisek is involved in the Rotary Club, United Way, Doane University Alumni Association and the Nebraska Bankers Association.

About Pinnacle Bancorp:

Family-owned since 1938, Nebraska-based Pinnacle Bancorp, Inc., is a $9.5 billion financial holding company operating 141 community banks in seven states including 61 locations in Nebraska. For more information, visit pinnbank.com.
Union Bank & Trust recently promoted Seth Davison to assistant vice president in its Agricultural Lending Division. Davison joined Union Bank in 2009 and has experience as a teller, customer service representative, college savings plan representative, credit analyst and loan officer.

In his new role, Davison will be responsible for working with existing and prospective Ag lending customers and helping them reach their short and long-term financial goals by assisting with their credit and depository banking needs.

Davison holds a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has attended several bank lending schools through the Nebraska Bankers Association, Risk Management Association and the American Bankers Association. Davison is a graduate of Union Bank's Leadership Development Program. He is a member of the 35th class of The Nebraska LEAD Program and a United Way supporter.

Union Bank & Trust is a privately owned, Nebraska bank that offers complete banking, lending, investment and trust services. The bank has 38 full service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. In addition to Lincoln and Omaha, branches are located in 21 Nebraska communities. It is the third largest privately owned bank in Nebraska with bank assets of $3.5 billion and trust assets of $15.5 billion as of June 30, 2016.
Marlene Rashidi met Germichael Kennedy for the first time an hour before he killed her.

She and some friends ran into him in downtown Lincoln about 2 a.m. on June 26. The three other women knew Kennedy; one of them grew up with him in a small town in Mississippi, and they would later tell police their conversation lasted about two minutes.

Newly released interviews and physical evidence presented to a grand jury in October detail how Rashidi and Kennedys paths would cross again on Portia Street about an hour later. Investigators would try to piece together why Kennedy unloaded a semi-automatic pistol into two cars, killing Rashidi and injuring Dezarae Mann, neither of whom knew Kennedy or lived in the Belmont neighborhood.

Kennedy would be killed by Lincoln police hours later, and forensic testing confirmed the bullet lodged in Rashidis lower back matched bullets found in his car and in the gun Kennedy pointed at an officers head.

The Journal Star reviewed hundreds of pages of testimony and evidence from the grand jury investigation required by Nebraska law whenever someone dies in police custody or while being arrested. The transcript includes details that give a clearer picture into how Rashidi, a 20-year-old University of Nebraska at Kearney student, published poet and aspiring lawyer, ended up in the worst place at the worst time.

The events that led to Rashidi's death began between 10 and 11 on the night of June 25.

Germichael Kennedy, 22, was visiting a friend who lives near 12th and D streets. The two went to a party near Knox and Portia streets, and the friend decided to walk the four miles back to his apartment about 10:30.

Kennedy had been consuming a lot of alcohol and (the friend) just didnt want to ride home with him, Lincoln Police Officer Luis Herrera, who investigated Rashidi's death, told the grand jury.

Kennedy stayed at the party until 1 a.m. and got into a fight with a couple of women, cursing at them and calling them names.

At one point, (Kennedy) threatens to shoot somebody in the face, Herrera said, noting that the young man from Mississippi wasn't armed at that point.

He punched a 24-year-old man in the face and left the party, heading downtown, where he ran into Rashidi and her friends.

According to the grand jury transcript, Kennedy was pulled over by a Lincoln police officer near 14th and O streets at 2:11 a.m. The traffic stop lasted four minutes.

Grand jury looks at Rashidi, Kennedy deaths The June deaths of Marlene Rashidi and Germichael Kennedy have left the Belmont community wi

Basically I think just to get him straightened out, Herrera said about why he was stopped. Hes going the wrong way on a one-way street.

When asked by multiple jurors why Kennedy was allowed to drive home, Herrera said that to his knowledge, there was no indication during the stop that he had been drinking.

Fifteen minutes later, Kennedy was pulled over again -- this time by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln officer at 16th and P streets.

That stop lasted 23 minutes, and Kennedy was cited but Herrera told the grand jury he didn't know what for, adding that there was no way for the UNL officer to know LPD had just stopped Kennedy. And apparently, once again, there was no indication Kennedy was drunk.

He was allowed to leave about the same time Rashidi and her friends were driving to an apartment on Knox Street in the same Belmont neighborhood to which Kennedy was headed. The women planned to change clothes before heading out to a party.

Just before 3 a.m., Kennedy pulled back onto Portia Street.

The women were in an apartment changing when a group of men confronted Kennedy outside. He threatened one of them and asked if he'd ever been shot.

(The man) says he has been shot (before), Herrera said. And he doesnt think thats funny. He takes great offense. He pushes back Kennedy ... other people that are present assault Kennedy.

Kennedy left the neighborhood and posted a selfie to Snapchat showing his bloody, cut-up face from the altercation.

A neighbor called 911 at 3:05 a.m. to report the fight, and when Officers Joseph Villamonte and Joseph Coleman arrived, groups of people began to scatter.

Theyre asked by residents to stay in the area on foot because people feel like theres a lot of tension in the air, Herrera said.

Coleman would later testify that that was rare -- people dont usually ask the cops to stick around.

Five minutes later, Kennedy walked into his friend's 12th Street apartment, grabbed a handgun and headed back to Portia and Knox.

Kennedy's friend was worried, but he stayed home.

At roughly the same time, Herrera estimated, Rashidi and her friends left the apartment and got into two separate cars and headed west on Knox toward Portia. Rashidi was in the rear passenger seat of a red Kia.

A lot of what came next happened about the same time, Herrera told the grand jury.

Rashidis three friends all told police they saw Kennedys white Hyundai approaching from Adams Street.

The woman in the second car said she saw him get out and start shooting toward the Kia. The driver sped off, not realizing Rashidi had been hit.

Kennedy then headed to the second car and put a gun to a womans head.

She starts pleading for her life and asking him not to shoot her," Herrera said. "She says, You know me, you know me, you know me. Dont do this. Kennedy does not say anything. He simply gets back into his vehicle and starts driving north (on Portia).

When Rashidis friends realized she'd been shot, they tried to take her to a hospital but got lost and called for help from 21st and K streets.

Once at the hospital, Rashidi was rushed into surgery, but she died. A bullet that penetrated the rear of the car hit her in the lower back and pelvic area, causing significant damage to blood vessels, an autopsy that was included in the grand jury report said.

Back on Portia Street, Dezarae Mann had just dropped a couple of friends off at an apartment and was headed south when she saw Kennedy's car speeding toward her. She swerved to get out of his way and then stopped. Kennedy stopped in the middle of the street, got out and shot Mann's car six times.

A bullet hit her near the armpit, traveled down, exited her abdomen and landed on her lap. She was hospitalized but survived and is back at work.

Officers Coleman and Villamonte were still in the area and headed toward the noise, knowing only that the suspect was in a white car.

Then, Coleman saw Kennedy step out of a white car.

I draw my gun, I see him holding a gun, Coleman said in an interview with the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office that is now part of the grand jury transcript.

Kennedy ran toward the officer but didn't point the gun at Coleman.

Im going, Drop the gun, drop the gun, Coleman said. We are just kind of facing each other, I am behind my car door, but my window is down and I am up, my gun is up.

Kennedy turned around and got back into his car, threw it into reverse and floored it, getting away from the cops.

Three hours later, he'd have his fourth run-in of the night with police.

***

The two Lincoln cops did not want Germichael Kennedy to die.

But after a foot pursuit and a physical struggle, the young man from Mississippi pointed a gun at one of them and Officers Mario Robinson and Josh Atkinson opened fire, hitting him 13 times.

Robinson, a 22-year veteran of the Lincoln Police Department, and Atkinson, an officer for eight years, said in recorded interviews after the June 26 shooting near the Belmont Recreation Center that they tried to reason with Kennedy but he lifted his gun and pointed it at Robinson's head. Multiple witnesses confirmed that account.

I wanted to attempt to save his life, Atkinson told the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office. I didnt want him to, uh, I didnt want him to die, so I holstered and started lifesaving efforts.

Police started looking for Kennedy at 3 that morning after he shot 20-year-old Marlene Rashidi to death and wounded Dezarae Mann, 23.

Interviews and physical evidence presented to a grand jury in October detail what happened from the time police developed Kennedy as a suspect in the separate shootings and offer a window into the internal struggle one officer had in deciding whether lethal force was necessary.

Nebraska law requires a grand jury investigation whenever someone dies in police custody or while being arrested. In this case, the grand jury ultimately cleared both officers.

The Journal Star reviewed hundreds of pages of testimony and evidence from the grand jury transcript to get a more clear picture of what led to Kennedy's death.

* * *

Kennedy shot at a red Kia with three women in it just after 3 that morning at Portia and Knox streets. Rashidi was in the backseat and died later at a local hospital.

Mann was in a separate car hit by six bullets, one of which hit her near the armpit, traveled through her abdomen and landed on her lap.

The shooting followed a fight between Kennedy and a group of men in the area. None of the women had anything to do with the fight, police said. In fact, Rashidi and Mann did not know each other and were with separate groups that morning.

Multiple witnesses named Kennedy and described his car, which had been stopped for two unrelated traffic violations just hours earlier. A friend of Kennedy's called police at 4:02 a.m., saying he saw Kennedy grab a gun from the friend's apartment near 12th and D streets about an hour earlier and was worried about him.

At 4:30, police spoke with Kennedy's mother, Shirley, who said he called her in Mississippi to say he'd been involved in a shooting and was in trouble, Officer Luis Herrera told the grand jury.

"She was talking to him, telling him to turn himself in," said Herrera, who investigated Rashidi's death. "But she said that he wasn't going to do that. He was afraid."

About two hours later, police found Kennedys car in a lot at 20th Street and Cornhusker Highway.

Thirty-two live rounds lay on the passenger seat, Robinson said. Kennedys cellphone was in a cup holder, his ID on the drivers seat.

Timeline of events (click for full text) * At 1 a.m., Germichael Kennedy gets into a fight with a man in the area of Portia and Knox 

At 9 a.m., Robinson got a report that Kennedy was walking on Conestoga Drive, a curved street off Portia just south of Hartley.

Robinson drove there, saw Kennedy and got out of his cruiser.

I basically tell him to let me see his hands, Robinson told the grand jury. I was going to place him in custody at that time. He continues walking northbound  Im getting on the radio saying its him. I have him at gunpoint.

But Kennedy kept his right hand by his waist, out of Robinson's view, and just stared at him instead of following his orders.

Im thinking at that point in time is he bluffing me or not? Robinson told the grand jury. I put my firearm away. I pull out my Taser. And I kind of think about it. Its like, well, hes supposed to have a weapon. I cant see his hands. I put my Taser back and go back to my firearm. He doesnt say a word to me. I keep telling him youre under arrest and let me see your hands, and he just stares at me and stands there with his hand inside of his shorts.

Robinson moved closer and tried to arrest Kennedy, but the two struggled and fell to the ground. Kennedy got up and Robinson reached for his shirt, but Kennedy broke free and ran.

The two ran west behind the apartments on Portia Street. Robinson holstered his weapon as the chase went on.

They came face-to-face again near Belmont Baptist Church. Robinson shot the Taser but missed Kennedy as he jumped through a row of bushes.

By this time hes jogging now, Robinson said. ... Hes getting tired, Im getting tired. He starts jogging. Then we come to a walk.

Robinson started to hear sirens.

Officer Joseph Coleman, who was nearby and witnessed the struggle and chase, said Kennedy seemed calm at that point.

As Robinson and Kennedy approached Belmont Elementary, Kennedy pulled a handgun from his pocket. The two were about 35 feet apart.

Im still yelling, Stop, drop the gun, drop the gun, Robinson said. And he now turns and faces down the sidewalk and starts walking southbound. Im still behind him. I also come out on the sidewalk at that time. He continues to walk.

At that point, Officer Josh Atkinson arrived and stood near Robinson, who said he was focused on Kennedys gun.

I looked at the magazine well, what we call where the rounds go, and I kind of looked at it, Robinson said. At that time I was like, I seen -- not seeing a magazine. Didnt look like there was one. Kind of argued to myself for a couple of seconds trying to rationalize if he would pull a gun that has no magazine. At that point in time it didnt make a difference to me. I know some semi-automatic weapons can fire without a magazine if theres a round in the chamber.

Kennedy continued to walk -- nonchalantly.

I try to make eye contact because I want to see what hes doing, Robinson said. By the time when I look up, he points the handgun right at my face.

Coleman, Atkinson and an area resident who saw the shooting would all testify that Kennedy pointed his gun at Robinson's head.

Asked by a Lancaster County Sheriff's Office investigator if he believed Robinson's life was in danger, the passerby said yes. Asked if the officer acted inappropriately, the man said, "he did what he is supposed to do."

When Kennedy fell to the ground and officers determined he was no longer a risk, they ran to his side, Atkinson applying pressure to some of his wounds.

We talk to him, tell him to stay with us, Atkinson said.

Kennedys autopsy report said he was shot in the arms, chest, legs and back. Bullets hit both lungs, his heart, liver and intestines. He tested positive for alcohol and caffeine.

There was no evidence at the scene that Kennedy shot his weapon, said Sheriff's Capt. Josh Clark, who investigated the officer-involved shooting.

All together, the officers shot 17 bullets.

Asked by members of the grand jury if the officers acted appropriately, Clark said, in his opinion, yes.

"Sergeant Robinson had given more commands than I have really seen in my career as far as the initial contact with Mr. Kennedy," he said. "... Once (Kennedy's) weapon was actually drawn, Sergeant Robinson displayed a lot of patience as far as continuing to give commands and recognizing initially that handgun was pointed to the ground."

Kennedy was from Jonestown, Mississippi. After graduating from the Job Corps of Louisville, Kentucky, Shirley Kennedy said her son moved to Lincoln to pursue a job in telecommunications.

Despite the grand jury's decision that the officers acted appropriately, Shirley Kennedy said she believes her son's death wasn't justified and that he was intentionally targeted by police.

"I don't think my son was a danger," she said. "Even if he killed someone, killing him won't bring her back. My son didn't have a voice there ... they didn't have to shoot him that many times."

Kennedy's sister, Mekell, said her family hasn't been given all the information on what happened when Kennedy was killed. There is no dash cam video or body camera video that shows the shooting.

"We're not putting anybody down for them carrying out their jobs," she said. "The only thing we're trying to do is make sure they used all their procedures to prevent what happened. We asked if (the police) had proof (of) him holding the gun. We haven't seen that."
A Lancaster County judge sentenced a 33-year-old man to 60 years to life in prison Monday for sexually abusing a young Lincoln girl for years.

A jury found Felipe German Mora guilty at trial last month of four counts of sexual assault of a child, three of them first-degree and one third-degree.

"While Mr. German Mora lacked any significant prior record, society has an obligation to protect those of a tender age ... who are unable to protect themselves," retired Lancaster County District Judge Jeffre Cheuvront said at sentencing.

The judge said German Mora violated the girl's trust and repeatedly sexually abused her. He said there's no way to predict how the trauma will affect her five years from now or 15; she may be scarred for life.

"These actions cannot be excused," Cheuvront said.

German Mora's brother Rafael, 23, pleaded no contest to a single count of first-degree sexual assault of a child for abusing the same girl and is set for sentencing Tuesday.

The state believes both men were in the country unlawfully.

At trial in October, the now 11-year-old testified that the abuse began when she was 7 and Felipe German Mora kissed her on the lips. It escalated to him touching her privates, then forcing sex on her, all while her mother was at work.

She said she was too scared to tell anyone about what he was doing on and off for three years until Sept. 19, 2015, when Rafael German Mora's girlfriend saw him kissing the girl and touching her inappropriately.

She got the girl alone and asked her about it, and the younger girl told her what the brothers had been doing.

At sentencing Monday, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Nick Freeman asked for a life sentence, saying the state believes Felipe German Mora is likely to re-offend if he gets out.

In victim impact letters, the victim and her mother asked for the same.

"I don't want him to be free in the world knowing what he did to me," the victim wrote.

Defense attorney Tim Noerrlinger had asked for a 20-year minimum term and for the sentences to be served concurrently, given his client's lack of a prior record and that he'll be supervised for the rest of his life and must get sex offender treatment before he's released.

Felipe German Mora, who continues to deny he assaulted the girl, turned down a chance to speak.

Freeman pointed to his refusal to admit guilt despite the fact that her DNA was found on his penis and his lack of remorse, saying all German Mora cares about is himself.

"The state believes in this case a sentence of life in prison is appropriate," he said.
Nearly 100 people gathered Sunday night on the west steps of the State Capitol for a candlelight vigil held as a call for change in Whiteclay.

Those gathered included activists and state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks. At Sunday's event, people sang and prayed for change in the unincorporated village of Whiteclay, where millions of cans of beer are sold each year mostly to residents of the nearby dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Activists have called for closing the town's four beer stores for years, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission recently set a Dec. 2 deadline for those beer store owners to reapply for their liquor licenses.

Nebraskans for Peace and the Sacred Winds United Methodist Church will co-host a panel discussion about Whiteclay starting at 7 p.m. Monday.
C Balta carried his guitar up to the mic in front of the Unitarian Church Sunday afternoon, cracking a corny pun about his name right off the bat. He followed with an apology for the bad joke.

Laughs came from around the room, but what Balta had to say next was not a joke.

Im gonna play a song I wrote, Balta said. Its based on being unsure about people youre close to and not knowing where they stand -- or whether theyre willing to stand up for you.

Balta, 31, identifies as transgender and more specifically, trans queer.

Sunday was the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of those murdered because of prejudice against transgender people. This year, Lincoln has joined a growing number of cities in deciding to add an extra R to the day for resilience.

To show support for the transgender community, the event featured religious and non-religious speakers and gave the public a chance to tell their stories of survival.

Balta sang his lyrics, Sometimes thinking Id like to be somewhere else, sometimes wonder where I can be myself. He dedicated the song to his partners parents who arent very accepting of their relationship.

But Baltas concern doesnt just revolve around the people around him, but for all of America after the election of Donald Trump.

We learned a lot about people fairly recently, he said. Its important now more than ever to be genuine, to be outspoken and to hold people accountable. Even if people are polite about it and not mean about it, its still an action.

The group gathered to stand against the harassment and violence the community faces. The day was established after the 1998 murder of Rita Hester -- a visible member of the transgender community in Boston where she worked locally on education around transgender issues.

Cei Loofe, who identifies as transgender, said many arent aware that violence and discrimination are constant.

Statistically, a trans person is three times more likely to commit suicide, Loofe said. Not because were crazy, but because its difficult. A lot of times your family doesnt accept you; society doesnt accept you.

Loofe said theres a call for action when 26 deaths of transgender people have been reported in 2016.

Nathan Woodruff, another member who has transitioned from a female into a male, said he didnt have a terrible transition story himself -- but it doesnt reduce the sadness he feels for the people he knows who did struggle with transitioning.

I will not judge you if you are sad, if you are angry, if you are in grief, Woodruff said as he scanned the room. I can tell you that given the event of the last few weeks I am feeling tender. We are feeling tender. We need gracious places to experience our grief and our tenderness.

That place for Woodruff is the very place they filled Sunday, the Unitarian Church.

Toward the end of the afternoon, the room went silent and the names of those who have died were read aloud.

But with remembering and grieving came resilience and celebration as a choir belted out about LGBT pride. Their celebration? Another day of breathing, of being alive, Loofe said.

Their work is only getting started again from what many of the members considered a disaster for a presidential election.

We can do better for the people who are murdered -- for those who murdered themselves, Woodruff said. We have a responsibility to do better.
The Lincoln family that gave the city the money to buy the 50-acre Woods Park opposes adding more parking in the park at 33rd and O streets.

The Woods Charitable Fund has joined a neighborhood association and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to oppose expanding parking adjacent to the Health Department building further into the park.

The additional parking is one of the issues related to the Childrens Zoo expansion plans that requires council approval and is scheduled for a public hearing at Mondays City Council meeting.

The zoo expansion would require the Parks and Recreation Department to move from its present location at 27th and A streets to the third floor of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department building, 3140 N St.

The city wants to add another 30 parking stalls to the Health Department parking lot for Parks and Rec staff, taking about a quarter acre of park land.

The Woods Charitable Fund did not oppose the intrusion of parking into Woods Park a decade ago when the Health Department expanded at that site, said Thomas C. Woods, IV, president of the fund, in a letter to the City Council.

At that time the Woods family was told the park land consumed by expanded parking would be replaced through acquisition of new land dedicated for park use, he wrote.

But the family was never informed where the city had purchased land to offset the shrinking Woods Park green space, he wrote.

As president of Woods Charitable Fund and direct descendant of the Woods family member that made this acquisition possible, I do not support the proposed expansion of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Departments parking lot, he wrote, encouraging the council to vote against the parking lot expansion.

The city replaced that acre of Woods Park land used for parking with land for Ashley Park in Air Park and land along Beal Slough, said Lynn Johnson, Parks and Recreation Department director.

The city does not have to go through any federal conversion process for this parking addition, because the parking for Parks and Rec staff is considered pertinent to park land use, Johnson said.

The deed restrictions on the Woods gift said the land must be used for "municipal" purposes and did not restrict it to park use only, Johnson said.

In fact, there was some consideration of putting Pershing Auditorium on that site before it was built downtown, Johnson said.

But the city does respect and try to honor the Woods family gift, said Johnson, who added he will be talking with the family about the situation.

Woods Park was purchased with a $65,000 grant from the Woods Charitable Fund in 1948 as a central park for the city, according to the letter.

The City Council will hold public hearings on 12 issues related to the Childrens Zoo expansion at its Monday meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

The council is not expected to vote on the issues until its Dec. 5 meeting.
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Since the election, Democrats have been apoplectic about losing the presidential race.

Republicans not only won the White House but kept their majorities in the House and Senate and now control a record number of state legislatures as well.

As a conservative, even one who did not support President-elect Donald Trump, its difficult to avoid the rush of schadenfreude at the collective freak-out by those on the left, made all the more delicious given their previous certitude of a sweeping Election Day victory.

That satisfaction aside, I still have real fears about a Trump presidency, among them that he will continue to engage in dangerous and divisive rhetoric, that he will follow through on some of his more outlandish campaign statements, that his cavalier and intellectually shallow approach to campaigning will carry over to the White House and that he will damage conservatism for a generation.

With the exception of the last, these fears are shared by many people on the left.

The normal and appropriate response to such concerns would be to wait until Trumps tenure has begun and then to hold him accountable for his decisions as president.

If he fails or disappoints, voters should replace him in four years or elect people to Congress who will derail his agenda.

But some progressives arent reacting appropriately, and frankly, their unreasonable response is starting to make me happy Trump won.

In cities across the nation, protesters have taken to the streets carrying signs that read Not my president.

Sadly, they seem unaware of the basic tenants of our democracy  that even if you didnt vote for the person who wins, that person is still your president.

He wasnt my choice either, but its time to get over it.

Some demonstrations have turned to violence.

In Portland, Ore., and Oakland, Calif., protestors caused millions of dollars in damage to cars and businesses; they threw Molotov cocktails at police and graffitied buildings.

On college campuses, despondent students are largely avoiding violence, but their response to Trumps election is equally absurd.

At the University of Pennsylvania, one dormitory hosted a post-election breathing space for students overwrought by Trumps election. This included cuddling with cats and a puppy, coloring and crafting, and snacks such as tea and chocolate, according to the College Fix.

About 150 Rice University students gathered for a healing group hug to help comfort one another.

And Cornell University held a cry in that provided students mourning the election results with a safe space to share their feelings.

Sniveling and whining is not the way to build empathy for your cause.

Some progressives skipped the crying and went straight to finger-pointing.

Writing in The Atlantic, Jamelle Bouie asserted that there is no such thing as a good Trump voter.

Indeed, he argues that nearly half of voters will be morally responsible for any acts of racism, sexism or xenophobia that occur during the Trump administration.

He cites a reported rise in hate crimes since the election as sign of things to come.

While I dont dispute Trumps election has emboldened bigoted elements of society  indeed, thats been one of my concerns from the beginning  I have a healthy skepticism that all of these alleged crimes can be blamed on Trump voters.

Given the number of hate-crime hoaxes, including a recent fabrication by a Louisiana student alleging an attack by two men, one she said wore a Trump hat, it seems just as likely that Trumps election will be an opportunity for progressives to perpetuate discord.

And asserting that all Trump voters are bigoted will not help build bridges or heal the nation, which is explicitly what many progressives are demanding Trump do.

This perspective illustrates also how many on the left have completely failed to understand what precipitated Trumps election in the first place  not racism, but a complex mix of factors including the sense that many Americans felt ignored by the political and pundit class.

In the words of President Obama, let me be clear: Im not thrilled about Trump, either. But the behavior of many on the left is making me grateful for this outcome.

My message to progressives: Please stop.
A few days ago, a black woman I know got a text from a friend who asked what shed be wearing to the slave auction in January.

Another friend, who is white, wrote that she is seriously picturing trains to Auschwitz. I cant convey how seriously.

These are the kinds of conversations I find myself having in a world suddenly grown ominous and strange. You try to keep a level head, to remind yourself and others that the tragedies alluded to  slavery and the Holocaust  are unique. They are not going to repeat. We must not be too alarmist.

But the hits just keep on coming.

The other day, my brother reported seeing a pickup truck emblazoned with the Confederate battle flag tooling down the road in L.A. I lived in that city for 34 years, hes lived there 47. Neither of us can recall ever seeing that before. A few days later, he tells me some random white lady screamed Nr! at him  just that word, no other commentary  because she didnt like his driving.

So it goes in these first days of the Trump era.

You want to say its just your imagination inflating random badness into a narrative of racist white bully boys and girls feeling free to vent their hatred now that one of their own has come to power. One tends to see what one is looking for, after all.

But if this is just imagination, theres a lot of it going around.

A black woman in a Walmart parking lot says she was called nr b-h and told to go back to Africa by a truck full of white men who yelled Make America white again! before throwing cups full of chewing tobacco saliva on her.

A black woman in Charlotte reports holding the door for an older white man in a veterans hat. She said, Thank you for your service. He said, At least you nrs are grateful for something.

Racist messages are sent to black freshmen at the University of Pennsylvania. On a train in Oregon, a group of teenagers gang up on a Muslim woman, calling her a terrorist and saying that Trump will deport her. A Latina woman in Texas says she was walking her baby in the park when a white woman in a truck sped by yelling, White power! In Raleigh, a man says he and his boyfriend were called F-g fts in another episode of drive-by hate. In Durham, graffiti declares Black lives doesnt matter.

The Southern Poverty Law Center says it recorded 447 incidents of hateful intimidation and vandalism in the first five days after the election. Many perpetrators explicitly invoked Trump. SPLC president Richard Cohen told USA Today that the haters are now feeling their oats.

I can testify to that. Shortly before the election, I received in response to a column on Trump an email from Matt, which said things like I want you to read about your mom being raped by Muslim terrorists and then see her burned alive in a cage. I am hardly a stranger to hate, but Matt represents a new level of sickness that has become sadly familiar in the last year and a half.

With apologies to Stephen Stills, theres something happening here; what it is aint exactly clear.

No, its not slavery, nor is it Holocaust. But it is something. That much, we can no longer doubt.

And I am reminded of German Jews who watched a monumental evil gather itself against them, all the while assuring one another that things werent as bad as they seemed, that their country would soon return to its senses. Meantime, the boxcars were lining up.

To recall their response to a world suddenly grown ominous and strange is to wonder at our own. Maybe we are too alarmist.

Or maybe were not alarmist enough.
In many ways the election of Donald Trump represents the primal scream that several people have proclaimed it to be. The ruling elite, progressive, educated class or whatever moniker you prefer to use for pundits clearly ignored the concerns of many of those who voted for Trump.

While many voters have embraced or at least accepted the changes in our society, a sizable minority has resisted. Economics certainly plays a part in this resistance, but as Leonard Pitts wrote in his column (It's mourning in America," Nov. 13), the resistance is about giving up dominance more than about anything else. Those of us who have embraced, or at least accepted, the changes in sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion and social beliefs in this country need to find a little more room in our hearts for the pain others experience in coming to terms with such major change. We need to listen, to reach out, and to try harder to understand that the divide in our country is no longer about traditional political difference between Democrats and Republicans.

If this election has revealed anything about us, it is that what divides us most fundamentally is the willingness to adapt to change. For much too long, we have ignored the class differential in our society. Yes, white skin continues to confer privilege, but those with less education, lower income or otherwise inferior status in America are also among the less privileged. When he addressed the Peace Making Workshop in Lincoln more than a year ago ("Pitts: Race is an illusion, poverty the real problem," April 13, 2015), Leonard Pitts lifted up the forty million living in poverty in our country. Unfortunately we did not heed Mr. Pitts call to attend to this large group of our fellow citizens. Now they have made themselves heard at the ballot box. We continue to turn a deaf ear at the peril of civil society in the U. S.

Vernon Williams, Lincoln
OMAHA  New documents show that top executives at outdoor outfitter Cabela's collected big cash bonuses before being bought out this year by rival Bass Pro Shops, despite failing to meet profit goals they had earlier set to earn those bonuses.

The bonuses were spelled out in documents Sidney-based Cabela's filed Thursday with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. Chief Executive Tommy Millner garnered the most at $392,376. The bonuses totaled about $1.2 million.

But the documents also show executives failed to achieve the financial goals that were laid out ahead of time to qualify for the bonuses. Instead, company leaders simply changed the objectives after the fact to bring the goals in line with actual performance.

Company leaders set a goal to earn $2.80 a share in 2015 in order to trigger the bonuses. When that goal was missed, company accountants simply added 13 cents per share to the stated earnings  strictly for the purpose of collecting the bonuses. The adjustment didn't affect shareholders; the company's official earnings of $2.67 per share for 2015 were unchanged.

Brandon Rees, deputy director of the AFL-CIO Office of Investment, called it "moving the goalposts."

"It's a sign of the disconnect," Rees said. "The goalposts were moved so executives could collect bonuses, while employees are being asked to make sacrifices."

Kevin Murphy, a business professor at the University of Southern California and executive compensation expert, said such maneuvers were common among banks during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.

Such financial engineering has legitimate uses in the high world of executive compensation, he said.

"Stuff happens that is out of the control of management," Murphy said, referring to one-time events such as the unexpected restructuring expenses Cabela's encountered last year.

Phone and email messages left Saturday by The Associated Press for a Cabela's spokesman and public relations division were not immediately returned.
Nebraskans who don't want this state's troopers responding to anti-pipeline protests in North Dakota slid a wad of petition signatures through the Governor's Mansion gates Monday.

The two petitions contained names of more than 29,000 people calling for Gov. Pete Ricketts to bring the troopers home, said organizer Joseph Hams, a 21-year-old University of Nebraska-Lincoln student.

"At the very least, I hope he recycles them," Hams said of the petitions, joking. He added, "I hope that he's moved by how many people were offended by his actions."

Thousands of Nebraskans along with people from other states and countries signed the online petitions, one started by Hams and the other by Bold Nebraska.

About two dozen activists watched Monday as Hams passed the papers to a uniformed patrolman on the Governor's Mansion security team, who carried them inside.

Nebraska troopers are among the law enforcement officers responding to protests of the Dakota Access pipeline, which would carry North Dakota oil through South Dakota and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois.

Overnight Sunday, officers used water cannons to stop protesters who tried to push past a long-blocked state highway bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, where the route cuts through the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

With temperatures hovering in the low-20s, "that's like near-lethal force," Hams said. "That's really dangerous."

Protesters said officers also used tear gas and rubber bullets, and authorities accused protesters of assaulting officers with rocks and burning logs.

It's unclear whether Nebraska troopers were directly involved in the confrontation. Officers who were there didn't show identification or indicate which states they were from, protesters said.

In October, the Nebraska State Patrol sent 11 troopers and two people assigned to an aircraft to assist with the response. Those troopers returned home this month following a three-week tour, but the state agreed to send more.

On Monday, an official with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency declined to say how many troopers went this time, but said the state's second response was similar to the first.

All expenses are covered by North Dakota, and the patrol says the temporary loss of the troopers hasn't led to any overtime for others.

There's a chance those troopers have stared down some fellow Nebraskans in North Dakota.

Lucinda Mesteth of Lincoln narrowly missed being in Standing Rock for Sunday's conflict.

The 44-year-old Oglala Lakota woman, who works at the Lincoln Indian Center, has made five trips to the protest camp in her eight-passenger van, ferrying supplies and other pipeline opponents.

She helped wrangle a charter bus that will carry people from Lincoln, Omaha and the Winnebago and Omaha Indian reservations to Standing Rock next month. The bus is scheduled to leave Dec. 17 and return Dec. 22.

Mesteth hopes more bus trips follow as long as the protests continue. She's also raising money for a teepee and other winter supplies Nebraskans might need in North Dakota.

"My spirit just calls me to come out, she said.

Another group from Lincoln hopes to fill a 5-by-8-foot trailer and three vehicles with supplies they'll take to Standing Rock on Wednesday. Community Crops has already donated produce, and those coordinating the supply run will accept other donations from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday at Cultiva Labs, 2510 Randolph St.

Any overflow will go with a supply run leaving Friday, said organizer Stephanie Sterling, 28.

"I have been following the protesters' movements for the past few months, and it infuriated me that peaceful protests for basic human rights were met with violence," Sterling said.

She decided to go to Standing Rock but "didn't want to go empty-handed."

"Honestly, this election made me realize that I haven't done enough," she said. "I haven't helped out in my own community or elsewhere up to this point."
Don Walton Political reporter/columnist Don Walton covers politics and the Legislature along with writing a weekly column. Follow Don Walton 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

Lincoln was a divided city on Election Day.

A vote tally from precincts within the city provided by Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively show these startling results: Donald Trump, 39,732; Hillary Clinton, 39,718.

That's Trump by 14 votes, an incredibly even split.

But Clinton ended up winning Lincoln by nearly 6,000 votes thanks to a commanding lead in early voting figures.

And that raises some interesting questions.

Did that strong built-in lead simply reflect better early voter turnout performance by Democrats?

Or is this a localized hint of the possible impact of FBI Director James Comey's sudden public revival of Clinton's email controversy in the closing days of the campaign?

Here are the final Lincoln vote totals: Clinton, 56,868; Trump, 50,997.

Clinton won only in Lancaster and Douglas (Omaha) Counties; the other 91 counties were Trump territory.

***

Puzzling.

President Obama's approval rating rises to 57 percent in the latest Gallup survey and voters elect Donald Trump, who promises to undo virtually all of Obama's major initiatives or accomplishments.

And voters respond to Trump's call for big change in Washington by essentially maintaining the political character of Congress, which had an 18 percent approval rating in a Gallup survey a month before the election.

There seems to be some sort of disconnect with all of that.

But a Congress that has spent much of its time and energy just trying to block President Obama at every turn now has an opportunity for a fresh start.

Hey, guys, let's try some bipartisan stuff and start to repair this busted system.

The opportunity is there on an infrastructure bill if it isn't loaded down with other baggage. Both Trump and Clinton proposed that.

Do the tax policy and environmental policy and energy policy and immigration policy and whatever else separately; show us you are serious by doing this together without factoring in who gets the credit or who gets the blame.

This is a chance to start over with some bipartisan agreement that serves the country's interests, rather than partisan interests.

Here's an opportunity to work together to create jobs, spur investment, build the country for the future, provide an economic jolt.

A chance to actually govern rather than just continue to play partisan political games with eyes fixed only on the next election.

***

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert says she and Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler get together about once a month, alternating trips to each other's city.

Despite political differences -- Stothert is a Republican and Beutler is a Democrat -- Stothert says they have developed "an excellent working relationship."

"We work together on some legislative issues," she said during a sit-down interview in Omaha last week. "If we agree and work together, we can have a big effect. "

Economic development, tourism and the expensive battle to combat the emerald ash borer infestation in both cities are some of the topics they discuss, Stothert said.

"We help each other in economic development efforts," she said.

Omaha mayoral candidate Heath Mello, a Democrat, said he also would work closely with Lincoln if he is elected next spring.

"There's a lot of synergy and opportunities for Omaha and Lincoln to work together," he said during an earlier interview.

"We face some similar challenges," he said.

***

Donald Trump's election effectively took proposed expansion of health care coverage to the working poor in Nebraska off the 2017 legislative agenda.

Trump and a new Republican Congress are prepared to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, which provided the opportunity to access federal Medicaid funding that would allow the state to provide coverage to an estimated 97,000 Nebraskans, most of whom meet the definition of the working poor.

Annual efforts to enroll Nebraska in that program have been rejected by the Legislature. Sen. John McCollister of Omaha was the chief sponsor of the 2016 legislative bill that ultimately was shelved by the Legislature on a 28-20 vote.

The 2016 legislative proposal would have established a three-year pilot program that could have accessed $1.8 billion in federal funding matched by a $63 million appropriation from a health care cash fund without any expenditure from the state tax-supported general fund.

***

Finishing up:

* Who will have a brief moment in shaping history when they officially cast Nebraska's five presidential electoral votes? John Dinkel of Norfolk; Phil Belin of Omaha; Craig Safranek of Merna; Chuck Conrad of Hastings; Paul Burger of Kearney.

* Mike Groene of North Platte won the highest score awarded by the American Conservative Union to members of the Nebraska Legislature on its 2016 legislative scorecard. The other highest marks went to Bill Kintner of Papillion and Curt Friesen of Henderson.

* Jerry Kratochvil, aka Street Sweeper on Leavenworth Street's political blog, has announced he is taking a sabbatical from the site for about six months. He's joining the Stothert mayoral campaign as digital director.

* The coming battle over continued U.S. participation in the Paris climate change agreement and the fate of federal environmental regulations in the new Congress is fundamentally a generational issue. It is grandparents and future grandparents deciding about quality of life for their grandchildren and their grandchildren's children.

* Huskers succeed in bouncing back immediately to a big nine-win season, but why stop there? A 10th win in Iowa City on Friday would be a huge step forward.
CAMBRIDGE -- A fire destroyed the First Central Bank and one of three Cambridge Telephone company buildings Sunday morning.

Cambridge Fire Chief Delaine Soucie said the bank building is a total loss and fire burned through the roof of the telephone building to its south. Two other adjacent phone buildings have severe smoke damage, he said.

Soucie said someone driving through Cambridge about 5:30 a.m. stopped at Casey's General Store on U.S. 6 and 34 and reported that a building on main street was on fire. He estimated 75 to 100 firefighters from more than half a dozen departments were on the scene.

A security camera shows that the fire may have been burning for quite a while, said Soucie, who called a state fire marshal to investigate.

He said the fire was hard to fight because the bank and phone company were in a building that was once a grocery store that had been remodeled extensively and had multiple ceilings and a shared basement.

Don Moore, chairman of the board and CEO of First Central Bank, said the bank has moved to the city office building temporarily and he's confident there is no damage to the bank's vault.
OMAHA  An Omaha attorney has been disbarred for mishandling a client's money.

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued the disbarment Friday for Omaha attorney Doug Lederer. In its order, the state's high court said that Lederer voluntarily surrendered his license in early October.

Lederer has been practicing law in Nebraska since 2005. He acknowledged that he deposited clients' advance fees into his personal checking account before earning them.

Lederer declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press.
Its been nearly two weeks, and many local voters are still in a state of shock  make that county of shock  over Donald Trumps surprise win in the presidential election.

Some are in a psychological paralysis, with area therapists reporting their clients taking it hard, using valuable couch time to talk about their post-election stress, anxiety or depression. Yes, depression.

Because in politically active Dane County, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton crushed Trump 70 percent (217,526 votes) to 23 percent (71,279 votes). Most people didnt expect the election to turn out the way it did and are overwhelmed mentally.

Meagan Geurts, a licensed clinical social worker whose office is on University Avenue, said many of her clients are feeling anxious about the president-elects plans based upon his campaign rhetoric.

Theyre a little more anxious and nervous about what this is going to mean for some of them personally and then for our country long-term over the next four years and beyond, she said.

Geurts uses the words deflated and defeated. Many of her clients feel distraught and have been pushing aside their own personal problems to talk about their election blues.

The sentiment that my clients have had is that it feels trivial to talk about their own issues with everything thats going on in our country since Donald Trump has become the president-elect, Geurts said.

Donal MacCoon at Madison Psychiatric Associates said the vast majority of his clients are talking about the election, with women who have been sexually traumatized having their experiences re-triggered by a man who many believe has boasted about committing sexual assaults.

MacCoon said hes seen anxiety, fear, sadness and depression in his clients.

Its dramatic on a number of levels, he said, noting that he treats UW-Madison staff who are worried about some of their minority students. Its affecting their lives personally, but even beyond that, its affecting their communities and how they feel. How do they honor their own ethical obligations?

Emilie Sondel, who works in the same practice, said shes been trying to help clients figure out ways to channel their frustration and anger and put it toward something positive.

How can you use your energy to let people know that this doesnt feel okay to you? she said. Is there a peaceful protest that you can become a part of or are there certain people in your life that you need to sit down and talk to and try to gain an understanding?

To the country, Sondel said her message would be that everyone needs to try to come together and gain an understanding of where both sides are coming from, otherwise the divide is going to be even greater.

She works primarily with children and families, and is also seeing the anguish over how clients parent their children.

From a childs point of view, even the younger ones are feeling like, Wait, he is supposed to be the mean guy, Sondel said. And they are really feeling like they dont understand how this election turned out and are feeling scared about what that means based upon what theyve heard.

Julie Kull, who is in private practice on Regent Street, said the post-election depression shes seen comes on top of lots of anxiety leading up to Nov. 8. Some of her clients felt like they were in a fog in the days after the election.

They are feeling nervous about the results and what the worlds going to look like after Donald Trump, Kull said.

The reactions are all unexpected because she  like most people  didnt expect Trump to win. This was a really emotional and high stakes election, Kull said.

Nancy Pullen, who practices at Psychology Associates on Olin Avenue, said its also been hard for her as a therapist because practitioners are not supposed to talk about how they feel. Nevertheless, Pullen added, Were all pretty overwhelmed with dismay.

Her first couple of clients the day after the election were really difficult, Pullen said.

I havent had anybody crying, but (they were) just so upset, she said. And then talking about how it affects their friends or their personal lives.

A lot of her clients are concerned for their friends who they think may be deported, Pullen said, noting the majority of her clients are struggling. And these are people who already have an anxiety disorder, she said.

She estimates that most have spent about a half-hour of therapy time talking about the election. I think its affecting all of us everywhere... Its personal for people.
40 quake-displaced families in Ramechhap move into new homes

Earthquake survivors who were struggling with their life in temporary shelters at Dadagaun of Those VDC-8 in the district have been resettled in newly constructed wooden houses. Lok Janani, a Kathmandu-based NGO, with help from Nepal Ireland Society and Marwari Sewa Samaj distributed construction materials for the construction of wooden houses for 40 families, it is learnt.
495 couples in Okhaldhunga get joint land deeds

More and more women in Okhaldhunga are obtaining joint land ownership documents with their husbands in the recent days.
Afghanistan Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens

A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say.
Clamour for reviving defunct IT Park

The concerned stakeholders have renewed their demand for reviving a defunct IT Park in Banepa.
EC should declare poll date: Nidhi

The government on Sunday said that there was no dispute over giving the Election Commission rights to declare the elections date.
GMR Upper Karnali signs land acquisition accords

GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Project has sealed land acquisition deals with residents of Achham and Dailekh districts, completing the process of pooling private land required for the 900 MW scheme.
Madhesi leaders threaten to disown amendment bill

Senior leaders of Sanghiya Gathabandan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati parties, have threatened to disown the constitution amendment bill if it fails to address all the demands of the agitating parties in its entirety, including the one related to revision of the federal boundaries.
Malaysia protesters demand PM Najib Razak step down

Thousands of yellow-shirted protesters have gathered in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Minimum demands of Madhesis, though fringe forces, should be met

The government has been making preparations to table a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament within this week.
MPs pass bill to hike their pay, perks

Despite criticism from all quarters, the Legislature-Parliament on Sunday endorsed a bill to effect an increment in pay and perks for lawmakers by a whopping 42 percent.
Mutually agreeable

Passing an amendment proposal that will deepen divisions is worse than not passing one
NC leaders drumming up support in Tarai

At a time when the government is looking to table a constitution amendment proposal and an impeachment motion against CIAA chief Lokman Singh Karki at Parliament,
NHRC stresses transitional justice

The National Human Rights Commission has blamed the lack of political will to complete the remaining task of the peace process,
No implementation of constitution until equal rights secured: Yadav

Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav has claimed that the implementation of new constitution could not be carried out unless it secures equal rights for all caste and communities, including Madheshis, Muslims, Dalit, women and marginalised.
Protests continue against local level restructuring proposals

Protests against local body restructuring continued in various districts on Sunday as well.
RIP tattoo a clue in Spain murder case

Police in Spain who arrested a murder suspect may have been handed a large clue through one of his tattoos.
Rupandehi sends four proposals after parties fail to reach agreement

The technical committee of the Local Level Restructuring Committee (LLRC) in Rupandehi has sent four sets of recommendations on administrative divisions as the political parties in the district could not agree on a common delineation proposal.
Tourism Ministry plans to prepare fresh DPR of SIA

The Tourism Ministry on Sunday told a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Finance and Development committees that it has initiated process to prepare another Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Second International Airport (SIA) in Bara, Nijgadh.
Towards a transformative justice

Nepal may continue to experience social conflict as long as issues of marginalisation are ignored
UML to reject govt proposal for amendment

The main opposition CPN-UML has decided to reject the amendment proposal to be registered by the government.
Ten years of CPA: Well begun, half done

As the parties mark the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that brought an end to the decade-long armed conflict and ushered in an era of peaceful politics, the verdict remains mixed on how successful the process has been.
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By Elizabeth Muwombi

Kampala Capital City Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with Makerere University for the rehabilitation of roads within the university.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the university this morning, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the project will be undertaken by Stirling Civil Engineering Limited and Kiru Company Limited.

The two firms will construct the main roads, drainage systems and walkways with the entire project estimated to cost over Shs.6 billion.

The said amount should have been paid to the university as compensation by KCCA being one of the areas affected by the upgrade of Makerere Hill Road.

However, the university decided to use this money to rehabilitate its roads.

Some of the roads to be upgraded include Pool road, Mary Stewart road, Lincoln stretch and those leading to religious centres, among others.

Meanwhile, the University Secretary Charles Barugahare has said the four-month project will help the university to have cleaner and accessible roads.
President Yoweri Museveni has been urged to reconsider his decision to indefinitely close Makerere University.

Speaking to Kfm Buyaga County west MP Barnabas Tinkasimire said President Museveni should meet the lecturers and listen to their concerns.

On November 1st, the president issued a directive to close the university citing the protection of persons and property.

The closure of the university followed a strike by students who were protesting against the decision by lecturers to lay down their tools over nonpayment of their salary enhancements.

Meanwhile, the visitation committee appointed by President Museveni is to start work today. It is expected to investigate causes of strikes at the university.

In an Interview with our sister paper Daily Monitor, the committee Chairperson Abel Rwendeire said the president met the eight-member team on Thursday last week at State House Entebbe and discussed a number of issues including the areas he wants them to investigate.
By Ruth Anderah

The Court of Appeal is hearing an application filed by the National Council for Higher Education to present additional evidence to back Peter Ssematimba as a qualified MP for Busiro South Constituency.

The application is being heard by Judges Steven Kavuma, Cheborion Balishaki and Catherine Bamugemereire.

However before hearing commenced, Ssematimbas political rival Stephen Ssekigozi asked court to allow him present new evidence to the effect that Ssematimbas Diploma in Electrical and Computer Technology is a forgery.

Ssekigozi through his lawyer Kenneth Muhangi says he has just come across this new forensic evidence from a handwriting expert that shows that Ssematimbas diploma from Pacific Coast Technical Institute in the United States of America is different from the original diploma certificate awarded by the said institute.

Muhangi says a handwriting expert Sylvia Chelengat compared a similar diploma from the same institute held by one Juliet Muyingo with that of Ssematimba and noticed major discrepancies.

Muhangi has said he never got a chance to present this evidence before the High court because he only accessed it on the 16th/August 2016. The case was decided by Justice Lydia Mugabe on the 10th/June 2016.

However Ssematimbas lawyer Geoffrey Kandeebe has opposed this move saying at this stage court cannot allow in new expert evidence which is not a sworn affidavit.

The High court annulled Ssematimbas victory on grounds that he lacks the requisite academic qualifications after establishing that his diploma is forged.

The court also ordered that the Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections for the constituency.
By Shamim Nateebwa

A section of Taxi operators has called off a strike that should have started today after a meeting with Kampala City Authority minister Beti Kamya.

Yesterday the drivers, under their umbrella body Uganda Transport Development Agency (UTRADA) threatened to go on strike today citing police brutality and ill-treatment by KCCA law enforcers.

Speaking to KFM UTRADA chairman Mustapha Mayambala said they have decided to call off the strike after meeting the Kampala minister who asked traffic police to put on hold their operations in Kampala.

Mayambala adds that they are now waiting for what will transpire in todays meeting between the ministers for Kampala and her counterpart from the ministry of works and transport.

The said meeting is slated for midday today.
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LIGONIER  Two West Noble High School students are facing disciplinary action after they allegedly were found in possession of marijuana-laced lollipops Thursday morning.

The students, both minors, were reportedly discussing the candy when other students became aware of the discussion and alerted school administration. West Noble leaders then asked Brandon Chordas, a Noble County sheriffs deputy and the school resource officer, to run preliminary drug tests on the cherry-flavored lollipops, which allegedly contained a higher concentration of THC than normal marijuana.

More thorough testing of the candy will be conducted through the Indiana State Police laboratory for confirmation of the findings, Chordas said.

This is my third school year there, and this is the first time Ive seen edibles like this, he said. Its something were going to have to watch for. I dont think anyone would have known to look for lollipops like these. As more and more states legalize the medical use, it could become a problem.

Chordas said a black package with a prescription label stating it was for medical use only was found separately from the lollipops, leading to speculation they could have been purchased in nearby states that allow medicinal marijuana, or possibly online, and made their way to Noble County.

Chordas couldnt comment on the disciplinary action that might be taken by the school, but he said a report will be sent to Noble County Probation Department to determine whether any charges will be brought against the students.

West Noble High School Principal Greg Baker could not be reached for comment Monday.

For those concerned about the allegedly laced candies appearance in the county, Chordas asks residents to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious.

Be aware that these are out there now, he said. Theyre easy to hide out in the open.
KENDALLVILLE  Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, Dec. 17.

The families of veterans who have died can honor their loved one in a special way this holiday season.

Wreaths Across America began as The Arlington Wreath project started by Morrill Worcester in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5,000 Christmas wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery. It was relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the stones adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the internet.

The project received national attention. In 2006, more 150 state and national cemeteries held wreath laying ceremonies simultaneously. By 2008, more than 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. More than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated.

Now the opportunity to adorn every veterans grave has been made available locally, no matter what local cemetery your hero is buried in. This is made possible through the efforts of the following area funeral homes in conjunction with the nearly 1,000 Veterans & Family Memorial Care funeral home providers across America:

 Young Family Funeral Home, 222 South State Street, Kendallville (260-347-0950)

 Young Family Funeral Home, State Road 9 North, Wolcottville (260-854-2251)

WAA reaches out to thousands of children each year with the message of Remember, Honor and Teach. The importance of honoring each fallen serviceman/woman as an individual is stressed. The wreath laying is now held each year on the second Saturday of December and was unanimously voted by the US Congress as Wreaths Across America Day.

By offering sponsorships to the public, Wreaths Across America hopes that one day every veterans resting place will be adorned with a wreath for the holiday season.

You may honor your hero, buried at any local cemetery by sponsoring a $15 Wreath to adorn their grave. Now through Nov. 28. stop in and order a wreath for a hero at either Young Family Funeral Home location.
NASHWAUK, Minn. (AP)  Officials said a 16-year-old hunters report of two cougars fighting near Nashwauk was a case of a mistaken identity.

After visiting the site and examining photos and other evidence, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials said they now believe the two animals discovered Nov. 7 werent cougars, but bobcats.

Wildlife officials said they were cautious about the report from the beginning because spotting two cougars together would have been extremely rare in Minnesota.

Department large carnivore specialist Dan Stark first thought the sighting to appear legitimate based solely on the photos. But he changed his mind after he raised a cardboard cutout of a typical sized cougar in the same tree where the other cat had been a few days earlier. He says the cougar wouldve loomed much larger in the tree than what was shown in the photo.

Jordan Bowen, the boy who discovered the cat, said the family has hunted there for years and had not seen a cougar.

In about two or three seconds, the cougar just jumped up into this big tree about 40 yards away, he said. It was about 40 feet up almost immediately. I couldnt believe it. When he felt more secure, the young hunter snapped some pictures of the animal on his smartphone.
The 10 states that border the Mississippi, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, are failing to protect Americas greatest river and its tributaries, resulting in contaminated drinking water, fish kills, unswimmable waters and a 5,000-square-mile zone in the Gulf of Mexico that can no longer support aquatic life.

And the federal government has refused to use its authority to require states to control nutrients from farms and cities that are slowly killing the Mississippi, according to a comprehensive assessment of the river corridor released Thursday.

The scathing review, by 13 state and national environmental groups that make up the Mississippi River Collaborative, is designed as a public outcry to pressure the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do more to protect the river.

Invasive snail blamed for annual Mississippi River bird kill An invasive snail is being blamed for killing hundreds of waterfowl on the Upper Mississippi

Its a serious problem and its not getting better, said Kris Sigford, water quality manager for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, who headed the project.

EPA officials, responding by e-mail Thursday, acknowledged that nutrient pollution has been rising steadily for the last half century, but said the agency cannot solve the problem in the massive Mississippi basin with top down federal action. In part, thats because much of the nutrient runoff comes from farming, which is not subject to federal law.

While the authors criticized Minnesota for inadequate regulation of wastewater treatment plants and nitrogen pollution, they also said it is by far the most active state along the Mississippi.

Minnesota is ahead of the curve, said Matt Rota, policy director for the Gulf Restoration Network, based in New Orleans.

For example, Minnesota and Wisconsin are the only states bordering the Mississippi to set limits for phosphorus, a nutrient from wastewater treatment plants and agriculture that produces algae blooms that can kill aquatic life and contaminate drinking water.

But none of the 10 states has adopted nitrogen or nitrate limits for lakes and streams to protect aquatic life. Minnesota regulators have one in the works, but say they are waiting for the EPA to complete research on its impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Rebecca Flood, assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said that kind of scientific research takes time. They [the EPA] know its important to us and they know its important nationally, she said.

5,000 wells

In Minnesota, nitrate contamination has forced 56 communities to upgrade their water treatment technology or find new sources of drinking water. Nearly 5,000 private homeowner wells also have excessive nitrates, the report said.

And while many of the state permits for wastewater treatment plants do address phosphorus, they dont go far enough, Sigford said. Last year her organization sued the MPCA, saying it hadnt done enough to restrict phosphorus pollution that flows into Lake Pepin from wastewater treatment systems.

Lake Pepin and a stretch of the Mississippi just below its confluence with the Minnesota River have phosphorus levels that often exceed 100 parts per billion, the states legal standard. State regulators have been working for years on a massive plan to protect Lake Pepin, but green swaths of algae routinely cover parts of the lake, a hugely popular recreation destination.

Flood said Minnesota has adopted a statewide strategy to reduce nutrient pollution, and that Gov. Mark Dayton has made water quality a priority.

Do we have a lot to do? Yes, she said. But she pointed out that federal farm policy aggravates the problem by subsidizing row crop farming that relies on nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers across much of the Upper Midwest.

Downstream from Minnesota, in Iowa, a third of the municipal drinking water systems are susceptible to nitrate pollution, said Susan Heathcote, Water Program Director for the Iowa Environmental Council. Private drinking wells are at even greater risk.

And last year, a 600-mile algae bloom infested the Ohio River, putting local officials on edge for fear that it could introduce toxic bacteria into drinking water, Heathcote said.

This is a wake-up call, said Heathcote. But many states dont even assess the quality of their water, she added. Iowa has no plans to adopt limits on phosphorus or nitrates, and instead is hoping farmers will adopt voluntary measures to reduce runoff of the nutrients.

Its hard to adopt those practices and remain competitive and profitable,  said Jerry Peckham, an Iowa farmer. Voluntary actions alone will not be enough.

Voluntary approach

The reports authors argue that the EPA does have authority to compel mandatory steps by the states. It could establish water quality goals rather than waiting for states to do it. It could require states to assess their waters to identify hot spots and prioritize solutions. It could give firmer oversight on state pollution permits.

And yet as recently as September, the EPA reiterated that it would continue to rely on states and voluntary efforts to fix nutrient water pollution. In a memo to state environmental agencies, the EPA said in the face of continuing public health impacts, we ask that states and stakeholders intensify efforts to ... address nutrient pollution.

To encourage states, this year EPA is offering $600,000 for projects that promise to reduce nutrient pollution, focusing mainly on public health threats from nitrates in drinking water sources and algae blooms in recreational waters.

Meanwhile, it extended its deadline for reducing the Gulf of Mexicos dead zone from 2015 to the year 2035.

That, Sigford said, doesnt do the trick.
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa  When officials in the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights began talking about installing sidewalks to improve safety and encourage outdoor activities, they anticipated some grumbling from residents who liked the look of uninterrupted, lush lawns.

They didnt expect packed City Council meetings, protest signs stretching down leafy suburban streets and threats to defeat officials in the next election.

People are afraid of change, City Council member Threase Harms said of sidewalk opponents. They are very passionate, but I think theyve gone a little too far with their passion.

At a time of rising obesity rates and push for cities to encourage more active lifestyles, intense opposition to sidewalks may seem surprising, but similar disputes are raging in neighborhoods across the country.

Residents have crowded into meetings to oppose sidewalks in communities from the Minneapolis suburb of Edina to parts of Washington, D.C., and from the Rochester, New York, suburb of Irondequoit to the Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, Kansas, and the Milwaukee suburb of Delafield.

Like Windsor Heights, most of the disagreements are in neighborhoods built in the 1950s and 1960s that were designed to be different from the larger cities they border. The absence of sidewalks was intended to give the neighborhoods a rural appearance and more privacy at a time when walking for exercise was less common.

More than half a century later, lots of residents want to keep it that way.

Among them is Chris Angier, who grew up in Windsor Heights on a street without a sidewalk and notes, Guess Im still alive.

Angier has moved from the area but has been involved in efforts to fight the sidewalks that would cut across his mothers lawn. Shes in her mid-80s and has lived in the house since 1964.

Like other residents, Angier blames the sidewalk push on newly elected City Council members who moved from Des Moines and other nearby cities.

Many of us older residents wish theyd go back where they came from, said Angier.

Just down the street, John Giblin echoes that thought, noting dryly, They tell us we have to get with the times.

The arguments are similar in the suburb-like Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Hawthorne, where for years residents have bickered over plans to install sidewalks along a busy thoroughfare, Chestnut Street.

The fight has been going on for so long that supporters recently bought new pro-sidewalk signs because the old ones had weathered in the past decade.

Even as he and other neighbors pressure city government to build sidewalks along Chestnut, resident Everett Lott acknowledged, Its the strangest thing.

Lott said that with exceptions, the fight is generational, as younger people with children seek sidewalks and older residents resist.

People feel like its their land and they shouldnt have their land infringed upon, said Lott, whose now 9-year-old son was 2 when he became involved in the sidewalk effort. They moved in 30 years ago and chose it for the look and feel, and they want to preserve that, but the city is changing.

In Edina, Minn., an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, neighbors have packed hearings to oppose the City Councils plan to add sidewalks over a 20 year period, saying there was no need to citify the community.

Despite the opposition, Mayor James Hovland said officials have moved ahead with their plans and find the opposition is eroding. Hovland acknowledged there are holdouts, especially residents of large, more rural lots, but he said those spots arent a top priority for sidewalks, anyway.

Its different from the 1960s, when everything was oriented around the automobile, he said. Were seeing less of that now.

Still, some residents cant see why they need to change what drew them to the suburbs in the first place.

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, an urban planning professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, notes privacy has always been a selling point for suburban residents, dating back a century or more.

Suburbs were marketed as completely different from the evil urban settings, she said. Private, rural, very green areas.

Transportation experts also acknowledge pushback when suburban cities make changes.

Emiko Atherton, director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, which advocates for street improvements that benefit bikers and walkers, said such sidewalks make sense, pointing to statistics showing improvements in safety, housing prices and health in areas the make changes.

In Windsor Heights, officials said they havent made final decisions about sidewalks but would make changes in coming months to make the citys street system safer and better serve all users, not just motorists.

Angier noted that Windsor Heights officials cant point to any serious crashes that have hurt walkers, and he expects residents to take out their anger at future elections.

Whoever runs against the mayor and council next time will be very well-funded, he said.

People feel like its their land and they shouldnt have their land infringed upon. They moved in 30 years ago and chose it for the look and feel, and they want to preserve that, but the city is changing. Everett Lott
WINONA, Minn.  Winona Area Public Schools Superintendent Stephen West will step down at the end of the current school year.

West announced his intention in a letter emailed to all WAPS staff Saturday morning. It is with mixed emotion that I write this email. I have struggled with this decision for a few months and yet I know it is the right time for me to step down as the Superintendent of Winona Area Public Schools at the end of the school year.

West has led the school district since July 2014. This summer the board voted unanimously to extend his contract for another three years following performance reviews that then-board chair Mohamed Elhindi described as stellar.

Wests announcement comes only days after district voters overwhelmingly approved a renewal of the districts operating levy and a new $1 million per year levy to fund information technology in the district.

I am in no way a 'lame duck' superintendent, West wrote, I will continue working hard on behalf of the students and staff of WAPS throughout this year as there are many things I hope to see through.

West was presented with an array of controversial issues as he stepped into office.

In April 2014, the school board was presented with a facilities report that showed district school buildings operating at 60 percent capacity, in need of more than $54 million in deferred maintenance, and costing the district more than $200 per pupil more than the state average. Then-superintendent Scott Hannon urged the board to start formulating a plan to address the issue.

Since that time, West has moved the district through an extended process of investigation, evaluation and public input to address the districts facility needs decades into the future.

Beginning with exhaustive evaluation of the condition and cost of existing school buildings, numerous public information and listening sessions, extensive board discussion and finally, convening a citizen task force to make final recommendations to the board, West has shepherded the process nearly to the point of final decision by the school board and the established goal of putting a facilities referendum before district voters in the spring.

West also inherited a widening achievement gap and slipping test scores.

From the outset, he maintained it was the duty and responsibility of the public schools to educate each and every child  no excuses, though he cautioned that the problem wasnt a simple one and solving it would take time and persistent effort throughout the system.

In response, the district has focused on monitoring student progress in key academic areas  with a particular focus on reading  in order to identify where changes in instruction and evaluation should be made. A number of programs and processes have been put in place and those efforts will be ongoing.

I have no doubt we have worked together to set this system up for success that will be apparent through student assessment scores in the future, West wrote.

Wests tenure has also been marred by controversy.

In late 2015, board members sharply questioned West about attendance at the AVID national conference in San Diego by him and other district staff without explicit authorization by the board. It was determined that attendance at the conference did not require specific board approval, that the funds used were already budgeted for travel and professional development, explicitly clearing West of any wrongdoing.

Late this summer, accusations surfaced alleging that West plagiarized portions of the districts technology plan. Further investigation found those accusations to be groundless; however, West took responsibility for the plan, while denying any intentional unethical action or wrongdoing.

In his letter, West outlined his intentions for his remaining time in Winona:

My goals include continuing the implementation of AVID, developing my skills as a leader and being involved in my professional organization activities and workshops, facilitating a continued conversation around our facilities, and working to make financial decisions around budget reductions. I am looking forward to seeing the results of our work on systemic programming and implementation of best practices over the last two years; MTSS implementation, and a focus on student learning.

Great things are happening in WAPS and I am hopeful you will find a leader who will continue the vision of every child, every day. I am, and will continue to be a fan of WAPS! he concluded.
WINONA, Minn.  Two women were injured in a Sunday crash on Hwy. 14 west of Stockton.

Jacqueline Pelowski, 21, of Winona, was eastbound on the highway shortly before 9:30 a.m. when she lost control of her Jeep, struck a guardrail, and traveled down a steep embankment, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Pelowski and a passenger, Pascale Laporta, 21, of Rochester, both suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening and were transported to Winona Health, the Patrol said. Both were wearing seatbelts, according to the Patrol.

The Winona County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene.
The following editorial appeared Friday in the Chicago Tribune:

If youre able to think past President-elect Donald Trumps nasty campaign bluster (we hear yoga and kitten videos help), youll discover something soothing, even exciting in his electioneering promises to create jobs: Elements of his economic plan could boost growth and standards of living here and nationwide.

This is potentially good news for millions of jobs-starved Americans.

There are yuuuuge caveats. Trump has not been good on details, hes a serial exaggerator, and hes completely out to sea in his insistence that America has the option to unplug from global trade. He also pays little heed to the nations $20 trillion debt, the looming threat of Social Security insolvency and Medicares unsustainable cost trajectory. If Trump ignores Americas glaring balance sheet woes during his presidency, things will go badly for the country. But Trump, unlike President Barack Obama, is a business guy and dealmaker at heart, and the country could benefit from having that perspective in the White House.

Trumps a real estate developer who views the American economy as a fixer-upper: It requires work but has great bones. His overall approach is free market-focused and pro-growth. Parts dovetail nicely with traditional Republican principles. So his job-creation philosophy is both sound and potentially doable since the GOP will control both houses of Congress. Expect negotiations on the details, though.

One prong of the strategy has the direct potential to encourage business investment, and thus hiring: Trump would cut business taxes, with the corporate rate dropping from 35 percent to 15 percent. Many Democrats acknowledge that the current high rate puts U.S. businesses at a disadvantage. Fixing that could lead some big corporations to stay on-shore or move here, rather than base themselves in countries with lower taxes.

He also proposes offering a one-time deal to American multinationals to entice them to bring home some of the estimated $2.6 trillion in profits they have parked overseas. That money sits (and works) abroad because if it were returned now it would be hit with the 35 percent rate. Trump would allow repatriation at a 10 percent rate. Companies could use the money in various ways, including investing in their businesses here, while the Trump administration could put the revenue windfall to work on bridge repairs, airport projects and other public works that create construction jobs.

Another Trump priority: reducing onerous federal regulations that hold back business activity. In Washington there are buildings full of agencies churning out reams of rules and requirements that needlessly constrain job creation.

In the regulatory agencies, getting rid of the Obama people and putting in people who are not anti-business will have a huge impact, Stephen Moore, an economic adviser to Trump, tells us. Yes, thats a partisan talking. And no, were not naive. We dont advocate shutting down environmental, financial and other valuable layers of oversight. But weve also seen enough dumb rules enacted  and good business proposals nixed  to know that the path to greater U.S. job growth is more likely to wind through a boss office than a regulators.

In the energy industry, for example, we argued that it was a mistake for the Obama administration to kill the 1,200-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline. Approval has been hung up for years over environmental concerns that dont withstand scrutiny. One overriding truth: Its more dangerous to transport oil by rail or truck than by pipeline. Trump seems inclined to approve the deal, an $8 billion investment by a Canadian company in the Great Plains, and in true dealmaker fashion suggests hed like a piece of the profits for U.S. taxpayers.

We part paths with the president-elect on some issues. The country needs to clean the skies to fight climate change, so we cant see reinvigorating the coal industry, as Trump does. Also, as noted above, global trade deals are good for U.S. businesses, consumers and millions of workers.

Yes, Republicans and Democrats will have to hash out their practical and philosophical differences. But when the starting point of a conversation in Washington is debating whose ideas for job creation are better, it will be a good day for everyone.
A top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump said the new administration would probably look to Gov. Scott Walker for guidance on major changes to the federal government workforce.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told the Washington Post that he has urged Trump to shrink the federal government and make it easier to fire federal employees.

Were going to have to get the country to understand how big the problem is, the human costs of it and why its absolutely essential to reform, Gingrich told the Post, adding that top Trump adviser Steve Bannon would likely lead the effort.

The article also quotes U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, saying the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee he oversees will work with federal employee unions to enact long-overdue reforms to our civil service.

If we start with areas of agreement, I am confident that we can make continuous improvements to the functionality of the federal workforce, Johnson said.

The State Journal reported last week on how Trump could look to Wisconsin as a model for making changes to the federal bureaucracy. Walker, who recently became chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has said he doesnt plan to take a job with the Trump administration.
Wisconsin's longest serving governor will be honored with a series of events next year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his inauguration.

Alumni of Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson's administration are planning an academic conference, a gala and a screening of a documentary about his life. The project has been dubbed "Tommy@30."

"On the 30th anniversary of his inauguration, we will celebrate the accomplishments of Wisconsins longest serving governor, said former Secretary of Administration James R. Klauser in a statement. "More importantly, we will also work to discover the 'secret sauce' that made him one of the most innovative governors in the nations recent history."

Thompson, a former state legislator, defeated Democratic incumbent Gov. Anthony Earl in 1986. He is the only Wisconsin governor to have been elected to serve four terms, leaving office in 2001 to serve as Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush.

After leaving that post in 2005, Thompson joined a powerful lobbying firm and served on the boards of several corporations. He made a brief run for president in 2008, then ran against Democrat Tammy Baldwin for U.S. Senate in 2012. Baldwin defeated him by six percentage points.

As governor, Thompson overhauled the state's welfare program with the creation of Wisconsin Works. Thompson also created BadgerCare, a program designed to give health care coverage to low-income Wisconsin residents who made too much money to qualify for Medicaid.

Thompson also signed into law the country's first private school choice program.

Organizers for the Tommy@30 project said the academic conference, to be held at the state Capitol in April, will focus on Thompson's work in "school choice, welfare reform and job creation."

The gala will be held later in the spring in Milwaukee, followed by a documentary screening in the fall.

Thompson turned 75 on Saturday. He celebrated by posting a photo to Facebook of himself doing a set of push-ups.
The Vernon County Sheriffs Department and Iowa Allamakee County Sheriff Department jointly announced the arrest of Lonnie J. Rockwell, age 44, and Trent R. Rockwell, age 18, both of De Soto. The men were arrested on Thursday Nov. 10, in the village of De Soto pursuant to a felony arrest warrant issued by the Iowa District Court for Allamakee County, stemming from an incident reported early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, in Allamakee County.

At 6:37 a.m., a farmer on Iowa River Dr., near New Albin, contacted the Allamakee County Sheriffs Office reporting that he interrupted a burglary in progress on his property. The farmer reported two males fled in a car pulling a small trailer. The vehicle was last seen traveling north on Wisconsin Hwy. 35, just east of Lansing.

The Allamakee County Sheriffs Office contacted the Vernon County Sheriffs Office and a Vernon County deputy located a vehicle and trailer matching the description given near De Soto. The suspects were identified and the investigation continued. Late Monday evening, Nov. 14, a stolen all-terrain vehicle was recovered in the town of Wheatland, in Vernon County. The ATV had been reported stolen in July 2016, from a farm building, on Red School Rd., rural Waukon. Then on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 15, a power washer was recovered in Vernon County that had been reported stolen from Lansing in May 2016.

Lonnie and Trent Rockwell appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court. Both men waived extradition to Iowa and were transported to the Allamakee County Jail on Nov. 15.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Office and the Lansing Police Department assisted with the investigation.

Anyone with any further information should contact the Vernon County Sheriffs Office at 608-637-2123, or the Allamakee County Sheriffs Office at 563-568-4521, or Vernon County Crime Stoppers.
Monday, November 21, 2016

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to deport millions, an investigation of immigrant detention centers in the South has found that detainees are routinely denied due process and frequently endure inhumane conditions in isolated facilities that have little oversight from the federal government.

The report, Shadow Prisons: Immigrant Detention in the South, details a seven-month investigation by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG) and the Adelante Alabama Worker Center.

President-elect Trumps deportation plan could require a massive expansion of an already broken system and the creation of a prison infrastructure that will cost billions and only exacerbate our countrys mass incarceration problem, said Lisa Graybill, SPLC deputy legal director.

The study is based in part on interviews by legal and human rights advocates with more than 300 immigrants held in six detention centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.

This report shows that immigrant detention centers in the South fail to ensure the rights and safety of people in their custody, said Eunice Cho, SPLC staff attorney and author of the report. Flooding the immigration detention system with hundreds of thousands of additional people will only lead to a grave human rights crisis.

In addition to identifying inadequate medical care and widespread abuses, the study found that many immigrants languish in detention centers for months or sometimes years  typically without legal counsel and in violation of their rights  as they await hearings or deportation.

Our investigation yielded a disturbing pattern of prison mismanagement, said Paromita Shah, NIPNLGs associate director. Sadly, President-elect Trump will inherit immigration agencies that have perfected the art of abandoning responsibility for their sprawling detention centers, leaving people vulnerable to abuse.

The 300 detainees interviewed represent more than 5 percent of the average daily population at the six detention centers. Three of the facilities are operated by private, for-profit prison companies and three are operated by county sheriffs under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The reports findings include the following:

Detained immigrants in the South experience some of the weakest due process protections in the nation, prolonging their detention. At the Stewart Immigration Court in Georgia, which is part of the Stewart Detention Center, detainees reported that judges demonstrated bias against detainees without counsel.

Detained immigrants described being subjected to physical abuse, retaliation and excessive use of segregation and lockdown by detention center staff and ICE officers. At the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama, detainees reported that ICE officials had used force on detainees who refused to sign travel documents.

Detention centers failed to provide basic sanitation and nutrition. Detainees at all facilities reported becoming ill from spoiled food. Several detainees reported receiving expired food, food with mold on it and, in some cases, food with worms and insects.

Detained immigrants in the South face inadequate medical and mental health treatment, causing needless death and suffering. Detainees reported five deaths at these facilities in 2016 that resulted from failure to receive medical treatment.

Detainees reported conditions that can lead to rapid mental and physical deterioration, such as a lack of outdoor recreation. At the Etowah County Detention Center, which lacks an outdoor recreation area, detainees described going virtually months, even years, without spending time outdoors.

The abuses that are taking place in Southern detention facilities may be vastly increased under the Trump administration, said Jessica Vosburgh, director of Adelante Alabama Worker Center. But immigrant communities in the South will also strengthen our efforts to fight back against hateful practices.

Recent actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggest that it might rely on private companies to expand the system  even though studies show privatized prisons are generally less safe, less effective and no less costly than government-operated prisons.

Earlier in 2016, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would no longer contract with private corporations to operate federal prisons, a decision spurred by the declining prison population and the failure of private prisons to provide safe and secure facilities.

In the wake of the DOJ decision, the DHS announced it would also re-examine its use of privatized immigration facilities. But the agency quickly renewed or finalized contracts for thousands of additional beds. The agency has also expanded the number of individuals it plans to detain every night by 10,000 people  pushing the total number of detainees to an estimated 45,000 people.

Whats more, the agencys new contracts include a facility  the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, New Mexico  that lost its contract with the DOJ after reports of abuse and medical neglect. The DHSs actions suggest that the private prisons no longer used by the DOJ, including some of the worst in the country, could simply become immigration detention centers.

The privately operated facilities investigated for the report are the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia; LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana; and Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Facilities operated by sheriffs offices are the Baker County Detention Facility in Macclenny, Florida; Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama; and Wakulla County Detention Facility in Crawfordville, Florida.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2016/11/southern-poverty-law-center-report-report-abuse-neglect-common-at-immigrant-detention-centers-in-sou.html
Monday, November 21, 2016

The Connecticut Appellate Court has affirmed a criminal conviction of a former candidate for United States Senate (as reported by the Darien News in connection with unrelated trespassing charges)

The court reasonably could have found the following facts. On April 24, 2014, the defendant entered the Stamford Courthouse Law Library. After an argument ensued between the defendant and another library patron, the librarian requested assistance from a state marshal, Patrick Valcourt, who was posted in the hallway immediately outside of the library. Valcourt entered the library, observed the defendant arguing loudly, and instructed her to stay away from the other patron. Because the defendant was uncooperative, Valcourt, with other marshals then present, began to escort her out of the library. While being escorted, the defendant began yelling loudly and attempted to bite Valcourts arm. The supervising marshal who observed the attempted bite then ordered that the defendant be handcuffed and detained. Once the defendant was properly restrained, the marshals escorted her out of the library to the detention area, where she was held until she was arrested by state police on the charge of breach of the peace in the second degree, in violation of General Statutes  53a- 181. The state later filed a substitute information charging the defendant with creating a public disturbance in violation of  53a-181a.

The court found the evidence sufficient to support the offense in light of the bite attempt.

The Stamford Advocate had a story on the incident

The Judicial Marshal Services Incident report from the situation at the Stamford courthouse this week said Whitnum's problems stemmed from an earlier disagreement with another patron over papers stacked in front of a printer as well as concerns by the law librarian that Whitnum had entered her office without permission to get paper for the printer. That day, Whitnum left when asked to by marshals.

The marshals service said that after the first incident, the librarian had planned to tell Whitnum that she would lose library privileges for three days if she returned and behaved as she had a few days before, and had requested that marshals be with her. When Whitnum enterned the courthouse on Thursday, the marshals and the librarian were alerted, and were ready for her. Soon after Whitnum got to the library, another argument with the same patron from the previous day, and more marshals responded to the library. Things escalated from there, according to the marshals.

She began screaming that she wasn't being treated fairly, the report said, and that she was being treated like a criminal, and at this point the librarian told her she was banned for three days for her behavior.

Marshals asked Whitnum to leave and she started to, but then she stopped to yell at the librarian. When a marshal tried to take her arm to guide her out, she allegedly tried to bite him on the hand and arm. After a struggle in the library, she was cuffed and brought down to the lockup, according to the marshals, where she asked to be let go, saying that she "doesn't need this right now."

Greenwich Time has a story on unrelated charges that the defendant had stalked the judge in her divorce case.

"I never stalked the judge," said Lisa "Lee" Whitnum-Baker as she left the courtroom in the Golden Hill Street courthouse. "I did make a call to the judge's home, but it was a seven-minute call and that's not stalking," she said. "I know the law."

Whitnum-Baker, 53, also volunteered that she had never stalked the governor, either. "That's just not true and besides that was years ago," she added. There is no record of an arrest for that.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2016/11/the-connecticut-appellate-court-has-affirmed-a-criminal-conviction-the-court-reasonably-could-have-found-the-following-facts.html
Taiwan says it will carry out exercises in the disputed South China Sea to practice search-and-rescue operations. 

Taiwan has described the exercises as humanitarian. Taiwans Coast Guard announced the activities Sunday. The move is seen as an effort by Taiwan to show its willingness to ease tensions in the South China Sea.

The drills will be carried out in the near future depending on weather conditions, the Coast Guard said. They will take place near Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba.

Taiwans Coast Guard directly administers Itu Aba, but it is also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The agency said in a statement that Taiwans navy might take part in the exercises. The Coast Guard said, Currently the navy regularly patrols near Taiping Island. We don't rule out the navy playing a supporting role in future humanitarian rescue drills being held near Taiping.

The Coast Guard also said the exercises will include drills on reacting to shipwrecks and rescuing and providing relief to sailors. It did not say how many forces would take part and what kinds of equipment would be used. 

Taiwan has stated it operates a small military airport on Itu Aba. There is also a 10-bed hospital, a lighthouse and solar panels valued at $129 million.

The Coast Guard said Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen directed in July that Taiping Island be used as a humanitarian search and rescue center.

Itu Aba is one of many islands, reefs, and other landforms in the disputed Spratly Islands chain in the South China Sea.

China claims much of the South China Sea. It is an important seaway through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves each year. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have completing claims in the sea.



Chinas activities in the South China Sea have increased tensions with its neighbors, the United States and Japan. China has reclaimed land on several disputed reefs by dredging, and built airfields and ports.

In July, an international court ruled against China in a case brought by the Philippines. The court rejected Chinas historical claims to large areas of the South China Sea. Both China and Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province, rejected the ruling.

Jonathan Spangler is director of the Taipei-based South China Sea Think Tank. He says Taiwan has been trying to position itself as a peacemaker in the South China Sea dispute for many years.

Humanitarian and search-and-rescue operations near Itu Aba would be a logical next step in backing up that political rhetoric with action, he said.

Taiwan launched efforts in 2015 to establish itself as a humanitarian player in the South China Sea. At that time, the government released a peace proposal intended to help resolve South China Sea disputes. It urged governments involved to put aside their sovereignty disputes and find ways to develop the seas resources together.

Im Mario Ritter.

Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

practice  v. do something over and over again as a way to get better at it

drill  n. way of learning something by doing repeated exercises

patrol  v. to continually search an area to make sure it is safe

dredging - v.  v. to dig out and clear material from a body of water

logical - adj. seeming natural, reasonable or sensible

rhetoric - n. language intended to influence people that might not be honest or reasonable

sovereignty  n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself
Donald Trump supporters expect him to carry out his campaign promises.

I expect him to move quickly with his rock-the-boat agenda, said Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana.

By rock the boat, Vitter means making changes sure to upset people who liked the way things were done in the past.

A Los Angeles Times public opinion study taken before the election found only 43 percent of Trump supporters expected him to win. But now that he is president-elect, Trump supporters expect him to act on his campaign promises and to do so quickly.

Roy Beck heads Numbers USA. It is a group in Virginia that supports limits on immigration and efforts to reduce illegal immigration.

Politicians often make promises that they do not act on, Beck said. But dealing with illegal immigration was so much a part of Trumps campaign and a large reason why many people voted for him. He has to act.

However, Beck does not expect Trump to order the removal of all 11 million undocumented immigrants as he once proposed during his campaign.

Focus on American Jobs

The focus will be on how to get Americans into jobs, Beck said.

Beck argues many jobs are going to immigrants and that the numbers of both legal and illegal immigrants should be reduced.

Robert Jeffress is minister at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. He campaigned for Trump.

Jeffress said Trump will appoint Supreme Court justices who will vote to overturn a 1973 ruling that gave women the right to an abortion.

Jeffress believes Trump is more committed than previous Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, to limiting the number of abortions.

A Different Side of Trump

During the campaign, Trump often used harsh criticism to describe his opponents. He regularly called his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, crooked Hillary. He called Republican primary opponent Ted Cruz, lying Ted.

Jeffress does not expect those kinds of personal attacks to continue.

I think people are going to be surprised at the difference between candidate Trump and President Trump, Jeffress told VOA.

David Vitter is leaving the U.S. Senate just as Trump becomes president.

Vitter said Trump has a good chance to win passage of proposals to cut back on government regulations and better enforce immigration laws. That is because he will have a Republican-controlled Congress.

But Vitter also wants Trump to push an issue not popular with Republican or Democratic members of Congress.

Vitter has long proposed limiting how long a member of Congress can serve or term limits.

Trump took up the Vitter proposal during his campaign for president. Trump said term limits are a good way to make sure politicians represent the people, not special interests.

Expecting Trump to Carry out Major Promises

Kathryn Stellmack of Florida told Reuters she expects Trump to move forward with all his major promises. That includes a promise to be the greatest jobs president that God has ever created.

And if he doesnt, we will hold his feet to the fire, she said.

By holding his feet to the fire, Stellmack means protesting if Trump does not carry out campaign promises.

A Trump Supporter Hears the Other Side

Some Trump supporters say they have friends who do not share their good opinions of Trump.

Zach Bartman is a junior at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. He has watched students at some American universities and high schools take to the streets to protest Trumps victory.

I have a friend who is gay, and very liberal, and very upset and worried about what Trump will do as president, Bartman said. I told him not to worry. I think Trump will be the most pro-gay president ever.

After the election, Trump described same-sex marriage as settled law.

In effect, Trump was saying the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that states cannot stop same-sex couples from marrying is unlikely to change.

But many people who supported Democrat Hillary Clinton for president are worried.

A new Gallup Poll said 75 percent of Clinton supporters said they were less confident in Trumps ability to serve as president than they were during the campaign. The same study said 51 percent of U.S. adults described themselves as more confident in Trump after the election.

Since the presidential vote, Trump has taken steps to reassure opponents.

I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me, Trump said in his victory speech last week.

But some said naming Stephen Bannon to a top White House position was a bad sign. The Anti-Defamation League, an activist group, said Bannon ran a conservative news service that provided a platform for anti-Muslim extremists.

Trump aides said Bannon is a smart political adviser who does not hold negative views of Muslims and Jews, as some critics claim.

Ninety-five percent of Republicans told Gallup that they are more confident since the November 8 election in Trumps abilities.

One of those expressing confidence is Robert Straniere, a Republican from Staten Island, New York.

Straniere said he got to know Trump as a successful New York businessman. We have a president-elect who is a doer and knows how to get things done, Straniere said. I think he can get a lot of things done quickly.

Trump takes office on January 20, 2017.

Im Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Bruce Alpert.



Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Are you looking forward to the Trump presidency? Or are you worried?

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

agenda - n. a list of things to be considered or done

focus - n. the subject on which people's attention is centered

abortion - n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy

commit - v. to see to it that something is done

harsh - adj. severe or cruel

crooked - adj. not honest

gay - adj. sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex

reassure - v. to make someone feel less afraid

pledge - v. promise to do something

confident adj. to have a feeling of belief that someone or something can do well or succeed
Its raining extravaganzas in Mumbai. After themusical spectacle that was Coldplay, on Sunday evening Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, director Shankar, music composer AR Rahman amid huge fanfare launched the first look of the film, 2.0.

Needless to say, Akshay's evil look was the talking point of the show. Hours before the launch he had shared his avatar from 2.0 on Twitter. The action star, who debuts with 2.0 into the Tamil industry, shed his good looks to become a monster, who will be Rajinikanths biggest nemesis.

I have never put on make-up in 25 years of my career. But in this film I have done all the makeup of 25 years. It took me three hours to put it on and one hour to remove it. I am a very patient person but now my patience level has increased, said Akshay. He plays Dr Richards who turns into a crow as a result of a wrong experiment.

A sequel to the 2010 film Enthiran (Robo in Telugu and Robot in Hindi) where Rajinikanth had a dual role as a geeky scientist and his robot, 2.0 is touted to be the costliest project in Indian cinema, clinching the rank from Baahubali. The film is said to be made at a whopping budget of Rs. 350 crore. The first look launch was one of its kind as the looks of Rajinikanth and Akshay were presented in 3D by Lyca Productions and huge LCD screens were put in place to set the tone of the mega launch.

However, the surprise factor of the evening, hosted by Karan Johar, was when superstar Salman Khan walked in at the event dressed in casuals to greet Rajinikanth and Akshay. There were rumours that Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan were invited to be the guests at the event, but nobody would have expected Salman to drop in at the venue and meet the South legend.

Salman confessed that he wasnt invited to the event. He had just heard that Rajinikanth was coming, so he turned up on his own. I just wanted to meet Rajinikanth, he's the most amazing man. I have a lot of respect for him. I wasnt invited. I got to know that the launch was happening so I have come."

Talking about the first look, and his dear friend Akshay, Salman said, I loved the teaser. Akshay is phenomenal. He is the only actor in Bollywood among all of us, who has shown growth and only he could have done this role. In his trademark humour, Salman then asked Karan why doesnt he make films like this leaving Karan speechless. Shankar makes the most fabulous things. Why dont you do it? If given a chance I would have done that character, Salman told Karan jokingly.

Meanwhile, when the media asked Rajinikanth when would he share screen space with Salman, after having worked with Shah Rukh Khan and now with Akshay, Rajinikanth said he's ready to start a film with him even tomorrow. Salman, the ball is in your court  the director had just announced that there is going to be a third part as well.

Rajinikanth was so impressed by Akshay that he said, Akshay is the hero of the film, if I was given a choice I would have done Akkis role. Talking about the director of the film, he said, To work with Shankar is difficult. He is a perfectionist. That is why he is one of the biggest directors. This picture as 3D is a different experience," he added.

Akshay also spoke about his experience with the Superstar. He said, "Rajinikanth is not a superstar, he is the entire galaxy. He has got the swag. Few years back his film Baba didn't do good business and he called all his distributors and returned their money. This is the sign of the biggest superstar."
New Delhi: Upping the ante, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today charged its estranged chairman Cyrus Mistry with causing "enormous harm" to the company by his conduct and sought his removal from the company board.

In a notice to shareholders seeking his removal, India's largest software exporter said Mistry had "lost confidence" of Tata Sons - the company's largest shareholder and holding company of the USD 103-billion Tata Group.

It went on to cite benefits accruing to it from use of 'Tata' brand by Ratan Tata-led Tata Sons to back its recommendation for Mistry's removal.

Within weeks of Ratan Tata replacing Mistry as Chairman of the holding company of the group, Tata Sons by virtue of its commanding 73.26 per cent stake in TCS removed him as the chairman. It also asked the company to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders to consider removing him as a director on the board.

At its board meeting last week, which was not attended by Mistry, TCS decided to call an EGM on December 13.

In the EGM notice, TCS said, "Subsequent to his replacement as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd (TSL), Mistry has made certain unsubstantiated allegations, which

cast aspersions not only on TSL and its board of directors, but also on the Tata group as a whole, of which TCS is an integral part."

Stating that the communication marked as confidential "was made public", TCS said: "Mistry's conduct has caused enormous harm to the Tata Group, TCS and its stakeholders, including employees and shareholders."

The move by TSL to replace Mistry with group veteran Ishaat Hussain as chairman of TCS was seen as an attempt by Ratan Tata-led promoter group to tighten grip over the salt- to-software conglomerate.

"The board of directors of the company is in agreement with... the removal of Cyrus P Mistry as director of the company, as the same would be in the best interests of the company," it said.

"The board of directors of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has "lost confidence in Cyrus P Mistry to lead Tata Sons for a combination of several factors," it said, adding that Tata Sons on October 24 decided to replace him as the removal "was absolutely necessary for the future success of the Tata Group".

TCS is the crown jewel of the Tata Group which "enjoys the right of use the 'Tata' brand name by virtue of the Tata Brand Equity and Business Promotion Agreement entered into between TCS and Tata Sons," the notice said.

"Substantial goodwill and benefits accrue to TCS by such usage of the Tata brand and association with the Tata group."

Even after being removed as chairman of Tata Sons, Mistry continues to head the group's several listed firms including Tata Motors, Tata Power, Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals.

The Board of Tata Global Beverages, the Indian partner of Starbucks Coffee, last week voted him out as the chairman. But he continues to be on its board and can be removed only by a shareholder vote.

Besides TCS, Tata Sons has asked Indian Hotels, Tata Motors and Tata Chemicals to call EGMs to consider removing Mistry as a director on the board.

Boards of none of these companies have so far decided on the date for EGM and TCS is the first company to fix a date for considering a Tata Sons-sponsored resolution to this effect.

As for his removal as TCS chairman, Mistry had termed the move as reflection of "cloak and dagger" machinations that define "the angry strategy of the Ratan Tata camp".

Last week, Mistry skipped two crucial board meetings -- of TCS as well as the group's holding company.

Even as Mistry skipped the board meeting of TCS, the family-appointed Chairman Hussain chaired the meeting and decided to convene the EGM on December 13. Mistry was also not present at TSL's first board meeting since his removal on October 24.

Last month, in a sudden and dramatic turn of events, Mistry was unceremoniously removed as the chairman of Tata Sons and replaced by his predecessor Ratan Tata in the

interim, triggering a confrontation between the single-largest shareholder and the Tatas.
The move by the government to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by replacing them with new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes has taken the country with surprise. The move by the government is to tackle the menace of black money, corruption, terror funding and fake currency.

From an industry perspective, we think that this is a very welcome move by the government and which has taken the black money hoarders with surprise.

It is arguably the boldest decision ever taken by the Government of India to curb the black money and reboot the entire financial system. It is very powerful in the sense that it will completely transform the way people of India deal with cash, accounting and paying taxes while using their money.

However, opinion on this decision is very far from a consensus in both the expert and the non-expert realm. The first question raised against this move is the significance of cash as a component of the money laundering networks in India. Economists have argued that this move has left the biggest chunk of black money untouched  the stacks that lie in undisclosed accounts in Swiss Banks.

The next question that may be raised is the preparedness of the government and the banks regarding implementation of a move of this scale. The argument provided for why this move was announced and administered overnight is that it denies hoarders

of black money the chance to dispose of it. While that may appear to be sound logic, it has also apparently impacted the banking systems ability to ensure a smooth transition. Several ATMs across the nation continue to be useless by virtue of not

having enough fresh notes, while the ones that are refilled are attacked by painfully long lines and eventually emptied at once.

This in turn is the third major question raised against this policy  who is affected the most? The removal of large sums of legal tender unquestionably affects all individuals who need to engage in cash transactions in some form. Those with access

to plastic money are less directly impacted even in the short term, but in both the long and short term, specific sections have been disproportionately hit. Disenfranchised groups who lack the access to ID documents are chief among these.

The rural poor who lack the infrastructure to set up deposit accounts and who currently hold all their money in cash form have been directly hit. Even those who do have access to accounts among them struggle with ill prepared banks and post offices, small and dispersed in number, and the need to take off several crucial hours from work  sometimes in vain. It is also difficult to estimate the numbers of women across the board that will be potentially irrecoverably impacted by this policy  women who do not inform their families of hidden stashes of cash, who are otherwise fully dependent on male members of the family and who stand to lose years of savings because they cannot confess to their presence.

Chit fund, the industry I represent, is an indigenous financial institution serving as an instrument to save and borrow at the same time. It is considered to be one of the efficient financial instruments that cater to the needs of the poor.

Primary users of chit funds are daily wage earners, salaried individuals, housewives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). It is used by households for consumption purposes like marriage, buying property, education and also as a way to

save free cash to provide for unforeseen emergencies and to help MSME to accumulate capital.

Though the chit fund industry is large, growing and provides useful financial services to those who are otherwise excluded from formal institutions like commercial banks, the government, even otherwise, has imposed stringent rules that has stymied its progress. For example, the government has fixed the commission at 5 percent of chit value for the chit fund operators for the last fifty years. However, the costs of running a chit have increased manifold during the same time. This has resulted in exodus of many smaller value schemes from registered space to the unregistered space, thus increasing the risk for members. In light of the heightened importance of financial inclusion in the country, it is very ironic that the government has persecuted a sector which efficiently caters to the financial needs of those who are otherwise excluded from the formal banking sector.

While demonetisation is a big boost to the Registered Chit Fund industry, as it would weed out the unregistered operators, it has also, simultaneously, indirectly hit the working of the registered industry. The above referred users of chit fund are used to

making cash payments for their monthly installments and even in case of cheque payments, they first deposit cash in their banks accounts. This cash payment, out of their daily income, is definitely not Black Money and still they are being

inconvenienced due to demonetisation. In the absence/delay of this substantial collection, the legitimate chit operators will find it difficult to honor their payout commitments to the subscribers.

In the above scenario, few suggestions for relaxation of norms that could be given are listed below.

a. Allow chit fund companies to accept old high denomination (OHD) currency, till 30 December 2016, only in respect of those transactions wherein the chit subscriber gives a undertaking of it not being unaccounted money. This would help those who are willing to deposit OHD in their account but are unable due to the prevailing chaos at banks.

b. Other financial intermediaries can also be roped in, according to their specific needs, on similar lines.

c. The OHD accepting companies can be directed to file a declaration along with necessary supporting documents at the end of the stipulated period which would act as a deterrent to any misuse of the relaxation.

It would seem that my wish list is quite long, but the above-listed financial intermediaries, can also help in OHD exchange process if due precautions are put in place. This will also, to some extent, help control the chaos at banks.

While it is too soon to declare whether the long-term gains are indeed forthcoming, the short term sacrifices have been more than just significant. They have been immensely painful.

As we all know, nations were never built in a day and stepping stones like these may not be easy to traverse but are essential to reach the final destination. While the masses are ready for these adjustments and sacrifices, the Government should also

fine tune the existing legislations and facilitate smoother transition and take necessary steps in this regard.

To conclude, demonetisation comes with immense benefit but the government of India should also consider about informal sector where most of the payment is in cash only. Hence we can say the move is good but Utilitarian Principle would make it further better.

The writer is general secretary of All India Association of Chit Funds (AIACF).
Flower market, one of the industries dealing in the perishable goods segment, has seen sales volume decline by 80 percent in the last week or so, following the post-monetisation cash drought across the country, said merchants and smaller traders Firstpost spoke to on Monday. This has, in turn, impacted the daily earnings of thousands of small traders, who had to abandon significant chunk of their stock after failing to find buyers.

Thirteen days have passed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced one of the biggest demonetisation exercises in the country to crack down on the fake currency market and the black money network. But, the lack of planning on the implementation front has had cascading impact on several sectors that primarily deals with the cash economy. Flower business is one such. Modi withdrew Rs 500,Rs 1,000 currency notes in a televised statement on the evening of 8 November.

According to industry officials, flower merchants and boutiques have seen sales dropping since PMs announcement. Horticulturists and those in the wholesale and retail business of flowers, bouquets, garlands, floral decorations have lost almost 80 percent gross turnover. "From a daily sales of Rs 12 to Rs 13 lakh a month, the business has now come down to a mere Rs 3 lakh," said Shashikant Viswanath Auti, a qualified horticulturist, in Pune, who is a wholesaler of roses.

Sales drop

Mumbais phool galli in Dadar, wears a desolate look on Monday morning. There is neither any rush at any of the flower stalls nor haggling for prices to buy the many-hued flowers in the market.

With Rs 100 denomination currency in short supply at the banks and the ATMs, too, and the new currency in Rs 500 denominations just trickling in to the system, customers are hard pressed to buy flowers. That is not a priority for now as daily essentials have to be stocked.

Marriage functions too have started curtailing the scale of flower decoration and the ones who are into lavish floral decorations simply thrust the annulled notes into the hands of the florists. What do you want me to do? Say, I cant accept it, asks Shyam Pandurang Bhagat, a fifth generation flower seller at Dadar.

Most of the florists at the Dadar market are retailers who live in homes on rent with extended family members -- wife children, brother and his family. Bhagat pays Rs 15,000 as rent and has to pay for electricity and water bills, too. Either his children or nephews stand in queues at the bank to deposit the cash while another stands in the queue for exchange of old notes. When the queue gets closer to the bank counter, the children call either Bhagat or his brother who then go to the bank and deposit cash or exchange the annulled notes.

Business is only 20 percent of what it was before the monetisation announcement. We have customers who come to us daily and pay at the end of the month, said Bhagat, who are the only faithful to be seen outside the stall now. The big ticket buyers have thinned down considerably.

The same plight that Bhagat is facing since 9 November, plays across the country in the flower business. Though almost all in the business of flowers hailed the PMs decision to root black money, they also complained that the devil in the details was missed.

Auti, a qualified horticulturist, who worked in Nigeria for many years returned to India a few years ago and decided to set shop in Pune. He cultivates almost 4 acres of farm where he grows only roses. It was a good business with a turnover of Rs 12 to Rs 13 lakh a month, he said. The business has now hit bottom with a turnover of a mere Rs 3 lakh.

Auti does not own the farm and has to pay the owner of the land rents ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 a month depending on the location of the land holding. Each acre of land yields 2,000 to 2,500 flowers daily and he had a workforce of 16-18 people. However, with the drastic drop in business, Auti has cut down the workforce to just 6 people and has started working in the farm himself.

I cannot pay Rs 9,000 a month to my labourers when the business is down by one-third, he said.

Since all the roses are not sold on a daily basis, Auti dumps the flowers in his farm after plucking them so that they become manure to his field. He also 'manipulates' the leaves so that they can bloom late. The physical intervention in the growth of flowers will affect its cycle for six months, at least, he said. "But I have no choice. I can't sell all that blooms here," said Auti.

Auti said that the Modi governments poll plank was sab ka vikaas which has, with the announcement on monetisation, not factored the drop in business and drastic change in lifestyle in a mere 13 days. Did the government not know that the ATMs were not capable of accepting the new currency notes? Could the government not have printed more Rs 100 currency notes?

He feels that though the money is slowly trickling into the economy with new currency notes, it will take at least three months if not more, to get businesses like his back on an even keel.

Farmers upset

On 17 November, Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary, announced that the government had decided to permit farmers to draw up to Rs 25,000 per week against crop loans sanctioned and credited to their accounts. The government also decided that the time limit in crop insurance premium cases would be extended by 15 days.

Under the new concessions offered to the farmers, they can withdraw Rs 25,000 per week from their account which farmers receive either by cheque or which is credited by RTGS accounts. Kisan Credit Cards will be subject to the same new limit, Das added.

But Auti disagrees that government benefits have benefited the actual farmers.

Who is the farmer? I am the one who is tilling the land and giving the farmer or landowner a rent for using his land. The government is not offering me any credit or concession but to the owner of the land," he said.

Down South, in Chennai, where wearing flowers on hair is a daily habit of women in the metro city, flowers are now sold at a premium. The women who brought over two or three handspans of flowers have settled for half a handspan, says Muthumariappan of Venkateswara Flower decorators, Chennai. He sells flowers in retail too, besides focusing on his main business of decorating at weddings and events.

Muthumariappan has been in the business for a decade but says he hasnt seen such hard times like he has witnessed in the past 10 days. Everything has changed and the business has seen a drop of almost 75 percent, he said.

People give him old notes which he refuses to accept though that severely impact his business. He says that he has to focus on the business and cant wait in queues in the bank to deposit or exchange old notes. He has also made a decision to only accept cheques now. I cannot afford to risk this old and new currency note business. It is better to take cheques and deposit them and not fear when or if the government will decide to go on such a move again, he says.

He also sells flowers in the retail in small quantities. That is to ensure the sale of flowers and get some fixed money, he said.

Horticulture picks up

India produces 2.158 million tonnes of flowers during 2015-16 due to favourable agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the country. Flower crops are grown in almost all the states. The major flower growing states are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Haryana, Assam, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. Flowers are being exported from India to about 150 countries in the world and Indias share in the world floriculture trade and exports is less than 1 percent.

The flower business in the country was doing marginally lower last year. Despite the deficit monsoon, unseasonal rains and hailstorm in major part of the country, the production of horticulture crops have outpaced the production of foodgrains since 2012-13 as seen in the chart below:

There has been an increase of 1.3 percent in horticulture production and reduction of 4.9 increase in food grains production in 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14, according to Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya, Minister of Agriculture. He revealed these figures in Lok Sabha in May this year.

However, this increase can change since flowers have to be plucked and then destroyed without any takers. In Kolkata, a wholesaler flower seller, who refused to reveal his name, said that the market has been completely battered by PM Modis announcement.

I have lost almost 99 percent of my business. From a daily sale of Rs 25,000, my sales now are only Rs 5,000, said the the seller who owns a shop in Salt Lake. I have switched to accepting only cheques now, he said. What did PM Modi think he would achieve by this scheme? We, the traders in small businesses, who deal in cash will be wiped out by this announcement while the big fish he was supposedly after has long slipped the net, he said.

(Data support from Kishor Kadam)
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India RBI on Monday imposed stiff conditions for withdrawal of up to Rs 2.5 lakh in cash from bank accounts for marriages, saying the money can be withdrawn only from the credit balance as on 8 November, the day demonetisation was announced.

While notifying norms, RBI said the cash withdrawn should be used only to make payment to those persons who do not have bank accounts and the names of such recipients should be mentioned while applying for withdrawal of the cash.

The application for withdrawal should also provide names of bride and groom, their identify proofs, addresses and date of marriage. The amount can be withdrawn only if the date of marriage is on or before 30 December, 2016.

With a view to enabling people to perform weddings of their wards, it has been decided to allow higher limits of cash withdrawals from their bank deposit accounts to meet wedding-related expenses, RBI said in a notification.

"A maximum of Rs 2,50,000 is allowed to be withdrawn from bank deposit accounts till 30 December, 2016, out of the balances at credit in the account as of close of business on 8 November, 2016," the notification said.

"Withdrawals can be made by either of the parents or the person getting married. (Only one of them will be permitted to withdraw)."

The application for withdrawal should be accompanied by evidence of the wedding, including the invitation card, copies of receipts for advance payments already made such as marriage hall booking and advance payments to caterers.

Further, there should be "a detailed list of persons to whom the cash withdrawn is proposed to be paid, together with a declaration from such persons that they do not have a bank account. The list should indicate the purpose for which the proposed payments are being made".

The RBI also said banks should encourage families to incur wedding expenses through non-cash means through cheques or drafts, credit or debit cards, pre-paid cards, mobile transfers, Internet banking channels, NEFT/RTGS and the like.

"Therefore, members of the public should be advised, while granting cash withdrawals, to use cash to meet expenses which have to be met only through cash mode," RBI told banks.

Banks have been asked to keep a proper record of the evidence and produce them for verification by the authorities in case of need.

The scheme will be reviewed based on authenticity or bona fide use thereof, RBI added.
Like millions of Indians fed up with corruption and counterfeiting, Vimal Somani cheered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock move to replace all high-value banknotes. Two weeks on, his business is being hammered by the ensuing cash crunch.

Sales at Somani's aluminum foil maker, Rockdude Impex, have fallen by roughly a quarter in the past week, and the cash shortage that followed the "demonetization" drive has left his supply chain in tatters: his trucks are stranded with no money for fuel, workers won't load goods for free, and distributors can't pay up.

Modi's move on 8 November was aimed at cracking down on corruption and flushing out funds stashed away in India's "black economy". But the cancellation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes ($7.3 and $14.7), more than 80 percent of currency in circulation, threatens to push Asia's third-largest economy into a liquidity crisis.

Consumer spending makes up 56 percent of India's $2 trillion economy. But with just the small stock of smaller denomination notes available and a struggle to get hold of new bills, consumers are holding back.

The government has acknowledged that the disruption would last weeks because of delays in note printing and technical problems with ATM machines, but Modi has made a plea for patience until 30 December. The government said it could not have printed new notes or recalibrated cash machines in advance for fear of the move leaking out.

Meanwhile, supply chains at small, medium and even larger companies are breaking down, underlining just how much corporate India - not just the shadow economy - relies on hard cash.

"The entire supply chain has broken," said Somani, who employs 150 people across India from his base outside Mumbai.

Problems at Rockdude go from its network of suppliers to its 1,500 distributors and 150 stockists. Its sales team, spread from Delhi to Nagaland in the east and all the way to the south, is rapidly running short of cash to promote a planned new product, even for the rickshaw rides they use to travel.

Revenues have frozen, Somani says, but fixed costs continue, including wages. These are paid online, but his staff cannot get access without being given time off to queue at the bank.

"We are cutting production," he added. "If this goes on for two more months, then it will hit us very badly."

An executive at a mid-sized hair oil manufacturer, a beauty staple in India, said sales had crumpled as consumers simply stopped buying shampoos and lotions. Wholesale markets, which operate in cash, are shut. Distributors have no cash.

"We are planning to extend some discounts to the distributors so that they at least replenish the amount of stocks they are selling, instead of not buying from us at all," he said.

"We are cutting production every day," he added.

Like many of the businessmen Reuters spoke with, he declined to be named, given the sensitivity of the issue.

Cash crunched

In the year to March 2017, the cash crunch is estimated to pull down India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth from last year's 7.6 percent by as much as 4.1 percentage points. Brokerage Ambit Capital says it does not rule out a contraction in the October-December quarter.

Corporate operating profits are tipped to fall by as much as 40 percent in the current quarter.

People ranging from taxi drivers and street hawkers to big consumer goods firms have seen their earnings plummet by as much as 80 percent in the first week of the swap alone, according to some analysts' estimates.

Those relying on informal, cash-based channels are, unsurprisingly, worst hit. Greengrocer Ranveer Singh, who regularly borrows money to run his shop in New Delhi, sold vegetables on credit to regular customers in the first two days after the cash crackdown, but has been forced to shut up shop.

"I don't have cash to refill stocks," said Singh, who used to make about $15 a day before the crackdown began.

"If it remains like this for two more weeks, my family might have to go without food."

But even for more sophisticated firms, paying employees is a major challenge, and not just in the construction and building materials sectors, which still pay contractors in cash.

As most Indians do not have bank accounts, most are paid in cash, though reliable statistics are hard to come by.

With the government changing rules for currency withdrawals and exchange almost every day, Somani and others are struggling.

Chandubhai Kothia, head of chemicals company Shree Ganesh Chemicals in Gujarat, with an annual turnover of 1 billion rupees, said a newly imposed 50,000 rupee cash withdrawal limit per week for some businesses that came in as part of the measures was simply not enough.

"The payment of wages to workers and transport are a problem," he said.

While Modi has promised the cash situation would become normal by year-end, Saumitra Chaudhuri, a former economic adviser to the government, estimates it will take six months to replace the stock of canceled bills.

Earnings crunched

Some analysts are already reviewing their estimate of company earnings for the rest of the year.

Brokerage Motilal Oswal warned this week that its forecast of a revival in corporate earnings in the second half of the fiscal year 2016/17 was now in jeopardy, with autos, retail, consumer goods, cement, telecom and non-banking financial companies likely to see downgrades.

India's vast services sector, which accounts for two-thirds of GDP, is worst hit.

Credit Suisse estimates more than 90 percent of consumer purchases are made in cash as few Indians have bank cards and infrastructure for online transactions is poor.

In Gurgaon's Cyber Hub, a corporate leisure center, several eateries reported a crash in their card swiping machines, compelling them to decline customers who didn't have sufficient smaller denomination bills.

In rural areas, where cash is totally dominant, the situation is worse.

In the wheat-growing states, sales of seeds and fertilizer have plunged halfway through the sowing season as farmers said they had run out of cash.

As the crunch continues, more are beginning to ask whether the government could have done more to ease the impact.

"The Prime Minister, to my mind, has done an income tax raid in every house in the country," said Abhishek Saraf, joint managing director of SquareFoot, a flooring-maker in Mumbai.
New Delhi: CBI on Monday initiated an extradition request to bring back former liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom through a Special Court in Mumbai.

The investigative agency secured a non-bailable warrant against Mallya, following it with an extradition request from the Special Court, to competent authorities in the United Kingdom, CBI sources said in New Delhi on Monday.

Mallya had left the country on 2 March and has not returned ever since, they said.

CBI, in its 16 October, 2015 request to issue a lookout circular, had said if Mallya tried to leave the country, he should be detained at the exit point.

Nearly a month later in November, the agency asked for a revised circular, where it asked the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) to only inform it about his departure and travel plans.

As per agency sources, the lookout circular depends on the issuing authority and unless they ask BoI to detain a person or stop him from boarding a plane, no action is taken.

They said after CBI changed the lookout notice, BoI did not make any attempt to stop him from travelling abroad, and every time he travelled the agency was duly informed about it.

Mallya is facing the CBI probe for defaulting on repayment of loans of Rs 900 crores taken from IDBI. In total, the former liquor baron owes several banks a total of as much as Rs 9,000 crores.

State Bank of India, which leads the consortium of 17 banks that lent money to the grounded Kingfisher Airlines, had moved Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in Bengaluru against the airlines chairman Mallya in its bid to recover over Rs 7,000 crore of dues from him.

The CBI had registered a case against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), Chief Financial Officer of the airlines A Raghunathan and unknown officials of IDBI Bank alleging that Rs 900 crores that IDBI sanctioned as a loan to Mallya was in "violation of norms to do with credit limits."

The agency had later expanded the probe to include loan defaults of all other banks.

Clarifying his position regarding the loan owed by KFA, Mallya said in a recent statement after the closure of the airline, that since April, 2013, the banks and their assignees have recovered, in cash, an aggregate of Rs 1,244 crores from the sale of pledged shares.
PARIS The Paris prosecutor's office said on Monday it had opened an investigation into whether documents left lying on President Francois Hollande's desk in front of reporters constituted a breach of national security.The inquiry could be embarrassing for Hollande, days before he is expected to announce whether he will run for a second term in next spring's presidential election. It relates to an article published in Le Monde newspaper on Aug. 24 in which two reporters recall a meeting with Hollande three years earlier, as he waited for U.S. President Barack Obama to decide whether to launch air strikes in Syria.The article later appeared in a book by the reporters, covering the period April 2012 to July 2016, when they met Hollande some 60 times. They describe being in his office with files and documents stamped "classified" lying on his desk."Hollande consults one (document) in particular. We acquired a copy. Written the day before, Aug. 29, by his chief of staff. It details the timeline of the (French) raid. It's the vade-mecum of the French intervention," the article states.The reporters did not say how they obtained the copy.

They also publish extracts of the document in question detailing the operation that would have seen Rafale fighter jets from the French base in Abu Dhabi launching five Scalp missiles on Syrian bases if Hollande gave his go-ahead.The operation never went ahead as Obama eventually decided not to launch strikes.The official at the prosecutor's office said the Ministry of Defence had been asked to confirm that the documents were classified and to check the extent to which they compromised national security.

The president's office declined to comment.The investigation comes after opposition conservative lawmakers earlier this month started a process to activate Article 68 of the constitution, potentially allowing parliament to impeach the president, following other revelations in the same book, "A President Shouldn't Say That".

The authors quoted Hollande as saying in October 2015 that he had authorised four targeted killings. He appeared to backtrack a month later by saying formal clearance was not given in such cases, but only suggestions to go ahead with a hit.Parliamentary party leaders are due to decide on whether to continue the process on Wednesday, although it is not expected to go much further.Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, a key Hollande ally, has previously said neither incident breached national security. (Reporting by John Irish and Gerard Bon; additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey; editing by Andrew Roche)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Indian governments five-year ban on the supremacist Islamist preacher, Dr Zakir Naik seems to have gratified many people  Muslims and non-Muslims alike  who concern themselves with the pluralistic ethos of the country. But is the story over? How could this eventual ban bring an end to the process of fanatic indoctrination ushering in the age of Internet?

The story isnt quite over yet, says a Firstpost article. Banning Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) will not undo the messages he has preached to youth all these years... There is a need to keep a continuous vigil. Naik might be planning his next moves sitting in Dubai, where he is currently believed to be, it adds.

The above remark is not difficult to understand, bearing in mind that many Muslim youth from Maharashtra left their home to join the Islamic State (IS) earlier this year, some of them allegedly inspired by Naik.

Only recently, an alleged operative of IS was arrested in Sikar district of Rajasthan. This IS sympathiser was involved in raising funds from India, Bangladesh and UAE, and transferring to the IS for the last two years through hawala, PTI had reported.

Here, it is quite pertinent to note that the alleged IS operative was in contact with other sympathisers of the global jihadist organisation via social networking sites. An MBA graduate, who was previously working as an assistant financial manager at a reputed firm in Dubai, he has a wife and children in Mumbai. But instead of caring for his family and earning a livelihood  the most essential duty in Islam  he joined those who are fighting for a cause, and is completely remorseless in supporting the IS!

There are two crucial points that emerge from this instance of fanatic indoctrination:

First, at a time when extremist preachers like Naik and his organisation, IRF are banned in India, it is equally important to unravel the cause which attracts Muslim youth to such indoctrination and join the IS.

Second, as it is clear from the above incident, Muslim youth in India are being indoctrinated through online and digital channels a lot more as compared to the offline activities of the extremist Islamist outfits. Thus, countering online fanaticism is more urgent a challenge before India than banning a radical organisation and a preacher for a few years. Though the latter too is a gigantic task to accomplish, it is no less lethal than the violent spade of terror that attacks through bomb blasts from Mumbai to Kolkata and Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Coming back to the first point, the major cause which lures the youths to quit their education and career and join a global jihadist outfit like IS is the apocalyptic theory being misconstrued by the Islamist preachers today.

The apocalyptic worldview or millenarian thesis of the radical Islamist preachers is a large part of the attraction for Muslim youth even in India. As propagated by the IS ideologues, we are living in "end-time" (an era close to the doomsday). Therefore, the IS exhorts the Muslim youth to engage in the end-times battle, al-malhama, an Islamic synonym of the Christian theory of Armageddon which refers to the final war between human governments and God.

Though nearly all world religions have prophesies on the end-time, much of the violent political abuse of this concept is seen across the Muslim world. The very apocalyptic theory was an inspiration behind the ideologues of al-Qaeda as well. Much before Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Jordanian radical Islamist ideologue Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Osama bin Laden and other radical Islamist mentors also talked about it but they did not give it primacy.

But for IS, the apocalyptic theory or millenarian thesis is central to its violent ideology. It believes itself to be one of the earliest armies to fight the end-time battle to defeat the governments of kuffar (infidels) and establish the puritanical Shariah in its global Islamic state. In order to achieve this long-term goal, the IS has actively engaged in the fulfillment of the pre-requisites of its self-imposed caliphate, such as the revival of pre-Islamic slavery in Arabia. The IS mouthpiece in English Dabiq has published an article which concludes that the revival of slavery before the Hour (doomsday) is imperative. The third article in this issue of Dabiq, entitled The Revival of Slavery Before the Hour clearly says: Enslaving the families of the kuffar (infidels) and taking their women as concubines is a firmly established aspect of the Shari'ah that if one were to deny or mock, he would be denying or mocking the verses of the Koran and the narrations of the Prophet... and thereby apostatising from Islam.

The anonymous author of this article who seems to be well-versed in the classical Islamic jurisprudence, further writes: This large-scale enslavement of mushrik families is probably the first since the abandonment of this Shari'ah law. The only other known case  albeit much smaller  is that of the enslavement of Christian women and children in the Philippines and Nigeria by the mujahidin there. The enslaved Yazidi families are now sold by the Islamic State soldiers... .

This IS author justifies the enslavement of not only the kuffar and mushrikin (non-Muslims) but also the Muslim sects other than the Salafis who follow the 12th century puritanical Islamic scholar, Imam Ibn Taimiya. Addressing the question whether Yazidis (the members of an ancient Kurdish sect that borrows elements of Islam) are entitled to enslavement, as they are "deviant" and "apostate" Muslims, the author avers: Yazidi women and children (are to be) divided according to the Shari'ah amongst the fighters of the Islamic State who participated in the Sinjar operations (in northern Iraq).

In a foot-note, the author also takes up the question of whether the enslavement would be meted out to the different groups of the Shiites. The answer is as follows: The enslavement of the apostate women belonging to apostate groups such as the rafidah, nusayriyyah, duruz, and ismailiyyah is one that the fuqaha (Islamic jurists) differ over. The majority of the scholars say that their women are not to be enslaved and only ordered to repent because of the hadith, 'Kill whoever changes his religion,'" it says referring to Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the six hadith collections of Sunni Islam. "But some of the scholars including Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and the Ahnaf (Hanafis) say they may be enslaved, the author adds.

Notice the resemblance between the above remark of the IS ideologue in Dabiq and that of the star Salafist preacher in India, Naik answering a similar question in one of his public talks. Naik justified rather more heinous crime of slavery, "sex slavery" with his masterful misuse of the religious texts of Islam. In the same tone and tenor as that of the IS author, Naik justified sex slavery in 2010 in his public speech (check this video) on the question, Is sex allowed with slave women in Islam.

Similarly, Naiks views on death penalty for those who are declared "apostates" have no conflict with what the IS author has pointed out. According to him, if somebody wanted to convert to any faith other than Islam, the capital punishment would be the most "humane punishment" for such a person. This video of his talk on "capital punishment for apostates" leaves no doubt in the complete replication of Naiks theology to the inhuman ideology of IS and Taliban.

Thus, through his TV channel and in other so-called Islamic Dawah programmes, Naik has preached precisely what IS ideologues have. Several articles in Firstpost have candidly exposed Naik as an Islamist supremacist who speaks of sex slaves, wanton killing of apostates and justifies the terror crimes as heinous as suicide bombing. At a time when the worlds progressive Islamic scholars are outraged at the pre-Islamic practice of keeping sex slaves that the IS has now revived, Naik has justified the vile custom.

Just as Dabiq misleads the ordinary English-speaking Muslims of the Middle East, the first Salafist television in India, Peace TV founded and conceived by Naik has misguided scores of English-speaking Indian Muslims who are either gullible or oblivious to the grave threat posed to the tolerant Indian Islam.

At a time when the IS is flogging the fiction of its pre-conceived apocalypse in its bid to revive the vile pre-Islamic custom of slavery and establish its own caliphate, Naik and many other self-styled preachers of Islam have helped the extremist cult expand in the Muslim community the world over. But merely banning the extremist indoctrinators is not sufficient enough to stem the tide. As clearly evidenced above, this extremist tribe is growing more rapidly in the virtual world. The online media is being increasingly used to spread the Islamist radicalism. Therefore, the government needs to provide digital literacy to the Indian youth and civil society organisations, religious scholars and media experts to counter the online indoctrination of the Muslim youth and rescue them from the extremist ideologies.

The author is a scholar of comparative religion, classical Arabic and Islamic sciences, cultural analyst and researcher in Media and Communication Studies. Views are personal. Write to him at: grdehlavi@gmail.com
Jammu: A BSF head constable who was injured in heavy cross-border firing from the Pakistani side succumbed to his injuries on Monday in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Rai Singh, 40, was injured in Sunday night's shelling from the Pakistani side along the line of control (LoC) in the Rajouri sector in which three other BSF personnel were also injured. The condition of another BSF personnel was critical.

"Last night in heavy shelling from Pakistan side along the LoC in Rajouri area, four BSF Personnel sustained splinter injuries. Head Constable Rai Singh, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of another personnel was serious," a BSF officer said.

Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by wife, three sons and mother, he said.

The army and the BSF were giving befitting response to the Pakistani ceasefire violations and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in.

Sunday night's violation of the ceasefire came a day after a BSF jawan and a woman were injured and two houses damaged when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortar attacks and small arms fire.

On Saturday morning, Pakistani army resorted to ceasefire violations in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon, they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas.

On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu district. On Tuesday, they also targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.

There have been over 290 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops. These incidents have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on 29 September.
Pune: An infant girl died at KEM Hospital in Pune on Sunday after she was allegedly refused treatment by a prominent hospital for her heart condition, apparently over the issue of payment in demonetised currency notes.

However, Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was to be admitted for heart surgery, refuted the claim made by her relatives that their request to accept at least part payment in defunct banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 was turned down.

A close relative of Amrapali and Gaurab Kunte, parents of the deceased girl, said the doctors had advised them to admit her in Ruby Hall Clinic for heart surgery.

"However, when we went to Ruby on Saturday morning, the billing department gave us quotation of Rs 3.5 lakh and told us to deposit the same before any treatment."

"We then offered to make Rs 1 lakh payment in demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. However, the hospital administration refused to accept these notes," claimed Sudhakar Gawandgave.

He said her parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards.

"When they (Ruby Clinic) turned down the demonetised bills, we offered them that we would pay Rs 1 lakh through current cheque and Rs 30,000 through card payment and requested them to allow the remaining payment through another cheque, which needs to be deposited in bank on Monday," Gawandgave said.

He alleged that the hospital administration turned down their offer and instead demanded full payment which he said resulted in wastage of golden hours.

"They made us run from pillar to post to admit the girl. Had she been admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital, the golden hours would not have been wasted."

"The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to be put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning," Gawandgave said.

When contacted, Dr Sanjay Pathare, Director, Medical Services, at Ruby Hall Clinic, refuted as "baseless and false" the claims made by the relatives.

"Firstly, at Ruby Hall Clinic, patients in critical condition are never denied admission. In this case, the baby never reached the hospital and died at KEM."

"There is no question of demonetised notes as I have got the information that the billing department told them to bring the infant to the hospital and pay whatever you have, but we have no idea after that conversation, who did they approach and who misguided them," he said.

Pathare said that in an emergency situation, there is no question of money as the priority is always given to treatment.

In the wake of demonetisation, the Maharashtra government has directed private hospitals to accept cheques from patients in case of emergencies. The hospitals can face action if the patients are denied treatment for want of cash.
New Delhi: Members of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India held a protest march on Monday demanding action against those who assaulted Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar Najeeb Ahmed prior to his disappearance in October.

The protesters, who included students from JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), among others, were accompanied by Ahmed's mother Fateema Nafees.

"We want JNU authorities to punish the three students  Vikrant, Sunil and Ankit  for assaulting Ahmed, a fact which has been acknowledged in the Proctorial inquiry as well," Sadat Hussain, an SIO member from JNU told IANS.

The SIO is the students' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

"We also condemn the police for still not being able to find Ahmed, who is missing for 36 days now," Hussain added.

Najeeb Ahmed, a first-year MSc student at the School of Biotechnology in JNU, reportedly went missing after allegedly being beaten up by some students comprising ABVP members, who had gone campaigning to his room for hostel elections on the intervening night of 14-15 October.

A Proctorial Inquiry formed to identify the assailants had found at least one student named Vikrant to be guilty of assaulting Ahmed. He was served a showcause notice on 7 November and asked to reply within seven days.

Another student told IANS that apart from seeking justice for Najeeb, this protest is also against the changing face of the nation under the current dispensation.

"This protest is against fascist forces, against Una lynching and fake Bhopal encounter," he said.

The protesters marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar where Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, along with several other political leaders and members of civil society, was scheduled to address them.
Mumbai: Rejecting reports that normalcy is returning to strife-hit Valley, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said dialogue with all stakeholders including Hurriyat is the only way to resolve the impasse.

He also dismissed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that the incidents of stone-pelting on security forces are on the decline post demonetisation of high-value currencies.

"The incumbent coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir is not working on the lines of its joint working manifesto which talks about holding talks with the Hurriyat. I am of the firm view that if Kashmir (issue) has to be resolved forever, then we would have to talk to all stakeholders including Hurriyat," Abdullah said on the sidelines of an event.

He was in Mumbai to attend the 'Mother Teresa Memorial International award for Social Justice 2016' function in suburban Andheri, organised by Harmony Foundation.

"Latching onto few long-pending issues in Valley, a Kashmiri youth Burhan Wani was made from zero to hero," the former J&K Chief Minister told reporters.

The Valley has been on boil since the encounter killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani by security forces in July.

Responding to a query on Parrikar's statement that stone-pelting incidents dipped in the wake of demonetisation decision, Abdullah said there was no truth in this claim.

He also dismissed media reports that normalcy was being restored in the Valley.

"Who is saying so?...The reports are devoid of truth. How many of you have been in Valley and seen the ground reality. If there is (indeed) something like that (normalcy), it would be very short lived.

"Perpetually peaceful environment in the Valley would be restored when the local people would have the chance of employability. But unfortunately, nothing seems viable at this stage," Abdullah said.

On scrapping of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 banknotes, the NC chief said the decision was good but "badly implemented".

"Government should have made sufficient arrangement for flow of currency before going ahead with this (demonetisation). Had it been implemented properly, nobody would have died in queue for getting cash," Abdullah said.

He said people of Jammu and Kashmir are worst hit due to demonetisation as there are few banks and ATMs in Valley.

Replying to a query on black money, Abdullah said, "Circulation of black money will never end from our country. Every political party banks on black money. When the state Assembly elections will be held, we will see who will use choppers and flights for campaigning which will prove whether the demonetisation has ended the black money from the market or not."

He also questionned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his policy regarding Pakistan.

"In a stopover, Modi went to wish Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and had a dinner with him in his kitchen. Modi touched the feet of Sharif's mother. But, there was no dialogue between these two leaders to improve the relationship between the two countries...If there was any dialogue held let it be known to everyone," he said.
Within days after G Janardhan Reddy's daughter's lavish wedding grabbed headlines for its uber splendour, Income Tax Department has raided the mining baron's offices in Bellari.

According to a report in OneIndia, a team of five I-T Department officials raided the former BJP lawmaker's Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) offices. Reddy's residence can come under the scanner next, as reported by AAJ Tak.

According to CNN-News18, the I-T officials entered Reddy's offices and cordoned off the premises at around 12.30 pm. The raids were still underway, at the time of writing this report.

The I-T officials also conducted surveys on at least ten locations of high-end event management firms, catering and multi-media service providers who were engaged for the extravagant wedding, according to PTI.

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations in bengaluru and three in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week in the city.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event. Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the

taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.

The CNN-News18 report added that the BJP, whose prominent ministers were in attendance of the alleged Rs 500-crore worth of grand affair, has distanced themselves from the I-T crackdown. The party said that its leaders' decision to attend the event was made on a personal level. However, it added that the opulence was uncalled for and could have been avoided, given the timing of the event.

The grand wedding of the mining baron and former minister's daughter took place at the sprawling Palace Grounds in Bangalore on 16 November. According to Deccan Chronicle, just a day before the five-day-long lavish event came to its conclusion, an RTI activist T Narsimha Murthy had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Income Tax.

The opposition also cried foul with Congress MP Anand Sharma, lashing out at BJP in the Rajya Sabha, mocking its state leaders for attending the lavish wedding, allegedly conducted wit ill-gotten money, accroding to Economic Times. However, interestingly, State Congress President and Karnataka Hoe Minister, G Parameshwara was also seen in attendance at the wedding, along with his three cabinet coleagues.

Reddy, a former BJP lawmaker was out on bail and is undergoing trial in a multi-billion coal scam for which he was nabbed in September 2011. He spent over 40 months in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail in January 2015, according to The Hindu.

The mining baron's daughter's opulent wedding had raised eyebrows across the nation, especially since it came at a time when people across the country were reeling under cash crunch after the Modi government's apparent attempt to curb down black money hoarders.

The grandeur of the wedding was such that huge sets replicating Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and Tirumala Tirupati temple were erected at the venue, along with the replicas of the homes of both of bride and the groom.

Pre-wedding events were on with equal extravagance at the venue for the five days. The first glimpse of the ostentatious wedding came with the invitation box which had a LCD screen playing a video, where Reddy and the family were seen inviting guests, lip syncing to a song.

It is said that about 50,000 people were invited at the wedding and people were also ferried from Reddy's bastion, Bellary. Reddy and family, dressed up as "royals" in gold and diamond, had left no stone unturned for the wedding. Most utensils for the wedding rituals were either gold or silver and the entire venue was equipped with air conditioners.

The who's who of the Kannada and Telugu film industry had also attended the wedding ceremony. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Energy Minister DK Shiva Kumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa were among prominent leaders who attended the wedding.

With inputs from PTI
On 27 November, 1956, an Indian Railways train met with an accident at Arilayur in Tamil Nadu, killing 144 passengers. Exactly 60 years after that incident, Indians woke up to the news of the Indore-Patna train disaster killing 142 passengers.

This is where the tragic coincidences end.

Back then, when 142 passengers died, Railways minister Lal Bahadur Shastri decided to perform penance and resign. "I am responsible," Shastri said and quit in Parliament. Accepting the resignation, prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru told the House: "All of us are very unhappy over the tragedy but I am sure  in fact I know it  that probably the unhappiest among all of us is the Railway Minister." And now we have Suresh Prabhu, a railways minister who offers nothing except self-congratulatory propaganda on Twitter.

"Enhanced amount of ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate accident: Rs 3.5 lakh in case of death," Prabhu informs the applauding nation.

1/Enhanced amount of ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate accident:Rs.3.5 L in case of death  Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) November 20, 2016

Hope the relief would be in new currency notes, sent to banks that have ATMs that work.

Then he fires a Twitter warning: Guilty won't be spared. Ah, that's another way of passing the buck.

Who is guilty, Mr Prabhu?

Since your government came to power, fares and fees have gone up dramatically. Your ministry now charges exorbitant amounts for cancellations, doesn't give a full berth to kids if full fare is not paid and has increased fares and freight rates under various pretexts. On top of that, we have the harebrained scheme of dynamic pricing that sometimes lead to the hilarious situation of train fares being more expensive than air travel?

According to a white paper put out by Prabhu last year, Indian Railways network has 1,14,907 kilometres of total track length. Of this, 4500 kilometres of track should be renewed annually. However, due to financial constraints, the progress in track renewals is constantly coming down over the last six years. As on 1 July, 2014, 5300 kilometres track length is due for renewal. The target for the current year is only 2100 kilometres. Arrears of track renewal are accumulating which will result in disproportionately high maintenance effort. This will also result in reduced reliability of assets.

Please tweet, Mr Prabhu, how much of the earnings were spent on passenger safety? On replacing old tracks, installing automatic train protection system to minimise manual errors?

Please tweet, what is the status of your Rs 1,20,000 crore safety fund called the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh?

Please tweet, whether this fund was cleared by the ministry of finance or it remained just what your government is famous for  a mere jumla?

Please tweet, how have your new ideas like dynamic pricing helped the railways? Last heard, the national carrier was suffering a loss of Rs 30,000 crore because of your ministry's decision to hike prices and fares without providing additional safety and services.

Please tweet, what is the status of the recommendations of the Anil Kakodkar panel on Railways? What happened to its suggestion that there be an independent safety regulator? Last heard, your junior minister was telling the Parliament that the regulator was under consideration. How many more deaths and accidents will help you make up your mind?

The truth is, the entire railways is guilty of murder of passengers who boarded the ill-fated train. It is the result of lack of urgency for making train travel safe, carrying on with the historical legacies of previous governments that used it just for addressing its political constituency.

Two years ago, when Prabhu had presented his first budget, Firstpost had hailed his decision to eschew populism and work on making Railways a top-class service provider. But, since then, most of his early promise has been belied and reforms halted. Falling revenues, inadequate safety measures reveal that he has been all talk and very little action.

Prabhu is right when he says the guilty should be punished.

Ever heard of moral responsibility? Ever heard of a gentleman called Lal Bahadur Shastri, Mr Minister?
The tragic Patna-Indore Express accident near Kanpur, killing over 140 people and injuring another 200, has been blamed on a "rail fracture"  a structural malfunctioning of the track due to repeated expansion and contraction because of change in season.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu didn't mention 'rail fracture' in his statement following the accident, but by the time he spoke in Parliament on Monday, the term had already been picked up and repeated several times and was almost taken as the officially stated reason behind the accident.

Though nature does play a hand in weakening the structural integrity of railway tracks, it cannot rupture a gap in the track of the magnitude that caused the accident on Sunday. If that were the case then we would have heard of a multitude of rail accidents all over the world in every winter and summer season change, and high speed bullet trains would not run in China, Japan and other developed countries.

The apparent cause of the accident, as of now, is a routine mechanical fault; the gravity of which was compounded by the lackadaisical "chalta hai" approach of railway officers and staff. The accident was not caused due to human failure, nor was it a result of sabotage, at least there is no such indication so far.

That firmly rests the blame solely on the mechanical or maintenance division of the Indian Railways. The railways' brass and lesser mortals thus can't shift the blame on the paucity of funds and policy issues on safety, even though augmentation and policy implementation of safety remains a major concern. But blaming the accident on a broader safety issue defeats the purpose with respect to the present tragedy.

"There shall be a separate comprehensive investigation aided by latest technical and forensic analysis by an appropriate agency to look into all possible angles. Strictest possible action would be taken against the guilty," Prabhu said.

One would have to see what kind of action the railway minister is willing to take in the days to come. Will the heads of those who matter roll or will class II and III employees bear the brunt? Demands are being made for Prabhu's resignation on moral grounds; as had happened in 1999, when the then Railway Minister Nitish Kumar had resigned after the Gaisal train tragedy that killed 290 people and when Lal Bahadur Shastri had resigned in 1956, following the Ariyalur train accident that had killed 142 persons.

As history would suggest, both Kumar and Shastri  who had resigned taking moral responsibility over a train accident  only rose higher in the ranks. Shastri went to become the home and external affairs minister and then eventually the prime minister, whereas Kumar became the rail minister again, and then held other Union ministries as well before becoming the Bihar chief minister.

The rail minister's resignation after such tragedy, thus, is not a worthwhile solution. In fact, apart from proving a rhetorical point, a minister's resignation means nothing, unless one wants to secure Prabhu's future for greater glory. The railway board chairman, its members, general managers, divisional railway managers, the chief engineers and so on, are never made to stand in the firing line.

For them, the business continues as usual. It is high time that they, and not the ordinary mortals in the ministry, must be held accountable for their shortcomings and should lose their high paying job and its perks in the event of a mishap.

Prabhu may have run a successful 'PR campaign' through his twitter feed  by providing milk to babies and other such comforts to some passengers  but the present tragedy is a far serious and more pertinent issue. The stories emerging from the accident spot near Kanpur, describing tales of the victims' suffering, are both touching and highly disturbing. It's time that the railway minister stands up and takes responsibility, even if it does not translate into his resignation but sets into motion a plan to fix the safety problems for now and forever  be it human, mechanical or technical.

Then there is the other aspect of the mismanagement problems in the railways: Blaming everything on fund and logistical shortages. Now that reports have emerged suggesting how the demonetisation move will help fill the government's coffers in the long run, this time worn excuse should finally be put to rest. Prabhu and his men have to perform with substance, and not get carried away through sponsored or social media accolades.

Just see what the Railway Ministry had say to the Parliament two days before the horrific accident. An official statement issued by PIB on the basis of a written reply given by Minister of State in Railway Rajen Gohain to the Rajya Sabha on 18 November said: "Track renewal is an ongoing process which is undertaken as and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal on age-cum-condition basis. Track renewal works are planned in advance every year and their execution is prioritised according to the condition of track and overall availability of funds ensuring all the time that the track is in a sound condition for the safe running of trains,"

"In case, if any stretch of track is not renewed in time due to various reasons including scarcity of funds, material etc, suitable speed restrictions are imposed to ensure the safe running of trains. As on 31 March, 2016, track renewal covering 5,900 km have been sanctioned, out of which 2,668 km is targeted for the year 2016-17. As per norms, track renewal works are to be completed within two to three years of sanction. This, however, also depends on budget availability," the statement said.

In response to another query on safety, the minister goes on to say that: "The Ministry of Railways has requested the Ministry of Finance to sanction a non-lapsable Rastriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) totalling Rs 1,19,183 crore, out of which Rs 1,11,683 crore is to be funded by the Ministry of Finance for safety improvement of the Indian Railways. The safety related works identified are related to track works, bridge rehabilitation, safety works at level crossing, replacement and improvement of signalling system, improvement and upgradation of rolling stock, replacement of electrical assets and human resource development with approximate fund requirement."

The rider about "budget/fund availability" is cleverly placed in every sentence of the statement. Now that the Finance and Rail Budget is to be unified, and presented by the finance minister, hopefully no such excuses can be expected again.

Prabhu was handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from outside of the existing talent pool in the ruling BJP to head the railways, with the aim to modernise it. Railways has always held a prime slot in Modi's plan of modernising and developing India. But the Patna-Indore Express train tragedy is a grim reminder that words are no horses and mere dreams are no reality.
Kolkata: Hitting out at Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "falsifications" and "spreading canards" about demonetisation, BJP today asked her to come clean on charges of receiving huge funds from a fictitious company before 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Coming down heavily on Mamata for saying that anyone who opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy was equated with corruption, BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh claimed, "Mamata Banerjee resembles the comic character of 'Betal'. She keeps on blabbering lies, false statements and canards. She should stop spreading those lies. She is questioning the Prime Minister, but what is her credibility?

"She had arrested a professor for circulating cartoons and a farmer for seeking a clarification regarding crops. She had asked the police administration to harass a college student for questioning her. She should not make those statements," Singh told PTI.

The BJP leader questioned the TMC supremo about the funds that her party had received from a fictitious company before the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

"She is yet to answer our queries about the involvement of her party leaders in Narada and Saradha scam. I would like to ask her what is the basis of the huge donation that her party had received from a fictitious company. From where did this black money come?" he asked.

The Enforcement Directorate, had in March 2015, launched an investigation to determine whether TMC had received laundered money through donations and loans from a little known firm with hardly any business.

Singh said Mamata's protest on demonetisation was a reaction to the "major blow TMC has received as several scams took place during its rule in the state."

The tension of Mamata and TMC is palpable as fake currency notes and chit-fund scams are rampant during TMC regime, he added.
Kolkata: Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "falsifications" and "spreading canards" about demonetisation, BJP on Monday asked her to come clean on charges of receiving huge funds from a fictitious company before 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Coming down heavily on Banerjee for saying that anyone who opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy was equated with corruption, BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh claimed, "Mamata Banerjee resembles the comic character of 'Betal'. She keeps on blabbering lies, false statements and canards. She should stop spreading those lies. She is questioning the prime minister, but what is her credibility?

"She had arrested a professor for circulating cartoons and a farmer for seeking a clarification regarding crops. She had asked the police administration to harass a college student for questioning her. She should not make those statements," Singh told PTI.

The BJP leader questioned the TMC supremo about the funds that her party had received from a fictitious company before the 2014 Lok Sabha election. "She is yet to answer our queries about the involvement of her party leaders in Narada and Saradha scam. I would like to ask her what is the basis of the huge donation that her party had received from a fictitious company. From where did this black money come?" he asked.

The Enforcement Directorate, had in March 2015, launched an investigation to determine whether TMC had received laundered money through donations and loans from a little known firm with hardly any business.

Singh said Banerjee's protest on demonetisation was a reaction to the "major blow TMC has received as several scams took place during its rule in the state."

The tension of Banerjee and the TMC is palpable as fake currency notes and chit-fund scams are rampant during TMC regime, he added.
New Delhi: Yet another day of Parliament was wasted on Monday over the issue of demonetisation, with opposition creating ruckus in both Houses over various aspects related to

the November 8 decision of the government.

The Lok Sabha could not function for the third straight working day as opposition parties insisted on Adjournment Motion on demonetisation and a debate under a rule that entails voting.

The Rajya Sabha, which saw a day-long inconclusive debate on demonetisation on the opening day of the Winter session on 16 November, has also failed to transact any business since then as the opposition has been pressing for presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for resumption of the discussion.

On Monday, the opposition in the Upper House added another dimension by asserting that no discussion on demonetisation would take place till the House adopts a resolution mourning the death of nearly 70 people allegedly due to hardships caused after scrapping of notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations.

Among those pressing for the resolution were Congress, BSP, TMC and CPM. Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Opposition of running away from the demonetisation

debate.

"Merits and demerits will come out in a debate... Why are they (opposition parties) running away from debate? This is clear now that the opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House," he said amid slogan shouting by opposition members who were in the well of the House.

Stating that the notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 was accepted on the first day of the winter session and a debate had started, Jaitley said the reported deaths could come up during the course of this debate and the reply to it.

The House was adjourned repeatedly even as the government side, including Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, continued to question the opposition's behaviour.

"The sense of the country is against black money. Sense of the country is in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and against those opposing demonetisation," Naqvi said repeatedly, adding that the opposition is unable to feel the pulse of the people. As the uproar continued, the House was adjourned for the

day at minutes past 3 pm.

Similar was the situation in the Lok Sabha, with opposition parties disrupting the proceedings for the third consecutive day by demanding Adjournment Motion (suspension of all work) and discussion on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government was ready for the debate if the opposition allowed the discussion under Rule 193 that does not entail voting or passage of a resolution. The opposition rejected it.

Due to the uproar, the House was adjourned repeatedly and the finally for the day at around 2 pm.
DUBLIN The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, will fly to Moscow, Washington and Tehran in the coming days in a bid to secure access to civilians in Aleppo.Hundreds of people have been killed since Tuesday in a concerted push by the government and its allies to quash resistance in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo and re-establish control over what was once Syria's biggest city."The ICRC is trying hard to engage with all parties to this conflict to find a solution to have access to all those people," Maurer told a press conference in Dublin on Monday. "We haven't seen any humanitarian assistance in a month. This is a question of urgency."

Maurer said he would meet Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday, then fly on to Washington and Tehran. "We are ready to deploy within record time if we have access," Maurer said.

"If we do not bring food, medicines and baby food to occupied Syrian cities, then those goods will not be available, especially to the most vulnerable people. There is no Plan B."

(Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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JAKARTA Indonesia's chief of police warned on Monday that demonstrators may try to storm parliament to protest against the Christian governor of the capital Jakarta, who, they say, insulted the Koran.Police used tear gas and water cannon on Nov. 4 to disperse more than 100,000 protesters demanding that the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, resign. He has denied blasphemy but nevertheless apologised for his comments.Purnama is standing for re-election in February and will compete with two Muslims for the job - a powerful position that was a stepping stone for Joko Widodo to the presidency in 2014.According to local media, police chief Tito Karnavian and military chief Gatot Nurmantyo, said on Monday: "There are hidden methods by certain groups to enter and occupy parliament... If (actions) are intended to overthrow the government, that's a violation of the law."Karnavian did not elaborate on the identity of these groups and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police last week widened an investigation into the comments made by Purnama, the first Christian and ethnic Chinese politician to hold the position.The blasphemy complaint was brought against him by Muslim groups, and prosecutors are expected to bring a case to court in the coming weeks. Purnama could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim majority nation and is also home to sizeable Christian and Hindu populations.

Many Muslims have been protesting for weeks against Purnama and Widodo, who is seen as one of his major supporters. Karnavian called on all sides to respect the legal process.

Moderate Muslim groups have echoed this sentiment, but some conservative groups have pushed for police to detain Purnama.Authorities are expecting anti-Purnama rallies to be held on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. It is unclear how many protesters will attend. (Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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A suicide bomber killed at least 28 people inside a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul officials and eyewitnesses said.

The Public Health Ministry said that at least 45 others were wounded.

"I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming," Ali Jan told AFP. Police cordoned off the area around the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the Afghan capital.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the criminal investigation department for the Kabul police, said Monday that at least 35 others were wounded in the attack.

The Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement that a suicide attack had taken place inside the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque in western Kabul. Obiadi added that the attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest among the crowds inside the mosque. Reportedly, the attacker entered the Baqir ul Olum mosque during a ceremony, the interior ministry said in a statement. "I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming," Ali Jan told AFP. Worshippers were gathering to mark the Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen, which comes 40 days after the major festival of Ashura.

Worshippers were gathering to mark the Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen, which comes 40 days after the major festival of Ashura. Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was assassinated in the year 680.

In July, more than 80 people were killed in an attack on a demonstration by the mainly Shia Hazara minority that was claimed by Islamic State militants. On 16 November, 2016, a suicide bomber on foot struck a government vehicle, killing at least six people and wounded several others, in an attack claimed by the IS.

A week before the 16 November attack, four people were killed and 128 others were wounded after a suicide bomber used and rode a bus laded with explosives into the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, says a report in AlJazeera. No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday's blast.

With inputs from agencies
Yangon: More than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages have been razed in northwestern Myanmar, according to analysis of satellite images from Human Rights Watch that fly in the face of government denials. Troops have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since a series of coordinated and deadly attacks on police border posts last month. Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, according to the UN, half of them over a two-day period when dozens died after the military brought in helicopter gunships.

Security forces have killed almost 70 people and arrested more than 400 since the lockdown began six weeks ago, according to state media reports, but activists say the number could be far higher. Hundreds of Rohingya, who have long been persecuted by the state, have tried to flee the violence to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Witnesses and activists have reported troops killing Rohingya, raping women and looting and burning their houses but the government has refused to allow in international observers to investigate. Instead Myanmar's new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by "terrorists".

Independently verifying facts on the ground has been hampered by significant restrictions placed on journalists and aid agencies reaching the area. But evidence of widespread destruction to villages is mounting. Human Rights Watch said it had identified 820 more structures that had been destroyed in five Rohingya villages between 10-18 November using satellite imagery.

In total, the rights group said its analysis showed 1,250 buildings had been destroyed during the military lockdown. "Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams.

The government has said fewer than 300 houses have been destroyed in attacks by militants who want to "sow a seed of misunderstanding between the government troops and the people." The resurgence of violence in western Rakhine state has deepened a crisis that already posed a critical challenge to Suu Kyi's administration seven months after it took power.

More than 100 people died in 2012 in clashes between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya, and tens of thousands of them were driven into displacement camps.
MEXICO CITY The bodies of nine men with signs of torture were discovered in the poor, hyper-violent Mexican state of Guerrero, the state government said on Monday.The bodies were found on Sunday evening outside the town of Atliaca, near the state capital of Chilpancingo, the state government said in a statement. Representatives from the state attorney general's office found four bodies with feet and hands bound, and the remains of five other people in plastic bags, the statement said.

Guerrero, in the southwest of the country, is the murder capital of Mexico, where deadly cartels are fighting over heroin and crystal meth trafficking routes.

In 2014, 43 student teachers went missing in Guerrero, sparking a major human rights crisis for President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose popularity has sunk to fresh lows over his handling of the economy, rising violence and perceptions of corruption.

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Bill Trott)

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Islamabad: Ending speculation that he might get an extension, Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday kicked off his farewell visits to various army units before his retirement on 29 November.

"The COAS (Chief of Army Staff) kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

Bajwa said General Raheel met troops and addressed a "huge gathering of soldiers of army and Rangers at (Lahore) Garrison."

General Raheel said accomplishment of peace and stability was no ordinary task.

"Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in off-setting all odds against the country," he said.

"We are fully prepared to respond to any challenge and no one could dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan," he said, in an apparent reference to India amid tension along the LoC.

General Raheel said that the military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' against militants in North Waziristan has resulted in a more secure and stable Pakistan with a sense of greater hope and direction.

"Pakistani people are the most resilient and brave in the world who have always persevered in adverse conditions," he said.

He asked the troops to follow the norms of their rich military tradition with even greater vigour and continue serving their people with utmost dedication, resilience and greater sense of sacrifice .

General Raheel, 60, is expected to pass on the baton of command of the army to the next army chief at a ceremony by the end of this month.

On Friday, General Raheel visited Government College University (GCU) Lahore, his alma mater and interacted with the students and faculty members.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has four options before him for the post of new army chief.

The line-up as per seniority is more or less clear.

Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat is the senior most followed by Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Official sources privy to the development told PTI that Lt Gen Nadeem and Lt Gen Bajwa are the potential candidates for the slot of the army chief for different reasons.

"PM Sharif has completed the consultation with Gen Raheel about the appointment of new chief and he is likely to pick between Ahmed and Bajwa this week," a source said.

Raheel in January had declared he would not seek extension.

"I will retire on the due date," he had said.

There were speculation that the PML-N government would give him extension at the eleventh hour citing reasons that he was needed by the country to lead war on terror. The post of Army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan.

This will be the fifth time that Prime Minister Sharif will pick the top commander of the countrys nearly 550,000 ground troops.

If his botched attempt to replace General Musharraf with Ziauddin Butt in 1999 is also counted, this will be the sixth time Sharif gets to choose an army chief.

The appointment of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC)  a position that will fall vacant on the same day as army chiefs  is a major complicating factor in the appointment of the next army chief, Dawn newspaper said.

Theoretically, the CJCSC has to be the senior-most four-star officer from any of the three services  army, navy and air force. However, since the establishment of the National Command Authority (NCA), the army has staked a claim to its leadership, because it controls the key areas of nuclear command and strategic assets.

The CJCSC is the deputy chairman of NCA's deployment committee, which is headed by the prime minister, the paper said.

The position, though a ceremonial one, is in principle senior to the office of the army chief, therefore, a senior general would have to be appointed. It is generally believed that the government would not reverse the seniority order by putting a relatively junior general in the office of CJCSC.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

| AMMAN

AMMAN Syrian rebels backed by Turkey who are trying to drive Islamic State from the city of al Bab said on Monday they clashed with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces as both groups seek to dislodge the militants to expand their own territory.The rebels said the fighting with the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab tribal fighters, led by the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, erupted in the village of Sheikh Nasser.The village and others that were captured by the Turkish- backed operation were until recently in the hands of Islamic State and part of the militants' last enclave near the Syrian-Turkish border."We clashed with the Kurdish YPG and we took over the village," said Abu Assad Dabeq, a commander in the Turkish-backed Operation Euphrates Shield. The operation was launched in August when Ankara sent warplanes, tanks and artillery into Syria in support of mostly Arab and Turkmen rebels.The SDF could not be immediately reached for comment and there was no way of independently verifying if the rebels did have control of the village. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said last week seizing control of al Bab, around 30 km (19 miles) south of the border, is a goal of the operation before targeting Manbij, where Kurdish-led forces drove out Islamic State, and the militants' de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa.

Ankara views the YPG militia as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Ankara has also said YPG fighters should not be involved in the planned Raqqa offensive.So far, the rival sides have had minimal direct confrontation as they compete to grab territory from the retreating Islamic State who once dominated swathes of territory from the Turkish border further south towards Aleppo city."The YPG are trying to advance to the areas we are advancing to," said Abu Assad Dabeq, adding his troops were already only a few kilometres away from al Bab and were fortifying their positions to hold back any advance by Kurdish-led forces.

"They are competing with us to reach al Bab. They are working on cutting all roads either from Aleppo or in the direction of al Bab," he added.The SDF had effectively created a belt that separated the mainly Arab Sunni rebels from where the Syrian army was positioned further south, he added.Capturing al Bab would be a significant victory for Ankara, which is seeking to establish a de facto safe zone and thwart Kurdish hopes of establishing a corridor between areas east and west of the Euphrates.

The Syrian army is also nearly 12 km south of the city. Damascus has said it would not allow Turkey's allies to take the city. A fighter in Failaq al Sham said the Turkish army had since Saturday stepped up its artillery shelling and aerial raids of both the militants in Qabasin, located on a strategic ground that overlooks al Bab, and the SDF in their newly gained villages in an attempt to halt their advance."The Turkish air force is helping to push back the YPG militias who have been exploiting our gains from Islamic State to step into villages vacated by the militants," Abu Anas said referring to four villages west of Manbij that SDF-affiliated forces captured, including the contested Sheikh Nasser. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Alison Williams)

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The residents of a UW-Madison apartment complex where a young child was diagnosed with lead poisoning earlier this year had complained to housing officials about chipping and peeling paint outside their apartments for a decade before the girl was poisoned, records obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal show.

The girls mother also wrote to UW Housing staff several months before her daughter was diagnosed to complain about paint she said was chipping off the entryway to her unit at University Houses apartments.

By April, after tests found the child had levels of lead in her blood well above the standard for poisoning, officials wrote in emails to residents that paint at the complex had deteriorated significantly, saying it posed an immediate hazard.

Residents say those conditions had been apparent for nearly a year before officials acknowledged them. White paint on the entryways, columns and other exterior trim of the two-story brick buildings on the far west side of campus was chipping off onto the grass and concrete landings outside of units  places where the many children who live in the complex often played.

UW-Madison had just renovated University Houses during the 2014-15 school year, but officials scrapped plans to deal with the deteriorating paint because other pieces of the project had gone over budget.

It was only after the child was poisoned and a local public health agency ordered UW-Madison to clean up the chipping and peeling paint that officials finally addressed the problem last spring.

The State Journal first reported on the lead poisoning case in June.

UW officials response to the complaints was frustrating, said Anne Riceman, a former University Houses resident whose son had elevated blood lead levels when he lived in the complex as a toddler more than 20 years ago. Riceman said she similarly complained about peeling paint at her apartment, but said housing staff did not take action until after her son was diagnosed.

I dont think they took it seriously, to tell you the truth, Riceman said of the concerns she expressed back in the 1990s. Clearly they didnt, because theres still issues.

Jeff Novak, director of University Housing, says workers have stabilized the lead paint at the apartments, and are now working on a major project to remove or encapsulate the hazardous paint.

The family of the girl who was poisoned, meanwhile, has filed a notice that they are planning a lawsuit against University Housing and campus officials.

Campus officials canceled a planned interview with Novak last week, citing the advice of legal counsel. In response to a list of emailed questions, Novak said officials handled residents complaints properly.

Our ongoing schedule of maintenance projects addressing lead-based paint in University Houses, and our documented responses to other work order requests over the years show a consistent record of appropriate responsiveness, Novak said.

A ton of chipped paint outside home

The family of the girl who was poisoned moved into their unit at University Houses in August 2015. The girls mother spoke with the State Journal on the condition that her name not be used because she is a graduate student at UW-Madison and her husband works for the university.

Their unit had just been renovated in the project that shut down University Houses the prior year. Although the buildings boasted new interiors, residents say the consequences of UWs decision not to address the lead-based paint outside the buildings soon became apparent.

The apartment was new and clean, but right away we noticed that there was a ton of chipped paint in the entryway, the girls mother said.

Amy Jancewicz, another graduate student who lived in the complex at the same time, recalled seeing big, flaking chips off the front columns outside her familys apartment in May 2015. As she looked around the complex, Jancewicz said, she realized her unit wasnt unique.

The buildings we were walking by  we were noticing that all of them had a really severe level of chipping paint on the front of the building, she said.

10 years of complaints

They were not the first University Houses residents to notice chipping paint. For years, residents told University Housing officials about paint conditions they were concerned could harm children in the complex, which caters to graduate students, faculty members and their families.

Paint chips are falling to the ground and could be eaten by children, read a maintenance request form submitted to University Housing in 2006, which the State Journal obtained through an open records request.

Another form from 2007, apparently written by a staff member, reads, Resident ... is a family medicine (doctor) and is concerned about lead.

The University Houses complex was built in 1948. Lead-based paint was used in the nearly three dozen buildings around the complex, as well as the nearby Eagle Heights and Harvey Street apartments, until the mid-1970s, according to a disclosure form University Housing gives to residents.

Novak said the complaints in the maintenance request forms were quickly addressed by University Housing employees.

The university has responded to paint chip issues, whether lead-based or not, on numerous occasions, Novak said. This work is in addition to an ongoing schedule of maintenance projects addressing lead-based paint in University Houses.

Novak said officials actively monitored paint conditions and checked apartments before new tenants moved in.

The records indicate complaints were handled on an individual basis, though, with workers dispatched to repaint problem areas.

The mother of the girl who was poisoned said her concerns were not answered until it was too late.

Months went by and nothing happened

In August 2015, just before her family moved into their apartment at University Houses, the mother of the girl who would later be poisoned sent officials an email detailing concerns she had after touring her future home.

As we entered the unit, there appeared to be a lot of chipped paint and part of the column was broken off, she wrote on Aug. 3. Will the chipped paint be fixed and column?

The girl, who was a year and a half old when the family moved into the apartment, often leaned on the columns to navigate the step down from the landing to the sidewalk, and frequently put her hands in her mouth, the mother said.

Thats common behavior for young children, said Jerome Paulson, an emeritus professor of pediatrics at George Washington University. Paulson, an expert on lead hazards, said its also a common way for lead to get into the bloodstream.

A University Housing official told the mother in a reply email that the columns will be addressed shortly.

But, the mother said, Months went by and nothing happened.

UW-Madison spokesman John Lucas said the woman toured the apartment before it was ready for residents. Crews stabilized the paint before her family moved in and were planning an exterior painting project, according to Lucas. University Housing did not receive additional complaints about the paint from the mother until this spring, he said.

In February, around the girls second birthday, a routine lead test found she had a blood lead level of just under 25 micrograms per decileter  well above the standard for lead poisoning set by Public Health Madison Dane County, and nearly five times what the federal Centers for Disease Control considers an elevated lead level. A follow-up test found a similarly high result, the mother said.

The test results prompted Public Health Madison Dane County to get involved. In April, the agency officially ordered University Housing to clean up the chipping paint outside the girls apartment, and made clear to UW that crews also needed to address the similar conditions at the rest of the complexs buildings.

Maintenance request forms indicate that crews repainted the girls unit in March  just before the official public health order, but seven months after the mothers complaint.

A photo taken by the girls father shows that by the time officials addressed the problem last spring, columns had shed so much paint that in some areas their bare wood was exposed.

Lawsuit could be coming

The girls mother says tests show her blood lead levels have been dropping since this spring, but her parents plan to monitor her development closely to see if the poisoning has any long-term effects.

Paulson said children who have been poisoned by lead are at greater risk of a range of problems, including learning disorders and behavioral problems, even if their blood lead levels decline over time.

The damage, once done, is irreversible, Paulson said.

The girls family has not yet sued UW-Madison, but filed a notice of claim with the state attorney general in July indicating they plan to.

Although Novak said in June that officials planned to entirely remove lead-based paint from the building exteriors at University Houses, he now says the lead abatement project, which is being managed by the state Division of Facilities Development, will involve leaving some of the paint in place and encapsulating it. There is no set date for when officials hope to complete the project, he said.

The current project ... goes beyond requirements for lead abatement, Novak said.

So long as lead remains in the buildings, Paulson said, UW officials will need to stay on top of the paint conditions to ensure it doesnt degrade and pose a risk to residents again.

They are going to need to monitor those buildings until they tear them down, Paulson said.
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Angela Merkel will seek a fourth term as Germanys chancellor in general elections next year, the German news agency dpa reported yesterday. Citing sources at the Berlin headquarters of Merkels Christian Democrat party, the agency reported that the 62-year-old chancellor also will run to be re-elected as the partys chairwoman when it holds its national convention next month.

Footage shows airstrike hitting Aleppo hospital

Footage obtained by The Associated Press shows the moment a childrens hospital in northern Syria was hit by an airstrike. The exclusive CCTV video shows the interior and exterior of the pediatric facility in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, as it was hit by the bomb on Friday. The Syrian government has stepped up its bombardment of besieged eastern Aleppo  an onslaught that began last week when Syrias ally Russia announced its own offensive on opposition-controlled parts of the country. Since then, more than 100 people have been killed across northern Syria.

Maduros nephews found guilty in cocaine case

Two nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro were found guilty of conspiring to traffic 800 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S., in a politically fraught case that links the countrys ruling family to the corruption plaguing its economy. Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 30, and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, 31, could face 10 years to life in prison after a jury delivered a guilty verdict in Manhattan court Friday. The men are nephews of Cilia Flores, Maduros wife, and Venezuela contends they were kidnapped, showing that the Drug Enforcement Administration has operated illegally in Venezuela, in contravention of a 2005 decree.
Zhuhais Gongbei customs gave a total of 182 relics to the citys museum, according to mainland reports. The relics are all items seized by the department over recent years. Buddha sculptures, from the time when mainland China was still called the Republic of China and a vase from the Qing Dynasty are some of the elements included in the collection. Zhuhai Museum is arranging schedules to display these relics to the public. In 2010 and 2012, Gongbei customs handed over 3,749 and 15,573 relics, respectively, to Guangdongs cultural authority.

Passenger attempts to jump off bus because of traffic jam

The traffic jam, a consequence of the Macau Grand Prix, is responsible for many complaints made by the public. A passenger reportedly tried to jump off a bus last Thursday after waiting for a long period inside the bus. According to a report by Jornal Cheng Pou, around 10 a.m. on the said day, the passenger had been waiting for approximately 20 minutes at the R. de Tribuna bus stop. Unhappy with the traffic outside, the passenger tried to jump off the bus from a window, but was stopped by the driver. This incident was first posted on online social websites. The bus involved was from Transmac.
The Venetian Macao, Conrad Macao, Cotai Central and Four Seasons Hotel Macao have been named among Chinas Top 100 Hotels at the prestigious China Travel Awards 2016, held by the Chinese edition of leading travel magazine, Travel + Leisure.

In this years edition, an impressive seven of the 100 hotels across Greater China named in the authoritative list are based in Macau, three of which are Sands Resorts Cotai Strips properties. These three resort hotels also made the Top 100 last year.

Inspired by Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Awards, the annual China Travel Awards recognize leading operators in the travel industry, including hotels, airlines and cruise operators, as well as leading destinations. The magazine undertakes an exhaustive evaluation process to come to a transparent decision on the tourism industrys best performers, incorporating an industry-judging panel alongside media and reader votes, as well as a mystery judge.

Wynn to organize sme procurement partnership meeting

Wynn Resorts Macau is partnering with the Macau Chamber of Commerce to organize the third Wynn Local SME Procurement Partnership Meeting  Business Matching Session for Small and Micro Enterprises, Made in Macau Enterprises and Young Entrepreneurs on December 13.

The partnership meeting, which will be held at the Grand Theater Ballroom of Wynn Palace, will be held with appointments arranged in advance, with local Small and Micro Enterprises, Made in Macau enterprises and Macau Young Entrepreneurs invited to send representatives to attend the meeting.

The meeting aims to develop mutually beneficial business partnerships, according to a press release issued by the resort.

Wynn has previously organized two partnership meetings covering two major categories  Food & Beverage and Facilities.

The third partnership meeting will further expand the procurement items to Hotel Operations and other categories such as Cleaning Chemicals, Floral Decorations and Garment and Uniform Supply, among others.

St. Regis awards resorts top butlers

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts recognized the brands top butlers in the Greater China region at the inaugural St. Regis Butler Award Ceremony held at its resort.

The winning butlers were presented with a bespoke pin designed by the newly appointed St. Regis Connoisseur Bao Bao Wan.

The signature St. Regis Butler Service, with butlers trained in the English tradition, provides personalized services while anticipating guest needs and customizing each guests stay according to their preferences.

Regis Butlers provide a wide range of services, including five signature services which are available complimentary around the world: Unpacking & Packing, Beverage Service, Garment Pressing, Service Desk and eButler, as cited in the companys press release.

The bespoke pins that were presented to winning butlers are inspired by the iconic St. Regis logo, combined with Bao Bao Wans personal and modern take on the brands personality. Each gold-plated pin is handcrafted, paying homage to St. Regis Butlers.
A mob in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, has burned the US Embassy to the ground, killing a US marine.

The five-hour siege began as an organized student protest outside the locked gates of the embassy compound.

But the demonstration grew violent as protesters pulled down part of the outer wall and broke into the compound itself. Gunfire broke out, and the marine, who was standing on the roof of the building, was shot.

The attacks are believed to have been triggered by a radio report from the Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, saying Americans were behind the occupation of Islams holiest site, the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, yesterday.

The US State Department has described the broadcast as irresponsible, outright, knowing lies. The Saudi Arabian authorities have also issued statements saying the Mecca incident was the work of Muslim fundamentalists and no Westerners were involved.

American relations with Pakistan are already at a low point after the US cut off aid in April over Pakistans nuclear ambitions, and criticized the human rights record of Pakistani leader General Mohammed Zia ul-Haq.

As the protesters began smashing windows and setting fire to the building, more than 100 embassy staff took refuge in a steel-lined and windowless vault on an upstairs floor.

Those trapped in the room included US diplomats, Pakistani staff members and a visiting journalist from Time magazine. The Ambassador, Arthur W Hummel Junior, was outside the building when the attack began.

Staff inside were able to contact him, and it was Ambassador Hummel who raised the alarm and requested help from Pakistans government.

Meanwhile, protesters found their way onto the roof of the building, and staff members later said they began firing bullets down ventilation shafts.

General Zia ordered the Pakistan Army to rescue the trapped Americans, and soldiers brought the situation under control at about 1800 local time (1300 GMT), about five and a half hours after the attack began.

Several other American institutions in Pakistan were also targeted in what appears to have been an orchestrated day of anti-American violence.

Tensions are running high since 66 American citizens were taken hostage by Iranian radical students, who seized the US embassy in Tehran just over two weeks ago.

President Carter yesterday threatened the use of force for the first time after the Ayatollah Khomeini accused the American hostages of being spies  effectively handing down a death sentence on them.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

During the search of the embassy compound following the siege, a further five bodies were found. One was an American, two were Pakistani staff members, and two were protesters.

Relations between the US and Pakistan remained uneasy until 2001, when Pakistan agreed to support the US-declared war on terror, and helped overthrowing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has also captured more than 500 members of al-Qaeda and handed them over to the US.

However, extremist groups within Pakistan continue to target US establishments there. In 2002 alone, there were seven attacks against the small American community which still lives and works in Pakistan.

The American embassy in Islamabad is now one of the most heavily-fortified in the world. US intelligence officials and diplomatic security staff analyse as many as five potential attack threats a day.

The Iranian hostage crisis caused a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Iran and the US in 1980.

The remaining 52 American hostages remained in captivity for 444 days, until their release on 21 January 1981.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg urged world leaders meeting in Peru on Saturday to help get more people online to improve global living standards while separately announcing new measures to cut down on fake news stories on the social network that some suggest could have helped sway the U.S. presidential election.

The Facebook founder took on the role of an evangelist for connectivity as he spoke at an Asian-Pacific trade summit, lamenting that half the world has no access to the online world and is being deprived of its economic potential as well as advances in science, education and medicine. He urged leaders to work with his company and others to close that gap.

If we can connect the 4 billion people who arent connected we can lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, Zuckerberg said as he addressed business and government leaders at the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

But as he was promoting the benefits of the online world in the speech, he took to his Facebook page to address one of the downsides of the internet: the rapid dissemination of bogus news stories on social networks.

Zuckerberg said in a post late Friday that his company was taking measures to curb what he said was a relatively small percentage of deliberately false stories. The measures include developing new tools to detect and classify misinformation and to make it easier for users to report the material.

He said the company also is looking into the possibility of working with established fact-

checking organizations to evaluate content and into the feasibility of warning labels for stories flagged as false.

Critics have complained that a surge of fake news stories on Facebook may have swayed some voters to back President-

elect Donald Trump. The company said last week that it was clarifying its advertising policy to emphasize that it wont display ads  thus cutting revenue  for sites that run information that is illegal, misleading or deceptive, which includes fake news. That followed a similar step by Google, which acknowledged that it had let a false article about the election results slip into its list of recommended news stories.

The bottom line is: we take misinformation seriously, the Facebook CEO said in his post. Our goal is to connect people with the stories they find most meaningful, and we know people want accurate information.

Zuckerbergs comments came after President Barack Obama, who is also attending the APEC summit, and others have been sharply critical of the spread of fake news online.

In a news conference Thursday in Berlin, Obama called bogus stories disseminated on Facebook and other social media platforms a threat to democracy. The president decried an age where theres so much active misinformation and its packaged very well and it looks the same when you see it on a Facebook page or you turn on your television.

Zuckerberg called the problem complex, both technically and philosophically. It is also sensitive issue for a company that does not want to censor content such as legitimate political satire that some people find offensive. Facebook sees itself not as a traditional publisher, but as a facilitator of global communication.

It was that lofty vision of the company that was on display as Zuckerberg spoke at the APEC forum.

He described Facebook efforts in artificial intelligence programs that could lead to advancements in medicine and education, as well as a high-altitude solar-powered drone, still in the development stage, to provide online access to places with none. He also described a program to work with local operators around the world to provide free basic internet. Ben Fox, Lima, AP
A former journalist from Hong Kong, Henry Mong, revealed how he has mingled with triad bosses, drug lords and murderers including Wan Kuok-koi.

Mong, who is now a fiction writer, recalled his involvement as an investigative crime reporter in some of Hong Kongs most notorious and barbaric crimes such as the kidnapping and disappearance of Chinachem founder Teddy Wang Teh-huei and the Hello Kitty murder.

Detailing his story to the South China Morning Post, Mong recalled his connection with a local gangster and 14k triad boss Wan Kuok-koi, also known as Broken Tooth.

Wan served more than 14 years in prison for his role in the regions 90s turf wars before being released on December 2, 2012. According to Mong, the triad boss put a considerable amount of trust in him.

I was writing about him up until his arrest [in 1998]. I interviewed him so many times, I managed to finish a 14-page story about his crimes in just two days, said Mong. In the 90s, when he was sometimes away from Macau and out of the polices reach, I had a way to contact him and he would reply, informing me of his next move. The former reporter said that Wan Kuok-

koi told him he longer wanted to be in the spotlight or have his story told.

In 2009, Mong was sentenced to five-months imprisonment after magazine East Week, where he worked as chief editor, published naked photos of former abductee Carina Lau, taken years earlier during her abduction ordeal.

Two years ago, Mong started his Chinese-language Chief Editor Detective series, which tells stories of the crimes he had covered as an investigative reporter.

Mong recalled that working on the crime beat was dangerous, revealing that they rented a secret space and had a steel office door for extra protection. He also noted that he socialized with thousands of policemen for a trade of information.

Sometimes, it was a trade-

off. For example, they might want something published to help them get a promotion, but it was of no news value. I would help them get it published as a favor, to be repaid later.

According to him, the current press can no longer follow major crimes the way they used to as the Hong Kong authotities communications systems went digital in 2004. Thus meddling on the police radio transmissions is no longer possible.
Dear Editor,

Last week, the 20-year-old activist Joshua Wong visited Washington as part of an event held by the US congressional panel co-chaired by Senator Marco Rubio.

Not only was Wongs picture with Senator Rubio of very bad taste, it did also send a clear message to the world that Hong Kongs pro-

independence movements might be backed by the Americans. Thus, giving more credibility to those who previously accused him of being Americas puppet.

Such brainless actions are giving more ground to the controversial implementation of article 23 of the Basic Law (Hong Kongs mini constitution) which would prohibit local political organizations from establishing ties with foreign bodies. Nevertheless, such a measure is unlikely to take place.

Isnt it paradoxical to advocate self determination when at the same time, you are flattering a warmonger who cares about anything but Hong Kongs well being? Isnt it contradictory for an independence advocate to pose with someone who supported Americas invasion of other countries?

Joshua Wong should consider hiring an adviser or make background researches prior to his meetings so as not to come under fire.

The young activist might not know that, but Rubio as well as his fellow colleagues support anything but democracy and freedom: they support wars, conflicts and supranational submission. Rubios only hope being to boost US military presence in the South China Sea by destabilizing the region, including Hong Kong.

One might argue that a photo isnt necessarily representative. Well, as we commonly say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

I am not attacking Wongs person, I am instead attacking his action by pointing out his lack of political maturity which makes him easily manipulable and corruptible.

Some might perceive Wongs visit to the US positively and see it as a way to put Hong Kongs issues on the US agenda. Alas, with or without Wong, Hong Kong is on the US agenda. In other words, his visit to Washington will have no positive impact on Hong Kongs future.

Moreover, most of us understand that foreign interventions of all kinds have lead to anything but peace and democracy. There is no more need for me to remind you about the number of crimes committed by the Bush administration under the name of democracy, thanks to local facilitators like Joshua Wong.

In addition to this, the panel recommended Congress to seek its support to US non-governmental organisations operating in Hong Kong, which are assisting local civil society and political groups.

The so-called conspiracy which consisted of saying that American organizations in Hong Kong were used as political and influential tools might be reality.

We have to assume that some American organizations such as the Fulbright Program have a strong influence in Hong Kong, particularly in tertiary education.

Since 2012, the US Fulbright program played an important role in the setting-up of university curriculums around the territory and came under criticism by some academics and members of the public, including myself.

Many Hong Kong citizens are aware and opposed to any kind of US interferences in Hong Kongs local affairs. Unfortunately, it seems that making such a criticism is enough to cast them on the other side of the political spectrum, thanks to double standards.

All this to say that YES, there is US interference in Hong Kong and that it will only do more harm than good.

Joshua Wong should come back to rationalism, stop this nonsense and apply for US citizenship through the online lottery if thats really what he wants instead of flattering warmongers.

Only by looking at both sides of the coin can we improve the situation.

Raphael Blet, Hong Kong
At a new, quaint teashop in the Historic Center of Macau, Rui Rocha, the store owner and current director at the Department of Portuguese at City University of Macau, sips green tea while he recounts how his fascination with the plant boomed decades earlier while on a mission in the Azores.

Sent by Portuguese authorities to comply with best practices set by the International Labor Organization, Rocha was on a mission to classify and detail the workers of the tea industry on the Portuguese Atlantic islands. What he found, to his surprise, were Chinese characters dotted about the tea production process.

The first time that I went there, I noticed water tanks with Chinese motifs inscribed on their side, he said. I wondered why? [ It turned out that] in the nineteenth century [the islanders] had recruited two tea experts from Macau to take care of the plantations.

Explaining that his mother was from Macau, Rocha said that from an early age he used to drink Chinese tea in Portugal, which had been transported from the then-Portuguese-

administered enclave.

Indeed, true to the Macanese style, Rochas shop  Casa da Rocha  fuses elements of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, in a sense following on from the tradition he spotted during that early visit to the tea plantations.

Located on the corner of Calcada da Rocha and Rua de Santa Filomena, Casa da Rocha opened only in September, though preparations began in earnest in December last year. It mixes Chinese teas with Portuguese sweets and snacks such as Ovos Moles de Aveiro (Yolks of Aveiro), Tortas de Azeitao (Azeitao Tarts) and Queijadas de Sintra (Sintra Cheesecake). They come directly from Portugal, he told the Times, and go down well with both the Portuguese and Chinese living in the city.

There are some myths about the Chinese in Macau [among the non-Chinese communities] and one of them is that they do not like things that are too sweet. I am not so sure about that, he said. I am not finding that.

The shop fuses elements of Chinese and Portuguese culture, and Rocha noted that this is, in some ways, reflective of the city itself.

Looking at Macau, you have this 3 percent [which is the] Portuguese community and 97 percent Chinese community, he postulates, so it is nice to have the same traditions in this space.

The wooden tables at which tea is served are formed in a distinctly Chinese shape, including the symmetric right angle patterns commonly found in historic Chinese design. On the tables surface lies a five-by-five grid of traditional blue and white Portuguese tiles, depicting paintbrush illustrations of mostly birds and flowers. Rocha informed the Times that they were purchased from the Casa de Portugal in Macau.

Although it sells traditional Portuguese sweets and snacks, the main focus of Casa da Rocha is, of course, tea. Rochas shop offers around two dozen different types of tea including green, white and red teas, as well as two varieties of oolong and two types of puerh (Cantonese: po-lay).

He wants his shop to be somewhere that locals and tourists alike can discover different types of tea as well as socialize with their friends and family. Rocha also believes that it can help to elevate tea consumption into becoming a social activity in itself.

I think that this is becoming a social place for locals on Saturdays and Sundays  not only for the Portuguese but for everyone who passes through, he said.

To promote this agenda and put the shop truly on the map of Macau, Rocha said that he doesnt always charge customers for tea  unless they consume a lot of it, he quickly added. I think it is better this way because it helps to attract people.

Once they like the atmosphere, Rocha is betting that they will want to come back.

Nevertheless, putting the shop on the map is still more a figurative intent, rather than an actual one to have it listed on Macaus Cultural and Creative Map. This is a possibility for the future, Rocha said, but he wants to be careful with attracting tourists due to the stores size and inability to serve large numbers of customers daily.

I am interested in having both locals and tourists come to the shop, but I need to be a bit careful about this, he warned. We have [in Macau] 30 million tourists every year, so I need to be careful with the publicity [] because if 1,000 people came here, I would not have enough [products] to sell them.

Tea culture better preserved elsewhere

Rui Rocha told the Times that the way in which tea  as a cultural institution  has been preserved in China differs greatly with other parts of the world, as does the way it is enjoyed. The shop owner said that tea in China is often consumed out of large decanters, which allow the leaves to brew for too long, spoiling the taste in his opinion.

Nevertheless, the consumption of tea in China is very much for the sole purpose of enjoyment. Contrast that with Japan, which has managed to preserve its tea heritage through traditional and ritualistic tea ceremonies dating back in part to the late-Tang and Song dynasties of China, when the beverage made its way across the East China Sea.

The traditions in Japanese tea ceremonies are to me very ritualistic. The Chinese nowadays have a much more simplified tea ceremony, with a lot more focus on the flavor, the color and the taste. [] I think [for the Japanese] the end is not to drink the tea, but rather the concept of this kind of mystic ceremony. [] It is more ritualistic and less about the enjoyment.

I am not fundamentalist about tea, jokes Rocha, taking a step back from the seriousness of the Japanese ceremonies, because, you know, we are not monks.

It is not just Japan that has managed to imbue tea as a part of its national culture in a way that seems to still elude the Chinese. Britain too, is rising in popularity as an exporter of Chinese tea, with a renaissance in interest among Chinese tourists for what is essentially their own cultural product repackaged in British warehouses.

According to data from Britains revenue and customs institution, British tea exports to Hong Kong nearly tripled in the first five months of 2016 when compared with two years earlier, while they doubled in the mainland China market.

The phenomenon prompted Rocha to recall an instance shortly after he arrived in Macau and was offered tea from a well-known British manufacturer of beverages; a brand called Tetley.

I think that is quite unusual, but is probably due to [globalization], said Rocha. These new concepts and ideas coming from the West are part of an exchange [] if you can find Buddhist temples in Switzerland, it is really not surprising to find Tetley tea in China.
Chief Executive Chui Sai On met with the President of Jinan University, Hu Jun, to exchange views on the tertiary education sector and on talent development on Friday.

The CE was on a two-day visit to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, following an invitation from Jinan University to participate in the celebrations of the institutions 110th anniversary.

According to the Government Information Bureau, Chui acknowledged that students who graduated from the university had made great contributions in different sectors of the regions community.

Chui claimed that a great number of talented people in Macau had been educated at the University, thus such residents provided a basis for the further development of the MSAR.

The government would continue to strengthen its partnership with the Jinan University, in a bid to provide more opportunities for Macaus young people to study there, and to support the citys development by ensuring it had a supply of talented people.

Meanwhile, Jinan University will increase the quota of local youths admissible to the institution, while continuing to cooperate with the MSAR and people from different sectors of the community in Macau, in order to foster talent development and the training of a greater number of professionals.

During the meeting, Chui and Hu spoke highly of the efforts to promote closer ties between the local government and Jinan University.

Earlier this year, there was a controversy over the RMB100 million donated by the Macau Foundation to Jinan University. The New Macau Association claimed that Chui Sai On had a conflict of interest in the donation, since he is the president of the Council of Trustees of the Macau Foundation and also a Vice Chairman of the Jinan University Council.
Two men have been accused of killing a Syracuse University student from China during a drug deal robbery in upstate New York, authorities said Friday.

Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway said Cameron Isaac, 23, and Ninimbe Mitchell, 20, are charged with second-degree murder, robbery and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the shooting of Yuan Xiaopeng.

During a news conference, Conway said the three men agreed to meet for a drug deal behind at an apartment complex in suburban DeWitt on Sept. 30. He would not say who initiated the meeting, what drugs were involved or whether the robbery was planned.

This was a drug transaction that went bad, Conway said. There were drugs left in the victims car.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said the main charge could be upgraded to first-degree murder if its determined Isaac and Mitchell intended to kill Yuan as part of the robbery. He said the murder weapon hasnt been recovered.

Yuan, 23, was a junior studying mathematics when he was found shot to death. He was from Qingdao on Chinas east coast and had been in Syracuse since 2011.

Authorities said Isaac and Mitchell were arrested Thursday by investigators who raided and searched their homes in Syracuse and North Syracuse. Both men are being held without bail. The names of their lawyers werent immediately available from authorities.

Fitzpatrick said Yuans family, some of whom came to Syracuse to meet with authorities earlier in the fall, have been told about the arrests. AP
PERU The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is taking place in Peru as world leaders are on edge over Trumps campaign pledges to protect U.S. jobs by backing out of the not-yet-implemented Trans-Pacific Partnership and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.

MALAYSIAN authorities said yesterday that another two Indonesian fishermen have been abducted by armed men off eastern Sabah state on Borneo island, the second such case this month and the latest in a spate of sea attacks.

INDONESIA A collision between a Vietnamese freighter and an Indonesian sailboat left 15 people missing off Indonesias East Java province. The cargo ship MV Thaison 4 and the KM Mulya Sejati, which was carrying 27 people, collided before dawn Saturday off Tuban district.

INDONESIA More than 10,000 Indonesians took to the streets of their capital to call for tolerance and unity in the worlds most populous Muslim nation, after police opened a blasphemy investigation into the citys Christian governor.

UK Britains Treasury chief says the economy could face a slowdown because of the uncertainty caused by the U.K.s decision to leave the European Union.

Philip Hammond said yesterday that were going to have an unprecedented level of uncertainty, and thats one of the factors causing many commentators to predict that there will be a slowing of economic growth.

USA An air-ambulance plane taking a heart-disease patient to a Utah hospital crashed in a parking lot in northern Nevada, killing all four people aboard and sending up explosions and flames. Three crew members and a patient were killed in the Friday night crash in Elko, American Medflight said Saturday in a statement.

FRENCH conservatives voted in a nationwide primary for the first time yesterday to choose their nominee for next years presidential election, after a campaign marked by concerns about immigration and Islamic extremism.

GERMANY Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble evoked Germanys Nazi past to warn modern-day populists against the dangers of mimicking the harsh rhetoric used in the U.S. election. Schaeuble said during a panel discussion on the U.S. election and populism in Europe: Weve had enough of this in Germany, we dont need this any more. We mustnt make minorities the scapegoats of problems we cant solve ourselves. Whoever starts this, ends up where we once were in Germany, at the end of German history.
Its mid-September, and endangered Chinook salmon are heading up to the headwaters of the Salmon River to spawn a new generation.

Thanks to a major collaborative project on Pole Creek, the stream is ready for adult and juvenile fish to thrive.

Fish and Game is delighted with how this turned out, said Windy Davis, staff biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Salmon Region. The Pole Creek project and all of our restorations up here are like welcoming our fish home, back to Idaho. We dont have a lot of control over how many fish come back but what we can do is leave the light on for them, open the doors, put out the welcome mat, and make it the best place to return home to.

Rancher Mike Henslee is feeling good about the project after more than seven years of meetings, rigorous environmental review, and then project implementation and construction. Henslee runs the Salmon Falls Ranch, based in Hagerman, with his brother. Their cattle and sheep grazing operations stretch from the Bruneau Desert to the Sawtooth Valley.

Right now, everything seems real good. Todays flow is 20 cfs in the creek, and the well is on, he said. Were right in the balancing act. So far, so good. The grass is green, cattle is doing good, as long as all the partners that came together, stay together, well be good.

The big challenge was to find more in-stream flows for fish in Pole Creek while providing a sustainable flow to Henslees ranch. Their cattle graze on about 1,000 acres of high-quality irrigated pasture adjacent to the creek.

The cattle do real well up here. Most years, we can get 3 pounds per day of weight gain up here, he said. Down in the lower country, youre lucky to get two (pounds per day). Its hot and they dont want to eat. Here, theyre enjoying life.

After several years of discussion, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area negotiated a minimum target flow of 15-18 cubic feet per second in Pole Creek to support juvenile and adult fish passage, and the Henslees agreed to a minimum flow of 5 cfs for irrigation needs.

The big change is that the Henslees used to have a water right for 23 cfs on Pole Creek. They agreed to surrender most of their water right to provide more water for fish, and they gave up water flows for a hydropower system, which had powered their pivot sprinklers. The silver bullet solution was to drill two ground-water wells to supplement the creek water and fulfill irrigation needs.

But it took clever coordination among the project partners to fund this aspect of the project. The Bureau of Reclamation covered the cost of drilling the test wells and developing one of them into operational status.

The second well was developed with NOAA Fisheries Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds through the Idaho Governors Office of Species Conservation.

The Idaho Water Resource Board is covering the annual cost of the pumping bills for irrigation through its water transactions program, funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

And a new, state-of-the-art, fish-friendly irrigation diversion was put in place on Pole Creek. It was designed and engineered by the Bureau of Reclamation and installed by Idaho Fish and Game.

We tried to get more water in the creek and keep our pastures and operation going, Henslee said.

Mark Moulton, Water and Fisheries Program Leader for the Sawtooth NRA, is pleased with the outcome. He was a key player in negotiating water flows not only with the Henslees, but also with federal fish authorities, who had to sign off on the project during the environmental review process.

I think its wonderful. I think its great in two respects, Moulton said. First, its great to find a balance between the natural resources and the multiple uses that occur along Pole Creek. Second, it was quite rewarding to see a whole group of regulatory and partner organizations come together to agree on individual objectives for the project and then run with them, piece by piece, to move the whole comprehensive effort along. Its a great story!

Henslee and Moulton started talking about making improvements on Pole Creek years ago. Because the irrigation diversion was on federal land, they knew theyd have to address the need for more stream flow, as well as upgrade the diversion so juvenile and adult fish could move up and down the stream. The old diversion had fish-passage issues, and the special-use permit allowing its operation was due for renewal.

Because of the situation with the creek, that is, theres enough water for agriculture or theres enough for fish, but not enough for both objectives. We knew that was the case here, Moulton said. The diversion took the majority of the water during the summer months and there was insufficient water for adults to move in or for juvenile fish.

With this understanding, an interagency technical group met early in the effort to establish the goals and objectives for the watershed, including streamflow. With this as a guide, in time, the Henslees and Moulton reached agreement on minimum flows for fish. Moulton took that information to NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain their agreement on the new minimum flows for Pole Creek, using charts and graphs to make his case. Historical water flow information for Pole Creek showed that even in drought years, the minimum flow could be reached.

Getting conceptual buy-off from the federal agencies early on in the process, before the Forest Service even started the formal environmental review process, made things go smooth. It was an innovative approach in the realm of government affairs and permitting.

Weve learned, just engaging them early in the conversation  build the solution together  and then when you get to the other end, and formal consultation needs to occur, youre already there, theyre already on board with that, Moulton said.

Going through the environmental permitting process raised the possibility that the project might take years to get approved. Someone could sue the Forest Service to try to stop the project. That made Henslee nervous.

The biggest thing was keeping everyone on board, keeping the ball rolling, he said. We had to get through NEPA, that was a big challenge. The environmental community in lower Blaine County, they were concerned. We had to get thru all of those hoops and loops.

Karma Bragg, project manager for the Conservation District, felt nervous about all of the potential pitfalls as well. The Custer District played an important role in serving as a broker between federal and state agencies and the Henslees throughout the project.

I think one of the toughest components of doing a project is you start working with landowners and they want it done tomorrow, Bragg said. Most of our projects are 1 to 2 years out to get all the planning done, and this one was double that, if not more.

Henslee credits the Custer District in keeping things moving forward.

Karma Bragg kept the ball moving and rolling, he said. She was very instrumental in leading the charge and getting all the agencies together and keeping them moving.

As the project proceeded, the Henslees agreed to fence off two miles of Pole Creek, with broad setbacks, to keep cattle away from the stream. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes worked on that portion of the project, providing the materials and labor to install the fence. The fencing costs were funded by the BPA.

New fish screens were installed next to the fish-friendly diversion to protect juvenile fish as well, built by Idaho Fish and Game in the Fish Screen facility at the Salmon office.

We have moved the fish screen to coincide with the new point of diversion, so they have the most modern technology with the fish screen here, Davis said.

That helps protect the out-migrating fish from getting entrained in the irrigation ditches.

The Henslees also reconfigured their grazing pastures with new fencing. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, they developed 12 off-site watering stations in the various cattle pastures and buried five miles of water pipelines to carry water to the troughs. And they installed new, more efficient pivot sprinklers for irrigating the pastures. Dale Gooby of NRCS explained.

The old system consisted of five pivots that were energized by hydropower that was diverted from Pole Creek, he says. What we did is reconfigured that system with 10 smaller pivots that are more efficient, and brought in grid power in order to make them go around.

Water from Pole Creek or the wells can be used for irrigation, depending on how much water is in the creek. These pivots are smaller, more efficient, all designed for 750 gals minute, Henslee said. We tried to get more water in the creek, and keep our pastures and operation going.

The major redesign of the pasture system was required, in part, because two of the old pivots used to roll through Pole Creek in multiple spots, providing another impact to fish and harming the creek and riparian area.

Once the whole stream was fenced off, the pivot and pasture system was reconfigured to irrigate the fields outside of the Pole Creek riparian area.

Tearing out all of the old pivots and fencing took a lot of work, Henslee said.

That took a lot of time and money, he said. The agencies came with a lot of money on the table, but we had to completely revamp it. All of the old pivots had to go down. We had several semi-loads taking them out, the old pipeline was taken out, and all of the old fences got rolled up and torn down.

They did all of that construction work in one summer.

We just turned this ranch upside down last summer. And its really nice to come back and see that its healed up, Bragg said.

Meanwhile, there were fish-passage issues at five road culverts on both private and public land in the Pole Creek project area. All of those were replaced with bridges or passable structures to make them fish-friendly as well.

Also upstream, the Sawtooth NRA addressed other fish issues along Pole Creek on national forest land. Trail bridges were installed in key locations in an existing ATV trail network to allow the closure and rehabilitation of more than 10 fords on Pole Creek. In addition, a mile of the main Pole Creek dirt road was relocated away from the creek to eliminate erosion issues on Forest Service land, and a quarter-mile of Pole Creek was restored to its historic channel upstream of the Henslee property.

All told, the Pole Creek project cost in excess of $3 million. The Bonneville Power Administration was a major funder to assist with fish habitat improvements through the Columbia River Fish Accords. The Governors Office of Species Conservation and the Custer Soil and Water Conservation District were instrumental in setting up partnerships for federal and state funding. Another major funder was the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund. At least 10 state and federal agencies participated in the project.

In addition, the project transcended the different cultures of Blaine County, home of Sun Valley, where the Sawtooth NRA headquarters is located and where potential environmental critics and litigants watched the project closely, and Custer County, where ranching, private property rights and the agricultural way of life are highly regarded.

Both Moulton and Bragg hope that a similar collaborative model could be used for future projects.

This project has more partners than any Ive ever worked on. Everyone did their part, Bragg said. But it still comes down to willing landowners and cooperation of all the partners to make this work.

Ive known Mike for many years, adds Moulton. Ive always recognized they are a progressive family. They deserve tons of credit for being willing to step up to a table full of agency folks. That isnt an easy thing to do  that took courage and patience and perseverance to stick thru all of those bureaucratic processes that have to occur.

Im happy we found that trust. They deserve a lot of the credit for this outcome.

After all was said and done, the project earned several awards  one from the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts and one from the Forest Service regional office in Ogden, Utah.

Over time, adult Chinook are expected to swim upriver and spawn in Pole Creek, and juvenile salmon will swim more than 900 miles to the Pacific

Ocean before returning two or three years later to spawn a new generation. In a recent IDFG snorkel survey of Pole Creek, they counted 1,600 juvenile

fish in the project area.

And the Henslees fish-friendly irrigation diversion on Forest Service private land was permitted for many years to come.

This is really the first year that were going to see the full implications of the project on the ground, and it might take some time to see the fish respond to the additional flow in-stream, said Davis of IDFG. Were pretty excited to see not only how it benefits Pole Creek but the Salmon River downstream from this point.
TWIN FALLS  Idaho Power knows the benefits of training its own work force.

The companys apprenticeship programs, implemented in 1954, have helped to address the need for skilled employees, decrease turnover and replace retired workers.

We have over 90 percent completion rate among our programs, and over 600 graduates, Idaho Power HR professional Shawna Potter said during a seminar on registered apprenticeships Tuesday.

Annual turnover rates are less than 3 percent, as apprentices in the companys eight programs see the value of the education Idaho Power provides.

I learn better hands-on, apprentice lineman Claysen Hale said. Youre actually doing the work, so you know what works and what doesnt.

As the Idaho Department of Labor sees increasing demand for educated and experienced workers, a new federal grant will help expand and push for registered apprenticeships throughout the state.

You cant afford not to do it because the gap is going to continue to grow, said John Russ, an area manager with the Idaho Department of Labor.

The $1.4 million federal grant announced earlier this month will expand Idahos registered apprenticeships in health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and energy.

There are nearly 1,000 registered apprentices in Idaho.

We want to increase that by at least 20 percent by years end next year, Russ said. I think that is a very achievable goal.

More than construction

About 80 percent of registered apprentices in Idaho are in construction-related trades.

Right now there are about 400 registered apprenticeship programs in the state, Russ said. Most of those are in the traditional trades, but there are a few that are scattered in the IT, health care and childcare. . . Apprenticeships arent just for the skilled trades.

Idaho already received a $200,000 planning grant to develop its strategy earlier this year. Much of the $1.4 million grant will go to industry associations to help businesses in filling out the paperwork.

PTECH, TechHelp, the Idaho Hospital Association and the Idaho Technology Council will each receive $100,000, conducting statewide outreach and education about apprenticeships. Theyve committed to creating 25 apprenticeships each during the grant period.

Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education will use part of the grant money to do job tasks analyses with businesses, and create work-based learning and training opportunities.

The goal, Russ said, is to target IT and advanced manufacturing, where the biggest gaps in a skilled work force exist. In south-central Idaho, there is strong interest from companies, including McCain Foods, for apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing pertaining to food processing, Russ said.

U.S. Department of Labor State Director Bill Kober believes Idaho should have 5,000 apprentices instead of 1,000. He also wants to make apprenticeships earn college credit that is transferable to other states.

Registered apprenticeship: How it works

Unlike other apprenticeships, a registered apprenticeship earns the employee national certification, Idaho Power Field Services Leader Joe Kendall said.

Most of the five-man crews Idaho Power has in Twin Falls have two apprentices on them who work with journeymen who supervise them. There will be a continual need for apprentices in the electrical industry for some time, Kendall said.

Businesses that hire registered apprentices pay for on-the-job training developed by their industry. There are financial incentives to help offset the cost. As employees reach certain skill levels, they become eligible for pay increases. On average, the starting wage of an apprentice is 40-50 percent of a journey workers pay.

But another big part of a registered apprenticeship is education.

Were not saying the on-the-job training replaces the education, Russ said. The apprenticeship ties those two things together.

Idaho Powers lineman apprenticeship program, for example, takes four-and-a-half years for the apprentice to become a journeyman. Hale, whos been apprenticing for more than two years, has to go to classroom training in Boise for a week every six months.

Theres a lot of time invested in each apprentice, Kendall said. The company wants each of these guys to succeed.

The majority of Idaho Powers apprenticeships take four to four-and-a-half years to complete, Regional Operations Manager Angelique Pruitt said.

Apprenticeship programs offer higher wages and more incentives than other employment in our state, she said.

How to get started

During National Apprenticeship Week earlier this month, Idaho Department of Labor hosted seminars across the state to explain the registered apprenticeships to interested businesses.

Matthew Wallace, general manager for NU-VU Glass in Twin Falls, attended the local seminar with an interest in developing a glazier apprenticeship program. His company would like to expand.

The only thing holding us back is not having enough qualified installers, Wallace said.

Its a job that takes years to become efficient, and not many young people are interested, Operating Officer Heath Woodbury said.

Businesses interested in developing registered apprenticeships can connect with a local Idaho Department of Labor representative, determine an occupation and develop stands for an apprenticeship, Russ said.

The true incentive is they have input on the training and have the opportunity to bring in a lower skilled individual and train them the way they want to be trained, Russ said.
SALINA, Utah (AP)  It doesnt matter how many times Dee Olsen walks through the old buildings, he can still feel the history.

Salina folks know nothing about it, had no idea what these buildings represented, said Olsen, who is now in his 80s.

Salina was once home to German prisoners during World War II. Its a big reason Olsen and others restored the place into a museum, reported the Deseret News.

Thank you for coming and especially for your support, Olsen told people who attended the museums grand opening.

Entering the buildings is like stepping back in time to when World War II was all Americans were thinking about, he said.

A lot of good happened here, and then of course theres the sad part, Olsen said.

Shortly after midnight on July 8, 1945, U.S. Army Pvt. Clarence Bertucci started shooting German prisoners who were sleeping in tents.

Salina resident Rodney Rasmussen lived across the street, and he said hell never forget that sound.

When this happened, it was just a tragic thing we had seen and heard, Rasmussen said. We came out on the front porch, and we could still see the flame from the gun.

Nine Germans were killed and 20 more were injured, making it the worst massacre at a POW camp in U.S. history.

It was quite an ordeal after you get to think about it for a small town like Salina, Rasmussen said.

It has taken two years and a lot of hard work to restore the site so it looks look it did at the time, but for those involved, it was important to get it right.

It is history. Its real and its not fabricated, Olsen said. We hope itll be enjoyed by many and they will understand this part of history as it really was.
TWIN FALLS  Straightening up at La Posada, Sister RoseMary Boessen occasionally finds dirty clothes balled up in the corner of her nonprofits bathroom. Someone came in and found a new clean set of clothes and left their dirty ones behind.

Rather than a burden, Sister RoseMary sees the extra work picking up discarded laundry as a sign her mission is a success.

La Posada started 23 years ago, and since that day, Sister RoseMary has been its passionate, hardworking ray of sunshine who keeps people stopping by just to say hello and see her smiling face. La Posada has helped thousands of struggling people, especially Latinos and immigrants, acclimate to life in Idaho.

Sister RoseMary has been a Sister of Mercy  an international community of Roman Catholic women who vow to serve the poor, the sick and the uneducated, with a special focus on women and children  for 58 years.

Each morning, she asks a question that keeps her focused on serving her community: Well, what are we going to do today, God?

A higher calling

In her first year in college, after attending high school with the Sisters of Mercy, Sister RoseMary felt she was being called to join the sisterhood. She taught high school home economics for eight years before she felt her life pulling her in a different direction.

So she opened up to her sisters about what she longed for: the country and the ability to work with the whole community versus individual people.

They made the suggestion for her to transfer to Buhl, and Sister RoseMary realized it was where she needed to be. So she packed her bags, left her Missouri farm and headed to Idaho. She trained teachers at the parish in Buhl for nine years before she was called to serve in another way.

Back then, I was also working with a priest in Shoshone. The bishop asked him to start a church for the Hispanic people in Twin Falls, so he asked me to come with him, recalled Sister RoseMary. I told him I didnt know Spanish and he said, You know the community, and thats what we need to be successful.

So Guadalupe Center, now known as Our Lady Guadalupe, was born.

During her 12 year stay with Our Lady Guadalupe, she was introduced to their immigration program and realized it was exactly the kind of work she wanted to do. But, like many things in life worth waiting for, Sister RoseMary found herself waiting on Gods timing. She began the process to become a nonprofit business owner and began searching for a building.

A woman at her church mentioned she knew of a place that was available, but it wasnt yet empty so shed have to wait. Time passed as Sister Rosemary began to explore other options, including a possible home office; she quickly realized she would need a bigger space.

Which is when she decided to call about a local listing for a recently vacated building. Not only was it available, but it was owned by the daughter of the woman from her church. For Sister RoseMary, this was the only sign she needed.

Smothered with love

Soon after the purchase, La Posada opened its doors, offering immigration help, low-income tax support, along with food, clothing and toys for anyone who needs it.

Sister RoseMary knows that none of this would be possible without the incredible support her community.

I cant tell you how much I appreciate the community for allowing me to share their abundance with people who need it most, she said. Because we are nonprofit, we are driven by the donations of our community, and the more they give the more we can help people who need it.

In fact, Sister RoseMary said, the agency is always accepting donations and looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping people. There are also plenty of community-service opportunities available for those who need them, and all their immigration and tax services are completely free.

I have several guys who will come in, and at the end of their visit they will say, Something about this place just feels like home, and I love that, Sister RoseMary said. I also love being older because I can just be so motherly and smother all these people with love.

Beyond La Posada, Sister RoseMary doesnt need to do much else. On the weekends she dedicates her time to a Jackpot, Nev., church. She will also go shopping, not for herself, but for supplies that might be needed at La Posada.

I usually go shopping for foods for people who are staying for long periods in motels, she said. People in motels have to eat differently because all they have is a microwave, so I try to be as accommodating to that as possible.

La Posada means The Inn, and according to Sister RoseMary, you can do whatever you want while youre at the inn. She just has one steadfast rule for anyone who comes by to have some food or a cup of coffee: Ask for permission first.

La Posadas spirit inspires people to respect each other and maintain optimism about where they are going and what they strive to do in this life.

And as she reflects on her own personal journey, Sister RoseMary knows that she is exactly where she needs to be, too.

God has just surprised me all along the way.
HEYBURN  A Heyburn man was sentenced Monday to five years of probation for a charge of insurance fraud.

Authorities say Demetre R. Alvarado, 24, filed a police report in October 2014 saying his car was stolen from a commercial garage; when the vehicle was found, he told the garages insurance company that parts had been removed. But Alvarado later said he had lied to the insurance investigator.

If Alvarado fails his probation, he could spend two to five years in prison. He was also fined $500, ordered to pay $361 in restitution to Employers Mutual Casualty Co. and $898 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Insurance and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

Alvarado pleaded guilty to the charge Sept. 12 by admitting that he provided a false statement to an insurance company.

The insurance company referred the case to the Idaho Department of Insurances Fraud Investigation Unit. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Special Prosecution Unit.
Callis B. Young

RUPERT  Callis B. Young of Rupert, funeral services at 2 p.m. Monday, November 21, 2016, at the Rupert LDS 1st Ward.

Bill W. Freeman

TWIN FALLS  Bill Freeman of Twin Falls, graveside service with military honors at 1 p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls (Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls).

Frank McCreary

TWIN FALLS  Frank McCreary of Twin Falls, services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 22, at Rosenau Funeral Home, Twin Falls.

Nelda B. Miller

BUHL  Nelda B. Miller of Buhl, funeral service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl.

Michael Gines

FILERMichael Gines of Filer, funeral services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Monday, November 21, at the Funeral Home.

Colleen Ruhter

BUHL  Colleen Ruhter of Buhl, funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday November 23, 2016 at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral.

Beverly Handy

HEYBURNBeverly Handy of Heyburn, funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 26, at the Heyburn LDS 1st and 2nd Ward Church, 530 Villa Dr., in Heyburn. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 25, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, at the church preceding the funeral.
One of the less-heralded effects of this months election was to nearly surround Idaho with states different from it in a significant policy decision:

Almost all of Idahos border states now have legalized marijuana, in one way or another. And thats going to put more pressure on Idaho on the subject.

Washington and one-state-over Colorado legalized in 2012. Oregon and one-state-over Alaska followed in 2014. This year, you can add California and Nevada to the list. (Arizona came close.) All of those allow recreational marijuana sales; Montana allows medicinal sales. Dont be surprised if New Mexico follows suit in 2018.

In Wyoming, an initiative proposal this year didnt make the ballot. But polling (from the University of Wyomings Survey and Analysis Center) has shown growing support there toward legalization, for medicinal pot at least. (It showed support for medicinal legalization at 81 percent and rising, and recreational at 41 percent and rising.) Ballot efforts are likely to continue there, and as California and Oregon showed, past failures dont preclude eventual success.

So how will Idaho, whose officials at least, have been rigorously opposed to anything resembling legalization, respond to all this?

On the near-term level, and at least officially, theres no reason to think therell be any change soon.

Police probably will be keeping a closer watch on vehicles from out of state. The Twin Falls Times-News reported that police tracking the Highway 93 stretch from Twin Falls to Jackpot, Nevada, will not be deploying any new specific monitoring force at the border, but they will be watchful for any erratic driving they see in the area. That may be the general approach in Idahos border areas.

But what about the effects of an outright ban in one state of what is legal in another?

Might there be some tendency on the part of out of staters to avoid Idaho  even those not carrying marijuana, but simply concerned about the potential hassle factor? (Even if the risk of that actually isnt very high, a reputation for it could have a big effect.) Might it be a negative in case of people considering moving? Might it, over time, start to have an economic impact? A whole lot of travel around Idaho, after all, is generated from states which have now, in whole or part, legalized.

What subtle effects might there be about the idea of a resident of those states crossing the line into Idaho?

There may also be an osmosis effect as Idahoans see their next-door neighbors sprouting new businesses and tax revenue, and without serious negative effects. This hasnt been the subject of a lot of news stories, since were talking here about the absence of something, but it has been informally noted among the residents. And there have been some reports from the front. A Forbes article in August, for example, said Two consequences that pot prohibitionists attribute to marijuana legalizationmore underage consumption and more traffic fatalitiesso far do not seem to be materializing in Colorado, which has allowed medical use since 2001 and recreational use since the end of 2012.

Official Idaho isnt likely to take much cognizance of any of that any time soon. But Idahoans around the state likely will, and that will have an effect over time.
A sinner saved by the grace of God given to those with faith in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. Period.
Egypts state news agency reported that 292 suspects allegedly belonging to terrorist groups are being tried for plotting to assassinate President al-Sisi and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.. Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek said the case has been referred to the military court and the suspects are also accused of forming 22 terrorist cells; the most notorious of which is the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis that became known as Wilayat Sinai after pledging alliance to ISIS in November 2014.

Around 158 have been under the custody the Egyptian authorities for more than a year and a prosecution official said 66 of them have confessed during interrogations. Those that are yet to be apprehended by the security personnel will be tried in absentia.

According to the prosecution official, there were two plots to assassinate President al-Sisi in Cairo and during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The official said they are among 17 other operations planned by the group which had six former officers in its ranks. The expertise of the officers was used to determine the plan on attacking al-Sisis convoy in Cairo. The officers are said to have belonged to the bearded police officers group formed in 2012 to protest against cutting their beards in accordance with the Islamic doctrine which led to their deployment as reserve forces by the Interior Ministry.

Wilayat Sinai militants have claimed responsibility for several suicide and roadside bombings in Egypt targeting prominent government officials and former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim escaped a car bomb in September 2013. Judiciary authorities have also been targeted.

The military court will also try the suspects for the militia operations in the Sinai Peninsula where they have attacked army and police checkpoints. The fatality of their attacks led to the government imposing a ban on the reports that contradict official figures in order not to lower public morale in the fight against the insurrection. Wilayat Sinai wants to make the Sinai an Islamic State.

The prominence of the extremist group increased with the fall of the Morsi regime ousted by President al-Sisi. Analysts think that supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Wilayat after the deadly Rabaa protests.
Data from the Customs Statistics and data Center (CNIS) showed that Algerias trade deficit has increased with importation and exportation decreasing simultaneously. The report highlighted that the deficit gap has widened from $13,76 billion in 2015 to $15,80 billion in the first 10 months of this year. Algerian officials have not commented on the situation which further obliges the authorities to dip into the foreign exchange reserves of the country to finance the trade deficit to uphold its welfare subsidy policies.

Exportation slipped from $29,7 billion last year to $22,74 billion. The 23,44% drop is linked to the drastic fall of hydrocarbon prices in the global market with a barrel of oil nose-diving from $115 to around $45 within two years. 94% of the countrys exportation are hydrocarbons and most of it is gas. The low prices have therefore affected the economy and obliged the government to embark on a cautious implementation of austerity measures.

Authorities are trying to revive the countrys aging oil and gas infrastructures to boost production as well as tap into unexploited reserves in the coming years. Most of Algerias exports are headed to Italy which accounted for $4.04 billion of the $22.74 billion since the beginning of the year to October.

According to the data from CNIS, Algerias importation felled from $43,46 billion last year to $38,54 billion. Amid the 11,34% decline, China continues to be the countrys main supplier for the fourth consecutive year and its dominance has increased by around 2% although figures have dropped from $8.22 billion in 2015 to $6.86 billion.

Algiers renewed its efforts to reduce its structural trade deficit following the fall of hydrocarbon prices by freezing investment in certain sectors and restricting importation of certain goods and products in order to boost domestic production. Authorities have been using the foreign reserves garnered during the hay days of oil and gas prices to limit the impact of the current economic crises while promoting the diversification of the economy away from hydrocarbons.
Morocco and Madagascar signed twenty-two cooperation agreements, marking a milestone in their bilateral relations and translating into concrete action their south-south cooperation endeavor.

The signing ceremony was chaired by King Mohammed VI and Malagasy President Hery Rajaonarimampianina in Antananarivo, the second leg of a second phase of an African tour that previously took the King to Ethiopia.

The agreements aim at strengthening the legislative framework governing bilateral cooperation in terms of river preservation, agriculture, finance, culture, employment, renewable energies and vocational training.

In this respect, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming at the environmental preservation of the Canal des Pangalanes, which consists in a series of natural rivers, waterways and man-made lakes that extend for about 700 kilometres.

Under this MoU, Moroccos Marchica agency will develop projects aiming at safeguarding Canal des Pangalanes biodiversity and developing integrated projects in the sectors of agriculture, industry, mines, ports, urban planning and tourism.

This project involves technical and operational support from a grouping of Moroccan-Ivorian enterprises as part of a public private partnership.

Funding for the Canal des Pangalanes upgrading project was made possible thanks to the role played by King Mohammed VI and the Ivorian government to convince Arab funds to bring financial assistance which was channeled through Moroccos bank, Attijariwafa Bank.

Earlier in the day, the Moroccan and Malagasy Heads of State held tete-a-tete talks and exchanged the highest distinctions of their respective countries.

The Moroccan Sovereign arrived on Saturday in Antananarivo for an official visit to Madagascar, 2nd leg of a new African tour that led the Sovereign to Ethiopia and will take him to other African countries.

Madagascars Foreign minister Attalah Beatrice said the Malagasy people are honored by the royal visit, recalling the special historic ties existing between Morocco and Madagascar which welcomed late King Mohammed V during his forced exile by the French colonizer in 1954.

During his stay in Madagascar, King Mohammed VI will visit the city of Antsirabe where his late grandfather and the Royal family settled after their forced exile.

The Moroccan Sovereign will also lay the foundations of a hospital as well as a vocational training centre that can accommodate a thousand beneficiaries, the Malagasy presidency said in a statement.

The King will attend the 16th summit of the Francophonie due Nov. 22-27 in Antananarivo. Over 34 Heads of state are expected at the summit.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir on Sunday said denouncing violence is the only way exiled vice-president and rebel leader Riek Machar will be granted amnesty.

Former first vice-president, Riek Machar who fled the country in July has repeatedly called for an armed resistance following renewed clashes with forces loyal of Kiir. He is currently in South Africa seeking medical attention.

My brother Riek Machar thinks the only way for him to become the president of this country is violence, killing innocent people. I told him several times [that] there is no reason to fight. If you [Machar] want to be the president, wait for elections, but he did not listen, Kiir said on Sunday.

In his words, a number of people have approached him demanding that he pardons the armed opposition leader when he returns.

They come asking me to pardon him. I tell them I have no problem with him. He is a citizen of this country and he can return anytime, but must denounce violence, he clarified.

The United States passed a draft resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan on Thursday to the 15-member United Nations Security Council. Further sanctions are being targeted amid warnings by a senior U.N. official of possible genocide.
Norways Foreign Affairs Chief, Borge Brende in a statement on Thursday, announced additional aid funds of estimated $5.5 million to the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of a donor support conference led by the European Union (EU) in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

According to Borge Brende it was important for the international community to support the CAR with a view to alleviating the acute humanitarian needs and contributing to more long-term peacebuilding.

The central African nation has been plunged into crisis with international bodies reporting that the potential for sectarian violence remained high. Indiscriminate violence and looting has occurred since the overthrow of the government in March 2013.

The EU donor conference aims at getting CAR back on track after years of conflict that has adversely affected the country.

The main objective of the Brussels Conference on the Central African Republic will be to draw together commitments to help the authorities restore peace and security, renew the social contract and revive the economy an EU statement read.

According to the bloc, in order to develop a consensus on needs and priorities for the next five years, the CAR authorities requested the support from the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Union to prepare a joint Recovery and Peace Building Assessment.

Thousands of UN peacekeepers and a few hundred French troops are still in the Capital Bangui and areas where tensions remain high.
Samy Badibanga, Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader has been named prime minister in the troubled central African nation on Thursday as part of a power-sharing deal signed in October.

The appointment of Badibanga comes days after Augustin Matata resigned from the position of Prime minister to allow the implementation of the national dialogue framework agreement.

The power-sharing agreement was signed in October by the ruling party and some opposition parties endorsing the 2018 presidential election date proposed by the electoral commission and for President Joseph Kabila to remain in office till then.

The main opposition bloc has rejected the accord and more than 50 people died in street protests in September aimed at increasing pressure on Kabila to step down.

However the political agreement signed under the watch of the African Union-appointed facilitator Edem Kodjo, was endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who called for a peaceful transition for peaceful elections.

As a reminder Badibanga was excluded from Congos largest opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), in 2012 along with other MPs for disobeying an order from party president Etienne Tshisekedi to boycott seats in parliament.

International powers fear the political impasse could lead to widespread violence in the giant central African nation
The worlds first malaria vaccine will be rolled out in pilot projects in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed late on Thursday.

The vaccine, known as RTS,S, acts against P. falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa. Advanced clinical trials have shown RTS,S to provide partial protection against malaria in young children, a statement from the global health body noted.

RTS,S is touted as the first malaria vaccine to successfully complete pivotal Phase 3 testing. The Phase 3 trial enrolled more than 15,000 infants and young children in 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, the pilot deployment of this first-generation vaccine marks a milestone in the fight against malaria. These pilot projects will provide the evidence we need from real-life settings to make informed decisions on whether to deploy the vaccine on a wide scale.

Though the World Health Organisation says that the number of malaria cases and deaths in Africa have significantly decreased by 42% and 66% respectively between 2000 and 2015, 90 percent of malaria deaths occurred in Africa in 2015.

Currently, there are more than 30 malaria vaccines under development.
Eight European countries have reported highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) viruses in wild birds, zoo birds and poultry holdings. This is the second time this virus has been introduced into Europe via the autumn migration of wild birds although A(H5N8) has been circulating continuously in Asia since 2010. Full genome sequencing of recent HPAI A(H5N8) viruses suggest that these viruses remain essentially bird viruses without any specific increased risk for humans. No human infections with this virus have ever been reported world-wide. ECDC's updated rapid risk assessment concludes that the risk of transmission to the general public in Europe is considered to be very low.

HPAI A(H5N8) viruses cluster in the same haemagglutinin (HA) clade as A(H5N1) viruses from Asia and A(H5N6)which has caused severe disease in humans in Chinaso the possibility of transmission from birds to humans cannot be completely ruled out. People in direct contact with or handling diseased birds or poultry and their carcasses may be at risk of infection. Given this potential zoonotic risk, control measures for avian influenza in poultry and birds are being implemented by the affected countries to ensure that persons at risk are sufficiently protected from infection.

An increased mortality in wild birds in Europe has been observed compared to the first reports of A(H5N8) in 2014/2015. On 27 October 2016, the Hungarian authorities reported the detection of HPAI A(H5N8) in a wild swan.

Further notifications of HPAI A(H5N8) viruses detected in wild birds and poultry holdings have been made by seven additional European countries. Austria, Hungary and Germany reported outbreaks in poultry and detections in wild birds. Croatia, Denmark, Poland and Switzerland reported infection in wild birds only, while the Netherlands detected HPAI A(H5N8) in wild birds and birds in a zoo. India and Israel are currently reporting outbreaks in birds while South Korea, Taiwan and Russia reported outbreaks earlier this year. Culling of the affected poultry in European countries is ongoing or completed; protection zones and surveillance zones have been established.

Ongoing monitoring and testing of wild birds and domestic poultry in the EU plays an important role in the detection and protection against exposure and subsequent spread of the virus in poultry across Europe. This may equally minimise the human risk via exposure to infected birds.

Provided by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
A 3D structure of PLP1 protein

(Medical Xpress)We've done a number of articles recently about some amazing individuals developing personalized treatments to their own currently uncurable disease. Whether it is a rare orphan disease like Sanfilippo Syndrome and Castleman Disease, or something more common like cancer, these patients have been able to draw on their own medical expertise, or other economic and social resource to create well funded foundations and registries to marshal support for their cause.

There are countless other patients, however, who through age or profession don't have any pre-existing network to draw on for insider knowledge and proactivity. In many cases, particularly for the orphan diseases, these individuals don't even have a diagnosis they can use to advocate on their own behalf. Typically all they have is a stack of diffuse paper reports and xeroxed publications from the primary medical literature with no clear explanation to tie everything together.

To make matters worse, the often complicated genetics details they contain are not always immediately clear even to the experts. I know this now first hand, (and I am not a medical expert or professional) because I was given a set of of such reports by a neighbor and sought clear explanations from some of the best in business. This current state of affairs is not the direct fault of anybody in particular, but rather a side effect of an incomplete and evolving body of knowledge that necessarily contains significant ambiguity in its presentation.

Below I want to present the significant (at least as I have tried to understand them) genetic results for the case of Jackson Zuber, as given to me by his mother Emily. While obviously not intended to be a whole primer on the genetics, there should be enough detail so that we ourselves, and any professional geneticist, protein experimentalist or modeler, neurologist, neurobiologist, or radiologist clinician might extract the fuller picture and hopefully generate a few additional lines of inquiry.

Jackson is the person the geneticists designate as the 'proband', meaning the one who initiated the study, in this case a one year old boy. Exome sequencing revealed variants in four genes that were of significant clinical interest:

NEB (nebulin) c.11450G>A; p.S3817N

PLP1 (proteolipid protein 1) c.194T>G; p.I65S

ERCC6 (excision repair cross-complementation group 1) c.2924G>A; p.R975Q

PGAP1 (post-GPI attachment to proteins 1) c.2525+4C>T

The doctors logically focused on the PLP1 gene (and initially diagnosed the associated Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease or 'PMD') because it is an X-linked homozygous gene. This means that Jackson only has the one copy of the gene, and would be particularly suseptibilty to any deleterious mutations in that gene . The other three genes are on 'autosomal chromosomes', heterozygous, and would therefore not immediately be prime suspects by virtue of the fact that another functioning copy of the gene is present.

That is not to say the other genes can be fully discounted, particularly given the absence of a full genome sequence which would contain any potential exome regions not analyzed in the exome sequence, including regulatory regions generally at the beginning of genes. It is also possible that one gene copy simply does not supply a required threshold level of the protein, or that the defective protein itself causing some new pathology.

It appears that the parental origin of all genes was determined (the so-called 'phase' analysis) but I do not know if that analysis determines whether the presumed 'good' copy of the gene could also have the same (and therefore undetected) variant.

Quite a bit is already known about the NEB gene and protein from many prior animal studies and although it is expressed in brains generally (in addition to the muscle regions where it is fairly critical), results from animals studies suggest there islargely normal cognitive function and neural structure in the presence of disabled nebulin genes.

PGAP1, technically heterozygous here, would only be an immediate red flag if there was also something like an undetected 'compound heterozygous' mutation (a second bad variant or polymorphism); in other words, the gene originating from the other presumed healthy parent has a different mutation, in which case serious neurologic issues are known to be a possible effect. PGAP1 is required for the production of GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) that is attached to some proteins, and myelinating oligodendrocytes direct significant amounts these GPI proteins to the myelin sheath.

Jackson

ERCC6 is involved in transcription coupled repair and similarly, it is typically associated with severe neurologic conditions only when both genes are affected (like in Cockayne syndrome). I only want to note here its implication in some microcephalic outcomes, including microcephalin and ATR (Seckle syndrome). If any significant question arises here one test for faulty ERCC6 repair capability might be a radiation sensitivity of skin fibroblasts, though I don't know how accurate and informative it would be.

In order to look closer at the specific case of Jackson's PLP1 variant we first need to decode and disambiguate the genetic notation for the variant; 'c.194T>G; p.I65S'. I will need to verify what I write here because errors are readily made.

The initial 'c.' indicates that we are looking at cDNA or complementary DNA, as we are dealing with exome sequencing info. It refers to an mRNA transcript's sequence expressed as DNA (GCAT) bases rather than as RNA (GCAU) bases. Having a 'genomic sequencing' reference (g.) would be a little more informative here for many reasons, namely, the presence of multiple transcription initiation sites (promoters), alternative splicing, the use of different poly-A addition signals, multiple translation initiation sites (ATG-codons), and the occurrence of length variations. Potentially, if exome sequencing draws on mRNAs after they are edited, (either in nucleus-specific or cytosol-specific editing), this would be an issue too, although RNA editing (post-transcriptional modification of bases, mostly A to G or A to I substitutions in humans) is quite rare.

As I understand the notation 194T>G, the 194th base pair position in Jackson's cDNA for PLP1 has a G while most normal cDNAs would have a T. Because G (like A) is a purine and T (like C) is a pyrimidine, this substitution is called a 'transversion' as opposed to a 'transition' (which would occur in the case of a purine to purine or pyrimidine to pyrimidine switch). Since there are natural mechanisms in the cell which more readily convert one-ring purines to other purines, or convert two-ring pyrimidines to other pyrimidines, transitions are significantly more common than transversions.

To get a better idea of how this T>G could have arisen I spoke with cell biologist Carl Smythe, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Science at University of Sheffield, and also geneticist Shane McKee, clinical director of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.The 'T>G' doesn't necessarily mean that a G has been directly changed into a T in the gene. For example, such a transversion could arise as a consequence of a mutation from a C to A on the non-coding strand. G-A bases can pair quite well (as do some others, although normal pairing is A to T and G to C) without causing major structural issues between the coding (sense) and noncoding (antisense) strands. As a consequence of this, the A would have a T inserted in opposite strand in the next round of synthesis.

Either strand could have had the original mutation, and the DNA replication process will give rise to two distinct coding sequences for a single locus. One can therefore end up with two cells each with complex phenotypes. After a non coding strand C to A mutation you get the stable G-A base pair, which after duplication gives a G-C pair and a T-A pair, where the latter corresponds to Jackson's mutation. This may have occurred during meiosis and have been in a sperm, or it may have occurred during development in whoever had the original mutation.

Because Jackson would have inherited his X chromosome with the variant PLP1 from his mom, the grandparents were checked and it was found that gramps had the same variant. Because gramps is asymptomatic the docs more or less recanted the PMD diagnosis. One possible explanation of this situation is that gramps could be a 'mosaic'. In other words the mutation was not present at the level of the sperm but rather arose later in development (as a somatic mutation), in which case it is possible that the cells that gave rise to gramps' nervous system have a normal copy of PLP1, and he is therefore quite normal. Another possibility is that gramps himself inherited the variant but none the less was able to repair it in the cells of his nervous system.

Although it would be rare, it is also conceivable that Jackson has the same mutation as gramps but it was independently gained, ie. it arose again in the bloodline as de novo variant in Jackson. Perhaps not totally inconceivable when you imagine that whatever genetic or metabolic background the gramps mutation originated in, a similar background would be expected to be present in Jackson. More typically the conventional thinking is that 'spontaneous' mutations arise more or less randomly during events like DNA synthesis when there is some non-negligible error rate during copying that escapes proofreading mechanisms.

It is also possible that the mutation does not have much effect in gramps' genetic background, but does have significant effect when occurring in the context of Jackson's genetic profile, ie. a 'facilitative' mutation necessary but not sufficient for PMD. One curious feature of PMD is that up to 70% of the patients have a duplicated PLP1 genean extra copy. It looks like this was explicitly checked for with Jackson, as exome sequencing wouldn't see it, but he did not have a duplication. His mitochondria were also sequenced and found to be normal, however in the face of not uncommon mitochondrial heteroplasmy (more than one unique set of mtDNA), we might also be curious what mitochondrial source was actually sampled here.

An important related question here is what tissue source got sequenced in the exome analysiswas it blood, skin, or epithelium? Because the same gene is typically spliced differently in different tissues it would also give different cDNAs in exome analysis of different tissues.

To get past this looming diagnostic roadblock, and in addition to whole sequence analysis, a functional protein study could be done to try and determine possible effects of the variant PLP1 substitution. This can include using software tools to model the structure and function of the protein, and actually constructing the variant protein in the lab and expressing it in animals to look for effects. For example, by creating what is called a conditional knock-in mouse line,

Membrane topology of PLP1

To start this kind of protein analysis one would need to look at the second part of the variant notationthe 'p.I65S'. Here the 'p' indicates we are talking about the amino acid sequence of the protein that corresponds to the cDNA or mRNA sequence. It says that Jackson's PLP1 will have a serine (S) substituted in at position 65 in place of the normal isoleucine.

If the possible isoleucine DNA codons (sense) are ATT, ATC, ATA, and the new variant possible serine codons are TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, AGC, we can assume by process of elimination that it was the middle codon spot in either the ATT or ATC threonine that was changed into the AGT or AGC serine codon. I think it makes sense to presume that any base pair substitution generally originates and/or remains unrepaired in cells for some reason (even if that reason is excessive solar radiation applied to a skin cell), and that reason will typically reflect what is going on in the larger background metabolism and environment of the cell, and as it may happen, the organism.

Isoleucine is a hydrophobic amino acid and serine is a polar and uncharged amino acid. These are fairly different animals altogether and it is normally assumed that this kind substitution should have some significant effect on protein structure or function. The question is what effect? In checking some of the common software tools and databases for this kind of thing we find that 'PolyPhen2' says the substitution is probably damaging, 'MutationTaster' isn't happy with it either, and it is not recorded in either ExAC or 1000G.

The canonical membrane structures of some of the various splice variants of the normal PLP1 protein have been determined well over a decade ago. It is a highly conserved protein that is virtually identical in several species from mouse to man. More recently, a few 3-D protein conformations, the actual crystal structures, have also been determined, sometimes in combination with other bound proteins. The presumptive membrane topology is four transmembrane helices, with the position 65 serine (or thereabouts depending on where the amino acid start count is done) lying at the extracellular apex of the first membrane helix. While serine can be phosphorylated in various proteins this may not be likely in the observed position.

As alternative splicing of the PLP gene yields four productsthe classic PLP and DM20 proteolipids, and the more recently described proteolipids, srPLP and srDM20, it is important to try to understand how much of these various products are getting made by various kinds of cells in the nervous system, and their effects on those cells. A lot is already known, and more information is now acquired fairly continuously. Additionally, the (subcellular) localization of these products to various compartments within the cell is an important point (some get put into the myelin sheath, others get localized to the mitochondria, while other stay in the endoplasmic reticulum). The main question I think, at each instance, is whether there too much of this protein or not enough, and then also what is the effect of a poorly functioning, nonfunctioning or otherwise obstructive protein in each case? To this point, it is known that while transgenic mice that overexpress the PLP gene exhibit neuronal degeneration and axonal disintegration, perhaps paradoxically, the absence of PLP/DM20 in PLP null mice also causes axonal swellings. Because this protein is normally so abundant, around 50% of the total myelin protein, small changes can have large effects.

It is not known if the serine spot should affect splicing (but note nearby splice site in picture below), or affect any of the protein's cross-linked cysteines, or alternatively affect any critical cysteine palmitoylations, but further study would be needed. As the protein is also known to form dimers and maybe even higher older multimers, likely linking up to each other to across layers of compacted myelin, the effect of serine on such oligomerization may be an important question. Although most of those cysteines are closer to the beginning of the protein so to speak, they are a bit of an enigma these days because they can do so many things for the protein by virtue of their sulfur group. When cross linked or unlinked they change protein conformation, and also transduce ox-redox signals. When palmitoylated they target and localize the protein to the myelin sheath, and when spaced in various well defined 'localization sequences or motifs (like C-3xC, or C-10X, as here) they are also targeted to the mitochondria to participate in all kinds of functions.

It is critical I think to circulate Jackson's details to any doctors and researchers who might be poised to help, namely, experts in the various 'orphan' progressive degenerative neurologic disease. This class would include experts in various leukodystrophies and lysosomal storage diseases that affect myelin, and also those that ultimately affect mitochondria and their role in energy production and other key metabolic processes. Two guys who come immediately to mind, and who I have spoken to in the past for various articles are Bruno Benitez Washington University in St. Louis, and Doug Wallace at CHOP.

I will not delve much further into the other variants found in the genetic testing other than to note that the one for PGAP1 has a slightly different notation from the others, given as c.2525+4C>T. This annotation c.2525+4C>T appears to suggest that this variant is located +4 nucleotides apart from the last exonic nucleotide. This variant is predicted to be a "splice donor" which means that can alter the length of the resulting protein, a different transcript. PGAP1 has 22 exons and at least 11 splice variants. This variant has a mutation in the intron downstream of nucleotide position 2525. This creates a splice junction failure where the intron will not be spliced out and thus the variant will include protein sequence corresponding to the intron.

There is a lot of uncertainty about whether that would directly affect the enzyme activity of PGAP1. It will generate a protein of unexpected length. The precise number of splice variants affected by this mutation would need careful analysis, and the tissue sampled is likely to have a different spectrum of PGAP1 variants compared to brain. It is probably worth noting that PGAP mutations are associated with developmental defects, although again, much more information is clearly needed.

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 2016 Medical Xpress
Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger. Credit: Perkins' Institute

A new drug therapy based on technology developed by Western Australian research could potentially control protein leakage from the kidneys.

Protein leakage (proteinuria) is a common manifestation of chronic kidney disease, an illness that may lead to kidney failure, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Chronic kidney disease affects one in three Australians.

Head of Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger, is also Chief Scientific Advisor of biotechnology company Dimerix that is on track to release early results in the coming months from Phase II clinical trials of its flagship drug therapy DMX-200.

This breakthrough therapy, designed to alleviate the suffering of people afflicted with the loss of kidney function over time, was conceived due to the groundbreaking Receptor-Heteromer Investigation Technology (Receptor-HIT) developed at The University of Western Australia/Perkins and assigned to Dimerix in 2006.

A recent meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlighted recognition of heteromer pharmacology, where receptors functionally interact in a cell, and therefore the importance of such approaches as Receptor-HIT for identifying new treatments.

The therapy being trialled comprises the addition of a blocker compound to one currently used to treat hypertension and nephropathy in Type II diabetic patients. A form of the added compound is currently used for the treatment of Hepatitis B in Japan.

A/Prof Pfleger says these blocker compounds were selected due to finding a functional interaction between the receptors they bind to in human kidney cells.

"These findings have been published in the scientific journal PLoS One, validated in rodent models by colleagues at St.Vincent's in Melbourne, and have led to the Phase II clinical trials" A/Prof Pfleger says.

A/Prof Pfleger says that this therapy also has the potential to treat other conditions and Dimerix is now investigating it for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. NASH is a severe disease affecting an estimated 6 million people in the US alone that currently has no established treatment.

A/Prof Pfleger, who is Chair-Elect of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT), has recently been awarded the prestigious Novartis Prize of the British Pharmacological Society and will receive this prize in December in London.

This article first appeared on ScienceNetwork Western Australia a science news website based at Scitech.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Results of a new study led by Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal's School of Psycho-Education show that the more children are exposed to household tobacco smoke in early childhood, the greater their risk of adopting antisocial behavior toward others, engaging in proactive and reactive aggression, having conduct problems at school, and dropping out at age 12.

"Young children have little control over their exposure to household tobacco smoke, which is considered toxic to the brain at a time when its development is exponential," said Pagani.

"The detection of early environmental factors that influence later child well-being represents an important target for individual and community health. Parents who smoke near where their children live and play often inadvertently expose them to second and third hand smoke. It was already known that environmental smoke places children at risk of short- and long-term health problems. However, now for the first time, we have compelling evidence which suggests other dangers to developing brain systems that govern behavioural decisions, social and emotional life, and cognitive functioning," she added.

Pagani, her graduate student Francois Levesque-Seck, and fellow Professors Isabelle Archambault and Michel Janosz, came to their conclusions after examining data from a longitudinal birth cohort of Quebec boys and girls born in 1997 and 1998. The Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development is a public database administered and coordinated by the Institut de la statistique du Quebec. Every year, parents of 1,035 children from the longitudinal study reported whether anyone smoked at home when their children were aged 1.5 to 7.5 years. At age 12, their children self-reported their antisocial behaviour and academic characteristics. Overall, 60 percent of families reported never being exposed to tobacco smoke, while 27 percent reported intermittent exposure, and 13 percent reported chronic exposure. Pagani's team then analyzed the data to identify whether there was a significant link between early household smoke exposure and later signs of child deviance. This was done while eliminating the influence of numerous confounding factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy, and other parental and family characteristics that could have explained the observed link between early household smoke and later child deviance.

"Our goal was to eliminate any pre-existing conditions of the children or families that could shed a different light on our results or serve as alternative explanations," said the researcher.

Animal studies have suggested that exposure to tobacco smoke is toxic to the developing brain at a time when it is most vulnerable to environment input. Abnormal brain development can result from chronic or transient exposure to toxic chemicals and gases in second hand tobacco smoke. These compounds eventually solidify and create third hand smoke. Antisocial behavior is characterized by proactive intent to harm others, lack prosocial feelings, and violate social norms. Such behaviors include aggression, criminal offenses, theft, refusal to comply with authority, and destruction of property. In later childhood, antisocial behavior is often associated with academic problems, as highlighted in the study. Deviance and dropout risk are costly to society as a whole.

"These long-term associations should encourage policy-makers and public health professionals to raise awareness among parents about the developmental risks of second hand smoke exposure. In addition, schools could incorporate this knowledge into curricula at all grade levels in an effort to prevent further exposure to neurotoxins," she concluded.

More information: L. S. Pagani et al, Prospective longitudinal associations between household smoke exposure in early childhood and antisocial behavior at age 12, Indoor Air (2016). L. S. Pagani et al, Prospective longitudinal associations between household smoke exposure in early childhood and antisocial behavior at age 12,(2016). DOI: 10.1111/ina.12353
Credit: Paul Brennan/public domain

Researchers are only beginning to understand how a foreign language affects decision-making, with early findings coming in areas such as moral judgment and risk assessment.

In a new article in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, scholars from the University of Chicago and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain examine the growing literature on how using a foreign language changes the decisions people make. Their findings could have implications in a number of different fieldsranging from doctors' offices to voting booths.

"About a quarter of physicians and surgeons in the U.S. are foreign-born. If using a foreign language affects risk, a willingness to take risk, it could affect the kind of treatments prescribed," said lead author Sayuri Hayakawa, a UChicago doctoral student in psychology. "It's still the early days. Everything has been done in a lab setting, so we don't want to extrapolate too far, but it is relevant."

Many of the conclusions come from research in the laboratory of Boaz Keysar, professor in psychology and chair of the University's Cognition Program, and Albert Costa, a research professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. Both are co-authors of the survey article published in the November issue of Trends.

"This is a country of immigrants," said Keysar, whose native language is Hebrew. "One example is the electorate is comprised of people who don't always have English as a native tongue, and their political decisions could be affected by that. There could be all sorts of effects on society because people are using a foreign language."

Keysar's team is starting an interdisciplinary project focusing on the use of a second language. The work is being funded by a five-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The researchers are working with colleagues at UChicago including Eric Oliver, professor of political science; Ali Hortacsu, the Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor in Economics; James Evans, professor of sociology; Howard Nusbaum, professor of psychology; and Greg Norman, assistant professor of psychology. The group plans to use a variety of lenses to explore how language affects choicenot only for an individual but society as a whole.

The article details how research so far shows that people using a foreign language are more willing to take risks, perceive costs and benefits differently, and make less biased inferences. However one of the most striking effects is in the moral domain.

"It is relatively novel," Hayakawa said. "When you get a moral dilemma delivered in a foreign language, it appears to be more divorced from the emotional system."

The article cites a 2014 study by a group of researchers including Costa, Hayakawa and Keysar that found that when faced with the moral dilemma of saving the lives of five people at the cost of killing one person, participants using a foreign language were more than twice as likely as those using a native language to sacrifice one life.

One of the leading explanations for the result is the fact that a second language, often learned in a less emotional classroom setting, creates a "psychological distance" for the decision-maker, resulting in individuals being "less sensitive to intention and more sensitive to outcomes when using a foreign tongue."

Hayakawa explained that looking into the effect of language on decision-making began with her research with Keysar. In an article published in 2012 in Psychological Science, they discovered through the use of gambling games that subjects were less concerned about taking risk when using a non-native language.

"I knew about the findings that people are less connected emotionally in their foreign language, and also knew about research in decision-making that shows that emotional reactions make us biased," Keysar said. "Somehow I connected the two and that got me thinking maybe that would lead people to make decisions differently in a foreign language."

After reviewing the research done since then, Hayakawa and her co-authors write that further inquiry should include looking into how individuals first acquire a second language and how increased proficiency in a second language might impact results.
Have you ever felt that you are not good enough and that someday soon someone will see through your facade of competence and expose you a fraud in your job? If so, you are not alone.

This sensation of being a fake in the workplace, somehow in a position beyond one's true capabilities is known as "the impostor phenomenon". Some estimate that about 70% of people from all walks of life feel like impostors for at least some part of their careers. The sensation is far from pleasant, but a new study from the University of Salzburg, Austria that was published in Frontiers in Psychology, suggests that it might not only be detrimental to your self-esteem but to your career prospects and business as well.

Dr. Mirjam Neureiter and Dr. Eva Traut-Mattausch studied the responses to an anonymous online survey of 238 university alumni, now working across a variety of sectors and professions. They were interested in how the impostor phenomenon would affect a sufferer's attitude to their career development, the ability to adapt to new working conditions and their knowledge of the job market.

They found that this suite of career self-management factors was negatively affected by the phenomenon, demonstrating that those who feel like fakes, though high-achieving, tend not to fulfil their full potential. By undervaluing their talent, workers could be ruining their careers and companies.

But they did find one positive effect of the phenomenon. "It seems to encourage people to offer their best performance ... to prevent being uncovered as frauds," explains Dr. Neureiter.

Previous studies have demonstrated that people who are confident in their abilities feel - and are - more able to learn from and adapt to changes in the work place, to a much greater degree than those who doubt themselves. Furthermore, a knowledge of the general job market helps workers know their worth and feel more encouraged by this knowledge. Still other studies have shown that career optimism not only makes the individual happier, but enhances their prospects of promotion and has a beneficial impact on work productivity as a whole.

Optimistic people seem to experience more work satisfaction than their less positive colleagues.

Those who believe themselves impostors, by contrast, report various negative thoughts and emotions and are more disposed to feelings of depression. On top of this, even if self-doubters are successful sometimes, they remain fearful of failing the next time and of being discovered as fakes. This establishes a cycle that prevents them from developing an optimistic perspective in the future.

"As the impostor phenomenon contains the fear of being exposed, it might be expedient to provide networking programs or supervision groups where sufferers have the chance to share their experiences and feelings without any blaming," says Dr. Neureiter. "Incorporating the impostor topic in support measures might enhance the reduction of impostor feelings as well as their negative effects."

Perhaps, as Dr Neureiter thinks, the first step to overcoming the impostor phenomenon and its negative consequences is for "suffering individuals to be encouraged to talk about their feelings."

More information: Mirjam Neureiter et al, Inspecting the Dangers of Feeling like a Fake: An Empirical Investigation of the Impostor Phenomenon in the World of Work, Frontiers in Psychology (2016). Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Mirjam Neureiter et al, Inspecting the Dangers of Feeling like a Fake: An Empirical Investigation of the Impostor Phenomenon in the World of Work,(2016). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01445
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The day after the election, I went hunting. Being away for a week allowed me to begin wrapping my head around Donald Trumps victory, away from the noise and drama  except when I checked the post-election news on my device, obsessively, at the expense of scanning for elk, whenever I had a signal.

Deep in the wilderness, I felt inextricably linked to the upheaval in Washington, D.C. And I couldnt help but interpret much of what happened on that hunting trip through the lens of what the next four years holds.

The weather forecast had called for unseasonably warm temperatures, but that understanding failed to register in the chill of the first pre-dawn morning, when the air felt rudely cold. I also failed to remember how fast my hunting buddy hikes. Huffing behind him, I heated up quickly. By the time sunrise had put away its colors, my waterproof pants had trapped a juicy layer of sweat inside.

Next thing you know, my hunting pants are hanging from a tree, inside-out, drying in the sun. And Im hunting in my underpants.

There is a distinct feeling of vulnerability available to those who walk around the wilderness without the benefit of pants. After all, someone or something  a tree branch, perhaps, or the president-elect  might grab you by the private parts. And there was the nagging concern that I would hunt too far away and not be able to find my pants. But a far greater cause for worry was the simple fact that, in mid-fall and at 9,000 feet, I could comfortably walk around without pants on. It reinforced a sense of impending environmental doom that Ive been feeling since Trumps election. He campaigned on the idea that climate change is a Chinese hoax, and vowed to gut the Environmental Protection Agency.

As it was grizzly country, I carried bear spray and clung to my gun for security. How many Latinos and Muslims are feeling vulnerable these days and in the market for guns, I wondered.

I noticed on the forest floor that some baby plants had sprouted. Bad timing. They must have thought it was springtime already, but in germinating now the plants had no chance of surviving the winter. Organisms do ill-advised things when confused.

The warm weather was confusing to the elk as well. Their bodies have prepared for cold weather at this time of year, with thick fur and fatty insulation. Like me, the elk were overdressed, but didnt have the option to shed layers like I could. For the first few days we didnt see a single animal. And without a layer of snow on the ground, it was hard to know how many were around.

The elk were, most likely, holed up in cool spots, which are generally in the highest, steepest, most north-facing slopes on the mountain. But those are not places for hunters in their underpants. Such places are among the most dangerous, inaccessible and difficult to hunt, with or without pants.

Instead, as my pants dried I rested on the ridge tops, sunning my legs and using my binoculars to take a long view of things, while taking advantage of great cell coverage to monitor election fallout.

One nugget that resonated in particular was an article by Naomi Klein. She argued that the election hinged on the votes of the working class people of the Rust Belt, and was won and lost on the issue of free trade. Trump opposes efforts to facilitate free trade, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) currently dying in Congress. Free trade is bad for American workers, Trump and many others believe. And to my chagrin I agree with Trump on this issue.

Such free trade deals are contrary to principles at the heart of localism, a non-partisan ideology held dear in urban and rural areas alike. Localists include local food snobs like myself.

Yes, its a wonderful world out there, and its important to think globally. But in order to be good citizens of a local community, we need to engage the local economy. Local shoppers have a better sense of how something was produced. There is more accountability, in case any issues or questions arise, and the opportunity to build a trusting partnership directly with the producer. With no faraway middleman, more of your dollars stay in your local community. I suspect that many of the Trump supporters are on the same page as the hippy farmers on this issue.

Bill Clinton was behind the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is widely regarded as a disaster for the Rust Belt workers, something they havent forgotten, Klein argues. The TPP is basically NAFTA on steroids, and Hillary Clinton only reversed her stance on it after seeing how much success Bernie Sanders was having opposing the TPP in the primary. But her switch was perceived as insincere political calculus, and those following the issue didnt buy it.

Recently, the Financial Times reports that the Saudi Energy Minister has warned Trump that Blocking trade in any product is not healthy. This only reinforces my feelings on free trade, because, as a rule of thumb, anything thats bad for the Saudi Energy Minister is good for the earth.

I was scrolling headlines on my phone, like a total idiot, when my buddy noticed a herd of elk spilling over the ridge above us. We managed to hunker down but, being elk, they somehow noticed us. The herd disappeared like an exhaled puff of smoke.

But the direction of their escape, over the ridge and onto the north-facing slope behind it, was a clue that even stubborn hunters like ourselves could not ignore. The next day we went over the ridge after them. I found a slope so steep and perfectly north-facing that the sun hadnt touched it for weeks, if not months. Suddenly I was in snow, a month old but still deep, if crunchy. And there was no phone reception to distract me.

Soon enough I found some fresh cow elk tracks. There is an animal at the end of every set of tracks, and this set was no exception. I was somehow able to track them down and sneak to within 100 yards, and shoot a beautiful cow elk.

Then began the real work, that of hauling 200 pounds of meat out of a canyon so steep it barely held snow. Most of the meat spent the night at the bottom, cooling on a sheet of ice, and was near frozen when I returned the next day to retrieve it. One foot in front of the other was the mantra that day.

And its one of many bits of wisdom that I brought home, along with some tasty meat. It was a lesson in the importance of keeping cool, in understanding your adversary and keeping the big picture in mind. Dont get killed, dont give up and dont lose your pants.
BILLINGS  Montana education officials released the first draft of the state's plan to comply with a new federal education law last week, detailing how the state will evaluate schools and intervene if they aren't making the cut.

The Every Student Succeeds Act, passed last spring, was hailed as a step away from the much-reviled proficiency goals of No Child Left Behind and a return to more control by states and school districts.

The law still requires that states administer standardized tests and requires them to identify struggling schools.

It mandates states use four academic indicators for evaluating schools: academic achievement, academic progress, graduation rates and English language learner proficiency progress. It also lets states pick one or more additional indicators.

Montana's plan includes school climate, defined as "the quality and character of school life," by the National School Climate Center, as the extra indicator. The plan says that the Office of Public Instruction will be developing a rubric for evaluating school improvement plans that will include a survey on school climate factors.

School climate will hold less weight than other factors in determining an overall score for schools.

A stakeholder group of more than 30 educators, administrators and public officials from around the state advised OPI on the preferred school climate.

They were pretty clear in all of the discussion that thats what they pretty much unanimously wanted to see, said assistant superintendent of education services B.J. Granbery. We want them to feel like their voices were heard and we were paying attention to what they thought would be best.

For academic achievement and progress goals, schools that score below statewide average scores for Smarter Balanced or ACT tests in math and English-language arts will be expected to make progress toward those averages. Schools that score above the average are expected to maintain or improve their scores.

The state will identify the lowest 5 percent of Title I schools, which receive extra federal funding because they have a high proportion of students from low-income families, and all high schools with a graduation rate below 67 percent for comprehensive support, the largest-scale state intervention. ESSA defines the thresholds.

Intervention isn't necessarily punitive. Schools typically are assigned more training and may receive extra funding. The plan bases recommended interventions on existing programs like Schools of Promise, which is designed to improve low-performing schools on Montana Indian reservations, and the Montana Striving Readers Project, which aims to improve literacy outcomes.

State officials said they'll likely adjust the plan after reviewing comments from the public and the governor's office during a 30-day review period and submit the plan to the federal Department of Education before current Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau leaves office.

We tried to go with a broad framework to allow people to weigh in, Granbery said.

But it's unclear how Donald Trump's election as president will affect the ESSA rulemaking process, which is ongoing, or if it could push back submission deadlines for state plans. The current deadline for first drafts is in March.

Incoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has said that she believes the plan submission process is moving too fast.

Speaking from Baltimore where she attended a meeting of the Council of Chief State School Officers, Arntzen said she hasn't had a chance to fully review the plan yet.

"I know a lot of good work has gone into this," she said. "I don't know if three stakeholder meetings is enough ... I know that there will be amendments to this as the process continues."

States will have a chance to revise their plans after the first review by federal officials, and OPI officials said they believe Arntzen could pull the plan back after its expected December submission to make changes before the March deadline.
A well-known and much-respected businessman in Missoula, Blackfoot Telecommunications CEO Bill Squires, died Friday after a brief illness.

Squires, 54, started with Blackfoot in April 2001 as senior vice president and general counsel. He was named CEO in January 2012.

We are devastated by this loss, said Tom Eggensperger, president of Blackfoots Board of Trustees, in a statement posted to the companys website. Bills leadership helped Blackfoot grow to its position of prominence and success, and he will be greatly missed.

Squires served for years as president of the Montana Telecommunications Association, the U.S. Telecom Associations Leadership Committee and the Industry & Policy Committee of the Rural Broadband Association. He also served on various other local boards, including the Missoula Economic Partnership, Vision Net in Great Falls, Syringa Networks in Boise, Alaska Power and Telephone and CoBank in Denver.

Eggensberger said he was a visionary and a leader in the telecommunications industry and a trusted voice with state and federal policy makers. Eggensperger also noted that Squires was a passionate advocate for Blackfoot.

In 2014, the company, which is headquartered on North Russell Street, celebrated its 60th year in business. It has over 170 employees, over $105 million in assets and customers in more than 30 Montana and Idaho communities. That same year, Blackfoot won the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerces Circle of Excellence Award, which emphasizes length of time in business and commitment to reinvesting in the community.

Were proud to be a part of this community, Squires said at the time. Were proud to do everything we do for Missoula and the rural communities we serve as well.

Jason Williams, Blackfoots chief operating officer, has been named the interim CEO. The companys statement said that Williams, who has been with Blackfoot since September 2012, brings 20 years of telecommunications, business and legal experience to this role.

With Jasons leadership, Blackfoot wont miss a beat in continuing to provide excellent technology solutions and services to its customers, Eggensperger said.

Williams said that he has known Squires for nearly 16 years.

"He actually hired me as an intern in 2002," Williams said. "He's never really been a boss to me. He's been a friend first and a mentor second. It's a huge loss."

Williams said Squires was a huge Montana Griz football fan and was a fixture at tailgate parties.

"Last Saturday's game was the first home tailgate in 16 or 17 years that he missed," Williams said. "He was very much a Griz."

The mood at the office was a little somber Monday, Williams said, but they are committed to pushing ahead.

"Bill was very committed to the company, and would expect us to do nothing less than carry out his vision," he said. "So that's what we're going to do is keep going forward."

***

James Grunke, the CEO of the Missoula Economic Partnership, said that Squires was set to become the chairman of the MEP board before his health issue arose.

Its a huge loss for our community, Grunke said. Bill absolutely believed in economic development and spent a lot of time trying to position Blackfoot as a leader and tried to partner with other organizations. I cant think economic development and separate Bill from that.

The Blackfoot name is tied to many other endeavors in the area, Grunke said.

His commitment to economic development is why Blackfoot contributed the lead gift at the new Missoula College, Grunke said. They have some ambitious plans to showcase technology on their campus. And those are all visions that Bill had.

Besides his leadership in the business community, Squires was known for an infectious, warm, outgoing personality.

He was just a great guy, Grunke recalled. He was committed to his community, committed to his family and committed to his company. Thats what we all want to be. Its a real loss.

Kim Latrielle, the President and CEO of the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce, said Blackfoot has been a member for several years.

"We will miss his great business mind, leadership, humor, and wisdom," she said. "Bill will be remembered as a passionate community leader that gave his all for Missoula. Our heartfelt and sincere condolences to Bill's family and the staff at Blackfoot."
Alfred Njagi came all the way from Kenya to Missoula seeking the right kind of firewood for his tea.

That makes more sense when you know these three things: Kenya grows the worlds third greatest quantity of tea, after China and India. Montana has done groundbreaking work getting the most energy possible out of wood slash. And it takes a lot of heat to properly dry tea leaves before they go in those little bags.

Every percent of efficiency we can find is a few more shillings in the farmers' pockets, the general operations manager of the Kenya Tea Development Agency said during a visit to the University of Montana. Were here to study good practices, good sources and proper utilization so we can see what we can do better.

Since Kenyans started concentrating on tea cultivation about 50 years ago, the crop now contributes 4 percent of the African nations gross domestic product. More than 600,000 small-scale farmers pool their production through the Kenya Tea Development Agency. Most of them work on a half-acre or less of ground.

Coincidentally, a growing number of them raise a purple-leaf variety imported by Lake Missoula Tea Co. in Missoula. Store owner Jake Kreilick said the emerging popularity of the teas antioxidant and other health benefits has made it a game-changer for him.

This is the first tea weve marketed outside our own region, Kreilick said of the Kenyan purple variety. It allows a small company like us to think bigger.

Kreilick visited the purple-leaf growing areas of the Nandi Hills in Kenya last summer. He said the variety's vigor in growing on former grazing lands impressed many farmers who had a tough time getting more traditional teas to produce.

The processing factories where tea gets dried can use gas or diesel to run their heaters. But that costs four or five times as much as firewood. On the other hand, only about 6 percent of Kenya has forest, and much of that is protected. Family kitchens burn most of the available kindling for cooking.

The tea factories are last in the supply chain, Njagi said. So it makes sense to grow our own trees.

Lots of effort has gone into developing tree plantations using fast-growing eucalyptus species that reach maturity in about 10 years. Tea farmers have also experimented with sugar cane husks (another major Kenyan crop) and other agricultural waste.

But fuel is just part of the challenge. Thats where the Montana visit comes in.

***

During their stay, Njagi and Geoffrey Ronoh of Strathmore Energy Research Center in Nairobi visited the electricity-generating wood waste burner at F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. in Columbia Falls, the pellet-fuel heating system at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Darby School Districts wood-chip heating system and the bioenergy technology engineers in Missoula. They also toured the cordwood heating system at the Treasure State Correctional Center in Deer Lodge and the wood-chip heating system at the University of Montana Western campus in Dillon.

Were looking at both quantity and quality, said Thomas Buchholz, a senior scientist with Spatial Informatics Group whos doing biofuel research at the University of Montana. Tea farmers need a dependable supply chain of fuel that will produce affordable heat so they can stay in business.

Managing a wood-burning boiler is more complex than one heated by fuel oil. That means finding the most cost-effective way to use wood without damaging Kenyas dwindling forest cover.

Energy is the biggest cost in tea production, Ronoh said. And we are running out of wood.
A man arrested Thursday by the FBI may be responsible for selling more than three pounds of methamphetamine in Missoula in 2016, federal charging documents say.

The documents paint a picture of a paranoid meth dealer whose home was equipped with an elaborate surveillance system inside and out and had guns hidden in every room.

After obtaining a search warrant, the FBI raided the home of Jonathan Allen Farran on Thursday  his birthday.

In an affidavit attached to Farrans criminal complaint, FBI Special Agent Monte Shaide wrote that the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force he serves on became aware of Farran in the middle of this year.

Confidential sources informed the FBI that in addition to meth, Farran allegedly had a large amount of stolen property at his house on the 1900 block of Strand Avenue, Shaide wrote. They also said he had barricaded all but one entrance to the home and kept rifles and handguns hidden throughout the rooms, including a pistol between the couch cushions in the living room.

Shaides sources said Farran used drugs on a daily basis, according to the affidavit.

One source told the FBI that between September and October, the source bought more than a pound of meth from Farran at the house.

In early November, one of the FBIs sources participated in a drug purchase of almost an ounce of meth at Farrans house while wearing a recording device.

After a federal magistrate signed a search warrant, an FBI SWAT team served it at Farrans home about 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Farran made his initial court appearance in U.S. District Court in Missoula the afternoon of his arrest. Hes been charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. He is being held pending further court hearings.
SEELEY LAKE  Adam Weisenburger's mother thought back on his childhood, when he would tote model airplanes wherever he went and pore over a book about airplanes gifted by an uncle.

As a matter of fact  he pulled an old, dog-eared book from his backpack.

He still carries it around.

Adam, a 16-year-old at Seeley-Swan High, will get his private pilot's license before his driver's license.

That's always been the goal.

"I've been into airplanes as long as I can remember," he said.

As long as his mom, Pam, can remember, too. Airplanes were the first thing Adam drew. He would come home from kindergarten with pictures of planes. He studied every book and documentary about aviation he could find. His first time in a single-engine aircraft was in sixth grade, in a Piper Cherokee. "I absolutely loved it," he said.

His bedroom is filled with 50 model airplanes, 10 of which he's made himself.

There was one he almost lost this fall, when he was stopped by airport security coming back from Europe.

The family had visited Technik Museum in Germany. Adam picked up a model airplane, the Russian equivalent of a Concorde.

It's a long, pointy jet airliner  something that didn't look great when his suitcase went through the scanner.

"The conveyor belt stopped and I saw that box light up in blue on the screen," Adam said. "I thought, 'crap.' I could see the outline of the airplane."

They took it aside and out of the box. They poked and prodded the model plane, and brought over a supervisor to check it out.

In the end, they decided it was safe. Adam got to add one more model to his collection.

***

The plane he's training on, a 1966 Cessna 172, is hangared in Ferndale for its annual inspection.

Adam talked about his training last week at school, pulling a model airplane from his backpack, similar to the one he's using to train.

At 16, you're allowed to get your student pilot certificate. Adam couldn't wait for that, though the hours he put in before his May birthday don't count toward his license requirements.

"Everything before was to build his confidence and absorb everything he could from David (Wallenburn, president of Seeley Lake Flying Club) and his dad," Pam said.

Adam had to get medical clearance in order to apply to the FAA for his student certificate. He clearly remembers that day, because it's also the day he got his glasses.

He made sure to get all of that done before he turned 16 so he could get the certificate as soon as possible. His cousin keeps bugging him that he needs to get his driver's license, but he's not interested. He's done a few test drives, but that's not what's important right now.

His father, Trace, is an Alaska Airlines commercial pilot and he was a U.S. Air Force pilot and instructor. Once Adam decided he wanted his private pilot's license, Trace had to train in order to be his son's instructor. That came through in early July.

Adam can test for his private pilot's license once he turns 17. Between now and May, he needs to log 40 hours of flying time; he's up to 15 so far. He also needs three solo hours in a controlled airfield (Missoula, for example). He has to fly "cross-country" with Trace, then on his own. He has to do night-flying.

Adam and his dad went up about twice a week this summer, each flight lasting about an hour. He practiced his pattern work in Ronan, Polson and St. Ignatius.

And during one class period every day, Trace heads to Seeley-Swan High to work with Adam on his ground school, another requirement for the license. Some of it comes from a textbook, and the rest is on his iPad.

***

Adam's first solo flight was a surprise.

"Solos are typically a random thing," he said. "You don't know they're going to happen."

"It's so his nerves don't build beforehand," Pam said.

He had an inkling it was going to happen, though. On that August morning, his breakfast wasn't the usual cereal. Trace had asked Pam the night before to make Adam waffles or pancakes, and something with protein.

Trace and Adam went up for a practice flight and on the descent into Ronan, Trace said, "You'll probably do your solo today."

They landed and Trace got out and filled up the plane. "OK, go."

Adam did everything a bit slower than normal, he said, because he was nervous. He waited for another plane to land.

"I looked out the window and thought, 'Hopefully my landings will be that nice,' " Adam said.

He took off and on the way down, it hit him. He kept looking to the seat next to him, but his dad wasn't there. He was on his own.

"I thought, 'Well, I have to come down eventually. I don't have infinite gas,' " he said.

Pam wasn't there. She didn't know it was happening, for one, but she said the nerves would have been too much. She found out later that Trace was thinking the exact same thing watching his son make his first solo flight: "He has to land somehow."

Adam had pulled the vents open as far as they would go, hoping it would help with his nervous sweating (it didn't).

Then it was time for his first solo landing, which he called "semi-rough."

He went up for round two, and nearly forgot to do the landing check halfway down. That was the worst landing, he said.

"I got four landings in because I bounced a few times," he laughed, motioning on the table how the plane bounced, bounced, bounced down the strip.

Trace told him he could hear the tires screeching across the field.

The third try was solid. Adam relaxed and started having fun.

"When I got out of the airplane I was so happy," he said. "I got my solo done and I didn't wreck the airplane."

It wasn't until later that he found out the pilot of the plane he watched land before his first solo was the man who taught Trace to fly.

After those solos, Adam asked his dad to fly back so he could unwind.

Trace texted Pam that they were heading back. On the way, they dipped to 500 feet above their home at Lake Inez so Pam could come out and wave as they flew by.

Ultimately, Adam's goal is to fly commercially. His sights are set on Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington, which has a two-year commercial pilot program.

Look up in the coming months, and you might see Adam in what Trace has dubbed a "one-ton feather," floating above western Montana.
A second-grade boy, age 7, is in need of snow boots, socks and basketball shoes men's size 6. If you would like to help with this need, you can either donate gently used items or make a donation of $100 to My Student In Need and we will purchase a gift card so the teacher can take the student shopping. Russell No. 1962.

A senior girl, age 17, is in need of a gently used full-size sleep system (mattress and box spring), as she is currently sleeping on the floor. If you have a gently used/clean full-size sleep system and would like to donate it to this need, please contact My Student in Need and let us know how you would like to help. Big Sky No. 1934.
Around 7 p.m. I had to cross the fire several times to move some hose. I remember being in awe of what I saw. Within the fire area, the wind was fanning the hot spots and the interiors and bolls of all the big trees were glowing bright reddish-orange and some were spouting flames. The ground itself was glowing in places from the peat burning. Smoke was everywhere. It was all very unearthly! Reminded me of exactly how Id picture Dantes Inferno! Rene Eustace journal, Miltona Fire, Michigan Oct. 14, 1976.

***

Rene Eustace is one of those meticulous types that nearly anyone who has lived a life worth living wishes he could be.

In tiny notebooks the size of a postcard, Eustace carefully preserved the memories each and every day of wildfire and the men and women he served with over the course of four decades.

Beyond that, he captured life on the front lines with photographs and on film.

Last week, Eustace officially retired from his post with the Bitterroot National Forest after a 41-year career that began in the lookout tower at Medicine Point.

Ask and hell tell you that he put in exactly 17,880.75 hours of overtime and flew 173 air patrol flights over the Bitterroot Forest searching for smoke.

I estimate that I flew 60,550 miles over the forest, Eustace said. I got to see a lot of it.

Snowmelt waterfalls plunging 500 feet to backcountry lakes still half frozen to scenes of raging fire sweeping over the landscape were some of what he saw.

I saw amazing stuff from the air, he said. That part of my career was icing on the cake.

***

The fire glowed on all fronts all night. On the ridge to our southwest there were occasional torch outs all night. Also, snags would drop with a good crash and would sometimes kick loose and move big rocks. Incredible Milky Way show too. Quite a night of visuals... Rock Creek Fire, July 25, 1988

***

Eustace didnt know a thing about the world of wildfire when he first traveled from his native California to Sula in the mid 1970s. By chance, he happened to meet the man serving as fire management officer at the Sula District at Lost Trail ski area.

I asked him if there were ever any openings in lookout towers, Eustace said. He told me there were some just about every year. I put in my application and the rest, as they say, is history. It became all I wanted to do.

While at the lookout tower, he met firefighters and learned about their work. By 1976, he had joined their ranks. Over the course of the next few decades, Eustace would join one of the precursors of todays Hot Shot Crews and travel across the country and into Canada fighting fire.

In the early days, there werent many firefighters with permanent positions. Their job would start in the spring and end when the fire season ended.

The wages, of course, were a lot different back then. I started as a GS-3 at $3.41 an hour, Eustace said. My two-week take home pay was $206.

For that pay, he and his fellow firefighters would put their lives on the line.

In 1994, Eustace and others of his Bitterroot-based crew were sadly reminded of just how dangerous their job was when Missoula smokejumper Don Makey was one of 14 firefighters who died on Storm King Mountain in Colorado.

It was the first time that anyone I knew had been killed, Eustace said. There was a lot of soul searching that went on after that and a lot of crew meetings. Everyone eventually decided we want to keep doing our job.

***

Why do we do it (fight fire)? What keeps us coming back? . . . Whats the draw?. . . We do it because were good at it. We do it for that intense and indescribably delicious feeling of pride and accomplishment that only pulling off a first class, top notch dangerous job with skill and daring can give you. We do it for love of life. . . It is the best!! The cream of being alive and living. The incredible closeness between you and your brothers and sisters in fire, and the sights and sounds and swirling events around you that you share and experience are just beyond compare! . . . Three days after local firefighter Don Mackey died, July 9, 1994.

***

In his career, Eustace has seen a lot of change. Perhaps the most striking has been the dramatic way wildfires behave as they roar across the landscape in ever larger blazes.

In the 1970s, the biggest fire that anyone could remember happened at Sleeping Child in 1961. That fire burned about 30,000 acres.

Everyone thought that was huge, he said. It was just unbelievable that could happen. People from all over the country had come here to deal with it.

But none of that could have prepared anyone for 1988 and the fires in Yellowstone National Park.

Eustace spent a total of 55 days that summer battling those blazes.

We had never seen anything like it before, he remembered. Yellowstone was just amazing. You really had to keep your head on a swivel and make sure you didnt do anything stupid.

Dry cold fronts would push the fire 20 to 25 miles in single day. None of the fire behavior models were working.

It was a milestone year of what was to come, he said. It got to be part of it.

Before he was done, Eustace had worked on 331 wildfires. He had worked on 27 of the 33 Fourth of July holidays between 1984 and 2016. All but 10 of his June 30 birthdays were celebrated somewhere in fire camps or fire related duties.

In the final years of his career, Eustace was able to return to his roots and help the men and women who continue to man lookout towers on the Bitterroot Forest.

***

September 19, 2016, journal entry on my last close up of Salmon Mountain Lookout of my career: ". . . I made an out loud comment about what a wonderful 16 season adventure its been going to Salmon Mountain and that I was glad I was here today with the crew. . . This was a halcyon day for sure!!! A mellow, peaceful, joyful time in a beautiful place with friends. Im so thankful for this life I live!!!!''
The wailing and gnashing of teeth has been pretty much non-stop since Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the USA. But amid all the doom and gloom, its important to remember that good things still happen, and will continue to happen, in our nation.

Last week two very bright lights blazed in the post-election darkness. First, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, better known as TPP, appears to be dead once and for all. Second, and closer to home, the Badger Two-Medicine, held as sacred ground by the Blackfeet, was saved from oil and gas development when Devon Energy voluntarily relinquished its leases on 32,000 acres of sacred ground.

***

The demise of TPP

For nearly a decade proponents of so-called free trade agreements have worked to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which President Barack Obama supported as well as a sizable contingent of Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

But then along came Donald Trump, who tapped into a very deep and widespread pool of discontent due to the impacts on American manufacturing jobs from previous trade agreements. Chief among those was NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement signed into law by none other than Democrat Bill Clinton in the '90s and that was supported by his wife Hillary Clinton through most of her primary campaign against Bernie Sanders.

Those with good memories will recall a former presidential candidate, Ross Perot, who warned that NAFTA would create a giant sucking sound as jobs left the U.S. for Mexico. In fact, Perot was exactly right and the flight of former well-paying manufacturing jobs throughout the Rust Belt states of the Midwest left many formerly prosperous areas of middle class communities little more than burnt-out shells as domestic factories closed in favor of cheaper, non-union labor south of the border.

While Hillary Clinton eventually changed her tune on backing TPP after enormous pressure from Bernie Sanders supporters, it came too late  and with too much mistrust of her commitment to oppose it  for her campaign. Trump swept the Rust Belt states that had previously been strongly in the camp of the Democrats with his pledge to oppose the TPP and new free trade agreements of the future.

When that pledge carried him to electoral victory, the leaders of the Republican majorities in Congress saw the handwriting on the wall and announced last week that there would be no vote on the TPP in the coming lame duck session of Congress in which backers, including President Obama, had hoped to pass the measure.

Following suit, leaders around the globe have now begun to treat the TPP as dead. For the future of manufacturing jobs in America, which was once a powerhouse of industry, the move brings hope to millions that good jobs and high-quality products will return to our shores. Likewise, those who feared being victimized by predatory corporations abroad are cheering TPPs apparent demise. And maybe, just maybe, Democrats will have learned a lesson about supporting policies that ignore the impacts on the working class  which was once the backbone of the party.

***

Saving the sacred

Just as the death of the TPP saves American manufacturing jobs, the cancellation of 15 energy leases in the Badger-Two Medicine saves the land held sacred by the Blackfeet Nation.

It was almost exactly 30 years ago that this astoundingly beautiful area, inhabited by Blackfeet Indians for an estimated 10,000 years, was part of a wilderness bill that passed both chambers of Congress only to be pocket-vetoed by then-President Ronald Reagan.

Its easy to vividly recall following the winding Two Medicine River through golden aspen groves where traditional medicine lodges stood, pieces of brightly colored cloth fluttering from their skeletal frames. The thought of bulldozing in roads, drill pads, and 24-hour lights and drilling was then, and remains today, totally incongruous with the area.

Surrounded by Blackfeet Nation lands, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, one can quickly see why the area has been revered for vision quests and traditional ceremonies for millennia  and why its still cherished by Native and non-Indians today.

The lesson is that there will continue to be bursts of bright light in the darkness now encompassing our country. Life goes on, and the demise of the TPP and saving the sacred Badger-Two Medicine stand as prime examples that good things can happen when issues are important to enough people to make politicians listen up and act accordingly.
Now that winter is upon us, it is easy to forget about what was probably some of the most terrifying moments of many Montanans lives from just a few months ago: Roaring Lion, Copper King and more than 250 other wildfires burned across our state this summer. Yellowstone National Park experienced the worst fire season since 1988. Homes turned to ash and lives were lost.

In Montana, we understand the dangers of wildfires and structure fires, especially in rural areas where it can take some time for firefighters to arrive. We appreciate the men and women who lay their lives on the line to protect us. But do we understand where these firefighters and emergency responders come from?

Would you be surprised to find out that they are almost entirely volunteers? Montana has approximately 435 fire departments spread across the state. While some are fully career in the high population areas and others utilize a combination of paid and volunteer emergency responders, the large majority rely solely on volunteers. In fact, volunteers outnumber career firefighters in Montana by at least an 8-1 ratio. These volunteers are our neighbors: they are farmers and ranchers, engineers, waitresses and construction workers.

Montana has an immense need for more volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. In many areas, there are not enough volunteers to adequately staff increased call volumes. In some cases, response times can be extremely long if these calls can even be staffed at all. Fire and emergency medical service stations across the state need help, and the good news is that you do not have to be willing to run into a burning building to make a difference; there are many ways to serve in your local fire/EMS department.

If the excitement of fighting fire or helping others during an emergency appeals to you, you can receive training to be able to do so safely and effectively. Volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel respond to calls for many types of emergencies, like road accidents and floods, and are responsible for educating the community about fire and life safety. As an EMT, volunteers are trained to respond to emergency situations and perform lifesaving techniques.

If you want to help in a tamer manner, there is a place for you. Auxiliary firefighters might offer support by driving trucks, maintaining and cleaning the fire equipment, performing administrative functions, and assisting in fundraising and community awareness efforts. Even young people can serve in an explorer/junior firefighter program to experience firsthand what its like to be a firefighter.

Standards and requirements to become a volunteer vary from department to department, but most require a valid drivers license, a clean record, being able to respond to a certain percentage of calls, and require that you are healthy and over 18 years old. Check with your local department to see what their requirements are and how you can fit in.

Volunteer firefighting and EMS are very rewarding and valuable ways to serve and give back to your community. There is hardly a more satisfying feeling or greater reward than helping someone in their time of need. Youll also learn new skills and develop an extraordinary camaraderie among your fellow firefighters and emergency responders. If you are prepared to commit the time and effort to becoming a volunteer, there is a department nearby that is ready for you to serve.

You were born to do something great. Step up, help others, and make a difference in your community. Volunteer applications are available at MTVolunteer.org.
Something changed for Jerry Thex when he saw a Sept. 3 video of Dakota Access Pipeline security using dogs to drive protesters off private land.

He got frustrated.

Another video on Nov. 2 showed police in riot gear firing rubber bullets and pepper spray at protesters, who were approaching the shoreline during a water demonstration in Cantapeta Creek north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

I couldnt even finish the videos the other day, said Thex, a Northern Cheyenne tribal member.

He left for Standing Rock in September and again in October, each time bringing a flatbed trailer stacked with logs. He pays for the trips himself, putting a little money away when he can.

Thex works as an administrator at the Heritage Living Center in Ashland. Hes also on the board of commissioners for the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority and volunteers for the Ashland Fire Department.

The more I watched (the videos), the more I felt like something reached out, grabbed me and pulled me over to North Dakota, Thex said.

Thex, who was in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years, wondered if any of the officers at Standing Rock had been in the military. He said he felt ashamed of how police were treating civilians while people in the military like him put their lives on the line for those same civilians.

After his military service, Thex got a job as an ironworker, then a roustabout for the Tongue River Lumber Co., and finally a utility worker at the Colstrip power plant. He understands the police and pipeline laborers have a job to do to support themselves and their families.

You don't have to stay and work there, either, if you have that kind of skill, Thex said. You could work somewhere else.

On Nov. 4, Thex made the trip to Standing Rock again, bringing winter jackets, cases of water, canned goods, drawstring bags full of toiletries and more logs for the camps round-the-clock kitchens.

***

Wood use has become a top priority for protesters planning to camp into next year. Frosty mornings at Oceti Sakowin Camp, the largest of the five camps, prove North Dakotas winter is just around the corner. Tribal elders have begun to tell campers to share fire space and save more wood for when snow covers the ground.

The last two times Thex brought logs to camp, they were immediately unloaded, chopped and distributed to different areas of camp.

Each trip takes more than six hours of driving on a two-lane stretch of highway into rural North Dakota. Thex spends a lot of that time thinking.

I get kind of emotional when I think about it, Thex said.

The situation in Standing Rock mirrors the same old story dating back to the 1800s when tribes were still fighting for their land, he said.

However, in his lifetime he has never seen a gathering of tribes like this before.

In September, Thex took his 11-year-old son, Jerry, to Standing Rock.

I said, Son, you may never ever see something like this again where all these tribes come together like this, Thex said.

Hundreds of flags representing different tribes trace the borders of the camp and go down the main road. Thex has met people from Alaska to New York and even one woman from Kenya.

I think Native Americans are fed up now, Thex said. They are tired of being pushed around, tired of not being heard, and this is going to be their story.

Thex said he is a part of that story by being behind the scenes and helping.

Although Thex wants to go to the front line to protest, he said he has too much at stake back home. He's a father of six.

His way of standing with Standing Rock is to bring the logs and let people know he is there for them. Every time he pulls his truck out of camp and returns to Montana he feels guilty. His desire to help is more intense after every visit.

This is definitely not my last trip this year, Thex said.
Cory Bryson, 32, has known about the Dakota Access Pipeline since 2013. He attended public hearings in 2014, when he spoke with landowners, residents, legal staff and representatives of Energy Transfer Partners, the parent company building the pipeline. He recalls there would be a minimum of 50 people at each meeting  none of whom represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

He said they didnt show up to the hearings in Mandan, Killdeer, Williston and Bismarck or the open house.

Bryson has worked on projects of this size before. Hes been through the process. To Bryson, this was just another ordinary project. Three years later, Bryson told a different story.

Although hes seen opposition to certain projects, he said he's never seen it taken to this level.

Bryson knows the pipeline industry, he's worked in it since he was 23, and his father was a pipeliner for 32 years. Born and raised in Mandan, N.D. Bryson continues to live there with his wife and three kids.

He works as a business representative for the Laborers International Union Local 563 in Bismarck. He represents workers across all industries and labor unions. He enforces contracts and looks out for the safety of workers.

So does Rob Dekrey, a labor steward for the pipeline company and Bryson's co-worker.

Dekrey describes his job as being a voice for the laborers. He makes sure they are treated fairly and that work is carried out properly.

Together both men represent 750 laborers from Minnesota and North Dakota working on the pipeline.

Bryson said he remembers the first protest. It was in early July.

About 200 people gathered on Highway 1806. Local police showed up, not in riot gear. There was no aggression, he said, but police were mingled with protesters. Some even shook hands.

But it almost seems overnight it turned into a war, Bryson said.

And workers were thrown into the middle of it.

It turned into a war against the workers themselves instead of a fight between tribal council and the courts with the company (Energy Transfer Partners), Bryson said.

***

The amount of money lost for workers due to halting parts of pipeline construction is well into six digits, he said. For some, work weeks went from 85 hours to as few as 24.

It was a big paycheck cut on some of these guys, Dekrey said. People started to grow more frustrated and more angry at what was going on because obviously this is how they support their families and this is their way of life.

Some people have left the project, and part of Dekrey's job has been trying to get people to stay.

He doesn't blame those who wanted to leave, but said he still has a job to do.

Workers' safety has become a top priority for the two men as some have been threatened by protesters.

Dekrey spends a lot of his time monitoring construction sites, making sure his laborers can work and he doesnt see dust flying down the road toward them.

While Bryson respects protesting  "unions do it all the time," he said  he strongly disagrees with the tactics some protesters have used to get their message across.

Ive had a laborer get beat up at a gas station in the morning when he was on his way to work, he said.

Hes also received threats himself. Hes been followed in his car by vehicles with out-of-state license plates. People have taken pictures of Bryson and Dekrey in public. Once, protesters threatened to burn Bryson and his family in their home.

A lot of the violence is coming from people who are from out of state bringing their own agendas, Bryson said. Hes seen protests go from protecting the water to anti-oil, anti-pipeline, anti-fracking and anti-police. Too many groups are involved, he said.

When this is all over, they are going to go back home or find another job to protest, Bryson said.

However, the people who live in Standing Rock have to stay, and the two communities will have to fix their relationship. That will take a while based on everything thats happened, he said.

Were neighbors. Lets talk about how we can move on and fix the relationships we have locally with the tribe, Bryson said. We dont want enemies out of this.

Bryson said he has reached out twice to Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II for a meeting on how to work better with tribes in the future and fight for more regulation. The men have yet to meet.

With 98 percent of the pipeline already completed in North Dakota, next step is drilling 92 feet under the Missouri River. Drill pads are built and secured. This step is by far the most contentious between the two sides. With construction currently on halt, Bryson and Dekrey wait for a response from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Justice to see if theyll proceed.
On Nov. 6, Joyce McLellan made more than $2,000 in cash sales after a march by roughly 400 Dakota Access Pipeline protesters down Main Street in Mandan, N.D.

It was the most shes ever sold during a shift at Barneys Tesoro gas station.

McLellan, a Mandan resident for 30 years, supports the peaceful protests and said it's been good for business.

What I saw was absolutely beautiful and brought tears to my eyes, McLellan said, describing the march. I wanted to participate in it.

The march was led by a group of people holding a banner that read Love, Prayer, Forgiveness. Eventually they formed a human chain around members of the Morton County Sheriffs Department. March leaders spoke to those gathered and prayed.

As protesters made their way back to camp, many stopped to buy snacks, fill up on gas and use the bathrooms. McLellan greeted each one with the same smile and friendliness.

Later that night, McLellan learned there was a clash between protesters and police during the forgiveness march. Despite a 30-day agreement made by governments and tribal leaders to halt construction and protests, hundreds of protesters had crossed the Cannonball River in an attempt to climb Turtle Island where tribal elders say several burial sites are located. Police gathered at the hill's ridge line. Tribal elders demanded protesters head back to camp in respect of the agreement.

How can you work on a peaceful protest while the other half of it is being violent? McLellan said, shaking her head. The elders have a say in this, and we need to respect what theyre saying.

The violent outbursts of some have left a lasting impression on McLellan and the community. She said police cars now escort school buses to surrounding schools.

One experience made McLellan afraid to come to work.

One day several people wearing masks and handkerchiefs over their faces came into her store. When McLellan asked the people to remove them, they refused.

It scared and intimidated me because it was just me in the store, McLellan said. This is a gas station. Im not on the protest line.

McLellan said she wants the protests to be done. She wants people to leave.

Honestly, we had a choice to have it rerouted, McLellan said. We had a chance to say something, but people kept their mouths shut, and now its too late.

McLellan said she wasnt aware of the pipeline until the protests started.

According to an NPR interview with Public Service Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak, the North Dakota Public Service Commission held 30 hours of public hearings before the pipeline was approved.

If I had known what all wouldve been involved in it, then yes, I probably wouldve gone to the meetings, McLellan said. People need to be more aware of whats going on in their community, and thats one thing Ive learned from this.
KALISPELL (AP)  A Bigfork man has been sentenced to four years in prison for felony stalking, including cutting off a GPS monitor and traveling to Colorado where he was arrested within a mile of the woman's house.

District Judge David Ortley sentenced Severin Gislason on Nov. 15 to 15 years in prison with 11 years suspended.

Ortley required Gislason, 21, to complete substance abuse and cognitive behavioral treatment before becoming eligible for parole. He must also pay restitution for the victim's therapy and for an earlier burglary conviction.

Gislason was on probation following the 2014 burglary conviction and was ordered by a court in September 2014 not to contact the woman, but continued to text her and used a phone app to disguise his number, prosecutors said.

He was charged with felony stalking in 2015 and was released from jail with a GPS monitor. He cut the monitoring bracelet off at the Kalispell airport and took a bus to Colorado, prosecutors said. After his arrest, Gislason asked corrections officers if he could call his father, but used the phone to call and harass the woman, prosecutors said.

Gislason acted as his own attorney to confront the woman during his trial, prosecutors said. He had a loud outburst in court and was removed by police officers before pleading guilty.

"Severin Gislason is hands-down the most manipulative defendant I've ever prosecuted," said Deputy Flathead County Attorney Alison Howard, who sought a 35-year prison sentence.

Public defender Jessica Polan and Gislason's family asked Ortley to take into consideration that mental health professionals believe Gislason could do well with treatment for addiction and a personality disorder.
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With their fingers seemingly always on the pulse of history, most Butte residents won't be surprised to learn their city once boasted a Chinatown that rivaled those of New York and San Francisco.

But soon people all over the world will get a chance to peek behind the curtain of Mining City history.

The Pekin Noodle Parlor, a 105-year-old Chinese restaurant at 117 S. Main St. in Uptown Butte, is being featured in an exhibit at the Museum of Food and Drink in New York City.

The exhibit is called "Chow: Making the Chinese American Restaurant," and according to the museum's executive director Peter Kim, it will be the museum's first cultural exhibit.

"We knew we wanted to tell a cultural story simply because food is such a key part of how we identify ourselves culturally," said Kim. "So we started looking at a lot of possibilities for that, and we realized that there was something really extraordinary about Chinese-American restaurants."

Kim said the exhibit is intended to be a sensory experience where patrons can not only read and view history  they can also taste it. It includes a cooking studio where visitors can learn culinary techniques and sample chef-designed dishes in addition to an art installation called "Curtain of Many," made up of 7,250 takeout boxes. There's also a working 1,500-pound machine that dispenses freshly made fortune cookies containing messages submitted by people all over the world.

So how did the Pekin become an exhibit among Brooklynites?

Kim said museum staff wanted to find restaurants whose history intersected with the history of Chinese Americans. They came across the Pekin, he said, which is often touted as the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant run by the same family in the United States.

The family who has kept the Pekin running since 1911 is the Tams.

Today Jerry Tam operates the Pekin, but the restaurant is still owned by his father Ding Kuen Tam commonly known as "Danny Wong"  who took over operations in the 1950s from his great uncle Hum Yow.

FAMILY'S HISTORY

But the family's history doesn't end there.

According to a 2011 addition to the Congressional Record, the first Tam family member to set foot in America came in the 1860s.

Tam went over the family history with The Montana Standard Wednesday afternoon.

In the Pekin's kitchen, he sliced onions as he explained that the restaurant's sweet-and-sour is brown and not red like it is in most Chinese-American establishments because his forerunners didn't have access to red food coloring or ketchup.

An entrepreneur in his own right, Tam lived as a fashion designer in New York City for several years. There he attended Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology and even had a brief stint on Lifetime's "Project Runway" in 2008.

A native of Butte, Tam moved back to the Mining City in 2009 because, he said, his mother, Sharon Chu Tam, was getting sick. He started helping out at the restaurant and sifting through the basement and archiving old odds and ends he found in the building's underbelly.

With the help of archivist Ellen Crain, in 2011 the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives collaborated with Tam to put on an exhibit. The archives sent a few artifacts from the 2011 exhibit to New York for "Chow" along with an oral history featuring Tam's father. Items sent to NYC include photographs, woks, utensils, menus, advertisements, Chinese wicker baskets, and vintage soy and vinegar bottles imported from China, among others.

Ultimately, Tam said, he'd like to set up a walking museum in the Pekin's lower levels.

"The basement here is literally where keno might have been invented," he continued. "We have keno tickets that are in Chinese characters."

The building itself was constructed in 1909 and went through many incarnations  including serving as a gaming parlor, Tam said.

It resided in the heart of Butte's Chinatown and was also, among many uses, an herbal medicine shop, tea- and coffee-distribution site, a mercantile, and noncommercial bathhouse, boasting two old-school claw-foot bathtubs.

LOOKING BACK

Butte historian Dick Gibson, meanwhile, says outsiders are often surprised to learn Butte once had a Chinatown.

"Generally speaking, they're blown away," said Gibson.

Like many of the immigrants who arrived in Butte, the Chinese came to stake their claim on The Richest Hill on Earth. Many arrived during the Gold Rush, but by the time it was over in the late 1800s, a healthy population remained. They opened businesses, started families, and established a burgeoning population that reached a height of 2,500 during the 1910s, Gibson said.

But life wasn't always easy for those who left their homes in China.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 put limits on immigration from China and was concurrent with organized boycotts of Chinese businesses.

An anti-immigrant sentiment was palpable in the air in the late 1800s, Gibson said, which was partly due to economic anxieties: fear of an immigrant population traveling to the United States to take American jobs.

"They wanted to protect their wages," said Gibson, explaining that the unions were often the driving force behind the boycotts in Butte.

This history did not go unnoticed by Kim and museum staff.

"When you dig into it, you realize there's this extraordinary story of hardship, adaptation, entrepreneurship behind all of these restaurants," said Kim. "It was really a difficult period for them living under exclusion  but they managed to hold on by opening these restaurants and by creating a venue that appealed to non-Chinese diners."

Gibson agreed.

"That's one reason why the Chinese population in Butte thrived," said Gibson. "They were not just catering to the Chinese community. They were catering to Butte."

AMERICANIZED FOOD

Today there are 50,000 American Chinese restaurants in the United States that boast a uniquely American cuisine that you would be hard pressed to find in China, Kim said.

"You can go into nearly any town in the country and you'll find one," said Kim.

"In general we want people to appreciate the importance of food and how it connects to the world around us," said Kim when asked why it's important to preserve the past through the vehicle of food.

"In a broad sense, I think this exhibition will help people think about what food means to them personally and how it reflects their own cultural identity. And secondly, looking back at history is always valuable because it informs the present, and there's a lot of debate right now about what it means to be an American."

But preserving the past doesn't just happen on a global level  it happens on the individual level in the form of family memories.

"My dad's 83, and the restaurant is still doing very well, so I'm going to just see it through with him," said Tam when asked if he's ever thought of going back to New York.

Tam described his father as a hardworking man who has kept the restaurant going for more than 50 years.

He added that he's excited the restaurant is part of the New York exhibit and that he's heard countless Montanans share their memories of coming to the Pekin, which adds to the tapestry of Mining City history.

"It kind of gives people a remembrance that my dad has worked his whole entire life to provide Chinese food to this community, and I want him to feel very proud," said Tam.
According to court records, Anthony Rowe, 19, had a relationship with an underage girl from Nov. 14, 2014, but is accused of raping her in January 2015 that allegedly resulted in a child. The record states Rowe was incarcerated in a secured sex offense treatment facility by Idaho Department of Corrections for most of last year for sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. He is in jail on $100,000 bond.
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has announced a special holiday donation of $203,500 to food banks, food pantries, rescue missions, and homeless shelters across Montana.

That includes $15,000 for Butte-Silver Bow County.

Other area counties receiving funding from this gift include Anaconda-Deer Lodge, $3,500; Granite (Philipsburg), $2,500; Beaverhead (Dillon), $2,000; and Jefferson County (Boulder), $1,000

The number of hungry people in Montana continues to be a serious concern and has not reduced significantly in the last several years, according to a news release from the foundation.

It said an estimated 142,000 or 14 percent of Montanans live in poverty. Additionally, Montana ranks 42nd in the nation for number of low-income working families; 47th for low-income minority working families; 41st for children in low-income working families; and 42nd for jobs in occupations paying below the poverty line. However, numbers alone do not reflect the number of people who are struggling to find enough food.

With these struggling families and high risk groups in mind, the foundation's holiday food bank giving program tops a successful year of prioritized giving to social and human services organizations across the state.

The foundation is focused on giving youth and their families the tools they need to be successful and that starts with the security of knowing where your next meal is coming from, Foundation Executive Director Mike Halligan said. Montana is currently 22nd in the nation for child poverty. That means nearly 1 in 5 children live in poverty in Montana and struggle to get enough food. The food banks, rescue missions and pantries go above and beyond to assure the needs of our fellow Montanans are met  especially for the children and their families.
Montana has just emerged from one of the most contentious political seasons in memory.

Its time for us to come together to learn and reflect together about our shared past, present and future.

The humanities provide the means, the opportunity to do just that.

Our state is home to citizens who care deeply and are willing to share their perspectives honestly  thats a common strength on which to build.

Humanities Montana offers opportunities for citizens to gather, discuss, challenge, and reflect. We believe in the capacity of the humanities to raise silenced voices, to create spaces where listening can transcend rhetoric, and to catalyze critical thinking and thoughtful consideration. When communities face challenges, the humanities can provide context and communication. Building a thriving future for Montana is a cooperative project, and we believe that work starts with conversation.

Whether its a community conversation on a pressing issue such as water rights, or a Montana Conversations program on history, literature, the arts, current events, and Native American cultures, or a Speakers in the Schools program enriching student learning, Humanities Montana welcomes diverse, passionate individuals who will listen respectfully, share insights frankly, and consider alternative points of view.

As a 45-year-old nonpartisan organization dedicated to sustaining our civic life, Humanities Montana serves as convener and facilitator for these occasions of citizen engagement. We are proud to partner with Montanas many fine humanities organizations  libraries, museums, schools, universities and colleges, state parks, and more  to make sure these occasions are accessible to all.

To celebrate our 45th anniversary, well soon launch a special series of programs called Our Current State. The series will focus on topics that are important to Montanans, including the changing economy, land use, the ways our communities can protect and understand the diverse voices that make up our state, and more. Best of all, these programs will be free and open to the public, inviting all Montanans to learn and reflect together.

Montana is a special place not only because of its natural beauty but because folks can come together in mutual respect and a spirit of curiosity and sharing. Lets seize this moment to move beyond our difficult political season and renew our strong, necessary communities.

For much more information about Humanities Montanas programs and grants, visit www.humanitiesmontana.org.

-- Ken Egan, executive director, on behalf of the board and staff of Humanities Montana
Thousands of people are marching in highly organized mass protests across America. They obviously are not working for a living; so who is feeding, clothing and housing these radicals who are railing against the society supporting their lifestyle?

The answer is simple: those who do work. In most cases they are the taxpayers who go to work every day and from whom the government takes the first four months of their incomes each year to carry the burden of financing this land of milk and honey.

These demonstrators were so well organized that within a day of the election they appeared on American streets with fancy pre-printed signs to denounce the American way of life. These are primarily welfare bums, college students (is that redundant?) and refugees receiving average annual benefits of $29,000 each from American workers so they can sit around or destroy private property protesting the hands that feed them.

The bulk of the demonstrators come from the ranks of college students; or young adults living at home while being supported by stupid parents and grandparents who indulge these spoiled intellectuals. Young people who have spent years being educated in socialism while getting useless degrees for the job market  or are just too lazy to work, and continue as social parasites living in their parents basements on the internet while drinking beer, having sex and doing drugs.

It has taken years for this deterioration of the great American experiment in self-governance. As a historian, I would pinpoint the origin of the decline of our Founding Fathers republic to allowing those without a means of financial support to vote. To return stability to the election and governing process, states need to require anyone registering to vote to demonstrate some level of employment. Only those supporting the government should be allowed to select our representatives to govern. Keep in mind that America is a republic and not a democracy - there is a difference.

For too long the non-producers have taken over the Democratic Party with their radical leftist coalition. The time has arrived to end the dependent class determining our governing system.

--Retired state legislator Ed Butcher is a former history professor and current rancher and businessman in Winifred. He served 10 years in the Montana Legislature representing central Montana on numerous committees, including the Senate Finance Committee and the House Taxation Committee.
Why does the human condition never change?

Bill Bentleys recent letter, A Nation of Idiots, is a classic answer to the question, Why does the human condition never change?

Remember eight years ago when we started seeing the window stickers In Loving Memory of the USA  1776 to 2008. Until people begin to try to understand and relate to the person behind the ideology, the skin color, the sexual orientation or whatever other difference, we will continue to be mired in such hateful division.

The easy route is to simply label that different person as an idiot and write them off. The hard path is to work with the individual or group in some attempt to understand the difference and to narrow the divide, or maybe even find some common ground. Very little changes on the easy route.

Sean Logan, Helena

The choice of a benevolent God?
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Nine ash trees will have to come down around the Muscatine County Courthouse after they were determined to have symptoms of emerald ash borer.

Emma Hanigan, an urban forestry coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, came to Muscatine to look at the trees surrounding the courthouse. The branches on the trees, Hanigan said in an interview, could be a safety hazard to people or property because of the emerald ash borer, a small beetle that kill ash trees.

"Itll cut off all the water and nutrients to the top of the tree which makes them [the branches] pretty brittle," she said.

Sherry Seright, the budget administrator for the county, presented the information to the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors during the Monday morning meeting.

"Its worse than we realized," she said.

Initially, Seright said, the board had been planning to remove four trees, but the county was unaware of the number that had been affected by the emerald ash borer. Freers & Sons Tree Service, a Muscatine business, is planning to remove the trees before the weather becomes too cold.

Seright said the replacement trees will not be put in until the spring, because many of the nurseries do not currently have a wide selection.

Hanigan will assist in choosing what kind of trees should be used to replace the ash trees.

"For replacements, we talked about the traditional courthouse look and preserving the essence of that historic setup," she said.

Having a wide variety of trees, Hanigan said, can help ensure whatever pest emerges in the future, it will not affect all of the trees at the same time.

"We dont know what the next invasive pest is so the more diversity you have the better off you are when facing future threats," she said.

The board indicated its approval, although several expressed their sadness that all nine trees would have to be removed.

"It really is sad that all these trees have to go," said Supervisor Matt Bonebrake.

The board was made aware of the possible need for tree removal in the past, Seright said.

A consultant that was hired in 2012 by Muscatine County suggested the ash trees could eventually be in danger from emerald ash borer, and suggested the removal of several trees for improved visibility of the courthouse as well.

In other action, the board provided staff with a recommendation to take to the Board of Health, which was broaching the idea of increasing from five to seven members.

Supervisor Scott Sauer had heard the discussion, and said the board members did not want to loose the pharmacist that sits on the board, James Wester.

Wester has served since 1987 said Nancy Schreiber, the director of Administrative Services for the county. Schreiber said he would have to be replaced for gender balance, and the Board of Health wanted to add two positions to be filled by females in order to retain a pharmacist on the board.

"Why not look for a female pharmacist who would serve?" Supervisor Kas Kelly said.

Sauer and Schreiber said the board members expressed a strong desire to have someone with Wester's experience and knowledge as a physician on the board.

The Board of Supervisors recommended the Board of Health first try to find a female pharmacist.

In other business:

Clyde Evans was appointed to the Muscatine County Zoning Commission for a five-year term ending Nov. 6, 2021. Laura Liegois and and Thomas Furlong had also applied. Furlong had withdrawn his application, and a male was needed to fulfill the gender balance requirements, but Sorensen suggested Liegois apply to serve elsewhere if she has interest in other areas.

Supervisor Bob Howard said a quorum was not present at the Emergency Management Commission meeting he attended, an issue he has discussed previously. He said the lack of quorum meant the commission could not take action, and he plans to discuss the importance of attendance with the various elected officials on the commission.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  A Sunday afternoon trailer fire has been ruled intentionally set, and one person has been arrested in alleged connection with the blaze.

At around 4:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20, the Muscatine Fire Department responded to a 911 call of a structure fire at 4611 Condor St., according to a press release from the Muscatine Fire Department.

Crews discovered a fire in a manufactured home upon arrival at the scene, and had declared the fire extinguished by around 4:49 p.m. Damage to the home and contents has been estimated at $10,000, according to the press release.

The initial investigation, which continued until around 12 p.m. on Monday, found the fire to be intentionally set, and one person has been taken into custody in alleged connection with the blaze.

One person was home at the time of the fire, but no injuries were reported.

The Muscatine Fire Department, Fruitland Fire Department, and Muscatine Police Department responded to the scene. Around 15 firefighters responded to the fire and several off-duty firefighters responded to staff the main fire station and cover for emergencies in the city during the fire.

The incident remains under investigation by the Muscatine Police and Fire Departments.
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
In November 2016 Sygnia launched the 4th Industrial Revolution Global Equity Fund  the first unit trust in South Africa to give investors exposure to companies at the forefront of the technological revolution.

The fund blends exposure to 13 different market indices  The Kensho 13 New Economy Indices: 21st Century sm  each representing a different new economy industry, from genetic engineering to clean energy, robotics and 3D printing.

1. Tell us about Kensho  its history and systems.

Kensho was founded by Daniel Nadler, a PhD economist from Harvard, in 2013.

Daniel had previously worked with the Federal Reserve during the financial crisis and came to realise how hard and time consuming it was to gather sufficient data to properly analyse the relationships between world, economic and market events, examine historical precedents and to iterate through different hypotheses  all crucial capabilities during periods of high stress in the markets.

With this insight, Daniel co-founded Kensho in 2013 with the express mission of bringing cutting-edge analytics and vast compute power  once the preserve of a few very well-funded hedge funds  into the mainstream.

2. How did you come up with the concept of Kensho New Economy indices?

Standard industry classification schemes used today cannot effectively capture the industries most likely to power economic growth in the 21st century, and especially the dynamic nature and degree of interconnectedness that are the hallmarks of the new economy.

Additionally, existing indices and listed products only touch on very small portions of the New Economy, such as Cyber Security.

With that in mind, we set out to create a family of indices that would provide the most comprehensive and objective view of all the industries driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution now and in the future.

3. Why was partnering with Sygnia in South Africa an attractive proposition from Kenshos perspective?

Sygnia has shown itself to be a disruptive force within the South African financial services market, in much the same way that Kensho has been to the financial industry in the US.

They have a history of being innovative and aggressive in entering new channels and launching new products.

The Kensho New Economies not only represent the drivers of economic growth in the 21st Century, but are also sophisticated mechanisms with which investors can very precisely capture that exposure.

Sygnia immediately understood the opportunity that the New Economies represent.

4. The Sygnia 4th Industrial Revolution Global Equity fund is the first fund of its kind in South Africa  is there anything like it in the USA that you are aware of?

Not yet, which is a true testament to the agility and vision of Sygnia.

There are a very small number of funds that capture small portions of what constitutes the New Economies; however, Kensho is the only firm that has comprehensively captured the full extent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A number of financial institutions have licensed indices from us so that they can reference them in their structured notes or derivative products.

We are actively working with partners in the US to ensure investors here have a similar opportunity to invest in the New Economies.

Kensho is not an investment adviser and makes no representation or recommendation regarding investment in any fund or investment vehicle. Please read important disclaimers.
MyGaming recently reported on the news that Ubisoft would be lowering the prices of some of its games these holidays in order to combat the weaker Rand.

However theyre not the only publishers trying to lower prices this holiday season.

Speaking to MyGaming, AWXs Tex Hartog revealed the logistics behind the price cuts and which other publishers would be slashing their prices.

With the ongoing volatility of the exchange rate since November last year, there have been many discussions between key publishers and local distributors specifically addressing the price of games and the impact the exchange rate has had on gaming affordability in South Africa, said Hartog.

Hartog also said that publishers were focussing on South Africa in order to combat the effects of recent price increases.

As soon as a games pricing hits that R1,000+ mark, it impacts pre-orders, interest in the product, and in store sales.

A number of other publishers are actively trying to keep games below the R1,000 mark and have planned to cut prices in South Africa this holiday season.

These companies include Sony, 2K, and Warner Bros.
UpStage Napa Valley, previously known as The Calistoga Theater Company, is presenting a new, entertaining comedy called Handle with Care. Its a script written by Jason Odell Williams, directed by Sharie Renault, about the rekindling of faith  perfect for the holiday season.

Ayelet (Danielle Devitt), a Hebrew-speaking Israeli woman, has traveled to America with her grandmother (Jan Bradley), and finds she must negotiate an absurd series of events brought on by a package delivery truck driver named Terrance (Rob Barlow). Neither Ayelet nor her grandmother speak English, so Terrance calls a young Jewish-American man named Josh (Gabriel Frey), whose limited recall of the Hebrew language is eclipsed only by his sudden romantic interest in Ayelet. Their accidental meeting on Christmas Eve, in Goodview, Virginia transforms the hilarity into a classic romantic Christmas story.

Napa Valley audiences are already familiar with the skill and talent of the UpStage Napa Valley theater group under its previous name. For instance, in May their performance of Black Tie earned rave reviews when it was performed at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Helena on Spring Street. The company is now expanding its branding as a regional theater with its name-change to UpStage Napa Valley and Handle with Care promises to be equally entertaining.

The play will be performed across three weeks in December from Dec. 2 through Dec. 17. For specific times and dates or to buy tickets, call (707) 341-3278 or visit CalistogaTheaterCompany.com.
A major wine production group has its sights on Yountville  and on making craft beer in a hub of wine-country vacationing  if only it can find enough space for beer buffs to leave their cars.

Boisset Collection, which owns Raymond Vineyards of St. Helena and other labels, has filed plans to create the Yountville Brewing Co. on Washington Street in the heart of the towns business district. The microbrewery, which would occupy Yountvilles 19th-century train depot building, would become the first beachhead for artisanal beer in a community long dominated by wine tasting rooms and haute-cuisine eateries such as The French Laundry.

The companys public debut of its brewery plan, however, got off to a bumpy start earlier this month, as town planners  and the owner of a nearby hotel  declared the site too cramped for the vehicles that likely would be drawn to a popular beer and food establishment. Attempts by Boissets designers to creatively fit in enough spaces  including valet parking and an electric lift to stack some vehicles above others  appeared only to harden such fears.

A vehicle lift is a very urban solution, (and) the use of valet parking would create a sea-of-cars look on what is a narrow and pedestrian-friendly main street, Planning Director Sandra Liston said of the brewery review Nov. 8 before the Zoning and Design Review Board, Yountvilles land-use authority.

Despite such difficulties, Boisset will press forward with its brewery plans and seek a parking solution the town and other merchants can accept, a company spokesman said Thursday.

The town was very clear about the parking issue with us; we knew it was the chief concern in the entire town, said Patrick Egan, the wine groups marketing director. We worked closely with the town to create potential solutions to mitigate the impact. Our vision was to speak candidly about the most creative solutions that we could.

If its not the best fit, were willing to work with the town and find the right solution.

Yountville Brewing would be housed in the towns late-1800s rail depot, one of three buildings at the Whistle Stop Center at 6505 Washington St. The building currently houses the Overland Sheepskin store and shares a parking lot with the neighboring Napa Valley Railway Inn.

The brewery would feature a 24-seat restaurant, 12-seat bar and a 12-seat outdoor dining area, as well as a two-story beer production space with a grain lift and chiller. Entrees, pizza, appetizers and salads would be made in a Napa catering kitchen, then brought to a small kitchen at the brewery for finishing, according to Egan.

Certainly beer can add another dimension, another layer to the gastronomic experience people get when they visit Yountville, he said Thursday. We feel it enhances the town.

First, however, comes the matter of finding enough spaces for beer buffs to leave their cars  and Lori Jones, owner of the next-door Railway Inn, doubted the brewerys plans for a vehicle lift and front-to-back valet parking would satisfy all the businesses on the property.

The parking is already congested, she told town staff. My guests come in and dont have a place to park the way it is, so we have to give them stickers to put on their dashboards. Its already a problem.

Jones attorney, Kevin Block, was blunter, calling such a parking layout a major threat to the hotels ability to attract visitors.

This parking plan is a disaster in the making, he told the zoning board. They are trying to shoehorn a use into the site for which it is not suitable  at all. Think of your least favorite parking lot in Napa and multiply it by five, and youll get a sense of what it would be like.

Board members wondered whether the need for staff to operate a mechanical car stacker  which would hold five vehicles above five others parked on the ground  and intricately arrange other cars points to the sites limits in absorbing more visitors, especially on a shared lot.

To say itll be split between businesses doesnt make sense, said Kerrin Laz. If youre on top and you need to go home, what do you do? Reach out to the four people below you and ask them to move? It just doesnt seem feasible.

Double-parking cars in front makes it look like an auto row, definitely something we dont want to see in Yountville, added Kimberly Cook. I dont see jamming cars in all sorts of places as the solution. The solution is to put in the building what you can and what fits within those parking spaces.

In spite of such doubts, a partner in the Yountville Brewing plan called the effort worthwhile in order to bring to Yountville a business appealing to more than wine lovers.

There is an economy of space that people value as part of the character of Yountville, Donna Oldford, a St. Helena planning consultant working with Boisset on the winery, told town staff. But you have some plans and goals and policies that indicate youd like to see more diversity of uses, more community-facing uses.
The Board of Directors of the Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commerce urges the Napa County Supervisors to enter into a Managing Partner Agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to manage the Lake Berryessa Recreation areas. We need this revolutionary strategy to stop the death spiral at Lake Berryessa. The rationale for this change is simple:

1. Napa County successfully ran the lake from 1958 to 1975. In fact, a 1972 county position paper shows that Napa County actually fought to retain management of the lake, but were frustrated by the federal bureaucracy at the time. Our community needs the present Board of Supervisors to emulate their 1972 predecessors. Now is the time to make the lake a successful recreation destination and Napa County resource again.

2. The federal government has shown its inability to successfully implement its own policies for decades, resulting in the destruction of a once-thriving region. However, Reclamation now appears willing work with the county to create an MPA. This is a significant opportunity for community revitalization.

3. Knowledgeable recreation and hospitality companies have pointed out the flaws in the federal governments contract policies, policies which would need to be changed before serious companies would be interested. An MPA would allow these changes.

4. The federal government (Bureau of Reclamation or Bureau of Land Management) is unlikely to change its policy on those flawed contract terms - which is a recipe for future lack of action since no bidders responded to the last bid prospectus, which included those terms.

5. Napa County managing the recreation areas is a home-rule issue, which solves many problems the county has complained about for decades, including the cost of public services with no financial return. Napa County can call on the many professional resources available through the Visit Napa Valley tourism organization to support this change.

Simply put, the federal government owes the Lake Berryessa community and Napa County. Napa County managing Lake Berryessa in partnership with Napa Valley tourism professionals is the best opportunity, if not the last chance, to save Lake Berryessa.

On behalf of the chamber board: Peter Kilkus, president; Bob Lee, vice-president; Jerry Rehmke, secretary/treasurer; Craig Morton; Paul Quarneri; Marcia Ritz; Tracy Renee.

Peter Kilkus

Napa
It was a little bit of a mix-up, but on Saturday, Nov. 19, even the rain wasnt going to dampen the enthusiasm of the dogs and cats at We Care Animal Rescue.

Thats because Carol Fink and Lynn Macfarlan from Yountville had come to offer their blessings to all the animals in St. Helenas animal sanctuary, adoption center and refuge  even if there were no sea lions currently in residence.

Sea lions?

Imagine my excitement when I listened to my answering machine and heard that We Care wanted me to bless 200 sea lions, Fink said. Id never done that before.  She smiled for a moment, relishing the thought of 200 whiskered sea lions in St. Helenas little animal shelter.

Then she laughed. Of course, it was a bad recording on the machine. It was 200 felines, not sea lions.

Everyone joined in laughing at the joke, and even Manchester the cat  a lovely purring black-and-white male  seemed to enjoy it. He rolled and purred and rolled again beneath the loving pets he was receiving from shelter employee Haley Hart.

Ive been blessings animals for 17 years, Fink continued. She moved from cat to cat in the screened area of the compound with a dish of holy water and a hawk feather. Ive blessed dogs, cats, horses  all kinds of pets and animals.

Then she turned to Manchester. May you have a long and happy life, filled with love, she intoned and held out a drop of water to Manchester at the end of the hawk feather.

Manchester touched the drop with his nose, and then flicked the feather with his paw, his sleek, black coat glistening.

Macfarlan asked why such a lovely, friendly cat was confined in the screened-in area, and Hart replied that Manchester was a notorious escape artist.

When hes out in the open area part of the sanctuary he climbs up into the rafters and then onto the roof, she said. Hes done it a number of times. Were afraid hell escape out of the refuge and get hurt.

Fink recalled how her mission to bless animals had started. She said she used to attend the annual blessing of the animals in October at a Catholic church in San Francisco in a celebration started by St. Francis Assisi more than 800 years ago.

When I moved to Yountville from Marin, she said. A friend and I decided we wanted to continue that tradition up here. Weve been doing it ever since.

Then she and Macfarlan were off to other areas in the sanctuary, visiting cats too sick to roam freely in the open.

We Care Animal Rescue currently has more than 200 cats and several small dogs who are seeking homes. The shelter is a private nonprofit organization established in 1982 and serves as a refuge for homeless cats and dogs in the Napa Valley. It has a no kill philosophy, which means that animals that come to We Care can stay until a new home is found for them.
As the results came in on election night, the mood at the St. Helena phone bank in support of Hillary Clinton faded from jovial to anxious to dejected. At least one young woman was in tears.

Weeks later, in a county where Clinton got more than twice as many votes as Donald Trump, people who worked on Clintons campaign are still coming to grips with the reality of a Trump presidency.

On the Friday after the election, about 40 people attended a silent candlelight vigil at the labyrinth outside Grace Episcopal Church. Last Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, addressed about 170 Clinton supporters at Hall Wines, pointing out Democratic successes further down the ballot and encouraging volunteers not to lose heart.

Anna Chouteau and Alexandra Boeving Allen said Thompsons pep talk helped them focus on how to move forward without losing the momentum they built while working an after-hours phone bank at Hall Wines.

This felt like a repudiation of our core values, said Boeving Allen. But we have to keep organizing. We cant have a funeral for the next two years until the midterms.

A Clinton volunteer in Napa recruited Chouteau and Anna Schram to organize a phone bank aimed at getting out the vote in swing states.

The phone bank started out at one night a week in September and intensified as the election approached. As many as 27 people at a time showed up at Hall to work the phones, and on one Sunday the Napa and St. Helena phone banks combined to make 10,000 phone calls.

Within a short period of time, even if it was just from 5:30 to 8 once a week, we could make a difference, said Chouteau.

Each day the Clinton campaign would tell the phone bank to concentrate on a particular state. Volunteers spent a lot of time calling Nevada, where they encouraged residents to vote for Clinton and for Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat running for Harry Reids old Senate seat. (Clinton ended up winning Nevada, and Cortez Masto won the Senate seat.)

The calls went out to voters who were on the Democratic Partys list of registered Democrats, so there werent too many encounters with Trump supporters. But responses were still varied.

You would get everything from Ive been getting so many calls  please dont call me again to Yes, Im a strong supporter to Youre an idiot to Thank you for the work youre doing  how can I help? said Chouteau. There was a whole spectrum.

Some people had the notion that their personal vote didnt matter, and we tried to correct that, Boeving Allen said.

Chouteau worked on scripts for the callers to use and helped with logistics.

Sometimes someone would flag me down and say theyd called a 90-year-old woman who really wants to vote but cant get to the polls, Chouteau said. Id get on my phone and figure out how to get her a ride.

Toward the end of Election Day volunteers started to head home, fully expecting a Clinton victory. However, PBS election coverage was being projected onto the wall of the phone bank, and the news was shocking.

Then someone got a text from a son in New York saying the New York Times just predicted that Trump was going to win, Chouteau remembered. At first there was disbelief, so I pulled it up on my phone.

Horror and disbelief, said Boeving Allen. I was gutted. I still am.

Community organizers like Chouteau and Boeving Allen are trying to put the election behind them and concentrate on the future. Both plan to attend the Million Woman March on Jan. 21. The candlelight vigil was one attempt to build community solidarity at the local level, they said.

We have a group thats going to get together in the next few weeks and figure out which issues and candidates we want to support, especially in the midterm election, Chouteau said.

As a child psychologist, Boeving Allen wants to help kids and families heal from whats been a traumatizing election cycle.

Im hearing about kids who live here and go to our schools who are afraid of being deported, she said.

I really believe that love and kindness and goodness will win, she added. Fear begets hate speech, so what can we do as humans and parents to mitigate that fear?
(As delivered)

Mr. President, Dear Delegates,

First of all, I would like to say that, it is really an honour to be back here today and to meet with you, this time in the beautiful city of Istanbul. Last time, I think we met in Norway, in Stavanger.

And I will speak to you about the challenges and the tasks that NATO is facing and how NATO is responding.

But before I do that, I would like to thank the Turkish Parliament for hosting us and I would also like to thank the president, Mike Turner for the excellent way he has chaired this assembly and the cooperation I have had with him. And we have met many different times on many different occasions, but I remember very well when Mike attended the NATO summit in Warsaw, he spoke to the leaders, and when you did that I actually thought about the importance of having you representing the parliaments around the table with the Heads of State and Government in Warsaw.

And I look forward to working with the new president and I promise that I will continue to be in close contact with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

For many reasons but not least because this Assembly is a very important political body because the NATO Assembly is truly a transatlantic institution, binding NATO together across the Atlantic with representatives from the European NATO Allies, from Canada and the USA and Partner Nations. And the bonds, the partnerships, the friendship you create in this Assembly is important for the whole Alliance because it strengthens the transatlantic bond.

Secondly, this Assembly is important because you are representing the national parliaments. And I believe, Ive said this before, but I will repeat it because it is so important, I have been a parliamentarian myself and I know the importance of parliaments in decision-making in the different NATO Allied countries. Because Parliaments decide on the guidelines, the framework for defence and security policies. No government can conduct in the long run, a policy which is against the will of the parliaments. So therefore, what you decide, what you agree, is of great importance for what NATO can do and what NATO Allies are able to agree on.

You are key, for key decisions for NATO, like for instance, defence spending and that has been my main focus since I became Secretary General in 2014, is how we can increase defence spending among those NATO Allies which are spending less than 2%. And that is actually your main responsibility, to decide budgets and therefore, I know that to speak to you is of great importance to me because you are the representatives, representing those parliaments which are at the end, deciding defence spending in the different NATO Allied countries.

You are also key for another reason and that is because parliaments actually decide who is going to be member of NATO. And you know that we are now in the process of inviting, of enlarging NATO with a new member, Montenegro.

The Accession treaty is signed, what remains to be done is the ratification. And many nations have already ratified the Accession agreement for Montenegro, it has to be done in all 28 Parliaments, so I urge those Parliamentarians, I urge those countries who have not yet ratified the Accession agreement for Montenegro, to do so. This is a responsibility for you, Parliaments, and I speak directly to you: go back to your Parliaments, make sure that you ratify that Accession agreement as soon as possible. We will have a Summit of NATO next year. I really think it is something we should be able to deliver by the Summit next year, that we have the Accession agreement ratified by all Parliaments, so we can welcome Montenegro as a full member by the Summit in 2017, and that may happen early 2017, so you have to hurry up and ratify the Accession agreement.

So as you understand I attach great importance to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly because you represent Parliaments which are so important for our Alliance.

There is yet another reason why I believe this Assembly is of great importance, and that is just the plain fact that you represent different parties, different nations, different political opinions so the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is a platform for political discussion, for political exchange between different people, different opinions and I think this magnitude, this variety of opinions, are important in itself, because it reflects the important NATO fact that NATO is an Alliance of 28 democracies. There are disagreements, there are different views, there are different positions on many issues. But the strength of NATO is that we have always been able to agree on the core task, on your core responsibility, and to stand together on the message that we are here together, to protect each other, to defend each other and to stand together in the strongest Alliance of the world.

And that is also actually what we managed to do in Warsaw. At the Summit we made important decisions on collective defence, on projecting stability and on working together with the EU to strengthen our cooperation with the EU. And I will address briefly these issues and then Im more than happy to take questions on all the other issues and also elaborate more on collective defence, projecting stability and NATO during the Q&A session.

But before I do that I would just also remind us all of the fact that we are meeting here in Turkey, four short months after the failed coup attempt. This should be a sober reminder to us all, a reminder that democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted. They must be vigorously defended. In September, I visited the Grand National Assembly in Ankara. Which had been shelled by tanks and bombed by F-16s.

I saw the damage that was done. And I met Members of the Parliament. From all major political parties. They rushed to the Parliament on the night of the coup attempt. And stood together in defence of their democratic institutions. It made a lasting impression on me. And I want to salute them today for their courage and dedication to democracy.

Democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law are NATOs core values. And I personally attach great importance to them. As you do  Members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The NPA is a platform for democratic debate and open exchange of different views among parliamentarians from all our member states and Partner Countries. And given that we all represent different nations and different political parties, we again and again, have proven, that we are able to stand together in the Alliance on the main message of collective defence and the will to defend each other. And that is exactly what we did in Warsaw and we decided to strengthen our collective in response to Russia aggression.

Actions in Ukraine and ongoing military build-up of Russia, NATO has taken prudent and necessary steps. We are increasing our defensive presence in the eastern part of the Alliance. Including the deployment of four multinational battalions to the Baltic States and Poland.

Earlier this year, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States each committed to lead one of those battalions.

And I want to thank those nations for their leadership.

I also want to express my appreciation to the 13 other Allies that have pledged to join these forces. Our preparations for the four battalions are on track. We expect to deploy all four multinational battalions in early 2017.

This sends a clear message: NATO is united. We stand together as one. And an attack on one Ally will be considered an attack against us all.

NATO is also taking steps to strengthen our presence in the Black Sea region. There will be a Romanian-led multinational brigade. And we are working on additional defensive measures in the air and at sea as well.

Everything NATO does is defensive, proportionate and fully in line with our international commitments.

Before Russias aggressive actions in Ukraine, NATO had no plans to send troops to the eastern part of our Alliance.

NATOs aim is to prevent a conflict, not provoke a conflict.

Moreover, we firmly believe and are firmly committed to a two-track approach to Russia.

Strong defence coupled with meaningful dialogue. When tensions run high, it is even more important to keep channels of communication open. With increasing military activity close to our borders, we must do everything we can to prevent military incidents or accidents. And if they occur, we must keep them from spiraling out of control. That is why we held two meetings of the NATO-Russia Council this year.

The other major theme of the Warsaw Summit was projecting stability. We know that if our neighbours are stable, we are more secure. NATO helps to build that stability in our neighbourhood, through capacity building, training, working with partners, and maritime security.

NATO has been on the front line in the fight against terrorism for many years. Including through our operations and military presence in Afghanistan. Which was launched in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States. And as you know, this is the first and the only time NATO has invoked our collective defence clause Article 5.

Our experience in Afghanistan has shown that having strong, highly trained local forces is vital to a countrys security and stability.

Training local forces is one of our best weapons in the fight against terrorism. This year alone, we have trained hundreds of Iraqi officers in Jordan. And we recently decided to extend our training and capacity-building efforts into Iraq. That work will begin early next year. This training is an important contribution to the fight against ISIL. As is our AWACS surveillance aircraft. Now flying from Konya here in Turkey in support of the Counter-ISIL Coalition.

The situation in the Mediterranean remains serious. In response, earlier this month, we launched NATOs new maritime security operation  Sea Guardian. This operation will help protect the safety and the security of one of the worlds busiest bodies of water. NATO ships, submarines and maritime patrol aircraft will perform core activities like surveillance, counter-terrorism and capacity-building of regional navies. And NATO is supporting the EUs Operation Sophia with information sharing and logistical support.

This cooperation with EU in the Mediterranean is just one example of the benefit of closer cooperation between NATO and the EU.

The two organisations have transformed Europe. Building the foundation for peace, security and prosperity. And Im pleased to say that NATO-EU cooperation is now closer than it has ever been. This was underscored by the Joint Declaration that I signed with President Tusk and President Juncker in Warsaw in July.

There is momentum in the NATO-EU cooperation. And we must take this opportunity to further strengthen and to do more in the field of NATO-EU cooperation.

We are exploring ways to work together.

To counter hybrid threats, enhance cyber security and coordinate exercises.

As you all know, the EU is considering options for strengthening European defence.

And I welcome that initiative. Because it offers a way for European Allies to deliver more capabilities and increased defence spending. Doing so will strengthen Europe, the EU and NATO. Its important to make sure that those efforts are complementary, transparent and mutually supportive.

And that non-EU Allies are closely involved.

Because they make essential contributions to European security. A stronger Europe will mean a stronger NATO. And it will reinforce the transatlantic bond. A bond that has served the vital security interests of NATO members on both sides of the Atlantic.

With that in mind, I welcome the incoming Administration in Washington. And I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump. The partnership between Europe and the United States has been rock-solid for almost 70 years. A partnership that has always received bi-partisan support in the United States. And better burden-sharing will make the transatlantic bond even stronger.

After years of sliding defence spending, we have seen a shift. At our Wales Summit in 2014, Allies committed to spend 2% of GDP on defence within a decade. That commitment is already bearing fruit. In 2015, we stopped the defence cuts and we saw a spending increase across Europe and Canada. I expect further increase of 3% for European Allies and Canada this year. So we are moving in the right direction but we still have a long way to go. And defence spending to reach 2% target really matters.

Let me illustrate by the following example: if all European Allies and Canada were to meet the 2% spending target, that would mean an extra 100 billion dollars. 100 billion dollars worth of improvements to our capabilities.

Thats roughly the equivalent to the combined defence budgets of the two largest defence spenders in Europe: the United Kingdom and France, every year.

This is where all of you come in. Im confident that NATO can count on your continued support. Just as we have relied on the support of the NPA over the past six decades.

Since the founding of NATO in 1949, we have helped to secure the peace and provide the foundation for freedom and prosperity. Supported by our citizens and their elected representatives. And dedicated to continued peace and security for our people and for future generations.

Thank you for your support and thank you for your attention and Im looking forward to work with all of you to strengthen the transatlantic bond and to strengthen NATO.

Thank you.

MALE MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General thank you.

FEMALE MODERATOR: Speaking foreign language.

MALE MODERATOR: For the past two days here in our annual session youve kindly agreed to take questions and this is our opportunity to get information directly from you that we take directly back to our Parliaments. To remind everyone of the procedure I will announce those whove been called on to ask questions in groups of three so that youll be prepared. Anyone who would like to ask the Secretary General a question please let the gentlemen know to my left theyll be keeping track and please let, raise your hand so that the staff and the Secretariat can identify you and pass your names on. There will be a two limit, two minute limit for all questions and of course we cannot guarantee that everyone will ask their questions, we have just slightly over an hour where the Secretary General has agreed to take questions. Our first group of three will be Ennse of Estonia, Ricardo of Spain and Gilbert from France and so you can begin with your question.

Q: Thank you Mr. President its well known that Russia is increasing, can quickly increasing its military power in the western part of the country. In response to the Russian war preparations have been approved during the Warsaw Summit last July, for the Eastern members of the alliance I mean Baltic States and Poland it will be realized by sending four NATO battalion task forces into our countries, I mean one into each one. United States has promised to send additional one armoured brigade into Poland, but if we compare the balance of power between Russia and Baltic States its evident that three Baltic States even with NATO battalions are not able to create some deterrence and protect themselves appropriate way in case of aggression. The next year budget in Estonia has passed four readings in our Parliament, third and last one will be this week. Were going to spend 2.13 percent from our GDP for increasing our self defence capability. I know our neighbours are doing the same but as a small countries we are not able to create significant military power especially medium and long range air defence effective coast (sic) defence, navy to keep (inaudible) and protected maritime and air communication lines across the Baltic Sea in case of crisis. We need more NATO forces on the ground and in the Baltic Sea. Mr. Secretary General you are the leader of NATO what is your opinion on the approach, how would it be better to solve security problems in Baltic area in framework of deterrence? Thank you.

MODERATOR: This is a very large room and the acoustics are somewhat difficult I would like to ask everyone when they do ask their questions to try to be as close to the microphone as possible. I will turn it to Ricardo from Spain.

Q: Thank you. I shall speak in Spanish.

TRANSLATOR: Mr. Secretary General you said that the EU-NATO relationship is stronger than ever, friendship has never been as major. For EU countries who are also members of NATO are promoting a package of measures to revitalize European defence and to strengthen it, to make it more realistic and more credible. Theyre providing the EU with strategic autonomy. These four countries believe its necessary to have efficient capacity to plan and conduct operations in the area of defence. Some countries consider this as a threat. That this is a break from the past from NATO. I think that its an opportunity just like you do. How can we overcome that reluctance? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Gilbert, France.

Q: Secretary General.

TRANSLATOR: Secretary General, I would like to ask a question concerning the collective defence of Europe. As you know the German and French Defence Ministers met in, took in last September, a certain initiative and fortunately, the Spanish and Italian Defence Ministers joined that initiative in favour of a strong robust European Defence. Its not a question of creating European army within the European Union or is it a question of duplicating what NATO does, but the objective is on the country to strengthen the collective defence capabilities and the capabilities for projecting stability in Europe. Secretary General, so we are in the presence of an equation which makes the defence, more European defence does not mean less defence by NATO but a more effective defence and that is what you said in your remarks. You, so do you consider that this project is not falling in line with the conclusions of the Warsaw Summit? And could you indicate with us what is in your opinion, what are your opinion that the results that this initiative initiative should aim at achieving.

JENS STOLTENBERG (NATO Secretary General): Thank you so much. Actually I will start with the two last questions because they are very much inter-linked because they both address the issue of stronger European defence and the debate and discussions and the process inside the European Union now addressing how to strengthen European defence. And I welcome that initiative, I welcome that debate and I strongly believe that a stronger Europe can contribute to a stronger NATO and that is also the clear message from the European leaders that I have met. The discussion is still going on but the message is that this is not about creating an alternative to NATO, but this is about strengthening the European pillar inside NATO. That was exactly what, for instance, the German Defence Minister, Ursula von der Leyen recently stated that this is about creating a stronger European pillar inside NATO and that is of course something I welcome, because I, NATO, have called for a stronger European defence for decades and that has always been the message from the United States and the other non-E.U. allies that Europe has to invest more in defence and strengthen its defences. The only thing we have to avoid is that when Europe starts to strengthen its defences it is done in a way which is complimentary to NATO, not competing with NATO, and that has been clearly stated that that is the aim to not compete but to compliment and therefore I welcome that many European leaders have so clearly stated that this, as you also said, Gilbert from France, that this is not about a European army, this is not about establishing shape like command structures or about the European Union starting to do collective defence, but it is about strengthening Europes ability to provide defence as as as a part of NATO, for those 22 allies that are both, NATO allies and European Union members, at the same time. Let me also add that, this is in one way obvious, because we have to remember that especially after Brexit, EU is important but, compared to the rest of NATO, especially when you take into account United States, of course NATO has capabilities and strength which is not covered by the European Union. Eighty percent of NATOs defence spending will come from non-EU allies after Brexit, eighty percent and three out of four battalions which we are going to deploy to the eastern part of the alliance, to the Baltic countries and Poland, will be led by non-EU allies. So it goes in a way of the United Kingdom, after Brexit, Canada and and the United States. So I think its obvious that we cannot decouple European security from North America and we cannot decouple the security of the European Union members from the rest of Europe, because there are some some European nations which are not members of the European Union and I regret that this for one of them, not being there and then, but then you have and they also contribute to the security of Europe. So that was a long answer to your two questions. Then Estonia, Enns. I think we have understand the following that the four battalions they are important because they are multi-national, they are led by Canada, U.K., United States and Germany but they are also then, so there will be support and other nations contributing so they will be truly international battalions in the three Baltic countries and Poland. And by being multi-national battalions they are sending a very clear signal that an attack on one ally will trigger the response from the whole alliance. But we dont believe that the battalions is the only element in creating the necessary deterrence and defence for the Baltic countries and Poland and for the rest of the alliance as well; because there are only one building block in the comprehensive response. We have the four battalions but then we have (inaudible) and then of course we have national defence forces like, for instance, in Estonia and I welcome that Estonia is one of the countries which are spending already more than two percent of defence and to know that Poland is also doing that already and then the two other Baltic countries, Lithuania and Latvia, are very close to meet the two percent target, they will meet it in 2017 or 2018. So the battalions are important but, of course, also the home defence forces are important and they are becoming stronger and stronger in this Baltic countries and in and in Poland but then we also have the new small headquarters the NFRUs which are not so big but they are critical for coupling the national home defence forces with the NATO forces and to plan, exercise and facilitate re-enforcements if needed. And then we are strengthening our ability to re-enforce. We have tripled, as Mike Turner, President Mike Turner said in his speech, we have tripled the size of the NATO response force to 40,000 and at this core we have the VJTF Spirit Force ready to move within days. So, if needed we can re-enforce quickly to strengthen our deterrence in the Baltic region. So we have to understand all of this together and and NATO is able and will continue to be able to provide credible deterrence and, as you know, the the reason to have a strong defence the reason to have a credible deterrence is not because we want to fight a war but its because we know that credible deterrence is the best way to prevent a war, we dont want to provoke a war, but we know that firm credible deterrence is the best way to prevent a war.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next group of three: well begin with Julio from Portugal, Ojars (sic) from Latvia and then Correan (sic) of Armenia. Julio, you have the floor.

Q: Thank you President. First of all I would like to compliment to the speech of the Secretary General and we believe in a strong security efforts linked to a strong Trans-Atlantic relation and I could congratulate the Secretary General for his talks with the new Administration of United States in order to (inaudible) and deepen this relation in order to prevent our security. I have only two questions related, first of all about the Middle East and it is: how is NATO capacity building a force in Iraq as part of support or measure for DAESH campaign and this is related also to announce the Russian permanent presence in Syria. Is this mean something to the movements of NATO? And last, but not least, how NATO responded to the increasing militarization of the Arctic, at least there is a kind of a militarization made by Russia, so what is the response or what is the strategy of NATO about this? Thank you very much.

MODERATOR: Ojars.

Q: Thank you Mr. President. Secretary General as you made in your remarks, clearly Europe has to do more than strengthen its contribution to defence and to NATO but it seems that (inaudible) EU or European contributions to NATO and especially the European response to Article 5 after 911, has not been sufficiently recognized in the United States. This was particularly noticeable during the Presidential election. Can NATOs public diplomacy do more to convince our American friends of Europes ongoing commitment to NATO, NATOS collective defence? Our strategic communication program is focused on deliberate dis-information on Russias borderlands, but would you agree that we must also combat inadvertent misinformation about whats happening within NATO in our own countries? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Correan (sic), Armenia.

Q: Secretary General, firstly on November 18th at German Marshall Fund you stated the strategic geographic allocation of Turkey bordering Russia in the North and the Black Sea, Georgia and then bordering Iraq and Syria to the South. Perhaps you missed to mention Armenia as a bordering country. As you know the border with Armenia has been closed by Turkish government since 1994. This is one of the security challenges in our region. Do you have any plans to raise this issue with Ankara so that to help open the last closed border in free Europe? Secondly, in the light of political military developments and crisis situation in the Middle East, what is the vision of NATO on stopping the movement of foreign fighters to the Middle East? Free movement of mercenaries from the region forms a potential possibility of emergence of network of foreign fighters that would be difficult to detect and defeat. Whats your view on the possible mechanisms to stop the flow of foreign fighters and increasing security guarantees for refugees in the Middle East and migrant hosted temporarily in some of front line States in the region? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: First on Russia in Syria and Russia in the Arctic that was two of the questions from Julio. We have seen a significant build-up of Russia in Syria and we have seen it on land with especially air forces but also with ground troops and we have seen it in the territorial waters outside Syria and in the Eastern Mediterranean, and we have seen that they have conducted air strikes again and again against many different targets in Syria and we have seen that they have used both planes based in Syria but also missiles from the Caspian Sea, but now also planes from the aircraft carrier group Kuznetsov. So, they are using many different capabilities in and around Syria to attack targets in Syria, and they do this together with the Syrian regime and Syria and the Assad regime is, they are responsible for indiscriminate bombing of Aleppo, of other cities in Syria and we have seen the consequences, civilians are killed, innocent people are killed, and critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, are attacked and the humanitarian tragedy in Syria becomes even worse because we have seen a surge in the air attacks against Aleppo and other cities in Syria. This is something that has to stop because this is only adding to the human suffering in Syria. We all know that its not easy but it is the only possible solution to the conflict in Syria is to continue to strive for a political solution, for a negotiated solution, and the first step is cease-fire, cessation of the hostilities and the free access and safe access of humanitarian aid to those most affected in Aleppo and in other cities. And then, based on that we need, a negotiated, lasting political solution because the bombing, which is conducted by the Syrian and the Russian air forces, is just adding to the human suffering in Syria.

Then on the Arctic. We have seen some more Russian presence in the Arctic. At the same time I think it is important to underline that the Arctic is still an area where we have low tensions and where we have a high degree of cooperation between NATO allies like like Norway and Denmark and and also the United States and Canada with Russia and under the umbrella of the Arctic Council, but also bi-laterally, there is a lot of cooperation and opportunity, for instance, the Norwegian fleet and also the Norwegian armed forces there is cooperation with the Russian north fleet and with the Russian military authorities at the Kola Peninsula related to, for instance, search and rescue and I will very much urge all the NATO allies in the Arctic region to continue to of course maintain military presence in the Arctic, but, at the same time, continue to strive for low tensions and a high degree of cooperation, that is important for all of us. I think it also illustrates that, even in times with high tensions where tensions are running as high as now, we are able to also, in some areas, have a pragmatic working relationship with Russia as many NATO allies have with Russia in the higher North (sic). Then, oh yes, from Latvia:

I had the pleasure of speaking to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday and he expressed very strong support for the NATO alliance and he expressed a strong commitment on continued strong NATO or US support for the NATO alliance and US support for the security of Europe and collective defence. So, I look forward to work with him and Im absolutely certain that also with the new Administration, we will have an Administration in the United States which is absolutely committed to the NATO alliance and he also stated, as he has stated in the election campaign, that he will strengthen further US defence capabilities and increase defence spending. But, of course, he also pointed out during the election campaign and in the phone call he and I had on Friday, the importance of increased defence spending among European allies, and thats something I absolutely, what should I say, understand, because actually all European allies and Canada we have decided, we have pledged, that we will stop the cuts and increase and aim at two percent within the decade and we were together around the table in Wales in 2014 and we promised Americans and others, who are already spending two percent, that the others will also reach two percent and we reiterated that pledge in Warsaw in July. So we, of course, we have to deliver, its very hard to tell the Americans but also, for instance, in London and other countries which are spending two percent, that some allies are not going to meet the pledge are not going to make good on the promises we all made together. So, so we have to deliver we have made the pledge and we are a collective alliance, collective defence and if we expect Americans to make good on their promise to defend us, the Europeans, then of course we Europeans have to make good on our pledge to them to have a fair burden sharing. So that is something we have to work on all of us and thats actually a responsibility for you and me to make sure that happens. [applause] Thank you.

MODERATOR: Our next group of three begins with Soan (sic) of Slovenia, Irena of Ukraine and then Rosa of Lithuania. Well begin with Soan of Slovenia.

Q: Thank you President. I wanted to raise a question about the necessity of an European army but seeing as my colleagues from France and Spain already asked that to you and you highlighted some points in your speech I withdraw the question, thank you.

MODERATOR: Irena of Ukraine.

Q: Thank you. Good day (inaudible). Thank you Secretary General for your comprehensive description of NATOs present and future policy. Today in Ukraine, in the third anniversary of the revolution of (inaudible), Ukrainians defended, they depended on European future and immediately after that Russia started aggression, occupied Crimea, undermines stability of the eastern territories of Ukraine, now Ukraine allocates five percent of its GDP for defence. We Ukraine, highly appreciate as it from the very beginning NATO and NATO Parliament Assembly supported Ukraine and continued to do so, its very important for us. During the last two days we have extensively discussed defence and deterrence in NATOs eastern and south eastern flanks in response to Russian aggression, in this context I would like to underline again that aggressive Russia is our number one security challenge, the (inaudible) Ukraine and NATO should unify efforts. Thus I would like to ask Ukraine is interested in maximum active partners role in NATO future defence on the eastern and southeastern flank including in the Black Sea as non-member State. Do you see such role for Ukraine?

MODERATOR: For our speakers please remember that the acoustics in the room and please get very close to the microphone. Were going to turn to Rosa of Lithuania.

Q: Thank you Mr. President. Mr. Secretary General my question will be on NATO decision making process in crisis. When we rely on rapid reaction as deterrence reacting fast in an early phase of crisis is crucial as it is much more difficult to regain lost territory then not to allow to occupy it, so my question is whether the steps NATO has taken so far to streamline NATO decision making and to delegate some decisions to NATO military authorities as efficient in the face of a crisis or whether we still have some issues that we need to streamline and another critical aspect of course is the speed of the decision making process in our capitals. Can we be certain that if a crisis arises there will be no delays caused by national decision making procedures? Should certain allies take steps to review these proceedings on the national level? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you. First I forgot to answer the question from Romania and

MODERATOR: Armenia.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Armenia, ya, sorry ya. Armenia yes, and then because the first question was about borders and border issues between Turkey and Armenia and and thats a bi-lateral issue so I think it is its an issue and and something that has been, that has to be raised on the bi-lateral level between Armenia and and and Turkey. The other question was related to foreign fighters and NATO is of course very concerned and very focused on the challenges and the threats related to homecoming or returning foreign fighters and that is one of the reasons why we have agreed and decided to do more when it comes to intelligence, improve the way we share and and work on intelligence but also to improve the mechanisms. We have, when it comes to sharing intelligence especially related to foreign fighters because that is a challenge for many NATO allies and as you know we have decided to establish a new division inside NATO headquarters which is dedicated to intelligence and there will be a new Assistant Secretary General, which main responsibility will be intelligence, reflecting the increased focus we are now attaching to intelligence especially related to countering terrorism and and foreign fighters is a part of that. Then Ukraine, Irena on Ukraine NATO provides strong political and strong practical support for Ukraine. We provide strong political support stating again and again that we will never accept the illegal annexation of Crimea and we continue to support the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine. We also provide political support for Ukraine when it comes to the Minsk process and the only way to a peaceful lasting solution is the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, cease-fire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and and safe and full access for the OCE observers, so they can monitor the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. And Russia has to stop supporting the separatists in Eastern Ukraine. We also provide practical support with our different trust funds helping build defence institutions and many NATO allies also provide direct bi-lateral support for instance when it comes to training and I visited Ukraine last year where I attended a big exercise on civil disaster management, NATO exercise that was hosted by Ukraine with NATO allies and partner countries. And of course you asked whether we would do more, yes we are constantly looking into what more we can do with Ukraine to strengthen our partnership to work more with Ukraine and and I met President Poroshenko recently in NATO headquarters and we are working on the implementation of the substantial package to make sure that we, in many different fields, are stepping up our cooperation and our support for Ukraine. Then Rosa from Lithuania, as you said, we have streamlined our decision making and we are also developing the plans the different kinds of contingency plans we have to make sure that we can make decisions and then rapidly implement plans and this is of course very closely connected to the increased readiness of NATO because as I said, having tripled the size of the NATO response force and having established a NATO Spirit Force, we are able also not only to make decisions and to have the plans but we also have capabilities which can be used on very short notice and we are also increasing our situational awareness, we will soon have new drones deployed in Sicily, alliance ground surveillance drones and around that whole system of of, as I say, managing or processing the information that the drones will gather or or collect and all of this better early warning, better intelligence, is also helping us to make the right decisions in time because we are more prepared, we have more time for notice when when we have better intelligence and better surveillance and we are stepping up and delivering concrete results in this areas. Then we are also doing exercises and thats also way to improve our decision making procedures and to challenge and to what should I say, prepare us also for difficult decisions which have to be made quickly in times of crisis. I would also like to say that we have examples for instance related to the military operation in Libya where NATO was able to make decisions very quickly to take the command and the control of the Libya operation back in 2011. We decided to invoke Article 5 just a few days after the attack on the United States in 2001 and the Aegean activity, which is not a combat operation, we were able to make the decision and to deploy ships in the Aegean, I think it was within 48 hours so there are different examples on how NATO, in very different tasks and missions, can make quick decisions when needed. Decision making is key to our deterrence and defence. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Our next group of three will begin with Richard from the UK, Ouvin (sic) of Norway and Raqli (sic) from Georgia. Richard you have the floor.

Q: Thank you President. Im only half joking when I suggest that the questions these sessions could perhaps first be allocated to delegations from countries that are spending two percent on defence. The a, a matter has been raised with us by Commanders at NATO headquarters, that people of real calibre are allocated to them from alliance countries but not, but those Commanders not given the flexibility to use those people as they would wish for the tasks that they are given. Could I ask you to look at this to see whether greater flexibility could be given to Commanders to be able to use Staff Officers sent and and in how theyre deployed? Thank you Secretary General for your plea for the, for actions to meet the aspirations of the Wales Summit for two percent to be spent, to make this easier a greater credibility could be given if the good work that youve done on transparency of NATOs funding and finances could be continued and wed like to hear an update from you on this. I know great progress has been made but we continue to be concerned that greater transparency on the on the funding on the finances of NATO continues. And finally just to say to you that if European countries are looking for examples of how cooperation between European countries and defence matters work, could they look at the arrangement the Lancaster House Agreement between France and the United Kingdom, which is now deep and resilient and most importantly, increases the capacity of both countries to operate in the defence field therefore making our joint investment in defence go further.

MODERATOR: Ouvin (sic) of Norway.

Q: Thank you Mr. President. Id like to thank the Secretary General for an excellent briefing but I would like you to go a little deeper into the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the roll of NATO. Russia continues to increase their military footprints in Syria, civilians are suffering and now we heard that the last operating hospital in Aleppo are attacked. Russian military operation in support of the Syrian regime has had many occasion also challenged allied operations against ISIL. The buildup of Russia forces in the area and its capacity for (inaudible) access and aerial (sic) (inaudible) could pose a future challenge far into allied territory. The question is what measure should be undertaken by NATO in order to address this challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean and NATOs southern border? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Raqli (sic) Georgia.

Q: Thank you Mr. President. Mr. Secretary General thank you for your insightful and comprehensive presentation. Dear colleagues, recent Parliamentary elections in Georgia once again underline countrys democratic maturity and Im proud to state that the election process in Georgia by all international relation missions was assessed positively. We will remain committed to core values of democracy and continue to be a reliable aspirant country. We are confident that Georgias integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions on the right track and we are determined to achieve this goal. Secretary General as you are aware Georgia is actively engaged in strategic discussions on the Black Sea security issues and from your point of view how this process can contribute to Georgias resilience, defensibility and security? And finally I would like to know that next year NATOs PA spring session will take place in Georgia and we would be honoured to host all of you in Tbilisi and Mr. Secretary General you personally. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you so much. First some responses to the questions from Richard from United Kingdom. First on flexibility for NATO Commanders to be able to use the different Staffs or Officers which are assigned to them from different NATO allied countries. Well I, I think, you are pointing out an important thing or an important task or issue and, and and we have decided and we have just started to implement functional assessment of the NATO command structure, where we are actually looking into how is the NATO command structure functioning today and is there any need for changes that will be in the way the next step and of course this may be one of the elements that can be addressed as part of the process we have just started to address the functional assessment of the NATO command structure. Let me then add on a more personal note that I think that we have to admit to following; that nations very much like to control what they are sending to NATO, and sometimes there is a conflict between efficient, what should I say, management of the resources, and national control because if every nation wants maximum control, and each Officer and each person they are sending to NATO of course its not so easy to manage the command structures. So, again I think this is partly what I do, we do at the NATO headquarters but I think its also what you do in your different capitals trying to convince the nations that more flexibility, which will then, which will then mean some reduced control from capitals will actually, in the long run, benefit all of us. So, I will look (into the question of flexibility but I also, also on this issue depend on your support addressing or raising this issue in the different capitals because at the end it has to be capitals that allows us to have more flexibility at NATO headquarters. Then then two percent of the UK is one of the countries that meet the guideline of two percent. Thats of great importance because UK then is able to finance many important capabilities for NATO but, UK is also an example for all the other allies that it is possible to reach the two percent target and and two percent defence spending is an issue I raised in all my meetings in capitals since I became Secretary General. Ive continued to do so, Im encouraged by the fact that we have stopped the cuts but we have a very very long way to go so theres no no way we can relax and I met with Prime Ministers, I met with Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers but in some capitals I also asked to meet the Minister of Finance because the problem is never the Minister of Defence. He or she is always in favour of increased defence spending and normally also Foreign Ministers are and Defence Ministers and so on and soand so I think it is important to also address those who are responsible for the budget, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Finance and I can tell you that when I was Minister of Finance in Norway back in the 1990s I was actually responsible for cutting defence spending and I was quite proud of that because I increased the budget surplus in Norway by cutting defence spending in Norway in the 1990s but then when I was Prime Minister I was actually responsible for starting to increase defence spending in Norway after the Russian attack on Georgia, the aggression against Georgia in 2008. And the reason why I tell you this is, that in one way its completely understandable and I understand because I was part of it myself that when tensions went down after the Cold War it was in a way natural that defence spending went down, but when tensions started to increase again then we have to be able to increase defence spending. So if we cut defence spending when tensions are decreasing, we have to be able to increase defence spending when tensions are increasing. So, and Ive done both, both I have as a Norwegian politician both cut but also increased Norwegian defence spending as a response to changes in the security environment. Then briefly on financial transparency, that is of great importance. We are constantly working on that, all nations are involved. Nations are directly involved in the development, screening, approval and monitoring of all of NATOs spending plans and on the 4th of May the North Atlantic Council approved a new set of NATO financial regulations and a new set of financial regulations govern the financial administration of all NATO bodies and the aim is to provide even more transparency and involve nations even more because that is key for the involvement of nations and when we ask for more funds we of course we have to be transparent. Then very briefly you mentioned cooperation between France and UK and in general I welcome cooperation between NATO allies, because I think that that can increase the effectiveness and the way we utilize the funds which we allocate to defence and we have to spend more but we also have to spend better and in the speech I gave on Friday I allocated, I addressed also the need to do something with the fragmented European defence industry because the European defence industry is very fragmented and that adds costs to defence investments in Europe and I had some examples, and I try to remember it is like in the United States they have one armoured infantry fighting vehicle, one type but of course they have many many of them, in Europe we have nineteen different. In in in the United States they have three different types of of no they have they have they have three different types of naval frigates; in Europe we have twenty nine. So of course this adds a lot to the costs of Europe and and defence spending in Europe so we need more cooperation to reduce costs and get more out of the investments we make make in our armed forces. Then Ouvin (sic) from Norway, on Russia in Syria and how we respond and all the turmoil in Syria, well we are responding in many different ways. First we have increased NATO presence in Turkey, Turkey being the NATO ally bordering Syria and Iraq, bordering all the turmoil in Iraq and Syria. We have assurance measures, we have AWACS surveillance flights, we have more port visits of NATO ships and we have also Spain and Italy they have deployed missile batteries augmented Turkish air defences with patriot batteries and with something called Samp/T batteries in Turkey. I would like to see more assurance measures from NATO to Turkey as a response to all the instability and actually there are some gaps which are not filled. We made the decision to increase our presence in Turkey, we have implemented some of the measures but we still have a way to go so again I urge you to go back to your capitals and ask whether your nation can do more to fill those gaps. All NATO allies support the US coalition or the counter ISIL coalition fighting terrorism and ISIL in in Syria and of course we have increased our situational awareness, we are increasing our maritime presence in the Mediterranean with Sea Guardian and and this is also partly response to the increased presence of Russia in the area. Then Georgia, Georgia is a very close partner. We have increased NATOs presence in Georgia. We are helping with reforms, we are helping with building security operations and we have also established the new joint training centre, I inaugurated that, I think it was late year and and we have the whole North Atlantic Council visited Georgia recently and Im very much looking forward to attend the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Georgia next year, I think it is in May, and and thats just yet another example of how we are working closer together with Georgia as a very close partner. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Our next group of three well begin with Hans of Netherlands, Iva of the EU will follow and then Siabush (sic) of Azerbaijan, beginning with Hans.

Q: Thank you Mr. President, thank you Mr. Stoltenberg. My question and my remarks are directed at both the Secretary General as well as to our President. Mr. Stoltenberg you said that this political body, this assembly, that we have now together here in Istanbul is the political platform for discussion and political views, also differentiating views and you reminded us, you said its a sober reminder that weve seen here with the failed coup attempt, a reminder to all of us how easily democracy can be lost and I agree with you, our delegation agrees with you but from that perspective I think from both the speeches of the President and the Secretary General we have missed a reminder also to what is happening since the coup. Weve all expressed our solidarity with the Turks, the population that was brave enough to take to the streets, weve all expressed our solidarity to members of Parliament that are now incarcerated, but I think that was lacking from both of your speeches, no reference to any of those elements. Democracy also requires a little bit of spine and backbone if you want to stand firm for the values that we all share. We can express our solidarity over and over again and we have done so extensively, my country immediately after the coup, all the way up yesterday putting flowers to the great municipality of Istanbul, but its also time now that we express our concern for ten elected members of Parliament that are in jail or house arrest [applause] on unclear charges that theres more journalists in jail in this country than in China, newspapers are being closed almost on a daily base and a 100,000 people were put either out of jobs and many of them are in jail as well. We cannot have free speech muzzled, free press being tied and think that we can still defend the free world. Our delegation regrets very much that from both speeches of the Secretary General and our President those references were lacking and I would like them to give the floor or the opportunity to do that right now. [applause]

MODERATOR: Before we go on to the [applause] before we go on to the next speakers I do want to respond Hans. I dont expect you to have total recall of my comments which of course I have in front of me in writing and as you at least others will recall, I specifically called out the issues of the concerns that we voiced in all of our hearings concerning the emergency measures, specifically stated our concerns of judicial processes, and specifically stated our concerns that judicial proceedings be based upon public and clear evidentiary findings and that these were the statements of all of our delegates in all of our hearings and meetings and that they were also the issues that we challenged the Foreign Minister, the Chief of Staff of Defence and also the Minister of Justice. So, I wouldnt want a mischaracterization of my comments to go without an answer I certainly hope that the rest of you recall that I addressed Mr. Erdogan directly when I raised those issues of concern from from our body because I would not want him to have been misunderstanding that our welcome did not come with concerns.

Q: Okay, Im very happy to give you the opportunity to reiterate that then.

MODERATOR: I will then turn it to Iva ofIva of the

Q: Thank you. Secretary General, here okay, both NATO and EU are confronted with many very real common security challenges not only the war zones that are close to our allies borders, but also threats that have no borders, blind terrorists attacks, uncontrolled migration and trafficking, refugee crisis and even cyber-attacks. We have indeed to work closer together and control and defend our borders, our people, our democratic values and as you well mentioned, freedom of speech. I would like to mention that you point out correctly that stronger EU makes a strong NATO now more than ever, and thank you for your efforts to work closer with our EU Higher Representative Mogherini for that. I would also be interested in hearing what is your evaluation of our existing common active operations and what are the new concrete actions that you might have been planning and developing notably in the fields of counter hybrid threats, coordinated exercises, cyber and capacity building of our partners and more specifically if you could in the Mediterranean Sea and Syria. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Siabush (sic) of Azerbaijan.

Q: Speaking in foreign language.

TRANSLATOR: Esteemed Secretary General I will be making my remarks in Turkish, therefore I ask that you put the headphones on for interpretation. Thank you very much for your remarks and also responding to questions. There is an important issue today that Russias invasion has been spoken about, Armenia has invaded Azerbaijani territory over and over again is there any difference between a Russian invasion and an Armenia invasion because they are both invasions and thirdly you talked about Syria. Today all the terrorists in Syria are being placed in Azerbaijani soil by Armenia, theyre being brought in to our territory and their support Armenia support to terrorism is known in the entire community and the participants have witnessed this today and yesterday as well. Armenia is also creating an army an armed force that is affiliated with Russia but theyre also participants to the NATO PA, you need to choose a side, this invading army if they create an army with Russia and also come in to the NATO PA and sit here and ask you questions what is your take on this? Armenia spoke against territorial integrity of Ukraine and Georgia they have they make claims territorial claims against Turkey and Georgia and theyve invaded Azerbaijan territory twenty times. I[applause]

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you again. First on the question from Mr. Hans from the Netherlands, well as you stated and as I stated in my speech the coup attempt in July was a very dangerous and serious attack on democratic institutions in Turkey, they were defended by the people of Turkey but also by politicians, by Members of Parliament from all parties and as I said in my speech I visited the National Assembly, the Parliament of Turkey in September and it made a lasting impression on me to see the damage on the National Assembly caused by the bombing of a F-16 during the night of the coup attempt. And of course we from NATO and I, expressed my solidarity with the people of Turkey defending the democratic institutions in July against a coup, and Turkey has the right to prosecute those who are behind those responsible for the failed coup attempt. I have stated in meetings that of course here in in in in Ankara earlier that this has to be done in accordance with the rule of law and when I met with the leadership in Turkey during my visit in September they assured me that that will be the case and they also told me that they would establish close cooperation with the Council, with the Council of Europe because the Council of Europe is the body in Europe which is responsible for the Convention on Human Rights and I welcome the cooperation and the contact that has been established between the Council of Europe and Turkey in the aftermath of the failed coup. So, working with the Council of Europe to ensure that the rule of law is implemented in accordance with the Convention is something I think is important and something I welcome and I have spoken several times with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, I spoke with him yesterday and he confirmed that they are in close contact with Turkey, working with them and and addressing how the process after the coup attempt can be conducted in a way which is in accordance with the rule of law and which is in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. So, I would like to see this cooperation continuing because I think thats an important tool to address the importance of the rule of law and human rights in the wake of the failed coup attempt and I will continue to stay in contact with the Council of Europe on this issues. Then ya, and also actually I in my speech I also underlined that I personally attach great importance to the core values of NATO which are democracy, rule of law and individual liberty and since the Council of Europe is responsible for the Convention of Human Rights I think thats a good platform for addressing exactly those issues and I welcome the cooperation between Turkey and the Council of Europe on these issues. Then Iva, on on on cooperation with the European Union, you raised many different issues but let me just briefly underline that yes stronger Europe is good for NATO, twenty two European Union members are also members of NATO and of course a stronger defence in these countries will contribute to stronger NATO. At the same time I have underlined it again and again that of course it is important how this is done because we should avoid a situation where we see that there are investments in parallel structures or competing structures. For instance command structures which are competing with NATO, that will be unnecessary duplication and therefore I welcome very much that it has been clearly stated from the EU that this is not about building command structures which are competing with the NATO command structures and that in a way will be meaningless because then we will start to compete with ourselves its because twenty two NATO allies are EU members competition between NATO and the European Union is absolutely unnecessary because that will be to compete with ourselves. And second this is not about building a European army and this is not about the EU starting to do collective defence but based on this and also based on that this is, what should I say, done in a transparent and inclusive way with non-EU allies I welcome. And this has been clearly stated from EU and I also welcome the very close cooperation between my staff and the staff of the European Union and Federica Mogherini and the personal involvement I and Mogherini have together and also the cooperation I have with the Presidents Tusk and Junker on exactly these issues. So Im confident that we can do this in a good way for EU for Europe and for NATO and thats what we are working on now. And that will be on many different issues but including on the hybrid threats, cyber, we are increasing our presence in the Central Mediterranean so we will start to also support the operation Sophia and so on and High Representative Federica Mogherini and I, we will present a long list of concrete proposals by December, both to the European Union and to NATO, so we can agree on a practical way to expand our cooperation. This cooperation will be based on the principles which are long time established for NATO EU cooperation it will not change anything about related to the integrity and the autonomy of NATO and the European Union and it will be in full respect of non-EU allies and, coming from Norway which is a non-EU ally, of course I attach great importance to that we respect also the interests of those NATO members that are not members of the European Union. Then on our Armenia and Azerbaijan I have stated clearly that NATO do not play a role in the negotiations aiming at solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We are supporting the efforts in the OSCE framework, the Minsk group to address this conflict. We take interest in this process and encourage all sides to continue their efforts to aim at the peaceful resolution of the conflict, peaceful resolution of conflicts is a core value for NATO and its one of the core commitments that all partner countries commit to when joining the PFP and NATO will continue to support the Minsk group process. NATO Armenia relations and NATO Azerbaijan relations should not be conditioned on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, so this is NATO position and then we will continue to support the efforts to find a solution within the OSCE framework.

MODERATOR: Our next series of questioners will begin with Lorenzo from Italy, Omar from Israel and then Osmond from Turkey. We will begin with Lorenzo.

Q: Speaks foreign language.

TRANSLATOR: Thank you Chair. Mr. Secretary General one of the problems where our countries most involved in recent years is having to face the refugee crisis and relief operations inside the Mediterranean, this year we will being assisted 170,000 people there have been more than 5,000 dead in our Mediterranean. Navy and our Coast Guard are very active in this area and we also express our appreciation for the support operations to the EU operation with the Sea Guardian. In recent months we sent 300 personnel to set up a field hospital in Libya and to provide medical assistance to the Libyan forces, obviously one fundamental point is to consolidate the new Libyan government. There are different positions on the part of some countries in this area. It is equally important for NATO to become an actor in this area in order to ensure that the Libyan government is united and therefore consolidate the formation of a stable Libyan government, so I would like to ask you to do what you intend to do in the coming months in order to guarantee greater strength and consolidation and unity to the European government. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Omar of Israel.

Q: Secretary General you talked about the importance of deterrence in the measures NATO is taking. I have two questions; first we are experiencing the brutal expansion of DAESH in the Middle East. DAESH to called on large areas in Iraq and Syria but in danger is additional regimes in moderate countries such as Lebanon and Jordan. Does NATO take such potential threats into consideration to assist such countries if needed? The second question, we are experiencing as well the acceleration and increase of Russian presence in Syria and among others building air and marine Russian bases there. Apart from strengthening the presence of NATO in Turkey, which you already mentioned, is NATO considering in order to deter Russia to strengthen its presence in Lebanon and Jordan? Thank you.

MODERATOR: Osmond of Turkey.

Q: Speaks in foreign language.

TRANSLATOR: Thank you very much Mr. Chair and distinguished Secretary General. Id like to reiterate that I take great pleasure in having hosted the NATO PA General Assembly in Istanbul and Mr. Secretary General came to Ankara in September and made consultations about the coup attempt of July 15th and for that reason Id like to thank him personally. Hes had meetings with all political parties in the Assembly and I accompanied him and availing myself of this opportunity Id like to thank NATO for supporting us in our struggle against terror. My comment would be about I mean it would be a response rather to the head of the delegation from the Netherlands remark about journalists in prison. The duty of Members of Parliament is to serve the people and propagate laws in the Assembly and an MP is a Member of Parliaments task is not to assist terrorist or propagate for terrorists its not to traffic arms to them or to call on them for an uprising. No Parliamentarian is above the law. Everything that is being conducted here is being done, so within the frame of the Constitution and law, no Parliamentarian can say that they do not recognize the laws of that country or that they wont give statements to those judges or not accept the ruling of those courts. If these were to occur in your country what would your assessment be for these Members of Parliament? No one is above the laws of the country, as is no Member of Parliament. Right now those called in for a statement including the head of the main opposition party Mr. Kilicdaroglu, Mr. Barcelli, and other MPs have all given their statements. These Members of Parliament have expressed that they do not recognize the laws of this country, that is why the necessary adjudication within the frame of law is what they will be facing; a duty of a Member of Parliament is to serve the people that has elected them its not to propagate for terrorism or call for an uprising. Thats why the files pertaining to them need to be examined while one needs to know what theyre being charged with well before taking the floor. There have been those who have been released after their statements. When a Member of Parliament attends the funeral of a terrorist that kills your people in your country what would you do, what would be the peoples reaction that is what you need to understand. All the actions taken after the failed coup attempt of July 15th is within the frame of the law and what weve seen in the remarks here weve listened to your criticisms and we will make the necessary consultations with the relevant Ministers and the [applause] National Assembly as well in light of those comments.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you so much. First to Lorenza from Italy who asked about the refugee crisis and first of all I think we all have to remember this is really a profound humanitarian tragedy and people lose their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean and we have seen a record high number of people losing their lives these years, in this year so so I think we have to remember that this is an ongoing tragedy. The response to this strategy requires a wide range of measures and of course NATO do not possess all the tools. Many of them are about economic tools, diplomatic tools, political tools so this is a responsibility for all international community and especially, of course, the countries in Europe which are most affected. But NATO is working together with other international organizations, especially the European Union, in addressing the refugee crisis in different ways. First of all, we help to address the root causes and when NATO is so focused on what we call projecting stability to stabilize countries in our neighbourhood, that it is also important for addressing the root causes of the refugee and migrant crisis. So our presence in Afghanistan is a way to address root causes to help stabilize Afghanistan but for instance when we work with other countries in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East that is also about addressing the root causes so for instance when we work with Iraq, a partner nation in fighting ISIL, training Iraqi Officers thats also one of many ways to try to stabilize the region and thereby also reducing the number of people that are forced to flee their country. We have increased our presence in the Mediterranean; we have our presence in the Aegean Sea which I think has been a successful contribution to cutting the lines of illegal migration. We have seen the numbers of illegal crossings of the Aegean has gone dramatically down and NATO is playing a key role providing practical support to the Greek and the Turkish Coast Guard and FRONTEX and now we are also deploying assets, capabilities to the Central Mediterranean in support of the EU operation Sophia. So I believe that we can do more but we are already stepping up our efforts in different fields related to the migrant and refugee crisis. Then Omar from Israel, we are not doing much in Lebanon but we are very present in Jordan. Jordan is one of our close partners. We support Jordan in different ways through our partnership with them we help build defence institutions, we train, we have defence capacity building measures and all recognise that Jordan is a kind of island of stability in a sea of instability and I strongly believe it is important to support Jordan now and prevent Jordan experiencing more difficulties, so prevention is much better than intervention and thats the reason why I think its important in general to support countries in North Africa and the Middle East which are stable to prevent them moving into more dangerous waters and become instable or unstable States themselves. So we will continue to work with Jordan and and Jordan is also contributing to different NATO operations and missions and we are also working in fighting terrorism and DAESH in many different ways by supporting the efforts of the counter ISIL coalition and by building local capacity, training local forces in different countries in the region because I believe thats the most efficient tool in the fight against extremism and terrorism. Then Osmond from Turkey well as you said we met in September and you you made it possible for me to visit the Parliament and as Ive already stated that has made a lasting impression on me to see the damage caused by the failed coup, the bombing and and the shelling of the Parliament and I also saw damage on other government buildings and that was a stark reminder of how serious this failed coup attempt was. But I would also like to underline that it was during that visit in September that you informed me and the Turkish leadership informed me they are establishing, and they have established, cooperation with the Council of Europe addressing the issue of rule of law and the European Convention on Human Rights and I welcome that and Ive been in contact with Thorbjorn Jagland Secretary General of the Council of Europe and he has assured me that they are working closely with Turkey on these issues and I and I think that is of great importance. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Were coming to an end so were going to ask that each of the next questioners limit their time to one minute so that the Secretary General can be on schedule. The first questioner will be Mike from the U.K., Mohammad from Algeria and Rob from the United States. Mike.

Q: Thank you Mr. President my question relates to Russia and the way in which Russia is exploiting the internal divisions both between our member States and also interfering in our internal election processes. What measures is NATO collectively going to take to deal with cyber warfare and the way in which Russia is exploiting technologies and new ways of undermining us and, in that context, isnt it time we also made absolutely clear that Article 5, is a serious commitment and that all our political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic should understand what Article 5 means?

MODERATOR: Mohammad, Algeria.

Q: Speaking in foreign language.

TRANSLATOR: Mr. Secretary General NATO strategy to fight against DAESH in Libya. What should NATO do to also protect Libyas neighbours in maintaining peace on their soil? Thank you.

Q: Thank you very much. First of all I would like to say to our colleague Mr. Turner thank you for your term as President for what you have done for this assembly were very proud of your efforts on our behalf and for the Secretary General thank you for what you are doing for NATO were very proud of the efforts that you are putting forward there. I think everyone here is aware that there is a very real concern in the United States including our Congress about the strength on durability of European allies contribution to these particular efforts. Mr. Secretary General as you know the US is continuing to enhance its commitments to deterrents in Europe chiefly through the European Reassurance Initiative. We are well aware of the very important European contributions thus far but I would just like to underscore the importance that these continue and become stronger as time goes on especially given the different view-points at the threat posed by Russia. Mr. Secretary General how confident are you in the sustainability of unified deterrence efforts over the long term?

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Let me start with the last question and I am very confident because we have seen again and again that NATO is able to adapt. For forty years NATO was focused on collective defence during the Cold War from 1949 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 89. Our main task was to counter to balance and to respond the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact and then after the end of the Cold War people started to ask do we need NATO anymore, is there any relevance of an alliance which was established to respond to the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact after the end of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact and we saw that NATO was able to adapt and to respond to a very different world and we saw the importance of project stability beyond our borders and we started to do that in the Balkans, helped to end the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and also to stop the the atrocities against people in Kosovo and then we went into Afghanistan and we have played a key role in managing crisis and projecting stability in our neighbourhood. Then after 2014 and the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we have adapted again and now we do both collective defence in Europe and we manage crisis and project stability beyond our borders and we do both tasks at the same time. And we have also proven that while we have a long way to go when it comes to defence spending, but after years of decline, we have turned a corner and started to increase as a response to a changed and more demanding security environment. So I am quite optimistic when it comes to NATOs ability to adopt because we have been able to do that again and again throughout history in response to a changing security environment when the world change NATO is changing and and there are differences, there are different views. We represent different nations, different cultures, different political traditions but again and again and again we have proven that we are able to come together and agree on what matters for NATO and that is our will and our commitment to defend each other and that is great to see. And I and I very much welcome the very strong statement also from President-elect Donald Trump that he will be committed to European security and to NATO and to Article 5, and as I stated many times my responsibility is then to make sure that those allies are not investing enough in defence step up and do that and and I have already stated how much importance I attach to that issue. So I am optimistic NATO will continue to deliver the (inaudible) on defence and collective defence. Then Algeria on what NATO does to stabilize neighbours of Libya well first of all we have so many close allies as well as partners in the region. We have something called the Mediterranean Dialogue where we have partners throughout North Africa including Algeria and Tunisia and then we are working especially close with Tunisia. We have started different programs there to help them improve their special operation forces. We have helped them to develop intelligence services and we also work with the other countries in the region to help them strengthen their defence capabilities and we will continue to work with them both in a political dialogue but also as part of a defence capacity building efforts with many countries in the region. So we are focused on what we can do and NATO allies can do to stabilize and to support neighbours of Libya. Then then Mike asked me about Russia and Russia is what should I say interference in NATO allied countries. We have seen increased presence of Russia in many different ways in different NATO allied countries. We have seen them conducting propaganda and we are aware of that, we see it and my answer is that our response to propaganda is not propaganda but our response to propaganda is facts because we believe that in the long run the truth will prevail so we are increasing our cooperation, we are increasing our work when it comes to strategic communications. Thats a NATO responsibility but of course most of all it is a responsibility from for the different NATO allied countries to counter and to take part in debate and discussions countering false accusations and statements from Russia and Russia inspired institutions and organizations. But we should always be what should I say very clear on the message that we believe that open democratic societies are more resilient, are able to resist propaganda from other countries, we should never limit the scope and the room for open democratic debate because that is actually the key to our resilience and thats one of the core values we are defending. On cyber we have seen many or several NATO allies reporting about cyber-attacks and for instance the United States have stated clearly that they deem that this or assess that this that Russia is behind and we take this very seriously. Again the first responder is to different nations but NATO is helping to improve our cyber defences, we are doing that in many different ways. We are developing the cooperation, we are we have made a decision at the Warsaw Summit to have a cyber defence pledge which is a road map different concrete measures to strengthen the cyber defences and NATO is of course focused on how we can defend our own cyber networks but also how we can help nations which are under a cyber-attack to defend their networks and their systems. Of course so we have teams which are ready to be deployed on a short notice to help respond to cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks is something we take very seriously, we decided also at the Warsaw Summit to establish cyber as a domain in line with air, sea, land and cyber because this is something which we have to understand is an integrated part of almost any conflict now and in the future. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary General I want to thank you for taking our questions. Our time with you has come to a close. We appreciate your making yourself available to the Assembly and your close work and your work in NATO to strengthen all of our security. Thank you. [applause]
Patrice Parker Waller joined Cal State Fullerton this fall as an assistant professor of secondary education.

For mathematics educator Patrice Parker Waller, teaching in higher education is the best of both worlds. She not only teaches her favorite subject, she also is preparing others to become outstanding math teachers.

I have a passion for improving teaching and learning in K-12 and undergraduate mathematics classrooms, said Waller, who joined Cal State Fullerton this fall semester as an assistant professor of secondary education.

Waller has traveled to such countries as Brazil, South Africa, Morocco and Ghana to explore the teaching of mathematics and to examine how math is embedded in different cultures. In 2014, she was awarded a Fulbright-Hayes Program fellowship to study mathematics, women and culture in Belize.

She is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, where she was selected as a 2016 Service, Teaching and Research fellow. Waller holds a doctorate in teaching and learning with a concentration in mathematics education from Georgia State University. She earned a masters degree and bachelors degree from North Carolina Central University, a historically black university, where she also studied mathematics.

What inspired you to go into your field and what was the defining moment?

I love the satisfaction I receive when I engage in problem-solving in my math classes. Becoming a math teacher was an obvious choice when it came time to decide my major for my undergraduate studies. It was then when my desire to go beyond teaching in the high school classroom developed. I was eager to learn more and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

What are your research interests?

Im interested in improving the teaching and learning of mathematics in grades K-12 and in undergraduate mathematics, as well as teaching and learning mathematics abroad.

How do you engage students in your classes and/or your research?

It is important that I provide my students with new, innovative and engaging strategies to teach mathematics. I do this by modeling interactive problem-solving and best practices each time we meet. Students are encouraged to be both learners and teachers as we work together to build their knowledge of effective strategies for teaching and learning foundational level mathematics to prepare for middle school and high school teaching.

What changes do you envision in your field five years from now?

I envision that mathematics teaching will move away from the traditional drill and skill methods to exciting, relevant, cooperative discovery learning that allows students to make connections about mathematics and their everyday lived experiences.

What is the state of mathematics education in schools today?

I would say that mathematics education in schools today is in transition. As mathematics educators, we have placed the call for a shift in mathematics teaching from the traditional approach  where the teacher is the barrier of all knowledge and has the responsibility of relaying it to the students  to a more constructivist approach so students are able to create and relate mathematical knowledge as they problem solve, deepen and broaden mathematical content knowledge, make sense of underlying principles, and see mathematics within cultural settings.
23:46

Protecting President-elect Donald Trump and his family is costing New York City more than $1 million a day, according to three top city officials.

And those costs will not necessarily drop significantly once he moves to the White House because Melania Trump and their 10-year old son Barron expect to stay at their home at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, at least until the end of the school year.

Trump has indicated he plans to return home regularly, especially while the family is still in New York.





Adding to the expense is the cost of police assigned to Trump's adult children and his grandchildren, who are also receiving Secret Service protection, John Miller, NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence & counter-terrorism, told WCBS channel.

All of them live in the city, and all are entitled to receive Secret Service protection.

"The number one imperative here is safety and security. We owe that to the president elect, his family and his team," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week.

But he said the city will need help with those costs, particularly police overtime, CNN reported.

"This is a very substantial undertaking. It will take substantial resources," he said. "We will begin the conversation with the federal government shortly on reimbursement for the NYPD for some of the costs that we are

incurring."
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Student group will make the holidays brighter for families

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Operation: Sgt. Santa is getting ready to roll.

Making the holidays a little brighter for some area families, the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Public Relations Student Society of America will present $100 Kohls gift cards to several children of university students for a special Shop with a Cop evening that includes a dinner and holiday activities.

Media Advisory

Members of the media are welcome to share the good feeling of Operation: Sgt. Santa beginning at the Student Center, 5:30-830 p.m. on Dec. 7. Children whove received an Operation: Sgt. Santa award will go shopping at Kohls Department Store, accompanied by a member of the SIU Department of Public Safety, while their families remain at the Student Center for arts and crafts. Contact Josh Houston, senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, at 618/453-2296 or jhouston@siu.edu; or contact Jamie Dexter, vice president of the SIU Carbondale Public Relations Student Society of America, at jamiedexter@siu.edu.

The selected children and their families will come to the Operation: Sgt. Santa headquarters at the Student Center on Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to enjoy a meal and arts and crafts. While their families are occupied with the arts and crafts, the awardees go on a shopping spree at Kohls Department Store, accompanied by members of the SIU Department of Public Safety. The children shop not only for themselves, but also for their family. When they return from the shopping trip, PRSSA members help them wrap their gifts.

Applications for parents are available at the main office of Evergreen Park Apartments and at the Boys & Girls Club in Carbondale. Return applications to the same sites.

Those whod like to donate should contact Jamie Dexter, vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America, at 815/471-5330 or at jamiedexter@siu.edu.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, presently on an official tour to China, today met the top officials of China's Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), to discuss the issues of mutual interests. Gen Singh started his four-day visit with a meeting with General Li Zuocheng, Commander PLA Army and discussed a wide range of issues. The Indian Army Chief is visiting China at the invitation by General Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman, CMC. General Singh extended an invitation to General Li to visit India, who accepted it and said he hoped to visit India soon. General Singh and General Li also noted with appreciation, the 6th India-China Joint Training Exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' 2016, which is currently going on in India and agreed to further expand Defence exchanges between the two Armies. General Singh called on General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman, CMC. During the call-on, both of them reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of Defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful. General Singh extended an invitation to General Xu to visit India, which was accepted.The Army Chief's delegation is comprised of four senior Army Officers, holding key appointments in the Indian Army. General Singh will also visit Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations, as well as interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command.UNI MK RJ 2016 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-1032799.Xml
New Delhi [India], Nov 21 (ANI-NewsVoir): The first edition of two-day TESS Conference which culminated recently in New Delhi focused sharply on technology, environment, safety and standards aspects in tyre sector. Organized by Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA) on the occasion of golden jubilee of its technical wing Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC), the event was attended by over 350 participants from India and abroad. In one of the biggest such gatherings, around 20 chosen international experts made presentations on topics ranging from tyre regulatory framework to standards implementation and environment conservation. An entire second day of the conference was focused on road safety where experts from Indian Institutes of Technology and leading research institutes participated. Given India's rising stature in the automobile ecosystem, delegations from European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA), European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) and Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA) held parleys with their Indian counterparts on the sidelines of the conference with a view to share the agenda for international regulatory framework and the way ahead for sharing experiences, technologies and practices. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister for Skill Development made a keynote address with an impassioned plea for making Indian tyre sector more competitive through robust skilling framework. Guest of Honour Ms. Sheela Thomas, Secretary General Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) exhorted the industry to help increase efficiencies in rubber plantations and other raw materials so as to make the most of raw material availability. She admired industry's contribution in increasing quality of domestic natural rubber. Mr. Sanjay Mitra, Secretary Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping asked for a collaborative approach by all the stakeholders for improving road safety in India. (ANI-NewsVoir)
In a first of its kind, Indian Air Force fighter jets touched down on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Monday in Uttar Pradesh as part of the grand opening of India's longest expressway. The six-lane 302-km long expressway connecting the city of Taj Mahal with state capital Lucknow was inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Four Sukhoi jets from Bareilly and four Mirage 2000s from Gwalior performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe. A pet project of the Chief Minister, the Expressway has been constructed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh thanked the IAF for the grand show and said the expressway will be opened for public soon. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the expressway will help cut down the time between Agra and Lucknow to just 3.5 hours, from the current seven hours. The expressway is also expected the reduce the road travel time between Delhi and Lucknow to between 5 to 6 hours. An official connected with the project said the Expressway is fully equipped with advanced traffic management systems that take care of foggy conditions too. The state government claimed the Expressway had created a national record of laying a 302 greenfield expressway in just 23 months. The six lanes can be later expanded to eight. Eight bridges on Ganges and Yamuna, four railway overbridges and provision of 3.3 km runway for landing of Indian Air Force fighter planes are unique features of the project. The journey time between Agra and Lucknow has been reduced from 8 to 9 hours to just 4 to 5 hours now. The road joins the Yamuna Expressway in Agra. Agra citizens rejoiced on the opening of the six-lane Expressway, that the state government has claimed will bring Taj Ganj nearer to Hazrat Ganj. A few stretches of the mega project are still to be completed but the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was keen to present a birthday gift to his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose birthday is being celebrated by party workers on Monday. The formal opening ceremony was held at Khamboli, near RS Chauraha Bangarmau in Unnao district. A few days ago the CEO of the project Navneet Sehgal was seriously injured alongwith a journalist and some staffers, when he visited the site. Sehgal is in Medanta Hospital presently. The new expressway did not face many legal hassles like the Mayawati project, Yamuna Expressway, as land was purchased from 30,000 farmers under amicable agreements and market terms, an official said. --IANS and-bk/rn ( 463 Words) 2016-11-21-15:56:21 (IANS)
RBI Governor Urjit Patel should resign owing moral responsibility for not properly planning the logistics and other aspects of demonetising 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, a top union leader said. "Either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would be knowing the minute aspects of demonetisation. The RBI Governor should have advised the government properly as to issues involved and the time needed for the banking sector to be ready for the same," D. Thomas Franco, Senior Vice President of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), told IANS. The AIBOC has around 2.5 lakh members. Soon after the demonetisation of high value notes was taken, C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), told IANS that RBI had messed up the lives of people by its improper planning. "The RBI should take responsibility and explain the actual situation as well as the issues that were taken into account when the legal tender status of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes was withdrawn," Franco added. He said it was the RBI that prints the currency notes and it should have taken into account the size of notes that could be vended by the ATMs (automatic teller machines). "The RBI changed the size of 2,000 rupee notes and hence the ATMs had to be recalibrated," Franco said. According to him, the RBI should also have printed 100 rupee notes in sufficient numbers instead of churning out only the 2,000 rupee notes before taking the demonetisation decision. He added that the central bank's decision of applying indelible ink also added to the confusion with supplies of ink bottles not reaching the bank branches. "There were complaints of possible skin problems if other inks are used and hence that plan was also shelved," Franco said. He said the banks could have utilised its customer service centres (around 2.5 lakh centres) and the cooperative banks to dispense the notes instead of restricting to bank branches alone. --IANS vj/mr ( 338 Words) 2016-11-21-17:10:14 (IANS)
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered status quo on Tata group-owned Taj Mansingh Hotel here, disallowing the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) plea that the hotel should not be allowed bookings after this year ends. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for NDMC which owns both the land and the building, told the court that Taj Mansingh has already made bookings till December 31 and it should be restrained from making any further bookings. Disallowing the plea, the bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said: "Running (of the hotel) can't be stopped." At another point during the hearing, the court, declining Jain's submission, said: "We know how far we can go, we know how far we can't go." Fixing January 10 for hearing of the matter, the bench said: "Once for all, the matter has to be decided." As ASG Jain urged the court to permit it to start eviction proceedings against Taj Mansingh, the court observed that if the civic body could wait for 18 months (since litigation is going on), then they can wait till the matter is decided by the top court. At this, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the India Hotels Corp Ltd (IHCL), Tatas' hospitality arm, told the bench: "We will walk out of the premises if we lose." Jain wanted the court to record this statement of Salve but the court did not oblige. The NDMC contended that by no measure do the Tatas have a vested right to continue to run the hotel even after the expiry of the lease agreement and several extensions given to the hotel. The IHCL had moved the top court challenging Delhi High Court's October 27 order dismissing its plea against the auctioning of the property by the NDMC. A division bench of the high court had reiterated the September 25 single judge order dismissing an IHCL suit to renew its licence and upheld the NDMC's decision to auction the property. The property, owned by NDMC, was given to IHCL on a 33-year lease that had ended in 2011. IHCL has since been managing the property on several extensions it has got from the municipal body. --IANS pk/vd/bg ( 380 Words) 2016-11-21-18:56:13 (IANS)
"Four unidentified gunmen entered the Malpora branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd near Chrar-e-Sharief town in Badgam and looted Rs.12.89 lakhs at gunpoint, from the bank," a senior police officer told IANS here.

"The looted amount contained high value currency notes including the newly issued Rs 2,000 and withdrawn Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," the officer said, adding that a "manhunt has been launched to nab the robbers".

--IANS sq/vd

( 115 Words)

2016-11-21-21:22:15 (IANS)
"Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Manjakot sector of Rajouri district after midnight," a senior BSF official said here.

The army said four of its soldiers were also injured in another ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army during the night in Naushera sector of the same district.

The Indian Army has retaliated at both of these places and heavy shelling is still underway at these places.

--IANS sq/sku/

( 117 Words)

2016-11-21-07:46:13 (IANS)
Police sources said the accident occurred on the Allahabad-Banda highway near Shevri village when a car going towards Allahabad collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction.

The dead were identified as Ashish Kesharwani(38), Kiran(36), Shivangi( 14) and Ajay Kesharwani(36). Injured Shikher(13) has been admitted to the hospital.

The victims were returning to Allahabad in their private car from Maihar dham.UNI MB AE 1253

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Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for putting people of the country through hardships with his decision to demonetise old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said the ''historical'' step was taken by the Premier without any consultation. Mr Gandhi, who visited the ATMs in several areas of Delhi to share the problems of the people standing in queues, told reporters here,''the biggest economic decision in India's history was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi without consulting anybody except for 3-4 people.'' The Congress Vice-President early this morning visited the ATMs in Jahangirpuri, Anand Parbat, Zakira and Inderlok to share the problems faced by the common man. "Wherever I go, I see people suffering because of this," he said. ''I do not see any rich person in the line,'' Mr Gandhi said. Talking potshots at Mr Modi, Mr Gandhi said, ''I'm not sure what to call him... a super-Prime Minister, perhaps.'' On the PM's absence from Parliament during the debate on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress vice-president said,''where is the need for the PM to come to Parliament. He is on a different level these days.'' Mr Gandhi had last week queued up in a bank to exchange his old currency notes for new ones.UNI AR AE 1504 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-1032026.Xml
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati today lambasted the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, for inaugurating incomplete projects in the state just to stall their names on the inauguration boards. " The inauguration of Lucknow- Agra expressway was done in a hurry, as the work was yet to be completed.As SP knows clearly that they will not return to power, hence they are now on inauguration spree and doing it on incomplete works," she said. However, Ms Mayawati blamed that the SP government made this new expressway just for the benefit of the people of Kannauj and Saifai and thus, ignoring the other districts. " This expressway was the original concept of the previous BSP government which notified the Ganga Expressway on April 20,2008 which have passed through 14 districts. But now this SP government only changed the name of the BSP projects like it had done to change the name of Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park to Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow, to claims its own projects," she said in a press statement here. Ms Mayawati said the people of the state are reeling under eminence law and order problem and other miseries, but this UP government was not at all concerned with it and was trying to create an image that they are doing so much for the state. " People of the state had already made up their mind to vote out this SP government and hence such drama would yield any result for them in the coming assembly polls," she said. The reaction of Ms Mayawati came after Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and other family members inaugurated the 302 kms long Lucknow- Agra Greenfield expressway at Bangarmau in Unnao district today.UNI MB PY 1457 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1031982.Xml
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the controversial suicide case of senior bureaucrat Bal Kishan Bansal, who was arrested under corruption charges. The petitioner, E. A. Sharma, a retired bureaucrat, had knocked the doors of the apex court seeking an impartial CBI probe into the alleged death of the Bansal family. The petition seeks the setting up of a team of senior officers of impeccable integrity and independence to take over from the CBI the investigation into the deaths of Bansal and his family and to prosecute the accused in accordance with law. In Bansal's alleged suicide note, it was mentioned that his family was tortured by CBI Deputy Inspector General Sanjeev Gautam Gautam and his team members. Bansal had named several persons for making his family's life "hell", including Gautam, Superintendent of Police Amrita Kaur, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rekha Sangwan and Investigating Officer Harnam Singh, apart from an unnamed head constable. In view of the charges, the CBI had recused Gautam from the team probing the corruption charges by Bansal, who along with his 31-year-old son committed suicide in September end. In July, Bansal was arrested by the CBI on charges of corruption. Hours after he was produced in court, his wife Satyabala (58) and daughter Neha (28) were found hanging in two separate rooms at their residence in Neelkanth Apartments on July 22 after CBI's second raid at their residence. (ANI)
District Superintendent of Police said the robbers broke into the bank late last night and looted Rs 1, 15, 50, 000 of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations of old currency notes.

Police sources said, robbers broke 18 locks including three in the strong room and looted the money.

Branch manager Naba kishore Sahu said the robbers looted three of the 13 boxes in which Rs 8.85 crore was kept to be deposited with the Reserve Bank of India and fled with the booty.

No guard was on duty during the time of the loot, police was trying to get some footage from the CCTV and nab the robbers. UNI BD AKM 1548

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As many as 50 volunteers of the 'Meenava Viduthali Vengaigal' were arrested when they attempted to a Rail Roko here today. According to police, they were protesting against the attack on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel, demanding the retrieval of Katchatheevu besides the release of the arrested fishermen from Sri Lankan Prisons and their boats which are seized. The volunteers garlanded the statue of Singaravelar on the occasion of the 'world fishermen day' and took out a procession to stage a rail roko at the Mudaliarpet Railway gate.UNI PAB CS 1531 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1031990.Xml
A Naval Band Concert and Navy Day Reception was conducted at the lawns of the Navy House at Bolaram last evening as part of the Navy Day celebrations. The concert was organised under the aegis of the Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam and was hosted by Rear Admiral Kalidoss Srinivas on behalf of the naval fraternity in Hyderabad. Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Distinguished Scientist, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems), DRDO was the chief guest for the function. The Indian Navy's theme for the current year is "Indian Navy - Professional Force Anchoring Stability Security and National Prosperity". The Navy Day is celebrated on December 4 every year to commemorate Indian Navy's successful and spectacular execution of "Op Trident" resulting in India's victory over Pakistan in 1971. As part of the band concert, an enthralling ensemble of tunes were played by the Navy Band under the baton of Lieutenant Commander SK Champion, a second generation naval officer. The Band played melodious tunes which consisted of a varied range of music including Martial, English popular, Carnatic Fusion and Patriotic Tunes. The programme was attended by serving Flag Officers stationed at Hyderabad and Secunderabad, serving officers of station, Heads of Defence Establishments and DRDO laboratories, veteran officers of all three services, senior government officials and representatives from industry. The concert was followed by a reception. Painting Competition for school children and wreath laying at War Memorial are some of the other highlights of the Navy Week celebrations being arranged in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Naval Wives Welfare Association, Hyderabad has also organised several welfare activities including rendering help to orphanages and old age homes as part of the Navy Week celebrations.UNI VV CS 1540 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1032018.Xml
The Supreme court today declined to order the CBI for an inquiry against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindhia and others in connection with case pertaining to mining allotment in 2014. A bench of the apex Court, headed by Justice J Chelameshwar and also comprising Justice Prafulla C Pant, dismissed a public interest litigation(PIL) that sought a CBI investigation into the matter. The court while dismissing the petition, cited and observed that this is the Government which cancelled all the leases so they cannot be accused in a PIL which the Rajasthan High court had rightly dismissed. The PIL was filed by Congress leader Ram Singh Kaswan seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter.UNI XC AKC SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1032015.Xml
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today inaugurated their dream project six- lane Agra-Lucknow Greenfield Expressway amid a spectacular airshow and landing of three Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter planes on the new expressway. The inauguration was done on the 78th birthday eve of Mulayam Singh Yadav where the entire Yadav family including Ram Gopal Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav and their family members were present giving a picture of unity in the family. Shivpal Yadav also touched the feet of Ram Gopal to get his blessing after both accused each other during the past two month of mud slugging within the family. The inaugural function, was held at Khambauli in Bangarmau of Unnao district, where the CM Akhilesh came on his Samajwadi Vikas Rath bus. Earlier, Mulayam Yadav had announced that he would not celebrate his birthday this year due to the tragic train accident in Kanpur Dehat where over 145 people have died. Mulayam Yadav in his speech alleged that the there is a conspiracy to defame UP by terming it as a backward state."We have done such number of works including free health treatment, lakhs of employment, setting up of universities and colleges but still opposition were doing everything to defame the party and the state," he said while claiming that in Northern India UP is the fastest growing economy. The SP president also appreciated the work done by the engineers and other workers to construct this expressway in the fastest and record time in the country. "These engineers had kept my words by completing the work one time so that I could inaugurate it as desired," he stated.Akhilesh Yadav said this expressway was completed within a record 23 months time. "I will also flag off the trial run of the Lucknow Metro on December 1, while the work for the Lucknow-Ballia expressway would also start soon," he announced. The CM said it would be one of the state-or -art expressway where fighter aircrafts could land but also warned the people travelling on this expressway not to go above 100 kmph speed to avoid any accident." We have constructed several highways and the ambitious Lucknow-Ballia expressway would also be constructed on time," he said with claiming that his government was also focussed on balanced development of the regions. The CM said," the success mantra that if you double the speed economy will treble in no time has taken shape with construction of this expressway. This high speed transportation corridor between Lucknow and Agra will accelerate growth." Akhilesh Yadav said this expressway will not only encourage agriculture by providing new mandis where the farmers will be able to sell their produce at competitive rate free from middlemen but also provide industrial corridor where private entrepreneurs would be encouraged to set up food processing units, construct cold storages, warehousing and milk based industries and small handloom units. The inaugural function was also addressed by UP SP president Shivpal Singh Yadav, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, UP minister Mohammad Azam Khan and couple of other leaders. On the occasion Chief Minister released a coffee Table book entitled `Making of History the Longest Expressway' published by a media house. Agra-Lucknow Expressway, which stretches 302-km, was the most ambitious project of the Chief Minister. It has been completed in a record time of 23 month and has cost of Rs 13,200 crore but will be open for public only in December this year. According to reports, three Indian Air Force (IAF) jets landed and took-off from the expressway to test the quality of build. These jet fighters also released tri-coloured smoke. IAF had chosen a three kms long stretch between Bangarmau and Ganj-Moradabad on the expressway for the landing of the fighter jets. Last year, an IAF Mirage 2000 had landed successfully on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh which is between Agra and Noida. The fighter jets have even went for a trial on Friday last when they touched the expressway and gave an air show. However, the grand inauguration was held in the absence of senior IAS officer and the man behind the early completion of the expressway, Navneet Saighel, the chief of the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) , who was critically injured along with three others when he met with a road accident on the expressway after reviewing the preparation of the inaugural function on Friday afternoon. This access controlled Expressway will pass through Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiyya, Kannauj, Kanpur Nagar, Unnao, Hardoi and Lucknow districts.It will also shrink the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to just three and a half hours and to Delhi in five and a half hrs. The expressway crosses 10 districts after government acquired 3500 hectare of land from 30,456 farmers of 250 villages without any dispute. The government is also setting up agriculture mandis in Mainpuri and Kannauj on the side of the expressway while three lakh saplings have been sowed for the green belt on the both sides of the expressway.UNI MB PY 1512 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1031942.Xml
The impact of demonetisation wasfelt by the religious centre of Mantralaya too with the pilgrimfootfall reducing drastically during weekends when compared to theusual crowd during Saturdays and Sundays. According to the Shri Mutt sources, usually the number ofdevotees visiting Mantralayam on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays andholidays is more. But, the number had fallen down drastically last week. Devotees during the early days of scrapping of the higherdenomination currency notes had a torrid time as shop keepers,hotels and wayside shops on the river bank did not accept eitherRs.1000 or Rs.500 currency notes. Devotees found it difficult to buythings needed. The Mutt came to the rescue of pilgrims and offered to exchangescrapped notes so that they could meet their expenditure in the holycity. However, the local people were not provided the facility' saidthe officer of the mutt. The mutt was expecting more number of devotees in the weekend.But, due to the demonetisation, people kept away from travellingand the number the devotees visiting Mantralayam was very less. Though people now have Rs.2,000 notes , they were finding it hardto use for shopping as the shopkeepers did not have the requiredchange to return said Prashanth, who arrived here with hisfamily from Bangalore.UNI SD CNR CS 1548 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1032097.Xml
What transpired in this half an hour meeting between the two leaders was not immediately clear but sources said the demonetisation issue figured prominently.

Sources said that Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Secretary Shaktikant Das were also present in the meeting.

--IANS bns/lok/vt

( 78 Words)

2016-11-21-18:54:13 (IANS)
Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanaka Vadra were also present in the function along with their mother held at the Swaraj Bhawan adjoining the Anand Bawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

In her brief speech Ms Gandhi said her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi was very concern for making the country strong and developed.

However during her address she had to pause for a minute as 'Azaan' was heard in the background. The function was kept out of the bound of media and common people as only invited Congress leaders and a few media was allowed.

The Gandhi family would be staying in the city tonight and will return back tomorrow morning.

Around 100 Congress leaders have been invited for the programme who had played key roles in the party's history.

Earlier, it was reported that Congress will launch their election campaigning in UP Assembly polls through this programme in Allahabad.UNI MB PY ADG 1956

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Adjacent to the Jawalamukhi shrine is located Bharav temple, under the foot hills of Kalidaar, where pilgrims started pouring in since the wee hours of this morning to have a glimpse of the idol of Lord Bharava.

Dr Ashok Pathania, Temple officer Jawalamukhi temple, said as per the past practice, free langer was organised for the pilgrims visiting the ancient Bharav temple.

He said pilgrims were doing 'Bharav Abhishek' to please the Lord Bharav to get blessed along with their families. The Bharav temple forest was humming with activity today with large number of pilgrims, he added.

Local resident Bhawani Dutt said Chameli flower has its significance during the worshipping of Bharav and devotees used this flower in abundance during the worship today.

He said Lord Bharav, who has Dog as his carrier, is being worshiped preferably between 12 midnight till 0300 hrs as Bharav was Lord of the night.

He said worshipping Lord Bharav helps in avoiding the untimely and unnatural death, besides helping in providing protection from the wrong impact of some stars.

Long queues of the pilgrims were seen outside the temple, waiting for their turn to pay obeisance before the idol of Bharav. UNI XC DB PY 1921

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi and invited him for the concluding programme of 'Namami Devi Narmade' Yatra being organised in the state on the lines of Namami Gange on May 4, 2017. Mr Chouhan apprised the Prime Minister that the Yatra will commence from Omkareshwar from December 11. He said that he would himself take part, once a week in the Yatra, whose main objectives were to prevent degeneration of environment, generate awareness towards environment among people, keep Narmada water pure and to develop suitable environment surrounding Narmada, according to a statement issued here today. He also extended gratitude towards the Premier for issuing Central share of Rs 2,000 crore towards the Crop Insurance Scheme.UNI PS RSA RJ 2045 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-1032874.Xml
The Bombay High Court today asked the RBI torespond to a batch of petitions filed by district co-operative bankson the demonetisation issue, while observing that prima facie therewere some inconsistencies in the two circulars issued by these banks. The Mumbai and Solapur District Central Co-operative Bankshad approached the HC last week, challenging the circular ofReserve Bank of India (RBI) dated November 14 restricting them fromexchanging or depositing old currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000,which were declared as illegal tender under the government'sdemonetisation move on November 8. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Karnik alsodirected additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to produce a copyof the transfer petition filed by the Union government in theSupreme Court. Mr Singh informed the HC that the Union government,in the transfer petition, has sought the apex court to direct allpetitions filed in various high courts in the country to be eitherheard by apex court itself or any one high court. He said the transfer petition has been posted for hearing onNovember 23. ''The contentions raised by the district co-operative banksin these petitions here are similar to the petitions pending beforethe Supreme Court,'' Mr Singh argued. Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, appearing for the MumbaiDistrict Co-operative Bank, however, told the court that thepetitions filed by the co-operative banks were different. ''We are not challenging the demonetisation scheme. We arejust challenging the RBI circular,'' Mr Dwarkadas added. The bench, while directing the Union government to producethe transfer petition tomorrow, said if the main petition filed inthe Supreme Court covers the same contentions as raised in thesepetitions, then it would not hear the matter. Advocate V M Thorat, appearing for Solapur District CentralCo-operative Bank, said while the RBI circular of November 8 hadincluded the co-operative banks and permitted them to accept andexchange old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, another circularissued on November 14 prohibited the co-operative banks fromexchanging or depositing the old currency notes. ''We have around 50 lakh account holders who have submittedcheques and cash after the scheme was announced,'' he added.UNI AAA SS RSA ADG 2001 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1032769.Xml
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had earlier hailed the demonetisation move by the Modi government, has termed the process ill-conceived as it was troubling people, who were making hue and cry over the sudden steps. Addressing mediapersons at Solan yesterday, he alleged that demonetisation was being done to end the black money however it is ill conceived as people were standing outside Banks and ATMs to exchange their hard earned money causing unnecessary trouble to them. He said that it would affect the farmers and common men as they did not able to do their daily works without dearth of case in their hand. It could have been better results if people would not have to bother standing in long queue outside the banks and ATMs. The Chief Minister earlier in a statement had appreciated the move however Congress party in the state and centre were terming it eye wash and move by the Modi to trobule common men and save the big corporate houses from its adverse effect. Stating protest outside the Deputy Commissioner Office here State Unit of CPI(M) staged a protest outside the deputy commissioner office here today . Mr. Rakesh Singha who address the protest rally at Najj on the cancludeing note alleged that demonetisation is causing trouble to the common man as no big corporate and political leader of BJP seen in long queue expect common man.He said that ryots, who had to sow the Rabi Crop, were facing problems as Banks were not giving them ample cash to buy the seeds and other agriculture inputs required for the sowing. Mr Singh said the drive would not affect the corporate houses as they had been informed by the government, before the announcement of the move.After weekend break as banks opened today, long queues were seen outside the Bank of India, PNB and State Bank of India today, as well as outside the ATMs. UNI ML RJ 2105 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1032719.Xml
The Shiromani Akali Dal MPs have urged Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to permit the farmers to operate their Cooperative Bank accounts for depositing the scrapped notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 with immediate effect, to enable the ryots to resume their farming operations, which have been adversely effected in the recent days, following demonetisation. All the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members together have sought the Finance Minister to direct the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to rescind its earlier notification keeping the entire Cooperative banking system out of ambit of the ongoing demonetization drive. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier broached the subject in a letter written to Jaitley urging him to include the cooperative banks, like other nationaliSed and private banks so that the lakhs of farmers having their accounts only in such banks are not left in lurch when liquidity is essential like oxygen for their survival. Articulating the Punjab farmers' voice, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral had last week had made a passionate appeal in the House to bring the cooperative banking system into the ambit of the ongoing massive exercise to help the farming community and almost entire House had approved it in unison. The SAD MPs averred, "This single action of the government has deprived the farming community access to the banking system during the last fortnight and it has wrecked the rural economy from within. The farmers are seriously handicapped in carrying out their usual farming at this juncture when the Rabi sowing and allied activities are in full swing. And this would lower the farm production in a year while the country was expecting a record harvest in wake of good Monsoons clubbed with government efforts to ensure timely supply of farm inputs." The Akali parliamentarians, who primarily represent the farming community and rural Punjab, said that denial of this legitimate right to the cooperative sector to participate in the gigantic exercise to mitigate the problems faced by farming community especially the small and medium farmers and also farm labour who are used to be get their wage in cash. The other banking system had only a marginal presence and the resultant acute cash crunch has ruined the rural economy, they pointed out, adding that farmers have nothing but the meager amount earned through their toil, tears and sweat. The SAD MPs who approached Mr Jaitley included Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sher Singh Ghubaya, Naresh Gujral, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Balwinder Singh Bhundar.UNI DB RJ 2132 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1032909.Xml
Prof Vedulla Venkata Ramana, Senior Professor, School of Management Studies and Coordinator of Technology Business Incubator at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been appointed by Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), Japan as "National Expert" to conduct a research study for a period of 1 year in India on "Research on Youth Employment Issues and Human Capital Development for APO Economies". Prof. Venkata Ramana will be visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend the coordination meeting between November 30- December 2 , 2016, to discuss the framework, methodology, and plan of the research and present preliminary research findings, the University said in a release here today. His assignment consists of undertaking a national study including the collection and analysis of relevant data and information following the template and definition of the subject provided in close coordination with the chief expert and the APO Secretariat. APO, a regional intergovernmental organization, is non-political, non-profit, and non-discriminatory organisation. APO membership is open to countries in Asia and the Pacific which are members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The current membership is 20 economies, comprising Bangladesh, Cambodia, Republic of China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries/economies pledge to assist each other in their productivity drives in a spirit of mutual cooperation by sharing knowledge, information, and experience. Prof. Venkata Ramana holds a Master's Degree and a Doctorate in Business Management and has over two and half decades of professional experience spanning academics, research, industry and business consulting in the areas of General Management, Corporate Strategy, Banking, Infrastructure and Services Sector Management. He has also been awarded Best Professor in Marketing Management by CMO Asia in 2012 in Singapore and has recently been appointed as the Member of the First Academic Court of the Central University of Rajasthan by the President of India. He has vast experience as an Academic administrator and has earlier served as Dean for almost seven and half years and also has been recipient of many awards for his contribution to the field of Higher Education in General and Management Education in particular.UNI KNR RSA RJ PM2308 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0275-1032933.Xml
Kerala Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan today said that employees should work together to transform the Revenue Department as a department, which knows the odour of men and land. Addressing a meeting from Village officer to Deputy Collectors here, he suggested that no files should be delayed because of their non-interest to the jobs. If people had felt dissatisfaction, it should be nothing but the functioning the Revenue Department, he said, adding that their feeling in this regard was nothing, but the delay in settling files. Stating that the situation of frequent visiting of village offices should be avoided, Mr Chandrasekharan said that various kinds of files were piled in front of the officers and they had to take various decisions. But giving priority to the complaints of the public, a humanitarian approach should be followed. He also suggested that those files could be able to settle at the bottom level should never be transferred to the Ministerial office. Regarding the resurvey work, he said the government was taking stern measures to complete the process in four years and as part of it, had redeployed surveyors in this connection.UNI CGV RJ 2331 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0275-1032628.Xml
The Madras High Court (HC) Bench here today asked the Centre to clarify on what authority, the "Devanagari" form of the numerical 2,000 has been used in the recently-released Rs 2,000 currency notes. A Division Bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and MV Muralidaran directed the Central government counsel to get a reply from the Finance Ministry, after hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition. Petitioner KPT Ganesan stated that the Rs 2000 currency note released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has the Devanagari form of the numeral 2,000, the use of which is against the Indian Constitution. He said according to Article 343 of the Constitution, the form of numerals to be used for the official purpose of the Union should be the International form of the Indian numerals. Parliament should pass a law to use the Devanagari form of the numeral on currency notes. There is no provision under the Official Languages Act enacted in 1963 to use the Devanagari numeral. Hence, the Rs 2,000 currency note should be declared invalid, he contended. The Judges posted the case tomorrow for next hearing. UNI GSM RJ 2326 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0275-1032857.Xml
Taiwan's coastguard has said it plans to hold rescue drills in waters around Taipei's sole territorial holding in the disputed South China Sea at the end of this month, and that the drills could involve its navy.The exercises to be held around Itu Aba, known by Taiwan as Taiping, would include drills in rescuing shipwrecked personnel, the coastguard said. More details would be released later, it said in a statement on its website late on Sunday."Currently the navy regularly patrols near Taiping Island. We don't rule out the navy playing a supporting role in future humanitarian rescue drills being held near Taiping," the Coast Guard Administration said in the statement.China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.Taiwan has largely kept out of disputes between China and its neighbours, but the planned drills would be the first since President Tsai Ing-wen took power in May.In July, a judgment by an international court classified Itu Aba was a rock and not an island, thereby making it ineligible to own a greater economic zone of resources off its coast.Taiwan's coastguard has had direct oversight of Itu Aba since 2000, when it took over from the Taiwanese military. More than 100 coastguard personnel are stationed on Itu Aba.China distrusts Tsai and her ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, but Beijing has previously maintained that Beijing and Taipei had a common duty to protect Chinese sovereignty in the waterway.The United States, Taiwan's only major political ally, criticised former president Ma Ying-jeou for visiting Itu Aba earlier this year because it did not want tensions to escalate in the South China SeaREUTERS CJ RAI0930 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1031592.Xml
A strong quake hit western Argentina, shaking buildings as far away as Santiago, the capital of neighboring Chile, though there were no reports of damage to people, infrastructure or basic services.Chile's navy ruled out a tsunami after the quake, which the US Geological Survey said was a magnitude 6.4. Both Chilean and Argentine authorities said there were no reports of injuries or damage.The quake's epicenter was 24 km southwest of the Argentine town of San Juan, and about 267 km northeast of Santiago in Chile. The tremor was initially reported as a magnitude 6.7 but was later downgraded.Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco, the globe's largest copper exporter, said that none of its operations were affected by the quake. Codelco's open-pit Andina and El Teniente underground mines are located in central Chile, not too far from the quake's epicenter.Global miner Anglo American said that its Los Bronces copper mine in central Chile, also near the epicenter, was operating normally.Alejandro Giuliano, director of Argentina's seismic institute, told Reuters there were no reports of injuries or damage but added that he could not rule out "minor damage to poorly built constructions located near the epicenter."He added that there had not been a quake of this magnitude in Argentina since the 1980s."There have been some aftershocks, we've registered four already and surely there will be more considering the magnitude of the quake," he said, adding that the temblor was also felt in Argentina's Mendoza and Cordoba provinces.Although a magnitude 6.4 is considered a strong earthquake capable of causing severe damage, it was fairly deep -115.71 km below the Earth's surface, which would have lessened its effects. Additionally, Chile and Argentina are accustomed to frequent quakes.Situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Chile runs along a seismic zone where tectonic plates rub up against each other. It is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, and in 1960 was hit by a 9.5 magnitude quake, the strongest in recorded history.In recent years, the biggest quake to hit Chile was an 8.8 magnitude tremor that struck the central-southern region in 2010, triggering a tsunami and killing more than 500 people.Practice drills are frequent in Chile, and builders follow strict construction codes, all of which tends to limit death and destruction when tremors hit. REUTERS VS 0508 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-1031560.Xml
A suicide bomber killed at least 27 people and wounded dozens today in an explosion at a crowded Shi'ite mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, officials said.The attacker entered the Baqir ul Olum mosque during a ceremony, the interior ministry said in a statement.Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people were killed and 35 wounded and that the total may rise."I saw people screaming and covered in blood," a survivor told Afghanistan's Ariana Television. He said around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene, but there was no independent confirmation of those figures.The Taliban, seeking to reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster, denied they were responsible for the attack. "We have never attacked mosques as it's not our agenda," said the movement's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack as a sign of barbarism but said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles"."This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he said in a message on his Twitter account.In July, more than 80 people were killed in an attack on a demonstration by the mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority that was claimed by Islamic State militants. REUTERS AKC VP1544 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1032107.Xml
"This is a watershed moment," the Express Tribune quoted a senior Pakistani official, who believes the development is part of the realignment taking place in the region.

Last month, Pakistan and Russia held their first-ever joint military drills in a landmark development showing gradual improvement in their ties marred by Cold War.

The official said that the three-way talks will discuss how to bring an end to the long running conflict in Afghanistan and prevent groups such as Islamic State, from gaining a foothold in the war-torn country.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the initiative was aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large.

"The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has raised concerns about the spillover effect due to the presence of non-state actors and other elements there," he said.

The broader context of the upcoming gathering in Moscow in the first week of December is the transformation in relationship taking place among the major international players.

The latest initiative is also significant in the backdrop of possible policy changes the US President-elect Donald Trump may bring to the region, including Afghanistan. (ANI)
Gen Singh, who is on a four-day China visit, will go to the eastern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army and other establishments of the world's largest military power.

Gen Singh and PLA commander Li Zuocheng discussed a "wide range of issues of mutual interest", said an official of the Indian embassy here.

They agreed to further expand defence exchanges between the two armies, said the official.

Gen Singh also met the Vice Chairman of all-powerful Central Military Commission, General Xu Qiliang.

Both the officials "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful".

Gen Singh invited both Li and Xu to visit India. Both accepted the invite and Li said he hoped to visit India soon.

Gen Singh will also go to Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations and interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the eastern theatre command.

The eastern theatre command is one of the five zones of PLA.

--IANS gsh/mr/vd

( 210 Words)

2016-11-21-20:26:12 (IANS)
The channels relayed religious programmes for Christians living in the country.

The move came after a raid conducted by PEMRA officials against cable operators who were violating rules, reports The Express Tribune.

The blocked channels are Isaac TV, Gawahi TV, God Bless TV, Barkat TV, Praise TV, Zindagi TV, Shine TV, Jesus TV (Jessi TV), Healing TV, Khushkhabari TV, and Catholic TV.

"These TV channels are banned in line with ongoing Pemra campaign to ban illegal channels," said Sheikh Tahir, the regulator's general manager media.

He said the blocked TV channels did not have licences to continue their transmissions.

Tahir clarified that there was no segregation in the name of religion.

"There are many other Indian channels which are banned and there is no special campaign against minorities," he said.

Meanwhile, a notification issued by DG, PEMRA, Muhammad Farooq directed all regional managers to take necessary measures to stop "transmission/relaying of the above mentioned 11 illegal TV channels from cable TV networks" in the respective regions immediately.

After the move, Nadim Anthony, a Christian advocate and rights activist, termed it a blow to the Christian minority and said the blocked channels had a huge viewership, through which community members took religious guidance.

The Christian channels were blocked like the Indian DTH TV channels as if non-Muslims were also anti-Pakistan, he lamented.

Last month, PEMRA announced a complete ban on airing of Indian content in the country. (ANI)
Bolivia's government declared a state of emergency today due to water shortages in large swaths of the country amid the worst drought in 25 years, making funds available to alleviate a crisis that has affected families and the agricultural sector.Bolivia's Vice Ministry of Civil Defense estimated that the drought has affected 125,000 families and threatened 290,000 hectares (716,605 acres) of agricultural land and 360,000 heads of cattle.President Evo Morales called on local governments to devote funds and workers to drill wells and transport water to cities in vehicles, with the support of the armed forces, from nearby bodies of water."We have to be prepared for the worst," Morales said at a press conference, adding that the current crisis was an opportunity to "plan large investments" to adapt to the effects of climate change on the country's water supply.The national state of emergency comes after 172 of the country's 339 municipalities declared their own emergencies related to the drought.Last week, residents of El Alto, near La Paz, briefly held authorities with a local water-distribution company hostage to demand the government explain its plans to mitigate the shortage.The drought has prompted protests in major cities and conflicts between miners and farmers over the use of aquifers. Reuters RSA PR2110 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0104-1032946.Xml
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) reviews a presidential honor guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, Nov. 15, 2016. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama ended his two-day visit to Athens on Wednesday with a message of hope for Greek people and an ode to democracy, before departing for Germany, the next stop of his European tour.

Following a tour to the Acropolis Hill and the new Acropolis Museum, Obama delivered one of his final speeches abroad as a sitting U.S. president.

He once again voiced his support to the Greek government's request to international lenders for an imminent debt relief to ensure that the Greek debt load would be sustainable.

He said he hoped Greek citizens' sacrifices in the past seven years would avert default, restore stability and return the country to growth.

"The IMF (International Monetary Fund) has said that debt relief will be crucial to get Greece back to growth. They are right. It is important because if reforms here are to be sustained, people here need to see hope and they need to see progress," he said during the televised address.

The U.S. leader repeatedly made similar remarks on Tuesday during meetings with Greek leaders and in statements to the press.

Athens hopes that his message will help the Greek case in coming weeks in the next round of talks with international lenders.

Young Greeks, in particular, need to know there is a future and jobs that were worthy of their potential, he said, in a country suffering from brain drain in recent years.

"You don't have to travel overseas, you can put roots right here in your home, in Greece, and succeed. And I am confident that if you stay the course, as hard as it has been, Greece will see brighter days," Obama said in his message to Greek people.

Speaking at the birthplace of democracy, the outgoing U.S. president stressed that as long as people across the world retain faith to democracy, the future will be bright.

Democracy remains the most effective form of government ever devised by man, he said. Democracy is stronger than terrorists and extremists who cannot tolerate different ideas, democracies are inclusive, Obama underlined.

When people see hope, they turn their backs on darkness, he added.

Referring to the legacy he is leaving behind as he will hand over the helm of the U.S. presidency to Donald Trump in January, Obama said that one of the priorities of his administration was to address inequalities.

Obama plans to return to Greece next year as a tourist, Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura revealed.

Obama met with Kountoura on Tuesday at a dinner hosted by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos during which he pledged: "You will always have the support and the friendship of the United States, as you work to move the country ahead."
JERUSALEM, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to minimize a scandal on Sunday over the purchase of German submarines, claiming his sole motivation behind the deal was strengthening Israel's security.

Netenyahu's comment comes a week after the Hebrew-language Channel 10 raised concerns of a graft revealing that Netanyahu's personal attorney, Dan Shimron, represented the German submarine maker, ThyssenKrupp.

According to reports, Shimron was involved in a 1.5 billion U.S. dollar deal between the Israeli government and ThyssenKrupp to purchase six submarines from ThyssenKrupp, with the last vessel scheduled to arrive in 2018.

Recently however, the government decided to order three further submarines from the company.

Concerns of misconduct increased further after former security minister, Moshe Ya'alon, stated his objection of the submarines' purchase, saying no security justification existed for the procurement.

However, the deal was finalized after Ya'alon was replaced.

On Sunday, Netanyahu made his first comment on the issue stating that "the security of Israel requires the acquisition of submarines and the renewal of the submarine fleet," he told his cabinet.

"These are strategic weapons systems that ensure the future, and I tell you, the very existence of the State of Israel for decades to come," he said, as per a statement released on his behalf.

"Increasing the security and strength of the State of Israel is the only consideration that guided me in acquiring the submarines," he said.

Reports on the connection between one of Netanyahu's closest proxies and the German company sparked an outrage.

Opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, urged the Knesset, or parliament, to establish a committee to investigate the accusations.

The State Attorney's Office opened a probe to determine if a criminal investigation was warranted.

In addition, an editorial in Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper wrote that the issue is "crying out for investigation, like other affairs in which Netanyahu is concerned."

"The public needs to know whether Israel's government is headed by a corrupt politician, or not," read the editorial.
LONDON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond spoke Sunday of the financial challenges ahead for Britain as it heads towards leaving the European Union.

Hammond delivers his first autumn statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, essentially a "state of the nation" finance report ahead of next Spring's main spending budget.

In a round of traditional media interviews ahead of his statement, Hammond and his advisers gave hints about what to expect.

Spending 1.6 billion U.S. dollars on road schemes, and scrapping a proposed increase in the duty on auto fuel are both expected to be announced.

The main message from Hammond will be the British economy faces a sharp challenge. Hammond said his Autumn statement will focus on making sure the British economy is "match-fit for the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead."

In one interview he said Britain had to "maintain our credibility" as it still had a significant deficit, adding: "I want to make sure that the economy is watertight. That we have enough headroom to deal with any unexpected challenges over the next couple of years and most importantly, that we're ready to seize the opportunities of leaving the European Union."

He also said he wanted to support people who work hard and "by and large do not feel that they are sharing in the prosperity that economic growth is bringing to the country".

Political commentators are waiting to hear how Hammond will respond to reports that British economy is facing a projected 100 billion pound (123.43 billion U.S. dollar) "black hole" in its finances as a result of the June 23 vote to leave the EU.

Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell in another round of interviews was critical of the way the British economy was being handled by the ruling Conservatives.

McDonnell said the Conservatives' fiscal plan, after six years in charge at 10 Downing Street, had failed, adding Britain has been behind on fiscal credibility ever since the financial crash.

McDonnell said Labour would spend 617 billion U.S. dollars over a 10-year period, half spent directly on infrastructure projects, including roads and rail, and the remaining used to create an "investment bank". He has also called on Hammond to scrap welfare reforms that are hitting many people, especially the disabled.

Meanwhile 60 Conservative Members of Parliament including seven ex-Cabinet ministers Sunday called on Prime Minister Theresa May to pull Britain out of the single market, rather than see a watered down Brexit deal. The politicians made their demand in a report in the Telegraph newspaper.

So far May has refused to show her hand, insisting that Britain will aim for the best deal possible for a trading deal outside of the EU.

Even more intensive sabre-rattling is expected over the coming weeks and months over what kind of Brexit Britain and Europe will agree.

The Sunday Time reported Sunday that former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair is planning a return to politics. The newspaper says Blair is positioning himself to play a pivotal role in shaping Britain's Brexit deal by scouting out a power base in Westminster. The former prime minister is setting up an institute close to Whitehall and has held talks with senior ministers and officials as he seeks to re-enter British politics, the report added.
ANKARA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation, Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs, and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack.

Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day.

The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey's border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources.

On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.

The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army has been fighting around the Al-Bab and Al-Rai regions as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched in late August to rid the northern Syrian border area of terrorists.
ALGIERS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Algeria recorded a trade deficit of 15.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of 2016, up from 13.76 billion dollars a year earlier, APS news agency said on Sunday quoting a report of the Customs' Statistics and Data Center (CNIS).

According to the report, from Jan. to Oct. 2016, exports dropped 23.44 percent to 22.74 billion U.S. dollars, down from 29.7 billion dollars a year earlier.

Imports also declined by 11.34 percent to 38.54 billion dollars, against 43.46 billion dollars in 2015.

Hydrocarbon revenues, which account for 93.75 percent of the Algeria's total exports, declined 24.07 percent to 21.32 billion dollars in the first 10 months, against 28.08 billion dollars in the same period of 2015.

The dramatic drop in crude prices, from about 115 dollars a barrel to less than 50 dollars, has strongly affected Algeria's economy, forcing the country to adopt austerity measures for the coming years.
LIMA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the 21 APEC member economies met on Sunday for a closed-door meeting, chaired by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, to debate the main issues of the Lima Declaration, which will close the 2016 APEC Economic Leaders' Week.

This meeting, held under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development," was preceded by meetings among business leaders and foreign relations and commerce ministers, which provided recommendations for the Declaration.

The most highly awaited issue on their agenda is the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), with this meeting seeking to lay out the bases for concrete negotiations of the FTAAP and to reject economic protectionism, which is seen as a threat to global growth.

Prior to this meeting, the APEC leaders expressed their complete support for the FTAAP as an effective tool to promote economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Lima Declaration will be released on Sunday afternoon after Kuczynski announces the issues agreed by the leaders.
WARSAW, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Poland's unemployment rate was at 8.2 percent in October, the lowest level since 1991, the Radio Poland reported Sunday.

In October, about 1.4 million Poles, or 8.2 percent of the population, had no fixed employment. It is nearly 15,000 people less than in September and is the best result in the past 25 years.

Polish Deputy Labor Minister Stanislaw Szwed said if the government introduces universal health coverage, the rate could be lower.

Szwed added the unemployment rate might slightly rise in November and December due to seasonal fluctuations, but the long-term perspectives are promising.

The reason some people register as unemployed just because they want to get free health insurance, but the government's plan could reverse the trend, he added.

Currently, only those who have a full-time contract and have contributions to the Social Insurance Institution are included in the free healthcare system, the free-lancers and self-employed are not included. But those registered as unemployed have the state cover the cost of their insurance.

According to Szwed, the government manages to introduce a nationwide free and universal health service for all citizens. If it takes effect, the unemployment rate would drop to under eight percent in 2017, Szwed said.
PRAGUE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The annual budget of Czech universities and colleges should be increased to 30 billion crowns (about 1.18 billion U.S. dollars) as of 2020, said Czech Rectors' Conference deputy chairman Mikulas Bek and rector of Brno's Masaryk University on Czech TV on Sunday.

At present, Czech universities have an annual budget of about 21 billion crowns. A similar budget level has been projected for the next three years.

Bek said Czech universities' budget has long been in deficit, which is covered by European subsidies. He said finances for universities must be found somewhere, because the European money flow will stop in three years.

Czech Education Minister Katerina Valachova said the universities' budget could be increased. However, such an increase will depend on whether the budget of the education sector could be raised.

Valachova believed the idea to raise universities' budget to 30 billion was unrealistic. She said it is more realistic at the moment to negotiate a budget rise from 21 billion crowns to 26 billion crowns.

However, Bek said that finances for universities need not come from public sources only. He believes there is no choice but to eventually increase the financial contribution of students and to introduce some enrolment or tuition fees.

According to figures from Czech Education Ministry, almost 327,000 people currently study at universities and colleges in the Czech Republic, a country with 10.5 million people. In 2015, more than 82,000 people graduated from universities and in 2014, the number of graduates was more than 88,000. Since 2001, the number of college graduates has almost tripled.
PRAGUE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mall.cz, the second largest domestic online retailer in the Czech Republic, announced on Sunday that it will become the first online retailer in the country to try drone deliveries.

The company said it would try drone deliveries next week. According to the company, the introduction of the drone delivery service will greatly reduce the delivery costs and improve delivery speed. The unmanned aircraft delivery has been successfully tested abroad by the Amazon, DHL and Swiss Post.

The test drone delivery would be carried out under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority, because such a procedure violates Czech legislation. Jakub Havrlant, head of the Mall Group, said there is a long way to go before the legislation could be modified.

The aim of the test is to verify the entire process from ordering through the identification of the distribution center, drone takeover, to the delivery to the customers. The test will take place at a distribution center near Prague and the customers will be able to track the whole process on Mall.cz's Facebook account or on a special web site.

Mall.cz said there should be no problem for parcels within two kilograms to be transported by drone, and about 80 percent of the goods sold by large online retailers are less than 2 kilograms in weight. The company believes the prospects of drone deliveries are very good.
HOUSTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was killed by a driver on Sunday while writing a traffic ticket outside the police headquarters in San Antonio, a city in the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas.

The 50-year-old Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the police force, had pulled over a vehicle later Sunday morning. When he was inside his vehicle writing a ticket, a vehicle pulled up behind him. The driver of that vehicle got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot the officer in the head, the suspect then reached into the window and shot Marconi a second time. He was rushed to a hospital but died Sunday afternoon due to his serious injury, San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare," McManus said, adding that "It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, when police are being targeted across the country."

Until further notice, police officers will not be allowed to conduct traffic stops alone and they must have cover.

The suspect, who was as a black male wearing a hoodie, baggy pants, and possible facial hair, has not yet been arrested and a motive is not known.

Police are now looking for a black car which is believed to be the suspect's vehicle.

The shooting came less than five months after a gunman killed five police officers in the northern Texas city of Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in the U.S. states of Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a gunman killed three police officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana.
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned "the reported intense air assault over the last several days that has killed and maimed scores of Syrian civilians, including children, and left eastern Aleppo without functioning hospitals."

The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, also condemned "the indiscriminate shelling that has been reported in areas of Aleppo governorate and the western parts of Aleppo city, including strikes on schools said to have killed a number of children."

"The secretary-general reminds all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime," the statement said. "He calls on all sides to immediately cease any such attacks."

"Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account," said the statement.

The secretary-general also called on all the parties to ensure freedom of movement of civilians and immediate unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, the statement added.

A total of 110 people have been killed over the past 24 hours in air raids in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, reports said Thursday.

SkyNews Arabia TV cited activists as saying that 90 civilians had been killed by Russian and Syrian aerial shelling on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

Another 20 civilians were reportedly killed by shelling that targeted the town of Batabo in the western countryside of Aleppo.
CANBERRA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister has ruled out increasing the nation's one-off humanitarian intake of refugees fleeing the war against Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

Despite indications from his Immigration Minister Peter Dutton that Australia was exploring the possibility of taking on more refugees, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday denied that would be the case.

"We're taking, in addition to our annual humanitarian program --which is 13,750 going up to 18,750 over the next few years -- we have a (one-off) 12,000 person intake from the Syrian conflict zone which is in the process of being handled," Turnbull told the Australian press on Monday.

"We have now a bit over half of those in the cohort have either come to Australia or have been approved to come to Australia."

"We don't have any plans to increase that 12,000 number, no. But the general humanitarian program is increasing in accordance with previous policy."

Turnbull's comments come just a day after the immigration minister touted a potential increase in the government's promised one-off intake. Dutton told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) the government could be open to the idea if its current intake program is deemed a success.

"If we get this program right (it allows us) to say to the Australian people that we may want to expand this program," he said overnight.

"And if people have faith in the integrity of the process, then it does give the government the ability to expand beyond the 12,000."

Meanwhile, Dutton also played down criticism of the time it has taken the government to resettle those fleeing the conflict zone, saying it was necessary for all of those given visas to be subjected to rigorous background checks.

"In some cases people are interviewed for a whole day or a series of days," he said. "There would be many cases where we're able to tease out as much detail as possible."

"In some cases, that is not possible because the war has torn apart a village, documentation is not available. And the experts within my department make assessments in relation to each of those cases."

According to the Immigration Department, more than 9,500 of the refugee visas have been approved and granted, while just over 6,500 of those people have been successfully brought to Australia.
SYDNEY, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Australian stocks stumbled in early Monday trade following falls in key commodities in the offshore session.

At the open, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 11.4 points or 0.21 percent at 5,348, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 10.7 points or 0.20 percent at 5,416.8.

Falls in iron ore, coal and steel futures in Friday's offshore session was weighing on the resources sector. However, energy stocks were rallying with the gains in benchmark crude.

"There's a bit of optimism an OPEC deal to cut oil output could be enforced at the meeting at the end of this month," CommSec market analyst Steven Daghlian told Xinhua.

"(Also), Russia, one of the world's biggest oil producers, said it's considering trying to maintain oil output flat for the next six months."

Financials, however, are weighing on the bourse with mixed trading in the heavyweight banks from investors continuing to rotate into underperforming sectors.

In early trade ANZ was down 0.80 percent, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 0.27 percent, the National Australia Bank lost 0.21 percent, however Westpac edged 0.16 percent higher.

BHP Billiton slipped 0.15 percent, rival Rio Tinto dropped 0.89 percent, while gold miner Newcrest was 0.82 percent higher.

Oil Search rallied 1.89 percent, Santos surged 2.96 percent and Woodside Petroleum is 1.19 percent stronger.

Wesfarmers shed 1.07 percent while rival Woolworths was down 0.78 percent.

Qantas fell 1.12 percent and telecom giant Telstra edged 0.20 percent lower.
MELBOURNE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- More nurses die from deliberate drug overdoses than any other health care professionals, a landmark Australian study has revealed.

The study, released by Melbourne's Monash University on Monday, found that nurses made up 62 percent of all drug-related deaths of Australian medical professionals from 2003 to 2013, followed by doctors who made up 18 percent.

The study included medical practitioners (doctors), paramedics, nurses, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists and vets.

Jennifer Pilgrim, lead author of the study, said that most of the nurses were women, and most of the doctors were male.

"Drug-caused deaths amongst healthcare professionals in Australia commonly involve females in their mid-40s, with a diagnosis of mental illness, personal and professional stress and the intent to self-harm," Pilgrim told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday.

Pilgrim said that when the number of people employed in each part of the health sector was considered, veterinarians were most at risk of a fatal overdose.

"Most of these vets involved intentional self-harm where they took an overdose of barbiturates," she said.

"Until this study, we didn't know if drug-related overdoses were a problem in Australia.

"Professional and personal stresses were also very common, along with financial problems, relationship problems and workplace stress."

The report found that most of the drugs used in the fatal incidents were obtained illegally through the workplace by theft or self-prescription.

Pilgrim said the findings raised serious concerns about whether enough is being done to monitor health workers for mental health problems and drug use.

"Many healthcare professionals treat themselves or don't seek treatment at all," she said.

"It highlights the need for better detection of these problems to provide them with the support they need."
MELBOURNE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian authorities have called for tougher standards after six people died in snorkelling and scuba diving in the country in five days.

Graham Henderson, president of the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF), said that there was a concerning variation in dive course quality.

Henderson, who is based in Melbourne, said that medicals were needed for older divers before they were allowed into the water and Australian diving standards should be reviewed.

"To be honest some of the courses that are run... are pretty minimalistic," Henderson told the Guardian on Monday.

"The Australian standards need to be looked at and talked about more."

"Probably an age requirement to have a diving medical. That would be something that would be well worthwhile."

Henderson said that people were moving away from diving or snorkelling in large groups or clubs, which increased the risk of something going wrong.

A New South Wales man and Victorian man, both diving in their respective states with friends, were the fifth and sixth deaths in the week after experiencing problems.

A 49-year old man died while diving off the coast of the island-state on Saturday.

The remaining three deaths were all international tourists exploring the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

A 60-year old English man died while diving on the reef on Friday while French tourists Jacques Goron, 76, and Danielle Franck, 74, both had heart attacks within minutes of each other while snorkelling on Michaelmas Cay, north of Cairns, on Wednesday.

Cardiologists said that the two may have been stung by Irukandji jellyfish, jellyfish the size of a fingernail, which are one of the most venomous creatures in the world.

The AUF is the government-recognized body for amateur underwater activities in Australia.
A Syrian government soldier walks past a ruin in the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, Sept. 12, 2016. Shelling could still be heard on Monday afternoon in the eastern rebel-held areas of Aleppo, just hours ahead of a planned ceasefire mediated by the United States and Russia. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned "the reported intense air assault over the last several days that has killed and maimed scores of Syrian civilians, including children, and left eastern Aleppo without functioning hospitals."

The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, also condemned "the indiscriminate shelling that has been reported in areas of Aleppo governorate and the western parts of Aleppo city, including strikes on schools said to have killed a number of children."

"The secretary-general reminds all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime," the statement said. "He calls on all sides to immediately cease any such attacks."

"Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account," said the statement.

The secretary-general also called on all the parties to ensure freedom of movement of civilians and immediate unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, the statement added.

A total of 110 people have been killed over the past 24 hours in air raids in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, reports said Thursday.

SkyNews Arabia TV cited activists as saying that 90 civilians had been killed by Russian and Syrian aerial shelling on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

Another 20 civilians were reportedly killed by shelling that targeted the town of Batabo in the western countryside of Aleppo.
CANBERRA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australia government is prepared to "get behind" U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as the gradual transition of power from outgoing President Barack Obama continues, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Monday.

Speaking to the Australian press at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, Turnbull said all Australians want the next chapter of U.S. politics to be a successful one, and that his government was prepared to "do everything it can" to support Trump while he is in office.

"President Obama wants President Trump to do well. He wants America to do well and America to succeed, and that's why he's reached out to the president-elect to offer his support and he has encouraged all of us including me to do exactly the same," Turnbull told the press on Monday.

"We all want the best for the United States and he wants the best for its president, so we will do everything we can to support President Trump."

"We all want to get behind President Trump and do everything we can to ensure he is successful."

Despite indications a Trump-led U.S. government would quash the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, Turnbull was still confident he - and leaders of other TPP nations - could convince Trump to reconsider.

Turnbull said while the United States is a "good friend" and a strong ally, he would only support agendas which "don't compromise" the "national interest".

"As always, we will be defending Australia's interest. We don't compromise our national interest," Turnbull said.

"I'm here to represent Australia and Australian jobs and the economic growth we seek to deliver for our Australian children and grandchildren as part of this dynamic Asia-Pacific region."

Turnbull's comments come as respected economic advisory body Deloitte Access Economics said a Trump presidency would have only minor effects on the Australian economy and the federal budget.

Chris Richardson from Deloitte said any changes in a Trump administration would be gradual and not sudden, allowing foreign economies to adjust to any policy change as it occurs.

"The chances are that policies will change, but what will change will be slower and smaller than you've heard in the campaign," Richardson said in a statement on Monday.

"By and large, President Trump is unlikely to be big news for the economy of Australia."
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence take the stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States, July 20, 2016. Indiana Governor Mike Pence formally accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night at the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump continued his criticisms against the cast of Hamilton, a Broadway hit, on Sunday after one of the actors delivered a public message calling for diversity to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

"The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior," Trump wrote on Twitter at 6:22 a.m. on Sunday local time.

Trump on Saturday claimed the cast of Hamilton "harrassed" Pence after actor Brandon Victor Dixon read a prepared statement to the vice president elect, who was in the audience Friday night.

"... We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us, all of us. ... We truly thank you for sharing this show - this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colors, creeds, and orientations." Dixon said.

Speaking to "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, Pence said he was not offended by the message while he acknowledged that he was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers when he arrived at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City with his daughter and her cousins.
TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan logged a goods trade surplus of 496.2 billion yen (4.46 billion U.S. dollars) in October, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report on Monday.

According to the ministry, exports declined 10.3 percent compared to the same time a year earlier in the reporting period, with median market expectations projecting an 8.5 percent fall, with the decline coming on the heels of a 6.9 percent decline in September.

Imports, meanwhile, retreated 16.5 percent on a customs-cleared basis, ahead of median analysts' expectations for a 16.6 percent retreat.

It is the second-successive month that Japan's balance sheet has posted a trade surplus, as the value of imports continue to decline at a quicker rate than those of exports, with shipments, notably, dropping in the recording period, having marked a retreat every month in the year past.

This, economists have said, is owing to a comparatively high yen and both slumping domestic demand and overall economic malaise weighing on the balance sheet and impedeing Japan despite numerous measures by the central bank and government to stimulate expenditure and attempts to kickstart new socio-economic growth drivers.

"Exports were down due to drops in autos, steel and communications equipment," Yuichiro Nagai and Kyohei Morita of Barclays Securities Japan were quoted as saying prior to the release of the latest data set.

While Tsutomu Saito, an economist at Daiwa Institute of Research, suggested that "Considering seasonal factors, it's a pretty high trade surplus," adding, "Energy prices might pick up, but to compensate import volume is down, and export volume is increasing modestly."

In general market insiders believe that in the short-term the "Trump effect" as refers to the potential near-term upticks based on U.S. stimulus and growth potential when the new leadership in the U.S. takes over, may work favorably for Japan's balance sheet, although the consensus remains that the mid-to-long-term outlooks remain hazy.

The latest trade data set underscores a fragile economic expansion in Japan in the third-quarter, as exports rallied and imports declined, which emphasizes the massive interdependence of the nation's movement of goods in and out of the country, particularly the former, against a backdrop of sluggish global and domestic demand.

One positive, however, the finance ministry said Monday, was the fact that net shipments, which subtracts imports from exports, added 0.5 percentage point to GDP growth in the last quarter.
MELBOURNE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- An attack on a Melbourne bank that resulted in 27 injuries should not be used as a "political weapon", Victoria's Premier has urged.

21-year old Nur Islam remains in hospital under heavy police protection after he allegedly doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) branch in Springvale in Melbourne's southeast.

26 people inside the bank at the time of the incident were hurt by the fire with six sustaining serious burns two of who remain in a critical condition.

Daniel Andrews, Victoria's Premier, said that the incident should not be linked to terrorism, saying it was an isolated tragedy.

"I would urge everybody to look at this as an isolated act, because that is exactly what it is," Andrews told reporters.

"It is not a commentary, and it oughtn't be used as a political weapon by anybody who finds fault with any of the policy settings we have at the moment.

"This is a tragedy, nothing more, nothing less."

Fairfax Media revealed that Islam, a Rohingya man from Myanmar, had arrived in Australia as an unaccompanied minor in 2013.

He spent time in detention centers n Christmas Island and Weipa before settling in Melbourne where he was living with other asylum seekers from Myanmar.

Joseph Joseph, one of Islam's housemates, said he was mentally ill and becoming increasingly distressed about money.

"He said, 'why the government give money to me and the bank not give me'," Joseph told Fairfax Media.

Islam had reportedly been acting strangely in recent weeks, often walking alone late at night and seeing ghosts.

He has poor English skills and was relying on 315 U.S. dollars a week in government payouts, which he believed were not being paid.
WELLINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government and exporters said on Monday negotiations to upgrade the free trade agreement (FTA) with China could open up new areas of trade.

The two governments announced at the APEC Summit in Peru that negotiations to upgrade the bilateral FTA would begin in the first half of next year.

The announcement followed a meeting of New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng in Lima, while New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the commitment to an upgrade at the APEC Leaders retreat.

"It has been eight years since our FTA with China came into force and it has exceeded all expectations. It has an enviable record and showcases to the world the importance of trade liberalization," Key said in a statement from his office.

"The upgrade will be an opportunity to deepen and broaden our comprehensive strategic partnership," he said.

"It will ensure that our FTA continues to drive our relationship forward and takes into account the FTAs that China has negotiated with other trading partners since 2008."

The negotiations would look to improve or enhance the broad range of areas already covered by the FTA.

This gave either party the ability to raise issues of importance to them, and included technical barriers to trade, Customs procedures, cooperation and trade facilitation, rules of origin, services, and environmental cooperation.

It would also address newer areas such as competition policy and e-commerce.

The Export New Zealand lobby group said the New Zealand-China FTA had been hugely successful, but both nations had negotiated other agreements since it came into force.

"The negotiation on the upgrade offers the opportunity to ensure that the China-New Zealand FTA remains as up-to-date as possible and remains one of the highest standard FTAs ever negotiated," executive director Catherine Beard said in a statement.

"While the existing FTA has largely removed tariff barriers between China and New Zealand, areas that could be improved include dairy volumes, chilled meat exports, processed wood products and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary ) agreements for horticultural access," said Beard.

"The other focus is a number of technical barriers and trade and services barriers that still cause difficulties for New Zealand exporters. Likewise, since the original FTA was signed, e-commerce has grown in importance for bilateral trade. It is important that the regulations around e-commerce facilitate the expansion of this trade."

China is New Zealand's second-largest goods and services export market and its largest export destination for goods.

In the year ending June 2016, the value of New Zealand goods and services exports to China totalled 12.2 billion NZ dollars (8.56 billion U.S. dollars).

Since the FTA, goods exports to China have quadrupled, reaching 9.2 billion NZ dollars (6.46 billion U.S. dollars), and services exports have tripled to 3 billion NZ dollars (2.1 billion U.S. dollars).
CANBERRA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is "quietly confident" it will have enough votes to pass the controversial Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) bill through the Senate before the end of the year.

The bill, which would reinstall the ABCC as a trade union corruption watchdog, did not pass parliament earlier this year and was the infamous trigger for Australia's double dissolution election.

The government hoped the election would deliver a larger majority in the Senate, allowing the bill to pass easily, however a closer-than-expected result at July's election means the government will need to convince a number of key crossbench Senators to vote to pass the regulations.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is reportedly drumming up last-minute support before the bill is officially debated in the Senate on Tuesday, but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is confident the bill will get the support it needs to pass.

"If you look at the news today, if you look at 100 billion dollars' worth of projects that have been disrupted, held-back, interfered with if you like by industrial disruption that need not happen if the rule of law prevailed in the construction sector," Turnbull told Australian press on Monday.

"The ABCC bill seeks to do no more than ensure the rule of law applies to the building and construction sector. These are good reforms, good economic reforms and we will be encouraging the Senators to support them."

Despite the PM's "quiet confidence", key crossbench Senator Nick Xenophon said he is still yet to throw support behind the bill, but said his team was coming around to the legislation's finer details because the government was considering his amendments.

"We need to have a better (industrial relations) system in place," Xenophon told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday.

"We'll just have to wait and see but the discussions have been constructive."

Meanwhile the Labor opposition isn't giving up hope it can once again defeat the bill in the Senate. Labor leader Bill Shorten has been linked to the trade unions which have lobbied relentlessly against a watchdog.

But the unions and the opposition have come under renewed pressure to accept the measures after a number of damning videos and testimonies showed widespread union thuggery and bullying within the construction industry, however Labor spokesperson Brendan O'Connor told the ABC his party was still firmly against the ABCC bill.

"We have yet to be able to find common ground sufficiently for us to be able to support the bill," he said.

Parliament resumed on Monday, with a vote on the bill expected within a fortnight.
JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The South African National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) proposed a national minimum wage of 3500 rands (about 250 U.S. dollars) per month on Sunday, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa told the media here.

Ramaphosa said a government advisory panel was mandated to advise on an appropriate national minimum wage.

"The panel is proposing that the national minimum wage in South Africa, which will have national coverage with the few exceptions that they will deal with, should start off at 3500 rands (about 250 U.S. dollars) per month which amounts to 20 rands (about 1.4 U.S. dollars) per hour," he told reporters.

The figure was not cast in stone and challenged social partners (labor and government) to discuss and debate before a final amount is reached, he said.

The panel also discussed how to deal with labor instability, the deputy president said, calling on South Africans to contribute to the debate about the proposed figure.

Imraan Valodia, professor of the University of Witwatersrand and chair of the advisory panel, believed that the proposed minimum wage would address inequality and boost economic growth.

"It is quite striking that around 47 percent of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below 3500 rands (about 250 U.S. dollars). We think as well from this evidence, (that this) policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," he said.

Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa, said, "We look forward (to it) and when we receive the report we will go back to our members so we can brief them on the developments and to get a mandate from them, so that we can try to introduce a minimum wage in South Africa as an important instrument to deal with inequality."
WELLINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government Monday hit out at Japan for defying the international community in resuming whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the Japanese whaling program in the Southern Ocean also served no legitimate scientific purpose.

"New Zealand has long-standing and deep-seated concerns about whaling in the Southern Ocean and we urge Japan to reconsider this year's hunt," McCully said in a statement.

"It is clear that Japan's research objectives can be met using non-lethal means and at the recent International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting the majority of members present agreed that Japan had not demonstrated the scientific justification for lethal whaling," he said.

"The Southern Ocean is one of the world's last great pristine wilderness areas. Japan's decision to continue whaling there, at a time when we are celebrating conservation efforts in the region, puts Japan well out of step with international opinion on this issue."

International anti-whaling activist group Sea Shepherd Global has warned it is sending vessels to the Southern Ocean to obstruct the Japanese whaling vessels, prompting concerns for the safety of whaling and anti-whaling crews.

In January, the governments of New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands and the United States issued a joint statement attacking Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean over the last southern summer and calling for protestors and whalers to act safely.

It said the four governments remained resolutely opposed to commercial whaling, in particular in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary established by the IWC.

In 2014, the International Court of Justice issued a judgment that found Japan's so-called "scientific" JARPA II whaling program was not for the purposes of scientific research and must cease.

The same year, the IWC passed a New Zealand resolution enshrining the International Court of Justice decision and imposing limits on future scientific whaling permits, requiring non-lethal alternatives to be considered for any approved scientific research on whales.

After a one-year hiatus from whaling, the Japanese whaling fleet returned to the Antarctic last season and slaughtered 333 minke whales, more than half of them pregnant females, according to Sea Shepherd.
YANGON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Military conflicts broke out in the border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade center there.

According to a release of the Information Committee of the State Counselor's Office late in the day, a total of eight people including one soldier, three policemen, one militia and three civilians have lost their lives.

In addition, A total of 29 people have been injured in the conflicts including nine policemen, two customs officers and 18 civilians.

The government forces are now in hot pursuit of the attackers who have retreated after the government troops returned fire.

The three armed groups, namely the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), are among the non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA).

The heavy clashes happened amid the government's peace process to bring the non-ceasefire signatories to join the signing and pave the way for a national-level political dialogue scheduled late this month.

The over 800-strong forces of the armed groups in alliance began the coordinated assault in divided forces on Sunday at 2:00 a.m. local time with small and heavy weapons which lasted for several hours.

Their attacks targeted government military outposts and police stations in areas of Muse, Kutkai, Monekoe, Kyukoke, Phangsai, Pangsang, Manken and Kyinsankyawk (Honang).

The Nangpau bridge and the 105th- Mile border trade zone, southeast of Muse, were also under attack.

Sumlon bridge on Lashio-Muse road and Nangpau bridge were blown up and three shops near Nangpau bridge were also burned down.

Namtu bridge was also damaged due to explosion.

As the military conflicts took place on China-Myanmar border area, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement Sunday night, expressing grave concern over the outbreaking of the military conflicts in northern Myanmar and urging all parties in the conflicts to exercise restraint by taking concrete and effective measures for an immediate ceasefire so as to resume peace in the China-Myanmar border area as soon as possible.

The embassy statement reminded the Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding going to those conflict areas.

To flee the military conflicts, some Myanmar inhabitants in the border area have fled to the Chinese territory and for humanitarian considerations, the local Chinese government has taken in those who have crossed the border and sent the injured ones to hospitals for medical treatment, according to the statement.
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A group of Russian inspectors will conduct an observational flight over Turkish territory from Monday to Friday under the Open Skies Treaty, a Russian official said Monday.

The flight will be carried out by a Russian aircraft An-30B, said Sergey Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center.

Ryzhkov said that the inspectors will perform the flight on an agreed route, and Turkish experts aboard the plane will monitor compliances with the provisions of the treaty and the surveillance equipment's application procedure.

The flight is part of the confidence-building measures in Europe after the Cold War under the Open Skies Treaty, which establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its 34 state parties, including Russia and most members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The treaty was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002.
BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Some Argentine cooks on Sunday prepared a 500-meter-long pizza in order to raise public awareness of the Down syndrome as well as money for the Argentine Down Syndrome Association.

The event, organized by the Association of Pizzeria and Empanada House Owners, aimed to promote the employment of people with the genetic disorder so as to help them tackle resulting challenges in daily life.

Hundreds of residents lined up along the capital city's central avenue Avenida de Mayo for a total of 20,000 slices of the pizza priced 30 pesos, or 2 U.S. dollars, per two slices, plus a beverage.

Some 750 kg of flour, 450 liters of water, 750 kg of mozzarella cheese, 300 kg of ham, 300 liters of tomato sauce and 25,000 olives were used in the pizza making.

"I came in the past two years. It is for solidarity, and I would like to help, and the pizza is delicious," resident Catalina Deit told Xinhua. Enditem
TALLINN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid on Sunday appointed Estonian Centre Party Chairman Juri Ratas as candidate for prime minister with the task of forming a new coalition government.

After meeting with the chairpersons of all the parliamentary political parties, Kaljulaid met with Ratas here and was convinced that Ratas has the capability to form a strong and energetic government, according to a press release of the president's office.

"The foreign and security policy directions that Estonia has followed must continue, and this is what the chairpersons of all the three parties have confirmed to me," the press release quoted Ratas as saying.

The new coalition government is expected to be formed by the Estonian Centre Party, Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, and the Social Democratic Party.

In the coming week, the candidate for prime minister will elaborate on the grounds for the formation of the new government at the parliament, which will then decide whether he will be granted the authority to form a government.

After receiving the authority from the parliament, Ratas will present a list of cabinet members to the president for appointment.

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, leader of Reform Party, was forced to resign after he lost a no confidence vote at the parliament on Nov. 9 following a motion initiated by the opposition Centre Party.
CHANGSHA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Four people have been confirmed dead after a gas explosion at a coal mine in central China's Hunan Province Sunday, according to local authorities.

The explosion at about 3 p.m. in a Shaodong County coal mine Sunday instantly trapped five miners. Three people - two confirmed dead and one with serious injuries - were hoisted from the mine by 8 p.m. Sunday.

The two remaining victims were found dead as of 8 a.m. Monday, local authorities said.

An investigation in to the cause of the accident is underway.
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mexican experts on Sunday hailed China's initiatives to spur global growth that were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the CEO summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The message delivered in Xi's keynote speech at the meeting on Saturday in Lima, Peru, calling for more open and inclusive free trade arrangements to bolster growth, was "intelligent and very significant," said political analyst Ignacio Martinez.

China has forged a viable plan for itself, which inspires confidence in its larger message for world growth, said the expert on Asia and China affairs at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

"Without a doubt, it serves to follow the new project China ... based on domestic-driven growth ... (and) built around a green economy," said Martinez.

Xi's speech also "provides the opportunity to advance towards a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) region," at a time when leaders elsewhere are turning to outdated protectionist policies to solve the world economic difficulties, he said.

In his opinion, Xi underscored the fact that any regional trade arrangement must be open and inclusive and beneficial to all parties to gain popular support.

Jose Luis Leon-Manriquez, an Asia expert and professor at the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico City, said Xi's speech "shows China's global leadership."

"It was a very encouraging speech that dismisses protectionism and emphasizes opening-up," he said.

"Xi made a clear call for proceeding towards trade integration in the Asia-Pacific region to allow free trade," said Leon-Manriquez.

As Xi said, while driving global development, globalization has also created new problems and challenges, "that is why the president has often said that nations must spread the fruits (of growth) in a more balanced way to benefit the people," said Leon-Manriquez.

Martinez shared his views, saying: "President Xi is promoting balanced growth, and strengthening friendship and cooperation with Latin America to spur development."

Xi underscored cooperation, development and dialogue without risking economic stability, said Martinez.

Pursuing the "great project" of FTAAP is an essential part of Xi's strategy of bolstering trade to reactivate the global economy, he noted.

"President Xi's leadership gives us a glimpse of a promising and encouraging future for the Asia-Pacific," said the research professor at the UNAM center for international relations.
HANOI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- As of the end of October 2016, Vietnam's total import revenue reached 140.6 billion U.S. dollars, of which, China was the largest supplier with 40.24 billion U.S. dollars.

According to the latest statistics by Vietnam Customs on Monday, compared to the same period last year, Vietnam's import revenue from China went down by 1.4 percent, or 576 million U.S. dollars.

There are eight groups of China-imported goods with over one billion U.S. dollar revenue each including machines, equipments and tools (7.35 billion U.S. dollars), cell phones and accessories (4.9 billion U.S. dollars), computers, electronic products and accessories (4.76 billion U.S. dollars) among others, said Vietnam Customs.

In 2015, Vietnam spent over 49.3 billion U.S. dollars importing goods from China, accounting for 28.8 percent of the country's total import revenue.

During 2011-2015 period, China ranked first among major good suppliers to Vietnam, said the customs.

As the country's Lunar New Year holiday nears and hundreds of goods from China and ASEAN will enjoy zero-percent import tax to Vietnam following ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), Chinese imported goods into Vietnam are expected to rise, reported the state-run radio VOV on Monday.
By Peter Mertz

DENVER, The United States, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- They're still not talking about it. Almost two weeks after the presidential election, the U.S. media has yet to discuss or analyze its role in the worst called election since Dewey-Truman in 1948.

Almost 70 years ago, The Chicago Tribune printed the famous "Dewey Beats Truman" headline that Republican Thomas E. Dewey had won the presidential election, but the Missouri Democrat Harry Truman actually prevailed. It is cited as an historic example of media incompetence.

On the election-eve of 2016, Reuters said Democrat Hillary Clinton had a 90 percent chance of winning and The Huffington Post said she had a 98.2 percent shot. CNN, and both Washington Post-ABC News and the New York Times-CBS News polls confirmed a Clinton victory.

However, Donald Trump was elected America's 45th president on Nov. 8 despite most of the analysts and opinion polls predicting his defeat to Clinton.

"It should be on the front page of every newspaper in America: 'We Blew It!'" a 65-year-old veteran, international political correspondent told Xinhua, on the condition of anonymity.

A media insider, a political TV producer in Washington, D.C., agreed that America's media dropped the ball.

"The establishment press was covering the establishment pollsters. The press didn't take Trump seriously for a long time," the 55-year-old government journalist told Xinhua. "They didn't do their job," she added.

On the West Coast, anti-media criticism is surfacing as well, and this time blaming the U.S. "Corporate Media" for advancing Clinton instead of Bernie Sanders, who barely lost the Democratic nomination and was considered by many a better candidate against Trump.

"Corporate media will never understand the disenfranchised, working class whites and blacks in America because they don't live it - even though Bernie (Sanders) brought it out in his campaign," Marilyn N. wrote on San Francisco's KALW public radio 91.7 FM's web site.

A veteran, 68-year-old international political print journalist, based in Denver, told Xinhua the U.S. media needs to stop analyzing why and start discussing its "blown coverage."

"The reporters flew around in her fancy plane, landed at well-staged, big city locations, saw her grounds crew in action, and thought she had it locked," he told Xinhua.

And, a LA-based network reporter told Xinhua, "This is serious 'egg-on-the face' of America's media, and none of our colleagues are really talking about it. We have to recognize that we are seriously out-of-touch with American voters."

Media experts told Xinhua that because of the way the U.S. media covered the election, it energized some sectors of the electorate and caused complete apathy in others.

Proof of a disconnected electorate is easy to muster. Voter turnout this year dipped to nearly its lowest point in two decades, with only 55 percent of voting age citizens casting ballots (126 million votes), the lowest turnout since 1996.

Ironically, in the month before the election, more people watched American media to get election information than ever before - a number that didn't translate into participation at the polls.

All five of the major TV Networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and CNN - reported large numbers of viewers watching their news (campaign) coverage in October, 2016.

But the media never saw educated whites voting for Trump, non-educated whites abandoning Clinton, Christians and women turning out for Trump, the heavy, rural Trump support, and a huge voter apathy triggered by their own lackluster coverage, pundits said.

"Almost all of the polling data from dozens of sources, public and private, was misleading - often in the extreme. The same data misled me and the others in my field," Dr. Larry J. Sabato, the Director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, admitted to Xinhua.

Sabato, 64, has authored more than 20 books on American politics, has interviewed Clinton, and appeared on very major TV network as an expert media analyst.

"I can't say what the news media will do, but there are sure to be many dozens of studies about this election that will influence coverage in 2018 and 2020," Sabato said.
HANOI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is unlikely to meet 10-percent export growth target in 2016, according to Vietnamese trade minister on Monday.

In the first ten months of this year, Vietnam's total export value reached 143.9 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent.

Of this sum, the agro-forestry-fishery sector had a breakthrough growth in export value at 7.9 percent to 18.3 billion U.S. dollars, while in first ten months of 2015, the sector saw a year-on-year reduction of 9.7 percent, Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh was quoted by the state-run news agency VNA as saying.

However, the 10-percent target will not be met because unstable politics in key export markets have reduced demand and prices, said the minister.

Anh attributed the missed target to some major factors. Firstly, Vietnamese goods are facing tougher competition by other exporting countries which have promoted solutions to increase exports.

Secondly, importers of Vietnamese goods have applied technical barriers and increased demands regarding the quality of imports, especially farming and fishery products, while disadvantages in weather have also affected the supply and quality of these products.

Thirdly, Vietnamese supply industries are not strong enough for key export industrial products, such as mobile phones, textiles, garments, leather and footwear. The country must depend on imports of material for production, leaving Vietnam's export products susceptible to price fluctuations of raw materials on the world market.

In order to solve these problems, the ministry would focus on implementing effective trade promotion programs for export products facing difficulties in price and market. The ministry will also build trademarks for some key export products such as textiles, seafood, fruits and rice to enhance their competitiveness, said Anh.
WELLINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has signalled its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change by joining an international program to fast-track the accord, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett said Monday.

New Zealand had joined countries at the 2016 UN climate change conference, COP22 (the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), in supporting to the Marrakech Proclamation, which highlighted the global momentum on tackling climate change, said Bennett.

"The COP22 global meeting has reaffirmed New Zealand's absolute commitment to playing our part in the global action to reduce climate change," said Bennett, who attended the conference in Marrakech.

"It was also an opportunity to have fruitful discussions on issues important to New Zealand such as how to reduce emissions from agriculture and how to create high integrity international carbon markets," she said in a statement.

"New Zealand has a fair and ambitious target of reducing emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. I have several work streams in place which will help form an effective plan to meet that target."

Climate campaigners and environment groups have criticized the New Zealand government for its lack of a plan to tackle emissions and for encouraging the exploration for fossil fuels in its waters.

New Zealand ratified the Paris Agreement, agreed in December last year, on Oct. 5.

Earlier this month, the opposition Green Party said the government needed to "real evidence" of a plan to reduce New Zealand's emissions, which were up 19 percent since 2008.

The international campaign group, Greenpeace, has called for a summer of action to highlight the government's "sham plan" on climate change, saying the country was forecast to meet 80 percent of its target by offsetting emissions in the international carbon market.
SYDNEY, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian market was a little soft on Monday with a mixed performance in the heavyweight banks despite strength in energy.

At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 8.1 points, or 0.15 percent at 5,351.3 points, and the All Ordinaries was down 8.2 points, or 0.15 percent, at 5,419.3 points.

Australia's materials and financial sectors were virtually steady despite intra-day volatility with investors rotating to find yield, though the energy surged on gains in benchmark crude overnight.

"People (are) positioning for the possibility that we might actually see an announcement from OPEC on some sort of proposed production cut," CMC Markets chief market analyst Ric Spooner told Xinhua.

"With oil prices down here, I think they're a bit vulnerable to an announcement affect on that sort of things."

On Monday Oil Search rallied 1.46 percent, Santos surged 2.83 percent and Woodside Petroleum was 1.33 percent stronger.

ANZ fell 0.46 percent, the National Australia Bank slipped 0.07 percent, however the Commonwealth Bank of Australia edged 0.01 percent higher and Westpac lifted 0.52 percent.

BHP Billiton gained 0.75 percent, rival Rio Tinto climbed 0.03 percent, and gold miner Newcrest was up 0.82 percent.

Wesfarmers and rival Woolworths were 1.53 percent and 1.55 percent weaker respectively.

Qantas fell 0.64 percent, while telecom giant Telstra fell 1.01 percent.
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's three main opposition parties on Monday launched preparations to impeach President Park Geun-hye after prosecutors identified the scandal-hit president as a criminal accomplice to her longtime confidante and former aides in multiple crimes.

Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party, told a supreme council meeting that her party will form an internal committee to push the impeachment and review when and how to force the president to leave office.

The People's Party, the casting-vote wielding opposition, said it will cooperate with non-Park faction members of the ruling Saenuri Party as well as other opposition parties to pass an impeachment bill at the National Assembly.

Over 30 Saenuri Party lawmakers reportedly expressed a willingness to impeach Park during a Sunday meeting of the non-Park faction.

Voices for impeaching the president are getting louder after the prosecution office said Sunday that Park had conspired with her decades-long friend, Choi Soon-sil, and two former presidential aides in many of criminal acts.

Choi and the two former aides were indicted on criminal charges including abuse of power and extortion. Park becomes the first sitting South Korean president to be accused by prosecutors of a criminal conspiracy.

Impeaching a president is required to get approval from two-thirds of the 300-seat parliament. The Saenuri Party controls 129 seats, but an impeachment bill could be passed as over 30 Saenuri members support it.

The parliamentary impeachment must be approved by two-thirds of the nine-judge constitutional court known to have conservative inclinations. The chief justice and one judge are scheduled to end their tenure early next year.

Some lawmakers in the opposition bloc forecast that the court could approve the impeachment before the two judges end their term, expecting the court's approval in consideration of public outrage.

Almost 1 million protesters marched on Saturday night nationwide, demanding Park immediately step down.
SARIPUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Up to 16 people, including 13 Taliban fighters and three government forces personnel, have been killed in the northern Saripul province over the past couple of days, a local official said Monday.

Sporadic fighting has been continuing on the outskirts of Saripul city, the capital of the Saripul province, 350 km north of Kabul over the past several days, the official said.

The official, who declined to be identified, said that 17 more militants and four security personnel had been injured during the fighting.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zahir Wahdat, the governor of the Saripul province, in talks with media outlets has confirmed the clash outside Saripul city, but contended that the Taliban rebels had vacated the area after suffering casualties.

However, he noted that the "Taliban rebels after suffering defeat outside Saripul city launched offensives against security checkpoints" in the neighboring Sayad district, and halted on Sunday due to snowfall.

Taliban militants who launched coordinated offensives on several villages outside the provincial capital of Saripul six days ago haven't commented.
MANILA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two soldiers, including an officer, were killed in a heavily armed ambush in a town in Zamboanga del Sur in southern Philippines on Monday morning, with another two wounded, according to a security official.

The military said the troopers from the 53rd Infantry Battalion were on their mini-military truck KM54 to attend an event, when they were ambushed about 8:30 a.m. in the village of Guinakulay, township of Dinas.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), did not immediately release the names of their casualties, noting the victims' families have yet to be notified of the incident.

He said the slain military officer and the squad of his troopers were to attend a civilian-initiated activity when they were ambushed while traversing the road stretch in Guinakulay village.

Tan could not immediately say who is behind the ambush.

He said the motive of the ambush could be the intensified operation against some kidnap-for-ransom group, which has already left a number of its leaders neutralized and captured by the military and police forces in the area.
RIYADH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Health Ministry has shut down 908 private health institutions for various violations in the last 6 months, Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper reported on Monday.

Meanwhile the close-down decisions that covered hospitals, medical complexes and clinics were among 1,532 reported violations and warnings that the ministry issued in the same period.

The closing down periods depend on the severity of the violations as some of those organizations remain closed until correcting their situations.

The violations vary from the licenses of the medical facilities and medics, shortages in medical equipments and poor infection, sterilization and waste control.

The tough measures come while the country is fighting the transmission of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus that have killed hundreds of local and residents since 2012.
DHAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have again joined hands to co-finance a mega energy project in Bangladesh.

ADB on Monday approved a 167-million-U.S. dollar loan to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in Bangladesh by improving production efficiency at a key gas field north of the capital Dhaka and by expanding transmission infrastructure.

AIIB is expected to lend an additional 60 million U.S. dollars which will be subject to board approval and be managed by ADB, said the Manila-based lender.

It is the second project to be co-financed by ADB and AIIB, a China-proposed international financial institution that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region and which was formally established in December last year.

In June this year, AIIB approved 165 million U.S. dollars in loans for a Bangladesh project - the first batch of loan for the country from the China-proposed development bank.

The bank's board of directors had then approved its first four loans totaling 509 million U.S. dollars to finance four projects including the one in Bangladesh.

ADB on Monday said that Bangladesh's economy is growing fast; however, domestic natural gas supplies cannot keep pace with soaring demand for energy, resulting in rising dependence on oil and diesel-based power generation.

"The project will help the government address the country's energy crisis by making available additional clean energy, particularly imported natural gas, through the transmission network," said Hongwei Zhang, finance specialist (energy) in ADB's South Asia Department.

"By addressing gas supply constraints and transmission bottlenecks, the project will increase the energy sector's contribution to sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh," the specialist said.

According to ADB, the project will boost gas transmission by building a 181 kilometers of transmission pipeline from Chittagong to Bakhrabad southeast of Dhaka.

The project will also install seven wellhead gas compressors to increase pumping pressure and ensure steady extraction at the Titas gas field, Bangladesh's largest field, it said.

The 453-million-U.S. dollar project is expected to be completed in late 2021. It will substitute the use of other fossil fuels, thereby reducing over 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year over the ensuing 10 years, ADB said,

The Bangladesh government will provide 226 million U.S. dollars for the project, it said.
KABUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Some 42 militants were killed and seven others wounded amid military operations carried out by Afghan security forces within the last 24 hours, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel conducted military and cleanup operations in Nangarhar, Laghman, Paktika, Ghazni, Wardak, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Ghor, Herat, Faryab, Kunduz, Badakhshan and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 42 insurgents and injuring seven others," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry mentioned that the joint forces also destroyed one vehicle and nine motorcycles of insurgents in addition to dismantling several Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and landmines.

The Afghan security forces have stepped up security operations against militants recently as the Taliban and other militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country.

Earlier on Monday, one intelligence agency man was injured in a Taliban bomb attack in northern Takhar province while two persons were wounded after a bomb struck a vehicle in the national capital of Kabul.

The Taliban group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, has yet to make comments.
SANAA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Fighter jets from Saudi-led coalition struck a military base in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Monday morning, residents said, hours before the end of the 48-hour ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and agreed by the coalition and Houthis.

The strike hit the Military Engineering Base in Sawan quarter east of the capital, about 500 meters east of the U.S. embassy.

The truce went on effect on Saturday noon local time (0900 GMT) between Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni dominant Shiite Houthi group controlling most part of north Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

Similar previous truce had collapsed after both sides exchanged fire and traded accusations of breaching the truce.

The war began in March 2015, when Saudi Arabia intervened in military air campaign to restore to power internationally recognized president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted and forced to flee into exile in Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Houthis, backed by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, overthrew Hadi and his government over alleged corruption accusations.

The airstrikes and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

LIMA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward with vigorous measures, despite increasing setbacks around the world.

Speaking at the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting here in Peru, Xi highlighted the APEC's role as a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, and called on APEC members to leverage the Asia-Pacific's role as a growth engine and work for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.

At the high-level gathering of APEC economic leaders, Xi urged the APEC economies to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward, increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy, breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and blazing new trails in reform and innovation.

Currently, the world economy still finds itself in profound adjustment, with weak recovery and more divergent growth, said Xi, adding that economic globalization has encountered setbacks, as evidenced by sluggish international trade and investment and rising protectionism.

Citing the blueprint for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive world economic growth produced by the G20 Hangzhou Summit in September, the Chinese president said it embodies the spirit of partnership to jointly rise to challenges as well as the commitment to common development.

"Instead of coming to a stop because of the temporary difficulties, we need to continue our involvement in economic globalization. What is important is to combine it with our respective development practices, strive to ensure equity and justice, and steer it towards a more inclusive and mutually beneficial direction," he said.

On the building of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which was launched at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi hailed the smooth completion of the collective strategic study this year, saying it marked a new phase in FTAAP development.

"We need to stick to our agenda and take more effective actions to realize the FTAAP at an early date, thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific economy with greater openness," said the Chinese president.

Calling on APEC members to take more collective and individual actions to implement the Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025 adopted in Beijing and promote connectivity in infrastructure, institutions and personnel flows, Xi underlined the need for a multi-dimensional connectivity network and a well-connected Asia-Pacific community.

China is making progress with the Belt and Road Initiative. Featuring extensive consultation, joint participation and shared benefits among partners in the region, Xi said the initiative will contribute to enhanced connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, and pledged to seek synergy in development strategies and cooperation initiatives with relevant parties.

The Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road initiative proposed by Xi in 2013. The initiative brings together countries in Asia, Europe and Africa via overland and maritime networks.

Xi recalled that China has given priority to opening up to the Asia-Pacific over the past 25 years since it joined the APEC, and pledged to work with other parties to increase openness, pursue regional economic integration and connectivity, advance reform and innovation, and jointly write an exciting chapter of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

The economic leaders' meeting continued in the afternoon and President Xi gave a speech calling on the APEC members to boost sustainable, inclusive, green and interconnected development.

He said that China had released its plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the country will pursue a development path of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing to continue to make contributions to the global and the Asia-Pacific development.

The APEC economic leaders agreed to build an open economy in the region, oppose protectionism, advance the FTAAP process and boost connectivity, thus injecting new impetus into the Asia-Pacific and global growth.

They also agreed that the outcomes of the previous meetings should be earnestly implemented and future cooperation be well planned for the sake of the long-term prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.

A declaration was issued after the annual economic leaders' meeting.

Also on Sunday, President Xi, along with other economic leaders, attended a dialogue with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde who gave a briefing on global economic situation.

Xi expounded China's view on the world economy and reaffirmed the country's resolve to boost reform and its confidence in the prospects of development.

The Chinese president arrived in Peru on Friday to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country.

The APEC meeting, hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, took place Saturday and Sunday in Lima, capital of Peru, under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development."
by Leng Tong, Omar Mendoza

SANTIAGO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has highlighted the importance of the Chile-China strategic partnership and expected Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit would push forward the relationship to a new height.

"We have very important political and commercial ties with China," Bachelet said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua prior to Xi's visit.

Chile, the last leg of Xi's Latin America trip, which has taken him to Ecuador and Peru, has always led in developing relations with China.

Chile is the first South American nation that forged diplomatic ties with China, the first Latin American country that signed a bilateral accord with China on China's entry into the World Trade Organization and signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with China.

"In the current global context, China continues to be our leading trade partner," said Bachelet.

With the FTA signed in 2005, bilateral trade reached nearly 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.

"We have increased non-copper exports, such as food products," Bachelet said.

It is now "time to modernize it (FTA) and adjust it to today's circumstances," said Bachelet, adding that the two countries are working together on the possibility of expanding it.

Besides, China has expressed its willingness to broaden the list of exportable services and assess the possibility of expanding e-commerce, which would increase trade diversity, said Bachelet.

"I am sure that expanding the FTA is going to be, without a doubt, one of the topics of discussion with President Xi," said Bachelet.

"Chinese leaders' visits to Latin America have shown their intention to continue to promote greater integration with Latin America, and in the case of Chile, they shared willingness to work on different matters of a bilateral agenda," said Bachelet.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Chile in 2015, according to Bachelet, has consolidated the close ties between China and Chile.

During Li's stay in Chile, the two countries signed a series of bilateral business contracts and governmental accords in politics, trade, finance, mining, agriculture, production capacity and science and technology.

The two sides signed a three-year currency swap deal worth 3.5 billion dollars and designated the Santiago branch of the China Construction Bank as the first clearing bank for transactions in Chinese currency renminbi in South America.

The moves "have allowed us to diversify the reserves of the Central Bank of Chile, decreasing our dependence on the U.S. dollar," the president said.

The Week of Chile in China, which has been held in 2015 and 2016, has showcased the business opportunities Chile can offer to Chinese investors and let both sides identify important areas for cooperation, said Bachelet.

"We want more Chinese investment in Chile and a greater Chilean presence in China, and there are areas that are key (to achieving that goal), such as infrastructure, financial services, tourism and, obviously, culture," said Bachelet.

"In Chile, we have already started Mandarin Chinese studies to facilitate more exchanges ... to let us learn more about each other and have greater experiences," said Bachelet.

Regional mechanisms are also in place to facilitate exchanges, she said, such as the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
by Abdul Haleem, Rahmat Alizada

KABUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- "My restaurant is relatively new and the doors only opened two months ago, but already I'm overjoyed with the turnover we're achieving everyday and I'm making a good living," Farzana Ludin, the manager of Afghanistan's first-ever female-run restaurant, told Xinhua recently.

The restaurant was established with the support of a non-governmental organization called the Afghan Women Silk Development Center (AWSDC) and opened in the downtown Shahr-e-Now area, in the capital city of Kabul in mid-September.

The September opening of the "Bost Family Restaurant" marked the first-ever time a female-owned and female-run restaurant had opened in Afghanistan's male-dominated society.

Aimed at encouraging women to showcase their abilities in the male-dominated Afghanistan and get involved in social, political and economic activities to achieve independence and empowerment, the valiant Ludin said that Afghan women have the talent to stand on their own two feet if they have the resolve to.

"This restaurant is for women and for their families to visit and to have a meal in a peaceful environment," Ludin also told Xinhua, adding that no males were allowed in the restaurant unless they were accompanied by a female.

The clients of the newly-opened female-run restaurant are often women and their families, she said, explaining that wealthy families usually visit the restaurant especially on Thursdays and Fridays, which are their days off in Kabul, to have lunch or dinner.

The staff of the restaurant are female and its ambitious manager is dreaming to expand its activities by opening branches of the restaurant in the future if conditions become amiable.

"Presently 20 women including myself and one male cook are working here in the restaurant," the manager of the female-run restaurant told Xinhua.

Nevertheless, she noted that the chef of the newly opened female-run restaurant used to work in a restaurant in Dubai and is currently working here as a subordinate to the females to cook both Afghan and foreign cuisine.

The male chef, besides cooking Afghan and foreign dishes, is also teaching the restaurant employees how to cook local and international foods, including Chinese and western dishes.

"In addition to serving local foods to our clients, our restaurant also serves Chinese and Italian dishes to the customers nowadays," Ludin said proudly.

Women's position in Afghanistan's society has been elevated since the ousting of the Taliban in late 2001. Currently, it's not unusual to see women serving as senior politicians, lawmakers, business leaders and in the police and army.

However, this is the first time that women have been brave enough to open a restaurant in a society whose deep-rooted beliefs still, in some instances, believe that women should stay at home and should definitely not work independently outside of the home. In fact in some of the country's more rural areas, women are banned from leaving home and the very idea of them working for themselves is considered taboo.

The clean and well-decorated restaurant with its polite waitresses dressed in special uniforms, however, is a breath of fresh air and a break from the norm, and the eatery is rapidly becoming popularity among locals and foreigners who live nearby, as well as for some well-off families who'll drive there to drop in.

"Our customer numbers are on a rise and our income is reasonable," Ludin stated happily.

To attract more customers, the restaurant also provides a delivery service and sends food to customers at their residences if it receives an order, she said.

"I have been working here as waitress since opening the restaurant two months ago and I am delighted with my job," Hania Karimi, a young waitress, told Xinhua beaming.

"Afghan parents traditionally don't allow their daughters to work outside home, but since it is a female-run restaurant my parents have no objection," Karimi said joyfully.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday that the China-U.S. Tourism Year has helped expand people-to-people exchanges and given fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

"Thanks to joint efforts, the Tourism Year has been marked with colorful and fruitful events, which have helped expand our people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas, and injected new impetus to China-U.S. relations," Xi said in a written message to the closing ceremony of the China-U.S. Tourism Year 2016 held in Washington on Sunday.

He urged the two sides to build on the success of the Tourism Year to sustain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and reinforce the social foundation for the development of China-U.S. relations.

"The growth of China-U.S. relations requires the participation and support of our peoples," he said.

The China-U.S. Tourism Year was an outcome of Xi's state visit to the United States in September 2015. Xi said he and U.S. President Barack Obama made the decision with a view to promoting the building of a new model of major-country relationship, and carrying forward practical cooperation and enhancing friendship between the two countries.
TIANJIN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A freight train departed a pilot economic zone in the northern coastal city of Tianjin for the first time Monday morning.

Loaded with 104 containers of construction materials, it is the first China-Europe freight train to leave the Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), and is set to arrive in Minsk, capital of Belarus, around December 4.

The train will leave China via Erlianhaote Customs in northern China's Inner Mongolia and head to the China-Belarus Industrial Park in Minsk, according to the administrative committee for Tianjin Dongjiang Port Area. The return trip will carry goods to China, including wood products from Belarus and surrounding countries.

Scheduled to operate 20 times per year, the Tianjin-Minsk freight train will carry an annual total of 30,000 tonnes of goods, the committee said.

As the new China-Europe freight train service opens, the Dongjiang Port Area will play an important role in linking the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with the Silk Road Economic Belt, the committee said.

The freight service is set to expand to more European cities in the future.


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      1  2022    2  290,9  ,   18%     2021    36,6%       .
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's rival political parties agreed Monday to call in the heads of major conglomerates in next month's parliamentary hearings for a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairmen Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo will be summoned as witnesses together with chairmen of LG, SK, CJ, Hanwha, Hanjin and Lotte.

Choi Soon-sil, President Park's decades-long friend, was indicted on Sunday on pressuring 53 conglomerates into donating tens of millions of U.S. dollars to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi.

Park was identified by prosecutors as a criminal accomplice to Choi in many of criminal acts, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be investigated as a criminal suspect.

According to the prosecution office, the business heads made donations for fear of tax inquiries and other retaliations from the government.

Last year, President Park met separately one by one with the eight conglomerate chiefs after an open meeting with scores of business heads in the presidential office.

The ruling Saenuri Party, the main opposition Minjoo Party and minor opposition People's Party agreed last week to launch a parliamentary investigation into the scandal separately from prosecutors.

Four parliamentary hearings are scheduled to be held between Dec. 5 and 14. Witnesses to be summoned for the hearings include Choi and her associates as well as former presidential secretaries.
The photo taken on April 5, 2004 shows a colorful glass wall with some skulls painted at the Kigali Memorial Center. (Xinhua Photo/Sun Yongming)

KIGALI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Rwanda Catholic church has apologized for the first time for its priests' role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which killed close to 1 million people.

The apology is contained in a statement signed by nine catholic bishops who constitute the Episcopal Council and read after mass on Sunday.

"We apologize on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed," reads the statement, "Forgive us for the crime of hate in the country to the extent of also hating our colleagues because of their ethnicity. We didn't show that we are one family but instead killed each other."

"Forgive us for the crimes committed by priests and nuns and church leadership that promoted ethnic divisionism and hate," The apology reads.

The statement adds that though the Catholic church had not instructed any of its members to commit genocide crimes, the Bishops again "apologize for the role of priests, nuns, Bishops and Christians in the genocide against Tutsi."

Genocide scholars have called it a landmark, as for the last two decades the Catholic church had not officially apologized for its role in the genocide.

The Rwandan government has accused the Catholic church of offering "indispensable support" to the genocidal regime during the killing and of failing to take a moral stand against it.

Shortly after the genocide, a report by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which has been replaced by AU, described the church in Rwanda as carrying a "heavy responsibility" for failing to oppose, and even promoting, ethnic discrimination.

Since 1996, several clergy members of the church have been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by Rwandan courts.

For more than two decades, the Vatican has maintained that, while individual clergymen were guilty of crimes, the church as an institution bears no responsibility.

In April 2014, Pope Francis told the Rwandan catholic bishops to work closely with the government and help Rwandans not be held back by genocide and its effects.
A maasai girl sits at a classroom in Sekenai village of Narok county, Kenya, April 16, 2016. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is outlawed alongside early marriage in 2011 in Kenya. However, in some communities where traditional culture is deeply rooted, the practice is still rampant. (Xinhua/Han Qian)

by Robert Manyara

NAKURU, Kenya, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is among 30 countries in the world where practices of female genital mutilation (FGM) are rampant, heavily affecting cycle of girls and women's socio-economic lives.

The UN children's fund (UNICEF) released a report early this year in which the country is shown to have made improvements in reducing the prevalent rates.

In the Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern report, 21 percent of girls and women between 14 and 49 years had undergone FGM.

This marks a decline from 27 percent in 2008/2009. However, the actual numbers of girls and women who have gone through the respective experiences are unknown, reports the UN's children agency.

It is this opaqueness in severity levels that Alfred Ng'eno, who heads East Mau Community Based Organization, struggles with in his fight against the practice, vehemently outlawed in Kenya.

"This is one of the worst seasons (the long November-December holidays when schools are closed). Many girls are cut in private and left to heal silently," said Ng'eno on Saturday.

He has been campaigning against FGM since 2013 in Mau region in Nakuru County through his registered local organization.

Ng'eno says in his community women are considered children regardless of their age if they are not cut.

From his experience, the newly married women are currently more vulnerable to the vice than girls due to the stigma associated to the men they marry.

"Men who marry uncut women are openly mocked. They are not respected and are sidelined in community decision making circles. To avoid these, they force their wives to be cut," he said.

"It is a painful reality that married women are an endangered group at the moment," he said.

Kenya has enacted a Prohibition against Female Genital Mutilation Act which has handed the government and other stakeholders such as Ng'eno the power to fight against the vice and prosecute those found engaging in it.

However, it is something ongoing undercover with husbands and fathers playing critical role in sustaining the practice, according to Ng'eno.

"In my community, at the age of 12, girls are ready for the cut and after that the fathers consider them marriageable. They just marry them off. Although these cases are reducing, the reality that they still exist is a call for concern," he said.

Ng'eno was touched to stand up for the girls and women in his community after his cousin almost lost her life in 2010 as a result of post-complications of the cut.

The suffering that comes with FGM spreads to the victims' social and economic life, he said. "The women spend more than a month healing the wounds. They cannot work during this time or be comfortable to socialize with others," he said.

The fifth goal of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enumerates commitment towards elimination of all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

Also, elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

All these intended to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls all over the world.

UN Women denotes that empowerment of women is a pre-condition to addressing key challenges mainly poverty, inequality and violence against women as envisioned through SDGs.

Making the community understand necessity of abandoning the practice has not been an easy journey as he is viewed as an enemy to the community's traditions, being a man.

"I have learnt to use different strategies to reach the community with the anti-FGM message," he noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

LIMA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 19-20 in Lima, capital of Peru. Here is a list of the highlights of his attendance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

On Saturday, the Chinese president delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO summit, calling for pushing forward the building of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), as protectionism has dented global trade and economic integration.

The FTAAP "is a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific," said Xi.

"We should firmly pursue the FTAAP as an institutional mechanism for ensuring an open economy in the Asia-Pacific," he told global business leaders.

The FTAAP process was launched at the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing with the endorsement of a roadmap. A "collective strategic study" was conducted subsequently, as agreed by the APEC members, and the result should be reported to the economic leaders by the end of 2016.

"The Asia-Pacific is under similar pressure and is grappling with such challenges as the fragmentation of regional economic cooperation," Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th L), along with other APEC leaders, holds dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

After the APEC CEO Summit, the Chinese president, along with other APEC leaders, held dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council, exchanging views on the FTAAP, economic integration in the Asia-Pacific, connectivity and the Chinese economy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Speaking at the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Sunday, Xi urged APEC members to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward with vigorous measures, despite increasing setbacks around the world.

Highlighting the APEC's role as a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, Xi called on APEC members to leverage the Asia-Pacific's role as a growth engine and work for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.

Currently, the world economy still finds itself in profound adjustment, with weak recovery and more divergent growth, said Xi, adding that economic globalization has encountered setbacks, as evidenced by sluggish international trade and investment and rising protectionism.

Citing the blueprint for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive world economic growth produced by the G20 Hangzhou Summit in September, the Chinese president said it embodies the spirit of partnership to jointly rise to challenges as well as the commitment to common development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th L F) poses for a group photo with other participants of the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

At the high-level gathering of APEC economic leaders, Xi called on the APEC economies to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward, increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy, breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and blazing new trails in reform and innovation.

"We need to stick to our agenda and take more effective actions to realize the FTAAP at an early date, thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific economy with greater openness," said the Chinese president.

He recalled that China has given priority to opening up to the Asia-Pacific over the past 25 years since it joined the APEC, and pledged to work with other parties to increase openness, pursue regional economic integration and connectivity, advance reform and innovation, and jointly write an exciting chapter of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

On the sidelines of the APEC Meeting, President Xi also held bilateral talks with leaders of some countries.

Talking with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Xi called for joint efforts by China and Russia to push forward the FTAAP process, saying that both sides should fully implement the consensus reached at the 2014 APEC Beijing meeting and other meetings in recent years.

He underlined the need for China-Russia cooperation under the APEC framework in a bid to promote the bloc to contribute more to regional and global economic growth.

Echoing Xi's remarks, Putin said Russia and China should strengthen coordination and collaboration in APEC and other multilateral mechanisms.

Hailing good momentum of bilateral economic ties and achievements they have scored in high and new technology, the Russian president stressed that Russia is looking forward to working with China to strengthen collaboration between the Belt and Road Initiative and the EEU.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

When meeting with Barack Obama on Saturday, Xi spoke highly of the U.S. president's endeavor in developing bilateral ties, especially their joint decision to build a new type of China-U.S. major country relations that has guided the two countries to achieve significant progress in bilateral ties.

Recalling his close contacts with Xi in recent years, Obama said he and Xi have established a candid, friendly and constructive relationship and enhanced mutual trust.

In more than three years, the United States and China have joined hands to confront challenges and effectively managed differences, while bilateral consultation and cooperation mechanisms have yielded rich results, said Obama.

The U.S. side is ready to develop a more sustained, fruitful relationship with China, said Obama.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

During his meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, Xi praised Duterte's visit to China last month, saying it achieved full improvement of China-Philippines relations, opened a new chapter for bilateral ties and injected positive energy into regional peace and stability.

On maritime issues, Xi urged the two sides to actively mull maritime cooperation and promote positive interaction on the sea, and thus jointly transform the South China Sea issue into an opportunity for bilateral friendly cooperation.

For his part, Duterte spoke highly of his successful visit to China last month, saying it produced rich results.

The Philippines follows an independent foreign policy and is willing to be friends with "brotherly" China forever, said the president.

The Philippines, he added, is willing to properly address maritime issues with China through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly safeguard the momentum of improvement and development in bilateral relations.

During the APEC Meeting, Xi also met with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
RIYADH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced the end of the ceasefire in Yemen on Monday, saying it won't be renewed after 500 violations from rebels, Al Arabiya local news reported.

Major-General Ahmed Al Asiri, the spokesperson of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, told the news channel that there is no chance to extend the ceasefire as the conditions were not fulfilled.

He said that the militias committed more than 500 violations of the truce, with 80 percent inside Yemen and the rest, or 113, reported in the Saudi border cities.

The coalition declared Saturday a 48-hour ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to besieged areas in Yemen.

The two-day ceasefire that began from 12:00 at noon local time (0900 GMT) would have been automatically renewed if Shiite Houthi fighters and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh adhered to it.
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged representations to Myanmar after a Chinese citizen was hit by a stray bullet when Myanmar government forces and local ethnic armed groups exchanged fire, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area in northern Myanmar's Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade center there.

Geng Shuang, the spokesman, said China has taken measures to enhance border control in a bid to protect the safety and property of Chinese border residents.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement Sunday night reminding Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding conflict areas.

China will continue to follow the development of the situation and maintain communication with Myanmar, Geng said at a daily press briefing.

"We strongly hope the parties in the conflict will exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations to avoid escalation of the situation," he said.

He also called on them to take concrete measures to restore peace in the China-Myanmar border area and prevent harm to China's sovereignty as well as the lives and property of border residents.
Rebel fighters from the Jaish al-Fatah (or Army of Conquest) brigades fire mortar shells towards western government-controlled districts on October 30, 2016 at an entrance to Aleppo, in the southwestern frontline neighbourhood of Dahiyet al-Assad, on the third day of a rebel offensive to break a three-month siege of the opposition-held east of Syria's second city. (AFP/Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday its experts had confirmed that terrorists had used chlorine and white phosphorus toxic agents in the outskirts of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Experts of the Scientific Center of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection troops came to this conclusion after conducting a laboratory test of nine samples of shell fragments and soil, the ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

The presence of chlorine and white phosphorus was preliminarily revealed during an express test of the samples collected earlier this month in the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo.

Russian experts have taken biological samples from four Syrians affected by the use of chemical weapons by militants and sent them for a profound analysis in a special laboratory in Russia, Konashenkov said.

He added that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has not yet sent its experts to Aleppo in spite of repeated invitations by Russian military.
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Stationary sources of pollution in China must have pollutant discharge licenses by 2020, according to a statement published by the General Office of the State Council.

The licenses must be born by target enterprises and government-affiliated institutions rather than the current system, which focuses on administrative regions only, it said.

Environmental protection agencies at or above the county level will verify and issue the licenses, and stricter management of enterprises and government-affiliated institutions will be enforced should they exceed their pollutant standards, it said.

Enterprises and government-affiliated institutions must monitor emissions and report the results to environmental agencies, the document said.

China will set up an information platform by 2017 to better manage pollutant discharge licenses and share data on pollutant emissions, it added.
A pro-government fighter walks at the site of recent battles between Houthi fighters and pro-government fighters, on the second day of a 48-hour ceasefire in the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen November 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

RIYADH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced the end of the ceasefire in Yemen on Monday, saying it won't be renewed after 500 violations from rebels, Al Arabiya local news reported.

Major-General Ahmed Al Asiri, the spokesperson of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, told the news channel that there is no chance to extend the ceasefire as the conditions were not fulfilled.

He said that the militias committed more than 500 violations of the truce, with 80 percent inside Yemen and the rest, or 113, reported in the Saudi border cities.

The coalition declared Saturday a 48-hour ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to besieged areas in Yemen.

The two-day ceasefire that began from 12:00 at noon local time (0900 GMT) would have been automatically renewed if Shiite Houthi fighters and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh adhered to it.
by Chris Dalby

LIMA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- With the future of the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) dims under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the alternative Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) occupied the center stage at the weekend's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru.

The 16-member RCEP, composed of the 10 member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India, missed its negotiation deadline last year, but with the uncertainty of TPP, RCEP has regained attention at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Analysts believe that RCEP will become the main path toward the final realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

In his keynote address to the APEC CEO Summit on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to building the FTAAP as "a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific."

"We should firmly pursue the FTAAP as an institutional mechanism for ensuring an open economy in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi.

"We must energize trade and investment to drive growth, make free trade arrangements more open and inclusive and uphold the multilateral trading regime," the Chinese president said.

Xi's proposal was echoed by other APEC leaders, as they reaffirmed their commitment that " the FTAAP should be built upon ongoing regional undertakings, and through possible pathways including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership."

"We reiterate our commitment to the eventual realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific as a major instrument to further deepen APEC's regional economic integration agenda," reads the declaration after the Economic Leaders' Meeting.

APEC foreign and commerce ministers' meeting and the Business Advisory Council also urged efforts to speed up the process toward the eventual realization of the FTAAP.

The TPP championed by U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be dumped by President-elect Trump, who has called it a "disaster" during his campaign trail.

Obama last week abandoned his efforts to seek Congressional approval of the TPP, saying he will leave the fate of the deal to Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Trump has also repeatedly called NAFTA, signed in 1994 between the three North American countries, a bad deal.
COPENHAGEN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) announced on Monday that the first case of bird flu in a poultry farm had been found after the disease was first detected among wild birds no more than two weeks ago.

The DVFA said a duck herd of approximately 30 in northern Zealand of Denmark had been hit by the avian influenza H5N8, with a third of the herd already dead.

The tests showed that the ducks were infected with the same type of bird flu found in wild birds in several places in the country, according to the DVFA.

All birds in the farm including chickens, turkeys and geese have since be destroyed.

Stig Mellergaard, deputy chief of the DVFA, said the findings could have major implications for the Danish exports of poultry meat.

He noted that several countries outside the European Union will automatically shut off the import of Danish poultry when bird flu is detected in a tame herd.

"It can be a hard blow for the industry," Joergen Nyberg Larsen, sector chief of Danish Poultry, was quoted by the news agency Ritzau as saying, adding that the loss of the industry will depend on how the situation develops.

On Nov. 10, two cases of bird flu were found in tufted ducks in Zealand and the disease has since spread to other places of the country, but only with wild birds.

The DVFA ordered on Nov. 14 that farmers in the country must lock their chickens and other captive birds behind the fence or under the roof to prevent bird flu from spreading.
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Communist Youth Leagues (CYL) on Chinese university campuses will become more energetic and firm in their communist beliefs, according to a plan released by the Central Committee of the CYL and the Ministry of Education on Monday.

Steering committees and a joint conference system will be established by CYL committees and educational departments, the plan said.

CYL university committees should operate under the guidance of the Party committee, and increase the proportion of non-cadre students and young teachers in its congress.

CYL should educate university students in an all-round way, providing consultation and help in job seeking, counseling, and welfare activities, according to the plan.

The plan also said the work of CYL will be taken into consideration when evaluating the Party-building work of the university, taking up 10 percent of the total score. The Party Committee in each university should call at least one special meeting each year on improving the CYL work.
ABUJA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A large auditorium in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, was filled to its brim when a group of Chinese artists staged a Peking Opera show there late Sunday.

The colorful Chinese costumes and props, romantic storyline occationed with acrobatics and action scenes were probably the first close touch on the Chinese culture by many Nigerians in the audience.

The performance, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Nigeria, was organized to draw curtains on the celebrations of 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria.

"Beijing Opera is the cultural essence of China. So, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, we want our Nigerian friends to experience China more in Abuja and Nigeria," said Zhou Pingjian, Chinese ambassador in Nigeria.

Peking Opera, with a history of more than 200 years, has won worldwide fame and retains its uniqueness with a fusion of singing, dancing, acting, fighting and reading.

The two-hour show presented classic works from "Divergence" to "The Drunken Beauty" to "Jingwu", winning wows and thunderous cheers from the audience.

The envoy said in 45 years, Sino-Nigerian relations has brought real benefits to people of the two countries, adding the relations could go even higher through cultural exchanges.

Oluwadamilola Ayankunbi, a student of the National Open University of Nigeria, said she was most enthralled by the comedic roles in one of the plays performed Sunday night.

Ayankunbi said the colorful plays, songs and acts of Chinese martial in the evening's performance gave her a wonderful chance to further learn about the long history of China, its people and culture.

"I've seen opera performances in other places but this Beijing Opera is a unique one. I will forever cherish the moment and look forward to seeing more of this elsewhere, either in China or anywhere across the globe," she said.

Mesmerized by the performance, a larger part of the audience jumped onto the stage at the end of the show to take pictures with the Chinese artistes.

"Before now, I watched the Peking Opera only on television but never had I been opportune to meet any of the artistes one-on-one. The performance was really amazing, I loved it," said Joyce Okonkwo, an opera buff.
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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Monday condemned a suicide attack in a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Afghan official said nearly 30 people were killed and dozens others were injured by the suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in the western part of Kabul.

"Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the suicide attack at the Baqir-ul-Ulum Mosque in Kabul that has led to loss of a number of precious lives and left many injured," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Pakistan conveys profound condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers for early recovery of the injured," the statement said.

The statement added that Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and reaffirms its commitment for continued efforts and cooperation for eliminating this menace.

The attack inside Baqir-ul-Ulum Mosque occurred when Shiite Muslim worshipers were holding a religious procession, witnesses said.

Taliban denied any involvement. Officials have reportedly pointed fingers at the Islamic State, which is blamed for attacks on Shiites.
KATHMANDU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The headquarters of the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament (UNRCPD) in Asia and Pacific resumed its operations in Kathmandu on Monday.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs KIM Won-soo jointly unveiled the plaque commemorating the resumption of operations of the UNRCPD Asia and Pacific headquarters amid a function held at the UN House based in the Nepalese Capital.

The office of the UNRCPD Asia and Pacific, which was temporarily relocated in the Thai Capital Bangkok following the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015, initially started in 2008 in the Himalayan nation to promote discussion and dialogue on disarmament agenda in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Addressing the function, the Nepalese Foreign Minister said that the UNRCPD Asia and the Pacific will be able to further strengthen the regional dialogue on confidence-building peace and security issues in the Asian region.

"With the UNRCPD's resumption in Kathmandu, I am confident the center would be able to carry on its mandate of promoting dialogues and discussions on issues of disarmament and continue to be useful to our common aspiration of establishing safer and secure world," he added.

Kim said that the center will work to implement regional activities to support its member states on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation as per the practical needs of the member states.
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who is due to retire on Nov. 29, started his farewell visits in the country on Monday.

"Chief of the Army Staff kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa said.

Raheel, who was appointed the army chief on Nov. 29, 2013, addressed a huge gathering of Army and the paramilitary Rangers troops while on his farewell visit to Lahore Garrison.

"Thanking all ranks of the Army and Rangers for their services under his command," he said, adding that it was a matter of great pride for him to have commanded the finest army in the world.

Calling the accomplishment of peace and stability no ordinary task, he said "it was our sacrifices and joint national resolve that helped us in off-setting all odds against our country."

The Pakistani forces reached major achievements under the lead of Raheel, including the major offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and foreign militants in North Waziristan tribal region.

Raheel told the troops that they should be fully prepared to respond to any challenge and no one could dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan.

Talking about the major operation against armed groups, the general said the offensive has resulted in a more secure and stable Pakistan with a sense of greater hope and direction.

He urged the troops to follow the norms of their rich military tradition with even greater vigor and continue serving their people with utmost dedication, resilience and greater sense of sacrifice.
JUBA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sanctions imposed on war-torn South Sudan will not solve, but instead escalate the ongoing conflict in the world's youngest nation, officials and experts have said.

This came after the United States last week circulated to the UN Security Council (UNSC) a draft resolution urging for arms embargo on South Sudan.

However experts have argued that the proposed sanctions will only harden the resolve of the warring parties to continuously pursue the unending military solution to the conflict.

"I don't believe sanctions will resolve the issue, they tend to harden the resolve of those in power. Sanctions have been tried elsewhere and failed to work," Juba-based Ebony Center for Strategic Studies researcher James Alic Garang told Xinhua on Monday in Juba.

He added that the solution is with the peace monitor -- the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and the international community in pressurizing both the government and rebel forces to implement the fragile peace agreement.

Garang also said that he did not believe South Sudanese leaders across the political divide have intention of driving the country toward the brink of genocide, despite reports of ongoing targeted killings.

The UN Special Adviser for genocide prevention Adama Dieng earlier this month warned that the oil-rich yet impoverished country risks descending into genocide based on intensity of targeted killings along ethnic lines.

"I don't believe South Sudanese have that appetite to go for full-blown genocide. But of course there are targeted killings along ethnic lines especially against the Dinka ethnic group from whom President Kiir hails," he observed.

The conflict since December 2013 between the SPLA-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by ousted First Vice President Riek Machar and troops loyal to President Salva Kiir has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 2 million in the region.

South Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman Mawien Makol told Xinhua that the final solution to the conflict lay in implementation of the peace agreement signed in 2015 by the two warring parties.

"There is no reason for arms embargo here because the peace implementation is ongoing," he said.

Political science lecturer at Juba University Jacob Dut Chol told Xinhua that sanctions might work on individuals but make little sense to these leaders as they do not travel often.

"Overall sanctions won't help this country, what is needed is to engage the leaders on the peace agreement with special focus on the upcoming 2018 elections," Chol said.

He also noted that the 2018 elections present the opportunity to end the conflict as dissidents like Machar and the former agriculture minister Lam Akol are most likely to return to Juba to participate in the country's first-ever elections.

"We have never had election since President Kiir was elected in 2010 and he has been a transitional leader. Elections are going to end the entire headache in the country," Chol observed.

President Kiir was elected in 2010 before South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011.

Political analyst with the Sudd institute Abraham Awolich told Xinhua that proposed sanctions will demonstrate the failure of diplomacy in solving the conflict, and that if eventually imposed on the country they will strain relationship between the U.S,, UNSC and South Sudan.

"Once you impose sanctions you basically end diplomacy. When you punish somebody they will no longer cooperate with you," Awolich noted.

He further cautioned that if the UN Security Council wants to still have influence on both warring parties, they should desist from imposing sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi addresses a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 21, 2016. The incoming administration of the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to break the Iranian nuclear deal to harm the interests of the United States, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

TEHRAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The incoming administration of the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to break the Iranian nuclear deal to harm the interests of the United States, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"It is still soon to judge what is going to come about," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said, adding that he believes there is enough rationality within the U.S. society to prevent potential acts from endangering American and international interests.

He also said Iran would prepare contingency plans for any possible scenario.

"If we feel that the American side is eventually about to take certain unwelcome measures in this regard, Iran will take necessary measures," Qasemi told reporters in his weekly press briefing.

The nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is a multilateral agreement endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, according to the spokesman.

"I do not think it would be an easy thing for a single party to trample upon the deal or offer to renegotiate it," he said.

During his presidential campaign, Trump said that he would renegotiate the deal which, according to him, was not a good one.

Iran and the world powers, namely Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany, reached a nuclear deal in July 2015 to end the disputes over Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

The deal, which went into effect in January, requires Iran to scrap the bulk of its nuclear activities in return for the ease of international sanctions on the country's energy and financial sectors.
GENEVA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations(UN) expert on Monday said he was deeply concerned at the proposal to legalize more than 100 illegal outposts in the occupied West Bank, which passed its first reading in the Israeli Knesset (parliament) on November 16.

Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, said in a statement issued Monday that this proposal would deal another severe blow to hopes of a lasting peace.

"Unauthorized outposts, most of which have been established on private Palestinian land and are located deep within the occupied West Bank, are considered illegal under Israeli domestic law," the UN expert noted.

He added that their retroactive "legalization" will be another nail in the coffin for the two-state solution, urging the Israeli Knesset not to give green light to the proposal.

"These outposts undermine the Palestinian right to self-determination, violate their rights to property, freedom of movement and development, and continue to confine the Palestinians into smaller and smaller cantons of non-contiguous lands within their own territory," He said.

The UN expert also emphasized that all Israeli settlements and outposts in occupied land were "illegal under international law".

"An occupying power is expressly prohibited from transferring its civilian population into an occupied territory. This violates the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and is contrary to numerous United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as a major advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in 2004," he said.

Michael Lynk was designated in 2016 by the UN Human Rights Council as the seventh Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate was originally established in 1993 by the then UN Commission on Human Rights.
TEHRAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran said Monday it is ready to participate in offshore energy projects in the European and African countries, reported the semi-official Fars news agency.

"Iran is planning to cooperate with foreign companies by exporting technical and engineering services as well as participating in joint projects abroad," said Abolqasem Rahmani, Managing Director of Iran's Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC).

The IOEC already signed agreements with a Dutch company to exchange equipment for such projects, added Rahmani.

"Iran possesses unrivaled equipment and experience in offshore projects in the region, and the country is quite capable of exporting such services to other countries," he added.
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday delivered a message of congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

In the message, Li spoke highly of the efforts made by UNIDO to help developing countries develop industries and accelerate growth and to push global poverty reduction.

Facilitating the sustainable industrialization with inclusiveness and pushing forward innovation is an important content of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Li said.

The Chinese government will concentrate efforts on implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and the "Made in China 2025" strategy, and on advancing a deeper integration of mass innovation, industrialization and information technology, he said.

China, as the largest developing country, will, as always, support the work of UNIDO, said Li, voicing his belief that the organization will make greater contribution to a robust, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth of the world economy.

On Nov. 17, 1966, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution establishing UNIDO as an autonomous body within the United Nations, with a mission to promote and accelerate the industrialization of developing countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Brasilia, Brazil, July 16, 2014. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

by Leng Tong, Omar Mendoza

SANTIAGO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has highlighted the importance of the Chile-China strategic partnership and expected Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit would push forward the relationship to a new height.

"We have very important political and commercial ties with China," Bachelet said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua prior to Xi's visit.

Chile, the last leg of Xi's Latin America trip, which has taken him to Ecuador and Peru, has always led in developing relations with China.

Chile is the first South American nation that forged diplomatic ties with China, the first Latin American country that signed a bilateral accord with China on China's entry into the World Trade Organization and signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with China.

"In the current global context, China continues to be our leading trade partner," said Bachelet.

With the FTA signed in 2005, bilateral trade reached nearly 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.

"We have increased non-copper exports, such as food products," Bachelet said.

It is now "time to modernize it (FTA) and adjust it to today's circumstances," said Bachelet, adding that the two countries are working together on the possibility of expanding it.

Besides, China has expressed its willingness to broaden the list of exportable services and assess the possibility of expanding e-commerce, which would increase trade diversity, said Bachelet.

"I am sure that expanding the FTA is going to be, without a doubt, one of the topics of discussion with President Xi," said Bachelet.

"Chinese leaders' visits to Latin America have shown their intention to continue to promote greater integration with Latin America, and in the case of Chile, they shared willingness to work on different matters of a bilateral agenda," said Bachelet.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet wave at the opening of an economic and trade seminar marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Chile diplomatic relations and the seventh meeting of the China-Chile Business Council in Santiago, capital of Chile, May 26, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Chile in 2015, according to Bachelet, has consolidated the close ties between China and Chile.

During Li's stay in Chile, the two countries signed a series of bilateral business contracts and governmental accords in politics, trade, finance, mining, agriculture, production capacity and science and technology.

The two sides signed a three-year currency swap deal worth 3.5 billion dollars and designated the Santiago branch of the China Construction Bank as the first clearing bank for transactions in Chinese currency renminbi in South America.

The moves "have allowed us to diversify the reserves of the Central Bank of Chile, decreasing our dependence on the U.S. dollar," the president said.

The Week of Chile in China, which has been held in 2015 and 2016, has showcased the business opportunities Chile can offer to Chinese investors and let both sides identify important areas for cooperation, said Bachelet.

"We want more Chinese investment in Chile and a greater Chilean presence in China, and there are areas that are key (to achieving that goal), such as infrastructure, financial services, tourism and, obviously, culture," said Bachelet.

"In Chile, we have already started Mandarin Chinese studies to facilitate more exchanges ... to let us learn more about each other and have greater experiences," said Bachelet.

Regional mechanisms are also in place to facilitate exchanges, she said, such as the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
Former French prime minister Francois Fillon is surrouded by supporters at his campaign headquarters in Paris, France, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Genxing)

PARIS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon finished first out of seven contenders in the first round of the conservative primary on Sunday, knocking former President Nicolas Sarkozy out of the presidential race, early results showed.

According to results based on 9,437 polling stations out of a total 10,228, Fillon took 44.2 percent of the vote, maintaining a healthy lead against former Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, who won 28.5 percent.

Sarkozy ranked the third with 20.6 percent of the vote, leaving Fillon and Juppe in play for the second round on Sunday.

"This first round of primaries has been a remarkable popular success, it is a wave that demonstrates the incredible interest of the citizens for the future of their country," said Fillon.

The 62-year-old conservative pledged that his campaign will accelerate further to break with a five-year failure, referring to the administration of President Francois Hollande.

Fillon also paid homage to Sarkozy, in an obvious bid to woo Sarkozy's supporters. "Defeat should humiliate no one and we will need everyone."

With liberal economic ideas, Fillon has campaigned for strict measures to revive the French economy. He promised to slash 500,000 public posts, cut public spending and make the French work longer.

Juppe, 71, vowed to continue the fight. "I want to bring French voters together around credible, fair reforms," he told supporters after the release of the partial results.

"This first round is a surprise, next Sunday, as I want, will be another surprise," he added.

Building his campaign on "happy identity," Juppe portrayed himself as the country's unifier "to lead to the path of peace and hope."

He promised to restore state power, tackle mass unemployment and modernize the educational system.

With a moderate rhetoric, Juppe is seeking to win support of centrists and left-wing voters who are angry at broken promises of Socialist President Hollande and wants to block far-right leader Marine Le Pen from winning the 2017 election.

Sarkozy, who hoped to revenge himself on his defeat in 2012, came back with a pledge to listen to "the silent majority."

He had bet on his political credentials that earned him in 2007 the highest popularity ratings of any leader since Charles de Gaulle. Unfortunately, his narrative has not worked out.

Speaking to his supporters, Sarkozy acknowledged defeat and endorsed Fillon, who served as prime minister under his 2007-2012 presidency.

"I have no bitterness, no sadness, and I wish all the best for my country, for you, my fellow citizens, and for the one who will lead this country I love so much," he said.

"I hold Alain Juppe in high esteem, but I feel closer to Francois Fillon's political choices. I will therefore vote for him in the second round of the primary," he added.

Former Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire, who had 2.7 percent of the vote in the first round, also endorsed Fillon.

According to pollsters, a conservative candidate would easily defeat Hollande and Le Pen in the presidential race.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) attends the releasing ceremony of a joint statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

by Chris Dalby

LIMA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- With the future of the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) dims under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the alternative Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) occupied the center stage at the weekend's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru.

The 16-member RCEP, composed of the 10 member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India, missed its negotiation deadline last year, but with the uncertainty of TPP, RCEP has regained attention at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Analysts believe that RCEP will become the main path toward the final realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

In his keynote address to the APEC CEO Summit on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to building the FTAAP as "a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific."

"We should firmly pursue the FTAAP as an institutional mechanism for ensuring an open economy in the Asia-Pacific," said Xi.

"We must energize trade and investment to drive growth, make free trade arrangements more open and inclusive and uphold the multilateral trading regime," the Chinese president said.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), called by the organization "Chile better without TPP", at Citizenship Square in Santiago, capital of Chile, on Feb. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Jorge Villegas)

Xi's proposal was echoed by other APEC leaders, as they reaffirmed their commitment that " the FTAAP should be built upon ongoing regional undertakings, and through possible pathways including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership."

"We reiterate our commitment to the eventual realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific as a major instrument to further deepen APEC's regional economic integration agenda," reads the declaration after the Economic Leaders' Meeting.

APEC foreign and commerce ministers' meeting and the Business Advisory Council also urged efforts to speed up the process toward the eventual realization of the FTAAP.

The TPP championed by U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be dumped by President-elect Trump, who has called it a "disaster" during his campaign trail.

Obama last week abandoned his efforts to seek Congressional approval of the TPP, saying he will leave the fate of the deal to Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Trump has also repeatedly called NAFTA, signed in 1994 between the three North American countries, a bad deal.
OSLO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Key cards in Norway can be replaced by a chip in hand and there are technology and implants, so called "wearables" and "insideables," that could supervise medical states of people with chronic diseases, newspaper Aftenposten wrote on Sunday.

Fredrik Enersen, a Norwegian employee, had a chip installed in his hand by a tattoo artist and the chip has all the information from the previous key card at his work place, media bureau Mindshare.

The chip also contains his business card information that can be scanned via an application of Android smart phones.

"I was at one of the Mindshare seminars in spring where one could pay 900 kroner (105 U.S. dollars) to get a chip installed and I simply had to do that. I am interested in technology and would like to be updated with the development," Enersen told Aftenposten.

Hannes Sjoblad, founder of Swedish non-profit organisation BioNyfiken, said that there were probably more people with the installed chips in Sweden than in Norway. His company tests out "insideables" -- chips and implants that can be connected to human body.

"Chips are not news. It has already been very usual to place chip in animals' body," he said, adding that sensors which can be put anywhere and communicate with other things online also make chips usable in human bodies.

The majority of the users today use them instead of keys and different types of key cards or to open a mobile phone with a chip instead of a pin code, Aftenposten wrote. Sjoblad also believes that it will eventually be possible to put bank card, passport and personal medical information into the chip.

According to the report, implants are currently for specially interested people and many others are probably sceptical about having things, so far associated with computers, installed in the body.

However, implants in human body are not there only for fun, but can also make everyday simpler, Aftenposten wrote.

They can be used for medical purposes, helping people with chronical diseases. They can, for example, constantly measure the level of blood sugar of patients with diabetes, without the need to use insulin pens several times per day.

Chips can also contain information about blood type and used medication, which makes the easier access for medical personnel in case of an accident.

Ole Johan Borge, director of the Norwegian biotechnology advisory board, said that both "wearables" -- technology worn on body that measures different body functions, such as smart watches, pulse watches, Google Glass eyeglasses -- and "insideables" -- technology installed in the body, using the same principle, such as implants that measure insulin level, contact lenses that measure glucose level, CardioMEMS measuring and supervising pressure and pulse of people with heart problems -- develop very fast. He thinks that this is first of all a positive development.

"The trend of accurate measuring in a prolonged time makes it possible to get much better basis to determine a diagnose and provide a personalised treatment. We know now that two people with the same type of disease should not always have the same medical treatment. Wearables help us to customize the treatment for each patient and it is therefore important in the introduction of personalized medicine," Borge said.

However, he thinks that a challenge might lie in privacy protection if the information is downloaded in application or is directly forwarded to the doctor.

"With the new technological means of support we will get much more information about the person than before. This information spreads fast and in that case handling and storage of information must be good. Today it can be a challenge without national solutions," Borge said. "We have a long way to go."

Sjoblad emphasized that installing a chip must be a "completely voluntary decision, taken by well-informed, consensual adults."

"The way I see it, we must understand new technology, both to apply it and to prevent it to be applied against a person's own will," he explained.

Atle Arnes, specialist director of technology of the Norwegian data protection authority, said that there were two important factors that influence the safety of a chip if only looking from technology perspective.

"The one factor is if there is an extra safety in the chip, for example access control, like the one in biometric passports. The other is if the chip could be reprogrammed or change identity in case it is hacked from the outside," Arnes said.

Enersen said that he met different reactions when people heard that he had a chip in his hand.

"Some people think it is completely amazing and cool, while others get scared or uncomfortable. I can understand that people react to it, but the near-field communication that the chip uses is passive and does not send out the information, unless it comes in contact with a scanner that can read it," he said.
GENEVA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Organization for Nuclear Research(CERN) announced India will join CERN as an associate member state, after the two sides inked an agreement on Monday.

"India has been putting efforts to design, develop and utilize various types of electron and proton accelerators for scientific, industrial and societal use," said Sekhar Basu, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of Government of India.

"Becoming associate member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects and bring back knowledge for deployment in the domestic programs. It will also provide opportunities to Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects," he added.

CERN Director General, Fabiola Gianotti, hailed India's role as a strong partner in CERN's scientific activities for over 50 years.

"For instance, Indian physicists, engineers and technicians have made substantial contributions to the construction of the LHC accelerator and to the ALICE and CMS experiments, as well as to accelerator R&D projects. I am very happy to welcome India as a new associate member state and I'm looking forward to enhanced cooperation on CERN's exciting scientific and technology programs," he said.

The government of India still needs to notify CERN of its final approval for the agreement to enter into force.

India and CERN signed a cooperation agreement in 1991, setting priorities for scientific and technical cooperation, followed by the signature of several protocols. India was granted observer status to the CERN Council in 2002.
LUSAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has begun the export of 100,000 tonnes of maize to neighboring Malawi to help the country deal with its food shortage, according to local media.

Minister of Eastern Province Chanda Kasolo said the export of the grain worth 34.5 million U.S. dollars was being done on a government-to-government deal.

"We have banned export of maize and its products but we had a request from Malawi to supply them with the grain and we are doing just that under a government-to-government deal," he is quoted saying by the Zambia Daily Mail.

The export is being done by the Zambia Cooperative Federation, a quasi-government institution. The first consignment of 344 tonnes left for Malawi on Saturday, he added.

The government, he said, was closely monitoring the export of the maize to ensure that unscrupulous traders do not take advantage of the situation to smuggle maize out of the country.

Zambia has been battling the problem of maize smuggling to neighboring countries following a high demand for the commodity. Zambia is among the few countries with surplus maize following poor rains experienced in the 2015/2016 season in southern Africa.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli (R) meets with Fan Changlong (L), vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on Nov. 21, 2016. China is willing to work together with Tanzania to constantly deepen bilateral military cooperation and boost their military ties, said Fan Changlong on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Xiaowei)

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work together with Tanzania to constantly deepen bilateral military cooperation and boost their military ties, said Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, on Monday.

Fan made this remark when he wrapped up his three-day official visit to Tanzania, where he met with Tanzanian President John Magufuli and Defense and National Service Minister Hussein Ali Hassan Mwinyi, and visited Tanzanian troops and academy.

Fan appreciated Tanzania's achievements in national and military construction, saying his visit to the country is aimed at implementing the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and further advance relations between the two countries.

Fan also said that China has maintained long-term and close military exchanges with Tanzania as good friends and will carry forward the friendship.

Magufuli expressed thanks for China's tremendous support and selfless assistance to Tanzania over the years, saying the Tanzania-China friendship is Tanzania's precious treasure.

Tanzania is willing to conduct all-round exchanges and cooperation with China in political, economic, military and other fields to benefit the peoples of the two countries, he said.
by Alessandra Cardone

NORCIA, Italy, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The city of Norcia, in the central Italian region of Umbria, looked silent and empty.

Only firefighters were allowed to enter the town from its two main gates, in a relentless effort to recover and protect what little has remained of ancient churches, historic buildings, and stone houses that had resisted the caprices of nature for centuries.

Sometimes, the firefighters would briefly escort a few residents and let them reach a house or a business to assess its condition or to retrieve personal belongings.

Not all houses collapsed, some were only cracked, but the extent of the damage in the city was so large that simply walking its streets was declared unsafe.

Some three weeks have past since a quake of a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale hit Norcia -- and the broader mountainous area around it -- on Oct. 30. It was the strongest seismic event to strike Italy since 1980.

Despite the long history of earthquakes marking this region, the most recent earthquake left unprecedented scars.

The whole city was evacuated and remains sealed off. Thousands were rendered homeless and most economic activities have been temporarily halted.

The 13th-century Basilica of Saint Benedict, the very symbol of Norcia, lay almost completely in ruins, only the facade and part of the apse was still standing.

Villages and hamlets around Norcia were badly affected, if not totally wiped out.

Yet, the will of people in the Umbria region to overcome the emergency and return to life as soon as possible was palpable.

"I got in today, because we are trying to reopen our business, and we needed to take measurements of the shop's old furniture," Angelo Altavilla told Xinhua as he walked out the city's southern gate of Porta Ascolana.

Altavilla, a hairdresser, explained his shop had been badly damaged: the main structure and vaults had held, but the walls showed cracks too large to think about restoration.

His house was also damaged, forcing his family to move to a camp.

"In about 10 days, we should be ready to reopen our business. We have found a new space on the ground floor of an undamaged building some 300 metres out of Norcia," Altavilla explained.

Despite his resilient attitude, the man admitted the Oct. 30 quake had been "a devastating experience."

He said his family's nerves were on edge, also because the earth kept shaking since the first 6.0-magnitude quake of Aug. 24, which struck the area and the regions of Lazio and Marche, killing 299 people.

"It takes just a few seconds to wipe everything out: your daily routine, your habits, your life," he said.

Overall, some 900 people were in tent camps set up by Italy's civil protection in Norcia and quake-affected hamlets around, according to mayor Nicola Alemanno.

"Another 1,200 residents are being accommodated in hotels across the region, while the rest of the population found place on ground floors of safe buildings, or in caravans and camping vans," the mayor said.

According to official data, over 4,000 people were assisted by the civil protection across the Umbria region, and some 1,200 firefighters were deployed in all of the areas affected by the quakes since late August, some 214 of them in Norcia alone.

The municipality of Norcia, and the interior ministry, are now focused on providing temporary housing for those sleeping in tents, also because weather conditions here can be harsh in winter.

"People now living in tents, and all those who will want to come back from the hotels, will be offered prefabricated houses," Alemanno said.

"They will consist in collective containers, each housing up to 49 people, and organized quite like hostels: one room for three people, plus common toilets and laundry spaces, a kitchen, and a canteen."

The mayor said he strongly hoped the prefabs would be ready by Christmas.

School buildings were damaged and unsafe, so one prefabricated school was inaugurated in Norcia on Oct. 14, with pupils taking classes in shifts.

Meanwhile, the local economy appeared badly affected.

Norcia had increasingly experienced a flourishing tourism industry in the last decade, thanks to its food and wine industry, its historical attractions and arts, and the beauty of its landscape.

Now, such inflow is likely to halt, at least for a while, and touristic structures in non-affected areas as far as in Perugia and Terni also registered many cancellations.

The whole sector in Umbria suffered a 60-percent decrease in reservations so far, according to an estimate by hospitality and tourism association Federalberghi.

Many entrepreneurs and farmers were struggling to survive, too.

"We had a bathroom supply business founded by my mother in 1966," Paola Fraschetti said.

"The Oct. 30 quake destroyed our main house and the offices, and damaged our two warehouses."

The three-storey house collapsed on its ground floor, and the family, including two children, was now sleeping in a caravan a few meters away from the destroyed building.

The woman admitted the company was "in a dramatic condition," with several hundred thousands of euros-worth of raw materials lost in the quake.

Nonetheless, she looked eager to clear the area as soon as possible and get the business going again.

"We are not receiving instruction (on what to do) from local authorities, that is our main difficulty now," she explained.

"With the necessary permission, we would be able to restart almost immediately with our own resources and the help of private partners."
Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2016 shows corn cobs stored in Changwu Town in Zhaodong, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

LUSAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has begun the export of 100,000 tonnes of maize to neighboring Malawi to help the country deal with its food shortage, according to local media.

Minister of Eastern Province Chanda Kasolo said the export of the grain worth 34.5 million U.S. dollars was being done on a government-to-government deal.

"We have banned export of maize and its products but we had a request from Malawi to supply them with the grain and we are doing just that under a government-to-government deal," he is quoted saying by the Zambia Daily Mail.

The export is being done by the Zambia Cooperative Federation, a quasi-government institution. The first consignment of 344 tonnes left for Malawi on Saturday, he added.

The government, he said, was closely monitoring the export of the maize to ensure that unscrupulous traders do not take advantage of the situation to smuggle maize out of the country.

Zambia has been battling the problem of maize smuggling to neighboring countries following a high demand for the commodity. Zambia is among the few countries with surplus maize following poor rains experienced in the 2015/2016 season in southern Africa.
SOFIA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of Bulgarian residents who made tourist trips was 1.52 million in the third quarter of 2016, a 19.1-percent increase year-on-year, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said Monday.

As many as 81.3 percent of the Bulgarians travelled only within the country, 13.3 percent travelled abroad, and 5.4 percent travelled both in the country and abroad, NSI said.

Compared to the same quarter of 2015, an increase was observed in the number of Bulgarian residents who travelled both in the country and abroad by 31.9 percent, with the number who traveled only in the country growing by 20.3 percent, and only abroad by 7.9 percent.

The majority of tourist trips in the country as well as abroad were for "holiday and recreation," which respectively accounted for 70.7 percent and 65.7 percent of the total, NSI said.

Meanwhile, the survey, which covers people aged 15 and over, showed that the average spending per person for private trip was 354 Bulgian lev (192.29 U.S. dollars) in the country and 750 Bulgarian lev abroad.

At the same time, the average expenditure per person on business trips was nearly 180 Bulgarian lev for domestic trips and 1,111 Bulgarian lev for business trips abroad.
BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese currency RMB is gaining importance in Latin America, due to ever closer financial collaboration between the Asian nation and the region, as well as the deepening of the RMB's globalization, experts said.

On Oct. 1, the RMB joined the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) basket of currencies, named the Special Drawing Rights (SDR), with a weight of 10.92 percent, a very important step for its process of internationalization.

The IMF's decision has produced a positive impact on the economies of countries like Argentina, because "China is the main foreign direct investor in Argentina, above American and European investments," local analyst Jorge Castro told Xinhua.

"China is also the buyer of over two-thirds of the country's agricultural exports," said Castro, director of Argentina's Institute of Strategic Planning (IPE).

"The use of the RMB as a global currency will accelerate the pace of Argentina's agricultural exports and will lead to a growing RMB market in Argentina as a result of direct investments," Castro said.

HSBC, the first bank in Argentina allowed to use the RMB for foreign exchanges, has carried over 1,500 foreign operations since 2011 involving 500 million RMB (72.5 million U.S. dollars), said Juan Pablo Scasserra, the bank's head of global trade.

"Operating in the RMB allows Argentinean exporters and importers to negotiate better terms with their Chinese counterparts, among other benefits," he said last month in Argentina.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) also sees the internationalization of the RMB in Latin America as positive, for it will facilitate trade and open up alternative lines of financing, Alexandre Meira da Rosa, the IDB's vice president, told Xinhua last month.
VILNIUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- More than half the members of the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) are newly elected, offering a chance to renew the country's political system and make it more transparent, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said Monday.

After meeting with the parliament's new speaker Viktoras Pranckietis, the president said the first challenge for the new Seimas is the adoption of the 2017 budget, according to a statement released after the meeting.

"Social needs and the state's possibilities must be reflected in the budget. Moreover, it should not breach the constitutional law on fiscal compact," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying in the statement.

She urged Seimas not to delay amendments to the country's new labor code in order to guarantee up-to-date labor relations and workers' security.

Speaker Pranckietis said the new government will decide early December how fast and what amendments should be done to the labor code.

The Lithuanian Seimas adopted a new labor code in June this year, due to come into effect as of Jan. 1, 2017. However, the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union, the surprise winner in the late-October general election, suggested the implementation of the code be delayed by six months.

The labor code, together with accompanying amendments to secondary legislation, is one of the seven packages needed for building the new social model aimed at improving the regulation of labor relations.

Meanwhile, presidential advisor Mindaugas Linge said Grybauskaite also expects a renewal of the term of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), ELTA news agency reported.

"According to the president, the Seimas will have to show its will when forming a new CEC in order to make the political process more transparent. The CEC is expected to be renewed to ensure efficient organization of elections," Linge was quoted as saying.

The constitution of Lithuania stipulates that the Seimas forms the CEC and alters its composition.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A cargo ship operated by U.S. space firm Orbital ATK departed from the International Space Station on Monday, setting the stage for an on-board experiment that will intentionally ignite a fire inside the spacecraft to learn more about how flames spread in space.

The Cygnus resupply craft left the space station at 8:22 a.m. EST (1322 GMT), completing a 29-day stay at the orbiting laboratory. It was packed with 1,120 kilograms of items for disposal.

According to the U.S. space agency NASA, engineers back on Earth will intentionally ignite nine different materials inside the spacecraft five hours after its departure for the so-called Saffire experiments.

NASA has planned three such space fire experiments, deemed critical to the safety of astronauts who live and work in space. Monday's fire experiment was the second of its planned three Saffire experiments.

"Orbital ATK engineers will remotely conduct this experiment from the ground once Cygnus departs the International Space Station," the company said in a statement.

"The experiment will intentionally ignite nine different experimental material samples to help investigators better understand flammability of these materials in a microgravity environment. All data obtained from this experiment will be downloaded via telemetry."

The materials involved include "flame retardant fabrics used for astronaut clothing, station Plexiglas window samples with edge variations and structures used for storage containers and silicone composites," NASA said.

Each sample is two by 11 inches (five by 28 centimeters), the size sample NASA uses to screen materials on Earth before they are used on a spacecraft, the space agency said.

Besides the fire experiment, Cygnus also will release four small satellites called CubeSats from an external deployer on Friday, sending them to join a remote sensing satellite constellation that provides global ship tracking and weather monitoring.

The spacecraft will remain in orbit until Nov. 27, when it will reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up over the Pacific Ocean.

Cygnus was launched on Oct. 17 on an Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, for Orbital ATK's sixth NASA-contracted commercial resupply mission.

The company's seventh contracted resupply mission is targeted for spring 2017 on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
WARSAW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Visegrad Group (V4) countries opt for supporting refugees outside the European Union, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said after a meeting of V4 internal affairs ministers here on Monday.

The meeting was aimed at discussing European Union policy regarding the migrants and refugee crisis. The Visegrad Group is composed of four central European states that include Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Blaszczak said all participants accepted "using the good practices of supporting refugees outside the European Union, in the camps in Lebanon, Jordan."

He said V4 countries would jointly set up a migration crisis coordination center, to support refugees outside the European Union. The center's work will be managed by Poland.

Blaszczak also said that the V4 Group was against the relocation system.

"We strive for our common attitude to be accepted by our partners from the European Union, and this attitude is against the relocation system. We believe it is not effective," he said.

"This is proved by the facts. Out of 160,000 people who were to be distributed to the EU countries, only 6,000 people so far were distributed," the minister added. He also said V4 countries agreed it was important to seal the EU borders.

The Visegrad Group countries said they were against a system of refugee resettlement and fines for countries unwilling to accept them. According to the EU's proposal, such countries could evade the relocation for a year but would have to pay 250,000 euros (265,300 U.S. dollars) as a fine for each refugee they do not accept.

Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs said: "The EU's policy should be modified so that full control over current migration movements concerning Europe is reclaimed, so that it is possible to prevent the negative effects of a sudden increase of migration pressure in following years."

Poland has taken over the rotating presidency over V4 since July 1, 2016. This latest meeting was held in a broadened formula and included delegations from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
HARARE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's power utility on Monday warned the country could experience massive load shedding due to lack of foreign currency to pay for power imports from neighboring countries.

ZESA Holdings is currently importing electricity from South Africa and Mozambique to offset a power deficit.

Chief executive Josh Chifamba told a parliamentary committee on mines and energy that the power utility was getting less than half of its weekly foreign currency requirements from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), news agency New Ziana reported.

Following biting cash shortages in the economy, the RBZ has taken responsibility of mobilizing foreign currency for institutions which require funding for foreign international transactions and is now prioritizing critical national imports.

"We are being given 1.5 million U.S. dollars per week where we require 5 million dollars," said Chifamba.

"We are, as we stand, having some arrears on both accounts which are Eskom of South Africa and Hydro Carbora Bassa of Mozambique."

Chifamba said the power utility had come up with innovative strategies and was making arrangements with some customers to augment the allocation from RBZ.

"We are talking to our customers in the export business so that they cede to us part of what they retain from their export proceeds so that we can help alleviate this problem," he said.

He warned that should the shortage of foreign currency persist, the utility may embark on massive load shedding.

Zimbabwe's ageing power plants, built before the country's independence from Britain in 1980, are producing on average 1,000 MW, leaving a deficit of 400 MW that it imports from neighbors.
Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters carry their weapons as they walk near the town of Tel al-Saman in the northern rural area of Raqqa, Syria November 17, 2016. (Reuters photo)

DAMASCUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 civilians were killed on Monday by a U.S.-led airstrike on the country's northern province of al-Raqqah, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS) group, state news agency SANA reported.

The airstrike targeted a cotton mill in the village of Salhiyeh in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah, killing three workers and a displaced family of six as well as another person from the village.

Children were among those killed, SANA said, noting that the killing is another massacre by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.

SANA said huge property losses were caused by the airstrike.

Last month, SANA said the U.S. coalition carried out two "massacres" in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo, killing tens of people.

In July, the coalition airstrikes on the countryside of Aleppo killed 165 civilians and wounded tens of others, SANA added.

The U.S. coalition has been striking the IS positions in al-Raqqah, the main bastion of the group, and other IS-held areas in Aleppo since late 2014.

The U.S. administration had previously admitted the falling of civilian victims in the course of striking IS-held territory in Syria.
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani military said in a statement late Monday that Indian firing killed at least four Pakistani nationals and injured 10 others in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

"There are reports of heavy casualties of Indian soldiers due to effective retaliatory fire by Pakistani troops," the statement said.

Six Indian soldiers have been confirmed killed, the Pakistan Army said in the statement.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office and conveyed the Pakistani government's strong condemnation of the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Deputy High Commissioner was told that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was highly deplorable."

The Foreign Ministry said the Indian side was urged to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding in the letter and spirit, investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations and stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace on the LoC.

"The Government of Pakistan also expressed concern over the incident of Indian refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft," the statement said, adding this action by the India constituted a violation of a 1991 agreement between Pakistan and India.
An Iraqi refugee girl waits with her parents to buy food from a local vendor behind the fence of the Khazir refugee camp near the Kurdish checkpoint of Aski Kalak, 40 km West of Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on November 21, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua)

MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Monday recaptured six villages in southeast and north of the city of Mosul, while special forces continued heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants to clear the districts freed earlier from the extremist militants in the eastern part of the city, a security source said.

The army's 9th armored Division continued their advance toward Mosul and managed to free the three villages of al-Salamiyah, al-Hmeirah and Twajnah al-Jadida, which are located some 20 km southeast of Mosul, after sporadic clashes with IS militants, said a statement from the Joint Operations Command (JOC).

In north of Mosul, the army's 16th Division and allied Sunni paramilitary units freed the villages of al-Abbasiyah, Ortta-Kharab and al-Salam after heavy clashes with IS militants, bringing the troops closer to the northern edge of Mosul, the JOC statement said.

The security forces have been fighting to push deeper into the eastern side of the city, locally known as left bank of the Tigris River, but met resistance of the militants, who are fighting in small groups who frequently infiltrated behind the advanced CTS forces using tunnels or sneaking through dozens of houses and buildings.

The troops and explosive experts also defuse dozens of booby-traps planted earlier by the extremist militants in the freed districts, it said.

After more than a month of military operations against IS militants inside Mosul, almost 65,000 civilians have fled their homes and the number went up every day, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Oct. 17 announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city.

Since then, the Iraqi security forces have inched to the eastern fringes of Mosul and made progress on other routes around the city.

Early in the month, hundreds of the CTS commandos and Iraqi army made a significant progress at the eastern side of Mosul and managed to recapture more than 10 districts out of about 60 districts on both sides of the city.

Mosul, some 400 km north of Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under the IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
TEHRAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Monday that his country is ready to mend relations with Egypt by settling differences on certain issues, Tasnim news agency reported.

Bahram Qasemi hailed Egypt as a leading country in the Islamic world, saying that Iran favors brotherly ties among all Muslim nations.

"We have always been willing to have relations with Egypt and its people under better conditions, and to tap into the two countries' potentials," Qasemi was quoted as saying.

The two sides will have to resolve differences on some bilateral issues as Tehran and Cairo have "common stances" on some regional issues, he said.

Ties between Egypt and Iran were cut off after Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. After the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, particularly after former president Mohamed Morsi took office, the ice began to thaw with mutual visits of the two countries' leaders.

However, the warming up of the relations halted following Morsi's removal by the military on July 3, 2013, when Iranian foreign ministry said that the intervention of Egyptian armed forces in politics is "unacceptable and disturbing."
RIYADH, Nov. 21, (Xinhua) -- A Saudi court commenced here on Monday a trial of four al-Qaida members for plotting the assassination of late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi, Al Arabiya local news reported.

The four are part of a terrorist cell of 47 members busted by the security officials and charged with 41 terrorism crimes.

They were planning a suicide attack during the late king's visit to Qassim city in the center of the kingdom to create chaos.

The late king died in January 2015 of natural causes.

The high criminal court recently challenged the suspects' penalties and ordered a retrial. They were sentenced in 2013 to jail terms between four to 12 years.

Saudi Arabia has been witnessing in recent years bloody terrorist attacks in many cities by extremists and followers of terrorist groups, mainly the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
LONDON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Theresa May told the country's business leaders Monday she planned to invest billions of pounds in research and innovation.

In a keynote speech to the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), May set down her ambition to "make Britain the go-to place for innovators and investors."

Her package of measures includes increases in government investment worth two billion pounds a year (2.5 billion U.S. dollars) by 2020. This will ensure British business remains at the cutting edge of scientific and technological discovery, she said.

May is also planning a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to back priority technologies, such as robotics and biotechnology.

There will also be a review of current research and development (R&D) tax incentives to ensure the global competitiveness of Britain as a home for scientists, innovators and tech investors.

In her speech, May made it clear to the world of commerce that post-Brexit Britain remained open for business.

She described her measures as the first steps in a modern, ambitious industrial strategy which will build on Britain's strengths and address long-term structural challenges.

May said her government will "step up to the task and get the economy firing on all cylinders."

Referring to the June 23 referendum vote, May told CBI delegates: "I know leaving the European Union creates uncertainty for business. Some are unsure about the road ahead or what your future operating environment will look like. And there will certainly be challenges, a negotiation like the one on which we are about to embark cannot be done quickly, or without give and take on both sides."

May spoke of opportunities "to get out into the world and do new business with old allies and new partners," adding, "my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20, but also a tax system that is profoundly pro-innovation."

The prime minister announced measures to turn bright start-ups into successful scale-ups by backing them for the long-term, and also more help for smaller businesses to thrive.

"This amounts to a big and ambitious agenda, but the times we are living through demand nothing less. For change is in the air, and when people demand change it is the job of politicians to respond," May concluded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, Nov. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Scholars and experts in some countries highly appreciated Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the just-concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' meeting.

In a keynote speech delivered Saturday at the APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru's capital, Xi called on the 21 APEC member economies to promote an open and integrated economy, enhance connectivity to achieve interconnected development, boost reform and innovation to create more internal driving force, and promote win-win cooperation to forge strong partnership.

Lee Chian Siong, senior advisor to chairman of the China-ASEAN Business Association, said this year's meeting was held amid a sluggish global economic growth and increasing uncertainties for global trade.

Under such circumstances, Xi's call for supporting a multilateral trade system and an earlier establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific is of special importance, said Lee.

Lee applauded Xi's emphasis on breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and his pledge to seek synergy in development strategies and cooperation initiatives with relevant parties.

Infrastructure is of great significance to economic growth. Without the connectivity of infrastructure, it is difficult to achieve any goal, Lee said.

Meanwhile, Xi's emphasis on opening-up was welcomed by Li Zhuohui, an Indonesian political analyst.

Xi's pledge to pursue an opening-up strategy with greater resolve would provide extensive opportunities to business communities around the globe and add dynamic impetus to world economy, and it also reflects China's willingness to achieve win-win cooperation with other countries, Li said.

Enrique Posada, director of the Asia Pacific Virtual Research Center at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Colombia, told Xinhua that Xi's speech, underlining an open and integrated economy, connectivity and innovation, has a global vision.

"Even though the domestic peace process is currently the focus of the Colombian government, academia and the agricultural sector in Colombia should discuss the possibility of a free trade agreement with China," Posada said.

Claiming himself a strong supporter of globalization, Victor Modderman, a leading member of Canadian media pool covering the APEC meetings in Lima, showed great interest in Xi's remarks on globalization.

Globalization and free trade have been proved to be beneficial to millions of people around the world and they expect the process to continue and extend, said Modderman.

While problems are inevitable, there are needs for new negotiations and invitations to more economies to join in the process, he added.

In his speech, Xi used a sweet potato as an example to illustrate China's commitment to contribute to the development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.

Diana Gomez, a professor at National University of Colombia, said that using the sweet potato as an example is very impressive.

Gomez said Xi's speech shows that "China deepens its opening-up while retaining its own characteristics. Chile, Mexico and Peru set good examples for Latin American countries to learn how to cooperate with China."
TIRANA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and Montenegro have expressed willingness and readiness to assist Albania in its process of negotiations with the European Union (EU), the Albanian ministry of integration said in a press release Monday.

Albanian minister of European integration Klajda Gjosha met Monday with two chief negotiators for EU accession of Serbia and Montenegro, Tanja Miscevic and Aleksandar Andrija Pejovic respectively, the ministry's press release said.

During the meeting, the interlocutors focused on the importance of the Western Balkans countries joining the EU.

The chief negotiators offered to support Albania at the technical level by sharing their expertise in the process of negotiations, the Albanian ministry's press office announced.

Gjosha said Albania was hoping to open the accession negotiations with the EU soon, following the issuing of a positive recommendation given recently by the European Commission.

According to Gjosha, Albania welcomed any assistance and support from countries that had gone through the process.

The Albanian ministry of European integration is currently working on the document on opening of accession negotiations with the EU. As such, Gjosha asked both chief negotiators to share their best approaches, the ministry's press release added.
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned an attack on a Shiite mosque in Afghan capital of Kabul which targeted civilians gathering for worship.

Earlier on Monday, at least 27 people were killed and 35 others wounded after a suicide bombing ripped through the mosque in the western part of Kabul.

"Attacks deliberately targeting civilians exercising their right to freely practice their religion are clear violations of fundamental human rights and international humanitarian law," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

The UN chief "expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of Afghanistan and calls for those responsible for these attacks to be brought to justice," said Dujarric.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

More than 2,560 civilians were killed and over 5,830 injured in the first nine months of this year in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan, according to the statistics released by the United Nations.
KIGALI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda will ratify the ambitious Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol by early next year, according to the ministry of natural resources on Monday.

Vincent Biruta, Rwanda minister of natural resources, told reporters that Rwanda intends to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol by early 2017.

"We recognize the climate imperative of the amendment. The Kigali amendment is an example of what we can achieve by coming together with a focus on action. Parties to the protocol should speed up ratification processes at the national level. We must support each other in this effort if we are to achieve the ambition set before us," he said.

Last month in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the world witnessed the amendment of Montreal Protocol to curb global warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in largest climate breakthrough since Paris.

HFCs substances which are used mainly in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, have a global warming effect up to 15,000 times greater than carbon dioxide and are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emission, according to climate change experts.

The small central African country has already ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Biruta said that Rwanda is committed to any effort geared towards addressing climate change disastrous effects.

The ratification of amendment to the protocol will signify the international community's commitment to practical action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement -- limiting global warming to 2C, and the more ambitious target of 1.5C.

The Kigali Amendment is the result of seven years of negotiation. Under the amendment, developed countries will start to phase down HFCs by 2019 while developing countries will freeze their levels of consumption in 2024, with some starting the freeze in 2028.

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), HFC emissions are growing at a rate of about 7 percent annually. If the current mix of HFCs is unchanged, increasing demand could result in HFC emissions of up to 8.8 gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year by 2050.

Montreal Protocol is regarded as the world's most effective environmental treaty.

It was first signed on September 16, 1987, and is widely considered to be one of the most effective multilateral environment treaties ever negotiated. It's the only treaty in the United Nations system to which every country is a signatory.
ACCRA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Protecting children's rights is a critical key to building stronger, more stable societies, as conflicts, crises, and crushing poverty put millions of children's lives and future at risk, a senior UNICEF official said here on Monday.

In a statement to mark the Universal Children's Day, Susan Namondo Ngongi, UNICEF Ghana Representative, said the world needed to stop these violations by investing more in reaching the most vulnerable children or pay the price in slower growth, greater inequality, and less stability.

According to UNICEF, despite enormous progress realized for children since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989, the rights of millions of children are being violated everyday.

Since Ghana's ratification of the CRC on January 29, 1990, which sets out a basic, universal standard for a healthy, protected, decent childhood for every human being, the country has made significant progress in ensuring every child enjoys their right to childhood.

However, more needs to be done in Ghana as almost 1 in 3 children lives in poverty and 1.2 million live in households that cannot afford to pay for food, let alone other basic goods and services, according to data from UNICEF.

Globally, almost 385 million children live in extreme poverty and over a quarter of a billion school-aged children are not learning.

Namondo said every child has the right to grow up healthily and strongly, to be educated and protected, and to have a fair chance in life.

"Our commitment to child rights must be matched with action for every child, by bringing about a development for Ghana that includes even the poorest families," she said.
ACCRA, Nov 21 (Xinhua) -- A Ghanaian veteran politician has cautioned against "whipping up of tribal sentiments by leading political figures in the country," local media reported here Monday.

Kweku Baprui Asante, a diplomat in the First Republic, told local media that with just three weeks to the country's general election, peddling such sentiments could polarize Ghana.

This followed a week of heated exchanges by leaders of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Asante said Ghana is still a nation united by tribes and the least anyone could do is to unite the various tribes, not to tear them apart.

"We should stop it; we must fight for a united nation. The moment we start thinking about northerners, Akyems, Gas, we are disintegrating the country," he said.

President John Dramani Mahama reportedly told supporters in the Upper East Region that, as a candidate coming from that region, he would serve their interest better than the NPP.

President Mahama comes from Bole, a small town in the Northern Region, where the NDC secured 20 out of the 31 parliamentary seats as against 20 by the NPP in the 2012 elections.

While the NDC regards the Volta Region as its "world bank", securing 25 of the 26 seats as against zero by the NPP, the latter also secured 43 out of the 47 seats in the mainly Akan-speaking Ashanti Region where the NDC managed just four seats.

Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, running mate of the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had also reacted to Mahama's statement, saying he was not a good example of a president for the entire nation.

He also told supporters in the Upper East Region that a northern president that presided over corruption and supervised the running down of SADA, a policy initiative that was supposed to develop the north, could not be said to have the best interest of the people of the north at heart.

Francis Abban, another elderly statesman who served in the first republic under Dr Kwame Nkrumah, told Joy News that any "sensible, true politician" should not whip up ethnic sentiments just so he would become president.

He said such comments and conducts by the political leaders "reflect a lack of political understanding."
MADRID, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Spain's trade deficit fell by 29 percent in the first nine months of the year when compared with the same period of a year earlier to 13.227 billion euros (14.025 billion U.S. dollars), data indicated on Monday.

Exports rose by 1.2 percent in the first nine months of the year to 188.485 billion euros hitting a record high for the period, while imports fell by 1.6 percent to 201.712 billion euros, according to data released on Monday by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

Spain especially exported items related to the automobile industry, food, drinks, tobacco and capital goods and they were widely shipped to the European Union countries, representing 66.5 percent of the total. Meanwhile, 51.7 percent were shipped to eurozone countries.

Spain's State Secretary for Trade Maria Luisa Poncela said exports were "reaching a figure we did not have until now" and specified that they are growing in terms of volume and quantity.
JUBA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian agency said on Monday that close to three million South Sudanese have fled their homes and are either internally displaced or have sought refuge in neighboring countries since December 2013 due to insecurity.

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number includes an estimated 1.87 million internally displaced people.

"Large spikes in internal displacement have been reported in the Greater Equatoria region, where fighting has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes since July," OCHA said in its latest report released in Juba.

The statement comes after OCHA's Director of Operations, John Ging, last week expressed concern regarding the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan following a visit to the country from Nov. 9-12.

Ging noted that the escalation in fighting, food insecurity and economic challenges were alarming. "The gravity of the situation that the people of South Sudan face cannot be overstated," he said.

During the visit, Ging who also visited people affected by the conflict in Juba and Yei. Ging expressed shock at the plight of the population in Yei.

"I listened with sorrow to women who recounted their traumatic experiences. Their stories were amongst the worst that I have heard," he said, and emphasized that people "are expecting the international community to step up" and stressed that "we have to, all of us, somehow mobilize."

According to the OCHA report, the number of displaced people more than doubled in Central Equatoria from July (71,000) to October (143,000), following insecurity and sporadic fighting in multiple locations.

"The worst affected areas have been Juba and Yei counties. Of these, about 204,500 were sheltering in United Nations Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites as of 10 November, a more than 20 per cent increase compared to the number seeking shelter in the PoCs at the end of June (169,400)."

According to the UN, in addition to South Sudanese who have been internally displaced, more than 10,000 refugees -- from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan -- who were living in Lasu camp in Yei County, were forced to flee in September following attacks at the camp.

Most of the refugees are now thought to be sheltering in bushy areas near the border with DRC.
BEIRUT, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun hailed on Monday the Lebanese army for "gaining citizens' confidence and being their source of security and serenity."

He made the remarks in a televised address to the nation on the eve of Lebanon's Independence Day.

The president called for "immunizing independence," which means refraining from "seeking help from foreign forces to achieve partisan interests at the expense of the public interest."

He said the army has the ability to defend Lebanon's borders should its capabilities be boosted, adding that "enhancing national unity is a top necessity and priority."

He also called for "liberating civil servants from the culture of corruption."

Aoun was elected on Oct. 31 as the 13th president of Lebanon, ending two and half years of vacancy since the end of the six-year tenure of former president Michel Suleiman in 2014.

In addition to pledges of economic growth and security, Aoun said in his oath of office that Lebanon must work to ensure Syrian refugees "can return quickly" to their country.

He also pledged to endorse an "independent foreign policy" and to protect Lebanon from "the fires burning across the region."
CAIRO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Cultural Center in Egypt launched on Monday a forum of Arab researchers and translators of Chinese language.

The ceremony was attended by Chen Dongyun, head of the center and the Cultural Affairs Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, as well as a number of Arab and Egyptian diplomats and translators of Chinese language.

"I started to think of forming this forum since I arrived in Egypt six years ago," Chen told the forum. "The Egyptians pay special academic attention to the Chinese language."

She said the Chinese Cultural Center should play an important role to boost translation activities as Egypt embraces the largest number of Chinese language translators.

For her part, Professor Nahed Abdullah, head of Chinese Translation and Literature at Ain Shams University and the executive chief of the forum, said the forum aims at holding workshops and courses with the goal of spreading the Chinese culture in Egypt.

"The forum also focuses on supporting the initiatives of Chinese-Arabic translation," she said.

The event coincides with celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the diplomatic representation between the two countries, and the 2016 China Culture Year in Egypt.
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. zoo is inviting fans around the world to choose names for their newest panda cubs.

The names of the 11-week-old twin girls, now referred to as "Cub A" and "Cub B," will be finalized on their 100th day of life on Dec. 12, 2016, Zoo Atlanta announced on its website on Monday.

Voting opens on seven sets of names on Monday and will continue until 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. The names will be revealed at the twins' 100 Day Naming Celebration on Dec. 12.

"There's much more to this milestone than just two names. The permanence of names gives us a celebration of the achievements of the giant panda program at Zoo Atlanta and a continuation of the bright future of one of our longest-lived and most successful conservation partnerships," said Raymond B. King, the zoo's President and CEO.

"It's also a tribute to our giant panda care team, who have done a tremendous and tireless job in helping Lun Lun raise two healthy, thriving young cubs," He said.

The twins were born on Sept. 3 to their mother Lun Lun and father Yang Yang in Atlanta.

The seven sets of names, each of which has a special meaning or association with the cubs or their parents, were supplied by Zoo Atlanta's partners in giant panda conservation in Chengdu, China.

Expected to make their debut at Zoo Atlanta in December 2016 or January 2017, the pair, who are the second set of female twins for 19-year-old Lun Lun, follow in the footsteps of their older brothers and sisters in receiving their names on their 100th day.

The 100 Day Celebration follows an ancient Chinese tradition that holds that when a child reaches the 100th day of life, he or she has survived the fragility of infancy and may be considered on track for a successful future.

The names in the running and their meanings are as follows, in alphabetical order:

1. Ba Lun and Shu Lun: Ba Shu are ancient names of the Sichuan area and are still widely used in China, including Sichuan Province and Chongqing. Ba Shu also means "land of abundance."

2. Jiu Jiu and Yuan Yuan: Jiu means "longevity" or "long time." Yuan means "far distance" or "far away." Together, they mean "longevity and permanence."

3. Lun Jia and Jia Lun: The first Jia means "addition." The second Jia means "good," "fine" or "praise." Lun references daughters of Lun Lun.

4. Lun Li and Lun Yu: Lun Li means "ethic" or "ethics." Lun Yu is Confucian Analects, a collection of sayings of Confucius and one of the pillars of Chinese culture, widely read across centuries.

5. Ya Lun and Xi Lun: Ya means "elegant;" Xi means "happy;" "Lun" references daughters of Lun Lun -- "Lun Lun's elegant and happy daughters."

6. Ya Lun and Xin Lun: Similar in origin to Ya Lun and Xi Lun, with Xin meaning "fragrant."

7. Yang Hai and Yang Gui: Yang is a reference to the twins' father, Yang Yang, and means "ocean." Hai means "sea." Gui has many meanings, including "laurel."
DAMASCUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least seven civilians were killed Monday by a Turkish airstrike on a town in northern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

The Turkish airstrike targeted the town of Sheikh Naser in the city of al-Bab, which is held by the Islamic State (IS) group in the northern countryside of Aleppo province, near Turkey.

The Turkish air force has been backing the rebels' Free Syrian Army (FSA) in their push to take al-Baab from IS. Turkish officials recently said that the Ankara-backed FSA are closing in on al-Baab, adding that the city will soon fail.

The Syrian government has for long accused Turkey of supporting the rebels in northern Syria.

Ankara is now supporting the FSA to take areas from IS and to cut the road before the advance of the Kurdish-backed militant groups in northern Syria, near the Turkish borders.

Earlier in the day, SANA said at least 10 civilians were killed by a U.S.-led airstrike on the country's northern province of al-Raqqah, the de facto capital of IS.

The airstrike targeted a cotton mill in the village of Salhiyeh in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah, killing three workers and a displaced family of six as well as another person from the village.

Last month, SANA said the U.S. coalition carried out two "massacres" in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo, killing tens of people.

In July, the coalition airstrikes on the countryside of Aleppo had killed 165 civilians and wounded tens of others, SANA added.

The U.S. coalition has been striking the IS positions in al-Raqqah, the main bastion of the group, and other IS-held areas in Aleppo since late 2014.

The U.S. administration had previously admitted the falling of civilian victims in the course of striking IS-held territory in Syria.
Zoo Atlanta invites fans to choose names for the new panda cubs.(Xinhua/Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. zoo is inviting fans around the world to choose names for their newest panda cubs.

The names of the 11-week-old twin girls, now referred to as "Cub A" and "Cub B," will be finalized on their 100th day of life on Dec. 12, 2016, Zoo Atlanta announced on its website on Monday.

Voting opens on seven sets of names on Monday and will continue until 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. The names will be revealed at the twins' 100 Day Naming Celebration on Dec. 12.

Zoo Atlanta invites fans to choose names for the new panda cubs.(Xinhua/Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

"There's much more to this milestone than just two names. The permanence of names gives us a celebration of the achievements of the giant panda program at Zoo Atlanta and a continuation of the bright future of one of our longest-lived and most successful conservation partnerships," said Raymond B. King, the zoo's President and CEO.

"It's also a tribute to our giant panda care team, who have done a tremendous and tireless job in helping Lun Lun raise two healthy, thriving young cubs," He said.

The twins were born on Sept. 3 to their mother Lun Lun and father Yang Yang in Atlanta.

The seven sets of names, each of which has a special meaning or association with the cubs or their parents, were supplied by Zoo Atlanta's partners in giant panda conservation in Chengdu, China.

Expected to make their debut at Zoo Atlanta in December 2016 or January 2017, the pair, who are the second set of female twins for 19-year-old Lun Lun, follow in the footsteps of their older brothers and sisters in receiving their names on their 100th day.

Zoo Atlanta invites fans to choose names for the new panda cubs.(Xinhua/Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

The 100 Day Celebration follows an ancient Chinese tradition that holds that when a child reaches the 100th day of life, he or she has survived the fragility of infancy and may be considered on track for a successful future.

The names in the running and their meanings are as follows, in alphabetical order:

1. Ba Lun and Shu Lun: Ba Shu are ancient names of the Sichuan area and are still widely used in China, including Sichuan Province and Chongqing. Ba Shu also means "land of abundance."

2. Jiu Jiu and Yuan Yuan: Jiu means "longevity" or "long time." Yuan means "far distance" or "far away." Together, they mean "longevity and permanence."

3. Lun Jia and Jia Lun: The first Jia means "addition." The second Jia means "good," "fine" or "praise." Lun references daughters of Lun Lun.

4. Lun Li and Lun Yu: Lun Li means "ethic" or "ethics." Lun Yu is Confucian Analects, a collection of sayings of Confucius and one of the pillars of Chinese culture, widely read across centuries.

5. Ya Lun and Xi Lun: Ya means "elegant;" Xi means "happy;" "Lun" references daughters of Lun Lun -- "Lun Lun's elegant and happy daughters."

6. Ya Lun and Xin Lun: Similar in origin to Ya Lun and Xi Lun, with Xin meaning "fragrant."

7. Yang Hai and Yang Gui: Yang is a reference to the twins' father, Yang Yang, and means "ocean." Hai means "sea." Gui has many meanings, including "laurel."
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the holding of long-delayed presidential elections in Haiti on Sunday, stressing that the process "is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum" in the small island country and urged all the parties involved "to show statesmanship at this critical time for the country."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here that the secretary-general also welcomed the role of Haitian institutions in ensuring an environment conductive to the holding of the polls.

"He salutes the people of Haiti for having peacefully expressed their democratic right to vote," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "He commends the Haitian institutions, in particular the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the Haitian National Police, for their leadership and professionalism during and in the lead up to the polls."

More than six million Haitians were eligible to vote in Sunday's general elections, after months of delay and a devastating hurricane that added to the country's woes. Voting went generally smoothly, though some incidents were reported, including 18 arrests, reports of fraud, and the seizure of several vehicles and a few weapons

The secretary-general stressed that the electoral process is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum in Haiti and urged all parties involved, in particular presidential candidates and political party leaders, to show the utmost statesmanship at this critical time for the country.

Ban calls on them to reject and discourage all forms of violence and intimidation and place the national interest above any other consideration. He urges all actors to await the results proclaimed by the CEP and only use legal channels for any eventual challenges, the spokesman said, adding that the UN chief also reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations.

On Feb. 14, 2016, the Haitian National Assembly elected Jocelerme Privert as the island nation's interim President, one week after former President Michel Martelly departed without a successor. Mr. Privert served as interim President for 120 days, and an election had been scheduled for 24 April, following an agreement -- known as the Feb. 5 Agreement -- between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.

The CEP further postponed the long-delayed elections in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, pending completion of an assessment of the impact on the electoral process. Prior to the disruption caused by the storm, which made landfall on 4 October, technical preparations had largely been on track for the holding of the polls.

Haiti has consistently failed to meet its electoral timetable and is officially without a head of state. The president of the National Assembly, Jocelerme Privert, has served as Haiti's provisional president.

Political instability has roiled Haiti since its first democratically-elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted by a U.S.-backed coup in 2004.
A man carrying blankets walks in the Khazir Camp for Internal Displaced Person, about 30 km east of Mosul in northern Iraq, on Nov. 21, 2016. After one month of military operations to retake Iraq's Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), almost 60,000 people have been registered as displaced and this number went up every day, a UN spokesman said here on Nov. 18. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that as of Sunday, the United Nations has registered more than 68,500 people as displaced by the military operations to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Monday.

This is a jump from nearly 60,000 people just three days earlier, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

"A health assessment carried out in Zelikan Camp, northeast of Mosul, showed the urgent and widespread need for psychosocial assistance among displaced families, with nearly three-quarters of those interviewed expressing a strong level of distress," Dujarric said.

On Nov. 14-20, psychosocial support has been provided to more than 1,000 women and more than 160 men affected by the Mosul conflict, he said.

Nearly 1,200 boys and nearly 1,100 girls received psychological first aid in child-friendly spaces, the spokesman added.

Humanitarian partners are also seeking funding for the 2016 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan, which was launched in January. The plan requests 861 million U.S. dollars to support 7.3 million vulnerable Iraqis across the country.

To date, 69 percent of this requirement has been received, Haq said.

On Oct. 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, announced the start of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city, in a bid to liberate the northern Iraqi city, the last major Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Iraq.

Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
PRAGUE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of cars produced in the Czech Republic is 1.11 million in the first ten months this year, up six percent year-on-year, figures released by the Czech Automobile Industry Association (CIA) showed on Monday.

Skoda increased its production by nearly nine percent to 631,436 cars, Hyundai Motor up roughly two percent to 286,800 cars and TPCA Kolin up two percent to 191,688 cars.

Following the excellent performance of the first three quarters of this year, there was sign of a slowdown in motor vehicle production in October, said Jan Vejmelek, chief economist with Czech Commercial Bank. He said this is a result of lower demand from abroad.

The CIA expects a record number of car to be produced during the whole year of 2016.
BUDAPEST, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Budapest's Mucsarnok art gallery marked its 120th anniversary on Monday with the opening of an exhibition entitled "The First Golden Age" that presents works from the five countries that made up the historical Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Focusing on the final 30 years of the 19th century, it is offering nearly 200 works by the artists of the times including Hungary's Mihaly Munkacsy, Austria's Hans Makart, Poland's Jan Matejko, Moravia's (Czech) Alfons Mucha, and Croatia's Oton Ivekovic.

Art historian Ilona Sarmany-Parsons, curator of the exhibition, said the presentation was designed as a visual symphony in four movements, the first of which focuses on Makart, Matejko, and Munkacsy as the three giants of historical themes, whose combined works represented the monarchy at the Paris World's Fair of 1878.

The second movement shows historicism together with realism and covers the 1880s, followed by the psychological twists of the final decade of the 19th century, introducing audiences to the Croatian, Bohemian and Moravian (Czech), Polish, Hungarian, and Austrian artists of the time.

The final movement, said Sarmany-Parsons, was a loss of illusion, and was marked by more talented artists than the number that domestic markets could absorb. Some artists continued portraying reality, while others chose the decorative arts, specifically art nouveau.

The exhibition will remain open until March 12, 2017, and also offers insights into contemporary Hungarian art with these paintings being shown in a separate presentation in the adjoining rooms.
GENEVA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A report released Monday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) raised concern over the economic cost of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians, saying that without occupation the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory could easily produce twice the gross domestic product it produces now.

According to the report, more than 61 percent of West Bank land is under the control of Israel and inaccessible to Palestinian producers, while in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are denied access to half of the cultivable area and 85 percent of their fishery resources.

Meanwhile, more than 2.5 million productive trees have been uprooted since 1967.

The government and Palestinian farmers are prohibited from maintaining or constructing water wells, while the occupying power has been extracting water above the level determined by article 40 of appendix I of the Oslo II Accord, signed on Sept. 28, 1995, thus confiscating Palestinian groundwater, the report said.

The report pointed out that since the onset of occupation in 1967, the Palestinian people have never enjoyed sovereign control of their economy, natural resources or territory.

The report also highlighted the impact of the repeated Israeli military operations in Gaza, saying that the direct damage inflicted by three Israeli military operations, between 2008 and 2014, is estimated as at least three times the size of annual production of Gaza's local economy.

The report, to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in the last week this month, recommended the UN General Assembly establish a systematic, comprehensive and sustainable framework to assess the economic costs and consequences of evolving measures taken by the occupying power.
Father and son robbed at gunpoint

Seeram opened the drawer of his cash register and quietly handed over $4,000 to the gunman who moments before had grabbed him by his jersey and dragged him in front the machine. Seerams son, Narindranath, 35, was also relieved on his gold chain valued $10,000, a gold ring valued $500 and a wallet with his ID and drivers permit. A police report stated that at 5.10 pm on Friday, the father and son of Dow Village, California, were at their business place Natco Hardware located at Southern Main Road, California when two men, one armed with a gun, entered and announced a hold-up. The bandits later escaped in a silver-grey Nissan Tiida car. Investigations are continuing.
Ex-Minister Howai weighs in on FATCA

I always understood there was flexibility on both sides, in terms of being able to go forward. I think where we may have fallen down a bit is that some of what was taking place may not have been communicated to the banks. So they (banks) were of the view that perhaps nothing was going on when, in fact, sometimes we might be waiting on the US or the US perhaps might be waiting on us. Howai was responding to Newsday queries about the concern expressed by major business groups and the Bankers Association of TT (BATT) earlier this year about the possible dire implications of TT missing the then September 30, 2016 deadline. Asked why there were delays under the Peoples Partnership (PP) administration and what he thought might have been behind delays after the Peoples National Movement (PNM) came into office, Howai said one reason may have been the time it takes for the TT Government/ US Treasury to review and respond to proposed changes by the other party.

We (PP) had been in constant contact with the US Treasury.

In fact, there were times when we were waiting on the US Treasury to come back to us because, remember, the US Treasury itself is dealing with countries throughout the world. So sometimes we would make changes and send it back and they may take a month or two to actually come back with a change. Howai made it clear though that he could not speak to any such communication delays under the PNM.

I dont know where the delays may have occurred in the last year or so; whether it was on their side or our side, but I do know that the US had always signalled and had always shown a willingness to work with us. Understanding there were issues that needed to be addressed, understanding that things needed to be done. From their perspective, there were other countries which were more important to them, some of the larger countries where the amounts (US dollar transactions) involved wouldve been much more significant than for smaller economies like TT. Howai was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Scotia Wealth Management event on Wednesday evening; featuring Scotiabanks Chief Investment Officer, Nick Chamie. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, a United States (US) Federal Law which came into effect on July 1, 2014, was designed to tackle offshore tax evasion by US citizens with non-US financial accounts.

Local FATCA compliance; via the Tax Enforcement Exchange Bill 2016, would allow financial institutions in this country to inform the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), via the TT Board of Inland Revenue, about accounts held by their US clients.

TT was initially given a deadline of September 30, 2015 by which to become compliant. This was extended by a year, following a request from the then newly- installed Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, who said he needed the extra time put things in place to ensure FATCA compliance.

Six weeks prior to the new deadline of September 20, 2016, Imbert and US Ambassador, John Estrada, signed a Model IA Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

The objective of this IGA is to improve international tax compliance through mutual assistance in tax matters based on an effective infrastructure for the automatic exchange of information.

The IGA also helps to facilitate the implementation of FATCA. However, as was widely reported in the weeks leading up to September 30, 2016, the Oppositions refusal to support passage of the Tax Enforcement Exchange Bill 2016 meant TT was not able to meet the revised deadline.
LGE on Tobagos mind

The THA was dissolved one week ago to make way for the elections which Chief Secretary Orville London said will be held between January 11 and February 11, 2017. Though he gave no date, London said he is expected to meet with both President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley after which the exact date of the election will be announced.

Three of the islands political entities have to date confirmed their participation in the race which will bring a new Chief Secretary to the Assembly dependent on whichever party wins the most number of seats. Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), Watson Duke has themed his campaign, Rumble in the Jungle. There is a massive launch at Speyside on Saturday (yesterday) and next week, we would head to Bethel to launch our Bethel/ Mt Irvine candidate. The PDP intends to launch our candidates going forward in grand, fine style because we consider our candidates to be among Tobagos finest and so coming forth there would be a new breed of candidates that will create a new dispensation of Governance within the Tobago House of Assembly for the Tobago People, he said.

To date, the PDP has announced five of its candidates. Chairman of the Tobago Forwards Hewlett Waldron said 15 nominees were screened and it was no easy task.

It was not as easy. We have selected our candidates and are gearing up for the elections, we have a variation of candidates young, old, grassroots, all levels so we made sure that we selected the right candidates for the right purpose. All the candidates are expected to be introduced on Sunday (today) at the Tobago Forwards Office in Scarborough.

We have the strongest team of all but we are not about show business, we are about serious business, we are strategic, settled and organised, he said.

The Tobago Forwards has announced four candidates to date.

Meanwhile, the Peoples National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council chairman Stanford Callender said 23 persons have filed nomination papers and are expected to be screened in the upcoming week.

Our nomination exercise ended on Tuesday 8th November and in total we have 23 nominees for the 12 electoral districts that are to be contested in Tobago. The exercise went smoothly and the next stage of that critical exercise is the screening of those 23 nominees to determine who represents the PNM in each of the 12 electoral districts, he said.
Happy sex life ensures super oral health

Australia,Lifestyle/Fashion,Health/Medicine, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

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Sydney, Nov 21 (IANS) If you are not happy with your bedroom life, check your dental hygiene. Teeth stand witness to your happy love life, says a study, suggesting that individuals who are in a trusting, secure and loving relationship may have good oral health compared to those in a bad one.

People in love paid extra attention to their appearance, including dental health. "We were surprised how greatly romantic relationships really did play a big part," Grace Branjerdporn from University of Queensland in Australia, was quoted as saying to abc.net.au.

Those who were emotionally detached from their partners appeared reluctant to schedule regular preventative dental appointments, the researchers said.

"The study discovered that those who try to avoid emotional intimacy, or are worried their partner would leave in times of need, were more likely to have negative oral health," Branjerdporn added.

"They also have higher levels of self-reliance, distrust others and avoid seeking support," she said.

"On the brighter side, those in a love life, who trust the other person and have higher self-worth lead to better dentist visiting habits," Branjerdporn observed.

For the study, published in the journal of Quality of Life Research, the team analysed a group of 265 people, mainly in their early 30s with healthy lifestyles.

--IANS

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Rahul talks to people in ATM queue

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited an ATM here and interacted with people standing in a queue to draw cash.

Gandhi's visit to the ATM in Jahangirpuri area took everyone by surprise.

The Congress said Gandhi asked those in the queue about the difficulties they were facing since the government demonetised the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8.

The demonetisation has triggered a cash chaos across the country, with hundreds of thousands queuing up outside banks and ATMs to withdraw money or deposit or exchange the old currency.

--IANS

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Turkish jets destroys 17 IS targets in northern Syria

Turkey,National,Terrorism, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Ankara, Nov 21 (IANS) Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation.

Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack, Xinhua quoted Anadolu Agency as saying.

Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day.

The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey's border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources.

On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.

--IANS

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Blaze destroys over dozen houses in Srinagar

Jammu And Kashmir,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Srinagar, Nov 21 (IANS) A massive fire which erupted early on Monday destroyed over a dozen houses in the Kashmir Valley.

Police said flames from one house in Buchwara in Dalgate area of Srinagar quickly spread to neighbouring houses in the densely populated area.

Seven fire tenders battled the flames, adding that timely evacuation from the burning houses saved lives.

--IANS

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Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha was on Monday adjourned till 2 p.m., in the fourth adjournment since morning, amid pandemonium by the opposition over demonetisation.

As the house met at 12.30 p.m. after three adjournments, the opposition again started creating ruckus. To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the opposition was not able to gauge the mood of the nation which was in favour of the demonetisation move.

The opposition MPs, who were on their feet, protested loudly to the minister's observation.

They kept demanding obituary reference for the deaths of people due to standing in queues outside ATMs or banks since the government's November 8 demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.

House Chair Hamid Ansari pleaded with the agitated members to calm down, but they kept on shouting. The chair adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

In the morning, the session began with condolences being paid for the deaths in the Kanpur train derailment on Sunday.

Immediately after, opposition members sought a similar reference for the deaths of people caused by standing in queues outside ATMs since the government's demonetisation move.

"If there can be condolences for the deaths caused in a train accident then why not for the people who died standing in the queue outside ATMs after the demonetisation," asked the CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury.

In the midst of continuous uproar, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the house till 12.30 p.m.

--IANS

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Fire breaks out Bengal government hospital

West Bengal,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Nov 21 (IANS) A fire broke out in West Bengal's largest state-run hospital here on Monday, officials said.

However, there were no casualties or injury at the SSKM Hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed.

"The fire is under control. All patients are safe. Some patients were shifted. Nobody was injured," said Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital.

There was panic as smoke billowed out from the top floor library of the Ronald Ross building.

The plastic surgery department complex and male and female wards are located a floor below the library, where the blaze occurred.

Sixteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was under control now, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sovan Chatterjee said.

The Chief Minister said an investigation has been ordered.

"The library caught fire. The cause of the fire will be probed by the fire department, police and the health department," Banerjee announced and assured the panicked relatives of patients that there was nothing to worry about.

"The government has decided to set up a permanent fire station in the hospital premises. An office and two fire tenders will be stationed from tomorrow (Tuesday)."

This is the third fire in a West Bengal government hospital over the past three months.

On August 20, fire broke out in the operation theatre of Katwa sub-divisional hospital in Burdwan district. No injuries or casualties was reported.

Only a week later, two women died and seven patients were injured in a stampede after a blaze engulfed a part of the state-run Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur.

--IANS

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AAP to 'gherao' Parliament on demonetisation

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) The AAP will on Tuesday 'gherao' Parliament to protest against demonetisation which it said was in reality meant to help corporate houses and not unearth black money.

"We will march to Parliament and 'gherao' it under (Deputy Chief Minister) Manish Sisodia's leadership," Aam Aadmi Party leaders Ashish Khetan and Dilip Pandey told the media here.

The AAP also said that demonetisation would be one of its major election planks in the states it contests upcoming assembly elections.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will also address three public rallies in Meerut, Lucknow and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on the issue of demonetisation starting from December 1.

"This is a Rs 8 lakh crore scam. This is actually meant to benefit corporate houses and not to unearth black money," Khetan said. "Kejriwal has already spoken on this in detail."

Khetan quoted former RBI Deputy Governor K.C. Chakravarty as saying that the RBI had earlier rejected a similar demonetisation proposal on the plea that black money was chiefly kept in foreign banks and invested in land, gold and property and not stacked in cash.

The government on November 8 demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, triggering a cash chaos in the country.

--IANS

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IAF jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow Expressway on its opening

Uttar Pradesh,National,Business/Economy,Defence/Security, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 21 (IANS) In a first of its kind, Indian Air Force fighter jets touched down on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Monday in Uttar Pradesh as part of the grand opening of India's longest expressway.

The six-lane 302-km long expressway connecting the city of Taj Mahal with state capital Lucknow was inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Four Sukhoi jets from Bareilly and four Mirage 2000s from Gwalior performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe.

A pet project of the Chief Minister, the Expressway has been constructed by the

Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh thanked the IAF for the grand show and said the expressway will be opened for public soon.

According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the expressway will help cut down the time between Agra and Lucknow to just 3.5 hours, from the current seven hours.

The expressway is also expected the reduce the road travel time between Delhi and Lucknow to between 5 to 6 hours.

An official connected with the project said the Expressway is fully equipped with advanced traffic management systems that take care of foggy conditions too.

The state government claimed the Expressway had created a national record of laying a 302 greenfield expressway in just 23 months. The six lanes can be later expanded to eight.

Eight bridges on Ganges and Yamuna, four railway overbridges and provision of 3.3 km runway for landing of Indian Air Force fighter planes are unique features of the project.

The journey time between Agra and Lucknow has been reduced from 8 to 9 hours to just 4 to 5 hours now. The road joins the Yamuna Expressway in Agra.

Agra citizens rejoiced on the opening of the six-lane Expressway, that the state government has claimed will bring Taj Ganj nearer to Hazrat Ganj.

A few stretches of the mega project are still to be completed but the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was keen to present a birthday gift to his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose birthday is being celebrated by party workers on Monday.

The formal opening ceremony was held at Khamboli, near RS Chauraha Bangarmau in Unnao district.

A few days ago the CEO of the project Navneet Sehgal was seriously injured alongwith a journalist and some staffers, when he visited the site. Sehgal is in Medanta Hospital presently.

The new expressway did not face many legal hassles like the Mayawati project, Yamuna Expressway, as land was purchased from 30,000 farmers under amicable agreements and market terms, an official said.

--IANS

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Lok Sabha adjourned for day after repeated ruckus over demonetisation(Lead)

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha on Monday over the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House twice in the pre-noon session and then finally for the day.

Soon after the House met at 2 p.m. after two adjournments, the Congress members rushed towards the Speaker's podium demanding a discussion on the demonetisation issue. The Congress members were seen asking the chair to allow their leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak.

But Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, when the House met in the morning, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was joined by the entire House in condoling the deaths in Sunday's train tragedy near Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh.

Soon after, Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Sudip Bandopadhyay urged the Speaker to allow an adjournment motion for discussion on the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes, announced by the government on November 8 -- but she did not allow it.

The TMC and Congress members then rushed towards the Speaker's podium and began shouting slogans against the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar requested the agitated members to allow the House to run, but they did not relent.

Kumar said the government is ready for debate on any issue, including the "inconveniences" caused to the people due to the recent demonetisation move of the government.

"Let there be a debate. We in the government are ready to reply to all your queries," Kumar told the slogan-shouting members.

He also said that the "people are in favour" of the government's decision to ban high-denomination currency notes and firm against black money.

The Speaker also urged the agitating members to allow the Question Hour to proceed.

But the Congress and TMC members continued with their protest.

Speaker Mahajan then said: "If you want yourself to be seen on TV, I will ask Lok Sabha TV to do so. People of the country will also see you."

Mahajan's remarks were sharply countered by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

"We are not born to be seen on TV. The situation is worrisome. People are dying. We are not shying away from discussion. In fact, the Prime Minister is shying away from discussion," Kharge said.

However, the Speaker continued with Question Hour amid the ruckus.

As the Question Hour was going on, Opposition members shouted slogans like "Gali Gali me shor hai, Modi sarkar chor hai" (people are saying the Modi government is corrupt), and "Kisan mar raha hai aur Modi sarkar so rahi hai" (farmers are dying and Modi government is sleeping).

The TMC members were holding black placards with "Economic Emergency" written on them.

The Speaker initially adjourned the House for 10 minutes till noon.

When the House reassembled at noon, the TMC members again rushed towards the Speaker's podium and re-started shouting slogans.

Amid the ruckus, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu read out a statement on Sunday's train derailment near Kanpur.

"You are not even ready to hear a statement on the train accident," Mahajan remarked and adjourned the House till 2 p.m.

--IANS

bns/nir/dg
Everester Pradeep Sahoo dead

West Bengal,National,Human Interest/Society, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Nov 21 (IANS) Ace mountaineer and Everester Pradeep Sahoo died in Zimbabwe capital Harare following a severe heart attack, sources said on Monday.

Sahoo, 50, a popular face in the city's mountaineering circle, breathed his last on Sunday. He had gone to Harare for some personal work.

The mountaineer from Tollygunge in Kolkata scaled Mount Everest along with his wife Chetana in May this year on their third attempt.

Sahoo, the director of a mining company, had been climbing for years with his wife and started training for Mount Everest five years ago.

The sudden demise of the Everester, who was to be honoured with the Radhanath Shikdhar award by the West Bengal government later this month for his achievement, led to a mood of despondency among the mountaineering fraternity.

"I am shocked to hear that Pradeep da is not among us anymore. He was a brilliant mountaineer and a great man. It's sad that he could not enjoy his success of reaching the highest peak in the world for a longer period," said Everester Debasish Biswas, who accompanied Sahoo during his last trip to Mount Everest.

--IANS

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'Russia not hiding athletes from doping control'

United Kingdom,Sports,Other Sports, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Glasgow, Nov 21 (IANS) The head of Russia's Independent Public Anti-Doping Commission Vitaly Smirnov has ruled out the authorities' hand in the reported inability of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to probe for doping some Russian athletes.

During a meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board Meeting here on Sunday, some participants at the event said doping officers could not get access to some Russian athletes to take samples, reports Sputnik.

"The roadmap exists, we have received it, and here we are full of optimism, there are several questions there, addressed to us traditionally, and one of them is about closed cities," Smirnov said.

"I can understand the nature of suspicion, as there is a certain misunderstanding what such cities in our country are about, or in any other country, including on the North American continent."

"They claim we are hiding our athletes there. This is not true," he added.

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is not accredited by WADA now, and thus cannot be working. Smirnov's commission seeks restoration of the rights of the Russian agency.

Smirnov said he had a long meeting with the head of WADA's independent commission.

"Recently, I have had a long meeting with Professor (Richard) McLaren," he said during WADA's Executive Committee Meeting on Sunday.

"Our commission also works with IOC commissions heads Messers Denis Oswald and (Guy) Canivet. We are working hard on raising effectiveness of fighting doping in our country, and the key approach, which I shall never ignore, is the zero tolerance to any doping in sports. We wish the changes in the Russian society were even slightly more prompt."

"But, at the same time, with the objective of having practically ideal system in Russia, we believe, similar approaches to fighting doping should be recognised across the world," Smirnov added.

--IANS

sam/dg
Only 15% of Indian family businesses have succession plan: Survey

Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) While three-quarters of Indian family businesses have grown in the past one year, barely 15 per cent of them have a robust succession plan, according to a survey report released on Monday.

The study -- 2016 India Family Business Survey Report -- released by PricewaterhouseCoopers, showed that 84 per cent of Indian family businesses expect to grow either steadily or quickly and aggressively over the next five years.

"Of those looking at an annual growth of over 10 per cent over the next five years, about 96 per cent said that the growth of core business in existing markets would enable them to reach their targets," the report said.

According to the survey, over half of the family businesses surveyed said they were looking to expand into new sectors or new countries and would consider inorganic growth.

"Indian family businesses are very optimistic about their future, which is clearly demonstrated by the heightened entrepreneurial activity being witnessed in the country.

"Strategic planning in both dimensions of a family business -- the family and the business -- will go a long way in enabling family business leaders to achieve their goals," said Praveen Bhambani, Partner and Leader, Private and Entrepreneurial Business, PwC India.

The consulting firm spoke to 2,802 family business leaders across 50 countries and with 102 family business leaders in India.

The report said that the participants in the survey felt that the key challenges their business would face in the next five years were the need to innovate, keeping pace with the digital and technological development, attracting and retaining talent, competition, need to professionalise the business and regulatory compliances.

It pointed out that the priorities of family businesses for the next five years were "not quite in line" with the challenges anticipated.

Innovation, which is considered the biggest challenge, comes fourth in business priorities -- maybe because the need to innovate is linked with revenue growth at the enterprise level.

Digital comes second, yet only 22 per cent of the family businesses feel their business is vulnerable to digitisation, the report added.

--IANS

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Gunmen loot Rs 12 lakh from Kashmir bank

Jammu And Kashmir,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Srinagar, Nov 21 (IANS) Gunmen on Monday looted Rs 12 lakh from a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch in the central district of Badgam.

Police said four gunmen entered the Malpora branch and made away with the money. "A manhunt has been launched to nab them," a police officer said here.

--IANS

sq/mr/sar
Cordial ties with neighbours not at cost of national security: Parrikar

Maharashtra,National,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Defence/Security, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Nov 21 (IANS) Amid growing tensions with Pakistan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said while good relations with neighbouring countries are always welcome, it cannot be at the cost of national security.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made efforts to maintain relations with the neigbouring country and the people criticized him for it. We would welcome good relations with any neighbours and being friendly helps, but it cannot be at the cost of national security," Parrikar said.

He said the Indian Army does not initiate any action on the Line of Control unless provoked from across the borders, referring to the continuous violation of ceasefire by Pakistan.

Referring to Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chauhan of Maharashtra, who inadvertently cross the LoC last month, he said standard procedures are being implemented to bring him back and the Pakistan government has assured he is alive and safe.

Earlier, Parrikar commissioned the third indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, INS Chennai into the Indian Navy, marking the completion of the crucial Project 15A.

"This is a historic day for the Indian Navy... It will add new a dimension to our navy's attack capabilities," Parrikar said, lauding the indigenously designed and constructed, Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer built by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.

Present on the occasion was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, top naval officers of the Western Naval Command and other dignitaries.

While INS Kolkata was the first ship in this class commissioned on August 16, 2014, the second was INS Kochi commissioned on September 30 2015.

After commissioning, INS Chennai shall be placed under the operational and administrative control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

It will undergo certain additional sea trials of the ship-borne systems before she will assigned to the Western Fleet and based in Mumbai.

Among the largest destroyers constructed in India, INS Chennai is 164 metres long with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes, and sail at a top speed of over 30 knots (around 55 kms) per hour.

Equipped with formidable prowess of missile technology, the vessel is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 Long Rang Surface-to-Air missiles.

Its undersea warfare capability includes indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar HUMSA-NG, heavyweight torpedo tube launchers, rocket launchers and Towed Arrau Sonar capability.

For defence against enemy missiles, INS Chennai is fitted with 'Kavach' chaff decoy system and for protection from enemy torpedoes, it had 'Mareech' torpedo decoy system, both developed in India.

A potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, the vessel can carry and operate two multi-role helicopters.

INS Chennai is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas propulsion plant consisting of four reversible gas turbines.

Its very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks on board includes ATM-based integrated Ship Data Network, Combat Management Systems, Automatic Power Management System and Auxiliary Control System.

The ship's crest depicts the outline of the iconic Fort St. George of Chennai in the background, a part of the adjacent beach and a sloop on blue and white waves.

The crew of the ship abides by the Sanskrit motto, 'Shatro Sanharaka' meaning Vanquisher of Enemies, epitomizing the warrior spirit and strong resolve to prevail and succeed in combat.

--IANS

qn/rn
Mauritius President underlines key Indian role in global economy

Punjab,National,Diplomacy,Business/Economy,Education, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Jalandhar (Punjab), Nov 21 (IANS) India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region, Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim said here on Monday.

Addressing the 7th Convocation of Lovely Professional University (LPU) here, the Mauritian President urged students from India and Mauritius not to leave for other countries after completing their education here.

"India and Mauritius have so many things in common be it traditions, values or culture. India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region. We should have a kind of education in India and Mauritius under which young and ignited minds of both the countries should not leave for other countries," she said.

The Mauritian President was conferred the honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degree of the university for her work towards advancement of science, technology and in recognition of her services to society.

President Fakim honoured PhDs and toppers of various LPU academic programmes and lauded LPU's emphasis on invention, creativity and development.

During the convocation ceremony, over 15,000 students received post-graduate and graduate degrees and diplomas.

LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal pointed out that Mauritius had become a centre of textiles, tourism and advanced technology.

--IANS

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Amit Shah holds meeting with Jaitley

Delhi,National,Politics, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Monday held a meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here at Parliament House reportedly on demonetisation issue.

What transpired in this half an hour meeting between the two leaders was not immediately clear but sources said the demonetisation issue figured prominently.

Sources said that Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Secretary Shaktikant Das were also present in the meeting.

--IANS

bns/lok/vt
SC orders status quo on Taj Mansingh Hotel

Delhi,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday ordered status quo on Tata group-owned Taj Mansingh Hotel here, disallowing the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) plea that the hotel should not be allowed bookings after this year ends.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for NDMC which owns both the land and the building, told the court that Taj Mansingh has already made bookings till December 31 and it should be restrained from making any further bookings.

Disallowing the plea, the bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said: "Running (of the hotel) can't be stopped."

At another point during the hearing, the court, declining Jain's submission, said: "We know how far we can go, we know how far we can't go."

Fixing January 10 for hearing of the matter, the bench said: "Once for all, the matter has to be decided."

As ASG Jain urged the court to permit it to start eviction proceedings against Taj Mansingh, the court observed that if the civic body could wait for 18 months (since litigation is going on), then they can wait till the matter is decided by the top court.

At this, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the India Hotels Corp Ltd (IHCL), Tatas' hospitality arm, told the bench: "We will walk out of the premises if we lose."

Jain wanted the court to record this statement of Salve but the court did not oblige.

The NDMC contended that by no measure do the Tatas have a vested right to continue to run the hotel even after the expiry of the lease agreement and several extensions given to the hotel.

The IHCL had moved the top court challenging Delhi High Court's October 27 order dismissing its plea against the auctioning of the property by the NDMC.

A division bench of the high court had reiterated the September 25 single judge order dismissing an IHCL suit to renew its licence and upheld the NDMC's decision to auction the property.

The property, owned by NDMC, was given to IHCL on a 33-year lease that had ended in 2011. IHCL has since been managing the property on several extensions it has got from the municipal body.

--IANS

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Make compromises, Chinese scholar tells India, Pakistan

China,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Diplomacy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Beijing, Nov 21 (IANS) A Chinese scholar on Monday urged Pakistan and India to make compromises to ease their strained ties, telling Islamabad that violence won't change the "chaotic situation" in Kashmir.

Writing in the Global Times, Long Xingchun also warned India against isolating Pakistan and trying to weaken its moderate leadership.

The author is the director of the Centre for Indian Studies at China West Normal University.

Referring to the deteriorating India-Pakistan relations, Long said in a commentary that if their leaders had the goodwill to improve ties, "they should put the fanatical nationalism within their countries under control and handle destructive events with a cool head".

The commentary warned that "simply imposing pressure on Pakistan does not help" and referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unending verbal attacks on Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism.

The commentary said Islamabad had weak control over the country.

"Not only can't it control its intelligence organisations, military and local governments, the government has no capability to manage its tribes, religious groups and terrorist forces.

"It is unfair to attribute the (terror) attacks on India to the Pakistani government, because the government would like to solve the discrepancies with India through dialogue.

"Pressing the Pakistani government only puts pressure on the moderate forces within Pakistan and fosters hawkish sentiment toward India.

"Isolating Pakistan will have limited effects," the commentary said. "Isolating Pakistan will only make the country lose face, but have little real impact."

The author added: "A chaotic Pakistan will become a hotbed for extremism, which India will find more difficult to tackle...

"The Pakistani government, military and other groups should realize that armed struggles and terror attacks will not change the chaotic situation of Kashmir, and will leave people in desperation."

The commentary said: "After decades of confrontation, it is time that the two sides make some compromises."

--IANS

mr/soni/rn
Delhi not safe for girls, says DCW chief over minor's murder

Delhi,National,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Monday said the murder and "rape" of a four-year-old girl showed that the national capital was not safe for women and girls.

"Four-year-old girl raped and murdered by a 25-year-old man in Keshav Puram. How low will humanity stoop? Delhi is so unsafe for women and girls," Maliwal tweeted.

She held the system accountable for the girl's murder and said that instead of addressing crime against women, the system was attacking the DCW for working.

"DCW (had been) repeatedly raising women issues since last year. Falling on deaf ears. Instead of stopping rapes, system attacking DCW for working," Maliwal said in a series of tweets.

She added that there was no change in Delhi on women's safety as no committee was working towards it.

"Women and girls (are) ultimate sufferer of mis-coordination between (the) Centre and state. Plead Rajnath Singhji (Union Home Minister) to form high level committee in Delhi."

"MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) disbanded STF, asked LG (Lt Governor) to form committee which hasn't been done," Maliwal said in another tweet.

She added that even Chief Secretary of the Delhi government held no meeting on women's safety since last year.

"System continues to be unaccountable," she added.

The girl who went missing on Sunday night was found murdered on Monday from the railway quarters in Keshav Puram area of north Delhi, police said.

The girl went missing at around 8.30 p.m. when she was playing outside her home near the Britannia factory in a slum area in North West Delhi. She was found dead on Monday around 6 a.m. in Keshav Puram area, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Singh told IANS.

Kamlesh Kumar, uncle of the minor girl, alleged that a tempo driver who is absconding since Sunday, kidnapped her.

--IANS

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French police foil terror attacks, arrest seven

France,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Paris, Nov 21 (IANS) French police have arrested seven men on terrorism charges over the weekend and foiled a planned attack, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Monday.

"The work of the DGSI (Directorate General of Internal Security) made it possible to foil a terrorist action planned for a long time on our soil," Cazeneuve told the media.

The suspects were arrested over the weekend -- two in the southern city of Marseille and the others in Strasbourg in east France, where the country's largest Christmas markets are due to open later this week, Xinhua news agency reported.

Aged between 29 and 37 years, the arrested suspects were from France, Morocco and Afghanistan, according to the minister.

"In spite of the effort we deploy, zero risk can not be guaranteed," Cazeneuve noted.

The French minister said 418 people had been arrested so far as part of anti-terror operations following deadly terror attacks in the country.

--IANS

py/dg
12-year-old girl gives birth in Italy

Italy,Human Interest/Society, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

null

Rome, Nov 21 (IANS/AKI) A 12-year-old girl has given birth to a baby boy in southern Italy whose father is a 13-year-old classmate, the Quotidiano italiano online newspaper reports.

Doctors delivered the 3 kg baby boy last week by Caesarian section in a private clinic in the city of Bari, the paper said.

The children's families are said to be middle-class and decided they wanted to keep the baby.

Children in Italy are having sex younger and younger, the Puglia region's guarantor for minors, said Rosi Paparella, calling the Bari case "an alarm bell".

Paparella blamed the problem of children having children on inadequate sex education in schools and at home, the ready availability of pornography and a lack of parental supervision.

"I believe we urgently need to roll out at national level new courses to remedy education backwardness," said Paparella.

--IANS/AKI

mr/

null
India, China discuss border issue

China,Defence/Security,Diplomacy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Beijing, Nov 21 (IANS) India and China on Monday discussed the vexed border issue as Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh met top officials of the Chinese Army including the PLA commander.

Gen Singh, who is on a four-day China visit, will go to the eastern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army and other establishments of the world's largest military power.

Gen Singh and PLA commander Li Zuocheng discussed a "wide range of issues of mutual interest", said an official of the Indian embassy here.

They agreed to further expand defence exchanges between the two armies, said the official.

Gen Singh also met the Vice Chairman of all-powerful Central Military Commission, General Xu Qiliang.

Both the officials "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful".

Gen Singh invited both Li and Xu to visit India. Both accepted the invite and Li said he hoped to visit India soon.

Gen Singh will also go to Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations and interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the eastern theatre command.

The eastern theatre command is one of the five zones of PLA.

--IANS

gsh/mr/vd
Akshara Haasan to join Ajith's next film

Bulgaria,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood,Southern Cinema, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Sofia, Nov 21 (IANS) Actress Akshara Haasan, who plays an important role in Ajith Kumar-starrer yet-untitled upcoming Tamil spy thriller, will soon join the film's crew in Bulgaria.

"En route Bulgaria," Akshara posted on her Twitter page on Monday.

She shares screen space with Ajith in the film, which marks her Tamil acting debut.

Being directed by Siva, the makers are currently shooting over a month-long schedule in Bulgaria.

"Apart from Bulgaria, they will also be shooting in some exotic locations across Europe. They are currently shooting some important action sequences," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Also starring Kajal Aggarwal and Vivek Oberoi, the film has music by Anirudh Ravichander and is produced by Satya Jyothi Films.

--IANS

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NZ backs fast-tracking of Paris climate deal

United Kingdom,COP 22,Environment/Wildlife, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Wellington, Nov 21 (IANS) New Zealand has signalled its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change by joining an international programme to fast-track the accord, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett said on Monday.

New Zealand had joined countries at the 2016 UN climate change conference, COP22 (the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), in supporting to the Marrakech Proclamation, which highlighted the global momentum on tackling climate change, Xinhua news agency quoted Bennett as saying.

"The COP22 global meeting has reaffirmed New Zealand's absolute commitment to playing our part in the global action to reduce climate change," said Bennett.

"It was also an opportunity to have fruitful discussions on issues important to New Zealand such as how to reduce emissions from agriculture and how to create high integrity international carbon markets," she said in a statement.

"New Zealand has a fair and ambitious target of reducing emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. I have several work streams in place which will help form an effective plan to meet that target."

Climate campaigners and environment groups have criticised the New Zealand government for its lack of a plan to tackle emissions and for encouraging the exploration for fossil fuels in its waters.

New Zealand ratified the Paris Agreement, agreed in December last year, on October 5.

Earlier this month, the opposition Green Party said the government needed to "real evidence" of a plan to reduce New Zealand's emissions, which were up 19 per cent since 2008.

The international campaign group, Greenpeace, has called for a summer of action to highlight the government's "sham plan" on climate change, saying the country was forecast to meet 80 per cent of its target by offsetting emissions in the international carbon market.

--IANS

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How WhatsApp is giving wings of freedom to housewives (Societal Feature)

Delhi,National,Technology,Features,Human Interest/Society, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) A year ago, when 28-year-old Soma Chatterjee Maiti started using mobile messaging app WhatsApp, she did not know that one day the platform would economically empower her.

Living in the small town of Khorda in Bhubaneswar, Maiti is a school teacher and sells suits and sarees via her WhatsApp group during her spare time. She informed her friends about the idea and they helped her get more customers from across the country.

"The group currently comprises 30 people belonging to different cities like Delhi, Bangalore and in West Bengal, among others. Moreover, it's been just six months since I started this business. Every now and then, my friends introduce me to new members to whom my products can be sold," Maiti told IANS.

Creating a group is not where her job ends. Maiti has to make sure that the group remains active, for which she keeps on following up, like asking the members if the package was delivered properly. Besides, she keeps on posting the pictures of her products in the group, so that the sales do not slow down.

"Whatever material I have, I click its pictures and post it in the group. If a person likes a product, she directly contacts me over phone and the deal is taken further," Maiti added.

WhatsApp is a social community tool and these days it is becoming an opportunity for homemakers to earn as well as stand on their feet, while not restricting themselves to just being "homemakers".

Just like Maiti, 30-year-old Pooja Srivastava, who lives in Ghaziabad, has also created a group on WhatsApp called "Bend the Trend". The name suggests breaking the general trend of shopping in the malls or via online portals, through a daily-use app, making the process easier.

"With about four years of using WhatsApp, I thought of starting my own business this year. I was aware that this app is quite popular and has every feature I needed to kick-start my business," Srivastava told IANS.

There are 76 members in the group who hail from various metros of India, along with some belonging to countries like Canada, Singapore and the US. Her group also exists on Facebook which helps her get customers from abroad.

Srivastava sells all sorts of apparel, artificial jewellery, kids wear, fashion accessories, etc., and earns around Rs 30,000 in a month.

Prior to starting her business, Srivastava was an Assistant Professor at the Sun Institute of Management and Technology in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

"I used to teach a few years back and even before that I was an HR professional. However, after getting married, I shifted to Ghaziabad and it was difficult to find a new job here. Thus, I decided to start my own business," she added.

According to Anoop Mishra, a Lucknow-based social media analyst, technology is becoming an enabler for homemakers these days.

"One-touch mobile accessibility of social applications is playing a wider role in making ideas visible and viral. Easy accessibility of technology and cost-effectiveness are encouraging homemakers day by day," Mishra told IANS in an email interview.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes like "Make in India" and "Skill India" getting a push, Mishra thinks that these homemakers-turning-entrepreneurs can be recognised if they are good enough at their work.

"To make their story bigger, they would have to be exceptionally different and must go beyond the limits," he asserted.

Yashmalika Singh, a resident of Delhi, has also been using WhatsApp for quite some time. She has a paying guest house (Ashirwaad PG) for girls in Dwarka and whoever lives there, she easily connects with them through this app.

"Whenever she has to inform or ask something, she would send a text in the group she has created on WhatsApp, instead of calling the person individually," informs Riya Singh, who lives there.

It's true that technology is evolving every day and with its evolution, people are also looking for possibilities to make their lives better.

In an era where we talk of gender equality, a tool like WhatsApp is helping these homemakers attain their own identity and freedom.

(Akanki Sharma can be contacted at akanki.s@ians.in)

--IANS

akn/vm/tb/sac
JNU hold 'Open Day' for school students

Delhi,National,Education, Tue, 22 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) An Open Day for school students was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday to give them exposure to the research being conducted at the varsity and to encourage them towards different career options available in humanities and sciences there.

A total of 800 students from several schools in Delhi-NCR attended the day and visited 16 pavilions and schools at the University during it.

Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar, in his address to the students, emphasised that one of the responsibilities of JNU as a public institution is to inspire the young minds to building their career and also be connected to the larger social realities, said a statement issued by the varsity.

"Children were enthralled with the wide range of exhibits, ranging from a live demonstration of an insect-eating plant from northeast India, to understanding how to convert vibrations to energy, measure air pollution and learn new languages, " it said.

A film on JNU was shown to the students, followed by three parallel sessions on Mind Mapping and basic introduction to Indian sign languages.

Besides that, an animation film on Panchantantra and a documentary from School of Languages were also shown to the students, who were later taken to different stalls and school buildings.

Chief guest, V. Ramagopal Rao, Director of IIT-Delhi also addressed the students and emphasised on the need to be inquisitive and to raise question than provide answers.

--IANS

vn/vd
Amul to pay milk producers through bank

Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Tue, 22 Nov 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) Amul Chairman Jethabhai Patel on Monday said that the group will credit payments to its milk producers directly through the bank.

"In view of the demonetisation of currency notes by central government, we have made necessary arrangement to pay milk producer members for their milk price through direct credit in their bank account," Patel said in a statement.

He also said that they were in the process of opening bank accounts for milk producers who do not have these yet.

"We have been stressing for the need to go for cashless transactions for the last couple of years. We have asked all our dairy unions to help farmers open their bank accounts in the next couple of months," said Patel.

Around 60 per cent of the milk producers of Amul have bank accounts.

Gujrat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF) 'Amul' and its 18 associated milk unions are paying around Rs 450 crore on weekly basis to 36 lakhs milk producers through 18,500 milk cooperatives in Gujarat.

Patel also said that due to demonetisation of currency notes and restriction by RBI on District Cooperative Banks, rural milk producers are facing shortage of cash, but there has been no impact on milk procurement and sale of milk in the market.

"In fact, milk procurement of member unions of GCMMF has increased," he said, according to the release.

--IANS

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With bandwidth increasingly at a premium, and mostly worldwide, it's not surprising to see some areas starting to chafe even under 4G LTE (News - Alert)'s limitations, and looking to new technologies to help relieve the strain. Since 5G is still over three years away, intermediary technologies are starting to take hold, and Vodafone Zambia recently enlisted Airspan (News - Alert) Networks to help take some of the strain off its own network operations with LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems.





With the new arrangement, Airspan has effectively deployed LTE-A systemsboth indoor and outdoorfor Vodafone (News - Alert) Zambia. Now, customers have access to 4G data services under the Vodafone Zambia brand, and some pretty impressive services at that. The new development, at last report, represents the first such system to call on Band 40 2.3 GHz time-division duplex (TDD) in Africa, bringing together both LTE and Wi-Fi indoor systems in one.

Airspan brought out both its AirHarmony system for outdoor use and its AirVelocity system for indoor, allowing a full, flexible access system that can comfortably go where Vodafone Zambia's customers need to be. Since AirVelocity is both an LTE-A and Wi-Fi small cell, it works well to provide indoor access despite the potential problems such can have with indoor signal blocking. The AirHarmony, meanwhile, offers the complete outdoor micro layer necessary to offer a complete heterogeneous LTE-A deployment.

Vodafone Zambia CEO Lars Stork commented, Our vision is to provide superior LTE systems in Zambia that will offer high-quality internet connectivity in order to bridge the digital divide, which is critical to the growth and empowerment of people not only in Zambia but across the African continent  We chose Airspan because they demonstrated the ability to quickly deliver LTE solutions at an attractive price/coverage/performance ratio.

Even in Zambia, bandwidth is at a premium, and given that mobile devices are increasingly the weapon of choice when it comes to connectivity in developing nations, augmenting the LTE pathways is a development that will likely pay off in the end. Using Airspan to provide the necessary infrastructure, meanwhile, allows for a single-source vendor option to cover both indoor and outdoor operations and deliver an excellent customer experience. This is a maneuver that should prove as positive for Vodafone Zambia as it does for its customers, and both have Airspan to thank for it in the end.

Connectivity is valuable everywhere, and the more of it a region gets, the more of it the inhabitants tend to want. Keeping up with that demand can be difficult, but those who fail to do so will likely fall behind to those who can.
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Spanish security forces over the week-end arrested in Madrid and near Barcelona two Moroccans operating as recruiters for the Islamic State group (IS), reports say.

The two men operating in separate cells were nabbed in Madrid and at Roda de Ter near Barcelona on Saturday, the interior ministry announced.

The IS militants according to the ministry were very active on social media where they indulged in propaganda actives of the terrorist group as well as indoctrination of young Muslims who will swell ranks of the terrorist group.

The men, the interior ministry noted had the two key objectives  first is to recruit young Muslims to form an army of clandestine militants who will be completely immersed in the culture of their host country. The second objective is to promote military victories and achievements of the terrorist group.

The militant arrested near Barcelona according to the Spanish news agency EFE has been living in Spain for seven years. He travels very year to Morocco. He has been described as a good man.

The mens radicalisation process according to Spanish authorities was quick. They were isolated from society and were only in touch with the outside world through social media. They see themselves as IS martyrs and were eager to take actions at any time and wherever possible, the ministry further noted.

More than 60 terrorists (majority whom Moroccans) have been arrested this year, the ministry pointed out.

163 jihadists have been arrested since 2015. Spain since Madrid attacks 2004 and following Paris and Brussels attacks last year and this year have launched a crusade against terrorists.
The Tunisian wife of Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been arrested along with another Tunisian woman in East Libya, reports say.

Anti-terrorism authorities of Libyan rival government based in the Eastern city of Beida announced the arrest of the women along with their driver.

The two women according to Libyan sources were heading to South of Libya to meet the terrorist who has been into hiding.

Security Libyan forces also told media sources the women whose identities have been kept secret were ambushed in the desert town of Mechili following tip-off.

The head of Al Qaeda in Maghreb (AQIM) according to Libya Herald has been using southern Libya as a base on numerous occasions. The Algerian terrorist also known as the One-Eyed is reported target of the air raid on Gurdah Al-Shatti in Libya several days ago. He escaped the raid which claimed lives of several fellows.

Belmokhtar soared to public eye in 2013 after taking hostage Algerias In Amenas gas facility. 40 people mostly foreign workers lost their lives.
King Mohammed VI and President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina, chaired Monday in Antananarivo, the signing ceremony of twenty-two bilateral cooperation agreements.

The deals, which cover several socioeconomic sectors including the political, cultural, commercial, diplomatic and educational fields, seek to enhance partnership between the two countries within the frame of the South-South cooperation and co-development.

Earlier, the Moroccan Sovereign held at the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo, tete-a-tete talks with Mr. Rajaonarimampianina who decorated the Monarch with the highest honorary distinction, a token of the high esteem and appreciation for the royal actions made for the sake of Africa.

For his part, King Mohammed VI decorated the Malagasy President with Al Wissam Al Mohammadi, the Kingdoms highest distinction. The Moroccan Sovereign arrived on Saturday in Antananarivo for an official visit to Madagascar, 2nd leg of a new African tour that led the Sovereign to Ethiopia and will take him to other African countries.

Madagascars Foreign minister Attalah Beatrice said the Malagasy people are honored by the royal visit, recalling the special historic ties existing between Morocco and Madagascar which welcomed late King Mohammed V during his forced exile by the French colonizer in 1954.

During his stay in Madagascar, King Mohammed VI will visit the city of Antsirabe where his late grandfather and the Royal family were exiled by French authorities in 1954.

The Moroccan Sovereign will also lay the foundations of a hospital as well as a vocational training center that can accommodate thousand beneficiaries, the Malagasy presidency said in a statement.

During the visit, the King, along with 34 other Heads of state, will attend the 16th summit of the Francophonie due Nov. 22-27 in Antananarivo.
Tunisians and victims families of March 2015 Bardo attacks of Tunis can begin to see the light at the end tunnel as French ambassador Friday announced trial of the culprits can commence in the first half next year after judge in charge of investigations wrapped up the process.

Three gunmen reportedly Islamic State group (IS) commandos massacred on March 18 at the Bardo Museum in Tunis 24 people among whom 22 foreign tourists.

More than 1 year and half later, the judge in charge of investigations announced Friday November 18 end of the process. The findings have been handed over the countrys justice to decide.

French ambassador to Tunis Olivier Poivre dArvor following closely the process argued that the trial can begin in the first half of 2017, Jeune Afrique reports.

Indictments will ensue and the Tunisian justice guarantees that the trail can begin in the first half of 2017, Poivre dArvor noted.

4 French tourists died in the attacks. If the French diplomat hails the investigations process and expressed his confidence in the Tunisia justice, some victims families have expressed some misgivings claiming that the probe failed to shed light on some aspects.

We are expecting a maximum of information as far as the trial is concerned, to know how it occurred and as the duty of memory continues, may all the people work hand in hand to stamp out attacks, said Anne-Sophie to Christophe Tinois, a French casualty.

Samia Maktouf, lawyer of the French victims notes that many questions remain unanswered. Families cannot bury their love ones if questions are still unaddressed, Maktouf further stressed.

Some victims families have rejected President Caid Essebsis invitation to attend a ceremony at the Museum on Friday. The Tunisian President inaugurated an exposition highlighting joint point of the three monotheist religions as well as the rites and traditions of countries sharing the Mediterranean.

Tunisia since 2011 revolution has been facing a surge in terrorism and radicalism. Two other attacks also claimed by IS killed 50 other people same year in Tunis and at the resort city of Sousse.
The 13 anti-slavery activists from the slavery abolitionist movement (known by its acronym IRA) have been seen their prison sentences reduced after an appeal court revisited their cases, reports say.

Zouerate court of appeal Friday November 17 overturned the 20 years in prison pronounced against the activists on Wednesday November 16. The court in a new ruling discharged three of accused while handing four-month prison sentences seven others. They should be freed after spending equal period in prison.

Two of the remaining three have been condemned to three years. The third has been handed six month-prison sentence, Jeune Afrique reports.

The 13 activists were arrested end June for sparking anti-police riots in a neighbourhood of capital Nouakchott.

They had been transferred to secret prison in the Sahara desert where they were reportedly subject to torture practices.

A court in Nouakchott in an early trial condemned the activists to 15 years in prison. The trial stirred condemnations in Mauritania and around the world. International right groups and well as western countries also stood in support for the activists.

The defense team welcomed the Friday ruling which it deemed judicially correct. For lawyer Bah Ould Mbareck, the three still in custody are also innocent and should be freed.

The court has corrected a mistake made in first instance by the redefining the facts as offence, and not as crime. It is very commendable,

However, we continue to believe that they are innocent.

IRA is the largest anti-slavery organization in Mauritania, with members throughout the country who regularly mobilize to protest slavery and state endorsed discrimination based on race, caste and gender.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish slavery in 1981 and it was not until 2007 when it passed a law that criminalizes the act of owning another person. Yet, enslavement continues to be practiced with estimates of enslaved people ranging from 10% to 20% of Mauritanias 3.4 million strong population.
Photo: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Since 2009, Republicans have been waging holy war to destroy health-care reform and have taken special delight in the prospect that Donald Trumps election might erase the most famous legacy of their hated adversary. It could well still happen. But as a party that did not expect to win finds itself suddenly charged with responsibility, true repeal of the law now looks much less probable than it has before.

1. Every Republican plan is painful. Politico has a report filled with Republican bravado about the ease with which they will sweep away Obamacare. Various party honchos insist that taking health insurance away from 20 million Americans will be like taking candy from a baby, because the babies dont like the candy. People have crappy insurance now, says Rep. John Shimkus tells Jennifer Haberkorn. They have high costs, they have high deductibles, its like they dont have insurance. So this fear that theyre going to lose something that they dont think they have anyway is crazy. Sen. Johnny Isakson adds, Most of those 20 million got bronze policies with a great big deductible and not much insurance, so I dont know that theres going to be a big backlash.

As Haberkorn points out, Isaksons facts are wrong  most customers in the exchanges have silver policies. But there is an even larger mistake here that reveals why Republicans plans will encounter so much political resistance.

The Republicans are not wrong to say that Obamacare gives people fairly crappy insurance. That is because what we mean by good insurance is something like Medicare or employer-sponsored insurance. Its a plan that does not charge you higher rates if youre old or have a medical condition in your family, and covers the vast majority of your medical expenses, with low deductibles. The downside to good insurance is that its extremely expensive. People who enjoy good insurance pay for it in ways that obscure its high costs  workplace insurance is covered by employers (who pay for it by giving their employees lower wages, a reduction thats largely invisible to the employee), and Medicare is financed by taxes.

Obamacare is more market-based than traditional employer insurance. Unlike insurance provided by most employers, which charges every employee the same rate, the exchanges are allowed to charge old people up to three times as much as young people. The premiums are paid up front, and since people tend to shop for the cheapest premiums, they often get insurance with high deductibles.

Its not unreasonable to call this insurance crappy. But not only is crappy insurance better than no insurance, all the Republican plans to replace Obamacare share the common trait that they will give people crappier insurance. Republicans plans all involve higher deductibles and greater discrimination against the old and sick than exchange plans allow. They would make the exchanges even less like the employer-based insurance that people like.

Whats more, their favorite financing mechanism for these plans is to end or limit the tax deduction for employer-based insurance. That would hit many, many more Americans in the pocketbook and disrupt their insurance, and push them out into the marketplace to buy crappy insurance they dont like. There are substantive policy reasons why conservatives support these ideas. But the notion that theyll be more widely liked is a fantasy.

2. Repeal and delay is hard. Ive argued before that the Republican solution to this quandary is most likely to be repeal and delay. That means that Republicans would use a budget-reconciliation bill, which is a special bill that can only apply to tax and spending changes, and is immune from a filibuster. A reconciliation bill could be used to wreck Obamacare but not to build a replacement. (The reason is that you can use tax and spending changes to zero out the subsidies that make its insurance affordable, but not to eliminate the insurance protections, like the guarantee of coverage for people with preexisting conditions, or the requirement that insurance covers essential benefits.) Repeal and delay would mean quickly passing a repeal that wrecks the exchanges, but only starting in two years, and then Republicans could spend that time promising a terrific new plan that will be wonderful for everybody, and figure it out later.

As Sarah Kliff points out, its incredibly hard to announce a plan to blow up the health exchanges in two years without doing immediate damage. Impending destruction will encourage most or even all insurers to pull out immediately. Republicans will own the havoc. My response to Kliff is that they could fix this by throwing money at the insurers. Republicans have been unwilling to spend money, or do anything at all, to make the law work better. But thats because Barack Obama has been president. Cutting checks that you dont pay for is a hallowed tradition of Republican governance. So they might do that. On the other hand, maybe Kliff is right that the mess will be too much for them.

3. The filibuster. Remember, Republicans can destroy Obamacare with a majority, but they cant write a new law with one as long as the filibuster exists. The repeal-and-delay plan assumes that at some point, Republicans will just kill the filibuster, which they can do with a simple majority vote. But already, two Republican senators have publicly attacked the idea of eliminating the legislative filibuster. That will bring the party perilously close to losing the 50 votes they need to eliminate it already.

Could it change over the Trump administration? Sure. I expect it to. But it might not. And if it doesnt, then Democrats will be needed to join in the rewrite of the law. Which would mean that nothing like the right-wing fever fantasies could stand a chance of passage.

4. Some Republicans want bipartisanship. The most significant comments about party strategy may have come from Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a Republican and a fierce critic of Obamacare. Alexander warned that Republicans should work together with Democrats rather than pass a bill on a party line: Before the process is over, well need a consensus to complete it, and I imagine this will take several years to completely make that sort of transition to make sure we do no harm, create a good health care system that everyone has access to and that we repeal the parts of Obamacare that need to be repealed. And he urged that Republicans be the rescue party instead of the party that pushes millions of Americans who are hanging by the edge of their fingernails over the cliff.

In conjunction with his proposal to work with Democrats, Alexanders argument would lean in the direction of marginal changes in the law rather than fundamental ones. It might be a plan like the one Republican staffers described to reporter Caitlin Owens: allowing insurers to cover fewer medical services, and charge higher rates to older or sicker customers. It would shift costs away from the young and healthy and onto the old and sick, and make insurance generally crappier, but the differences would be marginal rather than fundamental. The outcome would be much closer to what Obamacare created than to what came before it.

It makes further political sense that Republicans would want to enlist Democratic co-operation. Given that they would be imposing unpopular changes, they would get bipartisan cover rather than having to own a system with features many people dont like. Democrats, in turn, would get a hedge against the alternative of total destruction and chaos.

5. Trump may want to compromise. Donald Trump has never cared about eliminating universal health insurance. Indeed, he has praised single-payer systems in the past.

Its clear that Trump simply knows very little about the issue and probably cares little, too. He vacillates wildly, depending in part on the last person he spoke with. After meeting with Obama, Trump emitted conciliatory rhetoric about preserving Obamcares protection for patients  a promise that would be impossible to square with Republican policies. Trump has a political incentive to listen to Obama. The outgoing president is popular, and Trump is the least-popular incoming president in recorded history. He lost the national vote, is seen as racist by a great many people, and has faced unprecedented protests that clearly bother him. Obama has a unique ability to legitimize Trump. Its hard to imagine Obama would continue to play this role after leaving office unless Trump is willing to protect Obamas main legacies.

There is another potential source of advice Trump may heed. Josh Kushner, the brother of Trumps son-in-law, Jared, founded a health-care startup designed to sell in the exchanges. He recently made the case for saving the law rather than scrapping it. Trump tends to take advice from family members, and its possible this connection would influence him.

To be sure, Trump will probably find it necessary to appease Republicans by following through on his promise to repeal Obamacare. On the other hand, he may also want to follow through on his promise to replace it with a beautiful plan that takes care of everybody, which is a promise that cant be reconciled with what Paul Ryan wants. Trump has plenty of ways to make Congressional Republicans happy. He can give them regressive tax cuts, which is their favorite thing in the world, and lax regulation of the finance industry, which may be their second-favorite thing in the world. The only way to please everybody  Democrats in Congress, Obama, Republicans  is to sign a bipartisan plan that replaces Obamacare, and thus repeals it, but which keeps enough of its protections to maintain a bipartisan imprimatur. It seems more probable now than it did a week ago that this is what hell try to do.
Obama poses in front of a potential design for his Bat Signal. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

If President Obamas effort to tutor President-elect Trump doesnt go as he hopes, he has a Plan B. During a Sunday press conference in Lima, Peru, President Obama suggested that he does not intend to follow President George W. Bushs example of stepping away from politics after leaving the White House  that is, if the Trump administration is as bad as people fear.

Noting that President Bush could not have been more gracious to me, Obama said that after stepping down on January 20, he intends to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off in every instance.

But he had a big caveat: As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal but go to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it is necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, Ill examine it when it comes.

Obama stressed that his first priority is to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls and do some writing, some thinking.

Even before Trumps upset, Obama suggested that his post-presidency would look very different from that of his predecessors. In October. he said he would join former attorney general Eric Holders Democratic redistricting project, making challenging the Republicans state-level advantage his focus for at least the next few years.

But in an interview with The New Yorker last week, Obama said Trumps election has changed things. I think that if Hillary Clinton had won the election then Id just turn over the keys, he said. Wed make sure the briefing books were in order and out we go. I think now I have some responsibility to at least offer my counsel to those who will continue to be elected officials about how the D.N.C. can help rebuild, how state parties and progressive organizations can work together.

Obama has suggested several times over the past week that hell join those criticizing President Trump, if necessary. Im going to be constrained with what I do with all of you until I am again a private citizen. But thats not so far off, Obama said during a conference call last week with people who have promoted his agenda through Organizing for Action. Youre going to see me early next year and were going to be in a position where we can start cooking up all kinds of great stuff to do.
A man carries a wounded child in the Al-Shear district of Aleppo November 20, 2016. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

There are no functioning hospitals remaining in the rebel-held portions of Aleppo. On Friday, the last working hospital was disabled in the near-constant air strikes conducted by the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the Russian military. Sources on the ground say that the air strikes have been intentionally targeting health-care facilities, and that five hospitals have been bombed in less than a week. The air strikes have left more than 250,000 living in a war zone without access to emergency medical care.

Mohammad Yasser Tabbaa of the Syrian Expatriate Medical Association spoke with Time:

I think the value of the hospital  its important medically but its more important psychologically. When people know there is a place where they can be treated and they feel safe somehow. When they know theyre all out of service, they panic. I think thats what the regime is trying to do.

On Friday, Syrian-government air strikes disabled the last two functioning general hospitals in the area, and its only childrens hospital.

This CCTVV video obtained by NBC shows the exact moment that the childrens hospital was bombed on Friday.

Now residents of rebel-held areas in Aleppo must depend on small, informal clinics for medical care. According to a statement from the World Health Organization: Residents no longer have access to trauma care, major surgeries, and other consultations for serious health conditions,

The eastern part of Aleppo  what was the largest city in Syria, and its commercial capital  has become a vital possession for rebels fighting the Assad regime. Though the eastern neighborhoods have basically been reduced to rubble, rebels have managed to hang on there for more than four years and the territory has taken on great practical and symbolic significance, especially as rebels have lost ground elsewhere in the country.

The recent targeting of hospitals represents the final stage in what has long been one of Assads strategies: to eliminate all health-care facilities that help, treat, or support rebels. In just over ten days, at least a dozen hospitals were attacked, and two medical personnel were killed.

This recent bombing spree began in earnest on November 15 after a weeks-long ceasefire fell apart. Many activists believe that the Russians and Assad are taking advantage of the American election, ramping up the violence when they know that the Obama administration will not have much effective diplomatic recourse to stop it.

Now that Donald Trump has been elected, Syrias future is even more uncertain. Trump has been outspoken in his praise of Russia and Russian president Vladimir Putin, and he has made improving relations between Russia and the United States a top policy priority.

Speaking to the New York Times, the last neurosurgeon in eastern Aleppo described life in the embattled community: You cant imagine what its like living in Aleppo right now. It feels like we are living in hell. Our neighborhoods are in flames, and bombs are raining down from the sky. We urgently call on the international community to send help.
The art of the self-deal. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

As a candidate, Donald Trump never promised to separate himself from his globe-spanning business interests upon winning the White House. Instead, the president-elect vowed to turn over the day-to-day operations of his company to his children  an arrangement that he described as a blind trust, despite the fact that it would leave him with perfect knowledge of the assets he holds, and immediate access to the managers of those assets.

But since his election, Trump has neglected to abide by the (absurdly insufficient) limits his campaign vow would have placed on his behavior. Rather than distance the managers of his blind trust from his administration, Trump appointed his children to his transition team; invited Ivanka to a closed-door meeting with the prime minister of Japan; and sought to appoint her husband to a position in the White House.

Meanwhile, Trump took a meeting with his Indian business partners and allowed his D.C. hotel to actively court the patronage of foreign diplomats.

When confronted with the nefarious implication of these actions  that the man who campaigned against corruption could intend to govern as a kleptocrat  he and his surrogates responded with variations of the same refrain: The president-elect will dutifully comply with all applicable rules and regulations.

The problem with this answer is that there are, quite likely, no applicable rules and regulations: The president is exempt from conflict-of-interest laws. The only constraints on Trumps freedom to leverage his public power for private profit is political disapproval and his own sense of shame.

And, considering that Trump was just elected after spending a year and a half advertising his own avarice and shamelessness, its hard to have much confidence in those constraints.

The search for some other means of reining in our president-elects capacity for corruption has led several legal minds to a little-known section of the Constitution called the Emoluments Clause.

Concerned with insulating the American government from the influence of foreign powers, the founders penciled the following into that sacred document: no person holding any office of profit or trust under the United States, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present  of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush, argues that the moment Trumps D.C. hotel allows foreign diplomats to book rooms at an above-market rate, Trump will find himself in violation of the Constitution. Per ThinkProgress:

The diplomats efforts in seeking Trumps favor by staying in his hotel looks like a gift, Painter told ThinkProgress in an email, and thus is the very kind of favor the Constitution seeks to prevent 



Anything in excess of fair market value is a gift, according to Painter, and I dont think you can take into account the value of the name Trump in calculating fair market value. The diplomats are not staying in one of Trumps expensive luxury hotels because Trump is charging their nation a reasonable market rate for a nights stay. They are staying in the hotel because of the added value that comes from doing business with the President of the United States.

Painters argument has been endorsed by Harvard law professor Lawrence Tribe, the Republican former FEC chairman Trevor Potter, and Fordham law professor (and Democratic congressional candidate) Zephyr Teachout.

Writing for the New York Times, Teachout notes that past presidents have behaved as though the Emoluments Clause bound them to clear gifts from foreign nations with Congress:

In 1840, when President Martin Van Buren was offered horses, pearls, a Persian rug, shawls and a sword by Ahmet Ben Haman, the Imam of Muscat, Van Buren got a joint resolution of Congress authorizing him to split the bounty between the Department of State and the Treasury. When President John Tyler was given two horses from a foreign power, Congress had him auction them off and give the proceeds to the Treasury.

So, the Emoluments Clause is probably the best tool America has to restrain our (self-described) greedy, greedy, greedy president.

And its still a pretty lousy tool.

First, the legal argument here isnt open and shut. There have been very few cases ever brought in connection with the Emoluments Clause, and thus, no binding precedent for its interpretation.

In a rebuttal to Teachouts piece, Maynooth University law professor Seth Barrett Tillman argues that the Emoluments Clause was never intended to apply to the presidency. Tillman maintains that, read in context, the clause applies only to appointed members of the U.S. government, not elected ones. Further, George Washingtons own comportment in office suggests that he did not believe the clause applied to the president:

While he was president, Washington received two gifts from officials of the French government  including a diplomatic gift from the French ambassador. Washington accepted the gifts, he kept the gifts, and he never asked for or received congressional consent. There is no record of any anti-administration congressman or senator criticizing the presidents conduct. As Professor Akhil Amar has reminded us, the precedents set by President Washington and his administration deserve special deference in regard to both foreign affairs and presidential etiquette.

Thus, anyone suing Trump under the Emoluments Clause would have to establish:

1. That the clause applies to the president.

2. That patronage of a hotel is legally equivalent to a gift.

Both these assertions seem contentious. And even if we accept Painters interpretation, so long as Trump charged the diplomats market rate  a price that would still allow him to profit off their stays  he would be in the clear.

And then, even if the merits of the case against Trump were unambiguous, it would still be difficult to find an entity with both the standing and willingness to bring suit against a vindictive president.

Sure, a rival D.C. hotel might have standing to sue Trump on this matter. But the potential benefit (gaining competitive parity in the foreign diplomats in D.C. on business market) pales in comparison to the risk (when you come at the kleptocrat, you best not miss).

Now, the Emoluments Clause could, ostensibly, provide Congress with grounds to seek Trumps impeachment. But its highly unlikely that Paul Ryan is going to lead an impeachment effort against a president who is more popular with Republicans than he is. And Democrats prospects of recapturing Congress in 2018 arent much better than my prospects of pitching on opening day at Citi Field.

Thus, its very likely that President Trump will comply with all applicable rules and regulations  and shape domestic and foreign policy around his own business interests in the process.
Protesters gather outside Trump Tower in New York City on November 13, 2016. Photo: John Lamparski/WireImage

As soon as the shock over Donald Trumps election had worn off, liberals and leftists took to the streets. They took to the streets in New York, marching from Union Square to Trump Tower. They took to the streets in Chicago, surrounding a Trump building there as well. They took to the streets in L.A., in Houston, in Philadelphia, In Miami, protesters blocked highways. In Portland, things descended into a riot.

Reaction to the protest broke down along predictable party lines. To many liberals, they were a sign that the majority of voters, who didnt vote for Trump, were not going to take his potentially dangerous and irresponsible presidency lying down. To many conservatives, they were a sign of coddled or whiny liberals, particularly young ones, who just needed to suck it up and move on. On the gonzo right-wing internet, viral rumors took hold that a significant chunk of the protesters were paid agitators (paid by George Soros, of course).

This is just the beginning. At the moment, at least one major protest is planned for the inauguration. With two months to go before the event, more than 100,000 Facebook users have said they will be attending a planned Womens March on Washington on January 21. So it appears that the election of Trump, however much damage it might do to liberal values, has also mobilized a sense of shared anger and purpose that, if tapped effectively, could turn into a lasting movement capable of fighting back.

Which raises some obvious questions: What is the best, most efficient way to channel this energy? What makes protests work, and what makes them backfire and solidify opinion against the protesters? The answers to these questions, drawn from the research of scholars who have dedicated their careers to in-depth interviews with activists, protesters, and organizers, can both offer guidance to those spearheading the movement against Trump, and offer some interesting glimpses into the surprising political psychology of resistance.

***

Since those D.C. protests are coming up, and are likely to be massive, they are a natural focal point for the complicated questions surrounding protest and organization. So I asked several scholars of activism, protest, and movement-building what advice they would give to the organizers, and how their own work fits into their predictions about what could go well or poorly in January.

One of the most consistent answers I got was that protesters should realize that protests arent enough. Theres a real risk of catharsis being the start and end of the resistance to Trump: Protesting feels good and righteous, but if nothing comes after then it may not accomplish that much. Its key, therefore, to understand the limits of protests and to put them in a broader activism context. There are some people that think that protests solve everything; you just have a protest, its going to make everything change, said Fabio Rojas, a professor at Indiana University and the author of From Black Power to Black Studies: How a Radical Social Movement Became an Academic Discipline. Thats not true  it is a tool that does a very specific thing, and you have to understand that when you start out.

Protests are effective  sometimes very effective, in the case of big ones  at drawing attention to a given cause, and all else being equal they have an impact. Theres a lot of research showing that there is an effect of protest on policy, he said. If you protest rather than do nothing, that does seem to attract attention, and that does seem to make institutions lean in your direction. But beyond that, its important, Rojas said, to have a clear sense of what a given protest is for. What are you really trying to accomplish with a protest? Are you trying to influence a specific policy? Are you trying to build solidarity within the movement? Are you trying to persuade people who are watching the movement, or even trying to persuade people on the other side of the movement?

Dana R. Fisher, a sociologist at the University of Maryland who is also an expert in protest movements, said that its important for anti-Trump protesters to embrace a broad repertoire of contention, to use the academic term  that is, to embrace different types of strategies. It cant just be walking the streets on two days, she said of the D.C. protests. It has to involve targeting people in the Congress who are potentially sympathetic, but also likely causing disruptions. Its been a long time since we had the progressive movement engage in things like boycotts and sit-ins that have been effective. But I think those kinds of tactics need to be embraced along with peaceful marches. And I do think theres going to be a place for civil disobedience, and I think that given the reality of the Congress were about to see coming in, thats the only way to get attention. That is, activists would likely choose a different set of tools from their arsenal if the Republicans didnt have such a stranglehold on government at the moment.

So it seems clear that if the inauguration protests are going to have a lasting impact, it will be vital for them to activate people  to get them to continue chipping in their time and energy once they return home from wherever they came. Because Trump has aroused outrage that cuts across so many different areas  everything from reproductive rights to the environment to foreign policy to police reform  a gathering of that size will reflect a real opportunity to mobilize people.

But only if certain conditions are met. The general advice I heard from researchers, over and over again, all fit in the same general category: Make the barrier to entry as low as possible; make the protests as inclusive as possible. Sometimes, this will involve moves that feel counterintuitive. For example, Rojas said that while the reason everyone will be gathering in D.C. is obviously Trumps election, protest organizers should downplay the focus on Trump himself and make things more issue-oriented. What I would recommend is instead of having an anti-Trump inaugural protest, try to break the protests up into issue-oriented marches, he said. And I think theyre already doing that, he added, in the case of the Womens March.

Now, to be clear, there might be some short-term benefits to focusing on Trump. The strength of the approach is that it mobilizes a lot of people, because a lot of people hate Trump, just as a lot of people hated Bush, explained Michael Heaney, a University of Michigan political sociologist. Since Trump is a widely disliked figure  one who may get inaugurated with a historically low approval rating  his name can get people to D.C. You want everyone who can get into the streets, said Fisher. But in the longer term, there could be downsides to harping too much on Trump, when many of the policy preferences he has stated or hinted at with his appointments  repealing the Affordable Care Act, restricting access to abortion, and others  are also held by plenty of other conservative politicians. So if the protest movements arising now are all anti-Trump, all the time, Heaney said, theres a heightened risk they never achieve the policy changes they were aiming to achieve, because once Trump leaves office it saps the movements energy. (The Times offered a vivid example of the limitations of focusing ones ire on a big, audacious personality just a few days ago: Mr. Berlusconi was able to govern Italy for as long as he did mostly thanks to the incompetence of his opposition, wrote Luigi Zingales on Friday. It was so rabidly obsessed with his personality that any substantive political debate disappeared; it focused only on personal attacks, the effect of which was to increase Mr. Berlusconis popularity. His secret was an ability to set off a Pavlovian reaction among his leftist opponents, which engendered instantaneous sympathy in most moderate voters. Mr. Trump is no different.)

In fact, a version of just that happened to the antiwar movement that arose to protest George W. Bushs Iraq misadventure (and to a lesser extent the war in Afghanistan). Because that movement was so partisan and so associated with fighting Republicans, Heaney and Rojas write in Party in the Street: The Antiwar Movement and the Democratic Party after 9/11, [g]rassroots [antiwar] mobilizations diminished considerably after substantial Democratic gains in the 2006 congressional midterm elections. That was right around the time President Bush initiated his surge, and as a result of the Democrats midterm success the attenuated antiwar movement was in a weak position to fight Bushs ratcheting up of the war.

The other big reason organizers should refrain from focusing too much on Trump  or partisanship more generally  has to do with social networks. Here the work of Ziad Munson, a sociologist at Lehigh University, is important. Ziad studies why people join and become increasingly active in social movements  hes spent countless hours interviewing and researching the motives anti-abortion activists, tea partiers, and members of terrorist groups. One of the key things hes found, over and over and over, is that people often get involved in movements without having particularly strong ideological commitments to them.

Take the anti-abortion activists who were the subject of Munsons book The Making of Pro-life Activists: How Social Mobilization Works. I went back and I tried to determine what were their beliefs about abortion the first time they were involved in some kind of pro-life activity, whether a protest in front of a clinic, the March for Life, or whatever else, he explained. At that moment, only half of them would have considered themselves pro-life. Moreover, a quarter would have openly said they were pro-choice. So why do they get involved? Someone asks them to. In one instance, for example, a womans eventually intense, long-term involvement in anti-abortion causes began simply because her doctor, whom she respected a great deal, asked her to come to an event. Prior to that, it just wasnt something she had thought of.

Now, imagine if this woman, or the other half of the activists Munson had interviewed who didnt identify as anti-abortion, had been told at the outset that they were only welcome if they had certain preexisting beliefs about abortion. It very likely would have prevented them from becoming effective members of the movement. Thats a lesson Munson thinks todays organizers should keep in mind: The more your movement broadcasts ideological demands, the more you drain the pool of potential members. There also appears to be a tendency, among lefty protesters, to bundle together all sorts of disparate causes  Black Lives Matter is paired with climate justice is paired with freeing Palestine, and so on. From the point of view of a potential newcomer, it can be daunting. Theres this strong tendency in these protest groups to want to be ideologically pure, said Heaney. Theyre much more concerned that they say their own piece and that they believe that they are right  thats more important to them than actually achieving policy changes.

Munson took that critique even further. This has historically been one of the differences between the left and the right, he said, and its one of the things the left can learn from the right. What my research has found is that the right has far fewer ideological purity tests for activism than the left does. So theyre taking all comers and theyre converting people in action. Just come, and just do it. By contrast, theres a whole language you need to know from some of the left groups  your ability to be involved often depends on already having a healthy resume of doing other lefty things. I think that that basically makes it a kind of echo chamber, and it doesnt allow you to bring in new blood. The right, he said, has historically been more inclusive. The anti-abortion folks are the ones that I know the best, but the right, they set up internships and they have summer programs and they organize these campaigns, and anyone who shows up they just take. And youll either be turned off and leave or youll become one of them.

The fact that its usually social ties and networks, not hard-nosed ideology, which creates and cements newcomers activism offers hints not just about how protests should be framed to maximize the size of the crowd that will show up, but also what the next steps should be. After all, if most of the protesters who converge on Washington in January subsequently return home and never participate in fighting Trumps agenda, they wont have accomplished much. Whats key, said Munson, is to create the potential for newcomers to get enmeshed in activist-y social networks, but to not make the initial ask of them too intimidating. I think it really does require that you figure out how to keep people involved in lots of everyday ways, he said. And in ways that involve more than simply sending in a check every six months or every year, or forwarding things on a Facebook feed  to get people actually practically involved, but not involved in huge ways, ways that are costly in terms of time and effort and things like that.

For example, lets say an 18-year-old woman, newly politicized as a result of Trumps horrific statements about women and alleged treatment of them, attends the Womens March with an eye on its reproductive-rights component. The best bet for ramping up her involvement in the movement, he explained, would be for organizers to offer her some ways to stay involved afterward. Maybe theres a way for her to volunteer for just an hour a week as an abortion-clinic escort when she gets home. This is a pretty straightforward first step toward further involvement in the movement, and involves neither a huge amount of time and effort, nor any sort of ideological commitment  its a sign along the lines of, We need help, and you can help. After that, there may be ways to ramp up her involvement further. If you can get her to show up the Tuesday after the protest to be a clinic escort for one afternoon, thats what you want to do, said Munson. And then you say, Well, lets try this twice next week. Thats the kind of thing that works. As activists, or members of any social movement, get more and more involved, there appears to be a feedback loop: If almost all of your friends are involved in reproductive justice, youre going to spend a lot of time talking about and doing reproductive justice. (There are weird and interesting parallels between activists and members of fringe religious cults.) As Fisher put it, Not only do you care about the issue, but you like the people youre with. And maybe they have doughnuts at the end.

So what about the potential for backlash? This gets complicated, particularly given the fact that we live in an age in which social media has made it easier than ever before for rumors to run rampant. There probably isnt much protesters or organizers can do about this sort of paranoia-fueled backlash involving George Soros or whatever else; if someone thinks youre part of a giant conspiracy, your odds of talking them out of that arent good.

But there are plenty of moderates in America who arent InfoWars junkies, and their reaction to protests and other forms of activism matters, too. Here the researchers advice was simple: Be committed to nonviolence. Theres a lot of evidence showing that violent protests do trigger backlash, said Rojas. For example, my research on campus protests shows that student activists are less likely to get what they want if they use violent protest. Rojas also pointed to the work of Omar Wasow, a politics professor at Princeton, who has written papers arguing, as Rojas put it, that riots in the 1960s helped trigger the law-and-order backlash of that era  an argument other political scientists and sociologists have made as well.

Another good reason for organizers to enact strong nonviolent norms, Fisher explained, goes back to that idea of building as large a tent as possible. While she said she did think that various forms of rowdy disruption can be an effective means of protesting  though it depends, as always, on the context and the goals of a given protest  significant violence is a surefire way to reduce peoples engagement in various protest activities. I do think peaceful engagement is certainly more effective at bringing more people, Fisher said. If theres going to be a lot of violence, people are not going to come out. You should want older people, families with kids, and just about everyone else to feel comfortable in your movement, not to feel like they are risking injury by simply coming out.

Taken together, then, all this research points to three general rules for the organizers of the D.C. protests, as well as the other protests that are likely to crop up in the days ahead:

1. Trump can be useful as a galvanizing force, but keep things focused on whatever your particular issue is. That issue will be around long after Trump is gone, and will, in many cases, require forms of activism and advocacy that have little to do with the man himself. The goal should be to give people ways to make progress on the specific issue threatened by Trump, not to protest the man himself endlessly.

2. Make everyone who is interested in your cause, or who exhibits curiosity about it, feel welcome. Other than wanting to help, there should be almost zero prerequisites. If someone doesnt speak the lingo, or doesnt know what intersectionality is, or anything else  it doesnt matter  they can still contribute. And the more you can make activism part of their social life, the more of a meaningful role you can give them, the more likely they will be to stick around and to spread the word. Education on specific ideological issues can always come later.

3. Stay nonviolent. At a time when passions are high there is a real potential for backlash. There are times when disruptive protests can be strategically deployed, but nonviolence is key.

For those who are unhappy that Trump was elected, the easy part  the donations, the Facebook and Twitter posts, the initial broadcasting of outrage and solidarity  is over. Actual resistance, actual organizing, is harder. I think that the evidence across the political spectrum is that you need to get people involved beyond just their computers and beyond just sending in money to have any impact, said Fisher. And that takes difficult, careful, on-the-ground-work. Luckily, activists arent starting from square one. Anyone who does their homework will know which tactics are likely to work, and which are more likely to flame out.
Gwyneth Paltrow. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Though much of America is still reeling from Donald Trumps presidential election win, life for Gwyneth Paltrow has continued as normal. Last week, she launched her now-infamous Goop gift guide (complete with an $8,300 yurt), and this weekend, she spoke at the Airbnb Open conference in Los Angeles, where she expressed excitement in the face of our countrys doomsday reality.

Its such an exciting time to be an American because we are at this amazing inflection point, Paltrow said, according to Page Six. People are clearly tired of the status quo, and  its sort of like someone threw it all in the air and were going to see how it all lands. Its very important for me, personally, now more than ever, to create a community and to remember the humanity of everybody and to create love and  understanding.

Paltrow then expressed empathy for the opposition, though she would not reveal which candidate she supported in the election. The most amazing thing for me about this election is I felt  I dont understand the opposition well enough at all, she said. Im not going to tell you what side Im on, but my big takeaway was, I really need to open my mind and understand better because I dont.

Paltrow is a longtime Democratic donor. She was an outspoken supporter of President Obama, and she held a reelection fundraiser for him in 2012. This cycle, however, she kept quiet, even as her close personal friends Lena Dunham and Beyonce made public appearances for Hillary Clinton. Paltrow made only a small, coded gesture of support for Clinton on Election Day, when she posted a photo of herself wearing a pantsuit on Goops Instagram account. Now that Trump is the president-elect, she has gone right back to projecting complete neutrality.

It does not really matter what multimillionaire Gwyneth Paltrow thinks about Trumps ascendancy; shes going to be fine regardless. Her refusal to publicly support Clinton, however, lends some credence to an old Radar report from July 2015. At the time, sources claimed that Paltrow offered to plan a fundraiser for Clinton, but Clinton, for whatever reason, said no. Gwyneth was trying to have her input because she thinks she is the guru of these things since she hosted the fundraiser for President Obama last year, Radars insider alleged. Hillary has told her people she wants Gwyneth to have no part in this one.

Justin Biebers manager, Scooter Braun, ended up hosting the fundraiser, and Paltrow made no public effort to support Clinton after that. Gwyneth Paltrow doesnt forget.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaks during Fortunes Most Powerful Women Summit. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fortune/Time In

Kirsten Gillibrand has spent much of her career trying to bring attention to the issue of sexual assault  among other things, she co-sponsored the Campus Safety and Accountability Act and invited Emma Sulkowicz, who carried a mattress around Columbias campus to protest her schools handling of rape accusations, to join her at the State of the Union address.

So, as she told WNYC in an interview Monday, she was somewhat mystified by Donald Trumps pick of Jeff Sessions  someone who does not appear to have a basic understanding of sexual assault  as Attorney General. Sessions stood by Trump after his comments on Access Hollywood were released; when a reporter asked how hed describe Trumps words, Sessions answered, I dont characterize that as sexual assault. I think thats a stretch. On WNYC, Gillibrand said she has doubts as to whether Sessions is the best man for his post.

I have very grave concerns about Senator Sessions as the head of the Department of Justice, Gillibrand told WNYC. And I will of course pay attention to his hearings, and I will of course give him the opportunity to speak out about what kind of a head of the department hes going to be. But I have to say, those comments are so offensive, and so dangerous. And if he doesnt understand the basics of what sexual assault is, I dont know how he can be attorney general. Because, honestly, thats one of the attorney generals jobs.



He has a real role in this. And if he doesnt understand the basic tenets of what sexual assault is, then I dont think he has the background and knowledge he will need to be attorney general.



She added that Trumps comments shouldve disqualified him from the presidency in the first place. Somebody whos bragging about sexually assaulting women should really never be elected to be president of the United States, she said. It is not locker-room talk. It is criminal behavior.
Ah, birthdays. A time for friends, parties, and, in the halls of the Louisiana State Capitol, a questionable birthday cake of a woman in a bikini, along with breasts, birthday candles as nipples, and a tattoo of a unicorn.

I cant make this up! There was a second cake removed that depicted a vagina!!! #offensive and not funny! #disrepectful #lalege pic.twitter.com/dRTyXOy4yj  KarenCarterPeterson (@TeamKCP) November 18, 2016

Two male representatives claimed that the cake  which was made for Republican representative Mark Abraham and came with a sign reading, He likes his cake and eats it too!!!!  was merely part of an inside joke. However, Democratic State Senator Karen Carter Peterson wasnt laughing, and smashed the cake, covered it with the sign, and accused her colleagues of misogyny, the Advocate reports.

The Louisiana State Capitol is not a locker room. If they choose to celebrate a birthday that way, then they should have done that off site in another setting, Peterson told the Advocate.

Apparently male Louisiana lawmakers have a history of offending their female colleagues with so-called jokes. Earlier in the year, Representative Kenny Havard tried to amend a measure that mandated a minimum age for professional stripping, suggesting they also add weight and age limits  as a joke. That prompted Representative Helena Moreno, a Democrat from New Orleans, to launch Its No Joke, a social-media campaign that shines a light on inequalities women face.

However, not everyone was offended by the bikini cake. Republican representative Jack McFarlands wife made the cake, and he shared it in a private room at the state Capitol. I would never want to do anything that is offensive to this body or anyone else for that matter, Abraham told the Advocate.
Texas State Senator Konni Burton. Photo: Ralph Barrera/AP

A new bill filed by Texas State Senator Konni Burton says a parent is entitled to all of a schools written records about their childs general physical, psychological or emotional well-being. In other words, if parents ask for the information, teachers must give it to them  including information about their childs sexual orientation.

According to her website, Burton filed the bill in response to new guidelines that passed in the Fort Worth school district regarding transgender students. The guidelines made it acceptable for teachers and staff to withhold personal information about a student from that students parents, she wrote. Thats why she proposed legislation defending a parents basic right to matter in their childs life again. The bill goes so far as to propose that teachers and counselors who withhold information from parents be disciplined.

But Equality Texas, a nonprofit that works to secure equal rights for LGBT Americans, issued a statement opposing the bill. Until kids are not kicked out of their house for being gay or transgender, and until kids are not being beaten by parents for being gay or transgender, we owe it to kids to protect them, the statement read. We believe Sen. Burtons legislation would essentially destroy protected communications between a student and an educator.

Burtons office objected to this characterization of the bill, saying parents would only be privy to the information if they specifically asked for it.
Photographer Gordon Parks was 14 when, in 1925, he left his home in rural Kansas. Later, while waiting tables in a railroad dining car, he saw photos of migrant workers in a magazine and decided to become a photographer. He bought his first camera from a pawn shop and started his career as a society portraitist in Chicago. He became the first African-American photographer for Vogue and Life magazines.

Initially hired to shoot a series of evening gowns for Vogue, Parks developed a signature style in his images for the magazine: He photographed models in motion rather than in still poses, pioneering a new approach to fashion shoots. At the same time, Parks captured poverty and injustice in America. During his initial Vogue shoots, he also produced the photographic essay Harlem Gang Leader. After it was published to much acclaim in Life in 1948, the magazine also hired Parks. He spent the next two decades working for Life, covering a wide range of subjects  fashion and Broadway, police brutality and the civil-rights movement, and everyday lives of black families in the Jim Crow South.

The new book Gordon Parks: I Am You: Selected Works 19341978 features groundbreaking portraits taken throughout his career at Vogue and Life. Click ahead for a preview.




Youre the asshole here, not me! a stranger yells at me.

I open my mouth to yell back, but I stop myself. Instead, the righteous anger boiling up in me abruptly dissipates. Im a pot on a burner twisted fully on, but with that comment, shes just knocked my lid off. The entire subway car is looking at us. Is she right? Am I the asshole here? A few moments before Id raised my voice to her, I alone the single person on this subway car willing to stand up to her transgression. Thats what happened right?

I look around at the other commuters I thought I was defending, and as they all turn away to avoid my gaze, I consider that, somehow, I might be wrong and that she might be right. You know, about me being the asshole here. Then I look at the kid in the stroller shes pushing. Shes got a kid. So, yes, that makes me undeniably, incontrovertibly, definitionally the asshole here.

Let me explain how I got to the point of yelling at a woman with a young kid in a stroller.

Let me explain how I got to the point of yelling at a woman with a young kid in a stroller, and thinking I was doing the Right Thing by doing so.

I internalized the imperative of standing up to strangers when theyre acting like jerks from my parents. My mother is a compassionate United Methodist Christian, but she also has whatever gene it is that makes people throw buckets of red paint onto socialites wearing fur coats on opening night at the opera. She hasnt actually done that (that I know of) but she did once throw a lit cigarette into someones car.

It happened during a particularly dry Colorado summer when the wildfire warning was on high alert. I watched with awe and horror from the backseat of our Ford Aerostar minivan as she put the transmission into park at a red light, got out, ran up to the car in front of us, picked up the still burning cigarette the driver had just flicked out onto the street (not the bushes on the side of the road, but the street itself), and threw the smoldering butt back into the car from whence it came. Words were exchanged. I couldnt hear what was said exactly, but I could guess the gist. When she got back in the car, I felt a swirl of both embarrassment and admiration for what my mother had just done. She composed herself, staring straight ahead until the would-be forest arsonist drove off.

My father, a shy man who believes in hard work and not making a scene, would never shy away from making a scene if he felt the call to moral action. Once, while on a flight to a family vacation to Disney World  a first and one time occurrence for our family  a pair of businessmen continued their conversation at full volume while the flight attendant explained the emergency procedures. My dad tapped one of them roughly on the shoulder and chided him, Excuse me, could you please shut up? Im trying to learn how to keep my kids alive in the event of an emergency landing. Shocked, the man whose shoulder he tapped turned to face my father. The stranger saw something behind my dads bespectacled face that he decided he didnt want to press. He quietly turned forward and they put their conversation on pause.

In each of these examples, of which there are many, you might notice that the response is a few notches more intense than necessary for the offense in question. I have carried on this part of my familys crime-fighting tradition. I think we respond in the way we do (i.e. disproportionately) because we actually hate confrontations, yet feel compelled to confront. Our shy personalities hold back what could be just a polite volley of a request, which in turn causes us to compress with fury at the unfairness of the injustice were witnessing, a fury which builds and builds until we have no choice but to let it burst forth as a full on verbal firebombing.

Thats right, there will be no Kitty Genoveses when were around, even if it means a few peoples feelings get hurt in the process, or even if it means it embarrasses anyone we happen to be out with in public. And while I have intervened in physical altercations on the streets of New York City a few times during the last decade of living here, more often than not my moments of vigilantism take the form of telling someone theyre being, in my not-so-humble opinion, inconsiderate.

Excuse me, this is a one-way bike lane.

Excuse me, the line starts here.

Excuse me, let people off the subway car before you get on. This is the rebuke I deliver to strangers with the greatest frequency, and with the most noble conviction in my voice when I do.

Sometimes, the vindication is immediate and sweet. The perpetrator will apologize and I, in all my generous grace, will deign to accept their apology. Other times, though the degenerate remains unrepentant, other bystanders will thank me for my intervention. Well, they wont say the words, Thank you for your intervention, but I can tell by the look on their face that they too are happy the sneaky latecomer got in the back of the line where they belong, and even happier that there was someone else around brave enough not to be a bystander.

Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

And so, about a year ago, rather than be a bystander, my moral compass directed me to yell at a mother with her kid on the subway.

It was rush hour on a packed L train. I was headed home after work and, having managed to snag a seat, was looking forward to settling in and reading for the next thirty minutes. I stared at my Kindle, trying to zone out the scrum of stress around me.

What a bunch of fucking assholes! said a stressed-out voice from the scrum.

I looked up at the woman whod yelled the accusing profanities. She was in her late twenties, around my same age. She was angry. She was angry at me. Not me specifically (not yet, anyway), but I was a part of her undirected, diffuse anger. This in turn made me angry. What had I done to deserve this anger? It felt unjust.

Nobody offers me a seat? You fucking assholes! So she wasnt mad at everybody on the train. She was mad at the smaller subset of seated people on the train. That included me. This was getting personal. I felt even more defensively angry. What had I and my fellow sitters done to deserve this wrath? Was nobody going to stand up to this libel, to these false accusations?

It was clear that I was on the verge of completely losing control of myself, while somehow she was able to scream with poise.

She looked around wildly, like she was waiting for someone to confront her but knew that nobody would. I cant say if at this point I comprehended that she was a mother with a young child in a stroller, and that the nice thing to do would be to offer her a seat. Its what many people do. Its what I usually do, but I didnt consider that I could just do that  offer her my seat  and defuse the situation. Instead, it was clear what course of action I had to take. I had to stand up to the stranger who was acting like a jerk.

If you would have just asked nicely, Im sure anybody on here would have gladly given you their seat, I said. Actually, thats not true. Thats what I meant to say, but I didnt get all of it out before she interrupted me. Instead, our actual exchange went like this:

If you would have

Was I fucking talking to you, asshole? She lasered her rage directly at me. For a moment, I was stunned into silence, but I recovered.

Actually, yes, you were talking to me. You called me an asshole! I said.

You are an asshole! she yelled.

Im not an asshole! I would have given you my seat if you would have just asked. Just ask for a seat! I yelled back.

Fuck you, you fucking asshole!

If you treat other humans like humans theyll treat you like a human back! I really yelled that. I yelled at a stranger a sentence that used the word human three times.

Dont you fucking talk to me in front of my kid, asshole!

So by this point I must have known, even if I somehow had not noticed before, that she had a kid with her. I mean, she just said it out loud, plus the kid was right there in the stroller, a couple feet away from me. Having been reminded of the childs presence, I should have apologized and just let it be. I did not.

Its not nice to get on a train and start calling people you dont know assholes! I screamed.

Im not calling anyone else on the train an asshole but you, asshole! she screamed back. When I screamed it was clear that I was on the verge of completely losing control of myself, while somehow she was able to scream with poise. Whatever our stupid argument was about, based on performance alone she was winning.

Youre being rude! I stammered, grasping for an edge.

Im being rude? Then how come nobody else here is coming to your side, huh? I waited for someone else to come to my side. This moment would have been a great moment for someone to come to my side. The perfect moment for that, really. Nobody did. Me and my 200-beats-per-minute heart rate were all alone.

I didnt know what else to say. She, on the other hand, was not out of things to say.

Youre the asshole here, not me!

Her words hung in the air as I looked around at the other passengers pointedly looking away from us. I was not a hero standing up to a stranger. At best, I was one of two crazy people making a car full of peoples commute home slightly more grating than usual. At worst, I was a jerk yelling at a mom in front of her kid.

Since Id failed miserably at standing up to a stranger, I tried to change tacts. I stood up for a stranger.

Look, sorry, I mumbled as I got up. Here, take my seat.

I dont want your fucking seat, asshole! she replied.

She didnt take the seat. I didnt sit back down. Nobody else took the seat. Fucking asshole, she kept saying, not under her breath so much as just with her breath. Her kid remained quiet and calm during the entire exchange, like this wasnt that big a deal to him. Or her. I dont remember. I do remember that the kid had straw-blonde hair, like his/her mother.

I looked down at the Kindle in my hand  yes, I was holding a fucking Kindle while I was yelling at a woman with a kid  and I saw that my hand was shaking. I felt stupid and mean.

The subway doors opened and I moved to get off, even though it wasnt my stop. As I was trying to step out, some people from the platform shoved their way onto the packed train, bumping into me as they did. I kept my mouth shut.

Nate Dern is a senior writer at Funny Or Die. His first book, Not Quite a Genius, a collection of stories and essays, will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2017.
I have seen this show an obscene amount of times. I just bought two more copies of the soundtrack, pre-ordered the mixtape, and bought friends and family a bunch of merch. So fuck the boycott.



Have all my coins, Lin.



O/T Sorta



But my grandma loves Daveed so much it's ridiculous. She hassled me for a month before I had to take her to see him before he left. She's not a theatre person at all so I loved it.

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rip i've been having a discussion with my inner thoughts since last night whether i wanted to pull the trigger and pay for a resale ticket for christmas week. how's the current cast vs. original?

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i don't think i'll ever get the chance to see it live so i'm seriously debating getting a shirt or something.

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NEWS  We passed a bill to block President Obama from issuing new regulations in the final days of his presidency. https://t.co/00KJjAO3dU  Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) November 20, 2016

Meanwhile.

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i'm not smart, can someone explain this to me where i get it? so they are blocking anything obama does in his final days?



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"Earlier this week, House Republicans sent a letter to the Obama administration asking that they not advance any new regulations before leaving office. Remember, this is not unusual. The incoming administration made a similar request in 2008. "



Then why isn't this a law, why did he make a statement about this now?

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probably cos of the talk that Obama was going to put some things in place to stop them completely screwing people over.

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When will republican rule end for real?

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racist obstructionists to the last



i hope history rips them apart

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This pretty much isn't news since they've been blocking him for the past eight years. F them.

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What the fuck

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i hate this creepy cyborg. there is something so completely off about him. like he's missing a chip or something that allows him to blend in with real humans

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democrat obstructionists RISSSEEEE!

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i was so nervous about looking to see all the replies to this tweet, pleasantly surprised it's mostly ppl telling him how useless and evil he is!

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I remember hearing about this few days ago through my Countable app. As disgusted then as I am now.

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Literal trash

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*sob* I'm going to miss our Mr. Cool President.

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No one will be that cool as our POTUS Obama was. He was the realest >>>>

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sigh, i wish obama had received the respect he deserved during his presidency.



Edited at 2016-11-20 09:55 pm (UTC)

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Edited at 2016-11-20 09:18 pm (UTC) lmao the shade @ Stevie. Perfect.

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Yasss Patti, shade Stevie!

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I feel like I need round the clock political posts with everything that is going on and all the feels I have about what's going on.



Or maybe I am just doing my best to not work on grad school apps...

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nah i feel the same way. i just have a lot of feelings.

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I'm the opposite. I've all but checked out of the political happenings and have thrown myself into grad school applications.

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I'm so anxious over them. I've been badgering my friend who just got accepted to a PhD program and my brother who is graduating with his PhD this year about their opinions on my statements. The word counts feel so small, especially with some of the requirements they want.



Good luck to you, though! Glad you are able to get it done!

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With Kanye admitting that he supported trump all along when he actually took a picture with Hilary and Kim hashtaging #iamwithher I wonder... how many celebs actually were hiding their support to Troll because it was "cooler" to root for HRC.

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ITA. I think it's totally about his obsession with Bey and Jay. In his head he's getting a win over them here.

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Damn... That's what I call a fucking strong obsession.

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this

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yesss proud of Patti and her husband for this!

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I've read the comment quite rapidly and missed words...



It depends if Valls and Macron make good scores. But if Hollande is the PS' candidate it will be Fillion for sure. And i'm kind of glad because fuck Sarkozy



Edited at 2016-11-20 09:49 pm (UTC)

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i had a dream the other night that the electoral college came through and hillary ended up getting voted in, the crying of the GOP and republicans across the country was so sweet. i was so bummed when i woke up.

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lol Someone left a comment about Bruce being out of touch with the working people but BILLIONAIRE REPUBLICAN TRUMP is not apparently.

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all i know is he goes to a neighborhood gym and my bff's uncle has spotted for him before

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yeah, i don't understand his supporters logic when it comes to that. this man lives in a gold leaf infested penthouse in manhattan and only was "successful" in business because he had daddy's money to help him out. he's such a hardworker who understands blue collar america though...rme



Edited at 2016-11-20 09:53 pm (UTC)

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This is such a fucking ridiculous opinion; of the two of them, Bruce is the ONLY ONE who's ever been broke, had to actually work for anything, etc.



I'm also tired of this "elitist Democrats" meme that even the left is starting to parrot. I have a lot more respect for rich people who worked hard and got lucky and made it and still fight for equal/better pay, social safety nets, etc. than I do for people who haven't been so lucky but spend their lives shitting on minorities and blaming immigrants for all their problems.



Edited at 2016-11-20 11:19 pm (UTC)

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LMAO, I hope you laughed to their face.

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still The Boss

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tyra went undercover as a stripper once

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I thought this said Tyga and got momentarily excited. I'll go back to not giving a single shit about him and the the things he does.

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Damn I mean I want to hate on Rihanna for being racist, but she makes even throwing dollars at strippers look good.

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racist..? was it in the second vid cos it's gone now. not that i needed proof of rihanna being racist i guess

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She has been a verified racist against Asians in the past sis.

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i already knew that, just was wondering if it was in reference to the dead link video in the post

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Nah sis, she's flawless in that one.



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He wont save em

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omfg her shirt  i wanna go to a tittie bar in a trek tee

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The guy who owns the V Live brand makes the women PAY to perform, then they're supposed to make that fee back up in tips, but most of them don't break even. All the super popular strippers left the company because they weren't getting paid unless they were involved in extracurricular activities.

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That's fucking horrible. Good riddance. I hope the dancers find new work at a better place.

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isn't that how most popular strip clubs/peak times at clubs operate? you pay a stage fee the same way a hairdresser would pay to rent a station at a salon. fucked up that their fee is so much they don't break even w/ tips

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Yeah, some. But those that work that way the girls fee isn't super high, and they usually make it back within a few hours.

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I support the naked hustle! My first glimpse of Chyna was at a strip club! The dude who owns the V Live brand is shady though. He makes the dancers pay to perform, then steals money, so most women barely break even, and don't get their fee back. He bragged about making half a million in one weekend, while 7/10 of his strippers took a Greyhound bus from NY back to Florida because they couldn't afford to fly home since they didn't get paid!





Drake's been trying to poach super popular strippers to get them to perform exclusively at the strip club he's trying to open.

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The last house I lived in in Houston, there was a strip club about a block and a half away (it was actually a nice neighborhood, Houston is just zoned very strangely) that my roommates and I noticed all of a sudden added "Bar and Grill" under its' name. We all had a good laugh about it for a while.

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lmao i'm not surprised tbh. she has the charisma of a slice of crustless white bread.

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the person who decided to make her the host is an idiot. she's so bland and boring

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Just wanted a pretty face I guess

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Why watch when you can just get updates on Twitter? That's my logic and probably a lot people's.



Also Gigi seems like she'd be a bland host.

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not surprising considering this wasn't the best year for music (at least imo)

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I watched the dumpster fire that was Survivor Series.

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Survivor Series was amazing outside of the ME which was just confusing af

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the matches themselves were great, but the bookings were just awful.



It started with Nattie's heel move against Nikki that was foreshadowing that this whole PPV is setting up future story lines instead of, you know, giving great outcomes in the present.





Why Baron Corbin? Why now? Why this sperm?

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It doesn't help that NXT's events are Saturday night and those matches were friggen amazing.





Push my boyfriend Tye Dillinger, WWE.

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There was a lot of booking changes by Vince at the very, very, VERY last minute and that's what led to a bunch of shitty spots/confusion in every match. He decided to give some people "extra time to shine" not realizing how that could throw off an already booked match. And once Shane got hurt, they decided to end that match and change the finish early.

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I'm enjoying that Brock Lesnar fans tears right now but I thought that the PPV was good for the most part outside of a few questionable points. (MY MAN BRAY ACTUALLY GOT OVER SO I'M HAPPY AF I'M SORRY I'M SORRY)

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Most of it was pretty good tbh

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eh nobody good was performing so why bother?

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Bruno and Gaga and James Bay.



I find your lack of taste disturbing.



Edited at 2016-11-21 07:11 pm (UTC)

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Does anyone outside of Instagram even know who she is?

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Not really. I don't know anybody who would know her.



If it wasn't for ONTD I wouldn't know who she was.

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If it wasn't for ONTD I wouldn't know who she was.



Same.

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I've seen her name a few times, but I don't even know what she looks like, tbh.

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Only teenagers and people like ONTD who actively follow celeb gossip.

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Yes, because I'm trash and watched Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

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I only her about her from ONTD

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only teens and people who love tumblr/instgram

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honestly I only know her from here

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I knew her mostly from being in magazine ads, but ONTD actually gave me her name (as well as her sister's.)

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I tried watching and then switched to 90 Day Fiance bc I'm a trash person and that was more entertaining.

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OMFG that show is RIDICULOUSLY TERRIBLY ADDICTING

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mte. I feel like it's always repeating on TLC so I'm always watching it when nothing else is on and then it got addicting lol. Mohamed/Danielle, Jorge/Anfisa, Azan/Nicole...that whole gang is a mess I love watching.

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It's such trash, but I can't stop watching.

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I hate that I love that garbage ass show

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90 day fiance!!!! I love that show



I was supposed to make a post :( but idk what to make it about so it's accepted

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I love that show, Anfisa was such a mess.

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I'm sad that show is over now. Gotta wait a year for more tragic couples. 

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Thank you for reminding me! I love 90 day fiancee. Anfisa was one of the greatest additions this season.

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it was also an odd weekend, no?

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It was for me cause it rained hard and all day in LA, I almost forgot that it could rain like that lol

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this nobody was the HOST? lolololol

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She wasn't the only host though?

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it was all so boring and forced, and no one really memorable performed...

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No one cares about the majority of artists there.

And no one but Instagram cares about these new "celebs/models".

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Trump will probably bring this up if he responds to the ~bashing he received. smh



I meant to record, but it doesn't seem like I missed much.

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I had no idea it was on till I saw the ontd post tbh.

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Edited at 2016-11-21 05:14 pm (UTC) noone watches award shows. noone big was performing so, noone curr.

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I imagine this is how Ariana walks every day with her head pulled back by the weight of her giant ponytail. Her scalp has to be screaming.

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LOL she's so cute when she wears her glasses in the audience.

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loving your icon

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I need new glasses :(

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does he have a reason to cancel it? or he's just kanye

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oh he's just being kanye

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he's having a mental breakdown re: trump backlash

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He better get a doctor/facility to sign off in a mental health reason. He's already liable for millions for cancelling and if there's nothing mo

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If there's nothing more than a lame excuse, he won't be able to get insurance for future tours. He should check into rehab like everybody else.

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Only child syndrome.

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mte. only children and youngest children are such egomaniacs.

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I get like this and I'm not even an only child. But I am the oldest.

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LOL - as an only child, I can confirm this.

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It's not our fault!

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The Wrecking Ralph part still gets me. Zane's face everytime 

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There's gonna come a time when his own kids won't be safe around him.

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fucking pathetic

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Lmao embarrassing

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My patient with schizophrenia says this all the time. haha

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what on earth is going on with him. is it just his usual petulance, or something more?

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Hopefully it's a diagnosis and recognition that he needs help

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i mean, the last thing i wanna do is pathologize someone who's just an asshole & armchair diagnosis of celebs are just ridic, but i do agree that all of this is starting to seem a bit too much...



Edited at 2016-11-21 05:25 pm (UTC)

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mental disorder or marriage problems

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People always say it's either mental problems, marriage problems, etc... but I never see anyone mention drug use. Is Kanye vocally anti-drugs, or is he a drug addict with mental issues who is self-medicating and only making his supposed mental issues even worse?

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he need to disappear forever and please stop with "he needs to get help" comment, he's an asshole ... i dont care he endorse trump but saying bill cosby is innocent is unforgiven

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you can be an asshole and still have mental issues to resolve and need help with. But one is not an excuse for the other

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this

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He's an asshole but it's obvious he needs some kind of help. For both his sake and that of his family (and those he works with...), hopefully he gets it now.

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so why he needs help? how about maybe he'/ just a horrible person, stop excusing this douchebag

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I dont get these comments. It's totally possible to be a douchebag and also need legit help. No one is excusing him for his behavior, I'm pretty sure we all would prefer not to hear about his ass for the next couple years.

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Some don't throw people away that easily.

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i think so too, on the last episode of 'the champs' podcast, Questlove was seriously implying kanye had some sort of mental illness that questlove felt was out of control. and that was last winter when TLOP was released

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Yikes

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Good riddance.

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tmz is saying he's "exhausted"

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Is that Lil Kim???

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aka drugs!

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They also said Kim got herself a private jet and flew without him. X17 says otherwise and that he joined her. TMZ is on Kris Jenner's payroll so it's interesting that this is the story they are running with.

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wow that's quite the coincidence. he's exhausted and i've exhausted my ability to hear about him.

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Why do PR people even try this anymore? Everyone knows it means "my client is currently too fucked up on drugs to function right now" so just say that instead.

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Remember when Lindsay Lohan was exhausted every Tuesday, sigh

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Drugs. Which could perhaps explain a triggered manic episode that it seems like he's going through

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Now that he has 2 children and his wife is understandably recovering from such a traumatic experience I really worry for them.

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He's lost his mind. Whatever, I'm gonna go to Art Basel instead.

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Cancel your public persona.

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LOL i hope this finally destroys him <3

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Lol it won't

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Well then i hope its the beggining of the end for this asshole

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With what happened to Kim, and whats currently happening to Kanye, 2016 is giving me life.

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Maybe I am misunderstanding your comment, but is what happened to Kim really giving you life??? Like, a good thing?

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don't respond to them or question them, they're an awful troll around here, bb.

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they're the local ontd troll.

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they're an idiot, don't even respond.

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sure he did.



say what you want to about his acting, his writing, his directing, hell even his twitter....

but the dude is a wiz at investing and has been since before he was legally old enough to drink. i need someone to teach me the market and how to make wise investments

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It'd also be useful to be a good looking modelesque white dude with mediocre talent. You need something you can invest after all.

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What does that have to do with investing

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I've never stayed in one, I should really look into it though, hotels can be so overpriced. I stayed in a plain best western in san jose, ca for like $150 for one night and it was like a tuesday night no special events going on or anything, the parking lot was empty they weren't busy.

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My husband and I stayed in Air BnBs our whole European trip in Sept./Oct. and it was awesome.

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suddenly the koons is taylor swift

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It's very possible to not know who he is tho

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lol

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Isn't it possible that he uses an account where you can't exactly make out his identity though? I've stayed with people like that in NY because of laws there.

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i've done airbnb several times (including this coming weekend) and all but one of the trips have been a good experience. the one time something shitty happened was that i had to find a place to crash last minute and ended up at this hostel type house in a shared room with three dudes (me the only girl) and it was messy as fuck (even though the house managers claimed that they were strict about enforcing cleanliness) and when i complained about it, they told ME to clean up whatever shit was in my way. hah. i also heard somebody masturbating one night. sigh. however, i filed a report with airbnb about the mess and i got a full refund. i think it's a great system.

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yeah, i had an issue with a guest who left a 1 star rating for no reason and their review just said "!" and they didnt give reasons when i asked, so i contacted airbnb about it and they removed the review/rating and gave me a $75 voucher to use on airbnb so i'm very happy with the system itself so far.

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nice! i left a very long review explaining my two star rating for that trip lmao. how do you like being a host? i've briefly considered it since i have two spare rooms at home but i just can't see myself doing it.

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Isn't he still close with her family/kids? I think I even read that Demi met his and Mila's bb.

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maybe this is dumb but airbnb sketches me out, idk if i would ever stay in one

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I would be sketched out if the person who owned it was there, which I've heard happens sometimes. If they're not there or just stop by to help you figure stuff out, it seems less sketchy to me.

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yeah ia. i think it would just sketch me out to have no immediate recourse if something goes wrong. like if something gets fucked up you can get your money back from airbnb but there's not someone right there on the premises to help, if that makes sense? idk

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Yea, I would never stay in one where the owner is home, I'd rather spend more for a hotel at that point because I wouldn't be comfortable.

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The one time I did it I rented a mother-in-law apartment when the family was still staying in the house. I felt like I had to be super quiet so that was kind of annoying, but they were really nice. They left a bunch of snacks and drinks in the fridge and we ran into the wife in the morning and she asked if we needed anything for breakfast. It was kinda weird but a good experience.

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I don't know. I see it the same way as any other rental agency, especially if I'm looking for a while place to myself.

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I'll never forget that thing I read where people set up cameras in their Airbnb to record their guests having sex. Apparently it's a big circuit where ppl trade the videos around



Edited at 2016-11-21 08:36 pm (UTC)

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same, I would never stay in one.

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ugh airbnb



there needs to be more regulation, nhf people taking residential property with the sole intention of using it as an airbnb rental.

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Would you mind explaining why? 

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probably because it displaces people who have lived in the cities for decades i.e. it's gentrification

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in some regions unregulated airbnb rentals are creating a housing shortage crisis because a lot of people are snapping up property in residential neighborhoods with the sole intention of using them as airbnbs/short-term stays. essentially they're operating as under-the-radar hotels even though they're not zoned for that, and it leaves actual residents SOL when it comes to finding housing.

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Yeah it really does ruin areas.

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Yeah it's fucking up my city's already fucked rental market.



Airbnb has even started to broadcast weird propaganda spots on the tv and radio here saying that it helps the community because people wouldn't be able to afford their rent if they couldn't rent out parts of their houses to tourists. Fucked up to the core. :/

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Yes, this is a huge problem in New Orleans where I live and has driven up rent prices drastically for people who live here.

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Yeah I just bought a house recently and was outbid on several before that where people were offering up cash in full if not to flip it and make it an Airbnb, then to just rent it out. Drove me nuts! Housing's already expensive and in short supply, then you've gotta deal with these assholes swooping in and fucking it up for everyone else.

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I heard that Iceland is experiencing a housing crisis because of Airbnb.

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Lol my parents used Airbnb for Iceland both times that they went. I can see how that could happen.

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not just in iceland, but most major cities seem to be experiencing housing crises

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While this is very, very true, the situation with Iceland is that the entire country has a population of about 300,000 and its experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom.

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True, it's getting pretty bad, I've heard many stories of people getting kicked out of their rental apartments on very short notice because the owner wants in on that Airbnb money. But I assume this is a common problem in major cities and not exclusive to Iceland.

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I've stayed at a few. My family and I stayed at one in Osaka and one in Tokyo. They were both really nice, the guy who owned the one in Tokyo came by when we arrived to help us out.

The one I stayed in when I went to Hong Kong was a fourth-floor walkup and so tiny I couldn't believe it. I liked staying there because I got a small bit of insight into what life would be like living there, at least in that neighbourhood (although I'd hope to at least have a kitchen if I lived there, lol. My apartment literally had a bed, a sofa, a microwave, some hangers and a tiny bathroom). Hotels are super expensive in HK too so it was more affordable to use airbnb. I liked it and would definitely use them again.



Edited at 2016-11-21 08:12 pm (UTC)

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Do you mind sharing which one you stayed in for Osaka? Planning a trip and could use recs.

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Not the OP but I recently stayed in a nice Osaka apartment with my 4 friends for only around 80 USD a night ( https://www.airbnb.co.uk/users/show/44494594 ). It was in a good location (10-15 min walk away from Namba, just one stop away -- actual apartment building is a 3 minute walk away from the subway station) and had a convenience store right outside, along with a few awesome restos (ramen, Japanese curry etc).

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I just looked up the listing and it's not available anymore, sorry :( but I would recommend looking around the area of Namba (like the poster below said) because it's one of the major centres of Osaka. The apartment we had was right near Dotonbori, a street of shops and restaurants, food stalls, etc. very lively and safe!

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could I ask you to link me the tokyo one? thanks a bunch :)

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I used my place as a host in Toronto when I would go back to Florida. I was a little nervous cause I'm so protective of my personal space even when I'm not around but it was fine and the money was the main thing.

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I bought new blankets, linen, pillows, towels, etc when I decided to host but it was a good investment because if I wanna do it again next summer (which I most likely will) I'll be prepared. It didn't end up really bothering me at all looking back. Plus you make your own rules for your place that they need to follow. The good thing was my place always had a high cleanliness rating cause I always made sure someone came into to clean it spotless - I think my main worry was making sure nothing was damaged.

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I feel the same way. I rented my place out for a week on Airbnb over christmas last year and spent the whole week leading up to it cleaning like mad. Then I rounded up all my identity documents, hard drives, irreplaceables, and left them with a friend in my building. It was fine though we got home and it was as though our apartment was empty the entire time. It takes getting used to the 'no news is good news' mindset. You won't hear from the guest unless there is a problem. My guest didn't leave me any feedback, I'm a bit pissed tbh since I expected a good rating. Left them out flowers, NYC guidebooks, and a bar of Mast Brothers >:0.

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Idk about airbnb, ive never used it and it kind of skeeves me out. Im also a weird person who throughly enjoys hotels. I travel weekly with my job and I still get excited walking into different hotel rooms. I guess Im lucky that theyre always very nice.

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I love hotels, I used to treat myself whenever I went to Sapporo for a weekend with this fancy hotel which was actually reasonably priced but had queen beds and huge bath tubs. It's nice to relax in them. The one time I did airbnb on my own was because the hotels were way too expensive to justify, and I liked it/would use them again but I enjoy checking into a nice hotel room and just relaxing.

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I enjoy hotels too

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I prefer hotels too

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is airbnb cheaper compared to regular chain hotels or just fancy hotels?

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I love hotels too

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I like hotels as well, the only appeal I see with airbnb is if I'm staying somewhere for a decent amount of time and want access to a kitchen so I can cook/buy groceries.

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I love hotels. I've used airbnb a few times but hotels and hostels I like more than airbnb tbh.

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Same, I love staying in hotels.

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im doing airbnb rn with the other room in my apartment, and jesus, the guests are snooty as hell. my apartment is p ratty but its also SUPER fucking cheap and the location is amazing, but i keep getting shit ratings for value and accuracy. u can see from the pics that the apartment is unrenovated, i mention in the description that its basic accommodation for budget travellers, what do these people expect???? u cant pay PENNIES and expect a 5 star hotel wtf.



i also have my cats on every single photo in my listing and say i have cats in the description, but i keep getting guests who are like "i dont like cats" and keep asking me to remove the cats from their room/etc. jesus. some ppl also give me a 1 star rating for cleanliness because theres cat hair in their room and the cats track litter out of the box sometimes 



i currently have a korean couple staying with me who are very nice tho, and are huge fans of the cats. finally!!

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Can't you deny a request for someone to stay at your place?

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I can but you don't know in advance who's going to be an asshole. I've had ppl you'd expect to be reasonable (like young students, backpacker type of people) leave shit ratings because of the condition of the apartment too.



Best of all is when I spend time on answering every question they have, give them advice for sightseeing, sometimes even take them on a tour of the old town, and they STILL leave a shit rating lmao.

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people are spoiled and expect too much. like when i worked in hostels and guests would complain about the free breakfast or that someone came home late. its a fucking hostel get a hotel if you need to be pampered.

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I mean...I am a huge cat person, if we have visitors and they ask to move my cat off the chair/sofa I'm like this is his house, you move.



But I can also see why people wouldn't want the cat in their room if they are renting from you. I'm not saying they should expect you to leave it outside when they are there, but they should be able to say they don't want to sleep in the room with it.

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I stayed at one airbnb and it was a great experience. I rented the whole place and I didn't have to meet with the owner or anything.

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i want to set every nazi on fire

fund me to make my dream come true

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Take my fucking money, sis!!!!

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I used to collect match boxes I'd get from restaurants...just saying....

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I can bring snacks, wouldn't want you to get tired in the middle of it.

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you'll need marshmallowss

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I'm down. let's do this.

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make a kickstarter for this

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You have my sword

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And you have my bow.

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... and my axe!

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you have 10% of my income

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i'll drive the getaway car

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YES! I am in Germany and I feel the same.

Besides, in Nazi Germany, Tila would have been gassed for not one, but two reasons:

1. she is black

2. she is obviously imbecile.



So flirting with disaster here is proof that she is mentally incompetent.



In Germany, she and her wonderful friends would go to jail for this, using the gesture and saying the words is a crime.

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Tila Tequila is not black.

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black? girl she's fully Vietnamese

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and you have my courage.

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Yeah Maggiano's catered our wedding and they could not have been more perfect. Granted it wasn't the one in DC, but their food is really damn good and they were incredibly professional.

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it so friggin good

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it's the chain restaurant right? i love that place lol- yes please to family style italian

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same. I go to the one in Columbia. It's so affordable too

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I wish nothing but the absolute worst for her.

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Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought he looks like a Jew. What kind of self-hatred would lead you to become a fucking nazi AND hang out with Tila tequila.

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...how does someone look like ~a jew, exactly?

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Ethnosupremacists are crawling out of their caves forging alliances of convenience based in mutual hatred

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K

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jesus christ hillary

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rme

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smh you would.

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HAHAHAHAHA and just yesterday someone said they dont see the antisemitism on here. classic!!!

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have anybody watched "the wave"? ive only read it, but im wondering if its worth watching

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The German movie? I watched a couple of years ago. It was interesting and I think it portrayed well what it intended to do.

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The after school special?

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i saw this growing up

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I completely forgot about that movie until just now but I saw it a few years ago and I liked it. It's hard to watch (obviously) but it was fascinating and really scary.

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Watch the older version.

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That was one of the my fave required reading books. I wish I watched the film before they took it off netflix.

I have to see if amazon has it

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Is2g I know an irl Clayton Bigsby. He's a biracial dude who defended Bannon and even Milo Yajabdjbsbsjlmwkwnn and the Alt Right movement to me on fb the other day. I'm like, "Dude...are you for real? Did you not get the memo?"

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He just has to die.gif

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Why do they all look inbred

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lol that particular inbred guy is just a journalist, not a member of the alt right.

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These guys think everyone should look like Dolf Lundgren even though they're all Ned Flanders fuckfaces who look like both dads and virgins.

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why does he look like sigourney weaver

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wtfffffffffff

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guys, matt viser isnt part of the alt-right!!

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Here we go.



Again and again. To some of them we'll never be people. Most of the former SS guards never saw anything wrong with what they did even decades later.

.



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:11 pm (UTC)

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This is some Westworld bullshit. Plz test my ability to experience emotional pain and to inflict violence on others as an expression of artfully simulated consciousness.

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why do i still get surprised by the things these trash people say

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This isn't new. People are so ignorant on Jewish issues but they love the lizard people meme not realizing it comes from David Icke who thinks Jews are actually lizard people.

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"Alt-Right" ... just call them Neo Nazis already

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wow

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holy shit..

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ugh i hate when people post vague shit like this. of course people are gonna think this guy is the alt-right idiot, and people will attack him for no reason.

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wow i almost feel bad for the restaurant. imagine working there that night and slowly realizing what was happening... (assuming their description of how it went down is legit, but tbh if they're donating the proceeds then im all for it)

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how awful would it be to be their waiter??? It's even worse because you KNOW they don't even consider tipping...

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As a manager of a deli/convenience store that also does catering, I personally would kick them out as soon as I realized what was up.

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I would have walked...



I was at a hotel convention earlier this year and in the ballroom down from me was some kind of fundraiser for Trump (one of those hardcore Christian 'institutes')...



I felt so bad for the waitstaff. ALL of them were minorities. To have to listen to that rubbish. If what some of the women were saying in the restroom were any indication... it was racist and homophobic as fuck.



As bad as that was, they weren't glorifying Hitler like this... OMG. Sometimes you just need to walk out. The restaurant should give EVERY one of their employees huge bonuses for having to endure that shit.

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Who wants to team up with me to beat up nazis?

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Yessss let's scalp these motherfuckers

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This Irish bitch is ALL IN...

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I'm getting my negan bat ready. Just tell me where to meet you.

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count me in

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I'm not even kidding, the only way to fight fascists is with violence.

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No fucking words

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She's out of her mind and has been exploited by white men her entire life, not saying this is an excuse but posts like this are sickening. Just stop posting about her it'd not worth the clicks

There has to be something seriously wrong with you to delight in the self destruction of others...

(saying this from a gossip site)



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:03 pm (UTC)

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isn't it the point of a gossip site to bask in the self-destruction and the misery of others? every time there's a scandal on ontd, people act like christmas has arrived



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:23 pm (UTC)

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.... humming Lily Allen's * FUCK YOU * pretty much 24.7 these days.

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Honestly bless you for posting this gif in other posts because Michael Shannon is a gift. I also hope that someone on here posted what he said about Trump and his supporters because he went in.

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That's where the gif comes from, the article on him saying they rightly need to die. That's why he's an ontd fave now

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Seeing ppl calling out for a protest for Nocturnal Animals over his comments is killing me, we all know those ppl never even heard of the movie before.

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I love that Michael Shannon has become ONTD's new fave <3 he's such a gift

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The context though...Van Alden killed that dude (it was an overly long "baptism") because he was Jewish.

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Ok, maybe you didn't know the context of this, but that's a gif of a psychotic Christian killing a Jewish man by drowning him in a "baptism"..............

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Oh fuck off this guy just wants promo for his shitty movie and this is how he's getting it

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thank you! no one has been checking for this film in YEARS and now because of amber's name being in the press bc of the divorce this asshat is doing this.

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Who? It said she "conspired with the director" so I'm assuming it's not him. Says the producers are behind the lawsuit.

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I assumed the dude in the picture was the culprit

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Were they trying to make her do a promo tour with johnny or something?

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Well I'm super sure that Depp had nothing at all to do with this. Nope. Nothing at all.

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she looks beautiful in that picture



idk what to say tho, if you're contractually obliged to promote the film, then i suppose you have to do what you have to do. i'm wondering if she asked the producers if she could do promo without johnny or they just tried to get around it without asking them. i doubt the film had anything to do with their relationship like they're trying to say but i don't blame her for not wanting to be around johnny

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the promo, if that's what these folks wanna call it, was done prior to their divorce. plus johnny has a very, very tiny role. maybe bc of his clout or w/e, but it was mainly amber, theo, jim and billy who carry this film. cara was in it as well.

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oops, i forgot to read the source. i usually do. thanks. so basically this lawsuit is bullshit and a waste of money/time? poor amber

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Toronto premiere was cancelled.

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when I saw this article I got so pissed off for everyone involved who is being sued. this film is shit and the studio heads now it, shelved it for AGES, and now they wanna get mad at the actors for not promoting it when they may have moved on with their other commitments? maybe I'm missing something, but it's not an actor's fault if the project falls through bc of creative differences between the directors, producers, etc.

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i was JUST reading about this movie. the whole thing is a mess and it doesn't even have a release date so how is she breaking her promotional obligations when no promo has been arranged?



the director is suing the producers:



London Fields director filed a lawsuit against its producers, suing them for $1 million. Director Matthew Cullen alleges that the producers made fraudulent efforts to revise the movie without his knowledge, adding offensive imagery about the September 11 terrorist attacks, and that they owe him money.



it was pulled from all the film festival showings and they've been saying for years that this will probably never get a release. they haven't even settled the lawsuit with the director yet. and apparently the movie is shit anyway

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everything about this movie is such a mess

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All the behind the scenes drama for this movie, yikes. The director is suing the producers, the producers are suing Amber. Just let it go, the movie was going to flop with or without Amber doing interviews or whatever.

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how they expect her to promote the movie which doesn't even have a release date (google shows just "2016" and TBA) and lmao the compensation they ask is bigger than the whole budget of the movie



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:35 pm (UTC)

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10mill? Has it even come out? And It probably wouldnt even make 10mill

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she definitely doesn't, but I feel like the lawsuit is divided btwn multiple people. maybe I read it wrong.

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This particular lawsuit is just Amber. But I think they also have another separate one with the director (and the lawsuit linked at the source indicates that they're suing more than just Amber and the director as well).

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lmao seems fishy to me but okay

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So is this just about avoiding Johnny, or is she pulling a Dream House and refusing to promote it bc it's so bad? Both would be understandable if he's involved.

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perfect example of how a pretty face doesn't make you pretty.

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Trump supporters are the worst.

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girl you're not even american

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Sadly it's how most Dutch people think nowadays after the 'new 09/11' if I can put it like that. I am disgusted and sad, because there's a Dutch Trump (Wilders) ready for the thrown in march '17. Just wait and see...

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what is the new 9/11??

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Most dutch people? Come on thats a huge generalization...

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I wish this was a joke

[ Spoiler (click to open) ] there was a pro Trump demonstration in Brazil before the elections. Women and gay latinos supporting Trump. like, 20 people showed up but still...I wish this was a joke

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There was a pro-Trump rally in Australia on the weekend.



They were outnumbered by the anti-trump rally but still.

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right? what in the world...

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and talking about how ~inclusive their side is...is this real life??

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I think they need to come out so that everyone else knows exactly who to avoid / prepare for the urn.

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right, what the fuck

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99% is a really big number tbh. maybe more like 10% and even those are guilty by association.

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They want to be oppressed so bad.

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They do. Poor white people victimized by fear of not being the majority.

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lol thatssadhuh.gif

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LOL seriously

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It's 2016 and being called a racist is worse than actually being a racist

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Trump supporters are stupid af and they are 24/7 on SNS.

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Me too! I misread the title and saw Cameron and was like nooooo!

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omg right?

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lol i realized the wording was a bit off. i fixed it.

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Me too! My heart stopped a little when I saw her picture & the word Trump.

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Same. I was D: that I could literally trust no ww.

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Wait, is she even an American citizen? I don't know if it was like this during other elections, but I've noticed a HUGE amount of the racist, pro-Trump comments I've been seeing have actually been from Europeans/Canadians.

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Looks like there are groups of white nationalists and ppl who believe in fear-mongering poppin up everywhere. Europe has been havin this problem well before Trump ran. Especially the anti-immigration conflict. Pro-xenophobi parties have been on the rise for years.



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:50 pm (UTC)

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No, I know the far right/neo-nazis have been rising all over Europe. But I'll be reading some dumb conversation with someone saying us Americans should unite, or arguing with NYT journalists about their "biased coverage" and then I'll look at their profile and see they're actually from Bumfuckshire, England or Oslo or something and am so confused.



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:53 pm (UTC)

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Seriously. Yesterday I was reading the comment section of the main Spanish nespaper and the pro-Trump, "respect democracy" people were out in full force.

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I live in Toronto and there have been so many hate crimes here (and in Ottawa) ever since the election. It's like before these racist fuckers kept most of their shitty thoughts to themselves, but now they think since (to them) it's "okay" in the US now to be racist, it's "okay" in Canada too.

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She might be, depends if she's a permanent resident, etc. But wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't, extreme right-wing and nationalist tendencies have been on a rise in Europe for years.

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Canada has definitely had a post-Trump surge in anti-semitic and racist hate crimes, so this would not be surprising.

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ugh Canada this doesn't surprise me at all. We give off this image that we're SOOO much better because we're inclusive and trudeau is better than trump but look at any post on r/canada about immigrants. So many comments that say well they should ASSIMILATE to CANADIAN CULTURE and try to FIT IN.



Like..you know they mean white canadian culture....

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i know im in a liberal california bubble but i never experienced so much open white supremacy as when i was in europe. like actually having to pretend im not jewish, it was that bad.

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ugly at the core

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she's Dutch... not surprised.

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Lol mte

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she must have had to sacrifice so much to admit she supports a racist cheetoh. I truly feel for her

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i dont really feel like we need a post for every nobody that comes out supporting trump

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In a world of white opinions, Gwyneth's always shines whitest. pic.twitter.com/skGl2CzKWo  Mathew Rodriguez (@mathewrodriguez) November 21, 2016





Edited at 2016-11-21 10:49 pm (UTC) Speaking of callous White women, someone should make a good old-fashioned wank post about Gwyneth:

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? the tweet you posted is about kanye. is it in the article?



WELL, NEVER MIND THEN.



Edited at 2016-11-21 10:50 pm (UTC)

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~let's see what happens, it could be exciting!~

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It's like when I think she can't get any worse or more tone deaf, she does.

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Hasn't she always been trash? It must be fun watching everyone else suffer and burn while being wealthy and not a minority.

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Because you're safe. Jesus f Christ, what needs to be done to kill white, rich privilege.

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She is so vapid and shallow, why do people bother asking for her opinion on anything? God she's dumb.

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gwyneth is the sort of person who'd answer yes to the okc question, "in a certain light, wouldn't nuclear war be exciting?"

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lol shocking

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this is like when natalie portman said that living through the recession was very exciting

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She's the worst

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this is shocking because she's a huge liberal



not shocking because it's so out of touch

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when people talk about liberal elites~ being out of touch with regular americans, this is who they are talking about.

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definitely deserves a post of its own so we can really let rip on the wonder that is Gwyneth.

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reminds me of Natalie Portman during the recession

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this falls RIGHT in line with the GOOP posts here, SCREAMING

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fuck this bitch

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omg she never fails

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I want to make a post about Chris Martin's comment where he described Trump's win as sun shining on people who felt like they didn't have any voice.

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i fucking loathe this woman and i'm so glad she's outta the MCU.

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you know, i've cut her some slack in the past, but this is truly the worst



is beyonce really still gonna be friends with her after this?

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wow how natalie portman of her

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That joyful moment when right-wing asshole, neo-nazis and overall bigots use Wikileaks as a source. What a mess.

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I thought macy's was anti trump?

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It is. I don't know that you can expect a ton of accuracy from an instagram meme though.

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They still carry Ivankas brand.

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No, I'm pretty sure they pulled it and won't be returning it to the shelves



ETA: oop you're right, it's Donald's brand they won't be returning to the shelves. I swore they were pulling ivanka's though bc of the lawsuit



Edited at 2016-11-21 11:13 pm (UTC)

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Yeah I thought they pulled trump's line right in the beginning after he announced with his Mexicans comment

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a few companies on this list are there because they carry ivanka's plastic shoes

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ot but anyone following the quake/tsunami warning in Japan? CNN, MSNBC, etc still on their pointless Trump transition coverage.



There's a live stream here if anyone needs one



http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/live/ When Trump fucks over the country and people are deported or die (and I'm scared they will), I hope none of these motherfuckers think they can scrub or hide their support over Trump. We don't forget.ot but anyone following the quake/tsunami warning in Japan? CNN, MSNBC, etc still on their pointless Trump transition coverage.There's a live stream here if anyone needs one

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I've read that there's basically no water on the shores of Fukushima, it's terrifying to think.

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The cooling equipment for the spent nuclear fuel pool at Fukushima stopped working but thankfully nothing dangerous or any abnormality so far.

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When Trump fucks over the country and people are deported or die



He could do that but then just tweet something problematic and the world will focus on that.

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OK, 2016  this is it. This is your last chance to get something right. OPEC meet on November 30th to do a deal that would see the biggest oil producers across the world agree to limit output for the first time since 2008. Do NOT let us down.

The omens  well, at first glance, they look good folks. The last meeting ended on a somewhat ambiguous 'let's nail those details down later' note, but credit where credit's due - the lengthy discussions, endless phone-calls and flurry of negotiations have taken place, and made ground. Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Boutarfa told reporters, The goal was to prepare for Vienna. We won't turn back on the decision made in September in Algeria. All the countries, 11 present in today's meeting, agreed to support the Algiers Accord. OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo said all hands are on deck to ensure the deal is made.

Obviously, the stumbling block was Iran. After the Obama administration agreed to the nuclear deal, Iranian oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was determined to see his country's production rise to pre-sanctions levels, and it's been widely reported that any talk of a freeze would have to be around the 4 million bpd mark.

Since the end of last week, insiders have reported that the majority of members will accept giving Iran greater flexibility than any other member state and ask for a freeze at 3.92m bpd. This is more than Tehran is currently producing  about 3.6  3.7m bpd.

On Saturday Zanganeh said it is highly likely that OPEC will reach agreement. Related: Trumps Saudi Oil Threat Is A Hollow One

Of course, there is a good reason why Iran might be willing to support an OPEC-wide production freeze  that threat from President-Elect Trump that his number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran. Any move on this front to reimpose sanctions could cost Iran around 1 million bpd and would naturally impact on its bid to regain market share. If all OPEC members take a cut, the hit on Iran would be lessened. Perhaps they believe a burden shared is a burden halved.

The Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he believed OPEC was looking more likely to come to a deal and if it was done, Russia would be prepared to cap output for six months  maybe longer. And he also said other non-OPEC producers could follow suit.

Iraq is also putting out upbeat signals  which is at odds with how it was behaving earlier this month. It had sought exemption from any cuts, but on Saturday a comment from Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibisaid that he was really optimistic on the result of the next OPEC meeting led to the Wall Street Journal suggesting it too is finally coming round to the idea. Forbes is less convinced, arguing that it has decidedly good reasons to not participate in a cut - rising costs from fighting ISIS and cuts it suffered under sanctions when Hussein was in place. It also contacted foreign oil companies last month, urging production increases; but I'd do that too if I knew I was going to have to make a cut in the near future. Related: Electric Cars Provide Little Threat To Oil Demand

Over the next few days, until November 30th, OPEC and non-OPEC will come together and hammer out the final details. The negotiating and back-room dealing will continue. Much is at stake, and so many other anticipated meetings have failed to deliver.

Saudi Arabia wrote this play, and in the final stages, when so many have suffered as a result, they will get their pound of flesh as the Kingdom cuts significant volumes. It did not want to be the one who did all the heavy lifting but as David Fyfe, market chief at Gunvor put it, OPEC talked themselves into a corner and they have to come away with something. He warns prices could easily fall below $40 again if this ends without a deal.

It's apt that we give the final words to Billy Joel:

Don't you realise that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true.

When will you realise, Vienna waits for you

By Precise Consultants

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Its been a tough week for the U.S. oil and gas industry, with the Department of Interior annulling 25 leases in Colorados Mancos shale (for environmental reasons), and then cancelling 15 leases on tribal lands in Montana. Topped off by the release of a new 5-year offshore drilling plan that closes the Atlantic, Pacific and much of the Arctic to exploration.

But things were even worse for oil producers in another part of the world. Where the government made a surprise about-face on pricing policies  with major impacts on E&P profits. Argentina.

Earlier this year, things had been looking great for Argentinean oil developers. When the government said it would fix domestic crude prices at around $67.50 per barrel  significantly higher than world prices, in a bid to encourage exploration and development across the country.

But news late last week suggests those attractive subsidies are now off the table. Reuters cited industry sources in Argentina as saying that the government has now backtracked on the crude pricing plan, with the country apparently planning to eliminate higher crude prices immediately.

Companies interviewed by the news service said they now expect the local oil price to fall by as much as 30 percent. Prices across the country had reportedly been averaging $58 per barrel recently  well above the ~$45 per barrel pricing that has been prevailing internationally. Related: Russian Coal Fights For Survival

Stocks of Argentinean oil producers fell as much as 40 percent on the news. Which is going to put a lot of fear into investors, in a place that was formerly shaping up as one of the best petroleum markets on the planet.

The big question is, how will this move affect development in Argentinas shale patch? Up until now, major E&Ps globally have been flocking to the countrys Vaca Muerta shale  with several billion-dollar deals struck here over the past year.

The change in pricing will almost certainly be causing a reevaluation of these prospects. Watch to see if companies now pull out  or if theres a sense that the promising geology here can be profitable even at lower prices.

Heres to turning it around,

By Dave Forest

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Iraq may not be going rogue on the OPEC deal after all, and will apparently be putting up three new proposals for discussion at the cartels technical meeting in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday.

Our alternatives are based on other variables and will make it easier for OPEC members to make a decision, Iraqi oil minister Jabbar al-Luaibi told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. But no explanation of what those other variables are was given.



All of the options will be logical and in line with OPEC policy, al-Luaibi noted, but declined to provide more details over Iraqs proposals.

Whatever the proposals Iraq does offer in Vienna, the fact remains that ever since OPEC agreed to agree on a production cap in late September, Iraq has disputed even the general framework of a possible agreement.

The day after OPEC said it would work to work out a deal, Iraq quickly chimed in to dispute the cartels use of secondary sources to calculate its members output, which it knew would be used as a basis for determining what level of production each member would be held to.

A month later, Iraq pleaded exemption from cuts on the grounds that it needed resources to fight the Islamic State. Related: Oil Majors Scrambling For Acreage In The Booming Wolfcamp

Last week - as OPECs technical meeting this week and the ministerial meeting next week were nearly upon is  OPEC-related rhetoric was once again in full swing. Saudi Arabias oil minister Khalid al-Falih said that OPEC needed to cap production at 32.5 million bpd in order to balance the market. This figure is at the lower end of the 32.5 million bpd-33 million bpd range tentatively set in September, and more than 1 million bpd lower than OPECs October production of 33.64 million bpd a new record, according to OPEC secondary sources.

Reports also have it that Iran and Iraq had been asked to freeze production at current levels as OPEC is struggling to get its members to agree on a deal in what may be one of the last opportunities to clinch the much-discussed but little-specified agreement.

Amid this background, Sundays comments by the Iraqi minister that his country would put forward three new proposals for negotiation share this lack of specificity. But it seems that Iraq is no longer dismissing the cap outright, showing at least that it is willing to talk and offer solutions, whatever they may be.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Obama administration is rushing to get a flurry of priorities done before Donald Trump takes office. One of those items was a five-year lease plan from the Department of Interior, for the years 2017 through 2022, which includes territories the federal government plans on auctioning off for oil and gas drilling on the outer continental shelf. On November 18, Interior released its plan, and notably absent from the plan was acreage in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, a sign that President Obama wants to wall off those areas from future development.

The proposed five-year plan includes 11 potential lease sales across four areas  three in the Gulf of Mexico and one in the Cook Inlet in Alaska, which is off of Alaskas southern coast; the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off of Alaskas northern coast  the areas the oil industry hopes to eventually drill  were excluded.

The plan focuses lease sales in the best places  those with the highest resource potential, lowest conflict, and established infrastructure  and removes regions that are simply not right to lease, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said in a statement. Given the unique and challenging Arctic environment and industrys declining interest in the area, forgoing lease sales in the Arctic is the right path forward. It wasnt just because of environmental issues. Interior said it left out Arctic leases because there is scant interest from the oil industry right now for Arctic drilling because of low oil prices. Royal Dutch Shell, the only company to realistically come close to oil production in the Chukchi Sea, unilaterally abandoned the Arctic in 2015 after spending billions of dollars and many years there, only to end up drilling one disappointing exploration well that revealed oil in insufficient volumes. Related: How Trump Could Change LNG Markets

As for the Atlantic, the Interior Department cited not just low oil prices, but also strong local opposition  the eastern seaboard of the U.S. is heavily populated and oil drilling would affect all sorts of competing interests. One of those is the U.S. military. Virginia is home to a huge military presence, and officials from the Pentagon have warned about interference with its operations from drillers offshore.

Still, the political ramifications should not be underestimated. Anticipating an outcry from oil and gas drillers, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Abigail Hopper, assured that there was plenty of acreage for the industry. The proposal makes available more than 70 percent of the economically recoverable resources, which is ample opportunity for oil and gas development to meet the nations energy needs, Hopper said.

Environmentalists had wanted the Obama administration to use an obscure provision in a 1953 law that would put the Arctic off limits permanently, but it appears Interior wont take such a dramatic step. Related: Trumps Saudi Oil Threat Is A Hollow One

The Department of the Interior will soon fall under Donald Trumps control, and he can choose to go back on the recently released five-year plan with the intention of opening up the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans for drilling. But it is a multi-year process, which means it is not as if drilling can begin next year. For example, the Nov. 18 release of the proposed plan was the culmination of a process that began in June 2014, two and a half years ago. As noted in The Hill, the five-year plan from Interior is not a regulation, so Congress cannot simply tear it up in the same way that it can with executive actions. It will have to more or less start over.

But they will certainly begin that process right off the bat. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued a statement immediately after the Interior Department released its five-year plan, and he said that the Republican Congress will scrap limits on drilling. The monopoly that Republicans have over the federal government should make it relatively easy.

But again, it will take roughly two years before a new plan can be put together. And even then, it is unclear that any oil companies will be willing to follow in Shells failed footsteps. The risk is high, the costs are extraordinary, and the payoff is uncertain. The breakeven price for Arctic drilling is unknowable at this point because of the lack of drilling, but it is likely at least as high as $80 per barrel, and quite possible north of $100 per barrel. As long as oil prices stay low, no companies will be drilling in the Arctic, no matter what President Trump does.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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In the emotion-laden aftermath of the U.S. presidential elections, the focus of all energy attention seems to be exclusively on crude oil and domestic production. Specifically, on whether energy independence is at all possible and whether cutting Saudi Arabia out of the importers list is a wise move or exactly the opposite.

While some grieved and others rejoiced, Cheniere Energy, which launched its first export-bound LNG tanker this spring, continued to export liquefied gas. Those who follow the LNG market duly noted that exports from the Sabine Pass terminal are growing, but it took the IEA and its latest World Energy Outlook, released last week, to cause the media to stand up and take notice.

The IEA said in its forecast that U.S. LNG will enable the United States to turn from a net importer of gas into a net exporter, with all the consequences stemming from it, such as having a much greater say in price formation on international markets.

According to the IEA  and to BP  LNG will become the dominant fossil fuel in international markets by 2035 as more and more countries switch from oil to gas, which is lower on the emissions scale. Gas consumption, the IEA noted, is growing across the world except in Japan, and there is plenty of supply, so prices are very competitive. Related: How Trump Could Change LNG Markets

The U.S. is benefiting from the low prices of shale gas, liquefying it and shipping it to South America and Europebut not Asia, which was supposed to be the main market for American gas. Cheniere Energy is shipping LNG to Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan.

One LNG expert, Susan Sakmar, wrote about this back in September, noting that although the Middle East sits on most of the worlds natural gas reserves, they are not distributed evenly among the countries there, so they cant benefit equally from these riches.

Iraq, which flares some 700 million cubic feet of associated gas, is not talking to Kuwait, Gulf war and all. Neither Kuwait, nor the UAE like Iran very much  they are in the Saudi orbit. Their own reserves are hard to reach and expensive to develop, not least because of a long policy of subsidizing low energy prices, which makes investment in new production particularly unappealing.

Is it possible, then, for the U.S. to turn into a major supplier of natural gas to the Middle East in an ironic turn of events? Its not impossible, thats for sure. The amounts of LNG shipped so far to Middle Eastern destinations are not grandiose, but the shipments may indicate a turning of the tide. Related: Trumps Election Is Great News For Independent Refiners

Earlier this year, there was skepticism about the success of U.S. LNG on international markets. Since then, however, things have changed. South America has proven to be the main destination of Sabine Pass LNG, and a lucrative one. And the Panama Canal has been widened, allowing tankers from Sabine Pass to use it as a shortcut, effectively lowering shipping prices, which were a big problem.

Whats more, U.S. LNG export contracts are more flexible in that they dont bind the buyer to a long-term consumption commitment. This flexibility, according to one gas analyst from the IEA, is what will define international gas markets in the future.

This month, the U.S. is set to ship a record amount of LNG abroad, according to data from Bloomberg. Whether or not it becomes the biggest gas supplier to that part of the Middle East that cant develop its own reserves remains to be seen. Yet, if we are to believe Citigroup, gas could well be what makes America energy independent, not oil.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Three Russian companies have signed contracts for oil field development with the National Iranian Oil Company, a senior NIOC manager told media.

Gholam-Reza Manouchehri, deputy managing director of NIOC, said the companies were Lukoil, Tatneft, and Zarubezhneft. The contracts are the latest demonstration of the ever-closer ties between Moscow and Tehran, especially in energy.

Since January, when most economic sanctions on Iran were lifted, the country has been in a rush to revive its energy industry, after four years of barely making ends meet. For this, it needs the assistance of foreign companies with production know-how and infrastructure investments.

Russia has become a preferred partner for Tehran, not least because it also suffered economic sanctions from the West following the annexation of Crimea.

As Oilprice reported, earlier this year Gazprom and Gazprom Neft, and NIOC, signed preliminary agreements for the development of several oil and gas fields.

Zarubezhneft, for its part, said in July that it had struck a deal with NIOC to conduct a study on two oilfields that Iran shares with neighboring Iraq  West Paydar and Aban,  and came up with a proposal to increase the fields recovery rate.



Related: How Risky Are Oklahoma Earthquakes For The Oil Business?

In August, Irans Tasdid Offshore Development Company, a unit of NIOC, signed a US$1-billion contract with Russian shipyard Krasnye Barrikady for the construction of a number of offshore drilling rigs.

In this context, more news about production deals could be expected.

But Russian companies are by no means the only ones Iran is taking on. Earlier this month, NIOC signed a contract with Norwegian DNO, which will explore production at the Changuleh field, with estimated reserves of some 2 billion barrels of crude.

French Total, the first international supermajor to return to Iran, was selected to develop the giant South Pars offshore gas field. Total is partnering with Chinas CNPC on the project.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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We recently traveled to Japan  to Kyoto and Tokyo specifically. Here is a recap of some of the things we did and ate while in Kyoto. Part Two: Tokyo is soon to follow!

Last week, we hopped on a 10-hour flight to Japan from California. Japan has been on our wishlist of places to go for a while, and so we made the decision to do it while were living here. We picked a good time weather-wise: we enjoyed a gorgeous 50-60 degree-ish weather (my favorite), no rain (except on the last day) and a time when the trees boast gorgeous fire red, glowing amber and deep green. Check it out!

This was off the main path of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, a gorgeous and peaceful spot, with lots of bamboo, of course:

and this:

Our first meal in Kyoto was at mumokuteki, a cute little cafe Jeff found tucked away down a narrow side street. The entire menu was vegan, except that about 75% of the menu items contained fish stock, which I was grateful for that they indicated. I ended up choosing their avocado burger, which was a soy meat croquette, topped with fresh avocado and a creamy sauce:

It was delicious, and hit the spot after we toured Nijo Castle all morning! I didnt get many good pictures of the outside, and no photography was allowed inside, but I did manage to get a photo of the gorgeous pond nearby:

Our next stop was at the Fushimi-Inari Shrine, a massive collection of shrines and a pathway that gently sloped up and lined with bright orange columns along the way. Once we were about halfway up, we stopped to look at and photograph some of them. They ranged from beautiful to spooky, but all were interesting and unique:

We spent hours here, and loved it! We didnt make it all the way to the top, though, and headed back down to grab some dinner. We ended up at a super-tiny but popular sushi bar where you ordered through a touchscreen menu (so efficient!) I ordered Inari Sushi (seasoned rice wrapped in a fried tofu skin), Oshinko (pickles) maki rolls and natto (fermented soybean) with some kind of spicy radish. I didnt get good pictures due to the overhead lighting and the fact that I was kind of tired of taking pictures all afternoon. We were lucky to get there early, and got a seat right away. On our way out, there was already a huge line at the door!

By that evening, exhaustion really hit us, but were still a bit wired from the day. We drank some Kirin (from a vending machine!) in our hotel room and finally drifted off to sleep.

The next day, we hit Bamboo Grove (pictures at the top of the post), then headed over to Prunus Cafe for lunch. It was small but cozy, and the food was fantastic! I had this wonderful vegan noodle dish with soy meat and vegetables, and Jeff had the ramen.

From there, we headed over to Nishiki Market, a huge market with food, Japanese apparel and touristy stuff. It was packed with people inside, and each booth or store was packed to the brim with food and merchandise:

After that, we checked in at Maifukan, a Ryokan-style hotel. It was a great experience, and a place unlike any other weve ever stayed. The decor was super-minimal, with shoji screens and a few pieces of simple furniture in the room.

Once we settled in and headed back out to the Higashiyama District, the hotel arranged these futons on the floor. They were so soft and cozy!
See original here

Friend and attorney Chase Strangio tells Obama, "Her life is in your hands."

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer



Tortured and held in solitary confinement.

(Image by torbakhopper) Details DMCA



With mere weeks left under an Obama presidency, advocates have launched what they describe as a last ditch effort to save national security whistleblower Chelsea Manning before Donald Trump and his team of pro-torture, anti-LGBTQwar hawks ascend to power.

With a protest outside the White House on Saturday and a vigil outside Fort Leavenworth prison, where Manning is being held, on Sunday, advocates are amplifying their call for a presidential pardon for Manning.

Specifically, supporters are asking President Barack Obama to commute Manning's sentence to time served, pointing to the fact that Manning "has already served more time in prison than any individual in United States history who disclosed information in the public interest," though "[h]er disclosures harmed no one."

Manning, who is serving a 35-year sentence, formally submitted a petition earlier this week asking for a reduced sentence.

"Chelsea Manning has been incarcerated since May 2010, including in unlawful, unusually harsh solitary confinement for 11 months before her trial," reads a new White House petition.

The petition draws attention to the fact that, as Obama himself has recognized, that "prisoners who face solitary confinement are more likely to commit suicide." And as a transgender woman in a men's facility "facing ongoing mistreatment," Manning is highly at risk.

In an appeal for clemency, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) staff attorney Chase Strangio, a friend of Manning, published an open letter to Obama.

Noting Manning's repeated suicide attempts and ongoing mistreatment, on top of the "pain of serving in the Army for years under both Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the ban on open transgender service, Strangio writes: "If you do not act to free her now, she may never be free to live the truth that she for so long was forced to repress."

"This request comes at the peak of Chelsea's escalating trauma and despair and on the eve of a new Administration's rise to power," the letter continues. "Her life is in your hands."

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Tulips, Washington Park, Albany NY

(Image by Bear Kosik) Details DMCA



I am not condemning the casting of the show. We certainly could stand to see fewer pinkish people and more women on stage or in films and television. As a playwright, I create quite a few roles that can be played by anyone with any genetic heritage and many that are not sex specific. Characters in my novels tend to have mixed backgrounds since the novels are set in the future and that seems to be the genetic path humans are taking. However, the Supreme Court is far more representative of American diversity save for continuing to have too few women, than the group of actors stalking the boards at the Richard Rodgers Theater.

I am happy to see underrepresented groups overrepresented. I agree with Justice Ginsburg that an all-female SCOTUS should not raise any more eyebrows than the all-male line-ups on that highest bench did for almost two centuries. I look forward to that and an at-least half-female Congress even more than seeing a female POTUS. This isn't about swinging some moral pendulum to compensate for past prejudices. When I looked at the countries that have had female heads of government or state, I found that those women did little to improve the status of women in their societies. A far more likely route to raising female standing is for greater representation in legislatures and courthouses.

Another of the ironies is that the cast is playing to an audience that has mostly paid ten times the cost of a typical Broadway ticket. People able to see Hamilton performed on Broadway (at least those who are not given comped or house tickets) either have incomes many times mine or more space on their credit cards than me. My only hope of seeing this show is to have my mother get an extra seat when the touring company visits the Smith Center in Las Vegas. The price, including roundtrip airfare from Albany, NY, will still be lower than almost every seat available for the foreseeable future for the show's presentation in Manhattan's Theater District.

So, all those people applauding the cast's statement and all those people booing Governor Pence when he entered lack much diversity in terms of socioeconomic status. They probably also lacked much in the way of heritage diversity, too. I have yet to go to any Broadway performance of any play or musical where the audience wasn't almost entirely pinkish. Hamilton may draw a more POC proportion, but more is relative and a suspicious measure when the base is so close to zero.

The most reckless irony is the insistence that the cast members represent American values better than the POTUS and VP-elect. Counting votes for the Libertarian candidate, about fifty percent of the people who bothered to vote endorsed a set of values that does not reflect the values the cast is promoting. Progressives and liberals have this notion that inclusiveness and community are enduring features of our political culture, but they aren't even aspirational values to more than half of the population. The 2016 presidential campaign made clear that a majority of Americans place their dubious Second-Amendment right to bear arms above any of the First-Amendment liberties. It made clear that most Americans think it unnecessary to apply the Fourth-, Fifth-, and Sixth-Amendment protections to resident nationals of other countries and even Muslim USA citizens.

Is this a bad case of miseducation regarding our constitutional freedoms? Absolutely! Unfortunately, our system of government does not require that voters have any sort of understanding of the principles laid out in the US Constitution or any of the other founding documents of this country. Donald Trump knew that and exploited it. However, are American values based on texts written over two centuries ago or the living principles held by citizens today? The fact is that the authors of those texts were more closely aligned with the view of American values expressed by Trump supporters than the desiderata of the left.

Claiming diversity, inclusiveness, and community welfare as American values ignores history. Those are values that have struggled to find acceptance. The only First-Amendment rights that have been warmly embraced are the right to speech and self-expression and freedom of religion. Trump supporters and their ilk demand that anything they say is protected speech, no matter how racist, incendiary, or bigoted their words are. Their agenda is Bible-based, so they are stout offenders of church-state separation in the name of their religious freedom. Extremists love to believe that liberties are absolute, despite the clear record of conditions placed on their exercise.
"To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans." -- Department of Justice Mission Statement

For those inclined to "wait and see" and "give him a chance," the nomination of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions lll for US attorney general should lay to rest any thought that Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric was mere political hyperbole. Even when measured against Trump's previous leading candidates for the position, namely Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani, the nomination of Sessions is especially egregious. Sessions' particular unfitness for the position stands out even in an era that has seen successive less-than-stellar candidates serve at attorney general.

Countless articles have been written detailing Sessions' racist past. He reportedly called a black federal prosecutor "boy" and advised him to "be careful what you say to white folks." While serving as US attorney in Alabama, Sessions was reported to have called the NAACP and the ACLU "un-American" and "communist-inspired." Sessions is further reported to have said both groups "forced civil rights down the throats of people."

Numerous witnesses came forward with similar claims during the 1986 hearings into Sessions' nomination to the federal bench. It was learned during the hearings that Sessions called a white civil-rights lawyer a "disgrace to his race" and referred to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 a "piece of intrusive legislation." A Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee took the unusual step of failing to advance Sessions' nomination to the full Senate for consideration.

In short, he was deemed to be completely unfit to serve as a federal judge.

The voters of Alabama have nevertheless seen fit to send Sessions to the US Senate as their representative where he has served since 1996. Ironically, he serves on the same committee that had previously voted down his judicial nomination.

And now with a 20-year record in the US Senate that includes virulent anti-immigration hostility, utter disdain for the rights of the accused, and seemingly unconditional fealty to law enforcement, Sessions has emerged as Trumps' nominee for US attorney general.

Sessions' nomination signals the Trump administration's determination to fulfil some of the more incendiary promises made during the campaign. The on-again, off-again Muslim ban cannot be realized without the willing assistance of the US attorney general. Sessions leaves little doubt that he would gleefully endorse even the most outrageous plans of the new administration.

As if the aforementioned were not in itself disqualifying, there is an incident in Sessions' past career as a federal prosecutor that is even more disturbing.

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Much was made when Barack Obama made his historic run for the White House of the fact that in the course of his relatively young life he had been a "community organizer" and that in addition to having a law degree, he had actually taught Constitutional law. Just nine days after his inauguration as the nation's first black president, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, which he was awarded that October,. Norwegian Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland, while insisting that the prize had not been awarded "for what may happen in the future," did admit the award left the committee fearing"being labeled naive for accepting a young politician's promises at face value."

As it turns out, all of these promising signs of progressive integrity and principle, based upon the thinnest of evidence and experience, have turned out to have been false.

Obama proved to be a disaster as an organizer president, except when it came to organizing support for his initial election win. He failed, even with majority control of both houses of Congress, to even try to rally his supporters to fight for real progressive change during the critical months after he had taken office, quickly abandoning workers whom he promised to provide with a more union-friendly National Labor Relations Act, for example. Premature Peace Prize in hand, he failed to end the nation's wars, and instead began new ones, leaving this country mired in several conflicts -- including Iraq and Afghanistan -- even eight years later as he was leaving office, and adding a new disastrous precedent of presidential murder-by-drone.

Now, to add to the disappointing list of false hopes and promises, it turns out that Obama is no constitutional scholar either...or a man with even a scintilla of spine or principle.

The evidence: On a final trip to Europe, Obama, in an interview with the German news weekly Der Spiegel, asked whether he would consider pardoning NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, replied, "I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves, so that's not something that I would comment on at this point"...

For the rest of this article by DAVE LINDORFF in ThisCantBeHappening!, the uncompromised, collectively run, five-time Project Censored Award-winning online alternative news site, please go to: www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/3364
As it was when we watched the towers fall in 2001, the unreality of this moment has engendered not only worldwide grief, but, for many, despair. The days pass and we continue to reel in sick horror, shell shocked by the incomprehensible, struggling to process the unthinkable, and daily, watching the Inauguration draw eerily closer.



We cannot allow our government to be populated by appointees who represent the racist idealism of the pre-civil rights 1950's. This is not who we are as a nation in 2016 and these are not the prominent ideals of our current society. Right now the corporate-owned media, the Congress and the Republican party are seeking to normalize this nightmare in our eyes, just as they normalized Trump's flagrantly racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, self-aggrandizing candidacy. We cannot let them.

Collective shock can be paralyzing, but to relax our opposition, without straining every nerve to combat this outcome, is to usher in a reality from which this nation may never recover.



These are the times when Evil is done: the bombing of Hiroshima, Japanese internment camps, the passage of the Patriot Act, the Iraq War, Warrant-less Wiretapping, Electronic Voting, all were ushered in during times of national shock, because shock takes advantage of ignorance and fear.



The mainstream media, with their endless blather of Presidential transition teams, cabinet appointees, and inaugural gowns, will strive to convince the nation that a Trump Presidency is a fait accompli - not a looming disaster that can and must be derailed at all costs. In just the same way, the media convinced millions of Americans that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that George W. Bush was a legitimate President, and that Bernie Sanders wasn't a viable candidate.

It is high time that we sought or own reality and learned from these mistakes. This will not be not a "normal" transition of presidential power, and we must not allow anyone convince us that our very democracy will not be dire peril the moment Trump succeeds in being inaugurated - it will be.

In the days and weeks to come, it is imperative that the American electorate hold fast to it's fury and leave no stone unturned to legally and morally expose and impede this threatening Presidency. We should not be swayed, pacified, or shamed into stepping weakly aside and accepting Donald Trump as Commander and Chief simply because MSNBC, NPR, Fox, ABC, or CBS say we should.

Trump's election is the latest, and by far the most terrifying, result of the powerful 24/7 misinformation machine that regularly hypnotizes an uninformed public into working against its own interests and supporting the corporate billionaire agenda.

But no one gets a pass anymore. America has reached the end of the line, the nadir of our Democracy - and no excuse is good enough for remaining uninformed.

Our remaining lifeboat is to stay three steps ahead of this media juggernaut. Arm ourselves with the truth. Fight the misinformation machine, do our own research, follow the money, question authority, turn off the corporate noise box and stockpile and share genuine, vetted information from independent, viewer-supported and reader-funded news and information sites.

They say "The truth will set you free" and right now American Democracy is in lock-down. Being uninformed in the aftermath of this election is as dangerous as being Donald Trump himself.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall's Bottom Up is a revaluation of values, not the empty mouthing of the word 'democracy' that is so common, but the application of belief in popular wisdom to every aspect of life. Actually believing that the views of more people is better, means a new way of thinking about the world that is democratic, feminist, localist, populist, and radically richer than the elitist perspectives that are more common even in the parts of the world that shout the word 'democracy' the most. Here we come to understand both the power of small groups and the upsides to internet crowd sourcing, the potential of nonviolent movements and ways in which the past has not been what we supposed. Don't just read this book; get lots of people to read and talk about it."



David Swanson, host, Talk Nation Radio, author of War No More: The Case for Abolition.
Christiane Brown is an Emmy Award winning television producer/writer, filmmaker, radio broadcast journalist and community organizer. A life-long activist for social change Christiane serves on the State Executive Committee of Brady, Nevada, the Coordinating Committee of Third Act Nevada, and is founder of Climate Reality Nevada. A 30 year broadcast radio veteran Christiane began her career as newscaster and host for Bay Area NPR affiliate KCSM in 1980 and went on to host and produce programs for local and national syndicated radio stations through 2013. As Progressive radio producer and host of The Solution Zone from 2006 to 2013 Christiane's candid and in-depth interviews with high profile guests including Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter on the issues of war, torture, impeachment, warrentless wiretapping, gun safety, racial justice, climate change and abuse of power gained her national recognition and a reputation for tenacity and a no holds barred interviewing style. In 1985 Christiane became partner in ImageSync Television, a broadcast design and production company, specializing in the creation of high-end documentary and entertainment film and video programming for a variety of broadcast and non-broadcast platforms. A former 25 year resident of the Bay Area Christiane graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Moving to Reno, Nevada in 1987 Christiane married native Nevadan Scott Brown and together they have raised two amazing daughters who have gone on to write and produce themselves. Throughout her life Christiane has witnessed first-hand the power of communication to change minds, inspire action and build the kind of momentum that can transform the world.
OnePlus 3T is the latest device launched by the Chinese company but they are not touting it as the flagship device. The company is playing it fair by calling the device just an upgrade instead of a new flagship as the device will hardly change externally.

The new device will come with a boost in all specifications that matter the most, for every smartphone user.

The OnePlus 3T will come with an updated device with a new and powerful Snapdragon 821 chipset. Other than that the device will come with an improved front facing camera with a resolution of 16 MegaPixel.

The third prominent and most advertised feature is the new battery and its faster capability to dash charge. The company claims to provide a day's charge in 30 minutes.

The availability of the new model in India has not been specified but the company did mention that India will be among the first countries to receive it along with US, China and Hong Kong. The device is scheduled to launch in US on November 22 and on November 29 in China.

The new OnePlus 3T will come in two variants. The 64GB variant will come at a price of $439 (Roughly Rs 29,800) and the 128GB will be priced at $479 (Roughly Rs 32,500). Considering that the current version is mostly low on stock, the company might replace it with the newer version.
119 Indian ppl killed as train derailed in Uttar Pradesh

PATNA: At least 119 people were killed and more than 150 injured when an Indian express train derailed in northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, with the toll set to rise amid a scramble to locate survivors.



Police officials said people were still missing as authorities tried to ascertain what caused 14 carriages of the train travelling between the northeastern city of Patna and the central city of Indore to suddenly roll off the tracks in Pukhrayan, some 65km south of Kanpur city.



Authorities said they were checking the condition of the tracks but would need to look further before concluding the cause of the derailment, Indias deadliest rail tragedy since more than 140 died in a 2010 collision in West Bengal.



Desperate survivors searched for family members and some tried to enter the damaged carriages to rescue relatives and collect belongings, said senior railway official Pratap Rai. We are using every tactic to save lives but its very difficult to cut the metal carriages, he said from the accident site.



Kanpur District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that 119 people were confirmed dead, while 78 of the injured remained in hospital, four of them in a critical condition.



With rescue teams still looking for victims amid the wreckage, the toll from the derailment could rise to become Indias worst rail tragedy in this century.



In what was probably Indias worst rail disaster, a train plunged off a bridge and into a river in 1981 in Bihar state, killing an estimated 500 to 800 people.



Indias creaking railway system is the worlds fourth largest. It runs 11,000 trains a day, including 7,000 passenger trains carrying more than 20 million people. But it has a poor safety record, with thousands of people dying in accidents every year, including in train derailments and collisions.



India Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said in a tweet that the government would investigate the causes of the derailment and promised accountability with the strictest possible action, as well as compensation for the affected passengers.



The packed train, operated by the government, derailed in the early hours of Sunday when more than 500 passengers were sleeping, survivors said.



TV footage showed mangled blue carriages, with crowds of people and police on top of the wreckage searching for survivors. One carriage was almost lying on its side, and appeared to have been completely torn apart.



Rescue officials with yellow helmets worked their way through the crowds, carrying victims from the wreckage as teams struggled to remove the derailed wagons from the tracks, one of the main transportation routes for goods and passengers in northern India.



Suddenly I could feel that the carriage was overturning. I immediately held the metal rod near the bathroom door, said Faizal Khan, who was travelling with his wife and two children, all of whom survived the accident.



Another survivor, Rajdeep Tanwar, said. I can see bodies lying near the tracks, everyone is in a state of shock. There is no water or food for us.



Rescue teams said they would conclude the search operation before nightfall and resume it on Monday. Nearby villagers set up temporary kitchens and erected tents for survivors and officials.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who started out selling tea outside a train station, has promised to modernize Indias railways and build high-speed lines befitting Asias third-largest economy.



His government has pledged to replace old tracks and upgrade security infrastructure but little progress has been made so far. More than 90 percent of the railways revenues are spent on operational costs, leaving next to nothing for modernisation.



On Sunday, Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences. Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, Modi said.
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
Nana Akufo Addo's Presidency will usher in a new era of women empowerment and emancipation, a member of the National Council of the NPP, Mrs. Janet Anane, has observed.



The NPP leading member is therefore asking all women in the country to rally behind the NPP flagbearer and vote massively for the party.



Addressing members of the Concerned Ashanti Women in Kumasi, Mrs. Anane observed that the December 7 is a crucial one, stressing that the pro-women policies contained in the NPP manifesto will help promote the socio-economic development of women and other vulnerable groups in the country.



She further observed that the significant progress made under the previous NPP administration as a result of several social intervention policies have all been eroded through the insensitivity of the NDC President Mahama-led administration.



Mrs. Anane therefore called on the women groups to intensify their activities at the grassroots level and galvanize support for the party.





Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email:[email protected]









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The opening ceremony of a photovoltaic solar farm in Bokoul, Senegal, last month

Above the sacks of seeds and coal, three kerosene lamps gather dust in the tiny shed that Kenyan chicken farmer Bernard calls home.

He prefers to use solar energy to light up his evenings, listen to the radio or watch television, after abandoning a diesel generator he said was expensive to maintain and burned fuel too quickly.

"Solar panels are a good, cheap solution," he told AFP.

Across the continent, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes and small businesses, even as African governments unveil massive new solar projects seemingly every month to expand their grids.

According to International Energy Agency projections, almost one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will gain access to the grid by 2040, but by that time 530 million will remain off-grid, almost comparable with the 600 million who cannot access power today.

Governments have ramped up their efforts: on Africa's Atlantic coast, Senegal last month inaugurated a massive 20 megawatt (MW) project that will deliver energy to 160,000 people, which President Macky Sall saluted as ushering in "a new, clean-energy era".

But Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, director-general of national utility Senelec, underlined upcoming problems in an interview with AFP.

Across Africa, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes

"We actually have an excess of 100MW of power," he said. "But we have a distribution problem. We have been thinking in terms of roads and railways... but not about electricity highways."

With around 55 to 65 percent of homes receiving electricity, Senegal's grid strength is above average for sub-Saharan Africa, whereas in South Sudan and Liberia this hovers between one and two percent.

But even in Senegal, neighbouring Mauritania and Rwanda, which have all invested in large-scale solar projects as the cost of panels tumble, the twin challenges of limited grids and Africa's demographics remain.

'Space for innovation'

"The grid and the off-grid are so far apart right now that it's creating a huge space for innovation," enthuses Andrew Herscowitz, coordinator for US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative.

Senegal now has an excess of power, though it still has a distribution problem

Power Africa, which identifies governments and businesses requiring sustainable and affordable energy and offers funding and expertise in more than 15 countries, has taken a particular interest in solar.

Power Africa is pushing this renewable source so that people "don't have to wait for the grid to arrive to them, they can access a company today and have a solar panel put on their roof," Herscowitz told AFP.

Half of sub-Saharan Africa's power is generated in South Africa, while north Africa has built effective grid systems that largely serve their populations with a constant flow of energy.

But for the rest, off-grid systems and the technology needed to make them reachable to the sub-continent's poorest homes have reached a tipping point in the last five years, spurred by advances that have lowered costs.

Lighting homes with kerosene and candles remains expensive, dangerous and polluting, but in Kenya micro-solar firms have brought power to 30 percent of the off-grid population.

Solar panels in Tafoughalt, in Morocco's eastern Berkane province

"A person can for the same amount of money they were spending to buy kerosene just for that little flicker of light use that money to buy a small solar panel that can power safe lightbulbs," Herscowitz said.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of British "pay-as-you-go" solar panel firm Azuri, noted that the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity in the West was around 15 US cents, while kerosene was 53 times higher and candles 105 times higher on average for African consumers.

Azuri and rival M-Kopa offer a package of solar-powered lightbulbs, radio, and phone charging ports for as little as 50 US cents a day.

Solar-powered televisions are available for a little more and fridges are expected to follow.

The firms have made their mark in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, which also have the heaviest uptake of mobile money systems, allowing users to pay for these services automatically through cheap and easy-to-access bank accounts provided by telecoms firms.

Simon Bransfield-Garth (right) receives a sustainability award from Arnold Schwarzenegger in Copenhagen

In these markets, customers are often so sparsely distributed that even if they have the opportunity to connect to the grid, doing so is still often more expensive than solar packs.

Sunshine continent

Investment in the sun to feed Africa's grids is appreciable: by the end of 2014 output stood at 1,334 MW, more than ten times larger than in 2009 (127 MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As consultancy firm KPMG put it in a recent report, solar power is "the most widely available source of renewable energy in Africa", and could "bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without the need for expensive large-scale grid level infrastructural developments."

The uptake of solar still remains extremely low compared to coal and biomass, accounting for less than five percent of overall grid power, but solar is getting cheaper and easier to install than ever.

Besides, most off-grid communities have no other option, as Africa Power's Herscowitz noted: "the amount of money needed to solve the energy deficit in Africa is hundreds of billions of dollars. No government has that money."

Barack Obama (left) talks with June Muli about solar power in Nairobi last year

 2016 AFP
General view of Tel Akko, also known as Napoleons Hill, with a statue of Napoleon on its summit. Credit: Jennifer Munro

During his tenure as an archaeologist, Indiana Jones wasn't much concerned about preserving historical sites and landmarks. He pilfered precious artifacts, set off booby traps willy nilly and damaged valuable potential research sites in all his movies.

In reality, archaeologists are much more careful. Keeping meticulous records of what a site looks like before and after a digas well as carefully indexing and caring for artifactsis something all archaeologists keep in mind while in the field.

To help them preserve and keep record of historical sites and objects, Penn State archaeologists are using several information technologies while on location.

"We're constantly pushing the boundaries of how new technologies can help us in our research," said Ann Killebrew, associate professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, Jewish studies and anthropology. "We use photogrammetry to create 3-D models of the excavation, artifacts, and landscapes, and GIS to visualize the multi-layered stratigraphy of Tel Akko and spatially analyze our data."

Preserving the past with IT

Killebrew spearheads the Total Archaeology at Tel Akko Project, which takes a group of students, faculty and staff from Penn State and other institutions across the globe each summer to study the ancient Canaanite and Phoenician site in northern Israel.

While there, Killebrew and her fellow researchers comb through the ruins, looking for clues about societies that once lived there. Each morning, they arrive at the excavation site by 5:30. But before they start digging, they need to create a record of what the site looks like before anything is movedwhere walls, artifacts, rocks and anything else are located.

This record-keeping is essential to the process.

"The thing about digging is that we're dismantling a location, removing dirt and artifacts as we go," said Killebrew. "And unlike most sciences, you only have one chance to do it, because you can't put the dirt back after you've excavated it. Every day, the dig site looks different than it did the day before."

Tim Hay takes photos at Tel Akko. The photos are then processed using Photoscan Pro Agisoft software to create 3-D models of the field. Credit: Jane Skinner

The 3-D documentation can help check the team's work and allow others to reconstruct what was removed by the excavators.

Traditionally, these records were drawn by hand. But although hand drawings are still a part of the process, the team is also using a technique called photogrammetry to create digital, 3-D models of the site each morning.

Photogrammetry is a process that uses 2-D photographs, like the ones the research team takes of the dig site each morning, and transforms them into a 3-D model using software like Agisoft Photoscan. This allows the researchers to have more precise, interactive recordsthe models can be rotated and viewed from any angleand saves time that they would have otherwise spent drawing each day.

"It allows us to record in greater detail than how we used to, which previously was based on 2-D drawings or photographs," said Tim Hay, who is pursuing undergraduate degrees in classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, anthropology and Jewish studies. "It helps us document much more information in a much more timely fashion."

The technology can also be used to digitally preserve artifacts. By taking photos of an object from many different angles, the software will compile a 3-D model of the artifact that can be studied digitally much closer than with the human eye alone.

"One object we found was a carved stone dating from the seventh century B.C.," said Killebrew. "Looking at the stone in person, it's almost impossible to see what's carved on it. But with the 3-D model, the incisions really pop out, and we can see almost every single tiny little incision."

Backing up with Box

While having these digital records is great, all those files need a place to live. They can't be stored in a filing cabinet like a pile of papers, so the research team needed a way to store their digital records in a safe, secure place. The team decided on Box at Penn State, a cloud-based file storage service available to all University students, faculty and staff.

"We have terabytes and terabytes of material, and we're constantly backing things up," said Killebrew. "But having Box is great, and now we're saving a lot of our materials there. It's a fantastic resource."

As the archaeologists prepare to study what they found in Tel Akko before they go abroad once again next summer, the digital records will surely come in handy. And unlike Indy, when they return to Israel, they'll do so with cameras and computers in hand, which beats a whip any day.
Dr Michelle Langley. Credit: Stuart Hay, ANU

Australia's oldest-known piece of Indigenous jewellery has been unearthed in the Kimberley region of northern Australia by archaeologists at The Australian National University (ANU).

The ornament, a pointed kangaroo bone worn through the nose, has been dated at more than 46,000-years-old and debunks a theory that bone tools were not used in Australia for thousands of years.

Researcher Dr Michelle Langley of the ANU School of Culture, History and Language said this was the earliest hard evidence that Australia's first inhabitants were using bone to make tools and ornaments.

"We know people had bone tools in Africa at least 75,000 years ago. People were leaving Africa around the same time and arrived in Australia some 60,000 years ago," Dr Langley said.

"Until very recently the earliest bone tools we had found in Australia dated to about 20,000 years ago, so there has been a 40,000 year gap.

"Some people believed that the knowledge of bone tool making was lost on the journey between Africa and Australia.

"With this find, we now know they were making bone tools soon after arriving in Australia."

The bone was dug up at Carpenter's Gap, a large rockshelter in Windjana Gorge National Park.

"It's a shaped point made on kangaroo leg bone, and at each end we can see traces of red ochre," Dr Langley said.

"This artefact was found below a deposit dated to 46,000 years ago, so it is older than that date."

Throughout history Indigenous Australians have used kangaroo leg bones for a variety of activities, such as leatherwork, basketry, ceremonial tasks, and bodily decoration.

"The bone we found is most consistent with those used for facial decoration," she said.

"All across Australia both men and women would wear a bone point through their nose identical to this one. Children in some communities were known to have had their nose pierced quite young, while in others only certain individuals were allowed to adorn themselves in this fashion."

Dr Langley said the location and nature of this artefact made it a rare and remarkable discovery.

"Organic based items like this don't survive in the north Australian archaeological record very often, so it's a very unusual find," she said.

This work resulted from an Australian Research Council Linkage grant awarded to Professor Sue O'Connor. The same project previously unearthed fragments from the world's oldest-known ground-edge axe.

More information: Michelle C. Langley et al. A >46,000-year-old kangaroo bone implement from Carpenter's Gap 1 (Kimberley, northwest Australia), Quaternary Science Reviews (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.11.006 Journal information: Quaternary Science Reviews
Diagram showing the amount of cosmic radiation the surface of Mars is exposed to. Credit: NASA

Human exploration of Mars has been ramping up in the past few decades. In addition to the eight active missions on or around the Red Planet, seven more robotic landers, rovers and orbiters are scheduled to be deployed there by the end of the decade. And by the 2030s and after, several space agencies are planning to mount crewed missions to the surface as well.

On top of that, there are even plenty of volunteers who are prepared to make a one-way journey to Mars, and people advocating that we turn it into a second home. All of these proposals have focused attention on the peculiar hazards that come with sending human beings to Mars. Aside from its cold, dry environment, lack of air, and huge sandstorms, there's also the matter of its radiation.

Causes:

Mars has no protective magnetosphere, as Earth does. Scientists believe that at one time, Mars also experienced convection currents in its core, creating a dynamo effect that powered a planetary magnetic field. However, roughly 4.2 billions year ago  either due to a massive impact from a large object, or rapid cooling in its core  this dynamo effect ceased.

As a result, over the course of the next 500 million years, Mars atmosphere was slowly stripped away by solar wind. Between the loss of its magnetic field and its atmosphere, the surface of Mars is exposed to much higher levels of radiation than Earth. And in addition to regular exposure to cosmic rays and solar wind, it receives occasional lethal blasts that occur with strong solar flares.

Credit: Universe Today

Investigations:

NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft was equipped with a special instrument called the Martian Radiation Experiment (or MARIE), which was designed to measure the radiation environment around Mars. Since Mars has such a thin atmosphere, radiation detected by Mars Odyssey would be roughly the same as on the surface.

Over the course of about 18 months, the Mars Odyssey probe detected ongoing radiation levels which are 2.5 times higher than what astronauts experience on the International Space Station  22 millirads per day, which works out to 8000 millirads (8 rads) per year. The spacecraft also detected 2 solar proton events, where radiation levels peaked at about 2,000 millirads in a day, and a few other events that got up to about 100 millirads.

For comparison, human beings in developed nations are exposed to (on average) 0.62 rads per year. And while studies have shown that the human body can withstand a dose of up to 200 rads without permanent damage, prolonged exposure to the kinds of levels detected on Mars could lead to all kinds of health problems  like acute radiation sickness, increased risk of cancer, genetic damage, and even death.

And given that exposure to any amount of radiation carries with it some degree of risk, NASA and other space agencies maintain a strict policy of ALARA (As-Low-As-Reasonable-Achievable) when planning missions.

Artist impression of a Mars settlement with cutaway view. Credit: NASA Ames Research Center

Possible Solutions:

Human explorers to Mars will definitely need to deal with the increased radiation levels on the surface. What's more, any attempts to colonize the Red Planet will also require measures to ensure that exposure to radiation is minimized. Already, several solutions  both short term and long- have been proposed to address this problem.

For example, NASA maintains multiple satellites that study the sun, the space environment throughout the solar system, and monitor for galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of solar and cosmic radiation. They've also been looking for ways to develop better shielding for astronauts and electronics.

In 2014, NASA launched the Reducing Galactic Cosmic Rays Challenge, an incentive-based competition that awarded a total of $12,000 to ideas on how to reduce astronauts' exposure to galactic cosmic rays. After the initial challenge in April of 2014, a follow-up challenge took place in July that awarded a prize of $30,000 for ideas involving active and passive protection.

When it comes to long-term stays and colonization, several more ideas have been floated in the past. For instance, as Robert Zubrin and David Baker explained in their proposal for a low-cast "Mars Direct" mission, habitats built directly into the ground would be naturally shielded against radiation. Zubrin expanded on this in his 1996 book The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must.

Proposals have also been made to build habitats above-ground using inflatable modules encased in ceramics created using Martian soil. Similar to what has been proposed by both NASA and the ESA for a settlement on the Moon, this plan would rely heavily on robots using 3-D printing technique known as "sintering", where sand is turned into a molten material using x-rays.

Credit: Universe Today

MarsOne, the non-profit organization dedicated to colonizing Mars in the coming decades, also has proposals for how to shield Martian settlers. Addressing the issue of radiation, the organization has proposed building shielding into the mission's spacecraft, transit vehicle, and habitation module. In the event of a solar flare, where this protection is insufficient, they advocate creating a dedicated radiation shelter (located in a hollow water tank) inside their Mars Transit Habitat.

But perhaps the most radical proposal for reducing Mars' exposure to harmful radiation involves jump-starting the planet's core to restore its magnetosphere. To do this, we would need to liquefy the planet's outer core so that it can convect around the inner core once again. The planet's own rotation would begin to create a dynamo effect, and a magnetic field would be generated.

According to Sam Factor, a graduate student with the Department of Astronomy at the University of Texas, there are two ways to do this. The first would be to detonate a series of thermonuclear warheads near the planet's core, while the second involves running an electric current through the planet, producing resistance at the core which would heat it up.

In addition, a 2008 study conducted by researchers from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) in Japan addressed the possibility of creating an artificial magnetic field around Earth. After considering continuous measurements that indicated a 10% drop in intensity in the past 150 years, they went on to advocate how a series of planet-encircling superconducting rings could compensate for future losses.

With some adjustments, such a system could be adapted for Mars, creating an artificial magnetic field that could help shield the surface from some of the harmful radiation it regularly receives. In the event that terraformers attempt to create an atmosphere for Mars, this system could also ensure that it is protected from solar wind.

Lastly, a study in 2007 by researchers from the Institute for Mineralogy and Petrology in Switzerland and the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences at Vrije University in Amsterdam managed to replicate what Mars' core looks like. Using a diamond chamber, the team was able to replicate pressure conditions on iron-sulfur and iron-nickel-sulfur systems that correspond to the center of Mars.

Approximate true-color rendering of the central part of the Columbia Hills, taken by NASAs Mars Exploration Rover Spirit panoramic camera. Credit: NASA/JPL

What they found was that at the temperatures expected in the Martian core (~1500 K, or 1227 C; 2240 F), the inner core would be liquid, but some solidification would occur in the outer core. This is quite different from Earth's core, where the solidification of the inner core releases heat that keeps the outer core molten, thus creating the dynamo effect that powers our magnetic field.

The absence of a solid inner core on Mars would mean that the once-liquid outer core must have had a different energy source. Naturally, that heat source has since failed, causing the outer core to solidify, thus arresting any dynamo effect. However, their research also showed that planetary cooling could lead to core solidification in the future, either due to iron-rich solids sinking towards the center or iron-sulfides crystallizing in the core.

In other words, Mars' core might become solid someday, which would heat the outer core and turn it molten. Combined with the planet's own rotation, this would generate the dynamo effect that would once again fire up the planet's magnetic field. If this is true, then colonizing Mars and living there safely could be a simple matter of waiting for the core to crystallize.

There's no way around it. At present, the radiation on the surface of Mars is pretty hazardous! Therefore, any crewed missions to the planet in the future will need to take into account radiation shielding and counter-measures. And any long-term stays there  at least for the foreseeable future  are going to have to be built into the ground, or hardened against solar and cosmic rays.

But you know what they say about necessity being the mother of invention, right? And with such luminaries as Stephen Hawking saying that we need to start colonizing other worlds in order to survive as a species, and people like Elon Musk and Bas Lansdrop looking to make it happen, we're sure to see some very inventive solutions in the coming generations!
People protest in La Paz on November 18, 2016 against Bolivia's water shortage

Bolivia's government declared an emergency on Monday as the country suffers its worst drought in 25 years.

"The cabinet has approved a decree... to declare a national emergency due to the drought and the shortage of water in various regions of the country," President Evo Morales told reporters.

He said the decree unblocks funding for the government and local authorities to tackle the shortages.

Morales said 2016 has been the hottest year in a century for the Andean nation.

The drought started two weeks ago and has caused shortages in seven of the country's 10 biggest cities.

The state water utility EPSAS has started rationing water. Some districts are being served by tanker lorries.

The shortages have sparked protests in various areas, including rural districts whose crops depend on irrigation.

 2016 AFP
Credit: University of Texas at San Antonio

A new study by Bruce Rudy, assistant professor of management at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), examines the influence corporate CEOs have on their firm's political activity. Rudy's top-tier research focuses on corporate lobbying investment, finding that individual characteristics of the firm's leader influence such decisions.

Rudy and his co-author, Andrew Johnson, assistant professor of management at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, examined 100 large companies over a 27-year period to assess the impact their CEOs have on the firm's investment in lobbying.

"Strategy research talks a lot about the role of the leader in making critical decisions within the firm, yet most of this research focuses on market-related activities like mergers and acquisitions. We wanted to know whether CEOs' influence also impacted how firm's engage in politics," he said.

"There are basically two types of lobbying investment a firm can make," Rudy said. "Firms can contract with existing lobbyists or choose to invest money to develop lobbying capabilities in-house. Each type of lobbying investment has benefits and drawbacks for the firm."

Rudy and his co-author found that CEOs that were younger, had shorter tenure, held undergraduate degrees in business and law or were promoted to CEO via backgrounds in accounting, finance, and law were more likely to invest internally to build lobbying capabilities within the firm. Older and longer tenured CEOs were more likely to contract with Washington, D.C. lobbyists that were external to the organization.

"External lobbyists tend to be former politicians or D.C. insiders who are really good at tapping into their network," Rudy said. "This skill set is particularly well-suited for maintaining the status quo in politics which older and tenured CEOs prefer. In contrast, the CEO characteristics that predicted a firm's investment in in-house lobbying capabilities tend to be less associated with status quo maintenance. A skilled in-house lobbying team may even be capable of shifting policy that can benefit the firm over the long-term."

As for the future of CEOs and political activity with a corporate CEO soon to be inaugurated as President of the United States, Rudy noted that some industries are excited by the prospect, while others are not.

"Firms are going to be focused on the president-elect's policy positions, more than his standing as a CEO," he said. "Corporations have been involved in politics since the early days of our nation and it is difficult to imagine a future where this isn't the case."

More information: B. C. Rudy et al, The Chief Political Officer: CEO Characteristics and Firm Investment in Corporate Political Activity, Business & Society (2016). DOI: 10.1177/0007650316675606
I have been thinking about gift giving in Shakespeare. There doesn't seem to be too much of it if I remember rightly. What there is tends to be more insult...

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There are tons of specials everyday as most of you know, and you'll always see the various types linked on the Reference column at the right of this bl...

There are tons of specials everyday as most of you know, and you'll always see the various types linked on the Reference column at the right of this bl...

Well, for this site anyway. This page is going dark. I simply dont post enough to warrant paying for it any longer. Any future posts will appear at my old...

Well, for this site anyway. This page is going dark. I simply dont post enough to warrant paying for it any longer. Any future posts will appear at my old...

My latest post on Catholicmom.com is up here! An excerpt: So while I can no longer shield my adult children, or forbid or prevent them from doing whatever ...

My latest post on Catholicmom.com is up here! An excerpt: So while I can no longer shield my adult children, or forbid or prevent them from doing whatever ...

Kate Spade I never once set foot in one of the stores, passing by never saw a thing Id buy for myself or anyone I know. But when I walk by now a sense...

Kate Spade I never once set foot in one of the stores, passing by never saw a thing Id buy for myself or anyone I know. But when I walk by now a sense...

FROM *THE BOOK OF MIRACLES* Hi people, for current subscribers, or for those who may wish to become new subscribers, please go to the Subscribe to Blog via...

FROM *THE BOOK OF MIRACLES* Hi people, for current subscribers, or for those who may wish to become new subscribers, please go to the Subscribe to Blog via...

In one of her letters, St. Catherine of Siena said -- well, she said basically the same thing in more than one letter, but I'm quoting Letter T5/G225 to...

In one of her letters, St. Catherine of Siena said -- well, she said basically the same thing in more than one letter, but I'm quoting Letter T5/G225 to...

We went to the SC State Fair on Sunday. I headed to the livestock shows - just to look. But I came away with a new Boar from Kewanee Farms out of Georgia...

We went to the SC State Fair on Sunday. I headed to the livestock shows - just to look. But I came away with a new Boar from Kewanee Farms out of Georgia...

Quick Quotes

"Christianity brought reverence for what is below us." - Goethe

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"Your salvation is in the hands of God...There is no purely human knowledge of one's eternal destiny that can contain the infinitely greater certainty contained in your faith and hope through Christ our Lord." - EWTN Q&A

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"It is a truism in the interpretation of Scripture that its spiritual message is disclosed only to those who bring to their reading a consciousness of their need for God and his mercy. Only they get it and appreciate the urgency of the message. The others are all bewildered. - Msgr. Herron


A new report criticized New York colleges and universities for allowing students to graduate without taking many classes in liberal arts.

More than two-third of the institutions earned a C or lower, according to the latest What Will They Learn? Report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

Siena College received a C. The College of Saint Rose, Skidmore College, the University at Albany and Union College received D grades. Russell Sage College and the Sage College of Albany received a grade of F.

The report graded the institutions on whether they required courses in composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. history, economics, mathematics and science in order to graduate. A score of F. means the college or university requires zero or one of the courses in this area. In addition, only 11 percent of the institutions require U.S. history or government and only 3 percent require economics, according to a news release. Nearly two-thirds do not require a course in literature and only 12 of the schools require foreign language.

Only 25 college and universities in the country received grades of A. The U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. merchant Marine Academy were the only institutions in New York state. About 32 percent earned a C.

New York has been the birthplace of some of the nations greatest literary and historical figures, but students who attend college there today may never learn about them said Dr. Michael B. Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni in a news release. Despite the fine reputations of New York States many public and private liberal arts institutions, too many are neglecting core subjects that provide students a strong foundation for career and citizenship. New York students and parents should take note as they make important decisions about college choice.
There are some parts of American history that seemingly get ignored.

Its uncomfortable to look back and learn from our less-than-proud moments, but its something we must do. As every history teacher you ever had said, If we dont learn from historys mistakes, were bound to repeat them.

By-and-large one part of American history that has been constantly ignored is the treatment of Americans of Japanese, Italian and German descent during World War II. In her 2016 New York Times bestseller, The Train to Crystal City: FDRs Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and Americas Only Family Internment Camp During World War II, author Jan Jarboe Russell brings to life one of Americas darkest moments.

Russells work on this book is a combination of interviews with survivors and documentation from agencies such as the FBI. It is impeccably detail-oriented.

This thoroughly-researched piece of historical non-fiction is it times depressing and at other times uplifting. Russell discusses the broad implications of the dangerous policies passed under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which allowed thousands of Japanese, Germans and Italians, living in America to be arrested and interned without ever facing trial or even being informed of their charges.

At times it reads like Franz Kafkas legendary novel The Trial, as innocent people are denied their basic right of habeas corpus.

Russell doesnt just discuss broad policies, however. She delves into the day-to-day lives of the people impacted by these policies. Her main focus is on those Americans of Japanese and German descent who were forcibly removed from their homes and shipped by train to the internment camp in Crystal City, Texas.

The camp at Crystal City allowed families to stay together, but at a cost. Many were repatriated to countries they didnt live in. Russell takes particular interest in the Eiserlohs, a German family from Strongsville, Ohio, and the Utsushigawas, a Japanese family from Los Angeles.

Both families end up at the camp at Crystal City, where they are ultimately traded with the Axis powers, in exchange for Americans held behind enemy lines.

Roosevelts wife, Eleanor, at times pleads to her husband to not cram American residents into internment camps. He ignores his wifes warnings, instead claiming his actions are just and right, under the guise of security.

While treatment of the prisoners at Crystal City is not nearly as egregious as the treatment Jews of the same time were receiving across the Atlantic in Germany, it is still a degrading life, which takes away the internees freedom. Life behind the barbed wire fence even takes a toll on the man who oversees the camp  Patrick ORourke, who becomes a heavy drinker and struggles to grapple with the idea of American-born children spending their days in the encampment.

One part of this book stands out as both interesting and educational is the logistics behind the prisoner swap, which Roosevelt facilitated. Internees from Crystal City are turned over to the Nazis and Imperialist Japanese without anywhere to go. In exchange, Americans stuck in Germany or Japan as prisoners of war are returned home. But the bitter irony is that the people Roosevelt sends to Germany and Japan are themselves American.

When the Eiserlohs end up in Germany and the Utsushigawas in Japan, the book really begins to get heart-wrenching  reading like a thriller. Both families go through tremendous hardships, which I wont spoil for anyone interested in reading the 330-page book.

The treatment of these people by the government  their government  leads many of the protagonists to be resentful and distrusting of government for the remainder of their lives (and rightly so).

Eb Fuhr, one of the Germans interned at Crystal City sums it thusly: No one can appreciate the intense terror of government power and the despair of hopelessness we felt behind that barbed-wire fence.

The federal government didnt apologize to the Japanese-American community for these internment camps until 1988. It has still failed to apologize to the German-American community, despite some bills that have come before congress.

Roosevelts actions throughout this book seem eerily similar to President-elect Donald Trumps rhetoric regarding a registration list of Muslims living in the United States. Hopefully we wont see a similar end result.

The Train to Crystal City will leave readers feeling a sympathetic connection to the internees. It serves to teach us a wonderful lesson: When too much power is given to a centralized authority  even our own benevolent government  the worst acts of humankind can come from it.
FORT ANN  A Vermont man was arrested Sunday for allegedly possessing heroin and crack cocaine during a traffic stop on Route 149, police said.

Devon Jackson, 26, of Winooski, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, after he was stopped for speeding just before 9:30 a.m. Sunday, according to State Police.

Trooper Shane Larkin stopped him for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone just east of the Warren County line, and smelled marijuana as he spoke with Jackson, police said.

A search of the vehicle turned up approximately 56 grams of heroin packaged for sale, 6 grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana, State Police said. He was headed to Vermont with the drugs, according to police.

Jackson was also found to be wanted on multiple arrest warrants in New Jersey, police said.

He was arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail for lack of bail. Larkin was assisted by Trooper Tiffany Bezio and State Police Investigator Kevin Reppenheggen.
FAIR HAVEN, Vermont  A Whitehall teen was arrested Sunday for making several phone calls to a Vermont business reporting that he was going to "blow up" Fair Haven High School.

The threats prompted the school district to cancel classes at the high school on Monday, before they learned of the arrest, police said.

The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, called the Fair Haven Eagles Club several times Sunday afternoon to report that he had a bomb that would be used at the school on Monday, according to Fair Haven Police.

Police traced the calls to an address on Northeast Street in Whitehall, where the 15-year-old was found to have made the calls as a prank in an effort to get his girlfriend  a student in Fair Haven  out of school for the day, police said.

The school was searched and no bomb was found.

The teen was arrested and released pending prosecution in Rutland County Family Court. Whitehall Police and Vermont State Police assisted Fair Haven Police.
GREENWICH  Village streets spilled over with light, color, holiday music and the smell of diesel exhaust Saturday night as the fourth annual Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade rolled past throngs of excited spectators.

Participating vehicles ranged in size from lawn tractors to a behemoth corn and hay harvester that towered over the streets. The 58 entries came from commercial farms, farm equipment dealers, local non-farm businesses, civic and nonprofit organizations and families who just wanted to get in on the fun.

Rulyn Graves said one of her Texan aunts came to last years tractor parade and proposed that the extended family participate this year. Twelve Graveses hailing from Dallas, Houston, Chicago, the District of Columbia, New York City, and Greenwich were on the float Saturday evening. All wore red and white cowboy costumes except for Grace Peck, who was the Green Witch astride a mechanical Holstein bull. The blue New Holland tractor pulling the Texas meets Greenwich float sported a set of Texan long horns.

Graves said her husband made the bull from equipment on their property. The entire project was a great family thing, she said.

Three Greenwich 4-H clubs got together and made their own float on a hay wagon.

We do it every year, said Sarah Wade, leader of the Greenwich Green Team 4-H club. (The other clubs were Got Cows and Country Kids.) We dont do it for the prizes. The kids just love to put the float together and sing the entire way. She expected about 25 children on the wagon for the parade.

Five generations of the Shaw and Phalen families worked on their entry, Meghan Phalen said. A frame with lighted reindeer extended from the front of an antique Allis-Chalmers tractor. The tractor itself was decorated to look like a sleigh. Foggers under the front wheels and the tractor gave the impression of clouds.

Phalen, wearing an antler headband with flashing lights, said her family bought the Greenwich Journal-Salem Press two years ago and started participating in the parade then. This year, my dad asked if Id do reindeer, she said. We spent two weeks welding everything together.

Some of the tractors were quite old. Chris Davidson of Cambridge said his 1953 John Deere 60 spent 35 years rusting in a hedge before he restored it. Saturday night, it was resplendent with a blanket of colored lights over the tractor body and blinking lights in the wheels.

Shes a Deere. Shell run, Davidson said.

Kiley Merecki, also of Cambridge, was sitting near the start of the line on a 1970 Case International 140. Red lights spelled Action Acres, the name of his familys farm, across the front. A toy Holstein cow looked as if it was about to launch itself from the top of the engine.

Merecki said he and his father worked on the tractor together and this was his first time in the parade. Im excited to be here, he said.

The Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce organizes the event. Committee chair Jessica Lynn said that although there werent quite as many tractors as last year, when the parade went on despite rain, the spectator turnout Saturday evening was much larger.

The tractors are amazing, she said minutes before the parade left the grounds of Greenwich High School. Theres so much effort that goes into them, so much ingenuity.

Winners as chosen by the judges were: best musical, Argyle Brewing Co.; most creative, CaroVail; best small tractor, Dan Grogan; best Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce member entry: 2 Church Street Team and Sugar Mill Farm; best lights, Ben Bishop and family; best antique: Greenwich Journal and Salem Press; and best in show: Heritage Farm. The parade grand marshal, nominated by the parade entries, was Ed Skiff of Skiff Farms.
STILLWATER  Saratoga County Sheriff's officers are investigating a 2:33 a.m. fire in which one resident was badly burned.

The fire took place Monday in a multi-apartment building 33 Clinton Court. Responding units found the dwelling fully involved in fire and assisted evacuating residents from the dwelling.

One subject, identified as a 63-year-old man was found to have suffered severe burns and was transported from the scene by Malta-Stillwater EMS to Albany Medical Center. He has since been flown to the Central New York Burn Center in Syracuse.

There were no other injuries reported.

At this time the Sheriffs Office is treating the fire as suspicious and investigating the circumstances. Four adult residents of the dwelling are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Fire agencies from Arvin Hart, Stillwater, Malta Ridge and Round Lake responded to the scene.
Volunteering at Hometown Thanksgiving is habit-forming.

I have been doing it for 16 years, said Nicole Underwood, a respiratory therapist at Glens Falls Hospital who is coordinating this years event at Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls.

Her first year as a volunteer was for a high school community service project.

I just did it that one year and kept going back every year, she said.

Its a good thing it works like that because, as Underwood notes, while the free community traditional Thanksgiving Day meal runs from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, it is really a much larger operation.

It takes three days, and we have about 200 volunteers, Underwood said. Wednesday we set up, Thursday we serve, and Friday we clean up. We are always looking for volunteers.

Underwood said the support that underlies the meal, which reaches as many as 1,500 people through the sit-down meal and deliveries, is another reason it is a community effort.

We get a lot of donations from restaurants and other businesses, she said. Its going well.

Meal in Argyle

Betsy Smith expects between 80 and 100 guests at the Argyle firehouse for Thursdays Thanksgiving meal, and said her volunteer group will likely deliver between 250 and 275 meals as well.

Its a good feeling to be able to do this, said Smith, who is one of the coordinators of the Argyle event, which draws about 100 volunteers. We need a lot of people because we do deliveries.

The Argyle dinner has been going for more than two decades, and Glens Falls Hometown Thanksgiving is in its third decade.

In Greenwich, National Honor Society students will be delivering Thanksgiving packages provided by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

The Salvation Army of Greater Glens Falls is expecting more than 415 families, representing about 1,600 people, to pick up Thanksgiving baskets Tuesday, and a number of other local food pantries are also distributing baskets.
GRANVILLE

Robert Vanderminden Sr. wakes up every day at 4 a.m. and lies in bed for an hour before setting his feet on the floor.

The 89-year-old patriarch of the Telescope Casual Furniture family celebrated his 65th year at the business in September and says he spends that hour in bed thinking.

I dream of what were going to do that day, said Vanderminden.

He thinks about his plan for the day, ideas for the business and how to solve problems.

Seems like such a good time to do it.

Legally blind from macular degeneration, which leaves him with only peripheral vision, Vanderminden still spends five days a week walking a mile to work, attending design meetings and working on the production floor. And he doesnt plan to stop.

I want to work til its no longer fun, he said, adding later, If you want to be in business any amount of time, it damn well better be fun, or you cant keep it up.

Working hard and having fun seem to be the secret of Vandermindens success in both life and business. At 14, he started working in the sawmill stacking lumber, making only 21.5 cents per hour.

I thought it was pretty good at the time, he shrugged.

He moved up to the machine shop when he was 16, welding and making storage racks. After a short stint in the Coast Guard, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study mechanical engineering, and by the time he graduated in 1951, he had already redesigned the companys wood furniture line.

Over the next several decades, he changed the company over from wood to aluminum furniture, designed a slot system for the businesss popular Director Chair, invented a slotted tubing system that revolutionized the industry, developed a five-person production line to build chairs, fought off competition from China and raised three daughters and two sons.

Hes the third generation of Vandermindens to run the booming furniture business, which started in New York City in 1903 and moved to Granville in 1921. Vanderminden took it over from his father, who took it over from his father.

My father was a very smart man and very dedicated, he said, and he knew how to get good people. He always said, If you really want to find a place with good people, look to the women.

His daughter Kathy Juckett, now the CEO, said whenever her father faced pressure, he used his ingenuity to find ways to keep the business going and keep people employed.

Hed say, Failures not an option. Lets go, Juckett said.

He instilled in all the children a work ethic that valued hard work, perseverance, performance and making the very best quality product. But the family only worked five days a week. The weekends were reserved for fun. They joked that they would show up to church on Sundays dressed in their brightly colored ski clothes, and as soon as the last Amen was uttered, the family headed to Killington to ski the rest of the day.

Four of his children, one nephew and four grandchildren now work for the company, which boasts around 250 employees and nearly 300 in the summer. His great-grandson works in the summers.

We stayed true to ourselves and true to our values and true to how we were raised, Juckett said. And were still here.

During an appreciation ceremony at the business Nov. 2 celebrating Vandermindens 65 years at Telescope, he told his employees to try to have as much fun on the job as they can get away with. Until he figures out when hes had enough fun and decides to retire, hes going to keep walking to work every day and finding new ways to make the business successful. Hes still working on furniture designs to make them easier to build and improve their quality.

Another problem will come up today that hasnt been solved, Vanderminden said, prompting his daughter to add, You always call them opportunities.
Children below 12 years and women will get treatment at 'Mahila mohalla clinics': Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
It was earlier believed poverty is for poor to deal with; now the poor is at centre of our govt's policies as it is their dispensation: PM.
The meeting was the first of its kind to bring both sides of the contractors association together that looked at improving their chances of accessing facilities with a financial institution with the clout of UBA. Recall that UBA not only operates under the capacity of being nationwide in Ghana but also by being present in West and Central Africa, Anglophone, Eastern and Southern as well as Francophone and Lusophone locations all around Africa.

In their goodwill speeches, the Joint Associations in the persons of Mr. John Afful National Vice Chairman of the Association of Road Contractors of Ghana and Madam Joanna Adjei of the Progressive Road Contractors Association of Ghana both spoke of the need to work on a tripartite agreement between the Government of Ghanas Road Fund program, financial Institutions as well as the associations so as to streamline repayments, bid-bonds and advance payment guarantees in favor or the contractors.

Speaking at the gathering, the MD of UBA Ghana, Mrs. Abiola Bawuah expressed the banks readiness to partner the contractors in the areas of funding and advisory services. Ordinarily, we should be concentrating on the core of this relationship which is funding your projects. Nonetheless, as an organization that looks beyond funding and thrives on building relationship, we feel obliged to provide advisory services when needed to improve the ability and capacity of local contractors to take on bigger and more strategic contracts in and around Ghana.

She also expressed her desire to work with them if they were to approach the Government to work out credible repayment plans which should not cripple contractors and render them unable to repay advances offered.
As part of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) compact 2, Ghana is mandated to lease ECG to a concessionaire for 25 years.

Ambassador Jackson clarified that current ECG workers will keep their job for five years.

Ambassador Jackson was speaking at the 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the American Chamber of Commerce.

He said: I dont think that any worker of ECG will lose their job as the compact comes into force.

"What I can say for certain is it that the compact makes it clear that during the first five years of the compact, probably until 2022, every worker has his or her job guaranteed unless the person commits a crime or any serious misconduct.

"So for the next five years, their employment is guaranteed.

So they (staff of ECG) have got a good deal. Secondly, if the company is going to grow, there are going to be more people not fewer.

"I dont have a crystal ball but my intuition is that the ECG workers are going to have new colleagues.

The government's decision to accept the MCA Compact 2 deal which mandates the privatisation of ECG has drawn widespread criticism.

The Trades Union Congress, the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) and some opposition MPs have rejected the move.

READ MORE:TUC vows to resist ECG privatisation

The PUWU maintains: "his policy is not the best option to bring reforms to make ECG more efficient and profitable. We have already articulated our views and suggestions in our position paper to MiDA and the ministry of power.

"Unfortunately, the government of Ghana with tacit pressure from the MCC of America is still pushing this agenda despite all the negative implications for our country and it citizens."
According to the

Despite the revelation that MMM is a Ponzi scheme and CBN advising Nigerians not to invest in it, MMM has grown in popularity as more Nigerians are signing up.

MMM Nigeria donated relief materials worth N5 million to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of the communitys humanitarian week tagged MMM cares to mark its one year anniversary on Saturday, November 19, 2016

ALSO READ: Lawmakers have outlined a plan to destroy MMM in Nigeria

The Gwoza and Bama IDP Camp located in Durumi area and the New Kuchingoro IDP camp were the two beneficiaries of the relief materials.

Bags of rice, beans, Garri, as well as cartons of beverages and noodles, were some of the items donated by the group.

The group also donated clothing, drugs, and educational materials for the pupils among them.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) investment scheme, its spokesperson has said.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, also spoke on the House of Representatives order to shut down the scheme.

We can only arrest people based on the evidence that we have. The House made a resolution but the resolution is a public announcement, Uwujaren told Daily Post.
A statement released on Friday, November 11, 2016, and signed by the Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper stated that "The Ministry of Health is to ensure that the engaged staff have their documents processed in time and placed on the Mechanised Payroll early enough to enable the Controller and Accountant General's Department effect payment of their salaries."

According to the Finance Ministry, "A total of 114 nurses and midwives are to be employed in November 1. The number includes the 17 who completed their programmes in 2012 and 2014 but could not be verified from the Bolga Midwifery Training School who were left out of the 2015 batch of midwives who were verified for clearance. It also includes 82 nurses trained from the Holy Family Nurses Training College at Nkawkaw who were left out of the 2015 batch of nurses who were verified for clearance."

The statement however added that, the recruitment exercise takes effect from November 1, 2016 through to March 1, 2017.

Read also:

The letter stated that "5,400 Nurses Assistant Clinical and Nurses Assistant Preventive who passed out in 2015 and have been verified by the Nurses & Midwifery Council, 505 Allied Health Professional graduates who completed their programmes in 2014 and 2015 are to be employed.

The Finance ministry has also cleared for the "Recruitment into the public health sector, 732 Nursing Officers Trained in various universities who been verified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, 1,538 officers made up of 1,500 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and 38 other professionals for National Ambulance Service, 122 Health Workers for Dodowa (ShaiOsudoku) Hospital and the Financial clearance for 74 different cadres of staff for various agencies under the Ministry of Health."
He prefers to use solar energy to light up his evenings, listen to the radio or watch television, after abandoning a diesel generator he said was expensive to maintain and burned fuel too quickly.

"Solar panels are a good, cheap solution," he told AFP.

According to International Energy Agency projections, almost one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will gain access to the grid by 2040, but by that time 530 million will remain off-grid, almost comparable with the 600 million who cannot access power today.

Governments have ramped up their efforts: on Africa's Atlantic coast, Senegal last month inaugurated a massive 20 megawatt (MW) project that will deliver energy to 160,000 people, which President Macky Sall saluted as ushering in "a new, clean-energy era".

But ??Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, director-general of national utility Senelec, underlined upcoming problems in an interview with AFP.

"We actually have an excess of 100MW of power," he said. "But we have a distribution problem. We have been thinking in terms of roads and railways... but not about electricity highways."

With around 55 to 65 percent of homes receiving electricity, Senegal's grid strength is above average for sub-Saharan Africa, whereas in South Sudan and Liberia this hovers between one and two percent.

But even in Senegal, neighbouring Mauritania and Rwanda, which have all invested in large-scale solar projects as the cost of panels tumble, the twin challenges of limited grids and Africa's demographics remain.

'Space for innovation'

"The grid and the off-grid are so far apart right now that it's creating a huge space for innovation," enthuses Andrew Herscowitz, coordinator for US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative.

Power Africa, which identifies governments and businesses requiring sustainable and affordable energy and offers funding and expertise in more than 15 countries, has taken a particular interest in solar.

Power Africa is pushing this renewable source so that people "don't have to wait for the grid to arrive to them, they can access a company today and have a solar panel put on their roof," Herscowitz told AFP.

Half of sub-Saharan Africa's power is generated in South Africa, while north Africa has built effective grid systems that largely serve their populations with a constant flow of energy.

But for the rest, off-grid systems and the technology needed to make them reachable to the sub-continent's poorest homes have reached a tipping point in the last five years, spurred by advances that have lowered costs.

Lighting homes with kerosene and candles remains expensive, dangerous and polluting, but in Kenya micro-solar firms have brought power to 30 percent of the off-grid population.

"A person can for the same amount of money they were spending to buy kerosene just for that little flicker of light? use that money to buy a small solar panel that can power safe lightbulbs," Herscowitz said.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of British "pay-as-you-go" solar panel firm Azuri, noted that the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity in the West was around 15 US cents, while kerosene was 53 times higher and candles 105 times higher on average for African consumers.

Azuri and rival M-Kopa offer a package of solar-powered lightbulbs, radio, and phone charging ports for as little as 50 US cents a day.

Solar-powered televisions are available for a little more and fridges are expected to follow.

The firms have made their mark in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, which also have the heaviest uptake of mobile money systems, allowing users to pay for these services automatically through cheap and easy-to-access bank accounts provided by telecoms firms.

In these markets, customers are often so sparsely distributed that even if they have the opportunity to connect to the grid, doing so is still often more expensive than solar packs.

Sunshine continent

Investment in the sun to feed Africa's grids is appreciable: by the end of 2014 output stood at 1,334 MW, more than ten times larger than in 2009 (127 MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As consultancy firm KPMG put it in a recent report, solar power is "the most widely available source of renewable energy in Africa", and could "bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without the need for expensive large-scale grid level infrastructural developments."

The uptake of solar still remains extremely low compared to coal and biomass, accounting for less than five percent of overall grid power, but solar is getting cheaper and easier to install than ever.
Established in 1954, the UN Universal Children's Day promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.

It also marks the day in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human rights treaty that changed the way children are viewed and treated as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity.

In a statement, Lake called on the world to confront the "uncomfortable truth" that around the planet, the rights of millions of children are being violated every day.

He referred to the dire humanitarian situation of children in war-torn Syria and Yemen; the threat posed by extremists in northeastern Nigeria, particularly against girls; and the severe nutrition crisis facing millions of children in South Sudan.

Cautioning on the long-term impact of these violations in how children may view the world when they grow up and how they will perceive others' rights when their own rights are violated, Mr. Lake underscored that by protecting the rights of children, the world is infact protecting its common future.
According to her, the suspect allegedly took her three children from the room in which they were sleeping with their father and their uncle before committing the act.

READ ALSO: When Love Hurts

She told the Daily Graphic that neighbours who saw the fire managed to rescue the two brothers who had sustained varying degrees of burns and immediately rushed them to the Tema General Hospital.

Lawrence survived but his brother, Benjamin Oyem, 42, who was also sleeping in the same room, however, died on the way as he was being transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

ASP Obeng said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Tema General Hospital mortuary.
According to him, the conduct of President Mahama convinces him that he [Mahama] would do everything in his power to ensure that the examination of Woyome do not come this Thursday, November 24, 2016.

The Supreme Court granted an application by Mr Amidu to orally examine Woyome.

Justice Enin Yeboah in his ruling said the application was granted because there was no formal evidence of execution of the courts order for the money to be retrieved hence the decision.

In his [Amidu] latest article copied to the media, he said, "the conduct of the President convinces me as a senior and foundation member of the governing NDC, that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the examination orally on oath of the lootee for whom his Government looted the public purse, may not come on 24th November 2016."

Popularly known as Citizen Vigilante, Mr Amidu noted that, "The President can further subvert the cause of justice so that the people of Ghana do not hear the truth about the loot of the public purse he led until after the elections on 7 th December 2016. We need patriotic public pressure and opinion to dissuade such intentions."

He added: "Dominic Ayine, the Deputy Minister for Justice who represented the Government in the Supreme Court and opposed my application, and others, went public with the electronic and print media to mount unconstitutional and contumacious attacks and insults on the Court decision and on my person for daring to access the Court."

Below is his full statement:

PRESIDENTS CONDUCT AFTER COURT ORDER IS MORE REASON GHANA NEEDS A NEW PRESIDENT ON 7TH DECEMBER 2016: MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

The incumbent Government of our dear country which is enjoined to respect and uphold the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all persons in Ghana has demonstrated that it cannot do so and that it is constitutionally incompetent to be voted for at the 7 th December 2016 Presidential elections.

I exercised a fundamental constitutional right as a plaintiff/applicant to apply to the Supreme Court for leave to examine orally on oath the unconstitutional lootee (Woyome/Austro-Invest) ordered to refund GHC51, 283, 483. 59 to the Republic. The looter (the incumbent Government) who had been declared to have unconstitutionally looted the monies for the lootee (now styling itself as a judgment creditor for the money it looted for the lootee) opposed my application with the support of the lootees both by affidavit. In spite of the concerted argument of both the looter Government and unconstitutional lootee (now styled judgment debtor), the Supreme Court has granted my application to examine the lootee/unconstitutional judgment debtor on 24th November 2016.

Read related: Supreme Court gives Amidu greenlight to cross examine Woyome

Immediately after the Supreme Courts decision the lootee/judgment debtor launched a campaign of vilification against my person, and the Supreme Court as an institution - in words better left unprinted - to the electronic and print media in the forecourt and outside the Court premises, at press conferences and in interviews. The outbursts of a losing party may be ignored as tension relieving therapy for his wounded ego, emotions, and mental exhaustion.

But then the President of the Republic of Ghana, who has sworn a constitutional oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of Ghana as by law established, grants an interview to the press after the decision of the Court on the same day. Moreover, the President is shown on television that night castigating the decision of the Supreme Court he has sworn to defend and uphold. At the same time and in his interview, the President takes an intimidating stand against the beneficiary of the decision and order of the Court by charging him with spreading falsehoods. The President then turns himself into a Supreme Judge by defending his Attorney General who had just lost the application at Court.

Is this then not a President (with the Executive Authority including all policing powers) who is intimidating me simply for exercising my constitutional right to access to justice before the Supreme Court?

The conduct of the President convinces me as a senior and foundation member of the governing NDC, that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the examination orally on oath of the lootee for whom his Government looted the public purse, may not come on 24th November 2016. Mark my words. The President can further subvert the cause of justice so that the people of Ghana do not hear the truth about the loot of the public purse he led until after the elections on 7th December 2016. We need patriotic public pressure and opinion to dissuade such intentions.

Once the President of the Republic had unconstitutionally castigated and questioned the independence of the judiciary in granting my application, and after charging me with falsehood, he then let loose his attack dogs. Dominic Ayine, the Deputy Minister for Justice who represented the Government in the Supreme Court and opposed my application, and others, went public with the electronic and print media to mount unconstitutional and contumacious attacks and insults on the Court decision and on my person for daring to access the Court.

The Deputy Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, who appeared for the Attorney-General and argued against my application, was and is an officer of the Court. Surely, as one who is properly trained and who has practiced under competent seniors since his call to the Bar, he would have known that as an officer of the Court it is unethical to resort to the press to criticize a Court decision one has argued and lost. The ethical practice is to go on an appeal or apply for a review of the decision should those options be open, or to shut up. It is scandalous and a bad example for a Deputy Minister of Justice who has also sworn to uphold the Constitution to take a cue from his President and castigate the Court and its decision, including the beneficiary of the decision.

Since when did it become the ethical practice of any responsible and respected lawyer committed to the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, the independence of the legal profession, constitutionalism and democracy to resort to the print and electronic media as the medium of arguing an appeal or review of the decision of a Court of law he has lost?

Dominic Ayine, the Deputy Minister for Justice, instead of exercising a right to review of the Court decision, calls me a liar in the media. (The shallow-educated Minister of Communications who struggled to pass his bachelor of medicine and surgery degree exams and whose practice of medicine since graduating has been as Deputy Minister and later Minister for Communications called me by the same Government-rehearsed phrase the previous Saturday and got a fitting response). Dominic Ayine charges me with lying on oath because of my affidavit in support of my application with his stated accusation: So he is the one who is lying on oath to achieve his evil political agenda of tarnishing the image of his successor in office. But the statement exposes Ayines lack of good lawyering skills and raises the question of whether he studied under any eminent and seasoned senior before his appointment as Deputy Minister for Justice.

Let us examine what happened. Martin Amidu deposes to an affidavit which Ayine thinks constitutes perjury. The Attorney General who is Ayines one year senior at the Bar deposes to an affidavit in person in opposition together with a con cheque and receipt. Ayines Attorney Generals affidavit was served on me only in the Court room, which led me to tell the Court that I was ambushed with the affidavit in Court. In my experience one does such things to compel the other party to ask for an adjournment to study the affidavits served in Court. The Court offered me an adjournment but I refused and deprived the Government of its suspected intention to postpone the hearing to after 7th December 2016. Then Ayines inexperience became manifest and visible.

Instead of Ayine insisting to cross-examine me upon my affidavit, he proceeded to argue and ask that certain portions be struck out. I was amused. Ayine called me a liar and a perjurer in the media. He gets all the opportunity if he were a seasoned lawyer to prove it in Court. He failed even to apply orally to the Court to cross-examine me, and to put me to strict proof as stated in their own affidavit. His action was due either to inexperience or incompetence as a practicing lawyer. Ayine then runs to the only place he is competent in showing how knowledgeable he is as a lawyer rather than before the Supreme Court  the print and electronic media - and he charges me with being a liar. This is so pathetic a display by a Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Ghana. Where have the ethics of the legal profession gone?

Ayine lost his court-room opportunity to prove his assertion that I was lying. My sources, which he lost the chance to probe, are in both the office of the Attorney General and the office of the President because I have served in Government for such a long time and have maintained credible sources since the PNDC days. Ask the former Chairman of the PNDC and founder of the NDC who is my moral compass in the NDC for my capabilities before calling me a liar. No lies!

Will Ayine wish to tell Ghanaians where he was and what he was doing when I was PNDC Deputy Secretary for the Upper East Region (from which we both hail) in February 1983? Where was Ayine and what was he doing when I became the PNDC Deputy Attorney General in 1988? Above all, should Ayine have a problem with his recollection then perhaps his elder brother, Billy, who worked with me as a member of the CDR at the time can help him answer my questions. Ayine may also wish to ask his mentor and my personal friend Mr. Akolgo, former PNDC Secretary for the Frafra District for help. Or perhaps he should talk about my honour and integrity to Mr. Atuguba, the former lawyer of his elder brother, Billy, whom I persuaded as then Acting PNC Secretary for the Upper East Region in 1984 to represent him.

People who know me closely, including my teachers and lecturers, know that I have throughout my life stood for the principles I believe in and in my own conscience and it is strange that Ayine, whose family has benefitted from my upright character, insults me because the President has set him against me.

Ayine, said further on classfm radio that they do not fear Amidu and continued: [Martin] Amidu and Ace Ankomah and the others, they all know that Marieta and I will never take a bribe. I conduct my cases in Court as plaintiff since I ceased to practice as a lawyer from January 2012. Ace Ankomah just came to talk to me after the hearing of my application. He is not my friend but I am open to talking to all promising younger lawyers who show promise like Ace, and he does not deserved to be linked up with my one-man vigilante activism.

I have never said anywhere that Ayine or Marietta take bribes. I do not know what worried Ayine to make such a statement or whether there is such a cap that fits them. Is there anything he suspects I know or ought to know about him and Marietta concerning bribe taking? He has put me on the enquiry! But I told Ayine in a written statement in 2013 when he was basking in his new appointment to take his time and to learn the ropes of the job in the Attorney Generals office before beginning to run, else, he may break a leg. Ayine does not appear to have learnt any lessons and is still talking like a loose cannon. Ayine! Whether you and Marietta take bribes or not, what I can tell you is that I am the longest served political appointee in the Attorney Generals office. I have told you already that most of the Chief State Attorneys in that office started working with me in 1988 as Deputy Attorney General when you had not entered the University of Ghana and so it would be wise to respect them and learn from their experience. Ayine, your arrogance and insolence to both your seniors and other attorneys has led to most of them disliking you and you will know how much you are disdained there once a new Attorney General is appointed when the Government loses this years elections.

I do not intend to respond to the fulminations of the embittered unconstitutional lootee (Woyome) whom I may examine orally on oath on 24th November 2016. I will not fall into the machinations of someone so mentally exhausted, and consequently so ignorant and disrespectful of the law, to have me comment on the decision and order of the Court which is pending. He and the media may continue with their contempt of the Court while the decision and order are pending. I will not be part of it.

Fellow Ghanaians, the conduct of the President after the decision and order of the Supreme Court on 15th November 2016 in publicly casting aspersions on the Court and the beneficiary of the order shows clearly that as the chief looter in this case, the President is determined to prevent the examination ordered by the Court in the absence of strong patriotic public pressure and opinion. The lootees, Woyome/Austro-Invest, speaking through Woyome, have said to the media and it is published to the public that he would fight the order of Court to the last drop of his blood.

What more evidence of collusion between the looting Government and the lootees (Woyome/Austro-Invest) do we need as citizen voters that the only way out for us to have our money back is to vote for a new President in this years election? You have the evidence in the Presidents own unconstitutional conduct!

I say again countrymen and women with all my soul and with all my heart that: .Let us protect our Constitutional rights and not be hoodwinked by electioneering ploys. Let us get our GHC51, 283, 483. 59 back.

Defend the 1992 Constitution by voting for a new President on 7th December 2016 to get our money back. God bless Ghana and put Ghana First!
Marcel Lubala was killed at his home in Mbuji-Mayi, central DR Congo, on the night of November 14-15 by armed men. The 59-year-old had worked for the RTNC MbujiMayi television channel that is part of state broadcaster RTNC.

"I condemn the murder of Marcel Lubala. Journalists must be able to do their work informing citizens without fearing for their lives," said Bokova in a statement published in Paris.

"I trust the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice."

According to local authorities in the Kasai-Oriental province, where Mbuji-Mayi is located, an investigation has been opened into the murder and five people have been arrested.

But various charities and media rights organisations decried the fact the murder took place during a curfew between 10pm and 5am, when local security forces were supposed to be in control of the town.

Following the murder, local activists Journalists in Danger (JED) denounced "the increase in targeted attacks against the press".

Joseph Tshilunde, president of the national union of Congolese media (UNPC), told AFP that Lubala was the "16th journalist killed in DRC in 10 years and too often the perpetrators and organisers are not sanctioned".

DR Congo has been wracked by recent violence sparked by a political crisis brought on by the postponing of a presidential election which had been due to take place before the end of the year.

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he succeeded his father Laurent Kabila, who had been assassinated.

Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election having served two terms but his opponents are worried the election postponement is part of a wider bid to hold onto power.

Anti-Kabila protests have been suppressed by police while authorities have used various means to clamp down on the press.

Kabila's government has frequently blocked the signal of foreign media such as Radio France International any time opposition supporters have organised protests.

Ten days ago, the government also issued a decree affecting foreign broadcasters that gave them a month to hand over a majority share of their companies to locals, a move criticised by the United Nations.

DRC was classed 152nd out of 180 countries in 2016 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.
The government has to seek an additional GH1.2 billion to be able to pay off all debts owed Bulk Oil Distribution Companies which currently is over GH2.2 billion.

STOP TRIBAL POLITICS  AKUFO-ADDO TO MAHAMA

The 2016 presidential candidate of the NPP has bemoaned the politics of tribalism and ethnicity being waged by President Mahama in his campaign in the north, with 15 days to the conduct of the December elections.

ONLY 39% OF SHS STUDENTS COMPLETE SCHOOL  UNESCO REPORT

The 2016 Global Education Monitoring has revealed that only 39 percent of Senior High School students are able to complete their education.

POLICE, EC IN SECRET DEAL OVER SPECIAL VOTING

There appear to be some behind-the-scene moves between the EC and the Police Service to introduce more names into the already compiled special voters list, raising questions about the Commissions sincerity.

NANA MADE CHIEF AT AFIFE

The NPP leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was installed chief by the traditional authorities of Afife in the Anlo State ahead of a massive rally at Aflao in the Volta Region yesterday.

AMIDU WANTED TO BEAT MILLS  WOYOME

PEACE COUNCIL CALLS FOR HARMONY AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES, EXPRESSES WORRY OVER CLASHES BETWEEN NDC, NPP

The Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), the Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, has underscored the need for peace and harmony among supporters of political parties ahead of the December 7 general election.

ZOOMLION COMMITS TO KEEP GHANA CLEAN, GREEN, HEALTHY

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has expressed its commitment to providing solutions to waste and sanitation in Ghana.

WARD-BREW GOES TO COURT TO STOP DECEMBER POLLS WOMAN BURNS HUSBAND, BROTHER-IN-LAW

Children getting Type 2 diabetes from eating junk food

We'll deal ruthlessly with trouble-makers - CDS, IGP warn

NDC, NPP supporters clash at Asokore

AKUFO-ADDO - "VICTORY WILL NOT COME SO EASILY"
A leader without principle, a leader without commitment, a leader incapable of maintaining the truth and telling the truth to the people, Akufo-Addo said a rally in Akim Oda to wrap up his four-day tour of the Eastern Region.

He added: "Such a leader does not deserve the trust of the people of Ghana. He does not deserve the trust of the people of Ghana. We cannot trust Mahama. The Ghanaian people cannot trust John Dramani Mahama.

Akufo-Addo noted that the restoration of the nursing training allowance is a clear indication that he (President Mahama) is not a man of principle, he is not a man of commitment, and he is not a man of truth. We cannot put our destinies in the hands of such a man.

The NPP leader said that with two weeks to the December 7 election, President Mahamas "desperation" will reach new heights through the announcement of a plethora of phantom promises to the Ghanaian electorate, and will also flip-flop on key issues.
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS EASTERN REGION SECRETARIATNDC CONDEMNS UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON MEMBERS BY NPP THUGSThe Eastern Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress has learnt with great disappointment an unprovoked attack on our party members in the New Juaben North constituency this morning by NPP thugs led by the incumbent NPP MP, Nana Adjei Boateng.This attack occurred at the Asokore Community Centre while our members, led by our Regional Youth Organizer and candidate for the constituency, Haruna Apaw Wiredu, were returning from Oyoko on a usual health walk.Upon reaching the community centre, these NPP hooligans, under the express authority of the MP, had blocked the main road, preventing our members, who had joined the teeming crowd from Asokore, Asokore Kuma, Pipeline, and Effiduase, from crossing over to their various homes.Before our people could say anything, these NPP hooligans, with the MP visibly involved, started pelting our members with stones. In the process, several of our members including the constituency secretary, Ali Abubakar Akyena, suffered serious injuries.A Metro Mass Transit bus that conveyed our members, who reside at the extreme ends of the constituency to the starting point, was also vandalised.This attack is obviously a well-rehearsed one considering the fact that the police had to prevent a similar attack on our members by thugs from the NPP at the Oyoko roundabout earlier this morning. The NPP continues to deface posters and destroy billboards of their political opponents.The NPP is very much aware of the humiliating defeat that awaits them as we inch closer to the December 7 general elections, hence has adopted this childish and disgraceful tactic just to intimidate our people and scare them from coming out in their numbers to vote for President John Dramani Mahama and our parliamentary candidates on election day.We recall similar acts at Suhum, Nankese, Akorabo, Asuogyaman, just to mention but a few.Agenda 50-50 is solidly on course and that has obviously got our lazy friends in the NPP confused and disorganised.But even in their confusion, they should bear in mind that they have no monopoly over such acts.We have had to look on up to this time, considering the peaceful and unifying nature of our president and leader, John Mahama, and also our trust in the competence of our state institutions.However, we will be forced to retaliate in double measure if they don't put a stop to this act.We have always challenged them on issues and called for comparison of achievements of the two parties. Is violence their only record?We call on our security agencies to urgently investigate these series of attacks and appropriately apply sanction to the perpetrators in other to boost the confidence of constituents in the region.Eastern Region is a very peaceful place, hence this shameful act being executed by the NPP just to cause destabilisation should be of great concern to all and sundry.Signed; KEVOR, Mark-Oliver Eastern Regional Secretary, NDC
Prez Mahamas Comments: Ethnocentric, Divisive and Condemnable Over the weekend, while campaigning in the Upper West Region, the President of Ghana and leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), His Excellency John Dramani Mahama opted to use very ethnocentric and divisive campaign language.The President, while addressing party supporters in Lawra as part of his campaign tour of the Region, made comments to suggest that the New Patroitic Party (NPP) only uses northerners to win power and dump them afterwards. The President alleged that if vice-presidential candidate of the NPP Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia decides to contest as presidential candidate in the NPP, he is likely to be rejected by the party.He then went on to cite the NPP presidential race in 2008 in which 16 other candidates contested the then vice-president of the erstwhile President Kuffour administration, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, for the Presidential candidacy of the party.President Mahama also alleged that unlike the NPP, the NDC gives everyone the chance to ascend to the high office including northerners and it is that opportunity in the NDC that has made it possible for him to become president after the demise of the late President, John Evans Atta Mills.The MFWA considers the comments of President Mahama highly divisive and unfortunate and condemns same in no uncertain terms. As a leader of the country, President Mahama is expected to act in ways that will unite rather than divide the people of this country.The MFWA therefore calls on the President to publicly apologise for his comments. We take this opportunity to urge other political figures to avoid the use of hate speech, ethnocentric and divisive comments in their political campaigns.
According to him, the situation if not checked could be dangerous for the countrys purpose to ensure unity among the populace.

President John Mahama told party supporters in the Upper East Region over the weekend that their best choice for president is a candidate from the north and he is a better representative than the NPP who will never give any northerner the opportunity to become a president.

The running mate of the NPP, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia subsequently argued that John Mahama is also not a good example of a president northerners should be proud of.

He told supporters in the Upper East Region that John Mahama has given northerners a bad name by presiding over corruption all these years.

The comments from the two have since been widely condemned by some sections of the public.

Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM, the Elder statesman, K.B. Asante said: ...for politicians to use that [ethnic sentiments] as a means of getting people to vote for them, which means eventually alienating other people, I think its dangerous.
Speaking to politicians at the Dodoleglimeza festival of the Ve Lukusi people in the Afadzato South District and the Sasadu festival of the Sovie Traditional area the Paramount Chief of Ve, Togbuiga Delume VII hinted that the government should assist them with their schools as most students in the area have been transferred by their parents because of the poor state of the schools.

According to him, the school enrollment is also dropping, because parents are not bringing their children to the school. He took that opportunity to appeal to the community to be proud of their schools and attend.

"We are pleading with government to speed up the Eastern corridor roads so that developmental projects can go smoothly."

He comments were directed at Minister of the Interior, Prosper Bani who was visiting the Volta Region, and gifted the Sovie Traditional area and the Afadzato South District 10,000 cedi each to go towards development.

The money was received by District Chief Executive for Afadjato south, Volta Region Angela Akorli Tay.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo, the Presidential Flagbearer of the PPP, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Running mate of the PPP, Mrs Bridgette Dzobenuku were also at both festivals.

Speaking at the Dodoleglimeza festival, the Minister of the Interior applauded the traditional authorities for respecting and valuing their own plan and process in selecting leaders which over the years has prevented conflicts as has been the case in many traditional areas across the country.
We stopped at a store in Tanguieta to change our Naira to CFA Franc when I struck a discussion with a Chadian guy about ethnoreligious conflicts in Africa.

He was curious about what was happening up North with Boko Haram, and I kept asking him about what was happening in Chad. Then Hissein Habre came up.

Habre is not known outside French-speaking Africa, I was a bit confused when he mentioned him and the atrocities he had committed. When the discussion became too sad, we moved to familiar terrain, ending with Wizkid and African beats taking over the world.

Proceeding with our journey I realize how stories of despots and tyrannical leaders has become a regular feature in our discussions as African youths.

There is no middle ground, we are either arguing about corruption, bad leadership and ethno religious conflicts or talking about Pogba's dance moves, Wizkid, Fela or sometimes Awilo Longomba classics.

The life of military coup, seizing power, torturing the innocent and killing the weak hardly ever stuns anymore. This is our reality. This is our Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles does not count.

This is why it is very important for every African youth to see this film.

Directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Hissein Habre, A Chadian Tragedy (Hissein Habre, une tragedie tchadienne in French), described in horrific detail the gripping and horrendous testimony of a handful of survivors who lived through Habres dictatorship between 1982 and 1990.

Backed with steady logistical and tactical support from both the U.S. and France, Habre set up DSS (Documentation and Security Directorate) a system of secret police and prisons which were used to suppress, abuse and torture hundreds of thousands of political prisoners, resulting in nearly 40,000 deaths.

Thirty years later, some of the victims, who each recount their suffering in harrowing detail are unable to walk, hear, see, or speak clearly. Men who can no longer stand up on their own, who have lost limbs and teeth, women who lost their husbands and were sexually assaulted. Men and women who will forever be traumatized by the deaths they witnessed and what they suffered.

These victims describe what they went through during years of arrest, imprisonment and torture, exposing the crimes against humanity inflicted on them by their own people.

There are no words to qualify this horror, is how one scarred man explains what happened when Habres DSS threw him in prison for four years, where he suffered numerous types of torture and abuse, not to mention years of malnourishment.

We hear harrowing stories of legs sawed and crushed with hammers, skulls pierced with needles, eyes sprayed with insecticide, nipples pulled out with ropes. Other interviewees in this film provide grisly details about the terror brought upon them and thousands of other innocent victims.

One man says he counted 2,053 dead in Habre's jails and prayed for everyone of them. Another confesses he once wished more would die to make room in his overcrowded cell. Corpses were used as pillows.

More touching is survivor and activist Clement Abaifouta attempt to re conciliate and interview victims about what happened. The rawness and honesty of the emotions brought tears to my eyes.

The attempts at reconciliation between victims and torturers reminded me of the bitterness between the Igbos and Hausa's of Nigeria. Till date, there has been no reconciliation and honest discussion among these two powerful tribes since the civil war.

Thankfully, Habre was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in May this year, in a court established and endorsed by the African Union. It was a brilliant move commended by all, this being the first time an African despot had been tried by an African court.

Habre's reign is still remembered with fear and anguish by a population that continues to suffer to this day. For the people of Chad, bringing him to justice is a major step forward; hopefully it will also send a powerful message to other African despots.

The film is a disturbing, unadorned and powerful account of struggle and survival in the face of evil.

I usually get a little choked up watching movies like this. But this one simply left me numb and too sad. Why do we inflict such evil upon ourselves?

At the end of the film screening, we were introduced to the chairman of the Association of the Victims of the Crimes of the Hissein Habre Regime and the interviewer in the documentary, Clement Abaifouta. Who came all the way from Chad to Nigeria to attend the Ake festival.

In conversation with Olaokun Soyinka at the Ake Festival, Abaifouta who leads a survivors group in the capital NDjamena answered questions about the documentary, bringing Habre to justice, surviving and coping after the torture and his friends who are still suffering from it all.

The worst bit is how banal death had become, Abaifouta says in a voice choked with tears, describing himself as a half-man, broken both physically and mentally.

He ends with an important call to action to African youths: "What we did, we did it for young africans. Our generation sacrificed for you; you need to stand up for your rights or the same people will continue to keep power"

Wake up from your little bubble, speak for the voiceless and fight for the opressed. Abaifouta adds "Realise that everyday you are making history. It is important to take action"
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
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Punch reports that beside the late woman, six other people were imjured in the attack which was allegedly led by one Itakun, in a reprisal attack on suspected rivals.

It was gathered that the Itakun gang had gone to the area on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at about 9pm to attack members of a factional group at a drinking joint.

The hoodlums were said to have shot sporadically into the air to announce their presence and in the process, a stray bullet hit the deceased, two siblings, Gbenga and Olaoluwa, and four other residents.

The woman, it was learned, was on a visit to her husbands brother in the area and was in front of his shop when the bullet hit her.

She and other victims were rushed to a health centre in the community, where she was confirmed dead.

Toba Kamoru, an eyewitness, told reporters that the incident created panic in the neighbourhood as people scampered to safety, adding that one of the hoodlums was arrested by the police the following day.

There is a woman who sells herbs and local gins at Cemetery, by Jebba Street; a lot of people usually gather around her in the evening.

We were there when we suddenly heard gunshots. We all fled in different directions. It was when the dust had settled that I learnt that Iya Abdulsalam was shot dead.

She sold paint on Lagos Island. She was pregnant. Her husbands brother she came to visit is someone called Emir in the area when she was killed.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the incident, said the gang's armourer identified as Baba Jara, had been arrested by the Denton Police Division.
The accused, who all reside at No. 5, Giwa Close, Ijaiye Ojokoro, Lagos, are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and assault.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 11 at their residence.

Ishaku said trouble started when the accused claimed that the landlord, one Anthony Oyebode sprinkled some substance which they believe to be charm into their rooms.

They alleged that the substance was sprinkled through their windows while they were asleep.

This led to a misunderstanding between the complainant and the accused.

The trio locked the entrance gate of their landlord, hit him on the head with a padlock, beat him with iron rod and dragged him out of the compound. The complainant sustained grievous bodily harm, he said.

Ishaku said it was some concerned neighbours that reported the matter to the police and the accused were arrested.

The offences contravened Sections 170, 171, 244 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Eric Aniva -- who has said he is infected with the HIV virus -- was prosecuted after publicly speaking about his role as a "hyena" in a BBC documentary.

Custom in some parts of southern Malawi demands that a man, known as a "hyena", is paid to have sex with bereaved widows to exorcise evil spirits and to prevent other deaths occurring.

At the request of a girl's parents, the "hyena" is also paid to have sex with adolescents to mark their passage to womanhood after their first menstruation.

The ritual, which many Malawians says is rarely practised today, is believed to train girls to become good wives and protect them from disease or misfortune that could fall on their families.

After an international outcry, President Peter Mutharika ordered Aniva's arrest in July.

In the first case of its kind, Aniva, 45, was found guilty on two counts by magistrate Innocent Nebi after a one-day trial in a packed courtroom in the district of Nsanje.

"It is clear... that the state has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was engaging in harmful practices," the magistrate said.

"I find you guilty and convict you accordingly," he said, adding that sentencing would be on November 22.

He faces a maximum of five years in jail.

High HIV infection

The state produced six witnesses against Aniva, who pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate said the court had concluded that "sexual cleansing violates the dignity of widows".

State prosecutor Chiyembekezo Banda demanded a long prison sentence for Aniva, saying he was probably responsible for the spread of HIV.

Malawi is one of the worst affected countries in the world, with 27,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses and nine percent of the adult population infected with HIV.

Michael Goba Chipeta, Aniva's defence lawyer, told the court his client should not be jailed.

Chipeta appealed for Aniva to not be used as "a sacrificial lamb", saying "the publicity he has attracted is punishment enough".

Before being led by police to his cell, Aniva told AFP: "I am not worried about being convicted. I think I will be given a suspended sentence."

His second wife Sophia, who was in court, was in tears and declined to speak to the press.
The 22-year-old identified as Adam Alexander was arrested over the weekend by officers of the 33 Artillery Brigade in the state while trying to sell a stolen phone, Daily Post reports.

ALSO READ: Fake Army officer arrested

Daily Post reports that, while parading the fake soldier, the Armys Deputy Director of Media, Captain Sunday Akinkunmi, disclosed that the young man has been wearing the military uniform to terrorise and rob people.

According to Akinkunmi, the fake soldier is an indigene of Maiduguri, Borno State.

He said, He was arrested in the Wunti market wearing a fake camouflage, while trying to sell a stolen Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phone for N70, 000."
The incident which took place in the town of Mvurwi in Mashonaland province saw the 28-year-old man identified as Moses Mushonga severely injured after a beer bottle was broken on his head for his effrontery, Daily Maily UK reports.

According to the reports, Mushonga first manhandled the prostitute by putting his hand into her bra and fondling her breast before adding salt to injury by offering boiled egg in exchange for sex.

Mushonga told the 23-year-old, called Chipo, that he had just spent the last of his money on two boiled eggs which cost 0.25 Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of less than a penny or a cent.

To make matters worse, he had only one left as he had eaten one of the eggs.

Chipo, obviously insulted by Mushonga's guts, hit him over the head with a beer bottle, before punching him in the face and knocking him out.

Daily Mail UK reports that, by the time the young man came around, he was bleeding heavily from his head.

ALSO READ: Prostitute in the dock for stabbing customer

Speaking with local media, Mushonga said, "She could have just said no."
It's no news that the Buhari government is having an image problem right now with millions of people losing faith in it daily. 2019 poses a strong chance for a serious contender to challenge the APC government.

Below is a list of 10 Nigerians who could run for President come 2019.

1) Aliko Dangote

In 2019, it would be perfect for the richest black man in the world to run for the President of the most populous black nation on earth. The billionaire practically runs the economy. Why not be the President and rule the entire nation? He already owns like 40% of Nigeria.

2) Ayo Fayose

The Ekiti state governor is the biggest critic of this present government. He always seems to have a grouse with the Buhari-led administration. Well, in 2019 we should give Fayose a shot to see if he has what it takes to do better than the current President. I hope he won't be sharing yam as one of his policies when he becomes President.

3) Basketmouth

The funny man declared that if Donald Trump won the election in the United States he would run for office in 2013. Well, Basketmouth you know what happened in America. Get ready to keep up to your promise.

4) Folorunsho Alakija

She is one of the richest human beings in the world. Financially, she has what it takes to run for President. From a business point of view, she is the best female candidate. Maybe if she wins she would turn Nigeria into a money making machine.

5) Chimamanda Adichie

The famed author is very popular amongst women in the country. It won't be far fetched if she runs for office three years from now. She might not win but her views of gender equality and feminism could reach a wider audience.

6) Atiku Abubakar

Just for the sake of it, the former Vice President should contest again. His chances are good in 2019 but the door has always been closed on Atiku every time he ran office. Will 2019 be different?

7) Femi Fani-Kayode

Another critic, it would be nice to see what FFK does as President if he wins. He seems to be an orator but it will take more than fancy words to rule a nation like Nigeria. He has a lot of ideas on paper, let's see how good they are in flesh.

8) Ben Murray Bruce

The media mogul's desire to run for President in 2019 is probably the worst kept secret in Nigeria. His controversial tweets and statements is Ben Bruce's way of warming up for the big office in Aso Rock.

9) Chris Okotie

The man of God didn't run for office in 2015 but he can give it a shot in 2019. I think Nigerians are now okay with the idea of pastors running for office. With a better party structure who knows what Okotie might achieve three years from now.

10) Seyi Law
The veteran on-air personality

I don't have a problem with arrogant people. It is what makes them successful. I like when Mourinho takes jabs at Arsene Wenger. I like when Ronaldo celebrates with a cocky attitude whenever he demolishes a team. Great people are arrogant because they need it to push them to do great things.

One thing I can't tolerate is tribalism. It irks my soul and makes me angry. I can't stand someone who makes tribalistic comments and opinions and parades it as truth. Tribalism is worse than racism in my books. When you think you are better than someone because of his or her tribe, you are on the same level as a Nazi who killed Jews in the Second World War.

Over the weekend, Freeze not only agreed with an irrelevant tribalistic person that Yoruba men should marry Igbo women, he was bold enough to infer that Yoruba women were dirty, disrespectful and less homely. It's silly statements like this that start ethnic cleansing.

I understand controversy for media attention but I don't get promoting tribalism to build your online brand. A mature person like Freeze shouldn't stoop so low and promote vile like this. Well, age has nothing to do with...

Freeze is Yoruba and he is just saying this filth for attention which is sad. Has his career dipped for him to be insulting his tribe? Poisonous statements like this that further undermines the unity of Nigeria should not make it online.

Thankfully his colleague Dotun checked him with a brilliant Instagram post. In a normal society that is made up of sane people, Freeze won't have a job. There is no difference between what he said and a white man calling black people "niggers."

Unfortunately, Nigeria is a tribalistic country. A lot of people low key support what Freeze said. As a matter of fact, this is not the first time I am hearing such rubbish.

The Yoruba demons and dirty Yoruba women beliefs are stupid concoctions from tribalistic minds. I am Yoruba and I will defend my tribe to the last. This doesn't mean I will say all Igbo men are ritualists or all Northerners are beggars.

I respect everyone's culture and way of life. I don't think Yoruba people are better than people from other tribes. We are all unique and we all have our beautiful customs.
The Commands Public Relation officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna.

Usman said no arrest had been made so far, but the command had intensified efforts to track down the gunmen and free the former minister unhurt.

The command will not sit and allow criminals to take laws into their hands. We will make sure that we arrest those criminal and they will face the law.

We are committed to protect lives and property of the people. We also appeal to the public for useful any information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals, Usman said.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the incident occurred at Inuwa Wada Road in Unguwar Rimi GRA, Kaduna.

The eyewitness said that the former minister, in the company of his friend, had gone to pay condolence visit to the family of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki.

The three young gunmen jumped down from a car and accosted the former minister almost immediately.

From what I could hear, they were asking him to get into their car but he was trying to seek further explanations from them, at that time, people started approaching the scene.

One of the gunmen raised a gun he was holding and made to shoot but it did not fire, he tried it the second time and it failed, but the third time, he shot into the air.

ALSO READ: Gunmen reportedly abduct ex-minister in Kaduna
Troops of the 112 Task Force Battalion were said to have intercepted the suspects as they tried to cross from Anadawa village to Minari, Borno state, on motorcycle.

It was gathered that the soldiers trailed the suspected terrorists to Anadawa and opened fire on them after realising they were armed.

The report said the suspects died on the spot as troops recovered two FN rifles and 18 rounds of 7.62MM NATO ammunition from them.

A three-page shopping list was also recovered from them.

The list was said to have contained an order for massive consignments of drugs and other medical supplies.

Some of the drugs said to be listed on the shopping list included cartons of Viagra, used for treating erectile dysfunction, and MMC Sex Men, a known libido enhancer.

ALSO READ: Army unveils photographs of another 55 wanted terrorists

Also listed for purchase were three cartons of Maxman coffee enhancer for men as well as Viamax power coffee, known for increasing sexual desire in men, the report said.

The terrorists also placed an order for capsules that could be used to treat Gonorrhoea, and various kinds of injectables ranging from oxytocine to anti-tetanus.
Achonu also argued that the problems were caused by past military administrations.

He made the comments while speaking to Vanguard in Abuja.

Buhari is not the problem; this problem was created by the military. It is the military cartel that has ravaged this country. The moment they came in, true federalism disappeared, he said.
According to Punch, the lawyer said this on Friday, November 18, 2016, at a lecture which he delivered at Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State.

Falana also said We are not poor in Nigeria. What we have is poverty of ideas of our leaders.

He called on those in authority to move to a knowledge based economy and stop relying only on natural resources.

Falana also added that the nation might go into chaos if the leaders refuse to invest in the development of human capital.

Adding that Human capital development is fundamental. We have two laws in Nigeria that have made education free, the UBE Act and the Childs Rights Act which have been domesticated by about 24 states.

The court has said that every Nigerian child shall be educated by the Nigerian state. Also, in the case of Femi Falana vs Attorney General of the Federation, the court held that the government should establish the Nigerian Education Bank but that has not been done.

In those days, if NANS or NUNS got that copy of judgment, they would have made the country ungovernable but these days NANS is busy conferring awards on corrupt governors. Somebody who rigged an election was also honoured.
The Commission had recommended the review of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Act to empower the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to jail any bureau de change operator who holds on to foreign currency for more than 30 days.

It recommended two years jail term or 20 per cent fine of the amount of the currency held in their possession for one month.

The Senates spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said the measure is counter-productive and will undermine many of the reform efforts already being put in place in the legislature and by government ministries intended to boost investors confidence.

According to him, the proposed changes are intended to help control capital flows and prevent foreign exchange from being taken out of Nigeria.

"The Upper Chamber believes the CBN should have the authority to regulate the forex market and determine the exchange rate policy as already enshrined in its enabling Act," Abdullahi said.

While describing some of the Commissions recommendations as sound and could help Nigerias investment climate, he insisted that a market-oriented exchange rate policy is the best recipe for guiding the operations of the foreign exchange market.

He said such policy will ensure the supremacy of market mechanisms in efficiently allocating the scarce forex resources.
Dudafa, alongside a banker, Joseph Iwuejo, are on trial on 23 counts before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

During proceedings on Monday, November 21, both accused disowned their extrajudicial statement made to the EFCC, claiming it was obtained under duress.

Dudafas lawyer, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, resisted the move by the EFCCs lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, to tender Dudafas statement, as an exhibit against his client.

ALSO READ: EFCC wants me to implicate Patience Jonathan  Dudafa

He equally resisted Oyedepos move to tender an asset declaration form filed by Dudafa on April 27, 2016 in the EFCC custody as an exhibit against Dudafa.

Oyewole said: "We are opposed to the bid to have this (asset declaration form) admitted as evidence. Our basis is that it was not voluntarily made by the first defendant. It was obtained under extreme duress; all sorts of promises were made to induce him (Dudafa) to admit all this.

My Lord, we are contesting the voluntariness of this document."

But Oyedepo argued that an asset declaration form filled by a suspect was not categorised under sections 28 and 29 of the Evidence Act as an extrajudicial statement.

"The document sought to be tendered is not a statement suggesting that Mr. Dudafa had committed an offence. It is the declaration of his assets and, My Lord, that is in compliance with Section 27 of the EFCC Act, which imposes an obligation on a suspect under investigation to declare his assets and that cannot be construed to mean giving a statement," Oyedepo said.
Fani-Kayode said this in celebration of the former Presidents 59th birthday on Sunday, November 20, 2016.

FFK, who was the spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign, said GEJ proved to the world that African leaders can be kind, competent, humane and selfless.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also congratulated the former President, describing him as an icon of democracy.

According to Vanguard, the PDP, through its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, said the legacies and achievements in academia, politics, governance and social life remains indelible and worthy of emulation by well-meaning people.

You are a shining light during and after office as one of the heads of state in Nigeria and Africa in general who willingly conceded power to the opposition in the interest of peace and democracy.

Speaking further FFK, in a statement, said Happy 59th birthday to President Goodluck Jonathan, a man of honor and peace and one that has brought so much joy and hope to millions.

You have proved to the world that African leaders can be competent, kind, gentle, humane and selfless.

You have everything to be proud of and much still lies ahead for you in the affairs of our nation.

You are the light amidst the darkness: a man that was prepared to let go of power whilst others craved for it, abuse it and are obsessed with it.

Had it not been for that single and historic decision that you made to concede the election last year and congratulate your opponent, Nigeria would have been plunged into a cauldron of fire and the most bloody civil war that the world has ever known.
Moro said Jonathan contributed immensely to the development and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and Africa.

Moro said Jonathan created a solid foundation in the countrys electoral system by conceding defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

He said: "Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a great icon and hero of democracy in Nigeria, Africa and the entire world. He subordinated personal interest to the national interest when, even before the votes for the presidential election were tallied, for the first time in the history of democracy in Nigeria, called his challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari to concede defeat.

"This doused the pent-up tension and shamed the Wests orchestrated prophecy of Armageddon and the disintegration of Nigeria.

"By this singular act of statesmanship, a rare political demonstration in Africa, indeed the world, President Jonathan stabilized the polity and ensured a smooth transition of power, again for the first time in the history of democracy in Nigeria from the candidate of the ruling party to the candidate of the opposition party.

"By putting in place a platform of credible, free, fair and transparent elections, Jonathan laid the foundation for sustaining and deepening democracy in Nigeria.

"Today, he remains one of the greatest presidents ever produced by Nigeria since the countrys attainment of Independence in 1960.

"Congratulations to a worthy Nigerian symbol of democracy at 59; a man who via good governance and sterling leadership style brought Nigeria to the path of glory and made significant impact in the lives of the Nigerian people."

ALSO READ: 3 major achievements of Jonathan at 59
There's been a raging debate in Nigeria about whether lawmakers should be procuring exotic cars worth N3.6B during a recession.

The public have slammed their representatives in parliament for displaying "penchant for greed" with the purchase of the cars.

Jonathan Gaza who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs and Abdulrazak Namdas who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the cars were necessary in order for members of the House to carry out their oversight functions.

According to Namdas: "This issue of cars is long overdue. They are not for luxury but for committee and oversight duties. The 8th Assembly is nearing two years, yet members have no cars to carry out their duties.

Ministers and other officials in the Executive have long bought vehicles for official duties.

At the state level, members of have cars to carry out basic functions. I think it is only fair that members of the will have utility vehicles for their assignments.

Gaza belted out a similar tune.

In a recession, we will all put on our thinking caps. We are working; these are committees cars and they are not the personal property of members.

When you came here today, how did you come? Did you walk down to this place (National Assembly) from your house?", Gaza asked a reporter rhetorically.

If a member is going to visit an agency, will he trek there?

We need materials, computers, stationery, cars; these are all for work.

But Jibrin who was suspended from the National Assembly for 180 legislative days, said his colleagues aren't telling Nigerians the truth.

"I have followed with keen interest the strong condemnation by Nigerians of the purchase of cars for members of the House of Reps by at such a difficult period of economic recession and the reckless and insensitive justification of such a monumental waste by the Speaker", said Jibrin.

The lawmaker continued: "In line with my commitment to continue to expose individual and systemic corruption in the House, I wish to state the following facts:

"That it is an outright lie that the cars are needed for oversight as over 80% of oversight activities of the House are carried out in Abuja.

"And in almost all instances, it is the that arrange buses to convey members from the premises of the House to the respective MDA.

"When such areas are far away from Abuja, members always use flights to the nearest location while the MDAs arrange vehicles and other logistics to complete the visit. In almost all instances, the MDAs provide accommodation and pay for the tickets and other logistics.

"That even if we assume that the cars are needed, it is fraudulent to further put additional N4B into such wasteful venture at the same time members are pocketing about N10M monthly. An amount many members use to sponsor their lavish lifestyles.

"That despite the monthly allowances and the purchases of these new cars, a special car allowance is yet again being arranged for members.

"The last I know before my illegal suspension was that the issue of another car allowance remains an outstanding entitlement of members".

Jibrin said he wouldn't be part of the 'car booty'.

Each unit of the cars will cost the Nigerian taxpayer N10M.

"Nigerians should be vigilant as Speaker Dogara tried to be smart by awarding the supply of the cars to so that he can hide under the guise that the House is supporting local manufacturers to deflect criticism.

"It adds no value to the economy since in the first place the money ought not to be used for that purpose. That I have stated repeatedly and wish to reemphasise that these so called oversight functions are being used as avenues under Speaker Dogara to solicit for bribes from MDAs. It is a normal thing to see members fighting over alleged bribe money after an oversight visit.

"That the hurried purchase of the cars is part of the carrot and stick approach deployed by Speaker Dogara to silence members and ensure that the allegations of massive budget fraud and corruption against him never see the light of the day.

"That this colossal amount of money would have done so much if deployed to our hospitals, schools, camps, water supply and food production.

"That it is a complete waste of government resources to embark on such a selfish purchase of cars.

"I have therefore decided to reject the car and equally call on all members to reject the cars as a first step towards redeeming our battered image before Nigerians".

Jibrin said he has communicated this "decision to my constituents who remain very happy with my decision to reject the car".

House members have called Jibrin a "desperate man" for his latest anti-corruption posture.

Is it now that he (Jibrin) is no longer benefiting from allowances that he wants them scrapped? asked Namdas.

Speaker Dogara and the House of Reps have however gone ahead with the purchase of the cars.

The cars will be delivered in batches.
The minister who stated this on Monday in Lagos at the opening of the 4Commonwealth Public Relations Congress, noted that image makers in both public and private sectors were victims of the trend.

He, therefore, charged PR practitioners to devise innovative ways to ensure a better, charged-way communication network between their employer and the people.

The event organised by the Management School, London and the Business Education Examinations Council, has the theme Strategic Management of Reputation Risk in an Interdependent World.

Today, anyone with access to a smart phone can put out any information, whether accurate or not, that could go viral in minutes.

No fact-checking, no accuracy, no fairness, no rules. They just spread whatever information catches their fancy, and they have their own public that believes them. he said.

The minister however said that the trend is global, affecting international and local affairs including the recent U.S. elections.

To understand the seriousness of this, there is an on-going debate in the U.S. over the role that disinformation played in the recent presidential election.

Some even accused the social networking site, Facebook, of helping to swing the election in favour of Mr Donald Trump, through the fake and distorted news spread by websites belonging to those who call themselves Alt-Right, or Alternative Right.

Of course Facebook has denied that. But then Facebook and Google have taken concrete action to check this by seeking to cut off the live wire to these fake news websites, he said.

According to published reports, Google said it will prevent websites that misrepresent content from using its advertising network, while Facebook said its ban on deceptive and misleading content also applies to fake news.

The minister said, locally, the trend has also made the job of government image makers a task so daunting that it is denying them of sleep.

Government image makers now sleep with one eye opened, thats if we sleep at all, because while we are sleeping, the purveyors of distorted and fake news are busy cooking their stuff.

I cannot count the number of times that I have been removed from the Information and Culture portfolio on the social media in the past year, or that ministers have swapped portfolios, he said.

He minister seized the opportunity to refute the fake report that President Muhammadu Buhari gave 500 million dollar to Hilary Clinton during the U.S. Electioneering Campaign.

Even when the Presidency has denied this outrageous concoction, the so-called analysts and experts have continued to comment on it as if it is true, he said.

In tackling the challenge, the minister said that in addition to radio, television, newspapers and the new media, his ministry revived an age-long practice of Town Hall Meeting to engage people directly and get their feedback on topical issues.

Mr Mike Okereke, foremost public relations practitioners in a welcome address, said the summit afforded the them (PR practitioners) from the Commonwealth to exchange ideas on best practices.

He urged participants to adopt positive attitude in the discharge of their duties.
Most Nigerians, including civil society groups and labour unions recently condemned the lawmakers, and accused them of being insensitive.

Abulmumin Jibrin, the suspended lawmaker, has however dismissed claims by his colleagues that the cars will be used for oversight functions.

Here are the six reasons Jibrin gave to support his stance that the Reps do not need the cars.

1. Jibrin said that it is an outright lie that the cars are needed for oversight.

2. 80 per cent of oversight activities of the House of Representatives are carried out in Abuja.

3. In almost all instances it is the MDAs that arrange buses to convey members from the premises of the House to the respective MDA.

4. In such areas that are far away from Abuja, members always use flights to the nearest location while the MDAs arrange vehicles and other logistics to complete the visit.

5. Even if we assume that the cars are needed, it is unfair to further put additional N4bn into such a wasteful venture while at the same time members pocket about N10m monthly.

6. The MDAs provide accommodation and pay for the tickets and other logistics.
The President also asked the militants to embrace the enormous potentials in agriculture and stop the destruction of the environment.

According to Vanguard, Buhari said I wish to acknowledge the unrelenting efforts of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, which, in its bid to prove that oil production and agriculture can coexist, has for the past 29 years supported its host communities to focus on agriculture through the GRP, a corporate social responsibility initiative, which has resulted in sustainable development in these communities.

I appeal to the people of the Niger Delta region to embrace peace and focus on agriculture for sustainable economic development and wealth creation.

I urge you to take advantage of the huge potential in agriculture and stop the destruction of oil and gas pipelines, which only serve to destroy our ecosystem and economy.

The present administration is committed to doing everything possible to support the people of the Niger Delta to achieve their potential in agriculture, which is far more than its endowments in oil and gas.

You will recall that the Federal Government also initiated talks with elders from the oil rich region to seek a solution to the constant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
This is coming on the heels of the Federal Governments efforts to reach a compromise with groups in the area.

According to Punch, Tompolo said he did not ask anybody to destroy pipelines because of his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Speaking through his spokesman, Paul Bebenimibo, on Sunday, November 20, 2016, the ex-militant leader said he will pursue his case with the EFCC through non-violent means.

Bebenimibo said The attention of my client, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo has been drawn to an online publication by a faceless person or persons, that militants have vowed to attack more oil facilities over Tompolo if the Federal Government of Nigeria refused to drop the criminal charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

High Chief Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) unequivocally dissociates himself from this threat as he did not send anyone to attack oil facilities in the Niger Delta region because of his case with the EFCC. Tompolo has consistently denied involvement in the resurgence of bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

Tompolo was declared wanted by the EFCC for allegedly refusing to appear in court following allegations of fraud amounting to billions of Naira levelled against him.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Avengers have slammed President Buhari over what they have described as his demeaning treatment of people from the oil rich region.
Nyako, his son, and two others - Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifik Abba are facing a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.

Nyako and his co-defendants allegedly used five companies  Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Serore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited to commit the fraud.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Abuja, the prosecution witness, Ugochukwu Dumukwu, of the FBN Merchant Bank, Maitama, said he does not know the source of the various sums of money credited into the accounts of Tower Asset Management Limited, domiciled with the bank.

Under cross-examination by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, he told the court that the EFCC contacted the bank in respect of investigations into transactions involving Blue Ribbon Multilinks Nigeria Ltd and Tower Asset Management Nigeria Ltd.

"We were requested to provide incorporation documents such as form CO7, CO2, SCUML registration documents for Blue Ribbon Multilinks Ltd, also proof of identity for the signatories to the accounts," he said.

He noted that the EFCC also requested documents, which included account opening forms for the two companies, transaction history for both companies, also letters of instruction from the customers, as well as copies of cheques issued to the customer.

The documents, which were presented to the court by Mr. Jacobs, were identified by the witness.

However, Ibrahim Isiyaku, counsel to Zulkifik Abba and Towers Assets, who also held brief for Kanu Agabi, counsel to Mr. Nyako, his son and Serore Farms & Extension Limited, objected to the admissibility of some of the documents, which included the data page of the international passport of Mr. Abba, arguing that it was not certified by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Counsel to Abubakar Aliyu, Y.C Maikyau, also aligned with Mr. Isiyaku and urged the court to reject the documents in evidence.

Mr. Jacobs, who accepted the objections of the defence counsels, noted that: "I do not want to waste the time of the court arguing on the admissibility or otherwise of the documents in question, and so withdraw them as the identity of the persons involved is not in dispute."

Justice Abang, thereafter, admitted the other documents in evidence marking them as exhibits A1-A166.

The admitted documents, included transfer history detailing the flow of cash into Blue Ribbon Multilinks from Tower Asset Management, letter of instruction from the owners of the account, as well as copies of cheques used as instruments of payment.
The elders , during a welcome back reception held in honour of Oshiomhole, urged the Federal Government not to let the ex-Governors talent go to waste.

The President had earlier commended Oshiomhole for the good work he did in Edo state and promised that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will find a place for him at the federal level.

Speaking further, the Edo elders also thanked the former Governor for the projects which he launched in their various areas.

They also thanked Oshiomhole for finding a lasting solution to the problem of erosion in the Auchi area of the state.

According to Vanguard, the groups spokesman, Alhaji Usman Shagadi said We were glad when the President said APC would engage Oshiomhole so that he would not waste his talent after his eight years tenure. We want Oshiomhole to play the type of politics he played in Edo State at the national level so that Nigerians will benefit from him too. We want Nigerians to benefit from his talents; we dont want him to be confined where people will not benefit from his intelligence. We are today proud to come from Edo North because Oshiomhole made all of us proud. The three senatorial districts of the state have benefited from Oshiomholes administration.

I can tell you that Oshiomhole executed three projects that we are very proud of here in Edo North. Firstly, road from Ekperi to Anegbete, second is the one from Jattu to Emegbai and the Auchi erosion project. We believe that no other governor would have done these three projects for us if he was not our son.
Hassan said that he was of the view that the interest of justice would better be served if the EFCC was put on notice.

He directed Ofili-Ajumogobia, also a Federal High Court judge, to put the anti-graft agency on notice.

Hassan fixed further hearing on the case for Nov. 28.

The EFCC had preferred a 30-count charge against Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla (SAN) over alleged perversion of justice.

The commission had detained the duo in its custody pending the conclusion of its investigation.

Ofili-Ajumogobia filed the ex-parte motion through her lawyer, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), seeking enforcement of her fundamental rights.

She urged the court to order her release.

In his argument, Onigbajo had faulted the continued detention of the judge.

The counsel argued that the commission had an option to charge Ofili-Ajumogobia to court if it was sure she had committed any offence.

He said: The EFCC has the option to charge her to court but it has not done so.

She is ready to defend herself vigorously against any charge that may be slammed on her.

She is ready to deposit her passport and abide by any other conditions that the court may impose on her.
The move is the latest attempt by the government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to solve the forex crisis in the country.

The Senate, speaking through spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, however expressed surprise at the recommendation.

The measure is disruptive and counterproductive, threatening to undermine many of the reform efforts already underway in the legislature and by government ministries intended to boost investor confidence, Abdullahi said.

The Senate would never pass such a punitive and regressive proposal. Overall, some of the Commissions recommendation has many sound attributes and could help Nigerias investment climate.

We believe the CBN should have the authority to regulate the forex market and determine the exchange rate policy as already enshrined in its enabling Act.

A market-oriented exchange rate policy is the best recipe for guiding the operations of the foreign exchange market. This will ensure the supremacy of market mechanisms in efficiently allocating the scarce forex resources. We will continue to work with the Executive to halt the worsening recession and return to economic growth, he added.
Governor Ganduje also called on the members of the sect to respect the authority of the police force.

According to Punch, he said the sect will not be allowed to take laws into their hands and cause chaos.

Ganduje said They (Shiite members) cannot keep breaking the law and tampering with the rights of other citizens.

As far as they continue to break the law, the police have to come in. They cannot use their freedom to do whatever they want because they are violating other peoples human rights.

As far as we are concerned, they have to recognise the authority of the security agencies, they have to get permission. If they do not get permission, then the police will not allow them to continue the procession that they do.

The Governor said this while speaking to journalists at the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award in Abuja.

The Shiite members have been protesting over the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
According to Premium Times, Buratai made the statement to newsmen on Sunday, November 20, 2016, in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The Army Chief said It is very clear that the terrorists have been defeated; there are no doubts about it.

What we are doing now is a mop up operations aimed at ensuring that we clear the rest of them. It is one thing to defeat, and it is another issue for the terrorists to surrender.

We are working on their final surrender in the remaining enclaves where they are now. And very soon we will achieve that objective.

Speaking further, the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, said the troops will continue their operations until the terrorists are completely wiped out.
Fayose told the Ghanaians that change had only brought Nigeria hunger and suffering.

The governor made the comments via a statement released by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.

The statement reads:

By buying into the All Progressives Congress (APC) message of change, Nigerians are now facing a kind of hunger and suffering never experienced in the country in the last 30 years and Ghanaians must not fall into that kind of trap.

Ghanaians should not succumb to the deceit of the opposition party that are calling for a change of government. Rather, they should return the incumbent President, John Mahama, who has no doubt done creditably well to deserve a re-election.

Ghanaians should know that the change in Nigeria brought hunger, suffering, disregard for the rule of law as well as arrest and detention of Nigerians without trial and be mindful of those preaching change to them.

Most importantly, the situation in Ghana at present is similar to that of Nigeria. Like President Muhammadu Buhari, opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo has contested the presidency two times. This is the third time he is contesting. He is also 74 year-old.

In Nigeria, change is synonymous with economic recession that is even getting to the level of depression. Even majority of those who brought the change are now regretting it.

Therefore, tell your people in Ghana that Nigerians are already regretting the change they made last year, which has plunged the country into serious economic hardship.

Tell them to learn from Nigerians and reject those preaching message of change to them. They should hold on to the government that they have now and beware of a change that will take their country to economic recession.
Mimiko had on Saturday, November 19, welcomed the President to Ondo for the APC campaign rally ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the state.

He said his gesture towards Buhari on Saturday was because of his position as the President and not an indication that he might pitch his tent with the APC.

The Governor stated this on Monday, November 21 while speaking to State House correspondents shortly after meeting Buhari for the second time inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

ALSO READ: Stop running to Buhari over crisis in your Party  Lalong tells Mimiko

This is Mimiko's second visit to the Villa since the crisis over the rightful PDP candidate in the Ondo polls started.

Mimiko said: "This is my second visit to the Villa since this crisis in our party started. Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr. President of what is going on in the state.

"Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesy of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC (member).

"I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesy that protocols demand.

"As a governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, if the President is visiting, no matter the party he belongs to, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesy to him. That was what I did in Akure.

"And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state."
This is coming as reports revealed that Jegedes supporters have joined other political parties because of his perceived inability to get justice in the courts.

Jegede however debunked the reports and called on his campaign team to continue with their efforts to woo voters.

The factional PDP candidate is contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INECs) choice of Jimoh Ibrahim as guber candidate.

According to Punch, Jegede said  Mark my words, we will contest and win this election. Let me tell you, this is not about Eyitayo Jegede alone, it is about the people of Ondo State, this is about good governance in our state, this is about continuation and improvement on the good things we have been enjoying in our state.

Im in this business to reclaim my mandate and Im serious about it.

Meanwhile, there seems to be no hope for Jegede in his court case as the Abuja Court of Appeal panel established to determine all appeals arising from the ongoing PDP leadership disputes on Friday adjourned its proceedings indefinitely.

On June 29, 2016, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court upheld Sheriff as the acting national chairman of the party, reports say.

Thereby, giving Ali Modu Sheriffs faction of the PDP the right to conduct governorship primary of the party for the November 26, 2016 Ondo State governorship election.
Kalu, a former Abia Governor, in a surprise move that shocked most political pundits, decamped to the ruling APC on November 18, 2016.

He was a member of the PDP before he moved to launch his own party, the Progressives People Alliance (PPA).

Nwankpa also described Kalus move to the APC, as a sign that the party is growing in the South-East.

He also added that the ex-Governors move will give the APC the needed boost, describing him as an asset.

Nwankpa said Orji Uzor Kalu is an asset to the party in the state, the Southeast and the country as a whole. I am sure he will use his wealth of experience in politics to grow the party in the zone. It is one of the landmark achievements of the leadership of the APC.The ruling PDP has become jittery with the influx of eminent politicians into the APC. The PDP is already afraid of 2019.

Adding that Today, we are witnesses to the number of bigwigs in Abia and southeast who have joined the party. It shows that we are becoming formidable and remains a party to beat in 2019 general election. I want to assure you that more aggrieved personalities are going to join the party.

Some observers have alleged that the former Abia Governor defected to the APC to avoid being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Kalu has however debunked claims that he moved to APC because of his EFCC case,saying My family members are here (APC) and I am coming to join them.

All my friends are here. I am not saying my friends are not in the other party but its time to take stock. It is important to go along family lines in order to rebrand Nigeria. I am back to join where my family are.
Zuckerberg, whose social network has been criticized by some as helping Trump to victory by giving a platform to fake election news, said the world must fight isolationism -- a stance the billionaire president-elect has often been accused of.

Trump and the Brexit camp both appealed to working-class voters who feel threatened by globalization and immigration, running on a populist politics of disillusionment with an increasingly borderless world.

Trump vows to protect American jobs from cheaper labor overseas, while Brexit campaigners promise British workers will fare better outside the European Union than in it.

Zuckerberg said in a speech at a summit of top leaders from the Asia-Pacific that while globalization has its problems, the world must fight the urge to "disconnect."

"As we are learning this year in election after election, even if globalization might grow the overall pie of prosperity, it also creates inequality. It helps some people and it hurts others," Zuckerberg said in a speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru.

He said there was a "fundamental choice" to make in reacting to that inequality.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720"We can disconnect, risk less prosperity and hope jobs that are lost come back. Or we can connect more, try to do more great things, try to work on even greater prosperity and then work to aggressively share that prosperity with everyone."

The second option is better, but also harder, he said.

"Disconnecting is relatively easy. But connecting requires making big investments in infrastructure and generating the political will to make hard long-term decisions," he said.

According to one analysis, its top-performing stories included a disproportionate amount of bogus news from hoax websites and extreme-right blogs with untruthful attacks on Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton.
According to reports, a student dressed as Trump was shot by a classmate which was aided by a gunshot sound which came from a cell phone.

Some of the parents who have children at the school think there should be a graver punishment for the students involved.

Melinda Beam said, Honestly I have run out of words to describe how angry I am and how shocked I am that theyre still in school today."
According to USA Today, Smith discovered the pile of decomposing deer 200 yards from her house in Weare Township.

She contacted the state Department of Natural Resources and the Oceana County Road Commission but wasn't able to get an explanation.

Authorities however took action following an article published by the Oceana County Press.

A representative from the Road Commission had called Smith to explain that a new employee left the carcasses on the land by mistake.

The deer have been removed and authorities have sent in an apology to the complainant concerning the issue.

Smith seemed to be satisfied when she said, The deer are gone and that's the only thing I wanted,

I don't want any of the coyotes or the creepy crawlies that would have drawn. Or the smell and stench.

"Im a happy girl.
The costs of fighting the Boko Haram Islamists, plunging oil revenues, deficits, austerity measures and strikes by civil servants have all stirred popular anger in a country with high poverty levels despite its oil reserves.

"Chad has ground to a halt. We fear the worst," said Maoundoe Decladore, a spokesman for the civil society organisation "Ca doit changer" ("Things must change").

The dire situation is evident in the main market of the capital N'Djamena.

"I spend a whole day with barely 1,000 francs (1.50 euros) in takings. There's no money. People are not coming," said Fatime Zara, a vegetable seller in her forties.

Teachers have been on strike since September to demand payment of wage arrears.

"All the money from oil has been diverted to the people in power," said Michel Issa, a school teacher, echoing complaints from civil society and the opposition about Deby, who came to power in 1990, and his government.

Other sectors have also been hit such as health, forcing patients to seek treatment in neighbouring Cameroon, and justice. Deby met with judges on Friday to try and end their strike.

The situation is worse outside the capital of the vast nation of 10 million people, where more than one in three children under the age of five suffer stunted growth.

The political opposition, riding the wave of popular discontent, is demanding "inclusive dialogue" with the regime while contesting the reelection of Deby for a fifth mandate last April.

The example of Compaore

Deby officially received 60 percent of votes in that election. Saleh Kebzabo, his main rival, won just over 12 percent.

"Idriss Deby is an illegitimate president. We are not seeking dialogue in order to accede to government. Our concern is to return Chad to a democratic path through fair and transparent elections," Kebzabo, who is behind Tuesday's strike, the third in just over three months, told AFP.

The situation has led to speculation that Deby, who has been in power since 1990, could suffer the same fate as Blaise Compaore in nearby Burkina Faso.

Compaore was forced to relinquish power in October 2014 following a popular revolt after he tried to change the constitution to extend his 27-year rule.

Compaore's fate represents a "model for the Chadian social movement," said Roland Marchal, a researcher at the Institute for Political Studies in Paris.

"Many people describe a man who no longer has the same ability to take initiatives as before. There is doubt about his ability to last," he said of Deby, who is 64 and now often walks with the help of a cane.

Marchal viewed as a "sign of weakness" the president's precipitous return to the capital from the climate change conference in Morocco because his government faced a no-confidence vote in parliament on Thursday.

The vote -- called over the government's alleged mismanagement of the economy -- was not held because parliament failed to make a quorum after the ruling party's MPs did not show on orders from Deby.

Diplomatic aces

The president's move was sparked by "fear that some will vote for a censure motion and that the government will be overthrown", Marchal said.

The same day, several opposition activists and politicians were detained in N'Djamena after the government banned a rally following the failed censure motion.

But the president still has some diplomatic aces.

Deby received his military training in France, he is the current head of the African Union, and is supported by France and the United States, who need the cooperation of the Chadian military in the region.

The headquarters of the French military operation Barkhane against jihadists in the Sahel region is in N'Djamena, where it is assumed that strategic information is exchanged.

Deby was also recently received by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

And he relies on an army whose best elements are derived like him from the Zaghawa ethnic group.

But although the army is seen as strong force in the region, it also has its weaknesses.

"In the army, certain ethnic groups are abused by the regime," said a civil society source.
Marcel Lubala was killed at his home in Mbuji-Mayi, central DR Congo, on the night of November 14-15 by armed men. The 59-year-old had worked for the RTNC MbujiMayi television channel that is part of state broadcaster RTNC.

"I condemn the murder of Marcel Lubala. Journalists must be able to do their work informing citizens without fearing for their lives," said Bokova in a statement published in Paris.

"I trust the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice."

According to local authorities in the Kasai-Oriental province, where Mbuji-Mayi is located, an investigation has been opened into the murder and five people have been arrested.

But various charities and media rights organisations decried the fact the murder took place during a curfew between 10pm and 5am, when local security forces were supposed to be in control of the town.

Joseph Tshilunde, president of the national union of Congolese media (UNPC), told AFP that Lubala was the "16th journalist killed in DRC in 10 years and too often the perpetrators and organisers are not sanctioned".

DR Congo has been wracked by recent violence sparked by a political crisis brought on by the postponing of a presidential election which had been due to take place before the end of the year.

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he succeeded his father Laurent Kabila, who had been assassinated.

Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election having served two terms but his opponents are worried the election postponement is part of a wider bid to hold onto power.

Anti-Kabila protests have been suppressed by police while authorities have used various means to clamp down on the press.

Kabila's government has frequently blocked the signal of foreign media such as Radio France International any time opposition supporters have organised protests.

Ten days ago, the government also issued a decree affecting foreign broadcasters that gave them a month to hand over a majority share of their companies to locals, a move criticised by the United Nations.

DRC was classed 152nd out of 180 countries in 2016 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.
ECONOMY

FILLON: Proposes cutting 500,000 public sector jobs over five years and scrapping the 35-hour working week. Allow bosses and private sector workers to negotiate working time directly, within an EU limit of 48 hours a week. Require civil servants to work 39 hours a week.

Increase the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65 years. Cut corporation tax from 33 to 25 percent. Scrap a wealth tax on top earners. Cut public spending by 100 billion euros ($106 billion).

JUPPE: Cut 200,000-300,000 public sector jobs. Increase the working week from 35 hours to 39 hours for private sector workers but allow for flexibility. Require civil servants to work longer hours (number of hours not specified).

Cut public spending by 85-100 billion euros. Increase the minimum retirement age to 65. Scrap a wealth tax on top earners. Cut income tax by two billion euros.

IMMIGRATION

FILLON: Reduce immigration to a "strict minimum" via quotas approved by parliament. Increase deportation of illegal migrants. Link development aid to Africa to commitments by countries to take back illegal immigrants.

SECURITY

FILLON: Strip jihadists who travelled to Syria or Iraq to fight alongside Islamic State of their nationality and bar them from returning to France. Allow municipal police to carry guns. Increase prison capacity by 16,000.

JUPPE: Arrest jihadists returning from Iraq or Syria. Place suspected Islamist radicals believed to pose a threat under house arrest. Increase prison capacity by 10,000.

ISLAM

FILLON: Introduce a national ban on full-body "burkini" Islamic swimsuits.

JUPPE: Opposes national burkini ban.

FOREIGN POLICY

FILLON: Develop closer ties with Moscow. Lift sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of the Crimea peninsula. Bring Russia into the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition, along with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Develop closer ties with Iran. Create a eurozone government to harmonise economic policy. Work towards a "Europe of nations" that "respects French sovereignty."

JUPPE: Critical of Russian bombardments of the Syrian city of Aleppo and its support for the Assad regime. Reform the EU to make it less bureaucratic. Strengthen European defence cooperation.

GAY MARRIAGE

FILLON: Wants to amend a 2013 gay marriage law to prevent same-sex couples jointly adopting. Proposes making it harder for children born to foreign surrogate mothers to obtain French citizenship.
The peacekeepers are part of Japans 350-strong contingent, while the rest would arrive in December to the UN force of 12,000 troops in the war-torn country.

Recently, Japans government gave the military its first mission since controversial security laws went into effect in March in spite of strong domestic public opposition.

The laws, a flagship policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, enabled the military to fight wars abroad for the first time in nearly seven decades, countering Japans pacifist constitution.

Japans troops would be allowed to fire warning shots and return fire if they are attacked or if they feel they are in life-threatening danger.

They would be assigned the task of rescuing UN staff and other allied forces that come under attack during peacekeeping operations in South Sudan.

While Japanese troops have formed part of the UN mission since 2012, they were previously not allowed to use force.

The new batch of 130 Japanese troops is vital for the UN peacekeeping mission and the people of South Sudan, since it will help in maintaining the security, Shantal Persaud, a spokeswoman for the UN mission, said.

South Sudan has been in turmoil since December 2013, when a split between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar escalated into a military conflict.
Unlike her one-time partners on the global stage, George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Silvio Berlusconi, Merkel is still in power and running for another four-year term.

During her reign, she has taken centre stage in Europe's debt turmoil and refugee crisis, sparred with Russia over Ukraine and now, after Donald Trump's election, is being widely hailed as the torch-bearer of western liberal democracy.

With a doctorate in quantum chemistry, Merkel, 62, is known for a methodical and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, rather than for soaring oratory or big-vision statements.

Seemingly devoid of vanity and indifferent to the trappings of power, she lives in a Berlin flat with her media-shy scientist husband Joachim Sauer, shops in a local supermarket and spends holidays hiking in the Alps.

Germans seem to like it that way, given how past ideologues have plunged the country into catastrophe, and have re-elected "Mutti" (Mummy) twice since 2005.

'Mama Merkel'

Merkel's image as a reassuring leader was upturned last year when she took the unusually bold step of throwing open German borders to an influx of refugees from Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones.

But it also fuelled a surge in racist hate crimes and rightwing populism, angered Merkel's coalition allies and saw her isolated within the European Union.

Even if the 2015 influx of almost 900,000 migrants spelt Merkel's biggest domestic crisis so far, she has since seen her approval ratings recover to around 60 percent as new arrivals have tapered off.

Despite the political damage, she heads into the 2017 campaign season as the strongest candidate, with no serious rival for the top post or likely challenger in her own conservative ranks.

Behind the Wall

Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner in 1954 in the port city of Hamburg, but within weeks her father, a Lutheran clergyman, moved the family to a small town in the communist East, at a time when most people headed the other way. Seven years later they were living behind the Wall.

Biographers say life in a police state taught Merkel to hide her true thoughts behind a poker face.

Like most students, Merkel joined the state's socialist youth movement, but she rejected an offer to inform for the Stasi secret police while also staying clear of risky pro-democracy activism.

The best student in her class, she excelled in maths and Russian, which would later help her keep up the dialogue with President Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Wall fell in 1989.

During that momentous upheaval, the 35-year-old Merkel was working in a Berlin laboratory but quickly joined the nascent group Democratic Awakening.

The group merged with the Christian Democrats of then chancellor Helmut Kohl, who fondly if patronisingly dubbed Merkel "my girl".

Merkel's mentor was not the last politician to underestimate her and pay the price.

When Kohl became embroiled in a campaign finance scandal in 1999, Merkel openly urged her party to drop the self-declared "old warhorse".

The bold move kicked off her meteoric rise as youngest-ever and first female German chancellor in 2005.

'Free world' leader

In a party dominated by southern Catholic men, the twice-married, childless woman from the communist East was and remains an outsider.

As party leader she has remade the CDU, anchoring it in the political centre by pushing social policies, abolishing compulsory military service and scrapping nuclear power.

During the eurozone crisis, Merkel preached fiscal discipline and kept a tight grip on the nation's purse strings, soothing the angst of a thrifty populace fearful about its pensions.

Especially in southern Europe, Merkel has drawn open hatred as a puritanical "austerity queen" sometimes caricatured in Nazi garb.

Her image flipped with the refugee influx, when news weekly Der Spiegel portrayed her as "Mother Angela" with a nun's habit.

With Brexit, the Trump election and the rise of rightwing populism across Europe, new challenges await.

Merkel would have preferred to deal with Hillary Clinton, but after the election of Trump, who has called her refugee stance "insane", she promised him close cooperation -- provided it is based on "democracy, freedom and respect for the law and the dignity of man".

In a world shell-shocked by Trump's election, many now see Germany's bland, cautious veteran leader as a beacon of hope.
The suspects, including 151 currently in custody, were referred to a military court for alleged membership of the "Sinai State", the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, which is leading an insurrection in the Sinai.

The suspects were questioned about the accusations against them and 66 confessed during an investigation that lasted more than a year, the official said.

All of the suspects were involved in 17 operations, including two plots to kill Sisi, one while he was on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and one in Cairo, the official said.

The official gave no further details, but said those who planned the assassination attempts were dismissed police officers who adhere to jihadist ideology.

The suspects allegedly also planned to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the Gulf kingdom and five Egyptian judges.

No further details about the plots were given.

The prosecution also accuses the suspects of attacking army and police checkpoints and bases in the Sinai, and of responsibility for a February 2014 attack on a bus carrying South Korean tourists in the south Sinai tourist resort of Taba that killed three holidaymakers.

The army has been battling an Islamist insurgency in northern Sinai which escalated after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Without referring to Trump directly, Xi spoke of his hope for a "smooth transition" in a relationship that Obama described as "the most consequential in the world."

During a vitriol-filled election campaign Trump frequently took a combative stance against China, blaming Beijing for "inventing" climate change and rigging the rules of trade.

The White House, surprised by Trump's lack of details on the issues, has urged world leaders to give Trump time to get his feet under the desk.

For much of Obama's presidency, China and the United States have slowly improved cooperation and tried to limit the fallout from disputes, all while vying for influence in the Asia-Pacific.

China has been quick to seize on the failure of a US-backed Pacific trade deal to push its own version of the pact -- excluding Washington at the APEC meeting.

Xi -- who the White House sees as perhaps the most powerful Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping or even Mao Zedong -- said he wanted to see cooperation continue.

"I hope the two sides will work together to focus on cooperation, manage our differences, and make sure there is a smooth transition in the relationship and that it will continue to grow going forward."

The two men have met nine times since Obama took office in early 2009.

Obama said he wanted to "take this opportunity to note our work together to build a more durable and productive set of bilateral ties."

"I continue to believe that a constructive US-China relationship benefits our two peoples and benefits the entire globe," he said at the start of the meeting.

"We've demonstrated what's possible when our two countries work together," he said, citing an agreement to tackle climate change.

Areas of tension

Obama also acknowledged that his eight years guiding US-China relations have seen difficulties.

That period has seen tensions in particular over China's seizure of territory it claims in the South China Sea, as well as over the treatment of US firms in China.

Obama said he expected a "candid conversation on areas where we continue to differ, including the creation of a more level playing field for our businesses to compete, innovation policies, excess capacity and human rights."

One area of continued tension concerns how hard to push sanctions against North Korea over its ballistic and nuclear weapons programs.

Obama said he and Xi "are united on our strong opposition to North Korea's provocations, and we will intensify our efforts to de-nuclearize the Korean peninsula."

jpegMpeg4-1280x720The US is pushing for further sanctions to choke off funding to North Korean weapons programs.

Pyongyang has launched multiple tests to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and a missile capable of delivering that deadly payload to the United States, alarming the White House.

Beijing has long dragged its heels on sanctioning its allies in Pyongyang, fearing a flood of refugees if North Korea's economy collapses.

But earlier this year Beijing moved to sanction a conglomerate based in China's frontier city of Dandong that did an estimated $530 million in trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015.

Obama has looked to his National Security Advisor Susan Rice -- who backpacked around China in the late 1980s -- to guide much of the relationship.

The White House points to some tangible progress from those efforts, including tying China to limited norms on cybersecurity after a series of hacking scandals and measures that increased the number of Chinese visitors to the United States.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind
1. A feast of trees

Shiny lights and glowing trees have returned to the RiverCenter complex in downtown Davenport. The Festival of Trees, which displays, among a bundle of other holiday treats, around 100 designer trees, is open now through Sunday, Nov. 27, except for Thanksgiving Day. The festival, serving as the annual fundraiser for Quad-City Arts, a local nonprofit arts organization, delights more than 100,000 visitors each year at the RiverCenter, 136 E 3rd St, Davenport. For more information, visit quadcityarts.com.

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, RiverCenter, $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for kids

2. An evening with Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb is still widely known for her 1994 hit "Stay (I Missed You)," which was featured in the very-90s movie "Reality Bites." Now, she's a multi-faceted artist and performer, adding children's songs as well as movie and reality TV roles to her resume. Hear her collection of pop tunes this week at the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Tickets are available at rivermusicexperience.org.

8 p.m. Friday, Redstone Room, $27.25

3. The Last Waltz

On Thanksgiving Day in 1976, a concert advertised as the final performance by The Band became legendary when Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood and Eric Clapton all took one stage. Forty years later, a crew of area musicians are looking to reinvent that one-time show. See "The Last Waltz," presented by Al Sweat Productions, a live music project hosted by Quad-City musician Al Sweet, with opener The Dawn, at the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport.

8 p.m. Wednesday, Redstone Room, $12 in advance, $15 day of

4. Movie night

The Putnam Museum and Science Center is hosting a movie day just in time for the holiday season. You have two chances to see the classic "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" on the big screen at the Putnam, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. The movie ticket includes admission into the museum for the day. For more information, visit putnam.org.

1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Putnam Museum, $12

5. Comedy Sportz turns six

ComedySportz Quad-Cities, a comedy group performing improv, stand-up and sketch routines, formed six years ago. Since 2010, they've performed more than 1,000 improv shows, hosted community events, corporate parties, fundraisers, movies, wedding receptions and concerts. To mark that anniversary, the crew is hosting a free show on Wednesday at The Establishment, 220 19th St., Rock Island.

6 p.m. Wednesday, The Establishment. Free

6. Run for turkey

Looking to feel less guilty about your Thanksgiving feast? Start the day with the 30th annual YMCA Turkey Trot. The event, presented by McCarthy-Bush, includes a one-mile family fun run, which starts at 8:30 a.m., as well as 5k and five-mile race options. To register, visit scottcountyfamilyy.org.

9 a.m. Thursday, 606 W. 2nd St., $37 for race entries

7. Get crafty

Add this to your Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping plan. The Quad-City Christmas Arts and Craft Fair is back for its 27th year at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island. The fair, billed as the largest indoor handcraft fair in the area, sees 10,000 people in attendance, over three days, each year.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, QCCA Expo Center, $5

8. Black Friday mayhem

Ragged Records, the record store in downtown Davenport, is throwing a Black Friday show at Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island. The concert includes Quad-City band Condor & Jaybird plus six psych and garage bands from around the Midwest.

9. Music on a Monday

If you like Simon & Garfunkel, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez and PHOX, you might enjoy Nashville-based band Boom Forest, which headlines a Monday night show at the Village Theatre, 2113 E. 11th St., Davenport. Chicago's Kevin Andrew Prchal and comedian Chris Schlichting are also on the bill.

7 p.m. Monday, Village Theatre, $8
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks J.K. Rowlings return to the big screen, where her world of witches and wizards once again springs to life in a delightful Harry Potter prequel (although there are a limited number of references to the Potter movies).

The story is set in the 1920s in New York City, where Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne arrives with a suitcase of bizarre creatures. The United States, it seems, has banned magical beasts, so its important that the suitcase remain closed  which, of course, it doesnt.

Scamander, who wants to protect the creatures, gets involved in the typical movie-suitcase switcheroo, which ensues in enough twists and turns to keep it from being a cliche. The fellow who ends up with the critters is a No-Maj, the same as a Muggle, which is someone who does not have special powers. Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler, televisions The Goldbergs) unwittingly allows several of the creatures to get loose in lower Manhattan.

Simultaneously, Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) leads an investigation into a series of unusual disturbances that may reveal the wizard world to the public at large.

Kowalski and Scamander team up with two magical sisters (Katherine Waterson and Alison Sudol) to round up the beasts and find out whats at the root of the oddball occurrences.

At a time when so many real animals are endangered, its nice to see Scamander on his mission to save some of the creatures considered to be illegal. Also, the beasts themselves are a delight, in particular an echidna-type mischief-maker who steals shiny objects such as coins and jewelry.

David Yates directed the last four Potter films, so its no surprise that the welcome familiar tone and look of this one are in keeping with the last we saw of Harry Potter.

Although Redmayne does have the lead role, he often takes a back seat to his co-stars, both flesh-and-bone and gloriously computer-generated (see this in 3D if you can  its well worth it). Sudol, for example, steams up glasses for miles around with her sultry, mind-reading Queenie character. Fogler, who channels a distinctly John Candy vibe in several scenes, earns and owns a lot of screen time as an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances  and loving every minute of it.

Toward the end of the film you will see the Best. Cameo. Ever. that is almost worth the price of admission in itself.

Potter fans will love finding the connections to their beloved franchise, while fantasy fans will enjoy the beginnings of a new one.
DES MOINES  State negotiators Monday offered unionized law officers a 1 percent annual across-the-board pay raise for the next two fiscal years but made no insurance proposal, signaling the likelihood the new GOP-led Legislature and Gov. Terry Branstad will make decisions affecting future public employee compensation.

Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters later in the day he would like to explore the option of creating a larger risk pool of public employees at the state, county, city and school district levels that would help drive down costs for all the entities that choose to participate. He said Republicans have not decided whether to change provisions in Iowas collective bargaining law next session.

However, Jason Bardsley, a state trooper from Des Moines and current president of the State Police Officers Council, or SPOC, said the absence of a proposed insurance benefit in the states offer for a new contract raised concerns over impending legislative efforts to rewrite or even end Iowas collective bargaining law in effect for more than four decades.

Its very concerning to us. The insurance is a crucial piece of our benefits, said Bardsley, especially in light of recent police shootings in the Des Moines area and other U.S. cities. For that to be stripped away, that would be very concerning for our membership to have to worry about what would happen if something could happen and where do we stand.

Janet Phipps, director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and lead state negotiator, said red lines were drawn through all current health, life and dental insurance provisions in the states 11-page offer to the police council because those provisions will be decided at a later time, likely by the governor and lawmakers.

The state agrees to provide health and dental benefits as determined by the state to eligible bargaining unit members was the wording under the insurance provisions of the states two-year contract offer.

Im not sure what theyre going to do. With the political change, I think theres going to be a conversation about how to deliver group health benefits to state employees, Phipps told reporters after Mondays collective bargaining session. Were not offering any specific plan. Our proposal does say that the state will offer by the states determination health and dental benefits, but theres nothing delineated in our proposal as it has been in the past.

Bardsley said the states proposed 1 percent pay increase was a fair place to begin closed-door negotiations after his 600-member bargaining unit had an initial request for a 3 percent across-the-board pay increases for each of the next two fiscal years. The contract will run from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019.

Republicans won control of the Iowa Senate in the Nov. 8 election by a 29-19 margin with one seat held by an independent senator and another vacant seat to be decided in a special election in Davenport next month. The GOP majority in the Iowa House was expanded to 59-41, giving Branstad his first GOP-led Legislature since the 1997-98 biennium.

Newly elected GOP legislative leaders have indicated it is early in the process of setting an agenda for the 2017 session, but they indicated interest in reviewing Iowas collective bargaining law to provide more flexibility. The governor has said in the past that he thinks state employees need to contribute more to the states insurance costs.

Were looking at is there a better, more efficient way that we can deliver health care, Branstad said during a break in state budget hearings Monday. We want to make sure that we provide quality health care for all our employees. But right now, its being done on a very ad hoc basis, not just the state but also school districts, counties, cities. Id like us to look at could it be much more efficient if we had one master contract as opposed to all of these individual ones. So thats the kind of thing that were exploring.

The governor opened his administrations fiscal 2018 budget hearings with state agencies at his Capitol office by noting he just returned from a trade mission to Japan and China, where the symbol is the same for danger and opportunity.

Were in a very interesting time, Branstad said in opening discussions in preparation for presenting a two-year state budget plan to the Legislature on Jan. 10.

We have some big budget issues, he said, noting the depressed level of farm prices and other factors impacting state revenues, but we also have the opportunity of doing things differently and better.

Under current law, state and union negotiators present initial proposals in open session and then go behind closed doors for talks. If an impasse is reached, the two sides go to binding arbitration to resolve differences by March 15, but that process could be rewritten or scrapped by lawmakers and the governor before the current talks are completed, negotiators said Monday.

Last week, two leaders of the conservative Americans for Prosperity-Iowa organization  Luke Hilgemann, chief executive officer, and Drew Klein, Iowa state director  issued a call for collective bargaining reform in Iowa, saying the current binding-arbitration system allows unelected bureaucrats to spend more taxpayer dollars without lawmakers ever taking a vote.

Asked Monday if there would be a move next session to address collective bargaining issues such as binding arbitration, Branstad said, We havent decided.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Five of Iowas six members of Congress have written President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to scrap the controversial Waters of the United States rule when he takes office in January.

Calling the Environmental Protection Agencys rule, known as WOTUS, an economic assault on small businesses, manufacturing and agriculture, the five Republicans said it threatens the very livelihood of our fellow Iowans.

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Reps. Rod Blum, David Young and Steve King went on to say those industries are the backbone of rural America.

The election results signaled that Americans are ready for the last eight years of EPAs power grabbing mentality to come to an end, they said.

Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack did not join in the letter to Trump.

The Iowa Republicans are likely to find Trump to be more sympathetic to their request than President Barack Obama, who vetoed a resolution of disapproval of the WOTUS regulations. The resolution passed with bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

We strongly encourage you to use all the tools at your disposal to free the American people from this blatant overreach, the members of Congress said. We also respectfully urge you to direct your EPA to craft a common-sense rule that clarifies the scope of the Clean Waters Act and does so by taking into consideration the input of all stakeholders.

During his campaign for the White House, Trump signaled that he wanted to lighten the regulatory burden on farmers and businesses. In late October, while campaigning in Cedar Rapids, Trump said he wanted to end what he called this war on the American farmers by Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Clinton, he warned, would shut down family farms with EPA regulations, including WOTUS.

Although they support the intent of the Clean Water Act to address pollution problems in navigable waters and improve water quality through a local-state-federal partnership, the Iowans said the expanded WOTUS definition far exceeds what was originally intended. Through WOTUS, they said, the EPA is trying to expand jurisdiction over waters not originally covered as well as on private land. They have argued WOTUS could give EPA power to regulate activities on 97 percent of Iowa land.

A U.S. Court of Appeals has issued a nationwide stay blocking enforcement of WOTUS, but settling that litigation could take years, the Iowa members of Congress said. In the meantime, Iowa farmers and businesses are left with uncertainty and concern the EPA will attempt to enforce it through a piecemeal approach.
DES MOINES  Opponents of the Dakota Access underground oil pipeline that passes through Iowa began a hunger strike Monday outside the headquarters of the Iowa Utilities Board, a state regulatory agency that approved permits for the project, in hopes of convincing board members to reverse their decision.

"They need to change their minds," said Jessica Reznicek, a Des Moines woman who began a protest fast outside the utilities board headquarters. "When the pipeline breaks, the whole state of Iowa will be fasting. It's time the Iowa Utilities Board does the right thing and shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline."

Reznicek said she and other members of a group calling themselves the Mississippi Stand Water Protectors, planned to stage their vigil until state regulators agree to withdraw the permits for the pipeline that is close to completion in Iowa but is not yet carrying crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in northwestern North Dakota because of protests on Native American land in that state.

Organizer Frank Cordaro said the effort is part of the Mississippi Stand, an encampment started in Lee County last August in opposition to the drilling underneath the Mississippi River in Iowa that has grown into a mobile caravan of resistance across the state. He said the effort to hold utilities board members accountable with go on indefinitely, and organizers are urging other opponents to join in the fast.

Dakota Access, a Texas-based company, is in the process of building the pipeline slated to span 1,134 miles from North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa, to a distribution hub in Illinois. Dozens of protesters have been arrested in Iowa along the 346 miles of pipeline crossing 18 counties from northwest to southeast.

Julie Brown, a hunger strike participant who grew up in Jasper County, said even though much of the pipe for the Iowa leg is in the ground, there is still time to halt the project so it doesn't transport oil that could leak and cause environmental issues and foul Iowa's waters.

"Pipelines do leak," Brown said. "It's not a matter of if but when."

Officials with Dakota Access did not respond to a request for comment.
It will be at least another six months before a Tennessee company that has been trying to build a psychiatric hospital in the Iowa Quad-Cities will go before a state board for approval.

Jim Shaheen, president of Strategic Behavioral Health LLC, of Memphis, confirmed Monday that the company will not seek the approval of Iowa's State Health Facilities Council at the panel's February meeting.

Strategic has been trying for more than a year to build a 72-bed psychiatric hospital in the Quad-Cities. The company selected a location near Golden Valley Drive and Tanglefoot Lane in Bettendorf, but so far, it has failed to get a certificate of need from the state, a requirement before new health care facilities can be built.

The health facilities council voted 2-2 on the matter in October, the second time the five-member panel has deadlocked on Strategic's application. A majority vote is needed for a certificate to be granted.

The Quad-Cities' two major hospitals, Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Trinity, have opposed the application.

After the October vote, officials with Strategic indicated the earliest they could be back before the panel would be at its February meeting. However, a state official said Monday a representative of the company told her about a week ago that it likely would not appear.

Shaheen confirmed in an email Monday that Strategic would not be at the February meeting. He declined to say whether it would seek state approval at a future meeting, calling it speculative.

Becky Swift, who manages the certificate of need process, said it likely would be July before another meeting would happen after the February session. She said a May meeting is possible, but the terms of two members of the panel expire in April, and it's not clear how quickly those will be filled.

The terms of council members Bob Lundin of LeClaire and Brenda Perrin of Cherokee will expire in April.

Perrin, however, is filling out the term of a previous member, who resigned earlier this year, so she could be re-appointed. It's not clear whether Lundin would serve another term. Both voted against Strategic at the October meeting.
The Moline High School Share Joys campaign will be held Dec. 5-9.

The kickoff will be a doughnut-eating contest, sponsored by Donut Delite, at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the east gym at Moline High School.

Shopping for students will be Dec. 11 at JC Penney.

Since 1949, the program has raised more than $1.1 million for Moline students in need. Last year, Moline High School students and staff, together with the community, raised more than $49,425 to clothe more than 260 children who needed assistance. All money raised goes directly to helping the children.

Contributions are being accepted. Checks can be made payable to Moline High School Share Joys, in care of Allison Ryser, Moline High School, 3600 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, IL 61265. For more information, contact Ryser, 309-743-8827.
About a week ago, Chad Pregracke visited the Quad-City Times with a set of rolled-up renderings. He had an idea for a park that could be built on the barge on the Davenport riverfront. He was excited, and if youve ever been around Chad, President and Founder of Living Lands & Waters, you know his excitement is infectious. Its how he gets things done. His energy inspires others, and it sets things in motion.

Since he unrolled those computer sketches of a grass- and tree-filled riverfront park, its obvious that we werent his only stop. Emails were sent campaigning for his proposal. Meetings were held among business leaders and elected officials. And, before the two submitted RFPs could officially go before the Davenport City Council, it was out that they might not have the wow factor that Mayor Frank Klipsch said he wanted for that key part of downtown.

Heres the funny thing. Chad isnt the only person to come into my office with plans or an opinion about the direction of the riverfront. Ive seen maps and renderings and bound proposals.

And then there are the other voices  the frustrated voices.

There are those who think the public spoke long ago when they participated in the RiverVision process, which many think is no longer the guiding document. If RiverVision is not to be used, they say, there needs to be a new set of public meetings to come up with a new plan.

Agree or disagree, heres the point: There are a lot of voices and a lot of opinions. Theres a lot of excitement and a lot of frustration. Proposals are flying. Decisions have not been made, and yet it seems decisions are being made, however unofficially.

The barge is about to sit empty or its about to go away or its about to be wonderful. I cant predict. What I can predict is that the face of the riverfront is about to change.

It might be too late for a series of public meetings to come up with a plan, but its not too late to share your vision for the riverfront and what youd like to see done with the barges.

Send them to me, and well run them on the Opinion page next Tuesday, Nov. 29, which is the day the Davenport City Council will look at the one proposals submitted through the RFP process that hasnt been eliminated from consideration.

Well accept letters, which must be signed just like a regular letter to the editor, until midnight on Sunday. Send them directly to me at aphillips@qctimes.com.
Many Americans, afraid of almost everything these days -- so afraid of being afraid that they're easily herded like political livestock -- will look to Thanksgiving with just one thing on their minds:

Fear.

It's true and you know it. You're afraid somebody will say something. And you're afraid that you'll respond, and you will.

That's when the jellied cranberry hits the floor.

And Mom starts saying, "No! No! No!" and a Mr. Kass archetype shouts at you to move to Canada and don't come back, and soon, old and young are wrestling on the floor saying hurtful things like "I hate you!" that can't be unsaid.

That's when your loving Thanksgiving family becomes just like the Twittersphere, but with real people you know and once loved, instead of hatefully anonymous cartoon heads.

But don't worry.

I've come up with a few hints so that you may have a nice Thanksgiving without having to call 911 and wait in the driveway for the cops like a jabbering sweaty mob.

I know what you're afraid of. It's the political talk. It just might be safer in our postmodern America to argue about religion.

Because if you talk politics, and you know that you will, some jolly conservative uncle might trigger you with comments about the Electoral College and minority rights and the future of the republic.

Or the brilliant liberal niece covered in safety pins might do the triggering, condemning half of the dining room table as racists, Cheetos lovers and illiterates.

And that nice Rockwell moment, with Dad in his cardigan carving the brined turkey, will turn to hell as everybody shouts curses and Grandmother begins to weep.

What's worse is that after the fight, the hostess will have to be brave and say, her eyes terribly bright: "Anyone for dessert?"

And everyone will feel guilty, until somebody says something and it starts all over again.

So to not let that happen, here's what you might consider:

Drinking.

I don't mean a timid sip of sherry either, but pounding down a series of scotch and sodas or Manhattans or martinis even before you reach for the lightly salted mixed nuts.

(And just as an aside, why is it that somebody always rudely picks out all the Brazil nuts and the cashews and leaves the peanuts? Don't you hate that?)

So drink instead, preferably on an empty stomach, and drink hearty.

Alcohol, which is often given a bad name at family gatherings, might make you happy and funny and content and tolerant of opposing views. It might cause you to compose limericks that make everyone laugh in thanks.

Or, when your conservative uncle says that democracy is really "two wolves and a lamb voting on dinner," you might just stab his hand with a fork, pinning it to your aunt's dinner table, as you smile and watch his eyes.

On second thought, don't use alcohol. But we have to do something.

What about segregation, not racial, which everyone knows is wrong, but gender-based?

Just send all those evil white males in the family down into the basement and lock the door. If you don't have white males at Thanksgiving, you're cool.

You don't have to be cruel. Toss a turkey leg down the steps; maybe send a child with a tray of queso dip and chips.

"How long?" some might whine.

You: "For eternity!"

"I watch CNN, so why do I have to stay here with the uneducated?" another might bleat.

You: "Shut up and check your privilege!"

Don't give in no matter how they beg. Keep them in the basement until they're about 80 years old and relatively harmless.

Unless of course, there is a war or space alien attack; then you may let the young ones out to join the Army to defend us.

But for God's sake, keep those who are over 35 down there for a good 40 years until they're no longer dangerous.

After a few days, they'll begin to devour each other.

Now, you might get lucky and have a Thanksgiving gathering of people who don't give two figs for politics. But that means you have a house full of 7-year-olds and all they'll want is mac and cheese, so good luck with that.

But what if your liberal relations and friends start acting up on Thanksgiving?

They're agitated still. And they might be surly. You'll know they're spoiling for trouble if they say something like, "A book? You've actually read a book? Without pictures?" and titter into the backs of their hand.

Or, what if a few accuse the host and hostess of promoting a deplorable feast as gluttonous thanks to a Supreme Being that they insist does not exist?

"You're in charge of the means of production and you offer this groaning table while others are in need? What would Elizabeth Warren say?"

You can't very well lock them downstairs with the white males. So the best thing would be to just shut up and smile and apologize for everything. Don't provoke them.

Just stare at the festive holiday Jell-O on your plate, examining the floating fruit chunks in that horrid gelatinous mass, and give silent thanks that you're all together again in one house.

On Thanksgiving.
Donald Trump was elected. There have been all kinds of protests, beatings, and hate-mongering. Im venturing to bet that these acts are being done by the same folks that were preaching Love Trumps Hate.

I cannot say that this is true, but Ive heard that there are ads on Craigslist basically hiring folks to protest. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders got screwed by the Democratic National Committee, and then he sold out to support Hillary Clinton.

I honestly believe the election results would have been different, but its too late now. As for 2020, who knows? I listened to Clintons last speech where she congratulated Trump. In fact, I listened to it several times because I did not want to misunderstand what she said. Maybe you protesters and hurt-feeling folks should also.

She said its time to unite the country and give him a chance to lead. So there all along, she knew the country has been divided and she actually had a hand in that. Its a crazy world folks; lets not make it any worse.

Mark Weigand

Muscatine
Sights, sounds and flavors from the nation of India blended together Saturday night to provide a taste of home for college students from India and to give their American counterparts a way to learn about the richness of Indian culture.

The annual Diwali festival was hosted by the India Club at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Saturday night. The large Indian student body showcased their dancing, singing, cooking, and henna art for more than 500 people in attendance.

Diwali  or the Festival of Lights  is one of the biggest Hindu celebrations in India. It is celebrated to honor the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi, and Ramachandras victory over evil. Traditionally it is a five-day celebration in which rituals are performed to cleanse the body, home, and spirit.

The India Club has been hosting the Diwali festival since 1986. With about 50 student members, the club has plenty of hands to help with the festival.

The evening featured dancers doing traditional Indian dances. Reeha Jasmine and her group did a traditional dance originating in the Indian state of Gujarat called Garba. Dancers wear colorful costumes and jewelry. Jasmine has been dancing on stages since she was 3 and moved to Rapid City from Hyderabad, India, four months ago. Participating in the Diwali festival helps her feel closer to home.

Dancing in many forms is an important part of a Diwali celebration.

It is a form of celebration. Like when youre happy, you dance and you sing. Garba is the tradition version of that, done when celebrating, Jasmine said.

Sushma Karanam, a metallurgical engineering sophomore, has been doing henna art for 11 years. She came to Rapid City from India two years ago to attend school. Henna is a way she stays in touch with her Indian background.

The purpose of henna is to adorn yourself, usually for special occasions like weddings and festivals. It has been a tradition for ages for us, she said.

Henna refers to the dye prepared from the henna plant. It is used to temporarily stain the skin.

It will be on your hand for at least a week or two. It is like a temporary tattoo. It comes from a leaf that grows in India. You just grind the leaves, and that gives it the color.

Mohit Bibra, vice president of the India Club and a senior in chemical and biological engineering, feels that the festival is important to show unity within the community.

We celebrate Diwali here at Mines as a symbol of coming together with the community and to show our culture, values and traditions. It is giving people here a taste of all we have in India.

There was a lot of preparation that had to be done with cooking, decorating, and practicing for performers. Organizers spent more than a month getting ready, and the club enjoys hosting the festival.

It was a lot of work, but it was fun and exciting working with all the other Indian students, said event host Manasi Paste, a freshman who moved to Rapid City from Goa, India.

After a fireworks celebration, the festival concluded with authentic Indian cuisine prepared by the students. Every year the menu changes. This year, a popular east Indian dessert called rasgulla was added. It is made with balls of cottage cheese cooked in a syrup.
Ruling on Russian billionaire Arkady Rotenbergs claim over EU sanctions set for Nov.30

MOSCOW, November 18 (RAPSI)  The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg will pass a judgement upon a claim filed by Russian businessman Arkady Rotenberg challenging his inclusion on the EU sanctions list on November 30, RAPSI learnt in the court on Friday.

In March 2014, the European Council imposed restrictive measures on a number of Russian individuals and businesses following a crisis in Ukraine and the developing situation in Crimea.

Since then it has encompassed over 130 individuals and 28 Russian companies, including officials and businessmen as well as leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics. Aside from individual sanctions, the EU imposed sector-specific sanctions against Russia that have negatively affected major Russian financial institutions and major companies. The sanctions list has been repeatedly extended.

Rotenberg, a co-owner and board chairman of SMP Bank, was added to the list on July 30, 2014.

He made an official request with the Council asking for review of the decision. However, further restrictions were imposed and initial measures were prolonged as well.

In October, Rotenberg turned to the ECJ challenging his continued inclusion on the sanctions list and seeking an annulment of the Councils decision, arguing, amongst other grounds, that the measures are disproportionate. He insists that the Council has violated his fundamental rights to property, privacy and the freedom to run a business. Initially Rotenberg filed two suits with the court in Luxemburg but later withdrew one of them.

Interestingly, several Russian companies including Rosneft, Gazpromneft, Sberbank, VTB Bank, Vnesheconombank filed suits over sanctions with the ECJ in lockstep with Rotenberg.
Comments and links to reports on science, and its applications.
Updated February 27, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Donald Trump has been putting in place a cabal of:

Trump's team so far includes:

Sebastian GorkaIslamophobic Warrior, Rising Star in the Trump/Pence Regime

Sebastian Gorka is emerging into the public eye as a key figure in the Trump/Pence regimes plans to eradicate jihadist forces like ISIS as part of a much broader attack and aggression against Muslim countries and people as a whole. Gorka is part of the core of people around Steve Bannon, the former editor of Breitbart News, who see America and the Christian West as locked in an existential struggle with the Muslim world and non-European/dark-skinned people generally. Bannon is Trumps chief of strategy, and clearly very close to him in his thinking and policy. Gorka worked for Bannon at Breitbart for the last two years. In January, Bannon recommended Gorka to be deputy assistant to Trump, and he was then named to the Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG), newly created by Bannon and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. SIG appears to be meant to serve Bannons fascist ideological oversight of the White House national security apparatus. And in the last month, Gorka has been trotted out for numerous press interviews to defend the Trump regime. Gorka was considered a fringe figure during the last 15 years, working at a series of lecturer positions in U.S. security and military training institutions. His trademark was his bitter disagreement with the mainstream of U.S. imperialist policymakers under Clinton, both Bushes, and Obama over whether or not to target the Islamic religion as a whole, and the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims, as the enemy of the U.S. empire. Read here

Thomas Homan, a Pigs Pig, Is Trumps New Head of Immigration Department: Fascist Regime Gears Up for Mass Sweeps and Deportations

The appointment Monday (January 30) of Thomas Homan to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is the latest flashing red signal that the Trump regime is gearing up to begin deporting millions of immigrants from Mexico, Latin America and elsewhere. First came last Wednesdays executive order from Trump to build the Wall, which also ordered the hiring of 15,000 more Border Patrol and ICE agents. That order also changed federal policy to facilitate Border Patrol and ICE working closely with local and state police. On Thursday, Mark Morgan, the head of the Border Patrol, was forced out of his post. Morgan wanted to stay and sucked up to Trump by publicly criticizing Obamas immigration policies. But he was opposed by the Border Patrol union, which ran an op-ed on the neo-Nazi Breitbart.com in November saying Morgan was a disgrace. The Border Patrol are front-line enforcers of the U.S. immigration policy. Read here

Trumps Pick for Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder: Enemy of the Minimum Wage and Workplace Regulations

The supposed mission of the federal Department of Labor is: To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. Trumps nominee for secretary of this department is Andrew Puzder, a champion of unrestrained exploitation of workers by the capitalists, free of government regulations. Read here

The Fascist Resume of Trump's Chief Strategist Steve Bannon

One of Donald Trump's first decisions as president-elect was to name Steve Bannon his chief strategist and senior counselor. Bannon managed Trump's campaign. Before that he was the owner and hands-on force behind the website Breitbart News Network. Mainstream news and Bannon himself call Bannon's politics "conservative," "alt-right," or "white nationalist." It's worse than that. "Hoist the Confederate Flag" On June 17, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina: nine people at a Bible study class in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were murdered by white racist Dylann Roof. Roof said he carried out the massacre to start a "race war" to turn America back to the days of open segregation. He posed online with pro-Hitler symbols and a confederate flag. Part of the response, very broadly throughout society, was an eruption of outrage against the confederate flags, flags of slavery and lynching. Breitbart's response: an article headlined "Hoist It High And Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims A Glorious Heritage." Steve Bannon ran Breitbart when this article was published. He signed off on it, and as a hands-on editor likely instigated it.... Read here

Trumps Choice for Defense Secretary: Marine General James Mad Dog Mattis

Donald Trump has chosen retired Marine Corps General James Mad Dog Mattis as his Secretary of Defense. Hes the latest addition to Trumps storm trooper team. Mattis mantra: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." Mattis' got his nickname Mad Dog for his role in leading U.S. troops in laying waste to the Iraqi city of Fallujah in November 2004, massacring insurgents and civilians alike. Most of that modern city of 300,000 was completely destroyed, reduced to rubble. At least 60 percent of those killed were women, children, and the elderly. A correspondent wrote: "There has been nothing like the attack on Fallujah since the Nazi invasion and occupation of much of the European continentthe shelling and bombing of Warsaw in September 1939, the terror bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940." Read here

Trumps National Security Adviser: Lt. General Mike FlynnAt War with Islam

This week Trump named Lt. General Mike Flynn to be his National Security Adviser, one of the most powerful foreign policy positions in the government. The National Security Advisor is generally the presidents main foreign policy advisor and key coordinator of implementing his decisions. Flynn is seen as one of Trumps closest and most rabid advisors. (During the Republican National Convention, he joined in the anti-Hillary Clinton chants of "Lock her up!") Flynn, a retired three-star Army general and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA, the Pentagons spying arm), claims the U.S. is in a global war, not just against Islamic jihadists but against Islam itself. Its not really a religion, Flynn argues, but a dangerous political ideology. Flynn has called Islam a "cancer" and said "fear of Muslims is rational." In April 2015 he told Fox News, I've been at war with Islam, or a component of Islam, for the last decade. Flynn vitriolically argues that the U.S. shouldnt be restrained by human rights, international law, rules of engagement, or other forms of political correctness but should ruthlessly fight this existential enemy. (This stance and his open criticism of the Obama administrations softness toward and lying about Islamic fundamentalists probably led to his 2014 firing as head of the DIA.) Read here.

Trump's CIA Pick: Mike PompeoAdvocate of Torture & Tearing Up Rule of Law

Mike Pompeo wants to expand the governments ability to spy on millions. He advocates legalizing and carrying out torture. He champions gutting fundamental civil rights. Now Trump has named this Congressman and former Army officer to head the Central Intelligence Agencythe CIAone of the most powerful and deadly arms of the U.S. governments repressive apparatus. Pompeo opposed ending the ability of the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect phone records, or metadata, in bulk. Instead, he called for Congress to expandspying and pass a law re-establishing collection of all metadata, and combining it with publicly available financial and lifestyle information into a comprehensive, searchable database. Legal and bureaucratic impediments to surveillance should be removed. (Wall Street Journal, January 3, 2016) Read here.

Ben Carson: A Housing Slasher, an Uncle Tom Defender of Segregation, a Christian Fundamentalist Nut Case and Dangerous New Member of Trumps Legion of Doom

By any conventional standards, Ben Carson is an obscene joke as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Less than a month ago, Carsons close friend Armstrong Williams said Carson felt he would cripple the presidency in a cabinet position, because, Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, hes never run a federal agency. But there is a fascist method to this madness. Trumps choice of Carson to head up HUD puts someone who wants to decimate public housing and shut down any governmental interference with segregation, and who is a Christian fundamentalist lunatic to boot, in a powerful position in the U.S. government. Ben Carson says any attempt by the government to address housing discrimination is a mandated social-engineering scheme. He says the micro-thin safety net that provides poor people, inner city residents, and Black and Brown people with barely livable shelterif thatin dangerous projects and filthy homeless shelters is too muchthat it just encourages dependency. What do you think an appointment like this means to people for whom the existing, shitty government programs are a matter of survival? Read here

Trump's Ambassador to Israel:

Signaling an Iron Fist in the Middle East
Guwahati : At least two CRPF jawan were injured in two separate blast rocked in Manipur's Imphal on Sunday evening.

According to the reports, suspected militants had triggered the blasts.

Imphal police said that, the first blast took place near M Center and second one exploded inside the campus of All India Radio in Imphal.

Two CRPF jawan were injured in the twin explosions.

The injured security personnel had rushed to nearest hospital.

Top security officials had rushed to the area and launched operation.
NAWALPARASI, Nov 21: The representatives of the Madhes-based parties have taken over the control of the minutes mentioning the recommended proposal of the political parties for delineating 15 tier local level in Nawalparasi district.

The Madhes-based parties expressed their dissatisfaction over the proposal at the third all-party meeting held on Sunday to come up with a final solution to the local level structure.

The major political parties were lobbying for keeping the seven municipalities intact while proposing eight village councils when the Madhes-based parties intercepted to take control over the minutes.

The Madhesi Front had been expressing their discontent over restructuring the local level without finalizing the demarcation of the provincial borders through amendment of the constitution, but after the draft of restructuring the local level was mentioned in the minutes, the Front took control of it, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party's central member, Puran Chaudhary confirmed.

The Front has claimed that the division of Nawalparasi district with its eastern part to be embedded into Province no 4 and western part into Province no 5 as per the constitutional provision is not clear, and has pressed with the concept that restructuring the local level in such a context is not appropriate.

The Front, Naya Shakti Nepal, Janamukti Party, RPP Nepal and Nepal Parivar Dal among other fringe parties have also expressed their dissatisfaction. They have urged the major parties to prepare the local level restructuring draft after coming clear on the initial demarcation. RSS
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Deals by PM Najib have stoked resentment of Chinese influence among ethnic Malays, but they could be among the big winners if they play their cards right

The rumblings of discontent started before Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had even set foot back on home soil.

While some of his countrymen saw his recent visit to China as a groundbreaking feat that would boost the nations flagging economy  he did, after all, secure deals worth RM144 billion (HK$258 billion)  others, in particular the countrys opposition parties, accused him of selling Malaysias sovereignty and compromising its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where the two countries are in dispute.

Businessmen complained they could be overwhelmed by cash-rich Chinese companies, stoking discontent among ethnic Malays  the two-thirds of the population known as the bumiputra or sons of the soil.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor meet China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Many bumiputra already resent Chinese influence, despite enjoying special privileges over Chinese Malaysians in university admissions, scholarships and civil service jobs under affirmative action policies enshrined in the countrys constitution.

Obviously it will create resentment. The majority in this country already feels provoked by the Malaysian Chinese and their grasp of the economy, said a young ethnic Malay entrepreneur.

But any such resentment may not be universal . Some analysts expect members of the Umno ruling party, who have complained about potentially losing business to the Chinese, to actually benefit from Beijings largesse.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Yes, there is resentment among Umno leaders with regards to the deals, but again these are the same leaders that will benefit through contracts from the projects and other means, Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, an analyst with risk consultancy BowerGroupAsia said.

But businessmen and bankers dealing with mainland Chinese investors say Malaysias ethnic Chinese may not turn out to be the prime beneficiaries of Najibs deals.

Chinas first preference for business partnership is with government-linked companies. There will be plenty of opportunities there for Malay entrepreneurs, said one investment banker.

Tan Yew Sing, president of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, said Chinese investors were pragmatic and did not take ethnicity into account when doing business. Besides, there is no pure Chinese company in Malaysia. Every company here has around 30 per cent Malay partnership, Tan said.

The wind blows a flag over the head of a Chinese honour guard as he prepares for the arrival of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Indeed, one ethnic Malay businessman in the property sector said mainland Chinese may even be more keen to partner Malay entrepreneurs as some felt Malaysian Chinese were arrogant and looked down on them as nouveau riche and low class people.

The Chamber of Commerce said such attitudes were not the norm, but acknowledged mainland Chinese might be inclined to partner Malay entrepreneurs with their better government connections.

Furthermore, some Malaysian Chinese who had invested in mainland China had suffered contractual and other disputes, making them more cautious.

Malay entrepreneurs, as this is their first time working with mainland Chinese investors, may be more open without preset ideas. So mainland Chinese investors may find it easier working with them, said the chambers Tan.

Many analysts were upbeat about growing links with China, Malaysias largest trading partner for the past seven years. Trade between the countries hit US$55.7 billion in 2015.

I dont think it is fair to claim that Najib is selling the country  it will be positive for Malaysias growth prospects, especially with the proposed East Coast Rail Line, which will bring development to the eastern peninsular states, and the much needed power boost in Sabah from the Trans Sabah Gas Pipeline, said Asrul .

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang escorts Najib Razak, the Malaysian premier, as he receives a guard of honour in Beijing, China. Photo: AFP

Others felt Malaysia had few options but to turn to China, as funding from the West was drying up. Its not as if [Malaysia] has a lot of choices when it comes to fresh sources of FDI [Foreign Direct Investment] or trade or even favourable foreign loans nowadays. The harsh fact is that countries in the West are not able to put up any of these nowadays, as their own economies are in the doldrums, said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Even previously antagonistic Asean countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, are availing themselves of this Chinese largesse, so why not Malaysia, which has maintained steady and productive relations with China over the years? Oh added.

Still, some young entrepreneurs in the digital economy, while welcoming foreign investment, feared Chinas giant fintech companies would dominate.

Foreign investment is always welcome. I believe it will help in exposing local businesses to the needs of demanding Chinese investors especially in manufacturing and lately, the digital economy, said Fazil Fuad, the 28-year-old CEO of C27, a digital innovation agency. Fazil hoped the government deals would be transparent so local entrepreneurs could leverage Chinese investment. China is one of the worlds economic powerhouses and the benefits we can reap are almost limitless  as long as the interests of local businesses are protected and policies written to ensure financial fair play and access to capital to compete.

Malaysias Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower (red) at night in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

A Malaysian government spokesman said Chinese FDI would boost all segments of society. While some have tried to make political capital at the expense of these agreements, there is no question of Malaysian sovereignty being eroded in any way ... [projects] will remain owned by Malaysia and operated by Malaysians. FDI from any destination in no way affects the rights and protection of the bumiputra, whose development will always be a priority for the government. [Neither will it affect] the equitable and inclusive distribution of the fruits of the countrys growth to all its citizens.

Workers rest after cutting old tyres, which will be recycled, in an alley in Ampang, in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian PM Najib Razak has secured deals with China worth deals worth RM144 billion to the Malaysian economy. Photo: AFP

While the initial rumblings of too much cosying up to China can be managed and the economic benefits be evenly spread, the underlying reality of race cannot be ignored, said observers. If the situation is not well-managed, ethnic Chinese, who make up a quarter of Malaysias population of 31 million, could end up being on the receiving end.

With the increased racial rhetoric in Malaysian politics and deep rooted distrust of the Chinese, this could be a problem in the future, Asrul said.




The Government of Ethiopia has vowed to support Moroccos return to the African Union (AU) during next African Summit scheduled for 2017.

The pledge was made last weekend following the official visit made by King Mohammed VI to Addis Ababa. Rwanda and Tanzania also have also backed the North African Kingdoms return to the AU during the visits paid last October by the Moroccan Sovereign to these two English-speaking countries.

In a joint statement released Saturday at the end of the royal visit to Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn expressed Ethiopias firm commitment towards the full realization of the values and principles of the African Union, and voiced his countrys support to Moroccos decision to rejoin the African Union as early as the next AU Summit.

By deciding to reintegrate AU, Morocco is only returning to its home and to family, said Ethiopian Foreign minister Taye Atske-Selassie, noting that Rabat and Addis Ababa are bound by strong ties of friendship since the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU  currently AU).

He also said that the Government and the people of Ethiopia cherish and are proud of this relationship.

We must congratulate Morocco for decision to rejoin AU, stressed the Ethiopian diplomat, describing as very fruitful the talks King Mohammed VI had with Ethiopian President and Prime Minister.

He also said that he is convinced that the cooperation accords sealed between the two countries, during the royal visit to Addis Ababa, will open up a new era of partnership and of shared prosperity.

During the latest African Summit held in Kigali (Rwanda), 28 African member countries out of 54 submitted a motion welcoming Moroccos application to rejoin the African Union, noting that the North African country is one of the founding members of the AUs predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU.)

They also called for the immediate suspension of the membership of the self-proclaimed RASD, which was illegally admitted in 1984 through the illegitimate use of threats, deceit, coercion and dirty petrodollar money.

Morocco is currently the 2nd major investor in Africa. Its private companies are present in several African countries operating in banking, telecommunication, construction, insurance, housing, electricity, fertilizers, air transportsrevving up social and economic development of Africa.

Their positive contributions are highly appreciated by local African communities which share deep historical, religious and cultural ties with Morocco.
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Nov-20-2016 16:45 TweetFollow @OregonNews What Should Businesses Know Following the News of the Election? There's a possibility of a traditional Republican leadership style.



(SALEM, Ore.) - The U.S. Presidential election was more than a simple process to elect a new president. Rather, it was an ideological showdown between Hillary Clinton, a career politician who was the obvious choice in the eyes of most voters, journalists and business owners. Then, there was Donald Trump. Someone well-versed in businesses, but seen as a complete outside to the political arena with no governing experience. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you might be on if youre a business owner youre probably wondering what the results mean for the economy, the deal-making market and industry in general. The past eight years have seen steady economic expansion, but its been pretty slow at times, and Firmex.com reports the effects have been wide-reaching. In their report of Mid-Market M&As, the company says there has been a reduction in the number of deals made for many reasons, including tight regulatory environments. The question for business leaders is what to expect in the face of this news, and what they should do to move forward. Obamacare: Will It Stay Or Will It Go? The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has had a tremendous impact on every aspect of life for most Americans. It ranges from having personal effects on their medical care and spending, to major impacts on employers. Donald Trump campaigned on a promise of doing something to change President Obamas signature piece of legislation, but now he looks to be softening his stance and moving toward making alterations, rather than a full-on repeal. This can be troubling for some people in terms of having access to healthcare, and it could make people uninsured, depending on the specifics of what happens, but business owners, including small businesses, in particular, have had many complaints about the legislation. There could be benefits to some businesses if changes are made to Obamacare, but a lot of it will depend on the changes that are made, whether or not theres a complete repeal, and what measures are put in place to replace it if it is repealed. The Donald Trump presidency and retention of the House and Senate by Republicans could also impact the overall healthcare market and investors in this sector. Healthcare has seen tremendous growth over the past eight years, both because of Obamacare and also an aging U.S. population, so the political landscape will have to be watched closely by members of the industry and investors. Taxes and Regulations Investment professional Lloyd Blankfein spoke last week about what he thinks the impact of the election will be. Although Blankfein had been a supporter of Hillary Clinton, the Goldman Sachs chief told media outlets he was willing to take time and see what Donald Trump decided to do regarding governing. He mentioned the possibility of a traditional Republican leadership style which includes corporate tax cuts and loosening of regulations. Blankfein seems relatively optimistic, particularly considering the loss of his candidate, but he has spoken to global employees of Goldman, assuring them the firm has a plan for all possible situations. Raises in the Minimum Wage While many Republican leaders are not for minimum wage hikes and instead like to leave that up to free market moves, following the election, there have been increased proposals that passed in several states which include Arizona, Maine, and Washington. For example, in Arizona, the minimum wage will rise from $8.05 to $12 by 2020. In that state, voters also decided to have minimum wage workers at large companies get 40 hours of sick days a year, and at smaller businesses, 24 hours of sick leave per year. Business owners will have to account for both hikes in the minimum wage rate happening at the state level, as well as other changes voters might continue to look for regarding work conditions. Global Relationships While Donald Trump won the electoral college vote last week, he didnt win the popular vote, and he hasnt necessarily won the favor of foreign countries just yet. For businesses that have operations and employees across the borders of the U.S., this situation will likely need to be handled carefully. These companies should ensure theyre reaching out to foreign employees and associates as the situation plays out, and keep them ahead of their own plans regardless of whos president. This can also apply to the M&A market, for companies that may be eyeing foreign deals. Only time can tell exactly how a Donald Trump presidency will play out, and regardless of whether business leaders voted for or against the highly divisive Republican candidate, its time to start making plans and moving forward with an eye toward potential policy changes. Source: Salem-News.com Special Features Dept _________________________________________

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Articles for November 20, 2016 |
Obviously such an edition is not sent in a bubble-wrap envelope, but comes packed in Styrofoam, in a box.

And while "The Gate" stays shut with magnets (leading to a very satisfying CLUMP whenever you close it) it is so heavy that they couldn't include magnets strong enough to carry its own weight.

Leading to this most amusing warning message on the Styrofoam. Hey, a warned person counts for two!
To be sure, theres a lot thats right, even terrific, about Manchester by the Sea. Writer/director Kenneth Lonergans ear for dialogue remains as acute as evernot just in nailing the the way the residents of the titular northern Massachusetts town speak, but in also simply evoking oceans of emotional subtext with the sparest of phrases and sentences. And certainly his compassion hasnt abandoned him in telling the story of Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), a traumatized father who finds himself faced with the prospect of having to raise the son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges), of his late brother Joe (Kyle Chandler). Though the elements are here for a miserablist working-class melodrama, Lonergan instead infuses his film with a lot of warmth and unexpected humor, with Lee and Patrick developing a kind of buddy-comedy rhythm in some of their scenes together.



And yet, for all these not-inconsiderable virtues, Manchester by the Seariding into its theatrical release on a wave of near-universal critical hosannasleft me feeling strangely unmoved. For one thing, theres the narrative structure Lonergan has tried to adopt for this film. Manchester by the Sea is in part meant to be a mystery of sorts, with flashbacks gradually revealing why Lee is, at the beginning of the film, living in a basement in Boston, barely eking out a living as a janitor in a bunch of apartment complexes, and spending his evenings sitting around in bars drinking and getting into random fights with strangers. The way Lonergan has placed these flashbacks in the film are also meant to suggest Lees own psychological recall, with events and images he sees triggering certain memories.



Formally speaking, this is more ambitious than what Lonergan attempted his feature debut You Can Count on Me and his follow-up Margaret. But while the structural adventurousness is admirable, it also leeches some of the cumulative impact away from the story it tells, of an emotionally numb, regret-filled patriarch slowly learning to open his heart to people again. Were too busy wading through the narrative thickets to entirely access the raw beating heart at the center of it all.



A more immediate disappointment of Manchester by the Sea, however, is that this film is simply no Margaret. That 2011 film, unceremoniously dumped into theaters after four years spent in post-production and legal limbo before a small but vocal crowd of critical supporters helped bring it back into the spotlight, remains a stunning achievement, the kind of grand folly that pulses with the exhilarating feeling of a filmmaker trying to put everything he knows about life into one movie, frequently risking messiness to hit higher emotional peaks and articulate deeper human truths. But theres more to Margaret than mere ambition: In telling the tale of a teenager dealing with the effects of grief and guilt in her own self-dramatizing ways, the film proved to be, among other things, perhaps the most brutally honest coming-of-age drama to come in a while (a high bar for the genre that this weeks The Edge of Seventeen, for all its virtues, never quite clears).



Individually, each scene in Manchester by the Sea is a marvel of writing and acting, the characters and settings feeling colorful, authentic and lived-in. And overall, Lonergans refreshing lack of sentimentality in charting Lees gradual breaking out of his emotional shell is certainly nothing to take for granted. But one cant help but miss that last ounce of fearless operatic emotion that made Margaret so imposing, as profoundly wise as it was dramatically electrifying. By comparison, Manchester by the Sea, feels more pinched and, in the end, more predictable. For all the detours the film takes in its narrative, the film ultimately goes where you expect it to and nothing more, ending with a scene of reconciliation that, however honestly wrought and beautifully observed, still feels a bit disappointing in its inevitability than truly satisfying.



Kenji Fujishima is a freelance film critic, contributing to Slant Magazine, Paste, Brooklyn Magazine, Village Voice, and The Playlist, among other outlets.
Kind of marvelous in its apparently single-minded devotion to a slender tale, Warren Beatty's return to directing is weird and ragged and amusing and endearing.

Rules Don't Apply, which also marks Beatty's return to acting after a lengthy absence, follows two young people who fall under the gravitational pull of famed U.S. billionaire Howard Hughes (Beatty) in the late 1950's. Playing fast and loose with dates and facts, the film is more interested in how the leading players pursue their passions while dealing with the era's cultural mores.

Beauty contest winner Marla Mabrey (Lily Collins) arrives in Hollywood with her mother Lucy (Annette Bening), expecting to audition for a movie role. Hughes has set her up with a home in the Hollywood hills, a weekly paycheck, and a driver to take her anywhere she needs to go. She soon learns that she is but one of more than 20 aspiring actresses with similar arrangements, a very odd harem of sorts.

Marla's first driver is Frank Forbes (Alden Ehrenreich), who landed the job two weeks after arriving in town. He's engaged to a girl back home (Taissa Farmiga), which should make it easier for him to respect Hughes' rule that drivers should never socialize with the aspiring actresses, much less date them.

The siren call of young love sounds, however, and Marla and Frank are inexorably drawn toward each other, despite Hughes' rule and despite their avowed religious beliefs; since Frank is engaged, Marla considers him as good as married, and her beliefs don't permit premarital sexual intercouse anyway. Mind, this was the late 1950's in conservative America, and rules on sexual congress, and proper conduct between the sexes, were widely recognized, even if not strictly followed.

While Marla grows increasingly impatient waiting for her promised audition, Frank finds himself sucked into a trusted relationship with Hughes. All Frank wants to do is pitch Hughes on a business proposal, but his eagerness to please and reluctance to push leaves him in loyal servitude to a man who was not easy to read.

Hughes was moody and eccentric, to say the least, which may have been caused, in part, by obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or chronic pain due to a plane crash. His flickering state of mind made him slow to trust, slow to make decisions, and slow to express himself.

Rules Don't Apply feels like a very personal project for Beatty. He began flexing his filmmaking talents by producing Bonnie and Clyde (1967), though years passed before he produced Shampoo (1975), on which he received credit as cowriter and reportedly undermined the work of director Hal Ashby. His first directing credit came with Heaven Can Wait (1978); he made just three films -- Reds (1981), Dick Tracy (1991), Bulworth (1998) -- during the following 20 years, each different from the other and each entirely worthy.

The light, romantic, and comic tone of Heaven Can Wait is present throughout much of Rules Don't Apply. The humor, which rarely feels forced, emanates naturally from the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. The focus shifts between Marla, Frank, and Hughes, and adjusts accordingly to reflect their individual priorities. This serves well the more dramatic portions of the story, as the full implications of the characters' actions come into play.

The movie is bolstered by the performances. Marla has been raised in a conservative religious environment, but after she invites her mother to return home, she must rely on her own naive instincts to navigate the many temptations that are available to her. She is firm yet imperfect, not some kind of religious nut but a young woman who has not yet figured out what she really wants to do in any given circumstance.

The idea of being a business entrepreneur appeals to Frank, but his is not a forceful personality. He is given to doing what other people want him to do, leaving him subject to their will and whims. Like Marla, he too must come of age as an adult, and Rules Don't Apply shows how they are both forced to grow up.

Beatty bobs and weaves as he gets under the skin of Hughes. At this point, Hughes is a severely divided man, torn between his business acumen and his personal and emotional pains. He doesn't mean to give anyone else trouble, but he just can't help himself.

It's of interest that Beatty chooses to focus on this period of Hughes' life, which, chronologically, is also when he himself moved from being a television actor to a movie star. Now 79 years of age, Beatty looks back more than half a century with eyes of nostalgia but also a brain filled with experience and insight, as well as a heart full of compassion and empathy.

Imperfect and awkward as it is, Rules Don't Apply is remarkably modest and charming. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but it's wonderful to see Beatty the auteur back in full force.

The film opens in theaters throughout the U.S. and in limited engagements in Canada on Wednesday, November 23.






I'm Not FascinatingThe Movie! The Trailer from danny plotnick on Vimeo.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first screening of I'm Not Fascinating, a 1996 film centered on the arguably terrible San Francisco garage-punk trio The Icky Boyfriends, who were well known for being able to clear a room as soon as they took the stage.

Bandmates Jon Swift, Shea Bond, and Anthony Bedard didn't even have a name for their trio when they were offered a gig opening for the Melvins a few months after the Loma Prieta earthquake, April 8, 1990  the same night as the premiere of Twin Peaks. They called themselves The Icky Boyfriends, and managed to piss off the booker and most of the audience that night, but nonetheless got an offer from a small record label to release their first single. Five years later, as KQED recounts, just weeks before Swift planned to leave the city for good, bringing the band to an end, filmmaker Danny Plotnick shot I'm Not Fascinating, a self-mocking, John Waters-esque, fictionalized day-in-the-life about the band, loosely modeled on A Hard Day's Night.

The film went on to be screened on both coasts, get translated into French, and bring some cult notoriety to the defunct band, which the East Bay Express also recounted in 2014. The film includes scenes shot at the warehouse of long-gone Mordam Records, and at an early location of Aquarius Records, and depicts a scrappy side of San Francisco in an era when everyone had a band, and lived on the cheap. As Bedard tells KQED, "There was almost a reverse snobbery in that if you found out anybody was paying more than $300 a month for rent, they were immediately suspected of being a yuppie."

In honor of the 20th anniversary, Plotnick and Bedard had a high-quality digital transfer of the film made, and they're considering putting it out on DVD.

I'm Not Fascinating - The Movie! screens on Monday, November 21, at Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission. Get tickets here.




Late Friday, Mark Zuckerberg sought to quell the angst about Facebook losing the election for Hillary Clinton by posting a pledge to try harder, as a company, to combat the proliferation of fake news by various means. Meanwhile NPR was working on a story about how Facebook's system of censoring hate speech in general, and arbitrating between users who flag posts they find offensive and the users who post things they believe they have a right to post, is fairly flawed. And indeed, after stress-testing the system and interviewing multiple current and former employees, they find that the system relies on flash judgments, sometimes by people in data centers in Poland or the Philippines, and that mistakes and reversals are made all the time.

How, then, when the company can barely keep up with the volume of flags they get just among user-created posts, photos, and comments, will they suddenly be able to become arbiters of facts in an increasingly lie-filled online media landscape?

Facebook is not as pure a free-speech playground as Twitter has been, and users are expected to abide by a set of Community Standards, thereby creating the need for a complex enforcement machine that can't really be automated.

NPR learns details, through a couple of anonymous employees, about what's called the "Community Operations team"  the backbone of which are several thousand subcontractors in offices around the globe who are tasked with reviewing every post that gets flagged. According to insiders, the workers are judged on speed, and expected to make decisions about posts to remove within about 10 seconds. Clearly this leaves lots of room for error, and little time to judge context  this despite the fact that Facebook's head of policy Monika Bickert tells NPR in a phone interview, "Context is so important. It's critical when we are looking to determine whether or not something is hate speech, or a credible threat of violence."

Context was important in the censoring, since reversed, of the famed Napalm Girl photo from the Vietnam War, which had been flagged and removed in September because of the nudity of the girl. This caused an outcry, emanating in particular from the Norwegian newspaper that had their post of the photo removed, and resulted in COO Sheryl Sandberg apologizing a few days later saying, "These are difficult decisions and we don't always get it right... we intend to do better."

Zuckerberg once again talked about doing better in his Friday post, perhaps making it easier for users to flag questionably factual content, or for posts whose content is debatable to appear with visible warnings next to them. But where does the line get drawn between creating a safe "platform" for people share things, and running a media company whose users spend a majority of their time posting links to content they did not write. And just as the truthfulness or bias of a news item will be debated, so can something as simple as a comment on a photo.

Per the report:



The problem is, simple and complex items all go into the same big pile. So, the source says, "you go on autopilot" and don't realize when "you have to use judgment, in a system that doesn't give you the time to make a real judgment."

A classic case is something like "Becky looks pregnant." It could be cyberbullying or a compliment. The subcontractor "pretty much tosses a coin," the source says.

Community Operations is headquartered out of Facebook's Dublin office, as described in the cheery video below, though we don't get to see the army of content review people who are allegedly removing or signing off on bits of content every 10 seconds.

The UK's Independent was the first publication allowed into this realm in 2015, where the team reviews issues raised by users across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America  and thus needs to be extremely multicultural in its understanding of these languages and cultural nuances.

But when issues with the site have become about truth itself, and the ethics surrounding journalistic questions, and not just about whether users are writing hateful things or bullying one another, it sounds like an entirely different sort of team needs to step in, i.e. a newsroom.

Zuckerberg was careful to say on Friday, "We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties." But that's essentially impossible.

As one source tells NPR, "Facebook could afford to make content management regional  have decisions come from the same country in which a post occurs," and that alone would likely improve the process.

So, once again we have a call for Zuck to realize he's running a media company now, and rather than use "an enforcement mechanism that is set up to fail," as NPR says, Facebook has to seriously reimagine how it manages and censors content  not just how it keeps its 1.8 billion users from being mean to each other.

Previously: Zuckerberg Walks Back His Dismissal Of Fake News Problem, Says Facebook Will Take Steps To Combat Bulls**t
In an early evening bit of derring-do last night, an unnamed individual reportedly stole a San Francisco Fire Department battalion chief vehicle right out of a station. KRON 4 reports that the vehicle in question is not an actual fire truck, but rather one of those department red Ford Explorers that can frequently be seen cruising the city streets.

While details on the crime are few, we know that the theft went down around 8:40 p.m., and that the vehicle was taken from inside Station 8 on Bluxome Street near 4th. SFPD officers were able to spot the extremely recognizable truck on the street, and the suspect was taken into custody.

The vehicle was returned to the station and there is no word if it was damaged in any way by the suspect.

This is not the first time a SFFD vehicle has been stolen. Last June a SFFD ambulance was taken from Mason Street during a medical emergency. In that incident a police chase ensued, and the driver ended up crashing the $225,000 ambulance on the east-bound Treasure Island off ramp. It caught fire after the wreck.

Nothing so dramatic appears to have happened last night, as video from the scene of the arrest (embedded below) shows the SUV decidedly not on fire.

Related: Just How, Exactly, Did An SF Woman Steal That Ambulance Yesterday?
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STORM LAKE, Iowa | Six men have been arrested in an ongoing prostitution investigation, Storm Lake Police say.

Demarius Daniels, 23, of Storm Lake; Mark Halverson, 59, of Linn Grove, Iowa; William Foster, 34, of Fairmont, Texas; Dennis Ball, 38, of Spencer, Iowa; Kevin Folchert, 49, of Sioux City; and Lay Htoo, 35, of Storm Lake, were all arrested late Saturday and early Sunday and charged with prostitution, a misdemeanor.

A release by the Storm Lake Police Department said officers posed as prostitutes on the internet as the men arranged for meetings with the purpose of paying for sex at a local motel.

The sting was part of the police departments Operation Fall Fling investigation into underground sex trafficking.
VERMILLION, S.D. | With "Love not hate, makes America great" chants ringing out and signs held aloft to get the attention of passersby, members of a new University of South Dakota group tried Monday to help people move on from the divisive 2016 presidential election.

Nearly two dozen USD students picketed on campus as part of an event organized by "Yotes Against Hate." The group's name plays off the school's Coyotes mascot name. Organizers downplayed any direct criticism of Republican president-elect Donald Trump, but said the group is needed in response to the rise of hate speech against some religious and minority groups after a long contest in which Trump used language that some consider inflammatory.

It also comes on the heels of a USD student reporting an alleged hate crime. Rally participants told of an African American student filing a report with university housing officials, after she received a message in a dormitory on Nov. 10 that read, Nigger, nigger, nigger, Trump?

USD spokeswoman Tena Haraldson said Kimberly Grieve, dean of students, confirmed the university received a complaint about a note in a residence hall.

"It is being investigated under student discipline procedures, and that process is confidential. In this case the student chose to post the situation widely on social media and talk to the student newspaper, which is her right," Haraldson said.

In a Facebook post, student Valerie Sunderland shared a photo of the note, and wrote, "My name is not 'Nigger', my name is not 'that black girl'. My name is Valerie, please address me as so."

There has been a hue and cry against Trump by some students in universities nationwide. Others have said college liberals who air the "Not My President" phrase need to move on, and accept that Trump won and will set a new policy course in January.

Haraldson said university officials "hope to turn the election aftermath into a learning experience for students, no matter their political views." Haraldson said USD President James W. Abbott also said last week that people should respect the electoral process and each other.

Yotes Against Hate was created right after the Nov. 8 election and is not an official student organization registered with the university system. Yotes Against Hate organizer Chelsea Gilbertson said YAH is composed of people interested in women's reproductive rights, pushing back against racism and advocating for LGBTQ rights.

The "Love not hate, makes America great" chant comes close to the wording of Trump's main campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again." Gilbertson, a senior from Vermillion who is also president of the university College Democrats group, downplayed criticism of Trump personally. But she said it is indisputable that intolerance of minority groups rose during the time Trump ran in the 2016 election cycle before defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"We are not protesting politicians. We are protesting the ideology of intolerance and hatred," Gilbertson said.

Will Himmler, a senior from Pocatello, Idaho, cited a Federal Bureau of Investigation report that hate crimes rose by 6 percent in 2015.

"There is always going to be prejudice, bigotry and hate," Himmler said.

Himmler said it is important that groups such as YAH not have "complacency" and push back against bad acts, so new leaders in the under-construction Trump administration hear all voices.

Sam Sharpe, a USD College of Law student from Tennessee, added, "We are keeping this nonpolitical to keep it noncontroversial."

The rally was planned to run for three hours until 2 p.m. in the middle of the day just outside the Muenster University Center, a high-traffic area near the student union. In the first half hour, no one spoke derogatorily to the 18 YAH members gathered.

The group chanted as a pack of prospective students went by. Later on, a few women came up for hugs and one woman gave a silent thumbs up. USD music department Professor Paul Lombardi walked up to pull back his coat and show a safety pin on his shirt.

After Trump's win, the so-called safety pin movement involves people wearing pins, given their concerns of being disenfranchised in a Trump presidency. The pin publicly demonstrates the wearer is a safe person.

Gilbertson said the path ahead for Yotes Against Hate is still being determined. She said she anticipates there will be some lobbying of the Republican-controlled state Legislature on issues involving attacks on the autonomy of women's bodies and so that religious freedom is maintained.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa | A jury has found a Maurice, Iowa, day care provider guilty of injuring a child in her care.

Dianna Winder, 33, was found guilty Friday of child endangerment causing bodily injury and assault causing bodily injury at the conclusion of a four-day jury trial in Sioux County District Court.

Sentencing was set for Jan. 9.

On Nov. 11, 2015, the 15-month-old child's mother noticed marks on his face when she picked him up from Winder's home. Winder "promised she didn't hit him," Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle said in a news release.

The mother took her son to the emergency room, where doctors contacted police and social workers, leading to Winder's arrest in December.
SIOUX CITY | A judge's decision on whether Isack Abdinur is guilty of first-degree murder could very well depend on which medical professional's opinion he places more value.

Two psychologists testified Monday in Woodbury County District Court that Abdinur is a violent schizophrenic.

But they disagreed on whether Abdinur was aware of what he was doing on June 23, 2015, when, police say, he beat and stabbed Cornelia Stead to death at her apartment at 521 W. 16th St.

Richard Frederick, a clinical psychologist called by Abdinur's defense, said that it was obvious to him within the first few minutes of meeting Abdinur during an interview that the man suffered from schizophrenia.

Frederick said he believed Abdinur, 36, was in an active psychotic state when Stead was killed and that Abdinur was unable to appreciate the nature of his actions.

"Because it (schizophrenia) was active, he did not understand, he did not know what he was doing," Frederick said.

A medical examiner testified last week that Stead, 43, was stabbed 23 times, including a fatal wound that sliced her aorta causing massive internal bleeding, backing up witness Leslie Cournoyer, who testified that she saw Abdinur punch Stead in the face several times before getting a knife from the kitchen and stabbing her in the chest multiple times.

Abdinur had some awareness of what had happened to his girlfriend, telling Frederick he "punctured" her three times and that she was hurt.

"He didn't really seem to recall or appreciate the level of his brutality," Frederick said.

But Tim Kockler, a psychologist who also examined Abdinur for the state at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, said an assessment he administered to Abdinur showed that Abdinur could have been exaggerating his symptoms. By reviewing Abdinur's actions and statements he gave to police after Stead was killed, Kockler said he believed Abdinur knew he had done something wrong.

"Mr. Abdinur was capable of understanding the nature and quality of his acts," Kockler said. "Mr. Abdinur was able to understand the wrongfulness of his actions."

Anticipating Kockler's testimony, defense attorney Jason Dunn had asked Frederick about the reliability of the screening test Kockler used to determine whether Abdinur was exaggerating his symptoms.

"It's a bad test," Frederick said, adding that because Abdinur is from Somalia, his culture and lesser English language skills would have prevented an accurate assessment using that test.

Kockler testified that he did a follow-up assessment using a different test, and it also showed Abdinur had enhanced his symptoms through his answers.

The two psychologists' testimony wrapped up the three-day trial, which will be decided by District Judge Steven Andreasen because Abdinur waived his right to a jury trial.

Because there was no jury, attorneys waived giving oral closing arguments and will instead submit written arguments to Andreasen.

Assistant Woodbury County Attorney Loomis must file his argument by Dec. 2, and Dunn will have until Dec. 9 to file his closing. Loomis may file a rebuttal by Dec. 14. Andreasen told attorneys that when he is near a decision, he will schedule a hearing in which he will read his verdict.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Abdinur would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
DES MOINES  State negotiators Monday offered unionized law officers a 1 percent annual across-the-board pay raise for the next two fiscal years but made no insurance proposal  signaling the likelihood the new GOP-led Legislature and Gov. Terry Branstad will make decisions affecting future public employee compensation.

Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters later in the day he would like to explore the option of creating a larger risk pool of public employees at the state, county, city and school district levels that would help drive down costs for all the entities that chose to participate. He said Republicans have not decided whether to change provisions in Iowas collective bargaining law next session.

However, Jason Bardsley, a state trooper from Des Moines and current president of the State Police Officers Council (SPOC), said the absence of a proposed insurance benefit in the states offer for a new contract spanning July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019, raised concerns over impending legislative efforts to rewrite or even end Iowas collective bargaining law in effect for more than four decades.

Its very concerning to us. The insurance is a crucial piece of our benefits, said Bardsley, especially in light of recent police shootings in the Des Moines area and other U.S. cities. For that to be stripped away, that would be very concerning for our membership to have to worry about what would happen if something could happen and where do we stand.

Janet Phipps, director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and lead state negotiator, said red lines were drawn through all current health, life and dental insurance provisions in the states 11-page SPOC offer because those provisions will be decided at a later time, likely by the governor and lawmakers.

The state agrees to provide health and dental benefits as determined by the state to eligible bargaining unit members was the wording under the insurance provisions of the states two-year contract offer.

Im not sure what theyre going to do. With the political change, I think theres going to be a conversation about how to deliver group health benefits to state employees, Phipps told reporters after Mondays collective bargaining session. Were not offering any specific plan. Our proposal does say that the state will offer by the states determination health and dental benefits, but theres nothing delineated in our proposal as it has been in the past.

Bardsley said the states proposed 1 percent pay increase was a fair place to begin closed-door negotiations after his roughly 600-member bargaining unit had an initial request for a 3 percent across-the-board pay increases for each of the next two fiscal years effective next July 1.

Republicans won control of the Iowa Senate in the Nov. 8 election by a 29-19 margin with one seat held by an independent senator and another vacant seat to be decided in a special election in Davenport next month. The GOP majority in the Iowa House was expanded to 59-41, giving Branstad his first GOP-led Legislature since the 1997-98 biennium.

Newly elected GOP legislative leaders have indicated it is early in the process of setting an agenda for the 2017 session but they indicated interest in reviewing Iowas collective bargaining law to provide more flexibility. The governor has said in the past that he believes state employees need to contribute more to the states insurance costs.

Were looking at is there a better, more efficient way that we can deliver health care, Branstad said during a break in state budget hearings Monday. We want to make sure that we provide quality health care for all our employees. But right now its being done on a very ad hoc basis, not just the state but also school districts, counties, cities. Id like us to look at could it be much more efficient if we had one master contract as opposed to all of these individual ones. So thats the kind of thing that were exploring.

The governor opened his administrations fiscal 2018 budget hearings with state agencies at his Capitol office by noting he just returned from a trade mission to Japan and China  where the symbol is the same for danger and opportunity.

Were in a very interesting time, Branstad said in opening discussions in preparation for presenting a two-year state budget plan to the Legislature on Jan. 10. We have some big budget issues, he said, noting the depressed level of farm prices and other factors impacting state revenues, but we also have the opportunity of doing things differently and better.

Under current law, state and union negotiators present initial proposals in open session and then go behind closed doors for talks. If an impasse is reached, the two sides go to binding arbitration to resolve differences by March 15, but that process could be rewritten or scrapped by lawmakers and the governor before the current talks are completed, negotiators said Monday.

Last week, two leaders of the conservative Americans for Prosperity-Iowa organization -- Luke Hilgemann, chief executive officer, and Drew Klein, Iowa state director -- issued a call for collective bargaining reform in Iowa, saying the current binding-arbitration system allows unelected bureaucrats to spend more taxpayer dollars without lawmakers ever taking a vote.

Asked Monday if there would be a move next session to address collective bargaining issues like binding arbitration, Branstad said we havent decided.
SOCIEDAD ASIATICA

THE ASIAN SOCIETY

COMISION DIRECTIVA



THE DIRECTIVE BOARD



PRESIDENTE:

Liliana Garcia Daris



Universidad del Salvador.

Argentina

VICEPRESIDENTE:

Won-ho Kim

Universidad de Hankuk de Estudios Extranjeros.

Corea

SECRETARIO:

Luis Diaz Brougton



Universidad de Santiago, Chile



PROSECRETARIO:



Martha Barriga Tello

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru



VOCALES:



Mauricio Martinez



Universidad de los Andes, Colombia



Juan Uriburu Quintana



Universidad de Chenchi, Taiwan

CONSEJEROS ACADEMICOS

ACADEMIC ADVISERS



ASH NARAIN, Roy,

Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi.

India



GARCIA BAZAN, Francisco,



CONICET, Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy



MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi,



Universidad de Kobe, Japon



MIEMBROS FUNDADORES



FOUNDING MEMBERS



ALBERT, Liliana



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



ANTON PACHECO, Jose Antonio



Universidad de Sevilla, Espana



ANTONIJEVIC, Ingrid



Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile



BARRIGA TELLO, Martha



Universidad Nacional de San Marcos, Peru



BERGMAN, Sergio

Melton Institute de Jerusalem, Israel



BERTOLINI, Luis



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



CABEZON, Jose



Universidad de Santa Barbara, Estados Unidos



CAGNI, Horacio



Universidad Catolica de La Plata, Argentina



CARRANZA, Francisco



Universidad de Dankook, Corea



CASTLETON, Barbara



Ohio State University of Athens



CASTRO, Jorge

Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



CHAOUL-REICH, Alejandro



Universidad de Texas, Estados Unidos



CHELMICKI, Hanna I.



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



DIAZ BROUGHTON, Luis



Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile



FRANCO, Raul



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



GADRE, Vasant



Universidad Jawaharlal Nehru, India



GARCIA DARIS, Liliana

Universidad del Salvador, Argentina

GLUCK, Carol



Universidad de Columbia. Estados Unidos

HOPKINS RODRIGUEZ, Eduardo



Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru



KIM, Wonho



Universidad Hankuk de Estudios Extranjeros, Corea



KO, Heysun



Univesidad de Dankook, Corea



LOPEZ DEL CARRIL, Luis Maria



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



LUCO, Enrique



Universidad del Salvador



MARTINEZ, Mauricio



Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia



MASATERU, Ito



Universidad Nacional de Osaka, Japon



MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi



Universidad de Kobe, Japon



MINKOWICZ, Gabriel

Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires

MONETA, Carlos Juan



Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



MORROW, John Andrew



Minot State University, Dakota del Norte, USA



NGUYEN, Thiet Son



Academia de Ciencias Sociales de Vietnam, Vietnam

OVIEDO, Eduardo

CONICET. Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina

PEREIRA, Ronan Alves

Universidad de Brasilia. Brasil

PEREYRA, Violeta



Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina

REMETE, Andrea

Universidad del Salvador, Argentina



RIMOLDI DE LADMAN, Eve



Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina



ROMERO CASTILLA, Alfredo



Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

TEDIN URIBURU, Virgilio



Universidad de Harvard, Estados Unidos

UEHARA, Alexander



Universidad de Sao Paulo. Brasil

URIBURU QUINTANA, Juan



Universidad de Chenchi, Taiwan



VITTOR, Luis Alberto



Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy



XU, Shicheng



Academia China de Ciencias Sociales, Republica Popular China
The film is a coming out story in small-town Montana, and will explore the deeper disruptions that have affected so many LGBT youth who have gone through conversion therapy.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post, directed by Desiree Akhavan, is based on Emily Danforths novel about a girl forced to undergo conversion therapy after being caught with the prom queen, according to Hollywood Reporter.

The film, set in 1993, will follow orphan Cameron Post (played by Chloe Grace Moretz), who has been taken in by her conservative aunt and forced into a gay conversion therapy facility where she finds solidarity with the other LGBT students.

Spanning the years from 1989 to 1993, The Miseducation of Cameron Post' is a coming of age story about a girl struggling to come to terms with her sexual identity in an environment that is not tolerant of alternative lifestyles, reads a plot description from Story Snoops.

For rural areas  such as the films Montana setting  conversion therapy was a consistent tool used to suppress homosexual behaviors in teens. While its practitioners touted the therapys effectiveness, scientific studies released at the time deny the credibility of the practice.

Therapy directed at specifically changing sexual orientation is contracted, reads an American Academy of Pediatrics study released in 1993. Since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation.

Today, conversion therapy is banned in states such as California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon Vermont and others. Cities in Florida have also banned the practice, including Miami, West Palm Beach and Wilton Manors.

The film has yet to receive a release date, but the book trailer for The Miseducation of Cameron Post can be seen here.
(EDGE) The National Organization for Women (NOW) held a press conference with NOW President Terry O'Neill and NOW New York President Sonia Ossorio during their Annual New York State NOW Conference, calling for Donald Trump to "Ban Bannon and Bigotry."

The packed crowd of roughly 200 participants held signs saying "Reject Bigotry and Hate" and "We Demand Respect" as direct messages for the president-elect. NOW leaders from across the state and local elected officials made a public demand that Trump rescind his appointment of extremist Steve Bannon and denounce the surge in hate crimes that are taking place across the country in the wake of the election.

NOW President Terry O'Neill said, "By putting a white nationalist in a position of power equivalent to his Chief of Staff, Donald Trump has shown that he has no interest in uniting all Americans or moderating his extremist views as president. NOW calls on president-elect Trump to rescind his appointment of Steve Bannon and renounce the politics of division, contempt, and fear."

Trump appointed Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counselor this past Sunday. Bannon is the executive chairman of Breitbart News, which is known for churning out misogynist, anti-Semitic, and white nationalist views. Headlines from the news site have included, "The Solution to Online 'Harassment' is Simple: Women Should Log Off;" "Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy;" and "Hoist it High and Proud: the Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage."

When pressed about reports of hate crimes nation-wide in a "60 Minutes" interview last Sunday, Trump's response was, "If it helps, I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it." The women's rights organization is calling this severely inadequate.

NOW New York President Sonia Ossorio said, "Month after month of fear mongering and angry rhetoric denigrating women and scapegoating Muslims and immigrants has set fire to a simmering racism and xenophobia, and it is the Americans that Trump has targeted who are now paying a price. Innocent people, including teenagers and children, are being bullied, harassed, and even attacked. These hate crimes are intolerable and un-American."

Just this week, the FBI released statistics showing a 7 percent rise in hate crimes last year. It is notable that anti-Muslim hate crime has reached its highest level since the September 2001 terrorist attacks. In the week since the election, the Southern Poverty Law Center has reported over 400 incidents of intimidation.

New York State's Governor Andrew Cuomo has acted quickly to launch a toll-free hotline to enable the reporting of incidents of discrimination across the state, forcefully noting in recent remarks that the state's strong hate crimes laws will be enforced, "In this state there is no place for racism, there is no place for hate." The hotline number is 1-888-392-3644.

Mid-Suffolk NOW President Juliet Gobler said, "Suffolk County residents have been banding together to show they are adamantly against President-Elect Trump's rhetoric and staff appointments. They are supporting each other online, in people's homes and in public forums like never before. Mid-Suffolk NOW denounces the assumption that Trump's incoming administration has any kind of mandate for the racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. They will be opposed at every turn by Suffolk County residents who know our strength lies in diversity and working together for the success of all Americans."

In a statement, Nassau NOW Co-Presidents Julia Fenster and Patricia Pastor said, "Nassau County residents spoke clearly on election day when Donald Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in the county. The hate rhetoric which has become commonplace for the president-elect does not in any way represent the inclusive nature of the diverse community of Nassau County. Nassau NOW denounces the continued divisiveness fueled by the president-elect, which is now exacerbated by his reckless appointment of Steve Bannon as Chief White House Strategist."

The NOW leaders were joined by Nassau County Legislator Laura Curran and Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell.

The National Organization for Women is the nation's largest organization working to advance women's rights and improve women's lives. NOW New York aims to protect and promote reproductive justice, secure workplace equality, combat racism and homophobia, and end discrimination and violence against all women.

For more information, visit http://nownyc.org/
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 November 2016. NASA

Today: Preparation for Cygnus Unberth and Release: The crew completed configuring the Cygnus and the Node 1 vestibule in preparation for Cygnus departure on Monday, November 21st.

Todays task included removing Intermodule Ventilation and Power/Data Jumpers, installing the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Center Disk Cover and four CBM Controller Panel Assemblies (CPAs) onto an Active CBM bulkhead, and then closing the Node 1 nadir hatch.

49S Status: Soyuz 49S launched on time at GMT 322/20:20 with a nominal separation from the launch vehicle at 20:29 GMT. Ascent was nominal and all appendages were deployed. On Orbit 1 the Motion Control System and the Kurs-NA system were tested with nominal results and the docking probe was extended nominally. Rendezvous maneuvers DV1, DV2 and DV3 were completed nominally on Orbits 3, 4 and 17 respectively. 49S is scheduled to dock to the ISS at the MRM1 Nadir port on Saturday at 22:01 GMT.

Educational Public Affairs Opportunity (PAO) Event: The ISS crew participated in an educational PAO event with Wheat Ridge High School in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. During this event the ISS crew answered questions submitted by the students addressing day-to-day life onboard the ISS and astronaut education/career experiences.

Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL)/Geoflow-2: Ground teams were able to recover the communication issues between the FSL and Multi-purpose Computer and Communications (MPCC) today, enabling the planned start of Geoflow-2 next week. Geoflow-2 studies heat and fluid flow currents within the Earths mantle. Geoflow-2 aims to improve computational methods that scientists and engineers use to understand and predict the processes in the Earths mantle that lead to volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Inspection and photography, cleaning of rigid air duct section from ????? fan

Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate  Part 1

Node 1 Nadir CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) Installation

??? maintenance

Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate

Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)

Countermeasures Systems (CMS) Exercise Equipment Gather

EML High Speed Camera Lens Switch

Space Headaches  Weekly Questionnaire

Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD)  Lab

ISS HAM Radio and Video Power Down

Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup

Completed Task List Items

Veg-03 Pillow Water

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Node 1 CBM Prep for Demate

OGA Cell Stack Scan

Lab MCA Zero Calibration

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Saturday, 11/19: Housekeeping, 49S rendezvous and docking

Sunday, 11/20: Crew Off Duty

Monday, 11/21: OA-5 unberth, Marrow Collection, Fluid Shift Setup, MSL Cartridge Exchange, MATISS Install

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status

Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  Off

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Idle

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Full Up
Wed, 26.10.22 - 12:09

Another blast of heat at the end of the month is likely to break the record in Spain With only a few days left in...
Coffee Design is proudly sponsored by Savor Brands , your boost in coffeedence through maximizing designs in packaging, sustainability and tech.

For coffee shops, to-go cups have become an essential part of the branding toolkit. What better way to spread the word than through customers who are taking your product out onto the streets? Over the past few years, cafes have stepped up their coffee-cup game, and theres one man who has been committed to documenting it: Henry Hargreaves.

Hargreaves runs the popular Instagram feed @coffeecupsoftheworld, which collects cool-looking cups from all the cafes you may never visit. CoffeeCupsOfTheWorld is not only an exploration of coffee branding but graphic design and art. I think cups are a really pretty thing, the little footnote in the food-porn world, says Hargreaves. So often I think the cups are more engaging than the picture of the coffee that [is] in it.

What started as a way to document the cups Hargreaves found while traveling is today an online space that attracts coffee lovers and their cup-photo submissions from every corner of the world. I wanted to show places that arent on my regular travel itinerary, places like Asia, the Midwest, continental Europe, and South America, so its been really cool to have the community share those things and expand it, says Hargreaves.

Originally from New Zealand, Hargreaves spends his days (when hes not traveling and shooting his favorite coffee cups, that is) in Brooklyn as a photographer, mostly in the food space. We caught up with Hargreaves to talk all things cups, design, and inspiration.

How did @coffeecupsoftheworld get started and how has it evolved since then?

I am a big coffee drinker and I love getting my coffee to go, the ritual of getting a cup and carrying it around. When I moved to America, to-go coffee seemed like such a way of life here. You can get a drip coffee for a dollar, it lasts you 15 minutes, and you walk around with it. But no one was really doing anything that interesting with coffee cups. I mean, you had the Greek [design] cup, that iconic thing, but no one was putting their own brand on them. I noticed a few places starting to stamp their cups and thought this was really coolthe cup was such an extension of the experience of the cafe. Id also walk around with a cup with a really nice stamp on it and it would capture peoples eyes, so it became a bit of advertising for the cafe and made me feel like I was getting my moneys worth because I was getting this piece of art. And, because I felt I had this beautiful thing, I didnt want to throw it away, so I became conscious of waste as well.

Essentially, I just wanted to start to document places that were doing good things with their cups. I travel a lot, and going cafe to cafe is the narrative that I use to explore a city and the coffee cup is the souvenir that I take from these places. So I started to photograph them and post them. [Then] I started getting submissions, so it has gone from something purely based on my travels to being a community that I curate.

Would you say you have an obsession with to-go coffee cups?

When I travel, I am always on the lookout. You should see my collection, its several boxes full of cups, probably 400 or 500. I think collecting is a healthy habit to have. My grandmother used to tell me to be suspicious of people who didnt collect anything.

How have you seen cups evolve over the past few years? Do you feel like cafes are stepping up their game in terms of branding and design?

When I started it was a handful of places in New York that had cool cups; now pretty much every cafe has their own cup, so people are definitely more conscious of it and realizing the value of the cups.

Lets talk environment for a second: we all know the negative effects of tossing out so many single-use cups. Do you think that because of their popularity, to-go coffee cups have become more precious, and therefore people arent thinking as much about their environmental impact?

One of my big things is the waste aspect. I think its naive to turn around and say this change is going to happen overnight. [Coffee to go is] kind of a way of life. But there are a lot of players that are doing really progressive materials, like in Australia and New Zealand with Innocent Packaging and BioPak, who are using compostable and biodegradable paper. Thats their goal, that it doesnt just become landfill. There was also a popular Kickstarter I gave to that put seeds in a cup, so when the cup went into the ground it regenerated and sprung plants. Thats kind of the way that I would love to see this go.

What are some of your favorite cups youve featured?

I like cups that have sayings on them and fun puns. In terms of design, the cup that started it all for me was Five Leaves in Brooklyn, where a tattoo artist had done their coffee-cup design. Theres another place in Brooklyn, Sweatshop, which I have done collaborations with for cup design, and they are very forward thinking about it, and give their customers something new and engaging every day. Theyve also done crowdsourcing competitions for cups.

A few more of Hargreaves favorite cups:

BioCup Art Series in Australia. All their [cups] are home runs.

Code Black, Melbourne. Its cup says: If you have any answers we will be happy to provide full and detailed questions.

Pineapple and Pearls, Washington D.C. I had an idea a while ago to do something with gold leaf, and they were the first people who had done a cup that had gold on it.

What coffee are you drinking right now?

I am a drip-coffee fan. I know thats probably going to upset a lot of people. When I am traveling and drip coffee is not an option, Ill have a latte, but I find that as I get older I cant hold the lattes as well as I used to. When Im at the studio I like just the cheap supermarket Cafe Bustelo, its kind of my go-to. To me, its the democratization of coffee. I like a really flashy cup but I dont like a really flashy drink inside of it.

Favorite coffee shop?

Happy Bones, New York.

If you could drink coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Theres a woman called Kirsty Young who hosts my favorite podcast, Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio. I think she is the most fascinating interviewer because she is able to talk to people one on one, and shed be an absolute gateway to knowledge, wisdom, and an amazing story.

Thanks Henry!

Anna Brones (@annabrones) is a Sprudge.com staff writer based in the American Pacific Northwest, the founder of Foodie Underground, and the co-author of Fika: The Art Of The Swedish Coffee Break. Read more Anna Brones on Sprudge.

Photo of Henry Hargreaves courtesy of James Bareham.
On Monday, November 21 in Ontario Superior Court, horseman Chris Haskell pleaded guilty charges to fraud and attempted fraud over $5,000 in relation to incidents in 2010 at the now-shuttered Windsor Raceway.

A story on the situation by The Windsor Star states that an agreed statement of facts were read in court outlining that Haskell was caught on camera injecting a horse with a substance.

The next month (November 2010), Haskells vehicle was searched at the raceway and six syringes loaded with performance-enhancing substances were found in his possession. The Ontario Provincial Police investigation alleged that the syringes were meant for his horses that he was going to race that day.

The article states that Haskells case had been delayed in order to allow horseman Derek Riesberrys case to go through the system. Riesberrys case came to a conclusion this past spring. Riesberrys case was the first time that horse doping was prosecuted criminally in Canada.

A joint submission by Haskells lawyer and crown prosecutors asked for Haskell to be sentenced the same way as Riesberry  a $2,500 fine for injecting the horse (fraud) and a $1,250 fine for being caught with the loaded syringes (attempted fraud).

The Superior Court Justice overseeing the matter, Steven Rogin, accepted the submission and Haskell has one year to pay the fines.

(With files from The Windsor Star)
On Wednesday, November 16, Ontario Minister of Finance Charles Sousa reiterated the Ontario Liberal Governments support for the provincial horse racing industry during question period in the Ontario Legislature at Queens Park in Toronto.

Minister Sousas comments came after a pair of questions from New Democratic Party MPP Taras Natyshak, addressed to the acting Premier.

"The member opposite and all of us in this House recognize the importance of the horse racing industry as an economic industry in the province of Ontario," said Sousa. "And we want to maintain stability and growth within the industry and that is why we made a commitment to a long-term sustainability of horse racing in the province, recognizing as well to maintain the viability of some of those tracks.

"Now, Woodbine, as a service provider, would be enabling us to provide for some of those deliveries. We haven't yet determined what those will be, but those discussions are underway with all the tracks and all those stakeholders that are engaged within this process.

"It is critical for us to continue providing a venue, a source, an enablement of providing some of that assistance to the racing community, to the breeders and to ensure its viability. We are working closely to determine the best avenue to go forward, including governance."

Following these comments, Natyshak then asked, given how the first plans for modernization and horse racing were scrapped, "Why should rural Ontarians believe the Premier's latest plan for horse racing will be any better?

"Actually, I agree with the member opposite. We want to ensure that all members of the horse racing community are engaged. We want to ensure transparency and governance overseeing some of that development. We want to ensure they're actually there prior to Woodbine as a service provider of the funding. It's why we do have a group with the Ontario racing community engaged within this...and I would like very much to have engagement of all those concerned to ensure that the viability and the use of funds is going to where it's supposed to be, and to the horses, and that's to the viability and sustainability of this community."
Ontario Racing (OR) will conclude the first round of scheduled in-person consultations on Tuesday, Nov. 22 regarding a proposed long-term funding framework for horse racing in the province.

The six previous sessions transpired in Toronto, Dundas, Sarnia, London, Ottawa and Port Perry. Tuesday's session takes place from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Milton Heritage Park's Gambrel Barn, just outside Milton, Ont.

This framework, subject to government approval, will be presented to the industry for feedback. If approved, this framework will provide the industry as a whole  from owners, trainers and breeders to racetrack operators  with the certainty they need to make investments in their businesses.

ORs primary objective, to this point, has been to engage directly with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. and the government to provide input to the development of a road map to sustainable funding for the industry. Now, ORs focus will shift towards engagement with the industry as a whole to garner feedback on this proposed framework.

This proposed framework is based on key principles including:

A new racetrack alliance: all Ontario racetracks that conduct live racing will be invited to create a new alliance. It is proposed that Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) will serve as the administrator of this new alliance.

Longer-term, predictable funding: Ontarios horseracing industry can invest in their businesses beyond 2021.

Ongoing accountability and transparency: decision-making based on evidence and agreed upon success indicators.

Industry leadership: racetrack business plans, race dates, purse levels will be aligned across racetracks for a coordinated approach. Ontario Racing will play a key industry leadership role in the future.

OR will be releasing a preliminary consultation report shortly after the last in person consultation event on Tuesday. This preliminary report will be available for additional industry review and comment, before it is submitted to the OR Board of Directors, OLG and government, to inform the next steps in funding negotiations.

Phase two of this consultation will begin when the preliminary consultation report has been composed; this will be shared through the organization's mailing list, posted online, and discussed directly with all industry association groups. A further 30 days will be allowed for feedback on the preliminary report, as part of OR's commitment to ensure that industry views and perspectives on next steps towards a sustainable racing future are well represented.

Ontario Racing encourages all interested parties to submit their feedback about the future of the industry by accessing its online consultation portal here. The portal includes a series of questions and the option to attach a word document, for those who would like to share additional thoughts. The proposed long-term funding framework was outlined in a webinar, hosted on October 19, and can be viewed here.

Ontario Racing will collate feedback from the industry, and this perspective will inform recommendations to government.

(With files from Ontario Racing)
Blue Chip Farms has announced that it has added E L Titan (4,1:51.2f [$726,344]) to its 2017 stallion roster.

A five-year old son of Muscle Hill, E L Titan will be the first son of Muscle Hill to stand in New York.

Given the horses impeccable pedigree, excellent conformation and beautiful first crop of foals on the ground, I am excited to breed a good number of our mares to Titan, said Tom Grossman, principal at Blue Chip.

And with the committed support of leading NY breeders Crawford and Southwind Farms, as well as many of our clients who have been successful with Blue Chip in NY, we anticipate a full book in his first year.

E L TITAN - 2014 CARL ERSKINE TROT

E L Titan, a multiple stakes winner of $$702,473, will stand for $6,000. E L Titan is out of Courtney Hall, (3,1:55.4, $118,986), a producer of three $350,000 winners and a full sister to the dam of top sire Cantab Hall (3,1:54 $1,442,303).

(Blue Chip Farms)
Trot Insider has learned that well-known Standardbred breeder/owner Erkki Laakkonen has passed away at the age of 75.

Laakkonen passed on Sunday, November 20 in Finland.

Many of the horses that Laakkonen bred were known for their 'E L' moniker.

Laakkonens most famous horses are super sire Andover Hall (3,1:51.3 [$875,047]), the double millionaire OBrien Award winner Cameron Hall (4,1:53.4s [$2,138,787]) and multiple stakes winner E L Titan (4,1:51.2f [$726,344]).

Laakkonen had a farm in the Toronto region, but he was struck by a massive stroke in 2007 and returned to his home country of Finland in 2008 by ambulance-flight.

Laakkonen stayed at a nursing home and was surrounded by his four children.

Erkkis daughter, Elina, 41, continues the familys racing traditions.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Erkki Laakkonen.
Leonard Buckner, 83, of Apple Creek Ohio, successful businessman, prominent horse owner and partner of Hickory Lane Farm, passed away on Saturday, November 19 after a brave 12-year battle with kidney disease.

Some of Buckner's most successful racehorses included world champions Golly Too and Doc Mistake, Ruffstuff Baker, Lovin Every Moment and Picture This.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday (November 22) at the McIntire Bradham and Sleek funeral home on 216 Larwill Ave. in Wooster, Ohio. Funeral service will be on Wednesday (November 23) at 2 p.m., also at the McIntire funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio, or the charity of your choice. Memorials can be shared with the family at mcintirebradhamsleek.com.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Leonard Buckner.

(USTA)
IN one of the more dramatic revelations in the corruption trial, former Governor Richard Tauwhare confessed on the stand that he had orchestrated a set up to entrap Michael Misick during his years in office.





The revelation came during cross-examination by the former Premiers lawyer, Queens Counsel Ralph Thorne on Friday (November 11).

The court heard that Misick was to have attended some meetings in Miami to speak with a few prospective investors into the Turks and Caicos Islands, but that it never came off.

After being repeatedly questioned about the operation by the lawyer, Tauwhare confessed that the supposed investors were actually law enforcement officials posing as businessmen.





He revealed that the agencies involved in the sting operation included the federal bureau of investigations and a number of law enforcement officials.





According to the former governor, Misick was only to be arrested if he committed a crime during those transactions with the investors.





When questioned by the lawyer he assured the court that the operation was not a set up, stating that he did not regard his actions as a betrayal and dishonourable.





He defended this as him being the British appointed watchdog over the TCI Government - s a British Overseas Territory.





He explained that he had dual roles - to work along with the government as well as to be the Crowns eyes and ears on the ground. He said that he had to balance these two responsibilities.





Asked if he believed Misick's continuing as Premier was unacceptable, given the amount of allegations and suspicions of corruption he had received from other people about him, Tauwhare said that he and advisors did not consider it wise to challenge Misicks Premiership without substantive proof of wrongdoing.





In earlier testimony solicited by the defense lawyer, Tauwhare had stated that he received numerous complaints about the Misick government from the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), which was headed by Floyd Seymour at the time.





The complaints, Tauwhare testified, were that of opposition members' suspicions of corruption in the Misick administration.





Tauwhare said that his office was provided with specific acts of corruption in these letters and that they were sent both before and after the 2007 general elections.





When questioned, the former governor stated that he did not believe the complaints were that of a defeated opposition suffering from a case of 'sour grapes'.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

OPPOSITION Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson has accused Premier Rufus Ewing of hoodwinking the public on the CFO`s removal.





The position of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has been the subject of discussion and controversy in recent times after Premier Ewing called the position a flagrant violation of the TCI`s Democracy.





The position was imposed upon the country under the new 2011 Constitution, until the loan guarantee was lifted after repayment of the UK guaranteed bond.





Ewing had planned to introduce a CFO Repeal Bill to the House of Assembly to forcefully demonstrate his Government`s will to remove the CFO. However, his plan was cancelled when he dissolved the House of Assembly to usher in the constitutionally-due general elections.





Subsequently, at the Joint Ministerial Conference (JMC) meeting in London this month, it was reported that Minister of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), Baroness Joyce Anelay, committed to removing the position of Chief Financial Officer by the end of March 2017.





The PNP has since touted the CFO`s removal as a major achievement on its campaign trail.





However, Opposition Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, in response to a question from the media on Wednesday, November 16, vehemently exposed the truth about the CFO`s removal.





The party leader made it clear that that position is not being revoked because of the Government`s lobbying but is in fact being terminated constitutionally.





She said: "Turks and Caicos once again, your Premier has been less than truthful; that position is not being revoked, the contract has expired.





Cartwright-Robinson explained: "We were opposed to the position of the CFO. Our position has not changed. There`s one thing that we need to clear up: an email was leaked that was shared between the two highest offices in this country -- the Governor`s office and the Premiers office.





And we are surprised to this day that there is no investigation as to how some sensitive email would have made its way to the media.





"But that email that speaks solely about constitutional issues as it relates to the People`s Democratic Movement, said that the Leader of the Opposition was opposed to the removal of the CFO and wanted to stall it.





"I reiterate my position: the conversation was limited to the Constitution the CFO was a part of.





We had not gotten any wind that the Premier would be picking this public fight with the CFO again, and those talks were stalled in terms of the Constitution, because to this day the PDM has not been given a clear process, like in times passed, where there would be so many rounds of talks or negotiations at certain levels.





"But what was not disclosed publicly from that email is that the CFO`s position has already been discussed with the Premier and the former Baron Duddridge; he had told the Premier that he would not be touching the position of CFO, contrary to what the Premier has said to this country.





"That he would not be touching the CFO`s position until his contract was expired March 2017.





She said that her party is the only party that had an unwavering position on the position of the CFO since the constitutional amendment in October 15, 2012. "Our description at the time of the CFO was that the position was undemocratic, she said.





"Our position remains the same; we felt that there were systems that were strong enough. We have strengthened Leader of the Opposition; we have strengthened the oversight committees, (we have) a stronger Public Accounts Committee, and other bodies that can oversee the financing.





She revealed that the PDM stood together with the PNP and communicated to the Solicitor General that both party strongly opposed the continuing of that role, once the guarantee was paid off.





The CFO, under the provisions of the CFO Ordinance, has absolute authority over public finances.




A PRESS conference was held at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales last Friday, to discuss the hospitals advancement in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).





The initiative which is geared at encouraging mothers to breastfeed their new-borns, is a collaborative effort between the Department of Primary Health Care, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).





During the press conference, it was said that the TCI Hospitals have already completed the first consultation and that staff members will commence training as early as February of next year.





Representatives from CARPHA and PAHO spoke to media officials about the reviews that they have been carrying out throughout the public and private healthcare offices.





Sharlene Higgs, director of Health, Disaster Education and Training, made reference to the training, stating that these staff members will be trained to become trainers.





"This training is going to be taking place in February, with staff from both Primary Healthcare, which is TCI Government and Interhealth Canada, to ensure that these persons are trained as trainers, so that training will take place throughout Family Health Care on the islands of Grand Turk and both Providenciales facilities.





"This is to ensure that staff are adequately trained to know how to assist the breastfeeding mothers, Higgs said.





Lakiesha Wilson expressed that this initiative is one of her personal goals for the New Year.





She said: "As a nutritionist, this is something really big for me because breastfeeding is ideal. It is giving your baby the best start in life and I cannot be happier to see this initiative move forward. I am happy to know that Interhealth Canada is on board 100 percent and to see that the Ministry of Health is willing to see this come to pass.





Wilson added that in order to limit illnesses that could develop in babies later on in life, a baby should be exclusively breastfed from zero to six months.





She said that this also gives them the proper nutrients that they need during the first months after birth.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in 1991, to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centres that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.




THREE Dominican men who are facing charges in relation to the death of American business man Gary Mead, appeared in the Magistrates Court number in Providenciales on Tuesday.





The men, Carlos Pena, Alexandre Cuesta and Joselito Lafaontaine Campusano appeared before Chief Magistrate Tanya Lobban Jackson, who remanded them to the Grand Turk prison until January 6, 2017.





On that date, the suspects will appear in the Supreme Court in Grand Turk for a sufficiency hearing.





Pena who was represented by attorney Ashwood Forbes, is being charged for the alleged murder of Mead, on September 30, in the parking lot of the Slots-O-Fun casino, airport road Providenciales.





Pena was also charged with robbing Mead of a box containing money and items valued between US $21,000 and US $31,000 and a firearm.





The accused, who spoke with a slight American accent, was not required to enter a plea at the time.





Cuesta was charged with two counts of keeping a firearm, one count of keeping 10 rounds of ammunition and for conspiracy to rob Mead.





The firearm which Cuesta was charged with, fits the description of the gun court officials believe was stolen from Mead before he was killed.





The third accused, Lafontaine Campusano, was charged with conspiracy to rob Mead, and he was also not required to enter a plea.





Mead, 55, a casino operator, was a long-time resident of Providenciales.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

THREE new Zika cases have been confirmed in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as recent rains increase mosquito activity.





This is according to the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, which informed the public on Wednesday, November 16, that one of three was confirmed in Grand Turk.





These new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in TCI to fifteen (15), which includes 12 females and 3 males.





The Ministry said the concern with Zika is a growing body of evidence regarding the connection

between infection with Zika in pregnancy and microcephaly.





Microcephaly is a condition where a babys head is smaller than expected, which can be a result of poor development of the brain and other complications.





In addition there has been an association with Zika and other neurological complications such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.





During a press conference held at the Premier`s Office, at the Hilly Ewing Building on October 24, the Government updated the media on its efforts to combat the dreaded virus.





It was noted that every precautionary measure continues to be taken to enhance prevention and control measures.





According to the Government, there is a vigorous action plan in place to deal with households where Zika infection has been confirmed to combat the further spread of Zika to other members of the same household.





"All cases of Zika infection are on the island of Providenciales with no areas of concentration.





The recently approved funding in the sum of $500k towards the management of Zika in the TCI by the Government will be utilized to strengthen efforts aimed at mitigating the impact of the Zika virus.





"The Environmental Health Department continues to conduct premises inspections, school visits, swamp monitoring, fogging activities and the distribution of mosquito repellents to households. The removal of derelict vehicles also continues throughout the islands.





"The department has also received 2400 mosquito larvicide briquettes and purchased an additional 330 gallons of fogging chemicals.





"The department also purchased 100 in2care traps to aid in the fight against zika.





"Three temporary vector control officers have been hired; one on the island of North Caicos and two in Grand Turk.





Residents are reminded to keep their premises and surroundings clean as waste which is not properly disposed of can collect water and become mosquito breeding sites.





"Because of the ability of the Zika virus to affect an unborn baby possibly resulting in microcephaly and other neurological and developmental complications, pregnant women should take special precautions to ensure that they are not bitten by mosquitoes.





"Mosquito nets are available for all pregnant women and can be collected from all Primary Health Care clinics throughout the TCI.





"Additional precautions should be taken to prevent mosquito bites when travelling to Zika affected areas and countries.





Premier and Minister of Health Rufus Ewing, has cautioned residents and tourists alike to use approved repellents when outdoors.





He also urged communities to play their part to take immediate steps to help stop Zika by eliminating all mosquito breeding and potential breeding sites.





Zika is a viral illness, which is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito is found in the TCI.





Most persons with Zika are not aware that they have the illness as they may not have any symptoms.





Symptoms of Zika are similar to Dengue and Chikungunya and appear between four to seven days after someone has been bitten by an infected mosquito.





These symptoms include skin rash, mild fever, conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye), muscle or joint pain, and general malaise.





There is no specific medication to treat Zika and there are currently no vaccines to prevent the illness.




A loaded grain ship that ran aground in the Columbia River near Skamokawa on Saturday morning caused no pollution or injuries but remained tied up in Kalama on Monday, the Coast Guard announced.

The Nenita, a 738-foot Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, reportedly lost propulsion, according to the Coast Guard.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River were notified of the incident at 3:21 a.m. The vessel was headed outbound out of Kalama when it ran hard aground and started taking on water. The vessels crew found, isolated and secured the flooding in the forward end of the vessel, according to the Coast Guard.

Observers in a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter monitored the scene for spills but did not report any. The Coast Guard will investigate the incident, which it said did not block other shipping.

The vessel was carrying less than 300,000 gallons of high-sulfur fuel oil, diesel fuel and gas oil at the time of the grounding, the agency said.
India, at the G20 summit announced a $10 billion contribution to the IMF's additional $ 430 billion financial firewall to help the debt-wracked 17-nation eurozone so that the faltering world economy is protected against the spread of any financial contagion.

The announcement of the contribution was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address at the Plenary Session of the seventh summit of the Group of developed and developing countries(G-20) in Mexico against the backdrop of growing calls to nations to increase contributions to the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for the bailout fund.

India's contribution along with pledges by other member countries of the five-nation BRICS bloc has helped increase IMF's resources and give a boost to the $ 430 billion fund being used as a firewall to support struggling eurozone economies.

"The International Monetary Fund has a critical supportive role to play in stabilising the eurozone.

All members must help the Fund to play this role, I am happy to announce that India has decided to contribute $10 billion to the IMF's additional firewall of $430 billion," he told the world leaders at the seventh summit of the grouping which accounts for 80 percent the world's GDP.

India has previously pledged to make contributions to the bailout fund but did not disclose the exact amount of its contribution to the fund. According to Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyo,

the BRICS is committed to pledge $60 billion to boost the firewall. Besides India and China, the other countries in the bloc are Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

The IMF fund will serve to help governments that are struggling to cope with debt repayments but eurozone leaders still faced pressure from their G-20 peers to make reforms to head off future financial crisis. Calls were being made to the eurozone to put in place a bigger financial firewall to combat the crisis before other countries will pour more cash into the IMF . Noting that developed countries have expanded the resources of the IMF enormously, largely to support programmes in rich countries, Singh said that steps are now needed to be taken to substantially expand the resource base of Multilateral Development banks so that they have the firepower to help developing countries pursue their development goals.

About countries pledging more resources to IMF, Singh said there is concern that the firewall available may not be adequate to deal with the financial contagion. "The resources currently expected to be mobilised by Europe and the IMF are less than was estimated a year ago, and the crisis is actually more serious," he said.

The prime minister said that part of the solution lies in providing liquidity to cope with loss of market confidence. But, liquidity does not help when solvency is in question, he said. "To address this problem, liquidity must be provided in parallel with effective adjustment programmes that ensure an

early return to debt sustainability," he said. Singh said that the adjustment programme adopted should

lead to an acceleration of growth so that countries can grow out of the debt trap.

Stating that the global economic situation is deeply worrying, Singh said the economic recovery is faltering and even the fast growing emerging markets are slowing down. Calling for policy action on several fronts, Singh said that the issue of greatest concern at present is the uncertainty affecting the Eurozone.

"The sovereign debt crisis and the banking crisis now on the horizon have grave implications for the health of the entire global economy," he said. Singh also made a reference to a new government in Greece

about to take office. "We wish them well and are encouraged by the early statements of intent, he added. Greece's far right party, which will be forming the government, has spoken about its intentions to remain in the Eurozone.

However, the prime minister said the risks of contagion in Europe remained because they reflected weaknesses in the banking sector arising from excessive sovereign debt and low growth prospects.

"A crisis in the European banking system can choke trade finance quite quickly, and end up choking economic growth not just in the Eurozone but in the world in general," he said.

Singh said that the Las Cobas Summit needed to send a strong signal to the markets that the eurozone countries will make every effort to protect the banking systems and the global community will back a credible eurozone effort and response. He also spoke about the contentious issue of the relationship between austerity and growth.

"It can be argued that austerity now will lay the basis for sustained growth later. But there is also an alternative view that with growth impulses as seriously weakened as they are today, synchronised austerity across many countries may not be the right medicine," he said. Financial markets normally favour austerity, but even they are beginning to recognise that austerity with no growth will not produce a return to a sustainable debt position, the prime minister added.

Stating he is not suggesting that fiscal prudence is not important, Singh said that he is only saying that given the large adjustment needs, not all of it can be front-loaded everywhere. "This is especially relevant within a currency area. Austerity in the debt-ridden members of the Eurozone can work only if surplus members are willing to expand to offset contraction elsewhere in the currency area," he said. While many rich countries face difficulties, the less developed and developing countries are also facing serious problems because of the negative impact of the global crisis, Singh said.

Infrastructure investment in developing countries assumes special importance in this context, he said, adding that it laid the foundation for rapid growth in the longer term, while providing an immediate stimulus for their economies and also for the global economy, by providing a robust source of demand.

An expansion of investment in infrastructure in developing countries is only possible if they can get access to long term capital to finance such investment, he said. "This is difficult at a time when capital flows are disrupted. The Multilateral Development Banks can play a major role in this context," Singh said. The prime minister also said that the G-20 Framework Working Group and the Financial Stability Board could examine how to enhance investment in infrastructure through country commitments and incentives in the regulatory framework.

He also pointed out that the G-20 agenda is getting over burdened. "We need to refocus on a few goals rather than dissipating energies on too many fronts unquote," he added.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain is likely to pay record prices to borrow at debt auctions on Tuesday and Thursday after the Greek election failed to ease concerns about the future of the euro zone and amid uncertainty over whether Madrid will need a full sovereign bailout.

The yield on Spanish 10-year bonds hit a fresh high of above 7 percent on Monday as initial relief over the victory of pro-bailout parties in Greece gave way to ongoing fears of deeper problems facing the bloc.

Seven percent is considered too pricey for a country to afford over the long term. Such levels have previously led to bailouts in Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Treasury Minister Cristobal Montoro told the Senate during a budget hearing on Monday that European Central Bank should step in to fight market pressure, essentially a call for the bank to buy Spanish debt again, something it is very reluctant to do.

Spain's Treasury will issue between 2 billion and 3 billion euros of 12- and 18-month debt on Tuesday, followed by between 1 billion and 2 billion euros of bonds due in 2014, 2015 and 2017 on Thursday.

Monday's market response to the Greek election -- in which parties committed to the conditions of a European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout won by a narrow margin -- suggest the prognosis is not good.

"It looks as though the market's broken now. I don't think there's anything the Spanish can do to bring it back. I don't think the ECB can bring it back... (a full sovereign bailout for Spain) is inevitable," said Harvinder Sian, a rate strategist at London-based RBS.

"With the (G20) summit not looking like it will produce anything particularly dramatic to help in the crisis situation, I think the market's made its statement. There has to be a change in the way the Europeans are attacking the crisis."

World leaders meeting in Mexico for a G20 summit on Monday are expected to push European leaders to outline a lasting strategy to save the euro currency and end financial turmoil.

BAILOUT WORRIES

Spain, the euro zone's fourth-largest economy and more than twice the size of bailed-out euro zone partners Greece, Portugal and Ireland combined, is at the centre of market jitters as it struggles with a deep recession and banking sector restructure.

The 12-month bill was trading on Monday in the secondary market, considered a good guide of primary auction yields, at around 4.9 percent.

Last month, the 12-month auctioned at 2.985 percent.

Thursday may be a bigger test, when Spain auctions bonds maturing April 30, 2014, July 30, 2015 and July 30, 2017.

On Monday, the 2014 bond was trading at around 5.5 percent compared with 2.069 percent at its last primary auction on March 1. The 2015 bond was trading above 6 percent after 4.876 percent on May 17 and the 2017 was trading at 6.7 percent, compared with 4.96 percent on May 3.

Spain's economy is under heavy pressure.

It entered its second recession since 2009 in the first quarter, and while it has barely grown at all since the property bubble burst in early 2009, most economists expect the economy to continue to shrink into next year at least.

Unemployment is over 24 percent, more than half all young Spaniards are out of work and deep spending cuts to tame one of the euro zone's largest public deficits are expected to prolong the downturn as investment plummets. (Editing by Fiona Ortiz/Jeremy Gaunt)
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By Asheeta Regidi

Demonetisation is currently the trending buzzword in India. The recent withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has driven most people to cashless transactions in order to get on with their day to day lives. Cashless transactions certainly have their benefits. Apart from sheer convenience, they give the ability to defeat problems like corruption, black money and tax evasion in India. For example, when salary payments in Afghanistan went online in 2009, police officers in Wardak were stunned when their salaries rose by 30 percent. This 30 percent was not a raise, but the portion siphoned off by corrupt senior officials.

However, rushing into a cashless society without adequate preparation is very risky. One major issue that arises is the large-scale invasion of peoples privacy that can result from going cashless. This problem can last only so long as Indias privacy laws remain as inadequate as they are.

What data is at risk?

The obvious result of going cashless is an increase in the use of the smartphone for making transactions. An increasing number of apps that can enable such payments will be downloaded, which includes e-wallet apps, apps with in-built wallets and mobile banking apps. Every use of these apps on the smartphone generates data. To understand what kind of data can be collected, consider a few popular mobile apps:

E-wallets

E-wallets can enable shopping, bill payments, electricity payments and much more. But this also gives the e-wallet company access to all this data about you. MobiKwik states that it collects transaction details, which can be used and disclosed as per its privacy policy. Paytm installs cookies on your device. It assures customers that the cookies do not collect personal information, but it is unclear what information is collected.

Taxi apps

The data collected by taxi apps give them the ability to make detailed records of all your travel details. For instance, Ola Cabs, in addition to personal details like credit/debit card information, your name, address, etc., also collects tracking information. This can include date, time, pick-up and drop-off locations, etc., of each ride.

Business Apps

Many businesses are providing their own apps to ease payments. The lack of cash in India made these a viable option. For example, the Starbucks app allows customers to pay directly using their smartphones. The app, however, stores information such as your name, birthday, address, device information, IP address, your purchases and so on.

The collection of this data enables these companies to have detailed records of your every move. When you consider large corporations like Google and Facebook that already have access to and are merging huge volumes of data about you, imagine adding detailed records of your every financial transaction, your every purchase, your every ride. Many apps collect a lot more information than they claim they do, instead of taking data on a need only basis. For example, many apps take permission to access your contact list, your SMSs, your mails and even your media files. All of this data can be collected and stored in the databases of the companies.

Privacy policies can change

Most such companies which collect data seek it for the purposes like targeted advertising and for improvement of services. However, they can be used for a number of internal, undefined purposes. Additionally, this data can be disclosed, to the government and to undefined third parties. Most privacy policies do not guarantee the security of their databases. Still others disclaim liability for the loss of data. Most importantly, these privacy policies can be changed, and without proper notice to their customers. Even deleting their accounts is not an option, since the companies retain the data even after the use of their services is discontinued.

Indian laws protect sensitive personal data only

The problem is that Indias privacy laws do not govern the collection and use of any data other than sensitive personal data. The Information Technology Sensitive Personal Data Rules, 2011 defines sensitive personal data to include specified details like the password, financial information, biometric information and identity related information.

This will not protect the vast troves of data in the hands of these companies. As a result, all the data in the possession of these companies will only be as protected as the companies decide they should be. Nor do these rules bind governmental bodies which collect data. The data in possession of the government through the Aadhaar system is, therefore, unprotected.

The right to privacy itself, is not a guaranteed fundamental right in India. In fact, on account of several conflicting judgments on this issue, the issue has been referred to the Supreme Court for a final decision, and is currently pending. There has been no known progress in the passing of the Right to Privacy Bill.

Prioritise privacy first

Digital payments are clearly the future, but this should not be at the cost of the peoples privacy. The lack of privacy with payments, including the lack of faith in the government, was one of the driving factors behind the creation of virtual currencies. The anonymity offered by these currencies made it highly attractive for transactions, both legal and illegal. However, if New Yorks BitLicense regulations are anything to go by, virtual currency will soon be so tightly regulated that there will be no difference between them and transactions with normal currency.

Technology is a wonderful thing, for the ease and convenience it brings to the people. That very technology should not encourage illegal uses, but neither should it become a means of invading peoples personal lives. The use of regulation to prevent the misuse of money is a good move, but depriving the people of any privacy can also go the wrong way. Before the next step is taken towards a cashless society, the government needs to first ensure privacy. Use the law to allow technology to remain a boon, not a bane.

The author is a lawyer with a specialisation in cyber laws and has co-authored books on the subject.
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The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program. H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.

Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent. Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs.

Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor, Sessions said at a February hearing. A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment. The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently. By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards. Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

Labor Lottery

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions. Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.

Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown. Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.

The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million. Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work.

In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S.

Calls for change

Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.

That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill. Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.

Were going to advocate for expanding the program, but were also going to advocate for reforming the program, FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview. The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco.

H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less. "The current system is not working for Americans, and it's not working for immigrants," he said.

'Amazing People'

Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh Shalli Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign. "He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go, Kumar said in an interview. But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards.

John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute - a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump - also supports prioritizing H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay. Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas.

Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34. Some H-1B visa holders aren't waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card. Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs, she said. I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible.

Reuters
Nimish Sawant

Facebook's platform-publisher conundrum has been playing out online for quite some time now. But post the 2016 US Elections, there have been allegations about how the social networking giant has become a hotbed for fake news. Some even went to the extent of saying that Facebook may have unknowingly affected the outcome of the US Elections, which Zuckerberg termed as a 'crazy idea'.

Why is it a US problem?

That social media has been playing an important role in elections is an old story. But never before have there been allegations of social media tipping the elections in any particular candidate's favour. Sure, the impact social media has on voting patterns is significant. In the 2014 national elections, we have seen how social media was used by leading political parties to amplify its messaging. US Elections 2016 played out similarly across multiple platforms online. Players such as Twitter, Google and Facebook were used by both the Republican and Democrats to their advantage.

The allegation that Facebook influenced election results in the US, may sound ridiculous to many of us. But one must realise that in the US, Facebook is a primary source of news for many. According to a Pew Research Centre report, around 62 percent of US adults get their news from social media. And of this, around 67 percent get it on Facebook.

Now, unlike the US, in India where newspapers are still sold subsidised rates, there are over 300+ news channels running 24x7 and majority of the population is yet to get online, Facebook is far from being a primary source of news. Definitely not for the near future.

Zuckerberg's clarification

Zuckerberg released a long statement on 19 November, outlining the steps Facebook is taking to curb fake news.

The key measures include having stronger detection to improve classification of misinformation; easy reporting of false news by Facebook users; verification from third-party fact-checking organisations; improving related articles links; adding warning labels to false news; denying ads to illegal news sources and more.

All these sound like great measures, but there was no mention of what happens to the rapid spread of false information on Facebook by gullible users. The election season brought to fore some unknown Macedonian websites, which were alleged to have written false news which were widely shared on Facebook.

Ultimately, it is the people who do the sharing. It is the people who decide the engagement levels, which prods the algorithms to kick in. How does Facebook plan on tackling that?

What's the way out?

It's quite simple, really. Stop using Facebook as your primary news source.

The nomenclature 'News Feed' is a bit of a misnomer, as Facebook is wired to show you things based on your personal profile. So a news from a reputed news organisation, may get the same sort of priority as an opinion or rant by any of your friends around similar topic.

Firstly, Facebook News Feed is not media organisation, but just an aggregator of updates from your friends, pages you have liked or personalities you have followed. Sure, you may be following a lot of legit news organisations on Facebook, but Facebook's algorithms aren't obligated to only show you news from these organisations.

Just like every status update you put out is only seen by 10 percent of your friends or followers (unless you pay to promote it), news updates from these legit organisations will not always show up on your feed. There is a high possibility of this sort of algorithm leading to creation of echo chambers where you may not really get to hear the other side of a debate. That is not a healthy sign.

Secondly, the Facebook Trending news section is curated by algorithms, and not humans. So fake news such as these can show up on the top of trends, as the algorithms aren't powerful enough to distinguish between facts and sarcasm.

Thirdly, Facebook's main objective is to keep you on its site, not to play an editor to cull out fake news. This study done in 2012 shows how Facebook can affect your emotional state. If Facebook realises that with news source A, there is a possibility of you logging off sooner whereas you stay longer on Facebook with news source B, it will push more content from news source B. It is the reason why no two Facebook accounts have a similar news feed.

You come across many forwards on WhatsApp daily. A lot of them are ridiculous messages moonlighting as news. We have all seen how the 'nano GPS chip' rumour spread after the new notes were announced. While a lot of people fell for it, it was only after checking other news sources, and using a bit of common sense, that the bluff was called. It is not an algorithm that is spreading these factually incorrect messages. It's us, humans.

So at the end of the day, there is no point putting the blame on an algorithm-driven social network for coming across irrelevant or fake news. The internet has many multiple sources where you can get your news fix. Facebook isn't the only one.
tech2 News Staff

Facebook finds itself in the news, yet again, for the wrong reasons. This time, it's for fake news. Whether you believe it or not, fake news is a problem. Unfortunately, with no concrete solution so far. Four innovative students have managed to put together a solution that's been appreciated and may go a long way in helping Facebook, and several other social media services, search engines and eventually users deal with the menace of fake news proliferating online.

The Washington Post now reveals that a team of four students named Nabanita De, Anant Goel, Qinglin Chen and Mark Craft turned out to be the winning team at the Princeton University when given the challenge to solve fake news issue that has been hounding Facebook.

The algorithm by these students helped distinguish between fake and real news, and interestingly they put it together in just 36 hours. The system built by the winning team is called FiB and it's a Chrome extension that tags links on Facebook as verified or not. This process of tagging depends upon several external factors such as credibility of the source and cross-referencing. "Where a post appears to be false, the plug-in will provide a summary of more credible information on the topic online," the report explains.

These students have now released it as an open-source project, and have asked if those with development knowledge could help improve it. The hackathon was sponsored by Facebook along with other leading tech companies, and FiB managed to bag the best moonshot award by Google too. However, the report adds, Facebook or Google haven't really reached out to these students in order to help them, in spite of both facing similar issues.

While Facebook has said it will work at curbing the fake news problem, Google also promised to bring new policy to restrict ads on fake news websites.
tech2 News Staff

In India, many associate brand Nokia with their first-ever mobile phone, and that's one of the reasons why despite the no-show so far for many years, tech enthusiasts are still eagerly waiting for a Nokia smartphone. While rumours and leaked images make us believe that we are inching closer to the launch day, looks like Nokia has finally confirmed the smartphone for next year.

A chart at the Capital Markets Day presentation (via Nokiapoweruser) had pointers about the company's plans n 2016, 2017 and 2018. And, 2017 confirms that brand Nokia will return to smartphones along with the possibility of an expanded VR leadership, digital health brand transition and also patent licencing for expansion in mobile, automotive and consumer electronics.

For 2016, it had listed the OZO VR camera launch that we've seen earlier this year, along with Withings acquisition, HMD brand and patent licencing and Samsung licence agreement expansion. For the year 2018, the plans include VR technology expansion, growth in remote patient care in Digital Health, continued incubation in new and adjacent areas and continued patent licencing growth and diversification.

Reports around Nokia CEO Rajeev Suris MWC 2017 keynote have been hinting at the possibility of the smartphone announcement being made at the tech show. However, some have already begun doubting a successful comeback.

Meanwhile, the Nokia D1C has begun popping its head quite often, and is believed to be the upcoming Nokia smartphone. The leaked renders show the usual candy bar shape dipped in gold, white and black colour options. The back shows the image sensor and LED flash, with the Nokia logo etched right at the centre. It also looks like the gold edition will come with a fingerprint scanner because the gold edition seems to have a dedicated home button.

The handset had recently appeared on Geekbench, giving us a sneak peek into some of its features. The device runs Android 7.0 Nougat and the benchmark app was run a few times. Scores showed 628 points in single-core and 3229 in multi-threaded loads. This isnt exactly high-end, which is obviously due to the low-end octa-core Snapdragon 430 SoC, clocked at 1.4 GHz, with Adreno 505 GPU and 3GB of RAM. Apart from these details, now we have the new render images.
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Novartis has abandoned a 2016 goal to start testing its autofocus contact lens on people, though it said the groundbreaking product it is making with internet giant Google is "progressing steadily."

"It is too early to say when exactly human clinical trials for these lenses will begin," a spokeswoman for the Basel-based drugmaker said in an email on Friday.

"This is a very technically complex process and both sides are learning as we go along. We will provide updates at the appropriate time," she said.

Novartis Chief Executive Joe Jimenez said last year his company's Alcon eye care unit was on track to begin testing in 2016.

In 2014, Jimenez said he hoped the lens would be on the market in about five years.

Novartis and Google joined forces two years ago to develop two kinds of "smart" contact lenses: An autofocusing lens for people with presbyopia, or far-sightedness, and another for measuring blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.

The lenses are now being developed with Alphabet Inc.'s life sciences unit Verily, which was carved out from Google in 2015.

Measuring blood sugar via the eye could allow diabetics to stop having to prick their fingers, while an autofocus contact lens would help people whose ability to focus is impaired when their eyes age.

It is unclear when testing for the diabetes lens will start.

Since the partnership with Google was launched in 2014, Alcon's sales have slid and its leadership team has been replaced.

New division head Mike Ball has been tasked with halting the revenue decline in advance of a possible sale of the unit.

But Novartis said that did not bar investment in innovative projects such as the lens effort with Google.

"Advancing innovation such as the smart lens technology, is a key part of Alcon's growth strategy," the spokeswoman said.

"The 'smart lens' technology has the potential to transform eye care and further enhance our pipeline ... in the contact lens and intraocular lens space."

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

On his final trip to Europe as the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama indeed had plenty to talk about in his interview with Germanys largest newspaper, Der Spiegel.

Everything else aside, Obama did speak plenty about NSA leaker Edward Snowden, who is quite popular in the country. But upon being quizzed as to whether he could pardon Snowden, he was quick to comment that he simply cannot, for a variety of reasons.

The paper reported Obama responding with the following statement, I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves, so that's not something that I would comment on at this point.

He also added that while Snowden did what he did, he did not do it following the procedures and the practices of the intelligence community. If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system, he commented.

Ars Technica reported, Noa Yachot, of the 'Pardon Snowden' campaign, stating that the President could pardon anyone. In the past, Obama had pardoned three Iranian-American men who had been indicted, but had not stood trial.
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Some of Google's unwitting users are learning a harsh lesson: If you violate the company's policies, it can abruptly cut you off from your Gmail account, online photos and other vital digital services. Several people who recently bought Google's new Pixel phone on behalf of a New Hampshire dealer are now suffering that punishment after the company detected their online purchases and judged they violated its terms of service. Those rules, outlined in a document that few people read closely , forbid the purchase of the Pixel for "commercial" resale.

"There isn't an hour that doesn't go by that I don't think about the enormity of what Google has done to me," said one of the affected resellers, Shmuel Super of Brooklyn, New York. "This is like a digital death sentence."

Sell your phone, lost your account

Super and his fellow resellers got into trouble for buying up to five Pixel phones from Google's online store and having them delivered to New Hampshire for resale. They received $5 for each phone. As of Sunday, some started finding themselves locked out of their Google accounts. In a Thursday statement, Google described the resale arrangement as a "scheme" devised by a dealer looking to sell the Pixels at marked-up prices in violation of its policies.

Google declined to say how many people were affected by the account lockdown. DansDeals , a consumer-focused website that first reported Google's crackdown, concluded that more than 200 people had been blocked from their Google accounts after talking to the New Hampshire dealer behind the Pixel buying spree. The Associated Press was unsuccessful in its efforts to identify and interview the dealer.

The crackdown may come as a surprise to the hundreds of millions of people who now routinely rely on Google, Facebook, Apple and other tech companies as the caretakers of their digital lives. Few of the people involved in this situation appear to have backed up their data outside of Google.

Google said it plans to restore the accounts of customers who it believes were unaware of the rules, although the company didn't specify how long that might take.

Living without Google

Once they figured out why they were being locked out, the exiled consumers realized how dependent they had become on Google as the custodian of their digital communications, records and other mementoes. Some said they couldn't retrieve confirmation numbers for upcoming flights or notices about an upcoming credit-card payment. Others couldn't fetch work documents or medical records. Some started getting phone calls from friends, family and colleagues wondering why they weren't responding to emails.

Like other two other people interviewed by the AP, Super said he had no idea that he was violating Google's policies when he bought the Pixels for the New Hampshire dealer. He can't believe Google would do something as extreme as locking him out of his account without warning, rather than just banning him from buying its phones in the future. "Google's slogan is 'Don't be evil,' but to me, there is nothing more evil that what Google has done here," Super said.

Crime and Punishment

Some of the Pixels purchased for resale were delivered before Google recognized the violations and meted out a punishment spelled out in a separate terms-of-service document . "We may suspend or stop providing our services to you if you do not comply with our terms or policies or if we are investigating suspected misconduct," Google warns in one section.

Google doesn't give any advance notice before it shuts down an account, and doesn't make distinctions between minor and major violations. Affected users can appeal for reinstatement, though it's unclear how long that might take or what criteria Google uses in such cases. Apple also forbids online purchases of iPhones for resale, although its terms of service say only that the company reserves the right to cancel any order suspected of breaking the rule.

Daniel Levy, who has been locked out from his Google account since Monday, said he has learned a hard lesson, though not necessarily the one the company intended. "They confiscated my property and shouldn't be trusted," said Levy, who lives in Lakewood, New Jersey. "I will never use their services again."

Associated Press
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They won`t move to White House

Barron Trump and Melania Trump

New York Post :

Future First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron will not be moving to the White House after Donald Trump's inauguration in January, The Post has learned.

The president-elect's 46-year-old wife and their 10-year-old son are staying put at the family's glitzy Trump Tower penthouse so that Barron can continue attending his Upper West Side private school, sources told The Post. "Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign," said a source close to Trump's transition team. "The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum." Another source said Melania Trump will travel to the White House as needed, but that her primary focus is on Barron. "Melania is very supportive of her husband and is fully on board of doing everything that's needed as first lady," said the second source familiar with the Trump transition.

That source said also that there is a possibility that Melania and Barron may move to the White House at the end of the school year, but no plans are in place. "She is really devoted to Barron," said a source close to the family, adding that Melania has not relied on nannies to raise the child and is frequently seen picking the fourth-grader up from his prep school, where tuition is north of $40,000. The decision to remain in their Midtown home will increase the security presence around Trump Tower - an effort that will involve both Secret Service and the NYPD, an expert familiar with high-level security told The Post.

"That building is going to become the White House of New York," said Jim Reese, a former Delta Force commander and president of TigerSwan, a global security company based in North Carolina.

"The Secret Service is going to have to keep that whole area cordoned off so that some wacko can't get close and detonate a car bomb." Strict security measures around Trump Tower will remain in place, with two of the five lanes on Fifth Avenue between West 56th and 57th streets closed because of barriers, said officials at a joint NYPD, Secret Service and City Hall news conference Friday. Following the presidential election, the area around Trump Tower has turned into a traffic nightmare, with West 56th Street closed to traffic between Fifth and Madison avenues, and shoppers having to go through a security cordon and subject to bag checks.

Barron and Melania will each have an unknown number of Secret Service agents assigned to them in addition to a driver and armored vehicle to take Barron to school, Reese said. An advance team of agents will swoop down on the school each morning to make sure it's safe, he added.




Bank Asia accords reception to 62 top IT exporters

Economic Reporter :

To open up avenue of financial support and inspire to be entrepreneur, Bank Asia recently accorded reception to the country's 62 top young IT service exporters who were earlier endowed with BASIS Outsourcing Award-2015, said a press release.

Md Arfan Ali, President and Managing Director of Bank Asia handed over appreciation certificate and gift to the award winners from different districts at a function held at the Corporate Office of the Bank at Purana Paltan in the city. Patrick De Courcy, Head of Marketing of Payoneer (a gateway payment service provider) of Asia Pacific, Russell T Ahmed, Senior Vice President of BASIS, Syed Mohammad Kamal, Country Manager of MasterCard, Junaid Masroor, Senior Executive Vice President of International Banking, and Md Zia Arfin, EVP, Head of International Division of the bank, were also present among others.

The program was focused on problems and prospects of outsourcing in Bangladesh.

Arfan Ali, President and Managing Director of Bank Asia asserted his optimism that the country's IT section will become the second highest export earner sector next to the Ready-Made Garments in near future.


Copyright  2021 New Nation. All Rights Reserved by thedailynewnation.com
Sheikh Hasina`s success in health sector lauded

World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr Margaret Chan on Monday lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's success in reaching the health services to the doorsteps of grassroots people.

"Bangladesh's present achievements in health sector have set an example for many countries around the world," she told Bangladesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim at a luncheon meeting hosted by WHO in honour of participants of the four-day 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in the Chinese city of Shanghai, an official handout said.

The WHO Director General hoped Bangladesh will succeed in attaining the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Mohammed Nasim said the incumbent government has been working tirelessly to reach modern healthcare services to the doorsteps of common people by establishing specialized hospitals at big cities. The government has introduced over 13,000 community clinics at village level aiming to enhance basic health care at grassroots.

"The government is working to set up a 'digital healthcare' system availing the latest information and communication technology through ensuring transparency and accountability," the health minister said.

He expressed his gratitude to WHO for its role to help Bangladesh ensure heath-services for people and requested Dr Margaret Chan to extend the organization's cooperation further in future.

Later, the minister met with his Chinese counterpart Li Bin and sought the country's cooperation for modernization and infrastructural development in Bangladesh's health sector to make it more pro-people.

Terming China as a trusted partner of Bangladesh in its socioeconomic advancement, Nasim said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh added a new dimension to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China.

The Chinese health minister assured the Bangladesh minister of increasing cooperation between the two countries in the field of health, education, communication, information technology and energy sectors.

Earlier, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang inaugurated the four-day conference in Shanghai while United Nations Director General Ban Ki-moon and WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan addressed the inaugural session as special guests.

Over a thousand representatives, including ministers of around 200 countries, policymakers, officials of non-government organizations, are taking part in the four-day conference.

WHO and the Chinese government are jointly organizing the conference to frame a policy for ensuring standard of life of 7.4 billion people of the world to help achieve SGDs.


Samit powers Rajshahi to an exciting 3 wkts win over Dhaka

Mehedi Hasan and Sabbir Rahman celebrate Rajshahi\'s win during the Bangladesh Premier League T20 match between Dhaka Dynamites and Rajshahi King at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Monday.

BSS, Chittagong :

Rajshahi King's English recruit Samit Patel's scintillating 75 off 38 balls enabled his team to record a magnificent three wickets win over Dhaka Dynamites in the crucial Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match held on Monday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

This victory revived Rajshahi's hope for the top four places as they stopped Dhaka going on to top of the points table. Rajshahi Kings shrug off their previous match defeat against Comilla has now accumulated 6 points from 7 outing while Dhaka had to remain to their eight points from 8 matches.

Kings reached their target with a ball to spare as they reached 184 for 7 when they were set to score a healthy 183 to win 20 overs.

Samit Patel and Opener Mominul Haque set the tempo for Rajshahi with an exciting 100 runs partnership off 10.3 overs. When it looked this duo has pulled the rug off Dhaka's feet, Mominul departed for a well made 56 off 42 balls. English all rounder Samit continued his hammering of the Dhaka bowlers at the other end. But Dhaka's skipper Shakib came back strongly to dismiss

Samit for a superb 75 off 39 balls laced with five boundaries and six incredible sixes.

Dhaka's West Indian star signing D Bravo struck two quick blows as he bagged the scalps of Rajshahi's Umar Akmal and Darren Sammy. Matt Coles came on to bowl for Dhaka while Rajshahi needing 9 runs from the last six deliveries. He captured the wicket of Abul Hasan in the first ball of the last over of the match. But Farhad Reza and Mehdi Hasan Miraj had other ideas as they struck crucial boundaries each to snatch away the victory from the jaws of defeat.

Bravo was the leading Dhaka bowler with 3 for 35 and Mohammad Shahid followed him with 2 for 29.

Earlier, magnificent knocks from Kumar Sangakkara and Seekkuge Prasanna's cameo late in the innings inspired Dhaka Dynamites to 182 for 4 in 20 overs, after Dhaka Dynamites captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first.

Dhaka Dynamites got off to a brisk start thanks courtesy of openers Kumar Sangakkara and Mehedi Maruf. The first-wicket stand between Mehedi and Sanga of 71 runs in 8.4 overs made the Rajshahi bowlers perspired in the afternoon heat to set up a perfect platform for other batsmen to accelerate later.

Prasanna began the acceleration to pile up 34 runs from just 16 balls that included three over boundaries and two boundaries. The left handed Sri Lankan batsman Sanga held the innings together with his 66 runs. He played 46 balls, cracked five boundaries and 3 sixers in his innings.

Farhad Reza with two wickets 22 runs was the leading Rajshai bowlers.

Samit Patel was later adjudged as man of the match for his brilliant batting display.
Two rival groups of Awami League locked in clashes centering the setting up of stage for MP Dabirul Islam\'s meeting at Haripur Upazila in Thakurgaon on Monday.
Suspended KCC Mayor Moni reinstated

UNB, Dhaka :

The government on Monday issued an order reinstating suspended Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor

Moniruzzaman Moni as per the directives of the High Court

Additional Secretary of Local Government Division, Jyotirmoy Datta told UNB that the government has issued a letter in this regard. On November 14, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court order that stayed the suspension of the mayor.

The KCC Mayor was suspended last year as charge-sheets were submitted against him in two criminal cases on November 2, 2015. Following a plea against the government order, the High Court stayed that suspension order on June 7. Later, the mayor filed a writ challenging the government order.

Moni was elected KCC Mayor defeating ruling Awami League-backed candidate Talukdar Abdul Khaleque in the city polls held in June, 2013.

On June 11 this year, a local court accepted chargesheets against 56 people, including Moni, in two criminal cases over arson and attacks on law enforcers.
DU students demand confiscation of Suu Kyi`s Nobel Prize

DU Correspondent :

The students of Dhaka University (DU) on Monday urged the Nobel Committee to confiscate of Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize as she failed to stop the genocide of Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine State in Myanmar.

They came up with the call from a human chain at the foot of Raju Memorial Sculpture protesting genocide on Rohingyas in Myanmar.

The students gathered there at around 11:00 am with placards and festoons and urged the United Nations and other global Human Rights bodies to force the Myanmar government to stop the mass killing and violence against the Rohingya people.

The students also threatened to march towards Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka if the government of Myanmar continues, the State sponsored mass killings.

Students said, Rohingyas are citizens of Myanmar. The government of Myanmar must give citizen rights to Rohingyas.

'UNHCR asked Bangladesh to open our border, but opening border is not a proper solution to this human crisis. The world leaders must to decide to resolve this problem', they said.
Sultana berates excuses for not fighting religious extremism



Sultana Kamal has urged the women rights activists to give no excuses for not taking up the fight against religious extremism. The human rights campaigner gave the example of her late mother poet Sufia Kamal's fight and said the trend of backing off for personal interests has affected everyone now.

"Okay, so what happens if you speak? There will be no result if you do not speak out. Then why don't you speak?" she asked.

"You are not talking for fear of doing something, taking risks. We run our organisations by safeguarding many interests," she said.

She was speaking at a programme to mark the 17th death anniversary of her mother.

"We are wrapping ourselves with the cover of interests. We are pulling ourselves backwards, giving the excuse that nothing can be done," Sultana Kamal said.

Poet Sufia Kamal was also a woman rights campaign leader and a pioneer of many movements, including those against religious bigotry and communalism. She spent her life on women empowerment and literary works.

She took an active part in every freedom struggle of the Bengali nation, including the Language Movement, struggle for independence, Liberation War and anti-autocracy movement.

Speaking about her, Sultana Kamal said, "We now always think of saving ourselves first, but Sufia Kamal was against this idea. "When she started work as a teenager, was the situation any better than it is now? Did she fear anything?... She didn't," Sultana Kamal added.

She was critical of the Awami League for 'negotiating with religious extremists for votes', despite being the party that led the struggle for independence. PRIP Trust Executive Director Aroma Dutta, Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khatun, Hill Women's Federation President Chanchana Chakma, among others, were present.
Rule issued on abusing power by cops under CrPC

Staff Reporter :

The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks as to why they should not be directed to take necessary steps to prevent police from abusing their power Under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code.A bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Ashish Kumar Sharma on November 17 challenging the legality of a letter sent by SI Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, a Sub-Inspector of detective branch of police in Gazipur.

In response to the writ petition, the HC also summoned Mostafizur directing him to appear before the court on December 4 to explain about a letter issued by him to a businessman over a complaint involving Tk 31.90 lakh.

In the rule, the HC also asked the authorities to explain as to why the letter issued by SI Mostafizur to Ashish Kumar Sharma, Managing Director of Cactus Packaging, a garments factory in Gazipur, should not be declared illegal.

The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police of Gazipur, Officer-in-Charge of detective branch of police in Gazipur and SI Mostafizur have been made respondents to the rule.

Ashish's lawyer Uzzal Hossain said that police can call for a witness of a case if it is filed for the interest of investigation under Section 160 of the CrPC. Police can also call a witness in connection with a general diary under the permission from a magistrate, he said.

The lawyer said, police cannot summon any witness if any case is not filed. But SI Mostafizur has summoned Ashish Kumar Sharma before him on November 19 without filing any case or GD against him, which is an abuse of power and unlawful.

SI Mostafizur on November 6 sent a letter to Ashish Kumar Sharma to appear at his office on November 19 in connection with an allegation involving Tk 31.90 lakh from a malafide intention, Advocate Uzzal added.


A threat to state security

Influx of illegal migrants from Myanmar raises concern

Desperate bid to flee Rohingya Muslim families seen entering Teknaf in Cox\'s Bazar crossing Naf River defying BGB\'s high alertness at Myanmar border. This photo was taken on Monday.

Security analysts on Monday raised concern over the influx of illegal Rohingya Muslim migrants from Myanmar to Bangladesh as a result of fresh military crackdown in Myanmar's western Rakhaine state.



They said the influx could cause a law and order problem and pose a threat to Bangladesh's security.



The analysts also called for a smart management borders along with Myanmar to prevent infiltration attempts and illegal crossover in the country.



"Borders along with Myanmar need larger attention to prevent illegal crossover by Rohingya people. It is imperative to maintain public order and internal security," Major General (Retd) Md Abdur Rashid, a security analyst told The New Nation on Monday.



"The issue is also linked with tackling militancy and terrorism," he added.



Dismissing the UNHCR's call to open up Bangladesh's borders for fleeing Rohingyas, Md Abdur Rashid said, the government should not provide shelter to Rohingyas further in Bangladesh considering their previous activities.



"We provided shelter to Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian ground. But they exploited the facility and involved in drug trade, human trafficking, militancy and other criminal activities ultimately posing a threat to the state security. So, the government should not allow them anymore considering the previous track record," he added.

When asked, General Rashid said we came to know that the border security agencies have already beefed up their vigilance and patrolling along with Myanmar borders.



"But these measures are not enough to prevent the influx of illegal migrants from Myanmar to Bangladesh. The government should involve other agencies and local communities to dealing with the issue properly," he said.

General Rashid also urged the regional governments and international community to put pressure on the Myanmar government to settle the issue at their lands rather pushing it to Bangladesh. "They should also intensify pressure on Myanmar government to immediate stop the ongoing violence there," he added. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal earlier told The New Nation that border security forces have been put on high alert on Myanmar borders so that they can prevent illegal migration by Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh.



"It's a double edged sword. If you welcome Rohingya refugees as humanitarian ground then the world would applaud you. On the other hand, our experience with Rohingya refugees in the last three decades is less than satisfactory at home and abroad. We cannot forget the two facts," Major General (Retd.) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Protik, told The New Nation yesterday.



Bangladesh provided shelter to about 5.50 lakh Rohingya refuges who earlier fled from Myanmar to escape oppression and rampant human rights violation in their country.



More than 30,000 Rohingyas have already been displaced from their homes in the wake of ongoing army crackdown and genocide in Myanmar's Rakhaine province.



"But the irony is none in the world play host to Rohingya refugees. Neither, the international community comes down heavily on Myanmar government for committing the genocide, nor they are welcomed in Bangladesh," General Ibrahim said. Bangladesh has to decide whether it would provide shelter to the Rohingya refugees or adopt the "push back" policy, he said. General Ibrahim also expects an international outcry over the genocide let loose by the Myanmar army.
Drug trafficking must be sternly dealt with

YABA tablets popular as sedative drug among younger generation are flooding the country from Myanmar across Teknaf border. It is creating the biggest crisis increasing crimes and violence in the society. But law enforcers are failing to effectively stop it for reasons not clearly known to all. We know that drug syndicates are bringing the drug and marketing it throughout the country under the shelter of politically powerful people and using their local network. It is almost 100 crore taka business per month in some estimates destroying our younger people. It is now available at every street corners and public places.



The seizure of a consignment of 50 thousand Yaba by DB Police recently from the city's Segunbagicha area showed the tablets were carried in a Pajero Jeep with flag stand. It means the vehicle belongs to a powerful person and since the owner of the vehicle comes from Teknaf, the suspect is almost clear whom he is. Although he was recently arrested and put on three years imprisonment by the court in a case by filed by Anti-Corruption Commission, his release by High Court on six months bail led many to believe the trafficking will continue without brake.



Yaba is coming into the country mainly from Myanmar where criminals are producing the tablets in factories in the border belt and pushing it into Bangladesh through several Teknaf points. Similarly drug syndicates are producing phensidyl in factories on Indian side of Bangladesh border and pushing it into the country.



It is a matter of growing concern that traffickers are making thousands of our youths addicts that includes not only poor unemployed people suffering from frustration but also college and university students. The list further includes growing number of professionals like filmmakers, vocalists, showbiz models and children of upper class families. They are increasingly becoming habituated to drugs and their growing demoralization is spreading social violence including suicide, rape, killing and such other street crimes. It is no more secret that drug has a critical role behind every crime.



We know that traffickers are taking advantage of the law and order situation when looting and corruption are rampant everywhere and police are busy helping the government against the opposition. We must say police must fight crime and destroying drug network is most important to save our younger generation. There can't be any letdown. We have always said that the government must take the issue with Myanmar and India to stop it at source. But cleaning drug syndicates must also begin from home.



There is no denying of the fact that our dirty politics and criminals operating as politicians are the biggest challenge to destroy drug syndicates. But we can't let them running the trade unimpeded.
Rohingyas are not outsiders: Suu Kyi must fight barbarism

Rohingya crisis has sparked form an intense crackdown by the Burmese military in which dozens of people have been killed and at least 230 arrested. Rights Groups estimate the total death toll could be in the hundreds.



Rakhine State is home to a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a stateless ethnic minority that has faced discrimination and persecution for years. The Myanmar government's official position denies recognition of the term "Rohingya" and regards them as illegal Bengali migrants.



Throughout, many have looked to Myanmar's civilian government, and particularly Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, to act as a check on the military. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in elections late last year, ending two decades of brutal military rule



While analysts did not dispute that the military is leading operations in Rakhine, they expressed disappointment with the government's lack of action. While he was skeptical over how much power the civilian government had to influence military activity in Rakhine State, Anthony Ware, a Myanmar specialist at Australia's Deakin University, said Suu Kyi's silence was a "long term consistent trend."



There is also strong support among the country's Buddhist majority for anti-Rohingya actions and angry anti-Muslim rhetoric has become part of mainstream discourse in Myanmar, led by ultra-nationalist Buddhist monks. Muslims are perceived nationally, even by most of the ethnic minorities, as a threat to Buddhism and threat to national security.



Before and after the country's transition to democracy, the Burmese military has been accused of torture, rape, and the systematic abuse of child soldiers. Rights Groups have documented continued widespread abuses against ethnic minorities, particularly in Rakhine and Kachin States.



Essentially the military is carrying out a "clearance operation" against Muslims in the region, and international crimes may occur, as per statements of Human Rights Groups. Rakhine State authorities were talking about a plan to demolish Muslim-owned properties prior to the October attacks. It would appear that strategy is in some ways being carried out in another context.



Whatever the situation on the ground, the world, and especially the hapless Rohingya, deserve more action from a Nobel Peace Laureate like Suu Kyi -- who is herself a victim of military action.



Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi said previously that it will "take time" to address her country's ongoing humanitarian crisis and deflected charges that she has not done enough to speak out on behalf of Burma's persecuted Rohingya Muslims community. Ms Suu Kyi spoke to The Washington Post after six months in office last October, as fresh violence threatened to derail the country's peace process.



The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and dedicated critic of the former military government came to power at a time when she must deal with a worsening humanitarian conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. But her civilian government must find ways to work with the still powerful military and take steps to rejuvenate an economy that faltered during decades of brutal military rule. Burma remains one of the poorest countries in Asia.



In August, Ms Suu Kyi appointed former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to look into the situation with the Rohingya. More than 1 million Rohingya Muslims live in Burma, but they are considered stateless and have long been denied basic rights. More than 120,000 are still living in fetid camps in Rakhine State after violent clashes with their Buddhist neighbours in 2012. They have little access to health care and 30,000 of their children do not have proper schools, according to a UN report in June.



The report cited a "pattern of gross human rights violations" against the Rohingya, acts that it said could rise to the level of "crimes against humanity" in a court of law. The government restarted a process of citizenship verification for the Rohingya in June but many of the Rohingya refused to participate, Ms Suu Kyi said. Human Rights Activists say they were suspicious that some kind of new card would mean a further erosion of their rights.



While it is true that the situation in Rakhine State is due to a decades old legacy of problems and thus no one can expect it to be solved overnight, it is equally true that Suu Kyi is not taking a strong position to address the issue. She must not forget that she won the Nobel Prize for Peace and she got it for her own suffering for the cause of the people's rights that did not exclude Rohingyas of Myanmar. Besides, killing innocent people just because a legal issue needs to be solved is barbarism. There is no denying the fact that Muslims were living in Myanmar for ages. They were born there. They cannot be considered outsiders. The world cannot tolerate barbarism, just because Muslims are butchered.


The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
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If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Areas of fog early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low around 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Riga was a strange one for me, I had been due to visit a few years back with freinds when the Icelandic volcano blew up and ruined our plans!! For a long time I had wondered what I had missed out on and always dreamt of finally visiting! So here we were, in this wonderful, invigoratingly modern and beautifully historic centre of the Baltics at last! And boy was it worth the wait!

Discover local traditions at the Folk bar

One of our absolute highlights of visiting Riga was the folk bar we discovered. Sipping on locally brewed beers, eating traditional fried black bread with a garlic dip whilst listening to Latvian folk musicall whilst in a dark wooden building in the centre of the old town that has stood on this spot for hundreds of years. What an incredible way to experience local Latvian culture in a warm and welcoming environment. Ala is reasonably priced and popular with locals as well as visitors looking for a slice of authentic culture!

Take an alternative walking tour to see the communist remnants of Riga

We love free walking tours but often they can feel a little samey and bland, or in our case often cover the areas we were planning on visiting anyway. But when the guys at our hostel mentioned the alternative walking tour of Riga our ears pricked up. We love the idea of discovering other areas of the city and their history that we would otherwise never have known about. This walking tour took us out to the traditional Moscow district with its Stalins Birthday Cake style building which is part of the same series as seen in Warsaw and Moscow. The wooden buildings of this area of the city tell the history of the city, how they were built to be set on fire if the city was attacked, something that happened by accident when a solider spotted a herd of cows in the distance!

Explore Europes largest markets in old Zeppelin hangars!

A UNESCO listed heritage site the markets are probably one of the most important of the citys 20th century constructions. Many dont realise the sheer size of the 5 huge pavilions which make them the largest markets in Europe, even surpassing those of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul at 778,000 sq ft and housing over 3,000 stalls!

The huge structures are each home to a different selection of trades, one selling locally picked vegetables, others with a huge selection of wonderful cheeses and even a pavilion of nuts and dried fruits, as well as meat, fish and clothing! The most interesting thing however about the markets is what they are made from, built from 1924 to 1930 out of old German Zeppelin hangars they are now 5 of only 9 remaining in the world and incorporate the Art Deco style of the era!

Wander around the beautiful and peaceful parks

Riga is a beautifully green city with many well groomed parks being located very centrally. On a warm summers day or a snow covered winters afternoon there is no better place to take a stroll or relax after a hard day of exploration! In such a bustling city that perfectly peaceful area of leafy green paradise is just around the corner. Bridges, flower beds, fountains and rivers with meandering paddlers set a stunning scene against the pastel colour of the old town. The loveliest ones to check out are: Bastejkalna Park, Vermanes Park, Mezaparks, Kronvalda Park and many more!

Look up at the freedom monument

Latvia has gone through years of occupations and struggled through many generations for independence. Built in 1935 the freedom monument is to honour all those killed during the Latvian war of Independence from 1918-1920. The statue is an important symbol of the freedom and spirit of the Latvian people. Having some how miraculously survived the Soviet occupation of the country it must have been an ironic and painful sight during those testing years. But now, a focal point once again of the city for gatherings and ceremonies, it is once again a proud symbol of the resilience of Latvia and their independence!

See the stunning details of the Art Nouveau district

After the ancient cobbled streets of the old town, the wooden buildings of the Moscow District comes the equally historic and unique Art Nouveau district. Riga is a city of sharp contrasts, a modern and booming capital with a more western feel than much of Eastern Europe but with well preserved historical feel. Elaborate, flamboyant and featuring a detailed and fancy array of gargoyles and naked women, over a third of the buildings in Riga belong to this rich and beautiful style. A result of the financial boom of Latvia, the fashionability of this style at the time and the lifting of a ban of masonry buildings outside of the old town all collided to bring about the construction of these many stunning buildings. Many of which now serve as Museums, Educational institutions and, even Hotels.

The beautiful Riga Town Hall square with the house of the Blackheads!

One of the main attractions of the stunning UNESCO listed Riga Old town the house of the Blackheads and the surrounding buildings are some of the most important and beautiful. The original building was constructed in the 14th century and got its interesting name from the brotherhood of the Blackheads, a guild for the unmarried German merchants of Riga, then a part of the German empire. As as result of the bombings of the second world war the ancient building was turned into a shell of a ruin on the 28th of June 1941 and was further destroyed by the Soviets in 1948. Rebuilt from 1995 to 1999 in an authentic and sympathetic style this grand building is now back to its original splendor as a historic monument of the city.

St. Peters Church

A symbol of the city and one of the most prominent features of the stunning Old Town the spire of St. Peters church can be seen from all over the city. Dating back to 1209 the church has undergone several extensions and reconstructions having been effected by city wide fires, lightening strikes, wars and occupations. The distinct style of the church reflects the different periods it has existed through such as the gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles. Climbing the hundreds of stairs to the top also reveals a stunning panoramic of this amazing city!

Have you ever been to beautiful and charming Riga?

See more from this country

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The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
BELLEVILLE  It was a welcome befitting a hero, and this one honored the homecoming and ultimate sacrifice of 20-year-old U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa.

The body of the fallen soldier was flown into Scott Air Force Base on Monday morning, where Iubelt's wife, parents and other family members received his remains. Iubelt, another soldier and two contract workers were killed by a suicide bomber on Nov. 12 at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan; the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iubelt's body was placed in a hearse from Searby Funeral Home for the dignified transport, the procession, from Scott AFB to Du Quoin, where his services are set for Wednesday.

Along the way, friends, law enforcement and first responders, military colleagues and other supporters lined the route to salute, wave flags and quietly pay their respects  from inside and outside Scott Air Force Base, to Nashville, on to Tamaroa and finally, Du Quoin.

One of those paying homage, saluting the black hearse with a U.S. Army seal on it, was retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ralph Branham. He said he spent 21 years in the military, serving twice in Vietnam.

"(I'm) honoring this young man who just gave his life for this country," Branham said.

The processional was led by a Perry County Sheriff's vehicle and Du Quoin police car and fire trucks from the Nashville Fire Department and Tamaroa Fire Protection District and a formation of military veteran bikers, the Patriot Guard.

The motorcade made its way out of the O'Fallon-Belleville area, through Nashville, through Tamaroa and on to Du Quoin, where Iubelt's funeral will be held Wednesday. At spots along the route, people quietly watched as Iubelt's escort moved through.

In Nashville were several messages honoring the fallen hero.

Grace United Methodist Church's sign read: "Thank you Pfc. Tyler Iubelt; God bless you."

Down the street, a large sign on the front lawn of St. Ann Catholic Church read: "Thank you for your service Pfc. Tyler Iubelt. Our American hero."

A few more blocks down, the sign in front of the Nashville Community High School read: "Thank you Pfc. Tyler Iubelt."

On the grassy lawn of a home in a more rural stretch of Illinois 127 was an American flag with a large sign that grabbed attention: "Thank you Tyler."

The motorcade then made its way to Tamaroa, where Iubelt attended grade school and played on a junior high basketball team.

One school administrator said that when Iubelt was in eighth grade, some of the older students on the viewing route were in second grade.

"We just thought this was a learning experience for the kids, how we should pay our respects to those that sacrificed for us," said Cindy Opp, an assistant principal who also teaches seventh and eighth grades.

"The fact that Tyler left our little Tamaroa comunity and went across the world in the service  and, unfortunately, he won't be coming back home to us  and it makes us sad," Opp said.

"It brings up bigger questions of why was he there and why did this happen, especially to our older kids," she said. "It brings up discussions of why did this happen in our world.  We sure hope that they don't have to do this when they're older, that they don't have to face this with one of their classmates."

The procession then continued on to Du Quoin.

One of the most dramatic displays along the route was what looked to be a line of blooming cherry blossom trees; they were actually three miles of red, white and blue American flags, the Avenue of Flags of Honors.

On Monday, Chip Shaffer and Larry "The Flag Man" Eckhardt led 150 volunteers in putting up approximately 2,900 flags, on both sides of a 3.1 mile stretch leading into Du Quoin.

Shaffer said it was impressive to see the law enforcement, first responders and citizens along the processional route, especially in Nashville.

"We're Americans," he said. "They showed how proud we are of being Americans. It's amazing that when you get in the rural communities, that strong bond between America and the military and our families."

Iubelt is survived by his wife, his six-month-old daughter, his mother and her husband, his father and his wife, three brothers, his grandparents, and other relatives. One of his grandfathers died before him.

Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Searby Funeral Home; his funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Du Quoin.
BLACKVILLE  Clemson University irrigation specialist Jose Payero is installing weather stations and soil-moisture sensors at farms across South Carolina and developing the online platform that will allow farmers to use the collected data to conserve water and energy.

Payero received a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to install weather stations at farms in each county of the state. He plans to have stations in all 46 counties by years end.

Payero aims to arm farmers with farm-specific data that will allow them to make more informed irrigation decisions based on rain forecasts, soil type and crop yield expectations. The sensors and weather stations connect wirelessly to transmitters that will send data to a password-protected website Payero is developing for farmer access.

Data from the sensors also could be sent to an automated irrigation system Payero is developing that would activate if soil moisture dips below desired levels.

Over-irrigation can be costly and cause soil erosion, chemical runoff and nutrient leaching, Payero said. Under-irrigation stresses crops and reduces yield.

Periods of drought, meanwhile, have made water availability more scarce, while persuading more farmers to invest in irrigation systems, said Payero, who works at the universitys Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville.

Water is one of our most important issues going forward, he said. The population is growing. The demand for food is rising. But we are not making more land, so we need to make our land more productive while protecting our water resources.

It is not unreasonable to expect that society will continue to demand farmers to produce more crops with less water, especially in areas where water resources are scarce and where competition is increasing between irrigation and alternative water users like environmental, municipal and industrial use, Payero said. Farmers will only be able to respond to this challenge if they are equipped with the knowledge and the tools to make better water management decisions.

Payero is developing the algorithm for a website that will combine weather data, soil moisture rates and yield targets to calculate irrigation needs. Additionally, he is working with farmers to teach them how to use these systems to their benefit. Payero is still looking for farmers willing to participate in this project. He can be contacted at jpayero@clemson.edu.

Bamberg County farmer Richard Rentz approached Payero at the Edisto Research and Education Center to request installation of a weather station on his property.

Right now, were just shooting in the dark on our irrigation, said Rentz, who irrigates roughly 150 acres of a 700-acre farm. Id like to save a little water, save a little power and save some money. Its a significant expense.

The Edisto REC is developing and demonstrating a variety of new technologies aimed at conserving water and other farm inputs, like fertilizers, to both increase crop yields and minimize the effect of production practices on the environment. These technologies include irrigation scheduling using weather data, irrigation automation, sensor-based irrigation, subsurface drip irrigation and variable-rate irrigation. Application of these technologies could save the state an estimated $7 million annually just in pumping costs while significantly reducing water application.

Edisto REC scientists have secured externally funded projects of more than $2.3 million. These include improved irrigation management, space-based technology to determine hydrological properties of soil, Intelligent Center Pivot irrigation systems, subsurface drip irrigation systems, innovative cropping practices to enhance crop resilience to drought, online calculator and crop coefficients for irrigating row crops, refining NASAs space-based GPS technology for site-specific irrigation management and helping growers adapt to climate variability and climate change through enhanced farming practices.

Dr. Payeros project is a critical piece of research for agriculture and water-use management. Water for irrigation is an extremely important component of South Carolinas agriculture industry, especially in the eastern portion of the state, said Jeffery Allen, director of the S.C. Water Resources Center. Using these sensors and data-collection stations will help us understand how water moves through these systems and how farmers can best manage their crops now and into the future.

The amount of water available in South Carolina is not known. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control are in the midst of a study to assess the water available in the states eight major river basins.

Irrigation accounted for more than 31 billion gallons of water withdrawal in the 2010 Annual Water Use Report released by DHEC, but that only accounts for entities that use at least three million gallons per month. Entities using less than that are not required to report usage, Allen said.

There are literally trillions and trillions of gallons available, but it is also important to understand that water availability varies greatly from place to place, city to city, county to county, he said. While it seems like there is more than enough to go around, we have to ensure that people downstream from growing urban areas have access to adequate water. We also have to ensure that nature has access as well  those are called environmental flows  keeping enough water in rivers and streams for plants and animals to survive and thrive. In addition, we have to carefully manage groundwater resources to make sure they can recharge sufficiently, as well as monitor for pollution and saltwater intrusion in the coastal groundwater aquifers. Its a big job.
Chromebooks, or laptops that use Googles Chrome operating system, have been passed out in all three Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four high schools, but a few students still dont have theirs.

Some students have not been able to pay the $20 usage fee that covers costs for configuration, accidental damage and minor repairs, Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman said.

The district has set up a payment plan for these students and is making them available in the classroom, he said.

Principal Dr. Mark Dean reported that from 15-18 Hunter-Kinard-Tyler students have not received their Chromebooks because theyve failed to turn in signed statements from parents accepting responsibility for the devices. Hes having difficulty contacting parents who dont have phones, he said.

Newman said he expected to have the problem resolved by the end of the week.

Trustee Peggy Tyler reported that some students in the H-K-T area are not able to hook up to the internet at home.

Newman said that Three Crosses Outreach near Norway is offering students a place to link up to the web. He said hes calling on other local churches and community organizations to partner with the district and provide places where those students can gain access to the internet.

Operations Director Larry Wolfe reported the district recently took part in its regular voluntary drug search of all three highs schools by canine officers from the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.

The dogs did not find anything, which is good, he said. We hear so much negative I was just impressed that without any reason, the officer said ... its a pleasure to come into your schools because the kids are so well behaved.

In other business, trustees unanimously approved a motion to hold a special called meeting on Dec. 13 to receive information about the districts external audit. A regular meeting was not scheduled for December.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges new, $12.5 million health sciences building moved a step closer to reality in November when it received final approvals from various agencies.

The states Commission on Higher Education and the Joint Bond Review Committee have approved plans for the new building, President Dr. Walt Tobin recently told area commissioners.

The building will house classrooms, labs, space for simulated instruction and a computer lab.

Tobin hopes to be in the building by the spring of 2019.

Kim Huff, vice president of business affairs, said the college expects to sign a new contract with architectural firm LS3P to complete design of the building.

The next goal is to take bids for a contractor around April and begin construction in July, Huff said.

The colleges other construction project, reroofing buildings A through J, is expected to begin in January, Huff said.

Commissioners have approved $2.8 million to pay for the roofing project.

In other business, Vice President of Academic Affairs Donna Elmore reported that OCtech has been accepted as an official member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. This is a national reciprocation agreement between states that allows its members to market online education programs across the United States.

Elmore also reported that OCtech has signed a new teacher education agreement with USC Palmetto College that will allow graduates to immediately go into Palmetto Colleges online elementary education program.

In addition, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties have both received the ACT Award for Work Ready Communities.

Tobin announced that Jean Andrews, Linda Ott, Dr. Kevin Ray and Bruce Rheney are joining the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation.
Why did so many people decide not to vote for Hillary Clinton?

A theory from the 1950s can help explain. According to University of Michigan researchers in their book The American Voter, just three factors influence the majority of voters  long-term partisan predispositions, judgments about important issues, and images of the candidates.

The issues that matter most to the vast majority of voters are not "position" issues, the sort of issues that deeply divide the public, such as abortion and LGBT rights. Rather, voters decide based on "valence" issues such as vigorous economic growth, the provision of high-quality health care, affordable educational opportunities, national security and protection from terrorists and common criminals. Virtually everyone agrees that these are desirable ends of public policy, and political debate focuses on how to best achieve these goals.

Over the past several decades, this ''performance politics" theory has been tested repeatedly and has held up remarkably well. High-quality academic survey data is not yet available for this year's presidential election, but the results of hundreds of opinion polls tell us a great deal about how results aligned with this decades-old political theory.

1. A large group of voters didn't identify with either party. The Democrats had a significant edge in party identifications over Republicans; 32 percent of people polled by Gallup in September said they identified Democratic and 27 percent said they were Republicans. But 40 percent said they were independents. With a large group without psychological ties to either major party, short-term forces evolving during the campaign  evaluations of party performance on key issues and candidate images  were crucial.

2. A number of important issues were not in Clinton's favor. Nearly eight years after of Barack Obama walked into the Oval Office, the economy's performance remained problematic. Although unemployment had dropped sharply, growth remained anemic and the real incomes of millions of Americans were lower than they had been decades earlier. In addition, the national debt was at a historic high and increasing. Donald Trump charged that many of these economic maladies were caused by the failure of the Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton administrations to make trade deals that would protect the American economy from unfair foreign competition. Simply put, the political-economic elites had sold out American workers.

Obama's signature domestic legislation, the Affordable Care Act, was in trouble, with insurers bailing and premiums skyrocketing. And the situation wasn't much better overseas, with much of the Middle East in turmoil. And Trump's plan to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico made immigration a high-profile and bitterly contentious issue. Trump charged that the Obama administration's failure to control immigration posed serious economic, security and cultural threats.

Hillary Clinton's basic difficulty with issues was that she was caught between Barack and a hard place. She could not risk openly criticizing the performance of Obama by proposing innovative solutions that might capture the public imagination. She desperately needed the president's support on the campaign trail to help her mobilize African-Americans and millennials, two groups that had been crucial for his electoral success in 2008 and 2012. Moreover, Clinton's difficulties with separating herself from Obama on foreign policy issues were greatly magnified because she had been secretary of state when many of them were developed. She had no choice but to allow herself to be portrayed as an agent of continuity, not change.

The trouble for Clinton was that large numbers of people concentrated in states that were critical for her victory judged that performance very negatively. Many white working-class voters in Rust Belt states such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin saw themselves as "forgotten Americans" who had been decidedly ill-served by Obama's policy performance. Historically, these people had been a vital core support group for the Democratic Party. The Michigan researchers argued in their book The American Voter long ago that alienating these voters would be a recipe for electoral disaster.

3. Both candidates had very negative images. The Michigan researchers argued that candidate images are vital cues voters use to help them decide how candidates would perform in office. Trump was portrayed as a crass vulgarian whose volatile temperament and lack of experience disqualified him for major office. He countered by labeling Clinton "crooked Hillary," arguing that her use of a private email system while secretary of state was criminal conduct that put America's national security at grave risk. Unlike Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton also had difficulty connecting with ordinary people, and polls indicate that many voters neither trusted nor liked her.

It is ironic that Clinton's campaign ended with Obama stumping for her the day before the election in Ann Arbor, Mich., where The American Voter had been written six decades ago. Clinton was judged harshly by voters, especially a core constituency in her party, and she generated precious little enthusiasm across much of the electorate; the authors of The American Voter surely would have predicted there was a real risk she could lose.

Harold Clarke is an Ashbel Smith professor of economics, political and policy sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and the editor of the Journal of Electoral Studies. Email: hclarke@utdallas.edu
Bamberg County row crop farmer Richard Rentz has been farming for more than 35 years, but he says he's never seen a year quite like 2016.
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Trumps victory underlines the success of the populist right in shaping the rebellion against the effects of neoliberalism and crisis.







Stand Up To Racism has called a protest outside the US embassy in London tonight at 6pm. www.facebook.com/events/194274427694312/

First Brexit and now Trump. Theres a pattern here that we must try to understand.Of course its disgusting that a racist, sexist property developer has won the presidency of the United States . But something bigger is happening.Britain and the US were the two advanced capitalist societies that pioneered neoliberalism. This followed the election victories of Margaret Thatcher is British prime minister in 1979 and Ronald Reagan as US president in 1980.Now we are seeing in both of these countries the cumulative effects of more than 35 years of globalised free market capitalism.These effects have been greatly reinforced by what the Marxist blogger Michael Roberts calls the Long Depression that started in 2007-8.So weve seen a kind of involution of the political system. On the one hand politicswhatever party is in officehas come to be dominated by a corporate elite deeply wedded to neoliberalism.Perhaps the clearest example of this was Barack Obamas election victory eight years ago. This ushered the hope of real change but left the existing order untouched On the other hand, and as a consequence, growing numbers of poorer people, in some way or other the victims of neoliberal policies and economic slump, have become more and more distant from mainstream politics Butbecause they still have votestheir bitterness and anger can have explosive political effects.It was Trump himself who highlighted the parallels between his presidential campaign and Brexit.In the referendum on 23 June all the forces of the establishment were mobilised to keep Britain in the European Union (EU).The EU has become an engine driving neoliberalism deep into European society, allowing the City of London remodelled under Thatcher to flourish.But the big-business Remainers failed, and deservedly so. And all the analyses of the result show that the poorer you are, the more likely you were to vote Leave Again, in the US presidential election, the establishment, including big business, rallied behind Hillary Clinton.They werent necessarily very enthusiastic about Clinton, but they preferred her to Trump.Trump was deserted by the Republican leadership. The only previous Republican presidential candidate to vote for Trump was the hapless Bob Dole, who was obliterated by Bill Clinton in 1996.As in the case of Brexit, the stance taken by big business was rational.Trump campaigned against the liberal capitalist international order that US imperialism has constructed and maintained since the Second World War.That is to say, against free trade and free movement of capital underpinned by American military power. He denounced the various rounds of trade liberalisation that he held responsible for the decline of US basic industries.So effective was he that he forced Clinton to disown the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement she had previously supported. But this didnt prevent Trump carrying the states of the old industrial MidwestPennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsinon Tuesday.So what we have seen is two great revolts by voters against the effects of the existing neoliberal capitalist order.Notice that I say effects. These werent revolts explicitly against neoliberalism.In the US Bernie Sanders campaign showed how an avowed socialist could speak to precisely the kind of voters whom Trump has ended up dominating Sadly Sanders fell in line behind Clinton after his own candidacy had been overwhelmed by the official Democratic machine.After this electoral disaster, will the left in the US finally break free from the dead hand of the Democratic Party?Three questions in conclusion. First, can this go further? Yes, definitely. The French fascist leader Marine le Pen is celebrating Trumps victory as presaging her own in the presidential election next spring.Secondly, what difference will Trump actually make? This is hard to say. The neoliberal era of financial speculation made him. Hes not going to break with it.But his voters will expect him to deliver on his largely unfulfillable campaign promises. This will be a big source of strain under his administration.But, at the very minimum, after Brexit Trumps election is the second great breach in the liberal capitalist international order this year.The US has been the linchpin of this order, managing crises and coordinating the other leading capitalist states. Now it has become a wild card.Can the arrogant, dysfunctional, increasingly unpopular EU fill the vacuum? To pose the question is to answer it.More broadly, in the US and Britain the political system is breaking loose from its traditional subordination to capital. Big business wanted neither Brexit nor Trump and is looking on in dismay.This will probably be only a temporary situation before a new equilibrium between the state and capital is established. But it is a source of enormously instability.Thirdly, what do we do? Above all, resist. An open racist succeeding the first black president will reinforce the wave of racism sweeping through Western society.Here in Britain we need to redouble building Stand Up To Racism as a broad and united antiracist movement In Trumps America, black, migrant, and Muslim communities will feel besieged . Black Lives Matter and kindred movements will become even more important.But resistance isnt enough. We need strategy as well.Trumps victory underlines the success of the populist right in shaping the rebellion against the effects of neoliberalism and crisis.How can the radical left begin to offer a better alternative? Theres a lot of hard work and imaginative thinking ahead for us.
By Trend





Within the framework of the 62nd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul committee of defense and security of organization adopted a resolution supporting the territorial integrity of sovereign states, Siyavush Novruzov, deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, told Trend.

Siyavush Novruzov participated in this session.

He said the issue of the occupied territories was discussed during a committee meeting.

A member of the US delegation put forward a proposal that the territorial integrity of all sovereign states must be recognized, he added.

The corresponding resolution was adopted after the discussions, he noted.

Novruzov said despite the fact that the Armenian delegation opposed the adoption of the resolution, but to no avail.
By Azernews





By Gunay Hasanova

Turkey once again raised its against the occupation of part of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan by Armenia.

Turkish Presidents Chief Advisor Yalcin Topcu, who is on a visit to Baku, stressed that the UN and other International organizations confirm the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.

Despite Khojaly massacre, more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced people, the international community is silent, he told Trend, underlining the unsettlement of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. In a bloody war more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Topcu further added that if the occupied lands are liberated, no one will be able to resist the countrys development, therefore, they keep Azerbaijan busy with Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The Turkish Presidents Chief Advisor said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are twin brothers, noting that the entire Turkic world is a family and brothers but Turkey and Azerbaijan are twin brothers.

The official stressed that his country will always be close to Azerbaijan.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not only a problem of Azerbaijan, but the entire Turkic and Islamic world," Anadolu agency reported quoting Topcu.

Within his trip the adviser visited the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. During a visit to Agjabadi region Topcu met with refugees and was informed about the latest developments in the region.

"Yerevan ignores appeals of the international community, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council turn a blind eye to this injustice. We hope that the UN and the OSCE will take steps to eliminate the Armenian occupation," he said.

As part of the visit Topcu will hold several meetings with Azerbaijani officials, as well as representatives of NGOs.

He will also take part in an opening of "Turkish Film Week" event, organized by the Institute of Yunus Emre in Baku.

The capital city will host the Turkish Film Week on November 22-27 with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey.








By Azernews





By Gunay Hasanova

Austria, as a future co-chair of the OSCE, stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan in their search for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz made the remark in an interview with Armenpress published on November 21.

It is probably too early to speak about concrete initiatives [for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]  a lot will depend on the developments in the region, Kurz said. Vienna was the venue for the Presidential summit [the meeting of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev] in May this year, and we are always happy to host negotiations again if there is a wish. We are not members of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, but we will do our best to support the Minsk Process.

Austria will take over the OSCE chairmanship in January 2017. Germany is the current chair at the organization, under which the Minsk Group operates.

The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, works to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over two decades, but in vain.

Answering the question what prospects he sees for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as acting chairman of the OSCE, Kurz said that there exists no military solution to this conflict, and all parties involved should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action.

Another outbreak of violence would be fatal and the international community is not in favor of that, everyone  from Moscow to Washington  is clear on this issue, he added. A number of proposals to help establish peace have been on the table for some time already, and a few ideas for confidence-building measures have been established more recently that are awaiting their implementation.

Earlier Kurz assured that resolution of conflicts in the East of Ukraine, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria will be among the priorities of Viennas chairmanship at the OSCE.

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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
By Trend





Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about a possible meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump in December during a visit to the US, the Turkish Milliyet newspaper reported Nov. 20.

Earlier, during a telephone conversation, President Erdogan congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential election.

According to the message, the politicians discussed the strengthening of relations between the two countries and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The presidential election was held in the US November 8. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump won the election. The newly elected president will take office on January 20.
By Trend





Russian President Vladimit Putin spoke with his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday, Sputnik International reported.

Peru has been hosting APEC's all-year-round meetings that culminated with the economic leaders' summit in its capital city of Lima, which started on Saturday.

During the summit, the leaders of the 21 APEC states are expected to work out a strategic vision and guidelines for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region for 2017.

"At the beginning of the working session [Putin and Obama] greeted each other and spoke briefly," Peskov said.

The White House later commented on the talks between the two leaders. Obama and Putin discussed Syria during their brief meeting and agreed that US and Russian top diplomats will continue discussing the ways to resolve the Syrian crisis.
Everton U23s beaten by Hertha Berlin

Wednesday, 23 November, 2016



The Blues Under-23s hosted Hertha Berlin at Goodison Park in the second group game of the Premier League International Cup tonight.

Everton led Group F of the competition after their narrow 2-1 win over Reading back in August but they lost their place at the top of the group after losing 3-1 to the German side.

David Unsworth's men fell three goals behind before the half time interval and only managed to claw back what proved to be a consolation goal in the second half through Gethin Jones.

First half, we were awful, Unsworth told evertontv afterwards. We made 10 changes to give the lads who haven't been playing an opportunity to shine and make our decisions tough. I was really disappointed in the first-half performance where we have given away three goals and its game over.

At half time, we made some changes and did a lot better. We scored our goal but you can't give any team a three-goal start, particularly a decent side and Hertha were a good team.

The final game in the group is against Athletic Bilbao, set for Wednesday 21 December 2016.

Everton: Hewelt, Jones, Foulds, Yarney, Feeney, Baningime, Broadhead, Henen (Kiersey 46'), Evans (Duffus 46'), Holland (Bainbridge 46'), Dyson.

Subs not used: Renshaw, Donohue, Brewster, Bramall.

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Big 5, the largest construction and building industry showcase in the Middle East region, has opened today (November 21) in Dubai, UAE, with more than 3,100 exhibitors from 142 countries across the globe taking part.

Over the next three days, The Big 5 is expected to attract 75,000 participants across the entire Dubai World Trade Centre venue along with national pavilions from all major exporting countries in East and West.

The expo was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai & Minister of Finance&Industry, UAE in the presence of senior government officials and other leading industry players.

This year, teams from Germany, Italy, France, China, Austria, India (with its 'Made in India' initiative) and Brazil (through the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce) will be out in force with their innovative products showcasing them before visitors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt and Pakistan, said the organiser dmg events.



The region's high-profile event will also highlight the latest trends in the building and construction industry, while focusing on smooth delivery of $2 trillion worth of construction projects in Gulf countries, it stated.



The construction sector is among the key pillars of Dubais economy beside trade, tourism and banking.



According to a recent international report, the value of Dubais construction projects in the execution and planning stages is expected to reach a record of $390.7 billion this year. A total of 13.7 per cent of these projects, which are valued $53.5 billion, are currently under progress despite the oil slump.



Commercial and residential units, education, health care and hospitality buildings, leisure and recreation facilities, religious buildings, retail facilities and mixed-use urban developments make up approximately 77 per cent of all projects in Dubai, said the organiser.



A growing population, the tourism sector, strategic government investments like the Dubai Plan 2021 and the Dubai Expo 2020 are fuelling the local construction industry, remarked Josine Heijmans, event director of The Big 5.



The report estimated that the total spend on infrastructure projects related to Dubai Expo 2020 might reach up to $18 billion, with estimated development costs of the Dubai South area between $8.1 billion and $8.7 billion.



This year's Big 5 has several specatcular features including dedicated product sectors, live product demonstration, a one-day Excellence in Construction Summit, a tools demonstration besides a brand new floorplan layout clustered in five product sectors.



The five product sectors in which exhibitors will be grouped this year are: Building Interiors & Finishes, MEP Services, Building Envelop & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Smart Building & Design technologies.



Heijmans is confident the new layout will facilitate business opportunities, while effectively responding to the current needs of all construction industry professionals.



One of the key reasons for our visitors to attend The Big 5 is to look for specific products, innovations and new technologies as well to network with new or existing business partners and industry peers, she stated.



"Although the events old layout already accommodated dedicated product sectors, the majority of the international exhibitors were located in country pavilions. This, coupled with the expansion of The Big 5 over the years, made it more challenging for attendees to find the specific products or the companies they were looking for," she explained.



The new floor plan is the result of a meticulous analysis of the industrys current needs, she added.



Beyond offering both visitors and exhibitors a better experience, the new floor plan is studied to align with the construction industrys current trends, as the introduction of the Smart Building & Design Technologies sector shows.



Heijmans also promises a stronger focus on the theme of sustainability at The Big 5 this year.



"Visitors will be able to cast their vote for the shows GAIA Awards, which since 2008 honour companies in the construction sector whose products and services demonstrate a reduction of construction's impact on the environment. For the first time ever, the GAIA Awards judging panel will include these votes in their decision while selecting the final winner of 2016," she added.



Another key highlight is the dmg events' strategic partnership with Dubai Economic Council (DEC) for the debut Excellence in Construction Summit on the sidelines of the expo.



Taking place tomorrow (November 22), the summit will gather 500 industry leaders to discuss current and future trends of the construction sector in Dubai, the GCC region and beyond.



Besides this, the giant construction expo will also feature key events such as the FM Expo, PMV Live and Middle East Concrete thus providing complete building solutions to those attending the event.

PMV Live is the regions most important event for heavy construction machinery, plant equipment, and commercial and construction vehicles, while Middle East Concrete, the regions only event dedicated to the concrete industry, presents a prime opportunity to meet with the top global suppliers of everything from construction chemicals to form work to precast machinery.-TradeArabia News Service
Ericsson has expanded its ICT Professional Foundation Program to cover 15 universities in 15 countries in the Middle East.

The program aims to help the maximum number of students to benefit from an opportunity to seamlessly transition from academia to the ICT industry.

The program, which first started in 2015, is a gateway for students in the region to explore opportunities in the ICT industry, said the company.

The two-month course aims to bridge the gap between academia and the ICT industry for students looking to join companies like Ericsson. The online nature of the course enables Ericsson to target a large group of students at once, and is efficient in terms of cost and logistics. The course supports building a great pipeline of candidates for internship and graduate programs.

In UAE, Ericsson has co-operated with the Zayed University, the American University of Sharjah and the Khalifa University of Science Technology & Research for the initiative.

In the UAE, we are all about nurturing talent from an education level so that the youth can soar high above their competition when they enter the job market. We are excited to continue with Ericsson's ICT Professional Foundation Program so that our students gain a fresh perspective on industry best practice standards in order to achieve the UAE Smart City Vision." said Dr Andrew Marrington, acting dean of the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University.

"It is our responsibility to motivate our students to become innovative thinkers to thrive in the competitive world of ICT. The ICT Professional Foundation Program will teach our students to think and to implement the latest technologies to lead the UAE into a vibrant smart future." said Dr Bjorn Kjerve, Chancellor, American University of Sharjah.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Ericssons head of region Middle East and East Africa, said: Ericsson is honoured to cooperate with top universities across the region to launch the ICT Professional Foundation Program. We aim to prepare the ambitious young students by inspiring them and cultivating their capabilities helping them grow into outstanding professionals and lead in the Networked Society of the future."

Girish Johar, head of human resources, Ericsson Middle East, added: We completed the first successful year of the ICT professional program with about 450 students. We are excited to commence the second phase, confident in the value that the program will bring for youth interested in the ICT industry. Like last year, diversity will remain a focus, so we broaden the talent pool for the ICT industry in the region.  TradeArabia News Service
Egypt-based DP World Sokhna, a local marine terminal of global shipping terminal operator DP World, has opened kidney dialysis and incubator units at Al Sabah Hospital today after completing its renovation and upgrading the neonatal intensive care unit.



The official inauguration took place in the presence of senior DP World and Egyptian Government officials as part of the companys sustainability efforts, said a statement from the company.



The ceremony was held in the presence of Major General Ahmed Mohamed Hamid, Suez Governor; Suhail Al Banna, senior vice-president and managing director of DP World Middle East and Africa Region; John Fewer, CEO, DP World Sokhna; and senior officials, including Major General Dr Mostafa Shehata, head of the Suez Security Directorate; General Ahmed Walei El Deen, chief of staff of the Third Field Army; and Health Minister's advisor for Hospitals Development, Dr Nanees Adel.



DP World Sokhna funded the establishment of the kidney dialysis and incubator units at the hospital and also provided the latest equipment. The project is part of a series of sustainability initiatives under the companys campaign Together for Egypts Future, it said.



The renovations included the upgrade of the kidney dialysis unit, in addition to upgrading the neonatal intensive care unit by equipping it with 10 incubators. The initiative was part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that DP World Sokhna signed with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population last November, it added.



Under the agreement, DP World Sokhna was to buy medical equipment and develop a plan for evaluating equipment performance in collaboration with the Suez Health Directorate. The Ministry of Health supervised work on the project, providing technical support, said a statement.



Al Banna said: The sustainable development of the communities in which we operate is a key part of our business alongside the efficiency of our operational performance.



As global trade enablers we aim to contribute to economies and to societies, enriching lives for the benefit of all, he said.



Fewer said: We are delighted to mark the completion of the Al Sabah Hospital renovation in only one year since we signed the agreement with the Ministry of Health.



The project is part of our sustainability efforts and our drive to improve the health system in the Suez Governorate. The health and wellbeing of local people is a key part of our community development, he added.



Major General Hamid said: DP World Sokhna is a part of the Suez community and we work together to achieve the desired development of our Governorate and to provide more services across all sectors for the people here.



Cooperation between the government and the public sector is a key pillar to achieve economic reform and we look forward to collaborating on more programmes in the future, he added.



DP World Sokhna is a commercial gateway for Egypt and plays a key role in its economy, enabling trade. The port is a world class maritime asset that implements the latest technology and processes in handling containers. DP World Sokhna enjoys a strategic location which enables it to deal with seaborne transport movements across the region for the benefit of the country, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Iraq will offer three new proposals at the Opec meeting in Vienna, Austria on November 30 to discuss implementing an Opec accord to cut output, a senior government official said.



The options will be consistent with Opec policy and are designed to bolster the unity of the group, Iraqs Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi was quoted as saying in a Wall Street Journal report.



Our alternatives are based on other variables and will make it easier for Opec members to make a decision, he told the paper, without giving any details of the proposals.



All of the options will be logical and in line with Opec policy, he added.
Five companies will submit offers to set up a coal-fuelled power plant in Hamrawein in Egypt by March next year, said a top official.



The companies signed memorandums of understanding with the ministry, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker was quoted as saying by Daily News Egypt. The plant will have a production capacity of 6,000 MW per hour.



The ministry will receive offers from Shanghai Electric, Dongfang Electric Corporation, General Electric, Mitsubishi-Hitachi, and Doosan, he added.



He explained that all environmental standards for the coal plant emissions will be adopted, adding that the plant will be established near ports where coal is shipped.


German Linde Group is set to become the biggest contractor in Iran's LNG projects after receiving the green light from Euler Hermes, a credit insurance company, a report said.



Iranian officials and Germany's Linde Group will discuss the LNG projects in a new round of talks, Iran Daily reported, citing Mehr News Agency.



In the earlier talks, German side signed a deal to provide technical support to Kian Petrochemical Complex and signalled its readiness to participate in the country's biggest petrochemical projects in fresh round of talks with Imam Khomeini Petrochemical Complex.



The discussions centered on new investments, technology transfer, training, and research and development projects.



The German company's willingness is attributed to assurances by Euler Hermes Credit Insurance Co., which would provide insurance coverage to enterprises operating in Iran.
To mark its seventh year of operations, Ramada Downtown Dubai presents the 7 Reasons to Celebrate anniversary promotions.



For the month-long celebration, the property will give away discounts, freebies and prizes through seven special promotions:



1) Guests can win free gifts, brunch or night stays by taking a photo with the hashtag #RDDTurns7 at the lobby;



2) Customers who book for a 7:00 pm dinner will get a free main course with every order of a main course from Kenzas a la carte menu;



3) Free activity kit for all seven year-olds who check-in or dine at the hotel;



4) A group of seven or more will get seven free drinks, or have the seventh member of the group dine for free at Kenza;



5) Free healthy dessert or drinks for all seven-year-olds at Kenza;



6) In-house guests booked for four nights or more, whose birthdays fall in November will get Dh700 ($190) worth of credit to be used throughout their stay;



7) A chance to win free Friday brunch and night stay through participation in anniversary competitions on the hotels social media accounts.



The promotions will run until December 21. Terms and conditions apply.



For full details of the 7 Reasons to Celebrate promotions, follow Ramada Downtown Dubais social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. - TradeArabia News Service
Dubai International (DXB) has been voted for the second consecutive year as the worlds 'Best Airport for Layovers' at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards Middle East at a ceremony in Dubai on Monday.



Dubai was the top choice among the three final nominees chosen in the category by readers of the luxury travel publication, the other two being Dohas Hamad International Airport, and Singapores Changi International Airport.



Welcoming the honour as a validation of the renewed focus and efforts of Dubai Airports to enhance customer experience across Dubai International, Anita Mehra, senior vice president, Communication & Reputation said: This recognition means a lot to everyone at Dubai Airports and all our stakeholders at DXB who work very hard together to ensure the comfort and happiness of our customers.



DXB had a great start to the year with the opening of the $1.2 billion Concourse D which not only elevated airport experience but also provided timely capacity for our growing traffic. We delighted our customers with live performances of international artists through the #musicDXB campaign, and ensured travellers had a smooth and fun start to their holidays during our busiest summer in history through the [email protected] campaign, she added.



DXB was voted as the favourite among the international hubs based on the round the clock availability of a wide range of contemporary food and beverage options, a variety of top-class retail brands, the comfort of luxurious airside hotels, and unique relaxation concepts such as spa treatments and sleeping pods.



The Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards Middle East are the region's most popular annual awards that honour the best of the best in luxury travel and hospitality. Readers of magazine filled out an online survey that opened in July earlier this year, nominating and voting for their favourite travel experiences, properties and operators. The votes were collected and audited, and the winners announced at the black tie Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards ceremony in Dubai. - TradeArabia News Service
Inspired by a wealth of data, traveller endorsements, reviews, preferences and insights as well as industry leading understanding and innovation in e-commerce travel technology, the experts at Booking.com shed light on eight major travel predictions for 2017.



1. Instant Gratification 2.0



Technology is fuelling a more demanding and impatient traveller. 44% of travellers already expect to be able to plan their holiday in a few simple taps of their smart phone and over half (52 per cent) expect their use of travel apps to increase in 2017.



2. Getting to Business



2017 will see a further upswing in the blurring lines between leisure and business travel. Forty nine per cent of business travellers already extend their business trips to further enjoy the destination, while three quarters (75 per cent) intend to do so the same or more in the coming year.



3. Appetite to Discover



The discovered world has many undiscovered places and 2017 promises to see travellers unleashing their inner explorer. Forty five per cent plan to be more adventurous in their choice of destination in the coming year, while 47 per cent would like to explore corners of the globe that none of their friends have been to.



4. Mind, Body and Soul



In a hectic world, people are increasingly seeing travel as a way to bring balance back into their lives. Almost half (48 per cent) see going on holiday as a moment to reflect and make better lifestyle choices. The coming year will see many travellers prioritising health conscious trips that promise harmony for the mind, body and soul - particularly those from India, China and Thailand. Forty four per cent are interested to experience spa/relaxation travel and 38 per cent in a health/wellbeing travel experience in 2017.



The days of leaving paid holidays on the table at the end of the year are fading even in the most demanding work cultures, with over half (51 per cent) intending to take more of their annual leave in the coming year than this year. Accommodations across the world are upgrading their offerings to match this growing demand. In 2017, it wont be uncommon to find a diverse range of SanctuStays, accommodations ranging from villas to apartments, resorts and more, offering complementary meditation facilities, health spas, wellness workshops and outdoor facilities to promote a holistic lifestyle and clearer path to self-discovery.



5. Go Green or Stay Home



Sustainable travel means many things to many people, but theres no denying the trend for both travellers and accommodations becoming more environmentally and sustainably aware as well as responsible. The coming year will see over a third (36 per cent) of travellers planning to choose more eco-friendly travel options than they did in 2016 and nearly two in five (39 per cent) interested in an eco-tour travel experience. This mirrors the way in which people are increasingly finding ways to fulfil their aesthetic travel needs while maintaining cultural and environmental integrity by taking longer, more scenic routes and modes of transport. Eco-friendly stays are no longer the preserve of the few, but an expectation of the many.



As the year progresses we will likely see increased discussion around economic incentives such as tax breaks for eco travellers (41 per cent of travellers would be in favour), introduction of an international standard for sustainable accommodation (41 per cent in favour) and transport providers giving travellers more information about carbon offsetting (26 per cent in favour).



6. Simple Pleasures



Travellers in 2017 will be inspired by their own aspirations rather than material possessions. If fact, 58 per cent of travellers plan to prioritise spending on experiences rather than material possessions while they are on holiday in 2017. Travellers are also becoming less interested in fancy embellishments and more interested in the small moments and simple pleasures of a journey. Only 10 per cent of travellers said that a butler/concierge service was essential to enjoy their travel experiences in 2017. Fancy, high-end toiletries also appear to be a thing of the past as only 13 per cent of travellers said that these would be essential to enjoying their travel experiences in 2017.



7. The Human Touch



As the ying to technologys yang, interacting with amazing staff and forging genuine relationships on holiday will be an increasingly important hallmark of travel in 2017. 42% of travellers assert that they wouldnt stay in an accommodation without friendly/helpful staff, while accommodations such as B&Bs and Ryokans look set to continue as the most highly rated by visiting travellers. Our reliance on those whove gone before remains undiminished with 40 per cent of travellers confirming that they would not stay in an accommodation with more than three negative reviews. 2017 travellers are starting to understand that human touch is irreplaceable and crave this human interaction to make their holiday memorable. As a result, we can expect to see meaningful human interactions becoming the currency of travel in the months ahead, prompting huge advances in chat bot technology to match the warmth, personality and spontaneity of real human communication and connections.



8. Fly Me to the Moon



Travel has become a lifestyle, not a luxury for increasing numbers, and its unsurprising that we are starting to see peoples desires to explore go beyond this world. In fact, 44 per cent of people see a future where well be holidaying in far flung corners of the galaxy or deep under the ocean, which may not be as far off as one might think.



High-speed rail continues to advance and is scheduled to connect travellers to the remote corners of northern Africa. Nasa is investing in a supersonic passenger aircraft that will allow for faster, greener, safer and quieter air travel. Not to mention, a Tesla autopilot-enabled vehicle is scheduled to drive from Los Angeles to New York in the summer of 2017. These advances are steadily stoking our imaginations, as well as our collective desire to explore beyond the horizon - who knows what new additional frontiers will open up for us over the coming year



Experiencing the unknown, encountering different people and cultures, and testing new limits has always been at the core of what drives us to travel and 2017 is certainly shaping up to be an exciting year, said Pepijn Rijvers, chief marketing officer at Booking.com. 2017 travellers will have an insatiable appetite for adventure, but are also mindful of the impact those experiences can have on the local culture and issues surrounding sustainability. While we crave highly personalised human interaction and familiar comforts, were also expecting emerging technologies to enhance our experiences and get us closer to the things we care about faster and more intelligently. Whether its the other side of the planet or just down the street, we want to dig deeper, seeking authenticity and a real sense of connection at every step along the way. For us at Booking.com, its not just about the destination in 2017, its about the entire journey, and finding new ways to empower travellers through technology to express and savour their own unique travel lifestyle at every possible moment. - TradeArabia News Service


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Energy producers are mulling uncertainty and hope after Donald Trumps election win.

The coal sector, hurting from a competitive market with natural gas, welcomed the reduced regulations promised by the president-elect. Some in the oil industry think the same approach will hold true for their industry, spurring development and growth to rival the Middle East. Others doubt the world market has room for more production given the current overstock of crude.

Yet there is one other energy source that may be affected by a new administration: renewables.

In Wyoming that means wind power, and though it holds but a small margin of the electricity market, wind proponents will be watching closely as Trump moves into in the Oval Office on Jan. 20.

***

Many who support renewables are also champions of environmental issues. They have cautioned against the president-elects early decisions, like the appointing of a climate change skeptic to lead the Environmental Protection Agencys transition to a new administration. Others are looking at regulations on federal lands that may be pulled back and incentives for wind that may disappear.

But while the Obama administration is often said to have waged a war on fossil fuels, some in renewables fail to see the boon of the current administration. Regulations that have challenged the oil, gas and coal sectors have also affected renewables, said Bill Miller, senior vice president of energy and land resources for the Anschutz Corporation.

A recent rule change to wind development on public land was published by the Bureau of Land Management just last week, and those in the industry are still reviewing its implications. On first glance, the regulations may mean additional costs.

I think it will, in some respects, probably provide greater clarity and hopefully greater certainty for the renewable business going forward, Miller said. I also think that it will materially increase our costs as it relates to the renewable projects that are sited on federal lands.

The American Wind Energy Association has since come out against the new rules, saying the regulations will discourage production on public lands. Almost 99 percent of wind generation is currently on private land because of the difficulties of developing on federal land, said Kara Choquette, spokeswoman for the Power Company of Wyoming, a subsidiary of Anschutz.

As a result, Miller said he was cautiously optimistic that the new administration would benefit businesses that operate in commodities, as Anschutz has dealings in ranching, oil and gas and renewables.

***

Still, like most sectors of energy, wind producers are uncertain what the elections impact will be.

It depends a lot on what an administration proposes in terms of its executive authority, what kind of legislation can make it through Congress, said David Eskelsen, spokesman for Rocky Mountain Power. Until we see some proposals, we dont really know.

Aside from potential regulatory relief, utilities that build and buy wind power are looking at markets, demand and cost. In short, despite the change in federal leadership, business is proceeding as usual in Wyoming wind.

Technological advances continue to draw down the price of wind production, according to an annual report on the economics of renewables.

But though it is cheap to produce, wind is incredibly difficult and costly to permit and develop.

The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind project, led by the Anschutz Company, will eventually bring 1,000 turbines to a site south of Rawlins. The wind farm will be able to produce up to 3,000 megawatts of power from the gusts that blow over Carbon County.

But the project is the most difficult the developers have ever seen in term of permitting. Anschutz has a long history in oil and gas. Its leaders are familiar with the task of development but expected the project to take five to six years, not 10.

Some of the regulatory hurdles for Chokecherry are voluntary, like developing a plan to mitigate the wind farms impact on bald eagles. Others are run-of-the-mill for industry development projects that cross public land, such as avoiding impacts to sage grouse. With the checkerboard pattern of federal and private land in the area, the permitting can be complex. It takes a company with income and longevity, like Anschutz, to live out the start of a large project.

***

Rocky Mountain Power has also faced the challenge of wind development. It currently has a number of wind farms across Wyoming and the transmission lines to transport the power, most of which serves its customers. The company uses wind energy in conjunction with other fuels like natural gas to provide customers with service. It also purchases some energy from other utility companies.

The Chokecherry project differs from Rocky Mountain, as it will likely find buyers for its wind energy on the wholesale market. Thanks to a multi-state grid that manages the demand ebbs and flows for electricity, there is a large market for buying and selling energy once its produced.

Wind, because of its intermittent production capacity, is buoyed up by other resources. Currently Rocky Mountain Power, the wind leader in Wyoming, sends only about 10 percent of its energy to customers from wind.

Transmission lines are by far one of the greatest hurdles for enhanced wind generation, said Eskelsen, of Rocky Mountain Power. But it has little to do with politics and is not likely to change because of high cost and low growth.

Currently our long-range planning doesnt show a need for new power generation of any type for about the next 10 years, Eskelsen said.

Companies, particularly utilities, look at power generation and pricing over long periods of time, he said.

So as Trump prepares his cabinet and considers what industries to support, utilities are going about the business of building and providing electricity on their long term plans.

We tend to be a lagging industry, Eskelsen said. When the economy changes, it takes a little while for the economy to really ramp up our processes.
Have an event, trend or general energy happening youd like to see in the Energy Journal newsletter? Send it to Star-Tribune energy reporter Heather Richards at heather.richards@trib.com. Sign up for the newsletter at www.trib.com/energyjournal.

This week in numbers

Friday's oil prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) $45.69, Brent (ICE) $46.89

Natural gas weekly price averages: Henry Hub $2.32, Wyoming Pool $2.10, Opal $2.13

Two Elk

The long history of Two Elk has been poured over by journalists seeking answers in the complicated web of permitting and funding for the power plant development near Wright. But the lessons learned in the fiasco are less certain. It's not clear that Two Elk led to any substantive changes to prevent a like occurrence in the state.

Coal's tough year

The coal industry was pummeled in 2015, according to the Energy Information Administration's annual report that came out earlier this month. Though anyone in Wyoming knows that the low prices and low production caused havoc on coal communities, the numbers nationwide are stark.

Obama's last stand

The president has been moving on a number of issues in what appears to be a last days push on issues. On Friday, Barack Obama blocked oil development in the Arctic Ocean. The president's tenure has irked many in the oil and gas sector for inhibiting business development, particularly on public lands.

However, the administration's influence appears to be waning. The Dakota Access Pipeline has been in the news for months, as Native American's from across the country converged near the construction sites in South Dakota to protest the pipelines placement north of the Standing Rock Reservation.

After months of silence, Obama said in an interview Nov. 1 that there was considerations being made that could make a reroute possible. The company disagreed in an announcement Friday.

Oil and gas update

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission released its monthly update Tuesday showing a slight decrease in applications for permits to drill.

That figure was 535 in October, down from 540 the month before.

The rig count in Wyoming has yet to surge, but has held steady in double digits. The count was 17 in October. Last year the October count was 22.

Additionally, 82 orphan wells were plugged by the commission last month, bringing the year's tally up to 654.
Tuesdays support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 7 p.m., 520 CY; 8 p.m,. 328-1/2 E. A; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 15th and Melrose, at the church. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Twelve Days of Christmas open

The 12 Days of Christmas store will open for its 43rd year at 5 p.m. at 544 E. Park St., in the old Oil City Printers building.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., until Dec. 23.

More than 30 Wyoming crafters and artists will be displaying their talents in the store.

This year, new items will include wooden turned bowls and copper ornaments, along with foods, jewelry, pet gifts, fiber arts, tole painted ornaments and stained glass.

The charity this year is Black Dog Rescue.

Free memory screenings

Free, confidential memory screenings and education about dementia will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Casper Senior Center. Memory screening is an initiative of the Alzheimers Foundation of America. Whether or not youre currently experiencing memory loss, memory screening is the first step toward proper diagnosis and treatment. A memory screening is not used to diagnosis any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a qualified health care professional. The screenings will be facilitated by WDCs staff and conducted by Meadow Wind Assisted Livings Tammy Corkill, RN and Natrona County Health Departments Adult Health Manager Mary Ann Lembke, RN.

For information about Wyoming Dementia Care or the National Alzheimers Awareness Month activities and events, contact Dani Guerttman, 265-4678.

Final day to see animal portraits

The Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery is featuring Animal Portraits created by Casper College art instructor Justin Hayward. The exhibit will run through Tuesday.

The Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery, located in the Music Building on the Casper College campus, is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Family Night: Thanksgiving crafts

All ages are invited to make a variety of Thanksgiving crafts at the Natrona County Librarys Family Night at 6:30 p.m. Transform toilet paper rolls into hand turkeys and paper plates into leaf wreaths! All supplies provided. Pizza will be provided by the Friends of the Library. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

Skate on your can

Fun activities when schools out at the Wagon Wheel Roller Skating on Nov. 23 and 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. Skate On Your Can on Nov. 22, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is five or more 12-ounce cans of food plus $2, includes skates and bounce inflates. All canned goods will benefit Mountain View Food Pantry.

Latin Club meets

Wish you had taken Latin in school or had paid better attention when you did? You are welcome to join the Latin Study Club at Mount Hope Lutheran School, 2300 Hickory. This friendly group of language enthusiasts meets on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., to study Latin, free of charge. We will pick up where we left off last year, Chapter 4 of Wheelocks Latin, 7th edition. Noli timere!

Mount Hope Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
Wildlife biologists have at least a rough estimate of most game populations in the West.

Some species  like elk or pronghorn  gather in the winter in prairie and foothills, making them relatively easy to count. Others, like grizzly bears, are estimated using complicated equations developed over decades based on verified sightings of females with young.

Even some nongame species such as nocturnal black-footed ferret can be tracked by biologists determined enough to spend nights looking.

And then there are wolverines. No one really knows how many of the blue-heeler-sized scavengers with disproportionately big feet and sturdy claws dot the Wests high mountains. There arent many, said Montana-based wolverine biologist Bob Inman. Some years he may hear about only two or three verified sightings in the Lower 48. Entire populations may not be documented for as many as five years.

Inman hopes all of that is about to change. He and a team of wildlife biologists from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington started this winter the first attempt to estimate wolverine distribution and minimum population sizes across the region. The project is not a response to potential federal protections, but its information has become even more important as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once again considers wolverines for a place on the endangered species list.

Its one of those basic pieces of population information that is needed to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening, Inman said. It is designed in a way that will help us learn about connectivity of wolverine populations and features of the landscape that either help or hinder that.

Most historical information shows wolverines were essentially gone from the Lower 48 by the turn of the century, Inman said.

There likely werent many to begin with, and a combination of trapping and poisoning was enough to eliminate the populations.

They started trickling back down from Canada into Montana in the 1930s, but painfully slow reproduction rates  a female raises two cubs every two to three years  meant populations stayed small.

Wolverines now traverse windswept mountains and snowfields of all four Northern Rockies states. But sightings are still so rare that many people may not even recognize the animals.

A ranch hand in North Dakota unfamiliar with the animal shot a wolverine  known as M56  that had first traveled from the Tetons to Colorado before meeting its demise in the flatlands.

Theres been an extremely limited amount of information on the population not because theyre not out there, its because theyre not that common, Inman said. Anywhere the species exists is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Their elusive nature makes them hard to catch, so the new survey method will rely not on handling live animals but analyzing hair samples.

Biologists are attaching copper brushes to trees near bait to collect bits of wolverine hair for DNA analysis. Motion sensored cameras will also capture images of the animals.

The goal is to gain a snapshot of where wolverines may be living  particularly on the fringes of known wolverine territory  as well as a minimum number of animals and distribution of males and females. The study can then be repeated over time to look for changes.

Theres a lot of habitat in Wyoming, but were not sure theyve recovered and pushed southward as far as the habitat yet, Inman said. That is one of the interesting parts of the study, how far south have they recovered from a low point a century ago.

Neither Inman nor Bob Lanka, Wyoming Game and Fish Departments statewide wildlife and habitat management supervisor, know what federal protections on the endangered species list could mean for western states.

They havent been trapped or hunted in Wyoming in decades.

Theyre protected in that sense by the state of Wyoming, Lanka said. We hope what the states are doing and other parts of the work looking at connectivity is enough conservation that the service will decide listing is not necessary.
Michael Cavalier has been at the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission for almost two years and is the communications and event coordinator at Caspers only emergency services homeless shelter.

What are the missions plans for Thanksgiving? Twenty-four/seven and 365, were sleeping those who need it, and feeding those who need it, helping the homeless and hungry. That doesnt change. But in addition to that, we have had a two-part effort this Thanksgiving. What we typically dont do is distribute food, were not in the food bank business, but during this Thanksgiving time, we have been distributing food boxes. We planned on 250 turkeys and accompanying food boxes. We are one of the agencies the community turns to, and those that need food typically find us. We are not the only group that has been distributing food boxes, but we are one of the larger distributors at turkey time.

And part two, every holiday and every day, every meal of the day is served in our dining room. We will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at 5 p.m. We of course will have two meals prior to that at 6 a.m., and noon. We try to do that dinner just like we would have it in our own homes.

What are your recent numbers looking like? Lately, we sleep 80 to 100 a night and are serving 40 to 50 for lunch, 50 to 60 for dinner. For our 12-month discipleship program, we have about 18 in that. The average stay in our emergency services program is about 30 days low to 90 days high. We do active case management, hands-on with our guests working at job placement, IDs and other services necessary for work, veterans affairs, Healthcare for the Homeless. Its a choice they make to enter our in-depth, 12-month program. Some people need that, thats recovery and everything that comes with that. At the beginning of that, they dont quite move in to program housing, they attend classes for a few weeks, adjust to see if its the right fit, that helps the general success rate of our graduates in the program.

How can the public help? We will be serving 100 Thanksgiving meals. We are still looking for turkeys, canned or fresh vegetables, we are still looking for donations of cash. What we can buy for $1 might cost the general public $2 to get. Cash is always a great resource for us, but just days out from Thanksgiving, the delivery of turkeys is an immediate lifesaver.

If you have a turkey, you can bring it to 230 N. Park any time. If you have a cash donation, you can bring it to the mission office at Rescued Treasures Thrift Store, 330 N. Durbin, or if that doesnt work, you can take it to 230 N. Park also.

And during the month of November, Denver Mattress is matching all donations received, but in order to get that match, donations have to go through cwrm.org, so just click through that and whatever you give will be matched.

For more information, or to see if there might be any food boxes remaining for those in need, please call 268-4474.
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah is giving Union Pacific Railroad the go-ahead to begin breaking up a 21-mile railroad causeway on the Great Salt Lake next month.

The railroad had planned to breach the causeway in October but postponed because officials worried the already low water levels on the southern half of the lake would be worsened once the breach allows water to flow into the northern half again. They asked for a delay to study the effect on the lakes habitat.

Utahs Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that at this point in the year, the breach wont have much of an effect on brine shrimp and migratory birds in the lake.

But the breach will cause water levels on the southern part of the lake to drop about a foot, which could bring it to a new historic low.
CHEYENNE  Its not easy for kids who are deaf or hard of hearing to find friends or learn to socialize outside their family.

Thats why Jennifer Trujillo, a Laramie County School District 1 teacher for the deaf and hearing-impaired, applied for a grant to provide those kids with more opportunities to socialize.

She and her fellow deaf and hearing-impaired teachers, Angela Joannides and Kris Frey, are using the $1,574 grant to plan those activities and provide transportation for the kids.

Trujillo said LCSD1 has about 60 deaf and hearing-impaired students at 25 different schools.

A lot of our kids are at different schools all around the district, and sometimes theyre the only kids with hearing loss or hearing aids in their school, Trujillo said.

Joannides said that leaves the students with limited opportunities to socialize with each other, and that while they can do some socializing with kids who can hear, its not the same experience.

The hearing impairment impacts language and communication development, so we want to provide them many opportunities to identify with their deaf and hard-of-hearing counterparts in a natural environment, she said.

The first planned event is to take the kids swimming on Nov. 29. The teachers also will take the kids on an annual field trip to Casper, coordinated by the Wyoming Department of Education. They also have planned a picnic to take place in the spring.

Trujillo said the kids are excited about the events. Maybe because they miss school, she joked. No, I think they do want to meet other kids.

She said the trips include parents, who might also have limited contact with other parents raising kids who are hearing-impaired as well as preschool aged kids. Theyre hoping anyone in the hearing-impaired community who is interested in the events will attend.

We do know that parents in general do appreciate whatever we have to offer, Joannides said.

Theyre always excited to meet other families that have gone through the same journey as they have, Trujillo added.

Ninety percent of kids who are deaf are born to hearing parents. So right there, all of a sudden you dont know a lot of people having the same experience as you. And we are a small state. We have a small deaf population, so its good to meet other people who are deaf or hard of hearing, because you dont just run into them in town, she said.

Joannides is deaf, so she understands the problems deaf and hearing-impaired kids can face.

I grew up with deaf and hard-of-hearing kids all around  elementary, junior high and high school. And I was fortunate to have had the experience of doing that, and Im still friends with them to this day. To me, Im very sensitive to the importance  its important that deaf and hard-of-hearing kids have that interaction and friendships, she said.

When deaf and hard-of-hearing kids connect with other deaf and hard-of-hearing kids, it helps them feel that they are understood and they can relate with one another.
U.S. prisons are experimenting with a high-priced monthly injection that could help addicted inmates stay off opioids after they are released, but skeptics question its effectiveness and say the manufacturer has aggressively marketed an unproven drug to corrections officials.

A single shot of Vivitrol, given in the buttocks, lasts for four weeks and eliminates the need for the daily doses common with alternatives such as methadone. But each shot costs as much as $1,000, and because the drug has a limited track record, experts do not agree on how well it works.

Proponents say Vivitrol could save money compared with the cost of locking up a drug offender  about $25,000 a year for each inmate at the Sheridan Correctional Center, 70 miles southwest of Chicago.

Dr. Joshua Lee, of New York Universitys medical school, said more evidence is needed to determine whether the medication can help substantial numbers of people and whether its worth paying for, but the early results are encouraging.

It sounds good, and for some of us, it feels like the right thing to do, said Lee, a leading researcher on the treatment.

Vivitrol is emerging as the nation searches for ways to ease an opioid epidemic that affects more than 2 million Americans and an estimated 15 percent of the U.S. prison population. Many experts view prisons  where addictions human toll can be seen most clearly  as a natural place to discover what works.

Christopher Wolf had already served prison time for nonviolent crimes when he was ordered into treatment for a heroin addiction by a judge who suggested Vivitrol. Three months later, the 36-year-old from Centerville, Ohio, is clean and working full time as a cook.

He now suggests the medication to other addicts.

I dont have cravings, Wolf said. I see how much better life is. It gets better really fast.

Vivitrol targets receptors in the brains reward system, blocking the high and extinguishing urges. In some programs, prisoners get an injection before release, then follow-up shots from any clinic.

For decades, researchers have recognized addiction as a relapsing brain disease with medication an important part of therapy. But most jails and prisons reject methadone and buprenorphine, the other government-approved medications for opioid addiction, because they are habit-forming and can be abused.

Just ask Joshua Meador, 28, an inmate at Sheridan who hopes to get into the Vivitrol program before his release in January. Before incarceration, he abused both older treatment drugs. When given take-home doses of methadone for the weekend, he would sell them for heroin.

When Im on Vivitrol, I cant get high, he said. The drug has no street value or abuse potential.

You couldnt design something better for the criminal justice system, said David Farabee of the University of California at Los Angeles, who leads a Vivitrol study in a New Mexico jail. Theres been pushback with other medications, people saying, Were just changing one drug for another. That argument goes out the window when youre talking about a blocker like Vivitrol.

Prison systems in Illinois, Vermont, Wyoming and Wisconsin are trying the drug on a small scale. Michigan is offering Vivitrol to parolees who commit small crimes, if addiction is the reason for their new offense. The federal Bureau of Prisons ran a field trial in Texas and plans to expand the program to the Northeast next year. The drugs manufacturer hopes prisons will be the gateway to a larger market.

Also known as extended-release naltrexone, the medication won Food and Drug Administration approval for alcohol dependence in 2006 and in 2010 to prevent relapse in post-detox opioid users.

The evidence for giving Vivitrol to inmates is thin but promising.

In the biggest study, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 300 offenders  most of them heroin users on probation or parole  were randomly assigned to receive either Vivitrol or brief counseling and referral to a treatment program.

After six months, the Vivitrol group had a lower rate of relapse, 43 percent compared with 64 percent. A year after treatment stopped, there had been no overdoses in the Vivitrol group and seven overdoses, including three deaths, in the other group. The results, published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine, have been promoted by the drugmaker, Ireland-based Alkermes, as it markets Vivitrol to U.S. correctional systems.

Yet addiction is stubborn. When the injections stopped, many in the study relapsed. A year later, relapse rates looked the same in the two groups.

It does suggest six months wasnt enough, said Lee, the lead author.

T.J. Voller was a Vivitrol success story  until he wasnt. After Vivitrol was approved by the FDA, Voller talked about getting the shot with The Associated Press and Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a CNN segment. The 30-year-old was back at work and seemed proud of his recovery. But after 10 months on Vivitrol, he died of a heroin overdose.

He was alone for the weekend and picked up that needle one last time, said his mother, Kathi Voller of Raynham, Massachusetts.

Advocates argue that inmates have a constitutional right to all FDA-approved addiction medications throughout their incarceration.

Treatment should be offered from the moment they are brought into the system, said Sally Friedman, legal director of the New York-based Legal Action Center, which is looking for a test case to bring to court.

Physicians have learned to be cautious about pharmaceutical company marketing, said Andrew Kolodny, senior scientist at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Not so for criminal justice officials, who may be too trusting, Kolodny said.

When the drug company sends someone in to give them a talk and buy them pizza, they think theyre getting a scientific lecture, he said.

Alkermes spokeswoman Jennifer Snyder said the companys sales team helps educate corrections staff and community care providers only after they have shown interest in Vivitrol.

Theres widespread agreement that counseling, support groups and treatment for underlying problems such as depression are crucial for Vivitrol patients, said Dr. Joseph Garbely of Pennsylvania-based Caron Treatment Centers, which supports medication-assisted treatment and prefers Vivitrol.

The disease of addiction is a cunning, baffling and powerful one, Garbely said. And you need all hands on deck.
Seventeen days before President Donald Trump, his spoken oath of office still lingering in the wintry air, lifts his left hand from Scripture (a leather-bound edition of The Art of the Deal), the Republican-controlled Congress will begin working. Fittingly, on Jan. 3 the First Branch of government will go first, flexing its somewhat atrophied Article I muscles.

When Trump reaches his desk on the morning of Jan. 21, he should find there two congressional measures emblematic of how quickly elections can have consequences. One should be the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS). The other should be legislation mandating construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. As president, Trump will have the authority and intent to proceed with construction, but Congress should make the point that this concerns national policy, which Congress should set.

The REINS Act would begin Congresss retrieval from the executive branch of responsibilities the Founders vested in the legislative branch. The act would sharply slow the growth of regulations that are suffocating economic growth. REINS would require Congress to vote on  to have its fingerprints on  all major regulations, understood as those with an annual economic impact of at least $100 million. Congress would thus take responsibility for, and be held accountable for, the substance that executive agencies rule making pours into the almost-empty vessels that Congress imprecisely calls laws.

After the preamble, the Constitutions first substantive word is all: All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress. But the more than 170,000 pages of the Code of Federal Regulations contain tens of thousands of rules promulgated by largely unaccountable agencies. The agencies fill voids in congressional laws such as the Dodd-Frank financial reform, which mandates, but does not define  that is left to executive rule makers  fair, transparent and competitive financial products and services. As of five years ago  it is substantially worse now  the government itself estimated that regulations cost the economy more than $1.75 trillion, almost twice the sum of income tax receipts then.

Opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline has illustrated environmentalisms, and the Democratic Partys, descent into the theater of pointless gestures. The nation is crisscrossed with more than 2 million miles of natural gas pipelines and 175,000 miles of pipelines carrying hazardous liquids. Yet our theatrically thoughtful current president wasted seven years pretending to ponder the weighty question of whether Keystones 1,179 miles  bringing oil from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska  might somehow menace the nation and planet.

Some of the oil would be from Canadas tar sands. Keystone opponents say such oil is especially dirty, so the pipeline, by enabling the oil to get to market, would injure the climate. But even if the opponents allegations about the tar sands oil can be trusted, the allegations are irrelevant: The opponents evidently believe that if the pipeline is not built, Canada will simply say Oh, dang! and leave the worlds third-largest proven crude oil reserve  larger than Irans  locked up in the tar sands. The opponents evidently think that if they block the pipeline, this vast wealth will not find another way into the international oil market.

Furthermore, without Keystone XL, more oil will be transported by trains, which have notable carbon footprints and sometimes spectacular spills. Hence legislation mandating the pipelines construction will not only create jobs, which once upon a time was a Democratic priority, it should soothe climate anxieties.

So, Congress should call this Keystone XL legislation the Zach, We Feel Your Pain Act. After the election, someone reportedly named Zach, a Democratic National Committee staffer, suffered a hilarious eruption of hysteria. In the process of blaming DNC interim Chair Donna Brazile for the lost election (wrong woman, Zach), he said, according to The Huffington Post:

You and your friends will die of old age and Im going to die from climate change. You and your friends let this happen, which is going to cut 40 years off my life expectancy.

Well. Suppose Zach is 30 and expects that, although he appears to be unhealthily excitable, his life expectancy is 90. If climate change subtracts 40 of Zachs years, it is going to kill him within 20 years. Perhaps Zach can take grim pleasure from the fact that Brazile, a vigorous and cheerful 56, probably will still be spry when the Grim Climate Reaper swings his deadly scythe. Be that as it may, consider that Zachs scary arithmetic probably represents commonplace thinking within the Democratic Party, aka the party of science.
MOSUL, Iraq  Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians.

The biggest hindrance to us is the civilians, whose presence is slowing us down, Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the special forces told The Associated Press. We are soldiers who are not trained to carry out humanitarian tasks.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighborhoods on Sunday. They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than 1 million people.

The government sent half-dozen trucks loaded with food aid into the recently liberated areas. Chaos broke out in one neighborhood, where residents climbed on top of the trucks and began helping themselves. Women extended their hands in desperation, trying to get a share of the aid. Young boys chased the trucks and jostled and pleaded for food packages.

Its hunger that makes people behave like this, said Mohammed Farouq, a 27-year-old resident. Some families took many boxes, while others did not take any. This is unfair.

Fethi Mahmud Abdulla, another resident, pleaded for people to keep the lines. People are tired, so tired. Some of them take aid five or seven times, he said.

Al-Aridi said his men were searching homes in areas retaken from IS, looking for militants and vehicles rigged with explosives. Troops in those areas continue to be hit by mortar rounds, sniper fire and suicide bombers, he said.

In the newly liberated areas, roads are blocked by car wrecks and sandbags, and tanks are deployed on wider streets. Snipers on high buildings watch for suicide bombers or other intruders. Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said four civilians were killed and another four wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded before it could reach the troops it was targeting late Saturday.

The troops laid siege Sunday to the Al-Zohour neighborhood, about eight kilometers (five miles) from the city center. The arrival of the troops at the neighborhoods fringes prompted hundreds of civilians to emerge from their homes waving white flags. The special forces later drove IS from two other neighborhoods.

The Iraqi military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and the extremist groups last major urban bastion in the country. Most gains have been made by the special forces operating in the section of Mosul east of the Tigris river. Other forces are advancing on the city from different directions, and the U.S.-led coalition is providing airstrikes and other support.

IS captured Mosul in the summer of 2014 as part of a blitz that placed nearly a third of Iraq under their control. Iraqi troops, federal police and allied Shiite and Sunni militias have over the past year pushed IS militants from most of the vast Sunni province of Anbar, west of Baghdad, and areas to the north and east of the Iraqi capital.

Army troops arrived on the outskirts of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, to reinforce state-sanctioned Shiite militias, who have captured the towns airport and are preparing to retake the town, according to two senior militia officials.
Its a confounding mystery of World War II: What happened to the 136 missing sailors from the explosion and sinking of the USS Turner?

After all, the ship did not go down in battle or even in the open sea, but while anchored near New York Harbor in 1944, so close to the city that shockwaves from the onboard munitions blasts shattered windows in some buildings.

Now, newly discovered documents show that the remains of four of the missing sailors were indeed found and buried not long after the disaster in separate graves for unknowns in a Long Island veterans cemetery.

And the researcher who found the documents suspects many more remains could have been found and buried along with them in those same simple gravesites, marked only with the words Unknown U.S. Sailor and January 3, 1944, the day the destroyer sank.

Just dont throw them in the ground and forget about them, said military historian Ted Darcy, who is turning over his findings to the Pentagon. These guys have been neglected by our government. Its not fair, especially to their families.

Darcys hope is that the military will exhume the four gravesites, identify the remains and rebury them with a proper memorial.

The Pentagon still officially lists 136 Turner sailors as missing. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the federal office responsible for recovering and identifying the nations missing war dead, didnt respond to repeated requests from The Associated Press about Darcys findings.

The Turner, a 10-month-old destroyer returning from convoy duty in the Atlantic, was anchored a few miles off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, when an explosion erupted below deck, setting much of the ship ablaze. More explosions followed, the last breaking the ship in two.

While no cause of the initial blast was ever determined, a Navy report mentioned anti-submarine munitions were being defused around the time.

More than 150 men were rescued, but 136 others went down with the ship, according to Darcys research. He said the Navys National Archives file on the yearlong salvage operation contains no information, including how many sets of remains were eventually recovered from the 55 feet of water where the ship sank. Darcy contends many of the bodies would have likely been intact on the ship in compartments sealed with watertight doors.

According to 1944 interment records for the Long Island veterans cemetery in Farmingdale, the remains of four Turner sailors were buried in individual graves within a year of the disaster.

But Darcy, a retired Marine from Locust Grove, Virginia, believes all or most of the remains were found and commingled in the four graves. I went to the Navy and they said, Hey, we dont know how many are in there, he said.

Darcy said commingling of unidentified remains was a fairly common practice, particularly when the Navy was overburdened at the height of World War II. The Long Island cemetery has multiple graves containing the remains of more than one WWII serviceman, while the remains of 388 USS Oklahoma crewmembers disinterred in 2015 for identification were buried in 45 mass graves in Hawaii.

Another WWII MIA expert, Mark Noah, founder of Florida-based History Flight, said he wouldnt doubt it at all if the Turner graves contained the remains of multiple sailors. Skeletal remains can pack out a full coffin with more than a dozen people, he said.
Graduates of Arizonas public-university system earn about $10,000 a year more on average than all other Arizona workers, according to a comprehensive new study that examined pay for more than 271,000 state residents.

To no surprise, people who earned degrees in highly sought majors such as engineering and business earned substantially more than the typical Arizonan with only a high school diploma, but even graduates with degrees in less-lucrative fields, such as ethnic/gender studies or the performing arts, also beat the average pay of $27,947 for those with just a high school diploma.

The study prepared for the Board of Regents  the governing body overseeing Arizonas three state universities  examined actual pay records for people who graduated from any of those three universities with degrees between the 1989-1990 academic year and 2014-15. The study didnt track pay of Arizona public-university graduates who left the state, nor of people with degrees from other universities. Also, for data-gathering reasons, federal employees and self-employed individuals were excluded.

At a point in time when so many are questioning the value of college degrees, this study shows the value not just to students but to the state, said Eileen Klein, president of the board. A college degree beats no degree.

How the numbers break down

The nearly 197,000 Arizonans who earned undergraduate degrees over the 25-year period earned $10.5 billion in cumulative wages over the most recent year, or a mean average of $53,303. The more than 74,000 graduate-degree holders earned $5.2 billion in 2015 combined, or $70,357 on average.

Pay variations ranged considerably, depending on the type of major. For people earning an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona or the University of Arizona, engineering was the top-paying major with a median wage of $86,443. The next-most-lucrative fields were computer/information sciences ($83,227), engineering technologies ($77,204), business/marketing/management ($66,438) and health professions ($61,112).

The lowest-paying degrees were those offered in area/ethnic/cultural/gender studies at $40,281. Other less-lucrative fields were visual/performing arts ($40,474), family/consumer services ($41,119), communications technologies ($41,730) and English language/literature ($42,834).

One graduates story

Mark Naufel, 24, is one recent graduate near the top of the pay charts. He earned a masters degree in systems engineering in August from ASU, one year after earning a masters degree in business analytics, also from ASU. Naufel said hes now in the $70,000 to $100,000 range, declining to cite a specific figure.

The Tempe native, who also earned an undergraduate finance degree from ASU, said he received multiple job offers, including those from technology firms in Northern California, but chose to stay here.

Silicon Valley is a great place to be, but the cost of living is lower here, Naufel said, also describing the job opportunities and quality of life here as very good.

Klein expressed optimism that the pay figures might encourage more graduates to stick around. Our students have good opportunities here in Arizona, she said.

ASU grads earn most

ASU graduates tend to earn a bit more than those from the UA or NAU. The differences can be explained by several factors, said Dan Anderson, director of institutional analysis for the Board of Regents.

One is the different composition of majors at the three schools.

Each institution has graduates in areas like engineering, business and health, but their share of the graduating class differs, he noted.

Students graduating with degrees in high-demand fields such as business or engineering will earn more immediately and likely will see greater future pay increases than others such as those who go into teaching.

Also, the labor markets in which students find jobs also differ.

We know that urban areas pay higher wages than rural areas, Anderson said, meaning grads who find work in metro Phoenix as opposed to Flagstaff or other areas of the state generally will earn more.

Factors not studied

The study didnt attempt to measure the costs that students incur to earn degrees  not just in actual expenses for tuition and such, but in wages forsaken to attend college.

While Arizona is relatively low for student loans, We are concerned about the increasing amount of debt for Arizona students, said Klein. The affordability part is key. Future studies might attempt to factor in these costs, Anderson said.

The study also didnt attempt to measure other perceived benefits of a college degree.

For instance, a study by the College Board indicated graduates are more likely to receive workplace health and retirement benefits, are more likely to report heightened job satisfaction, are more likely to volunteer and vote, and are less likely to smoke or be obese.

At any rate, measuring even the value of a college degree in financial terms, to students and the state, has been difficult to do without detailed earnings data. The Board of Regents study is one of the most comprehensive of its type in the nation, Anderson said.

The studys findings agree broadly with a 2015 Census Bureau survey that pegged the median earnings in Arizona of an individual with a graduate degree at $60,884 and pay for someone with a bachelors degree at $49,801.

The Census survey found that Arizonans with some college but no degree had median earnings of $33,632, compared with $27,947 for high school graduates only.

The census study wasnt restricted to graduates of ASU, NAU or the UA.

tax impact

The Board of Regents study tracked earnings for 271,197 statewide public-university students whose pay was examined on an anonymous basis from unemployment insurance records maintained by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Collectively, these individuals paid an estimated $1.1 billion in state and local taxes on their combined $15.7 billion in wages. Their annual average mean wage was $57,985, compared to $47,937 for all similar workers.
Gus Balons Restaurant celebrates its 51st anniversary this month and very little has changed since its namesake opened the eatery known for its low prices and down-home cooking.

Theres a lot more stuff on the menu than when my grandfather originally started, but absolutely everything that he had on the menu is still on the menu, said Kelli Phillips, Gus Balons granddaughter.

It wasnt broken so we didnt fix it. Everybody appreciates that. We cut our own meats and bread our own chicken fries. Everything is done from scratch and I think people appreciate that. At a time when everything is boxed and processed, its made in a way you probably wouldnt make for yourself.

Kelli owns the restaurant with her husband, William. After Gus retired, Kellis parents took over running the restaurant. It wasnt easy; still isnt. Being a small business owner means 70-hour work weeks, no benefits, no paid vacations. Kellis parents wanted more for their daughter after she earned her degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. But she had grown up working in the restaurant and after a few post-college jobs, she gravitated back to Gus Balons. She took over when she was 25 and has kept the place running for the last 11 years.

Why have you kept the menu pretty much the same all these years?

Kelli: My family is originally from Iowa and my grandfather, he went to the military and was put on kitchen duty so thats really where he started. Thats why he started in the food business. They moved to Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project when it was a closed city. My grandparents had to get clearance to live there. A couple chefs that used to cook for the scientists invited my grandfather to come in and thats where he got his bread recipes. From there they settled in Tucson. Its always been Midwestern comfort food, meat and potatoes.

There have been people coming in here since I was in diapers. Obviously they continue to come in because they like the food, they like the atmosphere, they like the consistency. I think thats a huge part of it and we have been able to keep our prices reasonable.

What is the first thing you remember cooking?

William: My mother and I, we always would make cinnamon rolls together.

Kelli: My mother-in-law and I have an argument, who makes the best cinnamon rolls  if its Gus Balons or if its hers. She doesnt put frosting on hers.

William: She makes fun of ours. Do you have enough frosting on those?

Do you have a favorite recipe to bake?

William: I like the pecan pie. Its probably my favorite one because you have to sample it to make sure it turned out alright. And then I enjoy baking cookies because a lot of times I give out samples, especially to our regular customers.

What advice do you have for people who havent done a lot of baking?

Kelli: I definitely think you need to get good ingredients, first of all. And, like with our bread, because we dont use a bread machine, it takes hours to even get the bread from the dry ingredients state to being put in the pan to raise it and an hour and 30 to bake, so its patience and time. Letting the food do what it needs to do so its good.

William: You definitely cant rush it.

Kelli: Theres a lot of science behind cooking, like having the correct water temperature because you will kill your yeast, or having the correct temperature in the room or else your bread wont rise. 

What do you cook at home?

William: As little as possible.

Kelli: Theres a lot of times when we take meals home from the restaurant because were busy after work and the last thing I want to do when I get home is cook. If Im going to cook dinner for my family, its grilled chicken and vegetables, nothing too exciting or fancy.
Two foundations stepped forward to add $25,000 in funding to the countys career and technical education district.

The Womens Foundation of Southern Arizona gave $15,000 in grant money and the Connie Hillman Family Foundation, $10,000 as a gift, to help the Pima County Joint Technical Education District.

The money helps cover the costs of industry-required certification in programs including licensed nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, fire service, law and public safety and cosmetology.

TUSD begins priority open enrollment

Priority open enrollment began Nov. 15 for the Tucson Unified School District.

Families can apply for any district school or magnet program through open enrollment.

Application forms can be accessed at the districts school community services office at 1010 E. 10th St. in Building B, or online at www.tusd1.org/enroll. They are also available at Family Resource Centers at:

Catalina High School 3645 E. Pima St.;

Palo Verde High School 1302 S. Avenida Vega;

Southwest Alternative High School 6855 S. Mark Road and;

Wakefield Middle School 101 W. 44th St.

The deadline for the first lottery, which will be held in late January, is Jan. 13. All applications received after deadline will be entered into a subsequent lottery.

For more information, call 225-6400.

Marana schools showcase coding skills

Marana schools will showcase their elementary students coding skills at two events.

Gladden Farms Elementary School will host its Epic Builds event Tuesday from 8:30 to 10:25 a.m. at its campus, 11745 W. Gladden Farms Drive.

On Wednesday, Quail Run elementary students will show off their skills from 8:45 a.m. to noon at the school, 4600 W. Cortaro Farms Road.

Student projects include special effects and varying levels of interactive games.

Esperero Middle hosts open house

Esperero Canyon Middle School will host an open house event Dec. 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The schools campus is at 5801 N. Sabino Canyon Road.

Prospective parents and students can come learn more about the schools programs.
Pima County officials gave a Phoenix-based, free-market oriented think tank public records about potential tax incentives for Monsanto even as they refused to release similar records to the Arizona Daily Star.

The county gave the conservative Goldwater Institute two batches of Monsanto-related records in late September and late October, after refusing to provide similar records to the Star in late August. The Star only got those records last week, after learning that the institute had them and complaining to county officials about unequal treatment under the state public-records law.

A county spokesman, Mark Evans, said Thursday that the release to Goldwater was a grievous error, based on differences in how the institute and the Star filed their respective requests.

At the same time, however, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry insisted that the paper and the institute werent treated differently. He said he wasnt aware of the Stars request for a long time because it hadnt been sent through the countys standard public-records request portal run by the clerk of the Board of Supervisors; instead, it was emailed to Evans.

The countys actions highlight a dispute over transparency about its Monsanto negotiations and other economic development efforts. Its been criticized by Supervisor Ally Miller and by the Goldwater Institute for failing to provide information on pending tax incentive deals early enough.

County officials have said that theyre happy to give such information to supervisors upon request, but that theyre constrained from releasing such information to the public by nondisclosure agreements they sign with prospective employers.

RECORDS DISPUTE DATES TO AUGUST

In mid-August, the Star requested all records you have on this pending (Monsanto) operation from county officials.

Evans told the Star at the time that it is in the best interest of the county to not release those records at this time as their disclosure may do serious harm to the countys economic development efforts.

However, in a Sept. 2 memo obtained by the Star, Huckelberry wrote that the Goldwater Institute, which is suing the county over an economic development deal with the near-space balloon company World View Enterprises, had requested and been provided all of our files associated with the Monsanto deal.

Huckelberry wrote of Goldwaters request: Their actions indicate a targeted attack on our economic development missions, while they ignore the same types of missions by Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix and Glendale in Maricopa County.

Last week, Huckelberry called the suggestion ridiculous that the Star had been treated differently from Goldwater. They were treated the same, he said.

Asked how he didnt know about the earlier denial of records to the Star when it had been reported in a newspaper article in August, Huckelberry said he didnt remember the article. He said it wouldnt have made a difference because our public records policy require(s) all to go through the clerk to be numbered and tracked.

Evans said he had assumed both the institute and the Stars public-records requests would be denied.

COUNTY ACCUSED OF SHORT NOTICE

Supervisor Miller has criticized the short notice that supervisors receive before being asked to approve such deals, as has Goldwater.

Lets see how many days notice we get on this deal before it is served up for a rubber stamp! Miller wrote in an Oct. 11 Facebook post following the publication of articles in the Star about the Monsanto package.

Disgusting that I am hearing about this in the media as a county administrator does the deal in the dark of night.

Five days later she clarified her position on Facebook, saying she didnt have enough information to be for or against this proposal, but was concerned about lack of disclosure.

But Huckelberry said he would have provided detailed information on the negotiations with Monsanto to any supervisor as far back as March, when discussions began. In a pointed, Oct. 21 memo to Miller, Huckelberry wrote that, Your failure to request the information should not be deemed a failure on my part to provide it.

I would be happy to make available to you any and all information the County has with regard to the Monsanto proposal, he added.

Jim Manley, lead attorney with Goldwater, said the public deserves to know well in advance what the county is proposing to give away  because the county is giving away the publics money.

Huckelberry said keeping the public apprised of negotiations would present a stark choice for the county, given that such negotiations with private companies are protected by nondisclosure agreements.

If the county doesnt agree to nondisclosure, the companies wont negotiate, he said.
PHOENIX  Less than a month after voters rejected allowing the recreational use of marijuana, theres a new  and scaled-back  proposal emerging for the 2018 ballot.

The initiative crafted by operators of a medical marijuana dispensary would expand the list of conditions for which a doctor could recommend a patient be allowed to use the otherwise-illegal drug. And it also would make it easier and cheaper for patients to get their marijuana, including allowing a large percentage of them to grow their own plants.

Proponents, the operators of the Independent Wellness Center, a medical marijuana dispensary in Apache Junction, need 150,642 valid signatures on petitions by July 5, 2018, to put the measure to voters that year.

The major changes deal with who can get the drug legally and how often they need to be recertified.

As approved by voters in 2010, the law had a list of conditions that automatically entitled someone with a doctors certification to get the drug. These include, cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS and Crohns disease, as well as medical conditions that cause seizures or severe and chronic pain.

The state Department of Health Services, using its authority, has since added post-traumatic stress disorder.

This initiative would expand that further to include several more conditions, ranging from insomnia and psoriasis to Tourettes syndrome, neuropathy and fibromyalgia.

Campaign chairman Timothy Cronin acknowledged that some of the additional people who would qualify under the new version might already be able to get certified now under the current law, especially with that catch-all category of severe and chronic pain.

But unfortunately, if the (medical) records do not say chronic pain, fibromyalgia is not a qualifying condition, he explained.

Then theres the existing requirement that a doctor have a patients medical records from the past 12 months before providing the annual certification.

We have a lot of patients that once they get on medical marijuana they no longer start seeing their physician any more because it worked, Cronin said. He said current law forces a patient to make a special trip to a doctor, along with the expense.

Along that same financial line, the initiative proposes to cap the application fee at $10, versus the current $150.

And theres something else.

Current law says the only legal way for someone who lives within 25 miles of a state-regulated dispensary to legally obtain the drug is to go there. State health officials said that pretty much covers all medical marijuana users.

The initiative would rewrite that to one mile, a move that would allow those outside that radius to grow their own plants.

Cronin insisted the petition drive can succeed with just volunteers. He figures the 108,000 Arizonans who are qualified to buy up to 2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks  and who go to dispensaries like the one he runs with his brother Joshua  are a ready source of signatures.

If the measure makes the ballot, it could prove harder for those who opposed Proposition 205 to object. Thats because some high-profile foes like Gov. Doug Ducey said there is no need for recreational marijuana because those who have a medical need for the drug can get it legally.

This years measure failed by about 73,000 votes out of more than 2.5 million cast.
PHOENIX  State officials agreed today to allow full-scale gaming at the Tohono O'odham casino in Glendale in exchange for a promise the tribe won't seek additional sites in the Phoenix area.

The deal officially is between the state and all of the tribes. It offers the other tribes some additional gaming opportunities  more poker tables and keno games  if they, too, will limit gaming to existing reservations.

Kirk Adams, the governor's chief of staff, said this deal to "modernize'' the gaming compacts first authorized by voters in 2002 has been in the works for some time.

But it comes just days before U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell is to hear arguments in the latest dispute between the state and the Tohono O'odham over whether the tribe has the legal right to operate a full-scale casino at the Glendale site. If the judge sides with the tribe, the state gets nothing in return.

The tribe has won a string of victories in previous legal fights with the state over the casino. But gubernatorial legal counsel Michael Liburdi he was "very confident'' the state would win the current lawsuit.

Still, he said, it makes sense to settle.

"As the governor has said, he's interested in doing the business of the state with as little legal activity as possible,'' Liburdi explained.

"The way we view this is the Tohono O'odham Nation gets what they want: the casino in Glendale,'' he continued. "Allow them to have what they want and let's move forward with a new compact where all sides in the state could benefit and the state of Arizona could benefit.''

That benefit is financial.

"It's about keeping Arizona money in Arizona," said Navajo Tribal President Russell Begaye. He said more gaming opportunities in the state means fewer people who feel the need to go to Las Vegas or Laughlin in Nevada.

That benefits not only the tribes but also the state, which has a revenue-sharing agreement with the tribes that now brings in about $100 million a year.

Mesa Mayor John Giles cheered the deal because of what it means to his community.

He said the original 2002 deal included what voters believed was a promise that casinos would be limited to existing reservations.

But that premise was undermined by the fact the Tohono O'odham took advantage of a little-known provision to add land near Glendale to its reservation and construct a casino there. And that raised the question of whether other gaming sites could pop up.

"It settles some uncertainty a lot of the communities have felt in watching the events in Glendale,'' Giles said. "There's some nervousness that we might see casinos unexpectedly appear in other parts of the Valley.''

That same logic applies to the other tribes in the Phoenix area who have fought the Tohono O'odham casino in court and in Congress for years: It allows the Glendale casino  which is competition for gaming dollars  to remain but assures there won't be more.

While not part of the agreement, the deal could eliminate two other obstacles for the Tohono O'odham.

First, it could get the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to finally act on the tribe's request for a liquor license at the Glendale site, a request that continues to be delayed. Adams would say only that the agency continues to review the application.

Second, Congressman Trent Franks has had legislation for several years now to undermine the tribe's claim it is entitled to operate a casino on the Glendale property. Adams said while it is "unpredictable'' what Congress might do, he noted that prior efforts by Franks have been unsuccessful.

There was no immediate response from the Tohono O'odham to the proposal, which gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said the tribe has had now for some time.
A typical zoning hearing for a 7-acre subdivision doesnt draw more than a handful of protesters  mainly people who live close by.

But on Tuesday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors expects to hear hours of objections to a 7-acre greenhouse that global biotech giant Monsanto Co. wants to put in rural Avra Valley, northwest of Tucson. Critics are upset not just about Monsantos plans to operate here, but also about County Administrator Chuck Huckelberrys support of incentives that would reduce the companys property taxes by two-thirds.

The company promises $95 million to $105 million in investments, 40 to 60 jobs paying an average of $44,000 a year and an emphasis on sustainability. It says the automated operation will use far less water and land and a fraction of the herbicides normally sprayed for an operation of this scale. The greenhouse will turn out a new generation of corn seed varieties, both conventional and genetically modified, that will help farmers around the world have more productive and resilient crops, Monsanto says.

Huckelberry, who wants the board to support Monsantos incentives, says that even after accounting for the tax breaks, the county will get far more tax revenue from the companys 155 acres in the Avra Valley than it receives today on the vacant parcel.

Monsanto will become the largest taxpayer in the Marana Unified School District, Huckelberry wrote in a memo last month. It will have twice the taxable value of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Resort.

In the past month, the district and the Joint Technical and Educational Districts governing boards passed measures supporting Monsantos application. Last week, Pima Community Colleges Governing Board rejected one by a 3-2 vote.

The project will have no negative environmental impacts, Huckelberry says.

But critics  who have organized rallies and circulated petitions against the deal  say Monsantos presence would seriously damage Tucsons burgeoning reputation as an international City of Gastronomy. UNESCO bestowed the title last December.

We were just designated based on our long agricultural heritage. What that stands for is diversity. What Monsanto stands for is homogenization, said Megan Kimble, managing editor of Edible Baja Arizona magazine, which spearheaded the push for the City of Gastronomy recognition  and which recently editorialized against tax incentives for Monsanto.

Opponents say its not fair for one of the worlds largest biotech firms  which will get much bigger if a proposed merger with Bayer AG is approved  to get major tax subsidies that local farmers dont get. They dont trust Monsanto to run an environmentally friendly and sustainable greenhouse, based on what they see as the companys poor track record for transparency and honesty around the world.

At issue Tuesday will be whether supervisors support Monsantos application to the U.S. Commerce Department to expand an existing foreign-trade zone in Pima County. If Commerce approves the application, Monsanto gets the tax break.

University of Arizona scientist and local-food advocate Gary Nabhan objects to adding Monsanto and its GMO corn seeds to a foreign-trade zone that promotes trade with Mexico. He said Mexicos scientific leaders oppose GMOs and its courts have banned certain genetically modified crops. Putting Monsanto in this area is like putting a factory in a nature sanctuary, Nabhan said at a rally held Thursday to oppose the incentives.

LESS WATER will be used, COmpany SAYS

Monsantos greenhouse would be part of a company effort to find the best, most-productive corn seeds . It will contain a blend of genetically modified seeds and non-GMO seeds, said Kyle Smith, a leader in Monsantos breeding activities. It eventually will grow 400,000 to 500,000 corn plants annually, all indoors, the company says.

Its the first time weve had a greenhouse with this level of sophistication, Smith said.

The greenhouse essentially will be split into two. Two 3-acre sections will be glassed in, separated by 2 acres that will hold irrigation and fertilizer tanks, soil media, potted plants, shellers to remove kernels from corncobs and driers to prepare seed for shipment. The 155-acre site will also have an office building, a 2 million gallon water tank for fire suppression and a composting facility. For now, at least, no outdoor corn-seed planting is planned, Monsanto says.

Monsanto has drawn complaints and lawsuits elsewhere that say its genetically modified seeds have blown from open fields onto other farms and contaminated those farmers seeds. Critics worry that could happen here, even with a greenhouse.

It is a sealed greenhouse, Smith countered. Ventilation will flow through the roof and floor, with roof vents covered by mesh tight enough to keep insects out or corn pollen from escaping, he said.

A similarly scaled corn seed operation in a field would use 250 acre-feet of water, Monsanto says, enough to serve at least 500 typical Tucson homes for a year. This project will use one-fifth that much from a well on the property, said Smith.

While that amounts to about 7 acre-feet per acre  far more than is typically used to grow corn or virtually any other crop in Arizona  that comparison isnt valid for the greenhouse, Monsanto spokeswoman Christi Dixon said.

The greenhouse will grow corn plants twice as closely packed as they would be in an open field, she said. Because of Southern Arizonas year-round growing season, the greenhouse can grow three generations of corn crops yearly  three times the norm.

Taking all that into account, the greenhouses water use should amount to 1.19 acre-feet per acre, she said. Monsanto will also install a system to recycle water the plants dont take in, Dixon said.

Monsanto bought its land in October, prior to board approval but after discussing plans with county officials since March.

We felt this had a good chance of being approved, Smith said.

GMOS, CHEMICALS WORRY SOME SMALL FARMERS

Monsanto has no place in the nations first City of Gastronomy, said Debbie Weingarten, a board member for a local-food-advocacy group. She points to its use of GMOs and herbicides and a potential for corporate homogenization of agriculture to put small, organic farms out of business.

Our UNESCO application directly pointed toward the rich history and culture of food production here, which goes back 4,000 years and is based around traditional crops and dryland farming by the Tohono OOdham and their ancestors, Weingarten said.

Weingarten serves on the board of the Pima County Food Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for a secure food system that is environmentally sound. She also sits on the city of Tucsons Commission on Food Security, Heritage and Economy, is a co-founder and board member of the local Farmer Education and Resource Network and is a former co-owner of Sleeping Frog Farms in the rural village of Cascabel.

In the past 20 years, this region has seen an upswing in local growers and food advocates who are promoting a food system that values the connection between people producing food and people who consume food, she said.

Like Sleeping Frog Farms, many local farms are certified as naturally grown, or organic, and are committed to growing food without using chemicals.

Concern for water supply and pollinator population doesnt seem to be a concern that industrial agriculture or specifically Monsanto shares, she said. My concern with a corporation coming that doesnt have ties to this area would be that they have no long-term consideration. They dont have to live here or drink the water.

Maneesh Shah, a founder and co-executive director of Heirloom Farmers Markets Inc., watches Heirlooms Rillito Market draw around 2,500 people on a typical Sunday. The market pays Pima County about $20,800 a year to lease space outside the Rillito Racetrack for food stalls, including at least 10 run by local and regional produce growers.

Shah says he has no problem with Pima County giving tax incentives to some big companies such as Caterpillar, which he says fits in with the regions historic mining industry. But hes not convinced that Monsantos corporate agriculture blends in as well.

Were less industrial. We care about our environment. Im not sure Monsanto fits that, he said.

He wants county supervisors to let the public decide whether to support its property tax incentives.Clay Smith, a co-owner of Sleeping Frog Farms, says he wants the county to treat his business as well as its treating Monsanto. They bring in $100 million in investments, but look at what local farmers markets generate, he said.

We grow food for taste, nutritional value, for freshness, not mass production or for shipping. We sell 100 percent of our food within 100 miles, at farmers markets and through direct marketing to three dozen restaurants, co-ops and Community-Supported Agriculture customers.

Larry Parks, owner of Larrys Veggies at Rillito Market, neither supports nor opposes giving Monsanto incentives, but he said small growers should get used to it.

Organic farmers arent going to get support from the government, said Parks, who grows a wide range of vegetables without pesticides. Monsanto is going to invest $100 million. If I had $100 million, I wouldnt be doing this. So they deserve a little tax break. Thats a lot of money coming into this county.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Despite the controversy around Monsantos use of genetically modified organisms, Pima County has not identified any negative air quality, water quality, water supply, transportation capacity or natural resource impacts from the facility, Huckelberry said in his memo to supervisors last week. Furthermore, the county cannot regulate an agriculture operation based on state law.

Assuming the company invests $95 million, its estimated county primary and secondary property tax bill for the first year would be nearly $190,000, according to county calculations obtained by the Star through public-records requests. Without the foreign-trade-zone designation, that bill would be more than $500,000. The previous owners paid just shy of $2,000 in 2015 property taxes on the undeveloped agricultural land.

The economic impact of the project is estimated at around $280 million between 2016 and 2025, according to an analysis conducted by Sun Corridor Inc., a privately and publicly funded economic-development firm.

To address environmental concerns, Huckelberry proposed creating two commissions to look for potential adverse impacts and separate fact from fiction about the company.

One commission would focus on agricultural science, the other on social and policy concerns. Monsanto would pay up to $50,000 annually for any research or technical analysis deemed necessary by the science commission.

Benefits questioned





Sylvia Lee, a member of the Pima College Governing Board, voted against a motion supporting Monsantos foreign-trade-zone designation to align her vote with her values, which have a lot to do with the public good and public health.

Im concerned that genetically engineered foods havent produced the benefits that were touted years ago, Lee said

One reason she voted against the designation was a recent New York Times article. Evidence doesnt show that the production of genetically modified foods has increased crop yields or reduced herbicide use, the story said. It cited United Nations data in comparing results from Europe, which 20 years ago largely rejected the growing of genetically modified foods at the same time the United States and Canada were approving it.

Comparing results on the two continents, using independent data as well as academic and industry research, shows how the technology has fallen short of the promise, reported the Times.

In response, Monsanto accused the newspaper of cherry-picking data and of overlooking the perspectives of farmers worldwide who choose to use GMOs. The company said making comparisons across broad areas is difficult because of differing crop maturity rates and overall traits of the regions agriculture. It said USDA statistics show that soybean and corn yields in the U.S. have actually risen around 28 to 30 percent in the GMO era since 1996.

View from Maranas cotton fields

Some conventional cotton farmers in the Marana area say they have no problem with Monsantos greenhouse plans and appreciate what its technology has done for their operations. But theyre split on whether the company should get local tax incentives.

Pima County, with its mining cutbacks and other jobs setbacks, shouldnt even be debating the incentives, but should have its arms wide open for 50 good-paying jobs, said Marana cotton farmer Arnold Burruel.

Another longtime Marana farmer, Tom Clark, said hes not convinced that a company Monsantos size needs tax incentives.

The county is not in that good of a financial position. I just think they ought to be putting their money into fixing the potholes and fixing the roads, Clark said.

But Clark said hes not concerned about seed contamination from Monsanto because he believes the greenhouse will be effectively sealed. He and everybody I know of in Marana uses GMO seeds to grow cotton, he said. He uses seeds that are resistant to pink bollworm  at one time a serious threat to cotton crops  and said that, due to the GMO cotton, he sprayed his fields once last year, rather than seven to eight times like he used to.

Maranas continued encroachment onto farmland concerns him far more than a 7-acre greenhouse, Clark said. Like another farmer told him, The last crop a farmer wants on his ground is houses.
An independent review of the University of Arizonas two medical schools, which has not been released to the public, cost the state nearly $180,000 in public money.

And the former dean of the UA College of Medicine Phoenix, whose departure in part prompted the review, says he was never interviewed for the report.

The Arizona Board of Regents says it has paid the law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP $179,653 as of Nov. 16 for its report on the UA Colleges of Medicine. The Board of Regents is the governing body for the states public university system.

After a special meeting in August, the regents announced they would hire an outside expert to review concerns about the medical schools.

The regents held the August meeting due to increasing scrutiny of the medical schools and their leadership. Governance of the UAs two medical schools, which are separately accredited, ultimately falls under UA senior vice president of health sciences Dr. Joe G.N. Skip Garcia and UA President Ann Weaver Hart.

Garcia, who reports directly to Hart, oversees all of the UAs health colleges  the UA College of Medicine-Tucson, the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix, the UA College of Pharmacy, the UA College of Nursing and the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Dean departures

Public criticism of the UA medical school leadership began after well-regarded UA College of Medicine-Phoenix dean Stuart D. Flynn announced he was leaving in March to be the founding dean of a new medical school in Texas. Shortly after, five members of Flynns leadership team, including the associate dean of admissions and the vice dean of academic affairs, announced their departures.

In June, the 4,000-member Arizona Medical Association, which has a membership of physicians and medical students, called for an independent investigation into why virtually the entire leadership team left the Phoenix medical school.

The association also expressed concern that the departure of so many top leaders could affect the schools attempt to see full accreditation, a process that is ongoing.

The association asked for exit interviews with the departed deans and publicly called on the Board of Regents to initiate an investigation into any U of A organizational impediments or policies that contributed to the departures of the well-respected and quality team that was in place.

As further fuel to the scrutiny, Garcia, who earns a salary of $870,000, attracted public attention in August when he was the subject of an Arizona Republic article. The article focused on his travel expenses, including a chauffeured car that costs $475 or more for trips between Tucson and Phoenix.

During the special regents meeting in August, regents President Eileen Klein referred to troubling questions and claims about the medical school leadership, regarding ethics, use of public money, workplace culture and treatment of employees.

The board and university leaders will need to go beyond these public hearings and take additional actions to better understand and address these concerns and determine whether any improprieties have occurred, she said at the time.

On Aug. 19, the regents held an executive session and afterward announced they would hire an outside expert to review the concerns.

Its going to be a broad look at whats going on, regents chairman Greg Patterson said at the time. Were doing a comprehensive evaluation, so its going to be full 360s of management style, structure, etc.

Secret report

On Oct. 26, the regents spent more than two hours behind closed doors to discuss the report. They then announced that the report was complete and that no further inquiry into the medical schools leadership was needed. Citing attorney-client privilege, Patterson said the report would not be released to the public.

The regents have now released the cost of the report and provided the Star with documents outlining the contract terms.

Flynn, the departed dean, says he was not interviewed for the report. He said he was approached by an attorney but before answering any questions he asked for indemnity, which means he wanted to be protected against being sued over anything he might say.

I was contacted by the attorney conducting the interview, as were several of my colleagues. I told him we would be happy to answer any questions they had, but we also asked if the Regents would indemnify us so that we would not put ourselves at risk, Flynn wrote in an emailed statement.

We never heard back on this request, or again from the attorney, so I can only assume that they did not want to offer us that protection.

Public good

Many say the loss of Flynn was huge for the fledgling Phoenix medical school, part of a growing biomedical campus in the citys downtown. Supporters of the medical school want both answers and assurances of the UAs commitment, particularly given Arizonas current and projected doctor shortage.

Releasing the regents report, even a redacted version, is a matter of public interest, said Cary Pfeffer, a Phoenix resident, author and owner of a consulting firm who sat on a community advisory board to the Phoenix medical school for several years.

If you are going to spend almost $200,000 on a report, there must be some public good, one would assume. ... Its critical for the state to have medical education, Pfeffer said. There are ways to protect confidential information, such as redacting names.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

Over two months after the brutal custodial death of Minhaj Ansari, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has taken cognizance of the matter asked the government of Jharkhand to investigate the case.

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The Home ministry was acting on a complaint filed by Ziyaullah, Jharkhand convenor of the Association For Protection of Civil Rights (APCR).

In its order dated November 4, Principal Secretary (Home) asked the Government of Jharkhand to investigate the matter and intimate the action taken to the complainant and the Home Ministry.

In his complaint to the National Human Rights Commission dated October 14, APCR had said,

Deceased was beaten up to his unconsciousness and then taken to local government hospital for treatment. Due to severe internal injury and fractures, he was shifted to Dhanbad Medical College and Hospital, Dhanbad. On 07/10/2016 doctors at Dhanbad Medical College referred him to RIMS, Ranchi for better treatment. On 09/10/2016, he was declared dead at RIMS, Ranchi, he further said in the complaint.

Although the police had initially tried to pass it as a case of medical negligence which led to Ansaris death, the post-mortem report proved that it was a clear case of custodial torture.
Help India!

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net

AIMPLB announces formation of Womens Wing under Dr Asma Zahra

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UCC under Article 44 is highly inflammable issue, which divides the nation, creates discomfort among citizens, creates a sense of insecurity among law abiding Muslim citizens and also alienates them from National mainstream.

Waqf boards from their income should be directed to pay maintenance allowance to the divorced and needy Muslim women. If Waqf income is not sufficient then government agencies occupying prime and valuable Waqf properties and Minority Welfare Ministry should back up the deficit

Kolkata: The Union Governments intent to subtly foist Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and tinker with the Shariah (Muslim personal laws) in matters of triple Talaaq (divorce), polygamy etc. remained the main point of focus amongst a host of other issues during the 3-day 25th All India Muslim Personal Board, (AIMPLB), conference which concluded here in Kolkata on Sunday evening marked by a massive public meeting.





AIMPLB secretary Adv. Zafaryab Jeelani and other members of the Board addressing Press Conference at the conclusion of 25th AIMPLB conference in Kolkata.



The AIMPLB members, special invitees to the conference along with executive committee members all in unison passed a resolution saying Triple Talaaq is sacrosanct as per the Shariah laws which have their origin in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. These Shariah laws are divine laws and cannot be modified, changed or altered by any person or authority under any circumstances.

A six-point Kolkata Declaration was released at the conclusion of the 25th AIMPLB conference which was read out by the secretary Maulana Mohammad Fazlurrahim Mujaddadi. The proceedings of the AIMPLB conference were held at Myrah Banquet, Prasad Square 164, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata.

The resolution on Sharia laws said that it is binding as per the Shariat Application Act 1937; Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939; Cutchi Memons Act 1938 and Waqf Act 2013 are applicable on Muslims and Muslim Waqfs. Along with this according to the Articles 25, 26 and 29 of the Constitution of India every citizen of the country belonging to any religion or cultural group has the right to maintain his religious and cultural identity. Thereby, Muslims have the fundamental right to follow their Shariah laws without any inhibition which the court of law of the country also accede. Thus, Muslims cannot agree to any changes in their personal laws as it would be like desecrating the Constitution.





AIMPLB secretary Maulana Mohammad Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi reading out Kolkata Declaration.



Another resolution said that the Uniform Civil Code cannot be implemented in a country like India inhabited by people of multi-religion, faith and multi-culture. The Muslims and other minorities along with tribals and Adivasis cannot accept UCC at any cost. The countrys hallmark is Unity in Diversity. The resolution pointed out that Govt. of India while trying to bring back many rebellious groups, who had taken up arms against the nation, in the mainstream signed accords with them on the laid down condition that their traditional laws will not be meddled with and will be even above India Parliaments purview.

Thus, UCC under Article 44 is highly inflammable issue, which divides the nation, creates discomfort among citizens, creates a sense of insecurity among law abiding Muslim citizens and also alienates them from National mainstream. What have been totally forgotten conveniently is, nationally more important Art. 45 (free and compulsory education for all children until 14 years of their age) and Art.47 (total Prohibition in the country). Both these articles are totally disregarded by both the rulers and the public.

Two resolutions on womens rights

Two other resolutions were about women rights. In one the AIMPLB demanded the government to seriously work for women rights which does not affect the identity of any group. The long winding process of dissolution of marriage through courts which also entails much cost should be time bound and affordable. Similarly, women are not given their share in agriculture properties in some states while Islamic Shariah laws grants them their piece. For this laws of such states should be amended according to Shariah laws to get them relief. Widows and divorced women should be encouraged for re-marriage by providing them incentives as it will solve not only their monetary problems but also grant them family security.

The other resolution said that Waqf boards from their income should be directed to pay maintenance allowance to the divorced and needy Muslim women. If Waqf income is not sufficient then government agencies occupying prime and valuable Waqf properties and Minority Welfare Ministry should back up the deficit.

Meanwhile, during the conference it was also explained that Deen-o-Dastur Bachao movement has yielded good results across the countries and the Adivasis, Dalits, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Ambedkarites and other oppressed classes have appreciated the moves by the Board and have extended their cooperation for the protection of the Constitution of India. The Board strongly feels that any interference in the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution to the Minorities, Adivasis, Scheduled Castes, Buddhists, Jains and other religious units will harm the integrity of the country and we as Muslims have the duty to protect the values of our country.

AIMPLB announces formation of Womens Wing

Taking a historic decision the AIMPLB has decided to form a Womens Wing under the convenor ship of Dr. Asma Zehra to look into issues such as women issues such as talaaq, family issues, education and other issues. The social reform activities among women will be expanded across India through this wing. It has also been decided to launch an ALL India Muslim Women Helpline, a toll free call centre in Urdu, English and 8 regional languages to counsel and guide Muslim women having family disputes to go to the Darul-Qaza. The womens participation in the affairs of the Personal Law Board Meeting was extraordinary this time. More than 75 women delegates and 50 women members participated in the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions and proposals.





Leading lights of AIMPLB along with president Maulana Syed Rabey Hasani Nadwi and delegates of the 25th AIMPLB conference seated on dais in Public Meeting in Park Circus ground in Kolkata.



Later a joint Press conference was held wherein it was informed that during the general session the detailed agenda was discussed at length. The Board explained in detail its position on Shariah Laws relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc. The Press conference was addressed by Member of Parliament Sultan Ahmed, chairman, Reception Committee; Zafaryab Jeelini, Secretary, AIMPLB; Kamal Farooqui, Member Executive Committee, AIMPLB and Dr. Asma Zahra, Convener Womens Wing, AIMPLB.

Zafaryab Jeelini, Secretary, AIMPLB, told newspersons that the point of view of AIMPLB has been explained in detail through the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in the Triple Talaaq and polygamy case. The moment Board came to know that the central government is going to file the affidavit in the Supreme Court, it approached the PM and five Cabinet Ministers through the registered post to have the point of view of the board which represents all Masaliks (school of thoughts) in the country. Unfortunately, the authorities with their predetermined mind did not think it fit to know the AIMPLB point of view.

He said the Board explained that it is competent to take up issues with the Supreme Court and is hopeful that the constitutional guarantees to all the religious units in the country would not be disturbed.

Replying to a question Jeelani said the Modi governments decision was intended to gain political dividends ahead of the crucial election in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the electoral promises made by this government before coming to power have remained unfulfilled and thats why Modi is raising such topics to divert public attention from the issues at hand. It is a Modi vs. secularism issue, he said.

Kamal Farooqui explained that the AIMPLB fully respects the constitutional institutions of the country but at the same time the questionnaire designed by the Law Commission not only falls short of the professionalism on such a sensitive issue but smack of the intention of the present day government of meddling with the personal laws and bring in the Uniform Civil Code, through backdoors.

He said the initiative of the Board in not responding to the questionnaire issued by the Law Commission of India has been appreciated by the house. On the other hand crores of responses for the protection of Shariah Laws and having total faith in the leadership of AIMPLB has been encouraging and we hope that the good sense will prevail in the government to withdraw its affidavit from the Supreme Court. The board has now prepared its own questionnaire and circulated it among the Muslims for signatures in support of triple talaaq, he informed.

Farooqui said based on its own assessment through government data, RTI and personal contacts, the board rejects the plea of the so called women activists in misrepresenting to the nation regarding Triple Divorce, polygamy, etc. The Board has been working for years together for social reforms amongst the Muslims, advising them to follow the Shariah properly and use the model Nikahnamah for Nikah which would be beneficial for both men and women.

Lakhs of Muslim women have supported AIMPLB on its stand on triple Talaaq and the issue is a tool used by the government to interfere in AIMPLBs affairs. The government is trying to project Muslim women as suppressed and oppressed, which is wrong, Dr. Asma Zehra, executive member of AIMPLB, said.

Meanwhile, several important proposals for establishing the helplines to handle the family issues, establishment of more Darul Qazas across the country, creating a team of advocates at the High Court levels and continuous interactions with the advocates for advising them about the Islamic Laws, making the entire Board techno-savvy, spreading its arms to every nook and corner of the country, were some of the initiatives taken by the Board.

While, addressing a huge rally in the evening at Park Circus Maidan, TMC cabinet minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury appealed to the secular forces of all states to make their stand against Uniform Civil Code clear. He said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already made done that. We had a core committee meeting at the CMs residence. She said the Centre had written to her and sought her opinion on Uniform civil Code. She said she told them that her government is against any such code, he said.

TMC MP Sultan Ahmed, a member of AIMPLB & also Chairman of Reception Committee, said the wave of protest being witnessed in Kolkata would soon spread across the country.

TMC MP Idris Ali slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hurting Quran in the name of Uniform Civil Code. We wont tolerate any sort of attack on our Holy Quran. Are you making fun with Muslims sentiments? Withdraw Uniform Civil Code, Ali demanded.
Help India!

By Akash Poyam for Adivasi Resurgence

Up until now, Japanese Encephelitis (JE) has caused more than 120 deaths (Official numbers, real deaths could be much higher) in just two months in Malkangiri  one of the most backward districts in Odisha. Adivasis constitute 59.2% of the total population of the district, with 81% rural population living below poverty line. This Adivasi dominated region also suffers from malnutrition, high maternal and infant mortality rates. Being affected by Naxal violence makes the region even more vulnerable. The ongoing crisis of JE has now also alarmed for its spread in neighboring districts. One would get chills through the spine looking at the list of kids who have suffered death; their age varying from 2 months to 8 years, majority of them are Adivasis and female. While the state government argues that situation is under control and it has been doing everything to fight this epidemic, the statistics and reports from the ground have another story to tell.

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Image One: Shivani Podiami from Potrel Village. Shivani wouldve turned 7 in another two months. (Photo credit: Dalit Camera)



Now that the damage has already been done, state government denies that deaths were caused by JE and now has announced for vaccination campaign. A panel constituted by Odisha government has denied that the deaths in last two months in Malkangiri are due to Japenese Encephalitis. The panel argued that children may have died of Encephalopathy, which is caused due to consumption of a plant bana chakunda (cassia occidentalis). State govt is planning What is Japanese Encephalitis?

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito borne zoonotic viral disease. The virus is maintained in animals and birds. Pigs & wild birds are reservoirs of infection and are called as amplifier hosts in the transmission cycle, while man and horse are dead end hosts. The virus does not cause any disease among its natural hosts and transmission continues through mosquitoes. Vector mosquito is able to transmit JE virus to a healthy person after biting an infected host with an incubation period ranging from 5 to 14 days. The disease affects the Central Nervous System and can cause severe complications, seizures and even death.

The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of this disease is very high and those who survive may suffer from various degrees of neurological sequeale. (An estimated 25% of the affected children die, and among those who survive, about 30-40% suffers from physical & mental impairment). The children suffer the highest attack rate because of lack of cumulative immunity due to natural infections. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is a general description of the clinical presentation of a disease characterized by high fever altered consciousness etc mostly in children below 15 years of age. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) has a very complex aetiology and JE virus is only one of the many causative agents of Encephalitis.

Repeated ignorance

The outbreak of JE is not new to the region and many deaths were reported due to JE virus in 2012, but the district administration turned a blind eye to the situation, taking no measures for its prevention. It also did not prepare itself to deal with any future crisis. As a recent fact-finding report by Right to Food Campaign (RTFC) points out, the child causalities due to outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district were reported in 2011 and 2012. An estimated death of 36 children was reported by District administration in 14 villages of the district within the period of September to 5th December 2012, but the actual scale of causalities was more than that. The report also highlights the failure of food security, failure of Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) and Mid Day Meal (MDM) programme; at the same time chronic hunger and loss of immunity capacity was found among children. After two years, in 2014, the deaths reported due to JE were 24.

Regardless of such alarming incidences over the past few years, when outbreak of JE occurred in September 2016, district administration did very little  failing to gauge its strength. While, every year such cases were reported in the region, district administration did not request, or put efforts to equip district hospital to tackle JE. It is not surprising that percentage of vacancies for doctors in Malkangiri remains highest in the state.

According to a Firstpost news report, the district headquarters hospital was the only centre capable of providing treatment for JE. To make matters worse, the hospital only had only one paediatrician available against the sanctioned strength of three it took two weeks for the government to take action and send its medical expert team to Malkangiri, but by the time 35 children had already died due to JE. Making the case even worse, district administration kept holding first stage patients in ICU, instead of sending them to Berhampur or Cuttack hospitals.

The district hospital has 125 beds and 44 sanctioned posts for doctors of which 35 are vacant. Six posts meant for child specialists and intensivists trained in critical care have remained vacant since they were created in 2012. Of the 103 sanctioned posts of doctors in the district, only 37 have been filled. Not just doctors, the district does not have enough nurses, the workers who form the backbone of the healthcare system. Only 43 of the 122 sanctioned positions for nurses are filled points another news report.

The many tales of death

The interviews conducted by the RTFC fact finding team shows that district hospital miserably failed to provide treatment, nor any efforts were taken to transfer them to a better medical facility. For example  Manjun Madhi, one year and eight months old was suffering from fever and was taken to Kalimela CHC. The doctor referred her to District Hospital. No proper treatment was made. He brought back her daughter to home on 6.10.16. She got serious next day. While carrying her to District Hospital, She died on the way. Another incident where, Bikram Padiami, a 3 years old was admitted in District Hospital. The Doctors could not treat him and he was told to be referred to Berhampur. The doctor asked his father to wait. He waited for one day and his son ultimately died in Hospital. Similarly, Deba Kabadi, 4 years old was admitted in district hospital. The doctors neglected in treatment and did not prescribe any medicine. He died in Hospital on 21.9.16.







On 15 November, one of the stories reported by Dalit Camera states, on 29.10.2016 when Irme Padiami and Sudarshan Padiami realized that the fevers their children seemed to have since the day before wasnt a normal fever. Susila Paddiami and Ramesh Padiami, 2 and 4 respectively hadnt eaten a morsel for two days now. Their temperature just kept going up and at a point it seemed like their bodies were on fire. When Sudarshan tried calling 108, he realised his phone had network issues. In Daniguda, if you are lucky, your phone will have network during the day. After 8 PM, it was almost impossible to venture out to a spot where your phone would connect. In spite of desperate attempts, Sudarshan wasnt able to reach 108. Finally, at day break, he went out till the main road, made a call to 108 and within a couple of hours, his children were admitted at the Malkangiri Govt Hospital. In two days, both of them were dead. Though both the cases were diagnosed as Japanese Encephalitis, the authorities at the Hospital didnt know how to treat them, nor was their case escalated to higher authorities or to a better facility. Like many other adivasi children from the neighboring villages of Daniguda, both Susila and Ramesh lost their lives due to the States historical apathy towards adivasi lives, even before they could hit the age of 5. These stories speak for themselves showing complete failure on the part of district administration.

Malkangiri- not listed as JE affected region in Centres list

Another shocking revelation of RTFC report points that  in 2011, when Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India decided to implement National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. The programme is implemented with central government support in 171 JE prone districts of 19 states. Though Malkangiri has been affected since 2011, the state government failed to influence central government to be part of the National programme. The state government did not even try to be linked with National Programme to combat this dreaded disease, despite of its ineffectiveness and incapability to deal with it.

JE and Malnutrition

More than 95% of JE-affected children are Adivasis, and all of them are malnourished; majority of them being girl children  points the RTFC report. The reasons for malnutrition can be attributed to poverty, lack of nutritious food, inefficiency of government programs etc. In some villages, NREGA labourers have not been paid their wages since 7 months. Seven out of ten children in Malkangiri are underweight, according to the 2014 Annual Health Survey report. The district is ranked third in the country among 100 districts that have the highest prevalence of underweight children under the age of five. About 33.4% of children in Malkangiri have low weight for height, which is classified as wasting and represents acute malnutrition caused by a lack of food according to the report.

Make in Odisha

The reason for poverty and malnutrition among Adivasis can be attributed to many things. But historically it has been a failure of government and administration to ensure traditional livelihood practices of Adivasi communities. Particularly vulnerable tribal groups in the region, like Bondas still practice Podu- shifting cultivation; while many like Koyas who live in plains are entirely dependent on settled agriculture. In the absence of major river bodies in the region, agriculture is entirely dependent on Monsoon. In my first visit to Malakangiri in 2015, I recall villagers near the Bonda hills telling me that except for monsoon season, most of the year they are unemployed and sit idle in village. Theyre not even able to produce for themselves in the absence of any irrigation facilities; and as last resort theyre bound to work in others farm lands. Merely few kilometres away is, one of the largest (Chitrakonda) dams in Malkangiri at Balimela that was constructed in 1960s for Balimela Hydro Electric Project. Many Adivasi villages were displaced in order to complete the project, but not an iota of water is supplied from the dam for the use of the Adivasi villages.

While Malkangiri is going through an epidemic, Odisha government is preparing itself for Make in Odisha project. Government of Odisha in collaboration with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India is organizing the Make in Odisha Conclave at Bhubaneswar from November 30 and December 02, 2016. The Conclave will showcase the policy & regulatory environment, investment opportunities across focus sectors and the manufacturing prowess of the State. Odisha has been listed in one of the top states in the ease of doing business in India. Odisha Industries (Facilitation) Act was passed in 2004 and is one of the first legislations for window business clearance systems in the country. Over 300 industries from across the country and outside are going to participate in the conclave. The State Government has already organised pre-conclave investor reach out events including road shows at Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Hyderabad; and a budget of around 20 crore has been proposed for the conclave.

These two events in a way also reflect priorities of state. Make in Odisha project is surely going to further marginalize Adivasi communities, with more investment, new projects to extract resources and industrialize the region. While the state could not even ensure filling vacancies of doctors in Malkangiri or allocate special arrangements to curb the epidemic; the upcoming 20 crore conclave seems to symbolize a celebration of these deaths.

Caste-less state officials?

In order to identify what went wrong in Malkangiri, one should not only look at administrative loopholes. But also try to understand that most administrative posts in Adivasi regions including PVTG development authorities, ITDAs etc are entirely dominated by upper castes. Its naive to assume that administrative officers caste does not have anything to do with their insensitivity and irresponsibility towards Adivasi communities. The reality is that most of these upper caste officials scorn Adivasis, they remain primitives, uncivilized people in their minds. Regardless of being outside Hindu varna system, Adivasis are considered lowest in social hierarchy of rural as well as urban areas. So its not merely an administrative error but the Brahminical mindset of administration that doesnt value Adivasi lives.

In this year itself we have seen multiple cases of reported deaths due to malnutrition. E.g. the case of malnutrition related deaths in Attapadi, Kerala, where this year (November) death of infants due to malnutrition has risen to seven now. This Attappady region has witnessed 58 malnutrition-related deaths in 2013, 30 deaths in 2014 and 14 deaths in 2015, as per the State Health Department. At least 19 children of Juang tribe died of malnutrition between March and June 2016 in Jajpur district of Odisha. Another report by Maharashtra governments tribal development department report stated that, over 740 tribal students died in last 10 years due to malnutrition in Maharashtra. The fact finding report of RTFC highlights that according to a RTI filed at Chief District Medical Officer, Malakangiri  on 3.11.12, from 2007-08 to 2011-12, around 7400 children have died due to contraction of various diseases like Epilepsy, ATI, LBW, Diarrhea, Asthma, Fits, Burning, UND, Septicemia, Birth Asphyxia, Fever related ailments and Boll cancer etc. While we do not have data from the year 2012-16, available statistics show that in normal period, thousands of children mostly Adivasi children died of minor ailments. Merely adding up these numbers would tell that in less than a decade, a large Adivasi population (probably population equal to many PVTG communities) has been consciously wiped out. Isnt that an ethnic genocide?

In a country, that despises its original inhabitants and has been attempting to eliminate them to take control over resources, it is evident why Adivasi lives dont matter, why even 120 deaths of Adivasi children dont make front page headlines or create a public uproar. The deaths of Adivasis are so normalized in peoples psyche, that their lives remain mere numbers. On one hand we see visible forms of violence, like in Bastar  where Salwa Judum, Green Hunt operation, multiple cases of rape and now ongoing massacre through fake encounters are being carried out, resulting into thousands of Adivasi deaths. On the other hand, we have more covert forms of violence, such as this case of JE epidemic, where insensitive and indifferent response of state administration towards a particular group of people isnt a minor mistake but a conscious act. It is symbolic violence, where caste-less government officials, remain inconsiderate and apathetic towards Adivasi children and show Brahminical nature of the state.

This story was originally published here. The author, Akash Poyam, is Founding Editor at Adivasi Resurgence
Help India!

By V.K. Tripathi

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The wild statement by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Kiran Rijiju, that the country has 20 million Bangladeshis, has emboldened the extremists in Assam and raised the specter of Nellie like massacre that killed 3000 poor Muslims in one day in 1983.

As the ruling party has apathy to Muslim Bangladeshis only, Rijijus statement, by default, has given credence to sectarian propaganda that the country has crores of Bangladeshi Muslims. It is a gross overstatement. Assam and West Bengal are the two states where most of the Bangla speaking Muslims of India live. The total Muslim population in these states, including Assamese speaking Muslims, is around 30 million (31% in 30 million population of Assam and 25% in 80 million population of West Bengal). In 1941 census, the Muslim population of Assam was 26% (5 percentage points below the 2011 census). West Bengal Muslim population in 1941 might also have been below 2011 census by similar percentage points.

The increase in percentage Muslim population in these states has been primarily due to the refugees (one crore Hindus and Muslims) during the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 who came to India due to heavy military repression. India played proactive role in the creation of Bangladesh. Afterwards many refugees returned but many stayed back in India. In 1985 the Government of India, Assam Government and All Assam Students Union (Assam Gana Parishad) signed an agreement according to which the people who migrated to India prior to March 25, 1971 were eligible to Indian citizenship.

In 1998, Election Commission of India had got the electoral rolls prepared for Assam At that time D was marked against the doubtful cases who could not produce all the requisite proofs of Indian citizenship. According to Government statistics (cf. Samir Kar Purkayastha in Branding the Migrant, ed. Atig Ghosh, Frontpage, 2013), up to January 31, 2011, 2.22 lakh D voters were referred to the tribunals and out of these 83 thousand cases were disposed off . Among these 5,577 cases (about 5.5%) were found to be foreigners.

As per statement submitted by the State Government in the Guwahati High Court on March 8, 2011, a total number of 4.06 lakh cases under the three categories (D voters, cases directly sent by the police and the cases transferred from IMDT) were registered with the tribunals between 1996 and December 31, 2010. Of all these cases even if one takes 10% figure for foreigners, it amounts to 40 thousand, i.e., 0.4% of Assam s Muslim population. The former Chief Minister of Assam Mr. Tarun Gogoi on November 17, 2016 has also said that the total number of Bangladeshis may be 1 or 2 lakh. Thus Rijijus claim is way off the mark. It has created shock waves among the Bangla speaking Muslim Indian citizens, a majority of whom are underprivileged. Putting them under scrutiny is grossly discriminatory. As far as illegal Bangladeshis are concerned, most of them are landless wage workers. They are living on their own hard work.. They should be treated with dignity and deported in accordance with the rule of law. Discriminating them on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and inhuman.

Another serious issue of partisan bias is Kazi Ranga National Park expansion. The park was created in 1970s. Since then it has gone many expansions. Each time an expansion took place, compensation was paid to the people affected. This time 300 Muslim families and 9 Hindu families have been displaced, but no compensation has been paid. This has caused widespread apprehensions. The sectarian utterances of Assam Minister for Finance and Education Mr. Hemanta Biswa Sarma have further aggravated the fears. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) raised this issue of Kazi Ranga Park but the government has arrested its leader Akhil Gogoihas. He has been in jail for the last two months.

An entire Muslim population of Dabrai Ghat village in the Kokrajhar district, that was displaced In 2012 Bodoland violence, is still waiting to return to their village. But there is no hope in sight. There may be other such cases as well.

These are serious issues the state and central governments must address with sense of urgency.



Vipin Tripathi is a Delhi-based activist who can be reached at [email protected]


Facebook wants to put a fleet of light aircraft in Angels 60 (60,000 ft. or 18,300 m.) orbits over unserved regions of the planet to provide Internet access. But, how practical is this idea from a technical standpoint, let alone geopolitical, or financial?

Technological barriers

The Facebook flying internet system involves fleets of their aircraft, each weighing one thousand pounds or so with the wingspan of a jumbo jet flying day and night on only 5Kw of power. One slight problem is that the craft which are intended to stay aloft for 90 days have never been tested.

So far, one model flew for just over an hour and a half.

Then there is the ground side of this project. How much would it cost to build solar panel arrays, and antennas in the middle of nowhere? Without that infrastructure, it hardly matters how many Aquilas are launched. Also, how do you inform a billion people with ten thousand languages and give them technical skills to build the ground stations for a home or village?

I was unable to find any technical specs either for the power of the planes transmitter or what sort of ground system is required to access the two-way Internet service. Much of the world can already access satellite TV but billions of people do not, are those same people would be technically or financially capable of or even interested in such a project?

From a technical standpoint, I didnt find the Facebook pages about this concept to be very reassuring. One page cites 4 billion people as the unserved target audience while another official page uses the number 1.6 billion. But how about the basics of flight? The technical page describing the product shows a $200,000 (my estimate) crane loading the craft onto its launching cradle and elsewhere points out that airliners fly at more that 200 mph.

True, but slightly off-putting in a technical document when you realize that a 747 actually flies at upwards of 570 mph.

Another technical point I find worrying is that while each Aquila is supposed to provide Internet access to a 60-mile diameter area, the descriptions only include the power requirement for flight power, with no mention of how much power the transmitter(s) would require.

Satellites in the Clark Belt (26,200 mile high orbit) have no problem transmitting signals to the surface as they require no continuing power to stay aloft because they are in orbit, and are also in continuous sunlight and hence need little in the way of battery backup compared to a system which has to both stay aloft and continue transmitting during up to 14 hours of darkness.

Geopolitics

Some of the places underserved by the world wide web include North Korea, China, and Russia where the problem isnt technology but censorship. One can only imagine what would happen to Aquilas flying in those countrys airspace, as big as a 747 and slower than many birds.

In addition, although the aircraft themselves are entirely automated, a sizeable crew of technicians and a runway must be provided to support each flotilla.

These are, of course, subject to various environmental and social problems since they are necessarily in remote, extremely poor, and often politically unstable areas.

Financial Challenges

Internet companies such as Facebook have loads of money, but Lotus (the first big spreadsheet software company located near my garage in Cambridge, MA.) had a lot of money and most people have never heard of it today. Anyone remember The Source, a GE company, one of the first Internet companies which hosted various news services? Or, how about Radio Shack? People forget they were the largest computer retailer in the world and that their Color Computer was far superior to the early Mac. So, given the rapid changes in information technology which the Internet in large part has been responsible for, will Facebook even be in business long enough to build and launch all the proposed aircraft transceivers, let alone continue keeping them maintained and airborne for several decades?
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BEIJING - With more Chinese managing their wealth online, insurance policies sold via the Internet more than doubled in China last year.

The combined premiums of insurance policies sold online totaled 223.4 billion yuan ($32.5 billion) in 2015, jumping 160 percent from 2014, said an industry report released Sunday by the Insurance Association of China.

Breakdown figures showed that life insurance premiums and property insurance premiums reached 146.6 billion yuan and 76.8 billion yuan last year, respectively. By the end of 2015, 110 insurers were selling policies online in China, with the premiums collected by the ten largest insurers topping 172.5 billion yuan, accounting for about 77.3 percent of the total, noted the report.

Online insurance has been expanding quickly and played an increasingly important role in the industry in recent years, Zhu Jinyuan, head of the association, said at an event for the release of the report.

"However, not enough efforts have been made to innovate online sales business models. Industry rules need to be improved and risk prevention needs to be strengthened," Zhu said.
LIMA - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward with vigorous measures, despite increasing setbacks around the world.

Speaking at the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting here in Peru, Xi highlighted the APEC's role as a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, and called on APEC members to leverage the Asia-Pacific's role as a growth engine and work for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.

Currently, the world economy still finds itself in profound adjustment, with weak recovery and more divergent growth, said Xi, adding that economic globalization has encountered setbacks, as evidenced by sluggish international trade and investment and rising protectionism.

Citing the blueprint for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive world economic growth produced by the G20 Hangzhou Summit in September, the Chinese president said it embodies the spirit of partnership to jointly rise to challenges as well as the commitment to common development.

At the high-level gathering of APEC economic leaders, Xi called on the APEC economies to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward, increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy, breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and blazing new trails in reform and innovation.

On the building of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which was launched at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi hailed the smooth completion of the collective strategic study this year, saying it marked a new phase in FTAAP development.

"We need to stick to our agenda and take more effective actions to realize the FTAAP at an early date, thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific economy with greater openness," said the Chinese president.

He recalled that China has given priority to opening up to the Asia-Pacific over the past 25 years since it joined the APEC, and pledged to work with other parties to increase openness, pursue regional economic integration and connectivity, advance reform and innovation, and jointly write an exciting chapter of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

Xi arrived in Peru on Friday to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country.

The APEC meeting, hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, took place Saturday and Sunday in Lima, capital of Peru, under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development."
A female patrol guard guides the robot while other two watch. [Photo/People's Daily Online]

A cemetery in central China's Henan province has deployed a humanoid robot in October 2016 to accompany the female patrol guards and escort their work at night, local media reports.

The cemetery said that the deployment was to boost the female guards' courage especially during their night shifts.

It is also said to provide some company to the guards, so alleviate their sense of loneliness when walking around in cemetery at night.

However, many netizens raised doubts on its effectiveness after seeing the robot's appearance; many were sceptical that whether its creepy feature would make it even more frightening for the female guards.

The robot reportedly cost the cemetery over 10,000 RMB and can also pull carts when it moves with its hands up and bizarre facial expression forward.
More than 3,000 people from Myanmar have arrived at temporary shelters in Chinese border towns including Wanding, Yunnan province, after fleeing conflict along their country's border, said Pan Xuesong, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.

The injured, all Myanmar nationals, were taken to hospitals for medical treatment, Pan said on Monday.

"The Chinese authority has responded swiftly and handled the situation appropriately," Pan added.

The conflict between ethnic militant forces and the Myanmar military near the border towns of Muse and Kutkai, Myanmar, on Sunday also injured one Chinese national, who was treated at a hospital after being injured by shellfire that strayed across the border.

In response, China will strengthen control along the China-Myanmar border to protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens there, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

China has been closely monitoring the situation, urging all parties in the conflict to exercise restraint, immediately halt military operations and restore peace to avoid escalation, the ministry said.

The Chinese military was placed on high alert and will take necessary measures to maintain security, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

Eight people, all Myanmar nationals, were killed  one soldier, three police officers, one militia fighter and three civilians  and 29 wounded in the conflict between 2 am and 3 pm on Sunday, according to Myanmar's State Counsellor Office.

Chinese in Wanding reported stray shells falling across the border, and one villager's rooftop solar water heater was hit, according to China Central Television. Authorities in Wanding deployed more armed police along the border to maintain order.

Three out of the four ethnic militant groups involved in the fighting had not joined a cease-fire agreement signed between Myanmar's government and eight rebel groups in October last year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The recent attack, which targeted economic infrastructure like bridges and shops in government-controlled border trade zones, was a way for non-signatory rebel groups to "declare their existence" and drag China into the situation, said Xu Liping, a researcher at the Institute of Asian Pacific Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Ibiza Old Town, also known as Eivissa Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ibiza, Spain. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ibiza, an island off the east coast of Spain, welcomed 150 Chinese tourists earlier this year, a rare sight for locals. Encouraged by their arrival, Gloria Corral Joven, head of the local tourism bureau, led a team to Shanghai in mid-November to promote Ibiza as a destination for Chinese tourists.

"We are building a Chinese website, which will be open to the public early next year," Joven says.

Ibiza was one of 18 exhibitors from Spain, an emerging destination for Chinese tourists, at the Shanghai International Tourism Fair, which has just ended.

The fair attracted more than 2,500 exhibitors from 106 countries and regions, and is one of the largest tourist events hosted in Asia.

"China is a very important market for Spain," says Rafael Chamorro, an official from the Spain National Administration of Tourism. "Our research shows that young Chinese people prefer customized, personalized travel routes, and we are designing such packages to cater to their needs."

Not only fledgling markets like Spain, but also destinations such as New York are working hard to attract Chinese tourists.

"See Your City", a campaign launched at the fair by NYC & Company, New York City's official marketing organization, encourages visitors to visit scenic spots such as the Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue to create their own magical moments in the city.

The number of Chinese visitors to New York more than tripled between 2010 and 2015, but the city is now hoping to draw even more Chinese visitors.

"China has become the second-largest overseas market for New York tourism. And we hope to attract more Chinese by partnering with Shanghai as we celebrate the China-US Tourism Year this year," says Fred Dixon, head of NYC & Company.

About 128 million Chinese flocked overseas last year, almost 10 times the figure in 2001, according to a report by the Wuhan branch of the China Tourism Academy.

The report showed that the Chinese spent $292.2 billion overseas, about 23.2 percent of the world's outbound consumption in 2015.

This makes China a huge chunk of the global tourist pie.

Also, unlike earlier when going abroad was simply a matter of collecting postcards from around the world, Chinese travelers are now pickier when it comes to traveling and want more authentic experiences.

More meaningful encounters with local communities are now more popular with young people, as well as destinations with long histories. And this is why Ibiza is attractive to Chinese tourists.

Four of Ibiza's historical sites have UNESCO World Heritage status, Joven says, adding that she believes that this will attract more Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, better services are also being offered to attract Chinese.

A report from Ctrip, a major travel-service provider, says that the rise in the disposable incomes of middle-class families increased air-travel capacity and the loosening of visa requirements has boosted outbound tourism.

Safety, service and price are the three issues Chinese tourists care about most, the report says. "Language is the biggest obstacle for Chinese visiting Spain, so we are working with China's Tencent at this year's fair to develop a translation app," Chamorro says.

To satisfy diversified travel needs, packages tailor-made for Chinese travelers were offered at the fair.
Top Chinese and US leaders have high hopes for growing bilateral relations between the two nations by boosting two-way tourism.

President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama sent their congratulations to participants of the closing ceremony of the 2016 China-US Tourism Year on Sunday evening at the Warner Theatre in Washington.

Xi recalled the announcement that he and Obama made in September 2015 to hold the China-US Tourism Year, saying the decision was made "to promote the building of a new model of major country relationship, pushing forward practical cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people friendship between our two countries".

He said the tourism year has been marked with colorful and fruitful events, which helped to expand people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas, and inject new impetus into China-US relations.

"The growth of China-US relations requires the participation and support of our peoples. I hope the two sides will build on the success of the China-US Tourism Year to sustain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, and reinforce the social foundation for the development of China-US relations," Xi said in the letter, read by Vice-Premier Wang Yang, who led a Chinese delegation to attend the closing ceremony and the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to be held in Washington this week.

In a letter read by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Obama said the US-China Tourism Year has enabled the American and Chinese peoples to experience new cultures, explore new places and get to know each other.

"A future of peace and prosperity and friendship depends on our efforts to understand each other. That is why the United States will continue to welcome the Chinese people to our shores, whether to hike to our national parks, dine in our vibrant cities, or learn more about our rich history. I also encourage Americans to discover all China has to offer," Obama said.

Xi and Obama just met on Saturday in Lima, Peru, on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

The 2016 China-US Tourism Year was announced by Xi and Obama last September during Xi's state visit to the US. An opening ceremony was held in Beijing in February this year.

In the first three quarters of this year, the number of Chinese travelers to the US jumped by 14.7 percent over the same period last year while the number of US travelers to China rose by 7.3 percent. Total number of two-way Chinese and American travelers is expected to exceed 5 million this year.

Last year, Chinese tourists made 2.59 million trips to the US, with total spending estimated at $30.1 billion. This year, Chinese are expected to make more than 3 million trips, creating some 45,000 direct jobs and 230,000 indirect jobs in the US.

The vice-premier said China is willing to make concerted efforts with the US side to further facilitate visa policies and to provide more convenient, comfortable and safe services to tourists.

He also pledged to further open the tourism industry to foreign investors. "The China-US Tourism Year is drawing to a close, but the show of tourism cooperation between the two countries has just begun," Wang said, ahead of an evening concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra and China's National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra.

The two orchestras have a close collaboration for many years. The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first US orchestra to visit China in 1973 at the invitation of then-US president Richard Nixon, who made his historic trip to China a year earlier.

Pritzker recalled her first trip to China in 1984 when she visited the Great Wall in Beijing and the Bund in Shanghai. "Looking back, what I am most grateful for has been the opportunity to see China then, so I could appreciate what it is growing to today," said Pritzker, who has made many business and leisure trips to China since then.

"I witnessed China's incredible evolution into one of the most remarkable and popular tourist destinations in the world," she said.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
From left, front row: Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, China's President Xi Jinping, Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Back row: Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Chinese Taipei's special envoy James Soong, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong, US President Barack Obama and Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang, pose for a family photo during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in Lima, Peru, on Sunday. Ding lin / Xinhua

Chinese president calls on world leaders to avoid closed doors, embrace openness

President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for firm steps to push economic globalization and boost free trade.

"History has proven that protectionism will get nowhere," Xi said in a speech at the informal meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders, which was held in Lima, capital of Peru.

The 21 APEC member economies should promote an open and integrated economy, enhance connectivity and boost reform and innovation, Xi said.

"We need to make it clear to the world with action that the commitment of the Asia-Pacific to economic globalization is unchanged and its confidence undiminished," he added.

Xi called on the early establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), saying that the FTAAP will promote the economy of the Asia-Pacific region to a new level.

"To build the FTAAP will never be an easy task," Xi said, adding that the FTAAP's collective strategic study was smoothly completed this year, marking a new phase in its development.

The idea of creating the FTAAP was proposed eight years ago and was officially launched at the Beijing APEC summit in 2014.

"We need to effectively address the fragmentation of regional trade agreements, advocate openness and inclusiveness, and avoid a closed-door policy and exclusiveness," Xi told the APEC leaders.

This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting comes against a backdrop of a sluggish global recovery, a lack of growth momentum, a backlash against globalization, weak trade and investment, and growing global challenges that cloud the economic outlook.

According to an estimate by the International Monetary Fund, China's contribution to the Asian economy has already exceeded 50 percent. With every percentage point of growth in the Chinese economy, Asia's overall economy rises 0.3 percent.

"Now that the US is apparently turning inward (with Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election), it is especially important for China to take the driver's seat in terms of pushing for greater free trade in the region, which benefits everybody," Oh Ei Sun, an analyst at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.

Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center at Nankai University in North China's Tianjin municipality, said that the FTAAP will hopefully solve problems such as the inconsistency in rules of origin and different FTAs dedicated to different areas, thus reducing the costs of implementing FTAs.

"The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), for example, leads to vicious competition. Once the FTAAP becomes reality, it will help address problems arising from a mass of intertwined FTAs and push forward the integration of a regional economy," he said.

"With economic restructuring, the initiative of innovation-driven growth and development of free trade zones, China boasts an increasingly opened-up and transparent market with greater market potential and improved market environment," he added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
President Xi Jinping urged on Sunday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should firmly safeguard national unity and maintain social stability.

Xi made the remarks after hearing a report of Hong Kong's recent situation and the work of the Hong Kong SAR government, made by the HK Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Lima, Peru.

The central government fully recognizes the work of Leung and the SAR government, Xi said, adding that Leung should lead the administrative team to continue making comprehensive measures and widely gathering social consensuses.

Xi also urged Leung to focus on economic development.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong's High Court ruled that two legislators-elect, who used language insulting the Chinese nation while taking their oaths, must be disqualified as lawmakers.

The two legislators-elect, Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, used derogatory language insulting the Chinese nation when reading out their oaths at a swearing-in ceremony last month. They also displayed banners proclaiming "Hong Kong is Not China."

Their actions led the National People's Congress Standing Committee, to issue an interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong SAR.

"If Hong Kong independence remarks are left unchecked, the authority and credibility of Hong Kong's Legislative Council will be damaged and Hong Kong society and the immediate interests of Hong Kong citizens will be jeopardized," said Rao Geping, a law professor at Peking University.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
The number of Chinese tourists traveling to Peru has increased, particularly since September when the South American country adopted a conditional visa waiver policy for Chinese passport holders.

Bookings for package tours or DIY tours to Peru on Ctrip, a leading online travel agency in China, experienced a 90-percent year-on-year increase in the first 10 months of the year.

Peng Liang, public relations director of Ctrip's resort and vacation department, said the visa exempt policy is a big lure for Chinese tourists, particularly middle- and upper-class tourists.

"In September, the number of searches for Peru-related travel packages on our website was double that of August, while bookings increased by 50 percent," Peng said.

The Peru government announced in September that Chinese citizens holding permanent resident certificates or visas for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or any state in the Schengen passport-free zone, with at least six months remaining, would be exempt from a tourist or business visa when visiting Peru for up to 180 days.

Ni Jiali, general manager of the outbound tourism department of Lvmama.com, said that represents a milestone for Chinese tourists traveling to Peru and South America.

zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn
The Library Center of China, a joint project between the China Foreign Language Publishing Administration and the National Library of Peru, opened its doors in Lima, Peru on Sunday.

Calling it "a living room for the Chinese and Peruvian cultural intelligentsia", Huang Kunming, executive deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the center will serve as a window to showcase Chinese culture to Peruvians.

"The center will help Peruvians to know China better, and will provide a rich reservoir of information for scholars of China studies in Peru. In addition, the Chinese books will serve as Chinese language learning materials," said Huang.

Huang said the books cover topics on China including history, culture, literature, traditional medicine, martial arts and modern China.

Initially stocked with 1,000 gifted copies of books, the center will be gradually expanded with about 300 books added every year, according to Hu Baomin, president of China Today and one of the organizers of the project. The initial installment of books consists of 60 percent books in Spanish and 40 percent in Chinese. Seminars on Chinese culture are also planned.

Gonzalo Gutirrez Reinel, Peru's ambassador to the European Union and former ambassador to China, said that cultural connections are necessary in addition to economic connections. "There is still a long way to go to improve bilateral exchanges," he said. "I know that Peru has recently relaxed visa requirements for Chinese. All this will enhance the mutual exchange and understanding."

Delfina Espinosa, director of the National Library of Peru, and Ana Castillo, deputy minister of culture of Peru, expressed appreciation for the gift from China and said that the China-Peru relationship had entered the best of times.

A small exhibition about the history of Chinese characters, the invention of paper and movable type printing and writing tools was presented to celebrate the opening of the center. Li Meng, design director at China Foreign Language Publishing Administration, said the displayed items are high-quality reproductions from the collection of China Printing Museum.

A special edition of China Today was also released to mark the 45th anniversary of China-Peru diplomatic ties.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
A woman holds a lit candle at a protest in Seoul on Saturday to call for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down. [Photo/Agencies]

South Korean prosecutors said on Sunday that they believe President Park Geun-hye was an accomplice in a corruption scandal that has rocked her administration, in a heavy blow to her fight for political survival.

The prosecutors' comments, which came as they indicted a close friend of Park's and two of her former aides, are likely to spur stronger calls for her to step down or be impeached.

Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil and former presidential aide An Chong-bum were charged with abuse of power in pressuring companies to contribute funds to foundations at the center of the scandal, said Lee Young-ryeol, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

"The special investigation team concluded that based on the evidence secured to date, the president was in complicity with Choi Soon-sil, An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong to a considerable degree," Lee told a news conference.

Jeong, also one of Park's former aides, was indicted on a charge of leaking classified information to Choi.

Park cannot be indicted because she has constitutional immunity, Lee said, but added, "We will continue to investigate the president," without elaborating.

Under the constitution, a sitting president cannot be indicted unless on charges of treason.
By An Baijie in Lima and Zhao Huanxin in Beijing | China Daily USA | Updated: 2016-11-21 13:00

When President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama met in the capital of Peru, the two had one person in mind: Donald Trump, the US president-elect, whom they expect will maintain the momentum of bilateral relations.

"After Mr. Trump was elected the next US president, I had a phone conversation with him," Xi said when he met Obama on Saturday on the sidelines of meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization being held in Lima.

Xi said he is willing to work with Trump to expand cooperation in different fields at bilateral, regional and global levels, and manage differences in a constructive way, so as to realize a relationship featuring nonconfrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and push forward China-United States ties further from a new starting point.

Obama, who is on his last overseas trip as president, said he had emphasized to his successor the importance of relations with the world's second-largest economy.

"I have underlined the importance of US-China relations to Trump, and stressed that there

should be a smooth transition of bilateral ties in the wake of the US presidential elections," Obama said, according to a Chinese news release.

The US side is ready to develop a more sustained relationship with China, Obama said.

Xi said the frequent high-level exchanges showed that both sides attach great importance to the development of the China-US relationship.

Xi spoke highly of the US president's endeavor in developing bilateral ties, especially their joint decision to build a new type of China-US major country relations, which has guided the two countries to achieve significant progress in bilateral ties.

Recalling his close contacts with Xi in recent years, Obama said he and Xi have established a candid, friendly and constructive relationship and enhanced mutual trust.

In more than three years, Washington and Beijing have joined hands to confront challenges and effectively managed differences, while bilateral consultation and cooperation mechanisms have yielded rich results, said Obama.

"We have demonstrated what's possible when our two countries work together," Obama said, adding that the US and China have collaborated on key global challenges, such as fighting climate change and ending the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Zou Shuo contributed to this story.
What a gift it is to get to spend a Shabbes (and then some) the way I just did!

On Friday night, Rabbi David and I went to Shir Tikvah in Troy, MI, to serve as the official ALEPH representatives at the installation of our dear friend and colleague (and fellow ALEPH Board member) Rabbi Aura Ahuvia as the new rabbi there.

We spent most of the evening on the bimah with Hazzan Steve Klaper and Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg, the four of us surrounding Rabbi Aura and singing with her in impromptu harmonies. We sang three different "Lecha Dodi" melodies, one of which I'd never heard before. We sang "Yihiyu L'ratzon" and "Oseh Shalom" to the tune of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." I think the highlight of my night was Shir Yaakov's "Higale Na" -- one of my favorite melodies to harmonize to, with some of my favorite people to harmonize with. I know I've said this before, but singing beloved liturgy in harmony with beloved friends who love the liturgy as much as I do is basically my idea of heaven. It was also a particular highlight to hear words from Reverend Bill Kondrath as part of Rabbi Aura's installation -- he was one of my teachers at Clergy Camp last summer.

On Shabbes morning we gathered with the Pardes Hannah community, which is led by Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg (known in the ALEPH world simply as Reb Elliot.) Reb Elliot teaches Hasidut in the ALEPH Ordination Program. I've davened with Reb Elliot before, when I was in rabbinical school, but there's a difference between being with someone in the unique holy container of an ALEPH Ordination Program intensive, and being with them in their own home context, their own home community. I loved getting to see what kind of services he leads when he's at home with his own congregants. I shared poetry interwoven with the morning service, and Rabbi David shared a beautiful d'var Torah on the weekly Torah portion, healing from hurt, and vision.

Part of the fun of the Listening Tour we engaged in over our first fifteen months as co-chairs of ALEPH was getting to daven in so many different ALEPH places around the continent. No two Jewish Renewal services are the same. While both Shir Tikvah and Pardes Hannah use their own homegrown siddurim (prayerbooks), the two siddurim are different. The Shir Tikvah siddur is beautifully designed and thoughtfully put-together. Reb Elliot's siddur is packed full of great poetry (Louise Gluck, Mary Oliver) and texts from the Jewish mystical tradition. As a liturgy geek, I love seeing what texts people use when they daven. And as a Renewalnik, I love seeing how skilled leaders of prayer take whatever texts are in their book and bring them alive in a way that brings the daveners more to life ourselves too -- to me that's one of the practices at Jewish Renewal's core.

After lunch, Rabbi David and I spoke with the room a bit about ALEPH and Jewish Renewal, which led into a rich and thoughtful conversation about Jewish Renewal's past, present, and future. That led seamlessly into some mid-afternoon text study. Reb Elliot had prepared texts from two Hasidic masters, Netivot Shalom and Kedushat Levi, on the week's Torah portion. There was a moment when we were all sitting around the living room with text handouts, and someone made a fabulous point that incisively made the text and its relevance more clear, and I couldn't help beaming, and Rabbi David turned to me and murmured "welcome home." It did feel like a kind of homecoming: to be seated in the house of my teacher and friend, learning with dear friends again, immersing ourselves in words of Torah at the afternoon peak of a prayerful Shabbat.

And then came Saturday night, a havdalah program called An Evening of Song and Spirit(s) in Detroit. The program was created by Rabbi Dan Horowitz of The Well, and co-presented by ALEPH and Hazon (and supported by the Covenant Foundation; thanks to all of the above.) The event was held in a place called Ponyride, a coworking space and event space located in an old warehouse. Rabbi Dan led us in dance niggunim. Cantor Michael Smolash of Temple Israel led some beautiful niggunim (wordless Hasidic melodies), as did Rabbi Alana Alpert (who chose to bring one of my favorite melodies from Nava Tehila, the Jewish Renewal community of Jerusalem -- the niggun they call Into the West.) Reb Elliot offered teachings from the Zohar at the intersection of the old week's Torah portion and the Torah portion for the week that was on the cusp of beginning. Rabbi David offered a contemplative / experiential deep dive into portals in holy time. And I shared poems from Open My Lips and from my as-yet unpublished next manuscript Texts to the Holy.

Sunday was a day of deep ALEPH conversations with our hosts, Reb Elliot and his wife Linda Jo Doctor (who, like Rabbi Aura, serves with us on the ALEPH Board.) We started talking shop over coffee first thing in the morning and didn't stop until evening when it was time for the two of us to regretfully take our leave and head for the airport to return home. (And yes, we managed a trip to Zingerman's in there -- which is every bit as fabulous a place as their catalogue had led me to believe.)

A weekend like this one may be physically tiring, but it's emotionally and spiritually restorative. I'm so grateful to our hosts in Troy and Detroit and Ann Arbor for welcoming us into their homes and communities and prayer spaces, and for the opportunity to have my heart and soul enlivened by the feeling of "coming home" into communities where I had never before been.
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President Tran Dai Quang attends the 24th APEC economic leaders' meeting in Peru__Photo: VNA

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President Tran Dai Quang attended a dialogue and a group meeting with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forums Business Advisory Council (APAC) within the framework of the 24th APEC High-level Week in Lima, Peru, on November 19.The dialogue took place following a ceremony hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky to welcome heads of delegation from 21 member economies.At the dialogue, the leaders and entrepreneurs discussed ways to promote growth and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region amidst the worlds slow economic recovery while protectionism and the anti-globalization movement has shown signs of development.As the host of APEC Year 2016, Peru has chosen its general theme Quality Growth and Human Development which focuses on four priorities of regional economic connectivity and quality growth, regional food market, modernization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and human resources development.President Quang said at the dialogue that the APEC economies are resolved to consistently pursue trade and investment liberalization, promote quality growth, help businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises grasp opportunities arising from the fourth industrial revolution and digital era.APEC businesses need to join efforts with governments to seek new driving forces to boost economic growth, he said, adding that he wishes they would continue making positive contributions to the APEC Year Vietnam 2017.On the same day, the Vietnamese President attended and delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit 2016  an annual event of utmost significance to the Asia-Pacific business community within the framework of the APEC High-level Week.Addressing nearly 1,000 representatives from top regional businesses, President Quang hailed the APEC Business Community as the pioneers who have initiated and realized many ideas for growth, cooperation and connectivity within the APEC Forum as well as the Asia-Pacific as a whole.He noted that, in a globalized world full of uncertainties, more than ever, APEC needs to reaffirm its role as an idea incubator and a driver for innovation, economic growth and integration.The focus of the upcoming years must be on accelerating economic restructuring toward sustainability, inclusiveness and equity. Priority should be given to increasing productivity, ensuring food, and resources security, especially water and clean energy, developing high-quality human resources, strengthening competitiveness and creativity of businesses, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.This future lies in building an APEC for the people and businesses, and contributing to maintaining the Asia-Pacific as a driver of global growth and connectivity, he said.The Vietnamese state leader affirmed that after thirty years of reform, Vietnam has gained enormous achievements, transforming from a less-developed country into a middle-income developing country. Vietnam today is one of the most rapidly growing markets and is forecast to become one of the five most competitive manufacturing nations in the Asia-Pacific by 2020.He underscored efforts to build a law-ruled state that is transparent and efficient in the interest of the people and businesses, seek to improve the legal institutions and policies, protect the environment and expand the business space for stakeholders, awaken all potentials of businesses, promote accountability, uphold the rule of law and create new drivers for social-economic development.As one of the dynamic economies with a high level of openness and the destination for many multinational corporations, Vietnam is becoming ever more integrated with the two sides of the Pacific through different partnerships, the ASEAN Community and a network of 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 59 partners including 18 APEC members, he said.Speaking highly of the support and companionship of the APEC Business Community throughout the 30 years of reform and 20 years of Vietnam's membership in the APEC Forum, the State leader stressed that the State and people of Vietnam look forward to meeting APEC businesses in the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang next November.Earlier the same day, President Tran Dai Quang attended the seventh high-level meeting of leaders of 12 TPP member states under the chair of US President Barack Obama.It was their first meeting since the TPP was signed in Auckland, New Zealand, on February 4, 2016.Speaking at the event, President Quang urged the member states to enhance technical support and capacity improvement to enjoy benefits brought about by the deal, and expressed his belief that the TPP implementation would promote widespread economic connectivity among 12 member states and the Asia-Pacific countries in general.The TPP leaders showed their determination to accelerate the implementation of the deal, considering it an important channel to further deepen regional connectivity towards the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). 
The Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has set standards for cashew processing to nudge the industry towards cleaner production and ensure consistent quality.  Photo enternews.vn

HCM CITY  The Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has set standards for cashew processing to nudge the industry towards cleaner production and ensure consistent quality.

The standards, announced at the eighth Viet Nam Golden Cashew Rendezvous in a Nang last week, cover input materials, technical requirements and equipment involved in cutting the nuts, sizing them at different stages, drying, peeling testa, grading cashew kernel, fumigation, packaging, and export.

For instance, the specifications for raw cashew nuts for processing require the raw nuts to be harvested from cashew trees or transplants without using genetically modified technology and have maximum moisture content of 10 per cent, no mould, pests or bacterial contamination, a natural colour and so on.

There are also comprehensive requirements for cashew processing plants, processing tools and others.

Pham Van Cong, Vinacas deputy chairman, said firms have applied measures to make products meeting food safety standards for long.

[But] by promulgation of the standards, the association expects the more than 300 processing factories in the cashew industry to apply them in their production so that the industry can produce products of the same quality.

Nguyen uc Thanh, Vinacas chairman, said the procedures would help the cashew industry meet consumers increasing demand for hygiene and food safety standards, non-genetic modification and origin traceability.

Joseph Lang, managing director of Kenkko, one of Europes largest buyers, sellers and distributors of nuts and fried fruits, said a recent study on food trends in Europe by Deloittes, a major international consultancy group, identified two types of consumer groups  traditional (49 per cent) and evolving (51 per cent).

While the first group bases its buying on traditional factors like price, taste and convenience, the second group is more concerned about health and sustainability, he said.

As much as 95 per cent of the second group is interested in natural foods with limited processing, preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Thanh said Luckily, most cashew farmers in Viet Nam do not use banned substances. Products with Viet Nam origin all meet hygiene and food safety standards.

Nguyen Anh Hoang, director of the Binh Phuoc Province Department of Industry and Trade, said with more than 134,000ha under cashew, Binh Phuoc accounts for 43 per cent of the countrys total.

The province is also home to hundreds of cashew businesses, he said.

We are establishing a set of regional criteria for sustainable cashew development, forming large cashew farms with intensive cultivation, transferring advanced technologies, focusing on planting high-quality and high-yield cashew saplings and applying advanced processing technologies to reduce production costs and improve quality and enhance competiveness.

Using automatic machines instead of manual labour makes it easy to control product quality in terms of colour, size and hygiene in line with international standards, he said.

A business group called Group of Viet Nam Leading Cleaner Cashew Processors and Exporters was formed at the event.

Viet Nam accounts for half of the worlds cashew exports and has been the leading exporter for the last 10 years.

Its cashew products are exported to 80 countries and territories, with the US, Europe and China being the main markets.  VNS
HCM CITY  Viet Capital Bank and FPT Information System (FPT IS) have signed a contract to modernise the banks transaction system with customers, targeting to better serve its customers and create a foundation to deploy Omni-channel banking services.

This system is included in the banks IT platform development roadmap towards digital banking.

The system will help the bank improve service quality and significantly reduce time for processing transactions of customers at its branches and transaction offices.

Meanwhile, a multi-channel transaction platform (Omni-channel) will be built to bring to customers the most convenient service and the Omni-channel would help the bank to deploy new transaction channels, such as VTM (Virtual Telling Machine), or new products and services on its existing transaction channels in a faster and more synchronised manner.

In its IT development roadmap in the 2016-2020 period, the bank expects to complete its Transaction System with Customers and the Omni-channel in 2017, which will enable it to develop other transaction channels, such as VTM, and upgrade its existing transaction systems of Mobile Banking and Internet Banking.

FPT IS, a member of FPT Corporation, is providing banking and financial solutions to more than 300 local and overseas banks and financial organisations.  VNS
HA NOI  The domestic automobile market has warmed up recently, and consumption is seen moving toward vehicles with 1,500cc engines, or smaller, and pick-up trucks.

Insiders said this trend was obvious during the two largest auto shows held in Ha Noi and HCM City in October. Each exhibition showcased some 150 models, including SUVs, sedans, luxury cars, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, pick-ups and special-purpose vehicles. However, the overwhelming majority at both events were focused on small and medium segments which had prices within reach of customers.

In response, automakers have recently rolled out many small, fuel-efficient sedans at reasonable prices. Further, customers indicated they wanted to purchase small vehicles that are more convenient for driving in crowded cities in Viet Nam, and in response to the fluctuation in fuel prices.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Automobiles Manufacturers Association, the share of vehicles with 1,500cc engines, and smaller, has grown to half of the market, much higher than the previous period, which was only one-fourth of purchases.

In addition, the Governments policies on tax adjustments have encouraged the purchase of smaller vehicles. As of early 2016, import taxes on vehicles of nine seats and below, manufactured in ASEAN member countries, has been reduced to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, the Special Consumption Tax tariff on autos saw many changes with the new regulations, which came into effect on July 1. Imported vehicles with nine seats or less - and engine displacement of 1,500cc or less - will enjoy a reduction from the current tax rate of 45 per cent to 40 per cent. The tax rate will be further reduced to 35 per cent on January 1, 2018.

Participating in the changes, the Viet Nam automobile industry development strategy has also encouraged production and consumption of small sedans, which are fuel-efficient and more affordable.

Meanwhile, local automakers continuously launched promotional campaigns and reduced prices to boost demand. Additionally, importers have embraced changing trends in demand.

At the exhibition last month, Audi Vietnam launched two new models, the Audi Q2 and Audi Q3 Sportback, which both have 1,400cc engines. Meanwhile, Euro Auto Vietnam introduced a number of models with 1,500cc engines, such as the Mini Cooper and BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.

Also, Suzuki Vietnam showcased their all-new Ciaz sedan with a 1,400cc engine, in an effort to meet the increasing demand of customers during the year-end shopping season.

Tran Tan Trung, General Director of Lien A International Joint Stock Company, which is the official supplier of Audi in Viet Nam, said besides luxury cars with high engine displacement, his firm had been distributing small sedans with integrated technologies and reasonable prices to compete with other firms.

Those sedans with low engine displacement are currently on Audis priority products list in the Vietnamese market, and will remain so in the future, said Trung.

The rise of pick-ups

The sale of pick-up trucks has been as busy as the small sedan market, as the vehicle has been further equipped with convenient features, similar to passenger cars, but having different purposes, such as traveling, carrying goods and being capable of operating in various terrains, from cities to rural and mountain areas.

In comparison with multi-purposed SUVs, which have the same engine displacement, the price of SUV units is billion of ong, much higher than pick-up trucks, which cost VN600-700 million (US$26,595-$31,028). Furthermore, pick-ups have a low registration fee of two per cent of value, while others are as high as 10-12 per cent.

The market has seen many brand names from the US and Japan, including Ford Ranger, Mazda BT50, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-max and Chevrolet Colorado, in addition to the UAZ brand name from Russia with the Patriot model, costing more than VN500 million, the least expensive auto in the same segment.

The sale of pick-up trucks reached 16,741 units in 2015, making a year-on-year increase of 100 per cent and taking the third leading position in the market, following the sedan and SUV.

However, not every model has seen strong growth in the Vietnamese market. In the first 10 months of this year, the Ford Ranger continued its leading position with 11,402 units sold, up 91 per cent compared with the same period last year. It is now referred to as the King of pick-ups in the market.

Pham Van Dung, General Director of Ford Vietnam, said the Ranger had kept its position in the Vietnamese market because of its intelligent functions. On average, there is one Ranger for every two pick-ups sold.

Meanwhile, other models, such as the Mazda BT50 and Mitsubishi Triton, saw sales of 273 and 142 units in October, respectively. The Toyota Hilux, Chevrolet Colorado, Isuzu D-max, and Mekong Pronto Premio sold from 20 to 80 units each.

Although almost all auto firms have been present in Viet Nam, most pick-up models have been imported from Thailand, which is seen as the world largest pick-up truck manufacturing base. Pick-ups are required to pay only 5 per cent of import tax, compared to 40 per cent for others.

It is predicted that the demand for pick-ups will accelerate when its price falls under the ASEAN trade agreement, in which the import tax will be reduced to 30 per cent by 2017 and zero per cent by 2018. With such advantages, the pick-up market will be busy in the future and may occupy a large market share.

Furthermore, the pick-ups have been allowed to travel in the same category as small sedans in cities beginning on November 1 this year. According to Circular 06/2016/TT-BGTVT issued by the transport ministry, pick-ups are no longer banned from traveling on roads during certain hours.

However, after the circular was issued, Ha Noi taxmen proposed to increase registration fees for pick-ups from 2 per cent to 12 per cent, similarly to those of sedans.  VNS
HA NOI  The Mekong Initiative for Startup Tourism (MIST) has been launched in HCM City to boost investment and innovation in the tourism sector in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam.

The MIST founders are the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI).

MTCO will receive funding from the governments of Cambodia, China, Laos and Myanmar, as well as Thailand and Viet Nam, while MBI will receive funds from the Asian Development Bank and the Australian government.

In Viet Nam, MIST was organised with the support of the a Nang Business Incubator (DNES). Partners of the initiative are the Seoul Global Startup Centre and the Swiss government-funded SECO Entrepreneurship Programme.

Innovation and technologies are transforming the worlds tourism sector, but the Mekong region has lagged behind, Dominic Mellor, head of the MBI at the Asian Development Bank, said at the launch ceremony on Friday.

We are eager to see the regions startups innovate and create new avenues for tourism growth, he said.

MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart said the Greater Mekong Subregion is a magnet for tourism, but accelerating tourist volumes to drive inclusive growth is facing many challenges.

The region will need to develop and innovate if it is to sustain todays growth over the long term, Thraenhart said.

Vo Duy Khuong, Chairman of the a Nang Startup Network Coordinating Council and DNES, affirmed, Tourism is a major industry in a Nang, and the startup council is committed to fostering startups and promoting innovative approaches and solutions for sustainable growth in the industry.

MIST will work with local tourism industry players to identify critical industry challenges and bottlenecks. The programme will then solicit solutions from global experienced innovators, encourage exchanges between global providers and local startups and organise competitions among startup teams.

The first tourism startup contest will be held in a Nang early next year.

MIST has invited startups, particularly those led by local men and women, to participate in a contest to develop solutions for identified tourism market opportunities. The winners will be matched with suitable investors.

The best startup teams from across the four countries will be invited to an intensive boot camp and Demo Day at the 2017 Mekong Tourism Forum in Luang Prabang in Laos. The best Vietnamese startups will be invited to a Demo Day at the APEC Investment Summit in November 2017 in a Nang.

MBI is an advisory facility supported by the Asian Development Bank and the government of Australia, promoting private-sector development in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam. It fosters the development of ecosystem innovation by supporting angel investments, business incubation, and technology commercialisation.

MTCO was established in early 2006 and is a collaborative effort between the six countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS): Cambodia, China (specifically the provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi), Laos and Myanmar, as well as Thailand and Viet Nam.

The mission of MTCO is to help GMS National Tourism Organisations develop and promote the Mekong as a single travel destination, offering a diverse range of good quality and high-yielding sub-regional products; adding to the tourism development efforts of each GMS destination; contributing to poverty reduction, gender equality and the empowerment of women; and minimising any adverse impacts of tourism through sustainable development activities.  VNS
THUA THIEN-HUE  Authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province have decided to revoke the investment licence given to build a resort and upmarket residential areas in the region, after the project has been delayed.

The provinces Peoples Committee last week decided to withdraw the licence given to Vinconstec Hue. The project cost was estimated at VN600 billion (US$27 million).

In 2007, the committee handed over 70ha of land near a local lagoon to the investor, who promised to complete the project in 10 years. The proposal included the construction of a five-star hotel, a 26ha resort, 400 luxurious apartments, 150 ocean-view villas and 730 street-view houses.

Work started in 2008 with some concrete frames for houses being built at the site in Phu Vang Districts Phu Thuan Commune, but construction came to a halt in 2012.

The committee revoked the licence after they were approached by irate residents who had given land for the project and were upset by the delay. Local firms said the investor owes them money for the purchase of construction materials and for workers payment.

There is a lot of public concern that the committee offered the project to an unqualified investor like Vinconstec.  VNS
By Dr. Mathieu Nalpas*

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a reality of life, but because talking about them remains a taboo, much inaccurate information is also widely transmitted. In 2010, the World Health Organization estimated that some 340 millions new cases of curable Stds occur annually. In developing countries, they are one on the top five reasons people seek medical care. SouthEast Asia is particularly affected, the result of a flourishing sex industry, massive tourism and ignorance.

In most cases, the disease could have been prevented with simple measures and appropriate behavior.

What are STDs ?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. Bacteria include gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Viruses include genital herpes, hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Parasites are responsible for trichomoniasis and pubic lice.

Common symptoms - which may occur alone or in combination - include abnormal genital discharge, burning sensation when urinating, persistent pelvic pain, bleeding after intercourse or between periods, warts, itchiness, rashes and sores in the genital or anal areas, swollen lymph glands in the groin and sudden fever. STDs do not always have symptoms. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be active and still not show any symptoms.

Untreated STDs can result in infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, cancer, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, birth defects, chronic liver conditions. Untreated HIV infection can lead to AIDS and death.

The sooner STDs are diagnosed, the easier and more effective the treatment is. Late diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications and difficulties recovering.

How to protect oneself ?

Bacteria and viruses can be found in sperm, vaginal secretions, saliva, pus and blood. they can be found in the genitals and in the bodys mucous membranes (throat, penis, vagina, rectum).

Transmission of STDs occurs during unprotected sex with a partner carrying the infection. The partner can be symptomatic or not, meaning that he or she can be sick without feeling ill or showing signs of infection.

Vaginal, anal and oral sex can lead to STDs, whether there is penetration or not. Simple contact between the mucous membranes is enough for transmission of some STDs.

Protected sex means avoiding contact between sperm, vaginal secretions, blood and vaginal, anal or oral mucous membranes. Some STDs are transmitted when kissing or touching the genital areas (genital herpes, hepatitis B).

Condoms are an effective form of protection when used properly. Young people must be educated about contraceptive methods and how to use condoms. The challenge is to reduce new STD infections and also to reduce teenage pregnancy.

Condoms should be used even in oral sex. If not, it is important to make sure there are no wounds or sores in the mouth, the penis, the vagina or the anus.

How to get tested ?

Being tested for STDs is easy: a blood test, urine analysis, and a vaginal smear for women. Confidentiality must continue to be the number one priority of health care facilities proposing those tests.

How to be cured ?

Treatment of STDs is often simple and short. For exemple, only one shot of antibiotics for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Treatment can last a few days, sometimes a few months (hepatitis B). People living with HIV have to be on medications all their life. A safe and effective vaccine is proposed and recommended to prevent the hepatitis B infection.

Most STDs can be cured without complications if they are diagnosed in time. Others, like HIV, can be treated and controlled. A person living with HIV will have a normal life if taking treatment properly every day. HIV is now considered a chronic disease. It is also important to fight ignorance and stigmatization. As far as HIV is concerned, stigmatization and fear are still very strong and are affecting vulnerable population like sex workers and intraveinous drug users.

Someone infected with a STD must be responsible and inform his or her partner so that they, too, can be treated on time and the chain of further contamination will be shortened.

One STD can hide another STD. They fragilize the mucous and facilitate transmission of infectious diseases. An untreated STD can be an "open door" for HIV or other STDs. That is why, denial is the worst attitude, even if there is no obvious symptoms of disease.

According to a study published in 2002, one third of all men aged 18-55 in Ha Noi have had sex with a female sex worker, and approximately only one third of them used a condom. It would be interesting to have more recent data so as to compare with todays behavior.Family Medical Practice Hanoi

******

*Doctor Mathieu Nalpas works as a General Practitioner at Family Medical Practice Hanoi - a branch of Family Medical Practice Vietnam. For more advice on medical topics, visit Family Medical Practice Hanoi on 298 Kim Ma, Ba inh or call (04) 3843 0748. Email: hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com
A NANG  a Nang has been named among the Top 10 Holiday Destinations in Asia by Smart Travel Asia  an online tourism magazine for Asia.

Deputy Director of the citys tourism department Nguyen Xuan Binh told Viet Nam News a certificate recognising the honour was handed over by a representative of the magazine in Da Nang last week.

Binh said a Nang has been listed in the annual magazines Top 10 Holiday Destinations since 2013.

In the readers vote this year, Da Nang ranked ninth, tied with Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Chengdu, China.

The Rong (Dragon) Bridge lights up in the Han River in Da Nang city.Photo ASA Studio

HCM City, a trade hub in Viet Nam, was listed in the Top 10 Cities for Business, while HCM City-based Park Hyatt Saigon was included in Top 25 Conference Hotels.

The Nam Hai Hoi An in Hoi An city and Banyan Tree Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue were listed in the Top 25 Spa Hotel and Resorts.

The Nam Hai resort, situated on the coast of Hoi An, and Sofitel Legend Metropole in Ha Noi, ranked second in the Top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts.

a Nang also received an award for Asias Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism in a Nang this October.

The central city hosted 4.6 million tourists, of which 1.25 million were foreign tourists, in 2015.  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) has urged the northern province of Hoa Binh to improve its investment environment so it can attract investors. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

HOA BINH  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the northern province of Hoa Binh to improve its investment environment so it can attract investors.

Addressing a local investment promotion conference on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Hoa Binh enjoys many advantages, such as its location as a gateway to the capital Ha Noi, beautiful landscape, rich culture and potential in construction materials, mining, hi-quality agro-fishery processing, resorts and eco-tourism.

However, most investment projects in the locality are small scale, he said, calling on investors to explore opportunities in the province, particularly in tourism.

Hoa Binh officials affirmed their resolve to build a transparent business environment, and hoped to attract investment in infrastructure, hi-tech industry and agriculture, parts supply industry, health care, education, tourism and trade.

In the first ten months of this year, the province licensed 39 projects, including one foreign-invested project worth US$3 million and 38 domestic projects worth nearly VN4.6 trillion ($208.5 million).

During a meeting with local authorities earlier the same day, PM Phuc recommended that Hoa Binh focus on organic agriculture and tourism, considering the provinces natural advantages.

As the rate of local poor households remains high, 24 per cent, he requested speeding up poverty reduction, stepping up the fight against drug trafficking and preventing wastefulness in the use of State assets.

The leader also called for pooling public resources into infrastructure to ease pressure on the State budget.

Local authorities proposed the Ministry of Defence consider launching a hydroplane service from Noi Bai International Airport to Hoa Binh Lake to boost local tourism.

The same day, the PM attended the a festival in Dan Chu Commune, Hoa Binh city.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang delivers a speech on Saturday at the APEC CEO Summit 2016  an annual event for the Asia-Pacific business community within the framework of the 24th APEC Summit in Lima, Peru.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

LIMA  Vietnamese President Tran ai Quang attended a dialogue and group meeting with the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forums Business Advisory Council (APAC) within the framework of the 24th APEC High-level Week in Lima, Peru, on Saturday.

The dialogue, chaired by President Quang, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Kim Byong-joon and US Trade Representative Michael Froman, took place following a ceremony hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Paplo Kuczynski to welcome the heads of delegations from 21 member economies.

At the dialogue, the leaders and entrepreneurs discussed ways to promote growth and connectivity in Asia-Pacific amidst the worlds slow economic recovery while protectionism and anti-globalisation sentiment has increased.

As the host of APEC Year 2016, Peru chose the theme Quality Growth and Human Development which focuses on four priorities of regional economic connectivity and quality growth, regional food markets, modernisation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and human resources development.

President Quang said that the APEC economies were resolved to pursue trade and investment liberalisation, promote quality growth and to help businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

APEC businesses must work with governments to boost economic growth, he said, adding that he wished they would continue making positive contributions to the APEC Year Viet Nam 2017.

In the afternoon, the Vietnamese President attended and delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit 2016  an annual event for the Asia-Pacific business community within the framework of the APEC High-level Week.

Addressing nearly 1,000 representatives from top regional businesses, Quang hailed the APEC Business Community as pioneers who have initiated many ideas for growth, co-operation and connectivity within the APEC Forum and Asia-Pacific as a whole.

He noted that in a globalised world full of uncertainties, more than ever, APEC needed to reaffirm its role as an idea incubator and a driver for innovation, growth and integration.

The focus of the upcoming years must be on accelerating economic restructuring towards sustainability, inclusiveness and equity. Priority should be given to increasing productivity; ensuring food and resources security, especially water and clean energy; developing high-quality human resources; and strengthening competitiveness and creativity of businesses, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

"This future lies in building an APEC for the people and businesses, and contributing to maintaining Asia-Pacific as a driver of global growth and connectivity, he said.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that after thirty years of reform, Viet Nam had gained enormous achievements, transforming from a less-developed country into a middle-income developing country. Viet Nam today is a rapidly growing market and is forecast to become one of the five most competitive manufacturing nations in Asia-Pacific by 2020.

He underscored efforts to build a law-governed State that is transparent and efficient in the interest of people and businesses, improve legal institutions and policies, protect the environment and expand business space for stakeholders, promote accountability, uphold the rule of law, and create new drivers for development.

As a dynamic economy with a high level of openness and the destination for many multinational corporations, Viet Nam was becoming increasingly integrated with the two sides of the Pacific through different partnerships, the ASEAN Community and a network of 16 free trade agreements with 59 partners including 18 APEC members, he said.

Lauding the support and companionship of the APEC Business Community throughout the 30 years of reform and 20 years of Viet Nams membership in the APEC Forum, the State leader stressed that the State and people of Viet Nam look forward to meeting APEC businesses in a Nang next November.

Earlier the same day, Quang attended the seventh high-level meeting of leaders of 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) member states, chaired by US President Barack Obama.

It was their first meeting since the TPP was signed in Auckland, New Zealand, on February 4, 2016.

Speaking at the event, Quang urged member states to enhance technical support and capacity improvement to enjoy the benefits of the deal, and expressed his belief that implementing the TPP would promote widespread economic connectivity among 12 member states.

The TPP leaders showed their determination to accelerate the implementation of the deal, considering it an important channel to deepen regional connectivity towards the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific deal.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended an informal dialogue between APEC leaders with the Pacific Alliance, including the four Latin American economies - Peru, Mexico, Chile and Colombia.  VNS






President Tran ai Quang meets his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky in Lima on November 18.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

LIMA  President Tran ai Quang and his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties during their talks in Lima on November 18. The Vietnamese President was in Peru to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum.

The two leaders witnesses the signing of three co-operation agreements, including an MoU on fishing development, a cultural co-operation agreement and another on the control of psychotropic substances, drugs and drug precursors.

Both leaders agreed to increase the exchange of high-level, local and business-level visits, and hasten the signing of co-operation agreements in diverse areas, especially in telecommunications and oil and gas.

They pledged to help their business communities access Southeast Asian and Latin American markets.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, the Vietnamese leader underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration to maintain a climate of peace and stability for development.

The two presidents expressed their satisfaction with the increasingly effective co-ordination between the two countries at regional and global mechanisms such as the APEC, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Co-operation (FEALAC).

The guest suggested joint work be continued to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation within the APEC framework, thereby ensuring the success of the APEC Peru Year 2016 and APEC Viet Nam Year 2017.

Earlier, Quang delivered a speech to Peruvian business representatives, briefing them on Viet Nam s economic integration, including its economic partnerships with 224 markets. The country has also signed 90 bilateral and six regional free trade agreements, and actively joined regional and inter-regional co-operation mechanisms, he said.

He told them that Viet Nam was adopting a range of measures to improve the business climate, making it easier for foreign investors, including those from Peru , to do business.

Bilateral trade ties are yet to match each sides potential due to the geographical distance and limited investment, Quang said, urging both sides to work harder to increase co-operation in agriculture, fisheries, construction materials, software services and mining.  VNS
Viet Nam is ready to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meetings in the countrys central city of a Nang in 2017.  Photo Radio Nacional

LIMA  Viet Nam is ready to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meetings in the countrys central city of a Nang in 2017, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh confirmed at the 28th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Peru on November 18.

Discussing preparations for the 2017 APEC Year in Viet Nam, Minh said Viet Nam proposed theming the year Creating new driving force for a common future based on the APECs common need for new momentum to promote integration and connectivity in the region.

About 200 activities, including eight ministerial-level conferences, will be held across Vietnamese cities and provinces, while the 25th APEC Summit will take place in a Nang, he revealed.

Ministers extolled Viet Nam for its careful preparation and praised the theme of the event.

They expressed their belief that APEC Year 2017 will contribute to widening and deepening regional collaboration.

Another focus of the 28th AMM was human development  one of the top priorities of APEC co-operation.

Participants emphasised the importance of education, innovation, vocational skills training, corporate culture, and information technology to human resources development.

They said that it is necessary to improve the quality of and increase access to education, while ensuring job generation and quality life for all, especially women, youngsters and people with disabilities.

They welcomed the joint statement adopted at the sixth APEC Education Ministerial Meeting in Peru in October and agreed to enhance education co-operation.

APEC observers, representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council, and the Pacific Islands Forum proposed developing co-operation for sustainable growth and building a post-2020 vision for APEC.

Minh said digital technology was driving fundamental change in economic sectors and is expected to spur the global economy.

APEC should step up collaboration in education and digital connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas to reduce poverty and empower women.

He stressed that developing human resources is a priority for Viet Nam to realise its socio-economic development strategy through 2020.

The same day, the 28th AMM concluded with the passing of a joint statement on measures to boost APEC co-operation, which will be submitted to the 24th APEC Summit on November 19-20.

On the sidelines of the event, Minh had bilateral meetings with foreign partners, including the foreign ministers of the US and Papua New Guinea. The countries agreed to co-ordinate with Viet Nam for the success of the APEC Year 2017.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang meets Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Lima, Peru, on November 18.  Photo vov.vn

LIMA  President Tran ai Quang and Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla have agreed to deepen bilateral collaboration in marine security and fighting terrorism and organised crime.

The two reached the agreement at their meeting in Lima, Peru, on November 18, on the sidelines of the 24th High-level Week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum from November 17-20.

They also agreed to strengthen co-ordination at multilateral forums, especially in maintaining regional and global peace and stability, and promoting effort to address disputes in the East Sea peacefully.

Quang proposed Viet Nam and Indonesia soon hold the seventh meeting of the joint committee to seek specific measures towards achieving US$10 billion in bilateral trade by 2018.

He asked Indonesia to treat detained Vietnamese fishermen humanely in the spirit of the two countries friendship.

The Vietnamese President extended an invitation to visit Viet Nam in 2017 to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed that Indonesia wants to increase co-operation with Viet Nam, especially in people-to-people and business exchanges.  VNS
Leaders take group photo at the the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum in Lima, Peru .  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

LIMA  President Tran ai Quang highlighted the comprehensive partnership between Viet Nam and the US while addressing a workshop at the USAPEC Business Coalition in Lima, Peru, on November 18, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum from November 17-20.

Economics, trade and investment co-operation had become a foundation to propel bilateral relations forward, he said, noting that two-way trade had increased by 20 per cent over the past four years to reach US$45 billion at present, with the US a leading trade partner and seventh biggest investor in Viet Nam.

Quang recalled that during US President Barack Obamas visit to Viet Nam in May, Vietnamese and US leaders recognised the remarkable contributions of the US business community to developing the two nations partnership.

The two sides agreed that trade and investment promotion was important for mutual benefits as well as for peace and stability, he added.

The President informed US businesses about the socio-economic situation in Viet Nam, and reaffirmed the Vietnamese States policy of accelerating the renewal process to obtain rapid and sustainable development.

Viet Nam was improving its legal framework to create a stable and healthy business environment, as well as bettering infrastructure, attracting foreign investment and protecting the environment, he said, reiterating the countrys policy of protecting the rights and interests of overseas investors.

He also informed the businesses that Viet Nam is making preparations to host the 2017 APEC Year, with the central city of a Nang the main venue.  VNS




Automobile and motorbike component parts manufactured at Nissin Manufacturing Viet Nam, fully invested by Japan. The company is located at Luong Son industrial zone in northern Hoa Binh Province.  VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HOA BINH  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the northern province of Hoa Binh to improve its investment environment so it can attract investors.

Addressing a local investment promotion conference on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Hoa Binh enjoys many advantages, such as its location as a gateway to the capital Ha Noi, beautiful landscape, rich culture and potential in construction materials, mining, hi-quality agro-fishery processing, resorts and eco-tourism.

However, most investment projects in the locality are small scale, he said, calling on investors to explore opportunities in the province, particularly in tourism.

Hoa Binh officials affirmed their resolve to build a transparent business environment, and hoped to attract investment in infrastructure, hi-tech industry and agriculture, parts supply industry, health care, education, tourism and trade.

In the first ten months of this year, the province licensed 39 projects, including one foreign-invested project worth US$3 million and 38 domestic projects worth nearly VN4.6 trillion ($208.5 million).

During a meeting with local authorities earlier the same day, PM Phuc recommended that Hoa Binh focus on organic agriculture and tourism, considering the provinces natural advantages.

As the rate of local poor households remains high, 24 per cent, he requested speeding up poverty reduction, stepping up the fight against drug trafficking and preventing wastefulness in the use of State assets.

The leader also called for pooling public resources into infrastructure to ease pressure on the State budget.

Local authorities proposed the Ministry of Defence consider launching a hydroplane service from Noi Bai International Airport to Hoa Binh Lake to boost local tourism.

The same day, the PM attended the a festival in Dan Chu Commune, Hoa Binh city. - VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City authorities plan to relocate people living in 20,000 houses in slums along canals and rivers by 2020.

The slums are mainly located in districts 4, 7, 8 and Binh Thanh and have more than 100,000 people living in unsafe and filthy conditions.

The houses, built with temporary materials, are seriously degraded and often lack toilets. Most of their residents lack steady jobs.

District 8 accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the slums with more than 1,000 houses lacking toilets and being situated in severely polluted places, Le Quynh ai, deputy chairman of the district Peoples Committee, told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

The district surveyed the slum inhabitants, asking them where they wanted to live and if they preferred money instead of another dwelling place.

Most would like to remain in the area, making it a knotty problem for the authorities since the compensation they are eligible for is low and inadequate to pay for housing in the vicinity.

The city has a master plan for District 8 that envisages building apartments in blocks of 20  25 floors for 20,000 people on 75 hectares along the oi Canal. Around half the land will be earmarked for green spaces and public and resettlement use.

Slums have existed along the canals for more than half a century of HCM Citys urbanisation history, Le Van Khoa, deputy chairman of the city Peoples Council, said.

The city would invite investors to build housing for the relocated slum residents, he said

Several investors are keen to invest in the resettlement project, with one willing to sink VN12 trillion (US$540 million), he said.

But more money is needed for the huge project.

To make the plan possible, the city would consider other options like using more ODA, inviting foreign investors and reviewing all publics land available, he said.

We want to make sure every household is resettled and no one is without a home.

The city has embarked on 39 social housing projects and by 2020 will have 30,000 apartments for resettlement while the need is for 47,000.

Those who have money to buy social housing will get priority. People can also pay in instalments after paying 20 per cent down. Those who cannot afford to buy can lease social housing.

Architecture Ngo Viet Nam Son said To eliminate the slums along canals, we should use the public-private partnership model and use public lands along the canals to compensate investors like a Nang has done.

He pointed out that after the slums are removed land prices would shoot up, and the Government could sell to investors or offer lands in lieu of money.

Khoa said that investors would be offered several inducements like increased construction density near metro stations, land with waterway ports, not adding parking space while calculating construction density to avoid basements and flooding, and more.  VNS
HCM CITY  More than 138,000 farmers in HCM City have been awarded the title of Excellent farmers in production and doing business, part of a programme that recognises their outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector over the past five years, according to the citys Farmers Association.

The programme has helped more than 9,700 farming households escape poverty.

During the period, more than 90,000 farmers have also been provided loans worth a total of about VN2.74 trillion (US$125 million) to develop their production and business.

In addition, more than 2,200 training courses have been organised to provide advanced farming techniques for farmers.

Under the programme, farmers have also donated more than 200 ha of land to build infrastructure and upgrade rural roads.

Speaking at a meeting to review the programme for 2012-2016 held last Friday, Lieu Vu ieu, deputy chairman of the Standing Central Committee of the Viet Nam Farmers Association, told the citys Farmers Association to continue renovating the content, form and organisation of the programme to promote it further.

The citys Farmers Association should highlight exemplary individuals and groups of the programme to let other farmers learn from them, he said.

Le Thanh Liem, deputy chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said the citys Farmers Association should continue co-operating with departments and agencies to develop agriculture and rural areas.

Tran Thu Bich, head of the citys Department of Science and Technologys Science and Technology Management Division, said the department would carry out several programmes to transfer advanced technologies for the citys agriculture sector in the future.

Over the past five years, the department, in co-operation with the citys Farmers Association, has provided training for nearly 2,000 farmers for trade mark registration, animal waste treatment, safe use of fertilisers and pesticides, advanced techniques in aquaculture and cow breeding.

Many effective agriculture production models, including breeding ornamental fishes and cows and growing mushrooms in houses, are expanding in the city.

The city has established 83 excellent farmer clubs that help provide farming techniques, support breeding stocks and loans and find markets for farmers.

In the 2016-2020 period, the citys Farmers Association will continue working with banks and credit organisations to provide soft loans for farmers.

The citys agriculture production value has increased from VN158.5 million ($7,200) per ha in 2010 to VN375 million ($17,000) per ha last year, according to the citys Farmers Association.  VNS
HA NOI  Only about 65 per cent of rural households in Viet Nam have standard toilets, said associate professor Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, director of the Health Environment Management Agency under the Ministry of Health (MoH), addressing the challenges related to rural hygiene.

Speaking in Ha Noi on Saturday, Huong said that as of the end of 2015, more than five million people did not have hygienic toilets, especially in the northern mountainous provinces, the Central Highlands and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta areas.

Using hygienic toilets will help prevent epidemics such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hand-foot-mouth disease and improve living standards, said Huong at the event marking World Toilet Day (November 19).

Huong proposed a concerted government and local effort to provide hygienic toilets to all and education on the importance of building and using standard toilets.

Using hygienic toilets will help set up modern community and society, she said.

Nguyen Phi Long, chairman of the Viet Nam Central Youth Union, said his organisation would improve education it provides on personal hygiene to rural households, and spread information of the Partys and States policies on environmental protection.

Friday Nwaigwe of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said hygienic toilets were very necessary in preventing dangerous disease. More than 800 children die in the world every day due to using dirty water and bad hygienic conditions.

One third of health-related fatalities among Vietnamese children are caused by diarrhoea and parasite infections, Newaigwe said, adding that with help from UNICEF, diarrhoea epidemics have been stemmed in more than 400 villages.

Tran Vu Hoai, deputy chairman of the Unilever Viet Nam Fund, said that the fund, in co-ordination with the MoH , had set a goal to provide improved hygienic conditions to some 10 million Vietnamese people by the end of 2018.

So far more than four million people across the country have benefited from the programme.

In the meeting, more than 3,000 participants took part in a run to call for hygienic toilets for children.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan asked the Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) to continue its humanitarian activities, healthcare, emergency aid and disaster prevention and response programmes at a ceremony to celebrate its 70th anniversary on Saturday.

Praising the efforts of VNRC members and volunteers in past years, Ngan said the country still faced many difficulties such as consequences of wars, natural disasters, climate change and diseases.

The society should focus on renewing its organisation and operation methods and strengthening human resources to better implement humanitarian programmes, said Ngan.

The NA chairwoman also suggested the society work closer with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and expand co-operation with local and international organisations in humanitarian programmes.

On the occasion, Ngan presented the Labour Order, second class, to the VNRC in recognition of its dedication to humanitarian causes. It was the second time the VNRC has been honoured with the distinction.

Speaking at the event, VNRC Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said that the VNRC was Viet Nams first professional humanitarian organisation.

The society was founded on November 23, 1946 by President Ho Chi Minh, who was also its honorary president until his death in 1969. On November 4, 1957, the VNRC was recognised as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

During the renovation period, the organisation has ran large-scale humanitarian initiatives. Since 2008, it has raised nearly US$115 million for the needy. The campaign New Year for the poor and Agent Orange victims presents gifts worth VN500 billion ($22.7 million) to 1.8 million needy people each year.

The cow bank project, launched in 2010, has handed over around 20,000 cows to 20,000 households in 61 cities and provinces at a total cost of approximately $10 million. Over the past decade, VNRCs chapters have raised nearly $225 million, given support to 22.2 million disaster victims and collected more than one million units of blood each year in blood donation campaigns.  VNS
Five people were killed and one was severely injured in a motorbike accident on Saturday evening in Xuyen Moc District of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.  Photo nld.com.vn

BA RIA-VUNG TAU  Five people were killed and one was severely injured in a motorbike accident on Saturday evening in Xuyen Moc District of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Four died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital.

The only survivor is currently in a coma.

All six victims were reportedly on two motorbikes when they crashed into each other.

According to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provinces police, the victims are from Binh Chau Commune of Xuyen Moc District. The identities of the two motorbikes owners have not been determined.

They also have discovered whether the two motorbikes were running on the opposite or same direction when the accident occurred.

The accident is under investigation.  VNS
Ha Noi police on Saturday morning seized 14 illegal sand mining boats on the Hong (Red) river running through Tan Hong Commune of Ba Vi District.  Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HA NOI  Ha Noi police on Saturday morning seized 14 illegal sand mining boats on the Hong (Red) river running through Tan Hong Commune of Ba Vi District.

Of the 14 boats, six are dredgers and eight are sand-carrying boats.

Initial police investigations showed that dredgers and illegal sand-carrying boats gather on the Hong River section that connects Ha Nois Ba Vi District and Viet Tri City of northern Phu Tho Province at midnight and early morning on weekends.

People on the seized boats failed to present business operation licenses for transporting and extracting sand.

Ba Vi District police, Ha Nois Environmental Crime Prevention and Fighting Police Department and the Waterway Traffic Police Department will investigate the case.

Pham Ngoc Tien, deputy head of Ha Noi s Waterway Traffic Inspectorate, said Sand dredging can cause banks to collapse and change the flow of the river during the rainy season, putting people at risk and damaging dykes and riverside structures.

Ha Noi has only 12 companies qualified for exploiting several parts of the Hong River. Thirteen other firms have been permitted by the Viet Nam Domestic Waterway Department to dredge the riverbed and use the material collected.  VNS
Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Koshi (L) meets with Deputy Standing Secretary of the municipal Partys Committee Tat Thanh Cang in HCM City on Saturday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu

HCM CITY  Japanese businesses are keen to share experience, transfer technology and invest in the construction of metro line 3A and a trade centre at the central station of metro line No 1 in HCM City.

Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Koshi made the remark at a meeting with Deputy Standing Secretary of the municipal Partys Committee Tat Thanh Cang in the city on Saturday.

He said the Japanese government, localities and businesses hope to push ahead with co-operation with Viet Nam and HCM City in particular, adding that the recent rapid increase in the number of Japanese investors in the city demonstrates the Japanese sides wish for stronger co-operation.

According to Koshi, Japans official development assistance (ODA) projects, including transport infrastructure projects, are being carried out on schedule in HCM City.

Cang proposed that Japan continue helping the city implement projects using Japanese ODA, especially the Ben Thanh metro station and the metro line 3A connecting the city with southern Binh Duong and ong Nai provinces.

He expressed his wish for stronger collaboration with Japan in various fields from health, culture, and education to trade, investment and hi-tech agriculture.

The official urged Japan to speed up the implementation of the Cho Ray hospital project, organise a Vietnamese cultural week in Japan, and support human resources training at electronic chip factories.

Local authorities were willing to create the best conditions for Japanese firms to invest in the city, and pledged to work with enterprises to ensure the efficiency of ODA-funded projects, he said.

Use of ODA funds

The HCM City Peoples Committee confirmed with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in its recent report that the Official Development Agency (ODA) and other preferential capital resources were used for the right purpose and right timeline; ensured planned targets and efficiency; and greatly contributed to the citys socio-economic development.

ODA and other preferential capital resources have played a very important part in the citys socio-economic development, especially in developing infrastructure, environment, agriculture and healthcare.

To ensure the highest efficiency in using ODA and other preferential capital resources, the municipal Peoples Committee has balanced its State budget and maintained corresponding capital following the timeline of ODA projects.

On the other hand, the city has paid attention to priority projects in the context of increasing public debts and reviewed all projects to maintain the highest investment efficiency.

In implementing projects, the city has set a detailed timeline for different parts of project and co-operation mechanisms among related authorities, especially for those which had a large amount of ground clearance and compensation.

The municipal Peoples Committee has instructed ODA project management boards to be responsible for all anti-corruption activities.

At present, HCM City has deployed 20 projects with ODA capital for a total investment of VN114 trillion (US$5 billion).

The disbursement levels of ODA and preferential capital resources are not equal among industries and sectors. Transport and environment projects, such as Ben Thanh  Suoi Tien urban railway project and the second phase of a water improvement project for Tau Hu - Ben Nghe  oi  Te canal system have total investment much higher than other projects in agriculture and healthcare.

In another news, at a reception meeting with Shinya Eima, deputy president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in HCM City on Friday, Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee confirmed that Japan always is the biggest ODA sponsor for Viet Nam in general and HCM City in particular.

HCM City hopes the Japanese Government, through JICA, will continue providing ODA for HCM City to deploy other water improvement and urban railway projects in the future, he said.

The city would like JICA to introduce its urban railway projects to Japanese companies in order to expand public-private-partnership co-operation and help the city to train experts, engineers, professional workers, transfer technology and share experiences in operating metros.  VNS
BAKU  Challenges facing the modern media and how to cope with them were the focus of discussion at the November 18 discussion at the 16th General Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Opening the event, OANA President Sergei Mikhailov, who is also head of the Russian news agency TASS, stressed that OANA members have work dedicatedly in modernising their shared website, updating news on social networks such as Facebook and Google+, encouraging initiatives and solutions to reform and development through OANA awards, and establishing a set of common rules on news coverage and editing.

New agencies are now under the strong impacts of digital technologies, which have brought about changes in methods to provide information to the audience as well as in the publics access to information, General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyen uc Loi said.

He stressed that adapting to and leading new trends in modern communications are vital to news agencies, which will require big investment in operation overhaul, human resource rearrangement and technological infrastructure.

Measures to overcome the challenges proposed by the VNA General Director included offering around-the-clock news services based on multimedia platforms.

Other reports discussed a number of issues such as artificial intelligence and cooperation among news agencies in covering global events.

The General Assembly also elected the President, Vice President and a 12-member Executive Board for the 2016-2019 tenure. The Azerbaijan News Agency was elected OANA President, while the Vice President posts were held by TASS, Xinhua (China), AA (Turkey), and Yonhap (the Republic of Korea). The VNA was re-elected to the executive board.

On the sidelines of the 16th OANA General Assembly, the OANA award for quality media products was announced, with TASSs information quality control system winning the prize.

VNAs RapNewsPlus, which report news in the form of rap songs, was ranked second among all nominations.

OANA was set up in 1961 as an initiative of the UNESCO with the goal of promoting direct and free information sharing among news agencies in the Asia-Pacific, a region with dynamic economic development and more than half of the world population.

The organisation now has 43 news agency members from 35 countries, supplying around 70 per cent of the total amount of information circulated around the world each day.

The fifth News Agencies World Congress took place in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 16-17.  VNS
ONG NAI  Doctors from the ong Nai International Hospital have successfully removed a 1.2kg tumour from a womans gallbladder.

Ngo Hong uc, 62, from Vinh Cuu District, was hospitalised last Monday with severe stomach pain. Doctors at the hospital said that when she came in, she was unable to eat and had lost 15kg in just two weeks. She was anaemic and very pale.

Investigations revealed that uc had a large tumour in her gallbladder, which was blocking and affecting the functioning of her various organs. Doctors operated and removed the tumour last Wednesday. uc is recuperating well after her surgery.

Dr Le inh Hung, deputy director of the hospital, said it was the biggest gallbladder tumour he had seen in his 40 years of experience.  VNS
HA NOI  Fifty newspapers were slapped with a total penalty of around VN1 billion (US$44,400) on Monday for wrongful reports on the effects of consuming fish sauce made in the country.

Thanh Nien (Young People), one of the top newspapers in Viet Nam with a daily circulation of 450,000, was fined VN200 million - the maximum that can be fined  by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC).

The MoIC said it had evidence that Thanh Nien intentionally published a series of articles that were advertisement driven. The newspaper collected samples of fish sauce available in the market, sent them for tests and published inaccurate results across six articles, allegedly providing seriously wrongful information, the ministry said.

The series was published in tandem with a survey conducted by the Viet Nam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinatas) in mid-October and stated that traditionally made fish sauce had higher arsenic content than permitted.

The series triggered panic among Vietnamese people who use fish sauce for daily cooking.

Public pressure prompted the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to investigate the survey findings and arrive at the conclusion that Vinatas report was misleading and unreliable as it did not make any distinction between toxic, non-organic arsenic and the non-toxic, organic one. The health ministry also released its own inspection report on traditionally made fish sauce within a week of the release of Vinatas findings, assuring people that it had not found toxic arsenic content in fish sauce.

The MoIC said Thanh Nien had provided wrongful information harmful to national interests, and it would look into newspapers individual responsibilities after the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, under which the newspaper was established, announced its own penalty.

The Nguoi Tieu Dung online newspaper was fined VN50 million for publishing Vinatas survey and citing Thanh Niens articles, while Thuc Pham Chuc Nang online magazine had to pay VN40 million. Another six online newspapers - Ha Noi Moi, ai oan Ket, Nguoi ua Tin, Dan Viet, Dan Sinh and Infonet - were fined VN45 million each.

At least 41 newspapers that published the Vinatas survey or cited Thanh Niens test results, were slapped with a penalty of between VN10 million and VN15 million each.

The MoIC has asked all newspapers in question to post corrigendum for publishing incorrect information as soon as possible. The newspapers must also look into the responsibilities of their staff and send reports to the MoIC on how they have handled the situation as per the laws of journalism.

In all, the 50 newspapers published around 560 articles on the risk of consuming fish sauce, which led the public to boycott it. This affected the provinces that produce the sauce, especially those in the central region that were recently devastated by the Formosa environmental disaster, the MoIT said.  VNS
REYKJAVIK - Icelands Left-Green movement agreed on Sunday to start formal talks on forming a new coalition government, three weeks after snap elections triggered by the Panama Papers scandal.

Allied with the anti-establishment Pirate Party, the Social Democrats and the Bright Future party, the Left-Green faces the uphill task of forging a governing coalition with the centre right Reform Party.

"Everyone is ready to start formal talks", said Katrin Jakobsdottir, the leader of the Left-Green movement, the second largest party.

"We will form working groups that will work in different issues for the next few days and then we will see if there is a foundation for forming a government", Jakobsdottir told the Iceland Monitor online daily.

Pirates co-chairman, Birgitta Jonsdottir, told state broadcaster RUV she was optimistic the five parties would reach consensus on major issues.

"The people want very much to see improvement in both the work in the parliament and the image of the parliament," Jonsdottir said.

But the WikiLeaks supporter warned that the five-party government could be a step away from the political fights that have been the norm in Icelandic politics in recent years.

Since its independence in 1944, Iceland has only seen one centre-left government, which emerged from the 2009 election after the 2008 financial collapse.

"We embark on this in full integrity and we have the responsibility to try to get things together," Jakobsdottir told RUV.

Led by the largest election winner Independence Party, the centre-right coalition failed to find common ground over a range of divisive issues including relations with the European Union, institutional reform and fishing.

The October 29 snap vote, prompted by a massive tax scandal ensnaring several Icelandic officials, saw the Pirates become the third largest party with 10 seats.

The Panama Papers, released in April, fuelled the resignation of former prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson and prompted the snap vote.  AFP
PARIS - Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy crashed out of the presidential election on Sunday, suffering a humiliating defeat in the first round of the rightwing primary.

Sarkozy was beaten into third place after a stunning upset by Francois Fillon, who served as his prime minister, with the veteran Alain Juppe finishing second.

The surprise result puts Fillon in a commanding position for next Sundays second round of a contest that is widely expected to decide Frances next leader.

With the French leftwing in disarray, the rightwing candidate is tipped to face -- and beat -- far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off next May.

But after a wave of populism saw British voters choose to leave the European Union and swept Donald Trump to the White House, no-one is writing off Le Pens chances.

In a major upset, Fillon, a pro-business conservative, took more than 44 per cent of the vote compared to around 28 per cent for Juppe, a former prime minister and foreign minister. Sarkozys hopes of winning back the presidency were crushed as he scored just 21 per cent, according to near-complete results.

Sarkozy immediately endorsed Fillon and said he would now withdraw from political life.

"I fought for my beliefs with passion... I did not manage to convince the voters," he told supporters.

"I have great respect for Alain Juppe, but Francois Fillons political choices are closer to mine," Sarkozy added.

Fillon, 62, pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the first round after trailing Sarkozy and Juppe in all but the final days of the two-month campaign.

Voters appear to have warmed to Fillons understated style over the brashness of 61-year-old Sarkozy, who still deeply divides the country four years after being turfed out of office by the Socialist Francois Hollande.

Juppe, 71, was the early frontrunner but Fillon made stunning progress thanks largely to strong performances in three televised debates.

Fillon way out ahead

Fillon told his ecstatic camp that his programme was one of "hope". He said he had a "special thought" for Sarkozy, whom he served as prime minister from 2007 to 2012.

It appears that the participation of leftwing voters in the first ever US-style rightwing primary to be held in France could have been a factor in dragging down Sarkozy.

Anyone who paid two euros ($2.1) and signed a statement saying they adhered to "the values of the centre and the right" could take part.

Many Socialist supporters who turned out are thought to have done so to block the former president.

Turnout was high with around four million people casting ballots, according to a preliminary count.

Juppe and Fillon have broadly similar programmes, underpinned by pledges to reinforce domestic security in a country still under a state of emergency following jihadist attacks that killed more than 230 people.

They also share a desire to reinforce European borders and reduce immigration, while tax cuts are promised.

Fillon has promised to slash 600,000 jobs from Frances bloated civil service.

The nomination of the right-wing candidate on November 27 is expected to trigger an announcement from Hollande on whether he intends to bid for re-election despite the lowest popularity ratings of any post-war president.

Hollandes former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, 38, has announced he will stand as an independent, further confusing the picture on the left.  AFP
DAMASCUS - US President Barack Obama said he is "not optimistic" about Syrias future, as the UN warned time is running out to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo which has been pounded by air strikes for nearly a week.

Government forces launched a ferocious assault last Tuesday to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing 115 civilians so far. In fresh fighting on Sunday at least eight children died when rebel rocket fire hit their school in the government-controlled west.

Obama warned that Syrias second city was likely to fall, and that Russian and Iranian backing for leader Bashar al Assad had made the situation untenable for the opposition.

"I am not optimistic about the short term prospects in Syria," he said at a summit of Pacific leaders in Lima.

Obama earlier on Sunday urged greater efforts to end the violence when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Asia-Pacific economic summit.

But in Damascus, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura was rebuffed on a truce proposal that would allow the opposition to administer the citys rebel-held east.

"We are running out of time, we are running against time," de Mistura said after meeting Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

Muallem said he had rejected the proposal, under which jihadist forces would leave and the government would recognise the opposition administration in the east which has been bombarded by air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery.

"How is it possible that the UN wants to reward terrorists?" he asked.

Aid agencies fear that instead of a humanitarian or a political initiative there will be "an acceleration of military activities" in eastern Aleppo and elsewhere, de Mistura told journalists.

"By Christmas... due to military intensification, you will have the virtual collapse of what is left in eastern Aleppo; you may have 200,000 people moving towards Turkey -- that would be a humanitarian catastrophe."

War crimes

On Sunday, rebels retaliated with a barrage of rockets into government-held western Aleppo, state media said, hitting a primary school and killing at least eight children.

Syrian television showed bloodied, weeping children being treated in hospital, and an AFP journalist saw pupils being rushed from the school after the attack.

Closing the net further, government forces broke through into the citys northeastern area of Massaken Hanano, sparking fierce clashes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It also reported heavy fighting as the army sought to gain ground in two eastern neighbourhoods.

The Britain-based monitoring group said at least 19 civilians including five children were killed in the east on Sunday. That brought to 115 the number of civilians killed since the bombardment resumed.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the indiscriminate shelling, saying it had killed and maimed civilians, destroyed schools and left the citys east without functioning hospitals.

"The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime," his office said in a statement.

"Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account."  AFP
Gamble responsibly tagline set to be scrapped Punters will no longer see the long-standing "gamble responsibly" when placing a bet online, as the Albanese government launches a new campaign to help problem gambling.

Get out of your tents, run! Terrified family detail moment five lions escaped enclosure A young family-of-four staying at Taronga Zoo have revealed they were briefly woken up during their overnight stay at the park before animal keepers rushed in a couple of hours later telling them to ditch their belongings and to run.

Andrews hits back at absolute nonsense reports Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected "absolute nonsense" claims about the repatriation of the wives and children of former Islamic State fighters to Victoria amid the state election campaign.

Melbourne Cup jockey cops massive fine and ban over careless race act Melbourne Cup runner-up jockey Patrick Moloney was fined nearly 40 per cent of his $55,000 earnings from the race after he was scrutinised for "careless riding".
HAMPTON  Alliant Energy officials met with landowners in Franklin County last week to answer questions about a $1 billion wind farm project.

The project is a westward expansion of Whispering Willow Wind Farm south of Hampton. Alliant announced the project in July and has since gained approval from the Iowa Utilities Board.

Our industry is changing drastically in how were generating energy for our customers, Alliant spokesperson Justin Foss said. The expansion looks to generate 500 megawatts of energy.

Construction is slated to begin in spring 2018 with the wind farm operational in early 2019.

Ninety percent of necessary landowners have signed on for the project, according to Ben Lipari, director of project development for Alliant.

We have 10 percent waiting on decisions, Lipari said, noting the company is working closely with landowners.

Part of the goal is to minimize Alliants footprint in these areas when it comes to access roads and facilities.

Over the years, more information has been available about wind energy.

Landowners are more educated than before, Lipari said. They do better understand wind energy.

Lipari said transparency is key in building relationships with communities they work in.

Alliant Energy is based in Cedar Rapids and provides electric service to 487,000 customers and natural gas service to 226,000 customers in more than 600 communities, including North Iowa.

The initial phase would include building 80 wind turbines to produce about 200 megawatts of energy. The entire five-year plan is expected to include approximately 200 turbines to produce the total 500 megawatts of energy.

Were still assessing, Lipari said.

Those turbines would not all be located within Franklin County but in locations in central, north central and northwest Iowa, Lipari said.

The project will mean increased employment throughout those regions. At the peak of construction, Alliant will need 1,500 workers to complete the project, Foss said.

Once construction is completed, Alliant estimated it could staff approximately 10 workers for maintenance.

Whispering Willow Wind Farm currently spans 33,000 acres with 121 turbines. The wind farm began commercial operation in late 2009 and has a capacity to generate 200 megawatts, or enough to power about 50,000 homes.

Foss said wind energy is important to the company as Alliant plans to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

This is one of several major expansions of wind energy in Iowa announced this year.

In April, MidAmerican Energy announced a $3.6 billion plan to add 1,000 wind turbines in Iowa.

More recently, Chicago-based wind developer Invenergy announced plans to spread 100 wind turbines between Freeborn County, Minn., and in Worth County.

The company is speaking with Worth County landowners to secure leases for a proposed $320 million wind farm.

The proposed project would provide power to Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota.
PLAINFIELD -- The Bremer County Sheriff's office is investigating a possible case of animal torture after a deer was found in Plainfield with a noose around is neck.

Sheriff Dan Pickett said deputies found someone had clearly dragged the deer down the road as the fur was worn away on its underside. The sheriff said the deer's antlers were cut off and there was also a bloody streak down the road.

There are no signs that someone shot the deer with a gun or bow.

Pickett said the deer was discovered Sunday morning around 8:24 a.m. on the south edge of Plainfield in the 100 block of Main Street.

The sheriff said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be notified.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minnesota man who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling 27 years ago apologized in court Monday for his "evil acts" as he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a child pornography count that let authorities close the books on a mystery that had haunted the state for nearly three decades.

Danny Heinrich, 53, led authorities this summer to the field where he buried Jacob's remains. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to charge Heinrich with murder.

"I am truly sorry for my evil acts," Heinrich said as he stood before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, Jacob's parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, and the boy's siblings.

Heinrich told them that his actions were "heinous" and "unforgivable," and apologized for what he took away from them. He said he kept silent for nearly three decades because of his fear. But he offered no explanation for why he killed Jacob.

When he confessed in court in September, Heinrich quoted a handcuffed Jacob as saying, "What did I do wrong?"

Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling said Heinrich deliberately set out to hurt a child the night he abducted Jacob on Oct. 22, 1989, while her boy was biking with his brother and a friend near their home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph. She pointed out that by Heinrich's own admission, he put two bullets into his gun and shot Jacob with them.

"You didn't need to hurt him. He did nothing wrong. He just wanted to go home," Patty Wetterling said.

Patty Wetterling also told her son's killer she won't "waste a minute of time" thinking about him "from this day forward."

The sentence was the maximum the law allowed, and Heinrich technically could complete it in 17 years with good behavior, but the plea deal allows state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator at the end of his federal prison term, which could prevent him from ever going free. Tunheim said he "won't pretend" that the sentence is only about child pornography.

"What you've done is so heinous, so brutal and so awful that I don't believe society will let you go free," Tunheim said.

While some of Jacob's siblings said they want Heinrich to spend the rest of his life in prison, the family agreed with prosecutors and investigators that the plea deal was their best hope of learning Jacob's fate.

Early during the investigation, authorities questioned Heinrich, who maintained his innocence. But he came under renewed scrutiny when authorities decided to take a fresh look at the case around the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping.

As part of that effort, investigators used new technology to go back to a sex assault cause of a 12-year-old Cold Spring boy that happened nine months before Jacob's disappearance. They found Heinrich's DNA on that boy's sweatshirt, and used that evidence to get a search warrant for Heinrich's home in Annandale, where they found his child pornography collection last year.

After months of denials, Heinrich agreed in late August to confess to killing Jacob and the Cold Spring sex assault.

Heinrich detailed his crimes in chilling detail in court in September, recounting how he drove the boy to a gravel pit near Paynesville and molested him. After a patrol car with siren and lights passed nearby, he fired two shots at Jacob's head, killing him.

Patty Wetterling became a national advocate for missing children after Jacob's disappearance. A 1994 federal law named for Jacob requires states to establish sex offender registries.
DES MOINES  Opponents of the Dakota Access underground oil pipeline that passes through Iowa began a hunger strike Monday outside the headquarters of the Iowa Utilities Board  a state regulatory agency that approved permits for the project  in hopes of convincing IUB members to reverse their decision.

They need to change their minds, said Jessica Reznicek, a Des Moines woman who began a protest fast outside the IUB headquarters. When the pipeline breaks, the whole state of Iowa will be fasting. Its time the Iowa Utilities Board does the right thing and shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Reznicek said she and other members of a group calling themselves the Mississippi Stand Water Protectors planned to stage their vigil until state regulators agree to withdraw the permits for the underground pipeline that is close to completion in Iowa. The pipeline is not yet carrying crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in northwestern North Dakota due to protests on Native American land in that state.

Organizer Frank Cordaro said the effort is part of the Mississippi Stand  an encampment started in Lee County last August in opposition to the drilling underneath the Mississippi River in Iowa that has grown into a mobile caravan of resistance across the state.

He said the effort to hold IUB members accountable will go on indefinitely and they are urging other opponents to join in the fast.

Dakota Access, a Texas-based company, is in the process of building the pipeline slated to span 1,134 miles from North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa, to a distribution hub in Illinois. Dozens of protesters have been arrested in Iowa along the 346 miles of pipeline crossing 18 counties from northwest to southeast.Julie Brown, a hunger strike participant who grew up in Jasper County, said even though much of the pipe for the Iowa leg is in the ground, there is still time to halt the project so it doesnt transport oil that could leak and cause environmental issues and foul Iowas waters.

Pipelines do leak, Brown said. Its not a matter of if but when.

Officials with Dakota Access did not respond to a request for comment.
DES MOINES  State officials Monday revealed a hint the new Republican-controlled Legislature may try to change Iowas 40-year-old collective bargaining law.

Negotiators Monday offered unionized law officers a 1 percent annual across-the-board pay raise for the next two fiscal years but made no insurance proposal.

It signaled the likelihood the new GOP-led Statehouse and Gov. Terry Branstad will seek changes in public employee compensation.

Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters he would like to explore creating a larger risk pool of public employees at the state, county, city and school district levels to drive down costs. He said Republicans have not decided whether to change provisions in Iowas collective bargaining law next session.

However, Jason Bardsley, a state trooper from Des Moines and president of the State Police Officers Council, said the absence of an insurance benefit in the states offer for a new contract spanning July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019, raised concerns legislators will try to rewrite or end the states collective bargaining law.

Its very concerning to us. The insurance is a crucial piece of our benefits, said Bardsley, especially in light of recent police shootings in Urbandale and other U.S. cities. For that to be stripped away, that would be very concerning for our membership to have to worry about what would happen if something could happen and where do we stand.

Janet Phipps, director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and lead state negotiator, said red lines were drawn through all current health, life and dental insurance provisions in the states 11-page SPOC offer because those provisions will be decided at a later time, likely by the governor and lawmakers.

The state agrees to provide health and dental benefits as determined by the state to eligible bargaining unit members was the wording under the states two-year contract offer.

Bardsley said the states proposed 1 percent pay increase was a fair place to begin closed-door negotiations after his roughly 600-member bargaining unit made an initial request for a 3 percent across-the-board pay increases for the next two fiscal years effective next July 1.

Republicans won control of the Iowa Senate in the Nov. 8 election by a 29-19 margin with one seat held by an independent senator and a vacant seat to be decided in a special election in Davenport next month. Republicans picked up two seats in the Iowa House, giving them 59-41 edge over Democrats.

Newly elected GOP legislative leaders have indicated interest in reviewing Iowas collective bargaining law.

Were in a very interesting time, Branstad said in opening discussions in preparation for presenting a two-year state budget plan to the Legislature on Jan. 10. We have some big budget issues, but we also have the opportunity of doing things differently and better.

Under current law, state and union negotiators present initial proposals in open session and then go behind closed doors for talks. If an impasse is reached, binding arbitration resolves differences by March 15.

But that process could be rewritten or scrapped by lawmakers and the governor before current talks are completed, negotiators said Monday.

Last week, two leaders of the conservative Americans for Prosperity-Iowa organization  Luke Hilgemann, chief executive officer, and Drew Klein, Iowa state director  called for collective bargaining reform in Iowa, saying the current binding-arbitration system allows unelected bureaucrats to spend more taxpayer dollars without lawmakers ever taking a vote.

Asked Monday if there would be a move next session to address collective bargaining issues, Branstad said we havent decided.
While he was being dragged from pillar to post, he actually ran into missionary Timo Miller (the two men are not related) in a prison in Youngstown, Ohio. (Question: Why was he taken to a prison in Ohio in the course of being transported back and forth from Florida, where he is serving his sentence, to Buffalo, New York? Yeah, I don't know, either.) One of the most moving parts of his post is about his meeting with Timo Miller. Remember a couple of facts as you read this: Timo Miller actually cooperated with the prosecution against Ken Miller back in 2011 to the extent of giving a videotaped deposition that was used against Ken Miller in his trial. Timo then returned to Nicaragua, where his wife was having a baby. He did not return to the U.S. to testify in person at the trial, and it is partly on that basis that U.S. prosecutors have now arrested him. (Because he didn't "cooperate fully.") Still, that was his response to the demand that he testify. Ken Miller, in contrast, has refused repeatedly to testify against anyone else as a matter of conscience and has faced the possibility of having time added to his sentence in federal prison as a result. Meanwhile, Timo Miller has just spent weeks in dungeon conditions in Nicaragua before being extradited to the U.S. Ken Miller got Timo Miller involved in this whole case in the first place, asking him to help Lisa and Isabella, which is the reason for what Timo Miller is going through. When the two men met, this is how Ken Miller reported it:

Thanks to Scott W. for alerting me to a new post at Kenneth Miller's site. Pastor Kenneth Miller had a rough couple of months being transported around the U.S. in shackles so that he could be given the "opportunity" to testify at the Zodhiates trial. He refused to do so (as I previously reported). He now seems hopeful that perhaps additional time won't be put onto his federal sentence for his refusal. (He says, "Until negotiations between the U.S. prosecutors and another party are completed, I'm not free to comment much. But it appears unlikely that I will face further charges, praise God!" which seems to be a reference to the charge of criminal contempt that the judge told him he could face.)

While on the rec yard on[e] day at Youngstown Ohio, I saw coming toward me a kind, bearded face. To my great surprise, it was Brother Timo Miller! We had a joyous meeting! We slept in different units, but for two days we were able to converse over meals and at the rec yard. Of course we didn't talk about the legal case, but we were able to comfort and exhort each other in the Lord and pray together. That was a huge encouragement to me!!

Could anything be more moving? No hint of recriminations on either side. Just mutual love and encouragement in the Lord. These are true heroes of the faith. These are our Christian prisoners of conscience in the 21st century, right here in the U.S.

This piece says that Timo Miller's lawyer was talking about possibly trying to get him a plea bargain. No further word on whether that will be possible.

This piece (I have no idea how this blogger gets his information) says that Timo Miller looked to be in good health at his arraignment, so he seems to have recovered from his harrowing time in prison in Nicaragua.

Timo Miller's family has set up a giving page for people to help with their expenses. His wife is apparently considering returning to the U.S. Is that wise? I hope she would not be arrested for whatever help she gave to Lisa Miller in Nicaragua.

The "Continue to Give" page contains a jaw-dropping allegation about Timo's surprising arrest in Nicaragua. Remember, the Nicaraguan government doesn't have an extradition agreement with the U.S. government, and they had never shown the slightest previous interest in arresting Timo for his help in the so-called "international kidnapping" involving Lisa Miller and her daughter Isabella. So his dramatic arrest in August was inexplicable, as was his being held virtually incommunicado for nearly two months.

Both the U. S. government and Interpol denied any involvement. However, despite their denials, it was eventually revealed that the U. S. had used Interpol to arrest Timo under the false charges of producing child pornography and running a prostitution ring.

If our government actually did that to get the Nicaraguans to arrest him, it is despicable. It would explain the facts, though. I don't know where this information came from to his family.

Continue to pray for all three of these men, including Philip Zodhiates, who awaits his sentencing hearing in January.

By the way, if anyone can confirm or disconfirm this, I would appreciate it. I "have been told" (sorry for the passive voice) that it appears to be unprecedented for the U.S. federal government to prosecute mere assistants in international parental "kidnappings." Yes, parental "kidnapping" is sometimes prosecuted and is a federal crime. And yes it is legal to prosecute someone for assisting in such a "crime." But it looks like, when it's a custody dispute and a parent leaves the country with the child, the U.S. federal government may never before have pursued and prosecuted people who merely helped the parent--by purchasing a plane ticket, driving the parent and child to the Canadian border, meeting them off the plane in a foreign country, assisting them to start a new life in the other country, and the like. If this is really the first time that such prosecutions have been made (and here we have three such prosecutions all in connection with a single case) that argues a degree of special vindictiveness of the prosecution surrounding this case that is really terrifying. Legal, strictly speaking, but terrifying. (I'm sure it is not legal to promulgate patently false charges via Interpol to get a man extradited.)

And don't forget: Janet Jenkins (the lesbian who wanted custody of the child in the case, though unrelated to her) is just waiting for the go-ahead for a civil suit against all parties, after all the criminal prosecutions have been carried out. Heaven forbid that she should leave Timothy Miller, Kenneth Miller, or Philip Zodhiates, or their families, any financial assets with which to start a new life after they get out of the federal pen after serving sentences for helping Lisa and Isabella escape her.

May God protect all of the innocent.

Here is a post I wrote on this case some time ago, from which you can follow links back, if this whole case is new to you.
DENVER, Colo.  A conclusion has come to a story that we first reported in 2014. Wiccan Priestess Janie Felix and Pagan Buford Coone with the full support of the ACLU challenged their home city of Bloomfields installation of a Ten Commandants monument on public property. The ACLU argued that city officials accorded preferential treatment to the monuments sponsors, disregarding many city ordinances and policy requirements that would regulate the monuments installation. The case was heard in early March 2014, and the U.S. District Judge ruled in favor of Felix and Coone in August of that year.

At the time, Felix told The Wild Hunt, We are delighted . . . with the courts decision. It feels that the law was upheld and that the court reflected the Founding Fathers [sic] plan for our country. However, the city decided to appeal the district courts decision. The case then moved to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado and was heard in Sept. 2015.

On Nov. 9, 2016, the court issued its decision, affirming the lower courts ruling. While it did note that the cluster of other [historically-based] monuments surrounding the Ten Commandments can dampen the effect of endorsement, the court said, the city would have to do more than merely add a few secular monuments in order to signal to objective observers a principal or primary message of neutrality. Thus the impermissible taint of endorsement remains, and as we have said, nothing sufficiently purposeful, public, and persuasive was done to cure it.

* * *

NORWICH, Conn.  It was announced this week that Dianne Daniels would be succeeding longtime NAACP branch president Jacqueline Owens. Daniels is an eclectic Witch with strong leanings toward Wicca, flavored by the Egyptian pantheon, and including her Native American heritage. In a February article, Daniels told TWH that she gathers inspiration from Madam Marie Laveau, Cicely Tyson, and Maya Angelou. In that interview, Daniels also noted that, more recently, she has been focusing more on my personal heritage  [her] own Black History.

Originally from Detroit, Daniels moved to Norwich in 1997 and immediately joined the local NAACP branch. Shes been active in the local community, both as a volunteer and as a professional since arriving. Daniels was elected to the office of president Nov. 16. She is quoted as saying that this election was one of the biggest honors of [her] life. We will have more from Daniels and her work in the future.

* * *

UNITED KINGDOM  The Druid Network (TDN) announced that it has been recognized as a full member of the UK Inter Faith Network (IFN). The Druid organization, as well as other Pagan organizations, have been involved with IFN for many years. In fall 2014, TDN was granted a two-year probational IFN membership. In 2015, TDN reported that, for the first time, it was able to send a representative IFNs annual general assembly. At the time, TDN trustee and treasurer Neil Pitchford said, I have the honour of being the first Druid to attend after I was chosen to be TDNs first representative. Now, after two years of waiting, TDN has reported that it was granted its full IFN membership, which will provide greater legal standing and also some influence in the religious community of the UK. In a press release, Joanna van der Hoeven said, This is a fitting conclusion to over ten years of work by many people to get TDN Druidry recognised as a bonefide [sic] religious practice and outlook. The consequences of full membership, amongst other things, means that the IFN views TDN Druidry as a valid religious practice and, by default because of its funding and remit, the government of the U.K. must now also acknowledge that fact as well. Van der Hoeven added, This announcement marks the end of one journey, one that many asserted could and would never happen. It also marks the beginning of another as we start out in building relationships with other religious groups on an equal standing (possibly for the first time in modern times).

In Other News:

Druid Scott Holbrook will be back in court Nov 22. As we reported, Holbrook was arrested Nov. 2. He was charged with the dissemination of obscenities, after he allegedly sent nude photos to an uncover police officer. After a Nov. 3 hearing, Holbrook posted bond and was released from custody. We will update you on this story in the coming week.

In another developing story, Circle Sanctuary ministers Jeanet & David Ewing and Tristan were joined by nearly 30 other members of Marylands Pagan and Earth-based spirituality communities in attending the 10 a.m. service at the local Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Silver Springs. The group was there to lend its support to a congregation that recently found itself the victim of a hate crime. We are following up on this story to learn just what happened at the church and why the Pagan community got involved.

service at the local Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Silver Springs. The group was there to lend its support to a congregation that recently found itself the victim of a hate crime. We are following up on this story to learn just what happened at the church and why the Pagan community got involved. Huginns Heathen Hof has announced that it will be launching a new worldwide Heathen survey. In 2013, Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried hosted a similar landmark project on his blog NorseMyth.org. Our hope is that because of that groundbreaking work we will be able to reach a significantly larger portion of the population than that initial attempt, simply because people will be more aware of it due to his previous efforts, explained Xander Folmer of HHH. The survey is now available in both English and Spanish. Folmer added that they hope to add Portuguese and a couple of others as soon as possible.

Gods & Radicals has launched is annual fundraiser. This year editors are hoping to raise enough money to pay their hard-working writers. The campaign reads, Why Pay Writers? Because all work has value. Writing takes time. Writing is work. And in a system that prioritizes profit over creativity, the time and mental space to write is a luxury not everyone can afford. Gods & Radicals is an online blog and print journal focusing on radical thought and contemplation.

Because all work has value. Writing takes time. Writing is work. And in a system that prioritizes profit over creativity, the time and mental space to write is a luxury not everyone can afford. Gods & Radicals is an online blog and print journal focusing on radical thought and contemplation. Lastly, The Wild Hunt is always looking for new and upcoming guest writers. We enjoy showcasing and sharing the many diverse voices opinions, and practices that exist within our collectives communities both within the United States and beyond. If you are interested in submitting a proposal or a fully written piece, please contact us at editor at wildhunt.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Wild Hunt Solstice Guide is Coming!
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INSIDE World Festival of Interiors has announced the best interior designs of 2016 across the categories of Civic, Culture and Transport, Display, Health & Education, Residential, Creative Re-Use and Hotels at day two of INSIDE 2016.

The annual awards encompass the globes best interior designs from the past 12 months, and this years winners include a City Palace in Jaipur, a hospital in Mallorca and a display stand for the 2016 edition of Salone del Mobile in Milan.

The six category winners were announced at the end of day two at Inside  World Festival of Interiors. Combined with yesterdays successful practices, a total of nine category winners battled for the ultimate accolade of World Interior of the Year 2016.

World Architecture Community is an official media partner for World Architecture Festival and INSIDE, which ended up on Friday at the Arena Berlin, in Germany. Juergen Mayer H, Principal, J Mayer H Architecture Design Research, Ross Lovegrove, Principal, Lovegrove Studio and Joyce Wang, Founder, WANG were a few of speakers who gave a series of lectures throughout INSIDE Festival 2016.

See the full winning interior projects in 6 categories at day 2:

Civic, culture and transport: York Theatre Royal, York, United Kingdom, by De Matos Ryan

York Theatre Royal by De Matos Ryan was crowned the winner of the Civic, Culture and Transport category. This project was deemed to unlock the potential of the site, opening the theatres doors to a wider community. Housing a welcoming street-facing cafe that is clearly visible from the outside to draw people in, the buildings Victorian colonnade has been glazed to give an animated face to the street, akin to a storefront.

The judges commented that this project ''stood out for the amount of research the practice had done into the history of the building - which creatively informed the designers proposals''. The introduction of raised seating to the stand and extension of aspects of the 1968 Patrick Gweynne scheme into the Victorian foyers were two elements that were particularly appreciated.

Creative re-use: Baradari, City Palace Jaipur, India, by Studio Lotus

Baradari City Palace by Studio Lotus won the Creative Re-Use category. Studio Lotus were invited by the royal family of Jaipur to redevelop the 14,000 sqft area of the former palace cafe in Rajasthan as a fine dining destination. The new intervention reinterprets traditional crafts of Jaipur  bespoke casting and foundry work - in a contemporary manner.

The judges felt that this project represents an adaptive balance between archaeology and the contemporary  symbolising a new idea within the historic, palatial India.

Display: The Cut, stand design for Kvadrat, Milan, Italy, by Neri&Hu

The Cut, stand design for Kvadrat, by Neri & Hu Desing & Research Office, won this years Display category. Designed for Salone del Mobile, the designers reinterpreted the classic furniture fair stand and transformed the space into an emotionally charged zone to intuitively affect each visitor on a primal level.

The project was felt to stand out for its combination of displayed Kvadrat fabrics with a bold spatial strategy and distinct visitor experience. Judges said ''the fabric was used with roof lights in an unexpected and delightful way.''

Health and education: Emardental Clinic, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, by OHLAB

The practices second award was for Emardental Clinic in Mallorca which won the Health and Education category. The hospital offers a warm welcome, with oak finishes and soft tones, to guide patients around the space. The project has been designed with sensitivity to lighting and the highest attention to detail.

The judges felt that there was a beautiful play between privacy and transparency, and commented that ''the textures and materials used give the space a sense of security and trust.''

Hotels: Puro Hotel, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, by OHLAB

Mallorca-based practice OHLAB/ Oliver Hernaiz Architecture Lab was awarded two prizes on the second day of judging, after yesterday claiming the House of Year award at INSIDEs co-located festival, WAF. OHLAB/Oliver Hernaiz Architecture Labs Puro Hotel won the hotly contested Hotels category.

Situated in the historic quarter of Palma de Mallorca, the hotel has an irregular configuration, adapting to the different existing buildings of the neighbourhood to create unique a space where each room is different. The judges said that ''the architect showed an unique approach of developing and designing a kit of parts to create a concept but very detailed solution.''

Residential: Indigo Slam, Sydney, Australia, by Smart Design Studio

Indigo Slam by Smart Design Studio won the Residential category. This private home in Chippendale, Sydney, is part of the neighbourhoods reinvention as an artistic and cultural hub. The projects facade of sculpted concrete, serene living spaces and spacious halls, creates a dynamic interplay of space and light.

The judges commended the project for ''working with classic architectural elements such as light, texture and space sequences with an impressive care for detail.''

The six category winners were announced at the end of day two at Inside  World Festival of Interiors. Combined with first day's successful practices, a total of nine category winners competed for the ultimate accolade of World Interior of the Year 2016.

As well as the INSIDE Awards programme, visitors to the festival were able to experience an in-depth talks programme exploring this years theme of Fluid Interiors examining how crossover design is transforming how we live, work and play.

All images courtesy of INSIDE

> via INSIDE Festival
The FBI has acknowledged three penetrations and dozens more likely. Once in, planting a worm to flip the vote is easy for an experienced hacker and Russians are the best hackers in the world.

SANTA FE, NM, November 21, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- APW Launches new campaign:



Are you sure your vote on November 8th was counted? Growing evidence points to a manipulated final vote tally in Wisconsin as well as other states including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. Shouldn't we be certain our votes were counted correctly?



Open Letter To the Wisconsin Election Commission

https://goo.gl/QgYiHr



Recently released un-adjusted exit polls are alarming. Wisconsin has around a 5% difference between the exit poll and the final computer tally. According to the United States Agency for International Development, a variation like this is an indication of vote manipulation.



Some argue that polls are unreliable. Historically, however, exit polls have been reliably accurate and a 5% variation is well beyond normal.



A simple audit of the vote is not a recount but an easy way to tell if the vote was altered or the exit poll is not accurate. It is time to test the science of exit polls with a post election audit. Such an audit can be done quickly and fairly inexpensively and is a best practice for ballot integrity. Many argue that an audit should be performed after all elections. Auditing of the vote can help restore confidence in our balloting process.



We as Americans love and cherish our voting system. However, we have to be sure it is accurate and not influenced by a foreign power now that the FBI has discovered evidence of Russian hackers penetrating those very systems. The FBI has acknowledged three penetrations and dozens more likely went undetected. Once in, planting a worm to flip the vote is easy for an experienced hacker and Russians are the best hackers in the world. If they can steal from banks, flipping this election is child's play.



AParallelWorld.com, a national sustainability website, is being drawn into this important call to action to protect our members right to access sustainable alternatives that are now under attack. We ask everyone who wants certainty that the president-elect is America's choice and not Moscow's -- stand with APW to demand a simple audit of the vote.



We call upon all Americans that care about our electoral democracy to insist that Michael Haas, Administrator of the Election Commission of Wisconsin protect our democracy and perform a limited forensic audit of his state's vote. Help assure all Americans and our military that the election as it now stands was the true will of the people.



Michael Haas, Administrator of the Election Commission of Wisconsin

(608) 266-8005

[email protected] and put "Message to Commissioners" in the subject line.

Reid Magney, Public Information Officer, 608-267-7887,

[email protected]



A PARALLEL WORLD MISSION

By providing the information, resources and vendors needed for an affordable, greener lifestyle, APW represents the interests of "Sustainability Voters" seeking to save money while reducing their carbon footprint.



A PARALLEL WORLD GOAL

Our goal is to reduce global warming and nurture economic democracy through the mass implementation of sustainable products that are affordable, accessible and reliable today.



# # #
Nov 21, 2016 | By Benedict

Rishabh Java, a 14-year-old boy from the UAE, has scooped the Best Innovative Project prize at the first Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad. Java designed a 3D printed bionic arm that can purportedly be controlled with the mind using an Electroencephalography (EEG) monitor.

Organized by 3D printing company Atlab and hosted by the GEMS Wellington Academy in Dubai, the first Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad saw more than 75 teams from schools across the Gulf region submit 3D printed innovations based on the competitions Design Your First Consumer Product theme. Winners across four age categories had the chance to win a 3D printer and a cash prize: Dhs10,000 ($2,700) for first place, Dhs5,000 for second, and Dhs3,000 for third. Winners will also have the chance to visit the BETT Show in the UK in 2017.

Java, a student from Gems Millennium School, claimed top prize in the Junior High age range for an impressive-sounding 3D printed bionic arm that, according to reports, is able to perform simple tasks like shaking hands and picking up objects via mind control. No, the 3D printed arm isnt magic, but purportedly uses EEG technology to monitor patterns of electricity in the brain, allowing the device to be operated without manual controls.

According to reports, the 3D printer-savvy student designed his bionic arm to help limb-different people have more control over their prosthetic arm, and plans to develop the device further. I am thrilled to receive the award, Java said. In future I plan to add other functionalities such as equip it with sensors that give a real-time response to the residual arm, have wrist and elbow movement and make it more user-friendly.

The mind-controllable 3D printed arm certainly sounds impressive, but the Olympiadwhose official website still contains no news of Saturdays eventhas given no details of how Java was able to harness the power of EEG to create a functional prosthetic device that can be controlled by the mind. The Gulf Today, the news source that initially broke the story, simply reports that EEG technology was used. We might therefore exercise some caution before thinking that Javas device could change the lives of those with missing forearms.

Although lots of university-level research has been carried out into the use of mind control for artificial limbs, it seems most likely that Java, as a 14-year-old student, had access to some off-the-shelf EEG equipment. And while EEG headsets are available on the consumer electronics market from companies like Emotiv and NeuroSky, the functionality of those models is limited.

At present, most EEG headsets are being marketed at developers looking to carry out research, rather than the general consumer seeking a shortcut for day-to-day tasks. However, many users have reported mixed results with such headsets, which can struggle to differentiate between the electrical signals of the mind and those produced by muscles and electronic devices in the vicinity, and which are only at their most effective when the wearer has a shaved head.

Clearly then, consumer EEG technology is not yet perfect. However, given that the Olympiad invited distinguished guests like Abdul Salam, Head of the Dubai Municipality Accelerator and the Processes and Systems section, perhaps we should give Java the benefit of the doubt and accept that his 3D printed device is simply the result of a student fully committed to engineering and the sciences. And after all, the student only claimed that the device could perform simple motions.

Overall, the first Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad was reportedly a big success, and the organizers can now look forward to planning next years event. The Gulf 3D printing Olympiadthe first such event in the regionis aimed at creating young engineers, said S Senthil Kugan, Director of Atlab. We are highly pleased by the number of teams that participated in the competition and the products that were designed as part of the contest.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Robert McLean wrote at 11/21/2016 11:03:48 PM:I find the crudely constructed 3D Printed hands like the one depicted in the above article distasteful and detrimental. Subjecting those that are without limbs to so crudely made toys that are supposed to pass for limbs is demeaning in the extreme. I have witnessed these toys being passed off for limbs for over 5 years now and every time someone comes up with a copy they are congratulated to a sickening degree. Until someone comes up with something truly revolutionary and ultra functional rivaling the true hand and limb, spare me. Robert McLean




Nov 21, 2016 | By Nick

A Dutch hotel is closing in on the funds it needs to produce a high-tech 3D printed conference center that can recreate the ambience of New Yorks Central Park and other iconic locations. If everything goes to plan, it will be the first 3D printed, zero-footprint building in Europe.

De Slaapfabriek Teuge is a boutique hotel with just 12 rooms. Despite its modest size, however, the hotel has become a favorite amongst business leaders in the Netherlands. Now, the hotel wants to capitalize on its burgeoning reputation with a 90-square-meter conference center that will be 3D printed from the ground up.

Thanks to Dutch crowdfunding platform NLInversteert, which differs from the likes of Kickstarter in that investors provide loans and expect a return on their investment, hotel owners Arvid and Marjo Prigge have already raised more than $108,000 (100,000) of the total $398,000 (375,000) they need. This cutting-edge conference center is close to coming off the drawing board and into the real world.

We are going to make an enormous experience, that will make a difference to your meetings, said Arvid Prigge. We have all-day meetings in standard rooms and it really doesnt make you happy. We are going to do it differently.

When the conference center is complete, it will come with an integrated projection system that can turn the walls into a park in New York or a tropical beach, complete with piped-in sounds. The screens also offer a totally custom look and feel, which means the conference center could be ideal for product launches, as well as company training sessions and major meetings.

Remarkable moments will really stick with you, said Arvid. Its all about experience, sensations, and feeling. Can we transform todays bland office space into a truly inspiring environment?

According to the Prigges, there were several reasons for choosing 3D printing construction techniques, but the main draw was the prospect of producing at least 40% less carbon emissions than they would have otherwise. The project could even end up being totally energy neutral.

The Netherlands is a world leader when it comes to the environment, and this new conference center will be a shining light for the environmental advantages of additive manufacturing. As well as reduced carbon emissions, 3D printing reduces the materials waste by at least 75%. This all contributes to reduced transport costs that also have a real effect on the buildings overall environmental impact.

The 3D printing approach also gave the Prigge family almost complete freedom when it came to the building's design, and they have settled on a unique aesthetic that simply wouldn't have been economically viable with traditional techniques. To develop the building, they brought in both The Form Foundation and architect Pim Wylick, who took inspiration from the swirling trails left by the planes taking off from the nearby airport, developing the concept at the Dutch Construction Hackathon at Startup Fest Europe.

Cybe Construction, based in Oss, will print the building in just 10 days after working with TU Eindhoven and Revelating to perfect its role in the long construction process. This building has thrown up a vast amount of technical and aesthetic challenges, with the team having had to think on its feet to come up with the most effective printing methods for this complex, curvaceous design.

There are other 3D printed buildings in the world, but only a select few have been printed on site. However, other printed buildings, such as the 3D printed Beijing villa, simply do not have the quality of finish or the complexity that this Dutch effort is looking for. In some ways then, this new building is a step into the unknown.

With printers that can produce basic shelter from soil and slash the cost and time it takes to build a house, the construction industry is starting to embrace 3D printing. This unique conference center is a groundbreaking project, but were sure that many more will follow.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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by Ali Minai

It is the worst of times. Period! The presidential election of 2016 possibly represents a hinge-point in American like no other since the beginning of the Cold War, though perhaps an argument can be made for 9-11. Indeed, September 11, 2001 and November 8, 2016 may be seen as two ends of the same massive hinge that has turned that entire course of American  and, therefore, world  history in a different direction.

Within the domestic context of the United States, it is hard to see the election of Donald Trump to the American presidency as anything other than the ignition of a new civil conflict along ideological lines. It is not a civil war, but the weapons involved will be no less destructive to the fabric of society.

The arrival of this conflict is not a surprise since there have been hints of it for years, but its current modality is a huge shock. Tensions have been building up in the United States for decades as it turns inexorably towards becoming a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. Power has been siphoning away from the mainly white elite defined by tradition and becoming distributed over a more diverse elite defined by education and technical competence. The largest group left behind in this process is the non-elite largely white population that, long conditioned to accept the supremacy of the traditional elite, suddenly finds itself facing competition from unskilled Latin American labor and the ascendancy of a new diverse and global elite. Saying I want my country back is a natural response in this situation. It is impossible for this sentiment not to have an ethnic subtext  though it is an oversimplification to see the conflict as primarily racial, ethnic or religious. These factors are important signifiers, but the core issue is a fundamental difference in worldviews.

Add in the devastation of rural America by poverty and drugs, the stoking of religious tensions by 9-11, endless wars fought by soldiers from the lower economic strata, the disdainful attitude of the new liberal elites, and one has a toxic brew of resentment bubbling in the white working class (WWC) throughout the country. The only question was whether this boiling hot mess would subside as the cold water of demographic reality drizzled on it, or if it would come to a boil. Obamas election in 2008 and 2012 seemed to suggest that it might be cooling down. Unfortunately, not so!

On November 8, 2016, the pot boiled over. Old America announced that it will not submit to New America without a brutal fight, and now that fight has begun. It is not clear whether this is the last, futile gasp of a dying reality, or a true turning point that leads in an unexpected new direction, but this is unlikely to be settled in a few months or years. Given that the turn toward right-wing populism in the US echoes similar movements in Europe and the rise of strongmen all over the world, there is good reason to think that we may be seeing the beginning of a new phase in world history. If so, the lives of several generations will be consumed by it, and it will probably transform the very nature of American society. It is impossible to say exactly what this change will be  or even if all of it will be bad, or bad for whom  but we are entering what the Chinese call interesting times. Unfortunately, the young will have to bear the brunt of this change, but the good news is that with great turmoil comes great opportunity. As these young people begin to make their way in troubled times, they will have the chance to reshape the world fundamentally in ways that their elders never did.

Any analysis of the future must begin with an understanding of what happened on Election Day, 2016. Since then, the media and the blogosphere have been full of explanations for Hillary Clintons shock defeat, though these have now begun to resemble a blind men and the elephant situation. Broadly speaking, there were four factors that cost Hillary Clinton the election. The most important was a surge in the number of (mainly white) working class voters in rural and small-town America who came out to vote for Trump after sitting out the last several elections. Completely missed by the likely voter models of most pollsters, these voters were decisive to Trumps victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio. Derided as ignorant, racist rubes, they heard a voice  Trumps voice  telling them that they too mattered, and so they voted for him in droves. He is their revenge on the bicoastal globalized elite. The second big factor was the failure of the Clinton campaign to engage directly with all the voters who had propelled Barack Obama to two victories. By all accounts, the Clinton campaign took some groups  such as African-Americans and Latinos  for granted, and simply wrote off others, such as WWC union voters in the Rust Belt. Crucially, Trump proclaimed a harsh but clear cultural, economic and social message, telling his voters, I am your voice! In contrast, the Clinton campaign obscured all its positive messages, and led almost exclusively with a negative one: Dont vote for evil, terrible, bigoted, no-good Donald Trump! In a perverse way, Clintons message almost served to reinforce Trumps, making his voters even more committed to him, while giving Clintons own voters no positive reason to vote for her. The third important factor was the patently unfair demonization of Hillary Clinton by the Republicans, the media and  most painfully  a progressive Left drunk on its own self-righteousness. All of them collaborated to establish the crooked Hillary meme that turned Hillary Clinton  who had devoted most of her life to public service on behalf of children and others  into a caricature of corruption, and drove her trust numbers below those of her opponent who has just settled an actual fraud lawsuit for $25 million! By harping on the email controversy, by giving Trump surrogates endless exposure, and by implying a false equivalence between the flaws of the two candidates, the media kept the election competitive and their ratings high. A remarkable amount of latent misogyny also fed into the media characterizations of Clinton. Wikileaks, Russian hackers, and James Comey did the rest. However, in addition to these concrete factors, there was also a fourth, more transcendental one: This turned out to be a change election, and Hillary Clinton did not represent change. In this sense, Election 2016 was of a piece with the populist wave sweeping Western democracies, exemplified most recently in Brexit. Together, these problems  some of them beyond Clintons control  doomed her, though this is only apparent in hindsight, as is the case with all transformative events.

The question now is how the liberal, humanist forces in the West  and especially young people  should respond to the cataclysm. The simple answer is that they must respond with thoughtfulness and humility. The forces of history are larger than individuals, and do not take kindly to being stage-managed. That lesson, at least, should have been learned now!

In the short term, Democrats in Congress and liberals in the land have limited options. They can protest  perhaps to the point of civil disobedience. Within Congress, the Democrats can expose the extremism of Trump nominees during confirmation hearings, and do the same with any bills he or the Republican leadership propose. In the media, liberal pundits can highlight the inherent conflicts-of-interest and outright corruption of a Trump administration (as will surely be the case), and talk persuasively about catastrophic policies on civil rights, human rights, geopolitics, climate change, etc. This election will, no doubt, produce a vigorous growth industry in liberal outrage, as was the case during the Bush years. That is by no means a bad thing. The justifiable outrage felt today has to be kept alive for the next four years if anything is to change.

One big question  already being raised in the public discourse  is whether the Democrats should actively obstruct Trump, as the Republicans did with Obama in 2008, or cooperate on mutually agreeable issues and wait for Trump to fail on his own. They used the latter strategy against George W. Bush  under some political duress due to 9-11  and it took six years, two catastrophic wars, and a major hurricane to sink Bush to the point where Democrats could win control of Congress again. It was an expensive strategy. However, Trump will start his presidency with far lower approval ratings than Bush (currently around 42%), and, with his divisive policies, might become even less popular rather quickly. Precluding another major event triggering national consensus, Trump could well be a political liability for Republicans by 2018. He has been elected by the votes of about 26% of the total electorate, and it is quite likely that a majority of voters do not agree with his policies. Pushed hard enough, more of them will eventually show up to vote. But structurally, they hold all the advantages in the 2018 mid-term elections. A lot of Democratic senators are up for re-election in Republican states, and will probably be in a submissive mood to preserve their own seats. In the House, Republican gerrymandering has already entrenched a majority that will be hard to overturn without another wave election. In principle, strategic cooperation with Trump might allow Democrats to drive a wedge between him and Congressional Republicans on issues such as infrastructure spending, but Republicans control the agenda and are unlikely to give the Democrats this opportunity. The approach will probably get the Democrats no political credit with voters, and will demoralize their own base further. Nor is it clear that the Republicans will be blamed for a failure by Trump, because they have all the resources of the right-wing propaganda machine at their disposal. On the other hand, while determined obstruction worked for Republicans against Obama in 2010, 2014 and 2016, it still could not prevent his re-election in 2012. Given these factors, probably the best option for Democrats is to adopt a pose of fierce but principled opposition, with the goal of making Trump as unpopular as possible as quickly as possible. Ironically, in this quest, their best ally is Donald Trump himself. With his erratic temperament, he is the person most likely to sink his own presidency, though, given the recent election, that is a risky thing to count on!

Most importantly, while an uncertain Democratic strategy is unfolding, Trump and his lieutenants will be busy implementing their highly illiberal vision. Trumps early moves indicate that this will happen quickly, and could well alter the playing field so much that no Democratic strategy can succeed. The entire ethos of American society is at stake, and, as 9-11 has already shown, a single event can alter the publics mood on civil liberties and human rights almost overnight. The installation of Steve Bannon, master propagandist, as his closest advisor will give Trump the ability to shape alternate realities in ways that even Cheney and Rove might envy. Given all this, it is an inescapable fact that the fate of the United States as a constitutional democracy will rest on Republicans with principles. Only conscientious members of the Republican Party can truly stand up to stop Trump's excesses in a timely way, reverse the perversion of basic rights, and ask the Joseph Welch question: Have you no sense of decency, Mr. Trump? Based on recent experience, this is very unlikely to happen from within Congress, given the abject devotion Republican politicians must show to their base in order to maintain their political careers.

Most of the pushback against Trumps excesses will have to come from civil society and the press. For the first time in history, the United States will be run like a banana republic, with a leader potentially exploiting the governments machinery for personal profit, handing over hallowed institutions to cronies, and subverting the very foundation of the state. The ascendancy of Trump is a calamity for American democracy. In the short term, there will be virtually no institutional mechanisms for the state to resist. The independent Department of Justice will be handed over to those least protective of peoples rights. The Department of Homeland Security will become an instrument of oppression. Most of the progress made in the area of civil rights and human rights will probably be wiped away in a matter of months. The Voting Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, laws on equal opportunity, banking regulation, legal protections, workplace safety rules  all will be challenged from within the government. Climate change deniers will run environmental policy. The only bulwark against all this will be men and women of conscience within the government and outside  especially in the press. This nation will fall or stand based on whether the press can fearlessly report on reality, rather than becoming a sycophantic propaganda arm of the government  as it did during the Bush years. The early signs are not hopeful. The media  especially CNN  played a pivotal role in normalizing Trumps excesses during the campaign and amplifying Clintons  all in the name of fairness and balance. Until the press at large learns that the truth cannot be balanced with lies, the unraveling of American democracy will continue.

For liberal activists, a key to reversing the debacle must be to re-engage with their lost voters. The worst possible response to Trumps victory would be to write off all those who voted for him. They may not be a majority  or even a plurality  of voters, but they are fellow human beings, and many of them are in distress. As Abbas Raza writes in an eloquent piece, if liberals believe in their own values, . the highest priority must be to help the working class out of its miserable state and reach a more equitable distribution of resources overall. Hate may be a strong emotion, but nothing dissolves it like empathy. Responding to hate with compassion without compromising ones principles is a well-tested method for changing hearts and minds, as reformers down to Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mandela in our own times have demonstrated. Finding the balance between resisting Trump while empathizing with many of his voters will be an interesting but important challenge for liberals in the next four years.

In the longer run, the main issue is whether the current eruption of right-wing populism is to be a temporary glitch in an otherwise steady move towards a progressive future, or a decisive change that alters the course of history in America and elsewhere. There is a broad sense  driven by the mounting unease in the aftermath of recent European elections and Brexit  that it may be the latter. However, it is important to remember that, as recently as a few weeks ago, the dominant idea about Americas political future was that demography is destiny. There is no reason to abandon those arguments now. Regardless of Trumps policies, the United States will become inexorably more diverse. The only question is whether that increasingly diverse polity will also be more progressive, as has seemed likely, or if it will turn rightward. The choice in this lies with young American millennials: The most important part of the liberal response to the Age of Trump must come from them.

For the millennial generation, the first priority must be to preserve their ideals. Over the last century, American society has moved inexorably, if clumsily, towards a more progressive attitude, with womens suffrage, the welfare safety net, civil rights and liberties, womens rights, LGBTQ rights, all becoming part of the countrys institutional fabric. The millennials of today are, as a group, far more progressive than their parents and grandparents  even in areas of the country that vote conservative. Hillary Clinton won them by 18 points. As they grow older, the hope is that their progressive attitudes will become dominant among older age groups, and those who follow them will only add to this liberal ethos. Whether this still comes to pass depends critically on how the millennials relate to Trump. Do they reinforce their liberalism in opposition to him, or are they sucked into a conservative vortex, much as happened with many young people in the Reagan era who are the Republican-leaning middle-agers of today? Young people committed to progressive values must work to ensure that the latter situation is not repeated. They can do this by fearlessly and frequently asserting their values among their peers, by participating vigorously in the political process, by supporting institutions such as the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, etc., and, above all, by moving the current manifestation of progressivism towards a more mature attitude that can engage with a diversity of ideas  including conservative ones  with intellectual honesty and openness. In its righteous zeal, progressivism has sometimes taken on the trappings of a secular religion, valuing purity above open-mindedness. To some degree, this was even a factor in the Lefts reviling of Hillary Clinton, who was seen as something of a sellout for consorting with enemies such as Wall Street. The intellectual and political leaders of the new Left must reverse this attitude or risk alienating even more moderates and persuadable conservatives.

The second critical mission for young liberal Americans must be to reclaim reality in this time of ascendant delusion. The resentment and ignorance that drove millions of working class voters to support a megalomaniacal billionaire against their own best interests is not some genetic affliction. These voters are fully capable of making informed decisions, but are kept in a state of delusion by a vast network of misinformation and propaganda that drowns them in lies. This network, comprising Fox News, right-wing talk radio, Drudge, Breitbart, etc., is being supercharged by the Internet and social media. Analysis by Buzzfeed shows that, in the last three months of the election campaign, fake news  most of it oriented towards Trump  significantly outperformed actual news on Facebook. There is no reason why such 1984-style propaganda will not continue into the Trump presidency and thrive. In the short term, it will demonize his opponents and buoy his popularity. In the long run, it could take down democracy itself unless liberals and small-d democrats can find a way to combat this. And this demise of democracy will happen not only because the populist right will subvert it, but also because liberal thinkers will increasingly come to doubt its value.

(Image source: BuzzFeed)

Five years ago, Eli Pariser published a prescient book called The Filter Bubble, pointing out how the Internet was allowing everyone to essentially select their own reality, communicating only with like-minded people and engaging only with a partial  possibly incorrect  set of facts. Of course, such epistemic closure is nothing new: Tribes and groups have always had their own worldviews, origin stories, beliefs, etc. However, modern technology allows the process to be scaled up and weaponized to a degree unthinkable in the past. What makes this especially tragic is that the Internet and its democratization of expression had been expected to promote open-mindedness; instead, it has made closed-mindedness more sustainable. The fault for this, if any, lies with two major factors: Human nature, and the desire of corporations to maximize their profits. By focusing on clicks and eyeballs to generate profits, companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter are catering to the worst instincts of individuals  amplifying biases, increasing conflict, and subverting the consensus on facts. It may be argued justifiably that corporations policing individuals for good behavior would be far worse, but there is a vast, unexplored middle ground where society will eventually have to find a home if it is not to be torn apart by conflicting pseudo-realities. If there is a mission that young liberals of today should be adopting, it is to save the ideals of democracy from the ravages of a post-truth age. An informed polity will always be the best bulwark against tyranny. How to create that informed polity in the context of the modern world and human nature is one of the great challenges of our time. Propaganda and myth-making are as old as human history, but their modalities change. In the post-Enlightenment world, freedom of speech and a free press were seen as the best way to oppose propaganda. In our times, it must be asked whether this model is sufficient or if it needs significant change. The young technological elite will have a central role in answering this question.

Looking out farther, there is a strong case for pessimism. As the global effects of climate change intensify and interact with an increasing economic divide and the rise of religious extremism, the world will become a far more disturbed place. Mass migrations have already begun, but will grow exponentially. Water shortages will drive millions from ancestral lands. New diseases will emerge and old ones will expand their area of influence in a warming world. New technologies such as AI, robotics, social media and genetic engineering will lead to such rapid socioeconomic transformation that whole societies will be disrupted catastrophically. In this context, Trump and Brexit seem like the first, faint intimations of an approaching tsunami. Such conditions of societal stress lead invariably to the emergence of tyrants. In the modern context, they may be right-wing or left-wing, elitist or populist, religious or secular  but that will hardly matter. A new, illiberal age will descend upon the world. Is this dystopian reality inevitable? Who knows? But we do know it is still within our grasp to reduce its likelihood.

The biggest lesson of Election 2016 is that Trump and his movement cannot be discounted. Trump himself works in highly unconventional ways, which convinced the convention-driven media and punditry that he could not win. To understand things better, it is instructive to read Michael Wolffs recent piece on Steve Bannon:

Bannon represents, he not unreasonably believes, the fall of the establishment. The self-satisfied, in-bred and homogenous views of the establishment are both what he is against and what has provided the opening for the Trump revolution. The media bubble is the ultimate symbol of what's wrong with this country, he continues. It's just a circle of people talking to themselves who have no fing idea what's going on. If The New York Times didn't exist, CNN and MSNBC would be a test pattern. The Huffington Post and everything else is predicated on The New York Times. It's a closed circle of information from which Hillary Clinton got all her information  and her confidence. That was our opening.

Darkness is good, says Bannon, Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. For the next four years  if not longer  this mans dream of Darkness will be our national nightmare. It needs to be taken seriously. Perhaps all this will turn out to be a mirage, and there will be no changing of the paradigm after all. Indeed, that is a strong possibility, given the institutional inertia built into America by the genius of its founding fathers. And it is not just the media that lives in its own bubble,; so do right-wing ideologues, and that bubble too can burst unceremoniously. However, we also know that complex systems can transition rapidly to wholly new phases, and it is this possibility that must be taken seriously in the context of American society. The entire process through which Trump has found electoral success indicates that our normal metrics and frameworks of analysis are inadequate for the present moment. It may not be time to panic, but it is past time to think beyond the received paradigm. Maintaining a liberal future will require active effort and creative new strategies, not just passive waiting for a demographic deliverance.
by Omar Ali

Trump has been elected President. Having participated in a week-long social media freakout to deal with this shock (a fact I did not recognize about myself until a couple of days ago), I have some thoughts and I would like to put them out so that I can be enlightened by feedback. It is the only way to learn.

Very qualified people have written some good pieces already about the why and the how. I am posting links to them below, along with some random thoughts about the articles. They are not the whole story (what is?) but I think all these articles are must reads. My own comments are more like invitations to tell me off, or tell me more

After these links and comments, I sum up my own thoughts and end with some questions.

You are still crying wolf, from Slate Star Codex. (I don't think Trump is particularly racist or sexist (relative to most 70 year old males, of any ethnicity) and he is obviously socially liberal compared to traditional Republicans. But the possibility is there that this shallow man (more or less socially liberal, a conman, ignorant) will be manipulated by his newfound advisers into disasters (initially abroad) that could have endless branching and mutating unintended consequences here and abroad. That could be a truly transformative crisis Racism and the rise of the KKK (real and imagined) are small potatoes compared to the storms that could potentially be unleashed in the world Muslims, being intimately connected to the worldwide crisis in very direct ways, will likely face the consequences within the USA too; but the crucial point is that the whole shitstorm is likely to proceed along tracks that are occasionally parallel, but mostly completely unconnected with the identitarian postmarxist postmodern worldview that dominates the elite Eurocentric Left today Incidentally, if the ordure does hit the fan (I hope it does not, i hope the much-maligned current world order survives or at least, has a soft landing), then Blacks and Latinos, like other citizens, will fight for America. I suspect that the fantasy worldview that emphasizes supranational and subnational identities well above national ones will prove very flimsy; flimsier even than class solidarity proved to be in the first world warthe elite Left's freakout about the KKK and the coming age of Jim Crow is not completely wrong, but misses the biggest threats and their likely consequences. Which is not to say that no connection can be made between racism and the international order, but the race-obsessed post-truth glasses of the new postmarxist Left do get them into endless wrong turns and dead-ends in terms of priorities to be tackled.

I personally think Muslims are pretty much the only group who are actually likely to face government actions that will target entire groups for the real or imaginary behavior of some of them. And the mainstream Democratic party, the ACLU, Americans who believe in the constitution and the rule of law, and fair-minded Republicans will all be needed by them in order to help protect them against excesses. In terms of race, minorities will likely face law-enforcement excesses (as they do today, but these could increase). Occasional public confrontations (some very nasty), as well as indirect effects, arguable effects and fake effects are all possible, but they are not the main plan, or the main threat.

Meanwhile, there is also a mainstream Republican majority that has many longstanding Republican projects ready to go (tax cuts for the rich, supreme court appointments, Medicare privatization, benefit cutbacks, more prisons and prosecutors, renewed marijuana enforcement?) that will be painful for poor people and excessively nice to rich people. But world changing crises, if any, are more likely to start abroad)

The End of Identity Liberalism. NYT (Mark Lilla) (the prediction tone of the headline is misleading. It is not going to end. It may not be in power in the federal or state governments, but this meme-complex is fully entrenched in universities and among liberal intellectuals and they will only double down now that Trump has won. EVERYONE is doubling down on their favorite agenda, these people will double down on theirs. And because fear is such a powerful motivator, they will get even more traction in their own constituency. In war, lines harden, people have to tribalize. We will have to line up with all the liberals talking about the pefrormativity of Whiteness and suchlike because they will be OUR tribe. We will have no choice. War has it's rules.

Stephen Bannon Speaks (this is my own blog post, which has links to two long pieces about Stephen Bannon; he describes himself as wishing to be the Thomas Cromwell of the age. Leaving aside the minor detail that Thomas Cromwell was beheaded by the King he served, I see where he is coming from; Cromwells historic achievements were real and lasting. My impression (and I am not a historian, so I look forward to being corrected) is that he smashed and grabbed all the monasteries and materially ended the domination of the Catholic church in England. He improved the administration, promoted the Protestant reformation in England and left England a stronger kingdom than it was when he became its dominant minister before he was finally beheaded by his beheading-friendly king. Not being a supporter of Trump, I hope Bannon is not 10% as successful or as talented as Cromwell was)

Trump Country, and Trump Supporters (from Mother Jones) (the usual supporters of the modern Republican party: richer people, evangelicals, small business owners, all voted for Trump more or less as usual, this is about the new supporters he mobilized and the old supporters he mobilized for his candidacy versus traditional Republicans. It is well worth reading, a great work of ethnography.. though no attempt is made at drawing any deeper lessons. Since it was published in Mother Jones, the deeper lessons may be left-leaning for most readers, but I can also see people drawing the lessons Bannon is preaching (TBF, some of them are left wing too)..I suspect both (mainstream Left AND Bannonism) are likely to be wrong. So we are still waiting for the pieces about what to do next. No one intelligent seems to think that Trump can fix their problem, so what happens next? Some people will say that there is no solution for a lot of these peoplea callous way of putting it would be that they will die of poor health, drug abuse and violent crime, kept away from gated communities by armed guards and drones. But who will live in those communities and under what code of life will they live? Will most of humanity find a new and relatively comfortable equilibrium? a better equilibrium? Or maybe there is no deeper pattern. One foot in front of the other)

The Right Way to Resist Trump. NYT. Luigi Zingales. (This article is good, but it seems unlikely that the Democrats will be able to stay off super-elite liberal issues and freakouts. Trump's own mistakes, infighting within his team, and the iron hand of the market (aka economics, a voodoo science about which nobody knows much) may ruin his administration so much that he will lose to whatever choice the Dems make next time, but I do have my doubts about the Democrats switching to some new on-message message that people like this columnist would approve of During the campaign we heard about how Trump is easily manipulated into biting at every story that he should just leave well alonewell, that applies to the Democrats in spades. And Trump seems to know this and he will relentlessly use this fact to create fake controversies about some Broadway musical or some bathroom labeling issue, where the entire liberal media will be against him and the Nixonian silent majority will think those liberal elites really ARE idiots and so on.it will be a horrible four years (I still hope, not 8)

To sum up, I think we had a close election; one that the Democrats could have won, in spite of all of Trump's newly mobilized voters because he also had such huge negatives. But as it is, they did not win. Relatively contingent events probably played a part in their loss (Comey), but that should not obscure the fact that something huge has happened on the Republican side. A trash-talking socially liberal outsider, with a reputation as a conman (or at a minimum, a shady businessman, which is pretty much the same thing) took over the Republican party in the face of near-total establishment disapproval and then generated enough excitement in his core constituency (disaffected White people, rich and poor) to win a US general election. And he did this in spite of being rejected by almost every traditional newspaper and media outlet in the country (even at Fox, some hosts were ambivalent). And he did so with an unconventional campaign that relied on voter excitement and (frequently negative) media coverage rather than on the kind of professional political operation that has characterized all recent American presidential campaigns. This is an event worth paying attention to.

But having taken him seriously, we still have what his own chief strategist calls a perfect vessel, waiting to be filled. But with what? Partisan commentary almost necessarily has to try and freak-out their support base for or against the incoming administration, and may be grossly exaggerated. But there are some grounds for thinking it may not be business as usual. My preference is clearly for business as usual (because I tend towards the belief that change will happen anyway, but it is better if it happens slowly and imperceptibly; of course, this is not how providence sometimes operates, so real life can and does deviate from my personal desires) so I personally will be relatively at ease if Trump turns out to be mostly talk; relying on distractions and culture wars to keep his constituency from noticing that nothing has changed for the better in their life, in short, just another modestly corrupt Republican administration; consistent in serving the short-term interests of the top 1% , willing to damage the long term interests of America (and the world at large) if it means more profits in the short term, and more than likely, losing the next election. Hopefully without terminally tarnishing the dignity and gravitas of the office of President.

It may turn out this way. Which will be unpleasant, but life will go on until the next election and then perhaps the next (modestly corrupt) Democratic administration. Such is the best case scenario. And I hope this less than exciting outcome does come to be.

But suppose it is not business as usual? Then I am looking for insights about two scenarios:

1. World War Z. The big changes will start abroad in this scenario, and most will probably be unintended. We will soon have a National security adviser who thinks that war against Islamism (or as he prefers to call it, Islam) is the defining feature of the world today. Without getting into any long discussion of whether this is true or not, look at it this way: there is no competing Islamic civilization out there in terms of unity, material progress or military strength. Even if we imagine (as Islamists sometimes do) that superior fellow-feeling and social organization (a patriarchal but otherwise egalitarian religion, resistant to culture-destroying postmodern memes; their view, not mine) means that they win in the long term, even Islamists recognize that in the short or medium term this victory involves getting invaded by competing infidel powers with better artillery and missiles.

So let us imagine Flynn has his way. What would such a war look like? His views are frequently incoherent and it is by no means clear where they will end up. e.g. he seems to regard IRAN (not Pakistan, Turkey or Saudi Arabia, the big three Sunni hopes) as the main threat and regards Russia as both threat and ally. There is just no rational way to predict what happens next based on these reported views The US would presumably want to smash any and all Islamic counties that don't cooperate, but isn't it then a given that China, Russia and the US would also compete against each other in this new scramble for Africa (the Muslim world being only one order of magnitude more capable than Africa, while the big three are several orders of magnitude more materially capable than any Muslim country)? Who will line up on what side? Will it be mostly covert, low intensity warfare or will things spin out of control (the scramble for Africa being followed by World War One)? What about India? Japan? Latin America? The Baltics? Poland? Ukraine? This is a very complex system. Start a disturbance at a few critical points and the transitions can become totally unpredictable.

Think about it this way and it is easy to reach the comforting conclusion that this scenario is so nightmarish that saner heads will prevail. The current international order will survive. I certainly hope so, but then again, that is probably what many sane people thought in 1913. I look forward to your thoughts.

2. From Dawn to Decadenceto collapse?

The amazing rise of Western civilization and its steadily increasing dominance of the globe in the last 500 years have given it an aura of inevitability and permanence. Not in terms of particular nationalities (particular powers rise and fall), but in terms of intellectual paradigms and visions of reality. But alongside this dominance are well established currents of doubt, pessimism and rejection, from Ivan Illych to Dugin (and even, in a way, Bannon). I am not including the currently fashionable postmarxist postmodern current in Western universities, with its rejection of tradition, authority and dead White males and its glorification of identity politics and not so critical critical studies. This current seems just the next (last?) stage within the Western tradition itself; more a sign of its bankruptcy than the vision of an alternative (simply put, because it's major themes seem to have such tangential,incidental, and minimal, contact with actual biology, history, culture or science). Anyway, without getting too far into this potentially book-length debate , suppose this really is terminal decadence, then what comes next?

The unknown unknowns get really interesting at that point.

I, of course, have no good idea about what comes next. But who does? I await your suggestions about reading material

Meanwhile, a few random videos that have little or no connection with one election and one president.. (the first one in particular does not imply complete agreement with his detailed views; mostly I posted it for his questions )






Sonoma State University's Green Music Center is rounding out 2016 with a celebration of winter and the holiday season, highlighting the world-class chamber, world, orchestral, and jazz offerings featured throughout the 201617 Fifth Anniversary Season.



While the cherub-voiced Vienna Boys Choir technically kick-offs the holiday festivities at the GMC on November 27, there is plenty to pick from in the month of December. First, an action-packed weekend of music: Australian master of the guitar Tommy Emmanuel brings his Classics & Christmas tour to Weill Hall on Friday, December 9, 2016; Grammy Award-winner Angelique Kidjo performs her special blend of jazz and West-African traditions Saturday, December 10; and Bay Area cellist Zoe Keating, "a one-woman orchestra," comes to Schroeder Hall for a sold-out show Sunday, December 11. The following week, Hawaiian favorites Na Leo return to Weill Hall on Friday, December 16, for a festive display of hula and song. On Sunday, December 18, the fantastic American Bach Soloists and American Bach Choir present Handel's Messiah. Rounding out the holiday season are contemporary jazz icon Dave Koz (Dec. 20) featuring guests Jonathan Butler, Kenny Lattimore, and Ashford and Simpson's Valerie Simpson, and the soulful Sweet Honey in the Rock with "Celebrating the Holydays" (Dec. 22). Tickets and gift cards are available now. Call 1-866-955-6040 or visit gmc.sonoma.edu





Weill Hall at the Green Music Center (Cory Weaver)

Nestled in the picturesque foothills of California Wine Country, the Green Music Center (GMC) is a focal point for arts in the region, with its spectacular 1400-seat Weill Hall, an acoustically exceptional venue with a modular rear wall that opens to terraced lawn seating, providing picturesque views of the surrounding countryside, and the 240-seat Schroeder Hall, a cathedral-like recital hall designed specifically to accentuate instruments, organ and voice in a small, intimate setting. A program of Sonoma State University, the GMC presents year-round programming of top classical, contemporary, jazz and world music artists through the Mastercard Performance Series and is home to the Santa Rosa Symphony.
The story hit a nerve, drawing nearly 1,200 impassioned online comments from both patients and health care workers. "I'm not surprised at the reaction to this story," says Barbara Berkeley, a doctor who specializes in weight management at a clinic in Beachwood, Ohio, who called it "a subject that needs to be out there."

Weight bias needs to be addressed, agreed Kimberly Gudzune, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who studies the impact of obesity on the patient-physician relationship. This kind of media attention can "help raise physicians' awareness of the problem."

Comments to the Times story came from men and women who identified with overweight patients spotlighted in the article and who added their own stories of being treated poorly, as well as from physicians who objected to all doctors being lumped together as insensitive, countering that many physicians are sympathetic to obese patients and their problems.

But not all doctors. The problem begins, according to the Times, with the doctor's attitude. Often health care professionals don't look beyond the patient's weight. The knee-jerk reaction is to tell the patient to lose weight and everything will be OK. When patients who are obese (measured as a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher) visit a doctor, they may never get to discuss the problem that brings them into the office. A 2015 study found that the stigma of obesity causes doctors to spend less time with patients and fail to refer them for diagnostic tests. Compared with patients of normal weight, patients who are obese were more likely to be told to make lifestyle changes for their symptoms, while patients who weigh less are prescribed medication.

Some doctors flat-out refuse to treat obese patients. In 2011, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Sun Sentinel conducted a poll among 105 obstetricians and gynecologists. Almost 15 percent of the doctors polled revealed they would not accept women over 200 pounds as patients for fear of complications and potential malpractice lawsuits. Some surgeons also refuse to do hip or knee replacements on those who are obese. These blanket biases are unacceptable, say both doctors and patients.
In fact, nearly half of American women either wipe a toilet seat before use or put toilet paper or a paper liner on it, which keeps it pretty clean, he said. What they really should be worried about are their handbags. Or the Uber vehicle in which they just rode. Or the sick person at home who's spreading germs on everything he touches.

While most germs are nothing to worry about for the average healthy person, people older than 50 need to be a little more germ wary, Gerba says. That's because our immune systems get weaker as we age, and germ-related illness can be more severe.

Here are six everyday germ offenders you may not have thought about:
Auditor's offices do plenty of preparation before Election Day
The strategy of Gulf (ASX:GMC) is to develop an ASEAN focused manganese alloy business based in Kupang, West Timor, taking advantage of the low operational and ore costs, combined with modest power costs (these being a combined 84% of total costs). Targeted production will be a premium quality 78% ferro manganese alloy resulting from the unique qualities of the Indonesian high grade (greater than 50%) low impurity manganese ore.


Bygoo Tin Farm-In JV

Sydney, Nov 21, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Thomson Resources ( ASX:TMZ ) is pleased to announce it has signed a Farm-in and Joint Venture Agreement for its Bygoo Tin Project in central New South Wales with a North American private investor who can earn 51% equitable interest on contributing $A3,000,000 in a series of staged payments by 30 November 2017. They then have an option to contribute additional funds to earn a further 25% interest. The option will be exercisable until 1 October, 2018 at an exercise price of A$22,000,000, with an initial payment at commencement of A$4,000,000.



- Farm-In agreement signed with a North American private investor who can earn 51% of the Bygoo Project by contributing A$3 million



- The investor will also have an option for an additional 25% interest of the project for A$22 million.



Thomson welcomes this investment as a strong show of support for the prospectivity of the Bygoo Tin Project. The farm-in funding removes the financial constraints on Thomson in developing this project towards production. Drilling is planned to commence at Bygoo North as soon as practical.



Bygoo Tin Project



The Bygoo Tin Project consists of three exploration tenements in central NSW - ELs 8163 and 8260, as well as ELA 5350, which cover most of the Ardlethan Tin Field. Thomson Resources has made important discoveries at Bygoo North and South with wide, high-grade tin intersections at shallow drill depths. Several other prospects along the eastern edge of the Ardlethan granite remain to be tested.



The Ardlethan Tin Mine closed in 1986 after a collapse in tin prices. It produced over 25,000 tons of tin between 1962 and 1986 (see Thomson ASX release 14 November 2016) and potential remains at depth below the workings. The Bygoo Tin Project EL 8260 covers a part of the historic mine area where tin bearing breccia pipes have been recorded (see Thomson ASX release 2 November 2016). Little or no mineral exploration occurred in the project area since 1986 until Thomson acquired it in 2015. Three drilling campaigns by Thomson have confirmed significant tin mineralisation at Bygoo North and South.



These intersections are believed to lie within the east-west greisen zone with "True Width" estimated by 3D modelling of the zone. This table is reproduced from the Thomson Resources ASX release of April 29, 2016 (March quarterly).



To view tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/130F4VK8





About Thomson Resources Ltd





Thomson Resources Ltd (ASX:TMZ) is an NSW active mineral explorer. Thomson has several tin projects (including an advanced project near Ardlethan), as well as gold, copper and zinc targets in a range of settings. Thomson has a good record of discovery, with multiple new Intrusion-Related Gold (gold with copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten) systems discovered in the Thomson Fold Belt in the NW of the state.


Master Supply Agreement Signed with Blackmores

Sydney, Nov 21, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Brand Protection and Customer Engagement solutions company YPB Group Limited ( ASX:YPB ) has signed a two-year Master Supply Agreement (MSA) with Blackmores Limited ( ASX:BKL ) under which YPB's suite of Brand Protection and Customer Engagement solutions can be deployed across the Blackmores range. The MSA sets the framework for the supply of YPB products and services to Blackmores.



- YPB to provide its full range of products and services to Blackmores under two year agreement



- The momentum in YPB's IP commercialisation plan is building



YPB's PROTECT solution is a patented, invisible, indestructible, uncopiable tracer or marker which can be seamlessly and easily incorporated into plastics, inks and fibres to create protected, intelligent packaging. The tracer is used to confirm the authenticity of a product in conjunction with YPB's patented scanner. The intelligent packaging can then be used with YPB's TRACK AND TRACE solution to DETECT counterfeit goods and ensure supply chain integrity, a major issue for exporters. Finally, the intelligent packaging can become the trigger for a customer to want to CONNECT directly with the brand. As far as YPB is aware it is the only company globally with a complete end-to-end solutions suite allowing a brand to PROTECT its products, DETECT counterfeit and supply chain problems, and CONNECT directly to end customers.



YPB Executive Chairman John Houston said: "The opportunity to work with Blackmores is an important endorsement of our vision to help Western exporters realise the potential of Asia while protecting and growing the value of their brands. With the technologies and talent in place, the commercialisation of our valuable and unique intellectual property is clearly gathering momentum."





About Blackmores Limited





Blackmores Limited (ASX:BKL) (OTCMKTS:BLMMF) is Australia's leading natural health brand. Its quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health.

About YPB Group Ltd

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College of DuPage

Teams comprised of accounting students representing theCollege of DuPageandNorthern Illinois Universityrecently tied for first place at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC's) 2016Challenge case competition.

Since launching the Challenge in 2002, PwC has invited some 5,000 accounting students from over 50 colleges and universities across the country to compete in the annual competition. Participating students are put in front of real-world scenarios, namely strategic issues, which companies are currently facing around the world.

The Challenge sees students work in small teams to review a business case, develop a solution, and present a solution to a group of PwC professionals. Students are judged based on factors such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

Each member of a winning team receives a cash prize and is also eligible to compete in PwC's optionalCorporate Responsibility (CR)challenge.

I am thankful to both NIU and PwC for including College of DuPage in this competition, stated Maureen McBeth, accounting professor at College of DuPage. This was an incredible opportunity for our students to work directly with and be mentored by the professionals at PwC. We were thrilled to see our students step up and demonstrate their analytical and communication skills which resulted in a first place tie with an NIU team.

For more on the Challenge, head to PwC'ssite here. For more on the College of DuPage and Northern Illinois University's accounting programs, head to their respective siteshereandhere. Check out a brief video on the Challenge below, via PwC.




By Anna Hunt

Theres no denying that a majority of Americans succumb to herd mentality, especially when they get fired up about something. People who can be easily influenced by their peers and adopt the behaviors of others are particularly dangerous when an event, such as a sporting or political event, creates mass discontent or passionate public response. These can quickly turn into riots and civil unrest. Then, the herd turns into a mob.

The 2016 Presidential Election has created division and social tensions among the American people. This is compounded with already growing conflict throughout American communities due to the perceived lack of racial equality and a streak of police violence. It seems the fire is ready for the stoking. These days, its not hard to expect a seemingly harmless event, such as a peaceful protest or well-publicized trial, to turn into a riot or wide-spread civil unrest. Take a look at what happened when thousands of peaceful protesters at Occupy Oakland are infiltrated by a small group of violent hooligans.

Recipe for Violence

It is easy to blame an event, certain individuals, and even social tensions when a riot breaks out. But lets face it, many people in the United States seem fed up, angry or easily provoked. Any social leader or organization with an agenda can take advantage of this, especially if they understand mob mentality. They realize that when riled up, people will make rash decisions. They will go with the flow, even if violent, even if they dont really know why they are rioting.

Then theres the allure of being able to loot and pillage during a riot with a certain degree of anonymity. This attracts certain types of people who will take advantage of a situation, caring little if their actions create hostility among others. Herd mentality will once again come into play, as others start to engage in criminal activities and begin to feel that they are entitled to also materially benefit from the situation.

Law enforcement is also part of the equation. Numerous negative public encounters between the U.S. public and the police have placed law enforcement under much scrutiny. Some even question what side police officers are really on. Take the Standing Rock protests as an example. Militarized police in battle dress stormed peaceful protesters camps with LRAD sonic weapons, attack dogs, tear gas, tasers, and even live ammunition. The riot gear that is now the standard uniform when working during demonstrations and protests give the police a menacing and unapproachable appearance. This does not discourage violence and aggression. It almost makes it more likely to happen.

Put individuals with agendas, criminal opportunists and militarized police in once place, and you have a recipe for violence.

What To Do If You are Caught Up in a Riot

Respectable and non-violent people will want to continue participating in protests and organized events that might escalate tensions among groups of individuals. By all means, people should have the right to stand up for what they believe and make their voices heard. Yet, it is smart to be prepared if you happen to be attending an event that turns violent or are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

So what can an innocent bystander do when caught up in a riot?

Shelter-in-place kit

If you are on the street where a riot has started:

Be prepared to defend yourself. Stay alert.

If you are in a place that would attract looters, leave as soon as possible.

If you are in a safe place inside a building, stay there. Locate the emergency exits in case you need to leave quickly.

If you need to take refuge somewhere, make sure it will not attract looters and has more than one exit.

Avoid looking like you have anything that someone would want.

Take the first opportunity you can to leave and go home. If the police are involved, they will most often than not have at least one exit path for anyone wanting to run away.

If the riot is outside your home, or moving towards it.

If the riot is outside of your home, lock yourself in and prepare to shelter-in-place. Be prepared to bug out and, if possible, have an alternate exit in mind.

If you have received notice that a violent mob is headed towards your home, decide ahead of time what you would prefer to do: shelter-in-place or evacuate. This way you will have all the proper supplies on hand.

If you stay in your home, be prepared to leave at any moment. Prepare a bug out bag.

Have a quality fire extinguisher on hand.

Be prepared to defend yourself/family/property. Have a plan.

Connect with your neighbors and plan how you can mutually help each other. As a group, you are also more likely to be able to help out others who are more vulnerable, such as children and the elderly.

Keep an adequate supply of emergency food (store at a minimum a 72-hour supply of food for your whole family) and a quality first aid kit. This is especially important if you live in a heavily populated urban area.

Have a battery-powered radio available to keep you informed even if the power goes out due to vandalism.

If a riot escalates to wide-spread civil unrest.

When you are forced to leave your home or your safe-house, make sure you have a plan in place for what to do in case you cannot return. This will keep your family and/or neighbors less worried.

Check the local news or radio broadcast often, so you know if you need to stay clear of certain areas. Stay informed while you are out and about.

Avoid going to public areas, heavily populated areas, such as malls and shopping centers, or parts of town where tensions are high.

Dont wear any flashy clothes or show off anything valuable.

Feel free to share your ideas of what else you can do to keep yourself and your family safe in case of a riot or civil unrest.

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Anna Hunt is co-owner of OffgridOutpost.com, an online store offering GMO-free healthy storable food and emergency kits. She is also the staff writer for WakingTimes.com. Anna is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and founder of Atenas Yoga Center. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. Visit her essential oils store here. Visit Offgrid Outpost on Facebook.

This article (Social Tensions Continue to Rise  Heres What To Do In Case of Civil Unrest or Rioting) was originally created and published by emergency food supplier Offgrid Outpost and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to author Anna Hunt and OffgridOutpost.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution and this copyright statement. Please contact online@offgridoutpost.com for more info.

Image Credit: Glenn Halog/Flickr

Creative Commons 2.0 License
By Claire Bernish

Until corporate media and the neoliberal establishment refused to acknowledge their direct role in the election of Donald Trump and threw a temper-tantrum about misinformation on social media to scapegoat blame, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg balked at the notion faulty reports circulating on social media had anything at all to do with the November 8th shocker.

Of all the content on Facebook, more than 99 percent of what people see is authentic. Only a very small amount is fake news and hoaxes, Zuckerberg wrote in a post to his platform last Saturday. The hoaxes that do exist are not limited to one partisan view, or even to politics. Overall, this makes it extremely unlikely hoaxes changed the outcome of this election in one direction or the other.

Now, rather than stand by that original assertion, Zuckerberg instead cast all logic aside and unleashed a Machiavellian seven-point plan to eradicate the very small amount of false information  read: all opinion not in lockstep with the establishment narrative  from the newsfeeds of Facebooks billion-plus users.

Because, apparently, we cant be trusted to think for ourselves.

The bottom line is: we take misinformation seriously, Zuckerberg wrote late Friday evening, apparently forgetting what he posted exactly one week ago. Our goal is to connect people with the stories they find most meaningful, and we know people want accurate information. Weve been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously. Weve made significant progress, but there is more work to be done.

Curiously, the head of the Facebook Ministry of Truth neglected to explain how the 65 corporate presstitutes and myriad mendacious mainstream outlets exposed in WikiLeaks Podesta Files for colluding with the Clintonite establishment were awarded a free pass to spread propagandic disinformation  and, frequently, flagrant lies.

Worse, what Zuckerberg wrote next should send chills down the spines of anyone who has ever been forced to deal with fallout from the social media platforms already-rampant and oft-inexplicable censorship via erroneous and revenge reporting on posts, arbitrary unpublishing of pages, ghosting, and newsfeed suppression  as well as those who look to Facebook for alternatives to vapid mainstream media:
There are ways to reduce the financial burden brought on by ADHD. But often, families lose out because they are unaware of tax breaks and assistance programs or run up against problems with their insurance plan. If this happens to you, though, Peter Jensen, M.D., author of Making the System Work for Your Child with ADHD insists, Dont take this sitting down. ADHD is every bit a biomedical problem as strep throat. Here are seven more strategies that can significantly reduce your expenses. Some of these may apply to your situation, and some may not, but Dr. Jensen reminds us that Nothing works all the time. Yes, this can be discouraging, but thats why its important to keep at it, try all your options, and continue with those that get you the best results. Dont give up!

1. Take advantage of a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), if offered by your employer

Just 16 percent of those offered the benefit (which enables an employee to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical expenses), in 2005 actually enrolled, according to a study by Hewitt Associates, an employee-benefits consulting firm. Granted, an FSAs use it or lose it provision can be intimidating, but many families find that the one-time annoyance of estimating their expenses ultimately translates to considerable savings throughout the year. Remember, though, expenses for which you are fully reimbursed by your FSA do not qualify as medical expenses for the tax deduction. You may need to decide which of these two options makes more sense for your family. For more information, see IRS Publication 969 at irs.gov/publications/p969.

2. Look into the medical tax deduction

If your itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction and your familys medical expenses total at least 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you qualify. Remember to include your own expenses-for co-pays and contact lenses, as well as for any specialized care-along with your kids.

You may be surprised to learn how many LD/ADD expenses the IRS will count toward an FSA or the medical tax deduction. (A doctors recommendation, as well as a medical diagnosis of a neurological disorder, may be required, so tax preparation advice is recommended.) These include:

Co-pays

Diagnostic evaluations

Tuition to a special school that has a program designed to educate children with severe learning disabilities

Tutoring conducted by a teacher specially trained and qualified to deal with severe learning disabilities

Admission to medical conferences that cover ADHD

Transportation expenses-including parking fees and tolls-incurred traveling to a special school or tutor (if by car, the allowable expense for 2004 is 14 per mile)

For a complete list of qualifying medical expenses and for more information, see IRS Publication 502- Medical and Dental Expenses.

3. File an amended tax return retroactively

If youre thinking if only I had known this then, youre in luck: you can file returns retroactively up to three years, so expenses dating as far back as 2001 can be claimed if the amended return is filed by this April 15. After reviewing their expenses, I have seen people have a eureka! moment and get thousands and thousands of dollars back, says Michael OConnor, a Chicago tax attorney. See IRS Publication 17, Tax Guide, for more information.

4. Spend the time to thoroughly analyze insurance plans

Lucky enough to have a choice of carriers or plans? If you set aside an afternoon to compare last years medical expenses to what is covered under each option, youll pick the plan best suited to your familys needs-and end up saving money in the long run.

5. Develop friendly relationships with the specialists you consult as well as your insurer

Explain your familys financial situation to your specialists. They may be willing to give you a discount or to make an exception and accept your insurance plan. Dr. Jensen suggests, Get to know the customer service representative at your insurer by her first name, he says, and follow up with a nice thank-you note after she has been even the tiniest bit helpful. Remember, so much more can happen when you develop a personal relationship.

6. Seek out an insurance assistance program

Uninsured children 18 and younger whose families earn less than $34,100 a year (for a family of four) often qualify for their states low-cost or free health insurance programs. Insure Kids Now!, a service of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, explains these programs and provides links to each states initiative.

7. Investigate patient assistance programs designed to help the uninsured or underinsured with medication costs

Helpingpatients.org, devised by The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, lists initiatives sponsored by drug manufacturers as well as by government and local organizations.
What is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder of written expression that impairs writing ability and fine motor skills. It is a learning disability that affects children and adults, and interferes with practically all aspects of the writing process, including spelling, legibility, word spacing and sizing, and expression.

Its estimated that 5 to 20 percent of all children have some type of writing deficit like dysgraphia.1 Dysgraphia and other learning disorders, like dyslexia and dyscalculia, are common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD); Up to half of children with ADHD in the U.S. have a learning disorder.2 3

Dysgraphia Symptoms

Dysgraphia is typically identified as a child learns to write. However a disorder of written expression may remain unrecognized through the early school years as a childs writing ability continues to develop; dysgraphia may remain undiagnosed until adulthood.4

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)5, symptoms of dysgraphia include:

Trouble forming letters shapes

Tight, awkward, or painful grip on a pencil

Difficulty following a line or staying within margins

Trouble with sentence structure or following rules of grammar when writing, but not when speaking

Difficulty organizing or articulating thoughts on paper

Pronounced difference between spoken and written understanding of a topic

Dysgraphia symptoms typically change over time. Children with dysgraphia generally have trouble with the mechanics of writing and exhibit other fine-motor impairments, while dysgraphia in adolescents and adults manifests as difficulties with grammar, syntax, comprehension, and generally putting thoughts on paper.4

[Could Your Child Have Dysgraphia? Take This Test]

[Take This Dysgraphia Symptom Test for Adults]

Is Dysgraphia a Form of Dyslexia?

Dysgraphia is associated with writing difficulties, whereas dyslexia is associated with reading difficulties. Both learning disorders share some symptoms, like difficulty with spelling, that may complicate a diagnosis. It is possible for an individual to have both dysgraphia and dyslexia6 (see Dysgraphia Diagnosis below for more information on learning disorders).

What Causes Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is commonly thought of in the following two ways.4

Acquired dysgraphia is associated with brain injury, disease, or degenerative conditions that cause the individual (typically as an adult) to lose previously acquired skills in writing.

Developmental dysgraphia refers to difficulties in acquiring writing skills. This type of dysgraphia is most commonly considered in childhood. The causes for developmental dysgraphia are unknown, but researchers have identified several subtypes4 that correspond to certain neurological mechanisms:

Motor dysgraphia : Lack of fine-motor coordination and visual perception have long been tied to dysgraphia and may explain difficulties with producing written text. Individuals with motor dysgraphia typically exhibit illegible and slow handwriting, poor drawing and tracing skills, and slow finger-tapping (a common measure of fine motor skills).

: Lack of fine-motor coordination and visual perception have long been tied to dysgraphia and may explain difficulties with producing written text. Individuals with motor dysgraphia typically exhibit illegible and slow handwriting, poor drawing and tracing skills, and slow finger-tapping (a common measure of fine motor skills). Spatial dysgraphia is likely related to problems of spatial perception, which affects letter spacing and drawing ability. Individuals with spatial dysgraphia struggle with handwriting and drawing, however spelling and finger-tapping speed are typically normal.

is likely related to problems of spatial perception, which affects letter spacing and drawing ability. Individuals with spatial dysgraphia struggle with handwriting and drawing, however spelling and finger-tapping speed are typically normal. Linguistic dysgraphia impacts the language processing skills required in the writing process. It most strongly affects spontaneously written text (which hasnt been traced or copied), which is often illegible. Drawing, copying, and oral spelling are not affected by linguistic dysgraphia.

[Read: What Does Dysgraphia Look Like in Children?]

Dysgraphia Diagnosis

The term dysgraphia is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5)7. Instead, the DSM-5 lists problems in writing (as well as in reading and math) under the specific learning disorder (SLD) diagnosis category. The category also includes the specifier, SLD with impairment in written expression, which is most closely aligned with common notions of dysgraphia.

To merit an SLD diagnosis, an individual must meet these four criteria:

Exhibit at least one of six outlined symptoms related to difficulties with learning and using academic skills for at least six months. Difficulty with written expression is included in the list.

Exhibit academic skills that are substantially below what is expected for the individuals age, and cause problems in school, work, or everyday activities.

The difficulties started during school-age, even if problems only become acute in adulthood.

Other conditions and factors are ruled out, including intellectual disability, vision problems, and lack of instruction.

SLD with impairment in written expression is diagnosed when an individual exhibits deficits in subskills that include spelling and grammar accuracy, and clarity or organization of written expression.

Dysgraphia is typically diagnosed by a licensed psychologist who specializes in learning disorders, though it may involve a team of specialists, including occupational therapists, special education teachers, and educational psychologists.4

The team can use a variety of tools to determine a diagnosis, including:

School reports

Psychoeducational measures

Review of the individuals developmental, medical, and familial history

Standardized writing assessments

Tests for dysgraphia typically include a writing component  copying out sentences or answering brief essay questions  as well as a fine-motor component that tests the individuals reflexes and motor speed. The diagnosing specialist works to get a sense of both the quality of the writing  how well does the patient organize thoughts and convey ideas  and the physical act of writing itself. Does writing hurt? Are letters formed correctly?

Why Is a Dysgraphia Diagnosis Critical?

Even in the digital age, handwriting is an important skill necessary for success in the classroom and beyond. With dysgraphia, the mechanics of writing and other foundational writing skills are difficult, making a student more likely to fall behind peers without the learning disorder. Writing problems are also associated with persistent academic struggles and low self-perception, which can persist to adulthood.4

Whats more, the act of writing often helps the brain remember, organize, and process information. When the physical act of writing is incredibly challenging, a child cant effectively show what they knows. A student with dysgraphia may fail an exam simply because they cant translate his thoughts and answers to paper.

Dysgraphia Treatment

Dysgraphia and other learning disorders are lifelong conditions that have no cure. Treatment for dysgraphia focuses on interventions, accommodations, and special services to circumvent writing-related tasks and/or improve writing abilities. Given the nature of dysgraphia, attempts at remediation and more practice alone are not enough  accommodations and other modifications are necessary to successfully manage the condition.8

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with learning disorders like dysgraphia are eligible for special services in the classroom. Adults with dysgraphia can implement several fixes in the workplace on their own, or after communicating with management.

Dysgraphia Accommodations in School and at Work

Utilizing larger pencils with special grips, or other writing instruments

Using paper with raised lines to help with margins

Permitting or asking for extra time on writing-related assignments and tasks

Allowing alternative methods to showcase learning and work, like oral or recorded responses

Using assistive electronic technologies, like voice-to-text programs

Asking for a copy of written materials given in class or the workplace

Opting to type notes during meetings

Other Dysgraphia Interventions

[Read This Next: Could It Be A Learning Disability?]

Dysgraphia At a Glance

Comorbidity with ADHD  Up to half of children with ADHD in the U.S. have a learning disorder, including dysgraphia. Suggestive Symptoms  Handwriting is slow and/or illegible

 Inconsistent spacing, or running out of space on the paper; irregularly sized letters

 Speaking the words out loud while writing

 Omitted words in sentences

 Difficulty with grammar and syntax structure

 Avoidance of writing tasks

 Difficulty organizing thoughts when writing them down Professional to See Evaluation should be conducted by a school psychologist or special education professional. School supports may be provided by special education professionals and/or your childs classroom teacher. Treatments & Medications  There is no medication to treat dysgraphia and other learning disabilities

 Your child may qualify for an IEP to receive special-education services Recommended Resources  LDAmerica.org

 NCLD.org

 LDOnline.org

 WrightsLaw.com

 The Misunderstood Child, Fourth Edition: Understanding and Coping with Your Childs Learning Disabilities (#CommissionsEarned)

View Article Sources

1 Reynolds, C. (2007). Encyclopedia of special education: A reference for the education of children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and other exceptional individuals (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. 2 Larson, K., Russ, S. A., Kahn, R. S., & Halfon, N. (2011). Patterns of comorbidity, functioning, and service use for US children with ADHD, 2007. Pediatrics, 127(3), 462470. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-0165 3 DuPaul, G. J., Gormley, M. J., & Laracy, S. D. (2013). Comorbidity of LD and ADHD: implications of DSM-5 for assessment and treatment. Journal of learning disabilities, 46(1), 4351. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219412464351 4 Chung, P. J., Patel, D. R., & Nizami, I. (2020). Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: definition, diagnosis, and management. Translational pediatrics, 9(Suppl 1), S46S54. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2019.11.01 5 Cortelia, C., Horowitz, S. (2014). The State of Learning Disabilities: Facts, Trends and Emerging Issues. National Center for Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.ncld.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-State-of-LD.pdf 6 Dohla, D., & Heim, S. (2016). Developmental Dyslexia and Dysgraphia: What can We Learn from the One About the Other?. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 2045. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02045 7 American Psychiatric Association (2014). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-V. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing 8 Mayes, S. D., Breaux, R. P., Calhoun, S. L., & Frye, S. S. (2019). High Prevalence of Dysgraphia in Elementary Through High School Students With ADHD and Autism. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(8), 787796. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054717720721 #CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication
Distributor of capital equipment for the electronics assembly industry, Altus Group, is now offering its customers in the UK and Ireland GPD Global's automated dispense systems which in response to customer demand, now have an integrated Pick & Place capability.





GPD Global, a manufacturer of precision fluid dispensing systems for high-volume 24/7, low-volume/high-mix and R&D production, have expanded the performance of its automated dispense systems. The automated fluid dispensing machine is capable of dispensing fluids and performing Pick & Place for simple components.



The High Precision Dispensing System (MAX Series) and large format DS Series can be used for fluid dispensing and pick and place operations, with parts/substrates now presented in trays or pallets.



The multifunctional systems by GPD Global have closed-loop process controls which help to deliver high quality and produce maximum product yield. It also incorporates software programming which is both simple and intuitive, making it easy to use during manufacture. The versatility of the systems reduces operator dependencies and manufacturing costs.



Richard Booth, Managing Director of Altus said: The new dispense system has added a new option to our portfolio for customers requiring some Pick and Place functionality within the dispensing equipment.



GPD provide a range of high speed dispensing systems, from benchtop lab machines to high speed in-line production systems, suitable for solder paste, adhesives, or other materials. This new dispensing machine is a welcome addition to our range of products and we are already seeing an interest from our customers across the UK and Ireland.
Yen Extends Fall Amid Rising Risk Appetite

(RTTNews) - The Japanese yen continued to be weak against other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday amid rising risk appetite, as crude oil prices rose with optimism that OPEC will follow through on plans to curb production after much wrangling between member nations.

Currently, crude oil delivery for January is up by 0.63 percent or $46.99 per barrel.

Iran may get some exemptions after years of harsh sanctions, but Saudi Arabia and Russia are prepared to adopt meaningful quotas to prevent a global supply glut from lasting into 2017.

The OPEC members began making plans ahead of their meeting in November 30 to stabilize the oil market by finalizing the output deal.

The crude oil prices also rose after industry data showed the U.S. rig count jumped to its highest since January.

U.S. oil companies added 19 drilling rigs this week, the biggest increase since July 2015, Baker Hughes reported.

The Asian market traded higher despite the weak cues from Wall Street on Friday and continuing uncertainty about the economic policies of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

In other economic news, data from the Ministry of Finance showed that Japan had a merchandise trade surplus of 496.174 billion yen in October. That was shy of expectations for a surplus of 610.0 billion following the downwardly revised 497.6 billion yen deficit in September.

Exports were down 10.3 percent on year, missing forecasts for a fall of 8.5 percent following the 6.9 percent decline in the previous month. Imports sank an annual 16.5 percent versus expectations for a decline of 16.1 percent after sliding 16.3 percent a month earlier.

Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed that Japan's all industry activity index rose 0.2 percent month-over-month in September, the same rate of climb as in the previous two months. Meanwhile, economists had expected the index to remain flat during the month. On a yearly basis, the all industry activity index grew at a slower pace of 1.3 percent in September, following a 1.7 percent rise in the preceding month.

Last Friday, the yen fell 0.24 percent against the euro, 0.50 percent against the pound, 0.69 percent against the U.S. dollar, and 0.42 percent against the Swiss franc.

In the Asian trading, the yen fell to nearly a 6-month low of 111.18 against the U.S. dollar, nearly a 5-month low of 110.03 against the Swiss franc, and a 4-month low of 117.75 against the euro, from Friday's closing quotes of 110.86, 109.67 and 117.37, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 112.00 against the greenback, 112.00 against the franc and 121.00 against the euro.

Against the pound, the yen dropped to 137.22 from Friday's closing value of 136.85. The yen may test support near the 140.00 region.

The yen slipped to more than a 4-month low of 82.45 against the Canadian dollar, from last week's closing value of 82.05. The yen is likely to find support near the 84.00 region.

Looking ahead, Canada wholesale sales data for September is due to be released at 8:30 am ET.

At 11:00 am ET, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is expected to testify about the European Central Bank's Annual Report before the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France.

At the same time, European Central Bank executive board member Benoit Coeure will participate in a panel discussion at TUM Speaker Series "Europe" organized by Technische Universitat Munchen and HEC Debats in Munich, Germany.

Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved
HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Wolf Administration today announced changes in family planning services in the commonwealth surrounding long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), which include the intrauterine device (IUD) and the birth control implant. These policy changes will improve public health, provide families with additional choice in their contraception selection, reduce unplanned pregnancies, and save taxpayer money.

"We are making changes to reduce hurdles to effective family planning options and optimize LARC usage," said DHS Secretary Ted Dallas. "Pennsylvania is the latest of many states adopting a variety of payment policies to facilitate LARC usage."

Beginning December 1, 2016, Pennsylvania's Medicaid fee-for-service program will make payment for LARC devices to incentivize hospitals to stock and store them and eliminate the hurdle of high up-front costs of long-acting contraceptives.

Currently under Medicaid, hospitals received a bundled payment for labor and delivery services. Pennsylvania is implementing policies that now reimburse providers separately for the cost of the device when inserting an IUD or implants at the time of delivery, in addition to the bundled payments that hospitals receive for the delivery.

In addition, DHS is increasing certain Medical Assistance fee-for-service family planning rates for outpatient providers, including the insertion and removal of LARC, with the aim of reducing unplanned pregnancies and improving maternal and child health.

"This policy change, and the increased accessibility of LARC that will follow, should help to increase usage by six percent and help to prevent unintended pregnancies  saving millions in taxpayer dollars."

Thirty-five percent of women do not attend their outpatient post-partum appointment, and over half of unplanned pregnancies occur within two years following delivery. It is more efficient for a woman who has just delivered a baby to have a LARC inserted while she is still at the hospital rather than wait until a post-partum visit several weeks later, which she may not attend.

LARC methods are highly effective in preventing pregnancy, last for several years, and are easy to use. If someone wants to become pregnant or stop using them, they can be removed at that time. LARC provide nearly complete protection against pregnancy for three to 10 years. This is in contrast to birth control pills, which are about 90 percent effective.

Additionally, the Department of Health (DOH) will provide training for physicians and health care practitioners through federal funding that will support expansion of LARC post-partum and as a pregnancy prevention practice.

"This is a public health issue that crosses both economic and social lines. Back-to-back pregnancies are an increased risk to maternal health outcomes," said DOH Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy. "The Wolf Administration is committed to reducing unplanned pregnancies and improving birth outcomes. Research shows that inadequate birth spacing can heighten the risk of encountering pregnancy challenges, autism in second born children, low birth weight, and preterm birth."

According to The Guttmacher Institute, 51 percent of all U.S. births in 2010 were paid for by public insurance through Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Indian Health Service. A publicly funded birth cost an average of $12,770 in prenatal care, labor, and delivery, postpartum care and 12 months of infant care; when 60 months of care are included, the cost per birth increases to $20,716.

"We'd like to thank the coalition of advocates and health care practitioners, led by Access Matters, who assisted with the policy changes that will benefit so many Pennsylvanians," said Murphy.

For more information, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Kostelac, 717.425.7606

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/family-planning-options-more-accessible-in-pennsylvania-300366680.html

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Production for business in Asia commences at new site

Business in Asia is booming; Optics Balzers has established the production facilities at the new site in Malaysia as scheduled and has initiated the first test runs. The official opening is scheduled for November 21, 2016.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005392/en/

The new production site in Penang, Malaysia is ready. The official opening is scheduled for November 21. (Photo: Business Wire)

In early September, Optics Balzers has started to establish production with around 30 new employees in Penang on the west coast of Malaysia. According to Alex Vogt, CEO of Optics Balzers, it is becoming increasingly clear that the strategic decision to establish a new production site in Malaysia was a good one: There have been various inquiries about high-quantity production projects from potential customers in Asia, and these resulted in actual orders very quickly. Vogt is looking forward to the official opening ceremony, which will include a speech by the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, who is the head of government of the Malaysian state of Penang. During the celebrations on November 18, 2016, Vogt and his team will provide guided tours of the production facilities and present products in the showroom. A reception and the traditional dragon dance will conclude the festivities.

Successful teamwork

Vogt explains that the prompt start of production is only possible because a team of about ten staff members was sent from Balzers to Malaysia to support the start-up phase. However, a significant share of the staff was recruited in Malaysia. Vogt stresses, It was very important for us to be able to rely on good teamwork right from the outset. Vogt says that the next few months are mostly aimed at handing over the responsibilities of the production process to the local staff while ensuring consistent quality. He explains that the specialist staff will then be able to return to their respective sites in Europe, where they will once again be in charge of further new developments and challenging customer projects.

New site, new products

Both the transformation of the existing property and the foundation of the company could be performed in an unusually fast manner. After the company incorporation in February, the machinery was installed as early as August. The processes are currently being certified in accordance with the established quality standards. According to Vogt, the production site in Malaysia is the ideal addition to the headquarters in Balzers, Liechtenstein, and to the German plant in Jena. Vogt adds that production is being expanded rather than relocated: The new production site enables us to exploit the market opportunities immediately and helps us to purposefully expand our market shares in Asia with new customer projects and new products.

Attractive future markets

The companys focus is going to be on optical solutions for applications in attractive future markets. Vogt gives the example of computer-based applications to aid or enhance human perception of reality (augmented reality) and the creation of visual worlds formerly not visible to the eye (virtual reality). Another example of the diverse fields of application for Optics Balzers products are mini- or pico-projectors. The demand for these devices is enhanced further by two current mega trends which call for sophisticated optical components: wearables  micro computer devices which are worn on the body and assist in everyday activities  and internet of things (IoT)  a network of intelligent physical objects which increasingly replace computers. Vogt explains, Not only do our components help simplify the daily routine  sometimes, development of such new products wouldnt even be possible without our components. These product development processes are frequently designed for the production of very large quantities and are highly challenging and customized.

More highly trained staff

Vogt emphasizes that the new site in Malaysia will ultimately also strengthen the European sites: Expanding to Asia specifically boosts the development of new products, skills and know-how in Jena and Balzers, where we mainly work on new products until they are ready for series production. This opens up new opportunities for the sites in Europe and facilitates continued positive development. Therefore, the need for new and highly qualified employees is going to keep increasing. The companys development over the last few years illustrates this trend: Since Optics Balzers re-transition to independence in 2009, revenue increased from just under 30 million Swiss francs to approx. 40 million Swiss francs in 2015. With the start of production in Malaysia, there should be a significant increase in overall revenue this year and particularly next year, which in turn has an impact on the number of employees.

Optics Balzers (located in the Principality of Liechtenstein) has been the preferred partner for providing innovative optical coatings and solutions for 70 years. Together with its subsidiaries in Jena (Germany) and Penang (Malaysia), Optics Balzers is a global leader in the supply of optical coatings and components. The Liechtenstein-based high-tech company focuses on selected markets such as Automotive, Sensors & Imaging, Biophotonics, Space & Defence, Lighting & Projection, and Industrial Applications. The products and services offered range from optical coatings and glass processing, patterning and bonding technologies to the manufacture of complete optical subassemblies and are acknowledged as being unique worldwide. Optics Balzers employs around 220 members of staff worldwide.

Additional information: www.opticsbalzers.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005392/en/

Optics Balzers

Dirk von Frajer

CMO

T direct +423-388-9211

media@opticsbalzers.com
US commemorates Serbian support during WWII

The sky was black with the billowing smoke of the downed B-17 bombers and the canopies of Allied Airmen parachuting to an unknown fate behind Nazi lines in German-occupied Serbia.



This is the sight the villagers of Pranjani remember from the late summer of 1944.



Operation Halyard was an Office of Strategic Services (OSS) mission to rescue more than 500 Allied Airmen who were scattered around a mountainous region in Serbia after their bombers were shot down by the Germans in World War II. It remains the largest rescue operation of American Airmen in history.



The U.S. State Department, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Serbian Armed Forces and local government officials attended a commemoration event in Pranjani Nov. 18, which honored the villagers who welcomed the downed Airmen with open arms.



As an Airman myself, I can only imagine the fear they felt as they escaped from a mortally wounded bomber and parachuted into a land they knew nothing about, said Brig. Gen. Randy Huston, the Third Air Force mobilization assistant, during a speech where he addressed an audience at the historic makeshift airfield.



After parachuting in, they were greeted by the villagers with food and drinks.



People who barely had enough food for their families shared all that they had with these Airmen, Huston said.



A local hospital was set up to help treat the wounded Airmen.



They cared for the injured Airmen, and every injured Airman who was taken care of, lived, Huston said. It was pretty amazing what these common people did to take care of people they didnt even know.

Kyle Scott, the U.S. ambassador to Serbia, echoed the generals sentiments toward the Serbians. Switching between English and Serbian, he explained the importance of the villagers heroic actions.



Local villagers willingly placed their lives and the lives of their families at risk, Scott said. This event commemorates the incredibly strong friendship between our two nations. Through the course of two world wars, we have stood shoulder to shoulder.



During the event, the Halyard committee unveiled seven markers that help tell the story of the Halyard Operation, as well as identify important locations filled with history from the time.



Delegations from the U.S., RAF and Serbia placed wreaths at the base of a monument that commemorates the bravery of the villagers and the organizations involved in the operation.



The monument is permanently displayed on a hilltop field in Pranjani where the OSS and Serbian military arranged for C-47 transport aircraft to evacuate the Airmen.



With their bare hands, Americans and Serbs worked side by side on this landing field that would help those planes take them off to their rescue, Scott said.



Despite this being a military style operation, it wasnt just the military officials who made the rescue possible.



Everyone in the village turned out to level the airfield and expand it to make the airlift possible, Huston said. Due to the courage and self-sacrifices of the Serbian people of this region, these Airmen survived.



Like walking in the footsteps of the downed Airmen, the group toured various sites throughout the region, getting a glimpse into the hospitality and treatment they received from the Serbians.



One marker tells the story of an Airman who happened to parachute onto a familys hilltop ranch. He stayed with them for two months, taking care of their small child while the family went out to tend to their ranch. The Airman and family remained in contact throughout their lifetimes.



The event was fortunate enough to host the last surviving member of the Chetnik force, who assisted with the airlift of the Airmen. The story of the operation has been preserved by the family members of those involved, and the Serbian people as a whole regard this as one of their proudest moments of U.S. and Serbian relations.



The ambassador closed the event by thanking the villagers and thanking the Serbian people for their heroism.



Some of our bombers had the fortune to parachute down on Serbian soil, because these men and women risked everything to save them, Scott said. The people of this region are the real heroes of this operation. They gave from their meager tables the last crumbs they had to save our soldiers and keep them alive. They risked everything. And for that, America will be forever, forever grateful.
AMC showcases joint rapid global mobility mission to civic leaders

Air Mobility Command hosted 25 civic leaders from around the command Nov. 15 -17 for an immersion into AMCs mission at Pope Army Airfield and to provide insight into its prominent role enabling joint mission effects globally.



Air Mobility Command is a global force, enabling joint effects and positive change on a global scale, said Gen. Carlton Everhart, the AMC commander. The demand signal for AMC capability will only increase in the future, requiring Airmans ingenuity and agility to meet needs and global security challenges on demand.



Aligning with the chief of staff of the Air Forces focus on the Air Forces role and responsibility to enable joint mission success, the visit provided civic leaders insight into the global operating environment as well as AMCs total force support to joint warfighters during times of stretched resources.



In providing rapid global mobility, AMC Airmen launch aircraft once every 2.8 minutes in support of the nine geographic commands it supports. Earlier in the year, AMC aircraft departed Pope AAF but still had a requirement to provide mission support to the Army.



During the event, 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group Airmen shared their mission with civic leaders demonstrating how they provide airlift support for rapid deployment of forces assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command, the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division despite having no actual aircraft assigned to the base.



When the (43rd) AMOG stood up in June, we stood up at Pope for the long term, said Col. Kelly R. Holbert, the 43rd AMOG commander, We see it as an enduring mission, and though the reserve command of C-130s are no longer assigned to Pope, our daily operations continue to increase while our support to the Army and joint warfighter continues to expand.



With a little over 900 Airmen assigned, the unique stand-alone group demonstrated how they rely on their Airmen, ingenuity and agility while continuing support of Army airborne training requirements.



We evolved in the way we provide support to a vitally important mission that is a number one priority for the Army, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Sharpy, the AMC vice commander. It is also a top priority for us. When aircraft left Pope there were concerns, but our great Airmen and their tremendous work ensured not only was mission needs met, but our Airmen exceeded expectations.



In 2016, AMC employed more than 66,000 Airborne Corps jumps, a 33 percent increase from the previous years totals.



The partnership between the Army and Air Force remained prominent as the civic leaders heard from both Airmen and Soldiers who rely on each other to achieve the national defense requirements.



Civic leaders had the opportunity to walk through the deployment readiness cage with the 82nd Airborne and interact with Army and Air Force riggers at the Heavy Drop Rigging Facility. They received hands-on experience building container delivery system bundles with loadmasters from the 43rd Operations Support Squadron.



I have been an AMC civic leader for four years, and this was one of the best experiences. I really got to see how AMCs role feeds into other branches, said John Hood, the AMC civic leader representing Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Anytime you can show the civilian population how AMC supports the joint warfighter or another branch of service, it gives us the complete picture on how the base we support fits into national security.



Civic leaders like Hood provide a unique level of support to AMC and the Air Force. Through developing relationships with AMC leadership and learning about the air mobility mission, civic leaders help increase understanding and cooperation between the civilian and military community.



Challenging fiscal times and dynamic global circumstances require greater levels of cooperation, understanding, and insight from civic leaders, Everhart said. Our civic leaders are critical mission partners who selflessly dedicate their time, expertise and resources to support and advance the Air Force mission. They actively work to gain informed insight into the complex challenges of the day and how Air Mobility Command's Airmen and (capabilities) are offering unique solutions to national security challenges.


Bay Area ANG unit rescues Navy contractor

The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing conducted a long-distance rescue mission over the Pacific Ocean Nov. 12, saving the life of a seriously ill 63-year-old civilian contractor on board the USS Guadalupe.



"The 129th Rescue Wing's bottom line is the Air Force rescue community's motto: That others may live," said Col. Taft Aujero, the 129th RQW commander. "Our more than 1,000 saves both at home and abroad speaks to the extraordinary talent of our members. I could not be prouder of them and their accomplishments."



The USS Guadalupe was approximately 560 miles off the California coast when the U.S. Coast Guard requested Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) assistance.



"Due to the distance of the vessel and no local assets in the area, we reached out to the 129th Rescue Wing for assistance," said Lt. Kayla Abruzzese, the 11th Coast Guard District watchstander. "Through the coordination efforts, we were able to get the person in distress to higher medical care."



With AFRCC and Coast Guard coordination, the 129th RQW launched two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, an MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and a pararescue team from Moffett Federal Airfield around 11 a.m. to the USS Guadalupe. Once the team boarded the ship, they stabilized the patient before loading him into an HH-60G that departed back to Moffett Air National Guard Base. The pararescue team continued to provide en route care for the patient during the four-hour return flight. An ambulance met the contractor at Moffett ANGB and immediately transported him to a local hospital.



The 129th Rescue Wing is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,000 people. The wing conducts combat search and rescue missions, as well as the rescue of distressed persons on board ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations across the West Coast.
Alamo Wing showcases C-5M during tour

One of the 433rd Airlift Wing's C-5M Galaxies was on full display to 40 Airmen from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy and 11 children from the Harmony Science Academy of San Antonio during a tour Nov. 17.



The tour began with the guests getting to meet C-5M Galaxy pilots, flight engineers, and crew chiefs who provided a tour of the aircraft on the flight line and discussed its capabilities.



For many the IAAFA students, this was the first opportunity to get an up-close look at the second largest aircraft in the world and the largest in the U.S. Air Force's inventory.



"This is a great learning opportunity for our students," said Master Sgt. Bernardo Johnson, Inter-American Air Forces Academy instructor. "A large percentage of the students are logistics specialists who don't get to spend much time in or around large cargo aircraft."



After the tour, both groups headed toward the 433rd Maintenance Squadron Propulsion Shop to get an up-close look at the newly acquired C-5M engines. Senior Airman Shane Smith, 433rd MXS jet engine technician, said he was honored to showcase the engine to the IAAFA students, who were primarily air force members from Paraguay and Columbia.



"This is a great opportunity to share and discuss some of our experiences with our Latin American brethren so they can see how we do things," said Smith. "It was great to see their excitement and enthusiasm with what we presented to them."



The final stop of the tour for both groups was the 433rd MXS Metals Technology and Sheet Metal Shops. These shops ensure the aircraft serviceability and safety. The C-5 aircraft were originally built by Lockheed in the 1960's and the last one to come off the assembly line was in 1989. Therefore, many of the parts for the aircraft are manufactured in house.



Tours like this not only provide a clearer understanding of the mission of the wing for participants, but they also provide some Airmen the ability to showcase how much the Air Force has to offer and what serving has meant to them.



"I think it's great that we get an opportunity to show what type of jobs are available in the Air Force and the benefits available to them," said Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Rymers, 433rd Maintenance Squadron sheet metal mechanic. "There are so many opportunities for people who join, and it's great having the chance to inspire the younger generation."



For more information about the Alamo Wing's Base Tour Program, e-mail the 433rd AW Public Affairs office at 433aw.pa@us.af.mil.






The Income Tax department on Monday conducted surveys on at least ten locations of high-end event management firms, catering and multi-media service providers who were engaged for the extravagant wedding of daughter of Karnatakas former BJP minister G Janardhan Reddy.

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week. Reddy is also a mining baron.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.

Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.

The multi-crore wedding was in the spotlight recently for its sheer opulence and extravagance at a time when numerous people were facing a cash crunch and had to queue up outside banks and ATMs to withdraw their hard-earned money in the wake of the demonetisation of the two large currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000.

The five-day extravaganza was held at the Palace grounds here with ceremonies held against the backdrop of lavish settings.

The mining barons event presented almost a surreal picture as Bramhani entered into wedlock with Rajeev Reddy, a leading businessmans son from Andhra Pradesh, with rituals conducted by a battery of priests from the famous Tirumala temple.
Within an hour of the announcement of demonetisation by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi I wrote:

The main problem in India isnt about the government having or not having enough money to run the country. The real problem is that only a minor fraction of that is spent on the welfare of the citizens, while the rest goes into different pockets.

The essential honesty and character are totally missing from the governance.

I will just give you an example of clean drinking water. The tap water in London is as portable as the branded water sold under fancy names.

The reason we dont get potable water at least in Mumbai is: (1) because half of the pipelines still belong to the British period. (2) The filtration plants need to be upgraded and their capacity expanded. (3) The water Mafia steals the water and sells it to us after an artificially created shortage.

Where is the money issue if the richest Municipal Corporation in the entire country has failed to do even this basic duty despite having an absolute control for 70 years?

So please dont expect any great effects of the money government collects after demonetisation.

I would call it mild criticism. It is my right. But within minutes, I found the pro-BJP elements  popularly called as bhakts  pouncing on me. No one really argued back, but everyone questioned my patriotism and nationalism, and some of them poured scorn on me.

Angered, I wrote some more and found more bhakts trying to silence me. They called me anti-national and unpatriotic. It would have soured anyones mood and silenced him. But it didnt happen to me, maybe because I have seen worse days during an emergency period.

Are we witnessing another emergency? Or is it already an undeclared emergency?

The debate is out! A sensible argument has become irrelevant. Hired hands have been unleashed on the two social networking sites. They neither debate nor talk sense. They seem to have one aim: harass those who are critical of the policies of the Prime Minister.

That our Prime Minister cannot handle any criticism gracefully is clear for years. During his election campaign, on a channel I forget, he was interviewed by several journalists. Everyone asked questions that flattered him, but one of the scribes was asked to grill him. I could see that the young man was shivering in fear, but he went ahead.

Within seconds, we saw Narendra Modi glaring at him!

Our PM candidate wasnt willing to answer a single hostile question.

Indiras emergency era

My earliest memory of national emergency declared by Mrs Indira Gandhi, on a personal level, is watching a police constable posted to control a bus queue, slapping a well-dressed bespectacled senior citizen for hurrying to get into the public transport. His pair of spectacles was thrown several meters away due to the impact. Yet, not a single person protested.

The fear psychosis had gripped everyone. The electricity of the offices and a reputed newspaper was cut off. The list of the leaders and journalists arrested and thrown behind the bars along with hardcore criminals was a mile long.

On the first Saturday, in the afternoon, after the declaration of emergency, I stepped into an Irani Hotel on Bazaar Gate Street. We, writers, used to conduct our story readings over tea. The tea would give way to beer and whiskey. Which group of writers would be satisfied with tea?

The manager cautioned us. No alcohol. Emergency laga hua hai.

The hotel didnt have the permit and didnt want to risk losing the license because of a couple of bottles hid under the table. As we emptied the tea cup, my contemporary writer Vishnu Bhatia made a crack.

Indira Gandhi used to sit on these chairs before she became the PM.

This was an innocent joke, private between us. And I laughed.

A lot of celebrities and politicians used to hang around in Fort, Bal Thackeray, and R K Laxman used to work in FPJ, a barefooted M F Husain along with a short and stooped K H Ara would stride in and out of Irani Hotels and I had seen J R D Tata entering a saloon without any fanfare. I used to throw different names.

Indira Gandhi?

A policeman emerged from nowhere. Kya bola?

We became nervous, but tried explaining. He wasnt willing to listen. He wanted to take all of us to the Thana (Colaba Police Station). Our other writer friends explained to him with several apologies. When he saw that we really were writers and werent even expected to have enough money to bribe him, he let us go with a warning, Emergency laga huaa hai, andar kar doonga to kissi ko pata bhi nahin hoga!

Things may be worse today!

Saagar, a journalist from Caravan, narrates his latest experience. Writes Saagar, In an effort to document the tense situation (in the bank), I started recording the incident with the camera on my phone. Bemused, the official in the white shirt told me to stop shooting. When I refused, he rushed towards memomentarily forgetting the crowd he was supposed to blockhis arms outstretched. I asked him repeatedly, not to touch my camera and said that I was from the press. He grabbed me and dragged me down the stairs of the building, onto the road. Subsequently, other employees and security guards from the bank surrounded me. Ill show you now. You will not escape unharmed, the man in the white shirt said. You dont know me, he continued, I already have cases registered against me, I myself am the police.

A legitimate journalist from a respectable group is being threatened by the thugs appointed by the bank as guards while doing his job.

People criticizing Modi are anti-national

D K Barua coined the notorious phrase: India is Indira, Indira is India. It was the personality cult of epic proportions.

And now, if youre against Narendra Modi, youre anti-national!

They equate the Prime Minister with the nation, Modi with India. A slight criticism of the man earns you the abusive wrath of the bhakts. The abuses would have your ears turning red, but the bhakts, who represent a political party that prides itself on its hoary tradition, drags your mothers and sisters in the filthiest arguments you can have.

Like Congress tried doing it to the states ruled by the opposition parties, BJP too has tried the same trick with the states ruled by the opposition.

You can hear the echo of what Mrs Indira Gandhi did during the emergency. But one thing that made emergency the most hated, besides the press censorship and jailing of the opposition leaders, was the compulsory sterilization of men, Nasbandi. And the arrogance; the arrogance that Indians deserve danda, that they didnt have the courage to retaliate to the police canes and army shoes. Magistrate Lateef Fatima (actor Shah Rukh Khans mother), Rukhsana Sultana (actor Amrita Singhs socialite mother), and a few others close to Sanjay Gandhi had played a massive role in nasbandi drive. And then happened Turkman Gate massacre. The government tried to cleanse Delhi of slums and force poor residents, mostly Muslims, to move to distant settlements.

The police opened fire on protesters, killing several of them. However, it was not reported in Indian media which had been silenced with censorship, but we learned about the killings through foreign media.

BJP has not declared press censorship, either. But it doesnt need to.

The state power has already been used to keep the press, particularly television media in chains. Major channels are owned by big business house which has vested interest in being on the side of the establishment. It is because of this dirty connection that the almost entire television blacklisted Arvind Kejriwal.

(Mohan Deep is an eminent novelist and Bollywood biographer, based in Mumbai.)
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]itler was known for his authoritarianism and hard-hearted conduct. He was the most hated person during his reign but also was loved by very few toadies, who equally believe in making common mans life hell. They were worshipping this one man. Nowadays, we can see the same here in India. There are many who worship our prime minister, and these supporters are known as Bhakt means devotees and actually they love it to be called as. BJP, a cadre based party with a difference, is working under one person who is above the party and its ideology. Similar to Hitler, Modi does not tolerate dissent within the BJP and his regime in India will likely favour a very authoritarian power structure.

There are striking similarities between Narendra Modi and Hitler, think tanks believe that Modi is for cronyism and is a business first politician. He supports businesses by giving them subsidies and the countrys resources at extremely low prices. Hitler provided German companies with slaves and other financial support in order to seek their support. This is perhaps the greatest similarity between Narendra Modi and Hitler. Modis Lok Sabha campaign depended greatly on businesses for funding; no wonder every major Indian newspaper provided front page space to him during elections.

Hitler was unmarried, but women were his weakness (most common factor in comparison to other dictators, history has traces of many dictators who used women only for their comfort). Similar to Hilter, Modi promoted himself as a celibate. By hiding his wife, Modi declared himself a bachelor without a domestic life, dedicated entirely to his political mission. He has already declared himself as the Prime Minister (PM) just like Hitler was being called Fuhrer before he had actually become one.

Hitler used to think that people of certain religion were enemies of the country, and he crossed all the limits to kill them, yet hailed by few and hated by many. Hitlers supporters could not tolerate any criticism against him, they were equal nuisance. Modis supporters target anyone; even members of other parties who have been given security by the Government are not spared. In 2002, India witnessed a statewide massacre of Muslims in Gujarat through hands of mobs. The massacres were similar to holocaust of the Jews and attacks on their business in Kristallnacht. Similar incidents were witnessed before the elections on a smaller scale. Do minorities in India need to get ready for a full scale Kristallnacht? Both have a strong fanatical support base, ready to elevate their positions way beyond what they deserve. Similar to the Hail Hilter a slogan, fanatics have changed religious slogans in support of Modi. Har Har Modi was used as a battle-cry in support of Modi during elections.

Hitler used to paint and sell colours in his childhood, but have no much traces about the same to prove the claim. Same goes with our PM, he propagated himself as Chaiwala but no one knows about his business anywhere, as sometimes he says his mother used to clean utensils in peoples houses. She was working as a maid. All the means of publicity, newspapers, and magazines were devoted to publicise Hitler, even in that era. He was perhaps the first dictator who used maximum means of publicity to project himself larger than life. Hitler had come to power campaigning that he would end all problems in a jiffy. After coming to power he could not manage to end any problems, but he certainly managed to destroy Germany. Hitler had come up with a slogan to come to power Good Times will Come means Achche din aayenge. When Hitlers party won, he went to the German Parliament for the first time and cried profusely. He cried time and again to gain sympathy, he cried whenever he realised people rebelled against his decision. He cried to tell people how painful it is to take pressure. He was one of the great actor and orator. He had come to power by lying.

Hitler had crushed all Labour movements, he and his people, used to call his rivals anti-nationals/traitors. He had joined the Nazi party as an ordinary worker and went on to finish all his rivals and had become the leader of the party.

If look at his overall personality, Hitler used to love dressing up and look good. He had the consummate art of making lies look like truth, he always stressed on saying, I, me, I, me, I, me & mine. Hitler used to love giving speeches on Radio (there was no TV those days), he always used in his speeches *friends, friends (mitron, mitron)*. He loved getting photographed. He loved getting praised, and he loved all about himself.

Both were/are extremely nationalist. Modi is probably the most hardline nationalist. Both tout the perfection of their respective motherland (or fatherland in the case of Hitler) and the promise of a return to the glorious past.

Huh.

I can see dictators having many similarities

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Ever since the Modi government had announced the demonetisation of high denomination currency notes citizens have been cooperating despite facing hardships to replace old notes. Yes. You may say its compulsion and the need to have money for ones livelihood that they are facing inconveniences. However, as per survey over 82 per cent have welcomed the move and people have been extending all support and cooperation. They have been assisting each other  unlike politicians who have never come out to help citizens.

Opportunist politicians like Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and now Congress too have been staging protests, if not indulging in violence. Its sad that even National Conference has joined them knowing well about the repercussions of fake currency, terror financing, money used to engineer violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, what did CPI (M) do during their three decade rule in West Bengal? Could the CPI (M) and now TMC stop fake currency circulation in Malda? Today all those leaders and politicians who were and are deeply involved in scams stand exposed hence they are protesting.

This winter session we have been only been witnessing repeated adjournments and no business but only hooliganism by the opposition MPs. Several important bills on maternity benefits, insurance, education and GST are stuck in the parliament. If these crucial bills are passed, people of the nation will derive benefit out of them. These MPs and so-called representatives of the people talk of inconvenience, hardship etc. but only keep disrupting the session. This shows their real concern for the welfare of the people. Dont they think that they should go forward and ensure passage of the important bills for the sake of the people they seem to care for?

For as many years, we had witnessed as many scams in which several ministers were involved and many were even lodged in jails albeit only for a couple of months and only to be granted bail later. These leaders have since not only been roaming scot free but have been leading a lavish lifestyle. Since these leaders have been disqualified from contesting elections; but they have passed the leadership baton to their children.

Several VVIP leaders had amassed wealth and properties but who is accountable to recover the money from them? I understand that in a democratic set up like ours, there is no provision in law to recover the money from them. Laws must be passed for confiscating all their properties in the event of crimes being detected and confirmed.

Tracking small investors and honest tax payers is not enough or rather improper. The government must nab scamsters and recover all the ill-gotten-wealth they had amassed. It is time to abolish the income tax and also reduce indirect taxes. The nation cannot just afford to lose or write-off lumpsum amount of money that were swindled through scams.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Eight Indian Air Force fighter jets likes of Mirage, Sukhoi successfully landed and take off on Agra-Lucknow expressway on its grand opening on Monday.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav inaugurated the Expressway, which would cut travel time between the two cities by half.

The 3.3-km stretch of the 302-km expressway can be used to land jets in emergencies when the military air fields are not available. The project has been completed in a record time of 22 months and has cost Rs. 13,200 crore.

Thousands of villagers and onlookers gathered to witness the rare event, as fighter jets whizzed past, almost skimming the road before roaring off into the sky again. The landings, air force officials said, are simulated and the jets dont touch the road as it would damage the wheels.

The aircrafts flew over the expressway at a speed of nearly 300km/hour at around 1:07 pm, said a senior IAF officer.

A grand air show featuring six Mirage and Sukhoi figher jets presented a perfect prelude to the inaugural ceremony. This is one of the CM Akhilesh Yadavs dream projects, apart from Lucknow Metro and Lucknow IT City.

Four Sukhoi jets from Bareilly and four Mirage 2000s from Gwalior performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe.

All facilities  such as a makeshift Air Traffic Control, safety services, rescue vehicles, bird clearance parties  were set up by the IAF, which also supervised the runway section of the expressways construction under technical specifications.

Last year in the month of May, in a first for military aviation in the country, IAF successfully landed a French Dassault Mirage-2000 fighter jet on the Yamuna Expressway near Raya village, Mathura, as a part of elaborate trials to see how many other highways can be used for war-like emergencies.
By John Stone

The Chair of the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, Prof Andrew Hall of the Gates Foundation funded London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine received a knighthood today in the Queens Birthday Honours . Meanwhile, the scandalous history of the JCVI as recounted by Dr Lucija Tomljenovic of British Columbia University in her paper presented to the British Society for Environmental Medicine continues to go unaddressed. Dr Tomljenovic's paper is already widely recognised as one the most damning indictments of science-government cronyism ever assembled.

Beneath are some quotes from Tomljenovics paper:

Deliberately concealing information from parents for the sole purpose of getting them to

comply with an official vaccination schedule could be considered as a form of ethical violation or misconduct. Official documents obtained from the UK Department of Health (DH) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) reveal that the British health authorities have been engaging in such practice for the last 30 years, apparently for the sole

purpose of protecting the national vaccination program.

Here I present the documentation which appears to show that the JCVI made continuous efforts to withhold critical data on severe adverse reactions and contraindications to vaccinations to both parents and health practitioners in order to reach overall vaccination rates which they deemed were necessary for herd immunity, a concept which with regards to vaccination, and contrary to prevalent beliefs, does not rest on solid scientific evidence as will be explained. As a result of such vaccination policy promoted by the JCVI and the DH, many children have been vaccinated without their parents being disclosed the critical information about demonstrated risks of serious adverse reactions, one that the JCVI appeared to have been fully aware of. It would also appear that, by withholding this information, the JCVI/DH neglected the right of individuals to make an informed consent concerning vaccination. By doing so, the JCVI/DH may have violated not only International Guidelines for Medical Ethics (i.e., Helsinki Declaration and the International Code of Medical Ethics) [2] but also, their own Code of Practice
But lest we ever risk losing the central point here, its worth stating clearly: Paul Offit has made millions of dollars in the vaccine industry he so zealously promotes, in books, in articles and in media appearances. His conflicts of interest are not only obvious, they are florid.

Dan Olmsted and I have reported in considerable detail the many dimensions of Offits financial dealings with Merck and the numerous ways in which he has profited personally from his relationship with, Merck, one of the worlds three largest vaccine manufacturers. In our work, although we sought information directly from Offit, he never responded to any direct inquiry. We have, however, benefited from his indirect responses to our reporting: After we wrote Voting Himself Rich (see HERE ), Offit revealed new information to more friendly sources on the specific terms of his patent royalty deals, information that allowed us to develop a much more comprehensive understanding of his stake in Mercks Rotateq vaccine. In our follow up report, Counting Offits Millions (see HERE ), we showed how Offit had earned $10 million in royalties through 2009 and stood to gain anywhere from $3-25 million in additional payments, depending on the commercial performance of the Rotateq franchise.

I went into further detail on Offits ongoing financial stake in Rotateq in a recent report, the Offit Index (see HERE ). This report was based on an important disclosure Offit made to reporter Amy Wallace in late 2009. According to Wallace, Offit acknowledges that he received a payout  several million dollars, a lot of money last yearHe continues to collect a royalty each year. When we wrote Counting Offits Millions, this annual royalty was the most difficult piece of Offits cash flow to estimate. Because of its size and importance, I wrote The Offit Index to further characterize the Offits ongoing annual royalty payments and how they might vary going forward based on Rotateqs commercial trajectory.

Shortly after we published The Offit Index, Offit responded indirectly yet again, making another new and surprising revelation to a friendly blogger. In an email the blogger claimed to receive, Offit wrote, Just for the record: I no longer financially benefit from the sales of RotaTeq. My financial interests in that vaccine have been sold out by either The Wistar Institute, The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia [CHOP], or me.

One word in this sentence, me, provided important new information. In Counting Offits Millions we described in some detail the sale of royalty streams by Wistar and CHOP. But the report that Offits financial interests in that vaccine have been sold out byme was entirely new.

So between his interview with Amy Wallace in October 2009 and January 2011, Offit cashed in, effectively settling his account with Merck on Rotateq. How did that account turn out when all was said and done? In brief, heres a recap of what we know about the millions Offit has received from Merck, including an estimate of the last piece of cash Offit may have received on his own recent sale.

1. The CHOP payout from the Royalty Pharma sale-- $6.2 million. On April 24, 2008, CHOP sold its royalty interest in Rotateq for $182 million to Royalty Pharma. The vaccines three inventors shared roughly 10% of the proceeds, with Offits share coming to slightly less than $6.2 million according to our calculations. This was the several million dollars, a lot of money that Offit acknowledged receiving to Amy Wallace.

2. Royalty payouts from CHOP prior to the Royalty Pharma sale-- $0.5 million. One thing Offit didnt disclose to Amy Wallace was that Royalty Pharma only purchased the rights to CHOPs royalty stream from and after October 1, 2007. That means that Offit received a share of royalty payments from Merck to CHOP that occurred before the Royalty Pharma deal: revenue from Rotateqs introduction in early 2006 through the third quarter of 2007. We estimated that Offits share of this revenue stream came to roughly $450,000.

3. The Wistar payout from the Paul Capital Royalty Fund-- $2.3 million. On December 15, 2005, The Wistar Institute sold a portion of its Rotateq royalty to Paul Capital for $45 million. In this deal, the inventor share was set at to 15%, higher than the CHOP deal, giving Offit a 5% share of the Wistar payout, or $2.25 million.

4. Royalty payouts from the royalty stream that Wistar did not sell to Paul Capital--$1.0 million. The Wistar Institutes deal with Paul Capital gives it an ongoing interest in Mercks Rotateq program, and Offit was entitled to 5% of these ongoing royalties as well. Assuming that Offit held onto these rights through the end of 2009 (a reasonable assumption since Amy Wallace reported in her October 2009 article that Offit continues to receive a royalty each year), we then estimated that Offit earned an additional $1 million in royalty payments via Wistar through the end of 2009.

5. Offits payout from the sale of his Wistar royalty stream--$7.5 million est. ($3-20 million range). Sometime between Offits interview with Amy Wallace in late 2009 and his disclosure last month that his financial interests in that vaccine have been sold out byme, Offit completed a new transaction. He sold off his rights to a revenue stream that we estimated could come to anything from $3-25 million, depending on the commercial success of Rotateq. It was this royalty stream--Offits ongoing interest in Mercks commercial fortunes--that prompted me to write The Offit Index. Now, it appears, Offit has cashed in his Merck account and withdrawn from the Rotateq venture, a disclosure that (sadly, because it would have been fun to track) eliminates the need for The Offit Index.

But, as is his tendency, Offit did not disclose the amount of this sale. How much might it have been? If we take the simplest approach and set the value of the Wistar royalty equal to the CHOP royalties (roughly $195 million if one adds pre-October 2007 royalties to the Royalty Pharma payment of $182 million), then Offit might have received $7.5 million on this final sale (or 5% of the CHOP benchmark of $195 million less the $45 million Wistar received from Paul Capital).

Adding it all up, we can summarize just how rich Rotateq has made Offit. At a minimum, Offit earned $10 million from Merck through 2009. On top of this, Offit has now cashed in another bonus that is likely worth millions after selling off his remaining position. The simplest calculation (the real number could be higher or lower, only Offit knows for sure) of $7.5 million puts one estimate of Offits total yield on Rotateq at over $17 million.

Thats almost certainly among the largest amounts ever paid to a vaccine inventor, placing Offit in a category all his own. Offit likes to think all of this money is just a happy dividend, a fluke as he told Amy Wallace, of his lifes work protecting children from infectious disease. But for autism parents, these millions are Exhibit A in the case for Offit as a shill, the vaccine industrys most prolific propagandist.

Mark Blaxill is Editor at Large for Age of Autism.
Two days ago Dr Heidi Larson published an article on vaccineconfidence.org Dangerous Liaisons citing Age of Autism's report by Jennifer Larson (no relation) of the meeting by members of our community with President-Elect Trump regarding the vaccine damage cover-up. Heidi Larson, who is a lynch-pin of the global vaccine complex, is not always open about the fact that she is employed by the great vaccine companies such as Merck and GSK. She writes in her new article "Faced with the Trump challenge we must make sure that our science is robust, transparent and accessible to all". A good place to begin would be by calling for Dr William Thompson to be subpoenaed to testify before Congress, which the vaccine lobby has steadfastly opposed for more than two years. And she could certainly be clearer about who is paying her.

Our John Stone wrote about Heidi Larson and her brazen claim in 2013 that the mercury in vaccines is not toxic, detailing some of her extraordinary affiliations.

By John Stone

The remarkable claim that thimerosal is not toxic is found in the headline and text of an article in the New Scientist in a last ditch stand to prevent a UN ban on mercury in paediatric vaccines . The author, Dr Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine states:

 In 2006, an expert panel convened by the WHO issued a statement on thiomersal in vaccines, concluding that there was "no evidence of toxicity". It highlighted the fact that while methyl mercury builds up in the body, ethyl mercury is excreted rapidly. The American Academy of Pediatrics has since endorsed the WHO's position.

She does not mention that her colleague at LSHTM, Prof Stephen Evans was on the World Health Organization committee (Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety) which issued the statement in July 2006 and he and another LSHTM employee, Dr Punam Mangtani, presently still sit on it . Evans previously worked for the UK Medicines Control Agency (now the MHRA ) which is an agency of the Department of Health funded by the pharmaceutical industry. The current chair of GACVS is Dr Melinda Wharton of the US Centers for Disease Control, National Immunization Program.

Dr Larson fails to mention either the LSHTM conflicts :

The School has expanded greatly in recent years. Its research funding now exceeds M60 per annum, much of it from highly competitive national and international sources such as the UK Research Councils, the Wellcome Trust, the UK Department for International Development, the UK Department of Health, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Commission.

Or her personal ones:

Dr. Larson previously headed Global Communication for Immunization at UNICEF and Chaired the Advocacy Task Force for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).

She also runs from LSHTM the Vaccine Confidence Project which has as its partners: Brighton Collaboration; CDC; Chatham House; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; GAVI Alliance; Health Map; Imperial College, London; The Inclen Trust; Institute for Child Health, Nigeria; International Pediatric Association; International Vaccine Institute; National Centre for Immunisation, Research Surveillance; National Network for Immunization Information; ProMed Mail; Public Health Foundation of India; Sabin Vaccine Institute; UNICEF; Vaccines for Africa; WHO. It is funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Also at LSHTM is the chair of the UK Joint Committee on Vaacination and Immunisation (JCVI),Prof Andrew Hall, which was granted dictatorial powers over the vaccine program by the English Parliament in 2009, although they did remove mercury from the UK vaccine schedule in 2004.

The claim that ethyl mercury is excreted rapidly is based on a study published in the Lancet by Pichichero et al which was disproved by Burbacher et al in 2004 . Pichicheros article failed to note the following conflicts disclosed in an earlier publication :

"The author has received research grants and/or honoraria from the following pharmaceutical companies: Abbott Laboratories, Inc.; Bristol Myers Squibb Company; Eli Lilly and Company; Merck&Co.; Pasteur Merieux Connaught; Pfizer Labs; Roche Laboratories; Roussel-Uclaf; Schering Corporation; Smith Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals; Upjohn Company; Wyeth- Lederle."
The fallout and analysis of the 2016 election has started in earnest, and Democrats are seeking to understand how this election went wrong. What strikes me the most is that, for all the changes to American society, economy, and demographics, rural America can still have a say on the direction of this country.

First, and a requirement for Democrats in particular, just because rural Americans overwhelmingly voted for Trump does not mean that most people in rural America are racist, misogynist hillbillies. Like any community, rural America has good people and bad people. And like any community rural Americans have hopes and dreams, as well as struggles and failures. Many of those hopes and dreams are the same as those of urban Americans.

The pre-existing political divide between rural and urban American communities has been widened by this election. That much is clearly true. Both for the health of the Democratic Party, and for the reunification of American society more generally, Democrats especially need to build bridges to rural America. As I wrote back in June, These areas are worthy of attention by candidates for national and statewide offices. Perhaps some political consultants will tell candidates not to waste their time in a town of a few thousand people, but for the sake of good government and leadership, all American communities deserve a seat at the table.

There is a counterintuitive point to be made here, which is that Democratic policies have largely been supportive of rural communities. Thats not to say that Republicans arent supportive as many of these issues are bipartisan, but Democrats tend to vote for legislative initiatives that directly benefits rural Americans, among others. Farm country, during the past decade, but with some recent exceptions, has been doing reasonably well. Farm prices have been good, exports have been high, and land prices have remained high. And the federal government, with bipartisan support, has been delivering billions of dollars into farm, risk management and rural development programs in recent years.

Yet, rural Americans still feel isolated from Washington and, as the results of the election demonstrate, from the Democratic Party. True or not, that is a widely shared belief. The simple fact is the national Democratic Party and the presidential campaign didnt prioritize visiting rural America or talk about rural issues. This is notwithstanding the fact that Secretary Vilsack has been a forceful leader on these issues and the USDA team has performed in outstanding fashion during the past eight years.

Some campaign consultants and affiliates often argue that it is a waste of time for the national Democratic Party to focus their efforts on rural communities when they are not likely to reap substantial electoral rewards for those efforts. Others argue that Democratic policies that support critical programs for rural Americans should speak for themselves. Why would they vote against their own interests? many can be heard asking. Still others claim that the cultural differences on issues like guns are too big to make outreach worthwhile.

But let us be crystal clear about where the Democratic Party finds itself right now. A big reason Secretary Clinton lost, and Democrats are reeling, having lost many seats across federal, state and local governments over the last eight years, is because of the neglect of rural America by the Party. The result this time was a reduced number of votes in rural counties of Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, which may have been the electoral difference in each state.

A candidate can have a strong argument on policy, can have the best data team and campaign operation in the business, but if he or she isnt focusing on voters in small communities and rural areas, none of that matters to those voters. Without party support for Democrats in rural America there is a much more difficult path to victory.

The Democratic Party must reengage and this needs to start now at the community level and continue all the way to the Democratic nominee for president in 2020. Democrats need a true 50 state strategy. The bulk of this strategy must be a real effort to visit small towns and rural America more frequently, listen to their concerns, and make them part of the political process. Millions of people live in smaller communities and rural America; they have been and remain an important part of our national political process.

About the author: Dan Glickman is a former Secretary of Agriculture and congressman who represented the 4th congressional district of Kansas for 18 years as a Democrat.

#30

For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2016 - Joel Leftwich, Republican staff director for the Senate Agriculture Committee,will lead President-elect Donald Trumps transition effort at the Agriculture Department. Separately Monday, Trump released a video in which he pledged to file a formal notice of intent to withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country. He said he would only pursue bilateral trade deals, a pledge he made during the campaign. In the video, he also said his administration would formulate a rule to require the elimination of two existing rules for every new one that is proposed. Michael Torrey, who had been the transition adviser on USDA, resigned last week because of a five-year lobbying ban imposed by Trump. Myron Ebell, who has been director of global warming and international environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, was named to lead Trumps landing team at the Environmental Protection Agency. Ebell has been serving as the EPA transition adviser. Doug Domenech, a former deputy chief of staff at the Interior Department during the George W. Bush administration, will lead the transition at that department. Domenech has directed the Fueling Freedom Project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation since 2015. The Homeland Security Department transition will be led by James Carafano, a vice president of the Heritage Foundation, and Mike Dougherty, who was director of operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the George W. Bush administration. Sharon Brown-Hruska, a former chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, will lead the transition at that agency as well as the Farm Credit Administration. Keep up with ag and rural policy and energy news as it happens. Sign up for a four-week free trial of Agri-Pulse. Leftwich, a longtime adviser to Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. joined the committee staff in January 2015 from PepsiCo, where he was senior director for its public policy and government affairs team. Leftwich previously served as deputy staff director for the Senate committee and also served Roberts as a legislative assistant covering agriculture, energy and transportation policy. The transition operation will fund Leftwichs salary while at USDA. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who have been mentioned in connection with Cabinet positions, also met Monday with Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, said transition spokesman Jason Miller. A readout of the meetings released by the transition team said that Fallin discussed Indian and energy issues, suggesting she was under consideration for Interior. Perry's discussions focused on matters under Homeland Security, according to the readout. A full list of landing team leaders for domestic agencies is here (Updated Nov. 22.) #30






Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A few sprinkles possible. High 76F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
Qatar Airways has begun operating freight-friendly Boeing 777 aircraft on the Doha  Cape Town service, switching from previously used B787 Dreamliner equipment.

The Doha-based carrier has been flying to Cape Town from its Doha hub since 2005. Initially served as part of a four times a week route that also involved Johannesburg, Qatar Airways de-linked Cape Town from Johannesburg and started operating a direct five times a week service to the city from November 2014.

The airline subsequently started operating a full, non-stop daily service to Cape Town in October last year.

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November 21, 2016

Defying a nationwide outcry, Turkeys ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) appears bent on ramming a bill through parliament that would pardon child rapists if a perpetrator marries his victim. AKP parliamentary whip Mustafa Elitas refused to withdraw the measure, which is likely to be approved in a second round of voting on Nov. 22. Scrapping the bill is out of the question, he said.

A simple majority, which the AKP commands, will suffice for its adoption.

Many see pardoning men who engage in sex with little girls as part of the AKPs broader agenda of imposing what human rights lawyer Erdal Dogan described to Al-Monitor as a medieval lifestyle governed by Islamic laws.

Elitas claimed that his party would consider changes to the bill proposed by the main opposition secular Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus echoed the offer. But CHP whip Ozgur Ozel said no one from the government had contacted his party with regard to the affair thus far. He further asserted that the bill, if passed as is, offers a ticket to freedom for "17,000 abusers.

Womens and other rights groups, including some prominent pro-Islamic female essayists, have reacted with fury to the proposal, saying it will give free rein to pedophiles. It will in the long term transform the lives of young girls into hell, wrote Fatma Barbarasoglu in Yeni Safak.

On Nov. 20, thousands of people including women and children marched against the bill in the determinedly pro-secular Kadikoy district in Istanbul.

A day earlier, the United Nations Childrens Fund said it was deeply concerned by the legislation.

It may be no coincidence that numerous womens organizations that had been campaigning against child marriage were among some 370 associations whose activities were shut down under an emergency law decree.

Rights activist Nurcan Cetinbas ran one of the banned outfits in the mainly Kurdish city of Mus in southeast Turkey. She told online news portal Diken that field studies suggested that the proportion of marriages with minors in Mus was around 60% in the city center and as high as 70% in outlying boroughs.

Cetinbas said that contrary to government claims that the law is compatible with Turkeys cultural fiber, all it will do is send a signal to child rapists to carry on.

The government is defending the move as an attempt to smooth out legal wrinkles arising from the issue of child marriage, which is woefully widespread in Turkey. Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul famously married his wife Hayrunnisa when she was 15 and he 30.

The AKP insists that the amnesty will apply only to those who had intimate relations with girls aged 15 or under without use of force, threat or any other restriction on consent. Men convicted in such cases between 2005, when a similar law was scrapped, and November this year, would be eligible to have their sentences commuted if they married their victims.

Dogan speculated that the bill might have been devised in part to address the ballooning allegations of sexual abuse from Syrian child refugees who are employed as household help. In May, English-language Hurriyet Daily News reported that a total of 30 Syrian refugees aged between 8 and 12 had been sexually assaulted by a cleaner in the Nizip refugee camp on the Syrian border.

The offender was sentenced to a total of 289 years in prison. All of his victims were boys.
November 15, 2016

RAMALLAH, West Bank  The Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies (Masarat) held its second women's peace table on Oct. 26. A videoconference brought together two meetings: one at the center's headquarters in Ramallah, and one at its other headquarters in Gaza. The event was held in conjunction with dozens of other women's peace tables across the world.

This year, the event focused on refining the role of women in bringing peace to Palestine and Palestinian society. The meetings brought together women leaders and pioneers in the West Bank and Gaza, such as Siham al-Barghouthi, a former minister and undersecretary-general of the Palestinian Democratic Union, and Rula Abu Duhou, a lecturer on womens issues at Birzeit University.

The first such peace table, held in 2015, was called Conflict, Peace, International Dimension: A Palestinian Feminist Point of View. This year's peace table is themed A Call for the Consolidation of the Role of the Women's Movement in Defending Women and their Political and Societal Rights.

Fayha Abdul Hadi, a regional coordinator of Women for Peace, worked with Women Seriously to organize the peace tables around the world. She told Al-Monitor, We tried through this table to take a step forward in the peace process from a feminist perspective, with the objective of ending the occupation and empowering women to bring peace inside Palestine.

She explained that the idea is to hold discussions about women's roles in conflicts and peacemaking, in light of the underrepresentation of women in these activities across the world. She said, We want to bring about change that will create a shift at the political level and translate into actions at the national, regional and global levels.

Though the main objective of these events is engaging women and discussing how to promote womens participation in peacemaking, the regional organizers choose the most pressing topics to be discussed. The Palestinian women's peace table focused this year on womens participation in societal peace and in ending the occupation.

Abdul Hadi said, We have tried through these tables to form Arab networks and establish relations with global networks with which we share common concerns. We want women to understand our side of the story and not the widespread Zionist story.

Wafa Abdel Rahman, director of the Filastiniyat organization and one of the three participants who presented papers during the event, told Al-Monitor, These tables aim to define peace from a Palestinian viewpoint. The concept of peace in the current Palestinian reality carries negative connotations, such as normalization with the occupation. Therefore, external peace with the occupier must be redefined as putting an end to the occupation and bringing about justice and equality. As for internal peace, it must be redefined through efficient participation by women in political life.

She added, We already identified these concepts in our first dialogue table. This is why we should go further this time by focusing on womens participation in making peace inside Palestine and redefining the Palestinian national project.

Abdel Rahman's paper, published online after the event, is titled, Strengthening the Participation of Women in National Dialogues. In it, she explained, Women participate in many fields in name only. Women need to impose their own vision in various fields to be able to break through the patriarchal society and strengthen their role and position in the community, free of partisan and personal interests.

Masarat's program director Khalil Shaheen told Al-Monitor, Perhaps the most important feature of these meetings is the participation of women activists from different political and intellectual movements. This event provided them with an opportunity for dialogue.

He continued, [Palestinian] women's dialogues are mostly held under the umbrella of the General Union of Palestinian Women, which does not represent all women's groups, particularly Islamic ones, such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Islamic women activists such as womens rights activist Majida Fedda are participating for the first time in these tables. This paves the way for a comprehensive national dialogue at all levels, specifically in terms of national reconciliation.

Researcher Hidayat Shamoun from the Gaza Strip presented her paper, "The Development of the Participation of Women in Societal Reconciliation and Transitional Justice in the Palestinian Context Following Nine Years of Internal Division. In it, Shamoun called for the formation of a national women's authority to take on societal reconciliation with cross-organizational support.

Shaheen agreed with the content of Shamouns paper, noting that women have paid the heaviest price for the Palestinian division, and this issue is not typically addressed in societal reconciliation discussions. He said, The second Palestinian women's peace tables are a loud call that women are not only subject to the negative repercussions of the internal division, but also a partner in finding solutions to end this division.

Shaheen said, These events ensure an international presence for the Palestinian women's movement. They serve as a means to ensure that Palestinian women are not isolated from the international women's struggle.

Even while these and other events bring Palestinian women together to one dialogue table, structural barriers to women's participation in peacemaking will remain after these conferences end.
November 21, 2016

After Israel withdrew from most of the Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank following the Oslo Accord in 1993, engagement between the Palestinians and the Israelis became confined to border crossings between the Palestinian territories and Israel, such as the Erez crossing in northern Gaza and the Qalandia checkpoint located between the West Bank towns of Ramallah and al-Ram.

Israel communicates with the Palestinians at the checkpoints and online. Examples of the latter are the Facebook page of Gen. Yoav Mordechai, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), his Twitter account and his official website, which are visited by thousands of Palestinians daily.

On Nov. 11, the COGAT Facebook page posted about 10,000 job opportunities in Israel for Palestinian workers and listed the conditions required; it seems that this page has turned into an official Israeli platform to directly address the Palestinians.

The Facebook page was set up in March 2015, along with a phone number and an email address for Palestinians to communicate their requests. Over 72,000 people have liked the page and have interacted with its posts by commenting on the shared pictures and news.

In this context, Palestinian merchant Imad Ali from Jenin told Al-Monitor, I had been trying to get a permit to enter Israel for business purposes for the past year, but the Palestinian Authority [PA] was stalling my request and asking for large sums of money to cover my permit fees. However a few weeks ago, I sent in my request in a message to the Coordinator page and I received my permit in less than 10 days.

Mordechai became popular among Palestinians following his appointment in November 2013. He had been an Israeli army spokesman prior to that and served as the head of the civil administration in the West Bank, the head of the coordination and liaison administration for the Gaza Strip and was an Israeli intelligence officer. He speaks fluent Arabic, which allows him to thoroughly understand the Palestinian street.

Islam Shahwan, the former spokesman for the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza and a security studies professor at Al-Awda University College in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, The Coordinator page raises some security concerns among Palestinians because it is run by an Israeli general and has Israeli security purposes such as recruiting Palestinians into the Israeli intelligence by exploiting their humanitarian needs that include traveling, receiving medical treatment, education and work. This is particularly true because once a user likes the page, they would be allowing it access to their personal accounts. The security services in Gaza have proof that the page facilitates the treatment of sick Palestinians in Israeli hospitals, allows Palestinians to visit their parents in Arab areas in Israel and helps Palestinian merchants by giving them permits to pass through Israeli crossings.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Aug. 17 his desire to directly communicate with the Palestinians, without first going through the PA. This could indicate that the COGAT Facebook page is attempting to eliminate the PAs tasks and cause the Palestinians to lose confidence in the PA. On Aug. 9, Mordechai had also announced a plan to gradually increase the number of work permits in the West Bank by 8,000.

On Oct. 31, the COGAT page posted news allowing the marketing of agricultural products from the north of the Jordan Valley to Israel, which will boost the Palestinian economy. On Oct. 26, the page posted an announcement of the expansion of the fishing zone  from six to nine nautical miles  on the shores of the Gaza Strip.

Khaled Safi, a Palestinian expert on new media, told Al-Monitor that the COGAT page has an increase of followers of 4.2% every week. Its goal is to paint a civilized picture of Israel through its humanitarian role, illustrated in easing the situation for Palestinians. An Israeli team specializes in managing the page and takes less than 24 hours to respond to all posts and comments; according to Facebook, the page is very responsive. The page publishes different posts to show Israels point of view regarding several current events and appear civilized before international institutions.

In this context, the page posted pictures of Israeli soldiers helping an elderly Palestinian man who was bitten by a scorpion in an olive field in the West Bank on Nov. 2. On Oct. 26, the page also reported that a Palestinian baby had been transferred from Gaza to a hospital in Hebron through the Erez crossing in northern Gaza to receive urgent treatment, although the crossings had been closed for the Jewish holidays.

Although many Palestinians have liked the page, some believe that many of those followers are fake accounts set up by the team managing the page to create an illusion that Palestinians follow and interact with the page, for others to be encouraged to join in and break the barrier between the Israelis and Palestinians.

In this regard, Hamas-affiliated Al-Majd website published a study about the Facebook page Oct. 31, indicating that Mordechai is one of the officers working within Israeli secret Unit 504, specialized in recruiting spies, and his page is a media cover to show a civilized image of Israel and a humanitarian side by lying to people. The study indicated that the page does not separate the Palestinian resistance from terrorism around the world and tries to lure Palestinians by taking advantage of their needs and helps them with their problems for intelligence purposes, such as the case of the merchant Ali.

Salameh Maarouf, the head of the government media office in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, Palestinians follow the Coordinator page for many reasons, some out of curiosity  they are promoting it without knowing it. This page raises security concerns among Palestinians and some fear followers are affected by the Israeli propaganda on the page. In December 2015, we distributed a circular to journalists warning them about dealing with the page because it promotes the Israeli narrative regarding the events taking place in the Palestinian street.

Al-Monitor followed the Facebook page during the first few days of November and noticed how it illustrates a humanitarian side by posting photos, for instance, of Israeli soldiers helping Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as statistics showing how Israelis are helping those in Gaza in the provision of water and helping Palestinian farmers pick olives.

What makes the page unique is that Mordechais statements are not the only posts shared. Photos and videos do most of the talking, which may indicate that the team administering the page is specialized in design, photography and montage; can respond in fluent Arabic; and is familiar with Palestinian special occasions, since it acknowledges Palestinians' celebrations.

A Palestinian expert on Israeli affairs, Saleh Naami, told Al-Monitor, The Coordinator page is part of Israels attempt to address Palestinians directly. It offers news and reports to give the Israeli narrative more credibility."

The Facebook page has been discussed extensively in Palestinian forums. On Aug. 18, for instance, some Palestinians claimed that it had infiltrated their homes while others refused to amplify its impact, because the page only helped few Palestinians with their humanitarian needs. Meanwhile, on Nov. 3, some Palestinians called for a boycott of the Facebook page in light of the threat it poses to Palestinians security.

It seems that the Facebook page is part of the battle between the conflicting Israeli and Palestinian narratives. Regardless of the limited services it provides to Palestinians, Mordechais face on the page is a constant reminder that Palestinians are communicating with an Israeli army general who may be behind their problems and suffering.
November 18, 2016

BAGHDAD  The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) is calling on Iraqi university students, specifically those in medicine and engineering, to sign up for logistics tasks in Iraq and Syria. But some academics believe there is a larger agenda at hand.

The PMU, a state-sponsored umbrella group for dozens of militias, organizes regular public programs at Iraqi universities to raise money. For example, the University of Baghdad on Oct. 29 held a festival to support the PMU with the slogan Our Units Win. Several leaders and security officials of various PMU factions attended, and some made ardent statements that excited the students.

The University of Baghdad hosts more PMU factions activities than any other university in the capital, usually two or three activities a week, thanks to its expansive halls and large student body. Another plus is that faculty deans give their approval to such activities, even if sometimes reluctantly.

Hashem Hassan, the school's dean of journalism, said the large, young audiences the PMU gathers at universities boosts PMU members' morale and gives the group a national identity. The schools provide a significant platform from which the PMU can rally students and spread its influence. Hassan told Al-Monitor that universities, as the cradles of science and the cultural hubs of society, offer the PMU a way to gauge a generation's priorities and develop national action plans accordingly.

The country hasn't reached the point where it must draft students to fight, but some students have enlisted, Hassan said, perhaps due to the tough financial circumstances of their families.

Earlier this year, the PMU launched an initiative to form university student forces to train students in the use of weapons and martial arts. Militias set up training camps in what were once university halls. Many university students from Baghdad and other provinces responded to the initiative, and the PMU trained them to become a civil force ready for fighting at any given moment.

Moeen al-Kadhimi, a PMU leader, told Al-Monitor, University students are an important social category for defending the country, and the PMU is constantly looking to lure them in. All students are enrolled in training sessions to use weapons and martial arts, in anticipation of any emergency. During the training, students are assigned various ranks "and tasked with defense and security missions in Baghdad, he added.

The student forces currently support fighters in battlefields by collecting donations and caring for the families of those who have died. The student forces are considered important PMU assets. Kadhimi noted that many students join the resistance factions or the PMU after graduating.

Many Iraqi university academics reject the idea of promoting militias in education venues and consider them attempts at social mobilization and elimination of free education.

Hussein Hanoun, an assistant professor at Al-Mustansiriya University, said it is wrong to turn universities into security camps and university campuses into venues to train students to use weapons.

Iraq is at war currently, but it is not right to turn education venues into a fertile ground for military propaganda. Each party [PMU faction] is trying to spread its ideas among the youth instead of aiming to unify and defend Iraq," he told Al-Monitor.

Students have conflicting stands. Some have said they enrolled in militias to get out of school and impress their teachers. Others refused to join, saying they plan to serve society and advance their country by completing their education and becoming proficient in their chosen fields.

However, militias are clearly influential in changing students convictions and persuading them to join.

I didn't know much about the effect and threat of terrorism," Hussam Ahmad, a University of Baghdad student, told Al-Monitor. "I thought it was a simple matter and that the government could eliminate it with its military capacities. But after hearing the PMU programs, I realized this was not the case. My country is at risk, and we can only protect it through uniting efforts.

He added that students participation in training and in fighting terrorism is a religious and national duty.

Karim Hassan, an engineering student at the University of Baghdad, believes that militia programs are trying to brainwash students and push them to violence.

Education is a project to raise generations that would lead the countrys future into a culture of nonviolence and civil life. I believe that the programs of all PMU factions aim at mobilizing society, he told Al-Monitor.

He added that students need to be aware of the propaganda spread by militia programs, but few students are. The militias aren't just interested in battling the Islamic State. They are recruiting for potential political and military conflicts with other militias or political forces  and they couldn't ask for a richer environment than universities to fulfill their goals.
The convicted robber arrested and charged two weeks ago in the slaying of an Alabaster store clerk has now been indicted.

A Shelby County grand jury on Thursday, Nov. 17, issued the capital murder indictment against 43-year-old Michael Anthony Powell, according to records made public today. Authorities say he killed 54-year-old Tracy Latty Algar execution-style in the bathroom of Kirkland Chevron on Oct. 20. Only several hundred dollars were taken in the holdup.

Algar, who only worked every third Sunday at the store, was killed not long after she got to work that Sunday morning. The store opened at 9 a.m. and, sometime in the next couple of hours, police say, Powell entered, stole cash and then shot Algar to death. The slaying happened sometime between 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. A customer made the discovery about 11:15 a.m.

The cameras inside the store had not been working for some time, knocked out by lightning a long time ago, Algar's family said. But, based on surveillance video from neighboring businesses, detectives Powell as a person of interest in the case and have been working around the clock to crack the case.

The suspect - later identified as Powell - was seen in the area of the Chevron between 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. that Sunday. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants and a black fedora. Authorities said he walked from his apartment to the Chevron, and walked back home after the robbery and killing.

Authorities have not released specifics of Algar's death but described it as brutal. "All we know is that he just walked in there and killed her,'' said one of Algar's sisters, Lisa Jones. "She closed her eyes, and woke up with Jesus."

A SWAT team made up of Alabaster police and Shelby County sheriff's deputies stormed Powell's Third Street apartment in Alabaster shortly after 5 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. They tossed a stun grenade, or flashbang, into the ground-floor unit and captured Powell while he was asleep in his bed. Powell said nothing and didn't appear surprised as he was led from his home at The View Apartments that morning.

"This was a brutal crime,'' Alabaster police Chief Curtis Rigney has said. "We were in shock. Our citizens were in shock. It hurt. We needed to get this guy in custody quickly and get him off the street."

Powell was released from prison in 2015 after serving 17 years for robbery. Court records show Powell was convicted of two counts of robbery and one count of escape in Covington County in southern Alabama in 1998. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for each of the three convictions - to be served concurrently - and went to prison on May 14, 1998. His release date was scheduled for April 4, 2018 but he was paroled on Oct. 1, 2015. He served 17 years, nine months and 21 days.

In that case, Powell also robbed a convenience store - Mr. Henry's No. 3 on South Three Notch Street. The victim told police Powell held a handgun on him and told him to give him the cash register, which contained $402.38. According to the victim, Powell had previously been in the store and he was able to identify him from a lineup.

Prior to that, he had been convicted - also in Covington County - on charges of theft of property and two counts of receiving stolen property. He served one year, one month and 23 days for those convictions.

Powell remains held without bond in the Shelby County Jail. He is set to have a preliminary hearing on Dec. 5.
MAGA.PNG

This billboard in Pearl, Miss. is using Donald Trump's campaign slogan with an image from the 1965 Selma Civil Rights campaign.

(For Freedoms)

The artist behind a billboard gaining notoriety in Mississippi is no stranger to controversy in Birmingham.

Hank Willis Thomas is a member of For Freedoms, an Artist-run Super PAC which created a series of billboards running for the past few months. One in particular gained attention in the last week in Pearl, Miss.

Hank Willis Thomas

The billboard uses an image from "Bloody Sunday" in Selma during the 1965 voter registration campaign, juxtaposed with President-Elect Donald Trump's campaign slogan - "Make America Great Again." According to WTJV, Pearl Mayor Brad Rogers hopes to have the billboard taken down this week.

On March 7, 1965, more than 50 people were injured when marchers crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge were confronted by Alabama State Troopers and a sheriff's posse.

Thomas, 40, said For Freedoms used similar billboard images in cities throughout America, but Pearl was the only location using that particular image. The intent was to ask a question that he said went unasked during the presidential campaign.

"One question that never came up with the President-Elect was, when are you talking about?" Thomas said. "The Cold War? The crack and AIDS epidemic? Interning Japanese citizens? The Depression? The Civil War? When was this time you want the country to go back to? There's never been a greater time for more citizens than right now."

Thomas gained attention in Birmingham in 2007 with one of his works at the Birmingham Museum of Art. "Priceless #1" was a satirical take on the "priceless" Mastercard commercials which turned the image of a grieving family into a powerful statement about inner-city violence.

The piece included text placed over a photo of a family at a funeral. It says "3-piece suit: $250; new socks: $2; 9mm pistol: $79; gold chain: $400; bullet: 60 cents ... Picking the perfect casket for your son: Priceless." The family depicted was Thomas' own, mourning the loss of his cousin.

It was then, Thomas said, that he realized the power of public art. "It's more effective when it's on the street," he said.

In the case of the billboard, Thomas said he is only now able to comment on it as he and the other members of For Freedoms have been at a conference in South Africa. But he noted the billboard was on display for weeks before the election, with no complaints.

"It would be interesting to know what reaction this same image would have gotten two years ago," he said.

Another way to read the billboard image is to consider that perhaps the greatness of America is best depicted in the Civil Rights struggle. Thomas said Alabama and Mississippi, during those days, was the "epicenter" of change.

"That was a time of greatness because people stood up and fought for change," he said. "We wanted to pay homage to this. Through a non-violent response to brutality, they helped overcome the status quo."
Drought 2016

Wildfire burns in Talladega County. Drought has gripped much of Alabama this year with many areas seeing exceptional drought conditions.

(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com)

Gov. Robert Bentley has approved $690,000 in emergency funds to help fight the outbreak of wildfires caused by the drought.

The money will support the Alabama Forestry Commission and fire departments battling wildfires across the state, the governor said in a press release.

"The Alabama Forestry Commission and local fire departments are to be commended for their countless hours of service and efforts in keeping Alabamians safe," Bentley said.

"With no significant rain in sight, I know the emergency funds will help cover some of the expenses AFC personnel are facing as they are working to contain fires throughout the state."

The Alabama Forestry Commission is over budget by about $470,000 so far this fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, the governor's office said.

Interim State Forester Gary Cole said last week the huge increase in the number of wildfires and the acres burned is taking a toll on firefighters and resources.

He said spring is normally the worst time for wildfires.

"The costs incurred from this unusually intense fall wildfire season have already depleted the Alabama Forestry Commission's wildfire suppression budget, and we have yet to face the more significant fire season in the spring," Cole said in today's press release.

Since Oct. 1, 1,869 wildfires have burned 22,352 acres in Alabama, according to the Forestry Commission.

During the same time last year, there were 253 fires that burned 1,885 acres.

A ban on outdoor burning covers all 67 Alabama counties because of the drought.

The emergency money comes from the Departmental Emergency Fund within the state General Fund. The Legislature appropriated $1.8 million for the emergency fund this year.
A former Alabama used car dealer is facing up to 20 years in prison after allegedly selling a vehicle for which he didn't have a clear title or the right to sell.

Joel "Joey" Blasingame

Joel "Joey" Blasingame, the 59-year-old former of Joey Blasingame Auto Sales in Florence, has been indicted on charges of first-degree theft, a Class B felony, and four counts of failure to deliver a title.

The indictments stem from an investigation into the car lot that since has closed, Florence police Sgt. Brad Holmes said.

"Investigators became involved with this case after a number of victims stated that they had purchased vehicles from Mr. Blasingame and he was unable to provide title to the vehicles," Holmes said.

Investigators learned Blasingame sold one vehicle that he didn't have the right to sell, Holmes said. In other cases, Blasingame didn't provide clear titles to his customers.

Authorities haven't provided further details of the allegations, which first were reported to police in July. Blasingame closed the business that month, shortly after the allegations were made, Holmes said.

A Lauderdale grand jury that convened in October issued the indictments, which serve as a formal notice of charges against the defendant. A grand jury is tasked with determining if there is enough evidence for a case to proceed to trial.

Blasingame, who was released from the Lauderdale County Detention Center on $8,000 bail, declined to discuss the specifics of the case but denied the allegations.

"I've sold over 10,000 cars in my lifetime and this is just a misunderstanding," Blasingame said.

Blasingame referred further questions to his attorney, Tim Case, of Florence. Case wasn't immediately available for comment.

If convicted, Blasingame could face up to 20 years imprisonment and up to $30,000 in fines.
35th American president was gunned down 53 years ago on Tuesday, ending what some say were plans to finish the Cold War.

Did US president John F Kennedy intend to end the Cold War with the Soviet Union and get out of Vietnam before he was assassinated 53 years ago?

It is intriguing to contemplate the global implications of these questions  the millions of lives saved, slashed defence budgets, and what an alternative world could be like today.

The idea that Kennedy was moving towards a global peace before he was shot dead in Dallas has been widely disputed.

Renowned American scholar and social activist Noam Chomsky denounces the notion that JFK was serious about ending the Cold War during its height before his murder.

Thats mostly myth. He had no such plans. Ive reviewed the evidence repeatedly, including in my book Rethinking Camelot. Whats appeared since simply confirms these conclusions, Chomsky told Al Jazeera in an email.

Obama pledges reduction in nuclear stockpiles

But others argue that Kennedy did intend to end the Cold War with all its nuclear dangers, as well as colonial adventures, starting with the order of all American forces out of Vietnam by 1965.

Theres no doubt Kennedy, a World War II naval commander, was a Cold Warrior as a young senator during the 1950s. He believed communism needed to be put down by whatever means necessary.





But then he became US president and looked global nuclear annihilation squarely in face during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis with the Soviet Union. Evidence suggests those 13 days deciding the fate of humanity changed the young American president as he faced the apocalypse.

The Cuban crisis wasnt the first time Kennedy stared nuclear war down the barrel of a gun.

Months into his presidency his generals and admirals in the Joint Chiefs of Staff let him know that all-out nuclear war was on the table over the Berlin crisis as the Soviets built the wall.

The hardline Joint Chiefs werent messing around. Their Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan included the dropping of 170 atomic and hydrogen bombs on Moscow alone.

Every other main Soviet city  along with those in China and Eastern Europe  was to be incinerated. The estimated death toll was in the hundreds of millions.

Appalled by their willingness to destroy much of the world, Kennedy sought to wrest more presidential control over any nuclear attack and promoted a second plan with limited use of atomic weapons.

The military chiefs became increasingly fed up with Kennedy as he sought paths away from mutually assured destruction, or MAD as it was ironically called. They were unable to understand his reluctance to use any means necessary to defeat communism.

At the end of the war, if there are two Americans and one Russian, we win, Air Force General Thomas Power said at the time.

Kennedy angered his national security advisers by repeatedly ignoring their nuclear first-strike plans in Europe and rejecting the military invasion of Cuba.

Remembering the Bay of Pigs invasion

Vietnam was the final contentious issue between JFK and the militarists before his murder.

As reported by James Douglass in his book JFK and the Unspeakable, Kennedy had recognised Frances colonial failure in Vietnam and wished to avoid the trap.

Edmund Gullion was an official in the US consulate when JFK and his 22-year-old brother Robert visited Vietnam in 1951.

In 20 years there will be no more colonies. Were going nowhere out here, Gullion told Kennedy at the time. The French have lost. If we come in here and do the same thing, we will lose, too, for the same reason.

The US generals had other plans, however, not wanting the Southeast Asian dominos to fall to the reds.

On communist gains in Laos and Vietnam, General Lyman Lemnitzer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, promised: If we are given the right to use nuclear weapons, we can guarantee victory.

At a meeting, Lemnitzer and Air Force General Curtis LeMay again pushed Kennedy for nuclear strikes. JFK walked out in disgust.

He threw his hands in the air, glanced back at the generals and admirals left in the Cabinet Room, saying, These people are crazy, according to Douglass book.

Nuclear lessons unlearned

While publicly proclaiming that he wouldnt remove US forces from Vietnam  fearing it would hurt his re-election chances  Kennedy told his defense secretary, Robert McNamara, to order the chiefs to draw up plans to withdraw all American military advisers in the country by 1965. The generals stalled.

Three months after JFKs killing, new president Lyndon Johnson confirmed plans by Kennedy to pull out all 16,000 American forces in Vietnam.

I always thought it was foolish for you to make any statements about withdrawing, Johnson told McNamara. But you and the president thought otherwise, and I just sat silent.

After Kennedys assassination, instead of an end to American involvement in Vietnam, the US deployed 100,000 troops in 1965  with more than 530,000 in country by 1968  and a decade of carnage was under way.

Before his death, Kennedy had come to realise that his military hardliners were a greater threat than his arch-enemy, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

JFK initiated secret back-channel contact with Khrushchev in the form of personal letters. Khrushchev, too, had awakened to the reality of nuclear holocaust during the Cuban crisis. For more than a year the two rivals discussed how to stymie their generals and achieve a lasting peace.

Kennedys peace speech at Washington DCs American University in June 1963 was a plea to his people to understand the communist enemy, despite their differences.

JFK said he didnt want a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war; not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave.

Well never know if Kennedy really would have ended the Cold War with Khrushchev and exited Vietnam. He was shot dead in Dallas before he could do so.

Five decades later  with wars and foreign intervention still prominent  it is hard not to imagine what it would be like if JFK had lived  and lived up to his word.
Steve Chao returns to the Philippines to get a behind-the-scenes look at a leader whos gone from relative obscurity to international notoriety.

Rodrigo Duterte has long been a night owl.

Its little surprise then that its late in the evening when were summoned for a meeting with the president of the Philippines.

Driving through the dark streets of the southern city of Davao, I wonder how much the new job has changed the man  whether the power that comes with the highest office in the land has gone to his head.

In his first few months in office, the unconventional leader has drawn international condemnation for his violent war on drugs, for his swearing, and for his sudden foreign policy shifts away from western allies.

Looking at the headlines, he seems very much the same tough-talking, profane-uttering, leader we first met in April when we filmed him on the presidential campaign trail.

Back then, he was fourth in the polls  a long-shot to win the presidency, having only served at the local level, as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

But, his promises to end years of crime, corruption and the political elitism that has plagued Philippines politics made him a unique candidate, and we decided at that early stage of the campaign to take an in-depth look at this unlikely presidential outsider.

His campaign pledges convinced the masses, and the Filipino public gave Duterte a landslide victory.

So, we decided to return to the Philippines, to get a behind-the-scenes look at a leader who has gone from relative obscurity to international notoriety.

 So  now Im a human rights violator

Our exclusive access to the president begins with a private dinner. Always unpredictable, were unsure what hell share with us, now that hes president.

If you threaten my country, I will kill you. And I have told my officers to shoot to kill, if they are threatened. by Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines

As we approach the venue  a large house in one of Davaos wealthier neighbourhoods  the first thing we notice is that his security detail has mushroomed. Previously, he had just a handful of bodyguards, but tonight, police have sealed off the entire block.

It turns out that this is the home of his trusted right-hand man, known as Bongo.

Inside, Duterte is waiting.

On the table is a spread of noodles, barbecued meats and steamed buns  simple fare, served in simple containers  not the kind of meal one would expect a president to be served  but Duterte has always preferred what he calls plain living.

On that front, things havent changed. But Duterte is now known on the world stage, and it hasnt all been plain sailing.

So  now Im a human rights violator, chuckles Duterte.

The leader was recently warned by the European Parliament that he could be tried in an international court for alleged extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and users.

In his four months as president, more than 3,500 people  some innocent bystanders, many suspected drug dealers and users  have been murdered, often by masked gunmen. A similar pattern of violence played out years ago, when Duterte declared a war on drugs in the city of Davao.

And like back then, he insists he has broken no law.

Ive only threatened to kill drugs dealers, he says. What is wrong with that? I have said, If you threaten my country, I will kill you. And I have told my officers to shoot to kill if they are threatened.

We join Duterte in private meetings, in convoys, on military choppers, and in his private jet  shadowing a leader that much of the world has likened to US President-elect, Donald Trump, for his outlandish statements.

But, as we find in our time with him, he is a very different man from his American counterpart. After spending more than two decades as a city mayor, Duterte has had a great deal of experience governing, and every statement he makes is a calculated one.

Is he presidential material? Is he, as he says, truly there to serve the people, with no designs on turning a democracy into an autocracy?

As we go behind the scenes and into the presidents inner circle, this is the story of Rodrigo Duterte.
Sunken giant at the bottom of the Aegean: The Britannic, a divers paradise, provides clues to mysteries of the Titanic.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated that the Britannic was a Victorian-era ship. This is incorrect; the Britannic, along with her sister-ship Titanic, both set sail during the Edwardian era.

Kea, Greece  A hundred years after it sank in the Aegean, the Britannic is shedding light on what sent its doomed sister-ship, the Titanic, to the bottom of the Atlantic, as well as creating a new diving industry in Greece.

The HMS Britannic had been serving as a World War I hospital ship when it struck a German mine five kilometres off the island of Kea, 60km southeast of Athens, in November 1916. The ship sank in just 55 minutes.

Leading up to the November 21 centenary of the sinking, applications for diving permits have soared and the Greek government wants the 49,000-tonne wreck, the largest in the world, to become the centrepiece of a series of marine museums across the country.

[It] will be the first underwater historical museum in Greece with international importance, says Angeliki Simosi, head of Greeces underwater antiquities department.

The reason why: Because the Britannic may hold the key to how and why the Titanic sank in 1912.

The Britannics keel was laid at the Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast, just five months before the Titanic was launched. The ship was barely taking shape when the Titanic went down, and the disaster threw the shipyard into a crisis of confidence.

These [ships] were technological firsts. They were the first ships ever this big, says Richie Kohler, who has made two documentaries about the Britannic. They were extending the known abilities of engineering, given their ability to understand the tensile strength and things like that.

Kohler and his team started diving on the Britannic 10 years ago to chase down a theory that the builders were afraid the Titanic had a failure, that they were correcting that failure on the Britannic, that they were trying to cover up the possibility that the Titanic was a weak ship. The only way to do that was to go down and see the design changes that were made on the Britannic, Kohler says.

Some of those design changes are well-known. The Titanics double hull only extended across the bottom of the ship, defending the deep-drafted vessel against scraping the seabed. The iceberg had cut just below the waterline, where the ships skin was vulnerable. The Britannic was widened by half-a-metre so that a double skin could be installed along two-thirds of its length, protecting the boilers and engine rooms.

As the Titanic flooded, the water rose to overwhelm the bulkheads separating its compartments, spilling into one compartment after another. The Britannics bulkheads were raised all the way to the bridge deck.

Most important of all: the Britannic rectified the lack of lifeboats on the Titanic. Four enormous gantry davits were added to the decks capable of launching 44 lifeboats on both sides of the ship simultaneously.

WATCH: Australian tycoon floats plans for Titanic II

The Britannic would have survived the damage which the iceberg inflicted on the Titanic, says historian Simon Mills, who bought the wreck of the Britannic 21 years ago, but Kohler and his team discovered an additional, more subtle improvement, which may suggest that the builders had deeper concerns that the Titanic may have been doomed owing to a design flaw.





During British and American inquests into the Titanics sinking, the question of whether it had broken up at the surface was raised. The reports were inconclusive.

In 1986, oceanographer Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic on the Atlantic sea floor and found that the ship was indeed broken into two.

Where did the Titanic crack in half? Right at an expansion joint, says Kohler, who was on Ballards expedition.

Naval engineer Roger Long has since suggested that the joints, which absorbed metal expansion owing to heat and stress from high seas, were poorly designed.

If true, the Olympic, the Titanics predecessor, and the Britannic, its successor, also suffered from the same fatal flaw.

Roger Longs theory is that if any of the Olympians had got into a storm with 40ft waves, they would have broken in half on the surface, says Kohler, of the three ships. He discovered in 2009 that Britannics expansion joints were different.

The design change may suggest that while the Titanic and the Britannic were meant to stay afloat with six compartments flooded, Harland and Wolff may have suspected that their expansion joints couldnt withstand the stress of having half of the ship flooded and the other buoyant.

At about 15 degrees, [the Titanic] went from being intact to breaking apart, believes Kohler.

Why did it sink?

Given the Britannics design improvements, why it sank remains a mystery. It is understood that the German mine it hit caused much more significant damage than the pokes and stabs the iceberg inflicted on the Titanic.

They worked out that the hole that sank the Titanic amounted to about 1.5 square metres, says Mills. On the Britannic, the scale of the damage was much, much bigger.

The admiraltys official report of the sinking says: There seems to have been a period of one to two minutes from the time of the explosion until the water in the stokeholds was too deep for work to be performed. In other words, the massive boilers in forward holds 5 and 6, an area measuring 10.6m x 27.4m, were overwhelmed almost instantaneously.

The mine hit in the worst possible place at the worst possible time. All those watertight doors down below were open because they were changing watch at eight oclock in the morning. Those doors should have been closed, says Mills.

In his own report of the incident, Captain Charles Bartlett says orders were rung below to close watertight doors. This should have prevented the cross flooding of the holds.

For some reason, the doors in the forward part of the ship didnt close, says Mills. Even if electrical switches failed, the doors had manual levers. Failing that, a float mechanism should have triggered them.

Captain Bartlett reports that after the explosion, the ship started trembling and vibrating most violently fore and aft, continuing for some time.

READ MORE: In the Titanics wake 100 years on

Underwater museum

The idea of an underwater museum was mooted as early as 1963, but was only legislated in 2013. More than 1,000 wrecks have been mapped in the Greek seas and some are already designated museums, but Kea dreams of becoming a global underwater World War I museum with three wrecks.

The Burdigala, a French steamer that sank while serving as a troop carrier just a week before the Britannic, lies at a depth of 75m.

It is intact. It was discovered eight years ago, says diver Yiannis Tzevelekos. It really is like being in an underwater museum. You can see the telegraph, Marconi, ships bell and chandeliers all in place  Its also upright, as though a human hand has placed it in a sailing position.

Between the Burdigala and the Britannic, at just 35 metres, lies the Patris, a Greek storm-sunk steamer with one of its paddle wheels still in place. All are to become part of Keas network of underwater galleries.

Mass tourism isnt interested in small destinations. If a place can show that it has a different profile, then it can claim a piece of the market, says Mayor Yiannis Evangeliou, who has spent four decades in the tourism industry. He plans to go further, and create a marine wildlife park for less experienced divers.

The beauty of the Britannic

Technical divers who have braved its 120-metre depth to see the Britannics hulk stretching almost a third of a kilometre in the gloom, speak of it with awe. Jacques Cousteau, the first to visit the ship in 1976, allegedly said that diving across the Britannic is like being a flea on the back of an elephant.

What takes your breath away is the sheer size of the shipwreck, says Leigh Bishop, one of the worlds most experienced deep-sea wreck divers. Youre physically in touch with one of the Olympic Star liners. Where else can you effectively dive down to the Titanic?

On the Titanic, youre painfully aware that 1,500 people died. It is a dark, barren, lifeless ship, says Kohler. When you go to the Britannic it is bathed in beautiful light; it is such a comfortable, warm, blue-green  covered with growth and corals and sponges and fans, and everything is striving for light and life.

The Britannic had its own tragedy. As it evacuated a thousand crew members, Captain Bartlett tried to beach it on Kea. The ship had already begun to list to starboard, and the port propeller hung half out of the water as it roared to life. Two boats were pulled into the turning propeller, and they were smashed to matchwood. Thirty people were killed and 30 or 40 were very seriously injured, says Mills.

The Britannic is important beyond its casualties and the light it sheds on what happened to the Titanic. The ultimate Olympic class liner, it carried the largest boilers and steam-driven engines ever built before or since.

Its speed of 20 knots was unprecedented for its size. It was then the safest passenger vessel ever built. The Harland and Wolff launch booklet called it both in design and construction, as perfect a specimen of mans creative power as it is possible to conceive.

Yet, this pinnacle of Edwardian technology was rapidly overtaken by events. It never served as a passenger liner. Its life as a hospital ship lasted just 11 months. The Britannic, perhaps more than any physical object, lies as a testament to how shockingly and irreversibly the Great War changed the world.
Iraqi medics on Mosul frontline say growing proportion of the patients they treat are non-combatants.

Al-Samah, near Mosul  Four men clung to the black Humvee as it careered toward the east Mosul field hospital. Anguish marked their faces, blood stained their clothes and they cradled between them the broken frames of two slightly built boys  victims of a mortar strike minutes earlier.

A crowd rushed forward to meet the vehicle, helping to lift the casualties on to stretchers under a shroud of settling dust. Matham, 15, was unresponsive  head back, mouth open, gaze unfocused  and an ugly red stain had soaked through his clothes at the neck. A medic placed him on a stretcher, examined his wounds and put two fingers on his carotid artery, searching for a pulse.

The 12-year-old Mohammed lay on a nearby cot. He was conscious, but his right leg was torn open from ankle to groin and dangled sickeningly. A crowd of doctors cut away his trousers then applied a tourniquet to halt the massive blood loss.

He called weakly for his mother as they worked then closed his eyes. Is he breathing? someone asked urgently. Is. He. Breathing? A few seconds later, the boy groaned, asked for water, then lay with his head tilted sideways staring at the sky.

A middle-aged woman in a white headscarf and black polka dot dress skirted the clinic wall and rushed frantically forward, calling the younger boys name. Male relatives intercepted her a few metres from the cot, took an arm each and coaxed her away.

She turned her head as she walked, looking back at a scene that has become increasingly common as civilian casualties of the month-long offensive to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) continue to mount.

The military-run field hospital is the forwardmost facility along this front. Its set up outside a battle-scarred house in the citys al-Samah district: 10 dark green cots folded out on the irregular ground of a compound still littered with spent bullet casings. It smells of dust, cigarettes and smoke from burning piles of used bandages and gauze. Supplies are piled on the back of pickups.

A team of more than 20 Iraqi and foreign volunteer medics take shifts treating as many as 50 casualties every day. The priority is to stop bleeding and stabilise patients to the point that they can be sent on to better-equipped facilities in IDP camps, army bases or the nearby city of Erbil.

This is more difficult than Ramadi and those areas. ISIL know it is their last land so they are trying their best to kill as many as possible. by Captain Ala, Clinic worker

Gogjali was only recently cleared of ISIL fighters and a large military presence remains in the area. But there are civilians too. Some preferred to stay in their homes regardless of the fighting and now sit on doorsteps cautiously chatting and smoking.

Many more arrive every day from further into Mosul, trudging along roads or barren hillsides holding white flags and battered suitcases, then converging on an Iraqi army gathering point opposite the clinic. There they are ushered on to trucks and taken to recently constructed camps on the Erbil road.

There had been a run of military and civilian casualties that day, but the afternoon brought respite. The medics relaxed in the last of the sun, lounging on plastic chairs or with their backs to a breeze block wall.

Regular outgoing artillery fire from a nearby battery punctuated the murmur of conversation, as it had done for hours. No one appeared to notice. Then came the crash of a mortar landing nearby and another quickly afterwards. The hospital crew looked up as black smoke rose a few hundred metres beyond the compound wall.

The shells had torn into Matham and Mohammed as the two, who had been neighbours, made their way towards the IDP assembly point with their families.

A nearby squad from the elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) hauled the boys on to their Humvee hood, one of the soldiers helping three family members to hold them as it sped the short distance to the clinic.

It was quickly apparent that Matham had died from his wounds by the time they arrived. A burly, goateed medic gently closed the boys eyelids and covered his face with a blood-soaked jumper. Two black uniformed CTS soldiers then unfolded a light grey body bag on the ground next to the stretcher. Matham had been small for his age and it only took one to move him.

His father rushed over as they begin to zip up the bag, dropped to his knees and kissed his sons cheek again and again, collapsing on top of him. A doctor carefully pulled him back, while the soldier and a relative placed the body on the ground next to an ambulance. His silver-haired grandfather and two other relatives crouched there among empty water bottles and discarded food containers, sobbing.

A small boy from the house next door to the clinic sat on top of the wall and watched, expressionless.

Meanwhile, Mohammed had been stabilised and what was left of his leg bandaged up. Medics moved him to an orange-framed stretcher and into a waiting ambulance that bounced off along the irregular road. No one seemed sure whether hed live, and even if he did, his leg would likely have to be amputated, an American volunteer whod treated him said.

Having done all that they could, the clinic staff relaxed again, even posing for a smiling picture with a news crew security guard whod arrived with a leg wound shortly after the boys.

A few metres away, Mathams grandfather opened the bag a few inches to say a final goodbye. The sturdily built patriarch stared for a moment then cried and cried, eventually collapsing back cross-legged, where he remained, crippled by grief, with one hand over his face.

These kinds of injuries are distressingly typical, said clinic head Colonel Khalil Jawad Kadim. We see gunshot wounds, head wounds, amputations and shrapnel in all parts of body, he explained, perched on a lawn chair during a quiet moment. Kadim, a small man with a soft handshake and hint of grey moustache, added that recent days had been some of the worst hes seen in his 26-year medical career.

A colleague, Captain Ala, who worked in similar field hospitals during previous battles against ISIL, added that ISIL fighters were desperately defending the only major Iraqi urban centre still under their control.

This is more difficult than Ramadi and those areas, he said, referring to offensives in Anbar province. [ISIL] know it is their last land, so they are trying their best to kill as many as possible.





Commanders reported there were no major operations taking place that day, but fighting further into Mosul was still heavy. Around noon a radio crackled with the news of an ISIL suicide car bomb attack. A Humvee roared up soon afterwards with a casualty lying across the back seat.

A medic examined him as others rushed to prepare a stretcher. No, he yelled, urgency suddenly evaporated. We need a body bag.

Sergeant Ali Jafar arrived later with bullet fragments in his arm from clashes in Mosuls al-Zahra, formerly known as Saddam district. He chatted to medics as they probed and washed out his wound using iodine solution from a water bottle, grimacing only when they tightened his bandage, then quickly breaking into a smile.

ISIL have been fighting hard, Jafar said. Their typical tactics involve teams four or five strong employing sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from inside densely populated areas, sometimes even using the roofs of inhabited homes as firing positions.

Worse still were the suicide car bombs, he said, describing an incident the previous day when his squad had been forced to use their own Humvee as a barrier to stop one advancing.

His commander, Captain Sarmad al-Saadi, derided ISILs methods as cowardly. They only use suicide attacks, he said lighting up a slim cigarette.

READ MORE: Iraq  Now we have a grave to visit

Iraqi commanders stress that they are doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, but Ala, the medic, says that a growing proportion of the patients they treat are non-combatants.

The danger is not only of stray bullets or bombs. Both soldiers and civilians describe ISIL targeting residents attempting to flee. They are doing that every day, Saadi says. They want everyone to stay as a human shield.

Recent victims included three-year-old Jawahar, a tiny, curly-haired girl in a red top whod been hit in the foot with bullet fragments. Her uncle, Ahmed, said that theyd joined a large group attempting to move towards the relative safety of the Iraqi army in al-Zahra when ISIL fired on them from the other end of the street, hitting several people.

[ISIL] are shooting people who try to leave, he said. They think we are unbelievers going to the land of unbelievers.

Iraqi troops are still fighting on Mosuls outer edges, but as they push deeper into the city against determined and ruthless resistance, hundreds of thousands more civilians are expected to be displaced.

With few ways out that dont involve a gauntlet of violence, medics at the frontlines expect many more Mohammeds and Mathams to come.
Efforts are under way to salvage what remains of old Sulaimania, once a bastion of diversity and cosmopolitanism.

Sulaimania, Iraq  In 1784, an ambitious Kurdish prince inaugurated the new capital of the Kurdish principality of Baban. It was the city of Sulaimania.

The young Ibrahim Pasha had spent years studying in the vibrant cities of Baghdad and Istanbul. Now, he was back in his hometown of Qalachwalan, then considered a rural backwater. But he had brought with him dreams of building a Kurdish city just like the most sophisticated cities of the Persian and Ottoman empires he had left behind.

He named the city after his father, Sulaiman Pasha. It was established in the mountainous region described as the land of Zamwa in the epic of Gilgamesh. Surrounded by the Azmar, Goyzha and Qaiwan mountains to the northeast, Baranan to the south and the Tasluja Hills to the west, Sulaimania was a natural fortress, buffered from invasion.

It was his 18th century Mesopotamian Camelot, intended to reflect those cities  from Alexandria and St Petersburg to Baghdad and Istanbul  that had so impressed him during his travels.

Settlers came from far and wide  Kurdish philosophers, poets and writers from all sides of the Zagros Mountains, exiled royals from western Persia, tradesmen from southeastern Anatolia and forward-thinking entrepreneurs from nearby villages.

Settlers came from far and wide - Kurdish philosophers, poets and writers from all sides of the Zagros Mountains, exiled royals from western Persia... by

Unlike many of the towns and cities in the region, Sulaimania did not develop or grow to become a city  it was built to be a city, says Ako Ghareb, an artist and historian from Sulaimania.

Sulaimania was cosmopolitan in culture from its very founding. When Ibrahim Pasha started to build it, it attracted the free thinkers and intellectuals from Erbil, Kirkuk and from Iranian Kurdistan. It also drew Christians, Jews and Armenians, because it was a much more open city.

If you build it

First, there was a place of worship. Built in 1785, and boasting a vast library, the Mzgawt-e Gawra  big mosque  became a centre for knowledge and social interaction. Everything else was built around it: grand homes, a marketplace and schools.

Among the first noteworthy arrivals in the early 1800s were refugees from the fallen Ardalan empire in northwest Persia. Prominent among them was Mastura Ardalan, the widow of Khasraw Khani Ardalan, who had been the ruler of the principality.

The man who would be king of Kurdistan

Mastura, who died in 1848 and was buried in Sulaimania, was a respected poet and historian, whose account of Kurdish history  recorded in Persian  is still referenced by scholars of Kurdish affairs.

Mastura Ardalan came to Sulaimania after the Persian empire demolished their principality, says Ghareb. There was a typhoid epidemic, from which her husband had died, and many of the courtiers who came with her showed symptoms. So they remained in quarantine for a while, before they were allowed to enter.

Along with the exiled Ardalans came skilled masons and craftsmen from the fallen principality who founded a quarter in Sulaimania called Dargezen  or, Golden Door in Persian.

By the mid-19th century, the city was enjoying a certain level of autonomy from the Safavid empire under the dynasty of the Baban clan, becoming a hub of Kurdish intellectual and political movement. By the turn of the 20th century, it was dotted with stately homes that incorporated the traditional architecture of the region.

Disappearing city

The majestic mountains which encircle and protect the city are now the names of high-end property developments, built over the past decade. by

Today, the city of Sulaimania still stands; it marked its 232nd anniversary on November 14.

But, arguably, very little of the original spirit of its founder survives. Azmar, Goyzha and Baranan  the majestic mountains which encircle and protect the city  are now the names of high-end property developments, built over the past decade.

Overlooking Sera Square near the mosque stands a marble bust of Ibrahim Pasha. A statue of Mastura Ardalan was unveiled during a ceremony in Erbil to mark her 200th birthday in 2005.

But historians and those who want to preserve the city worry that statues wont save the spirit of Sulaimania.

The democratic republic of The Peoples Teahouse

What remains of Sulaimanias urban past is threatened by the modernisation frenzy that followed the 2003 US-led war in Iraq, they argue, as local developers rushed to build the next big supermarket or mini mall. Now concrete and glass skyscrapers overshadow areas where once stood traditional mudbrick homes, or grand white-stone houses.

All of our old buildings are about to be destroyed  some by demolition, others by neglect, laments Sadiq Saleh, the head of the photography department at the national Zheen Archives.

It is important to save them. If a proper preservation initiative isnt started, after a few years there wont be any old buildings left in our city to save. And I think that it is a big mistake of our government not to take an active part in this.

Saleh and Ghareb are among those working to safeguard whats left of Ibrahim Pashas city of dreams. It is a mission that has encountered many setbacks.

One challenge, they believe, is to be found in the fact that few of the present-day inhabitants of the city can trace their familys history in Sulaimania back further than a few decades.

Many came here as refugees from nearby villages during Saddam Husseins Anfal campaign against the Kurds. These people dont know anything about the history of this city, and they arent really interested, says Saleh.

He points out that many officials in the regional government  and even municipal officials  are not originally from the city, which makes it difficult to convince them to allocate funds to preservation campaigns.

Nowadays, the city has become a big village, run by village mentality, Saleh says. In the Middle East, there is a big difference between city people and villagers. What you see today is a blurring of the lines and a village mentality has overrun our city. This means, there is no concern for preserving old homes with history. The citys history is not their history, so they dont care.

We are only a few families left who are originally from Sulaimania, with living memories of how things once were. Many of the old families have emigrated. They are living in Jordan, Turkey or Europe and so on, he adds.

With battles raging in nearby Kirkuk, and another in Mosul only 100 kilometres away, compounded by waves of internally displaced people, Sulaimania has again become a destination for settlers from far and wide.

But even before the war against ISIL and the sharp decline in oil prices left the economy of Iraqs Kurdistan Region in tatters, there didnt seem to be much of an appetite to invest large sums in preservation projects.

During Saddam Husseins days, they tried to demolish these homes to erase Kurdish history. But today its apathy and indifference thats destroying us, says Ghareb.

During Saddam Hussein's days, they tried to demolish these homes to erase Kurdish history. But today it's apathy and indifference that's destroying us. by Ako Ghareb, Historian

The KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] has never really cared much about the preservation of heritage sites  its always been a battle to get these projects funded.

Saleh says they have been compelled to turn to private donors to supplement their funding.

Fusion of styles

Exploring the narrow streets of the original neighbourhoods is like strolling through history.

In these quarters, the diverse backgrounds of the early settlers become apparent. Ghareb explains that those who hailed from the plains of Koya and Erbil opted to build their homes out of mudbrick, which was typically used for construction in those areas because they dont have stones.

People often sourced their building materials from the areas they came from, he says, even though the actual builders were from Sanandaj, in western Persia, and Diyarbakir, in eastern Anatolia. So the city became a fusion of styles.

Those who opted to use local material had a choice between Malkandy stone, a yellowish, irregular-shaped hard stone, or Sherkoosh stone, a softer, whiter stone found in the village of Kanbardina. Sherkhoush was the material of choice for the wealthy. The poor opted for mudbrick.

Today, only about 14 of those grand old homes survive in Sulaimania  in some shape or form. These include the home of Karimi Alaka, a Christian Kurdish notable who is said to have saved many lives during World War II, the home of Ali Kamal Beg, who was a member of parliament representing Sulaimania in Baghdad before 1958, and the home of Sofy Karim, a wealthy local trader who dealt in tobacco and leather firearm accessories.

Sofy Karims home, built in 1887, was sold to the Sulaimania municipality in 1996 for a nominal sum of $20,000 by Karims son on the condition that it be restored and turned into a museum.

A growing identity crisis for Iraqi Kurds

What remains of Sulaimania's urban past has been threatened by the post-2003 war 'modernisation frenzy' as local developers rush to build the next big supermarket or mini mall. by

A little also remains of the home of Sulaimania-born artist, historian and politician Mohamed Amin Zaki Bey (1880-1948). His paintings of Baghdad, particularly one of a horse station called Garia, are considered among the best, and hang in museums across the Middle East.

Moreover, since 2006, a UNESCO-funded project has been underway to preserve the old Ottoman-era municipal building called Bardaki Sera as well as the Hotel Farah, a former resting house at the centre of the bazaar. UNESCO has also funded the Sulaimania Museum to support its archiving work.

But there have also been some losses. Saleh cites the case of the Nouri Ali building which was demolished in the 1980s under the Baath government. The drug store built in the 1930s was at the time the tallest building in Sulaimania.

They razed it to the ground because it was at the centre of the city and they wanted to widen the street, recalls Saleh.

There was also a small market nearby, we used to call it the Kayseri Osman Pasha, but it was destroyed during the Baath regime in the 1980s. It was old, built at the end of 19th century. It was near where the bazaar is today, at the centre of the city. Now in its place there is a new bazaar, new shops.

Restoration

Ghareb is an enthusiastic supporter of restoration projects, provided they are restorations and not renovations.

What I oppose is when the government demolishes these old homes and builds supermarkets or high-rises in their place, he says. I would like to see efforts in place to preserve the character of the old homes which have history and character.

He laments that people in the Kurdish region at large dont really understand the difference between restoration and renovation.

Its not enough to renovate the building in an old style  you have to respect the original design and use the same materials, he says. In the Sabunkaran area and Kzzadaak area, some places have been renovated and it pains me to see. It no longer looks like the Sabunkaran of the old days. Even though they have tried to use the same materials, there are aspects that are incorrect and theyve ruined it.

Ghareb says that there are 90 sites in the city that he and others are trying to save from demolition or decay.

The government wont allocate the funds needed to save these homes from decay, so we are trying to get help from the museum to at least help out, he says.

The owners cannot afford to maintain them. Mud roofs, for instance, need yearly maintenance. Its a special skill, and it costs. Some of the owners have abandoned the homes because they have become uninhabitable, but others are too poor and they still live in it.

Ghareb says the Sulaimania Museum has been lobbying the government for greater funding for preservation.

For Iraqs Kurds, its not about independence any more

Touted as the next Dubai after the 2003 US-led war, Erbil and Sulaimania were flush with oil money, but those days seem a distant memory. With civil servants going months without pay, and in some cases, those delayed salaries being cut by more than 50 percent, competition for the depleted resources is fierce and funding for restoration and preservation projects isnt forthcoming.

We are only a few families left who are originally from Sulaimania, with living memories of how things once were. Many of the old families have emigrated. They are living in Jordan, Turkey or Europe and so on. by Sadiq Saleh, Preservationist

Cultural capital

In December 2012, the KRG anointed Sulaimania as the regions cultural capital.

Suleimania was always known as a city of intellectuals, reformists and activists, says Ghareb. Its people have always gone on the streets to demonstrate and say whatever they have to say this is where they have staged uprisings. From the very beginning, it had that culture.

Indeed, following World War I, when the Treaty of Sevres assigned Sulaimania to the newly formed state of Iraq, the city was the site of numerous rebellions against the new central government.

Many political movements were founded in the city  the Jamiati Kurdistan in 1922, Jamiati Zardashti in 1926, and the Hezb-e Brayati in 1937.

The intellectuals of Sulaimania also paid special attention to the preservation of the Kurdish language, evident in the number of newspapers, journals and magazines published in the city from the 1920s onwards, such as Zhianawa, Zhian, Zheen, and Ziban  not to mention the poets who defied convention and composed verses in Kurdish.

Everything was done in Kurdish to preserve the language, says Saleh. The most famous Kurdish poets, they are all from Sulaimania because of this emphasis on the language. Elsewhere it was considered backward, and frowned upon to write in Kurdish  The educated people of the region wrote in Persian, Arabic and Turkish, but never in Kurdish.

Mullah Xidir Ehmed Sawaysi Mikayali , known as Nali, was the first significant poet to write his poetry in Kurdish; then Abdul Rehman Begi Saheb-Qiran, known as Salem; and Tawfeq Mahmoud Hamza, known as Piramerd. In this way, Sulaimania became a nursery for Kurdish culture.

In 1921, when the British took over Iraq, they reportedly burned the books in the mosques extensive library. But the shelves were refilled over the years through contributions from exiled Kurdish thinkers and notables. This included the Babans, who had sought refuge in Libya in the 1850s after fighting the Ottomans for Kurdish independence.

Following the First Gulf War, Sulaimania came under the administration of the Iraq Kurdish regional government.

New generation

Sulaimania has lost its culture, and we used to be very proud of it, says Ghareb. Culture is one of the main building blocks of society and that is what the new generation dont know anything about. That is one of our biggest problems right now.

Once diverse and cosmopolitan, todays Sulaimania is struggling to survive economic hardship and demographic changes. But, ultimately, it may be apathy that poses the greatest challenge.

My own children arent interested in any of this and they nag me about it all the time, says Saleh. Im an engineer and I have had opportunities for better paying work. But this is my passion and I believe it is important for the future. If we dont do this now, the next generation that follows will one day hold us responsible.

If two centuries ago a young Kurdish prince had returned from his studies abroad with dreams of building a great shining city, many among todays generation of Kurds would rather stay abroad. The challenge for Saleh, Ghareb and others is to instill their passion for the city in its youth, or else Ibrahim Pashas Mesopotamian Camelot may soon become the stuff of myths.

Follow Tanya Goudsouzian on Twitter: @tgoudsouzian
Protesters clashed with law enforcement officials near the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline, with at least one person arrested as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October.

The Morton County Sheriffs Office estimated that 400 protesters were trying to cross the bridge on state highway 1806 in what they called an ongoing riot.

The Backwater Bridge has been closed since late October, when activists clashed with police in riot gear and set two trucks on fire, prompting authorities to forcibly shut down a protesters encampment nearby.

The $3.7bn Dakota Access project has been drawing steady opposition from Native American and environmental activists since the summer.
New Delhi, India  On November 8, a few hours before midnight, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise decision banned 500 and 1,000-rupee banknotes in a bid to fight corruption.

Indias largest currency bills, worth just over $7 and $14 respectively, comprised 86 percent of the total notes in circulation and were extracted from the market at once. The bills in circulation amounted to $23bn.

This currency demonetisation has caused chaos as millions of Indians, who mostly use cash for business and shopping, have been lining up outside banks and ATMs.

READ MORE: Anger intensifies over Indias demonetisation move

The government says the demonetisation will wipe out counterfeit currency notes and black money  the term widely used to describe transactions that take place outside formal channels.

But many have criticised the governments lack of preparedness for such a drastic step, which they say is likely to dampen economic growth and negatively affect the working class and farmers, most of whom are not part of the banking system.

Kishori Lal, a 34-year-old daily-wage worker, says: For the past week, I havent received payment for the work I do. Every day, my contractor asks me to come back tomorrow, as he also doesnt have money to pay me. How can I feed my family?

Bank employees have been working 12-hour shifts without weekends off to meet the demand from customers wanting to exchange the banned notes.

People are angry. They are frustrated and shout at us, says one who asked not to reveal his name.

I am working on Saturday and Sunday. Ever since the announcement, we havent taken even one leave.

Al Jazeeras Showkat Shafi found out how demonetisation is impacting people across New Delhi.
We must understand that climate action, social justice and indigenous sovereignty are closely intertwined.

Lauren Carasik is the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Western New England University School of Law.

As a Native American-led opposition to a $3.7bn North Dakota pipeline that galvanised an international movement takes on increased urgency with the election of Donald Trump, repression by law enforcement response continues to escalate.

If completed, the 1,886km Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) would transport a half million barrels of fracked crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to Illinois, crossing multiple waterways including the Missouri River, that serves as the drinking water source for millions of people.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribes organised resistance to the pipeline, which began in April as a small prayer camp, has swelled to thousands and drawn support from some 300 tribes, representing the largest Native American gathering in a generation.

The uprising has been joined by climate and social justice activists. The tribe is determined to peacefully resist the pipelines current path, which runs within less than one kilometre of their reservation and, they argue, endangers their sacred cultural sites and water supply.

The conflict inflames a long, brutal and disgraceful history of Native American dispossession and the elevation of private and corporate rights over indigenous ones, and overlaps with urgent efforts to curb fossil fuel dependency.

Historical injustice

A day of action on November 15 mobilised protests in 300 cities across the globe, many in front of offices of the US Army Corps of Engineers, in whose hands the pipelines fate currently resides.

The Army Corps has not issued the easement required to drill under the Missouri River, the only impediment to completing pipeline construction in North Dakota.

Because of the colonial legal framework, the dispute being litigated in federal court is narrowly framed around whether the tribe was meaningfully consulted about the project, though the international standard is consent (PDF).

Historical injustice casts a dark and enduring shadow: much of the pipeline traverses territory taken from the tribe in violation of the Treaties of Fort Laramie of 1851 and 1868. After centuries of colonisation and the intergenerational misery it has inflicted, the tribe is determined to protect its sovereignty, self-determination and indigenous ways of life.

As the world closely gauges how the new political reality in the US bodes for global efforts to ameliorate impending climate disaster, it will be watching the events unfolding at Standing Rock. by

In a scenario hauntingly familiar to indigenous environmental and land activists around the world, peaceful resistance has been met with militarisation and criminalisation.

Nearly 500 water protectors, as they prefer to be called, have been arrested, including tribal elders, and many were patently overcharged.

Images of law enforcement brutality have elicited widespread outrage. Most recently, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association denounced the excessive force deployed by law enforcement and private security, and said those detained had been kept in inhuman and degrading conditions.

International opprobrium has not tempered the law enforcement response. On November 20, police responded aggressively to hundreds of unarmed water protectors gathered in the freezing temperature at a contested bridge barricade between the main encampment and the drill site with water cannons, rubber bullets and chemical agents, injuring many of them.

Trumps connections with the project

The spectre of the incoming administration has only heightened the tension. Trump has vowed to revisit the Keystone XL pipeline that was nixed under the Obama administration, dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Though he hasnt commented directly on the DAPL controversy, Trump has signalled his support for energy infrastructure projects, and doesnt seem inclined to recognise indigenous rights, especially when they impinge on the profits of the powerful oil and gas industries.

It remains opaque how the new president will navigate conflicts of interest, given his investment in the pipelines Texas-based developer, Energy Transfer Partners. Company CEO Kelcy Warren donated more than $100,000 to Trumps campaign and has expressed confidence the pipeline will be completed as planned.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama indicated that the Army Corps was considering re-routing the pipe.

In the latest salvo, the agency said on November 14 that additional discussion and environmental analysis are warranted before the easement is issued, especially in light of the history of the Great Sioux Nations dispossessions of lands [and] the importance of Lake Oahe to the Tribe. (PDF)

A defiant Warren, who has ignored the administrations repeated requests to pause construction within 32km of the river, responded by asking the federal court judge presiding over the tribes legal challenge for a declaratory judgment allowing the company to move forward, decrying political interference (PDF).

IN PICTURES: Standing Rock tribe protests over North Dakota pipeline

He has continued to amass equipment on the drill pad by the river and fortified barricades to protect it, and has indicated that there will be no re-route.

Between the costs of delay and a declining economic outlook for the project since its inception in 2014, financial pressures on the company are mounting (PDF). An activist campaign targeting DAPLs financiers to withdraw support are adding to the fray. DNB, Norways largest bank, sold its assets in the DAPL and is considering terminating its loans to the company.

Options ahead

Though it has encouraged dialogue, the Army Corps has other options at its disposal. The agency could deny the easement to drill under the river.

It could also order a full Environmental Impact Statement, which would consider the cumulative impacts of the pipeline in its entirety instead of narrowly focusing on small segments, a study it should have undertaken in the first place.

Its unclear how either option would fare under the Trump administration, prompting former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to implore Obama to declare the historic treaty lands of the Standing Rock Sioux threatened by the pipeline a federal monument.

ALSO READ: The grandma feeding the North Dakota pipeline protest

The Obama administration has to act quickly, since the decision will soon reside with an administration presumed to be hostile to the tribes interests.

As the world closely gauges how the new political reality in the US bodes for global efforts to ameliorate impending climate disaster, it will be watching the events unfolding at Standing Rock.

While climate change imperils us all, some are more vulnerable than others, and it is critical not eclipse the demands of the indigenous rightsmovement that propelled this uprising onto the international stage in the first place. That goal requires recognition that climate justice and indigenous sovereignty are closely intertwined.

Lauren Carasik is a clinical professor of law and the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Western New England University School of Law. She has provided legal support for the water protectors.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
The oath crisis has given Beijing an opportunity to toughen its grip over Hong Kong.

Yuen Chan is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Journalism at City, University of London.

September 5, 2016 was a good day for pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong. Their candidates won 30 out of the 70 seats in the Legislative Council, in the first elections for the citys mini-parliament since the mass street protests for democracy  known as the Umbrella Movement  in 2014.

Among the winners were six young lawmakers who dont fall into the traditional opposition camp, known as the pan-democrats. They are often described as localists, although they do differ on how self-determination should be approached.





These differences were on display when they swore in as lawmakers last month. Sixtus Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, of the Youngspiration party, which emerged out of the Umbrella Movement protests, werent alone in using the occasion to make political points. But only they swore allegiance to the Hong Kong nation and draped themselves with a flag that said, Hong Kong is NOT China.

This set off an extraordinary chain of events  widely referred to as oathgate  which is still unfolding and is likely to hurt the democratic movement in Hong Kong.

A dangerous legal interpretation

After the botched oaths, the Hong Kong government filed a legal action to get the pair disqualified. Then, Chinas National Peoples Congress Standing Committee unilaterally issued an interpretation of the Basic Law  Hong Kongs mini-constitution  which preempted the decision of the Hong Kong court.

Hong Kong has a separate legal system and practices common law, but Chinas parliament retains the right to interpret the Basic Law in certain situations.

Apart from barring Yau and Leung from retaking their oaths, the interpretation says any public officer who intentionally deviates from the official wording or fails to take their oath in a sincere or solemn manner will be regarded as having declined to take it. Accordingly, they would be disqualified from office.

This means other pro-democracy lawmakers who used props or made political statements, before or after taking their oaths, are open to potential legal challenges and disqualification. Around a dozen lawmakers are already being challenged by pro-government petitioners.

Hong Kong's long and difficult struggle to fight for greater democracy and to defend its values just got a lot harder. by

The interpretation also says that when Hong Kongs public officials and legislators pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China, they are, in fact, making a pledge to the Peoples Republic of China and its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

According to Martin Lee, a veteran democrat, lawyer and a drafter of the Basic Law, this could mean Hong Kongs public officers are subject to mainland laws under the Chinese constitution as well as to Hong Kongs Basic Law.

The day before the interpretation was announced, thousands marched to protest what they saw as a blatant attempt to undermine Hong Kongs judicial independence and overturn the results of a democratic election.

Not all protesters supported Youngspirations actions, some find Leung and Yaus actions childish, unnecessarily provocative or even offensive. Others who I talked to feel they are walking into a trap, forced to side with pro-independence politicians they dont endorse.

Few were surprised when judge Thomas Au Hing-cheung eventually ruled in favour of the government. He acknowledged Beijings interpretation was legally binding on the Hong Kong courts, but also stated his decision was based solely on the Basic Law and common law principles.

Youngspirations offices in the Legislative Council were cleared out and Leung, Yau and their staff banned from entering the building. They are appealing the ruling, and by-elections are on hold pending the appeal.

A welcome distraction

Hanging over all these events is the election for Hong Kongs Chief Executive, which will take place in March next year. That election will hinge on the votes of a 1,200 member Election Committee  most of whom will take their instructions from Beijing.

The only candidate so far to declare an interest in running is a retired judge, Woo Kwok-hing, who is not considered to be a serious contender, while the two heavyweights waiting for Beijings green light to run are the deeply unpopular incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah.

If theres a winner in the oathgate affair, its Leung Chun-ying. He has shown Beijing he is willing and able to act decisively and swiftly to eradicate the voice of Hong Kong independence.

That the Youngspiration duos actions have failed to gain approval from, let alone inspire many Hongkongers, has weakened the oppositions hand and undermined the fragile unity among its disparate components.

The maverick, pro-Beijing newspaper Sing Pao has even suggested Youngspiration is part of a false flag operation.

Whatever the case, oathgate has given pro-Beijing forces an excuse to whip up patriotic fervour, argue for patriotic education and for Leung Chun-ying to say Hong Kong should revisit Article 23 of the Basic Law. This provision states Hong Kong must draw up its own laws against treason, subversion and sedition, and other national security offences.

Leungs critics accuse him of talking up the threat of Hong Kong independence to score points with Beijing, for whom sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct, and to deflect attention from his own troubles.

In September, he was embroiled in a scandal over government plans for a rural development project and incoming lawmakers were planning an inquiry into his alleged receipt of millions of dollars in undisclosed payments from an Australian engineering firm.

OPINION: Hong Kong and China  A special relationship

Against the backdrop of Chinese President Xi Jinpings sweeping crackdown on corruption, these scandals were thought to hurt Leungs chances of getting Beijings blessing for a second term. Oathgate pushed these issues off the front pages and made him a frontrunner in the electoral race.

During an informal conversation, a pro-democracy community organiser told me that an official based at Chinas Central Liaison Office in Hong Kong said the chances that Leung would be given the go-ahead to compete for a second term is now 80 percent, as opposed to 50 percent before oathgate.

In the end, it doesnt matter whether the Youngspiration pair is part of an elaborate false flag operation, unwitting pawns in a much bigger power struggle or simply inexperienced politicians who made a strategic mistake  the end result is the same.

Hong Kongs long and difficult struggle to fight for greater democracy and to defend its values just got a lot harder.

Yuen Chan is Senior Lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
The lack of water has sparked protests in Bolivia and forced President Evo Morales to declare a national emergency.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has declared a national emergency over a lack of water caused by a severe and prolonged drought.





Morales said on Monday, that national and local governments are authorised to use state resources to attack the problem.

Much of the high-altitude capital already receives water for just three hours every three days, because reservoirs serving the city are nearly dry.

Morales said Bolivians have to be prepared for the worst.

Weak La Nina conditions in the Pacific have exacerbated the drought, and the wet season isnt expected to start until early December.

On Sunday, authorities declared water rationing in La Paz to be a permanent measure as the drought in Bolivia worsens.

The three main dams that supply water to the city are almost dry.

The main Ajuan Khota dam is at one percent of capacity, while the other two dams are averaging eight percent capacity.

This has led to water cuts in some neighbourhoods for the first time. The Corque municipality has been hit particularly hard, according to a report from the Pan American Health Organisation, and 70 percent of the population lacks drinking water.

Protests

Across La Paz, residents have seen their taps dry up for 60 hours at a time, followed by 12-hour periods to replenish their supplies.

Morales sacked his top state water authorities and apologised for extended water rationing in the capital.

The neighbouring city of El Alto is also concerned about the lack of water. A week of protests by frustrated residents has escalated tensions.

On Thursday, leaders of the Federation of Town Councils, known as Fejuve, held officials and water authorities hostage after the minister of environment and water, Alexandra Moreira, failed to turn up for a meeting to report on a water supply project in the city of El Alto.

Police were eventually called to release the hostages, including Ruben Mendez, Bolivias deputy water minister.

Riots over water have broken out in Bolivia in the past. In 2004, riots resulted in the control of water being handed over from private companies to the state.

In recent decades, Bolivian glaciers have shrunk drastically and affected the lives of millions who depend on glacier melt for water.
May tries aims to soothe fears of business leaders at key speech in London, saying doors will open to old allies.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has told business leaders in the UK that while leaving the European Union creates uncertainty in the market, there will also be opportunities for dynamic trading agreements.

Speaking on Monday at the annual Confederation of British Industry conference in London, May said that the doors would be open to doing business with old allies in other parts of the world.

She also said that her government would invest an extra $2.5bn in science research and development by 2020, and committed to plans of the previous government to introduce a 17 percent rate for corporate tax  the lowest in the G20.

Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery, she said.

We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success.

Al Jazeeras Laurence Lee, reporting from London, said that businesses are worried about the instability caused by the lack of knowledge as to what a Brexit  or Britains departure from the EU  will actually look like.

Theresa May and the government cant and wont tell [the business leaders] because that will give away their negotiating position to the European Union, Lee said.

After having narrowly voted in favour of leaving the EU, the UK will have to negotiate the terms of its exit with the unions other member states.





Business leaders voiced concerns to the prime minister on Monday about the impact of Britains departure from the EU, and the uncertainty surrounding the countrys future trading terms with member states.

Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario  a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions, said Paul Drechsler, CBI president.

If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no mans land.

Others echoed the business chiefs concerns.

Im not too optimistic about Brexit, a representative from German engineering firm Bosch told AFP news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. I dont see things moving in the right direction.

READ MORE: Leaked memo says UK government has no plan for Brexit

May also told businesses how to behave, according to Lee.

She went on to give businesses a bit of a lecture.

She basically said [Brexit is] a bit of a wake-up call because the working people in the country dont like to see the businesses get very rich while theyre getting poorer. She said [public] trust in business was at 35 percent, that businesses had to embrace reform, our correspondent said.

May also said that the government intended on being more interventionist with regards to corporate governance, such as enforcing harsher tax laws.

She said that businesses needed to give back to communities that served them, Lee reported.

Clearly, thats a completely different set of priorities from the businesses which want to get back into the EU to avoid tariffs  she says she is working for the working poor in the country.
Tens of thousands of Bedouin Palestinians live in unrecognised villages across Israels Negev region.

The Israeli government has announced plans to demolish Umm al-Hiran, a Bedouin village in the countrys southern Negev region that is home to Palestinian citizens of Israel.





The Israel Lands Administration (ILA), a governmental body that administers public land, said it will begin razing the village on Tuesday. At least 30 residents will be displaced.

At time of publication, the ILA had not replied to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

The Israeli government plans to build a Jewish village for families linked to illegal settlement movement in the occupied West Bank in the place of Umm al-Hiran, while forcibly transferring Palestinian villagers to planned townships in the Negev desert.

A petition was filed on Monday in a court by Adalah, a Haifa-based advocacy group for the rights of the estimated 1.7 million Palestinians who carry Israeli citizenship and live in cities, towns and villages within the countrys borders.

The case of Umm al-Hiran encapsulates Israels land policy  whether its on the Israeli side of the Green Line or the occupied territories, Amjad Iraqi, Adalahs international advocacy coordinator, told Al Jazeera, referring to the line demarcating present-day Israel from the occupied West Bank.

Many demolitions

This village is one example of dozens of unrecognised villages in the Negev which are slated for destruction, Iraqi added.

It comes at a time when there are many demolitions occurring in both unrecognised and newly recognised Bedouin villages.

READ MORE: They want to uproot me and bring a Jewish citizen

Including Umm al-Hiran, some 40 unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev region are slated for demolition despite being home to tens of thousands of residents.

Most of these communities were put on the land in question by the Israeli military after being displaced from their ancestral villages during the 1948 establishment of Israel.

Because Israel does not recognise the villages, many are denied access to electricity, water, and other municipal services.

Earlier this month, Israeli bulldozers destroyed al-Araqib, a southern Negev village that has been demolished more than 100 times since 2010.

Knesset member Yousef Jabareen, who is a member of the predominantly Arab Joint List electoral coalition, condemned the move to demolish Umm al-Hiran as a dangerous escalation targeting Israels Palestinian citizens.

It proves the government continues its policy to target the Arab community and treat them as enemies at the expense of their basic right to housing, Jabareen told Al Jazeera, noting the move comes at a time when Israeli lawmakers are attempting to legalise Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank.

This is a government that targets its Palestinian citizens, while oppressing the Palestinian people [and] denying both Palestinian groups their basic rights for dignity and freedom.

According to Adalahs online database, Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer from dozens of discriminatory laws that limit their access to state resources  including land  and stifle their political freedoms.

Last week, a ministerial committee in the Israeli government approved a bill banning mosques from using loudspeakers to broadcast the call to prayer. The bill has not yet been passed by the Knesset, Israels parliament.
Syrian government forces and allied fighters advanced further into rebel-held Aleppo on Monday, pressing an offensive in defiance of international concern for the fate of the city and its beleaguered civilians.

At least 36 people were killed in Mondays bombing, rescue worker Ibrahim Abu Leith told Al Jazeera. These are the most violent attacks weve seen in five years.

The recapture of the rebel-held east, which fell from government control in 2012, would be the governments most significant victory since the conflict began more than five years ago.

The international community appeared unlikely to halt the governments advance, despite expressing outrage over rising civilian deaths and the targeting of hospitals and rescue-worker facilities in the east.

Geert Cappelaere, regional director for the UNs childrens agency, said more than 100,000 children were trapped. Children should not be dying in hospitals because of bombs, and they should not be dying in schools.





Rebel forces have steadily lost ground since Moscow, a key backer of President Bashar al-Assad, intervened to bolster his government last year.

Activists and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that government forces, backed by Iranian and Russian troops and fighters from Lebanons Hezbollah, captured the eastern part of the Masakan Hanano neighbourhood.

It is the most important advance inside the eastern neighbourhoods that the regime has made so far, said Syrian Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

If they take control of Masakan Hanano, the regime will have line-of-fire control over several rebel-held neighbourhoods and will be able to cut off the northern parts of rebel-held Aleppo from the rest of the opposition-held districts.

Abdel Rahman said that the advance had both strategic and symbolic significance, because Masakan Hanano was the first neighbourhood to fall to rebels in 2012.

Syrias Al-Watan daily, which is close to the government, described the neighbourhood as the biggest and most important stronghold of the gunmen in Aleppo.

Aleppo recapture matter of time

On Sunday, Damascus rebuffed a United Nations truce plan for Aleppo that would see the east of the city temporarily administered by the opposition, saying it would reward terrorists.

Once Syrias economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

But the the UNs Syria envoy has warned that a new assault could spark a fresh humanitarian catastrophe, prompting an exodus among the 250,000 people who remain in the east, trapped under regime siege.

WATCH: Syria  Witnesses for the Prosecution

Government forces have pounded east Aleppo with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire since last Tuesday, in a barrage that has killed more than 375 people in Aleppo city and its surrounding countryside, according to Abu Leith from the first responder group known as the White Helmets that operates in rebel-held areas.

No aid has entered the east since government forces surrounded it in July, prompting severe food and fuel shortages in opposition-held neighbourhoods as winter weather begins to set in.

A European diplomat told the AFP news agency that the fall of east Aleppo appeared to be a matter of time.

Now, its just a question of how long they can hold on, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.





There is nothing to eat, no more hospitals, and the bombardment is non-stop. They are under very strong pressure.

Backers of the opposition, including Washington, have shown little sign that they will intervene, beyond criticising Damascus and its allies over civilian casualties.

Humanitarian catastrophe

UN humanitarian chief Stephen OBrien, briefing the UN Security Council on Monday about the situation in Aleppo, said conditions in the rebel-held sector of the city had gone from terrible to terrifying and are now barely survivable by human beings.

Let me be clear, we are not just seeing a resumption of violence in Aleppo. This is not business as usual. What has been unleashed on civilians this past week is yet another low in an unrelenting, inhuman onslaught, and it is as heartbreaking as it is not inevitable, said OBrien.

These parties to the conflict are  all of them  choosing to do this. It is civilians who pay the price.

On Sunday, US President Barack Obama said that he was not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria.

Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back Assad in a brutal air campaign  it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time, he said.

Additional reporting by Dylan Collins @Collinsdyl
Ex-prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe both out-polled Sarkozy in the conservative presidential primary.

Frances former president Nicolas Sarkozy has conceded defeat in the race to choose the conservative nominee for next years presidential election.

Ex-prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe both out-polled Sarkozy in early returns, and stand to advance to the November 27 runoff.

In a speech from his campaign headquarters in Paris on Sunday, Sarkozy called on his supporters to vote for Fillon in the second round.





I hold Alain Juppe in high esteem, but I feel closer to Francois Fillons political choices, Sarkozy told supporters. I will therefore vote for him in the second round of the primary.

I have no bitterness, no sadness, and I wish all the best for my country, for you my fellow citizens. And for the one who will lead this country I love so much, he added.

With more than 3.2 million votes counted of an estimated total of five million, Fillon had 44 percent, Juppe 28.1, and Sarkozy 21.1.

Fillon has enjoyed a strong boost in popularity in recent weeks thanks to his image of authority and seriousness compared with Sarkozys more brazen demeanour.

I am very sad for Nicolas Sarkozy and for our political family, Rachida Dati, a former justice minister under Sarkozy, told France 2 television.

With the left very divided and a majority of voters seen in opinion polls to be opposed to seeing the far-right National Front in power, the chosen centre-right nominee is likely to defeat party leader Marine Le Pen in an expected election runoff next May.

But while polls have consistently shown the 71-year-old Juppe would easily beat Le Pen, there have been no recent surveys on how Fillon would fare in such a match.

WATCH: France, secularism and double standards on Islam

Until a week ago, Fillon, 62, a social conservative with economically liberal ideas, trailed Juppe and Sarkozy badly in polls and had not been expected to go through to the second round of the primaries.

Bruno Le Maire, seen as having come fourth in the contest, threw his weight behind Fillon, who was prime minister under Sarkozy, saying he would cast his vote for him next Sunday.

Juppe, a moderate conservative campaigning on an inclusive, happy identity platform, had for months been ahead in polls.

But over the past week the contest has been transformed into a tight race between the three men.

Sarkozy had sought to tap into populist sentiment while Fillon was proposing tough measures to shake up the economy.

Were Fillon to get 50 percent of the votes after all votes are counted this Sunday, he would automatically become the conservatives candidate for the election.
Human Rights Watch says over 1,200 structures have been destroyed in Myanmar based on high-definition satellite images.

High-definition satellite images show 820 newly identified structures destroyed in five Rohingya Muslim villages in the Myanmars troubled Rakhine state this month where the military is carrying out counter-insurgency operations, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In a statement released on Monday, the US-based group urged the government to invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation.



Bangladesh boosts security to keep fleeing Rohingya out

These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted, said Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director.

Myanmar presidents spokesman accused HRW of exaggeration last week after the release of an initial set of satellite imagery that showed 430 destroyed buildings in three villages.

He accused the international media of misreporting the situation in Rakhine, where the government has mounted a massive, ongoing security operation since nine police officers were killed by unidentified assailants who attacked guard posts in Maungdaw village bordering Bangladesh last month.

The government has acknowledged using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops in the operations.

Rohingya Muslims face intense discrimination, repression and violence in Rakhine state. Viewed as illegal migrants, they have frequently been targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine majority.

The state refuses to grant them citizenship even though they have lived in the region for generations.

More than 100,000 Rohingya still live in camps after being driven from their homes following clashes with the Rakhine people in 2012.

Hundreds of arrests

HRW said the new satellite imagery  recorded on November 10, 17 and 18  brings the number of destroyed buildings documented by it to 1,250.

Ko Ko Linn, an activist of Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, said hundreds of arrests have been made, at least 1,000 houses in Maungdaw burned down and more than 100 people have been killed.

These claims, however, are impossible to verify, as are the government allegations because of access restrictions on journalists and aid workers.

On Friday, the UN warned of a worsening rights situation in Rakhine state.

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes amid the security operation.

Humanitarian assistance has been suspended and civilians are reported to be caught up in military action, and there are reports of human rights abuses, including the alleged rape and sexual assault of women and girls.
Obama says Russian and Iranian involvement has made a viable opposition impossible as fighting continues on the ground.

US President Barack Obama is not optimistic about Syrias future and said the chaos could persist for quite some time as the United Nations warned that time was running out to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the city of Aleppo, which has been pounded by air strikes for nearly a week.

Obama, who will be succeeded on January 20 by Donald Trump, said that he told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru that he was deeply concerned about the bloodshed in Syria and that a ceasefire was needed.

He warned that Syrias second city was likely to fall, and that Russian and Iranian backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had made the situation untenable for the opposition.





I am not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria, he said at a summit of Pacific leaders in Lima.

Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back Assad and a brutal air campaign and essentially a pacification of Aleppo regardless of civilian casualties, children being killed or wounded, schools or hospitals being destroyed, it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time, he said.

On the ground in Syria, government forces launched a ferocious assault last Tuesday to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing 115 civilians so far.

In fresh fighting on Sunday, at least eight children were killed when rebel rocket fire hit a school in the government-controlled west Aleppo.

In Damascus, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura was rebuffed on a truce proposal that would allow the opposition to administer the citys rebel-held east.

We are running out of time, we are running against time, de Mistura said after meeting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

OPINION: I live in Aleppo, under siege

The Syrian foreign minister said he had rejected the proposal under which rebel forces would leave and the government would recognise the opposition administration in the east which has been bombarded by air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery.

How is it possible that the UN wants to reward terrorists? Muallem asked.

Aid agencies fear that instead of a humanitarian or a political initiative, there will be an acceleration of military activities in eastern Aleppo and elsewhere, according to de Mistura.

By Christmas, due to military intensification, you will have the virtual collapse of what is left in eastern Aleppo, he said.





You may have 200,000 people moving towards Turkey and that would be a humanitarian catastrophe.

The latest warnings from western leaders come as rebel forces add to the indiscriminate shelling of the Syrian government forces.

Sundays attack on a school that killed eight children came after at least 19 civilians, including five children, were killed in the east, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the indiscriminate shelling, saying that it had killed and maimed civilians, destroyed schools and left the citys east without functioning hospitals.

The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime, his office said in a statement.

Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account.

Fridays shelling destroyed one of the last hospitals in east Aleppo, and staff were also forced to evacuate the areas only childrens hospital because of repeated attacks.

Russia, which intervened militarily last year, says it is not involved in the current assault on Aleppo, and is instead concentrating its firepower on opposition forces in neighbouring Idlib province.
Police fire tear gas as 400 protesters rally to stop pipeline project which activists say goes through tribal lands.

One person has been arrested after hundreds of protesters opposed to a North Dakota oil pipeline project clashed with police who fired tear gas and water cannons, officials said.

An estimated 400 protesters mounted the Backwater Bridge on Sunday and attempted to force their way past police in what the Morton County Sheriffs Department initially described as an ongoing riot, the latest in a series of demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.





The sheriffs office said the protesters attempted to attack police barricades, demonstrating against the project they say threatens water resources and sacred tribal lands.

Demonstrators tried to start about a dozen fires as they attempted to outflank and attack law enforcement barricades, the sheriffs statement said.

Police said they responded by firing volleys of tear gas in a bid to prevent protesters from crossing the bridge.

The sheriffs department said officers on the scene of the latest confrontation were describing protesters actions as very aggressive.

Activists at the scene said on Twitter that police were also spraying protesters with water in sub-freezing temperatures and firing rubber bullets, injuring some in the crowd.

Police did not confirm the use of rubber bullets or water.

IN PICTURES: Dakota Access Pipeline protest

The Backwater Bridge has been closed since late October, when activists clashed with police in riot gear and set two trucks on fire, prompting authorities to forcibly shut down a protesters encampment nearby.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed the Backwater Bridge due to damage from that incident.

Protests against the $3.7bn Dakota Access project has been mounted for months by the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation lies near the pipeline route, and the tribes allies, who fear a leak could contaminate their drinking water.

They also worry that construction could threaten sacred sites.

Supporters of the pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer Partners, said the project offers the fast and most direct route for bringing Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to US Gulf Coast refineries and would be safer than transporting the oil by road or rail.

The company said no sites have been disturbed and that the pipeline will have safeguards against leaks.

READ MORE: Dakota pipeline  Its our right to live unharmed

Completion of the pipeline, which will run 1,172 miles from North Dakota to Illinois, was delayed in September so federal authorities could re-examine permits required by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Plans called for the pipeline to pass under Lake Oahe, a federally owned water source, and to skirt the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation by about half a mile.

On Friday, Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, said the company is unwilling to reroute the pipeline.
Russian exclave to receive new S-400 and nuclear-capable Iskander missile systems in response to NATOs defence system.

Russia plans to install S-400 surface-to-air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad, in retaliation for the NATO deployment of its so-called defence shield in Eastern Europe.

The RIA news agency reported on Monday that Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence committee in the Federation Council, Russias upper house of parliament, said that Moscow was forced to react to the planned US missile shield erected so close to the country.





As response measures to such threats, we will have  to deploy additional forces  This reinforcement includes deployment of S-400 and Iskander systems in Kaliningrad, Ozerov was quoted as saying.

Kaliningrad is located between Poland and Lithuania.

Also on Monday, President Vladimir Putin also raised the issue of how Russia should respond to what it perceives as the threat from US-led forces in Eastern Europe.

Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATOs decision-making? RIA quoted him as saying in an interview for a documentary to broadcast on Russian TV later on Monday.

What should we do? We have, therefore, to take countermeasures, which means to target with our missile systems the facilities, that, in our opinion, start posing a threat to us, Putin said.

WATCH  Will NATOs missile shield spur a new Cold War?

The Kremlin says the shields aim is to neutralise Moscows nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington and NATO deny that.

Pavel Felgenhauer, a defence analyst of Novaya Gazeta newspaper, told Al Jazeera from Moscow that the decision on the deployment of the missiles was made years ago, and announcing it now could be aimed at creating a bit of mischief.

This deployment of ballistic missiles with longer range, and anti-aircraft missiles with a longer range too, was pre-planned years before, but announcing it now is maybe trying to create a bit more tension  inside NATO, he said.

He also said the prospect of a good relationship with the incoming administration in Washington was not as welcome in Moscow as it might be believed.

There is a seriously very powerful party here in Moscow that doesnt want agreement with [US President-elect Donald] Trump. They want some level of continued confrontation with the United States, to preserve the procurement and defence budget that is, at present, on high levels.

NATOs nuclear relapse

Russia has previously said it periodically sends Iskanders to Kaliningrad, but until now, it has said these were routine drills. Moscow has not linked the moves explicitly with what it calls a NATO military build-up on its western borders.

The US launched a new ground-based missile defence system in Romania in May and an additional anti-missile platform is being built in Poland.

Russia says the missile system breaches a 1987 deal with the US and threatens peace in Europe.
The 48-hour ceasefire failed to stop heavy fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebel group.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen will not renew a two-day ceasefire in the ongoing war, a spokesperson has told the al-Arabiya TV network.





The 48-hour ceasefire, which led to a pause in nearly two years of fighting, was unilaterally announced by the Saudi coalition on Friday, but it failed to halt the fighting between the coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthi fighters in the war-ravaged country.

Each side has blamed the other for violating the ceasefire.

Gulf Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia launched the military offensive to back President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government in March 2015, as the Houthis and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh advanced towards Hadis headquarters in Aden.

The 20-month conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than three million.

Residents in the capital Sanaa said that Saudi-led coalition jets had bombed army bases on a mountain overlooking the city earlier on Monday, and the force of the explosions had shaken buildings in several city neighbourhoods.

READ MORE: Yemen  The war and the ongoing media divide

Sanaa is controlled by the Houthis, who still hold vast swaths of Yemen. Despite Saudi-led forces gaining territory from the northern Yemeni rebels, they have not succeeded in restoring Hadi to power.

Ceasefire violations

Major General Ahmed Asseri, the coalition spokesman, told Al Jazeera on Sunday from Riyadh that air raids had been launched in response to violations by the Houthi rebels who control most of Yemen.

We told them that if they move their troops on the ground, if they try to gain position, there will be a response. This is what we are doing, Asseri said.

There are people on the ground we have to protect. We have the Yemeni national army, we have the population in the area.

He said the Houthi rebels keep firing on civilian positions in the city of Taiz.

Asseri accused the Houthis of 180 violations in the first 10 hours of the ceasefire.

READ MORE: Is peace possible in Yemen?

Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for Yemens exiled government, declined to comment on the proposed deployment of observers but said Houthi violations had made extending the truce meaningless.

A spokesman for Yemens pro-Houthi military said in a statement that coalition and pro-Hadi forces had violated the truce 114 times and that its forces had reserved the right to respond to violations and abuses of aggression.

Visiting neighbouring Oman last Tuesday, the US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that both sides had agreed to a deal whereby the Houthis would quit Yemens major cities and the factions would form a national unity government.

But Hadis government rejected the announcement that the warring parties had agreed to an open-ended truce and to work towards forming a joint government.

It said it was not consulted about the accord and objected to demands that the Houthis withdraw from cities they had captured since 2014.

The Houthis have also said the ceasefire was designed to undermine the agreement reached in Oman.
The head of Egyptian Journalists Syndicate and two board members have been sentenced to two years in prison.

Egypt has faced numerous challenges since the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi.

Many have criticised the government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for its continued crackdown on dissent and the media.

And now a court has sentenced Yahia Kallash, the head of Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, and two other board members to two years in prison.

They were found guilty of harbouring what the government calls fugitives and of spreading false news.

Critics of President Sisi have called that decision unconstitutional and lacking in transparency. But the authorities insist that the journalists broke the law and should be punished.

They have been released on bail pending an appeal.

What will this mean for Egyptian journalists and press freedom?

Presenter: Martine Dennis

Guests:

Barbara Trionfi  Executive Director of the International Press Institute

Ahmed Badawi  Cofounder of Transform eV, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conflict Analysis, Political Development and World Society Research

Mohamed Ghoneim  Secretary General of the El Taharok El Igaby Foundation
A UF professor won the National Book Award for nonfiction this year for a book about racial tensions in the U.S.

Ibram Kendi, a UF professor of African-American history, said he was shocked when they called his name during the National Book Award Foundation ceremony Wednesday in New York City.

Its not something I ever dreamed of, Kendi said. It seemed unattainable to win this award.

Kendis book, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racial Ideas in America, discusses the development of racism in the U.S. He began writing the book in 2012 after the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American who was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida.

UF President Kent Fuchs, who tweeted about Kendis award, said he is proud of the UF faculty member.

This is the kind of thing we all celebrate, Fuchs said. Hes giving talks about the book around the country and mentioning hes from the University of Florida. This brings prestige for all of us.

Fuchs said Kendi will speak at the commencement ceremony for the doctoral students this Fall.

Kendi said he plans to work to promote a discussion about race in the U.S. through his writing and teaching.

Certainly, this is not my last book, but Im still sort of deciding what I will do next, he said.

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A Newberry, Florida, woman was arrested Friday after threatening to run over her friend, who was concerned about her following the presidential election, the Alachua County Sheriffs Office said.

At about 10:30 p.m., 64-year-old Kerren Kristine Kloever received a visit from the woman, who called and left a voice message saying she would come over, according to a police report.

The woman pulled into Kloevers driveway, located in the 2800 block of NW 182nd St., but the front gate was closed, according to the report. Kloever then sped down the driveway, telling the woman she needed to leave or else she would run her over.

When the woman refused, Kloever then opened the gate, returned to her car and drove into the woman, pinning her between both cars, according to the report. She then kept going forward, putting pressure on the womans knees.

Kloever then backed up to her house and left the woman lying on the ground yelling for help, according to the report. The incident left red marks on both of the womans knees.

Police arrested Kloever on a charge of aggravated battery. Authorities took her to the Alachua County Jail where she was released on Saturday on a $40,000 bond. As of press time, Kloever could not be reached for comment.
Two days after the general election, a man from High Springs, Florida, punched a Hispanic gas station employee in the back of the head, claiming the attack was for Donald Trump, Gainesville Police said.

After reviewing surveillance-camera footage from the Gate Food Post gas station, located at 3001 NW 13th St., GPD arrested Caleb Joseph Illig, 23, on Sunday on a charge of simple battery.

At about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 10  a day after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election  Illig sat inside a car at the gas station, according to the report. He noticed the Hispanic employee, a Gainesville resident, cleaning the parking lot and approached him.

The man had his back turned to Illig, according to the report. Illig then punched him in the back of the head and yelled, Lets Trump down.

The employee turned around and asked Illig why he hit him. This is for Donald Trump, he replied, according to the report.

Illig proceeded to repeatedly punch the man, who did not hit back and attempted to evade the attack, according to the report. Another employee who saw the altercation then called the police.

After this, Illig and another person returned to the car and drove away. Illig told police he could not remember the incident, because he was on medication for bipolar disorder and drank alcohol that night, according to the report.

He was taken to the Alachua County Jail, where he was released Monday on his own recognizance. Illig declined to comment.
A new music venue focused on live recordings is set to open this spring.

At Heartwood Soundstage, which is to be built near Depot Park at 619 S. Main St., all performances will be filmed, recorded, live-streamed and later produced as videos, co-owner Dave Melosh said.

Melosh, the owner of the Gainesville recording studio Medusa Productions, said the venue will be the first of its kind in North Florida, and it will help showcase artists visiting the city.

Our goal is to present the bands that play the stage in the light, as if they were a national act, he said, and treat them that way, and film them and produce them in such a way that showcases their talent.

The venue, which will have a 150-person capacity, was inspired by now-defunct local venues like The Jam and Common Grounds, which were artist-focused and aimed to provide a holistic musical experience, Melosh said.

Nothing will fill the hole left by The Jam  it was such a huge part of this community  but we certainly want to channel the love and sense of community they brought, Melosh said.

Blake Briand, the former owner of The Jam, said while Heartwood wont replace his former business, he expects patrons of The Jam will naturally migrate to Heartwood.

I think it might function a lot differently but feel similar, he said.
Just because the election is over doesnt mean we should just sit back and allow the next four years to pass us by. Republicans won not only the presidency, but the House and Senate as well, meaning they could wield a massive influence  including the appointment of Supreme Court justices and presidential appointments. Despite the number of Republicans who seemed to oppose Donald Trump, like Paul Ryan, it looks like opposition to Trump from within the Republican Party has just melted away.

For a party that criticized President Barack Obama all eight years of his presidency for being a Muslim from Kenya, their current criticisms for the protesters ring hollow. Republicans were quick to express dissatisfaction with Obama both times he was elected, and yet, they think Democrats have rushed to judge the new president-elect. A president cannot take away our right to express our dissatisfaction with his policies. At the same time, the reasons Trump won must be analyzed. Those who oppose Trump must look within to see how we can better organize mobilization in future elections  its clear the lesser of two evils was not enough to make Democrats win.

We shouldnt have to compromise with a president who threatens the very existence of Muslims and immigrants while he threatens the rights of many more. The stakes are simply too high. It wasnt good enough to rely on Trump to dig himself into a deeper hole. In order to dismantle his opinions, you have to confront each head-on. Many will argue its time to stand with Trump now that he has been elected. Give him a chance, they say, he hasnt really had a chance to govern.

Even if that were true a week ago, its not true anymore. He has had the chance to appoint people to his administration, and in the process he has revealed the direction his administration is going. It no longer makes sense for him to distance himself from those who have endorsed him if he is going to pick these people to serve in his administration.

Trump supporters react quite strongly if someone attacks their beloved president-elect about racism, homophobia or discrimination in general. They find someone else to blame it on. Trump isnt homophobic, its Pence, theyll say. But why would Trump nominate these people knowing that they are discriminatory? Since Trump is picking advisers who exclude huge swaths of the American population, this further reinforces the Not My President rhetoric. No matter who elected him, Trump has to recognize hes now the president of all Americans, and he must protect all of them. If he doesnt, we must hold him accountable.

Trump is known for prioritizing loyalty above all else, so its not surprising that Jeff Sessions, one of his first and most ardent supporters, was picked for attorney general. However, this appointment is unacceptable. His racism and homophobia will mean that hate crimes will not be a priority. Another appointee was Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of the alt-right, white nationalist website Breitbart. These are hardly benign people who have yet to show what policy they want  their policy positions are clear.

Advisers are supposed to be specialists in policy that make you better. In contrast, the Trump appointees only serve to echo his racism and further his misinformation. While the results of the 2012 GOP autopsy were not taken to heart, I hope they will not use this election to solidify their racism. Change still needs to happen. Despite the fact that a racist, misogynist and homophobic team was voted into the White House, people need to continue to organize for change in the midterms and 2020 elections.

Nicole Dan is a political science and journalism junior. Her column appears on Mondays.










English News Forge Ahead into the Future for Progress and Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 21 Novembre 2016



APEC is a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, playing an important role in the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Faced with new circumstances and challenges, we need to take vigorous measures, leverage the role of the Asia-Pacific as a growth engine and work for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.

Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the Peoples Republic of China

At Session I of the 24th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting



Lima, 20 November 2016





Your Excellency President Kuczynski,

Colleagues,



It gives me great pleasure to join you here in the beautiful city of Lima for a discussion on the important subject of Asia-Pacific cooperation. I wish to start by expressing my sincere appreciation to President Kuczynski and the government of Peru for their preparation for this meeting. We expect this meeting to contribute to enhanced Asia-Pacific cooperation.



Currently, the world economy still finds itself in profound adjustment, with weak recovery and more divergent growth. Economic globalization has encountered setbacks, as evidenced by sluggish international trade and investment and rising protectionism. At the G20 Hangzhou Summit last September, the blueprint for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive world economic growth was drawn. It embodies the spirit of partnership to jointly rise to challenges as well as the commitment to common development. As an important arena of the world economy, the Asia-Pacific is home to infinite hopes and also shoulders major responsibilities. APEC is a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, playing an important role in the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Faced with new circumstances and challenges, we need to take vigorous measures, leverage the role of the Asia-Pacific as a growth engine and work for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.



First, we need to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward. Now that economic globalization has entered a phase of adjustment, some people have become skeptical and others more hesitant. However, one ought to recognize that economic globalization represents the general trend of our times, as it meets the need for progress in productivity and serves the interests of all. Instead of coming to a stop because of the temporary difficulties, we need to continue our involvement in economic globalization. What is important is to combine it with our respective development practices, strive to ensure equity and justice, and steer it towards a more inclusive and mutually beneficial direction. We need to make it clear to the world with action that the commitment of the Asia-Pacific to economic globalization is unchanged and its confidence undiminished.



History has proven that protectionism will get nowhere. Eight years ago, at the critical juncture of our response to the international financial crisis, APEC leaders expressed in Lima their unanimous opposition to protectionism. Two years ago, we in Beijing solemnly reaffirmed our standstill commitment on protectionist measures. At this crucial stage of Asia-Pacific development, we need to work together for win-win outcomes, oppose all forms of protectionism and inject positive energy into economic globalization.



Second, we need to stay committed to increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy. Openness is the driving force for growth in the Asia-Pacific. We need to support the multilateral trading regime, prioritize trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and reinvigorate trade and investment. We need to effectively address the fragmentation of regional trade agreements, advocate openness and inclusiveness, and avoid close-door policy and exclusiveness.



Two years ago in Beijing, we launched the process to build a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). With the concerted efforts of various parties, the collective strategic study has been smoothly completed this year, marking a new phase in FTAAP development. To build the FTAAP will never be an easy task. It requires long-term efforts. We need to stick to our agenda and take more effective actions to realize the FTAAP at an early date, thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific economy with greater openness.



Third, we need to stay committed to breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity. According to traditional Chinese medicine, pain is relieved with improved blood circulation. Connectivity will ensure smooth flow of blood in the Asia-Pacific economy. We need to take more collective and individual actions to implement the Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025 adopted in Beijing and promote connectivity in infrastructure, institutions and personnel flows. We need to have a multi-dimensional connectivity network and build a well-connected Asia-Pacific community.



China is making progress with the Belt and Road initiative. Featuring extensive consultation, joint participation and shared benefits among partners in the region, this initiative will contribute to enhanced connectivity in the Asia-Pacific. China will seek synergy in development strategies and cooperation initiatives with relevant parties so as to realize common development.



Fourth, we need to stay committed to blazing new trails in reform and innovation. Reform and innovation is vital for sustained prosperity. We need to prioritize reform and innovation, advance economic structural reform, and create impetus for the Asia-Pacific to lead the world economy. Targeted and effective measures are required to address crucial issues. We need to implement the Services Competitiveness Roadmap and deepen cooperation in the service sector to make up for this long-standing inadequacy. We need to seize opportunities in the new round of technological and industrial revolution and develop new growth areas in the internet and digital economy, blue economy and green economy.



Thanks to the strong support of member economies, the first APEC High-Level Urbanization Forum was successfully held in Ningbo, China, last June and adopted the Ningbo Initiative, charting the course for a new type of urbanization in the Asia-Pacific.



Colleagues,



Over the past 25 years since it joined the APEC, China has given priority to opening up to the Asia-Pacific. As the 2020 deadline of Bogor Goals draws near, we need to be more forward-looking in our cooperation and build consensus for a cooperation vision with a longer time frame. With a focus on development, China will work with other parties to increase openness, pursue regional economic integration and connectivity, advance reform and innovation, and jointly write an exciting chapter of Asia-Pacific cooperation.



Let us deepen Asia-Pacific partnership, pursue win-win cooperation and prosperity through openness and connectivity, and keep forging ahead to create an even brighter future for our region.



Thank you.



(Source: Peoples Daily)





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Politicians from both sides of aisle state that they want to break up the large American banks. But they have failed to consider a worrisome consequence if banks  through the process of downsizing  put their subsidiaries up for bid or exit certain business lines.

If large banks divest assets or business units, no one has asked whether that opens the door for large foreign conglomerates  including Chinese banks  to acquire larger pieces of America's banking system. In China, the largest banks are state-owned. Would our country reject such as acquisition for national security and economic issues? I hope so.

Right now, this is only a "what if" question, because our largest banks are American-owned. But if we were faced with such a reality, the extent to which we would allow Chinese interests into our banking landscape would have huge ramifications.

It is easy for political reasons to bash our systemic-risk banks that have a global presence. But it is important to remember that in our country we need all banks  large, regional and community banks  to have a strong economy. If you review the 2016 list of the top 50 banks in the world, there are only four FDIC-chartered American banks on it. There are 12 banks from China, including four of the top five.

Chinese companies are already looking to gain further entry into our financial services system and other sectors as well. Recently, a Chinese conglomerate offered to purchase Genworth Financial for $2.7 billion. Will that purchase be approved? In 2005, UNOOC, a Chinese oil company 70% owned by the Chinese government, dropped its $18.5 billion bid to purchase an American-based oil company, Unocal. The Chinese were concerned that the transaction would not be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review transactions that could result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States.

The issue of allowing Chinese interests to purchase companies is common for many countries, including Germany, which two weeks ago denied a bid by a Chinese tech company to purchase Aixtron, a German chip maker.

We need regulation; no one, including myself, is calling for a regulation-free system. But politicians calling for a big-bank breakup, such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, need to understand why large American-owned global banks are a crucial ingredient in our financial system. Right now, our regulatory system has reached a tipping point where the burden is hurting banks of all sizes: community, regional and the largest banks. We need community and regional banks to continue funding small-business startups and medium-sized companies. But our larger banks are instrumental, too. They fund the business needs of large companies that employ tens of millions of Americans. If we break up our large banks, or drive them to be sold, what if a behemoth Chinese bank bids to buy one?

Do we want large global American companies that employ tens of millions of Americans to rely on a Chinese megabank for credit? Would that scenario be in the best national security interests of the U.S.? The answer is no. There is an unknown entanglement of many Chinese companies with the Chinese government. Where one entity ends and the other begins is tough to figure out. I offer that our country should be concerned for American interests if we ever faced this "what if" question.

Alejandro M. Sanchez is president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association.
One of the founding members of R3 CEV, the high-profile bank consortium developing commercial applications of distributed ledger technology for the financial industry, is leaving the alliance.

Goldman Sachs decided not to renew its membership, which was up on Oct. 31, but will continue its research and experimentation with blockchain technology, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The investment bank did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

A spokesman for R3 said the news was unsurprising.

"As with any project of this scale and scope, we always expected the make-up of the consortium to change over time," he said in an emailed statement Monday morning. "Developing technology like this requires dedication and significant resources, and our diverse pool of members all have different capacities and capabilities which naturally change over time."

R3 launched in September 2015 with eight other bank backers to develop a settlement platform for the billions of dollars in transactions processed by the financial industry each year. It has since grown to more than 60 members; ABN Amro, Fifth Third Bank, Suncorp Group and Synchrony Financial are among the most recent additions.

The bank consortium has mostly acted as a sort of standards-setting body as its fellow blockchain vendors have begun developing technology for financial services more publicly. Earlier this year it filed a patent application for Corda, a distributed ledger platform designed to manage financial agreements between regulated financial institutions. It expects to launch a full-scale version of the platform by mid-2017, with firms testing it in early 2017. It is also now testing blockchain and smart contract technologies for ways to improve the syndicated loan market.

Goldman Sachs had been eyeing the space long before it joined R3. In October 2014 it submitted its own patent filing for SETLcoin, the would-be architecture behind a new securities settlement system that would reduce delays in the transfer of assets. A few months later, it co-led a $50 million investment in Circle Internet Financial, a bitcoin services company and wallet provider.
Federal bureaucrats have been in a frenzy of activity in Obama's last months of office, pushing through 4,000 new regulations that will cost consumers more than $100 million. As liberal website Politico proudly reported, "Obama's executive agencies are intent on pushing through the president's priorities without congressional interference[.]"

Trump has promised to rein in our overreaching bureaucracy through attrition. His rival in the primaries, Jeb Bush, suggested three bureaucrats retire for each new hire. That might save some money, but it will not get the job done of ending corruption and bureaucratic tyranny.

We have elected a man famous for two words: "You're fired!" For Trump to legalize that simple act, as necessary in the government as in business, will be nothing less than a revolution.

We have a VA that purposely lets vets die without medical care.

We have an EPA at war with the energy industry.

The Department of Education threatens public schools with loss of federal funds and mandates progressive lies about American history, teaching generations of schoolchildren to be ashamed of America and ignorant of our Constitution and our forefathers. Universities are forced by the DOJ to hire feminist and racialist thought police under an Obama bureaucrat's interpretation of the Civil Rights Act.

We have an IRS that has a political enemies list its employees punish at the behest of Democrats.

Homeland Security and FBI are under a gag order that forbids them to use the term jihad or Islamic extremism.

Everywhere we look, regulations are strangling business, intruding into the personal lives and property rights of ordinary citizens. The cost to families is crushing. One among the hundreds of Obama's new global warming regs: fuel-efficient furnaces will raise the price of furnaces almost $500.

And most famously, we have Obamacare's 11,588,500 words of regulations destroying our once superb medical system and burying consumers under 30% and even 60% premium hikes for lousy insurance coverage.

[Right: The 20,000 pages of Obamacare regs, written without congressional review, have resulted in insurance rate hikes up to 58%.]

It is not an exaggeration to see the all-powerful, unelected bureaucracy as the worst enemy of American values, prosperity, and freedom.

To see a visual representation of the growth of regulations impinging on our lives, watch this amusing YouTube video by Patrick McLaughlin of the Mercatus Center. The volumes of federal regulations have grown since Eisenhower from 13 volumes to a wall of 235, with 16 entire new federal agencies that we survived better without.

Congress has done nothing about this because Congress is part of the problem. The members of Congress prefer to pass omnibus spending bills to avoid accountability and keep growing the size of government.

The good news is that Trump is committed to cleaning up the VA, and he can't do that without figuring out how to fire the VA monsters who purposely let vets die in order to collect their bonuses. Once he takes on the VA, he will have the key to clean up the whole government.

Betsy McCaughey writes at the N.Y. Post that Trump's must capture the right to fire people:

How hard is it to fire anyone at Veterans Affairs? One surgeon found guilty of abandoning a patient on the operating table and leaving the medical center still got an $11,000 bonus. ... The same changes needed to turn around the VA have to be made across all federal departments. Right now, workers found guilty of serious misdeeds like tax evasion, watching porn on the job or fraudulent collection of unemployment benefits typically keep their jobs and get bonuses. Firing requires so many months of documentation, hearings and appeals that bosses decide it's not worth the trouble. No-show jobs are rampant, costing $1 billion a year. Supervisors ignore the waste and just hire someone else to get the work done.

Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders led the fight against VA reform in the Senate, which raises the question: why couldn't McConnell override the Democrats beholden to government unions? We need a power show by McConnell backing up Trump to put reform across.

A bipartisan VA reform bill with real teeth has already passed the House[.] ... It will shorten the process for firing and demoting senior VA personnel, even eliminating appeals to the misnamed Merit Systems Protection Board, which protects criminals and dead wood, not merit.

Thomas Lifson, editor of AT, writing the day after Trump's victory, reminds us that letting people go through attrition does not rule out firing people for cause.

The worst roadblock to reform are the federal unions  which were created in 1962 by JFK by executive order. What was done by a pen can be reversed by a pen.

John McGinnis, constitutional law professor at Northeastern, has three good suggestions on how Congress and the courts can take back the power of regulatory discretion:

Trump will need to hire committed deregulators at each federal agency. ... As president, Trump should sign a bill like the REINS Act, which requires Congress to enact important new regulations recommended by agencies before they can become law. ... Finally, the new coalition can pass legislation to get rid of so-called Auer deference. That absurd doctrine forces judges to defer to agencies' interpretation of their own regulations, reducing the incentive to construct clear regulations in the first place.

The idea that civil service has been protected from political influence is a farce, exposed by Michael Bargo, Jr. on AT:

These four unions, active throughout the U.S., have a total of 8.1 million active members and since 1989 have given $533 million to political candidates, 98% of which went to Democrats. And this number does not include the other municipal public sector unions, etc. which amount to about 12 million members, giving a total number of public union members of 20.2 million. This is the size of the bureaucratic opposition Trump has in the states and Federal government.

Bargo argues that it is not constitutional to have a private organization, a union, control the federal government. He also questions the right of agencies to levy punitive fines without court review.

During the campaign, Trump proposed that agencies be required to sunset two rules for every new regulation they promulgate. I thought it sounded sensible and practical, but Steven Hayward at Powerlineblog.com was not impressed, saying bureaucrats will game it, the way they gamed Reagan's cost-benefit requirement. Philip Howard at The Atlantic likes Trump's proposal:

The advantage of this proposal is that it introduces into the bureaucratic culture the necessity of budgeting regulation. Britain has a similar law, which has thus far proven effective at cutting costs and slowing the pace of new regulation.

The problem of uncooperative agencies sabotaging reform applies much more to Speaker Ryan's wonky idea that the bureaucrats should be given a total "budget" of the number of regs they may create based on their "cost"  leaving the bureaucrats to measure and oversee their own excesses.

It is far more pragmatic for de-regulation to be instituted by Congress: when they make a new law, repeal the old law and all its associated regs. New Zealand has done just that:

New Zealand, facing the same problem of obsolete and contradictory law, set out to clean up its statutes. The process we used was to systematically re-write the corresponding statutes of each sector of the economy we reformed - such as the tax code and health care - so that the laws were clear and unambiguous[.] ... These re-written statutes were then passed by Parliament and all the related old ones were repealed. ... New Zealand's environmental laws, for instance, went from being 25 inches thick to just 348 pages. The action of repealing all the old laws also automatically repealed all the regulations built on those laws so the regulatory code was cleaned up at the same time.

The Mercatus Center also offers a practical approach: Congress could appoint panels for each agency to identify regulations to abolish and vote the entire package up or down.

A commonly cited idea is to sunset all federal regulations after a given number of years. That too has been tried and gamed:

Sunset laws are easy to circumvent  the legislature simply passes an omnibus re-authorization. Indeed, sunset laws provide an opportunity for politicians to "go back to the well," getting campaign support from the affected special interests in order to reinstate the provision.

This brings us to Senator Cruz's approach, which cannot be gamed: bring the bureaucracy down to size by eliminating whole departments. Cruz pledged to eliminate the IRS (by merging its necessary functions into Treasury), Energy, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Education.

A Cruz Administration will appoint heads of each of those agencies whose sole charge will be to wind them down and determine whether any programs need to be preserved.

Ending departments can be done. This July, the new government in Britain abolished the Department of Energy and Climate Change. They transferred remaining environmental policy to the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. In short, the global warming advocates were kicked out of government or moved under business and energy administrators.

Trump's senior economic adviser, Stephen Moore, is all in on eliminating the Departments of Commerce, Energy, and Education, which employ 150,000 bureaucrats.

Trump has not signed on to all that, but he pledged during the primary that he would eliminate most of the Department of Education and the EPA.

Regulatory reform is notoriously difficult, but mostly because a lobbyist-controlled Congress is as invested in our grotesque regulatory growth as the bureaucrats themselves. We have never before elected a non-politician beholden to no one but his voters, who is an expert at firing people, and is a natural-born fighter.

This is going to be a historic showdown.
As flummoxed Democrat pundits and pollsters struggle to find an excuse for their being so humiliatingly wrong about the outcome of Election 16, party bosses and their media mouthpieces instinctively revert to their default position whenever the people speak out against them. Again, they propose the victorious Republicans, this time in the form of the reviled Donald Trump, are obliged to sooth their fears and reach across to aisle in pursuit of common ground. Translation: enact their agenda despite the will of the governed.

The Democrats are showing their good will by hiring cadres of professional protestors ($15 an hour, overtime and all you can shoplift) to beat suspected Trump supporters to a pulp, assault police officers, and rampage through the streets of major cities that actually supported Miss Hillary.

Alt-Left bagman George Soros already has met with other members of the liberal mega-donor class and the remnants of the tattered Democratic Party leadership at the oh so exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hotel in D.C. to plot their strategy for sabotaging the Trump administration from its outset.

Donald Trump is wise enough to know what awaits him from the Democrats, but he would be prudent to peer over his shoulder with some regularity to check on what his friends are up to. After all, Trump is president-elect precisely because the voters of 30 states emphatically repudiated the entrenched leadership of the GOP every bit as much as they rejected the manifold failures of the Obama administration and Hillary Clintons lifelong crime spree.

Various political think tanks, left and right, routinely track the performance of Congress based on its members votes on what these organizations deem as being the most consequential bills. Each organization has its own rating protocol, but each consistency demonstrates that Democrats are far more likely to adhere to their leftist orthodoxy while many Republicans are quick to abandon promises made to conservative constituents during the campaign season.

For example, the conservative Heritage Foundation identified about 100 bills of most significance brought to a vote by the 114th Congress. The organization found that House Democrats voted the liberal position 84 percent of the time while the average Republicans voted in support of conservatism at a rate of only 66 percent. In the Senate, matters were even worse. Democrats were liberal on 92 percent of their votes, Republican Senators average a conservative score of 57 percent.

Put another way, there are 17 Republican senators who can be expected to vote with the Democrats more often than in support of their own party. Another 14 have conservative ratings below 60 percent. Just three Republicans senators have conservative scores above 90 percent, while 35 Democrat senators vote the liberal position more than nine of ten times. Still, the mainstream press continues to insist it is the GOP that is ideologically entrenched and obstructive.

The pragmatists who dominate the Republican leadership might insist that those from Democrat-leaning states must go along with the accepted social order in their respective states in order to get re-elected. But isnt it fair to wonder what good Republican Senators Mark Kirk (Illinois) and Susan Collins (Maine) are doing for their party when they consistently vote to the left of Bernie Sanders? Both aggressively assailed Trump throughout the long campaign. And did the magnanimous approach to governance keep Kelly Ayotte from being kicked to the curb by her New Hampshire neighbors this year?

Even if we accept the sage advice of those in the know, how do they explain the case of long-time Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander? The Heritage Foundation demonstrates that Alexander has clearly aligned himself with the Democratic agenda with the fourth most liberal voting record among Republicans senators, while his home state has moved profoundly to the right over the last decade. Trump won 92 of Tennessees 95 counties, but Alexander continues to falsely present himself as a reliable conservative each election cycle with cover provided by the state party bosses.

This pattern repeats itself throughout the Republican-controlled Senate. Ohios Rob Portman (29% conservative voting record according to Heritage), South Carolinas Lindsey Graham (31%), Mississippis Thad Cochran (31%), West Virginias Shelley Capito (33%), Utahs Orrin Hatch (34%), Alaskas Lisa Murkowski (35%), Kentuckys Mitch McConnell (41%), North Dakotas John Hoeven (41%), North Carolinas Richard Burr (41%), South Dakotas Mike Rounds (45%), Wisconsins Ron Johnson (46%), North Carolinas Thom Tillis (48%), Texas John Cornyn (48%), Missouris Roy Blunt (49%), South Dakotas John Thune (51%), Arizonas John McCain (51%), Tennessees Bob Corker (51%), Louisianas Bill Cassidy (51%) and others have compiled tepid voting records while their home states stood resolutely behind president-elect Trump. Most refused to campaign alongside the Republican Party nominee or actively worked for his defeat. Going forward, how reliable will they be in helping advance the sweeping changes their voters demand?

Remember that the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress during the presidency of George W. Bush and yet nothing was done to control the size, scope, or cost of the federal government. Will the 115th Congress finally do the things it has promised?

If not, a disgusted electorate may have more surprises in store in two years.
Recently, Love Trumps Hate bullies, afflicted with a perverted sense of self-righteousness participated in a weighted battle by luring in, and then ambushing, Mike Pence. It happened when the unsuspecting Vice President-elect decided to take in a leisurely performance of the highly acclaimed musical production of Hamilton.

In addition to incorporating rap, hip-hop, R&B, and pop into the Tony-award winning score, by pretending our founding fathers werent white, Hamilton embraces a revisionist version of ethnic and racial history.

In fact, choosing to cast white historical figures with non-white actors may be the reason our racially divisive president is such a huge fan of the play.

In any case, lead producer Jeffrey Seller, had this to say about Hamiltons choice to waylay a Helpless Mr. Pence:

We had to ask ourselves, how do we cope with this? Our cast could barely go on stage the day after the election. The election was painful and crushing to all of us here. We all struggled with what was the appropriate and respectful and proper response. We are honored that Mr. Pence attended the show, and we had to use this opportunity to express our feelings.

This sort of juvenile sniveling comes from a company of performers that pride themselves on chronicling the grit, bravery, and struggles exhibited by the heroes of our early republic. Therefore, maybe someone needs to inform the cast of Hamilton that a Broadway musicals purpose is not to make a cowardly partisan proclamation that Alexander Hamilton would probably react to with complete disdain  its to entertain.

And so, rather than extol the greatness of American democracy, in response to the vice president-elect being in the audience, the creator, director, lead producer, and Hamilton cast members collaborated on a message that sought to reaffirm the merits of the racially biased artistic truth the play personifies.

Initially, while Pence made his way to his seat, he was subjected to both jeers and cheers. Afterward, rather than remain seated, the governor of Indiana stood in the hallway and listened to the curtain call. It was there that Pence suffered through a discourse delivered by Brandon Victor Dixon, a black actor who plays Aaron Burr.

Dixon admonished Pence saying:

We, sir  we  are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.

Dixon continued, We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.

<iframe width="600" height="340" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFj23ncIzk4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

After that provocative display of scripted codswallop, the audience responded to the inappropriate singling out of Pence with mixed reviews.

Either way, the cast of the billion-dollar show clearly believes that Trump and Pence require stage actors to instruct them on American diversity, goad them to work on behalf of all of us, and remind them to uphold our inalienable rights.

What was also apparent is that the left is alarmed and anxious because Hillary losing the election portends that the advancement of distorted liberal values is coming to an end.

Judging from Dixons soliloquy, it seems as if this imperious band of intolerant hatemongers is concerned that the earth that Obama promised to, but didnt, heal is now destined for destruction.

Moreover, adding to that growing anxiety is the realization that the children Clinton vowed to abort, the parents whose lives Obamacare put in danger, and the Constitution that the left attempted to shred, may all escape an untimely end.

In the meantime, none of this is a surprise.

Ambushing political adversaries is a technique Barack Obama perfected throughout his presidency. This is a man who mastered the art of inviting spectators to a function and then using the bully pulpit to launch verbal attacks.

What Mike Pence suffered through at Hamilton is reminiscent of the 2010 SOTU where Obama publicly attempted to humiliate conservative members of the SCOTUS.

Akin to what actor Brandon Victor Dixon did to Pence, upset about the high courts Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, Obama unleashed a verbal barrage directed at judges sitting front and center.

Following the incident, in a New York Times article, entitled: Supreme Court Gets a Rare Rebuke, in Front of a Nation, author Adam Liptak wrote:

It is not unusual for presidents to disagree publicly with Supreme Court decisions. But they tend to do so at news conferences and in written statements, not to the justices faces.

Unlike Mike Pence, who smiled and did not respond to the Hamilton criticism, when Samuel A. Alito Jr., who was part of the majority decision, heard what Obama was saying, he shook his head and mouthed the words Not true.

Former New Jersey Supreme Court justice Peter G. Verniero had this to say about the SCOTUS ambush:

The courts legitimacy is derived from the persuasiveness of its opinions and the expectation that those opinions are rendered free of partisan, political influences. The more that individual justices are drawn into public debates, the more the court, as an institution will be seen in political terms, which was not the intent of the founders.

After Obamas rant, the lefts response in the House Chamber was similar to the reaction in the Richard Rodgers Theater  liberals in the audience jumped to their feet and gave the political provocateur a standing ovation.

Sadly, for America, just as it is unfitting for a sitting president to publicly rebuke the Supreme Court, a Broadway show about an Americas founder is an equally inappropriate venue to sabotage a future vice president.

But thats what liberals do.

To guard against retaliation, the left ambushes rivals and subjects them to public ridicule. Then, after openly taunting the defenseless, the offenders rely on the applause of deluded partisans in their midst to lend credibility to deceitfulness, and to justify the ensnaring of political prey.

And so, by masquerading as musical theater, the prejudiced cast of Hamilton attempted to make vice president-elect Mike Pence the target of a one-sided duel.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com
Among the many somewhat surprising visitors to Trump Tower was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a former Trump presidential rival with whom unpleasant commentaries were exchanged. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows and if we have seen anything since November 8 it is that president-elect Trump has proven more magnanimous and less vindictive than both his political opponents and media critics have painted him.

The broad swath of GOP control at all levels of government presents a huge opportunity to, as Trump promised, to drain the swamp. Already we have a very real prospect of repealing and replacing ObamaCare, of enacting pro-growth tax reform, rebuilding the military, securing our borders, and, yes, putting the Supreme Court on the right path for generations.

The prospect of restoring and protecting religious liberty and the Second Amendment and reigning in the regulatory excesses of federal agencies is at hand. Ted Cruz, who campaigned with vice president-elect Mike Pence for Trump in Iowa, has pledged to work with Trump on Supreme Court appointments, tweeting after their meeting:

Im eager to work with the new POTUS to repeal Obamacare, confirm strong #SCOTUS justices & protect the constitutional rights of Americans.

Speculation was that Cruz might be offered the slot as attorney general, now offered to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions. Well, Ted, if you want to put strict constitutionalist judges on the Supreme Court who would restore the original intent of the founding fathers, who would be a better pick than yourself?

Trump warned during the campaign that the Second Amendment was under attack and there was no better defender of the Second Amendment than Ted Cruz. He would be a worthy replacement for the late Justice Scalia, with whom Ted Cruz helped save the Second Amendment in the momentous Heller decision. In a statement on Scalias passing, Cruz stated:

As liberals and conservatives alike would agree, through his powerful and persuasive opinions, Justice Scalia fundamentally changed how courts interpret the Constitution and statutes, returning the focus to the original meaning of the text after decades of judicial activism. And he authored some of the most important decisions ever, including District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized our fundamental right under the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms. He was an unrelenting defender of religious liberty, free speech, federalism, the constitutional separation of powers, and private property rights. All liberty-loving Americans should be in mourning.

What few people know, and the media wont remind them, is that Ted Cruz was a prime mover in getting Heller, in which Scalia wrote the majority opinion, before the Court and decided in favor of gun rights, ruling that the right to keep and bear arms was an individual right and that the word militia, as the Founders intended, meant the whole people of the United States. If Heller had gone the other way, our gun rights would have been thrown on the ash heap of history. In January Cruz told CNN:

I represented 31 states in the Heller case, which upheld the individual right to keep and bear arms. You know what Barack Obama's position is? That there is no individual right to keep and bear arms whatsoever under the Constitution Hillary Clinton, for example, has said she will put Supreme Court justices on the court who will overturn Heller. And if Heller is overturned there were four justices who said that there is no individual right to keep and bear arms whatsoever, that it is only a collective right in the militia, which is fancy lawyer talk for a nonexistent right [If] Hillary Clinton gets one more Supreme Court justice, what it would mean is, the Supreme Court would say you and I and every individual American have no constitutional right under the Second Amendment at all, and either the federal government or a state government could make it a crime to possess a firearm.

Before endorsing Trump, and perhaps one of the reasons aside from SCOTUS picks, Cruz received support from Trump in fighting the Obama administrations Internet giveaway that removed it from U.S. control. They are more in agreement than some commentators think. As Politico reported:

Donald Trump's campaign Wednesday criticized the Obama administration's plan to hand oversight of the internet's domain name system to an international body, echoing Sen. Ted Cruz's argument that it could lead to more censorship by countries like Russia and China. "The U.S. should not turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community. President Obama intends to do so on his own authority -- just 10 days from now, on October 1st, unless Congress acts quickly to stop him," Trump's national policy director, Stephen Miller, said in a statement published on the campaign's website Cruz, who has famously refused to endorse Trump's candidacy, thanked the GOP nominee in a tweet: "Appreciate @realDonaldTrumps support of our efforts to stop Obamas Internet handover & keep the #Internet free."

There are those who suggest Cruz would turn down a SCOTUS offer and that in any event he might have a tough time getting confirmed by fellow senators whose toes he has stepped on. But if he is as unpopular as they say, they just might want to elevate him out of the Senate. Cruz, the argument goes, may not want to be just 1 of 9, but right now he is just 1 of 100. Would he pass up a chance to safeguard the Constitution or a generation or more in favor of having his bills die in committee? I think not. Would the United States and the Constitution be better off with a Justice Cruz? I think so.

Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Last week the left tried to Bork Steve Bannon, a key Trump campaign aide and proposed chief White House strategist and senior counselor and until August executive chairman of Breitbart News, by linking him to the alt-right. The Trumpist response to the attack was haul out Breitbart journalists and others to deny that Bannon and Breitbart had anything to do with the alt-right. Then the NeverTrumpers got into the act to say that while Bannon was innocent of the charges there was no doubt that Breitbart was playing with fire where the alt-right was concerned.

I think that the Trump people should have taken the opportunity to change the narrative. It should have turned the story back onto the left. If the alt-right is beyond the fringe, then what about the left? Is the racist La Raza beyond the respectable left fringe? Or racist Black Lives Matter? Or the racist Nation of Islam? Or radical MoveOn.org? Or socialist ANSWER? Somehow there doesnt seem to be any group on the left that embarrasses the mainstream left.

And what about the left protesting the results of a presidential election? How fringe and extremist is that?

Moreover, the Trumpists should say, only we have the key that keeps the alt-right in its cage, because we have built a populist electoral coalition that is, for now, willing to be patient while a President Trump makes America great again. So the alt-right is marginalized, for now.

Here is how Steve Bannon views the alt-right, answering a question in Europe in 2014 about how to deal with the racist fringe in UKIP and the Front National.

But theres always elements who turn up at these things, whether its militia guys or whatever. Some [of] that are fringe organizations. My point is that over time it all gets kind of washed out, right? People understand what pulls them together, and the people on the margins I think get marginalized more and more.

So Steve Bannon thinks the we should let the fringes be part of the action and have faith that the mainstream populists will push them to the sidelines in the natural to-and-fro of politics.

And Steve Bannon is the guy that liberals, cued by the New York Times, think is too extreme to advise president-elect Trump.

Id say, based on another Bannon speech Ive linked to, that that the real liberal problem with Bannon is that he is liberals worst nightmare, a conviction conservative that really believes what he says, and with the courage to make it so.

So of course liberals want to bully Steve Bannon -- and Jeff Sessions, nominee for attorney general -- off the stage right now before Donald Trump even gets inaugurated. Bullying and intimidating is what they do.

But I think that the liberal effort to Bork Bannon and silence the alt-right is worse than a crime, its a blunder.

The alt-right is a warning to us all. If lefties dont tone down the hate and the fear on ordinary conservatives like Bannon and Sessions then the great American white majority will one day decide that more extreme measures are needed. And they might decide that white identity politics, the solution proposed by many on the alt-right, is the only thing to oppose intellectual terrorism of liberal race and gender identity politics.

On that day, there will no longer be todays Kansas politics anymore where the left can mainstream Black Lives Matter and La Raza, and calmly consider making a black Muslim head of the Democratic National Committee, and quote unverified hate statistics from the Southern Law Poverty Center and lecture vice-president elect Pence from the stage of a hit Broadway musical. We will be instead in a world of dueling identity hate groups where whites add up to 70 percent of the voters.

If that day comes, and the white majority decides it is not going to take the politics of political correctness anymore where liberals get to name and shame and silence anyone who disagrees with them, and white identity politics breaks its leash, it will be the left and its evil race and gender identity politics that will be to blame. But it wont matter who is to blame, not then, because U.S. politics will not then feature the decorous bleatings of high-minded elite talking heads and leggy blondes. By then it will have a far darker aspect, and in that time the white majority will just roll over the opposition in a flood tide of rage, and after it has finished there will be no left left in America.

So lets support Steve Bannon and let the alt-right to put its nose inside the tent of respectability, and let us push back hard against the 21st century Borkers. Americans have nothing to lose but our timidity. We have a nation to win.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also see his American Manifesto and get his Road to the Middle Class.
Here is a little bit of sunshine to brighten your holiday week, from an utterly unexpected source. Faithful correspondent Michael Geer calls to our notice the opening sequence for Amazon Studios brand new television series, Grand Tour. The new series, which obviously has a huge budget, is a canny investment by the Seattle-based merchant/programmer aimed at signing up the worlds car buff population as subscribers by hiring the talent that created the BBCs worldwide hit series Top Gear. The other Geer, Michael, explains:

If you have Amazon Prime, you can watch this. If not, this YouTube has the opening scene.

You have to know something of Top Gear's past with the BBC, a pissy nanny pants bunch of scolding dweebs who killed off the #1 rated television program in the world in order to spank Jeremy Clarkson. BBC killed a $1.5 billion revenue stream for the sake of PC.

Amazon jumped in, poured money and talent into a new show with the same guys who did Top Gear, and the result is ... well, this very first opening sequence literally made me bounce on the couch and holler.

Clarkson in the rain and dark turns over his BBC hall pass, gets on a plane and leaves NWO Europe behind. Flies to America, walks out into the sunshine of an L.A. morning, finds his car ...

... all the while the soundtrack is Hot House Flowers covering I Can See Clearly Now

I'm sure they didn't mean it, but this opening sequence to Grand Tour is a rebel yell for Americanism, especially those goddamn beautiful, kick ass, brute force Mustangs

Metaphors everywhere[.]
Ever since the Vietnam War, leftist artists and writers have been hailed for bravery when being rude  and worse  to conservatives. It has been cost-free, and often a career enhancement, to be boorish, insensitive, rude, and otherwise violating the Golden Rule.

So the certifiably casting-called "non white actors" (hey there, U.S. Civil Rights Commission, where were you when that notice appeared?) culturally appropriating the white Founding Fathers of the USA in the play Hamilton in New York (hey there, protesters, why aren't you protesting this daily cultural insensitivity?) pompously and rudely  and also inaccurately  pleaded to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence (R), sitting in the audience, to be nice to certifiably non-whites after the performance, but didn't castigate the audience which had booed Pence and his entourage upon his arrival.

Good-natured Pence, from Indiana, otherwise known as flyover country to New Yorkers, dismissed the whole episode, realizing that it was just another example of rude, narrow-minded liberalism. (OK, he didn't say that, but he must have understood what was happening.)

The following day, an audience member at the Chicago production of the play taught the Hamilton people that rudeness has consequences.

According to audience social media reports:

 an audience member seated in the front of the balcony shouted profanities and election-related political statements after the cast sang the line, "Immigrants / We get the job done," which is part of the show's "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" number. That lyric is among the most overtly political references in the show and generally gets a big reaction from the audience. Tribune reporter Jodi Cohen, who was seated in the dress circle at the performance, said that the disruption from the man above lasted for two songs. Cohen also said that the "Hamilton" actors seemed strikingly somber during the bows at the end of the show.

"Strikingly somber." Well, good. Take that, New York!

Yes, presumably the Chicago production had nothing to do with the New York episode. But it did. Certainly they knew about the incidents in New York. The New York producers presumably knew about the pre-performance audience behavior and did not silence it and were aware of plans for the post-play addendum spectacle but did not forbid it. Didn't either producers of either production anticipate consequences?

So unless Hamilton producers of both the New York and touring companies order their casts to just perform while strictly enforcing proper audience behavior, more disruptions might happen. Or the "bitter clinging" Trump voters might boycott the play, ruining a financial and artistic gold mine. (Yes, Trump voters attend plays.)

And those "non-white" cast members wouldn't want that to happen.

Because actions have consequences. Even for self-righteous melting liberals.
It was a bloody Sunday for American law enforcement. An officer in San Antonio was fatally shot outside his precinct station while writing up a traffic ticket. He was sitting in his car when the suspect pulled up behind him, got out of his car, and shot the officer in the head through the window. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The dead officer was identified as Detective Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran who was a father and grandfather.

Officers in St. Louis and Florida were also targeted and ambushed.

Washington Post:

The second shooting was reported at about 7:30 Sunday evening in the city of St. Louis. A 46-year-old officer was sitting in traffic in his patrol car when another car pulled up alongside him. Someone inside shot the officer twice in the face then fled. The 19-year-old suspect was later shot and killed by police when authorities say he fired at officers searching for him. The officer who was shot in the face is expected to survive. At 8 p.m., the third ambush-style shooting shocked the small coastal Florida town of Sanibel, where for the first time in the citys history an officer was shot in the line of duty. Like the attack in San Antonio, the Florida officer was sitting in his car after a routine traffic stop when, according to the News-Press, a drive-by shooter opened fire. The injured officer was treated and released from a hospital, officials said, and the suspect was arrested after a shootout with police. Sundays targeted shootings are the most recent in a string of similar attacks that have made headlines this year, beginning with the most extreme of them all, the ambush-style killings of five Dallas police officers in July. Since then, at least a dozen officers have been shot in what officials have called unprovoked attacks. At least five other officers have been targeted and shot just this month; two fatally in Iowa; one fatally and another non-fatally in Pennsylvania; and one fatally in California. At a news conference in San Antonio Sunday afternoon, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor said the shooting there was shocking and sobering, and asked the community to remain calm and prayerful as authorities continued their search for the gunman. Police Chief William McManus described the suspect as a dark-complected, slim male in his twenties or thirties. Witnesses described the man as dressed in gray pants and a gray shirt, and surveillance photos show him leaving the scene in a black sedan with chrome rims and tinted windows. We consider this person extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public, McManus said.

Detective Marconi becomes the 58th law enforcement murdered by gunfire this year. That number is a 71% increase over gun deaths of officers in 2015.

All three officers were sitting in their cars  two were writing up traffic tickets, and one was stuck in traffic. In two of the incidents, the attack was of the drive-by variety. The ambush of Detective Marconi was nothing less than a cold-blooded execution.

We can talk all we want about the dangerous rhetoric about policemen coming from the left  specifically Black Lives Matter. But the real-world consequences of this deliberately provocative and incendiary speech is being measured in the body count of law enforcement officers who are gunned down, leaving behind grieving families and brother officers.

It's ridiculous to suggest that there isn't a correlation between BLM hysteria about cops and the ambushing of officers. It's literally open season on the police. Until the left once and for all vigorously denounces and disavows this hate speech, the carnage will continue.
A specter haunts Europe, and its name is Trump. A nightmare looms for the globalist elites, as France looks as though it will follow votes for Brexit in the U.K. and Trump in the United States, rejecting the unlimited flow of foreign nationals and the doctrine of multiculturalism that surrenders national culture. The U.K. Independent reports that Marine Le Pen, habitually dismissed as far right, could become the president of France next spring, if current levels of support continue.

Front National leader Marine Le Pen has taken a sizeable lead over Nicolas Sarkozy in a new French presidential election poll. The far-right leader had 29 per cent of the vote when pitted against Les Republicains former president, who was eight points behind, and held a 15-point lead over the Parti de Gauches Jean-Luc Melenchon in the poll released by Ipsos. It was one of five scenarios for the first round of France's 2017 presidential elections on 23 April, although one that did not include Les Republicains Alain Juppe  who remains strong favourite to succeed Francois Hollande as leader. While Mr Juppe holds leads of between 4 and 7 per cent in three other scenarios including him, the results are likely to add to growing fears that the rise of global populism could see Ms Le Pen secure a surprise victory in the wake of the UKs Brexit vote and Donald Trumps US election win. Under the French election system, barring the unlikely possibility one candidate gains an overall majority in the first round vote, the two candidates with the most votes will contest a second and decisive round on 7 May.

As Michael Walsh of PJ Media points out, Sarkozy has just about been ruled out as an opponent:

It's offical -- Nicholas Sarkozy is out of the running to regain the office he once held: Fance's former president Nicolas Sarkozy conceded defeat Sunday in the race to choose the conservative nominee for next year's presidential election. With more than 3.2 million votes counted from about 80 percent of polling stations, former prime minister Francois Fillon had 44 percent, former prime minister Alain Juppe had 28.1 and Sarkozy had 21.1 percent. The two candidates confirmed as winning the most votes advance to the Nov. 27 runoff. In a speech from his campaign headquarters in Paris on Sunday, Sarkozy called on his supporters to vote for Fillon in the second round. "I did not succeed in convincing a majority of voters. I do respect and understand the will of those (voters) who have chosen for the future other political leaders than me," Sarkozy said.

The rest of Europes leaders (this means you, Frau Merkel) had better wake up. They have screwed up badly, and their voters dont.like being held hostage in their own homes by gangs of youth who terrify them.

Rick Moran comments:

It's impossible to overstate the trepidation being felt by Euro-leftists at this point. A new poll on the presidential race shows National Front's Marine Le Pen leading in a three-way race, and only 3 points behind in the expected four-way battle for the presidency next spring.

Here's the reaction of prominent leftist philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy:

If Trump is possible, then everything is possible. Nothing, from now on, is unimaginable, Mr Levy told The Telegraph. As for Le Pen it is unlikely that she wins but it is possible, and that is partly because the people have lost interest in policy, instead focusing on personality. The people listen less and less to policy and they even seem less concerned about whether the candidates are telling the truth or not. They are more interested in the performance, in the theatrical quality of what is said than whether it is true. And as we know, a fascist can put on a very successful performance.

Gee...the people have lost interest in what the establishment has to say. Where have we heard that before?
As a progressive, Prius-driving, NPR-listening, Birkenstock-wearing, fair trade coffee-buying intellectual, I am constantly concerned about the most vulnerable people in our society. That's why I'm terribly concerned about the nomination of Muslim Nationalist Keith Ellison for chairman of the Democratic Party. If he is appointed chairman, that will send a terrible signal to the most vulnerable people in our community, notably women, children, gays, cocker spaniels, people of color, people without color, climate change activists, transgendered he/she/theys, and even homeless people with persistent body odor.

Keith Ellison has links to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Nation of Islam, and Hamas, through his affiliations with CAIR. These groups have terrible track records.

Hamas executed one of its own leaders for sexual activity with another man. Homosexuality carries the death penalty. That's a little more serious than refusing to make a cake for a gay wedding, don't you think? Hamas not only teaches children to be terrorists from a young age, but actually recruits children to be suicide bombers. Ellison has spoken at numerous CAIR events, and CAIR is closely linked to Hamas.

As for women, the Muslim Brotherhood supports the subjugation of women, including supporting violence against women and cutting off their clitorises.

Even dogs are not spared this savagery, used as unwilling suicide bombers by Hamas.

Ellison refuses to criticize these groups and continues to associate with them:

Ellison has spoken before several groups that have ties to Hamas, and has accepted money from a Muslim Brotherhood group; Hamas styles itself the Muslim Brotherhood for Palestine... Hamas repeatedly demonstrates genuine and murderous anti-Semitism, and Ellison has repeatedly shown himself willing and even eager to associate himself with Hamas-linked groups.

I call Ellison a "Muslim Nationalist" even though technically, radical Islamists want one pan-national caliphate. Wikipedia offers no entry for "Muslim Nationalist," though they do have one for "White Nationalist":

It ranges from a preference for one's specific white ethnic group, to feelings of superiority, including calls for national citizenship to be reserved for white people.

Well, that sounds like Ellison's views about Islam: he defends radical Islamists and wants to bring more Middle Eastern Muslims into America, no matter what the risk to the rest of us. I think that would show that he classifies the needs of Muslims as superior to the needs of everyone else.

If Ellison becomes chairman of the DNC, what message will that send to women? And think about the children! They will go to bed crying at night, knowing that this powerful man who consorts with terrorists now has a gigantic microphone and organization to peddle his hate. I am sure CBS, ABC, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and NPR will feature wall-to-wall stories of crying children worried about his ascent to power and the hate he represents.

Let me know in the comments section if I have successfully created the perfect "Mirror Mirror" version of a HuffPo or NYT article about Donald Trump.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
The taxpayer-supported network National Public Radio (NPR) wont be having interviews with conservatives live on the air anymore. After all, it is dangerous to afford them an opportunity to express themselves fully, without the benefit of NPR contextualizing their views and placating its left-wing listeners.

When your opponent is smarter than you are, cut him off, supply contrary views, and control the output so your own politics look better.

Breitbart News supplies its own context for the NPR move toward control:

National Public Radio ombudsman/public editor Elizabeth Jensen has recommended that the taxpayer-funded radio news service bar future live interviews of conservatives who may have controversial views, following an interview Nov. 16 with Breitbart News Joel B. Pollak. Pollak, who serves as Breitbarts Senior Editor-at-Large and In-house Counsel, defended its Executive Chairman Stephen K. Bannon from false and defamatory claims of antisemitism and white nationalism. He also turned the tables, pointing out that NPR has racist programming, including a story that called the 2016 election results nostalgia for a whiter America. NPR listeners were apparently outraged that anyone from Breitbart News had been given an opportunity to defend the website and its chairman. In her response, Listeners: Two Recent Interviews Are Normalizing Hate Speech, Jensen concluded that the live format had allowed Pollak to get the better of host Steve Inskeep. She suggested that future interviews be taped: In addition, in my opinion, these interviews should not be done live. Inskeep is an excellent live interviewer, but live interviews are difficult, especially when there is limited time. A little contextualizing never hurts.

To be sure, Jensen did not specifically state that conservatives are what she meant by these interviews. But what possible other interpretation is there? I would be shocked if NPR will stop doing live interviews with political figures entirely.

I am hopeful that the next president and Congress will cut off funding for NPR. Its status as a nonprofit organization also should be questioned with an audit of its content, particularly election coverage. The left wing has every right to its own biased media outlets, but leftists do not have the right to appropriate taxpayer money for it.

Hat tip: Richard Baehr
Whatever regrets he may have about his legacy vaporizing under President Trump and the Republican Congress, Barack Obama is going to enjoy his post-presidency as an ongoing reality show in the vein of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

The photo adorning the first screen of the Drudge Report tells the story:

Ed Lasky points to this Page Six item:

The Obamas are moving into a nine-bedroom mansion in the Kalorama section of Washington - the posh neighborhood of diplomats and DC old money - while younger daughter Sasha finishes high school at Sidwell Friends. But they have apparently been buying real estate elsewhere, too. According to sources, the Obamas have purchased a house in Rancho Mirage, Calif., not far from Sunnylands, the former Annenberg estate, which presidents use as a getaway and which is thought of as the unofficial West Coast Camp David ... The Obamas are also said to have bought a holiday getaway in Obama's childhood home state of Hawaii.

I agree with Eds comment: If he had not posed as working for the little people I would not begrudge him.

Barack Obama grew up among much richer people than his family, in Jakarta and at the Punahou School in Honolulu. Whatever resentment he may have developed was directed at getting a heaping helping for himself at least as much as redistribution.
With Brexit concerns looming large, many companies over the past few months have been adopting a wait-and-see approach before making any new investments in the U.K. Facebook, however, isnt one of the skeptics. The Menlo Park, California-based social networking giant has announced that it will open a new headquarter in London next year, creating 500 new jobs in the process. The upcoming office building is already under construction in Fitzrovia, and is expected to be fully operational sometime next year. Once up and running, the 500 new employees will bring Facebooks total workforce in the country to 1,500 staff, according to a statement released by the companys vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Ms. Nicola Mendelsohn. Her statement further goes on to say that, despite the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, the UK remains one of the best places to be a tech company and is an important part of Facebooks story.

Facebooks announcement has, as expected, received a warm response from government officials and elected representatives in the city thats still trying to make sense of the unexpected result of the June 23 referendum that has hammered the pound and has led to severe uncertainty among large sections of the business community. Londons newly-elected mayor, Mr. Sadiq Khan, welcomed Facebooks announcement, saying that the social networking giants decision to invest in London shows that the citys strength as a tech hub keeps on growing. He also sought to remind potential investors that the city continues to remain one of the most sought-after in Europe for digital startups. According to Mr. Khan, Facebooks continuing commitment is another sign that London is open to talent, innovation and entrepreneurship from all four corners of the world.

Facebook, of course, isnt the only major corporate entity to have announced fresh investments in the country in spite of Britains recent vote to exit from the European Union. The list of companies that have recently confirmed their plans to invest in the country includes one of the best-known tech companies in the world, Google. Earlier this month, the U.S. search giant confirmed reports that it would expand its London operations in a move that some say could bring 3,000 new jobs to the city. The company is expected to add a new building to the upcoming HQ that is already under construction behind Londons Kings Cross train station. According to the search giant, the upcoming complex, which is expected to become operational sometime in 2018, will be its first wholly-owned and designed building outside the US.
Before the days of the smartphone, Nokia handsets were amongst the finest in the industry. The Finnish business quickly evolved early cellphone technology hardware to include a better design, such as removing the antenna, and introducing a simpler user interface to make the devices easier for consumers to use. Nokia are also credited with kickstarting the whole phone gaming industry by releasing the Snake game for selected models, giving commuters something else to use so as to avoid making eye contact with other commuters! Nokias designs always achieved certain basics: good signal and good voice quality were priorities, and in later years a good camera experience was also important. However, when smartphones started becoming more and more popular, Nokia were already slipping behind. The company were using devices based around the Symbian S60 platform, which itself is based on an older platform. Symbian offered full multi-windowed multitasking but support for modern connectivity was clunky at best. Nokia entered a deal to use the Microsoft Windows platform. Ultimately, the Windows Phone platform was not a commercial success despite Microsoft buying Nokias smartphone business, seemingly to ensure that at least one manufacturer was supporting Microsoft Windows on a phone device. And as part of this 2014 deal, Nokia were unable to manufacture and sell phones until late 2016.

We are now in late 2016. Over the last two years weve seen a number of leaked Nokia smartphones running variants of the Android operating system. These were prototype or experimental devices not intended for resale but seemed to be showing that Nokia were retaining their smartphone knowledge and had every intention of bringing their iconic devices back to the industry. Weve also seen a Nokia-branded tablet, built around an Intel chipset and running Android, being released. In the last couple of months weve also seen more leaks surrounding Nokias next smartphone family with leaked presentations appearing to show devices planned for the immediate future, but when? One such rumoured device is the Nokia D1C, which is believed to be a mid-range model in terms of hardware specification, but to have an impressive-sounding camera. It may be that Nokia are taking the view that hardware specification and numbers are largely irrelevant for todays devices as long as the handset is a smooth performer, so the device being built upon a lower / mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset may not matter.

A listing for HMD Global has appeared for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) show that starts at the end of February 2017. HMD Global hold the license to sell Nokia smartphones for the next decade and here the story is that HMD Global wouldnt be at the Mobile World Congress unless they had something to show off  that something being new smartphones, as Nokia have already said! Now there may be other reasons why HMD Global are present at the show; it is possible they wish to keep an industry presence and may not be debuting any devices at this time. It is also possible that Nokia-branded devices will be showcased either before or after the MWC event and that HMD Globals attendance is more associated with building, or rebuilding, links with carriers from around the world. We will have a much better idea in three months time but for now, all we know is that HMD Global will be present at the event.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was supposed to be Samsungs most powerful smartphone in 2016, and it was, for a brief period of time. The Galaxy Note 7 was announced at the end of August, and soon after it started shipping out to consumers, reports started coming in saying that the phone is prone to exploding. Reports have been piling up for a while before Samsung opted to recall the device and see whats wrong with it. The company actually re-released the Galaxy Note 7 soon after that, but it seems like they havent fixed anything because same things started happening all over again, and the second recall was issued, while Samsung opted to cut their losses and stop selling the Galaxy Note 7 altogether.

Having that in mind, one would think that such issues hurt Samsung not only financially, but that their reputation also suffered. Well, it seems like thats not the case in the US, at least based on a recent poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos. According to the results of said poll, consumers in the US are willing to purchase Samsungs products again, despite the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco which hit the country pretty hard. This poll was conducted over 50 states in the US and 2,375 people with Samsung phones were included in it, while 3,158 iPhone users also participated. It turns out that Samsung users are still loyal to the company, as iPhone users are to Apple. 27% of people who knew about the recall said they would first consider another Samsung smartphone, before even looking into some other brand. 25% of people who were not aware of the recall said theyd purchase a Samsung-branded device again. Furthermore, 91% of Samsung users said theyd purchase one of the companys smartphones again, while 92% of iPhone users said theyd purchase another iPhone.

This does come as a bit of a surprise, as it seemed like the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco would impact consumers opinions a bit more. In any case, the Galaxy Note 7 is no longer available for purchase, but it seems like quite a few people are hoping that the company plans to introduce its successor next year, the Galaxy Note 8, even though some rumors have been saying that it might not happen.
For all the hype and hoopla surrounding virtual reality, the sector continues to remain fairly niche, especially when compared to the near-ubiquity of smartphones across consumer segments. However, tech companies continue to remain bullish on the emerging new technology and that being the case, a number of different manufacturers have already launched their own VR offerings over the past year or so. Some of the most well-known VR headsets, of course, come from HTC, Sony and Oculus, all of whom have launched their respective VR headsets over the past few months. While competition between the three is believed to be fierce, a report coming out of Taiwan now seems to suggest that HTC may be lagging behind somewhat, when compared to its Japanese and American rivals.

According to the report from Digitimes Taiwan, only 450,000 units of the HTC Vive is expected to be shipped this year, compared to the 650,000 units estimated for the Oculus Rift and a whopping 1.5 million units of Sonys PlayStation VR, which was officially launched just last month and has received rave reviews in the media for the most part. While there are many reasons for the runaway success of the Sony PSVR, one of the major reasons being attributed to the comparatively lukewarm response to the HTC Vive is its price-tag. While the PlayStation VR costs just $399, the Vive comes with a rather hefty $799 price-tag. The Oculus Rift, meanwhile, costs a cool $499.

HTC, of course, has been plagued with poor sales of its smartphones over the past several quarters, which has left the company in severe financial distress. The once-dominant tech giant is expected to ship just about 3 to 3.5 million smartphones in Q4 2016, which would mean a decline of about one million units from the same period last year. The HTC Vive is the one gadget the company was banking on heavily to lift itself out of the precarious situation, but according to sources quoted by the Taiwanese media, Vive sales are likely to remain a small fraction of the companys total earnings in 2016, accounting for only 12% of its total revenues this year. The company is expected to post a net loss in the current quarter, after having earlier reported a massive decline in consolidated year-to-date revenues for the January to October period.
Samsung first announced its latest smartwatch, the Gear S3 at IFA 2016 in Berlin, and it happens to come in two variants, the Gear S3 Classic and Gear S3 Frontier. The company released both variants for sale not too long ago in its home country of South Korea, on November 21st, and both devices have since been released in other markets around the globe. Today, the firm has announced that the Gear S3 has been well received in South Korea, with more than 25,000 units sold since its release in the country ten days ago.

However, the company did not state which Gear S3 variant is more popular in South Korea, but the firm did mention that more men are opting to purchase the Gear S3 than women. An official from Samsung said that this is most likely due to the fact that the design of the Gear S3 is similar to that of a conventional watch. The Gear S3 has also proven to be a hit in other markets, such as in the UK, where pre-orders for both Gear S3 variants were snapped up within a matter of days.

As far as the specs of the Gear S3 go, the smartwatch comes with a 1.3-inch circular Super AMOLED display, protected by Cornings new Gorilla Glass SR+. The Gear S3 Classic is 12.9 mm thick with a streamlined design, while the Gear S3 Frontier shares a similar 12.9 mm thick casing, but it appears to be a little more edgy and sporty looking. Both come with IP68 water and dust-resistance, an optical heart rate sensor, 4GB of storage and 768MB of RAM, as well as Samsungs own Tizen 2.3.2 OS. A dual-core CPU clocked at 1.0GHz keeps everything ticking along, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, as well as GPS are included. The Gear S3 also comes packed with a 380mAh battery, which Samsung says can offer up to three-to-four days of battery life on a single charge. The latest offering from Samsung also supports wireless charging. It should also be noted that the Gear S3 Frontier supports 4G LTE while the Gear S3 Classic doesnt and needs to have a Wi-Fi connection, other than that, both variants are essentially the same.
For some time now, Samsung have been promising to change their consumer electronics business focus away from hardware development and more into software. The main reason for this is because it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate Samsungs Android smartphones and tablets from the competition. There are a number of reasons for this including how increasingly the individual components that make up the modern smartphones are becoming a commodity item. Here, cheaper and lower down device models are able to provide a smooth, joined up experience for the customer once reserved for flagship models. Companies such as MediaTek have introduced new, higher performance mid-range chipsets, and Samsung itself has contributed to this by selling its AMOLED panels at more affordable prices, meaning that more and more models are gaining this once-premium display type. It took Samsung six years to reach the Samsung Galaxy S7 hardware experience, developing and refining technologies as it went, but today there are many Chinese smartphone manufacturers offering comparable hardware. The number of ways to build a different device to the competition is being reduced, but one core way remains: the software experience.

We have seen Samsung investing a considerable sum into developing its own software platform, first with Bada, which has been evolved into Tizen. Samsung is still pouring millions into the platform; it has recently announced it is to support Tizen game developers with up to $1 million a month for the most downloaded titles (through payments of $100,000 per developer). Tizen has been evolved and shoehorned into smartwatches and has a home in the Internet-of-Things arena, but the platform remains an also ran given that almost nine in every ten shipped devices run the Android operating system.

The industry is particularly interested to see what impact switching towards software will make for Samsungs smartphone business, especially from the device hardware perspective. It is possible that the business has tried too hard  witness the battery failures of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which may be a rushed product in the interests of competition. This could encourage the company to slow down the hardware development and concentrate on improving and refining its software. And we have seen Samsung repeatedly say over the last couple of years that it will be paying more attention to the software rather than the hardware. We are seeing these signs, too. TouchWiz has been refined and smoothed over into Grace UX, with a cleaner, simpler and less cluttered look and feel. And some of the companys recent acquisitions have more of a software feel about them. One such example is last weeks announcement that the business is buying NewNet Canada, which owns a next generation instant messenger service called RCS, for rich communications services technology. This could provide Samsung with a Hangouts-type of service going forwards. Back in October, Samsung also acquired VIV Labs, described as an open platform AI business, which is believed Samsung will use to produce artificial intelligent services for Samsung smartphones. 2015 was an important year for Samsungs smartphone hardware and the Samsung Galaxy S6 family of devices showed the world that Samsung can still produce world-leading hardware. The question is, can they do the same for software in 2017.
Rahul Sharma and three college friends started the Indian company, Micromax, originally as a software company in 1999. However, the business is a relatively late entrant into the mobile phone market as it did not launch a device until 2008. The story behind Micromaxs first mobile is that whilst traveling through a remote region of West Bengal, Sharma discovered an old man powering the villages pay phone using a truck, which he would transport to a nearby village in order to give it an overnight recharge. Sharma recognized a need for a phone with a long battery and their first product gave a month of battery standby. The business manufactured 10,000 phones and nervously put the devices up for sale  facing 2008s competitor mobile phone manufacturers of Nokia, Samsung and Motorola. However, the initial batch of 10,000 handsets sold out in just ten days.

In the eight years since, Micromax has steadily gained in market share and is now ranked as the tenth largest in the world. In its home Indian market, which is the second largest in the world, it is second only to Samsung. However, Sharmas ambition goes beyond being a top ten global smartphone manufacturer: Sharma wishes to put Micromax into the top five list in the next five years. His business has already started exporting to other countries with Sharma naming Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Russia, but as Micromax grows so it will bump against Apple, Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo and Xiaomi, to name but a few. Of these businesses, the four Chinese companies are also aggressively expanding into the Indian market taking advantage of the Make In India tax incentives. Micromax also faces competition from other Indian smartphone manufacturers looking to muscle into the same territory.

Sharmas approach to business is a little different to the big names currently in the top five. He likes to keep his finger very much on the pulse of Indian smartphone shoppers and occasionally goes into a cellphone store to act as a salesperson. Talking to CNNMoney, he explains: I sell every phone, whether it is Micromax or any other competitive brand. Just to understand what exactly the consumers are looking for. This, he believes, will give his business an advantage over competitor brands. He continued to explain that Indians are looking for a certain Indian flavor, and for devices that solve problems in their everyday lives  and the best place to understand these expectations and needs is at the sharp end of the business. Its certainly a very different approach from Apples expensive entry level device, the iPhone SE, or Samsungs technique of rolling out multiple models every few months to try to see what sells relatively well.

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In India, around 80% of the population still does not have a connection to the Internet  a statistic that is admittedly dropping, thanks to the efforts of the countrys carriers, device manufacturers and some of the worlds largest technology companies such as Facebook and Google. The Indian market is rapidly buying more and more sophisticated products as more and more individuals get online and the Indian government have recently relaxed foreign investment regulations, which will encourage all manner of businesses to arrive in the market (such as Apple, which is considering opening its own branded stores in the county).

Sharma, however, is confident in Micromaxs ability to tap into the needs of Indian customers. With his finger on the pulse of todays Indian consumer to understand their needs, this should continue to steer Micromax products and services in the years to come. He explained that The mission of Micromax has always been to democratize technology.
By most accounts, the eight years of Obama administration did a lot of good for Google. As the Google Transparency Project reported earlier this year, over 250 people moved between federal government jobs and positions at the Mountain View-based tech giant under Obamas presidency. Last month, WikiLeaks released a set of emails stolen from John Podesta, the Chairman of the Clinton campaign. Among other things, the said emails revealed a note sent to Clinton by a campaign adviser which explicitly states that Obama and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) put a large focus on collaborating with Google in recent years. This good relationship with the DNC also reflected on the recent US presidential race as Reuters reports that Googles employees donated a lot more money to Hillary Clintons campaign than that of Donald Trump. Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman of Googles parent company Alphabet, was even photographed attending a Clintons Election Night party on November 8th.

Tom Wheeler, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appointed by Obama in 2013 was also often accused of favoring Google and its Google Fiber broadband Internet and cable TV service at the expense of traditional cable companies. So, while the relationship between the Alphabet-owned company and the Obama administration wasnt always peachy, it would be fair to say that Google mostly did well under Obamas presidency.

All of that could soon change as the new administration of the President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office in early 2017. Once the transition is complete, Google could be facing a much less favorable regulatory framework that certainly wont be designed to help the companys many battles with traditional telecommunications and cable businesses in the United States. Several days ago, Wheeler dropped the data services market reform from the voting agenda following intense pressure from Republican representatives in the Congress. The said change was heavily opposed by the likes of CenturyLink and AT&T, telecom giants that wouldnt benefit from the proposed regulatory landscape, unlike Google.

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In addition to that, latest reports suggest that the FCC will reject Wheelers recent proposal to overhaul the pay-TV set-top box market. With direct backing from President Obama, the FCC Chairman suggested rules which would effectively break down satellite companies control of the said market, a move which telecom firms labeled as a Google Proposal, Reuters reports. In other words, it now doesnt seem likely that Google will be allowed to provide TV set-top boxes and compete with existing large players on the market. Seeing how this is a $20 billion annual industry, such a turn of events would be a significant defeat for Google even though the Mountain View-based tech giant isnt overly reliant on creating new revenue streams. Well, at least not at the moment, that is. While Wheeler could certainly push for all of his proposed reforms in the twilight of the Obama administration, the FCC Chairman has apparently dropped that idea given how Republican legislators have already explicitly stated that a theoretical new framework would likely be reversed shortly after the new executive branch of the government takes office.

Furthermore, the incoming Trump administration could also roll back net neutrality rules adopted by the FCC last year. Barring a few exceptions, the current regulatory landscape requires Internet service providers to treat all data equally, which is something Google has strongly advocated for in recent years. As many Republicans oppose net neutrality, these rules could be reversed next year. Namely, once the President-elect Trump takes office on January 20th, all three branches of the US government will be controlled by the Grand Old Party (GOP). In other words, there will be nothing stopping the Republicans to roll back net neutrality rules if they choose to do so. While net neutrality is a rather complex issue, the short version of the story is that an open Internet favors Google and other companies which offer Internet services without actually owning any Internet infrastructure. For example, if AT&T manages to acquire Time Warner which also owns HBO, the current rules more or less prevent the second largest carrier in the US from offering better streaming speeds for HBO GO at the expense of a competitor like Netflix.

Last but not least, Google is currently free of strict user privacy rules imposed on Internet service providers thanks to a new set of privacy regulations enacted by the FCC in October. Seeing how a Republican-led government isnt as favorable towards Internet companies like a Democratic one is, these regulations could also end up changing, which is another potential avenue of problems for Google. All in all, while the Mountain View-based tech giant and its parent firm Alphabet have yet to officially comment on the incoming US administration, its obvious things arent looking good for these companies.
City University student fascists defy the tabloid newspaper ban

The good new is that the next generation of prudes is on course to graduate from City University just as soon. The colleges student union has furthered democracy by voting to ban the sale of the Sun, Daily Express and Daily Mail from the campus. All papers have been ruled facist [sic] and Islamophobiac [sic] by the one percent of the student body that voted.

It used to be, of course, that the one percent referred to the gilded elite who exercised control over the proles. Now the 1% are the moral elite who think the 99% are the gilded, ignorant elite. If Labour and Jeremy Corbyn need to know why they wont win a General Election, they should look at that 1% as their new core vote.

Also, its a tad ironic that the vote was more loaded than a Daily Express phone poll. But both newspaper and student union have a little way to go before they can emulate Saddam Hussein who in 2002 famously won 100% support from 11,445,638 eligible Iraqi voters.

In a vote on a motion called  and get this for title Joe Stalin would just love (deep breath)  Opposing Fascism and Social Divisiveness in the UK Media  these anti-fascists agreed that banning newspapers is just, right, progressive and human.

What does it all mean? Well, the Press Gazette understands there are no retail outlets for newspapers on the campus.

So you can bring your own to school, like these fine anti-fascists are doing.

Apparently, student fascists are now putting tabloids all over the campus (see photo above). Che Guevara is so out of date. If you students want to a real poster to showcase your rebellious credentials, slap up a picture of Vicky from Hounslow.

Paul Sorene

Posted: 21st, November 2016 | In: Key Posts, Reviews, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, November 21 - Police said Monday they have arrested a man in the kidnapping and rape of a woman last Saturday night.

The victim, 26, is Nigerian and the alleged attacker, 36, is from Liberia.

The woman, a newcomer to Rome, was unsure how to get home and heeded the man's offer to accompany her on a bus.

She told police the man took her to the unfamiliar outlying neighborhood of San Basilio. Once off the bus, he covered her mouth and dragged her to a derelict building frequented by the homeless where he bound, gagged and raped her.

The victim managed to free herself of the gag after about an hour and screamed for help, attracting the attention of passersby who called police.

First responders found her tied up on a mattress in a state of panic. She was hospitalized, while the accused was arrested.


(ANSA) - Rome, November 21 - Deputy House Speaker Luigi Di Maio from the populist, euroskept 5-Star Movement (M5S) told an ANSA forum Monday his movement is distant from both Russia and the United States, but scrapping sanctions against Russia would benefit Italian exports and agriculture. "However, right now we don't need to be either pro-Russia or pro-America," Di Maio said. "All we need is to be pro-Italy, and to have good relationships with the majority of foreign countries".

The MP added the European Union has failed to protect the common market from foreign competition.

"The EU's biggest failure was it created a single market in order to protect it, and instead of protecting it, it opened to markets that did not and absolutely could not compete with us - such as the Chinese market, which does not have the same standards and regulations as ours," Di Maio said.

"(The EU) allowed Moroccans and Tunisians to produce the same product...without respecting the same standards of quality as our products do," he said, citing what he said was another example of the EU's failed trade policies.


(ANSA) - Rome, November 21 - Lower House Deputy Speaker Luigi Di Maio, a member of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), said Monday that voting Yes in next month's Constitutional referendum is effectively a way to back Italy's political "caste". "I never thought that the Constitutional was unamendable," Di Maio told an ANSA Forum.

"For example, we think that parliamentary immunity should be abolished and the lack of a limit on mandates has produced a legislature with a record for changing sides.

"But this reform changes things for the worst. We would create another caste which, inside itself, has the political class most involved (in investigations) - regional councillors and mayors".


(supersedes previous)(ANSA) - Milan, November 21 - Finance police on Monday arrested so-called "call center king" Roberto Boggio in a probe into false invoicing in connection with subcontractors linked to middle man and wheeler-dealer Raffaele Pizza.

Pizza, a fixer with connections in the political world and contacts with many people at the helm of publicly controlled companies, was arrested last July along with 23 others on suspicion of being at the center of a ring that conspired to tamper with ministry tenders and contracts.

In October, Pizza and 10 others were indicted on charges of criminal association with intent to commit tax fraud and crimes of corruption. Trial begins January 19 in Rome.

Police said Pizza "exploited stable connections with influential politicians, often holders of very high office" and that Pizza used a studio near parliament to "receive money from illegal origins, hide it and sort it", in one case with the help of a lawmaker.

Investigators say that following a Bank of Italy alert on suspicious transactions, they uncovered transfers of almost 13 million euros justified by false invoices to dodge tax and create slush funds to be used for a string of illegal activities.

A Telecoms expert and a grad of Milan's prestigious private Bocconi University, Boggio was the general manager at outsourcing and telemarketing company Televoice, 100% controlled by Telecom Italia, from 2000 to 2004.

He then entered Swedish call center multinational Transcom as country manager for Italy, moving up the ladder until in January 2016 he was named Transcom Worldwide general manager for continental Europe. In September 2015 he was named president of Italian association of outsourced call center companies Assocontact, a member of Confindustria industrialists association.


(ANSA) - Genoa, November 21 - A patient accused of homicide who had escaped from a Nice psychiatric hospital last week has been tracked down wandering on a provincial highway in the north-western province of Liguria, sources said Monday. Arnaud Delserre, a 39-year-old originally from Monaco, did not put up any resistance and will be accompanied to the border to be handed over to the French authorities later on Monday, the sources said. Earlier on Monday he asked to use the phone to call a taxi at the home of a local man in the town of Perinaldo, in an agitated state. The man, Vittorio Cassini, told ANSA that he told Delserre the phones were down due to bad weather and there were no taxis in the area. Police found a small knife in his trouser pocket after tracking him down, sources said. Delserre is accused of stabbing to death a stranger in 2011 in Grenoble.


(by Giovanna Chirri).

(ANSA) - Vatican City, November 18 - Pope Francis is preparing to close the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy on Sunday with special celebrations with prisoners and the homeless.

He has repeatedly called for the inclusion of the poor and especially migrants within an economy in which money must "serve, not rule".

The Jubilee Year was meant to officially open on December 8, 2015, 50 years since the end of the Second Vatican Council.

Instead, the pontiff on November 30 last year opened the Holy Door at the cathedral of Bangui in the Central African Republic, in an early start to the Jubilee in Africa - transforming it from a center of violence and poverty into the spiritual heart of the world.

The year-long event has attracted a record number of pilgrims - close to the 25 million registered during the Great Jubilee in 2000 - and led to the appointment of new cardinals with a strong call for pastoral care, the environment and world peripheries.

The extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has been proclaimed in a year marred by events including conflicts in the Middle East and terrorism, which have killed many and sown fear.

And the Jubilee was not only a time for indulgence, penance and spiritual rebirth but also an occasion for Catholics and the Church to open up to others, to talk with other women and men from other religions.

This aspect was stressed by the pope with a number of fundamentally important gestures, like his visit to the Greek island of Lesbos in August to meet with refugees.

Another key step was the pontiff's visit to Sweden last month as part of the events for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Mercy thus became a common gesture for the Orthodox and Catholic Church in Lesbos amid the refugee crisis and became a cry for Christian unity in Sweden.

Prayer also focused on the ongoing carnage in Aleppo, among other things.

The Latin American pope has dedicated the Jubilee to Mercy - a central theme for Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI and an ecumenical issue.

The issue of mercy tormented Martin Luther and the Lutheran and Catholic responses to such a theme have been one of the most important achievements of half a century of dialogue between the two churches.

It is indeed an inter-religious matter as "merciful" is the epithet recognized to God by millions of Jews, Christians and Muslims from all countries worldwide.

It is a deeply human theme, as was clear in the homily on saints in Malmo, Sweden, and on the saints of the Jubilee, first and foremost Mother Teresa, an icon of absolute love for the poor.

Prisoners - for whom the pope has so far requested in vain an act of clemency - the homeless and disadvantaged have crowded the latest Jubilee hearings and been at the center of some of the most meaningful events over the past year.

The pontiff has not written an encyclical on justice but placed the poor at the center of the Catholic Church by bringing the poor to St Peter's and by stressing over and over again that "the flesh of the poor is the flesh of Christ".

This Jubilee has appeared to shake first and foremost the pope's Church from a "spiritual sclerosis", an "indifference" for the fate of others.

The timing seems perfect.

Three years after his election, the pope has called on the church to open up while promoting a structural renewal he has been patiently and tenaciously pursuing.

Whether the Jubilee of Mercy has appealed to humanity in general is a complex issue to determine.

A first positive response has come from developments in the dialogue with Islam, in a detente with the Sunni Muslim theological center of Al Azhar that could perhaps lead in the future to an inter-religious summit for peace, in Egypt, attended by the pope.

But meetings aren't the only things that count in relations with Islam and other Christian churches.

A key issue is the joint determination in stressing together the call for peace of all religions to promote pacification and fraternity.


'Pact Between the Islands' to be signed in Palma With Sardinia and Corsica to face issue of insularity

(ANSAmed) - CAGLIARI, NOVEMBER 21 - Balearic Islands President Francina Armengol signed the "Pact Between the Islands of the Mediterranean", a document designed to face the issue of insularity, on Monday in Palma, Majorca with Sardinian regional governor Francesco Pigliaru and Corsican President Gilles Simeoni.



Pigliaru said drafting the document was a "complex job" but that he, Armengol and Simeoni had decided it was "time to give common answers to common problems".



The document focuses on transport, tourism and finances with specific and detailed dossiers created by the three islands' regional offices over the past few months, to create a shared strategy for overcoming the economic disadvantages of insularity.



Sardinian Tourism Assessor Francesco Morandi and Transport Assessor Massimo Deiana are in Palma with Pigliaru to meet with their counterparts from the other two regions.



The public signing of the agreement has taken place following technical meetings and a summit between the leaders of the three regions.



"In the past, the disadvantages of insularity were handled in a different way with different results," Pigliaru said.



"Over these past months we've compared our experiences, sharing both best practices as well as recognizing negative results of previous choices, in order to define the necessary points for reaching all our goals more quickly. Together we are much stronger in dialogue with the European Union and this will be very important every time we need to present common requests, as well as for supporting the adoption of specific measures and adequate resources for the islands".(ANSAmed).




EDIRNE - Turkish authorities have not allowed a delegation of European MPs with the Party of European Socialists (PES) who had travelled to the jail of Edirne, in the north, to visit the detained leader of pro-Kurdish HDP party, Selahattin Demirtas, ANSA has learned.

According to parliamentary sources, the authorization to meet Demirtas had been requested to the justice ministry on November 11, one week after his arrest on ''terrorism'' charges over his alleged ties to the PKK. The 13-member delegation of European Socialists that travelled to Turkey includes five Italians - Brando Benisei, Marietta Tidei, Pia Locatelli, Giacomo Filibeck and Lorenza Tiberi.
The company also announced the return to service of three aircraft after a heavy maintenance input at AMACs headquarters in Basel.

A privately owned BBJ from a Middle Eastern customer will undergo an A- Check package in conjunction with minor cabin modifications. Another A- Check input will be performed on a privately owned Airbus A319 from a new customer of AMAC. A new customer from Europe signed a maintenance contract for a 6 Year Check Package on his privately owned Gulfstream G550 aircraft, which will be welcomed by AMAC in the end of November at its facilities in Basel, Switzerland. In addition, an Airbus A318 from the Middle East has been welcomed at the facility in Basel, Switzerland to undergo a heavy C-Check in conjunction with a landing gear overhaul.
The host sponsor will be Nexus from Saudi Arabia, Silver sponsors are Rolls Royce from the UK, AVIC from China and SP Aviation from Rwanda, Bronze sponsors are Airbus from France and Ecobank from Rwanda.



These sponsors join a host of international and African names in the exhibition hall including Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp, Gulfstream, Lufthansa Technik, MTU Maintenance, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airilnes.



The two-day conference and exhibition expects to attract up to 500 delegates from across Africa and the globe. To date the event has registered 300 attendees from 42 countries, 25 of which are African.



This will be the first major aviation event in East Africa to bring together the global aviation industry with the growing pan-African aviation market. Airlines attend for free and to date 35 unique airlines are registered, 25 from Africa, including Kenya Airways, TAAG Angola, RwandAir, Blue sky and Congo Airways. The airline attendees will not only interact with aviation experts in the conference, but for the first time will enjoy global aviation exhibitors on their doorstep. The exhibition will host over 50 companies representing numerous elements of the commercial and business aviation supply chains. This will include a dedicated business aviation pavilion hosted by the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA).



The Government of Rwanda is supporting Aviation Africa 2017 in a big way with the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, Rwanda Ministry of Defence and the Rwanda Development Board all working with the organisers to invite key counterparts from across the continent.



With another three months to go, the organisers have confirmed they are on course to deliver on all the forecasts and to potentially exceed them.

The event takes place at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre in Kigali.
The first flight landed at Luxor international Airport over the weekend.

Captain Sherif Ezzat said that he considered these flights as positive indicator to increase tourist movement coming from Japanese cities to Egypt. He added that the company would not hesitate to provide all the support required for the tour organisers to operate direct flights to Egyptian tourist destinations.

The chartered flights are due to be operated over the coming six months the itinerary of Cairo Osaka Narita Luxor on a Boeing B777/300ER.
The certificate was issued by the Instituto de Fomento e Coordenacao Industrial  IFI (Industrial Fostering and Coordination Institute), the Brazilian Air Force organisation responsible for military certification, attesting that the KC-390 in this basic configuration complies with the certification basis requirements.

Achieving this milestone demonstrates the design maturity that is allowing the tests campaign to progress as planned and with high efficiency, said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO Embraer Defense & Security.

The joint work of the Embraer and IFI teams has proven useful in bringing better integration, as well as improving and validating program processes and procedures aiming at the initial operational capability declaration (IOC), in the second half of 2017, and the certification of the final operational capability (FOC), in the second half of 2018.

The flight test campaign of the KC-390 is progressing extremely well, matching the aircraft performance and capability goals predicted through the use of the latest engineering tools. Since the start of the flight test campaign, on 26 October 2015, both KC-390 prototypes have presented a very high availability, logging an unprecedented flight rate in the program, with more than 650 flight hours accumulated by early November.
The flight, which landed to Esenboga Airport on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 1:30 PM with 100 passengers, welcomed with water arches on the apron.

TAV Esenboga General Manager Nuray Demirer said: We are connected to 37 domestic destinations as well as 28 international destinations at 17 countries with direct flights. SAUDIA Airlines has been launching charter flights from Esenboga Airport to Jeddah and Madinah during Hajj and Umrah seasons. We are glad that scheduled, direct and reciprocal flights to these destinations are inaugurated. TAV Esenboga will continue to provide direct flight comfort to the passengers by adding new destinations to its flight network."

Saudia Airlines is going to launch direct reciprocal flights from Ankara Esenboga Airport to Jeddah four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Direct flights between Ankara and Madinah will be performed three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Diplomats, government and aviation officials were joined by corporate and travel industry partners, along with the airlines Dhaka-based employees as Etihad Airways recognised their loyalty and support.



Dr Saeed Bin Hajar Al Shehi, UAE Ambasador to Bangladesh, and Rashid Khan Menon MP, Minister of Civil Aviation of Bangladesh, were guests of honour at the anniversary event, held at Le Meridien Hotel, Dhaka.



Etihad Airways launched scheduled flights between the capital cities of the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh on 4 May 2006 with four services a week. Frequency rose to daily soon after, with a bigger 380-seat Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft now operating on the route.

Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways vice president Indian Subcontinent, said Bangladesh was an integral part of the airlines global network, providing guests with ease of travel to Abu Dhabi and destinations worldwide.



Our guests from Bangladesh are offered a world class, award-winning service to over 600 destinations around the world with Etihad Airways and our partner airlines, she said.



It is our strong partnership with key stakeholders here and globally that has helped Etihad Airways excel to great heights in just a few years. This spirit of dedication and commitment is part of Etihad Airways DNA and we recognise their support and achievements to help make Etihad Airways the airline of choice."



Hanif Zakaria, Etihad Airways general manager Bangladesh, said: Etihad Airways complimentary bus service between Dhaka, and both Chittagong and Sylhet, has provided ease of transfers on our departing and arriving flights. In addition, for those travelling to the United States, the unique US Pre-Clearance Immigration and Customs facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport provide guests with the extra convenience of arriving in the US as domestic passengers ensuring they avoid lengthy formalities on arrival.
RJ president/CEO Captain Suleiman Obeidat, who received the aircraft upon its arrival, expressed satisfaction with the addition of this new 787 to the currently operating five aircraft of the same type, which RJ introduced at the end of 2014 as part of the plan to modernize its long-haul fleet.

He said that this aircraft along with the seventh aircraft which will be joining the fleet at the beginning of 2017 are on capital lease, while the first five are operationally leased.

The Dreamliners replace the Airbus 340s and 330s the company previously had; five aircraft of these two last models were phased out two years ago and two A330s will retire soon.

Captain Obeidat said the 787s paved the way for RJ to step into a significant new era, a step that pushes the national carrier of Jordan forward in terms of inflight services and route network, enhancing its regional and international competitiveness.

He added that all new 787s, together with the operating A320 family and Embraer jets, help RJ meet its operational needs and leverage passengers experience.
In the course of summer 2016, Qatar announced it would take a 10% stake in LATAM Airlines Group, acquire a 49% shareholding in Meridiana and raise its stake in IAG to 20%. Etihad confirmed it would invest further in Virgin Australia in order to maintain its 22% stake and strengthen its foothold in the Americas by entering into codeshare agreements with Air Canada and Avianca. Emirates, which announced a number of changes to capacity deployment across its network (including several new A380 routes), set up a new codeshare agreement with Copa Airlines while expanding cooperation with codeshare partners Malaysian Airlines and WestJet.

As the share of global traffic carried by the ME3 continues to rise, it is instructive to see how each of these airlines has pursued breakneck growth.

The manner in which these airlines have expanded their global presence over the last decade is remarkable. There are two clear components - organic growth (from a collective 2.1bn ASKs and 80 destinations in 2005 to 10.9bn ASKs and 175 destinations in 2015) and inorganic growth, which encompasses a variety of partnership models within the global airline ecosystem.

The simplest of these inorganic options are interline or codeshare agreements, typically with small carriers serving a network of secondary cities or large carriers that can provide significant feed. More complex, however, is the wide swathe of higher order relationships such as joint ventures, strategic agreements and equity investments these airlines have undertaken to accelerate expansion.

As airlines around the world increasingly pursue such relationships, it is interesting to note how the ME3 have chosen to follow approaches distinct from each other and, in doing so, have begun to upend the traditional view of alliances and build cross-alliance bridges.

ME3 increasingly pursuing partnerships, spreading into and disrupting major alliances

The partnership visualization below puts into perspective the nature of the ME3s engagement with other airlines and alliances. Each node here represents an airline (where size reflects the ASKs it flies) and the connectors indicate a relationship between airlines weighted by the depth of the relationship. In particular, it highlights the distinct approaches favored by each ME3 airline: Emirates has been very selective in pursuing partnerships, while Etihad has built a dense network of partnerships that bridge alliances and Qatar has strongly embedded itself in the oneworld ecosystem. Note that the image does not reflect a geographic network map; the relative position of an airline arises from the strengths of the different relationships it has built with other airlines.





Emirates, a pioneer of the aggressive international hub-and-spoke model built on the geographic advantages of the Middle East, has achieved growth largely through organic expansion. This is in keeping with its longstanding positioning vis-a-vis legacy carriers. Where necessary, codeshares or interline agreements have been established to ensure feed at vulnerable points in its network  the relationship with JetBlue in the U.S. being a prime example.

The airline recently established two large strategic agreements, with Qantas (May 2013) and Malaysia Airlines (December 2015). These arose from situations where the partner faced severe financial and

strategic pressure, and chose to align with Emirates to achieve broader access to lucrative markets in Europe and elsewhere by funneling traffic through Dubai, while optimizing capacity to more profitable core markets  Southeast Asia for Malaysia Airlines, and Asia and the U.S. for Qantas. Interestingly, both are members of oneworld but saw more value in partnering with Emirates rather than with alliance members; Emirates strong connectivity through Dubai and the airlines dominant market position clearly encourage opportunistic extra-alliance cooperation.

Etihad, being the last of the ME3 to launch, needed to rapidly build scale to emerge as a viable alternative in the congested Middle Eastern hub-and-spoke environment. Alongside ambitious organic growth, therefore, Etihad has relied heavily on inorganic growth  extensive codeshare agreements to build network scale complemented by strategic agreements (with Air France-KLM, for example) and equity investments in airlines around the world. In effect, this has allowed Etihad to build a global presence at significantly lower cost than an organic rollout.

The endgame was the establishment of the Etihad Airways Partners (EAP) alliance in 2014, an independent Etihad-centric alliance of 8 airlines collaborating on network and commercial deployment. EAP also ensures sharing of best practices and resources across the alliance, as evidenced by aircraft from Jet Airways and crew expertise from Alitalia being used to launch Air Serbias transatlantic service. Remarkably, Etihads assertive partnership strategy seeks to extract synergies with prominent members of global alliances such as Alitalia, Air France-KLM (SkyTeam) and airberlin (oneworld). This, with Etihads extensive codeshares with Star Alliance members, allows the airline to create bridges across alliances.

Qatar, from its relaunch in 1997, initially pushed for aggressive organic growth comparable to the Emirates hub-and-spoke model operations before shifting to broader cooperative structures. It surprised the industry in 2013 by joining oneworld, becoming the first ME3 carrier in a global alliance. Qatar is now well embedded in the oneworld ecosystem, with a majority of its equity or strategic partnership activities linked to alliance members. Qatar has also signed a strategic agreement with Royal Air Maroc to broaden its access to Central and West Africa.

Of more interest in recent times, however, have been the equity investments  mentioned earlier  in IAG and LATAM Airlines Group (20% and 10% stake, respectively), both of which are large oneworld partners. This cements existing alliance relationships and offers room to explore further cooperation that could deliver financial, commercial and strategic value. Although it is yet unclear exactly how Qatar will act on these investments, they are likely to generate significant value by increasing Qatars grasp on strategic positions (transatlantic routes and major European hubs with IAG, and the competitive South American market with LATAM). These are, of course, in addition to the basic financial benefits from stock appreciation. However, the recent investment in Meridiana and a possible investment in Royal Air Maroc indicate a potential pivot to an Etihad-like model based on turning around a smaller airline with close operational and commercial synergies.



Indicators for future ME3 and industry evolution

The nature of the ME3 airlines growth through partnerships provides several insights to the industry and some indication of how this may evolve further.

Scale and profitability are twin drivers for evolving cooperation models. The global ambitions of the ME3, particularly Etihad and Qatar as they play catch-up with Emirates, are causing them to increasingly penetrate the global ecosystem of relationships for inorganic growth. The objective has clearly been to achieve market access at a reasonable cost  an impulse that will continue as competition intensifies. Carriers around the world seek the opportunity for financial, commercial and strategic benefits from ME3 partnerships through joint value creation.

There is, prima facie, a case for mutual value addition by ME3 alliance membership. Qatar has seen a strong rise in traffic through oneworld partners, and the addition of Qatar has allowed oneworld an expanded footprint into areas of relative weakness such as the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Etihad is generating strong revenue flows from, and to, EAP partners and drawing ever closer to SkyTeam. There is, however, a possibility that alliance structures might prove to be restrictive for the ME3 in the light of their independent expansionary aspirations, as evidenced by occasional reports of tensions between oneworld members Qatar and American Airlines.

Traditional alliances are not going away anytime soon, although emergent parallel alliances/partnerships will distort the ecosystem. There are still strong commercial and operational incentives to alliance membership; the majority of the worlds most heavily trafficked routes remain the domains of key alliance members and their JVs. While there may be some conflicts within alliances, the cost and complexity of exiting alliances will give airlines pause. Airlines not already in an alliance, though, may choose to keep their options open. Extended ME3-centric alliances or partnerships, building on network scalability and commercial alignment, are likely to provide viable alternatives to existing alliances for some airlines and passengers. The ME3 have steadily built these alternate spheres of influence to capture increasing passenger flows.

Carriers are drifting towards engagement with the ME3 outside alliances, and will continue to pursue opportunistic, multi-pronged cooperation agreements. In many cases, a carriers decision to partner with an ME3 airline may arise from a if you cant beat them, join them position  Emirates strategic agreements being prime examples. In others, the ME3 airline might play the role of a white knight, as in the case of Etihads investments. While there is a clear value for both parties in such agreements, the ME3 often engage from a position of strength backed by strong network connectivity and financial resources. In general, airlines will continue to seek profitable growth even if that entails acting outside traditional forms of cooperation such as alliances, in consort with the ME3. Should margins come under pressure again in the coming years, there will be an even stronger incentive to pursue partnerships to sustain momentum. Carriers will enter multiple relationships to cover all commercial and strategic bases optimally. The current trend of elevating partnerships from codeshares to JVs, strategic agreements and equity engagements will continue apace across the industry, with the ME3 being equally opportunistic in taking advantage of market developments.

This will strain traditional alliance structures and relationships. Qantas scaled back longstanding relationships with British Airways at Singapore and Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong in favor of a partnership with Emirates through Dubai. Carriers are thus clearly seeking a strategic and operational path that is likely to generate the most sustainable profit over and above, or in addition to, alliance considerations. By offering deeper cooperation outside the alliances (within which most legacy airlines JVs still reside), the ME3 are creating parallel spheres of influence. Etihad, in particular, will continue to effectively bridge members across alliances.

Equity investment further deepens the ME3s impact on alliances, and will continue to grow as a vehicle for expansion. While the ME3 are not the only active dealmakers, the scale and breadth of Qatar and Etihads investments increase their penetration into key alliance members and raise their ability to drive the targets commercial and strategic moves more substantially in order to support or strengthen an ME3-centric model. An equity stake also allows an investor to capture additional value through appreciation in the targets stock price or Enterprise Value  upside that would otherwise be lost to the shareholders of the target. In general, these airlines will expect equity investments to deliver value across three dimensions: financial (growth in enterprise/stock value), commercial (access to valuable and/or growing markets through preferred partnerships) and strategic (greater synergies and mutual benefits). Global competition  including equity investments by American and Chinese carriers  will spur further investment to lock in strategic assets across the industry, particularly those that provide a strong regional presence and feed. This will also encourage more distressed regional airlines or their governments to actively court ME3 capital and restructuring support.

For an industry constantly in flux, these are particularly exciting times. With profit margins soaring, global traffic rising and ever more capacity coming into the market, many airlines will seek partnerships for growth and sustainability. And the ME3, with their global ambitions, strong connectivity and financial strength will undoubtedly have a significant role to play in the evolution of the industry.





Guillaume Schmitt (above) and Arvind Chandrasekhar (below) are the authors of this paper.
ABC/Ida Mae AstuteFor Garth Brooks, Gunslinger isnt just the title of his new album that comes out this Friday -- its how his ongoing world tour has made him feel.

It's fun. You get to shoot from the hip, you know, and what's fun is, you go in with some pretty good ammo, he tells ABC Radio. Because they treat every song like each one is their favorite one. So you can pull out any song at any time of the night and it becomes a party. And that's what touring life should be. I just didn't think it would get to be this way this late for us.

Garth says hes also been pleased to see a lot of new faces in the crowd, even though he wasnt always sure thats how it would be.

That's why you feel like a gunslinger. You're up there and you feel like you're brand new, and at the same time, you're brand-new with music that has been tested over time. So there's nothing more fun that going 'Okay, which song are we gonna play next that all these people are gonna know the words too and they're gonna sing it back louder than I'm singing?' That's a joy right there, and a great gift!"

Garth adds, "You see the faces you hoped you'd see again, and then the other half of the arena [is] kids that were either not born yet or were babies when we toured last time.

After three dates in Greenville, South Carolina this weekend, Garth and wife Trisha Yearwood take a break from the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, before heading for their first shows in Honolulu, Hawaii starting December 8.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The existence/survival issue of Armenian communities is very acute during the last decades in the Middle East, senior expert of the center of Armenian studies of Noravank scientific-educational foundation Vahram Hovyan told a press conference in ARMENPRESS.

Beginning from the half of the 20th century, the most heated region is the Middle East. Several events took place here, particularly, the Arab-Israeli war, the Lebanese Civil war, the internal political turmoil of Syria and Egypt, the military coups in Turkey, the Arab Spring. The foreign and domestic turmoil of different countries negatively impact the Armenian communities. Their property, cultural legacy, churches, schools are destroyed, Vahram Hovyan said. In his words, the most dangerous part is that all of this leads to mass migration in the Armenian community circles.

Our compatriots leave their countries in great numbers and attempt to establish themselves in western countries. According to Vahram Hovyan, is 25 thousand Armenians were living in Kuwait before the first Gulf War, the number decreased five times after the war. 300 thousand Armenians lived in Lebanon during the 1970s, today the number is circa 100 thousand. 200 thousand Armenians lived in Syria during the 70s, before the Arab Spring 70 thousand lived there, and after the Arab Spring that number significantly decreased again. Today, an estimated 10,000 Armenians live in Aleppo (based on most optimistic estimates).

Hovyan said after the Revolution the Armenian community of Iran suffered great losses. Prior to the Revolution 300 thousand Armenians lived there, today circa 100 thousand. Iraq is no exception. Before the Arab Spring, only 1000 out of the 20 thousand community remain there. Hovyan says the losses of the Armenian communities in different periods associated with the Arab Spring are great and hard to recover from.

Turkey is no exception also. The reasons include domestic political development, military revolutions, however, according to the expert, Armenophobia also has significant impact.

Here there were always persecutions and restrictions against Armenians. Armenophobia is of traditional nature in Turkey. All this has led to the decrease of Armenians living there. Today an estimated 60-80 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, the expert said.

Vahram Hovyan said manifestations of Armenophobia are also present of religious grounds. It happens in countries where Islamic extremism is on the rise.

Of course, specifically Armenians arent targeted, it is directed against Christianity, however Armenians comprise a significant percentage of Christians living in Middle Eastern countries, therefore that harassments also happen against Armenians. As an example  the bombing of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church, he said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Mixed marriage is one of issues of Armenian identity preservation in the Armenian communities of different states, Deputy Diaspora Minister Serj Srapionyan told a press conference in Armenpress.

Today Syria is a hot spot in terms of life preservation of the Armenian community, however, today Armenians face invisible challenge which requires serious intervention. The talk is about mixed marriages. Today, the mixed marriages comprise big percentage in the Armenian communities, even in case when there are also religious differences. We must pay attention to those marriages in the sense of Armenian upbringing of their generation, the Deputy Minister said.

He said there is an issue of preservation of Armenian identity in the post-Soviet states. A large number of Armenians live in different cities of Russia. 5.000 Armenians live in the smallest Armenian community of Russia, whereas in the biggest one their number is 2000.

Serj Srapionyan said they are the most endangered because the assimilation process is taking place faster than expected. It is related with several factors, in particular, language availability, living in one statehood for many years and etc.

The second generation living in different states is far from the roots, the third generation speaks about the Armenian origin, but the fourth generation hardly remembers about their Armenian origin. Works must be carried out on this path, and the Ministry of Diaspora deals with this issue. 104 centers for Armenian studies are operating in Diaspora, the Deputy Minister said.

He also attached importance to the issue of language preservation, especially, concerning the Western Armenian which is in danger. He said the issue of teaching the Western Armenian in our schools is under discussion.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Former President of Ukraine has announced that the coup in his country was inevitable, while it had been planned long before. Armenpress reports Yanukovich told about this in Ukraine on Fire film produced by Oliver Stone.

Even today we do not know who fired at the people. This is a very dangerous theme. No one today can feel safe, he said.

Recalling year 2013, the former president noted that it was a very turbulent period for the country. Kievs hope was first of all the International Monetary Fund, but the Fund proposed an unacceptable option. Particularly, the Fund proposed to increase electricity and gas tariffs for the population, which meant a serious rise in spending with the same revenues for the people, Viktor Yanukovich said, adding that they refused that option then, and proposed other solutions, but the IMF declined all of them in November, 2013. Now Russia was our hope. Russia told us they are ready to work with us as partners, if we take their interests into account. We saw that the document prepared by Europe for us demanded huge economic expenditures, while Europe was not ready to compensate. Our talks with Europe were unproductive, so we decided to pause, Yanukovich told.

He added that first he thought the protests would be peaceful, and it is possible to engage in a dialogue with peaceful protesters, to which he was ready. Yanukovich also added that when the peaceful protests turned into armed insurgency, he was against using force against the protesters. According to him his reaction was immediate and he tried to find out who had commanded to use force against the protestors.
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Mr. Trevor, who was Irish by birth and upbringing but a longtime resident of Britain, placed his fiction squarely in the middle of ordinary life. His plots often unfolded in Irish or English villages whose inhabitants, most of them hanging on to the bottom rung of the lower middle class, waged unequal battle with capricious fate.
Having said in The Revenge of the Mediocre that both Bettina Drew and Mary Wisniewski fail to capture Nelson Algrens personality in their biographies of him, I realize I didnt mention something equally and, some would say, more important. Sure, they get his so-called skid-row lyricism, which Blake Bailey recently harped on, but that shortchanges the formidable intellect which guided Algrens work. He had a vision of society not only recalling Dostoevsky and Dickens, but also Balzac and Hugo and Zola. I asked Colin Asher, whose biography of Algren will be published by Norton, if hed be kind enough to comment about any of that. He messaged back:

Good to hear from you, Jan  and thanks for the question.

I should be clear about one thing up front: I havent read Wisniewskis biography, and I dont plan to until my own biography is finished. I wouldnt want her take on Nelsons life to influence my own, or have her ideas find their way into my book accidentally. But with that caveat established, Id be more than happy to comment on Nelsons ideas about literature, and the distorted way he and his work are often remembered.

Your question, luckily, is easy to answer because Nelson had unique ideas about writing and wrote about them a great deal. He saw literature as a social institution whose primary function is to challenge orthodoxy, and expose hypocrisy  an adjunct to journalism, sort of. He believed writers should be in touch with the world, and willing to present the unadorned truth even when it was dangerous to do so. He believed authors were obliged to remain independent  unattached to universities, the government, the church  so they could be effective social critics. And he was most adamant that great writing can only be produced by people who are willing to ignore their ideals and ideology and commit the truth, as they perceive it, to the page.

A writers job, he said, is to put down the world of reality by working without haste, as the story grows within, regardless of all social and moral ideas, regardless of whom your report may please or offend, regardless of whether the critics stand up and cheer for a month or take hammer and tongs after you, or simply ignore you  regardless of all forms, of all institutions, of all set ways of conduct and thought. Regardless, chiefly, of what the writer himself prefers to believe, know, think or feel.

. . . literature is made on any occasion that a challenge is put to the legal apparatus by conscience in touch with humanity.

An asterisk is often attached to Nelsons legacy. People say he could have been one of the Great Authors if he just chose a different subject and stopped writing about the urban poor. Saul Bellow said this very directly at one point  I wish he aimed higher, he said. Many others have echoed the same objection since, though often not so directly, and I feel compelled to digress long enough to dispatch with that criticism.

Ill concede that most of Nelsons characters had similar class backgrounds  working class, or working poor  but I wont concede that the demographic fact of his characters backgrounds is a limitation. Any critic who dismisses Nelsons work because he wrote about the poor is revealing more about themselves than they are saying about his writing  theyre saying they presume people without social privilege cant lead lives worthy of documentation, and of course theyre wrong. Ambition, lust, anger, desire, intellectual curiosity, and emotional complexity manifest themselves among people who grew up without economic privilege in the same proportions they exhibit themselves among people who were raised in tidy suburban homes, and told they should expect to attend Ivy League schools. Period.

Nelsons choice of characters has damaged his legacy, but it shouldnt have. If you consider his work in concert with the ideas that guided his career, his choice of subjects seems both rational, and incredibly prescient. He didnt write about poor people, or addicts, or boxers who made their living by taking beatings because he idolized them. He did so because he thought the quality of their lives spoke to the moral condition of society. He felt, he once wrote, that if we did not understand what was happening to men and women who shared all the horrors but none of the privileges of our civilization, then we did not know what was happening to ourselves.

People often assume Nelson had a fetish for hoodlums, or some sort of unreasoned compulsion to surround himself with people who lead miserable lives. Fans sometimes make that claim because it makes Nelson seem like a proto-hipster. Critics and competitors often latch onto that idea to undercut his legacy. (William Styron once wrote: Nelson was basically an underworld groupie.)

But I say both groups miss the mark entirely, and when I want to picture Nelson I think about a scene in Clancy Sigals Going Away. Sigal was a friend of Nelsons, and visited him once while driving across country  California to Massachusetts. He wrote a novel after he reached the east coast, and wrote Nelson into it using a pseudonym.

Sigal visits Nelson at home in that book, and then they go out for coffee. They sit down in a cafeteria, and their table slowly fills up with neighborhood misfits. Nelson sits quietly, watches everyone at the table, and eavesdrops. People greet him, and gossip flies. Someone asks Sigal if he wants to pay for sex; someone else brings Nelson a couple loaves of bread as a sign of respect.

Eventually Sigal gets up to leave. Im getting to feel uncomfortable around here, he says.

Your deal, Nelson responds. Good to see you.

I like your friends, Sigal says.

Then Nelson shrugs. They scare me, he says. Im a peaceful man.

Thats Nelson. He doesnt have a fetish for criminals. Hes a man who had the misfortune to live through the most conformist period in American history. Hes got a healthy amount of skepticism and when he looks around he sees that a great mass of people are living lives that bear no resemblance to the American ideal being pushed on them by commercials and glossy magazines. The political establishment is ignoring them, the literary establishment, and the church. Hes aghast at the condition of their lives, and he thinks: I need to write about these people because no one else is going to.

If this past election taught us anything, it taught us that Nelson was right. We cant understand whats happening to ourselves unless we understand what is happening to the people who share all the horrors but none of the privileges of our civilization.
Governments small oil fields auction to close today.

Big giants are likely to opt out primarily due to small size of acreage being offered and the overheads require to bring them to production.

New Delhi: Global energy giants Exxon Mobil, Chevron and BP plc as well as domestic players like Reliance Industries are unlikely to bid in the auction of 46 discovered small oil and gas fields that closes on Monday.

While Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan travelled the globe -from Singapore to Houston, to get investors for the first oil field auction round in over four years, big giants are likely to opt out primarily due to small size of acreage being offered and the overheads require to bring them to production.

Bids for the auction closes today and may see only companies like the state-owned ONGC and Oil India, Gujarat government owned-firm GSPC and some smaller players like HOEC bidding, multiple industry sources and officials said.

Most companies had raised concerns about the size of the blocks or fields on offer. They say 10 square kilometer offering, one-tenth of the smallest block ever offered in the previous bid rounds, is too small.

The small size of the offering places prohibitive operational costs on big companies and such fields are viable only for small players with one-rig operation, they said.

Magna Energy, the firm floated by maverick oil explorer Mike Watts who gave India its largest oilfield in Rajasthan, too is not likely to bid even though it was betting big on the country.

Sources said the government should have ideally clubbed two or more fields into a single unit to improve bidding prospects. Also, data on reserves in the fields and their extension beyond the block boundaries were also found to be inadequate.

Previously, the last date of bidding for the Discovered Small Field Bid Round was October 31 but was extended to November 21.

DGH chief Atanu Chakraborty in a presentation on the bid round said 67 discovered fields are being offered under 46 contract areas. Of these, 26 are on-land, 18 shallow water and 2 deepest fields.

The fields hold an in-place reserves of 48 million tonnes of oil (17.85 mt in on-land blocks and 30.19 mt on offshore blocks) and over 38 billion cubic metres of gas reserves (7.20 bcm in on-land blocks and 31.18 bcm in offshore areas).
Earlier it was decided that state will look at goods tax and Centre at service tax.

Mr Isaac said Centre prefers to have a vertical split of all dealers for assessment under GST.

New Delhi: Centre and states on Sunday once again failed to agree on the issue of who will assess whom under the proposed GST at an informal meeting.

"The meeting has remained incomplete. Discussions will continue on November 25," said finance minister Arun Jaitley after the over three hour long meeting.

The informal meeting on Sunday was held without civil servants to arrive at a political solution. Centre is racing against time to roll out GST from 1st April.

States are unrelenting on their position of being given right to control all assessees with up to `1.5 crore annual turnover. Now it has been decided that officials will meet again on Monday before the meeting of the all powerful GST Council on November 25. Earlier it was decided that state will look at goods tax and Centre at service tax.

However, the issue again cropped up as it was realised that there are some industries or people who are registered as both.

States like West Bengal, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have insisted on exclusive control over small taxpayers, who earn less than Rs 1.5 crore in annual revenue, for both goods and services.

Uttarakhand Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh said states demanded exclusive control for both goods and service tax assessees of Rs 1.5 crore and below.

Centre is agreeable on goods, but is not yielding on services. States are looking at their interest to safeguard their revenue. Centre will have to yield to states to get the CGST and IGST bills passed.

A middle ground on the issue has to be worked out politically, she said.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac said it is a stalemate and his state is unwilling to compromise as it has virtually given up its taxation rights. State like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Odisha and Uttarakhand, said that small taxpayers cannot be harassed by dual control.

Mr Isaac said Centre prefers to have a vertical split of all dealers for assessment under GST.

They are taking a rigid stand but I hope good sense will prevail at the Centre, he said.
slamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is prohibited under Islam.

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India has proposed opening of Islamic window in conventional banks for gradual introduction of Sharia-compliant or interest-free banking in the country.

Both the Centre and RBI are exploring the possibility of introduction of Islamic banking for long to ensure financial inclusion of those sections of the society that remain excluded due to religious reasons.

In our considered opinion, given the complexities of Islamic finance and various regulatory and supervisory challenges involved in the matter and also due to the fact that Indian banks have no experience in this field, Islamic banking may be introduced in India in a gradual manner.

Initially, a few simple products which are similar to conventional banking products may be considered for introduction through Islamic window of the conventional banks after necessary notification by the government.

Introduction of full-fledged Islamic banking with profit-loss sharing complex products may be considered at a later stage on the basis of experience gained in course of time, the RBI has told finance ministry in a letter, a copy of which was received in response to an RTI query.

Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is prohibited under Islam. It is also our understanding that interest-free banking for financial inclusion will require a proper process of the product being certified as Sharia compliant will be required both on the asset and liability side and the funds received under the interest-free banking could not be mingled with other funds and therefore, this banking will have to be conducted under a separate window, it said.

The central banks proposal is based on examination of legal, technical and regulatory issues regarding feasibility of introducing Islamic banking in India on the basis of recommendation of the Inter Departmental Group (IDG).
Contrary to reports, Abhishek said that the makers of Dhoom series have not announced its 4th instalment yet.

Mumbai: Bachchan Jr has put an end to speculations about him starring in the next instalment of Dhoom franchise. When asked about progress of Dhoom 4, the actor admitted to knowing nothing about the development of the script and confirmed that it is not happening anytime soon.

We havent yet got the script for Dhoom. I have no idea if Aditya is developing something right now. And also Victor (Acharya), who made the last part of Dhoom is busy making another film. As of right now I dont know what the status of Dhoom is. But, Im sure once they are ready well announce it, Abhishek was reported as saying.

Rumours are rife that the Housefull 3 star will be seen in Hera Pheri 3 alongside Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty. But, that too, Abhishek asserts, is not happening.

No, Hera Pheri is not happening right now.
SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav recently ruled out entering into any alliance for assembly polls.

Lucknow: Rashtriya Lok Dal, Janata Dal (U) and a local outfit BS-4 on Monday announced their alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, a move which comes after SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav ruled out entering into any alliance.

RLD chief Ajit Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and BS-4 leader Bachan Singh Yadav held a joint press conference in Lucknow to announce their alliance which will contest on all the 403 Assembly seats.

"There is no name of this alliance as of now but it will be an honest alliance. Though this is an alliance of three parties, talks are on with other smaller outfits," they said.

Attacking Mulayam, Ajit Singh said during Bihar Assembly polls all 'Lohia wadi' and 'Charan Singh wadi' parties had agreed for an "alliance with SP" but then SP declined.

"Now when alliance talks were on with SP, Mulayam talked about merger," he said, wondering, "Why Mulayam does not want any alliance against communal forces."

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said they were trying for unity for a long time and "Mulayam was projected as a leader but it did not materialise."

"I would have merged my party with SP on Mulayam's call but no time is left for this," he said.

The SP supremo had recently ruled out any alliance for the UP Assembly polls, but had said mergers with his party could be considered.

Yadav said on invitation of the SP supremo he, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Ajit Singh, JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda had attended the silver jubilee celebrations of SP here on November 5.

"At that time, it appeared that alliance talks have started but nothing came out of it," he said.

Appealing to the people of the state to support the new alliance, the JD-U leader said it wanted to take the politics of the state on the right track and people should "support" it.

JD(U) General Secretary KC Tyagi said at the time of grand alliance (formed during Bihar polls) leaders had accepted everything what Mulayam said but even after that he left it.

Asked about possibility of Congress joining the alliance, Ajit Singh said, "No talks have been initiated with Congress in this regard."
Ulfa (Independent) has weakened but recruitments are still continuing, says Mukesh Sahay.

DGP Assam Police Mukesh Sahay at spot after three Indian army troopers were killed and four other critically injured suspected ULFA(I) militants ambushed then at Pengri in Tinsukia district, Assam. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Sustained counter-insurgency operations against militants in the troubled Northeast region have hit them hard, as a result of which they are trying to combine forces to fight the government, Assams police chief told this newspaper.

These militant organisations are in a considerably weakened state. That is the reason they are trying to combine forces and put up a united platform to attack government forces, said Mukesh Sahay, director general of police, Assam.

Ulfa (Independent) has weakened but recruitments are still continuing. We have information of about 30 youth who have joined the outfit in recent months, some of whom we have nabbed. But, the magnitude of recruitment is not like before.

Ulfa(I) is lead by Paresh Barua, who is opposed to the governments ongoing talks with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led Ulfa faction. Barua leads hundreds of heavily-armed fighters from his camps in the China-Myanmar border and in Myanmars Sagaing Division.

On Sunday, the Ulfa(I) and the Coordination Committee (CorCom)  a conglomeration of Imphal valley-based Meitei insurgent outfits  claimed responsibility for Saturdays attack on an Army convoy that killed three soldiers and injured four more near Assams Pengeri.

Under this Operation Barak, a joint team attacked the 15 Kumaon Regiment of Indian Army at Burhi Dihing, Tinsukia, Assam on 2016 November 19, 05:30 hours IST. In this attack the joint team killed three soldiers and injured four or more and were able to recover two weapons (one AK Rifle and one INSAS Rifle), said the release e-mailed to this newspaper.

The insurgents involved in the Pengeri attack entered eastern Assam through the Tirap and Changlang areas of Arunachal Pradesh. We are trying to find out whether they are still in the state or have left for the camps across the border in Myanmar and combing operations are in full swing, he said.

Last year, the NE militant organisations came together under an umbrella organisation called the United National Liberation Front of Western South-East Asia (UNLFW) comprising NSCN (K), ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).

On Sunday evening, Meitei insurgents blasted a grenade inside a compound in Imphal where the defence PROs office and Assam Rifles offices are located, injuring one armyman.
An emergency meeting of senior Madhya Pradesh police officers was convened in the wee hours.

Heavy police force deployment as security has been beefed up in wake of SIMI operatives encounter in Bhopal. (Photo: PTI)

Bhopal: A high alert has been sounded in Bhopal following intelligence inputs on a possible strike on the central jail here by Islamic fundamentalists to avenge the October 31 encounter killing of eight suspected Simi members on the outskirts of the city.

An emergency meeting of senior Madhya Pradesh (MP) police officers was convened in the wee hours of Sunday, soon after the alert reached police headquarters here at around 2.30 am, a senior police officer told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

Simi may launch a major attack on Bhopal Central Jail within three days to avenge the October 31 killing of eight of their members in the encounter after they escaped the prison. Some terrorists have already intruded the walled city and conducted recee around the high security jail, the police officer quoting the intelligence report said. As many as 21 under-trial Simi members are currently lodged in Bhopal Central Jail.

We have strengthened security in the Bhopal Central Jail as well as in the city following the alert. Besides, authorities of all the Central jails, district jails and sub-jails in the state have been asked to be on high alert following the threat of attack from the Islamic radicals, he added.
As many as 70 patients admitted in the hospital were evacuated by the fire brigade personnel.

A fire broke out at SSKM Hospital  the lone state-run super speciality hospital in West Bengal  on Monday morning. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Kolkata: A fire broke out at SSKM Hospital  the lone state-run super speciality hospital in West Bengal  on Monday morning, triggering the memory of the AMRI catastrophe. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.

The fire broke out around 11:15 am at the library section of Ronald Ross Block. The library, where medical books and documents are stored, is situated on the rooftop of Ronald Ross Block  a five-storey building housing multiple departments of the hospital.

Several patients were trapped on the top floor where plastic surgery (male) ward is located. They were seen waving their hands through the windows for help as the situation aggravated.

Initially, five fire engines were pressed into service. But relatives of some patients alleged that these engines did not have water. Eleven more fire engines and a hydraulic ladder were later rushed to the spot.

As many as 70 patients admitted in the Ronald Ross building were evacuated by the fire brigade personnel. The fire was brought under control within the next one and half an hour.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, fire and emergency services minister Sovan Chatterjee, and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim rushed to the hospital.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the incident and said an inquiry would be conducted to look into the possibility of any sabotage that could have caused the fire. Two fire engines would be stationed at the hospital permanently from now onwards, she added.
The notification required to be issued under the RBI Act for printing new currency has not been issued, said Congress.

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not following the law in issuance of Rs 2,000 currency notes and vowed to raise the matter inside and outside Parliament.

Claiming that the PM had plunged the country into "financial anarchy", senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the introduction of Rs 2,000 denomination notes is an "illegal act" as the the notification required to be issued under the RBI Act for printing new currency has not been issued, ignoring what is mandatory under the law.

He also hit out at the Government's move to put indelible ink on the fingers of those exchanging notes.

A united opposition will raise this issue vociferously in Parliament besides making it a subject for mass movement, the Congress said.

The Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha alleged that the Prime Minister is consciously deflecting attention from key issues and "fooling poor masses by masquerading as a crusader against black money under the garb of nationalism" and said those supporting PM "and his apologists are illiterate in Constitution and in law."

"The Prime Minister is squarely responsible for plunging the country into financial anarchy. There is an undeclared financial emergency without invoking the provisions of Article 360 of the Constitution.

"The Prime Minister's sensational and theatrical announcement of November 8 on demonetization had no legal sanctity as the monetary policy is the domain of the Reserve Bank of India," Sharma said.

The introduction of Rs 2,000 currency denomination is an illegal act, since under the RBI Act no notification has been issued, and such issuance is mandatory before the introduction of a new currency note, he said.

"Circulation of this illegal new currency of Rs 2000 denomination contradicts government's move to control black money circulation and is a continued illegality," Sharma told PTI.

The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of making misleading statements and violating the law and the Constitution multiple times.

In a scathing attack on the government for its move to put ink on fingers of common people exchanging notes, he said, "Even dictators have not done what this government has done.

"Only the Nazis branded people. Our citizens and foreign guests are also being branded for withdrawing money. It is a matter of shame and concern.Incredible India has been overnight converted into Indelible India," he alleged.

Sharma said the replacements of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination are not yet ready and this scarcity has put people to inconvenience.

"It is inflicting great suffering on the people, especially the poor, the farmers and the total workforce of 33 crore Indians in the unorganised sector and the farm labour," he said.

He accused the Prime Minister of having besmirched the image of India internationally as a rules based country.

Major opposition parties have already come together in Parliament to take on the Government on the demonetization decision and its implementation.

Sharma said neither the PM nor the Finance Minister have any legal sanction or authority to prevent and deny people access to their own bank accounts and impose limits on the withdrawal from savings accounts of households, citizens and salaried employees.

"The opposition is justified and firm in its demand for a JPC probe on the selective leakage of government's move. This leakage is a violation of the secrecy and directly helped hoarders of black money, aided the laundering of money abroad and also diversion of investments through bullion, stocks, bonds and securities.

"We are firm and determined to take this to a logical conclusion and to expose the intent and actions of this government," Sharma said.

The former Union minister said the demonetization move had affected employment in a big way.

"This money belongs to the people and you are now making them beg for their own money. This has never happened in any country," he said.
Pune: An infant girl died at KEM Hospital in Pune on Sunday after she was allegedly refused treatment by a prominent hospital for her heart condition, apparently over the issue of payment in demonetised currency notes.

However, Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was to be admitted for heart surgery, refuted the claim made by her relatives that their request to accept at least part payment in defunct banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 was turned down.

A close relative of Amrapali and Gaurab Kunte, parents of the deceased girl, said the doctors had advised them to admit her to Ruby Hall Clinic for heart surgery.

"However, when we went to Ruby on Saturday morning, the billing department gave us quotation of Rs 3.5 lakh and told us to deposit the same before any treatment.

"We then offered to make Rs 1 lakh payment in demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. However, the hospital administration refused to accept these notes," claimed Sudhakar Gawandgave.

He said her parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards.

"When they (Ruby Clinic) turned down the demonetised bills, we offered them that we would pay Rs 1 lakh through current cheque and Rs 30,000 through card payment and requested them to allow the remaining payment through another cheque, which needs to be deposited in bank on Monday," Gawandgave said.

He alleged that the hospital administration turned down their offer and instead demanded full payment which he said resulted into wastage of golden hours.

"They made us run from pillar to post to admit the girl. Had she been admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital, the golden hours would not have been wasted.

"The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning," Gawandgave said.

When contacted, Dr Sanjay Pathare, Director, Medical Services, at Ruby Hall Clinic, refuted as "baseless and false" the claims made by the relatives.
Home ministry officials said the NDRF personnel were making best possible efforts to rescue the trapped victims.

New Delhi: Following Union home minister Rajnath Singhs orders, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Sunday rushed additional reinforcements  five teams comprising over 200 specialised personnel  for assisting relief and rescue operations after Patna-Indore Express derailed near Kanpur early morning.

The NDRF teams have been able to rescue 50 passengers so far, including 16 of those who were trapped inside the mangled compartments.

NDRF chief R.K. Pachnanda, who visited the site, said an additional force has been kept on high alert so they can be rushed on a short notice.

Of the five teams sent to the spot, the first comprising 35 personnel was rushed to the site immediately after the accident  around 5.30am  from its Regional Response Centre (RRC) in Lucknow. The team reached the spot around 8am and started the search and rescue operation.

Two more teams comprising 79 personnel from Varanasi also reached in a few hours. To strengthen the operation, two more NDRF teams comprising 75 personnel were airlifted from Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad.

The NDRF teams comprised trained responders, equipped with disaster management gadgets and medical components. Since most victims were trapped inside the mangled bogies, it took a significant time to take out the bodies. Home ministry officials said the NDRF personnel were making best possible efforts to rescue the trapped victims. The home minister expressed pain over the loss of lives and said an inquiry will be held to find out the cause. There will definitely be a probe to find out how it happened.
An official team headed by MP minister for water resources Narottam Mishra was dispatched to the accident site.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan enquiring the health of injured passengers of Indore-Patna train accident, during his visit at hospital in Kanpur. (Photo: PTI)

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday rushed to Kanpur to visit the people injured in the pre-dawn train tragedy caused by the derailment of Indore-Patna Express in Kanpur rural area in Uttar Pradesh, in the hospital there.

Mr Chouhan who announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured in the mishap, described the incident as most unfortunate and said the passengers from MP and Bihar were the worst-affected in the incident.

An official team headed by MP minister for water resources Narottam Mishra was dispatched to the accident site to identify the deceased passengers belonging to the state and make arrangements to carry bodies to their native places.

The team has also been entrusted with the task of arranging medical treatment for the injured passengers belonging to the state.
A united Opposition has demanded the PMs response on the issue in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

New Delhi/Agra: Asserting that his governments demonetisation decision had the aashirwaad (blessings) of the poor, the middle class, tribals, farmers, educated and honest people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took on his political opponents who have castigated the decision and blamed the governments ill-preparedness for its aftermath. A united Opposition has demanded the PMs response on the issue in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Addressing the BJPs Parivartan Rally in Agra, in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the PM, without naming anyone, also targeted Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee and BSP supremo Mayawati, who have been vehemently attacking the governments move. The Opposition had claimed the decision had led to economic anarchy across India and adversely affected the poor and middle class, who were forced to stand in queues outside ATMs and banks. Mr Modi also took on the Congress for failing to take any stringent action against black money, corruption and fake currency just to remain in power for the maximum number of years since Independence. He expressed confidence that the objective of ending corruption, black money and the fake currency menace, that was the reason behind the decision, would be achieved. Mr Modi said he was aware of the problems being faced by the people, but promised that India would emerge from the hardship in the same way that gold takes shape after a tough process.

Lauding UP and its people for not sending a bikaao person to rule from Delhi, Mr Modi declared ye ladaai lambi hai (the fight against corruption and black money will be long). Mr Modi, the longest-serving CM of Gujarat, is an MP from UPs Varanasi constituency.

Taking a dig at his critics, the PM said his decision had affected them the most as they have been criticising him as well as the decision. He also said the decision to scrap the `500 and `1,000 denomination notes was not intended to cause harassment to ordinary citizens but they would have to undergo trouble for 50 days to ensure there can be a bright future for coming generations.

In an apparent attack at TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Mr Modi said those who had protected the people involved in the chit fund scam, which forced many of its victims to commit suicide, were now questioning him over the demonetisation decision. Many top TMC leaders were questioned and some arrested by the CBI in the Saradha chit fund scam. He also attacked BSP supremo Mayawati, though without naming her, as he said that those who used to sell party tickets have lost everything after the decision, and asked: What will happen to those (stashed) notes (after demonetisation)? Many former BSP leaders had accused Ms Mayawati of selling party tickets.

Ms Banerjee and Ms Mayawati had vehemently attacked the governments move and their parties, along with other Opposition parties, have been demanding that the PM be present in the House when the issue is raised. While Ms Banerjee had claimed India had not witnessed such a crisis even during the Emergency which it has been seeing since the demonetisation, Ms Mayawati asked the PM to shed his stubbornness and dictatorial attitude and think about the sufferings of the common man due to the demonetisation drive.

This is our effort to ensure that the middle class gets its due, the aspirations of the poor are fulfilled and the exploitation of the middle class comes to end. This black economy is making the country hollow from within, Mr Modi said at the rally, where he also referred to the many initiatives taken by his government to help the poor, the middle class, tribals and farmers. He also cautioned those having Jan Dhan accounts in banks not to fall into the trap of those asking them to deposit some black money in their accounts. Mr Modi also said his governments action had troubled the corrupt and those having black money, who have been badmouthing him since the decision.
New Delhi: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving speeches on bullet trains but not about maintenance of railway tracks and safety of passengers.

In a reference to the Indore-Patna Express mishap on Sunday which killed 142 people, Rahul said the PM never consults even his own ministers, but operates on his own level.

On demonetisation, Rahul alleged that '15-20 people close to the PM' would fill their coffers, but the poor would suffer standing in queues.

Sarcastically, Rahul said the PM does not even need to come to the Parliament during the Winter Session.

Wherever I went today I saw people were troubled. They said we are standing in queues while banks were giving money to a few rich people from the backdoor, Rahul alleged.

He said he saw people suffering wherever he went on Monday. Rahul had visited ATMs earlier in the day in the national capital to interact with the people.

There is likely to be no let up in Opposition's protest over the demonetisation issue in the second week of the Winter Session of Parliament.

At a meeting of opposition parties this morning, it was decided that they will continue to press for an adjournment motion on demonetisation amid suggestions that

House may begin discussions under a separate rule which does not entail voting and moving a formal motion.

"The meeting at the outset noted with concern the insensitivity of the government regarding the train accident.

On an earlier occasion, the Prime Minister had rushed to an accident site in Kerala. But yesterday he was in Agra and did not go to the site," said CPI(M) leader Mohd Salim.

He said the opposition would also press for an obituary and adjournment of proceedings as a mark of respect for the people who are said to have died standing in queues at banks and ATMs victims.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge agreed that there is no precedent but added that the opposition would still press for it.

He also said the opposition may organise a dharna on the issue of demonetisation at Mahatma Gandhi's statue outside Parliament House but a final call could be taken this evening or tomorrow.

Discussions also took place on meeting the President after the dharna, but no final decision could be arrived at.

"The PM can speak on Coldplay but not address the Opposition on demonetisation, demands for a JPC on (alleged) leakage of demonetisation information to some corporates and deaths of people standing in queue to get money from banks and ATMs," said Salim.
Home minister Rajnath Singh also expressed deep pain over the loss of lives.

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi condoled the train tragedy in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur Dehat district in which more than 115 people were killed and over 200 were injured in the wee hours of Sunday. Expressing grief over the tragic incident, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi asked the Railways to work towards achieving the zero accident target.

I am sad to learn about the accident in which many have lost their lives and a number of people have been injured. I am sure that the state government is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as medical aid to the injured, President Pranab Mukherjee said in a message to Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.

He said Railway minister Suresh Prabhu is personally monitoring the situation and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the mishap from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund.

Mr Modi observed two-minute silence to condole the loss of lives at the Rail Vikas Shivir, Surajkund, on the outskirts of the national capital, asking the Railways to work towards achieving the zero accident target to make train journeys safe.

Home minister Rajnath Singh also expressed deep pain over the loss of lives. He said there will be an inquiry into the incident to find out the detail cause of it.

Ms Gandhi in her condolence message said, Words cant describe the pain and anguish of those who lost their near and dear ones and the entire country stands in solidarity to share this unbearable sorrow.

The Congress president also asked the local Congress unit to assist in the relief and rescue operations along with the authorities. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also expressed her condolences over the incident.
The government denied on Sunday rumours that it has withdrawn concession for weddings and to farmers.

People stand in long queues outside a bank to exchange their old Rs 500 and 1000 notes in Bhiwandi, Mumbai. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: As banks open on Monday after the weekend, long queues are expected at bank branches and at ATMs. On Saturday, most of the banks had restricted their exchange of old notes to senior citizens and on Sunday banks were closed. Many ATMs were also running dry on Sunday, so people are expected to flock to banks on the beginning of the week.

The government denied on Sunday rumours that it has withdrawn concession for weddings and to farmers. During the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had retweeted a tweet alleging that the government had silently withdrawn higher cash limit for marriages and farmers. No withdrawal of any concession for farmers or for weddings. Aspects of notification 3408 now included in 3407 as a technical correction, tweeted economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das.

Last week, the government had said that in case of a marriage in the family, they can withdraw Rs 2.50 lakh in cash from their bank accounts. This limit will apply separately to the girls family and the boys family.

To help farmers in the rabi season, the government had permitted them to draw upto Rs 25,000 per week in cash from their accounts.

This facility will also apply to the Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Farmer who received money through cheque/RTGS from registered mandis were also be permitted to withdraw up to Rs 25,000 per week in cash.

Meanwhile, a number of states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Sunday raised the issue of demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupee notes and its impact on state treasuries with

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Before the start of informal meeting on GST, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said the ban on old currency notes would trigger recession as industrial activity would be hurt and tax collection would recede, said sources. Tamil Nadu too joined the chorus saying that industrial activity is hurt and while Uttar Pradesh said factories in Kanpur and Moradabad have closed operations. Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said many states have reported informally that they have seen a significant decline in revenues.

If 86 per cent of your money disappears, there is a problem for the people. There is a collateral impact on investments sentiments, Mr Isaac said. As per sources all states were in agreement that their revenues will get impacted and employment will be hit, but nobody demanded a roll back.
The opposition parties want the Prime Minister to speak in Rajya Sabha over the issue of demonetisation.

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were on Monday adjourned for the day as the united Opposition escalated their attack on the government over the demonetisation move.

While Congress, BSP, TMC and CPI(M) among others wanted a resolution condoling the deaths to come from the Chair, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley charged the Opposition of running away from the demonetisation debate.

Slogan-shouting opposition members rushed into the well of the House, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the proceedings till 1130 hours and then again till noon.

"Why are they (opposition parties) running away from debate," Jaitley asked. "This is clear now that the opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House."

Stating that the notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 was accepted on first day of the winter session and a debate had started, he said the reported deaths could come up during the course of this debate and the reply to it.

No sooner that the House mourned the death of 130 persons in the derailment of Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur yesterday, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said an obituary reference condoling the death of 70 people due to hardships caused by the demonetisation should be moved by the Chair.

He was supported by Mayawati (BSP) who said people have died standing in queues because of hunger, want of medicines and waiting for currency for marriage.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) said while condolences have been expressed for those killed in yesterday's train accident, the same should be done for the 70 people who have lost their lives in last 15 days.

"They are also citizens of this country. We want such an obituary reference to come from the Chair," he said, adding that Prime Minister Narenda Modi should also come to the House for the debate.

Kurien said if the members were ready, the discussion on demonetisation issue can resume immediately. "I would like to make it very clear that the Chair is ready for discussion if you are ready," he said.

Stating that 11 bank employees were among the 70 who lost their lives, Yechury asked the Chair to take the opinion of the House on moving a resolution condoling their death. He said the debate could be held after the obituary reference is made by the Chair.

Kurien however virtually ruled it out saying "condolences are not done on demand. That has to come spontaneously. You can approach the Chairman (on that)."

To this, Yechury said "take consensus of the House". At this point, opposition Congress, BSP and TMC members rushed into the Well shouting slogans.

"Narendra Modi sharam karo, sharam karo (shame on Narendra Modi)", "Modi sadan mein jawab do (Modi please reply in the House)", "poonjiwadio ki yeh sarkar nahi chalegi (this government of capitalists will not be tolerated)", "Jan virodhi Narendra Modi sharma karo, sharam karo (shame on anti-people Narendra Modi)," they shouted.

TMC members carried placards with "Financial Emergency" written. Kurien then adjourned the proceedings till 1130 hours.

No sooner did Deputy Chairman Kurien occupy the Chair and called Dilip Tirkey (BJD) to start his Zero Hour mention, Congress members trooped into the Well.

Kurien suggested that members could continue the discussion on demonetisation of currency, but Congress members kept shouting slogans and other opposition members were seen standing on the aisles.

Amid din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too pitched for continuation of the debate. "Many members want to speak (on the demonetisation)," he said.

Yechury (CPI-M) again asked the Chair for an obituary reference for those who died while standing in queues outside banks due to the demonetisation move.

Kurien said there is a procedure for such references and suggested that the members to approach Rajya Sabha Chairman.

"What is the authenticity of numbers (of dead) you are speaking," he said, adding that obituary references cannot be taken up suo motu.

As Naqvi pressed for continuation of the debate on currency notes, the vociferous protests continued while BJP members kept shouting "We want discussion. We want discussion". Kurien then adjourned the House till noon.

As soon as House met at noon for the Question Hour, Opposition members again rose from their seats and started shouted slogans over demonetisation of currency.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari asked the members to let the Question Hour continue, but the Opposition did not relent.

Members including those from the Congress, TMC and BSP were seen standing along their seats with many of them shouting slogans.

Following the din in the House, Ansari adjourned the proceedings for the third time today for 30 minutes.

When Rajya Sabha reassembled at 1234 hours, Opposition members rose from their seats raising slogans over the demonetisation issue.

Ansari tried to pacify the members so that the Question Hour could be taken up but his efforts were futile.

Members including those from the Congress, TMC and BSP were seen standing along their seats and several were seen shouting anti-government slogans.

Amidst the din, Naqvi shouted "the sense of the country is against black money. Sense of the country is in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

As the uproar continued, the House was adjourned till 1400 hours. As the House reassembled at 1400 hours, Opposition members raised the demonetisation issue while protesting that the government had "sent a junior minister" to make a statement on the the rail accident of near Kanpur in which the death toll has mounted to 133.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said that no statement of the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was circulated. "Railway minister is available, but yet he sends a junior minister. Railway Minister made a statement in the Lok Sabha, but he is not giving adequate respect to the Rajya Sabha," the Congress leader said.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain read out the statement, as a Congress MP tore a copy of the statement.

The Congress members then trooped into the Well raising slogans like "Gali gali main shor hai, Narendra Modi chor hai", prompting members of the Treasury bench to raise slogans against the opposition.

Following this, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till 3 PM.

As soon as Rajya Sabha met again at 3 PM, BJP members started raising slogans to counter the Opposition. They shouted "Rahul Gandhi chor hai", "Sonia Gandhi chor hai" and "Congress chor hai".

This provoked Congress members to troop into the Well and shouting slogans like "Gali gali main shor hai, Narendra Modi chor hai".

Members from other opposition parties including SP, BSP, CPI and TMC also rose from there seats, but did not raise any slogans. Following the continued din over currency demonetisation and the government's statement on the rail accident near Kanpur, Deputy Chairman Kurien adjourned the House for the day.

Here are the live updates from Day 4 of Winter Session of Parliament:
The party is likely to field around 50 to 70 candidates, who have joined the saffron fold from other political outfits.

BJP President Amit Shah holds a sword as Deputy chief minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP punjab President Vijay sampla look on during Booth Workers Samellan in Jalandhar. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The BJP is busy preparing for the crucial electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh by fine-tuning its caste arithmetic, getting updated on social and political factors and vetting influential people who are not eyeing a ticket.

While all eyes are on the partys candidates list, its poll managers want to make sure that past mistakes, including those during the Bihar Assembly elections, are not repeated, whether related to chosing the right candidate to highlighting the right poll issue during campaigning.

BJP president Amit Shah, sources said, is having regular meetings with the partys state leaders and also getting regular feedback from ditsrict levels on issues that can impact partys poll prospects.

The BJP is also taking feedback on the Modi governments latest demonetisation move as its opponents, including the SP and the BSP, are criticising it as a burden on the comman man.

Sources said a team of dedicated supporters, who will be given crucial tasks, is being vetted by the partys poll managers.

This team will mostly include influential people, who are not vying for party a ticket, but have influence in their respective areas.

Though the party had earlier decided to announce some candidates names by August, it decided to delay the announcement after getting inputs that it could lead to dissent and leadership should do more ground work before finalising the names.

The party is likely to field around 50 to 70 candidates, who have joined the saffron fold from other political outfits.

While corruption, development and law and order situation are going to be BJPs main poll planks, party leadership wants that even issues that are considered important in a particular area, is highlighted during campaigning. Mr Shah, sources said, has asked state leaders to apprise him of all the important social, cultural and political events from every ditsrict of the state.
Kharge claimed that a few BJP leaders were also against the way the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was taken.

New Delhi: Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge has said the Narendra Modi government announced the demonetisation of high-value currency notes without any preparation and the Opposition wants a serious discussion on the issue under the rules that entail voting.

The decision was taken in haste, without any preparation. This has hit people at the lower level. 60 people have so far died in queues outside ATMs and banks, he claimed.

Mr Kharge said Congress was willing to debate the issue under Rule 56, but the government wanted to discuss it under Rule 193, which does not entail voting. It is merely a formality. The government is evading questions, he alleged.

Asked if the Opposition will allow Parliament to function tomorrow, Mr Kharge said, The government should agree to a debate on demonetisation under Rule 56. All parameters of a debate will be met under the rule.

The Modi dispensation has completed two-and-a-half years in office, but has failed to come out with tthose having Swiss bank accounts, he said.

He claimed that a few BJP leaders were also against the way the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was taken.

The entire House is on the same page in this regard, he said. The Opposition will also try to pin down the government on the issue of One Rank One Pension scheme, the Jammu and Kashmir turmoil and surgical strikes, Kharge added.
Known by the name Goddess Esther, she claims that the taste of blood gives her a high.

Georgina Condon, 39, was so addicted to drinking her own blood since she was teenager that she would even cut herself. (Photo: Facebook)

Step aside Dracula. A 39-year-old woman in Australia is actually addicted to drinking her own blood. Her thirst for blood was so acute that she would even cut herself to supply her demand.

Known by the name Goddess Esther, she claims that the taste of blood gives her a high and often visits gothic underground club to fulfil her needs. Surprisingly she gets many volunteers who have no qualms to offer their blood.

Georgina even seems to have a scientific explanation of sorts for her weird habit. Because the white cells dominate the red, my iron count is low, so the adding of red blood cells from red meat and  in my case  blood, helps with anaemia. So that could partly explain my craving. Im no scientist, but it has always been a theory of mine, she told news.com.au.
The 6-year-old said he wanted to keep Syrian child Omran Daqneesh at his house and would consider him as a brother.

Washington: Ongoing conflicts across the world have caused the worst refugee crisis since the second world war which was followed by support as well opposition for giving access to refugees to Europe and the US, and the issue also managed to start a heated political debate.

As the situation worsens, children seem to be the worst affected as has been seen in disturbing images of a drowned Syrian child Alan Kurdi and Omran Daqneesh who was seen traumatised in an ambulance after being rescued. Omrans pictured had resulted in a boy from New York City writing to US President Barrack Obama, offering refugees a place at their house.

As Barack Obamas stay at the White House nears an end, he finally met the the child named Alex, whose humane gesture for refugees touched him. He said, I liked what you wrote so much that I ended up reading it to everybody. You being so nice, and kind, hopefully make other people think the same way. So I was very proud of you.

The emotional moment when Obama met the child, who said he would consider Omran his brother, was captured in a video shared by White House.

Click below to watch:
While contractors are weighed down over the scrapping of most circulated high-value denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

New Delhi: With the agriculture produce wholesale market and livestock food market taking the beating of currency demonetisation, the daily wage labourer class, especially the migrant labourers, are the worst hit. The correspondent visited citys railway stations and intern-state bus terminus where scores of workers and labourers are seen waiting in a queue to head home.

In the last one week, the city, which is home to over 1,00,000 migrant labourers, has witnessed mass exodus of migrant labourers due to note ban. While the contractors are weighed down over the scrapping of most circulated high-value denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the labourers feel that they have been punched hard in the stomach.

Badri Ram Prasad (45), a contract labour who was working in an under-construction site near Mayur Vihar, had to spend three nights under the railway bridge pavement until he had no choice but to head home. We were a group of 13 labourers who had come to the city in April from West Bengal and Bihar. Everything was working in our favour until a week back. The contractor who had paid us in advance now says that he has run out of money. For few days we managed to survive, but now we are out of cash and have no place to go then head home.

Lallan Devrai, a 60-year-old labourer who hails from Muzzaffarpur in Bihar, thanked his stars when he learnt about the scrapping of the notes. Huddled in a group, to get inside the train which was about to leave Anand Vihar Railway Station on Sunday, Lallan with moist eyes told this newspaper, It was a hard punch in the stomach for workers like us who live on cash daily. I am fortunate that my work in Manasa in Punjab got over in time and I am heading home. However, there are over 2,500 labourers still there in Manasa who are cash-stripped and cant even go home.

Since the Demon-ti-sation policy  as the labour force and lower working class term it  has come into effect, the lower working class has been severely hit. During the visit, a large number of migrant labourer population was seen living in a makeshift home at railway stations and inter-state bus terminals like Anand Vihar ISBT, Sarai Kale Khan, and New Delhi railway station.
Your policies should provide relief for the people and not make them suffer, says Mamata.

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of equating corruption with anyone who opposes his policy. Pradhan Mantriji, you are equating corruption with anyone who opposes your policy. Are you the only magician? Listen to the voice of the people . Feel their pain. People will not forgive you for this. They are suffering, Ms Banerjee tweeted.

The TMC supremos reaction on Sunday came a few hours after PM Narendra Modi had said that politicians under whom chit-fund scams prospered are now raising a finger at him even as the decision was not taken to trouble anyone but to safeguard future of Indias youth.

It is clear that the Prime Minister had made an an indirect reference to Ms Banerjee who has been extremely vocal following his decision of demonetising of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as it has resulted in untold sufferings for common people, a Trinamul Congress MP who refused to be named said.

Ms Banerjee further made two tweets in Hindi  Dont take the sufferings of people as something funny. Your policies should provide relief for the people and not make them suffer. (Loko ki taklif ko masaak mat samjhiye. Aap ki policy se janta ko taklif kyon hoga, rahat honi chahiye). The economy of every state and the country are collapsing. The people are in pain and you are celebrating. (Har state ki pure desh ki economy tahes nahesh ho rahi hai. Janata dukh mein aur aap khushi mana rahi hai).

Earlier in the day, Mr Modi said political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams are attacking him as they have been hit hard by demonetisation.

I know what sort of people are raising their voice against me. Does the country not know whose money was invested in chit-fund business? Lakhs of poor invested in chit funds...and crores of rupees vanished, he said at a rally in Agra.
Hamid Karzai was here to attend the ceremony of the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for social justice.

Mumbai: Former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has expressed concern over Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, saying that Indias surgical strike in Pak-occupied Kashmir (Pok) was a much-awaited step that his country had been demanding for a long time. He also said United States President-elect Donald Trump needs to work with all sections of society, including Muslims, so that terrorism can be fought effectively worldwide.

Mr Karzai was here to attend the ceremony of the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for social justice. He spoke on various issues including Chinas involvement in the Gwadar port and its impact on geo-political equations and cross-border terrorism. Afghanistan and India are victims of extremism and terrorism. The surgical strike by India was a move to eliminate terror sanctuaries, for which my county was wishing for a long time. Though it was a surgical strike, the Indian army had done the right thing, said Mr Karzai.

When asked how Chinas investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through PoK, and its involvement in Gwadar port in Pakistan would affect geo-political equations on the region, Mr Karzai said, We have good relations with China and it has also invested in Afghanistan. Both India and China are lending full cooperation to my country, and we hope China will not support Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and, instead, focus on development.

Gwadar is an economic project and, as far as its concerned, we all appreciate it. But, since Pakistan is using extremist force in our region, we feel that this project should not be in support of promoting extremism. He added that his country would support the gas pipeline project between India and Iran.

Replying to a question on how Mr Trumps regime would affect this region, Mr Karzai said, We have a deep association with the US and we have been fighting against terrorism and extremism. However, we find more radical and extremist elements carrying out violent activities. Therefore, we hope that the US will continue concentrating on stopping terror sanctuaries and those who support them.

He also suggested that Mr Trump deal with Pakistan with an iron hand when it comes to terrorism sponsored on its soil.

To a question on whether or not he thought the Trump government would be hard on Muslims, Mr Karzai said, We do not hope so. Rather we hope that he will work with Muslims as well as all sections of society to keep harmony and peace.
Mr Parrikar said the ship was the first to have a specially integrated underwater Kavach decoy system.

Mumbai: The government on Monday said Chandu Chavan, the Indian soldier who was captured by Pakistan after he inadvertently crossed the Line of Control, is safe and alive and the talks for his safe return were on.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, while addressing the Mumbai media at the time of commissioning of the Kolkata class destroyer INS Chennai said, Frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan are calculated moves, and it is completely influenced by Pakistani politics. While our message is clear that we will not be aggressive unnecessarily, we will take action if it is needed.

Mr Parrikar said while talking to the media that when two neighbourhood countries are friendly it always helps, but we dont want this at the cost of national security.

Replying to a query on National Conference leader Farooq Abdulla claiming that demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 had not made any impact on stone-pelting incidents in the valley, Mr Parrikar reiterated that the series of pelting incidents had stopped.

Describing INS Chennai, Mr Parrikar said the ship was the first to have a specially integrated underwater Kavach decoy system that could change the direction of a missile or a torpedo fired at it by an enemy ship.

INS Chennai is equipped with the supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile system and Barak-8 Long Range surface-to-air missile system. She also has four AK 630 rapid-fire guns, sensors and stealth features, he said.

INS Chennai was constructed at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai. Commenting on the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Mr Parrikar said both the Indian Air Force and the Army had approved its induction. The whole cost of the project was Rs 50,000 crore, and in the initial stage it would get 15 aircrafts.

The defence ministry is also planning to purchase helicopters for the Navy in the next two years, said Mr Parrikar. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, was also present on the occasion. INS Chennai will keep Indias rich maritime tradition alive, he said. Rear Admiral R.K. Sherawat (Retd) CMD MDL, while commenting on the commissioning, said, Whatever has been done has been done with the support of the defence minister.
The Polish Catholic priest wants to be close to his parishioners.

Poland: In his small black Fiat 126 equipped with a blinking roof light shaped like a priest's bireta cap, Father Krzysztof Kauf zaps down the winding mountain road to answer his next call for assistance.

The Polish Catholic priest wants to be close to his parishioners, even if it means driving the tiny car up and down steep roads at any time of day or night.

Kauf recently founded a spiritual emergency hotline for his parishioners in the small southern village of Boleslawow in southern Poland with the aim of helping those in need.

"(People) need the presence of a priest, who will not be locked up inside a church rectory or in the office, but who will accompany them in everyday life, in the everyday life that today is sometimes difficult and hard," he said.

The priest says he has received calls at all sorts of hours, usually from residents asking for help in resolving family disputes, but also to provide comfort in cases of loss.

"In case of a tragedy there is not much to say, but you have to be with the person," he said. "People need it because words cannot express everything as well as the presence of a priest, especially in difficult situations, when you are with them when they need this support."

The small village counts a few hundred residents, some of whom helped Kauf customize the Fiat which advertises its "pastoral emergency" services.

Kauf, who hopes to build a facility where people can come to receive long-term spiritual support, says the small community's calls do not keep him busy all day and night, but jokes he now knows the names of every villager as well as their pets'.

Click below to watch
Modi doesnt know how the poor are grappling with this crisis.

My hackles rise when I hear patriots, usually of the progressive persuasion, describe India as a rich country of poor people. On the contrary, I insist, India is a poor country bursting with rich people. And one reason why the country is poor is that the rich drain it of its wealth. It was so when the Nizam of Hyderabad was reckoned the worlds richest man. It is so today with the richest Indian living in the architectural bizarerrie of the worlds most expensive dwelling.

Not that I have any objection to riches, save that far too little of it comes my way! But what I cannot abide is the hypocrisy that surrounds wealth. The late G.D. Birla, one of Indias richest (and deservedly so) entrepreneurs, prided himself on the simplicity of his lifestyle. Jawaharlal Nehru once boasted he spent only `50 a month, never mind the elaborate infrastructure of supporting the Prime Minister the treasury paid for. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi wasnt the only person it cost a lot of money to keep in poverty.

Sarojini Naidus witticism applies to everyone in public life because almost everyone in that august milieu has mastered the art of making someone else pay for his or her expenses. Remember Indira Gandhi riding a horse-drawn carriage to South Block, ostensibly to save fuel, when the security cars driving in low gear before and after her carriage guzzled petrol?

All this came to mind as I heard Narendra Modis booming boast of the service he has rendered the poor by demonetising Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. Nothing could have been more insulting to Indians as a whole than his crack that the poor now sleep in peace while the rich need sleeping pills. It was like his boast of having given up everything. What has he given up? Surely, his standard of living wasnt more lavish before he became Prime Minister?

Be that as it may, Mr Modi has obviously forgotten what it is to be poor. He doesnt seem to have the least idea of how the poor are grappling with this sudden crisis. Had he taken the trouble of driving casually past a bank even once he would have seen its the poor who queue outside locked doors and ATMs proclaiming No Cash. Thanks to him, workers have been plunged into distress as wage payments are delayed. States are bracing for reduced food production as farmers are unable to access crop loans. The supply of commodities in rural markets has plummeted. Consequently, all prices are spiralling.

Where are the rich? If, as statistics show, Indias 100 richest people have more money than two-thirds of the population put together, it stands to reason that their enormous wealth must include some at least of those tainted notes that are said to account for 85 (or is it 86?) per cent of the currency in circulation. But has Mukesh Ambani ever been glimpsed in the promiscuous proximity of one of those queues? Lakshmi Mittal may be entertaining in faraway Versailles or Windsor Castle (if its for hire) but has anyone spotted one of the other three members of the Big Five  Dilip Shanghvi, Azim Premji or Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry  depositing a few lakhs (or crores) here or changing a pile of big denomination notes into `100 ones there?

What about other billionaires like Shiv Nadar, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Adi Godrej and Shashi and Ravi Ruia? Does any one of them sport a finger marked in supposedly indelible ink? It also strikes me as curious that Ratan Tata, de facto head whatever his technical designation might be, of a group with a market valuation of Rs 6 lakh crores in 2013 (according to an English daily) doesnt ever figure in any list of fat cats.

My bank manager laughed scornfully when I suggested that these tycoons would have serfs and servants to queue, change, deposit and withdraw for them. How many agents can they employ? He retorted, going on to say the price of gold soared to a record Rs 18,000 per 10 grams before jewellers had to close shop. A popular goldsmiths establishment down the road had been selling all night to packed halls, and my banker friend doesnt rule out the probability of sales long after midnight with backdated receipts. Let me say here that bankers have truly excelled themselves in this crisis. I hope they are adequately rewarded for their long hours and diligent labours.

As for backdated receipts, I remember Delhis five-star hotels fudging the date on bar bills to dodge the capitals weekly dry day. Thursdays gimlet was always shown as consumed on Wednesday or Friday. We are good at falsifying evidence. We are good at pretending to be holier than other nations. We drink potable alcohol or IMFL (Indian made foreign liquor) and convince ourselves we are staunch teetotallers.

My mind goes back to 1971 when Indira Gandhi nationalised 214 private sector coking-coal mines and 12 coke-ovens, excluding captive TISCO and IISCO collieries. That, too, was supposed to be a surprise with not a word breathed to anyone in advance. Yet, friends employed as senior executives in the coal departments of British managing agencies were mysteriously transferred weeks before the takeover. Had they stayed on, they would suddenly have found themselves Coal India employees with greatly reduced emoluments and no perks to speak of.

It was even worse when a mining disaster was attributed  rightly or wrongly I dont know  to the dispossessed private owners removing all the underground wooden supports before nationalisation. Obviously, the takeover didnt come as a surprise.

And Washington is supposed to be the capital where government secrets leak out!
Mobile professionals are addicted to Wi-Fi; connectivity impacts their hotel, airline, other travel choices.

The iPass Mobile Professional Report for 2016 revealed a shocking result about the addiction to smartphones in todays professional life. According to a survey report by iPass, more than 1,700 mobile professionals worldwide revealed information about their connectivity habits and preferences, which highlighted the ever-increasing influence of Wi-Fi on our daily lives.

Key findings:

40 per cent of respondents chose Wi-Fi as their number one daily essential, designating it as a higher priority than sex (37 percent), chocolate (14 percent) and alcohol (9 percent). 75 per cent of respondents said that Wi-Fi has improved their quality of life. 63 per cent of respondents prefer using Wi-Fi hotspots over mobile data. 75 per cent of respondents said data is more important than minutes when choosing a cellular contract.

We all want to stay connected and productive in our personal and professional lives. Mobile professionals, in particular, expect to remain connected at all times, whether at home, travelling between client meetings, at their hotel or even inflight, said Patricia Hume, chief commercial officer of iPass. We all want Wi-Fi first, because of faster speeds, lower prices and the better user experience it affords. And with the population of global mobile workers standing well over one billion, employers should be prepared to meet the demands of their employees, by providing them with the connectivity they desire.

Wi-Fi influences travel choices:

For mobile professionals who dont want to be stung by data bills or exorbitant roaming charges, Wi-Fi has become a travel essential, influencing hotel, airport and other travel choices. 72 per cent of respondents have chosen a hotel based on the Wi-Fi experience, with 21 per cent saying they do so all the time. 35 per cent stated the Wi-Fi experience has influenced their choice of airline. 72 per cent use free Wi-Fi at airports if it is available. 73 per cent of respondents have never paid for airport Wi-Fi for professional use, and this number rises to 78 per cent for personal use.

The Wi-Fi experience is increasingly affecting mobile professionals travel choices, even at 30,000 feet, with more than a third of respondents having selected their airline based on its Wi-Fi connectivity offerings. Long gone are the days when Wi-Fi was only a nice-to-have at airports and inflight. Mobile professionals are no longer content to sit and wait for their flights. Instead, they want to remain productive or simply unwind during this valuable time, continued Hume.

Companies find safe mobile usage policies difficult to enforce

The survey by iPass also highlights the extent to which mobile security remains the biggest obstacle to the use of free Wi-Fi and illustrates the difficulties companies have enforcing safe mobile use policies.

One in two mobile professionals stated their company allows them to use a personal device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) to access corporate data/systems via public or remote Wi-Fi. 66 per cent of mobile professionals said they were worried about data security when using free Wi-Fi hotspots.

However, 42 per cent will still access company data using public Wi-Fi. 38 per cent of respondents have never used a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect their data. Only 9 per cent list corporate data loss as one of their main fears if their device were to be lost or stolen. By comparison, six times as many respondents were likely to be worried about losing contact information (57 percent) and almost half (49 percent) feared losing their photos.

Unfortunately, the priorities of companies and their employees seem to be worlds apart. Employees have vast troves of valuable data on their smartphones, but are considerably less concerned about losing sensitive corporate data than they are about losing their personal information. Its clear that companies still need to do a lot more to educate their employees regarding mobile security risks and provide robust safe usage guidelines. Ultimately, in todays Wi-Fi first world, mobile professionals need to be equipped with the tools they need to remain productive wherever they are, while ensuring the use of public Wi-Fi doesnt expose their corporate data to ever-growing security risks, concluded Hume.

Methodology:

The report was based on information obtained from more than 1,700 respondents to an iPass survey of mobile professionals. Survey respondents were asked about their connectivity habits, preferences and expectations, and were asked to provide opinions about their level of dependence on mobile connectivity.

The survey was conducted between August 12, 2016 and August 31, 2016, fielding responses from mobile professionals across multiple age groups and geographies. Sixty per cent of respondents came from North America, and 40 per cent were from European countries. Responses were examined by region, age range and gender.
Mohammed Hazra Khan would be allowed to join college next year as remission for good behaviour.

An Indian-American man was sent to jail on Friday for attempting to join ISIS in Syria and providing support to the group in 2014. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

New York: An Indian-origin man in Chicago, the United States, was sentenced to prison for attempting to join the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, in 2014 and providing assistance to the extremist outfit.

According to reports, a Chicago court on Friday awarded a 40-month jail term to 21-year-old Mohammed Hazra Khan who became the first Indian-origin person to be convicted for links to ISIS.

Northern Illinois federal court judge John J Tharp ruled that Khan should undergo "violent extremism counselling" and a mental health treatment programme for 20 years after serving his sentence.

"Mr. Khan set off to join and aid a terrorist organization that believes it is appropriate, indeed believes it is holy, to kill anyone who disagrees with its religious dogma," Tharp said.

Khan, who was 19 when he attempted to leave the US to join ISIS in Syria, had in a Chicago court last year admitted to the charges of links to ISIS, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B McCord said in a statement.

Khan was arrested from Chicago's O'Hare Airport by anti-terrorism officers. He was trying to leave the US with his brother and sister, who were then aged 16 and 17, respectively. However, they did not face any charges.

Khan, who was born in New York City and later moved to Chicago with his family, would be allowed to join college next year as remission for good behaviour.
Trump tweeted Sunday that the retired commander was 'very impressive' when they met Saturday  'a true general's general'.

US President-elect Donald Trump General James "Mad Dog" Mattis at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, who for years oversaw US war efforts in the Middle East and was touted Sunday by President-elect Donald Trump as a possible defence secretary, did not come by his nickname lightly.

Trump tweeted Sunday that the retired commander was "very impressive" when they met Saturday  "a true general's general."

Mattis, who is 66, commanded a marine battalion during the First Gulf War and a marine division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In 2010, the tough-talking native of Washington state was named to head the US Central Command.

That gave him authority over troops in Iraq, where he helped develop a counterinsurgency approach before overseeing the US withdrawal, and Afghanistan, where he implemented a troop surge. It also gave him responsibility for an area including Syria, Yemen and Iran.

Previously, he led the US Joint Forces Command and a NATO command charged with preparing the alliance's forces to meet future challenges.

A colourful commander, he earned the nickname "Mad Dog" with his battle-hardened swagger and the sort of blunt language marines are famous for. He has been quoted as saying, "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

Mattis's salty language has at times gotten him into hot water, such as when he said during a panel discussion in San Diego, California in 2005:

"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

He later apologized for those words.

But for all the bluster, Mattis has a cerebral side. He has issued required reading lists to marines under his command, and instructed them that the most important territory on a battlefield is the space "between your ears."

A scholar of warfare, he is said to have a personal library of more than 7,000 volumes. And as a lifelong bachelor, he has another nickname: the "Warrior Monk."

Like Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, Trump's choice as national security adviser, Mattis has been highly critical of the multination agreement reached last year with Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

But while Trump has spoken positively of working with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Mattis has warned that Moscow wants to "break NATO apart."

Senator John McCain of Arizona, who chairs the Armed Services committee that would hold confirmation hearings for the next defence secretary, told the Daily Beast on Saturday he was a "great admirer" of Mattis.

But to serve as defence secretary, Mattis would need a waiver of a law that bans uniformed military officers from serving in that post for seven years after leaving active duty.

The law is intended to ensure the bedrock notion of civilian control of the nation's military.
If Duterte's plan proceeds, fishermen of any nationality would only be allowed in the deeper waters just outside Scarborough.

Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to declare a lagoon in China-controlled waters to be a marine sanctuary where Filipinos and Chinese will be prohibited from fishing, officials said on Monday.

China seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a tense standoff with the Philippines. Duterte's plan is delicate because it may imply Philippine territorial control there. Chinese coast guard ships have closely guarded the shoal since then, and both governments have suspected the other of planning construction to cement their claims to the area.

If Duterte's plan proceeds, fishermen of any nationality would only be allowed in the deeper waters just outside Scarborough, but not its vast triangular-shaped lagoon naturally fenced by coral outcrops with an entryway watched by Chinese coast guard personnel.

Duterte relayed his marine sanctuary plan to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said.

Xi did not say whether he agreed to Duterte's plan in the Scarborough Shoal, according to the statement from Esperon and other Philippine Cabinet officials present at the meeting.

"It is our position not to have fishing activities inside the triangle," Esperon said of Scarborough's shallow lagoon. "The president has decided to declare that as a sanctuary. That is a unilateral action from government."

China, Esperon said, also prohibits fishing inside the shoal's lagoon.

"If they don't want to allow fishing there, we don't want to allow fishing there either," Esperon said of the countries' similar but separate regulations in the disputed area.

The Philippine government is considering declaring other disputed South China Sea areas as government-protected marine sanctuaries, according to Esperon.

After taking control of Scarborough, which lies about 228 kilometers (123 nautical miles) off the northwestern Philippines, Chinese coast guard personnel shooed away Filipino fishermen, at times with the use of water cannons or by deploying armed personnel on speed boats to chase them off.

Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, responded by bringing the shoal dispute and other territorial issues against China to international arbitration. An international tribunal ruled in July against China, saying it violated the Filipinos' rights by banning them from fishing.

China, however, ignored the ruling, which also invalidated its vast claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. Duterte, who took office in June, reversed his predecessor's adversarial stance and reached out to China.

Shortly after Duterte discussed the Scarborough dispute with Xi in a state visit to Beijing, Filipinos were allowed to return to the shoal to fish. Philippine coast guard ships also resumed patrols in the vicinity of the shoal.

While the territorial disputes persist, China and the Philippines have signed about 20 trade and economic agreements. China has also sent officials to meet Filipino fishermen, who were displaced by the rift over Scarborough, to find ways of helping them, Esperon said, explaining how Duterte's approach has reaped immediate benefits.

"Remember that in our relations with China, the sum total is not Scarborough," he said.
Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates and key government officials.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defence equipment at the four-day event. (Photo: Representational Image)

Islamabad: Around 90 delegations from 43countries, including Russia and China, will attend a mega defence expo starting tomorrow in Karachi where Pakistan will showcase some of its indigenously-built defence equipment like battle tank Al-Khalid and JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defence equipment at the four-day event.

The 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) received an overwhelming response from exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe, said Commodore Tahir Javed, media director of the Defense Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defense Production.

He said 30 high-level teams comprising defence ministers, defence secretaries and services chiefs are attending the biennial event.

"The defence industries of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia will have a significant presence," he said.

Nine new countries which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria and Romania are also attending the event.

Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armoured personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.

Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines for forging alliances in defence production.
by Nguyen Hung

October's heavy rains in the central provinces have left an exhausted population. Food and water are lacking. Many parishes are submerged. Priests and bishops distribute food, seeds and feed for livestock. Caritas: "We are building new homes and giving scholarships to the poorest children."

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - Bishops, priests and Caritas Vietnam are personally committed in supporting the populations affected by the October flood, who are still living in an emergency situation without running water or food. According to official statistics, the heavy rains throughout the last month killed 26 people, with dozens more missing and damaged more than 100 thousand homes in the central provinces of the country.



In late October the Vietnamese bishops had launched an appeal to help the affected populations.



Vinh Phuoc parish, the Diocese of Vinh (Nghe An province), suffered the worst damage. The church is located on the plain, near the Gianh River: "When it started to rain - the parishioners tell - the water came into the houses and within hours were up to chest levels. It is the first time for such violent rains to fall on the four central provinces. "

Lien Hoa parish (of Quang Binh province) also suffered serious damage because of the Gianh river breaking its banks. Fr. Michael Thai Ho Bach, says: "The whole parish is submerged, in some places the water is 2.5 meters deep."



Many other parishes have met a similar fate, and most of the inhabitants had to flee.



From the outset, the Church has taken steps to bring relief. Fr. Vincent iem Cao Duong ong, assistant pastor of Yen Giang, is helping the local population by bringing hundreds of portions of noodles, cooking oil, fish sauce and drinking water.

Msgr. Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, Bishop of Vinh, visited the submerged populations of the provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh bringing basic necessities (13 thousand containers of noodles, medicines) and donating one billion dong (about 42 thousand euro) to finance the reconstruction of buildings and purchase food.



Even Ho Chi Minh City Caritas is at the forefront in bringing comfort to hungry people: "We have supportedsome of the costs for the poorest families who have been swept away by the flood, say the leaders. We distributed plants, seeds and livestock products to farmers. We have built several houses and set up scholarships for poor children who because of rains can no longer attend classes".
The general secretary of the Episcopal Conference: unacceptable tragedy, affecting means of transport most used by ordinary people. The Indore-Patna train derailed near Kanpur, perhaps due to crack in rails. At least 133 dead and 180 wounded. Rescue operations still ongoing.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - "We are very saddened by this tragic incident, says Mgr. Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference (CBCI) commenting on yesterdays train disaster near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

"What happened - he says - is especially important because the railways are the common man's means of transportation". The Indian bishops conference, "offers its heartfelt Condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and prays for the eternal repose of these dear departed. We also pray for those injured in the accident that the Almighty may grant them complete and quick healing".

Yesterdays disaster is one of the worst in recent years. Around 3 am (local time) the Indore-Patna train derailed near Kanpur, for reasons yet to be determined. Hundreds of rescue workers rushed to the area and immediately understood the gravity of the situation: carriages had crumpled on each other, overturning, victims and wounded were trapped in the wreckage.

The provisional toll, set to rise, is about 133 confirmed dead and 180 wounded, 56 of them in critical condition. At the time of the derailment, there were more than 2,500 passengers on the train - one of the busiest sections of northern India - located mainly in the first two carriages which disintegrated on impact.



The convoy consisted of 14 wagons, probably old and poorly maintained. Although the causes of the incident are unclear, local newspapers reported the presence of a break in the tracks, which would have resulted in overturning the carriages.

Msgr. Mascarenhas asks the "to investigate thoroughly and immediately the cause of an accident of this magnitude and to take all measures that such tragedies never occur again."



India, during the economic boom, is deficient in terms of maintenance and infrastructure investment, in spite of its rail network being the third longest in the world. Over the years there have been many accidents, all due to the human error. In 1981 in Bihar a train derailed and plunged into a river, causing 250 deaths; in 1995 in Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, an express train crashed into a train that had stopped on the tracks and caused the death of 358 persons; in 1999 at least 290 passengers died in the collision between two trains in Assam; in 2010 in West Bengal, the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai, killed more than 100 people.
Mgr Sun Jigen celebrated the Mass in Our Lady of the Graces Church in Daming. The bishop emeritus led the ordination. In addition to the large crowd of faithful, some 110 priests, 10 seminarians and 10 nuns were present at the moving ceremony for the faithful. The profile of the new priests is included.

Handan (AsiaNews)  More than 10,000 Catholics attended the Mass marking the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy in Our Lady of the Graces Church (Chong Ai Zhi Mu), a well-known shrine in Handan, Daming County.

Mgr Joseph Sun Jigen, bishop of Handan, led the 9 am service. Mgr Stephen Yang Xiangtai, Bishop Emeritus led the liturgy of the concurrent ordination of five new priests.

About 110 priests from the local and neighbouring dioceses were present at the event, as were ten diocesan seminarians and ten nuns. The choir included volunteers from different parishes.

According to those present, worshippers were moved by the Mass and some cried upon listening to the pledges of the new priests.

The parents of the future priests too were moved when they saw their sons prostrate on the floor. "Children are Gods gifts and we are not afraid to offer them to Him, they said.

Those present thanked the Lord for gifting five new "workers" in his harvest as well as the newly ordained for responding courageously to the calling.

The four new priests are:

Simon Jin Jingchong was born on 23 September 1983 in the village of Dong Da Gu Miao (Hebei). In 2003, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; in 2005, he moved to Hebei seminary, and in 2006 he went to the General Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He completed his studies this year and was ordained deacon on 19 March.

Joseph Ji Jinchong was born on 12 September 1985 in the village of Dong Da Gu Miao (Hebei). In 2001, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; in 2005, he joined the seminary of Taiyuan, and in 2006 went to the General Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He completed his studies this year and was ordained deacon on 19 March.

Paul Dai Xianglu was born on 8 April 1986 in the village Tun Dong Zhuang (Hebei). In 2004, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; later, he moved to Hebei seminary, where he got his license in 2014. He was ordained deacon on 28 October 2015.

John Wu Shangwang was born on 16 June 1986 in the village of Li Zhong Xie (Hebei). In 2001, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan. In 2007, he moved to the seminary of Hebei where he completed his studies in 2014. He was ordained deacon on 28 October 2015.
Mgr Fisichella noted that between 56 and 62 per cent of the worlds Catholic population took part in the event. A total of 21,292,926 pilgrims came to Rome from 156 countries around the world. ""One thing is certain with this Jubilee, namely that mercy has become the protagonist, at least for a year, of the daily life of Christians.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, presented today the statistics of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy that just ended, during the presentation of the Holy Fathers Apostolic Letter Misericordia et misera.

In total, "900 to 950 million people from around the world passed through the Holy Door". In Rome, that number includes 21,292,926 people from 156 countries, helped by 4,000 volunteers from 36 different countries.

When he announced the Jubilee, Pope Franciss desire was specifically this: to make believers experience mercy so that it could become a tool of mercy, Mgr Fisichella said. This meant making mercy again something extraordinarily propulsive and effective in the life of the Church.

"One thing is certain with this Jubilee, namely that mercy has become the protagonist, at least for a year, of the daily life of Christians. Entrusting the realisation of the Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation was also designed to make this theme, which is the essence of the Gospel, the way of todays evangelisation so as to strengthen the faith, shake indifference, and provoke people to [adopt] a coherent way of life."

Turning to the numbers, Mgr Fisichella said that 21,292,926 pilgrims visited Rome. "The most numerous group consisted of Italians, followed by German speakers, then the United States of America, Poland, and Spain, but also Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Venezuela, Chad, Rwanda, Angola, the Cook Islands, Nepal. . . In short, we can say that the whole world came to Rome. We can really say that the world visited us and that Rome was truly at the centre of interest of these pilgrims."

"As you know, for the first time in the history of the Jubilee, this Holy Year had a universal character. Around the world we opened the Doors of Mercy as a testimony that Gods love does not know any boundary. We had the data in our possession studied as far as possible. This resulted in an extremely interesting analysis.

In countries where Catholicism is more deeply rooted, the percentage of faithful who crossed the Holy Door topped 80 per cent of all Catholics. This result was reached thanks to the dioceses. About 50 per cent of the worlds approximately 3,000 dioceses are in fact in Europe and in Central-South America. The growing number of dioceses in Africa and, to some extent, in Asia, also allowed us to reach millions of people in the rest of the world.

Globally, thanks to data provided by some of the worlds largest dioceses, it was possible to estimate an average attendance of 56 to 62 per cent of the total Catholic population. This represents 700 to 850 million Catholics who crossed the Holy Door between 8 December 2015 and November 2016, in the [various] dioceses. To these must be added the faithful who crossed the Doors of Mercy opened in shrines and places of pilgrimage around the world.

In fact, the biggest shrines saw an average attendance of 3 million people. For example, 5 million Catholics visited the shrine of Krakow. That of Santiago de Compostela beat the 2010 attendance record; the sanctuary of Guadalupe was visited by about 22 million pilgrims. Adding everything up, we get an overall result of 900 to 950 million of Catholics around the world passing through the Holy Door."

"Finally, lest we forget, this Jubilee also went online! More than 6,523,000 people visited the seven-language website, its pages were viewed more than 16,220,000 million times. Some 11,800,000 actions were recorded; 32,000 searches were made; and more than 1,524,000 downloads took place. Some 8,000,000 people registered with the site.

Some examples illustrate the communicative power of some events: the video of Pope Francis in St Peters Square confessing young people was seen by more than 2,398,000 people with over 42,000 likes, 8,000 shares and 1,500 comments. The picture of Pope Francis in the neonatal ward of the Ospedale San Giovanni (St Johns Hospital) was seen in a few hours by more than 1,800,000 people with 6,600 shares. In short, communication did take place and became a truly global event in the space of a few minutes.

Some 4,000 people volunteered during the Jubilee, including 1,800 from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) who dedicated exclusively to providing medical services at the four papal basilicas. They came from 36 different countries, "The oldest was an 84-year-old man whilst the youngest was 18.

"All the pilgrims were given the image of a safe city. The Jubilee began with an unprecedented violent attack in Europe. Fear had discouraged many from setting out for Rome. With each passing week however, thanks to effective work maintaining security in the city, pilgrims were able experience the Jubilee with peace and enthusiasm.
Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Iran has ordered the transfer of the excess part of heavy water to the Sultanate of Oman. The surplus was detected in recent days by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following up on agreements on Iran's nuclear program ( Jcpoa). The leaders of the Islamic Republic confirmed their intention to meet the limits set by the international community and the UN nuclear agency.



Heavy water is used as moderator inside nuclear reactors, as is the case in the Arak power plant, inside which it is possible to produce plutonium usable for military purposes (atomic bomb).



Last week the IAEA has found a production of Iran's heavy water stocks amounted to 130.1 tons; a figure slightly higher than the 130 laid down by the Agreement. It is the second time from the application of Jcpoa that Tehran exceeds the annual production of heavy water.



If exceeding, the Iranian authorities must transfer the surplus of material out of the country under the United Nations nuclear agency's supervision.



Behrouz Kamalvand, spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said that "an excess part of Iran's production was transferred in Oman." The rest, he says, will be transferred in the context of "the continuation of the negotiations".



After years of embargo, Iran won a partial easing of Western economic sanctions in exchange for an agreement on its controversial nuclear programme. By and large, the international community welcomed the deal with few exceptions, most notably Israel and the Republican-controlled US Congress, which is awaiting the first moves of the new president Donald Trump.
by Marta Allevato

The Russian Orthodox primate yesterday celebrated his birthday with an exhibition, gifts and special TV programme. President Putin sent him a telegram and revealed that he was probably baptised by the patriarchs father.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday. The event was marked by an exhibition dedicated to his ministry, greetings from President Vladimir Putin and the visit of representatives of Orthodox Churches. A representative of the Catholic Church is also scheduled to meet him. The anniversary was widely covered by the media.

Yesterday, after the religious service in Moscows Cathedral Christ the Saviour, Orthodox youth presented the patriarch with a big cake baked under the supervision of the best culinary experts the patriarch.

For his part, the patriarch asked the pastors of Moscow churches not to give him flowers, but to donate instead money to St Alexy Hospital in the Russian capital, the Interfax news agency reported.

Kirill, whose real name is Vladimir Gundyayev, was born on 20 November 1946 in Leningrad, like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

His father and grandfather were priests and fought against the closing of churches and Soviet state atheism. For this reason, they were both sentenced to forced labour camps.

In an interview for a documentary titled 'The Patriarch', which aired yesterday on TV Rossiya-24, Putin said that he was secretly baptised by his mother, in the 1950s, in Leningrads Cathedral of the Transfiguration by a certain Father Mikhail, possibly Kirills father.

According to the President, the Patriarch himself told him that his father was on duty at that time in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration and was the only priest called Mikhail.

Kirill was a disciple of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rostov), who laid the foundation for the dialogue between Christians of different denominations.

Before he was elected primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009, Kirill headed the diocese of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and the Patriarchates foreign ministry, i.e. the Department for External Church Relations.

"You have devoted many years of selfless service to the Russian Orthodox Church in a consistent and steadfast defence of its values and ideas," Putin said in his telegram of greetings to the primate, noting the "huge contribution you are making in the development of inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogues, in strengthening peace and social accord in our country."

The Patriarch is scheduled to meet with Card Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in Moscow, tomorrow. "Koch is in Moscow to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Russian Orthodox Church primate," the Patriarchates press office said.
The group consists of about 80 people, including nine priests. It is their first time in Italy and at the Vatican. They made the journey to the Holy Door in St. Peters. They have visited and celebrated Mass at St. Mary Major. Next they will go to: Assisi, Florence, Venice, Lourdes.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Among the more than 70 thousand faithful who yesterday attended the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Mercy, there was also a delegation from China, and in particular from Beijing and the Shanxi Province, around 80 people.



These included nine priests, five of whom were able to concelebrate with the Pope Francis on the raised dias in front of the basilica, together with the new cardinals and bishops present. In the enthusiasm to participate in the Eucharist with the Pope, the two groups arrived in St Peter's Square at 6 am. The Mass was scheduled for 10.



It is the first time for these Chinese pilgrims to be able to come to Rome. Many of them are deeply grateful for this opportunity. A lady from Beijing, moved to tears, confides to AsiaNews: "In coming here to Rome, we must thank Our Lady for giving us this opportunity. I was profoundly moved".



The two groups had arrived in Rome on November 18 in the afternoon. The next day, as all pilgrims, they went to the starting point of the route to the Holy Door of St. Peters, which is in Castel Sant'Angelo. Bearing aloft the cross of the Jubilee, they traveled the Via della Conciliazione and entered the basilica.

On the 19th they visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where Mass was celebrated. The two groups will continue their journey by visiting Assisi, Florence, Venice and Lourdes.
by Loula Lahham

The accused has been sentenced to one year in prison for defaming Islam on TV because he had called for the revision of medieval Quranic interpretations. The spokesman of the Catholic Church agrees with the decision but deems it late. For Salafi leaders, it was wrong because he had offended Islam. Meanwhile, the head of the Journalists Union gets two years in prison.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Sisi ordered the release of 82 prisoners convicted of participating in unauthorised demonstrations, violation of freedom of expression and dissemination of false information.

Famous intellectual and Islamic thinker Islam al-Behairy (pictured) is one of the beneficiaries of the amnesty (Presidential Decree 515/2016) issued on 17 November.

Last July, Egypts Court of Cassation had confirmed a one-year prison sentence imposed on Al-Behairy for defaming Islam on TV in 2015, following charges filed by al-Azhar, Sunni Islams highest authority in Egypt and the world.

His crime was to have forcefully called for the revision of various texts of interpretation of the Quran, Islam's holy book, written mostly in the Middle Ages.

According to his critics and Muslim extremists, the words of the Muslim free thinker were blasphemous vis-a-vis Islam's religious heritage.

News of Islam Al-Behairy sparked a bevy of conflicting opinions and comments.

Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, backs the presidents decision; however, I am inclined to think that it comes too late. I am very happy for Al-Behairys release, but this does not mean that I think like him.

I am for "freedom of expression," Fr Greiche said, even if it involves the "defamation of my religious beliefs, as often happens here. We dont have a lot of loyalty here."

Sheikh Sameh Abdel-Hamad, an Egyptian Salafi leader, disagrees. The decision was "totally wrong" and should be opposed vigorously.

In his view, Al-Behairy seriously violated religious [Islamic] values, ridiculing the founding fathers and the first great Muslim thinkers, above all Al-Bukhari, "the greatest" among theologians and Islamic intellectuals in his opinion.

For Sameh Abdel-Hamad, "The president ridicules Al-Azhar and offends Islam, with his amnesty.

Meanwhile, Yehia Qallash, head of the Journalists Union has been sentenced to two years in prison along with two colleagues for "harbouring fugitives.

A court in Cairo allowed Yehia Qallash, Gamal Abdel Rahim and Khaled al-Balshy to pay a US 0-bail pending an appeal.

The case dates back to last May, when protests broke out after Egypt decided to return two disputed islands to Saudi Arabia. President al Sisi and Saudi King Salman had reached an agreement during a meeting.

However, the Cairo Administrative Court has ruled against the agreement. Critics claim that it is contrary to the Constitution and lacks transparency.
Najib Razak has long been at the centre of a scandal for years. A yellow wave" of protesters marched, sang, and discussed the issue, demanding the release of Maria Chin Abdullah, head of Bersih, who was arrested on the eve of the march on charges of extremism.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  Tens of thousands of Malaysians gave embattled but defiant Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak a rousing call to resign over his alleged involvement in a multibillion-dollar misappropriation scandal.

Wearing yellow shirts, a huge crowd of some 50,000 people marched in the streets of the capital in a rally called by a pro-democracy group called Bersih (clean in Malaysian).

Saturdays boisterous "yellow wave march" saw people carry hundreds of banners, placards and caricatures demanding Najibs resignation. Over the past few months, the latter has ruled with an iron fist in order to stay in power.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a vehement Najib critic, joined the protesters in front of the Twin towers immediately after arriving from Sudan.

Wearing the Bersih yellow shirt, the 91-year-old Mahathir said that " We are no longer a democracy, we are known as a kleptocracy. This is the time we work together to bring down this cruel government."

Bersih deputy chairman Shahrul Shaari Aman told the crowd near the National Mosque, We are not here to bring down the country. We love this country! We are not here to tear down the government, we're here to strengthen it."

One of the country's most renowned artist, documentary film maker Fahmi Reza, wielding a poster said, "Our country is being governed by clowns and crooks. So I'm here to protest against the government."

A few days before the rally, Malaysian police had warned that the protest was illegal and that it would not hesitate from using tear gas and water cannons in case the situation degenerated. However, despite the warning, the march went ahead without incidents.

Despite the presence of almost 7,000 policemen near the protest areas, spirits were high among protesters. Amid drums and vuvuzelas, participants delivered speeches, sang and chanted for a clean Malaysia and people power.

Najib came under criticism after the Wall Street Journal reported last year that almost US$ 700 million were moved from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investment fund to his personal bank account.

He ran into further trouble this July when lawsuits filed by the US Justice Department said that more than US$ 3.5 billion had been stolen from 1MDB, which Najib had set up, and that some of those funds had been deposited into the accounts of Malaysian Official 1, whom US and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib.

In view of the situation, Najib tried to squash the scandal by sacking his deputy prime minister, replacing his attorney general, suspending newspapers and blocking websites.

One of the people affected by the crackdown is Bersih chairwoman, Maria Chin Abdullah, who was taken into custody on the eve of the march under Malaysia's Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or SOSMA, her lawyers said on Saturday. This law was introduced in 2012 to protect the country from security and extremist threats.

In his blog, Zaid Ibrahim, a former minister and member of the United Malays National Organisation), wrote today on his blog that Chin is a good and fearless organiser and she inspires ordinary Malaysians to be brave. She has been successful and thats why the cowards have placed her in solitary confinement. We must do whatever we can to help her cause, which is also ours!

Addressing those who say that Bersih achieved nothing, he added that If that were true then Maria Chin would not have been detained.
by Melani Manel Perera

A monk threatens a bloodbath among Muslims if the police does not arrest their leaders. Another monk insults and assaults a Tamil employee. Rather than reacting to the violence, police seem complicitous. In one year, 132 cases of aggression against Christians, 141 against Muslims.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lankas Christians and Muslims live increasingly in a climate of constant fear because of the violent attitudes of Buddhist extremist monks. They are particularly upset at police, which instead of defending minority groups and ensuring respect for religious freedom, have been complicitous in the dissemination of sectarian ideas and have failed to take action against radical monks guilty of crimes punishable under state law.

On 16 November Gnanasara Himi, leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), an extremist monastic organisation, caused a stir when he lashed out at police for arresting Suresh Prasad, aka Dan Priyasad, a self-proclaimed "saviour of the Sinhalese" who threatened to blow up all Muslims.

Gnanasara Himi gave police 24 hours to arrest Abdul Razik, secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath (SLTJ) or else he would cause a "bloodbath" among Muslims.

Police later arrested Razik in Maligawatte, an action that has thrown the Muslim community into despair, especially over police behaviour, too amenable to extremist monks.

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) filed a complaint against the Inspector General of Police, but no action has been taken against Gnanasara Himi.

Recently, another violent incident went viral on social media. A video shows a Buddhist monk, Ampitiye Sumangala Himi, head of Mangalaramaya temple in Batticaloa, insulting and threating an ethnic Tamil employee. During the incident, a police officer can be seen doing nothing to stop the aggression.

Minorities complain that similar incidents are a clear violation of the countrys laws, which punish hate and discrimination. They are also a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In Sri Lanka, people can get up to ten years in prison for this kind of crime.

A joint submission by civil society groups to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in August 2016 documented 132 incidents faced by Christians and 141 incidents against the Muslims, in a span of one year.

At present, the Christian and Muslim minorities are calling for Sri Lankan police to adopt a single code of conduct across the country and take serious action against religious violence, threats, and hate speech.

Minority groups are also demanding that all citizens be treated equally before the law, including Buddhist monks, and that the authorities not remain passive vis-a-vis such violence.
by Bernardo Cervellera

The apostolic letter "Misericordia et miserable" shows how to pour out the "extraordinary" Jubilee into everyday life. The need to energize the world with the experience of mercy in order to heal grief and despair. No mention of illegal Chinese bishops. Everything comes back to the "center" of Christianity, which is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. A turning point to relaunch society and dialogue between the conservatives and progressives within the Church.

Rome (AsiaNews) - There are no spectacular revelations, colossal projects or astounding ideas in Pope Francis Apostolic Letter at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Yet in the most commonplace of fashions, "Misericordia et miserable" shows us exactly how the "extraordinary" may flow into our "ordinary" life and mercy, so absent from our world, can return to the everyday witness of Christians to help form a society in need of a "culture of mercy".

The idea that compassion, tenderness, attention to the poor and the sick should energize our everyday life is an obvious necessity to the naked eye. The more our world becomes globalized and flooded with communication technologies, the more every human being seems to have become an island or at most living on parallel planes, so that the poor and the rich, the healthy and the sick, the refugees and resident have lost the capacity to wonder. This ocean of indifference seems to breed "forms of sadness and loneliness in which people fall, and even many young people" (n. 3).

The Church needed to rediscover that mercy which clothes the "nakedness" of sin and human misery: a need that emerged during the Synod on the New Evangelization, that photographed the lives of Christians as devoted to work and to discussing the consequences of Christianity, forgetting its very origin. Thanks to Pope Francis - who incorporates the work of John Paul II and Benedict XVI - God's mercy pulls us back toward to the center of the faith and its lifes breath.

Thus, it is far from surprising that the pontiff should point to the traditional elements of common faith as precious jewels: the Mass, the sacraments, the Word of God, the homily. In this regard, a professor of communications recently pointed out that nowhere in the world is there an organization similar to the Catholic Church that can boast such a vast and captive audience as the faithful who go to Mass on Sundays: if - as the Pope maintains - the homily is a testimony of the priest, a help to communicate to the faithful "the certainty that God loves us."

Some new features are introduced: The faculty to absolve from the sin of abortion extended to all priests; the validity of the sacraments for priests belonging to the Society of Pius X; special celebrations of God's Word; the World Day of the Poor. But these do not have a bombastic tone: They are offered to the freedom and change of heart, to the hands of every believer and every person to be "crafted".

In this sense, even if it mentions age old forms of poverty - hunger, thirst, disease, illiteracy - and the new forms such as not knowing God ( "the greatest poverty and the greatest obstacle to the acknowledgment of the inviolable dignity of human life", n. 18), there are no appeals to states, governments, international organizations: everything is proposed to the freedom of every man or woman, and especially to Christians who can catalyze societies so that such plans and projects do not remain a dead letter.

There is no trace of the problem of illicit bishops in China, which some commentators had predicted. Nor is there any attempt at a rational solution to the issues that have been debated during the Jubilee: how to reconcile mercy and justice; indissolubility of the sacrament and communion for divorced ... On the whole response is offered that is first that of moral law and then of intellectual elaboration. This "first" is actually a "center": " Here what is central is not the law or legal justice, but the love of God, which is capable of looking into the heart of each person and seeing the deepest desire hidden there; Gods love must take primacy over all else"(n. 1).

There is enough space to seek a Catholic way that pulls together mercy and justice, attention to the concrete God and the concrete person ( "you do not meet sin and judgement in the abstract, but a sinner and the Savior", n. 1 ).

Perhaps this "center" will open the doors to a dialogue between those who have become "the opposing sides" in the Church, that of the so-called "traditionalists" who defend a cold "justice" and that of liberals, who advocate a "mercy" without any drama.
Trump's Attorney-General May Put Damper On Legalized Marijuana Trend

Trending News: Excited For Legal Weed? Trump's AG Would Like A Word With You

Long Story Short

Pro-marijuana advocates are seriously worried that Jeff Sessions, the Alabama senator tapped to become Attorney-General in the Trump administration, will roll back efforts to legalize the weed for recreational and medicinal purposes.

Long Story

Good people dont smoke marijuana. Thats the Jeff Sessions quote, uttered at a Senate hearing in April, which has the legalization crowd very worried. To make it socially acceptable creates increased demand and results in people being addicted and being impacted adversely.

He added, We need grown-ups in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it is in fact a very real danger.

For many social liberals, the silver lining to the Nov. 8 election results were victories for legalization movements in California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada. And with Trumps history of being mellow on legalization for medicinal and recreational uses, activists believed they had a chance of actually growing their movement across the country.

via GIPHY

That is looking less and less likely now though. Jeff Sessions, a former prosecutor, is the worst pick that Trump could have picked, according to Aaron Herzberg, the general counsel of marijuana company CalCann Holdings.

In an e-mail to MarketWatch, Herzberg writes, It appears that he is intent on rolling back policy to the 1980s Nancy Regans just say no on drugs days. With the selection of Sessions as attorney general the legalization of marijuana both for medical in 28 states and recreational marijuana in eight states may be in serious jeopardy.

Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance said, Jeff Sessions is a drug war dinosaur, which is the last thing the nation needs now.

According to an October Gallup poll, 60% of Americans favor marijuana legalization.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

Is legal pot going to stall or reverse under a Trump administration?

Drop This Fact

There were an estimated $5.4-billion in legal marijuana sales in 2015 according to a market analysis report released earlier this year.
Coke Israel Introduces New Selfie Bottle

Trending News: Coke's New Selfie Bottle Is The Latest Weird Selfie Product

Quick Take

In what could be deemed as a desperate attempt to convince millennials to drink soda, Coca-Cola Israel and "innovation agency" Gefen Team have created "the world's first selfie bottle." These new bottles come with a camera attached to the base that automatically takes photos every time you take a swig. Every time!

"Today, everybody is all about Snapchat and their selfies, the agency told Beverage Daily. "All of the pictures are then uploaded to the users' Snapchat, Coca-Cola Israel's Facebook page, and the brand's Instagram page."

Gefen Team

The "selfie bottle" joins a long list of selfie products that we will never actually buy but we're so happy exist. Here's the current selfie product hall of fame.

The Belfie Stick

The first selfie product designed specifically for butt shots.

Belfie Stick

The Selfie Arm

Never look like you're taking a selfie alone again. Paradoxically, owning one of these will ensure that you remain very, very alone.

Selfie Arm



Selfie Brush

Because phones do ALMOST everything.

Selfie Brush

Selfie Toaster

Can you eat your Instagram brags? Didn't think so.

Hammacher Schlemmer

Unfortunately (or fortunately) for us the selfie bottle isn't hitting store shelves anytime soon. It was just created Gefen Team for an outdoor music festival, and appears to be a one-off, viral marketing stunt.

Drop This Fact

There have been 127 reported deaths-by-selfie, mostly from people falling off boats and cliffs while snapping away.
Fiona Crosbie has been named the first ever Chairman of Allens , one of Australias largest law firms.Crosbie, who will officially commence the role of Chairman in January 2017, has been a partner at Allens for 15 years and is the current practice leader of the firms Competition group.I am delighted to serve as Chairman and will play an active role in our relationships with clients, alumni, community partners and with the broader business community, Crosbie said.I look forward to working across the firm to guide the Board as it provides counsel to the Managing Partner and executive committee and the partnership, she added.Crosbie will be taking over the chairmanship from Ian Wallace, who hailed the veteran lawyer is an outstanding partner. Crosbie would play an important part in the governance, operational oversight and strategic initiatives of the firm, Wallace said.I am delighted to announce Fiona as the firm's next Chairman  Fiona will bring to the position a love of the firm and a deep respect for its traditions, people and place in the market, the outgoing chairman said.Having served on the Board, Fiona brings a strong commercial outlook and commitment to the firm's innovation and change agendas, he added.
The new Polo is likely to be based on the MQB A0 platform which will also underpin the all-new compact SUV due in 2018.

Volkswagen has been burning the midnight oil, trying to get its formula for the new Polo right. A car that is crucial to the success of the brand in India. VW is currently struggling with the fact that the new-generation Polo is likely to be both, too small and too expensive for our market. The purchasing power of Indian car buyers is currently half that of Europe 26,000 Euros (around Rs 20 lakh) on average.

That, however, has not deterred the German brand, which is looking to deliver a lower sticker price as well as more space on the inside. The sticker price is likely to come via high levels of localisation and customising the car for India. There are a lot of expensive things on the European car which India doesnt need. We dont have the same focus on C02 emissions, nor do we have the same ultra high-speed environment and so no need to pass the same safety norms. Some of the mechanical bits arent well-suited to India either and can be altered.

For more inside space, VW is looking at a longer wheelbase that will be used on other cars in this class as well. It is likely that the new Polo and the next-gen Vento will use the same wheelbase; which in turn could be shared by the compact SUV and that will further add to economies of scale.

The new Polo is likely to be based on the MQB A0 platform which will also underpin the all-new compact SUV due in 2018. Like the current model, the new Polo is likely to get the localised 1.2 TSI four-cylinder motor with a similar amount of power (112hp) and a retuned and more powerful version of the 1.5 TDI (117hp) thats currently made here.

What VW is talking about, of course, is the creation of a sub-platform that will have a lower cost base. So, what started out with the Vento is likely, in theory, go on to become a whole family of cars and thats what VW is currently crossing the Ts and dotting the Is on.
AWD

That's because we're dealing with a second-generation Panamera that has experienced the harsh Russian winter in one of the worst ways possible.Now, before anybody delivers a "German tank in Russian winter" joke (this has happened on Facebook), there's one key aspect we need to mention - judging by what we can see in this mediocre-quality image, the Panny was being driven on summer tires.It's sad that, in 2016, such equipment failures still take place and, frankly, such an issue was nothing else than an accident waiting to happen. Speaking of which, we don't have any details of the crash, which simply showed up on Instagram one day ago.Fortunately, the impact doesn't seem to have been that serious, so we're probably not dealing with uber-serious damage here. However, we'd need to see the belly of the beast in order to deliver a conclusion.This is also an opportunity to remind you that the second generation Porsche Panamera line-up is now almost complete, with Zuffenhausen having recently introduced fresh models.With Russia missing the oil-burning Panamera, as is the case with the North American market, Porsche fans can choose between no less than nine versions of the four-door Zuffenhausen machine. From rear-wheel-drive to, twin-turbo six-cylinder units to just-as-twin-turbo V8s and involving both standard and long-wheelbase versions, the new Panamera range now has something for every taste out there.And since the German automaker always enjoys keeping us on our toes, we still have at least two Panamera models to look forward to. We're referring to the GTS and the all-mighty Turbo S. But that's another story for another time, Nurburgring record expectations included.
A closer inspection of one of Suzukis global press releases reveals that both bikes will first be launched in China from the winter of 2016 and the summer of 2017, respectively, before being launched globally.So yes, European and American beginner riders, get your bank accounts ready next year if you want to ride a new small-displacement Suzuki. Or, you can get the new Burgman 400 maxi-scooter if you want to stay out of the wind and ride in a more comfortable position because that was confirmed too for the U.S.For those who missed the news, the 2017 GSX250R is a stylish quarter-liter sportbike with daily ease of use in city riding and commuting. The redeveloped 248cc two-cylinder engine features less friction between moving parts, thus improving combustion efficiency and making it easier to control in low-to-midrange, where it will usually be standing in city traffic.Moreover, the GSX250R has adopted a sporty styling which inherits Suzukis sportbike heritage, along with separate handlebars, and independent rider and passenger seats.The V-Strom 250 is dedicated to new or returning adventure riders, combining touring comfort with daily ease of use. As a new V-Strom series model, it adopts a design image common to the series. The headlight design has a tough and strong image of outdoors. For more comfort in long-distance touring, the handlebar position offers a comfortable upright riding position, and a windscreen provides highly effective shielding.The engine is the same 24hp unit for both the GSX250R and the V-Strom 250, and they come fitted with standard traditional forks, a single rear shock and steel swingarm as well as cast-aluminum multispoke rims.
His name is Rainer Gaertner, and he's as German as they come. He is president and CEO at Daimler Trucks & Buses China Ltd., which means he's living far away from home, in Beijing, China. Adapting to a new culture, especially one that's very different from your own (it's not as if he works in Austria or Switzerland), takes time, and some do it better than others.It's hard to say how well Mr. Gaertner's accommodation process was going until now, but after his recent outburst, it's pretty clear there were lots of frustrations brewing under the surface. It is a known fact that driving brings out the worst in some people, and fighting over a parking space is a classic example of road rage.It would appear that Mr. Gaertner got into a quarrel with a Chinese driver at a residential community in the Shunyi District in northeastern Beijing. The details are not available, but China.org.cn says some very harsh words were spoken and there was even a bit of pepper spray involved.The latter probably came after the passerbies joined in to support the Chinese driver. Their reaction, though, is perfectly explainable considering what the Daimler CEO said to them just moments earlier: "I am in China one year already. The first thing I learned here is: All you Chinese are bastards!"Well, since then Daimler has already expressed its regrets over the incident and pointed out that his words do not reflect the company's views in any way whatsoever. If you ask us, we think the best course of action would be to find Mr. Gaertner a new position elsewhere, because he has already come under fire on Chinese social media, with some people threatening to boycott Daimler products.Considering the new direction the world politics are taking, Mr. Gaertner should have no problem finding a position for himself. A man with his views and outspokenness would be a valuable addition to certain presidencies
Divergent 3D is best known for creating the first 3D-printed supercar, and now the company has moved to two-wheelers by showing off its first printed motorcycle at the Los Angeles Auto Show.The Dagger, as the bike is named, looks like your ordinary custom-made streetfighter, but most of the non-mechanical parts you see on it are 3D-printed. And that includes the trellis frame.The companys printing process creates a carbon fiber structure that is said to be 50 percent lighter than traditional motorcycle materials, while also being stronger not to compromise safety in any way.Other parts, like the rims, brake discs, calipers, front fork, rear shock and spring are still made out of ordinary metals under the standard manufacturing processes. In fact, they are borrowed from another bike along with that beautiful four-cylinder engine which appears to be sourced from a supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 This is not the first ever motorcycle that has 3D-printed parts. The APWORKS Light Rider and Energicas Ego are part of the bunch, and Divergents new addition here is another example of how this new technology will change the way we build things in the future.In fact, the ultimate goal for the company is to supply 3D-printed parts for most vehicle manufacturers in the near future, as its technology is cheaper yet better than traditional ways of creating parts.I cant think of anything else but creating crazy motorcycles at home using one large 3D-printer. Just imagine the possibilities. No waiting for your parts shipment, just downloading a licensed blueprint, feeding the printer with the right materials and hit start. A few hours later your part is ready and can be mounted one the machine.
Australian Steve Fraser has concluded his trip aboard the new Multistrada 1200 Enduro from Americas Deep South to New York. The torch and the bike have returned to Europe, in Lisbon, where they are now in the hands of Hugo Wilson, 54, who will ride to the renowned Isle of Man.Passionate writer and photograph, Hugo has already traveled the length and breadth of Europe on two wheels. His passion for motorcycles started since he was 10 as he first saw his cousins Ducati.When I first saw my cousins Ducati, it was love at first sight, recounts the globetrotter. And when I finally bought my own bike, it was of course red a Ducati is forever.Hugo Wilson will make various stops, each more exciting than the last. He will visit Silverstone, where legendary champion Mike Hailwood rode Ducati motorcycles to achieve two race wins in two different classes on the same day in 1960. The next destination for the globetrotter will be the Donington Park track in the UK, where, on 3 April 1988, the very first World Superbike race took place, won by Marco Lucchinelli on the brand new 851 SBK.The Multistrada 1200 Enduro, on completing its round-the-world voyage, will be showcased at the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham. The final destination during this sixth leg of Globetrotter 90th will be the Isle of Man, where Mike Hailwood achieved his greatest ever victory, winning the Tourist Trophy on 2 June 1978 with the Ducati 900 SS TT IOM to the joy of 300,000 spectators, a result that Ducati celebrated with the 900 Mike Hailwood Replica.
Photo of 2016 Tucson courtesy of Hyundai.

Hyundai plans to introduce two small SUVs in the coming years and redesign its existing models to make the models more competitive in the segment, the company's North American CEO told Automotive News.

Hyundai will introduce a B-segment crossover that will go on sale in early 2018 and likely compete with the Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade, Dave Zuchowski told the outlet.

Hyundai also plans to increase the size of the Tucson compact SUV, increase the Santa Fe to an eight-passenger crossover, and rework the Santa Fe Sport into a more rugged SUV to compete with Jeep models.
Photo of Mercedes-Benz Metris Worker courtesy of MBUSA.

Mercedes-Benz's MasterSolutions upfitter program has launched for Metris and Sprinter vans to provide common equipment packages for fleets through a Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner dealer.

Mercedes-Benz first announced the MasterSolutions program in July, when it unveiled plans to expand its South Carolina van plant to meet increasing demand.

With the program, fleets can order full-size Sprinter or mid-size Metris cargo and passenger vans with equipment from Auto Truck Group, Knapheide, or Smartliner. The upfitters can install shelves, racks, cab chassis bodies or refrigeration units. Auto Truck Group has invested in a new ship-through facility near the Daimler Vans Assembly Plant in Ladson, S.C.

Mercedes-Benz is also expanding its more affordable Worker models of the Sprinter and Metris models. The company has also expanded its MasterUpfitter program, which grants highly qualified upfitters access to 3D engineering data, technical updates and detailed technical seminars.
The Jaguar I-Pace Concept is one of the most interesting cars that was showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week as it becomes Jaguar's first fully electric vehicle. Now we've got new news and updates about it as well as spy shots at the I-Pace were seen testing its production ready model. Check it out here.

Jaguar I-Pace Concept Manufactures at Austria

Although there is still enough time to meet in its production version, Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar-Land Rover confirmed that the Jaguar I-Pace will be manufactured in Austria. The Central European state will be responsible for producing the first electric vehicle from Jaguar. All thanks to the agreement with Magna Steyr according to

It should be noted that this partnership comes back as in July 2015 Jaguar-Land Rover has already started up the way for the section in the agreement with Magna Steyr. Speth confirmed that the I-Pace will be one of two vehicles manufactured Magna Steyr for JLR .

Currently, Magna Steyr manufactures the Mercedes Class G and the MINI Countryman. However, later this year will replace the Countryman by the new generation of BMW 5 Series models adding these in just over a year the new Jaguar I-Pace. It has already started the construction of the extension of the Magna Steyr factory in Graz velocity, located in the southeastern part of the Austrian country.

Jaguar I-Pace Concept Spy Shots

The new electric Jaguar is no longer a secret. This week, the British brand presented the spectacular i-PACE concept in the Hall of Los Angeles, and simultaneously paparazzi were able to capture its test vehicle rolling on Spain, according to Motor Authority.

This is not the first time that we stumbled upon one of the prototype development of future production version of the i-Pace 2018. It was early September when the first time a series of spy photos of one of these prototypes were revealed, which at that time was attributed the name J-Pace.

This new testing car has clear differences with the prototype hunted before. At the front, one can find that Jaguar has not bothered to simulate the central grille, appearing now hidden under camouflage vinyl. On the back one can find, instead of the small rear spoiler, a large cap hiding, also under the mandatory vinyl, part of the rear window.

The future i-Pace production will have the battery pack between the axles and under the passenger compartment, leaving room for the electric motors on the same axes, in a very similar manner to that we can found in other electrical vehicles like Tesla, according to Pocket-Lint

The Jaguar I-Pace Concept will have the same specifications of the concept, with two engines that will add up to 400 hp and maximum torque of 700 Nm. While autonomy is hovering around 500 kilometers between charges, spectacular figures for the first electric Jaguar, which we hope will be presented in its final version in 2018.
Cessna will donate five new, custom-branded Skyhawk 172 airplanes to college programs early next year, the company announced on Monday. The five airplanes will go to Eastern Kentucky University, Ohio State University, Auburn University (in Alabama), Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Louisiana Tech University. These universities are renowned for their innovative aviation programs and we are confident they will represent the Top Hawk program and Cessna brand very well, said Doug May, Cessna vice president for piston aircraft. We will work together to provide students state-of-the art resources and empower them to choose a rewarding career in aviation.

Cessnas Top Hawk program also provides summer internships at Textron Aviation for the top student from each of the five universities. Garmin and Bose also donate products to the program, providing headsets, cameras, a G1000 database subscription and avionics for the airplanes. The five Skyhawks will be delivered early next year, Cessna said.
It would appear presidential TFRs over New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, will be a common feature over the next four years as President-elect Donald Trump and his family settle into their domestic routine. News reports over the weekend suggest that future First Lady Melania Trump will continue to live in the Trump Tower penthouse apartment the family currently shares. Trump intends to split his time between the White House and Trump Tower, at least until their 10-year-old son Barron finishes fourth grade in the prep school he attends. The FAA has a TFR in place that is supposed to expire on Jan. 20, 2017, inauguration day, but if Melania and Barron stay in New York, its likely to be extended. The New York TFR is only one nautical mile in radius and allows GA access to the popular Hudson River Corridor.

In Florida, a TFR has been put in place around Trumps palatial Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach. Its expected the Trumps will spend Thanksgiving there. The TFR is in effect from Tuesday until Thursday and covers a 3-nautical-mile radius under 3,000 feet and the only civilian exemption is for aircraft landing and taking off at Palm Beach International Airport.
A couple of years ago I was waiting as number one for takeoff at a towered airport.

Tower: Cessna 12345 cleared for takeoff runway 25.

Cessna 12345:Ill just wait on that aircraft on short final.

Airplane on final: I appreciate that!

Tower:I appreciate it too!

Greg Fowler
20 November 2016 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend



The recognition of the 1915 events as "Armenian genocide" does not change anything, Hulusi Akar, head of the Turkish General Staff, said.

Akar made remarks at the 62nd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul.

Akar said that "genocide" against the Armenians has never occurred in the history of Turkey.

"The recognition of the 1915 events as "genocide of Armenians" does not mean that the genocide was carried out against the Armenians," he said.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire allegedly carried out "genocide" against the Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. Turkey in turn has always denied "the genocide" took place. While strengthening the efforts to promote the "genocide" in the world, Armenians have achieved its recognition by the parliaments of some countries.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 25 times throughout the day, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported on November 21.

The Armenian armed forces, stationed in the occupied territories, including Chilaburt village of Tartar region, Bash Garavand, Marzili, Namirli regions of Aghdam region, Kuropatkino village of Khojavand region, Garakhanbayli, Ashaghi Veysalli villages of Fuzuli region, Mehdili village of Jabrayil region, as well as in nameless hills in Goranboy, Tartar, Fuzuli and Jabrayil regions subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

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.

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21 November 2016 12:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Armenia attempted to stir tension at the next 62nd NATO Parliamentary Assembly Session in Istanbul last weekend. Irritated by unfair accusations of an Armenian delegate to the meeting, Turkey's top officials demanded him to "take back what he said."

Taking the opportunity provided in the meeting the Armenian lawmaker, being loyal to the old traditions of Armenia to blame the nations through putting groundless historical arguments, again sounded groundless genocide claims to Turkey. The move was indeed unsurprising for all who is familiar with the Armenian tactics, but nevertheless caused a fairly harsh reaction of the Turkish delegation.

Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar was quite strict when answering next Armenian provocation staged by lawmaker Koryun Nahapetyan, who referred to the killings as undeniable genocide during a Q&A session.

Some countries recognizing the Armenian genocide does not change anything, Akar said in response to Nahapetyan, who boasted of recognition of killings by 26 countries as genocide.



Any country may use its right to recognize something as genocide," he added. "When Galileo Galilei said in the 16th Century that the Earth moves around the Sun, all the world opposed him. But that did not change the facts. Even if all countries say that there is a genocide, that does not the change the fact that there was none.



Armenia says up to 1.5 million people were killed by Ottoman forces during World War I, in what it calls an act of genocide. But modern Turkey has always rejected the term genocide, putting the toll at 500,000 and blaming the deaths on starvation and unrest in the broader context of the war.



Nahapetyan also addressed a similar question to Turkish Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Ozlu, who refused to answer this provocative question

Nahapetyans next question about the alleged death of five people in Aleppo on November 19 as a result of Turkey-ISIL cooperation, draw a harsh response from Akar, as well.

The Turkish army has not fired a single bullet in Aleppo. Disgraced is the one who claims this unless he brings evidence. If you prove it, Ill resign. I demand you take back what you said, he said.

It is worth to emphasize that Turkey has always been keen to normalize its relations with Armenia. In line with its vision towards Southern Caucasus, Turkey, recognized Armenia on December 16, 1991 and has produced a consistent policy of efforts to develop good-neighborly relations with this country. Due to the difficult economic conditions it encountered after its independence, Turkey has extended humanitarian aid to Armenia. Turkey has also facilitated the transit of humanitarian aid to this country through its territory.

Moreover, Turkey proposed to Armenia the establishment of a Joint History Commission in 2015, which will be composed of historians and experts from both sides and third parties in order to study the events of 1915 in their historical context and share the findings with the international public. The fact that this proposal is yet to receive a positive answer from the Armenian authorities, when considered together with their rejection to open all the relevant archives to the historians, gives a clear idea about their confidence in what they claim.

However, these good-will gestures are not reciprocated by Armenia. Instead, Armenia, passed a new bill on 4 October 2006, which makes it impossible for any Armenian citizen, or third party in Armenia, to voice dissent about the genocide, rejected the inclusion of a Turkish officer to the NATO/PfP team that would conduct a working visit on border security in Armenia in July 2007.

Armenians have become captive to their own lie of genocide and every single support to the baseless Armenian allegations from the third parties will further cut their connection with the truth and prevent their integration and development.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
21 November 2016 15:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Who are the invaders of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories?

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu addressed this rhetorical question with a very clear answer as a response to Armenian MP's groundless accusations against Turkey at the 62nd session of NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

When we listen to you, it seems that you are angels, said Cavusoglu. I want to ask you a question: arent you, according to the UN resolutions, the invaders of 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan?"

Cavusoglu drew the participants' attention to Turkey's role in establishing peace and stability in the world, preventing conflicts, the fight against terrorism and temporarily settlement of refugees and displaced persons. Bringing grounded facts and arguments, he called on Armenians not to tell a lie and distort the historical truths.

In response to Armenian parliamentary delegate's provocative and false accusation of Turkey of "funding terror", Mevlut Cavusoglu highlighted the realities of Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, the Khojaly genocide, and terrorist acts committed by Armenian terrorist organizations against the Turkish diplomats.

Cavusoglu said Turkey and Azerbaijan are one nation, two states: Did I occupy Azerbaijans lands? Did I occupy Karabakh? You occupied, why dont you leave [occupied territory]? We gave some advice, made offers to you. We said well open borders if you leave Karabakh. You said why do we put Azerbaijan as a condition? We answered Azerbaijan is our fraternal country and its problem is our problem.

In addition, the minister emphasized that Turkey will neither establish any relations nor open the borders with the aggressor country unless the Armenian troops withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek also confirmed during the session that if the occupation ceases, Turkeys doubts over support for Armenia and the opening of the checkpoint will be removed both.

Moreover, within the framework of the 62nd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul Committee of defense and security of organization adopted a resolution supporting the territorial integrity of sovereign states despite the fact that Armenian delegation opposed to the adoption of the resolution.

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by a delegation led by first Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to NATO PA Ziyafat Asgarov.

The delegation included chairman of the parliamentary Committee on public unions and religious organizations Siyavush Novruzov, MPs Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Malahat Ibrahimgizi and Kamran Bayramov.

Siyavush Novruzov attended the meeting of the political committee with the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

In turn, Siyavush Novruzov expressed his opinions on the issue, as well as provided an insight into a large number of terrorist acts which Armenian terror organization ASALA committed in Azerbaijan and Turkey, and the aggressor country Armenia's groundless territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in the resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of the due attention of the international community for years.

By ignoring four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, as well as appropriate documents adopted by The European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement, Armenia intends to preserve the status quo in the region and freezes the needed settlement of the conflict.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

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21 November 2016 18:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Armenians still protest against the controversial military benefits bill, which introduces a new tax that will impoverish the already poor people.

The bill recently approved by the parliament obliges every working Armenian citizen to contribute 1,000 drams (about $2) per month to the fund, from which the project will be financed.

For the Armenian worker earning minimum wage, $2 is a significant amount to be parsed out in a monthly tax, for which the person has not had a chance to budget.

A group of citizens on weekend went to streets in Yerevan to announce that Armenia's corrupt authorities have now come up with a new plan to rip off the people in the name of soldiers.

The protesters stated that this tax is nothing but cynicism and is meant to rip off the people in the name of soldiers. A crime is being committed under the guise of helping Armenia's servicemen, they said.

Moreover, graffiti son died- paid off my duty appeared in various parts of the city on Sunday. The following text was soon a spread through social networks:

They get richer at our expense, they play politics at our expense, they rule over us at our own expense, and yet again, they want to do good deeds at our expense. They suggest that we donate a thousand drams not to make sure there is no need to die, but that we die worthlessly, that we do not think that we are shedding our blood for the sake of Sargsyans and other rich and powerful scum. They force us to pay money so that it was easier for them to deceive us.

The essence of the law is that all the people who have suffered while serving in the Armed Forces of Armenia, fulfilling the will of the aggressive authorities and occupying lands from its real owner - Azerbaijan, will receive a small compensation for the crippled health and life.

Meanwhile, the economy of the country remains critical, demonstrating unbelievably low indices each year. Descending economy, high poverty and increasing outflow of people are the pure realities in Armenia, which lack any governmental scenario or program to change the situation.

Armenias external debt is growing, as well as the budget deficit. Moreover, the economic growth is significantly lower than it was foreseen. The state debt of Armenia has already amounted to $5.36 billion as of the end of the first half of 2016. The forecasted GDP in 2016 amounts to 5.443 trillion drams. Consequently, by the end of the first half-year, the national debt of Armenia made up 46.7 percent of GDP, which is quite risky for the countrys economy.

Despite different positive assurances from the government on achieving a stable situation in the country, the economy is continuing to fail.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Tulalens.org(BAMAKO, Mali) -- In the year since Anita Datar was killed in an attack in which at least two gunmen took 170 people hostage at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali, the U.S. citizen has been repeatedly honored for the work that brought her to the West African nation, including the establishment of a fellowship to ensure her legacy lives on.



Datar, who was originally from western Massachusetts and grew up in New Jersey, dedicated her life to public service. At the time of the attack, in which 21 people were killed, Datar worked as a senior manager at the consulting firm Palladium Group. She was a founding board member of Tulalens, a non-profit "connecting underserved communities with quality health services."



In the past year, Datars family has continued to celebrate her memory.



Datar left behind one young son, and her ex-husband, David Garten, told ABC News that even though he is still coping with the loss, their son reminds him that the "world is a beautiful place and worth fighting for."



At the time of the attack, President Obama extended his condolences to victims, which included Datar's family.



"On behalf of the American people I want to extend our deepest condolences to the people of Mali and the victims and families, including at least one American," he said. "These were innocent people who had everything to live for, and theyll be remembered for the joy and love that they brought to the world."



Since the attack, Datar has been recognized by many organizations for her public service. In February, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent a resolution honoring Datars life, work and memory. Senate Resolution 347 was passed by Senator Corey Booker, who was joined by 15 Senate co-sponsors.



This past summer, Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) established the Anita Datar Fellowship Fund. Datar was a graduate of Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health. The new fellowship will provide financial assistance to students working to advance international public health, particularly with women and children, in these programs.



"When I think about how to honor my son's mother, Anita Datar, on the anniversary of the attack that claimed her life, it's about him and a future that is not yet written," Garten told ABC News. "As he continues to grow, I want him to have the hope, strength, and courage to always keep moving forward in exploring the world in all its beauty. I can think of no greater tribute to his mother than that."

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
21 November 2016 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Anglo Asian Mining, a producer of precious metals in Azerbaijan, has reduced its expenditures for the production of one ounce of gold by 18 percent since early 2016.

The company, which possesses a broad portfolio of production and exploration assets in the country, has managed to reduce the amount from $858 to $703 per ounce, Trend reports.

Moreover, the company seeks to commission a new electrical substation and connect relevant infrastructure at the Gadabay field to the central power-supply system.

The operation of the infrastructure is currently provided by means of diesel generators, while the substation will allow the company to reduce its annual expenditures to $1.8-2 million.

The company produced nearly 49,874 ounces of gold, 1,363 tons of copper and 114,915 ounces of silver in January-September 2016.

The production target of the company for 2016 is 73,000 to 77,000 ounces of gold and 1,700 to 2,100 tons of copper.

Gadabay is the main mine site of the company and the location of its processing operations. The company is authorized to implement mine operations at six Azerbaijani fields, including Gadabay, Ordubad, Gosha Bulag, Gizil Bulag, Venjali, Soutlu.

The company carries out its operation under PSA agreement signed with the government of Azerbaijan in August 1997.

A new flotation plant of the company started production in November 2015. The plant is engaged in the production of copper and precious metal concentrate.

Azerbaijan is known as a gold producing country in Eurasia region. With most of its gold resources still untapped, the country has a room for investors in the mining industry.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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21 November 2016 12:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 706.8 million manats ($413.4) to depositors of the recently closed Dekabank, Kredobank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Ganjabank, Texnikabank and Bank Standard.

Banks Volume of paid compensations (million manats/ million USD) Volume of the insured deposits (million manats/ million USD) Bank Standard 420.27 ($ 245.82 ) 460($269.06 ) Zaminbank 52.26 ($ 30.56 ) 60($ 35.09) Dekabank 3.021 ($1.767) 5.59($3.26) Kredobank 27.005($ 15.796 ) 30.21($ 17.67) Caucasus Development Bank 1.926($ 1.126) 2($1.16) Atrabank 14.217 ($ 8.315) 14.55($ 8.51) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.147($ 14.124) 24.2($14.15) Gandjabank 0.975 ($ 0.570) 1($0.58) Texnikabank 120.081 ($ 70.239) 122.6($ 71.71 ) Parabank 42.852($ 25.065) 43.79($25.61)

Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began on August 1, 2016 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day.

Compensations to the depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from August 23.Payments are being carried out at the branches the banks.

Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office.Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since January 29, 2016 at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank, and since September 8 at ADIFs office.

Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since February 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank.

ADIF launched payment of compensations to depositors of Texnikabank on February 12.

Payment of compensations to the insured depositors of Bank Standard started October 11, 2016 at the banks main office and its branches in the regions of Azerbaijan and will continue for one year.

The licenses of all the banks were revoked in 2016, as their assets were not classified in line with the law, and they didnt create adequate reserves and their aggregate capital did not meet the minimum requirements.

Some 32 banks are currently implementing their activities in the country.

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21 November 2016 17:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The construction of the Baku International Sea Trade Port in Azerbaijans Alat settlement, which is expected to become one of the leading trade and logistics hubs of Eurasia, is gaining momentum.

Director General of the Port Taleh Ziyadov told reporters that the first stage of construction of the Port is projected to be completed until late 2017.

He mentioned that the completion of the first stage will allow the facility to handle nearly 1,280 tons of goods per day, while the implementation of all 3 phases of construction is projected to increase the capacity up to 7,660 tons on a daily basis.

The improvement program is currently underway on Ro-Ro terminals and terminals on the transshipment of dry freight. The work is also underway on the construction of moorings with a length of 650 meters. The second stage envisages construction of three additional moorings, while two new freight moorings will be constructed within the third stage, he said.

The completion of the first stage is expected to allow the facility to increase its capacity up to 11.5 million tons of cargo per year and to 50,000 containers, while the second stage will provide for the handling of 17 million tons of freight and 150,000 of containers. The implementation of the final stage is projected to increase the capacity up to 25 million tons of freight and 1 million of containers.

Being a driving force behind Azerbaijans port and logistics development Baku International Sea Trade Port was previously located in the middle of the city. Taking into account the bid of the country to become one of the major commercial and transportation hubs in the region and facilitate regional transformation, the state decided to move it to a new location, 70 km south of the capital Baku, near a small town called Alat, which is located at the strategic crossroads of the regional railroads and highways.

The new Port of Baku is located on an area of 400 hectares (ha) of land, of which about 100-115 ha cover the area for the development of the international Logistics and Trade Zone. The northern areas around the port are reserved for future expansion of logistics, industrial, and manufacturing activity.

As for the creation of the first-ever free trade zone (FTZ) of Azerbaijan Ziyadov said that the FTZ may start to operate in the first half of 2017. He mentioned that industrial clusters specialized in different sectors of light industry will be created at the territory of the FTZ. He said that the first phase envisages creation of storehouses and clusters, while the next stage will provide for the creation of small enterprises in such spheres as pharmaceutics, petrochemicals, and light industry.

It will help to attract big companies to establish distribution sales network not only in Azerbaijan, but also on regional scale, he clarified.

Ziyadov said that the work in underway on the creation of a special legal regime, mentioning that the draft version will be submitted for the consideration of the government till late 2016. General development plan of the FTZ will be developed till January-February 2017. Director General said that the creation of the FTZ in the country will also give a stimulus for the popularization and development of Made in Azerbaijan brand.

Azerbaijan is known as an exporter of raw materials. We plan to process and pack the materials in the FTZ and further export the products under "Made in Azerbaijan" brand to other countries, he said.

Moreover, the creation of the FTZ will give a push for the development of urban infrastructure. We have a good example of FTZ, which operates in Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. The area was comprised of only one building nearly 30 years ago. We are sure, that Alat will turn into large trade town after 20 years. Moreover, a new airport may be created in the area the future, he said.

The Baku FTZ will include several components, such as Truck Parking, International and Domestic Logistics Centers, operating within a special economic regime. The project is expected to bring huge benefits to the state budget of the country once established. The registration of the FTZ residents is expected to begin in January 2017. Preparation of legal documents required for the activities of the area is currently underway.

Special tax and customs policy, which will be pursued in the territory of the free trade zone will also stipulate further development and simplification of a number of procedures. The privileges can cover the income tax, VAT, tax of profit and property tax.

Economic Zones World Company, a global developer and operator of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks which belongs to DP World Corporation is also involved in the creation of Azerbaijans first-ever FTZ, while Dubai model was used as a basis in the process of its creation.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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21 November 2016 14:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

YARAT announced that along with two new exhibitions it is re-launching the series of live music events at YARAT Contemporary Art Centre.

All music lovers are invited to join live music event with Tunzala Agayeva and Samira Efendiyeva. On this particular day talented musicians will share their impressions of exhibitions, whereupon the live music event starts.

Samira Efendiyeva was participant and finalist of Big Stage project, Voice of Azerbaijan and International Jazz Festival (2016) in Alanya. Passion to music appeared from early childhood, when Samira became a leading solo vocalist of Childrens Philharmonic Hall under the supervision of Oktay Zulfuqarov. Samira finished musical school named after K. Safaraliev and was later admitted to the musical college affiliated to Azerbaijan National Conservatory. Also, as a member of Baku Project band she performed at the 3 years anniversary event of Azerbaijani Culture Centre in Vienna.

Tunzala Agayeva is celebrated vocalist, composer and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan. After graduating from musical school she started to teach music classes in Tovuz. In 2001 Tunzale became the winner of Balk Payz musical competition of young vocalists. Also she participated in many international music competitions in Czech Republic and in Barevna Planet International Festival of Modern Music.

The event will be organized at YARAT Contemporary Art Centre on November 30. The entrance is free.

The opening of private exhibitions by renowned Azerbaijani artist Faig Ahmad, entitled That is how it is, and famous Colombian artist Oscar Murillo, named DIS PLACE, took place at YARAT Contemporary Art Centre on November 10.

Some six new monumental works of art depicting gender relations and social structures in the traditional Azerbaijani society are demonstrated at the exhibition by Faig Ahmed.

The second exhibition by Colombian artist Oscar Murillo features works in the form of fabric, painting, sculpture and video. Majority of these works have been created as a result of the artists casual meetings with individuals and communities in Azerbaijan.

Both exhibitions will continue until January 29, 2017.

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21 November 2016 16:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Embassy of Indonesia, a beautiful country spread out over a vast part of South East Asia between the Indian and Pacific oceans, took an initiative to show and highlight the countrys rich cultural heritage with a solemn ceremony.

The two-day Indonesian Cultural Festival, the first of its kind, was held in Baku this weekend and brought together groups of artists who presented traditional music, folk dance-music and more.

Indonesian Ambassador Husnan Bey Fananie, who addressed the opening ceremony at the International Mugham Center, described the event as a good opportunity to promote a diverse, colorful and multicultural Indonesia.

He said a 150-man Indonesian delegation attends the festival, which also features an exhibition.

Azerbaijans Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev, whom also attended the event, said the exhibition is part of a series of events under a Year of Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan.

The event served as a showcase of the people-to-people relation between Indonesia and Azerbaijan.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago comprising more than 17,600 islands. Indonesia is a country full of diversity, home to numerous different ethnic groups, languages and religions. The diversity in Indonesia is ranging from the daily Hindu rituals practiced on the island of Bali to the prevalence of Islamic sharia law in Aceh (Sumatra).

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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20 November 2016 14:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend



If the occupation of Azerbaijani lands ceases, Turkeys doubts over opening the border with Armenia will be removed, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said, Anadolu news agency reported.

Simsek made remarks at the 62nd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul.

As for reason of not opening the border with Armenia, Simsek drew attention to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Stressing that the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are at a very high level, Simsek stressed that Armenia must cease occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

"If the occupation ceases, Turkeys doubts over support for Armenia and opening of the check point will be removed," he said.

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.

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21 November 2016 15:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Turkey once again raised its against the occupation of part of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan by Armenia.

Turkish Presidents Chief Advisor Yalcin Topcu, who is on a visit to Baku, stressed that the UN and other International organizations confirm the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.

Despite Khojaly massacre, more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced people, the international community is silent, he told Trend, underlining the unsettlement of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. In a bloody war more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Topcu further added that if the occupied lands are liberated, no one will be able to resist the countrys development, therefore, they keep Azerbaijan busy with Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The Turkish Presidents Chief Advisor said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are twin brothers, noting that the entire Turkic world is a family and brothers but Turkey and Azerbaijan are twin brothers.

The official stressed that his country will always be close to Azerbaijan.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not only a problem of Azerbaijan, but the entire Turkic and Islamic world," Anadolu agency reported quoting Topcu.

Within his trip the adviser visited the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. During a visit to Agjabadi region Topcu met with refugees and was informed about the latest developments in the region.

"Yerevan ignores appeals of the international community, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council turn a blind eye to this injustice. We hope that the UN and the OSCE will take steps to eliminate the Armenian occupation," he said.

As part of the visit Topcu will hold several meetings with Azerbaijani officials, as well as representatives of NGOs.

He will also take part in an opening of "Turkish Film Week" event, organized by the Institute of Yunus Emre in Baku.

The capital city will host the Turkish Film Week on November 22-27 with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

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21 November 2016 15:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Austria, as a future co-chair of the OSCE, stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan in their search for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz made the remark in an interview with Armenpress published on November 21.

It is probably too early to speak about concrete initiatives [for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]  a lot will depend on the developments in the region, Kurz said. Vienna was the venue for the Presidential summit [the meeting of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev] in May this year, and we are always happy to host negotiations again if there is a wish. We are not members of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, but we will do our best to support the Minsk Process.

Austria will take over the OSCE chairmanship in January 2017. Germany is the current chair at the organization, under which the Minsk Group operates.

The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, works to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over two decades, but in vain.

Answering the question what prospects he sees for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as acting chairman of the OSCE, Kurz said that there exists no military solution to this conflict, and all parties involved should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action.

Another outbreak of violence would be fatal and the international community is not in favor of that, everyone  from Moscow to Washington  is clear on this issue, he added. A number of proposals to help establish peace have been on the table for some time already, and a few ideas for confidence-building measures have been established more recently that are awaiting their implementation.

Earlier Kurz assured that resolution of conflicts in the East of Ukraine, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria will be among the priorities of Viennas chairmanship at the OSCE.

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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

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21 November 2016 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The government of Azerbaijan eyes a ban on advertising infant formula to parents as part of attempts to encourage more mothers to breast-feed.

Under the amendments proposed to the law "About nutrition of infants and young children", the advertising of artificial feeding for pregnant women and mothers will be banned in health facilities and public places.

Firms will still be allowed to advertise only in case they have the certification documents.

The advertising must indicate the certificate number, date of issue and the name of the issuing authority. It also should provide information on the age limits for product and note the benefits of breastfeeding.

The bill will be discussed at the plenary session of the Azerbaijan's Parliament on November 29.

Today public health community is a great advocate for breastfeeding, as breastfeeding is not only the normal way mammals feed their young, its the ideal way, and its almost free.

In addition, breastfeeding strengthens ties between mother and newborn while at the same time strengthening the health of the child.

UNICEF research proved that breast milk protects children from diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, two diseases which frequently lead to infant mortality. Moreover, the organization's researches also revealed breastfeeding women have a smaller change of getting breast cancer while it also helps to delay the next pregnancy and allows the mother and child to recover.

Only 50 percent of children less than one year of age in Azerbaijan's regions were fed breast milk, in Baku the figure is 45-48 percent in 2010, according to the Director of Scientific Research Pediatrics Institute Nasib Guliyev.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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21 November 2016 14:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

The European Union and Azerbaijan are in process of creating delegations that will head negotiations on a new strategic partnership agreement.

Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Malena Mard announced about this while talking to reporters on November 21, APA said.

Mard noted that the EU is satisfied with starting negotiations with Azerbaijan on an extensive and comprehensive agreement that covers many areas.

The delegation on transport will arrive in Azerbaijan this week. Other delegations are also expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan. Intensive talks are underway in many spheres, she added.

The European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate on November 14, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan.

The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.

Currently, the EU is Azerbaijans major trade partner. The share of European countries in Azerbaijans foreign trade was 37.12 percent in January-September 2016, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

Azerbaijan has become a country of direct priority to the EUs strategy in its wider neighborhood since the last enlargement of the European Union in 2007. Azerbaijan affects Europes interests, mainly in a regional energy strategy.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

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21 November 2016 16:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Thousands of Azerbaijani women were subjected to inconceivable insult and violence during the armed aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan back in 1990s.



Hijran Huseynova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Affairs made the statement on a conference titled "Say NO to Violence against women" in Baku on November 21.

She further said that still there is no information about the fate of missing Azerbaijani women, who were captivated by Armenians.



"This is the cruelest example of violence and our people experienced this," Huseynova said.

The bloody war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan led to occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions by Armenian armed forces.



In a cruel war more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities, while over 4,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis were taken captive, hostage, or went missing as a result of the war.

The majority of those captured during the hostilities are children, elderly people and women.



An analysis of data received by the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons revealed that 554 people (104 women, 449 men) were found to have either been killed in captivity or died of various causes. Among them, only the names of 137 people are known, while 75 others have not yet been identified.

Armenia repeatedly refused to submit information regarding the fate of thousands of Azerbaijanis who gone missing or taken hostage.

Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Bahar Muradova, for her part, said that to prevent violence against women, the legislative base should be further improved.

Head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli, in turn, said that violence against women is observed not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries of the world.



"In various parts of the world there is still a fact of psychological, physical and sexual violence against women. To prevent this, it's necessary to bring to the forefront their right to education and independence," he added.

The EU pays particular attention to this issue and takes a very hard line, stressed Malena Mard, the Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan. "Violence against women occurs in every country of the world. This must be eradicated," she noted.



The conference is jointly organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children, the UN Population Fund, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

At the conference winners of the competition for the preparation of a script for a social video, implemented within the framework of cooperation between the State Committee for Family, Women and Children, and the ASAN FM State Agency for Citizens' Service and Social Innovations under the Azerbaijani President were awarded.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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22 November 2016 10:09 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Total S.A. Patrick Pouyanne, Azertac reported.

President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure his meeting with Patrick Pouyanne in Davos, and said cooperation with Total had a good history.

The head of state said the project to develop Absheron gas field has good prospects. President Ilham Aliyev said this field has a huge potential, and stressed the importance of a stage-by-stage development of the project.

Patrick Pouyanne said Total S.A has operated in Azerbaijan for already 20 years, adding successful cooperation has been established over this period. Patrick Pouyanne said Absheron field will be important for meeting gas demand in Azerbaijan. The Chairman said they reached agreement with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan on development of this field.

Patrick Pouyanne said a memorandum will be signed between SOCAR and Total on Absheron gas field, adding the visit creates a good opportunity for holding discussions over the development of this project. Patrick Pouyanne said he is pleased to attend the events marking the 20th anniversary of Total`s activity in Azerbaijan.

They also exchanged views over cooperation prospects.

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21 November 2016 15:34 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hopeful that trilateral meetings between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia will extend in the future, IRNA news agency reported November 21.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the remarks speaking about Irans interest in hosting next years trilateral meeting of Iranian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents.

Azerbaijan hosted the first meeting of the presidents in August 2016.

Qassemi also raised the possibility that Iran may host the event next year. The previous meeting was held in Baku. The next meeting can take place in Tehran next year, he said.

It is too early to pass an idea about the exact date and agenda of the meeting. But the trilateral meeting is a continuous convention which we hope turns into an innate arrangement among the three countries and we even hope that it extends under certain circumstances.

In the August meeting, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran said in a declaration that they would pursue a comprehensive development of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.

They also pledged to intensify and expand the political dialogue on various levels and on all issues of mutual interest, and also extend it into the spheres of culture, tourism and business.

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21 November 2016 17:32 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijan has done a great job in cleaning the Caspian Sea from oil, Matthew Bryza, former US assistant secretary for South Caucasus and former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend on November 21.



Bryza, the CEO oif Lamor Turkey, who was also one of the moderators in the 4th Practical Conference and Mini Exhibition - Offshore and Onshore Oil Spills: Industrial Safety in Oil and Gas, in Baku, said that with lower oil prices, all companies, public or private companies are trying to cut back the money they spend for ecology and for protecting the environment.



But I think that they have to begin to spend again more quickly, because oil companies are now producing even more oil to make revenue when the price is low, he said.



Bryza pointed out that Azerbaijan has done a great job working through SOCAR, through entire government, through Ministry of Emergency Situations and together with BP to put in place all the necessary capabilities to ensure that the sea gets cleaned from hydrocarbon, from oil damage.



With the decrease in oil prices, it is difficult sometimes to find necessary funding to protect the environment and clean up the oil that has been spilled in sea and on the land, in the maximum way, he said.



But Azerbaijan has got the training of personnel and regulations in place in this sphere, said Bryza, adding that the cooperation between BP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other Azerbaijani entities is working very well.



The 4th Practical Conference and Mini Exhibition - Offshore and Onshore Oil Spills: Industrial Safety in Oil and Gas kicked off in Baku Nov.21. The event focuses on readiness of the Caspian Sea littoral states to the ecological challenges, use of new technologies for eliminating the consequences of oil spill, as well as monitoring and prevention of spills, eliminating the pollution and other consequences.



The conference will continue on November 22.

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21 November 2016 18:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

An event marking the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the New Azerbaijan Party was held in Baku on November 21.

Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov, addressing the event, stressed that every Azerbaijani citizen realizes the Partys great role in the history of Azerbaijan and appreciates it:

The creation of the New Azerbaijan Party is directly connected with national leader Heydar Aliyevs name and personality. Certainly Heydar Aliyevs coming to power and leading the state of Azerbaijan, saving Azerbaijan from the disasters of early 1990s, and our modern history is directly linked to the history of the New Azerbaijan Party. The Party has participated in the implementation of Heydar Aliyev's policy, he said.

Ahmadov further emphasized that today the NAP continues to fulfill its honorable historic mission.

He said that the New Azerbaijan Party has reached a very high public image. "The number of members of the New Azerbaijan Party will reach 700,000 people in a few months.," he noted.

The New Azerbaijan Party was established at the initiative and with active participation of Azerbaijani intellectuals during the period of hardship of the Azerbaijan history, when the country was undergoing serious ordeal.

The conference, which gathered the representatives of all the regions of Azerbaijan, was held November 21, 1992 with national leader Heydar Aliyev presiding at the event. The Constituent Assembly approved the decision on the establishment of the party, the party's program and its statute. Heydar Aliyev was unanimously elected as a chairman of the party.

The New Azerbaijan Party was registered by the Justice Ministry on December 18, 1992 and opened its regional branches and cells in all the regions of Azerbaijan within a short period of time.

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21 November 2016 10:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Grape has been known for thousands of years in all the Mediterranean countries, but few know that seeds found in Uzerliktepe monument in the vicinities of Agdam are 3,500 years old, thus proving that inhabitants of this locality were engaged in winegrowing.

Azerbaijan is an ancient land of winegrowing. Due to the favorable natural-climatic condition, numerous sorts of grape have been developed here.

In the past century the wine industry in Azerbaijan went through good times, being an independent and dynamic field. In addition to well-known grape varieties, local sorts were also grown here, which were in great demand abroad.

More than 120 plants for the primary processing of grapes, as well as some wine plants operated throughout the country. Farmers harvested about 2.136 million tons of grape from 274 million hectares of vineyards. Suffice it to say one fact, one fith of wine production in the former Soviet Union was accounted for the share of Azerbaijan.

Production of the plant was designed not only for domestic but also for the external market. However, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as well as other objective reasons contributed to the collapse of this profitable field, once comparable to the oil industry of the country.

In 1985, as a result of anti-alcohol campaign conducted in the Soviet Union at the initiative of Mikhail Gorbachev, Azerbaijan was forced to cut down not only the plantation with technical varieties of grape, but also with unique table grapes. Since this year, the vineyards were uprooted in the area of more than 130,000 hectares.

Grapes grown in Azerbaijan, were repeatedly recognized as the best in the South Caucasus.

Despite winemaking does not occupy one of the leading places in the national economy today, the field is experiencing a renaissance in general.

Any Azerbaijani wine has a unique individuality, delicate aroma and smooth taste. There are about 450 local grape varieties.



Local grape varieties in Azerbaijan include White Shani, Derbendi, Nail, Bayanshire, Gamashara, Ganja Pink, Bendi, Madrasa, Black Shani, Zeynabi, Misgali, Khindogni, Agdam Kechiemdzheyi, Tebrizi, and Marandi.

Among the grape sorts used to produce Azerbaijani wine are Pinot Noir, Rkatsiteli, Pinot Blanc, Aligote, Matrassa, Podarok Magaracha, Pervenets Magaracha, Ranni Magaracha, Doina, Viorica, and Kishmish Moldavski.



Azerbaijan has every natural conditions-mountainous terrain and close location to the Caspian Sea for the development and expansion of winemaking.

Chairman of the Free Consumers Union Eyyub Huseynov said that the national wines can become a global brand.



"Azerbaijan cultivates the most quality and rarest grape varieties. Natural climate, fertile land favor for the development of wine-growing field. Moreover modern plants are operating for the production of wine. There is only one drawback -- lack of PR, he said.

Huseynov noted that Georgian and Armenian wines are more valued than Azerbaijan in the world and Europe.

If we compare these products, the Azerbaijani wine will be much better and more delicious than Georgian and Armenian wines. And there is a logical explanation: Azerbaijani wines are made of the best grapes, which are grown in the vast fields of the country, he emphasized.

Azerbaijan exports wines to Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States, Poland, Belarus and the UAE and China. More and more countries, for instance France, are showing interest in the national brandy, who buy this stuff here.

Azerbaijan became a member of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine in June 2014. The country has focused since then on the development of vines and wineries as important contributors to the economy and agriculture.



Local experts noted that the government has devoted considerable effort to creating the Caspian Coast wine trademark and has invested heavily in advertising the brand outside Azerbaijan. The ministries of agriculture and economy and industry are working to develop a wine culture programme and to reduce the production of spirits in the country over 2012 to 2020.



Experts advise that the programme should expand the countrys wine-producing areas, organize new wineries in rural areas and initiate the export of Azerbaijani wine to European markets. The ministries are supporting local winemakers by offering them long-term loans to modernize their manufacturing facilities and increase their production capacities.

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21 November 2016 12:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Energy-rich Azerbaijan, which ranks among the front-runners of oil and gas industry, recorded a significant increase in the volume of investments made in its oil and gas sector.

Some 7.91 billion manats ($ 4.62 billion) was invested in the oil and gas sector of the country in January-October 2016, while the volume invested in the same period of 2015 was at the level of 5.91 billion ($ 3.45 billion).

The total amount of capital investments in the industrial sector totaled some 7.95 billion manats ($ 4.65) recording a decrease of 14.2 percent in the reported period.

Nearly 7.14 billion manats ($ 4.17 billion) of the sum fell to a share of the mining industry, facing a decrease of 12.8 percent.

Investments in production, distribution and supply of electricity, gas and heat totaled 224.3 million manats ($ 131.2), which is by 33.9 percent more than in the same period of 2015.

With its well-developed AzeriChirag-Guneshli (ACG) oilfield, serving as the countrys key oil production platform, Azerbaijan has pumped nearly 412 million tons of oil from the field since November 1997.

The oil export, is implemented through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC), which is deemed to be the key route for the export, Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Supsa Pipelines.

The geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor is expected to provide another source of revenue for Azerbaijan.

The country will export the gas from the Shah Deniz Stage 2 through the SGC.

Shah Deniz Stage 2, or Full Field Development (FFD), a large-scale project is expected to add a further 16 bcm of gas production to the approximately 9 bcm produced by Shah Deniz Stage 1.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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21 November 2016 16:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijans energy giant SOCAR, which is constantly seeking potential markets for investments, sees Romanian market as one of the most promising.

SOCAR Vice President Suleyman Gasimov said that Romania ranks among priority countries for the Azerbaijani investments.

Mentioning that Baku and Bucharest enjoy very good political relations at the highest level, Gasimov said that Romania became the first European country where SOCAR invested.

He emphasized that an analysis of the Romanian market revealed that the country is open for Azerbaijani investments.

SOCAR earlier inaugurated a new fuel station near Bucharest, expanding the network of its filling stations in the country.

The filling station, which is located in Romanias Ilfov County, became the 35th filling station of the company in the country.

The company entered the Romanian market by buying local filling stations from Romtranspetrol and re-branding them in 2011.

Today, SOCAR operates filling stations under its brand in 17 regions of Romania.

The two countries also cooperate in the implementation of Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI) energy project, which is aimed at diversifying the energy supply sources of the European Union and involves the supply of Azerbaijani natural gas to Romania and into Central Europe.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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21 November 2016 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Two new power plants about to be built in Iran will receive a funding of $10 billion, according to Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi.

He said the first installment of the budget will be paid in two weeks, Tasnim news agency reported November 19.

Salehi was speaking on the sidelines of the brick-laying of three nuclear medical centers in Bushehr Province, southwestern Iran. The three medical centers include a nuclear emergency clinic and two nuclear hospitals.

The official said the power plants will be able to produce 200 thousand cubic meters of fresh water per day as well.

The new power plants are expected to be commenced by 2026. The construction will be carried out by Russia.

The two power plants would save 22 million barrels of crude oil (equivalent) in the power sector.

Russia has constructed Iran's first nuclear power plant, Bushehr, with 1,000 megawatts capacity and it is preparing for building new plants in the country.

Iran has plans to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 2,000 megawatts by 2035.

---

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21 November 2016 11:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Some 90.27 percent of people cast their votes in some constituencies of Turkmenistan during the parliamentary election held on November 20 in the country, the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan reported on November 21.

The parliamentary election was held at the constituencies in Akhal and Mary regions of Turkmenistan.

Several candidates have been registered for one MP seat, the message said. The election was held in accordance with the principles of democracy and transparency.

As many as 75,568 voters were registered to take part in the parliamentary election in three constituencies of Turkmenistan. The Central Commission for Election and Referendums in Turkmenistan reported that the final results of the voting will be released soon.

In accordance with the constitution of Turkmenistan, the countrys parliament adopts laws, makes changes and additions to the basic law, approves the state budget, addresses issues of holding a national referendum, appoints the president election, the parliamentary election, as well as members of representative bodies.

The Turkmen parliament also ratifies and denounces international treaties, decides on changing of the state border and the administrative-territorial division of the country.

---

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21 November 2016 13:04 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The next meeting of the ad hoc working group for drafting the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is planned to be held in Ashgabat in the second half of December, the Turkmen government reported on November 21.



The delegations of foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan are expected to participate in the meeting.



The previous meeting was held at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian-littoral countries in Tehran in October. The meeting mulled the water management, navigation, transit, energy

resources.



The Caspian states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran - signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.



Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.



Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively.



Additionally, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.

---

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21 November 2016 15:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iranian Navys 44th flotilla has entered the Atlantic Ocean, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.



Sayyari said the 44th flotilla consisting of Alvand destroyer and Bushehr logistics vessel berthed in the port city of Durban in South Africa, Tasnim news agency reported on November 21.



The flotilla crossed Africa and entered Atlantic Ocean, he said, expressing hope that Irans navy will sail across the Atlantic Ocean in the future.



The 44th flotilla of the Iranian Navy embarked on a voyage for the high seas on October 5 to safeguard maritime routes used by the country's vessels and oil tankers against pirates.



Sayyari earlier said that the dispatched fleet will continue to sail toward the Atlantic Ocean after South Africa if the conditions are suitable.



The Islamic Republic dispatched its warships to the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in 2014. It was planed that Irans fleet will approach the US maritime borders in response to the US Navys presence in the Persian Gulf. However, Tehran cancelled the plan later.



Sayyari further said that in line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has escorted 3844 trade vessels and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden.



He added that the Iranian Navy has established security in the north of the Indian Ocean.



Iran has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

---

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21 November 2016 17:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Turkey makes attempts to join the EU from time to time, however, the country has never needed it, on the contrary, the EU needs Turkey.

The statement was made by Turkish Presidents Chief Adviser Yalcin Topcu, who is on a visit to Baku on November 21.

Europe needs the power of Turkey, its surface and underground resources, as well as human resources, according to Topcu.

The official said that Turkey is the only way for the EU to establish strong trade and political ties with the East, the Caucasus, the Arab world, Central Asia and the Balkans.



"But it is clear that Europe does not seek to strengthen ties with Turkey," the adviser emphasized.

Terrorist organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the ISIS, the Gulen movement, according to Topcu, are managed by countries that supposedly have strategic ties with Turkey.

"Turkey judges it due to the armament of the terrorist groups. As many as 4,500 terrorists, who are on our wanted list, are in Germany," he said.

The adviser to the president believes that the relations between Turkey and the EU depend on the steps that will now be taken by the EU.

Commenting on attempted military coup in Turkey on July 15, the presidential adviser said that if the coup attempt was successful, it would have a negative impact on all the countries of the region.

He went on saying that the U.S. should follow the bilateral agreement and should extradite Gulen, who is directly connected with the attempt of a military coup.

"The U.S. so far has not fulfilled any obligations in this field. Both countries have extradition agreement on criminals. We never put question when the U.S. wants any criminal, because the opposite side says that you have someone whose we consider as a criminal. That's why the U.S. also should transfer FETO's leader to us. However, the U.S. has not done it so far," he said.

Topcu stressed that Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) is a danger for the countries who want peace and prosperity.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces has said that 8,651 servicemen of the armed forces participated in the military coup attempt in the country. The rebels used 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 246 tanks and three vessels during the military coup attempt in Turkey.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

Recently he said that the state of emergency may be prolonged due to the fight with Gulen movement.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A Tampa Police officer suffered minor injuries early Monday when his cruiser was struck by a wrong-way driver.

Tampa Police officer in wrong-way crash

Officer has minor injuries; other driver not hurt

Crash happened near downtown Tampa

According to police, Officer Keith Barnum was traveling eastbound on Kennedy Boulevard when a wrong-way driver entered his path of travel northbound from one-way South Hyde Park Avenue.

The 3:22 a.m. collision caused both the officer, and the other driver's airbags to deploy.

Officer Barnum was transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He has been released.

The other driver, Ronald Sayegh, was not injured.

The crash still remains under investigation, but officials have confirmed that neither alcohol nor narcotics were a factor in the crash. Officials said there will most likely be a citation issued for driving the wrong way on a one-way street as he was unaware that Hyde Park was one way.
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Professional angler Tommy Dickerson said it's nice to be asked about his hometown while he's out on the national fishing circuit.

After three years of luring tournaments, Orange's splashy pro-fishing introduction is having a ripple effect, Dickerson said.

"I travel now and Orange has become familiar all over the country," said Dickerson, who has fished in professional tournaments for more than two decades.

While tournaments in Orange have been hailed an economic success for bringing in tens of thousands of visitors each year and generating millions for Orange County in revenue, city and county leaders are still trying to figure out how use them to hook more businesses and residents.

Dickerson speculated it will take at least five years before Orange County can start to fully capitalize on the national tournaments.

Orange has a nice boat ramp and a lot of water, he said, but it still needs basic things like more hotels to accommodate out-of-town guests.

"I know it's going to take time, but it's amazing how far we've come in three years," said Dickerson. "Imagine how far we're going to be in six years."

John Gothia, who will become an Orange County commissioner in January after running unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election, is credited with bringing in the big tournaments.

"The biggest benefits are to the folks that are already here - the hotels, the restaurants, the gas stations, sporting goods store," said Gothia, a manager with tobacco company Altria.

Last week, Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to spend $90,000 of the county's hotel-motel occupancy tax revenue to promote the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster tournament coming to Orange June 15-17.

The three-day Bassmaster tournament in 2015 brought in more than 30,000 people and generated about $2 million in revenue for the county, according to Gothia.

He expects the June tournament to attract similar-sized crowds and to bring in millions of dollars. More importantly, Gothia thinks the tournament, which promises $50,000 in cash and prizes, will give Orange national exposure through media coverage.

Gothia said city and county officials are working to entice outside business owners and residents to move to area, showing them that Orange offers high quality-of-life activities, solid infrastructure and good schools.

"We're looking for that bigger benefit, and that takes several years," Gothia said.

Jonathan Simon, owner of Simon Outfitters bait shop in Orange, said he thinks the tournaments are too seasonal to attract a lot of extra businesses.

"You'll have a good week for that tournament, but as far as your typical weekly sales, we don't have the market for it," he said.

Simon, who said he sees a spike in customers during the tournaments, praised officials for bringing in the pros, but said Orange will need to work for several years to build up its reputation as a destination fishing city.

"You just kind of need to wait your turn," he said.

Dickerson said professional tournaments have upped Orange's state and national profile, bringing more anglers in general to the city's waterways. He said he has seen hundreds of people from Texas and Louisiana show up for recent amateur fishing tournaments.

"I think that's what will grow more than the professional tournaments," he said.

Ida Schossow, president of the Greater Orange Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is working with the Orange Economic Development Corp. and the Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring in more residents and businesses based off the tournaments.

"There are some things that we are working on, just nothing we're able to talk about yet," Schossow said.

After years of trying to attract a national fishing tournament, Orange first hosted the Bassmaster Professional Series in 2013, attracting a record 34,000 people.

The tournaments have multiplied since then.

In 2017, the city is scheduled to host two national fishing tournaments - the Bassmaster series in June and a national high school tournament in April. Gothia said he is working on a deal for a third tournament that he declined to name.

Gothia attributes the county's success attracting tournaments to its variety of freshwater and saltwater fisheries and a change in Texas law that allows anglers catches that are 12 inches long instead of at least 14 inches.

NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/natalie_krebs
Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica held a special ceremony on Sunday to close their holy door, which was opened a year ago to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pope Francis declared the year of mercy to promote peace and unity around the world. In breaking with tradition, Pope Francis allowed bishops to designate holy doors within churches around the world. Bishop Curtis J. Guillory said the door symbolizes Catholics leaving the divisiveness of the world behind when they enter the cathedral and as a reminder to be "Merciful like the Father," written on the emblem above the door.

During the ceremony, Guillory placed a gold-colored brick in the doorway which came from the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica. The brick had been embedded in the basilica's holy door when Pope John Paul II declared a jubilee year in 2000.
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Camille Theis no longer goes to her neighborhood gas station.

Not after the Orange woman said skimmers installed on the station's pumps robbed of her more than $1,000.

Theis said more than two dozen of her neighbors in the Cypress Bayou community also found fraudulent charges on their recent bank statements.

Police in Orange found three card skimmers at gas stations in the city in a two-day period in early November, according to a department news release.

Skimmers are designed to secretly swipe a person's credit or bank information when a debit or credit card is inserted into a card slot at a gas pump. The skimmers can't be seen outside the pump.

Theis said she first noticed in late October that her company card she uses for gas had $500 in suspicious charges made at two grocery stores - one in Cypress and one in Spring - where she doesn't shop. Five days later, Theis said she used a new debit card at her usual gas station. By the end of the week, she said that card had $500 in fraudulent charges made at the Cypress grocery store and at another store in Katy.

Theis and her neighbors have formed a Facebook group to stay alert and hopefully find a suspect.

"It seems there has been a suspicious gray Honda around our neighborhood a lot, and several neighbors mentioned seeing it parked at the gas station," Theis said. "The police have asked us to get the license plate if we see it again."

Several similar cases have been reported in Beaumont in the past month.

"Unfortunately, it happens," said Beaumont Police Detective Lisa Jardine.

Jardine said thieves will open up gas pumps and install skimmers inside the machines where they are undetectable to users. They return later and remove the devices, taking consumers' card information with them.

The thieves then transfer that information onto gift cards that don't require pin numbers, and use those cards to make purchases at stores.

Jardine said Beaumont and Orange police departments are working together to see if their skimmer cases are related.

Neither department would disclose which gas stations the skimmers are targeting.

Orange Police Capt. Robert Enmon said the Orange cases have only involved the stealing of debit card information - credit cards and gas cards have not been an issue, he said.

Janois Strause Grizzaffi, a criminal investigator with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said "the best thing you can do is check your accounts daily."

She said skimmers are a problem throughout Orange County, but the most recent rash has been isolated in Orange.

"What's strange about these specific cases is that the card information is taken from Orange gas stations, and then transactions are being made in Houston the day after," said Grizzaffi, who speculated the local skimmers might be working with someone in the greater Houston area.

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Local school districts are upgrading their preschool programs' emphasis on technology and literacy education with the aid of a $1.7 million grant from the state to fund "high quality" pre-K, which aims to better prepare students for elementary school.

The Texas Legislature allocated $118 million for the program statewide in 2015, which 17 districts in Region 5 received this summer and fall, in addition to the money they already receive for eligible preschool students.

Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, an author of the 2015 bill, said the goal of the grants is for districts to "pay a little more attention at the front end" to prevent issues that show up later on test scores and force the need for remedial courses.

"It's pretty clear if we can get more attention to early childhood, it would help in the long run," he said.

Beaumont ISD aims to address that by increasing technology and literacy programs in pre-K classrooms, according to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Vonda Washington.

"We want to start them out early on the use of technology, because that's the direction we want to move in throughout the district," she said, which determined how the district plans to spend its $756,882.

At last week's board meeting, managers approved purchases that included more than $360,000 for 650 iPads, and more than $100,000 for "School Readiness" kits from Lakeshore Learning, which include books for classrooms and take-home activities for students.

Technology and literacy programs were also the focus of the funding in Port Neches-Groves ISD, according to Mandie Champagne, Pre-K Coordinator at the West Groves Early Learning Center. The district purchased an online learning program that covers topics in language arts, math, science and social studies, she said, as well as an interactive reading program.

"It was something we'd been looking at but we were able to use the grant to help us with," Champagne said.

The school will purchase equipment to add a physical education class and preschool-specific professional development programs for teachers.

Other districts have used the grants, which they were eligible to apply for if they adhere to the state's "high-quality standards," to increase or expand their preschool offerings.

"We added a class of pre-K," said Spurger ISD Superintendent Kendall Smith, which "allows us to get closer to a smaller teacher-student ratio than what is required."

Although Spurger's $10,282 allocation did not cover the salary of a new teacher, "it freed up money that we would have spent on supplies that we were able to use to hire another teacher," Smith said.

Those supplies, which include educational software for preschoolers, are "supplies that we probably couldn't have been able to afford otherwise," he said.

Warren ISD and Silsbee ISD both used their grants to expand their half-day programs to full-day, which also increased enrollment.

Warren's Financial Officer Terry Ling said the full-day program is offered at both of the district's elementary schools, and provides free pre-K for eligible students, and a tuition program for students that don't automatically qualify.

The Texas Education Code identifies students "most at risk for school failure" as eligible for free preschool, a classification that includes being homeless, in foster care or "educationally disadvantaged."

Silsbee superintendent Richard Bain said the district served 30 students when they offered half-day preschool. Since moving to full-day this year and offering transportation, that number jumped to 90, he said.

The $23,456 the district received "doesn't even come close to funding it, but it does help," he said.

For most districts, it's too early to see the results of the funding, though all are monitoring the programs through regular assessments and hoping they pay off.

"I think we're really going to be able to see the difference as these kids move into kindergarten and elementary school," Bain said.

While the grants have helped with implementing changes, "future funding is contingent upon future appropriations from the legislature," according to TEA.

"I just wish the grants would continue, but we really don't know," PN-G's Champagne said.

"We always worry about losing any kind of funding, I think it's something we would take a good hard look at within the district," Bain said.

Deshotel said this year's budget crunch could hurt early childhood funding, but he plans to prioritize it.

"We're not going to have the funds we were projecting to have," he said, "so all programs could possibly see reduced funding."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz
StartUp Health launched its innovation program with three Aurora, Colo.-based academic medical institutions last week with eyes toward filling 29 partnerships with health startups, reports Denverite.

StartUp Health Colorado will include support from University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus - Children's Hospital Colorado, CU Anschutz and UCHealth. The innovation initiative will collaborate with each institution to develop a custom portfolio that includes 30 innovation projects over the first three years.



StartUp Health Colorado also gained its first startup partnership with prescription drug platform RxREVU in Denver. StartUp Health CEO and co-founder Steven Krein called for other healthcare startups and entrepreneurs to apply to join StartUp Health Colorado. There are 29 remaining positions, with applications closing Dec. 9.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America promoted its COO Samuel N. Hazen to president and COO, effective immediately.

Here are five things to know:

1. HCA named Mr. Hazen COO in January 2015. He oversees operations for the company's 170 hospitals, 118 ambulatory surgery centers and numerous outpatient facilities and physician practices in the United States and United Kingdom.

2. Prior to his COO role, he was president of operations, and before then he was president of HCA's Western Group.

3. He has also served as CFO for the Western Group.

4. Prior to joining HCA, he held CFO positions at hospitals in Georgia and Las Vegas, Nev.

5. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.
Denton Cooley, MD, the surgeon who performed the first successful human heart transplant in the United States, died Nov. 15 at age 96.

The Texas Heart Institute, which Dr. Cooley founded in 1962, announced his death and did not specify the cause.

Dr. Cooley completed the United States' first successful human heart transplant in 1968 on a 47-year-old man. At the time, heart transplants were controversial as religious and spiritual leaders questioned whether life ended when your brain ceased to function or heart stopped beating. In an interview with Life magazine, Dr. Cooley said he saw the heart as "a servant of the brain," according to The Washington Post.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Cooley and his team performed more than 120,000 open-heart operations.

This was not without controversy. Heart surgeon Michael DeBakey, MD, collaborated with Dr. Cooley at Baylor University College of Medicine in the 1950s on new techniques for heart-bypass surgery and creation of a heart-lung bypass machine. The two surgeons split in a highly publicized conflict in 1969, one year after Dr. Cooley performed the world's first transplant with an artificial heart. Dr. DeBakey claimed Dr. Cooley and his team stole the artificial heart his team developed. They eventually reconciled in 2007, but Dr. DeBakey died one year later.

Dr. Cooley earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he completed his internship as well. He served as an associate professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, and spent time working at Methodist Hospital and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, both in Houston.

The medical pioneer played a hand in other medical milestones apart from the landmark heart surgery. For instance, as an intern, he assisted in the first "blue-baby" operation, which corrected a heart defect that stopped a baby from getting enough oxygen.

But Dr. Cooley believed his major professional accomplishment was the creation of the THI  of which he served as surgeon-in-chief for more than 40 years  and developing a school of surgery. Today, more than 800 surgeons are members of the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions and general partnerships took place or were announced in the past week.

1. Kindred inks $700M deal to buy 36 SNFs from Ventas

As part of Kindred Healthcare's plan to exit the skilled nursing facility business, the Louisville, Ky.-based company inked agreements to purchase the 36 SNFs it currently leases from Ventas, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust.

2. Grinnell Regional Medical Center eyes partnership with UnityPoint Health, UI Healthcare

Grinnell (Iowa) Regional Medical Center signed a letter of intent to partner with UnityPoint Health  Des Moines (Iowa) and University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City.

3. Good Shepherd Health System to merge with Christus Health

Longview, Texas-based Good Shepherd Health System will merge with Irving, Texas-based Christus Health, effective early next year. The terms of the agreement have yet to be disclosed.

4. Madera Community Hospital launches partnership with VEP Healthcare

Concord, Calif.-based VEP Healthcare launched a partnership with Madera (Calif.) Community Hospital. VEP Healthcare will provide emergency medicine and medical services to the hospital.

5. University of Kansas Hospital enters into joint venture with Stormont cancer center

Kansas City-based University of Kansas Hospital and Topeka, Kan.-based Stormont Vail Health's Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center agreed to embark on a joint venture to expand radiation oncology services in the area.

6. IU Health to operate Frankfort Hospital

Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health and Clinton County agreed to a five-year contract that named IU Health the new operator of Frankfort (Ind.) Hospital, effective June 1.

7. Arkansas Children's Hospital forms nursery alliance with Conway Regional

Little Rock-based Arkansas Children's Hospital and Conway (Ark.) Regional Health System embarked on an affiliation agreement to create a pediatric nursery alliance.

8. Louisiana, Ochsner Health System partner for free medical assistant training

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System and the Louisiana Workforce Commission are accepting applications for their free medical assistant training program in spring 2017.

9. Beth Israel, Lahey back in merger talks for the 4th time

Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health are discussing a possible merger. This is the fourth time the institutions have attempted to combine operations in the past five years.

10. Sale of Doctors Hospital in the works, may reopen as clinic

Columbus, Ohio, resident John Johnson, MD, is in the process of buying the former Massillon, Ohio-based Doctors Hospital for $465,000.

11. Baptist Health to partner with Walgreens on pharmacy, clinic operations

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens will transition the ownership of three retail health clinics in northeast Florida to Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health beginning in May 2017.

12. Children's Hospital Los Angeles to expand partnership with Providence

After embarking on a successful partnership with Providence Tarzana (Calif.) Medical Center in 2015, Children's Hospital Los Angeles expanded its partnership with Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services.

13. CHS sells 2 hospitals for $425M as part of debt-reduction effort

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems signed a definitive agreement to sell Spokane, Wash.-based Rockwood Health System to Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare for $425 million.

14. WellSpan Health to work with University of Maryland to expand cancer treatment options

York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health teamed up with the University of Maryland in College Park to treat cancer patients using proton therapy technology available at the university.

15. Sheltering Arms Hospital, VCU Health collaborate to build rehabilitation hospital

Mechanicsville, Va.-based Sheltering Arms Hospital and Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University Health System will partner on a 114-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility.

16. Children's Hospital of Georgia, Subway raise $3k for NICU

Physicians from the Augusta-based Children's Hospital of Georgia exchanged scrubs for subs in an effort to raise money for the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

17. Kansas issues proposals for partner to operate state hospital

Kansas state officials are searching for a private partner to help operate Osawatomie (Kan.) State Hospital.

18. Penn State Hershey Medical Center searches for partners after failed Pinnacle merger

After a federal judge ruled against the merger of Harrisburg, Pa.-based PinnacleHealth System and Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, Penn State Health's CEO said the medical center is open to pursuing new collaborations and partnerships.
From a remote cardiac monitoring company settling a kickback case to a jury convicting a home healthcare owner in a Medicare fraud scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. NJ cardiac monitoring company settles kickback case

Ewing, N.J.-based MedNet, a remote cardiac monitoring company, agreed to pay more than $1.35 million to resolve a kickback case.

2. Former auditor accuses Eskenazi Health of improper billing

A compliance auditor who blew the whistle on alleged improper billing at Indianapolis-based Eskenazi Health claims she was fired for doing so.

3. Feds to judge: Deny Aetna's request to depose Andy Slavitt

The U.S. Department of Justice called on the judge overseeing the Aetna-Humana acquisition trial to rebut Aetna's request for a pre-trial testimony from CMS' acting administrator, arguing the deposition should only be allowed under extraordinary circumstances.

4. Jury convicts home healthcare owner in $13M Medicare fraud conspiracy

A Houston-based home health agency owner was convicted for her involvement in a Medicare fraud scheme.

5. Jurors rule Arkansas billing agency practices 'not deceptive'

A Pulaski County Circuit Court jury in Arkansas determined Little Rock-based Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services did not violate the state's deceptive trade practices act.

6. Patient charged with battery of EMS personnel in Louisiana

A 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly assaulting an emergency medical services worker in Baton Rouge, La., while intoxicated.

More articles on health law:



Medical transportation company denies bilking MassHealth out of $19M

Armed man reportedly impersonated Virginia Mason employee to steal patient information
The U.S. Department of Justice will begin efforts to block Anthem's proposed $54 billion purchase of Cigna in a Washington, D.C., federal district court today.

Here are five things to watch.

1. First-phase arguments will focus on the acquisition's effect on the national large employer insurer market, CNBC reports. Approval of the Anthem-Cigna deal would establish the nation's largest insurer per enrollment, with more than 54 million policyholders, an annual revenue of $117 billion and national market share of about 29 percent.

2. The DOJ will argue the deal will shrink the country's five nationwide insurers to four, impeding national insurance competition and raising antitrust concerns in at least 35 markets. Healthcare antitrust lawsuits often focus on local markets, and Thomas Greaney, co-director of the center for health law studies at Saint Louis University School of Law, told CNBC, "There really is not a well-defined market for national employers, and there hasn't been a case yet brought by the justice department that alleged such a market."

3. Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna will argue their combined entity would lower overhead costs. The payers will also argue their large scale would give them negotiating power over hospitals and physicians, lowering prices for policyholders.

4. The insurers will need to prove their efficiency as one entity, as the government will argue the fact that each insurer accused the other in September of breaching their acquisition agreement shows the two cannot work together. Federal attorneys will call Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish as their first witness to address the accusations, CNBC reports.

5. Presiding U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said there will be a ruling on the case in January. Anthem said its acquisition of Cigna will need to be complete by April 30, or Cigna will walk out the next day and collect a $1.85 billion breakup fee. In addition, Anthem said even if it receives a positive court ruling, it will still need at least 120 days to garner approval from all state regulators.
Highly preventable central-line infections were cut in half between 2008 and 2014, according to the CDC.

The success has been described as one of the nation's greatest achievements in patient safety by Arjun Srinivasan, MD, associate director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs at the CDC. However, while many of the nation's hospitals have had great success at reducing these infections, others have struggled.

A Consumer Reports investigation identified 31 prominent teaching hospitals with high rates of central-line infections when compared to peer organizations. For the investigation, Consumer Reports analyzed publicly available data on central-line infections from 2011 to 2015 on nearly 2,000 hospitals.

"Because teaching hospitals are teaching our next generation of physicians, we think it's critical to monitor them closely. Our review of their performance on controlling central-line infections is very sobering," said Doris Peter, PhD, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. "Central-line infections are highly preventable and there are no excuses for poor performance on this metric. It's unfortunate to see so many well-known hospitals, some who tout their top rankings and awards, sitting on the sidelines of one of the biggest triumphs in patient safety."

Every year approximately 650,000 patients develop infections associated with central-lines, which supply medication, nutrients and fluids to patients who need them. These infections result in the deaths of 75,000 people.

Here are the 31 lowest-scoring teaching hospitals for central-line infection prevention, presented alphabetically.

Atlanta Medical Center (Atlanta)

Banner- University Medical Center Tucson (Ariz.)

Brooklyn Hospital Center (New York City)

Community Regional Medical Center (Fresno, Calif.)

Cooper University Health Care (Camden, N.J.)

Dartmouth  Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, N.H.)

Emory University Hospital Midtown (Atlanta)

Eskenazi Health (Indianapolis, Ind.)

George Washington University Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta)

Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring, Md.)

Howard University Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

Hurley Medical Center (Flint, Mich.)

Indiana University Health University Hospital (Indianapolis)

Interim LSU Public Hospital (New Orleans)

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (Long Beach, Calif.)

MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn, Ill.)

Maine Medical Center (Portland, Maine)

Maricopa Integrated Health System (Phoenix)

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, Neb.)

Palmetto Health Richland (Columbia, S.C.)

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, N.J.)

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles)

SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital (New York)

Truman Medical Center - Hospital Hill (Kansas City, Mo.)

Tulane Medical Center (New Orleans)

UC San Diego Health (San Diego)

UF Health Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.)

University Hospital (Newark, N.J.)

University Medical Center of El Paso (El Paso, Texas)

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City, Iowa)

For a detailed look at Consumer Reports' scoring for the top-performing and worst-performing teaching hospitals for central-line infection rates based on historical averages, click here. These rating do not take into account 2016 data from the hospitals, which has not yet been made publicly available.

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Donald Trump's election victory will have no impact on Applegreen's plans to open seven branches here, the company's boss has confirmed.

Founder and chief executive Bob Etchingham said the business had performed well since launching in Northern Ireland last year.

"At this stage, we have a total of five (locations), but the big battleship locations are the motorway service stations at Belfast, Templepatrick and Lisburn," he told Business Telegraph after his company was named rising star of 2016 at the European Small and Mid-Cap Awards.

"We are building our third motorway service station on the inbound carriageway to Lisburn.

"We will hope to start next year on the inbound carriageway, opposite to our Templepatrick site.

"We will eventually have four motorway sites and three non-motorway sites."

The company's operations in Northern Ireland started out with a service station on the motorway between Glengormley and Templepatrick.

"They (the service stations) perform very well," Mr Etchingham explained.

"We are delighted at the response of the Northern Ireland consumer.

"Since day one, they (the service stations) have been very well-supported and frequented - hence the fact that we are continuing to build out the remaining sites that we have planning consent for.

"We are continuing to grow. Last year, in total, we added 50 stations and the same this year.

"We would hope to keep the overall number of sites we grow by each year to slightly above that level."

Applegreen has 235 locations across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK.

It also has around a dozen sites in the US.

Asked whether the US election would have an impact on the business, which is expanding into the country, Mr Etchingham insisted it would not.

"Not really," he said. "Both Trump and Brexit will have an impact on the US and the UK economy. But we are investing in infrastructure and real estate, and they are long-term plays.

"What might happen over the next couple of years isn't crucially important to us. We don't see ourselves changing our strategy or plans.

"We looking at it (the US) at the moment. What we are doing in the US is a pilot and a trial.

"Our experience in the run-up to Brexit (was that) the consumer seemed to be quite nervous. But once the vote happened, things normalised very quickly."
Prime Minister Theresa May won praise from the business sector, but less so from the unions

The Prime Minister's CBI speech sparked praise from business groups, but anger from unions and opposition politicians.

CBI director general Caroline Fairbairn said Theresa May had set out an " ambitious and inclusive" vision for the economy , adding that she welcomed the commitment to providing clarity on her Brexit negotiations.

"Businesses around the UK will strongly welcome a progressive partnership between industry and Government," she said.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive of the manufacturers' organisation EEF, said it was good that the Prime Minister had outlined the beginnings of what a post-Brexit industrial strategy should look like.

"Manufacturers are willing to pick up the gauntlet the Prime Minister has thrown down and contribute to driving up the UK's productivity performance," he added.

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said business leaders will be pleased to get more information on the Government's industrial strategy and welcomed the boost to research.

Company directors would be "significantly reassured" by the speech, particularly the proposals on employee representation on boards.

But the GMB led union attacks, accusing the Prime Minister of "back tracking" on a pledge to have worker representatives on boards.

Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis, said: "While I welcome the Government's commitment to start reversing the decline in research and development spend, this is woefully inadequate and risks being too little too late.

"And it comes on the same day that the Prime Minister announced she is ditching her flagship policy to put workers on company boards - just one month after committing to it.

"Tory promises don't last until Christmas."

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "Businesses will be reassured by the tone of the Prime Minister's remarks, which was substantially different to what we heard at the Conservative Party Conference less than two months ago.

"At a time when the UK is embarking on a major political and economic transition, businesses of all sizes need to feel that they are being championed, both in government and by government.

"Business communities around the UK are well aware of their responsibilities to local growth, to their employees, and to their owners and shareholders - and want to know that their commitment is matched by backing at the very top."

Professor Dame Ann Dowling, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: "I am delighted to see the Government's stated aims of building an effective industrial strategy for the UK realised in this morning's announcement of increased investment in research and innovation, including a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to accelerate the growth of important engineering technologies, such as robotics and biotechnology.

"Together with the UK's other national academies, we have been consistent in making the case for such investment in the future of our country."
TUC head Frances O'Grady has hit out at the PM over the role of workers in business boardrooms

The Prime Minister has been attacked for "watering down" a pledge to allow workers to have a representative on company boards.

Theresa May had told the Conservative Party conference in October that employees would join directors in boardrooms to be given a say on how business operate.

But in a keynote speech to business leaders she said there would be no direct appointment of workers or trade unions to boards, telling the CBI there was "nothing anti-business" in her plans.

Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB, said the Prime Minister had broken her promise, adding: "The Tories can claim to be the party of workers all they want, but actions speak louder than warm words.

"That the Prime Minister stood in front of big business today and watered down a pledge made just a few months ago shows us all we need to know.

"The mask is slipping - nice speeches followed by broken promises will not help working people get fairness and dignity in the workplace."

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Theresa May made a clear promise to have workers represented on company boards. The proposals in her speech do not deliver on this.

"This is not the way to show that you want to govern for ordinary working people."

CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: "UK corporate governance is admired across the world. Our businesses know that brilliant employee engagement, openness with customers and support for local communities are essential to success.

"But firms recognise public concerns. The challenge now is to take the great practice that we see in so many places and apply it everywhere, eradicating the unacceptable transgressions that some companies do make.

"On employee engagement, different approaches will work for different businesses but a starting point is firms being able to outline and explain what approach they are taking - whether that's employees on boards, employee committees, dedicated representatives, or other models that genuinely address the issue."

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD), said: "IoD members will be significantly reassured by this speech, not least the Prime Minister's positive comments on the importance of innovators and entrepreneurs to society.

"Her administration has also been more consultative than its predecessor, and the IoD welcomes this new approach. Theresa May's proposals on employee representation in boardrooms, for example, shows she is plotting a pragmatic course."

Mathew Lawrence of the IPPR think tank said: "Any decision to row back on workers on boards would be a step in the wrong direction. Worker representation on boards isn't a radical move.

"Among our more productive, investment-rich European competitors it is commonplace.

"The aim of corporate governance reform, after all, must be to address the UK's core economic weaknesses on productivity, investment and fair growth."

Stefan Stern, of the High Pay Centre think tank, said: "The voice of employees is what has been missing from the board level discussion on executive pay over the past two decades.

"That lack of voice has led us to where we are today, where almost everyone agrees that top pay has become absurdly excessive.

"It would be a great pity were the Government to surrender to the inertia that has prevented substantial progress on excessive pay during that time, and snatch ignominious defeat from the jaws of something close to a worthwhile victory."
Mitie's outgoing chief executive, Ruby McGregor-Smith, said the first half of the year had been difficult

Shares in struggling outsourcing firm Mitie plummeted on Monday after the company swung to a 100.4 million half-year loss and again issued a profit warning as increased economic uncertainty and higher staff costs continued to bite.

The firm put its performance, which compares to a 45.1 million profit in the same period last year, down to "changing market conditions as clients adjust to rising labour costs and economic uncertainty".

The group's shares were down 9.29% to 190.2p in morning trading.

Mitie warned that full-year earnings are expected to come in below management's previous expectations due to "ongoing market uncertainties" and "weak UK business confidence affecting client investment plans". Revenue for the period fell 2.6% to 1.09 billion.

The company also announced that it is withdrawing from the domiciliary healthcare market, placing its healthcare unit under strategic review.

Mitie said: "Our healthcare businesses will continue to fulfil all obligations but there will be no investment in new areas of this market. Mitie will manage its withdrawal in an orderly and responsible manner.

"The board has changed its long-term view of this market. All healthcare goodwill and intangibles have been written off."

The firm has written off 107.1 million of goodwill as a result of the move.

Outgoing chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith said: "The first half of this year has been difficult but we are not alone in facing significant macroeconomic challenges.

"Second-half performance is expected to improve with our new operating model as we adapt to market conditions"

Mitie also cut its dividend from 5.4p to 4p.

Neil Wilson at ETX Capital said: " Rising staffing costs are not going to get much better with the National Living Wage set to rise along with pension costs and apprentice levies.

"Labour costs will rise and a weak pound will further drive up imported goods and services. All this puts pressure on Mitie's clients and make them less likely to spend."
The oil and gas industry would only survive with government intervention, said 55% of workers surveyed

More than half of nearly 800 offshore workers polled say the oil and gas industry's future is in doubt without government help while almost a quarter believe the sector has no future.

The bleak picture emerged in a survey by the union Unite.

A total of 55% of those surveyed said the industry would only survive with government intervention and 24% said they could see "no future for the offshore industry in the UK".

Just 6.9% believe the industry has a healthy future.

The Scottish and UK governments are not doing enough to support the offshore sector, 95.3% of workers surveyed said.

Almost nine in 10 of the 779 surveyed - 89.6% - backed Unite's call for the governments to buy stakes in offshore infrastructure such as pipelines or platforms.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: "The message from our members and other offshore workers in this survey is clear - unless government starts to come up with some new thinking for the oil and gas industry, the future is looking very bleak.

"We have made repeated calls for a summit to bring together energy companies, trade unions, the Scottish Government and the UK Government, so that we can start planning for the future.

"It's never happened, and we just can't understand why.

"We have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government and the UK Government to consider using their borrowing powers to take out public stakes in new offshore infrastructure, and to help protect existing infrastructure that might otherwise be decommissioned.

"We believe public stakes would encourage companies to also invest, supporting jobs, and creating returns for the public purse in the future.

"We are in the middle of a crisis, and unless there is action soon we could be approaching a point of no return. That would be devastating for the Scottish economy, particularly in the north east.

"Offshore workers are the people worst affected by this crisis - with attacks on their working conditions and as many as 120,000 jobs in the industry and wider economy forecast to be lost by the end of this year.

"Our members are clear - to protect their livelihoods and skills we need government action now."

A Department for Business and Energy spokesperson said: "The UK Government is committed to supporting our oil and gas sector, and the jobs which depend on it.

"That's why in the last two years we have put in place support worth 2.3 billion and strengthened the North Sea's appeal to international investors as a global centre of excellence.

"With rising production output, significant reduction in operating costs and government support, there's a determination to create a long term future for an industry that makes a huge contribution to Scotland and the UK."

Scotland's Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: "The Scottish Government remains committed to the oil and gas sector, supporting the work of the Energy Jobs Task Force, launching a 12 million Transition Training Fund and bringing forward 12.5 million to support innovation and business resilience.

"We have also provided 125 million through the Aberdeen City Deal and a further 254 million of additional investment to help sustain Aberdeen as one of the world's leading cities for investment and business.

"The UK Government now needs to fulfil its responsibilities in respect of powers reserved to Westminster to do more to ensure the North Sea is an attractive place for investment and to ensure key infrastructure is maintained.

"The Chancellor must therefore use his Autumn Statement this week to announce further support for the industry.

"For example, the Chancellor should improve access to decommissioning tax relief, he should honour the promises made in Budget 2016 on loan guarantees for critical offshore infrastructure, and he should bring forward support for exploration. These measures will incentivise new investment and activity and provide a much-needed boost to the industry."
An historic Co Down bar has been taken over by a former Belfast hotel manager who worked there as a schoolboy.

The Primrose, on Ballynahinch's Main Street, was once a farrier's shop with a bar in the front and has been a popular spot in the town for over 80 years.

It was once known as Gabbies' Bar, but was renamed The Primrose around 40 years ago.

Ballynahinch man Kevin Smyth leased the bar for around a year before agreeing to buy it from owners the McKibben family. His purchase was supported by Ulster Bank.

Mr Smyth was general manager of Ten Square in Belfast and the Galgorm Resort and is a former chairman of the Institute of Hospitality's Northern Ireland branch.

He said that over the past year, the number of diners in the restaurant had doubled to around 1,200 every week, while staff numbers were up from 12 to 23.

Mr Smyth has already invested around 65,000 refurbishing the restaurant and next year hopes to increase its 76-seat capacity.

"It has always been an ambition to own my own business so when the opportunity to buy The Primrose came along, I jumped at it," he said.

"I am very excited about the possibilities, and we have big plans for the business. I am very grateful for the support I have received from Ulster Bank."
UK taxpayers could be liable for a significant share of the North Sea's multi-billion pound decommissioning costs over the next four decades, according to a new study.

The GMB union said its research into oil and gas fields across the UK Continental Shelf suggested an increasing financial burden will be placed on the Treasury via tax refunds to oil and gas companies.

Meanwhile, Scottish Government analysis of fields nearing decommissioning claims their remaining value could increase by more than 50%, or almost half a billion pounds, if there were successful measures to cut costs and boost production.

Average costs for North Sea decommissioning expenditure are growing by 14% a year, with the final figure now expected to exceed 100 billion, the GMB report found.

The GMB urged the UK and Scottish governments to bring forward an urgent investment programme to get Scottish ports and fabrication yards "decommissioning ready".

The union's Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: "If we don't act fast then it could mean the worst of all worlds: A chance to boost economic and employment prospects gone and the taxpayer paying for the clean-up of the North Sea while other countries profit from decommissioning at our expense.

"The taxpayer is sick and tired of dishing out billions of their hard earned money in subsidies to corporations with little to no return, so doing nothing at both the UK and Scottish Government levels by 'leaving it to the market' is simply not an option.

"GMB Scotland is very clear that the economic, political and moral arguments for government intervention are compelling and with the Autumn Statement and Scottish Draft Budget on the immediate horizon, the time for politicians to act is now ."

Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse also urged the UK Government to increase investment following last week's Oil and Gas UK report which called on government to work with industry to attract fresh investment and avoid premature decommissioning.

He said: "The Chancellor's Autumn Statement presents an ideal opportunity to offer the industry the support and clarity it deserves. The UK Government must provide support in widening access to decommissioning tax relief to ensure that the full potential of late-life assets can be realised.

"To illustrate the potential opportunities, Scottish Government analysis of fields nearing decommissioning has identified that the remaining value of these assets could increase by over 50%, or almost half a billion pounds, if there were successful measures to reduce costs and increase production."

Lang Banks, director of environmental group WWF Scotland, said: " The GMB are absolutely right to highlight the massive liability facing UK taxpayers in order to clean up the mess left behind by North Sea oil and gas industry.

"Having made hundreds of millions of pounds in profits over the past few decades, the costs for decommissioning old rigs and restoring the marine environment should be being fully covered by the companies themselves."

Scottish Labour said both the Scottish and UK governments need to invest in decommissioning.
Tense: Jamie Dornan as the serial killer Paul Spector, and Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson in scenes from BBC thriller The Fall

Tense: Jamie Dornan as the serial killer Paul Spector, and Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson in scenes from BBC thriller The Fall

The serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) and his wife Sally Ann (Bronagh Waugh) - (C) Artists Studio - Photographer: Steffan Hill

Double trouble: John Lynch has loved working with Gillian Anderson in The Fall

Arresting performance: John Lynch's character in The Fall, Assistant Chief Constable Jim Burns, has unfinished business with DSI Stella Gibson, played by Gillian Anderson

Double trouble: John Lynch has loved working with Gillian Anderson in The Fall

Role play: Jamie Dornan has admitted he stalked a woman on the underground for his part in The Fall, alongside Gillian Anderson

HUNTING SEASON: Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector in The Fall

The Fall - Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson's game of cat and mouse [Photos] Close

The Fall series finale which saw Jamie Dornan's serial killer character Paul Spector die in a graphic suicide sequence is being investigated by regulator Ofcom.

In a double bill special the hit BBC crime drama came to a dramatic and violent end last month.

The show starred Holywood's Jamie Dornan as serial killer Spector and X-Files FBI agent Gillian Anderson as tough-talking detective Gibson.

Gibson, seconded to Belfast from the Metropolitan Police, is tasked to sniff out serial killer Spector who stalks the city streets for his female prey.

The third series had been criticised for being slow paced but Dornan had promised viewers they could "expect the unexpected".

In the final episode their cat and mouse game came to a violent and unexpected head with Dornan's character attacking the detective leaving her with a bloodied face.

But it was the unsettling climax to the series which has prompted an investigation into the lengthy depiction of suicide through asphyxiation.

A spokesman for Ofcom said "We're investigating whether the depiction of suicide in this programme complied with our rules."

However at the time the BBC defended the finale which left viewers stunned with the graphically-violent end.

It said in a statement: "The Fall is an established drama in its third series, and therefore the protagonist Paul Spector is well known to the audience as a violent and misogynistic serial killer - a character with whom few, if anyone, would identify.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan take part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images Jamie Dornan attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA (Left to right) Jamie Dornan, Gillian Anderson and Allan Cubitt attend a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Valene Kane attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA (Left to right) Aisling Franciosi, Valene Kane and Aisling Bea attend a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Gillian Anderson attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Aisling Bea attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Jamie Dornan (left) and Gillian Anderson attend a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Aisling Franciosi attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA Allen Cubitt attends a screening of the third series of BBC Two drama The Fall, at the BFI in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire PA LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson attends the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson attends the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan take part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson attend the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan take part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jamie Dornan takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson attend the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson attends the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson attend the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Allan Cubitt takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jamie Dornan takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Gillian Anderson takes part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. 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Whatsapp Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan take part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

"The scenes are in keeping with previous episodes and the overall narrative of the series. In accordance with editorial guidelines, it transmitted in a post-watershed BBC Two slot and there was a warning prior to broadcast that the drama contains strong and violent scenes that some viewers may find upsetting.

"Production rigorously followed and complied with BBC editorial policy guidelines throughout."

The programme received two complaints over the finale episode and one for the penultimate episode.

Holywood actor Dornan owes a lot to the character and previously said he would play the sinister role until his "dying days" if he could.

He said: "You know, that job changed my life.

"They're like family to me and I'm forever grateful for it to be a part of my life and, you know, I would play that character to my dying days if I had the opportunity."

It's not the first time the programme has drawn criticism as in September series creator Allan Cubitt faced accusations that The Fall glamorised violence against women.

"It was something I had to talk to my daughter about, who has counselled me very well," he said.

"I can't say I've never made any errors or couldn't have done something better or something different, but I know myself and I know these guys and I know what we're all about and that's just an absurd comment."
Adam Horovitz - known as Ad-Rock - of the Beastie Boys, has urged his fans 'stand up against hate'

A Beastie Boys rapper has called on his fans to "stand up against hate" after a playground named after his bandmate was vandalised with swastikas and the words "Go Trump!".

Adam Horovitz, known at Ad-Rock, railed against the president-elect at a rally at the park in Brooklyn named for Adam Yauch, who died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 47.

He told the crowd, which included Hollywood star Ben Stiller and his daughter: "I'm assuming we are all here because we think the same thing, that spray painting swastikas in a children's playground is a messed up thing to do."

He added: " This is about someone in New York City linking Nazi Germany to Donald Trump in a "hell yeah!" kind of way in a park where children play."

After listing a string of hate crimes that have happened since election day on November 8, he said: " These incidents and this type of graffiti are popping up all over our country because we have elected a president that has given our children the message that is is ok to write "white power" in their high school hallway, that is is ok to attack women and girls, that Latinos and Muslims and Jews are bad people and that you can electro-shock the gay out of somebody.

"This is real, it's happening at a rapid rate, we have to stand up against hate.

"This is home grown terrorism for real. I reject Donald Trump's vision of America, New York City I'm asking you to do the same."

The graffiti has since been removed and New York City Councilman Brad Lander has said police are investigating.

On election day, Horovitz retweeted a post saying: "Totally psyched to explain to my kids in the morning why America just elected a sexual predator endorsed by the KKK."

The following day he wrote: "Equality and solidarity against fear and ignorance. Hold The Line."
President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence in New Jersey after the row at Hamilton.

The Broadway star who told vice president-elect Mike Pence that the cast of Hamilton is concerned about the Trump administration has said there is nothing to apologise for.

At the end of a Broadway performance of the multi-award winning musical about American founding father Alexander Hamilton, actor Brandon Victor Dixon told Mr Pence, who was in the audience, that the diverse cast were worried about the prospect of Donald Trump's presidency.

Mr Trump has since slammed the hit musical, which is sold out until June 2017, as "over-rated", and claimed Mr Pence was "harassed" and demanded the cast apologise.

Dixon, who plays Hamilton's rival Aaron Burr, told CBS's breakfast show This Morning that he was delivering the message on behalf of the producers, creators and the cast.

"We recognise Hamilton is an inherently American story, it's told by the definition of the American community.

"We are men and women of different colours, creeds and orientations and the resonant nature of the show throughout the world demands we make statements when there are important issues facing us as a community.

"We wanted to stand up and spread a message of love and unity considering the emotional outpouring since the election."

He added: " Conversation is not harassment and I was appreciative that vice president-elect Pence stood there and listened to what we had to say."

Dixon said Mr Pence was welcome to come backstage to have conversations with the cast about their concerns.

He added that the show's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who played Hamilton as a member of the original cast, was involved in writing the message that was read to Mr Pence.

Asked how he felt about Mr Trump's demand for an apology, Dixon said: "There is nothing to apologise for," and added that the president-elect was welcome to come and see the show.

He said: " We welcome Donald Trump at Hamilton because I think the power of our show and the way we tell it is undeniable."

Mr Pence had been booed by fellow theatregoers as he arrived at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York.

After the curtain-call, Dixon addressed Mr Pence from the stage, flanked by the rest of the cast.

"Vice President-elect Pence, I see you walking out, but I hope you will hear us, just a few more moments. There's nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen," Dixon said.

"We're all here sharing a story about love.

"We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.

"We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us."
DUP MLA Joanne Bunting tells Rebecca Black about her life at Stormont, her deep connection with east Belfast, and why she loves nothing more than a bit of banter.

Q. Could you tell me a little bit about your background?

A. I was born and raised in east Belfast, and am very proud of it. I think that each part of the city has its own identity, and I associate myself very strongly with the east.

I am from the Lower Braniel Road. I went to Braniel Primary then onto Grosvenor. I only left east Belfast when I got married and couldn't afford to live there anymore.

Q. What was your first job and what age were you?

A. When I was 10 I worked where there used to be a sweet shop called Sam's on the Braniel Road, getting 90p an hour. I loved it. Then when I was at school I worked at an ice cream shop on the Belmont Road.

My first proper job was in the Connswater branch of the Northern Bank, when I was 20. Then at night time I worked in the BP garage on the Albertbridge Road, then I started to work up here (Stormont).

Q. Did you go to university, and if so, what did you study?

A. I did, but I wasn't able to finish. I had to leave, actually. I went to university to study human resources management and Spanish.

There were a number of girls on my floor in halls who had been victims of serious sexual assaults before university. One of them attempted to take her own life. It happened quite a bit.

One day I came home and found her in the middle of an attempt and had to rescue her. This was my first time away from home. I was 18. It reached a point where she was having really bad dreams and it all got a bit much. I needed the support of my family, so I took the decision that I would leave and just go and get a job.

I regret in some respects that I didn't get the chance to do that, but I suppose what is meant to happen in your life happens.

It meant a lot that the girls felt able to confide in me, but it was a very intense time. At one stage, one of the girls needed brought to hospital and I had to take her. Anything could have happened. I think things are different at universities now, but then there was not that much support.

Q. When did you move to working in politics?

A. Originally, I worked for the United Unionists because my uncle, Fraser (former independent MLA Fraser Agnew), had been elected.

I started to work for him at Stormont in 1998. I was with them for the first mandate, but then I joined the DUP in the late 90s and I was on Castlereagh Council for them in 2000.

At that stage, that swathe of unionism worked together really well. It was a great time - you really felt like you were watching history unfold.

Q. Were you part of the protests that were held outside Castle Buildings during the Belfast Agreement talks?

A. Not at Castle Buildings, but I remember being at Hillsborough. It was one of the times the Government had locked the Ulster Unionists in, and you would have seen them appearing at the window.

It was a serious time, but there was a nice atmosphere. It wasn't aggressive. There was no trouble with police, but people felt like they needed to take a stand.

The Government would bring them ( the UUP) in, keep them up all night, deprive them of sleep and impose deadlines. We wanted to say, 'Don't let them do that'.

Q. Are there better relations between the UUP and DUP now?

A. There is a lot of common ground, but I think some of them want to make a point. The UUP had a manifesto and had the numbers to deliver that, but they chose not to, which seems strange but that is their entitlement. They wanted to be in Opposition and we will have to wait and see how it plays out. I'm not sure it has had the desired effect.

However, I think unionist voters have a lot in common and they would like us to work more closely together for their interests. But that is above my pay grade - my job is in east Belfast.

Q. What was your role when you started working for the DUP at Stormont?

A. I worked in the general office from 2002 to 2007. Then, in 2007, I moved down to the Chief Whip's office.

Q. Keeping DUP members in line with the party sounds confrontational. Was it?

A. People focus on the Chief Whip's office being the office of discipline, but our folks are very disciplined because everyone believes in what they are doing. So the job was more making sure the party operated as smoothly as it could in the Assembly and that people knew what they were doing, what way they were supposed to be voting, where they were supposed to be and at what time. There doesn't need to be a lot of telling-off - people know the rules.

We watched other parties where it was more confrontational, but ours was never like that, even though there was a lot of them (DUP MLAs).

Q. How did standing for the Assembly election come about?

A. I was approached. I hadn't thought about it that much, and it had been 11 years since my name was on the ballot paper for council.

I had to carefully consider going back, and I loved the job I was in, but I think politics is in me. My dad was really politically interested and I have always been politically interested.

I believe in things and I like to vote for people who believe in things rather than those who are doing it as a career.

It was a big change, but I felt I would give it a go and put my all into it. I think I have tried to show that so far, but if it (the election) didn't work out well I was already in a job I loved.

Q. Was it daunting to run for Peter Robinson's old seat?

A. It wasn't the way I thought of it - you can't think of it like that. I couldn't even try to be Peter Robinson, and there is no point in even trying to impersonate him. I have to just try and be me and do things the best way I can. The skills I have are different to his.

Q Were you surprised that you ended up topping the poll?

A. It was a lovely thing, but the day was surreal. You are kind of punch-drunk from the night before. It's a weird kind of out-of-body experience - like it's all happening to someone else instead of you.

But now I have a responsibility to deliver because people put their faith in me. I have to listen and act to what people in east Belfast who voted for me - and those who didn't - want and see what I can deliver for them.

I think it is a real privilege to serve in east Belfast, and it is very important to serve those people well. I want to merit those votes.

Q. And what part of the job do you enjoy the most?

A. I love the interaction with people, I love the banter. People in east Belfast have such a great sense of humour.

You don't get that as much when you are a councillor because you are doing it on top of your full-time job, whereas now this is my full-time job and I can dedicate myself to it.

What you can do in council is limited and what you can do here is limited, but you certainly have more opportunity. You can't deliver everything, but you can give it your best shot.

There are serious issues going on in east Belfast, but there is so much good work and so many great people, and even through the rough stuff people in east Belfast are prepared to smile and laugh and just get on with it.

Q. Do you think east Belfast is still struggling with the aftermath of the flag protests?

A. I think that east Belfast is trying to come to terms with it. East Belfast is a unionist constituency. There are folks who don't want to associate themselves with that, but for me I am proud to be a unionist and I am proud that is my flag - I have no desire to distance myself from it.

East Belfast should not have to be ashamed of what it is. I think that east Belfast is more in line with my thinking on that.

I think that is also the thing about how well the DUP did in east Belfast in the election. The DUP has always had strong representation in east Belfast, and that is because our message resonates there and with those people who feel the same way that we do.

Unionism in east Belfast is not an aggressive unionism. We want to respect other people's culture and for ours to be respected and tolerated too.

Q. You say that you have always been politically aware, but do you remember the first thing that actually sparked that?

A. I really remember the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, even though I was only 10 at the time. I remember all the MPs standing down and the Doc (the late Ian Paisley) and Jim Molyneaux at City Hall. I remember the Bobby Sands election and Owen Carron going on the run.

You don't fully understand it all at that age, but you understand that there is something significant happening.

One of the most horrific things was the two soldiers that were killed after becoming trapped in the car. They had just gone down the wrong road.

I think that was one of the darkest days in our history. I think that was just horrendous - I don't think that will ever leave me.

Q. What are you getting your teeth into at the Assembly?

A. The things that I am focusing on now include mental health. It is such a huge issue in east Belfast. Some people are really struggling, and I have been there myself.

I am also interested in special educational needs and trying to do something about the huge waiting lists for assessments. Waiting lists in general are a huge problem.

Again, I have been there myself. My mum was bed-bound for a year waiting for a hip replacement. I knew if I could get her seen, things would move along, but I couldn't get her seen. When she finally was seen, she was brought in within a couple of weeks.

She was in horrendous pain. Even the gentlest touch of her skin (hurt). You could feel the grinding of her hip - it was horrendous.

My mum is one of the strongest women I have ever known - she never complains. To know there are other people going through that is stark.

I am also a big animal lover and very passionate about tackling issues around animal cruelty.

Q. What can be done to ensure those convicted of animal cruelty get tougher sentences?

A. From what I understand, we have some of the strongest laws in Europe. The problem is the sentencing.

Seeing the detail of some of the cases, I dare not read it. Stuff like that doesn't leave me. I can't deal with it - it disturbs me.

It's not that I want to bury my head in the sand - I am well aware that stuff is going on - I just don't need to know the detail of it.

There are issues too around registering animals. If someone is banned from keeping an animal, then how is that actually enforced?

There are guys who have been banned before and yet they're caught keeping animals again. These loopholes really need to be closed. It is just not acceptable.

Those issues where society doesn't feel the sentence reflects the nature of the cruelty, that damages confidence in the criminal justice system.
The 60-year-old is the CEO of Belfast's homeless charity the Welcome Organisation. She is married to Ken and they have three grown-up children - Rotha, Barry and Darryl.

My best moment

On a personal level it was getting the keys to the cottage of my dreams. It was something my husband and I talked about for years; a whitewashed cottage that we could retire to some day. It's in one of the most picturesque villages in Antrim you could imagine. Another moment was the opening of the Welcome Organisation's new state-of-the-art drop-in centre for homeless people in Belfast. Sometimes I can't believe that I was the catalyst behind this and I feel humbled that someone like myself got the opportunity to be part of something which makes a real difference to people's lives.

My best song

REM's Everybody Hurts. It seems a bit cliched given the job I do, but the lyrics remind me that we are all fallible.

My best way to relax

Going to the beach. It's one of the most enjoyable natural features the world has to offer. Watching the waves ebb and flow is so therapeutic. I'm a bit of a beachcomber and am always on the look out for any interesting pieces of drift wood which I can use for crafts - which is another great way to unwind.

My best job

As the CEO of the Welcome Organisation's Homelessness Services for nine years, and having previously worked for the Housing Executive for over 30 years I am fortunate to have the chance to do a job which addresses the issues of many people, some of whom are struggling to survive. While it's a challenging role I relish the opportunity to come up with creative solutions to homelessness. And I'm very lucky to have a supportive staff around me who share my sense of humour.

My best movie

The Bucket List, with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, which is all about how joy can be contagious. Everyone should have a bucket list and mine is getting so long I might have to live until the age of 150.

My best gift

Being treated to freshly caught prawns cooked in garlic on board a Sir Lankan fisherman's boat. I was there with the Habitat for Humanity team to build houses - one of which was for a fisherman's family. Being poor they had little to give to show their appreciation, so this was how they thanked us. It was a wonderful experience and a really touching gesture.

My best achievement

Being recognised by the Institute of Housing Awards as a Housing Hero, although I wasn't there to collect the award as I was in Bangalore building houses. My husband and son attended in my place which was affirmation for them that I couldn't achieve the things I do without the support and understanding of my family and friends.

My best buy

My Kindle. Not only does it mean I can replace the pile of books I used to carry on holiday, but I can squeeze in a few more clothes to my case... or even more duty free.

My best book

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak which sensitively addresses the issue of man's inhumanity. The combination of the terrible events of the Holocaust with such believable characters makes this a real page turner. It is one of those books I will read time and time again.
Northern Ireland's agricultural sector is in danger of falling off a cliff if plans are not developed to replace lost EU subsidies, the Assembly has been told.

A joint Opposition Day motion tabled by the Ulster Unionists and SDLP demanded ministerial action to secure the long-term sustainability of the industry post-Brexit.

The parties noted that 70% of EU funding in the region benefitted the farming and rural sectors, the majority under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

They said the 350 million in annual subsidies represented almost 90% of farmer income and stressed the need to ensure this level of assistance was provided from alternatives sources when the EU tap was turned off.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone called on Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen to draw up a detailed strategy.

"A strategy that doesn't leave us in the situation and our farmers and our agri-food sector in the situation that, come 2020, we are just financially and otherwise just dropping off the edge of a cliff," he added.

"That has to be avoided at all costs and, irrespective of what people's views are in relation to Brexit or not to Brexit, we must at all costs avoid that situation."

He said the Stormont Executive had to plan for the future and tell the UK government that continued assistance for Northern Ireland farmers was a "red line".

"The DUP and Sinn Fein have a responsibility to alleviate the concerns of those in the agricultural sector who are fearful for their livelihoods, their jobs and indeed their farms," he said.

DUP MLA Edwin Poots said the next CAP deal would have seen cuts to subsidies if the UK had remained within the EU.

He said farmers had been "regulated to death" and wanted to be freed from EU red tape so they could generate more income of their own.

"Northern Ireland farmers voted overwhelmingly to get out of Europe and I think that's something this House needs to reflect upon when they have a debate coming forward on agriculture and rural affairs," he said.

Mr Poots said farmers made clear their feelings on the doorsteps during the referendum campaign.

He said: "Farmer after farmer after farmer was saying 'we want to get out of Europe' - and why did they want to get out of Europe?

"Because over the period of the 45 years we were in Europe they managed to invent something like 2,800 different regulations affecting farming.

"That's one for every week we were actually in Europe. They were regulated to death - farmers couldn't get on with the work they needed to do because they were so busy looking at the regulations, they were in fear of some mandarin coming to their farm as a result of the European regulations."

He said farmers wanted to be "properly paid" for their work rather than take EU "hand-outs".

"They want to be freed up to make money off their own labours," he said.

Responding to the debate, Ms McIlveen said Brexit presented the opportunity to develop a new UK-wide agri policy that worked better for farmers.

She claimed the European subsidy system was "broken".

"My long-term aim for the industry is to promote a sustainable, competitive, high-performing, knowledge-based agri-food sector that is prosperous and compliant," she told the Assembly.

"That means the sector will be more resilient to shocks and challenges, have high standards of animal health and welfare, deliver for the environment and have increased market access for agri-food products.

"It's quite clear we are not going to have a system like the one we currently have and why would we copy a system that is broken and not working for many of our farmers?

"This creates the opportunity for us to look at a different type of agricultural policy for the UK which will provide the necessary incentives for our farmers moving forward."

The non-binding opposition motion was passed by 59 votes to 34.
The Assembly speaker has apologised for not delegating a decision to refuse a question on the controversy surrounding charity Charter NI

The Assembly speaker has apologised unreservedly to fellow MLAs for not delegating a decision to refuse a question on the controversy surrounding charity Charter NI.

Robin Newton last month rejected a request for the Assembly to hear an urgent oral question on the publicly-funded charity and the conduct of its chief executive and alleged UDA commander Dee Stitt.

The Speaker is a DUP MLA in the east Belfast constituency where Charter NI is overseeing the delivery of an employment scheme as part of the Stormont Executive's contentious Social Investment Fund (SIF).

Mr Newton sat on a steering group that awarded the 1.7 million contract to Charter NI. He told the Assembly he had also provided advice to the charity as part of constituency duties, though he insisted he never held an official position as an adviser.

After explaining the extent of his past involvement with the charity, Mr Newton conceded he should not have ruled on the October 24 request lodged by the SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon due to conflict of interest concerns.

He delegated a later urgent oral question around the same issue, lodged last week, to Sinn Fein Principal Deputy Speaker Caitriona Ruane. He said he did not do the same with Ms Mallon's initial question due to "time pressure".

"In hindsight I accept it would have been better if I had followed my initial instincts and also delegated the first question," he told MLAs at the start of Assembly business on Monday.

"I apologise unreservedly to the House for not having done so. Members can be assured that I will err on the side of caution in the future."

Mr Newton said he found the constraints his office placed on his ability to represent his constituents in the Assembly "particularly difficult".

"Members can expect me to be extremely cautious in the future in relation to where my responsibilities as a speaker and constituency member interact," he said.

He added: "I have clearly heard and understand the concerns that members have raised, I hope a number of points are now on the record to make it clear that lessons have been learned and steps take for the future."

Intense public attention has focused on Charter NI and the wider SIF scheme since controversy flared over the appointment of convicted armed robber Stitt to the 35,000 a year chief executive's role.

Stitt, who denies being a UDA chief, faced down calls for his resignation in the wake of a newspaper interview in which he launched a foul-mouthed tirade against the Government and claimed his flute band in North Down provided "homeland security".

Pressure remains on Mr Stitt despite being allowed to keep his job following an internal review by Charter NI, but the furore has prompted a wider political row on the operation of the SIF scheme.

The fund was established by the Stormont Executive during the last Assembly mandate to allocate 80 million to disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (now called The Executive Office) appointed political, community, statutory and business representatives to steering groups - these appointees then, in turn, appointed organisations to oversee and manage the community schemes.

The chosen groups were called "lead partners" and were paid a management fee for their work.

The lead partnership bodies then, in turn, appointed specific groups to deliver the individual projects on the ground.

Controversy surrounds the middle link in the four-tier structure - the relationship between the steering groups and the lead partnership organisations.

Criticisms have been levelled around the fact organisations represented on the steering groups could appoint themselves to a remunerated lead partnership role, without a tendering process.

There have also been claims around a lack of rigorous background checks on those controlling the money and questions on why formal votes on the appointment of lead partners were not apparently commonplace on the steering groups.

Mr Newton was a political member of the East Belfast steering group that awarded a lead partner contract to Charter NI.

In his statement to the House, the Speaker responded to reports that he had once acted as an adviser to the charity.

"In relation to Charter NI, while I have offered advice I do not hold and have never held a position as adviser to Charter NI," he said.

"My involvement with Charter NI as an organisation working on the ground in my constituency has been no different than it would be with any organisation in my constituency seeking advice from their elected representative.

"I have supported Charter NI in projects they are working on for the benefit of my constituents."
A Northern Ireland man has admitted raping a 12-year-old girl and leaving her pregnant.

Conaire Adams-Whyte confessed at a sitting of Belfast Crown Court.

The 20-year-old from the Springfield Road area of west Belfast was freed on bail and is now living at a secret address after being threatened by dissident republicans.

He is also banned from having any contact with a second son who he fathered at the same time.

Adams-Whyte pleaded guilty at a court sitting last Wednesday.

His admission means new details can be reported about the way he took advantage of his schoolgirl victim.

The sex offender, who also uses the nickname 'Mitch', has a female relative who was good friends with the 12-year-old's mother.

The woman was supposed to be baby-sitting the child, but was not at home when she was dropped off at her house in July 2015. However, Whyte was inside the property and he raped the schoolgirl, who told her mother what happened afterwards.

The sex attacker was arrested and denied even touching his victim.

As part of their investigation detectives took DNA samples from him - something that would later prove crucial in determining his guilt.

Two months after her rape, the 12-year-old found out she was pregnant.

Adams-Whyte was arrested a second time, and once again denied any wrongdoing.

But when the baby was born earlier this year it was DNA tested and he was found to be the father.

He was immediately charged with rape and last Wednesday, a full 16 months after sexually assaulting the vulnerable schoolgirl, he finally admitted his guilt.

Not only will Adams-Whyte be prevented from having anything to do with the child he fathered, he is banned from seeing a second son he had with his ex-girlfriend just months earlier.

Adams-Whyte has also been told he is no longer welcome in west Belfast, and is understood to be under threat from dissident republicans.

One source told the Sunday Life: "Conaire will be risking his life if he comes back here, the community is outraged at his behaviour. Not only was his victim just 12 years old, she is also extremely vulnerable.

"That b*****d took advantage of that, raped her, got her pregnant, then denied being the father until DNA evidence proved otherwise."
Hailed: Jake the dog has been praised by the general public

Police officers and a canine unit have been praised after they saved a young girl from a suicide attempt.

A PSNI officer and his police dog Jake saved the life of the vulnerable girl in Belfast on Saturday night.

Police dogs may suffer the reputation of being fierce, but Jake certainly showed his gentler side when he came to the rescue of the girl.

Jake and his handler were responding to reports of a missing person in Belfast on Saturday night.

They were working with a PSNI helicopter - but it was eagle-eyed Jake who found the missing female.

The girl appeared to have attempted to take her own life but thanks to the efforts of the officer and Jake, they found her before it was too late.

An officer quickly administered CPR.

The girl was rushed to hospital where she is reported to be recovering well from her ordeal.

Hundreds of people took to the PSNI Facebook page to commend the officers and Jake for their efforts in saving the girl.

Lisburn DUP councillor Jonathan Craig said: "I find it reassuring that the PSNI found the individual on time.

"Obviously they may have saved her life which is good news because for a number of years the PSNI were heavily criticised for not responding promptly to missing persons.

"There was a change in procedures and they have followed these so lessons have been learned which is good to see and now this person has a second chance at life."

The PSNI on Facebook said: "Well done to PD Jake and his handler.

"Anyone who is feeling vulnerable or in need of help is reminded of support and assistance that is available from a number of organisations and charities such as Lifeline, Samaritans and PIPs."
A Farc rebel stands guard with comrades in Los Pozos during a Press conference on the peace process

The Northern Ireland peace deal is an inspirational framework that could help end the world's longest running civil war, it has been reported.

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos said the strategy adopted by Farc rebels and his administration was based on a number of peace talks, including the model used in Northern Ireland.

Current discussions aimed at ending the conflict are being held in Havana in Cuba and are believed to be at a "tipping point".

Advice from republican and British politicians has been offered during the process.

Last May a delegation of Northern Ireland politicians held talks with negotiators representing the Colombian rebel movement.

Former SDLP politician Conall McDevitt, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy, the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson and NI21's (then UUP) John McCallister met the Colombian Government in November 2012.

They travelled to Cuba to talk to the Farc rebels about conflict resolution.

They discussed what might be learnt from what is known in Colombia as the "Irish model". The local politicians made the point of the need to include wider society in any deal.

Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, Mr Santos said: "The preliminary agreement we announced with the Farc was inspired by the framework agreement with the IRA.

"The British people who have helped us have been extremely valuable."

Mr Santos added: "What we have is the oldest conflict in the world, the only conflict in the Americas, and it has been a sui generis conflict. The post-conflict is going to be as difficult as the peace process."

Farc, which campaigns on behalf of landless peasants, has also been involved in Colombia's lucrative drugs trade.

In 2001 the arrest of three Irishmen in Colombia sparked a major controversy in the Northern Ireland political process.

James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley were accused of being members of the IRA and of training Farc fighters.

They denied the charges.

The three men were acquitted but the judge ordered them to remain in the country while the Colombian attorney general appealed their acquittal.

This appeal was successful and the men were each sentenced to 17 years. But the three men avoided imprisonment by fleeing Colombia in 2004, turning up in the Irish Republic a year later.

The last attempt to broker peace in Colombia dates from 1999-2002.

FACTFILE

Farc is Colombia's largest guerrilla group and one of the world's richest rebel movements, allegedly due in large part to drug-trafficking and illegal gold mining. But according to the Colombian military, there are now some 8,000 fighters, down from 16,000 in 2001.

The rebels, who over a decade ago controlled nearly a third of Colombian territory, now mostly operate in remote rural areas or through hit-and-run attacks.
Brendan McConville being escorted to court to face a charge of murdering Stephen Carroll

The killer of PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll will wed behind bars today, it can be revealed.

Dissident republican Brendan McConville (45) will marry English fiancee Siobhan Monaghan in a small ceremony inside Maghaberry prison .

Around 10 guests - including McConville's CIRA accomplice John Paul Wootton - will attend the jail nuptials, which sources say will involve a "high level of security".

The pair struck up a romance after Siobhan (49), began writing letters to the Continuity IRA killer from her home in Oxford, England.

She has made regular trips to Northern Ireland to visit McConville, who is locked up in the high security prison's Roe 4 dissident wing, and posted images of the pair taken in the visiting area of the Lisburn prison to social media.

Yesterday, the single mum, who regularly speaks at rallies calling for her fiance's release, was inundated with well-wishes after posting her pre-wedding excitement to Twitter.

She wrote: "I'm getting married in the morning. Ding dong the bells are going to chime".

However, a prison source last night said: "As far as the celebrations will go, it'll be a quick ceremony, with tea and buns after.

"There certainly won't be any big fanfare and there won't be any bells ringing.

"Guests will be on a strict time limit and the couple will only have a one to two hours alone, and then they'll have to part ways as well."

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It's understood the new bride will spend a few days in Northern Ireland with friends before returning to her Oxford home.

"It'll be an unconventional relationship, but it'll continue the way it started," added a source.

"Siobhan is well known in republican circles.

"As well as having family in Ireland she has been providing support to a number of prisoners on both sides of the border over the years via letters.

"They'll keep in touch through phone calls and letters, just like they always have."

Former Sinn Fein councillor McConville from Craigavon and 25-year-old JP Wootton from Lurgan, Co Armagh were convicted for their part in the murder of Constable Carroll in 2012.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Kate Carroll whose husband, police officer Stephen Carroll, was murdered PACEMAKER BELFAST 22/03/2016 Kate Carroll (widow of Stephen Carroll) During The funeral cortege for murdered prison officer Adrian Ismay arrives at Woodvale Methodist Church this morning. Mr Ismay died 11 days after being seriously injured in an under car bomb planted by a group calling itself the ONew IRAO on the 4th of March this year. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye  Tuesday 22nd March 2016 Adrian Ismay: Funeral for prison officer targeted in van bomb The funeral for prison officer Adrian Ismay who died following a dissident republican bomb attack. Among the mourners was Justice Minister David Ford, George Hamilton Chief Constable of the PSNI, Kate Carroll widow of the late Stephen Carroll, Theresa Villiers Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and First Minister Arlene Foster.  Press Eye - Belfast - Norther / Facebook

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Both were ordered to serve a minimum of 25 and 14 years in jail.

The 48-year-old from Banbridge, Co Down, was the first police officer to be killed in Northern Ireland since the formation of the PSNI. He was shot dead after terrorists lured police to a call-out in Lismore Manor in Craigavon on March 9, 2009.

He was responding to a complaint that a brick had been thrown through the window of a house in the private development.

As the brave constable and his colleagues arrived, McConville was already lying in wait.

Armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, he shot the policeman in the head when he came into range after parking his car.

The Continuity IRA later claimed responsibility for the shooting.

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Constable Carroll had served in the police force for more than 24 years at the time of his murder.

Just last week, his heartbroken widow had spoken about her joy at finding love again, seven years on from her devastating loss. Kate Carroll spoke publicly for the first time about her new found friendship with Derek Egerton, who offered support to her in the years after her husband's death.

She said she had not been looking for a partner, and although she is happy now, she emphasised "Steve will always live on in my heart".
Enda Dolan, who was killed after being hit by a drunk driver in October 2014

1,578: number of motorists convicted of driving under influence of drink or drugs in 2013. File image

The number of people convicted of driving under the influence of drink or drugs has risen by almost 40% in two years - despite millions being pumped into high-profile road safety campaigns.

Last year nearly 2,200 drivers were caught and punished by the courts - up around 600 on the 2013 total.

Around 10,000 drivers in Northern Ireland have been hit with a drink driving conviction in the past five years, shocking figures from the Department for Infrastructure show.

The revelation has led to calls for tougher penalties for offenders, amid fears the anti-drink drive message is not getting through to too many people.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: "The only way to effectively deter these offenders is to look again at the maximum penalty available for crimes involving drink driving."

Drivers detected and convicted of being over the limit are handed a fine and a 12-month driving ban, or three years if it is their second conviction in 10 years.

A number of high-profile road safety campaigns have been run in recent years. These include the PSNI's Christmas drink-drive initiative, which is due to be launched in the coming days, and a series of hard-hitting government-sponsored adverts.

But despite repeated warnings about the consequences of drink and drug driving, the number of convictions remains relatively unchanged from five years ago.

A total of 2,187 drivers were convicted in 2015 - more than 40 a week on average.

That is only fractionally down on the 2,307 convicted in 2011.

The numbers did fall to 1,578 in 2013, but are back on the rise in the last two years, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current road safety strategy. Mr McCrossan, who sits on the infrastructure committee at Stormont, said the figures were "shocking".

"What is even more concerning is that despite multiple public campaigns, the number of people caught is not going down," he added.

"These campaigns have continually spelled out the dangers of driving under the influence and have been specifically targeted at our younger people who are more at risk of injury or death.

"But these statistics show that there is still a long way to go and that it is vitally important there is an effective deterrent to stop drivers who know the risks involved in drink driving, but decide to do it anyway."

The SDLP MLA said that a "substantial" number of people - particularly young - have lost their lives this year alone.

He referred to the case of Co Tyrone student Enda Dolan, who was killed after being hit by a drunk driver in October 2014 - weeks into his first term at Queen's University.

The driver, David Lee Stewart of Gray's Park Avenue in Belfast, who had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs, was later jailed for three and a half years.

Mr McCrossan added: "Not only does drink driving risk the lives of drivers and passengers, we've also seen a growing number of pedestrians killed from drivers under the influence and no more horrific is the case of Enda Dolan.

"It is now imperative that we do all we can to avoid these unnecessary deaths which includes firmly tackling drink driving."

Road safety campaign group Brake said the figures show a "worrying lack of progress" in the drink-drive enforcement.

Lucy Amos from the charity said: "Drink driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities that we see first-hand running a specialist helpline and support service for victims' families.

"While Brake welcomes the Assembly's plans to implement a zero-tolerance drink-drive limit along similar lines of Scotland, it must be effectively implemented to have any impact.

"We urge the Northern Ireland government to provide road traffic officers with the resources and support needed to protect law-abiding road users from these hard-core drunk drivers."

The figures come as the PSNI prepares to launch its Christmas anti-drink driving operation in conjunction with Road Safety Week.

The operation will be targeting motorists in the led up to Christmas and the New Year with dedicated officers out searching for drink driving offenders.
The family of a teenager shot dead by the Army more than 40 years ago have spoken of their relief after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) accepted his innocence.

Manus Deery was 15 when he was killed in the Bogside area of Londonderry in May 1972.

At a hearing in Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice, a barrister for the MoD and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) accepted the teen had not been carrying a weapon and that the shooting breached military guidelines.

Helen Deery, who has long campaigned to clear her brother's name, said: "I am delighted.

"They have just said what we have been saying for 44 years."

Manus's death was among the most controversial of the Troubles and is one of a number of legacy-related cases being re-examined by the coroner.

The family has always disputed Army claims that a soldier in a lookout post on Derry's walls fired at what was believed to have been a gunman, but missed and that the ricochet hit the teenager in the head.

The Royal Welch Fusilier soldier who fired the fatal shot, Private William Glasgow, was never convicted and has since died.

Ms Deery added: "Manus would have been 60 on Thursday and it was very important for me, especially this week, that on his 60th I can turn around now and say clearly that he was innocent and the soldier was in breach of the Yellow Card; he acted out of law."

A fresh inquest was ordered by Northern Ireland Attorney General John Larkin in 2012 and evidence was heard over seven days last month in Londonderry.

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Oral testimony was given by 15 witnesses - while documentary evidence, including signed depositions, was provided by 11 others.

On Monday, presiding coroner Mr Justice Adrian Colton took final submissions from legal representatives and s aid he planned to deliver a verdict soon.

Justice Colton said: "I will give a judgment in Derry and will endeavour to do that as soon as possible."

Earlier, the court heard how the MoD now a ccepted that Manus's conduct or that of his peers had not posed a threat to soldiers.

Barrister Martin Wolfe said: "He was behaving lawfully. He was innocent of any wrongdoing at the time of his death."

The lawyer said it was further acknowledged that the shooting had breached military rules.

"We accept that there was a breach of the Yellow Card and that the decision (to shoot) was premature and cannot be justified.

"The MoD accept that Manus was unarmed and did not pose a threat. That is undisputed," he said.

However, Mr Wolfe also urged the coroner to take into account the violent context of 1972 -- the worst year of the Troubles; Private Glasgow's age and that he was on his first operational tour of duty in Northern Ireland when considering his verdict.

Meanwhile, Fiona Doherty QC - representing the Deery family, said the death of a child in violent and unexpected circumstances where he was wrongly and publicly labelled a terrorist was among worst experiences a family could endure.

She said: "Manus Deery's family will obviously never forget what happened.

"It left deep and enduring wounds."

Although there was agreement on a large number of issues, controversy still centres on what the soldiers at the lookout post saw and whether there was a gunman in the area, the court heard.

"No one else saw this alleged gunman," added Ms Doherty.

"No evidence of the existence of a gunman has emerged in 44 years. We say that's significant in this tight-knit community."

The barrister later drew parallels with Bloody Sunday, adding that lack of contemporary accountability and investigatory mechanisms meant civilians were at risk.

"There is no doubt that 1972 was a terrible year. It was the worst year in terms of deaths and injuries in terms of the Troubles.

"It is right to acknowledge that the soldiers were in danger. They were in danger from explosives and gunfire and they were in danger on Derry's city walls.

"That's right but it is not this case," said Ms Doherty.

At the time of the shooting, there was no incoming fire and the soldiers who were in an enclosed and fortified lookout were not in immediate danger, the court was told.

"Innocent civilians like Manus Deery were also in danger from soldiers who were armed with powerful weapons and could fire with virtual impunity," added Ms Doherty.

Outside the court, Helen Deery said she hoped the inquest verdict would shine a light on the truth and bring closure for her family.

"I think the British justice system, especially in Northern Ireland with the conflict, was set up to break its own laws. Hopefully we are turning that corner now where justice and equality will be seen.

"Hopefully it will be the end. I would love to wake up some day just like everybody else and not have that fight," she said.
The father of Pearse Jordan, Hugh Jordan, speaks to the media following a preliminary inquest into his son's shooting

A High Court judge has reserved his ruling on whether two police officers involved in the inquest of Pearse Jordan should be reported to prosecutors.

Lawyers for the IRA man's family have called for the officers, known only as M and Q, to be investigated for allegedly perverting the course of justice and perjury.

Judge Mark Horner told a hearing at Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice: "I will reserve and will provide my final ruling in this case."

Twenty-two-year-old Mr Jordan was shot dead by a Royal Ulster Constabulary Officer (RUC) in west Belfast in 1992.

He had been driving a stolen car suspected of ferrying IRA munitions when the fatal incident unfolded. He failed to stop when ordered by police and sped away from a patrol car.

The Ford Orion was finally brought to a halt on the Falls Road when police rammed the vehicle. Mr Jordan was shot after getting out of the car when he tried to run away.

Earlier this month, Justice Horner delivered findings in what was the third inquest into the highly contentious death.

The coroner said he was not convinced either by family claims Mr Jordan was gunned down in cold blood or by police insistence the RUC sergeant acted in self-defence.

Testimony from Officers M and Q, who were not directly involved in the shooting, was also criticised as inconsistent, contradictory and unconvincing.

The coroner said the officers had been "untruthful" and that one or both may have edited log books.

During Monday's hearing, Karen Quinlivan QC representing the next of kin, argued that the judge should now report the officers to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) because of the seriousness of the alleged offences.

While the barrister accepted that anyone present at the inquest could report the matter, she said: "I think it is acceptable that it should be reported through official channels."

Reporting less serious or "summary" offences to the DPP would be "futile" because of the lack of evidence, the court was told.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said that there was duty on the judge to make the report.

Tony McGleenan QC said: "The mandatory obligation is not in play in this context."

The investigation into the controversial shooting has been beset by controversy and delay.

In 2014, the Jordan family were awarded compensation for the lengthy hold-ups in concluding an inquest.

An original inquest was adjourned in 1995 after being only part heard. Another probe was held in 2012, but the jury failed to reach consensus on a number of crucial issues - including whether the RUC used reasonable force.

Those findings were later quashed after the High Court identified a number of failings in how the probe was run.

In his findings, Justice Horner said it was impossible to determine with certainty what happened.

The family lawyers also want anonymity orders protecting the identity of the police officers to be lifted.

Afterwards, the Jordan family solicitor Fearghal Shiels said: "If the coroner's conclusions are correct then there is evidence that Officers M and Q both perjured themselves in the evidence which they gave to this inquest and perverted the course of justice in destroying evidence relevant to a murder investigation.

"It appears to us that the legal test has been met and it is appropriate for the coroner to send to the DPP a written report of the circumstances of this case."
Residents at a homeless shelter claim they were left living in freezing conditions after the building's heating system broke down.

The problem at Belfast's Morning Star House was caused by the pump that pushes hot water to the radiators of the city centre hostel stopped working.

Some of the 39 residents of the Legion of Mary facility were angry at being left in the cold.

One resident claimed that on Saturday night, around 10 residents left the hostel to hunt for warmth elsewhere.

He told the BBC that although staff had brought in four electric heaters for the communal area downstairs, there was no heating in the bedrooms, which he described as being "like ice boxes".

But when the Belfast Telegraph called at the hostel last night, senior support worker Joe McKeown said the situation was well under control, with reserve heaters available for residents.

Mr McKeown said: "It's just one of those things.

"The heating packed up late on Friday afternoon.

"We got our engineer in to inspect the system and he found it was the water pump that was broken.

"The hot water is still running, but we need a new pump to get heat to the radiators.

"The pump is a big specialised component - not the kind of part a plumber would keep in his van."

As it was a Friday afternoon, there was no way to get a replacement unit over the weekend, when suppliers are closed.

A new pump has been ordered, Mr McKeown said.

He added: "We expect it to arrive and be fitted on Monday."

Concerns had been expressed about elderly residents, but Mr McKeown said there were only two elderly people currently in the hostel - and they were being looked after as a priority by members of staff.

The Legion of Mary has provided temporary accommodation to homeless men in Belfast since 1938.

The Morning Star shelter opened in 2004.
Allowing a pay rise for teachers could result in job losses, Education Minister Peter Weir has warned.

The DUP minister said there is simply no money left in his budget to allow for more pay increases.

Teachers' unions walked out of talks with employers earlier this year after they were unable to reach agreement.

Employers have offered no rise for last year and an increase of 1% for 2016-17.

The largest of the five local teachers' unions, the NASUWT, balloted for rolling strike action over the issue. The first of the strikes is due to take place in the Belfast and Newtownabbey areas on Wednesday, November 30.

Mr Weir is urging the suspension of the action.

"What is not actually recognised is that within the settlements for 2015-16 and 2016-17 there have been incremental pay increases which equate to about 1% on the pay bill," Mr Weir told the BBC's Sunday Politics show.

"Automatic incremental pay was stopped in England in 2013 so if equity is going to happen it has to happen across the board. What it means is every teacher below 37,500 will have got increments, they will see a rise in their salary.

"We are against a very tight budget, I would like across a range of things to be spending more money. I would like better pay on that basis, but there is a tight budget and we have got to deal with it in the reality of the situation.

"Across the last two years the net increase in terms of the pay bill has been 2.6%. That compares in a very similar way to what has happened elsewhere.

"Given at one stage NASUWT were calling for a 13% pay increase they have got to get to a realistic position. I think what we need to do is sit down and see what we can do in terms of 2017 onwards.

"There is room as we move forwards in the future - the reality is at present there is no more money.

"There is not money that is sitting in the department ready to be paid to teachers. The reality is if we inject additional cost into the system it is simply going to lead to redundancies."
Police are investigating the sudden death of a 23-year-old man in Belfast.

The man collapsed at an address on the University Road area during the early hours of Sunday November 20.

He was brought to hospital by ambulance for medical treatment but died a short time later.

A PSNI spokesman said: "A post-mortem will take place in due course to determine the cause of death. There are no further details at present.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin says Brexit is bad for the Republic and Lord Kilclooney agrees

A former UUP MP has agreed with the leader of Fianna Fail that Brexit is causing real damage to the Irish Republic.

Ex-Home Affairs Minister John Taylor, now Lord Kilclooney, spoke out after Micheal Martin warned that the UK's vote to leave the European Union is impacting negatively on the Republic.

Mr Martin warned an urgent plan was needed to deal with the "slow-motion crash".

"In the five months since the UK's Brexit vote, the only things which are clear are that their policy is a shambles and that it is already causing real damage on this island," he warned.

"Brexit is not something which is happening in two years, it is happening now."

Mr Martin also demanded the EU suspend normal state aid rules for worst-hit Irish industries.

Speaking at a commemoration for Sean Moylan, an IRA commandant in the 1920s and later government minister, at Kiskeam in Co Cork, Mr Martin also lashed out at the UK, accusing the nation of "backward-looking nationalism" over the Brexit decision.

Last night, Lord Kilclooney at first lambasted what he termed "the usual hysteria and anti-British rhetoric" of Fianna Fail.

However, he then changed tack to agree with Mr Martin.

"Micheal Martin is right to declare that Brexit is causing real damage in the Republic," he added.

"Likewise, its Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, has already confirmed that the Republic will suffer more from Brexit than any of the other 26 EU nations.

"With exports already down 4%; mushroom plants closing; Irish beef prices falling; thousands of shoppers from the Republic of Ireland rushing up to Northern Ireland and a decline in tourist numbers from the UK, urgent action by the Government in Dublin is now required."

Lord Kilclooney said it is time that "economic reality prevailed".

"Within these isles - I do not use the term British Isles - we have a shared history, sport, culture, language, and, above all, trade," he added.

"That trading arrangement is now under challenge. It is time that economic reality prevailed.

"Assuming the Republic rejoining the UK or leaving the EU is not on the political agenda - yet - there must be a united effort in Dublin, Belfast, and London to achieve a special status for the Republic following Brexit, in order to avoid the clouds of economic despair which Micheal Martin correctly identifies." Earlier this year, the UK voted by 51.9% to 48.1% to leave the EU.

However, there were regional variations in the result, with Northern Ireland voting by a majority to remain in the EU.

Meanwhile, 150 days on from the result of the EU referendum, the SDLP has published 150 questions for the Northern Ireland Executive.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood accused the Executive of using the uncertainty caused by Brexit as an excuse for paralysis.

He said: "Today the SDLP is publishing 150 questions which we are asking of every government department at Stormont.

"These are questions which we continue to submit to the Northern Ireland Executive.

"They range from economic and business questions on our place in the single market, social questions on the effects on our community and voluntary sectors, education questions on the status and impact on our universities and questions around the security and future faced by our farming families."
The Irish Government fears that tensions between Sinn Fein and the DUP over Brexit will hamper attempts to find an all-Ireland solution to the matter.

Secret Irish Cabinet briefing material states that the "divergence" on the UK referendum results between the two parties has "inevitably impacted" on their "capacity to deal with consequences" of Brexit.

The DUP supported a Leave vote while Sinn Fein backed staying in the EU.

Cabinet papers in Dublin note that so far the power-sharing executive only agreed to a number of 'asks' on Brexit which were contained in a letter sent to Prime Minister Theresa May in August.

The letter asked that free movement of people, goods and service across the border should remain in place and also pointed to a need to allow Northern Ireland to trade with EU member states.

The Cabinet papers were given to ministers ahead of Friday's North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh.

"In light of the internal dynamics in the Executive, however, it is still far from certain how much more detail on their priorities and 'asks' the Northern Ireland Executive will bring to this plenary meeting," the briefing stated.

The last Ministerial Council meeting was overshadowed by a spat between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and DUP leader Arlene Foster over the Fine Gael leader's all-island Brexit forum.

Ms Foster also publicly criticised the Government for "talking down" Northern Ireland's economy as part of an attempt to poach investors. However, Friday's meeting was described as constructive by all sides.

A separate Cabinet briefing document also urges ministers to "sensitise" EU member states and institutions to the Republic's concerns during the Brexit negotiations in the run-up to the British government triggering Article 50.

Meanwhile, Brexit is causing an unprecedented level of uncertainty which is leading to forecasts of an economic slowdown, Chancellor Philip Hammond has said.

Mr Hammond said "there's no point crying over that fact" and stressed it was the reality of pulling Britain out of the EU. The Chancellor also admitted the Government would have no clarity on what the UK's future trading arrangements will be when it triggers Article 50 of the EU treaties to begin the Brexit process.

Mr Hammond told ITV's Peston On Sunday: "Of course, business likes certainty and that's one of the challenges we face over the coming couple of years - we're going to have an unprecedented level of uncertainty and that's one of the factors causing many commentators to predict that there will be a slowing of economic growth."

The Chancellor also criticised the 60 Conservative MPs, including former cabinet ministers, who have called on the Prime Minister to commit to what many will see as a so-called "hard Brexit".

Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers urged the PM to pull Britain out of the European single market and the customs union.
Dee Stitt's comments about "homeland security" were fairly typical of the sort of swaggering stupidity we've come to expect from some paramilitary-linked people on both sides. He couldn't help himself: showing off to supporters in a hall while sneering at the camera.

Stupid and atavistic on so many levels; but particularly stupid for the CEO of an organisation which is in receipt of public funds as part of an "innovative Government programme to tackle deprivation ... which focuses primarily on employment/training support, early-intervention services and educational support with others, incorporating mental health services, social economy support, transport, fuel poverty and community capacity".

The DUP's Emma Little Pengelly says that Dee Stitt is an "internal matter" for Charter NI. She's wrong. It ceased to be an internal matter when his comments became an issue of public perception; in other words, how Charter NI is now viewed.

In his interview with the Guardian, he also said: "There is always inter-community violence. In normal society, there is always going to be a big guy. Working-class housing estates - it's a jungle."

Those are very disturbing comments from the CEO of an organisation which, according to the signage on its entrance is, "Striving to enable, equip and empower our community".

What does he mean by "our community?" How does he want to empower that community? What values and standards is he promoting if he accepts that there's always a "big guy", always "inter-community violence" and always something that needs "defending" by way of "homeland security".

I don't doubt that good work is being done at local level by various community groups. Nor am I suggesting that money is unaccounted for. I'm well aware that socio-economic deprivation remains a key issue, particularly for those communities where the writ of assorted paramilitary and criminal gangs (which are often one and the same thing) still runs.

But I do believe that the general perception - some of it accurate, some of it over-egged and some of it just wrong - of money being directed towards "community groups" with links to former and existing paramilitaries is doing huge damage to what should be an important social and political project. Which is what is happening in the case of Dee Stitt.

That's why Arlene Foster described him as a "distraction". That's why Jeffrey Donaldson argued that he shouldn't remain as CEO. That's why Martin McGuinness raised concerns. That's why the media spotlight is now on both Stitt and the overall administration of the Social Investment Fund. All of which brings us back to a bigger question: why is someone like Stitt - a senior figure in the UDA - the CEO of an organisation like Charter NI?

Some people, particularly loyalists, will ask, why not? They have a point, of course, bearing in mind that senior members of the IRA (and I don't know for certain if they remain members, or not) are involved in the Government here. And it's also the case that quite a few people with links to various paramilitary groups hold positions of authority in bodies and organisations which are funded by the taxpayer. So why is there the attention on Stitt?

Let me raise a second question. Why, after a peace process which began with the first IRA ceasefire in August 1994 (although some would argue that the beginnings can be traced to the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement), do we still have so many paramilitaries - former and present members - playing a role? Well, it's the unavoidable consequence of having settled for conflict stalemate rather than conflict resolution.

Paramilitarism - be it dormant or active - will continue to have a cultural and historical hold in a society where nothing has actually been settled. The only consensus we reached - and it's a vitally important one, obviously - is the consensus that we were getting nowhere by violence, mutual political exclusion and a refusal to try and work together.

But because that consensus isn't built upon a common narrative, it means that the big issues - the ones which will always drag us backwards - remain unresolved: issues like legacy, victims, truth, responsibility, paramilitarism and social/community integration.

Previous attempts to jointly tackle socio/economic deprivation ended up with political squabbles about which community deserved the most financial attention at any one time.

Channelling more money into one side, rather than the other, ensured that community spokesmen - a catch-all title if ever there was one - complained that "our people are being left behind".

And if you tell people often enough that they are on the losing side of a political agreement, then it doesn't take long until they are prepared to listen to voices outside the political mainstream.

I'm pretty sure that's why the DUP and Sinn Fein took, to all intents and purposes, what amounted to joint control of the "community problem" back in March 2011; which, in turn, produced the Social Investment Fund strategy.

They needed to tie the remaining vestiges of paramilitary support and influence (and that also includes dissident republicanism) into a broader project in which those communities would begin to see actual and positive benefits.

I also think that's why Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt set up the Unionist Forum in January 2013, bringing in a number of loyalist groups increasingly agitated by the flag protests.

Yet, there's no guarantee that the success of the Social Investment strategy - assuming that it is successful, of course - would lead to the disappearance of paramilitary influence anytime soon.

The UDA and UVF seem entrenched in some areas, with no desire to disband and disappear.

And since there's no evidence of an electoral breakthrough for the parties they're linked to, they remain wedded to the belief that their continuing existence is the only way they can have influence. The mainstream political parties and security forces need to dissuade them from that belief.

Meantime, the Executive and Assembly have their own challenge to face: they need to develop a blueprint for dealing with paramilitaries and paramilitarism.

The one produced a few months ago - and which is still awaiting full funding - doesn't go far enough. It's wordy, woolly, indulgent and clinically weak.

We're long past the stage at which a gentle nudge will do the job. And we're also long past the stage at which paramilitaries should believe that there is still a role for them.

But one problem remains: it's going to be very difficult to remove paramilitary influence while the DUP and Sinn Fein opt for looking after their own separate bases rather than them governing in the collective interest.

Paramilitarism and paramilitary culture survives when the centre is dysfunctional and its direction unclear.

The DUP and Sinn Fein have pampered dangerous people for far too long. They need to stop.
If Thanksgiving is a festival of gratitude, then Hindus have been preparing for it their whole lives. In India, take a walk down the Mumbai waterfront in the early morning mist, and you see ordinary citizens quietly feeding the fish and the birds. Their daily day doesn't really begin until the deities in their home shrine have been venerated with fresh flowers and offered prasadam. It is only after eating a little of this blessed offering does the family sit down to their meals. Many remember to keep aside a portion of the food for a hungry person or the birds. It is all about sharing. Every Hindu festival is about counting one's blessings and thanking God for them. Indeed, buying a new car or new home entails special puja or prayer ceremonies to bless the new item and to offer thanks. "Gratitude is exalted as one of the most important virtues (dharma) in many Hindu texts," says Dr. Vasudha Narayanan, Distinguished Professor of Religion, University of Florida.

"It is both a human and divine virtue; prayers and panegyrics say Vishnu has qualities such as compassion and gratitude. By this they mean that if a human being does a good deed, the divine being wants to show his gratitude in many ways. The Ramayana says: Krte ca prati kartavyam esham dharmah sanatanah (Ramayana, Sundara Kanda) "To repay a good deed with another--this is the essence of Sanatana Dharma." Narayanan, who is also Director, Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra) , has lived in Florida for many years and has seen how Hindu Americans have interacted with the festival of Thanksgiving. She says, "It is a 'secular' holiday and the sentiments are something we can all resonate with but obviously, there are no 'family traditions' for new immigrants.

We do go to friends homes; in the 1970s and even early 80s, we were frequently invited by local American friends who worked hard to find us vegetarian fare and make stuffing without stock. Eventually, as the Indian population got larger, there were more events hosted by Indo-American families. In Gainesville, a university town, we used to invite students for a home cooked Indian meal, just as our professors used to invite us when we were students." Are there any Hindu prayers which are popular with families for this occasion? Since saying of 'Grace' before food is not a traditional custom in India where often food was sanctified and served, this is new territory for Hindus. In fact, even for the South Indian festival of Pongal which is generally interpreted as 'thanksgiving', there are no specific prayers, says Narayanan.Yet as she points out, "The Hindu traditions are dynamic; we add, we modify, we jettison, and we co-opt rituals very easily.

And in some groups, the prayer brahmarpanam (see http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/brahmar.html) has become very popular." Anju Bhargava, founder of Hindu American Seva Communities (HASC) finds her own way of offering thanks. She say, Our family tradition is to go around the table and share at least one thing that has happened to you that you are grateful for. This sharing is the communal prayer creates a spirit of thankfulness." Having worked with many Hindus in creating community awareness of service or seva, she says, The Thanksgiving observance fits in very well with the Hindu sensibility - festivities filled with food, company of friends and family and with a values- oriented focus; a time to appreciate all that you have in life and a time to share your merits with others, so it is only natural that Hindu Americans join in the spirit of the observance with a natural elan. Hindus do know how to party and celebrate. What we need to do more is to serve, to bring the UtsavSeva (service through festivals) component more to the forefront." She adds, "Seva is an important aspect on this holiday. Many of us feed the homeless in some manner or form - either actually serve on that day, or before or after or even collect canned food and deliver."

Indeed sharing with the less fortunate, and with family and friends is an important part of Thanksgiving. But what do Hindu Americans put on their Thanksgiving table? They are not a homogenous lot so the menu is as varied as the number of Hindus in this country! Many Hindus do eat meat and for them the Thanksgiving turkey is a must, sometimes with tandoori coloring and spices. Yet for the large numbers of Hindus who are vegetarian, the turkey is a no-no and like President Obama, they grant it an official pardon! Hindus who are vegetarian relish the many fixings on the Thanksgiving table and also turn to meatless alternatives like tofu or lasagna or celebrate with a full-fledged Indian vegetarian meal. Fortunately, vegan and vegetarian food is so popular in America now that Hindus have a really easy time of it. Thanksgiving is all about sharing food so multicultural America has a lot to share. Says Vasudha Narayanan, " Most friends I know end up with international fare and create new traditions that way; so everything from hummus to seven-layered dip to eventually moving to good Andhra fare or avial and double-ka-meetha for sweets!" Thanksgiving is a festival totally in sync with the Hindu state of mind - it's about remembering the Almighty and his many blessings, and in turn sharing with the less fortunate.

Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who blogs at Lassiwithlavina.com. Follow @lassiwithlavina and Google +
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As Thanksgiving approaches each year, few of us stop to consider the history behind the holiday. We break out the turkey, pass the gravy, andhopefullyenjoy the pleasant company.

But Thanksgiving has a long and storied history, some of which might surprise you!

Many of us know bits and pieces of the story, that Pilgrims and Native Americans dined together, resulting in the first Thanksgiving. But theres much more to it than that.

In September of 1620, a ship by the name of the Mayflower departed Plymouth, England, carrying a group of 102 Pilgrimsreligious separatists in search of religious freedom, drawn to promises of land ownership in the New World. When they arrived, they founded Plymouth colony.

Their first winter was unexpectedly brutal, and most of the colonists took refuge aboard the Mayflower. Only half survived long enough to see spring.

Sometime around March, the survivors moved back ashore, where they encountered a Native American of the Pawtuxet tribe named Squantoa man who had been kidnapped by the English and sold into slavery, only to escape and return to his homeland. Because of this, he was proficient in English.

Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to survive, how to grow corn, extract sap, and fish. He also acted as an ambassador between the Pilgrims and the local Wampanoag tribe, establishing a friendship between the two groups that would last for decades.

In November of 1621, the Pilgrims successfully harvested their first crop of corn, and their governor, William Bradford, called for a celebration and a feast, to which he invited the Native Americans who had aided in the colonys survival.

Although it wasnt called such at the time, this great feast, uniting two disparate peoples who would normally have been at odds with one another, was Americas first Thanksgiving. Historians think that the menu may have included deer, fish, lobster, and the harvested crops, and the dishes were likely prepared through traditional Native American cooking methods.

With Thanksgiving yet to become an official holiday, it was not celebrated the following year, nor the year after that. It wasnt until 1623 that another Thanksgiving celebration was held, after the end of a long drought that had threatened the years crops.

It was to be many years before Thanksgiving came with any regularity. Annual periods of fasting and thanksgiving was a fairly common practice in New England at the time, and during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress finally began to set aside dedicated days of Thanksgiving each year.

Thanksgiving took a further step toward countrywide legitimacy in 1789, when George Washington declared the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the United States government, calling upon Americans to express their gratitude for the positive outcome of the war of independence.

By 1817, a handful of northern states began to officially adopt Thanksgiving as an annually observed and recognized holiday, but each of these states celebrated the holiday on a different date, and the day went unobserved in much of the rest of the country.

Sensing a need for Thanksgiving unity, in 1827, writer Sara Josepha Hale, author of Mary Had a Little Lamb, began a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. After almost four decades, president Abraham Lincoln finally noted her request.

In 1863, during the worst of the Civil War, Lincoln issued a proclamation asking all citizens to ask God to commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife.

Scheduling Thanksgiving Day for each final Thursday in November, Lincoln made Thanksgiving official. Turkey day was born.

The idea, though, of a celebration of a bountiful harvest predates Thanksgiving, predates Lincoln, predates even the Plymouth colonists, and extends back millennia into the most ancient of cultures. Did you know that Thanksgiving shares cultural roots with Halloween? The pagan precursor to Halloween, Samhainpronounced sowenwas, in part, a celebration marking the end of summer and the harvestthe same kind of harvest-time celebration.

And the traditional symbol of Thanksgiving, the cornucopia, has origins in Greek mythologythe goat, Amalthea, also known as the Nourishing Goddess, fed an infant Zeus with her milk. Possessed with unusual strength, the child accidently broke off one of Amaltheas horns, which was found to have the power of unending nourishment.

Regardless of tradition, autumn, the time when weve historically benefited from the years labors, is a natural time for us to express our gratitude for what weve been given. This tradition of thanks has passed through many cultures and traditions before reaching our contemporary culture.

Today, Thanksgiving has shed much of its religious heritage, and is more about bringing family and friends together over a feast of traditional foods such as turkey, sweet potato casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and dinner rolls.

Beyond the food and family, parades also mark our modern Thanksgivings. Since 1924, New York City has hosted the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, which moves from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Macys Herald Square flagship store. The parade includes popular performers and enormous parade floats. The final float of the parade features Santa Claus, whose arrival begins the Christmas season.

Not everyone finds Thanksgiving to be quite so festive, however. Some see the holiday as a reminder of the cultural genocide visited upon the Native Americans by European colonizers. There is some validity to this, as few think of the horrors inflicted upon the Native America as European settlers spread throughout America, when the traditional story of Thanksgiving is one of a happy relationship between the natives and colonists.

But aside from any controversy, Thanksgiving remains a time to dwell on what we are thankful for, and whether those thanks are directed at God, at family and friends, or at both, this holiday inspires a gratefulness that should permeate our lives all year round.

When that fourth Thursday in November rolls around, remember to look beyond the simple pleasures of turkey and gravy. Voice your thanks. Tell your family that you love them, and are grateful for them. Youll set a great tone for the rest of the years holiday season.

Wesley Baines is a graduate student at Regent University's School of Divinity, and a freelance writer working in the fields of spirituality, self-help, and religion. He is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com. You can catch more of his work at www.wesleybaines.com.
A street vendor from Indian-administered Kashmirs northern Kupwara district, Manzoor Ahmad Mir, received some much-needed respite this past weekend.

For the first time in more than four months following the killing of a top separatist leader, markets and schools across the insurgency-torn region reopened to a flurry of activity on Saturday.

Since July there had been no business whatsoever. Due to the perpetual curfew in place and shutdown calls by separatists, we were not allowed to open shop. My family was on the brink of starvation, Mir, 42, who was selling woolen clothes on a cart, told BenarNews.

Mir said street vendors like himself suffered the most because they had no alternate source of income.

Although separatist leaders allowed shops to open for a couple of hours intermittently over the past few weeks to allow people to stock up on essential supplies, this was the first time in four months they suspended their strike for two full days, bringing a massive rush of shoppers to the streets.

Business was great on Saturday and Sunday. I sold a lot of woolens because of the oncoming winter season, Mir said.

And despite a call from separatists for a shutdown again on Monday, many, including Mir, chose to ignore the warning and went about their daily lives.

Even today Ive had many customers. How long can we sit at home doing nothing? They (separatists) keep calling for a shutdown. Indian security forces keep imposing curfews. But it is the common Kashmiri who is getting sandwiched in this ongoing fight, Mir said Monday.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is claimed in its entirety by India and Pakistan, has grappled with a separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 70,000 lives since the late 1980s.

The latest cycle of violence erupted after Indian security forces gunned down Burhan Wani, a leader of separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, on July 8. More than 100 people have died and more than 10,000 have been injured in clashes between anti-India protesters and security forces since then.

3,000 arrests

But the violence has largely been controlled after the arrests of over 3,000 suspected instigators of violence over the past month, a top police official said.

The intensity of violent protests by miscreants across Kashmir has reduced drastically after these arrests. And normalcy is fast returning, Director General of Police S.P. Vaid told BenarNews.

Students attend class at the Wiz Kid School in Kashmir's Anantanag district, Nov. 21, 2016. (Courtesy Showkat Dar)

Several schools and colleges, which had remained closed for the last four months, have gradually started reopening in several districts of Kashmir, including Kupwara, Anantanag, Bandipora and Baramulla.

We have been attending classes for one week. Most of our teachers are local residents and they have asked us to come to school regularly so we can catch up on the studies we have missed, said Imran Ahmad, 13, a student at a government-run school in Baramulla district.

Indian authorities also restored mobile internet services across Kashmir on Friday. The service had been suspended following Wanis killing in a bid to prevent protests from spreading.

The ground situation is improving with each passing day since a majority of people instigating people to protest have been arrested, Abdul Haq Khan, the states Law and Justice Minister, told BenarNews.

We are fully aware that ordinary people are yearning for peace and we are sparing no effort [toward that], Khan said.
Philippine forces are patrolling the area around Tawi-Tawi island and Sulu by air and sea to locate an armed group that kidnapped two Indonesian fishermen over the weekend, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman said Monday.

Five gunmen, suspected to be militants with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), grabbed the two Indonesians in waters off Kunak, a small coastal town in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, before fleeing toward Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to a Malaysian official.

The kidnappings occurred despite efforts by Philippine and Malaysian security forces to issue warnings about the gunmen. Philippine forces sent out an alert of a boat heading toward Malaysia and Malaysian forces issued their own alert after the kidnappings, according to security officials.

The communication efforts followed talks earlier this month by leaders of both countries to work together to ward off such maritime abductions, which lately have plagued the seas separating the southern Philippines from Borneo island.

After hosting new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 10, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Duterte had granted permission for Malaysian ships to enter his countrys waters during hot pursuits of kidnappers.

A week later, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he had discussed the issue with his counterparts from Indonesia and the Philippines during the Fourth Trilateral Ministerial Level Meeting on the Sulu Seas Initiative.

Discussions focused heavily on operationalizing joint exercises, coordinated maritime patrols and joint air patrols that are soon to be initiated among the three nations, Hishammuddin said in a statement following the talks.

Kidnapping details

ASG, a group that has sought a separate state in the Philippines predominantly Muslim south, is believed to have kidnapped Indonesians Saparuddin Kone, 43, and Sawal Maryam, 36. Indonesian officials were made aware of the kidnapping on Saturday and deployed a team from the consulate in Tawau, Malaysia, to Lahad Datu to gather information, an Indonesian Foreign Affairs spokesman said.

After destroying the boats communications equipment and stealing cash and mobile phones, the gunmen left 11 other crewmen unharmed, according to Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid.

He said Malaysian authorities were alerted by Philippine authorities of a speedboat that they were pursuing near Tawi-Tawis Taganak Island.

Wan Abdul said Malaysian security forces were placed on alert at 6:40 p.m. Saturday  about an hour before the incident  because Taganak Island is about 27 km (17 miles) from the coastal town of Sandakan, the site of previous kidnappings. In the past, such cooperation was hampered by the Philippines long-standing territorial claim on Sabah.

We were informed. However, I cannot confirm whether the boat crossed over into Malaysian waters or was involved in the kidnapping, Wan Abdul told local media on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Westmincom spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan Jr. said Philippine forces were informed by Malaysian authorities that an abduction had been reported at about 7:30 p.m., according to The Philippines Star. The abduction occurred near Kunak, 129 km (80 miles) south of Sandakan, Sabah.

Following Saturdays kidnapping, Tan said militants were holding 24 people captive  five Malaysians, a Dutch national, a German, a South Korean, four Indonesians, six Vietnamese and six Filipinos.

ASG, which has pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State (IS), has collected millions of dollars through kidnappings in recent years, according to online reports. This year alone, ASG has collected at least 354.1 million Philippines pesos (U.S. $7.3 million) from ransom paid for hostages, Philippine-based news website Rappler.com reported.

Philippine leader transferred

In the Philippines, government officials were denying claims that the removal of Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Joint Task Force Sulu was tied to the series of kidnappings linked to ASG, the Manila Times reported.

It has nothing to do with the reported continuous kidnappings. This is based on the promotion system, Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, told the Times. The Board of Generals recommended de la Vega serve as commandant of the AFP Command and General Staff College, replacing Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Santiago who reached mandatory retirement age.
The south bank of Santee River was settled almost entirely by French Huguenots, who were mainly planters (today we call them farmers). They were the largest group of Huguenots in the province, outside of Charles Town, during the early years of the settlement. By 1690, eighty families of Fren Read moreSantee's founding French and places of interest
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By Bob Cunningham

One of photo sciences most significant prizes recently was bestowed upon Dr. Douglas Neckers, professor emeritus and founder of the Department of Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green State University.

Neckers is only the second American to be honored as a recipient of the prestigious Theodor Forster Prize for 2016 from the German Chemical Society, which has recognized internationally acclaimed photochemists since 1975. This years prize was awarded in Jena, Germany, to Neckers, who also is the CEO of Spectra Group, Ltd., in Millbury, Ohio.

What the Forster recognition confirmed through me is that research professors and academic leader/entrepreneurs are only successful because of their students and colleagues, Neckers said. What this award signifies that in the photo sciences we managed to take our program in the Center for Photochemical Sciences to the highest level. I say we and our because thats what I mean. I always tried to treat every research student as a collaborator and a colleague.

I think that this award, in part at least, recognizes that method of mentoring worked. Research works best among collaborators, junior with senior. Thats invariably the way I worked with students. One plus one, when done right, is more than two. Our center was a collaborative enterprise and because that was the way it was, we prospered much beyond our expectation.

The use of light as a chemical reagent has fascinated Neckers since his career began. With new photoinitiators, he contributed to the successful economic performance in the then new area of photopolymerization. As director of the Center for Photochemical Sciences, he combined fundamental research with applied research and founded Spectra Group Ltd., a company manufacturing photopolymerizable materials. What is now known as 3-D printing or, more specifically, rapid-prototyping using stereolithography, is based on a technology that was recognized in the 1980s by Neckers and his students at BGSU.

The citation on the award reads: For his ingenious basic research and the implementation of its applied research in industrial applications Neckers is awarded the Theodor Fo rster Memorial Lecture Prize.

Forster was a physical chemist, so that is particularly significant to me because I am an organic chemist, Neckers said. The two fields seem in this award at least to mesh in some way.

Neckers invented the term photochemical sciences because what we did is a lot more than just photochemistry, he said. I havent checked lately, but I think the current faculty at the center is heavily dosed with physicists, which is how it should be since the photo sciences are interdisciplinary.

The photo sciences are, now in all their manifestations, huge industries. Im pleased to have played, at least in a little way, a role in enabling some of that.

Neckers said before he arrived at Bowling Green in 1973 there were hardly any science-based businesses in the area. But what BGSU had in abundance was people.

One of the saving graces for chemistry at BGSU was that Paul Block Jr., publisher of the Toledo Blade, was an organic chemist like me, Neckers said. He helped me with setting priorities a great deal when I first came to BGSU. Our University, when it comes to sciences, is in debt to Paul Block Jr.

Neckers also said that former University vice president Chris Dalton, Eminent Scholar Michael A. J. Rodgers, Distinguished Teaching Professor Tom Kinstle, administrative colleague Pat Green and many others helped the center grow beyond his wildest dreams.

Neckers, who also is the chair of the board of directors of the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown, N.Y., was nominated for the Forster Award by Bernd Strehmel, who did his doctoral work at an East German university before being among the first Germans to study in the United States after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The German Chemical Society, with more than 31,000 members, is the largest chemical scientific society in the world. It has 28 divisions, including a photochemistry division.
Another chapter has been written in the saga that is MV Agustas financial woes. Only this time, the news is good news. The Italian firm has found funding from Russia, in the form of the Black Ocean investment group. The details of the deal arent public yet, but it is safe to say that the money will go towards getting operations running again.

MV Agusta has been in a financially bad position for a while now, with suppliers either stopping supply completely or option for a pay-upfront system. The relationship with part-owner AMG has also not been easy, as one of the clauses to rid themselves of the German brand is to be debt-free before buying the stake back. It isnt clear whether the Black Ocean investment will mean the departure of AMG, but were fairly certain that Giovanni Castiglioni hopes so.

Black Ocean is most well-known for investing in Ocean Sky, a UK-based jet chartering company. It is the investing arm of the Ocean Group, headed by Oliver Ripley and Timur Sardarov. The infusion of cash follows the restructuring of MV Agustas Rs 361 crore debt and it should help everything from production to R&D gather momentum again.


For Immediate Release, November 21, 2016 Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, (510) 844-7108, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Challenges Secrecy of First Liquefied Natural Gas by Rail Project in United States Federal Railroad Administration Fails to Provide Documents

Showing Alaska Railroad LNG Shipments Are Safe WASHINGTON Before Alaska Railroad shipped liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September  the first rail shipment of LNG in U.S. history  the Federal Railroad Administration refused to publicly disclose documents showing how the shipments were approved and whether they are safe. The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for those documents back in February and today sued the Administration for its failure to respond with relevant documents or information. The public deserves to know the risks of shipping LNG by rail through Alaskas biggest cities and majestic wilderness. The federal government has an obligation to be transparent before approving or shipping a volatile fossil fuel, said Miyoko Sakashita, a senior attorney at the Center. We know that oil trains and LNG facilities both have deadly histories of explosions, so the secrecy surrounding this project should worry everyone. Shipping LNG by rail could expand the use of fossil fuels at a time when the United States is struggling to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change. Alaska is the first of several states to pursue such shipping, via its LNG-by-rail pilot program, which has been subjected to minimal public scrutiny. Orlando Sun-Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo reported in June that his request for public records about Floridas LNG-by-rail proposal was denied on the grounds it was propriety information. The Center submitted its FOIA request for records related to Alaskas LNG-by-rail project on Feb. 9. Since then, the Railroad Administration has taken no responsive actions or provided any estimates on when it might rule on the records request. As reported by the Associated Press and other media outlets, two Sept. 7 LNG shipments from Anchorage to Fairbanks, using specially designed 7,000-gallon rail tankers that keep the condensed fuel chilled to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, were the first in a pilot program running through the end of 2017. Expanding the countrys fossil fuel infrastructure by putting LNG tankers on our railways is a terrible idea. It deepens our climate crisis and puts families along rail lines at risk, Sakashita said. But to do it under a veil of secrecy, denying the publics right to scrutinize this plan, is simply unacceptable, so were asking the courts to intervene. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
For Immediate Release, November 21, 2016

Contact: Randi Spivak, (310) 779-4894, rspivak@biologicaldiversity.org

Trump's New Interior Department Transition Team Leader Believes Burning

Fossil Fuels Is a 'Moral' Imperative; Has Ties to Koch Brothers, ExxonMobil

WASHINGTON President-elect Trump today again shook up his anti-environmental transition team, naming the director of a pro-Big-Oil think tank to lead his Interior Department advisory group.

Doug Domenech is director of the Fueling Freedom Project, a subsidiary of the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, which is heavily funded by the billionaire Koch brothers and ExxonMobil. The Fueling Freedom Project advocates and celebrates the continued burning of fossil fuels, and its goals include exempting CO2 from pollution rules. Its prime directive is to defend the forgotten moral case for fossil fuels, according to its website.

The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following statement in response to Domenechs appointment:

Its beyond frightening that Trump would appoint a shill for Big Oil to plot the direction of a department that administers millions of acres of public lands that belong to all Americans, said Randi Spivak, the Centers public lands director. This is a clear signal that in a Trump administration it will be open season for corporations who want to frack, drill or mine our public resources, regardless of climate chaos, water pollution, species extinction and health impacts to communities. Any attempt to open up Americas public lands to increased fracking, drilling and extraction will be met with a wall of public resistance. Thats the real moral imperative.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a
The Global Awards, now in its 22nd year of honouring the World's Best Healthcare & Wellness Advertising, announced the 2016 award winners late last week at New York Academy of Sciences in New York City and at Studio X in Sydney Australia.

Amongst the Global Award winners was McCann Worldgroup South Africas entry Face Value for the AIDS Foundation South Africa. The agency created posters of AIDS victims for a stakeholders meeting illustrated from the ashes of a womans cremated body and from the soil that covered the grave of a boy. The campaign paid tribute to the thousands of others who have died of aids and communicated the important work of the AIDS Foundation.

McCann

For the fifth year running, McCann Health was in the spotlight earning the title 2016 Global Healthcare Agency Network of the Year. McCann Health was honoured with seven Global Awards and 17 Finalist Certificates. McCann Health UK received two Global Awards; McCann Erickson Japan earned two Global Awards; McCann Echo US was honoured with one Global Award; both McCann Health India and McCann Worldgroup South Africa each earned a Global Award. The following agencies were awarded Finalist Certificates: McCann Health Australia, McCann Health Brazil, McCann Health China, McCann Healthcare France, McCann Health HumanCare US, McCann Health India, McCann Health Japan, McCann Health UK and McCann Echo US.

Special Industry Award

Langland United Kingdom won the title 2016 Global Healthcare Agency of the Year Award for the fifth year. The Windsor-based agency was in the winners circle taking home five Global Awards and two Finalist Certificates.

For the first time, the Global Awards presented a special industry award, the Local Healthcare Agency Network of the Year, to FCB Health and its agency affiliates AREA 23 and NEON for their outstanding number of award-winning entries. The agency took to the stage taking home a total of seven Global Awards and 16 Finalist Certificates.

Grand Global Award

The 2016 Grand Global was awarded to Grey Group Singapore for Clear the Pitch, which also won Global Awards in the Educational Awareness/Advertising to the Consumer/Patient and Best Use Of Media/Television for client DanishChurchAid (DCA). The campaign reinforced its desire to re-ignite awareness over the issue of millions of unexploded mines in 60 countries worldwide, with four out of 10 victims being innocent children. Grey Group Singapore took DCAs messaging out of the humanitarian niche and reframed it to connect successfully with popular culture.

Multiple tactics

This years Global Award winning campaigns engaged consumers, supported causes, and benefited brands utilising a variety of creative tactics including crowd sourcing, cause marketing, event marketing, experiential engagement, new technology and humour.

Area23 New York The Hero Gene earned two Global Awards for its campaign utilising event marketing and crowd-sourcing to recruit donors for client Be The Match, The National Bone Marrow Database via a perfect match donor DNA test administered on the floor of New York Comic Con.

McCann Erickson Japans entry Still Life earned two Global Awards for its cause/event marketing campaign to raise awareness for END ALS by inviting artists to paint portraits of an ALS patient who served as a Still Life model for a gallery exhibition.

Langland UKs multi-Global winning campaign AMP Shoes for Diabetes UK rallied support for diabetes amputees via a pop-up shop showcasing shoes representing one of the 135 feet or lower limbs lost to diabetes every week.

Outdoor awards

Ground breaking Outdoor entries scored Global Awards: NBS Brazils Global winning entry The Mosquito Killer Billboard for Posterscope featured an out-of-home panel equipped with technology that attracts and kills the Aedes Aegypti mosquito that carries the Zika virus and the Global Award winner McCann Worldgroup South Africas entry Face Value.

The Executive and Grand Juries, headed by Global Awards executive committee chairperson, Robin Shapiro, group president, North America TBWA\WorldHealth, judged all entries submitted to the 2016 Global Awards. The 2016 Global Awards Grand Jury and Executive Jury honoured winners from entries submitted from 24 countries with one Grand Global Award, 41 Global Awards and 104 Finalist Certificates. To view the complete 2016 winners, go here.
Pulling no punches, African Union Commission chair, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to back the bid to see the World Bank switch from loans to grants to fund health projects globally.

The World Bank shouldnt give loans for health, they should give grants for health. And we hope the WHO shares that view, Dlamini-Zuma said at the opening ceremony of the World Psychiatric Association International Congress in Cape Town.

Her comments followed an address by Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of mental health and substance abuse at the WHO, who announced the World Bank had committed, following a meeting with the organisation in April, to supporting mental health in a far bigger way.

The main message was that any country applying for World Bank loans for health projects would have to ensure a mental health component was included.

Bill of Rights

Continuing the call for activism for the mental health cause, Professor Dinesh Bhugra, president of the World Psychiatric Association, told the audience they had launched a Bill of Rights for those with mental illness in the House of Lords in London two weeks ago.

A total of 61 organisations around the world had signed it, and the South African Society of Psychiatrists had indicated it too would sign the document.

I need every bit of help from everyone here to change the way we treat our patients, who are the most vulnerable, Bhugra said.

Shocking survey results

Earlier in his speech, Bhugra revealed the World Psychiatric Association had just completed a global survey of 193 countries, which threw up shocking results.

These included that people with mental illness could vote in just 11% of the countries surveyed, that they enjoyed no employment rights in more than half the countries, and that 42% of nations prevented those with mental illness from entering into any kind of contract, including signing a will or inheriting property.

There are people from 92 countries here, more than half the number of countries that participated in the survey. I appeal to you all to use any power you have to change attitudes, to make sure those with mental illness are able to lead fully functional lives in communities without discrimination and stigma. Let the movement begin here, the professor urged.

Investment in mental health

Saxena added, meanwhile, that the WHO had the necessary ammunition in the form of research and statistics, to back anyone fighting the battle for better mental health services and facilities.

They had proved, he told delegates, that any investment in mental health was just that  an investment, rather than a drain on resources.

Every effort in mental health pays back much more than the investment. We have evidence of that and we will give you that ammunition you need, he said.

The case for Africa

Addressing the case for Africa specifically, Dlamini-Zuma pointed to WHO statistics which indicated that 40,5% of countries globally had no mental health policy, in spite of estimates that one in every four people would suffer a mental health condition.

While there were an average nine psychiatrists to every 100,000 people in the west, the comparative figure for the African region was just 0,05 per 100,000 people.

We need a pan-African movement to ensure there is no discrimination against mental health patients, and we need to develop programmes and proper policies around mental health, she warned.

As a continent, Africa needed to not only update existing mental health policies and community-based interventions, but to see these formalised at AU level.

With the enormous lack of human resources, Africa also had to find other ways of helping improve mental health, without relying exclusively on psychiatrists.

In Africa we cannot rely on Western models where there are abundant resources. We need to look at creative ways of using what we have, Dlamini-Zuma said.

But what should never be lost sight of was the importance of treating mental health patients with dignity, and working to break down the stigma hindering treatment across the globe.

With health, the economy cant grow  We cant do anything without health, she said.
Methode Cap Classique and white winemaker at Boschendal, Lizelle Gerber sheds light on Chenin, the new Chardonnay Pinot Noir blush wine and her nomination as one of the five vintners to be shortlisted for the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year award. Over the past decade, the 33-year old Franschhoek estate has seen some significant changes and improvements - the world renowned winery now combines heritage and tradition with fresh, modern vision - increasing critical acclaim.

Lizelle Gerber

The Winemaker Awards are the most prestigious awards on the South African wine calendar. This years awards will be presented at a gala dinner on 19 November. While other awards focus on the wine, the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year awards celebrate the skills, talent and dedication of those who actually make the wine. The Winemaker awards are now in their 36th year and Young Winemakers in their 16th.

In this competition, you were judged on your skill in producing Chenin Blanc  a varietal which is seeing a true revival in South Africa. You must be very proud of this achievement!

Lizelle Gerber: Yes indeed, I am honoured, this has been a great year for Boschendal; Chenin is fast becoming one of the flagship wines of South Africa. While my nomination was based on the Boschendal 2016 Rachelsfontein Chenin Blanc, I am also delighted with the Boschendal Sommelier Selection wines, specifically the Chenin Blanc 2015 which won Gold at the Veritas awards and the Standard Bank Top 10 Chenin Award.

And your skills were again acknowledged at the recent Platter Awards, its certainly been a great season for Boschendal

Gerber: We received 4.5 stars for the Grande Cuvee Brut 2012 and for our dessert wine, the Vin dOr 2015, this really has been an exciting year for our team, the best part is that such a wide variety of wine styles have been awarded within the Boschendal portfolio.

We are seeing Boschendal move into new wine styles, tell us about the inspiration behind the new Chardonnay Pinot Noir blush wine  this looks like the perfect wine for summer.

Gerber: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are two of my favourite wines to produce  both are traditionally also used in the making of Cap Classique which is a passion of mine. Bringing these two special varietals together in this elegant new wine - and using the same delicate techniques as I would use in making a Cap Classique - seemed like a natural progression. You can really see this wine as a still version of a sophisticated bubbly!

Please give us detailed tasting notes

Gerber: The wine is created to be beautifully paired with food. Its a wine finessed in flavour as much as it is in colour. A dry wine, with delicate red berry aromas, crisp, fresh taste upfront, with an elegant touch of creamy, smoothness and a complex finish. The blend is 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir, and of the Chardonnay, 20% is fermented in French Oak barrels. This gentle oak maturation imparts a final elegant touch of spice to the wine.

How was this incredible colour achieved?

Gerber: This blush is the secret of perfect balance, patience and technique. The importance here was to create a rose gold blush as opposed to pink, exuding the elegant sophistication of the wine and something that makes a statement.

Which dishes would this wine best be paired with?

Gerber: The Boschendal Chardonnay Pinot Noir wine is a sommeliers dream as it is very versatile and only really limited to ones imagination. It can be paired with many dishes from sushi, summer salads, grilled seafood or pork to Berry Pavlova for a really indulgent treat.

In your opinion, how can the new appetite for rose worldwide be explained?

Gerber: The rise of rose can be attributed to the dream of the Southern French lifestyle associated with dry rose in summertime, perpetuated by celebrities who have embraced the trend. Celebrity brands such as Whispering Angel and social media shares with hashtags such as #yeswayrose and #roseallday have created a buzz around rose.

This Chardonnay Pinot Noir, however, is not considered a rose and is closer to a still Cap Classique which is about elegance and sophistication. We like to refer to it as a delicate blush wine. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir integrate seamlessly on the palate which creates a lingering, smooth, textured finish.

How does the Chardonnay Pinot Noir complement the existing Boschendal wine portfolio? How does it fit in? Is the idea to introduce Boschendal to a new audience?

Gerber: Boschendal Wine is about inspiring and enhancing quality moments  and our new Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a natural progression for us to introduce something that really encapsulates celebrating these moments. We believe it will certainly appeal to a wide wine-loving audience  both new and existing.
The countdown to Black Friday has begun. And retailers across the country are preparing for an influx of shoppers on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Malls around the country have stocked up, added more parking and beefed up security for the expected Christmas bargain rush.

Black Friday, which began in the US, is relatively new in South Africa, but over the past three years retailers have recorded a spike in sales of more than 200%.

Menlyn Park mall in Pretoria is expecting at least 100,000 customers on the day.

Spokesman Karina van den Heever said the centre was holding its second Black Friday after last year's proved to be highly successful.

''We have extra security and extended shopping hours," she said.

The R2.5bn revamped centre, she said, was ready for the mayhem and would re-open on Thursday.

She said that to ensure a pleasant shopping experience the centre had introduced a park-and-ride service at the Glenstantia Primary School from 24 to 27 November. The service will run every half hour from 8am to 5pm.

Shopping hours at the mall will be extended to 9pm from 24 November.

Major retailers such as Game, Samsung and Makro are offering discounts throughout the weekend.

Gamers can also cash in on Xbox One deals. Microsoft, manufacturer of the console, announced it would offer discounted Xbox One bundle deals for R3,999, which include the console and a game, such as Fifa 17. The console usually sells for about R5,000.

And if the crowds are too much to handle, online sites are also cashing in.

Takealot is calling its discount weekend the Blue Dot Sale.

Julie-Ann Walsh, chief marketing officer of Takealot, said that last year's sale showed growth of more than 200%.

She gave the assurance that the site was ready to handle the surge in web traffic.

''We have 10000 products and discounts of up to 60%. There are some discounts of 80%," she said.
Consumers may be staying away from budget-breaking spending on clothing and furniture, but they are indulging in small luxuries, retail data from Statistics SA shows.

While the lipstick effect has kept sales of pharmaceuticals, medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries in growth territory, niche food, and drink and tobacco stores have also shown growth as consumers search for experiential products.

At constant prices, Septembers retail data showed a 10.9% year-on-year rise in sales of specialised food, beverages and tobacco products.

This grouping of goods has shown steady year-on-year growth since June. Other categories have shown varying degrees of volatility.

Boston Consulting Group partner and MD Stefan Salzer said shoppers wanted to feel they were being treated "a bit better" without necessarily paying too much more.

"These stores give specialised attention which differentiates them from one-size-fits-all offerings."

Salzer said the rise in this category was an indicator of a consumers "desperately under pressure, but looking for a small treat they can easily afford without going bankrupt".
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' (DAFF) has decided to set the West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) total allowable catch for the 2016/17 fishing season at significantly higher levels than recommended by fishery scientists as ecologically and economically sustainable, alarming WWF-South Africa.

Derek Keats via Wikimedia Commons

Instead of reducing the total allowable catch (TAC) by a third, as recommended by its own scientific working group in line with the departments recovery plan, DAFF announced on 17 November 2016, that the total allowable catch for WCRL will remain unchanged for the upcoming season. This, in WWF-SAs view, puts the fishery at risk of imminent collapse and puts coastal livelihoods at risk.

Unrealistic to expect the stock to recover

Said John Duncan, head of WWF-SAs marine programme: Effective fisheries management must be predicated on sound processes and accurate science. It is unrealistic to expect the stock to recover if the TAC remains at current catch levels when it is clear this same level of effort has resulted in a continued decline in the resource to date. The department is simply compounding the problem for future years, history has shown that short-sighted fisheries management can only lead to the destruction of both the resources and the communities that depend on them.

The WCRL fishery provides livelihoods for many small-scale fishing communities in the Western and Northern Cape but the WRCL resource has declined dramatically over the last 50 years as a result of overfishing  and stocks are at an all-time low  an estimated 2% of their pre-exploitation levels.

The past five years have seen WCRL stocks decline in overall abundance by around 20% as a result of rampant poaching and ineffective management of the fishery with the fishery now provisionally listed on the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiatives (SASSI) red-list. The most important commercial fishing area from Hout Bay to Danger Point (known as super area 8+-) has suffered a decline of approximately 50% in the same period.

Resource recovery plans?

What makes DAFFs announcement particularly hard to understand is that it flies in the face of the departments commitments to help the fishery recover. Just earlier this week the department told a parliamentary briefing that the WCRL resource was severely depleted and highlighted that it was implementing resource recovery plans, in order to achieve gains that will make a significant positive contribution to food security and alleviating coastal poverty. However, this recent decision brings the departments sincerity into question.

These recovery plans were developed and adopted jointly by DAFF, WWF-SA, and fishery stakeholders, who have been working closely together for more than 1.5 years, investing significant time and resources to build a recovery path that all stakeholders stand behind

This is not the first time that the department has ignored their commitments to sustainable management of this resource. In 2012, the former minister, Tina Joemat Pettersen, also ignored scientific advice and the departments agreed-upon recovery plan and set an unsustainably high catch for the 2012/13 season.

As a result of challenges from WWF-SA, she subsequently publically committed to following the recovery plan and, in a press release, the department indicated that regulations to make this decision legally binding were being prepared for gazetting. These commitments now seem to be have been forgotten.

Fisheries Conservation Project

In an effort to address some of the key challenges facing the fishery, WWF-SA has been working with the department and all of the fishery stakeholders to develop a joint Fisheries Conservation Project (FCP) with commitments to develop an effort control plan and to ensure that scientific advice is followed in setting catch and effort limitations.

This had been adopted by both the scientific and management working groups within the department. As part of this process, there have been difficult negotiations at numerous multi-stakeholder meetings held by DAFF scientists and resource managers which had resulted in agreements on issues such as effort limitation and TAC reductions in light of the shared concerns about the state of the fishery.

Duncan said: In the light of these interactions with the department, the ministers decision to ignore both the agreed-upon effort limitation plan and total allowable catch reduction required by the recovery plan is thus immensely concerning for all stakeholders. It would appear that decisions are being made without regard for the Departments own resource managers and scientists.

Significant economic implications for SA fishing industry

This decision will also have significant economic implications for the broader South African fishing industry as seafood buyers, both local and global, are increasingly required by their customers to sourcing only seafood which comes from well-managed, sustainable sources.

The failure to follow scientific advice is likely to raise alarm bells for organisations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which assesses the departments ability to sustainably manage other South African fisheries such as the hake trawl fishery which is currently certified by the MSC (an international fishery eco-label).

As a consequence of this announcement, WWF is seeking an urgent meeting with the minister to ensure that he is fully apprised of the consequences of the decision in terms of the long-term impacts it will have on the wellbeing and livelihoods of people who significantly depend on this resource.
A string of acquisitions helped Rhodes Food grow its turnover 37.2% to R4.1bn during the year to end 25 September.

The company said that profit after tax increased by R120m to R290m.

The food producer saw an increase in both its fresh and long-life products. Fresh foods sales were up 26.5% while long-life products shot up by 56.7% with juice and canned meat the best-performing. The company also saw increase in sales for Saharan Africa (excluding SA) which jumped 67.3%.

The group enjoyed growth in the local market with 73% of turnover coming from SA up from 70% in 2015.

Rhodes declared a dividend of 42.2c per share. This follows the maiden dividend of 24.8c declared for the 2015 financial year.

The companys international turnover was up 22.6%, but the group said that trading in internationally markets had been difficult. The company said that price pressure was an issue in certain markets including China.

The severe drought and water shortages that SA experienced in 2016 hurt the business. "These factors remain a risk and could impact on the groups production costs and volumes in the year ahead if there is no improvement in climatic conditions," the company said in statement.

Acquisitions played a big role in the companys growth during the period, contributing R651.3m to the groups turnover, which represents 21.5% of the revenue growth.

The acquisitions of Deemster, General Mills and Alibaba Foods, were completed in the first half of the year.

The group said that through the acquisitions Rhodes accelerated its entry into the bottled salads and pickles, bakery products and snacking markets.

Rhodes said that it would expand its presence in sub-Saharan Africa and maintain its focus on private label ranges produced for major retailers.

The company said export volumes were expected to grow in the coming year but currency strength would have an adverse effect on the companys international segment. Over the past year the rand depreciated by 17.4% in value against the groups basket of trading currencies.

The company said that in the coming year the completion and integration of the Durban-based spices and condiments producers Pakco and KwaZulu-Natal-based pie producer Ma Baker were a priority for the group. Rhodes purchased the two companies for R200m and R212m respectively.
According to Gartner, half of all the smart city objectives will include climate change, resilience and sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) by 2020. Cities are defining new objectives and placing them into tangible programmes. This creates measurable outcomes that meet the targets agreed upon at the COP21 in Paris to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With the Horizon 2020 goals of energy efficiency, carbon emission reductions and renewable energy in mind, many cities in Europe have launched energy sustainability, resource management, social inclusion and community prosperity initiatives, said Bettina Tratz-Ryan, research vice president at Gartner, during the recent Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in Barcelona.

Tratz-Ryan discussed how Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and the ability to analyse data in a contextualised way, can accelerate the development of smart city execution.

Urban mobility drives sustainability targets

Major world cities have adopted traffic and mobility objectives to resolve or mitigate the traffic congestion issue with IoT-enabled smart city solutions, but urban mobility does not stop at a seamless choice that consists of moving from A to B.

The uptake of ride sharing, the electrification of public transportation, the support infrastructure for e-vehicles and congestion charging for combustion engines, all of those examples are driving cleaner air, producing fewer GHG emissions and saving energy, while improving the noise levels and ambience on streets, Tratz-Ryan said.

She cited the Florence card as an example of how there can be a substantial economic benefit in those measures that can be also directly related to climate change, resilience and sustainability outcomes. The Florence card provides free transportation on electric buses to many touristic sites, helping improve the cultural and touristic experience of the visitors while using environmentally friendly electric buses, Tratz-Ryan said. This example shows that there are economic advantages in those measures that can be also directly related to climate change, resilience and sustainability outcomes.

Sensors have become a critical element in the execution of climate change goals and are at the heart of smart cities. According to Gartner, in 2017 around 380-million connected things will be in use in cities to deliver sustainability and climate change goals, and this figure will increase to 1.39-billion units in 2020, representing 20% of all smart city connected things in use. In 2017, use cases in smart commercial buildings and transportation will be the main contributors, representing 58% of all IoT installed base in smart cities.

Intelligent streetlights, one of the most valuable pieces of real estate

Driven by the Ecodesign directive that stipulates that members of the EU will have to phase out their incandescent streetlights by the end of 2016, Gartner analysts expect that those sustainability targets will also have a positive investment and innovation impact, especially for the industrial sectors located in urban corridors.

Cities will become the environmental centres of excellence for new technology development, offering a stress test environment for the industry, said Tratz-Ryan. The advantages for cities will be profound. They will not only meet their mandated targets of the Horizon 2020 goals, but also develop greener and more inclusive city conditions that citizens can acknowledge as KPIs. An example of this is the city of Amsterdam that showcases the massive efforts the city is undertaking to link energy resilience to innovation in greentech and alternative resources. The city is also building user friendly options for multimodal mobility options such as car sharing, bike stations or walkable streets.

Implementing a BMS system can reduce energy consumption by 50%

In parallel, the EU Energy Efficiency Directive means public buildings and private real estate will have to reduce their energy consumption by 3% every year. Today, heating, cooling and lighting are responsible for approximately 60% of a buildings energy consumption.

Implementing an integrated business management system (BMS) for lighting and heating and cooling can reduce energy consumption by 50%, said Tratz-Ryan. This is a significant contribution to the commitments of cities to reduce their footprint of GHG.

Companies that implement a smart LED lighting system could realise a 60-70% saving. By integrating the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system with occupancy and building utilisation, savings close to 50% can be achieved.
Deserving conservationists were recognised by South African National Parks (SANParks), supported by Total SA and First National Bank (FNB), at the 12th SANParks Kudu Awards ceremony. The Kudu Awards recognises internal and external stakeholders for their vital contribution in making South African National Parks the custodian of choice for the national parks system in South Africa said SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni.

These awards honour people for their meaningful contributions to the protection of the environment through various means which reflects societys admirable social responsibility - giving meaning to the SANParks vision of A Sustainable National Parks System Connecting Society.

As part of the awards SANParks Board Chairperson Joanne Yawitch bestowed a Lifetime Contribution Award to Anna Kamfer from Karoo National Park, in the Western Cape. Kamfer joined Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in 1978 before moving to Karoo National Park. She has loyally served SANParks for 38 years and has helped make Karoo National Parks one of the best National Parks in South Africa.

Lifetime Contribution Award winner Anna Kamfer from Karoo National Park, SANParks

Fundisile also bequeathed the Shield Award to the Karoo Lion Search Team for their persistence, determination, and hard work under harsh and dangerous conditions in the search of the escaped Sylvester the Lion in the Karoo National Park.

Shield Award winners, Karoo Lion Search Team from Karoo National Park, SANParks

Winners of the 2015 Kudu Awards in the respective categories are:

Associated Partners: N3 Gateway Tourism Association for the value add efforts in marketing Golden Gate Highlands National Park and making the park one of the preferred tourism destination along their management road network.

Business Partner of the Year: Cape Point Partnership with Thebe Tourism for their continued performance in growing SANParks business and exceeding targets in the 2015/16 financial year.

Corporate Contribution (Non-Profit Making Organisation): The Cape Town Environmental Education Trust, in recognition of their dedication to conservation management which includes monitoring of critical endangered fauna and flora, rehabilitation programmes, awareness raising and clean-up campaigns.

Environmental Media:

This years Environmental Media Award, Best Print Journalist of the Year went to Media24s Elise Templehof for consistently providing in-depth reporting on various environmental topics including rhino poaching, mining, water scarcity and creating awareness about the impact of negative practices to the environment.

The Best Community Electronic Media/Radio Journalist of the Year went to Gladys Mathebula of Bushbuckridge Radio 88.4FM for consistently providing in-depth reporting on rhino poaching issues and creating awareness in the local communities about the impact of rhino poaching to conservation and tourism.

Anena Burger from Media24 won the Best Community Print Media Journalist of the Year for consistently providing in-depth reporting on various environmental/conservation issues and creating awareness in the local communities.

The Best National Electronic Media/Television Journalist of the Year went to Michael Appel formerly from ANN7 for consistently providing in-depth reporting on rhino poaching issues and creating awareness about the impact of rhino poaching to conservation and tourism.

Saturdays Star Sheree Bega received the Best Journalist Hall of Fame Award for consistently exhibiting a genuine integrity and interest in environmental and conservation issues in the media covering a variety of topics.

Individual Contribution: Prof Anne Rasa for her tireless efforts and determination in the conservation, rehabilitation and awareness of the plight of the Kalahari Meerkat population.

Honorary Ranger Best Region of the Year: This is the SANParks Honorary Rangers (a volunteer organisation working in national parks) Awards and the winner is the East Rand Region, for their dedication and passion to nature conservation and their involvement in fundraising activities in accordance with SANParks vision and mission.

Honorary Ranger Best Project of the Year: The second winner in the Honorary Rangers Awards category is the Kruger National Park Rustic Camps for their efforts in nature conservation issues and contributing to SANParks through fundraising and support of anti-poaching activities and general environmental and eco-tourism programmes.

Environmental Education/ Capacity Building Award: Dyondzekani Primary School won in this category for their dedication and active teaching and implementing Environmental Education programmes in accordance with SANParks People and Conservation principles.

The Awards evening also saw SANParks staff members being rewarded through the Chief Executive Awards. A total of 36 Chief Executive Awards were given out this year ranging from the Shield Award, Best Customer Service, Best Constituency Builder, Best Ranger Post, Best Performing Camp, Best Performing Park of the Year, Best Performing Entrance Gate/ Reception, Excellent Performance in the workplace, Overall Best Performer, Best Performing Division, Best Leadership Award, CEO Special Award to the Website Community Choice Award.
Suited gents and dolled-up dames gathered in the manicured grounds of La Residence hotel in Franschhoek on Saturday evening for the 36th annual Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Awards. What sets this prestigious event apart from other industry awards is that while the wines are allocated due praise, the event ultimately celebrates the skills, talent and dedication of the people behind the process.

A worthy contender for 'best-dressed' on the night.

Scores of entries were whittled down to nine finalists, the wines of whom were then reviewed based on appearance, aroma, taste and aftertaste, and overall impression. This years judging panel comprised a number of wine experts including Carrie Adams, Dave Hughes, Debi Van Flymen, James Pietersen, Michael Crossley, Nomonde Kubheka, Colin Frith, and esteemed international wine educator and businesswoman Nancy Gilchrist.

We are here to celebrate nine South Africans of distinction, our winemakers. We are here to celebrate their skills, their relentless perseverance for excellence, and their patience and love for a craft that they have chosen and truly excelled in, Lesego Chauke-Motshwane, managing director for Diners Club South Africa and Africa, said on the evening.

And what an evening it was! A gala dinner that can only be likened to an exclusive soiree for French aristocracy was held in the vintners honour, with guests treated to a sumptuous three-course dinner prepared by La Residence chefs and expertly paired with the top-scoring wines.

Winning winemakers

This year, the Winemaker of the Year award went to the maker with the best chenin blanc, while the Young Winemaker of the Year accolade went to the producer of the best red wine.

Murray Barlow from Rustenberg Wines was named Young Winemaker of the Year for his 2015 Rustenberg RM Nicholson red blend. Two of his other submissions were also shortlisted, namely the 2013 Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah and 2014 Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah. Barlow was also the Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year in 2013, and a finalist last year.

The Winemaker of the Year title was awarded to Pierre Wahl from Rijk's Cellar in Tulbagh. With two decades of winemaking experience, Wahl wowed the judges with his 2014 Private Cellar Chenin Blanc.

Murray Barlow, Lesego Chauke-Motshwane and Pierre Wahl.

Wahl receives a R50,000 cash prize while the Young Winemaker takes home R25,000. Both winners get two return business class tickets on Delta Airlines to any wine-producing region in the USA.
Parent company to the Dunlop brand, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) recently achieved one million lost time injury-free hours on its current expansion project underway at its Danskraal, Ladysmith production plant.

Joint-venture contractors on the project, Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN and Ladysmith Construction are pleased with the milestone, citing safety as a big priority for not only themselves, but for the tyre manufacturer as well. These lost time injury-free (LTI) hours are a notable safety milestone to have achieved, especially when one considers that we commenced construction at the site back in 2014, said Mark Stewart, alternate director of Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN. During this two-year period, we have had less than 10 minor first aid cases, most of which required little more than plaster treatment, he said.

Modernise and expand

Dunlops existing manufacturing plant was established in 1973. Shortly after being acquired by Japan-based investors Sumitomo Rubber Industries, the company took the decision to modernise and expand the manufacturing facility.

Construction commenced in October 2014, with phase one of the project (known as Project Sunrise), valued at R1.1bn. The company then announced a further R970m in March this year (Project Southern Cross), taking their total investment in the factory upgrade and expansion to R2bn. At present, the project has employed 15 subcontractors, with an excess of 350 combined workers on site.

SRSAs CEO, Riaz Haffejee, said that this achievement was a reflection of the commitment by all contractors to one of SRSAs key priorities  safety. At SRSA, safety comes first, last and always - and this achievement is a wonderful proof point which resonates with our people at all levels that the importance of safety should not be underestimated, said Haffejee.

Inherent in the project were several factors that contributed to safety risks.

Among these risks were:

Excavations of up to 8.5-metres deep.

Blasting of shale rock for foundations, floors and roads.

High scaffolding structures of up to 20m high, with workmen at heights to erect steelwork and sheet the roof.

Tilt-up construction. This involves heavy concrete lifts done by crane, where 12mx 6m x200mm thick wall sections are hoisted up.

Working at heights of up to 30-metres high with mixing equipment.

Heavy construction, with designs catering for 2-tons per square metre loadings, using heavy scaffolding at high levels.

100,000 cubic metres of earth removal, which involved a lot of heavy vehicle movement to get factory levels.

Operation of two tower cranes working overhead.

Operation of nine mobile cranes erecting steel, pouring concrete and moving equipment overhead.

According to Haffejee, to have zero major incidents given the magnitude of this project is worthy of commendation, given the companys values. It underscores a quality project team who resonate with our companys ethos, said Haffejee. Safety permeates our organisation at all levels, with consumers in mind. This extends from our manufacturing and operational practices, to the engineering of durable, quality products that adhere to the highest global safety standards, right down to rigorous training programmes that are aimed at upskilling fitment experts at our retail Dunlop franchises like Dunlop Zone and Dunlop Express. We hope that through such measures, that safer roads, fewer fatalities and the interests of the motorists across SA will be preserved, concluded Haffejee.

The final phase of the project, Southern Cross, is scheduled for completion July 2018.
There's a terrible misconception by hotel management companies that hotel owners are interfering, ill-informed nuisances who should leave hotel management companies to do what they do - manage their hotels. Being a hotel owner and a hotel operator, I find myself in a quandary with this one; I wear both hats.

Hans via pixabay

We have recently been approached by a senior property consultant who advises hotel owners on the best fitting management company to suit hotels. The consultant, in quite a tizz understandably, is at the eleventh hour, looking for a hotel management company to appease a hotel owner who has already driven away three major hotel management groups by his interfering and difficult demands.

I understand that an owner who wishes to be actively involved poses an irritation to hotel management companies, but we have found  because we can comment from both ends of the deal  hotel management companies who are not prepared to negotiate the involvement of an owner often impede a good deal.

The Owner's Bill of Rights

This is precisely why BON Hotels, in our founding days as hotel owners who were forming a hotel management company, developed the Owners Bill Of Rights, a document which, as part of our contract, allows passionate owners guidelines for active involvement. Our Owners Bill of Rights maps out the relationships between owner, representative, and operator. We are open to input from our owners: our strategy is to form relationships, to form a matrix of responsibilities and to make, collectively, a success of a property.

As an owner, I want to get involved; after all, its my business isnt it? A rigid and inflexible relationship often sends owners running; this is when they decide to do things themselves, and thats when things go pear-shaped.

As we at BON Hotels move forward in attaining management contracts, we realise that now  more than ever  we have got to be better than other hotel groups in looking after our owners. Many of the large South African hotel groups own or have owned their own properties, and are not accustomed or equipped to owner involvement.

One critical question

During sticky negotiation stages with hotel owners, the best way to diffuse conflicts between owner and operator is to ask one critical question: Is it in the best interest of the business? Think about it - a primary reason outsourcing hotel management is not attractive to hotel owners is because neither party is thinking of what is in the best interest of the business. The owner wants the highest possible profit and the operator wants to extract the highest fees with the least input and service to the owner.

The reputation of hotel management companies in this country stems from refusing to do what is in the best interests of the business.

Views expressed in this article are solely that of the owner.
Ethiopian Airlines will increase its flight frequency to Cape Town from eight to ten times weekly starting 1 December 2016.

Konstantin von Wedelstaedt via Wikimedia Commons

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Ethiopian Airlines, Busera Awel said, Serving Africa is our prime commitment as a Pan-African carrier, and increasing services to Cape Town, known for Table Mountain, is part of this commitment. The increase in flight frequencies to Cape Town, our third gateway in South Africa, will enable tourists and business travellers to enjoy convenient connectivity options to and from 95 Ethiopian global networks on board our state-of-the-art fleet, Boeing 787.

Furthermore, our 10 times weekly service will enhance capacity to over 400% in a years time. We always strive to offer the best possible passenger and cargo services the industry has to offer, including a wide variety of meal services with the newly inaugurated modern In-Flight Catering facility, served with a multiple award-winning in-flight service.

Ethiopian currently flies to three cities in South Africa namely: Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Capetonians recently discovered the convenience and benefits of using a Cape Town Pass when 60 participants - selected from a call to action on a local radio station, Cape Talk - received a one day pass to Robben Island and Table Mountain courtesy of Cape Town Pass and Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way Company. For many of the participants, it was their first time visiting these attractions.

HelenOnline via Wikimedia Commons - Robben Island tour with a view of Table Mountain

This Community Outreach initiative was the brainchild of the Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way Companys new MD, Wahida Parker.

For locals and tourists alike

Cape Town Pass CEO and co-founder, Marnus van Niekerk said The purpose of the Cape Town Pass is to encourage inclusive growth so that these facilities are available to locals as well as international tourists. Growth in the tourism industry is only possible if locals and visitors are able to access the same facilities at similar costs.

He also said that  For many people convenience, ease of access and preferential and priority access is more important than price since most visitors have a limited time and do not want to waste time in queues or searching for things to do. And with the Cape Town Pass you can book and access all your favourite activities and destinations on one platform, one card, one Cape Town Pass.

Bernadette Schouw, one of the winners from the 567 Cape Talk competition said it was a fantastic chance to see these attractions and to be at these places at the same time as all the international visitors. Valerie Koopman also commented on the trip and the fun that she had accompanying the other winners. The next stop with my Cape Town Pass is Robben Island and I cannot wait to do so.

Cape Town Pass intends to host locals at least every quarter and to show Capetonians that they too can enjoy Cape Town and the Western Cape in the same convenient and affordable manner as so many visitors do.

Delegate pass

Cape Town Pass is also the official delegate pass for conferencing in the Western Cape and is endorsed by WESGRO, the official Destination Marketing, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency for the Western Cape, located in Cape Town.

Cape Town Pass co-founder, Anton Groenewald said that the primary intention behind Cape Town Pass is to provide a quicker easier cost effective pass to both locals and international visitors. Tourism is everyones business, only if everyone can get access and can afford the access. Locals legitimise attractions and activities and seasoned travellers want to go where the locals go, to enjoy a truly authentic experience.
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Thursday said it is looking to link some executive pay to team diversity gains as part of a drive to increase the number of women and minority workers.

"We have the opportunity to create enduring, long-lasting change that can impact more than just our own interests, but those of society as a whole," Microsoft chief diversity and inclusion officer Gwen Houston said in a blog post.

"The challenge is real  so is the opportunity."

The blog post came as Microsoft provided a snapshot of the ethnic and gender makeup of its workforce as of end-September that showed what Houston described as "modest progress".

The number of women employed by Microsoft slipped by one percentage point from the previous year, to 25.8 percent, due in large part to a restructuring that resulted in closing some factories associated with its unsuccessful mobile-phone business. While the number of women working in production positions decreased, those working in technical and leadership jobs rose 0.6 percent, according to Houston.

She described hiring trends as optimistic, with about 28 percent of new employees during the past year being women, and nearly 22 percent of the hires in technical positions.

Numbers of African-American and Latino employees were each up marginally from the prior year to a respective 3.7 percent and 5.5 percent, according to Microsoft.

"Although these numbers suggest only slight gains, our hiring trends again give us some reason for optimism," Houston said.

To promote diversity in its ranks, Microsoft is dedicating resources to initiatives that include "tying senior leaders' compensation to diversity gains in their respective organisations" and internal training to prevent prejudices from colouring hiring decisions.

Lack of racial and gender diversity in the US technology industry has been a topic of intense debate and criticism in recent years.

Reports published regularly show a workplaces dominated by white or Asian men, typically coming from prestigious universities.

Source: AFP
The Lufthansa Group will receive its first A350-900 - the most modern long haul aircraft in the world - on 19 December 2016 with the first regular commercial flight from Munich to Delhi on 10 February 2017.

A350-900 DLH MSN074 rolls out station

We are looking forward to welcoming our first A350-900 shortly before Christmas. And already in February, our passengers will be able to enjoy a higher level of comfort on their flights to Delhi as we have now made further improvements to key components of the A350-900s cabin interior. This includes, among other things, a newly designed self-service area in Business Class, new seats with ergonomically designed cushions in Economy Class, larger screens in all classes and improved broadband internet services, says Thomas Winkelmann, CEO of the Munich Hub.

Once Lufthansa has taken ownership of the aircraft on 19 December, the A350-900 will be transferred to Munich during the week leading up to Christmas. Lufthansa Technik in Munich will then install the cabin interior including the new Premium Economy Class as well as other features so that the new flagship aircraft will be ready to be presented to the public at the beginning of February.

From February 2017 onwards, Lufthansa will station the first ten Airbus A350-900 aircraft in Munich. The first flight destinations are Delhi and Boston. The aircraft will have space for 293 passengers  48 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 224 in the regular Economy Class section. The A350-900 is the most modern and environmentally friendly long haul aircraft worldwide and uses 25 percent less kerosene and produces 25 percent fewer emissions. The A350-900s noise footprint is up to 50 percent lower than that of comparable aircraft types.
FRANKENTHAL: Volkswagen intends to cut 30,000 jobs by 2020 as part of a huge savings plan aimed at helping the German auto giant recover from the dieselgate emissions cheating scandal, a German newspaper reported on Friday.

The plan, which has been agreed with labour representatives after months of tortuous negotiations, will lead to annual savings of 3.7 billion euros ($3.9 billion), according to the Handelsblatt business daily.

Two-thirds of the job losses will be at VW plants in Germany, the others in North America and Brazil, the report said, citing sources close to the talks. There will be no forced lay-offs, with most of the job cuts stemming from employees who are retiring, it added.

Europe's largest carmaker is to announce the details of the so-called "Future Pact" in a press conference.

The plan also safeguards investment in electric cars, in line with the VW group's shift to environment-friendly vehicles in the wake of dieselgate.

The group was plunged into crisis last year after it admitted to installing software in some 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide that could detect when they were undergoing regulatory tests and lowered emissions accordingly to make the cars seem less polluting than they were.

VW, which employs some 600,000 people globally, has set aside some 18 billion euros to cover the fallout of the scandal, but experts believe the final bill for the buy-backs, fixes and legal costs will be far higher.

The crisis pushed the firm to its first loss in over two decades last year.

Source: AFP
LIMA: Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg called on world leaders on Saturday to forge a more "connected" world, something he said was under threat after Donald Trump's US election win and Britain's "Brexit" vote.

Image via Wired

Zuckerberg, whose social network has been criticized by some as helping Trump to victory by giving a platform to fake election news, said the world must fight isolationism -- a stance the billionaire president-elect has often been accused of.

Trump and the Brexit camp both appealed to working-class voters who feel threatened by globalization and immigration, running on a populist politics of disillusionment with an increasingly borderless world.

Trump vows to protect American jobs from cheaper labor overseas, while Brexit campaigners promise British workers will fare better outside the European Union than in it.

Zuckerberg said in a speech at a summit of top leaders from the Asia-Pacific that while globalization has its problems, the world must fight the urge to "disconnect."

"As we are learning this year in election after election, even if globalization might grow the overall pie of prosperity, it also creates inequality. It helps some people and it hurts others," Zuckerberg said in a speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru.

He said there was a "fundamental choice" to make in reacting to that inequality.

"We can disconnect, risk less prosperity and hope jobs that are lost come back. Or we can connect more, try to do more great things, try to work on even greater prosperity and then work to aggressively share that prosperity with everyone."

The second option is better, but also harder, he said.

"Disconnecting is relatively easy. But connecting requires making big investments in infrastructure and generating the political will to make hard long-term decisions," he said.

Facebook has come in for controversy for the kind of news it featured prominently during the US campaign.

According to one analysis, its top-performing stories included a disproportionate amount of bogus news from hoax websites and extreme-right blogs with untruthful attacks on Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton.

Zuckerberg has dismissed the claim as "pretty crazy."

Source: AFP
In 2009, Morocco announced its goal to raise the share of renewable energies to 42% of its total installed capacity by 2020. During the COP21, the government announced an additional increase to 52% by 2030.

Solar will represent 20% of the generation mix and PV technology is a clear choice for renewable energy projects and strategies.

The solar radiation abundance in Morocco ensures the project profitability and offers a rapid return on investment. Coupled with the sharp drop in PV prices, this situation has made competition a lot more intense.

Dr Paul Grunow of PI Berlin and Badr Ikken of Iresen

After having successfully initiated several projects aiming to develop locally solar systems and their components, we are very pleased to develop closer ties with PI Berlin to consolidate their expertise in technical consulting services for solar PV projects in Morocco and Africa says Badr Ikken, general director of lInstitut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles (Iresen).

He and Dr Paul Grunow, co-founder and board member of the Photovoltaik Institut Berlin (PI Berlin) signed a cooperation agreement at the COP 22 climate summit in Marrakech, Morocco. The agreement defines a partnership to consolidate the engineering expertise of the two institutes to provide technical consulting services for solar PV projects in Morocco.

It will concentrate primarily on the evaluation, verification, testing and consultation required for the solar projects from the conceptual phase, through construction and during operation.

The partnership will also allow for the providing of services in the areas of knowledge transfer and capacity building across the African continent in order to grow the technical expertise required for the lifecycle of PV plants. We are very excited to have found such a well-established partner in Morocco to expand the reach of PI Berlins services and experience in the MENA region and across Africa, says Grunow.
The 14th annual National Business Awards gave business and government leaders the red carpet treatment, when they gathered to honour South Africa's most innovative and fast-growing companies.

National Business Awards 2016 winners

The Awards took place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. Over the past 13 years, the National Business Awards has celebrated - in association with the publication Top Performing Companies - South Africa's most inspiring and dynamic companies and organisations, across various industry sectors.

Employment services and activations company, Isilumko Staffing Solutions, took home the Customer Focus Award as well as the Diversity in the Workplace Award. Security and construction company, Calvin and Family Group, sped off with the Fast Growth Award - the company has grown tremendously; branching out into commercial, civil and retail development, and more recently into low-cost housing, schools, stadiums, water and sanitation. Adding to the Fast Growth Award, Calvin Mathibeli, Founder of the Calvin and Family Group, was announced as the Top Young Executive of the Year sponsored by TUMI.

National Business Awards winners are acknowledged on the basis of innovative business practices, product development, enterprise, sustainability and the overall success of the business. In addition, they are recognised for their social and environmental contributions through excellence of service, commitment to customers, ethical behaviour and environmental sustainability. Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher, congratulated the winners and finalists and encouraged the spirit of entrepreneurship: "To stand out in today's business environment, you have to be able to do what you do differently from your competitors. You must have a ground-breaking, innovative modus operandi" He spoke, also, of the importance of knowing your purpose, to sustain success: "it is the motivation behind every single thing you do. It's the reason why you started doing what you do in the first place, and the reason you'll do it tomorrow, next year and for as long as you are humanly capable".

McKinsey & Company are at the forefront of their sector as transformation champions, and implement skills development programmes within their organisation. The company walked away with top honours last night, when they were announced as the National Business of Year. Previous winners of this accolade include EOH Holdings, Woolworths, Kelly Group and Kumba Iron Ore.

Keynote speaker and Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Jeff Radebe; the Honourable Baleka Mbete; Dr Mathews Phosa; Asher Bohbot and Bonang Mohale, amongst many other leaders, joined in to celebrate the finalists and winners. Billion Group, Liberty Corporate, National School of Government are some of the big names who partnered with the National Business Awards.

The highlight of the evening saw President Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa, being awarded the highly esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Public Sector Manager, for his many contributions to bettering our nation during and after his nine years as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa.

Full winners list
Red Bull Amaphiko, a programme that supports social entrepreneurs who are using their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to make a difference in their communities has opened entries to its Academy, taking place in Gauteng in May 2017.

Applications for the 2017 Red Bull Amaphiko Academy will close on 31 December 2016.

It is centred on a 10 day residential programme bringing some of the smartest minds from South Africa and abroad together. In broader terms, it is a network of like-minded people who feed off each others energy to create and cultivate ideas that make a difference in our world.

The first Red Bull Amaphiko Academy took place in Soweto in 2014 and many of its alumni have received international recognition. In 2015, the Gugu SThebe Theatre in Langa, Cape Town hosted 16 young entrepreneurs who received daily lectures from international and local experts. Now it is time for the next generation to come together in a collaborative environment, to help equip them with knowledge and hands-on tools to take their projects to the next level.

Your business can only survive and thrive if it is built on a solid foundation, explains Thato Kgatlhanye, a graduate of the 2014 Academy, whose company, Rethaka manufactures school bags from recycled plastic. That foundation is not a business plan, it is you. It is individuals who define themselves and are bold enough to call themselves social entrepreneurs, she says.

Eighteen-month mentorship

Post the 10-day Academy, the chosen 15-20 social entrepreneurs will enter an 18-month personal and project development phase where they will be assigned to mentors and provided with the appropriate resources and knowledge base to help take their projects to the next level. The 18-month development phase gives participants an advantage of having one-on-one expert advice that covers business, personal and strategic support.

Expect to refine your goals to a point where they will be actionable, says Kgatlhanye, The Academy will set the tone and the pace for the next chapter of your journey as a social entrepreneur. If youre going to make this experience one for the books, remember to pack both your mind and your heart.

For more information, click here.
At no point in recent history have calls for Africa to industrialise been stronger than they have been lately. Across the continent, industrialisation is arguably the most talked about subject among policymakers. So why has action on the ground failed to move the needle on this important development marker?

Image by 123RF

Industrialisation has been a campaign promise across the African continent, with its acknowledged ability to bring prosperity, new jobs and better incomes for all. Yet the continent is less industrialised today than it was four decades ago. In fact, the contribution of Africas manufacturing sector to the continents gross domestic product actually declined from 12% in 1980 to 11% in 2013, where it has remained stagnant over the past few years, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The Economist Intelligence Unit, a British business research group, reckons that Africa accounted for more than 3% of global manufacturing output in the 1970s, but this percentage has since halved. It warns that Africas manufacturing industry is likely to remain small throughout the remainder of this decade.

High commodity prices triggered by Chinas seemingly insatiable appetite for natural resources have fueled rapid economic growth in Africa since the 1990s. Many thought the boom would revive Africas waning manufacturing industry. Yet to the dismay of analysts, it failed to live up to expectations. Instead of using the windfall to set up or stimulate manufacturing industries, African countrieswith a few exceptionswasted the money on non-productive expenditures. Ghana and Zambia, for instance, used profits from the commodity bonanza to solve short-term domestic problems, such as by increasing salaries for civil servants.

Now falling commodity prices and a cooling Chinese economy have conspired to expose the myth of the Africa Rising story line. The International Monetary Fund estimates that growth in 2016 will fall below 4%, which The Economist, a UK-based publication, warns will lead many to fret that a harmful old pattern of commodity-driven boom and bust in Africa is about to repeat itself.

Had African leaders heeded advice from experts and pumped profits from the commodity boom into stimulating manufacturing companies, the results could have been different. So what are the options for Africa over the next few years? This was the question policymakers and economic experts wrestled with in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, early this year at the launch of Economic Report on Africa 2016: Greening Africas Industrialization, published by the ECA. Their conclusion was unanimous: the only viable option is to industrialise.

Industrialise or decline

During the discussions that ensued, experts agreed that one of the main reasons for Africas slow industrialisation is that its leaders have failed to pursue bold economic policies out of fear of antagonizing donors. As it were, the strongest criticism of this policy vacuum came not from the debate in Addis Ababa, but from the op-ed pages of The Financial Times, a British daily.

Africa stands on the cusp of a lost opportunity because its leaders - and those who assess its progress in London, Paris and Washington - are wrongly fixated on the rise and fall of GDP and foreign investment flows, mostly into resource extraction industries and modern shopping malls, said Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In a forcefully argued op-ed, he implored African countries to reject the misleading notion that they can join the West by becoming post-industrial societies without having first been industrial ones.

Ha-Joon Chang, an economist at the University of Cambridge and the co-author of a recently released ECA publication, Transformative Industrial Policy for Africa, shares this opinion. He calls for policy imagination- creativity in crafting policies - and urges African policymakers to avoid being bound to any single theoretical policy. African countries need to have the self-confidence to develop alternative policies and stick to them, he told the Addis Ababa gathering.

Firm hands on the wheel

Asias development of its industries is instructive: state-led development policies were responsible for lifting the regions economies out of poverty during the late 20th century - a point Moghalu clearly recognises. He insists governments must lead the way, with a firm hand on the wheel and by setting policy that creates an enabling environment for market-based growth that creates jobs. This, the former central bank deputy governor is quick to clarify, is not an argument for a heavy-handed statist approach that would choke productivity and stifle competition. Alluding to one of the lessons from the 2008 global financial crisis, Moghalu is adamant: Markets must work for society and not the other way round. He points to Ethiopia and Rwanda as notable examples of how Africa could industrialise its economies.

Adeyemi Dipeolu, an economic adviser to Nigerias Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shares this view. He told participants at the report launch in Addis Ababa that African policymakers are hesitant to take alternative policies for fear of dictates and conditionalities of the West.

Yet The Economist sees things differently. In its analysis of why Africa has failed to industrialise, it observes that while many countries deindustrialise as they grow richer, many African countries are deindustrialising while they are still poor partly because technology is reducing the demand for low-skilled workers. Another reason, says the magazine, is that weak infrastructurelack of electricity, poor roads and congested portsdrives up the cost of moving raw materials and shipping out finished goods. But the publication acknowledges that Africas favourable demography, rising urbanisation and extensive agricultural resource base underscore the potential of the regions manufacturing industry.

The good, the bad and the smart

Many experts have called on Africa to practice so-called sophisticated or smart protectionism - that is, to impose temporary tariffs to shield budding industries from the negative effects of cheap imports - as part of its strategy to industrialise. In the book, Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism, Chang, whom The Financial Times describes as probably the worlds most effective critic of globalisation, argues that rich countries have historically relied on protectionist approaches in their quests for economic dominance.

In its review of the book, The Publishers Weekly, a US-based news magazine on book publishing, says rich nations that preach free market and free trade to the poor countries in order to capture larger shares of the latters markets and to pre-empt the emergence of possible competitors are Changs bad Samaritans.

Moghalu is one of many African policymakers who support smart protectionism, making the case that its not only necessary but can be pursued using the rules set by the World Trade Organization (WTO), a UN body that makes rules and mediates trade disputes among nations.

The ECA has given the same advice, maintaining that African countries can legitimately pursue smart protectionism as practiced by the West.

All countries that have industrialised started with degrees of protectionism, says Carlos Lopes, the ECA executive secretary, adding, But we cannot practice crude protectionism anymore; we are engaged in a global debate that includes trade negotiations. He explains that if we have to make the rules work for Africa, that basically means smart protectionism.

As if to prove the point that rich nations are indeed practising protectionism, the WTO reported in June 2016 that there is a rapid increase in trade restrictive or protectionist measures by the worlds leading economies that make up the G20 group. Between mid-October 2015 and mid-May 2016, the report says, G20 economies had slapped 145 new trade-restrictive measures at an average rate of 21 new measures per month, a significant increase compared to the previous reporting period at 17 per month.

Follow the leader

Ethiopia, Rwanda and to a lesser extent Tanzania have proved adept at navigating the bumpy path to industrialisation. The common thread among them is that they have embraced policies that target and favour their own manufacturing industries. In addition to pursuing what experts call a developmental state model, under which governments control, manage and regulate economies, they have adopted investor-friendly policies. And most importantly, they have shown a commitment to and ownership of these policies. State control over economic policies appears to have contributed to less corruption in Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Since 2006, Ethiopias manufacturing sector has expanded by an annual average of more than 10%, albeit starting from a very low base, partly because it has courted foreign investors, notes The Economist. We approached Hollands horticultural firms, Chinas textile and leather firms and Turkeys garment firms [to invest in Ethiopia]. Now were bringing in German and Swiss pharmaceuticals, says Arkebe Oqubay, author of Made in Africa: Industrial Policy in Ethiopia, who is also a minister and a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Ethiopia is leading by example. It has shown industrialization can happen in Africa. What the continent needs is political commitment and the audacity to implement the right policies, even in the face of strong external opposition. For capitalism to work for Africa, just as it has for China and much of East Asia, public policymakers must shake off the shackles of orthodoxy, says Moghalu.

Source: Africa Renewal.
The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) joins its member, Journaliste en Danger (JED), to denounce the gruesome murder of journalist Marcel Lubala Kalala in Mbuji-Mayi, capital of Kasia Oriental province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Image by 123RF

JED reports that a group of armed men in military uniforms on November 15, 2016, stormed the residence of Marcel Lubala Kalala and killed him.

According to the report: After the intruders overpowered all the members of his family present at the scene, they tied up Marcels wife, while her children looked on. As he tried to escape, the assassins shot Marcel three times in the neck and the stomach. The murderers then dragged Marcels body, bathed in blood, into his bedroom and left a note that read finally, we got him!

Marcel Lubala was reportedly summoned to the office of national intelligence, Agence Nationale des Renseignements (ANR) the eve of his assassination over a family affair.

In a statement issued on November 16, 2016, JED expressed shock at the assassination of the journalist in DRC and has called on the provincial and judicial authorities to expeditiously investigate the matter.

AFEX joins JED and the media fraternity in Mbuji-Mayi province in observing today, November 17, 2016 as a "Day without Press" in protest of the assassination of their colleague.

About 14 journalists have been killed in circumstances that have never been unraveled over the past 10 years in the DRC.

The gruesome murder of Marcel Lubala Kalala is a huge step backwards for freedom of expression. AFEX condemns the murder of the journalist and urges the police to investigate the matter. We also call on local, regional and international bodies to condemn this barbaric act and pressure the government of DRC to investigate the matter and make the findings public.

Until his death, Marcel Lubala Kalala worked with the state-owned Radio Television Nationale Congolaise. He was 59 years old.

This statement was originally published on afexafrica.org on 17 November 2016.
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping (R) meets with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

At the meeting with his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa in Quito on Thursday, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China's aid to the country has no strings attached. Xi's remark during his visit to Ecuador is well in line with the spirit of his third visit to Latin America since 2013.

Xi's Latin America itinerary also includes visits to Peru, where he attended the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting during the weekend, and Chile.

His visit is expected to add more weight to China's promise to deepen relations with the three countries, as multiple agreementsfrom trade and investment to finance and nuclear powerhave already been signed or will be signed during the rest of his three-nation tour. That China and Latin American countries have enjoyed high-level political, economic and cultural exchanges over the past decade or so speaks volumes of Beijing's commitment.

The two sides have also reached a number of strategic consensuses and have taken similar or the same stances on major international issues.

China's direct investment in Latin America reached $126.3 billion by last year. Its considerable demand for natural resources has helped the Latin American countries not only raise capital but also enhance their investment capabilities.

That, of course, is just one side of the story. On the one hand, Latin America, home to abundant natural resources, is willing to deepen its trade integration with China. On the other hand, there have been concerns about Beijing's "obsession" with Latin American resources, which some say will prolong the exporting countries' reliance on the primary sector and thus delay their industrial transformation.
Everyone can now come to the Hluttaw library. This means not only the public, but media groups will also be provided access to the library. However, visitors will only be able to read the books at the library and cannot borrow or take the books out. Everyone can take photos at the library and copy all the information that they want, said Dr. Aung Naing Oo, deputy speaker of Mon State Hluttaw.

Mon State Hluttaw Library (Photo: MNA)

The Hluttaw made the announcement to the public last Tuesday [on November 15], stating the library is open during Hluttaw office hours.

The Deputy Speaker added that currently, the library has books that are published by the state Hluttaw and books donated by foreign countries. Hluttaw will contact other libraries to order more books.

We are ready to help provide books for the Mon State Hluttaw. If the Hluttaw wants to change the books once per month, thats also okay. Then the library can help provide books, said Daw Wah Wah Lwin, head of Mon States Information and Public Relations Ministry.

The State Hluttaw Library has books of politics, meeting documents from Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw, and Pyithu Hluttaw, meeting records of Mon State Hluttaw, research documents and reports from civil society organizations and non-government organizations, foreign parliament books, and journals from local media agencies and other sources.
Three members of a Rakhine family along with their four cows were killed and three houses also got damaged by the shelling of Junta forces last night...


A representational photo.

BENGALURU (PTI): Close on the heels of Rustom-II, India's indigenously developed long-endurance combat-capable drone successfully completing its maiden-flight, DRDO has decided to produce 10 such unmanned aircraft for induction into the Indian armed forces in the future.



"We have decided to produce 10 pilot less or unmanned aircraft like Rustom-II, aimed at giving a boost to India's development programme for UAV," DRDO Director S Christopher told reporters here on Sunday.



He said, "Young DRDO engineers would work hard to make it successful. It would, at least, take one year to do it. We will also seek to get an order from Indian armed forces."



Christopher said development of nine prototypes of the advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) would be done after the successful flight of the first such drone.



"The first flight will be followed by development of nine more prototypes of the advanced UAV for testing, after which the certification process will start," he said.



Christopher clarified that TAPAS-BH-201 (Tactical Advanced Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201) will be in a non-combat role.



"Media reports are incorrect. Tapas is an UAV and not UCAV," he said.



He exuded confidence in going forward with the indigenous UAV on the lines of LCA Tajas which had proved its ability and is ready to be deployed in the armed forces, both in Air Force and Navy.



On the test flight of Rustom-2, rechristened as Tapas 201, Christopher said the UAV had met the initial expectations and the Rs 1,500 crore programme was on line.



On updates on indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is now inducted into armed forces, he said DRDO desires to take the total orders to 123 after meeting the placement of an additional 83 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).



The 83 aircraft will see improvements made in avionics and weaponry capability and this include the next version of LCA Mk2.



While the first 20 LCAs for IAF will go as per the initial operational configuration, all efforts are being made to incorporate other changes mandated for the final operational clearance for the second 20 aircraft.



DRDO is in talks with private firm Snecma, which is ready to help Kaveri programme revive under the offset clause, company Director General (Aero), C P Ramnarayanan said, adding funds to the extent of Rs 2,105 crore has already been spent on this aero engine programme but with little success.



The latest plan to revive it with Snecma's help will see another Rs 500 crore or more being spent.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Snuggled together on the curb at Rosser Avenue and Sixth Street, Kathleen Klemetski and her kids had front row seats to the very beginning of the annual Brandon Santa Parade.

We always get these spots, every year we sit in the same spot, Klemetski said.

Theyve been coming to the parade for about four or five years, said Klemetski, which is enough for her kids, Montana Geekie-Toule and Emersyn Geekie-Toule, to know what they are most excited to see.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Santa Claus  the namesake of the annual Brandon Santa Parade  greets the crowd on Rosser Avenue Saturday evening.

I like to see all the floats, Montana said. Emersyn agreed, but added that her particular favourite was Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The floats are also a favourite for eight-year-old Madison and her five-year-old cousin Savannah, who opted out of sitting in their fold-up chairs to dance around and sing Christmas carols.

I like how (the floats) are decorated, Madison said. Theyre all so pretty.

Their grandmother, Charlotte Stoddart, said shes been coming to the parade for about 10 years now.

Its kind of magical, its neat doing it at night time, Stoddart said.

The parade was switched to a evening event about three or four years ago, said parade marshal Lou Van Mulligen, adding it was a very successful move.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Brandonites crowd Rosser Avenue during the annual Santa Parade on Saturday evening.

The people on the street appreciate this more  the people who put the floats together are appreciating it more  it has been very well received, Van Mulligen said.

Attendance is up and participants are up.

Van Mulligen has been involved with the Santa Parade for more than 25 years.

He is part of the dedicated group that puts on the event every year, he said, adding that he doesnt think a lot of people know its not something the City of Brandon runs.

Its just an independent group of about five or six of us that put this on  and we do it because we love people, Van Mulligen said.

Colin Corneau Porter Strilaeff (left) and friend Brooke Matthews watch the annual Brandon Santa Parade on Rosser Avenue Saturday evening.

For Van Mulligen, the parade is more exciting than Christmas Day itself.

You see the enthusiasm of the people setting up their floats and the music is going  its an extreme high, Van Mulligen said.

The kids are just laughing and smiling, their eyes are just so big with the lights and music and stuff like that, so when you look at the kids, thats what makes Christmas. It gets you right in the heart.

The smiles on the kids faces is the reason Brandons parade is Santa Clauss favourite, said the big man himself, adding theres a heck of a lot of little Brandonites on the nice list this year.

I can recognize some of the kids and call them by name and that just makes their day, and makes Santa feel really good, too, Santa said.

I love the parade because theres so many people and its a start to the festive season. Im so happy to see so many floats and so many people take part in it its really something special and I look forward to it every year.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Stephane Touzin warms his hands prior to starting the annual Santa Parade as the town crier Saturday evening on Rosser Avenue.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a severe beating that almost cost him his life, Duke is finally on the path to recovery.

The Norwegian Elkhound Husky Cross was one of two dogs that were taken from the backyard of their house in Clanwilliam in October.

They were brutally beaten, leaving Duke with one eye bulging out of his head and a broken leg. The second dog, Duchess, was killed.

Submitted Nicole Inkster said her dog Duke has been adjusting well considering he lost one eye and was left partially blind in the other after being brutally beaten in October.

After a month of vet visits and surgeries, the family finally received some good news  Duke will be able to keep his leg, which was previously expected to have to be amputated.

We sent him to Winnipeg and they put pins and plates in his leg because there was no nerve damage, so we figured that we would definitely try and save the leg, said Dukes owner, Nicole Inkster.

Poor guy, all he wants to do now is play  but he cant with the cast on.

Dukes eye did need to be removed, and the wound is healing with no sign of infection, Inkster said.

However, because of how he was hit on the head, they discovered that he was left partially blind in his remaining eye.

He is adjusting very well at first he (had trouble) but now he is definitely getting to know his surroundings, Inkster said. We are hopeful that his sight will come back over time.

The investigation remains open with the RCMP, but so far the vandalism happening to their home has stopped, Inkster said, adding that the installation of security cameras has made her feel safer.

I am always watching now, she said.

Inkster has been overwhelmed with support from the community.

A GoFundMe campaign quickly surpassed its $3,000 goal, raising $5,200 to date.

Submitted Duke was taken to a vet clinic in Winnipeg where they were able to save his leg. He still has regular checkups to change his cast and ensure his leg is healing correctly.

The funds have been used to cover two of the surgeries Duke underwent, as well as the ongoing vet visits, Inkster said.

(The community) has been very supportive, Inkster said.

The discussion carries on, everywhere I still hear people  talking about it, and how they want to find the person and deal with it themselves, in their own way.

Anyone with information regarding the theft of the dogs is asked to contact Minnedosa RCMP at 204-867-2916 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ballerinas from across Westman are in the final stretch of rehearsals before taking the stage with professionals.

The Moscow Ballet is bringing the Great Russian Nutcracker to Brandon for the second year in a row. This year, 51 talented ballet students will be performing in the production through the companys Dance With Us program.

They do such a wonderful job of melding the childrens roles with their professional roles. Its amazing, said Linda Kearns, director of Dance Images Studio in Brandon.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun From left: Kaitlyn Scott, Yesenia Zavala, Isabella Howland and Tahlia Burton await their turn to dance during a recital at Dance Images for the Great Russian Nutcracker on Sunday.

Moscow Ballet held auditions for the production in September. Children came in from all over Brandon and Manitoba, driving in from communities like Dauphin, Rivers, Carberry, Souris, Deloraine and even Esterhazy, Sask., to audition, Kearns said.

Anytime the kids get an opportunity to actually perform with a real professional ballet company, I mean, how often does that happen in a childs lifetime? Kearns said. Especially for all the kids, the little ballerinas who aspire to be professional ballerinas or even just to be able to dance as beautifully as some of them one day  its just such a great opportunity for them.

Olena Nalyvaiko, audition director and dancer in the Great Russian Nutcracker, assigns all the roles and teaches the choreography about eight weeks prior to the production team coming in to rehearse.

I want them to feel prepared on stage, to know their choreography and know how to act, Nalyvaiko said. Its nice, especially when studios are good and they have a lot of kids, its nice to teach them.

Incorporating local kids in the Nutcracker gives the production a special touch, Nalyvaiko said.

The Nutcracker is one of the classical ballets. Its a magical fairy tale, theres a lot of decoration, a lot of (props) that we use, its very colourful and theres a lot of things going on onstage, Nalyvaiko said. Kids make our performance more alive and sincere.

For the kids, learning from Nalyvaiko is inspiring.

(Olena) is really good and shes so nice  she has really good technique, said 10-year-old Serena Froese, who is appearing in the Great Russian Nutcracker for the first time this year. Its pretty cool and its really fun.

For Soleil Gaudreault, 9, and Camilla Hood, 11, who were in the production last year, the experience is priceless.

Last year I got a part that I really, really liked, and this year I got another part I really like. Its interesting to do the different dances and see how different they are, Camilla said. I even like to watch all the little girls (dance) and see how they are incorporated with the older dancers  everyone gets a chance to be seen.

Soleil said she knew which part she wanted after performing last year.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Students run through a number at Dance Images during a recital for the Great Russian Nutcracker on Sunday.

Im a party guest in the Nutcracker this year, which is a part that I was really looking forward to get. I practised one move in particular all year, she said. We get to wear some really nice dresses and were on stage for half an hour.

As rehearsals creep closer to the live performance, the girls unanimously agreed they are more excited than nervous.

Ive been dancing since I was two. I love to perform, so I dont get nervous, Camilla said.

Yeah, performing just comes naturally to me, Serena added.

The Moscow Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker will be performed two nights  Tuesday and Wednesday  at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium. Tickets are still available online at wmca.ca or at the door.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With social media platforms being as big as they are, and the entire human race being connected at a click of a button, almost everyone is familiar with the concept of climate change.

But how much do you really know about it? Did you know that average global sea levels are expected to rise between seven and 23 inches before the end of the century? Did you know that more than a million species face potential extinction as a result of disappearing habitats, changing ecosystems and acidifying oceans? Did you know the Arctic may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040? Its strange, isnt it? To think our whole world could be altered by a simple concept.

What many people dont realize is climate change is more than just a concept; it is an everyday reality and a threat to our world. Since many of you might not know that much about climate change, here is your crash course. The literal definition of climate change is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earths atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants. This basically means that the overall temperature of the earth is increasing due to our overuse of greenhouse gasses such as carbon. Although the Earths climate has always changed, it is the rate of change that is the current concern. Our Earths temperature is increasing at a rate that is too fast for conditions to stabilize. This is what is causing the glaciers in the north to melt, which causes sea levels to rise, meaning the loss of habitats and the loss of certain species. Its all a cycle, just like every aspect of nature.

The Associated Press Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Fisher Stevens pose for a photo during the London Film Festival before the screening of Before the Flood on Oct. 15. In the documentary, DiCaprio tours the world to see climate change first-hand.

Now that I have given you a crash course in climate change knowledge, I think its time to change our perspective slightly. Although many people dont know that much about climate change, there is a sizable number who are quite knowledgeable in the field. These are the people who are raising awareness and trying to make an impact. They are the ones who are turning everything around when it comes to climate change.

Some of them are familiar faces, like ones you would see on the big screen. Although they do great work on screen, some of their most important work takes place outside of film.

One of these familiar faces happens to be Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1998, the actor created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and made a goal to bring much-needed funding and attention to four focus areas all having to do with nature  with a big emphasis on climate change. His foundation has set a climate change action plan

that involves promoting environmental education, clean renewable energy, clean transportation and the reduction of carbon emissions. He has done this through public campaigns, media initiatives and grant making. For this, DiCaprio was designated as the United Nations Messenger of Peace for Climate Change. Recently, he created a documentary titled Before the Flood that aired worldwide on Oct. 30. His hopes for the film are to inspire climate action. In the film, he tours the world to see climate change impact first-hand. It is his way of allowing others to experience what he saw.

Another influential person who has taken part in this movement is Mark Ruffalo. Not only is he green on the screen, he is also green out on the streets. Ruffalo has long been an outspoken environmental activist. One thing he feels very strongly about is fracking, a method used to extract more oil from the ground. Ruffalo has specifically spoken about this mainly in New York. He also created the Solution Project and Water Defense organizations. The Solution Project encourages and is working to transition the world to use 100 per cent clean, renewable energy, while Water Defense is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing clean water to everyone. They believe clean water is a fundamental human right that everyone should have. They want to hold polluters accountable and keep waterways and drinking sources free from contamination. These two environmental powerhouses only represent a small portion of this movement, but what they have done shows how far we have come and also how far we have left to go.

This movement has caused many amazing things to happen. For example, the European Union joined together with 195 countries in signing the Paris climate pact. This agreement was finalized less than a year ago at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The agreement deals with greenhouse emission reducing, adaptation and finance. Governments agreed to a few things in the pact, including a long-term goal of keeping the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 C and while aiming to limit the increase to 1.5 C, as that would significantly reduce the risks and impact of climate change. The treaty took effect on Nov. 4.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the conference and the pact in a televised address, saying: This gives us the best possible shot to save the one planet weve got. If we follow through on the commitments that this Paris agreement embodies, history may well judge it as a turning point for our planet.

This pact is a huge step in the right direction for the climate change movement.

Climate change has been an issue for many years, and now is the time where taking action is most important. If we dont do something now, it will be too late. All that I have written about are steps in the right direction. The movement grows stronger every single day and it is people and events like the ones Ive mentioned that are going to make an impact.

So my question for all of you is: Are you going to be a part of it?

 Natalie Martin is a Grade 11 student at Ecole secondaire Neelin High School.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Donald Trump! What a big mess the U.S. has gotten into.

Here are six takeaways from the election that is still hard to believe really happened.

PERSONALITY

Trump is a triumph of celebrity and personality. But at the heart is a vain and vindictive man. No wonder we often heard the word narcissist!

Even friends and supporters say Trumps run for the presidency was motivated by revenge. The spark: Barack Obama making fun of Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner.

MESSAGE

I try to step back and remember my first shallow reaction, Trump once said. The day I realized it can be smart to be shallow was, for me, a deep experience.

Trump is a great communicator of simplistic ideas. Look where the world is today, a total mess, and ISIS is still running wild, he said in a typical tweet. I can fix it fast.

Trump speaks mainly in monosyllables. One study found that the second-most common word used by him is Trump. His most commonly used word? I.

RELIGION

This election could be the last one where religion plays such a big role. But what a role! And what a role model! Trump is famous for putting down women. And he is idealized by religious Americans who want to curtail womens rights and womens access to abortion, birth control and other health-care services.

Trumps religious agenda: appoint ideological conservatives to the Supreme Court, defund Planned Parenthood, and end the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

MEDIA

The media used Trump to ramp up their audiences. But the media often did not adequately portray Trump to the American people.

Print media  newspapers, magazines, books  did the best job of scrutinizing Trump. Trumps shallowness, however, looked good on TV. He also looked good on the Internet, especially on social media  where many people now get their news.

Also, people increasingly stick to the same familiar media sources. Linked to Trumps ascent: Fox News, right-wing websites and fake stories and conspiracy theories shared on Facebook.

During the election, I tried to sample a range of media. One was the blog of Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams. A trained hypnotist, Adams noted how Trump appealed to peoples irrational instincts. (So thats why Trump said he would fulfil every dream youve ever dreamed!)

Adams identified Trump as a master persuader and predicted early on that he would win both the Republican nomination and the general election.

VOTING

Trump tapped into popular anger and frustration. Many voters wanted to figuratively hurl Trump as a Molotov cocktail to burn down their government. But voters also entrenched an establishment Republican Congress  so good luck with that!

The Democrats did not relate to voters and their concerns about jobs, illegal immigration, terrorism, corruption, and more. Hillary Clintons deplorables comment was, well, deplorable. The Democrats also alienated voters with political correctness  like not naming terrorism Islamic. The Democrats failed by not listening to folks, by not developing better policies, and by not explaining that solutions would be difficult.

Trump got close to 61 million votes  about the same as previous Republican hopefuls John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012.

Clinton got more than 61 million votes  more than Trump, although not enough electors in the electoral college. But Clinton fell short of Obama-size numbers: his 69 million votes in 2008 and 66 million in 2012.

These totals show that the U.S. can be a progressive, centre-left country. But if citizens want their government to reflect that, they have to get out and vote!

FUTURE

This is scary. The president-elect is a vile individual dangerously unsuited for the job. Among the disasters ahead is Trumps plan to undo Obamas initiatives on climate change.

How do we move forward? American philosopher Sam Harris asks that question in his post-election podcast, The Most Powerful Clown. One important goal, Harris says, would be to avoid the extreme identity politics of both the right and the left.

What we need are smart, ethical people in the political centre who can defend freedom of speech, and science, and the norms of civil discourse.

Media variety is also vital. I hope people would check out different information sources. As well, where possible, they would financially support the media that lend a thoughtful voice, including newspapers, magazines and podcasts.

Looking ahead, we can only be cautiously optimistic. Ill be very grateful, Harris says, if  after four years  Donald Trump hasnt set back human progress a generation.

 David McConkey is an active citizen. Contact him and read previous columns at davidmcconkey.com.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the very first day the Manitoba Free Press (the precursor to the Winnipeg Free Press) published Nov. 30, 1872, the front-page story outlined the Dominion Lands Act. In the style of the day, the entire act was laid out in great detail, taking up the full front and half of the second page of the paper. The act granted settlers legal authority over a portion of land for a small fee so they could homestead.

Near the very end of that story was a small section with the headline: The Half-Breed Grant, which spelled out that every half-breed and the child of every half-breed under the Manitoba Act were entitled to a total of 1.4 million acres of land in Manitoba. Even then, aboriginal land claims were relegated to secondary status  an afterthought on the page of history as this province was being settled by homesteaders. To this day, that entitlement has never been granted. Last Tuesday, Ottawa and the Manitoba Metis Federation finally came to an agreement on how the two will negotiate an end to this dispute.

This follows a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2013 that determined government delays and ineptitude, as well as land speculation and swindlers, blocked thousands of Metis children from receiving the land promised by the federal government when Manitoba entered Confederation. At that time, the court called the land-claim negotiations an ongoing rift in the national fabric that threatens reconciliation and constitutional harmony.

It is expected the outcome of discussions with Ottawa will result in the creation of a trust fund that could be put aside for education bursaries, venture capital for Metis-run businesses or home-ownership programs for Manitoba Metis.

Land-claims negotiations for aboriginal people have been ongoing for more than four decades. In 1969, a lawsuit was launched for aboriginal title claimed by the Nisgaa in British Columbia. The subsequent Supreme Court decision in 1973 was the first time the Canadian legal system acknowledged the existence of aboriginal title to land, and it forced the federal government to set up a lands-claim process.

However, it has been a very slow and expensive process. Under the previous Conservative government, in an attempt to clear the backlog of land claims, Ottawa had taken a heavy-handed approach. At the same time, there was worry that competing land claims in Manitoba would pit the Metis against First Nations in the treaty land-entitlement process.

Tuesdays agreement signed between Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand and Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett may suggest the new government is forging ahead in settling claims as part of its commitment to reconciliation. While it could still take several years before the claim is settled, there appears to be a light at the end of the land-claims tunnel.

This is important. If reconciliation is to be taken seriously, the Canadian government has to actively resolve outstanding land claims that, to this point, have benefited the settler, but not the peoples whose land the settler claimed.

One hundred and forty-six years later.

 Winnipeg Free Press
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/11/2016 (2172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I am proud of Americas decision

As an American woman, I am proud that America elected Donald Trump rather than Hillary Clinton. Nothing to be ashamed of, Prof. Michael Cain. Be proud of democracy.

Canadian invasion

It is so sad to see how the dry rot of character assassination has invaded both the politics and the media of the United States and is now creeping into Canada.

I feel your pain

Regarding the article about the professor who is embarrassed to be an American. It seems to me that Prof. Cain feels the same way I did and continues to feel as a Canadian with our very own prime minister who continues to be an embarrassment after a year in power. At least Mr. Trump can string a couple of words together without prompting someone to do an um count.

BU prof off the mark

Sounds like Prof. Cain only likes democracy when his side wins. His rationale for feeling the way he feels is extremely simplistic. However, Im not surprised that these sort of one-sided sentiments are coming from a university professor. I am also an American citizen and people were fed up with media elites telling us how we should think and acting like they know whats best for us. Immigration needs to be legal, or can we simply disobey laws that dont personally suit us?
Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe listens to questions from the media about his meeting with US Republican President-Elect Donald Trump at the InterContinental Barclay Hotel in New York, November 17, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect, and Japan's media excitedly seized on anything that could be regarded as a positive signal from the high-profile meeting on Thursday between Abe and incoming US President Donald Trump. Their smiles, and the gifts they presented to each other, were believed to betray there was chemistry between them during their meeting in Trump's penthouse in New York.

Both men kept their lips sealed on what they talked about for 90 minutes, claiming that their talks were unofficial. But Abe, who appeared to be clear of any anxiety about the US president-in-waiting's Japan policy, called Trump "a trustworthy leader", adding he was confident he would be able to build "a relationship of trust" with Trump.

Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, as well as former director of US Defense Intelligence Agency Michael Flynn, were also at the meeting. Trump has offered Flynn the role of national security adviser in his administration.

As The Financial Times noted, "national security adviser is a powerful role given its close access to the president, but Mr. Flynn is positioned to assume even more influence than previous holders because Mr. Trump has no foreign policy experience."

Flynn, who served as an adviser to Trump during his presidential campaign, made a trip to Tokyo in early October. He visited the headquarters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and reportedly assured the country's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga that Washington would not change its diplomatic emphasis on the military alliance with Japan, even if Trump was elected president.

But the hastily arranged meeting between Abe and Trump on Thursday suggests that Flynn's words had failed to dispel Japan's concerns.

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly threatened to withdraw US troops from Japan if it does not pay more for hosting them.

Before the Japanese prime minister left Tokyo for New York, analysts had tried to offer him advice on how to convince Trump of Japan's importance to the United States' alliance system and the Asia-Pacific region.

In a signed op-ed headlined "What Abe should tell Trump" in Japan Times, Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies of Temple University Japan, said Abe might point out that without Japan the Chinese would already be preparing to take Hawaii.

I like to believe that these words are merely the scholar's sly humor.

Dujarric added that an isolationist America abandoning the Western Pacific might appear like a Trump-given gift to Beijing. East Asia could turn into a large Chinese satrapy, with the possibility of turmoil and fighting.

However, it was said that Abe and Trump did not discuss such heavy topics but simply used their meeting as the opportunity to get acquainted with each other personally.

In an interview with CBS, Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said "any deeper conversations about policy and the relationship between Japan and the United States will have to wait until after the inauguration".

Last week Katsuyuki Kawai, a special adviser to Abe, was in Washington, busy talking to Trump advisers. He quoted them as saying "we don't have to take each word that Mr. Trump said publicly literally".

Where the trust Abe has found in Trump came from remains unknown.

So it is not hard to understand the Yomiuri Shimbun's lingering worries about the Trump administration's policy toward Japan and the prospects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump has vowed to pull the US out of but which Abe has made a crucial part of his economic growth package.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief.

caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
Iberia Express has announced it is to extend its Cork-Madrid service for Summer 2017.

The service to the Spanish capital will take off a fortnight earlier next year.

The announcement follows the recent separate new route launches at Cork Airport with new services to Reukjavik with WOW air and Swiss is to commence a service to Zurich.

The Cork to Madrid service will operate twice weekly, every Saturday and Wednesday from June 3.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: The popularity of the Cork - Madrid route last year exceeded expectations particularly for inbound Spanish visitor numbers. We welcome this increase inflights with Iberia Express for this coming summer season."

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: The extension of this Iberia Express flight from Madrid to Cork is more good news for Irish tourism in 2017, expanding travel options for Spanish holidaymakers wishing to visit Cork and the South of Ireland. We will continue to work closely with Iberia Express and Cork Airport to maximise the promotion of the service. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated  they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in visitor numbers.

Passengers availing of the Cork bi-weekly service to the Spanish capital will be able to fly via Madrid to many of Iberia Groups destinations in Spain and as far as Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Sao Paulo in Latin America. Low cost tickets are on sale now on www.iberiaexpress.com.
The Minister for Health says funding needs to be provided to make the Coombe Hospital's operating theatre fit for purpose.

A HIQA report, on the Dublin maternity hospital, found that the theatre didn't meet international standards.
Update 2.05pm: Donal Colgan has been giving his account of what happened on the night of the alleged murder.

He said he went into his local takeaway for a bag of chips after drinking up to 12 pints of cider in a nearby pub.

He claimed David Sheridan and another man called Gary Kinlan gave him a beating outside the chipper after some words were exchanged.

The 65-year-old, who once served in the British army, said he felt humiliated. He said he grabbed a knife from his home and went back to the chipper.

He told the jury hed no intention of using it but thought to himself: ye won't do this to me. Ive to live here. Ive to walk these streets.

He said his head went after Mr. Sheridan attacked him again, but had no recollection of stabbing him in the stomach. He said he didnt think hed done any damage and couldnt believe it when he found out he was dead.

The trial continues.

Earlier: A 65-year-old man accused of murdering a man outside a chipper in Dublin has told his trial he was having a panic attack on the night in question.

Donal Colgan, of Killarney Court, Killarney Street in Dublin 1, denies murdering David Sheridan on North Strand Road in August 2014.

From the stand, Donal Colgan described a troubled childhood  both at home and in school.

He said he grew up in Dublins north inner city and was educated in a Christian brothers school where he was regularly beaten.

He got married in 1972 but separated 25 years later. He described himself as a loner who suffers from depression and panic attacks.

On August 17th 2014, he said he drank 12 pints of cider in his local pub and went for a bag of chips on his way home.

David Sheridan came into the chipper with his friend Gary Kinlan. Mr. Colgan said he didnt know them and chose to ignore some sort of remark they made about him.

Outside, he claims Mr. Kinlan squared up to him and hit him five or six times in the face. He said Mr. Sheridan then came out and kicked him a few times. He said he collapsed after being hit in the head with a bag of bottles.

It is the prosecutions case that he then went back to his flat and armed himself with a kitchen knife which he used to repeatedly stab David Sheridan with.

He denies the charge.
The Phoenix Park rail tunnel reopens this morning for the first time in over a hundred years.

The 700 metre-long tunnel which runs under the park will provide new peak services for commuters travelling between Newbridge and Grand Canal Dock.

It cost 13.7m to upgrade the tunnel.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD said Im delighted to announce the opening of this key piece of our public transport service. The Phoenix Part tunnel line is a vital part of our rail infrastructure and I know that it will prove to be of immense benefit to the travelling public, as will other transport projects such as the Luas Cross City line which will open in 2017.

"As Minister for Transport I am very proud to be one of the first commuters to travel this line and I heartily encourage others to do so.

David Franks, Iarnrod Eireann Chief Executive, said were delighted to welcome new and existing customers to the new services launched today via the Phoenix Park Tunnel line.

"By offering direct connections from stations between Newbridge and Parkwest to the south city business district, which were not previously available by public transport, we will encourage more commuters to switch from our congested roads to a fast and efficient rail transport alternative.
An alleged white supremacist accused of murdering MP Jo Cox had a gold Third Reich Eagle ornament with a swastika on it on his bookcase, a court has heard.

Thomas Mair, 53, in on trial for allegedly shooting and stabbing the 41-year-old Remain campaigner a week before the EU referendum vote.

A search of his home in Lowood Lane, in Birstall, West Yorkshire, uncovered books on German military history, the Old Bailey was told.

He also had a publication on the German Holocaust and SS Race Theory And Late Selection Guidelines, jurors heard.

Another was entitled March Of The Titans: A History Of The White Race, and a double- page press cutting on Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik was also allegedly recovered from his housing association home.

A printout of a Wikipedia entry on the White Patriot Party was found in his drawers along with information on the BBB - White Liberation Movement - a notorious South African neo- Nazi organisation.

The material featured in a series of photographs shown to jurors by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC.

Mair had allegedly collected a dossier on Mrs Cox in his home, including stories about her in newspapers, jurors heard.

There was also a printout of her biography from her website, jurors were told.

Police found rune stones in a bag, one of which appeared to have a symbol of the BBB movement on it.

Mrs Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen was set upon outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, in front of her staff and shocked passers-by.

Mair allegedly shouted "Britain First" as he repeatedly shot and stabbed the mother-of-two.

On the afternoon of June 16, Mair's neighbour Katie Green saw him as she got off a bus in the market place.

Ms Green had lived near Mair's home for the past 13 years, she said. She told jurors he was "very quiet, very shy but did not see any visitors".

Mair always kept his garden very tidy and spent a lot of time in it, she said.

Giving evidence via video-link from Leeds Crown Court, Ms Green described a brief encounter with Mair when she travelled to Birstall market place by bus.

When she got off the bus, she saw the defendant looking as if he was queuing to board, the court heard.

She said: "He was at the front of the queue looking like he was just waiting to get on to the bus.

"He had a pair of dark trousers and a dark green khaki jacket and dark cream baseball cap.

"He always carried bags. He had three or four bags. I saw him walk off."

Within minutes, Ms Green said she heard about a gun incident and decided to abandon her shopping trip.

She said: "I was going to the market place for fruit and veg.

"I saw the commotion and I heard somebody say there is somebody with a gun so I got my little Gil straight into a taxi and came straight home."

Mair denies Mrs Cox's murder, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a dagger.

He also pleads not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Bernard Carter-Kenny on the same date.

The trial, which is due to last up to three weeks, continues.

The court heard that in the months before he allegedly killed Mrs Cox, Mair repeatedly visited neo-Nazi, right-wing and white supremacy websites.

Mr Whittam said Mair used computers at public libraries in Birstall and Batley to access the material.

Police seized eight computers and examined Mair's internet searches.

The court heard that on April 6 he looked at the American neo-Nazi news and commentary site Daily Stormer, before searching for Dylann Roof, who was suspected of killing nine black Americans in Charleston in 2015.

Police found that he made similar searches at the two libraries over the following weeks, on one day reading about a German Nazi party leader, on another looking at a site on historical extreme right-wing organisations.

Others included searches relating to the Ku Klux Klan, and to people who were murdered because of their civil rights work.

Jurors were also shown a YouTube video that Mair watched on June 7 of an American man shooting a 0.22 sawn-off shotgun in a field, filmed from a head-cam.

This was the same day he searched for Mrs Cox on Wikipedia and Google Images. Mair also searched websites about matricide, Mr Whittam said.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has conceded defeat in the race to choose the conservative nominee for next year's French presidential election.

Former prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe both outpolled Mr Sarkozy in early returns and stand to advance to the November 27 run-off.
The UK Prime Minister has been attacked for "watering down" a pledge to allow workers to have a representative on company boards.

Theresa May had told the UK Conservative Party conference in October that employees would join directors in boardrooms to be given a say on how business operate.

But in a keynote speech to business leaders she said there would be no direct appointment of workers or trade unions to boards, telling the CBI there was "nothing anti-business" in her plans.

Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB, said the UK Prime Minister had broken her promise, adding: "The Tories can claim to be the party of workers all they want, but actions speak louder than warm words.

"That the UK Prime Minister stood in front of big business today and watered down a pledge made just a few months ago shows us all we need to know.

"The mask is slipping - nice speeches followed by broken promises will not help working people get fairness and dignity in the workplace."

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Theresa May made a clear promise to have workers represented on company boards. The proposals in her speech do not deliver on this.

"This is not the way to show that you want to govern for ordinary working people."

CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: "UK corporate governance is admired across the world. Our businesses know that brilliant employee engagement, openness with customers and support for local communities are essential to success.

"But firms recognise public concerns. The challenge now is to take the great practice that we see in so many places and apply it everywhere, eradicating the unacceptable transgressions that some companies do make.

"On employee engagement, different approaches will work for different businesses but a starting point is firms being able to outline and explain what approach they are taking - whether that's employees on boards, employee committees, dedicated representatives, or other models that genuinely address the issue."

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD), said: "IoD members will be significantly reassured by this speech, not least the Prime Minister's positive comments on the importance of innovators and entrepreneurs to society.

"Her administration has also been more consultative than its predecessor, and the IoD welcomes this new approach. Theresa May's proposals on employee representation in boardrooms, for example, shows she is plotting a pragmatic course."

Mathew Lawrence of the IPPR think tank said: "Any decision to row back on workers on boards would be a step in the wrong direction. Worker representation on boards isn't a radical move.

"Among our more productive, investment-rich European competitors it is commonplace.

"The aim of corporate governance reform, after all, must be to address the UK's core economic weaknesses on productivity, investment and fair growth."
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Beijing: The three Australian employees of James Packer's Crown Resorts detained in China after a series of nationwide raids last month have been formally arrested, all but ensuring months more in custody as authorities prepare to move to trial.

A fourth Australian, who was detained in connection with the case but is not a direct employee of Crown, is also understood to have been formally arrested.

A total of 18 Crown employees  including Australians Jason O'Connor, Jerry Xuan and Pan Dan, Malaysian Alfread Gomez and 14 Chinese nationals  were detained in a coordinated police operation across several Chinese cities on October 13 and 14. Only one, Shanghai-based administrative assistant Jiang Ling, a Chinese national, has been released on bail.

Relatives of those in detention confirmed Chinese authorities had begun to issue formal notification of the arrests on Sunday.
Australia's biggest baby goods chain, Baby Bunting Group, has reported a "pleasing" start to the new financial year, with total sales up just over 20 per cent but same-store sales growth moderating.

Baby Bunting, which targets parents of children aged 0 to 3 with products such as prams, cots, nappies and car seats, said excluding new stores, sales were up 10 per cent since late June.

Baby Bunting CEO Matt Spencer: "I have been pleased with our operational and trading performance so far this financial year." Credit:Wayne Taylor

This is a lower rate of same-store growth than the 15 per cent growth Baby Bunting reported in August - although in line with the company's forecasts that same-store sales growth would moderate.

Baby Bunting on Monday also reaffirmed its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation guidance of between $21.5 million and $24.5 million, representing year-on-year growth of between 15 and 31 per cent.
The fact that the ACT government is the sole vendor of land for housing in the Territory ensures Labor is a natural target of criticism about perceived market failures, especially the adequacy of the housing mix across the price spectrum.

The latest broadside has been hurled by Ron Bell, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT, who maintains that land releases since 2011 have become increasingly skewed towards units, townhouses and apartments. Indeed, figures indicate 91 per cent of land releases in 2014-15 were for medium density and unity-style housing.

The result is that it is now more difficult and expensive for people to buy detached housing in Canberra. Moreover, Mr Bell maintains that medium-density housing in new suburbs like Coombs is so prevalent that "it's going to be a problem later on". He's also critical of the cookie-cutter aspect of medium-density housing, saying that as a buyer looking to downsize to a three-bedroom townhouse, he's been frustrated at the lack of choice.

But with brickbats come bouquets: a new housing report by Corelogic RP Data suggests Canberra is the nation's second most-affordable place in the country to buy real estate, based on median house prices divided by average weekly incomes. So while the top 10 per cent of the Canberra housing market may be especially expensive (witness the recent sale of a $5.475 million home in Yarralumla), housing affordability is not yet a complete oxymoron in the ACT.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the US alliance is "stronger than ever" thanks to Barack Obama's leadership after the pair met for the final time before Donald Trump takes over the White House in January.

The two men enjoyed a warm, 50-minute meeting at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation in Lima, Peru, affirming a mutual commitment to free trade and discussing security issues including the South China Sea and the fight against ISIS.

Mr Turnbull emerged from the closed door talks to take a "farewell selfie" with Mr Obama, which he posted to social networks including Facebook and Instagram, and later described the outgoing President as "remarkable leader" of the world.

"It's a great moment but a sad moment to have our last meeting in your capacity as President of the United States," he said in a set of public remarks following the meeting. "Our alliance has got stronger than ever," he said, adding that it was based on "shared values" and a determination to work together around the world "in freedom's cause".
Chrissy Teigen briefly took her Twitter account off its private setting to unleash a tweetstorm directed at Donald Trump.

The US model, who switched to a private social media presence after saying she was "not strong enough" to have a public account last month, described Trump as inconsistent in his views on political correctness.

Earlier on Saturday the president-elect demanded that the cast of Broadway musical Hamilton apologise to Mike Pence who attended the show on Friday night and was booed by the audience and addressed by the cast from the stage after the show.

"Wow @realdonaldtrump is right. I can't believe they would subject poor, innocent Mike Pence to such abhorrent, evil hate speech," she wrote sarcastically.
First Hamilton, then Saturday Night Live ... now Gigi Hadid?

The model did an impression of the future First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, for laughs during the opening of the American Music Awards on Sunday night, and now the world waits to see if Donald Trump will demand an apology - if his past behaviour is anything to go by.

The skit was introduced by Hadid's co-host, comedian Jay Pharoah. "Green Day is performing and a white guy is president, it's the 1990s all over again," he said from the stage at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hadid then chimed in with her "first impression" that she said she was working on "all week".
The NSW education sector has thrown its unanimous support behind beleaguered Education Minister Adrian Piccoli as he comes under increasing pressure ahead of a cabinet reshuffle following the election of new NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro.

The Catholic, independent and public sectors, NSW Primary Principals Association, NSW Teachers Federation and prominent education experts have all spoken out in favour of Mr Piccoli while Mr Barilaro considers whether to keep Mr Piccoli on as the state's Education Minister as he begins negotiations on a future coalition cabinet with Premier Mike Baird.

President of the NSW Primary Principals Association Phil Seymour said any move to cut Mr Piccoli from the educational portfolio would be a "travesty".

"I am in my 40th year of teaching. I have never met a minister like Mr Piccoli before. He gets it, he gets education," he said. "It would be a travesty if he didn't continue the work he is doing."
A man has been charged with murder almost two decades after the disappearance of Sydney schoolgirl Quanne Diec.

The 49-year-old man attended Surry Hills police station on Sunday afternoon to speak to detectives.

He was later charged with murder and refused bail. He is due to appear in court on Monday.

Rosehill police commander Scott Whyte said the man is not related to Quanne, 12, yet the attack was not random or opportunistic.
Cindy Modderman with her daughter Madeline. Credit:Newcastle Herald In a post on Facebook days before the trip, Mrs Modderman had a message for the insurance "trolls". "I am not hiding my black secret anymore," she wrote. "My close family and friends already know and they too live with this and they endure my mood swings, my ups and downs. I have PTSD. "I personally struggled with this diagnosis up until very recently. I thought I was 'tougher' than that."

She goes on to say she will not be ashamed or embarrassed by her illness, "just as I wouldn't be if it were diabetes or heart disease or some other medical condition". "PTSD is a mental health condition. I am medicated to treat and help control my symptoms. Some days are good, even great. Other days are not. I can face certain 'triggers' and my symptoms relapse." In the post, which she shared with friends and No More Neglect, a private Facebook support group for emergency services workers suffering bullying and stress, she said she would continue to try to regain a normal life with her husband and three daughters. "If I am 'caught' smiling, laughing, enjoying lunch with my husband, watching [daughters] Ella ride in a comp, watching Madi perform in a play or I am at the beach playing with Laura - how could I have PTSD? Trying to live 'normally' can be easily used against me." Mrs Modderman was a police officer for 12 years, before leaving to care for her daughters.

She later spent eight years working as a NSW Ambulance paramedic until she was physically injured, then she joined the ambulance's Northern Control Centre in Charlestown as a call taker and dispatcher. She said it was the 18 months spent at the control centre, where she was the target of sustained bullying, that resulted in her psychological injury. Mrs Modderman said PTSD sufferers felt pressure to not show happiness, ever. This pressure was intensified by the surveillance tactics used by her insurer. "I don't know what they're trying to catch you out on because I've never said I can't walk out my front door," she said. "I went to my sister's hen's day at Newcastle races going back three years ago now and I had been told by [an insurance] case manager that I'd been seen out and about enjoying a race day.

"You become paranoid then. You become paranoid about every single little thing. "Then you think 'I might just stay inside' and then a vicious cycle begins. "You get confidence to go out and then you're faced with this. You may as well stay inside and become a zombie. "There's no chance of recovery if they are constantly being obstructive in your treatment." Attempting to live a "normal" life is a key part of PTSD recovery, psychiatrist Russell Hinton said.

"Getting back to as near a normal life as possible is very important," Dr Hinton, from Belmont near Newcastle, said. "I ask all my patients with PTSD to try to maintain all their pre-illness activities such as exercise, hobbies, and spending time with friends and family. "One of the problems is that when people become unwell they tend to give up a lot of the things that helped in keeping them well and this serves only to make them more unwell and slow their recovery." He has joined legal professionals in questioning the usefulness of surveillance and criticising its impact on sufferers. Lawyers to whom the Newcastle Herald has spoken also raised concerns about the Psychiatric Impairment Ratings Scale, used by insurance agency medical professionals in determining the extent of psychological injury.

The scale rates people battling mental illness, essentially scoring them based on their activities, such as leaving the house, cheering for a sporting team, or travelling. "Some insurers appear to think that [everyday] activities are inconsistent with someone suffering with PTSD," Dr Hinton said. "I actively encourage my patients to do these activities because it's in their best interests." Dr Hinton, whose practice runs yoga classes and a monthly PTSD socialisation group to help sufferers forge a sense of togetherness, has previously spoken out about the "broken" workers' compensation system. "Putting patients under surveillance causes them a significant amount of distress, adds to shame they often feel for being unwell, makes them feel like they are doing something wrong, and interferes with their treatment," Dr Hinton said.

He said he understood legal advice was often to not have social media accounts and to not participate in certain activities for fear sufferers may not look "unwell enough". "This is completely counter to what I, as a clinician, am trying to do," he said. "Not being able to participate in social and leisure activities just adds to the burden that these men and women already carry." Mrs Modderman, who left for New York on Saturday, was excited ahead of the two-week trip, but knew there would be challenges. "I really don't know how I'm going to wake up because I still have nights where I don't sleep for more than an hour and that's because my mind keeps going over what happened to me, feeling that I'm letting people down, that I'm not doing the job I love, that I'm not valued in the community," she said.

"Other times I think I'm going OK  then I get worried about going out. What if I see this person or that person and I get a big anxiety attack?" She has been on "six or seven different regimes of anti-depressants and medications to help me sleep" and she is aware of her triggers. "I know that I do have a bit of an issue with seeing ambulances out," she said. "I know [New York] is very big and busy and bustling and I know there's going to be sirens going over there and lots of things happening  but I'm going to try and enjoy our time. I feel like I owe it to Madeline." A spokesperson for QBE Australia said the insurer was committed to treating injured workers with respect.
Federal Attorney-General George Brandis' scathing assessment of the state Liberal National Party opposition as "mediocre" has received the backing of former Queensland premier Campbell Newman.

In a stunning rebuke to his former LNP colleagues in State Parliament, Mr Newman told Sky News on Monday night Senator Brandis was right to label the Queensland opposition as "very, very mediocre".

Senator Brandis' comments to Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger were captured in an open microphone on Sunday, at the party's annual meeting in Melbourne.

The Queensland senator also suggested the Palaszczuk government's reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting in April could see the amalgamation of the Queensland Liberal and National parties reversed.
A French tourist will spend two months behind bars for assaulting a female paramedic outside a Cairns backpackers.

Timothee Leon Laurent Rousselle, 21, punched the paramedic in the face and dragged her out the side of the ambulance as she attempted to treat him outside the hostel on September 28.

He pleaded guilty to seriously assaulting a public officer and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to be suspended after serving two months, in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday.

AAP
An unlucky young man was airlifted to hospital twice after being bitten by a snake twice at the same location.

The 18-year-old contractor was bitten by an unidentified snake on the lower right leg while clearing scrub on a Capella property west of Rockhampton about 10.30am on Friday.

The RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter airlifted the man twice to Mackay hospital in three days. Credit:RACQ CQ Rescue

An RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter airlifted the man to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.

On Sunday, the man went back to work in the same paddock when he was bitten again by a snake, twice on the left forearm, when he put down his chainsaw after clearing scrub.
A 14-year-old boy has been found with a sawn-off shotgun and a stash of drugs after an assault in the Queensland city of Gladstone.

Officers say they found the armed teenager in a car they tracked down after a 17-year-old boy was hit in the head with a gun during an attempted robbery at a Philip Street property on Sunday afternoon.

Police say it appears the victim may have been known to the 14-year-old boy, who had a male accomplice.

The 17-year-old was treated for a cut to his forehead.

The 14-year-old is facing drug, weapon and attempted robbery charges.
Clinton Township, Michigan: The president of a cryonic facility where a 14-year-old British girl was taken to be frozen has admitted patients may be left with no memories even if they are successfully woken up.

Dennis Kowalski, of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, said he did not believe memories would necessarily survive after the brain had been frozen for decades.

Media gather outside the High Court in London. Mr Justice Peter Jackson has granted the final wishes of a 14-year-old girl to be cryogenically preserved. Credit:AP

He said patients could awake as "clones" of themselves, with no sense of their former lives. And he added that he had only a "50-50" belief that people enclosed in the freezing chambers would ever be revived.

Last week it emerged that a teenage cancer patient in Britain had her wish to be frozen after her death granted by a judge following a bitter legal dispute that divided her parents.
A carjacker who terrified Melbourne motorists and crashed two stolen cars in 30 minutes had a low moral culpability because of mental health problems fuelled by taking the drug ice instead of heroin, a judge has found.

Delusional and fearing someone would kill him, Robbie Francis demanded a driver's keys in Melbourne's CBD about 7pm on February 14 and sped the stolen car to Glen Iris, where he crashed into a BMW. He then threatened the BMW driver and took her keys, but was unable to start the car.

County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd jailed Francis for 23 months. Credit:Scott Barbour

Moments later, he ran to a Honda four-wheel-drive and threatened to shoot the driver and her children unless they got out, despite being unarmed. Francis drove the Honda to Prahran, where he eventually crashed into a fence and was arrested by police, about 7.30pm.

Francis had been out of prison for three weeks when he injected a large amount of ice the day before the carjackings, the County Court heard on Monday, but only after thinking an associate had given him heroin, his drug of choice. Francis was aware he had previously reacted badly to ice.
Melbourne Express: Tuesday, November 22, 2016

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Mining giant Rio Tinto has confirmed the company will slash more jobs across its iron ore division in Western Australia.

ABC News said while the miner was not yet confirming numbers it was understood 500 jobs, or 4 per cent of its West Australian workforce, were set to go.

Rio said "rolling reductions" were underway, with jobs at head office in Perth to be targeted first after releasing an online statement describing conditions in iron ore as "tough".

"The market outlook remains challenging and we currently have 1000 initiatives underway across our business to reduce costs, improve productivity and ensure we remain internationally competitive," it said.
Police have released a photo of a man they believe can assist them with an attack on a young mother at a Parkwood petrol station on Wednesday.

Maddington woman Dollvy Van Luyn had stopped at Riverton BP on High Road around 9pm to put fuel into her white Lexus sedan when a male jumped out of an allegedly stolen car beside her and launched an attack.

A police spokesman on Monday said Kensington Detectives want to speak to Brian Ricky Donald Humphries in relation to the incident.

"Kensington Detectives are asking for the public's assistance to locate a 21-year-old man who they believe can assist them with their inquiries into an aggravated robbery that occurred in Parkwood on Wednesday 16 November 2016," he said.
Lima: A toxic political war over money, jobs and globalisation killed the vast and complex trade deal that was supposed to be a signature legacy of US President Barack Obama. But the deal, between the United States and 11 Asian and Pacific nations including Australia, was never just about trade.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was conceived as a vital move in the increasingly tense chess match between China and the United States for economic and military influence in the fastest-growing and most strategically uncertain part of the world.

The deal, which excluded China, was intended to give those 11 nations more leverage in that match-up by providing them with a viable economic alternative. Its defeat is an unalloyed triumph for China, the country that President-elect Donald Trump castigated repeatedly over trade.

Obama, in comments here just before meeting his counterparts, who laboriously negotiated the pact, made no reference to its near-certain burial.
The number of dead trees in California's drought-stricken forests has risen dramatically to more than 102 million in what officials described as an unparalleled ecological disaster that heightens the danger of massive wildfires and damaging erosion.

Officials said they were alarmed by the increase in the number of dead trees, which they estimated to have risen by 36 million since the government's last aerial survey in May. The US Forest Service, which performs such surveys of forest land, says that 62 million trees have died this year alone.

Crews run controlled burnings to contain a wildfire in Sheep Ranch, California earlier this year. Credit:AP

"The scale of die-off in California is unprecedented in our modern history," said Randy Moore, forester for the region of the US Forest Service that includes California. Trees are dying "at a rate much quicker than we thought".

Scientists say five years of drought are to blame for much of the destruction. The lack of rain has put California's trees under considerable stress, making them more susceptible to the organisms that can kill them, such as bark beetles.
Paris: Left-wing voters determined to frustrate Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential hopes were among a surprisingly high turnout for the first round of the French Right's first-ever primary on Sunday night.

The ballot was open to anyone willing to pay 2 and professing agreement with Les Republicains party's conservative values - leaving a loophole open to tactical intruders.

Former president Sarkozy, 61, was vying for a place in next-week's run-off against Alain Juppe - a 71-year-old former prime minister who was long front-runner, but had lost ground in recent days - and Francois Fillon, 62, another ex-prime minister who enjoyed a last-minute surge in the polls.

The race to pick a nominee sparked huge interest as the winner is likely to meet - and beat - Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-EU, anti-immigrant Front National, in the presidential run-off next May.
Washington: US Vice President-elect Mike Pence said on Sunday he was not offended by rare and pointed comments made to him by a cast member of Hamilton after he attended the hit Broadway show.

"I wasn't offended," Pence said on Fox News Sunday, declining to ask for an apology as President-elect Donald Trump had demanded.

Pence acknowledged that many Americans were disappointed and anxious after Trump's surprise November 8 election victory following a raucous campaign, but he sought to reassure Americans that Trump would be a president "for all Americans."

After the show on Friday evening, Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays America's third vice president, Aaron Burr, read a statement directed at Pence, who was in the audience, while standing in front of the cast in full costume.
Washington: After Donald Trump stunned the White House with his presidential election win, US President Barack Obama was faced with the task of assuring not only his staff, but also his young daughters, that despite defeat there will be ways to move forward.

In an extensive profile by The New Yorker, which gives an inside look at Obama before and after the election, he briefly talked about what he told his daughters, Malia, 18, and Sasha, 15, about Trump's victory and the racial incidents that followed.

"What I say to them is that people are complicated. Societies and cultures are really complicated ... This is not mathematics; this is biology and chemistry," Obama told The New Yorker's David Remnick.

"These are living organisms and it's messy. And your job as a decent human being is to constantly affirm and lift up and fight for treating people with kindness and respect and understandings."
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Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has launched a campaign to clean up the city's streets.

Images of some of Bristol's best known landmarks being dwarfed by a mountain of rubbish have been produced as part of a campaign to crack down on litter and graffiti in the city.

Mayor Marvin Rees has made the issue a personal priority and is launching the campaign today.

Litter and graffiti blackspots such as the Bearpit roundabout, St Paul's and Gloucester Road are being targeted, but the plan is to take the campaign citywide.

The mayor wants everyone in the city to take personal responsibility for getting rid of the mountain of rubbish on Bristol's streets.

And graffiti artists and vandals are being warned that they will be prosecuted if they daub buildings without the owners' permission.

Firms which cover the city in stickers will also come under the spotlight in the coming months and there will be a clampdown on flytippers.

The landmarks disappearing under a mountain of rubbish include Cabot Tower and the Wills Memorial Building.

The Clean Streets campaign is aiming to make Bristol's streets cleaner by 2020 and the three year campaign will involve individuals, community groups, schools and businesses.

The plan is to foster a sense of collective responsibility for keeping the streets clean and tidy, and to encourage everyone to reuse, repair and recycle more.

There is feeling that levels of littering, fly tipping, fly posting and dog fouling have reached an unacceptable level, and that more needs to be done to combat the problem.

Marvin Rees said: "Cleaning up Bristol's streets is something everyone in the city wants to see happen and I believe we can do this.

"We should and we can be as clean as cities such as Zurich, Tokyo and Singapore.

"We can achieve this if everyone who lives, works, learns or plays here takes pride in the city and works with us and with those who have the job of keeping the city clean, tidy and working."

He added: "The Clean Streets campaign was one of my manifesto pledges and is a subject that's very close to my heart.

"It is something my mum talks about often  she actually won an award for her own clean-up campaign.

"I'm asking every citizen to do her or his bit to help clean up this great city of ours.

"If we all work together, we can change the city around us and make dirty streets, litter, fly-tipping and all that's defacing our local communities things of the past.

"Let's be proud of where we live and work together to achieve the goal of clean streets by 2020."

A dedicated project manager - Kurt James - has been appointed to oversee the campaign.

Kurt said: "We know that cleaning up Bristol will not happen overnight but with the help of the city we believe we can deliver lasting change.

"We're asking people to report problems as they see them, tell us how we can improve our services and get involved. In return, we will regularly report back on the city's progress, champion best practice and enforce where necessary."

Bristol Waste Company, the arms-length company set up by the council, recently took over waste collection and disposal service for Bristol City Council.

Tracey Morgan, managing director of Bristol Waste Company, said: "Whilst we have overall responsibility for running effective street cleansing programmes throughout Bristol, making our streets cleaner is a movement we all need to be part of.

"We want to help all individuals and groups, however large or small, to improve the look and feel of their local areas.

"We'll do this by providing guidance, materials and equipment as well as celebrating the great work being done in each Bristol neighbourhood. Supporting this campaign could be as simple as pledging to pick up one piece of rubbish a day or joining a community clean-up event."

Each year, Bristol Waste Company collects 3,700 tonnes of litter from Bristol's streets, not including rubbish that is fly-tipped or citizens' residual waste.

The company has created computer generated images modelling what that quantity of litter would look like sited next to iconic city landmarks including the M32 and Cabot Tower.

To find out more, visit the Bristol Waste Company website and have your say online using the hashtag #BristolCleanStreets on Twitter.
Phillies make history: Five homers off Astros starter in Game 3 win

McCullers, pitching in his first World Series game since 2017, became the first pitcher in postseason history to give up five home runs in a game.
Yardley Friends Meeting at 65 N. Main Street in Yardley will host the documentary Organic Roots on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. Join director Al Johnson for a showing of this film followed by a discussion of the last 50 years of this movement. Organic foods are part of our life today and a tool in our concern for...
Media Advisory: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power to host town hall Tuesday at the University at Buffalo

Ambassador Power will discuss the work of the U.S. government to address the global refugee crisis and the efforts of cities like Buffalo to welcome refugees

Power has been a member of President Barack Obamas cabinet since August 2013 when the U.S. Senate confirmed her as the nations 28th ambassador to the United Nations.

BUFFALO, N.Y.  U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power will host a town hall event Tuesday at the University at Buffalo to discuss public and private efforts to tackle the global refugee crisis, and the efforts of American cities such as Buffalo, New York to welcome refugees.

Ambassador Power will be introduced by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. The audience will include members of Buffalos diverse refugee community from Burma, Bhutan, Somalia, Syria and other countries, as well as UB professors and community leaders working with refugee populations.

A Pulitzer-Prize winning author and former professor at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Power has been a member of President Barack Obamas cabinet since August 2013 when the U.S. Senate confirmed her as the nations 28th ambassador to the United Nations.

News media are invited to attend Tuesdays event, which is at full capacity, with no remaining seats available to the public.

Who: U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power.

Ambassador Power will deliver brief opening remarks, followed by a conversation moderated by Nancy Smyth, dean and professor of UBs School of Social Work, and Minahil Khan, a native of Pakistan who graduated from UB in 2016 and now works with refugees in Buffalo. Questions will be taken from the audience.

When: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Nov. 22.

Event location: 250 Baird Hall on UBs North Campus.

Parking: Parking is free and no visitor tags are required after 3 p.m. in faculty, staff and student lots.

Examples of how the University at Buffalo community is responding to the global refugee crisis:
Delaware River water treatment plant upgrades to remove contaminant

New Jersey American Water is spending $2.5 million to remove a potentially harmful chemical from Delaware River water processed by its Delran plant
Cooperative dairies like the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which sells milk under the Amul brand, are happy they had pushed for cashless transactions with milk farmers at the right time. The drive has been on for over a year and the Gujarat government recently issued an advisory to district milk unions to route all milk transactions through banks.
People chant slogans during a protest calling South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea, November 19, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - South Korea's three main opposition parties on Monday launched preparations to impeach President Park Geun-hye after prosecutors identified the scandal-hit president as a criminal accomplice to her longtime confidante and former aides in multiple crimes.

Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party, told a supreme council meeting that her party will form an internal committee to push the impeachment and review when and how to force the president to leave office.

The People's Party, the casting-vote wielding opposition, said it will cooperate with non-Park faction members of the ruling Saenuri Party as well as other opposition parties to pass an impeachment bill at the National Assembly.

Over 30 Saenuri Party lawmakers reportedly expressed a willingness to impeach Park during a Sunday meeting of the non-Park faction.

Voices for impeaching the president are getting louder after the prosecution office said Sunday that Park had conspired with her decades-long friend, Choi Soon-sil, and two former presidential aides in many of criminal acts.

Choi and the two former aides were indicted on criminal charges including abuse of power and extortion. Park becomes the first sitting South Korean president to be accused by prosecutors of a criminal conspiracy.

Impeaching a president is required to get approval from two-thirds of the 300-seat parliament. The Saenuri Party controls 129 seats, but an impeachment bill could be passed as over 30 Saenuri members support it.

The parliamentary impeachment must be approved by two-thirds of the nine-judge constitutional court known to have conservative inclinations. The chief justice and one judge are scheduled to end their tenure early next year.

Some lawmakers in the opposition bloc forecast that the court could approve the impeachment before the two judges end their term, expecting the court's approval in consideration of public outrage.

Almost 1 million protesters marched on Saturday night nationwide, demanding Park immediately step down.
Cement major India Cements said on Monday it did not feel the pinch of Government's . "Till today, it is business as usual," said the company's Vice Chairman and Managing Director, N Srinivasan, and added that thedemand continued to "be as in the past". However, whether the inadequate supply of fresh currency notes will have a material effect remains to be seen, he said.
The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program.

H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, attorneys and lobbyists said.

Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. looking to slash information technology costs.

"Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor," Sessions said at a February hearing.

A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.

The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently.

By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.

Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.

Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.

Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edison's use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.

Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.

The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.

Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work.

In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S.

CALLS FOR CHANGE

Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.

That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.

Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.

"We're going to advocate for expanding the program, but we're also going to advocate for reforming the program," FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview.

The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco.

H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less.

"The current system is not working for Americans, and it's not working for immigrants," he said.

'AMAZING PEOPLE'

Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh "Shalli" Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign.

"He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go," Kumar said in an interview.

But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards.

John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute - a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump - also supports prioritizing H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay.

Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas.

Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34.

Some H-1B visa holders aren't waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card.

"Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs," she said. "I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible."
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At the foyer of a central Delhi hotel last week, as we waited for the cars, I asked our visitor from Mumbai what made Nusli Wadia choose Cyrus Mistry over long-time friend Ratan Tata in this big battle.
is planning to cash in on India's $40-50 billion wedding market that witnesses its peak during the November-January period as it looks to find a new niche and overtake local rival Ola.

The new service, dubbed UberWEDDINGS, will allow people to pre-pay for a specific number of rides at set denominations. Users can then share promo codes with their family or attendees who can avail free rides before or during the wedding.

Uber's pre-paid wedding service comes soon after the government's move to scrap large currency bills and restrict withdrawal of new currency bills to only Rs 2,50,000 in the event of a marriage. The move is expected to hurt the market this wedding season which largely runs on cash payments.

"This will enable the host to keep a track of their travel expenses without worrying about coordinating pick-ups and drops," the company said in a statement on Monday.

will make the service available across 12 cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ludhiana, New Delhi, Pune, Udaipur and Lucknow - which will be available till February next year.

The company has partnered with WedMeGood where users will be able to buy packaged themes for parties, dinners and other wedding related events. Users will be able to customise the promo codes for specific invitations and print cards that can be handed out along with the invitations.

While rival Ola is looking to deepen its reach in the Indian market by introducing more categories on its platform, seems to be sticking to its basic cab hailing formula but gaining market share by focusing on events. In the US, Uber initially gained traction by deploying cabs at large sporting events and concerts.

Both Uber and Ola claim leadership in the Indian market, but third-party data from analysts such as RedSeer say Ola continues to lead. After a humiliating exit from China to Ola's alliance partner Didi Chuxing, Uber is determined not to lose the Indian market at any cost.

Apart from sinking $1 billion to grow its business in India, Uber has said it will also invest a substantial portion of the $3.5 billion it raised from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in the country. Sensing competition, Ola too has been on the market to raise as much as $1 billion, but so far the round seems to be delayed over disagreements over the company's valuation.
Pankaj R Patel, chairman & managing director of Cadila Healthcare Ltd (Zydus Cadila) has been elected as the new President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) for the year 2017.

Patel will take over from Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, during the FICCI AGM to be held on December 16 and 17, 2016 in New Delhi.
Since hosting his daughter's lavish wedding, in which he apparently splurged Rs 500 crore, Bellary mining baron Gali has been on the income-tax radar. The I-T department on Monday raided Reddy's Obulapuram mining company in Bellary.
Rescuers on Monday called off a search of the mangled carriages of a derailed train after pulling more bodies from the wreckage, taking to at least 142 the number of passengers killed in the disaster.

Sunday's derailment in Uttar Pradesh was India's deadliest train tragedy since 2010 and has renewed concern about poor safety on the state-run network, a lifeline for millions that has suffered from chronic underinvestment.

Rescue teams worked through the night with cranes and cutters to disentangle the train before police halted the search of the 14 carriages that derailed in the early hours, while most passengers slept.

"The rescue operations are over. We don't expect to find any more bodies," said Zaki Ahmed, the police inspector general in the city of Kanpur, about 65 km (40 miles) from Pukhrayan, the crash site.

The crash came during India's busy wedding season and media said blood-stained bags of saris and wedding cards carried by at least one wedding party on board were scattered beside the wreckage.

The derailment injured more than 200 people, at least 58 of them seriously, officials said, as relatives thronged hospitals in a search for survivors.

A railways spokesman said the train carried 1,000 people travelling on reservations, but 700 more were estimated to have squeezed into the unreserved carriages.

AGEING BADLY

The largely colonial-era railway system, the world's fourth largest, carries about 23 million people daily, but is saturated and ageing badly. Average speeds top just 50 kph (30 mph) and train accidents are common.

The crash is a stark reminder of the obstacles facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering on his promise to turn the railways into a more efficient, safer network befitting India's economic power.

Modi this year pledged record levels of investment and has announced a new high-speed line funded by Japan, but the main network has made little progress on upgrading tracks or signalling equipment.

He has also shied away from raising highly subsidised fares that leave the railways with next to nothing for investment - by some analyst estimates, they need 20 trillion rupees ($293.34 billion) of investment by 2020.

Modi on Sunday held a political rally about 210 km (130 miles) from the crash site in Uttar Pradesh, which heads to the polls early next year in an election his Bharatiya Janata Party is vying to win.

Politician Mayawati, who uses only one name, and is one of Modi's biggest rivals in the state, said the government should have "invested in mending tracks instead of spending billions and trillions of rupees on bullet trains", media reported.

Authorities are looking into the possibility a fractured track caused the train to roll off the rails on its journey between the central Indian city of Indore and the eastern city of Patna.

Sunday's crash is India's worst rail tragedy since the collision of a passenger and a goods train in 2010, which the government blamed on sabotage by Maoist rebels.

In 2005, a train was crushed by a rock and another plunged into a river, each disaster killing more than 100 people. In what was probably India's worst rail disaster, a train fell into a river in the eastern state of Bihar of 1981, killing an estimated 500 to 800 people.
Amid scenes of tragedy, a number of good samaritans took it upon themselves to provide succour to the traumatised passengers and help out the rescuers and others on site by providing food and water.

Volunteers from several NGOs, Sikh organisations and even from many political outfits remained at the accident site till late in the night as rescuers struggled to pull out passengers trapped in the mangled bogies.

The volunteers visited injured victims and the distraught families in the hospitals and distributed drinking water, tea, snacks and fruits among them.

Rescue workers, policemen as well as journalists who have remained stationed here after the derailment were also provided refreshments



Some politicians too came forward to help the victims. Kanpur Dehat Samajwadi Party secretary Anoop Singh distributed biscuits and water bottles at the accident spot.

"It is our duty to help the victims in this crisis. This is the least we could do," Singh said.

Gayatri Pariwar has also extended its support by sending over half dozen of women members to help the victims and provide some assistance to the officials here.

Rama Devi, a member of the Pariwar, said that they have contributed some money and were using donations for tea and snacks that were being distributed.

Other volunteers did not wish to be named saying that they were not doing it for publicity.

"We don't want to disclose our names to gain publicity. We are here simply to help," said one such NGO worker.

J S Arora was leading a group of over a dozen members from a Sikh organisation to help the victims at a hospital here.

Members of the local business community were also helping the injured and their families with food items.

Indian Medical Association's Kanpur unit chief Praveen Katiyar also remained at the spot with a team of doctors till late in the night.

143 people have died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed here in Kanpur rural area just a little after 0300 hrs yesterday.
Pulled down shutters and long queues outside ATMs had been a common sight in the last two weeks. But as a taskforce of around 50,000 workers have begun working round the clock and recalibrating the ATM networks, the number of ATMs that are up and functioning has steadily increased from 3,000 on last Tuesday to approximately 75,000 by end of the day.
The government on Monday decided to relax the rules to allow farmers across India to use demonetised Rs 500 banknotes to buy seeds for rabi-seasonsowing. In a notice issued on Monday, the Ministry of Finance said farmers could now purchase seeds from government agencies for the current rabi crop with the banned Rs 500 notes.
Who were the men and women Prime Minister Narendra Modi consulted before banning the big notes? The answer to that question is hard to find but Business Standard spoke to bureaucrats and politicians to piece together what went behind the decision of November 8.
The recent notification of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) asking to furnish details of cash deposits above a certain amount has got many worried about receiving notice from the income-tax department. But, if a person has been a diligent taxpayer and can account for his deposits, he doesnt need to worry.
Stalemate between the Centre and states over administrative control under the proposed goods and services tax (GST) regime continued today with an informal meet called by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley failing to break the deadlock.
With the daily operations of microfinance institutions (MFIs) coming to a halt on account of demonetisation, the sector is looking to go cashless. Replacing the system of disbursements recovery in cash, MFIs are planning to route the transactions through bank accounts. The first ones planning to go digital are the proposed small finance banks (SFBs). Almost all of the proposed SFBs are expected to be launched in the next quarter.
Indians ingenuity is being mightily tested as they rush to save their black money, stashes of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of rupees they have accumulated without paying taxes.
On November 8, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stunned the nation by stating that the existing Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes will no longer enjoy the legal tender status, members of a small advocacy group Artha Kranti Pratisthan in Pune rejoiced.
With the steel ministry encouraging capacity enhancement in the domestic market to double per-capita consumption, lightening of companies debt burden is also a crucial requirement of the industry. Steel Secretary ARUNA SHARMA talks to Aditi Divekar about the ministrys plan to help the six most heavily indebted steel companies. Edited excerpts:
The Union government, which is under attack for its demonetisation drive and for the State Bank of India's decision to write off loans extended to 63 large business enterprises, including Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines, has found support from a strange quarter.
Hobbling with a paucity of staff, the income tax (I-T) department might find it difficult to assess more than 600,000-700,000 cases a year, though the government has suggested that people depositing a minimum of Rs 2.5 lakh cash in their bank accounts during the ongoing demonetisation drive will come under scrutiny.
BRICS Trade Fair

The 1st BRICS Trade Fair was organized at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from 12-14 October 2016.

The BRICS Trade Fair was completely an interactive business engagement and was organized with an objective to promote trade and investment opportunities amongst the participating BRICS nations i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 397 companies participated at the BRICS Trade Fair to showcase the capability of each of the BRICS nations in the identified sectors. About 910 companies participated at various BRICS business engagements and nearly 1601 Business-to-Business (B2B) Meetings took place over three days.

The BRICS Trade Fairs, like the other business to business International Trade Fairs was a unique platform for showcasing technologies, goods and services, exploring opportunities for businesses and entering into dialogues and discussions for joint venture partnerships and collaborations. As the BRICS Trade Fair was not a direct consumer fair allowing sales of merchandise, the immediate revenue earned by participating Indian Companies cannot be quantified.

India organised the 1st BRICS Trade Fair during its Presidency pursuant to the announcement made by Honble Prime Minister of India during the BRICS Summit at Ufa, in 2015. The Presidency of BRICS will move to China in 2017 and they would need to take a decision on the organisation of the next BRICS Trade Fair.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha today
Child victims of violence from different States arrive in New Delhi as part of the Communal Harmony Week .

As part of the Communal Harmony Campaign week being observed from November 19-25, 2016, a group of child victims of violence from different States arrived here today. During their six-day visit to the National Capital, organised by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), these children pin-up Communal Harmony Flags on the person of the dignitaries such as the President of India, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister and Union Home Secretary to mark the Flag Day, to be observed on 25th November. .

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The children, invited by the NFCH to Delhi, share their experiences which promote communal harmony & national integration. They, along with their guardians and escorts, are also taken on a tour to historic sites and landmarks such as the Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, Lal Qila, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate, etc. .

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The invited children belong to Assam, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir and are covered under the NFCH project Assist for their care and education. Aged between 14 and 22 years, the children, including an equal number of boys and girls, are students of Class 9th to BCA and Btech. .

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The NFCH observes the Quami Ekta Week (Communal Harmony Campaign and Fund Raising Week) every year from 19th to 25th November and the last working day of this week is observed as the Flag Day. .

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The observation of the Quami Ekta Week will help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand actual and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of our country, and nurture a spirit of communal harmony in its widest sense. This occasion also provides an opportunity to reaffirm age old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. .

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The NFCH promotes Communal Harmony and strengthens National Integration. It also provides financial assistance for relief and rehabilitation of children rendered orphan or destitute in communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence. .

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Concessions and Benefits under Trade Agreements

The tariff concessions being granted to Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) member States, on Margin of Preference basis, under the fourth round of exchange of tariff concessions, includes certain tariff lines relating to railway locomotives, nuclear plants, fissile material and aircraft. The Union Cabinet, in its meeting on 12th September, 2016 has approved the exchange of these tariff concessions. The decisions of the Cabinet would be implemented at the next meeting of the Ministerial Council of APTA.

The APTA (formerly the Bangkok Agreement) is an Agreement signed since 1975. Three Rounds of tariff concessions have already been exchanged among the member countries till 2003. The current membership of APTA consists of six countries, namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka.

India is part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) amongst sixteen countries consisting of ten ASEAN member states and their six Free Trade Partners namely India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and Republic of Korea.

The RCEP is intended to facilitate and thereby increase goods and services trade as well as investment flows amongst the participating countries. India has stressed on the need for parallelism between the negotiations on goods and services. The negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have been concluded but the agreement is not yet ratified for implementation by the participating countries. India is not part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

In order to protect the interest of the local manufacturing(domestic industry), the FTAs provide for maintaining sensitive/negative lists of items on which limited or no tariff concessions are granted under the agreement. In addition, in case of a surge in imports and injury to the domestic industry, a country is allowed to take recourse to the measures such as anti-dumping and safeguards.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha today
Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai Joins the Indian Navy

INS Chennai, a P 15A Guided Missile Destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by the Honble Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai today. The event marks the formal induction into the Navy of the third and the last of the three Kolkata class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navys in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai. On his arrival, the Raksha Mantri was received by Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff and was presented a Guard of Honour by the ships crew. The ceremony was witnessed by a large gathering which included several dignitaries and senior officials from the government and all three services.

Honble Raksha Mantri Sh Manohar Parrikar, whilst addressing the gathering, termed the commissioning of INS Chennai, last of the Project 15 A class Destroyers, as a historic day for the Indian Navy as it adds another milestone in our relentless journey towards achieving self reliance in battle readiness. The ship represents a significant coming of age of our warship building capability and defence preparedness, said the Defence minister. He further stated that the Indian Navy, in addition to providing overall maritime security to our country, also plays a crucial role as the net security provider in our adjoining seas. In this regard, Shri Manohar Parrikar also stressed that the Navys growth and development must keep pace with the nations growth and maritime security needs. Lauding the role played by the naval designers (DGND) and the ship builders i.e. M/s MDL Mumbai, the Raksha Mantri said with the induction of INS Chennai, a new benchmark has been achieved for our warship design and construction endeavours, with the sophistication of systems and equipment, and utilisation of advanced ship building techniques". During his address, Admiral Sunil Lanba the Navy Chief said that commissioning of INS Chennai marks another milestone in the Navys quest for self-reliance as it signifies completion of the challenging Project P-15A and heralds a new era of advanced warships built indigenously by Indian shipyards. The Admiral also stated that indigenisation of platforms, weapons, sensors and equipment with participation of public as well as private sectors, will continue to remain a focus area of the Indian Navy, in line with the Make in India policy enunciated by the Prime Minister. He emphasized that the Roadmap for the Navys expansion and growth would continue to remain firmly anchored on Self-reliance and Indigenisation. The Commanding Officer, Captain CR Praveen Nair, read out the Commissioning Warrant, which was followed by the hoisting of Colours (ceremony of hoisting the National Flag and Naval Ensign) which marked the commencement of the ships service as a warship of the Navy. The Commissioning event was characterised by closely coordinated sequence of drills and events leading to formal unveiling of the ships name plaque by the Chief Guest. On completion of the Commissioning Ceremony, the Honourable Raksha Mantri also unveiled a special cover to commemorate the Commissioning of INS Chennai and completion of the prestigious Project 15A class of stealth destroyers. Following her formal induction, INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. In due course, the ship will be assigned to the Western Fleet and would be base-ported at Mumbai. The ship measures 163m in length, 17.4m in breadth with a displacement of 7500 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. The ship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks. INS Chennai is packed with contemporary and sophisticated state of the art weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles. The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship. The ships Anti Submarine Warfare capabilities are provided by the indigenously developed Rocket Launchers and Torpedo Launchers. The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions. A unique feature of this ship is the high level of indigenisation incorporated in the production, accentuating our national objective of Make in India. Some of the major indigenised equipment / system onboard INS Chennai include Combat Management System, Rocket Launcher, Torpedo Tube Launcher, Automated Power Management System, Foldable Hangar Doors, Helo Traversing system, Auxiliary Control System and the Bow mounted SONAR. Named after the iconic port city of Chennai, the ship has a complement of about 45 officers and 395 personnel. Enhancement of crew comfort has been a significant feature of INS Chennai, which has been ensured through ergonomically designed accommodation based on modular concepts. The ship will be under the command of Captain CR Praveen Nair, a Communication & Electronic Warfare specialist. With the changing power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region, INS Chennai will augment the Indian Navys mobility, reach and flexibility whilst proudly flying the Indian flag.NW/DKS/RS/SR

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India becomes Associate Member of CERN, Geneva

India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement today making India an Associate Member State of CERN. This follows CERN Councils adoption of the resolution to this effect on September 15, 2016. The agreement was signed by Dr. Sekhar Basu, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and CERN Director General Dr. Fabiola Gianotti in Mumbai today.

CERN is the worlds largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe by using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems. CERN is based in Geneva on the French-Swiss border. Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to four states and three International Organizations.

Participation in CERN programmes is a success story of scientific collaborations and cooperation where researchers from large number of national Institutes and Universities from India work together in forming active collaborations in the pursuit of fundamental knowledge, achieving scientific and engineering breakthrough as well as training the next generation of scientists. In fact, the participation of Indian scientists dates back to early 1960s, which has become much stronger and closer for the last quarter of a century with the support of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST). In 1991, DAE had signed a formal agreement with CERN, which continues till today. In recognition of most significant contributions, in 2003, India was awarded the Observer status of CERN, and subsequently invited to join CERN as an Associate Member. Last year, the Indian Cabinet gave its approval following which the CERN Council has accepted India as an Associate member.

In recent years, Indian scientists have been involved in all pioneering activities at CERN. India has made significant contributions to the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), in the areas of design, development and supply of hardware accelerator components/systems and its commissioning and software development and deployment in the machine.

India is one of the leading partners in the ALICE experiment, which is on a quest to unearth the physics of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and to get a glimpse of how matter behaved within a few microseconds after the birth of our Universe. The discovery of the Higgs Boson at the LHC is the most talked about scientific discovery in recent memory. Indian scientists have played a significant role in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiments, which is one of the two large experiments that have led to the discovery of the Higgs Boson. Indian scientists have been named as part of this historic discovery. This helps India in participating in the high end technology related to high energy accelerators. It is noteworthy to mention the involvement of Indian scientists in high-tech particle detectors and electronics research, ISOLDE and n-TOF experiments, and various application oriented programmes including medical imaging. In the field of large-scale computing, India has made major contributions in terms of designing, developing and deploying software for the Worldwide Large Hadron Collider Grid (WLCG). It is worth mentioning that the grid Tier2 centers established at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai have provided the pledged resources and are operating with 96% uptime, thereby facilitating running of computational jobs by various CERN collaborations.

As an Associate Member of CERN, India will be a part of the huge scientific and technological endeavor. The India-CERN association as a whole is interdisciplinary in nature and the involvement of physicists, electronics hardware and software engineers will pave the path for overall knowledge development in the best possible way. India has been putting efforts to design, develop and utilize various types of electron and proton accelerators for scientific, industrial and societal use. Becoming Associate Member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects and bring back knowledge for deployment in the domestic programmes. It will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in the CERN project. Through the Teachers programme, teachers teaching in the higher secondary schools would also be able to participate in the programme and pass on the knowledge and quest for high-end science to their students, thereby encouraging large number of students to pursue their career in science.
Indian Panorama is a platform for independent film makers to showcase their talent Venkaiah Naidu For the second consecutive year Panorama opens with a Sanskrit film

The day after the grand inauguration of the 47th International Film Festival of India in Goa, the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shri Venkaiah Naidu opened the Indian Panorama featuring 26 feature and 21 non-feature films. Complimenting the Indian film makers for their story telling ability, Shri Naidu said we are here today to celebrate the boundless power of the creative medium of cinema". He further said that Indian Panorama presented a platform for young, aspiring and independent film makers from India to showcase their craft to an audience from across the world. Shri Naidu said the Indian Panorama 2016 had extended entries to uncensored films as well with an aim to encourage the participation of latest films from across the country.

The jury of Feature Films, headed by well-known Director and Producer, Shri Rajendra Singh Babu, has selected 26 films out of 230 eligible entries. Whereas, in the Non-Feature films jury chaired by well-known documentary filmmaker Shri Arvind Sinha has picked 21 films out of 199 eligible entries.

Sanskrit film Ishti, directed by G Prabha is the opening Feature film of Indian Panorama 2016. It is set in the mid-twentieth century Kerala, when young Namboothiri Brahmins successfully challenged the orthodox, patriarchal traditions of a Brahmin community. Consecutively it is for the second year where a Sanskrit film has been chosen as the opening film of Indian Panorama.

Manipuri film Ima Sabitri, directed by Bobo Khuraijam as the opening Non Feature film of Indian Panorama 2016.

The film is an intimate portrayal of Sabitri, who is an Indian stage actor and one of the notable theatre personalities in Manipuri theatre and married to Late Heisnam Kanhailal her theatre associate and fellow Padma Shri Awardee. Indian Panorama this year has 5 entries from the North East.

This years 47th edition of Indian Panorama had received a total of 429 eligible feature and non-feature film submissions from 29 states across the country. Out of this 26 feature films and 21 Non-feature films (including the Best Feature and Best Non Feature films from 63nd National Film Awards, 2015), distinguished by cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence are selected for inclusion in the Indian Panorama.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Feature Film Jury Shri Rajendra Singh Babu said the jury was impressed by new subjects, new ways of story telling, not only by the veterans but also by the high talented young directors". Mr. Babu further suggested that since the number of entries under Indian Panorama is ever increasing, a two tier- primary and final, selection process should be evolved.

Non Feature Film Jury Shri Arvind Sinha said we got to see some very interesting films from young film makers giving an overview of many issues and cinematic forms. Some exceptional films from the North East made the cut including the opening film Ima Sabitri". The selection was truly panoramic

The Feature Film Jury for Indian Panorama comprised S V Rajendra Singh Babu, Chairman, well known lyricist Anathian, Assamese film maker Aroop Manna, producer C V Reddy, artist Girish Mohite, author K Puttaswamy, Malayalam film and TV producer N Krishnakumar. TV producer Rama Viz, Odiya filmmaker Sabyasachi Mahapatra, writer, director Sanjay Pawar, well known film critic Satinder Mohan, former Director of Satyajit Ray Film & TV Institute Swapan Mullick and painter, cartoonist Uday Shankar Pani.

The Non-Feature Film Jury comprised Arvind Sinha, Chairman, well known documentary maker Aarti Srivastava, short film maker Abhijit Mazumdar, animation expert Gautam Benegal, film makers Madhurita Anand and Sonal Haobam and film critic Suresh Sharma.

PIB | MD
WCD Ministry holds the Second All India Women Journalists Workshop

Over 100 journalists from across the country, representing various media organizations came together on a single platform at the second All India Women Journalists Workshop organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in association with Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in New Delhi today. The first All India Women Journalists Workshop was held in June this year. Todays workshop was inaugurated by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi . Minister of State, WCD , Smt Krishna Raj was also present along with other senior officers of the Ministry.

Women journalists from print, electronic and online media from the length and breadth of the country including small and regional media organizations participated in the conference.

Addressing the journalists, Smt. Maneka Gandhi said that the workshops are being organised by the Ministry to empower the women journalists so that they can act as agents of change especially in matters pertaining to women and child development. The effort of the Ministry is to connect to the journalists from the grassroots to make them active participants in the process of change, to receive feedback from them and also to receive ideas from the grassroots which will benefit the women and children, Smt Maneka Gandhi added. Journalists should also try to highlight success stories and find role models to enable the Ministry to give recognition to genuine people, especially to women contributing to community building in the field, she said.

Smt. Maneka Gandhi made a comprehensive presentation on the issues taken up by the WCD Ministry in the last two years. Smt.

Gandhi highlighted the numerous firsts of the Ministry of Women and Child Development including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, setting up of One Stop Centres for women in distress, Mahila e-Haat, panic button on mobiles, guidelines for matrimonial websites, 33% reservation for women in police force, gender champion scheme, unique initiative with railways for missing children, comprehensive adoption reforms, junk food guidelines and many more such initiatives.

The WCD Minister also gave a brief overview of the initiatives in the pipeline like digitisation of anganwadis, direct benefit transfer to women, anti-trafficking Bill, draft National Policy for Women among others. The key focus is to reduce malnutrition for which the WCD Ministry is holding regular consultations with the states on improving the content of food being provided to the children in anganwadis and regular monitoring of their nutrition status, Smt Maneka Gandhi elaborated. The WCD Minister also held a question and answer session with the journalists on issues like child abuse, discrimination against women in various fields especially employment, financial empowerment of women, nutrition, malfunctioning of anganwadis in several states etc

The Minister of State for Women & Child Development, Smt. Krishna Raj addressed the journalists and exhorted them to carry forward the message of the Government for various interventions being made for women and children especially in saving the girl child. The government is committed to providing a safe life to women and protecting their dignity, and a lot of work is being undertaken to empower them and provide them health and education, she added. The media can become an important partner of the government in this endeavour, Smt Krishna Raj added.

Secretary, WCD Ms. Leena Nair said that the purpose of the workshop is to sensitise the women journalists and through them the entire society on gender issues . The media has a pivotal role to play in womens empowerment by focusing on gender issues, she added. The Secretary further said that the briefing on the initiatives of the WCD Ministry will help the journalists to enable the women and children at the grassroots to take advantage of the government policies and programmes.

A presentation was also made on the key initiatives and achievements of the Government over the last two years. Measures like Jan Dhan Yojana, Nari Shakti, providing affordable housing to the poor, building infrastructure especially rail, roads and highways, stepping up power generation, swachch bharat, farmers welfare, new social security schemes etc were highlighted.

Three exhibitions were also organized at the venue showcasing the live monitoring system of Childline - Child Helpline 1098, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao as well as Real Time Monitoring of Anganwadi Centres.
The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a centrally sponsored scheme to provide health insurance coverage to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and including other 11 categories of Unorganized Workers (MGNREGA Workers, Construction Workers, Domestic workers, Sanitation Workers, Mine Workers, licensed Railway Porters, Street Vendors, Beedi Workers, Rickshaw Pullers, Rag Pickers and Auto/Taxi drivers). Each family enrolled in the scheme is entitled to hospitalization benefits of upto INR 30,000 per annum including maternity benefits on a family floater basis ( a unit of five) in Government empanelled hospitals (includes both private and public). Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one and there is no age limit. Transportation Cost upto Rs. 100/- per hospitalization subject to a maximum of Rs. 1000/- per family per year is also provisioned under the scheme. .

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It has been the constant endeavour of the Government to bring more and more unorganised workers under the Employee State Insurance Scheme. Recently, ESIC has formulated Health Schemes to cover Auto Rickshaw Drivers in Delhi and Domestic workers in Delhi and Hyderabad on pilot basis. .

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In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008. The 2008 Act stipulates formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government through the National Social Security Board. Various Schemes, formulated by the Government to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers, listed in the Schedule I of the above Act are as under: .

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i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) .

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ii. National Family Benefit Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) .

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iii. Janani Suraksha Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) .

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iv. Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) .

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v. Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) .

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vi. Pension to Master Craft Persons. (Ministry of Textiles) .

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vii. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension. (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries) .

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viii. Aam Admi Bima Yojana. (Department of Financial Services) .

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ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) .

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Central Government has also launched the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for all citizens especially targeting unorganised workers to provide them comprehensive social security. .

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This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. .

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Chinas Insurance Group is in talks to buy as much as $2.3 billion in Japanese residential property assets from Blackstone Group, two people involved in the discussions said, in what would be Japans biggest property deal since the global financial crisis.
A toxic political war over money, jobs and globalisation killed the vast and complex trade deal that was supposed to be a signature legacy of President Obama. But the deal, between the United States and 11 Asian and Pacific nations, was never just about trade.
Indian refiners owe $2.55 billion in oil dues to Iran, 90% of which are payable by private sector Essar Oil Ltd, Oil Minister said on Monday.

Four Indian refiners had outstandings of $6.11 billion in May, 2016 when formal banking channels were opened with Iran after nearly four years. They came down to $2.55 billion as on November 15 after public sector refiners paid most of their dues to Iran, the minister said.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) had an outstanding of $2.557 billion towards Iran as on May 20, of which it paid $2.355 billion and now owes Iran only $202 million, he said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Essar Oil, which the Ruia-brothers have sold to Russian national oil company Rosneft in a $12.9 billion deal, had the biggest outstanding of $2.917 billion on May 20. Of this, it paid only $600 million and still owes $2.317 billion.

"Following the lifting of sanctions on Iran on January 16, 2016 and re-establishment of banking channels from May 20, 2016, Indian refineries have paid $3.563 billion out of $6.118 billion to Iran on account of payment due to National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) for supply of crude oil," he said.

State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has paid $538 million out of $550 million due to Iran while HPCL Mittal Energy Ltd, which operates a refinery at Bhatinda in Punjab, has cleared $52 million out of $76 million dues.

Rosneft last month signed agreement to buy a 49% stake in Essar Oil's 20 million tons a year Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, adjacent port and petrol pumps, while Trafigura and United Capital Partners (UCP) split another 49% equity.

The deal has an enterprise value of close to $12.9 billion  $10.9 billion being for a 20 million tons a year refinery in Gujarat and over 2,700 petrol pumps and another $2 billion for Vadinar port in Gujarat. The deal factors in Essar Oil's debt of about $4.5 billion and about $2 billion debt with the port company.

Also, the dues to Iran were to continue to be on Essar Oil books and the new owner will take responsibility of it.

To a separate question, Pradhan said India imported 12.1 million tons of crude oil from Iran during April-September. This compares to 12.7 million tons imported in whole of 2015-16 and 11 million tons in each of the two previous fiscal.

Imports from Iran are second to only Saudi Arabia (20.4 mt) and Iraq (19.6 mt).

In 2015-16, Iran was behind Saudi Arabia (40.4 mt), Iraq (36.8 mt), Nigeria (23.4 mt) and UEA (15.7 mt), he said.
Around 80 nationals have fled to China as armed conflicts erupted in northern Myanmar's Shan state.

Some 80 inhabitants appeared in Wanding, a small town in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Sunday morning and were received by the Chinese Government, which is gearing to deal with the increasing number of inhabitants, reports the Global Times.

The wounded Myanmar residents were sent to Chinese hospitals.

Conflicts between troops of the Myanmar Government and armed ethnic groups broke out on Sunday morning in several areas, including Mongkoe and Muse, causing military and civilian casualties.

A press release on Sunday afternoon from Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Office said that over 600-strong joint groups included the Kachin Independence Army, Ta-ang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

A statement from the four ethnic armed groups said that yesterday's offensive was "unavoidable" given the Tatmadaw's (Myanmar National Army) repeated aggression in ethnic areas over recent months and asked the civilians to avoid travel in the area in order to minimise the risk of getting caught up in the conflict.

Stray bullets also fell in China, which shares a border of over 2,000 kilometers with Myanmar.

In 2015, some 60,000 Myanmar residents fled across the border following Northern Myanmar's Kokang conflicts and more than 10,000 were temporarily resettled in the city of Lincang, Yunnan Province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new Companies Act, 2013, now requires auditors to also opine on whether a company has an adequate internal financial controls (IFC) system in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls. This is in addition to the existing audit opinion on financial statements. While this requirement was originally applicable to financial statements ending 31st March 2015, considering the lack of guidance, this applicability was deferred and is now effective for the year ending 31st March 2016. Due to the deferral of this reporting requirement, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) retained the reporting requirement relating to internal controls in certain specific areas under the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2016 (CARO).

Reporting on IFC is undoubtedly a paradigm shift from the reporting required under CARO. The ICAI has now reissued the long awaited 'Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls over Financial Reporting' (guidance note), which provides detailed guidance on this topic.

Section 134(5) (e) explains internal financial controls as the policies and procedures adopted by the Company for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to Company's policies, the safeguarding of its assets, the prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records and the timely preparation of reliable financial information. Section 143(11) of 2013 Act requires that the auditor's report of specified class of companies should include a statement on prescribed matters.

The guidance note provides the necessary criteria for maintaining effective IFC for companies. It draws upon the 'Internal Control Components' of Standard on Auditing (SA) 315, 'Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the Entity and its Environment', which includes the following five required components control environment, entity's risk assessment process, control activities, information system and communication and monitoring of controls.

The guidance note explains that for auditor reporting, the term 'IFC' is restricted within the context of the audit of financial statements and relates to internal control over financial reporting only (ICFR). This is also consistent with the practice adopted internationally, e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) reporting in the US.

This is a relief as it removes unnecessary ambiguity by excluding from the scope operational controls, i.e. those facilitating the effectiveness and efficiency of company's operations, and also differentiates ICFR from enterprise risk management and risk management policies which boards of companies have to maintain.

Role of Various Authorities

Management: In case of listed companies, section 134(5)(e) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires Directors Responsibility Statement to state that the Directors had laid down internal financial controls and the same were adequate and operating effectively. In case of ALL companies, Rule 8(5)(viii) of Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 requires the Board of Directors' Report to state the details in respect of adequacy of internal financial controls with reference to the financial statements. Clause 49 IX(C) of Equity Listing Agreement requires CEO's of listed entities to certify effectiveness of internal control systems pertaining to financial reporting. In all cases, it is the management responsibility to establish Internal Control over Operations.

Auditor: Section 143(3) (i) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires the auditors of ALL companies to state in their report whether the company has adequate internal financial control system in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls. The auditor will have to modify its audit methodology to obtain reasonable assurance on the adequacy of internal financial controls over financial reporting and its operating effectiveness. It should be noted that when forming the opinion on internal financial controls, the auditor should test the same during the financial year under audit and not just as at the balance sheet date, though the extent of testing at or near the balance sheet date may be higher.

Independent Director: Schedule IV of the Companies Act, 2013 requires the Independent Directors of the Company to satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information and financial controls and also to ensure that the systems of risk management are robust and defensible.

Audit Committee: Section 177(4) (vii) requires Audit Committee to evaluate internal financial controls and risk management systems. Also, section 177(5) gives power to the Audit Committee to call for comments of the auditors on internal control systems, scope of audit, their observations on internal control systems and financial statements before submission of the same to the board. They may also discuss any related issues with the internal auditors and the management of the company.

Integrated audit

Both corporate and auditors in India will need to come to terms with the concept of a combined or an integrated audit, which includes an audit of ICFR over financial reporting and financial statements. The guidance note acknowledges that while the objectives of the audit of ICFR and audit of financial statements are not identical, the auditor now needs to plan and perform work in such a way that it achieves the objectives of both the audits in an integrated manner.

To conclude

The introduction of IFC has helped companies enhance their internal control environment. For the IFC framework to be sustainable, each stakeholder is expected to play an important role during its implementation. IFC implementation is a journey and Indian companies over the next few years should focus on adopting the right approach to reap the potential benefits for their stakeholders as well as for themselves.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs H. N. Ananth Kumar on Monday said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would reply to all queries regarding the demonetisation process in both houses of Parliament.

"Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will give replies on the behalf of government over demonetisation as it is under his ministry," he said.

"I would appeal the opposition to debate in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. They should provide constructive criticism as we are open for a debate," he added.

The Parliament witnessed an uproar from the opposition as soon as the proceedings began.

Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the decision to scrap Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier vented his ire at the opposition members for not cooperating with the government for a debate on the matter.

"The opposition not ready for debate. They are trying new tactics everyday to disrupt the Parliament proceedings," he said in the Rajya Sabha.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, hit back and stated that they were ready for a debate on the matter only after paying tributes to those who have died standing in queues courtesy this decision.

"Please move an obituary and then we can discuss," Yechury told Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien amid uproar in the Upper House.

The opposition parties want Prime Minister Modi to explain his abrupt outlawing of the old notes in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress party on Monday said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cannot claim the high moral ground on battling and neutralizing corruption, as past history indicates that they too were complicit in such acts.

Describing Prime Minister Modi's indirect attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by highlighting the Saradha chit-fund scam as nothing but "political propaganda", Congress leader P. C. Chacko said both he and the BJP are not against corruption, but tolerate and encourage it.

"If the Prime Minister or the BJP or the Centre has any serious complaint against Mamata Banerjee's party (Trinamool Congress), they should have taken proper action against them such as inquiry and taken the people responsible to task. All this they could have done. Without doing anything and without completing the action required, they are simply using this for political propaganda," Chacko told ANI.

Chacko further alleged, "Prime Minister Modi conveniently used this for political allegation and they are not serious about taking action against corruption. Wherever there is corruption, the BJP's role is also there."

"We have Saradha scam (in West Bengal), the Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh, or the scam where the Rajasthan Chief Minister is involved, but none of these serious allegations came up during Modi's two-and-a-half-years period and never a serious or prompt action was taken by this government. So, they are not against corruption they tolerate corruption and they encourage corruption," he added.

In an indirect reference to Mamata Banerjee, who is opposing the demonetisation drive, Prime Minister Modi said that politicians under whom chit-fund scams prospered are now raising a finger at him even as the decision was not taken to trouble anyone but to safeguard the future of India's youth.

"Many people who had invested in chit funds lost their lives and politicians under whom the scams prospered are now raising a finger at me. The nation knows well that crores of poor people had invested in the chit funds. I know those people who are raising their voices against me," said the Prime Minister, while launching the 'Pradhanmantri Grameen Awas Yojna', an ambitious housing scheme for rural poor, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.

Banerjee had on Thursday asked the Centre to roll back the demonetisation decision in three days or face intensified protests.

"If this decision (demonetisation) is not taken back in three days, we will intensify our protest. Today, they announced that only Rs. 2,000 can be exchanged and not Rs. 4,000. What is going on in their heads? If the people are suffering, who would protect the Constitution? So, I approached President Pranab Mukherjee. If vegetable mandis are shut, what will people eat - diamond or ATM card," Mamata asked, while addressing a rally of traders, farmers and labourers at Azadpur Mandi here last week.

Saying that demonetisation will push the country backwards by 100 years, Mamata added that a crisis of this proportion had not been seen even during the Emergency (1975-1977).

"We work according to the Constitution. You (Narendra Modi) have broken the Constitution. This situation has never taken place in the Emergency. We will support you in your fight against black money. Our fight is not based on ego. If you snatch the rights of the common people, it will bring an epidemic in the nation," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has obtained a non- bailable warrant (NBW) against liquor baron Vijay Mallya from a Mumbai court in connection with the bank loan default case.

The CBI will now communicate/forward the NBW to the authorities concerned in the United Kingdom seeking Mallya's extradition.

Hearing a plea filed by a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) for recovery of more than Rs 6,000 crore from him, the Supreme Court had earlier on October 25 directed Mallya to file a detailed affidavit about his assets within a month and fixed November 24 as the next date of hearing.

The top court division bench passed the order after hearing a detailed argument from Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi and Mallya's lawyer Vaidyanathan.

The consortium of banks had approached the apex court seeking its intervention in bringing back Mallya to India and also repayment of money which the beleaguered businessman had taken.

The top court also asked the Union Government about his whereabouts, to which the Attorney General informed the apex court that Mallya was in England.

The banks, in their plea, told the apex court that there was an outstanding loan of almost Rs. 9,000 crores against the businessman.

The banks have argued that the business tycoon has not been candid with the court regarding his assets, citing the failure to disclose the severance package he received from Diageo Plc as part of his exit from United Spirits Ltd.

On April 26, the Supreme Court had directed Mallya to disclose his assets to the consortium. The banks also said the disclosures made by Mallya on his Indian and overseas properties were "vague".

The banks also refuted Mallya's allegation that all 17 banks did not reject the three proposals made by him for repayment of over Rs. 9,000 odd crores in installments.

On November 4, the Patiala House Court had issued an NBW against Mallya for evading summons in connection with a FERA violation matter.

According to the court, Mallya has shown scant regard for the law of the land and has no intention of returning to India.

In August, the court asked Mallya to be present in the court on November 4. It also asked the Ministry of External Affairs to send a non-bailable warrant to Mallya in London where he is currently staying.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena on Monday said the march against demonestisation could have been implemented in a better way and added that the Central government needs to do a rethink on the issue.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande told ANI that the party is with the government in the fight against black money, but added that the public has been inconvenienced by its implementation.

"Basically every upright Indian has welcomed the demonetisation move for the sole purpose of removing black money from the country. But now it is seen that the common man is frustrated by it. And they are into dilemma as to what is going to happen. The Central government needs to think over this," she said.

"Even the farmers, workers and the businessman community met with the honorable Uddhav Thackeray and they urged him to intervene into this situation and convey there situation to the Central government," she added.

Taking the war over demonetisation to the next level, the Opposition parties have decided to protest against the Centre in front of the Gandhi statue outside the Parliament on Wednesday.

The decision was taken in the meeting called today by the Opposition ahead of the second week of the Parliament today.

This come as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier on Saturday issued a whip to its party's Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the House for three days starting today.

According to reports, the Centre had turned down the Opposition's demand saying that the Prime Minister would not speak in the Rajya Sabha on the demonetisation issue.

However, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is likely to speak in the Lok Sabha today.

The opposition has called the Centre to form a joint parliamentary committee for probing allegations of prior information on demonetisation being leaked to BJP leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Assistant Foreign Minister of China Kong Xuanyou visited Islamabad on November 20-21, where he reiterated China's full support to Pakistan on regional and international issues.

During his stay, Xuanyou called on Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and held delegation-level talks with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, said a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction at the continued expansion and deepening of bilateral relations. The Adviser underscored the importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with China and underlined the need to hold regular high-level exchanges," said the statement.

Xuanyou reiterated China's continued support to Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Beijing also pledged support to Islamabad in fighting terrorism and extremism.

"During the bilateral meeting between the Foreign Secretary and the visiting Chinese dignitary, the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as regional and global issues of mutual concern came under discussion," said the statement.

The two sides agreed to remain engaged and further strengthen cooperation in all these areas for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

On the issue of Afghanistan peace, the two sides agreed that the international community should remain constructively engaged with Afghanistan, especially through the Quadrilateral Consultative Group (QCG) in support of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political reconciliation.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the continued growth of cooperative strategic partnership.

"It was noted that timely completion of CPEC's (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) early harvest projects would significantly contribute towards the overall vision of the leadership of the two countries for the uplift of the region and improve regional connectivity," said the statement.

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The Congress Party on Monday alleged that the BJP-led NDA regime was indulging in drama post the move to ban high currency notes and said that the opposition was doing its duty in the Parliament by voicing the sentiments of the people across the country.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury hit out at the government over Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's assertion that the opposition was only interested in disrupting the parliamentary proceedings and were not interested in a debate.

"We are not doing any disruption in the Parliament, just voicing the sentiments of the people across the country. We are just doing our duty," Chowdhury said.

"This government has collapsed as even allies of the present regime distanced themselves. The Centre is indulging in drama but they can't do it in the Parliament," she added.

Angry disruptions were witnessed in the Parliament today with the opposition insisting that the Prime Minister must speak in the Rajya Sabha on the ban on Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes.

The ruling dispensation has said that Prime Minister Modi will not contribute in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority.

The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that he is ready to explain the government's stand, but the opposition is preventing that because it wants to stall Parliament rather than engage in discussion.

"The opposition is running away from a debate," he said.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and some other opposition parties insisted on a discussion on demonetisation under Rule 56, which entails voting and through an adjournment motion that implies suspension of all other business.

Prime Minister Modi has said that the ban on high value currency notes is not to agonise anyone but to clean the economy.

Speaking on demonetisation after launching the Pradhanmantri Grameen Awas Yojna, an ambitious housing scheme meant for the rural poor, in Agra yesterday, the Prime Minister said more than five lakh crore cash has been deposited in banks since last ten days.

He thanked the people for bearing the pain of high value note ban.

Prime Minister Modi said his decision to demonetise high value currency notes is punishment for those who has accumulated huge black money.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday was seen speaking to people standing in the queues outside ATMs and banks, which began forming in the wee hours of morning in Delhi.

Interacting with the locals, Rahul asked them about the inconvenience they were facing and called on them to voice their indignation against the Centre's move of demonetisation, saying that it has become a major hassle in day to day life for the common man.

Rahul met with people in queues at Jahangirpuri, Inderlok and Zakira area.

This move by the congress leader came right before the huddle by the opposition in both Houses of Parliament today at 9:30 a.m. to discuss fresh strategy to counter the Centre's move to demonetise high value currency notes.

Both the Houses of Parliament have been witnessing a stormy debate over demonetisation during the first three days of the winter session.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and some other opposition parties insisted on a discussion on demonetisation under Rule 56, which entails voting and through an adjournment motion that implies suspension of all other business.

In both Houses, the opposition parties insisted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence while opposing demonetisation.

In the Rajya Sabha, treasury benches also resorted to slogans after Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to the Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that more people had died because of demonetisation than had been killed in the Uri terror attack on September 18 this year.

The CPI (M), in a statement, said, "Instead of immediate measures to bring relief to the people, the government has now reduced the limit of exchanging notes per person from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 2,000. This will hit hard the poorer sections."

The opposition has been clamouring for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the Parliament, saying that he has a moral obligation to answer the common man whose life has been thrown in turmoil because of demonetisation.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for failing to appear in Parliament to face the opposition, the Congress had earlier asserted that the former was "absconding" from the House, but seemed to have enough time on his hands to address the Global Citizen Festival via video conferencing, where the internationally acclaimed band Cold Play performed.

"Fifty five people have died. Crores stand in line for the past 11 days. Banks do not have cash, ATMs do not have notes. People have money in their accounts, but there is no money to be withdrawn from their accounts," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, adding that the Prime Minister was missing from parliament since the Winter Session began.

"Parliament is on and the Rajya Sabha is demanding that the Prime Minister should come and answer on demonetization, but Modiji has time to address via video conferencing a Cold Play concert in Mumbai," Surjewala added.

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Eight Indian Air Force (IAF) jets touched down the Agra-Lucknow expressway on Monday on its opening ceremony.

Four Mirage 2000s and four Sukhois skimmed on the six-lane highway as a part of strategy by the Defence Ministry to use the expressway in emergency situations.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav inaugurated the Unnao expressway, which is around 302 kilometers long.

The expressway will help cut down the travelling time between Agra and Lucknow to just three-and-a-half hours from the present seven hours.

It will also reduce the road travel time between Delhi and Lucknow.

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Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday paid homage to the victims of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks at a memorial meeting held at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel here.

"India and Israel stand shoulder to shoulder in this fight. This is our duty to the memory of the victims and will be the legacy we leave for future generation. Let's remember them and never forget we will fight terror because this is a must for all the free world," said Rivlin ahead of eighth anniversary of the attacks.

On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists attacked several landmarks in the Indian financial capital, killing 166 people, including some Israelis, and injuring scores.

The terrorists attacked places like Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe and Nariman House - a Jewish community center among others.

Later in the day, President Rivlin paid tribute to the victims at Nariman House.

Rivlin arrived in New Delhi on November 14 as part of his seven-day visit to India aimed at improving bilateral relations between the two countries.

Rivilin is the first Israeli president to travel to India since Ezer Weizman, who had visited New Delhi in 1996 to negotiate one of the first defense deals between the two countries.

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In the wake of the escalating tension at the border with Pakistan, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that good relations with neighbouring nations are always welcomed but not at the cost of security.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi made efforts to maintain the relations with the neighbouring country, the people criticised him for that too. We would welcome good relations with any neighbour. Two neighbours being friendly always helps, but at the same time not at the cost of security," said Parrikar said at the commissioning ceremony of INS Chennai.

Commenting on the consistent ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC), he said that the Indian Army does not initiate any action unless provoked from the other side of the border.

Parrikar asserted that standard procedures are being followed to bring back Indian jawan Chandu Babulal Chauhan, who inadvertently crossed the LoC, and added the Pakistan Government has assured that he is alive and safe.

Throwing light on his upcoming visit to Bangladesh, Parrikar said it is a planned trip, adding a Defence Minister should visit neighbouring nations to build good ties.

Parrikar described the commissioning of INS Chennai as a historic day for the Indian Navy.

Following the commissioning, INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. On completion of some additional sea trials of ship-borne systems, it will be assigned to the Western Fleet and would be based at Mumbai.

INS Chennai, manufactured by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, is among the largest destroyers constructed in India having a length of 164 meter and displacement of over 7,500 tonne. The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.

Armed with supersonic surface to surface 'BrahMos' missiles and 'Barak-8' long range surface to air missiles, the ship possesses formidable prowess of missile technology. The undersea warfare capable boasts of indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar 'HUMSA-NG', Heavyweight Torpedo Tube Launchers, Rocket Launchers and Towed Arrau sonar capability.

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New Delhi [India], Nov.21 (ANI): A two-member delegation from Australia has been assured by their Indian counterparts here of full cooperation with regard to monitoring and sharing intelligence and other information on suspect incidents of people smuggling (human trafficking), drugs and narcotics.

Speaking to ANI here, Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg and Major General Andrew Bottrell, Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB), said that they had a fruitful and satisfactory three-day visit to India during which they had mutually discussed and reinforced understandings on all key aspects of existing bilateral arrangements with regard to any form of trafficking or smuggling with their Indian counterparts in the Central Board of Excise (CBE), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Commissioner Quaedvlieg further informed that this Australian team has been on a fortnight-long tour to four out of five South East Asian and South Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and India so far, and will end its tour with Sri Lanka before returning home.

He said that during his visit to India, the discussions also focused on future areas of cooperation with key stakeholders, including on issues such as maritime and or air surveillance.

Both Commissioner Quaedvlieg and Major General Bottrell used their visit to New Delhi to place significant emphasis on the fact that the current Australian government is very keen to indicate its firm resolve to maintain its "one-off arrangement" with the United States with regard to refugee resettlement from regional processing centers located in Nauru, a tiny island country in Micronesia, northeast of Australia and Manus Island, the fifth-largest island in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

Both said resettlement in Australia is available to only the most vulnerable, namely women, children and families who already have already been granted refugee status in the above three regional resettlement centers.

They said that any further agreement is with the United States only and will not under any circumstance be available to any future illegal maritime arrivals (IMAs) to Australia, and added that authorities in the United States will conduct their own assessment of refugees and decide which people are to be resettled in America.

They said refugees would need to satisfy standard requirements for admission into the United States, including passing health and security checks, and added that this process will take time and will be gradual.

It was stated that this arrangement is supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"We will continue to support the Governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea to return people determined not to be owed protection. These people should return to their country of origin," they said, adding that this one-off arrangement with the United States must not be seen as a "softening of Australia's immigration policies".

They warned and cautioned that the Australian government has taken suitable steps over the last three years to put in place both maritime and aerial assets to intercept and or return potential illegal asylum seekers back to their points of original embarkation.

As regards their India visit, they said they had come away from their meetings fully satisfied and confident that authorities in New Delhi will maintain the ongoing bilateral engagements and understandings on people smuggling (human trafficking), drugs and narcotics.

Both informed that relevant institutions in Australia are talking to Diaspora community and briefing them about the one-off agreement with the United States, and added that the Indian side has recognized this challenge before Australia, and are ready to offer cooperation to the fullest.

They made a specific mention of Tamil nationality asylum seekers based in well organized refugee/resettlement camps in Tamil Nadu.

The ABF chief confirmed that currently his force's jurisdiction covered 200 nautical miles and that the ABF and the OSB are working jointly with the Australian Navy in managing existing assets to prevent illegal entries.

The Australian government has said settlement in Australia will never be an option for those found to be refugees in regional processing centers nor for anyone who attempts to travel to Australia illegally by boat in the future.

Australia's border protection policy remains consistent and firm. Operation Sovereign Borders will continue to turn back people smuggling ventures where it is safe to do so and any illegal maritime arrivals to Australia will be sent to regional processing centers.

Under the present coalition government, Australia's borders are now stronger than ever, the two officials said.

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The day after the grand inauguration of the 47th International Film Festival of India in Goa, the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shri Venkaiah Naidu opened the Indian Panorama featuring 26 feature and 21 non-feature films.

"We are here today to celebrate the boundless power of the creative medium of cinema," said Shri Naidu.

He further said that Indian Panorama presented a platform for young, aspiring and independent film makers from India to showcase their craft to an audience from across the world.

Shri Naidu said the Indian Panorama 2016 had extended entries to uncensored films as well with an aim to encourage the participation of latest films from across the country.

The jury of Feature Films, headed by well-known Director and Producer, Shri Rajendra Singh Babu, has selected 26 films out of 230 eligible entries. Whereas, in the Non-Feature films jury chaired by well-known documentary filmmaker Shri Arvind Sinha has picked 21 films out of 199 eligible entries.

For the second consecutive year Panorama opens with a Sanskrit film. Directed by G Prabha, 'Ishti', is the opening Feature film of Indian Panorama 2016.

Manipuri film 'Ima Sabitri', directed by Bobo Khuraijam as the opening Non Feature film of Indian Panorama 2016.

This year's 47th edition of Indian Panorama had received a total of 429 eligible feature and non-feature film submissions from 29 states across the country.

Out of this 26 feature films and 21 Non-feature films (including the Best Feature and Best Non Feature films from 63nd National Film Awards, 2015), distinguished by cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence are selected for inclusion in the Indian Panorama.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Feature Film Jury Shri Rajendra Singh Babu said "the jury was impressed by new subjects, new ways of storytelling, not only by the veterans but also by the high talented young directors". Mr. Babu further suggested that since the number of entries under Indian Panorama is ever increasing, a two tier- primary and final, selection process should be evolved.

Non Feature Film Jury Shri Arvind Sinha said "We got to see some very interesting films from young film makers giving an overview of many issues and cinematic forms. Some exceptional films from the North East made the cut including the opening film 'Ima Sabitri". The selection was truly panoramic."

The International Film Festival of India is conducted jointly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals and the Government of Goa.

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The Bains brothers, who were earlier part of the Awaaz-e-Punjab front, today said that they are entering into an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to save the state.

Simarjit Bains told ANI that they are joining the AAP to revive Punjab, which has been destroyed by the Badals and the Congress.

"All details pertaining to alliance will be told in a press conference which will be held at the Press Club Chandigarh. The Congress and SAD have caused a lot of harm to Punjab. Our main issue is to revive Punjab out of drugs and bankruptcy. This time a government of leader will not be formed, but a government of people will be formed," said Simarjit.

Echoing similar sentiments, Balwinder Singh Bains said that he was joining Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led party to pull Punjab out of miseries like drug menace.

"The biggest issue is to save Punjab. This alliance has happened to save Punjab. This alliance has come into existence to pull Punjab out of drug menace. The country's biggest issue at this time is to save Punjab," he said.

Simarjit and Balwinder, who have announced their resignation as MLAs during the special session of the assembly on November 16 in Chandigarh over the river water-sharing issue, are expected to announce their move in a press conference in Chandigarh later this afternoon.

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After two days of relaxation by Hurriyat Conference, the prolonged shutdown picked up where it lift off in Kashmir Valley on Monday as schools, colleges and business establishments followed the protocol and streets resumed their deserted look.

Meanwhile Police and CRPF have been deployed across all the district headquarters and in Srinagar city to foil the separatists protest call.

The two-day respite from the shutdown by Separatists came after private passenger vehicles plied on some routes in Srinagar after being severely hit by the four-month long strike.

This was the first time that Separatists announced full-day relaxation during the ongoing unrest which began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The Separatists had called on the people to use public transport to make up for the losses incurred during the last few months.

"There will be full day relaxation on November 19 and 20. People are requested to exclusively use public transport on these days for the support of transport community," said a statement.

The Valley burst into life following the relaxation, as shops, commercial establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutions opened in Srinagar and in other major towns and villages.

Authorities had also removed deployments of security forces from all the areas of the Valley including in Srinagar's downtown.

People in large numbers thronged the markets and there were traffic jams on all major city roads throughout the day.

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Russia will host the first-ever trilateral talks involving Pakistan and China next month in an effort to partner peace in Afghanistan.

"This is a watershed moment," the Express Tribune quoted a senior Pakistani official, who believes the development is part of the realignment taking place in the region.

Last month, Pakistan and Russia held their first-ever joint military drills in a landmark development showing gradual improvement in their ties marred by Cold War.

The official said that the three-way talks will discuss how to bring an end to the long running conflict in Afghanistan and prevent groups such as Islamic State, from gaining a foothold in the war-torn country.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the initiative was aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large.

"The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has raised concerns about the spillover effect due to the presence of non-state actors and other elements there," he said.

The broader context of the upcoming gathering in Moscow in the first week of December is the transformation in relationship taking place among the major international players.

The latest initiative is also significant in the backdrop of possible policy changes the US President-elect Donald Trump may bring to the region, including Afghanistan.

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The Lok Sabha was on Monday adjourned for the day as the opposition parties escalated their attack on the government over the demonetisation move.

The opposition parties have also demanded that Parliament condole the death of those who they allege have died because of the cash crunch after demonetisation.

"The 70 people, who have died standing in queues at banks, deserve a tribute," said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The opposition wants a debate on the notes ban in the Lok Sabha followed by a vote.

The government has reportedly objected to the language of the motion that would be used for the debate.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha also witnessed furore following which it was adjourned till 3 p.m.

Insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be present in the House and give a clarification on the move, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "The Prime Minister should give a clarification on this. He is roaming around everywhere in the nation. Why is he shying away from Parliament? If the Prime Minister shies away from giving answer in the Parliament then it is violating the Constitution."

Echoing similar sentiments, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon told ANI that obituary must be given to those who died standing in long queues of ATMs and banks due to demonetisation.

"I agree with the Congress that obituary must also be given to those who died standing in long queues. The number of deaths of the people standing in queues might increase due to demonetisation. It becomes all of our duty to stop the increasing number of deaths. I think both the government as well as the opposition must do something to stop this," he added.

Escalating his attack on the Prime Minister, Memon said it's not good that the former talks about votes in rallies but not in the House.

"The Prime Minister should stop being stubborn. He should be called for some time," he added.

The government has said that Prime Minister Modi will not contribute in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said he is ready to explain the government's stand, but the opposition is preventing that because it wants to stall Parliament rather than engage in discussion.

"The opposition is running away from a debate," he added.

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The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11

The Parliament witnessed uproar from the opposition benches as soon as the proceedings began.

The opposition members trooped into the well of the House seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the decision to scrap Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes.

Union Finance Minister Arun J aitley earlier vented his ire at the opposition members for not cooperating with the government for a debate on the matter.

"The opposition not ready for debate. They are trying new tactics everyday to disrupt the Parliament proceedings," he said in the Rajya Sabha.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, hit back and stated that they were ready for a debate on the matter only after paying tributes to those who have died standing in queues courtesy this decision.

"Please move an obituary and then we can discuss," Yechury told Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien amid uproar in the Upper House.

The opposition parties want Prime Minister Modi to explain his abrupt outlawing of the old notes in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority.

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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao on Monday met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari in the capital to seek approval for the up-gradation of additional 500 kilometres of roads as part of the four lane Highway project in the state.

Apart from the Chief Minister, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Roads and Buildings Minister and other Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) parliamentarians also took part in the meeting.

During the discussion, K.C.Rao-led delegation urged Gadkari to expedite the Land Acquisition as per the state procedure and sanction projects amounting to Rs.3572.16 crore with regard to four-lane which was handed over to the Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on August 10.

The Chief Minister also requested the Union Transport Minister to convene a separate committee to look into the issues of sparing Defence lands for the expansion of Paradise junction to Bowenpally section of NH 44 and instead form an alternate route in lieu of roads proposed for the closure in Secunderabad Cantonment.

"We have appealed to the government to contribute to the expansion of the land of the roads in Telangana," Nageswara Rao told the media here.

The national highways, which are proposed by the state government to convert it into a four lane project are Sangareddy (NH161) -Narsapur-Toopran-Gajwel-Jagdevpur- Bhongir-Choutuppal (NH-65); Choutuppal -Ibrahimpatnam-AMngal-Shadnagar-Chevella-Shnkarpally-Kandi(NH 65);Medak-Siddipet-Elkathurthy (NH 563), and Junction at Hyderbad Outer ring road-Valigonda-Thorrur- Nellikuduru-Mahububabad-Yellandu-Kothagudem (NH 30).

This came after the state government's endeavor to convert 4000 kilometres road into National Highways after it disintegrated from Andhra Pradesh.

So far, Gadkari has agreed to convert 1300 kilometers in the first phase of the project.

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Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who arrived here on Monday night on an official visit to India from November 20-26, will be conferred the first 'World Sanskrit Award' for her exemplary contribution for the promotion of the language on Monday.

Princess Sirindhorn will meet Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra at 4.06 p.m., following which she will attend a function where the Vice President will present the first World Sanskrit Award.

Later, at 6.30 p.m., she will call on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Between Tuesday and Saturday, Princess Sirindhorn will visit Bhopal, Guwahati and Shillong. On Saturday, she will leave for Bangkok.

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Unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops continues in Naushera sector of Rajouri district, though it has stopped in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district at 4.30 p.m. on Monday.

Pakistani forces again resorted to heavy shelling and firing along the Line of Control in Poonch district today.

As per report, Pakistani troops started unprovoked firing in Krishna Ghati sector targeting border posts and civilian areas around 8:30 am this morning.

Pakistani forces shelled Indian areas using heavy mortars, automatic and small arms. Indian Army guarding the borderline retaliated and gave a befitting reply to Pakistani shelling. The exchange of fire is still continuing, but no report of any fresh causality or injury to Indian side so far.

Last night, Pakistani forces had resorted to shelling and firing in Balakote and Manjakote sectors in Poonch and Rajouri districts that left a BSF jawan martyred and seven security personnel injured.

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Over100 journalists from across the country are expected to participate in the second 'All India Women Journalists' Workshop' organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) in association with Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, here on Monday.

The women journalists represent print, electronic and online media across the country, including small regional media organisations.

This conference, which will be a continuation of the first workshop held in June 2016, is an initiative for women journalists, who specialise in social sector reporting, to come together to understand, discuss and deliberate on issues concerning women and children.

WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi will make a presentation to showcase the achievements of the ministry during the last two years and also obtain a feedback from the participating journalists on a number of issues concerning women and children.

The ministry is also looking forward to new ideas/areas concerning women and children, which could be taken up in the coming months.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Raj will also address the participants and apprise them about the achievements and new initiatives of the ministry during the last two years.

The ministry will also be putting up an exhibition of its large initiatives such as children's helpline 'Childline' and the government's flagship programme 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'.

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With 14.8 % average annual growth rate, India stood first in the world in the export of fisheries products

The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh has said that due to rapid increase in fisheries and aquaculture, the income of fish farmers and farmers is constantly increasing and in the coming days it will benefit fish farmers and farmers at a large scale.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that development of the livestock is the best strategy for doubling the farmers' income. Due to this reason the budget for 2016-17 for this department is kept at Rs. 1700 crore, which is 21 % higher than the last year budget. The Union Minister said that it is the matter of pride that this year more than 72 % of the budget has been released for the development of the states, which has never happened in the past. Shri Singh said that now, it is the responsibility of the states to spend it properly and should not do fund parking.

The Union Minister said that fish farming will have three benefits firstly, increase in the farmers income secondly, there will be progress in the country's export and GDP and thirdly it will ensure nutritional and food security in the country.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh told that from last six months, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fishery is formulating many new schemes by its strenuous efforts. The department has launched Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the breed improvement of indigenous cows and for cattle, goats and sheep higher breed development; it has launched National Livestock Mission. Shri Singh explained that for the year 2014-15, production of milk was Rs. 4.92 lakh crore which was more than 37% from paddy and wheat combined. Accordingly to the estimate for the year 2015-16, there was about Rs. 1 lakh crore value fisheries production within the country.

The Union Minister said that in fish production, India is constantly at the second position after China. Fisheries are a big sector in the country and around 150 lakh people are engaged in fisheries business. India has first place in the world in the area of shrimp fish and it is the largest exporter of shrimp fish. Shri said that taking all fisheries production together, there was estimated 10.8 million tones fish production in the country in year 2015-16, which is around 6.4 per cent of total fish production of the world. India is the second largest country in the world to produce fish from aquaculture (42.10 lakh tones). It contributes about 6.3 percent in global aquaculture. From the last decade, where the average annual growth rate of export of fish and fisheries production in the world remaining 7.5 per cent, Indian remain at the first place with an average annual growth rate of 14.8 per cent in the export of fisheries product.

Shri Singh said in the last two and half years, his government has constantly made new schemes in the interests of fisheries sector and farmers and has implemented them successfully throughout the country. Agriculture Minister said that success of fisheries is also a result of constant efforts of the government. World Fisheries Day is also being organized from the last two years after the formation of the government. The Minister said that Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has given the slogan and vision for the complete development of India-to double the income of the farmers. To achieve this target, government has laid emphasis on the development of the fisheries and its target is to double the income of the fishers, fishermen and farmers by 2022 through aquaculture and marine fisheries.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh told that with a fish production of 72.1 lakh tones from the Indian fisheries, India has second place in the world. India can achieve about 8 per cent growth rate in Indian fishery. The Minister said that looking at the large potential in the development of the fisheries, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called for Blue Revolution in the field of fisheries. Thereafter, ministry has merged all the existing schemes and started a Rs. 3000 crore umbrella scheme Blue Revolution; Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries. This scheme includes in land fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries comprising of deep sea fishing, mariculture and all the activities of national fisheries development board (NFDB).

Shri Singh informed that Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has prepared a National Fisheries Action Plan 2020 (NFAP) for the next five years to increase fish production and productivity and to achieve the target of blue revolution. In this Action Plan all the different fisheries resources of the country like ponds and tanks, wetlands, brackish water, cold water, lakes reservoirs, rivers and canals and marine sectors are included. All the states / UTs have been requested to prepare State Action Plan (SAP) for the next five years to achieve the objective of blue revolution according to NFAP 2020. The Minister said the aim of Blue Revolution scheme is to increase the fish production and productivity by 8 per cent annual growth rate and to reach 15 million tones mark by 2020. Efforts are being made to bring a National inland fisheries Policy along with new National Marine Fisheries Policy, which will decide an overall and integrated growth frame work in the area of inland fisheries throughout the country.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that around 26.869 hectares area has been developed for the aquaculture which has benefited 63,372 fishermen. He said that during the last two years, under fishermen welfare, construction of 9,603 fishermen houses have been assisted whereas 20,705 fishermen have been trained and around 50 lakh fishermen have been provided with annual insurance assistance.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fishery, Shri Devendra Chaudhry and other officers of various Ministries and Departments were also present on the occasion

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Gujarat Gas rose 2.79% to Rs 542.65 at 11:28 IST on BSE after net profit jumped 158.84% to Rs 71.83 crore on 20.75% decline in total income from operations to Rs 1273.59 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 314.13 points or 1.2% at 25,836.11.

On BSE, so far 40,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 25,000 shares in the past two weeks. The stock hit a high of Rs 560.90 and a low of Rs 537.65 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 690.35 on 19 August 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 477 on 1 March 2016. The stock underperformed the market over the past one month till 18 November 2016, sliding 10.62% compared with 6.78% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 18.99% as against Sensex's 7.02% fall.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 137.68 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Gujarat Gas is a city gas distribution company with presence spread across 19 districts in Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and the Thane geographical area which includes Palghar district of Maharashtra.

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For its North American operations

Hinduja Global Solutions announced the appointment of Neil Rae as President - Sales & Client Services, for its North American operations.

To be based out of Toronto, Canada, Neil will lead the Sales and Client facing organization for HGS in North America, overseeing client management for existing clients and acquisition of new business in the US and Canada. He will also be a key member of HGS' Global Advisory Board and participate in overall corporate strategic planning

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NBCC (India)'s consolidated net profit rose 1.42% to Rs 69.11 crore on 15.75% increase in net sales to Rs 1224.41 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

Housing finance major HDFC announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016 that it has assigned the outstanding loans in projects of Unitech Group to JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Company (JMFARC). Detailing the rationale behind this move, HDFC stated that over the last three decades, it has funded various projects of the Unitech Group and that HDFC's current exposure to the Group involves funding of certain projects across various locations. In the recent past, the Unitech Group has faced sluggishness in the sale of apartments in its projects. This has affected the cashflows of the Group, which in turn has had an adverse impact on the progress of construction, and has resulted in irregular servicing of the loans. Under these circumstances, HDFC has assigned the outstanding loans in these projects to JMFARC. All these projects are located in prime locations, are financially viable but require additional funding. JMFARC will arrange for funds to support and kick-start these projects. The progress of the projects and the resultant cash flows will thereafter be closely monitored.

Against the total dues of Rs 869 crore in respect of these projects, JMFARC has paid HDFC Rs 155 crore upfront and has issued security receipts (SRs) to HDFC amounting to Rs 705 crore which will be redeemable over the period of construction. Though these accounts were standard assets as at 30 September 2016, and turned non-performing assets (NPA) only at the end of October 2016, in view of the irregular payment history, HDFC said, it has over the last few quarters as a matter of prudence, made provisions amounting to Rs 240 crore in respect of these accounts. No further provisioning is required as a result of the sale of the loans to JMFARC. After considering the provision of Rs 240 crore already made (34% of the SRs) the net carrying value of the SRs will be Rs 465 crore.

Vedanta announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016 that its subsidiary Sesa Mining Corporation has revoked the suspension order in the Bicholim mines with immediate effect. The management took the decision after employees appealed to resume work. Sesa Mining Corporation had recently suspended the work at Bicholim mines due to union agitation/activism.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals announced that it received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for Telmisartan and Amlodipine tablets, 40 mg/5 mg, 40 mg/10 mg, 80 mg/5 mg, and 80 mg/10 mg. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD) Twynsta tablets, 40 mg/5 mg, 40 mg/10 mg, 80 mg/5 mg, and 80 mg/10 mg, of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Telmisartan and Amlodipine tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or with other antihypertensive agents to reduce blood pressure. Alembic now has a total of 50 ANDA approvals (44 final approvals and 6 tentative approvals) from USFDA. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

3M India's net profit rose 1.26% to Rs 48.21 crore on 9.25% increase in total income to Rs 576.74 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers' net profit fell 4.8% to Rs 43.42 crore on 26.47% side in total income to Rs 1789.03 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

Techno Electric & Engineering Company's consolidated net profit rose 58.33% to Rs 70.60 crore on 44.26% increase in total income to Rs 373.71 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced on Saturday, 19 November 2016.

Siyaram Silk Mills' net profit rose 6.06% to Rs 26.79 crore on 7.46% increase in total income to Rs 427.37 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced on Saturday, 19 November 2016.

Great Eastern Shipping Company announced after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016, that Greatship Global Offshore Services, a Singapore incorporated subsidiary of Greatship (India) (GIL), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has sold and delivered its 2013.-built ROV Support Vessel (ROVSV) 'Greatship Ragini', to the buyers. With the delivery of this vessel to the buyers, GIL and its subsidiaries currently own and operate five Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), eight Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTSVs), two Multipurpose Platform Supply and Support Vessels (MPSSVs), five R-class supply vessels and four jack-up rigs.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) said that on 18 November 2016, the company took physical delivery of secondhand MPSV m.v. "SCI Sabarmati", having a gross tonnage of 3306 metric tonnes and deadweight of 3352.31 metric tonnes, at Singapore. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

GPT Infraprojects announced the commencement of trial production at the company's concrete sleeper plant in Pahara village located in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. GPT Infraprojects has set up the sleeper facility in Pahara in connection with the World Bank funded Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) project for supplying concrete sleepers. This production facility, with a capacity of 400,000 sleepers per annum, is one of the 2 facilities being setup for this 246 crore contract of EDFC by the company. The first facility of similar capacity in Ikari, Uttar Pradesh began trial production this September. The announcement was after market hours on Friday, 18 November 2016.

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Held on 19 November 2016

The Board of Techno Electric & Engineering Company at its meeting held on 19 November 2016 approved the shifting of registered office of the Company from the State of West Bengal to State of Uttar Pradesh. The Board also approved the sale of 45 MW wind power assets of the Company, subject to approval of shareholders and other authorities.

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Panacea Biotec rose 1.61% to Rs 107.20 at 12:16 IST on BSE after the firm received Establishment Inspection Report from USFDA for its oncology parenteral and oral solids dosage formulation facilities at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 21 November 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 320.28 points or 1.22% at 25,829.96.

On BSE, so far 31,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 13,801 shares in the past one quarter. The stock high of Rs 113.15 and a low of Rs 103 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 171.20 on 4 December 2015. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 83.90 on 12 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 18 November 2016, sliding 4.52% compared with 6.78% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 4.09% as against Sensex's 7.02% fall.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 6.13 crore. Face value per share is Rs 1.

Panacea Biotec has state-of-the-art pharmaceutical formulation facility located at Baddi for oral solids and oncology parenteral formulations. The company has been supplying products in US markets for approved abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) manufactured in oral solids dosage facility. A number of ANDAs submitted by the company, referring these facilities, are also at various stages of approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

Panacea Biotec reported net loss of Rs 11.84 crore in Q2 September 2016, lower than net loss of Rs 17 crore in Q2 September 2015. Net sales declined 18.3% to Rs 131.56 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Panacea Biotec is one of India's leading research based health management companies with established research, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. It is one of the largest vaccine producers in India and is one of the leading biotechnology companies.

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Shalimar Paints lost 12.67% to Rs 124.75 at 14:53 IST on BSE after the company informed that there has been a fire accident in one of the plants of the company at Gonde Dumala village, Igatpuri, Nasik on 19 November 2016.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 21 November 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 359.83 points or 1.38% at 25,790.41

On BSE, so far 24,250 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 56,436 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 140 and a low of Rs 123.40 so far during the day. The stock hit a record high of Rs 223.60 on 23 August 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 88.70 on 12 February 2016.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 3.79 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.

Shalimar Paints said that there has been no loss or injury to human life. The company is in the process of ascertaining the actual loss caused by the fire and also is in process of informing the same to the insurance company, Shalimar Paints said. The company is taking adequate steps to ensure re-functioning of the plant at the earliest, it said.

Shalimar Paints' net profit rose 95.97% to Rs 2.43 crore on 0.11% increase in total income to Rs 103.15 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Shalimar Paints is India's iconic paint-maker. Established in 1902, the country's first paint company is a pioneer in the field of paints and coatings.

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After overnight ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, that left once BSF trooper dead and seven others wounded, the Pakistan Army started shelling and firing again on Monday in Poonch and Rajouri districts.

"Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, they are using 120 mm mortars and automatics to target Indian Army, we are effectively responding," Lt. Col. Manish Mehta told IANS.

During last night in Manjakot and Naushera sectors, one BSF head constable was killed while three others were wounded.

"Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Manjakot sector of Rajouri district after midnight," the senior BSF official said.

"One BSF trooper was killed, while three others -- four of the Army and three BSF troopers -- were injured," he added.

The Army said that four of its soldiers were also injured in another ceasefire violation by Pakistan during the night in Naushera sector.

Heavy shelling was still underway, the official added.

--IANS

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Amid growing tensions with Pakistan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said while good relations with neighbouring countries are always welcome, it cannot be at the cost of national security.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made efforts to maintain relations with the neigbouring country and the people criticized him for it. We would welcome good relations with any neighbours and being friendly helps, but it cannot be at the cost of national security," Parrikar said.

He said the Indian Army does not initiate any action on the Line of Control unless provoked from across the borders, referring to the continuous violation of ceasefire by Pakistan.

Referring to Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chauhan of Maharashtra, who inadvertently cross the LoC last month, he said standard procedures are being implemented to bring him back and the Pakistan government has assured he is alive and safe.

Earlier, Parrikar commissioned the third indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, INS Chennai into the Indian Navy, marking the completion of the crucial Project 15A.

"This is a historic day for the Indian Navy... It will add new a dimension to our navy's attack capabilities," Parrikar said, lauding the indigenously designed and constructed, Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer built by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.

Present on the occasion was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, top naval officers of the Western Naval Command and other dignitaries.

While INS Kolkata was the first ship in this class commissioned on August 16, 2014, the second was INS Kochi commissioned on September 30 2015.

After commissioning, INS Chennai shall be placed under the operational and administrative control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

It will undergo certain additional sea trials of the ship-borne systems before she will assigned to the Western Fleet and based in Mumbai.

Among the largest destroyers constructed in India, INS Chennai is 164 metres long with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes, and sail at a top speed of over 30 knots (around 55 kms) per hour.

Equipped with formidable prowess of missile technology, the vessel is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 Long Rang Surface-to-Air missiles.

Its undersea warfare capability includes indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar HUMSA-NG, heavyweight torpedo tube launchers, rocket launchers and Towed Arrau Sonar capability.

For defence against enemy missiles, INS Chennai is fitted with 'Kavach' chaff decoy system and for protection from enemy torpedoes, it had 'Mareech' torpedo decoy system, both developed in India.

A potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, the vessel can carry and operate two multi-role helicopters.

INS Chennai is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas propulsion plant consisting of four reversible gas turbines.

Its very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks on board includes ATM-based integrated Ship Data Network, Combat Management Systems, Automatic Power Management System and Auxiliary Control System.

The ship's crest depicts the outline of the iconic Fort St. George of Chennai in the background, a part of the adjacent beach and a sloop on blue and white waves.

The crew of the ship abides by the Sanskrit motto, 'Shatro Sanharaka' meaning Vanquisher of Enemies, epitomizing the warrior spirit and strong resolve to prevail and succeed in combat.

--IANS

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If you are not happy with your bedroom life, check your dental hygiene. Teeth stand witness to your happy love life, says a study, suggesting that individuals who are in a trusting, secure and loving relationship may have good oral health compared to those in a bad one.

People in love paid extra attention to their appearance, including dental health. "We were surprised how greatly romantic relationships really did play a big part," Grace Branjerdporn from University of Queensland in Australia, was quoted as saying to abc.net.au.

Those who were emotionally detached from their partners appeared reluctant to schedule regular preventative dental appointments, the researchers said.

"The study discovered that those who try to avoid emotional intimacy, or are worried their partner would leave in times of need, were more likely to have negative oral health," Branjerdporn added.

"They also have higher levels of self-reliance, distrust others and avoid seeking support," she said.

"On the brighter side, those in a love life, who trust the other person and have higher self-worth lead to better dentist visiting habits," Branjerdporn observed.

For the study, published in the journal of Quality of Life Research, the team analysed a group of 265 people, mainly in their early 30s with healthy lifestyles.

--IANS

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In a first of its kind, IAF fighter jets on Monday touched down on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Uttar Pradesh as part of the grand opening of India's longest expressway.

The six-lane 302-km-long expressway, connecting the city of Taj Mahal with state capital Lucknow, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Three Mirage-2000s and three SU-30 of the Indian Air Force performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe.

The portion of the Expressway, intended to be used for emergency jet landings, has a reinforced cement concrete construction and appropriately marked to facilitate aircraft landings.

The entire operation began with the first three Mirages coming overhead and culminated with a touch and go by the SU-30 fighter jets.

The aim of the exercise is to check feasibility of the expressway being used as alternate airstrips in case of dire emergencies or non-availability of runways for any reason, said the IAF.

Central Air Command chief, Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha was among those present at the venue to oversee the operations.

A pet project of the Chief Minister, the Expressway has been constructed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh Yadav thanked the IAF for the grand show and said the expressway will be opened for public soon.

According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the expressway will halve the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to just 3.5 hours from the current seven hours.

The expressway, which joins the Yamuna Expressway in Agra, is also expected to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Lucknow to between 5 and 6 hours.

An official connected with the project said the expressway is fully equipped with advanced traffic management systems that will work during foggy conditions too.

The state government claimed the Expressway had created a national record of laying a 302-km greenfield expressway in barely 23 months. The six- lane expressway can be later expanded to eight lanes.

Eight bridges on Ganges and Yamuna, four railway overbridges and provision of 3.3 km runway for landing of IAF fighter planes are unique features of the project.

Agra citizens rejoiced on the opening of the six-lane Expressway, that the state government has claimed will bring Taj Ganj nearer to Hazrat Ganj, the premier market in Lucknow.

A few stretches of the mega project are still to be completed but Akhilesh Yadav was keen to present a birthday gift to his father, Mulayam Singh, whose birthday is on Monday.

The formal opening ceremony was held at Khamboli, near RS Chauraha Bangarmau in Unnao district, adjacent to Lucknow.

A few days ago the CEO of the project Navneet Sehgal was seriously injured alongwith a journalist and some staffers, when he visited the site. Sehgal is in Medanta Hospital presently.

The new expressway did not face many legal hassles like the Mayawati project, Yamuna Expressway, as land was purchased from 30,000 farmers after concluding amicable agreements under market terms, an official said.

--IANS

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South Korea is looking to co-produce films with India, the country's ambassador to India Cho Hyun said on Monday.

Cho was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting between a South Korean delegation he is leading at the 47th International Film Festival of India and an Indian delegation of government officials and film-makers led by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu.

"We are impressed with India's film-making prowess. We are looking to co-produce films by bringing on board film-makers, both from India and South Korea," Cho said.

India and South Korea have already signed a memorandum of understanding for co-production and exchange of ideas.

Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said the central government was keen on working and co-operating with South Korea "in the domain of film production in a way that could benefit both countries".

--IANS

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The Indian Army chief, General Dalbir Singh, began a four-day visit to China on Monday and is set to visit the eastern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army in Nanjing.

He will also meet the Vice Chairman of all-powerful Central Military Commission Fan Changlong.

"He is here (China)," said an Indian embassy official here.

Eastern theatre command is one of the five zones of People's Liberation Army -- the world's largest standing military.

"The visit aims at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping training," the embassy said.

"This visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations. The delegation will also be visiting military installations including Infantry Division and Army Air Defence Brigades," the statement said.

Singh's visit coincides with the ongoing joint military exercise between the two countries in Pune.

The drill will be followed by the visit of General Zhao Zongqi, commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA, in the second week of December.

--IANS

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There was no end to people's woes in the wake of demonetisation of high value currency notes even on 13th day across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Long queues were seen at banks and ATMs in Hyderabad, Warangal and other towns in Telangana. The situation was no different in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and other towns in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A day after the weekend, people in large numbers flocked to banks for exchange of cash, withdrawal of money through cheques or depositing the spiked notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 in their accounts.

Standing in serpentine queues for cash, people were becoming impatient. At one of the branches of Syndicate Bank in Borabanda area in Hyderabad, people vented their anger by raising slogans. They complained that the spiked notes were not exchanged for last four days.

As the tension mounted, the bank manager locked the branch and left the place along with other staff.

Majority of ATMs remained shut, bringing no respite to the people. 'No cash' boards greeted customers at the ATMs.

Even those ATMs which were opened were dispensing only Rs 2,000 notes. People complained that the note is of little help to them as small currency notes were not available in the market.

The business remained dull in both the Telugu states with small traders hit hard by the cash crunch.

Farmers who bring the vegetables at Guddimalkapur, one of the major markets in Hyderabad, complained that there were few buyers due to non-availability of loose change. "Everybody is coming with Rs 2,000 note to buy Rs 50 or Rs 100 of vegetables. Nobody has change," said one of the sellers.

People said the situation would not improve unless Rs 500 notes are made available in banks and ATMs.

Leaders of the Left parties staged a sit-in at State Bank of India branch in Visakhapatnam, demanding immediate steps to provide relief to people.

Congress' Andhra Pradesh unit chief N. Raghuveera Reddy told reporters in Vijayawada that all sections of people were badly hit by the sudden move of the Narendra Modi government.

He said the demonetisation of 86 percent currency without making alternate arrangements had led to chaos, hitting hard the common man. He demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation each for the families of those who died due to demonetisation.

--IANS

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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday raised the Hirakud multi-purpose project in the Mahanadi basin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his help in resolving the water sharing dispute with Chhattisgarh.

Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik met the Prime Minister here and raised a host of issues including the impact of Hirakud project, a source said, adding that Modi "assured" him that he would "look into the matter".

Earlier this year, Patnaik had also written to Modi expressing his concern over structures and proposed irrigation projects across the Mahanadi river.

The Hirakud multi-purpose project in the Mahanadi basin has been hanging fire for long and spoiling relations between the two states.

The Mahanadi river contributes the maximum to irrigation in Odisha and the livelihood of farmers in several districts, including Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundergarh and Bolangir, is dependent on the river.

Odisha politicians, cutting across party lines, believe that the project would harm the interest of the farmers in their state.

However, from time to time the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government has maintained that the dam project would not affect the interests of the neighbouring state and also that the state of Chhattisgarh has been "utilising only its legitimate share" of water.

Chhattisgarh has also said that it "respects" the Inter-State River waters sharing pact.

In the monsoon session of Parliament, Biju Janata Dal members had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on July 26 through a calling attention motion and tried to corner Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and the Minister of State Sanjev Balyan.

Among others, BJD leader in Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab, Tathagatha Sathpathy and Kalikesh Singh Deo alleged discrimination by the Centre as Odisha was run by a regional party government and had chosen "a different socio-political path".

During the debate in the monsoon session of Parliament, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti had said that "Odisha is a "priya (beloved) state" for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance regime government.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a slogan of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas (A government with all and for development of all). And thus we will try to take all the states along," Bharti had said.

According to sources, while the Odisha Chief Minister favoured firm action against black money and fake currency, he also told the Prime Minister that the central government should do enough to mitigate the problems and hardships faced by common people due to cash shortage in the wake of demonetisation of high value currency notes.

--IANS

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US President Barack Obama said that reality will force his successor to the White House, Donald Trump, to adjust his approaches on many issues he defended during his campaign.

Obama, during his press conference at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, advised the world to "take a wait and see approach" to Trump's proposals, Efe news reported.

Obama explained that since Trump won the election on November 8, his goal has been to be respectful to his successor and give the President-elect an opportunity to set up his team and put forward his policies.

However, Obama said he would speak out if core US "values and ideals" were threatened by the Trump Presidency.

The president described himself as "an American citizen who cares deeply" about his country.

The press conference Sunday in Lima will likely be Obama's final press conference abroad, during his final presidential trip overseas visiting Greece, Germany and Peru.

Throughout the tour, Obama has tried to reassure other countries about Trump's presidency, given the uncertainty and fear generated by Trump's proposals during his campaign.

--IANS

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Riyadh, Nov 22 (IANS/AKI) Saudi police arrested an Indian immigrant who allegedly disrespected Islams holy Kaaba site on Facebook, covering it with an image of Buddha, a local report said Monday.

"The region's investigative department were able to capture and arrest a suspect, in his forties and who works in agriculture, who insulted our holy site," said a Riyadh police spokesman cited by the Al-Arabiya TV network.

"He superimposed a picture of the Buddha on the Kaaba and posted on social media," Al-Arabiya quoted the spokesman as adding.

Police were able to identify and arrest the unnamed Indian at a farm in Al Majmaah city in the province of Riyadh, he said.

The Kaaba, an ancient monument at the centre of the Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, is Islam's most sacred place.

--IANS/AKI

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The Supreme Court on Monday ordered status quo on Tata group-owned Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi, disallowing NDMC's plea that the hotel should not be allowed bookings after December 31.

The municipal body, that owns the land and the building, had filed a plea that Taj Mansingh should be restrained from pursuing transactions from December 31.

Disallowing its plea, the bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and not Uday Umesh Lalit said "Running (of the hotel) can't be stopped".

Fixing January 10 for hearing of the matter, the bench said, "Once for all, the matter has to be decided."

--IANS

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BJP President Amit Shah on Monday met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at Parliament House, reportedly to discuss the issue of demonetisation.

What transpired during the half hour meeting was not immediately clear but informed sources said the demonetisation move, which has led to a cash chaos, figured prominently.

The sources said Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Secretary Shaktikant Das also attended the meeting.

--IANS

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attended the inauguration of a photo exhibition on late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life to mark her birth centenary celebrations.

Sonia daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present at the photo exhibition.

The theme of the photo exhibition was "Indira - A Life of Courage", which was inaugurated at Swaraj Bhawan in Allahabad.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sonia said: "The biggest concern of Indira Gandhiji was to build a strong and developed nation."

Earlier, speaking at the Indira Gandhi Centenary Celebrations at the Vigyan Bhavan last week, Sonia said the late Prime Minister was not only her mother-in-law but also a mother, mentor and a guide to her.

--IANS

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has proposed a national minimum wage of 3,500 rands ($250) per month as the national minimum wage, officials said.

On Sunday, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said a government advisory panel was mandated to advise on an appropriate national minimum wage, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The panel is proposing that the national minimum wage in South Africa, which will have national coverage with the few exceptions that they will deal with, should start off at 3,500 rands ($250) per month which amounts to 20 rands ($1) per hour," he told reporters.

The panel also discussed how to deal with labour instability, the deputy president said, calling on South Africans to contribute to the debate about the proposed figure.

Imraan Valodia, a professor of the University of Witwatersrand and chair of the advisory panel, believed that the proposed minimum wage would address inequality and boost economic growth.

"It is quite striking that around 47% of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below 3,500 rands. We think as well from this evidence, that this policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," he said.

Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa, said, "We look forward (to it) and when we receive the report we will go back to our members so we can brief them on the developments and to get a mandate from them, so that we can try to introduce a minimum wage in as an important instrument to deal with inequality."
Telugu Desam Party MP N. Sivaprasad staged a novel protest in this temple town on Monday over the difficulties faced by people due to demonetisation of high value currency notes.

The Lok Sabha member from Chittoor, who is known for his antics, dressed as a folk performer and staged the protest outside the State Bank of India (SBI) branch on Tilak Road.

Holding a 'veena', the TDP leader performed 'Burrakatha' to highlight the problems faced by people in the wake of demonetisation of the Rs 1,000 and 500 notes.

'Burrakatha' is an oral storytelling technique performed in the countryside of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for sharing mythological stories or to highlight a contemporary social issue.

Sivaprasad, along with a couple of co-performers, narrated how people were suffering by standing in long queues for cash and how the situation had affected marriages and treatment of the sick.

He told reporters that while the move to spike high value currency notes was aimed at curbing black money, the failure to take alternate measures had hit hard the common man.

Sivaprasad lamented that the move was not achieving the desired results. He wondered if 'acche din' promised by the government were for hoarders of black money or for common man.

The MP, who has acted in a few Telugu films, made it clear that as an artist he was highlighting the sufferings of the people.

The TDP is a partner in the BJP-led government at the Centre. Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had long been demanding demonetisation of major currency notes.

He, however, expressed displeasure over lack of proper arrangements to mitigate the problems faced by people.

--IANS

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US President-elect Donald Trump's soon-to-be Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, said the incoming White House counsel will be tasked with making sure that there were no conflicts of interest with the real estate mogul's business empire.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Priebus said Americans should not be concerned with potential pay-to-play schemes in a Trump administration despite reports that Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who helms part of the family's business portfolio, sat in on Trump's meeting last week with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"We've been at this for a few days. I mean, this is ridiculous. Let's just kind of take a deep breath. The point is, what Americans should see from President-elect Trump is someone who, by being in action from the moment he was declared the winner, he was on a mission to bring everyone together," Priebus said.

"That, to me, is what we should be celebrating. I think people should be encouraged by what they see. And I think it's a real positive sign for the future of our country."

However, there were some signs Trump has not completely cut ties with his business -- and that foreign diplomats see Trump's business empire as a way to win his favour, CNN said.

Last week, Trump met three Indian business partners building a property near Mumbai, The New York Times reported.

The three Indian businessmen posted photos of the meeting at Manhattan's Trump Tower on social media.

--IANS

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Tapping smartphones on high-tech contactless machines, bank customers will now be able to withdraw 100 pounds (around Rs 8,414) in cash, reports said.

The scheme by Barclays -- a British multinational banking and financial services company -- is set to start in December and would be the first of its kind, the Telegraph reported on Monday.

The initiative, for the Android smartphone users, would require the customers to first touch their mobile device or contactless debit card against the machine and then enter their pin on the cash-point," the report said.

Barclays is also set to introduce a facility on their mobile app in January 2017, which would require customers to enter their pin and then tap their device against the machine for withdrawals.

The contactless machines would make it harder for criminals to misuse customers' accounts by "protecting them from card skimming".

"These are machines that we have designed ourselves, so they're unique," said Ashok Vaswani, the head of Barclays' Personal and Corporate banking division.

"We hope this will give thieves fewer opportunities to steal money or cards by distracting customers," Vaswani added.

Barclays aims to have about 500 of the new points operating in 200 branches across Britain by January before a wider roll-out of the technology, including to high-street ATMs, the report mentioned.
Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has denied being in exile and said he would return to Pakistan within the next few weeks, the media reported on Monday.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, who has divided his time between London and Dubai since June 2015, said he would return to the country "soon", Geo News reported.

Zardari, who was the President from 2008 to 2013, abruptly left the country last year after giving a hard-hitting speech in which he hit out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain.

--IANS

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On November 11, two years to the day after becoming defence minister, Manohar Parrikar unleashed a controversy by suggesting that the no-first-use (NFU) clause in Indias nuclear doctrine was an anachronism. NFU limits the use of nuclear weapons (nukes) by India to situations in which we, or our forces anywhere, are attacked with weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), including chemical and biological warheads. Why should I say I am not going to use it first? demanded the bellicose defence minister, following up with a typical Parrikarism: I am not saying you have to use it first just because you don't decide that you don't use it.
The Congress was taking on the Modi government and will come up from the mere 44 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats it was reduced to in the 2014 polls, Congress chief asserted on Monday.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Monday again hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of demonetisation. Gandhi said the lockers of 15-20 people close to the Prime Minister will be filled.
As many as 10 Opposition parties came together to plan a joint protest against the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes inside the parliament complex on Wednesday even as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would hit the streets in Delhi on November 22 and later in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
One person was killed and eight others were injured today in a collision of five vehicles near Samaspur village in Haryana's Charkhi Dadri district, police said.

The vehicles involved in multiple collision included a state transport bus, a tractor-trolley and a car, they said.

The condition of two of the injured has been stated as serious, police said, adding the accident occurred on Charkhi Dadri-Delhi road.

The matter is being investigated, they added.

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Three Naxals, including a self-styled area commander, were arrested today when they assembled in a house on the way to a bank for exchanging/ depositing extortion money in Latehar district.

During a police raid at the house at Dharampur, one of the Maoist activists Ramjit Kumar Yadav, the self-styled area commander of CPI (Maoists) Ravindra Yadav alias Rahul and a supporter were apprehended along with another Maoist activist Ramjit Kumar Yadav, a police officer said.

They had apparently come for counting the extortion cash to be exchanged/deposited later on at a bank, when a police force threw a ring around the residence.

Superintendent of Police, Latehar, Anoop Birtherary, said police has recovered Rs one lakh each from Anil Kumar Yadav, self-styled area commander Ravindra Yadav, both residents of Panki police station limits of Palamau district, and Ramjit Kumar Yadav, a resident of Latehar district,.

He further informed that police has also seized a bank receipt against deposit of Rs one lakh in Punjab National Bank, Latehar branch, on November 18 last and a pass book of the bank from Ramjit's residence.

The arrested ultras confessed that money was brought to exchange/deposit in bank on the directive of self-styled Zonal Commander Nakul Yadav and Sub-zonal commander Subhash Yadav.

The Maoists became desperate to exchange their money ever since the government demonetised Rs 500 and 1000 denomination currency notes while the district police has launched a massive search operation to apprehend culprits in pressing need to exchange/deposit the money collected as levy, police said quoting district intelligence reports.

Three mobile hand sets were also recovered from the accused, he said.

Birtheray said five cases under various sections of IPC including attempt to murder were already registered against Yadav in Latehar and Palamau.

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A four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted before she was killed in northwest Delhi's Keshavpuram area.

A senior police officer said the incident occurred last night after the girl was abducted while she was playing outside her home at jhuggis near 'Brittania railway lines'.

He said the girl's parents informed the police around 8 PM, but she could not be found despite a four-hour search.

A missing persons complaint was filed thereafter and efforts were again made to search the girl with her parents and neighbours, he said.

Her body was found this morning near the railway tracks with injuries which indicated she was sexually assaulted before being strangulated, the officer said.

Police said they have identified two accused and they will be arrested soon.

"In the CCTV footage that we have found from a factory, we have seen two men taking away the girl. They live in the same area as the girl's family but they have been absconding. Efforts are being made to nab the accused," said the officer.

The girl's parents told police the two men who were seen in the CCTV footage were also searching for the girl yesterday.

The girl's family had been living in the area for the last 20 years. Her father works as a porter at a godown. The family has six daughters, including the victim.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal today visited the girl's family.

"Met family of the girl. A 4-year-old girl was raped last year in exact same place. Nothing has changed since. The area is very unsafe(sic)," she tweeted.

Maliwal also expressed concern about Delhi being unsafe for women.

"4-year-old girl raped and murdered by 25-year-old man in Keshavpuram. How low will humanity stoop? Delhi is so unsafe for women and girls.

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Delhi government's 'Bill Banvao Inam Pao' scheme to encourage customers to demand bills for their purchases, received good response in the form of 69,000 entries out of which 450 people were given prizes worth Rs 38.89 lakh worth of.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia presented cheques to 68 winners in a function held today.

The prize winners were selected by draw of lots from the bills received, under the scheme, in the July and August months. Total 68991 bills were uploaded in two months on the DVAT app launched by Trade and Taxes department in January this year.

About 450 people have been awarded five times the billing amount. Twenty three people have won Rs 50000 each, the maximum amount of award under the scheme. Total of Rs 38,89,625 were distributed as prize money for the bills uploaded upto August, said the officer.

Speaking on the occasion Sisodia appealed the people to become brand ambassador of the scheme to enable the government to collect revenue to enable it to spend on welfare and infrastructure development.

The department also identified 268 cancelled dealers doing business through the uploaded bills. Ninty one traders were also found manipulating records, added the officer.

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About 84% of and modules imports were from China alone in 2015-16, Parliament was informed on Monday.

As much as $1.96 billion worth of and modules were imported from China alone against the total imports of these worth $2.34 billion in 2015-16, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to the reply, India had imported and modules worth $820.95 million in 2014-15 including $603.34 million imports from China alone.

Similarly, out of the total imports of other photocells of $64.57 million, $49.96 million were from China alone in the last financial year.

According to the statement, total windmills imports were $727,741 which includes $190,096 from China alone.

The Minister stated that government is providing support to domestic manufacturers through a provision of reserving some capacities for domestic cells and modules which give assured market to domestic manufacturers.

Anti-dumping duty on some countries will still leave scope for imports from other countries and does not give assured market for domestic manufacturers, he added.

The government has set an ambitious target of adding 175 GW power generation capacities by 2022 from renewable sources, including 100 GW of solar, 60 GW of the wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydroelectric projects.
She is known to be vocal about socio- political issues but actress-filmmaker Renuka Shahane believes film stars are not considered important enough to voice their opinion in India and are often trolled for speaking out.

"It is unfortunate because generally people think that actors are earning too much money and they're doing too little for the country. There is that kind of jealousy in the common public. So, when they get a chance to troll an actor for whatever he or she's saying, they do it," Shahane told PTI.

The director says as actors pay their taxes, they have a right to speak out just like the celebrities in Hollywood.

"We are tax payers. We have a right to participate in all kinds of discussion. Also, it's a democracy so, it's our right. Actors all over the world are taking serious stands about things be it climate change or political racism.

"If Hollywood can do that or Thailand or South Korea can do that, then why can't we? Why actors here are not considered important enough to say things?"



The 51-year-old star, who is at the 10th edition of the NFDC Film Bazaar to pitch her story "Tribhanga", says there is a need for more women storytellers as Indian films often don't capture the patriarchy affecting urban women.

"I think very often urban India is not represented in Indian cinema, especially women. You get to see stories about rural India and the patriarchy that affects rural women. But, the patriarchy that is inherent and there in urban India, there's nothing much about it," Shahane says.

The actress says there should be more individual acceptance for women in the industry and they should be given equal focus just like their male co-actors.

"According to me projects by women, for women and of women should be made. We should deal with women as individuals without them being somebody's wife, sister or mother. Hindi women-oriented films do chronicle such stories but men still play an important role in it, which should not happen."



"Tribhanga" is the story of Nayan, Anu and Masha and weaves a complex tale that goes back and forth in time through the generations of the same family from the '60s to the modern day.

Talking about her project Shahane says, "In my film, men are appendages, they just come and go. The idea for 'Tribhanga' came from the Odissi dance pose, which is asymmetrical yet so magical. There is something magical about imperfection. Through this, I want to show the strong presence of women, who are totally independent.

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The Income Tax department today conducted surveys on at least ten locations of high-end event management firms, catering and multi-media service providers who were engaged for the extravagant wedding of daughter of Karnataka's former BJP minister G Janardhan Reddy.

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations here and three in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week here. Reddy is also a mining baron.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.

Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.

The multi-crore wedding was in the spotlight recently for its sheer opulence and extravagance at a time when numerous people were facing a cash crunch and had to queue up outside banks and ATMs to withdraw their hard-earned money in the wake of the demonetisation of the two large currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

The five-day extravaganza was held at the Palace grounds here with ceremonies held against the backdrop of lavish settings.

The mining baron's event presented almost a surreal picture as Bramhani entered into wedlock with Rajeev Reddy, a leading businessman's son from Andhra Pradesh, with rituals conducted by a battery of priests from the famous Tirumala temple.

The grandeur of the wedding was such that huge sets replicating Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and TirumalaTirupati temple were erected at the venue, along with thereplica of the homes of both of bride and the groom.

(Reopens DEL 50)



Pre-wedding events were also conducted with equal extravagance at the venue for five days.

Artistes and dancers from different parts of the country, including Sambadancers from Brazil, were part of one such bash.

The first glimpse of the ostentatious wedding camewith the invitation box with a LCD screen playinga video, where Reddy and family were seen inviting guests, lip syncing to a song.

It was reported that about 50,000 people had been invited for the wedding and people were also ferried from Reddy's bastion, mine-rich Ballari.

Reddy and family had dressed up as "royals" in gold and diamond had left no stone unturned for the wedding.

Most utensils for the wedding rituals were eithergold or silver and entire venue was equipped with airconditioners.

While overflowing fountains added to the glitter, orchids and other ornamental flowers were arranged fancily.

The who's who of the Kannada and Telugu film industry attended the wedding ceremony and wished the newly wed.

Reddy, who had served as a minister in the BJP government,is out on bail after serving three years term inan illegal mining case.
Continuing with the robust growth rate of over 23 per cent, domestic airlines flew 86.72 lakh passengers in October while no-frills carrier IndiGo saw its market share surge to 42.6 per cent during the same period.

Reflecting strong demand, the domestic passenger numbers rose 23.2 per cent last month compared to 70.39 lakh people seen in September.

"Passengers carried by domestic airlines during Jan-Oct 2016 were 813.70 lakh as against 660.60 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering a growth of 23.18 per cent," aviation regulator DGCA said in its report on domestic aviation sector for the month of October.

IndiGo cornered the largest market share in October at 42.6 per cent, higher than 40 per cent seen in September. During the same period, national carrier Air India saw its pie decline to 13 per cent from 14.7 per cent recorded in the previous month.

Apart from Air India, the market share of Jet Airways and GoAir fell last month to 14.7 per cent and 7.9 per cent, respectively.

SpiceJet's share rose marginally to 12.9 per cent while that of AirAsia India inched up to 2.7 per cent.

According to DGCA, load factor in October almost "remained constant compared to previous month primarily due to the end of tourist season".

SpiceJet registered the highest load factor - an indicator of seat occupancy - at 91.9 per cent, followed by IndiGo (84.9 per cent) and GoAir (84.4 per cent).

When it came to On Time Performance (OTP), SpiceJet was against on top with 86.1 per cent. At the second and third positions were Vistara (83.6 per cent) and IndiGo (81.2 per cent), respectively.

Last month, the overall cancellation rate stood at 0.72 per cent, with Air Carnival clocking the highest at 8.74 per cent, followed by Trujet (6.79 per cent), Air Costa (2.52 per cent) , Air India (1.29 per cent) and IndiGo (0.79 per cent).

As many as 790 passenger-related complaints were received by the local airlines in October.Most complaints pertained to customer service, flight problem and baggage.

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An all-party delegation sans BJP would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impress upon him the difficulties being faced by the co-operative sector in Kerala in the wake of demonetisation.

The decision in this regard was taken at an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, he said the state's co-operative sector was not prepared to compromise on the issue in any way, and the need of the hour was to work unitedly.

The state government has called for a special session of the Assembly tomorrow in this regard.

"As of now, the decision is to send an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance minister Arun Jaitley," he said.

The Chief Minister said the co-operative sector was not for made launching any "war" with the Income Tax department and that the latter should stick to inspections.

The sector is not against deducting TDS of deposits of over Rs 25 lakhs. The district cooperative banks have no issues on its implementation, he said.

Vijayan alleged that BJP had reservations on the matter and wanted to know why the co-operative sector could not function as per RBI norms.

The co-operative sector, besides extending credit, is also providing various other services like opening medical and consumer stores as part of its social commitment, he said.

"If we accept RBI guidelines, the co-operative sector can only perform credit business. The sector also gives low interest loans which an urban co-operative bank cannot give as per RBI," the Left leader said.

"If such cooperative institutions come under RBI norms, they would not be able to give loans at such nominal rates. That is why we are opposing any move to bring co-operative sector under RBI norms," he said.

Vijayan added that the sector is also subjected to different kinds of audits.

Although BJP President Kummananm Rajasekharan attended the meeting, he maintained that the saffron party cannot cooperate and support the stand of ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress headed UDF, which he alleged was in "favour of black money hoarders.

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Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhagtoday began his four-day China visit during which he will hold talks with the top PLA leadership and visit key military installations to deepen bilateral cooperation and mutual trust.

Gen Singh, who is accompanied by a high-level military delegation, is scheduled to meet a number of high-ranking dignitaries of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and Central Military Commission (CMC) during his visit from November 21-24.

CMC is the overall high command of the Chinese military and is headed by President Xi Jinping.

"This visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations," a statement by the Indian Army said.

The delegation will also be visiting military installations including Infantry Division and Army Air Defence Brigades, it said.

The visit aims at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace keeping training, the Indian Army said.

The visit comes amidst growing stronger economic and military ties between the Asian giants and follows high-level diplomatic and military exchanges between the two neighbours.

The visit also coincides with a joint military exercise (Exercise Hand in Hand), between two armies which is underway in Pune and will be followed by the visit of General Zhao Zongqi, Commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA in the second week of next month.

While issues relating to the Line of Actual Control continue to exist, the northern borders have remained calm.

However, India is in the process of beefing up its borders with China through raising of a mountain brigade, deployment of modern artillery and tanks besides creating greater airfield infrastructure among others.

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Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations ended their annual summit Sunday with a call to resist protectionism amid signs of increased free-trade skepticism, highlighted by the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum also closed with a joint pledge to work toward a sweeping new free trade agreement that would include all 21 members as a path to "sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," despite the political climate.

"We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism," the leaders of the APEC nations said in a joint statement.

APEC noted the "rising skepticism over trade" amid an uneven recovery since the financial crisis and said that "the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasizing how trade promotes innovation, employment and higher living standards."



Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the summit, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said the main obstacle to free trade agreements in Asia and around the world is the frustration felt by those left behind by globalisation.

"Protectionism in reality is a reflection of tough economic conditions," said Kuczynski, the meeting's host.

Referring to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's election win in the US, he said those results highlighted the backlash against globalization in former industrial regions in the US and Britain that contrasts with support for trade in more-prosperous urban areas and developing countries.

"This is an important point in recent economic history because of the outcome of various elections in very important countries that have reflected an anti-trade, anti-openness feeling," he said.

This was the last international summit for US President Barack Obama and he had been expected to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, a 12-nation trade deal. But he is no longer expected to seek ratification by Congress before he leaves office because of the election victory by Trump, who called the agreement a "disaster" for jobs.

Obama told reporters that the way to address income inequality and to create jobs is through crafting trade policy and agreements like the TPP in ways that will increase exports to the Pacific Rim countries that make up a third of the world's population.

"When it comes to trade, I believe the answer is not to pull back," he said at his last overseas conference. "The answer is to do trade right, making sure it has strong labor standards, strong environmental standards that it addresses ways in which workers and ordinary people can benefit rather than be harmed by global trade.

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Over 100 promotee officers from various state civil services have been asked to undergo a mandatory training program failing which they will lose confirmation in Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has written to chief secretaries of various state governments including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, asking them to ensure training of such defaulting officers.

The move comes as some officers from various state governments and union territories did not join induction training programme held at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, from August 1 to September 10, this year.

"Therefore, it has been decided to nominate 104 officers from various state governments for induction training at Administrative Training Institute, West Bengal to be held during January 16 to February 24, 2017, the DoPT said.

This is a one time opportunity for these officers who have been inducted into IAS to undergo this training for their benefit and for the benefit of the concerned state, it said.

The chief secretaries have been asked to relieve such officers in time so as to enable them to join this training.

"Failure to attend the induction training may have an adverse impact on the career of the officers concerned including their confirmation in the IAS," the directive said.

State civil service and other officers who are inducted into the IAS are required to undergo induction training primarily to gain an all India perspective to issues of governance and public administration.

Among those officers asked to attend the training programmes are 24 from Tamil Nadu, 14 from West Bengal, 13 from Maharashtra, 12 from Madhya Pradesh, nine from Uttar Pradesh, seven from Karnataka, four from Chhattisgarh, three each from Assam and Sikkim, two each from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland and union territories, one each from Tripura, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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India and Australia today held a high-level meeting to discuss issues related to tackling human trafficking and curbing the menace of narcotic drugs.

The Aussie team, led by Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg along with Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders Major General Andrew Bottrell met senior officers of the External Affairs Ministry, Coast Guard and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at the end of their three-day India tour.

Briefing journalists, Bottrell said the aim of their visit was take forward their existing cooperation with Indian authorities on issues related to human trafficking, border security and countering the drugs menace.

During the meeting, the Australian side also urged Indian authorities to ensure that potential asylum seekers from here are not allowed to travel to their country in the wake of a one time deal it recently struck with the US to resettle an unspecified number of refugees languishing in Pacific island.

Bottrell said they also wanted to inform the Indian side that they have "increased their law enforcement and intelligence cooperation with the agencies (including Indian) and have put more ships and aircraft to make sure that even if people smugglers (human traffickers) convince people to get onto the boat we will detect them and we will return them."



The Obama administration had agreed to resettle refugees among almost 1,300 asylum seekers held at Australia's expense on the island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

Quaedvlieg, while talking to journalists, said last weekend Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had announced a resettlement deal "relating to a number of asylum seekers and refugees who have been housed in the Pacific as part of a regional processing arrangement and operations on their borders."



"Our concern is that we are keen to ensure that it is a one off arrangement. Well, there are many asylum seekers in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and we certainly know that there are any number of asylum seekers in Tamil Nadu.

"Our message to those people is that do not think that this is a softening of Australian policy...It is merely a function of trying to resettle the residue people who are trying to seek asylum in Australia.

"If there are any attempts by asylum seekers and people smugglers (human traffickers) to put illegal ventures into waters to Australia they will be detected, intercepted and returned to their point of embarkation," he said.

When asked how big a threat did Australia foresee from asylum seekers and refugees from India, the border force chief said there are "large asylum seeker camps in Tamil Nadu... (which have) ten of thousands potential asylum seekers."



Quaedvlieg said during their meeting with the authorities here they found that India recognises "threat" to Australia from this problem.

The two officials, however, said the last time they intercepted Indian origin asylum seekers was in 2014 when 157 people were detected onboard a boat. They could not make it to Australia and were sent back.

The Australian officers also said they shared their concern with Indian anti-narcotics sleuths with regard to the threat of precursor chemicals that are increasingly being used to prepare drug concoctions world over. These chemicals are known to be used in the illegal manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances.

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India has emerged as a new destination for property investors with Bangalore and Mumbai topping the list of real estate markets for investment and development, according to a report.

"India is on the radar of fund managers for good growth potential. Large institutional investors believe in long-term growth potential," said John Fitzgerald, chief executive of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

This year's Investment Prospects survey shows a strong shift away from last year's favorites, which featured core markets in Japan and Australia. Instead it favours emerging-market destinations, with two Indian cities topping a list which also includes Vietnam, the Philippines and Shenzhen (in China), said the report prepared by ULI along with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

Bangalore has emerged first in investment and development for 2017, it said.

"The big story for investors has long been the city's role as India's main hub for the business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT industries," said the report.

There is a huge demand for space as both domestic and international companies flock to open both call-in and research-and-development centres, it pointed out.

Mumbai was second in investment, third in development out of the 22 Asian cities.

A major road and rail infrastructure programme in Mumbai will allow easier access to the centre from outlying areas, with most construction scheduled for completion before 2019, said the report, adding that Mumbai was previously considered most expensive and slow growing city in India.

Bangalore and Mumbai also emerged as first and second in 'Historical Investment Prospect Rankings' for 2017, shooting up from 12 and 13 positions in 2016.

New Delhi was ranked 10 in development and 13 in investment for 2017.

The capital city was also ranked 13 under the Historical Investment Prospect Rankings for next year.

Following the removal of various regulatory stumbling blocks, there appears to be real motivation at the central government level to make a deal happen, the report said.

As ever, however, resolving bureaucratic issues in India can be complex and time consuming, it pointed out.

While managers at domestic and foreign investment funds active in India were positive about the prospects for a working REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) framework to emerge within the foreseeable future - possibly the next 12 months - a raft of issues remains to be addressed, it said.

These range from resolving ongoing regulatory disagreements between central and provincial authorities, to overcoming obstacles posed by the standard use of a lease rent discounting model to obtain bank financing, to listing REITs at cap rates that will be appealing for retail investors.

"Again, how long these will take to resolve remains an open question," said the report.

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The Supreme Court today sought responses from the government and the CBI on a plea seeking SIT probe into the controversial suicide case of senior bureaucrat B K Bansal.

A bench of Justices J S Khehar and Arun Misra issued notice to the government and CBI on a plea filed by former bureaucrat EAS Sarma, who sought setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers with impeccable integrity to probe the incident.

The plea also sought prosecution of those allegedly involved in the suicide of Bansal and his family.

Bansal, a former Director General of Corporate Affairs, was facing a CBI probe in a corruption case, and his son allegedly committed suicide at their East Delhi residence on September 27.

The development had come nearly two months after his wife and daughter committed suicide by hanging themselves from ceiling fans at their residence.

The two had left separate suicide notes, saying the "CBI raid" caused them "great humiliation" and they did not want to live after that.

They had however held nobody responsible for their death. Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, was arrested by CBI on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe from a prominent pharmaceutical company.

CBI had carried out searches at eight locations in connection with the case during which the agency had claimed to have made cash recoveries. He was later arrested but released on bail.

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A red alert, the most serious level, will be issued for air pollution in Beijing if the Chinese capital's air quality index reaches 500, local authorities said today.

The information office of the municipal government released an updated emergency response plan for severe air pollution, aiming to better address air pollution with minimal disturbance to people's lives.

According to the new plan, which will become effective on Decmeber 15, more gas-burning vehicles will be pulled off the streets when an alert is issued.

Li Kunsheng from the city environmental protection department said Beijing had about 5.7 million registered vehicles, which emit 500,000 tonnes of pollutants every year, contributing over 30 per cent of the hazardous PM 2.5 accumulated locally.

Schools and factories will be suspended or closed based on more detailed and flexible standards, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Besides, as part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration effort, the air pollution alert system in the three adjacent municipalities and province will be synchronised as per the new version.

China has a four-tier warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Beijing issued its first air pollution alert plan in 2012. The plan has played an effective role in alleviating pollution accumulation and protecting public health, said Fang Li, deputy director of the environmental protection department.

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Brexit will boost UK-Nigeria business ties  British High Commissioner

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, on Friday said the decision by the UK to exit the European Union would boost business ties between it and Nigeria.

Arkwright said this in Lagos at a roundtable organised for workers and business entrepreneurs.

He said the target of the British Government was to grow its market.

According to him, relations between Nigeria and the UK will become stronger after exiting the EU.

He added that the British Government had decided to leave the EU and it would not renege on its decision.

The envoy noted that the British Government would give priority to smooth transition that would minimise disruption and there would be no immediate changes to their relationship with the EU.

Arkwright said: Until we exit formally, UK will remain a member of the EU with all the rights and obligations of membership.

Arkwright said the UK was working toward encouraging more businesses in Nigeria and would invest and encourage more inward investment into the UK from Nigeria.

He said the British Government was interested in Nigerians going to the UK to do business, study, visit families and invest in the economy.

He said: I dont know if it will mean more Nigerians travelling to the UK, but in 2014, 168,000 people applied for visas to the UK.

Seventy per cent of those applications were successful and the visas granted within seven to 15 days from the date of application.

Most people for some reason doubt this, but it is true.

Arkwright then commended the Federal Government of Nigerias efforts to diversify the economy from dependence on oil and gas to other areas.

He said the price of oil may increase, but the industry alone would not be able to support the need for jobs that Nigerians require.

He said: And that is why the UK Department for International Development is helping with the immediate needs of those in desperate circumstances in the North East.

We are also helping to diversify Nigerias industrial base and encourage entrepreneurship through improved education and skills training.

www.today.ng
A delegation of Belgaum Municipal Corporation led by its Mayor today called upon her counterpart in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation here and sought support against the Karnataka government which has served a show cause notice to the civic body.

Belgaum Mayor Sarita Patil apprised her counterpart in BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), Snehal Ambekar of the situation in Belgaum. Maharashtra has been demanding inclusion of Belgaum and other Marathi-speaking areas into the state.

Patil, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Sachin Shinde and Group Leader in Belgaum Municipal Corporation, Pandharinath Parab told Ambekar that prevalent situation is "not good" in the civic body and demanded BMC's support to "deal with" Karnataka Government which has served a show cause notice to the civic body.

"We today submitted the copy of the notice that has been served on our civic body by Karnataka government. Government of Maharashtra and the people of this state have always supported us. We seek same support this time as well.

"Government of Karnataka has challenged the very spirit of the principles of the constitution by serving us notice, which is a gross violation of the provisions of constitution," Patil told reporters.

Expressing her solidarity with Belgaum Mayor, Ambekar said, "I will raise this issue at various platforms and would do every bit for the sake of Belgaum people."



Parab said they had sought help of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as Human Rights Commission against the "unfair" attitude of Karnataka government towards local Marathi people.

"Karnataka government's attitude towards Marathi-speaking people there is worse than British government. We want this unwarranted attitude to end.

"The government has slapped baseless allegations of treason on the grounds that she (Patil) joined a rally that was organised to demand separation of Belgaum from Karnataka (on November 1), following which she has been served a show-cause notice and asked to clarify why the civic body should not be dissolved," said Parab.

He said people of Belgaum had observed a black day on



November 1, which is also celebrated as the day of formation of Karnataka state.

"However, Karnataka police behaved unprofessionally. We demand a probe into atrocity by the police and also call for a strict action against state government," he said, adding that the "harassment" of Marathi people must stop immediately.

Shiv Sena had recently sought intervention of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to "protect" Marathi populace in border areas of Karnataka, saying that they are subjected to "atrocities".

In its report 50 years ago, the Centre-appointed Mahajan Commission had recommended that these villages remain in Karnataka.

Maharashtra Government has been fighting the case in the Supreme Court for nearly 12 years to get Belgaum and adjoining areas back from Karnataka.
The West Bengal government will write to the Centre detailing the post-demonetisation situation in the state.

State minister Partha Chatterjee said the decision was taken after a Cabinet meeting, wherein the problems faced by the common man, including farmers, labourers or people working in different sectors, due to demonetisation were discussed.

"The situation is bad in both rural and urban areas. The Chief secretary will write to the Centre informing them about our concerns," he said.

In another Cabinet decision, the financial assistance given to SC students under 'Sikshashree' scheme has been increased to Rs 750 for students of classes five to seven.

For administrative ease, the government has also added two new divisions in Midnapore and Malda.

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The government is likely to place the bill that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC) before Parliament in the ongoing Winter Session.

"The proposed National Medical Commission Bill, 2016 has been finalised by the Aayog and it is likely to be placed before Parliament for passage in the current session," a source said.

The bill has to be approved by the Cabinet after which it will be placed before Parliament, the source added.

Earlier this year, a high-level committee headed by Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya looked into the issue of poor regulation of medical education by MCI and proposed replacing MCI with NMC.

Besides Panagariya, the panel included Prime Minister's Additional Principal Secretary P K Mishra, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and the Union Health Secretary.

The committee was formed to suggest reforms in the Indian Medical Councils (IMC) Act, 1957.

After approval, NMC will become the main regulatory body and will take over all roles and responsibilities of MCI.

The new body will have eminent doctors and experts from related fields to steer medical education in the country so as to ensure quality of education is at par with global standards.

NMC will have around 19-20 members, including the chairman, and their tenure will be about five years. It will also have members from other fields such as economics and law.

It will have four boards - Under Graduate Medical Board, Post Graduate Medical Board, Accreditation and Assessment Board and a board for registration of medical colleges as well as monitoring of ethics in the profession.

There will also be a Medical Advisory Council (MAC), with members from states who can be an eminent professional such as a professor from a medical college and the like. There will be two members from Union Territories. NMC members will also be its members and its role will be advisory.

Earlier this year, a parliamentary committee had called for revamping the MCI, saying it has failed in its role as a regulator which has led to a downfall in India's medical education system.

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BJP in the union territory today said it would soon present to Centre, a list of those who had evaded Income Tax payment during the last two decades.

A delegation would leave for Delhi on November 28 to meet the Union Home Minister and the party's national president Amit Shah and draw their attention to the "amassing of wealth by top ranked officials" in Puducherry, NJP's local unit chief V Saminathan said in a release here.

"Everyone would be exposed, particularly in the current context of the crusade against black money and corruption launched by the Prime Minister all over the country," he claimed.

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A strong blast hit a Shiite mosque in Kabul today as worshipers gathered there for a religious ceremony, officials said, with casualties feared.

"A blast was reported at around 1230 (local time) in police district 6 of Kabul, we are still gathering the details," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

Officials said the attack took place at the Baqir Olum mosque in the western part of the city.

At least 15 wounded were taken to hospitals, the health ministry said.

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Amid confusion over the validity of Rs 10 coins, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday asserted that all such coins were legal tenders.

"The Reserve Bank of India advise members of the public not to give credence to such ill-informed notions and ignore them and continue to accept these (Rs 10) coins as legal tender in all their transactions without any hesitation," Principal Adviser Alpana Killiwala said.

Meanwhile, banking facilities returned to normalcy in Meghalaya with few people seen lining up banks and ATMs.

However, the claims of "non-validity" of Rs 10 coins by rumour mongers has created confusion in the minds of people.

Some ill-informed or uninformed persons who suspect the genuineness of such coins are creating doubts in the minds of ordinary people including traders, shop-keepers etc, thus impeding the circulation of these coins in certain pockets of the country and causing avoidable confusion, Killiwala said.

Circulation of Rs 10 coins has been affected in the state following claims that these coins have been taken out of the market as was done to Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The RBI, however, clarified that from time to time coins were issued with little changes.

"One such change was introduction of 'Rupee symbol' in coins in July 2011. An instance of this is the '10' coins with rupee symbol and the same denomination coin without rupee symbol," the official said.

Killiwala said both are legal tender and equally valid for transactions though they may look a little different.

Those refusing to accept the coins may face action, a police official said.
A 17-year-old boy was killed and another injured when a fire cracker exploded in Antophill here, police said today.

The incident occurred at Kalpak Chouk, Sangamnagar last night at around 10.30 PM during a religious procession, said Nasir Shekh, Senior Police Inspector of Antophill police station.

During the procession, a group of youth were burning fire-crackers. While Afzal Sakiuddin Khan, was burning a 'sutli-bomb' (a type of cracker) with metal pipe in hand, it exploded, he said.

"Afzal and another 15-year-old boy Moin sustained injuries. The two were admitted to civic-run Sion hospital where Afzal died while undergoing treatment," Shekh added.

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The Canadian Province ofBritish Columbiatoday celebrated the issuance of its Masala Bond on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the first foreign government entity to issue such a rupee-denominated bond in the Indian offshore market.

The bond, a AAA rated bond which will mature on January 9, 2020, was celebrated with the opening bell for trading at LSE today.

"From Vancouver to Delhi to London, this bond issuance is unprecedented and remarkable. British Columbia is recognised as an innovator among our triple-A credit rating peers and I am honoured to have the privilege of opening London Stock Exchange on behalf of the Province," said Michael de Jong, British Columbia Minister of Finance.

The bond, announced back in September, raised USD 75 million (INR 5 billion) with 6.62 per cent semi-annual yield, securing high quality investor support from across Europe, Asia and America.

"I am happy to note that British Columbia is the first sovereign to issue Masala Bonds in the Indian offshore market. The success of Masala Bonds has demonstrated the confidence that international investors repose on India.

"It is also a testimony to the centrality of the city of London and the London Stock Exchange to international financial markets and its links to the Indian economy," said Dinesh Patnaik, Acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK.

UK Foreign Office Minister for Asia, Alok Sharma, added: "The UK is the world's leading international financial centre and the global home for Masala Bonds, with over USD 1.1 billion issued in London this year."



"Through our dynamic financial services sector, the UK is strengthening our close and enduring ties with both Canada and India. Just last month, Prime Minister Theresa May made India her first major bilateral visit outside Europe, underlining the global significance of the UK-India partnership," Sharma said.

The latest issuances bring the total number of Masala bonds listed on London Stock Exchange to 33, raising the equivalent to approximately USD 3.86 billion for Indian infrastructure.

"We would like to congratulate the leadership shown by the Government of British Columbia in being the world's first foreign government entity to issue a Masala Bond.

"British Columbia has always led the way in building new markets and we are proud they have chosen to access the widest range of global investors through London, the global centre for Masala bonds. Together we are building an exciting and deep additional channel of finance for Indian infrastructure," said Nikhil Rathi, CEO, London Stock Exchange.

MasalaBondsare rupee-denominatedbondsissued to overseas buyers, aimed at investments into India's infrastructure needs.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday initiated an extradition request to bring back former liquor baron from the United Kingdom through a Special Court in Mumbai.

The investigative agency secured a non-bailable warrant against Mallya, following it with an extradition request from the Special Court, to competent authorities in the United Kingdom, CBI sources said.

Mallya had left the country on March 2 and has not returned ever since, they said.

CBI, in its October 16, 2015 request to issue a lookout circular, had said if Mallya tried to leave the country, he should be detained at the exit point.

Nearly a month later in November, the agency asked for a revised circular, where it asked the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) to only inform it about his departure and travel plans.

As per agency sources, the lookout circular depends on the issuing authority and unless they ask BoI to detain a person or stop him from boarding a plane, no action is taken.

They said after CBI changed the lookout notice, BoI did not make any attempt to stop him from travelling abroad, and every time he travelled the agency was duly informed about it.

Mallya is facing the CBI probe for defaulting on repayment of loans of Rs 900 crore taken from IDBI. In total, the former liquor baron owes several banks a total of as much as Rs 9,000 crore.

State Bank of India, which leads the consortium of 17 banks that lent money to the grounded Kingfisher Airlines, had moved Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in Bengaluru against the airlines chairman Mallya in its bid to recover over Rs 7,000 crore of dues from him.

The CBI had registered a case against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), Chief Financial Officer of the airlines A Raghunathan and unknown officials of IDBI Bank alleging that Rs 900 crore that IDBI sanctioned as a loan to Mallya was in "violation of norms to do with credit limits." The agency had later expanded the probe to include loan defaults of all other banks.

Clarifying his position regarding the loan owed by KFA, Mallya said in a recent statement after the closure of the airline, that since April 2013, the banks and their assignees have recovered, in cash, an aggregate of Rs 1,244 crore from the sale of pledged shares.
The CBI is moving to seek the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom after securing non-bailable warrant against him from a Mumbai court.

A request for extradition will soon be forwarded to designated authorities in the UK through diplomatic channels, CBI sources said today.

The investigative agency secured a non-bailable warrant against Mallya following it with an extradition request from the Special Court to competent authorities in the United Kingdom, the sources said.

The sources said that the agency is also examining the role of top bankers of IDBI which had extended over Rs 900 crore loan to now defunct Kingfisher Airlines in 2008-09.

They claimed that CBI has got sufficient evidence against Mallya and despite notices he has not joined the investigations following which the agency secured a non- bailable warrant against him from Special CBI Court in Mumbai.

Mallya had left the country in March despite look out circulars from CBI. He was not stopped by the Bureau of Immigration because of change in the nature of Look Out Circular issued by the agency.

The agency had registered a case against Vijay Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and other unknown officers of IDBI Bank for allegedly showing undue favours to Kingfisher Airlines, now defunct, to sanction loans aggregating Rs 900 crore in Oct 2008-09.

The sources said the loans were extended despite weak financials of the company, negative reports, low credibility, and in deviation from corporate land policy of the bank.

It is alleged that significant portions of the loans were utilised by KFA to service existing debt to other banks, lenders or to settle outstanding documentary bills.

The FIR alleged that large sums were remitted out of India as rentals or payment of spare parts, they said.

It alleged documents show there was a criminal conspiracy between Mallya and top officials of IDBI Bank wherein the bankers abused their position and disbursed loans amounting to Rs 900 crore even as Mallya and subordinates provided false information to banks to get loans sanctioned.

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Upping the ante against demonetisation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today exhorted people to "change" the Prime Minister instead of defunct notes, saying those supporting the exercise were against the country, even as AAP announced a march to Parliament tomorrow.

Countering his Mahasrastra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis' contention that opposing the decision was "anti-national", Kejriwal said it was those who were in support of the drive that were against the country and the citizens.

Kejriwal also continued to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, asking the latter to come clear on his "relations" with a mobile wallet company, claiming its business has seen an "upswing" since demonetisation.

"Note nahi, PM Badlo (Change PM, not note)...Fadnavis ji, fire is raging across the country following the decision of the Prime Minister. The person who is standing with the PM on this would be against the country and the citizens," the Chief Minister, who is touring poll-bound Punjab, tweeted.

In another tweet, he urged Modi to either "waive off" farmers' loans or deposit Rs 10,000 in each Jan Dhan account using the money deposited by people in banks since November 10, the day banking opened post demonetisation.

Kerjriwal had earlier set a three-day deadline to the Centre demanding that demonetisation, "a massive scam", be rolled back. He will also address rallies in Varanasi, Meerut and Lucknow next month to corner the government on the issue.

The deadline expired yesterday and AAP said tomorrow's march to Parliament was part of its plan to sustain the momentum of its pitched battle against the exercise.

Several ministers of the Delhi cabinet, led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, will take part in the march.

Alleging that the drive by the Modi government was a "scam", senior AAP leader Ashish Khetan said common people were suffering while the loans of big industrialists were being waived off.

"We will be a undertaking Sansad March tomorrow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Demonetisation was aimed at giving BJP the advantage of being the only one with the largest amount of black money in new currency which they can use in the elections," Khetan told a press conference.

Apart from party leaders, Delhi ministers will also join the march, which will start from Jantar Mantar around 11.30 AM.

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China today lodged a protest to Myanmar after a Chinese citizen was hit by a stray bullet when Myanmar forces and ethnic armed groups exchanged fire in a border town, Foreign Ministry said, calling on the warring parties to halt fighting and exercise restraint.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area in northern Myanmar's Shan state early on Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade centre there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China has taken measures to enhance border control in a bid to protect the safety and property of Chinese border residents.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement last night reminding Chinese citizens in Myanmar to watch out for their own safety by avoiding conflict areas.

China will continue to follow the development of the situation and maintain communication with Myanmar, Geng said at a daily press briefing.

"We strongly hope the parties in the conflict will exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations to avoid escalation of the situation," he said.

He also called on them to take concrete measures to restore peace in the China-Myanmar border area and prevent harm to China's sovereignty as well as the lives and property of border residents.

Eight people were killed yesterday when fighting broke out in northern Myanmar town on the border with China, a region long plagued by ethnic rebel insurgencies.

The clashes are another blow to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's hopes of forging a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmar's many ethnic minority border regions.

Last year, Chinese military deployed its force along the border after five people were killed and several others wounded in firing by aMyanmarjet which was reportedly chasing Kokoang rebels in the border areas.

Themain rebel force in Kokang is theMyanmarNational Democratic Alliance Army (MDAA) who are ethnic Chinese and once formed part of Communist Party forces in the region.

The MDAA is led by ethnic Chinese commanderPeng Jiashengwho has reached a peace accord with theMyanmar government which lasted until 2009.

He again resurfaced last year promptingMyanmarto seek Chinese assistance to crackdown on his outfit.

Reports fromMyanmar last year blamedPeng's return as the root cause for resumption of fighting.

Penghas denied any Chinese involvement in interviews to the official media here.

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Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat today paid a visit to the city here even as youth Congress activists held protest.

The Congress workers protested against the government's November 8 demonetisation move, alleging the common man is facing harassment.

Though his visit was kept under wraps, it was learnt that he addressed two meetings in which various organisers of the Sangh participated.

He also held meeting with representatives of trade and industry in which some senior representatives participated.

Earlier, a small group of youth Congress activists raised slogans against RSS Chief near the regional head quarters of the Sangh here.

Protesters, who were wearing vests, were taken away by the police.

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Maharashtra unit of Congress today condemned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' statement at election rallies in Ratnagiri that those opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move were against the country.

"This is an unconstitutional and undemocratic remark and displays the fascist mindset of BJP....Fadnavis has lowered the dignity of the office of chief minister," state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said here.

He said 59 people had died due to the adverse effects of demonetisation and the informal sector which constitutes 80 percent of the trade and industry had collapsed.

"Shouldn't the opposition parties highlight the hardship faced by the common man? Even Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court made observations about the decision and the hardship faced by people. We condemn Fadnavis' remarks," Sawant said.

Campaigning for BJP ahead of the municipal council polls, Fadnavis had said those opposing the PM on demonetisation were harming the country.

"In this battle for economic freedom, those with Modi are soldiers and the ones against the PM will be against the country," he had said.

Sawant also criticised the chief minister for announcing, at a rally at Pen in Raigad district, that state planning body CIDCO will purchase the land belonging to the defunct Pen Urban Bank to give relief to its depositors.

"State Election Commission should take cognisance on its own of these statements (for breach of code of conduct). Is the commission working under government's pressure," he asked.

The Congress leader also demanded Income Tax probe against the state Co-operation Minister and BJP leader Subhash Deshmukh and action under the Benami property act.

A few days ago, Rs 92 lakh in cash were seized from a vehicle belonging to Lokmangal Bank, controlled by Deshmukh.

Sawant said the bank had no link with any sugar mill, and the explanation given by it that the money was meant to be deposited in the bank for payment of wages to the sugarcane cutters was, therefore, not valid.

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Nearly 200 Congress workers were today arrested for attempting to lay siege to two nationalised banks in the city, to protest the lack of adequate cash for public, days after the demonetisation move.

About 100 workers assembled near the District Collectorate here and raised slogans against the Centre for banning Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, without proper planning.

They, then proceeded to an ATM attached to State Bank of India, a few metres away, and laid a wreath on the cash-strapped machine to symbolise its "demise," police said.

When the workers attempted to besiege the SBI office, police arrested them.

Meanwhile, another 100 party activists laid wreath on an ATM belonging to Central Bank of India in Singanallur and attempted to tear off a portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before they were removed by the police, they added.

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Taking note of the infrastructural inadequacy in consumer courts across the country coupled with "apathy" of the Centre and the state governments, the Supreme Court today passed several directions for "systemic overhaul" so that Consumer Protection Act does not become "dead letter".

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur observed that the "poor state" of the consumer courts was mainly due to gross inadequate infrastructure, poor organisational set up, absence of adequate and trained manpower and lack of qualified members in the adjudicating bodies.

Referring to an interim report submitted by a apex-court constituted committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arijit Pasayat, the bench noted that the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and consumer courts in various states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir, were not functioning effectively as expected.

"The interim report of committee provides an unfortunate reflection of the state of affairs in the consumer fora at the district, state and national level. That these bodies which are vested with important functions of a judicial nature continue to work despite the prevalence of such adverse conditions and in the face of the apathy of the governments both at national and state level is a matter which requires immediate intervention by this court," the bench, also comprising justices D Y Chandrachud and L N Rao, said.

"A systemic overhaul of the entire infrastructure is necessary if the Consumer Protection Act, is not to become a dead letter. With the proliferation of goods and services in a rapidly growing economy, Parliament envisaged the enactment to be the corner-stone of a vibrant consumer movement. Reality has been distant from the aspirations of the law," it said.

It passed a slew of directions and asked the Centre to frame within four months model rules for adoption by the state governments and submit it before the apex court for approval.

"The Union government shall also frame within four months model rules prescribing objective norms for implementing the provisions of section 10(1)(b), section 16(1)(b) and section 20(1)(b) in regard to the appointment of members respectively of the District fora, State Commissions and National Commission," it said.

The bench said, "The model rules shall provide for the



payment of salary, allowances and for the conditions of service of the members of the consumer fora commensurate with the nature of adjudicatory duties and the need to attract suitable talent to the adjudicating bodies. These rules shall be finalized upon due consultation with the President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, within the period stipulated above."



The bench has fixed the matter for March 7 next year for further directions and for reporting compliance of its order.

While noting the reasons for the poor state of affairs at the consumer courts, the bench said, "Benches of the state and district fora sit, in many cases for barely two or three hours every day and remain non-functional for months due to a lack of coram. Orders are not enforced like other orders passed by the civil courts".

It noted that state governments have failed to respond to the suggestions of the committee for streamlining the state of affairs and quality of the presiding members, especially of non-judicial members at state and district levels is "poor".

The bench also proposed that members of the NCDRC should get the same salaries, allowances and conditions of services as are available to the sitting judges of the high courts.

The apex court directed Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir to appoint the president and members of the its state consumer commission at the earliest.

It also asked the state governments to implement the recommendations of the committee within a period of three months.
Pakistan's business community sees the ambitious USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project a threat to the domestic industry if the government does not come up with steps to give protection to vulnerable sectors, according to a media report today.

Some business segments in Pakistan think that the flagship project poses new challenges to the country's industry, especially those sectors that are at the stage of infancy or smaller in size compared to gigantic Chinese industries, The Express Tribune reported.

The industries in China have achieved economies of scale over the years primarily because of a huge domestic market, industrial-friendly policies and scores of incentives from the government.

Apart from CPEC, Pakistan has also not been a major beneficiary of the free trade agreement (FTA) with China as the arrangement gives an edge to Beijing and promotes more imports than exports from Pakistan, the report said.

The business community fears that if the corridor is used only for exports from China without giving a fillip to Pakistan's industries by providing a competitive environment, it will prove damaging to the domestic industrial units.

"It is imperative for the government of Pakistan to keep in mind all these factors while negotiating the second phase of the FTA with China," suggests Atif Iqbal, Executive Director of the Organisation for Advancement and Safeguard of Industrial Sector.

He is of the view that in talks with China some leverage should be provided for Pakistan's products to enable the local industry to compete well in the race.

"CPEC can only be beneficial if Pakistan's exports are ramped up with facilitation for the local industry," he says.

In order to create a win-win situation under CPEC, the two neighbours will have to pave the way for a healthy competition among different industries without cutting roots of each other through unfair price wars or dumping of goods.

While inaugurating the revamped Gwadar Port, a strategic deep seaport on November 13, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the development a "watershed" moment in the history of Pakistan and the entire region.

He called it a symbol of Pakistan's commitment to China's 'One Belt-One Road' initiative, of which the CPEC is a key part.

China has not only rebuilt the Gwadar port but also has its operational control. It is also building a network of roads and railways to link up its remote western region to Gwadar for easier access to the Arabian Sea.

The Express Tribune report also noted that in order to



shield Pakistan's infant and vulnerable industries, the government should frame policies in such a manner that these could offer incentives for giving a boost to productivity and pushing exports to China and other markets by taking advantage of the infrastructure being built under CPEC, rather than turning Pakistan into a consumer market.

Owing to electricity and gas shortages, high production costs and the terrorism and extremism threat, the domestic industries have been operating at a disadvantage over the years, it said.

Before achieving economic stability as well as economies of scale, the domestic industries are direly in need of protection, the report said.

"If the government desires to have sustainable industrial growth, it must not only ensure provision of basic utility services including gas and electricity, but also create an atmosphere conducive for business and strengthen the institutions responsible for keeping a check on unfair trade practices," the report said.

The tariff commission needs to be extra vigilant and take immediate notice of unfair trade practices like dumping and subsidisation of foreign goods. The survival of the domestic industry largely depends on price equilibrium in the market.

"In the current scenario when free trade accords are increasingly being negotiated and signed, it is imperative for the trade regulatory authorities of Pakistan to stem the unfair trade practices and safeguard the interests of domestic industry," the report added.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has called for a week-long protest against demonetisation across Maharashtra starting today.

"Our Central leadership decided to call for a week-long protest and accordingly we have informed our district- and tehsil-level cadres to take out marches to district collector's office and local administrative offices," Dr Bhalchandra Kango, state secretary of CPI, said.

CPI demanded cancellation of the new Rs 2,000 note, an extension of time for use of the old Rs 500 note and revocation of ban on cooperative banks and credit societies from accepting old currency notes to help the rural economy, he said.

"Like farmers, traders should also be allowed to use old currency notes for the next two months," he said.

The Centre should initiate a probe against those whose names appeared in the Panama papers, he said.

"The Government should also recover huge loan dues from industrialists. Also, definite action should be taken against those found to be having benami properties," Kango said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
World renowned Czech film director Jiri Menzel will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at this year's International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Chalachitra Academy said in a release.

Menzel, a member of the Czech New Wave, is also a well known theatre director, actor and screenwriter.

His films often combine a humanistic view of the world with sarcasm and provocative cinematography. He received International acclaim in 1967 with his very first feature film "Closely Watched Trains", when it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Menzel's controversial film "Larks on a String" was filmed in 1969, but was initially banned by the Czechoslovakian government.

It was finally released in 1990 after the fall of the Communist regime.

The film went on to win the Golden Bear at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.

Some of his films are "My Sweet Little Village", "Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin" and "Don Juan".

IFFK will be held here from December 9-16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 49-year-old man died today after he collapsed while standing in queue outside a bank to deposit Rs 50,000 in demonetised currency notes in south-west Delhi's Najafgarh area, police said.

Satish Kumar, a resident of Uttam Nagar and who used to work as a vegetable vendor in Keshopur Mandi, collapsed outside an Oriental Bank of Commerce branch, on Najafgarh road, while he was standing in a queue with his friends.

Kumar had left his home around 11.30 in the morning and he had made a call to his wife Beena Devi around 1.30 PM telling her his turn at the bank would come in an hour, one of the deceased's relative told police.

"The man fainted around 2.30 PM while he was in the queue outside the bank. He was rushed to Mata Chanan Devi hospital in a PCR van where he was declared dead on arrival," said a senior police officer.

During check up, the doctors found Rs 50,000 from his pocket, the officer added.

Dr A C Shukla, Medical Superintendent of Mata Chanan Devi hospital told PTI, "The man was brought dead to the hospital. Police said he collapsed in the queue. The cause of his death can be ascertained only after post-mortem."



Police said they are awaiting the autopsy report following which further course of action will be decided.

Last Wednesday, a resident of Old Delhi, had died allegedly after he suffered heart attack while standing in line for over eight hours outside a bank branch in Lal Kuan.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today told Rajya Sabha that more than 70 people have died standing in long queues at banks across the country.

Thirteen days since the demonetisation, Delhiites' woes seem to have no end as they continue to wait for cash in long queues at banks and ATM and struggled to pay for basic necessities.

In many areas, people ran from one ATM to the other, with few managing to withdraw while the rest left dejected as machines emptied out before their turn.

At places, queues formed up within minutes of spreading word of mouth that cash was being dispensed at a particular ATM.

"I waited for two hours in queue to withdraw Rs 2,500 and it (the ATM) ran out of cash when my turn was about to come.

"Tomorrow again I will have to stand in queue. This has become a problem," said 58-year-old Ram Kumar, a resident of Mayur Vihar.

Mother Dairy and other cooperative stores where old currency notes are being accepted till November 24 were also crowded as people were seen buying the products in bulk.

People are not only having a harrowing time withdrawing cash but also commuting by autos and rickshaws and paying for necessities like grocery and milk.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alleging that demonetisation had left the rural economy in Tamil Nadu at a standstill, Cooperative Bank Employees Federation staged a demonstration in front of the RBI office here today, demanding withdrawal of the circular directing not to accept old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

CBEF General Secretary C Thamizharasu said agricultural cooperative societies, textile and fishermen associations with bank accounts in Central Cooperative Banks had been badly hit due to demonetisation.

"Due to the central bank's move, the rural economy in Tamil Nadu has come to a standstill as even those who have bank accounts were not allowed to operate," he said and demanded withdraw of the RBI circular, directing cooperative banks to stop accepting old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes so that they continue to do normal banking operations.

Meanwhile, the rush at banks to exchange currencies post demonetisation eased today, but the situation in ATMs did not improve as long queues were seen to withdraw valid currencies.

As banks were closed yesterday, people queued up since morning to withdraw old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

A bank official said that compared to last week, the number of people standing in queue had come down.

"Those customers who wanted to deposit cash had come to banks. Compared to last week, we can say the crowd has come down. But at ATMs queues were long," the official said.

He also attributed the reason in less number of queues at banks to government's decision to reduce the exchange limit of old defunct notes to Rs 2,000 from the earlier Rs 4,500.

Asked whether the new Rs 500 notes had arrived in Chennai from RBI, he said it was yet to reach the respective banks.

"I was told it has reached the RBI Chennai office. From there it is yet to reach the banks," he said.

Banks had also taken steps to mark customers with ink who are exchanging old notes in order avoid repeat customers, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leader of Uttar Pradesh Congress's Legislator Party Pradeep Mathur today claimed that the decision to demonetise high-value currency notes was leaked to BJP strongholds much before its announcement by the Prime Minister on November 8.

"The lavish marriage that was recently solemnisedin Bengaluru at the residence ofa BJP big gun and former minister (G Janardhana Reddy) cost around Rs 500 crore. This is proof that information (on demonetisation) was leaked," he told reporters here.

Mathur said that while the former minister spent crores of rupees on the marriage, the common man was hankering to gather 2.5 lakh for a marriage in his family.

Demanding a probe by a justice of the Supreme Court into the demonetisation process and leak of information related to it, he said, "The new notes were printed in the last six months, then how do they have RBI Governor Urjit Patel's signature. He was not holding office then. It shows information was leaked to selected persons."



Calling the decision to demonetise notes a "Tuglaqi Farman", Mathur said, "It was introduced without adequate preparation and everybody, especially farmers, were facing difficulties in coping with the situation."



"It will have an adverse impact on Rabi crops because farmers are not being able to purchase seeds and fertilisers. It has jeopardised the entire system," he claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A combined opposition today disrupted the proceedings of Lok Sabha for the fourth consecutive day demanding discussion on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting, leading to adjournment of the House twice.

As soon as the proceedings began and the House paid tributes to those killed in a train accident in Kanpur yesterday, Congress, TMC, Left parties, Aam Aadmi Party stormed the Well demanding admission of an adjournment motion to discuss the demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes under Rule 56, which ensures voting.

However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government was ready for the debate if the opposition allowed the discussion under Rule 193 that does not entail voting or passage of a resolution. The opposition however rejected the proposal.

As the joint opposition continued to shout slogans and raise banners claiming that common people have been suffering due to the demonetisation announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan initially declared that she would not adjourn the House and continued the Question Hour amidst vociferous slogan-shouting.

When some TMC members tried to come near HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar who was replying a question related to his Ministry with banners reading "Financial Emergency", an upset Mahajan told the opposition that she would tell the Lok Sabha TV authorities to show them on the TV screen and asked them not to disturb the Minister.

"If you want to come on TV, I will tell the Lok Sabha TV people to show you, but don't disturb the Minister," she said.

At this, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told Speaker that they were protesting in the House not to come on TV but due to the "sufferings" of the common people.

"We are not here to be in the TV. We want to debate but the government is not listening to us," Kharge said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was present in the House. While NCP MPs were standing in the aisle supporting other Opposition members over the demonetisation issue, AIADMK members were also on the aisles raising the issue of Tamil fishermen injured allegedly in firing by Sri Lankan Navy.

As the pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for ten minutes after carrying out 50 minutes of the proceedings in the din. "It is unfortunate that you do not want the House to function," she said.

At noon when the House met for Zero Hour, the din continued even as Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu made a suo motu statement on the derailment of Indore-Patna Express in Kanpur rural area which has claimed over 133 lives so far.

"This is really very sorry. You do not want to hear the minister," Mahajan said adjourning the House for the second time till 2 PM.

(Reopens PAR11)



When the Lok Sabha reassembled at 1400 hours, Opposition members again raised slogans seeking an adjournment motion on the demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupee notes.

As Congress members rushed to the Well, Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai adjourned the House for the day, within a couple of minutes after it had reassembled.
Concentration of power in the hands of one individual is dangerous for the country and chaos due to demonetisation is a direct result of this, Rahul Gandhi today said in a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Flagging the inconveniences people are facing due to "poor implementation" of the demonetisation decision, he said the move has "dented" the Indian economy hugely and caused tremendous hardship to fishermen, farmers, labourers and daily wage earners.

The Congress vice president added that the entire Opposition was one on this matter and would jointly take on the government in Parliament.

"Concentration of power in the hands of one individual is not good but dangerous for the country. The chaos due to the prime minister's decision of demonetisation is a direct result of this concentration of power," he said.

"The demonetisation decision has hurt the economy in unimaginable ways and has severely dented it besides hitting the fishermen in coastal areas, farmers in northern India, labourers, artisans and daily wage earners," he said.

"The prime minister took this decision without thinking of the consequences. The entire Opposition is together on this issue and will jointly take on the government in Parliament," said Rahul, who was with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra at the historic Anand Bhavan here for the inauguration of a photo exhibition on the life of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Interacting with the leaders of Uttar Pradesh Congress on the lawns of Swaraj Bhavan, the house where his grandmother Indira was born, Rahul asked them about the preparations for the Uttar Pradesh elections.

He categorically asked them to take the message of implications of demonetisation among the people.

The Congress plans to mount a nationwide campaign against demonetisation to corner the government and Modi on the issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a rare show of unity, ten major opposition parties today came together and resolved to corner the government on demonetisation within and outside Parliament even as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged banks were giving cash to a few "through the back door" while the poor were made to stand in queues.

Finding a common ground on demonetisation which has caused hardship to people, leaders of Congress, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), BSP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, RJD, JMM and DMK held a meeting in the national capital this morning to forge a common plan of action with an aim of mounting attack on the government.

Leaders of these parties will hold such strategy sessions every morning before Parliament assembles during the ongoing Winter session, sources said.

It was decided that MPs of these 10 parties will stage a sit-in near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament complex on Wednesday. This will be followed by a march to Rashtrapati Bhawan, date for which is being worked out, the sources said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who visited several ATMs this morning and interacted with people, claimed he was told that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from the back door in the banks for a few "selected people" while there were long queues of common people waiting outside for hours.

"They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash. Those who are rich getting that and those who are poor they are made to stand in the queue.

"They will be in the queue for three days and then they will leave (without cash). People are facing losses because of this," he said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, the Congress leader said, "I feel the coffers of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people, those who are in the queue, will only suffer losses."



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the Prime Minister was threatening parties raising voice against demonetisation and said she will hit the Delhi streets tomorrow to protest against the government action.

"The Prime Minister is threatening other parties who are raising their voice against demonetisation. PM should be sober. PM should behave like a PM. If necessary, he should convene an all-party meeting on the issue," Banerjee told a press conference in Kolkata.

"There is no ego fight. There should be a plan of action on demonetisation. My humble submission is that let us work together to solve the issue. The people are suffering," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

BJP hit back at Banjerjee, accusing her of spreading "canards" about demonetisation and asked her to come clean on the charge that her party received huge funds from a fictitious company before 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"Mamata Banerjee resembles the comic character of 'Betal'. She keeps on blabbering lies, false statements and canards. She should stop spreading those lies. She is questioning the Prime Minister, but what is her credibility?" BJP general secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said.

"She had arrested a professor for circulating cartoons



and a farmer for seeking a clarification regarding crops. She had asked the police administration to harass a college student for questioning her. She should not make those statements," Siddharth Nath Singh said.

Prime Minister Modi had told a rally in Agra yesterday said that political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams were attacking him because they had been hit hard by demonetisation, indirectly referring to Mamata Banerjee.

"She is yet to answer our queries about the involvement of her party leaders in Narada and Saradha scam. I would like to ask her what is the basis of the huge donation that her party had received from a fictitious company. From where did this black money come?" Singh said.

Mamata Banerjee said besides Delhi she will go to Lucknow and places in Bihar and Punjab to protest against demonetisation.

"This is not a political issue. We are speaking on behalf of commoners. Markets are closed. Small traders are hit," she said, adding "I have no personal interest. I am doing this for the sake of the people of the country."



Centre's demonetisation move is a plan which even the country's worst enemies would not be able to better, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged as he targeted the Modi dispensation over withdrawal of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.

He said the recovery of unpaid bank loans from corporates should have been the government's priority instead of demonetisation, which has "hurt only the poor".

"Even if our worst enemies wanted to hurt rural India, after two drought years, they couldn't have made a better plan #DemonetisationDisaster.

"Recovering unpaid bank loans from rich corporates should have been govt's priority instead of #Demonetisation which has hurt only the poor," Yechury said on Twitter.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal exhorted people to "change PM, not notes".

Kejriwal continued to target Modi over the issue, asking the latter to come clear on his "relations" with a mobile wallet company, claiming its business has seen an "upswing" since demonetisation.

"Note nahi, PM Badlo (Change PM, not note)," the Chief Minister, who is touring poll-bound Punjab, tweeted.

In another tweet, he urged Modi to either waive loans of farmers or deposit Rs 10,000 in each Jan Dhan account using the money deposited by people in banks since November 10, the day banking operations resumed post demonetisation.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the demonetisation decision, saying those opposing Modi were harming the country and that people should come together to "win this decisive battle against black money".

"We are going towards a new economic independence. In this battle for economic independence, the person who stands with Modi ji for the next 50 days will become a soldier in this battle and the one who does not stand with the PM will be against this country," Fadnavis said.

"Now, you have to decide whether you want to become a soldier in the battle for economic freedom or whether you want to become a 'desh virodhak' (those against the country)," he said addressing a campaign rally for municipal polls in Ratnagiri.
Stating that rice is going to be the future crop and the "food security saviour", renowned agriculture scientist on Monday said there is no time for scientists to relax but develop varieties that can better adapt to climate change and boost rice yields.

No doubt introduction of the first "semi-dwarf rice variety IR8" by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) way back in 1967-68 and subsequent other varieties triggered Green Revolution in India, but much more need to be done as the country's rice yields are very low at 3.5 tonnes/hectare despite being the second biggest rice producer, he said.

"It is not wheat but rice is going to be the crop of future in terms of climate change. Wheat cannot, as night temperatures are important. If a temperature goes up by two degrees, wheat production will fall by 6 million tonnes," Swaminathan said at an event organised by IRRI to commemorate 50 years of the introduction of rice variety IR8.

Since rice is going to be the food security saviour, he urged IRRI and Indian scientists to develop new rice varieties that can cope with challenges of climate change.

Swaminathan, who is known as Father of India's Green Revolution, however, cautioned scientists to develop such farm technologies which are economically sound.

"Indian farmers are ready to adopt technologies provided they are economically sound," he said.

Noting that many are doing good research in rice and for example, hybrid rice is making an impact in China, Swaminathan said, "But still there is no time to relax. ...The only option is to raise yields to meet the future needs."

Emphasising the need to protect traditional rice varieties, Minister of State for Agriculture Sudarshan Bhagat said Indian farmer prefer to grow traditional varieties and they need to be saved while promoting new ones.

Since 50% of India's rice area is in the northeast which is prone to floods and drought, more research needs to be done on rice varieties suitable for this region, he said.

Bhagat also said that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) should play a key role in achieving the government's target of doubling farm income by 2022.

Stressing on the need to increase rice yields, ICAR Director General and Secretary Department of Agricultural Research and Education Trilochan Mohapatra said, "We are still struggling to get 8 tonnes per hectare mark."

"I am told there are lines with the potential to cross 10 tonnes per hectare mark. Use the experience of IRRI and take advantage of India's interest and come out with such varieties to boost yields and achieve the Prime Minister's aim of doubling farm income," he said.

This month marks the 50 years of the world's first high- yielding rice variety 'IR8' that sparked the Green Revolution in Asia and saved the region from famine in the 1960s and 70s.

India grows rice in 44 million hectare land and output is estimated at 104.32 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year.

On challenges of raising rice yields in India, IRRI Representative for South Asia Nafees Meah said, "There is a huge difference between west and eastern region of India as far as yields are concerned. Rice yields in Punjab average at 6 tonne per hectare. There is more scope to work in eastern parts."

IRRI is trying to address these challenges and working on climate resilient varieties, he said.
In an apparent attack on the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Union minister Kalraj Mishra today said those opposing the Centre's demonetisation move have no right to remain in government in states.

Addressing a 'Parivartan Rally' at Shani Chowk in Trans Hindon area here, the Union Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Minister exhorted the people to ensure a change in government in Uttar Pradesh.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a grant of several million crores of rupees to the UP government, but development is still a distant dream in the state," he said.

He said the UP government took no action in the Bulandshahr rape case, Dadri lynching case and Kairana exodus episode.

On the issue of Ram Temple, he said that the temple will be constructed in Ayodhya with the consent of masses.

The rally was addressed by Union ministers V K Singh and Sanjeev Baliyan among others.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged by BJP workers against Congress leaders at Kavi Nagar police station over burning of an effigy of the Prime Minister outside the collectorate today, police said.

Superintendent of Police (City) Salman Taj Patil said the effigy of the Prime Minister was burnt by Congress workers led by its district president Harendra Kasana and women wing president Pooja Chaddha. Some derogatory slogans were allegedly raised against PM at the event, he said.

The FIR has been registered against 30 office-bearers and workers of Congress.

The matter is being probed, the police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jeff Kinney, the man behind the icon "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series, will deliver this year's Penguin Annual Lecture here on December 6.

The event will bring Kinney for the first time to India during which he will also visit Mumbai.

"Kinney's visit will bring his countless fans in India, the rare opportunity to see him in person, interact with him and learn more about the stupendously successful 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series," publishing house Penguin said.

"His visit is part of Penguin Random House India's initiative to focus on readers and the joy of reading. The Penguin Annual Lecture is designed to bring readers face-to-face with their most beloved authors," says Hemali Sodhi, Publisher Children's and Senior VP Marketing at Penguin Random House India.

"This is a dream come true- we are really excited that Jeff Kinney is coming to India. The Penguin Annual Lecture 2016 is going to be incredibly enriching, fun and like no event we've had before," she adds.

The author too is excited about his visit.

"I'm thrilled to visit more places where Wimpy Kid has impacted the lives of young readers. My first global tour was an amazing, uplifting experience. I am looking forward to visiting so many new places this November and December," he says.

Over the last decade, Kinney's delightful creation- Greg Heffley (Wimpy Kid)- has taken the world by storm, including India.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down, the 11th book in the series published by Puffin, released on November 1.

Over the years, The Penguin Annual Lecture has brought together the world's brightest minds for the Indian audience. This first lecture was delivered by journalist-writer Thomas Friedman in 2007.

The subsequent speakers have been diplomat-writer Chris Patten, Nobel-Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, eminent historian Ramachandra Guha, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, former president A P J Abdul Kalam, superstar Amitabh Bachchan, bestselling author Dan Brown and legendary writer Ruskin Bond (2015).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Differences have cropped up in the Congress, the lead partner in the Opposition UDF, over whether or not to hold joint agitation with the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF against the Centre on the Cooperative sector, which is facing a severe crisis following demonetisation.

The UDF held a meeting this morning on the stand to be taken shortly before the all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the issue was to be held.

While Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said UDF was prepared to fully support the LDF government on the issue and go for joint agitation to take on the Central government, KPCC President V M Sudheeran took a totally opposite stand, saying no such decision was taken at the UDF meeting.

Making it clear that UDF would support the state government on the issue, Chennithala said the meeting also decided to pass a joint resolution in the assembly on the Cooperative sector.

Among the other decisions were that an all-party delegation would go to Delhi to submit a memorandum and apprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of the difficulties being faced by the cooperative sector due to the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

"If no solution is found after meeting the Central government, then Kerala will unitedly launch a joint agitation on the issue," Chennithala told reporters after the UDF meeting here.

Asked if UDF and LDF would launch joint agitation, an annoyed Chennithala remarked, "after listening to the whole Ramayana, you are asking who is Sita?"



However, Sudheeran said UDF had not decided to join hands with the government to launch joint agitation. "It was only decided that a delegation will meet the Prime Minister and Finance Minister and apprise them of the situation in the state."



"An effort will be made to find a way on the matter and if no solution is arrived at, then UDF will meet once again and decide the future course of action," Sudheeran told reporters soon after the meeting.

Media reports saying UDF had decided for joint agitation were "incorrect", he claimed.

Differences had cropped up in Congress over joint agitation with LDF after Sudheeran yesterday said it would not be appropriate for UDF to launch such agitations with the rival front.

He had said that since all parties, except BJP, had come out against Modi government's attitude towards the Cooperative sector, there was no necessity to think about a joint stir.

Chennithala and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had earlier decided that the state should jointly launch agitations with the LDF on the cooperative issue.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty was also in favour of joint agitations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The asteroid that ended the age of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago may have nearly punctured the Earth's crust, and temporarily caused the surface of the planet to behave like a slow-moving fluid, a new study has found.

The findings may shed light on how such impacts can reshape the face of planets and generate new habitats for life, researchers said.

Major craters sometimes possess rings of rocky hills in their centres known as peak rings.

Most of these peak rings exist on extraterrestrial rocky bodies such as the Moon or Venus, making it difficult to analyse these structures in detail and pin down their origins.

To learn more about peak rings, scientists from University of Texas at Austin in the US studied the gargantuan Chicxulub crater in Mexico, which measures more than 180 kilometers across. It is the only crater with an intact peak ring on Earth.

The crater resulted from the epic crash of an object about 10 kilometre wide, and the resulting impact is thought to have ended the age of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago.

Researchers examined peak ring samples from under 18 metres of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

They discovered granite that likely once was deeply buried for about 500 million years, said Sean Gulick, a marine geophysicist at UT Austin.

"These deeply buried rocks rose up to the surface of the Earth within the first few minutes of the impact," Gulick told the 'Live Science'.

After the impact, "the earth there would have temporarily behaved like a slow-moving fluid," Gulick said.

"The stony asteroid would have opened up a hole probably almost the thickness of Earth's crust, almost 30 km deep, and on the order of 80 to 100 km wide," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The post of director in as many as 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), including Bangalore and Nagpur, are lying vacant, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The other IIMs where such post is lying vacant are Kozhikode, Amritsar, Sirmaur, Rohtak, Bodh Gaya, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Raipur, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam and Tiruchirappalli.

"However, the Directors of the mentor IIMs are looking after the six new IIMs (Amritsar, Sirmaur, Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, Nagpur and Visakhapatnam) till the appointment of regular Director," Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Mahendra Nath Pandey said in a written reply.

For other IIMs, the tenure of the outgoing director has been extended or the senior most Professor of the Institute has been given additional charge of the post, he added.

For Kozhikode and Udaipur advertisement for the posts has been issued, he said, adding that for others Search-cum-Selection Committee has recommended a panel of names.
The DMK today urged the Centre to declare Tamil Nadu drought-hit in view of various factors, including sharp decline in rainfall, and demanded that the state government convene a special assembly session to discuss the matter.

"I urge the Central government to send a team to Tamil Nadu for inspection and declare it a drought-hit state," party treasurer and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin said.

The team should be sent, considering farmers' welfare, drinking water scarcity, farmers' deaths and a "failed monsoon," he said.

In a statement here, he demanded that the Tamil Nadu government pressurise the Centre on the issue and urged AIADMK MPs to raise the issue in Parliament.

"If necessary, a special Assembly session should be convened to discuss the extraordinary situation," he said, adding a resolution should be unanimously adopted seeking to declare Tamil Nadu a drought-hit State.

He said DMK would extend its cooperation as the main Opposition party.

Explaining the reasons for seeking to declare Tamil Nadu drought hit, he said drought is prevalent in all districts as the southwest monsoon had brought only about 40 per cent precipitation. The Northeast monsoon too had not brought showers as expected in the state.

Stating that people were facing difficulties over drinking water availability, he claimed that water level in over 20 reservoirs under the Public Works Department, including Mettur, Bhavani-Sagar, Vaigai, Papanasam, Manimutharu and Amaravathi "resemble large vacant grounds."



A similar situation exists in over 14,000 lakes like Veeranam (which feeds Chennai a huge quantum of its drinking water needs), he said.

"Since, lakes, ponds and reservoirs have gone dry, the groundwater table has also plummeted and reservoirs in Chennai's suburbs like Chembarambakkam, Poondi, Cholavaram and Puzhal do not even have one TMC feet of water," he said.

On the farm sector, he said farmers faced hardship in getting water for irrigation. Cauvery delta farmers were unable



to raise both the long term Kuruvai and short term Samba crops, he said, adding ryots were harried as crop loans and subsidies had not reached them.

He also referred to deaths of farmers, including alleged suicides in parts of the State.

"The AIADMK regime is not bothered about any of these issues and is in deep slumber," he alleged.

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to issue a formal order declaring a sprawling lagoon in a disputed South China Sea shoal a maritime sanctuary where Filipinos and Chinese will be prohibited from fishing, officials said in a statement today.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr said Duterte relayed his plan to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru.

Esperon and other Philippine Cabinet officials present at the meeting said Xi did not say whether he agreed to Duterte's plan in the Scarborough Shoal.

China seized Scarborough in 2012 after a tense maritime standoff with the Philippines. Duterte's plan is delicate because it may imply Philippine territorial control in a strategic shoal, which Chinese coast guard ships have closely guarded.

Both governments have also mutually suspected each other of harboring plans to erect concrete structures in the Scarborough's shallow lagoon to cement their territorial claims.

If Duterte's plan proceeds, Filipino, Chinese and other fishermen would only be allowed to fish in the deeper waters just outside Scarborough, which has a vast triangular-shaped lagoon naturally fenced by coral outcrops with an entryway watched by Chinese coast guard personnel.

"You can go in but ... Don't fish because it's a maritime sanctuary," Duterte's Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

After taking control of Scarborough, which lies off the northwestern Philippines, Chinese coast guard personnel shooed away Filipino fishermen, at times with the use of water cannons or by deploying armed personnel on speed boats to chase them off.

Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, responded by bringing the shoal dispute and other territorial issues against China to international arbitration. An international tribunal ruled in July against China, saying it violated the Filipinos' rights by banning them from fishing.

China, however, ignored the ruling, which also invalidated its vast claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. Duterte, who took office in June, reversed his predecessor's adversarial stance and reached out to China.

Shortly after Duterte discussed the Scarborough dispute with Xi in a state visit to Beijing, Filipinos were allowed to return to the shoal to fish. Philippine coast guard ships also resumed patrols in the vicinity of the shoal.

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Centre's demonetisation move is a plan which even the country's worst enemies would not be able to better, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged today as he targeted Modi dispensation over withdrawal of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes from circulation.

He said the recovery of unpaid bank loans from corporates should have been the government's priority instead of demonetisation, that has "hurt only the poor".

"Even if our worst enemies wanted to hurt rural India, after two drought years, they couldn't have made a better plan #DemonetisationDisaster.

"Recovering unpaid bank loans from rich corporates should have been govt's priority instead of #Demonetisation which has hurt only the poor," Yechury said on Twitter.

Taking the nation by surprise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the night of November 8 announced demonetisation of the notes, making them invalid in a stated bid of combating black money, fake currency, corruption and terror funding.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today urged the European Union and West to step up backing of Ankara's fight against Kurdish militants, as he addressed a meeting of NATO lawmakers.

Erdogan said he expected the support of NATO countries in Turkey's fight against "all terror groups" including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the group blamed by Ankara for the failed July 15 coup.

He called on the European Union to tighten its approach to the PKK, which Brussels designates as a terror group but whose members, according to Erdogan, are allowed to roam freely within the bloc.

"Those who have a hesitant attitude against terrorist organisations will be hit themselves sooner or later," he said in a speech to deputies at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 but its bid to join the European Union has been further set back by disputes over the magnitude of its crackdown in the wake of the coup.

Erdogan had at the weekend mooted that Turkey could join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a loose security and economic bloc led by Russia and China sometimes seen as an eastern counterpart to NATO.

But he did not refer to this in his speech in Istanbul to the NATO meeting.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meanwhile emphasised the alliance's "solidarity" with Turkey in the wake of the coup and said Ankara "has the right" to prosecute those responsible.

Pressed by a Dutch lawmaker to condemn the crackdown that has seen over 35,000 arrested, Stoltenberg said he had told Turkish leaders all measures had to be taken within the rule of law.

He said he welcomed cooperation between Turkey and the Council of Europe over the legal measures after the coup, saying this should be an "important tool" to ensure the rule of law and human rights are applied.

Stoltenberg also made no reference to Turkish officers serving in NATO command posts who he had said last week had asked for asylum following the failed coup.

Meanwhile, he added he wanted to see "more assurance measures" from NATO states to help Turkey on its unstable borders, in addition to the current surveillance flights and deployment of missile batteries on the Syrian frontier.

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Former Meghalaya Health Minister A L Hek today filed an FIR against unknown persons for spreading rumours that he is distributing Rs 5,000 in cash to people, claiming it is harming his reputation.

Hek, who was dropped by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, from the cabinet earlier this year, has also asked the police to investigate whether rival political parties are involved in the spreading of rumours.

"The rumours has resulted in hundreds of people queueing up at my residence everyday which has caused large embarrassment to me," Hek alleged in the FIR lodged with East Khasi Hills district SP M Kharkrang.

This act has also created unwanted misunderstanding among the people and disrupting my official and personal works, he said.

The MLA from Shillong North constituency is also the vice-president of the state Congress unit.

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Worried over the impact of demonetisation of high-value notes on production chain, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today assured exporters that she would take up their demand of increasing the cash withdrawal limit with the Finance Minister.

The issue was raised by export promotion councils during their meeting with Sitharaman here.

"They voiced the short-term difficulty that they are facing. Majority stated that a segment of their activity like procurement of raw material is happening to a large extent in cash," she told reporters.

Exporters demanded an increase in the withdrawal limit from Rs 50,000 a week to up to Rs 5 lakh, she said.

"In labour-intensive sectors like carpet and handloom, working is dependent on cash withdrawal. Their demand is to increase this limit to Rs 3 lakh or Rs 4 lakh or Rs 5 lakh," Sitharaman said.

"We have assured them that we will take very quick and well-compiled report to the Finance Ministry so that quick remedial solutions are offered. We will pitch for them and I am sure that the Finance Ministry will give us a sympathetic hearing.

"I will definitely draw the attention of the Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) on the cash withdrawal limit," she added.

Certain sectors informed that because of this cash limit "some of them have preferred closing of the units for a week and some of them reducing the capacities of production from 100 or 70% to about 35 or 40%".

Others felt that this month's output might have a bearing, she added.
Farmers today took out protest marches in Amreli and Chhota Udepur districts of Gujarat against demonetisation and ban on swapping of defunct notes at the district Co-operative banks.

Farmers at Wadia Kukavav in Amreli district walked shirtless to express their anger, while at Chhota Udepur, they dumped cans of milk outside the collector's office and threatened to stop supply of milk to Co-operative dairies.

Protesters in Amreli, led by Congressmen and other political leaders, submitted a memorandum to the mamlatdar, demanding that RBI lift the ban on exchange or depositing of defunct notes at district central Co-operative banks.

"Farmers can't exchange notes despite having accounts in Co-operative banks. They have no alternative accounts which is causing hardship as they desperately need money for daily use," said Congress MLA from Amreli, Paresh Dhanani.

Farmers in tribal-dominated Chhota Udepur district said the money due to them from milk societies had not been released. They dumped milk outside the collector's office saying the milk was now worth nothing until the Co-operative banks released the money.

They demanded that Rs 14 crore lying in the accounts of milk societies at Baroda Central Co-operative Bank be released immediately so they can buy cattle feed and pay off loans taken for cattle and tractors, among other things.

"Baroda District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union (Baroda Dairy) buys milk from small farmers through milk societies which disburse cash to farmers once a week," said Congress leader Sangramsinh Rathwa, a director of Union.

"The bank now says the money will only be transferred to individual farmer's account. There are 45,000 members of around 450 milk societies in Chhota Udepur district... Most of them do not have accounts in co-operative bank," Rathwa said.

In the memorandum, farmers demanded immediate release of money for the milk they had sold to Baroda Dairy, and proper arrangement in the Co-operative bank such as enough employees and account forms to open new accounts.

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Government should allow the farming community to use old 500 and 1,000 notes to purchase fertiliser and pesticides as well in the ongoing rabi season, says a group of farmers who hailed the decision to allow purchase of seeds using Rs 500 notes.

These farmers were here in the national capital to attend the government's event to commemorate the World Fisheries Day. The conference was inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

"I have used last year's wheat seeds for sowing this time. I have sown the seeds. Now, I need cash to buy fertilisers and pesticides. I wish the government had allowed use of old notes to buy these inputs," 65 year-old farmer Vikram Singh from Faridabad in Haryana told PTI when asked to comment on the government's decision to allow old Rs 500 notes for seeds purchase from any state or central government outlets and agri universities.

Singh, who is cultivating wheat and jowar in 3 acres, has also taken up fishery to supplement his income.

"Most farmers save seeds every year and there is no problem in the availability. I hope the situation will improve in coming days as we start to use fertilisers, pesticides and other farm inputs for crop growth," he said.

Echoing his views, 40 year-old farmer Brijmohan Kashyap from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh said: "I have enough seeds. I have yet to start sowing of wheat and bajra in two acres of my land. My worry is about fertilisers."



Although farmers are allowed to withdraw up to Rs 25,000 per week from their bank accounts, the "inconvenient part is that we have to stand in the queue in the morning at 5 am to get that cash".

Despite the inconvenience, Kashyap and many farmers who attended the event hailed the government's move on demonetisation and hoped the rabi crop will not get affected.

When contacted, Bharat Krishak Samaj Chairman Ajay Viir Jakhar said: "Something has been allowed though this is not enough. We have already told the government to allow old notes for fertilisers."



He expects the government to soon allow this for fertiliser purchase as well.

Singh did not reply when asked if the government will consider allowing old notes for buying fertilisers.

Sowing of rabi crops is under way and farmers have sown wheat in 79.4 lakh hectares till last week.

Besides farmers, PTI spoke to several fishermen and their cooperative societies at the event, who said the situation is bad as prices of marine fishes have come down drastically.

"Fish prices have come down by 50 per cent in Mumbai. Since fish is perishable commodity, fishermen could not keep the stock. They sold in the market at lower price and even got cash in old notes," Karanja Macchimar VKS Society Director Ganesh B Nakhawa said on the sidelines of the event.

Fishermen are exempted from tax, but still they are worried about depositing in the bank. "Fisher women save in cash and their savings now could be in thousands. They are now worried to deposit," he said.

Karanja Macchimar VKS Society is the country's largest marine fish society which has 400 fishing boats with 6,000 shareholders.

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After an intensive manhunt spanning nearly six months, film producer Madhan, allegedly involved in a multi-crore medical admission scam in which 123 persons were cheated, was arrested today, police said.

He was arrested in the textile city of Tirupur where he had arrived last night to meet a woman associate after trying to escape from the law by hiding in several states, including Uttarkhand, Karnataka and Manipur, they said.

Managing partner of Vendar Movies, his arrest brings the curtains down on police's hot pursuit for him that criss- crossed several states and multiple cities.

Special police teams on the lookout for him in many cities found he had purchased properties at Roorkee in Uttarkhand and that some of his associates had helped him in his endeavour.

It was found a woman was in touch with Madhan and she was questioned, they said.

The probe also revealed that Madhan was remitting money to his associate in Imphal and that another man who had visited the Manipur man had returned to Tirupur, clearly establishing a link among them.

Subsequently, when Madhan came to Tirupur to visit the woman associate, he was arrested, police said.

The medical admission scandal's lid broke open in May last when Madhan disappeared mysteriously, dragging SRM University into the picture.

He went into hiding on May 28 after writing an emotional note allegedly claiming that he was going to end his life in Varanasi, "where if a person dies, will have no rebirth."



Madhan had also allegedly acknowledged having collected several crore of Rupees from parents for their wards aspiring for MBBS seats in SRM varsity.

On June 1 this year, soon after Madhan's disappearance, one Dr Jayachandran lodged a complaint with police that he had paid Rs 53 lakh to him for an MBBS seat for his son in SRM varsity.

The money was remitted to Madhan through his associate Babu of Indiya Jananayaka Katchi, he had said, adding he neither got the seat for his son nor the money back.

The police probe found that Madhan and his associates were allegedly involved in cheating 123 aspirants for under and post graduate courses in medicine in SRM group of institutions to the tune of Rs 84.27 crore.

Even as police began its search for Madan, six of his associates, including Dr Bargavan Pachaimuthu, medical wing secretary of IJK, were arrested in connection with the case.

Finally, days after Madras High Court questioned police as to why SRM group founder chairman Pachamuthu had not been interrogated in the case, he was arrested.

The SRM chief Pachamuthu-led Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) is an ally of NDA at the Centre.

He was booked under various IPC sections, including Section 420 (cheating).

(REOPEN MDS7)



Meanwhile, Madhan has been brought to Chennai from



Tirupur, police said.

Following Madhan's disappearance, his mother and wife lodged a complaint with police. In June, the mother moved the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to police to trace and produce her son.

In August, the court directed the Investigating Officer to produce all documents relating to the probe on film producer Madhan.

"Why is the Crime Branch in Tamil Nadu unable to track down film producer Madhan, in spite of a lapse of 70 days since they were handed over the case?" a division bench, comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and V Bharathidasan had asked while hearing the Habeas Corpus petition of Thangam. The court had also asked why Pachamuthu was not interrogated.

Thangam had submitted that her son had gone missing since May 28 and there was foul play in his disappearance.

Advocate R C Paul Kanagaraj, appearing for 16 parents/ students, had told the court that they had paid several lakhs of Rupees each for a medical seat in SRM University.

They had submitted that they first met founder chairman of Pachamuthu, who "asked them" to pay the money to Madhan, said Kanagaraj, holding the university administration responsible for the money paid.

He had submitted that varsity had said admissions were closed now and even classes had started. He also pointed out that they got neither the money nor MBBS seat.

On July 28, the Crime Branch had informed the High Court that Madhan was very much alive.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police S Radhakrishnan had filed a status report in the court on two cases entrusted to him for investigation.

While one was the missing case pertaining to Madhan, the other was on cases filed against him and others for allegedly collecting money with false promise to get medical admissions in a leading private medical college.
A fire broke out today in a building of the state-run SSKM Hospital here, the main referral hospital of the state, and was doused after over an hour.

All the 70 patients in the building were evacuated safely.

"The fire has been put out," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said after overseeing fire fighting operations at the hospital.

"There is no report of any injury, all patients are safe," she told newspersons at the hospital.

The fire had started at around 11.00 AM inside a library in the sixth floor of Ronald Ross Building within the hospital complex in south Kolkata.

"There were around 70 patients within that building and everyone has been evacuated safely," city Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said.

"No one has been trapped inside the building," he said.

Banerjee, whose Kalighat home is about two kilometres away from the hospital, rushed to SSKM soon after the fire broke out.

Nineteen fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the blaze under control, fire brigade officials said.

"Fire brigade officials will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire to find out whether the blaze had been started by someone or whether it was an accident," the chief minister said.

Banerjee said that since SSKM is a big hospital, a permanent fire station would be set up by tomorrow within the complex with two fire tenders and a ladder.

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A national body for fishworkers held a protest here today against the Centre's "large-scale industrialisation proposal" in coastal areas, alleging the move will not only "hurt" them but will also "destroy" the country's vulnerable coastline.

"NDA government is trying to fool the coastal people by proposing unviable projects. And 'Sagarmala' will effectively promote real estate projects," the National Fishworkers' Forum alleged.

Sagarmala project is a strategic and customer-oriented initiative of the Centre to modernise ports so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed.

Scores of representatives of fishing bodies from Maharashtra, Puducherry, and fishworkers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other coastal states, also took part in the protest meet at the Jantar Mantar, called by the NFF, and it was addressed by three MPs from Kerala.

Congress MP from Alappuzha, K C Venugopal, said, "Our party stands in solidarity with the fishing community, inside and outside of Parliament. And, we totally support this agitation for your rights."



"I have raised the issue of fishermen in Parliament earlier also. And, (Vice President) Rahul Gandhiji and (President) Soniaji have always stood for your rights, and we are with the fishing community," he said.

The community has also demanded that a separate ministry be constituted for fishery in the central government and that the Sagarmala project be withdrawn.

NFF Chairperson M Ilango and its Secretary T Peter later led a brief protest march, but the crowd was restricted by police at the end of the Jantar Mantar Road.

"'Sagarmala' needs serious national assessment, from its different complexities. The industrial corridors, the economic corridors, smart cities, coastal investment regions like PCPIR (Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region) and Sagarmala are all part of the larger plan for industrialisation, which will destroy India's vulnerable coastline," the NFF has alleged.

CPI-M leader and Attingal MP from Kerala, A Sampath, said, "This was a fight for the nation, and protecting our seas and rivers, and a fight for sovereignty and a fight against the crorepatis and multi and tran-national companies, who should not take away your seas and rivers."



The NFF leaders also alleged that the NDA government's demonetisation move, under the pretext of curtailing black money, is "hurting the fishing community" across the country - other than many formal and informal production sectors.

The NFF also alleged that various projects were being made to "benefit private players" in port business.

"We demand that the viability studies be made public and the local community consent be made mandatory before going ahead with these unviable projects. Immediate cessation of all construction related activities must be done," the NFF said.

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French anti-terrorism police have arrested seven people in Strasbourg and Marseille and thwarted what the interior minister called a new potential attack.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, announcing the arrests Monday, said six of the suspects arrested hadn't been known to intelligence services. Cazeneuve said that yesterday's arrests prevented "a terrorist act that had been envisaged for a long time."



Cazeneuve didn't identify the target of the planned attack.

The arrests came five days before the opening of the famed Christmas market in Strasbourg, which attracts tourists from across Europe and was the target of a failed extremist plot in 2000.

Cazeneuve said 43 people have been arrested in November alone as part of anti-terror operations following deadly Islamic State attacks on France over the past two years.

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France is "ready to cooperate" with the International Criminal Court to probe Islamic State jihadists in Syria for war crimes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has said.

The ICC, founded in 2002, is the world's only permanent war crimes court. But moves so far to refer Syria to The Hague-based body have been unsuccessful as Russia has blocked them with its veto in the UN Security Council.

The UN go-ahead is needed as Syria is not a member state.

Ayrault told AFP that action "can be launched it they concern (French) nationals who are engaged in the war in Syria alongside Daesh," using another name for the Islamic State group.

"We are ready to cooperate and give our backing if there is a track to follow," he said. "Even if the margin for manoeuvre is limited, it's a chance to recall that we do not accept impunity."



Russia dealt the International Criminal Court a blow Wednesday saying it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal's founding Rome Statute.

"The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent," Russia's foreign ministry said, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient".

Ayrault said the "action is symbolic and political which I regret because it would have been preferable that Russia does the opposite" and ratifies the founding Rome Statute.

He was in The Hague for the annual meeting of the court's member states who ware discussing among other things how to bring those guilty of crimes in Syria to justice.

In May 2014, France presented a draft resolution calling for war crimes to be investigated in Syria, but the measure was defeated when Russia and China vetoed the request.

A country that has signed up to the Rome treaty or whose citizens have been the victims of crimes may refer cases to the ICC's chief prosecutor for investigation.

Cases may also be referred by the UN Security Council, and the prosecutor can initiate her own investigations with permission from the judges providing member states are involved, or a non-member state can agree to accept the court's jurisdiction.

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A leader of Gilgit-Baltistan has met BJP general-secretary Ram Madhav in the US seeking his help in creating legislative space for the people of this part of Jammu and Kashmir, as the two senior leaders discussed the violation of religious freedom and rights in the region.

During the meeting, Madhav and Senge Sering, director of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, discussed issues related to the "chronic Kashmir dilemma" with focus on the on-going political development in the region.

"People of Gilgit-Baltistan continue to suffer due to absence of constitutional rights and Pakistan lacks the legal capacity to grant the locals citizenship. India therefore must create space for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in its legislative institutions and help internationalise the matter," Sering said after meeting Madhav.

Sering spoke on the need to revive dialogue with Pakistan to discuss confidence-building measures related to cross Line-of-Control movement.

Currently, there are over 15,000 people living in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan who belong to separated families and await a decision by both the countries to open Skardo Kargil and Gangche-Nubra roads to facilitate meetings and reunions, he said.

The two leaders shared views on opening Indian educational and health institutions for the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Thousands of Pakistani citizens travel to India to benefit from its health and educational facilities. However, this option is not available to the residents of PoK-GB, a media release on the meeting said.

They also discussed the on-going violations of religious freedom and rights in Gilgit-Baltistan as the Pakistan government recently charged hundreds of people for terrorism for peacefully commemorating Imam Hussain Day in educational institutions.

Talking about jailed political activists, many of whom face a life sentence, Sering explained how abrogation of State Subject Rule has enabled Pakistan to illegally change the socio-economic demography affecting the local culture.

BJP's proposal to elect parliamentarians from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan also came up during the discussion.

Sering said India claims the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as its citizens and it is, therefore, incumbent upon the Indian government to treat the people of Gilgit-Baltistan at par with those living in Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir.

At the moment, 24 seats are vacant in the Kashmir Assembly which are reserved for the people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

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Police today claimed to have recovered from New Delhi a girl who was allegedly kidnapped from her home in the Bishnah area of Jammu a few days ago.

Some days ago, a man approached Police Station Bishnah and lodged a complaint against one Pardeep Kumar for kidnapping his daughter, a police officer said.

He said that a case was registered and police teams were constituted to trace the kidnapped girl and arrest the accused.

Acting on a tip off from reliable sources and cell phone call details, the kidnapped girl was traced in a hotel at Paharganj area of New Delhi, the officer said.

He said that a police team recovered the girl and arrested the accused, adding that further investigations into the case have been initiated.

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To help achieve the sustainable development goals (SDG), which are set to impact the lives of 500 million people across the country, government and business houses have committed USD 4.43 billion (Rs 30,182 crore) at the just concluded first-ever Global Citizen Festival here.

The Global Citizen Festival India was a celebration of what India is already doing, but it is also a powerful force to mobilise the youth and facilitate mass behavioural change as well as a call to action for our leaders to do more to achieve sustainable and more inclusive growth.

The finale on Saturday was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a video link.

"Global Citizen Festival India brought together 70,000 young people who made their voices heard on the issues that matter: sanitation, education and gender equality and poverty eradication. Their 20 lakh actions showed leaders that the youth are serious in their commitment to hold them to account to use their resources for social good. The commitments made here that are set to impact 50 crore people in India and around the world, and this is just the start," The Global Education and Leadership Foundation CEO Gowri Ishwaran said.

Globally, the commitment stood at USD 5.93 billion, she added. Out of the USD 4.43 billion commitment to India, the largest chunk of USD 1.9 billion came from the International Finance Corporation out of which USD 100 million will be come in immediately to fight gender inequality, while Tata group chairman Ratan Tata committed Rs 300 crore from Tata Trusts over the next two years for water and sanitation programmes.

In response, leaders at the Global Citizen Festival India made 25 announcements and commitments, which are set to affect 500 million people (50 crore) people, with a collective value of USD 5.93 billion (Rs 40,500 crore).

These efforts secured four commitments that are set to affect the lives of more than 2 million women, including the International Finance Corporation, a private sector arm of the World Bank committing USD 2 billion towards banking on women and promoting women entrepreneurship by end 2019.

Six commitments were secured, including HP committing to provide 48 mobile classrooms, investing USD 3.6 million to result in 15 million people in rural areas of India getting access to quality education and technology over 6 years.

India's commitment to clean water and sanitation for all, secured 11 commitments and announcements that are set to affect the lives of 486 million people, including the Maharashtra government, Telengana government, IDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever India and the Centre.

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Venture Capital funding in the financial technologies sector fell 52 per cent globally to USD 2.4 billion in the third quarter this year, says a report.

According to the quarterly state of fintech VC investment report by KPMG and CB Insights, VC-backed fintech companies raised USD 2.4 billion in the July-September period, down 52 per cent over the same quarter last year.

The number of deals during the period under review fell 12 per cent from the previous, April-June, quarter while funding was down 17 per cent, the report said.

"This quarter, Asia outpaced North America in terms of fintech funding - a major shift from historical norms," KPMG International Global Co-Leader of Fintech Warren Mead said adding that this trend is likely to continue in the future.

VC-backed global fintech deal activity fell for the second consecutive quarter, marking its lowest level since the second quarter of 2014.

At the current run rate, total annual deals are projected to drop from 2015's peak of USD 5 billion, it added.

"The Indian Fintech sector is going to witness a renewed interest in payments in wake of the demonetisation measures viewed last week," Neha Punater, Partner and Head, Fintech, KPMG in India said.

As per the report, next-gen payments have attracted over USD 1.2 billion in VC-backed funding till September this year.

The top 20 deals, including Affirm, Mobikwik and One97, raked in 67 per cent of the total funding to payments technology companies in the first three quarters, it added.

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General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu today called on Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu at his office here.

The informal meeting was also attended by state's Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Secretary to CM, an official release said.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the state government, Lt Gen Anbu said the Army has been getting full cooperation in all its endeavours in the state, particularly in the Tawang-Kameng sectors that falls under the umbrella of 4 Corps, headquartered at Tezpur.

Lt Gen Anbu, who took over as GOC, 4 Corps recently on November 17, informed the chief minister on the status of Army activities in the region and sought continuation of the support from the state government.

The discussion mainly centred on construction of roads in the border areas and land acquisition for army use.

Khandu, while congratulating the Lt Gen on assumption of his new charge, assured all cooperation from the state government.

He asked the officer to send all the proposals for land acquisition and other projects to the state government and assured that all will be fast-tracked.

The chief minister acknowledged the suggestion put in by the GOC for having an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in the Tawang-Kameng sector that can accommodate fixed wing aircraft.

"Despite sharing a lengthy strategic border with two neighbouring countries the sector does not have a landing ground for fixed wing aircraft," the chief minister said.

Khandu informed that plans are afoot to propose such a landing ground near Dirang in West Kameng district to which the GOC admitted that only Dirang area in the sector is feasible for the project.

Khandu said soon the state government would submit a proposal in this regard to the Government of India.

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Government aims to achieve 8 per cent annual growth in the fishery sector in the next five years by tapping potential in marine and inland fishery, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.

"The average growth rate for last two years was six per cent. We will take fishery sector growth to 8 per cent annually in the next five years," Singh said at an event that commemorated the World's Fisheries Day here.

There is an untapped potential in marine and inland fishery to an extent of 20 million tonnes and all existing schemes are clubbed to achieve blue revolution, he said.

At present, the country's fish production is at over 10 million tonnes, including 3.5 million tonnes of marine and 6.57 million tonnes of inland fishery. India is the second largest producer after China.

Fishery sector had grown at 5.2 per cent in 2014-15 and over 9 per cent last year.

Singh said that while the government's aim is to double farmers income by 2022, but this cannot be achieved by focusing on food crops by raising support price. "The need of the hour is to encourage farmers to take up allied farm activities like fishery, poultry and dairy to increase income."



The government's efforts so far has been to provide support to farmers under various schemes to take up fish farming to supplement their income, he said, adding that subsidies are being provided for setting up ponds for fish farming, establish fish markets and mobile vans.

Taking benefits from the government's scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), an ornamental fish grower Sarfraj Khan from Madhya Pradesh said: "I have taken loan thrice up to Rs 15 lakh and got subsidy benefit under the RKVY scheme. This has helped me to scale up by business".

"I was a shopkeeper and started as a fish farmer in 2009. Now, I have 13,200 square feet of water bodies and 53 cemented water tanks in which I grow ornamental fish and supply in the state and also send to Mumbai," he told PTI on the sidelines of an event.

Khan, however, said that besides subsidy, necessary market to sell ornamental fish at right price and good doctors to advise fish growers are also required.

"It is difficult to get trained labour for handling ornamental fishes. Even there are not good doctors with practical knowledge to advise new farmers. Most of them have theoretical knowledge," Khan said and suggested that the government should make it mandatory for those studying fishery to do internship at ground level.

Highlighting benefits of fish farming, the Minister said that it has three benefits. "Firstly, it increases farmers income. Secondly, there will be progress in the country's export and GDP. Thirdly, it will ensure nutritional and food security in the country."



Since agriculture is a state subject, he urged the state governments to give priority to this sector and implement the schemes successfully.

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The Gujarat government today asked the Centre to pump in more cash into the state banking system to meet the demand for valid currency notes following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bills.

A representation in this regard was made by Chief Secretary J N Singh during his meeting with a three-member Central delegation, headed by senior IAS officer Guruprasad Mohapatra, at Gandhinagar.

Guruprasad, Chairman of Airports Authority of India, along with two other senior bureaucrats, is in Gujarat to undertake assessment of the demonetisation drive in the state and provide feedback to the Centre.

Yesterday, the Central government issued an order asking senior bureaucrats to visit states and assess impact of the anti-black money measure announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

Mohapatra, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer, and his team held a detailed discussion with Singh before leaving for field visits in different parts of the state.

After the meeting, Singh told the media that the Gujarat government has sought infusion of more cash into the state banking system to ease woes of citizens looking for exchange of invalid notes or withdrawal of money from their accounts.

It also urged the Central team to allow District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) to handle cash transaction for farmers.

"This delegation is in Gujarat to assess the ground situation such as availability of cash in banks. It will visit various APMCs (Agricultural Produce Market Committees) in towns and villages. The delegation is also entrusted with the task of assessing the overall business and trade scenario after demonetisation," said Singh.

"In our meeting, we have requested them to provide more cash, particularly new currency notes. To ease the problems faced by farmers, we urged them to consider involving DCCBs in undertaking transactions as most farmers have their accounts in such banks," said Singh.

A week back, the Reserve Bank barred all Gujarat-based DCCBs from exchanging or accepting defunct currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, a move protested by many cooperative leaders who claimed this would paralyse the rural banking system in in the state.

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Gujjars living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir have urged the central and state governments to set up colonies for them at safer locations.

"We urge the government of Jammu and Kashmir and the central government to set up colonies at safer locations for the Gujjar population of the two districts who bear the brunt of continuous ceasefire violations," Gujjar leader Shamsher Hakla Poonchi said.

Poonchi said that by firing on civilian areas, the Pakistani army is violating human rights of the border residents.

"Due to the firing by Pakistani army, the people living along the LoC are facing problems," he said.

Poonchi appealed to the central and state governments to take effective steps to end the problems of the people living near the border.

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Four armed miscreants looted Rs 5.50 lakh at gun point from a post office in Bihar's Vaishali district today.

Vaishali SP Rakesh Kumar said that the motorbike-borne gunmen looted the cash when it was being loaded onto the collection van at the District Postal Superintendent office in the industrial area for transport to Head Post Office at Hajipur.

Kumar said that the gunmen managed to escape after looting the money.

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Booming smartphone adoption will drive consumption of over USD 80 billion worth of components over the next five years, an opportunity that domestic handset makers can cash in on to manufacture locally and reduce dependency on imports, a report has said.

The report by IIM Bangalore and Counterpoint said that contribution of domestically manufactured mobile phones has increased from 14 per cent in 2014 to 67 per cent this year. This is further estimated to grow to 96 per cent by calendar year 2020.

However, 67 per cent of the handsets manufactured in India contribute to just 6 per cent of the "true local value addition" as most of the companies are still importing semi-knocked down components and assembling devices here.

The report estimated that more than USD 15 billion worth of components will be sourced locally over the period of five years through 2020, creating over a million direct and indirect jobs in India.

Unveiling the report, Electronics and IT Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said the government would have to work with local industry and several partners to achieve this.

"India can potentially be the world leader in mobile phone manufacturing ecosystem and this has to be done in a phased manner," she added.

Over the last few quarters, various handset makers like Micromax, Xiaomi, Gionee and Vivo have set up manufacturing facilities in India.

"The 'Make in India' initiative has been successful at driving some indigenization of assembly of mobile phones. The number of mobile phone and related components manufacturing facilities are estimated to exceed 50 units by the end of CY2016, up from just two units before the programme was announced," Counterpoint Research Senior Analyst Tarun Pathak said.

He added that of the total 267 million phones expected to be sold in India this year, over 180 million mobile phones will be assembled locally.

However, the 'true localisation rate' of manufacturing and sourcing components will be just under 6 per cent of the total value of USD 11 billion worth components going into those 267 million phones in 2016.

Comparatively, global manufacturing hubs like China have localisation rate of almost 70 per cent, while South Korea and Taiwan have crossed 50 per cent localisation of components.

"Thus, to transform India into a global manufacturing hub, the 'Make in India' programme needs to propel to the next stage to maximise the true local value addition," he said.

The report suggested that under a phased approach,



components like battery, chargers, cables and packaging are localised completely by 2018, driving the 'true local value addition' from current six per cent to 17 per cent.

Next, between 2018-2020 (phase II), display, camera and their sub components are manufactured locally to increase value addition to 32 per cent.

By setting up semi-conductor fabs, localisation can be increased beyond 33 per cent, the report said.

"There is hardly any incentive or effort to meaningfully invest in research, design, development, advanced surface mount technology (SMT) led printed circuit-board (PCBA) manufacturing, or attempts to attract key component suppliers to form a robust local manufacturing ecosystem. Stronger steps are needed here," ELCINA General Manager (Bhiwadi Cluster SPV) Debashish Choudhury said.

He added that when components sourced locally will not only bring significant savings in foreign exchange, but also reduce dependence on foreign manufacturing ecosystems and help local manufacturers leapfrog into becoming innovators.
The Mumbai and Solapur District Central Co-operative banks had approached the high court last week challenging the RBI circular of November 14, restricting them from exchanging or depositing old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 which were declared as illegal tender under the government's move on November 8.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Karnik also directed Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to produce a copy of the transfer petition filed by the Union government in the Supreme Court.

Singh informed the high court that the Union government, in the transfer petition, has sought the apex court to direct for all petitions filed in various high courts in the country to be either heard by SC itself or any one HC.

He said the transfer petition has been posted for hearing on November 23.

"The contentions raised by the district co-operative banks in these petitions here are similar to the petitions pending before the Supreme Court," Singh said.

Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, appearing for the Mumbai District Co-operative Bank, however, told the court that the petitions filed by the co-operative banks are different.

"We are not challenging the scheme. We are just challenging the RBI circular," Dwarkadas said.

The bench, while directing the Union government to produce the transfer petition tomorrow, said if the main petition filed in the Supreme Court covers the same contentions as raised in these petitions, then it would not hear the matter.

"You (Singh) produce the transfer petition tomorrow. We will see. The RBI should also respond. We are not saying you (RBI) are right or wrong but prima facie we feel there is some inconsistency between the two circulars issued by the RBI," Justice Oka said.

Advocate V M Thorat, appearing for Solapur District



Central Co-operative Bank, said while the RBI circular of November 8 included the co-operative banks and permitted them to accept and exchange old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, another circular issued on November 14 prohibited the co-operative banks from exchanging or depositing the old currency notes.

"We have around 50 lakh account holders who have submitted cheques and cash after the scheme was announced. The cheques are cleared by the co-operative banks through the State Bank of India. But now because of the RBI circular of November 14, the SBI is refusing to clear our cheques or take the old currency notes from us," Thorat argued.

Dwarkadas submitted that under section 26 (1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, every bank note is considered as legal tender.

READ OUR FULL COVERAGE ON THE MODI GOVT'S DEMONETISATION MOVE
The Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) will continue to run iconic Taj Mansingh hotel situated in the heart of national capital for now as the Supreme Court today ordered status quo and restrained NDMC from auctioning the property.

A bench of Justices P C Ghose and U U Lalit also refused to accept the prayer of the civic body that the premier hotel be restrained from taking any fresh booking beyond March 31.

"After looking at the facts and circumstances of the case and balancing the situation, we direct status quo with regard to the hotel," it said.

Regarding the prayer of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) that no fresh booking in the hotel should be allowed, the bench said, "It is very difficult to restrain fresh bookings for a running hotel. Everything will be decided when we hear the matter in January."



Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the IHCL, said that they were ready to pay "any price" for the hotel, but they should get the first right for refusal.

"I (IHCL) have built the brand, I have created the brand, at least tell me a price. If I unable to pay or refuse to pay then you (NDMC) can proceed as you wish. They should give me first right of refusal," Salve said.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for NDMC, said that the property was owned by the civic body and was given to IHCL on a lease of 33 years which expired in 2011.

He said that IHCL has no vested right for renewal of licence from the civic body and the only right they have got is that they can seek for renewal which is upto the NDMC for consideration.

"We are the licensor. We paid for the building and we paid for everything. They do not have any vested right to seek renewal of license. It was upto the NDMC to consider whether to renew their license or not," Jain said.

The bench, however, posted the matter for further hearing in the second week of January, saying everything will be decided "when we hear the matter".

IHCL, which runs the Taj Mansingh hotel in the national capital, had on November 8 approached the apex court against the Delhi High Court order that cleared the decks for auctioning of the iconic property.

(Reopens LGD29)



The firm had challenged the October 27 verdict delivered by a division bench of high court which had dismissed IHCL's petition challenging the move by NDMC to auction the property.

The high court had dismissed IHCL's plea, saying the company has "no right" for renewal of the licence period and NDMC was "within its power" to secure maximum consideration for grant of licence for the property situated at the prime location of 1, Man Singh Road in Lutyen's Delhi.

IHCL had moved the division bench of high court against the September 5 judgement of a single judge who had not acceded to the firm's request for renewal of licence for a further period, saying it was not entitled for the extension.

The IHCL lease had ended in 2011 and the company was given nine temporary extensions since then on various grounds, with three of them granted last year itself.

NDMC had in January this year said it was in the process of assessing the assets of the hotel in preparation for the much-delayed auction.

IHCL had earlier approached the single judge bench seeking a decree of permanent injunction restraining NDMC from interfering in any manner with the possession, right to operate, run and maintain the hotel premises.
To help crash-starved travellers, the state-run IDBI Bank has deployed its point of sale (PoS) machines at the Mumbai airport.

The PoS machines deployed at both domestic and international airports will allow Visa and RuPay debit card holders of IDBI Bank as well as a few select banks to withdraw cash for urgent needs. A customer can get Rs 2,000 per card.

"We have deployed around 4-5 PoS machines at the Mumbai airport terminals where people can swipe a Visa or a RuPay card and the bank officials present there would give them cash. The intention is to help travellers meet their immediate cash needs," Deputy Managing Director K P Nair said.

Besides IDBI Bank, Visa and RuPay debit card holders of State Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank and HDFC Bank can also withdraw cash at the IDBI Bank's PoS terminals at the airports.

Nair said the bank is now deploying such PoS machines at the New Delhi airport also and is in talks with a few more airports.

He said the facility to withdraw cash from PoS terminals is only for Visa and RuPay cards, launched by National Payments Corporation, as both the companies are certified to undertake this exercise.

"Cash withdrawal on PoS machines requires a certain certification to be done. That certification exercise had already been done by Visa and RuPay," Nair explained.

He said the bank has collected Rs 18,000 crore of deposits between November 10 and November 19. It has exchanged Rs 400 crore of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Out of the 3,300 ATMs of the bank, 500 ATMs are recalibrated to dispense the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.

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India is among the lowest four countries in terms of number of rapes but almost every incident is reported by the media, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said today.

She also said that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards rape.

However, her statement drew flak from lawyer Vrinda Grover who asked if she is "denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India".

Addressing a gathering of women journalists, the Women and Child Development Minister said, "I went to Sweden two years ago when because of Nirbhaya incident, cases were being reported everyday. Someone said to me that no one wanted to travel to India.

"I actually took a look at a table. In the world, we are among the lowest four countries in the area of rape. Sweden is number one. I said in your country it is not reported in the newspapers. Whereas we have zero tolerance (towards rape) and our newspapers will write about it everyday," she said.

"In fact, according to data collated by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Sweden recorded second highest number of sexual crimes - 63.5 per 100,000 inhabitants - in 2010. This is the highest for any European country.

"Botswana was the worst at 92.9 rapes per 1,00,000 people. The figure for Sweden is also more than 30 times the number in India, which recorded 1.8 offences per 1,00,000 people," Maneka said.

Grover argued that comparing crime statistics across countries can be "fraught with problems".

"I find it very unfortunate that a minister might try and tell women of this country that you can be in a worse situation instead of saying that she is working to make things better. Is she denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India?" she asked.

"I would look at whether definition of rape is the same in Sweden as in India. Secondly, there may be a much higher rate of reporting in Sweden," Grover added.

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India, along with its neighbours, assumes the responsibility of establishing peace and "law and order" in the Indo-Asia Pacific region, but expects the US to continue its pivotal role there, a senior BJP leader has said.

Ram Madhav, the general-secretary of the ruling party, said India has earned a tremendous trust from its neighbours in the significantly important Indo-Asia Pacific region.

At an event organised by the Federation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies, Madhav said India assumes the responsibilities - along with its neighbours - to establish peace and "law and order" in the region.

But, he said, India expects the US to continue its pivotal role in the region instead of slowing trade and military engagement in the region.

"The regional powers will have to take a leading role with America playing a supportive role. That is perhaps the way forward," he said at the event on Friday in the suburbs of Washington DC.

Madhav is the first senior leader of the ruling party to have addressed on India-US relationship after the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.

Summarising the current state of Indo-US relationship, Madhav said the ties reached a new peak under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to march ahead under the Trump administration, he said.

"Going by his pre-election statements towards India, the president-elect seems to have a friendly perspective towards India. He does not seems to be a run-in-mill politician, hence we expect him to bring fresh ideas to counter-terrorism, and establish the rule of law," he said.

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India Cements expects to double exports revenue during the current financial year on the back of strong demand in overseas markets, a top official of the company said today.

The company, engaged in manufacturing and marketing of cements and clinkers, has sold 1.52 lakh tonnes of cement and clinker during the quarter ending September this year against 1.02 lakh tonnes in the same quarter of last fiscal.

"Last year our export revenue was Rs 100 crore. This year during the last six months (ending September 30, 2016) the revenue was Rs 70 crore. We will close export revenues to about Rs 170-200 crore," Company Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N Srinivasan told reporters here.

Noting that the company's cement was well accepted in Sri Lanka and was already one of the top three players, he said, "The company will export its products to overseas markets wherever it is viable."



The Chennai-based company produces clinkers at its facility in Kakinada and cement at its Krishnapatnam manufacturing unit.

Reacting to the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre, he said, "Post announcement (by the Centre) the sale remains unaffected."



The demand for cement continues to be the same. Whether the inadequate supply of fresh currency notes will have a material effect is what remains to be seen, he said.

"There are two uncertainties. One, regarding the monsoon and the second is that there should be liquidity (into the system), he added.

India Cements reported 62 per cent jump in standalone net profits at Rs 62.41 crore for the quarter ending September. The city-based company had recorded a net profit of Rs 38.50 crore during the same quarter of previous year.

The standalone total income rose by 7 per cent to Rs 1,314.44 crore in July-September quarter this fiscal from Rs 1,229.10 crore during the same quarter in 2015-16.

Referring to the company's quarterly performance, Srinivasan said, the capacity utilisation of the company's plants was around 68 per cent as against 60 per cent in same quarter of previous year.

Overall volume including exports during the quarter ending September 30, 2016 was around 23.99 lakh tonnes as against 21.65 lakh tonnes in the same period previous year.

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Pakistan should realise that fanning terror in Kashmir will not serve its cause, a state-run Chinese newspaper said today while underlining that India and Pakistan should make "compromises" to end the conflict in the disputed region.

"The conflict between India and Pakistan has hindered the development of each country. The Pakistani government, military and other groups should realise that armed struggles and terror attacks will not change the chaotic situation of Kashmir, and will leave people in desperation," an article on the website of state-run Global Times said.

"After decades of confrontation, it is time that the two sides make some compromise," it said.

The article also claimed that the mention of Balochistan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address proves Pakistan's accusations about India's alleged involvement in the restive province.

"Pakistan has been accusing India of backing the separatist movement in its Balochistan province, which India has denied. This year, Modi mentioned Balochistan in his Independence Day address, which actually proved Pakistan's accusation," it said.

"It indicated that the Indian government would turn the province into the second battlefield to counter Pakistan's support for anti-India forces in India-controlled Kashmir.

"If Balochistan really separates from Pakistan, the Pakistani government will lose its control over the country and the country will be torn apart.

"A chaotic Pakistan will become a hotbed for extremism, which India will find more difficult to tackle. It may even incite separatism within India, especially in states and northeastern regions where Muslims make up the majority," the report said.

Stating that India-Pakistan conflict is also affecting neighbouring countries, it said "some forces in India launched an unprecedented boycott of Chinese products, using the excuse of China's support for Pakistan".

Referring to terrorist attacks disrupting the India-Pakistan peace process it said "in the past two decades, whenever the Indian and Pakistani leaderships exchanged visits and the bilateral ties were about to develop, destructive events would occur and bring the two back to confrontation".

"Obviously, some forces do not want to see an improved



relationship between India and Pakistan. If the leaders of the two countries have the goodwill to improve ties, they should put the fanatical nationalism within their countries under control and handle destructive events with a cool head. Regrettably, tragedies occurred time and again," it said.

"Simply imposing pressure on Pakistan does not help. India has applied many times to include Masood Azhar, Jaish-e- Mohammed's founder and leader, into the sanction list of the UN Security Council," said the report.

"In every international occasion such as the G20 summit and the BRICS summit, Modi speaks about anti-terrorism and Pakistan. He labels Pakistan as a supporter of terrorism and tarnishes Pakistan's international image," the article said.

"The Pakistani government has weak control over the country. Not only it cannot control its intelligence organisations, military and local governments, the government has no capability to manage its tribes, religious groups and terrorist forces.

"It is unfair to attribute the attacks on India to the Pakistani government, because the government would like to solve the discrepancies with India through dialogue. Pressing the Pakistani government only puts pressure on the moderate forces within Pakistan and fosters hawkish sentiment toward India," it said.
Indian directors Satish and Santosh Babusenan, who are participating in the 38th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) with their movie "The Narrow Path", are happy to be a part of the event.

"We were very thrilled because it is a famous festival. When we were young we used to hear about the Cairo festival, so are very happy to be selected," Santosh, 51, told PTI.

The directors said that winning an award is not as important to them as participating in a festival like CIFF is.

"It's like an honour to be selected specially in the official competition," Satish, 50, added.

The directors said that their movie is different and full of compassion.

"The Narrow Path", written and directed by both Santish and Santosh, also competes in the official competition. The movie will be screened at the Cairo Opera House.

The film, which is the second venture of the directors, is an independent production, which is very different from the usual Bollywood movies.

"It's totally different. It about real life, the life of actual people. There is no song, there is no dance. It's not made to entertain, it's made for us to think," Santosh said.

"We have been thinking for years about what are the hidden motives that makes our lives go in certain ways. That's what we have tried to show in the movies," said Satish.

"We are not funded we made the movie with our own money," Santosh added.

The directors said that there are two common problems that independent directors face; the first is funding and the second is that there is lack of audience.

"Now we are trying to sell the movies, as we need money to make our next film," Santosh said.

Satish and Santosh said that it's their first visit to Egypt.

"This is our first time in Egypt. The people are very warm and it also reminds us of India," Satish said.

The directors, also said that they will watch some movies, visit the Pyramids and the river Nile.

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A 41-year-old Indian man was arrested in Nepal today for cheating people on the pretext of exchanging banned high denomination Indian currency.

Harekrishna Shah from West Bengal was arrested in Kalanki in the outskirt of Kathmandu in connection with his fraudulent activities.

He had assured people to provide them with 5 million Nepalese rupees in exchange of INR 3.65 million with higher denominations.

A special Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Circle at Teku for taking necessary legal action under the fraudulent activities, according to the police.

The Indian government recently banned notes of denominations Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in a bid to tackle black money.

Nepal shares border with India. Indian currency is widely used in Nepal for day-to-day transactions, especially in the border areas. Also, a large number of Nepalese citizens working in India send remittances to their family in Nepal in higher denomination notes. Nepal, a landlocked country, depends on India for trade and supplies.

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As we bid adieu to 2016, the destinations that are trending with the Indian traveller for New Year getaways range across continents with a mix of the Asia Pacific, Europe and Middle East, a report said.

Global travel search engine, Skyscanner revealed that the Indian travellers preferred countries ranging across continents with an interesting mix of the Asia Pacific, Europe and Middle East for New Year getaways.

Skyscanner has drawn comparisons between travel searches from 2015 and 2016, highlighting the places where Indian travellers will be ushering in 2017.

As per the data, crunching numbers from over 50 million users every month, New Zealand emerged as a clear favourite among Indian travellers, witnessing a growth of 52 per cent in travel searches from last year.

Neighbouring, Australia was the second most searched destination and recorded an increase of 47 per cent in travel searches compared to last year, it said.

Closer to home, Malaysia saw a rise of 28 per cent in travel searches and United Kingdom, recording a 15 per cent surge in searches since 2015, said Skyscanner.

Further the data revealed that Delhiites, preferred Australia with a whopping Year-on-Year increase of 120 per cent in searches.

This is followed by travel queries for Malaysia and France, which rose 101 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively.

"It is exciting to witness a change in the perspective of the Indian travellers. One of recent surveys divulged Indians as the most adventurous travellers and now our data further strengthens the insight," Skyscanner Growth Manager Reshmi Roy said.

"Moving away from the cliched holiday spots, Indians are willing to travel far and wide for seasonal holidays. Distance and budget are no longer considered constraints to plan a holiday," added Roy.

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A special court for cases probed by Investigation Agency (NIA) here on Monday posted on December 13 the judgement in the February 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.

On November 7, the final arguments were concluded in the case before the NIA court at Cherlapally Central Prison here. The court had then reserved its judgement for November 21.

As Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, is absconding, the case was split up against him.

Charges were framed against the five other accused  IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar alias Monu and Aijaz Sheikh, who are at present lodged in the Cherlapally Prison.

All the five accused appeared before the judge today and the verdict was posted on December 13.

Eighteen people were killed and 131 injured in two deadly explosions near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city, on February 21, 2013.

The accused were tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other relevant acts including IPC.

According to NIA, in furtherance of the conspiracy, Riyaz Bhatkal arranged for explosive substances and directed Asadullah Akhtar and Zia-ur-Rahman at Mangalore to receive the same.

After receiving the explosive materials and the money sent by Riyaz through hawala and money transfer channels, Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and joined Tahseen Akhtar, who was already hiding there, it had said.

Together they prepared two IEDs after procuring the other required materials as well as two cycles for mounting the IEDs from Hyderabad, the agency had said.

After preparation of the IEDs on February 21, 2013, the accused mounted two bombs on two bicycles and planted them in two separate places in Dilsukhnagar which had resulted in a powerful explosion, it had said.
Korean director Kim Seong-hun may not have seen many Indian films but he recalls watching Rajinikanth's "Muthu".

The 1995 Tamil comedy-drama was directed by KS Ravikumar.

When asked if he has seen any Indian films, Kim told PTI, "Just like Korean films are not introduced that much in India, we don't see many Indian films releasing there. But I did see 'Muthu', that was the Indian title of the film and I really liked it. It was an exciting watch."



Kim's film "The Tunnel" was the opening film of the Country-In Focus section at the 47th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The survival-drama chronicles the story of a man who meets with an accident as a tunnel collapses on him, leaving him trapped inside his car with his cellphone, two bottles of water and his daughter's birthday cake.

The 45-year-old director is thrilled that his film was chosen to open the section of the festival.

"I am very pleased and honoured to be here. I feel very happy that my movie is the opening film here. It feels really nice."



Kim made his directorial debut in 2006 with "How the Lack of Love Affects Two Men" and went on to make the critically acclaimed "A Hard Day" before helming "The Tunnel" this year.

While Korean films have retained their position in the global market, Kim says there is still no competition with Hollywood.

"Hollywood is big and it is getting bigger every day. But there are alway the local films of a country which people will watch. Even in Korea, people support Korean films.

"But my aim is not to aim for global or local audience but to satisfy myself. I don't see much difference between me and the audience. I make the kind of films I believe in."'



When asked how much has the Korean cinema evolved over the years, he says, "It's a difficult question but it has evolved with the society. Korean people have changed rapidly and our cinema has undergone a change too with that."



This year at IFFI, the Country In Focus is the Republic of Korea and its film "The Age of Shadows", directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon, will bring the curtains down on the festival, which is a nine-day affair. The film is also Korea's official entry for the Academy Awards this year.

Renowned Korean filmmaker Im Kwon Taek, best known for his films such as "Wife", "The Family Pedigree", "Evergreen" and Chunhyang", "Ghiwaseon" and "Low Life", was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival.

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A lawyer today claimed he did not furnish the alleged complaint to BJP leader Vijender Gupta which he used to petition Lt Governor Najeeb Jung against Delhi Government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra.

Vibhor Anand, the lawyer said he filed a complaint against Gupta today at the office of Lt Governor seeking an investigation into the matter by the Delhi Police.

Gupta, who is Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, had last week petitioned Lt Governor Najeeb Jung against Mehra, based on the alleged complaint of Vibor Anand, on which an inquiry has been ordered.

"Vibhor Aanand had complained in the matter to the Leader of Opposition. Considering seriousness of the matter, Gupta had demanded the L-G should order an investigation. The L-G found the matter to be serious and ordered an investigation against Rahul Mehra and his associate government counsels," said a statement from Gupta's office.

However, Vibhor denied having met Gupta ever.

"No such complaint was filed by me on this issue to Vijendra Gupta or to the L-G. I have never met Vijendra Gupta and the complaint forwarded to the L-G by him is not mine, and signature on the complaint are also forged," he said.

Gupta, however, said his office receives several complaints which are forwarded to authorities concerned in a routine manner while demanding an investigation into the whole matter.

"The complaint was fwded to me & contained matter of grave pub misconduct. I did my duty by fwding it to competent authority. Complaint mentions a law student Vibhor Anand. Actual complainant as well as content of the complaint shud b investigated(sic)," Gupta said in a tweet.

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Two Canadian lawyers came to Australia's Parliament House today to persuade lawmakers to pass a motion urging China to immediately end the practice of what they say is organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.

David Kilgour, a former prosecutor and Canadian secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific, and David Matas, a human rights lawyer, have published evidence they say shows that China performs an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 transplants a year, with organs primarily taken from Falun Gong practitioners, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians.

China says it performed 10,057 organ transplants last year and has not harvested organs of executed prisoners since January 2015.

The US House of Representative passed a resolution in June calling on the State Department to report annually to Congress on the implementation of an existing law barring visas to Chinese and other nationals engaged in coercive organ transplantation.

The resolution also condemns persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual group China calls a cult and has outlawed.

China accused Congress of making "groundless accusations."



The European Parliament passed a similar declaration in July calling for an independent investigation of "persistent, credible reports on systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience" in China.

Kilgour said the Australian government was reluctant to accept evidence of large-scale, forced organ harvesting in China. Kilgour blamed Australia's close economic ties with China, its largest trading partner.

"The greatest amount of skepticism seems to be in Australia," Kilgour said.

Kilgour and Matas first published a report on organ harvesting in China in 2006, which became the basis of their 2009 book "Bloody Harvest. The Killing of Falun Gong for their Organs."



Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Graham Fletcher told a Senate committee last month that he had doubts about the credibility of Falun Gong reports of forced organ harvesting.

"They are not given credence by serious human rights activists," Fletcher said, referring to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International's Australian spokeswoman Caroline Shepherd said the London-based organization had not done its own research into organ harvesting in China and supported United Nations' calls for an independent investigation of such allegations.

The Australian Health Department said at least 53 Australians traveled to China for organ transplants between 2001 and 2014.

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The Bihar government on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of all the matters relating to its law banning sale and consumption of all types of liquor, which are pending before the Patna High Court to the apex court.

A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy asked senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, who was appearing for the state, to move a proper transfer petition in this regard.

Dhavan, assisted by advocate Keshav Mohan, told the Bench that the apex court had on October 7 stayed the operation of Patna High Court's judgement quashing the law banning sale and consumption of all types of liquor in the state and a number of petitions related to the matter were pending before the high court.

"A number of cases have been filed and they are pending before the high court. Let all the matters be transferred to the Supreme Court," he said.

To this, the Bench said, "You must file a proper transfer petition."

The court told Dhavan that the state government could mention the matter before the Bench after filing the transfer petition.

The Bench had earlier issued notice to all respondents including some liquor manufacturers on whose plea the high court had held as illegal and unconstitutional the Bihar government's prohibition law.

The state government has challenged the high court verdict of September 30 quashing the notification banning consumption and sale of liquor in the state, saying it was ultra vires to the Constitution.

However, after the law was set aside by the high court, the Nitish Kumar government had came out with a new law banning sale and consumption of liquor, which was notified on Gandhi Jayanti day on October 2.
Rights groups condemned Malaysia's government today for a crackdown on organisers of a weekend anti-government rally, including the arrest of the protest leader under a tough law aimed at terrorism.

Tens of thousands of people flooded Kuala Lumpur with the yellow colours of the reformist movement Saturday to demand Prime Minister Najib Razak resign and face justice over a massive corruption scandal.

Authorities arrested more than a dozen people before, during and after the demonstration including Maria Chin Abdullah, the leader of the "Bersih" civil society alliance that staged the rally.

Most detainees have since been released but Chin remains in solitary confinement under a national security law that allows detention without charge for 28 days and can bring a lengthy prison sentence.

Six Asian human rights organisations in a joint statement called the crackdown a grave breach of basic rights.

"These arrests violate international human rights standards," it said, calling for all those arrested to be freed and all charges dropped.

The statement was released by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance.

The groups said they were especially "alarmed" at Chin's detention under a national security law introduced in 2012 by Najib's government with a promise it would not be used against political opponents.

"However, the authorities are instead using it to prevent the exercise of fundamental human rights, constituting an abuse of law," the statement said.

The protest was the second in 15 months by Bersih to highlight allegations that billions of dollars were plundered from sovereign fund 1MDB, Najib's pet investment project.

Najib, 63, and 1MDB deny wrongdoing. But the US Justice Department earlier this year detailed an audacious campaign of fraud and money-laundering by his family, associates and an unnamed "Malaysian Official 1" - an apparent thinly-veiled reference to Najib.

Najib last year abruptly fired the attorney general and shut down domestic investigations. His government has increasingly throttled the media and whistle-blowers to contain the scandal.

Bersih, in a statement today, said Chin was being held in a tiny windowless cell with no mattress.

Bersih is "shocked and outraged that the authorities have gone to such extreme lengths to silence their critics", it said.

It called for international pressure on authorities and said nightly vigils would be held on her behalf at central Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square.

Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has threatened still more people could be detained.

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The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 said on Monday they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane.

Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Voice 370, a family association, said the debris collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast.

"Despite these hugely important finds, there has been no systematic, organised search by any responsible party. This leaves the (next-of-kin) no other choice except to take it upon ourselves to do something to find answers and closure," it said in a statement.

An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon.

Grace Subathirai Nathan, whose mother Anne Daisy was on the flight, said she will be going to Madagascar with three other Malaysians, two Chinese and a French next-of-kin. She said the group is financing the December 3 to December 11 trip from their own pockets.

"We hope to mobilise the fishing villagers and coastal population to be on the constant lookout for new debris that could become new credible evidence," she told The Associated Press.

The Voice 370 statement said the seven-member team will focus their search along high potential sites based on drift modelling, largely focusing in areas on and around Ile Saint Marie, a tropical island off Madagascar's east coast.

The group said they may set up an incentive system using their own funds to encourage the search for debris and will aim to set up a notification system and local collection point for potential aircraft debris.

So far, none of the six pieces of debris has helped narrow down the precise location of the main underwater wreckage. Investigators need to find that in order to locate the flight data recorders that could help explain why the plane veered so far off course.

Search crews are expected to finish their sweep of the 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) search zone in the Indian Ocean next month.

Oceanographers have been analysing wing flaps found in Tanzania and on the French island of La Reunion to see if they might be able to identify a potential new search area through drift modelling. But any new search would require more funding.

Malaysia, Australia and China said in July that the $160 million hunt will be suspended once the current stretch of ocean is exhausted unless new evidence emerges that would pinpoint a specific location of the aircraft.
Twin attacks blamed on jihadists during weekend municipal elections in Mali left six people dead, security sources said today.

The violence came as the country held its first election since 2013. Turnout was low however due to continuing fears over security despite the presence of international peacekeepers.

In the first incident, security sources told AFP that five Malian soldiers died after being ambushed while transporting ballot boxes in the restive north.

"After the voting yesterday, an army convoy taking the ballot boxes for counting was attacked in the north by jihadists. Five Malian soldiers were killed," a security source said.

Another Malian security source said the assailants "wanted to sabotage the elections" and were unable to make off with the ballots.

In the second attack, in the town of Dilli in southwestern Mali overnight yesterday to today, a group of alleged jihadists nabbed several vehicles and killed a civilian.

"They arrived early today in Dilli. They attacked a council building. The jihadists then took off with two ambulances and a vehicle, after which they killed a civilian and made off for the Mauritanian border," a local official said, requesting anonymity.

A security source said the assailants were probably hoping to find ballot boxes in the building where counting was under way.

Voters are electing 12,000 councillors across Mali as the government wrestles with implementing a 2015 peace deal and warding off the stubborn jihadist threat in the north.

French troops were deployed in 2013 to repel Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who had overrun several northern towns, joining forces with Tuareg-led rebels.

Some 11,000 UN military and police have followed, attempting to maintain security, but the jihadists remain active in the north while also spreading to the west African country's central regions.

Yesterday's election - held two years later than scheduled - coincided with the first anniversary of a jihadist attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako that left 20 people dead, many of them foreigners.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Saturday for a peaceful vote in areas "where political and security conditions allow" in a nation still under a state of emergency.

The twin attacks were among a string of disruptions to voting in northern and central Mali.

In Timbuktu yesterday, unknown attackers seized and burned electoral papers in multiple raids.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was threatening other parties raising voices against and said she would hit the streets of Delhi tomorrow to protest against the Centre's move which caused immense hardship to the people.

"The Prime Minister is threatening other parties who are raising their voices on . PM should be sober. PM should behave like a PM. If necessary, he should convene an all-party meeting on the issue," Banerjee told a press conference at the state secretariat.

"There is no ego fight. There should be a plan of action on . My humble submission is that let us work together to solve the issue. The people are suffering," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

Claiming that some political parties were unable to raise their voices because the "PM is threatening them", the she said, "But I will not be cowed down. I will continue to protest. He can put me in jail. He (Modi) is even threatening his own party."



Modi at a rally in Agra yesterday said that political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams were attacking him because they had been hit hard by demonetisation, indirectly referring to Mamata Banerjee.

Alleging that there was a 'scam' behind this move, she said, "There must be some hidden agenda. What is the hidden agenda? Let them bring it to the public domain," she said.

Banerjee said that she would hit the streets in Delhi tomorrow and visit other states also on this issue.

"I will be in Delhi on November 23,24 and in Lucknow on November 29. I will also go to Bihar and Punjab," she announced.

"This is not a political issue. We are speaking on behalf of commoners. Markets are closed. Small traders are hit," she remarked and said "I have no personal interest. I am doing this for the sake of the people of the country".

She said that she was not alone in her fight and added at least three other parties had gone with her to the President.

"I will request all (opposition) political parties to be with the people", she said.

The chief minister said that the Centre is allowing demonetised notes in various sectors like railways, aviation, petroleum, etc but not for state government sectors.

(Reopens Cal9)



On the PM's attack against her in the Agra rally



yesterday, Banerjee expressed surprise that since both the RBI and Sebi were in his hands what prevented him from getting it (chit fund scam) investigated.

"We have never seen a PM who threatens his political opponents," she said adding that NPAs of banks should he investigated as "it is a big scandal".

"A big damage has been done to the country in the last 13 days. Recession has already started. GDP is down," she said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has asked law enforcing agencies to work on a multi-pronged strategy to eradicate the menace of drug abuse.

She also asked the officers to take the fight against land encroachments in the state on mission mode.

The chief minister asked deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) of Jammu division to work on a multi-pronged strategy to eradicate the drug menace as it "threatens the very survival of our future generation".

She was speaking at a meeting with DCs and SPs to review progress of development projects and the overall law and order scenario in the Jammu division.

Mufti said while it was all important to go after drug peddlers with all seriousness and firmness, it was equally important to undertake awareness campaigns, particularly among students, about ill-effects and dangers of drug addiction.

She also suggested undertaking counseling programmes for youths addicted to drugs and their parents and called for setting up of more de-addiction centres.

The chief minister was informed that police have launched a massive campaign against drug abuse and the numbers of cases and arrests have gone up as compared to previous years.

She was also informed that confiscation of cannabis, brown sugar and opium have gone up in the state.

The chief minister impressed upon the DCs to monitor all development activities in their respective districts.

"Every development work in your district is your responsibility and chase it till it gets completed," she said.

Mehbooba rued that much of the working season in the state, particularly in Kashmir division, has been lost and progress on works slowed down due to the ongoing unrest.

The chief minister sought detailed information from the DCs regarding availability of ration, power and water supply, healthcare facilities and all other issues concerning masses.

She also enquired about the implementation of the National Food Security Act and the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme in the districts.

She directed the DCs to ensure that the retrieved state land remains safe for which she asked them to undertake fencing in convergence with MNREGA.

The chief minister also directed the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu division to ensure thatthe poor nomadic communities living in forest areas for decades are not harassed and dislocated during anti-encroachment drive.

She said the authorities should go after big land-grabbers who have encroached huge chunks at prime places, but the poor and hapless nomads who have been protecting the forests for decades should not be harassed.

Mehbooba also enquired about the status of cases of crimes against women in the districts.

She was informed that three women's police stations have been working in the province and two more women's police stations have been sanctioned.

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US' future First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron will not move to the White House immediately after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January with both the parents wary of pulling their child out in the middle of school year.

"There's obviously sensitivity to pulling their 10-year-old out of school in the middle of the school year. A more formal statement will be coming in the future," transition team communications director Jason Miller told reporters.

His remarks came in response to a New York Post report, which citing sources, said the President-elect's 46-year-old wife and their son will stay put at the family's glitzy Trump Tower penthouse so that Barron can continue attending his Upper West Side private school.

"Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign," a source close to Trump's transition team was quoted as saying.

"The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum," the source said.

Asked if he was planning on moving into the presidential residence, Trump, while speaking to reporters in New Jersey, said "yes, White House".

When asked whether his wife and son would be joining him there, Trump said, "Very soon. After he's finished with school." Trump will be sworn in as President on January 20.

Another source quoted by The Post said Melania will travel to the White House as needed, but that her primary focus is on Barron.

"Melania is very supportive of her husband and is fully on board of doing everything that's needed as first lady," the second source was quoted as saying.

The source said there is a possibility that Melania and Barron may move to the White House at the end of the school year, but no plans are in place.

"She is really devoted to Barron," the daily quoted a source close to the family as saying.

Melania has not relied on nannies to raise the child and is frequently seen picking the fourth-grader up from his prep school, where tuition is over $40,000, the report said.

The decision to remain in their Midtown home will increase the security presence around Trump Tower -- an effort that will involve both Secret Service and the NYPD, an expert familiar with high-level security said.

"That building is going to become the White House of New York," said Jim Reese, a former Delta Force commander, said.

Strict security measures around Trump Tower will remain in place, with two of the five lanes on Fifth Avenue closed because of barriers, said officials at a joint NYPD, Secret Service and City Hall news conference on
Melting sea ice may shift migration routes of Arctic whale, which in turn may lead to increased predation of the species, a new study has warned.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the US, evaluated the relationship between changing sea ice and the migration of the Arctic whale also known as white whale and beluga whales.

They also evaluated the summer residency patterns of a number of populations over two decades of dramatic sea ice changes in the Pacific Arctic.

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) exhibited a tremendous ability to deal with widely varying sea ice conditions from one year to the next over a 20-year time frame in their return to traditional summering grounds each year.

"It was not clear how sea ice influences beluga whale migration patterns and their summer habitat use, and climate change has added urgency to determining how environmental factors might shape the behaviour and ecology of this species,"



said Greg O'Corry-Crowe, research professor at FAU.

Researchers used a combination of genetic profiling, sighting data and satellite microwave imagery of sea ice in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas for the study.

They found some dramatic shifts in migration behaviour in years with unusually low spring sea ice concentration and in one case with an increase in killer whale (Orcinus orca) sightings and reported predation on beluga whales.

For the study, researchers used genetic "fingerprinting" to investigate the population of origin of whales returning to four traditional coastal sites in the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic between 1988 and 2007.

They compiled detailed beluga sightings and harvest data for the same period to assess inter-annual variation on timing of return.

Researchers analysed sea ice data in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas to determine seasonal and regional patterns of sea ice from 1979 to 2014.

They used data from tissue samples from 978 beluga whales, which were collected over a 30-year period.

"Continued reductions in sea ice may result in increased predation at key aggregation areas and shifts in beluga whale behaviour with implications for population viability, ecosystem



structure and the subsistence cultures that rely on them," said O'Corry-Crowe.

The study appears in the journal Royal Society Biology Letters.

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Millions of black-clad Shiite Muslims, crying and beating their chests in mourning, streamed through a shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala today under heavy protection from the security forces.

The processions of faithful walking to Imam Hussein's mausoleum from all over Iraq have been routinely targeted by bombings over the years, but this time the Arbaeen commemoration saw very few attacks.

The Islamic State group is battling tens of thousands of Iraqi forces in and around its last major stronghold of Mosul, and observers had feared it might seek to strike Baghdad or Karbala during Arbaeen.

The authorities in Karbala, which lies about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Baghdad, said at least 24,000 soldiers and police were securing the area.

Some pilgrims came from as far afield as Basra, Iraq's main southern port city some 500 kilometres away by road.

"I came walking from Basra with my wife and three sons... This is the third time," said Jaber Kadhem Khalif.

"We started walking 13 days ago and reached Karbala on Sunday night."



The 40-year-old said his prayers would go to the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which has tens of thousands of men deployed on the front lines to fight IS.

Umm Ali came without her husband, who is with the security forces on the front lines.

"I came with my son and two daughters. I came from Samawa to Najaf by car, then from Najaf to Karbala on foot, to make a plea for my husband's safety," the 45-year-old said.

"We ask God to support us against Daesh (IS) members, to help us liberate Mosul and urge our politicians to remember the people who have sacrificed so much," she said.

Arbaeen, which means "40" in Arabic, is an observance that peaks on the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's 680 AD death, but the pilgrimage takes place over several days running up to it.

Nusayyef al-Khattabi, who heads the Karbala provincial council, said he expected the total number of visitors over several days to range "between 17 and 20 million".

Among them are an estimated three million foreigners, mostly Iranians who started crossing the border days ago.

The last day of Arbaeen was dominated by a controversy in Iraq over the publication by Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat of an article accusing Iranian pilgrims of sexually harassing women during the commemoration.

The article quoted a spokesman from the UN's health agency, which denied any such comment was ever made.

It drew condemnation from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shiite figures and bodies demanding an apology.

It kept Saudi-Iranian tension as a backdrop to the pilgrimage, after the deadly 2015 stampede during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca prompted Tehran to angrily question Saudi custodianship of holy Muslim sites.

"I want to respond to what was published in Asharq al-Awsat. They want to slander the pilgrims and this event," said Magdi al-Muslim, a Shiite who is himself from Saudi Arabia.

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A member of Nasir gang, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest over a murder case in Seelampur area of north east Delhi, has been caught by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

Mohammad Ashraf was hiding at Amroha in UP. A special team raided the place and came to know that he had returned to Delhi. He was caught near Anand Vihar ISBT on the night of November 20, DCP (Special Cell) Sanjiv Yadav said.

Ashraf is a member of the notorious Nasir gang involved in criminal activities including betting in northeast Delhi. The gang members including the accused Ashraf had gunned down one Mahender in Seelampur area in May after suspecting him to be a police informer, he said.

The gang's kingpin Nasir is already in jail. Other members of his gang -- Azim and Wasim were earlier arrested in connection with the murder but Ashraf was absconding, Yadav said.

A reward of Rs 50,000 was announced by Commissioner of Police on the arrest Mahender's killers.

Nasir gang has rivalry with another gang run by one Irfan over supremacy and betting business in in the area. In a daring bid, the Nasir gang members with the help of juveniles had attacked Irfan in Karkardooma court in December last year in which a Delhi Police head constable Ram Singh was killed, Yadav said.

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Nepal has abruptly cancelled all agreements with Indian construction firm ILFS to build a USD one billion expressway project, connecting the Nepalese capital with the southern Terai region near the Indian border.

The surprise move to cancel the agreements with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd to build 76-km-long expressway came yesterday after a meeting of the Development and Finance Committees of Legislature-Parliament.

Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Ramesh Lekhak said the government would now complete the fast-track road with domestic resources.

"Now all bodies concerned should make decision standing together in course of taking the nation's pride project ahead," Lekhak was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

He said the government has tabled a proposal with the Cabinet for constructing the road with own investment.

The fast-track road would connect Kathmandu to Nijgadh in the southern Terai region, where a new international airport has been planned.

ILFS had already prepared a detailed report for the project that would have reduced the travel time from Kathmandu to Nijgadh to under an hour.

According to a feasibility report prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2014, the road project was estimated to cost USD 960 million. The latest DPR has given a price tag of USD 1,117 million, reports have said.

During the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction held in June last year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had asked the Himalayan country to allow India to develop the fast-track road and the international airport in Nijgadh.

Previously, the KP Sharma Oli government had decided that the road project would be constructed by Nepal, instead of providing the contract to the Indian company.

Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara yesterday expressed commitment to ensure funds for "national pride projects" including the Tarai-Madhesh fast track and the Nijgadh international airport.

"The problem, however, is not lack of funds but inability to spend it. The problem in capital expenditure has not improved," he said.

Chairperson of Development Committee Rabindra Adhikari, Chair of Finance Minister Prakash Jwala, member Surendra Bahadur Pandey, Keshav Badal and others spoke of the need for unity among all the political parties to move ahead with the Nijgadh International Airport project and the Kathmandu-Tarai fast-track road project.

They suggested the government to allocate all the unspent budget every fiscal year for the fast-track road project and complete it in a fast-track manner, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Green Tribunal on Monday slammed the government over the issue of shifting of tanneries located on the banks of Ganga in Kanpur to some other place to stop discharge of effluents, saying, "it can't behave like a king."

"You are a democratic government in a federal structure. You are not a king that you have taken a decision and nobody can question it. You are not in favour of shifting tanneries and term it as your political will. Can a court of law accept a political will. If you say no, you must give proper reasons for it," a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The observations came after the Samajwadi Party government told the green panel that it was not in favour of shifting leather industries outside Kanpur as it was not "economically" viable.

The argument did not go well with the tribunal which said that clean environment was fundamental right of citizens and "no government" can run away from its "constitutional" obligation.

It said people cannot be allowed to suffer due to operation of leather units, which release high chromium in their effluents, and the government must take a clear view on the issue.

"Give us a proper reason, we will judicially scrutinise it. You will say what is the problem if there is chromium, they are hospitals to treat people. According to you, tanneries should have precedence over fundamental rights of citizens of clean air and good health," the Bench said.

The NGT said that if the state government was ready to give land and provide infrastructure to tannery clusters, there should be no problem in shifting them.

The hearing remained inconclusive and will continue Tuesday.

On November 15, the tribunal had stopped the government from spending "a single penny" for Ganga rejuvenation work between Haridwar and Unnao, saying a whopping Rs 20,000 crore was being spent on the entire project by officials who did not even know about the river.

The green panel has divided the work of cleaning the river in different segments -- Gomukh to Haridwar (Phase-I), Haridwar to Unnao (termed as segment B of Phase-I), Unnao to border of Uttar Pradesh, border of to border of Jharkhand and border of Jharkhand to Bay of Bengal.
The NIA carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day today, even as it blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.

The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name crop up linking terror activities following the Dhaka terror attack on July 1.

Search operations were carried out by the National Investigation Agency at the offices of IRF, premises of Naik as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naik's Peace TV.

The NIA also blocked the website of IRF, which was allegedly promoting "hate speeches" of Naik.

"As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken," an NIA spokesperson told PTI.

Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.

If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.

The NIA is still trying to block Naik's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged "objectionable" material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials.

The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naik's sermons.

Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.

The NIA had on November 19 carried out searches on 10



premises of the IRF in Mumbai after registering a case against Naik and others under the anti-terror law.

The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises, including IRF's head office.

IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.

Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.

Justifying the ban imposed on IRF, the government said Naik has been extolling Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted 80 per cent of Indians would not have remained Hindus.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the IRF and its members, particularly, founder Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities.

"The central government has received information that the statements and speeches made by Zakir Naik, the president of IRF are objectionable and subversive in nature as he has been extolling the known terrorists like Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted, 80 per cent of Indian population would not have remained Hindus as they could have been converted 'if we wanted' by sword, justifying the suicide bombings, posting objectionable comments against Hindu Gods, claiming that Golden Temple may not be as sacred as Mecca and Medina and making other statements which are derogatory to other religions," the notification said.

Meanwhile in a statement tonight, NIA said the agency has



started the process for blocking the URLs of online platforms connected to IRF and Zakir Naik including those on Facebook and YouTube.

It is being done following the due process of the extant statutes, it said.
Congress today tried to corner the BJP government in the Chhattisgarh Assembly over the deaths of 13 women after sterilisation surgeries in the Bilaspur district in 2014, alleging that no action has not been taken against guilty officials.

A heated discussion took place on the last day of Winter Session on the judicial commission's report on the deaths of women after sterilisation surgeries.

The Leader of opposition T S Singhdeo alleged no action was taken against the guilty officials even after the judicial inquiry report came out.

The report had noted that negligence in following the standard operating procedure for tubectomy camps and poison- laced medicines led to the incident, he said.

Reports from laboratories and doctors had confirmed that medicines administered to victims had poisonous substances. Even the room where the operation was performed was not properly sterilised, he added.

Government ordered probe but never revealed the action taken on the report, he said.

Singhdeo also sought to know whether the action was taken against the drug manufacturer under Drug and Cosmetics Act.

Replying to the discussion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ajay Chandrakar said the state government was not trying to save anyone.

Doctors from AIIMS Delhi, Apollo Hyderabad and other medical institutes were pressed into service for the treatment of affected women. Government ordered probe on next day of the incident, Chandrakar said, describing the incident as serious and unfortunate.

Compensation of Rs 4 lakh was given to the family members of each deceased woman while the government made arrangements for a better future of children of these women, he said.

The minister assured the House that as soon as the court cases are over, all necessary action will be taken for implementation of commission's recommendations.

New guidelines have been issued, wherein, such camps can be held only at places which meet the norms fixed by the state government, he said.

Health facilities were expanded during the BJP regime in the state, he claimed.

While 12 women who were operated upon at the camp in Pendari village of Bilaspur on November 8, 2014, died, a protected Baiga tribe woman was the lone casualty from the camps in Pendra block on November 10, 2014.

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said there was no comparison between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late Indira Gandhi and rejected suggestions that the party did not have leaders to take him on.

She also made it clear that she was not "troubled" by comparisons between Modi and Gandhi and that her party was taking on the Modi government.

"Every era in politics or history has its own problems, its own leaders and its own opposition. I think the Congress party is taking on the present dispensation," Sonia Gandhi told India Today TV.

She was replying to a question whether her party needed to be competitive unlike the 60s and 70s when it was dominant and that it did not have a leader to take on Modi.

Asked whether she was troubled by the fact that Modi was being compared with the late Prime Minister as a strong personality, Gandhi said, "It does not trouble me because I do not believe in it. I have my own clear views about it. There is no comparison. Absolutely not."



To another question that her party did not have a tough and competitive leader like Modi, she said, "I do not agree with that."



She recalled that Indira Gandhi was ridiculed, insulted and made fun of from within even more than outside when she entered politics, became a Congress president and later Prime Minister.

There was nothing that she did was right. She was able to "overcome" that, Gandhi said.

The photo exhibition, Sonia said, was consciously housed



in Swaraj Bhavan which was the place of Indira Gandhi's birth and where she met the leading lights of the freedom movement.

The event is part of Congress' commemoration of Indira Gandhi's birth centenary that started November 19.

"It was here at Swaraj Bhavan that Indiraji took her first lessons in politics. Her mortal remains after her martyrdom were also brought here. That's why this exhibition has been opened here. From here it will be taken to other places," said Sonia who, along with her children, dressed in pure whites, interacted with Congress leaders and workers asking them to prepare hard for the upcoming assembly polls.

Sonia and Priyanka stayed overnight at Swaraj Bhavan, which was recently refurbished.

Congress leaders were keen to get themselves clicked with the Gandhis, who also inquired about them and the preparations ahead.

Rahul also shared his thoughts on demonetisation with Congress leaders present there.

Sonia, 69, who briefly stopped her speech for the 'azaan', also remembered the emotional bond she shared with Indira saying, "Indiraji was not just my mother-in-law. She was like my mother. For 16 years we shared a house and also shared joys, sorrows and emotions."



The Gandhis refrained from making any comments on when Priyanka will formally launch her UP election campaign.

No politics today, was their refrain.
US President Barack Obama has said he was "not optimistic" about Syria's immediate future as the regime and its Russian backers launch a sustained bombardment of civilians in Aleppo.

"I am not optimistic about the short term prospects in Syria," Obama said at a press conference in Peru on Sunday, warning Syria's second city was likely to fall.

"Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back (Bashar al) Assad in a brutal air campaign... It was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time," said Obama.
Odisha today approached the Centre for formation of a dispute tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh, saying it was hopeful of a favourable ruling.

"The Odisha government has filed a complaint petition under Section 3 of the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956. We have urged the Centre to form a dispute tribunal. Section 3 of the Act is important because it has a provision wherein one affected party or both can request the Government of India to set up a tribunal to settle the rights of the individual states," state Water Resources Secretary P K Jena told reporters here.

Stating that the state government was hopeful of getting favourable ruling, Jena said, "we have also requested the Union government to direct the Chhattisgarh government to stop work on the ongoing projects during the pendency of the petition".

Odisha's petition to the Centre has been annxed with detailed information in a 700-page document which contains all historical facts and data over the past 30-40 years.

"The document also highlights how the projects undertaken by Chhattisgarh will affect Odisha and why the state is harbouring apprehensions. Filing of the petition is a legal step and we are hopeful that the Centre will act expeditiously on the same. We have full faith that our case of Mahanadi is quite strong and we will get relief," he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today, has asked the Centre to issue direction to Chhattisgarh to stop further construction on Mahanadi and act expeditiously to protect the interest of Odisha.

The Opposition Congress, however, criticised the state government for "delaying" its approach for setting up a tribunal to resolve Mahanadi water dispute.

"We had been recommending to the state government to go for a tribunal. But, they delayed the process. We have to see their sincerity in taking up the matter," Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said.

BJP leader Prutiwiraj Harichandan said, "We had earlier advised the state government to hold discussions under the mediation of the Central government which will result in swift resolution of the matter".

"Going to tribunal could delay the process," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A united Opposition today forced two adjournments in Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session, asserting that no discussion on demonetisation would take place till the House mourns the nearly 70 deaths caused by hardships due to the withdrawal of higher denomination currency notes.

While Congress, BSP, TMC and CPI(M) among others wanted a resolution condoling the deaths to come from the Chair, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley charged the Opposition of running away from the demonetisation debate.

Slogan-shouting opposition members rushed into the well of the House, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the proceedings till 1130 hours and then again till noon.

"Why are they (opposition parties) running away from debate," Jaitley asked. "This is clear now that the opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House."



Stating that the notice for suspension of business under Rule 267 was accepted on first day of the winter session and a debate had started, he said the reported deaths could come up during the course of this debate and the reply to it.

No sooner that the House mourned the death of 130 persons in the derailment of Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur yesterday, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said an obituary reference condoling the death of 70 people due to hardships caused by the demonetisation should be moved by the Chair.

He was supported by Mayawati (BSP) who said people have died standing in queues because of hunger, want of medicines and waiting for currency for marriage.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) said while condolences have been expressed for those killed in yesterday's train accident, the same should be done for the 70 people who have lost their lives in last 15 days.

"They are also citizens of this country. We want such an obituary reference to come from the Chair," he said, adding that Prime Minister Narenda Modi should also come to the House for the debate.

Kurien said if the members were ready, the discussion on demonetisation issue can resume immediately. "I would like to make it very clear that the Chair is ready for discussion if you are ready," he said.

Stating that 11 bank employees were among the 70 who lost their lives, Yechury asked the Chair to take the opinion of the House on moving a resolution condoling their death. He said the debate could be held after the obituary reference is made by the Chair.

Kurien however virtually ruled it out saying "condolences are not done on demand. That has to come spontaneously. You can approach the Chairman (on that)."



To this, Yechury said "take consensus of the House". At this point, opposition Congress, BSP and TMC members rushed into the Well shouting slogans.

"Narendra Modi sharam karo, sharam karo (shame on Narendra Modi)", "Modi sadan mein jawab do (Modi please reply in the House)", "poonjiwadio ki yeh sarkar nahi chalegi (this government of capitalists will not be tolerated)", "Jan virodhi Narendra Modi sharma karo, sharam karo (shame on anti-people Narendra Modi)," they shouted.

TMC members carried placards with "Financial Emergency" written. Kurien then adjourned the proceedings till 1130 hours.

No sooner did Deputy Chairman Kurien occupy the Chair and



called Dilip Tirkey (BJD) to start his Zero Hour mention, Congress members trooped into the Well.

Kurien suggested that members could continue the discussion on demonetisation of currency, but Congress members kept shouting slogans and other opposition members were seen standing on the aisles.

Amid din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too pitched for continuation of the debate. "Many members want to speak (on the demonetisation)," he said.

Yechury (CPI-M) again asked the Chair for an obituary reference for those who died while standing in queues outside banks due to the demonetisation move.

Kurien said there is a procedure for such references and suggested that the members to approach Rajya Sabha Chairman.

"What is the authenticity of numbers (of dead) you are speaking," he said, adding that obituary references cannot be taken up suo motu.

As Naqvi pressed for continuation of the debate on currency notes, the vociferous protests continued while BJP members kept shouting "We want discussion. We want discussion". Kurien then adjourned the House till noon.
Around 90 delegations from 43 countries, including Russia and China, will attend a mega defense expo starting tomorrow in Karachi where Pakistan will showcase some of its indigenously-built defense equipment like battle tank Al-Khalid and JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defense equipment at the four-day event.

The 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) received an overwhelming response from exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe, said Commodore Tahir Javed, media director of the Defense Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defense Production.

He said 30 high-level teams comprising defense ministers, defense secretaries and services chiefs are attending the biennial event.

"The defense industries of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia will have a significant presence," he said.

Nine new countries which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria and Romania are also attending the event.

Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armored personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.

Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines for forging alliances in defence production.

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Pakistan today "apprised" China about the "grave" humanitarian situation in Kashmir and hoped the global community will play its role in calling on India to put an end to the "blatant" rights violations in the Valley.

The issue was discussed between Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.

During the bilateral meeting, the USD 46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional and global issues of mutual concern were discussed, the Foreign Office said.

Chaudhry apprised Kong of "the grave humanitarian situation" in Kashmir. "He expressed the hope that the international community would play its role in calling on India to put an end to blatant human rights violations in the Valley," it said.

The two sides agreed to remain engaged and strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Chaudhry also briefed Kong on the latest situation in Afghanistan. He underscored the imperatives of reaching a sustainable and lasting peace in Afghanistan through reconciliation and dialogue, it said.

The two sides agreed that the international community should remain engaged with Afghanistan, especially through the Quadrilateral Consultative Group (QCG) in support of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political reconciliation.

Kong briefed Chaudhry "noted" that timely completion of CPEC's early-harvest projects would significantly uplift of the region and improve regional connectivity.

The Chinese official also called on Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz.

Aziz underscored the importance that Pakistan attaches to its ties with China and called for regular high-level exchanges.

Kong thanked Pakistan for its consistent and strong support on issues of vital interest to China. He also reaffirmed China's continued support to Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Acknowledging the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in fighting terrorism and extremism, he assured China's full support against these menaces.

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Pakistan has said it handed over a dossier to the UN military observer group on alleged ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC).

Representatives of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) yesterday met Pakistani officials at the General Headquarters Rawalpindi, where they were handed over a dossier on repeated "violations of the ceasefire agreement" by India, Pakistan Foreign Office said.

The detailed dossier was given to UNMOGIP representatives in view of the death of four people, including three children, in firing by Indian forces in Khuiratta Sector of the LoC, Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on twitter.

Pakistan has asked the UNMOGIP to investigate the incident, he said.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi had earlier also reportedly written to the UNSC President and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon alleging that Indian troops in Kashmir had launched artillery barrages.

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Pakistan today summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and lodged a protest over alleged ceasefire violations by India at the LoC that resulted in the death of four civillians, and also over New Delhi's refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft.

Singh conveyed "strong condemnation of the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces on the LoC in Khuiratta sector on November 19," the Foreign Office said.

The violations resulted in the death of four children, including three girls, and injuries to two other civilians, it said.

"The Deputy High Commissioner was told that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was highly deplorable," it said.

India was urged to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding in letter and spirit; to investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations; stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace along the LoC, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

Pakistan also expressed concern over Indian refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft.

This action by the India constituted a violation of the 1991 bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India, it said.

Pakistan has summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale twice in less than a week - on November 10 and 14 - this month over Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC after the death of seven of its soldiers.

Pakistan has also alleged that Indian forces have been using heavy weaponry such as artillery fire at the LoC.

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A civilian was today injured as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir, while a BSF head constable injured in yesterday's cross-border firing succumbed to injuries.

The civilian identified as Abdul Aziz, 50, a resident of Basoni village in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch, was injured when a mortar shell landed near his house, a police officer said.

Meanwhile, head constable of BSF Rai Singh (40), who was injured along with three other BSF jawans in last night's shelling from the Pakistani side along the line of control, succumbed to his injuries this morning in Rajouri sector.

"Last night in heavy shelling from Pakistan side along the LoC in Rajouri area, four BSF Personnel sustained splinter injuries.Head Constable Rai Singh, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of another personnel was serious," a BSF officer said.

Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by wife, three sons and mother, he said.

The army and the BSF retaliated to the Pakistani ceasefire violations and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in.

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Drug firm Panacea Biotec has received Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the US health regulator after successful inspection of its manufacturing facilities at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

The company has received EIR from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) indicating the formal closure of the cGMP and pre-approval inspection conducted at its oncology parenteral and oral solids dosage formulation facilities at Baddi, Panacea Biotec said in a BSE filing.

"The company has been supplying products in the US markets for approved ANDAs manufactured in the oral solids dosage facility," it added.

This facility has completed four consecutive successful cGMP and pre-approval inspections by USFDA in last 7 years, Panacea Biotec said.

The manufacturing facility of oncology parenteral formulations has been inspected by the USFDA for the first time, it added.

Both the facilities were inspected at the same time, between November 30-December 11, 2015 by the the US health regulator.

Panacea Biotec Joint MD Rajesh Jain said: "This EIR notification demonstrates the company's ability to produce drugs in cGMP compliant environment in a sustainable manner".

The EIR notification indicating inspection activity 'closed' means that the company is allowed to continue to sell its USFDA approved drug products. This also accelerates the approval process for submitted drug product applications, Panacea Biotec said.

Panacea stock was trading 3.27 per cent higher at Rs 108.95 apiece in the afternoon on BSE.

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Indian pharma industry sees a big potential for exporting generic drugs to Japanese market, a senior industry official said.

"Japan is leading global market for patented and branded pharma products. But due to ageing population and budget constraints, it is encouraging generic drugs. We see good opportunity for exporting generics in the Japanese market," Pharmexcil Director General Dr. Appaji told PTI on the sidelines of the pharma event 'CPhI & P-MEC 2016'.

Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is the authorised agency of the government for promotion of pharmaceutical exports from India.

Appaji said the country exports its one-third pharma products to US alone. "But we are looking at more opportunities in Japan and Latin American markets," he said.

He pointed out that in the US dollar terms, the pharmaceutical exports from India fell by over one per cent in the six months to September this fiscal as pricing pressures and a host of other factors took a big toll on the overseas shipments.

"However, the domestic market grew 12 per cent in the first six months of current fiscal," Appaji said.

The 10th edition of CPhI India and P-MEC, one of the world's leading pharma networking expos of UBM India, kicked off today.

A total of 1,300 exhibitors and 40,000 attendees from more than 100 countries are taking part in the event.

According to a research, India is among the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets in world and has established itself as a global manufacturing and research hub. A large raw material base and the availability of a skilled workforce give the industry a definite competitive advantage.

Indian pharma industry accounts for about 2.4 per cent of the global pharmaceutical industry in value terms and 10 per cent in volume terms. It is expected to expand at USD 55 billion by 2020.

As per industry experts, generic drugs account for 20 per cent of global exports in terms of volume, making the country the largest provider of generic medicines globally. This number is expected to grow even further in the coming years.

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Planters' Association of Tamil Nadu today urged the state government to adopt a system, followed by major plantation growing states, by which cash payment can be made to its workers, without making them suffer due to restrictions on withdrawal after demonetisation.

The state governments of Assam, West Bengal and Kerala have brought out a system, whereby the plantation employer issues a cheque in favour of the district collector for the required amount for wage disbursement, PAT Chairman Suresh Jacob said.

The amount is withdrawn from the treasury and handed over to the employer who will disburse them to the employees, he said in a release here.

Stating that a representation to the state government has already been made to adopt the similar system, he said this will not only benefit employees, but will also help in the smooth running of plantations.

Demonetisation and restriction on withdrawal has caused great inconvenience in the payment of wages to the plantation employees, Suresh Jacob said.

Non-availability of bank branches in the remote hilly areas of the state, where plantations are located, is a major reason for employees not opening the Jan Dhan yojana bank accounts.

Under the payment of wages act 1936, wages have still to be paid in cash unless employees consent individually to have their wages credited to their accounts.

Even if wages were transferred to accounts, they will find it difficult in travelling to their banks to withdraw money, unless banks set up ATMs in the plantation itself, Suresh Jacob said.

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Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation issue, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today alleged that the PM was working for a select few only and was not concerned for the poor common man, who has been queueing up for hours outside banks and ATMs.

"I have gone to the banks to see the situation myself in the morning. People there told me that they are facing a lot of inconvenience," Rahul said outside Parliament.

Both Houses were adjourned repeatedly as the combined Opposition was unrelenting in its protest on the demonetisation issue.

Rahul said people were alleging that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from the back door in the banks for a few "selected people" while there were long queues of common people waiting outside for hours.

"They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash. Those who are rich getting that and those who are poor they are made to stand in the queue.

"They will be in the queue for three days and then they will leave (without cash). People are facing losses because of this," he said.

Earlier in the day Rahul visited several ATMs in the city where he spoke to people about their problems.

On PM's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, the Congress scion asked, "For whom? "and added "I feel the treasuries of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people those who are in the queue will only suffer losses."



Asked why opposition is not ready for discussion, he, however, said "We are going to discuss. We are ready for discussion."



On the question of PM's absence in Parliament, Rahul said "What is the need for the PM to come to Parliament? These days he is at a different level. Neither he discusses with his Ministers nor he talks to anybody. Whatever he thinks, he decides on his own.

"Such a big economic decision was taken in the history of India and he did it after talking with three-four people. There was no planning. What will happen to farmers, poor people, fisheries industries in Kerala and Bengal? He did not think of them."



Taking a pot shot at Modi, the Congress leader said, "He is in a new form these days. You cannot call him super PM also. One has to think to define him, a new word has to be coined to describe him."



Rahul also condoled the loss of lives in yesterday train accident in Uttar Pradesh and said the Prime Minister should first focus on improving safety and facilities for common man in trains, instead of planning to introduce bullet train.

"Infrastructure of Indian Railways needs to be improved. Modiji has talked of bullet train with Rs 1 lakh crore investment. The focus is at wrong place. Focus should be on how to make travelling in trains safer for the common people," he said.

Talking of the need to reduce train journey time, he said, "If it takes two hours to reach a place then how it can be reduced to one hour. If it takes 20 hours then how we can make him reach in 10 hours."



"But Modiji's entire thinking is for 3000-5000 people.

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The successor to Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif will be chosen by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif based on consultations with the military and Cabinet, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said today.

Asif said that Gen Raheel, who will retire on November 29, will send a list of the senior most general to Prime Minister Sharif.

Asif told Geo that Pakistan's next army chief will be chosen by the prime minister.

"The prime minister will decide on a name after first consulting the COAS (General Raheel), colleagues and cabinet members."



According to Pakistani media reports, the four contenders are: Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat, Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

"General Raheel Sharif had several successes during his tenure. No other Army in the world has achieved such success against terrorism. I think that General Raheel Sharif is leaving a legacy which he and the armed forces can be proud of," Asif said.

Earlier, Gen Raheel started his farewell visits beginning from Lahore, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

He addressed a large gathering of soldiers of army and Rangers at Lahore Garrison.

The new army chief, whenever the name is finalised, will take charge on the same day.

Meanwhile, ahead of his retirement, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Gen Rashid Mahmood today met with Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah.

Gen Mahmood is also set to retire on November 29.

Gen Mahmood paid a farewell visit to the naval chief in Karachi, according to spokesman Pakistan Navy.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda has said he fears EU-British ties will suffer after Brexit if "obstinate politicians" from the bloc continue to use hardline rhetoric against London.

His comments came after Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem last week described the UK's approach to Brexit as "unrealistic", while Italian Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda said its aim of retaining common market access while restricting immigration was "wishful thinking".

"I propose a glass of cold water to cool emotions, so that in the end, it doesn't turn out that we all lose -- both the EU and the UK," Duda told Bloomberg in an interview published today.

"It would be a great loss for the EU if it got cut off from the UK economy and the ties of good, open cooperation between the two were severed," he said in the interview conducted last week.

Duda added that there was the danger that a "group of obstinate politicians" will "attempt to punish the British people, or the UK, for daring to leave the EU".

Britain voted to leave the European Union in a June referendum and British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will trigger Article 50 -- the formal procedure for departure -- by the end of March at the latest.

One of the key factors behind the Brexit vote was the influx of hundreds of thousands of citizens from other EU states into Britain every year to find work.

May has said she wants to cut these numbers while retaining "maximum" access to the EU single market for British firms, but EU leaders have ruled this out, saying Britain would have to accept free movement of people.

Poland has a huge stake in the issue because around 800,000 Poles are thought to be living in Britain, one of its biggest minority groups.

Poland has also joined Britain in leading the fight against centralised authority in the EU.

Populists in both countries, and elsewhere in eastern Europe, have attacked the powerful executive European Commission as a federalist assault on sovereignty.

In contrast, EU supporters attribute Europe's flaws to the fact that stronger centralised institutions and democracy have been thwarted by national interests.

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Air traffic at Srinagar Airport was affected for the fifth consecutive day today as no flight could operate due to poor visibility.

No flight operations took place today as the visibility was very poor, Director, Airports Authority of India (AII), Srinagar Airport, Sharad Kumar told PTI here.

Kumar said the visibility at the runway was only 600 metres leading to cancellation of all flights for the day.

The requirement (for landing and take-off) is 1.3 km, while it (visibility) was only about 600 metre.

So all the flights for the day have been cancelled, he said.

It was for the fifth consecutive day that the flight operations were affected at the airport.

The flight operations were first affected in the afternoon on Thursday.

The next day no flights operated from the airport.

On Saturday, only two flights landed at the airport which then took off and no flight operations took place at the airport yesterday as well.

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About 200 Indian and 50 international exhibitors from over 30 countries are expected to attend the 10th edition of Poultry India's Expo to be held here from tomorrow to November 25.

Nearly 800 industry delegates from India and South Asian nations are likely to attend the 'Knowledge Day 2016', a seminar to be held on the first day. Prominent speakers will talk at the event on issues concerning the poultry industry.

Deepa Malik, Paralympic medallist, will also be a speaker at the Knowledge Day.

"Poultry India has now metamorphosed into being South Asia's biggest exhibition that brings together some of the finest names in the global poultry industry.

India has emerged as one of the largest and most significant poultry players in the world," Harish Garware, President, Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers, and member of the Executive Advisory Committee, told reporters.

Poultry India, including national organisations like Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), is an advisory body and given a mandate to spearhead an educational campaign to eat right and healthy.

India is the second largest egg and third largest broiler-chicken producer in the world - 65,000 million eggs and 3.8 million tonne of poultry meat a year. The market is estimated to be worth about Rs 90,000 crore, the organisers said.

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East African Community mulls legislation to address cross border insolvency

The East African Community (EAC) is mulling harmonizing laws that will regulate cross border insolvency.

Insolvency occurs when an organisation or individual is unable to pay debts on time. An insolvent company can either wind up or be restructured.

According to Mr Bemanya Twebaze, the registrar general Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB),resolving insolvency is one of the areas that the World Bank bases in preparing its easing of business report.

The World Bank Doing Business Report 2017 which is its 14 edition and themed Equal Opportunity for All released in Washington DC on October 25, shows that Uganda moved from 122 in 2015 to 115 in 2016 out of 190 economies.

Mr Twebaze, said the move is timely as countries shift towards borderless trade.

Trade across borders is a daily occurrence so what happens in a situation where a company which is trading across the region goes into liquidation, he said at the Regional Official Receivers Forum on Wednesday.

He said a common insolvency law is very vital for countries in the bloc as they attract more investments.

Investment decisions will be taken when investors are clear about the legal regime especially on insolvency, he said.

According to Mr Mustapher Ntale, the manager liquidation URSB, the current practice makes it difficult for a thriving company in one country to transfer its assets and save an insolvent company in another country.

If you have this law, it is a matter of contacting the official receiver in Kenya with a claim and make sure creditors are paid and even if there are no assets in Uganda, they will be able to comply, he further explained.

The registrar general Kenya, Ms Bernice Gachegu, said the adoption of a mutual law should simplify the judicial processes of insolvent companies across countries.

If there is insolvency in a company that is in Uganda and Tanzania, in which jurisdiction will the case be held, she wondered.

Commenting on the current legal framework, Ugandas former ambassador to Germany, Mr Francis Butagira, resounded a need to revive insolvent companies instead of winding them up. He noted that salvaging bankrupt companies would create a more vibrant economy.

The insolvency week was aimed at bringing together practitioners, judicial officers, regional official receivers from the East African Community and the business community to share experiences and challenges facing the regions insolvency landscape.

www.eac.int
Health, education, standard of living and other socio-economic factors may help make a more accurate assessment of a person's financial condition than income alone, according to an Indian researcher in the US.

Economist Shatakshee Dhongde from Georgia Institute of Technology in the US showed that there are multiple components of poverty that can more accurately describe a household's economic condition.

She looked at "deprivation" more than simply low income, and found that almost 15 per cent of Americans are deprived in multiple dimensions.

"This study approaches poverty in a new way. We tried to identify what is missing in the literature on poverty, and measure deprivation in six dimensions: health, education, standard of living, security, social connections, and housing quality," Dhongde said.

"When you look at deprivation in these dimensions, you have a better picture of what is really going on with households, especially in developed countries like the US," she added.

The study looks at deprivation in the US since the onset of the Great Recession, roughly 2008 to 2013.

Researcher's analysis showed that while the official income-based poverty rate averaged 13.2 per cent from 2008 to 2013, the multi-dimensional deprivation index averaged 14.9 per cent.

"Lack of education, severe housing burden and lack of health insurance were some of the dimensions in which Americans were most deprived in," Dhongde said.

"Even though deprivation did increase during the recession, it began to improve between 2010 and 2013," she said.

When placed side-by-side, the multi-dimensional deprivation index was a better reflection of the people's economic state than income alone and the index was able to detect a more nuanced view of what might be driving people's dissatisfaction.

The study showed that there was not much overlap between individuals who were income poor and those who were multi-dimensionally deprived.

Only 6.6 per cent of the income poor were also deprived in multiple dimensions.

"Almost 30 per cent of individuals with incomes slightly above the poverty threshold experienced multiple deprivations," Dhongde said.

"Our analysis underscores the need to look beyond income based poverty statistics in order to fully realise the impact of the recession on individual's well-being," she said.

In order for a respondent to qualify as having multi-dimensional deprivation, he or she had to have more than one indicator of deprivation, such as lack of education and severe housing burden.

The study was published in the journal Social Indicators Research.

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China's new envoy to Nepal today assured the Nepalese government that President Xi Jinping would will visit the Himalayan nation atan "appropriate time".

Newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong, who called on Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun here, said that Xi had told Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' that he will visit Nepal atan "appropriate time".

The Chinese envoy assured the Vice-President that she is working for the visit to take place at the earliest.

Xi was due to visit Nepal in October, but his maiden visit to the Himalayan country was postponed amid reports that China was unhappy with Prachanda-led new government.

There were reports that China was displeased with the lack preparations for Xi's visit as well as commitment to implement China's Silk Road plan as well as agreements reached by former K P Shama Oli government to step up road and rail links connecting Nepal with Tibet to reduce landlocked Nepal's dependence on India.

Nepal and China had dismissed the reports.

During the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, the Vice-president said that Nepal is committed to 'one China' policy and will not allow any anti-China activities on its soil.

The Vice-president said the friendly relations between the two countries is centuries old.

"Nepal is ready for any sort of steps to stop anti-China activities on its land," he assured.

Envoy Yu told the Vice-president that China and its citizens will always attach a high priority to Nepal.

She said Nepal and China should move ahead as strategic partners, adding that her country was expanding cooperation with South Asian countries.

The Chinese envoy praised Nepal for pursuing the 'one China' policy.

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Prompt quick action of the Erode District Collector in snatching the bottle of poison from a 61-year-old man prevented the sexagenarian from committing suicide at the district collectorate today.

S Prabhakar was hearing grievances of the public during the weekly grievances day in the morning when Palanisamy of Pandiampalayam village fished out a bottle and tried to open it.

The Collector, a veterinary doctor, quickly snatched it from the man and found it contained some poisonous substance.

Palanisamy told the Collector that he had decided to take the extreme step as his land was encroached by some persons and despite several complaints nothing had been done and the encroacher was not evicted.

Prabhakar called the Police to remove the person safely and ticked off the police on why they had allowed the man to carry a poison bottle.

Later Palanisamy was taken to a police station, where he was given advise and sent back to his village.

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His debut film "Tithi" bagged a National Award and now filmmaker Raam Reddy is all set for his next, which will be about magic realism.

The director's debut was "Thithi" in Kannada, which was set in a small village. Raam says it is "unlikely" that his next will be set in a village.

"My next film is unlikely to be set in a village. I am not sure which language I am going to do it in. I want to make a film on magic-realism. It will be globally-oriented with professional actors. I have just started writing it," Raam told PTI.

Consisting of a cast of non-professional actors from villages in the Mandya district of Karnataka, "Tithi" is about three generations of men reacting to the death of their 01-year -old patriarch.

The director says for his next, his intention is not to take "stars" but professional actors.

"I am not not looking for stars, but actors who are professionals because magic realism is a genre which requires control of a different kind. So it is more specific," he said.

"When you're working with non professionals, you have to make adjustments to help the story work in a way that they are comfortable. I am not keen on doing that for my next. So that's why professional actors," he added.

Raam says his yet-untitled film will be set in India.

"The first intention is that I want to make a certain kind of film. I am not the kind of filmmaker who would like to be labelled in any kind of way. 'Thithi' was a rebellion against that kind of labelling so the next one will continue to be a rebellion but may be in a totally different package.

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One of Pakistan's best-known mountaineers, Hassan Sadpara, died of cancer today aged 54, his family said, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid tribute and Pakistanis mourned on social media.

Sadpara was the first Pakistani to scale all five of the country's "eight-thousanders" which tower above 8,000 metres - among the 14 highest mountains on the planet.

That included K2, the world's second highest mountain but considered a more challenging climb than the highest, Mount Everest, in Nepal - which Sadpara had also climbed.

Sharif spoke of the country's pride in Sadpara, who leaves three sons and a daughter, as social media was flooded with tributes.

"Late Hasan Sadpara's dedication and self-confidence enabled him to climb highest peaks of the world. The entire nation is proud of his outstanding performance; his endeavours for winning laurels for the country will always be remembered in golden words," said Sharif in a statement.

"The man for whom no mountain was high enough! #RIP #Hassan Sadpara, legendary mountaineer!" tweeted Faran Rafi, just one of many such messages.

Sadpara's son Arif told AFP his father died around noon in the garrison city of Rawalpindi next to the capital Islamabad.

Sadpara, who was born Hassan Asad, came from a small village near the town of Skardu in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan's north.

He began his mountaineering career in 1999 when he conquered Nanga Parbat, also known as the "Killer Mountain". By 2007 he had climbed all five of Pakistan's eight-thousanders.

But his fame did not bring him fortune, with his family urging the government to help finance his cancer treatment as they began to run out of money.

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Rice farming in India began far earlier than thought, according to new research on sites of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, which shows that domestication of the staple crop in the country may have developed in tandem with China.

The research also confirms that Indus populations were the earliest people to use complex multi-cropping strategies across both seasons, growing foods during summer (rice, millets and beans) and winter (wheat, barley and pulses), which required different watering regimes.

The findings suggest a network of regional farmers supplied assorted produce to the markets of the ancient cities of the Indus Valley civilisation, which stretched across what is now Pakistan and northwest India during the Bronze Age.

Evidence for very early rice use has been known from the site of Lahuradewa in the central Ganges basin, but it has long been thought that domesticated rice agriculture did not reach South Asia until towards the end of the Indus era, when the wetland rice arrived from China around 2000 BC.

Researchers, including those from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh and the University of Oxford in the UK, found evidence of domesticated rice in South Asia as much as 430 years earlier.

"We found evidence for an entirely separate domestication process in ancient South Asia, likely based around the wild species Oryza nivara," said Jennifer Bates from University of Cambridge in the UK.

"This led to the local development of a mix of 'wetland' and 'dryland' agriculture of local Oryza sativa indica rice agriculture before the truly 'wetland' Chinese rice, Oryza sativa japonica, arrived around 2000 BC," said Bates.

"While wetland rice is more productive, and took over to a large extent when introduced from China, our findings appear to show there was already a long-held and sustainable culture of rice production in India as a widespread summer addition to the winter cropping during the Indus civilisation," she said.

The location of the Indus in a part of the world that received both summer and winter rains may have encouraged the development of seasonal crop rotation before other major civilisations of the time, such as Ancient Egypt and China's Shang Dynasty, said Cameron Petrie from University of Cambridge.

"Most contemporary civilisations initially utilised either winter crops, such as the Mesopotamian reliance on wheat and barley, or the summer crops of rice and millet in China - producing surplus with the aim of stockpiling," said Petrie.

"However, the area inhabited by the Indus is at a meteorological crossroads, and we found evidence of year-long farming that predates its appearance in the other ancient river valley civilisations," he said.

The study was published in the journals Antiquity and Journal of Archaeological Science.

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Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has bagged Rs 3,675 crore EPC order from NLC India Ltd for setting up two lignite-based thermal power projects of 250 MW each in Rajasthan.

"The contract entails complete engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on turnkey basis of 2 Nos of 1 X 250 MW power plant based on Circulating Fluidised Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology," RInfra said in a BSE filing today.

The project is to be commissioned in 40 months, and will include boiler, turbine and generator and balance of plant.

"Expression of Interest (EOI) for Qualification Requirement (QR) through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) on EPC basis was floated, and leading companies including RInfra, BHEL, Lanco, SEPCO I, SEPCO III and BGR Energy participated in the bid. RInfra bid was the lowest amongst shortlisted bidders," it said.

RInfra is targeting EPC opportunities worth Rs 2 lakh crore. It is aggressively bidding for over Rs 1 lakh crore of projects in this financial year to increase the EPC order book to over Rs 30,000 crore by FY18.

"With our experience of having executed different types of power projects...This contract will augment our capability ... This project has been won by us at the right time to further leverage our unparallelled comprehension of critical technology, expertise in engineering and time bound execution in the EPC space," said the company.

RInfra EPC division has earlier executed large scale projects worth Rs 33,000 crore, including the ultra mega power project (UMPP) of 3,960 MW at Sasan, Madhya Pradesh.

Bithnok Thermal Power Project (250 MW) with the linked lignite mine of 2.25 MTPA capacity at Bithnok in Rajasthan is being set up by NLC India Ltd for which Power Purchase Agreement has been signed with Rajasthan discom.

Barsingsar Thermal Power Station Extension (250 MW) is an extension of the existing power plant at Barsingsar. Both the projects are set for commissioning during 2020.

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Students and social activists accompanied by mothers of former Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula and missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed participated in a 'Sansad March' against "threats" to India democracy in the present times.

The protesters marched from Mandi House to Jantar-Mantar and raised slogans demanding justice to Rohith, who had committed suicide in January, and recovery of Najeeb, who disappeared from his hostel on October 15 after a brawl with ABVP members the previous night, last month.

Rohith's mother Radhika and Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees addressed the gathering and appealed the "peace-loving people" of the country to stand in solidarity to meet the challenges of the present times.

The march organised by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) was also aimed at seeking justice to the people including minority community members and tribals killed in various parts of the country.

"Several incidents act as witness to the fact that there are some miscreants present in society who enjoy the sympathy of people in power. They spread communal hatred, assault the Dalits, the Adivasis, target Muslims, kidnap and kill innocents and propagate lies. This is challenging the internal security and law of the land," Laeeq Ahmed Khan Aqil, national secretary of SIO said in a statement.

Several social and political activists including Shezad Poonawala, John Dayal, Ashish Khetan and Navid Hamid also addressed the gathering.

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Russia and France have condoled the loss of lives in the Indore-Patna Express train tragedy yesterday with French government expressing solidarity with India in this terrible ordeal.

In his message to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Kindly accept profound condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the train crash in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

"I request you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased and wishes of speedy recovery to all injured people."



The French Foreign Ministry said France offers its condolences to the near and dear ones of the victims of this tragedy and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

"It assures India of its solidarity in this terrible ordeal," the Spokesperson in the French Foreign Ministry said.

Over 140 people have died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpur's Pukhrayan area yesterday. More than 200 passengers were also injured in the accident.

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Russia, Japan and France have condoled the loss of lives in the Indore-Patna Express train tragedy yesterday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extending all assistance required in this difficult time.

In his message to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Kindly accept profound condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the train crash in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

"I request you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased and wishes of speedy recovery to all injured people."



In his message to Modi, Abe said he was deeply grieved and saddened at the of the high toll of human lives and heavy damage resulting from the train derailment.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families of the tragedy, and wish for rapid recovery of the injured.

"I am sure that the people of India will get over this tragedy under your strong leadership, and Japan is ready to extend any assistance you may require in this difficult time," Abe said.

The French Foreign Ministry said France offers its condolences to the near and dear ones of the victims of this tragedy and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

"It assures India of its solidarity in this terrible ordeal," the Spokesperson in the French Foreign Ministry said.

Over 140 people have died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpur's Pukhrayan area yesterday. More than 200 passengers were also injured in the accident.

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The Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat said today it fired its Baghdad correspondent, a day after printing controversial accusations wrongly attributed to a UN spokesman.

The report drew condemnation from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shiite figures and bodies demanding an apology.

The sacking of the journalist, who was not named, came after the paper ran an article yesterday accusing Iranian pilgrims taking part in the Shiite Muslim commemoration of Arbaeen of sexually harassing women.

The article quoted a World Health Organisation spokesman as saying that after last year's pilgrimage, more than 169 Iraqi women became pregnant out of wedlock.

The UN's health agency said the "claim that this information was released by a WHO headquarters communications officer is completely erroneous."



The London-based daily paper published the WHO statement today in what it said was evidence of "its commitment towards the truth...And to correct the erroneous information contained in (yesterday's) report".

"We also announce that we have stopped cooperating with the newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad responsible for the report because he did not respect professional and ethical norms," it said.

A correspondent for Asharq al-Awsat in Iraq, Hamza Mustafa, meanwhile said he was resigning from the paper, although he stressed he did not write the article.

"I announce my resignation...After having asked them to identify the correspondent responsible for the false report," Mustafa said on his Facebook page.

Another journalist working for the newspaper in Baghdad, Maad Fayyad, in a statement obtained by AFP, said he had nothing to do with the controversial article.

"I am innocent...And those who know me...Know it would be impossible for me to resort to such things," said Fayyad.

Arbaeen, one of the world's largest religious events, commemorates the death in 680 of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Millions of Shiites from around the world take part each year in the massive processions to the shrine city of Karbala.

This year's edition culminated today, with officials expecting the number of visitors to total 17 to 20 million, including around three million Iranians.

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Capital markets regulator Sebi has opened its local office in Shimla as part of its efforts to reach out to investors and intermediaries across the country.

"For promoting a balanced pan-India securities market and in order to bring physical proximity of Sebi offices to the investors and intermediaries, Sebi has decided to open local offices in various parts of the country," the regulator said in a statement.

The office was inaugurated by Sebi Chairman U K Sinha.

"The local office of Shimla is under the administrative control and jurisdiction of Sebi's Regional Office at New Delhi," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said.

Sebi said the functions of the Shimla local office includes facilitating the redressal of investor grievances against listed companies and market intermediaries as also to spread investor education and financial literacy, among others.

The watchdog already has local offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jaipur,Indore, Raipur and Panaji.

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Pakistan has a "golden opportunity" to counter Indian lobbying in the US and build an immediate liaison with the incoming administration of Donald Trump who is "not well-versed" with South Asia's political dynamics, former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said.

"This is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, the Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) needs to step up and build an immediate liaison with the new (US) administration," Musharraf said, adding that Trump is "not well-versed with political dynamics of the region and is yet to formulate a strategy vis-a-vis South Asia."



India, he said, wants to maintain "hegemony" in the region. It sees itself as a future economic giant not only in the region, but in the world. India wants to isolate Pakistan not only economically but also diplomatically, he told Dunya .

The India caucus in the US Senate is more vigilant and proactive; Pakistan needs to derive an effective strategy as well to counter the Indian narratives in the US circles, he added.

Regarding the civil-military divide in Pakistan, he said that India has exploited this fault-line of the Pakistani political spectra, especially the PML-N regimes. There has always been a rift between the army chiefs and the incumbent government in the PML(N) regimes.

When asked about the future of Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who is set to retire on November 29, Musharraf said he deserves an extension.

Musharraf said that he had previously rooted for Raheel because he is a popular army chief.

"Pakistan comes first. The four candidates for the army chief slot are competent and patriotic officers. I'm sure they will serve the flag first and foremost," he said.

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A soldier killed in an IED blast in Assam's Tinsukia district on November 19 was cremated with full military honours in Jaisalmer district today.

Army officials laid floral wreath and paid tributes to slain soldier Narpat Singh at his ancestral village Longasar near Pokhran in Jaisalmer.

Senior officers including Col S K Bharma from Army's state headquarters in Pokharan, District Soldier Welfare Officer R B S Rathore, Chairman of the State Solider Board Prem Singh, local MLAs and district administration were present on the occasion.

Chavan will be first medically examined by the team of



army doctors, said an official posted at Attari.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said his ministry and the DGMO had been constantly trying their level best to secure the release of the jawan "who was in Pakistan's custody after he inadvertently crossed the LOC".

He said the soldier will be able to return home after the army completes due procedure.

"The External Affairs Ministry was also involved. All efforts were made to secure the release of the soldier and the result is that he has been released today," the Minister said.

"Our DGMO was in touch with his Pakistani counterpart. Last week we were told that he will be released soon," he said.

Pakistani army issued a statement early in the day announcing the handing over of the Indian soldier. It said that the soldier had "deserted" his post across the LoC due to "grievances against his commanders" and "has been convinced to return home".

"Pak Army returning Indian sldr to India as goodwill," Pakistan's Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet.

In a separate statement, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said, "The decision of the government of Pakistan to return the Indian soldier is based on humanitarian grounds and the commitment to ensure peace and tranquility at the LoC and the Working Boundary.

"Despite Indian belligerence, Pakistan believes in peaceful neighbourhood and rejects all actions aimed at undermining regional peace and security.

(REOPENS DEL 18)



The Army in a statement said Chavan crossed over to



Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir from Krishna Ghati sector.

In order to ensure his release the matter was taken up with Pakistani military authorities through the existing hotline and scheduled DGMO level talks.

His presence was acknowledged by Pakistan on October 7.

"The matter has been continuously raised in scheduled DGMO level talks since then. The issue was also taken up diplomatically through our High Commission in Pakistan and Ministry of External Affairs.

"Today at 1 PM, we finally got confirmation by Pakistan military authorities that Chavan would be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah at 3 PM Indian time. The jawan was finally handed over to our representatives at Wagah Crossing Point at approximately 3:45 PM," it said.
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today voiced support to the government's demonetisation move, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a "very important step" to curb black money.

"Demonetisation was very much needed for the country. He (Modi) has taken a very important step. It was badly needed," The Art of Living Founder told reporters here.

He said "people are very happy" by the move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, adding, "they are facing some inconvenience which is temporary".

The spiritual guru was here to attend an MoU signing event between the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and The Art of Living Digital India Movement, which aims to skill youth, create employment opportunities, encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and support Skill India initiative.

Highlighting the importance of skill development, Ravi Shankar said it is "badly needed in the country".

"If we do it (skill development) we can surpass China," he said.

Asked why West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were opposed to demonetisation, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy retorted: "Find out from them. Why are they so desperate? What is pinching them so hard?"



On the government's move, Rudy said: "This is a common man's dream which the Prime Minister has achieved. Demonetisation has made the common Indian happy. Well, it has made certain politicians unhappy, can't help it. But nonetheless, the country is happy, people are thinking that Mr Modi's move is for the poor man."



Addressing the agreement signing ceremony, Rudy told Ravi Shankar: "A person like you coming on stage in a small function is giving that respectability to the aspirations of millions of Indian youth.

"You are our brand ambassador for skills. Prime Minister will be more than happy to have you as a part of the skilling ecosystem," Rudy said.

The MoU envisages taking skilling and digital education in telecom sector to the remotest part of India through The Art of Living Digital India Movement's network of centres.

Stressing the importance of skill development training in improving employability, Ravi Shankar encouraged the youth to take steps to boost their self-confidence.

"Digital technology is one of the areas where India has proven its capability. Since the majority of our population is young, vocational skill training in this sector can strengthen India's position in this field globally," he observed.

Rudy said the partnership will provide scale and speed to the Skill India programme and help in bridging the employability gap and creating a specialised, skilled workforce.

TSSC will focus on utilising the centres of The Art of Living Digital India Movement for training and assessment of youth in telecom sector skill development ecosystem.

Telecom Sector Skill Council is a Not for Profit public-private-partnership between National Skills Development Corporation and the Telecom Mndustry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Muslim Students Organisation today supported the government ban on the NGO promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, stating that the action will prevent youth of the community from the influence of 'Wahabi ideology' preached by him.

"The ban on Zakir Naik is necessary in view of internal security of the nation as well as for preventing Muslim youth from the influence of Wahabi ideology," Shujat Qadri, general secretary of Muslim Students Oraganisation (MSO) of India, said.

"Zakir Naik has been seeding Wahabi ideology in India with the help of financial assistance from Saudi Arabia. The government ban on his organisation 'Islamic Research Foundation' is a welcome step," he said in a statement.

Qadri alleged that previous government at the Centre "did not pay attention" to it, but the Modi government had served the national interest by imposing a ban on Naik's organisation.

He also demanded the government to extending the ban for an idenfinite period and file cases against Naik.

The Central government had on November 15 decided to declare Islamic Research Foundation promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as an "outlawed" organisation under the anti-terror law for five years for its alleged terror activities.

The move came after investigation by the Home Ministry found that the NGO was allegedly having dubious links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism.

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The younger brother of deceased Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra today filed in the Orissa High Court a plea seeking substitution of name to continue proceedings of the latter's petition challenging the election of minister Sanjay Dasburma.

Lalatendu (52) died last month after a prolonged illness. He had filed a petition challenging election of Dasburma.

Dasburma was elected from Brahmagiri Assembly segment in Puri district in April 2014 elections defeating Lalatendu by a slender margin of 1341 votes.

Mohapatra had filed the petition urging the high court to declare the election of the BJD leader from the constituency as "void" on the ground that the poll processes were completely vitiated.

According to the provisions of Representation of the People Act, proceedings in the election petition shall remain operative in the event of the death of the petitioner, if any other voter of the segment offers to be a substitute petitioner.

Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra has filed the plea seeking substitution of name.

"Lalitendu, the brother of Lalatendu is a voter of the same constituency and he has filed a petition seeking substitution of the name," informed the original petitioner's counsel Pitanmbar Acharya.

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A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital on Monday, killing 32 people, the UN office said, the second large-scale attack targeting minority Shiites in in just over a month.

Afghan police said the bomber, who was on foot, had walked into the Shiite mosque in western where he detonated his explosives among the crowd of worshippers.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Sunni extremists such as the Taliban and the Islamic State militants, who view Shiites as heretics and apostates, frequently target Shiite mosques and public gatherings.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the explosion also wounded more than 50 people, many of them children. Earlier in the day, the Afghan authorities said at least 28 people were killed and 48 wounded.

"This appalling attack on worshippers is an atrocity," the statement quoted Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. "UNAMA expresses its revulsion at this latest effort by extremists to stoke sectarian violence in Afghanistan."

Today's bombing hit during a prayer ceremony commemorating 40 days since the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the slain grandson of Prophet Mohammed. The ceremony is known as Arbaeen, meaning 'forty' in Arabic. Hussein is a revered Shiite martyr who was killed in 680 AD in the city of Karbala in present-day Iraq.

In early October, militants attacked another Shiite ceremony at a shrine in Kabul, commemorating the anniversary of Hussein's actual death. That attack killed 17 people, mostly worshippers but also several policemen. A day later, a similar attack struck Shiites in the city of Mazer-e Sharif in northern Balkh province, killing at least 14 people.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for one of those two attacks, the UN statement said.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the Criminal Investigation Department, police, said the attacker in today's bombing walked into the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque during prayers. He mingled with the crowd on the first floor of the two-storey building where he detonated his explosives, Obiadi said.

"Suddenly, a huge explosion happened, then everything went dark," said Nawaz Ali, 50, who was inside the mosque but suffered only minor wounds.

Kardel from UNAMA added in her statement that "religious and ethnic tolerance values the Afghan people hold strongly".

"I urge the Afghan authorities to do everything possible to defend Afghans of all faiths," she added.
The hard-eyed view along the Tug Fork River in West Virginia coal country is that President-elect Donald Trump has something to prove: that he'll help bring back Appalachian mining, as he promised time and again on the campaign trail.

Nobody thinks he can revive it entirely, not economists, not ex-miners, not even those recently called back to work.

But for the first time in years, coal towns are seeing a commodity that had grown scarcer than the coal trains that used to rumble through around the clock: hope.

Around here that hope is measured. Still, most voters saw Trump as the only choice for president. He vowed to undo looming federal rules and said President Barack Obama had been "ridiculous" to the industry. Trump told miners in Charleston: "We're going to take care of years of horrible abuse. I guarantee it."



West Virginians went all in, backing Trump and electing a coal mine-owning billionaire, Democrat Jim Justice, as governor.

But a lot of people had gone under already.

"Lost my home, vehicle, everything," said Roger Prater. Wearing the miner's telltale blue pants with reflective strips on the legs, Prater would be heading underground that night.

He'd been laid off for 20 months but now benefits from a small hiring surge that started before the election. At 31, Prater said he can get everything back, but he's uncertain for how long.

"In Trump's term, I feel we'll do good, but after that who's to say?" he said.

That skepticism is supported by industry analysts, who say any recovery won't be centered in the eastern coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia and will never bring US coal back to what it once was.

Last year, the nation had about 66,000 coal mining jobs, the lowest since the US Energy Information Administration began counting in 1978. That's down 20,000 since a high point in 2008, and preliminary data show 10,000 more lost this year.

Mines out west stand to gain the most under Trump because of the huge reserves beneath public lands in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah.

At the Wolf Mountain Coal company near Decker, Montana, superintendent Dave Bettcher said he's been praying Trump can do just that.

Wolf Mountain gets coal from the nearby Spring Creek strip mine, where operator Cloud Peak Energy has cut workforce and production. Wolf Mountain's 20 workers still have jobs, but Bettcher said eight years of anti-coal leadership in Washington have left the industry in peril.

"I believe in the guy," Bettcher said of Trump as a conveyor belt dumped coal into a truck bound for North Dakota. "If he can hold up his end, he's going to help a lot of people.

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Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, on Monday met president-elect amidst speculation that she is being considered to be made the American Ambassador to the United Nations.

Gabbard, 35, who was re-elected for her third consecutive term on November 8, was among the first politicians to meet Trump in New York. She has been a vocal critic of President Barack Obama on confronting the radical Islamic terrorism.

"President-elect Trump asked me to meet with him about our current policies regarding Syria, our fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as other foreign policy challenges we face," she said hours after meeting Trump in New York.

Amidst speculation that she is being considered for the position of US ambassador to the UN, Gabbard - a Democrat - defended the meeting as in favour of national interest.

"Let me be clear, I will never allow partisanship to undermine our national security when the lives of countless people lay in the balance," said the Congresswoman from Hawaii.

The presidential transition team confirmed the meeting, but it did not respond to questions on her being a potential candidate for a senior position in the Trump administration.

"Wouldn't want to qualify specifically any potential administration positions, other than this is an opportunity for the president- and vice president-elect to get together with the congresswoman and receive her input on several different ideas," Jason Miller, communication director for Trump transition team told reporters during a conference call.

"She obviously has a very distinguished track record. But it would be a little premature to start putting out specific potential administration positions," Miller said.

Gabbard said she felt it was "important to take the opportunity to meet with the president-elect now before the drumbeats of war that neocons have been beating drag us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government  a war which has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions of refugees to flee their homes in search of safety for themselves and their families".

"While the rules of political expediency would say I should have refused to meet with President-elect Trump, I never have and never will play politics with American and Syrian lives," she said, adding that Americans cannot allow continued divisiveness to destroy the country.

Gabbard, who had been a strong supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders during the Democratic presidential primary nomination, said she had a frank and positive conversation in which they discussed a variety of foreign policy issues.

"I shared with him my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country, and the world," she said.

"It would lead to more death and suffering, exacerbate the refugee crisis, strengthen ISIS and al-Qaeda, and bring us into a direct conflict with Russia which could result in a nuclear war," Gabbard said.
Turkish police detained today the pro-Kurdish co-mayor of Mardin, state media reported, the latest municipal chief of a major southeastern city to be taken into custody in a growing crackdown.

Ahmet Turk was detained along with Emin Irmak, co-mayor of central Artuklu district in Mardin, as part of a "terror probe", the official agency Anadolu said.

Before the latest detentions today, the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) said that so far, 53 mayors have been dismissed and 39 mayors arrested in the region.

Most of the arrested mayors are from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) which is closely allied to the HDP.

The new detentions come after the mayors of the southeastern cities of Siirt and Van as well as the eastern city of Tunceli were also suspended and detained last week.

Meanwhile, Van co-mayor Bekir Kaya was placed under arrest on Friday, charged with "knowingly and willingly helping" the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Last month, the two mayors of the biggest Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir, Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli, were detained and charged with belonging to the PKK.

Ahmet Turk had already been removed from his post last week and replaced on a trustee basis by Mardin province governor, Mustafa Yaman.

All the detained mayors were elected in local elections in 2014.

The state of emergency put in place after the July 15 attempted coup allows the authorities to sack elected mayors and replace them with state-appointed trustees.

But critics complain that the authorities are using the state of emergency to crack down on all opposition beyond the suspected coup plotters themselves.

The PKK has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. Violence renewed in July 2015 after the collapse of a two-and-a-half year ceasefire.

The group is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Washington and Brussels.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkey has criticized as "unacceptable" an Israeli proposal that would make mosques reduce the volume of loudspeakers issuing their call to prayer.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters yesterday after a weekly Cabinet meeting that the proposal was contrary to religious freedoms and went against Jerusalem's historic multi-religious culture.

Kurtulmus said: "Bringing the restrictions on the call to prayer at Al-Aqsa and other mosques on the agenda is in no way acceptable." He was referring to the main mosque in Jerusalem. Supporters of the Israeli bill have painted the issue as a matter of quality of life. The bill, however, has deepened a sense in the Arab minority that it is being marginalized.

The Turkish deputy prime minister's comments came as Israel and Turkey are preparing to exchange ambassadors as part of a reconciliation deal reached in June that ended six years of animosity between the two countries that were once close allies.

Meanwhile, in a rare interview with Israeli media, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ties between the two countries are warming.

He said "I am convinced that we have advanced significantly toward normalizing relations," according to a Hebrew translation of his remarks to Channel 2 TV's investigative program "Uvda," aired yesterday.

Israeli-Turkish ties declined after Erdogan, whose party has roots in Turkey's Islamist movement, became prime minister in 2003.

Relations imploded in 2010 after a deadly Israeli naval raid on a Turkish ship trying to breach the blockade of Gaza, ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.

The blockade was imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas took power in 2007.

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Turkish entrepreneur Baybars Altuntas, who had held a private meeting with President Barack Obama at the Presidential Summit onEntrepreneurship, is expecting an age of entrepreneurs during the presidential term of Donald Trump.

However, Altuntas said, his expectation hinges on the approval given by the Trump administration to conduct Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in India.

"If Trump gets the event (GES) approved in the Senate, then he is going to support entrepreneurs, like Obama.

(Then), I think it will be an age of entrepreneurs during Trump term. This is my personal expectation," Altuntas said in his reply to a query at the World Start-up Expo here today.

Obama's flagship foreign policy programme which he launched six years ago is coming to India next year.

The GES centres around promoting economic growth, inclusion and opportunities among entrepreneurs from across the world, with a special focus on emerging nations from Africa and Asia.

Pinning hopes on the US President-elect, Altuntas said Trump should support entrepreneurs much more than Obama because the he himself is an entrepreneur.

"Obama was not an entrepreneur and yet he supported them. If Obama could do that as a non-entrepreneur, theoretically then Trump should support more than Obama," Altuntas said.

Altuntas is a most sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship and has represented Turkey in many international forums, including the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship at the White House in Washington DC, in 2010.

Among the 150 delegates, Altuntas was the only one to have a private meeting with the US President Obama.

Asked what conditions should the country have for marketdevelopment and growth, Altuntas said, "In order to create asustainable economic development, it is necessary to create anenvironment where stock exchange, chamber of commerce,incubation centers, acceleration centers, techno parks, publicinstitutions and universities work together."



"It should also be done in cooperation with SMEs, innovators and startups.

If you can connect those stakeholders together, then this will bring a better success ratio for the country's investment ecosystem," he noted.

The three-day Wold Startup Expo is being organised by Dubai-based venture capital firm, Cocoon Ventures.

It is a platform to bring the biggest, brightest, and innovative startups, technology providers, thought leaders, investors and influencers.

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Three persons, including two Nigerian nationals and a woman belonging to Nagaland were arrested from Bengaluru for allegedly cheating a local woman of Rs 3.5 lakh under the pretext of sending her a gift parcel, police said today.

Police suspect that at least 35 members from different parts of India and about 20 persons from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Estonia have fallen into their trap.

According to police, the woman received a friend request on her "Facebook" account from a person claiming to be a US citizen in June this year and she accepted it. They started chatting soon.

"After few days, they exchanged their WhatsApp numbers and began talking over WhatsApp calls. The conman told the lady that he is a wealthy American and wants to invest in India with her help. On September 12, he called her up saying that he has sent her a parcel through courier," Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said.

After two days, the woman received a call from a lady who introduced herself as a Customs officer working at New Delhi airport and inquired whether she is expecting any parcel from US, he said.

The 'officer' further informed the woman the 'parcel' contains a cheque of USD 5 lakh, diamond jewellery, iPhone, laptop, and other gift items.

"The fraudsters sent emails to the victim under the guise of Customs department and asked her to pay charges towards customs clearance, anti-terrorism certificate, United Nations Money Laundering certificate etc.

"Believing their version and as per their instruction, she deposited Rs 3.5 lakh in the bank account numbers provided by them. However, after they demanded another Rs 3.2 lakh, the woman grew suspicious and filed a complaint with police," Bhagwat said.

A case was registered and the trio were arrested during the course of investigation.

They are identified as Simon EbukaUmebee, who is a ring leader, and Okonkwo--both Nigerian nationals--and Changkhumla who hails from Nagaland.

According to police, Simon and Okonkwo came to New Delhi in 2013 on a two-month business visa and after its expiry created a fake Indian visa.

The duo were presently staying in Bengaluru with



Changkhumla.

Simon posed himself as a white US citizen in his profile photo and had been communicating with victims, police said.

The police commissioner said that at least 35 members from different parts of India and about 20 persons from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Estonia have fallen into their trap.

As per the initial probe, Simon was constructing a villa in Lagos.

The arrested trio were produced before a local court here today, which remanded them in judicial custody.
A US police officer has been fired for posting racist Facebook memes, including one about Michelle Obama, weeks after a mayor lost her job for her "ape in heels" comment about the US First Lady.

Joel Husk, a Trump supporter, was terminated for the controversial post that featured text over a picture of Melania Trump reading, "Fluent in Slovenian, English, French, Serbian, and German." Below it, the words "Fluent in Ghetto" were laid over a photo of Obama.

Husk, a police officer in Talladega, Alabama, was sacked on Wednesday for violating the department's social media and code of conduct policies, City Manager Patrick Bryant was quoted as saying by the Washington Post.

"We will not tolerate that kind of conduct by any employees. We take very seriously our responsibility to treat everyone equally and equitably. We have to make sure we take steps for the community to trust us," he said.

Bryant said that he was "incredibly disappointed and frustrated" about Husk's social media posts.

Other memes included Klansmen with a confederate flag, reading, "The KKK is a hate group right? Isn'tit about time we start being honest in America...And admit that #blacklivesmatter is also a hate group?" the report said.

37-year-old Husk, had been with the department for about two and a half years.

Husk's dismissal came days after West Virginia mayor Pamela Ramsey Taylor, lauded a friend's Facebook post calling Obama an "ape in heels.

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Strongly condemning the terrorist attack at a mosque in Kabul, the US today said it remains committed to the people of Afghanistan on building a more stable, prosperous and peaceful country.

"The US strongly condemns the terrorist attack today at the Baqir-ul-Olum Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, which killed dozens of innocent civilians, many of them worshipers, and wounded more than 40," said Ned Price, spokesman of the National Security Council at the White House.

This cowardly attack was clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions in Afghanistan, he said.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this attack and fully support efforts to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

"The United States and our international partners remain committed to the people and Government of Afghanistan as we work together to build a more stable and prosperous peaceful Afghanistan," Price said.

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An Israeli youth was killed and his woman friend injured when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by a mini-truck on National Highway-8 near Vapi GIDC area of Valsad district, police said today.

24-year-old Yotam Zafrani was killed in the mishap last evening while his friend Mayan, also a Israel national, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Vapi industrial area, Vapi GIDC police inspector H B Patel said.

"We have learnt that Yotam and Mayan were on India tour and headed to Mumbai from Valsad on their rented bike. Yotam was riding the bike while his friend was riding pillion. They were hit from behind by a mini-truck near Karambeli village on NH-8 last evening," he said.

Both the tourists were rushed to a private hospital in the GIDC area through the '108' ambulance service. After the accident, the truck driver fled from the spot, Patel said.

"Yotam died shortly after being brought to the hospital, while Mayan, who received minor injuries, is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

"Though the truck driver drove away, a bystander noted its registration number and gave it to us. We have lodged a case against the unidentified driver," Patel said, adding that the Israeli Embassy has been informed about the death of their citizen.

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The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government and civic bodies here to inform it about the total quantity of municipal solid waste generated in the national capital daily.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar expressed concern over functioning of waste-to-energy plants in the city and said the authorities should be first clear about the data before proceeding in the case.

"Tell us what is the total quantity of municipal solid waste generated by Delhi? The population has increased over these years but you are still submitting old data. Tell us tomorrow," the bench said.

It also asked the waste-to-energy plants to plant a green cover around the sites so that the harmful air emanating from it gets trapped and does not enter residential areas.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee told the bench that Okhla plant was operating within stipulated norms and fly ash generated in it is used in manufacturing of bricks.

Concerned over delay in the operationalising the waste- to-energy plants in capital, the tribunal had earlier constituted a "high-powered team" to inspect the plants at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association praying for closure of waste-to- energy plant alleging that it uses illegal mass burning technology, causing air pollution.

In its application, the association had also told NGT that as per observations of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, mass burning technology should be stopped immediately.

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The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government against Iran-backed rebels said a 48-hour ceasefire ended at midday today due to repeated "violations".

"There is no respect (for the truce), only violations," coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri told AFP, adding that there were "no orders to extend the ceasefire."



"There have been more people killed in (the southwestern city of) Taez and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles, so automatically the conditions are not there" for prolonging the truce, he said.

The ceasefire began on Saturday following an intervention by US Secretary of State John Kerry who met rebel representatives in Oman and urged the government of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to sign up.

The coalition had said the truce could be renewed if the rebels abided by the deal and allowed aid deliveries to besieged cities.

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Houthi rebels were blocking humanitarian aid from reaching to the besieged western city of Taiz, Yemeni security officials has said.

The officials said 18 trucks from the World Food Program were prevented from leaving the city of Ibb, north of Taiz, yesterday. Taiz has been besieged by the Shiite Houthi rebels and allied forces for the past year.

The attempt to deliver aid to Taiz came during a 48-hour truce announced on Saturday by the Saudi-led coalition, which is backing the internationally-recognized government against the Houthis.

The WFP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

US Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the cease-fire, urging all parties to abide by its conditions, which include allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid. In a statement yesterday, Kerry also declared that the US would support efforts by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to restart by the end of this month negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

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A Surat-based marketing executive was arrested today for allegedly uploading a recently released Gujarati movie on the social media sites, including YouTube, after recording it on his mobile phone in a multiplex theatre, police said.

Cyber cell of city Crime Branch nabbed Sahnish Patel, a resident of Surat, for allegedly uploading the film, "Passport" on his YouTube channel "Kem Chho" on November 16.

A complaint was filed by the makers of the film after they learned that it was available for viewing on YouTube.

During investigation, Crime branch found Patel's involvement as he has shared a link of the movie in his Facebook page.

Patel, an engineering graduate who is currently working as a marketing executive in Surat, told the police that he had created "Kem Chho" channel on YouTube early this month and since uploaded various other videos on it.

"On November 15, he went to a multiplex theatre in Surat to watch that movie with his friends. While viewing, he captured the film on his mobile phone and uploaded it on his private channel. He also gave a link of the movie in his Facebook page. Investigation is on to find out his motive behind this act," the release said.

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By Jitendra Prakash and Rupam Jain

PUKHRAYAN, India/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Rescuers on Monday called off a search of the mangled carriages of a derailed train after pulling more bodies from the wreckage, taking to at least 142 the number of passengers killed in the disaster.

Sunday's derailment in Uttar Pradesh was India's deadliest train tragedy since 2010 and has renewed concern about poor safety on the state-run network, a lifeline for millions that has suffered from chronic underinvestment.

Rescue teams worked through the night with cranes and cutters to disentangle the train before police halted the search of the 14 carriages that derailed in the early hours, while most passengers slept.

"The rescue operations are over. We don't expect to find any more bodies," said Zaki Ahmed, the police inspector general in the city of Kanpur, about 65 km (40 miles) from Pukhrayan, the crash site.

The crash came during India's busy wedding season and media said blood-stained bags of saris and wedding cards carried by at least one wedding party on board were scattered beside the wreckage.

The derailment injured more than 200 people, at least 58 of them seriously, officials said, as relatives thronged hospitals in a search for survivors.

A railways spokesman said the train carried 1,000 people travelling on reservations, but 700 more were estimated to have squeezed into the unreserved carriages.

AGEING BADLY

The largely colonial-era railway system, the world's fourth largest, carries about 23 million people daily, but is saturated and ageing badly. Average speeds top just 50 kph (30 mph) and train accidents are common.

The crash is a stark reminder of the obstacles facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering on his promise to turn the railways into a more efficient, safer network befitting India's economic power.

Modi this year pledged record levels of investment and has announced a new high-speed line funded by Japan, but the main network has made little progress on upgrading tracks or signalling equipment.

He has also shied away from raising highly subsidised fares that leave the railways with next to nothing for investment - by some analyst estimates, they need 20 trillion rupees ($293.34 billion) of investment by 2020.

Modi on Sunday held a political rally about 210 km (130 miles) from the crash site in Uttar Pradesh, which heads to the polls early next year in an election his Bharatiya Janata Party is vying to win.

Politician Mayawati, who uses only one name, and is one of Modi's biggest rivals in the state, said the government should have "invested in mending tracks instead of spending billions and trillions of rupees on bullet trains", media reported.

Authorities are looking into the possibility a fractured track caused the train to roll off the rails on its journey between the central Indian city of Indore and the eastern city of Patna.

Sunday's crash is India's worst rail tragedy since the collision of a passenger and a goods train in 2010, which the government blamed on sabotage by Maoist rebels.

In 2005, a train was crushed by a rock and another plunged into a river, each disaster killing more than 100 people. In what was probably India's worst rail disaster, a train fell into a river in the eastern state of Bihar of 1981, killing an estimated 500 to 800 people.

(Reporting by Rupam Jain and Jitendra Prakash; additional reporting by Krishna N. Das; Writing by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Nick Macfie and Clarence Fernandez)

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Launched in September 2000, HDFC Balanced Fund is classified under the balanced category of CRISIL Mutual Fund Ranking. It has been ranked in the top 30 percentile (CRISIL Fund Rank 1 or 2) over the past 24 consecutive quarters as of September 2016 (i.e. since December 2009).
A secured-creditor bank cannot publish the photographs of directors and guarantors of a defaulting company in a routine manner for pressurising them to repay the loan. The Sarfaesi Act and related rules do not authorise creditors to do so, said the Calcutta High Court, while severely indicting Punjab National Bank (PNB) for grossly abusing its powers, and violating its own rules. In this case, Metsil Exports Ltd vs PNB, the firm took a loan but failed to repay it. The bank issued a demand notice, to which the firm filed objections. However, the bank went ahead and published the demand notice along with photographs of directors and guarantors in two prominent Kolkata daily newspapers. The firm and one of the directors objected to it as violation of their right to live with dignity (Art 21 of the Constitution). They demanded compensation. The bank chairman defended the action arguing that she had reason to believe that the firm would not pay. It was further argued that the high courts of Bombay, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat had held that banks could publish photographs of defaulters. Rejecting PNBs pleas, the Calcutta High Court stated that the photos were published at the demand notice stage itself when the firm had filed objections. The firm and directors have not been declared wilful defaulters; so their photos cannot be published in a routine manner. The bank itself in a circular had instructed that photos should not be published in such circumstances. The high court directed PNB to publish an apology in the same newspapers in view of the gross abuse of authority. The demand for compensation was rejected but the bank shall pay costs.
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A new Centre of Excellence was unveiled on Friday by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed for Silver Hill Foods in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan.

Honoured guest Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys also attended the opening of the impressive 1,700 square metre facility which represents a 3 million investment.



Silver Hill has reported significant progress through expansion into new overseas markets. The 70% export led company currently supplies 24 countries including Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, UAE and Singapore.

This increase in performance has prompted the creation of 52 new jobs since 2013 and the addition of 21 contract growers across 8 countries, both north and south of the border. Continued focus on the domestic retail market which has quadrupled in Ireland in recent years has cemented Silver Hill as the fastest growing product in the poultry category in Ireland and the UK.



Speaking at the opening of Silver Hill Foods new Centre of Excellence, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed said, "The Government through my Department, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, is delighted to have played an important role in supporting the growth and development of Silver Hill which is one of the stars of Irelands growing agri-food sector. The Poultry sector is one of a number of important sectors that will play a part in Irelands economic recovery and has set itself ambitious targets in the national Food Wise 2025 strategy. Innovative approaches such as we see here today from Silver Hill will be key to the realisation of these growth targets."

Silver Hill CEO, Micheal Briody added, "The new facility will allow us to meet further demand in Asian markets and expand into new markets such as Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia. To ensure we meet demand, we have set ourselves the ambitious target of increasing the number duck processed per week from 82,500  150,000 in the next five years. This will be a further stepping stone to achieving the companys overall mission to supply quality duck and duck products to outlets across the world."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Slowly but surely, the economic policy tide in Europe is turning, and it may only be a matter of time before Germany is swept up.

By adding its voice this week to the long list of institutions pressing Germany to spend more, the European Commission left Berlin looking more isolated and out-of-step than at any time since the outbreak of the global financial crisis nearly a decade ago.

Predictably, the Commission's call for a "significantly more positive fiscal stance" in the euro area was shot down by Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and the conservative media establishment in Germany.

On Friday, Schaeuble accused the Commission of overstepping its mandate and urged it to focus its energies on enforcing the EU's fiscal rules.

But by this time next year, the episode may be looked back upon as the first step towards a broader change in Europe's economic approach, away from the austerity-first stance pushed successfully by Berlin for many years.

This could be fueled by a range of factors: the pressures arising from Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. election and the arrival of new governments in France and Germany in 2017.

"We expect that the German position will gradually lose influence," Marco Protopapa of JPMorgan said this week.

Trump's win is especially significant. On the one hand, it is likely to increase pressure on Germany to spend more public money on defense and security.

On the other, it sends a powerful signal to the German political establishment about the dangers of ignoring an increasingly frustrated underclass, buffeted by the forces of globalization, that has shown a readiness to vent its anger at the ballot box.

The looming French election will be crucial. Center-right frontrunner Alain Juppe, and his top conservative rivals Francois Fillon and Nicolas Sarkozy, are all promising radical economic reform if they are elected in May of next year.

That could open the door to the sort of "grand bargain," or reforms-for-stimulus compromise between France and Germany, that has been talked about for years but was impossible with a weak, unpopular Francois Hollande in the Elysee and the French economy languishing.

"We are very much in the grand bargain game," an adviser to Juppe told Reuters.

The real game changer could be the German election in the autumn of next year and the fate of Schaeuble, the personification of Germany's rule-based restrictive approach to fiscal policy.

The most likely outcome of that vote looks like another "grand coalition" between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).

Schaeuble, 74, has already said that he plans to run for a seat in the Bundestag again, a signal to many that he would like to continue to play an important role in the next cabinet.

But the SPD, which would probably have first choice of ministries in such a constellation, could claim the finance ministry this time around, as they did in 2005 in Merkel's first term. That would push Schaeuble into another ministry, blunting his role as a guardian of fiscal rectitude.

One senior official who served in both grand coalitions said the lessons of the past years would push Merkel's next coalition partner to take the finance ministry instead of the foreign ministry, the traditional first choice.

"Regardless of who that partner is, everyone has understood that the finance ministry has a great deal more value than the foreign ministry," the official said.

Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said the European Commission's call for more spending was unlikely to sway Germany.

"The change needs to come from within," he said. But Odendahl does believe that a more vigorous debate is developing within Germany over the wisdom of Schaeuble's "Schwarze Null," or balanced budget, policies.

A poll for public broadcaster ARD in September showed that 58 percent of Germans favored spending additional tax revenues on infrastructure investments, compared with 22 percent who prefer debt reduction and 16 percent who want tax cuts.

"If you had a different finance minister or if the political case for a topic-based fiscal expansion grew, then you could see a shift," he said, citing the messages from Trump's election. "Merkel is far too pragmatic and political to make the Schwarze Null a priority when there are other problems to address."

A more expansive German fiscal policy after the election may help pave the way for a tightening of monetary policy, a step Schaeuble himself has called for.

The European Central Bank (ECB), which meets next month to decide on whether to extend its quantitative easing (QE), or bond-buying program, has been looking for ways out of its ultra-loose stance. It too has called on Germany to grab the stimulus baton.

Marcel Fratzscher, who runs the Berlin-based DIW economic institute and is a former senior official at the ECB, says the pressure is building on Berlin to shift its stance.

His worry is that the ruling parties may end up wasting the fiscal wiggle room they have by making lavish promises to pensioners in the coming election campaign.

"I think there will be a further shift, even if Schaeuble stays. If the United States ratchets up spending and this is successful then it would be a signal," he said. "My worry is that it could come too late, that the government will have used its fiscal space for pension increases and tax reductions." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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The Irish Times has today reported that the liquidators of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) are set to issue an initial payment to unsecured creditors within a fortnight, including a cheque of about 275 million for the State.

However, a group of junior bondholders in the bank, who refused to share in the groups losses during the crisis, face waiting at least two years before they discover how much of the 285 million they are owned will be repaid.

The liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Eamonn Richardson of KPMG, said in a progress update report in May that they expected unsecured creditors ultimately to receive between 75% and 100% of their claims.

The Governments claim stands at 1.1 billion as a result of money it paid to depositors under State guarantee when IBRC, formerly Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide, was put into wind-up in February 2013.

According to the Irish Times report, the junior bondholders stand at the back of the queue and are unlikely to receive anything before a legal battle between the family of businessman Sean Quinn and IBRC is heard in 2018 at the earliest.

The Quinns claim that the lender, then known as Anglo Irish Bank, lent them billions of euro illegally in 2008 to shore up their investment in the bank.A victory for the Quinns would see them join the list of unsecured creditors.

At the time of IBRCs liquidation, the group owed about 5 billion to unsecured creditors. However, almost 3 billion of this was made of intergroup borrowings between various units. The liquidators were sitting on 2.2 billion of net cash as of February after selling off most of the groups loan book.

The payment expected to be made in the next two weeks will represent 25% of admitted unsecured creditors, excluding the junior bondholders.

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The Minister for Health, Simon Harris last week spoke at the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Associations (IPHA) annual dinner in Dublin where he called on delegates to support Ireland's bid to become the new home for the European Medicines Agency (EMA).



Minister Harris highlighted the vital role the EMA plays in protecting public and animal health by ensuring that all medicines available on the EU market are safe, effective and of high quality and the importance of minimising disruption to the EMA and its employees post-Brexit



The Minister commented, "Dublin would be a fantastic new home for the EMA and we would very much welcome your support in bringing this key agency to Dublin. Given the proximity to its current home in London and as English is the working language of the EMA, a move to Dublin would ensure any disruption to the agencys vital work and employees would be kept to a minimum. Ireland has a proactive and highly regarded national medicines agency in the shape of the HPRA."

He added, "In addition, as a modern capital city Dublin has much to offer as a home for such a vital organisation with excellent air connectivity, a strong pharmaceutical sector and an excellent research community."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Enterprise Irelands Trade Mission to India led by the Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen concluded yesterday.

As a result of the mission, 13 Irish companies from the aviation, financial services, pharmaceuticals and health, ICT and education sectors travelled on the mission to three cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

During the mission, Dublin company Shimmer announced details of a joint venture with Indian company Essen Technologies in a deal worth 3.5M and creating 15 new jobs over 3 years. The venture will see Shimmers award winning sensor platform incorporated in Essens wearable Electro Cardiogram monitor Heartwear product.

During the visit to Bangalore on Wednesday 17th November, Minister Breen witnessed the signing of a partnership between Shaw Academy and Flipkart, Indias largest e-commerce marketplace to enable online certified courses in photography. Shaw Academy is an Irish company which has grown rapidly since its foundation 4 years ago and is now the worlds largest live online educator. It is has an office in Banaglore as well as the UK and the US.

In Mumbai, Breen witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between Irish video communication company Vu2Vu with Indian company LAMHAS Satellite Services Ltd.

Furthermore, as expanding opportunities for Irish companies in the aviation sector was a key objective of the mission, Minister Breen met with the Indian Minister for Civil Aviation and addressed the Aero Expo India attended by key policy and decision makers and stakeholders from the Indian aviation, aerospace, air cargo & allied industries.

Before departing India, Minister Pat Breen TD said, "My aim on this Trade Mission with Enterprise Ireland was to highlight Ireland as a source of innovative products and services and an ideal location for FDI. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and there is huge potential for innovative Irish companies in the Indian market."

He added, "This trade mission was also a valuable exercise in promoting Ireland as a welcoming country for Indian students to come to Ireland pursue a world-class education. As we address the challenges posed by the Brexit vote this trade mission provided valuable introductions for the participating companies to new business partners and customers in India."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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The Limerick Chambers annual Presidents Dinner and Regional Business Awards 2016 took place last week.

CEO of Limerick Chamber, Dr. James Ring told the gathering of 450 guests at the Chambers annual Presidents Dinner and Regional Business Awards that while Limerick and the wider region is most definitely on the up, theres a need for the individual counties to work closer together.

Nine companies in all claimed the 2016 Regional Business Award, with the top award, Overall Business of the Year award going to Dell EMC. The Presidents Award, for an individual or organisation who made a significant business economic contribution at local or national level went to John Moran, former Secretary General at the Department of Finance



The outgoing President of Limerick Chamber, Northern Trust General Manager Catherine Duffy, meanwhile, said that Brexit can present a real opportunity for Limerick and that it is not at all negative.

Ms Duffy was making her last address as president at the event, with her two year term ending in the spring, and said that while the Brexit prognosis for much of Europe, including the UK, is largely a negative one, there are opportunities for Limerick and the wider region.

"There is a possibility that Britain leaving the EU could lead to some foreign direct investment there being diverted elsewhere in the EU, which would be an opportunity for Ireland," she said. Nationally, regionally and locally we have put a lot of building blocks in place to create the right conditions to attract large scale investment and companies like Regeneron, Fazzi, Redfaire and Troy Studios."

She added, "To stay on this path of success, to achieve our vision for Limerick, we must continue to work together as a team, to challenge ourselves and accept nothing but the best. Just as we do in our own businesses every day, we must seize the opportunities and confront the challenges."

The event was attended by businesses from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. The other award winners were:

 Best SME: Medmark

 Best Emerging: BHSL

 Best Large: Dell EMC

 Best CSR programme: Shannon Group

 Best Community entity: Clionas Foundation

 Best Retail and Hospitality : Tiger

 Best Sport art and Culture: University Concert Hall

 Best Service: Home Instead

 Best Family: Woodlands Hotel

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Facebook Inc, facing withering criticism for failing to stem a flood of phony news articles in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election, is taking a series of steps to weed out hoaxes and other types of false information, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post Friday evening.

Facebook has long insisted that it is a technology company and not a publisher, and rejects the idea that it should be held responsible for the content that its users circulate on the platform. Just after the election, Zuckerberg said the notion that fake or misleading news on Facebook had helped swing the election to Donald Trump was a "crazy idea."

Zuckerberg then said last Saturday that more than 99 percent of what people see on Facebook is authentic, calling "only a very small amount" fake news and hoaxes.

But in his Friday posting Zuckerberg struck a decidedly different tone. He said Facebook has been working on the issue of misinformation for a long time, calling the problem complex both technically and philosophically.

"While the percentage of misinformation is relatively small, we have much more work ahead on our roadmap," Zuckerberg said.

He outlined a series of steps that were already underway, including greater use of automation to "detect what people will flag as false before they do it themselves."

He also said Facebook would make it easier to report false content, work with third-party verification organizations and journalists on fact-checking efforts, and explore posting warning labels on content that has been flagged as false. The company will also try to prevent fake-news providers from making money through its advertising system, as it had previously announced.

Zuckerberg said Facebook must be careful not to discourage sharing of opinions or mistakenly restricting accurate content. "We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties," he said.

Facebook historically has relied on users to report links as false and share links to myth-busting sites, including Snopes, to determine if it can confidently classify stories as misinformation, Zuckerberg said. The service has extensive "community standards" on what kinds of content are acceptable.

Facebook faced international outcry earlier this year after it removed an iconic Vietnam War photo due to nudity, a decision that was later reversed. The thorniest content issues are decided by a group of top executives at Facebook, and there have been extensive internal conversations at the company in recent months over content controversies, people familiar with the discussions say.

Among the fake news reports that circulated ahead of the U.S. election were reports erroneously alleging Pope Francis had endorsed Trump and that a federal agent who had been investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was found dead. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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The US bank Citi on Monday became the first global lender to come under European Central Bank supervision since Britain's vote to leave the European Union - an option several UK-based companies are exploring to keep their access to the single market.

Banks are looking for ways to ensure they can easily sell their services into the EU, a market of 450 million people, after Britain leaves. One option is to shift enough assets to a euro zone country to qualify for ECB supervision.

Citi's Irish unit, Citibank Holdings Ireland, was added to a list of large banks directly supervised by the ECB on Monday, after it expanded its balance sheet through last year's merger with UK-based Citibank International.

The merger predates the June 23 Brexit referendum, but Citi's move will still be closely watched by competitors weighing a move to the euro zone.

Goldman Sachs is considering shifting some of its assets and operations from London to Frankfurt and ECB board member Sabine Lautenschlaeger said last week several banks are talking to the central bank about similar moves.

Citi itself has said it might have to re-allocate certain businesses to the EU, but it would not "hot foot" it out of Britain.

The Irish subsidiary houses Citi's retail banking operation in Europe and has around 46 billion euros in assets. But it could not accommodate Citi's brokerage or trading businesses.

Under U.S. regulation, those must be housed in entities separate from deposit-taking operations. Consequently, Citi's brokerage and trading are a separate operation, based in London.

"This is an important milestone for Citi in Europe and we look forward to a strong engagement with the (ECB)," Citi said in a statement after passing an ECB health check earlier this month.

Euro zone banks with assets of less than 30 billion euros are generally supervised by national authorities, unless they meet other criteria, such as being one of the three largest lenders in their country.

The total number of "significant" banks directly supervised by the ECB fell to 127 from 129 after a merger and two restructurings.

Italy's Banca Mediolanum, which had also passed the ECB health check along with Slovenia's Abanka, was not added to the list because its assets have since fallen, chief risk officer Massimo Rella told Reuters.

The ECB, which has the power to reject the acquisition of holdings in any bank in the euro area, has opposed former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlsuconi's owning a significant stake in Mediolanum through his Fininvest holding company. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Prime Minister Theresa May pledged on Monday to address business concerns that Britain could fall off a "cliff edge" into uncertain trading conditions after leaving the EU, hinting at some form of a transitional agreement.

It was the strongest sign yet that May could be open to a deal that would offer Britain time to forge a new trading relationship with the European Union when the up to two-year formal divorce talks are concluded, most likely in 2019.

Speaking to business leaders at the CBI, a leading business organisation in Britain, May moved to ease concerns among company bosses who had been alarmed by a plan to put workers on boards and to tackle excessive executive pay.

But she would not be moved to reveal more of her negotiating hand before she triggers Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to launch two years of formal divorce talks, saying business leaders should understand better than anyone that she did not want anything to jeopardise winning the "right" deal.

Asked about business calls for a transitional deal, she said: "We want to get the arrangement that is going to work best for the UK and the arrangement that is going to work best for business in the UK."

"I am conscious that there will be issues that need to be looked at ... that people don't want a cliff edge, they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward, that will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation."

Her spokeswoman later said: "There are a whole range of issues that are being worked through as we prepare for the negotiations, with a focus of looking at how we get the best deal for the UK."

EU officials say they have always assumed that Britain will need some transitional deal to bridge the gap between the withdrawal treaty and a new one setting out a long-term relationship, which they expect to take many years to negotiate.

May's words seemed to be a direct response to the president of the CBI, Paul Drechsler, who said business needed certainty over Britain's future relationship with the EU's single market and immigration rules for "European talent".

"And there's another important question: what happens the day after Brexit? When the clock strikes midnight, and our two years negotiating time is up. Today businesses are inevitably considering this cliff edge scenario - a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions," he said.

"If this happens firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no mans land."

May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after Britain voted in June to leave the EU, has been clear that she will deliver Brexit, but she has offered little detail.

Some pro-Brexit campaigners have warned the prime minister that she risks betraying the "will of the people" if she allows any delay to Brexit.

"Businesses want certainty as soon as possible, which is why Britain must leave the EU within a maximum period of two years after triggering Article 50 - no EU deal is better than a bad deal," said Richard Tice, a businessman and co-chairman of campaign group, Leave Means Leave.

"A transitional deal will fuel more uncertainty and leave Britain in limbo."

Keen to make sure her government stays on message, May has silenced her ministers, some of whom have given the strongest hints yet that she is not ruling out a form of transitional agreement with the EU.

In parliament on Oct. 20, May's Brexit minister, David Davis, said the stability of the City of London financial district and markets was "absolutely central" and the government would do "anything necessary".

"I am sure that everybody here in this room who's been involved in negotiations know that you don't set out absolutely everything that you want to do right at the beginning of the negotiation," she said.

"So when I am able to make announcements about decisions ... then I will do so." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
ELKO, Nev. (AP)  Although all four people aboard were killed when a medical aircraft went down in northern Nevada, police say the pilot likely saved lives by crashing the plane into a parking lot while avoiding nearby homes and businesses.

The pilot, two medical crew members and a patient were killed after the American MedFlight plane crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from Elko Regional Airport on Friday night.

The twin-engine air-ambulance plane was taking a heart-disease patient to a Utah hospital.

Lt. Rich Genseal of the Elko Police Department said the plane went down in a parking lot for Barrick Gold Corp., where employees park their personal vehicles before taking buses out to a mine. He said the employees on the active shift had already departed by bus, so there werent any people in the lot at the time.

Genseal said crashing into the empty lot may have saved lives and by all accounts that part of the crash was no accident. While no one on the ground was hurt, several vehicles were destroyed by fire.

The plane came down in a parking lot thats probably only several hundred feet from the apartment complex, multiple dwellings. Not to mention the surrounding areas around that is all housing, Genseal told Salt Lake City TV station FOX13.

The victims have been identified as pilot Yuji Irie; medical staff members Jake Sheppard of Utah and Tiffany Urresti, 29, of Elko; and patient Edward Clohesey of Spring Creek, Nevada, according to Elko Police Chief Brian Reed.

Reed couldnt immediately provide ages or hometown information for Irie or Sheppard or Cloheseys age.

Urresti was a volunteer firefighter in Elko, the chief said.

Genseal says the plane apparently experienced mechanical problems as it was climbing after taking off on the 230-mile flight to Salt Lake City, then lost altitude and crashed.

Officials with American Medflight, based in Reno, Nevada, said the company was cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as they investigated the crash.

The FAA referred all calls to the NTSB, which is heading the investigation. NTSB officials didnt immediately provide an update Sunday.

John Burruel, American Medflights President and CEO, praised Irie.

Ive always said that if I had 50 Yujis, this company would be unstoppable and wed achieve anything we set out to do, Burruel said in a statement. He had the best work ethic Ive ever seen and he cared for people with endless energy and compassion.

Tiffany Urrestis parents, Debbi and Jim Urresti of Elko, said she was a former hospital ER nurse who dreamed for years of working as a flight nurse.

Urresti achieved her dream, starting work for American Medflight two months ago, and she was engaged to be married in May, her mother said.

We are mourning the loss of our crewmembers and patient, Burruel said. They are in our thoughts and prayers.
Everyone looks forward to a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving but not everyone can afford one. Others just dont want to be alone on the holiday. For the 26th year, Angies restaurant owner Saboor Sahely will be opening the doors of Angies to anyone who wants to come in for a tasty meal.

The hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Thanksgiving day. Sahely says more than 1,000 people come to Angies for their dinner every year.

Its a tradition. The employees look forward to doing this, says Sahely. Were all psyched up and ready to go. The products are coming.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be a little hectic around here trying to get everything ready. Thursday will be a great day we all look forward to doing this and we feel good about it.

Sahely says it started after he left his home in Afghanistan to get a graduate degree at Utah State University. He was lonely and he was broke, but a kind local janitor invited him to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

He says Thanksgiving at Angies is how he decided to pay back the community.

Those who can afford to pay will be able to make a donation to CAPSA, an organization that helps victims of domestic abuse.
| BY Ricki Green |

Melbourne start up energy retailer Sumo Power has this week launched its Flick Off campaign via Studio Pardon and Greenpoint Media, in a bid to get Melbournians to flick off their current power company.

Only 18 months old and determined to revolutionise the Australian energy sector, Sumo Power was born through a shared distaste of current energy providers and a need to align with customers wants and needs.

Says Domenic Capomolla, founder and CEO, Sumo Power: We started Sumo Power because we hate electricity companies too and feel the Australian energy sector needed a good shake up  a company prepared to give real customer service and offer products that customers want.

Sumo Powers provocative Flick Off poster campaign will run both outdoors and via social, encouraging users to make a switch to something bigger.

We know people dont like their power company and stats show that 50% of customers have not switched their power retailer in the last five years.
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 1:00PM

WIND Mobile, which was one of the challengers to the 'Big Three' wireless carrier oligopoly in Canada, announced that it has rebrandred as Freedom Mobile with, "a renewed promise to deliver affordable wireless to value-conscious Canadians."

"As WIND Mobile, we built a strong foundation of more than a million customers," said CEO Alek Krstajic. "And as Freedom Mobile, we are reaffirming our commitment to them and to the core principles of our business  value, transparency and fairness."

Just in time for the holiday season, Freedom Mobile is launching Canada's latest and most advanced LTE network in Toronto and Vancouver, expanding to other markets during 2017. Freedom Mobile will be selling two handsets compatible with its LTE network: the LG V20 (in stores now) and the ZTE Grand X 4 (to be available in early December). The lineup of devices compatible with Freedom Mobile's LTE network will expand substantially and quickly in 2017.

The inaugural Freedom Mobile LTE rate plan is available as of today for $45 per month. It features unlimited calling to Canada and the U.S., and unlimited global messaging from within Freedom's 3G and LTE coverage areas. The plan includes 3GB of monthly data plus an additional 3GB of bonus data through the end of January 2018 for a total of 6GB, which makes it the most affordable rate plan in the country (usable on both our LTE and 3G network). Full details of this plan, and other updates to Freedom Mobile's rate plan lineup, are available on the new Freedom Mobile website: www.freedommobile.ca.

The new LTE network launches on November 27 in Toronto and Vancouver, with LTE coverage expanding to include all of the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Vancouver by Spring 2017. Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton will join by summer, and with remaining 3G coverage areas (including southwestern Ontario, the Hamilton-Niagara corridor, Barrie, Kingston and Peterborough) joining by the Fall. Coverage maps showing this rollout schedule are available on the Freedom Mobile website. LTE roaming will be available in the U.S. and Canada in early 2017.
"You've got to consider all the things that you want, as the sand starts to run through the hourglass. You can see it now  there's more sand at the bottom, than the top," he says. "You don't consider mortality through your 20s, 30s and 40s and now I'm in my 50s, it's like, 'F--k, it is running out'. So now I want everything more."
"There's not a lot of building activity in the south of Canberra and that's an area for the economies of the south of Canberra, and for housing affordability there that needs to be on the agenda to look at what opportunities there are to encourage building in that part of city," he said.
"I am confident that when you look at the proposed agreement and the policy commitments of the MDBA, you will be reassured, as I have been, that your conditions and entitlements have been retained."
Malcolm Turnbull is on your side and feels your pain. He understands how you feel  heavens, he was poor and insecure once himself. And he knows what to do. Or he doesn't but Bill Shorten does. The mere fact that each is a FAQ sample of why voters have stopped listening and have turned off is not reason not to give them another chance, now that they have heard. Turnbull helped generate despair, after all. Just like Bill Shorten did. Both sat in cabinets who made cool calculations about how much people, including the very poor, could or should take before public anger boiled over. Neither has shown any compunction about cruelty, particularly to people on welfare. And both, with equal hypocrisy, have shed crocodile tears when out of power about fairness and unfairness, about brutal and unnecessary burdens being placed on particular vulnerable groups in the economy, and about the crushing costs of living and burdens imposed by government. Neither has ever wanted for a feed or a roof over his head.
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.
Morocco signs agreement with Ethiopia to build fertilizer unit

Morocco has signed an agreement with Ethiopia to build a giant fertilizer unit aimed at making Addis Ababa self-reliant in fertilizer by 2025.

The announcement was made as Moroccos King Mohammed was in the Horn of Africa nation on a visit aimed at strengthening economic and political ties.

The agreement, signed by the Ethiopian government and Moroccos state-owned phosphate mining company OCP-SA, which will invest $2.3 billion (2.1 billion euros) between 2017 and 2022 to build the complex in the eastern city of Dire Dawa. It is our biggest investment outside Morocco, said OCP CEO Mostafa Terrab.

Our aim is to reduce Ethiopias dependence on fertilizer imports, he said.

According to OCP, Ethiopia will be able to produce 80 percent of its fertilizer needs through this complex in 2022 and be self-sufficient in fertilizer three years later.

Agriculture is a key sector in Ethiopia and accounted for 42 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2015, according to Ethiopias Agricultural Transformation Agency.

The two countries also signed a slew of pacts on commerce, investment, taxation, agriculture, water and irrigation.

www.ocpgroup.ma
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today announced that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA), a central government initiative to help drop out and migrant children get back to study has been benefitting 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools across the country to ensure universal access.

During Question Hour in Lokh Sabha, the Minister jotted out the efforts taken by SSA amidst noisy protests by the opposition over the demonetisation issue. Universal enrollment is the first goal of SSA and all efforts are being made to bring all children, including girls, to school, he said.

Opening of schools in the neighbourhood for girl children to get easy access, appointment of additional teachers, including women teachers, free textbooks, free uniforms, separate toilets for girls, teachers sensitisation programmes to promote girls participation, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials, including textbooks are some of the strategies of SSA that he mentioned.

In places where female rural literacy is low, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalays have been opened in educationally backward blocks. Residential upper primary schools for girls from SC/ST/OBC/Muslim and BPL families are also provided in these areas.

The minister said under the mid-day meal scheme, central financial assistance is being provided to all states and UTs for implementation of the scheme.

Under the scheme, all states and UTs were providing mid-day meals to children, including adolescent girls studying in class-I to VIII of government, government aided, special training centres and madrasas and Maqtabs under the SSA.

HRD Ministry's Online IIT-Pal to help IIT Aspirants Crack IIT-JEE
According to a survey titled "The Small Voices, Big Dreams" conducted by the Child Fund Alliance member organisations, in 41 countries, the need for education among the deprived children was felt immensely.

Speaking at an event organised by The Rural Organisation for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES) during Child Rights Day commemoration on November 20, ROPES Chairman K Dhanasekharan said, "Some of the premier global agencies are working for the uplift of rural children, particularly in tribal areas, in Chittoor district with an objective to ensure inclusive and equitable, quality education to the targeted group under the safe schools project in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)."

The event was conducted for one week by ROPES for the International Child Rights Day celebrations in association with Child Fund Alliance and Child Line concluded at the local High School grounds at Bangarupalem on Sunday.

A variety of activities such as public rallies, distribution of leaflets, display of posters in public places and conducting of awareness camps on POCSO Act at schools also followed.

The organisers also conducted quizzes, elocution and essay writing competitions to the school children all over district with the themes related to child marriages, child labour and child abuse.

Child Rights & You (CRY) Celebrates Children's Day in Bangalore

Why is Child Rights Day celebrated?

Child Rights Day is also called Universal Children's Day. While India celebrated children's day on November 14 in the memory of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, International children's day was formulated by United Nations in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20th each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.

November 20th is also considered Child Rights Day as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Also Read: Australian Government Paves Way For Its Children to Learn Hindi


Mumbai: Education in Ireland, the national brand under the authority of the Minister for Education and Skills, responsible for the promotion of Irish Higher Education Institutions overseas has begun their 4 city education fair in India, starting with New Delhi, then moving to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

The students & parents interacted with representatives of 14 higher education institutions who were responsible for giving out information on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, academic culture of Ireland, scholarship opportunities, Job opportunities: to work independently as well as part time/ full time, entrepreneurial culture of Ireland, benefits of studying in Ireland post the issue of Brexit etc. The representatives also spoke about the different courses and programmes that students can take advantage for their professional careers.

Barry O'Driscoll, Senior Education Advisor, Education in Ireland said, "An education fair gives us a platform to interact with Indian students and to promote Irish institutes.

Every year Ireland welcomes Indian students and currently we have more than 2,000 Indian students studying at higher level. Ireland provides a wide range of courses including work placements and internship opportunities; this makes students take their first step towards a successful career. We look forward to increasing the number of students going from India to Ireland."

Manjit Arora, a parent at the student fair said, "As a parent, you always want the best for your kids and if it means sending them abroad for higher studies, then you need to have a grasp of the various aspects of what it is to study abroad."

Vikrant Penkar, a student at the fair said, "the education fairs encourage students to study abroad. They are very useful to prospective students who are searching for a specific program or are interested in seeing what's out there for their careers."

Education in Ireland' twice a year hosts education fairs in India to encourage students to study abroad. This year the fair was well attended by the students as compared to the previous year. The fair will next move to Bangalore on 26th and finally ending in Chennai on 27th November, 2016.

Why study in Ireland?

An English speaking country which opens doors to international students

Ireland has the happiest, and most satisfied, international student community in Europe, according to an European study on student satisfaction, conducted by Study Portals

Ireland is a safe, friendly, dynamic, lively and a modern country with a young population and a successful technology orientated economy

A very close economic, cultural and educational links with the UK and US thus making its educational qualifications recognizable worldwide

A valuable 1 year stay back option for international students to gain work experience post completion of their studies

Top in Research: The Irish Government invests over Euro 782 million annually in research in Ireland's higher education institutions.

All 7 of Ireland's universities make top 150 in 'Times Higher Education' ranking

Ireland is a leader in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and Galway is a hub where many of the biotech companies are located.

Emerging fields like cloud computing and data analytics are key strengths of Ireland.

Companies such as Google, Facebook, Pfizer, PayPal, Apple, Intel, Genzyme and EA Games, LinkedIn, Twitter who require a skilled, educated and highly capable workforce to drive their success choose to locate in Ireland.

Located in Ireland:

9/10 top global ICT companies 8/10 top Gaming companies 8/10 top Global Pharmaceuticals companies 15/20 top Medical Devices companies 6/7 top Diagnostics companies 50% of the world's leading Financial Services companies

The 14 Institutions that participated in the education fair included:

1. Cork Institute of technology

2. College of Computing Technology

3. Dublin Business School

4. Dublin City University

5. Dublin Institute of Technology

6. Maynooth University

7. National College of Ireland

8. National University of Ireland Galway

9. Trinity Business School

10. Trinity College Dublin

11. University College Cork

12. University College Dublin

13. University of Limerick

14. Waterford Institute of Technology

About Education in Ireland:

Education in Ireland is the national brand under the authority of the Minister for Education and

Skills, responsible for the promotion of Irish Higher Education Institutions overseas. For further information, visit www.educationinireland.com
Sometimes its good to be reminded of just how good a car is by giving it go once more. In the case of the Mitsubishi Xpander, its the smal...
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has issued another couple of recalls, between them affecting a total of 83,338 vehicles across the United States.



The larger of the two is also the less drastic. It relates to the 2016 Dodge Dart  namely those manufactured between April 13, 2015, and June 7, 2016  whose windshield washer pump may fail due to a voltage spike.

Since that could impair visibility and potentially lead to a collision, FCA is calling them in to have those washer pumps replaced.

The second recall is smaller in scope, but addresses a more serious issue. It relates to the 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, in particular specific models equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that were built at the Saltillo engine plant in Mexico, not at the Trenton or Mack Avenue plants in Michigan (where the engines are also made). FCA estimates that comes down to 30,183 vehicles.

A manufacturing issue may have damaged a component of the fuel system that could result in a leak, which in turn could cause a fire. Dealers are being instructed to inspect the components and replace them only if necessary.

Photo Gallery
If youre looking for more of a push in considering the likes of the Jaguar XE, XF and F-Pace over their German rivals, seeing former Stig, Ben Collins, talk about them might just send you over that edge.



While this is by no means a detailed presentation on how to drive at Stig-worthy levels, Collins briefly touches on concepts such as precision steering, performance braking and something he calls cornering rhythm.

For the steering tutorial, he brings up the XFs torque vectoring system which in turn helps increase performance when finding yourself face to face with a series of difficult corners.

After briefly mentioning the XEs high performance brakes (which youd probably appreciate more in something like the XE-S rather than the 2.0-liter diesel), he touches on the cornering ability of the F-Pace SUV, whose adaptive dynamics allow you to focus on your cornering rhythm.

Still, the F-Pace is one of the lightest models in its class at just 1,665 kg (3,670 lbs) and with engines ranging from its 180 PS 2.0-liter diesel all the way to the 380 PS supercharged 3.0-liter petrol, you could say that a certain amount of skill is required in order to extract every bit of performance from it, especially in the corners.

VIDEO
You can buy just about anything you want on Amazon except for a car, right? Well thats beginning to change. At least, that is, in some countries outside of the North American market.



Following similar (but smaller-scale) initiatives from Seat (in France) and Mini (in India), Fiat has launched the sale of certain models on Amazon.it  the local Italian version of the popular online shopping portal.

The initiative includes models of the 500, 500L, and Panda  all offered in specific configurations, based on the most popular choices. The 500 and 500C can be ordered in Lounge spec with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine. The 500L is available in Lounge or Trekking trim with a 1.6-liter diesel. And the Panda can be had in Lounge trim with a 1.2-liter gasoline or 44 spec with a 1.3-liter diesel. Only two color combinations are offered for each model.

The process isnt quite as simple as clicking your mouse and waiting for delivery, though. The automaker cites studies that suggest that while 50 percent of new-car buyers in Italy are prepared to buy their car online, 97 percent still want to pick it up at the dealership.

It also probably doesnt want to ruffle the feathers of its dealer network, either. So customers are actually buying a 180-euro welcome kit via Amazon, and are then contacted by their local dealer to finalize the rest of the transaction. The automaker also plans to launch accessories and merchandise to be purchased directly on Amazon.it in the future.

Photo Gallery
Despite Volkswagens diesel emissions scandal hurting the German company massively, particularly in the United States, the firm certainly isnt giving up on the market. As a matter of fact, it is pondering bringing the Amarok pickup stateside.



It is no secret that American loves pickup trucks yet the current VW Amarok isnt available there. With the next-generation Amarok however, that may change.

During an interview with Car and Driver, Volkswagen Group of America chief executive Hinrich Woebcken said that the B-segment pickup is being considered as a rival to the likes of the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma.

Although Woebcken failed to go into detail about how seriously the company is considering the move, he did assert that it isnt at the top of VWs to-do list. Instead, the marque is focusing much of its energy on the booming crossover and SUV markets, hence the recent launch of the Atlas, a seven-seat SUV developed with North America in mind.

PHOTO GALLERY
Volkswagen is reportedly getting ready to export their new Atlas to the Russian market, from the United States, late next year, but does that mean that it will eventually go on sale in Western Europe too?



Well, according to an inside source who spoke to AutoNews during the 2016 LA Auto Show, the answer is unlikely, but Russia on the other hand remains a viable solution, with the car companys Sales and Marketing chief, Juergen Stackmann saying: Russia is one of the markets were considering.

Built at the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Volkswagen Atlas, the brands largest ever passenger vehicle with a length of more than 5,000 mm (196,85 in), will apparently go on sale in its new market in late 2017 powered by a 2.0-liter diesel engine, which could be offered in several output levels. By comparison, the US version can only be had with a 2.0-liter or a 3.6-liter petrol unit, delivering 238 HP and 280 HP, respectively.

Additionally, Volkswagen also introduced the Atlas on the Chinese market last month, where its known as Teramont. This version uses a 2.0-liter petrol mill, with 186 HP and 220 HP, and can also be had with a 2.5-liter V6.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Contributed

The leader of B.C.'s opposition New Democrats says the governing B.C. Liberals have made bad political choices and it's now time for a change.

John Horgan spoke to supporters at a rally in Vancouver on Sunday, giving a preview of what issues his party will campaign ahead of the provincial election on May 9, 2017.

Horgan told the crowd Premier Christy Clark's policies on education, healthcare and housing have hurt British Columbians and it is the party's job to make sure people know that.

The NDP leader said he wants to build a B.C. that restores people's faith in government's ability to make life better, and promised that, if elected, he will bring in a $15 per hour minimum wage and $10 per day childcare.

Horgan also committed to implementing all of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Agreement, and to standing up to the federal government when it comes to oil tanker traffic in B.C. waters.

Clark doled out criticism of the NDP when speaking to her own supporters two weeks ago, calling the opposition party a group of quitters who want to go back into the past.
Photo: Facebook

It's arguably the biggest one-night fundraiser in the North Okanagan, and once again the Kalamalka Rotary Dream Auction did not disappoint.

In a single evening, the event raised close to a record $255,000.

Held Saturday evening at the Vernon Atrium and Conference Centre, 460 people dug deep to make the event the most successful ever.

This year, we had over $300,000 donated to the Dream Auction, an all-time record for donations as we celebrate the 32nd annual Dream Auction," said Sarah Pruckl, event chairperson.

"This event would not be possible without the generous contributions from Greater Vernon businesses, and others farther afield, who year after year demonstrate their support, said Pruckl. We also want to thank our guests who bid on these items the night of the auction to help us raise money.

In 31 years, the Dream Auction has seen more than $3 million in contributions.

The money raised at the Dream Auction enables Kalamalka Rotary to support dozens of worthy community and international projects each year," said Brian Reid, Kalamalka Rotary president.

A new element of the evening was the live Showcase Charity, which focused on raising funds specifically for the Okanagan Rail Trail.

The auction for the Rail trail raised $ 88,000 which was supplemented by a $50,000 pledge from Kalamalka Rotary.

The $138,000 raised is being matched by rail trail donors, bringing the amount raised for the Rail Trail to $276,000.

Community groups can begin applying for grants from now until mid-January 2017.

Full details are available online.
Photo: CTV

For the tenth time in the past month someone has torched a vacant home in Vancouver.

The latest blaze happened in the basement of a duplex on Cambie Street and West 63 Avenue around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The fire was put out quickly, but fire crews are putting their lives on the line every time they have to tackle a structure fire.

There are hundreds of homes that are sitting empty, and were finding that homeless people are moving into them, theyre lighting fires to stay warm and the buildings are catching fire, said Vancouver Fire Asst. Chief John Dennis, adding putting out vacant house fires has become a nightly routine.

Firefighters are risking their lives to come out and put these fires out. They work hard, theyre professional, but every time they do theyre putting their lives at risk.

There have been nearly 30 fires in vacant homes in the last year and 10 in the last month.

Police are investigating the fires, and are asking anyone with information to contact the VPD at 604-717-0605.

- with files from CTV
Just days after telling fans at a concert that he would have voted for Donald Trump, Kanye West delivered another public screed Saturday night, this time about Beyonce, Jay Z, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the radio and MTV at the Sacramento, California, stop of his Saint Pablo Tour.

Captured on video by concert-goers, West in an over 10-minute tirade told the audience he was on his "Trump (expletive) tonight." Fans in attendance said on social media that West played only a few songs before ending the show abruptly after only 30 minutes. The angry audience booed, and many are seeking refunds for the aborted show. Some paid around $250 for a pair of tickets.

On Sunday night, Ticketmaster announced that West's show at the Forum in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, California, was cancelled. The ticket vendor gave no explanation for the cancellation.

Saturday's outburst and truncated show became a hot topic on Twitter and other social platforms Sunday morning, as amateur videos circulated of West's rant where, among other things, he said he was hurt because he heard Beyonce refused to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards unless she won Video of the Year over him. He also urged her husband Jay Z to call him and "talk to me like a man."

West took aim at radio stations for playing the same stuff "over and over and over," too and also addressed Hillary Clinton.

"It's a new world, Hillary Clinton, it's a new world," West said. "Feelings matter. Because guess what? Everybody in middle America felt a way and they showed you how they felt. Feelings matter, bro."

The performer said he was putting his life, career and "public well-standing" at risk by talking to the fans in the audience "like this," adding that his Saint Pablo tour "is the most relevant (expletive) happening."

He continued: "I am here to change things. And things won't change until people admit their own falsehoods. I got the visions, bro. That's what I've been blessed with. My vision. I'm not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way. But I'm going to say how I feel."

West's representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Photo: Contributed

Whether you want to solve computer problems yourself or enlist the help of someone more technical, youll save time and minimize frustration if you know how to do a few simple things.

Reboot your router/reboot your modem

Persistent issues with connecting to the Internet require rebooting your router and/or modem at some point.

You shouldnt have to do this all the time. If you do, something needs to be repaired or replaced.

But every so often, youll need to do this to troubleshoot a problem or to assist your Internet Service Provider in troubleshooting a problem.

Reboot simply means restart the device, just like rebooting your computer. There are geeky ways to do this, but Ill just cover the easy way here.

First, identify the thing you want to reboot.

The router and modem might be two different pieces of equipment, or they might be all one device. Locate your router and or modem.

Now locate the power cord that connects that device to an electrical outlet.

When youre ready to reboot the device, unplug the power cord. (You dont have to crawl around on the floor; unplugging either end has the same effect.

Its almost always easier to unplug the end of the power cord that connects to the device rather than to the electrical outlet.) Hold that cord in your hand, count to 30, and then plug it back in.

Wait a couple of minutes for the device to come back to life and see if that fixed your problem. If it didnt, you can contact your service provider confident in the knowledge that youll know how to do this when they ask you to.



Turn off your computer

That sounds simple and generally it is. Click on Start | Power | Shut down. Thats all there is to it most days.

Sometimes, though, computers dont start up properly or shut down fully, and you might need to shut down manually.

To do this, press and hold the power button on the computer. You need to hold it down until you hear the computer shut off, and sometimes that can take as long as 15 seconds.

You want the computer to be silent, and you dont want to see the power button flashing or illuminated in any way.

Press and hold that power button like you mean it.

If a technician tells you to disconnect the computer completely from its power source, you need to unplug it from the electrical outlet.

If the computer is a laptop, you also need to remove the battery (unplug from the outlet first!) to stop all electrical current from flowing.



Know what operating system your computer is running

Maybe you want to use Google to find a solution to whatever computer glitch is troubling you, or maybe you want someone to help you.

One of the things you need to know is what operating system youre running.

The easiest way to find this on a Windows computer:

Press the Windows key and the R key simultaneously (WinKey+R)

Type winver in the field next to Open

Press the Enter key

This will open a new window with the information you need. See this article for other ways.

If youre using a Mac:

Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen

Click on About This Mac

This will open a window with the information. (See this article for more.

I hope you feel a little more comfortable with your computer skills.

Links

Which Windows operating system am I running?

Find the macOS version number on your Mac

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: CTV

Technically, what they are doing is illegal, but so far no one has attempted to stop them.

The Overdose Prevention Society has set up a pop-up harm and overdose reduction tent in an alley off of Main and East Hastings Streets to keep users safe.

They keep a close eye on users, Narcan kits at the ready. And the kits that counteract the deadly effects of Fentanyl, are used often.

It's like a war zone down here right now and it's really quite scary for the frontline workers, said Sarah Blyth, noting all volunteers are trained to administer both CPR and Narcan.

Were not waiting for the government, were not asking for permission. Were just going to do it.

The group just set up their second tent over the weekend, the first was set up in September.

In the first 10 months of the year, 622 people in B.C. died of drug overdoses, compared to 397 during the same period last year. Fentanyl was detected in many of the deaths.

On Sunday, volunteer Sue Ouelette had already administered Narcan twice when she spots another user in trouble.

She tells witnesses to keep talking to the man who is not breathing.

Ouelette gives the man three doses of Narcan and performs CPR until paramedics arrive and revive the man.

Its my neighbourhood, and there are far too many people dying and its needless, added Ouelette, tearing up.

You can't stop them from using the drug, but you can sure as hell stop them from dying.

It costs $100 a day to keep the tent running with money coming from a GoFundMe page.

- with files from CTV
Photo: The Canadian Press

A St. Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot Sunday night in what the police chief called an "ambush."

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot twice in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway.

"Fortunately for the blessing of God the officer's going to survive," Dotson said during a brief news conference after the shooting. He declined to name the officer but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

The officer was not involved in a call or a traffic stop but was sitting in traffic about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when another car pulled up alongside his marked police vehicle. The officer told police he heard at least two shots.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Dotson said.

Mayor Francis Slay said the officer did nothing to provoke an attack.

"He didn't deserve this," Slay said. "It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK. But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job."

Police were looking for a silver car, which was all the description the wounded officer could recall. Helicopters, SWAT teams and scores of officers searched the south St. Louis neighbourhood where the shooting occurred. Police were also looking for any surveillance video that may have captured the shooting.

The attack in St. Louis came on the same day a San Antonio detective was fatally shot in his squad car while writing a traffic ticket by someone who pulled up from behind. Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was a 20-year veteran of the San Antonio department.

In July, a gunman in Dallas killed five officers who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days later, a man killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars
Photo: The Canadian Press

Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations ended their annual summit Sunday with a call to resist protectionism amid signs of increased free-trade skepticism, highlighted by the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru, also closed with a joint pledge to work toward a sweeping new free trade agreement that would include all 21 members as a path to "sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," despite the political climate.

"We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism," the leaders of the APEC nations said in a joint statement.

APEC noted the "rising skepticism over trade" amid an uneven recovery since the financial crisis and said that "the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasizing how trade promotes innovation, employment and higher living standards."

Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the summit, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said the main obstacle to free trade agreements in Asia and around the world is the frustration felt by those left behind by globalization.

"Protectionism in reality is a reflection of tough economic conditions," said Kuczynski, the meeting's host.

Referring to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's election win in the U.S., he said those results highlighted the backlash against globalization in former industrial regions in the U.S. and Britain that contrasts with support for trade in more-prosperous urban areas and developing countries.

"This is an important point in recent economic history because of the outcome of various elections in very important countries that have reflected an anti-trade, anti-openness feeling," he said.
Photo: Tourism Victoria

A step inside Victoria's Craigdarroch Castle is a walk back into history, when a mighty coal baron built a monument on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city to announce his stature and prominence as one of the richest men in Western Canada.

Scottish immigrant Robert Dunsmuir never did get to live in his industrialist showpiece home. He died in 1889, months before construction was completed in 1890.

Dunsmuir's estate, valued at about US$20 million just before his death, left everything to his wife, Joan, who moved into the castle with three daughters and two grandchildren  and an army of servants and staff to tend to their beck and call.

Joan Dunsmuir lived at Craigdarroch (which means rocky, oak place in Gaelic) until her death in 1908.

The four-storey, 39-room grey brick edifice, with its steep red slate roof, towering peak and seven chimneys, is a national historic site. The Victorian mansion is open to daily tours and is approaching almost 150,000 visitors this year.

President John Hughes of the not-for-profit Craigdarroch Historical Museum Society seemingly knows everything about the castle, including some of its deep secrets.

Hughes said during a recent tour that the castle was built as a showcase of Dunsmuir's immense wealth.

The interior's white oak panelling, including the stairs, windows and doors, were prefabricated and shipped from Chicago on five rail cars. The red slate for the roof came from Vermont, and the Hawaiian koa inlays in the drawing room floor are among the castle's exotic wood finishes that include walnut, rosewood, maple, holly and oak.

Hughes points to a huge black wooden chair near the main entrance as an example of the overt displays of wealth, saying the chair cost $200 in the 1890s while homes in Victoria were ranging between $300 and $600.

Of the castle's 17 fireplaces, mostly coal burning, the huge sandstone hearth and mantel is the most impressive. Engraved in the stone across the mantel is: "Welcome ever smiles and farewell goes out sighing," from the William Shakespeare play "Troilus and Cressida."

The castle has become a unique spot for couples to tie the knot. Craigdarroch's $300 elopement package has become popular with couples wanting a fast marriage in a glamorous and traditional setting.

"People are looking for unique locations," he said. "They are looking for ambience. How often do you get married in a castle? It's as much the history and the connection to old spaces as saying, 'Hey, I got married in a castle.'"
Photo: Getty Images

A Newfoundland man facing $55,000 in outstanding fines may be adding to that whopping tally after police pulled him over for making an unsafe turn and failing to signal.

Patrol officers in St. John's say they noticed a car driving erratically with no licence plate just before noon on Sunday and tried to pull the driver over.

But they say the car took off, crossing two lanes of traffic before being stopped in a parking lot.

They discovered the 44-year-old driver already had about $55,000 in fines owing.

He was charged with a slew of violations, including operating without insurance and a licence plate, having a suspended driver's licence, expired registration and failing to transfer ownership.

He was held for court and the vehicle was impounded.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Artificial intelligence, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is now found in everything from translation services to virtual assistants to video games.

And as companies race to develop self-driving cars and offer increasingly personalized online experiences, they're building on research that was largely pioneered by a group of Canadian researchers who are still attracting plenty of attention and investment dollars.

Montreal, in particular, has developed a concentration of expertise in the area of AI, largely thanks to the efforts of Universite de Montreal professor Yoshua Bengio, head of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms.

"(AI) will affect pretty much every economic sector; right now is just the tip of the iceberg," Bengio told The Canadian Press.

"One of the things we are going to see more of is how these technologies affect how we interact with computers."

As a result of its research, Bengio says the institute has attracted interest from "most of the major IT companies," some of which have also provided funding.

Now, tech giant Google is jumping in, investing $4.5 million over three years to support the institute's research, as well as opening an AI research group at its Montreal office.

This comes on the heels of the Canadian government announcing an investment of more than $200 million in three Montreal universities  including Bengio's  to create a learning hub to explore artificial intelligence and big data.

Shibl Mourad, the head of engineering for Google's Montreal office, says the company hopes to help turn the city into a "super-cluster" of AI knowledge that will attract corporate investors, burgeoning startups and researchers.
Photo: Contributed

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is announcing a plan to phase out the use of coal-fired electricity by 2030.

She says the goal is to make sure 90 per cent of Canada's electricity comes from sustainable sources by that time  up from 80 per cent today.

The announcement is one of a series of measures the federal government is rolling out in advance of a first-ministers meeting with the provinces in early December to determine a broader climate-change plan.

McKenna says the coal timetable includes a new agreement with Nova Scotia to give that province the flexibility it needs to shift directly from fossil fuels to clean sources of electricity.

She says she is working on forging a flexible agreement with Saskatchewan.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Jason Kenney is being fined $5,000 by the party after an investigation into his activities at a PC delegate selection meeting last week.

The probe was ordered by the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta after the party said Kenney broke leadership campaign rules by setting up a hospitality suite near the meeting for the Edmonton-Ellerslie constituency on Nov. 16.

Kenney also appeared at the gathering and was asked to leave by party president Katherine O'Neill.

Candidates are forbidden from being in or near a selection meeting.

Party volunteers and members of two other leadership campaigns who were at the event filed a complaint with the partys chief returning officer, Rob Dunseith.

The associations board decided Sunday to issue the fine and hold a new delegate selection meeting for the constituency, based on recommendations from Dunseith's report.

The money to cover the fine will come from a $20,000 deposit that each leadership candidate is required to put up to enter the race in order to guarantee their good conduct and compliance with the rules.

Dunseith said in his report that he didn't consider Kenney's breaches serious enough to warrant the full forfeiture of his deposit because the hospitality room was shut down and he left the hallway outside the meeting when he was challenged.

But he also noted what he called "two aggravating factors:" that Kenney organizer Alan Hallman said their campaign could afford a fine when warned that his boss could be punished if he came near the meeting and that the Kenney campaign decided to push the boundaries of the rules.

"I cannot be satisfied that the results of the delegate selection meeting were not tainted or influenced by these breaches," Dunseith said in his report. "Moreover, I consider this result is necessary to protect the integrity of the leadership selection process."

Dunseith also said it appears there was no fault on the part of the constituency association, which he believes will encounter considerable trouble and expense setting up a new selection meeting.
Photo: The Canadian Press

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has signed a deal to serve McDonald's coffee aboard its flights.

The airline says it will start serving the coffee on a flight from Toronto to Calgary today and expand service across its fleet.

WestJet says it also plans to offer McDonald's coffee on its regional airline, WestJet Encore.

McDonald's has been working to improve its coffee in recent years with its McCafe brand.

The deal is similar to other arrangements airlines have struck with coffee companies.

Air Canada serves Second Cup coffee on its flights, while Porter Airlines serves Starbucks coffee in its lounges and on its aircraft.
Photo: Contributed

A suspended RCMP counter-terrorism officer has been found guilty of the severe abuse of his son.

The 44-year-old man, who cannot be identified, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, unlawful confinement, assault, failing to provide the necessaries of life and a range of firearms offences.

He was charged after his emaciated 11-year-old son was found by a neighbour.

The boy's stepmother was also found guilty of assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life.

The two sat expressionless as the judgment was read.

Justice Robert Maranger said he didn't believe the father's argument that he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder at the time he inflicted the abuse.

The boy had been chained in the family basement and had been burned with a barbecue lighter.

In delivering his verdict, Maranger described the abuse as "disturbing."

"This was a very difficult trial," he said.

"That a parent would do the things that were done to (this boy) is gut-wrenching."

The judge also commended the boy for being able to testify on his own behalf, despite the abuse.

As Maranger read a summary of his 70-page decision, 11 members of the group Bikers Against Child Abuse sat in the courtroom, where they were asked to remove their jackets out of concern that the two accused would feel intimidated.
Photo: CTV

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m.

Police are still on the scene of a shooting outside a South Surrey hotel.

Just after 3 a.m., RCMP responded to a report of shots fired at the Pacific Inn on King George Boulevard.

Nine people were arrested, and one person was treated for minor injuries from broken glass fragments.

Shell casings were found in the area.

Police say an altercation led to shots being fired between vehicles. One was pulled over a short distance away.

RCMP believe they have located the second vehicle in another jurisdiction and are working to confirm the information.

It's believed this was a targeted incident.

ORIGINAL: 9:30 a.m.

An early morning shooting in South Surrey has led to five arrests.

An SUV with a window shot out was pulled over by RCMP on King George Highway, south of Highway 10.

Meanwhile, police with flashlights scoured the parking lot at the Pacific Inn on King George Boulevard.

"First, I was woken up by four or five shots, and then another barrage of shots," area resident Rohr Moser told CTV.

Several arrests were made at the scene.

It's not known if another vehicle was involved.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

Marine rescue workers were scanning a small Nova Scotia harbour on Monday for a pod of wayward dolphins after three of the animals washed up dead on shore.

Andrew Reid of the Marine Animal Response Society was trying to determine if any of the roughly 15 dolphins that were seen last week in the Merigomish Harbour area were still there.

"We just want to find out if there are more animals in the harbour and if there are, get them out," he said from the site.

The remains of two of the common male dolphins were discovered by a passerby last week, while a third was found on the shore of Big Island on Sunday.

The area is tricky for the animals to navigate because it has a narrow opening near Big Island, and is closed by a long sandbar at the other end.

"They're just unable to find their way out and oftentimes, once they can't get out they often strand (themselves)," he said. "This is a species that is typically found further offshore, but it's possible they were following fish in."

Reid said preliminary examinations indicate the animals had no obvious health problems aside from being somewhat thin, adding to the suspicion that they became caught in the bay as they chased fish in. Necropsies were done on the animals, which were spotted by a local resident.

If the pod is still in the harbour, Reid said they may use two or three boats to try to guide any remaining dolphins back out to open ocean.

The animals were first seen in the area last Wednesday. Reid said whales and dolphins have become trapped in the harbour before.

"It's probably not out of the ordinary. It does happen occasionally," he said.

In late September, seven Atlantic white-sided dolphins became similarly stranded in a shallow bay in Lameque, N.B., with one dying two days later. The remaining six were eventually coaxed back to open ocean.
Photo: pixabay

A proposed Peachland bypass will be a hot topic Monday night during an open house with Ministry of Transportation representatives.

A possible bypass has been the focus of a major transportation study of the corridor by the province.

One option is an alternative Highway 97 alignment that would allow drivers to bypass the municipality. The bypass would come out near the foot of the Okanagan Connector.

The province is also looking at improvements to the existing highway.

"When complete in 2017, the study will identify a preferred solution using the existing corridor and a preferred solution using an alternate route," says the ministry.

"It will not choose between existing corridor and alternate alignment scenarios; that choice will be made by the ministry in the future following careful consideration of the study results and community input."

The open house is from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th St.

Officials from the ministry and the District of Peachland will also be sharing the findings of the Peachland Speed & Safety Study, which deals with more immediate concerns related to intersection safety and highway speeds in Peachland.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Three major tobacco firms are appealing a landmark $15 billion Superior Court ruling they lost in June 2015.

Lawyers for Imperial Tobacco, JTI-Macdonald and Rothmans-Benson & Hedges began arguments today during hearings that are expected to last until the end of the week.

The companies were targeted by two separate lawsuits heard at the same time that were filed in 1998 and only went to trial in 2012.

They were sued by people who were addicted to cigarettes and couldn't quit as well as by those who had suffered from cancer or emphysema.

Some 76 witnesses testified and nearly 43,000 documents were deposited as evidence, including internal tobacco company documents that showed smokers didn't know or understand the risks associated with cigarettes.

Cigarette companies argued their customers knew the risks of smoking and that their products were sold legally and were strictly regulated by the federal government.

The same cigarette companies are also being sued by the Quebec government in a $60-billion lawsuit aiming to recover health care costs related to smokers.
Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Court Justice Robin Camp

Closing arguments in a sexual assault retrial that was ordered after controversial comments by a Calgary judge during the first trial have been delayed for a day.

Alexander Wagar was brought to court today in anticipation of final summations from lawyers, but the matter was set over until Tuesday afternoon.

No reason was given for the delay.

Wagar, who is 29, was acquitted in 2014 by Judge Robin Camp who called the complainant "the accused" throughout that trial and asked her why she couldn't just keep her knees together.

The verdict was overturned on appeal and a new trial was ordered.

The complainant, who is now 24, testified at the retrial that she was at a party in a Calgary home when she was sexually assaulted in December 2011.
Photo: Contributed

Statistics Canada says the value of wholesale sales fell 1.2 per cent in September to $56.0 billion.

Economists had expected a gain of 0.4 per cent from the previous month, according to Thomson Reuters.

The drop follows increases in four of the previous five months.

Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell in five of the seven subsectors it tracks, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies and the miscellaneous subsectors.

The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector posted the largest drop in dollar terms for the month as it fell 4.0 per cent to $10.9 billion, its lowest level since April. The miscellaneous subsector fell 3.1 per cent to $7.0 billion.

Wholesale sales in volume terms fell 1.5 per cent in September.
Photo: Flickr-Combat Camera

The Canadian Armed Forces is rife with sexual misconduct and harassment of women, according to a proposed class action lawsuit that claims systemic gender- and sexual orientation-based discrimination.

"Sexual misconduct and harassment is a deep-rooted problem in Canadian military culture," Halifax-based lawyer Ray Wagner said Monday after filing a statement of claim against Ottawa with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

"The accounts of rampant, routine sexual discrimination, bullying and unwanted sexual advances against female members are astonishing," he said. "This frequent misconduct is part of a troubling and deeply embedded culture that female members have been forced to endure. It's time to step back, acknowledge how wrong it is, and take a stand against it."

The plaintiff in the case is Glynis Rogers, a 29-year-old former member of the Canadian Armed Forces from Nova Scotia, but if the case proceeds, the class could include any women who claim similar treatment.

According to her statement of claim, Rogers joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2006, and says she was subjected to persistent and systemic gender and sexual-orientation-based discrimination, bullying and harassment by male members, particularly during training.

She says female members were called names and treated as being weaker and inferior to male members.

Rogers claims she was sexually assaulted by a male member at Ontario's CFB Borden in February 2012 but was reluctant to disclose the incident to her superiors.

"Ms. Rogers ... did not trust that the chain of command would take her report seriously. She knew of other female members who had been sexually assaulted and had not reported the incidents due to similar concerns about retaliation, being labelled as a troublemaker, and receiving an inadequate and unreasonable response," the statement of claim reads.

The document says she eventually reported the incident and the male member was found guilty, but he later appealed and was acquitted.

"She has suffered in a great way. She suffered from post traumatic stress, depression and was eventually discharged and lost her career," Wagner said.

The claim alleges the Attorney General of Canada is vicariously liable for the alleged misconduct.

A spokesperson confirmed the Canadian Armed Forces had been served with the lawsuit, and said the government is deciding its "next steps."
The Kelowna Hells Angels clubhouse on Ellis Street could become property of the BC Ministry of Justice.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo Police seize items from the Kelowna Hells Angels clubhouse during a raid last summer

The ministry has filed an application in BC Supreme Court for the Hells Angels clubhouses in Kelowna and Vancouver's East End.



Unlike criminal proceedings, the motion will go to civil court.

In order to win, the civil forfeiture office must prove the property owners engaged in or allowed unlawful activity.



The East End clubhouse is located at 3598 East Georgia Street in Vancouver and the Kelowna clubhouse is at 837 Ellis Street, according to The Province.



The Province reports that no response has been filed to the lawsuit and the motorcycle club has 21 days to do so.



Rick Ciarniello, a spokesman for the Hells Angels, told The Province he was not surprised by the legal action.



It seems that in the last few years law enforcement has taken a new direction. They now concentrate their efforts using civil law rather than criminal law. By doing so, it is much easier for them to prosecute and to persecute, he said.

Police raided the Kelowna Hells Angels clubhouse as part of a series of simultaneous raids conducted throughout the province and involved an international coalition of enforcement officers.
Pakistan: increased coal prices concern APCMA

21 November 2016

The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has voiced its concern regarding steep increases in coal prices, which in turn is impacting the cost of cement production. Coal prices have increased from US$54/t in May 2016 to US$105/t. With coal constituting more than 30 per cent of total production cost, cement manufacturers have witnessed a significant decline in profits.

The price of coal has gradually increased since May 2016 when China imposed supplyside measures to limit coal mining capacity.

In addition, stricter local rules have also been imposed on coal transportation.

Meanwhile, cement manufacturers have appealed to the government to take steps to boost the housing sector, as the cement industry is currently deriving most of its sales from infrastructure projects. The producers have said that a growth in housing construction will be essential to absorb additional capacity coming online in the next two years.

According to the APCMA, in the first four months of the current fiscal year the cement industry recorded an 11.26 per cent YoY growth in local despatches and exports grew 1.73 per cent YoY. Domestic despatches in October 2016 were recorded at 3.008Mt (+15.88 per cent) while exports reached 0.518Mt (-1.96 per cent). Total cement dispatches for the months amounted to 2.527Mt (+12.87 per cent) and capacity utilisation was 92.77 per cent.

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Christian Genocide Declaration Must Be Followed By Action, Says Chaldean Bishop

Iraqi Christians attend mass on Christmas at St. Joseph Chaldean Church in Baghdad, December 25, 2013. ( Reuters/Ahmed Saad/Stringer) During a talk at the Catholic University of America on Nov. 17, Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat of the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle said the genocide declaration must be followed by concrete action. He suggested setting up courts and programs to address the various kinds of trauma that the persecuted Christians from the Middle East are facing, Crux relays. "We need to proclaim, 'This is genocide,' and then do something about it," said Bishop Kalabat. "When we do that, then we can set up courts and set up programs to deal with the physical trauma, the emotional trauma and the spiritual trauma." Kalabat said ISIS not only destroyed buildings in Iraq, but the militant group also destroyed relations between Muslims and Christians. More than that, he equated the systematic persecution of Middle East Christians to the "purposeful destruction of a culture, a faith, a human history and a human person." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had declared earlier this year that ISIS' atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities are genocide. Unfortunately, this declaration does not compel the United States to take action in light of the situation. Bishop Kalabat appealed to U.S. Catholics to become aware of the plight of their counterparts in the Middle East and to pray for them. The Chaldean leader also called on them to relay the needs of the persecuted Christians to the Congress and the incoming Trump administration. Meanwhile, leaders of the Christian community in the Middle East are hopeful that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will strengthen and support them. Assyrian Patriotic Party leader and Assyrian Christian militia commander Emanuel Khoshaba Youkhana told Breitbart News that he is asking Trump to help his people return to their historical homeland. In addition, Youkhana assured Trump that the Assyrian Christian community in the Middle East will be a faithful ally of the United States. Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III echoed Youkhana's words and expressed hope that trump will help safeguard Christianity's future in its historical cradle.
Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during the travel holiday. TDOT will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. All construction related lane closures will be stopped beginning at noon on Wednesday through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28.

"Over a million travelers in Tennessee are expected to drive to their holiday destinations this year, said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. This is the most traveled holiday of the year. Halting road work during this busy time will provide maximum capacity on our roadways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday.

While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in some construction zones. Long-term lane closures will also remain in place on some construction projects for motorists safety. Motorists are reminded to drive safely and obey the posted speeds, especially in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and TDOT are partnering with law enforcement across the state for the I-40 Challenge, with the goal of having zero fatalities on the 455 miles of I-40 in Tennessee. On the peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will have troopers stationed every 20 miles on I-40, along with increased law enforcement on all highways.

AAA predicts 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday, an increase of 1 million travelers over last year. Driving remains the most popular mode of travel for the holiday. An estimated 1,086,352 people are expected to travel by automobile in Tennessee. Nationwide, more than 89 percent of all travelers will drive to their destinations.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.



As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
A Chicago tech investor just cashed in on his nonstick coatings company by selling it to a Japanese chemicals giant that is worth $2 billion.

Showa Denko K.K., a Tokyo-based maker of chemicals for batteries, electronics and more, bought out GMM Nonstick Coatings in a deal that closed Friday. Terms were not disclosed.

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GMM's Chicago-based co-founder and CEO, Ravin Gandhi , said he and the company's 230 employees will become part of Showa Denko, and he expects to hire more in the coming weeks. Gandhi will continue to run GMM from Chicago as its own brand within the larger organization, he said.

Gandhi said he entertained several buyout offers in recent years but liked Showa Denko's the best because it allowed him to retain control of the company and grow.

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"These guys said, 'We want to build the biggest company in the world,' and that was the first time I heard a big corporation match my ambition," Gandhi said.

In 2001, Gandhi sold his family business, Coatings and Chemicals Corp., to Dutch chemicals and coatings firm Azko Nobel. He co-founded GMM in 2007 after a five-year noncompete period ended.

GMM said it is one of the largest suppliers of nonstick coatings to the American housewares market, for clients including KitchenAid and Calphalon. Gandhi said 40 million people use GMM products every day.

He declined to share revenue details but said GMM is "very profitable." The company is based in Hong Kong.

As part of Showa Denko, which is publicly listed in Japan and has annual revenue of $7 billion, GMM will go after industrial clients, Gandhi said. He mentioned airplane wings and car pistons as parts that withstand great friction and require special coatings. He said GMM has the technology to pursue that kind of business but previously did not have the necessary personnel nor the capital.

"Showa Denko can be a catalyst that gives us absolute fast-tracking to a lot of initiatives that we had planned for," Gandhi said.

In addition to running GMM, Gandhi invests in technology companies including KeyMe, a New York-based company that makes digital key replication kiosks.

aelahi@tribpub.com

Twitter @aminamania
Dale Kirlin Jr., left, and Gary Kirlin stand in their Kirlin's Hallmark store in Quincy, Ill., in 2001. The two men are being sued by their brother Donald Kirlin, who is co-owner of the business, which runs about 60 stores. (Phil Grussenmeyer / Illinois Retail Merchants Association)

Family businesses sometimes are ripped apart by warring siblings. The outwardly warm-and-fuzzy world of greeting cards is no exception.

Once the nation's biggest independent Hallmark store chain, Kirlins Inc. is at the center of a lawsuit filed by one brother of the founding family against two of his siblings.

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Donald Kirlin says his brothers, Dale Kirlin Jr. and Gary Kirlin, aren't doing their very best when it comes to running Quincy-based Kirlins.

The second-generation business, Donald Kirlin alleges, has been run into the ground by Dale Kirlin, chairman, and Gary Kirlin, president. He accuses his older brothers of paying a total of $40 million in bonuses, salaries, perquisites and other compensation to themselves and their families over the years. Donald Kirlin, meanwhile, has been shortchanged out of "millions" of dollars, the lawsuit says.

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"This is a case about a once successful greeting card and gift shop company that has been looted and decimated by the rapacious greed, dishonesty and malfeasance of two brothers to the great detriment of their younger brother," says the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The siblings' parents "spent 50 years building this business with the intent to provide for future generations," the lawsuit says, "and Dale and Gary have spent 20 years tearing it down."

In 1948, Dale Kirlin Sr. borrowed $5,000 from his wife's brother  about $50,000 in today's dollars  to open a candy store in downtown Quincy, according to the company's website. Dale Jr. and Gary Kirlin hand-packed candy in the family basement. After customers began requesting greeting cards with their candy, the retailer started stocking the Hallmark line. The patriarch initially thought the business might grow to a handful of stores.

When their father retired and handed over management to Dale and Gary Kirlin, the family's Hallmark chain had more than 115 stores, about 2,000 workers and annual revenues of over $120 million, the lawsuit says.

In 2001, Kirlins was named Illinois Retailer of the Year by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. "I'm planning for it to be around to pass on to my family," Gary Kirlin told the Tribune that year.

The city of Quincy, in a 2013 land-use plan, listed Kirlins' local operations as one of the area's major employers, with 77 workers.

By the end of 2015, Kirlins had shrunk to about 60 Hallmark stores with approximately 1,250 workers and $60 million in annual revenues, says the lawsuit, noting that the company is "struggling financially."

Earlier this year it closed a Hallmark store in Mattoon at Cross County Mall, where it had been a tenant since the center's 1971 opening and where it had expanded in 1999, according to the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier in Mattoon.

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Dale Kirlin chalked up his brother's lawsuit to a "family disagreement that has spilled over into the court system."

"The charges are without merit," he said. "We expect the ultimate dismissal of all charges."

The lawsuit includes many "erroneous" allegations, including how much the brothers have paid themselves, Dale Kirlin said.

Although Donald Kirlin's lawsuit pins the company's problems on his brothers' "negligence, recklessness and sheer incompetence," the entire Hallmark empire's chain of stores has shrunk over the years.

Hallmark says on its website it has about 2,000 Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide, including 1,650 that are independently owned. In 1996, there were 5,000, according to a Hallmark news release that year.

Some of the Gold Crown stores that closed were opened in the 1970s and '80s and their owners have retired, Hallmark spokesman Andy DiOrio said in an email. Others were in shopping malls that have closed or seen declining customer traffic as the retail landscape has evolved, he added.

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The greeting card market is expected to witness slow growth over the coming years, said Brijesh Kumar Choubey, lead consumer and retail analyst for research firm Technavio.

In 2015, U.S. retail sales of greeting cards  excluding e-cards  rose by 1.5 percent to $8.59 billion, and are expected to reach $9.07 billion in 2020, according to industry tracker Sundale Research.

One possible reason: The explosion of social media has rekindled old friendships and created new ones, resulting in the purchase of more cards to stay in touch with a growing network of friends. "A social media message isn't always acceptable for certain occasions," the research firm said in a July report.

But growth rates of e-cards far exceed those sold in retail channels. In 2015, e-card sales rose by 4.6 percent to $868 million, and are expected to pass $1 billion in 2019.

Hallmark, which wasn't named as a party in the lawsuit, is the biggest of about 3,000 greeting card publishers nationally, Sundale estimates.

Donald Kirlin, who became a pilot instead of going into the family business, lives in Colorado. His brothers live in Illinois. Each owns about a third of Kirlins' stock. They're also the company's sole board members.

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Donald Kirlin repeatedly urged his brothers to hire professional managers to run the company or to retain consultants who might suggest improvements, but his request fell on deaf ears, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also alleges conflicts of interest.

Dale and Gary Kirlin took it upon themselves, without telling Donald Kirlin, to move management of the company's $16 million retirement plan to the brokerage firm of one of Dale Kirlin's sons, who "lacked appropriate experience," the lawsuit says. Another of Dale Kirlin's sons was made a store manager and later a district manager without evaluating his experience, the suit says.

The brothers also moved the company's health insurance account, without Donald Kirlin's knowledge, to a firm run by a son-in-law of Dale Kirlin who wasn't qualified to oversee a plan covering more than 1,000 workers, the lawsuit says. .

Kirlins, over Donald Kirlin's objections, also spent $1.8 million on a Cessna Citation II plane that cost at least $250,000 a year to insure, maintain and store, the suit says.

The aircraft was used by Dale and Gary Kirlin and their families about 90 hours a year, but was used for company business only three to four times a year, the lawsuit says. The brothers eventually sold the aircraft for about $500,000.

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Charges in the lawsuit include civil racketeering, oppression of a minority shareholder, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, fraudulent concealment and interference with prospective economic advantage.

Donald Kirlin seeks, among other things, a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages, the removal of his brothers from the company, and the temporary appointment of a conservator to run the business.

byerak@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @beckyyerak
Ridgewood teacher and director of communications Carol Valentino-Barry (far left) and University of Illinois professor Steve Michael (second from left) chat with students and others after Michael spoke to Valentino-Barry's mentoring class. (Pioneer Press / Pioneer Press)

The case was a complicated one, to say the least. The CEO and founder of a data management software firm in India had seen his company grow, survive the dot.com crash and receive acclaim for its expertise and as a nourishing ground for employees.

But now it had clearly hit a crossroads: A onetime client was bidding to buy the firm and take it to another level, and the entrepreneur had to weigh whether to accept the offer, perhaps sacrificing the company's homegrown feel, a factor in attracting top employees in the first place.

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What to do  accept the proposal, buy more time from the client, turn the proposal away, reject and downsize?

University of Illinois at Champaign professor Steve Michael, professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, visited Ridgewood High School on Nov. 17, leading the class of business-minded seniors through the thicket of considerations in the case.

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Teacher Carol Valentino-Barry helped recruit Michael to the school, after meeting him at a Harvard business alumni function and telling him of her experiment to get her advanced high school students "to see a wider type of topic than they would normally see," Michael related.

Valentino, director of communications and community relations at the Norridge school, is in her fourth year of teaching the class, "mentoring and leadership." The class has attracted representatives from the corporate world and academia. The students in the class serve as mentors to freshmen and now "we're trying to help them transition into college and careers," she said.

During the nearly hour-long session, the professor was both entertaining and challenging, pressing students to drill down past superficials and urged them to take a deeper look at the software entrepreneur's dilemma.

On the firm's employee force, "tell me about the people  who are they, where do they train, where do they come from, what do you think are some of their attitudes?" he asked one student.

"They people who come there; they're usually computer science graduates," she answered, "so they are very analytical in terms of their thinking and the way they approach the problems they get."

To another student, he challenged him to think beyond the adage that the "customer is always right."

"Do you ever say 'no' to a customer?" the professor asked.

"You shouldn't say 'no' to a customer," the student said.

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"So I want your software product  and I want you to grind your feet and your bones into foot powder," said the professor, carrying out the logical extension of that viewpoint. "I'm the customer."

Michael said the case method, which he has used in his courses for undergraduate and graduate students, has a number of important attributes.

When cases are taught, "they are an opportunity for drama. In a sense, this is a stage  this is a stage in which you can practice management, in which you can make decisions, in which you can convince others to your point of view. That's the magic of case management when done well," he said.

"Taking risks is part of the method," too, he said. "In fact the risks are very small compared to the risks of going out into the world. If you go to a meeting in business and don't talk much, they think you don't need to be paid much either. Learning to speak and articulate a point of view, developing a decision around that point of view, is an important skill for life or any profession you're going to find yourself in."

The professor remained well after his course was over, talking with students about their future course of study and ambitions (and not hesitating to suggest the University of Illinois as the right place for them to continue their studies.)

Vuk Miodrag, one of the students in the course, said he appreciated how the class "goes into the real perspective of how businesses are."

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Miodrag, who hopes to major in electrical engineering, said the University of Illinois is one of the schools to which he has applied. Did the professor's talk perk up his interest? "Definitely."

Bryan Alton, another student, said he had studied the software case before the discussion, but he said the class itself changed his thinking "on what I would do focusing on the employees and growth of the company" if he were in charge of management.

He said the course has been an eye-opener in other respects. "We did Uber, we did Trader Joe's and Starbucks, and some of the products I use," he said, "so it's interesting to see how they started and what they look to do."
Here's a tip if you're studying Italian and you want to impress your teacher. Take her to Maria's Bakery in Highwood. It worked for Andrea Spitzer and Judith Molinaro, two students of private instructor Maria Christina Chopra. Chopra's verdict: Authentic. "You can tell the owner is Sicilian, you can tell from the recipes," she said.

That authenticity was established by Maria Sparacino, the original owner of Maria's Bakery. She is the heart and soul of the cozy cafe in Highwood, so much so that even though she sold the business about six years ago, her successor will direct a reporter to "Talk to Maria" about the business she built out of the wholesale bread company, Il Mulino.

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And she's glad to do it. It's still her name over the door, after all. "I'm still involved because I love the place and I love the customers,' she said in a phone interview. "I go about once a week obviously out of love."

As a piece of framed artwork proclaims, Maria's Bakery is "Absolute Italian" with a menu featuring recipes from the old country. "People who know food know this is the real thing," she said.

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Sparacino (as well as her successor) is a native of Sicily. A love of baking, she said, ran in the family. Her aunt had a bakery in their hometown and opened one in America. Sparacino came to this country in 1974 when she was 16 years old. Her aunt shared with her some recipes. "Good secret stuff," she said with a laugh. "They only gave it to me because they liked me."

She and her husband opened the bakery in 2002. "I've always loved to bake and chit-chat and make (customers) feel like they were at home. I love to stay with traditions and create authentic Italian dishes with good products.

As the bakery has grown from two tables, so has the menu expanded to include dinner entrees and sandwiches. "We grew little by little trying to see what the demand was," Sparacino said. "I listened to the people about what they wanted. They wanted a little bit of everything, and I gave it to them, from good coffee to entree to dessert; everything. They can even get wine now."

"My daughter and son-in-law told me about (Maria's Bakery), and we've been coming and enjoying," Andrea Spitzer said. "Even though the menu is large, you choose anything and it's good. The pastries, the bread, especially the focaccia, are delicious."

Pricing: Appetizers from $.85 each for Potatoes Crocchette to $4.75 for Cheese Foccacia (extra ingredients additional). Minestrone, Lentil and soup of the day are $4.75 a bowl or $8.95 for a quart. Salads ($7.95) include Caprese Salad, Sicillian Salad and Antipasto.

Paninis include Chicken Pesto, Caprese, Veggie, and Prosciutto & Goat Cheese ($7.95 each). Subs, including a Meatball Sub and Sausage & Pepper Sub are $7.95 each. Lunch entrees range from $7.95 (Chicken or Eggplant Parmigiana) to $9.95 (Gnocchi Vodka Sauce. Dinner appetizers from $11.95 for Fred Calamari to $12.95 for Grilled Octopus. Entrees include Chicken Limone ($16.95), Meat Lasagna ($16.95), Veal Parmigiana ($21.95), Mahi-Mahi Vesuvio ($24.95) and Tagliatella (shrimp, garlic, olive oil) for $22.95. The bakery's market sells take home gluten-free pastas ($12.95), pizza dough ($2.95 a pound) and bread crumbs ($1.99 a pound). A regular Cannoli is $2.75.

Hours: Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Tuesday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Sunday.

Address: 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood

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Contact: 847-926-7132

Donald Liebenson is a freelance writer.
The cast of the Memorial Opera Houses production of Meet Me in St. Louis includes, from left, Kelli Manigrasso of Crown Point, Raegan Smedley of Valparaiso, and Lexie Coberg, also of Valparaiso. The actresses portray three of the Smith children in the nostalgic musical that runs Nov. 25 through Dec. 11 at the Valparaiso venue. (Memorial Opera House / Handout)

Warm nostalgia flows through "Meet Me in St. Louis," a holiday production that will be staged at the historic Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso.

The musical runs Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 11, at the venue, which dates back to the 19th century.

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Based on the film of the same name that starred Judy Garland, "Meet Me in St. Louis" takes audiences back to the early 1900s, as the Smith family finds itself in the midst of the joyous anticipation surrounding the opening of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

Starring as Esther Smith is Kelli Manigrasso of Crown Point.

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Manigrasso plays the part that Garland played in the 1944 movie, which features the jaunty song "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis."

There is an air of vibrancy to the character of Esther Smith.

"Esther, I think, is as spunky of a girl as you can be in 1903," Manigrasso said.

The actress said Esther is romantically pursuing a neighbor. "The boy next door is John Truett," she said.

A mezzo soprano, Manigrasso sings "The Trolley Song" in the production.

"It is a pretty happy song," she said of the buoyant tune that earned a Best Original Song nomination from the Academy Awards.

The trolley is bound for the fairgrounds that are under construction for the joyous event.

The streetcar carries a love-happy Esther who hopes to connect with her dream guy.

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"The Trolley Song" boasts zesty lyrics: "Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings."

The colorful tune captures the spirit of the scene.

"It kind of mirrors the excitement of the day," Manigrasso said.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" follows a year in the life of the Smith parents and their daughters Esther, Rose, Agnes and Tootie -- plus son Lon.

Promotional material from the Opera House assures that its production is filled with "romantic suitors, comedic misunderstandings and jovial pranks," in addition to a timeless score that includes "The Boy Next Door" and the beautifully sentimental "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

In addition, there is "A Day in New York."

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With romanticized flair that casts an inviting glow on turn-of-the-century life, "Meet Me in St. Louis" is a coveted project for Manigrasso.

"It's just a lot of fun," she said. "It's lighthearted."

Tugging at emotions, "Meet Me in St. Louis" holds appeal because it seemingly hearkens back to "a much simpler time," according to director Deborah Trembicki-Haddad.

"You can't help but smile the whole time you're watching it," she said.

However, a community-theater production of "Meet Me in St. Louis" may have the shadow of the beloved Judy Garland movie hovering over it.

"That's the memory that everybody has," Trembicki-Haddad, 35, said.

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While staying true to the spirit of the 1944 movie and presenting its memorable scenes, the director said she wants to also assure that Memorial Opera House gives the stage production "our own take."

Guiding a cast that she estimates at about 25, Trembicki-Haddad notes that the musical contains songs that are not in the movie.

And although the musical does not have the film's exact storyline, the similarities are substantial.

"It follows the same plot, for the most part," the director said.

Additionally, the memorable songs from the Garland film remain, as an orchestra will accompany the singing cast members.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" has music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

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The musical's book is by Hugh Wheeler.

Trembicki-Haddad said "Meet Me in St. Louis" is a bit of a tear jerker, "but in a good way."

Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.

'Meet Me in St. Louis'

Where: Memorial Opera House, 104 E. Indiana Ave., Valparaiso

When: Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 11; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

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Tickets: Adults $21; students and senior citizens $18; loge seats $50; group rates available

Information: 219-548-9137, www.memorialoperahouse.com
A bit of Sunset Boulevard glamour, circa 1950, is headed to the Market District.

Blvd (817 W. Lake St., pronounced "Boulevard") will combine modern food with the vibe of the lounges and restaurants along Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard in the 1950s, back in the days when Hollywood stars could be spotted at jazz bar The Melody Room, nightclub Ciros and the original Hamburger Hamlet.

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"It's important to note that we're first and foremost a restaurant, in an area that already offers exceptional food," said partner Kara Callero. "But we want to be more than just a meal; we want to be a place where people go to socialize and get lost in the environment."

The principals in the project are Callero, whose background is in hospitality and restaurant marketing; Frank Callero, her husband, a real-estate attorney; and Steven Zaleski, a real-estate investor and developer and Frank's cousin.

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The three purchased the Lake Street building last year. "Right now, it has a lot of grit and exposed brick," Kara Callero said. "We're going to bring that 1950s glamour into the modern day, incorporating art deco elements and a sense of luxury."

The chef will be announced at a later date, as that person is working elsewhere at the moment, Callero said. The menu will be mostly sharable plates, with dishes aimed at bridging nostalgic to contemporary.

Blvd is slated to open spring 2017.

Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.

pvettel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @philvettel






Chef CJ Jacobson is a California boy with a forage-friendly bent, and the restaurant, built from the ground up with Jacobson in mind, reflects that. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The giddy warmth of mid-November is yielding, inevitably, to the gloom of winter. Night arrives early, the winds turn bitter cold and locavore eating means beet salad and pureed parsnips for the duration. (I love root vegetables. Ask me again in March.)

Ema, which opened five months ago in River North, is not the antidote to winter, but at least it's a respite.

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Chef CJ Jacobson, who was the inaugural chef-in-residence at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise's groundbreaking Intro restaurant, is a California boy with a forage-friendly bent, and the restaurant, built from the ground up with Jacobson in mind, reflects that. Lighting is generously, almost aggressively, bright. Oversize windows, which slide open in good weather, coax in all available beams of sunlight, which bounce off the white-wood and white-brick walls. Walnut-colored wood tables, linen napkins, plank-look flooring and woven-basket fixtures speak to natural materials; suspended-ceiling hardware is repurposed as an industrial arbor, allowing green vines to snake overhead. (Yeah, they're silk, but it's the thought that counts.) This is Lettuce's most resolutely summery interior since Summer House Santa Monica opened three years ago.

If you dined at Intro during Jacobson's time there, you'll have just the barest inkling of what awaits you here. At Intro, Jacobson was serving, perhaps, 60 tasting menus per night; Ema seats nearly 150 and offers an a la carte menu listing more than 30 dishes.

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"I've learned a whole bunch," Jacobson says. "We were about 2 1/2 months in before we finally got our heads above water. It's been quite an adventure."

The menu is Middle Eastern, which is not so far removed from California cooking as one might imagine. In an interview years ago with Joyce Goldstein (back when her legendary San Francisco restaurant, Square One, was still open), she opined that California, with its plethora of vegetables, nuts and olive oil, was in reality a Mediterranean country. I'm not about to put Ema up against Square One, but I think there's a shared sentiment.

You'll start with spreads, if only to get at that soft, warm, naan-like bread that's included. There are hummus spreads at different spice levels, including one fortified with lamb ragu and spicy harissa, and housemade labneh (Lebanese cream cheese) with crushed almonds, lightly grilled grapes and honey. I assumed the recently added "pumpkin hummus" was a seasonal gimmick, but the spread, made from kabocha squash and drizzled with pumpkinseed oil, is delicious, accented sparingly with cinnamon and nutmeg. ("I didn't want it too Starbucks-ed out," Jacobson explained.)

One of Jacobson's oddest dishes is also one of my favorites. English peas, mixed with tart, housemade yogurt and blackberry-sumac granita. The dish is served ice cold (placed over a bowl of ice, in fact), and while it strikes me as a summer dish (no doubt it'll be off the menu soon), between the vibrant red of the shaved granita and vivid-green peas, one could view it as a Christmas-wreath presentation, if one were to squint hard enough and drink long enough.

Another favorite is the halloumi, a brined cheese with a high melting point and a cheese-curd texture; Jacobson quick-fries it in chunks, to be tossed with dates, various peppers (Fresno, bell, piquillo, marinated in fish sauce) and chicory in a textural playground. (Halloumi itself is rather bland, but the peppers compensate nicely.)

Also unusual is the risotto of bulgur grains, with accents of Meyer lemon, black walnut, Parmesan and Honeycrisp apples in irregular chunks. Visually a bore, the dish abounds with nutty flavor and chewy texture; I kept thinking what a great breakfast dish this would make.

Romanesco is billed, redundantly, as "romanesque cauliflower," but Jacobson says no one ordered the dish under the "romanesco" title. Stalky and vivid-green, this cauli-cousin is definitely worth your attention, especially in this preparation  lightly charred and very firm, dusted with powdered Aleppo pepper and plated over yogurt and honey. As I alluded to earlier, Jacobson knows how to entice with vegetables.

Larger plates appear designed for more timid palates. There are kebabs in various forms, accented by tzatziki sauce or zhoug (spicy green pepper sauce), as the case may be. The rotisserie chicken offers clean and familiar flavors (and is the star of Ema's carryout kiosk adjacent to the dining room), the skinless striped bass gets a vibrant accent from pistachio pesto, and the salmon  over a ginger- and jalapeno-infused broth and accompanied by fruit (sliced peaches when I tried it, marinated persimmon these days)  is perhaps the most Californian dish on the menu.

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For dessert, the smooth dark-chocolate torte is covered with crushed pistachio and crisped kataifi (a Greek pastry that resembles shredded wheat); underneath, a Turkish-coffee cremeux has just a hint of cinnamon. Sesame-seed-topped honey pie is a sweet treat, and the almond cake is very good, reminding me of the Basque cake served at mfk.

And then there's the frozen Greek yogurt, which is addictive even on a below-freezing day. It's a bright and lightly acidic soft-serve, swirling upward from its saucer base and drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkling of sea salt. Jacobson's running joke is that he's down to two servings per day.

Ema

74 W. Illinois St.

312-527-5586

www.emachicago.com

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Tribune rating: Three stars

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Open: Dinner daily; lunch Monday-Friday

Prices: Main courses $16.95-$24.95

Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V

Reservations: Recommended

Noise: Conversation-friendly

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Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking

Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. The reviewer makes every effort to remain anonymous. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.






"Life is good." Oprah Winfrey told Steve Harvey in an hour-long, one-on-one interview with the daytime talk show host from her OWN Network headquarters in Los Angeles Monday.

The media mogul took a walk down memory lane with host Harvey, remembering her time in Baltimore before leaving for Chicago in 1983, the end of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011 after 25 years and starting OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).

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Winfrey told Harvey her new favorite word is contentment, a place she knows not everyone gets the chance to reach.

"I have done that work, work, work. I look back at old tapes of "The Oprah Show" and I can see that's me sitting in that chair, but I really don't remember that show," she said laughing. "But I'm not in that phase now. That was fantastic; I have not one regret about it. But I'm in the phase of doing exactly what I want to do in any given moment.

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"So if anybody asks you how I'm doing, tell them I'm doing alright."

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Harvey also thanked Oprah for her recognition of him after he appeared on the show in 2009 while promoting his book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man." This, Harvey explained, played a part in elevating his career from being one of the Kings of Comedy to a household name on daytime television.

"When I or anybody fully sees you, that's the most you can do for a person," she explained.

Harvey also discussed OWN's new hit series "Queen Sugar" with Winfrey as well as three stars of the show Kofi Siriboe, Dawn Lyen-Gardner, and Rutina Wesley.

"It's divine to use these wonderful characters to tell a story about us," she said. "What resonated is that it felt familiar."

The three stars of the show appeared grateful to be part of such an experience, especially one that's part of the OWN family.

"She's one of the most gracious people I've met," said Wesley who plays Nova Bordelon on "Queen Sugar."

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"She's just big sis, auntie, godmother," actor Siriboe added.

"Anything she could be, she is. For everybody. She wears her being on her sleeve."

"The Steve Harvey Show" is on weekdays at 2 p.m. on NBC.

"Queen Sugar" airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on OWN.

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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)
Jim Kraft came to brick collecting with a practical purpose, then stayed for the history. He wanted a footbridge over the small creek behind his home, but he wanted it assembled from a hodgepodge of bricks. Today, his lovely patchwork stands over the slow rushing gurgle of Gooseberry Creek, built out of 200 bricks, from Illinois and parts elsewhere. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

What are you thankful for?

Family? Country? Netflix?

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Might I suggest the humble brick? Or is brick beneath you?

There's a fair chance, as you read this, brick is holding you upright. Brick is thousands of years old; sun-dried mud bricks date to the Middle East, circa 7000 B.C. From there, brick spread east and west, the first international superstar of manufactured building materials. Chicago  rich in clay deposits used for brick making, having burned down in 1871  was a ripe canvas, rebuilt as a brick metropolis. By the 1890s, the area boasted more than 60 brickyards, clustered near Blue Island; manufacturers pumped out 600 million bricks a year. Before the industry peaked in the 1920s, before steel and concrete competed for attention, Chicago had become an international hub for brick production.

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Trouble is, the brick did its job too well.

Durable and ubiquitous is no way to stay appreciated.

"Architects see the brick as so fundamental we tend to forget the remarkable, you aggregate a bunch of bricks, you get a building," said Gunny Harboe, whose Chicago-based Harboe Architects focuses on preservation. "But when you're matching brick on a building 50 years old, in need of preservation, and you're having trouble because they don't make that brick now, you understand  even the brick needs its connoisseurs."

Which is where the brick admirers of America step in.

They are fanboys of the prosaic, champions of the everyday. They want to know everything there is to know  origins and makers and whatnot  about brick. They are amateur historians; sometimes amateur archaeologists. They are often retired. Some collect thousands and thousands of bricks; and some trade bricks. Some wax poetic about the patterns laid in an old hospital; some hunt for rarities. These are real people.

They live among us.

They are, for one, Will Quam, Chicago theater teacher, St. Paul, Minn., native, brick lover. He stood on a (brick) sidewalk in Buena Park the other day and looked out at hues and patterns of (brick) facades on the buildings around him  sun-kissed bricks, bricks the color of blue cornmeal, bricks as green as moss, bricks staggered like stairs, bricks set in Mondrian grids, bricks still scarred with ghosts of old graffiti  and he looked happy.

"Some bricks," he said, "at a distance you think you know what you're seeing. Up close, it's so different. You almost see brush strokes  there are Van Goghs all over Chicago!"

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Five months ago, Quam, who works for Northlight Theatre and Evanston Children's Theatre among others, created an Instagram account named Brick of Chicago. It's become a clearinghouse for, at last count, almost 200 photos of brick facades and patterns around the Chicago area, most of them taken on his cellphone. He used to drive home from work the same way every day, and now, because of bricks, he takes a new route every day and stops frequently, increasing the odds he'll spot a beauty. And yet, like other admirers of brick, Quam is self-effacing about this hobby; he said even close friends think of it as random and odd. Walking through Buena Park, he found himself looking up at a particularly pretty precipice and let slip that he bought a selfie stick for pictures of hard-to-reach bricks. But he felt ridiculous and he left it at home.

We walked down Kenmore.

A dog at the end of a leash noticed Quam noticing a brick wall and looked at the wall. The dog's owner also looked at the wall. Not seeing anything, they continued on past.

Quam kept looking.

He held his phone in front of him and stood back a bit from the mid-century apartment building. He shot photos as he talked: "So it started as a way to pay more attention to the world around me, and now I'm never bored  oh look, that's Flemish bond on those bricks! We take bricks for granted, yet this building doesn't need a strip of different color bricks there, and that mailbox didn't have to be set inside a brick alcove. I'm learning so much about bricks and brick bonding now, it's like I'm thinking in a second language."

He stopped, caught himself geeking out, and said: "Funny how interesting the world is if you focus on a single thing." Then he looked across the street. "Wow! What a brick!"

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Louis Kahn was the original brick fanboy, the 20th century's brick whisperer. The man, whose work included the Salk Institute in California and Kimbell Art Museum in Texas, talked to bricks. And bricks talked back. As he famously said: "If you think of brick, you say to brick, 'What do you want, brick?' And brick says to you, 'I like an arch.'" The brick wants what it wants, he felt, making him the creative conscience of anyone with Legos.

It is a shame then: Louis Kahn died in 1974, nine years before the formation of his spiritual homestead, the International Brick Collectors Association. He would have liked these guys (and mostly, they are guys). The IBCA started in the Southwest in the early 1980s, evolving out of a barbed-wire collectors group. There are almost 2,000 registered members today (500 of whom are active). Three times a year, they publish a newsletter, full of collecting tips and brick-making lore. "I don't go to their swap meets," said Allan Gilbert, professor of anthropology and founder of the 3,000-item New Netherland/New York Brick Archive at Fordham University. "But I'm impressed with them. They're passionate, do lots of research. It may not be professional, but it's useful."

Gilbert started his archive as scholarly study, a way to learn more about where and how colonial America acquired building materials. The IBCA, like collectors of "Star Wars" and matchbooks alike, value rarity, pedigree. Beauty can be its own reward. Asked why he collects, Terry Taraba, the Louisiana-based IBCA president, mainly lists: "Austin bricks are beautiful, Wisconsin bricks beautiful. There are bricks with camels on them, bricks with cellos. Lots of bricks from Chicago! Some members collect only a certain kind of brick. One only collects bricks used to pave roads in Ohio, and he has 1,000."

An hour south of Chicago, in the farm community of Gardner, IBCA secretary Jim Kraft walked to the field beside his home, to a pair of lean-tos he built against a white tool shed. His jeans were baggy, his cap faded. He's retired 14 years, a former high school art teacher. He headed for his collection, which lines the long insides of the lean-tos, from floor to ceiling. He's a newish collector, he says. He has only 4,000 bricks.

He built shelves so that each brick gets a cubbyhole, the stamp of the brick-maker's name or the origin of the brick facing outward: Ajax and Aetna and Altoona, Grape Creek and Falls Creek and Duck Creek. He has bricks from Bill Clinton's childhood home in Hope, Ark., and bricks from Vince Foster's childhood home (also in Hope); he has old bricks stamped with Abraham Lincoln silhouettes and new bricks branded with flocks of geese; he has novelty "Merry Christmas" bricks and "Happy Hanukkah" bricks.

"When you get started is always the most fun," he said. "I started a decade ago, with everything still to find. So you drive up and down alleys, you visit where buildings are being torn down, where streets are being repaired. I don't do the river thing, though."

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The river thing is for his friend, Frank Clement, who lives outside Buffalo, N.Y. Like a lot of brick collectors, Clement will get very dirty: "You take a 14-foot boat, do a lot of map reading and research. You find places where old brickyards were or buildings knocked into the water. Then you climb in and root around. That's how I found a lot of bricks, all over, Missouri, Ohio." A former New York bridge welder with a love of archaeology, he started a brick museum in his garage. Open by appointment only, it has 8,500 bricks  tiles from the Roman Empire and bricks from the White House and bricks from a Kansas campaign to stem the spread of tuberculosis ("Don't Spit on the Sidewalk").

"I like to think we're documenting history," Clement said. "But it's getting harder."

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Talk to brick collectors, you hear patterns: They want to slow the world down long enough to observe it closer, and the world is not willing. Young members are hard to find, and building sites grind up old bricks now. They complain about construction fencing, Homeland Security. ("Don't think of going near a bridge these days," Clement said.) They hold swap meets three times a year. "Set your bricks behind your vehicle, whistle blows, pick what you want, 15 minutes and done," Taraba said, but added: "People used to just give bricks. But now you hear about people wanting to know what a brick's worth."

Kraft is an outlier of sorts: He came to brick collecting with a practical purpose, then stayed for the history. He wanted a footbridge over the small creek behind his home, but he wanted it assembled from a hodgepodge of bricks. So he gathered, and gathered. That was 11 years ago. Today, his lovely patchwork stands over the slow rushing gurgle of Gooseberry Creek, built out of 200 bricks, from Illinois and parts elsewhere.

Quam is not a member of the IBCA.

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He wasn't even aware of it. But he's the future they're looking for. He's in his 20s. His Instagram brick page has, at last count, 556 followers, strangers send him pictures of bricks, Chicago set designers send compliments, he reads constantly about brick. To walk through Lakeview with him is to hear: "That's Scottish bond. A row of short (bricks), five rows of long, then a row of short. More than five rows of stretchers (long bricks), it's American bond. Three, it's English. I should show you a brick wall using Rat Trap bond!"

Like any connoisseur, he's discerning; pointing to the large sand-colored brick on a hospital, he says: "Huge bricks, soulless, not interesting. But cheap, right?" He's ambitious. He opens the gates of apartment complexes and walks up to the sides of homes and takes pictures.

And he doesn't see an end to his fascination with brick, only a world to discover. Approaching a storefront on Irving Park, he says: "Oh, very Chicago World's Fair-y brick! Not that I know. I mean, my education, it's cobbled together. Like so many bricks."

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com

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The "Hamilton" cast's address to Vice President-elect Mike Pence at Friday's performance is likely to be the first of many artists' dissents to the Trump-Pence administration's stated values and priorities. And it's inevitable that artists who speak out in the future will be attacked, and perhaps even marginalized, as the Dixie Chicks were after Natalie Maines' criticisms of President George W. Bush on the eve of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

We can debate whether or not President-elect Donald Trump's Twitter tantrum in response to the plea from the stage of the Richard Rogers theater is a distraction from more important issues, like Trump's extremist Cabinet choices and his immediate disregard for the basic ethics standards that govern the position that will soon be his. But a moment like this one offers us an opportunity to think in a clearer and more sophisticated way about the relationship between art and artists and politics and policy.

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There's a tendency to treat artists, as well as professional athletes, as immune from the vicissitudes of politics. Because they're wealthy, that reasoning goes, reversals of policy won't really affect them. They'll always be able to pay lawyers who can secure their legal status in the country, or afford birth control, or they live in atmospheres so rarified that they're protected from the everyday grind of racial discrimination.

(Courtesy: "Hamilton") (CBS Miami)

And even if artists do feel personally affected, this line of thinking continues, artists and athletes are obligated to confine themselves to entertaining. Daring to use their platforms to do or advocate for anything that might mildly perturb their fans is a violation of an unspoken contract.

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This is a silly and fundamentally immature line of thinking, one that tries to shrink the roles of people who have a unique capacity to expand our thinking beyond partisan canards. If you're so vulnerable that you can't tolerate any opinion or action in your cultural idols that doesn't conform exactly to your preferences, then your relationship to art is fundamentally brittle anyway.

Beyond the question of our ability to see artists as individuals with personal stakes in politics, this is a vital time to remember that art doesn't simply appear in a vacuum. What art gets made, who gets to make it and how it gets distributed are all questions that are determined by politics.

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A show like "Hamilton" came to fruition in New York in part because the city and state have the theatrical infrastructure -- in this case, Vassar College and the Public Theater -- to incubate the musical, and to give Miranda time to fine-tune it before it made the jump to Broadway. (Tax policies that give wealthy people incentives to donate to nonprofits like the Public are a help, too.)

The show has been able to draw on the talents of actors like Jonathan Groff and Javier Munoz because of the theater community's historical status as a welcoming place for LGBT people. "Hamilton" catapulted performers like Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs to national prominence because Miranda didn't feel that he had to limit himself to white actors in casting the white Founding Fathers.

And when "Hamilton" became a massive Broadway hit, with tickets to sold-out shows going for extortionate prices at resale, and jammed lotteries for the small number of tickets available daily, Miranda and his colleagues designed performances for the hopefuls. Live theater is expensive to produce, and it relies on people who can pay high ticket prices for support, though some theaters that will be hosting the "Hamilton" national tour have been more extortionate than others. It's difficult to make a production like "Hamilton" fully accessible to everyone who wants to see it, at least not in person. But even if they couldn't bridge the gap between the ticket haves and have-nots, the daily performances were a lovely democratic gesture.

Political concerns aren't, then, some distracting canker eating away at the arts. Political concerns are fundamental to the circumstances in which art is produced. It's entirely proper that the cast of "Hamilton" should defend the values that informed their work, and the circumstances and institutions -- including the First Amendment -- that made their show possible.

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While the nation prepares for the transition of power between President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump in the near future, Netflix is looking to Obama's past.

The new trailer for "Barry" reveals a young Obama as he struggles to find his place in college and society. As a biracial American "from Honolulu, mostly," Obama is still trying to figure out his scene.

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"You know I'm the only black person in four of my five classes," Obama explains to his white classmate in a scene in the trailer.

"You're half white, too. You can fit in anywhere," responds the classmate.

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"I fit in nowhere," Obama says.

[ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour  ]

Starring Devon Terrell, "Barry" is set in the fall of 1981 when Obama, known to his friends as Barry, moves to New York to start his junior year at Columbia University. The film, directed by Vikram Gandhi, was screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival before being acquired by Netflix.

The trailer reveals the racial tensions of the time and shows how Obama, whose mother was white and father was black, is pulled between various spheres. The tension and the issues addressed in the film are still relevant today, as highlighted in a scene where Obama is singled out and stopped by police on campus one night.

"I'm a student here," says Obama. "I don't see you I.D.-ing them. What's so special about me, huh?"

The "Barry" cast includes Terrell, Ashley Judd, Jenna Elfman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Mitchell, Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood) and Avi Nash.

The film hits Netflix Dec. 16.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown
If a movie's central narrative hook is hanging right there, in the middle of a coming-attractions trailer already seen online and in multiplexes by millions, are we really going to get hung up on what's a spoiler and what isn't?

In the swank but waxy new World War II-era Robert Zemeckis film "Allied," starring Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard and whatever sunglasses they happen to be wearing at the time, we're in the land of patently artificial intrigue, as opposed to fakery trying to be, in any sense, real.

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The opening shot's impressively ridiculous, as Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) floats, twirls, parachutes, boomph, onto a sand dune somewhere in the French Moroccan desert. He does so with the aid of the extravagant digital effects that director Zemeckis loves so much. He knows how to use them, as proved recently by the excellent "Flight" and even the frustrating "The Walk." He also knows how to over- and misapply them, and with problematic material, that's when the trouble starts.

Vatan works undercover for the British government. In Casablanca he meets up with another special operative, the French Resistance agent Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard). In a slightly zestier screenplay than this one, by Steven Knight, Marianne would be described by some minor character as "ze most beautiful woman in all of Casablanca."

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The two pose as French wife and husband, infiltrating Vichy high society for a higher cause. Mission: to kill a top-ranking German ambassador and then go their separate ways, Max back to London, Marianne to Paris. But their sham marriage becomes complicated by Real Feelings, brought on in part by Real Sex, i.e., fake movie sex, in a car rocked by a digital sandstorm.

Back in London, this time a couple for real, Max and Marianne settle into domestic life in Hampstead after Marianne gives birth to their child in the middle of a digital blitzkrieg. Then, Max is informed by his superiors that his wife may well be a double agent. Is she or isn't she? "Allied" answers that question in unevenly engaging fashion, taking a cue from WWII-era Hollywood pictures such as "The Man I Married," aka "I Married a Nazi."

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Certain things remind you how shrewd a filmmaker Zemeckis can be when his instincts are buzzing. The first on-screen murder, involving Max and a German officer who sees through his disguise, is sudden, harsh, perfectly staged and framed. Screenwriter Knight's credits include some absorbing human-scale thrillers, "Dirty Pretty Things," "Eastern Promises" and the more recent "Locke." Zemeckis doesn't rush through the exposition, and the Casablanca rooftop conversations between Max and Marianne lay the groundwork for a slow-burning romance.

But the matches are damp. In a movie built around two characters, Pitt does not hold up his 50 percent. As written Max is a reactive dullard. Whether it's the demands of his occasional, stilted French-language dialogue or the challenge of simply keeping up with Cotillard, a movie star who's a more surprising actor, Pitt struggles to engage with the material. The audience, I suspect, may struggle, too.

One commenter writing on the online film site imdb.com responded to the "Allied" trailer, laying out a simple equation: "Inglourious Basterds + Mr & Mrs Smith = Awesome!" Zemeckis isn't going for that combination; he's trying to finesse the material in a classier, old-school direction. The supporting players, including Lizzy Caplan as Max's bohemian, free-thinking sister and Simon McBurney as a British intelligence "rat-catcher," can't do much with what they're given. The clothes, on the other hand, by costume designer Joanna Johnston: fantastique. If only hats and eyewear were all.

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

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"Allied"  2 stars

MPAA rating: R (for violence, some sexuality/nudity, language and brief drug use)

Running time: 2:04

Opens: Wednesday

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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)
It wasn't so long ago Riot Fest was raging in Chicago's Douglas Park and Pitchfork Music Festival was in full swing in Union Park, but festival organizers are already looking toward next year.

Three-day general admission and VIP passes to 2017's Riot Fest weekend will be available Tuesday starting at 10 a.m. as part of a holiday presale. The limited number of available passes start at $129.98.

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Riot Fest will return to Douglas Park for its third year Sept. 15-17. Headliners are not expected to be announced until next year.

Visit riotfest.org for full details and Ticketfly to purchase tickets Tuesday.

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Pitchfork Music Festival's holiday presale begins 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28 at pitchforkmusicfestival.com. There will be three-day passes available for $140 for a short time, followed by regularly priced weekend passes at $165. Single-day tickets will also become available for $65 each.

Pitchfork also offers a layaway option for regularly priced three-day passes, where attendees will be able to pay the $165 price over three installments. This offer expires March 1, 2017.

Pitchfork Music Festival will return to its Union Park home for the twelfth year July 14-16.

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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)
Anyone who ever has worked in customer service will tell you that the actual provision of service  doing something nice for someone who might well appreciate your effort  is not the main drag of the minimum-wage workplace. No, the worst days come when someone in management pushes upon their long-suffering, frontline employees official guidelines for how to provide that service. These sessions are often couched in touchy-feely, faux-empathetic adjectives, developed way up there in the land of cloudy corporate-think, and put into practice through excruciating, obligatory role play. Anyone who has been through such training will tell you that the grumpiest customer makes for a far better day.

God save us all from employee development sessions. No better time to call in sick.

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Those excruciatingly patronizing PowerPoints make up the scenic transitions within "The Fundamentals," a new play by the New York-based Erika Sheffer at the Steppenwolf Theatre that was based, the playwright has said, on her experience answering phones in a New York hotel, where the budding writer was working for room service.

Good for her. A day job is good for a playwright. For one thing, it helps young writers put the focus on the lives of those they meet, rather than adding to the already overstuffed canon of over-educated and over-privileged scribes who feel alienated from their original community and write a play, or two, about same.

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Sheffer sets her works entirely in the basement of a small  and less than secure  luxury property where an ambitious but overlooked housekeeper named Millie (Alana Arenas) is trying to rise into the echelons of management while hanging on to her integrity. Since that rise requires flattering and cajoling her very flatterable superior  a piece of information that will come as a drastic shock to anyone who ever has worked in corporate America  Millie finds herself with a moral dilemma.

Does she rat out her colleagues, who all seem to have a few little side enterprises involving company property, or does she keep her head down, thus staying down in all ways, and remain on the righteous side of the workers? The premise of Sheffer's very binary play is that you can't have it both ways. At this hotel, moving on up, especially for an employee of color, requires one proving oneself to be a reliable stool pigeon in the service elevator.

If, like me, you are interested in hotels and how they operate, you'll be intrigued by the setup  and you'll also likely consider the lead character to be a very empathetic creation, whose life and challenges feel very much of interest. This is a tribute to the lead performance by Arenas, an actor who rarely fails to build a character so human that you wish her well. So it goes here. With this workplace drama, Sheffer is probing the fertile territory that has brought success to the likes of playwrights Rebecca Gilman and David Lindsay-Abaire. "The Fundamentals" is an honest effort to reflect the lives and challenges faced by service employees in a big American city like New York. There are many millions of those jobs in this nation, filled by diverse Americans. They still are explored too little in the American theater.

But the problems with "The Fundamentals" are twofold  it is very difficult to believe, and you find yourself ahead of the play far too quickly. What's the solution for this clearly talented young writer? I'd say more of a willingness to embrace human messiness and less worrying about tying everything together.

In this play, which is enjoying its world premiere Upstairs at Steppenwolf, all three of the other hotel workers we see (and one we don't) are working some scam. People do these things to get by, sure. And there is a lot of room for schemes and petty thievery in hotels, since they can be hid under the guise of service. But, really, everyone? Abe (Alan Wilder) the long-serving housekeeping manager? And Stellan (Caroline Neff), the new desk clerk? And Lorenzo (Armando Riesco), the maintenance guy? Plus a front-desk dude operating a prostitution ring in the lounge?

Quite a hotel, this.

Let's say you buy that (I struggled); you then have to deal with the obvious villainy of the hotel manager Eliza (Audrey Francis), who is signaled as shallow, insecure and manipulative from the first moment you see her and who then mostly just confirms all those qualities. Being a striving manager and all. There just is not enough shading in the character to avoid melodrama in a play that wants to be a far subtler piece of realism, and that succeeds at times in that goal. But only at times. This feels very much like an early career work.

As such, it would succeed more if director Yasen Peyankov's warm-hearted production just moved at a much-faster pace. Everything felt to me far slower in a theater Saturday night than it had felt the previous Saturday night  when I'd actually stayed at a hotel like the one in the play in New York, and where the staffers all seemed to be running around like crazy, just trying to get their jobs done and stay out of the weeds. Aside from the lack of veracity there, plays like this one just work better when you can feel the ideas and the language coming at you fast. Otherwise you find yourself ahead of the play, waiting for the resolution to arrive on a platter.

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Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Twitter@ChrisJonesTrib

Review: "The Fundamentals" (2.5 stars)

When: Through Dec. 23

Where: Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

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Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Tickets: $20-$89 at 312-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org
Judith Fredman fell in her classroom.

The now retired Spanish and French teacher was talking with students 10 years ago when she caught her foot under her desk, tumbled and fractured her hip.

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"I could actually hear the hip crack," Fredman, 77, recalled. "I knew I needed something more than masking tape and Krazy Glue."

After surgery, Fredman spent the next six weeks in a rehabilitation nursing home, followed by intensive physical therapy and further operations. Her husband installed banisters on their stairways and grab rails and nonskid tiles in their bathroom.

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But the Millburn, N.J., resident said something else has lingered longer than the pain and medical bills.

"Now I have a fear of falling," she admitted. "If I go down even two stairs, I absolutely need a banister. I am always afraid of losing my balance. It's something in my head that just won't go away."

Fredman has made adjustments. "My husband's or son's arm is always there, and I take a balance class and work on my bone strength. Good balance is an absolute gift."

Fredman is not alone. In spite of growing recognition of the problem, fall rates are rising.

And never before has there been such a concerted effort to prevent those falls.

One-third of seniors over 65 fall each year, causing more than 2.5 million injuries treated in ERs, leading to 734,000 hospitalizations and more than 30,200 deaths, with an annual price tag exceeding $40 billion, which is expected to rise to $60 billion by 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC predicted a quadrupling of annual deaths from falls by 2030, to exceed 100,000 if nothing is done to improve prevention.

This is why unprecedented research into falls and prevention programs is underway.

Kathleen Cameron, senior director of the National Falls Prevention Resource Center for the National Council on Aging, said she is seeing greater resources and attention paid to falls. Cameron said the U.S. Health Department's Administration for Community Living and the Affordable Care Act are financing fall prevention programs along with state public health agencies.

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"People are hearing more about it because of new money going to it," she explained, citing last year's White House Summit on Fall Prevention and the annual Falls Prevention Day. She said the CDC is promoting a program to encourage health care providers to initiate fall risk assessments and interventions. Forty states have fall prevention coalitions. Cameron said nearly 80 percent of the costs of falls among seniors are paid by Medicare, shouldered by taxpayers.

"It's a huge burden for taxpayers and older adults, with the potential for broken bones and traumatic brain injury, as well as the loss of independence and out-of-pocket costs," she said. "The older adult population is increasing as the baby boomer generation turns 65. And many older adults also have multiple chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, chronic heart failure), which put them at greater risk of falls. Many take multiple medications, some of which cause dizziness and can lead to falls. And many older adults tend to be more sedentary, with weak balance and strength."

She said many physicians don't screen their patients for fall risks or ask if they've fallen recently. She said the most difficult obstacle is the widespread belief that falls are a normal part of aging and cannot be prevented.

"We can't stop all falls," Cameron conceded. "But we can greatly reduce the rate and severity of falls."

Dr. Thomas Gill, professor at the Yale School of Medicine, is a leader in a clinical trial at 10 sites around the country to test whether interventions can reduce the risk of fall injuries among high-risk older populations. He said the work is based on research by his colleague Dr. Mary Tinetti, a MacArthur Foundation "genius" fellow and fall-research pioneer who developed effective programs to prevent falls.

"Falls are a complex geriatric condition that arises because of a confluence of different factors, ranging from visual impairment and balance disorders to medication use that may impair cognition or lower blood pressure," Gill explained.

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He said footwear choice and home environment, such as lighting, floor and bathroom surfaces, also contribute. In the study, a nurse fall care manager identifies home and lifestyle risk factors and prioritizes and addresses them.

"This is not a one-size-fits-all approach but is tailored to the specific needs of older persons."

Helen Lach, professor at the Saint Louis University School of Nursing, said that, since the 1980s, researchers have studied and explored the causes and risk factors of falling and have determined which interventions work.

"We know more about what to do, but we're not implementing those practices as much as we need to," Lach said.

She said more focus should be on educating insurance plans to pay for proven, evidence-backed programs.

"There is a return on investment for providing some of these fall prevention programs."

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She said one barrier facing seniors who have fallen is the fear of falling.

"Many are worried to bring it up for fear of losing their independence, that they might have to move or end up in a nursing home," she said. "So providers may not ask and patients won't tell."

Jean Wyman, a professor of nursing at the University of Minnesota, said she's seen growing attention to falls from academic and government researchers.

"This is the first time we've seen such a widespread national effort," Wyman said. "But we're a long way from solving this issue."

Jon Pynoos, a professor at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and co-director of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence in Los Angeles, said that if there is one message recent research conveys it is this: Many falls are preventable.

Pynoos said researchers have learned that exercise programs, including tai chi, can improve balance. He said homes are full of hazards that people don't recognize but can change.

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"Throw rugs that are not secured are falls waiting to happen. Grab bars in bathrooms can keep someone from slipping. These are low-cost changes. There are simple things people can do in their own homes, which is where older people tend to spend most of their time."

Pynoos recommended that seniors and their families do quick exams of their homes and look for hazards and fix them. He also said pharmacists need to look for drug interactions that induce drowsiness and dizziness. State and local public health officials can also prioritize falls and prevention programs."

Sally Fullman has made fall prevention her life's work. Fullman, 74, A former college professor and retired sales rep, she learned she had osteoporosis 12 years ago after an ankle sprain and minor fall. She began to study her condition and later volunteered as an educator to teach balance and fall prevention classes with the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Fullman fell again while swimming at the Jersey Shore six years ago, fracturing her tibia and suffering multiple hairline fractures.

"There was a lot of pain, and a whirlwind of depression swept over me," she recalled.

"I couldn't walk or exercise or go grocery shopping. I had to depend on others to take a shower or do my laundry. I was totally immobilized."

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She said neighbors and friends helped her through that malaise.

"I developed this overwhelming sense of compassion for people who live in chronic pain alone without help," said Fullman, a widow. "I've learned just how much a fall can completely change your life. So it's really important to do what you can to prevent falls."

Mark Taylor is a freelancer.

This article was written with support from the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, jointly run by New America Media and The Gerontological Society of America, with support from The Retirement Research Foundation.

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Bob Dylans raucous impression of Little Richard at his high school homecoming prompted the principal to close the curtain. In October, Dylan won the Nobel Prize. (Kurt Chandler / Chicago Tribune)

Ten years ago, a true-blue Bob Dylan fan in Hibbing, Minn., persuaded city officials to name a local street after its native son.

"Bob Dylan Drive" is just a five-block stretch of 7th Avenue, leading past the songwriter's childhood home and high school. But it's a mecca to Dylan followers, who make pilgrimages by the hundreds each year to the North Country, intent on walking the paths of his early footsteps.

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Although Dylan was born 75 miles to the east in Duluth, Hibbing was the epicenter of his formative years. He lived with his family in a two-story stucco until he was 18, when he hitched a ride to Minneapolis and then New York, bound for glory "with no direction home."

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As a longtime Dylan admirer and onetime Minnesotan, I've made the pilgrimage a couple of times. When I first visited 20-some years ago, the notion that he would one day receive the Nobel Prize in Literature  this fall, he became the first musician to ever do so  seemed like a far-fetched notion entertained only by the most devoted of devotees.

Some of the locals, in fact, appeared to hold a grudge against Dylan, once known by his birth name, Bob Zimmerman. A Hibbing bar stocked its jukebox with songs by Bobby Darin, Bobby Vinton, Bobby McFerrin. But no Bobby Dylan. Remarkably, a large measure of hometown pride was reserved for other natives: Former Boston Celtic star Kevin McHale, for instance, and frozen-pizza magnate Jeno Paulucci.

"No one likes him here," Irene, an elderly woman who knew Dylan's parents, told me. "He wouldn't acknowledge he's from Hibbing, so they took his house off the bus tour."

I returned to Minnesota in October, driving from my home in Milwaukee, on a jingle-jangle quest for Dylan lore. I wanted to breathe the air around Hibbing and Duluth and see firsthand where Dylan's ideas were rooted.

I also wanted to know how he is regarded, now that his already exalted place in the world has been elevated even more by his Nobel Prize.

I started in Duluth, a port town of 86,000, anchored in the steep hills above Lake Superior. Duluth and Hibbing have a century-old marriage. Iron ore mined outside Hibbing  the hub of the Mesabi Iron Range  is hauled by train to Duluth, where it's shipped to steel mills around the globe.

Duluth lays claim to Dylan's primal years. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, at St. Mary's Hospital, his father, Abe Zimmerman, was the son of Jewish immigrants and worked for Standard Oil. His mother, Beatty Stone, was born into a Jewish Lithuanian family who ran a clothing store in Hibbing.

Abe and Beatty rented an upstairs flat in a duplex on North 3rd Avenue East. Bob attended kindergarten at Nettleton Elementary School, two blocks away, and, depending on who you talk to, walked to school every day or was dragged there "kicking and screaming." Today, the school is boarded up.

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The duplex remains in fine shape. Five years ago, Bill Pagel, a 74-year-old fan, purchased the rental for $82,000 as a way to preserve Dylan's past. "I'm trying to restore it to how it looked when he lived there," says Pagel, who lives in Hibbing.

Two doors down, John Swierc was working on his car when I interrupted. "You're not the only one," he smiles. "I see people three times a week or more stop here from all over the country."

Duluth went all out for Dylan's 75th birthday last spring, organizing a weeklong festival of concerts, films and poetry. Ten years earlier, the city unveiled Bob Dylan Way, a "cultural pathway" of street signs and commemorative manhole covers along a 1.8-mile route.

At the route's end is the historic Duluth Armory music center, now shuttered, which figured significantly in Dylan's teenage years. While at Hibbing High School, his band, the Golden Chords, played its first paying gig at the Armory. The following year, on Jan. 31, 1959, Dylan went to the Armory to see Buddy Holly perform with the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. Two nights later, all three died in a plane crash.

"What I recall mostly about Duluth," Dylan wrote in "Chronicles," his memoir, "are the slate-gray skies and the mysterious foghorns, violent storms that always seemed to be coming straight at you and merciless howling winds off the big black mysterious lake."

Abe Zimmerman contracted polio in 1946, around the time Bob's younger brother, David, was born. The Zimmermans moved to Hibbing to be closer to Beatty's family. Abe went into business with his two electrician brothers, and the Zimmermans moved into the house on 7th Avenue, with a fireplace, dining room and three bedrooms upstairs.

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If Duluth is known for its port, Hibbing (population 16,361) is defined by its open-pit iron ore mine  the largest in the world  at the town's edge. It's a foreign land, the Iron Range, and the mining life seeped into Dylan's imagination, turning out lines like these from his 1964 "North Country Blues."

The iron ore poured / As the years passed the door

The drag lines an' the shovels they was a-humming

Today, Hibbing's celebrity bus tour no longer exists, but the public library has launched a Dylan walking tour. Stopping at 14 points of interest, tourists can reconstruct the essence of his formative days in 20 square blocks.

High on the list is Hibbing High School, a grand building, with gleaming hallways and a chandeliered auditorium. Teachers remember Bobby Zimmerman as a quiet "B" student. But he stirred things up at a homecoming show in February 1958 with his band. Crouching at the piano, Bobby did his best Little Richard impression, banging the keys and wailing into the microphone until the outraged principal cut his mic and pulled the curtain. Some in the audience even booed.

"You had a very small clique that followed him," says Leonard Hirsch, a retired mine worker who went to high school with Dylan. "The rest of them, they had their own interests  I don't think he was understood or appreciated. Maybe Hibbing didn't give him any credit."

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Apparently all is forgiven. In October, the school posted a charitable, though terse, felicitation at the front entrance: "Congrats to Bob Zimmerman, class of 1959, who received a Nobel Prize in Literature."

Missing from the walking tour is Zimmy's, a defunct bar and restaurant dubbed by one writer as "the Vatican of the church of Dylanology." Zimmy's, taken from Dylan's nickname, was bedecked with collectibles: childhood photos, guitars he played, and a note from Dylan's mother to Linda Stroback-Hocking, who owned the bar with her husband, Bob Hocking. It closed in 2014 because of tax liabilities.

"I was probably the best goodwill representative for Bob Dylan in Hibbing for 25 years," she laughs. Indeed, she was the driving force behind Bob Dylan Drive.

Hibbing does what it can, says Stroback-Hocking. "It's a sleepy little town. It's not ever going to be a tourist place. With Dylan being who he is, that wouldn't be the right fit here."

Yet plans are brewing to erect a statue of Hibbing's Nobel laureate at the high school. Two meetings have been held, says Bill Pagel, and a fundraising party is scheduled for Dec. 10, the day the prizes will be handed out in Stockholm, Sweden. (Dylan recently said he can't attend the ceremony because of other commitments.)

"Hibbing doesn't seem to do much for Bob," Pagel says. "Now some people seem to be sitting up and taking notice."

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Kurt Chandler is a freelance writer.

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Holiday happenings across the Midwest
Six firefighters were treated for chest pain and breathing problems early Monday after responding to a fire in West Town, officials said.



Crews were called to the fire in the 1400 block of West Huron Street about 12:45 a.m. After returning to the station about 3:20 a.m., they reported feeling sick, according to preliminary information from fire officials.



The cause of the symptoms was still under investigation. An irritant of some kind may have been released into the air at the Huron Street fire, according to a Fire Department spokesman.



Three firefighters went to Stroger Hospital, one went to Rush University Medical Center and one went to Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. Information was not available about where the sixth firefighter was treated.



All were expected to be treated and released.



WGN-TV contributed.
Gun violence in Chicago declined for the second weekend in a row, but the shooting death of a congressman's grandson thrust the city back into the national spotlight.



Javon Wilson, the 15-year-old grandson of Rep. Danny Davis, was among nine people killed between Friday afternoon and Sunday night.

Nineteen other people were wounded by gunfire, including four who were hit as they sat in a car in the North Austin neighborhood on the Northwest Side, according to police.



This was the second straight weekend that shootings decreased in Chicago after a bloody end to October, when 17 people were killed and 42 others were wounded over the last weekend, according to data kept by the Tribune.



There have been nearly 700 homicides in the city so far this year and nearly 4,000 people shot, a level of violence not seen in Chicago since the late 1990s, according to Tribune and police data.



But it wasn't the numbers that drew national attention this weekend. It was the shooting death of Jovan over a pair of gym shoes, according to police.



Jovan was arguing with two other teens about a pair of borrowed gym shoes Friday evening when the confrontation escalated and Jovan was shot dead in his Englewood home in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue. The teens have been charged with murder.



"I grieve for my family," Davis said at a news conference over the weekend. "I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger. I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends, some of whom will never see him again."



Later Friday night, Chicago police officers shot and killed a man they say was shooting at another man in the West Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, authorities said.



The officers were in a marked car near the 2000 block of West 69th Street when they saw someone firing at a 26-year-old man, police said. They parked, got out of their car and ran toward the gunman as he kept firing, according to authorities.



The officers drew their weapons and fired, hitting the man several times. He was identified as Darius Jones, of the 2000 block of West 68th Place.



The Independent Police Review Board was investigating, which is routine in police-involved shootings.

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Javon Wilson's first name has been corrected in this story.
Former Northwestern University students Anthony Morales, 19, left, and Matthew Kafker, 18, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2016, to lesser vandalism charges after admitting to spray-painting racist and homophobic slurs at Alice Millar Chapel in Evanston. They had been charged with hate crimes.. (Cook County sheriff's office / Handout)

Two former Northwestern University students apologized and pleaded guilty to vandalizing a chapel on campus, avoiding jail time but agreeing to pay thousands of dollars in fines and restitution.

Anthony Morales, 19, and Matthew Kafker, 18, were both freshmen last spring when they were charged with hate crimes for allegedly spray-painting racist and homophobic slurs, along with the word "Trump," inside Alice Millar Chapel on Sheridan Road in Evanston.

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The hate crime charges and other felonies were dropped Monday in exchange for the men's guilty pleas to misdemeanor criminal damage to property in Cook County court.

The men were sentenced to two years of court supervision and 150 hours of community service and must each pay $7,790 to cover the cost of the repairs to the chapel, plus almost $300 each in court costs and fines.

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Morales' attorney previously told the court that Morales had entered an outpatient rehabilitation program for alcohol-related issues.

Authorities said chapel staff members discovered the graffiti when they arrived on the morning of March 12. The damage included a swastika, slurs against gays and African-Americans and the word "Trump" written on walls, as well as spray-painted images of male genitals throughout the chapel, officials said. Lines were also spray-painted over the faces of Muslim students in photographs.

Attorneys for both men said on Monday that the pair were very drunk when they committed the crime and that both were also very remorseful.

"I am very sorry," Kafker told Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lauren Edidin before she passed down the sentence. "I apologize to the entire Northwestern community and everybody who was hurt by what I did."

Morales offered a similar apology adding: "I had to own up to this."

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The two men could have been facing jail time if the felony charges against them had not been dropped in exchange for the pleas. Prosecutors on Monday said the decision to offer a plea deal was driven in part by the fact that friends and family of both men wrote letters to the court asking for leniency, there was a lack of premeditation in the crime, no one was injured and neither of the men had any criminal background.

"A clear message has been sent," said supervising State's Attorney Robert Heilingoetter. "Such behavior will not be tolerated."

Edidin told both the defendants that they should be thankful that they were not convicted of more serious crimes and that she hoped they would stay out of trouble and away from alcohol.

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"You're both young, but sometimes I have seen and learned that things happen for a reason," Edidin said. "Alcohol can be a very dangerous thing for some people. It can completely change your personality."

The judge added that the plea deals are "giving you the opportunity to do anything you want to do in the future."

The men are no longer enrolled at Northwestern, university officials have previously confirmed. It was earlier revealed in court that Kafker is the son of Scott Kafker, chief justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter.
The scene where a man was fatally shot by police late on Nov. 18, 2016. (Elvia Malagon)

A man shot to death by police late Friday when police say officers saw him shoot another man has been identified.

The man was identified as Darius Jones, 26, of the 2000 block of West 68th Place, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at 12:49 a.m. Saturday at Advocate Christ Medical Center, according to the office, which determined following an autopsy Sunday that Jones died from multiple gunshot wounds after a shooting in the 2000 block of West 69th Street.

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Officers were in a marked car about 11:50 p.m. Friday patrolling the area when they came across the male involved in a skirmish with another on West 69th Street in the West Englewood neighborhood on the city's South Side, Sgt. Al Stinites, a spokesman for the department, said at the time.

Officers saw the male shooting at a man, Stinites said. The officers stopped and got out of their car. The officers announced their positions and ordered the attacker to drop his weapon, according to a news release.

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At this point, the attacker was still shooting at the man, Stinites said.

One of the officers then shot the attacker, fatally wounding him, Stinites said. The man was later pronounced dead.

The 26-year-old man wounded by the attacker was shot in the abdomen, police said. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized.

The shooter's weapon was recovered by officers at the scene, according to a news release.

There weren't any officers injured in the shooting. The officer who fatally shot the offender has been placed on a 30-day administrative leave, Stinites said.

The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting. Mia Sissac, spokeswoman for IPRA, confirmed early Saturday that the agency was investigating the shooting, but she declined to further comment on the incident.

She said investigators will be looking at any evidence including videos of the incident. If the shooting was recorded, Sissac said the video will be made public within 60 days.
Ameena Matthews, center, and other protesters rally on Nov. 20, 2016, in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood on the Far Southwest Side following a police-involved shooting earlier in the month. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Dozens of demonstrators flooded the intersection of 111th Street and Kedzie Avenue on Sunday to protest the racial hostility that has surfaced in Mount Greenwood following the police-involved shooting of a black man there earlier this month.

The 80 or so protesters  an ad hoc mix of civic and faith-based leaders, police reform activists and revolutionary communists  chanted slogans and held signs as diverse as their coalition, some advocating peace and unity; others slamming police and calling for revolution.

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An equal, if not slightly larger number of Mount Greenwood residents and police supporters stood on the sidewalks surrounding the intersection, raising handmade signs and shouting messages of their own.

Both groups traded inflammatory and often expletive-laced barbs, but the racial rhetoric that characterized previous protests was largely nonexistent. A solid wall of police that separated demonstrators and counter-demonstrators prevented the groups from doing anything beyond shouting at each other.

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"It was nothing like what we saw on Sunday or Tuesday of last week, as far as racially charged rhetoric back and forth from both sides," said Ald. Matt O'Shea, whose 19th Ward encompasses Mount Greenwood. "I don't know if I'd call it peaceful, but definitely more contained, and definitely the racial slurs weren't coming from either side."

O'Shea, who helped facilitate a dialogue between both sides at the Mount Greenwood Library following the protest, said he was pleased with the outcome of the event and the subsequent discussion.

"A lot of people have been fearful the last few weeks. A lot of ugly rhetoric back and forth on social media, a lot of anger, frustration," he said. "But I thought today was a good first step."

He said he doesn't expect there to be further protests in the community but does believe more dialogue is necessary and said additional meetings of both sides, like the ones held last week, are already in the works.

"We're not there yet," O'Shea said. "But hopefully, today, the Mount Greenwood community can get back to normal."

Sunday's protest, which attracted more demonstrators but fewer total people than last week's events, played out near where Joshua Beal, a 25-year-old Indianapolis man, was fatally shot by off-duty police officers during a Nov. 5 altercation in which authorities say he brandished a gun.

The protests that followed Beal's shooting touched off tense clashes with residents of Mount Greenwood, a predominantly white enclave in the city's Far Southwest Side that many police officers and firefighters call home.

The racial invective launched at black protesters during their initial demonstration catalyzed additional protests, including Sunday's, and earned stiff rebukes from a number of civic and religious leaders, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who urged counter-demonstrators to express themselves, "in a way that respects our differences rather than drives a wedge between us."

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Over the past week, peace-minded community members and city officials have made multiple attempts to bridge the racial divide, organizing prayer vigils and brokering meetings between black activists and residents.

Both sides emerged from the most recent powwow, held Wednesday night at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, promising that Sunday's demonstration would remain peaceful and culminate in a solidarity dinner.

"We're going to march. We're going to have dinner. We're going to get to know each other, and hatred is going to lose," Jedidiah Brown, an activist who was instrumental in convening Wednesday's meeting, said in a video he posted to Facebook afterward.

Brown continued to sing a conciliatory tune Sunday, telling a group of about 125 people assembled in the Mount Greenwood Library after the protest that both sides needed to come together and listen to one another.

"We are letting our differences stop us from seeing the fact that we want the same damn thing," he said, adding that no one should leave Sunday's demonstration without speaking with, "someone who don't look like you, who did not come here for the same reason."

About 6 miles east of where Brown and other demonstrators convened Sunday, outside the Pullman Porter Museum, Beal's family gathered with about 40 supporters and Black Lives Matter activists for an afternoon vigil marked by prayers, tears and vows to pursue justice.

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The vigil for Beal was deliberately staged away from the Mount Greenwood protests, Black Lives Matter activist Kofi Ademola said, because, "We want to be in a space where the family can feel secure and not deal with aggression and further demonization of their loved one."

"It has torn our hearts out that there is so much anger in the city," Beal's aunt Sheila Washington, 60, said of the racial rhetoric that her nephew's killing had engendered.

Washington, a registered nurse who spent her career caring for cardiac patients in hospitals across the city, said she was appalled by the racist comments her family had faced in the wake of Beal's death.

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"When I took care of white people, or black people, or Asian people, I didn't see color," she said. "I was born and raised in Chicago, but since this happened, there is nothing beautiful about this city."

The peace-focused group that met following Sunday's demonstration in Mount Greenwood hopes future dialogue between members on both sides of the racial divide can serve to eliminate such negative sentiments by breaking down barriers and clarifying misconceptions that exist between the groups.

"We've gotta get from Joshua Beal to Mount Greenwood Strong to Chicago Strong," Brown said.

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The groups will reconvene and resume efforts to find common ground following a cool down period over the Thanksgiving holiday, O'Shea said.

The Chicago Tribune's David Jackson contributed.

zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter @Zak Koeske
Officers guard the crime scene of a shooting near Paulina and Moorman streets. (Elvia Malagon / Chicago Tribune)

A man shot to death early Sunday in Wicker Park has been identified, officials said.

Matthew Rodgers, 24, was pronounced dead at 3:48 a.m. Sunday at Stroger Hospital after being shot in the 1300 block of North Moorman Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Officials did not yet have confirmed home address information for Rodgers,

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Rodgers was shot several times in a drive-by shooting, police said Sunday. About 3 a.m., the shooter was inside a red Nissan Pathfinder and fired at the victim, who was traveling north in the 1300 block of North Moorman Street.

The 24-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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Officers early Sunday guarded the small side street near the intersection of Paulina Street and Milwaukee Avenue, which is lined with newly constructed modern houses.

Rodgers was one of at least nine people killed and 19 wounded in shootings in Chicago over the weekend.
Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock appears March 6, 2019 after his scheduled hearing at the U.S. Dirksen Courthouse in Chicago. Federal prosecutors have agreed to drop all charges against him if he pays back money he owes to the Internal Revenue Service and his campaign fund. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The indictment of a 35-year-old disgraced former Republican congressman jolted residents of his central Illinois district, shaken by prosecutors' claims that Aaron Schock illegally dipped into campaign and government coffers to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, including his Capitol Hill office done up in the style of "Downton Abbey."

Perhaps more stunning was an allegation found on page 34 of the charging document: Schock's apparent willingness to pocket thousands of constituents' dollars by arranging annual Washington tours combined with meet-and-greets.

"I know that some people feel very hurt, angered and betrayed," said Quincy insurance agent Jack Freiburg, who attended such an event in 2014.

State political observers say the alleged scheme stands out  even with Illinois' long-established reputation for corruption, including a former governor's attempt to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. House rules require excess fees from such visits be returned to constituents or donated to charity, according to the indictment.

"That's a new one on me," said David Melton of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "I have never heard of anything quite that audacious."

The three-day extravaganza attended by Freiburg and about 50 others in July 2014 included bus rides to the National Zoo and a reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence. Freiburg paid a $785 "Fly-in Conference Fee" to Schock's office  meant to cover meals, transportation and other hosting costs  on top of $2,000 to $3,000 for a plane ticket, hotel room and other expenses.

Schock, the once-rising GOP star and prodigious party fundraiser, secretly kept at least $11,000 from that event, the indictment said.

Freiburg recalled that many on the trip were well-off, but others weren't, including several recent college graduates. "Some sacrificed financially to go," the 63-year-old said.

Prosecutors say in 2011, Schock set up a Florida bank account under the name of a factious company, "Global Travel International," and instructed staff to deposit that year's fly-fee money into it. He allegedly kept at least $4,482 from the 2011 fly-in, which happened in the same month he appeared on the cover of Men's Health, his shirt unbuttoned to show off his six-pack abs. Landing the magazine cover  with the blurb "Rep. Aaron Schock is willing to give you the shirt off his back"  drew mockery on late-night TV but boosted Schock's profile nationally.

Schock, who resigned last year as scrutiny of his spending intensified, issued a statement Nov. 10 responding to the charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds and other things, saying that "we might have made errors" but that "no one intended to break any law."

A spokesman for Schock and his legal team, Mark Hubbard, said Sunday "that funds received for the events were used for that purpose," adding that the fly-ins were always widely praised by participants. He said Schock's understanding was that "small amounts" of funds that were left over "could be used for future events."

"There was no intent in this case of criminal conduct," Hubbard said.

Freiburg remembers how quickly and easily Schock made it on the political stage. His first victory was at age 19 for a seat on the Peoria School Board, and he became the youngest member of Congress after winning in 2008 at age 27. "He was so very charismatic  such a bright, shining star," Freiburg said.

Schock successfully marketed himself during six years in Congress as an unwavering fiscal conservative. A 2012 campaign flier claimed his frugality started as a farm kid, saying he saved up $4,000 and invested it in his own IRA when he was 14. But the indictment paints a picture of him treating his elected office as a kind of ATM.

He allegedly spent $40,000 in government funds to redecorate his office, including $5,000 on a chandelier, and used $8,000 in campaign cash to take a private plane from Peoria to Washington because he feared missing a connecting flight to Europe. The indictment also says he bought four Super Bowl tickets in January 2014 for $10,025 with campaign funds and resold them at a $1,975 profit.

A 2011 Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce news release says at least half a dozen members attended Schock's fly-in that year. Messages left for several of them seeking comment weren't returned. One man who went, Bill Fleming, said he didn't detect much dwelling on Schock these days  even after the indictment: "Everyone has moved on."

Freiburg says he's more disappointed than anything, and suspects early fame went Schock's head. A conviction on just one fraud count carries a maximum 20 years behind bars.

"I think he really is a Icarus figure who crashed  he was flying too high and got too close to the sun," he said.

Associated Press
Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.

Topspin

The name of the group is LOL Illinois, but organizers say the state's sorry financial state is no laughing matter.

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Created by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, LOL Illinois is a new campaign designed to build public pressure on lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner to reach a deal to end the state's historic budget impasse. It features billboards and ads in train stations directing people to LOLIllinois.com, where visitors can send letters to their lawmakers and share stories about how they've been impacted by the stalemate.

Ty Fahner, president of the Civic Committee, said the effort isn't designed to assign blame to the Republican governor or Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan. Rather, the idea is to fan public outrage in the hope both sides will move past the political talking points at the heart of the standoff.

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"The whole thing is designed to make it sufficiently uncomfortable for people in elected to office at all levels who are failing to do their job," said Fahner, a Republican and former Illinois attorney general.

Fahner said Republicans and Democrats alike share responsibility for the state's money problems, and as such must move past differences to find a solution.

That's proving to be easier said than done. Rauner and Democrats resumed budget negotiations last week, but both sides remain entrenched. Rauner says he won't sign off on another stopgap spending plan unless Democrats sign off on portions of his economic agenda, while Democrats contend his ideas will hurt working families and have nothing to do with the budget-making process.

Meanwhile, the state is projected to hit a record $13.5 billion in unpaid bills if a deal isn't reached by July. (Monique Garcia)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel's public schedule was not available.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner's public schedule was not available.

*A short Thanksgiving week at City Hall and the Capitol. Which means things could be slow, but also beware the long holiday weekend news dumps.

What we're writing

*Emanuel's Cupich delegation to Rome filled with campaign donors.

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*Todd Ricketts meets with Donald Trump.

*Politically connected mayor of Chinatown Hu gets one-year sentence.

*Anxiety over Trump election galvanizes immigration advocacy in Chicago.

*Long-running parade of NW Indiana corruption charges continues.

What we're reading

*Cupich's influence grows with promotion to cardinal.

*Obama reckons with a Trump presidency (in the New Yorker).

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*5-8-8, pri-vate equity, Empire?

*Quite the musical coup for Trump inaugural ... if it were 1987.

From the notebook

*The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, Chicago Tribune political writer Rick Pearson's guests were Rebecca Shi, executive director of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition; Democratic political consultant Tom Bowen; and former Republican state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN 720-AM. Listen to the full show here.

Follow the money

*The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform looks at how votes have shifted in the state since 2008.

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*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Trump turns Cabinet selection process into spectacle.

*Obama declines to rule out launching political attacks on Trump.

*Melania Trump and son Barron to initially remain in New York after inauguration.

*Trump University lawsuits settled for $25 million.
BILLINGS, Mont.  U.S. officials plan to block new mining claims outside Yellowstone National Park as the Obama administration races in its last days to keep industry out of pristine and environmentally sensitive areas.



Mining claims on 30,000 acres north of the nation's first national park would be prohibited for at least two years while a long-term ban is considered.



Details were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of Monday's formal announcement by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.



Interior officials last week blocked new oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean and cancelled 25 oil and gas leases in western Colorado and 15 in northwestern Montana.



Republicans and industry representatives have criticized the administration's eleventh-hour actions to limit development and promised to seek their reversal once Obama leaves office.



The latest move comes after a pair of gold exploration proposals north of Yellowstone drew strong opposition from local business owners, environmentalists and Montana elected officials.



The opponents argue that mining would industrialize wild areas populated by grizzly bears, bighorn sheep and other wildlife; harm streams that drain into the Yellowstone River; and dampen tourism, which is a mainstay of the region's economy.



The two-year prohibition would not explicitly block the two pending mining proposals, both of which involve private lands. However, officials said it could make large-scale mining more difficult if the projects were expanded onto public lands.



Recreation and other activities still would be allowed in the area.



"There are good places to mine for gold, but the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park is not one of them," Jewell said in prepared remarks.



Jewell was scheduled to be joined by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Agriculture Undersecretary Robert Bonnie for Monday's announcement in Pray, Montana.



A Canadian company, Lucky Minerals, has applied to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to explore for gold and other minerals north of Yellowstone near Emigrant, Montana. A second company, Spokane, Washington-based Crevice Mining Group, is seeking permission to explore for gold near Jardine, just over Yellowstone's northern boundary.



Both exploration sites have a history of mining. However, in recent decades they've become more closely associated with the natural amenities of Yellowstone and the surrounding Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.



Lucky Mineral's Shaun Dykes said the Interior Department appeared to be bowing to the wishes of environmentalists at the expense of economic development that could benefit the local economy. Michael Werner, a mining engineer with Crevice Mining Group, said he wouldn't know how the agency's action would impact the company's exploration plans until more details were revealed.



At the urging of business owners and sporting groups in Montana's Paradise Valley, Tester last month called on the administration to start the process of withdrawing 31,500 acres from mining by the end of the year.



Associated Press
Police investigate a scene after a St. Louis police officer was shot in what the police chief called an "ambush" on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in St. Louis. Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway. (David Carson / AP)

ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot Sunday night in what the police chief called an "ambush."

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot twice in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway.

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"Fortunately for the blessing of God the officer's going to survive," Dotson said during a brief news conference after the shooting. He declined to name the officer but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

The officer was not involved in a call or a traffic stop but was sitting in traffic about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when another car pulled up alongside his marked police vehicle. The officer told police he heard at least two shots.

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"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Dotson said.

Mayor Francis Slay said the officer did nothing to provoke an attack.

"He didn't deserve this," Slay said. "It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK. But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job."

Police were looking for a silver car, which was all the description the wounded officer could recall. Helicopters, SWAT teams and scores of officers searched the south St. Louis neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Police were also looking for any surveillance video that may have captured the shooting.

The attack in St. Louis came on the same day three other officers were shot, one of whom was killed.

A San Antonio detective was fatally shot in his squad car while writing a traffic ticket by someone who pulled up from behind. Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was a 20-year veteran of the San Antonio department.

An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot late Sunday, along with a suspect. Also, a Sanibel, Florida, officer was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop Sunday night, and was treated and released for his injuries.

In July, a gunman in Dallas killed five officers who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days later, a man killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

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In the St. Louis area, Ballwin, Missouri, officer Mike Flamion was paralyzed from the neck down after being shot during a traffic stop in July. And St. Louis County officer Blake Snyder was fatally shot while responding to a disturbance call in October.

"This just shows the dangers of policing, not only here in St. Louis but around the country," Dotson said.

Associated Press
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. attorney general, speaks to reporters at Trump Tower on Thursday. As a sitting senator, Sessions may have a leg up on his confirmation. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

Reporting from Washington  President-elect Donald Trump won election by torching every rule in the political book, calling government officials "very, very stupid" and promising to hire the best people to fulfill "every dream you've ever dreamed."

Now, as Trump assembles his governing team, he and the Republican-controlled Senate are facing their first test of what that means, and whether the old confirmation rules  where those serving the president are subject to intense scrutiny over past comments, deeds and potential conflicts of interest  still apply.

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Republican senators already have begun to debate how much leeway to give Trump, and which, if any, battles to fight with a leader who ran against both Washington and the Republican Party that many of them continue to revere.

The GOP will hold a narrow majority in the Senate when Trump takes office in January. Nominees no longer need 60 votes to win approval, except to the Supreme Court, thanks to rule changes Democrats made in 2013 to make confirmations easier.

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Even though Trump's nominees can win confirmation without Democrats, they can only afford two Republican defections to secure victory if Democrats are united. That places extraordinary power  and pressure  on Republicans who choose to dissent from Trump, should they decide to do so.

The risks are many. Voters who backed Trump, having chosen the ultimate outsider, may want more of the same from the people leading government agencies. And Trump showed during the election that crossing him invites retribution that could exact a large political price among Republican voters.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), selected Friday as attorney general, was rejected by the Senate for a federal judgeship in 1986 over accusations of racism and is the Senate's leading immigration hard-liner. As a sitting senator, however, he likely has a leg up in winning confirmation from his colleagues, but that is not a sure thing.

Two of Trump's leading candidates for secretary of State, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former U.N. ambassador John Bolton, could also face opposition. Kentucky Rep. Sen. Rand Paul, an early GOP opponent of Trump's, took a public step last week in declaring opposition to both men because they supported the war in Iraq.

Giuliani, one of Trump's closest advisors, also faces scrutiny for his work on behalf of foreign governments and an Iranian opposition group that was officially designated as a terrorist organization at the time Giuliani represented them.

Most Republicans have yet to weigh in on Trump's future picks, particularly as many names remain in the talking stages. Still, they have urged Trump not to defy all convention, pointing to the complexity of leading government agencies.

"They're large. They're bulky. They're complicated," said Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican. "It takes a little bit of time to get up to speed on them."

"I would hope that he's not just trying to pick different people," he said. "He's trying to pick competent people."

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Some Democrats believe Trump will flood the Senate with so many controversial picks that lawmakers will be forced to accept some who would ordinarily provoke a fight.

"They're going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Senate," said Jim Manley, a former Democratic leadership aide.

Manley named several Republicans, including Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, who might join Democrats in opposition to some of Trump's picks. Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, a conservative Republican who was one of Trump's most high-profile critics during the campaign, might also be a target for Democratic alliances.

But Manley did not believe they could count on more than a few battles.

Steven S. Smith, a political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in Congress, agreed.

"I don't think any of those Republican senators are going to make opposition to Trump nominees a habit," he said. "They are going to be very selective."

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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who shares Paul's skepticism of domestic spying programs and other instruments of the war on terror, predicted an alliance between him and Paul could pose a hurdle to some of Trump's plans.

"Registries of Muslims  constitutional values," Wyden said. "What the Senate has historically said is you get beyond partisanship."

But Paul drew an immediate rebuke from one of his colleagues. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, another Republican who waged a short bid for the presidency and was critical of Trump during the campaign, said Paul has little influence in the Senate.

"The fact that Rand Paul doesn't like either one of them helps me reach my decision," Graham said of Giuliani and Bolton.

Trump's selections deserve the benefit of the doubt if they are qualified, Graham said. He pointed to some of President Obama's choices for Supreme Court and key Cabinet posts who earned his vote, despite ideological differences, because they met the qualification test.

So far, Graham said Thursday, there is no one being talked about by Trump whom he could not stomach. Graham even offered unsolicited praise for Jared Kushner, Trump's 35-year-old son-in-law, who would face potential problems with anti-nepotism laws and conflicts of interests should he serve in the White House.

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"If his son-in-law is a valued advisor, I'm all for his son-in-law helping him be a good president," he said.

Trump's selection Friday of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to lead the CIA is an example of a sharply ideological nominee whose credentials are not likely to be questioned. The former Army officer, a Harvard Law School graduate, was one of the most relentless critics of the Obama administration's handling of the 2012 assault on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, an issue that united Republican partisans even as it infuriated Democrats.

Trump may reserve his most controversial choices for slots that do not require Senate confirmation. One of Trump's first selections, Steve Bannon for a lead White House advisory role, has immediately put Democrats on edge and made some Republicans uncomfortable because he has been accused of promoting white nationalism.

Ret. Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, Trump's pick for national security advisor, has made inflammatory comments about Muslims. He also has drawn fire for his role as a paid lobbyist for foreign clients.

Both have been chosen for jobs on which the Senate has no say.

Democrats see Bannon as an ominous sign that Trump will not make efforts to modify the sharp rhetoric and racially charged campaign promises he made before the election.

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Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who lost his bid for the vice presidency with Trump's election, said he did not want to prejudge Trump's other choices. But like many Democrats, he was eager to throw the spotlight on Bannon.

"We should never normalize connections to anti-Semitism or white nationalism," he said. "And so that's something that we're going to continue to make sure that we talk about because that shouldn't be a one-day news story and then, 'Well, OK, that's the new normal.'"

Still, it is unwise to underestimate how senatorial egos can ensure that few, if any nominees emerge from the confirmation process without at least a few blisters. Even administrations with more expertise and preparation than Trump's have faced excruciating battles, and losses, from those in their own party.

Obama wanted former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, but withdrew the nomination, despite holding a big Senate majority, because Daschle had underpaid income taxes. President George W. Bush had to withdraw Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court, despite GOP control of the Senate, in part because senators thought she lacked relevant experience and was too much of a presidential crony.

President Bill Clinton dropped two picks for attorney general after news surfaced that they had employed nannies who came to the country illegally.

And President George H.W. Bush suffered a big defeat his first year when the Senate rejected his nomination of former Sen. John G. Tower of Texas to be secretary of Defense. Bush underestimated the number of senators whom Tower had alienated over the years, and allegations of drunkenness and multiple affairs led to his rejection, 53 to 47.

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Times staff writers David Lauter and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman
Stephen Zarr worked as a security guard at the Art Institute of Chicago after retiring from the museum as a carpenter. (Family photo)

As a carpenter at the Art Institute of Chicago, Stephen Zarr built displays for both temporary and permanent exhibits and figured out ways to showcase and secure priceless works of art on walls.

"He hung Picassos, Rembrandts, Matisses and so many others, but the Chagalls were some of his favorites," said his niece Linda Eton.

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While Zarr worked closely with masterpieces, nothing gave him more pleasure than the art given to him by his family that was displayed at his North Side home. A lifelong bachelor, he encouraged his nephews and nieces  and later their children and cousins  to express their creativity from the time they were young, assuring them all of a coveted space on his walls and shelves if they provided him with their artwork.

"He had literally hundreds of our drawings hanging in his home, and he was always switching them up as more came in," Eton said. "It made me feel proud seeing one of my paintings on his wall. He made us all feel good."

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Zarr, 99, who after retiring as a carpenter returned to the museum as a security guard, died Nov. 9 of complications related to a recent fall, at Norwood Crossing, a senior living facility in Norwood Park where he had lived since 2008, his family said.

"Steve was an artistic, creative person," said another niece, Laura Valdez. "He drew, painted and made ceramics and sculptures. He was a self-taught carpenter, plumber and all-around handyman. Aside from maybe the concrete foundation, he built his unique garage completely himself."

Zarr was born in Livingston, Ill., a small town in coal mining country near St. Louis, the third eldest of eight children. His father was a coal miner.

"He talked about the freedom he had growing up surrounded by rolling hills and forests to explore all day long," Eton said. "His family was poor, so he'd pick berries in the woods. Meals were never enough, and they ate every last scrap of food."

In the 1930s, Zarr worked as a construction worker with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the national parks throughout the West, including Glacier and Grand Tetons national parks. He helped build trails, lodges, cabins and restroom facilities. He was a lifeline for his family, sending half his salary home to his widowed mother after his father died of lung disease.

During World War II, Zarr enlisted in the Army Air Forces and served as an airplane mechanic on military bases in California, supporting troops in the Pacific theater. He rose to the rank of sergeant.

Following his military discharge in 1945, he graduated from Chicago Technical College with a degree in drafting, and later from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a degree in fine arts. After teaching art in Chicago public high schools for several years, he took a job in 1965 as a security guard at the Art Institute of Chicago. Soon after, he was offered a job as a carpenter at the museum.

"He told me how much he enjoyed working with great masterpieces, especially being alone with them and being able to appreciate them away from the public," said Gail Prete, chief financial officer at Norwood Crossing. "He told me that whenever a piece of art had to be moved from one place to another, his job was to figure out how to move it safely. Sometimes he'd use whatever he had on hand, but other times he'd have to build something."

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A favorite uncle and granduncle, Zarr, at 6-foot-3, often seemed larger than life to his young charges, whom he took on outings and cultural field trips around the city.

"When I first read 'Tom Sawyer' growing up, I couldn't help but think the boy Mark Twain described was just an amateur compared to my Uncle Steve," said his grandniece, Katherine Eton. "When he was well into his 80s, he built my brother and me treehouses wherever we'd move to. Age never stopped him from going out of his way to make others smile, because there was nothing that could make him happier.

"The custom wooden dollhouse he built for me inspired my dream to pursue a career in architecture at an early age. Now that I've made it my career, I have him to thank for believing in me and always reminding me that anyone can achieve great things."

Zarr also taught family members how to do arts and crafts, skate, ski and make colorful handmade kites.

"He was always encouraging us to draw as kids and create anything our hearts desired," Linda Eton said. "He hated having to color within the lines. He'd tell us never to use coloring books."

Ten years ago, Zarr's wish for his 90th birthday was simple: spend it with family and have 90 lit candles on a cake.

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"It was a huge cake with so many candles it looked like it was on fire," Linda Eaton said with a laugh. "But the photos turned out great. The heat was so intense his face had a bright red glow."

Zarr had no immediate survivors.

Services were held.

Giangrasse Kates is a freelance reporter.
Protesters against President-elect Donald Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon gather and chant outside the 2016 Zionist Organization of America Annual Dinner, in New York, New York, on Nov. 20, 2016. (Bryan R. Smith, EPA)

Those of us who awoke after the presidential election in a state of disbelief have by now begun to recognize our frightening new political reality  and to act.

Donald Trump's winning platform includes pledges to ban Muslims from entering our country, to forcibly deport millions of people, to remove legal protections from vulnerable minorities and to reinstate the use of torture. The president-elect has threatened massive attacks on human rights and constitutional freedoms. Just last week, he appointed to the highest advisory position in the White House Stephen Bannon, a former publisher of Breitbart News, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls the "media arm" of the white supremacist alt-right movement. Noted anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Frank Gaffney is reportedly serving as an adviser to the transition team. Jeff Sessions, considered too racist to be a federal judge in the 1980s, has been tapped as attorney general.

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This platform is terrifying for many Americans, and not only for those Trump and his supporters have explicitly targeted. Protests and marches have sprung up nationwide. Already, Americans are turning dashed hopes and disbelief into principled action.

Half a century ago, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote, "Let us yield no inch to bigotry, let us make no compromise with callousness." As leaders of Jewish organizations committed to human rights, we believe that if ever there were a moment to commit to making no compromises with callousness, that moment must be now.

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A platform so explicitly bigoted may be unprecedented in modern American politics, but it isn't new to Jews. Many of us are alive today because, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents fled government persecution in Europe and other parts of the world. The United States allowed our families to find refuge here, and we built institutions to strengthen our ability to counter anti-Semitism and to work together toward social justice for all.

Jewish communal organizations have always worked with both Democratic and Republican administrations to make progress on the issues we care about, such as funding social services, supporting Israel and protecting civil liberties.

And we've already seen signs that some members of our community will treat this administration no differently. Several congratulated Trump on his victory; some expressed their faith that he would make good on his victory speech promise to "bind the wounds of division."

For many Jewish organizations, it will be tempting to "move past" the disturbing policy goals and divisive rhetoric we heard during the campaign from Trump and his team and to engage in business as usual with the new administration. But if we take the president-elect at his word  and we must  we can't afford business as usual. Now is the time for principled opposition, not accommodation.

At many points in our history, the Jewish community has fallen into the trap of believing that we can protect ourselves by proximity to power: by being the "Court Jew" or the shtadlan charged with lobbying the governments of medieval Europe on behalf of Jewish subjects. We thought that these relationships and "special" positions would protect us.

But they don't protect us. Over the past year, we have watched as Trump's campaign trafficked in blatant anti-Semitism alongside racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, ableism and Islamophobia. He has empowered white supremacists and provoked a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.

Trying to conduct business as usual with the Trump administration could prevent us from joining with other threatened groups to protect our neighbors. Jews know that when one minority is vulnerable, we all are vulnerable. If American Muslims will be targeted and those entering the country from elsewhere forced to "register," if immigrants will be torn from their families and their homes, if women are assaulted as access to justice disintegrates, policies that attack Jews could be next. Jewish history and values demand that we step up and act in opposition.

Protesters against President-elect Donald Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon gather and chant outside the 2016 Zionist Organization of America Annual Dinner, in New York, New York, on Nov. 20, 2016. (Bryan R. Smith, EPA)

Even if Jews were not personally threatened as Jews, it would still be imperative for us to call upon all of the communal strength we have and all of the institutions we have fought to create to oppose threats to other people. This is an obligation that comes from our tradition. In the Torah, one of God's first commands to the Jewish people after our liberation from slavery is to protect those who are most vulnerable, as we, too, know the experience of being strangers.

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Our history has taught us that autocracy does not arrive all at once, but through the slow erosion of individual liberties and the pitting of one group against another. We cannot look away or hope for the best when politicians promise to assault our civil liberties and threaten human rights.

Nor can we excuse winks and dog-whistling at white supremacist and anti-Semitic groups that understand this election as a mandate to carry out attacks on members of minorities or on our institutions. If we ignore these signs, we risk waking up to an America that is no longer recognizable.

As a first step, we must not take a "wait-and-see" approach. Benefit of the doubt must be earned, and this incoming administration hasn't done so. We should meet each and every step toward authoritarianism with strong opposition, as many of us have done in calling on the president-elect to reverse his decision to appoint Bannon.

But condemnation alone isn't enough. In the coming years, we must build a strong and effective opposition to protect people who are likely to be targeted under new racist, anti-woman, anti-immigrant policies. We should support brave political leaders, such as the mayors of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities for affirming that their communities will remain places of sanctuary. And as Jews, we must marshal the full resources of our community, including the institutions built over more than 100 years, to protect the rights of all minorities - ourselves, yes, but not only us.

In the words of Rabbi Heschel, this is a moment for "moral grandeur and spiritual audacity." We cannot sell out our values in the name of one-off successes. It's time for American Jewish leaders to say no to business as usual.

Washington Post

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Rabbi Jacobs is executive director of T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and author of Where Justice Dwells: A Hands-On Guide to Doing Social Justice in Your Jewish Community. Follow @rabbijilljacobs. Sokatch is the executive director of the New Israel Fund, which promotes democracy and equality for all Israelis.
President-elect Donald Trump is shown with his son Barron and wife Melania at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on Nov. 8, 2016. Donald Trump's wife Melania and young son Barron will probably stay in New York when the president-elect moves into the White House. (Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images)

A president-elect who handles his transition from his hometown, not Washington. A big city and its residents cursed with traffic snarls and security measures that get in the way of normal life. An incoming first lady who entertains waiting until the end of the school year to move the rest of the family to the White House.

Donald Trump, 2016? Yes. But also Barack Obama, 2008. It may be hard to believe now, but Obama had an adjustment to make when the Oval Office beckoned. In figuring his next moves, Trump could take a page from his predecessor.

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Trump lives and works in the 58-story Trump Tower, which is in midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue, one of the busiest commercial arteries in America. Since Election Day, the building has been the focus of security efforts that have caused inconveniences for many locals.

Part of 56th Street has been closed to traffic. Two Fifth Avenue lanes are no longer in use. Trump Tower houses Gucci and Nike stores, which shoppers can get to only through the security cordon. Restaurateur David Chang tweeted, "All the NYPD & Secret Service checkpoints killing restaurant foot traffic on 56th St." In New York Magazine, Justin Davidson said the area has become "the urban equivalent of the security line at JFK."

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A no-fly zone was imposed on the airspace above. In a borough that gave 86 percent of its votes to Hillary Clinton, Trump Tower also has been an irresistible lure for protesters, who create additional tangles.

Presidents normally live full time in Washington, with occasional weekends at nearby Camp David. But after the election, The New York Times reported, Trump told aides "he would like to do what he is used to, which is spending time in New York when he can." Coming from someone who preferred to fly back from campaign events every night, this raised fears of permanent disruption. Melania Trump had indicated she had no firm plans to move herself and their 10-year-old son to Washington.

If New Yorkers find this change aggravating, one former New York police detective told CBC Radio of Canada they "haven't even begun to be inconvenienced yet."

On Sunday, the president-elect allayed some fears by saying he plans to live in the White House, though anyone familiar with his unpredictable ways will take that statement with a grain of salt. But his wife and son, he said, will stay put until Barron finishes fourth grade. Given modern realities, that means the security misery in Midtown will go on for many months.

Our advice to the Trumps is to move, sooner rather than later, and avoid returning home often. That approach would greatly ease the trouble in Manhattan, simplify the task of protecting the family, minimize costs for the federal government and New York City, and reassure the public that Trump will give the presidency his full attention.

Every problem associated with protecting the Trumps is multiplied as long as they are occupying two residences. Every trip any of them makes from the capital to New York inflicts unnecessary inconvenience on large numbers of people in Manhattan, not to mention Washington.

Maybe the president-elect will give high priority to the interests of taxpayers, not to mention family togetherness. Obama actually moved his family into a Washington hotel before his inauguration so his daughters could get started in their new school.

Maybe Trump will learn that the trip is seldom worth the trouble. The Obamas envisioned returning to their Kenwood home "as often as every six to eight weeks," the Tribune reported in December 2008. In practice, they've rarely made it to Chicago, much less the house.

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Bill Clinton once described the White House as "the crown jewel of the federal penal system." The feeling of imprisonment is mostly a function of the job. The executive mansion is also a place where the president can enjoy security, comfort, privacy, easy access to the people working for (or against) him and a bit more distance from chanting demonstrators.

For a family used to 30,000 square feet of gilded luxury, even the White House may be a step down. But for the next four years, at least, the Trumps ought to be able to rough it.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
After years of being outraged at conservative outrage over the predominantly non-outrageous actions of President Barack Obama, I am now outraged by the outrage of liberals over the less outrageous actions of President-elect Donald Trump because those particular outrages cause us to gloss over the outrageous things he's doing that are actually outrageous.

Make sense?

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Let me put it a different way:

Throughout Obama's two terms, everything the president did was met with hysterical outrage by Republicans.

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He went golfing? OUTRAGEOUS!

He invited a rapper to the White House? IT'S AN OUTRAGE!

There were things the president did that were truly outrageous from a conservative perspective  taking executive action on immigration, making religious colleges and hospitals provide contraceptive coverage under Obamacare  but those outrages were lost in the incessant bellowing over everything else.

It was akin to the boy who cried wolf, except no wolf ever came along to devour the boy, which is a shame, because it would've put a stop to all the cries of outrage.

And how did liberals respond? By being outraged at eight years of outrage.

Now, from the moment Americans learned that Trump was elected, all of the outrage has flipped.

Trump kept many of us, myself included, in a perpetual state of outrage for the past year, and he has continued to do what he does best: Be outrageous.

Had any other president-elect in history tweeted a description of his cabinet-selection process and added, "I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!", it would have been outrageous. But when Trump tweeted that last week, it was just Trump. It was mere bluster, and any outrage over such a "look at my presidential reality show" comment was wasted.

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Of course Trump's supporters get outraged every time they see a liberal expressing outrage over a Trump tweet. And thus the outrage cycle chugs along, whether on Twitter or cable news networks or radio or at the coffee shop or wherever.

And that's outrageous for two reasons:

1) Liberals are already doing with Trump EXACTLY what conservatives did with Obama  existing in a state of perpetual outrage.

2) An overabundance of outrage lessens the impact of outrage over things that are truly outrageous.

At the end of last week, Trump settled the Trump University fraud cases for $25 million. A president-elect issuing a massive payout over what looked for all the world like a scam targeting struggling Americans is legitimately outrageous.

Trump also announced that Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions  a fiercely anti-immigration ideologue who scares the bejesus out of civil rights activists  was his pick to be the next attorney general. Sessions was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 by the Senate due to past racially insensitive comments. Immigrants, minorities and liberals in general certainly have cause for outrage over that decision.

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But on Friday night, Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended the Broadway play "Hamilton" and was lustily booed by the audience and politely addressed by a cast member who said, "we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us."

Soon Trump took to Twitter and expressed his outrage, demanding that the cast of the show apologize.

The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

There was outrage over Trump's outrage. And outrage over the crowd's booing. And outrage that some would be outraged by people expressing their unhappiness with an elected official.

The nation was filthy with outrage.

Then Saturday Night Live had actor Alec Baldwin on again imitating Trump, and the real Trump tweet-sponded with great umbrage. The president-elect was outraged at such mockery! And his detractors were outraged by a soon-to-be-president expressing outrage over satire. And his fans were outraged by his detractors' outrage over his outrage.

And you know what was buried under that avalanche of outrage? THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE OUTRAGED ABOUT!!

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I don't care if Pence was booed at a play, and I don't care if that outraged Trump supporters. I don't care if Trump opponents were outraged because they believe, if the election results were different, Trump supporters would've booed Hillary Clinton's vice president just as much.

I don't care if Trump is outraged about Saturday Night Live and I don't care if liberals are outraged by that outrage because they think it's an outrageous attempt to silence dissent.

Those are odd and perhaps mildly disturbing moments, but they aren't cause for outrage. And the unmerited outrage they caused led people to stop Googling "Trump University" and start Googling "Pence and Hamilton." The choice of Sessions as attorney general took a back seat to Trump's dislike of a comedy show.

And now a new week starts and we'll move on to new outrages, pushing the old outrages  the justified and the unjustified  out of the public consciousness.

That's a big mistake. If everything Trump does is met with outrage, outrageous acts of consequence will be obscured by outrage over acts of no consequence.

And that, I dare say, would be an outrage.

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rhuppke@chicagotribune.com
From left, Seth Gierhart of Rock Falls, Kevin Shoemaker of Aurora and Shawna Johnson of DeKalb show the turkey bowling setup used Saturday at Mike and Denises Pizzeria Bar & Grill in Aurora. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News)

If you've ever considered knocking down pins using a turkey breast for a bowling ball, Kevin Shoemaker of Aurora has some advice.

"Throw the biggest frozen bird you can find and make it slide," he said.

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Bowling with a piece of frozen fowl may be a bit unorthodox, but that was only part of the fun Saturday as the Aurora Community in Schools group held its annual fundraiser for the Coats for Kids initiative, which helps thousands of children in need of warm winter clothing.

The fundraiser was held at Mike and Denise's Pizzeria Bar & Grill in Aurora. For $25, visitors could buy a Gobbler Buck Booklet which included food at the buffet for one adult as well as $20 worth of Gobbler Bucks that could be used for raffles held every hour as well as the turkey bowling.

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"This obviously isn't a regular bowling lane, but we do have bowling with real pins set up on the concrete floor and kids really have a lot of fun trying to bowl with the frozen turkey breasts," said Theresa Shoemaker, executive director of Community in Schools. "We've had this event for about six years now, and we usually have a goal of raising about $20,000 for the coat drive."

Shoemaker said that since the coat initiative began, organizers have changed the timing of ordering and delivering coats in order to better serve the needs of the community.

"When this first started, we raised money for the coats and by the time they were ordered and delivered, it was January and we'd already had two months of cold weather by then," Shoemaker said. "We changed things so that now, the Kiwanis Club of Aurora fronts us the money and we order the coats in the spring. We actually delivered 1,700 of them to area schools last month on Oct. 27."

Saturday's event was expected to draw a crowd of about 200 who in addition to turkey bowling and lunch were allowed to participate in raffles that included frozen turkeys as prizes as well as gift cards and cash.

James Perkins of Montgomery and his wife Donna were among the first to arrive and said they were each aware of the needs in the community thanks to working in the East Aurora School District.

"The Community in Schools works with our schools and because we know there are a lot of homeless kids in elementary, middle, and even the high schools  we know there is a need," James Perkins said.

"We know some of these kids and we see that this organization makes a huge difference," Donna Perkins added.

Kristen Glisson of Aurora and her friend Charles White of Springfield said they just happened to stop in the pizza restaurant for lunch and decided they'd like to support the cause.

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"I've been checking out the raffle prizes, and I think this looks great," Glisson said.

"To me, this looks like something similar to what the United Way does in my area and it works very well there," White added.

Aurora's Bill O'Donnell said he has attended the turkey bowl for the past five years and works with the local Kiwanis Club. He said he has learned some things about bowling over the years.

"To me, the coat drive is a great cause because it's something very basic that kids need," O'Donnell said just after trying his luck with the turkey bowl. "This bowling is something that requires some skill, but mostly a lot of luck. My advice to people is not to throw too hard."

Shoemaker said a special deal with a manufacturer allows the Community in Schools group to purchase coats for preschool through high school age kids for just $10 apiece. A total of 2,000 were purchased this year and those in need may contact Theresa Shoemaker at 331-301-5198 or email her at tshoemaker@cisaurora.org.

Davis Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Members of the Boys II Men group listen during a discussion at the Eola Community Center in Aurora Sunday evening. (Mike Mantucca / The Beacon-News)

With the rhetoric of a raucous presidential campaign fresh on their minds, members of the Boys II Men group gathered at the Eola Community Center Sunday night in Aurora to have a post-election talk.

"I'm not going to let anyone get in my way of becoming someone," Gerardo Franco said.

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The Aurora-based group of young men is an organization that originally began in 2002 as an anti-gang initiative.

Boys II Men has since evolved into a "brotherhood" of young men empowered to "break barriers" and "shatter stereotypes" through their academic and professional pursuits, group officials said.

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Organizers of Sunday's gathering said it was important to continue the dialogue in Aurora about the very issues prompting protests across the country. About 100 youth had attended a public forum in September organized by school officials and the Aurora Police Department to help students deal with conflict associated with the campaigns of President-elect Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The Boys II Men organizers said the post-election concerns of discrimination against blacks, Latinos and Muslims as well as fears of deportation of mothers and fathers are even evident among fourth-graders involved in its junior program.

The majority of Sunday's attendees, from East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School and Waubonsie Valley High School, began the conversation by defining the presidential election results as "shocking" and "disgusting." Others described it as "life-changing," "revealing" and "not surprising."

Franco, 17, said the realization that Trump had been elected president was difficult for his entire family.

"We had a family talk because the majority of us including me were born in Mexico," Franco said. "To have someone say hateful things about my nationality and then become president makes me wonder what will be next. Are we going to have to face the real possibility that a lot of us might get deported? I thank my mom for bringing me to the United States so that I could get a better education.

"To think now that I might lose this opportunity is shocking," the East Aurora High School student said.

East Aurora junior Diego Terrazas said he feels empowered by the idea that Aurora is "linked" together by a diverse population.

"In every class the conversation has been different. In English class, it made me realize that we are a big city blended together from difficult cultures. Our teacher told us that she doesn't believe in the hatred," Terrazas said.

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"Something that encouraged me in Spanish class was hearing that we need to keep working so that when we do get out of school we will be strong, independent people and our voices can be heard," Terrazas said.

Trump's victory has stirred up strong emotions, participants said.

"I hope that Trump will be wrong on something and there will be something that we can all agree on so that we can end his conversation," said Joaquin Miranda, East Aurora High School NJROTC cadet captain.

The members gathered Sunday night were assured they do have a "voice" in the national issues. Guest speakers were Aurora criminal defense attorney Richard Irvin, an Aurora alderman who is running for mayor in the spring election, and the Rev. Marland Brazier, youth pastor of DuPage AME Church in Lisle.

Irvin told the youth that the reality is that Trump will be the president for next four years. The alderman encouraged unity among minority groups.

"The U.S. Constitution gives us fundamental inalienable rights as human beings. We've got this thing called due process which means fairness," Irvin said of the fears of deportation.

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Irvin suggested the youth "disregard" the rhetoric of "hate-mongers."

"We are going to come together to stand strong. We make America, not him," Irvin said of President-elect Trump.

Irvin said the same level of hatred that existed prior to the election exists now.

"Nothing has changed. The people that spew hate existed prior to the election just as much as they did after the election," he said.

Brazier said "the number crunchers" that advocated that Hillary Clinton was leading in the polls "had it wrong." He blamed that on the pundits being disengaged with the American electorate. He commented that people that "stayed at home and didn't vote" didn't help the outcome. He encouraged the youth to not lose hope and stay engaged in the political process.

Brazier said he liked what he heard Sunday night.

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"I am encouraged that these young men wanted to talk about the current issues and have a dialogue about where we go from here," Brazier said.

Steven Rojas, 16, who attends East Aurora High School, said "there are a lot of kids upset and fearful their parents might be deported."

Rojas said he tries to speak encouraging words to his peers at school.

"I am worried my friends will come to school feeling scared and sad. School should be a happy place for everyone to go to," he said. "I try to assure them to look for ways to move on and to have this be something that motivates them."

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
A winter farmers market is being planned in Sugar Grove.

The Sugar Grove Public Library announced it will make space available for local Illinois farmers and producers for the Second Saturday Wintermarket January through May. The project is in partnership with the Sugar Grove Farmers Market.

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Farmers and producers are invited to participate with the focus being on food, agriculture, and other local goods, library officials said. Space will be made available for up to 15 vendors, and there is no entry fee.

The library is offering the space free of charge in partnership with the local agriculture community, officials said.

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The Wintermarket will be available Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13. The market will be available to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and vendors may begin setting up at 10 a.m.

Vendors wishing to participate will need to be prepared to set up their table and clean the meeting room space when done.

Interested vendors should contact Library Director Shannon Halikias at shannon@sugargrove.lib.il.us or call the library at 630-466-4686.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, center, takes a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and oppression in America. Media reports indicate Kaepernick did not vote in the national election. (JOHN G. MABANGLO / EPA)

Comment about Kaepernick: Isn't it refreshing that Colin Kaepernick, the guy who wouldn't stand for the national anthem, didn't bother to vote? This guy doesn't like the way the country is run, but he didn't bother to vote.

Flawed candidate: This is about the presidential election. I think the reason why Donald Trump won, and I am a Trump supporter, is because Hillary Clinton was a flawed candidate. The media is shell-shocked, and they deserve to be shell-shocked. The Clintons had to go, and I think the American public told them so. I think Trump will do a good job.

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Acceptance needed: Regarding the protests in Chicago and other cities, the election is over. Donald Trump is our president-elect. We need to accept that along with hoping and praying that it will work out well for us.

Deceptive justification: Medical marijuana is just a ploy to legalize pot for recreational purposes. It's just like when abortion became legal in 1973 with the stipulation that it would only be practiced in cases of rape, incest and a woman's health crisis. Sixty million abortion cases later, the truth is spoken. It is a woman's right to choose.

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Holy days and holidays: Would it be a shock or a welcome surprise if The Beacon-News put in a politically incorrect news story about Christmas? It would blow my mind. They should begin the article by separating holidays from holy days. Christmas is a holy day. It glorifies the birth of Christ over 2,000 years ago. The country honors it by closing shops nationwide, and businesses profit by it.

Roused about rioting: I want to talk about the people who are rioting. When President Obama was elected, I did not riot. This is a democratic country. If the people who elected Obama got their way last time, why can't they let somebody else get their way this time? What's with the rioting? Will they change things? I don't think so. They will just wreck their own neighborhood.

A note about the vote: Hillary Clinton would be the president today if the groups that felt intimidated by a Donald Trump administration had voted. The majority would vote only if they had been paid to do so.

Turned off by Trump: I'm so upset about the presidential election. I don't know how people could be so dumb to vote for a demagogue like Donald Trump. He doesn't know anything and won't do anything. There are so many people, including relatives, I will never speak to again because they pushed for him. The churches said vote for Trump because he will do away with Roe vs. Wade. It doesn't work that way. He won't do anything about it. He will surround himself with people in the Cabinet who don't care about anything but themselves. The animals will especially suffer. Trump's kids kill animals for sport. Trump is wrong for this country. Hillary Clinton was better than this crazy fool.

Refine instead of redo: Donald Trump needs to realize he doesn't need to redo everything that President Obama did. There are some things that can just be refined. Think positive and accept Trump as our president.

Life without Obamacare: The Democrats and President Obama will do all they can in the upcoming months to scare Americans, especially Obamacare enrollees. Do people think that Donald Trump will suddenly make 20 million people go without insurance? He will give people competitive rates and cross state lines. It will be much better. Be patient. It still hurts a lot that he won. Please give him a chance.

Move forward: People of America, we need to stop hating one another because of the election. I did not vote for Donald Trump, but at the end of the day, he will become my president. I will try to be optimistic about what he does. The wrong thing is try to hurt someone because they voted for Trump. If we go that way, we take a giant step backward.

End sanctuary cities: I would like to know why Donald Trump cannot cut sanctuary cities like Chicago. All sanctuary cities should be let go. People need to know they must cross the borders legally.

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Election was rigged: Donald Trump had it right. The election was rigged. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump was declared the president. That sounds rigged to me.

Find common ground: This is about the caller who said people should have gotten off their butts and voted. That caller is right. We should accept who won, and you do have the right to protest but protest peacefully. We're not a Third World country. I will accept Donald Trump as my president. We need to move forward and find common ground. We don't want to destroy our country with all this dissension.

Correction on comment: I would like to correct a caller's comment. Money is not the root of all evil. Love of money is the root of all evil. It brings out greed and crime, but it cannot do anything on its own. Our reaction to money is where the problem lies.

Call for action: Donald Trump won, and protesters are still protesting. Where is our president? It's time for President Obama to act presidential. His silence is deafening.

Motive for migration: We never hear of people who immigrate to America from the Orient or India complain about being disadvantaged minorities. They did not come here for handouts. They came for education and careers. They take pride in being self-sufficient.

Need for change: Hillary Clinton promised to carry on what President Obama did. That's why she lost the election. We might be better off with Donald Trump. Clinton did not see the need for change, but the American voters did.

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Takers and givers: In America, the people who are bent on destroying our system are the takers and not the givers. That is why the Republican Party is hated. The takers want to see the Democrats in power forever. They are the tax-and-spend party. Illinois is a good example.

High hospital costs: I recently had a procedure done in an area hospital. To what we hear about what funerals cost, the hospital charged enough for 40 funerals. Here I sit with a stack of bills and not enough money left for a cremation.

Age difference: I recall what first ladies were like in the past. If a president of that era had a first lady as exotic as Mrs. Trump, they would have been referred to as a dirty old man. They were all younger than 70 years old.

Riled about racism: This presidential race has brought out the worst in a lot of Americans. It has shown that we have a long way to go with race in this country. It's pathetic. Think of Maya Angelou. She wrote that we are alike in more ways than you think. We are all Americans. Why can't we act the part?

Presidential education: Donald Trump knows very little about how the economy works or anything about foreign policy. We must hope that he will be motivated enough, smart enough and open-minded enough to learn before he takes over. Let's hope he tries to do a good job.

Abundance of automobiles in Aurora: I was driving around the east side of Aurora. I'm amazed by the thousands of cars parked bumper to bumper on the streets. There are also six to eight cars parked on the driveways. It makes you wonder how many people live in these houses. I've seen "For sale" signs on the cars, which I thought was illegal in Aurora. Here's an idea. How about reinstating city stickers on cars? Even at $5 apiece, the city would make a fortune.

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Miffed about Madigan: I just have two questions. I noticed how Speaker of the House Michael Madigan once again canceled a meeting with Gov. Rauner. I assume the meeting was about the state budget. Who is paying Madigan to still be here? He has been blocking getting anything done in Illinois for years. My second question is what is an illegal immigrant? There are people who state that they have been here illegally for 20 to 30 years. How does this work? How are you allowed to stay in this country? When can we get Madigan out of Illinois?

Stop separation: I'm calling about how minority students are becoming the majority group. This is because they are teaching Common Core which kids can't pick up as easily as the old-fashioned way. Also, you separate kids into two separate groups. Let them be together. Teach one language. I'm 70 years old. When we had Hispanic students in our class, we taught each other. By separating kids, you are not bringing the country together. Mix the children and teach them together.

Public streets used as parking lot: This is in response to the caller who commented about the Aurora University neighborhood during the 1980s. I realize that back then, no parking deck was desired. After 30 years, things have changed. The university has demolished many homes, purchased an entire block and converted homes into offices. They have blocked out the view at Prairie and Gladstone with the backside of the Schingoethe Center. They are generating more cars than ever day and night. If the survey was taken today, residents would favor a parking deck. It's just plain wrong that public streets are being used as a university parking lot. In 2016, this is what is destroying the value of our property and the enjoyment of our homes.

Venting about protesters: I am in my eighties and have been a loser in many elections, but I didn't try to turn America into a Third World country. These people who are protesting are not all citizens. They don't want to give up their entitlements. Go to Syria and see what happens to protesters. They are executed. I thank the veterans for their dedication to service and our freedom.

Hollywood hypocrites: Barbara Streisand, Cher and other celebrities said they would move to another country if Donald Trump was elected. What are you waiting for? Don't be hypocrites. Pack your bags and leave. You won't be missed.

Trump turnabout: Donald Trump may be changing some of his radical views. Instead of building a wall between the United States and Mexico, he said part of it might be a fence. Regarding Obamacare, instead of repealing it, he might keep some of it. Is he so changeable or becoming more reasonable?

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Say it like it is: I am so sick of this election. They are getting kids to march. I will be so glad when this political correctness is gone. Say it like it is. Come on, America. Stop being such a big baby.

Changing opinion of Obama: I would bet you that President Obama is not looking too bad anymore to our closest ally, Israel.

Silent majority speaks up: The thing that worked against the Democratic Party during this election was pandering to the special interest groups. They never considered the silent majority. They got the rug pulled out from under them. The big joke is their biggest supporters are mostly self-centered nonvoters.

Editor's note

Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line.
Eugene A. Garza, left, and Edward Lopez have been accused of drinking and driving. (Riverside Police Department photos)

Riverside police in recent days arrested two men who the police say admitted they were drinking while driving.

One of the drivers allegedly was doing shots of Irish whiskey and the other was allegedly drinking beer and had an ice chest full of the beverage in his car, police said in a news release.

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The two were arrested as the western suburb's police force stepped up enforcement of traffic laws in anticipation of the upcoming holiday.

Edward Lopez, 25, of the 2600 block of Grove Avenue in Berwyn, was charged with felony aggravated drunken driving, driving while license suspended, speeding, driving with open alcohol and several other traffic violations, police said.

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Lopez also was wanted on a warrant issued by the North Riverside Police Department for allegedly driving while his license was suspended after a prior DUI conviction, police said.

Lopez was stopped about 3 a.m. Friday after police witnessed his car allegedly weaving on Harlem Avenue and going 54 mph in a 35-mph zone.

Lopez, who told police his license was suspended because of a DUI arrest, failed sobriety tests. Police found a half-empty bottle of Jameson Irish whiskey in his car, and, according to the news release, Lopez said "he had been drinking shots earlier in the evening and continued to drink them while driving," according to the news release.

Eugene A. Garza, 33, of the 1900 block of West 34th Place in Chicago, was charged with DUI, speeding, transportation of open alcohol, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia after he was arrested early Saturday, police said.

Garza was stopped about 2:15 a.m. after police clocked him going 50 mph in a 30 mph zone on Ogden Avenue while he was allegedly weaving and crossing a double-yellow line.

Garza allegedly told police he had been drinking at a Berwyn bar all night and had stopped on the way home to buy more beer, which admitted drinking while driving. In his car, police found open cans of beer and an ice chest full of beer, according to the news release.

At the police station, Garza's blood-alcohol level was registered at .19, almost 2 1/2 times the legal intoxication level, police said. While searching Garza's car further, police recovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia for smoking marijuana, police said.

"We have just begun the week of Thanksgiving and already have removed impaired drivers from the roadways," Riverside police Chief Thomas Weitzel said in the news release. "In both of these arrests, the drivers stated that they were out early celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family but decided to drive home intoxicated. Not only did they get into their vehicles intoxicated but continued to drink while driving home. . . . It is time for this sociably acceptable pattern of behavior of drinking and driving to stop."
Carlos Barbarena's exhibit Promised Land will run to Dec. 5 in the Saint Xavier University Art Gallery on the Chicago campus. (Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University)

Saint Xavier University's Art Gallery is closing out its first semester with "Promised Land," an exhibition of printmaker Carlos Barberena's work that expresses themes of social justice and ecological issues.

About 35 prints from Barberena's woodcuts and linoleum cuts are on display through Dec. 5 in the SXU Art Gallery, 3700 W. 103rd Street, Chicago.

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Cathie Ruggie Saunders, a professor and gallery director at Saint Xavier, said she found Barberena's work on his website several years ago, and had been hoping to bring him to the gallery.

She said his work provides a good example of "how art should come from one's strong beliefs or passion."

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Saunders arranged the pieces, which are printed on cotton or a variety of handmade papers, by three basic themes.

Some, she said, are "art historical," referencing previous works of art by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and others. One piece in the exhibit is "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," inspired by Albrecht Durer's 1498 woodcut.

Barberena's is similarly detailed, but laced with corporate images and symbols of toxic pollution.

Others include modern objects such as gym shoes, plastic water bottles and familiar logos.

The other two themes, Saunders said, are depictions of mothers and children and a grouping of works that comment on current corporations and their impact on culture and the environment.

"The political satire can be a very strong visual engagement for our students," Saunders said.

"'Promised Land' is a provocative collection of linocuts and woodcuts that confront social and ecological injustices triggered by the rampant voracity and fraudulent schemes of governments and corporations," Barberena said in a statement.

"With this series I am trying to challenge the status quo in this 'fast food society' making satirical relief prints that emphasize both concept and craft."

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The Nicaraguan-born Barberena is a founding member of the Chicago-based printmaking project LaCalaca and has exhibited in Costa Rica, Estonia, France, Mexico, Nicaragua and Spain.

He has been recognized for his work, including the National Printmaking Award in 2013 by the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture. He is currently a visiting artist at Bennington College in Vermont, Saunders said.

Earlier this month, Barberena returned to Chicago for a reception at the gallery, during which he lectured, answered questions and mingled, offering art students the chance to talk directly with the artist.

"Students need to be exposed to the voices behind the visual," Saunders said. "It helps them find their own voice as well."

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Saunders said the second semester installations at the SXU Gallery will include wood sculpture, wall ceramic pieces and students' senior thesis work.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

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Admission is free. More information is available at www.sxu.edu.

Paige Fumo Fox is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

When: Through Dec. 5

Where: SXU Art Gallery, 3700 W. 103rd Street, Chicago

Information: www.sxu.edu
For drivers who've been avoiding LaGrange Road during the more than three years while it's been under construction through suburbs, including Orland Park and Tinley Park, the worst of the mess is drawing to a close.

Most of the major construction will be wrapping up in the next few days, with some work  including additional landscaping, pouring sidewalks and installation of new traffic signals to replace temporary ones  getting kicked over into early next year.

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Already, all lanes and intersections south of 159th are open, with some additional striping and lane marking being done this coming week, according to Joe La Margo, Orland Park's assistant village manager.

More than three years after a project to widen LaGrange Road began, major construction on the project will soon come to a close. This view is looking north from 153rd Street. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

All lanes and intersections along the entire stretch will be open to traffic by Thursday, and no further lane closures will be permitted until after the first of the year, according to the village.

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The $100 million project is widening the major thoroughfare to three lanes in each direction from 131st to 179th streets. Preliminary work got under way in the spring of 2013  about a year later than originally planned because of complications in obtaining rights-of-way along the route. The relocation of utility lines also took more time than anticipated, further pushing back the expected completion date. Early on, estimates were that construction would be wrapped up by late fall 2015.

While construction was ongoing, efforts were made during the height of the holiday shopping season each year to keep lane closures to a minimum and traffic flowing. Having all lanes open in time for Black Friday shopping is welcome news to major retail outlets along LaGrange.

"As one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, our shoppers will benefit from the added convenience of easier access to Orland Square," Nadia Seniuta, the mall's general manager, said.

Drivers such as Simone Perez said that avoiding LaGrange had been their priority while construction was ongoing. She was headed to Orland Square recently to get Christmas shopping done because she and her family will be out of town for an extended vacation for much of next month.

"It's probably better I'm out here now than then (in December) when LaGrange is really crazy," the Palos Park resident said.

Although it will be several months before all of the landscaping work is finished and in full bloom, there is already evidence of the enhancements that will make LaGrange much more than a run-of-the-mill roadway.

More than three years after a project to widen LaGrange Road began, major construction on the project will soon come to a close. This view is looking north from 147th Street. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

With an opportunity to turn the major north-south thoroughfare into a showpiece, Orland Park is paying millions of dollars for add-ons, such as ornamental street lighting, planter boxes in medians, enhanced pedestrian cross walks, lighted street signs, fencing, multiuse paths and underground sprinklers to irrigate new landscaping along the route.

"It will be nice when it's finished," Perez said. "I hope it was worth the hassles."

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Like Perez, Shelley Griffin has tried to avoid the LaGrange construction zone whenever possible, using popular alternate routes such as 94th Avenue, which parallels LaGrange to the east, or Ravinia Avenue directly to the west of LaGrange.

"Early on those (alternative) were about as bad as LaGrange with all the cars, but it's (traffic) thinned out lately," Griffin, of Tinley Park, said.

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Hitting the stores at Orland Park Place shopping center just south of Orland Square, Helene White, of Orland Park, and friend Tim Evers, of Mokena, said it had been some time since they had been near LaGrange.

"I think it was sometime in the summer," White said. "I couldn't believe how different it looks."

With the rebuilding of the intersections of LaGrange at 159th and 143rd streets preceding the widening of LaGrange, it "seems like it's (LaGrange) been torn up forever," Evers said.

And as that torn-up condition slowly eases, "we've got 159th to deal with now," he said, referring to the widening to two lanes in each direction of 159th Street/U.S. 6/Illinois Route 7 between Ravinia in Orland Park and Interstate 355. That $100 million project is anticipated to be finished sometime next fall.

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More than three years after a project to widen LaGrange Road began, major construction on the project will soon come to a close. This view is looking north from 171st Street. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 42,000 vehicles a day roll along the section of LaGrange that's being widened, and that is expected to grow to 65,000 vehicles by 2040.

The ability of the street to shoulder a bigger traffic load also is going to mean restrictions on access into and out of some businesses along LaGrange. The raised barrier median is going to force some drivers to make U-turns at intersections  allowed unless signs say otherwise  and vehicles turning right on red at cross streets will have to keep an eye out, and yield to, drivers making U-turns.

mnolan@tribpub.com
Remodeling continues at the new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen coming to Mokena. (Bob Bong / Daily Southtown)

A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is under construction and now hiring in Mokena.

The Atlanta-based restaurant chain is famous for its Cajun-style cooking and chicken.

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The new location will be at 19814 S. La Grange Road in the Mokena Towne Square shopping center. It most recently was a short-lived Dixie Chicken joint and was a longtime home of a KFC/A&W combo restaurant.

The owner, a franchisee who operates three other Popeyes and other restaurant brands, is expected to spend about $500,000 remodeling the building.

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Applications may be submitted to www.snagajob.com.

The new Popeyes will be the chain's 10th in the south suburbs.

Restoration firm coming to Tinley

A former auto mechanic looking to do more than just fix people's cars will open a disaster restoration business this week in Tinley Park.

John Hanson hopes to do that with a Restoration 1 franchise, which helps people and businesses recover when a disaster hits.

"I was looking for a change of pace," said Hanson, who spent 36 years servicing cars at local dealerships. "I wanted something I could help people with besides fixing their cars."

A former leader of Boy Scout Troop 442, he said he was "really excited about getting started helping people."

Restoration 1 will help people and businesses recover after a fire or flood.

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Launched in 2008, Restoration 1 offers 24-hour emergency services for any type of natural mishap. Their technicians can provide water extraction, mold remediation, drying, dehumidification, fire and smoke damage restoration, storm-response services and general maintenance and cleaning services.

"Water damage and fires can upset the lives and homes of our neighbors, and Restoration 1 is here to help restore them," he said.

Hanson said his company can help people dry out from a flood, get rid of mold, and scrub the air clean inside a home or business.

"Our air scrubbers can get air to the same quality as in a hospital," he said.

Each job is different, he said, and the time it takes to remedy the damage depends to a large extent on what kind of disaster occurred.

"It usually takes up to three days to dry out a flooded home," he said. "Fires often put people out of their homes."

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Hanson will work out of his home with a van that can carry as many as 25 kinds of equipment. He has two technicians to help him.

Hanson's service area includes Tinley Park, Orland Park, Matteson, Oak Forest, Frankfort, Midlothian, Country Club Hills, Crestwood and Palos Heights.

For information, call Hanson at 844-347-8017.

La Senza now open in Orland Park

A new Canadian-based lingerie shop is now open at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park.

La Senza opened last week on the upper level Macy's wing near Express and Sephora.

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The store is a cousin of Victoria's Secret, PINK, and Bath & Body Works, which are all part of L Brands Inc.

The Orland Park location is only the fourth La Senza store in the United States. One opened earlier this year at Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind. Both malls are owned and operated by the Simon Property Group.

The store opened Nov. 16 and has the same hours as the mall.

Marcus opens restaurant in Orland Park

Marcus has finally opened its Reel Sizzle diner at its Orland Park cinema at 16350 S. La Grange Road in Orland Park.

The Reel Sizzle features diner fare such as burgers and chicken tenders as well as milk shakes. Customers can take their food and drinks into the show with them. It's the first of many planned improvements at the Orland Park location.

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Greco's reopens in Willow Springs

The Oct. 28 fire that destroyed the Willowbrook Ballroom in Willow Springs also knocked out its neighbor, Greco's of Willow Springs.

The Italian restaurant at 8850 Archer Ave. was saved from the flames by firefighters, but it lost all of its food when electricity and gas were shut off because of the fire at the Willowbrook.

In addition to restocking its pantry, the restaurant had to sanitize its walls, ceilings and carpets.

With the help of a business restoration company, Greco's reopened its doors to the public Nov. 12

The restaurant thanked its customers on its Facebook page:

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"Again, we would like to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words. We are so grateful to be doing what we love and to have made so many wonderful friends through the years."

For information, call the restaurant at 708-839-0333.

Medical complex expands in Bridgeview

A medical complex in Bridgeview recently doubled in size as part of an ongoing expansion.

Dr. R. Abu-Shanab held a grand opening last month for the new complex at 7124 W. 83rd St. when a new pharmacy opened. The practice has doubled in size from 1,400 to 2,800 square feet since it was founded as a chiropractic office in 1998. It now offers a medical doctor and a dentist, among others.

More expansion is planned including a new parking lot where a car wash now stands and an out-patient clinic on an adjacent vacant lot.

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Bob Bong is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.
The Hampshire holiday tree is near the pavilion at Ralph Seyller Memorial Park. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News)

On the same night that the City of Chicago held its 103rd tree lighting ceremony at Millennium Park, the Hampshire Township Park District and the Village of Hampshire presented on a smaller scale the village's first tree lighting at Ralph Seyller Memorial Park, 400 E. Jefferson Avenue.

While Chicago annually accepts a donated tree, such as this year's 69-foot Norway Spruce from a family in Wauconda, the Hampshire Park District planted a fir tree near the pavilion and illuminated it.

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"We had 65 kids signed up for the tree lighting," said Laura Schraw, the district's executive director. "That's not counting the parents and grandparents who also attended. We had cookies and hot chocolate, carolers, a snowman craft and the chance for children to visit Santa."

Bennett Tiffany of Hampshire celebrated his third birthday at the event with his parents and siblings Kellen, Maren and Vivianne.

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Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 administration and board of education announced a tentative three-year contract agreement with the district's teachers union Monday afternoon, staving off the possibility of a strike.

According to a statement from District 65 Board of Education President Candance Chow and Superintendent Paul Goren, bargaining teams on both sides reached a tentative three-year agreement around 4 a.m. Monday following more than 34 hours of negotiations since last Thursday.

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The statement issued by the district did not include information on the terms of contract.

"Details of the agreement will be made available after the approval of the contract by (the District 65 Educators' Council) membership and the school board," according to the statement.

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Members of the teachers union, the District 65 Educators' Council, will vote on the tentative agreement next week, officials said. Union President Paula Zelinski did not respond to requests seeking comment.

Should the agreement be ratified by union membership, it will head to the board for approval at a meeting slated for Dec. 5, according to the district's statement.

"By nature, the negotiations process is all about give and take. We could not be more pleased with members from both teams for their willingness to collaborate, compromise, and ultimately, to reach what both sides feel is a fair and equitable agreement," the district statement reads.

The union represents more than 700 of the district's pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade teachers. District and union officials say they've been in negotiations since Feb. 17. The union and the school district entered into federal mediation shortly after the new school year began and the previous union contract expired.

Representatives from both the union and the district previously had said negotiations stalled over issues related to financial compensation and teacher planning time. As recently as last week, Zelinski said a union vote to authorize a strike was pending.

According to documents posted on the Illinois Educational Relations Board website, the district previously offered its teachers union a four-year contract.

Lee V. Gaines is a freelancer.
The District 225 Board of Education discussed updating its 14-year-old policy on administering certain medications to students on Nov. 14.

The policy, which the board will vote on at its Dec. 12 meeting, was presented to the board with two new sections on supplying epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, which are used by people with serious allergic reactions, and administering opioid antagonist medication, which block the effect of opioids. Supt. Michael Riggle said in an interview that the proposed policy additions are practices the district already follows, but the administration wanted to formalize them by adding them to the policy.

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According to the proposed changes to the policy, students can continue carrying their prescribed EpiPen if a parent has signed a school medication authorization form. The policy also states that the district will continue carrying undesignated EpiPens, which can be used for students who have a serious allergic reaction but don't carry their own auto-injector, and will start carrying opioid antagonist medication.

The administration drafted an update to the policy because the state passed a law in 2015 allowing opioid antagonist medication to be administered by school nurses and other staff who want to be trained to do so, Riggle said. The Illinois State Board of Education gave districts direction on how to respond to the law over the summer, and the administration has since been working on updating its policy, he said.

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"We felt that it would be better to be prepared, be safe and be able to help students or anyone who is on our school grounds in those types of situations," Riggle said.

Five nurses at Glenbrook South High School and three nurses at Glenbrook North High School are trained in administering EpiPens and opioid antagonist medication, Riggle said.

Earlier this school year, a group of parents asked the District 225 Board of Education to address alleged drug use at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South. A handful of those parents asked the district to address the alleged use of heroin, an opioid, among students, and Riggle said he hopes this policy will "please" those parents.

If the updated policy is approved, the district will become eligible to receive the opioid antagonist medication, Riggle said. But Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North students, staff and administrators have been able to use opioid antagonist medication if needed because both fire departments in Northbrook and Glenview, as well as Nortbrook police, are trained in administering it, Riggle said.

"We feel like we are well-covered, but we want to be as fully prepared as we can, to just add to the safety factor and being able to respond when we need to," Riggle said.

The proposed update on the district's policy on EpiPen usage is not a response to a September incident at Township High School District 214 John Hersey High School, where a school nurse allegedly delayed a freshman student with a peanut allergy from using an EpiPen, he said.

At the meeting, board member Sonia Kim asked how easily available information is on how to respond to a situation where an EpiPen or opioid antagonist medication is needed.

Riggle said the information is available, but staff know that the first step in any emergency is to call 911, which also notifies administrators that there is an emergency. The administrators then grab their radios and run to the location of the emergency, he said.

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Glenbrook South Principal Lauren Fagel said at the meeting that student health records are also easily available to administrators responding to an emergency.

"Typically, while a certified nurse is responding to the student or staff, another person is looking on our system, where we can immediately see their medical information," she said. "It's usually not someone working in isolation."

akukulka@tribpub.com
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Portugal's Securities and Exchange Commission (CMVM) has approved an offer by Chinese conglomerate, Fosun, to buy a 16.7 percent stake in Portuguese lender Banco Comercial Portugues (BCP), the CMVM said in a statement on Sunday.

Fosun is buying a 16.7 percent stake into BCP, Portugal's largest listed bank, becoming the bank's biggest shareholder, for 175 million euros(185.50 million U.S. dollars).

The Chinese group has said the acquisition will help it extend business in Europe and Africa.

Fosun has also said it plans to raise its stake by 30 percent in the near future.

Portuguese banks have been selling stakes to clear bad loans and boost capital.
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Another freight train service linking northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with Kazakhstan began operations on Sunday.

The 41-compartment train, loaded with production equipment, daily necessities, building materials and other commodities, left Ulan Qab in Inner Mongolia and crossed northern and northwestern China before leaving the country through the Alataw Pass in Xinjiang.

The 4,532-km trip to Alma-Ata, the largest city in Kazakhstan and a major trade center in Central Asia, will take eight days.

The goods will be distributed to cities in central and western Asia as well as in Europe shortly after the train arrives, according to a Hohhot Railway Bureau official.

Earlier this month, a new train route connecting Shizuishan City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Alma-Ata started operations.

The first freight train service linking Inner Mongolia with Kazakhstan launched in July. The train now runs regularly between the region's Baotou City and Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

Many Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing and Harbin, have launched freight services to boost trade with central Asia and Europe in recent years.
Village children who live on a cliff face can now climb up and down new series of steel ladders, dubbed "ladders of heaven", to their homes, the Beijing News reports.

Children climb a steel ladder leading to the cliff village in Sichuan province on Saturday, November 19, 2016. [Photo: The Beijing News]

Before the installation of the new ladders finished earlier this month, villagers could only use 17 rattan ladders hanging off the cliff.

The village in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan province is known as the "cliff village", and is about 800 meters high.

Children attending the local primary school can only go home during three school vacations and must be supervised by parents in turns.

Twenty children from the cliff village took the steel ladders for the first time on Saturday to go home from school for the Yi Ethnic New Year holiday, one of the three holidays were the children can climb home.

The rattan ladders were almost straight from the top to the bottom, but the new steel ladders were designed with an inclination of 60 degrees, making them easier to climb.

An 11-year-old child said the new ladders are more like staircases with handles, which makes him feel much safer and less worried about falling stones.

Another child said the way home has become beautiful.

Although the children still need to climb the ladders with both their hands and feet, almost all of them said that it is much safer and quicker to go home.

The new ladders shorten the time up the cliff by an hour, said Long Deshun, who was in charge of building the new ladders.

The old rattan ladders remain as they are, but are no longer used, said Long.

The cliff village drew attention in May this year as the Beijing News reported that children from the village had to take the rattan ladders to go to school.

A local official said seven or eight people had fallen to their death along the way, and many others had been injured.

Building the steel ladders started in August, using over 40 tons of steel in total. Anti-rust paint was sprayed on the ladders so that they can be used for 10 to 20 years, said Long.

In addition, a plank road is planned to be built next year in the gorge leading to the cliff village, with an estimated investment of over 35 million yuan (around 5 million USD).
Drone is increasingly a popular item here in China and with it, more and more people are considering becoming certified.

A drone owned by Chinese e-commerce site JD.com flies as it convey goods between distribution centers in Tiantong'an Village of Suqian City, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 8, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

Becoming a certified drone pilot is not easy. In some cases it can cost a maximum of 27,000 yuan (about 3,920 USD) and requires two demanding tests involving knowledge of mathematics, physics and geography.

By the end of June, 5,000 people in China held a drone certificate show statistics from Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and more than 100 companies in China were qualified to offer training.

EWATT Technology, China's first company to provide drone training, said they now offer training to people who want to become pilots and pilots-incommand, with the latter being able to deals with emergencies.

The training fees for a pilot range from 12,000 yuan (about 1,740 USD) to 24,000 yuan (about 3,490 USD), and it ranges from 24,000 yuan (about 3,490 USD) to 27,000 yuan (about 3,920 USD) for a pilot-incommand.

The fees they charge is based on the type of drone a person wants to operate.

In order to get certified, a person must pass a theory and an operational test.

Many in China are attracted to certification and allured by jobs in agriculture and forestry, marketing and photography within the fast-growing drone industry.

Your Brothers Mountain & Water Rescue Team, a Chinese volunteer search and rescue group has started to use different types of drones in their operation.

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com attempts to make drone delivered packages a reality by 2017, Bloomberg reported.

Not everyone needs a certificate to fly a drone, if a drone weighs less than 7kg, if it is flown indoors or in sparsely populated areas, then a certificate is not required, says AOPA.

Drones are still risky, and can be dangerous if flown with inexperience, in a bad weather, or illegally.

In 2015, a staff member from Beijing UAV Sci-Tech Co., was sentenced to 18 months in jail after a drone from the company disrupted commercial flights.

The incident led to an economic cost of about 100,000 yuan (about 14,520 USD) for Beijing Capital International Airport.
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A senior German business executive is now under fire on China's social media over his insulting remark about China.

Rainer Gartner, president and CEO at Daimler Trucks & Buses China Ltd., has made a disparaging comment on Chinese people, saying that "I am in China one year already. The first thing I learned here is: All you Chinese are bastard!"

His gaffe came after a parking row with a Chinese driver at a residential community in Beijing's northeastern Shunyi District.

The quarrel drew passersby to come and defend the Chinese, but they were pepper sprayed by the German executive.

The Chinese driver said he will seek legal actions against Gartner for his actions and remark.

"The German executive should apologize for his wrongdoings immediately," said a microblogger on China's twitter-like Sina Weibo.

"Expats should behave themselves and never put on airs even if they are rich or superior," said another microblogger.

Another German political leader also triggered outrage for his rude remarks in October this year.

In his comments, European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger mocked a delegation of Chinese ministers, saying that their hair was combed "from left to right with shoe polish."

He also used the words "slitty eyes" and "chiselers" to refer to Chinese people.

The gaffe-prone German politician later claimed that he meant no offense when he was secretly recorded using those terms.
A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for efforts to study, publicize and implement the guidelines established at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee.

Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a trip to Central China's Hubei province from Wednesday to Saturday.

The essence of the meeting should reach the authorities at the grassroots level and the masses, Liu stressed.

He said efforts should be made to encourage officials and the masses to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core" and work hard to realize the country's two centenary goals and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

During the trip, Liu visited companies, villages and communities, as well as publicity and cultural institutions in cities including Wuhan, Xiangyang and Jingzhou, and talked with local officials and members of the public.

In addition, Liu urged authorities to integrate socialist core values into laws, regulations, education and artistic works, calling for more landmark works that "praise the Party, the motherland, the people and the heroes."
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China's Central Military Commission (CMC) has issued a regulation on improving real combat abilities in military training.

The regulation provided criteria for implementing real-combat military training.

The regulation said that prominent problems in military training should be rectified and military training should be carried out based on battlefield situations.

The regulation also demanded intensified training through strict assessment and improved support resources for military training.

Discipline inspection departments should function well and punish violators in a timely manner, according to the regulation.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police force should stipulate concrete measures to implement the criteria to raise combat ability in military training, the regulation said.
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A bank guard was found dead following a failed robbery attempt in the early hours of Monday in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local authorities said.

A statement from the government of Mishan City said the suspect was spotted by the guard as he was trying to take cash out of the vault of a local bank. The suspect then escaped after abandoning the cash.

The statement did not mention how the suspect got into the vault and how the guard died.

The suspect remains at large.

The police are investigating the case further.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Latin America has figured in Chinese foreign policy historically as a peripheral and sometimes difficult place. There were links in the period of Mao, with Communist movements in Argentina and other countries being met at a high level in Beijing. But in terms of tangible links, they were few and far between.

The BRICS rubric and the idea of south-south co-operation in the last decade have at least provided a more meaningful framework within which China can operate regionally. It sees Latin American countries as high growth, developing economies where it can share ideas about the building of infrastructure and the creation of a wealthier middle class. Even so, the main issue with the continent is that it is regarded as being in the strategic area of the United States, and therefore a place where every move that China takes needs to be carefully considered.

For China, this era is one of huge risk and opportunity. At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Peru, the main issues will be how to pursue common agendas on security, trade and sustainability. On all of these, Trump stands diametrically opposed to the current Obama administration. For China the issue is now one of positioning. With the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal now effectively dead, China can consider something to take its place. More space has opened up. For climate change, Trump has expressed scepticism. Once more, China is now in a leading position, urging the incoming American president to not walk away from the crucially important deals that were signed in Paris late last year.

China's opportunity to play a global role has never been greater. The fact that across the three countries that President Xi Jinping has been to this time in Latin America there has been an upgrading of the relationship in one of them (Ecuador) to comprehensive strategic partnership, and that China figures now as Chile's third largest trade partner is remarkable. In the past ten years, it has been a major user of imported commodities like iron ore from Brazil. But now it is seeking a more balanced, multifaceted relationship. In this area, a U.S. that threatens to be more inward looking, protectionist and isolationist means that China is suddenly a major international force for security, economic growth and sustainability in ways which have never been imagined.

This sort of exposure is not something that Chinese leaders will feel very comfortable with. In a region like Latin America, the last thing they want is to be drawn into some strategic play where they are used against the U.S. by third parties. Latin American politics are complex. There are still a large number of countries that do not diplomatically recognize Beijing. Working across this complex, uneven region, especially in view of the very volatile domestic politics in some of the countries, will be challenging.

It is clear that China feels it has a story to tell about itself in Latin America. But unlike in other places, this story is still at the beginning, rather than one that is already half told. This is an area where China could have a big impact with the right strategy  but also one where it could find itself exposed.

The author is an op-ed contributor to Beijing Review and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London.
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China on Sunday called on parties concerned in Myanmar to exercise restraint and halt military operations so as to avoid escalation of the conflicts.

Three ethnic armed groups jointly launched simultaneous and surprise attacks early Sunday morning on some military and police outposts stationed in Muse and Kutkai, border towns in Myanmar's Shan state-north, causing casualties in the military and civilians, local sources said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China attaches great importance to peace and tranquility of the China-Myanmar border area and expresses serious concern over the exchange of fire in Myanmar's border town.

China hopes all parties concerned in Myanmar will adhere to dialogue and consultation and make concrete efforts to safeguard the peace process in Myanmar, he said.
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At least 20 people suspected to be members of Islamist group Al-Shabaab were arrested in an operation in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Saturday night, police said.

Banadir region police chief, Bashir Abshir Gedi, told journalists troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali soldiers carried out the operation in Hamar Jajab and Waberi districts in Mogadishu to hunt down Al-Shabaab suspects.

"These people (suspects) were planning attacks on the city but our intelligence helped us arrest them before they could do anything," Gedi said.

Al-Shbaab has been fighting against the Somali government for years, staging frequent attacks in the country.

The operation comes as Mogadishu prepares for presidential election scheduled for Nov. 30. Parliamentary elections are ongoing in various parts of the country.

AMISOM and Somali forces have beefed up security in Mogadishu ahead of the election, erecting security barriers and putting up checks on vehicles during day and night.
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Kenyan police on Saturday evening killed four militants from Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab and recovered weapons in the northeastern border town of El-Wak, an official said.

Northeastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said Sunday the killed were Al-Shabaab militants who had planned to attack police targets in the town, which is situated on the border with Somalia in Mandera county.

"On Saturday afternoon, the police officers acting on intelligence pursued five or so Al-Shabaab militants who had been sighted," Saleh said.

Saleh said police officers tracked the militants and then engaged a group of 20, who were carrying machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, in an exchange of fire.

Saleh said the police killed four militants and recovered AK 47 rifles with 90 rounds of ammunition.

Kenya has enhanced security in border towns following several attacks blamed on Al-Shabaab in the past months.

Al-Shabaab militants have carried out a series of bloody attacks in Kenya since Kenyan troops entered Somalia to battle the group in 2011, as part of the African Union peacekeeping force.
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The Syrian army on Sunday advanced into a rebel-held area in the country's northern city of Aleppo, capturing rebel command centers, a military source told Xinhua.

Syrian forces advanced into the rebel-held Masaken Hanano area, east of Aleppo, capturing command centers in that area after the collapse of the rebels' defenses, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The army also captured five rebel posts in the same neighborhood, said the source, adding that light, medium and heavy weaponry as well as artillery shelling was used during the battle.

Furthermore, activists said 176 people were killed during the past five days of intense battles in Aleppo.

They added that all hospitals in the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo were rendered out of service due to the shelling.

The Syrian government said that at least seven children were killed and 20 others were critically wounded when a rebel mortar attack hit a school in the al-Furqan neighborhood in the government-controlled part west of Aleppo.

This comes as the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem, and the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, held talks on Sunday in the capital Damascus regarding the situation in Aleppo.

Following their meeting, al-Moallem said his government rejected the UN envoy's proposal for rebel autonomy in eastern Aleppo.

The foreign minister clarified that a decision was made in Damascus that all of Aleppo must return under government control.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and one time economic hub, is currently the center of international powers' attention as the UN attempts to ease the tough humanitarian situation there.

However, perspectives differ between the government and the UN as the government views the evacuation of rebels as a priority for restoring security in Aleppo, while the UN envoy apparently has other plans.
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Egypt's prosecution referred Sunday 292 suspect terrorists to military trial over charges of carrying out terror activities in restive Sinai Peninsula and planning to assassinate President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, official MENA news agency reported.

According to the report, the defendants belong to the so-called "Sinai State," a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group, which claimed responsibility for most of the anti-government terrorist attacks over the past a few years.

Egypt has been facing a rising wave of terrorist operations and bomb attacks, mostly in North Sinai province, since the military removed former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group.

On Nov. 4, a military brigadier general was assassinated by three terrorists outside his home in North Sinai, while a judge survived a blast in Cairo during the day.

Earlier in mid-October, also in North Sinai, at least 20 soldiers were killed in a series of blasts and armed attacks, while the security forces retaliated by killing around 100 militants and wounding 40 others.

While anti-government attacks over the past a few years killed hundreds of police and military men, security raids killed around 1,200 militants and arrested a similar number of suspects in North Sinai as part of the country's "war against terrorism" declared by then-military chief and current President Sisi.
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Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Sunday that his government rejects an idea proposed by the UN special envoy to Syria about an autonomy for the rebels in the eastern part of the northern city of Aleppo.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem speaks during a press conference held at the Foreign Ministry in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Nov. 20, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The idea of establishing an autonomy for the rebels in eastern Aleppo is completely rejected, al-Moallem said in a press conference, following his meeting with the visiting UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, who arrived in Damascus earlier on Sunday to discuss his plan.

The top Syrian diplomat said that he had a discussion with Mistura, noting, however, that he didn't sense a desire from the envoy for the resumption of the inter-Syrian dialogue.

Al-Moallem added that Mistura said he had no guarantees that the rebels would respect a cease-fire in Aleppo.

This comes as the situation in Aleppo is flaring in a circle of violence, with the international efforts being focused on convincing the Syrian government to bring its attack on the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo to a halt and break a siege on that area.

At the conference, the minister made it clear that the rebels must evacuate eastern Aleppo so that the government institutions could return to that part of the city.

"It makes no sense that the fate of 275,000 civilians in eastern Aleppo be a hostage for six or seven thousands rebels," the minister said.

Regarding the evacuation of the wounded and sick from eastern Aleppo, the minister said that the Syrian government had offered three previous chances, which ended without any response form the other side.

"It's the duty of the Syrian state to rescue its citizens from being hostages to the terrorists," he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said the government welcomes any inter-Syrian dialogue far from any foreign intervention, welcoming any idea to convene such a dialogue in the capital Damascus.
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With the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development," the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting needs China's initiatives to reach its goals.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is now in Lima, Peru to attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and has delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi called on the 21 APEC member economies to promote an open and integrated economy, enhance connectivity to achieve interconnected development, boost reform and innovation to create more internal driving force, and promote win-win cooperation to forge strong partnerships.

ASIA-PACIFIC INTEGRATION

This year marks an important step in the development of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), as a collective strategic study on the FTAAP was concluded before the APEC leaders' meeting.

Based on the study, APEC leaders will decide on their next move.

"It can be said that we are becoming increasingly clear about what the FTAAP will be like and increasingly concrete steps are being taken," said Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center at Nankai University based in Tianjin, China.

The idea of creating the FTAAP was proposed eight years ago and was officially launched at the Beijing APEC summit in 2014. The FTAAP engages all APEC members, thus saving the Asia-Pacific region from the negative impacts of free trade agreements (FTAs) contending for members and viciously competing among themselves.

"As a high-level FTA arrangement that covers a wide range of areas, the FTAAP will hopefully solve problems such as inconsistency in rules of origin and different FTAs dedicated to different areas, thus reducing the costs of implementing FTAs," said Liu.

"The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), for example, leads to vicious competition. Once the FTAAP becomes reality, it will help address problems arising from a mass of intertwined FTAs, and push forward the integration of a regional economy," he added.

Economic modelling in 2014 shows global income gains from the FTAAP would be more than eight times higher than those from the TPP.

The Asia-Pacific region has always been an important platform for China's foreign trade. Most of its trade volume and foreign investment come from APEC members. China's economic development largely benefits from the regional economy and cooperation, and China's development also injects impetus into the APEC organization.

According to an estimate of the International Monetary Fund, China's contribution to the Asian economy has already exceeded 50 percent. With every percent of growth of the Chinese economy, Asia's economy rises 0.3 percent. China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific are indeed interdependent, so excluding China from any Asia-Pacific trade bloc would be unrealistic.

"Now that the U.S. is apparently turning inward (with Donald Trump's election victory), it is especially important for China to take the driver's seat in terms of pushing for greater free trade in the region, which benefits everybody," said Oh Ei Sun, an analyst at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

The APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025, a significant action plan for the Asia-Pacific's long-term development, was adopted at the Beijing APEC meeting in 2014.

At last year's APEC summit in Manila, the Philippines, Xi announced that China has established and put into operation the Silk Road Fund, and proposed to launch the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with an authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, an important platform supporting regional connectivity.

In June 2016, the bank approved its first four loans, totaling 509 million dollars, to fund power, housing and transportation projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Even before the establishment of the AIIB, China had already sought increased cooperation with related countries to promote connectivity in the region. The launch of China-Thailand and China-Laos railway projects marked a milestone in stepping up connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

China has recently proposed the evaluation mechanism on the implementation of the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, which has been approved by the APEC senior officials' meeting, said Zhang Jun, director-general of the International Economic Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry.

"On the basis of that, we'll continue to push forward regional connectivity in areas such as e-commerce, harbor networks, environmentally conscious supply chains, and cross-border education," he said.

"We are also trying to dovetail regional connectivity with China's Belt and Road Initiative," he added.

According to Liu, this year's APEC meeting is expected to push forward the implementation of the blueprint and ensure progress is delivered in a prompt manner. With improvements in the implementation mechanism and more sources of funding, more achievements are expected in enhancing connectivity.

INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT & STRUCTURAL REFORM

Economic reform and innovation-driven growth are highlighted on various occasions, including the APEC and G20 meetings. These concepts are emphasized against the backdrop of the global economy still struggling to recover from the financial crisis.

Despite the consensus, it is a challenge to boost technical innovation and find new sources of economic growth. China has placed special emphasis on transforming economic development modes and innovation-driven growth in its blueprint for economic and social development in the 2016-2020 period. So have other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which has long served as an engine of the world economy.

Therefore, China's appeal for innovation-driven growth and structural reform is in line with its own conditions and the region's demands. Its appeal has won recognition from other APEC economies.

For years the Chinese government has been releasing supportive policies and measures for innovative entrepreneurship and supply-side reform, resulting in a steady gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.7 percent, a retreat of excess capacity, and booming high-tech, service and other new industries.

"With economic restructuring, the initiative of innovation-driven growth and development of free trade zones, China boasts an increasingly opened-up and transparent market with greater market potential and improved market environment," said Liu.

"It is expected that the Lima APEC summit will coordinate and lead the drive of innovation and reform, and produce real results," he added.

For Ignacio Cortes, coordinator of the Laboratory for Trade, Economics and Business Analysis at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Lima APEC summit will be instrumental in invigorating the world economy, and China will play a prominent role.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed at a press conference on Sunday that she is ready to run for the fourth term in office in 2017 election.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a press conference after the second-day's meeting of EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

"I've been thinking a lot about it, and the decision on a fourth candidacy is not trivial after 11 years, neither for the country, nor for the party, nor for me," said Merkel.

According to Merkel, she had already declared in a presidium meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) that she will once again compete for the presidency of the CDU, and therefore also for the chancellor's office.

Meanwhile, Merkel also confirmed that she would run for a full term of four years.

"This election will be one of the most difficult since German reunification, and we will have to deal with claims from right-wing and left-wing," said Merkel.

Merkel also noted she understood it was her task to listen and accept the expectations of the citizens and to implement them in the interest of the public. "We have to work for a good, strong Germany," she added.

The CDU leader will be re-elected on December 6 at its National Party Conference in German city of Essen.

In the past few days, an increasing number of politicians of the Union party, a bloc of CDU and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), have assumed that Merkel will compete for both offices again. Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), also made it clear that he was expecting this.

Chairman of CSU Horst Seehofer has announced the support of his party to Merkel for her candidacy for chancellorship next year.

"It is good that now is clear," said Seehofer on Sunday in Munich, adding it would now be possible to clarify the topics that will be taken into the election campaign.

Merkel has been CDU chairman since April 2000 and German Chancellor since November 2005. If she wins for the fourth time in 2017, she has the chance to beat the record holder, also her mentor Helmut Kohl, who served 16 years in the office.

An Emnid survey published by German newspaper Bild am Sonntag showed, 55 percent of Germans wants a further mandate of Merkel, while 39 percent would not wish Merkel to remain as chancellor after the election in 2017.

In spite of the refugee crisis last year, Merkel is considered unrivaled in the CDU.
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Turkish police detained two suspended mayors in Turkey's southeast province of Mardin on Monday as part of an anti-terror investigation, security sources told Turkish Anadolu Agency.

Ahmet Turk, mayor of Mardin city, and Emin Irmak, mayor of the province's Artuklu district, had been suspended and replaced last week. The two suspects were arrested at their homes.

Monday's arrests are the latest in a series of investigations with elected municipal officials.

On Nov. 17, the mayor of Tunceli province Mehmet Ali Bul, the mayor of Van province Bekir Kaya from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), a social democratic Kurdish political party, and four other municipal officials were arrested.

Earlier this month, 13 lawmakers from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were arrested. Ten, including co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody for trial on terrorism-related charges.

DBP co-head Sebahat Tuncel was detained outside the courthouse in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir on Nov. 4, amid a wave of detentions that targeted senior politicians of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

In October, the DBP co-mayors of Diyarbakir, the largest city in the southeast, were arrested and jailed pending trial on terrorism charges.

Most of the suspects were detained for Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) related activities. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.
People walk past residential buildings on the Jomtien Beach area of Pattaya, Chonburi province, Thailand, on May 29, 2015. Thailand is one of the emerging overseas property investment destinations by Chinese.[Photo / Agencies]

If they were anywhere else in Beijing, the five young women in cowboy hats and matching red, white, and blue costumes would look wildly out of place.

But here at the city's biggest international property faira frenetic gathering of brokers, developers and other real estate professionals all jockeying for the attention of Chinese buyersthe quintet of wannabe Texans fits right in.

As they promote Houston townhouses ("Yours for as little as $350,000!"), a Portugal contingent touts its Golden Visa program and the Australian delegation lures passersby with stuffed kangaroos.

Welcome to ground zero for the world's largest cross-border residential property boom. Motivated by a weakening yuan, surging domestic housing costs and the desire to secure offshore footholds, Chinese citizens are snapping up overseas homes at an accelerating pace.

They're also venturing further afield than ever before, spreading beyond the likes of Sydney and Vancouver to lower-priced markets including Houston, Thailand's Pattaya Beach and Malaysia's Johor Bahru.

For cities in the cross-hairs, the challenge is to balance the economic benefits of Chinese demand against the risk that rising home prices spur a public backlash.

"The Chinese have managed to accumulate very large amounts of wealth, and the opportunities to deploy that capital in their own market are somewhat restricted," said Richard Barkham, the London-based chief global economist at CBRE Group Inc, the world's largest commercial property brokerage. "China has more than a billion people. Personally, I think we have just seen a trickle."

Ping An Haofang, an online real estate platform owned by China's second-largest insurer, says its $15 billion first-half estimate of cross-border real estate investments, derived from market data, nearly matches the figure for all of 2015.

Fang Holdings Ltd, the country's most popular property website, predicts overseas buying on its system will increase 130 percent this year, while transactions through September at Shenzhen World Union Properties Consultancy Inc, China's largest broker for new-home sales, were already 50 percent above last year's level.

The country overtook Canada as the largest source of residential purchases in US last year, according to a May report by the Asia Society and Rosen Consulting Group.

Bloomberg
By FAN FEIFEI in Beijing and CANG WEI in Nanjing | China Daily | Updated: 2016-11-21 07:10

Hengtong's international R&D team. Provided to China Daily

Network equipment major Hengtong finds the perfect formula for diversification along Belt and Road stretch

Hengtong Group Co Ltd, a producer of optic fiber and telecom network equipment, will increase its overseas investments and acquisitions in view of the huge growth potential in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Jiangsu-based Hengtong says it plans to establish two to three overseas industrial bases and make two to three overseas acquisitions each year.

In the internet era, construction of telecom networks, particularly those using optic fiber cables, has become a significant indicator of a country's development. The company has stepped up building such networks in overseas markets.

"If there is no optic fiber, there is no internet, let alone big data and cloud computing," said Cui Genliang, chairman and president of Hengtong Group.

Cui said communication infrastructure is relatively backward in some countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, which provides huge opportunities for Chinese companies like Hengtong to expand overseas.

The initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along ancient trade routes.

"We will firmly grasp the opportunities brought by the initiative and continue to push forward the internationalization strategy in the next decade," said Cui.

Founded in 1991, Hengtong has seen its businesses expanding from telecom and electric power to finance, culture, tourism, real estate, capital investment and internet platforms.

The optical fiber giant now serves various national programs, including intelligent cities and communities, ultra-high voltage and intelligent power networks, new energy, ocean engineering, big data, internet of things, high-speed trains, aerospace, national defense and other high-end fields.

The company has put forward a goal called the "50-50-50 internationalization". That means, more than 50 percent of its products will be sold overseas; more than 50 percent of its capital will come from overseas; and more than 50 percent of its professionals will have an international background, according to the company.

Moreover, it will serve both the domestic and international markets, integrate and make use of the domestic and international resources, as well as widen the domestic and international financing channels through investments in overseas mergers and acquisitions.

So far, it has established seven research and development centers overseas, and branches for marketing and technology services in more than 30 countries and regions.

It has registered trademarks in more than 100 countries and regions. Its business covers 120 countries and regions. Its optical fiber network products account for a 15 percent share of the global market.

Its first overseas factory was set up in Brazil in 2012, followed by a joint venture in India in 2013. It also bought optical fiber and electric power enterprises in Indonesia, South Africa, Spain and Portugal in 2015.

Cui said: "These moves will promote the industrial transformation, upgrading and global expansion of our company, further enhancing its competitiveness."

Cui emphasized the key to compete with other international giants is to increase independent innovation, improve core competence and produce products with cutting-edge technologies.

At present, Hengtong is the only Chinese company with the state-of-the-art technology in optical fiber communication and owns related intellectual property.

Technology expertise and high-quality products can make a Chinese label a successful global brand, Cui said.

Additional revenue mainly came from overseas markets in recent years. In 2015, its overseas revenue accounted for 20 percent of total sales.

"Success in international markets is a touchstone of an enterprise's competitiveness," said Gao Anmin, Hengtong's vice-president for international operations.
A view of the headquarters building of Fosun International in Shanghai, December 11, 2015.[Photo/IC]

LISBON - Portugal's Securities and Exchange Commission (CMVM) has approved an offer by Chinese conglomerate, Fosun, to buy a 16.7 percent stake in Portuguese lender Banco Comercial Portugues (BCP), the CMVM said in a statement on Sunday.

Fosun is buying a 16.7 percent stake into BCP, Portugal's largest listed bank, becoming the bank's biggest shareholder, for 175 million euros($185.50 million).

The Chinese group has said the acquisition will help it extend business in Europe and Africa.

Fosun has also said it plans to raise its stake by 30 percent in the near future.

Portuguese banks have been selling stakes to clear bad loans and boost capital.
A man rides a vehicle past container boxes at a port in Shanghai, on Feb 17, 2016. [Photo / Agencies]

The development of digitalized shipping services, economic initiatives and Pilot Free Trade Zone will push Shanghai to the status of an international shipping center by 2020.

It will thus compete with other established rivals like Singapore and Tokyo in the Asia-Pacific region, said officials.

The central government in 2009 set a target of developing Shanghai as an international shipping center in 2020.

The city will be allocated shipping resources on a global scale. This will help send goods from in and around Shanghai to many more destinations using shipping services. Soon, Shanghai will likely emerge as a key logistical part of the world's supply chain.

Zhen Hong, secretary-general of the Shanghai International Shipping Institute, said trade via shipping services will help the finance integration of information technology and digital solutions into the industry. Shanghai's share of high value-added shipping services will rise, thanks to the development the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Shanghai currently ranks sixth among the world's top shipping centers like New York, London and Dubai, according to the Xinhua-Baltic Exchange International Shipping Center Development Index.

Its container throughput continued to rank first in the world, rising to 36.54 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in 2015, while international container transfers were up at 2.53 million TEUs.

"However, we are aware there are many difficulties that need to be overcome," said Zhen.

He said space at the port is scarce for future development, structural contradictions are obvious, while collection and dispatch systems need further optimization.

Besides, the highways-railways ratio is skewed with highways excessively large compared to railways, which could affect the city's ability to reach its goal by 2020.

"As a shipping services cluster, Shanghai today is mainly focused on supporting Chinese shipowners and those who charter vessels. It has a successful mix of home-grown businesses and a growing number of international firms that have regional offices in the city," said Jeremy Penn, chief executive officer of the London-based Baltic Exchange.

The next big step for Shanghai is to establish a competitive environment that attracts the head offices of global companies, and provide a standard of service that is comparable with the more established maritime cluster hubs of London, Singapore and New York.

There are currently nearly 1,700 international marine transport and related business units in Shanghai. The world's nine classification societies have all opened branches in the city.
DHAKA - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have again joined hands to co-finance a mega energy project in Bangladesh.

ADB on Monday approved a $167 million loan to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in Bangladesh by improving production efficiency at a key gas field north of the capital Dhaka and by expanding transmission infrastructure.

AIIB is expected to lend an additional $60 million which will be subject to board approval and be managed by ADB, said the Manila-based lender.

It is the second project to be co-financed by ADB and AIIB, a China-proposed international financial institution that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region and which was formally established in December last year.

In June this year, AIIB approved $165 million in loans for a Bangladesh project - the first batch of loan for the country from the China-proposed development bank.

The bank's board of directors had then approved its first four loans totaling $509 million to finance four projects including the one in Bangladesh.

ADB on Monday said that Bangladesh's economy is growing fast; however, domestic natural gas supplies cannot keep pace with soaring demand for energy, resulting in rising dependence on oil and diesel-based power generation.

"The project will help the government address the country's energy crisis by making available additional clean energy, particularly imported natural gas, through the transmission network," said Hongwei Zhang, finance specialist (energy) in ADB's South Asia Department.

"By addressing gas supply constraints and transmission bottlenecks, the project will increase the energy sector's contribution to sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh," the specialist said.

According to ADB, the project will boost gas transmission by building a 181 kilometers of transmission pipeline from Chittagong to Bakhrabad southeast of Dhaka.

The project will also install seven wellhead gas compressors to increase pumping pressure and ensure steady extraction at the Titas gas field, Bangladesh's largest field, it said.

The $453 million project is expected to be completed in late 2021. It will substitute the use of other fossil fuels, thereby reducing over 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year over the ensuing 10 years, ADB said,

The Bangladesh government will provide $226 million for the project, it said.
The Mercedes Concept EQ, a pure electric vehicle, makes its Asia debut at Auto Guangzhou 2016. CHEN JIANLI/XINHUA

Government urges industry to take lead in creating the cars of the future

Despite slowing growth and fading subsidies, carmakers are betting big on research and development in new energy vehicles, with ambitious plans and fresh concepts unveiled at Auto Guangzhou in the southern Chinese city.

The ongoing auto show opened to the public on Saturday. As the largest such event in southern China taking up 220,000 square meters of floorspace, it features an electric vehicle display of the latest charging facilities and batteries.

New energy products are on display, covering the varied sectors along the industrial chain, including charging station equipment, charging poles, battery modules and traction batteries.

"The new energy vehicle industry has made significant progress and achievements in R&D in critical technologies and key products," said Wan Gang, minister of science and technology, on Wednesday. "Overall development has reached the world's leading level."

Wan stressed that "to ensure the progressiveness of the technologies, a full plan should be made for the next step in the development of new energy vehicle technology, and it should focus on synergy and mutual support among the technologies."

Wan made these remarks at a symposium with the nation's experts in the new energy vehicles sector.

Dong Yang, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said the growth in the new energy vehicle market is slow and steady, and he expects annual sales of 500,000 units, despite the projection of 750,000 units made earlier this year.

"Growth slowed down from the extremely fast pace last year, but now development is more solid," Dong said. "There were many electric cars registered as delivered last December, but later were found to be carrying unreliable batteries, or even had no batteries."

Many electric vehicle makers were found to be cheating with used batteries made with out-of-date technologies, and in September regulators announced penalties for five new energy vehicle producers who illegally obtained government subsidies. Right after authorities cracked down on subsidy scams early this year, the country saw a drastic slowdown in new energy vehicle output and sales.

A total of 302,000 new energy vehicles, including full electric and hybrid electric vehicles, were produced and 289,000 were sold in the first nine months of this year, up 93 percent and 100.6 percent respectively year-on-year, according to figures from CAAM.

The data also showed more than 43,000 new energy vehicles were produced in September, up 25.7 percent, and sales increased 43.8 percent to 44,000 units.

The September growth rates were markedly lower than in August, when new energy vehicle output and sales soared 81.5 percent and 92.2 percent, respectively.

Blazing a new trail

China has been encouraging the use of new energy vehicles to upgrade the industry and ease pressure on the environment by offering tax exemptions and subsidies for car purchases and requiring government agencies to buy more new energy cars.

Chinese carmakers are heading toward the electric future with Geely Automobile, Chery Automobile and others, announcing their five- or 10-year plans for the development of electric vehicles.

Chang'an Automobile updated its five-year plan and made its specific targets public on the media preview day of Auto Guangzhou 2016. The carmaker is aiming at a driving range of 600 kilometers between charges for full electric vehicles, and a 1-liter comprehensive petrol consumption for plug-in hybrid vehicles, through mastering core competencies in five aspects of the sector.

The Chongqing-based carmaker launched the world's first mass produced 48V hybrid car, the Chang'an Eado Bluepower, as the first of its fleet of 24 new energy models it plans to make by 2025.

Wan encouraged domestic carmakers to persist in developing their own approaches that suit Chinese customers' demand and to master core competencies, especially the key technologies in fuel cell battery-powered vehicles.

"Development of new energy vehicle technology should ensure innovation and future orientation," he stressed.

During the motor show, major international auto manufacturers demonstrated their ambitions in the nation's fast-developing new energy vehicle sector.

Toyota's hydrogen fuel cellpowered Mirai was revealed in Guangzhou, as the company announced its boldest move yet into the sector, with a plan to found an electric vehicle subsidiary jointly with Aisin Seiki next month.

The second-largest auto brand in terms of sales volume, Volkswagen, announced its plans to introduce to the Chinese market a family of around 10 next generation e-cars based on Volkswagen's electric-only MEB platform in 2020-25.

The brand's ID zero-emissions concept car made its Asian debut at Auto Guangzhou.

The compact electric vehicle designed with the batteries set in the floor is said to be ideal transport for China's megacities.

The innovative e-car even features all the hardware needed for autonomous driving.
The New Qoros 3 Hatch is presented during the press day at the 84th Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland, March 4, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Chinese automaker Qoros has charted out a two-step roadmap to become "powerful and profitable", a goal it has been pursuing since its establishment in 2007.

Leon Liu, who joined six weeks ago as the maverick company's chief operating officer, said on Nov 18 it will see "positive cash flow" within a year.

"I am not ignoring its problems. I have noticed that it is confronted with grim challenges but it also has great opportunities," said Liu, a Chinese American who started his decades-long automotive career at Ford Motor.

Liu said he has been watching Qoros from the very start of its existence and had once been interviewed as one of the candidates for its CEO.

Qoros, a joint venture between China's Chery Auto and Israel's Kenon Holdings, plans to become a first-class Chinese automotive brand.

Its first model, the Qoros 3 compact car, was the first China-built model to receive a five-star rating under European new car safety standards.

However, its products were not as well received as expected due to several reasons, including a smaller sales network and price tags similar to those of international brands like Volkswagen.

Qoros sales in the first 10 months of this year grew 70 percent year-on-year, but it did not say how many cars it has sold. Sales in 2015 totaled 14,000 units, a drop in the ocean of China's 21 million-unit passenger car market.

Kenon Holdings' financial statements show that Qoros lost 890 million yuan ($129 million) in the first half of 2016.

"Indeed, Qoros has made wrong turns on its development roads, but lessons learnt are also experience," Liu said.

Liu is planning to increase the current sales network of 106 dealerships to more than 200 in 2017 and to launch at least one model a year so that dealers can attract more customers.

"Qoros never lacks great ideas but it lacks leadership and execution, and I would like to offer some help with my experience at global companies," said Liu, who was a senior executive at spare-parts giant Wabco before joining Qoros.

Liu's work experience and connections in the spare-parts sector will also help Qoros to achieve a better bargaining position in talks with suppliers and to cut the costs of its products that have discouraged many Chinese customers.

In addition to solving the urgent task of supporting itself, Qoros is making hay in research and development for its second-phase goal of becoming a lasting player in the market.

It is showing a QamFree engine at the auto show in Guangzhou. The engine, the latest result of its cooperation with FreeValve, which was established by race-carmaker Koenigsegg, can cut fuel consumption by 15 percent.

Its electric concept car, Qoros 3 QLECTRIQ EV, also shown at the auto show, can travel 350 kilometers on one charge.

The production model will start running off the assembly line in 2017.
Joachim Wedler, Audi China head, at a press conference of Auto Guangzhou 2016 on Nov 17, 2016. Li Fusheng / China Daily

Of all the interviews Joachim Wedler has done since he became Audi China head late last year, the most repetitive and tormenting was probably the one he conducted during Auto Guangzhou 2016.

Fewer than 10 reporters were allowed to meet him on Nov 17 and all of them had the same topic in their notebooks. They wanted details about Audi's partnership with SAIC Motor, which had been made public three days earlier.

Shanghai-listed SAIC Motor said in a letter to investors on Nov 14 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Audi's parent company, Volkswagen AG, to produce and sell Audi models and explore the possibility of selling smart mobility services.

Confronted with a barrage of questions about the partnership, Wedler was as elusive as possible, merely saying "the evolution is continuing and nothing is fixed" and that Volkswagen AG's success in China showed it has good relations with both SAIC and FAW, the first partner to have localized Audi models in China.

Although beating around the bush about Audi-SAIC cooperation, Wedler instead reiterated that Audi had worked out a 10-year development plan with FAW, including introducing five e-tron models in five years with their joint venture, FAW-Volkswagen, in which Audi has a 10 percent stake.

However, the remarks kindled more curiosity about how Audi will decide what joint venture will produce which models, because localization and sales of new-energy vehicles were also specified in the memorandum with SAIC Motor.

Wedler failed to give direct answers, but repeated that "Volkswagen has long-term experience in how to deal with 'one brand, two parties' and has made quite impressive and successful business" from such structures.

That answer gave little satisfaction to reporters. Even less satisfied were FAW Volkswagen's Audi dealers, who were not informed of the deal with SAIC. They presented a letter to the automaker on Nov 15, demanding direct responses from Audi within 10 days about how to protect their interests.

The letter said some dealers were already facing high inventories and other financial pressures, and "the interests of Audi dealers will be further damaged if you set up a new sales company". There are around 500 authorized Audi dealers across the country.

Michael-Julius Renz, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen's Audi sales division, who appeared beside Wedler at the press conference, said he had high respect for the dealers' direct questions and that it was "fine to take them and look for solutions".

There were reports that a senior executive from Audi AG will meet with dealers on Monday.

When asked how he feels about Audi-SAIC cooperation, Renz gave a confident smile and said: "Whoever is the competitor, we are strong enough to compete."

Renz is well qualified to say this. Audi has been the best performer in China's premium car market, and the absolute majority of cars it sold were localized models.

Despite Renz's confidence, analysts believe rivalry between Audi's two partnerships is inevitable and is likely to make China's already fierce premium car market even more complicated.

They believe head-on competition between the two joint ventures will result in them cutting car prices, which may get other carmakers involved in price wars and their rankings will reshuffle.

Audi sold 440,233 cars in the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong in the first nine months of this year, representing 6.2 percent growth year-on-year.

In the same period, BMW's sales rose 10.6 percent to 379,000 units, and Mercedes-Benz sold 344,791 units, a 29.5 percent surge year-on-year.

FAW has not yet made any public comment on the Audi-SAIC partnership, but Volkswagen AG's China head, Jochem Heizmann, reluctantly told reporters during the Guangzhou auto show that FAW was informed of the deal before it was signed.

The answer came after a reporter from the China Economic Net posed the question to Heizmann. The reporter said the Volkswagen executive hesitated for several seconds and took several gulps of cold water before giving his answer.
Great Wall Club Inc, the company behind the Global Mobile Internet Conference, is ramping up resources to help internet companies to enter India, betting big on the potential market.

The Beijing-based company held the GMIC in Bangalore, India on Nov 16 and 17. The event, themed Mobile Infinity, attracted 66 exhibitors, over 6000 attendees in the mobile internet industry, and 229 media representatives, the company said.

Company Co-CEO Hao Yi said: "the platform aims to connect mobile industry leaders around the globe and facilitate their localization in the Indian market."

It brought together high-end member companies, like Chinese tech giants Baidu Inc and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, and shared global resources in the cutting-edge mobile technologies, he added.

India has become a sought-after place in recent years. An increasing number of Chinese internet companies are reportedly heading for the market, pinning high hopes on the mobile business there.

China's outbound investment in India was forecasted to reach a minimum of $5 billion from 2015 to 2018, a more than fourfold gain in the cumulative investment value in the past 15 years from 2000, Ministry of Commerce research fellow Xu Changwen wrote in a research note.

Baidu Inc, after setting up an office in the outskirts of the Indian capital of New Delhi last year, will continue to work on its mobile-advertising DU Ad Platform to meet the locals' needs, said Li Weilin, Baidu's head of global marketing.

He found that a partnership with Great Wall Club Inc had played an important role in accessing the Indian market.

"GWC is a great partner, very knowledgeable about Baidu's international strategy and the Indian market. And it is always ready to offer a tailored service to facilitate our localization there," Li added.

India became the world's second biggest mobile internet market after China, as its mobile internet users increased to 325 million, according to data compiled by the Beijing-based developer SHAREit Technologies Co Ltd.

Data indicates the market still has plenty of room for growth. For instance, the amount of smartphone shipments was forecasted to top 369 million in 2018, up 24.66 percent from 2015.

Dozens of barriers, however, stand in the way - beyond the obvious cultural barriers of the Indian market.

Kika Tech Inc, a Beijing-based input method developer, has been putting great efforts into expanding its offline retailing presence, ensuring system compatibility and building local networks, said its vice president and head of operations and growth, Ma Xuefeng.

"Through the conference, we hope to promote our brands across the whole country, and build a closer relationship with local smartphone vendors and telecom carriers, as well as other Chinese counterparts," Ma said.

The company started to make inroads into India in the middle of the year. Ma said Kika reached millions of daily active users on average in India, and the number is projected to exceed tens of millions in 2017.
SALT LAKE CITY, the United States - Is China now becoming a supercomputing power?

Judging just by numbers, it looks that way. According to the latest edition of the Top 500 list released this week at Salt Lake City, China currently not only hosts the top two fastest supercomputers in the world, but also ties with the United States for first place in the total number of installed systems.

The machine sitting on top of the rankings, called Sunway TaihuLight, is especially remarkable in that it's almost exclusively based on technology developed in China, including processors. What's more, it delivers almost the same performance as the next five most powerful systems on the semiannual list combined.

However, many experts, especially those from China, have different views. While China is rapidly on the rise on the global supercomputing stage, the country still has a long way to go to become a peer competitor to the United States, they believe.

Rapid development

"I was quite impressed with the engineering quality of TaihuLight, different from previous Chinese machines," Professor Satoshi Matsuoka from the Tokyo Institute of Technology tweeted after a close look at the system himself at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, China, in early November.

In particular, Satoshi, a renowned supercomputing expert, mentioned of the machine's "excellent" physical design, "aggressive" designs, "impressive" software and application efforts, as well as "no expensive parts."

As a result, he concluded that China "now truly rivals US, Japan" in the field of high performance computing (HPC).

How things have changed! Back in 2001, none of the systems on the Top500 list were installed in China.

"It's clear that there has been a lot of investments in this technology if you look at, maybe, a 15-year timeframe from about 2000 on, China is (now) on a very, very competitive stage," Top500 co-author Horst Simon said in an interview with Xinhua.

When asked when China will be a "serious challenger" to the United States in supercomputing, Simon, Deputy Director of the US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, answered with confidence: "Oh, already now."

The rise of China in the HPC field will have positive implications for the country's national security, especially after last year's surprising move by the U.S government that, citing security concerns, blocked the supply of Intel chips to four Chinese supercomputing research centers, said Zizhong Chen, a supercomputing expert at the University of California, Riverside.

"The fact that Chinese have built the fastest supercomputer using their own CPUs and interconnection networks implies China will not have to worry about any US supercomputer chip ban any more," said Chen.

Overseas expansion

It's also worth mentioning that China now has four companies among the top 10 vendors of the list: Lenovo, Sugon, Inspur and Huawei. These companies sold 173 systems in total, accounting for one third of the list. In June 2015, there were only 10 such systems from Chinese vendors.

"Chinese manufactures like Lenovo and Huawei are doing well globally," said Jack Dongarra, professor of the University of Tennessee and coauthor of the Top500."The others not really, just in China which is a big market."

Both Sugon and Inspur, however, told Xinhua at the 2016 supercomputing conference at Salt Lake City, that they're now shifting their expansion focus to overseas markets.

"To be honest, our international expansion is still in early stages," Cao Zhennan, general manager of the HPC Department at Sugon. "But it's our next step."

Progress in HPC applications

Of course, the numbers aren't everything. While China has demonstrated its strength in hardware, the country does have its shortcomings, such as software.

"Supercomputing is a whole ecosystem, it consists of hardware, software, applications, the education, infrastructure, (efforts) to build next generation of scientists, and also I think a certain readiness in universities, research institutes, companies to engage in this," said Simon of Berkeley Lab.

"It's very difficult to do these many different things at one time ... so I think it will take a bit longer (to become a supercomputing power), and in that sense, China still has a number of things to accomplish."

However, China's progress in HPC applications did impress the highly respected US expert deeply, who recalled a lack of applications for China's Tianhe-1A in 2010 when the machine became the first Chinese system to take over the top spot of the Top500 list.

"When the Taihulight system was announced (this June), there were several application presentations and these are very good application presentations, they (Chinese) told me that a lot of Chinese scientists have now learned much faster how to use in the architecture," Simon said.

"So I think things have significantly progressed, and there may be still some other things missing, but it's clear, given that the hardware is there, the applications are there, and the infrastructure is there and getting a lot of support, China has made huge progress towards using supercomputers," he said.

On Thursday, one of the applications, named "10M-Core Scalable Fully-Implicit Solver for Nonhydrostatic Atmospheric Dynamics," was awarded the 2016 ACM Gordon Bell Prize, a top honor in supercomputing, at the 2016 supercomputing conference. It is the first time a Chinese application has won the award.

Strong sense of crisis

The most noticeable weakness in China's HPC industry was its heavy dependence on US processors.

"China imports a lot of semiconductors. If you look at today, semiconductor is everywhere, in any type of industrial products," Simon said. "So if China has ambitions to grow all the manufacturing of high-end goods, China obviously needs to invest much in semiconductors to have a bigger domestic production of semiconductors. I think that is a big issue."

"Without mastering the processor technology, we will never be a supercomputing power," Cao of Sugon said.

Liu Jun, Inspur's HPC general manager, stressed he has "a strong sense of crisis" after studying the latest Top500 list.

"Most of the US supercomputers are deployed in national laboratories, universities and research institutes, and they have invested a lot in this area and have updated their systems very quickly," said Liu.

"But many of our supercomputers are just Internet data centers. In the US, they are not considered supercomputers. Universities and research institutes in China need this infrastructure, but our investments for them are small, so much more work needs to be done."

"If we are blindly optimistic for these good numbers, the gap between us and the United States will be widened, rather than narrowed, Liu warned.
Clockwise from top: The formal residence of Sun Yat-sen now serves as a museum of the forerunner of China's democratic revolution. Provided To China Daily Guests from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan attend the Zhongshan Cross-Straits Forum in Guangdong province. Provided To China Daily A visitor to the Museum of Sun Yat-sen reads about the revolutionary leader. Xinhua

Senior officials and experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan promised at an ongoing forum to further promote the peaceful reunification of the country and expand exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits.

They also commemorated the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth during the third Zhongshan Cross-Straits Forum, which is being held in the prosperous city in Guangdong from Thursday to Saturday.

The three-day event is expected to strengthen cultural bonds across the Taiwan Straits.

Qi Xuchun, vice-chairman of China's top political advisory body, said Sun is not only a great national hero and patriot, but also the forerunner of China's democratic revolution and an instrumental player in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), ending feudalism in the country.

"Sun is respected by all Chinese people around the world," Qi told the forum.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Sun's spirit and thoughts will always encourage Chinese people to seek national unity and fight against separatists.

Sun's spirit and thoughts are the common wealth of both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Zhang said.

"Adherence to the 1992 Consensus is the political foundation for peaceful development and stability of cross-Straits relations and also for both sides of the Taiwan Straits to carry out substantial positive interactions," said Zhang.

Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong, said the province expects to advance its already very close economic relationship with Taiwan.

"We particularly hope to expand our cooperation with Taiwan in trade, investment, science and technology, culture, agriculture and tourism in the following years," Zhu said.

"Relevant government departments will do what they can to protect the legal rights of Taiwan investors in Guangdong, one of the mainland's economic powerhouses," Zhu said.

According to Zhu, Guangdong has attracted more than 27,000 Taiwan-invested projects, with investment totalling $62.8 billion.

Guangdong's trade with Taiwan surpassed $60 billion last year, representing one-third of the mainland's total. More than 200,000 Taiwan people are now living in Guangdong.

Zhu said he believed the forum will also be able to play an important role in promoting Chinese culture around the world and help to establish long-term cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Jiao Lansheng, mayor of Zhongshan, said his government will use the forum as a platform to expand its economic ties with Taiwan and contribute to mutual development.

"Organizing the special forum is of great significance for Zhongshan, which is enjoying rapid economic growth," Jiao said.

"Zhongshan expects to provide a platform for scientific innovation, exchanges and cooperation between the youth across the Taiwan Straits," he said.

"The city government is sparing no effort to further its cooperation with the country's biggest island and achieve win-win deals in the following years," he added. Zhongshan, formerly known as Xiangshan, is the hometown of Sun Yat-sen, founder of Kuomintang and modern China. Sun was born in the city in 1866 and died of illness in Beijing in March 1925.

Sun devoted his life to the cause of reunification, which was also the aspiration of all Chinese people who fell victim to the endless clashes between warlords and the West-led invasion back then, Jiao said.

The forum is jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Work Office, the Guangdong provincial government and the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, and has been undertaken by the Office of Taiwan Affairs of Guangdong province, the Zhongshan city government and Sun Yat-sen University.

Attendees of the forum's opening ceremony on Thursday included John Chiang, honorable vice-chairman of Kuomintang, Yok Mu-ming, Taiwan's New Party chairman, and other senior officials, as well as experts and scholars from across the Taiwan Straits.

In addition to the main forum, special sub-forums and related events, including the Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy sub-forum, have also been held in Zhongshan in the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University.

Participants of the military forum called on Huangpu alumni and their families to carry forward the spirit of Sun, the founder of the school, and jointly contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
China urges Mongolia to eliminate negative impacts of Dalai Lama visit

Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-21 07:53

BEIJING - China on Sunday urged Mongolia to eliminate the negative impacts of the Dalai Lama's visit and refrain from disturbing the healthy development of China-Mongolia ties.



Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said regardless of China's repeated dissuasions, the Mongolian side insisted inviting the Dalai Lama for visit.

China voices strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the Dalai Lama's visit to Mongolia, said Geng.



The 14th Dalai Lama has long engaged in anti-China secessionist activities, said Geng, adding that the Dalai Lama is a political exile that attempts to split Tibet from the Chinese territory under the cloak of religion.



China is firmly opposed to the anti-China secessionist activities by the Dalai Lama in any capacity and under any name, as well as any contacts between the Dalai Lama and the authorities of any countries, said Geng.



China urged Mongolia to recognize the separatist nature of the Dalai Lama clique, show respect to China's core interests and major concern, and take effective measures to remove the negative impacts of the Dalai Lama's visit, so as to avoid disturbing the sound development of China-Mongolia relations, he said.
Issues remain over financing; outline is still incomplete

The Marrakech Climate Conference marked a new start for the global community to turn the Paris Agreement on climate change into action, but negotiations on climate financing will continue as progress on this issue remains slow, the head of the Chinese delegation said on Saturday.

Xie Zhenhua, Chinese climate special envoy, said that overall, the two-week conference, which closed on Saturday morning, was a success.

"Nations that ratified the Paris Agreement reaffirmed their commitments to achieve goals submitted to the United Nations. These have injected confidence at a time when we are moving forward and help accelerate actions across a broad range of issues to tackle climate change challenges," Xie said.

A total of 111 of the 193 parties who sealed the Paris Agreement in December last year had ratified the agreement when the latest conference closed.

However, further negotiations are needed on issues involving the interests of developing countries, Xie said, referring to arrangements for adaptation funding and money for capacity building.

Although the concerns of developing countries were addressed during the meetings, issues on financing have yet to reach a satisfactory outcome, Xie said.

In the Paris Agreement, developed countries pledged to provide $100 billion in funding by 2020 to help developing countries combat climate change.

"The road map proposed by developed countries this year has not yet reached the expectations of developing countries, including transparency and how to calculate the sources of funds," said Gu Zihua, a representative of the Chinese delegation. "Developed nations have yet to clarify the difference between mobilizing and arranging the funds."

Zou Ji, deputy director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy, said that it is crucial to make sure developing countries' demands can be adequately met while implementing the Paris Agreement.
Half of world's people live in cities, giving mayors great power to make a difference

People at home and abroad can expect some bold and exciting outcomes from the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai, according to Bernhard Schwartlander, World Health Organization representative in China, who is also the conference spokesman.

He made the remarks in an interview with China Daily on the eve of the conference, which is to run from Monday through Thursday this week, gathering more than 1,000 leaders in politics, health and development from China and abroad.

"Leaders will take concrete action to promote health and sustainable urban development through the adoption of the Shanghai Declaration and the Shanghai Consensus on Healthy Cities at the conference," Schwartlander said.

This will involve empowering and mobilizing communities and societies across the world to promote health awareness within communities and improve the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, he said.

The conference came after the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued the "Healthy China 2030" plan, which recognizes a "health-in-all policies" approach to improving people's well-being.

"That, again, demonstrates the commitment to health promotion by the top leadership," said Song Shuli, spokeswoman of China's top health authority.

Schwartlander said the conference would serve as a platform for international communication, adding that it will feature a forum of more than 100 city mayors from China and around the world, focusing on how cities can promote healthily living.

Half of the world's population live in urban areas, and this figure is expected to grow to about two-thirds by 2030.

"Mayors have the power to improve the lives and well-being of residents," Schwartlander said.

Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, and US and WHO goodwill ambassador for noncommunicable diseases, will address the conference via video link.

Bloomberg was famous for pushing policies such as a soda tax and a higher legal age limit for smoking, said Liu Yuanli, dean of the School of Public Health at Peking Union Medical College.

In addition, the conference will gather leaders from the private sector, Schwartlander said. "They promote health through technologies and innovations."

Related panels with Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu, and Baroness Joanna Shields - UK minister for internet safety and security and founder of WeProtect, a pioneering global alliance to end sexual exploitation online - will discuss entrepreneurship and innovative approaches for delivering health outcomes, Schwartlander said.

It is only through a range of sectors such as police, city planners, education, transport and others coming together that health issues can be addressed, he added, suggesting multi-sector collaboration within the government.

Many public health challenges cut across various sectors, such as tackling noncommunicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance or infectious disease, he said.

"To meaningfully address these issues, the health sector cannot do it alone, and a joint effort is needed."

For example, he cited finance ministries raising taxes on unhealthy products, transport and police ministries coming together to tackle road deaths and injuries, as well as tobacco control.

"To effectively curb smoking, we need to raise taxes on tabacco and make policies that create 100 percent smoke-free spaces and promote plain packaging to remove the glamorous image of smoking," he said.
The Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone in Shanghai has become a precision medicine development hotspot.

Precision medicine is a bold new research effort to revolutionize methods of improving health and treating disease.

Under this model, medical decisions, practices and products are tailored to the individual patient.

Related diagnostic testing is often used to select appropriate and optimal therapies based on a patient's genetic content or other molecular or cellular analyses.

In short, precision medicine aims to match the right drugs and treatment to the right person.

As part of a national plan to develop such services, several biopharmaceutical companies in the Zhangjiang demonstration zone have focused on developing aspects of precision medicine, such as gene detection and early assessment of tumor risk.

Tumor detection and risk assessment are among the most important parts of precision medicine, including susceptibility gene detection, early screening, diagnosis and evaluation of personalized medication guidance and follow-up services, experts said.

Gene sequencing technology, which involves early warning, prevention and treatment of genetic diseases, chronic diseases and cancer, has been creating more opportunities for early detection of tumors.

Gene sequencing is a scientific way of detecting certain genes, which has become increasingly popular over the past decade.

With a drop of blood or a little saliva, medical staff can predict the risk of a patient suffering certain diseases.

The gene sequencing services industry has seen recent annual growth of 20 percent, and its market size has increased from $8 million in 2007 to tens of billions of dollars, industry sources said.

In the 1970s, the first generation of gene sequencing equipment appeared in the best laboratories in the United States. In the 1990s, scientists completed the first human genome sequencing at a cost of $3 billion.

Since then, the second generation of gene sequencing instruments has been developed.

In 2010, the third generation of gene sequencing instruments was developed and, now, the fourth generation means that human genome sequencing can be done in one day.

More importantly, the cost has been greatly reduced, and is now about $1,000.

At present, there are more than 1,000 medical organizations in the US offering gene sequencing services, from which around 8 million people benefit each year.

In China, the development of the gene sequencing sector is still in its early stages but it is growing quickly and will continue to grow at 20 to 30 percent compound annual growth, industry insiders said.

The Shanghai Precision Medicine Big Data Center, which was established in the Zhangjiang demonstration zone in November 2015, will develop a large intelligent, integrated digital engine, and process and analyze clinical information and varied medical data.

It will establish a clinical data center of major diseases among the Chinese population, a reference laboratory, a large analysis engine for multidimensional biomedical information integration, a cloud computing system, the world's largest big data medical network system and a joint center of molecular medicine.

Officials said the center will play a fundamental role in forming national medical data standards, building an industry service platform, and providing precision medicine systematic solutions and translational studies.

A gene-testing center for high-incidence tumors and genetic diseases has also been established in Zhangjiang. Such a national-level demonstration project will greatly improve the prevention of major diseases, such as genetic diseases and cancers.
Shanghai Desano Chemical Pharmaceutical Co, based in the Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, is playing a significant role in supporting China's anti-HIV campaign.

Established in 2005, Desano is one of the largest producers of HIV-related medicines in the country, in terms of product variety and production scale.

As a government-designated manufacturer, it is responsible for providing medicines to about half of those diagnosed with HIV in China. It is also one of the largest domestic HIV drug ingredients suppliers and exporters.

As an early mover in developing such products in the country, Desano is one of the first batch of companies that obtained approval from the China Food and Drug Administration to produce HIV-related drugs locally.

In 2015, Desano reported 1.67 billion yuan ($224.55 million) in sales revenue and 147 million yuan in net profit.

It is the first Chinese company to pass the World Health Organization's assessments to produce ingredients for HIV drugs. It passed the United States' Food and Drug Administration's inspection for three medicines in this field in 2009.

In July 2015, Desano reached a strategic agreement with ViiV Healthcare UK Ltd, a global HIV specialist established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Pfizer Inc, to produce dolutegravir in China. Dolutegravir is an approved medicine for HIV treatment.

The agreement has offered an additional source of the dolutegravir active pharmaceutical ingredient, and allows ViiV Healthcare to offer a competitive supply of the finished product for China and a number of developing countries, according to the company.

"This manufacturing agreement with Desano for dolutegravir is a significant achievement to facilitate access to our medicines," said Dominique Limet, CEO of ViiV Healthcare in 2015.

"With our recent agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool and our other access initiatives, this deal is aligned with our ongoing commitment to improve access to our medicines in countries where the need is greatest," Limet said.

Kan Ying, president of Desano, said: "We believe that working together with ViiV Healthcare we can better contribute to the global goal of making treatment options available to patients across the globe."

MPP has provided approval to Desano to produce six types of HIV medicines and their ingredients in China. The company has been authorized to sell the products to 110 low and middle-income countries, including India, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania.

MPP is a United-Nations-backed public health organization working to increase access to treatments for HIV, viral hepatitis C and tuberculosis in low and middle-income countries.

"MPP's decision is recognition of the efforts of Chinese companies and will promote the internationalization of Chinese businesses," according to a statement from the company. "It affirmed our commitment to anti-virus medicines development and we feel confident about strengthening investment in related areas," the statement added.

Desano has developed strong research and development capacities in the last decade. It is one of only a few that has influence over core anti-HIV technologies across the world and has 118 authorized patents, 95 of which are domestic.

Desano's R&D center in Shanghai has a 6,000-squaremeter professional experiment area, which is designed and equipped according to Good Manufacturing Practice standards. It has a multi-background R&D team that can provide effective solutions in new medicine development processes.

The developer has established strong ties with leading research institutions and universities such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fudan University and Nankai University to develop products based on market demand.

Global cooperation is an effective way to support Desano's development, said the company's decision-makers.

It has established cooperation with famous research institutions such as the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and Johns Hopkins University to become more informed about the most advanced technologies in the world.
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A hillside town in Central China has boosted living standards through the introduction of real estate tourism. Hou Liqiang and Zhou Lihua report from Moudao, Hubei province

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of reports China Daily will publish in the coming weeks focusing on efforts to eradicate poverty and raise living standards in the country's rural areas, especially among members of the nation's 55 ethnic groups.

Moudao was once a deserted place where people could hardly harvest enough to eat from the limited infertile farmland that would only support potatoes and corn.

In those days, there were few people to be seen on the 3.5-meter-wide road in the mountain-encompassed town, especially adults because most of them had moved to other towns to live as migrant workers, according to Qin Taixiang."The average per capita cultivated land in my village, Yaocai, is less than 1 mu (0.07 hectare).

People thought their lives were good if they have enough potatoes to eat. Almost 80 percent of the adults left town temporarily, and the terrible conditions prompted more than 10 households to relocate to other areas permanently," said the 56-year-old resident of the town in the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei province.

The large number of villagers who left resulted in Moudao being nicknamed "the biggest source of migrant workers in Hubei", and Wang Houjun, the mayor, said half of the town's 70,000 residents were once employed elsewhere.

Profound changes occurred, however, after the local government brought in real estate tourism developers in 2011 as part of a poverty relief campaign that made full use of Moudao's natural advantages: a high rate of green coverage and cool temperatures during summer.
BEIJING -- China's Central Military Commission (CMC) has issued a regulation on improving real combat abilities in military training.

The regulation provided criteria for implementing real-combat military training.

The regulation said that prominent problems in military training should be rectified and military training should be carried out based on battlefield situations.

The regulation also demanded intensified training through strict assessment and improved support resources for military training.

Discipline inspection departments should function well and punish violators in a timely manner, according to the regulation.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police force should stipulate concrete measures to implement the criteria to raise combat ability in military training, the regulation said.
A Bulgarian expert poses for a photo with artificial intelligent robots produced by iFLYTEK Co Ltd, a Hefei-based smart voice enterprise, on Nov 17, 2016. [Photo by Wang Mengzhen/chinadaily.com.cn]

The breadth and depth of scientific innovations taking place in Hefei left foreign experts surprised as they visited science institutes and high-tech enterprises in the central Chinese city from Nov 16 to 19.

Among all the innovation hubs they visited, a tour to iFLYTEK Co Ltd, a leading Chinese firm engaged in speech and voice recognition technologies, grabbed much of their attention. The company showcased how the iFLYTEK input mobile app, smart home and the intelligent vehicle system will change artificial intelligence (AI) and our lifestyle.

The latest statistics from the market resource provider Research and Markets show that iFLYTEK ranked fifth among the global intelligent voice players in 2015, just behind Nuance, Google, Microsoft and Apple. Meanwhile, the company claimed more than 70 percent share of Chinese smart voice market last year.

"We have already become a major player in the global smart voice industry, and now we are competing against advanced internet companies from America," Pan Shuai, a manager of iFLYTEK's International Business Development team, told foreign experts.

Michael Borchmann, Honorary Adviser of International Investment Promotion Agency at the Commerce Ministry of China, was one of the 15 foreign opinion makers visiting Hefei.

"I was so impressed by how far the technical development in the field of digitalization has progressed. It was really fascinating to see what they are working on," said Borchmann.

The city is home to 1,056 national-level high-tech enterprises and 959 research institutes. This includes the Institute of Advanced Technology under the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), where the well-known lifelike robot "Jiajia" was produced.
SHANGHAI -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday said that China will continue to promote global health issues while providing assistance to other developing countries.



Li made the remarks during a speech in Shanghai at the opening ceremony of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion (GCHP).



China has taken an active role in pushing forward global health, Li said, adding that China will continue to honor its international obligations.



In the past 50 years China has sent 20,000 medical workers to 67 countries and regions, treating more than 260 million patients, Li said.



When an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa in 2014, China immediately sent 1,200 medical workers and public health experts to the affected areas, significantly helping to defeat the epidemic, Li said.



The conference is jointly organized by China and the World Health Organization (WHO) and is being held in Shanghai from November 21 to 24.



Titled "Promoting health in the Sustainable Development Goals: Health for all and all for health," 1,000 representatives from the politics, health and development fields, including leading politicians from over 100 countries, participated in the conference, according to the WHO.



Since the first GCHP in 1986, the conference has become a key platform for the WHO and member states to discuss important global health issues and set the agenda for promoting health worldwide.
Three men in Wuhu, a city in East China's Anhui province, have been handed suspended prison sentences for killing a Yangtze alligator.

The reptile was one of 92 alligators raised on a farm that escaped when heavy floods hit the area in July.

While local authorities and farmworkers were busy recapturing the escaped alligators, which are an endangered species, the three men surnamed Wei, Liu and Wang found one in some farmland nearby.

Instead of reporting their find to local police, as required in an emergency notice released after the escape, the men bludgeoned the alligator to death with sticks and brought it to a local restaurant.

At the restaurant, a friend of the three men filmed them butchering the alligator, broadcasting their actions live on social media.

Using the video evidence, local police launched an investigation and the men were subsequently detained.

A local court has now sentenced Wei to three years imprisonment and Liu and Wang to two years, suspended for four, three and two years, respectively.
Canada's Alberta province and Guangdong province in South China signed a series of cooperative agreements to expand economic ties in Guangzhou on Monday.

Deron Bilous, Alberta's minister of economic development and trade, said the Canadian province attaches great importance to Guangdong's market.

"Alberta is particularly expecting to expand cooperation with Guangdong in the industries of energy, clean energy, environment, aviation, culture, and education," Bilous told the Alberta-Guangdong Trade and Investment Conference in Guangzhou on Monday.

Ma Hua, deputy director general of Guangdong provincial department of commerce, said Guangdong has already established close economic relations with Canada and is expecting to further advance its cooperation with Alberta, in particular.

"The cooperation with Alberta is of mutual benefit," he said.

Bilous' visit, which began on Sunday, is his second official sojourn to Guangdong within the past six months.

His participation, with an Alberta business delegation, at the China (Guangdong)-Canada Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference held by the Guangdong government in Vancouver in May resulted in the signing of memorandum of understanding between Guangdong and Alberta on economic and trade cooperation.

Shen Haixiong, a standing committee member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and head of Guangdong's publicity department, traveled to Alberta in September and met with Bilous, reaching a consensus on developing closer cultural ties and exploring opportunities for future collaboration in the culture, tourism and media sectors.

The Canadian official and his delegation are scheduled to visit Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Tuesday before traveling to Shanghai and Yantai in Shandong province later in the week.
The Chinese government will put healthcare at the top of its agenda and continue to promote reform in the medical and healthcare system, said Premier Li Keqiang while addressing the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai on Nov 21.

Premier Li said healthcare should be highlighted in making public policies, social-economic plans and government budgets, especially in rural and poor areas.

"We should give more support to health services in rural and poor areas, training general practitioners, developing remote medical care and traditional Chinese medicine, and helping the poor with medical insurance," he said.

He pledged to further reform the healthcare system  including setting up a multi-leveled medical treatment system, integrating medical insurance for urban and rural residents, and setting up a national network for medical insurance information.

In addition, he said China should provide a "cradle-to-grave" medical service, covering people's whole life span, and encourage the market to develop the health industry.

Since healthcare reform was launched in 2009, China has set up a universal health insurance network for over 1.3 billion people. Now the average life expectancy for Chinese people is 76.3 years, maternal mortality rate is 20.1 per 100,000  numbers higher than the average for middle-high-income countries. The Chinese government plans to raise average life expectancy to 79 years by 2030, with major health index catching up with high-income countries.
Premier Li Keqiang called for more international cooperation in improving human health conditions, while addressing the opening ceremony of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai on Nov 21.

The Premier offered several proposals for future global efforts in health promotion. Health promotion is a crucial part of pushing ahead the UN 2030 sustainable development agenda, he said.

He emphasized building cooperative platforms to support the leading role of the World Health Organization (WHO), promote domestic legislation, and encourage developing countries' participation.

The Premier highlighted building a global public health security risk prevention and control system, calling for efforts to improve global disease surveillance and emergency mechanism and training to deal with any public health emergency.

"The Chinese government supports WHO to set up emergency teams and funds, and calls on developed countries to assist developing countries in building their public health system," he said.

Countries should advance joint research in health technology, and promote the use of technological results in controlling antibiotic resistance, advanced medical technology, and drug development for better health services, he added.

Premier Li also stressed the integrated development of traditional and modern medicines.

In the span of half a century, China has sent more than 20,000 medical workers to 67 countries and regions, offering medical treatment to over 260 million people, and will continue its efforts to help improve health conditions worldwide, he said.

During the past 30 years, average lifespan worldwide rose more than eight years, and maternal and infant mortality rates and the mortality rate for children under 5 dropped by half.
Photo taken on Nov 15 shows the sewer robot being deployed in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. [Photo by Li Hui/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, has started to use robots to inspect the city's underground sewer network.

The city's water affairs authority used to send workers down to inspect underground pipes, but some are not large enough, making internal inspection impossible. In other cases, there is poisonous gas in the pipes, threatening the safety of inspectors.

Sewer robots were developed by a local company thanks to advances in the fields of electronics and motion control engineering.

They are shaped like a model car, with four wheels and a flexible, revolving head that features a high definition camera and searchlights.

A cable connects the robot to a control device operated by the inspectors, who can direct the robot's movements and see the images it transmits.
Before completion of a replacement ladder, children going home from school in May (left) climb a rattan ladder up a cliff to their isolated village on a mountain in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province. On Saturday, the children scale a new steel ladder (right), which saves them an hour on average on the way home. CHEN JIE / BEIJING NEWS

Two days before the start of the weeklong Yi lunar new year holiday, students from a remote village in Sichuan province returned home on Saturday.

But unlike previous years, they had a much safer way of getting home  climbing a steel ladder instead of old rickety rattan ladders.

"The steel ladder has reduced the time it takes to return home by more than an hour. It's much safer, and I no longer feel scared," said Mose Niuniu, a 6-year-old student.

The boy is one of 15 children from 72 households in Atuleer village in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture who used to rely on an 800-meter-long network of rattan ladders without railings on their way to and from their boarding school every two weeks.

The village is on the top of a cliff more than 1,400 meters above sea level. Its only link to the outside world is the ladder.

The rattan structure, made up of a chain of 17 smaller ladders tied together without any railings or other safety features, had been used by villagers for years.

Villagers had to use them to reach the nearest market several kilometers away once a week to buy necessities and sell their farm produce, including peppers and walnuts.

According to Song Ming, an information officer for the prefecture government, there are many rattan structures in his area, but the one leading to Atuleer was the most dangerous.

He has scaled rattan ladders before, but when he scaled the one connected to Atuleer in August, Song said he was terrified.

"Tragedies took place from time to time. This year, a villager in his 40s died after falling off the ladder," said Er Dijiang, head of Atuleer village.

Photos of village children creeping up the cliff on the rattan ladders published by a Beijing newspaper in May sparked public outcry, prompting Liangshan officials to address the issue.

But it was impossible to relocate the villagers, who said they did not want to leave their time-honored habitat. So Lin Shucheng, Party chief of the prefecture, promised to build a steel ladder to replace the rattan ladders to ensure the safety of the villagers.

The steel ladder, complete with handrails, was built at a cost of 1 million yuan ($145,000), with the local governments splitting the cost.
As the Mercedes-Benz's "Year of Innovation" draws to a close, executives from Daimler sat down with media representatives during the Guangzhou Auto Show and made it clear that the German premium automaker is listening closely to China's distinctive personalities and voices and reflecting this in their brand offerings.

"We are looking at what is it that we need to do to make sure that whatever systems and features we're bringing meet Chinese customer needs," said Nicholas Speeks, president and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co Ltd, during an interview at the auto show.

It is clear that the product development for Daimler is increasingly being addressed through Chinese eyes. This focus on China is evident in the company's preparation for China to become the world's largest new energy vehicles market.

At this year's Guangzhou Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz not only unveiled its Concept EQ all-electric SUV, but also hinted at big plans for the EQ brand.

"To me, there is no doubt China will be the biggest NEV market in the world," said Hubertus Troska, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for China.

"There is a strong vision for this happening. And EQ will be built and sold in China."

Just last year, Daimler estimated that 3 percent of its global product portfolio would be comprised of new energy vehicles by 2025.

However, recent market shifts, particularly consumer and government policy trends in China, have given the company confidence that it can elevate the proportion of new energy vehicles in its global product lineup to somewhere between 15 and 25 percent by 2025.

"In all fairness, we don't know whether this proportion will be 15 percent or 25 percent, but the key takeaway is we are going all-in," said Troska.

"This is a big and significant range, and this is why we created EQ. We are really investing everything."

These developments fall in line with the Chinese government's recent announcement of a new energy vehicle credit policy draft, which establishes an 8-percent new energy vehicle sale benchmark for auto makers in China, though details are still unclear.

"I can't predict exactly what the outcome will be, but as far as the regulatory side is concerned, we're in close contact with our partners, who happen to be very well established in the NEV market in China," said Troska.

"We are looking at how to best position ourselves."

He also said that the relevance of the Chinese market for Daimler comes hand-in-hand with influencing global product decisions, because Daimler's product strategy needs to take China into account.

Mercedes-Benz's close relationship with its Chinese customer base has paid off, and the company's impressive growth in China has elevated the company globally.

"China contributes to this effort, and although we are still third in China in terms of sales volume, we have narrowed the gap between ourselves and our competitors," said Speeks.

"However, we have no overreaching target to be number one in China, and instead want steady, sustainable growth that can be supported not only by our shareholders and partners, but also our dealers."

Mercedes-Benz is attempting to not only increase sales in China, but to evolve in a way which creates real value for customers in China. This requires humility and patience, as well as initiative.

"Our growth is based on our customers pulling us, and not us pushing our customers," said Speeks.

(China Daily 11/21/2016 page15)
BuzzFeed editor and writer Matt Stopera and Li Hongjun ("Brother Orange") pose with Ellen DeGeneres during Li's US trip. [File photo/China.org.cn] The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons would join the cast of a film about a weirdly sensational Chinese-American friendship, based on a true event.

The actor will play the role of BuzzFeed editor and writer Matt Stopera in the upcoming movie, which tells the true story of Stopera's life. In 2014, his phone was stolen while he was at a bar in New York City. A year later, the cellphone made its way to China and random pictures began appearing on his photo stream, including a number of pictures of a Chinese man in front of an orange tree.

This encouraged him to write a series of stories about his experience. When his story went viral in China, Stopera had the chance to meet the man, Li Hongjun ("Brother Orange"), in Meizhou, Guangdong province, who had his iPhone. The story exploded on social media platform Weibo, gaining more than 20 million views in 24 hours and over 100 million total shares. Back in the US, the two became overnight stars and appeared on The Ellen Show.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Warner Bros. and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures teamed up with Parsons and the actor's partner, Todd Spiewak, under That's Wonderful Productions, to produce the upcoming untitled film of the internet phenomenon.

Stopera is executive producing the Brother Orange film alongside Broad City co-creator Ilana Glazer, Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Kleeman. Michael Shamberg and Matthew Henick, head of development at BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, will also serve as producers.

Related:

'Doctor Strange' continues to lead Chinese box office
Combined photo taken on Nov 18, 2016 shows collector Zou Lanying's porcelain collections of Baishe Kiln in Nanfeng county, East China's Jiangxi province. Baishe Kiln, which was once one of the five famous ceramic kilns of Jiangxi province during Song Dynasty (960-1279), rivaled many famous kilns of Jingdezhen, well-known as Porcelain Capital of China. The Baishe Kiln, however, finally entered into decline. [Photo/Xinhua]
Film director Feng Xiaogang. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A corporate feud between two of China's biggest names in the film industry has bubbled to the surface as director Feng Xiaogang posted an open letter to Wang Jianlin, chairman of Wanda Group, on Friday.

In the letter, the top-selling filmmaker accused Wanda, which owns the country's largest cinema chain, of allocating only 10 percent of its screens for his new release I Am Not Madame Bovary, while other chains gave it 40 percent.

The reason, he said, was executive Ye Ning's job-hopping early this year from Wanda to Huayi, the film company that has produced most of Feng's films. Wanda, with 13 percent of the country's screens, earlier targeted two other Huayi releases for similar treatment, he said in a later interview.

"The third slap has fallen on my face, and I'm not afraid. Such practices can damage the industry when a corporate feud ends up penalizing the filmmakers."

In response to Feng's accusation, Wang Sicong, son of Wang Jianlin and a stockholder in Wanda Cinema Line, mentioned in his blog that there was a noncompete clause in Ye's contract and, in addition, Wanda has a right to allocate limited screen slots as it chooses based on its expectations of market performance.

Feng, in turn, accused Wang and Wanda of acting irresponsibly for their equity holders because the film exhibition arm of Wanda is a public company.

"With 40 percent of screens nationwide, our film achieved 62 percent of total box-office receipts on its opening day. At Wanda, we got 13 percent of screens, but accounted for 30 percent of its receipts," Feng said on Saturday.

What could have been merely a corporate spat spilled from the financial section over to the mainstream, mainly because of the two larger-than-life personalities involved. Feng is known as a loose cannon who targets anything he sees as unfair. (He also said Huayi had apologized to Wanda for the Ye incident, but the latter wasn't forgiving.) Wang Sicong is big news online, not only because of his father, one of the wealthiest people in China, but because of his brazenness. The single tweet he sent had "the power of a public relations army", according to a netizen.

Most netizens sided with Wang because they agreed with him in thinking Feng's letter was "too acidic and pretentious". For his letter, Feng took on the persona of Pan Jinlian, the Madame Bovary equivalent in the title. The problem is, the female lead spent the whole movie arguing she is not that type of woman. This made the tie-in with the movie plot a moot point, critics said.

"You say I'm in a position of strength and meddling with a film exhibitor's work. But I'm the victim here, and Huayi is indeed a small company compared with Wanda," Feng said.

I Am Not Madame Bovary registered 146 million yuan ($21.2 million) in its first two days of release, a significant sum for a drama film with a mostly circular format. The movie, a gentle satire of the country's bureaucracy, has been widely lauded as Feng's best in a decade.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
'Cloud hospital' to treat patients in Shanxi ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2016-11-18

The first provincial cloud hospital platform is to be set up in Shanxi province, according to an agreement signed on Nov 13.

The platform, initiated by Shanxi Hospital Association and Hangzhou Hengsheng Yuntai Internet Technology Co, is a comprehensive health care service system. It integrates resources from individuals to groups, such as doctors, medical management institutions and pharmaceutical companies, offering one-stop medical services without the need for people to leave their homes.

Through the platform, doctors will write out prescriptions based on their diagnosis after communicating with patients through webcams. The pharmaceutical companies in cooperation with the Shanxi Cloud Hospital Platform will then distribute drugs to patients' home.

"Once the project is completed, patients in Shanxi can have a consultation, make appointments in advance, and be easily referred to corresponding hospitals. The online and offline service will greatly facilitate their medical treatment," said Huang Zhengwei, director of operations for the platform.
People walk outside the International Media Center (IMC) of the 2016 APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Lima, capital of Peru, on Nov 15, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The gloom over the future of free trade evident at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, is a symptom of the worldwide uncertainty that has resulted from Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

US President Barack Obama, who will hand over the White House to Trump in January, has assumed a fireman's role, assuring the United States' allies and partners everything will be fine. But the worries will continue to linger until Trump takes office and proves, with credible moves, these fears were unnecessary. Strong as it is, the widespread anxiety over the US president-elect's policy orientations are in no way irrational.

Along his campaign trail, Trump continually expressed a protectionist, anti-free-trade inclination, from scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement to re-negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. These remarks may have been simply campaign rhetoric meant to appeal to voters that will subsequently fall by the wayside, as some assume. But judging from the prevalent worries voiced in Lima, they are being taken very seriously by those gathered there for the APEC meeting.

Still, we subscribe to the incumbent US president's advice to wait and see, and believe his successor will not want the worst-case scenario to materialize. For, of course, the impact of protectionism on global trade and the ailing world economy would be disastrous.

And it would be equally unaffordable for Americans if the Trump administration turned its back on free trade.

The US has been a champion of free trade because it thrived on it. In spite of all the complaints about job losses, trade deficits and everything, the US as a country has benefited tremendously throughout the process of globalization.

Something has gone seriously wrong with the Obama administration's strategic decisions, which calls for retrospection and correction for the US' own good. But that certainly does not include its judgment that the US should engage more closely economically with the robust Asia-Pacific, though its ensuing pivot has proved problematic and divisive.

In his APEC CEO Summit speech, President Xi Jinping promoted a free trade agreement involving all 21 APEC members. The TPP is inherently defective not only because it is narrow in scopejust 12 membersbut also because its exclusive nature and antagonist approach may effectively break up APEC, rendering development-oriented cooperation impossible.

An APEC free trade agreement, on the other hand, would serve all stakeholders well, make APEC stronger, and dovetail easily with other existing regional free trade arrangements.
Smoke rises from a chimneys of a steel mill on a hazy day in Fengnan district of Tangshan, Hebei province February 18, 2014.[Photo/Agencies]

The local government in Leping, East China's Jiangxi province, has more than once used public money to cover the charges for disposing of pollutants, which according to the law should have been paid by 36 local enterprises. Beijing News commented on Saturday:

It is laudable that more local governments are stepping up their anti-pollution efforts, but that is not enough if there are some local officials who place their "political legacies" before public health.

Charging polluting enterprises is about both punishing the polluters and sponsoring pollution-alleviation efforts. It is also intended to prompt polluting enterprises to clean up their operations, as without this legal push, enterprises would feel little motivation to curb or treat the pollution they produce.

It is shameful that the Leping government squandered over 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) of public money, instead of holding these polluting enterprises accountable. That, to some extent, has indulged even encouraged these enterprises to pollute.

Given an official endorsement, local enterprises are less likely to abide by the country's strict new law on environmental protection.

Besides, how the Leping government managed to appropriate a large amount of public funds for this purpose must be unveiled. According to the regulations on charging polluters, the collected fees should be included in a local government's accounts and the charges collected deposited in a separate fund for environmental protection.

What the Leping government has done goes against the country's environmental protection law and deserves due punishment too.

Following the implementation of the new environmental protection law, responsible officials now face tougher penalties ranging from downgrading to expulsion. But the bitter truth is only a limited number of them have been held accountable in the past two years.
Migrant workers receive their pay at a construction site in Dazu district, Chongqing, on Dec 26, 2013. [Photo/China Daily]

During the first three quarters of this year, nine provincial areas including Beijing, Shanghai, and East China's Jiangsu province, raised the minimum wage by about 10.7 percent on average, fueling concerns about "overburdened employers". Raising the minimum wage is justifiable and has little to do with enterprises' struggling to lower their costs, said Beijing Youth Daily on Saturday.

Over more than two decades, land prices and financing costs have witnessed steady growth. That explains why more enterprises are struggling to yield more gains. Take for example their financing costs, which have been doubled by banks via a variety of back-door operations. Making employees the scapegoat is hardly a feasible solution.

And it is unfair for some employers to accuse better paid employees of imposing an extra burden on them. A higher minimum wage does not necessarily contribute to the financial burden on enterprises. Quite the opposite in fact, since a slow rise in employees' wages may result in shrinking productivity, which would further stifle an enterprise's long-term growth. That workers worked longer but produced little in the era of the planned economy is a case in point.

The argument that increased wages hurt employees eventually does not hold water, especially given the exponential rise in property prices across the country. The real estate prices in most cities have risen at least fivefold in the past decade or so, while the rise in wages has had barely a fifth of that momentum. The gap is by no means narrowing, making affordable housing a pie in the sky for an increasing number of wage earners.

What is more noteworthy is that Chinese residents' real purchasing power is much weaker than their salaries, because they still have a lot to pay when it comes to medical treatment and the education of their children. Those who have had the "luxury" of buying an apartment in first-tier cities may struggle more to pay the monthly mortgage. They cannot afford to be sick or lose their job, let alone enjoy the "dividends of development".

Employers are right to try and lower their costs, but blaming their employees for these costs only makes things worse.
The recent visit of President Xi Jinping to a number of Latin American countries during this years APEC summit in Peru signifies seemingly important developments in the international trade policy of China. Last years Chinese investment in Latin America surpassed $126 billion with enormous forthcoming prospects arising out of sectoral needs in infrastructure, network industries and information technology.

Latin America represents a strategic milestone for Chinas economic plans. China has been a vocal proponent and driving force of APEC, which intends to create an institutional platform for trade liberalization outside the WTO remit. APEC envisages deepening the principles of free trade enshrined by WTO by utilizing Free Trade Agreements, which are trade frameworks that go deeper in trade liberalization than the reciprocity principle upon which WTO is founded.

President Xi Jinping, during his visits, projected an image of a global power leader who is fully versed with the benefits of free trade. He said that part of his immediate priorities is to give greater access to foreign investment and continue establishing high standards pilot zones for free trade of APEC signatories in China. His plan is to guarantee the existence of an equal playing field by creating an environment in line with international standards for all businesses in China, both domestic and foreign.

The 2016 APEC meeting reveals three facets of the Chinese international trade policy which are inter-linked and serve each other effectively. These facets cover plurilateralism, as a modality of structuring international trade deals, the Chinese transitory investment strategy and the agenda of renminbi internationalization.

Plurilateralism

Free trade between China and Latin American countries could be based upon plurilateral relations rather than multilateral and bilateral structures. This development has a significant implication: bilateralism, and to a large degree multilateralism in international trade takes into account country-specific priorities, avoiding the effort for finding common denominators which are often seen in plurilateral trade agreements, and seems to dilute free trade principles, perpetuating protectionism and non-tariff barriers.

President Xi pledged a new era of economic cooperation during this years APEC summit in Peru. He has been promoting an alternate vision for regional trade by the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China believes that building a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific is a strategic initiative critical for long-term prosperity.

China is the worlds second largest economy and stands to play a more prominent role as far as trade in Asia Pacific is concerned through a plurilateral trade mode.

Transitory investment strategy

We are currently witnessing the transition of a Chinese investment strategy from an economic plan which focused on traditional industries, energy and infrastructure and which has been served through sovereign funds to an economic plan which focuses on services and high value interests, which are served primarily through private capital. The modality of such transitions is the role of private equity and of institutional investors. The Chinese transitory investment strategy could be best served through plurilateralism and free trade agreements, which do not differentiate sectoral growth patterns and apply particular priorities on predetermined policies of signatory member states. This appears to be one of the most prolific trends for the years to come and reveals the private sector prioritization on investment and free trade agreements which are based on plurilateral structure.

Renminbi internationalization

Chinese investment and free trade policies are indissolubly linked with the agenda of renminbi internationalization. Trade deals with Latin American states and enhancing the remit of APEC can only facilitate the objective of renminbi internationalization.

For the first time, the relevance of APEC has been widely felt as well as the influence of China over future international trade deals interface. Free trade is the only way to ensure sustainable growth, where market access and uninhibited movement of production factors ensure prosperity. Free trade in its genuine projection can be facilitated through plurilateral structures which are transparent, collective and inclusive.

The author is a professor of EU and International Business Law at the Hull Business School, University of Hull.
Party chief of Jilin Province Bayinchaolu inspected the progress of Changchun New Area in its accelerated transformation and upgrade on Nov 3.

He said the New Area could act as a vanguard of openingup and innovative development for Jilin province.

Changchun New Area was the first state-level new area approved by the State Council during the 13th Five-Year Plan(2016-20) period. It was not only crucial to pushing Jilin's new round of revitalization, but also an important strategic move to lead the industrial advancement of the central Jilin area.

During his field trip to Changchun New Area, Bayinchaolu emphasized the necessity of implementing the Party's guiding policy from the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, following the lead of President Xi.

Bayinchaolu, showing his concern for the progress of development, first paid a visit to the Changchun Science and Technology Resource Information Market.

After learning that the market had already gathered 1,150 high-tech companies, 2,832 experts in different fields, 612 scientific projects and 114 strategic cooperation service agencies, he encouraged the market to build a platform to better serve the high-tech companies and to turn the market into a high-tech center of technological resources, technology transferring, innovation and startup services.

Bayinchaolu was also happy to see some million-dollar projects hatching in Changchun. For example, 140 million yuan($20.5 million) in investment has been injected to the building of the Huawei Changchun Cloud Computing Data Center since the project started in April.

The center is part of Huawei Technology Co Ltd's strategy to establish a support center for the burgeoning intelligent manufacturing industry, big data and the modern service industry in Northeast China. The center has attracted a number of companies to the new zone.

"Big data analysis is crucial to government and enterprises," said Bayinchaolu. "It can help make more efficient use of resources and grant data access for all parties. It will improve government efficiency, as well as help entrepreneurs to gain better understanding of the needs and growth of the industry."

Bayinchaolu also visited the Changchun aerospace information industry park, which emphasizes the research and manufacturing of satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the development of aerospace information products.

"Jilin's satellite production is the best example of making something out of nothing," Bayinchaolu said. "Jilin should form a complete industry chain based on satellite research, development and manufacturing, build an integrated information service platform and lead with industrial growth based on innovation."

Bayinchaolu also visited China International Center Group's Wanguo City, Northeast Asia (Changchun) International Machinery City and Changchun State-owned Captial Investment and Operation Changde Industrial Park. He pointed out that Jilin is currently in a crucial stage in determining whether it will achieve full rejuvenation and development for a well-off society.

Bayinchaolu believes the keys to Jilin's successful development is to stabilize economic development, adjust the economic structure and transform the industry through innovation. Therefore, he said, it is important for Jilin to attract professionals through good projects and a startup-friendly environment.

Infrastructure should come first in the city's upgrade, according to Bayinchaolu. The government should pursue green, intelligent development to meet people's needs in improving the city.

He said Changchun should provide more experience and serve as an example for the whole province's future reforms. The city will cooperate with provincial government departments to solve problems in the construction and development of the new area.
Every part of Britain will have a story to tell, from historic Scotland, the scenic Lake District, tourism in Wales along with many of Britain's major cities.[Photo/IC]

Britain's largest ever tourism trade mission to China was preparing to leave for Shanghai Saturday.

More than 80 travel trade delegates from Britain, including officials from tourism bodies, hotels, retailers and tour operators, will showcase Britain as a destination to Chinese buyers at a VisitBritain "Destination Britain China" three day event, being held in Shanghai starting on Nov 21.

More than 7,000 business appointments will take place during the three-day trade fair, giving more than 100 buyers from 15 cities across China the chance to see the latest tourism products and services from across Britain, with more than half of the delegates attending for the first time.

Britain's most romantic marriage spot, Scotland's Gretna Green, will be represented with stories of how eloping teenage brides from England made the dash across the border to be married in the blacksmith's shop in front of an iron anvil.

Castles and Britain's royal palaces, as well as popular destinations such as Shakespeare's England will be highlighted.

There will even be a team from central London, promoting the capital's famous Chinatown along with the theaters of the West End and London's fashionable Carnaby Street.

Every part of Britain will have a story to tell, from historic Scotland, the scenic Lake District, tourism in Wales along with many of Britain's major cities.

Destination Britain China has been running since 2009 and is an important event in VisitBritain's travel industry calendar, said a spokeswoman for the organisation.
NEW YORK - US President-Elect Donald Trump continued his criticisms against the cast of Hamilton, a Broadway hit, on Sunday after one of the actors delivered a public message calling for diversity to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

"The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior," Trump wrote on Twitter at 6:22 am on Sunday local time.

Trump on Saturday claimed the cast of Hamilton "harrassed" Pence after actor Brandon Victor Dixon read a prepared statement to the vice president elect, who was in the audience Friday night.

"... We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us, all of us. ... We truly thank you for sharing this show - this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colors, creeds, and orientations." Dixon said.

Speaking to "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, Pence said he was not offended by the message while he acknowledged that he was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers when he arrived at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City with his daughter and her cousins.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a news conference, to announce that she will run again for the Chancellorship in the next year general elections, at the Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) headquarters in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed at a press conference here on Sunday that she is ready to run for the fourth term in office in 2017 election.

"I've been thinking a lot about it, and the decision on a fourth candidacy is not trivial after 11 years, neither for the country, nor for the party, nor for me," said Merkel.

According to Merkel, she had already declared in a presidium meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) that she will once again compete for the presidency of the CDU, and therefore also for the chancellor's office.

Meanwhile, Merkel also confirmed that she would run for a full term of four years.

"This election will be one of the most difficult since German reunification, and we will have to deal with claims from right-wing and left-wing," said Merkel.

Merkel also noted she understood it was her task to listen and accept the expectations of the citizens and to implement them in the interest of the public. "We have to work for a good, strong Germany," she added.

The CDU leader will be re-elected on December 6 at its National Party Conference in German city of Essen.

In the past few days, an increasing number of politicians of the Union party, a bloc of CDU and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), have assumed that Merkel will compete for both offices again. Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), also made it clear that he was expecting this.

Chairman of CSU Horst Seehofer has announced the support of his party to Merkel for her candidacy for chancellorship next year.

"It is good that now is clear," said Seehofer on Sunday in Munich, adding it would now be possible to clarify the topics that will be taken into the election campaign.

Merkel has been CDU chairman since April 2000 and German Chancellor since November 2005. If she wins for the fourth time in 2017, she has the chance to beat the record holder, also her mentor Helmut Kohl, who served 16 years in the office.

An Emnid survey published by German newspaper Bild am Sonntag showed, 55 percent of Germans wants a further mandate of Merkel, while 39 percent would not wish Merkel to remain as chancellor after the election in 2017.

In spite of the refugee crisis last year, Merkel is considered unrivaled in the CDU.
Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy (R, Front) arrives to vote at his poll booth during the French right wing party "Les Republicains" Primaries as he is running for candidacy for the 2017 Presidential Election in Paris, France, Nov 20, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

PARIS - France's opposition, the center-right parties, started voting in the first round of the primary Sunday to pick their candidate to run in the presidential elections next year.

About 2.8 million conservative voters are expected to cast their ballots from 8 am to 7 pm local time (0700 GMT to 1800 GMT) on Sunday in 10,228 polling stations across the country.

Voters will choose between seven contenders with two frontrunners -- former premier Alain Juppe and ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Enjoying fast-growing support just days before the vote, former prime minister Francois Fillon, in third place, narrowed the gap for the presidential nomination, making the three men neck and neck.

Other competitors for the primary include former agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire, ex-ecology minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, former president of the conservative party UMP Jean-Francois Cope, and head of the Christian Democratic Party Jean-Frederic Poisson.

The top two winners of the first round of the primary on Sunday will compete in the second round of the primary scheduled on Nov 27, unless one of the seven contenders collects more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round and will directly be nominated as the presidential candidate.

The center-right candidate will face a Socialist candidate and Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Front party, during the presidential race next year.

According to pollsters, the center-right candidate has a big chance of winning the election, due to a deep division within the left parties and the public's general dislike of far-rightists.
The Chinese military has been closely monitoring the situation in northern Myanmar, urging all parties in the conflict to exercise restraint to avoid escalation and respect China's sovereignty and security, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.



The ministry added the military was on high alert and would take necessary measures to maintain security and protect the lives and properties of Chinese citizens.



Fighting broke out between ethnic militant forces and the Burmese military in northern villages bordering China around 2 am on Sunday. Chinese villagers living in Wanding Town, Yunnan province, reported stray bombs falling across the border and one villager's rooftop solar water heater was damaged, according to CCTV China Central Television.

Authorities in Wanding Town have activated an emergency response mechanism and deployed more armed police along the border to maintain order. Some Myanmar refugees have fled into Chinese territory and the injured were taken to hospitals for medical treatment, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar said.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang said China has urged all sides involved in the clashes in Myanmar to stay calm, and to immediately halt military operations. He said China hopes all sides can resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, in order to ensure peace in Myanmar.

The fighting occurred in Muse and Kutkai, border towns in Myanmar's Shan state. Three ethnic armed groups, including the Kachin Independence Army, led the attack.

At least one civilian was killed and six wounded during the conflict, but local media reported more than 10 causalities, including soldiers, a policeman, local residents and tourists, according to Xinhua. In recent years, conflict between the ethnic militant forces and the military have intensified.
Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang speaks at the closing ceremony of the 2016 China-US Tourism Year in Washington. [Photo by Chen Weihua/chinadaily.com.cn]

Top Chinese and US leaders have high hopes for growing bilateral relations between the two nations by boosting two-way tourism.

President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama sent their congratulations to participants of the closing ceremony of the 2016 China-US Tourism Year on Sunday evening at the Warner Theater in Washington.

Xi recalled the announcement that he and Obama made in September 2015 to hold the China-US Tourism Year, saying the decision was made "to promote the building of a new model of major country relationship, pushing forward practical cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people friendship between our two countries".

He said the tourism year has been marked with colorful and fruitful events, which helped to expand people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas, and inject new impetus into China-US relations.

"The growth of China-US relations requires the participation and support of our peoples. I hope the two sides will build on the success of the China-US Tourism Year to sustain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, and reinforce the social foundation for the development of China-US relations," Xi said in the letter, read by Vice-Premier Wang Yang, who led a Chinese delegation to attend the closing ceremony and the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to be held in Washington this week.

In a letter read by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Obama said the US-China Tourism Year has enabled the American and Chinese peoples to experience new cultures, explore new places and get to know each other.

"A future of peace and prosperity and friendship depends on our efforts to understand each other. That is why the United States will continue to welcome the Chinese people to our shores, whether to hike to our national parks, dine in our vibrant cities, or learn more about our rich history. I also encourage Americans to discover all China has to offer," Obama said.

Xi and Obama just met on Saturday in Lima, Peru, on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders' Meeting.

The 2016 China-US Tourism Year was announced by Xi and Obama last September during Xi's state visit to the US. An opening ceremony was held in Beijing in February this year.

In the first three quarters of this year, the number of Chinese travelers to the US jumped by 14.7 percent over the same period last year while the number of US travelers to China rose by 7.3 percent. Total number of two-way Chinese and American travelers is expected to exceed 5 million this year.

Last year, Chinese tourists made 2.59 million trips to the US, with total spending estimated at $30.1 billion. This year, Chinese are expected to make more than 3 million trips, creating some 45,000 direct jobs and 230,000 indirect jobs in the US, according to Wang.

The vice-premier said China is willing to make concerted efforts with the US side to further facilitate visa policies and to provide more convenient, comfortable and safe services to tourists.

He also pledged to further open the tourism industry to foreign investors. "The China-US Tourism Year is drawing to a close, but the show of tourism cooperation between the two countries has just begun," Wang said, ahead of an evening concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra and China's National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra.

The two orchestras have a close collaboration for many years. The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first US orchestra to visit China in 1973 at the invitation of then-US president Richard Nixon, who made his historic trip to China a year earlier.

Pritzker recalled her first trip to China in 1984 when she visited the Great Wall in Beijing and the Bund in Shanghai. "Looking back, what I am most grateful for has been the opportunity to see China then, so I could appreciate what it is growing to today," said Pritzker, who has made many business and leisure trips to China since then.

"I witnessed China's incredible evolution into one of the most remarkable and popular tourist destinations in the world," she said.

US Ambassador to China Max Baucus cited the Chinese saying that "reading 10,000 books is not as good as walking 10,000 miles".

"You need to get out and experience that country," he said.

Baucus, who has been in Beijing for about three years, said one of his great joys is going out to meet as many people as he can.

He said through traveling he felt that people either in the United States or China or elsewhere in the world want basically the same thing. "We all want good jobs, we all want to make ends meet, we want good education for our kids, we want clean environment to live in, clean air to breathe," he said.
WASHINGTON -- China-US Tourism Year 2016 came to the end on Sunday, with officials from both countries pledging to expand tourism cooperation and enhance friendship.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday that the China-US Tourism Year has helped expand people-to-people exchanges and given fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

"Thanks to joint efforts, the Tourism Year has been marked with colorful and fruitful events, which have helped expand our people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas, and injected new impetus to China-US relations," Xi said in a written message to the closing ceremony of the China-US Tourism Year 2016 held in Washington.

He urged the two sides to build on the success of the Tourism Year to sustain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and reinforce the social foundation for the development of China-US relations.

"The growth of China-US relations requires the participation and support of our peoples," he said.

The China-US Tourism Year was an outcome of Xi's state visit to the United States in September 2015. Xi said he and US President Barack Obama made the decision with a view to promoting the building of a new model of major-country relationship, and carrying forward practical cooperation and enhancing friendship between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said at the closing ceremony that the two sides have organized a series of cultural and people-to-people exchanges this year to boost tourism in the two countries and made the peoples of both countries enjoy the fun of tourism.

Thanks to the Tourism Year, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to the United States increased by 14.7 percent in the first three quarters of this year from a year earlier, while the number of American tourists traveling to China went up by 7.3 percent during the same period, he said.

"The two-way tourist flow between the United States and China is expected to top 5 million this year," Wang said, adding that tourism cooperation "has injected strong impetus" to the two economies.

Citing US official statistics, Wang said that about 2.59 million Chinese traveled to the United States last year and spent $30.1 billion in total while in the country.

"The number of Chinese tourists going to the United States this year is expected to surpass 3 million, and they'll create 45,000 direct jobs and 230,000 indirect jobs for the United Sates," he noted.

As both China and the United States are countries with large tourism resources and markets, Wang said China stands ready to work with the United States to simplify visa policies and provide more convenient, comfortable and secure services for tourists.

The two sides will also lower the entry threshold for investment in the tourism industry, and encourage companies from both countries to expand investment cooperation, the Chinese vice premier said.

US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who made her first trip to China in 1984, said at the closing ceremony that tourism between the two countries has seen significant progress over the past decade, yet there's still much room to grow.

"The United States only captures 2 percent of the outbound Chinese market despite strong demand from Chinese visitors to our shores," she said.

The US government is taking advantage of the China-US Tourism Year and improving tourism operations to draw more Chinese visitors to the country, she said.

As China is developing its own national park system, it's working with the US National Park Service to learn its best practices, models and lessons, Pritzker said.

"As we close the Tourism Year and look to the future, I want to assure all of you that we will continue to promote more traveling and tourism between our two nations," she said.
Li Yong, director general of the Vienna-based United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) joins the special guests from member states and the international community marking the 50th anniversary of UNIDO at its headquarters on Monday. [FU JING/CHINA DAILY]

Africa needs help not only from China but also from the United States, Japan and the rest of the international community to reduce poverty and help its economies, a senior UN official said on Monday.

To achieve industrialization in Africa, China is the one to play a vital role, but the help from other countries and the rest of the international community is also urgently needed, said Li Yong, director general of the Vienna-based United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) said on Monday.

Li made the comment on the sidelines of the weeklong celebration of the 50th anniversary of UNIDO at its headquarters. Africas industrialization was highlighted on Mondays agenda.

For decades, China has been benefiting from UNIDOs knowledge transfers and experience in modernization and industrialization. Now as Chinas presence in Africa and other developing countries is on the rise, Li has said that his agency is welcoming Chinas active participation and looks forward to more cooperation between China and UNIDO in African development.

Li said his agency is also now actively engaging Japan and other member states to help Africa achieve the 2030 targets listed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Li said the targets of leave no one behind in terms of achieving shared prosperity in the world are so challenging that another 50 years are not even enough.

We are ready to open the door to all the members (of the United Nations), said Li, who is among a handful of Chinese nationals serving in high positions in international institutions since 2013.

Responding to China Daily, Li said that his agency, now with more than 170 member countries, will be open to the United States, which dropped its membership within Lis agency 20 years ago due to arrears. The US was among the top contributors to UNIDO before leaving.

Despite that, Li said that the American private sector has been actively engaged with his agency.

But he said it is for the American side to answer whether the Donald Trump administration will rejoin the UN agency or not.

I am not clear how the president-elect thinks about this, and it is better for the American mission here (in Vienna) to answer, Li said.

Justin Lin, former chief economist of the World Bank and now a professor at Peking University, said that he is a big believer that industrialization will help Africas development, and it is time for the international community to take urgent action.

We have said many, many times about the African development, and it is now time to take action, said Lin, urging UNIDO to work as a platform between China and Africa. I am a team member (pushing) forward these actions.

Starting from his position as World Bank chief economist from 2008-2012, Lin has been helping African countries design road maps for industrialization and economic development.

Lin said that Chinas shift of industrial capacity and capital could match up with Africas cheap labor and other advantages.

More importantly, Chinas fresh experiences in the previous decades could offer references, he said.

Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has also indicated his commitment to work with Lis agency to deliver the 2030 UN sustainable development goals.

Since last year, he said some European countries, Canada and other AIIB members have put their trust in the new financial institution, which will be hosting up to 100 members by year-end.

In todays world, the development paradigm must be a new one, said Jin. And the to-do list is long and challenging to achieve peace and shared prosperity, and we would like to cooperate with UNIDO and other partners to realize the targets.

Tian Guoli, chairman of the Bank of China, has pledged to work with UNIDO to offer financial support for other countries to realize economic take-off through the banks worldwide branches.

We are ready to offer financing help, especially green credit, Tian said at the opening of Mondays plenary meeting. And we can also work as matchmakers for small and medium-sized companies worldwide to help them spot suitable projects, he said.
President tells region's leaders exclusive pacts won't help combat protectionism, slowing growth

It is "not the right choice" to make exclusive regional trade arrangements as the Asia-Pacific region is facing the common challenge of protectionism amid slowing trade growth, President Xi Jinping said over the weekend in Lima, Peru.

Xi spoke in a keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit on Saturday.

Xi told the gathering that boosting interconnectivity was important to releasing development potential, which is also the goal of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, put forward by Xi in 2013, aim to revive ancient trade routes, with an emphasis on infrastructure.

More than 100 countries and global organizations are participating in and supporting the initiative, with a number of major infrastructure projects already underway, Xi added.

China's import volume will reach $8 trillion in the next five years and its number of outbound tourists will reach 700 million in the same period, Xi forecast, adding that China's development was an opportunity for the world.

Establishing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific is a strategic measure that will bolster the long-term prosperity of the region and should be pushed forward with firm determination, Xi said.

The FTAAP process was initially launched at the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing and its roadmap was endorsed.

The Chinese economy has met with some challenges in light of global sluggishness, Xi said, adding that Beijing has taken a positive role in economic adjustments. These have helped keep China's economic growth in the top tier of the world's primary economies.

China, as the world's second-largest economy, has called for safeguarding the global free trade system and opposing protectionism.

Raul Salazar, APEC affairs director at the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, called FTAAP necessary for the global economy.

"This step taken in Beijing ... has forced all members to face the reality that this is necessary for a number of reasons," he said. "Peru holds the position that we need an Asia-Pacific free trade area. It would allow for APEC's work to be deepened and would see free trade agreements proliferate."

Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center at Tianjin-based Nankai University, said, "Promoting regional economic integration requires balancing the interests of all parties, meeting the demands of the developed and developing economies, and formulating the framework and mechanism of inclusive cooperation."

After attending APEC meetings, Xi will pay his first state visit to Peru, only about two months after his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Pablo Kuczynski made China his first official destination abroad.

Xi will hold talks with Kuczynski, meet the president of the Peruvian Congress, Luz Salgado, and give a speech before Congress.

The two heads of state are also scheduled to attend the closing ceremonies of the China-Latin America and Caribbean 2016 Year of Culture Exchange.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
LIMA - Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a brief talk on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima at the request of the Japanese side, a Chinese delegation spokesman said Sunday.

President Xi stated the principle and stance of the Chinese side on developing the China-Japan relations, said Lu Kang, the delegation spokesman.
By AN BAIJIE in Lima, Peru | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2016-11-21 09:18

President Xi Jinping meets HK Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Sunday during the sidelines of the APEC leaders meeting in Lima, Peru. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping urged on Sunday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should firmly safeguard national unity and maintain social stability.

Xi made the remarks after hearing the report of Hong Kong's recent situation and the work of Hong Kong SAR government, made by the HK Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, during the sidelines of the APEC leaders meeting in Lima, capital of Peru.

The central government fully recognizes the work of Leung and the SAR government, Xi said, adding that Leung should lead the administrative team to continue making comprehensive measures and widely gathering social consensuses.

Xi also urged Leung to focus on the economic development and the improvement of the people's livelihoods.
By An Baijie in Lima and Wang Qingyun in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2016-11-21 07:50

President sets out goals to boost relations with Philippines, Vietnam and Colombia

1 Philippines

China and the Philippines should proactively discuss maritime cooperation to make the South China Sea issue an opportunity to promote bilateral friendship, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday.

He made the remarks while meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Lima, Peru.

Duterte's state visit to China last month had "turned a new page" in relations, Xi said, adding that the visit "injected positive energy" toward regional peace and stability.

The president said China and the Philippines should carry forward relations in the right direction and commit to friendly cooperation, proper management of differences and common development.

Xi called for joint efforts to restore all bilateral mechanisms. After the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally filed by the Philippines, exchanges in many areas were halted until Duterte's visit to China.

The Philippine leader said his nation is pursuing an independent diplomatic policy and is willing to handle maritime issues through dialogue and consultation.

He expressed gratitude for China's support of his nation's development and added that the countries should cooperate more in areas such as infrastructure.

2 Vietnam

China and Vietnam should resolve disputes through bilateral dialogue to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, Xi said in a meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang on Saturday.

The countries should properly handle disagreements through the principles of setting aside disputes and joint development, Xi said.

He called for work on constructing a cross-border economic cooperation zone to be accelerated, and urged both nations to push forward cooperative infrastructure projects.

All APEC members should make joint efforts to ensure long-lasting prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, Xi said.

Quang said Vietnam will continue close high-level exchanges with China to push forward the steady and sustainable development of bilateral ties.

3 Colombia

China and Colombia should expand pragmatic cooperation, step up efforts to promote key projects and actively carry out production capacity cooperation, Xi told Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in their meeting on Saturday.

He said China supports Santos' efforts to push forward the peace process in Colombia and hopes to work with the country to implement consensuses on cooperation.

China wants to see ties with Latin America develop better and faster, Xi said, adding that it is hoped Colombia will play an active role in helping to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Pacific Alliance.

Santos said China is a great friend of Colombia, and that his country looks forward to deepening cooperation in various fields, including trade and infrastructure construction.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
At the meeting with his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa in Quito on Thursday, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China's aid to the country has no strings attached. Xi's remark during his visit to Ecuador is well in line with the spirit of his third visit to Latin America since 2013.

Xi's Latin America itinerary also includes visits to Peru, where he attended the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting during the weekend, and Chile.

His visit is expected to add more weight to China's promise to deepen relations with the three countries, as multiple agreements - from trade and investment to finance and nuclear power - have already been signed or will be signed during the rest of his three-nation tour. That China and Latin American countries have enjoyed high-level political, economic and cultural exchanges over the past decade or so speaks volumes of Beijing's commitment.

The two sides have also reached a number of strategic consensuses and have taken similar or the same stances on major international issues.

China's direct investment in Latin America reached $126.3 billion by last year. Its considerable demand for natural resources has helped the Latin American countries not only raise capital but also enhance their investment capabilities.

That, of course, is just one side of the story. On the one hand, Latin America, home to abundant natural resources, is willing to deepen its trade integration with China. On the other hand, there have been concerns about Beijing's "obsession" with Latin American resources, which some say will prolong the exporting countries' reliance on the primary sector and thus delay their industrial transformation.

Fearing that the constantly evolving China-Latin America relationship might affect its influence in the Western hemisphere, the United States is watching closely the course two-way trade and exchanges take. Some even argue Beijing's increasing presence in Latin America could pose a challenge to Washington's influence over the Panama Canal, a major channel for the flow of commodities in the region.

The truth is, none of these arguments holds water. The booming trade between China and Latin American countries is primarily driven by their complementary nature. China needs considerable natural resources to fuel its manufacturing engine and to sustain its economic growth. And since resource-rich Latin American countries hope to strengthen and expand their manufacturing capabilities, they are justifiably motivated to provide what they have in exchange for China's investment and manufacturing expertise.

There is no evidence of Beijing seeking to fill in the strategic "vacuum" left by Washington in Latin America either. China has a decent record of using the Panama Canal, and its so-called military interactions with Latin American countries are basically confined to defense personnel exchanges and training exercises. In other words, China has every reason to cooperate closely with Latin America to boost globalization. Therefore, US strategists inclined to meddle in China-Latin America affairs would commit a grave mistake.

To clear such misunderstandings, China should keep explaining to the US that its deepening interactions with Latin America is not targeted at any third party. The win-win cooperation between China and Latin American countries can also effectively reduce the number of illegal migrants and drug-traffickers entering the US by driving economic growth and creating more jobs, which has long been a problem for the US.

Besides, there is plenty of room for China-US cooperation to help expand the Latin American market, especially in the fields of infrastructure, energy and agriculture. China's efforts to help improve the lives and livelihoods of the people in Latin America deserve better than aimless finger-pointing.

The author is director of the Center for Latin American Studies, Shanghai University.
China and Peru will sign a series of agreements in the fields of technology transfer, investment and people-to-people exchanges during President Xi Jinping's visit to the South American country, according to the Peruvian ambassador to China.

Juan Carlos Capunay said the countries have selected 18 priority projects covering energy, mining, infrastructure and capacity production, with a total investment of over $25 billion.

"Some projects are ongoing, some will be signed during Xi's visit, and others are still in the process of discussion," he said.

Among the deals likely to be signed is one for industrial park project that includes construction of a road, a refinery and a port in southern Peru, which represents the new kind of relationship Peru wants to establish with China, Capunay said.

Cooperation was also a major topic for Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski when he visited China in September, just over a month after he took office.

"It's very unusual," Capunay said referring to the timing of the visit. "It usually takes at least 100 days for the president to visit overseas. ... It shows how important China is for us."

China is Peru's largest trading partner and an important source of investment. Last year, bilateral trade reached $14.47 billion, according to data from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, more than 170 Chinese companies have established a presence in Peru, with a total investment of more than $14 billion.

The ambassador said his country is open to further Chinese investment. While investors can benefit from the free trade agreements Peru has signed with other countries and regions, including North America, the European Union, Singapore and Japan, they can also "act like a local investor", Capunay said, explaining, "They can have access to local banks for loans and can invest in the stock market."

Peru has the largest Chinese community in Latin America, with 10 percent (about 3 million) of its population having Chinese origins.

There are many Chinese restaurants in Peru, while the largest domestic supermarket is owned by a Chinese family surnamed Wong.

"Peru and China have very good historical links and a realistic present, which guarantees us a promising future in relations," Capunay said.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
Setting up an Asia-Pacific free trade zone will end the fragmentation that has undermined efforts to integrate the region and boost global economic growth, analysts have said.

China plans to play a leading role in the proposed FTZ and expects all parties concerned to start negotiations as soon as possible, according to Shi Yaobin, China's vice-minister of finance.

The FTZ framework, which has 21 members, including countries that signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trading powers such as China and South Korea, aims to promote cooperation, guard against protectionism and facilitate fair competition.

However, one problem area could be the existence of low-level free trade agreements in goods only, not services, which officials say could affect the development of regional trade.

There are more than 200 FTAs relating to the Asia-Pacific region, and varying standards, preferential policies and overlapping - or even clashing - rules on the origin of goods have led to fierce competition among trading blocs.

The prevailing situation is not conducive to deepening economic and trade cooperation between countries in the Asia-Pacific region, data from the Ministry of Commerce indicate.

The Asia-Pacific FTZ concept was first proposed in 2004 and later written into the declaration of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in 2006. China proposed starting work on a feasibility study in 2014.

"Talks on the proposed FTZ would be in line with the boom in FTAs globally as well as crucial for making countries in the Asia-Pacific region more open," said Tu Xinquan, a professor at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

The region is essential to global security, accounting for 40 percent of the world's population, 48 percent of global trade and 57 percent of global output last year.

"Topics such as trade in goods and services, intellectual property and international trade rules, as well as new-age topics such as e-commerce, market competition and the environment, will all be negotiated during the talks," Tu said.

To foster a positive free trade environment, the Chinese government opened seven new FTZs in August. The nation has 14 FTAs with 22 countries and regions, and is negotiating more, including a three-way FTA with Japan and South Korea and one with Sri Lanka. In addition, there is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, an FTA involving 16 countries in Southeast Asia.

Zhang Ying, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said as China expands its FTA network, the government has made free trade in goods and services a priority.

"It has relaxed the rules to make access to the Chinese market easier, facilitated trade ... and enhanced economic and technological cooperation," he said.

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
SYDNEY - Trade and investment are two pillars of China-Australia ties, which in turn support the development of an increasingly open economy so that the relationship continues to be mutually beneficial, Australian officials and analysts said.

"China and Australia are located in the most exciting, fast-growing part of the global economy. We work with China and other regional economies to support ongoing growth and development," Australian Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo told Xinhua in response to email questions earlier this month.

Mechanisms such as the concept of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific(FTAAP), an instrument to further the regional economic integration agenda of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) free trade forum, can help create a "seamless trading environment and facilitate access for our exporters and suppliers to global value chains," the minister said.

These moves are in line with the goals of the just-concluded APEC summit held in Lima, Peru's capital, with the focus on further promoting free trade and globalization.

At the forum's 2016 summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the APEC economies to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward, increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy, breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and blazing new trails in reform and innovation.

On the building of an FTAAP, which was launched at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi hailed the smooth completion of the collective strategic study this year, saying it marked a new phase in FTAAP development.

Economies such as Australia, which are generally more dependent on international trade than larger ones such as the United States, have a real interest in promoting free trade within the Asia-Pacific, said Professor Fariborz Moshirian, director of the Institute of Global Finance at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

At the same time, China, due to its infrastructure, is still heavily reliant on trade, said Moshirian, whose institute aims to improve global prosperity and stability through collaboration with major international institutions and leading research organizations.

There is a "strong mood" in both Australia and China for more liberalization of trade and investment, particularly trade, said James Laurenceson, deputy director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, a think tank studying bilateral relationship at the University of Technology Sydney.

"There's an incentive for Australia and China to continue to work together in liberalization, bilaterally of course, but we've just had the free trade agreement, so that's a very significant bilateral development; but also for those two countries to push liberalization at bigger levels, at more than a bilateral level, at regional levels," Laurenceson said.

"China and Australia are two countries that very clearly recognize the benefits of freer trade and investment," Laurenceson said.

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement entered into force in December last year, after a decade of negotiations. The agreement's provisions include many tariff-free Australian exports to China, such as beef, dairy and other agricultural products. More market access to the Australian services sector are also expected to be rolled out.

China is Australia's largest trading partner and Australia is China's seventh-largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at more than 155 billion Australian dollars (119 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.

China is also Australia's largest source of international students, most valuable tourism market, a major source of foreign direct investment and its largest agricultural goods market, according to the commission.

But there are still global obstacles to efforts at opening up more trade and investment, Moshirian said, adding one of those obstacles is protectionism.

"Forecasts from the International Monetary Fund and others are that the global economy is not going to grow rapidly and I think part of that is countries are following protectionism, but also because of this fear of slow economic growth, they're trying not to promote free trade, which in itself will have another negative effect on trade," he said.

"They're trying to increase their exports and reduce their imports, but if everyone does it, it's the same thing that happened during the Great Depression, and you suddenly slow down free trade," he noted.

An "ideal situation" to combat that would be the multilateral free trade push under the Doha round of trade negotiations, done at the global level, Moshirian said. But differences between the countries involved in the talks form one of the reasons why such efforts are hampered.

In that respect, what China has done in terms of feasibility studies for free trade and its attempts to be more inclusive should be welcomed, he said.

It certainly makes sense for Australia and China to support free trade and investment agreements, Laurenceson said.

"This is a bilateral relationship that has been overwhelmingly good for both countries ...in terms of economics, I just don't think you could find two more complementary economies," he said.

"Let's not forget that every time Australia and China trades, or invests in each other, they do it because it's mutually beneficial. You don't trade because one person wins, and one person loses. That's the beauty of economics; whether its trade or investment, it's a positive sum game," he said.

"So Australia and China have a long history of celebrating this positive sum game, and I think that's going to continue," he added.
In this post, I address whether an employees violating Chinas family planning laws allows the employer to refuse to provide the extra protections normally provided employees during pregnancy, such as no overtime or an adjustment of workload?

As is nearly always the case with any China labor law issues, the answer varies by locale, but generally speaking, a pregnant/nursing employee who violates Chinas family planning laws should be treated the same as other pregnant/nursing employees while on the job. However, other benefits after childbirth, such as paid maternity leave can generally be withheld from an employee who has violated the family planning laws, though this too varies by location.

I should emphasize how important it is not to try to remove an employees legal protections by having them sign a contract that purports to do so. A fairly recent case out of Shanghai (a fairly employer friendly city) makes this clear.

In this case, an employee entered into an employment contract with her Employer on her first day: March 1. This employee was required to fill out an employee form before she officially started. As she was not married at that time, she checked the box for single on the form. The Contract expressly provided that if any information provided by the employee was untrue, the employer would have the right to void the contract and unilaterally terminate the employee. The employers handbook contained similar provisions and also required its employees update the employer within 10 days if any personal information, such as marital status had changed. The Employee became pregnant a few days after her first day and started going to checkups but she never informed her employer about her pregnancy until October.

The Employee married in May and her employer approved her marriage leave. A couple of months before her expected due date, the employee provided her employer with a doctors note saying she would need to go on maternity leave because she would need to rest before her scheduled C-section. The employee requested paid maternity leave, but her employer immediately terminated her because she had deceived them by not providing accurate information about her personal situation. The employer then brought a labor arbitration claim against the employee seeking to declare her employment contract void. The employee filed counterclaims demanding her salary during her sick leave and maternity leave, as well as double statutory severance for unlawful termination and reinstatement of her position.

The employer lost on most of the claims and was ordered to pay the employee her salary during her sick days and during her maternity leave and also to pay for her social insurance until the last day of her extended maternity leave. The court acknowledged that the employee should have updated her employer on her marital/pregnancy status sooner, however, nothing she had done justified her unilateral termination. The labor arbitration committee did not discuss the employees claim for double statutory severance for unlawful termination and because the employee withdrew her claim for reinstatement of her position and did not argue for unlawful termination severance at the court level the court did not discuss those claims either.

The court stated in its first sentence of its decision that employees legal interests are protected by law and female workers giving birth is a natural and legal right and must be accorded full protection. Though this case was decided before Chinas new two-child policy and though some of the legal aspects of this case have changed, what has not changed is that it is simply not possible to remove most worker protections via contract. Most importantly, what also has not changed is the importance that you as a China employer should know and follow all of the relevant laws and regulations and rules (national, regional, and local down to your specific district within your city) before terminating or even penalizing one of your employees.
As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.
(Photo : Getty Images) China's Defense Ministry has put its army on high alert following the ethic violence in the border towns of China and Myanmar.

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China has put its army on high alert after fighting broke out in Myanmar's town of Muse and Kutkai last weekend. Both of these towns are located near China's border areas and are known to be prone to insurgent activities.



According to state media Xinhua news agency, three armed groups simultaneously ambushed several security posts located on border towns earlier on Sunday. Both of these towns are located in Myanmar's north-eastern Shan state.



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There are conflicting reports about civilian and military causalities. Agence France-Presse, an international news agency, reported that two Myanmar civilians were found dead, and at least 25 others were injured. Reports from Chinese state media outlet, on the other hand, revealed that there have been severe causalities without giving any further details.



China's Defense Ministry issued a statement on its official website following the violence in border areas.



"The Chinese army is on high alert and will take the necessary measures to safeguard the country's sovereignty and safety, as well as protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens living along the border," Defense Ministry said in a statement.



The Chinese embassy in Burma has also immediately issued a statement on its official website calling for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday and hoping that stability resumes in the border areas.



The Chinese government has temporarily given shelter to an undisclosed number of Myanmar citizens who crossed over to China to avoid injury during the fighting, the statement said.



The border state of Shan has been plagued by decades of insurgent activities, leaving thousands displaced and an equal number of people dead as well as injured.



Last year, five Chinese civilians were killed after fighting spilled over into Chinese territory. The incident had left leaders in Beijing immensely furious.



The ethnic group's insurgent activities in border areas were apparently one of the talking points during Aung San Suu Kyi's historic visit to China earlier this year. The sensitive issue assumed a lot of importance, as Beijing wields considerable influence over ethnic groups settling near border areas.



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Tagschina, Myanmar, burma, China and Myanmar
(Photo : Getty Images) India's railway system is one of the largest globally, employing 1.3 million and transporting 23 million people daily.

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Rescue missions are still ongoing in the Indian state as rescuers try their level best to save as many lives after the Patna-Indore passenger train derailed early Sunday morning, which ended up killing over 100 people and injuring several others.



According to the Morning Journal, a total of 150 individuals have been injured during the incident with 40 needing intensive care. However, the numbers are expected to rise as one portion of the train that has been badly damaged is yet to be accessed by the rescuers.



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Investigations on the cause of the incident, which occurred at 3:00 a.m., are still ongoing.



According to CNN news, one witness by the name Shresh who had been traveling with his colleague to Lucknow explained that he was among the earliest to have left the scene in a good condition. He could not even believe the horrific scene that he saw.



"This accident has shaken me for life," Shresh said. "I did not want to step on the bodies so we took the other door. But by the time we deboarded all I could see were either dead people or children crying for their parents."



India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families that had been affected through his Twitter handle.



"Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved family," the Indian leader wrote.



Rescue missions are still ongoing as they try to ensure that everyone is safe while trying to assess the amount of damage done.



The railway system in India is among the largest globally, employing a total of 1.3 million people. It is, however, the most outdated system of transport that has contributed to most accidents.



The government has been put on the spot for a long while over its failure to update the railway system. This led to the launch of a Twitter account for complaints or comments.



Prime Minister Modi has, however, pledged a total of $137 billion for the upgrading of the railway sector in India's transport system.



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TagsIndia, Railway Transport, Railway Accident, Twitter
(Photo : Getty Images) President Xi told Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that the two leaders should consider the disputed South China Sea as an impetus for cooperation.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has reassured Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that Filipino fishermen would continue to have access to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea as he urged both Beijing and Manila to engage in maritime cooperation in the strategic waterway.



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During the meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Lima, Peru on Saturday, Xi told Duterte that the maritime dispute should be used as an impetus for cooperation between the two nations.



Philippine officials, in a statement after the talks, said that the two leaders discussed the predicament of Filipino fishermen and had agreed that the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal would remain open to them.



Free access



"The Chinese leader vowed that the fishermen will continue to have free access to their traditional fishing grounds, apart from offering them training such as in fish culture to sustain their livelihood and families," the statement said.



The state-run news agency, Xinhua, on Saturday quoted Xi saying that he would like to improve Sino-Philippine relations.



Xi also said that the two nations should commit to helping each other and cooperate to resolve their differences.



New situations



Xi emphasized that China and the Philippines are facing new challenges in their bilateral ties as he called on both sides to enhance exchanges at all levels and discuss major common concerns in a bid to enhance mutual trust and cooperation.



China seized control of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 following a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy and had since banned Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area.



A verdict was handed down by the Hague-based court on July 12 that the Scarborough Shoal belongs to no one country and that it is the traditional fishing grounds for Chinese, Philippine, and Vietnamese fishermen. Duterte raised the plight of Filipino fishermen with Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing last month.



Two weeks after his visit, Philippine officials said the Chinese Coast Guard had left the vicinity of the shoal allowing Filipino fishermen to return to the area.



The Hague-based arbitration court had ruled that China has no legal basis for its claims to almost the entirety of the South China Sea. The court also stated that Beijing had violated the rights of the Philippines to explore its resources within its exclusive economic zone.



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TagsPresident Xi Jinping, President Rodrigo Duterte, Scarborough Shoal, Filipino fishermen, South China Sea, Hague court ruling
(Photo : Getty Images) Anbang is reportedly in advanced talk with Blackstone to acquire its Japanese residential property for $2.3 billion.

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China's Anbang Insurance Group is currently engaged in talks to acquire a Japanese residential property worth up to $2.3 billion from American investment firm Blackstone, according to people familiar with the matter.



The agreement has already been touted as the biggest deal in Japan's real estate industry since the painful days of global financial crisis.



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Citing top sources, Reuters reported that Blackstone is looking to part away properties it had acquired from investors, including the one it had purchased in a deal with General Electric in 2014. The properties are mostly composed of residential buildings in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka where most middle class people live.



Sources further claimed that the discussion have reached to an advanced stage. However, no one from Blackstone or Anbang has so far issued any statement on the development.



It is still not clear how much return Blackstone would fetch from this deal. But if this pushes through, it would be the second acquisition agreeement Anbang and Blackstone made this year. The Chinese insurer acquired US luxury hotel collection Strategic Hotels & Resorts from Blackstone in March for $6.5 billion.



The deal would also mark Anbang's maiden entry in Japan's real estate industry.



The Chinese insurance company has been in an overdrive to acquire international properties, mostly in the US. Apart from owning Strategic Hotels & Resorts, it also owns New York's famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. It also aborted a $14 billion bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.



Analysts claim that Anbang's growing interest in the international real estate market is partly driven by the current slowdown of the Chinese economy.



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(Photo : Getty Images) John Paulson, an economic advisor to Donald Trump, revealed he has a stake in China's Didi Chuxing, which he got from his Advantage fund.

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John Paulson, a prolific hedge fund manager, has been disclosed to have stake in Chinese car sharing company Didi Chuxing. Paulson has acted as an economic advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, who is a vocal critic of Chinese companies. He had also hosted a fund raiser for the President-elect.



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John Paulson took the stake through his Advantage fund. It is reported that Didi Chuxing holding accounts for 7 percent of the total portfolio value. Didi Chuxing is a privately held company and is backed by prominent tech companies such as Apple and Alibaba.



Paulson disclosed the holding during an investors meeting in New York, where he also apologized for the poor results shown by his Advantage funds. The Paulson Advantage fund saw its value decline by 22 percent during this year. His Paulson Advantage Plus fund, a leveraged fund, dipped by 26 percent during the same time.



Didi Chuxing is steadily gaining clout in the international market. Apart from Paulson funds, the Chinese company's stock has also been picked by various other investment firms and hedge funds. Coatue Management is believed to have stake in Didi Chuxing.



Third Point, a Daniel Loeb-led investment firm, also holds interest in the Chinese ride sharing company. Loeb said, "We expect Didi to grow into one of China's largest internet companies."



Didi Chuxing gained wide edge in the Chinese market earlier this year as the company bought its arch rival Uber's operations in the country. Both the companies were engaged in expensive price war, straining their financial position.



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(Photo : Getty Images) China said that a broader global curbs are essential to fight the menace of fake news and terrorism.



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China has called for broader global curbs on the Internet, which are deemed essential to fight the menace of fake news and terrorism. China has recently hosted the third World Internet Conference in Wuzhen. It claimed that cyberspace is fast becoming unwieldy.



China recently instituted new cyberlaws, which have been welcomed by various tech giants such as Alibaba and Tencent. Pursuant to the aftermath of fake news controversy in the US, China is now gearing to make the cyberworld a more secure place. President Xi Jinping called for extending respect to the country's "cyber sovereignty."



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Ren Xianling, the vice minister of Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), said that the problem of fake news may be curbed by using identification systems for people. He said that the system may be used for handing "reward and punishment" to netizens.



China's new cyberlaw will come into effect from June next year. The country emphasized that the law will be equally applicable to both domestic and foreign companies. One of the provisions of the law requires the companies to comply with local data storage requirements.



Several global tech companies joined the World Internet Conference held in China. These companies included Facebook, Tesla Motors, and Qualcomm. Reid Hoffman, chairman and co-founder of LinkedIn Corp, praised China for its "hustle" and "pragmatism."



China showed its commitment to safeguard the Internet from the outside threats such as fake news. The country had provided the conference delegates with access to sites such as Google last year. However, this year, the delegates were not given this privilege.



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Tagschina, Internet, Xi Jinping
(Photo : Getty Images) Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan alluded that Turkey may no longer be willing to wait out for the EUs approval and may opt for SCO instead.

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Turkey is mulling to join China- and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) instead of the European Union. Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan alluded that Turkey may no longer be willing to wait out for the EU's approval and may opt for SCO instead.



Turkey has been carrying out negotiations with the EU for over a decade. The Turkish president said that it would not make much sense to prolong the process. The relationship between Turkey and the EU is consistently declining amid the attempted coup and resulting crackdown in the country earlier this year.



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In an interview with Turkish journalists, the president said that his opinion may be criticized by others. He claimed that he has deliberated the idea of joining SCO with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin.



The Turkish president said that the country's association with the SCO "will allow it to act more freely."



Turkey's relationship with Russia hit a roadblock last November as the country shot down a Russian war plane. However, it is believed that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev mediated the discussions between Turkey and Russia to remove the friction.



The SCO is an informal economic and security bloc led by China and Russia. It also counts Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan as its members. The bloc is also known as the Shanghai Pact.



The bloc is constantly increasing its clout as it granted membership to India and Pakistan earlier this year. These countries will attain the full member status after an SCO meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, scheduled to be held in 2017.



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Thousands march in support of Christian governor accused of blaspheming Islam 21 November, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Christian Examiner)  Indonesians who feel Jakarta's Christian governor has gotten a raw deal by being charged with blasphemy for quoting the Quran gathered in the streets Nov. 19 to show support for the governor and the idea of religious diversity.

The peaceful protest Saturday attracted more than 10,000 people, most of whom were young and part of a generation that is open to new ideas. They were joined by religious leaders, legislators and the leaders of several human rights organizations.

Jakarta experienced violent protests Nov. 4 when hardline Islamists accused Christian Gov. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (also known as "Ahok") of blasphemy for quoting the Quran. Ahok, who is ethnically Chinese, is facing a Muslim opponent in elections this February.

We are gathering here not to protest but to show that we are not easily divided by religious or political issues.

According to several hardline Muslim groups, including the Islamic Defenders Front, Ahok quoted the Quran's injunction against taking Christians and Jews as friends during a speech. He said Muslims should not be deceived by the teaching and refuse to vote for him or accept non-Muslim leaders because of it.

That kicked massive protests in Jakarta. The 100,000 marchers were peaceful during the day, but turned violent at nighttime. Police had to use teargas, a water cannon and flash grenades to break up the protests. They also ended up charging Ahok, but it is up to federal prosecutors to actually take the case to court. They may or may not.

Ahok  who was serving as deputy governor when he was appointed to his current position is 2014, just after the province's governor, Joko Widodo, was elected president  is a close political ally of the president.

Government officials are also increasingly worried that caving into hardline Islamist demands will only embolden groups like the Islamic State, which is seeking to gain a foothold in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Protestors in Jakarta have different ideas. They chanted slogans in support of Ahok and promoted greater tolerance for competing ideas in Indonesian culture. They also chanted, "United Indonesia cannot be defeated."

"We are gathering here not to protest but to show that we are not easily divided by religious or political issues," Budiman Sujatmiko, a legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the country's largest political group, said.

"This is about diversity, but also about unity. We have to separate politics from ethnicity, religion, and race," 25-year old Iwan Saputra said. "I want Indonesia to stay united."

Indonesia does allow diversity of belief, as long as it is one of six approved religions. Its officials, however, often succumb to Islamist demands. There were 106 convictions for blasphemy in Indonesia from 2004 to 2014, Amnesty International reported.

Several of the organizations that protested the blasphemy charge against Ahok were Muslim.

"The economy is growing, infrastructure is being built everywhere. Don't let this all be destroyed just because of ego," Saidiman Ahmad, an activist with Liberal Islam Network, told Reuters.
A spate of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria last weekend left 45 dead and several more injured.

They were in five villages in Kaura local government area, Middle Belt Kaduna state  an area mostly populated by Christians, on 13 November.

Most of the victims were women, children and the elderly, who could not escape the gunfire of the attackers, believed to be Fulani herdsmen. 120 houses, including 8 house-churches, were burnt down.

A resident of Kitakum (one of the villages), Samuel Adamu, told WWM the attackers came around 7pm local time. They laid siege to the village before they started shooting sporadically and throwing explosives at our homes.

They were armed with guns, knives, machetes and explosives. They slaughtered, butchered women, children and old people who could not escape he said.

Adamu accused the government of failing to stop the persistent attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives in Southern Kaduna.

The attacks came a day after the Fulani herdsmen and indigenous communities in Kaura and neighbouring local government areas resolved to live in peace with each other.

That peace deal ceremony, held in Samaru Kataf, was attended by Governor Nasir El -Rufai of Kaduna state who commended the communities and assured that his administration was determined to ensure security of lives and property.

In reaction to the Sunday (13 Nov.) killings, the state governments statement condemned the barbaric attacks, saying they would not derail ongoing efforts at peace building in Southern Kaduna.

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) is the main church organisation in Kaduna State (950 churches, over 2 million members) and most of the victims are ECWA members. Its Chairman for Kaduna State, at a news conference (16 Nov.), blamed the ongoing violence on a quest for grazing reserves.

"We have come to the unfortunate conclusion that the announced intention of the Kaduna State Government - to re-create existing cattle grazing reserves in Southern Kaduna - serves as a major motivation for the renewed ethno-religious violence and cleansing currently being visited on Southern Kaduna communities" said Rev. Zachariah Gado.

Since March 2013, at least 180 have been killed and 10,000 displaced, while hundreds of properties, including dozens of churches, have been burnt down laments ECWA.

Since March 2013, at least 180 have been killed and 10,000 displaced, while hundreds of properties, including dozens of churches, have been burnt down laments ECWA.

World Watch Monitor

He also said last week's donation by the Kaduna state governor for the reconstruction of churches destroyed during the attacks was a misplaced priority, pointing out that the money should have been given to security agencies.

"As perpetrators continue to evade consequences for their illegal and violent actions, impunity and lawlessness are becoming entrenched, to the detriment of the entire state".

Since the violent aftermath of the 2011 Presidential election, there have been increasing indications of the existence of a desperate, well-funded, organised and executed campaign not only to make life unbearable for the entire Southern Kaduna territory through threats, intimidation and psychological warfare, but also to occupy the land through what can only be described as ethno-religious cleansing by Fulani herdsmen militia.

Since March 2013, at least 180 have been killed and 10,000 displaced, while hundreds of properties, including dozens of churches, have been burnt down. Some 16 villages have been overrun by Fulani, who are now fully settled with their cattle and families, noted Gado.

He appealed to both the State and Federal governments to restore all communities that were taken over by herdsmen to the rightful owners, saying that failure to do so will only encourage further lawlessness.

Zachariah Gado also reiterated his calls for the establishment of a military base in Southern Kaduna state, to end the killings.

Timeline of recent attacks by Fulani Herdsmen: May-Nov 2016

13 Nov.

45 killed, 120 houses, including 8 house-churches, burnt down, as Fulani herdsmen laid siege to 5 villages (Kigam, Kitakum, Unguwan Magaji , Unguwan Rimi and Kizipi), all in Kaura local government area, about 300km east of Kaduna.

25 Oct.

Attacks on Misisi village (Kaninkon Chiefdom): 7 killed including the village head, 26 houses burnt down. Also, attacks on Pasakori (3km from Misisi): 2 killed and 16 houses burnt down.

15 Oct.

Godogodo: over 300 militiamen laid siege to the town. The killings and arson continued into 16 October and left 30 killed; 27,819 displaced; 326 injured and 326 homes burnt down including 7 churches. Properties estimated to be worth thousands of dollars were looted and destroyed.

24 Sept.

Godogodo: 7 killed as Fulani militia attacked the town (where thousands forcibly displaced from surrounding communities have sought refuge). The next day, an attempt raid was repelled by local vigilantes and security forces.

2 Aug.

Akwa: 2 killed, 20 houses burnt down including churches

Golgofa: 9 killed and the entire town razed to ashes.

1-2 Aug.

Unguwar Anjo village (estimated population 3,500) burnt down. A pastor and a community leader killed among others, 2 churches, including lots of materials, destroyed.

31 May

Ninte: the entire village burnt down including 3 churches, 3 vehicles and foodstuffs.

Unguwan Kafinta, Dangwa villages attacked: 5 killed and 298 properties destroyed.

Courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Photo: Since March 2013, at least 180 have been killed and 10,000 displaced, while hundreds of properties, including dozens of churches, have been burnt down laments ECWA.

Photo courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Publication date: November 20, 2016
The Rev. Franklin Graham recently spoke at a revival event in Myanmar where thousands of people responded to the message and gave their lives to Christ.

According to ChristianToday.com, the event was part of the three-day-long Love Joy Peace Festival, held at the Myanmar Convention Center.

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a southeast Asian country, located below China and between India and Thailand. It has been embroiled in the worlds longest running civil war since 1949.

Most people in the country are adherents of Buddhism, but many embraced Christianity during the festival.

The first day of the festival had around 46,000 attendees. About 2,500 of these gave their lives to Christ after hearing the gospel message.

Graham spoke on the festivals second day with around 52,000 people in attendance. More than 2,400 gave their lives to Christ after Graham preached, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"I am so thankful that thousands of men, women, and young people in Myanmar have responded to the invitation to 'come home' and trust Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of their lives, Graham posted on Facebook after the event.

Graham also used his time in Myanmar to hand out Christmas gifts to needy children. Graham and his team with Samaritans Purse ministries handed out hundreds of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: November 21, 2016
A third-grade teacher in Alabama is being investigated after an atheist group accused her of promoting Bring Your Bible to School Day.

OneNewsNow.com reports that Patsy Smithe, a third-grade teacher at Vestavia Hill Elementary East told her students that on Bring Your Bible to School Day they could bring a Bible, if they received permission from their parents.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), however, alleges that Smithe was promoting Christianity. The FFRF notified the school on behalf of a parent who had complained.

However, according to Pacific Justice Institute president Brad Dacus, announcements such as Smithe gave are perfectly legal, as long as teachers dont give overt precedence to a particular religion.

But they also need to make it clear that students who would like to bring something other than a Bible  that's reflective of their faith or that's inspirational to them personally  they should feel free to bring something to class as well, stated Dacus.

Dacus believes that an investigation into Smithes actions is unnecessary.

"For this teacher to be punished in any material way would be way beyond the bounds of reasonableness, he stated. But conversely, teachers in the future need to recognize that they need to go way out of their way in such situations to make it clear they are not showing explicit favoritism."

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: November 21, 2016
The United States on Nov. 17 circulated a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council urging the council to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on warring South Sudan. The resolution follows warnings from a senior UN official of escalating violence and possible genocide in the country.



U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that while an arms embargo would not prevent weapons from entering the country, it would be an important step toward curbing the ongoing violence perpetrated by government and opposition forces against civilians.



South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011. By 2013, the country fell into civil war when fighting began between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. The warring factions signed a peace deal in August 2015, but the fighting persists. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million others. Ellen Margrethe Loj, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, said the humanitarian situation in the country remains dire, with an estimated 4.8 million people facing food insecurity.



The Security Council has issued several threats to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, but Russia and China, both with veto powers, have questioned whether the move would make a difference. Russias deputy UN ambassador, Petr Iliichev, on Thursday reiterated that the U.S. recommendation would hardly be helpful in a country awash with weapons.



Introducing targeted sanctions against South Sudanese leaders would be the height of irresponsibility now, Iliichev said.



Last week, the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, warned South Sudan is at risk of an ethnic war and resulting genocide. During his visit, Dieng stopped at Yei, a once peaceful South Sudanese town. The resurging conflict in July and subsequent violence has left Yei at the center of warring armed groups. The South Sudan Protection Cluster estimated nearly 150,000 people have fled to Uganda from the Yei region, and some 120,000 others have moved to other parts of the country.



I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it, Dieng told the council following his visit.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Publication date: November 21, 2016
Exit polls suggest 81 percent of white evangelicals voted for President-elect Donald Trump.

But support for Trump may have been less decisive on Christian college campuses, where most students are also white evangelicals.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll before the election found the views of younger adults do not align with some older ones when it comes to their beliefs about Trump supporters.

The poll, taken in September, found that 35 percent of adults aged 18-39 said it is fair to describe a large portion of Trumps supporters as prejudiced against women and minorities, compared to 25 percent of those in the 40-64 age group and 30 percent of those 65 and older.

Internal, self-selecting polls from some Christian colleges in the days approaching the general election also showed weaker Trump support than among the evangelical community at large. At Wheaton College in Illinois, 43 percent of respondents said they would vote for Clinton, while at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, 52 percent said theyd vote for Trump.

Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton, said the weaker Trump support among college students is a generational issue.

Millennials do tend to be more politically progressive than their parents, Stetzer told The Wheaton Record, the schools student newspaper. I do think that justice-oriented millennials are going to be really concerned with some of the comments Donald Trump has said about women, minorities, refugees, and more.

Wheatons President Philip Ryken attempted to calm fears of those nervous about a Trump presidency.

In a Nov. 12 letter to students, he said: I write to reaffirm our commitments in the Community Covenant  as well my commitment as President  that our community stands against prejudice and hatred (including racism and sexism), embraces ethnic diversity as part of Gods design for humanity in Christ, and upholds the value of every person as an image bearer of God.

The Echo, Taylor Universitys campus newspaper, reported that some minority students expressed fear and frustration at the treatment they received in the aftermath of the election results.

The incidents, which were unconfirmed by Taylor University administration, included students running down halls of the Indiana school waving Confederate flags and an intimidating Snapchat message delivered to a minority student.

At Taylors chapel service the day after the election, Campus Pastor Jon Cavanagh advised the student body to be kind and gracious to one another.

At North Park University in Chicago, one openly bisexual student was targeted with a threatening hand-written letter that included derogatory and offensive language in the wake of the election. The note included #trump at the end.

A series of post-election dialogues has been planned at North Park, including one event set for Nov. 21 called a religious response to the election and how our faith can help and hinder progress.

The president of North Park University, David L. Parkyn, emailed the student body on Tuesday (Nov. 15), saying, messages and expressions of hate have no place on our campus.

Kirkland An is an RNS correspondent

Courtesy: Religion News Service

Photo: The Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., on May 29, 2013.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Christoffer Lukas Muller

Publication date: November 20, 2016
The divorce rate in America has fallen to its lowest levels in about 40 years, and at the same time a slight increase in marriage rates have been noted over the last five years.

The US divorce rate has dropped for the third consecutive year, according to data released by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University.

The statistics show that in 1970, there were 14.9 divorces per 1,000 married women aged 15 years or older. The divorce rate was shown to have risen markedly each year from then on and peaked to about 23 divorces in 1980.

In 2015, the rate was 16.9 per 1,000 married women, which is lower than what was observed in the middle of 1970s when it was rising sharply. The divorce rate continued to decline for the last 3 years, and was lower than 17.6 in 2014.

Marriage rates have risen slightly over the past few years after declining rapidly since 1970s. In 2014, rate was 31.9 which rose to 32.3 in 2015.

Washington D.C. (29.9) had the highest divorce rate in the country, followed by Wyoming (27.9). Hawaii (11.1) had the lowest divorce rate in the country. Other states with low divorce rates included Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

Utah had the highest rate of marriage at 61.3, while Rhode Island registered the lowest rate of marriages at 21.4. Interestingly, the marriage rate in Utah was three times as high as in Rhode Island, and its divorce rate was 18 which is higher than 60 percent of the states.

Rhode Island had the lowest marriage rate and it was among the states with low divorce rates at the same time, indicating that less number of marriages may be linked with lower instance of divorces.

Alaska, which has the second-highest rate of marriage in the country also had fifth-highest divorce rate.

Overall, the states which had highest marriage rates were among the top scorers in divorce rates.

However, Hawaii which witnessed the highest increase in marriage rate between 2014 and 2015 had lowest divorce rate as well.

Statistically, only about 45 percent of the states in the US witnessed an increase in marriage rate from last year, and were seen to have an unpredictable increase and decrease in marriage and divorce rates over the course of several years.

In 2014, New Hampshire had the 14th highest marriage rate at 37.1, but experienced the sharpest decline of -22.9 the next year.

Thirty states had lower divorce rates in 2015 than in 2014. Among them, Rhode Island witnessed the highest decline in divorce rate (-34) from last year.

Experts could not pin down the exact reason for the drop in divorce rates, but long-term trends suggest that baby boomers seem to have had married young and ended their marriages, and then marry and divorce multiple times while millennials were more likely to marry late.

"We've seen a decline of divorce among people who are younger and an increase among people who are older," Wendy Manning, co-director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, told Bloomberg.

The age of marriage has also increased over the past several years, which has become a norm among the millennials.
World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Zika is no longer an international emergency.

The WHO Emergency Committee however said that it may still represent "a highly significant and a long-term problem".

The virus had spread to more than 60 countries after it was first detected in Brazil last year. It was linked to birth defects and neurological complications in babies.

"The Committee agreed that Zika must now be managed within the World Health Organisation as are other very important infectious diseases and other threats," Dr. David Heymann, chair of the Zika Emergency Committee, said in a news conference.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends women to not travel to regions where Zika is not eradicated yet.

"It remains crucially important that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas with local transmission of Zika, because of the devastating complications that can occur in foetuses that become infected during pregnancy," the CDC said in a statement.

The virus is not known to have many adverse effects on adults, but causes symptoms of fever, rash, and joint pain in one out of five people. However, the disease has been linked to microcephaly in babies which is a condition where the brain does not grow to its normal size.

The CDC has confirmed 139 locally-acquired cases in the US until now, along with 4,115 travel-associated ones. One of the cases was related to laboratory-handling of the virus. Some 35 patients had acquired the disease through sexual transmission. Out of all the known cases, 13 had Guillain-Barre syndrome.

In 1947, the virus was first identified in Uganda among monkeys. The first human case was recorded in Nigeria in 1954, which is thought to have spread to other parts of Africa, Pacific Islands, Americas, and South East Asia.

After the international emergency on the disease has been removed, it has been put under the same class as other diseases including dengue, which require work on the part of public health officials and continued research so that effective vaccines could be developed.
Christianity in Indonesia is on the rise despite persecution by the radicals and the state, the World Watch Monitor reported.

Extremists in the province of Aceh Singkil clashed with Christians and tore down churches about a year ago. The police also razed other churches after they received complaints from locals that the churches were unlicensed.

"The perpetrators live in the neighbourhood and they always watch my church members' activities," a resident told WWM.

However, the church members of six of the 11 demolished worship houses continue to meet in tents despite odd conditions.

"[Rain] has happened many times, but we still continue the service. Even if the tents are leaking and rainwater or mud is splashing in from the outside, no-one ever leaves the service!" another member said.

Members from rest of the torn-down churches have joined other churches.

Despite the oppression, the number of people in the churches are increasing. One of the churches that was razed is now meeting in tents at two locations about 15 miles apart to accommodate more members.

Obtaining licenses for churches has become a herculean task for the believers who are required to get 60 signatures from people of another faith in addition to receiving permit from the state officials in order to build a church. The process of registration of unlicensed churches is observed to be very slow given the various requirements adding to the complexity of the procedure.

The size of the plot for the church land also has regulations which limits the area allotted for the house of worship. According to the rules, the size of the church must be proportional to the number of church members with local identity cards multiplied by 0.8 meters. Those who are from outside the region but have local identity cards will not be allowed to be included in the count.

Church leaders say that the likelihood of getting a license for the new churches has diminished further because of upcoming elections in February 2017 for which the candidates have started registration. With elections in sight, they may not grant licenses for the churches in order to not upset the local Muslim voters in Aceh province.
I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
home World At least 34 Christians killed in attack by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria

More than 34 people in predominantly Christian villages in Kauru in the Nigerian state of Kaduna were killed in the attack carried out by 200 Fulani herdsmen on Nov. 13. The attackers also destroyed over 100 houses and other properties of the villagers.

Yohanna Gandu, an official of Chawai Community Development Association, told International Christian Concern (ICC) that the perpetrators came from the direction of the neighboring Plateau State, Ganawuri.

It was reported that about three to four thousand people were displaced from the villages of Kitakum, Kigam, Angwan Rimi, Angwan Magaji and Angwan Makera as a result of the attacks.

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) said in a press statement that the elderly and children as young as two years old were among the victims of the attack.

"The villages were burnt to the ground. No house was left standing in Kigam village. The most pathetic is the picture of children less than two years also killed. Children, youths, women, the aged and the infirm were all victims," said the organization in the statement.

SOKAPU asserted that the government has not taken any action to protect the villages that are often attacked by the militants despite appeals from the villagers.

"The pattern that has emerged, sadly now, is that attacks occur with impunity usually followed by fire fighting and feeble cosmetic measures by security agencies and the government that have failed to yield any dividend," the group added.

SOKAPU has called on the government to increase its efforts to prevent further attacks.

The Fulani herdsmen are also said to be responsible for continuing attacks in other parts of Nigeria's Middle Belt.

According to a report from World Watch Monitor, the Fulani herdsmen have killed 826 Christians and injured 878 people in the Middle Belt state of Nasarawa between January 2013 and May 2016.

Apart from the killings, the militants have destroyed 787 houses, nine shops and 32 vehicles. As many as 102 churches were reported destroyed or damaged. About 21,000 Christians are now living in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps inside and outside Nasarawa.
At Least 30 Dead In Suicide Attack On Afghanistan Mosque, Claimed By ISIS

A suicide attack killed at least 30 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday.

Many more were wounded by the blast that was timed as worshippers gathered for prayer at the Baqir ul Olum mosque. Islamic State has claimed the attack  the latest on Afghanistan's Shia community by the Sunni militant group.

The service at lunchtime (0800 GMT) on Monday was to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and Shia martyr. Officials said the attack was a deliberate attempt to stoke sectarian tensions.

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shia Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.

Already there had been two major recent attacks on Shia targets in Kabul, both claimed by Islamic State.

One was on a demonstration by the mainly Shia Hazara community in July which killed more than 80 people, in the deadliest attack on civilians since 2001.

Last month, 18 people were killed when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Kabul for Ashura, one of the holiest occasions in the Shia calendar.

At least 14 people were also killed in an attack on a Shia mosque in northern Balkh province, for which no group has so far claimed responsibility.

Any resurgence of sectarian or ethnic violence could threaten the fragile stability of the government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, who described the mosque blast as an attempt "to sow seeds of discord".

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".

He wrote on Twitter: "This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity."

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in the 15 years since the Taliban government was brought down in the US-led campaign of 2001.

In July, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 1,601 civilians had been killed in the first half of the year alone, a record since it began collating figures in 2009.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Bishop: Church Must Keep Hard Line On Gay Relationships Even If It Risks Institutional Status

A conservative bishop has accused the Church of England of "being oblivious to the obvious" over the links between theology and growth.

The Rt Rev Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone, pointed to research that suggested traditional teaching fuelled an increase in attendance. He said this "confirms the obvious" as he called on the CofE to maintain its opposition to same-sex relationships, even if it risks its status as the institutional Church.

The research from Canada was backed up by figures from the conservative church in the UK which reported a startling growth amid the broader decline of the CofE. Those with ties to the conservative grouping Reform grew in average weekly attendance at a rate of between three and four per cent year on year for the past five years, Christian Today exclusively revealed last week. This compares to a decline of between one and two per cent yearly across the wider CofE.

"This should be a great encouragement to us in the Church of England as we recognize that our core business is to bring the truth of the gospel to the nation," Thomas wrote on Anglican Ink.

He accused the Church of becoming caught up "with issues of pastoral reorganization and the reform of ministerial training rather than theology". He said the distraction of "remaining relevant" dominated the discussion over sexuality.

"Christian faith tends to thrive when it is distinct from the prevailing culture," he wrote. "A Christianity that merely recycles the norms and values of the prevailing culture renders itself irrelevant and subservient."

He added: "If a more liberal agenda on sexuality is adopted by the Church of England, there will certainly be a fundamental breach with historic Christian teaching and the majority of the wider Anglican Communion, but in addition, the hope of future growth will be entirely misplaced."

He concluded: "We have to recognise that God's Word is not always popular and therefore there will be times when we have to put our civic and institutional involvement at risk."
Church In Rwanda Issues Apology For Horrors Of 1994 Genocide

The Catholic Church in Rwanda has apologised for church members who played a role in the 1994 genocide, killing people and looting their properties.

The apology is contained in a joint resolution which was to be read in all Rwandan churches on Sunday.

Academic research by Timothy Longman of Vassar College is among the evidence for Christian complicity in the atrocities of 1994. He writes that Christian churches were "deeply implicated" in the genocide of the Tutsi population, with churches being sites for many massacres, and church members and administrators actually taking part. He explains this by the historic links between church and state, and the acceptance by church administrators of ethnic discrimination.

"For three months in 1994, the Christian churches of Rwanda served as the country's killing fields," he writes.

Thousands of Tutsis sought refuge in Catholic and Protestant churches, "But death squads surrounded the churches and systematically slaughtered the people within, tossing grenades through church windows, firing into the crowds with rifles, then finishing off the survivors with machetes, pruning hooks and knives."

In total, at least 800,000 Tutsis were murdered by Hutus. The slaughter was recognised as genocide by the United Nations. In this video, Gary Haugen, chief executive of International Justice Mission, does a Ted talk about his time as UN chief investigator of the Rwandan genocide.

In its communique, released by the Rwanda Bishops' Conference to New Times, the bishops say the Catholic Church as an institution played no direct role but admits some members were involved in the killings.

"Even though the church sent no body to do harm, we, the Catholic clerics in particular, apologise, again, for some of the church members, clerics, people who dedicated themselves to serve God and Christians in general who played a role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi," they say.

"We apologise and apologise for all Christians due to various crimes we committed, we are saddened by the fact that some of our followers ignored the vow with God through baptism and ignored God's commandments.

"We apologise for all hate sins and divisions that were created in our country to the level that we hated our compatriots based on ethnicity. We ask for forgiveness that very often we did not show that we are just one family and people turned to their colleagues to kill, looted their properties and dehumanised them.

"We apologise for all shepherds of Christians who caused conflict and sowed seeds of hatred among them and those who mistreated others, abused their rights in their services."

Bishop Philippe Rukamba, Bishop of Butare Diocese and chairman of the Rwanda bishops, told New Times: "We know that there are church members who played a role in the genocide, killed people and looted their properties. What we don't agree with is that the church itself played a role in the genocide. Our Pope has since asked us not to keep silent but show our position, we have done it but this year of mercy coincided with the event."

Dr Jean-Damascene Bizimana, of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, welcomed the apology.

"That the whole clergy sat down and apologised together for the role played in the genocide is a positive move; it shows their position and makes it clear for some who questioned the church's position on genocide," he told New Times. "We also ask that all church members who committed genocide come up and apologise, there are priests and nuns who were accused of genocide and we ask that they apologise too.

"Some priests and other church members used to think that they are protected as the church had remained silent but things are going to change as the church now admits that there are people who committed genocide and it is against them."
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Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ...

Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ...

Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ...

Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ...

What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ...

Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ...

How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ...

Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina  American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ...

Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ...

Team Valor Pokemon Go  7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go  The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ...

Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

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Houses Of Parliament To Be Lit Red For Persecuted Believers

The Palace of Westminster will be lit up in red on Wednesday evening to commemorate people who suffer for their religion around the world.

The Houses of Parliament joins Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral on a list of iconic buildings to adopt red lighting in memory of those killed for their faith. The gesture is part of the Red Wednesday campaign organised by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John's Wood, the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Stevenage and Bolton Town Hall are among dozens of other buildings including churches, synagogues and mosques across the UK lighting their buildings red to mark the occasion.

John Pontifex from ACN told Christian Today it was a "remarkable show of solidarity" with anyone persecuted for their faith.

"It will give them a great deal of comfort and hope that there is this statement from the place that is so much associated with the right to freedom of expression," he said.

"This will send out a statement to the world that enough is enough. Their cry has at least been heard. They have an answer to the question, 'Who cares?'

"This shows the mother of all parliaments cares."

ACN have asked supporters to wear red or adopt red filters on social media on Wednesday as "a chance to show solidarity with victims of genocide, persecution and discrimination."

Lord Alton of Liverpool, a peer behind the bid to turn the Palace of Westminster red, hailed it as a "wonderful decision" that shows "increasing concern felt at the highest levels about the persecution of millions of people because of their beliefs".

He told Christian Today: "In this month of remembrance we are right to stand in solidarity with those who suffer. Our Houses of Parliament represent the struggle for liberty and freedom. In bathing them in red we commemorate those who enjoy none if those same privileges and it is an earnest of our determination that they should."

A #RedWednesday bus tour will travel through London on Wednesday stopping off at the Jewish Liberal Synagogue in St John's Wood and the Imam Khoei Islamic Centre in North London before going to St Paul's Cathedral and finishing at a service in Westminster.

A Parliamentary spokesperson said: "In order to demonstrate Parliament's support for the Red Wednesday campaign, which recognises those persecuted or killed in acts of religious hatred, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker have agreed to light up the Palace. Parliament fully endorses the aims of this important campaign."
iPhone 6 Plus touch disease update: Apple to fix touchscreen issues for $149

Apple finally admitted that the iPhone 6 Plus suffers from the "touch disease," but they will only fix it for a price.

Users complained that their iPhone 6 Plus suffer from touchscreen issues where the device turns unresponsive with some gray flickering bars seen on top of the screen after the device had been dropped several times on a hard surface.

The repair website iFixit declared in August that such problems on iPhone 6 Plus and its smaller cousin, the iPhone 6, are common. The site also mentioned that the issue comes from the faulty chips that were equipped inside the device, which will turn loose when the smartphone has been dropped or bent.

It took several months before Apple recognized the issue. The company even received several class-action lawsuits from different consumer groups in the states of Utah and California, as well as in other countries like Canada, because they did not address the issue.

But in a recent press release, the Cupertino-based tech giant announced that they will now fix the issue if the users are willing to pay $149.

As per the press release, the tech firm will fix the "touch disease" infected iPhone 6 Plus as long as it is still in working condition, and the screen is not broken or cracked.

The company will also reimburse those who have paid to repair their iPhone 6 Plus units for the same issue if they had it repaired through Apple or any Apply Authorized Service Provider. The amount of the reimbursement will be based on the difference of the price paid by the users for the original service and the $149 service price under the new Multi-Touch Repair Program of the company.

At the moment, however, the Multi-Touch Repair Program for iPhone 6 Plus does not apply to the services for iPhone 6 devices that also suffer from the "touch disease."

On the other hand, Canada's CBC News revealed that Apple customers are disappointed with the "pitiful" solution for the "touch disease," and most are not willing to pay just to have their devices fixed.
'Madam Secretary' season 3 spoilers: Elizabeth uncovers information that could disrupt USIraq peace during the presidential elections

The US presidential election is not yet over in Elizabeth McCord's (Tea Leoni) world in the next episode of "Madam Secretary" season 3. But the results of the election will be the least of her worries.

In the episode titled "Breakout Capacity," incumbent president Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine) will be on his toes as he awaits the results of the election. But Elizabeth will shift her focus on the new pieces information that she gathered regarding the peace deal of the US with Iran.

On the other hand, Elizabeth and Henry's (Tim Daly) son, Jason (Evan Roe), will go against them in the presidential election by choosing to side with the opponent of their presidential candidate. This could mean that the family will have several heated discussions regarding Jason's decision to side against his parent's presidential choice.

But the episode will not only center on the heated electoral scene in the country since some of Elizabeth's staff might themselves involved in a possible romance.

The synopsis of the episode reads: "As President Dalton eagerly awaits voting results on Election Day, Elizabeth uncovers information that could put the U.S.'s peace deal with Iran in jeopardy. Also, election night proves to be one filled with possible romance for some of McCord's staffers, and Jason challenges his parents by supporting one of Dalton's presidential competitors."

The episode will also feature the return of Sam Daly to reprise his role as Daisy's (Patina Miller) ex-fiance, Win Barrington.

Meanwhile, the previous episode of "Madam Secretary" season 3 showed the return of Elizabeth's brother, Will (Eric Stoltz). The episode revealed that Will was about to begin a stable career at Maryland's Walter Reed Medical Center when an earthquake in Venezuela suddenly struck. This made him think twice about settling with the job and joining the rescue mission in the calamity-stricken country.

CBS will air the next episode of "Madam Secretary" season 3 on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. ET.
'Missionaries of mercy' to forgive abortion under Pope Francis' orders

Pope Francis will send out "missionaries of mercy" to forgive sins all over the world next year, including transgressions such as abortion, which is usually reserved for high-ranking officials to absolve.

The Catholic Church opposes all forms of abortion according to its Canon law, and undergoing the procedure can result in automatic excommunication. Usually, it can only be forgiven by bishops or the Pope, but as part of Francis' Holy Year of Mercy beginning in December, women who have had abortions and doctors that have performed them may seek absolution from specially designated priests.

"The missionaries of mercy are priests sent out by the Holy Father at the beginning of Lent. The Pope is sending them out [to dioceses and parishes] as a concrete sign of how a priest should be a man of pardon, close to everyone," Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council organising Holy Year events, told reporters at the Vatican on Tuesday.

Fisichella added that those priests chosen for the task will be patient, good at taking confession and have "an understanding of human fragility".

The motto of the Holy Year is 'Merciful like the Father' and its logo, unveiled by Fisichella, shows Jesus carrying a man over his shoulders. This "serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure," the archbishop said.

In his Bull of Indiction, a document explaining the purpose and intention of the Holy Year, Pope Francis implored the Church to show more grace. "Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy," he said.

"Mercy is the very foundation of the Church's life. The Church's very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love."

It was in this document that Francis first outlined his plan to send out the Missionaries of Mercy. "They will be a sign of the Church's maternal solicitude for the People of God, enabling them to enter the profound richness of this mystery so fundamental to the faith," he explained.

"There will be priests to whom I will grant the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See, so that the breadth of their mandate as confessors will be even clearer. They will be, above all, living signs of the Father's readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon."

The initiative has been welcomed by many as a sign of Francis' determination to change the Church's judgemental reputation. Some have appeared concerned that the move indicates leniency on abortion.

"Regardless of this decision by the Pope, the Church will continue to consider abortion a sin. I hope it does not cause confusion," Cardinal Velasio De Paolis told Italian newspaper La Nazione.

'He is the Pope of mercy and wants to show the benevolence of the Church towards sinners. This does not cancel the sin of abortion.'
'Narcos' season 3 spoilers: 'Pretty Little Liars' star Nicholas Gonzales cast in a recurring role

"Narcos" has been renewed for two more seasons, and with the death of Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) in season 2, the show is going to delve into a different story for season 3. With a new setting and plot comes new characters, and actor Nicholas Gonzalez has been cast for a recurring role.

According to Deadline, he will be portraying a character named Lopez. Similar to Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Pena (Pedro Pascual), this new character is going to be a DEA agent, one that is capable at his job and already well experienced.

Fans of the actor will recognize him as Detective Vic Furey on "Pretty Little Liars" and as Dante Ramon, the elder brother of Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), on "The Flash." It is uncertain at this point if he will be one of the main characters the show will follow or if, like seasons 1 and 2, a lot of focus will be on the Cali Cartel leaders.

Back in September, showrunner Eric Newman explained that the show would delve into the dealings of the Cali Cartel, the group that picked up the pieces from the Medellin Cartel that Escobar left behind, following his death. However, these four leaders did not survive long, and it was their deaths that soon led the drug industry out of Colombia and into nations like Mexico, where it is still a prominent problem today.

"There are four Cali godfathers: brothers Gilberto and Miguel (Francisco Denis), Pacho Herrera (Alberto Ammann), all of whom we've met, and then there is a fourth named "Chepe," who is a sort of fascinating and colorful guy," Newman told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.

No official release date has been announced for "Narcos" season 3, although it is widely speculated to premiere on Netflix in September 2017, based on the premiere dates of seasons 1 and 2.
Persecuted Yazidis Fleeing ISIS Failed By UK  MPs

Yazidis persecuted by ISIS have been failed by the UK, the government was told last week as dozens of MPs urged the Home Office to do more for those fleeing ISIS in Iraq.

Forty-six MPs and peers across parties wrote to home secretary Amber Rudd and secretary of state for international aid Priti Patel on Thursday, calling on them to allow Iraqi refugees into the UK.

Those fleeing ISIS in Iraq are barred from asylum in the UK as the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) only accepts those with Syrian identity documents.

But 90 per cent of Yazidis, whom ministers admit are victims of genocide, are from Iraq and so not eligible under the programme.

Instead those who have fled Iraq are told in UNHCR camps their "situation is not deemed serious enough" to get help in the UK, according to the letter sent last week. Some Yazidis are even told they must wait up to seven years to register with the UNHCR.

The UK's system "fails to account for the systematic persecution at the hands of Daesh of Yazidis," the MPs wrote. "Many of the victims of sexual violence at the hands of Daesh satisfy the vulnerability criteria of the SVPRS and are refugees in camps or in host communities registered with UNHCR."

The letter urged the government "to reassess and extend the UK's SVPRS to ensure that those particularly vulnerable and desperate to build their lives in a more stable nation are able to do so".

It comes after a debate in Parliament last week pressed the government to do more for persecuted Christians around the world.

On Wednesday Christians will be urged to wear red or adopt red filters on social media as part of the Red Wednesday campaign by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral will be lit up in red to mark the blood of those targeted for their faith.
Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia and feminism: Is the Pope pro-women?

Laura Bates, author of Everyday Sexism, debated in the Guardian yesterday whether or not Pope Francis can be deemed a feminist. She said it's complicated.

And she's right.

In Amoris Laetitia, the Pope's latest apostolic exhortation, Francis discusses the richness possible in marriage and family life. Bates describes it as an "unexpectedly nuanced discussion of issues like gender stereotypes, domestic abuse and other forms of violence against woman".

Despite this, her conclusion is that while the Pope "might... have a positive impact by updating ideas about gender stereotypes and roles", he is not a feminist.

Why?

She says: "while he continues to preside over an institution that restricts women and prevents equality in so many ways" it is impossible to label him a feminist, at least  "by her definition".

Feminism is a broad church. There is no one creed to sign up to that defines you unequivocally as a feminist. This means that one person's feminism might lie outside of another's remit.

Bates is writing from a secular feminist perspective and the Pope is  obviously  Catholic. That means his feminism, if he has one, will be deeply rooted in his faith.

Fundamental to most secular feminism is the bodily autonomy of a woman, and subsequently being pro-choice. For many secular feminists, "if you are not pro-choice you can't be feminist. That becomes the litmus test," Natalie Collins, a gender specialist, told Christian Today.

This is in conflict with the Catholic Church's equally fundamental belief in the sanctity of life and that abortion goes against it. "That is one of the massive barriers for secular feminists embracing feminists of faith," Collins said.

"That body autonomy is massively important for feminists will always be counter to mainstream Christian views and there is likely to always be a tension.

"It's about conflicting value systems  Christians believe God created human beings as relational beings and secular feminists do not."

It's unsurprising that secular and Christian world views lead to conflict here, and understandable that Bates does not consider the Pope a feminist by her definition. However, as she concedes, in Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis takes significant ground for the treatment of women within the Catholic Church.

"So much of what he's said is really, really exciting," said Collins.

"He is prioritising women's safety over the sanctity of marriage, acknowledging the patriarchal context in which the Bible was written and bringing attention to domestic violence."

Bates also recognises the Pope's defence of female emancipation, that he fights gender stereotypes and talks of reciprocity within the family.

According to Francis, we must see "in the women's movement the working of the Spirit for a clearer recognition of the dignity and rights of women."

From a faith-feminist position, "this is a big positive step," said Collins.

"I see it as a prophetic move of the Holy Spirit that the Pope is choosing to say this stuff."

However, there are some Catholic women who, while recognising that the Pope "is definitely a man that believes in justice", believe he has not gone far enough when it comes to women's rights, Pat Brown, administrator for Catholics Women Ordination, told Christian Today.

Amoris Laetitia "is really good, and definitely a step in the right direction", Brown said. However, "he [the Pope] has to go gently, gently as conservatives in the Church make his life very difficult."

"Many of us do believe that this Pope is a real breath of fresh air and a source of change. His hands have been tied on many women's issues, but he is gradually untying them," she added.

The reality is that Pope Francis has written Amoris Laetitia in a particular context; one in which abortion and female ordination are off limits, and his statements undoubtedly represent a significant step in favour of women, whatever one's stance on those issues.

"If feminism is fundamentally about the liberation of women, then the Pope's words aid to that cause," said Collins.

Of course, we must wait to see whether these words in Amoris Laeticia grow fruit and make a real difference to attitudes on the ground. Perhaps the question we should really be asking is not whether the Pope is a feminist by any one person's definition, but rather whether his teachings will benefit women? It seems that there's real hope they absolutely will.
Pope Francis Ends Holy Year Of Mercy Amid Rifts And Division

Pope Francis ended the Roman Catholic Church's Holy Year of Mercy on Sunday by closing the Holy Door in the Vatican.

In a solemn ceremony the pontiff shut the Door of Mercy in St Peter's Basilica through which around 20 million pilgrims passed since it was opened on December 8, 2015.

Holy Years normally take place every 25 years unless a Pope decrees an extraordinary one  such as the one that closed on Sunday  to bring attention to a particular need or topic.

The next one was to be held in 2025 but the 79-year-old Francis called a special year on the theme of mercy amid concerns about growing divisions and conflict in the world and polarisation among Catholics. It has been a major part of his push for a less judgmental and more inclusive Church.

Catholics around the world were asked to forgive each other and the Pope made numerous appeals to world leaders to make gestures of peace and reconciliation.

In his homily at a Mass before 70,000 people in St Peter's Square, celebrated together with 17 new cardinals installed on Saturday, he called for the spirit of hope and mercy to continue.

"Let us ask for the grace of never closing the doors of reconciliation and pardon, but rather of knowing how to go beyond evil and differences, opening every possible pathway of hope," he said.

During the year, both Cuba and Paraguay responded to papal appeals by granting amnesties to prisoners and the Pope held a historic meeting of reconciliation with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church after a rift of nearly 1,000 years.

But his many appeals for ceasefires in Syria and peace in places such as Ukraine achieved little result.

Division also reared its head within his 1.2 billion member Church. Last week, four conservative cardinals made a rare public challenge to Francis over some of his teachings in a major document on the family, accusing him of sowing confusion on important moral issues.
Pope's Horror At Prostitute Tortured And Forced To Work Until She Gave Birth

Pope Francis has spoken of his horror at the stories of prostitutes he met during a visit to a rescue centre as part of the Church's Year of Mercy.

In an interview with Italy's TV2000 reported by the Catholic News Agency, the Pope recalled meeting a young pregnant woman from Africa who was "beautiful, young (and) exploited".

She told him she was forced to work until she was nine months pregnant and ended up giving birth "in the winter on the street. Alone. By myself," as Francis said. Her newborn daughter died of cold.

Francis said: "They made her work until that day, because if she didn't bring the exploiters much, she was beaten, even tortured."

He spoke of another woman he met in the community who had her ear cut off because she failed to make enough money for her traffickers.

Francis appealed to the consciences of those who used prostitutes as well as the traffickers, saying: "Do they not know that with that money, to take off for sexual satisfaction, they helped the exploiters?"

The meeting took place as part of the Pope's regular 'Mercy Friday' encounters in which he would set time aside to visit projects aimed at helping needy people. He cited it when he was asked if any encounters had a particular impact on him.

He also spoke of a visit to a hospital neonatal unit which reminded him again of the sin of abortion, which he described as a "horrible crime". "They send them away because 'it's better like this', 'because you are more comfortable', or because 'it's a big responsibility'." This, he said was "a serious sin".

He was also asked about the temptations a Pope faces, replying that they are "the temptations of any person, of any man". He said the devil always uses these weaknesses to enter, naming impatience, egoism and "a bit of laziness" as examples.

He spoke of his "allergy" to flatterers, because "to flatter another is to use the person for a purpose... to get something for oneself".
Should Evangelical Churches Stop Teaching People To Tithe?

For many evangelical Christians, it's a given: you tithe your income. A tenth of what you earn  pre-tax or after tax, the jury's out on that one  is to be given away, probably to your church.

It's a teaching that's extremely useful to pastors and church leaders, because it means their churches' ministries can be well funded. On the other hand, a South Korean theologian, Ahn Yong-su, has argued in a recent book that the whole practice is unbiblical and potentially abusive.

Reported by Korean news outlet the Hankyoreh, Yong-su, author of The Tithe Nailed To The Cross, describes churchgoers as "slaves to the tithe".

"Pastors have treated tithing as a standard for judging people's faith," he says. "You need faith to receive the salvation that opens the door to heaven, and pastors say that people with faith must tithe. In other words, you've got to tithe if you want to go to heaven. They've created a link between faith, salvation and tithing."

And, he says: "Pastors also say that people who don't tithe are shamelessly stealing from God. The tithe is seen as representing your loyalty to God... Poor people who can't tithe much or at all are treated like unbelievers."

Ahn Yong-su is highly critical of particular practices in some South Korean churches that most readers would immediately recognise as abusive. No one could justify that sort of behaviour. And in UK churches, teaching about tithing is likely to be more low-key; we're just less comfortable talking about money than other cultures.

But look harder, and it's hard to justify teaching tithing as a Christian duty at all.

In the Old Testament, tithes were a requirement of the law. The Israelites were to give 10 per cent of their crops and livestock (Leviticus 27:30-34). In Numbers 18:21 the tithe was applied to the maintenance of the Levites, who owned no land but served as priests.

But the tithe was not the only offering the Israelites were to make. Deuteronomy 12:5-6 talks about "your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock".

And tithing was taken very seriously. The prophet Malachi castigates the people for not bringing in "the full tithe to the storehouse" and "robbing" God (3:8-12). If they bring their tithe, he says, God will "open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need"  in other words, if they give to God, he will give to them.

The trouble is that it's very easy to take verses like these and apply them uncritically to our own times without looking at what the New Testament says. And it's clear in the New Testament that things are going to be different. Jesus moves the emphasis away from the mechanical act of giving to the motivation behind it: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others," he says (Matthew 23:23-24). In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul says: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Furthermore, in Acts 2:44-45 we're told, "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."

So while Jesus tells the Pharisees to carry on tithing  because it is commanded for Jews  it looks as though the tithe is nowhere in the minds of the early Christians. How much they are to give is left to their own consciences; it isn't laid down anywhere in the New Testament.

And we can see why this might be. Teaching people to tithe is potentially spiritually dangerous, for three reasons.

1. It limits generosity.

The danger is that it implies that once someone has given a tenth of their income, they've done all they need to do. It is not a way of encouraging giving, but limiting it. Instead of being an offering the tithe is a tax, as it was in the Old Testament, and this runs counter to the whole spirit of the gospel. We believe in freedom, not legalism.

2. It's potentially abusive.

Tithing is taught in evangelical churches partly because many of them don't have historic endowments (like the Church of England) and rely almost entirely on offerings. This means there is a temptation to try to maximise income by stressing the importance of giving. When this isn't controlled by rigorous biblical and ethical principles, it can be open to abuse, as Ahn Yong-su found. It's wrong to say that Christians who don't tithe are second-class believers.

3. People might not be able to afford it.

You might not miss a tenth of your income if you have a lot of money. Or even if you do miss it, you can just get used to living on less. But some people's income is so low that it would cause them serious problems if they were to give away a tenth of it. We should not put people's financial stability in danger through misguided teaching, but trust them to do the right thing.

Some people use the verses from Malachi about God "opening windows from heaven" if the people tithe to argue that he will never let people get into financial difficulty because of their offerings to him. But we should be very careful before we take a specific passage addressed to Israel and make it a general rule for every believer today.

Behind these negatives, though, there are some important principles. Christians should be generous. We shouldn't seek money for ourselves and we should hold it lightly, always being willing to give it away. Giving should be free. It's not up to anyone else to tell us how much to give, and if anyone tries to do so they have gone beyond what the Bible allows. And giving should be worshipful. When we give  whether it's a tithe, or more, or less  we are giving to the work of God, in the sight of God.

Money and possessions are gifts from God. But unless we can give them away, they become a trap. Churches that teach tithing as a duty are running serious spiritual risks with their congregations.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
This US Town Has Got Rid Of Good Friday. Here's Why That's A Mistake

Is America entering a post-Christian phase? Hard though it may be to believe given the relative strength of the Church there, it was a repeated theme of evangelicals who got behind Donald Trump in his campaign for the White House. Now  leaving behind such causes as gay marriage and transgender bathrooms  they have ammunition in the form of a city that has decided to do away with Good Friday.

Bloomington, Indiana, which prides itself on its "cultural sensitivity in the workplace", has decided to rename two traditional holidays. Columbus Day will become 'Fall Holiday' and Good Friday will become 'Spring Holiday'. According to the mayor, John Hamilton: "We are terrifically proud of our diverse workforce at the city. That diversity makes us stronger and more representative of the public we proudly serve.

"These updated names for two days of well-merited time off is another way we can demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity."

You have got to be kidding me.

No, this is really true.

This is political correctness gone mad. They want to get rid of Columbus Day?

Ah, wait now. There are excellent reasons for getting rid of Columbus Day, which in most US states celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. While his arrival was good news for land-hungry Europeans it was a disaster for the native population who were enslaved, terrorised or just exterminated. Columbus himself was personally responsible for enslavement, mutilations and murders.

So not such great news for America, then?

Let's say it's increasingly embarrassing as people face up to the past.

Well, what about banning Good Friday?

There's absolutely no excuse and no defence for it.

Really? You are usually so restrained.

Not when I am dealing with such ill-informed, misguided nonsense that thinks it's being terribly liberal when it's just being stupid.

Tell me more.

Deciding not to celebrate Columbus Day is one thing; he was a very bad man. But refusing to mark Good Friday is a different thing altogether. Jesus' followers have been guilty of some pretty terrible things, but no one has ever had a bad word to say about him. Good Friday is the most sacred day of the Christian year. Trying to write it out of public life is insulting and religiously illiterate.

Let me push back a bit. America is a secular state, why should it observe a religious holiday?

Its foundation as a secular state is a very good thing, because it means all religions can have equal status. But that doesn't mean removing religion from the public sphere altogether. It means you don't privilege one faith above another. So if a state wanted to grant a public holiday for Eid or Diwali, for instance, it would have every right to do so. Removing Good Friday isn't liberal or inclusive, it's an attack on liberalism and inclusivity.

Are they just scared of religion?

Who knows? But in modern liberal democracies many people are. They don't go to church and they don't know what happens inside them. They don't feel comfortable talking about religions because they don't know anything about it. They're suspicious of it, because they sense religious people march to the beat of a different drum. In the UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said the government has "no grip" on what it is to be religious. So they might well think the way to deal with it is to try to airbrush it out of public life.

But what if you live in Bloomington and you aren't religious?

Well, what if you live in Bloomington and you are religious? If you aren't a Christian, it's just a day with a particular label. Nobody's insulting you or trying to convert you or bothering you at all. No one is not including you, just enjoy the day off. But there are thousands of Christian people who are hopping mad because they are most definitely excluded.

The fair city of Bloomington is not more inclusive because it's done away with Good Friday. This is an epic fail for liberal democracy.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Thousands March In Support Of Top Christian Politician Facing Blasphemy Investigation

Thousands of people have marched in protest in Indonesia after police said they are to investigate a complaint of blasphemy against the Christian governor of Jakarta.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is known as Ahok, is an an ethnic Chinese Christian and the 10,000 protestors called for tolerance and unity in the face of demand from hard-line Muslims that he be prosecuted for blasphemy.

Press in Jakarta reported that police chief Tito Karnavian considered long and hard before deciding to pursue the case.

Indonesia is a secular state but has the largest number of Muslims of any country in the world, more than 200 million. Nearly all are Sunni. Blasphemy is a criminal offence and dozens of people have been convicted in the last decade, some sent to prison for as long as five years.

Hard-line Muslims in Indonesia first reported Purnama to police for alleged blasphemy on 6 October.

"Police are preparing a file to the prosecutor and the court," said Karnavian, adding that not to proceed would have risked serious protests across Indonesia.

Already there has been disruption on the streets. In one protest earlier this month, more than 100,000 Muslims took to the streets, leading to one death and dozens of injuries. Purnama, who has not been arrested but has been prohibited from leaving Indonesia, is up for re-election next February.

He is a social reformer who has cracked down on corruption, and is alleged to have delivered a speech in September when he accused his rivals of using the Qur'an to deceive voters. This speech was then posted online, where his words were edited to make it look as though he was directly criticising the Islamic holy book. The Islamic Defenders Front, a hard-line group that campaigns for Sharia law, demanded his arrest.

Purnama told journalists: "I accept the status of suspect and believe in the professionalism of the police. This is not just a case about me but about determining the direction this country is going in."

Johan Budi, a spokesman for the president, Joko Widodo, said the police decision must be respected.

He said: "From the beginning, the president has said he would not intervene."

Additional reporting by Reuters.
'We Are Never Hopeless': Iraqi Priest Vows To Keep The Church Alive

Many Iraqi Christians are too terrified to return home after ISIS, but one priest has vowed that the Church will "never, never give up" hope of Christianity flourishing in the country again.

Father Emanuel Youkhana, an Assyrian Church leader in Batnaya, spoke to PBS Newshour just three days after Islamic State was driven from the town.

He said that holy books had been burned by ISIS militants during occupation, the church desecrated and ISIS symbols graffitied on the walls.

He told PBS that he felt "joy that the church had survived. But sadness for what has been done in the church."

Hundreds of thousands of Christians fled the Nineveh plain when ISIS overran the region in 2014. In 2003, there were around 1.5 million Christians in Iraq  there are now believed to be around just 200,000.

However, many Christian-majority towns taken by ISIS two years ago are now being liberated as part of the Mosul offensive, a US-backed push to recapture ISIS' last stronghold in Iraq.

And yet, Father Emanuel said it will be a challenge to ensure that the Church thrives once more, even once ISIS is eradicated.

"It's a challenging question to keep the Christian Church alive here. And we can. We can. We will never, never give up," he said.

"We might be helpless, but we are never hopeless."
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A common argument against low-income housing in well-off areas is the fear from these wealthy residents that their property values would drop because of their new neighbors.

This was one of the persistent arguments that have helped keep affordable, subsidized housing projects out of Houston's high opportunity neighborhoods over the decades, including the contentious fight over a Houston Housing Authority complex planned in a neighborhood in between the Galleria and Tanglewood this year.

Yet a report released Monday by Trulia analyzed the nation's 20 least affordable housing markets and the low-income housing built over the last decade and found over a 10-year span there was no effect on the value of homes near the subsidized housing.

Fights against affordable housing have been springing up for years in markets such as San Francisco, New York and Seattle, where homes within reach have steadily slipped out of grasp. Houston was not among the least affordable U.S. housing markets. It has only in recent years begun to confront issues of slipping affordablility for working-class, middle-class and low-income residents.

RELATED: Dallas Fed reports affordable housing needed in Texas

Using Trulia home value data, the researchers examined changes in nearby home values before and after a low-income housing project is completed. Based on the location of low-income housing projects and completion dates, the report found that of 3,083 low-income housing projects, which receive funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, from 1996 to 2006 found no effect on home values, with a few exceptions.

In Denver, homes located near low-income housing saw a growth in price. In Boston, values shrunk. The report intentionally chose a time before the housing crisis of 2007. The researchers speculated that the prices dropped in Boston because of the concentration of low-income housing. These areas of concentration dropped more than other parts of the region.

Parts of Denver, meanwhile, experienced a resurgence in areas where low-income projects were built in the 1990s. Now, the area in lower downtown, or LoDo, is some of the most sought-out real estate in the metro area.

"The bottom line for NIMBYs (not in my backyard) who fear that property values will take a hit when a low-income housing project locates nearby is that their anxiety is largely unfounded  at least in cities where housing is either expensive or in short supply," the report says.
DA Chisholm says Michels' plan to fire him is 'dangerous rhetoric'

Nearly every time Tim Michels is on the campaign trail, he mentions what he plans to do on Day 1 if elected: fire Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm.
These stories appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 9, 1943. The headlines and words are reprinted as they ran then.

Waco, May 8. - Baylor University trustees at a meeting here Saturday on unanimously accepted proposals from the heavily endowed M.D. Anderson Foundation of Houston to transfer the College of Medicine and Dentistry at Dallas to Houston, where the schools would become a unit of Texas Medical Center.

Generous Offered Made.

The Anderson Foundation trustees agreed to give the Baylor schools an unrestricted site of 20 acres within the general tract provided for a medical center; place immediately in escrow $1,000,000 in cash and securities for the erection of permanent buildings; provide temporary quarters for professional schools while permanent ones are being constructed; provide $1,000,000 for research, to be made available in annual installments of $100,000 for ten years, the announcement said.

The Houston Chamber of Commerce, through its executive committee pledge $50,000 a year for ten year to be used by the units for operating expenses, it was stated here.

Hospital Stays in Dallas.

President Pat M. Neff of Baylor said that Dr. W. W. Moursund, dean of Baylor professional schools in Dallas for more than 20 years, expressed a desire to go to Houston, if the schools are removed there, and continue as executive head. Doctor Moursund also was quoted by Neff as saying that a large number of full-time professors now identified with professional schools in Dallas, have indicated a desire to go with the schools to Houston and retain their teaching connections.

Baylor University will continue to operate Baylor Hospital in Dallas, along with the school of nursing, which will retain its present connection with the hospital, it was said.

The Anderson Foundation, with a reputed $25,000,000 endowment, was established under the will of the late, M.D. Anderson, wealthy cotton factor of Houston. The foundation specified in proposals submitted by the trustees and ratified by Baylor trustees, that it "makes a definite agreement and understanding that it will have no part in the management or control, directly or indirectly of the operation or policies of the Baylor medical school or dental college. It is understood that Baylor will continue its long policy of admitting students of all faiths to the medical school and dental school, and selecting the faculty and administrative officials on the basis of scholarship and qualifications without regard to religious faith."

The foundation trustees also said in their proposal that "we believe your acceptance of this proposal would materially assist in developing the Texas medical center into one of the great educational and research centers in America, and in developing the Baylor medical school, already a splendid institution, into one of the foremost medical schools in the country."

Baylor Move Hailed as Big Step Forward

Trustee of Anderson Foundation Says Medical Center to Be One of Nation's Greatest

John H. Freeman, one of the three trustees of the Anderson Foundation, was elated over the news that Baylor University had voted to move its dental and medical college to Houston.

"That is extremely good news." Mr. Freeman said, "This is simply one more step in the formation and establishment of the Medical Center which the Anderson Foundation has been instrumental in starting. The foundation is expecting the center to be an all-Texas matter and not just a Houston or Anderson Foundation project.

"There is room for a great deal more development in the medical center and there is ample property for such development. The trustees are hoping and expecting that a good many other units will come into the project shortly.

"The voting by Baylor University authorities to come into the center is one of the greatest steps toward that we have had since the Anderson Foundation started and this medical center is going to be one of the greatest in the country," Mr. Freeman said.

Chamber Director to Act.

Officials of the Chamber of Commerce Saturday night said that they had been in conference with the Anderson Foundation and the trustees of Baylor University, and that the matter of the Chamber of Commerce's assistance for the projects would be presented to the board of directors of the chamber at the regular meeting on Tuesday.

Dr. John Trible, president of the Harris County Medical Society, said he was authorized at a special meeting of the society Friday night to appoint a committee of not less than seven doctors to co-operate with the Anderson Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce in coordinating medical equipment and available men.

Dr. Judson Taylor, retiring president of the State Medical Association will be chairman. Other members are: Dr. E. W. Bertner, Dr. E. L. Goar, Dr. C. C. Cody, Dr. C. O. Sansing, Dr. M. D. Levy, and Dr. Freeman Robbins.

Local Doctors to Be Used.

"Baylor medical school has seven full time professors and 200 associates. It is understood that the resignation of these associated will be effective when the school moves from Dallas. These associated will have to come from the ranks of Houston doctors, and it will be a real problem to find the men, with close to 200 doctors from Harris County in the armed forces," Doctor Trible said. There are about 500 doctors in Harris county during normal times. Doctor Trible said the move will be made about July 1, and that the medical school will be set up in temporary buildings on the 134 acre medical center site near and adjoining Hermann Hospital. The school has about 400 students and an endowment $500,000, he said.

Laboratory and teaching installations which will be brought from Dallas are most important, because many of these pieces of equipment cannot be bought, Doctor Trible said. Since doctors already have an overcrowded schedule some difficulty may be experienced in obtaining associate, who will average about six hours a week on medical schoolwork, Doctor Trible said.

Only Texas Major Dental School.

Of the seven major dental colleges west of the Mississippi River, only two are in Texas and both of them will be in Houston after the Baylor school moves here, according to the Houston Chamber of Commerce.

Of the two one is now in Dallas, the Baylor College, and the other is here, the Texas Dental College, which is affiliated with the University of Texas.

There are only three medical schools in Texas, one in Galveston and two in Dallas with one of those Dallas the Baylor University school, scheduled to be moved here.

UPDATE

Baylor University College of Medicine opened in Houston later in 1943, in a converted Sears, Roebuck & Co. building, with 131 students.

In 1947, the College moved to its current site in the Roy and Lillie Cullen Building, the first building finished in the Texas Medical Center proper. The dental school never relocated to Houston and instead remained in Dallas.

In 1948, Dr. Michael DeBakey, became chairman of the surgery department and over the next several years, the institution began affiliating with a number of hospitals. In 1969, the college separated from Baylor University, becoming an independent institution and changing its name to Baylor College of Medicine.

Baylor currently has four schools: School of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine; School of Allied Health Sciences and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
AUSTIN -- A panel on school finance closed out this past week's conference on K-12 education hosted by the Texas Association of Business, with a call for a new study on the bottom-line cost of educating children.

Talmadge Heflin, a former school board member, House Appropriations chair and current chair of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Fiscal Policy, said the only predictable outcome for any legislative session is that school districts will be requesting more funding.

"I think until we can define what it takes to educate a child in a public school system, we'll continue to struggle with the funding question," Heflin told a small audience at an Austin conference. "Set aside the court case. That's just a way to get the legislature to act."

Heflin sat on a panel that included Wayne Pierce of the Equity Center and Drew Scheberle of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Pierce's theme was pulling past "hold harmlesses" out of the school finance system to fully equalize funding.

Scheberle was relying on the legislative delegations of the state's major job-creating communities  San Antonio, Dallas and Austin  to push the issue of school funding to the top of the list.

Houston ISD is counting on the pressure of a recent vote to reject recapture to force lawmakers to deal with the school finance issue next session. Pierce said there's not enough money in the budget to provide a long-term fix to keep the state's largest district out of sending a portion of its tax revenue back to the state to help fund poorer districts.

"That's nearly a billion dollars that you need, per biennium, that you have to go up," said Pierce about the cost of pulling Houston ISD out of recapture. "And the next time you come back, you've got that billion, and you need another billion beyond that."



The full story can be found in the Quorum Report. Copyright 2016, Harvey Kronberg,http://quorumreport.com/index.cfm, All rights are reserved. This story is presented as part of the Houston Chronicle's collaboration with Quorum Report. For inside information on Texas politics and government and to sign up for real-time updates, go here.
Committing $1 million to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for pediatric brain tumor research, Addi's Faith Foundation raises money to continue this mission through the annual Walk by Faith 5K and various other events throughout the year.

Family, friends, community members and longtime supporters gathered at the Sam Houston Race Park Sunday, Nov. 13, for the annual Walk by Faith 5K and Kids' Obstacle course 1K which has raised $167,794 so far and counting.

"We had a great response," Amber Bender, founder of Addi's Faith Foundation and Addison's mom, said. "Everyone really enjoyed themselves and the presence of love and hope surrounded us all. Lots of good people doing good things for the good of others; it's a beautiful thing. The food was yummy and plentiful, the kid's zone was hopping, the weather was beautiful and we even had a visit from Santa. The kids loved the 1K obstacle course. They had so much fun being out on the horse track crawling through nets, climbing walls and sliding down inflatables."

AFF was first founded in Addison's memory by her parents, Tony and Amber Bender, to honor their daughter who died of a cancerous brain tumor at 2 years old.

"When we lost Addison, we quickly discovered two things that immediately led us to create this charity," Bender said. "First, only 4 percent of funding is directed to childhood cancer, and second that having a child with cancer is emotionally and financially draining for the family involved. It literally turns your world upside down. Through Addi's Faith, we've been able to help so many people over the last nine years and because of the generosity of our sponsors, friends and participants in our annual Walk by Faith 5K, we continue to make a difference in so many people's lives. Tony, myself and our group of volunteers are convinced a cure can be found and we won't stop until the cancer is erased forever."

The money raised helps the foundation continue with their pledge and donate to childhood cancer research but also continue their mission of helping families. Over $5,000 a month goes out to families who are struggling with the additional financial burden that comes about while caring for a child with cancer.

Addi's Faith Foundation was recently the recipient of a $5,000 grant through the ABB Optical Group's third annual ABB Cares program which recognizes and celebrates outstanding nonprofit organizations throughout the country.

"We were pleasantly surprised, deeply honored and totally thrilled to find out we were receiving a grant from ABB Cares," Bender said. "Finding enough funding to support our mission is a continuous battle and constant challenge. Receiving a grant like this makes a huge impact in an organization like ours and truly helps us with our mission of funding research and helping families. AFF relies upon the generosity of others and ABB was very generous."

They were nominated by Family Vision Center of Porter & Crosby which will help fund childhood cancer research and offer support to families affected by cancer.

"Living in Kingwood for the past nine years, I was familiar with Addi's Faith Foundation, however, it wasn't until I attended one of their functions that I realized just how important they are," Robin Szabo of Family Vision Center of Porter & Crosby, said in a press release. "These two parents have made it their life's work to eventually prevent others from having to live through the same loss they went through. The generous support of ABB will certainly continue this mission and impact the lives of so many families."

The ABB Cares program recognizes charities that have been nominated by eye care professionals across the country for exceptional programming and community impact.

"No parent is prepared to deal with the hardships that come with having a sick child," said Brad Weinbrum, president of ABB Optical Group. "We are touched by the efforts of Addi's Faith Foundation and the incredible impact they have on families dealing with childhood cancer. That is why they were awarded the top grant this year. We thank Family Vision Center of Porter and Crosby for bringing the great work they do to our attention and are proud that ABB Cares supports causes that eye care professionals are passionate about."

For more information about Addi's Faith Foundation or to donate, visit AddisFaithFoundation.org, email Amber Bender at amberbender@addisfaithfoundtion.org or call 281-785-4098. It is possible to contribute to this cause through everyday purchases by selecting Addi's Faith Foundation on smile.amazon.com, linking a Randalls Remarkable card to charity #13098, linking a Kroger reward card to charity #92142 or by online shopping through www.goodshop.com and selecting Addis Faith Foundation as the charity of choice. For more information about the ABB Cares program, visit ABBOptical.com.
Submitted photo

In a year filled with personal landmarks, Joe Ely returns with what may be his biggest highlight yet. His first studio release in more than four years, Panhandle Rambler is an audio painting of the land Ely calls home.

"It's beautiful and it's inspiring," acclaimed critic Dave Marsh said. "Panhandle Rambler has moved me, every time I've heard it, with a certain kind of awe. One reason is that, long before you hear the final track 'You Saved Me,' he put everything he has into telling the audience about a place in the world, and through that, reaching his own emotional center."
A crowd of more than 75 gathered at Tootsies for a special announcement and the chance to meet the newest member of the Harris County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit.

This past June longtime Houston fashion retailer Mickey Rosmarin suddenly passed away. His longtime friend and K9s4COPs Founder Kristi Schiller came up with the idea to name a soon-to-be granted K9 after him.

After months of training, the time came to present K9 Mickey to the community he will serve. Executive Director Roseann Rogers talked about the Houston-based national nonprofit that has granted almost 130 K9s to 24 states and internationally in Paris. Since 2011, its granted K9s have taken more than $125 million worth of contraband off the streets.

Rogers introduced several board members including Vice President Laurie Krohn, Preston Hall, Holly Thompson, Sara Kinney, Dave Deleon and Dr. Aashish Shah. Then, welcomed Sgt. Chris Moore with the Harris County Sheriff's Department and a K9s4COPs advisory board member to make the announcement and introduce K9 Mickey. Susie Rosmarin, Mickey's sister, addressed the crowd on how honored she and she knew Mickey would be, too.

K9 Mickey (Electronic Storage Device Dog) is a German Short-haired pointer who is trained to locate electronic storage devices including cellphones. His handler is Deputy Jeremy Sanchez and together they will be a team. K9 Mickey will be used in numerous correctional facilities and detention center as well as county infrastructure.

"Many people think the job is complete when the criminal is caught," said Moore. "The truth is that there is a lot of contraband that is smuggled into the detention system that creates unsafe environment for both detention officers and inmates housed there. K9 Mickey will be used to locate these ES devices to include cell phones and to ensure the safety and security of facilities," said Moore.

The crowd included John Schiller, Tracy Krohn, Brian and Jennifer Caswell, Sonia Soto, Lara and Brent Milam, Deborah Elias, Roxanne DeLeon, Emily Capps, Gail Wood, Lt. Giasile Goudeau, Sgt. Mike Thomas, Lt. Tommy Shelton, Sgt. David Cruzan, Diana and Adrian Shapiro, William Heartsill, Megha Tejpal and Lloyd Rude and Fadila Kibsgaard.
Submitted

People gathered for the 2016 Scenic Houston Annual Dinner at Houston Country Club in late October, to honor the organization's 2016 "Scenic Visionary" Larry D. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Johnson Development Corp.

Guests began the evening with an outdoor cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner in the club ballroom. The Scenic Visionary Award recognizes a community leader who has played a vital role to enhance the appearance and quality of life of the Houston region, particularly its streetscapes, public spaces and neighborhoods. The event raised more than $390,000 to support the work of Scenic Houston.
Forty Five Ten, a high-end Dallas boutique named for its address on McKinney Avenue, is preparing to make its Houston debut at 4444 Westheimer.

The 3,300-square-foot store plans to open in the River Oaks District on Wednesday. The store sells women's and men's clothing and accessories, beauty products, Assouline luxury lifestyle books, gifts and home goods.
At his Saturday night performance, West ranted for over 10 minutes about Trump, Beyonce, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, MTV and the radio. He played a few songs and then ended the show after just 30 minutes. Fans, some of whom payed upwards of $250 for the tickets were angry and seeking refunds.



From an Associated Press account of the rant:

Amateur videos circulated of West's rant where, among other things, he said he was hurt because he heard Beyonce refused to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards unless she won Video of the Year over him. He also urged her husband Jay Z to call him and "talk to me like a man."

West took aim at radio stations for playing the same stuff "over and over and over," too and also addressed Hillary Clinton.

"It's a new world, Hillary Clinton, it's a new world," West said. "Feelings matter. Because guess what? Everybody in middle America felt a way and they showed you how they felt. Feelings matter, bro."

The performer said he was putting his life, career and "public well-standing" at risk by talking to the fans in the audience "like this," adding that his Saint Pablo tour "is the most relevant (expletive) happening."

He continued: "I am here to change things. And things won't change until people admit their own falsehoods. I got the visions, bro. That's what I've been blessed with. My vision. I'm not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way. But I'm going to say how I feel."
Nurse practitioners from across the country were honored during National Nurse Practitioners Week Nov. 13-19 and Kingwood Medical Center wanted to shine a light on a few of their NPs.

"The physician typically uses a disease-based approach with a focus on diagnosing a problem and treating that problem," Kingwood Medical Center CEO Melinda Stephenson said. "Nurse practitioners use an approach that is nursing-based, focusing on the patient and his/her environment as a whole. Nurse practitioners incorporate the treatment plan and how it will affect their family, their culture and their daily lives. They focus on teaching the patient ways to stay healthy. Both approaches to care are important and together give the patient a more complete and speedy recovery."

According to Sandy Wood, NP, "Working with patients in a hospital setting presents a great opportunity for NPs. We are able to assist the nursing staff and physicians with the overall care of the patient. The NP monitors any gaps in communication and provides education to the patient and their families. I believe that the gift of caring for the patient and their families as a unit is a privilege that is unique to a nurse practitioner. Becoming a nurse practitioner has been a lifelong goal of mine. I enjoy educating patients regarding their disease process and the autonomy that this profession provides. Nurse Practitioners are going to be the new way of the future, and I cannot wait to be a part of it."

There are 222,000 nurse practitioners licensed in the United States, and NPs have been providing care for more than 50 years. NPs are proven, expert, patient-centered clinicians, and they are the health care providers of choice for many people because of their unique combination of medical and nursing expertise and skills.

NPs diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, infections and injuries; they order, perform, interpret and supervise diagnostic tests such as lab work and x-rays; and they prescribe medications and other treatments. In addition, NPs partner with their patients, providing health education and counseling, thus guiding patients to make smarter health and lifestyle choices, which ultimately may lead to reduced health care costs.

Kingwood Medical Center employs several Nurse Practitioners including Christin Touchet, who was interested in healthcare at an early age.

Her stepmother is a nurse, so that likely influenced her decision.

After graduating from nursing school and practicing in a critical care settings for three years, she aspired to be more intellectually challenged, expand her scope of nursing practice, and to have a greater impact on the patients that she cared for. She then made the decision to become a nurse practitioner. As a nurse practitioner, she enjoys solving complex patient health problems, helping patients manage these health problems, and educating and guiding patients down better lifestyle paths.

"At Kingwood Medical Center, I have the opportunity to do all of these things every day," Touchet said. "As a cardiology nurse practitioner, I collaborate with a wonderful group of medical professionals, to provide care to patients with cardiovascular illnesses.

"Having a husband and son with cardiovascular disease, I am passionate about helping patients affected by similar ailments. I strive to provide quality nursing care to my patients, the type of care that I would want my family to receive. Kingwood Medical Center has afforded me the opportunity to do what I love every day, at home in the community where I live. The hospital is supportive of my role as a nurse practitioner and fosters my autonomy and professional growth."

Brett Whaley went to college with the intention of becoming a health care provider, but as the first pursuing the field in his family, he was not sure which direction would be most appropriate.

He entered the Nursing program to ensure that he would be involved in health care upon receiving his bachelor's degree. He worked in Medical and Neurosurgical Intensive Care for just under five years before attaining a master's of science in Nursing and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification.

He has been an ACNP for just over five years, the last two being in Critical Care.

"I was a bedside nurse from 2008 to 2011 at Kingwood Medical Center and decided to return because it is a great place to work with fantastic people," Whaley said.

"I brought nocturnal NP coverage for Critical Care from my Intensivist program in Dallas.

"It has helped to provide a safety net for patients at times when physicians are not typically in the hospital. I work in collaboration with the critical care and ER physicians, surgeons and nurses. This position provides the opportunity to display to the public and health care community the vast capabilities of NPs, and for that, I am thankful."

For more information on Kingwood Medical Center, contact Devon.Alexander@HCAHealthcare.com.
With a family history of serving in the military, Atascocita resident retired Lt. Colonel John Heimburger interest in serving was further piqued when he was on a trip to Washington D.C. at 14 years old.

"As a newspaper carrier, I had earned a trip to our nation's capital by selling 50 subscriptions to the paper," Heimburger recalled. "We were rewarded with a train ride to Washington D.C. and given a five-day tour of the capitol. One site we visited was the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis where we watched cadets going through basic training, climb on each other's shoulders to reach a statue which demonstrated teamwork.

Representing a newspaper, we were later grouped on the steps of the capitol for a photo with our congressman, William Springer, who was asked if he had any questions for the carriers. I happened to be standing next to him, he looked down at me and asked what my favorite thing we visited to which I replied, 'Annapolis,' and asked if I wanted to be a pilot and said, 'have your parents call me in a few years.' They did and I became a pilot."

Heimburger shared his experiences serving in the military with members of the Kingwood Area Republican Women's Club during their Support for Veterans luncheon Wednesday, Nov. 16.

His friends often mention to him that he has come a long way from an Illinois farm boy to where he is today. Heimburger, a 1963 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, joined the Pacific Air Command at the height of the Vietnam War after completing pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock.

"My personal mantra is a birth certificate is proof that you were born, a death certificate is proof that you died, but pictures, they proved you lived," Heimburger said.

Heimburger worked several jobs and was hired to work at the Boy Scouts of America Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico when he was in high school. During his second summer working at Philmont, he was tasked to drive an attorney to an airfield and when they arrived, that attorney inquired if he would like to see Philmont from the sky further increasing his interest in flying.

"From there, I went on to the academy and then training at Reese Air Force base where I learned how to land jet trainers in severe crosswinds which helped in my later career as an airline pilot," Heimburger said. "I graduated fifth in my class of 55 and was disappointed when not one of our assignments included being a jet fighter pilot. I took what I could to be closer to the war and ended up on the island of Okinawa flying Hercules, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. My crew members were great."

Heimburger then served as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam. For his service of completing more than 660 combat missions and in recognition of his valor, this country saw fit to award him with the Silver and the Bronze Star as well as two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 26 Air Medals, along with a number of other awards. Heimburger worked for airlines for years, retiring from United Airlines. He became very involved in the Republican Party, just recently spending every day of early voting outside of the Kingwood Branch Library, campaigning for president-elect, Donald Trump.

"After experiencing the hardships, it's also important to recognize the 'goodships' such as taking care of your family in foreign lands using church affiliations for knowledge and safety," Heimburger said. "The journey has been enlightening, interacting with all kinds of different folks and walks of life. Get out and see the world while you have time."

In addition to Heimburger, Barbara Bell, the volunteer service program manager at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical center spoke about services available to veterans and donations needed by the VA. In the fiscal year 2015, there were 1,193 volunteers on the rolls and 726 were active.

"We always have volunteer opportunities at the VA and a list of needs," Bell said. "We have nine community-based outpatient clinics and volunteers at those locations as well. We have an enormous amount of veterans we serve with our programs."

Non-monetary donations needed are books, magazines, clothes, wheelchair and walker bags they can take with them to appointments or on daytrips, but they cannot accept used socks or underwear, prosthetic items ,medical equipment, anything containing alcohol or glass, VHS tapes or puzzles over 500 pieces.

For more information or to make a monetary donation, visit http://www.houston.va.gov/.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 90 ceasefire violations across the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Ministrys announcement reads: During the weekend the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 90 times by firing more than 1100 shots from various caliber small arms at the Armenian positions in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

On November 19, in the north-eastern direction of the line of contact, the Azerbaijani forces fired also 60mm mortar (1 shell).

The Defense Army forces are in full control of the situation in the frontline and continue conducting the reliable protection of the military positions.
To benefit those in need at the Huffman Food Bank and the Huffman-based nonprofit, Handbags for Hope, Huffman Middle School Teacher Laurie Mensik created a project creating blessing bags to go along with the community service unit for the sixth grade Falcon 101 curriculum.

Mensik, along with other Falcon 101 teachers, Yessica Guerra and Courtney Young, asked their students to donate one "blessing bag" if they were able.

A "blessing bag" is a gallon-size bag or other small bag that is filled with toiletry items, bottled water, socks, snacks, and various other items that someone in need might use. Many times, encouraging notes are included to inspire the person receiving the blessing bag. The students were given a checklist to help create their special bag. The 6th grade students at HMS took this idea to heart and brought in bags packed full of useful items, food and bottled water. Many students brought in multiple bags adding up to well over one-hundred bags.

Once the bags were collected, the majority of them were given to the local food pantry, the Huffman Food Pantry. The Pantry provides non-perishable food items, toiletry items, etc. to several hundred community members in need each month. The volunteers at the Pantry were elated to receive such a generous donation, especially coming from such young humanitarians. These "blessing bags" are being given out as helpful extras to the people served by the Pantry.

A portion of the blessing bags were also given to "Handbags of Hope," a ministry outreach program formed by Lana Walker, member of Lake Houston United Methodist Church.

"All of the extra donations and everything that did not fit in our handbags went directly to the FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center," Lana Walker said. "It truly was a God Send. Thank the students who so graciously shared with people in need. It's a wonderful lesson in kindness."

Handbags of Hope delivers 10 handbags each week to the Family Time Crisis Center to help women in crisis get a fresh start on life. Handbags are also given to students and women in need. These bags are filled with small necessities such as toiletry items, makeup, personal hygiene, socks, lotions, etc. along with niceties such as scarves, Bibles, notebooks, pens, sewing kits and more to provide aid and comfort to these women in crisis.

The blessing bags shared by the HMS students were perfect for this ministry and Walker was very happy and grateful for the large donation. She, too, was touched by the enthusiasm and generosity of the HMS Falcon 101 sixth grade students and teachers.

More information about Handbags of Hope can be found online at www.lakehoustonumc.com/outreach/ and Huffman Food Pantry information can be found on Facebook.
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The Women's Home first opened its doors in 1957 with a mission to provide housing, tailored support services, and end homelessness. Last week, the non-profit inaugurated a new tradition, the Triumph Luncheon, at the Royal Sonesta Houston hotel before a record crowd of 520, more than the organization has ever hosted during a single fundraiser.

"We're committed to helping women transition from homelessness to independence," said retiring Executive Director Paula Paust who is hanging her hat after 25 years of service.

Paul David assumed emcee duties when the appointed mistress of ceremonies, "Great Day Houston" host Deborah Duncan, was delayed. "It's the most craziest time... of the year," she sang upon gracing the stage.

Next, the "fab four"  co-chairs Donae Chromosta, Kristen McDaniel, Karen Kash Redden, and Jo Reid  spoke briefly of the WholeLife program's goals to provide recovery and personal growth by addressing six areas of wellness: emotional, financial, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational.

Musical tribute performer Kenneth Gayle sang his heart out while attendees were served lunch; afterwards, honorees Jacqueline L. Phillips, Ashley Brown Ruiz, and Diane Riley were recognized for their commitment to the cause.

"I was going to say 'no,' but then I thought, 'How many times are you offered a lifetime achievement award?'" Riley quipped during her acceptance remarks. As predicted by her husband John Riley, the lifelong volunteer shared one humorous anecdote after another.

"What are they gonna do?" she asked before her final story. "I'm an honoree."

The mood shifted when keynote speaker and "New York Times" bestselling author Amanda Lindhout followed with her epic tale of survival and perseverance. The freelance journalist spent 460 in captivity after being kidnapped and held hostage by a dozen Somalian teenagers in 2008.

"Before I begin, let's set an intention," Lindhout said. "It's my hope that everyone leaves feeling reminded of the strength and grace of the human spirit."

Born in Alberta, Canada to a single mother, she and her two brothers grew up in a basement plagued with physical abuse and alcoholism. Lindhout recalled reading "National Geographic" magazine to escape her often unstable home environment and subsequently set a goal to see the world.

As an adult, she saved up to buy an expensive camera and take journalism courses. She later moved to Afghanistan and then Iraq before accepting a week-long assignment in Somalia where she and Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan were kidnapped.

Their captors initially demanded a $1.5 million ransom from each of their families. The sum was eventually paid though Lindhout endured sexual abuse and torture during her captivity.

"I finally understood that hurt people, hurt people," she recalled of the experience. "Daily, I would recite mantras of choosing peace, freedom, and forgiveness."

Suffering often causes us to wake up, she said.

Four months after her release in November 2009, Lindhout founded the Global Enrichment Foundation to inspire leadership in Somalia through education and economic initiatives. The organization has since raised $3 million.

Her memoir, "A House in the Sky" co-written by Sara Corbett, was optioned in 2014 for a screen adaption; Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara has been confirmed to portray Lindhout.

Lunch-goers queued up for well over an hour to have copies of the book signed. The Women's Home's triumphant first luncheon raised more than $330,000.

In the crowd: Lucinda Loya, Ericka Bagwell, Tracy Faulkner, Lindley Arnoldy, Divya Brown, and Carrie Colbert.
The holiday season is upon us and many are having trouble grasping the serious cash that is required for traveling.

Plane tickets, an extra suitcase for Christmas presents, hotel rooms to escape the family chaos and other expenses can all add up quickly and it can become overwhelming.

PEACE FOR THE HOLIDAY: Holiday travel hacks for Houston airports

Luckily, there are experts who can point us in the right direction to successfully travel the world by solely using travel points and miles.

The folks at travel hack site Upon Arriving have seemingly mastered the skill of using points to travel the world. For a trip worth $52,294, Daniel Gillespie of Upon Arriving only spent $408 to travel from Houston to Los Angeles then to Tokyo, Singapore, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi and New York City.

And to answer your question, no he didn't stay in hostels to save money.

Then how? Mainly by using points and miles he has accumulated over multiple credit cards with various different types of benefits whether its miles and points towards flights or hotel reward programs.

NerdWallet's best 2016 credit cards are a good place to start to begin earning back points like Gillespie lays out in his post. Click through the gallery above to see those credit cards.

THE MORE YOU KNOW: 27 travel hacks that even frequent fliers don't know
Journalist Linda Ellerbee spoke at the Junior League of Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 15, as a part of The Briarwood School's 50th anniversary speaker's breakfast event.

Carole Wills, the Head of School, opened up the breakfast by thanking the founders of the Briarwood School, and noting that without them, they would not be celebrating a milestone anniversary.

Ellerbee spoke about her life and career with an overall message of change.

"When I was 60, I decided that I would go backpacking alone in England. I meant to use the time to be mindful of the life around me and my connection to it. Great idea, bad execution. The chattering inside my head would not quit. My time in the world seemed to be going too fast. If only I could just do it over," Ellerbee said.

Ellerbee spoke that her life's motto was to "take big bites," and while she had succeeded in that, the only constant in her life had been change.

"At any point in my life, if you asked me what I thought I would be doing in five years, I would have gotten the answer wrong, and it took me many years to realize that it was OK," Ellerbee said. "I am going to talk to you today about change. About risking it, about accepting it, about making it, and even embracing it, while holding on to your own values."

Ellerbee went to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee in 1962, but left after a year and a half, and ended up working as a missionary in Bolivia. After that, she married "a cowboy poet" and had two kids, but then her husband left her for someone else.

Ellerbee was on her own, and she had no way to support herself and her two children. Ellerbee's English teacher had told her that she would become a writer someday, and so with that in mind, she wrote letters to every newspaper and news wire asking for a job.

She heard back from the Dallas bureau of the Associated Press. If she were willing to come to Dallas and take a test, and if she did well, they may hire her. She studied for 48 hours prior to the test and was hired.

"Since then, I've been a journalist and a deeply flawed human being," Ellerbee said.

One night at work, Ellerbee wrote a letter to her friend on her work computer. In it, she spoke badly about her boss, the Dallas City Council and a Dallas newspaper, among other things.

"Because I was not good with computers, I managed to put it on hold in the newswire computer," she said.

The next morning, the bulletin for the liftoff of the Apollo 17 moon rocket came over the national wire, followed by Ellerbee's letter.

"I was fired," Ellerbee said.

What happened next was Ellerbee got multiple job offers including one from the news director of KHOU-TV Ch. 11 in Houston.

"He called me on the phone and said, 'Boy, you write funny.' I said, 'Boy I didn't meant to,'" Ellerbee said.

Ellerbee hadn't thought of working in television, but when she was offered "twice that the Associated Press offered," she figured she could give it a shot.

From there, she went to New York's WCBS-TV, and then had stints on both NBC and ABC news. She is the author of two books. She received all of television's highest honors during her career, which spanned over 40 years.

"I was fired because of an act of stupidity on my part, and then I had been rewarded with years of well-paid interesting work. Not a job, but a career. What did I learn from that?" Ellerbee said.

Change rule No. 1: Change is often painful, but sometimes change is shorthand for a second chance.

In 1987, her and her partner, Rolfe Tessem, started their own company, Lucky Duck Productions. In 1991 they were approached by Nickelodeon to start a news program for children. That was the beginning of the 25-year partnership between Lucky Duck Productions and Nickelodeon.

"For 25 years, I listened to kids talk about their world. We treated them with respect and gave them a safe space to use their voice. It was OK to ask questions. We did not tell kids what to think, but we just encouraged them to think," Ellerbee said.

Change rule No. 2: You are never too old to learn from the young.

At the same time, Ellerbee dealt with change rule No. 3: You must always set a place at the table of your life for the unexpected guest.

In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had told friends and family, but she did not want it to be public knowledge right away. However, the news was made public anyway.

"At first my feelings were hurt, but what happened after that was women told me their stories. They gave me the courage to face my disease honestly," Ellerbee said.

"One thing I noticed throughout all of this was that breast cancer wasn't as public as other diseases, perhaps because it was a woman's disease. The good news is that it is no longer that way. That is because so many women, and men, my age got breast cancer, and we were always a noisy generation," Ellerbee said.

Ellerbee noted that since she was diagnosed, funding for the study of breast cancer has increased by over $800 million.

Change rule No. 4: It is the duty of every citizen to keep his or her mouth open. If you know what you stand for, you have no idea how much you can accomplish.

"I live as if the cancer were never coming back. But it is still there. That knowledge started to haunt me, that year on my 60th birthday, when I was on my hike in England. I sat down on the river bank, and I fell into a fitful sleep," Ellerbee said.

She was awoken by an old man walking by with the assistance of a walker. He looked at her, smiled and went on.

"That day I came to a hard truth. I realized that if there were times that I were to seize the day, I might have to do so through pain. I thought about that man, and I went on hiking. And everything got better," Ellerbee said.

She dealt with many more aliments since then, but she said she's always kept on walking.

Change rule No. 5: "Just because everything has changed, doesn't mean that everything is different. I will never be one second younger, but this much I know, if I were to die tonight, it would be wrong to say Linda lost her life, because I have lived one," Ellerbee said.
Memorial Lutheran School is hosting its annual Kindergarten Preview at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30.

The program incorporates Christian teaching with a challenging academic curriculum and small class sizes, said LouAnn Webber, director of admissions at Memorial Lutheran School.

Memorial Lutheran School is located at 5800 Westheimer at Bering Drive.

To RSVP to the preview, visit the website at www.memoriallutheranschool.org/admissions or contact the admission office at 713-782-4022.

Sixth-grader earnscitywide recognition

Memorial Lutheran School sixth-grader Dylan Le is one of 10 winners selected in the 2016 Houston Texans Stats Challenge, presented by Schlumberger.

Students entering the contest were required to complete the Stats Challenge curriculum and write a 200-word essay on how the Stats Challenge impacted his/her math career and how the student has learned over the course of the program.

Teachers graded their student's essays based on a rubric provided by the Houston Texans, and submitted the best two.

Ten students were selected by the Houston Texans  each student winner received two tickets, and the student's teacher also received two tickets in a luxury suite to the Nov. 27 San Diego Chargers game.
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By next December, residents of the New Territory and Greatwood master-planned communities will be full-fledged residents of Sugar Land.

The Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Nov. 15 to annex both developments. The approval added another 30,000 residents and 3,860 acres of land to the fast-growing city of 88,000, according to Census Bureau estimates. The additional 30,000 residents would push Sugar Land from the 41st largest city in Texas into the top 30, according to current Census Bureau numbers, between Beaumont and Round Rock.

"Welcome to New Territory, welcome to Greatwood," Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman said. "We look forward to having you a part of our community."

The annexation comes at a time of development for Sugar Land as a whole.

Just down U.S. Highway 90A from New Territory, the former Imperial Sugar plant is being transformed into a mixed-use development, complete with a new visitors' center and Sugar Land heritage museum. At the intersection of U.S. 59 and University Boulevard, construction is finishing up on the city's new 6,400-seat performing arts venue, which will be the anchor of an office and retail-centric development.

It will take a year for the annexation ordinance passed last week to take full effect. Now, Sugar Land's staff is beginning a changeover of services. The city will increase its staff by about 10 percent to provide municipal services - including police and firefighting - to both districts.

The effective annexation date of both communities will be Dec. 12, 2017.

New Territory and Greatwood will also be placed into temporary city council Districts 2 and 4, respectively. District 2's council member is Bridget Yeung; District 4's is Harish Jajoo.

A long time coming

The annexation of both communities has been nine years in the making. In 2007, Sugar Land signed agreements with both communities, committing to annex them at a future date. In 2015, city council established 2017 as a target annexation date.

The annexation will be net neutral to Sugar Land. The costs of switching to city services will be covered by existing funds, established under the 2007 agreements.

The city's staff will increase by about 10 percent to serve the new residents. That actually lowers the number of city staff employees per resident, city manager Allen Bogard said.

Already a part of Sugar Land

New Territory and Greatwood's suburban homes, tree-lined streets and diverse populations already resemble today's Sugar Land.

The switch to being an official part of the city should be relatively seamless, Bogard said.

"These communities are very much like Sugar Land today," Bogard said.

"In the demographics of the residents, the quality of the development that has occurred there, the condition of the infrastructure is outstanding."
Needville voters face finance issue on ballot

Now that the presidential election is over, Needville ISD patrons can focus on the upcoming tax ratification election on Dec. 17.

Early voting begins Nov. 30 at the Fort Bend County Road and Bridge Department, 3743 School St.

Ballots may be cast: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 5-9; 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 12-13.

In addition, a special early voting event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the high school auditorium in conjunction with the annual fall band concert.

On Election Day, Saturday, Dec. 17, ballots will be cast from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Needville ISD trustees set the election last month in hopes that voters will approve the TRE, which Superintendent Curtis Rhodes said is basically a "tax swap" that will net the district some $2 million per year without costing taxpayers a cent.

The net gain is a result of the high value of the pennies on the M&O side vs. the lesser value of the pennies on the I&S side of the formula.

Rhodes said the TRE will allow the district to take .13 cents from the interest and sinking (I&S) portion of NISD's tax rate and move it to the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion.

The property tax rate will remain the same at $1.54 per $100 valuation, but rather than dedicating $1.04 for M&O and .50 cents for I&S, $1.17 will go for M&O and .37 cents for I&S.

This past August, trustees dropped the tax rate by three cents per $100 valuation, bringing the total lowering of the tax rate during the past three years to 11 cents.

Rhodes said a vote for the TRE is a vote to maintain the current $1.54 tax rate and receive an additional $2 million per year in state funding; a vote against the TRE is a vote to maintain the current $1.54 tax rate and not receive any additional funds from the state.

Rhodes said the funds will allow the district to add much-needed classrooms at the middle school and junior high at a total cost of about $7.5 million.

Visit www.needvilleisd.com to view a video explaining the TRE.

New schools to impact attendance boundaries

As construction of Fort Bend ISD campuses continues, the district will host two community forum meetings to discuss the attendance boundary process and gain community feedback on possible changes.

While the entire community is invited to attend the Nov. 29-30 meetings, the attendance boundary planning process is limited to 19 schools, which could be impacted by the opening of new schools or the increased capacity created by classroom additions included in the 2014 Bond Program.

FBISD administration, in collaboration with the consulting firm DeJong-Richter, is engaging with focus groups specific to the areas that may be impacted by a boundary change. Discussions from these focus groups will inform the boundary options that will be presented during the forums. The board could act in January on the boundaries.

The Nov. 29 meeting will be at Travis High School, 11111 Harlem Road, Richmond.

The Nov. 30 meeting will be at Ridge Point High School, 500 Water Lakes Blvd., Missouri City.

Elementary Schools 48, 49, and 50, which were all funded by the 2014 Bond Program, will open in August 2017, while Middle School 15, which was part of an earlier bond program, will open in August 2018. All four campuses are located in areas of high-growth: Elementary Schools 49 and 50 are located on the Grand Parkway corridor on the district's west side, while Elementary 48 and Middle School 15 are located in Sienna Plantation, in the southeast area of the district.

YIP project focuseson autism safety

Hope For Three and a group of Youth In Philanthropy students, once again partnered to expand its Autism Awareness reach in the community.

During a day-long gathering at the University of Houston Sugar Land, YIP students learned about autism, the many facets of the Hope for Three organization and received their assignment, which focused on autism safety as it relates to various business establishments.

Leading the project with the students were Samantha Katchy, Hope For Three executive director, and Stephanie Burns, Hope for Three board member. "I have been in education in varying roles for quite some time and it gives me great joy to witness youth eagerly helping other youth, especially those with unique abilities," said Burns. "The students were indeed worker bees and enthusiastic about the project."

The project yielded a number of informative hands-on tools in the form of PowerPoint, brochures, storybooks and recommendations that will assist local businesses with autism safety measures. Hope For Three will share these tools and additional autism awareness information beginning January 2017.

Hope For Three, Autism Advocates is a local nonprofit whose mission is to reach one child, one family, one community by creating awareness and providing support to families living with an autism spectrum disorder.Call 281-245-0640 or visit www.hopeforthree.org for more information.

Dulles Orchestra will attend Midwest Clinic

Dulles High School and Dulles Middle School orchestras will participate in the 2016 Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December.

According to Sally Kirk, DMS orchestra director, the invitation is one of the greatest honors a program can receive and provides a higher standard for the students to work toward. She hopes that students will develop a deeper appreciation for music and of their time rehearsing and performing together.

"I am extremely thankful and humbled by our invitation to perform in Chicago and very proud of how devoted our students are to preparing for this big event," said Kirk. "There is a bond that exists between the students at the two campuses largely because the students and teachers stay involved in each others' program."

The Dulles High students often come to the middle school to help the younger students rehearse during after-school rehearsals. Michael Isadore, the DHS orchestra director, said the closeness of the programs is so evident that they are often referred to as the "Dulles Orchestra" together, leaving out the middle and high school distinctions.

A performance at the Midwest Clinic is also an honor because the conference participants are mostly professional musicians, music educators and music students.

According to both directors, it is rare that two programs from the same district are chosen to participate in this conference. The trip is also significant because of a special history connecting the directors.

"Mrs. Kirk also happens to be a former student of mine from Dulles which makes her honor that much more special to me as well," said Isadore.

Visit https://www.midwestclinic.org/ for more information.
A new facility that can hold up to 500 people is being opened near Tornillo, Texas, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection seek ways to deal with a recent surge in illegal border crossings.

The Tornillo-Guadalupe Temporary Holding Facility, about 40 miles east of El Paso, will remain open for 30 days, depending on the volume of people arriving at ports or crossing the border from Mexico in the El Paso area.
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Someone lit the "Tomb of Jesus" on fire. Texas police want to know who.

The tomb is a popular roadside attraction near Brownfield in Terry County on the Plains Highway.

Terry County firefighters were called to the site, which includes a stone replica of the "tomb of Jesus" along with a rolled away round stone.

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"Somebody piled some cotton in there on the table and caught it on fire," Terry County Sheriff Larry Gilbreath told everythinglubbock.com.

The table featured in the display was destroyed in the Saturday blaze.

The tomb is on private property, but is typically open to the public.

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He confirmed the fire was being investigated as arson.

The Brownfield News reported that the fire may have been intentionally set.

"Arson is believed to be the cause of a fire inside the tomb under Brownfield's beautiful cross on the Plains Hwy," the paper tweeted.

"When I got out there they had it pretty well cleaned up," Gilbreath added.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Austria rules out the military solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister of Austria, OSCE chairing country, Sebastian Kurtz said in an exclusive interview with Armenpress.

He said all parties involved in the conflict should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action since their repetition can be fatal.

Armenpress presents his full interview:

-Austria will assume the OSCE chairmanship starting January, 2017. What will be the priorities of Austrias chairmanship in the OSCE?

-I am a member of a generation that luckily only knows the Cold War from history books. But these days we observe some tendencies for a re-emergence of Cold War-like animosities, so we  and this certainly counts for young people in Austria as well as the Caucasus alike  should work hard for a secure and stable Europe. During our Chairmanship, our main theme will be enhancing security and trust. The focus will be on three areas: regional conflicts, radicalization and violent extremism and re-establishment of trust. Nothing shows the weakness of the international system like open military hostilities and regional conflicts. Citizens expect us to work for peace, and so we will dedicate special attention to the existing protracted conflicts in the OSCE region. Radicalization and violent extremism are furthermore of greatest concern to all our citizens, and we believe we need to actively counter and prevent radicalization at an early stage. And finally, today, one of the key problems is the lack of trust. This is of serious concern within the OSCE, but of course also on a wider level.

- In one of your speeches, among three main threats to global security and stability you have mentioned the increase of military conflicts, increase of extremism and terrorism and decrease of level of trust between states: Which will be Austrias role in overcoming these three main threats?

-As you can see we have transformed those main threats into our main priorities during the OSCE Chairmanship  following consultations with our partners. Austria, as a neutral country, enjoys good relations with many countries, and in particular the 56 other participating States in the OSCE  an organization that we truly believe in and want to see strengthened. In order to make Europe safer again, we have to go back to the roots and focus on security and cooperation. The OSCE is the prime framework for this and in the current situation, with all 57 participating States at the table and decisions being taken in consensus, challenges are huge. But, if joint solutions and agreements are found, they will be particularly strong and firm. We will, therefore, work to develop shared objectives rather than on divisive positions. Austria has a long tradition as a place for dialogue, and we want to contribute to overcoming mistrust. There are a number of concrete events planned and we hope for the support of all other OSCE participating States in this endeavour. Getting closer to finishing the puzzle of increased trust and cooperation in the global order, will have a positive impact on protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus as well.

-As acting Chairman of the OSCE, what prospects do you see for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

-One thing is for sure: There exists no military solution to this conflict, and all parties involved should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action. Another outbreak of violence would be fatal and the international community is not in favor of that, everyone  from Moscow to Washington  is clear on this issue. A number of proposals to help establish peace have been on the table for some time already, and a few ideas for confidence-building measures have been established more recently that are awaiting their implementation.

-Will you have any separate initiative, which might boost the negotiations over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement?

-Austria stands ready to support Armenians and Azerbaijanis in their search for a peaceful solution to this conflict. It is probably too early to speak about concrete initiatives  a lot will depend on the developments in the region. Vienna was the venue for the Presidential summit in May this year, and we are always happy to host negotiations again if the wish exists. We are not members of the Minsk Group, but we will do our best to support the Minsk Process. We will do so as OSCE Chair and as a State that has very good relations with both concerned countries.

-When are you planning to visit the South Caucasus region?

-I will for sure visit the South Caucasus and come to Yerevan and Baku in my function as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. Ideally, that would be linked to progress in the negotiations. In 2017, Austria will also celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations with both countries, which is an additional incentive to intensify diplomatic relations next year.

-How would you assess the current level of the Armenian-Austrian relations? How do you assess the political dialogue, what are the prospects in terms of boosting economic ties?

-The bilateral relations between Austria and Armenia are excellent. We have regular political consultations  my last such bilateral meeting with Minister Nalbandian took place in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September and only a few days later our Secretary General had extensive consultations in Yerevan. Austria is fully supportive of closest possible relations between Armenia and the European Union and therefore we are very pleased with the progress, which has already been achieved in the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement. We have also a full cultural cooperation, on the Austrian side especially through Austrian Library Franz Werfel Yerevan. Armenia is also a priority country of the Austrian development cooperation. Therefore, in September 2014, Minister Nalbandian and I myself inaugurated the office of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Yerevan.

Interview by Araks Kasyan
State Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, is focused on property owners and appraisals with his legislation filed for the 85th session beginning in January.

Of Bell's eight initial bills filed last week, three address property tax or property appraisals.

According to a release from Bell's office, he met with numerous members of the community, local elected officials and stakeholders over the last several months about critical issues that should be addressed in the upcoming session.

Bell's bills:

HB 139: Relating to the authority of a property owner to request that notice of a protest hearing before the appraisal review board be delivered by certified mail.

HB 150/HJR 21: Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the appraised value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead.

HB 167/HJR 26: Relating to a limitation on the maximum appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes of 105 percent of the appraised value of the property for the preceding tax year.

HB 297: Relating to the designation of January 9 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

HCR 28: Expressing opposition to United Nations Agenda 21.

According to www.sustainabledevelopment.un.org, Agenda 21 is a nonbinding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

HCR 29: Declaring that presidential executive orders cannot interfere with states' rights.

HB 136: Relating to inclusion of career and technology education and workforce training in the mission of public education.

HB 204: Relating to placing the name of a withdrawn, deceased or ineligible candidate for public office on the ballot.

"In my time representing House District 3, I have strived to be the voice of my constituents," Bell said. "Government is only effective when its citizens are being heard. Every bill I file, amendment I offer, and vote I take is done with the desire to build and keep the trust of those I represent."
State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, had taxpayers on his mind when filing legislation for the upcoming 85th session that will begin in January.

According to Creighton, the Legislature needs to put taxpayers first.

"Without leaders willing to keep it in check, government will just keep growing and raising taxes, so it's our job to stand up for Texas taxpayers," Creighton said. "Family budgets are tight enough already without the threat of more spending and higher taxes."

While bills can be filed through March, Monday, Nov. 14, was the first day of filing.

Creighton's bills

SB 130 - Franchise Tax Deduction Computation: Continuing his effort from the last legislative session, this bill simplifies the formula for computing the franchise tax and makes it better reflect the cost of doing business.

SB 131 / SJR 14 - Franchise Tax Rebates:

This bill establishes a mechanism for the state to rebate a portion of unspent proceeds of the Franchise Tax back to Texas employers.

SB 133 - Firearms and Hunting Supplies Sales Tax Holiday: A staunch defender of Second Amendment rights and advocate for a level playing field, according to information from Creighton's office, he is calling for a sales tax holiday for firearms and hunting supplies.

This also will help outdoor-related businesses in East Texas compete with nearby companies in Louisiana that benefit from that state's similar holiday.

SB 132 - State Agency Savings: As a way to incentivize state agencies to limit spending, this bill would allow state agencies to retain a larger share of unspent funds and potentially dedicate them to bonuses for hardworking employees.

SCR 3 - Senate Concurrent Resolution on the 10th Amendment: In 2009, then-Rep. Creighton led a charge to affirm the rights of states under the 10th Amendment and sparked similar resolutions in more than 30 other states.

This bill continues the fight to push back on federal overreach.

"Government isn't supposed to be the answer to every question; instead it has a few jobs it should do well, without costing any more than absolutely necessary," concluded Creighton. "I look forward to feedback from the citizens in District 4 so we can get some real work done during the Session."
A 27-year-old Houston man was arrested Nov. 11 for theft.

A deputy responded to the 800 block of Rayford Road in reference to a theft of tools from a car wash bay. The deputy located the man who had taken the tools and detained him.

District 2  South County

* A 28-year-old Conroe woman was arrested for public intoxication Nov. 9. A deputy was sent to the 400 block of Rayford Road in reference to an intoxicated woman walking around in the parking lot. The deputy located the woman and detained her.

* A 46-year-old Spring woman was arrested Nov. 11 for public intoxication. A deputy was notified of a welfare concern call in the 100 block of Sawdust Road involving an intoxicated woman. The deputy located the woman asleep in her vehicle behind a business.

* A 41-year-old Conroe man was arrested Nov. 12 for public intoxication and resisting arrest. A deputy was sent to the 11200 block of Hillridge Drive in reference to a disturbance involving an intoxicated man. The deputy located the man and attempted to detain him when the man resisted. The deputy gained controlled.

* A 33-year-old Spring woman was arrested Nov. 12 for public intoxication and resisting arrest. A deputy was notified of a welfare concern involving an intoxicated woman in the 600 block of Rayford Road. The deputy located the woman and after a brief struggle detained her.

* A 36-year-old Spring man was arrested Nov. 12 for public intoxication. A deputy responded to the 2400 block of Sawdust Road in reference to a disturbance involving an intoxicated man.

* Two men were arrested Nov. 13 for a drug possession. A deputy was dispatched to the 100 block of Valleywood Drive in reference to a suspicious person call. The deputy located two men on location. During the investigation, the two men were found to be in possession of a controlled substance and were detained.

District 6  The Woodlands

* A 19-year-old Spring man was arrested Nov. 9 for possessing marijuana. Deputies were dispatched to the 7300 block of Crownridge to assist a sergeant on a suspicious vehicle call. The deputies made contact with the vehicle and the driver and noticed a strong odor emitting from the vehicle.

* A 28-year-old Spring man was arrested Nov. 13 for aggravated assault. A deputy was dispatched to the 3600 block of College Park Drive in reference to a disturbance. While en route, the Shenandoah Police Department stopped the vehicle in question. During the search of the vehicle, the driver was found to be in possession of a loaded pistol.

* A 29-year-old Conroe man was arrested Nov. 8 for driving while intoxicated and carrying a gun illegally. A deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of Gladstell Road. The driver appeared to be intoxicated and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
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State Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, is listening to his constituents; and with new legislation filed this week, he hopes to bring more transparency and accountability to property appraisals in Montgomery County.

Of the nine bills Keough filed for the 85th legislative session that starts in January, House Bill 85 would require voters to elect a chief appraiser for the local appraisal district.

"This bill would bring much-needed transparency and accountability to a public office, where currently, the public has little say," Keough stated in a release Wednesday. "In keeping with the promises made to my constituents when I returned from the 84th legislative session, I will continue to work daily on appraisal system reforms.

"House Bill 85 is a step toward making our appraisal system more accountable to the property owners at large."

In addition, Keough filed HB 44 that would cut the current homestead appraisal cap from 10 percent to 5 percent and expand it to all properties in Texas.

"Under the current 10 percent cap, home appraisals have been jumping to unimaginable levels causing people to be taxed out of their homes," Keough said. "My bill would reduce the cap to a more manageable level, and extend that protection to all property types, not just the homesteaded ones."

He added that House Joint Resolution 17 will propose a constitutional amendment to make permanent the new lower cap, which voters would have to approve in November 2017.

Keough's bills:

* House Bill 99  The bill would make it a crime in Texas for a law enforcement officer to enforce any federal law or executive orders that violate the Second Amendment rights of Texas' citizens.

"Every day our citizens face new legislation and executive orders from Washington, D.C., that at any given time could adversely affect their rights to keep and bear arms," Keough stated. "House Bill 99 would ensure that Texas law enforcement officers who are sworn to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and Texas continue to uphold their oath.

"This bill would punish those who choose to illegally enforce a law or executive order that by its very existence is a violation of the Constitutional protections afforded to all Texas gun owners."

* House Bill 113  HB 113 would repeal the current transportation code that allows for the operation and use of red light cameras at intersections throughout Texas. According to Keough, many municipalities did not follow current laws when they entered into contracts with various out-of-state companies to put up these devices.

"Additionally, the devices have not produced evidence of reducing traffic accidents, or red light offenders, but instead have consequently increased accidents at intersections where the devices are present," he stated. "Because of this, and the fact that these devices are in their very nature a violation of many Texas drivers' constitutional rights, I am proposing that the devices become ineligible for use throughout Texas."

* House Bill 121  This bill is in line with HB 113 and would ensure that anyone who received a civil citation from a city for a traffic infraction related to a red light camera be afforded the ability to renew the vehicle registration tags. Currently, many tax assessor-collectors throughout Texas withhold registration renewals for motorists who have civil fines related to red light cameras.

"The civil fines are not monies owed to the State of Texas or to the county who receive the revenue from your vehicle registration,"Keough explained. "As a result, withholding someone's registration is adversely affecting the state and counties' revenue stream for road and bridge maintenance all so a civil fine owed to a municipality could be collected."

* House Bill 125  This bill would amend the current structure of how a judge could appoint a guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem for family law cases. This bill would make it easier for judges to exercise appropriate judgment when making decisions about cases pending before them, according to Keough.

* House Bill 288 - HB 288 would change the way Texans early vote by reducing the early voting period from two weeks to just one week. Currently, elections in Texas have an early voting period that lasts two weeks, and costs our local governments millions of dollars to administer.

"While voting is an encouraged right, I believe a one-week early voting period would still allow ample time for a citizen to vote, while cutting costs for those who have to pay for multiple elections per year," Keough stated.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of programming and website creation lecture, students of Instigate Training Center created a website dedicated to the Armenian and NKR Hero, Karabakh war participant, Commander Monte Melkonyan.

The presentation of the website will be held on November 26 in Tekeyan Center, during which the updated website summarizing the biography of Karabakh war hero Leonid Azgaldyan will be presented.

The event will be dedicated to the 59th birthday anniversary of Melkonyan and 74 anniversary of Azgaldyan.

Instigate company Chief Engineer Vahagn Poghosyan told Armenpress, the website will be available at avo.am and montemelkonyan.am links. He said the websites dedicated to Hayrik Muradyan, Leonid Azgaldyan, Garegin Njdeh were created with the same style.

The goal has always been to combine useful with useful. We are teaching the students programming, website creation and at the same time we also teach another thing as a project which is not an exercise, that they will do and will then throw away, rather it is a work from which many will benefit, Vahagn Poghosyan said.

He said another important goal is to make such websites dedicated to those heroes as education tool. We not only create websites dedicated to our prominent Armenian sons, but also create education platforms which can be used by school teachers to provide materials to students during thematic lectures, Poghosyan said adding that the website will be available for teachers through engineering laboratory network operating in 162 schools.

As for the content of the website, the materials of it, Vahagn Poghosyan said: The content of the website is constructed by encyclopedic style, it is structured and classified. The materials are already there, the lives, biographies, photos, evidences of those people.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. On November 21 President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan held a meeting with famous Russian-based Armenian painter Yuri Grigoryan, press service of the NKR Presidential administration told Armenpress.

Issues related to the sphere of fine arts in the NKR were discussed during the meeting.

President Sahakyan attached importance to constant ties between the Diaspora artists and the Fatherland stating that they contribute to the development of culture in the Fatherland and maintenance of Armenian identity in the Diaspora.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the first stage of the Syrian-Armenian Relief program of IDeA foundation 13 Syrian Armenians arrived in Armenia from Aleppo.

On November 15, IDeA Foundation announced it will provide 250,000 USD, which will be distributed among four partner-organizations for the following directions:

-Assistance to those who remain in Syria (AGBU)

-Assistance to those who are seeking temporary asylum outside Syria (Mission Armenia)

-Assistance to those who decided to relocate to Armenia (Aleppo)

-Assistance in employment and integration issues in Armenia (Repat Armenia)

Ani Balkhyan - founding chairman of the Aleppo organization  which is engaged in relocating Syrian-Armenians to Armenia  said that day by day the number of requests of relocation to Armenia increases, which are realized with resources provided by the IDeA foundation.

Within the framework of the Syrian-Armenian Relief initiative, Syrian-Armenians also get assistance in Armenia on spot. Particularly, Mission Armenia covers their accommodation fees by resources provided by IDeA foundation.

Soon Mission Armenia and Repat Armenia will organize a meeting with those who arrived in Armenia within the framework of Syrian-Armenian Relief, in order to evaluate their needs and outline further steps.

IDeA has provided resources to its strategic partner AGBU, which will be used to provide additional benefits to Armenians who remain in Aleppo during the three winter months.

Thanks to the Syrian Armenian Relief initiative, the number of beneficiary families of Aleppo will increase by 390.

Various organizations and individuals have joined IDeAs call on assisting Syrian-Armenians, and their total donations comprise 10 million AMD.

Many have expressed willingness to contribute their possibilities and experience for supporting Syrian Armenians, and IDeA functions as a unique platform of cooperation. We are grateful to all of those who have joined the call to assist Syrian Armenians. Their participation and willingness to help is extremely important for us, IDeA executive director Edgar Manukyan said.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Chairperson of the European Conservatives Group at PACE Ian Liddell-Grainger on November 21 visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, press service of the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress.

He was accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hermine Naghdalyan.

Ian Liddell-Grainger laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and paid a tribute to the memory of Genocide victims with a moment of silence.

He also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, got acquainted with the documents on Genocide and left a note in the Commemoration Book.
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Family and friends will remember famed heart surgeon Denton Cooley at a memorial service Nov. 28 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Midtown Houston.

Cooley, one of the towering figures of 20th century medicine, died Friday at 96. He'd been in declining health the past year, though he'd gone to work at his office at the Texas Heart Institute at the beginning of the week.

Cooley performed an estimated 65,000 open-heart surgeries at the institute he founded in 1962, including the first transplantation of a human heart in which the patient lived more than a few weeks and the first implantation of an artificial heart.

Information about an online broadcast of the service for the public will be available Tuesday at dentonacooley.org.
Former Houston Rockets star Steve "The Franchise" Francis is wanted on an out-of-state burglary warrant, according to court documents.

Initially, the 39-year-old was arrested Saturday for a misdemeanor drunk driving charge, records show.

The 1999 co-Rookie of the Year was also hit with a felony retaliation charge for threatening a public servant.

He was held on $5,500 bail but documents filed Monday show that the Bayou City resident is wanted for a felony burglary charge out of Florida's Manatee County.

KTRK reported that he initially bonded out, but as of Monday afternoon jail records showed that he was in the Houston city jail.

According to celebrity gossip site TMZ, the retired star was sporting a $1 million necklace when police took him into custody.

Previously, Francis was arrested for drunk driving in 2001 while he was out with an injury.

Then last year, the retired player shot down rumors of drug use in an interview with TMZ.

Francis played for the Rockets from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2008. In total, he played 11 seasons in the NBA.
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Attorneys visiting clients at south Texas immigration detention center can bring many things with them.

Legal briefs, notebooks, pens and books among them. But, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement imposed a new rule recently - no crayons for kids held at the facility.

The ban comes after what ICE described as damage done by small children drawing and coloring on walls and furniture.

IMMIGRATION UPSWING: Feds open temporary facility to deal with crush of immigrants

Immigration officials and contractors working at the center in Karnes City - about 193 miles southwest of Houston - concluded that the easiest way to stop the problem was to stop attorneys from bringing the crayons in.

Volunteer lawyers with the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), who frequently represent for free women and children held at the center, have sent a letter to the San Antonio Field Office of ICE as well as the agency's headquarters.

They want the ban repealed. They say it creates a hardship on mothers with young children at the detention center who need to meet with their lawyers.

IMPROVE CONDITIONS: Judge orders Border Patrol to improve detention centers

"Having children color and draw provides a distraction for children while their mothers relate incidents of trauma, violence and abuse," wrote six attorneys who work with the project. "Other children sit outside the interview rooms and draw at the tables, so they are not forced to listen to their mothers harrowing narratives nor witness their mothers fragile emotional states during these interviews."

Matt Rourke/AP

Thus far, ICE and the GEO Group, a $2 billion company which runs private prisons, appear unmoved.

A GEO group spokesman told The Guardian that crayons, toys and books etc were provided to children in other sectors of the detention center, and the restriction only affected children playing in the visitors area.
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A veteran San Antonio police officer in the Special Victims Unit was shot and killed before noon Sunday while performing a routine traffic stop near police headquarters downtown, officials said, prompting a citywide search for the gunman.

SAPD Chief William McManus said the shooting occurred on the south side of SAPD headquarters, at 11:45 a.m. where the officer, identified as Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was issuing a traffic citation. As he did so, a black vehicle pulled up behind the officer's unit.

The suspect got out of the car, walked up to the passenger window and fired one round into the patrol car, hitting Marconi in the head, McManus said. He said the suspect reached in and fired again, hitting Marconi a second time.

RELATED: Hours-long standoff on Northwest Side with SAPD ends in gunfire, one dead

The suspect then drove off, McManus said.

Marconi was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where the 20-year veteran was pronounced dead.

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned male, 5-feet, 7 inches to 6-feet tall, wearing a gray shirt and black pants. According to police, the suspect was driving a black mid-size sedan with chrome wheels.

A photo showing a person of interest was leaked on Facebook around 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. San Antonio police confirmed the authenticity of the photo Sunday evening, and released a statement saying the person could have information on the slaying of the detective.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 for information which leads to the arrest of the suspect or suspects for the capital murder.

According to chatter on police scanners after the shooting, police were searching the area near headquarters and the surrounding buildings for the gunman, while homicide detectives were interviewing witnesses who were either near a VIA bus stop, or on a VIA bus near where the shooting occurred.

"Right now we are looking for a possible motive," McManus said. "We are looking for video footage that may help us identify this individual."

He said this is everyone's worst nightmare, from the officers on the department, to officer families, to those who support the police department.

"It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country," McManus said.

RELATED: A man is dead following a fight that ended in gunfire Sunday morning

Officials later ordered police officers not to attempt any traffic stops unless they had a cover officer.

Marconi leaves behind two adult children, said Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association.

"I can tell you this: everyone was stunned and shocked," said Helle. "Even for myself, I'm still trying to come to the realization that this actually did happen to someone we knew in our family."

Jesse Salame, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department, said Marconi was a friendly person who cared about his work and his colleagues.

Marconi's colleagues from the Special Victims Unit gathered at San Antonio Police Department's headquarters on Sunday to support each other and express their condolences, Salame said.

"He was a great guy," Salame said. "He cared about the job he did and the people he worked with."

A Twitter profile that appeared to belong to Marconi included photos of the detective smiling with friends and family. On the profile, Marconi shared a photo of his father, who was also a law enforcement officer.

He also expressed his condolences for officers killed in the line of duty, including five Dallas officers shot and killed in July, and for the victims of the Orlando LGBTQ nightclub massacre.

And on Facebook, the Human Rights Campaign San Antonio said Marconi was a friend and supporter of the Human Rights Campaign.

Jonathan Segura, who was visiting San Antonio from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, said he saw the shooting occur. It didn't seem like the suspect was drunk or on drugs, Segura said.

Outgoing Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau said county deputies are actively looking for the suspect and assisting SAPD in any way they may need.

In Texas this year, 17 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. Of those, six were killed by gunfire, including five officers killed in a Dallas ambush in July, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Since 1791, Texas has had the most law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty than any other state with 1,881, according to the site.

In a news release, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor said this type of crime cannot and will not be tolerated. She gave her condolences to the family of the officer and to the entire police force.

"This type of senseless violence is unacceptable," Taylor said during an afternoon police press conference.

Gov. Greg Abbott also condemned the killing and said attacks on law enforcement cannot be tolerated and must be met with swift justice. He asked all Texans to join together in prayer for the officer's family.

RELATED: SAPD Officers who have died in the line of duty

Fifty-two San Antonio police officers have died in the line of duty since 1857, according to statistics from the San Antonio Police Department.

Charley Wilkison, executive director of Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, expressed sadness at "the senselessness of the tragedy" and the fact that Texas has the highest number of police deaths in the country.

"I've been at CLEAT for 23 years. If there's one thing I wish I could've impacted it would've been to reduce the number of (police) deaths in the state."

The last San Antonio police officer killed was Robert Deckard, Jr., who died in December 2013.

Deckard, 32, was a seven-year veteran at SAPD who was shot Dec. 8, 2013 as he pursued two robbery suspects. The chase reached speeds of 115 mph, police said. Deckard died after 13 days in intensive care.

Sgt. Kenneth Vann, Sr. was the last law enforcement officer killed from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. He was shot and killed in May 2011 during an ambush at a red light.

San Antonio native Lucy Aldaba heard about the killing and decide to come to police headquarters to show her support.

"I don't even know the officer's name, but it does hurt,' said Aldaba who brought flowers and a sign expressing thanks to officers. She said she has many friends on the force. "I think everybody should come and show appreciation in their own way, in whatever way they can, but take your city back."

In the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, 16 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty since 1840, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to honoring America's fallen law enforcement.

On Sunday evening, the flags at police headquarters were lowered to half-staff. The streets surrounding the building reopened and people gathered to pay their respects and leave makeshift memorials.

News researcher Michael Knoop contributed to this report
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It sounds like a fish tale: Multiple battleships resting on the bottom of the ocean after being sunk during World War II have vanished from their final resting places.

But, it is no tale. And scrap metal scavengers may be to blame.

The remains of the HMS Exeter, the HMS Encounter and HMS Electra, along with three Dutch ships, were found in 2002 about 230 feet down and 60 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean.

EXPLORING WRECKS: Looking at a WWII-era shipwreck with the crew of the Nautilus

When divers went back to find the ships to film and photograph them for the 75th anniversary of the battle, they'd vanished.

A "sizable section" of the HMS Electra remained, but it too was mostly missing. Also disappeared was a nearly 300-foot American submarine named Perch.

The most likely answer, experts decided, was that scavengers pilfered the sites in hopes of selling the metal from the wrecks for profit.

VALUABLE WRECK: $1 million in gold coins from wreck on the market

"It's like a cottage industry, apart from the fact the illicit salvage boats are dealing with substantial wrecks. Basically they use explosives and grabs to rip things apart," Andy Brockman, an archaeologist and researcher in maritime crime, told The Guardian, a British newspaper.

The British Ministry of Defense said the British government has contacted Indonesian authorities, requesting they investigate the missing ships and take "appropriate action to protect the sites from any further disturbance."

"The desecration of a war grave is a serious offence," the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement. "Many lives were lost during this battle and we would expect that these sites are respected and left undisturbed without the express consent of the United Kingdom."
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AUSTIN  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, reported to be on Donald Trump's short list for a Cabinet post, met with the president-elect on Monday as part of a continuing parade of high-profile Washington hopefuls.

Perry, an Air Force veteran and early Trump supporter among the GOP presidential primary contenders who Trump vanquished, had earlier suggested he'd be interested in serving as secretary of veterans affairs  even though KellyAnne Conway, a senior advisor to Trump, told Fox News that Perry was under consideration for defense or energy secretary.

Perry, who called Trump a "cancer on conservatism" as he dropped his presidential bid in September 2015, has since warmed up to Trump. He posted a photo in Instagram a week ago that he "just got a call to #make americagreatagain" in what fueled new speculation that be might get a Trump job.

THE NEW FIRST FAMILY: Meet the Trumps

Despite his early, harsh criticism of Trump, Perry later moderated his views and was part of a coalition of conservative and establishment Republicans to support Trump publicly once he became the GOP nominee. He campaigned for Trump in several states.

According to a press pool report, Perry entered Trump Tower in New York City just after 11 a.m. EST and rode an elevator up to meet with Trump. He left the building at 12:30 p.m.

Perry offered no comment to reporters at Trump Tower, and could not be reached for comment.

Trump also met on Monday with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who is reported to be under consideration as interior secretary; former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who confirmed to reporters that he is being considered as veteran affairs secretary, and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who said she urged Trump to avoid any escalation of action or rhetoric that could lead the nation into war.

In recent days, Perry's supporters in Texas have been excited about the prospect that he might return to a public role in a Trump administration, after a retirement to his small-town home in Round Top that was interrupted only by a short appearance on Dancing With The Stars.

ANOTHER TEXAS CONNECTION: Dallas investor considered for Interior secretary

Perry is among several Texans who have met with Trump in recent days, including his former bitter primary rival Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas who was mentioned as a possible candidate for attorney general or the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has since selected U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican and early Trump supporter, to be his attorney general.

Perry is among several other Texans who have been mentioned for possible Washington jobs: U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, is reportedly being considered as treasury secretary; U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is a prospect for Homeland Security secretary, and Dallas investor Ray Washburne, a key fundraiser for Trump in Texas, has been mentioned in press reports as a possible Commerce secretary.

The mention of Perry as a possible energy secretary carries irony. In 2012, when he made his first unsuccessful race for president, Perry stumbled in a debate in his famous "oops" moment by forgetting the third agency that he had planned to abolish.

The first was Commerce, the second was Education and the third? Energy.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The defense ministry of Armenia and the Council of Europe are taking practical steps for ensuring human rights protection in the armed forces. On November 21, the Strengthening of European standard human rights protection in the Armed Forces project kicked off.

Christos Giakoumopoulos, Director of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, said in his speech the project is in regard not only the armed forces, but also the prosecution sector, investigators, law enforcement officials and the Ombudsman.

We attach great importance to the role of the civil society in the realization of this project also. The project is pretentious, and we are yet to face many challenges on the path of its implementation, however I am convinced that we will be able to overcome all difficulties. I am sure the project will have a successful completion, because the Armenian authorities have political will for its realization. I would like to thank the government of the United Kingdom for financing circa 90 percent of this project, Giakoumopoulos said.

Defense minister Vigen Sargsyan noted that the project is systematic, which is aimed at human rights protection in the armed forces, however it isnt limited by raising awareness or analysis of episodic problems. It has a clear vision of developing capabilities based on in-depth evaluation of the needs of the armed forces, which will contribute to forming favorable conditions for decrease of intragroup conflicts and its ongoing protection, Sargsyan said.

According to him, the importance of the project is even more emphasized by the fact that the traditionally negatively targeted power structures are also beneficiaries, which is often carried out ungrounded. That stereotypical mentality can easily be changed, is corresponding procedures are introduced and the possibilities are present which guarantee the ensuring and protection of everyones rights. It is extremely important particularly in the armed forces, because we are dealing with a closed system, where, as we know, issues relating to human rights can have an even more acute nature, and we have the need to create an atmosphere  through methodic work, cooperation with all stakeholder organizations and civil society  in order for the citizen to realize that by being drafted to military service or starting service in the armed forces, he has the opportunity to fully protect his rights and freedoms, as they are stipulated in important international and national documents, the minister added.

Prosecutor-General Arthur Davtyan mentioned in his speech that human rights are the highest value, the protection of which is the main and moral obligation of the state, which is in the interest of not only the citizen, but also the security of the state. The armed forces of Armenia guarantee the security of our country, the protection and immunity of borders, thus assisting the even more effective protection of human rights in the armed forces, improving the human rights situation, perfection of human rights protection legislation, increase of awareness among servicemen, prevention of violations of human rights and the just investigation of such violations is a priority for us, Davtyan said.

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Armenia H.E. Judith Farnworth emphasized that the main goal of the UK is contributing to the establishment of Armenia as a developed and prosperous country.

The importance of guaranteeing human rights protections is increasing and in this context the implementation of this project has great significance, which is aimed at increasing the level of human rights protection in the Armenian armed forces. During my tenure I have heard many concerns from families of servicemen of the Armenian Army. I highlight the fact that the defense minister of the country not only doesnt deny that these problems are really present, but also speaks about willingness of solving them. This willingness is evidenced by the fact that we are launching this important project in Armenia, Her Majestys Ambassador said.

Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Yerevan Office said that project will be part of the 2015-2018 action plan of the Armenian Armed Forces. She expressed hope that the project will proceed smoothly and efficiently and will contribute to improvement of human rights protection in Armenia.

The main purpose of the project is supporting more efficient protections of human rights in the armed forces of Armenia. Special goals are improving the capabilities of engaging European standards of human rights in the armed forces and improve the prevention, reporting, investigation and discovery of human rights violations in the armed forces, especially abuse.
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.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia 20.18-2018: Armenia among 20 most innovative countries Business Innovation Forum was held in Dilijan on November 18-19.

The delegation of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies led by Deputy Minister Gagik Tadevosyan was taking part in the Forum, press service of the Ministry told Armenpress.

The Forum aimed at raising the challenges of Armenias innovation development, discuss the ways and projects of overcoming them through the help of thematic discussions, business presentations and contacts.

On behalf of Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, Gagik Tadevosyan welcomed the Forum participants and said the event is important in terms of gathering innovation sector stakeholders, jointly discussing the existing issues and developing cooperation formats.

The Deputy Minister attached importance to raising the effectiveness of IT sector management, stating that it is necessary to contribute to implementing the innovation proposals made by firms, providers that offer IT, innovation and business projects.

He stated that the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies carries out consistent work in order the approaches towards the IT sector, starting from projects of preparing specialists, production and innovation processes, as well as the works on presenting Armenias achievements in international platforms to be coordinated.

Over 200 representatives of international organizations from US, Russia, Bulgaria, Israel and Georgia participated in Armenia 20.18-2018: Armenia among 20 most innovative countries Business Innovation Forum.

The Forum has been organized by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE).
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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan sees a strict necessity for drastic changes and says the Cabinet headed by him proposes such measures.

Were proposing the most rapid change thats possible, he said.

Businesses shouldnt be obstructed, said Karapetyan, adding We will create an even, competitive, level playing field.

Bloomberg notes that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan called the new premier a symbol of change when he named him to replace Hovik Abrahamyan. The economys in an extremely bad state and needs structural overhaul, Karapetyan told lawmakers next day.

Changes in the leadership of the customs service and in the tax code are improving transparency, and he wont allow dominant players to use administrative support that isnt available to others to suppress competition, Karapetyan said. No one is immune and no one is privileged, he said.

While hes focused on immediate improvements, Karapetyan said hell also form an advisory group including foreign specialists to brainstorm how we can develop the country for the long term, including with tax changes and support for businesses in areas such as health care, education and agriculture.

Armenia rejected a trade pact with the European Union to enter the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union of former Soviet states in January last year. While critics say theres been no economic benefit so far, nobody knows what would have happened if Armenia hadnt joined and the negative impact could have been much greater, while membership doesnt stop Armenia developing EU trade, Karapetyan said.

Armenias also seeking to bolster trade with Iran following the lifting of international sanctions over the Islamic Republics nuclear program. Karapetyan said hes ordered plans developed by December 25 to implement a free economic zone near Armenias southern border to boost ties in areas including agriculture and food production.

Bloomberg states that Karapetyan is seeking to develop clear long-term plans over the next six months so that from 2018 well have sustainable year-on-year growth, Karapetyan said.
President-elect Donald Trump has made big promises regarding illegal immigration, which was the signature issue of his campaign. From building a wall on the Mexican border to ending municipal sanctuary policies to removing illegal aliens, Trump has given himself a difficult job, laden with complex tactical and political considerations. What first steps can he reasonably take to demonstrate that he is serious about the issue?

America is essentially addicted to illegal immigration. In the familiar formula, the Right craves cheap labor and the Left hungers for a large, reliable voting bloc. Like many addicts, the nation is unwilling either to admit the extent of its problem or do anything decisive about it. As a result, weve given millions of people a mixed message about whether theyll be able to stay here, and tacitly encouraged a two-track system of legal and illegal immigration.

Trumps election gives America the opportunity to get real about illegal immigration. Therefore, the first thing Trump as president must dobefore laying one brick of the wallis communicate a consistent message of zero tolerance regarding unauthorized entry and residence in the United States. Australia is a good model. Beset by thousands of illegal immigrants from Asia, the Australian government waged an intensive advertising campaign with a clear message to would-be migrants: If you try to enter Australia illegally by boat, you will never be permitted to settle in the country. The island nation made good on its zero-tolerance line by outsourcing the processing of migrants to Papua New Guinea, where the social amenities often lag those of the migrants home countries. As a result, fewer boats have been interdicted, and fewer migrants have died at sea. Sending a clear message to the world that the rules have changed and that illegal immigration to the United States is no longer a viable solution for economic migrants should reduce the number of people willing to gamble on eventual amnesty.

Trump has said that targeting criminal aliens for expedited removal is his top priority. There are between 800,000 and 2 million such individuals in the United States already, depending on whether legal permanent residents (green card holders) are included, and depending on what level of crime is considered serious enough to merit immediate deportation. Removing unlawfully present criminals from the homeland would be an obvious place to start. But U.S. immigration policy is so dysfunctional that an estimated 90,000 convicted criminal aliens have been placed in removal proceedings only to have their home countries refuse to take them back (China, Haiti, India, and Cuba are among the nations that have been recalcitrant in this regard). According to U.S. law, the State Department is required to stop issuing visas to such countries, but never does. As a result, these criminal aliens are simply released after a six-month waiting period, often committing additional crimes. It would be a simple matter, and in accordance with the law, for the State Department to issue a demarche to a country, demanding quick acceptance of its citizen, or risk the loss of visa privileges.

Even fervent Trump supporters recognize the unlikelihood that the federal government will begin rounding up illegal aliens on the street for deportation. The logistical aspects of expelling millions of people in a humanitarian manner are enormous. Illegal aliens cant be summarily deported; they have the right to face an immigration judge; the current backlog in these cases can be years; and the country doesnt currently have the judicial infrastructure to deal with a much larger caseload.

Furthermore, the Left, greatly embittered by Trumps win, is eager for confrontation. Calls for direct action and civil disobedience are circulating well ahead of Trumps inauguration. Discussions of reviving the Bush-era entry-exit registries for visitors from terrorism source-nations have been falsely labeled Muslim registries, and thousands of liberals are swearing that they will demand to sign their names to these imaginary lists. Any effort at deporting non-criminal aliens will be met with calculated resistance. The Trump administration should encourage such people to leave voluntarily.

The Trump administration should also focus on employer-based enforcement, rather than targeting illegal-alien workers themselves. Its against the law knowingly to employ non-authorized individuals, and the federal government has made available to all employers a quick and free system to verify that people are legally allowed to work. E-Verify is currently a voluntary system, but the government could encourage its adoption by cracking down on employers who hire illegal workers. After a few such high-profile cases, with serious penalties ranging from heavy fines to jail time for repeat offenders, employers will become loath to hire illegals, who often use stolen identities. Shutting down possibilities for work will make life in America less attractive for them and encourage them to self-deport.

The suggestions adumbrated above may seem harsh. But America has cynically established a kind of low-paid underclass, arguably to the detriment of a large, lesser-skilled segment of the citizenry. The election of Donald Trump has virtually ensured that some major policy shifts regarding the status of illegal immigrants are coming. The ones I have outlined are politically feasible and would incur the minimum of human suffering, while promoting the ideals of civic nationalism upon which Trump was elected.

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images
The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces around 90 times, over the weekend.

November 21, 2016, 09:14 Azerbaijan used mortar at weekend

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 1,100 shots toward the Armenian position-holders, and by way of various caliber weapons, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army informed.

In addition, the adversary fired a shell from a mortar, on November 19, in a northeasterly direction of the line of contact.

But the NKR Defense Army vanguard units are in full control over the frontline, and they continue reliably maintaining their combat positions.
Fundatia de Binefacere Caritas Moldova solicita oferte de pret de la companii /furnizori de cozonaci de Craciun
I jolted awake, or rather I was jolted awake, by the Northridge Earthquake on January 17, 1994. I drove bleary-eyed down the 210 freeway to the 118, careening off expansion joints that had become steps. Less than a mile from the epicenter, the San Fernando Valley office of The Los Angeles Times already was surrounded with yellow police tape. Off limits. I was a newly minted editor, suddenly in charge of a mass disaster without access to the normal tools of our trade: phones, computers, police scanners.

We worked in the hot sun of the Times parking lot for most of the day, sneaking inside to grab a battery-operated TV, laptops, pens, and reporters notebooks. And from that day on, nothing was the same. For weeks, for months. Actually, for years.

The news was so big that we set aside all of our stories in progress and our future story pitches. Everything was dwarfed by the size and urgency of the quake, its aftershocks, and its aftermath: the bodies sandwiched inside apartments, the jittery families camping in the median strips, the tearing down and rebuilding that ushered in corrupt contractors and quake ghost towns.

It was overwhelming at first. Then we learned to pace ourselves, to start small, to begin with what we knew, ask questions and follow them.

These are lessons I am reflecting on frequently these days, because on November 8 we were jolted awake again and now are bracing for aftershocks. So many of the stories we had in progress are eclipsed by the election of Donald Trump, so much of what we had planned now seems off topic. So much of what we can do feels inadequate.

From this day on, nothing will be the same.

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Unlike the LA Times, a daily newspaper then relied on by 1 million people for their daily news, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting has a special niche: uncovering wrongdoing and injustices, focusing our efforts on those stories with the greatest potential to drive change. That niche has never seemed more relevant.

We are a nonpartisan newsroom. So this pursuit is not about Republican versus Democrat, conservative versus liberal. In recent years, we have not shied away from stories critical of the Obama administration, including several taking the president to task for not living up to his promises to veterans. (Those veterans chose Trump over Hillary Clinton by a 2-1 margin, by the way.) We are independent in every way; none of our donors hold sway over what we cover, no matter how generous.

And change can be goodat a minimum good for news. A new presidential administration, particularly one with a platform of disruption, offers unlimited fodder for investigative journalists.

So where do we start?

After I became editor in chief earlier this year, we defined three filters for our coverage: accountability, inequality, and sustainability. That provides a crucial and topical framework now as we re-evaluate our stories and our plans, guided by an additional filter: How is this new administration likely to shift the foundation, and the response? Who will be hurt and helped?

We have no preconceived notions of what will happen in these areas beyond what we all learned about Donald Trump and his plans during the campaign, much of it from the candidate himself. His post-election statementssuch as telling Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes that he will deport millions of undocumented peoplepersuade us he intends to follow through. That kind of change deserves close scrutiny.

Already we have many concerns and the tools to start to address them. Sexual harassment and assault are illegal, not paying contractors and mistreating workers are, too. We have a track record of using our accountability filter to expose these problems and we will continue to do so. Destroying our planet is unfathomable, just as we have begun to make some meager headway against climate change. Thats where our sustainability filter will come in handy. Intolerance is intolerable. The ugliness ignited by Trumps campaign in terms of racism, sexism, and ethnocentrism catches in our inequality filter.

But the bigger challenge for us as journalists is confronting another fault line of this election: that no one seems to care what we report, that no one trusts us. We dont have 1 million subscribers like the LA Times did back in 1994, counting on us to help them recover. So we realize that rebuilding trust will be difficultand essential. Were just beginning to think about how to begin but we already know that our work convening local and regional media around the nation as investigative partnersthrough Reveal Labs and our public radio program and podcast with PRX, Revealwill be another powerful tool in meeting that challenge.

In a trending post on Twitter two days after the election, a man called one current narrative backward. Its the rural and exurbanites who need to listen more to the urbanites, he said, not vice versa. I think its both, I tweeted back at him: We all need to assume less, listen more.

So in the coming months, watch for us to redouble our efforts to uncover wrongdoing and injustice. That draws on our core values, our mission, which will persist no matter who is president. But help us, too, as we learn to assume less and listen more.

Well start small, beginning with what we know, asking questions and following them. We are not judge and jury. Were just a small but ambitious nonprofit newsroom, jolted awake.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Amy Pyle is editor in chief of Reveal, which publishes, across multiple platforms, the work of the Center for Investigative Reporting. She can be reached via email at apyle@revealnews.org.
Lets talk about made-up stuff. Not fake news, whose existence has been in the real news lately, but other stuff thats made up.

Heres one usage, from The Washington Post, speaking of the Infowars purveyor Alex Jones: Hence, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, in Joness telling, was confected to thrust gun control on America.

Heres David Stockman on the elections economic aftermath: Any notion of a Trump economic revival programeven if it could now be confectedwill be stillborn in the financial and fiscal chaos ahead.

And heres an article about a sheriff who spent half a million dollars renovating a work-release center before turning over operation of it to children of friends: The structure of the Slidell deal is much different from the one Strain confected with the other work-release program that operated on his watch.

If you see the word confected and an image of Willy Wonka or Candyland pops in your head, its understandable. But these three uses can leave a bitter taste, because they imply something not as tasty as the usual confections.

Merriam-Webster defines confection as something confected, as a fancy dish or sweetmeat; a medicinal preparation usually made with sugar, syrup, or honey; a work of fine or elaborate craftsmanship; and a light but entertaining theatrical, cinematic, or literary work.

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Those are all good things, as is a confectionery, which can either be the sweet stuff itself, or the store where its sold. (The store can also be spelled confectionary.)

Literally speaking, something confected is put together from varied material, as M-W defines it. The Oxford English Dictionary says the adjectival form showed up in 1552 to mean Compounded of a number of ingredients, made into a confection, etc.; constructed, made up. That made up just meant put together.

But in 1699, the OED says, confected gained another made-up usage: Counterfeit or faked.

The Washington Post piece implies that Alex Jones thinks Sandy Hook was faked; David Stockman implies that a Trump economic plan would be cobbled together; the sheriffs deal seemed merely put together. Three uses of the same word, three possible connotations, from negative to neutral.

The San Francisco Chronicle seems very sweet on confected, especially in its wine section, where theres been a confected hint of Pez candy in a Riesling, some Napa Cabernets that seem confected more than made, and an observation that supermarket Chardonnay is a confected and mass-produced drink that frankly is responsible for the overwhelming share of that popularity. But other stories said that someone had confected a water nozzle from a plastic bottle, that Antonin Scalia had confected a contemporary interpretive doctrine that wouldnt be recognizable to the founding generation, and that Charlotte Bronte had confected an anodyne image of herself.

A single word with so many meanings must have a clear context to be properly understood. Thats particularly true if, at its heart, that word evokes an image opposite of the one the writer is trying to paint. Why use confected if so many people will have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads instead of the intended dark images created by a confected Sandy Hook shooting?

Confected may be the kind of word writers reach for while attempting to find something new or different. But in the wrong context it can turn saccharine, sounding fake and made up, if not misleading. It might be better to find something less chewy.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl.
About a month before the election, a radio station in Fairfield, Illinois, stopped taking calls to its popular morning talk show. It was the first time in 25 years that news director Len Wells remembers ever having to shut off the phones.

It was awful, Wells says of the comments about the presidential race. We had people calling and saying incredibly hateful and ugly things. We just couldnt have a civil conversation.

WFIW is broadcast from Wayne County in Southern Illinois, where voters overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Donald Trump. In fact, Trump had the largest margin of support in Wayne out of any county in Illinois, with 83 percent of the vote. (Hillary Clinton won the state because of the large Democratic base in more populous and diverse Chicago and its ring suburbs).

This may be Trump territory, but that doesnt mean the local press in Wayne Countyor other places like it in Middle Americahas escaped the profound challenge confronting journalism: to tell the truth when truthfulness is often determined by perspective. To be a local journalist after the 2016 election means reminding readers and viewers that the local press is not the national media but they nonetheless share the same responsibility to report the news.

It is an odd paradox in a small community: people shop with their local TV reporters and send their kids to school with the children of the editors of their hometown newspaper. They know their local journalists not simply as a byline but as the reporter who sits in the fourth row from the front on the right side of the church every Sunday. They dont always see them as the media. The media are CNN and The New York Times and the Huffington Post. The media that deserves to be put in pens, like cattle, as Tom Matthews, editor of the Wayne County Press wrote in a recent column.

Gary Sawyer, who was an editor at the Decatur Herald & Review in Central Illinois for 15 years, says the challenge for local media is that no matter how hard journalists try to be fair and impartial and do the right thing for the community there is always that media thing right behind you even if the story was totally legitimate.

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Everybody would feed into that without considering if this a good piece of journalism or not, he says.

Sawyer, who left the Decatur paper in August and now teaches journalism at Iowa State University, says journalists need to do a better job of explaining the process of reporting to combat criticism of legitimate news stories. I always told people that if you view us over a long period of time, were very fair and objective, he says. In Decatur, it was always frustrating for us because editorially we were probably middle of the road, leaning a little bit conservative. But people would still criticize our news coverage. I would tell people that if you really think that we are one side of this thing in Decatur, Illinois, why would we have this opinion page at the other end or in the middle? Why wouldnt we just go one way?

In the coming months, local journalists, like their national counterparts, are sure to face more criticism as Trump prepares to take office. There are two things at play: one is what role journalists will have under a president who has been outwardly hostile of the watchdogs of government, and the other is to what extent people will be willing to listen if the journalism doesnt confirm previously held beliefs. In other words, how will any journalist deliver credible news under a model in which people doesnt necessarily want information but rather something else?

I heard someone say its our job to hold up the mirror and tell the stories of our communities, and we have failed in that. So how do we step back reassess and figure out how we can start to really tell the stories of our communities?

Every shop is going through their own analysis at a local and national level, says Scott Cameron, a manager at public radio WILL on the University of Illinois campus in Central Illinois, which is, as he describes, in the middle of a pair of blue cities that is surrounded by deep red.

Were all reading the stories about the bubbles, the echo chambers, the non-facts presented as facts, he says. I heard someone say its our job to hold up the mirror and tell the stories of our communities, and we have failed in that. So how do we step back reassess and figure out how we can start to really tell the stories of our communities?

In many ways, local reporters are well ahead of the national press in doing that. The hand-wringing taking place in the national media over how journalism failed to understand what was happening doesnt quite fit in this part of the country. Local journalists were well aware of Trumps deep appeal in their communities and had been reporting it for months leading up to Trumps victory.

You see all this major media saying now that they have to talk to Trump voters, says Brandon Pope, a reporter for the ABC-affiliate in South Bend, Indiana. But we already knew locally. Weve been talking to them. We understand. We cover these communities.

The day after the election, the NBC-affiliate in Quincy, Illinois, in the western part of the state, reported from a Dunkin Donuts about the jubilation voters were feeling over Trumps victory. That should not have been a surprise, says Chad Mahoney, the news director for WGEM.

In our area we noticed early on in the campaign season there were no Clinton signs, he says. We had farmers erecting 25-foot signs of plywood for Trump. We were just getting the sense that Trump was getting through to the people in our county who felt like they were getting disrespected.

In the final weeks of the campaign, the station worked hard to distinguish its reporting from that of its national broadcast partner in New York. Mahoney says some of the national reporting, particularly the banter between the reporter and anchor at the end of a story, called a tag-out in broadcast journalism, seemed biased. We had some issues with the NBC News pieces, he says. Some of the tag-outs on them were not exactly fact-based, and our viewers were calling us out on it. We were working hard in the campaign season to differentiate us with the national media.

Max Jones, editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Indiana, says he is trying to assess the mood of his community and have a little bit of cooling off.

Terre Haute is the seat of Vigo County and a national bellwether county for presidential elections. Since 1888, when the county was formed, it has only twice missed voting for the eventual president. In 2012, President Obama won Vigo County by a narrow margin, even though he was beaten badly statewide. Trump handily won Vigo County this year by several thousand votes.

Even though Indiana is the reddest of red states, Jones notes, the community of Terre Haute has tensions, primarily between the more affluent workers in the healthcare community and the blue-collar manufacturing base.

Without even thinking about it a lot, its just our approach to try to be inclusive to reflect all sides and to make sure everybody has their say and to do it in a respectful way, he says. That means for now that the newspaper of about 18,000 circulation will not do anything in particular to stir things up.

Peoria, Illinois, has a similar social and economic divide. The global manufacturing giant Caterpillar is headquartered there, with about 3,000 employees.

You name the demographic, and its here, says Dennis Anderson, executive editor of the Peoria Journal Star, which endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Anderson says the paper has been preparing for a Clinton win, getting ready with a Madam President headline for the front page. As it got later in the night and the returns started to suggest Trump would actually beat the former secretary of state, Anderson says the paper redid its front page. When it landed on peoples doorsteps the next morning, it had a picture of Trump and the headline, Trumps Triumph

Immediately after Trump won, Caterpillars stock price jumped to its highest of the year, rising 8 percent and then another 2 percent in the days after the election, the Journal Star reported. The paper also published an interview with Caterpillars director of investor relations that was optimistic about what the president-elect could do for the company.

The real question now is how to move past the rhetoric, to reflect Trumps appeal without normalizing the hate and ugliness that came to define it.

But the city is also racially divided, with the majority of its poorer African-American residents living on the south side. Anderson says that community in particular is fearful. People are worried about whats going to happen to them, he says. There are people who are very scared.

The paper covered a small Trump protest downtown the week after the election and will continue to try to balance its coverage, Anderson says. We just need to watch, pay attention to what people are saying and how the news nationally is going to impact Peoria.

For many reporters and editors, the real question now is how to move past the rhetoric, to reflect Trumps appeal without normalizing the hate and ugliness that came to define it.

People drop the N word around here, says Wells, the Fairfield radio station news director who also writes a weekly column for the Evansville Courier & Press in neighboring Indiana. We have homes that cant be sold to a black person. Local politicians have refused to hang Obamas picture in city hall. Weve talked about it on the air and how wrong that is, that this is just not the way we are as people.

Wayne County is a working class community, with a population of about 16,700. It is 98 percent white, according to the US Census. About a quarter of the residents in Wayne County work in the shrinking manufacturing sector and others in agriculture and mining, retail, and healthcare. Its a community that is hurting economically. Were classic fly-over country, says Matthews, the editor of the Wayne County Press. Were just Middle Americans trying to eke out a living.

It would be easy to dismiss Wayne County now that Trump won the election. Residents here are happy and hopeful. And why wouldnt they be? Trump has promised to make their forgotten America great again, to bring back jobs, to rid the country of strangers who dont look like or worship like most of the people who live in Wayne County. As Chicago Reporter editor Susan Smith Richardson noted recently at panel discussion in Chicago, jobs, trade and immigration have one thing in common across the electorate: fear of foreigners. We have a number of, Id assume, illegal immigrants living here, Matthew says of Wayne County. They are largely peaceful.

The issue of race and the president-elects specific targeting of certain Americans (women, Mexicans and Muslims, in particular) is not an easy one to have in Middle America. It requires an agreement on what racism is and what white privilege is. How can a local news outlet even begin to sort through that?

Pope, the reporter at the ABC 57 station in South Bend, says when he covered a Trump rally in Indiana earlier this year he saw Confederate flags, signs telling people to go back to Mexico and references to Adolf Hitler. They were things he had never seen before with my own eyes, things that made me drop my jaw.

He decided the best way to convey what he was seeing was to be upfront with viewers that it was abnormal. I didnt editorialize, he says. What I didnt do was treat this as a normal thing, just something we did. I made sure to stress that we havent seen South Bend like this. We saw a city divided.

Pope says the real challenge is trying not to normalize the behavior but also to be fair. The fair thing to do if there is hateful rhetoric, which is objectionably wrong, is to hear out the people who are the victims of the hateful rhetoric but also talk to the people saying this rhetoric, he says. Its hard. There is a lot of hostility toward the media. You already are met with opposition.

Deanna Fry, a producer at Fox 59 in Indianapolis, says shes already reconciled that no one is going to be happy about media coverage.

Were up against op-ed journalists, left or right-leaning journalists, she says. Were up against fake news sites and blogs that have their own agendas. Were up against all of that. People want to talk to people who think like them, and were journalists and we dont think like anyone. We just report as it happens and do our best to cover the facts as we find them.

As for the Fairfield radio station in Illinois, Wells says he isnt sure when they will start taking calls to the morning show again.

Im wishing for the best, he says. Im hoping for the best. But at some point we are going to have to restart our conversation on the air. Were going to have to talk about it.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jackie Spinner is CJRs correspondent for Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She is an associate journalism professor at Columbia College Chicago and a former staff writer for The Washington Post. Follow her on Twitter @jackiespinner.
For more than six years, Donald Trump fought hard against a lawsuit in which former customers of his now-defunct Trump University accused him of fraud. Less than two weeks after being elected president, he agreed to a $25 million settlement.

We definitely detected a change of tone and change of approach after the election, plaintiffs attorney Jason Forge said when the agreement was announced Friday.

About 7,000 students would be eligible for refunds if U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approves the settlement. Under the terms, the Republican president-elect admits no wrongdoing in settling two federal class-action lawsuits in San Diego and a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat.

The agreement came 10 days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in San Diego in the oldest case, which was filed in April 2010. The complaint accused Trump University, which wasnt an accredited school, of defrauding students who paid up to $35,000 a year to enroll in programs that promised to share Trumps real estate secrets.

Trump denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he would not settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency.

I could have settled this case numerous times, but I dont want to settle cases when were right. I dont believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler, Trump said at the time.

Trump said Saturday that he settled the lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because he needs to focus on the country.

The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad! Trump said on Twitter.

Two days after the election, Trumps lead attorney in the San Diego cases, Daniel Petrocelli, said he was all ears to settlement talks and accepted an offer to have U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller of San Diego broker negotiations.

Forge said the agreement was reached an hour before a hearing for Curiel to weigh Trumps latest request to delay the trial until after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The plaintiffs attorney said Millers role as a mediator was very critical.

We were at each others throat for 61/2 years and were able to find the common ground with them and do something good there, Forge told reporters.

The agreement canceled the trial and lifted what would probably have been a major headache for Trump as he works to fill key executive branch positions and get acquainted with foreign leaders. The trial was expected to last several weeks, guaranteeing daily news coverage of a controversy that dogged him during the campaign.

Trumps political rivals seized on the lawsuits to try to portray him as dishonest and deceitful. Trump brought more attention to them by repeatedly assailing Curiel, who oversaw the San Diego cases. Trump suggested the Indiana-born judges Mexican heritage exposed a bias.

The thousands of former students covered by the San Diego lawsuits will be eligible to receive at least half and possibly all their money back, as much as $35,000, Forge said. The plaintiffs attorneys waived their fees.

Schneiderman called the agreement a stunning reversal for the president-elect, saying Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes.

Trumps attorneys said the settlement allows the president-elect to focus full attention on his transition to the White House.

He was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward, Petrocelli said.

Alan Garten, the Trump Organizations general counsel, said he had no doubt Trump would have prevailed at trial.

The lawsuits allege that Trump University gave nationwide seminars that were like infomercials, constantly pressuring people to spend more and, in the end, failing to deliver on its promises. The San Diego trial would have been pinned on whether a jury believed Trump misled customers by calling the business a university and by advertising that he hand-picked instructors.

Court documents unsealed in May revealed strategies for enticing people to enroll even if they couldnt afford it. The documents outlined how employees should guide people through the roller coaster of emotions after they express interest and told employees to be very aggressive during these conversations to in order to push them out of their comfort zones.

Transcripts of about 10 hours of Trump depositions provided additional material to rivals, though Curiel denied a request to release video of Trumps testimony that would have likely been used in campaign attack ads. Trump acknowledged in the depositions that he played on peoples fantasies, and he could not recall names of his employees despite his advertising pitch that he hand-picked them.

Trump has repeatedly claimed a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate on internal surveys. Plaintiffs countered that students were asked to rate the product when they believed they still had more instruction to come and were reluctant to openly criticize their teachers on surveys that were not anonymous.

The settlement came a day after watchdog groups and ethics experts who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Trump urging him to make a clean break from his business to avoid embroiling the presidency in litigation.

One of the authors, Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer at the White House under Republican President George W. Bush, said the Trump University settlement might backfire if lawyers think Trump is eager to settle to avoid court cases while president.

The plaintiffs lawyers, he said, are going to smell blood in the water.

(Klepper contributed from Albany, New York. Associated Press Business Writer Bernard Condon in New York contributed to this report.)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Over thirty intellectuals from Armenia have paid a visit to Artsakh, including some of the countrys military units, within the framework of the events organized by the Public Council of the RA Defense Ministry, the Information and Public Relations Department of the RA Governments Office reports.

November 21, 2016, 10:14 NKR Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan met with intellectuals from Armenia

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: The intellectuals have also held a meeting with NKR Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan.

The PM welcomed the guests initiative to visit the military units of Artsakh underscoring its importance in deepening the ties between the army and the civil society and in providing mutual assistance.

It is an honor for me to hold a meeting with such a group representing the Armenian science and culture, especially when your visit aims at supporting and inspiring the Armenian soldiers. I am convinced that your meeting will inspire our servicemen and you, in your turn, will have a better understanding in their psychology, the reforms implemented in the army and its current issues, A. Harutyunyan noted.

On the behalf of the Artsakh government he has expressed readiness to support such initiatives and to join the efforts to strengthen the defense and the solid system of the Armenian nation.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan answered the questions of the attendees of the meeting.
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: He said all parties involved in the conflict should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action since their repetition can be fatal.

His full interview is presented below:

-Austria will assume the OSCE chairmanship starting January, 2017. What will be the priorities of Austrias chairmanship in the OSCE?

-I am a member of a generation that luckily only knows the Cold War from history books. But these days we observe some tendencies for a re-emergence of Cold War-like animosities, so we  and this certainly counts for young people in Austria as well as the Caucasus alike  should work hard for a secure and stable Europe. During our Chairmanship, our main theme will be enhancing security and trust. The focus will be on three areas: regional conflicts, radicalization and violent extremism and re-establishment of trust. Nothing shows the weakness of the international system like open military hostilities and regional conflicts. Citizens expect us to work for peace, and so we will dedicate special attention to the existing protracted conflicts in the OSCE region. Radicalization and violent extremism are furthermore of greatest concern to all our citizens, and we believe we need to actively counter and prevent radicalization at an early stage. And finally, today, one of the key problems is the lack of trust. This is of serious concern within the OSCE, but of course also on a wider level.

- In one of your speeches, among three main threats to global security and stability you have mentioned the increase of military conflicts, increase of extremism and terrorism and decrease of level of trust between states: Which will be Austrias role in overcoming these three main threats?

-As you can see we have transformed those main threats into our main priorities during the OSCE Chairmanship  following consultations with our partners. Austria, as a neutral country, enjoys good relations with many countries, and in particular the 56 other participating States in the OSCE  an organization that we truly believe in and want to see strengthened. In order to make Europe safer again, we have to go back to the roots and focus on security and cooperation. The OSCE is the prime framework for this and in the current situation, with all 57 participating States at the table and decisions being taken in consensus, challenges are huge. But, if joint solutions and agreements are found, they will be particularly strong and firm. We will, therefore, work to develop shared objectives rather than on divisive positions. Austria has a long tradition as a place for dialogue, and we want to contribute to overcoming mistrust. There are a number of concrete events planned and we hope for the support of all other OSCE participating States in this endeavour. Getting closer to finishing the puzzle of increased trust and cooperation in the global order, will have a positive impact on protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus as well.

-As acting Chairman of the OSCE, what prospects do you see for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

-One thing is for sure: There exists no military solution to this conflict, and all parties involved should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action. Another outbreak of violence would be fatal and the international community is not in favor of that, everyone  from Moscow to Washington  is clear on this issue. A number of proposals to help establish peace have been on the table for some time already, and a few ideas for confidence-building measures have been established more recently that are awaiting their implementation.

-Will you have any separate initiative, which might boost the negotiations over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement?

-Austria stands ready to support Armenians and Azerbaijanis in their search for a peaceful solution to this conflict. It is probably too early to speak about concrete initiatives  a lot will depend on the developments in the region. Vienna was the venue for the Presidential summit in May this year, and we are always happy to host negotiations again if the wish exists. We are not members of the Minsk Group, but we will do our best to support the Minsk Process. We will do so as OSCE Chair and as a State that has very good relations with both concerned countries.

-When are you planning to visit the South Caucasus region?

-I will for sure visit the South Caucasus and come to Yerevan and Baku in my function as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. Ideally, that would be linked to progress in the negotiations. In 2017, Austria will also celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations with both countries, which is an additional incentive to intensify diplomatic relations next year.

-How would you assess the current level of the Armenian-Austrian relations? How do you assess the political dialogue, what are the prospects in terms of boosting economic ties?

-The bilateral relations between Austria and Armenia are excellent. We have regular political consultations  my last such bilateral meeting with Minister Nalbandian took place in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September and only a few days later our Secretary General had extensive consultations in Yerevan. Austria is fully supportive of closest possible relations between Armenia and the European Union and therefore we are very pleased with the progress, which has already been achieved in the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement. We have also a full cultural cooperation, on the Austrian side especially through Austrian Library Franz Werfel Yerevan. Armenia is also a priority country of the Austrian development cooperation. Therefore, in September 2014, Minister Nalbandian and I myself inaugurated the office of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Yerevan.

Interview by Araks Kasyan
712 | October 29, 2022 11:04 The statement of the President of the Russian Federation inspires certain hopes. We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic will be fully protected. President Harutyunyan

678 | October 28, 2022 16:52 Zatulin: West seeks to push Russia out of negotiation process at any cost

673 | October 28, 2022 17:40 Putin to have private talks with Pashinyan and Aliyev

651 | October 26, 2022 17:43 10 residential buildings built in Ivanyan with the funds of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund will soon be put into operation

635 | October 26, 2022 16:27 Pediatric neurologists from Yerevan conduct free exainations in Stepanakert

623 | October 28, 2022 17:54 Power supply may be restored, if Kiev recognizes Russias new regions  Medvedev

612 | October 28, 2022 15:51 Garo Paylan arrives in Armenia

594 | October 28, 2022 16:05 Next meeting of Council of CIS heads of government to be held in Bishkek
Malaysia's government is attempting to quash political activism through new security laws and fresh arrests. But its critics say the extreme measures only reveal the extent of Prime Minister Najib Razak's authoritarian regime. Organized by the electoral reform group Bersih, thousands took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over his alleged involvement in a grand corruption case. The rally drew as many as 40,000 protesters according to official estimates, but some claim the crowd was larger. This was the organization's fifth mass anti-government demonstration since 2007.

Protesters in the Bersih 5.0 rally on Nov 19, 2016 demanded Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down and called for fair elections. Miera Zulyana / NurPhoto / Getty Images

At least 15 activists and members of the political opposition have since been arrested, including Bersih chairwoman Maria Chin Abdullah who was taken in under a new security law meant for terrorists. Passed in 2015, the controversial lawcalled the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act or SOSMAenables officials to arrest and detain people without a warrant and bail. A statement from the Barisan Nasional government released on Saturday also declared it was unlawful for parties to unseat a democratically-elected administration via street protests. This weekend's developments were widely seen as a fresh crackdown on anti-government critics following the introduction of the National Security Act in August, which enabled the government to establish martial law in any part of the country. "These crude attempts to intimidate Malaysian civil society activists and human rights defenders further damages [the] Barisan Nasional government....This clampdown on its critics is another sign of the Najib government's failed governance and bankrupt agenda," Bersih said in a statement on Saturday. "The arrests show that PM Najib is grasping at straws to stop the Bersih rally. The Malaysian authorities must immediately end the arbitrary arrest and harassment of Bersih members and supporters and refrain from impinging on their right to freedom of peaceful assembly," echoed Andrea Giorgetta of Paris-based human rights organization FIDH. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told local media that more arrests were expected, from both Bersih and the pro-government Red Shirts group that staged a counter-rally on Saturday. The police classified both protests as illegal. Malaysia is increasingly creating a dangerous atmosphere for political freedoms, Claire Rewcastle Brown, founder of online publication The Sarawak Report, told CNBC's "The Rundown" on Monday.

watch now
Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will pay a visit to Antananarivo, from Tuesday to Friday.

November 21, 2016, 14:17 Armenia FM to attend OIF ministerial meeting

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: In the capital city of Madagascar, he will participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) member countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.

In addition, Nalbandian will meet with his colleagues from several countries.
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The stakes are high as the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Anthem and Cigna 's $54 billion merger gets underway Monday in a Washington, DC federal district court. For the Obama administration, the trial marks a final push to leave a lasting impact on the nation's health care market in the first of the two insurer antitrust cases to go to trial. Last July, the administration also filed to block Aetna 's $43 billion merger with Humana . That trial is set to begin next month. For Anthem, the trial is a last ditch effort to salvage its 16-month old deal with Cigna, which has been contentious from the start, and to avoid paying a $1.85 billion break-up fee. The key issue in the case centres on the impact of the merger on the national employer market. The two companies combined would become the largest U.S. insurer by membership, covering more than 50 million people.

Focus on large employers

The government argues the deal would harm large employers by reducing the number of large health insurers with a national footprint from 5 to 4. Yet, legal experts say healthcare antitrust cases usually focus on competition in local markets. "There really is not a well-defined market for national employers, and there hasn't been a case yet brought by the justice department that alleged such a market," said Professor Tim Greaney, Co-Director, Center for Health Law Studies at Saint Louis University School of Law. "Even some of the largest employers are not everywhere." The DOJ maintains that the insurers compete head to head for national account in nearly three-dozen local markets. "You're going to see the DOJ have examples of customers who  in 35 markets the only two choices they have are Anthem and Cigna," said Andrea Murino, partner and co-chair of the antitrust and competition practice at Goodwin in Washington, DC. "You think about what kind of choice those customers will have going from two entities to one entity in a post-merged world, and that doesn't look so good for Anthem and Cigna."

Anthem-Cigna rivalry at issue

The insurers have argued that their combined company will be able to cut overhead costs, and have the scale to negotiate better pricing from hospitals and physician groups, which will benefit consumers and companies with lower prices. However, the government maintains the contentious relationship between Anthem and Cigna bodes poorly for their ability to integrate the two firms successfully. DOJ attorneys plan to call Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish as their first witness, and will likely confront the insurance executive with email exchanges citing the firms' fierce competition. "They've cited some of them in their complaint documents that show that Anthem was particularly concerned about Cigna as a rival, and saw it as its most formidable rival, and bid consistently against it," said Professor Greaney. "They want to get the story out that there's something going on here besides creating efficiencies."

Changing healthcare landscape
After the stunning election of Donald Trump as president, and with Republicans also holding majorities in the House and Senate, it's time for Democrats to "turn the page" and look to a new leader on Capitol Hill, Rep. Tim Ryan told CNBC on Monday.



The Ohio Democrat is waging what he admits is an "uphill" battle against former House speaker Nancy Pelosi for her House minority leader post.



"How bad does it have to get?" Ryan asked rhetorically, calling for a change in the economic message to pull disenfranchised voters back into the Democratic Party. Ryan said he has enormous respect for Pelosi, and does not blame her alone for the Republican rout.



Trump won Ohio by 8.5 percent and Democrats hold just four of the 16 of the state's congressional seats, the lowest number since 1947.



Ryan, a member of the House Budget and Appropriations committees, said Democrats did not focus enough on pocketbook issues, such as how to create opportunities for minimum-wage earners to help them transition to higher paying positions.



As co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus, Ryan said fostering advanced manufacturing jobs can help drive that transition for many Americans.


Alibaba is planning to launch four new data centers across the world, the Chinese e-commerce giant said on Monday, as it steps up its competition against Amazon and Microsoft in the rapidly-growing cloud computing market. The data centers will be located in Dubai, Tokyo in Japan, Germany and Sydney, Australia. It takes the number of Alibaba Cloud data centers outside of China to eight, with the Chinese technology giant now on nearly every major continent. "With the addition of those four data centers, it will cover our customers globally," Ethan Yu, general manager of Alibaba Cloud Global, told CNBC in a phone interview. In each market, Alibaba Cloud has formed joint ventures (JV) and partnerships. In Dubai, Alibaba has formed a JV with Meraas Holdings called YVOLV. In Germany, Alibaba has partnered with Vodafone to open its first data center in Europe. Alibaba will use Vodafone's data center in order to sell its cloud services. In Japan, a JV with Softbank called SB Cloud Corporation was formed earlier this year.



Nigel Treblin | Getty Images

The Sydney data center will come online "within a few weeks," Yu told CNBC. The executive said Alibaba was not disclosing the financial terms of the deals but there are revenue sharing agreements in place. The JV with SoftBank will be 60 percent owned by SoftBank with 40 percent owned by Alibaba, the companies said earlier this year.



Alibaba's global expansion is a bid to challenge the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, IBM and Google, who combined control over half of the worldwide cloud market, according to data from Synergy Research Group. Alibaba is much smaller than Amazon Web Services (AWS) which leads the market, but is growing very quickly. In its latest fiscal quarter ended September 30, Alibaba reported revenue from its cloud computing division that increased 130 percent year-on-year to $224 million. This outpaced the growth seen by Microsoft, Google, and Amazon's cloud units. Alibaba's cloud unit has 2.3 million customers of which 651,000 are paying customers. Yu said the company's next milestone is 1 million paying users but offered no timeframe on when this would be achieved. The cloud business is also still unprofitable with the focus still on scaling. "We are not looking at profitability as the near term goal. For now, our goal is to keep expanding our market leadership and therefore we will continue to make investments and develop that for rapid expansion," Yu told CNBC.



Concerns over Trump presidency?
Apple has moved engineers off the development of wireless routers, sources told Bloomberg, just weeks after Google debuted a new wi-fi device.

Apple has slowly shut down the team behind its three AirPort routers over the past year, Bloomberg reported on Monday, whittling down the company's focus to products like Apple TV. Some features of the devices were only compatible with Apple products, which may have kept users from switching to Android or PCs, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported.

Routers were a very small portion of Apple's sales, Bloomberg reported, as lower-priced competitors like Netgear focused more heavily on keeping up with changing wireless standards.



In October, Google unveiled Google Wifi, which promises faster wireless service and parental controls, and is slated to ship in December.

For the full story, see the article at Bloomberg.com
US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump to update him on transition planning in the Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington,DC.

The New Yorker's David Remnick has a long, powerful piece entitled "Obama Reckons With A Trump Presidency." It's the most insight we're going to get into Barack Obama's reaction to 's ascension, and it's worth considering carefully.

Remnick was with President Obama before, during, and after the election, and you can tell the reporting began in a very different place than it ended. Remnick probably thought he would record Obama's reflections as he prepared to turn power over to Hillary Clinton, his chosen successor.

Instead, he found himself watching something very different: a president trying to convince himself, his staff, his party, his nation, and the world that Trump's presidency is just a temporary, manageable zag as the arc of American history continues its long bend towards justice.

Much of the piece is Remnick asking over and over again if Obama is truly as calm as he looks. Obama swears he is. "I don't believe in apocalyptic until the apocalypse comes," he says. "I think nothing is the end of the world until the end of the world."

Read more from Vox:

Michael Flynn, Trump's national security advisor, believes fake news and partisan conspiracy theories

Reince Priebus calls questions about Trump's conflicts of interest "ridiculous"

Don't let Donald Trump's antics distract you from what's really important



There are arguments Obama makes in the piece that aren't convincing. But there's one argument he makes in particular that's very convincing. Call it the Obama Baseline.

Remnick reminds Obama that he called Trump "uniquely unqualified," "temperamentally unfit," and warned Americans that Trump's election would mean the destruction of all that Obama's presidency had achieved. Did he still believe that?

"Now that the election is over, no, I don't believe it," Obama says. His argument is worth hearing  though it's worth noting that Obama does not appear to try and rebut his warnings about Trump's lack of qualifications or poor temperament:

"As a practical matter, what I've been saying to people, including my own staff, is that the federal government is an aircraft carrier, it's not a speedboat. And, if you need any evidence of that, think about how hard we worked over the last eight years with a very clear progressive agenda, with a majority in the House and in the Senate, and we accomplished as much domestically as any President since Lyndon Johnson in those first two years. But it was really hard."

Obama said that he had accomplished "seventy or seventy-five per cent" of what he set out to do, and "maybe fifteen per cent of that gets rolled back, twenty per cent, but there's still a lot of stuff that sticks."

One way to think about this argument is to look at the Bush baseline that structured Obama's administration. Obama ran against Bush's two wars (Iraq in concept, Afghanistan in execution), and while both are technically over, neither has completely ended. Obama ran against the Guantanamo Bay prison, but it remains open.

Obama ran against the Bush tax cuts, but he ultimately made most of them permanent. Liberals blasted both No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D in the 2008 election, but the Obama administration built on NCLB (while fixing some of its worst problems) and expanded Medicare Part D.

Trump and congressional Republicans will, similarly, find themselves working from the Obama baseline. Take Obamacare  as much as Republicans loathe it, they know it's delivering insurance to more than 20 million people, and many of those people are their own constituents. They admit openly that they can't repeal it without some kind of replacement.

The result has been some truly strange contortions, including a too-clever-by-half plan where Republicans will vote to repeal Obamacare, but the repeal won't trigger for at least two years, theoretically giving the GOP time to craft and pass their replacement. It is worth stopping for a moment to appreciate the underlying theory here: Republicans will trigger a national health insurance crisis to try to force themselves to come up with the replacement plan that has long eluded them.

After years in which Republicans tried to gain leverage on Obama by creating unnecessary crises, they are now, it seems, turning the same strategy on themselves.

This is not a wise approach, to say the least. Among other things, insurance markets will collapse during the interim. But this is the problem for Republicans: much like Obama with the Bush tax cuts, they need to take reality as it is, and that means coming to accommodation with the millions of people who depend on a program they don't like.

The same is true of the Iran nuclear deal. As Zeeshan Aleem explains, Republicans who want to rip up the agreement will need to grapple with the reality that Tehran has already gotten its money back and seen the sanctions against it lifted, and we have no way to reimpose the international sanctions or take back most of the money. The result is that violating the agreement means Iran gets everything they wanted, and we get nothing we wanted.

Which isn't to deny that much of Obama's legacy is vulnerable. His executive action protecting DREAMers can simply be undone. The Paris climate agreement can be unsigned. Much of Dodd-Frank can be repealed, and the relevant regulatory agencies can be stocked with leaders who don't believe in regulation.

But presidential administrations have limited time and political capital. The energy you spend undoing your predecessor's work is energy you can't spend accomplishing your own proactive goals. If Donald Trump wants to reform the tax code, a bitter, costly fight over repealing and replacing Obamacare will make that harder. If he wants to build a wall across the border with Mexico, that's time he can't spend revisiting Obama's work on education.

Which is all to say that there will be much that sticks from the Obama baseline. I don't know if it's 80 percent or 50 percent. But my guess is it'll prove to be more than people are expecting right now, just as was true for the Bush baseline.
U.S. government debt prices were mostly higher on Monday as investors digested the results of a note sale and comments from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer.



The Treasury Department auctioned $26 billion of two-year notes at a high yield of 1.085 percent, its highest level since December 2009. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.73, in-line with a recent average.

Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 35.8 percent, well below a recent average of 45 percent. Direct bidders, which include domestic money managers, bought 13.4 percent, also below a recent average of 16 percent.

Following the sale, the yield on the reversed to tick higher, near 1.077 percent.



The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes , which moves inversely to price, was lower at around 2.334 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 3.002 percent.

Treasury yields were lower on Monday after hitting their highest levels in a year following Donald Trump's suprise White House victory.

"When you get a knee-jerk reaction, it's not surprising to see a pullback," said Greg Woodard, managing director of fixed income at Manning & Napier. "Having said that, there is a trend for higher fiscal stimulus around the world, and that is supportive of higher yields."


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Despite the exams, stress and tuition fees, college certainly pays off, according to one managing director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML). "(A) four year college degree is a better investment for you personally than investing in the stock market," Sarj Nahal, managing director and head of thematic investing at BAML told CNBC, discussing the bank's latest "Let's Get Smart" report. According to Nahal, education imbalance is the "biggest civil rights issue of our era." Placing the issue in perspective, Nahal said that "eight days' worth of military spending would be the equivalent of educating everybody around the world up to secondary level." BAML's research revealed that a perceived 100-year education imbalance between developed and emerging markets is incurring a significant loss to the global economy, which could "exacerbate inequality, discontent and unrest." It estimated that $1.8 trillion in global GDP (gross domestic product) will be lost by 2050. A $3 trillion boost would be seen if education for all was to be achieved, Nahal added.



Chris Ryan | Caiaimage | Getty Images

Concerning the benefits of a college education, Nahal said that "at a country level, every dollar invested in education means economic returns of between four to ten dollars for the governmental authorities." He detailed that on a personal level, this equated to a 15 percent return on average. BAML's data showed that a graduate in the U.S. with a four year college degree under their belt will earn over $1 million during the course of their lifetime more than a high school dropout. For those with maths or science degrees, this figure rises to $1.5 million on average. BAML's report indicated that there are 263 million children globally who are not in school, as well as 758 million illiterate adults, meaning that there is definitely room for investment. According to Nahal, the global education market is expected to grow to $6.3 trillion by 2020  it is currently valued at $4.9 trillion. With regards to strategy, Nahal advised potential investors in the education sector to position themselves in Asia-Pacific emerging markets  notably China and India  which he deemed to be the fastest growing. Nahal explained that they were "stepping up governmental investment as well as household spending."

PeopleImages | Getty Images
Tear gas, freezing cold water and rubber bullets were used to disperse a crowd of 400 protesters at the Dakota Access Pipeline in clashes late Sunday and early Monday that left more than 150 activists and one law enforcement officer injured.

Linda Black Elk, a member of the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council of the Catawba tribe, said she treated protesters for injuries and hypothermia and they were soaked by water in temperatures as low as 23 degrees.

More from NBC News:

Scores arrested in Dakota Access Pipeline protests nationwide

Army Corps of Engineers says pipeline construction can't continue without tribe input

What will a Trump presidency mean for the Dakota Access Pipeline?



"Last night was a really critical life or death situation," she told NBC News Monday. "There were hundreds of people out on the frontlines. People were first soaked down with tear gas and then sprayed with a bunch of water."

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II told NBC News that between 200-300 people were transported late Sunday night to a gymnasium on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for treatment for hypothermia, facial and hand wounds, and other minor injuries. Approximately seven people with more serious injuries  including two elders who were tear gassed and who suffered near cardiac arrest  were sent to a hospital in Bismark for emergency treatment, said Archambault.

He said the tribe was reaching out to the White House Monday with a request that the Obama administration intervene "due to the threat to public safety at Standing Rock."

"From the beginning, we've had water protectors attacked by guard dogs, rubber bullets and mace. Last night, law enforcement upped the ante by using exploding tear gas canisters and water cannons in sub-freezing temperatures," said Archambault. "There's no telling what law enforcement will do next."

Protestors say that the clashes began when they tried to remove a roadblock on a bridge north of their Oceti Sakowin "Water Protector" Camp. The roadblock, composed in part of burned-out trucks, has blocked the main route to the city of Bismarck since late October.

"The negotiation from law enforcement stated that they were going to remove them for their emergency services to get through ... to Bismarck. It's been 2.5 weeks, maybe 3, and they still haven't kept their word on that," said E'sha Hoferer,who live-streamed the clashes on Facebook.

Black Elk said the roadblock was an inconvenience and posed a risk for emergency personnel trying to access the protest camp.
Le Pen said there are similarities between Trump's platform and that of her own party as the National Front hopes for France's independence and its return to power. Furthermore, both Trump's and her own party's platform commonly share a refusal to stomach mass immigration, to support factors which drive the growth of the so-called Islamic State and to allow free trade and regulations which would "ravage" France and the European Union (EU).

"So, that the United States has once again regained an image as an organization of peace is beneficial for us all," she surmised.

"I think that the United States will regain its image which had become very damaged, especially by the administration for which Hillary Clinton worked. The United States cannot have the image of warmongers, with all the potential consequences it could have for our respective countries," Le Pen warned.

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States showed the "massive return" of the people, the leader of France's right-wing National Front party, Marine LePen, told CNBC on Monday.

The National Front leader made clear that she sees now as the time for opportunity, saying a series of recent political developments  from the U.K.'s EU referendum, to the rise of the far-right in Austria and Trump's win  demonstrate that power is slipping from the hands of those whom she describes as "the elites."

"I think that the elites have lived too long among themselves. We are in a world where globalization, which is an ideology, has forgotten, and put aside the people, the people's interests, aspirations, and dreams," Le Pen ventured.

"They have acted like carnivores, who used the world to enrich only themselves, and whether it's the election of Donald Trump, or Brexit, the elites have realized that the people have stopped listening to them, that the people want to determine their futures and in a perfectly democratic framework, regain control of their destiny," she continued.

"And that panics them, because they are losing the power that they had given themselves."

Asked whether this dynamic augured well for her own presidential ambitions, Le Pen said within a certain framework it could do.

"So yes, in these conditions, if the French people too wish to regain their independence, wish to regain control of their country, and wish to reinforce the elements of security, the borders, the rule of law, economic patriotism, then I will be elected president," she predicted.

Turning specifically to the EU, Le Pen confirmed that if elected she would call a referendum to give French citizens the choice of withdrawing France from the monetary union (the euro ) and even of leaving the 28-country bloc outright.

Le Pen spoke to the pernicious effect of having France's monetary system controlled by the EU, saying that the institution uses the euro like a weapon held to the country's chest, forcing it to move in certain ways. The National Front leader said that nothing is more important than France regaining control of its currency.

Le Pen also claimed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who confirmed on Sunday she would run for a fourth term in 2017, did not fit the mood of the times. She warned her days are numbered given the pace of change currently underway in Europe.
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Tyson Foods  The poultry and beef producer earned an adjusted 96 cents per share for its latest quarter, missing estimates of $1.17 a share. Revenue and forward guidance missed, as well. Tyson also announced that President Tom Hayes will succeed Donnie Smith as chief executive officer on December 31.

3M  3M was downgraded to "sell" from "neutral" at Goldman Sachs.

Facebook  Facebook announced a stock buyback of up to $6 billion, to begin in the first quarter of 2017. Separately, Facebook said its Chief Accounting Officer Jas Athwal will leave the company on February 17.

Netflix  Brean began coverage of the video streaming service with a "buy" rating, saying Netflix has created an "unstoppable lead" in the internet TV business.

Citigroup  Citi replaced HSBC in an annual list of 30 banks deemed globally systemic by the G-20's financial stability board. Those banks are required to hold extra capital to insure financial stability.

Novartis  Novartis is buying privately held U.S. drugmaker Selexys Pharmaceuticals for up to $665 million. Selexys specializes in treatments for blood diseases.

GlaxoSmithKline  The drugmaker filed for U.S. approval of its new three-in-one inhaled lung drug, meaning it could reach the market ahead of similar treatments by rivals AstraZeneca and Novartis . The drug is designed to offer a single treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Blackstone  The private-equity firm is in talks to sell as much as $2.3 billion in Japanese property to China's Anbang Insurance, according to sources quoted by Reuters.

Wal-Mart  The retailer plans to begin offering Cyber Monday deals on Black Friday, following up its recent announcement that it plans to increase its online inventory significantly.

LifeLock  LifeLock will be bought by cybersecurity software maker Symantec for $2.3 billion or $24 per share. LifeLock specializes in identity theft protection services.

Apple  Apple will replace iPhone 6s batteries for free for customers who are experiencing an unexpected shutdown problem. Apple said there is no safety issue and the problem affects only a limited number of phones.

Wells Fargo  Wells Fargo was hit with new management restrictions by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, with the bank now required to get approval before making various business decisions or giving out executive severance packages. The restrictions cancel some aspects of the OCC's September settlement with Wells Fargo.

Headwaters  Headwaters is being bought by Australian construction firm Boral for $1.86 billion in cash, or $24.25 per share. Headwaters is a Utah-based maker of building products.

GoDaddy  GoDaddy is finalizing a roughly $1.8 billion bid for European web hosting firm Host Europe Group, according to London's Sunday Times. GoDaddy is competing with United Internet for Host Europe, with Deutsche Telekom having dropped out of the bidding.

Intel  Intel is cutting its investment in wearable device technology and may exit the market altogether, according to sources quoted by TechCrunch. However, the chip maker is denying that this is the case.
European markets closed higher on Monday as the dollar strength took a breaker and oil prices jumped to their highest level in three weeks on heightened investor expectations that OPEC could reach a deal to cut production.



European markets



The pan-European Stoxx 600 ended 0.25 percent higher on Monday after fluctuating for much of the morning session. Sectors were mixed though basic resources outperformed their peers, rising over 2 percent, amid a spike in metal prices. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi defended the bank's actions to date and suggested that the ECB must continue with its current level of monetary support in order to help inflation grow.

Draghi told the European Parliament on Monday, "The return of inflation towards our objective still relies on the continuation of the current, unprecedented level of monetary support, in spite of the gradual closing of the output gap."

Sarkozy bows out

In France, former President Nikolas Sarkozy conceded defeat in the primaries for the 2017 presidential election. The second round to select the candidate for the ring-wing Les Republicains will be disputed next weekend by Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed expectations that she will run for a fourth term in office. Meanwhile, the German economy should slowdown in the last quarter of this year, after a solid performance in the first six months of 2016, the finance ministry said Monday.

Oil trading higher

Oil was trading at a three-week high on Monday as OPEC members seemed closer to a deal to cut output following comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Europe, oil and gas stocks spiked by more than 3 percent. Brent crude was around $48.60 a barrel, up 3.69 percent at the European close, while WTI crude was selling at $47.35 a barrel, up 3.63 percent. Meanwhile in the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average continued higher as investors anticipated what President-elect Donald Trump's economic policies could mean for the markets.

The Nasdaq composite climbed to reach an all-time high in early trading on Monday and was up 0.57 percent at 11.30am ET. The S&P 500 topped its all-time intraday high of 2,193.81 hit on August 15 as energy stocks traded 2 percent higher.

Essentra down 20%

Essentra , the plastic and packaging components supplier, was at the bottom of the European benchmark, dropping more than 20 percent. The company announced it was cutting its full-year adjusted operating profit on the back of restrictions in the Chinese market.

Rio Tinto announced job cuts Monday in its iron ore division due to "tough market" conditions, helping shares to rise by nearly 1 percent at the close.
President-elect Donald Trump's appointments of Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon to comparably senior roles in his administration could create tense battles over the commander in chief's ear when in office, said Josh Bolten, former chief of staff to President George W. Bush.

"It doesn't seem either traditional or workable to me," Bolten said. "I was concerned when I saw that the announcement of Bannon as senior advisor and Priebus as chief of staff suggested that they would be co-equals."

Judging by his own experience, Bolten said the White House can be properly run by one person  in Trump's case, Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

"Only one person can really set the president's calendar, can say who does and doesn't get access, what issues he considers and very importantly, only one person can speak for the president when he's made a decision, and I think that needs to be the chief of staff," Bolten said.

As senior advisor and chief strategist for the White House, a nontraditional role in a presidential administration, Bannon, former president of Breitbart News, could serve as an unnecessary countervailing force, Bolten said.

The relationship is "not workable if Reince Priebus is not fully empowered to be chief of staff and do the job that I believe he's very capable of doing," Bolten said.

Overall, Bolten said Trump's process of choosing his administration was "refreshing" relative to Bush, which Bolten said was much more secretive.

Bolten said Trump's approach of "parading people in the front door and showing a wide diversity of views" should come as a comfort to people, as the president-elect sets aside the most extreme rhetoric from his campaign and considers well-qualified candidates for posts within his administration.

The key is to keep in mind the impression a fresh administration sends, Bolten said.

"If it's all old white men, that's going to undermine confidence in the administration from a lot of places," Bolten said. "Clearly in the way that they're handling the interviews with the potential Cabinet officers now, they are thinking about the impression they're giving."

As former chief of staff, Bolten was known for recruiting banker Hank Paulson to be Bush's secretary of the treasury.



While he does not know Steven Mnuchin, who is said to be in the running for the treasury secretary position in the Trump administration, Bolten said it is critical for the candidate to have experience dealing with Wall Street.

"I think it's good news that they're giving serious consideration to people with real experience in the markets," Bolten said.

"That doesn't mean they're going to give Wall Street banks a pass on regulation or anything else," he said. "It does mean that they know what kind of regulation is appropriate and, most importantly, folks like Paulson and I hope, Mnuchin, know how to handle a crisis."

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Boral concrete truck is seen at the Boral concrete plant in Sydney, Australia.

Shares of Headwaters leaped 17 percent Monday after it agreed to be bought by Australian construction firm Boral for $1.86 billion in cash.

Boral, Australia's biggest supplier of building materials, said Sunday it would offer Headwaters shareholders $24.25 per share, a 20 percent premium to the Utah-based company's Friday's closing price

The combined groups would become the largest U.S. supplier of fly ash, according to Reuters, a key ingredient in concrete. The proposed deal comes as President-elect Donald Trump vows to increase infrastructure spending.

"This agreed transaction is the result of significant evaluation and engagement between our companies," Boral's CEO Mike Kane said in a statement. "The businesses of Headwaters are highly complementary with Boral's existing US operations and the transaction price reflects our belief that there is strong commercial rationale for combining the two portfolios."



The companies said the proposed acquisition was unanimously approved by both boards. The deal is expected to be completed by mid-2017, subject to customary closing conditions.

Headwaters' stock is up more than 39 percent year to date.
Workers on the sealer line in the paint department of the Honda automobile plant in Marysville, Ohio.

Japanese officials want "an uninterrupted and transparent" Brexit process as exporters highlight concerns over their presence in the U.K. and future access to the EU's single market.

In a memo prepared by the Japanese government and business task force, and seen by CNBC, Japan asked British and European officials to ensure "predictability" during the divorce process and thus offset any economic impact for Japanese businesses.

"Uncertainty is a major concern for an economy. We hope that predictability is secured whereby all stakeholders, not just the negotiating parties, have a clear idea of the post-Brexit landscape," the memo said.

"This will be possible if the Brexit negotiations are conducted through an uninterrupted and transparent process, which could include arrangements such as the establishment of a provisional period and, if there need to be institutional changes, the granting of time for the transition and publicizing of such changes," the document read.

Many Japanese firms, from banks to automakers, have established production bases in the UK taking advantage of tariff-free trade with the rest of Europe. According to Nikko Asset Management, 2015 saw a 10-year high for total auto production in the U.K. from Japanese firms  1.58 million cars were produced, of which 57.5 percent were sold in the EU's single market.

"Overall, the feeling in government circles in Japan is one of betrayal, and in the corporate sector one of disbelief," Karel Lannoo, chief executive officer at the Centre for European Policy Studies, told CNBC on Friday.

Lannoo, who spoke with Japanese officials last week, added: "The U.K. was sold as a gateway to the EU, which is now gone. The corporate sector is busily exploring other location possibilities, of which we have read in the media."

Some of the biggest Japanese firms in the U.K. market include: Fujitsu, Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Nissan decided to give the greenlight to new production in the U.K., despite concerns over Brexit, because it could not postpone the decision.

"We had to make a decision on investment now," , chairman and chief executive officer of Renault-Nissan Alliance told CNBC earlier this month, adding that the British government gave "reassurances" that the firms competitiveness would not be undermined.
"In a global marketplace of talent, where cities from Amsterdam to Dubai and Singapore are rising fast, people will go where they feel wanted and safe. Entrepreneurs of all races and creeds will give a second thought to coming to America."

Take Iranian Americans, many whose families traveled here after the Iranian Revolution. One study found they had more than three times the rate of self-employment compared with native-born Americans.

Many of them landed in Silicon Valley. Little noticed by mainstream America, Iranian Americans have founded, funded or been deeply involved in some of the greatest tech success stories of the last generation.

There is, for instance, Pierre Omidyar, the son of Iranian immigrants who first went to Paris and then the United States. Omidyar founded eBay. There's Farhad Mohit, a brilliant serial entrepreneur, who founded Bizrate.com and Shopzilla and is now working on another startup. There are funders, like Ali Partovi, who like his brother is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and VC. Partovi's company, LinkExchange, was acquired by Microsoft in 1998 for $265 million, and he's since gone on to become one of the best-connected angel investors in Silicon Valley, investing in or advising companies including Dropbox, Facebook and Uber, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Then there's Omid Kordestani, the current executive chairman of Twitter, who was Google's 11th employee and its first business executive, responsible for all revenue and partnerships. "Among the many flaws of this idea is the reality of people's beliefs and faiths irrespective of where they are born. For example, I actually went to an Italian Catholic school in Iran. I respect all religions but do not practice any and only believe in science!" Kordestani wrote in an email.

One of the great waves of Iranian immigration happened after the 1978-79 revolution in Iran, when it would have been easy to create an environment of fear and rejection in the United States. If that had happened, would highly educated Iranians have come here? In such numbers? Would they have been able to form the kind of community that has helped create one of America's biggest assets, its high-tech industry?

Inherent flaws and a waste of energy

Officials in the new administration, tasked with moving fast to put some of Mr. Trump's promises into action, may argue that the new database is just a re-instatement. It was damaging before, and didn't work. In the current environment, it is likely to do much more damage, because it will be seen even as an expression of bigotry.

The energy and focus wasted on labeling people by irrelevant factors, like geography, aren't being spent on what matters, like recognizing the patterns of action that show the intent to harm others. The Department of Homeland Security recommended scrapping the previous iteration of this database, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. It said one of the reasons was that "information from flight manifests, travel and ID documents and intelligence was more valuable to determine who poses a potential national security risk."

The impact of a registry

In the business community, there may be no hue and cry over a registry. Most business people have little taste for controversy. But in a global marketplace of talent, where cities from Amsterdam to Dubai and Singapore are rising fast, people will go where they feel wanted and safe. Entrepreneurs, or budding entrepreneurs, of all races and creeds will give a second thought to coming to America.

How could they, in good conscience, recruit top Muslim employees from the rest of the world to relocate here? Those conversations will likely go on in the corporate sector, too. American companies with plenty of money may invest in U.S. manufacturing plants. Meanwhile, they'll build their research labs and partnerships elsewhere, in the cities and countries where the best employees want to live.

The struggle for identity

Research suggests that anti-immigrant backlashes are driven by an identity crisis. Security in this case is the convenient vessel containing the debate, but the heart of the question is a struggle about what kind of country America is.

I'm the descendent of, among many others, an Irish coal miner who landed in Pennsylvania, a German immigrant who built a bustling retail empire in Baltimore, and a British farmer who took up arms as an aide to George Washington.

On Nov. 9, a friend of mine from the Arab world sent me a sad note: "Liberty's lamp went out," it said, and I felt overwhelming grief for the stain on a part of America's identity that I particularly cherished. "It's only dimmed," I said.

Not everyone will feel as I do, and we can argue over what America's identity is or ought to be, a secure home for its citizens or a generous nation where anyone can come and prove himself, or herself. I hope it can be both.

But we should recognize the cost if we overstep in the name of security. What some people may label reasonable measures could bar or dissuade the next generation of entrepreneurs and dreamers from coming to America. History tells us they could as easily be from Iran, or Egypt or the UAE, just as much as from Ireland, Germany or Great Britain.

Immigrant entrepreneurs from everywhere have helped make America great through its whole history  and will again, if we don't keep them out.

Commentary by Elizabeth MacBride, a freelance writer and editor who writes about entrepreneurs and the Middle East. Follow her on Twitter @editoremacb.


Members of the New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Bureau stand watch outside U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's Trump Tower ahead of the U.S. presidential election in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 7, 2016.

New York City is spending big on protecting President-elect Donald Trump and his family, and those costs may top $1 million each day, according to a new report.

CNN reported that figure on Monday, citing three city officials. The high tally is in part explained by the next U.S. president living "in the most densely-populated neighborhood of the nation's biggest city," the report said.

New York City police may assist the Secret Service in protecting Trump, his wife, his children and his grandchildren in the city.

Representatives for the New York City Police Department did not immediately return requests for comment on how much it costs to safeguard the Trump family, and a spokeswoman for City Hall deferred to the NYPD.

For more on New York City's expenses to protect Trump, see CNN's report.
Dallas investor Ray Washburne arrives at the Trump Tower for meetings with US President-elect Donald Trump, in New York on November 17, 2016.

Dallas investor Ray Washburne is being considered for the position of secretary of interior, multiple sources on Donald Trump's transition team told CNBC.



Washburne's company, Charter Holdings, is involved in energy, private equity, finance, restaurants and real estate investments.

Washburne is a familiar face to the incoming Trump administration. He was vice chairman of the 2016 Trump Victory Committee and is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. He is currently chairing the transition commerce team.

Washburne is also related by marriage to the Hunt family. His wife, Heather, is the great-granddaughter of H.L. Hunt.
Oil's bounce on Monday was thanks to OPEC members and Russia saying they will cooperate to reach an agreement this month, RBC's Helima Croft said Monday.



Reaching its highest prices since Nov. 2, Brent crude oil futures were up 89 cents at $47.75 a barrel Monday morning. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 82 cents at $46.51 a barrel.

"The tea leaves look like they're lining up now for some type of agreement come November 30," said Croft, RBC Capital Markets managing director and global head of commodity strategy.

Major skepticism following a deal OPEC struck in September to cut production is now being countered by member countries saying they don't want to be the obstacles to reaching an agreement, Croft told CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange."

One variable to keep in mind is President-elect Donald Trump, whose stance on drilling for oil within the United States could prove bearish for oil supply, the strategist said.

On the other hand, "Iran could be a big issue under Donald Trump['s administration]. If they reinstate sanctions, that would obviously be quite bullish for oil," Croft said.

Infrastructure spending is a cornerstone of the Trump administration's plans, which Croft said could mean more fracking on U.S. soil and an expansion of measures like the Keystone pipeline.

The Dakota Access pipeline has been the site of recent protests, which on Sunday night escalated to more violent clashes after several hundred protesters tried to breach a barrier set up by authorities.

"I don't think those protesters are going to get much comfort in a Trump administration," Croft said.

Croft said Trump's plans could translate into deregulation across much of the oil industry, painting a bleak picture for climate change supporters as well.

"I think ... you could see the U.S. pulling back on renewable fuel standards, pulling back on CAFE standards," she said, referring to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards set to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil.

"I think that could actually be supportive for oil demand. But ... I don't think climate change is going to be a big issue for this administration," Croft said.




Railroad tanker cars sit parked on the grounds of the Sunoco Logistics Marcus Hook Industrial Complex ethane terminal in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Shares of Sunoco Logistics and Energy Transfer Partners fell following news of a proposed merger between the two companies.

Sunoco shares ended the day more than 3 percent lower while shares of Energy Transfer Partners declined 7 percent.

Sunoco Logistics said it agreed to acquire Energy Transfer Partners in a deal valued at $19.93 billion on Monday.



"Pipelines are going to be winners under Trump," Jim Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "Energy Transfer's been trying to build that national network of natural gas. This is a very important deal and it's out of nowhere, and this group is finally going to break out."



Jay Hatfield, portfolio manager of Infracap's MLP ETF, said the uncertainty surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline may be a factor, as well as Sunoco's company size relative to Energy Transfer.

"We believe that the initial negative stock price reaction for SXL/ETP is driven by the fact that SXL, the acquirer, is a much smaller company than ETP and the merger will result in a net implicit reduction in dividend yield for ETP holders," Hatfield said.

The two companies did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the stock move.
-Assistance to those who remain in Syria (AGBU)

-Assistance to those who are seeking temporary asylum outside Syria (Mission Armenia)

-Assistance to those who decided to relocate to Armenia (Aleppo)

-Assistance in employment and integration issues in Armenia (Repat Armenia)

Ani Balkhyan - founding chairman of the Aleppo organization  which is engaged in relocating Syrian-Armenians to Armenia  said that day by day the number of requests of relocation to Armenia increases, which are realized with resources provided by the IDeA foundation.

Within the framework of the Syrian-Armenian Relief initiative, Syrian-Armenians also get assistance in Armenia on spot. Particularly, Mission Armenia covers their accommodation fees by resources provided by IDeA foundation.

Soon Mission Armenia and Repat Armenia will organize a meeting with those who arrived in Armenia within the framework of Syrian-Armenian Relief, in order to evaluate their needs and outline further steps.

IDeA has provided resources to its strategic partner AGBU, which will be used to provide additional benefits to Armenians who remain in Aleppo during the three winter months.

Thanks to the Syrian Armenian Relief initiative, the number of beneficiary families of Aleppo will increase by 390.

Various organizations and individuals have joined IDeAs call on assisting Syrian-Armenians, and their total donations comprise 10 million AMD.

Many have expressed willingness to contribute their possibilities and experience for supporting Syrian Armenians, and IDeA functions as a unique platform of cooperation. We are grateful to all of those who have joined the call to assist Syrian Armenians. Their participation and willingness to help is extremely important for us, IDeA executive director Edgar Manukyan said.
The documents appear to detail Kobach's strategic plan for the Department of Homeland Security for the first year of the Trump administration, which include reducing the "intake of Syrian refugees to zero" and "extreme vetting questions for high-risk" individuals.

Kris Kobach, Kansas' secretary of state, accidentally divulged his immigration plans while posing for a photo opp with President-elect Donald Trump .

NBC News previously reported that Kobach, a champion of hardline immigration policies, had been hired for Trump's transition team. He helped design a law in Arizona that required state and local officials to check the immigration status of individuals stopped by the police.

Last week, Reuters reported that Kobach said the immigration policy group could recommend the reinstatement of a national registry of immigrants and visitors who enter the United States on visas from countries where extremist organizations are active.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

The "Emoluments Clause," which effectively bars federal officials from doing business with or taking gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval, has come to the forefront due to Trump's sprawling business interests around the globe. A former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush told ThinkProgress that Trump has already shown some behaviors that could test the rule.

The former Bush official, Richard Painter, focused in particular on a Washington Post report about foreign diplomats flocking to Trump's new Washington hotel. One unnamed Asian diplomat quoted in the story asked, "Why wouldn't I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, 'I love your new hotel!'"

Painter told ThinkProgress that this could constitute a gift. Trump could avoid such conflicts in office by selling the hotel or handing it over to his children by the time he is inaugurated, he told the outlet.

Trump's transition team has touted its efforts to cut the influence of lobbyists and ban gifts.

However, Trump's planned transfer of his businesses to his three eldest children raises other conflicts. They serve on his transition team, and his daughter Ivanka sat in on his recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In a Tuesday interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested the president could not have a conflict of interest because the law exempts the office from such concerns. That claim largely checks out, but there are still some questions about Trump and the spirit of the Emoluments Clause.
watch now

Opening more federal lands and waters to oil and gas drilling is a pillar of President-elect Donald Trump's plan to make the United States energy independent, but he probably won't see the results while he's in office. In many cases, oil and gas would not start flowing from government-administered territory until after Trump wrapped up his time in office  even if he were to win a second term. Trump has vowed to streamline permits to drill on federal land  a process that already started under President Barack Obama  but challenges would prevent quick and significant production from government land. Those include the years-long process of starting offshore projects, local and state opposition to drilling, and uncertainty over the path of currently depressed oil prices. Market forces have far more influence on overall drilling activity than government policy, so it's questionable to draw a direct link between a president's views and output on nonfederal lands. For example, oil and gas production surged by 4 million barrels a day during Obama's first seven years in office, even though many oilmen consider him no friend to the industry. But the White House can attempt to boost activity on government land, and there are three areas where oil and gas production is prohibited or limited: the waters of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and parts of the Lower 48 states. Most oil production on federal territory comes from offshore drilling in the central and western Gulf of Mexico. There are smaller reserves of oil and gas off the East and West coasts and in the Arctic waters north of Alaska.



Drilling in much of these waters was prohibited until 2008, when Congress let its 26-year ban expire and President George W. Bush ended an executive branch's block first imposed by his father, George H.W. Bush. Developing large offshore fields takes a minimum of seven years and can take more than a decade, according to Imran Khan, senior manager of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico team at research firm Wood Mackenzie. The industry would also need to build offshore processing facilities, which cost at least $1.5 billion in areas where that infrastructure does not already exist. Building that infrastructure would generate significant economic activity and jobs, but there is little will to invest that kind of money right now. Even in the Gulf of Mexico, where infrastructure is plentiful, there is not much new exploratory drilling because oil prices are too low to justify the spending. Companies are instead conserving cash as they ride out an oil price bust entering its third year. Those firms likely want to see prices not only rise to $55 a barrel, but stay above that level for 12 to 18 months before they approve more spending on deepwater exploration, Khan said. The U.S. Energy Information Administration sees benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude averaging $57 a barrel in 2018. "At the end of the day, oil price is really what dictates the strategy and the planning in the boardrooms," he said. U.S. Outer Continental Shelf





Companies could certainly buy new offshore leases and sit on them until prices recover, but preparing new blocks for auction would itself take years. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management offers leases in federal offshore waters as part of five-year plans. On Friday, the BOEM released its 2017 to 2022 schedule, which included 10 blocks in the Gulf of Mexico and one in Alaska's Cook Inlet, but none in Pacific, Atlantic or Arctic waters. The Trump administration could revise the plan, but the bureau would have to develop a new five-year plan, which typically takes two to three years, according to Connie Gillette, the agency's deputy chief of public affairs. It's also uncertain whether oil and gas companies would bite. Blocks recently offered in the undeveloped eastern Gulf of Mexico did not attract any bids, and oil majors have pulled out of Alaska's Chukchi Sea because the risks outweigh the opportunity, especially in today's price environment. If history is any guide, efforts to open blocks in the Atlantic and Pacific could get wrapped up in challenges from states and municipalities that don't want drilling off their shores. The federal government spent $1.5 billion to compensate drillers whose offshore leases were canceled due to local and state opposition in California, North Carolina, Florida and Alaska, according to a 2012 Congressional Budget Office review. The CBO said there are two dozen localities in California alone that have put up barriers to building the onshore facilities necessary to bring offshore oil and gas to market. "Off the Santa Barbara coast is a good example of where we are not going to allow drilling," Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Friday.



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Localities are not the only source of opposition. Offshore drilling in the South Atlantic drew challenges earlier this year from the Pentagon, which said it would interfere with military maneuvers and missile testing. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska's remote northeast is another area that has seen fierce opposition to drilling. Congressional Republicans have sought to allow oil and gas development there, and they could try again during Trump's presidency. Bringing new projects online in Alaska's remote North Slope takes roughly five to seven years because conditions prevent development there throughout much of the year. Drillers also face high operational costs and declining state financial incentives in the Last Frontier. It is less technically challenging to ramp up production on federal lands in the Lower 48. However, about 80 percent of the resources under federal land were leased or eligible for leasing, when the CBO released its 2012 study. Another 5 percent is beneath national parks and wildlife areas where drilling bans are written into statutes. That leaves just 15 percent of onshore land that is either subject to executive branch prohibitions or onerous stipulations that make drilling there uneconomic. The oil and gas industry is less concerned with opening new Lower 48 acreage than with making it easier to move forward with drilling in areas already approved for lease, said Kathleen Sgamma, vice president of government and public affairs at the industry group Western Energy Alliance. "We just see a lack of political will from the top down that makes it so difficult to operate," she told CNBC. Average Application for Permit to Drill Approval Time Frames




Deutsche Bank strategist David Bianco told investors the market will rally over the next two years on optimism about President-elect Donald Trump's economic agenda. "We think the market is under appreciating the likely big boost to S & P EPS from a lower corporate tax rate and the boost to bank profits from rising yields (and lower pension expense) and the much higher chance now of a long-lasting economic expansion that rivals the 10-year U.S. record," Bianco wrote in a note to clients Friday. "We're more confident now that the S & P will reach 2,500 in 2018 before suffering its next bear market." He reiterated his 2016 year-end target for the S & P 500 of 2,200 and his 2017 year-end target of 2,350. He also expects the index will reach 2,250 by Inauguration Day, representing 3 percent upside from Friday's close. Bianco cited how every 5 percentage point reduction in the corporate tax rate will boost S & P 500 earnings per share by $5. He expects the current 35 percent corporate tax rate will be cut to about 25 percent. As a result he raised his 2017 S & P 500 earnings-per-share estimate to $130. "We stress our over-weights on big banks and health care and see upside at tech, [consumer discretionary] and utilities, but find valuations too demanding at energy, most industrials & materials. Staples have FX risk," he wrote. Bianco recommended utilities stocks for those looking for a "reliable real yield asset" to take the place of bonds. The sector will benefit from Trump's corporate tax cuts as nearly 100 percent of its profits are domestic and there is no currency risk, the strategist said. In addition, utilities are likely to get some of the infrastructure spending promised by Trump's camp, according to Bianco. And as a bond proxy, the sector won't lose its income-oriented demand from retirees and pensions, he added. For investors who want to take advantage of the firm's recommendation to add more utilities equity exposure, the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund tracks the performance of the S & P Utilities Select Sector Index.

Donald Trump Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat-to-higher open on Monday, ahead of a four-day Thanksgiving trading week, as traders digested rising oil prices and comments from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer.

Fischer said in a speech that fiscal adjustments could support years of accommodative monetary policy. "Certain fiscal policies, particularly those that increase productivity, can increase the potential of the economy and help confront some of our longer-term economic challenges," he said.

On the earnings front, Tyson Foods , Canadian Solar , Cheetah Mobile and Intl Game Technology all posted quarterly results. Palo Alto Networks and Vipshop are both due to report after the bell.

There are no significant data releases concerning the U.S. due on Monday.
James Mattis, the retired Marine general who is under consideration to be Donald Trump's secretary of defense, is beloved among military types for publicly proclaiming the things many of them whisper in private.

In 2005, for example, he was speaking at a panel discussion in San Diego, when he described how enjoyable it can be to kill the enemy in war.



"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot," Mattis said, prompting laughter from some military members in the audience. "It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling."



More from NBC News:

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He continued, "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

That is the kind of rhetoric befitting a military leader with the nickname, "Mad Dog." But Mattis, who retired in 2013 and joined a conservative think tank, is more cerebral than his nickname -- which he dislikes - would suggest. He is also known as a "warrior monk," who has devoted his life to the military (he is unmarried) and has thought deeply about military strategy. Now 66, the Pacific Northwest native graduated what was then Central Washington State College in 1972. He became famous for leading the 1st Marine Division's lightning fast movement into Baghdad during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.



That is one reason his possible selection has drawn praise from multiple quarters, including Democrats, traditional Republicans and Trump loyalists.



"General Mattis is a storied and much respected military thinker," Michele Flournoy, who by all accounts would have led the Pentagon had Hillary Clinton become president, told NPR Monday. "He would be an outstanding candidate."



Like Rep. Mike Pompeo -- Trump's pick to be CIA director -- Mattis is known as a hardliner on Iran. Before he retired he was commander of U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East, and he alienated the Obama White House with a confrontational approach to Iran, current and former U.S. officials have said.

Shortly after he left, he criticized the administration over what officials charged was a plot by Iran to assassinate the Saudi ambassador at a Washington, D.C. restaurant. Mattis said the plot was orchestrated "at the highest levels" of the Iranian government, and he criticized the fact that the U.S. treated it as a law enforcement matter.



"I don't know why [it] wasn't dealt with more strongly," he said.



Mattis, whose gravelly voice and steely eloquence is right out of central casting, has become known for a series of frank quotes that underscore the brutal nature of war. At least one has ended up on a not-safe-for-work t-shirt.



According to a compilation published by the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mattis once said he believed the U.S. should "Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact."



In 2003, according to the book "Fiasco," an account of the Iraq War by journalist Tom Ricks, Mattis told a group of Iraqi commanders: "The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot."



But Mattis is also famous for telling his Marines: "The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears."



Another famous Mattis story is the time he worked on Christmas in 1998.



Charles Krulak, who was the Marine Commandant at the time, told Stars and Stripes newspaper that when he arrived to deliver holiday cookies to a Marine command at Quantico, Virginia, he was told that the duty officer was Mattis, then a brigadier general.



"So I said to him, 'Jim, what are you standing the duty for?' " Krulak told the military newspaper. "And he said, 'Sir, I looked at the duty roster for today and there was a young major who had it who is married and had a family; and so I'm a bachelor, I thought why should the major miss out on the fun of having Christmas with his family, and so I took the duty for him.' "






I can use guard clauses to prevent duplicate ranking values if there is a need for them to be unique.



modified 22-Nov-16 17:22pm.



Dictionary<int, string> [^] type. This type will hold the weight assigned to vacation, as well as the name of it in string. Then you can easily sort them using their key.



You need to store both of values (name + weight given) to the dictionary, no additional type generation is required as the dictionary object is a generic type.



This[^] link has a wonderful example of what you are trying to achieve.

The sh*t I complain about

It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem

~! Firewall !~





If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.



--Winston Churchill





The sh*t I complain about

It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem

~! Firewall !~







modified 22-Nov-16 11:33am.



Quote: if I do not want the duplicate keys. Of course that will be suitable in this case.

The sh*t I complain about

It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem

~! Firewall !~



C# List<Tuple<int, string>> holidays = new List<Tuple<int, string>>(); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 5 , " Veteran's Day" ) ); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 3 , " July Fourth" ) ); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 1 , " Christmas" ) ); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 2 , " New Year" ) ); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 6 , " Valentine's Day" ) ); holidays.Add( new Tuple<int, string>( 4 , " Thanksgiving" ) ); holidays .OrderBy( h => h.Item1 ) .ToList() .ForEach( h => Console.WriteLine( " Holiday: {0}" , h.Item2 ) );



This algorithms are text based.Do not tell me convert image to base64 because suppose that an image 10 mb convert base64 than output is 15 mb so image represent 15 mb ,algortihms compress then compresed file is 12 mb this is reverse compression.I want better compressionCould you help me ?





Huffman and RLE are text based - they only work at all well with data in which there there are "commonly used" characters and "uncommonly used" characters, or "runs" of identical data - binary data such as an image does not generally exhibit this, except in unusual circumstances.

When you add in that PNG and CR2 files are already compressed using a lossless method, and you will find that basic (or even advanced) compression techniques do not work well in gaining further size reduction anyway.

Bitmaps compress well using normal compression for binary data such as ZIP, but PNG and CR2 don't.

None of them will give significant results with Huffman or RLE compression.

Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...







Stop looking at the image itself and start looking at the data in the file if you want to look at how you're going to compress what has already been compressed.



In a compressed image, there are no "run lengths". They've already been compressed, so RLE isn't going to do anything at all. Also, Huffman, or some derivative of it, has probably already been used on the image so that's not going to get you anywhere either.



The algorithms you've chosen will only work on uncompressed formats, like .BMP.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject



Click this:

Seriously, do it.



Dave Kreskowiak Click this: Asking questions is a skill Seriously, do it.





This space for rent





This space for rent





Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...





Bitmap is not compressed.Bitmaps can be compress with huffman but how why dont u understand me ?





This space for rent



OriginalGriff wrote: "runs" of identical data - binary data such as an image does not generally exhibit this, except in unusual circumstances. Draw a bitmap in paint, 300x300 pixels. Make all pixels black.



The problem is that someone is trying to compress data that is already compressed.



If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] Bastard Programmer from Hell


On November 21, the RA NA Deputy Speaker, the Head of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Member of PACE European Conservatives Group Hermine Naghdalyan and the Member of the Delegation and PACE European Conservatives Group Naira Zohrabyan met with the Head of the European Conservatives Group Ian Liddell-Grainger, the NA informed.

November 21, 2016, 17:09 Liddell-Grainger: OSCE Minsk Group shall have all conditions for the fulfillment of its activities

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: Welcoming the guests visit to Armenia, Hermine Naghdalyan has noted that the European Conservatives Party is an important partner for Armenia, adding that since Mr Liddell-Graingers tenure in PACE the cooperation with the Conservatives Group in PACE has become more effective and inclusive. In this context Mrs Naghdalyan expressed her gratitude to Ian Liddell-Grainger and the members of the Group for the support during the voting of the reports Escalation of Violence in Nagorno Karabakh and the Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan by Robert Walter and on Sarsang Reservoir by Milica Markovic.

The Head of the Delegation presented in detail the reforms being underway in our country, touched upon the Constitutional reforms and the processes of legislation harmonization conditioned by it. She has underlined that the Constitutional reforms have been implemented with the close cooperation of the Venice Commission, as a result of which, almost all disputable items have been debated and solved.

We show distinct political will in order to hold parliamentary legal elections enjoying the public trust in 2017, Mrs Naghdalyan underscored.

In the course of the meeting the possibility of passing from Armenias monitoring procedure into post-monitoring procedure was discussed. The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that Armenia has registered serious progress in the process of the obligations assumed before the CoE.

Hermine Naghdalyan also talked about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, noting that every conflict has its peculiarities, motivations and the settlement procedure. She has added that for our country the only internationally recognized format is the OSCE Minsk Group being involved in the NK conflict peaceful settlement and the efforts of moving to other platforms of the conflict settlement may result in unpredictable consequences.

Naira Zohrabyan also referred to the electoral processes, highlighting the authorties political will in holding fair elections.

The Head of PACE European Conservatives Group has expressed his satisfaction with the reforms being consistently continued in Armenia, and stressed that the OSCE Minsk Group is the only body with mandate for the settlement of the conflict and should have all the conditions for the fulfillment of its work. The Conservatives also will carry on assisting the conflict settlement process within the Minsk Group framework within their possibilities.

During the meeting other issues were also discussed.
Stacks Bowers Galleries paper money auction in Baltimore showed that when a rare item is offered, its grade need not be a compelling factor, and even notes with repairs  like this Series 1934 $5,000 Federal Reserve note  and other problems can bring strong prices.

United States paper money activity last month revolved around a pair of trade shows. The first was the Nov. 3 to 6 Whitman Expo in Baltimore. The event is one of the rare times in the course of the year that the nations leading paper money dealers convene twice in the same month  close to two dozen of them descended on Baltimores Inner Harbor, and from Nov. 17 to 19, 50 staffed tables at the 31st annual National and World Paper Money Convention of the Professional Currency Dealers Association in Rosemont, Ill.

Between its Nov. 3 floor session in Baltimore and an Internet-only live sale on Nov. 9, Stacks Bowers Galleries pushed 786 lots across the block. Seeing what met its reserve price and what did not can be as good an indicator of the state of the market as anything. Of the total, 706 lots, or 90 percent, met their reserve. Included among the notes that sold were every large-size note and all but one or two small-size notes. Obsolete notes suffered by comparison, with 40 of about 220 lots failing to sell.

The auction showed that when a rare item is offered, its grade need not be a compelling factor.

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Three of the top prices went to two small-size and one large-size high-denomination notes. At $64,625, including the 17.5 percent buyers fee, was a Chicago district Series 1934 $5,000 Federal Reserve note (Friedberg 2221-G) in Paper Money Guaranty Extremely Fine 40 Net Repaired. It is remarkable, that with a printing of 6,600 notes, the Chicago notes have the third largest print run among the 11 Federal Reserve districts that issued this series. It is also provides a lesson in why the notes printed number is far less important than the current census: Only 230 notes are known for the denomination against a total print run of 70,084. Next, at a relatively bargain-priced $21,150, was a PCGS Currency Gem New 65 Premium Paper Quality Series 1934 $1,000 Federal Reserve note from Dallas. The catalog said this F-2211-K note was the finest known, with only one other in a comparable grade.

The relative scarcity of large-size high-denomination notes is illustrated by the $21,737.50 realized by a pedestrian-looking, but with nine known, extremely scarce Series 1918 $1,000 Federal Reserve note from Atlanta (F-1133-F). PCGS Currency assigned it a grade of Very Fine 25 Apparent, Restorations. Atlanta is one of the more difficult districts for high-denomination notes and there are not many graded better.

Despite their imperfections as described by PCGS Currency, the five great Confederate rarities sold for a combined $98,700. The four 1861 Montgomery issues went as follows: $1,000 VF-30 Apparent, Repaired $19,975; $500 VF-30 Apparent, Restored and Redrawn $25,850; $100 VF-35 Apparent, Repaired $14,100; and $50 About New 50 Apparent, Repaired $17,625. The 1861 Indian Princess $5 note rounded out the group at $21,150 in VF-25 Apparent, Restorations.

The stellar national bank note was a new discovery out of the First National Bank of Vero (Florida). The Series 1902 Plain Back $5 note (F-606) is just the fourth one ever reported from a bank that existed only from 1918 to 1923. PMG described it as grading Very Fine 30 Net. Stained, Rust. It sold for $22,325, at the top end of its $15,000 to $25,000 estimate.

The outstanding large-size type note, selling for $14,100, was a PCGS Currency Gem New 66 Premium Paper Quality F-247 Series 1896 $2 silver certificate (from the Educational Note series).

Want to know what your U.S. paper money is worth? Find out at Coin World's Paper Money Values.
The shading was adjusted on the portrait of the notes to eliminate the Devils Face. This version of the portrait was used into the early 1970s on Canadas paper money.

In the early spring of 1956, people began seeing a devils face in the queens hair on the recently released notes depicting the young Queen Elizabeth II.

Eagle or jackass? The eagle, shown here displayed inverted, seemingly becomes the head of a jackass when the image is inverted on the $10 United States notes.

This Series 1869 $10 United States note in Paper Money Guaranty Choice Uncirculated 63 realized $4,465 in a September 2016 auction by Heritage. The Jackass notes are popular with collectors and the long period of time they were issued offers many buying choices.

It is very human to see things that are not there. Thats why we see fantastic animals in the shapes of clouds, and its why we see things on notes that really arent there. Some view the small eagle at the bottom of this note as the head of a jackass when inverted.

It is very human to see things that are not there. Thats why we see fantastic animals in the shapes of clouds or imagine a persons face in the rocks on Earths moon or in a rock formation on our own planet.

The formal name for this tendency is pareidolia, described by experts as a psychological phenomenon involving a stimulus (for example, the features of the lunar landscape) wherein the mind perceives a familiar pattern of something where none actually exists.

Patterns of shadow and light, and various shapes, however random, can trigger the part of our visual system that is specialized for facial recognition, researchers believe. The man seen in the face of the moon and the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire (before it collapsed) and religious figures discerned on toast or walls  these are all the result of pareidolia.

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Its also why we turn an American eagle into a jackass and Queen Elizabeth IIs hair into a devils face on paper money of the United States and Canada.

The Jackass note

Several series of $10 United States notes issued during the last half of the 19th century bear the unflattering nickname Jackass note. Thats not because the notes bear a portrait of Sen. Daniel Webster, although Sen. Robert Y. Hayne and other Southerners may have considered Webster something of an ass as he and Hayne debated in 1830 whether states had the power to nullify federal laws.

The note gains its nickname from a small vignette of an American eagle that when inverted, resembles the head of a jackass, at least in the eyes of some. Like seeing the man in the moon, people viewing the $10 United States note in an inverted position saw something that was not intended.

The face of this note bears three vignettes.

Websters portrait appears to the left. Engraver Alfred Sealey engraved the Webster portrait with its unflinching stare.

To the right is a vignette titled Introduction of the Old World to the New World or alternatively, Pocahontas Presented at Court. The image depicts an American Indian woman being presented before a group of Europeans. The original artist is believed to have been T.A. Liebler and the engraver, W.W. Rice, according to paper money specialist Gene Hessler.

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It is the center vignette at the bottom that causes all the trouble. Henry Gugler engraved a small eagle with upraised wings and head turned back so that the bird is looking over its shoulder. It rests on a shield, whose upper portion, bearing stars, is visible. The eagle holds a ribbon bearing E PLURIBUS UNUM in its beak and the traditional bundle of arrows and branch of peace in its talons. The image is small, barely a third the width of the word WASHINGTON, which appears directly above. All in all, a typical rendering of this American icon.

Until the note is inverted.

When one turns the note upside down, the eagle transforms from an avian to a mammal; specifically, into the head of a donkey, or a jackass. The eagles white head and neck become the donkeys snout and its right eye, the jackass nostril. The birds breast becomes the donkeys forehead with its tail feathers becoming the jackass right ear. The wings become the donkeys neck and shoulders.

The vignettes small size plays a major role in the transformation from eagle to jackass. The human eye resolves the dark and light elements of the bird into something else. However, increase the magnification or size of the vignette and the illusion falls away. The snout becomes a head and neck again, the jackass neck a pair of wings and its ear, an eagles tail.

The face design was used on five different series  1869, 1875, 1875A, 1878 and 1880  issued from just after the Civil War into the first months of the new century before it was replaced with a Series 1901 note bearing a new design. The Bureau printed nearly 55 million of the notes over the decades.

Collectors might wonder, was this deliberate? Did engraver Gugler purposely create an eagle that looked like a jackass when inverted? According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the government agency that printed the notes for decades, no.

The resemblance of the eagle, in inverted position, to the lowly donkeys head is purely illusionary. Thats what a BEP souvenir card issued in 1969 at the American Numismatic Association convention in Philadelphia states. It bears three images of the Jackass Eagle: a large one in the center to show the detail and two smaller ones, one in its normal position and a second that is inverted to show the illusion. It was the first BEP souvenir card issued in conjunction with a numismatic convention. The BEP sold 12,347 of the cards.

The Jackass notes are popular with collectors and high quality examples can sell for several thousands of dollars depending on series and condition.

The so-called Jackass note and the story behind its wonderful little eagle vignette is just one of many that make paper money collecting as much fun as it is.

But the United States is not the only North American nation to create an unintended impression on the human eye and mind with a paper money vignette.

Canadas Devils Face notes

When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI, British Commonwealth nations began the process of changing the designs on their coins and paper money. By tradition, at least then, Commonwealth nations always depicting the reigning monarch on their currencies.

As Gene Hessler reported in the March 25, 2002, issue of Coin World, American Bank Note Co. engraver William Ford engraved the original portrait for the note. However, it was rejected and Canadian George Gunderson, who had considerable stature as an engraver, was asked to prepare the portrait that was used.

Elizabeth had been depicted on Canadian notes years earlier, but when she was a child. The Series 1935 $20 note depicts the 10- or 11-year-old princess, with other denominations depicting different members of the royal family.

Gunderson, of the British American Bank Note Company, used as a model a photograph of Princess Elizabeth taken in 1951 by Yousuf Karsh, one of Canadas leading portrait photographers (probably most famous for his portrait of a scowling Winston Churchill). In the photo, the 25-year-old Elizabeth wears a tiara, with curls of her hair arranged along the left side of her face.

As the firm Canadian Coin & Currency explains at its website, When one of these [Karshs] images was selected for the upcoming series of bank notes, the removal of this tiara was required. Rather than going to the difficulty of having the Queen sit for another photograph, the image was instead sent to Brigdens Limited (formerly known as the Toronto Engraving Company), a premier engraving and graphic arts firm located in Toronto. The skilled artists at Brigdens retouched the original negative (Negative # 521976), which required the illustration of the Queens hair where the tiara once sat. It is important to note, however, that minimal retouching was required in the curls around Her Majestys left ear.

According to Canadian Coin & Currency, In looking at the original Karsh photograph, the highlights in Queen Elizabeths hair are the same as those that appear in the engraving, and could ultimately be interpreted as a devil face by some. Gundersons accurate engraving of the photo thus captured the highlights of dark and light that would eventually misinterpreted.

In 1954, the first Canadian notes with her new portrait by Gunderson entered circulation. The unwelcome attention, however, took some time to occur.

In the early spring of 1956, people began seeing a devils face in the queens hair. An unfortunate pattern of light and dark lines in the engraving morphed (at least in peoples minds) into a demonic face.

Canadian Coin & Currency cites an article appearing in the March 27, 1956, issue of the Toronto Daily Star, which reported that people had begun noticing a Devils Face, leering from the Queens curls, with the matter reported to officials. It is likely that once news of the face appeared, people began paying closer attention to the notes and more began seeing the demonic visage.

As in the United States, the appearance of a face in Elizabeths hair was entirely accidental and another example of people discerning order where none was intended.

Nevertheless, Hessler wrote, that portion of the hair on the plate was re-engraved, and notes with a second portrait type were issued. The number of notes that entered circulation is about the same for both types.

Yves Baril of the Canadian Bank Note Company modified the engraving and new notes were soon printed and released.

The Devils Face portrait was used on all seven denominations of Bank of Canada notes from $1 to $1,000. Lower denomination notes remain quite affordable today, with Uncirculated $1 issues priced at less than $200, and circulated notes priced at even less.

These United States and Canadian notes are not the only paper money with images that, when viewed with particular attention, can be misinterpreted. Some 1922 German Reichsbanknotes depict a portrait of a solider have shadings of dark and light that can transform into a vampire feeding from the soldiers neck. The image was seen by some as the French feeding on the blood of German citizens in the harsh economic climate that followed the end of World War I.

Collectors seeking something different may find a small collection of all of these notes fun to build.
The 29th issue of the Society of Medalists, by Richard Recchia, from 1944 is an attractive example of streamlined Art Deco.

The following is the second in a multi-part series from our Dec. 5, 2016, issue of Coin World about collecting medals:

As we explained last week, medals can be a?daunting area to collect but taking the right approach can result in a very rewarding collection.

In this month's Coin World cover feature, we're outlining four ways that one can organize a collection of medals. From building a set, to collecting the work of a single artist; from collecting medals depicting a person to those celebrating an event  breaking down a large field like medallic art into segments provides a manageable entry point into the wide field of medal collecting.

Let's attack the first way to go about collecting medals.

Approach #1: Build a Set

Collectors love assembling sets because sets provide order and a built-in method of organizing a collection. The issues of the Society of Medalists allow collectors to complete an accessible set while building a small museum of the leading sculptors and artistic movements of the 20th century.

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The Society of Medalists was formed in 1930 to encourage sculptors and to disseminate their work to the public. Between 1930 and 1995 the group issued medals twice a year, along with special issues marking the groups anniversaries. The group had its genesis in the Circle of Friends of the Medallion, which was active between 1908 and 1915, and Medallic Art Company struck the medals for both groups.

The selected artists were allowed to choose the subject matter and style of their medals, and as a result, the series includes a diverse range of subjects in a variety of styles. The series began on a tame note in 1930 with Laura Gardin Frasers bronze medal depicting a hunter and his dog on the obverse, with a ruffled grouse on the reverse.

The second medal of 1930, Dionysus by famed sculptor Paul Manship, is considered one of the masterpieces in the series.

Manships medal is a classic representation of the artists distinctive Art Deco style that favored mythology, as is also exemplified by his iconic 1934 sculpture of Prometheus that dominates Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Manships Dionysus medal depicts a bearded, grape-crowned Dionysus  the Greek god of wine and festivities  on the obverse with two satyrs stomping grapes on the reverse. Of the satyrs, the artist explained, Their stupid faces, pointed ears, goat legs, and tails, betray the dominance of animal instincts which their master Dionysus exemplifies.

The medal was issued during the Prohibition era when the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverage was banned.

Set within this framework, a medal celebrating wine is provocative, and it inspired some public controversy. The artist added, The medal is not conventional, it is subtly humorous and is symbolic of a present-day attitude toward certain restraints of the times. Thus it is commemorative of an era.

As David T. Alexander writes in his 2010 book American Art Medals, 1909-1995, Manships medal inspired a hearty public controversy, and this brought the Society of Medalists attention that likely benefited future issues. In total, 2,000 examples of Dionysus were reportedly produced; 1,950 bronze and 50 silver examples. The bronze examples now sell for $250 to $400 while the silver ones can sell for $600 to $900.

Other issues were less controversial, such as famed animal sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntingtons 1943 medal African Water Hole. The 27th issue in the series, it depicts an elephant eating on the obverse and a watering hole with zebras, a gnu and a warthog drinking on the reverse, and examples can occasionally be found for under $100 in online auctions.

In 1944 while World War II was in full force, Edward Recchias medal titled Inspiration  Aspiration captured a late Art Deco style and tried to inject optimism in a series that didnt shy away from depicting heavier topics. Recchia explained that the obverse shows the mans mind stretching upwards, to and beyond the flight of the wings of imagination and passing time and depicting mans dreams seeking higher realms of inspiration. Several different sizes exist and it is a handsome medal that captures the streamlined aesthetic of the time.

The Society of Medalists continued through 1990s and it is in the final years that some of its most innovative examples can be found.

Marcel Jovines 1990 medal, the 122nd in the series and Jovines third Society of Medalists medal, is titled Creation. The largest medal created by the group, the ambitious medal sets an interpretation of Michelangelos depiction of the biblical story of creation against a starry sky.

Jovine explained the reverse design: I have created a spiral of life-forms, starting with the simplest one-cell creatures and progressing through the trilobites, dinosaurs, reptiles, mammals and culminating with man. The ascent of man fulfills the Biblical prophecy that man should have domination over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

The massive bronze medal, the most technically complex of the series, measuring 102 millimeters, sells for around $250 today.

The final medals of the group challenged collectors definition of medals, and this may have caused the series demise. As dealer Steve Tannenbaum told Alexander, for decades, collectors knew SOM medals as generally round 76mm pieces, distinguished by familiar size and reasonable issue price. As impressive an innovative as the last several issues certainly were, the dramatic changes in size, shape and above all, cost, undoubtedly alienated many collectors.

Today the issues of the Society of Medalists present a worthy collecting challenge while providing a clear beginning and end and many tantalizing subsets within the group. One could limit the pursuit to medals depicting animals, those created by artists who also designed U.S. coins, examples within an Art Deco or Art Moderne style, ones with biblical references, or many other categories. Examples are often found in non-numismatic places, like antique shops and local auctions, often in their original boxes.

Enjoy our entire series on how to collect medals:

Approach #1: Build a set

Approach #2: Collect an artist

Approach #3: Focus on an individual subject

Approach #4: Profile an event
Design elements on all of the Monnaie de Paris 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels coins take their inspiration from jewelry collections of the past. Butterflies, beads, quatrefoil shapes and more all reflect various lines of jewelry, and on the Proof .999 fine gold 5,000 coin include diamonds.

Mother of pearl inserts or inlays appear on two of the 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels coins from the Monnaie de Paris, including the Proof .999 fine gold 500 coin shown.

The Monnaie de Paris honors the artistic tradition of excellence of French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels with a series of new coins, including the quatrefoil-shaped Proof .900 fine silver 10 coin.

The French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels is honored with new coins from the Monnaie de Paris. The company, which celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2016, is the subject of the Monnaie de Paris annual French Excellence coin program.

The French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels is honored with new coins from the Monnaie de Paris.

The company, which celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2016, is the subject of the Monnaie de Paris annual French Excellence coin program.

The centerpiece of the program is an ultra-low mintage kilogram gold 5,000 coin combining the craftsmanship of the honoree and the mint house making the coins.

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Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and Salomon Arpels, when they opened their first boutique at 22 place Vendome, a mecca of Parisian elegance, according to the Monnaie de Paris.

The coins feature a common design (save for the denomination) inspired by the jewelers Two Butterflies collection and uses embellishments to match the companys brand of sophistication, according to the Monnaie de Paris.

The coins of this series reflect the universe of Van Cleef & Arpels through patterns inspired by nature or the imagination such as birds, flowers or fairies, the French Mint said.

They make tribute to craft skills and to the tradition of the house of high jewelry.

Some inspired designs

The obverse of each coin includes a beaded edge inspired by the Perlee collection, which Van Cleef & Arpels has issued since the 1920s. Three hands gently set the butterfly with diamonds of various cuts (marquise, princess, brilliant) in this design, a reference to the Golden Hands style.

The obverse includes the RF initials of the French Republic, the year date, and the horn of plenty Mint master mark of the Monnaie de Paris.

Patterns in the reverse design were inspired by nature and first appeared on Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry in the 1940s. The reverse also displays a fairy, a popular motif on Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

The Proof .900 fine silver 10 coin and the Proof .999 fine gold 200 coins quatrefoil shape was borrowed from the Alhambra collection that debuted in 1960. The other coins in the issue are round.

The silver 10 coin weighs 22.2 millimeters and measures 40 millimeters in diameter from point to point. The coin has a mintage limit of 5,000 pieces and an official issue price of 82.

The Proof .950 fine silver 50 coin features a mother of pearl butterfly insert on the reverse. The silver 50 coin weighs 163.8 grams and measures 50 millimeters in diameter. The coin has a mintage limit of 500 pieces and retails for 508.

The Proof .920 fine gold 50 coin weighs 8.45 grams and measures 22 millimeters in diameter. It has a mintage limit of 1,000 pieces and retails for 536.

The gold 200 coin weighs 31.104 grams and measures 40 millimeters in diameter from point to point. The 200 coin has a mintage limit of 500 pieces and retails for 2,225.

The Proof .999 fine gold 500 coin also features a mother of pearl inlay. The 500 coin weighs 155.5 grams and measures 50 millimeters in diameter. It has a mintage limit of 99 pieces and retails for 10,920.

Killer kilo coin!

The centerpiece of the program, as stated, is the kilogram pure gold 5,000 coin.

The kilo coin features an insert, specially created by Van Cleef & Arpels, of a butterfly, on both sides.

The butterfly on the reverse is composed of real diamonds  34 round diamonds, each measuring 0.67 carat, and one marquise-cut diamond of 0.15 carat representing the body (for a total of 0.82 carat).

On the obverse, the back of the butterfly is shown. The frame of this piece of jewelry allows one to understand the technique and knowledge associated with the crimping of the diamonds.

The coin is presented in a glass globe display case, allowing owners to display the coin under magnification while protecting the coin.

The kilo coin is placed in the globe amid a luxurious foliage delicately cut in paper to recall the patterns from the universe of Van Cleef & Arpels collections, according to the Monnaie de Paris.

A brass butterfly positioned at the top of the glass globe allows removal of the globe to position the coin.

In the lower part of the display case, two compartments contain elements that accompany the coin: a brochure, an authenticity certificate, a magnifying glass, a pair of gloves and a one-coin wallet.

The display case can be discreetly locked with three safety locks positioned on the base.

The gold 5,000 coin measures 85 millimeters in diameter and has a mintage limit of 11 pieces. Each coin retails for 130,000.

The Monnaie de Paris offers the coins through its store, which can be found online.
The skipper was a crusty old Kiwai, born to a sea-going life and long experienced as crew in small government coastal ships.

We go out to sea first. Then we enter channel. Then we be pushing upriver but tide coming down. Maybe we get there in dark. But weather is okay.

What about the main channel? How long will that take?

Okay Taubada. Quick way - straight up this channel. Leave early, we go with tide. Be there when the sun overhead.

I NEED to call in to the Mission tomorrow, I said to the skipper.

Now he was skipper of this half-cabin work-boat, Urunga,named after the northern NSW coastal town where it was built.

It was of rugged twin-skinned construction, slow but able to carry all cargo and personnel for a patrol visiting villages along the coast and in the rivers and mud islands of this part of southern Papua New Guinea.

We were in the wide delta of the Bamu River in the Western Province. Eons of silt had been carried down from the mountains to the north and deposited as the rivers flow slowed here at the mouth.

In this way, the delta and several large mud islands, separated by meandering channels had formed.

It was 1960. Id been visiting the few villages on these flat islands rimmed by thick mangroves with sago-palm swamps and scattered coconut palms. The people managed to eke out a meagre, undernourished living.

Okay, we try the main channel. Leave as early as you reckon.

Yes, Taubada. Full moon soon. We leave when moon half way down.

He meant the small hours before dawn, but I wasnt going to request an easier time to leave. This mans life was governed by the sun, the moon, the tides and the weather. He was the expert.

So off we went, Urunga with skipper, crewman, interpreter, two police constables, cook and me.

By the time wed left astern the stinking, opaque, muddy water, a flaming red sunrise revealed a beautiful cloudless day. There was some swell before a moderate south-easterly breeze. It was good to feel and smell the clean, salty, air of the open sea.

Plugging directly into wind and swell made for slow travelling, but that was okay; we had all day. Then as we swung more to the east and north-east, the motion was a lot less comfortable and the wind steadily increased in strength, putting a short chop on the long swells coming all the way from the South Pacific.

It wasn't long before the skipper judged it prudent to head away from land directly into the increasing weather. For several hours that poor little boat, with its somewhat anxious collection of humanity, was bashed and battered but never bettered.

The ancient three-cylinder Gardiner kept going. At times it seemed we were vertically nose up or nose down, but we never shipped green water - though gallons of spray came inboard. I discovered that among other virtues, Urunga was a good sea boat.

About mid-afternoon the wind slackened right off and we were able to turn and head back towards the Bamu. I hadnt a clue where we were. We could see no land through the low-level mist generated by the gale.

The visibility improved and there it was  one of the jungle-covered mud islands of the Bamu delta. It was then we realised we'd made virtually no headway out to sea against the weather.

After landing on the island, we found a group of abandoned shacks on stilts and were able to camp for the night. I decided to sleep on board and was soon rocked gently to sleep.

I had wanted to visit the Bamu River Mission, widely known as The Mission in the Mud, because it seldom had visitors.

The place was run by the remarkable Mrs Eva Standen and her husband Harry. She was a tiny Australian woman with a huge heart and dynamic energy. With the exception of the war years, shed been in the area since 1936, doing her best to give the few villagers some education and a minimal health service. I admired her.

Several days later, after visiting the Standens, we ran with the ebbing tide downriver just above the delta and right at full moon. Bore time!

These tidal bores or tidal waves, not tsunamis, are generated when the water of an incoming king tide flows into the wide mouth and is forced into the narrowing delta until it has nowhere to go but upwards, forming a wave  the bore.

A bore could be quite big on the Bamu but normally posed no threat to a vessel like Urunga if tackled in the right way.

The lower reaches of the Bamu are shallow with numerous shifting sand bars. Even our experienced skipper could never be sure of finding good water under his keel.

The outflow of the tide added to our speed until  a slight hesitation  recovery  more hesitation  and we slid gently to a stop on a sand bar, invisible under the opaque muddy water.

Reversing and sawing back and forth didn't release the grip of the sand and the falling tide soon left us hard aground. So we waited, stranded and pointed away from the rivers flow. The hull settled on one side as the water receded and the sand bar became fully exposed.

Standard procedure when negotiating a bore is to find deep water, keep away from the banks, meet the bore head-on when underway at about half speed and be prepared for a burst of full throttle.

Impossible to achieve when you're hard aground pointing in the wrong direction. As if that wasn't enough, the hull had settled to starboard so the engine cooling water inlet was covered by the sand bar.

It wasn't long before we heard the roar of the bore coming up river.

It swung around a bend and into our sight. It was a beauty - one of the stepped variety. The front of the wave was about two feet high and, six feet further back, another two foot step, with a final four-footer bringing up the rear.

The crewman couldn't start the engine and have it idling ready for the wave or it would quickly overheat because the water inlet was blocked. But he stood ready to heave on the hand crank just before the wave hit.

The rest of us could only hang on and hope wed be okay.

Bores travel at about 20 knots, so whatever was going to happen to us was going to happen quickly.

The first bit of good news was the engine - it started first go.

Seconds later the first wave hit the bow, righted it, lifted it and swung it further broadside-on, dumping it with a grinding, bone-shaking crunch back onto the sand bar.

The second step hit, and rolled us to port at an alarming angle bringing some water over the gunwale. The skipper slammed the engine into forward gear and gave it full throttle and full starboard rudder and at last we were afloat.

The final step of the wave was more of a slope and the faithful old vessel lifted its head, swung to starboard, and we were on our way.

I'll always have very fond memories of that old workboat and enormous admiration for the skill of that Kiwai skipper whose name, I'm ashamed to say, I cannot remember.

That was a patrol I was very very glad to see the end of.
What to know about candidates, issues in Missouri's U.S. Senate race
In Hollywood it informs the scripts of just about every blockbuster movie ever made. There they call it revenge.

In that sense its not even an original law. The clans of Papua New Guinea have been exercising the same rule for centuries. Except there they dont refer to it as action provoking reaction but simply as payback.

It is an interesting law that has more than applications in physics.

ISAAC Newtons third law of motion is often paraphrased to state that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

And it had a lot to do with my choice of university. In the 1970s, Queensland was ruled by a country bumpkin called Joh Bjelke Petersen with ultra-right wing tendencies and a corrupt band of pirates and buccaneers as his government.

As a consequence the University of Queensland was a hotbed of left wing radical politics  a perfect reaction and one I found particularly attractive.

Everyone recalls the disastrous presidency of George W Bush in the United States. He managed to drag the US and Britain and Australia into pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; conflicts that took many lives and led to the horrendous situation we see in the Middle East today.

The reaction came in the form of democratic president Barack Obama. Unfortunately he was hamstrung by the US Congress, dominated by Republicans. The Obama reaction never really worked, just like most reactions.

Now we have four years of Donald Trump to look forward to. He is going to be ten times worse than Bush but the reaction has already begun.

Bernie Sanders and the left wing of the Democrat Party are already mobilising their reaction. It will come in the form of a new and energised Democratic Party, cut loose from the shackles of establishment politics.

A lot of people in Papua New Guinea will recall the government of the Trump-like Bill Skate in 1997-99. Within just two years Skate managed to destroy the Papua New Guinean economy and make it a laughing stock of the world.

The reaction came in the form of Mekere Morauta, a level-headed ex-governor of the central bank who managed to rescue the economy and get the nation back on track, for a while at least.

Today in Papua New Guinea there have been five disastrous years of Peter ONeills government. He has brought Papua New Guinea to the brink of financial ruin again.

But where is the reaction? Where is the new Mekere Morauta? Surely the law of action and reaction has to kick in soon. The student protests at UPNG looked like something might be happening but they were brought to a halt by heavy-handed government action including police shootings.

So today there seem to be no significant reactions in Papua New Guinean politics, no Newtons law. There is no left wing and no right wing politics in Papua New Guinea. Politics in Papua New Guinea is a wingless bird that doesnt fly.

I guess this is to be expected in a country that prides itself on a tradition of consensus in the style of the so-called Melanesian Way. Adversarial politics dont work well in a society based on consensus.

But what might seem like a good thing can also be a bad thing. It is another example of an old tradition not working in the modern context. The only way it would work is if Papua New Guinea became a communist state. Theres nothing wrong with that but given the current geo-politics in the area I cant see it happening any time soon.

In Papua New Guinea it is now the politics of opportunity that rules. Politicians and political parties have no ideologies. Nearly every politician in a political party is there for himself and no one else.

Most Papua New Guinean governments have been made up of at least six different parties that all resemble each other. Nowadays there arent even any discernible regional biases.

At each election over half of the parliamentarians lose their seats. They are replaced by lookalike clones with exactly the same personal ambitions and tactics.

When Australia left Papua New Guinea in 1975 there were two major parties. The United Party had a conservative bias and the Pangu Pati had a left wing bias. It all looked good.

Somewhere along the line they merged into a formless blob. That blob now rules Papua New Guinea and it looks like it will for a long time to come. Thats not good.
Expect to hear more, not less, about ransomware next year.

A recent survey of 500 businesses revealed that nearly half were slammed by a ransomware attack within the last 12 months; 85 percent suffered from three or more attacks, with six being the average for how many times an organization was a victim of ransomware.

If you narrow the SentinelOne survey (pdf) down from cybersecurity decision makers in U.S., UK, France and Germany, to look at only U.S. respondents, then 50 percent admitted to being successfully attacked in the last year. Thats slightly higher than the overall worldwide picture of 48 percent suffering from a ransomware attack in the last 12 months.

Eight one percent of those surveyed said the hackers gained access to their networks via phishing emails or social media. Fifty percent were hit via drive-by-downloads after visiting compromised sites. Forty percent were infected through a computer that was part of botnet.

Being slammed with ransomware numerous times was enough for half of the companies to lose faith in traditional security measures such as antivirus and a third felt helpless to defend their organization from new forms of ransomware. Although 68 percent said traditional cybersecurity techniques are unable to protect them, only 42 percent would demand answers from their IT security vendors.

Ransomware has become one of the most successful forms of cybercrime in 2016 and is on the top of every security professionals list of most prolific threats, said Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy at SentinelOne. Its not surprising to see high levels of apathy towards traditional antivirus software, and we dont expect the ransomware epidemic to slow down anytime soon. The situation is likely to get far worse, as some of the ill-gotten gains will be invested into research and development designed to improve encryption strength and utilize new delivery methods, as witnessed with Locky.

The largest chunk of ransomware affected employee information, followed by financial data and then customer information. The victims believed financial gain, followed by disruption of business and then cyber espionage to be the most common motives for the attacks.

After being hit with ransomware, 67 percent upped spending on IT security. It took an average of 38 man hours for companies in the U.S. and Germany to replace the encrypted data with back-up data; for France the average was 37 hours and 22 hours for the UK.

Getting hit with ransomware would be bad enough, but imagine paying the ransom and then having the attacker come back and demand a second ransom? It happens; more and more people pay, but its not like a cybercriminals promise to decrypt upon receiving the first ransom is a sterling guarantee that the victims files will be decrypted.

Grossman believes that unlockers  the decryption keys to unlock ransomware-encrypted files which are released to the public by security experts  may not be something people can hope for in the future. Right now, some crooks reuse the same key for all their ransomware infections; once a security researcher gets hold of the key, then they offer it to the public since it works for other victims of the same ransomware to decrypt their files.

I personally think that era, the era of unlockers, is short lived," Grossman told CSO. "Some of the bad guys are still in amateur mode, but we can expect the malware families to grow in sophistication and effectiveness. The bad guys will move almost universally to asynchronous encryption.

Some experts believe traditional ransomware will move over to doxware; if the demanded ransomware is not paid, then the files, photos, videos or whatever the cybercriminal locked up, will be leaked online.

Chris Ensey, COO of Dunbar Security Solutions, told Fast Company that thugs running doxware have not yet made good on threats to leak data; some variants show a fake progress bar of data being transferred to the crooks without ever storing the files with the intention leaking them. Yet Ensey expects doxware to be an actual threat by next year  pay up or your files are leaked online.

Backup is great advice, but that won't help if doxware actually catches on.
First Samsung, now Apple. Battery problems in smartphones are all the rage these days.

Of course, Apple's battery problems are very different than the ones Samsung users experienced, notably in that nothing has yet exploded. But what is happening to iPhones? And which models are affected?

In IT Blogwatch, we operate at full charge.

So what exactly is happening? John Ribeiro has the background:

Apple...said...a few iPhone 6s smartphones are unexpectedly shutting down...Apple...appeared to suggest that the problem would be resolved by a replacement battery which the company offered free.

...

The China Consumers Association asked Apple to investigate...iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s phones that were automatically shutting off. The...shutdowns were said to happen when the phones battery charge dropped to between 60 and 50 percent.

Battery problems with another smartphone? We remember what happened with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recently. Mikey Campbell assures us this isn't the same:

It seems Apple has run into its own smartphone battery troubles...The company was quick to note devices experiencing shutdown...issues do not present a safety risk, wording likely included to allay fears that iPhone is suffering from battery problems similar to catastrophic failures recently seen impacting Samsung products...the iPhone 6s defect only affects a batch of devices manufactured between September and October 2015.

So what should you do if your phone is one of those affected? Chance Miller has the details:

If...your iPhone 6s is affected...Apple instructs you to visit an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to confirm your eligibility. From there, your battery will be replaced free of charge.

...

Apple notes that devices with other damage, such as a cracked screen, will not be eligible for the repair program until the other damage is repaired...anyone who paid to have their battery replaced because of this issue can contact customer support about obtaining a refund.

And is there anything users need to do to prepare their phones before going in for a replacement battery? Apple explains the process:

To prepare your iPhone 6s for the battery replacement process...follow the steps below...Back up your data to iTunes or iCloud...Turn off Find my iPhone...Erase data and settings in Settings > General > Reset > Erase all Content and Settings...The program covers affected iPhone 6s batteries for 3 years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Is this the only issue plaguing iPhones right now? As luck would have it, no. Eric Slivka tells us about another:

Just...days ago, Apple launched a repair program for iPhone 6 Plus owners whose devices are experiencing..."touch disease" where users...see display flickering or a loss of touch sensitivity. That program carries a $149 repair fee...Apple says the issue is caused at least in part by the device having been "dropped multiple times on a hard surface."

How do people feel about this problem? Not surprisingly, they aren't thrilled. Chrissy Hall tells us what she thinks:

Thank you #iPhone6s battery...I love when you completely die at 56%.
Regrets? These former CIOs have a few. In exit interviews, six ex-CIOs say they wish theyd spent more time engaged with business strategy, studied human psychology or gotten an MBA.

The interviews were conducted by Heather Smith, a researcher at the Smith School of Business at Queens University in Canada, and covered the career lessons of successful IT execs who recently left their CIO positions (two were promoted to COO).

Asked what advice theyd give todays IT leaders, the former CIOs offered statements such as "spend time outside IT with your fellow executives in the business and with customers" and "adapt your skills and role for the world of the future."

[Also on CIO.com: Download the State of the CIO 2016 report ]

The exit interviews were collected and analyzed in a research report, "Wisdom of CIOs," for the Society for Information Managements Advanced Practices Council.

Smith reported that the six former IT chiefs all agreed on three key traits for the successful CIO: Being effective at change management, demonstrating strategic business knowledge and leading an IT department that harnesses the creativity and productivity of its people.

But a CIO career isnt easy street. In the report, Steve Pickett, who retired from Penske Corp. at the end of 2015 after 18 years as its CIO, offered this advice: Have the guts to make tough decisions and to execute them -- "even if they are career-damaging. They can only fire you once!"

Other IT leaders covered in the report include Tony Lombardi, former CIO at Armstrong World Industries; Bob MacTaggart, former CIO at Leviton Manufacturing; and Ed Trainor, former CIO at Southern California Gas Co., Viacom Entertainment Group and Amtrak.

The exit interviews featured questions such as the following:

What are the top three lessons you've learned as a CIO that you'd like to pass on to others?

What advice do you have for companies and CEOs about working with a CIO?

What are the biggest obstacles companies put in the way of their CIOs achieving optimal value?

The Advanced Practices Council, a program for senior IT professionals, supports independent research on member-chosen topics.

download Wisdom of CIOs Society for Information Management

This story, "6 ex-CIOs reveal lessons learned, biggest regrets" was originally published by CIO .
We don't usually think of drones as operating over open water, but Aerovel's Flexrotor drone was designed to do just that.

Flexrotor can land and take off vertically like a helicopter, without the need for any additional infrastructure on the deck of a ship. This gives the vehicle the ability to operate from almost any vessel. Once airborne, Flexrotor transitions to horizontal flight, which allows the vehicle a much longer range of operation.

"What they were intended for was to go out and spot tuna or anything that you needed to find in an austere environment where manned aircraft are no longer safe," says Matt Parker, vice president of Precision Integrated Programs, a company signed up to be the launch customer for Flexrotor.

Since its inception, Flexrotor has gone on to hunt for humans as well.

"Our first mission we went out for was actually to protect marine protected areas," Parker says. "We were out at sea, Cocos Island, 300 nautical miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, to monitor the marine protected areas and make sure there werent illegal poachers and shark finners and such in the area."

More recently, Flexrotor was used to guide a fleet of ships through ice in the Arctic. The drone can carry up to a 4.5-kilogram payload and can be equipped with a number of sensors, including LIDAR, infrared, and multispectral. It also serves useful on land, in places where there isn't much space to land, like small fields in a forest.

Full-scale production of the Flexrotor will begin in the first quarter of 2017, Parker says.
LifeLock, the identity protection vendor that Symantec today said it would acquire for $2.3 billion, has been the frequent target of lawsuits filed by customers, state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Less than a year ago, LifeLock paid $100 million to settle a contempt complaint brought by the FTC. That complaint originated when the agency charged LifeLock with failing to comply with a 2010 order and settlement over accusations that the Arizona company had again engaged in false advertising and failed to implement promised security measures to safeguard customers' personal information.

The $100 million was a record amount obtained by the FTC in an order enforcement action.

Symantec today said that it was confident that LifeLock's troubles were behind it. "We are thoroughly satisfied that any previous issues are in the past," said a company spokeswoman in an email reply to questions. "Consumers vote with their wallets and there are 4.4 million happy and committed LifeLock customers -- and growing."

But not every past LifeLock customer was happy.

Consumers began suing LifeLock in 2008, claiming that the company engaged in false advertising and deceptive trade practices. Earlier that year, credit reporting bureau Experian sued LifeLock for placing false fraud alerts on consumers' credit-history files.

In 2010, LifeLock settled with the FTC and 35 state attorneys general over fraudulent advertising charges, paying $12 million in the process. Much of that money was returned to consumers. The federal agency had accused LifeLock of overstating the benefits of its service, and used "scare tactics" to gain subscribers.

"This was a fairly egregious case of deceptive advertising," said then-FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz at the time.

Last year, the FTC said that LifeLock had not abided by the settlement of five years before. "The fact that consumers paid LifeLock for help in protecting their sensitive personal information makes the charges in this case particularly troubling," said Edith Ramirez, the current chairwoman of the FTC, in a December 2015 statement.

Under the settlement, $68 million went to consumers who had joined a class action lawsuit against LifeLock. Those checks went out last month. An Arizona federal court holds the remaining $32 million.

In addition to the $100 million payment, last year's settlement extended LifeLock's record-keeping requirements, an integral part of the original agreement, until 2023. Today, Symantec said it would assume responsibilities for overseeing LifeLock's business practices once the acquisition is finalized.

The $2.3 billion deal is expected to close early in 2017.
With presidential election signs coming down from front lawns and voters watching protests on the news, many are wondering if fake news stories on Facebook and Google contributed to Donald Trump's winning the presidency.

And that raises the question of what Google and Facebook plan to do about it.

Here are some examples of headlines from fake stories posted to the web:

"Pope Francis endorses Trump"

"WikiLeaks Confirms Hillary Sold Weapons to ISIS"

"Donald Trump wins electoral college and popular vote"

"Clinton Foundation bought $137 million worth of illegal arms and ammunition"

These headlines are from fake news stories that littered Facebook and Google in the past few months. While the content was wrong, it didn't stop them from pulling in hundreds of thousands or millions of likes, shares and comments.

With these stories, truth was beside the point. Or maybe spreading false news was the point.

Fake news spread around the world on social networks, as well as on Google News and in Google searches.

"Americans get most of their news off both of these sites," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. "I believe readers, Facebook, and Google all play a role in bringing this to a successful conclusion."

Here is what you need to know about how fake news is affecting what you know about the world and what is being done about it.

1. How big a problem is this?

There are no clear numbers on how many fake news stories hit Facebook and Google during the election season. Nor are there any figures on the number of fake news stories that appeared on those sites all year.

To be clear, there also is some debate over what makes a news story fake.

Take for example the totally false and concocted story over the summer that said the pope endorsed then-Republican nominee Donald Trump for president. The pope did not endorse Trump. Is it a story that has an omission or an error?

"I think until we start to define the issue more clearly, it's open for a variety of interpretations," said Brian Blau, an analyst with market research firm Gartner. "Users want to trust not only the providers but also the content they consume, and given the lack of fine-grain controls, we have to assume that some amount of fake news is being read and trusted, which isn't a good situation for anyone."

Most agree that to be considered fake, a story needs to be largely false or purposefully false.

To that end, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and co-founder of Facebook, said in mid-November that most of the stories that show up on users' news feeds are real news pieces, downplaying the affect that fake news has had on Facebook's more than 1.18 billion daily active users.

"Of all the content on Facebook, more than 99% of what people see is authentic," Zuckerberg wrote on his personal Facebook page . "Only a very small amount is fake news and hoaxes. The hoaxes that do exist are not limited to one partisan view, or even to politics. Overall, this makes it extremely unlikely hoaxes changed the outcome of this election in one direction or the other."

If Zuckerberg is right and 99% of stories on Facebook are accurate, does that mean 1% are false?

If that's the case then, if a user sees 500 news headlines in her News Feed every week, five of them are fake.

And if those fake news stories purposefully have salacious headlines, will those five headlines stick in her brain more than 1% of news stories normally would?

Add to that the fact that Facebook uses algorithms to show readers more of the kinds of stories they normally respond to, read and share, then some users might be seeing a much higher percentage of fake stories.

2. What's the effect of fake news stories?

According to a Pew Research Center survey of 1,520 adults conducted between March 7 and April 4, 68% of U.S. adults are Facebook users. In addition, a majority of Americans say they get news via social media, and half of the public used these sites to learn about the 2016 presidential election.

The Washington Post went right to the source, interviewing a man who is a fake news writer.

According to the Post report , fake news writer Paul Horner is taking credit for Trump's winning the election, saying, "I think Trump is in the White House because of me. His followers don't fact-check anything  they'll post everything, believe anything. His campaign manager posted my story about a protester getting paid $3,500 as fact. Like, I made that up."

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg said over the weekend in a blog post, that Facebook is working with fact-checking organizations to verify the authenticity of news on its site.

So its unclear at this point how much fake news stories affected the outcome of the election. Some claim they helped Trump pull off an upset win. Others disagree.

What is clear is that people read these stories, commented, liked or were angered by them. They also shared this content with their friends and family. These stories, filled with lies and propaganda, made the rounds, and some chose to believe them.

3. How does Google fit into all of this?

Fake news stories is not just a Facebook problem. Google is mired up to its knees in this, as well.

A story saying that Trump beat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the popular vote, as well as in the Electoral College, made it to the top of Google News in the days following the election. It was a fake story. Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump secured the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

When people want to know something, they generally turn to Google. Want to know which candidate won the state of Utah or Virginia? Google it. Want to know if the pope endorsed a candidate? Google it.

If fake news stories are appearing in searches and Google News spots, misinformation is being propagated.

4. Why can't fake stories simply be eradicated?

There are a number of issues with this question.

Do users want companies like Facebook and Google deciding what is true or not? For example, Is it a fake story if one fact is wrong or is it only a fake story if the entire premise is wrong? How does an algorithm distinguish the difference?

Also, do users want Facebook, for instance, to decide what they can and cannot share with their friends?

"The problems here are complex, both technically and philosophically," Zuckerberg wrote in the weekend post. "We need to be careful not to discourage sharing of opinions or to mistakenly restrict accurate content. We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties."

As to who makes the final decisions about what is fake and what is real news, it will be a human/machine team. Algorithms will be used to pick out likely offenders and mark them for further inspection. At that point, humans likely would make the final decisions.

To do this, algorithms will need to be updated, become more sophisticated and be rigorously tested before they are unleashed on the Facebook and Google worlds.

5. What's being done to cull fake news stories from our News Feeds and searches?

While Google did not respond to a request for information, Reuters reported that Google, while not addressing the issue of fake news, is working to change its policies so websites that run fake content will not be able to use its Adsense advertising network.

Google's move is aimed at cutting out much of the financial benefits of creating fake news.

As for Facebook, Zuckerberg said the company is working on a list of changes that he hopes will curb the amount of fake news on the social network.

In his weekend Facebook post, he noted that the company is working on making it easier for users to report fake stories; tagging stories that have been flagged as false with warnings; changing the companies ad policies to make it harder to make money off fake stories, and developing technology to better detect fake news.

Jeff Kagan, an independent industry analyst, said artificial intelligence and machine learning eventually will be part of the solution to fake stories, by analyzing news articles much faster and more efficiently than humans can. But he's not sure when the technology will be ready to do that.

"I am sure machine learning is part of the solution but [these technologies] are still in their infancy and are only so helpful today," he said "The solution is complicated."
The Prime Minister delivered this speech to the Confederation of British Industry this morning:

A week ago, I spoke at the Lord Mayors Banquet at the Guildhall and set out Britains historic global opportunity  to lead the world in understanding the extent to which some people feel left behind by the forces of capitalism, and embracing a new approach that ensures everyone shares in the benefits of economic growth.

Today, I want to talk about how  by working together  we can seize that opportunity and deliver the change that people want.

But it is not just an opportunity. It is a responsibility too.

For we believe in free markets. They are the means by which we spread opportunity and lift people out of poverty.

We believe in capitalism  the means by which we drive economic growth, putting people into work to provide for their families.

And we believe in business  the entrepreneurs and the innovators who employ millions of people up and down this country  the basis for our prosperity.

The Conservative Party  and the Government I lead  will always believe in these things.

But I am here today not just to reaffirm these core beliefs, but to say that  if this is what we value  we need to be prepared to adapt and change.

For if we support free markets, value capitalism and back business  and we do  we must do everything we can to keep faith with them.

And with not enough people feeling that they share in the wealth created by capitalism  and with the recent behaviour of a small minority of businesses and business leaders undermining the reputation of the corporate world as a whole  the way to keep that faith is to embrace reform.

To do things differently. To recognise that some people  particularly those on modest to low incomes  people worried about the future of their children and their grandchildren  see these forces working well for a privileged few, but not always for them.

So today, I want to ask you to join me in shaping this new approach and seizing this opportunity.

I want to ask you to work with me to show that the forces of capitalism, globalisation and free trade offer the best hope to the problems facing so many people in our country.

I want you to help me show those who feel let down, left behind or marginalised that we can respond. We can change.

And that together, we can meet this great national moment with a great national effort to seize the opportunities ahead and build a stronger, fairer Britain  a country that works for everyone.

A New Approach

For this is a true national moment. The decision of the British people on 23rd June gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to shape a new future for our nation: the chance to build a stronger, fairer country.

Thats the kind of change people voted for  not just to leave the European Union, but to change the way our country works  and the people for whom it works  forever.

And I am determined that we will deliver the change they need.

So we will do things differently. Not carrying on with business as usual, but opening our minds to new ways of thinking  those of us in government, and those in business too.

For government, it means not just stepping back and leaving you to get on with the job, but stepping up to a new, active role that backs British business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of your success.

For business, it means doing more to spread those benefits around the country, playing by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to tax and behaviour, and investing in Britain for the long-term.

All things that I know the vast majority of businesses do already. Not just by creating jobs, supporting smaller businesses, training and developing your people, but also by working to give something back to communities and supporting the next generation.

I have no doubt at all about the vital role business plays  not just in the economic life of our nation, but in our society too. But as Prime Minister, I want to support you to do even more.

That is why, when the Chancellor delivers the Governments Autumn Statement on Wednesday, he will lay out an agenda that is ambitious for business and ambitious for Britain.

He will commit to providing a strong and stable foundation for our economy: continuing the task of bringing the deficit down and getting our debt falling so that we can live within our means once again. He will build on the actions that our independent Bank of England has already taken to support our economy. And he will do more to boost Britains long-term economic success, setting out how we will take the big decisions we need to invest in our nations infrastructure so that we can get the country  and business  moving.

And he will show how we will do everything possible to make the UK outside the EU the most attractive place for businesses to grow and invest.

Leaving the European Union

I know that leaving the European Union creates uncertainty for business. I know that some are unsure about the road ahead or what your future operating environment will look like. And there will certainly be challenges  a negotiation like the one on which we are about to embark cannot be done quickly, or without give and take on both sides.

But there are opportunities too.

Opportunities to get out into the world and do new business with old allies and new partners. To use the freedoms that come from negotiating with partners directly, to be flexible, to set our own rules and forge new and dynamic trading agreements that work for the whole UK. Opportunities to become the true global champion of free trade.

And opportunities to demonstrate how a free, flexible, ambitious country like Britain can trade freely with others according to whats in their own best interests and those of their people.

This is our aim and our ambition. And I am ambitious for Britain.

I believe that if we approach the difficult negotiations to come in the right way, with the right spirit, we can strike a deal thats right for Britain and right for the rest of Europe too.

And the right approach is not to rush ahead without doing the ground work, but to take the time to get our negotiating position clear before we proceed. It is not to seek to replicate the deal that any other country has, but to craft a new arrangement thats right for us and right for Europe  recognising that a strong EU is good for Britain. Its not to provide a running commentary on every twist and turn, but to acknowledge that businesses and others need some clarity  so where I can set out our plans without prejudicing the negotiation to come I will.

Thats why I have been able to set out the timetable for triggering Article 50  before the end of March next year. Why I want an early agreement on the status of UK nationals in Europe and EU nationals here, so that you and they can plan with certainty. And why we have been engaging heavily with businesses over the past few months to understand your priorities and concerns, and why we will continue to do so.

A Modern Industrial Strategy

But while the negotiation to come will be critical, we must not lose sight of the wider message people sent on 23rd June.

And so, we must use this opportunity to build a more prosperous, more equal country  where prosperity is shared and there is genuine opportunity for all.

We have already received massive votes of confidence in Britains long-term future from some of the worlds most innovative companies. Nissans decision to build two next generation models at its plant in the North East, securing 7,000 jobs. A record 24 billion investment from Softbank in Britains future; a 500 million expansion and 3,000 jobs from Jaguar Land Rover; a 200 million investment from Honda, 275 million from Glaxo Smith Kline; investment in a new headquarters from Apple; an estimated 1 billion investment and 3,000 new jobs from Google; and this morning Facebook have announced a 50% increase in their workforce in the UK by the end of 2017.

Yet there is more that government can do  not just to encourage businesses to invest in Britain, but to ensure those investments benefit people in every corner of the country.

That is why one of my first actions as Prime Minister was to establish a new department with specific responsibility for developing a modern Industrial Strategy.

A strategy that will back Britains strategic strengths and tackle our underlying weaknesses.

Our strengths are clear.

We are an open, competitive, trading economy. We compete with the best in autos, aerospace and advanced engineering. We are breaking new ground in life sciences and new fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. We are leaders in global professional services from architecture to accountancy from law to consulting. We have world beating universities and the highest research productivity of the top research nations. We have a vibrant creative industry, producing an extraordinary level of talent recognised and respected the world over. And of course we are leaders in global finance  not just banking, but investment management and insurance too.

But as we celebrate these strengths, so we should also be frank about some of our weaknesses.

We have more Nobel Laureates than any country outside the United States, but all too often great ideas developed here end up being commercialised elsewhere.

We are home to one of the worlds financial capitals, but too frequently fast-growing firms cant get the patient long-term capital investment they require, and have to sell-out to overseas investors to access the finance they need.

We have truly world class sectors and firms, but overall business and government investment remains lower than our competitors.

We have outstanding firms and clusters in every part of this country, but taken as a whole our economic success is still too unbalanced and focused on London and the South-East.

We have gold-standard universities, but we are not strong enough in STEM subjects, and our technical education isnt good enough.

And while the UKs recovery since the financial crisis has been one of the strongest in the G7, our productivity is still too low. But if we want to increase our overall prosperity, if we want more people to share in that prosperity, if we want bigger real wages for people, if we want more opportunities for young people to get on, we have to improve the productivity of our economy.

So these are the long-term, structural challenges the Industrial Strategy aims to address. It is not about propping up failing industries or picking winners, but creating the conditions where winners can emerge and grow. It is about backing those winners all the way to encourage them to invest in the long-term future of Britain. And about delivering jobs and economic growth to every community and corner of the country.

That is the ambition  and we need your help to put it into practice. We cannot create a proper industrial strategy without listening to industry and we want to work with you and shape it together. So we will publish a Green Paper before the end of the year to seek your views before issuing a White Paper early in the new year.

Research & Development

But today I want to sketch out some of the first steps and spell out some specific things we will do to turn our ambition into reality.

We are ambitious for Britain to become the global go-to place for scientists, innovators

and tech investors. We will continue to welcome the brightest and the best  but can only do so by bringing immigration down to sustainable levels overall so we maintain public faith in the system.

Today, Britain has firms and researchers leading in some of the most exciting fields of human discovery. We need to back them and turn research strengths into commercial success.

That means not only investing more in research and development, but ensuring we invest that money wisely. Supporting technologies and sectors that have the potential to deliver long-term benefits for Britain.

In the last Parliament, despite the deficit we inherited, we protected the basic science budget, even when that meant we had to take difficult decisions to control other spending.

But our competitors arent standing still. They are investing heavily in research and development.

So in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, we will commit to substantial real terms increases in government investment in R&D  investing an extra 2 billion a year by the end of this Parliament to help put post-Brexit Britain at the cutting edge of science and tech.

A new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will direct some of that investment to scientific research and the development of a number of priority technologies in particular, helping to address Britains historic weakness on commercialisation and turning our world-leading research into long-term success.

And we will also review the support we give innovative firms through the tax system.

Since 2010 we have made the Research and Development Credit more generous and easier to use  and support has risen from 1bn to almost 2.5 billion a year.

Now we want to go further, and look at how we can make our support even more effective  because my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20, but also a tax system that is profoundly pro-innovation.

Start-ups to Scale-ups

This is a comprehensive package designed to set us on the path to becoming one of the best places for research & development in the world.

But there is no point having great ideas, great products, great start ups, if you cant get the investment you need to grow your business here. For while the UK ranks 3rd in the OECD for the number of start-ups we create, we are only 13th for the number that go-on to become scale-up businesses.

I want us to turn our bright start-ups into successful scale-ups by backing them for the long-term. To do this we need to better understand where the barriers are, so I am pleased to announce we will launch a new Patient Capital Review  led by the Treasury  that will examine how we can break down the obstacles to getting long-term investment into innovative firms. The review will be supported by a panel of experts, and I am pleased to announce that Sir Damon Buffini has agreed to chair that panel.

So we are backing the innovators, and backing the long-term investors.

But government can also step up to help drive innovative procurement, particularly from small businesses  just as the United States does so effectively. There, strategic use of government procurement not only spurs innovation in the public sector, it gives new firms a foot in the door. In fact, many of the technologies in your smartphone, from touchscreens to voice recognition, were originally commissioned, not by Apple or Microsoft, but by the US government.

So I can announce today that we will review our Small Business Research Initiative and look at how we can increase its impact and give more innovators their first break. And that Cambridge entrepreneur David Connell will lead the review and report back next year.

Our modern Industrial Strategy will be ambitious for business and ambitious for Britain.

It is a new way of thinking for government  a new approach. It is about government stepping up, not stepping back, building on our strengths, and helping Britain overcome the long-standing challenges in our economy that have held us back for too long.

It is about making the most of the historic opportunity we now have to signal an important, determined change.

Reforming Corporate Governance

But just as government needs to change its approach, so business needs to do so too.

For we all know that in recent years the reputation of business as a whole has been bruised. Trust in business runs at just 35% among those in the lowest income brackets.

The behaviour of a limited few has damaged the reputation of the many. And fair or not, it is clear that something has to change.

For when a small minority of businesses and business figures appear to game the system and work to a different set of rules, we have to recognise that the social contract between business and society fails  and the reputation of business as a whole is undermined.

So just as government must open its mind to a new approach, so the business community must too.

That is why we will shortly publish our plans to reform corporate governance, including executive pay and accountability to shareholders, and proposals to ensure the voice of employees is heard in the Boardroom.

The UK rightly has a strong reputation for corporate governance  the Cadbury, Greenbury and other reforms, built on the strong foundations of the Companies Act and the Corporate Governance Code, have made the UK a prime location for listing and headquartering.

But we cant stand still  we must continue to make improvements where these result in better companies and improved confidence in business on the part of investors and the public.

Much can be done by voluntary improvements in practice  in the representation of women on company Boards and in senior positions for example, or in broadening diversity. But where we need to go further we will.

So there will be a Green Paper later this autumn that addresses executive pay and accountability to shareholders, and how we can ensure the employee voice is heard in the Boardroom.

This will be a genuine consultation  we want to work with the grain of business and to draw from what works. But it will also be a consultation that will deliver results.

And let me be clear about some important points.

First, while it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on Boards.

Some companies may find that these models work best for them  but there are other routes that use existing Board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented. It will be a question of finding the model that works.

Second, this is not about creating German-style binary boards which separate the running of the company from the inputs of shareholders, employees, customers or suppliers. Our Unitary Board system has served us well and will continue to do so.

But it is about establishing the best corporate governance of any major economy, ensuring employees voices are properly represented in Board deliberations, and that business maintains and  where necessary  regains the trust of the public.

There is nothing anti-business about this agenda. Better governance will help companies to take better decisions, for their own long-term benefit and that of the economy overall.

So this is an important task. We will work with you to achieve it, and I know you will rise to the challenge.

Conclusion

This amounts to a big and ambitious agenda: but the times we are living through demand nothing less.

For change is in the air  and when people demand change it is the job of politicians to respond.

But we cannot do so alone.

You who employ the people and generate the prosperity on which our country depends, must be part of this endeavour. You who are so often on the frontline of our engagement with the world  whose actions so often project our values in the world  must also play your part.

By joining us to shape this new approach, helping us put it into practice, and embracing the change we need.

Investing in Britain for the long-term, generating wealth and opportunity in every corner of the country, and reforming corporate governance to call out the bad in order to promote the good.

So let us join together and show that we can rise to meet this moment. Let us respond to the publics demand for change.

Let us restore their faith and prove that capitalism can deliver them a better future.

And let us build a stronger, fairer Britain together.
There are two harmful, invisible, odorless gases that residents should be aware of, especially during the winter season.

One is radon, which occurs naturally in the soil. Radon gas is a carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer. Since January is Radon Action Month, now is a good time to revisit this topic.

Radon gas can pose a problem for people if it is leaking into their home from the soil through cracks in your basement or slab, through the dirt floor of your crawl space or through openings around your sump pump. Radon can accumulate in enclosed areas, which is especially of concern during the winter months, when houses usually have minimal fresh air ventilation. Any home can have high radon levels. It doesnt matter if your home is old or new, or if it has a basement or is on a slab.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health have designated Cayuga County a high-risk radon county due to the fact that many residences have already been shown to have elevated radon levels. The Cayuga County Health Department is encouraging all residents to determine if they are at risk to radon exposure by testing their homes for radon.

Free radon test kits are available at the Cayuga County Health Department office at 8 Dill St., Auburn, and at the following public libraries: Aurora Free Library, Fair Haven Library, Hazard Library, Port Byron Library, Powers Library, Seymour Library, Springport Free Library and Weedsport Free Library.

Radon test kits can also be purchased at your local home improvement store. For more information on radon you can visit the EPA website at epa.gov/radon. If elevated radon levels are found in your home, the Cayuga County Health Department can provide you with information on how to reduce these levels.

Another harmful, invisible, odorless gas that residents should be aware of is carbon monoxide. As with radon, when there is minimal fresh air ventilation, carbon monoxide can accumulate in your home. Carbon monoxide is not only odorless, it is colorless and tasteless. High levels of carbon monoxide can be harmful and even cause death.

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poison-related death and serious injury in the United States. Every year, nearly 450 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is released from furnaces, stoves, portable generators, gas ranges, charcoal, fireplaces and other products when they malfunction or are used improperly, which is why it is important that individuals educate themselves about proper use and take extra precautions in the winter time.

Make sure to follow these tips offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

 Maintain all fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces and generators, according to the manufacturers operation instructions and have them serviced annually by a qualified technician.

 Install a battery-operated or a plug-in CO detector with battery backup in your home near all sleeping and living areas, according to the manufacturers installation instructions.

 Replace the battery of your CO detector when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall, and test your CO alarms frequently.

 All fuel-burning appliances must be properly vented so that CO will not build up in your home, cabin or camper.

 Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris. This can cause CO to build up inside your home or cabin.

While this list is a good summary of tips, it is by no means all-inclusive. For more tips, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/co, or visit cayugacounty.us/environmental.

The Healthy Neighborhoods Program also provides free carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, as well as furnace filters, among other health and safety items. Residents in certain areas of Auburn as well as all residents in Locke and Moravia are eligible for this program. Call the Cayuga Community Health Network at (315) 252-4212 to schedule a home assessment today! The Healthy Neighborhoods Program is administered by Cayuga County Health Department through the Cayuga Community Health Network, and paid for by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

This winter, take extra precautions to ensure your home keeps your family healthy!
Members of the Auburn Police Department and Cayuga County Sheriff's Office will join other local law enforcement organizations on Tuesday for diversity training at Syracuse University.

The three-hour interactive seminar will tackle matters concerning implicit bias and how it affects people, according to a press release from Syracuse.

The seminar will be led by Bryant T. Marks Sr., an associate professor of psychology at Morehouse College and director of the Program for Research on Black Male Achievement. He also serves on the board for the White House initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Along with APD and the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, attendees will also include officers with the New York State Police, Syracuse, Camillus and Cortland police departments, according to Tony Callisto, SU's senior vice president and chief law enforcement officer.

Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler said he plans to send both sworn and civilian staffers to Tuesday's training.

"It is my belief that in order to continue our advancement of understanding, we must bridge the gaps with continual training like the one being offered at SU," Butler said.

Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould said he does not believe issues with implicit bias are as rampant in the county as they may be in similarly sized communities. With training, however, Gould said deputies will continue to do "whatever we can do to make ourselves better people."

"Just because you feel something's not wrong or biased doesn't mean the other person feels that way. Every person has a different interpretation," Gould said. "Everybody interprets things different and you've got to respect that  especially as a police officer."
They say in order to make any project good, you need the three Ts: Time, Talent and Treasure. The great success of the "Blueprint" group has been the convergence of these various traits in a single, private and apolitical planning unit. With members bringing at least one of the Ts to bear, the group has had a heavy hand in shaping the vision and direction of the local culture and economy. The question now turns to the next 10 years, foggy and uncertain as they appear to many. What will be the catalyst for the decade of growth in Auburn and Cayuga County at large?

There are many areas in which the energy, creativity and capital of the Blueprint group members is needed to create strong growth. Chief among these is local governance. Luckily, some members of the group are former elected officials. Turning the groups creativity loose on local government would be truly innovative and useful. What an opportunity to share experience and creative knowledge with prospective candidates or bodies, should they be willing to listen! The Blueprint group, focused into a think-tank-style non-partisan effort, could propose solutions that affect the lives of thousands of residents and guide the countys future.

The Blueprint groups experience with promoting tourism and securing funding for it should align well with helping Cayuga Countys various towns and villages establish Certified Local Governments (CLG). This creates opportunities for towns and villages to increase local control over certain zoning powers, and the state is mandated to provide at least 10 percent of their historic preservation funding to them. Towns that have faced economic stagnation for decades also have more historic fabric, simply because there has been no new investment. This type of situation helps the countys communities use the available resources to their best advantage, a process that brings state and federal dollars for rehabilitation, and provides some relief to various county offices. Setting up community development corporations to utilize zombie home funding would best accompany this, and in the process improve the housing stock and potentially increase the tax base.

Archives of the public to be heard portion of the county Legislature show that rising property taxes are perennially blamed for the countys population decrease, now below 80,000 for the first time in decades  and the number keeps falling. While the reasons people leave tend to be more complex, taxes are a core factor. Cayuga County and all of other municipalities across the county face tights margins in their respective budgets. Faced with the twin ulcers of raising taxes and slashing budgets, legislatures across the country usually resort to the process of considering what expenses can be trimmed. The consultation of an independent, talented and locally based third-party organization might be what local government needs to break the cycle. Its time for the Blueprint group to show us all what those three Ts can do when used in the right way.
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After the 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Sri Lanka, American trauma counselors visited the country to help disaster victims. Chiefly, they wanted to address a problematic psychological behavior that many Sri Lankans were displaying: the uncontrollable urge to help those around them.

The poor, deluded bastards!

These counselors weren't from the Ayn Rand School of Mental Deviancy -- they just thought that the victims might be deferring, rather than dealing with their own trauma. That might have been true in America, but in many Asian countries, helping others before yourself is an integral part of their culture. This was just how their society functioned. But because American culture is more concerned with self-sufficiency, the U.S. trauma counselors unnecessarily diagnosed many of the victims with PTSD.

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"You made us 'thank you' cookies?! We need to get you on some very aggressive medication!"

Of course, that was just a case of the American worldview misunderstanding a foreign scenario. That's not nearly as harmful as the U.S. straight up giving another country a disorder. Like the time America inadvertently gave Hong Kong a much worse version of anorexia.

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This version.

Prior to 1994, anorexia was a rare and very different thing in Hong Kong. Patients didn't experience conventional American symptoms, such as starving or body dysmorphia, but mainly had issues with food, like complaints of bloated stomachs. In short, the Hong Kong version was milder than the American version, and much less common.

It wasn't without its more serious cases, of course: In 1994, a girl with anorexia collapsed and died on a busy street. But when local papers reported what happened, they unwisely used the American DSM to explain anorexia to the public. The message was promptly taken: The number of anorexia cases exploded, and these days, 90 percent of anorexic patients in Hong Kong experience American symptoms.

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But then, we also gave them McDonald's, so maybe this is all moot and the heart attacks will get them first.

For more reasons we don't know a lot about our brains, check out 5 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Mental Illness and Jokes You Didn't Know Were Indicators Of Mental Illness.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and check out If Insurance Companies Were Honest and other videos you won't see on the site!

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SKANEATELES  Sheri Spooner has worked in hospitality most of her adult life, but she had never served a clientele quite like the members of Robert J. Hydon American Legion Post 239 in Skaneateles.

People here are super generous, kind and great to each other, she said. It's a family here.

Spooner is the house manager at the post and was so inspired by how this veteran population cares for one another that she joined in by conceiving of Operation Christmas Hope last year.

The idea is to give veterans and their families a much-needed break from the grind during the holiday season in order to start the new year off a bit brighter.

Besides toys, electronics, clothing, housewares, and hygiene and cleaning products, the operation also provides food and meals during the entire school break. The service is completely confidential and designed to help veterans in need in the central New York area.

We are paying back for their service, complete with a thank you letter from the Legion post, Spooner said.

In its first year, she was hoping to raise $1,000 to help one family, but when the post quickly raised $6,000, she was able to spread the cheer among four families while also donating funds to area food pantries.

This year, Spooner is hoping to help 10 families.

Her committee is made up of a representative from the Sons of the Legion, Jeff Dove, and an American Legion representative, Dick Pittman, who served in the Army from 1966 to 1969.

Together, they work with the Skaneateles Outreach office and also connected with Clear Path for Veterans, an organization in Chittenango that helps veterans from the Vietnam War forward dealing with issues from post traumatic stress disorder.

I'm really excited to be part of it, Pittman said. It's really going well.

The Legion family donates money or items to the cause, while Spooner also collects sponsors and hosts fundraisers once a month from October through December.

Next up is the guest bartender fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Area bartenders from the Amber Inn and Dutch Hollow, radio personalities, special guests and even people from the Skaneateles Post Office donate their time behind the bar and their tips toward the operation.

While Legion members can bring guests, area veterans are encouraged to join the post.

Members get really involved putting dollhouses together, wrapping and making deliveries, Spooner said.
Security News

Norton EVP: Lifelock Acquisition Will Allow Symantec To Expand Services, Partner Network

Sarah Kuranda

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Symantec's acquisition of LifeLock is a big boost to the company's consumer business, but Norton Executive Vice President Fran Rosch said partners should expect to see some benefits to the enterprise security portfolio, as well.

Symantec announced late Sunday that it would acquire LifeLock for $2.3 billion, with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2017. LifeLock offers a collection of identity protection and remediation services for consumers.

In an interview with CRN, Rosch said the LifeLock acquisition moves Symantec into more value-added services, above and beyond its traditional Norton antivirus portfolio. Rosch said Symantec was drawn to LifeLock because of its ID analytics capabilities, high customer rankings and strong partner channel.

[Related: Another Blockbuster Buy: Symantec Plans To Acquire LifeLock For $2.3B]

"In the past, we have seen a lot of our customers most worried about PC-based malware and viruses, which they now expect to be solved. Now, their hottest topics are around identity theft, the privacy of their information and where it is," Rosch said.

"This market is such a fast-growing market. In the Norton space, there is a lot of competition and identity protection is a faster growing market. Combining [these two companies], the consumer business will be growing and maintaining strong profitability. We're really excited about the positive growth this will bring for Norton and for our partners," he said.

Rosch said the benefits of the deal, while primarily focused on the company's consumer business, will also bleed into the enterprise side of the house. He said LifeLock's ID analytics business could appeal to enterprise customers, as well as its fraud mitigation service. He said the company's big data analytics capabilities could ultimately connect with Symantec's threat intelligence database.

"That's something we want to nurture, but the consumer side will be the focus," Rosch said.

For partners, Rosch said he sees "natural" opportunity for service provider and telco partners, who are looking for additional services prospects. He said the LifeLock acquisition also opens a new channel of partners for Symantec for employee benefit program brokers, of which there are dozens.

Jason Eberhardt, vice president of strategic alliances at Chicago-based Conventus, said he is "very excited" to see Symantec continue to expand its security offerings with "an extremely strong product" from LifeLock. He said that is important because his business "will be able to offer more protection to our customers" with the combination of Symantec and LifeLock offerings.

"Cybersecurity is ever-changing and constantly evolving. These are the types of moves that keep us in the forefront. This will be great for the partners as they will be able to now offer more solutions to our joint clients," Eberhardt said.

Rosch said he doesn't expect the acquisition will have much impact on the roadmap for Norton, which he said was already focused on solidifying the security business across a variety of different areas, including its traditional business, mobile, automated home, the Internet of Things, and, now, identity protection.

"We have a balanced strategy of things that we're trying to partner on some things and make acquisitions and do some cool innovation," Rosch said.

Rosch said Norton "doesn't have any plans to do any other acquisitions" for the time being. Symantec CEO Greg Clark has said that Symantec isn't done making acquisitions yet and will "continue to do the inorganic things that we've done for many years."

Clark said Symantec plans to build on the four pillars of information, users, web and messaging security in its enterprise security portfolio. Rosch said after the LifeLock acquisition, the enterprise security business "has no intention to do any other acquisitions at this point, but we do have flexibility for the future."
Do We Have to Go to Church to Be Christian?
CTA and coronavirus

Wednesday, March 18, Wageningen, NETHERLANDS  The worldwide spread of the coronavirus is impacting on all our lives, wherever we live. CTA is taking steps to minimise the impact of this on the Centres staff and partners, while our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the disease (COVID-19) and its consequences.
At 61, Bo Derek still looks just as stunning as ever.

The actress, whom's break-out movie was the 1979 hit "10," celebrates a birthday Monday and she looks simply phenomenal.
The Connecticut Hospital Association has received a grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation to create a Connecticut Social Health Initiative, which will focus on addressing social determinants of health that exacerbate health care disparities.

We are grateful for the support of the Connecticut Health Foundation as we continue our work together to improve health equity, said Jennifer Jackson, CEO of the Connecticut Hospital Association in a news release. Through the Connecticut Social Health Initiative, we will collaborate to address the social determinants that negatively affect health outcomes.
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Who said references from the Bushes dont hold water with Donald Trump?

The president-elect is turning to two of George W. Bushs most trusted Connecticut acolytes to help drain the swamp at the State Department, which Hillary Clinton led as secretary of state during Barack Obamas first term.

Charles Glazer and Christopher Burnham  Bushs respective ambassador to El Salvador and State Department chief financial officer  have been named to Trumps transition team at the agency.

Glazer is a Greenwich investment banker who served on the Republican National Committee and led Trumps fundraising effort in the state. He is close to former House Speaker John Boehner, in addition to Trumps controversial attorney general pick, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., with whom Glazer was photographed last week in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City.

I am honored to be leading President-elect Trumps landing team at the State Department, Glazer told Hearst Connecticut Media. We look forward to working closely with the Obama administration to facilitate a smooth transition. It is nice to see so many familiar faces. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the foreign service officers and staff for their continued service and dedication to our country.

Burnham, a former resident of Stamford and Greenwich, was elected as state treasurer in 1994 after serving in the Legislature. At the State Department, the Gulf War veteran rose to assistant secretary of state. He later filled a similar CFO role at the United Nations.

Citizen Kane

The pick-up of three seats by the GOP in the state Senate, where control of the chamber is now split 18-18, has emboldened one Republican member to aim higher.

Rob Kane, a five-term senator whose district includes Seymour, Oxford and Bridgewater, is the latest member of his party to form an exploratory committee for statewide office in 2018. He isnt committing to a specific race.

In September, the deputy minority leader pro tempore won a gubernatorial straw poll over a stable of GOP contenders that included Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. Kane had a decisive home-field advantage, as the poll was conducted by Republicans in Bethlehem, in his district, during the towns annual country fair.

All Republicans, were not just wealthy millionaires from Greenwich, Kane said. Were regular guys from Watertown who own a small business and know how to make a payroll.

Kane, 49, is the owner of KarTele Cellular Phones, a Waterbury retailer of remote starters, alarms, stereos and wireless technology for cars.

If you look at whats taking place in Connecticut and nationally, people in the middle class feel theyre getting the short end of the stick, Kane said. Im the guy that most represents those people.

Political theater

And the Tony award for best Twitter beef goes to: Donald Trump and Jim Himes.

Fairfield Countys Democratic congressman jumped into the fray over the weekend after Trump called for an apology from the cast of the hit Broadway show Hamilton for its politically charged message to Vice President-elect Mike Pence Friday night.

Maybe @realDonaldTrump will use federal power to make sure that our theaters, public arenas and newspapers are safe and special #clueless Himes Tweeted Sunday.

The salvo from Himes, a top Clinton fundraiser, came in response to this Tweet from Trump: The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!

The Twitter storm didnt stop there, however, with Trump calling the Tony-winning production highly overrated and Himes delivering another comeback.

With all that he has to do/learn on many pressing issues, @realDonaldTrump is fetishizing a polite request by actors. Unpresidential! Sad! Himes Tweeted Sunday.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
Dependent on federal aid for about $6 billion, nearly a third of the its annual budget, blue-state Connecticut may need to bend to the will of national Republicans in a variety of ways to maintain the flow of funding from Washington.

But, using tactics that date to the antebellum South of the mid-1800s and even the segregationists of the early 1960s, state officials, members of Congress and constitutional lawyers are already plotting strategies to assert states rights.

We have changes in administration on an ongoing basis, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said last week. Connecticut is going to have business to do in Washington and Washington is going to have business in Connecticut. We have a different president. I dont expect any administration to break the law.

Where state law conflicts with the campaign promises of Donald Trump  on immigrants, abortion, gay, lesbian and transsexual rights, gun safety and social service spending  Connecticut will stand firm. Malloy expects that state attorneys general throughout the nation will be watching out for the rights of their residents.

Its incumbent on every state to protect their citizens, Malloy said.

The 10th Amendment of the Constitution sets out states sovereign rights, particularly in areas where federal policies dont supercede, said Douglas Spencer, a University of Connecticut School of Law professor.

More Information Flow of federal money to Connecticut in 2016 Department of Social Services: $4 billion State Department of Education: $577 million Department of Public Health: $280 million Department of Emergency Management & Public Protection: $125 million Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: $90 million Department of Rehabilitation Services: $89.3 million Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: $89 million Office of Early Childhood: $53.1 million Department of Aging: $29 million Department of Economic and Community Development: $26.5 million Military Department: $24.4 million Judicial Department: $23.2 million See More Collapse

A lot of the law is about allocating resources, said Spencer, who teaches constitutional law. That gives us a lot of power in Connecticut.

A quarter century ago, during the George H. W. Bush administration, Connecticut maintained progressive programming, including the states first ban on military-style weapons, as well as tougher insurance and banking regulations, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who was state Attorney General at the time.

I was a vigorous advocate of state sovereign rights, Blumenthal said. I would argue that most federal laws dont pre-empt state action. I find tremendous irony that during the Bush years, I was championing states right against a Republican administration.

Points of divergence

If Congress pre-empts sanctuary city programs, New Haven and Hartford, in which mayors and police chiefs have ordered officers not to check the immigration status of residents, could face court battles or federal funding losses.

He can threaten people to do what he wants, but that will take time, Spencer, the UConn professor said of Trump. Its quite possible that cities can lose their funding, but it would take a year to 18 months at the soonest.

The states medical-marijuana program, too, could face challenges. State law conflicts with the a federal law that classifies cannabis as a dangerous drug and without medical efficacy. President Barack Obamas Justice Department decided it wasnt worth pursuing criminals charges against Connecticut marijuana growers, dispensaries and patients. A new administration could decide otherwise.

We can nullify the federal law if we do not think its constitutional, Spencer said.

Southern states used similar sovereign powers to continue slavery before and during the Civil War, and 100 years later to promote Jim Crow segregation policies of separate-but-unequal schools and public accommodations.

Blumenthal was a member of the General Assembly 30 years ago when lawmakers codified abortion rights into Connecticut law.

Our powers are very consequential and they offer, in some respects, a chance for us to become Fortress Connecticut, if the federal government becomes in effect insensitive or unwise in public policies or if it fails to protect individual rights and liberties, he said.

Anxiety turns to cash

David McGuire, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said that nationwide reaction to Trumps victory has resulted in an unprecedented $7 million in donations to the organization since the election.

Were looking to see what the national rhetoric has at the state level, McGuire said. It shows real concerns around the country. Immigration, criminal justice and police accountability are major areas in which the ACLU-CT will be vigilant.

The term make America safe again is a thinly veiled plan to crack down on inner cities, McGuire said, concerned that so-called stop-and-frisk tactic, which has been ruled by courts as racist, could be revived under Trumps administration. Connecticut is a leading state in criminal-justice reform, he said. In fact, Connecticuts prison population of about 14,900 is the lowest it has been in 20 years.

Spencer said that legal challenges could take years to settle.

Coming from the private sector, Trumps biggest challenge will come from the separation of powers and the courts, which follow due process, Spencer said. Those processes will thwart a lot of what he wants to do.
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MILFORD  Its not easy being a bird in Connecticut and experts say that that things will only get worse.

The Connecticut Audubon Society on Tuesday released its 10th annual Connecticut State of the Birds report on Monday which painted a sobering portrait of bird species in the state, many of which are seeing drastic population drops over the past two or three decades.

We have learned a lot about tidal marsh birds in the last ten years  thats the good news. said UConn professor Chris Elphick, who specializes in wildlife species. The bad news is that many of these species are on a rapid trajectory to extinction.

He said that the salt march sparrow has seen its numbers decline at a rate of about 9 percent annually since the 1990s.

And all of the other species that nest in the marshes are on the decline as well, he said. If you look at the marsh habitat, youre seeing big changes in plant species because the marsh has been getting wetter over just the last ten years, he said. Sea level rise is happening and because of the effects of global warming, the marshes are changing.

Bird conservationist and report co-author Patrick Comins agreed. Ten years ago, there were two endangered species and now nine more species have been added to that list since then.

He said the long-tailed duck has seen its numbers decline by about 80 percent in the last four decades and a similar drop was seen with the semipalmated sandpiper.

These were two of our most abundant species, he said. The king rail, the least bittern have seen similar declines.

There are some bright spots, however. Connecticut Audubons Senior Director of Science and Conservation Milan G. Bull said that all of the efforts to bring back the piping plover has shown some success. There has also been improvement seen in the osprey population.

But Bull said that policies put in place since the mid-20th century to preserve forests have worked almost too well. Now, he said, Connecticut has a lack of fields and grasslands, along with the species that need this habitat.

We need the transitional forests  the shrub-scrub habitat  to maintain diversity, he said. Surprisingly, concern over the New England cottontail rabbit, which relies on this kind of habitat, has given many of these bird species a chance.

Jenny Dickson, the supervising wildlife biologist for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said that conservationists have been able to move the needle through partnerships with private landowners, with other states and with municipalities in adding more grassland and scrubby habitat.

But a lot of the habitats that grassland species like are also prime places for hard development, she said.

Bull called for more money for research, particularly money to plan for sea-level rise, which will require the creation of landscapes that will will become future salt marshes.

Were also calling on funding to update the Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas, Bull said. This hasnt been updated in 25 or 30 years to give us a perspective that will help make the proper management decisions to help Connecticuts bird populations.

jburgeson@ctpost.com
CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
ATLANTIC SKIES: Stellar asterisms  eye-catching pretenders to the constellation throne and just part of the bigger picture

Most everyone, or at least most amateur astronomers, are familiar with the constellations in the night sky to some degree. Many, however, may not be familiar with the numerous asterisms in the night sky. What is the difference between a constellation ...
Like many people, Im thankful today and every day for the animals  especially the dogs  in my life. Because of our canine companions, we are happier and healthier in so many ways. Here are some excellent reasons to be thankful for them.

A recent study showed that children who live with animals are more likely to develop strong immune systems than kids without such exposure. They are also less likely to develop asthma or to become allergic to animals.

Dogs affect our physiology in a number of positive ways. Petting dogs (or playing with them) raises our levels of oxytocin, which is the same hormone that induces feelings of romantic love and plays such a large role in the bonding of mothers and babies. Interacting with dogs also lowers the level of cortisol, which is strongly associated with feelings of stress. Perhaps the reduction of stress partially accounts for the lower blood pressure and decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides of dog owners compared with their dog-free peers.

These physiological benefits of dog ownership may explain why people who own dogs have better recovery rates following heart attacks than people without dogs, but exercise may also be a key factor in the enhancements to our health due to dogs.

Dogs get us out of the house. They need exercise, and that means that in weather that is foul or fair, many dog owners head outside, like it or not. Dog walking decreases the likelihood of obesity and keeps us fitter than we might otherwise be. Our dogs need for exercise also keeps us in touch with our friends and neighbors. Its common to walk dogs with friends, or make new ones who are also out walking their dogs.

Pets make great social facilitators, according to a variety of scientific studies. People pay more attention to people with dogs and are more socially engaged with them. Bystanders are more helpful to people in need of assistance who have a dog with them.

Dogs may even make you more attractive. A man asking women out had more success when he was with a dog than when he was alone. For the sake of science, one man asked 240 women for their phone number. Of the 120 times he did this without a dog, 11 out of 120 women (9.2 percent) said yes, but 34 out of the 120 women (28.3 percent) who heard his pitch when he had a dog were charmed enough to comply with his request. This threefold increase in success shows that wingdogs are superior to wingmen!

There are so many people who feel better around dogs, whether that means they feel less lonely, they have a sense of purpose or they have a reason to smile. Its common for those in the worst throes of grief to give their dogs credit for the few laughs that they have while in such pain. Still others are made to feel whole by their dogs, feeling as though they are literally not complete without them.
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Somerset County Treasurer will 'do what it takes' for best returns
Warburtons has launched an advertising campaign with The Muppets to promote its new Giant Crumpets.

The Giant Crumpets expand the diameter of the companys standard crumpets from 90mm to 130mm while maintaining the same texture and thickness. They are intended to persuade the public to use crumpets for dinner by topping them with foods including eggs, bacon and spinach.

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the rest of the crew joined company chairman Jonathan Warburton in an all-singing, all-dancing commercial, filmed at a Los Angeles recreation of Warburtons office. Initially aired as a two-minute-long version, a variety of shorter edits will be shown in the run-up to Christmas.

The campaign cost 25m, which comes on top of a 7m investment in two new plants to create the crumpets.

Warburton told The Grocer magazine: Our Stallone ad generated a huge amount of interest about the business and the challenge has been what we can do for an encore. Many people expected us to do another Stallone ad, but we want to be constantly moving; in these days of information overload, getting stand-out marketing of any kind is a huge challenge.
We have grave reservations about Philip Hammond

This paper has had many criticisms of George Osborne, not least his outrageous scaremongering during the referendum.

But, as Chancellor, we always acknowledged his considerable strengths. His determination to cut the deficit, rein in spending and rebalance the economy towards the private sector helped take us from the brink of ruin to being Europe's fastest-growing economy.

So we have grave reservations about his successor Philip Hammond's zeal to put Mr Osborne's deficit-reduction targets to the sword.

True, his plans to spend more on infrastructure projects could stimulate the economy. But borrowing to fund them will just increase our terrifying national debt  which already stands at 1.6trillion and costs 43billion a year in interest payments alone.

Worse still, the indications are he intends to raise some of the money with a tax raid on middle-class workers. He is said to be targeting 'perks' such as company cars, health insurance and mobile phones.

But these stealth taxes would be grossly unfair as well as being distinctly un-Tory. Aren't the Conservatives supposed to be the party of low taxation?

Let us not forget that despite all the shroud-waving, public spending is still rising  from an eye-watering 756billion this year to 821billion in 2020.

We have a very simple message for Mr Hammond. If he needs money, he should make genuine cuts there  not penalise those who have already borne so much of the burden of austerity.

Osborne's determination to cut the deficit, rein in spending helped take us from the brink of ruin to being Europe's fastest-growing economy

Rise of the superbug

The revelation is alarming enough in itself; two-thirds of all the 'fresh' chicken sold in supermarkets is infected with E.coli bacteria.

But when we also find that the strain concerned is a mutant 'superbug' which is resistant to antibiotics, the implications become truly frightening.

So with 2.2million chickens eaten in Britain every day, what is being done to tackle this deeply disturbing threat to the national health?

Two-thirds of all the 'fresh' chicken sold in supermarkets is infected with E.coli bacteria

The rise of superbugs has been driven by the intensive use of antibiotics by farmers to prevent disease in their flocks and maximise profits. Successive governments have known of the problem but done shamefully little to tackle it.

Tougher rules must be drawn up to regulate the use of antibiotics on farms and a ban considered on those which are also used regularly in human medicine.

The Food Standards Agency must enforce strict hygiene standards at abattoirs and poultry farms to prevent the spread of disease and supermarkets must do far more to ensure that the chicken on their shelves does not constitute a health hazard.

We're all in favour of cheaper food but the well-being of our families comes first.

Something to hide?

WHAT does pensions minister Richard Harrington have to hide about his secret weekend junket with insurance industry bosses at the luxurious Gleneagles resort?

Apparently it was mere coincidence that immediately after it, his department axed a flagship policy to allow pensioners to cash in rip-off annuities for a lump sum  a reform which would have cost insurance companies millions?

In which case, why withhold minutes and speeches from those meetings? As long as they do, Mr Harrington and Economic Secretary Simon Kirby will remain under a cloud of suspicion.

Did they succumb to lobbying and put the industry's interests above those of the elderly?
Paranoia has set in at the top of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Over the weekend, its chairwoman, Alexis Jay, complained about the 'almost continual attacks' against it, going on to blame 'people who would like to see it fail because it suits their agenda not to want dark institutional failings brought into the light'.

She went on to rail against her inquiry's 'critics'  presumably newspapers such as the Mail which have, indeed, attacked the incompetence of a process which has so far spent over two years and 20 million without even starting its public hearings.

I can understand why Jay  the fourth head of an inquiry which has already chewed up and spat out three previous chairwomen  feels got at.

But she is deluded if she is insinuating that its media critics have 'an agenda' to protect 'dark institutional failings'. Let me reassure Professor Jay that papers such as the Mail have no agenda in this, other than a desire to report the facts, however inconvenient either to her or the Government.

Over the weekend, its chairwoman, Alexis Jay, complained about the 'almost continual attacks' against the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

And the facts about this inquiry are astonishing. It is in chaos. Its most central legal figures have been abandoning it  and I don't just mean the three judges who quit, to leave Jay (previously just a member of the inquiry's panel of experts) holding the increasingly dilapidated fort.

Its lead counsel, Ben Emmerson, deserted in September, as did his deputy, Elizabeth Prochaska. She herself had been taken on only after Hugh Davies QC had resigned as deputy to Mr Emmerson.

Blunders

More recently, Toby Fisher, the counsel responsible for its contentious investigation into the late Labour peer Lord Janner, also quit. And last week the barrister leading its investigation into abuse in Catholic and Anglican establishments, Aileen McColgan, threw in the towel.

At least some of these resignations were caused by the chaotic leadership of the inquiry  and none by journalists with a 'dark agenda'. Nor is the Press responsible for the fact that Emmerson  according to a statement made in Parliament under privilege by the Labour MP Lisa Nandy  has been accused of a sexual assault at the headquarters of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Emmerson's lawyers vehemently insist this accusation is 'categorically untrue'.

We shall learn more about all these matters in the coming days, when the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee publishes a letter sent to it by Hugh Davies QC, in which the IICSA's previous deputy lead counsel is believed to have set out his criticisms of the way the inquiry has handled accusations of sexual assault in its own offices. Given that Jay claimed last week that she would 'shine a light' on the 'dark institutional failings' which she seems to say the Press are attempting to keep hidden, this is irony almost beyond parody.

Professor Jay's contention that the attacks on the inquiry came only from those determined to see it fail was in any case demolished last week by the announcement from the largest 'survivors' group' that they had lost faith in it.

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, representing hundreds who claimed to have been abused at children's homes in Lambeth, south London, declared the inquiry was 'failing publicly and tragically' and they wanted no further part in it.

This is an especially deadly blow, as the inquiry was set up by the then Home Secretary Theresa May, after she had met groups such as that from Shirley Oaks. They are the reason the IICSA exists: its moral authority depends upon their support.

The Shirley Oaks group had a particular beef against Professor Jay because she is a social worker, and they had been placed in those homes by social workers.

Actually, it's most unjust to assume Jay would twist proceedings to protect her profession: I am sure she would not. But a social worker is still a completely inappropriate chair of what is a quasi-judicial process, involving complex matters of law and long sessions of cross-examination of witnesses.

The previous chair, Lowell Goddard had to quit

One reason the previous chair, Lowell Goddard, had to quit, was because it became embarrassingly clear that this New Zealand judge was ignorant of what she termed 'local'  that is, English  legal procedures.

Incidentally, it was the Press which brought this to light. The Home Office, which was well aware of Goddard's failings, tried to hush the matter up.

The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, claimed to MPs that she accepted Goddard's resignation purely on the grounds that the New Zealander was 'lonely' and wanted to go home. Later, evidence came to light that Ms Rudd had, indeed, been told by her officials that Goddard's basic competence had been called into question.

Similarly, the Home Office just stood by as the Metropolitan Police committed blunder after blunder in its investigations into claims by a man known only as 'Nick' that he had been a victim of sexual torture by a group including the late Prime Minister Edward Heath and Britain's most distinguished soldier, Field Marshal Lord Bramall.

It was all lies, without a scintilla of evidence  even though the policeman in charge of the investigation blithely declared to the BBC that 'Nick's' story was 'credible and true'.

It was only when an exasperated Lord Bramall finally decided to tell journalists how inept, credulous and dilatory were the police in this matter, and we started to look into 'Nick', that the public began to realise what a scandal this was.

Depravity

Did we have a 'dark agenda'? No, unless that describes the concern we felt for a 92-year-old war hero treated like a dangerous gangster by the 20 police officers who raided his Surrey home, crawling over it for ten hours, even as his wife lay dying there.

And when real abuse needs uncovering, it has been the Press that has led the way.

Last week, Professor Jay's colleague at the Inquiry, Dru Sharpling, rushed to her defence, citing the sexual abuse of children by British Asian gangs in Rotherham: 'One woman uncovered that abuse  and that was Alexis Jay.'

Lead counsel, Ben Emmerson, deserted in September, as did his deputy, Elizabeth Prochaska

It is true that Jay delivered the blistering 2014 report into sexual exploitation in Rotherham, which led to the resignation of a number of those in authority who had failed to act. But the person who 'uncovered that abuse' was a journalist, Andrew Norfolk.

Starting in 2012, the Leeds-based Times reporter defied the local police's threats and persuaded his editor  at considerable legal risk  to publish details of the depravity he had discovered.

As one of the victims of the serial abusers Arshid, Basharat and Bannaras Hussain, said: 'People were trying to come forward and they were just being ignored. Andrew Norfolk published my story and thank God he did. That triggered off the Jay report . . . everything that has happened was due to Andrew printing the story.'

So, Professor Jay, don't insinuate that your inquiry's critics in the Press have an agenda to cover up 'institutional failings'.

On the contrary: we reveal them. Including those now under your authority.

Cryonics and a chilling vision on immortality

A dying 14-year-old girl wins the right to have her body frozen, saying she hoped '200 years later' she could be brought back to life  and suddenly we've all become experts in 'cryonics'.

This is the (completely implausible) view that defrosted corpses could  one day  be successfully 'cured'. The craziest part is that many advocates of this bizarre practice believe it will make them immortal.

It's a horrible thought  especially if it were to work. You might imagine death is the worst thing that could happen, but immortality would be even less enjoyable for the few who attained it.

The cryonics Institute in Detroit Michigan where Patient number 143 is the youngest British child to be cryogenically frozen

This was brilliantly satirised in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Gulliver visits the land of Luggnagg, where some are born with the gift of immortality: they are called Struldbrugs.

Gulliver is, initially, thrilled: 'Happy Nation where every Child hath at least a Chance for being immortal! Happiest beyond all comparison are the excellent Struldbrugs . . . without the Weight and Depression of Spirits caused by the continual Apprehension of Death.'

But the Luggnuggians soon enlighten Gulliver, pointing out how miserable the Struldbrugs are, not least because they are unable 'after 200 years to hold any Conversation with their Neighbours the Mortals; and thus they lie under the Disadvantage of living like Foreigners in their own Country'.

You only have to imagine the existence of that 14-year-old child, if re-animated in 200 years, to realise Swift was right.
Defying the Strictly judges' scorn, Ed Balls remains on the BBC1 show as the 'People's Champion'  but he might get even more support when they discover his key role in stopping Britain joining the euro.

Forget his flailing feet and diabolical dad-dancing, a new book reveals that he's The Man Who Saved The Pound.

While adviser to the then Chancellor Gordon Brown, Balls plotted with him to derail Prime Minister Tony Blair's dream of the UK becoming more firmly wedded to the European superstate by adopting the single currency.

Defying the Strictly judges' scorn, Ed Balls remains on the BBC1 show as the 'People's Champion'

Although Brown has been given the credit for Britain not joining up to the euro  which, of course, has become a toxic symbol of so much that is wrong with the EU  it is Balls to whom we should be grateful.

The book  Inside Story: Politics, Intrigue And Treachery From Thatcher To Brexit by veteran Westminster watcher Philip Webster  shows how Balls drew up the five economic tests about the readiness of the UK economy which had to be met before ministers would consider joining.

Webster says Balls deliberately set the bar very high in order to prevent British entry to the euro.

He explained: 'He could not say so at the time because it would cause a political earthquake. Keeping Britain out of the single currency is justifiably seen as Gordon Brown's most important achievement. But it is impossible to overstate the role of Ed Balls.'

Forget his flailing feet and diabolical dad-dancing, a new book reveals that he's The Man Who Saved The Pound

WHAT KNIT WITS! A Commons motion praising the wool industry has been tabled by Lib Dem leader Tim Farron. Predictably, it has triggered countless jokes about the Lib Dems still being a party for people who wear naff woolly jumpers, sandals, have beards (men only, I presume!) and who munch muesli. Advertisement

Adding to calls for the next General Election to be brought forward so as to give the Government a proper mandate for its blueprint to pull Britain out of the EU, there is also concern the due date, May 7, 2020, will clash with big national celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day the following day.

The Royal Family, foreign statesmen and party leaders are due to gather for a ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and for a commemoration service at Westminster Abbey.

Street parties are also expected across the country.

But should a General Election be allowed to overshadow such an important date in our history? Also, won't politicians cynically try to hijack the inevitable spirit of nationalism sparked by the events? Watch this space . . .

Brothers Grim...

These are grim times for brothers Miliband. Still in exile in New York and licking his wounds after his buddy Hillary Clinton's defeat, David says he's in 'great distress' at the state of Labour as it trails more than ten points in the polls.

Speaking at the JW3 Jewish community centre during a visit to London, he said he was 'flattered' that people still wanted him to run for the Labour leadership but he had moved on from a political career.

These are grim times for brothers Miliband

Now running a charity in Manhattan, he said: 'The fact we are probably now further from power than we have been since the Thirties is very distressing. The question that confronts us at the next election is whether Labour is in a position to be an Opposition or not.'

Meanwhile, brother Ed joined David in his vale of tears about the state of the world, saying: 'Appalled by Boris Johnson saying he shares values of freedom and democracy with Trump.'

The staff at Madame Tussauds are frantically making a waxwork of Donald Trump to be ready for display in time for his inauguration in January. Senior sculptor David Gardiner told BBC Radio 5 Live that to make his preposterous coiffure, 25,000 dyed yak hairs will have to be individually fitted.
Do you swear in front of your kids? Email FemailAU@mailonline.com

Speaking to Daily Mail, Ms Foy said she likes to be honest with her children

'Swear words are just words. They help me express myself,' she said

She said that she was raised this way and she doesn't think it's bad

She recently penned a post on how she openly swears in front of her kids

Maria Foy is a mum of two and a mummy blogger from New Zealand

For some people, swearing comes as naturally as regular language.

Take New Zealand-based mum of two, Maria Foy, who recently wrote a blog post on how she has always been a swearer.

Ms Foy is of the opinion that being potty-mouthed is not detrimental to a child.

'For me, swear words are just words. They help me express myself, especially when I'm emotional; but they're still just words,' she wrote.

Honest: Mummy blogger and New Zealand mum of two, Maria Foy (pictured with her daughter), penned an honest post on her blog recently

Potty mouthed: In it, she spoke about why she swears openly around her two children (pictured)

Ms Foy said that she swears happily around her two and four-year-old kids, teaching them that the words she says are 'adult words'.

'When they become an adult, they can choose to use them or not. This was how I was raised,' the blogger told Daily Mail Australia.

While she said that she isn't reserved around her children, Ms Foy also added that her kids haven't 'sworn once around me since I adopted this philosophy'.

Lesson: Ms Foy said that when she swears around her two kids, she teaches them that the words she uses are 'adult words' (pictured: Ms Foy's children)

Technique: While she said that she isn't reserved around her children, Ms Foy also added that her kids haven't 'sworn once around me since I adopted this philosophy'

'I am allowed to swear. I am allowed to use words to express how I feel, no matter what words those are.

If, as a person, you are offended by my swearing then that is on YOU and not on me. I do not swear to offend people... I use words to help me express myself

'If, as a person, you are offended by my swearing then that is on YOU and not on me. I do not swear to offend people... I use words to help me express myself,' she wrote.

Maria Foy said that she has sworn at her children a couple of times in person, but she will never do it on social media.

'It is always one of those moments that is instantly regretted, and often happens because of the rage that comes over me during extreme moments as a parent,' she wrote.

Divisive: According to the mummy blogger, if you're offended by her swearing, then that is on you rather than on her

Normal: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her controversial parenting technique, Ms Foy said: 'Curse words often just slip out during everyday conversation'

Real: 'I've always been big on letting my kids know what's what, and try to be honest with them about life,' Ms Foy said

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her controversial parenting technique, Ms Foy said: 'Curse words often just slip out during everyday conversation'.

Whether it's f**k or s**t, she finds it hard to apply a censor:

'I've always been big on letting my kids know what's what, and try to be honest with them about life,' she said.

'If I banned the words completely then I would be a hypocrite because I use them myself and my kids wouldn't understand that.

'So it's better for me to explain to them that as an adult, they are allowed to swear.'
Mr Torres has some 1.2 million followers on Instagram for his work

The ink creates an optical illusion and makes marks less noticeable

The artist, from Sao Paulo, uses strategically-placed ink to hide them

Forget oils and creams. This way of getting rid of your stretch marks is perhaps the most ingenious yet.

Tattoo artist, Rodolpho Torres, from Sao Paulo, has built up an Instagram following of 1.2 million; all because he specialises in stretch mark tattoo camouflage.

Mr Torres minimises the appearance of stretch marks by using strategically-placed ink.

His tattoos create an incredible optical illusion and make any pesky marks immediately less noticeable.

Now you see them: Tattoo artist, Rodolpho Torres , from Sao Paulo, has built up an Instagram following of 1.2 million; all because he specialises in stretch mark tattoo camouflage (pictured)

But how does the talented tattoo artist do it?

As he explains on Instagram, Mr Torres fills in the lighter lines of the contours of the scars with a flesh-coloured ink.

This blends into the stretch marks so that they look the same colour as the client's skin.

Clever: Mr Torres minimises the appearance of stretch marks by using strategically-placed ink - the tattoos create an incredible optical illusion (pictured)

Method: As he explains on Instagram, Mr Torres fills in the lighter lines of the contours of the scars with a flesh-coloured ink (pictured)

Once the tattoos have had a chance to heal, the person's skin looks smoother and more evened out.

While in certain lights, it seems as though you can see the marks, part of the optical illusion means they're not as obvious.

Mr Torres often shares snaps of his alternative method on Instagram, via before and after shots which rack up thousands of likes, views and shares in the process.

'I have to save up for this, this is amazing,' one keen commenter posted.

Difference: Once the tattoos have had a chance to heal, women's skin looks smoother and more evened out (pictured)

But while Mr Torres's inventive idea has resonated with a global audience and is proving incredibly popular, it's worth bearing in mind that there could be drawbacks.

Dermatologist, Dr. Doris Day, told Fashionista that tattooing could lead to complications.

'It can work, but the thing is, what a stretch mark is, basically, is loss of skin,' she said.

'The risk is, if [a tattoo] is done by someone who doesn't understand how to [treat skin], you can end up with a scar, and a potentially worse problem, especially in an are that's already thinner and missing some of the essential elements of skin.'
While many parents are scraping together money for their children's Christmas presents, the Fitzgerald family are saving up for a day that should never come.

Their young daughter's funeral.

Little Indie is only four but she is battling a rare and terminal brain wasting disease that will probably kill her before she turns six.

Every day her parents Dean, 27, and Bec, 25, face the excruciating choice of staying home to spend time with her, or going to work so they can pay for her care.

Tragic: Four-year-old Indie (left, with her sister Ivy) is battling a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder

In 2015 Indie was diagnosed with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and central nervous system

Happy family: Indie (centre) is pictured with her father Dean (left), mother Bec (right) and little sister Ivy

In 2015 Indie was diagnosed with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and central nervous system.

She has already lost her ability to talk and walk, is slowly losing her vision, and has been rushed to hospital 15 times this year.

Her parents, from the Sunshine Coast, feared her most recent visit would be her last, and last week their friends began fundraising to pay for her funeral.

'We are preparing ourselves': Indie's parents have said the genetic condition was likely to kill her before she turned six

Making memories: Mother Bec (right) said she wanted her little girl's dying days to be as happy as possible

Thankfully, little Indie pulled through her recent health scare and was healthy enough to return home for the 2nd birthday of her little sister, Ivy.

WHAT IS INFANTILE NEUROAXONAL DYSTROPHY? Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy is a degenerative disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. Symptoms - including difficulties with movement and learning delays - typically appear between six and 18 months after birth. Other symptoms can include loss of hearing, loss of sight and a lack of awareness in surroundings. INAD is a very rare genetic condition. It has been estimated that it affects one in every 200,000 children. Source: National Institute of Health Advertisement

But mother Bec told the Sunshine Coast Daily that the family had to remain realistic about Indie's prognosis.

'[Her death] is going to happen eventually,' she said.

'We are preparing ourselves. She is deteriorating quickly.

'She has lost most of her movement.'

Her father Dean is a casual worker who only gets paid for the shifts he can fit in at the office.

The family has started fundraising so he can spend more time with his firstborn daughter in her dying days.

'Our goal is to make Indie's life as happy and comfortable as possible,' Bec wrote on Go Fund Me.

'Doing the things she enjoys and making memories that will stay with our family forever is all that we want.'

For more information on Indie's condition visit: https://www.facebook.com/indiesfight/




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The Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson's London mansion has sold for 11.5million - three years after she first put it on the market and for 4million less than the original asking price.

The 49-year-old artist and film-maker's six-bedroom home in Primrose Hill was put up for sale in 2013 for 15.5million but never sold, then marketed again in 2015 with a new price tag of 14million.

The sale price is only a slight increase on the 11.1million Taylor-Johnson paid for it in 2008 - and estate agents are pointing to rising stamp duties at the top end of the market as the reason wealthy owners are being forced to slash prices to offload their luxury properties.

Despite a bumper reduction, the 11.5 million sale price still makes it the second most expensive house bought in the NW1 postcode this year and the fourth biggest deal in the Camden borough, according to Land Registry data.

According to the Land Registry the new owner paid 11.5million for the six-bedroom home in Albert Terrace, Primrose Hill

The airy mansion, which has views of Primrose Hill, has been described as one of the most 'iconic' homes in the area

The stunning kitchen at the property in Albert Terrace, Primrose Hill, which the film director paid 11.1million for in 2008

The film director, pictured with her husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson at a party in 2015, originally wanted 15.5million for the property when she first put it on the market in 2013

The property has six bedrooms, two reception rooms, a huge games room in the basement, a balcony, and off-street parking for three cars.

Sam Taylor-Johnson, 49, and her 26-year-old husband, the actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who have been in the US promoting Aaron's new film Nocturnal Animals, sold the home through Knight Frank, which described it as one of Primrose Hill's 'most iconic' homes.

The film director paid 11.1million for the home - which is more than six times the size of the average British home - in 2008 during the last housing crash.

She failed to strike a deal on the property after putting it up for 15.5million in 2013, and rented it out before eventually putting it back on the market last year with an asking price of 14million.

Stamp duty on Sam Taylor-Johnson's house at 14 million would have been 1.6 million. Two years ago it would have been 1,085,000.

The new buyer will now pay 1.3 million in stamp duty as opposed to 805,000 if the deal was done in 2014.

The film director's home has been sold for 11.5million - only a slight increase on the 11.1million Taylor-Johnson bought it for in 2008, during the housing crash

The Primrose Hill mansion, bought for 11.1million by the film director in 2008, has six bedrooms, two reception rooms, a games room and a balcony

The Taylor-Johnsons have been among a number of A-list stars who have struggled to sell their homes in London over the past 18 months.

Jamie Oliver has reduced his Primrose Hill home on two occasions while Tom Conti hasn't found a buyer for his 15 million home. Noel Gallagher's home has languished on the market for more than one year.

The reason many estate agents are giving for the struggling market is the changes in stamp duty at the high-end.

There are now calls for chancellor Philip Hammond to shake-up stamp duty in this weeks Autumn Statement.

The Taylor-Johnson's former property in Albert Terrace has been in the news on a number of occasions.

In 2014, police visited the property after reports there was a machine gun spotted through a window on the dining table. It turned out to be a deactivated M16 rifle being used as part of a charity art project.

Earlier this year, the celeb couple rented the property out on a luxury AirBNB-style website for 890 per night, prompting complaints from neighbour John McCririck about people partying at the pad.

Nick Davies, head of residential development at Stirling Ackroyd, said: 'Targeting top end buyers of properties valued at over 1 million might have been good politics at the time, but the policy is crippling Prime Central London, with potentially damaging consequences for the capital's property market down the road.'

Robin Paterson, joint chairman and CEO of United Kingdom Sotheby's International Realty, wants stamp duty to be halved at the higher end.
Showing off your skivvies used to be a fashion faux pas, but times have clearly changed as seen at last night's American Music Awards.

Whether it was Nina Dobrev's sheer underpinning peeking out of her tailored blazer, model Hannah Davis's strapless bra showing through her sheer dress or Ariana Grande's corset worn as a top, last night's sexiest looks prove that the underwear-as-outerwear trend is here to stay.

Shop FEMAIL's roundup of bras that are just too pretty to keep under wraps.

White hot: Ariana Grande, 23, (left) wore a longline lace bra as a top, while Taraji P. Henson, 46, (right) let her black balconette bra peak out from her white shirtdress at last nights AMAs

SHOP IT NOW

Bralettes: Left: Cos bra, $25, cosstores.com. Right: Anine Bing bra, $89, aninebing.com

Silky pinks: Left: Fleur du Mal bra, $64, net-a-porter.com. Right: Carine Gilson bra, $258.07, farfetch.com

Pretty prints: Left: Lonely bra, $90, net-a-porter.com. Right: Hanky Panky bra, $48, journelle.com

Autumnal colors: Left: Topshop bra, $38, topshop.com. Right: Stella McCartney bra, $100, matchesfashion.com

Suits up: Nina Dobrev, 27, (left) rocked a longline sheer bra under her Zuhair Murad short suit, while Bella Thorne, 19, (right) donned a bralette under her pantsuit at last night's AMAs

Balconette beauties: Left: Elle Macpherson Body bra, $65, net-a-porter.com. Right: Mimi Holliday bra, $80.10, mimiholliday.com

Strappy options: Left: Topshop bra, $38, topshop.com. Right: Mimi Holliday bra, $96.12, mimiholliday.com

Longline bras: Left: Natori bra, $76, journelle.com. Right: Zara bra, $15.90, zara.com

All in the details: Left: Hanky Panky bra, $48, revolve.com. Right: Lascivious bra, $108.29, farfetch.com
David Lindo has been barmy about birds since the age of five, but he only morphed into his alter ego the Urban Birder  whose website is flocked to by thousands of British ornithologists  when he was invited to present a five-minute item on Springwatch ten years ago.

I wanted a distinctive name, he recalls. City Birder, perhaps? That didnt sound right. And then it came to me: Id call myself the Urban Birder.

'My inspiration was Jamie Oliver. He was known originally as the Naked Chef, which automatically set him apart from the other people doing food on TV. Were now firm friends.

David Lindo has been barmy about birds since the age of five, here he reveals his secrets to wildlife photography

The nickname goes back to his childhood in north-west London, when he developed an insatiable curiosity about birds. When he was nine he found a book in the library called Birds Of Britain And Europe With North Africa And The Middle East.

It felt like finding the Holy Grail. I became a walking, talking ornithological encyclopaedia. My classmates called me Bird Brain, but birds are my life.

Which is one of the reasons why hes an ideal choice to join the judging panel for Weekends 2016 Great British Wildlife Photography Challenge. This is your final chance to enter, and David urges you not to miss it.

I never go anywhere without my camera, which has a zoom facility I use to fire off hundreds of shots, he says. Then when I get home I use the best ones for research on different species.

Turtle dove: You can see the chestnut lining of the turtle doves wing feathers here. Its numbers have fallen by 90 per cent in the past 40 years and this shot captures its vulnerability'

Beautiful bullfinches: This shows the red-breasted male and the female bullfinch together, which I really like. You see the female less often  shes not as colourful but still a beautiful bird

After school he took jobs in a tax office and as a media sales rep but continued with his passion, becoming head of membership for the British Trust for Ornithology in Norfolk.

While there he was involved in a video for Readers Digest in which he talked about birds in his patch, the area around Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London. Someone at Springwatch saw that video, and David was invited to appear on the show.

I was preaching my familiar sermon: you dont have to be in the jungle to see a rich variety of birdlife. And its often easier to observe wildlife in an urban setting because you can get closer to it.

'For example, theres a species called a northern wheatear which youre most likely to see on moorlands or stone walls but theyre migratory so you might find one sitting on a goalpost in north London.

The best bird of all: I love the gentle expression of this ring ouzel, my favourite bird. Theyre difficult to get close to so this seems to suggest the bird was unaware of the photographer. Its incredibly powerful because it captures such a private moment

'To a bird a park is scattered woodland and a tall building is a cliff, so look up and you might see a peregrine falcon taking a rest.

Since that Springwatch appearance hes become the Urban Birder full-time. I realised what I had to say wasnt being said by anyone else. Its important that people realise nature isnt just in the countryside or on TV. Its right in front of you.

David started knocking on doors and in 2007 he was rewarded with several spots on The One Show, and now he pops up on Countryfile, Countrywise and Springwatch. For the past eight years hes led birding tours all over the world; this year hes travelled to Peru, Spain, Portugal and Serbia.

So whats his favourite bird? A thrush called the ring ouzel which is usually found in Dartmoor, Snowdonia and the Cairngorms. It looks like a blackbird with a white crescent on its chest.

'There are only 7,000 pairs in the UK and their population is decreasing. I never thought Id see one but 14 years ago I went out in search of one on my patch. Id all but given up when I turned, looked over my shoulder  and I swear this is the truth  saw one fly above my head and land 50m away. I cant describe my elation.

Unsurprisingly theres not much time for a Mrs Lindo, but he does have a very understanding girlfriend who sometimes accompanies him on trips. I feel blessed that I can do what I love, he says.

Now hes urging Weekend readers to enjoy Britains birds. Theres nothing more revitalising than getting in touch with nature. So go out and take pictures of it. And throw away your lens cap too so youre ready to capture the unexpected.

Visit theurbanbirder.com.
Whether she insulates herself from criticism or simply doesn't care, Kylie Jenner seemed totally unfazed by accusations made last year that she stole her Kylie Cosmetics artwork from a California make-up artist. She's so unconcerned, in fact, that she's found herself facing similar charges once again.

Last December, the 19-year-old beauty mogul was in a bit of hot water when Los Angeles-based cosmetics pro Vlada Haggerty pointed out the striking  and damning  similarities between make-up artwork she shared on Instagram and that which Kylie's Cosmetics shared.

With the release of her new holiday collection, it seems quite possible Kylie or someone on her team turned to Vlada for inspiration once again, as one of the reality star's new ads looks nearly identical to a photo shared on Vlada's Instagram in September.

Scroll down for video

In trouble again? Kylie Jenner has come under fire for this image promoting her holiday collection

Seems a bit familiar... The image looks a lot like one shared by make-up artist Vlada Haggerty in September

Uh-oh! Vlada pointed out the similarities on Instagram after people started attacking Kylie in the comments

On September 24, Vlada  who has an Instagram following nearly a half million strong  posted a picture of a make-up look she created on model Britt Rafuson.

Shot by Julia Kuzmenko McKim, the image shows and open, pouty mouth with bold red lips, teeth just peeking through. The model's hands are crossed over her eyes and covered in a shiny gold powder. The stunning photo caught the attention of over 22,000 Instagram users.

And at least one of them may have been Kylie or a Kylie Cosmetics employee. On Saturday, the brand's Instagram account uploaded a new campaign photo for the holiday collection, shot by photographer Marcelo Cantu (who also shot Kylie for campaign images).

Dishonest: She chastised the brand for not giving her or her photographer credit

What a pro: Vlada has nearly half a million Instagram followers who love her creative cosmetics ideas

This photo also sees a close-up of a model's face, with pouty red lips, teeth just showing, and gold dust-covered hands placed over the eyes.

Fans  and Vlada herself  were quick to notice. Some followers commented on the Kylie Cosmetics image, charging that it was a 'cheap copy'. Many others commented with strings of snake emojis.

The same day, Vlada shared a side-by-side comparison of the photos on Instagram, highlighting their incredible similarities.

'Really @kyliecosmetics? Haven't you gotten enough "inspiration" from me already?' she wrote bitingly.

Noy nice: Last year, Kylie Cosmetics shared this image  created by Vlada  without attribution, passing it off as their own

Backtracking: Once she started pointing it out, Kylie Cosmetics took the image down

The former 'inspiration' Vlada referred to involves a similar scandal last year. When Kylie was poised to debut her metallic lip kits, she posted an image of several pouty mouths dripping with luxe rose gold gloss.

Except in this case, the picture wasn't even a recreation of one Vlada had shared  it was the exact image.

After the snap was picked up my several news outlets, Vlada pointed out that it was really stolen goods.

'And the insanity continues,' she wrote, shouting out to Graftobian Makeup Company, which made the products used in the image. 'What can we do about it? This is your loose metallic powder in Copper mixed with the clear gloss!'

Inspo: Vlada is known to post images of lips dripping with cosmetics, long before Kylie's brand debuted

Not taking blame: Kylie did not comment on the original controversy and has said nothing this time around, either

Soon after, websites started giving Vlada attribution, but Kylie's team never fixed the situation and simply deleted the image altogether.

'Nobody reached out to me before or after the incident. I did message the brand through Instagram on the day of the repost, but there was no response,' she told Refinery29 at the time.

'Crediting artists is essential, but this goes beyond that. It's theft; this is our livelihood...I see these things happen too many times to artists. We are all trying to make it, and this business is extremely competitive. I would ask anyone at this level use the proper channels to obtain images.'

Similar: Even Kylie's Lip Kit packaging looks like photos Vlada has posted

Not the first time: Earlier this year, a beauty vlogger with her own make-up line pointed out that Kylie's eyeshadow palette looked similar to her own

Kylie has also been accused of taking 'inspiration' for her products themselves, not just the artwork.

In July, New Zealand beauty vlogger Shaaanxo posted side-by-side photos of Kylie's then-new eyeshadow palette with her own palette for BH Cosmetics. Once again, the similarities were clear.
Swap Champagne for vintage French red to propose over, says Charlotte

Prosecco to go with Sunday roast and Chardonnay to calm pre-date jitters

Most people's lives are punctuated by several major milestones, such as moving out of your parents' house, going on your first date, and getting married.

And for every single one of these momentous occasions, there is a perfect wine to match, according to an expert.

Charlotte Calvet, founder of the online Garmence Wine Studio, has shared with Femail Food&Drink her top wine recommendations for those huge life moments: from what to drink (responsibly) when you've had a bad day, to the bottle you should take home to see the in-laws.

THE PRE-DATE WINE

Charlotte Calvet, founder of the online Garmence Wine Studio, has shared with Femail Food&Drink her top wine recommendations for every occasion, from a romantic night in to meeting the in-laws

The perfect pre-date wine according to Charlotte is a Vermintino di Gallura (11.50) as it's 'fun, lively and zingy'

Whether you have butterflies in your stomach or a growing sense of dread, a small glass of Vermintino di Gallura (11.50) is the tonic you need, according to Charlotte.

'Fun, lively and zingy, this Italian stallion is sure to put you in the mood,' says Charlotte.

THE BAD DAY WINE

From little upsets (you missed your train and got a coffee stain on your new top) to major calamities (again, you missed your train and got a coffee stain on your new top), sometimes you just need a glass of wine to make it all go away.

Charlotte says: 'For those days when nothing seems to be going your way, a glass of Spanish merlot is like slipping into a silky enveloping blanket.

'Full bodied and reassuring - it makes you think that tomorrow is a new day'.

Try a Rioja, on sale at Garmence for 9.

THE WINE FOR YOUR IN-LAWS

If you really want to impress the in-laws, buy a Cremant De Bordeaux as it's very similar to Champagne but doesn't have the same extravagant price tag

Winning over the in-laws may just be one of the hardest tasks on this planet - and no, that's not an exaggeration.

But luckily, there's even a wine for that, according to Charlotte.

She says: 'Impress the in-laws with a fresh and fruity sparkling Cremant de Bordeaux (14).

It marks the occasion, without appearing too lavish, plus you can demonstrate your impeccable wine knowledge by discussing how its just like Champagne but from another area.

'A sure fire hit with the parents.'

THE WINE TO PROPOSE OVER

Woo your beloved not with Champagne, but with a vintage Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (25 from Laithwaite's) red, says Charlotte

Think nothing says romance like Champagne? Well, that's where you're wrong, according to Charlotte.

In fact, the best tipple with which to woo your beloved is a vintage and bold French red.

'It has to be Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (25 from Laithwaite's),' says Charlotte. 'Even if Champagne seems the right thing to do, nothing says serious, long term and commitment like vintage royalty.

'Dark, smooth and smouldering, this rich Merlot should have the desired effect!'

THE SUNDAY ROAST WINE

Charlotte recommends drinking a Utiel-Requena (left, 9.99 from Majestic) with a Sunday roast before cleansing the palette afterwards with a bottle of Prosecco (right, 6.75 from Tesco)

One of Charlotte's choices for the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday roast may surprise you.

Though she says a classic Spanish merlot is a 'no brainer,' French fizz can also go down a treat with such a hearty meal.

'A good Spanish merlot is... the perfect partnership with a juicy beef rump or a succulent lamb leg,' says Charlotte.

'But follow with a soft but spritely Prosecco to cleanse the palette and give your Sunday some sparkle.'

She recommends a Utiel Requena (9.99 from Majestic) followed by any Prosecco (6.75 from Tesco).

THE ROMANTIC NIGHT IN WINE

A Vire Clesse (13, left) will show the world you're ready to move out of your parents' house, while a Plan De Dieu (right, from Laithwaite's) will woo a romantic partner

Champagne will always romance your partner, but a deep red is another way to your love's heart, according to Charlotte.

'This is all about passionate pairing,' she says. 'If you want to go all out, oysters and Champagne are a match made in heaven, or pair a fiery chilli dish with a spicy Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone (such as a 2011 Domaine Martin from Laithwaite's) to really turn up the heat.'

THE THURSDAY FUNDAY WINE

It's not quite the weekend, but it's close enough that you can start letting your hair down a little early.

Charlotte recommends responsibly enjoying a white Pouilly-Fume to get in the party mood.

'What better way to toast the (almost) arrival of the weekend than with a glass of Pouilly-Fume (12). In France we call this "jeudredi"  celebrating Thursday as the new Friday - and Pouilly-Fume is the perfect accomplice: like your fun, happy friend that you go on an adventure with.'

THE 'I'M MOVING OUT' WINE

When you first fly the nest, it can be a frightening prospect for both you and your parents.

But show them and the world that you're independent and in control by making sure you have a sophisticated Chardonnay in the fridge, according to Charlotte.

She says: 'Chardonnay is enjoying a cultural renaissance  no longer a drink for lonely housewives and book clubs.

'Try a chilled glass of a Vire Clesse and luxuriate in lavish lemon and stone fruit.

'To note, an oaked Chardonnay will be a heavier wine with buttery hues where, as unbaked will be fresher and more on the citrus side.'

Garmence sells a Vire Clesse for 13.00.

THE SATURDAY NIGHT IN WINE

A Chianti goes well even with a takeaway, according to wine expert Charlotte

Sometimes, a night in is so much more satisfying than a night out.

And if you're ordering a takeaway and settling with friends or loved ones for the night, crack open a bottle of Chianti, says Charlotte.

'A classic Chianti makes even the humble take-away feel like youre ordering a feast,' she explains. 'Great with a creamy carbonara, a four-cheese pizza or even a chicken tikka masala.'
Her pupils were flabbergasted when she returned to work after storming to victory on this year's Great British Bake Off.

But now baking champion Candice Brown, 31, has finally put her PE teaching job on hold to pursue a glitzy celebrity baking career, she announced today.

The Bedford beauty, who beat Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth to win this year's hit final last month, said it was an 'agonising' decision to leave her Hertfordshire school - but that she had been struggling to juggle her teaching job with the new opportunities being offered in the wake of her GBBO success.

Candice Brown, 31, (pictured at the Great British Bake Off Childline Ball in September) has quit her teaching job weeks after her GBBO victory

Candice beat Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth to win this year's hit final in October (pictured) - and has now she said she is quitting teaching to pursue a celebrity baking career

Candice, whose last teaching day at her secondary school was on Friday, said: 'My headteacher told me: 'You've got to do this, you can't do it half-heartedly. I wouldn't forgive myself if you missed out.

'It's not that we don't want you here but you have to give it 100 per cent. If we can't encourage our staff to follow their dreams and inspire, then we are not doing our job properly. You are showing the kids that anything is possible.'

'It was so incredibly lovely of him to say that.'

The PE teacher, who lives with boyfriend Liam and pug Dennis, told Hello! magazine last month that her students were shocked when she returned to work after her win, with many assuming she was a millionaire after she wowed judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with her baking skills.

Candice (pictured after it was announced she had won Great British Bake Off) had her last teaching day on Friday

The PE teacher (pictured at a Waterstones book signing last month for a recipe book tie-in with the TV series), told Hello! magazine last month that her students were shocked when she returned to work after her win

Candice (pictured at the Pride of Britain Awards last month) said she had been inundated with opportunities since her win and had struggled to juggle them with her teaching job

But in the weeks that followed her win, she has struggled to juggle her day job - which involves working with children with special needs - and new committments.

She she could not have left to pursue fame and fortune had it not been for the support of staff at her school, Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted.

Candice said: 'This has been such an agonising decision to make. Never in a million years did I ever go into the show thinking this would happen. That is why I have been back at school teaching since I won the final.

'I have been teaching for about eight years now and I love it. But since winning the final, I have also been completely bowled over by the amazing opportunities that I have been offered.

'At first, I kept telling the school I would stay until December but they were so incredible and told me I had to grab everything whilst I could.'

Brown said her school suggested she leave now, rather than at the end of this year, because doing so would inspire the school's pupils to follow their dreams.

Candice (pictured with judge Mary Berry after her GBBO win) said leaving teaching was an agonising decision to make

Candice (pictured with boyfriend Liam at the Pride of Britain awards last month) said that her headteacher had told her to leave before the end of the year so that she wouldn't miss out on any opportunities

Candice (pictured with fellow finalists Jane Beedle, left, and Andrew Smyth, right, at a book signing last month) said it was very emotional saying goodbye to her pupils

She said that it was very emotional saying a fond farewell to her pupils and fellow staff at the end of last week.

'I will miss them so much,' she said. 'I work in special needs and you are fighting the children's corner so much. But I have had long conversations with my parents and my boyfriend, Liam, and I know it is the right decision.

'I can't thank the school enough, especially my head of department, Elly, who has been amazing, and I feel so grateful for the fact they have been so supportive. I keep thanking them all the time. It's such a great new chapter for me.'

She plans to take her time to map her future but Candice, who has signed up with a team of TV agents, says that she has to keep pinching herself since winning the BBC1 show.

'It's been completely insane and the whole feeling is overwhelming,' she said. 'I was at The Cake and Bake Show in Manchester last weekend and it really was a "stop and wow" moment.

Candice (pictured at Loose Women studios the day after her Bake Off win) says she is taking some time to plan her future

Candice (pictured at a book signing last month) says she has to keep pinching herself after winning the hit baking show

'People are so lovely and I love it but, at the same time, sometimes it can really take me by surprise. Every so often, I get hit with this wave of overwhelming emotion and I get quite emotional when I think that this is really happening to me.

'If it hadn't been for the school being so supportive at the beginning and letting me go and film Bake Off, I wouldn't be here now.'

Candice said that children at her school were surprised to see her back after viewers saw her win the series in October - the last before the show moves to Channel 4 - because they thought that she was now a millionaire.

'They asked me why I was back after the final as I was now a millionaire. I explained to them that I hadn't won a million but, in fact, a cake stand!' she joked.

'Leaving on Friday was emotional but I am excited about the future now, scared, too, and I am a bit of a worrier... but I cannot thank everybody enough for giving me this amazing opportunity and for my school letting me grab it with both hands and running with it.

'I am a very lucky person.'

A total of 15.9 million people saw Candice win the BBC cookery competition, new figures show.

It was the most-watched programme on television since 2012.
Experts say the increase is a result of growing fears over job security

Three quarters admitted going to work when they should have had time off

This was a rise from the 1 in 6 who blamed co-workers the year before

Adults are blaming their workmates for passing on their illnesses more than ever before, a survey has found.

Some two out of three full-time workers claim they have been poorly in the last year because of co-workers who refused to stay at home.

This was a rise from just one in six who blamed unwell colleagues for their coughs, colds and stomach bugs the previous year.

And three quarters of Britons admitted going into work when they should have taken some time off.

Experts say the dramatic increase of workers blaming their colleagues comes in the wake of evidence of growing job security fears.

Some two out of three full-time workers claim they have been poorly in the last year because of co-workers who refused to stay at home, a survey has found

The annual Fisherman's Friend Cold and Flu survey also found nearly 65 per cent became ill once or twice as a result of poorly colleagues.

While one in eight attributed four or more bouts of illness to unwell workmates.

Workers in the environmental and agricultural sector were found to be most likely to blame sick colleagues for their ailments, on average being made unwell by colleagues at least three times.

By contrast, those in the media and internet sectors appeared to be more considerate when it comes to spreading germs, with workers on average reporting just 1.22 spells of sickness caused by colleagues.

Female workers also reported being ill as a result of poorly workmates more often than males, 71 per cent compared to three in five.

Workers in East Anglia were found to be most likely to face the effects of a poorly colleague, with one in seven attributing at least one bout of sickness to a co-worker.

Experts say the dramatic increase of workers blaming their colleagues comes in the wake of evidence of growing job security fears.

While Yorkshire and the Humber was found to be the region least likely to spread ailments within the office.

Fisherman's Friend spokesman Rob Metcalfe said: 'Making up the second part of our annual Cold and Flu Survey, our new findings come hot on the heels of data showing that concerns over job security and not wanting to let colleagues down are making workers struggle on even when ill.

'It's logical, therefore, that we have also found a striking increase in workers attributing the spread of coughs and colds to each other.
A student ended up fighting for her life after her common bladder infection turned into deadly blood poisoning.

Lucy Saxon, 23, a third-year nursing student in Chester, had relied on painkillers to overcome her backache that she developed in June this year.

But when she could no longer stand the intense pain in September, she visited hospital. Here she was given antibiotics for a urinary tract infection.

Just hours later, she started to shiver uncontrollably. Her mother, Trish, 51, and father, Andrew, 50, rushed her to A&E after she began to vomit.

Doctors raced her to resuscitation before revealing the infection had travelled into her blood and developed into sepsis.

Lucy Saxon, 23, had relied on painkillers to overcome her backache that she developed in June this year. But when she could no longer stand the intense pain in September, she visited hospital where she was given antibiotics for a urinary tract infection

Miss Saxon said: 'I thought I was going to die. I couldn't believe my own body  which had been fighting a urine infection  was now killing me.

'I started vomiting, shivering and could not get warm and the pain was unbearable.

'I couldn't believe what had happened. Mum said if I hadn't got to hospital on the Sunday I might not be here.'

She added: 'I went from suffering a painful back to feeling like it was the end.

'I knew my back ache was bad. I'd wake up, take painkillers and be in agony and by September I could barely walk.

'The week leading up to attending accident and emergency, I was up most nights in agony. But I didn't think it would lead to this.'

Doctors discovered her temperature was 40.5 C and her heart rate was 150 beats per minute.

A healthy temperature is between 36.5 and 37.2 C and a safe resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 bpm.

Just hours later, she started to shiver uncontrollably. She was rushed to A&E after she began to vomit. Doctors raced her to resuscitation before revealing the infection had travelled into her blood and developed into sepsis

Blood tests were conducted and an antibiotic treatment began.

It was discovered her CRP - C-reactive protein (a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation) - was over 300 - an indicator of sepsis  when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.

HOW TO SPOT THE WARNING SIGNS If a child or adult who has had any infection  even a mild cold  develops one or more of the following symptoms, call 999 immediately and say you think they have sepsis: Abnormally cold to the touch.

Breathing rapidly or struggling for breath.

Very lethargic or difficult to rouse.

No urine (or wet nappy) for more than 12 hours.

Skin mottled, blueish or extremely pale. If sepsis is suspected by doctors, treatment with antibiotics must begin as soon as possible  ideally within an hour of diagnosis  even before blood tests have been carried out. Advertisement

Sepsis leads to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Normally a person's CRP is 3.0 mg/dL  but it rises when there is inflammation in the body.

After being moved from resuscitation, she was taken to a high-dependency ward at the hospital.

There she was pumped full of intravenous antibiotics and fluids.

Over the next few days, her conditioned stabilised, but she remained in hospital for the next two weeks to fully recover.

Now Miss Saxon, who has briefly been readmitted to the same hospital following kidney problems, wants people to be aware of the dangers of sepsis.

'It needs to be caught early,' she said. 'As a third year student nurse I feel very strongly about raising awareness of sepsis and how it can affect anyone at any age, of any gender and with any job.

'Mine started with a back ache  yours could, too.'

Miss Saxon was helped by the Sepsis Trust. For more information visit http://sepsistrust.org/

After being moved from resuscitation, she was taken to a high-dependency ward. There she was pumped full of intravenous antibiotics and fluids
Schools are saturated with bacteria from mice, exacerbating kids' asthma, a new study warns.

More than one in 10 children suffer from asthma, the leading chronic illness in under-18s - and that figure is rapidly escalating.

Studies have so far been unable to pinpoint exactly what is causing the boost in diagnoses.

But a new study by Boston's Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School has identified the staggering scale of allergens in public high schools which cripple lung function.

A new study by Boston's Children's Hospital has identified the staggering scale of allergens in public high schools which cripple lung function in asthma sufferers - primarily mouse allergen

The researchers studies 284 children from 37 inner-city schools in the Northeast.

They tested samples from the students' homes and classrooms.

Mouse allergens were the most commonly-detected type of dust in both schools and homes - but far more in schools.

Higher exposure to mouse allergen at school was associated with increased asthma symptoms and lower lung function, according to the results.

None of the other airborne allergens were associated with worse asthma outcomes.

While dust is commonly pinpointed as an aggravator for asthma sufferers, the researchers found very little evidence of dust allergens in both the schools and the homes.

Cockroach and rat allergens were mostly undetectable in schools and homes.

'These findings suggest that exposure reduction strategies in the school setting may effectively and efficiently benefit all children with asthma,' Dr Wanda Phipatanakul and colleagues wrote in JAMA Medicine.

'Future school-based environmental intervention studies may be warranted.'

The study is the first to concretely analyze the level of mouse allergens in public schools.

It comes after a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics warned children with asthma to beware allergens indoors.

'Exposure to indoor allergens, such as furry pet allergens, mice and cockroaches, and mold, are linked to more severe asthma,' said lead report author Dr Elizabeth Matsui of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

'Children exposed to the things to which they are allergic may require a higher dose of daily asthma medication and have exacerbations more frequently,' Matsui added.

'Once these exposures are removed, children typically have a marked improvement in their asthma.'

Asthma rates are as high as 25 percent in some U.S. communities.

For the report, researchers focused on previous studies of indoor irritants and to explore how avoiding certain triggers for asthma attacks might help keep children healthier.

Up to about two-thirds of children with persistent asthma are allergic to cats and dogs, according to the report.

Dust mites and mold are more common in environments where humidity is high, the report notes.

An estimated 30 percent to 62 percent of children with persistent asthma are allergic to dust mites, which are microscopic members of the spider family, and roughly half are sensitive to mold and regularly exposed to it.

Cockroaches and rodents may be an even bigger issue, however.

Roughly 75 percent to 80 percent of U.S. homes contain detectable amounts of mouse allergen, the report says, and concentrations in homes in urban neighborhoods with high poverty rates are as much as 1,000-fold higher than those found in suburban homes.

While second-hand tobacco smoke exposure is a known problem, parents and caregivers also need to keep in mind that fumes and fine particles from gas ranges, wood stoves or fireplaces can be an irritant for some kids with asthma, the report also warns.

In addition, chemicals found in household cleaners and air fresheners can be respiratory irritants and trigger asthma symptoms.
Annette McKenzie will never forget how happy her teenage daughter Britney appeared to be on the evening of July 6 this year.

'I keep replaying that night over and over again and she seemed in such a good mood,' says Annette.

'She came in from a friend's house, made me a cup of tea and we sat together to watch Big Brother. It was so content and normal  with no signs anything was out of the ordinary.'

With her two younger children watching a video in another bedroom, Annette chatted away with Britney.

'Then she made us both another drink, told me about her plans for the weekend and went to bed. I said I loved her and she replied cheerfully: 'Night, Mum, love you.' '

Britney Mazzoncini (left), pictured with her mother Annette McKenzie (right). Britney's parents were unaware that she had received anxiety pills from a local GP

That night, Annette and her partner, Britney's father, Ray, went to bed believing their family was safe and well.

They were unaware that 16 days earlier Britney had been to a GP near their Glasgow home complaining of panic attacks, depression, night-time fears and suicidal thoughts.

Nor did they know the GP  on her first and only meeting with the vulnerable teen  had prescribed her 84 anxiety tablets to be taken three times a day for a month.

The drug, a form of beta-blocker, slows the beating of the heart. It is often used to treat high blood pressure, but is also prescribed for anxiety attacks.

As her parents slept, Britney chatted on social media and apparently received a message that upset her deeply.

It has never been traced, but it is known she sent a message to a friend via the mobile app Snapchat saying: 'I so hate bad news.'

She then took an overdose.

'I had no idea there was anything wrong until I heard a thud in Britney's room and a banging on the front door at exactly the same time,' says Annette, 35.

'I fumbled for my phone and saw it was 3.17am.

'Ray opened the front door and we saw Britney's friend. She asked if Britney was OK and I said: 'Of course, she's in bed asleep.' Then her friend said: 'She's taken an overdose.' '

The couple ran into Britney's room to find their daughter lying on the floor.

As her parents slept, Britney (pictured) had chatted on social media and apparently received a message that upset her deeply. She then took an overdose

'She looked terrible. Her stomach was swollen and huge, her eyes were wide open and black.

Ray took her in his arms and she started to fit and then exhaled a deep breath  which I believe was her last,' says Annette.

'I raced into the hallway to the phone and dialled 999 and screamed at her friend, asking what she had taken.

'She said 'Her own pills,' but I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. I shouted 'What do you mean, her own pills?' and she said: 'The pills the GP gave her.'

'I was stunned. Ray came running out with an empty box of tablets, so I told the emergency operator it was anxiety pills.

'I think they knew we were in big trouble because they sent two ambulances  one for Britney and a second to take me to the hospital.

'I think they knew she would need CPR and didn't want me in the same ambulance.

'When we arrived at the hospital, I jumped out and saw the paramedics were giving her compressions as they raced her to A&E.

Annette says Britney was 'full of compassion and loving. She helped anyone in distress and one boy later told me that her support when he was bullied had saved his life'

'I was in total shock. Someone led me to a room and Ray arrived. He felt terrible because he hadn't been able to give Britney CPR while she was fitting.

'No father should ever have his daughter die in his arms. It will haunt him for ever. Britney was always Daddy's girl.'

The family were incredibly close-knit. Ray, a car valeter, and Annette, a carer, had been childhood sweethearts and when they discovered she was pregnant at 18, they couldn't have been happier.

'While other teenagers were out partying, we were so happy making a home for our family. When Britney was born, the three of us all grew up together,' says Annette.

The closeness of this devoted family was sealed with the arrival of daughter Rhiannon, 14, and son Bradley, nine.

Annette says Britney was 'full of compassion and loving. She helped anyone in distress and one boy later told me that her support when he was bullied had saved his life'.

Her sister and brother adored her  she walked her little brother to school every day.

Annette (pictured), a carer, and Ray, a car valeter, had been childhood sweethearts and when they discovered she was pregnant at 18, they couldn't have been happier

As they waited at the hospital, the couple prayed their darling daughter would survive, but Annette says that 'deep down, I knew she was gone.

'I think she died the moment she gave a deep breath in Ray's arms. We waited in a room at the hospital and when they told us she was gone, I lost my life, too.'

Over the next few days, police launched an investigation into Britney's death. Anxiety pills at excessive dose had triggered a cardiac arrest. Horrifyingly, it appears Britney had second thoughts.

'The police took Britney's mobile, because her death was unexplained,' says Annette.

'They returned it seven weeks later and when I searched the history from the night she died, she had Googled what the tablets would do to her body.

'It had been a cry for help and I can't imagine her horror when it dawned on her what she had done.'

Annette later found her daughter's final, desperate Facebook messages as she tried to alert two friends.

At 2.12am Britney told one she'd taken an overdose and her stomach was 'burning'.

Britney (left), pictured with on of her friends. At 2.12a, Britney messaged on of her friends telling her she'd taken an overdose and her stomach was 'burning'

When a second friend asked why she had taken an overdose, she replied: 'I don't know.'

Her friend urged her to make herself sick, but at 2.30am Britney replied she couldn't because she was struggling to breathe.

At 2.37am, she told her friend: 'That's them [the pills] working. I'm going to go now.'

After her death, two more empty packets of anxiety pills were discovered by her sister.

Annette was told by Britney's friends she had paid the visit to the GP on June 22. Police launched an investigation and interviewed the GP.

'My daughter reached out for help by saying she was suicidal and yet the doctor told police she didn't have enough concerns to contact me,' says Annette.

'But she was concerned enough to prescribe anxiety pills

'She didn't inform me nor refer my daughter for counselling. Instead, by giving her those tablets, she handed my daughter a loaded gun.

'If Ray and I had known about her suicidal feelings, we would have sought help and made sure we checked her in the early hours.

'We would never have left her with three boxes of potentially lethal tablets.'

The shockwaves of Britney's death have shattered the family. Annette (pictured left) and Ray have been unable to work since

Any parent reading this will no doubt wonder how a young girl can be prescribed powerful drugs without her parents being informed.

In fact, children aged 16 and younger can make their own decisions about treatment, provided a doctor deems them mature enough.

As for informing parents, it comes down to the clinician's judgment between the right to confidentiality and protecting the child from harm.

The advice from the General Medical Council (GMC) says doctors 'should explain why you need to share information and ask for consent.

They will usually be happy for you to talk to parents and others involved'.

If a child does not agree to disclosure, a GP can share information if they judge it is 'in the best interests of a child who does not have the maturity or understanding to make a decision about disclosure'.

Guidelines such as these reflect the Gillick competency and 'Fraser' guidelines.

These were named after Victoria Gillick, a mother who launched a legal fight in 1983 to stop doctors giving confidential contraceptive advice to under-16s without parental permission.

In 1985, the House of Lords ruled it was lawful for doctors to put under-16s on the Pill provided they were 'Gillick competent'.

In his judgment, Lord Fraser set out guides that are used to assess a child's competency.

Britney's siblings, Rhiannon and Bradley, adored their sister. She walked her little brother to school every day

The effect of this judgment is seen in a study last year by King's College London, which found that 75,000 girls under 16 are being prescribed the Pill every year  in many cases without their parents' knowledge.

This amounts to one in 20 schoolgirls, with some as young as 12.

A barrister and medical ethicist, Dr Daniel Sokol says: 'The key question is not age, but whether the child has the maturity or understanding to make a decision to disclose.

'If the doctor believes it is in the interest of the child for this information to be shared, GMC guidelines allow the doctor to breach confidentiality [and] inform the parents.'

But as Annette and Ray discovered, a crucial judgment about confidentiality was made by a GP their daughter saw on the basis of a single visit from a child she'd never treated before.

They have complained to the GMC, which is investigating the GP.

Annette has also launched a petition with the Scottish Parliament calling for consultation with and consent from a parent or guardian before prescribing medication for mental ill health if the patient is under 18.

She insists she doesn't want to deter under-18s from seeking help from a doctor and says she 'accepts there has to be doctor-patient confidentiality on matters such as contraception and teenage pregnancy'.

Annette says Britney (pictured) had suffered stress and low mood two years ago from online bullying, but overcame this with the support of her parents

'But I believe there should be an exception made for teenagers with mental health problems. It is horrifying to think they could be handed pills their parents don't even know about, like we were.'

IF YOU THINK SOMEONE HAS TAKEN AN OVERDOSE: Stay calm. Call an ambulance on triple nine (999). If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them on their side in the recovery position. Make sure that the airway remains open by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Check breathing and monitor their condition until help arrives. Do not try to make the person vomit. Do not give them anything to eat or drink. Bring the pill containers to hospital. Even if the person seems okay, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice on what to do to help. The centre is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Source: Better Health Advertisement

She says Britney had suffered stress and low mood two years ago from online bullying, but overcame this with the support of her parents.

The shockwaves of her death have shattered the family. Annette and Ray, also 35, have been unable to work since.

'Britney loved Christmas, but instead of shopping for her presents, we're trying to raise the final 1,000 for her headstone,' says Annette.

'Her little brother and sister are so distraught that they won't make Christmas lists.'

'Britney will never fall in love or have children  and yet the GP who prescribed those pills so readily has the rest of her life in front of her.'

Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, told Good Health: 'The case is a tragic one and we must learn lessons from it, but we must be wary of taking any action that will discourage young people from visiting their family doctor.

'Prescribing is a core skill for GPs, and we will only prescribe medication after a full and frank discussion with the patient to see if this is in the best interests of their health.'
AAM Aadmi Party has made it clear that Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann will contest Punjab assembly polls against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.

The Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal made this announcement on Sunday.

Bhagwant Mann will be fielded against Sukhbir Badal from Jalalabad assembly segment in the upcoming state polls.

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with MP Bhagwant Mann

AAP made it clear that if Sukhbir Badal shifts to another constituency, Bhagwant Mann will follow him an contest that very assembly segment.

This move gives a clear signal that Bhagwant Mann is likely to be AAPs chief ministerial candidate in Punjab.

AAP has a history of pitting its best candidate against the biggest name from the opposition camp.

In 2013, Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal had made a similar move by contesting successfully against the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

If Sukhbir Badal shifts to another constituency, Bhagwant Mann will follow him an contest from that very assembly segment, AAP made it clear

Arvind Kejriwal had also contested against Narendra Modi in 2014-general elections from Varanasi.

While the AAP made it clear that its most popular face in Punjab would take on the most powerful leader from ruling dispensation, the Shiromani Akali Dal was hesitant in declaring the assembly segment for the incumbent deputy CM.

The AAP has planned to intensify its engagement with the voters in the constituency of Sukhbir Badal to send a strong message that the party is serious in replicating its electoral victory attained in Delhi.

Arvind Kejriwal is likely to address 21 rallies in Punjab over next 10 days. Tomorrow, I will also make public the details of Swiss bank accounts of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh and his family members.

He has amassed huge wealth by looting Punjab when he was the chief minister from 2002 to 2007, the Delhi Chief Minister alleged.

Mann, who was accompanying Kejriwal, said he was ready to take on Badal. I feel honoured that this opportunity in Punjab has been given to me, the MP said.

AAP to release Dalit manifesto

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will release the Aam Aadmi Partys Dalit manifesto in poll-bound Punjab this week, where the scheduled caste community makes up around 32 per cent of the population.

Kejriwal will release the first-of-its-kind document, targeting a specific community and detailing its systemic oppression, during his 10-day-long visit to the state, which began on Sunday.

The manifesto is a product of the Dalit Dialogue series held by the party across Punjab that began in August.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a public meeting to protest against demonitisation by central government at Azadpur Mandi in New Delhi

Around 10-12 dialogues have been organised in Dalit-majority areas of the state.

Members of the community can come and freely exchanged views and gave suggestions to be included in the document, AAPs national organisation building head Durgesh Pathak said.

Its launch will be the highlight of Kejriwals tour, where he will address 21 rallies, Pathak said.

During the open sessions, members of the Dalit community were also given a form where they could put in their feedback and recommendations which have been factored in while drafting it, Pathak said.
Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are the latest members of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has led India for many years since independence

'Absolutely not.' This was how Congress president Sonia Gandhi responded when asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be compared with late Indira Gandhi as a tough leader.

'There is no comparison,' she said.

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today Television Network, Gandhi said it does not trouble her when political observers or politicians compare Modi with Indira Gandhi.

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today, Sonia Gandhi (right) said it does not trouble her when political observers or politicians compare Modi with Indira Gandhi (centre)

'I have my very clear views,' she said. The second woman to commandeer the Gandhi family after the demise of her mother-in-law and her husband Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress president expressed confidence in her party's revival.

'I think it is possible and we will come up from 44 seats to the seats needed to get full majority in Parliament. In politics, you lose and you win,' said Gandhi, drawing parallel from Indira's ability to spring back to power in politics.

'When Mrs Gandhi was made the party president, she was ridiculed, she was insulted from within the party and she overcame it. Every era of politics has its problems, leaders and opposition,' she said.

Talking about her entry into politics, Gandhi said: 'I wouldn't be in politics if it were not for her (Indira Gandhi).

'The first decision was whether to join politics or not. I did not want to join politics. I did not want my husband to join politics.

'He was very happy in his life as a pilot. As a duty towards my mother-in-law and husband and the party, I joined politics. I thought on my side, it was a bit of cowardice to not.'

Joining a political family, she said, it was possible that she learnt about politics 'subconsciously' from her mother-in-law.

Talking about her entry into politics, Gandhi said: 'I wouldn't be in politics if it were not for her (Indira Gandhi). Pictured - Sonia and Rajiv's wedding.

'I may have taken inspiration from Mrs Gandhi. She (Indira) never pushed any member her family to join politics, but she brought her sons in a way that they understand her work.

I believe she was not keen to join politics. I think left to herself, she would have chosen a life of normal person. It was her duty towards the people of the country,' Gandhi said.

Sonia Gandhi

Similarly, she said her children may take a decision on their own. 'So much is expected from us, as we belong to a certain family and it gives us the strength,' she said.

Just like in a family of doctors, professor business... one or another will choose the path of the father. But there is a difference in politics, as you are elected and defeated democratically,' she added.

However, Gandhi was evasive about her son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi whose elevation to the top post has been subject to speculation for a long time.

'I am not the person to reply on it,' she said as she left the question hanging in the air but added, 'Priyanka and Rahul have different aspects of Indira in them.'

The Congress president defended Indira's decision to impose Emergency. 'I cannot say how she would see Emergency today, but if she had not felt extremely uncomfortable she would not have called for elections.'

Sonia said that joining a political family, it was possible that she learnt about politics 'subconsciously' from her mother-in-law

Gandhi said it does not trouble her when political observers or politicians compare Modi with Indira Gandhi

She said Indira's greatest contribution was her loyalty and dedication to the country.

'She never felt she was a woman amongst all the men; she always felt she was an equal.

She felt proudly for the people of East Bengal (after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971).

We used to hear horrific stories about people there and she felt terrible about it and she would discuss it with us.

She did not see herself as Ma Durga,' she said. Talking about her time with Indira when she entered the family after marriage, Gandhi said she found Indira as a doting and warm mother-in-law.

'She never made me feel like an outsider. She was a very intelligent woman, allowed me space and time to get used to new ways.

'Yes, occasionally she would tell me certain things. She was a home-maker. She had a personal and social secretary.
Insurgent groups of the Northeast are trying to smuggle in truck-loads of Indian currency from their safe havens in jungle camps of Myanmar back into India.

Union minister of State Kiren Rijiju told Mail Today: 'Incidents of smuggling of Fake Indian currency Notes (FICN) has come down to zero from November 8, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on demonetising old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes'.

Speaking exclusively to Mail Today, Rijiju said the financial backbone of anti-India terror groups in the Northeast, Left wing extremist groups in the red corridor, and terrorists and separatists had been broken by the Prime Minister's 'bold initiative' to fight black money.

Speaking exclusively to Mail Today, Rijiju said the financial backbone of anti-India terror groups has been broken by Modi's black money crackdown

Black money

The anti-India terror machinery generates Rs 700-800 crore annually.

Left-wing extremists runs an approximately Rs 300-350 crore empire.

Similar insurgent groups in the Northeast, 160 of them at one point of time, were running a Rs 350-400 crore empire.

Terrorists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir operated with an additional Rs 20-30 crore.

'Now they have no money. We have an input about Northeast insurgents trying to bring truck loads of old Indian currency and deposit them in banks.

'But they will not succeed. Apart from the police, intelligence agencies are also watching bank deposits very closely,' Rijiju added.

Local police forces across the red corridor have reported attempts to move large sums of old currency.

'Villagers have been approached to park funds at Jan Dhan accounts. But along with the police, even the state administration raising awareness amongst the people against helping terrorists and Maoists in converting their black money into white.

'They will not succeed,' he insisted.

'The government is especially watching developments in the Kashmir Valley. The separatists have no funds at their disposal.

'Terrorists cannot use FICN to pay guides or find shelter.

'People are increasingly alerting security forces about suspicious movement of anti-India forces.

'Stone pelting has stopped.

'Now they don't have Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 to pay stone pelters. They may be able to organise an odd incident but they do not have the funds to organise massive stone pelting across the Valley or move people from one area to the other for organised stone pelting,' Rijiju said.

Though incidents of stone pelting have already gone down, Rijiju insisted choking of funds supply to terrorists and separatists will mean no more stone pelting in the Valley.

However, at this point there is no evidence to suggest that 'stone pelters' in Kashmir were ever being paid.

Rijiju believes that 'stone pelting' in J&K has stopped because militants have no money to pay the stone throwers

Naxals

The government is also taking concrete steps to ensure terrorists, Left wing extremists and insurgent groups of the Northeast do not generate funds again.

This demonetisation may have been a setback to these forces, but the government is already working on a project to ensure that the multi-million rupee extortion, abduction and terror industry does not continue to flourish in the affected areas. 'There is a plan. It is being fine-tuned.
Was terrorism just a 'farce' and an 'over-rated issue' all these years for Assam?

According to the five-month-old Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government in the state, the answer is yes.

Sonowal told Mail Today in an exclusive interview in Guwahati: 'Both trans-border and internal terrorism are big challenges, but not something which could not have been tackled all these years by the previous Congress government'.

Sonowal, in an exclusive interview with Mail Today said that although terrorism is a great challenge more could have been done by the previous Congress government

'We too took up the challenge in the last five months and busted nearly 25 terror modules operating within and on the borders of Assam.

'We arrested 50 or more extremists and killed many. The Centre's support in form of constant input by the Intelligence Bureau is coming in handy,' the Assam CM added.

Sonowal linked his 'assertive stand' to the recent Independence Day celebrations in Assam.

'In nearly 15 years, this was the first time I saw such a crowd of youth and old on the streets.

'Earlier, we used to hear a terror attack news the previous night to keep us inside our homes,' he said.

'August 15 was a ceremonial affair for government offices and not local citizens. But this year, locals braved terror threats and were on the streets for three days It was a different Assam.

'Such is the nationalist fervour that we are now planning big Republic Day celebrations in January,' he added.

Sonowal took a straight aim at his predecessor Tarun Gogoi. 'The previous government used terrorism as a ploy to derail development any question against governance and state of development projects were covered under the threat of terrorism,' he said.

'Today, I am facing terrorism as one of the challenges, and not the only challenge,' he said, adding that 'an even bigger challenge now is deep corruption in governance, which the previous government left behind'.

The usually smiling Sonowal's tone became stern when asked about the Assam Public Service Commission scam.

Sarbananda Sonowal and hockey legend Balbir Singh Senior, 92-year-old triple Olympic hockey gold medallist

He said: 'There are many more involved in this scam, and many more officers and political leaders will soon be behind bars.

'We won't spare anybody as we believe in zero tolerance against corruption,' he said.

'Imagine you have been withdrawing money daily in the name of nine lakh ghost children,' Sonowal said, pointing to the latest social welfare scam in the state.

'There are many coming out of the closet,' he said. Corruption over the years only left an additional financial liability, which is now to the tune of Rs 20,000 crores, he said.

'The biggest challenge is paying salaries to government employees, which itself is about Rs 2,400 crore annually money has been constantly siphoned from revenue, transport and taxation departments of Assam,' he added.

But he is positive about investments pouring in and the Centre's assistance coming in from all ministries to the state.

'Both Hindustan Lever and Baba Ramdev's Patanjali group are investing thousands of crores, promising jobs and economic opportunities,' Sonowal said.

'The food processing sector has a huge potential. The Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only making Northeast central to his government's policy and development agenda, but in a way, Assam, being the gateway to the region, is a mutual beneficiary.
Oarsome: Former private equity shark Sir Damon Buffini

On top of his sinecure as chairman of the National Theatre, former private equity shark Sir Damon Buffini has now agreed to be an investment adviser to the Treasury.

Sir Damon, 54, who enjoys a 200million fortune, has always been an energetic sort.

He was once a regular in the gym at central London's swanky One Aldwych hotel, where a fellow member reports: 'He held the record for completing the fastest 500m on the rowing machine.

Mind you, I used to see Stelios Haji-Ioannou panting away in there too, so perhaps there wasn't much competition.'

Well-padded Mike Sherwood's shock departure as boss of Goldman Sachs' European tentacle prompts questions as to who'll succeed the bank's top dog, Dr Evil look-a-like Lloyd Blankfein, 62.

Prior to his entwinement in the BHS saga, brash, 185m 'Woody', 51, was a much-fancied contender.

Front runners are now thought to be finance officer Harvey Schwartz, 51, and Blankfein's restless deputy Gary Cohn, 56, who makes no secret of his yearning for the job.

Vodafone's German-born ex-European chief executive Philipp Humm is hosting an exhibition of his oil paintings this week at London's Riflemaker gallery.

Forced out of Vodafone during a management shake-up last year, Humm's critically lauded works command five-figure sums.

To paraphrase Scott Fitzgerald, there are no second acts in business lives, but suave-looking Herr Humm, 57, is proving him wrong.

Hosting a Q&A in New York last week, wavy gravy Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, 66, produced a pair of scissors from his breast pocket and cut off an audience member's neck tie.

He explains: 'My idea is that everyone would be far more comfortable, and therefore productive, without their ties. So cutting off every one I come across is turning my idea into reality.'

Isn't Beardie just inviting violent behaviour?

Listed among Financial Times's 'must-haves' for men: A silver Minas shaving set (8,500); an Hermes chess set (4,180); a man bag by Bottega Veneta (2,255).
Con artists enjoyed lavish lifestyles after duping pensioners out of more than 7.5million.

A total of 193 pensioners were fleeced as they were led to believe they would make huge returns from investments that never came to pass.

Instead the fraudsters spent the money on luxury cars, exotic holidays, cosmetic surgery and shopping sprees in Harrods.

Migle Sasyte, who is in a relationship with Vladimir Rusaliychev (pictured with Sasyte) who was also convicted for his role in the scam, will be sentenced in January

A court heard how the nine-man operation ran a Wolf Of Wall Street-style boiler room to cold-call savers.

Michael Foran, 27, Kallan Henry, 26 and Migle Sasyte, 31 were yesterday convicted of offences relating to the swindle after a five-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Foran was jailed for four-and-a-half years while Henry was imprisoned for 18 months.

Sasyte, who is in a relationship with Vladimir Rusaliychev who was also convicted for his role in the scam, will be sentenced in January.

The fraudsters spent the money on luxury cars, exotic holidays, cosmetic surgery and shopping sprees in Harrods

Their firms  London Carbon Credit Company (LCCC) and Henderson International  roped in customers by telling them they could profit in an 'ethically sound fashion' by buying carbon credits  which polluting companies have to buy.

However, they did not disclose there was no real market for selling carbon credits  making them worthless.

LCCC disappeared overnight in 2012 and was replaced with Henderson International, and customers were persuaded to transfer their pension funds.

James Francis Byrne, owner of LCCC and mastermind of the operation, was also convicted alongside his father James Patrick Byrne, manager Young Erumuse, training manager Samuel Henriot and salesman Max Jefferys.
Tucker Carlson, the new golden boy of Fox News, could easily have lost his TV career years ago after he was falsely accused of rape, he has revealed.

The dapper host's blossoming career - which has gone into overdrive since the huge ratings of his new primetime Fox News show - could have been cut short if the accusation contained in a lawyer's letter had been made public in the early 2000s.

And now the woman who accused him has exclusively told DailyMail.com that it was all a misunderstanding - brought on by a mental health condition from which she was suffering.

'I was delusional,' admitted Kimberly Carter, whom Carlson, 47, named in his 2003 book, Politicians, Partisans and Parasites.

She also blamed her lawyer, saying he should never have written to the TV host threatening to prosecute him for sexual assault.

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Tucker Carlson, the new golden boy of Fox News, could easily have lost his TV career years ago after he was falsely accused of rape, he has revealed

Kimberly Carter, the woman who accused Carlson, (pictured on her now-defunct accountancy website) told DailyMail.com that it was a misunderstanding

Carter, who lives in Indiana, told DailyMail.com that she suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a condition with symptoms similar to schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.

She said a friend had told her that Carlson would be at Harper's Restaurant, a burger and pizza joint in Louisville, Kentucky, and she went along to try to meet him. 'I had a bit of a crush on him at the time,' she said.

Carter, now 56, said she fell while in the restaurant, hitting her head. 'The next thing I knew people were waking me up with smelling salts.'

She said she spoke to her attorney Paul 'Matt' Blanton and told him something may have happened in the restaurant and she may have been molested, but she wasn't certain.

'I said "don't do anything about it until I find out for sure", but he went ahead and wrote the letter,' added Carter.

'I think he was trying to make a name for himself, but he didn't have my permission to write that letter,' she insisted.

Carlson's onetime accuser said she later realized she had not been molested and she wrote to him to apologize.

The TV star's new show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, debuted last Monday, drawing in 3.7 million viewers - Fox's biggest audience of the year during that time slot, according to Nielsen Media Research. The viewing figures were more than the audience for CNN and MSNBC combined.

But in his book, Politicians, Partisans and Parasites, Carlson - who has been married to high school sweetheart Susan Andrews since 1991 - revealed that the false charge could easily have ended his career in television shortly after it began.

Carlson has been married to high school sweetheart Susan Andrews since 1991 (pictured together in 2013)

He was accused while working for his first TV employer, CNN, where he was employed from 2000 to 2005. And he realized the Atlanta-based network would have had no compunction in canning him if the allegation leaked out.

'I knew the network would fire me immediately if it found out about the letter, and certainly if charges were filed against me,' he wrote.

'The one thing every journalist knows for certain about sex scandals is that they're always true. Partly true anyway.

'Maybe you didn't rape this woman, they'd think; maybe you just had unusually rough sadomasochistic sex with her and she misconstrued it. Or maybe your affair with her simply fell apart in an acrimonious way, perhaps over your cocaine habit.

'Maybe you had sex with her but never knew her name. Something definitely happened between you, though. People don't just make up specific allegations out of nothing.'

The TV star's new show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, debuted last Monday, drawing in 3.7 million viewers - Fox's biggest audience of the year during that time slot, according to Nielsen Media Research

The viewing figures for the show's debut were more than the audience for CNN and MSNBC combined

But Carlson, who has become cable news's latest 'overnight sensation' after more than a decade and a half of bouncing around from CNN to MSNBC to Fox, insists that's exactly what happened with him.

In the book, written in 2003 when he was still with CNN, Carlson went into great detail about how the supposed incident in Louisville occurred.

'We met at Harper's Restaurant on Hurstborne Parkway, where I slipped narcotics into her drink,' wrote Carlson, describing Carter's account of the attack.

'She knew immediately that she had been violently raped. By me. In the restaurant. Presumably within view of dozens of other people, not one of whom had thought to report the crime to the police or the press.

'It was a preposterous story. I'd never heard of Harper's Restaurant. I'd never been to Louisville. Judging from my schedule in March, I couldn't have gotten there. I was on television almost every night in Washington.'

But Carlson said that even though his hotshot Washington D.C. lawyer Bob Bennett explained to Carter's attorney that the accusation was simply not believable, he was given just a week to prove it was untrue or Blanton would take the case to the prosecutor.

'By the way,' Blanton allegedly added, 'we have evidence that Carlson and my client know each other. There's correspondence.'

Blanton was referring to fan letters that his client had written to Carlson, the TV talking head said.

Carlson named Carter and described the incident in his 2003 book, Politicians, Partisans and Parasites

'Twice she had sent me small gifts, keychains, and ballpoint pens. I wrote her thank-you notes both times, hence her lawyer's claim about "correspondence". I hadn't remembered any of this.

'Later, one of my producers dug up an e-mail Carter sent me. "I watch your show all of the time," it said. "You are great."'

Carlson claimed she had written it on his birthday, a month after he had supposedly raped her.

'It's hard to hate someone who is delusional, and as angry as I was, I was inclined to give Carter a pass on grounds of craziness,' Carlson wrote, but her attorney was another matter.

'(T)he weaselly, pompous little Matt Blanton - I wanted to kill him. At the very least I wanted him to pay my legal bills, which by this point had reached over $14,000, not a dime of it covered by insurance or the network. And I wanted a prolonged, groveling, preferably tearful apology for sending a letter to my place of work accusing me of a felony sex crime.'

But he didn't get either because his own lawyers pointed out that trying to sue the lawyer would only draw attention to the fact that he had been accused of rape in the first place.

'In the end, my name would be joined in the same sentence with the word rape, and it was worth at least fourteen grand to keep that from happening.'

A week after the case was dropped, Carter sent Carlson a letter.

'In light of the evidence that you provided to me, obviously the person who had assaulted me was not in actuality Tucker Carlson, but an imposter,' she wrote. That infuriated Carlson even more.

'She said sorry, sort of, and that was the extent of her contrition,' he wrote in his book.

'Because, as she went on to explain, she's the real victim here. "I don't appreciate the statements that you made about my mental status," Carter wrote, launching into a lecture about the need to show sensitivity and tolerance toward people with emotional disabilities.

'I am a highly educated individual, with multiple degrees,' she said.

Yes, she conceded, 'I am a manic-depressive.' But 'everyone of concern knows that this condition can be very well managed. It is usually the ignorant that sensationalize it. There are some very successful people who have this condition. I know many.'

'In other words," the TV host wrote, "Carter's craziness may have cost me thousands of dollars and jeopardized my career, my reputation, and my freedom. But it was still wrong of me - "ignorant" - to suggest that her mental illness might not be such a good thing.

'Nuts or not, Kimberly Carter had a lot of chutzpah,' he wrote.

Six months later, Carter contacted him again, sending a clock radio with his name on and apologizing 'for the misunderstanding.' Another letter followed in which she called herself 'Your Biggest Fan!'

'Her next card had five exclamation points, which I took as a sign of escalating mania. I looked her up on the Internet to try to assess the threat.

'She was there. In fact, she had her own website, www.accounting-computing.com, complete with a photograph of herself sitting at the computer. I'd never seen her before. She was a heavyset woman in her early forties with waist-length hair and short bangs. She didn't look crazy.

'The site gave me the creeps, and I was tempted to call her and tell her to stop bothering me,' he wrote.

'I never did, though. No matter how tempting it may be, no good can come from corresponding with the mentally ill.'

Carlson overcame the allegation and now his career is blossoming. His new shows debut last week won the second highest ratings all year for the 7 pm slot with 3.7 million viewers and continued with high ratings throughout its first week.
Boone's lawyer claims that Baldwin knew he was not getting the original but a '

Alec Baldwin has fired back at allegations he committed tax fraud on a $190,000 purchase of artwork.

The actor and Saturday Night Live Trumpalike insists the art dealer who accused him of fraud is running a smear campaign against him in the hope of diverting attention from his claim that she duped him into buying an expensive knock-off painting

n court papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court in September, the actor accused Mary Boone of agreeing to sell him the Ross Bleckner painting Sea and Mirror for $175,000 and a commission of $15,000, and then giving him a newly commissioned copy of the piece by the same artist.

Alec Baldwin (above in June) sued a gallery owner claiing she defrauded him by selling him a copy of a painting instead of the original. The gallery owner then accused Baldwin of tax cheating and asked that the suit be dismissed. Baldwin now claims Mary Boone is trying to smear him

The work: Baldwin paid $175,000 plus a $15,000 commission for what he believed was the 1996 work Sea and Mirror by Ross Bleckner (Bleckner above with paintings from the series)

He accused Boone of even fraudulently stamping the back of the art with the inventory number that the original was given.

Once the piece arrived at his home, he claimed he was suspicious due to the colors in the painting being brighter and the artwork smelled clean. He eventually took it to an expert at Sotheby's who informed him the art was a fake

Boone's lawyer claimed that his client had offered a full refund to Baldwin and tried to handle the situation in a professional manner

He continues, 'Ms. Boone offered him a full refund and took every step to handle this in a professional manner.'

Boone fired back at Baldwin last month saying he's been waiting over six years to sue her over 'Sea and Mirror' and the statute of limitations had run up a long time ago.

She then accused the actor of committing tax fraud related to his purchase of the artwork.

The dealer claimed Baldwin should have paid some $16,000 in New York City and State taxes for the artwork but instead he had it shipped it to his home in California and then back to his New York home to avoid paying the taxes

The deal demanded the suit be thrown out of court and Baldwin not be awarded a dime.

Gallery owner Mary Boone, here with artist Ross Bleckner is locked in a heated legal battle with Baldwin

On November 18, Baldwin headed back to court blasting the art dealer and pleading the judge to deny her motion to dismiss his lawsuit

With regard to the allegations of tax fraud, Baldwin accuses Boone of resorting to a desperate tactic in the legal battle - a smear campaign against him based on 'unsubstantiated and entirely irrelevant allegations regarding taxes.

These allegations, which will be rebutted if necessary at the appropriate time, have no bearing' on his complaint, he contends.

The filing states: 'The Court should disregard Defendants' attempt to use their brief as part of a campaign to publicly smear Mr. Baldwin, by outrageously alleging that he engaged in tax fraud by failing to pay applicable sales tax.

'These unsubstantiated allegations are irrelevant to the motion to dismiss or to Mr. Baldwin's entitlement to punitive damages. Of course, Defendants know that this issue is wholly irrelevant to the motion, which is why they cannot cite any law stating that their allegations would bar the recovery of punitive damages.'

Baldwin says the dealer now admits that she never knew the identity of the previous owner of the artwork, despite her claims she cleaned the painting before sending to him because the last owner was a smoker

'In truth, Ms. Boone concocted the lie about cleaning the painting because she knew it would assuage any concerns Mr. Baldwin may have had about the painting, and thwart any potential investigation into its authenticity.

'So steadfast and expert was Ms. Boone in her deception, that it is apparent Mr. Baldwin is not the first customer that she and her gallery had duped. By and through this action, however, this Court should ensure that he is the last.'

The actor says Boone's attempt to dismiss his lawsuit based on the statute of limitations is nonsense since he only learned it was a fake recently. Once he did he filed the lawsuit within four months of discovering her fraudulent scheme.

Baldwin is demanding the lawsuit continue on and the art dealer not be granted her motion to have his case tossed out of court explaining,
Obama said he plans on taking Michelle on vacation once he's out of office

Added if the time comes where he must speak out against Trump, he will

He reminded the world that he has been scandal free during both terms and said he liquidated his assets, unlike Trump, but won't

President Barack Obama said he's confident he won't be the last Democrat to be elected to the highest office in the U.S. in his last-ever foreign address on Sunday night.

During his final remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Obama said that Republicans aren't as popular as the world might think - reminding them that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.

As Obama wraps up his presidency and plans for the first few months out of office, he said he knows the majority of Americans agree with many Democratic positions, mentioning a minimum wage increase, gun curbs, and affordable health care.

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President Barack Obama said he's confident he won't be the last Democrat to be elected to the highest office in the U.S. in his last-ever foreign address

On Sunday, he told the world Republicans aren't as popular as they might think - adding that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote among Americans

The scandal-free president said a majority of Americans agree with many Democratic positions, mentioning a minimum wage increase, gun curbs, and affordable health care

'Well, no, I'm not worried about being the last Democratic president, not even for a while.

'And I'm not saying that trying to be cute. The Democratic nominee won the popular vote,' he said.

So the party doesn't need 'a complete overhaul,' he said, but better organization and a 'smarter' message.

Democrats have to talk to the American people as a whole, and not focus as much on 'micro-targeting particular, discreet groups,' he said.

That approach 'is not going to win you the broad mandate that you need'.

When Obama took office in 2009, Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, and held a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Yet Democrats lost the House in 2010, and the Senate four years later. Republicans also hold a strong advantage in governorships and state legislatures.

Now, he's planning on leaving America in good condition before taking some much deserved time off.

'My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job. And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking,' Obama said.

Obama said that politics in America 'right now are a little up for grabs' and Democrats 'have to do some thinking' about how they can get their message across to the American people'.

Obama said that politics in America 'right now are a little up for grabs' and Democrats 'have to do some thinking'

Those in the crowd lifted their cell phones high to catch a glimpse of the president giving his last foreign speech

In bringing up his successor Donald Trump, Obama reminded the summit that he hasn't had any scandals and avoided conflicts of interest during his presidency by liquidating assets that might have raised questions about his policy.

Obama turned his assets into Treasury bills - financial instruments that he joked have not had great yields during his eight years in office.

Obama says his assets were significantly smaller than those of previous presidents and presidents-elect, including Donald Trump.

But he decided that to avoid questions about conflict of interest, it was best not to just meet the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law.

He says he told Trump that he would be well-served by a strong White House counsel who could set rules and boundaries for his team to eliminate ambiguity.

Obama boards Air Force One during his departure at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, Sunday

Obama turned to wave goodbye during his last major summit as president of the United States

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

But he says it's up to Trump to determine how best to deal with his vast business assets.

Trump has recently been criticized for letting his children sit in on meetings with foreign leaders as they now control his businesses and could make decisions for the businesses based on those meetings.

The future president said he would put his assets in a blind trust, but allowing his children to attend meetings is a conflict of interest to those trusts.

However, Obama said that he does not intend to be a constant critic of his successor  but he's reserving the right to re-engage in politics when he's out of office.

He wants to give the President-elect the opportunity to put forward his platform.

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, left, and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrive for the group photo APEC

HEADS OF STATE WEAR PERUVIAN HERDERS' SHAWLS FOR 'FAMILY PHOTO' Another APEC summit? Another 'family' photo of the leaders wearing the host country's native garb. President Barack Obama, attending his final summit, joined the revelry with his counterparts, sporting a traditional, camel colored shawl of the kind worn by Peruvian herders in the Andes. The shawls were made of cashmere-like vicuna wool. Each year, leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit dress up for their group photo. Obama broke from the tradition when the U.S. hosted the 2011 summit in Hawaii. Hawaiian shirts were handed out, but leaders were told they weren't obligated to wear them in public. None did. They all wore business suits for the photo. Advertisement

Heads of state pose for a family photo during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru

Russia's President Vladimir Putin gestures as he takes part in the traditional 'family photo'. Obama (right) looks more comfortable in his shawl

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jokes around with fellow APEC leaders as they take part in the official family photo

Wearing a Peruvian shawl, U.S President Barack Obama poses for a family photo at the APEC Summit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) arrives running for a family photo with fellow heads of state

But Obama also says he will consider whether or not he needs to defend the 'ideals' that he cares about as an American citizen.

He added that if the time came for him to speak out against Trump, he would.

Obama said: 'As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes.'

Presidents typically hold off criticizing their predecessors and step away from electoral politics after their time in office.

Obama said that former President George W. Bush, 'could not have been more gracious to me when I came in' and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda 'without somebody popping off' at every turn.

Before leaving, Obama affirmed the enduring U.S. commitment to Japan in a brief meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, at the opening session of the APEC

Two women react after greeting U.S. President Barack Obama, back to camera, who earlier spoke at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative in Lima, Peru

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with China's President Xi Jingping during the APEC

A White House official said Obama stressed America's commitment to Japan, and expressed his gratitude for years of successful cooperation that strengthened the alliance between the two countries.

The meeting follows Abe's face-to-face session with President-elect Donald Trump in New York on Thursday evening.

Abe was the first foreign leader to meet in'person with the incoming U.S. president.

He later said he was confident that Trump 'is a trustworthy leader'.

Obama also continued to voice support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Sunday.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative

Trump has called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration a 'job killer' and a 'disaster' pushed by special interests.

In a news conference Sunday at the closing of an economic summit in Peru, Obama said the United States should not retreat from global trade, but seek to 'do trade right' so that workers are protected and environmental standards are upheld.

Obama argued it's time for the U.S. to reaffirm its support for the TPP trade deal. He said other world leaders at the summit made clear they want to move ahead with the agreement, and without the U.S. it will be a weaker deal.
President Barack Obama said Sunday he doesn't intend to become his successor's constant critic  but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain 'values or ideals.'

Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Obama suggested once he was out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern.

He heaped praise on former President George W. Bush, saying he 'could not have been more gracious to me when I came in' and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda 'without somebody popping off' at every turn.

But Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.

He will be the first U.S. president in nearly 100 years to remain in Washington after he leaves office. The first family will stay put so their daughters can finish high school.

President Barack Obama said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Lima, Peru on Sunday that he might criticize Donald Trump if he threatens unspecified 'ideals'

President-elect Donald Trump and vice president-elect Mike Pence will have room to run  but not too much  as Obama will remain in Washington

'As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes,' Obama told reporters.

Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own.

Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president who holds antithetical views on issue after issue.

The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally, repealing 'Obamacare,' and canceling the Paris climate deal, to name a few.

Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Trump and are hoping vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Trump from implementing them.

Obama said trade tensions are likely under the new administration but once Trump's people see how the deals are working, 'they'll determine that it's actually good both for the United States and our trading partners'

The president's final foreign trip included a meeting with China's President Xi Jingping; sitting with Obama are (L-R) Deputy National Security Adviser For Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and National Security Adviser Susan Rice

Though Obama didn't specify what might trigger him to break silence, he left himself a broad window of possibilities. His comments suggested he'd be most inclined to weigh in if Trump violated basic principles Obama has tried to uphold, such as minority rights, equal protection and respect for civilian life.

Obama has long warned that Trump might impulsively use nuclear weapons, and has cast a dim view on ideas like a Muslim registry, which Trump's incoming chief of staff declined on Sunday to rule out.

Yet Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging his replacement.

'My intention is to, certainly for the next 2 months, just finish my job,' Obama said. 'And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking.'

Bush, like many ex-presidents, strictly avoided opining on politics during Obama's eight years. Former President Bill Clinton, after leaving office, focused his attention on global humanitarian issues, especially as his wife entered politics.

Former President Jimmy Carter was more vocal in his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel.

Obama seemed aware of the traditional post-presidential silence, saying he would rather give President-elect Donald Trump room to run 'without somebody popping off' at every turn

Former President Jimmy Carter (center) was vocal about his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel

Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years.

Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Obama said they should not.

'You give them a hearing,' said Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered.

Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

'That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games,' Obama said.

He declined to weigh in explicitly on whether House Democrats should stick with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader, arguing it was improper to meddle in the vote. But he said of the California Democrat, who faces a challenge for the leadership post: 'I cannot speak highly enough of Nancy Pelosi.'

Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. For Obama, it was the last time he'd take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press.

On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis, though Obama said the U.S. accusation that Moscow tried to influence the U.S. election didn't come up.

The four-minute conversation, likely their last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory approach to Russia

Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had a difficult working relationship but 'always respected each other's positions  and each other.' He said he'd thanked Obama and told him he'd be welcome in Russia 'at any time.'
Rutgers University has revealed that some of their buildings were built by slaves on land stolen from Native Americans.

The New Jersey school, founded in 1766, has been confronting its historical ties to slavery by compiling research into its beginnings.

And in a report released in a new book called 'Scarlet and Black' it shows how intertwined slavery was in the early history of Rutgers.

Rutgers University, pictured, has revealed that some of their buildings were built by slaves on land stolen from Native Americans. The New Jersey school, founded in 1766, has been confronting its historical ties to slavery by compiling research into its beginnings

The report also includes an untold story of a slave who helped to build the university's iconic Old Queens administration building.

The book combines previously documented history with some new details to paint a vivid picture of the university's relationship with slavery, a history school officials say was largely unacknowledged by Rutgers until this year.

It also examines the displacement of Native Americans who once occupied land later transferred to Rutgers.

The book also notes that Rutgers' namesake, Henry Rutgers, pictured, and its first president owned slaves

The book also notes that Rutgers' namesake, Henry Rutgers, and its first president owned slaves.

Some early university trustees also owned slaves and were among the most ardent anti-abolitionists in the mid-Atlantic region.

The report was ordered last year by New Brunswick campus chancellor Richard Edwards after black students raised concerns about the racial climate on campus.

He said: 'It's something that I think most people at Rutgers had no clue about.

'This work shows that we are not afraid to look at ourselves and our early history.

'We are a large public university that is one of the most diverse in the country and we think we need to understand our history and not be ashamed of it, but to be able to face it in a forthright way.'

The committee of university professors and students that spent eight months combing through archived documents and compiling the report has issued more than a dozen recommendations.

Students also delved into wills, speeches, journals and property records of Rutgers founders and early trustees.

They read through manumission records  the documents slave owners filed to grant freedom to the enslaved analyzed newspapers ads for the sale of slaves and, in rare instances, had slave narratives to provide missing voices in Rutgers history.

Among the recommendations are calls for the university to place historical markers on campus recognizing the contributions of slaves and to consider naming new buildings after prominent blacks or Native Americans.

The university is the eighth oldest college in the United States and is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution

They also suggest that all Rutgers students should be required to take a course in diversity.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi: 'The committee has explored aspects of our history that are difficult and complex and I applaud them for it.

'Their findings provide a fuller understanding of the institution's early days and by doing so have drawn a contrast between the Colonial-era Queens College of 1766 and the RutgersNew Brunswick of 2016, which is one of the most diverse and inclusive major public research universities in the country.'

Rutgers joins other Colonial-era colleges in confronting its past, including Georgetown, Yale, Brown and Harvard.
also attended the rally in response to far-right fans

The anti-bullying advocate tried to take the hat as the man pulled away

Ms Ward was seen at the pro-Trump rally in

Outspoken anti-bullying advocate Roz Ward has been pictured trying to take a hat from a Donald Trump fan during an altercation as he attended a rally in support of the president-elect in Melbourne.

The Safe Schools program founder was seen carrying a handful of copies of a Marxist newspaper and smirking when she reached over to take the cap from the man, who was one of 50 pro-Trump supporters celebrating his US presidential win in Melbourne on Sunday.

Photographer Kenji Wardenclyffe told The Australian he saw the incident as hundreds of anti-Trump protesters marched through the centre of the city in response to the far-right merriment.

Anti-bullying advocate and Safe Schools founder Roz Ward (pictured) has been pictured trying to take a hat from a Donald Trump fan during a rally in support of the president-elect in Melbourne on Sunday

'A lone pro-Trump supporter stood on the side of the road,' Wardenclyffe said.

'I took a few photos, walked off, then noticed there was a commotion so I ran towards it and caught this; (Ms Ward)] trying to take his hat.'

The man, who is wearing a 'Trump 2016' T-shirt, is seen trying to hold on to his hat and twist his body away from the LGBTI rights activist and she continues to try and remove it.

It comes just weeks after Ms Ward claimed her character and Safe Schools program, which is funded by the Victorian Labor government, were being attacked.

A police officer stands between an anti-Trump protester (left) and a member of the True Blue Crew (right)

A woman from Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (right) and True Blue Crew (left) clash on Sunday as they are separated by a chain-link fence

Riot police are seen as the True Blue Crew and United Patriots Front rally (pictured)

Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters attended the event in response to far-right fans

Ms Ward told The Saturday Paper she had received death threats, as well as endless phone calls from Christian groups and right-wing politicians, which had made her feel 'under-siege.'

The controversy came to a head in June when Ms Ward was suspended from La Trobe University for calling the Australian flag 'racist' in a post on Facebook.

Ms Ward posted a picture of the rainbow flag to her social media account with the statement: 'Now we just need to get rid of the racist Australian flag on top of state parliament and get a red one up there and my work is done'.

She was reinstated within 24 hours after public backlash and legal warnings from the union, according to The Australian.

Although 1,000 Trump supporters were planning on attending Sunday's rally, less than 100 people gathered in front of the Victorian Parliament.

Many of the anti-Trump protestors covered their faces with masks and bandanas (pictured)

The election of Donald Trump in America has sparked protests and rallies across the world

A woman holds a sign that reads 'Fascist-free zone' at the rally on Sunday

Three young girls were spotted with signs spruiking Ivanka Trump for president in 2024.

'Trump trumped the leftist bigots,' another sign read.

Anti-Trump protesters, many of which covered their faces with masks and bandanas, were separated from Trump supporters by police barricades and hundreds of riot officers.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Ward for comment.
A British mother has been held prisoner in Iran for seven months because of an outstanding 500million debt owed by the UK Government, her family as claimed.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from Hampstead, north-west London, was originally arrested at Tehran Airport in Iran on April 3 along with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella.

She was originally put behind bars for an alleged plot to topple the government in Tehran.

But her husband Richard Ratcliffe claims she is being used as a 'bargaining chip' between Britain and Iran.

The Foreign Office has rejected the claim, saying it is doing all it can to help the charity worker and her family.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held prisoner in Iran for seven months because of an outstanding 500million debt owed by the UK Government, her family as claimed

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in prison in September following a conviction on unspecified 'national security-related' offences following a trial before a revolutionary court in the capital Tehran.

Mr Ratcliffe said claims by Iran that his wife is a spy 'are political code for a "bargaining chip with Britain" - a signal that the British government should understand'.

He said his family has been 'caught up' in a disagreement between the two countries, claiming the UK owes about 500 million for a tank deal 40 years ago.

He said: 'There is a link as to why Nazanin is still being held and the UK government's reluctance to pay its debts. My family are caught as collateral.'

On Friday, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family announced she had ended a five-day hunger strike amid fears they had for her health.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (right next to her husband Richard), from Hampstead, north-west London, was originally arrested at Tehran Airport in Iran on April 3 along with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella (left)

The issue of her continued detention will be raised at Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Ratcliffe said.

The family of UK-Iranian dual national Kamal Foroughi, a 77-year-old oil and gas company consultant who is serving his sixth year of an eight-year jail sentence after being convicted of espionage and possessing alcohol, have also long campaigned for his release.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We understand what a difficult time this is for Mr Foroughi, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and their families.

'Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood has met with the families personally to reassure them that we are doing all we can to help them.

'We have raised their cases with the Iranian government at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every opportunity.
Among Donald Trump's many promises on his way to the White House was a tweeted vow to change the new name of North America's tallest mountain back to Mount McKinley.

The Obama administration renamed the Alaska peak Denali in a symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives ahead of the president's visit to the state last year.

Alaskans long have informally called the mountain Denali  'the great one' in Athabascan.

But the federal government recognized the name invoking the 25th president, William McKinley, who was born in Ohio and assassinated early in his second term. McKinley never set foot in Alaska.

North America's tallest peak, Denali, was renamed by President Obama in 2015 to its Athabascan name in a nod to Alaska Natives

As a candidate for president, Donald Trump tweeted a vow to change the mountain's name back to Mount McKinley. It's not yet clear whether Trump, now the president-elect, will act

Trump has stated his intention to change the name of the mountain back to Mt. McKinley

In his tweet, Trump called the name switch a 'great insult to Ohio.'

But if he indeed moves to undo it, Trump can expect pushback from Alaskans.

'We wanted that change for a long time, and now we finally have it, and we need to leave it alone,' said Victor Joseph, president of Tanana Chiefs Conference, a consortium of 42 Athabascan tribes in Interior Alaska.

The organization spent years advocating for what they consider the 20,310-foot peak's original name.

'It was an insult to the first people of this land when they took away the name and gave it to somebody else,' Joseph said.

So far, there does not appear to be any formal effort to reverse the mountain's name change

Obama never visited Denali, used the mountain as an example to highlight how climate change has impacted the natural wonders of Alaska

Ohio's favorite son: William McKinley, a native of Niles, Ohio, was the 25th president of the United States who was assassinated in 1901

It's unclear at this early stage if Trump will take action. Changing the name would require a presidential executive order or an act of Congress, according to the federal board that oversees place names.

Troy Eid, chairman of the Indian Law and Order Commission and a member of Trump's transition team, said in an email Tuesday he was not in a position to comment.

The three Republicans who make up Alaska's congressional delegation either declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment. Sen. Lisa Murkowski  who called for Trump to leave the Republican ticket after the emergence of a recording of Trump making lewd comments about women  long advocated for the mountain's Alaska Native name and thanked President Barack Obama for embracing it.

Republican Ohio Rep. Bob Gibbs slammed the name swap as Obama's 'constitutional overreach,' and said he would look at trying to prevent it. This week, his spokesman Dallas Gerber said Gibbs hasn't decided what legislation he'll introduce in the next Congress.

Alaska had a standing request with the federal government to rename the mountain dating to 1975, when a state board adopted the Denali name.

Ohio Rep. Ralph Regula then began the tradition of filing legislation to keep the Mount McKinley name. Active legislation over the years blocked the federal U.S. Board on Geographic Names from taking up the issue.

The change came about when Interior Secretary Sally Jewell issued an order citing a 1947 law that allows her agency to replace names unilaterally when the board fails to act within a reasonable time.

Legislation seeking to maintain the Denali moniker theoretically could again stall the process, according to Lou Yost, the board's executive secretary.

Added Interior Department spokeswoman Amanda DeGroff in an email to The Associated Press: 'It would be a mistake to undo something that Alaska and Alaska Natives have wanted for decades and the President and the Secretary are proud to have supported.'
An accused bikie boss charged with drug trafficking has been released on bail to live in luxury at his $10-million mansion in Sydney's exclusive Double Bay suburb.

Erkan Keskin - dubbed Eric the Wolf - was refused bail in a Gold Coast court over drug trafficking offences after he was arrested in Sydney on October 25.

As part of his parole conditions, the 39-year-old must not leave his mansion - where the average house price in Double Bay is $3.2 million - between 8pm and 6am as his matter in court continues, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Earlier this month, the alleged national president of the Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang was granted a $700,000 bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court despite claiming he was an unemployed builder. However, police opposed his bail.

Erkan Keskin (pictured centre, escorted by police last year after he allegedly broke into a stranger's home armed with a gun) has been released on bail to live in the lap of luxury

The father-of-four must not leave his Double Bay mansion (pictured) between 8pm and 6pm

The extravagant property boasts six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a five-car space garage

The high-ranking bikie gang member was ordered to wear a tracking device, report to police twice a day and must adhere to a night-time curfew.

His property, located on Holt Street in the harbourside suburb of Sydney, rents for up to $7,000 a week on the high end market.

And if his extravagant mansion is anything to go by, the property comes complete with six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a five-car space garage.

Other lavish features include a swimming pool, mirrored gym, a fireplace, gourmet kitchen, a video security intercom and an alfresco entertainers' outdoor area.

WHERE IS DOUBLE BAY? Double Bay is an affluent harbourside suburb in Sydney. With luxury cars lining its streets, the average house price is $3.2 million. Located just 15 minutes from the city centre by ferry, Double Bay is famous for its upmarket eateries, lavish penthouses, exclusive boutiques and stunning beaches. The affluent suburb has been popular among celebrities, with the rich and famous owning stunning waterfront mansions or spotted dining at stylish restaurants. Advertisement

When Keskin walked out of the home and into the clutches of waiting police, he was naked

Keskin (pictured being arrested) allegedly broke into a stranger's home in Sydney's west

His Double Bay mansion in the affluent suburb of Sydney, rents for up to $7,000 a week

The mansion features a fireplace, ducted air conditioning and a video security intercom

Other lavish features include a swimming pool and an alfresco entertainers' outdoor area

Last year, Keskin was found naked by police after he allegedly broke into a stranger's Luddenham home in Sydney's west.

He was allegedly armed with a Glock pistol and shooting several rounds into the air before entering the woman's home shirtless.

When Keskin walked out of the home and into the clutches of waiting police, he was naked. He was hospitalised after suffering leg injuries from running through bushes.
A Pennsylvania man accused of dumping almost 1,000 bushels of corn on a Gage County highway was arrested last week.

Darren C. Walp, 36, was arrested on a warrant and is charged with felony criminal mischief and depositing materials on a roadway or ditch for the August incident.

According to the arrest warrant, Walp was driving a Peterbilt truck for B & T Livingston Trucking LLC hauling corn from the Farmers Cooperative in Reynolds to Hanover, Kans.

The warrant stated that on Aug. 4 Walp received a text message from someone with the trucking company telling Walp to Pack your stuff ASAP and you can leave

Less than 45 minutes later, dispatch was advised that a semi had dumped a load of corn in the westbound lane of traffic on Highway 8, around  mile west of Odell.

Court documents allege Walp stopped the trailer in the westbound lane, exited the cab and manually opened both hopper doors, allowing corn to pour onto the highway.

He then allegedly got back into the truck and drove off, with corn still spilling out of the truck for  mile.

He then allegedly closed the hopper doors and left the area.

The lane had to be closed while the Nebraska Department of Roads responded with equipment to remove the corn.

The estimated removal cost was $500.

Just shy of 1,000 bushels of corn was dropped onto the highway, endangering other motorists, court documents allege.

The warrant valued the corn lost at $3,094.

Walps next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 20.
Bickerstaff-Clark said on The Doctors that for addicts, drugs came before everything - even their children

He revealed he'd filmed the video as he had battled with

The father who filmed himself telling his 8-year-old son that his mother had died of a heroin overdose is speaking out.

Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark reveals why he made the heartbreaking video during his upcoming appearance on daytime series,The Doctors.

The 29-year-old, who has also battled with addiction, says that he wanted to open peoples eyes to the drug addiction epidemic going on around them.

Scroll down for video

Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark is revealing why he made the heartbreaking video during his upcoming appearance on daytime series, The Doctors

Brenden filmed himself telling his son that his mother Lacy had died. She was found dead in a motel room from a heroin overdose

Brenden hugs his distraught child. He says 'drugs in my area and around Ohio are an epidemic. It is a plague'. Cameron's half-brother Carter was born addicted to drugs and died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - which Brenden believes was linked to his mother injecting herself with heroin while pregnant

'The reason I had me telling my son that his mother died from a drugs overdose, recorded and posted, was because I was addicted to opiates,' he explained.

'Unfortunately (his son's mother) will never see who her son will grow up to be.'

Brenden, who appears on the show with his mother Denise, also opened up about his own drug addiction.

'Once you fall in love with that high, there is no turning around,' he said during the show which airs on Monday.

'It comes before your children, it comes before your hygiene. Your only concern is how you're going to get that next hit.'

'Addiction is everywhere in my home town. People need to know what it does to our children.'



Footage of Bickerstaff-Clark telling his son Cameron of his mom Lacy Wood's death rapidly went viral after it was posted to Facebook recently.

Bickerstaff-Clark, who has been praised as well as condemned for filming Cameron being told of his mother's death, said: 'Drugs have ruined my life and that of Cameron.

'I have paid a very high price for my addictions. I have been in prison more times than I can remember for things like assault, trespass and possession and drugs have been behind the whole thing.

The 29-year-old, (right) who has also battled with addiction, says that he wanted to open peoples eyes to the drug addiction epidemic going on around them - which claimed the life of Lacy Wood (left)

Cameron's father Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark has spoken to DailyMail.com about the damage that drugs have inflicted on his family

'I decided to film my son being told of his mom's death because I want people to see right up what drugs has done to me and can do to anyone.

'Heroin doesn't discriminate between color or age. It can get you hooked in a minute or kill you in a minute.

'They are bad, bad, bad and drugs in my area and around Ohio are an epidemic.

Brenden's mother Denise Dezee, 51, has been the official guardian of the child since he was four months old. She sat by Cameron's side when his father told him his mother is dead

'It is a plague and I wanted to make some positive use of Cameron's mom's death.'

At just eight years old, Cameron has seen drugs devastate his family and has lived in a shelter for the homeless for six months.

But neither his drug-taking mom or father were looking after the boy; his paternal grandmother has custody. She was in the tape sitting next to her grandson.

Cameron also had a five-month-old brother Carter who died on Sept. 5 2013. The official cause of death was listed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But he had been registered as an addict at birth because of his parents' heavy drug use.

The baby was born to his drug-addicted dad Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark who fathered the child with another addict, currently in prison.

Bickerstaff-Clark, 29, confirmed Cameron's half-brother was born 'addicted to heroin' after his mother consistently injected heroin while pregnant.

The father also confirmed that Cameron's mom Lacy Wood, 29, who was found dead on the floor in a squalid motel room last weekend, had another baby.

But that child, now aged six -Cameron's half-brother - was forced to be given up for adoption.

Lacy Wood, 29, had another baby. But the child, now aged six, and also Cameron's half-brother, had to be given up for adoption

Lacy and Cameron. Lacy had not seen her son for months before she died after Cameron's paternal grandmother took him into her care

The room at the Riverview Motel in Warren, Ohio where Lacy's body was found

The case is the latest in a series of drug-related incidents to shock America, as the extent of the nation's addiction to opiates is revealed.

The woman shown cuddling Cameron as he bursts into tears in the video was his grandmother Denise Dezee, 51, who has been his official guardian since he was four months old.

But the decision by Dezee and her son to appear in the video, which was shot on his cell phone by a friend, has angered Cameron's maternal grandmother.

Donna Wood said: 'It is sick and it was ignorant thing to do.

'I have told them that I don't approve of it. It is wrongwrong. They have already put him through enough.'

DailyMail.com can disclose that both grandmothers, mindful that their children were incapable of bringing up Cameron, had fought a bitter custody court battle over the boy.

It was won by Dezee who went to Cape Corral, Florida, in summer last year with Cameron to begin a new life with her fiance.

Lacy Woods was unaware of where her son had been taken and was shattered by his absence.

But after Dezee's relationship failed and with the marriage cancelled, she returned to Ohio with Cameron and they have been living in a homeless shelter since.

Wood said she had spent her savings on a legal battle against divorcee Mrs. Dezee to win custody of her grandson and that her daughter, who hadn't seen him for more than a year, was heartbroken over his disappearance.

'I spent all my money trying to get my grandson. Lacy wanted her son, she was so depressed and heartbroken.

'She had not talked to him in 15 months and we didn't even know where he was and that he was in Florida.'

She said Lacy had tried hard to wean herself of drugs and had declared herself clean of the addiction, the day before her death.

'She was trying hard to get herself out of her drugs. She had been clean for about three or four months,' she added.

Brenden seizes his son's hand as he is hugged by his grandmother after being told the news

She said her daughter had no clue that Cameron had returned to Ohio with his custodian.

'She wanted to see him. Her boyfriend was going to fly her to Florida to surprise him for Halloween. It is very sad.'

Asked if she would like to have custody of Cameron, she replied: 'I pray to god that would happenbut I ran out of money.'

Her daughter, who had been using hard drugs for most her adult life, was found dead in room 12 of the Riverview Motel in Warren, a rundown single story building.

Her body was discovered after motel staff failed to receive acknowledgment to calls to the room for it to be vacated for cleaners after check out time had passed.

A male member of staff went to the room at the back of the establishment and found the door locked from the inside at around 11.30am last Sunday.

When he forced it open he saw Wood's body lying on the floor next to her bag, clothing and bottles of Pantene shampoo.

But the drug addict, who had told her family that weekend that she was now 'clean' of drugs is believed to have been injected with a 'bad batch' of heroin which killed her.

She had not, however, booked the room which had been reserved by a female friend. Hotel staff said they were unaware when or how the dead woman came to be in the room during Saturday evening and the following morning when her body was discovered.

Wood's mother said she only saw the video featuring Cameron a few days after her daughter's death.

And Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark, a pizza chef, said he had used drugs throughout his teens and twenties like Wood and decided to film him telling Cameron of his mother's death to ensure others might get help.

He said he had been 'clean' for 97 days and was continuing his battle against drugs with determination.

Brenden, a pizza chef, said the video was shot in the grounds of the homeless shelter. He said the drugs epidemic sweeping America 'is a plague and I wanted to make some positive use of Cameron's mom's death'

Brenden and his son together. He said there were

He said: 'I feel my son and I have made an impact on people.

'Using drugs is selfish and unfair to families and friends and especially our children.

'People are losing loved ones. People are losing their lives and their self-respect, their dignity and their pride.

He said the video was shot in the grounds of the homeless shelter.

The people in the background had been informed of the boy's mother's death and were waiting to hug and comfort him.

He added: 'Lacy and me were not even together for more than six years.

'I had known her since we were around 14 and we didn't get together until about 10 years ago. We were on and off after that.

'There was some contact. Cameron lived with my mother Denise.'

Bickerstaff-Clark's mother Dezee said: 'Lacy overdosed on a bad batch. There were 10-15 overdoses at the weekend around here.

'I doubt there will be a police investigation as it is so common right now. There is a whole epidemic.'

Speaking of her grandson, Dezee added: 'Cameron is doing very well. He has been crying on and off, but for the most part he is doing well.

'But he said he wished he could have seen his mom one more time.

'He hadn't seen his mom in over a year, but did speak to her on Sunday evenings on the telephone. Lacy actually called me a few days before she died.

'She rang me last Thursday and I hung up on her. I didn't want to talk to her. Do I feel bad now...wow, there are a lot of mixed emotions there.

'I just wish she would have gotten her life together. She lost all her visitation rights and she had to jump through hoops to win him back.

'This was such a sad situation altogether. Cameron was the one who was paying the price and I have had him since he was four months old.

'It wasn't even the drugs then, they were just too young and poor. Lacy just had a lot of issues.'

America's opiate epidemic: In September Ohio police shared this distressing photograph on social media. It shows a couple passed out in their vehicle while the woman's four-year-old grandson looks on from the back seat. Both were jailed after pleading guilty to charges of child endangering

She added: 'I have brought him up and done everything a mother would do.

'He is my baby and it is like having your own child all over again. Sometimes it wears me out. I can't run the circles I used to.

'Cameron is very bright and very active and smart for his age and very mature. He has over-exceeded in everything and he has been well aware of what has been going on.

'He is under counselling and will always be surrounded by people who love him. I won't let anything to happen to him.'

Dezee said she heard Lacy had been in a police cell a few days before her death for probation violation.

She said: 'But I don't want a lot of negativity. I really feel for her family and I don't want a bad light shone on Lacy. I really don't. She just couldn't stay off the drugs.

'Last Saturday during the day, she told her mom that she was clean. But on Sunday she was dead. It is just very sad.'

She said her son 'really loved her a long time ago and took it very bad when he heard she had died.'

Dezee revealed her son had said, "Mom I want to video tape it and put it out there for people to see how sad it is".

She added: 'I actually said "Nodon't do it." But later I said well all right, but little did I know the impact it would and I hadn't even seen the video until he posted it. He got his message across the world.'

There had been praise as well as severe criticism of the decision to film and upload the moment Cameron found out about the death.

'The hatred is coming from people who are not addicts. Most of the positive comments are coming from people who were or are addicts.

'Brenden could just have saved somebody's life this week, and the next and the one after that.

'People might look at their kids and decide not to shoot up.

'But I am so proud of Brenden. I have a very strong Christian faith and I have just prayed and prayed in the name of Jesus. I always say "God's got this".

'But I wonder one day if he [Cameron] is going to ask why his daddy lived and his mommy didn't. It is just that she couldn't fight the addiction.

'Cameron has already been through a lot. He has lost a brother and he has seen what addiction has done to his mom and his dad.
A post office, a cafe, a pub, and a single petrol pump line the otherwise empty streets of a desolate former town nestled in the hills near an extinct volcano.

Noorat, which sits south-west of Melbourne in the foothills of Victoria, lost its town status four years ago after the 2011 census listed its population as 167  well below the 200 mark, according to The Courier Mail.

The streets have since been littered with abandoned shops and homes, but the remaining residents insist they will get their home back on the map.

A post office is one of the few amenities left in the former town of Noorat, a desolate Victorian community which lost its town status four years ago (pictured)

The population of Noorat, which sits on rolling green hills near an extinct volcano, dipped below the 200 mark in the 2011 census (pictured)

The 100-year-old Mt Noorat Hotel and pub was purchased about a year ago by Michael Leo, who moved from Melbourne to Noorat to help revive the community (pictured)

Michael Leo, whose parents live in Noorat, moved back home from Melbourne over a year ago with his partner, Richard, after they purchased the 100-year-old Mt Noorat Hotel and pub.

Mr Leo said he traded in his corporate job working in public relations for Peter Alexander, and the couple left the big city and headed to the hills.

'There is real community here, it's an interesting and creative place,' he said.

Mr Leo said although he sometimes missed Melbourne, the hotel and pub kept him busy with up to 80 people coming for dinner most weekends.

Abandoned storefronts and homes line the streets (pictured)

A water trough for horses appears to be deteriorating (pictured)

A rusted water tank is seen sitting in a relatively open field (pictured)

The birth place of writer Alan Marshall, whose father owned and ran the Noorat grocery store (pictured)

He is hoping others will follow his lead and revive Noorat's abandoned shops, which have become garages or workshops.

'I'd love to see them filled with something, I think a little baker or even a little vintage store,' he said.

Noorat's remaining residents  now 190 people  are still very active within the former town and many can be spotted sitting at the cafe or enjoying a drink with friends over the weekend.

Mr Leo said although word-of-mouth is extraordinarily fast in Noorat, he is often meeting new people in the area.

The picturesque rolling green hills are a big attraction for hikers (pictured)

Dilapidated homes sit on overgrown fields in the forgotten town (pictured)

Mr Marshall is well known for his book 'I Can Jump Puddles' (pictured)

The picturesque rolling green hills are a big attraction for hikers and historians who are interested in seeing the home town of Australian author Alan Marshall.

Noorat Show secretary Vicki Marr argues the town should not have lost its status in the first place because 'it's just a number.'

'What makes a town a town? According to statisticians yes, it is a number that loses township, but there's a lot more to a town than a number. It's the people who live there and it comes back to community spirit.'

She said everyone in Noorat does their best to keep the community spirit alive and there's nothing like escaping to the peaceful country where there is no battle for a seat on a train or rush hour traffic  unless she gets stuck behind a tractor.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed to him he was willing to mend ties, on Sunday.

Putin also said he would welcome President Barack Obama in Russia.

'The President-elect confirmed he is willing to normalize Russian-American relations. I told him the same. We did not discuss where and when we would meet,' Putin said.

Putin also told a news conference at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima that Russia is ready to freeze oil output at current levels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (left) confirmed to him he was willing to mend ties, on Sunday

Putin also said he would welcome President Barack Obama in Russia and thanked the U.S. president for his work over the years

Putin said he thanked Obama during Sunday's meeting in Lima 'for the years of joint work'.

'I told him that we would be happy to see him (Obama) in Russia anytime if he wants, can and has desire', Putin said.

Obama and Putin met in Peru on Sunday at the APEC summit, likely for the last time during Obama's presidency for an icy handshake.

The two leaders stood off to the side together momentarily with aides close by before shaking hands and taking their seats at a round table for the start of the opening session of the APEC.

The White House said the conversation lasted four minutes.

Although reporters present couldn't hear what they said, the White House said Obama encouraged Putin to uphold his country's commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict.

Both the White House and the Kremlin said the leaders had agreed that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov should keep working throughout Obama's final months on initiatives to lower violence in Syria and alleviate suffering.

Obama and Putin met in Peru on Sunday at the APEC summit, likely for the last time during Obama's presidency (pictured)

Last week, Putin welcomed a new relationship with America based on 'equality, mutual respect, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs', following the first phone conversation with president-elect Donald Trump.

The incoming president spoke with Vladimir Putin on November 13, who has challenged U.S. policy on a variety of fronts and whose government U.S. officials have said tried to influence the election in Trump's favor.

The leaders also agreed to a face-to-face meeting, marking a thaw in relations between the two countries.

According to the Kremlin, the two leaders agreed that Russo-American relations were in an 'extremely unsatisfactory state' and pledged to improve the situation.
Tess Daly will be waltzing to the bank  to collect a cool 2.2million after closing her business

Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly will be waltzing to the bank  to collect a cool 2.2million after closing her business.

The 45-year-old received the small fortune after shutting down Sugarstep Productions, which she used to channel earnings from Strictly.

It follows a crackdown by the Government on the BBC paying key staff through personal service companies.

Miss Daly, who also hosted the National Lottery show and does lucrative modelling work, could be among 109 famous names forced to reveal annual pay from the Corporation.

The broadcaster had brought 85 presenters on to the books as permanent members of staff  and all those earning more than 150,000 per year are affected. She founded Sugarstep in 2009 and a statement of solvency shows it had 2.185million in the bank and debts owed to her of 10,000.

Under tax laws, Miss Daly could be liable to pay 28 per cent capital gains tax on virtually the whole amount, having initially deposited just 1,000 into the firm when it was established.

She could apply for Entrepreneurs Relief, resulting in a bill of just 10 per cent capital gains tax. Successful applicants can claim up to 10million of relief during their lifetime. Chris Sanger, global head of tax policy at Ernst and Young, said the relief was designed to reward enterprise.

Explaining the tax benefits of earning through a personal service company, Mr Sanger added: There will be corporation tax at 20 per cent on earnings within the company and then there will be capital gains tax when it comes to liquidation.

But ultimately the amount that a person is taxed through a personal service company will be less than if they were a direct employee. The personal service company doesnt have to pay national insurance and neither does the employer so they can pass on the saving to the company.

The BBC began moving 85 of its stars on to staff contracts in 2013 following an outcry over the use of public service companies to reduce tax liabilities.

It followed a 2012 review by accountancy firm Deloitte which identified that 96 on-air talent workers were paid more than 50,000 a year through service companies in 2011-12. The report described them as a high priority for becoming members of staff.

Household names in the category reportedly included newsreaders Fiona Bruce, Emily Maitlis, Gavin Esler, Joanna Gosling and Tim Willcox.

Public service companies were introduced at the turn of the century by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor to help self-employed workers, including plumbers and labourers, who struggled to get work unless they formed a limited company.

But they have been exploited by thousands. Being paid through a service company can allow high earners to pay 20 per cent corporation tax on some income instead of the 45 per cent top rate of income tax. This is because they can take their salary as dividend payments. They also avoid paying 12 per cent National Insurance.

Although Miss Daly is closing her own company, she has joined forces with her husband, Vernon Kay, becoming a director and shareholder of his business, 21 TV Ltd, earlier this year

Public service companies were introduced at the turn of the century by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor to help self-employed workers

But the employer also benefits as they do not have to pay a 13 per cent National Insurance contribution.

Although Miss Daly is closing her own company, she has joined forces with her husband, Vernon Kay, becoming a director and shareholder of his business, 21 TV Ltd, earlier this year.
The Tasmanian Tiger was declared extinct by the State Government in 1986 but new footage has emerged that has excited hunters of animal.

Thylacine Awareness Group Of Australia founder Neil Waters said he was optimistic about the footage and was planning on releasing two three-second clips at a special public event in Adelaide on Sunday.

The footage was captured by trail cameras on a property in Nannup in Western Australia which has a strong history of Thylacine sightings.

The property is so synonymous with Tasmanian Tigers that the owner's father wrote a book on the iconic Australian animal.

New footage of what experts believe to be a Tasmanian Tiger has emerged and will be unveiled at a special public event in Adelaide on Sunday.

The never-released, night-time footage shows what could be a Tasmanian Tiger wandering along a trail and Mr Waters told the Daily Mail Australia the animal moved exactly like a Thylacine.

'The animal has a very peculiar gait, the way it walks is quite weird,' Mr Waters said.

'In one of the clips you can clearly see stripes down the side.'

The last captive Thylacine - the scientific name for the Tasmania Tiger - died at Hobart Zoo in 1936.

Tasmanian Tigers on the mainland of Australia are thought to have become extinct more than 2,000 years ago but Mr Waters hopes his research can help prove that the animals still roam the country.

Mr Waters has in his possession more than 500 sighting of Thylacines in South Australia alone and said the last sighting he received was on Thursday morning.

Tasmanian Tigers on the mainland of Australia are thought to have become extinct over 2000 years ago but Mr Waters hopes that his research can help prove they still roam the country

Mr Waters has in his possession over 500 sighting of Thylacines in South Australia alone and said that the last sighting that he received was on Thursday morning

'Benjamin' the last captive Thylacine died at Hobart Zoo in 1936

'There are thousands of sighting a year that go uninvestigated, these sightings have been ignored on a national scale,' Mr Waters said.

Mr Waters interest in the animal was sparked six years ago when he stumbled upon a a possible Thylacine while out walking his dog in Tasmania.

And four years later he said he had another brush with the animal, again in Tasmania.

Since then he has devoted much of his time trying to keep people interested in the animal and hopes to one day prove that the Tasmanian Tiger is not extinct.

'I have come across a lot of doubters and negative people who say "why are no carcasses of Thylacine's showing up" but I believe they are very much like the wombat and return to their dens to die,' Mr Waters said.

The proceeds of the public event which will feature the viewing of the clip will be used to help fund Mr Waters continued research into the animal and Mr Waters said that interest levels were high.

'We have already sold 40 of the 120 available tickets and will have special presenters and an auction of Thylacine artwork on the night.'
He tied her up, gagged her with her underpants and raped her with wire

Galleghan, now-33, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars

A 17-year-old girl bound with wire and gagged with her own underwear as she was tortured by her ex-boyfriend in a shipping container has said she is 'one of the lucky' ones.

Nikitah Beadman survived a brutal assault at the hands of Robert Galleghan, 12 years her senior, at his isolated property in south-east Queensland in November 2012.

Now 21 years old, Ms Beadman has said she feels lucky despite the horror she suffered.

'My story is what they make horror movies about - except mine was real,' she told Woman's Day.

Scroll down for video

Nikitah Beadman survived a brutal assault at the hands of Robert Galleghan, 12-years her senior, at his isolated property in south-east Queensland in November 2012

Galleghan has been jailed for eight years for the 2012 assault and torture of Ms Beadman when she was 17-years-old

'Not a day passes I don't count my blessings and remind myself I'm one of the lucky survivors  who found light at the end of a very dark tunnel.'

Ms Beadman had tried to breakup with Galleghan when he began showing abusive traits, but attended a party at his home to try and remain amicable.

He was immediately aggressive when she arrived.

'Things got ugly - he threw me against a wall and smashed my head on a coffee table,' Ms Beadman said.

Galleghan's friends had tried to stop him but they fled when he turned on them with a knife.

'Not a day passes I don't count my blessings and remind myself I'm one of the lucky survivors  who found light at the end of a very dark tunnel,' Ms Beadman said (she is pictured with Galleghan before they split up)

'I knew what was going to happen,' Ms Beadman said.

'In the past he'd made many threats he would kill me and bury me where no one would find me. And I knew he would.

'There was an abandoned shipping container in the backyard. He carried me in there and I remember thinking: "I'm going to die here tonight".'

Galleghan fixed her to a trolley with wire, wrapped around her neck so tightly it stopped her breathing.

He gagged her with her own underpants and wired her mouth shut, before wrapping a blue yoga mat around her head so she was completely unable to breathe and raped her with wire.

'Not in a sexual way,' Ms Beadman told A Current Affair earlier this year.

'In a torture way, so I couldn't have kids.'

He had also repeatedly stomped on her belly.

'There was an abandoned shipping container in the backyard. He carried me in there and I remember thinking: "I'm going to die here tonight",' Ms Beadman said (the shipping container is pictured)

Video of the moment police officers rescued Ms Beadman when she was 17 emerged

Ms Beadman said she had an 'out-of-body experience'.

'I know I died and left this world for a brief time,' she told Woman's Day.

Two police officers, Peter Venz and Danny Rahe, knocked on Galleghan's front door, after his friends who earlier fled called triple-0.

Galleghan was 'chillingly calm' when he answered the door, Sergeant Rahe told Woman's Day.

He said he had been assaulted in a 'drug deal gone wrong' and wanted to go to the station to make a statement.

On a hunch, the officers refused to leave and searched the property  and eventually spotted the shipping container at the back of the property.

One of the officers approached it, heard a faint cry and forced his way in to discover Ms Beadman in the corner.

'I know I died and left this world for a brief time,' Ms Beadman said

Galleghan (pictured) was sentenced to eight years in jail, but could be released on parole in three years

The officers removed the yoga mat from her head and began filming for evidence because they did not believe she would make it through.

'It was the most horrific thing we've ever seen in this job,' Sergeant Rahe said.

'Nothing could have prepared us for it. It was depraved, the scene we were looking at. Distressing would be an understatement.'

Galleghan was charged with torture, common assault and threatening violence.

In August this year, he was sentenced to eight years in jail, but could be eligible for parole in three years.

To her horror, Galleghan had smuggled a seven-page letter out of jail through a charity worker to Ms Beadman one month after the incident.

'Just wanted to say sorry and Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. I know you hate me but I still love you and will never forget the times we shared,' the letter said.

'In the past he'd made many threats he would kill me and bury me where no one would find me. And I knew he would,' she said of Galleghan (pictured)

Ms Beadman is pictured, left, looking at the shipping container she was tortured in, about four years later. She thanked the two officers who saved her that night in an emotional meeting

Ms Beadman has been left with a twisted backbone, two rotated ribs and chronic nerve damage. She may not be able to have children.

Looking back at their relationship, she can now recognise the cycle of abuse.

'I never saw any signs of the monster in the early days. I was completely hoodwinked,' Ms Beadman said.

After Galleghan entered his guilty plea, Ms Beadman said justice had finally been served in a Facebook status

She plans on putting the trauma she suffers to good use, and educate school students about domestic violence.

'Nothing will ever mend the emotional and physical scars, but they will be eased if speaking out can save lives. If one person makes the brave step to leave, my work is done.'

At the time of the incident, Galleghan, now 33, was on parole for assaulting an officer.
A 19-year-old man contacted underage boys on gay dating apps Grindr and Scruff while he was out on bail, a court heard.

The teenager from Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, used the smartphone apps to illegally communicate with the minors when he was on bail for an earlier charge of photographing boys getting changed.

Joshua Michael Slater last week pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to 12 counts of failing to comply with reporting conditions, The Queensland Times reported.

Joshua Michael Slater (pictured) breached his bail conditions 12 times by continuing to make contact with boys via gay dating apps Grindr and Scruff, Ipswich District Court heard

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said Slater had shown no remorse for ignoring his bail conditions, imposed in February for allegedly filming boys getting changed.

'It was deliberate, deceitful, orchestrated and persistent,' he said.

'It is disturbing and demonstrative of why there needs to be such reporting requirements.'

Slater's bail was scrapped in June after he continued to make contact with children via Grindr and Scruff and social media platforms Facebook and Snapchat, between January and May this year.

In February, he was charged with filming two brothers, aged 10 and 12, getting changed, leading to a charge of making, accessing and possessing child exploitation material.

During that month, he was released on bail on the proviso he report to police twice a week, have no contact with the two boys he had allegedly filmed getting changed and not be left unsupervised with anyone under 18.

A 19-year-old Queensland man pleaded guilty to using gay dating app Grindr (stock images pictured) to contact boys, breaching his bail conditions

Joshua Michael Slater used gay dating apps Grindr and Scruff to contact boys, with judge Alexander Horneman-Wren describing his conduct as 'deliberate'. Stock image

Slater breached his bail reporting conditions a dozen times between January and May this year, by using social media to communicate with boys.

The teenager's mobile phone also had 15 other images of boys aged about 10, with five of those images regarded as child pornography, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Stephen Kissick said his client was unsure about his sexuality, arguing his offending was spontaneous.

'[It was] opportunistic, unsophisticated, and without a great degree of planning,' he said.

Slater pleaded guilty last week to 12 counts of failing to comply with bail reporting rules, one count each of making child exploitation material, possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography material.
The father of Rachel Antonio, 16, missing since 1998, says he knows where her body is - and that police never searched the town dump where his daughter's remains are.

Rachel was last seen on April 25, 1998 in Bowen, Queensland, and earlier in 2016, coroner David O'Connell found her 25-year-old lover Robert Hytch - with whom she had a sexual relationship - killed her following a violent altercation.

Her body has never been found and despite the coroner's findings, in 2001 Hytch had a manslaughter charge for Rachel's death overturned and he was found not guilty during a retrial.

Rachel Antonio pictured in 1994. In 1998 she disappeared and her body has never been found

Rachel, 16 at the time, disappeared on the evening of April 25, 1998

Rachel's father, Ian Antonio (left) believes he knows where her body is

Robert Hytch, who in 2016 a coroner found had been in a sexual relationship with Rachel when she disappeared. He was 25 at the time

Hytch has also appealed to have the coroner's findings overturned.

Under double jeopardy laws, he can't be tried again unless new, compelling evidence is found.

Ian Antonio and wife Cheryl have begged for help to solve their daughter's murder, the Courier Mail reported.

'If anybody knows anything, in any way, shape or form, any sort of closure is going to be helpful to us,' Mr Antonio said.

Mr Antonio thinks his daughter (pictured) was put in a skip bin and that her body is now in the Bowen dump

TIMELINE OF THE RACHEL ANTONIO CASE April 1998: Rachel is reported missing December 1998: Robert Hytch charged with murder November 1999: Hytch found guilty of manslaughter, given nine years' jail May 2000: Hytch appeals conviction August 2000: Hytch's conviction overturned and a new trial ordered June 2001: Hytch acquitted following retrial at Townsville Supreme Court July 2014: Inquest into Rachel's disappearance lasts for three weeks, is adjourned, continues in 2015 July 2016: Coroner finds Rachel and Hytch were in a sexual relationship and that she died after physical altercation Source: AAP Advertisement

'Anything at all that they know or think they know, please come forward.'

He thinks his daughter's body was left in a skip bin which was then taken to the town dump.

His belief stems from the dump's former manager, who in 2015 told him after Rachel disappeared, contents from the town's skip bins were put aside for the police to search - but they never did, Courier Mail reported.

Detective Sergeant Mark Inmon said the contents weren't searched because resources had been directed to looking for Rachel 'alive, kidnapped or be injured somewhere'.

Additionally, police had no information Rachel's body may have been at the dump.

He said a body could have been hidden at a wide range of locations.

Hytch's solicitor told Courier Mail his client would not comment.
The Royal Navy has been shrunk to a dangerous and historic low and now does not have enough ships to combat global threats, MPs warn today.

The naval force must be increased if the country is to continue to protect its shores and the Falkland Islands, while contributing to Nato and other commitments, they caution.

The current fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers  of which only 17 are usable  is woefully low and to cut it any further would be completely unacceptable, a report concludes.

And it is an inexcusable failing that Britains most modern ship  the Type 45 destroyer  cannot operate off the coasts of hot countries for long periods without its engine cutting out, they say.

Compared to 35 ships in 1997, the fleet is way below the critical mass required for the many tasks which could confront it, the review by the Commons defence committee found. The cross-party MPs said: As an island nation, the important of the Royal Navy to UK defence must not be underestimated.

The current number of frigates, destroyers and personnel inadequately reflects the potential threats and vulnerabilities facing the UK and its interests overseas.

The dire assessment comes weeks after it emerged the Ministry of Defence has to refit the engines of all six Type 45 destroyers because they cannot cope with warm seas.

The Ministry of Defence has to refit the engines of all six Type 45 destroyers (two are pictured here) because they cannot cope with warm seas

The new report noted: Blame for those failures can be attributed to both the MoD and its contractors, but the taxpayer will have to foot the bill.

MPs said this was a startling error given that the Royal Navy had undertaken significant operations in the warm seas of the Gulf for decades. The report said: The UKs enduring presence in the Gulf should have made it a key requirement for the engines.

Tory MP Julian Lewis, the committee chairman, said the surface fleet was at a pathetic low

The fact that it was not was an inexcusable failing.

In October, a Russian fleet including the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, sailed through the North Sea and English Channel en route to the Middle East.

The MPs warned that although the MoD said the ships were man-marked all the way, it was a stark reminder why the UK needs enough surface ships to present a credible response.

The Royal Navy has to protect British waters, and also has commitments in the North and South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf and contributions to the four Standing Nato Naval Task Groups, the report noted.

We are of the opinion that the Royal Navy requires an increase in the number of frigates, destroyers and personnel if these standing commitments are to remain sustainable, it said.

Tory MP Julian Lewis, the committee chairman, said the surface fleet was at a pathetic low.

He added: For decades, the numbers of Navy escort vessels have been severely in decline. The fleet is now way below the critical mass required for the many tasks which could confront it, if the international scene continues to deteriorate.

Navy warship HMS Diamond was recently sent out to the Libyan coast as part of Operation Sophia, aimed at tackling people smugglers, one of Britain's overseas commitments

He said the surface fleet faced a prolonged period of uncertainty, as the frigate class is replaced in its entirety and all our destroyers undergo urgent, major remedial work on their unreliable engines.

If the Government fails to deliver the programme on time, the UK will lack the maritime strength to deal with the threats we face right now, let alone in the future.
It will take billions of dollars and months of work to fix New Zealand's roads following last week's earthquake - but one group of people are not complaining.

These skateboarders have been using the buckled roads as ramps, filming themselves as they perform tricks on the damaged streets.

Troy Tapara and Billy Mclachlan cycled and trekked to Parnassus, 40km south of the quake-ravaged town of Kaikoura on South Island, where they found the makeshift ramps.

Skateboarders have been using roads buckled by the earthquake in New Zealand as ramps

The pair discovered sections of abandoned road where the tarmac had buckled to such an extent that it could be used as a smooth ramp

Woops: The skaters' trip hit a significant bump, however, when they almost lost a board down a deep crevasse

The pair discovered sections of abandoned road where the tarmac had buckled to such an extent that it could be used as a smooth ramp.

They also stumbled upon a section of a bridge on State Highway 1 that had sunken 1.2metres following the earthquake and 800 subsequent tremors.

In footage seen by more than 18,000 people, Mr Tapara was filmed as he did a kick flip up the rise in the bridge.

'It was definitely the most unique experience of my life,' he told the New Zealand Herald.

'Even to see that state of destruction in person was just surreal but exciting at the same time.'

The skaters' trip hit a significant bump, however, when they almost lost a board down a deep crevasse.

The skaters discovered a section of a bridge on State Highway 1 that had sunken 1.2metres following the earthquake and 800 subsequent tremors

In footage seen by more than 18,000 people, Mr Tapara was filmed as he did a kick flip up the rise in the bridge

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key confirmed last week that the 'horrendous' damage to the country's roadways and railways will be 'in the billions of dollars to resolve'

Mr Mclachlan said he and other friends had to hang onto Mr Tapara's legs as they dangled him into the gap so he could reach the skateboard.

'Half of his body was in the earth and his arms were fully extended to pull the board out,' Mr Mclachlan said.

He said the roads were 'extremely hard' to skate on and that anyone looking to emulate them should take that into account.

But the roads will not be empty for much longer, with work already underway to repair the damage done by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key confirmed last week that the 'horrendous' damage to the country's roadways and railways will be 'in the billions of dollars to resolve'.

'It's just utter devastation that's months of work,' Mr Key said referring to time needed to clear the blocked roads and fallen debris.
Donald Trump may use climate change research cash to blast astronauts back to the Moon as part of his mission to Make America Great Again.

Members of the US space community believe Mr Trumps presidential victory could lead to the resurrection of space agency Nasas lunar programme, which has not put a man on the Moon since 1972.

The huge cost of lunar missions has been the main reason for their demise, blocked either by presidents or Congress. However, Mr Trump pledged in his campaign to free Nasa from researching global warming and other mundane operations close to Earth. Instead, the US will lead the way to the stars.

Veteran Republican politician Newt Gingrich, one of Mr Trumps closest advisers, is a space fanatic who has argued for years that the US should set up a permanent base on the Moon.

He has been assuring sceptics that costs wont be prohibitive if Nasa works with private companies keen to invest in space.

Nasas lunar programme, which has not put a man on the Moon since 1972 when Apollo 17 took rock samples

The Republicans also control Congress, making it far less likely that space dreams will be blocked by the bean counters on Capitol Hill.

It is expected that Mr Trump, a climate change sceptic who once dismissed it as a Chinese hoax, will demand that Nasa moves away from researching global warming and weather forecasting, and sets its sights once again on deep space.

Nasa boss Charles Bolden steps down in January and Mr Trump will appoint a successor.

Two leading contenders are both in favour of another Moon shot. Barack Obama supported a Nasa goal of reaching Mars with a manned mission by 2035 and experts believe a Trump White House will insert a mission to the Moon  possibly involving other countries in Europe and Japan  as a step on the way to Mars.

Part of Mr Trumps reasoning may be political. Florida is a key swing election state and, as the home of Nasa, the space industry has historically provided many jobs there.

Campaigning in the state, Mr Trump said he planned major investments in space exploration, adding: So many good things come out of it, including great jobs.

Campaigning in the state, Mr Trump said he planned major investments in space exploration, adding: So many good things come out of it, including great jobs

He accused successive Democrat administrations of undermining the countrys space programme, allowing other countries  notably Russia, which is planning its own colony on the moon, but also China and India  to take the initiative while the US watches from the sidelines.

Sceptics, however, wonder where the money will come from to finance Mr Trumps Moon dreams. Casey Dreier, of The Planetary Society, a space research charity, said that if the President-elect carried out his promised spending and tax cuts, Nasa will have trouble enough continuing its current programmes, much less expanding them beyond Earth.

Mr Trump will receive an invitation to meet the Queen next summer, it emerged yesterday.
A motorist who was allegedly caught driving six times over the alcohol limit has been captured on CCTV staggering out of his BMW and falling over.

The 39-year-old man, who denies he was driving the vehicle, is seen stumbling out of the driver's side door after it stopped in the middle of a road in an exclusive area of Sydney on Sunday evening.

Shocking security camera footage shows the man lurching from side to side and holding on to the outside of the expensive car as he tries to stay on his feet.

The disorientated man stumbles around, apparently not able to control his own movements, before falling backwards onto the pavement in Woolloomooloo.

A motorist who was allegedly caught driving six times over the alcohol limit has been captured on CCTV staggering out of his BMW and falling over

The 39-year-old man is seen stumbling out of the driver's side door after it stopped in the middle of a road in an exclusive area of Sydney on Sunday evening

The man got back to his feet but fell over again- this time into the road - after losing his balance once more.

Neighbours who were concerned for the man's wellbeing told 9 News that they offered him a glass of water, but he rudely refused it.

Police claim the man drove to the back street from his exclusive waterfront apartment nearby, passing through an area that would have been packed with pedestrians.

It is not known why the man got out of the car, however residents living nearby said the man appeared intoxicated or affected by drugs.

One mother who saw the man stumbling around said: 'He was laying on the ground and then he was sitting up. He was shaking.

'It was horrible. If he had got back in his car and drove off in that state, there's another one to add to the roads.'

The disorientated man stumbles around, apparently not able to control his own movements, before falling backwards onto the pavement in Woolloomooloo

The man got back to his feet but fell over again- this time into the road - after losing his balance once more

Neighbours called police, who were reportedly already on the way because the BMW had clipped an Australian Federal Police car moments earlier.

Both the AFP and New South Wales Police attended the scene, where the man allegedly refused to take a breath test.

NSW Police arrested the man and he was taken to a police station, where a breath test allegedly returned a reading of 0.342. The legal limit is 0.05.

The man has been charged with high range drink driving and has had his licence suspended.
A much-loved doctor who has worked in the Central Coast community for 30 years has been missing for three days.

Dr Gerard Paul, 57, was last seen in Warnervale at 8.30am on Friday and his family alerted police after he failed to return to his Yarramalong home that evening.

His wife shared the news on her Facebook page, leaving the community anxious for the safety of the 'loved and respected' general practitioner.

'Thank you everyone for the outpouring of love and concern for our Gerry, we are lost with out him so please keep looking for him,' his wife wrote on Monday.

Dr Gerard Paul, 57, was last seen in Warnervale at 8.30am on Friday and his family alerted police after he failed to return to his Yarramalong home that evening

'I know he is out there somewhere and we need to find him'.

Police said Dr Paul may have been travelling in his blue 2009 Jeep Patriot when he vanished.

On the Erina Family Medicine page, Dr Paul's bio says he has 'happily spent the last 28 years' at the Erina general practice and 'plans to be here for many more'.

After the news of his disappearance, the Central Coast community were quick to send their well-wishes to his family.

'Gerry has taken such good care of me, my children and my parents for such a long time, he feels like a part of our family too,' one woman wrote.

'Thank you everyone for the outpouring of love and concern for our Gerry, we are lost with out him so please keep looking for him,' his wife wrote

After the news of his disappearance, the Central Coast community were quick to send their well-wishes to his family

On the Erina Family Medicine (pictured) page, Dr Paul's bio says he has 'happily spent the last 28 years' at the Erina general practice and 'plans to be here for many more'

'Gerry has been our doctor for thirty years, he is so loved and respected and we are heartbroken to know he is missing'.

A Facebook post uploaded by his wife on Sunday night was shared more than 500 times in just 12 hours.

She said family members had not heard from Dr Paul since Friday.

In a media release, Police described Dr Paul as being of Caucasian appearance with a fair complexion, between 175 -180cm tall with a medium build.

He has brown eyes and no facial hair.
The incident followed a road rage scuffle between the two men

Heke says Mr Merrigan tailgated, made rude gestures and blocked him

He was on Monday ordered to stand trial for two lesser charges

The charge was downgraded from murder to manslaughter

Heke allegedly assaulted Mr Merrigan and he fell into path of a truck

A New Zealand man accused of pushing a driver in front of an oncoming garbage truck during a roadside argument will now stand trial for manslaughter.

Tamate Henry Heke allegedly caused the death of Shane Merrigan, 50, in a road rage scuffle on Brisbane's busy Gateway Motorway on December 1 last year.

Heke appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday and was ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court for manslaughter and unlawful striking causing death.

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Tamate Henry Heke, accused of pushing a driver in front of an oncoming garbage truck during a roadside argument, will now stand trial for manslaughter

Shane Merrigan, 50, (pictured) was killed in the road rage incident in Brisbane on December 1 last year

He was originally charged with murder but that was last month dropped by the Department of Public Prosecution for the lesser offences.

The 37-year-old told police he had been tailgated by Mr Merrigan, who also made rude gestures and mirrored his lane changes, according to the Courier Mail at the time.

He claimed Mr Merrigan then pulled over in front of him and the two men got out of their cars and a physical confrontation started.

Heke appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday and was ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court for manslaughter and unlawful striking causing death

Police allege Mr Merrigan (L) was pushed into the path of an oncoming truck after an altercation with another driver

Heke told police Mr Merrigan threw the first punch and when he hit him back the older man fell onto the road and was hit by the truck.

A court heard several witnesses had conflicting statements, which led to the charge being downgraded.

'While there might be a strong case on manslaughter, there may not be a strong case of murder,' Justice Roslyn Atkinson said in December.

Heke had been embroiled in a road rage incident with Merrigan before he was fatally hit by a truck

Heke was due to return to NZ to get married the next week

Hehe is seen sitting by the side of the road after the incident

Heke was due to return to NZ to get married the week after the incident and his fiancee and other family members flew to Brisbane to support him.

Defence lawyer Adam Magill told reporters the 36-year-old's fiancee and other family members had flown to Brisbane to support Heke, who is expected to spend Christmas and New Year behind bars.

'He's devastated. He's never really been in trouble with the police before so it's devastating for him and his family,' Defence lawyer Adam Magill said in December.

'They're devastated, it's going to be a long road.'

Tamate Henry Heke's lawyer Adam Magill spoke outside Brisbane Magistrates Court
Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys reveals he thinks facial hair is 'ridiculous and disgusting'

There is a moment of danger in live interviews on a programme like Today.

Sometimes it's when you realise, in the middle of a tough interview with a combative and clever politician, that you're not nearly as well-briefed as you should be.

Sometimes it's at the end of an enjoyable, light-hearted chat when you forget for a minute that you have millions of people listening and you make the sort of crack that you might make over a beer with a friend.

Which is what I did a few minutes before seven last Friday morning  and apparently managed to insult about half the male population of this country. Or, at least, the half that wears beards.

What I said was that beards were ridiculous. Okay, I went a bit further. I said they were disgusting, too.

In my defence, I was encouraged just a little by my interviewee. He was Dr Alun Withey, an academic with a sense of humour from Exeter University, who is working on a project about the history of the beard.

What I wanted to know  I still do  is why virtually everyone seems to be growing a beard these days. Every young man, that is. I'll come to the question of women and beards later.

When the current craze for beards kicked off around the turn of the century, I think most of us probably gave it five years or so. But it's still going strong.

I've lost track of the number of times followers of social trends have predicted that we have reached 'peak beard'.

It's a bit like peak oil used to be. Every time the experts warned us that pretty soon we'd have to go foraging for firewood if we wanted a hot meal, or have to sell the house to raise the cash to fill the oil tank to heat it, the oil companies would make another great discovery. Now there's so much of the stuff in reserve they can barely give it away. And it's like that with beards. Everywhere you glance there's another one sprouting.

My late colleague, much-loved newsreader Peter Donaldson, always grew a beard in winter and shaved it off in the summer. It was such an event we'd inform the listeners that the beard was back. A bit like the Queen's birthday announcement, only without the anthem.

What is so deeply puzzling is why every young(ish) male seems to be at it these days. Yes, of course beards have been around for ever, but there was a perfectly good reason for cavemen to grow them. The razor hadn't been invented. Or mirrors. And anyway, they were probably grateful for the added warmth.

Just a few millennia later, warriors would have seemed far less fearsome without beards. Genghis Khan just wouldn't have looked right thundering across the plain in pursuit of more foes to vanquish if he'd had a smooth chin. Nor would those Victorian soldiers at Rorke's Drift, defying the Zulu hordes without those glorious mutton chop whiskers.

Three years ago Paxman returned from holiday sporting facial hair, sparking a media storm which resulted in the presenter saying the BBC discriminated against beards

But look, my newly-bewhiskered friends, we've moved on. Even if you are one day called upon to defend Queen and country, it's unlikely the enemy will be any more scared of you because of some fluff on your chin. In fact, you'll probably be ordered to shave it off so your high-tech helmet will fit properly.

Of course, you're not necessarily making an aggressive statement when you ditch the razor. At least I assume you're not. And please don't use the old 'shaving is such a bore' excuse. It very well may be, but unless you're still stropping a cut-throat on a leather strap, it only takes a few minutes and you can use the time admiring yourself in the mirror.

And that gets us to the nub of it doesn't it? There's only one excuse for growing a beard: vanity. You're showing off. You're saying: 'Look what I can do! I bet you can't.'

And here I must concede, with great reluctance, you have a point.

Some years ago, when I was based in the States with my family and American politics was a shade less newsworthy than today, I took seven weeks off and we drove across America, down to Mexico and back again in a huge station wagon, camping as we went. I left the razor at home. Back in Washington, I inspected the growth in the bathroom mirror, decided to shave off the rather silly moustache and keep the magnificent beard.

My daughter saw me, screamed 'Daddy's ruined!' and ran to her mother for protection. True, she was only five, but out of the mouths of babes . . .

The fact is some men look good with beards  imagine Lincoln or Darwin without theirs  but most do not. Think Paxman.

And even 'good' beards need care and grooming. A wild, unkempt beard may be fine on an explorer in the upper reaches of the Amazon, less so on your dentist. Which takes me back to my probably unwise use of the word 'disgusting' on Today.

Roy Keane sporting a beard as Aston Villa assistant coach in 2014

If a little food tips off the fork or a drop of soup from the spoon, it can be swiftly and discreetly wiped away from a clean-shaven chin. If it falls into a beard . . . well, you get the picture. Not that beards are unhygienic in every eventuality. Indeed, the admirable Dr Withey, of Exeter University, told me there might possibly be some evidence that full beards may trap some bugs and bacteria before they can get in the nose or mouth.

But even if that is true, I'd prefer not to be embraced in a manly hug by a man whose chin is the equivalent of a mobile flea pit.

As Dr Withey says, beards had their golden era in Victorian times. They were seen as a way for men to exert their masculinity in the face of growing threats to their dominance from women.

Not that all women automatically went weak at the knees confronted with a fellow's bushy beard. At the height of the craze for facial hair, some women even challenged men on the beard front.

In 1863, The Examiner reported 'the new fashion for European ladies next winter will be the enlarging of their love-locks, and pulling them down over the cheeks in imitation of whiskers'.

But of course beards have always been with us and so, at the risk of treading on the territory of the great Mary Beard (pure coincidence), let me take you back to the days of the Roman Empire for my final witness.

Are beards OK for actors and Welsh rugby players? Only if they win

He was Julian the Apostate, not only a notable philosopher but also emperor from 361 to 363AD. He wrote a wonderfully satirical account of the relationship between ruler and ruled.

With self-deprecating wit he claimed that he had grown his own long beard out of 'sheer perversity and ill-temper to punish his face for the crime of not being handsome by nature'.

For the same reason, he wrote, he 'put up with the lice that scamper about in it as though it were a thicket for wild beasts.'

Eating greedily, he said, was a problem: 'I must take care, I suppose, or before I know it I shall eat up some of my own hairs along with my crumbs of bread.' And as for kissing: 'A beard is evidently troublesome, since it does not allow me to press shaven lips to other lips more sweetly.'

While I've been writing this, an email (plus picture) has arrived from a splendidly bearded David Threlfall  a brilliant actor and old friend  with the question: 'But beards are OK for actors and Welsh rugby players?'
A motorist was filmed using his laptop while driving his van at 50mph during rush-hour traffic on one of Europe's busiest motorways.

The male driver could be seen looking down at the device - which was placed on his passenger seat - as he drove using one hand along the M25.

A shocked witness captured the moment he glanced at the screen while driving alongside an HGV between Junctions 14 and 15 near Staines, Surrey.

The person who filmed the footage claims the driver was also using his phone on the motorway, reports The Sun.

They told the paper: 'This man was one of many drivers we had clocked earlier using their phone.

'That was ridiculous enough, but about ten minutes later we spotted him again and he's bashing away at his keyboard.'

The witness described the man - who was driving a van with the words 'technical services' on the side - as being an 'idiot' whose behaviour was 'outrageous'.

The Metropolitan Police received a report about the incident at 4.15pm last Friday and it is believed the caller would have been advised to present any evidence to a police station.

An AA spokesman told MailOnline: 'The actions of this driver are disgraceful. Not only has he diverted his attention from the road but to see that he has positioned himself facing away from the controls of the car, with his upper body turned to the left, is shocking.

'In this position, the driver cannot have proper control of the vehicle or awareness of what is going on around him and if something were to happen, he would not be able to react in time.

The M25 (pictured) encircles almost all of Greater London and is is one of Europe's busiest motorways

'This is reckless and puts the driver and other road users in unnecessary danger. There cannot be anything that is important enough to warrant the risk. If you urgently need to use a device, pull over and stop somewhere safe like a service station to do so.'

And RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams told MailOnline: From what we can see from the video footage, it is quite shocking to think that anybody would consider this kind of behaviour acceptable, as a number of tragic accidents have recently highlighted the dangers of looking at mobile devices while at the wheel.

The RACs Report on Motoring 2016 revealed that one in four (26 per cent) people who admit to using mobile devices at the wheel, do so to check social media, emails and texts, which is a real concern given the safety implications of that level of distraction.
For Allison Russoniello and Kevin Duffy it was the biggest night of their lives as they celebrated their wedding together with their friends and family.

The reception in New Jersey was in full swing when all of a sudden an employee at the wedding venue grabbed a microphone to tell guests they would have to evacuate the building immediately after burning was smelled.

At first, Allison thought it was a joke, but within minutes a team of firefighters were on the scene and instructing people to leave the dance floor.

Rescue me! Bride Allison Russoniello, 27, is lifted high above the dancefloor at her wedding

Firefighters were called after a burning smell was found coming from the kitchen. Their wedding photographer turned the incident into a photo opportunity

'My family are all jokers and pranksters, so I was like, this is funny, who set this one up, where's the joke?' she said to Today.

But it was all for real and the entire wedding party was instructed to leave as fire crews came into the building to investigate the smell.

'I turned to Kevin and said, "This stinks, but we're going on the fire truck,"' said Allison.

Their wedding photographer sensed a unique opportunity as the firefighters began to quickly to outnumber the guests who were being ushered to the exits.

The couple had the opportunity to play around in the fire truck and have some photos taken

Nothing could spoil the big day for the pair, seen here in a Facebook photo

Drew Noel grabbed his camera and started to snap pictures of the couple, who are both 27, inside and outside the fire truck.

'Nothing could spoil their day, not even an evacuation at their wedding,' said Drew.

After half an hour, the celebration was allowed to resume back inside the building whereupon the burly firemen hoisted Allison into the air above the dance floor, giving her and a the guests a view of the party nobody will forget.

The source of the smell turned out to be a faulty refrigerator compressor in the kitchen.
None of the locals gathered in the Lodore Falls Hotel knew who she was. As auctions go, this one in the heart of the Lake District did not attract a big crowd  just a few people, some familiar faces, including local sheep farmer Peter Edmondson, 61, and the unknown woman. Blonde, and wearing a woollen cardigan, she took up a position right at the front.

Lot 2 was Thorneythwaite Farm in the beautiful valley of Borrowdale with 313 acres and a flock of 417 Herdwick sheep  the distinctive grey-and-white rare breed that much-loved author Beatrix Potter devoted herself to conserving.

The auctioneers guide price was 750,000, but he dropped down to 600,000 to get the bidding started when the woman at the front piped up.

Thorneythwaite farm in the beautiful valley of Borrowdal in the Lake District was bought by the National Trust for 950,000

Excuse me, she announced, raising an arm. Id like to make a bid of 950,000.

Unsurprisingly, it was the only bid. Edmondson, whose family have been tenant farmers in the region for six generations and wanted this farm next door to his own for one of his sons, was shattered.

It blocked me absolutely, he says. I never even got a chance to bid. I couldnt compete against a bid of that size. No one could. It was a crazy figure. Minutes later, he bumped into the victorious bidder in the hotel car park and glumly introduced himself as your new neighbour.

As he recalls: She said: I take it youre Mr Edmondson. I replied: Right. And she said: Well, Im Victoria Lancaster and Im the areas new land agent for the National Trust.

No one could have foreseen that this brief conversation in August would lead to open warfare in which the National Trust, a charity supported and loved by millions for shielding the gracious living of past times from the rapaciousness of the 21st century, would be viewed with resentment and disgust.

As broadcaster Lord (Melvyn) Bragg, who was born in the Lake District, wrote to The Times: Had a billionaire bullied his way into this disgraceful purchase, there would have been a deserved outcry.

Farmer James Rebanks has accused National Trust boss Dame Helen Ghosh of using mafia tactics over the farms purchase

Now, the Charity Commission, the government department which regulates the thousands of charities in England and Wales, has stepped into the row. It is looking into whether the deal for the farm broke any rules governing the fair acquisition of land.

Concerns have been raised with the Commission about this issue and we are engaged with the charity to obtain further information, it says.

The focus of the widespread ire is ballet-loving Dame Helen Ghosh, 60, a former Whitehall mandarin who has been the National Trusts director-general since 2012 and, it is said, still lives up to a memorable description of her by a government minister of being more at home in court shoes than gum boots.

Last week, the row reached boiling point as Dame Helen was accused by one of her most outspoken critics of using mafia tactics over the farms purchase. He is James Rebanks, the Lakeland farmer and author of The Shepherds Life, whose family has farmed Herdwick and Swaledale sheep in the region for generations.

In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, convent-educated Dame Helen smoothly attempted to discredit him in typical Whitehall-mandarin-style as not even a full-time farmer saying: I dont know if you thought he did [farm full-time], but he doesnt. And a press officer at the Trust described him as playing a cute game.

Rebankss caustic, though controlled, response was to tweet that she was factually wrong, irrelevant and (using) basically mafia tactics of trying to discredit someone.

Dame Helen, 60, is a former Whitehall mandarin who has been the National Trusts director-general since 2012

The Trust has apologised to the much-respected farmer for a clumsy, off-the-cuff remark during an informal chat about why we hadnt managed to arrange a meeting with him.

Clumsy is not a word you would use about Dame Helen herself. In Whitehall she was seen as a female version of Yes Ministers Sir Humphrey. Well-known for her silken and precise phrasing, Dame Helens style is described as school-marmy and patronising and, according to one interviewer, being edged with condescension.

She has been known to emphasise her authority and grasp of an issue by casually mentioning that she has a First in History from Oxford. She is also in the habit of emphasising the importance of listening to others.

But is she listening now?

It was to Dame Helen that farmer Peter Edmondson wrote an impassioned, personal letter after he lost out at the auction.

I sent it in a registered envelope to make sure it got to her, he says. I wanted an explanation of why they did what they did with such a big lump of public money. After all, me and my family were a guarantee that the land would stay the same, so why spend all that public money to buy it for themselves, for the Trust. (As well as donations from the public, the National Trust is given tens of millions in grants from public bodies.)

Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, who was born in the Lake District, said: Had a billionaire bullied his way into this disgraceful purchase, there would have been a deserved outcry'

Mr Edmondson says he waited and waited but there was no reply from Dame Helen. On the National Trust website, however, an explanation did appear suggesting that the outcry was the result of a misunderstanding.

The Trust had stepped in with an over-the-top bid for fear the land might fall into the wrong  possibly foreign  hands. It believed that no local people were interested in the farm.

For his part, Mr Edmondson retorts: Nobody believed that! Everyone in the area knew I wanted it for my family. No locals were aware of any foreign interest in the farm at all.

He eventually did get a reply to his letter to Dame Helen. It came not from her but from Mike Innerdale, the Trusts regional director for the Lakes.

According to Edmondson, the letter explained how they look after the Lake District and the wildlife and how they spend 8million a year on the Borrowdale area. It didnt say how much of that was spent on the properties they live in and the cars they drive about in.

Edmondson makes no attempt to conceal his anger. But why did the Trust pay over the odds for the farm?

In an interview published by the Observer last weekend, Dame Helen argued  rather oddly, according to her critics  that if it hadnt bought the land, it wouldnt have enabled us to highlight the debate about how you can support sustainable (hill) farming in terms of the income, and the threat of subsidies disappearing (with Brexit).

She added: Were clear that our role must be to support adaptation. Conservation is about managing a process of change. Could there be a finer example of lofty and barely intelligible Sir Humphrey-speak  throwing in a barely-concealed political jibe about Brexit into the bargain?

I never even got a chance to bid. I couldnt compete against a bid of that size. No one could. It was a crazy figure

And this from the director-general of one of our most cherished charities, founded in 1895 and now with 4.2million members and 60,000 volunteers.

The fact is, when the Trust made such a huge bid for Thorneythwaite Farm, it was already one of the biggest landlords in that part of the Lakes. It owned all but three of the many farms scattered around  easily enough, you would think, to highlight the sustainable hill farming debate etc.

So might there be another reason? The widely held view locally is that the Trusts long-term secret plan is to re-wild the uplands of Borrowdale.

Re-wilding means returning the area to its natural state, taking land out of production, with more forested and fewer grazed acres. In its extreme form, it can involve re-introducing predator species such as wolves and lynx which, it is said, increases the diversity.

A National Trust spokesman is adamant there are no plans for re-wilding and the land will continue to be farmed. But farmer Edmondson is suspicious. If theyd wanted to keep it as a farm, theyd have bought the farm buildings as well, he snorts.

In fact, the farmhouse, plus outbuildings and 13 acres were bought at the auction by a middle-aged couple from London. The Trusts reason for not entering the bidding for it is that it could not afford to buy both land and farm. Not, you may well think, at the kind of price it was paying.

Meanwhile, Peter Edmondsons offer to farm the land for the Trust has been ignored. Instead, a shepherd has been engaged to look after the flock on a short-term contract.

The Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, which elected Beatrix Potter as its first female president in 1943 and today represents more than 200 Herdwick breeders, is upset by the Trusts purchase.

Another farm lost, it stated mournfully. Hopes that the farm could be taken on by a new, young fell farmer have been dashed. Another blow to the community of Borrowdale. SHAME on you National Trust.

The grim irony is that Beatrix Potter, who became a major landowner in the Lakes, left 4,000 acres to the National Trust, as well as 14 farms, hoping for their preservation.

But then, for many, this doesnt feel like the National Trust of old  not since Dame Helen took over as 183,000-a-year director-general.

After her appointment, cheery if highly irritating, notices began to be seen at Trust properties telling visitors, for example, Please do touch the trees  or even hug them.

But the Trust has also become involved with thorny political subjects such as climate change (the biggest threat to the places we look after, it states). Indeed, Dame Helen has declared that it must become far more political on the subject.

For Dame Helen, mother of two, wife of an Oxford don, trouble is nothing new. Her career blossomed under New Labour with stints at the Department of Pensions, the Cabinet Office, the Department for the Environment and HM Revenue and Customs. Whether they blossomed under her is quite another matter.

To take just one example, while at the Environment Ministry from 2005 to 2010, she failed to sort out the shambles of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) which hands out subsidies to farmers. Many did not receive their money on time, with some subsequently suffering serious hardship. Several suicides were blamed on the delays. The MPs Public Accounts Committee tore into Dame Helen over the payments fiasco, describing it as a masterclass in bad decision-making.

Things were hardly perfect during her time at the Home Office in 2011 as Permanent Secretary. Her tenure was notable for rows about Olympic security, policing, the London riots and an inability to monitor immigration efficiently.

She lasted 20 months until 2012, when she slipped away amid accusations of incompetence and blame-avoidance. Almost immediately she was appointed to the Trust with its 500 million-a-year income. A big job. And, now, another big row.

All this is scant consolation for farmer Peter Edmondson. His frustrations remain.

I would have loved my son Jason, whos nearly 21, to run it, so that when I retire from my own farm at 65 and my elder son Alan, 37, takes over, they could run them side-by-side, almost as one.

Two good lads, hard-working. Its a good life, I can tell you.
Theresa May (pictured at the CBI conference today) used her speech to demand they embrace 'change' after the Brexit vote

Furious Brexiteers lashed out at Theresa May for 'fueling uncertainty' after she hinted at a 'transitional' EU exit deal to appease City firms that could see us tied to Brussels for years.

The Prime Minister held out an olive branch to business by suggesting she wants to stage the process of leaving to avoid a 'cliff edge' for key economic sectors.

But leading Vote Leave campaigners complained the move would 'fuel uncertainty' and leave the country in 'limbo' for years after the end of the Article 50 period in 2019.

In her speech to the CBI this morning, Mrs May declared her determination to slash corporation tax - and appeared to back away from a previous commitment to put workers on boards. Instead she suggested they would merely have 'a voice' in boardrooms.

Alongside the sweeteners the premier also delivered a tough message that business must clean up its act and get fully on board with the government's efforts to cut ties with Brussels.

Speaking ahead of the crucial Autumn Statement this week, Mrs May warned that the behaviour of a few in business had seriously damaged public trust, and insisted the government would push through reform.

She said the referendum result in June showed that 'change is in the air' and everyone had to respond.

'We all know that in recent years the reputation of business as a whole has been bruised. Trust in business runs at just 35 per cent among those in the lowest income brackets,' Mrs May said.

'The behaviour of a limited few has damaged the reputation of the many. And fair or not, it is clear that something has to change.

'For when a small minority of businesses and business figures appear to game the system and work to a different set of rules, we have to recognise that the social contract between business and society fails  and the reputation of business as a whole is undermined.'

Mrs May hailed the many strengths of the UK economy, saying it was 'world class' in a huge variety of areas.

She also insisted there had been 'massive votes of confidence' in Britain since the referendum result, with businesses choosing to keep investing here.

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Mrs May was in combative mood at the CBI this morning - and at one point seemed to be doing some shadow boxing

Mrs May delivered her strongest hint yet that she will seek a 'transitional' deal when Brexit negotiations begin

But Mrs May said there were also 'long term structural challenges' that have to be addressed during the Brexit process, including a lack of focus on improving infrastructure and boosting opportunities for young people.

'Let us join together and show that we can rise to meet this moment. Let us respond to the publics demand for change,' she said.

'Let us restore their faith and prove that capitalism can deliver them a better future.'

THERESA MAY CLIMBS DOWN ON PLAN TO PUT WORKERS ON BOARDS Theresa May signalled a dramatic watering down of her pledge to place workers on company boards today. The Prime Minister sparked a furious backlash from business chiefs last month when she mooted the idea, with concerns raised about logistical complications and interference by unions. In her speech to the CBI today, Mrs May played down the prospect - making clear it would not be compulsory and her objective was merely that staff had a 'voice' at the top table. But the premier is sticking by a pledge to impose annual bining votes on remuneration for top directors. Mrs May said: 'While it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on Boards. 'Some companies may find that these models work best for them  but there are other routes that use existing Board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented. 'It will be a question of finding the model that works.' In return for the climbdown, Downing Street is thought to have told companies they must accept Mrs May's drive to curb excessive executive pay. Advertisement

The PM gave her strongest indication yet that she will seek a 'transitional' deal with the EU, which could mean that the UK is tied to Brussels for years after we formally leave.

The City of London has been urging ministers to forge such an arrangement, which could see the UK as a whole or some sectors of the economy 'opting in' to the single market for a period after the completion of the Article 50 process in 2019.

'Obviously as we look at the negotiation we want to get the arrangement that is going to work best for the UK and the arrangement that is going to work best for business in the UK,' Mrs May said.

'And Im conscious that there will be issues that will need to be looked at. I understand ... that people dont want a cliff edge, they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward.

'That will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation that we are undertaking with the European Union.'

No10 clarified that Mrs May had not intended to suggest the negotiations could be extended - and was referring to arrangements that could be made for after Article 50 was complete.

She said the PM was acknowledging there were concerns about a cliff-edge after Britain cuts ties with the EU and she was recognising that people want as much certainty as possible.

We will not be seeking to extend the Article 50 process, the Prime Ministers spokeswoman said this afternoon.

Hardline Brexiteers warned that a delay in cutting ties fully would result in damaging 'limbo'.

Richard Tice, Co-Chair of Leave Means Leave said: 'A transitional deal will fuel more uncertainty and leave Britain in limbo.

'British voters have made it clear that they want to leave the EU and the Government must deliver on this in full and at the soonest opportunity  two years after triggering Article 50, or sooner if the EU fails to negotiate.'

But the idea was broadly welcomed by top Tories.

Conservative MP Steve Baker told MailOnline: An overwhelming majority of us are in favour of a good quality transitional deal.

STERLING UP AS PM HINTS AT TRANSITIONAL DEAL WITH EU Sterling moved above the 1.25 mark against the US dollar as markets welcomed the PM's hint at a transitional deal. The pound pushed 1.2 per cent higher to 1.2502 against the greenback, as investors welcomed the soothing words from Theresa May. It also appeared to benefit from her backing for lower corporation tax. During her speech at the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual conference, Mrs May said: "People don't want a cliff-edge; they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go." Sterling's surge was also seen against the euro, rising 0.7% to 1.176 euro. Advertisement

Its very clear there are pathways forward to achieve certainty for financial services by having a deal based on mutual recognition and equivalence.

He added: Its not free trade if there is a fee for the privilege of selling something.

Ultimately, in such historic circumstances such as this, the Prime Minister is right to keep her options open.

Leading Eurosceptic Bernard Jenkin said: There is little she can say at this stage. She wants to make her case first to our EU partners, not to the words press so they read there first.

I think there could be advantages in a quick and simple transitional deal, which could shorten the whole Brexit process.

We are not the ones who want to strong this out for two unnecessary years.

Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg said: In a negotiation it is wise to keep options open at the beginning.

The key is that at the end we are fully out and free to trade with the world, set our own regulations and keep our money.

If an interim arrangement rakes the path, that is fine.

In his own speech to the conference tonight, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joked that he did not know who was more shocked at his presence - himself or the business chiefs

Mr Corbyn slammed Mrs May's claim about the 'just about managing' people warning many of them were barely 'surviving' because of welfare cuts

Tory MP Michael Fabricant told MailOnline: It is early days yet and its important the Prime Minister has flexibility.

But as she has often said, we need access to the single market, control of our borders and the ability to enter into trade treaties with the rest of the world.

There are many ways that particular cat can be skinned.

The PM's official spokeswoman said the Governments objective was securing the best outcome for the UK.

SCRAP PENSION TRIPLE LOCK, SAYS EX-DWP SECRETARY STEPHEN CRABB The triple-lock safeguard on state pensions should be scrapped, former Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb has said. The Tory MP, who left the Government in the summer, called on Theresa May to scrap the guarantee because it had 'served its purpose' and said welfare spending should be targeted more towards working families. The triple-lock, introduced by David Cameron in 2012, increases the state pension each year by either the rate of inflation, the rise in average earnings, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest. Mr Crabb told the BBC last night: 'I think there will be a case after 2020 to look again at that, to see if we can't rebalance our welfare spending to ensure that more goes to working families.' Mr Crabb becomes the latest ex-pensions minister to call for it to be abandoned, following in the footsteps of Iain Duncan Smith and Ros Altman, who said the policy is too costly. Earlier this month the influential Commons Work and Pensions Committee called for the triple-lock safeguard to be scrapped because it was 'inherently unsustainable' and was 'skewed' towards baby boomers and against younger millennials. Advertisement

She said: There are a whole range of issues that are being worked through as we prepare for the negotiations, focused on how we get the best deal for the UK.

She said if necessary, the other EU states could extend the two year period for a member leaving the trading bloc.

The spokeswoman said: We have set out the time frame for getting on and triggering Article 50. There is no change to that approach.

There is a process by which it can be extended. That doesnt suggest it is the Governments position to pursue that option.

We will pursue these negotiations to get the best possible outcome for the UK.

Mrs May restated her commitment to the Conservative core beliefs in free markets, capitalism and business after some company bosses complained about a negative tone towards enterprise.

She said the government would ensure Britain has the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20 group of nations. Currently 20 per cent, it is due to fall to 17 per cent by 2020.

US president-elect Donald Trump has promised to cut the American rate to 15 per cent, meaning ministers could face pressure to slash further.

Mrs May promised an extra 2billion a year for cutting edge research and development by 2020 and announce a review of tax breaks for hi-tech firms.

We will review the support we give innovative firms through the tax system because my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20 but also one that is profoundly pro-innovation, she said.

Mrs May urged firms to show they are playing by the same rules as everyone else by paying tax and reining in corporate behaviour that alienates the public.

Mrs May was pictured yesterday attending church with husband Philip near her Maidenhead constituency

The Prime Minister described the June 23 Brexit vote as a true national moment and a once-in-a-generation chance to shape a new future for our nation  the chance to build a stronger, fairer country.

She called for a change the way our country works  and the people for whom it works  for ever.

In her party conference speech this year, Mrs May said: If you believe youre a citizen of the world, youre a citizen of nowhere. You dont understand what the very word citizenship means.

Her remarks, and attacks on corporate greed, led to complaints about a negative attitude towards business. No 10 rejects that accusation but sources said the PM would correct the misapprehension and seek to soothe business fears.

In a powerful defence of free markets, Mrs May insisted they were the means by which we spread opportunity and lift people out of poverty.

She added: We believe in capitalism  the means by which we drive economic growth, putting people into work to provide for their families.

And we believe in business  the entrepreneurs and the innovators who employ millions of people up and down this country  the basis for our prosperity.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is delivering his Autumn Statement on Wednesday (statistics as of November 18, 2016)

Former Chancellor George Osborne urged Mrs May to press ahead with reducing corporation tax to 15 per cent

US president-elect Donald Trump has promised to cut the American corporation tax rate to 15 per cent, meaning the Government could face pressure to slash further

But she warned that both business and government must adapt and change, saying: If we support free markets, value capitalism and back business  and we do  we must do everything we can to keep faith with them.

So we will do things differently  not carrying on with business as usual, but opening our minds to new ways of thinking.

For government, it means not just stepping back and leaving you to get on with the job, but stepping up to a new, active role that backs British business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of your success.

For business, it means doing more to spread those benefits around the country, playing by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to tax and behaviour, and investing in Britain for the long-term.

She committed the Government to a more active role in business and a review of tax help for cutting-edge technology firms.

Ministers are understood to be considering plans for a new public interest test to let them stop takeovers that threaten company pension funds.

In a move that would be seen as a response to Sir Philip Greens handling of BHS, they are also considering fines for employers who raid pension pots.
Exercise is being 'stripped out' of modern lifestyles, with British children among the least active in the world, experts have warned.

A damning international study of 38 countries found that England, Scotland and Wales are among the worst for physical activity  far behind nations such as Poland and Venezuela.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, last night called for major action on modern day upbringings, saying children have replaced outdoor activities with screen-time.

Exercise is being 'stripped out' of modern lifestyles, with British children among the least active in the world, experts have warned

He called exercise a 'magic pill' that would be a 'pharmaceutical blockbuster' if it were in the form of a medicine.

His comments followed the results of the children's fitness rankings, which are put together by a global alliance of health experts.

England and Wales were both given a score of D minus in the rankings  the third worst grade. Scotland was joint worst with an F.

Just 15 per cent of girls aged 11 to 15 in England manage the hour of moderate-intensity physical activity per day advised by the World Health Organisation.

Meanwhile, the figure for boys has fallen from 28 to 22 per cent in the last two years.

The study, presented to the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health in Thailand, also showed that just one in three children of this age are involved in any organised sport outside school.

This has deteriorated significantly in the last two years, despite regular calls from the Government to tackle the problem of child obesity.

According to the study, parents are often reluctant to let their children play outside.

Mr Stevens called for joint action by not only the health service, but parents, schools and consumption industries.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, last night called for major action on modern day upbringings

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'If you could pack exercise into a magic pill, it would be a pharmaceutical blockbuster.

'Instead it requires action by schools, the NHS, parents and the food and drink industry.

'Get this right and we'll be sparing the next generation hundreds of thousands of cases of cancers, strokes and dementia, as well as type 2 diabetes.'

The international congress, held in Bangkok, has set a target of reducing sedentary behaviour globally by 10 per cent over the next nine years.

Mark Tremblay, chair of Active Health Alliance, told the congress: 'Kids need to get away from computer and video games, go outside and play more.'
More than 100 police officers took a whole year off sick suffering from mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety.

In total 1,500 officers are missing from duty every single day of the year because of these conditions, with the police union blaming manpower cuts for heaping extra work pressures on their members.

Figures released by police forces across the UK show that officers were not at work for more than 560,000 days last year where their cause of absence was logged as stress, anxiety or depression.

More than 100 police officers took a whole year off sick suffering from mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety (file image)

Police numbers have been slashed since 2010 and it is feared the increased toll on those remaining could be putting too much pressure on some officers.

The stress figures released by forces around the whole of the UK show that last year a total of 109 officers spent the entire year away from work because of their mental health problems.

The greatest number of calendar days lost to forces around the UK was in the Met where the capital's force saw officers absent for 56,634 calendar days.

A breakdown of the figure from the Met saw 63percent of the days were lost to stress, 28 percent down to depression and nine percent due to anxiety.

The West Midlands force had the largest number of officers off for the entire year due to stress, anxiety and depression, with a total of 23 absent for the entire 12 months.

Other forces that saw officers miss lots of days on duty were Scotland (50,457), Greater Manchester (41,892) and West Midlands (43,659).

In Hampshire Police Force officers, where 14,891 days were lost to stress, anxiety and depression, a total of 101 staff attended Stress Management and Resilience Workshops.

Promoting the course to officers a leaflet said: 'During this time of organisational change, we recognise that many officers and staff may feel that their normal levels of resilience are stretched and they may be experiencing levels of stress that they feel are impacting on their general health and wellbeing.

'The aim of the workshop will be for you to gain knowledge to enable you to recognise stressors and to have an awareness of how to cope with these stressors and build resilience.'

The West Midlands force had the largest number of officers off for the entire year due to stress, anxiety and depression, with a total of 23 absent for the entire 12 months (file image)

At Hertfordshire Police, where 7,778 days were lost to stress-related conditions, officers were able to attend a half-day workshop called Resilience for Individuals, which helped staff recognise the signs and symptoms of stress as well as providing them with ways to cope better with it.

Che Donald, lead on mental health for the Police Federation of England and Wales said: 'There have been unprecedented cuts to police officer numbers since 2010, with forces losing 20,000 officers.

'However, the demand placed on the police service has not decreased, with overall crime rates up including large increases in violent crime.
Tiahleigh Palmer's foster mother and one of her foster brothers will be sentenced next year after pleading guilty to charges relating to the 12-year-old Queensland schoolgirl's alleged murder.

Julene Thorburn, 54, and her son Josh, 20, have pleaded guilty to one count each of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice last week.

The Logan girl's foster mother and foster brother will face a sentencing hearing at some point next year at Beenleigh District Court at a date to be set, the pair's lawyer Jason Jacobson confirmed to AAP on Monday.

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Tiahleigh Palmer had been dead for almost one year when her foster family members were each charged over her death

Tiahleigh's foster father Rick (left) is charged with her murder. Foster brother, Josh (middle left), and foster mother Julene (middle right) are charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Foster brother, Trent (right), is charged with incest and attempting to pervert the course of justice

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has six months to proceed with the indictment, meaning it could be May before the hearing is held.

Julene Thorburn's husband Rick has been charged with Tiahleigh's murder.

He was arrested and charged in September, just under a year after Tiahleigh's decomposed body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River in the northern Gold Coast.

Rick claimed he dropped Tiahleigh off at Marsden State High School on the morning of October 30, 2015 - six days before her body was found.

Julene and Josh could be jailed for up to 14-years for perjury, as well as a maximum of seven-years for attempting to pervert the course of justice

Their other son, Trent, is facing charges of incest and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Trent is due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 21.

At a mention for Julene and Josh in October, Mr Jacobson indicated the pair would be pleading guilty and giving evidence against the other members of their family.

'They now have taken the step of agreeing to be prosecution witnesses and will give evidence about everything they know,' he said outside court last month.

'You can take it from that their's is very much a family divided.'

Julene and Josh could be jailed for up to 14-years for perjury, as well as a maximum of seven-years for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Rick claimed he dropped Tiahleigh off at Marsden State High School on the morning of October 30, 2015 - six days before her body was found. He was charged in September this year with her murder

Trent is due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 21 for charges of incest and attempting to pervert the course of justice

Tiahleigh's body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River (scene pictured)
Demonstrators who sent up drones to film the confrontation said they were shot down by police

Protesters also reported being hit with rubber bullets and pepper spray

Some protesters live-streamed the standoff, which saw demonstrators being sprayed with water cannons as temperatures dipped below freezing

Hundreds of protesters opposed to a North Dakota oil pipeline project they claim threatens water resources clashed with police who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at them.

An estimated 400 demonstrators mounted the Backwater Bridge and attempted to force their way past police.

There were fears protesters could catch hypothermia as they were soaked by police in the freezing November temperatures.

It was the latest in a series of demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Police confronted activists with rubber pellets during the protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, North Dakota

Law enforcement officials in North Dakota deployed tear gas and water cannons (pictured) against hundreds of activists, prompting hypothermia fears for the demonstrators

LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, a Standing Rock Sioux tribe member and founder of the Sacred Stone camp, said: 'They were attacked with water cannons. It is 23 degrees [-5 C] out there with mace, rubber bullets, pepper spray, etc. They are being trapped and attacked. Pray for my people.'

The Morton County Sheriff's Department said officers described the protesters' actions as 'very aggressive'.

A spokesman for the sheriffs department said law enforcement was spraying water because protesters were lighting fires on and around the bridge.

Activists claimed they had lit two bonfires to keep people warm, while other fires were sparked by law enforcement weapons,

One person was arrested during the evening.

The Backwater Bridge has been closed since late October, when activists clashed with police in riot gear and set two trucks on fire, leading authorities to forcibly shut down a protesters' camp nearby.

About 400 Dakota Access pipeline protesters clashed with police on Sunday night. Police said some were starting fires in protest (pictured)

Water cannons (pictured) blasted the protesters in the freezing November weather during the standoff with law enforcement

Police deployed water cannons against the protesters as temperatures dropped below freezing

Sunday's skirmishes began around 6pm after protesters removed a burned-out truck on Backwater Bridge

The sheriff's office said the latest incident began around 6pm on Sunday when protesters removed a burned-out truck that had been on the bridge since the October 27 confrontation.

The Morton County Sheriff's Office estimated 400 protesters were trying to cross the bridge in what they called 'an ongoing riot.'

Law enforcement formed a line to stop them and deployed water cannons as temperatures dipped below freezing.

The protesters continued to hold their line as water cannons doused them.

Multiple people sent up drones to record the water cannons, but people live streaming said they heard the drones being shot down three times.

Rema Loeb said he was forced to retreat from the bridge because he feared being doused with water on the freezing night.

He said other activists required medical attention after being hit with tear gas.

There were fears protesters could catch hypothermia as they were soaked by police in the freezing November temperatures

The clashes began after protesters removed a truck that had been on the bridge since October 27, police said

The Morton County Sheriff's Office said protesters were trying to cross the bridge on state Highway 1806 in what they called 'an ongoing riot'

Multiple people sent up drones to record the water cannons, but people live streaming said three times they heard the drones being shot down

Mr Loeb, 83, who traveled from Massachusetts about two weeks ago to join the protests, said: 'It's been just horrible.'

One hundred sixty-seven people were injured and seven taken to the hospital, according to Jade Begay, a spokeswoman for the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Protesters said a gym in Cannon Ball was opened to aid demonstrators.

A live stream early on Monday showed a continued standoff, with large lights illuminating smoke wafting across the scene.

Hundreds of people on social media expressed outrage over the police use of water cannons.

'People at #StandingRock are fighting for their right to have #cleanwater while the police is WASTING it by using it as a weapon against them,' on person wrote.

Another tweeted: 'Hypothermia could be a huge issue for all the water protectors TRAPPED without medical care.'

On Twitter, hundreds of people expressed outrage over the police use of water cannons in the frigged weather

Others called on president Obama to step in and help the 'water protectors'.

'What the f*** is wrong with people? The water protectors at #StandingRock are being bombarded w/water cannons, 160+ wounded. @POTUS wake up!' another person tweeted.

The $3.7 billion Dakota Access project has drawn steady opposition from Native American and environmental activists since the summer.

Completion of the pipeline, set to run 1,172 miles (1,185 km) from North Dakota to Illinois, was delayed in September so federal authorities could re-examine permits required by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Activists stand off with police during the protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline

Plans called for the pipeline to pass under Lake Oahe, a federally owned water source, and to skirt the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation by about half a mile. Most of the construction has otherwise been finished.

The Standing Rock tribe and environmental activists said the project would threaten water supplies and sacred Native American sites and contribute to climate change.

Supporters of the pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer Partners, said the project offers the fastest and most direct route for bringing Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to US Gulf Coast refineries and would be safer than transporting the oil by road or rail.
A 12-year-old schoolgirl believed to have been murdered more than 18 years ago was allegedly being held for ransom when she was 'substantially' injured, court documents reveal.

Vincent Tarantino, 49, fronted Sydney's Central Local Court on Monday charged with murder and detain for advantage over the July 27, 1998 disappearance of Quanne Diec.

'Tarantino ... did entice away and detain Quanne Diec, with intent to hold her for ransom, and caused her a substantial injury,' court documents revealed on Monday.

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Quanne Diec disappeared on her way to school on the morning of July 27, 1998

Forensic police attend a property at 10 Second Street in Granville, in Sydney's west on Monday as they search for Quanne's remains

Tarantino is accused of murdering Quanne sometime between 6.30am and 7pm on the same day that he allegedly grabbed her, according to the papers.

It was also revealed that when Tarantino was arrested at Surry Hills police station on Sunday he was allegedly in possession of a 35cm kitchen knife without a 'reasonable excuse'.

During his brief appearance in court, Tarantino said his brother and partner were murdered 'in retaliation for what I've done' despite his lawyer advising him against speaking.

Tarantino will remain in custody ahead of an appearance at Parramatta Local Court in January.

Police search a property in Granville linked to Vincent Tarantino

Police searched the property the same day Mr Tarantino appeared in the Central Local Court

Meanwhile detectives were searching a Granville home for Quanne's remains.

Investigators wanted to 'bring Quanne home to her mum and dad and put her to rest', Superintendent Scott Whyte said on Monday.

Quanne hasn't been seen since she left her family home in Granville in Sydney's west on that fateful Monday.

She was heading to the Clyde train station on her way to Strathfield Girls High School but never arrived.

Quanne, 12, pictured before she disappeared. Her family searched for her for years

Early on in the investigation, Quanne was feared to have been abducted but her disappearance was not reported to police for about 10 hours because the school believed she was probably sick at home, while her family thought she was at school.

Quanne Diec, who was last seen on her way to school

Then-premier Bob Carr offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to the location of the schoolgirl, who would now be 30.

During the investigation Detective Inspector Brad Cox said police had hypnotised witnesses, set up mannequins, and drained and searched a nearby waterway, Duck Creek, but failed to come up with answers.

The Diec family, who has searched for years for the schoolgirl, has been told of the man's arrest.

Tarantino has been 'a person of interest in this investigation for 18 years', Supt Whyte told reporters.

Supt Whyte would not comment on whether the 49-year-old was stalking the schoolgirl.

He said Tarantino wasn't known to the family but the alleged murder was not random.

Strathfield Girls High School, where Quanne was heading before she disappeared
The gunman who ambushed a St Louis police officer and shot him in the face has been killed in a shootout with police.

The officer was hospitalized in critical condition after a car drove alongside his vehicle before firing at him.

Undercover officers found the suspect's car abandoned at a parking garage at Laclede's Landing, near the Martin Luther King Bridge.

A St Louis police sergeant is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in what police are calling an 'ambush'

A woman had picked him up there and officers tracked their car to the intersection of Smiley and Leola avenues in the city, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The suspect, believed to be 19, jumped out the car when he realized he was being pursued and fired at officers.

He then tried to fled and was shot dead about 100 yards up the street, police said.

He has not yet been named. The woman was held in custody.

The officer, who has not been identified, was shot twice in the face but was conscious and able to talk after the brutal shooting

During the shooting incident, the officer had his window down and said he thought the other car was pulling alongside him to ask a question.

St Louis mayor Francis Slay said: 'He was targeted because he was a police officer. He didn't deserve this. It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK. But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job.'

Police Chief Sam Dotson says the 46-year-old officer had been with the force for about 20 years and is a married father-of-three.

He said: 'Fortunately for the blessing of God the officer's going to survive.'

The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Dotson said the officer was not involved in a call or a traffic stop but was sitting in traffic when the shooting happened.

The sergeant was able to call for help using his radio and was still in his car when backup arrived.

Authorities say a car drove alongside the officer's marked vehicle before firing at him through his window

The sergeant was able to call for help using his radio and was still in his car when backup arrived

He never removed his gun from its holster.

'He didn't have time to react to this threat,' Dotson said.

The officer was only able to describe the suspect's car as silver.

Dotson said all officers will be riding in two-person groups for now and they have called in additional resources.

The officer is currently hospitalized at Barnes Jewish Hospital in critical condition but expected to survive

The officer told police he heard at least two shots.

He is currently hospitalized at Barnes Jewish Hospital in critical condition but expected to survive, according to Fox 4.

Earlier on Sunday, a San Antonio police officer was shot dead in his patrol car while writing a traffic ticket outside police headquarters.

Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was sitting behind the wheel of his vehicle when a man pulled up behind him in a black car in downtown San Antoni.

The suspect got out and walked up to the patrol car's passenger window and shot Marconi in the head, according to Chief William McManus.

The man then reached into the window and shot him a second time in the head.

That suspect is still at large.
Security footage of the has been released in the hope of tracking down the thieves who stole more than $16,000 worth of appliances from a home for cancer patients.

CCTV of the robbery, which happened on August 26, between 3am and 6am, shows two men moving a portable barbecue across the courtyard of the John James Village, in Garran, Canberra.

The robbers also stole a dishwasher, range-hood, oven, fridge, washing machine and dryer from the premises.

Police are looking for two male thieves who stole appliances from a recently completed home for cancer patients in Canberra

Two male thieves stole more than $16,000 worth of appliances including a dishwasher, range-hood, oven, fridge, washing machine and dryer

Phil Greenwood, CEO of the John James Foundation, told Daily Mail Australia the village has opened since the August robbery and residents are now living on it.

'We were very disappointed that the opening of the village was marred by such a callous act,' he said.

Mr Greenwood said the total cost of the project $7 million and was gift to the community.

'The residents are very appreciative that they live in a facility during a time when they are going through such difficulty,' he added.

Police investigating the matter believe the thieves removed a section of a rear facing fence, smuggled the appliances through the space and used a vehicle to transport the stolen items.

Police investigating believe smuggled the appliances through a removed a section of a rear facing fence and used a vehicle to transport the stolen items

Phil Greenwood, CEO of the John James Foundation, said: 'we were very disappointed that the opening of the village was marred by such a callous act'. But in good news, Mr Greenwood revealed the replacement appliances were in the process of being installed

One of the thieves is described as of a slim build and walked with a limp, the other robber was also of a slim build.

In good news, Mr Greenwood said that new replacement appliances were in the process of being installed today.
Just days after telling fans at a concert that he would have voted for Donald Trump, Kanye West delivered another public screed before abruptly ending a concert in California.

He then canceled his Sunday night performance in the Los Angeles area.

'Tonight's show has been cancelled. Refunds at point of purchase,' the Forum in Los Angeles tweeted.

The cancellation notice was posted about three hours before the show was scheduled to start.

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Just days after telling fans at a concert that he would have voted for Donald Trump, Kanye West delivered another public screed before abruptly ending a concert in California. He then canceled his Sunday night performance at the Forum (pictured) in Los Angeles

'Tonight's show has been cancelled. Refunds at point of purchase,' the Forum in Los Angeles tweeted, about three hours before the show was scheduled

After upsetting fans in Sacramento with a short show on Saturday, the rap star posted 99 fashion-geared shots on his Instagram page Sunday

On Sunday night, Ticketmaster announced that West's show at the Forum in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood was cancelled.

The ticket vendor gave no explanation for the cancellation.

Sunday's show was supposed to be a makeup date after West walked off stage on November 3 because of a hoarse voice, the Sacramento Bee reported.

His next scheduled date is Tuesday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno.

The tickets to Saturday night's show 'are being refunded at the original point of purchase', according to Golden 1 Center Credit Union.

'All original online orders purchased through Ticketmaster.com or by phone are being refunded automatically in full, including fees  with the exception of any UPS delivery surcharges,' the company wrote.

Captured on video by concert-goers Saturday night in Sacramento, West in a more than 10-minute tirade told the audience he was on his 'Trump (expletive) tonight'.

Renaissance man: West has past dabbled in industries outside music, especially fashion

West at a concert in San Jose, California, Thursday night (above)

He talked about Beyonce, Jay Z, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the radio and MTV at the stop of his Saint Pablo Tour.

Fans in attendance said on social media that West played only a few songs before ending the show abruptly after only 30 minutes.

The angry audience booed, and many are seeking refunds for the aborted show. Some paid around $250 for a pair of tickets.

Saturday's outburst and truncated show became a hot topic on Twitter and other social platforms Sunday morning, as amateur videos circulated of West's rant where, among other things, he said he was hurt because he heard Beyonce refused to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards unless she won Video of the Year over him.

He also urged her husband Jay Z to call him and 'talk to me like a man'.

West took aim at radio stations for playing the same stuff 'over and over and over,' too and also addressed Hillary Clinton.

'It's a new world, Hillary Clinton, it's a new world,' West said. 'Feelings matter. Because guess what? Everybody in middle America felt a way and they showed you how they felt. Feelings matter, bro.'

The performer said he was putting his life, career and 'public well-standing' at risk by talking to the fans in the audience 'like this,' adding that his Saint Pablo tour 'is the most relevant (expletive) happening'.

He continued: 'I am here to change things. And things won't change until people admit their own falsehoods. I got the visions, bro.

'That's what I've been blessed with. My vision. I'm not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way. But I'm going to say how I feel.'

West's representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment.

West said on Thursday that he didn't vote, but would have cast his ballot for Donald Trump if he did
An ex-bikie - dubbed the 'Lizard Man' - who allegedly killed his former girlfriend, changed into a suit and tuned into his favourite song before he took his own life.

Bronson Ellery, 24, was found dead in his Gold Coast apartment in Southport, alongside the body of 20-year-old Shelsea Schilling on November 11 following an apparent murder-suicide.

The final hours of Ellery has emerged after witnesses claimed they watched as he strangled his ex-partner when she tried to leave his unit on the Friday afternoon, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

After knocking her unconscious and suffocating her with a pillow, the heavily-tattooed man then slipped into a suit, put on his favourite tune before laying himself next to her lifeless body.

A source claimed Ellery killed himself after taking a lethal dose of drugs as police investigate whether Ms Schilling died in a similar way despite her severe injuries, the publication reported.

A Queensland police spokesperson could not confirm the investigation but told Daily Mail Australia a 'report has been provided to the Coroner as such it is inappropriate for police to provide any further comment'.

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Lizard Man Bronson Ellery (pictured) - who killed his former gilfriend - changed into a suit and tuned into his favourite song before he took his own life, it has been claimed

The 24-year-old (right) was found dead in his apartment, alongside the body of his 20-year-old former girlfriend Shelsea Schilling (left) on November 11

Witnesses claimed they watched as Ellery attacked the 20-year-old (pictured) when she tried to leave his apartment

The claim comes after Ellery penned an apology note to his ex-girlfriend's parents before he killed her in front of witnesses.

On Sunday, it was revealed Ellery liked pigeons, believed in aliens and enjoyed spelling bees, his friend said.

Nick Blandthorn - who found the pair's bodies - revealed the former Bandido bikie had a number of traits that his head-to-toe tattoos did not reflect, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Ellery would joke about the pair making a good-looking gay couple, Mr Blandthorn said.

When lightning struck, he'd attribute it to aliens.

'I'm seeing all these pictures of him with guns  I just think it's funny because I'd get to his place at times in the morning and the first thing he'd do  before he'd feed himself  he'd feed the pigeons,' Mr Blandthorn said.

'This is how tough he is  we'd do spelling bees at his house. He'd go 'Spell parallelogram'. I can't even say the thing. We'd sit there and deadset do spelling bees.'

The 24-year-old former bikie (left) and with his friend Nick Blandthorn who found their bodies

Mr Blandthorn (left) found Ellery's body alongside that of 20-year-old Shelsea Schilling

Mr Blandthorn also told the publication about Ellery's obsessive cleanliness.

Ellery had also been a fan of 'metal' music and had once released his own album.

The pair gave each other tattoos - Mr Blandthorn received a koi fish on his arm for Ellery, but when he began to return the favour - a dragon on the back of 'Lizard Man' - he was told to stop because he couldn't tattoo properly.

During Ellery's prison stint earlier in 2016 - for breaching a domestic violence order Ms Schilling had taken out against him when she tried to escape him - he and Mr Blandthorn kept in touch.

However, due to a new job, they hadn't seen each other in the weeks leading up to their deaths.

Mr Blandthorn said walking into the apartment and finding them dead would stay with him for a long time.

Earlier, revelations were made about how the pair were found.

Police have said a suicide note was found at the scene and investigators do not believe a third party was responsible for the deaths.

The investigation continues.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.

Ellery received the name Lizard Man for the tattoos he once had on his face - but he covered with further tattoos

Ellery had a skull tattooed over his face before having the number 23 inked over the top of it
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A man accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in a public toilet block had been 'stalking' young children just metres away from where the incident allegedly took place, according to police.

Brendan James Smith, 37, was charged with sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and was represented by an Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor when he was formally refused bail on Monday.

The alleged attack happened at Elephant Park on Woodward Street in Orange, 250km west of Sydney, on Friday about 3pm after the little girl mistakenly entered the male toilet block.

The girl's mother said she thought an older friend was supervising her daughter as she went to the bathrooms, but she ended up going in alone.

A man accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in a public toilet block (pictured) at Elephant Park in Orange was known to 'stalk' young children just metres away from where the incident allegedly took place, according to police

The alleged attack happened at Elephant Park on Woodward Street (pictured) in Orange, 250 west of Sydney, on Friday

Police allege Smith is known for 'stalking' children at the park in the central west of New South Wales.

The Elephant Park toilet block is located about 20 metres from the playground in a darker corner of the park.

Photos show the inside is poorly lit and a large cage is fitted onto the entrance to lock the bathrooms overnight.

Photos show the inside is poorly lit and a large cage is fitted onto the entrance to lock the bathrooms overnight (pictured)

The Elephant Park toilet block is located about 20 metres from the playground in a darker corner of the park

The mother of the girl said she thought an older friend was supervising as she went to the bathrooms, but she ended up going in alone

The little girl was meant to use the women's bathrooms, but became confused and walked into the male ones instead

Smith did not apply for bail in court on Monday morning and will remain in custody until his next appearance in January

Smith did not apply for bail in court on Monday morning and will remain in custody until his next appearance on January 23.

The little girl told her mother of the alleged assault after leaving the toilet block.

Smith was arrested more than 24 hours later in Moad Street, about two kilometres from the park, and charged with sexual intercourse with a child under 10 at Orange police station.

The little girl told her mother of the alleged assault after leaving the toilet block and returning to the park (pictured)

The little girl was meant to use the women's bathrooms, but became confused and walked into the male ones instead

Elephant Park is surrounded by a number of trees and small picnic areas. It is a popular place for young families
A NSW woman has recounted how she was allegedly left bruised and fearing for her safety by her senior police officer partner during an abusive two-and-a-half-year relationship.

The 40-year-old sobbed in the Downing Centre Local Court when she described how former partner NSW Police Superintendent Bernard Ryan allegedly lifted her by the neck and threw her across a hotel room in a fit of rage.

She said the incident happened in September 2015 when she went back to their hotel early after a night out in Newcastle.

NSW Police Superintendent Bernard Ryan (left) leaves the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, Monday

'He was like a raging bull,' she said through tears on Monday.

'He picked me up by my neck with his hand and held me up ... I stopped breathing, I choked.'

She said Ryan 'threw me and I landed on the floor' and was screaming 'where did you go?'

She said she was terrified and the next day she broke down when she saw bruises and finger marks on her neck.

'I sobbed because I looked like a battered woman,' she said.

The woman, an unsworn civilian police officer, said she and Ryan began a romantic relationship in mid-2013 after meeting at work, when they were both married to other people.

She said on other occasions she was left with bruises on her wrist and chest when Ryan became physical during arguments. She said he would scream at her and repeatedly call her a 'c***'.

Ryan is facing a hearing before a magistrate on six charges

Once, she was forced to lock herself in the bathroom to escape him, and called a friend for help after Ryan began banging on the door and threatening to kick it in.

Asked by crown prosecutor Matt Karpin why she didn't leave Ryan after that, she replied, 'I was still in love with him'.

But the final straw came in November 2015 when Ryan allegedly spat in her face during another argument at their home.

She said it was 'the most degrading thing I'd ever felt in my life'.

She told him the relationship was over and blocked his phone number.

'I was mentally drained. I had nothing left,' she said.

Ryan is facing a hearing before a magistrate charged with three counts of common assault, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and a charge of intimidation.
Jones Votes to Extend Sanctions on Iran

News Release:



WASHINGTON, DC This week, Congressmen Walter B. Jones (NC-03) voted for H.R. 6297, the Iran Sanctions Extensions Act. The bill, introduced by Congressman Edward Royce (CA-39), would extend existing economic U.S. sanctions on Iran for another 10 years. Those sanctions are set to expire at the end of this year. Also this week, Congressman Jones voted for H.R. 5711, a bill that would prohibit the U.S. government from subsidizing the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran. H.R. 6297 passed by a vote of 419 to 1, and H.R. 5711 passed by a vote of 243 to 174. Both bills now move to the Senate for further consideration.



For additional information, please contact Allison Tucker in Congressman Jones' office at 202) 225-3415 or allison.tucker@mail.house.gov.


in October 2014 after videos of the acts were found

She will also serve time for stabbing someone with a fork and biting a child

She was let off with

The young woman who had sex with a dog three times to 'arouse' her partner has been let off on probation after the court heard she told a psychologist: 'This has ruined my life'.

Jenna Louise Driscoll, a 27-year-old Brisbane waitress, choked back tears as a District Court judge handed down a probation order for charges including bestiality.

The frizzy-haired waitress breathed a huge sigh of relief upon learning she would walk free.

Jenna Louise Driscoll, 27, was let off with a suspended sentence for bestiality at the Brisbane District Court in Queensland on Monday (pictured at hearing last Friday)

'Your conduct in the bestiality offences was repugnant,' Judge Terry Martin said.

She had sex with the pitbull terrier on three occasions - in January, March and April of 2014.

Videos of the appalling acts were found on her phone by police while she was being investigated for drug trafficking.

In his sentencing, the judge said it seemed the bestiality occurred 'in the context of your partner wanting to be aroused by watching such appalling conduct'.

'You were clearly a willing participant in acts of sexual intercourse with the dog,' he said.

Driscoll was formally charged in 2014 after police found videos of her having sex with a dog

Driscoll was, however, convicted of stabbing a woman with a fork and biting a child, causing minor injuries.

She was also handed a two-and-a-half-year suspended jail sentence for drug trafficking, which she 'used to pay the rent and other living expenses'.

Her lawyers had argued she had suffered from the publicity of her crimes - providing the court with news articles and a list of Google links.

The defence also referred to the case of Harriet Wran - the daughter of a former New South Wales premier - where a judge considered the effect of huge media attention.

The Brisbane woman spent the weekend behind bars after pleading guilty to three bestiality charges and other matters

But Judge Martin had little sympathy, telling the fidgety redhead: 'The adverse publicity is a result of your conduct'.

The judge said Driscoll had a dysfunctional childhood and was subjected to physical and emotional abuse growing up.

The court heard she was studying the Year 12 to improve her lot in life.

Judge Martin told the court she 'may or may not' be remorseful over her actions but a jail sentence could see her exposed to 'corrupting influence'.

'This has ruined my life. I very much regret what I've done,' Driscoll said in a psychologist's report read out in court.

She was also described as extremely embarrassed, anxious and depressed in the report.

Driscoll had pleaded guilty to all charges.

She had been charged after police discovered three videos of her having inappropriate sexual contact with the dog

Under the order, she will have to undergo regular drug tests and must abstain from using illicit substances.

Driscoll had spent the weekend behind bars while Judge Martin considered his sentence, but not before branding her acts repulsive and against the order of nature.

Driscoll appeared in court on Monday afternoon wearing dark glasses, a grey top and skirt.
This video shows the shocking moment a police officer shot an injured kangaroo dead - right in front of a child.

Graphic footage shows the police officer being told that a child is about to pass by on a scooter, but firing live ammunition at the animal anyway.

Seconds later, as the shot kangaroo squirms around on the pavement in agony, a young child speeds by on a scooter - passing just metres away from the dying animal.

This video shows the shocking moment a police officer shot an injured kangaroo directly in front of a child

Graphic footage shows the police officer being told that a child is about to pass by on a scooter, but firing live ammunition at the animal anyway

'There's a kid coming, sergeant,' an officer is heard saying to the policeman holding a gun before the shot is fired.

Despite the warning, he opens fire anyway, shooting the animal in the torso.

The young child on the scooter passes by moments later - as the dying kangaroo twitches in a pool of its own blood.

The shot does not appear to have killed the animal instantly and it is still moving as the video ends.

The footage, shot in Mernda, Melbourne, was shared online Hash Tropoja, who watched the incident unfold with a friend.

He told Daily Mail Australia that the bullet could have 'ricocheted off the concrete' and hit someone, including the child.

'There's no question that the poor animal needed to be put down,' he said, explaining that the kangaroo had a broken hip.

'The bullet could have rebounded on to incoming traffic. The bullet had the potential to ricochet off the concrete.'

The young child on the scooter passes by moments later - as the dying kangaroo twitches in a pool of its own blood

Dying: The shot does not appear to have killed the animal instantly and it is still moving as the video ends

Mr Tropoja continued: '[The police officer] should have stopped once his fellow officer advised him the kid was approaching.

'Furthermore they were there for about half an hour beforehand. They should have blocked the area off.'

On Facebook, he added: 'OK so I get that this is what needs to be done when there is an injured animal on the side of the road but I find it so careless and reckless that this police officer was able to shoot this kangaroo as a kid was passing by on his scooter.

'After being told by his colleague that "there's a kid coming" he still went on to shoot the kangaroo.

'This is one of the most careless and reckless acts I've seen in a long time. There's so many different things that could have gone wrong. Thankfully nothing did.'
Train drivers around America face sleep apnea tests after the fatigue-inducing disorder was blamed for the deadly New Jersey train crash.

The Federal Railroad Administration will issue a safety advisory this week stressing the importance of sleep apnea screening and treatment.

Administrator Sarah Feinberg said to wait any longer was 'unacceptable' and 'put hundreds of people in danger'.

One woman on a platform was killed by falling debris and more than 100 people were injured during the train crash in Hoboken, in New Jersey

NJ Transit engineer Thomas Gallagher, 48, was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea about a month after his train slammed into Hoboken Terminal

The advisory is a stopgap while regulators draft rules that would require railroads to screen engineers for the condition.

That process could take years and Ms Feinberg said railroads should not wait for the government to force action.

She said: 'You end up with an engineer who is so fatigued they're dosing off, they're falling asleep in these micro bursts and they often have no memory of it, and they're operating a locomotive at the time, so they're putting hundreds of people in danger.'

Train drivers around America face sleep apnea tests after the fatigue-inducing disorder was blamed for the deadly New Jersey train crash

NJ Transit engineer Thomas Gallagher, 48, was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea about a month after his train slammed into Hoboken Terminal at double the 10 mph speed limit on September 29, his lawyer said.

One woman on a platform was killed by falling debris. More than 100 people were injured.

He had passed a physical test in July and was cleared for duty. The engineer told investigators he felt fully rested when he reported to work.

He said he had no memory of the crash and only remembered waking up on the floor of the engineer's cab.

His lawyer, Jack Arseneault, said: 'It made sense to him because of his experience with the crash that he did everything that he would normally do.

'He checked his speed, blew the whistle, rang the bell, and the next thing he knew he was on the floor.'

NJ Transit already tests for sleep apnea, but updated its rules last week to prevent diagnosed engineers from operating trains until they're fully treated, Ms Feinberg said.

Thomas Gallagher (pictured), 48, was the conductor of the No. 1614 Pascack Valley line train that crashed after leaving Spring Valley, New York

One railroad that already tests its engineers - Metro-North in the New York City suburbs - found one in nine suffered from sleep apnea.

Airplane pilots with sleep apnea aren't allowed to fly unless they've been successfully treated.

Regulators are also pushing for bus and truck drivers to get tested.

NJ Transit declined to answer questions about its screening program, saying it was not authorized to discuss an employee's medical information and couldn't discuss specifics about the crash while federal investigators continued their probe.

Sleep apnea also went undiagnosed in the engineer of a commuter train that sped into a 30 mph curve at 82 mph and crashed in New York City in 2013, killing four people. He had fallen asleep at the controls.

A deadly freight train crash in 2011 in Iowa and another freight crash in 2013 Missouri have also been attributed to sleep apnea.

Emergency vehicles are seen parked outside the station in Hoboken. The NTSB is still investigating what happened




Mothers approaching middle age are drink driving and picking up their children from school thinking they can get away with it, police and researchers say.

The phenomenon of boozy, lunching mothers has been described by one expert as 'this defiance of "you can't tell me what to do".

Two women in New South Wales were last week charged with being well over the legal blood alcohol limit, near schools.

Meanwhile, a Queensland mother was more than four times over the legal limit of 0.05 as she drove to a day care centre.

Three women in New South Wales and Queensland were last week charged with being well over the legal blood alcohol limit near schools and a day care centre. Stock image

A 34-year old woman with three children in the car, in the NSW Southern Highlands town of Berrima, was last week charged with being more than double the legal limit

University of Western Sydney research has found that 16 per cent of women entering middle age are alcohol dependent, and researchers believe one third of them are abusing alcohol.

NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command boss John Hartley said high blood alcohol readings indicated mothers were having more than two wines at lunch.

'That does concern me greatly. Mothers think they will get away because police wont be around,' Mr Hartley told news.com.au in June.

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn said these women approaching middle age had an attitude problem.

'The lunching mums have this defiance of "you cant tell me what to do. Im going to lunch and Im going to have a few wines. Its other people who are the problem, its not me",' he told News Corp Australia.

Dr Alex Wodak, an emeritus consultant at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, said women were often unaware alcohol was more likely to affect them.

'Their blood alcohol concentration rises faster and reaches higher peak levels than in men,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

'Women are more sensitive to alcohol because their body weight is smaller.'

St Vincent's Hospital emeritus consultant Dr Alex Wodak (pictured) said women were often unaware alcohol was more likely to affect them than men

Dr Wodak, who was the director of St Vincent's Alcohol and Drug Service for 30 years, said health professionals were also underestimating the effects of alcohol on women.

'They're drinking on a very frequent and daily basis so they are able to function much better than most of us who don't have such strong tolerance to alcohol,' he said.

The Chief Inspector of the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Control Command, Phil Brooks, said drink driving women threatened the lives of innocent children.

'The constant cases of drink driving detected on NSW roads is concerning, let alone driving with a child in a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol,' he told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

Dr Alex Wodak said women have a lighter body weight are were therefore more likely to be affected by alcohol

'The dangers those road users pose to innocent children and other road users should not be tolerated by police and the community.

'There is absolutely no excuse for drink-driving.'

L ast week, two women in NSW, picking children up from school, were charged with drink driving offences.

On Wednesday, a 34-year-old woman with three children in the car after school was charged with having a blood alcohol reading of 0.132 in the Southern Highlands town of Berrima.

On Thursday, a 29-year-old P-plater, at Frenchs Forest on Sydney's Northern Beaches, was caught travelling at 82km/h in a 50km/h area as she approached a school zone.

She was arrested and charged with having a high-range blood alcohol reading of 0.158.

Meanwhile, in the Queensland Wide Bay town of Howard, on Wednesday, a 40-year-old woman was charged with having a high-range blood alcohol of 0.246 per cent.
A hiker who wore a bandanna for sun protection returned from her walk to find an anti-Muslim note telling her to leave America.

Nicki Panchol, who is not Muslim but wore the headscarf to protect her skin against the harsh California sun, was horrified to find her car had been trashed, her purse stolen and the racist note on her car.

'Hijab wearing b****,' the letter read. 'This is our nation now get the f*** out'.

Nicki Panchol, who wore a bandanna for sun protection, returned from her walk to find an anti-Muslim note telling her to leave America

'When I saw it, I was in shock,' Panchol told the San Francisco Chronicle. 'That someone would feel so much hate to do this. I realize that this is the climate after this election. But I didn't realize someone would be so ignorant and in so much pain to cause so much harm.'

The 41-year-old, who has lupus, said she was left so shaken by the incident that she did not return to Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont, California, since the incident last week.

Police are still investigating the incident which they have classified as a hate crime.

Geneva Bosques, a spokeswoman for the Fremont Police Department, called the crime 'very disturbing.'

'We are obviously very upset and saddened that this happened in our community,' she said.

Panachol had pulled into the Mission Peak Regional Preserve parking lot at around noon on November 14.

Carolyn Jones, public information supervisor for the East Bay Regional Park District, said the victim spent around an hour vlogging in the parking lot for a 'peace project' before setting out on the hike.

The racist note read: 'Hijab wearing b****,' the letter read. 'This is our nation now get the f*** out'

When she returned at 4pm, she discovered her car had been broken into; someone has smashed a window, and her purse was missing. She also found the upsetting note.

'Everyone is welcome, and this is a deplorable thing,' Jones said.

She insists that the hate crime was an isolated incident but that everyone should feel welcome to come to their park.

There has been a flurry of hate crimes against minorities following Donald Trump's surprise election win earlier this month.

Just days after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, police said a female student at the University of Michigan was approached by a white man who threatened to set her on fire if she didn't remove her hijab. Police are still investigating the hate crime.

Two students at a vocational school in York County, Pennsylvania, held a Donald Trump sign in a hallway as someone shouted 'white power,' an incident captured on video and widely shared on Facebook.

In Silver Spring, Maryland, a banner advertising a Spanish-language service at an Episcopal church was slashed and the words 'Trump nation. Whites only' were written on the back.

Authorities on two California State University campuses, in San Diego and San Jose, were investigating reports that two women wearing headscarves were attacked.

The 41-year-old, who has lupus, said she was left so shaken by the incident that she had not returned to Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont, California, since the incident last week

At San Diego State University, authorities said a Muslim woman had her car keys and vehicle stolen by two men who targeted her while she wore a hijab and made comments about Donald Trump's election.

On Sunday, Trump said he had not heard reports that some of his supporters might be harassing minorities.

'I am so saddened to hear that,' Trump said during an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes.' ''And I say, stop it. If it, if it helps, I will say this and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it.'

An FBI report found that reported hate crimes against Muslims rose in 2015 to their highest number since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Of the 4,216 victims of a hate crime motivated by race or ethnicity, 52 percent were black, 18.7 percent were white and 9.3 percent were Hispanic or Latino. Crimes against Jews increased about 9 percent, while bias incidents involving sexual orientation were up 3.5 percent.

Civil rights groups have expressed concern that a Trump administration could radically reshape the U.S. Department of Justice, particularly when it comes to policing but also in terms of the priority placed on hate crimes.

Those concerns were compounded recently after Trump named as his chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, who came to his campaign from Breitbart News.

Panchol, pictured while hiking, says she was horrified to find the racist note

Under his leadership, the Breitbart website became one of the leading outlets of the so-called alt-right, a movement often associated with far-right efforts to preserve 'white identity' and oppose multiculturalism.

Michael Lieberman with the Anti-Defamation League said there have been 'unprecedented efforts' to address hate crimes in recent years, from outreach to law enforcement, community meetings and an emphasis on cooperation among federal agencies.

Any increases, including the ones seen in anti-Muslim crimes, could be due in part to more reporting by victims as well as better reporting and tracking by law enforcement agencies. The number of law enforcement agencies sending data on hate crimes to the FBI decreased by about 3 percent in 2015.

An AP investigation earlier this year found 17 percent of local law enforcement agencies had not submitted a single hate crime report during the past six years as part of the FBI's tracking program, prompting concerns that an undercount was masking the true scope of hate and bias crimes in the U.S.
A construction worker has been killed in a freak accident after the power saw he was using kicked back and slashed him across the throat.

Jason Sanderson, 28, of Carver, Massachusetts, had been excavating an underground water line trench with a colleague in the town of Duxbury on Saturday afternoon.

But as he made progress on the job, investigators say they believe the saw 'became bound' and jolted backwards, hitting him in the throat.

The scene after a construction worker was killed in a freak accident after the power saw he was using kicked back and slashed him across the throat

His colleague Sam Romanelli saw the accident happen and worked as hard as he could to try to stem the bleeding from the victim's neck.

But despite the effort, Mr Sanderson was rushed to the Beth Israel in nearby Plymouth, where he later died from his injuries.

It is believd that Mr Sanderson had took on the extra work on his day off and was only helping to make an extra $200 for his family.

Authorities say that foul play is no suspected, and that the incident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile Mr Romanelli has spoken out about the moment he saw that his colleague Mr Sanderson was hurt.

The saw jammed on him and kicked back and got him in the throat

He told CBS Local: 'The saw jammed on him and kicked back and got him in the throat.

'And you know, he stumbled and went down and we tried to do everything we could to stop the bleeding until the paramedics arrived.

'I ripped off my jacket and my safety vest and I stuffed it into his throat where the cut was and I tried to just apply pressure, kept him upright, tried to keep the blood from coming out.'
A teenage prisoner who sucker-punched a corrections officer will not face any additional charges after a judge said he is insane.

Robbery suspect Deonte Anderson, 17, was caught on camera attacking the officer inside the intake area of Racine County Jail.

But last week, a judge ruled Anderson not guilty by reason of insanity and charges of battery to an officer were dropped.

In shocking video from the October 17 confrontation, Anderson can be seen turning and sucker-punching the guard, knocking him to the floor in an instant.

Deonte Anderson, 17, was caught on camera attacking a Racine County corrections officer inside the Racine County Jail, Wisconsin

The entire scuffle was caught on camera as the corrections officer is knocked down

A second officer intervenes in an attempt to break up the flight but it was quite the struggle

Anderson was found not guilty by reason of insanity and will have a review hearing next month

The prisoner is then overpowered and wrestled to the floor by a second corrections officer.

The incident took place while the officer was helping transport inmates from the shower room to their cells.

Anderson had to be placed in a restraint chair until he calmed down, according to officials, WISN reports. Overnight he was kept in a padded cell.

The corrections officer was taken to hospital but returned to work a short time later.



'Despite our best efforts and our training, the inmate got the jump. He was unpredictable and sucker-punched the officer,' said Sheriff Schmaling to Fox 6.

Deonte Anderson (left), 17, was found to be insane. His mother, Evelyn Anderson (right) claimed he had been abused in jail

Anderson's mother, Evelyn Anderson, claims the attack on the officer was brought on by abuse in jail claiming he is bipolar, schizophrenic, homicidal and suicidal.

'He talks to himself, or has some friends that no one else knows,' she told Fox 6.
The Yellow app, pictured, the second most popular free app on the UK Apple store, does not check the ages of its users

An app used by children as young as 13 now branded 'Tinder for teenagers' could be used by sexual predators to groom young people, the NSPCC warned today.

The Yellow app, the second most popular free app on the UK Apple store, does not verify the ages of its users.

Just like Tinder users are able to 'swipe' until they see a photo of someone they 'like' and two people can then connect on Snapchat, which can be used to share sexually explicit material.

Adult users who register on Yellow cannot see underage members - but by fabricating a child's date of birth, which can be done without any checks, you can view all other profiles.

Makers of the app insist it is just for making friends, but critics say girls as young as 13 appear in 'Lolita-style' poses and there also suggestive emojis that can be used.

Teenagers say they believe that the app contains fake profiles.

Harry Rogers, 16, from Blandford in Dorset, told The Times: 'It's clear that it's meant to be Tinder for teenagers and it's quite creepy.

'Anyone can sign up with no checks and there are lots of teenage girls there, and some obviously fake profiles.'

The NSPCC has called for mandatory age verification.

Just like Tinder users are able to 'swipe' until see a photo of someone they 'like' and two people can then connect on Snapchat, which is used by some to share sexually explicit material

A spokesman said: 'Yellow's settings that enable adults to view children, through a service blatantly aimed at flirting and relationships, create an opportunity for sexual predators to target young people.

'We want age verification measures in the Digital Economy Bill that will stop under-18s accessing porn websites to be extended to cover social networking platforms. This would mean adults would not be able to pose as children or vice versa, and any operator that failed to comply could face fines or be blocked from operating in the UK.'

Yellow says users do not need to prove their age before signing up.

In June Tinder banned under-18s using the service after it was revealed teenagers were using the service to meet with children as young as 13.

But a spokesman added: 'Yellow is a virtual social network and not a location-based dating app. Underage users cannot discover people over 18 and vice versa.

'In any case, users can only chat with text messages it's not possible to send pictures within Yellow.'.

Yesterday popular phone app that lets children film their own music videos has been branded dangerous by parents who fear that it puts them at risk of being groomed by paedophiles.

Musical.ly allows users to create 15-second video clips to accompany their favourite songs and share them online. Most children use the free app to film themselves lip-synching to chart hits.

But there are growing fears that the craze is putting children at risk of being sexually exploited, and some parents say their children have been sent 'inappropriate' messages by strangers. Youngsters have even reportedly been asked for naked pictures by anonymous users.

The app has been downloaded more than 60 million times worldwide. But parents say that despite making sure their children's accounts are set to private  which means that only friends and approved people can view their videos  strangers regularly make requests to 'follow' the youngsters.

One parent claimed her ten-year-old daughter had been contacted by a stranger who called her 'cutie'. The concerned mother wrote on the Mumsnet online forum: 'The message began, 'Hi cutie, I think you look amazing' I instantly deleted the app.'

On the Common Sense Media website, another parent warned that the Musical.ly app had proved 'dangerous' for their 12-year-old son. They wrote: 'TEN 'people' messaged him asking for him to 'follow' Obvious attempts to lure him to who knows what. These were professionals, without a doubt. Beware!'

Parents have also complained that the song choices on Musical.ly often contain offensive lyrics and encourage suggestive dance moves  and that the app allows children to search for music videos that can contain unsuitably raunchy images.

Two police forces in the UK are known to have investigated claims that inappropriate messages have been sent to children on the app.

'Dangerous': Youngsters perform in video clips that they created on the app Musical.ly - strangers regularly make requests to 'follow' the youngsters

Musical.ly allows users to create 15-second video clips to accompany their favourite songs and share them online. But parents say that despite making sure their children's accounts are set to private  which means that only friends and approved people can view their videos

Musical.ly said last night that the safety of its users was a priority, and content flagged as inappropriate was removed within 15 minutes.

It added: 'We also encourage parents to monitor their child's account, report inappropriate behaviour, and have an open dialogue with children about responsible and safe behaviours for all online activity.'

In June Tinder banned under-18s using the service after it was revealed teenagers were using the service to meet with children as young as 13.

Child protection campaigners have been upset that since 2012 the online dating app has allowed people aged between 13 and 17 to hook up.
A Minnesota man who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling 27 years ago was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday as apologized in court Monday for his 'evil acts'.

Danny Heinrich, 53, led authorities this summer to the field where he buried Jacob's remains after keeping silent for nearly three decades.

Prosecutors agreed not to charge Heinrich with murder as part of a plea bargain. He instead was sentenced on a child pornography count, letting authorities close the books on a mystery that had haunted the state.

'I am truly sorry for my evil acts,' Heinrich said as he stood before US District Judge John Tunheim and the Wetterling family.

Danny Heinrich (left), 53, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for abducting, sexually assaulting and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling (right) 27 years ago in St Joseph, Minnesota

Heinrich told Jacob's parents and siblings that his actions were 'heinous' and 'unforgivable,' and apologized for what he took away from them. He said he kept silent for nearly three decades because of his fear.

The sentence was the maximum the law allowed, and Heinrich technically could complete it in 17 years with good behavior.

But the plea deal allows state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator at the end of his federal prison term, which could prevent him from ever going free.

'What you've done is so heinous, so brutal and so awful that I don't believe society will let you go free,' Tunheim said.

Heinrich told Jacob's parents Jerry (left) and Patty (right) Monday in court that his actions were 'heinous' and 'unforgivable,' and apologized for what he took away from them

Patty Wetterling, Jacob's mother, told the court Monday about Heinrich: 'He hurt my heart, my soul, every fiber of my being when he murdered my son Jacob.'

She told him directly: 'You didnt need to kill him. He did nothing wrong. He just wanted to go home.'

Jerry Wetterling, Jacob's father, thanked Heinrich for 'leading us to Jacob'. Heinrich seemed to tear up as he looked away, according to the Star Tribune.

'I miss Jacob so very much. It wasnt just Jacobs physical body missing these last 27 years. More importantly, I miss the things I never got to experience.' the father added.

Some questioned whether Heinrich received adequate punishment but Jacob's parents have agreed with prosecutors that it was their best hope.

Jacob was abducted by a masked gunman on October 22, 1989, while biking with his brother and a friend near his home in St Joseph, in central Minnesota.

The friend, Aaron Larson, also spoke at sentencing Monday, telling the court how the kidnapping has left him racked with guilt.

'I lived every day thinking I was the monster that night, I was the coward that left my friend, I was the coward that ran away,' Larson said.

Jacob's family (pictured in September at a service for him) spoke in court Monday. Pictured from left are his mother Patty, brother Trevor, father Jerry, and sisters Carmen and Amy

Authorities questioned Heinrich early in the investigation, but he maintained his innocence at the time.

He came under renewed scrutiny when authorities decided to take a fresh look at the case around the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping.

Investigators used new technology to go back to a sex assault cause of a 12-year-old Cold Spring boy, which happened nine months before Jacob's disappearance.

They found Heinrich's DNA on that boy's sweatshirt, and used that evidence to get a search warrant for Heinrich's home in Annandale. They they found his child pornography collection there last year.

After months of denials, Heinrich agreed in late August to confess to killing Jacob and to assaulting Jared Scheierl, the boy from Cold Spring.

Scheierl told the court Monday how the words spoken by Heinrich on the night of the assault had 'haunted' him over years.

Heinrich detailed his crimes in chilling detail in court in September, recounting how a handcuffed Jacob asked him, 'What did I do wrong?'

He said he drove the boy to a gravel pit near Paynesville and molested him. After a patrol car with siren and lights passed nearby, he fired two shots at Jacob's head, killing him.
Attorney-General George Brandis has been caught on camera slamming his Liberal colleagues, describing some as 'very mediocre' and others as 'not good'.

Mr Brandis, a Liberal member of the federal Senate, was recorded having the discussion with Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger at a state function on Sunday.

In the same 'hot mic' moment - the latest gaff of the Attorney-General's political career - he also admitted the Coalition was caught off guard by the growing support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party.

But it was when Mr Brandis was asked about the performance of the Liberal National Party - the state opposition in Queensland - and its leader Tim Nicholls, that Sky News cameras caught him being most negative.

Attorney-General George Brandis (left) has been caught on camera slamming his Liberal colleagues during a conversation with Michael Kroger (right) the head of the Liberal party in Victoria

'How's things in Queensland?' Mr Kroger asks.

'Ah, um, well they're not very good,' Mr Brandis replies.

'How's Tim Nicholls going,' Mr Kroger queried further.

'He's going... ah I'd say the state opposition is very, very mediocre and the state government is very, very mediocre,' the Attorney-General replied.

Clearly with no knowledge that he was being recorded, Mr Brandis continued talking to Mr Kroger about the state of politics in Queensland.

He confirmed the rise of Ms Hanson's right-wing party had the federal government concerned.

'But the thing that's alarming everyone is, as you'd expect, the sudden spike in One Nation which is now at about 16 per cent.

'And One Nation, as you know, their strength is in heartland National Party seats and heartland Labor Party seats, the old industrial seats around Ipswich and Brisbane.

'I think there is every reason to believe they will win quite a few seats in the state election.'

The LNP was formed in 2008 after a merger between the Liberal party and National party in Queensland.

However in further discussions with Mr Kroger, Mr Brandis hinted that coalition may be on the rocks.

The federal senator described the work of his state Liberal National Party colleagues in his home state of Queensland as 'mediocre' and 'not good'

During his chat with Mr Kroger (left) Mr Brandis not only criticised the LNP's state leader Tim Nicholls but also confirmed the federal government was worried about the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation

At the 2015 state election the LNP was removed from government, winning just 42 of the 89 seats - a major drop from the 78 they won in their landslide 2012 victory.

And with changes in voting to be introduced by the current state Labor government, the Attorney-General said the LNP alliance may need 'revisiting'.

'The Labor party are bringing back compulsory preferential voting, which somewhat attacks the raison d'etre of the merger of the Liberal Party and National Parties,'he said.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.

Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Contact: Rashonda Dolberry

Rashonda Dolberry rashonda.dolberry@co.beaufort.nc.us

RALEIGH, N.C. At the request of the State of North Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a 31-day extension for Hurricane Matthew survivors to apply for federal disaster assistance.The state has requested more time for registration because a number of counties were added for Individual Assistance several weeks after the original Oct. 10 presidential disaster declaration.Survivors now have until Jan. 9, 2017, to register with FEMA. This new deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.Registration is open to survivors in Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties.Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:If you have questions or need information you are encouraged to visit an open Disaster Recovery Center. To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org. Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the helpline numbers for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546 Disaster recovery centers are staffed with representatives from FEMA, North Carolina Emergency Management and SBA. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications.A convenient way to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is to visit a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center or an SBA Business Recovery Center and meet with an SBA representative in person. SBA has staff at all DRCs and BRCs to help you with your application. For more information, applicants may contact SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's website at www.sba.gov/disaster . Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call TTY 800-877-8339.FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285 ; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at readync.org . Management @ncemergency.
The taxi driver is being

A young boy has been hit by a taxi in the Sydney CBD on Monday afternoon.

The ten-year-old was walking over a pedestrian crossing on Kent St at Millers Point when he was struck, 7 News reported.

He sustained face and leg injuries and was put in a neck brace.

A young boy has been hit by a taxi in the Sydney CBD on Monday afternoon

The boy was rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.

The taxi driver covered his face with his hands after the accident.

He is being questioned by authorities.

He sustained face and leg injuries and was put in a neck brace

The boy was rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick

The scene at Millers Point where a 10-year-old boy was hit by a taxi

The boy was walking over a pedestrian crossing on Kent St at Millers Point when he was struck
He was on his L-plates and had ice in his system at the time of the collision

John Voss, 30, was killed after L-plater Sukhuinder Singh crashed into him while trying to overtake two cars with meth in his system

An L-plater had meth in his system when he crossed a double white line to overtake two cars before colliding with an oncoming car and killing the driver inside.

Sukhuinder Singh, 23, was illegally driving alone in his Holden Commodore when he attempted the risky overtake on a country road in Wollert, north of Melbourne.

The court heard Mr Singh had his foot to the floor and was travelling 117km/hr just half a second before slamming head-on into a car being driven by 30-year-old John Voss in July, 2015, the Herald Sun reported.

Judge Wendy Wilmoth withheld the fact that Singh was on his learners license and had a small amount of meth in his system at the time of the crash to the jury after previously ruling the evidence inadmissible to ensure a fair trial.

The court heard Mr Singh had his foot to the floor and was travelling 117km/hr just half a second before slamming head-on into Mr Voss' car on Bridge Inn Road, Wollert

The County Court jury acquitted Singh of one culpable driving charge and two more of conduct endangering life, while he plead guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Mr Voss' devastated family slammed the judge's decision not to provide the jury with 'all the facts.'

'How can any person make a value judgement if they haven't got all of the facts in front of them?' Mr Voss' father Richard asked.

'How would you, as a juror feel, when the story comes out that they hadn't been told and they've given the wrong decision?'

Mr Voss' (left) devastated family (girlfriend pictured right) slammed the judge's decision not to inform the jury that Singh was on his learners license and had meth in his system

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Voss' girlfriend Anna Torchia directed an emotional question at Singh, The Age reported.

'How would it feel to know that this person was killed by someone's stupid, mindless, idiotic, careless and heartless actions?' she said.

Defence counsel Gideon Boas told the court his client deserved to avoid a jail sentence and should instead be handed a community corrections order.

He said Singh had made a 'grave error' on the day and was remorseful for his actions.
Nicolas Sarkozy's political career has been has been left in tatters after being dumped out of the race to become French President.

The former president has been defeated in the conservative primary ahead of next year's presidential elections by Margaret Thatcher fan Francois Fillon.

Sarkozy last night urged his supporters to vote for Mr Fillon who was his prime minister from 2007 to 2012.

Fillon and another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, will now meet in a run-off next week for the nomination.

Francois Fillon, 62, has defeated Nicolas Sarkozy in the race to become the next French president

The race was seen as an early measure of how the terror attacks in France over the past two years and the nationalist wave sweeping Europe and the US have shaped the country's political landscape.

With more than 3.8 million votes counted from about 92 per cent of polling stations, Francois Fillon had 44.2 per cent, Alain Juppe 28.4 per cent and Mr Sarkozy 20.7 per cent. The final results are not expected until later today.

The top two will compete in the November 27 run-off.

In a speech from his campaign headquarters in Paris, Mr Sarkozy called on his supporters to vote for Mr Fillon in the second round.

'I did not succeed in convincing a majority of voters. I do respect and understand the will of those who have chosen for the future other political leaders than me,' Mr Sarkozy said.

'I have no bitterness, no sadness, and I wish the best for my country.'

The favourites for many months have been Alain Juppe (pictured right) and Nicholas Sarkozy. Mr Fillon and Mr Juppe who go head-to-head in the second round of voting next Monday

The winner is expected to have a strong chance of victory in the April-May presidential election, as traditional rivals on the left have been weakened by Socialist Francois Hollande's troubled presidency.

The conservative candidate's main challenger next year may turn out to be far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is hoping anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-establishment sentiment can propel her to the presidency. Ms Le Pen, the candidate of her once-pariah National Front party, did not take part in any primary.

Mr Sarkozy, Mr Fillon and Mr Juppe had been expected to lead the balloting on Sunday.

Of the three, Mr Sarkozy, 61, took the hardest line on immigration and Islam-related issues, in the hope of pulling votes from people attracted to Ms Le Pen. He called for stricter immigration rules across Europe and vowed to ban Muslim women from wearing headscarves at universities and possibly elsewhere.

On the march: Mr Fillon is a former prime minister whose wife Penny is originally from Wales

The Republican winner is likely to face Marine Le Pen, of the far-right National Front in the presidential elections in May

Mr Fillon - an outsider a few weeks ago - enjoyed a recent boost in popularity thanks to his image of authority and seriousness compared with Mr Sarkozy's more brazen demeanour.

Observers also said the 62-year-old Mr Fillon, ,who has a British wife, proved to be the most convincing candidate in the three televised debates.

He pushed for strong conservative values, pledging to hold a referendum on a quota system for immigrants and to ban same-sex couples from adoption.

According to the New York Times, he has also called for a Western coalition with Russian president Vladimir Putin to fight ISIS.

Mr Juppe, 72, promoted a more peaceful vision of French society, based on respect for religious freedom and ethnic diversity.

On the economic front, all candidates called for lower taxes, especially on businesses, and a reduction in the number of public servants. Mr Fillon and Mr Juppe also agreed on giving managers more flexibility by loosening the 35-hour weekly limit on employees' working time.
Others have been picture posing in front of

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Busking for spare change to afford beer, swigging from goon sacks and cooking fish fingers to soak up the alcohol.

Thousands of Australian school leavers have woken on day three of Schoolies 2016 with heavy heads and upset stomachs but that has not stopped them continuing to party into Tuesday morning.

With the sun shinning on the Gold Coast many have taken to social media to show off their bikini or tiny but colourful budgie smugglers, as others share images of themselves drinking cheap bagged wine straight from the sack.

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With the sun shinning on the Gold Coast Schoolies revellers, many have taken to social media to show off their bikini or tiny but colourful budgie smugglers

Thousands of Australian school leavers have woken on day three of Schoolies 2016 with heavy heads and upset stomachs but that has not stopped them continuing the party

A young blonde teenager shared an image of herself getting a schoolies tattoo as two young men wearing dark shades took a knee around the oven as they cooked some fish fingers.

Police said they were 'generally pleased' with the young revellers behaviour, but there was illegal activity that did not go unnoticed.

Officers arrested 11 schoolies on 17 offences, eight of which were relating to drug possession.

Seven received liquor infringements notices.

A man with a boot load full of alcohol gives the thumbs up as he appears to prepare for another big night on the drink

A young man flaunts his Southern Cross tattoo in a man-kini that leaves very little to the imagination

Another young school leaver whose friends spent almost $600 on alcohol shows off the invoices on social media

Four young women pose in front of a picturesque skyline during Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast

Another shows off her figure in a swimsuit before she has even purchased it - capturing a happy snap in the change room

Two young school leavers in dark sunglasses pose with drinks around the oven as they cook some fish fingers

A young man faces out at his view of the Gold Coast and holds his arms in the air while showcasing his colourful speedos

A man in a colourful floral shirt shows off his 'shot face' and recommends others having a chaser

A young blonde woman in denim shorts lays on a black leather seat and flashes a 'shakkas' hand signal as she gets a tattoo

Many schoolies groups shared backlit photographs on social media showcasing their silhouettes against a turquoise ocean

One young man tucked his shirt in his shorts before striking a pose in front of his view of the Gold Coast from his apartment

A group of grinning school leavers pose alongside two cooperative police officers during Schoolies 2016

Two young school leavers pose in front of a police car with the licence plate 'HEAT' at about 2am

Another school leaver had a creative idea to make some extra cash to fund his nights out during Schoolies 2016

A couple stroll arm in arm through chaotic scenes on the Gold Coast as thousands of schoolies celebrate the commencement of their studies

A young man spruiks the need for safe sex as he holds up a box of condoms during his schoolies celebrations

Two scantily clad young women celebrate Schoolies 2016 as one takes a knee and appears to drink from a beer bong

A young man wore a sign that states 'the end is near' as revellers started to fill the main strip of Surfers Paradise

One group from school leavers posted a table full of empty bottles to social media on day three of Schoolies 2016

A woman not involved in Schoolies posted a friendly note to advise young revellers who keep ringing her door bell

One man balances a mate on his shoulders as he takes a swig from a bottle of Jagermeister

Two young women use flotation devices in the pool as they have a drink and relax following the commencement of their studies

Crowds flocked to the beach to soak up the sun in Byron Bay, New South Wales, amid schoolies celebrations

Several young women kneel as they pose for a group photograph in the mirror while they wait for the elevator

But it was not just school leavers blowing off steam who faced arrest, with 23 people not involved in the formal celebrations detained.

The majority of the 23 arrested faces charges relating to being a public nuisance and drug possession.

This comes after a Schoolies reveller risked her life by walking across a ledge on a high rise building.

A Snapchat of a young girl who appears to have climbed over her balcony onto a ledge on the high rise Beachcomber building on the Gold Coast emerged online.

The stomach-churning video shows a female schoolie in a dress on a ledge, clearly more than five stories up, with her friends filming the action.

Some took to social media to share the humorous moments - including one person who found a lone shoe on the main strip of Surfers Paradise following night two of celebrations

Young woman on a ledge at The Beachcomber was filmed on Snapchat

One of her friends very calmly said, 'This isn't going to be funny when she falls'

One of her friends very calmly said, 'This isn't going to be funny when she falls.'

Police were aware of the incident but no further action was taken.

The dangerous thrill seeking did not impress Dimoty Short from Red Frog.

Police were aware of the incident but no further action was taken

'There's always going to be that sort of risk taking behavior,' she told 7 News.

'We encourage them as much as possible to keep them locked, they're definitely not a place to muck around on.'

The dangerous stunt comes as schoolies kicked-off on Saturday with 13 arrested on the Gold Coast.

Schoolies kicked-off on Saturday with 13 arrested on the Gold Coast

Three girls celebrating Schoolies on the Gold Coast on the weekend

Schoolie patrons talk across balconies as the celebrations kicked-off on the weekend
Moscow can expect a considerably better hearing in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, now that Igor Dodon (pictured) is president

Support for Vladimir Putin's Russia is on the rise again in eastern Europe, more than 25 years after the fall of the 'Iron Curtain'.

Two countries - Bulgaria and Moldova - have recently elected pro-Russian leaders in recent weeks and others are increasingly cosying up to Moscow as they fall out of love with the European Union.

Bulgaria, which only joined the EU in 2007, elected Rumen Radev, as their new president while Igor Dodon was elected in Moldova last week.

Both have based their campaigns around pivoting their foreign policy towards warmer relations with Russia.

Both countries share the Cyrillic alphabet with Russia.

Bulgaria was always traditionally very close to Moscow and Moldova, although it is overwhelmingly ethnic Romanian, was a former republic in the Soviet Union.

Turkey's Erdogan losing interest in EU, opts for China President Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday Turkey did not need to join the European Union 'at all costs' and could instead become part of a security bloc dominated by China, Russia and Central Asian nations. After 11 years of negotiations Turkey feels it is getting nowhere and is considering turning to the East. 'Turkey must feel at ease. It mustn't say "for me it's the European Union at all costs". That's my view,' said Erdogan, as he flew back from a trip to Pakistan and Uzbekistan. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2001 to fight radical Islam and drug trafficking. China is also investing heavily in a new 'Silk Road', which would boost the economies of central Asia, and could include Turkey. Advertisement

But the situation in Moldova is more surprising, considering the two countries fought a proxy war in 1992 and 1993 over the Russian-speaking region of Transdniestria.

In September the Moldovan government expressed 'bewilderment' at Russian military drills taking place in Transdniestria.

But Mr Dodon's election is likely to see a considerable improvement in relations between Chisinau and Moscow.

An editorial in the Austrian newspaper, Die Presse, said: 'In Moldova, dissatisfaction with the corrupt and divided pro-Western government is the main reason behind the longing for 'good old' Soviet times.

'Poverty and economic stagnation have dampened the hopes of a better European future and, in some cases, even destroyed them.'

Several eastern European countries were affected by EU sanctions on Russia, which were imposed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Not such a bad neighbour: Vladimir Putin (pictured, right) is keen to restore the zone of influence in eastern Europe that existed under the Soviet Union and he has a new ally in Rumen Radev, president of Bulgaria (left)

For countries like Moldova, Bulgaria and Slovakia, which had always exported a lot to Russia and imported gas from there, it was highly damaging to their economies.

The Daily Express claimed some eastern European countries are even wondering whether they should start realigning with Russia in case the EU, in the wake of Brexit, collapses altogether.
ISIS brutes have beheaded a 100-year-old cleric - after accusing him of practising witchcraft.

The frail prisoner, named as Sufi cleric Sheikh Sulaiman Abu Haraz, was dragged to an executioner's block in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Shocking images show a masked jihadist dressed in black using a long sword to carry out the beheading in front of a crowd of extremists.

Shocking images show a masked jihadist dressed in black using a long sword to carry out the beheading in front of a crowd of extremists

ISIS brutes have beheaded a 100-year-old cleric - after accusing him of practising witchcraft

The killing was one of two executions captured on camera by fanatics from the ISIS-affiliated Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group.

According to Al Arabiya, ISIS-Sinai accused the elderly man of 'practising witchcraft'.

Haraz was reportedly 'one of the symbolic Sufi clerics and elders of the Sinai Peninsula.

Armed militants had kidnapped him from in front of his home in Arish city.

ISIS has had a presence in the region since November 2014 when Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to the terror group.

In October last year, jihadists bombed a Russian airliner carrying holidaymakers from a Red Sea resort in an attack that crippled the country's economy.

The frail prisoner, named as Sufi cleric Sheikh Sulaiman Abu Haraz, was dragged to an executioner's block in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

Haraz was reportedly 'one of the symbolic Sufi clerics and elders of the Sinai Peninsula

ISIS claimed it brought the plane down saying it had smuggled explosives into the aircraft before its departure from the resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

All 224 people on board were killed when the bomb went off minutes after the Metrojet A-321 had taken off for the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

It comes after it emerged that 300 ISIS-linked suspects had been referred to a military tribunal over attacks and an alleged plot to assassinate Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

The 292 suspects are accused of taking part in terror attacks and of plotting to kill both el-Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.

ISIS affiliates in the northern Sinai Peninsula have carried out scores of attacks in recent years, mainly targeting security forces.
Labor politician Anne Aly has been photographed gesturing furiously at George Christensen after Peter Dutton said he would call out extremism if he saw it.

The Member for Cowan reacted angrily to the Immigration Minister's comments during a parliamentary debate on Monday in the House of Representatives, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

During the debate, Mr Dutton told parliament that former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser had made 'mistakes over migrants'.

Labor politician Anne Aly (left) has been photographed gesturing furiously at George Christensen after Peter Dutton said he would call out extremism if he saw it

The Member for Cowan (pictured) reacted angrily to the Immigration Minister's comments during a parliamentary debate on Monday in the House of Representatives

When Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asked Mr Dutton which communities he was referring to, Mr Dutton said he was bullying him and said he would stand up for himself.

'I won't be bullied by this great fraud of Australian politics... Where I see extremism I will call it out.'

Ms Aly then gestured so angrily towards Liberal National MP George Christensen, that her leather jacket fell off her shoulders.

Mr Christensen is known for his hardline stance on immigration, previously suggesting that immigration to Australia should be restricted from countries where violent extremism is prevalent.

Liberal Nationals MP George Christensen (pictured) is known for his hardline stance on immigration, previously saying that Australia should restrict immigration from countries with violent extremism

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) told parliament the Fraser government had made a mistake bringing Lebanese refugees to Australia

During Question Time Mr Dutton told parliament the Fraser government had made a mistake bringing Lebanese refugees to Australia.

He said they were partly to blame for Australia's struggle with foreign fighters travelling to international conflict zones and suburban violence linked to newly arrived communities.

'The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background,' Mr Dutton said.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten (pictured) questioned Mr Dutton's comments, asking him which communities he was referring to in his comments about the Fraser government's policies

On Facebook, Labor MP Tim Watts described Mr Dutton's comments as 'extraordinary'.
Violet Price (pictured), 80, had been missing from her home in Moustier village

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of an 80-year-old British expat whose dismembered body parts were found scattered in a forest in the Dordogne area of southwestern France.

Madi Mahaboudi, 33, who has a previous conviction for unlawful killing by strangulation of another woman, was convicted on Friday of the murder of Violet Price, who was originally from Northampton and had gone to live in France in 2012 to be near her son Paul.

A medical expert told the court in the town of Agen that the attack in April last year on Price in her home in the village of Moustier had been extraordinarily violent.

'In 15 years of practice, I have never seen such a degree of bruising on the throat and neck,' he said, after asking members of the British pensioner's family to leave the courtroom before he read out the gruesome list of physical and sexual injuries found on her body.

Mahaboudi, who was addicted to cannabis and pornography and had a history of mental illness, was the brother of Price's daughter-in-law.

On April 11, 2015, Price returned to her home after attending a barbecue with family members and friends in a nearby village. Mahaboudi, who is from the French Indian Ocean department of Mayotte, was also at the barbecue.

He later turned up at her house apparently looking for his ex-girlfriend, who told the court she had left him because of his heavy drinking, repeated death threats, and sexual violence inspired by porn films.

Price let him in and made him a cup of coffee, on which his DNA was later found and which led to his arrest.

The elderly widow at one point turned her back to her killer.

'I grabbed her by the neck and squeezed,' Mahaboudi told the court, adding that he could not explain why he did it except that 'something stronger than me came over me.'

It was only when police traced the DNA found on a coffee cup, and on a hair found in the victim's bed, that they made a breakthrough in the case

The medical expert said that the accused raped the victim before killing her. Mahaboudi then put her body in his car and took it back to his home in a nearby village where he cut it into seven parts and dumped them in different locations in a nearby wood.

Price's son Paul, who is a businessman working in the area, raised the alert after he later went to his mother's house when she failed to answer the phone.

Police launched a massive hunt for her, mobilising dozens of officers, a helicopter and divers.

But it was only when police traced the DNA found on the coffee cup, and on a hair found in the victim's bed, that they made a breakthrough in the case.

They arrested Mahaboudi and he quickly admitted his crime and told them where the body parts were.

Prosecutor Pascal Prache (left) speaks during a press conference in Agen, in April last year, where it was revealed body parts believed to be that of missing Violent Price had been found in two separate locations

His defence lawyer, Isabelle Gillet, told the court that her client 'was a boy who had never developed because he had a very authoritarian and severe father' and that he had been raped as a child by a family friend.

The accused, asked if he had anything to say before jurors retired to deliberate at the end of the three-day trial, presented his excuses to the victim's family and said: 'I ask to be given another chance. Deep down inside me I know I can be rehabilitated.'

Mahaboudi was in 2005 sentenced by a court in Mayotte to eight years in jail for having caused the death of a woman he first seduced and then strangled.

Soon after he finished his sentence in mainland France he asked to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Bordeaux.

'I felt dangerous,' he told the court. When he got out of the hospital he went to live with his sisters in Dordogne, the picturesque region where thousands of Britons live as expats or have holiday homes.
Mother and church worker Diana Rojas was 27 years old when she vanished from her Long Beach, California, apartment in 2000

The search to find a young mother who mysteriously disappeared 16 years ago is back on after police received an anonymous tip claiming to know where her body is buried.

Diana Rojas was 27 years old when she vanished from her Long Beach apartment in October 2000. Police have long feared she was murdered.

The church worker had a two-year-old daughter, a boyfriend and was in the process of getting a divorce when she went missing along with her 1992 Nissan Extended Cab black pickup truck.

Both her estranged husband and boyfriend were ruled out as suspects.

Following a tip off, on November 17 police conducted excavations in four desert areas of Ridgecrest, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, in the search for Ms Rojas's body.

'Four areas of interest near W. Boston Ave. and S. Guam St. were explored and all were ruled out,' Long Beach police said in a statement.

'No human remains were located. Several tips have been received and detectives are pursuing those tips. Detectives are hopeful more will come forward.

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Investigators on Thursday used a tractor in the search for Diana Rojas remains in a desert area of Ridgecrest, California

Ms Rojas went missing along with her 1992 Nissan Extended Cab black pickup truck (pictured)

'The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Diana Rojas or her vehicle are urged to call Homicide detectives.'

A satellite survey and a cadaver dog were used in the search.

Ms Rojas, who worked at a church helping single mothers, was last seen at her Long Beach apartment on Friday October 20, 2000.

On the day she went missing she was wearing a pink shirt and blue sweat pants with a Winnie the Pooh logo, the LA Times reports.

Police used dogs trained to detect human remains and smell death in the search on Thursday

Long Beach police said no human remains were located but the investigation will remain open

She left her daughter with a relative and the next day in a move that was out of character missed an appointment.

A police search of her apartment suggested that she did not leave 'of her own free will'.

Her brother Solomon Cortez has appealed for anyone with information to come forward to help his family find closure, the Press Telegram reports.

Long Beach police Sgt. Megan Zabel said Wednesday: 'Although it has been 16 years since Dianas disappearance, we believe there are people out there who know what happened to her.'

Long Beach police Sgt. Megan Zabel said: 'We believe there are people out there who know what happened to her.'
, Nigeria and Pakistan were most affected by terrorism

Last year was the most deadly for terror-related deaths in developed countries since 9/11, new data has revealed.

Despite the figures for people killed dropping almost 10 per cent globally, 2015 was the second-worst year since records began in first world nations.

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) shows the impact terrorism has had on each country based on the number of terror-related incidents in 2015.

It also reveals that Isis has overtaken Boko Haram as the most dangerous group in the world, as it was responsible for 6,141 deaths across across 250 cities.

The 2016 Global Terrorism Index map shows the impact terrorism has had on the globe

The UK and United States - ranked 34 and 36 respectively - are orange-coloured, indicating an above average impact of terrorism.

Australia is a light salmon colour, indicating a lower terrorism impact and its position as the 59th most impacted country.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria were the countries hit hardest by terrorism, accounting for 72 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2015.

However, the global drop is largely due to efforts to disperse groups such as Isis, Boko Harm and Al-Qaeda from their countries, but this appears to have shifted the focus to more economically developed countries.

2015 included the November terror attacks in Paris, which saw 136 people in a spree of shootings and bombings across the French capital.

Just ten months earlier the world had united in respect to the attack that killed 12 people in the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo.

And two days after the Charlie Hebdo massacre there was also a hostage situation in Port de Vencennes, where four people were killed

In October, the Airbus A321, flight 9268, with 214 Russian and three Ukrainian passengers and seven crew, was attacked by Isis over Egypt

The most affected countries are a dark burgundy colour, while those least affected such as Poland and Vietnam, are a mint green.

But western nations should remain alert, with terrorism levels increasing in those countries.

Forensic police search for evidences inside the Comptoir Voltaire cafe at the site of an attack in Paris, after a series of gun attacks occurred across the city in 2015

A general view of the tributes outside the Le Carillon restaurant, one of the scenes of the 2015 Paris terror attacks

Just ten months earlier the world had united in respect to the attack that killed 12 people in the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo

And days after the Charlie Hebdo massacre there was also a hostage situation in Port de Vencennes, where four people were killed

The bottom axis shows the proportion of global terrorism deaths per country. In 2015, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan accounted for 57 per cent of all global terror deaths

THE TOP 20 COUNTRIES HIT HARDEST BY TERRORISM This accounts for number of fatalities and the impact terrorism has had on the geo-political situation of the country 1. Iraq 2. Afghanistan 3. Nigeria 4. Pakistan 5. Syria 6. Yemen 7. Somalia 8. India 9. Egypt 10. Libya 11. Ukraine 12. Phillippines 13. Cameroon 14. Turkey 15. Thailand 16. Niger 17. Democratic Republic of Congo 18. Sudan 19. Kenya 20. Central African Republic Advertisement

Deaths from terrorism decreased by ten per cent in 2015 to 29,376. This is the first decrease in number of deaths recorded since 2010.

Isis-affiliated groups undertook attacks in 28 countries in 2015, up from 13 countries in 2014.

The most fatal terrorist attack to date was carried out by ISIL when assailants executed 300 civilians in Qaim, Iraq, in the Al Anbar governorate.

Twenty-three countries recorded their highest number of deaths from terrorism in 2015.

Thirty-four countries were completely free of terrorism in 2015.

The annual GTI is produced by Australian think tank, the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The red circles indicate all attacks scaled by number of fatalities and the navy blue outline represents the worst attacks in 2015

The Airbus A321, flight 9268, with 214 Russian and three Ukrainian passengers and seven crew, was attacked by Isis over Egypt

In December, a Sunni couple with no links to any groups stormed a county health department's banquet in San Bernardino, California. 14 civilians were shot dead and a further 22 injured

One of the biggest attacks in Africa happened in April, when Al-Shabaab terrorists killed 147 and injured 79 others at the Garissa University, Kenya
WASHINGTON, DC This month, Congressmen Walter B. Jones (NC-03), along with 87 other Republican Senators and Members of Congress, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth District calling for the Obama administration's destructive Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule to be struck down. This rule, proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), would dramatically expand the federal government's regulatory authority over ditches, ponds and other small non-federal bodies of water on private property. In addition, last week Jones joined many of his congressional colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership to insist that no taxpayer funding for WOTUS implementation be included in any fiscal year 2017 appropriations bills.Jones said.Congressman Jones has been a long-time opponent of the administration's WOTUS rule, and has voted for legislation to overturn it.Click for the copy of the amicus brief and letter to leadership
Several animal activists were injured - one of them seriously - after their car was rammed by a lorry carrying hundreds of whimpering dogs to a slaughterhouse in China.

The brave pet rescuers parked their vehicle in front of the truck as it drove from Henan province with a pitiful cargo of dogs which are thought to have been snatched from the street.

But the trucker lost his temper and rammed the car, injuring four men. A 26-year-old man was 'seriously' injured.

Animal activists took a video showing the dogs whining and whimpering on the lorry. They had not been given food or drink for several days

Another group of activists then began filming the horrific conditions on board the lorry, which was forced to stop and wait for police to arrive.

The dogs - believed to be a mixtures of strays and household pets which were grabbed for profit - are thought to have been sold to meat traders.

In the heart-breaking video the hundreds of dogs packed into the lorry can be heard mewling in terror.

The animal activists had parked their car in front of the lorry to stop it getting away but the driver apparently rammed them in a bid to break free

The dogs (pictured) were from a variety of breeds. It is thought they were on their way to a slaughterhouse to be turned into meat, which is sometimes exported to South Korea

They had been kept without food or water for days.

The Plight of Chinese Animal Activists (PoCAA) group said one of the dogs was so weak, it fell down and could not get back up and was trampled on by other animals inside the overcrowded lorry.

The activists can be seen stroking them and trying to calm them through the bars on the lorry as they whine piteously.

The dogs are from various breeds but include large dogs such as Alsatians.

Later it emerged that a traffic police officer had originally tried to stop the lorry but it ignored him and it was only when the animal activists used their car to block him that he was halted.

The incident left four men injured. In the video they can be seen lying on the ground next to the motorway. One of them is believed to have been seriously injured

An animal activist strokes one of the dogs in between the bars. The animals were heading for a slaughterhouse, possibly in Tianjin

The animals are now at a compound in Bazhou city, where activists are hoping to persuade the authorities to set them free as they have no owners' certificates

EATING DOG MEAT IN CHINA Up to 10 million dogs are estimated to be killed for food every year

But there is no evidence of a large-scale dog breeding industry

Dog meat is not a common dish: about 70% of Chinese have never eaten dog

The cuisine is still prevalent in certain cities of northeast, central and southern China

Taste and nutritional value are cited as reasons for eating dog meat

In Guangxi province the Yulin Dog Meat Festival has been put on every summer since 2010 and 10,000 dogs are killed there

Over 60% of Chinese want the festival to be cancelled Source: Animals Asia, Xinhua Advertisement

The dogs on the lorry have now been taken to a compound in Bazhou city, Hebei province.

Animal activist Rita Wong has posted the address of the compound on Facebook and dozens of dog lovers are on their way there to make sure the animals escape their grisly fate.

In China around 10 million dogs a year are slaughtered and there are no laws banning the consumption of dog meat which is popular in southern China in particular.

Earlier this year 11 million people, including actors Matt Damon and Rooney Mara, signed a petition to President Xi Jinping demanding an end to the Yulin dog meat festival.

Peter Li, of Humane Society International, said earlier this year: 'There are basically two groups of people eating dog meat.

'One group are people who really love dog meat. The second group are political eaters who eat to show local pride and to spite outsiders, rather than out of taste.'

The animals were in a pitiful state, said animal activist Rita Wong
Cash-strapped ISIS savages have resorted to stealing organs from its fighters in hospital and selling them on the black market, it has emerged.

The terror group has been raiding medical wards in Nineveh, northern Iraq, before transferring organs to neighbouring Syria and selling them to 'international gangs'.

With its revenues from crude oil beginning to dry up, fanatics have been looking at other ways to make money.

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Cash-strapped ISIS savages have resorted to stealing organs from its fighters in hospital and selling them on the black market, it has emerged

The Iraqi news network Alsumaria said: 'A medical unit belonging to the ISIS stole human organs, including kidneys and other organs, from 85 militants in Nineveh hospitals, and transferred them to other hospital in the outskirt of the city.

'The group lost the majority of its funds, especially crude oil that provided 80% of the total income of the terrorist group, so it started to trade in human organs to revive its finances.

'Dozens of human organs were stolen from civilians and bodies that were transferred to the forensic medicine department, and then transferred through mediators to Syria then to human organs traders.'

ISIS has been on the retreat in northern Iraq as the country's security forces continue to advance on Mosul.

ISIS BRUTE IN CHARGE OF PICTURING EXECUTIONS IS KILLED An ISIS photographer in charge of documenting the terror group's horrific murders has been killed near Mosul. The fanatic, part of ISIS's Amaq News Agency, was had three cameras on him when his body was searched. According to Iraq's Ministry of Defense, the militant was killed during fighting in the Nineveh area of the country. Photos found on the cameras will be used to hunt down other jihadists, a statement said. Advertisement

Iraqi troops last night fortified their positions in the city's neighbourhoods retaken from ISIS as their advance toward the city centre was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighbourhoods on Sunday.

They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than 1 million people.

ISIS captured Mosul in the summer of 2014 as part of a blitz that placed nearly a third of Iraq under their control.
An ISIS suicide bomber has killed 32 including women and children worshipping at a crowded mosque in Afghanistan's capital.

The attacker was mingling in the crowds inside the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of Kabul when he detonated a massive bomb.

More than 60 were injured in the blast, the latest sectarian attack claimed by ISIS in the city.

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An ISIS suicide bomber has killed 32 including women and children worshipping at a crowded mosque in Afghanistan's capital

The attacker was mingling in the crowds inside the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of Kabul when he detonated a massive bomb

More than 60 were injured in the blast, the latest sectarian attack claimed by ISIS in the city

The blast around 12.30pm left a large crater inside the two-storey mosque. Bodies covered in blood could be seen on the ground among shattered glass. Police cordoned off the area as ambulances rushed to the scene.

'I heard a blast and dust covered the whole mosque,' said worshipper Nadir Ali.

'When the dust settled down, I saw the mosque was full of flesh and blood. I was injured in my waist and had to crawl out of the mosque.'

Another worshipper, Ali Jan, said: 'I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming.'

The worshippers were gathering for the major Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen marking the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.

The blast around 12.30pm left a large crater inside the two-storey mosque. Bodies covered in blood could be seen on the ground among shattered glass

Emergency: Police cordoned off the area as ambulances rushed to the scene

The worshippers were gathering for the major Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen marking the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was assassinated in the year 680. His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan.

A death toll of 27 given by senior police official Fridon Obaidi was confirmed by health ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi, who said on Monday evening the wounded toll had jumped from 35 to 64. Women and children were among the injured.

But the UN gave a different toll of at least 32 dead and more than 50 wounded.

ISIS claimed the attack in a statement via the jihadist-linked Amaq news agency.

President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement he strongly condemned the 'barbaric' attack, which the UN called an 'atrocity'.

A death toll of 27 given by senior police official Fridon Obaidi was confirmed by health ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi

But the UN gave a different toll of at least 32 dead and more than 50 wounded

NATO commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson offered condolences and the US embassy in Kabul also condemned the blast, which Amnesty International called 'horrific and deliberate'

NATO commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson offered condolences and the US embassy in Kabul also condemned the blast, which Amnesty International called 'horrific and deliberate'.

'(Afghan authorities) have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shia Muslims from attacks,' said Champa Patel, Amnesty's South Asia director.

Mosques in Kabul generally do not have any security - though police patrols can be seen near some on Fridays - and some eyewitnesses criticised the government over the lack of protection.

'They know that Daesh (ISIS), who is able to conduct attacks in Europe, can reach places in Afghanistan easily. They should provide security to sacred places,' said one man who gave his name as Rahmat.

Last month a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It followed twin attacks claimed by IS that also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

In July ISIS jihadists claimed twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 and wounding more than 400 others.

Those bombings marked the deadliest single attack in the Afghan capital since the Taliban were ousted from power in a 2001 US-led invasion.

A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people and injured dozens more at a crowded mosque in Afghanistan's capital

The attacker entered the Shi'ite Baqir ul Olum mosque in Kabul during a ceremony before detonating an explosive vest

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack as 'a war crime and an act against Islam and humanity'

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people were killed and 35 wounded and that the total may rise.

Fighters from ISIS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, have been making steady inroads in Afghanistan, challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country's east.

The Taliban, who are waging a bloody war to topple the US-backed Afghan government, said they were not involved in Monday's attack.

The assault underscores rising insecurity in the war-torn country nearly two years after US-led NATO forces formally ended their combat operations.
Russia has announced it will deploy its nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in retaliation for NATO's military shield on Russia's western borders.

Senior Moscow officials said it would use them and S-400 surface-to-air missiles from the exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders on NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

Until now, Russia's defence ministry had sent Iskanders to the region for routine drills.

However the latest move appears to be a direct response to Washington firming up defences in Europe.

Moscow will deploy nuclear-capable Iskander systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad in retaliation for NATO deployments

The Iskander system has a range of up to 700km (440 miles) and could reach the German capital, Berlin

At an economic summit in Peru, Barack Obama and Putin could hardly make eye contact

CITY OF KALININGRAD Kaliningrad was once the capital of Prussia and annexed by Russia from Germany after WWII. It is more than 300km away from Russia, which can only be reached through an EU country. It is a Russian enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. Advertisement

Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave separate from the mainland and on the Baltic Sea, houses dozens of warships, submarines, land troops, a naval brigade and two military airbases.

The Iskander system has a range of up to 700km (440 miles) and could reach the German capital, Berlin, as well as two-thirds of Poland and Sweden.

It is controversial on two counts - because of its range and because it is dual-capable (meaning it can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead).

Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said Russia had been forced to react to the planned US missile shield in eastern Europe, according to the RIA news agency.

He said: 'As response measures to such threats we will have...to deploy additional forces...this reinforcement includes deployment of S-400 and Iskander systems in Kaliningrad.'

This graphic shows the potential reach of the Iskander missile from Kaliningrad

The Kremlin has often threatened to put nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad as a response to the missile shield

Iskander replaced the Soviet Scud missile and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads

Russian President Vladimir Putin also said Russia had to react to what it perceived as being a threat from US-led forces in eastern Europe.

'Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATO's decision making,' RIA quoted him as saying.

He added: 'What should we do? We have, therefore, to take countermeasures, which means to target with our missile systems the facilities, that, in our opinion, start posing a threat to us.'

After the election of brash billionaire Donald Trump as president - who has said he wants closer ties with the Kremlin and has questioned the cost of protecting NATO allies - some analysts predict an emboldened Moscow could become more assertive in eastern Europe.

At an economic summit in Peru, Barack Obama and Putin could hardly make eye contact, their faces steely masks of barely-concealed contempt.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg (file picture) said cannabis use should be legalised to 'take back control' of the drug from criminals

Legalising cannabis would raise 1billion in extra taxes and would end the 'embarrassment' of Britain's out-of-date drugs policy, MPs claimed today.

A cross party group, led by former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, have endorsed a report urging the Government to follow the lead of four US states which legalised use of the drug earlier this month.

Canada is legalising cannabis out-right while Germany is also legalising cannabis for medical use.

The Home Office today said it had no plans to end Britain's ban on cannabis, warning it was a 'harmful drug' that damaged 'mental and physical health'.

A spokesman said statistics showed use of the drug in Britain was falling.

A report from the Adam Smith Institute and Volteface study said Britain's 'dark ages' drugs policy has failed to stop people drugs being manufactured and used, and to stop associated crime, corruption and killing.

And it called for 'root and branch' reform to legalise and regulate cannabis to ensure it meets acceptable standards, and to remove the market for criminal gangs.

A legal cannabis market could be worth 6.8 billion to the economy annually, potentially netting between 750 million and 1.05 billion in tax revenues and reduced criminal justice costs.

The number of offenders in prison for cannabis-related offences in England and Wales would also likely drop from the current 1,363, who cost taxpayers 50 million a year, the report said.

Mr Clegg said: 'British politicians need to open their eyes to what is happening in the rest of the world.

'Cannabis prohibition is being swept away on a tide of popular opinion and replaced with responsible legal regulation.

Home Office statistics show seizures of all forms cannabis have fallen to 10 year lows which could suggest lower usage of the drug

'Now is the time for ministers to start writing the rules for this legal market, including age limits and health warnings, so that we can finally take back control from the criminal gangs.'

Former Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb said: 'Prohibition is harmful and counter-productive, helping neither to reduce drug use nor the risks to public health.

'While other countries and US states are increasingly coming to adopt a more enlightened approach to drug policy, we are stuck in the dark ages, filling the pockets of criminals and perpetuating the stigma which prevents so many drug users from seeking help.'

MPs including senior Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant and Green co-leader Caroline Lucas joined the plea to end the ban on cannabis

Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley said: 'It is time we legalised cannabis. Currently cannabis can only be obtained from illegal gangs who also push hard drugs.

'So we are driving soft drugs users into the arms of hard drugs pushers.'

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said: 'There can be no doubt that just as prohibition on the sale of alcohol failed in the United States and encouraged gangsterism, the banning of drugs has promoted a wicked and lucrative black market which pushes illegal drugs on the innocent.'

Labour MP Paul Flynn said: 'The UK's 45 years of harsh prohibition has multiplied use and harm.

'A legal market would destroy the drug's attraction as forbidden fruit and encourage users to ingest cannabis, of known strength and quality, in ways that will the avoid deadly dangers of smoking.'

Cannabis is grown illegally in farms across Britain (pictured) with properties often converted entirely to the illicit production

Co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas said: 'The War On Drugs has been an abject failure, and the continued criminalisation of cannabis users is deeply counter-productive.

'Britain needs an evidence-based drugs policy, rather than continuing the expensive and ineffective prohibition regime.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.

'There is a substantial body of scientific and medical evidence to show that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people's mental and physical health.
Kasey Corlett, 22, died from blood poisoning and a brain haemorrhage as a result of complications caused by a gastric band

An accountant died less than two weeks before Christmas from blood poisoning and a brain haemorrhage after her gastric band damaged the lining of her heart,

In the months leading up to her death Kasey Corlett, 22, had suffered numerous problems from the increasingly popular weight-loss surgery. She died hours after she was admitted to hospital with organ failure which was caused by her band which was fitted when she was 18.

A coroners court was told Kasey had been treated for a fracture and leak to her gastric band and also experienced infections and a wound underneath where the band was placed.

The coroner urged hospitals to communicate better after it emerged the hospital that attempted to save her life had no knowledge of the gastric band, which was fitted at a private cosmetic clinic.

Assistant Coroner Mrs Jean Harkin said: 'Kasey died from a rare complication of gastric band surgery and we offer our sincere condolences to the family. This inquest can hopefully teach us a lesson about improving communication between services.'

Kasey's parents were not at the inquest but in a statement, her father, Gary Corlett said: 'Kasey had a gastric fitted and started to lose weight greatly.

'The band was her choice and the family fully supported her decision. The decision was only known to a small number of her close family.

Mis Corledd had the increasingly popular surgery when she was 18 and weighed 15 stone but had been receiving treatment for a perforation at a private clinic just weeks before her death

'We are devastated with what happened but Kasey was very pleased with the treatment as it allowed her to control her weight.'

Miss Corlett, from Douglas on the Isle of Man, was just 17 and weighed more than 16 stone when she first sought medical advice about losing weight from a surgeon at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

She agreed to wait until she was 18 before she underwent treatment for an adjustable gastric band on July 10 2011 at a private cosmetic clinic, Dolan Park Hospital in Birmingham.

Initially she had weighed 16 stone but patients are typically asked to lose some weight before they are offered the surgery.

Consultant surgeon Alan Li told the inquest: 'She weighted 96kg (15 stone) before the operation and we were pleased to offer surgery to her. I felt that at the time of the procedure she was fully informed and I felt she had all the facts before surgery.

'I explained alternative options but she remained stead-fast to go ahead with this procedure. My recommendation was that she should wait until she was 18 and she agreed to that. I advised Kasey and her family to book an appointment with a general practitioner once she turned 18.'

Miss Corlett, from Douglas on the Isle of Man, was just 17 and weighed more than 16 stone when she first sought medical advice about losing weight

Miss Corlett had the gastric band surgery at a private cosmetic clinic, Dolan Park Hospital in Birmingham (pictured)

'There were no abnormal events at that time and the procedure went smoothly. Her recovery was uneventful and she was discharged the following day.'

He added: 'During the years of 2011 to 2014 there was no contact between myself and Kasey but she knew she could phone me at any time for advice. In April 2014, Kasey underwent a small number of adjustments to her band.

'Sometimes the relationship between the band and the stomach can change due to a number of factors such as growth, maturity, stress eating habits etc. - it is perfectly normal. In June 2014 Kasey felt a sudden loss of restriction in her band and later that month an x-ray took place.

'On the 15th July I removed a fracture and leak from the gastric band. Then at the end of September 2014 there was a problem with a wound underneath where the band was fitted. There was a small infection of the wound and her GP gave her antibiotics.

Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester (pictured), where she was treated for the complications, were unaware that she even had a gastric band

'On the second of October the wound appeared to be okay and Kasey deferred her appointment with me. On the 18th of November 2014 I received an email that a pin hole had appeared in the small wound.

'On the 24th of November I contacted Kasey and a clinical x-ray did not seem to show any sign of an acute infection. There was chronic discharge from the wound which was clear but I felt there was a chance of infection in this wound so I advised that we inserted a small camera to get a closer look.

THE RISE OF GASTRIC BANDS: HOW THOUSANDS GO UNDER THE KNIFE EVERY YEAR There were nearly 9,000 hospital admissions in a single year due to gastric bands, rising from just a few hundred a decade ago. There had been only 794 in 2004-2005, which steadily rose as the surgery became better known in the midst of Britain's obesity crisis. By 2012, it had risen to a peak of 8,794, and after falling slightly over the last few years, there were still 6,032 admissions last year, according to the most recent NHS statistics available. Although it does not take into account private clinics, which now offer flashy promotions to entice patients, selling the surgery in a similar manner to how department stores sell sofas and TVs. Searching the surgery in Google reveals a flood of online promotions, boasting zero per cent finance, money off and repayments of 'just 99' per months over five years. It is being offered for little over 3,000 in some cases, but NHS advice says that gastric banding usually costs 5,000-8,000, while gastric band bypass costs 9,500-15,000. It uses keyhole surgery to reduce the patients stomach to the size of an egg cup, limiting how much they can eat. The NHS spends millions on the surgery every year, but it can be less than what it might spend on treating obesity-related problems in years to come. It only offers the surgery to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more with a serious health condition. However, those willing to pay privately can do so without the strict conditions under which the NHS will offer it. Advertisement

'There was no further sign of any infection and if there had been any sign of this she had already consented for a band removal. Kasey was discharged on antibiotics. On the 18th of December 2014 the wound had all healed and there was no sign of any problems.'

But on December 12 2015, Kasey was admitted to Nobles Hospital in Douglas after complaining of drowsiness and back pain but on the same day was transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester to receive specialist surgery known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after a sac in her heart ruptured.

Dr Tim Hayes, a consultant at University Hospital South Manchester said: 'She was admitted to hospital with a history of back pain and had become drowsy and agitated. She was then admitted to intensive care where she deteriorated very quickly and was put on a breathing machine.

'She suffered a further cardiac arrest and multi-organ failure and after considering our options we put her on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We did scans and found multiple haemorrhages and the unusual appearance of the gastric band. There was no further surgical procedure available to us - there was no evidence on the referral form about a gastric band.'

Pathologist, Dr Ann-Marie Quinn said: 'The main cause of death was sepsis and brain haemorrhage due to endocarditis which was caused by a ruptured pericardial from the gastric band. Looking at the literature, I could not find anything of this nature and this appeared to be a very rare complication.'

Recording a narrative verdict, Mrs Harkin added: 'I am satisfied that Kasey was well informed of any complications and Dr Li advised her to wait until she was 18.

'Mr Lee offered an open door policy and allowed her to contact the hospital at any time in case of any complications with the surgery. It is clear here that a rare complication has occurred in the form of the band perforating and causing infection that lead in this case to death.
Staff at the Vietnamese orphanage where Angelina Jolie adopted her son Pax are holding out hope for another visit from the star, a report has claimed.

Tam Binh Orphanage staff member Nguyen Kim Xuyen said that she 'never' hears from the Maleficent star but would love to make contact.

The government-funded orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam's south, is reportedly in dire need of money to feed the children it cares for.

When the 41-year-old adopted Pax in 2007 she allegedly told staff 'I'll be back'.

Nguyen still believes that Jolie will pay them another visit one day.

Angelina Jolie and her adopted son Pax are pictured, left, this year. The pair are pictured, right, in 2007 as Jolie flew Pax to the U.S. for the first time

'Everyone is looking forward to them returning to Tam Binh. We will meet again some day,' Nguyen reportedly said.

It is not suggested that Jolie is under any obligation to visit again.

Born Pham Quang Sang, Jolie renamed her son Pax Thien Jolie in 2007

When she picked up Pax in 2007, Jolie told Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper, according to a translation in the Associated Press: 'I will stay at home to help Pax adjust to his new life.

'I have four children and caring for them is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am very proud and happy to be their mother.

'Everyone would agree that children need to have a family. I have the ability to help children fulfill that desire. Why should I say no?'

Pax was three years old when he was adopted by Jolie after she applied to be his main carer through an agency in the US.

Abandoned at birth by a drug addict mother, he was called Pham Quang Sang before being renamed by Jolie. Pax is Latin for peace and Thien is Vietnamese for heaven.

In the visitors' book of the Tam Binh orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Jolie wrote: 'Thank you for taking such wonderful care of my son. I am sure he will miss your beautiful, caring staff as much as you will miss him'

Pax (front left-in yellow clothing), was adopted on 15 March 2007 by Jolie. He is seen posing with other children and nurses at the Ho Chi Minh City Tam Binh orphanage

Tam Binh orphanage is government-funded and reportedly in dire need of financial help. Vietnamese orphans (right) are given a drink at the end of their lunch at the Tam Binh orphanage in 2007

Vietnamese orphans have lunch at the Tam Binh orphanage, in Ho Chi Minh City, in 2007

At nearly four, he was the oldest child Jolie had adopted.

She was already the adoptive mother to Maddox, from Cambodia, and Zahara from Ethiopia.

Jolie and now-estranged husband Brad Pitt took Pax back to Vietnam for a visit in 2011.

The then couple, who have three biological children and three adopted, have always said they want their children to remain in touch with their home countries.

On Friday, Jolie publicly surfaced for the first time since she filed for divorce from Pitt.

Hollywood star Jolie (C) chats with her adopted son Pax Thien from Vietnam next to Maddox (L) from Cambodia at a security check point before leaving Con Dao island, off Vietnam's southern coast in 2011

Jolie, left, and her adopted son Pax Thien get in a minivan to leave a Vietnamese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City after lunch on November 11, 2011, during a visit to Pax's home country

Jolie is pictured here with her adopted son Maddox from Cambodia as she leaves Tam Binh orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, March 15, 2007

In a recorded video message for the International Criminal Court she spoke about the Dutch-based tribunal's launch of its policy on children.

'Successful prosecution, whether at the ICC or elsewhere is part of the long and vital generational effort. That is the light in which I believe the court's new policy on children should be seen,' the Oscar winner said in a clip captured on Twitter.

'I particularly welcome the commitment to include charges for crimes against children wherever the evidence permits as part of a more systematic approach. I congratulate the office of the chief prosecutor, and all those working on the policy.'

The Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees also stated: 'Mankind owes to children. We know we aren't giving the best to children.'

Jolie is requesting full custody of her and Pitt's six children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne & Knox, 8.
A heavily pregnant woman was shot three times while she slept in an attempted honour killing - but she managed to survive and delivered the baby with the bullets still inside her.

Susheela Kumar, 27, from Mahavir Colony in Haryana, India, and her husband Pradip were attacked by gunmen as they slept at their home.

Pradip and his parents died instantly in the attack on Friday night.

But Susheela, who was nine months pregnant survived despite being hit by three bullets which - one of which sliced her arm, the other passed through her mouth and the third bullet had pierced through her pancreas.

Susheela Kumar (right) was shot three times while she slept in an attempted honour killing - but she managed to survive and delivered the baby (left) with the bullets still inside her

Susheela Kumar, 27, from Mahavir Colony in Haryana, India, and her husband Pradip were attacked by gunmen as they slept at their home

When the attackers left, neighbours called for help and she was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors saved her and delivered the baby by C-section.

The yet-to-be named baby is fully grown and weighs 2.2kg. He has been kept in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Susheela was an upper cast Jat and had married Pradip, also 27, four years ago against her family's wishes.

The couple fled their village to start a new life, but returned to Pradip's family home when she became pregnant.

Authorities are suspecting the incident was an attempted honour killing.

Police officer Karambir Singh said they were trying to ascertain if the assailants used a white SUV to reach the incident site.

Susheela was an upper cast Jat and had married Pradip (left), also 27, four years ago against her family's wishes. Pictured (right) is their baby who has yet to be named

A relative of Susheela Kumar sits next to her hospital bed after the attack and birth of her son

The officer said: 'Three people including Pradip and his parents Suresh Kumar, 47, Sunita 45 were killed in the incident. We have suspicion on Susheela's brother Monu.

'We have learnt that he has been using a stolen white Duster for a while now.

'Though a murder case has been registered against unidentified people, we believe Susheela's family members may be behind the crime.'

Suresh Kumar (centre), 47, Sunita (right), 45, were killed in the incident. Pradip's brother Suraj, 25, was injured (left)

Honour killings, where families and relatives target couples for marrying against set social norms have been carried out for centuries in India.

They mainly take place in rural areas of states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh which have a very conservative and deeply patriarchal society.

Relatives kill the couple to save their reputation and honour in the society and to set an example for other children to not dare go against the social norms.
A half-naked thief has left a bottom print on the glass door of a community hall that was broken into multiple times over the weekend.

Police from Wodonga, a Victorian town near Albury on the NSW border, were dusting for fingerprints when they uncovered the huge buttock imprint.

The community hall, which holds classes for yoga and meditation, was first broken into on Friday night and then a number of other times across the weekend.

A half-naked thief has left a bottom print (pictured) on the glass door of a community hall that was broken into multiple times over the weekend

Crime scene sergeant Shane Martin, who has 23 years of experience, said there were two possible explanations for the bizarre print.

'They're having a joke, or they're actually trying to lean up against the door to break in, but I don't know why they'd do it pantsless,' he told the Canberra Times.

Investigators believe three offenders, aged in their teens or early 20s, are responsible for the reckless vandalism and theft.

The anonymous offenders used fire extinguishers inside the building and caused damages expected to cost local government thousands of dollars to fix.

A television was also stolen from the building.

Detective Sergeant Graeme Simpfendorfer labelled the behaviour 'disgusting' and called for witnesses to come forward to speed up the investigation.

'It's pretty disgusting behaviour, really, for a community hall to be targeted in this way,' he told the Border Mail.

'It's only a matter of time before we will identify them completely and will be knocking on their doors.
Pope Francis has said priests will from now on be able to permanently absolve the 'grave sin' of women who have abortions.

The Argentine-born pontiff had granted a special permission to forgive the 'grave sin' during the Holy Year of Mercy, which began on December 8 last year and ended yesterday.

But today Francis, 79, agreed to make it a permanent policy that Catholic priests can absolve women who have had abortions.

In a document published by the Vatican today he said: 'There is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart.'

But he reiterated the Roman Catholic Church's position that 'abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life.'

Pope Francis gestures to the crowd in St Peter's Square in Rome yesterday where he conducted a Mass to mark the end of the Holy Year of Mercy

He wrote in an apostolic letter: 'I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion.

'The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary.'

At a ceremony yesterday he closed a bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peter's Square in Rome.

Monsignor Rino Fisichella (pictured, left) reads from an Apolostic Letter by Pope Francis (right) in which he reaffirmed that abortion was a 'grave sin' but absolution can be given by priests

He then gave an interview in which he described abortion as 'a horrendous crime'.

The Pope did not make any concessions to cases where the pregnancy resulted from rape or where it threatened the life of the mother.

Today he said: 'May every priest be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation.'

Because the Roman Catholic Church holds abortion to be such a serious sin, it had long put the matter of granting forgiveness for it in the hands of a bishop, who could either hear the woman's confession himself or delegate that to a priest who was expert in such situations.

By letting all priests absolve the sin of abortion, Francis is further applying his vision of a merciful church to those women who, as he has written in the past, felt they had no choice but to make 'this agonising and painful decision'.

Pro-choice demonstrators at a rally in New York in March. They were there to condemn Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, whose election victory is likely to mean abortion will be considerably restricted in the US

The pope hopes greater compassion from a more open-minded Vatican will increase church attendance.

His change in policy comes as the new US President Donald Trump prepares to take office, having promised to appoint Supreme Court judges who will repeal Roe v Wade, the ruling which allows abortion.
Jackson, 66, says her battle with Parkinsons has led her to consider suicide

She was diagnosed in 2014 a year after retiring from Four Corners program

Veteran ABC journalist Liz Jackson has given viewers a first-hand insight into her battle with Parkinsons disease and the nightly panic attacks that leave her in 'fear'.

The 66-year-old, from Sydney, spent much of her career reporting on the front-line, but was forced to retire from ABC's Four Corners in 2013 as the disease took hold.

After an award winning career that saw her interview world leaders and break many important stories, her final ever Four Corners production focused on her own battle.

The Gold Walkley Award winner bared all in her last production, showing harrowing footage of the panic attacks caused by the disease that leave her fearing for her life each and every night.

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Veteran Australian journalist Liz Jackson (pictured) was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2014 and has now given insight into her daily battle in a new Four Corners documentary

Jackson and her partner Martin Butler in their home

'I've got tingles down my legs to my knees and my knees start jerking,' Jackson says as she sits on the couch, shaking so viciously she can barely talk.

'I fear I'm going to lose control and I hate that.'

Lasting for long periods, the constant shaking leaves Jackson scared and shouting for her partner Martin to help take her to bed.

'You can see my eyelids are starting to water. I'm not crying it's just that when I start breathing my knee starts jerking,' she says.

'I figure if I keep on moving it will keep my body warmer... but I don't know.

'It really hurts.'

Admitting that she is overwhelmed by 'fear', Jackson tries to convince herself that the attack will just be like all other nights - but it's not so easily done.

The disease causes Jackson to suffer nightly panic attacks that leave her shaking in fear constantly on the couch for minutes before she goes to bed

The 66-year-old worked for the ABC for over 20 years (pictured here on Four Corners)

In addition to Parkinsons, Jackson has also been struck down by depression and Lewy Body disease.

So shaken and scared is the grandmother as a result of her poor health she admits to having thought about taking her own life.

'I don't like things that talk about losing my brain function. I don't like things that talk about connection with dementia,' she said.

'You start thinking about how long have I got before I have the kind of dementia I wouldn't want to be living with?

'I haven't had suicidal thoughts but I do now understand why people commit suicide which I didn't before.'

Having interviewed world leaders across the globe, putting herself on the other side of the camera was what she called 'the hardest film' she's ever made'.

Aiming to be as real and honest about her diseases as she could be, Jackson gave viewers an insight into the battles she faces in her own mind.

'One of the horrible things about Parkinsons is you get what they call a mask face, you lose expressions,' Jackson said.

'I think "Oh, what's happened to my face?" I hate it.'

While learning how to cope with her reduced motor and brain function is hard, there are more important issues facing the mother-of-two.

Among them are being able to play with her young granddaughter, who at one stage was so scared of how the disease had changed Jackson she refused to see her.

She is now the subject of the program - featuring in 'A Sense of Self' on Monday night

Jackson and Butler are pictured here in May 2005 at their home

Jackson, seen here in 2005, now suffers daily panic attacks and constant debilitating pain

'It started with "Granny cant carry me, or granny cant pick me up, or granny cant carry me very far, to I dont want to see granny",' Jackson's daughter Rose said.

In a first-person piece for the ABC Jackson told how she felt it was important to look into a disease that is so well known, but also misunderstood.

'This is a very hard story for me to tell because it involves exposing my current condition to a public audience,' Jackson wrote.

'Given that my daily reality involves distress, a lot of pain and panic attacks, I was wary.

'Up close and personal with me at the moment is not always a pretty sight. Did I really want the world to see?

The veteran journalist has medication she takes every two-and-a-half hours to keep the effects of the disease at bay. Her career spanned over three decades and includes multiple Walkleys and two UN Peace Prizes

Jackson, pictured here with Marian Wilkinson (left), Debbie Whitmont, Quentin McDermott, Matthew Carney, Kerry O'Brien, and Sarah Ferguson, worked on Four Corners

'In the end, a big part of my decision to make the film was that I was up for a challenge, one not unrelated to what I've been doing for nearly 30 years - making long-form radio and television documentaries that shine a light in dark places.'

Jackson studied in Melbourne before moving to London to become a lawyer.

On her return to Australia worked for the government before moving into journalism.

Jackson's career at the ABC spanned nearly three decades, first as a producer for Radio National.

The veteran journalist then worked for Four Corners, covering conflict the world over, and in 2005 spent a year as the host of Media Watch.




She was called a 'dirty sl**' and egged into sex with the dog by her partner

in October 2014 after videos of the acts were found

She will also serve time for stabbing someone with a fork and biting a child

She was let off with

A young Australian woman was egged on into having sex with her pet dog by her then-partner - who would call her a 'dirty sl**' and repeatedly sleep with her after she got intimate with the animal, a court has heard.

Brisbane woman Jenna Louise Driscoll, 27, appeared in high spirits on Monday evening after a judge sentenced her to probation for offences including having sex with her dog three times in early 2014, biting a child and stabbing a woman with a fork.

Driscoll walked free after details of her appalling sex trysts with the dog emerged in District Court documents.

On one occasion, Driscoll had sex with her dog while her partner Tristan filmed and '(pushed) the dog from behind to assist the motion', according to an agreed statement of facts shown to the court.

Jenna Louise Driscoll, 27, was let off with a suspended sentence for bestiality at the Brisbane District Court in Queensland on Monday (pictured leaving court on Monday)

Court documents revealed Driscoll (left) was egged on into having sex with her pet dog by her then-partner - who would call her a 'dirty sl**' and repeatedly sleep with her after she got intimate with the animal

She then had sex with Tristan 'for a few minutes', before having sex again with the dog, and then again with her partner.

The facts said her lover asked her to send him a video of the 'dirtiest thing' she could think of in March, leading her to again 'engage in sexual acts with her dog'.

She sent Tristan pictures and video before telling him in texts that the dog was hiding under the bed and she couldn't coax him out.

'He won't do it I can't get him to do it what's wrong with me', she said, according to the facts.

She and the dog had sex once more in April after her Tristan urged her to train it to have sex with her.

He told her: 'I'll never stop wanting you to do this type of stuff' and called her a 'filthy wh***', the facts said.

Driscoll choked back tears and breathed a huge sigh of relief upon learning she would walk free. A judge sentenced her to probation for offences including having sex with her dog three times in early 2014, biting a child and stabbing a woman with a fork

Texts between Driscoll and her partner revealed her dog would hide under the bed to get away from her after she performed sex acts with it

When she filmed the April 14 encounter, Tristan advised her to 'set the camera up so she isn't holding the camera'.

The frizzy-haired waitress's acts were branded 'repugnant' and 'against the order of nature' by Judge Terry Martin.

Police found evidence of bestiality on her phone while investigating her for trafficking cannabis, which she used to pay for food and rent.

The judge gave her a suspended jail sentence for that charge.

On Monday, Driscoll choked back tears as she was handed the probation order.

She breathed a huge sigh of relief upon learning she would walk free.

'Your conduct in the bestiality offences was repugnant,' Judge Terry Martin said.

In his sentencing, the judge said it seemed the bestiality occurred 'in the context of your partner wanting to be aroused by watching such appalling conduct'.

'You were clearly a willing participant in acts of sexual intercourse with the dog,' he said.

The facts of the case seen by Daily Mail Australia said her lover asked her to send him a video of the 'dirtiest thing' she could think of, leading her to 'engage in sexual acts with her dog'

The Brisbane woman spent the weekend behind bars after pleading guilty to three bestiality charges and other matters. Judge Terry Martin said Driscoll had a dysfunctional childhood and was subjected to physical and emotional abuse growing up.

Driscoll was formally charged in 2014 after police found videos of her having sex with a dog

Her lawyers had argued she had suffered from the publicity of her crimes - providing the court with news articles and a list of Google links.

The defence also referred to the case of Harriet Wran - the daughter of a former New South Wales premier - where a judge considered the effect of huge media attention.

But Judge Martin had little sympathy, telling the fidgety redhead: 'The adverse publicity is a result of your conduct'.

The judge said Driscoll had a dysfunctional childhood and was subjected to physical and emotional abuse growing up.

The court heard she was studying Year 12 to improve her lot in life.

Judge Martin told the court she 'may or may not' be remorseful over her actions but a jail sentence could see her exposed to 'corrupting influence'.

'This has ruined my life. I very much regret what I've done,' Driscoll said in a psychologist's report read out in court.

Following her court appearance in 2014, Driscoll was pictured arriving home accompanied by a man and her dog

She had been charged after police discovered three videos of her having inappropriate sexual contact with the dog (Pictured entering court last Friday). In a psychologist's report read out in court Driscoll said the ordeal had 'ruined her life'

She was also described as extremely embarrassed, anxious and depressed in the report.

Driscoll had pleaded guilty to all charges.

Under the order, she will have to undergo regular drug tests and must abstain from using illicit substances.

Driscoll had spent the weekend behind bars while Judge Martin considered his sentence, but not before branding her acts 'repulsive' and 'against the order of nature'.
Police were shocked when someone handed in a medieval-style 'bommy-knocker' during a guns and knives amnesty.

Officers in Bedford allowed members of the public to hand in weapons without fear of prosecution as part of a campaign to take items of the streets.

Along with the handguns and blades which were handed in however, was the gruesome-looking metal flail like those thought to have been used by warriors in the Middle Ages.

This medieval-style flail was handed in to police in Bedfordshire during a weapons amnesty

Police were also given around 2,000 knives and a cattleprod, all of which will be destroyed

The fearsome weapon, along with 2,000 knives and an assortment of guns collected by the police, will now be destroyed to ensure they do not end up in the hands of criminals.

Bedfordshire's Sergeant Ben Dimmock said: 'While we get used to seeing all kinds of things handed in during these campaigns, the flail was a particularly gruesome piece of equipment capable of inflicting serious injuries of worse. It is now in the best place for it  the crusher.'

As part of a nation-wide campaign called Operation Sceptre, forces around the country are urging people to hand in their so-called 'zombie knives' - those which have a serrated edge - which were recently banned.

Earlier this month, a metre-long sword was handed in at a police station in Plymouth, while a samurai sword was handed in in Hinkley, Leicestershire

Sgt Dimmock added: 'Our message to those carrying knives is bin the blade before it's too late.

'We will come down hard on those responsible for knife crime and they will face serious punishment. They are putting lives at risk  including their own.'

As well as the weapon, these guns were handed in to police in the county earlier this month
The father of a terminally ill four-year-old girl who died yesterday has posted a heartbreaking tribute to his 'little princess' whose portrait made her a worldwide symbol for children battling cancer.

A black-and-white photograph of Jessica Whelan grimacing and arching her back in pain because of neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that attacks the nervous system, moved many thousands to tears.

The four-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in September last year and died yesterday morning.

Her father Andy, who took the photograph that captured Jessica's bravery and the 'darkness that is childhood cancer', has today written a farewell to his daughter on the Facebook page set up to highlight her plight.

Her death came just a week before a debate by MPs sparked after 100,000 signed a petition set up by her family.

In his message for Jessica, written hours after she died, Mr Whelen said: 'I am not ready to let you go Jessica, you are my little princess. You are the most amazing, strongest and bravest little girl and I am blessed to be your daddy.

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Heartbreaking: This portrait of four-year-old cancer sufferer Jessica Whelan was shared across the world - the much-loved daughter and sister died yesterday

Much loved: Andy shared the details of his daughter's 13-month fight with neuroblastoma (pictured together) - her bravery was an inspiration to thousands

Goodbye: Her father Andy, who took the photograph that captured Jessica's bravery and the 'darkness that is childhood cancer', has today written a farewell to his daughter on the Facebook page set up to highlight her plight.

'The bond me and you share is truly amazing, you always were a daddy's girl, often only calming when I wrapped my arms around you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from this evil world baby girl, I'm sorry you had to suffer the way you did.

'I miss you so much baby girl, I miss your voice, I miss your smile, I miss you wrapping your arms around my neck as we cuddle. I miss your spontaneous statement of "I love you Daddy", a statement you came out with several times daily. I miss you Jessica, tears rolling down my cheeks and wetting my pillow as I think of you and the bond we shared.

'Goodnight my beautiful angel, please come and give me a cuddle as I sleep xxx'.

I'M SORRY I COULDN'T PROTECT YOU: DAD'S HEARTBREAKING GOODBYE I am not ready to let you go Jessica, you are my little princess. You are the most amazing, strongest and bravest little girl and I am blessed to be your daddy. Never again will I hear your joyful cry out of "Daddy!!!" as I walk through the front door, never again will I hear that infectious giggle of yours as you mischievously climb and jump all over me, tickling me as we play fight. I have so many wonderful memories and yet so few as you were taken far too young. I should be led here planning our next family trip not led here planning your funeral. I should be led here singing alongside you your favourite songs not adding them to a playlist to be played as we say goodbye to you. The bond me and you share is truly amazing, you always were a daddy's girl, often only calming when I wrapped my arms around you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from this evil world baby girl, I'm sorry you had to suffer the way you did. It breaks me to think about what you have had to endure for a quarter of your short life and it will be a cause of my nightmares for me for years to come. I miss you so much baby girl, I miss your voice, I miss your smile, I miss you wrapping your arms around my neck as we cuddle. I miss your spontaneous statement of "I love you Daddy", a statement you came out with several times daily. I miss you Jessica, tears rolling down my cheeks and wetting my pillow as I think of you and the bond we shared. Goodnight my beautiful angel, please come and give me a cuddle as I sleep xxx Advertisement

Jessica spent a year of her four-year life battling the cancer that would rob her of a future.

Generous members of the public moved by her plight raised 76,000 to give the little girl the chance to enjoy the last few weeks that she had to live.

Jessica's family had aimed to raise 20,000 through the GoFundMe site, but the target was smashed in a matter of hours after the photograph - which her father described as the 'true face of cancer' - was published on Jessica's blog.

More than 3,300 people have pledged money to the cause in the past two days, leaving heartfelt messages of support for the family.

Andy Whelen has said the family had been 'humbled' by the response.

He said they 'flew through' their savings when Jessica was diagnosed and that the money raised was a 'massive help' in covering the likes of transport and food costs.

He told MailOnline: 'It has been absolutely overwhelming. It is quite hard for us to comprehend what is being donated.

'We don't feel comfortable about asking for money and we weren't even going to do it until people asked us to. Now, we can't believe how far it has gone. It seems to have reached most corners of the world.'

And 114,000 have signed a childhood cancer petition demanding MPs debate how its treatment should be more of a priority to the NHS. It will be debated on Monday, November 28.

Mr Whelan said he has received more than 3,000 emails - along with Facebook messages and texts - from all over the world since the photograph was published.

Well-wishers have got in touch from the like of Colombia and Russia as Jessica's story has spread on the internet.

Among those who have been moved by the cause is Harry Styles, who got in touch with Mr Whelan.

It came after the host of a local radio station in the Wirral, Beverley Macca, contacted Harry's management company and arranged for him to phone .

The four-year-old (pictured), from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in September last year and her family decided to stop treatment last month

Jessica Whelan's plight came to the public attention when her father Andy (with whom she is pictured) published a distressing black and white image showing the little girl grimacing in pain as she battles her terminal condition

Thousands of people have donated to a page which is raising money for Jessica (pictured left and right in March)

Mr Whelan posted the candid photograph of his daughter earlier this month.

Speaking about his decision to post the photo, Mr Whelan said: 'I took that photo - not to share with the public - but as more of a momento.

'To remind us, when we look back and worry about everything, that we had done the right thing by stopping her treatment.

'That image just shows how bad it was, if we ever questioned our decision.

'But, once I uploaded that onto the computer, I instantly realised how powerful that image actually was.

'We speak about photos that change people's perceptions - and I knew this one would.'

He said that, even those who have gone through the experience of child cancer, had been shocked by the image.

Jessica was told she had just weeks to live. She is pictured lying down with her young brother James

The little girl, left in July and right on her first day at school in September, was told in October she would only have weeks to live. Her father and mother are planning to donate her tissue and organs to medical research

The family had a 20,000 target but there has already been more than 70,000 raised through the page (pictured)

'The face of cancer isn't the bald-headed smiling child surrounded by celebrities, it's just not. That's what I was trying to show,' he said.

'I've had many people saying they took photos like this but couldn't look at them. I've had people saying "yes, that's what I went through too". And for those that haven't, it highlights just how awful child cancer is.

'It's opening people's eyes up to what is going on in the world.'

Mr Whelan said he and his partner Nicki - Jessica's mother - have decided to give Jessica's organs and tissues to scientific research when she dies.

'If this situation can provide a bit more advancement in medicine - if some positive could come out of this - then we want to do it,' he said.

The youngster was diagnosed in September 2015 - but sadly died yesterday

'If we can make a difference so fewer families have to go through this, then at least that will be some comfort to us.'

Posting the photo Andy wrote: 'This is the hardest photograph I have ever made.

'A few days ago she was given what is most likely a few weeks to live. This was taken at a moment where we as parents could offer no comfort - Jessica pushing us away as she rode out her searing pain in solitude.'

Jessica, who had been fighting stage four neuroblastoma for 13 months, but was given just weeks to live after Andy and his partner Nicki Prendergast decided to stop treatment in a bid to allow her to enjoy whatever time she has got left.

'This is the true face of cancer,' says Andy, who documents his daughter's battle on Facebook.

'My baby girls blood vessels protruding from beneath her skin, a solitary tear running down her cheek, her body stiffened and her face contorted in pain.'

'With this photo I don't mean to offend or upset anyone. Perhaps by seeing this photo people will be made aware of the darkness that is childhood cancer, and perhaps the same people will be able to do something in the future so that no child has to suffer this pain, and so that no parent has to bear witness to their own flesh and blood deteriorating daily.'

Jessica was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma on September 23 last year.

Initially, after suffering pains in her arms and shoulders, doctors diagnosed Jessica with a bone infection.

But just as she was about to be discharged, after ten weeks in hospital, doctors decided to examine her one more time.

'Jessica had been crying out in pain during the night,' Mr Whelan explains.

'One of the nurses told the doctor so he decided to check her tummy to make sure it was nothing more than constipation.'

By sharing the picture Andy, seen here with Jessica before she was diagnosed, hopes to raise awareness of the pain of childhood cancer. Jessica's parents shaved her head when the chemotherapy caused her to lose her hair, right with her younger brother James

Jessica's journey has been documented on Facebook. She is pictured waiting for surgery last month

Jessica was no longer receiving treatment. She is pictured left and right in hospital last month

It was during the examination that the doctor found a mass in her tummy.

'It was devastating,' Mr Whelan explains.

'Jessica was all ready to come home. She was even in her coat. Then we were told she'd need to stay in hospital for more tests.'

An ultrasound showed there was a mass around Jessica's liver, but it was after an MRI the following day that doctors broke the news that Jessica had cancer.

'I asked the doctor how long she had left, and he said he couldn't give a figure but it was likely to be a couple of years,' explains Mr Whelan.

Jessica started chemotherapy and then doctors started her on a clinical drug trial. When her hair started falling out they cut it into a bob, then shaved it all off.

After three months, Jessica went into hospital for tests. But there was bad news.

During the first stages of her cancer battle Andy and her mother Nicki cut their daughter's hair into a short bob. Then as the chemo continued they opted for a close-cropped do

Jessica is pictured in October in an image showing the swelling on her right arm due to a tumour

'The consultant told us the tumour was the same size, they hadn't budged it at all,' says Andy. 'But he said there was another trial we could try, and not to lose hope.'

Jessica spent so much time in hospital, she started making friends with the other children on the ward, and formed strong bonds with the nurses.

'On the rare nights she'd spend at home, she'd sometimes cry as she missed the ward,' Mr Whelan says.

Months passed and Jessica seemed to improve.

Her hair grew back and she had more energy than ever.

She spent more time at home as Mr Whelan and his partner Nicki were taught to administer Jessica's drugs themselves.

'Every single moment was so precious. I kept my camera around my neck, ready to snap away, capturing every smile, every laugh, every time she cuddled her baby brother James. I didn't want to miss a thing,' says Andy.

'One morning, Jessica was watching TV when a programme about hospitals came on.

The young tot went through a clinical trial went her doctors told her the radiation treatment was no longer working and the cancer had spread all over her body

'Looking at the patients Jessica turned to us and said, "I don't want to die".

'I knew she didn't understand how poorly she was, but still, it was heartbreaking to hear,' recalls Andy.

When the trial came to an end, Mr Whelan was told that the tumour hadn't shrunk, but it hadn't grown either.

'The consultant told us that there was more treatment they could try, but they were now looking at prolonging Jessica's life - not curing the cancer.'

'It was a shock,' says Mr Whelan. 'On the outside Jessica looked so well, it was hard to believe she wasn't getting better.'

Andy and Nicki chose to end treatments to allow their daughter to enjoy her last few weeks

In August, Jessica underwent MIBG - targeted radiation therapy - in the hope that the family would have another two years with their daughter.

But in October, during an examination Jessica's oncologist found that although her existing tumours didn't seem to have grown, the cancer had progressed to other areas of her body.

'We knew something was wrong straight after his examination as he asked for a nurse to take Jessica away while he spoke to us,' says Mr Whelan.

'Despite Jessica appearing to do well after the radiation treatment, her cancer had spread. There were little, or no treatment options left.'

'We asked our oncologist what the likely timeframe we had to work with, and he told us we were looking at months.'

'There are other clinical trials, but nothing that would make a difference for Jessica,' says Andy. 'So we had to decide whether we wanted to continue treatment, or let her enjoy a 'normal' life in the time she has left.'

'Those studies would be pumping her full of chemicals to keep her alive for our sake, but it's Jessica that matters, not us,' says Andy.

On October 12, Mr Whelan and Nicki made the decision to end treatment and were then told Jessica only had weeks to live.

'The news felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest while someone sucked the air from my lungs,' he said.

Mr Whelan wanted to raise awareness of childhood cancer, which is why he documented his daughter's final weeks.

For Andy he hopes that by sharing the photo it will raise awareness and bring the sadness of childhood cancer to the forefront and help fund further research into a cure

'I understand this photo is hard to see and even harder to absorb, but this is what cancer does to a child in their final weeks and days. Before her diagnosis I was one of those ignorant to the darkness of childhood cancer. Now I give childhood cancer the respect it deserves, seeing too many children suffering this same fate and seeing families torn apart.

'If this photograph makes people think twice about this evil then it's achieved its purpose. Research needs to be done, cures need to be found.
has the lowest survival rate of all childhood cancers

Celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli has revealed his family's anguish over the shock cancer diagnosis in his baby son, whom they believed was 'healthy and growing normally'.

Ten-week-old Valentino was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just weeks ago after his mother, Jean-Christophe's fiancee Michelle, found a lump on his neck during feeding at their family home in Hertfordshire.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive disease which attacks specialised nerve cells in the nervous system and other tissues and has the lowest survival rate of all childhood cancers.

Speaking in a television interview this morning, he revealed how Michelle called him to say it was like Valentino was 'having a heart attack' one morning despite the baby appearing to be 'getting stronger' since birth.

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Celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli has opened up about his family's anguish after baby son Valentino, pictured with his father, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer

Appearing on ITV's This Morning, pictured, Jean-Christophe revealed neither he nor fiancee Michelle had any history of cancer in the family

Valentino, pictured with brother Jacques, has neuroblastoma, which has the lowest survival rate of all childhood cancers

Appearing on ITV's This Morning via satellite, Jean-Christophe said: 'He [Valentino] was a very healthy baby, growing normally like anyone, getting stronger. Hes got such an amazing cute face.

'You always believe its going to be somebody else. You think everything will be alright. With both sides [of family] theres no history [of cancer].

'One evening we were cuddling the baby, we saw a tiny little lump on the babys neck. You think its part of the growth, we look after him very well.'

He added: 'It was unusually hard and I knew something wasnt right. The [MRI] scan experience was not going well.

'Valentino had difficulties to breathe. I was doing the school run and Michelle said he was like having a heart attack.

'The thing is with the hospital, even though they did so well, we never got a straight answer.

'When the word cancer came up it took nearly a week to find out that. The next problem is how serious the cancer is. Hes got no immune system.'

Jean-Christophe added he knew it was time to tell Valentino's siblings about his illness after eight-year-old son Jean Frankie asked him about it because he's heard his brother talked about at school.

The chef said: 'One day I was driving him [eight-year-old son Jean Frankie} to school (his 8-year-old) he said, I dont understand dad, but everyone mentioned Valentinos name at school and I realised I had to tell them what was going on.'

It comes 24 hours after he revealed his anguish at the diagnosis and how he wished it had 'happened to him' instead.

He told presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, left, how 'you always believe it's going to happen to somebody else'

Jean-Christophe (pictured with his fiancee Michelle) said his partner called him one morning to say their baby son appeared to be having a heart attack

He told the Sunday Mirror: 'There have been nights when I have sat alone, crying, asking God why this has happened to my little boy and not to me. I wish I could change places with him. Valentino is so tiny. You feel utterly helpless.

Fewer than 100 children in the UK are diagnosed each year with neuroblastoma, and most of them are under five.

It commonly occurs in either one of the two adrenal glands in a child's tummy or in nerve tissue that runs alongside the spinal cord, in the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis.

The cancer can spread to tissues beyond the original site, including bone marrow, bone, lymph nodes, liver and skin.

After making the terrifying discovery Jean-Christophe, 55, and Michelle, 40, took their baby to see specialists - but another earth-shattering blow was coming.

Ten-week-old Valentino is Jean-Christophe's fourth child - he has two other sons and one daughter

After an initial operation, surgeons told the couple that they could not successfully remove the tumour because it was too close to his windpipe and nerves.

However, a team at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge told the family that their little one could be treated with chemotherapy.

Initial tests on Valentino have shown that his cancer has not spread, which offers a ray of hope to Jean-Christophe, Michelle and Valentino's brothers and sisters.

Michelle said that in order to remain positive she looks to the future.

She told the Mirror: 'Whats keeping me going is the thought of Valentino walking me down the aisle at our wedding, as a little page boy.
Mark Revill has admitted stalking actress Keira Knightley by shouting 'meow' sounds through her letterbox

A stalker has admitting shouting 'meow' sounds through the letterbox of Keira Knightley's home.

Mark Revill bombarded the actress with messages and wrote in chalk on the street outside her home, Highbury magistrates heard.

The 49-year-old, of Hackney, admitted stalking Ms Knightley for three months this year, when he made repeated trips to her 3.9million five-bedroom house in north London.

Revill was finally chased away by the stars husband, musician James Righton, the court heard.

The court heard Revill also sent her a USB with cat-themed music on it and a picture of three cats winking.

Prosecutor Simms Khan said: 'The first point of contact was a chalk drawing on the pavement, an arrow pointing directly at her front door.

'He then persistently delivered hand written letters, there was no stamp of frank on it so there was no way it could have gone through the Royal Mail or any other delivery system.

'He then goes to her address, lifts up the letter box and makes meowing sounds - Ms Knightley's husband then chases Mr Revill to confront him about the allegations.'

Ms Knightley lives with her husband, Klaxons singer James Righton, and their young daughter

The prosecutor continued: 'It makes the victim uncomfortable, she sees him outside, goes away and continues her day, comes back and he's still outside.

'Now she's feeling quite apprehensive but there is no direct contact.'

At a previous court appearance, self-styled composer Revill insisted that he loved the defendant, but had been approaching her primarily to promote his music.

Revill has made a number of references to cats on Facebook and recently changed his name to 'Mark McCattipus'.

The court heard the stalking made Ms Knightley feel 'uncomfortable and unsafe'

He has also posted several pictures of his favourite felines and YouTube cat videos. One post reads: 'I keep dreaming about talking cats. Want one.'

He has a previous conviction for exposure after sending multiple letters to a female member of staff at a hospital, booking tickets and planning days out with her, before turning up at her home address completely naked.

Bharat Gupta, for Revill, said: 'He himself is a music composer and when he was arrested he was playing his guitar, the reason he went to the address as to promote his music.

'She's a famous star and maybe there was an attraction there as well. Clearly there's a mental health issue.'

Revill was charged with stalking Ms Knightley between August 1 and October 22, 'by pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to the stalking, which he knew amounted to harassment'.

He is currently in custody for breaching one of the technical terms of his bail.

He is expected to be sentenced this afternoon.
The family of a British motorcyclist, who was left in a coma after crashing in Australia, made the 'heartbreaking' decision to switch off his life support machine.

John McDougall, 30, from Preston in Lancashire, was fighting for his life after a bike crash in Perth, Australia, on November 12.

Doctors battled in vain to keep him alive for nine days.

His mother Honor, brother Craig, and aunt Alison made the 9,000-mile dash to be at his bedside.

John McDougall, 30, from Preston in Lancashire, was fighting for his life after a bike crash in Perth, Australia, on November 12

They made the decision to switch off the machine and friends have been paying tribute to their loved one.

Katy Graham wrote: 'There are no words to even describe what everyone is feeling right now. Hearts are breaking all over the world.

'I feel blessed to say I knew John. A character, a charmer, a gentleman, and a friend.

'It never mattered how long it was since you saw each other last, John always had the time for anyone and that - along with his top knot - is something I'll always remember him for.

'Your memory will live on forever.'

Emma Seed added: 'You will never be forgotten. May you be at peace with your loved ones.

'We are so proud to have known such a great guy. Taken too soon, but never be forgotten.'

And old friend Bridget Allen said: 'I truly believed in a miracle and a happy ending but it wasn't meant to be. Oh, McDougs, you've broken some hearts.

'You tried your hardest, now it's time for you to be free. It goes without saying what a truly amazing soul you were. One of a kind.

'It is so heart-warming to see the amount of love and support that has been shown across the world these past few days.

'It sums up how much you meant to so many people.

John, who moved to Australia four years ago, was riding a Honda motorcycle at around 9.45pm last Saturday, police said

'Goodbye for now, pal. My heart is with your family at this unthinkable time. Now go and be free. Sleep well, you absolute legend.'

Friends have also raised more than 8,500 to help the family make arrangements Down Under to bring him home.

John, who moved to Australia four years ago, was riding a Honda motorcycle at around 9.45pm last Saturday, police said.

As he approached a junction, the bike veered into a central island, became airborne, and struck a telegraph pole.

The Preston North End fan suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital where he was reported to be in a coma in a critical condition.

Before moving to Australia John lived with his brother and father - before his death 12 years ago - in Longsands, in Preston.

He was a former pupil of St Theresa's Roman Catholic Primary School, and St Cecilia's High School - both in Preston.

Close friend Mick Casey set up the crowd-funding page for the family.

Mick wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we have received news that John has passed away peacefully.

'His organs are to be donated to give others a chance of life.

'We still need to raise as much as possible to help the family bring John home. John's family is very grateful to everyone who has donated money.
Donald Trump's grandfather almost changed the course of history when he begged to stay in Germany as he unsuccessfully fought his expulsion from the country for failing to perform mandatory military service, a letter has shown.

The handwritten missive, found in a German archive by an historian and published Monday by Bild newspaper, dates back to 1905.

Friedrich Trump begged Bavarian Prince Luitpold, whom he called a 'well-loved, noble, wise and just' leader not to deport him.

Luitpold however rejected the 'most subservient request' and the elder Trump was sent back to the United States. The move, two generations later, earned Donald Trump natural-born citizenship - without which he would never have been able to run for president.

A handwritten letter (pictured) shows how Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, begged to stay in Germany in 1905 - before getting expelled for not serving in the military

Trump's grandfather (right) was born in Kallstadt, then part of Bavaria, and immigrated to the US as a teenager without performing his military service

Trump's grandfather was born in Kallstadt, then part of Bavaria, and immigrated to the US as a teenager without performing his military service.

He tried to resettle in Germany after making his fortune there but was ordered expelled, and returned to the US.

'Well, he wanted to come over to this country,' Donald previously told the New York Times about his grandfather's return to the US. 'And ultimately, he loved this country.'

The archive also contains Friedrich's birth certificate, Rhineland-Palatinate state archive spokeswoman Isabell Weisbrod said.

The missive, found in a German archive by an historian and published Monday by Bild newspaper, dates back to 1905. Pictured is the first page

The elder Trump's letter didn't convince Luitpold to let him stay, and the sovereign decided to reject the 'most subservient request'. Pictured is the third and last page

Like his grandfather, the president-elect didn't serve in the military, taking five draft deferments during the Vietnam War.

One of them, obtained after he graduated college, was a medical deferment due to a diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels.

The other four deferments were for his education.

His grandfather, born Friedrich Drumpf, built up the family's fortune after moving to New York City in 1885 aged 16.

He joined his sister, who also lived in the city and worked as a barber for six years after a German-speaking man took him on as an apprentice.

Friedrich then moved to the North West and Canada before heading to Seattle, Washington aged 22.

There, he opened a restaurant and bought a property near Monte Cristo, Washington, using some of his mother's money.

He opened more restaurants at 27 years old, including the New Arctic Restaurant and Hotel and the White Horse.

FRIEDRICH TRUMP'S TRAVELS IN GERMANY AND THE US Donald Trump's grandfather, born in Kallstadt, then a part of Bavaria, first moved to the United States in 1885 aged 16. He went back to his native Germany in 1902 and married his former neighbor, Elizabeth Christ, Donald Trump's paternal grandmother. Friedrich convinced her to return to the US. But Elizabeth later became homesick and the couple tried to return to Germany in 1904. Friedrich attempted to obtain the right to remain in Germany forever and in 1905 wrote to Bavarian Prince Luitpold in a bid to avoid deportation. The letter didn't convince German authorities, who viewed Friedrich's decision to emigrate as a way to avoid serving in the military. Friedrich denied the claim and proclaimed his loyalty to Germany, to no avail. He and Elizabeth returned to New York in 1905. Friedrich tried one last time to go back to Germany but eventually settled in Queens. Advertisement

According to Gwenda Blair's 'The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate', Trump's hotel had prostitutes as well served round-the-clock food and liquor.

Donald Trump has denied these claims, telling the New York Times they were 'totally false' - even though he has never met his grandfather.

'Customers depended on him for food, liquor and women,' Blair, wrote in the book - describing Friedrich as 'hard living and hard drinking'.

'In the larder was salmon and an extraordinary variety of meats, including duck, ptarmigan, grouse, goose, and swan, as well as caribou, moose, goat, sheep, rabbit, and squirrel,' Blair wrote in the book.

'Incredibly, the New Arctic served fresh fruit: red currants, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, even cranberries.

'A small oasis of luxury, the Arctic's menu was a vast improvement over what the two restaurateurs had been able to offer on the trail.'

Friedrich (right) went back to Germany in 1902 and got married with his former neighbor Elizabeth Christ (left), Donald's paternal grandmother

The president-elect's grandfather grew up in Kallstadt (pictured nowadays) before moving to New York City aged 16 and building the family's fortune in the US

Friedrich Trump later sailed to the Yukon River on a schooner, but got stuck along with other prospectors in the Gulf Of Alaska.

He went back to Germany in 1902 and got married with his former neighbor Elizabeth Christ before returning to the US, the New York Times reported.

His wife however became homesick and the pair returned to Germany in 1904, the year before Friedrich's failed attempt to settle back in his native country.

When German authorities interpreted his move to the US as a move to avoid military service, Friedrich told them: 'It was my intention to remain in America forever', Blair wrote in her book.

'We are loyal Germans and stand behind the high kaiser and the mighty German Reich', Friedrich said according to Blair.

The couple returned to the US in 1905, while Elizabeth was pregnant with Donald's father, Frederick Christ Trump.

Friedrich tried one last time to return to Germany before settling in Queens. He died in 1918.

The Trump family hid its family origins after World War II and told those who asked that they were Swedish, Trump's cousin John Walter, the family historian, told the New York Times .

The president-elect himself later questioned the need for such a ruse, asking his father in the mid-1980s: 'Do I have to do this Swedish thing?' according to Walter.
Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway defended her boss' use of Twitter to go after the cast members of Hamilton, who publicly addressed vice president-elect Mike Pence, asking that he 'work on behalf of all of us.'

'But why do you care?' Conway pushed back when CNN's Chris Cuomo asked her this morning if this is how Trump planned to spend his presidency  dueling on Twitter. 'In other words, who's to say that he can't do that, make a comment, spend five minutes on a tweet making a comment?' Conway continued.

Trump dashed off three tweets this weekend after Pence attended the Broadway musical on Friday night and was met by boos from members of the audience.

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Kellyanne Conway shrugged off criticism on behalf of her boss, who raised eyebrows by using Twitter to tell the Hamilton cast they should apologize to Vice President-elect Mike Pence

'But why do you care?' Kellyanne Conway (right) asked CNN's Chris Cuomo (left) who asked her if Donald Trump planned to spend his time as president fighting with people on Twitter

Cast member Brandon Victor Dixon addressed the vice president-elect from the stage.

'We are the diverse America,' Dixon said. 'Who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us,' the actor said, adding that he hoped the Indiana governor was inspired by the musical's inclusive message.

Trump countered by calling the actors 'very rude,' the musical 'overrated' and suggested, twice, that the cast apologize to his running mate.

Dixon, appearing on CBS 'This Morning,' said, 'We have nothing to apologize for.'

'Conversation is not harassment,' Dixon said, repeating a label that Trump had used in his tweets.

'I was really appreciative that Vice President-elect Pence stood there and listened to what we had to say. I know some people have said that a one-sided conversation or a lecture is not a conversation but it was the beginnings of a conversation I hope that we can continue to have,' Dixon added.

Yesterday, Pence said he wasn't offended by what happened onstage and in the theater, calling the boos what 'freedom sounds like.'

The president-elect also used Twitter to criticize 'Saturday Night Live,' in which liberal actor Alec Baldwin again portrayed the billionaire, suggesting that Trump was in over his head now that he had won the election.

'It is a totally one-sided, biased show - nothing funny at all. Equal time for us?' Trump wrote.

On CNN's 'New Day,' an incredulous Cuomo asked Conway if this was really how the Republican businessman planned to comport himself.

Conway suggested that it was no big deal.

'He has over 25 million followers on Facebook and Twitter and it's a great way for him, Chris, to take his message directly to the people,' she said at the top of her appearance. 'Cut through the noise, or the silence, whatever the case may be. Sometimes important things that he's saying or doing are getting zero coverage.'

'Sometime he's just trying to cut through the nonsense of people telling Americans what's important to them, which we saw through the election wasn't true,' Conway continued.

Cuomo countered and suggested that Trump, personally, was responsible for the distractions  getting in widely-publicized tiffs over pop culture instead of focusing all of his energy on the transition.

'I wasn't saying that he wasn't responsible,' Conway replied. 'But you're assigning malice. You're assigning wrongdoing to him where it doesn't exist.'
Four children died and their mother and two police officers were hurt in a fire that ripped through a home in north-central Indiana before dawn on Monday.

Coroners in Carrol County confirmed that the children had died in the blaze, which destroyed a home in Flora, Indiana, a rural town about 60 miles north of Indianapolis.

A family friend told a local television station that the ages of the children range from four to 12 years old.

Witnesses told Fox59 that two police officers were taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries.

The officers have been identified as Joshua Disinger and Drew Yoder.

A fire ripped through a home (above) in Flora, Indiana, a rural town 60 miles north of Indianapolis, before dawn on Monday

Fire investigators are seen above at the home affected by the blaze. Four children died in the fire and their mother and two police officers were injured

Firefighters are seen outside of the home where the blaze took place. One of the officers injured was airlifted to a burn unit in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Disinger, an officer with the Flora Police Department, suffered from smoke inhalation. He is listed in good condition.

Yoder suffered damage to his lungs as a result of smoke inhalation. He also suffered burns to his hand and forehead.

Joshua Disinger (left) and Drew Yoder (right) were identified as the officers who suffered injuries caused by the fire

One of the officers was flown to a burn unit in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The mother was also airlifted to hospital for treatment.

The identities of the victims have yet to released.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana fire marshal are investigating.
The car has been impounded in a police holding yard for the next 28 days

A woman has been pulled over for driving a car with the word 'Police' and a checkered pattern drawn on the side in blue pen, and no number plates.

The 33-year-old from Lynwood, who was driving a white Hyundai Accent, was stopped on The Esplanade outside Elizabeth Quay about midday on Monday.

Officers told 7 News the woman locked herself inside the car when they approached the window to talk to her.

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A woman has been pulled over for driving a car with the word 'Police' and a checkered pattern drawn on the side in blue pen, and no number plates (pictured)

The woman had no license, the car was unregistered and also had a yellow sticker on its windscreen - a compliance notice which means the car cannot be driven on Western Australian roads.

The image was posted to Facebook page 'The Bell Tower Times' by a woman driving past at the time.

The image attracted more than 8,000 likes, 1,000 shares and plenty of comments.

The woman who took the initial photo, Anna-Marie Gibbs, told WA Today she noticed the car during her lunch break and said it had already been stopped when she came out of her office.

One commenter said he'd seen the car twice on Saturday morning and thought it was abandoned, before he saw it driving around in East Victoria Park.

The white Hyundair Accent (pictured) was stopped on The Esplanade near Elizabeth Quay about midday on Monday

The woman driving the car had no license, it was unregistered and also had a yellow sticker on its windscreen - a compliance notice which means the car cannot be driven on Western Australian roads

A police spokesperson told The West Australian the markings on the car didn't break any laws.

The car has been towed to a police holding yard where it will stay for the next 28 days.
She was given a suspended sentence and fine at Brighton County Court

Officers then discovered her car was full of fake clothes and accessories

She was arrested by Surrey Police for driving without an MOT

Lynsey Nelson, pictured, has been fined 3,000 and given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of selling counterfeit branded goods

A woman has been fined after making almost 20,000 selling fake designer goods on Facebook, including UGG Boots, designer watches and sunglasses.

Lynsey Nelson, 33, was caught after undercover West Sussex Trading Standards officers bought her products and confirmed them to be counterfeit.

Whilst the investigation was ongoing, Nelson was arrested by Surrey Police for driving without an MOT.

Her car was found to be full of counterfeit clothing and sunglasses which were passed through to Trading Standards.

Following a financial investigation, Nelson, from Crawley, West Sussex, was found to have made 19,500, according to the council.

Now, she has been given a four-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay a 3,000 fine within six months.

During the trial Nelson attempted to blame her brother but a jury at Brighton County Court found her guilty on 18 counts.

Sentencing, the judge told Nelson she had wasted taxpayers money on a full trial despite the overwhelming amount of evidence against her.

After the case concluded, Richard Sargeant, West Sussex Trading Standards team manager, said: 'Selling fake goods is a serious crime and one that we are determined to stop.

'Any shoppers looking for a deal this Christmas should buy from a reputable trader or they might end up with more than they bargained for.'

Fake UGG boots, pictured, were among the goods Nelson sold and she made 19,500 through sales over Facebook

Among the other false goods she sold were branded sunglasses, such as these fake Ray-Bans, and designer watches

David Barling, West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for Residents' Services, said: 'Making money out of innocent people is a deplorable act.

'Not only were unsuspecting consumers exploited but the actions of these criminals harm legitimate businesses who comply with the law.
A mother rushed her baby to hospital when the tot went floppy and passed out after taking infant medication.

Tesco pulled Galpharm's Junior Ibuprofen from shelves after parent Alison Smith complained that the packaging did not contain all the necessary information.

Her four-month-old son Jensen Pettitt became unresponsive and lost consciousness after taking just 2.5ml of the baby medicine - the advised dosage.

Doctors at Maidstone Hospital spent an agonising 45 minutes working on the infant before he finally came round.

Alison Smith's four-month-old son Jensen (pictured together, left) became unresponsive and lost consciousness after taking just 2.5ml of the baby medicine (shown right)

Alison, from Wouldham, Kent, has formed a Facebook campaign to advise other mothers about the product - after dozens of others came forward to complain about the medicine.

The 36-year-old said: 'Jensen had been ill so we gave him the medicine.

'We put it on his lips but he was was chucking his arms about and wouldn't take any of it so of course we force fed it to him.

'I then tasted a bit and my mouth went completely numb, while my partner Adrian got a blister on his tongue.

Doctors at Maidstone Hospital spent an agonising 45 minutes working on the infant (pictured) before he finally came round

'At this point we thought "we have just given our child 2.5ml of this, we need to do something". Jensen was drifting off to sleep so we phoned the 111 NHS service.

'While on the phone he went floppy, we were banging and clapping and he just wasn't responding. The operator told us to get him to A&E as soon as possible.

'We took him to Maidstone Hospital where a medical team finally got him to wake up. He was very grumpy and disorientated but has since made a full recovery.'

The batch number of the ibuprofen that Alison Smith gave her son Jensen

Alison contacted Tesco at Larkfield where she had bought the product and producer Galpharm, which is owned by Perrigo.

Tesco immediately removed the batch - which includes 80,000 bottles in total - from its shelves nationwide and also contacted the company.

A Perrigo spokesman said: 'Galpharm Junior Ibuprofen meets all regulatory quality and safety standards required for a licensed medicinal product to be sold in the UK.

'The company employs rigorous product safety and quality processes and any adverse event is evaluated with utmost importance and thorough assessment and analysis.

'After comprehensively testing the batch of the Galpharm Junior Ibuprofen in question, no identified concerns or issues with the product were found.

'We are very pleased to read that baby Jensen is doing well.'

But Miss Smith said the pharmaceutical company only provided her with some limited test results on Friday - more than four weeks after her initial complaint - after a social media post about the ordeal attracted more than 26,000 shares.

She added that none of her family are allergic to ibuprofen and Galpharm initially told her no one else had informed it of similar reactions.

They eventually told her there were a number of complaints on file.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it has not been informed of any issues with the product.

Alison said she has been contacted by scores of parents since she posted on Facebook who have told her their children have had similar reactions to the product.
A lost poem by Anne Frank that she wrote shortly before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis has been unearthed more than 70 years later.

The previously-unseen eight-line poem was penned by the Jewish schoolgirl for the sister of her closest friend on March 28, 1942.

She wrote it, aged 12, in a book belonging to Christiane 'Cri-cri' Van Maarsen, the younger sister of her best friend Jacqueline.

The poem (pictured, left), was written in Dutch, and was found in the school book of Anne Frank's best friend's sister. Anne (right) was a keen writer and more than 30 million copies of her diary have been sold since 1947

Anne Frank was born in 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany but her family fled the Nazis in 1933, moving to Amsterdam where her father worked in the fruit extract business.

But in 1940 Holland was occupied by the Nazis and the family were once again under threat because they were Jews.

The newly found poem was written two days after Jews in Berlin were ordered to paint the Star of David on their houses to identify them to the Nazi authorities.

The poem, written in Dutch, begins Dear Cri-Cri, and seems to be giving homely advice to the younger girl. It reads:

If you did not finish your work properly,

And lost precious time,

Then once again take up your task

And try harder than before.

If others have reproached you

For what you have done wrong,

Then be sure to amend your mistake.

That is the best memory one can make.

Cri-cri died 10 years ago and her sister has now put the poem up for auction, where it is expected to fetch around 50,000 euros (42,000).

Otto Frank (pictured) was the only survivor of the family and made it his life's work to get his daughter's diary published so that people could know what Jewish families like his went through during the Holocaust

Thirteen weeks after the poem was written Anne, her sister Margot and their parents went into hiding, along with four other families, in an annexe above the offices of their business.

The entrance to the annexe was concealed by a bookcase.

The family were sustained by friends who kept their secret and brought them food and anything else they needed.

The building where Anne Frank and her family hid for two years has now become a museum in Amsterdam (pictured)

Her diary was left behind when the hideout was eventually discovered by Dutch collaborators in August 1944, who handed them over to the occupying German Army in 1944.

The family ended up in a concentration camp and Anne died in February or March 1945.

But her father Otto, who survived the camps, returned to the house in Amsterdam and found Anne's diary, which had been kept by a Dutch friend, Miep Gies.

Anne Frank's diary, an account of her life in hiding, was published in 1947 and became a global sensation, being translated into 67 languages.

Thijs Blankevoort, director of Dutch auction house Bubb Kuyper Auctions, which is selling the poem this week, said: 'The poem is very simple - it has eight lines.
Stomach-churning footage has emerged of a teenage girl believed to have been drinking deciding to walk on a thin ledge between two balconies over five floors high.

Laughed at by her friends the girl, who is celebrating Australias school leavers party season, balcony hops at the same Gold Coast resort where another teenager plunged to her death four years ago.

Young woman seems unsteady on her feet before she decies to walk along a balcony ledge at The Beachcomber in Gold Coast, Australia

Thousands of young school leavers are celebrating finishing their studies in the area, but it has sparked concerns, after many have been seen partaking in stupid activities, with heavy drinking leading to fights, dangerous stunts and as a result there have been more than 20 teens arrested.

The video of the girl climbing on a ledge at Beachcomber at Surfers Paradise appeared on Snapchat overnight.

On the video uploaded onto Snapchat you can here her friends giggling and one calmly saying, 'This isn't going to be funny when she falls'

Wearing a floaty dress and not looking totally stable on her feet, one of her friends watching says this isn't going to be funny when she falls.

Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Group chair Mark Reaburn told News Corp: We have seen on social media that there was some very stupid activity going on the balconies, it is extremely dangerous and it is an offence.

Thousands of young school leavers are celebrating finishing their studies in the area with fears for more stupid actions

Dimoty Short, from Red Frog - a support network for university students and school-leavers run by volunteers, speaking to 7 News commented: 'There's always going to be that sort of risk taking behaviour.

'We encourage them as much as possible to keep them locked, they're definitely not a place to muck around on.'

Four years ago the Brisbane teenagers death sparked a new policy to lock all balconies during the week of celebrations in Australia. Pictured teenagers talking between balconies

Four years ago the Brisbane teenagers death sparked a new policy to lock all balconies during the week of celebrations in Australia, but it is claimed some hotels re-opened them in 2014 after complaints from teenagers.

It is believed police are aware of the incident but no further action is being taken.
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hick has appeared in court charged with assaulting his partner

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hick has appeared in court charged with assaulting his partner.

Hicks 41, appeared in an Adelaide court on Monday but did not enter a plea for an assault charge allegedly committed in September, the Advertiser reported.

His legal team argued that the victim's case was driven by 'her intention to seek revenge' and expressed that they were 'quite confident' it would be dropped.

The victim, who has a child, is not Hicks' estranged wife - human rights activist Aloysia Brooks - who he married in 2009.

Police pressed for the case to be held off until next year and Hicks was remanded on bail until his next court appearance in January.

Hicks, 41, spent five-and-a-half years in Guantanamo Bay prison after attending al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan in 2001

He eventually pleaded guilty under a plea agreement in 2007 to 'providing material support for terrorism' and was transferred to an Australian prison, where he served the remaining seven months of a suspended seven year sentence (pictured leaving Yatala Prison in 2008)

Hicks was born in Adelaide but flew over to Albania in 1999 to join the Kosovo Liberation Army - a militant group standing against Serbia in the Kosovo War.

He returned home and converted to Islam, before travelling to Pakistan with a new Muslim name where he joined terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba.

He attended a number of Islamist militant training camps in Afghanistan, at times meeting with al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, until his eventual arrest in 2001.

Hicks' terrorism charges were overturned in the US in 2015

He has denied knowing that Lashkar-e-Taiba had links to terrorism, and later said he had no knowledge of who al-Qaeda were until he was captured by the US military.

Following his arrest he was transported to the notorious US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where he spent five-and-a-half years in custody.

During that time he claimed to have been subjected to consistent and brutal torture, leaving him with injuries requiring operations on his left knee, right elbow and back.

He eventually pleaded guilty under a plea agreement in 2007 to 'providing material support for terrorism' and was transferred to an Australian prison, where he served the remaining seven months of a suspended seven year sentence.

In 2014, a US appeal court ruled that providing material support to terrorism was not a legally viable war crime under the jurisdiction of the Guantanamo court.

Hicks' terrorism charges were overturned in the US in 2015.

TIMELINE OF DAVID HICKS SAGA December 2001: Hicks captured fleeing Taliban forces in Afghanistan. January 2002: Hicks transferred to US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. July 2003: Hicks designated as one of six Guantanamo Bay detainees to be tried by US military commission. June 2004: Hicks charged by the US with conspiracy, attempted murder by an unprivileged belligerent, and aiding the enemy. August 2004: Hicks signs an affidavit saying he has been "beaten before, after, and during interrogations". He says he has been deprived of sleep as a matter of policy, forcibly injected with unknown sedatives and beaten while under their influence. Hicks pleads not guilty to all charges before a US military commission. June 2006: US Supreme Court rules US military commissions are unlawful and breach Geneva Conventions, meaning charges against Hicks are struck out. February 2007: US swears charges against Hicks of providing material support for terrorism. March 2007: Hicks pleads guilty to providing material support for terrorism at a US military commission hearing at Guantanamo Bay. Under a plea bargain, Hicks sentenced to seven years jail; to serve only nine months after the rest of the sentence was suspended. The deal stipulates he will serve his time in Australia. May 2007: Hicks returns to Australia and taken to Adelaide's Yatala prison. December 2007: Federal Magistrates Court rules it will place a control order on Hicks. Conditions include midnight to 6am curfew; reporting to police three times a week; cannot leave Australia; and must have any mobile phone used with an AFP approved SIM card. Hicks released from Yatala prison. August 2009: Hicks marries a human rights activist, Aloysia Brooks. October 2010: Hicks' autobiography, Guantanamo: My Journey is published by Random House. July 2011: Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions launches legal action to seize proceeds from Hicks' memoirs. August 2011: Hicks shortlisted for Queensland Premier's Literary Awards. Doesn't win. July 2012: Prosecutors announce case against Hicks has been dropped. Hicks can keep book proceeds after all. November 2013: Hicks' lawyers appeal his terrorism conviction. December 2014 Hicks heckles Attorney-General George Brandis at a human rights award ceremony. February 2014 Conviction overturned by a US military court at Guantanamo Bay. SOURCE: AAP Advertisement
A 21-year-old student who dreams of becoming a neurologist has lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Jerusha Mather was born in Sri Lanka with cerebral palsy and migrated to Melbourne, The Age reported.

After defying doctors, she attended school and is now in her second year of biomedical science at Victoria University.

Jerusha Mather, 21, who dreams of becoming a neurologist has lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after not being allowed to sit the medical school admissions test exam over several days

But some of Ms Mather's requests for special consideration to sit the GAMSAT admissions test to study medicine at university have been denied.

The council that overseas the GAMSAT, the Australian Council for Educational Research, allowed her 25 per cent extra time to complete the test but will not allow her to sit the exam over several days in order to avoid fatigue.

Ms Mather claims that the council is discriminating against her due to her disability because the disorder does not affect her cognitive abilities despite affecting her speech and movement in limbs.

The medical schools that Ms Mather spoke to were also hesitant and some even told her to consider a different career path.

But these setbacks will not stop Ms Mather from achieving her dreams.

'I feel like I can bring a lot to the medical field. I can relate to patients and their struggles, and I can use my power as a doctor to help others,' she told The Age.

An ACER spokeswoman told The Age that sitting a highly competitive exam such as the GAMSAT over several days would compromise the integrity of the test.
'Upset': Otis Tyrone McKane, 31, said Monday his shooting of San Antonio detective Benjamin Marconi on Sunday was because he was 'upset' about a child custody battle

The gunman arrested for murdering a San Antonio cop 'execution-style' outside a police HQ claims he did so because he was 'upset' by a custody battle, it emerged Monday.

Otis Tyrone McKane, 31, told police that he 'lashed out at somebody who didn't deserve it' when he shot Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50.

Speaking to press on his way to Bexar County Jail in San Antonio late Monday, he said: 'I've been through several custody battles, and I was upset at the situation I was in, and I lashed out at someone who didn't deserve it.'

He also said he wanted to apologize to the family of the slain detective.

Marconi, a father of two, was shot through the passenger side of his patrol car Sunday, mySA reported.

McKane was arrested without incident after a SWAT team pulled him over on Interstate 10 East near Ackerman Road, East Bexar County, at around 4.20pm. A woman and a child were also in the vehicle.

Apologetic: Otis Tyrone McKane, 31, was arrested Monday in the fatal shooting of a San Antonio cop. Investigators say he targeted the law enforcement officer

McKane that that he was 'sorry' as he was taken away by police. He is accused of shooting a cop who was writing out a traffic ticket at close-range

Detective Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year department veteran and father of two, was sitting behind the wheel of his vehicle at around 11.45am Sunday when a man pulled up behind him, shot him twice in the head, and fled.

Police had earlier released a photo and video of a suspect entering the police station around four hours before the shooting, and promised $10,000 reward for info.

It's believed that McKane was that same man, San Antonio Police Department told DailyMail.com.

McKane had previously been jailed for 60 days in 2012 after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of assault with bodily injury of a family member, mySA said.

Marconi was writing a traffic ticket in his car outside police headquarters on Sunday, when the suspect pulled up behind him in a black sedan near West Nueva Street and Santa Rosa Street.

Marconi, a father of two, was writing a traffic ticket in his car outside police headquarters on Sunday when he was shot twice in the head

Police had released a photo of a man they are looking for in connection with the shooting of Marconi, but it's yet not clear if this is McKane

Marconi was writing out a traffic ticket when he was shot dead in his squad car by a driver who pulled up from behind (pictured: police at the scene on Sunday)

The suspect got out, walked up to the patrol car's passenger window and shot Marconi in the head, according to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

The man then reached into the window and shot him a second time in the head before he got back in his car and fled the scene.

Marconi, who had been on the force for 20 years, died in the San Antonio Military Medical Center at about 12.30pm.

McManus said earlier Monday: 'I feel we were targeted. I think the uniform was the target and the first person who happened along was the person he targeted.'

The San Antonio police department released a photograph of a man they say 'might have information on the murder' as well as images of a black Mitsubishi Galant with custom rims. That man is believed to be McKane.

The suspect was described as a black male with a goatee, and believed to be 20-30 years of age. He is between 5'7" and 6' tall, with a possible tattoo on his left arm.

A video was also released by the police, showing the suspect lingering outside the police headquarters before walking into the building.

He spoke to an officer at the desk, who offered to help, before turning around and exiting. Marconi was shot around four hours later.

However, it remains unclear why he was there.

Police questioned one man but let him go, the police chief said Monday, adding that it was still unclear whether the suspect lived in San Antonio.

Investigators reviewed dashcam video, but McManus declined to say what was captured in the footage.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement extending his condolences to Marconi's family, and said he would sign legislation that would make targeted attacks against law enforcement a hate crime.

'This is everyone's worst nightmare, the officers in the department, the family and everyone who supports the officers,' McManus said.

'Our hearts go out to all of Detective Marconi's family, to all our SAPD brothers and sisters for whom this has hit home hard.

'Most families will be celebrating the holidays, SAPD will be burying one of its own because of an ultimate act of cowardice by a suspect who will be caught and brought to justice.'

The Marconi family called the detective a 'peace officer' in a statement on Monday that also thanked people for 'the outpouring of support, prayers and love'.

Meanwhile, McManus has advised officers in the department to pair up for their safety.

Prior to the attest, the suspect was described as a black male with a goatee, aged 20-30. He is between 5'7" and 6' tall (police are also looking for this car with custom rims)

Marconi was just one of four cops across the country who were shot on Sunday.

In a separate incident, a St Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot twice in the face around 7.30pm on Sunday.

The 46-year-old officer was sitting in traffic with his window down and said he thought the other car was pulling alongside him to ask a question.

The suspect opened fire instead and was later shot dead trying to flee from the police.

St Louis Nayor Francis Slay said: 'He was targeted because he was a police officer. He didn't deserve this. It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK.

'But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job.'

Four cops were shot in separate incidents on Sunday. Police officers were injured in San Antonio Texas, Gladstone and St Louis Missouri, and Sanibel, Florida

Two more officers were shot on Sunday.

A cop in Gladstone Missouri, pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation on Sunday night before the suspect bolted on foot.

Police officers tried to arrest the suspect, who displayed a handgun during the struggle, according to the Kansas City Police Department.

The Gladstone officer was shot and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the suspect was fatally wounded.

In Sanibel, Florida, a police officer was sitting in his patrol car finishing a routine traffic stop when he was hit by a drive-by shooter.

The suspect was taken into custody and the injured officer has already been released from the hospital.

ABC13 captured police blocking off the street where an officer was shot dead on Sunday

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus (pictured) said the suspect got out and walked up to the patrol car's passenger window and shot the officer in the head

Chief McManus described the shooting in San Antonio as a targeted killing similar to recent shootings in Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

A gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

'It's always difficult especially in this day and age where police are being targeted across the county,' McManus said.

'Unfortunately like Dallas, like Baton Rouge it's happened here.'

San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor said: 'I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the officer killed outside police headquarters today as well as to our entire police force.
An ISIS school text book has revealed how the terror group brainwashes its 'cubs of the caliphate' by including pictures of deadly weapons.

One booklet, called English for the Islamic State, features warped ISIS teachings on subjects ranging from 'technology' to 'Sharia' and 'general health'.

Mathematics is taught using pictures of deadly weapons and in one question pupils are tested on their addition with pictures of AK-47s and sub-machineguns.

One booklet, called English for the Islamic State, features warped ISIS teachings on subjects ranging from 'technology' to 'Sharia' and 'general health'

Mathematics is taught using pictures of deadly weapons and in one question pupils are tested on their addition with pictures of AK-47s and sub-machineguns

Other questions in the twisted curriculum feature tanks, rockets, war planes and bazookas.

A separate grammar book found in the besieged city of Mosul purportedly urges children to construct sentences out of words including bomb, vest and explode.

According to the Mirror Online, another exercise orders youngsters to write down the time - using a clock face attached to a picture of a bomb.

It comes after it was reported that Terrified Iraqi children who attended ISIS-run schools were taught how to decapitate prisoners and make suicide vests rather than how to read and write.

An ISIS school text book has revealed how the terror group brainwashes its 'cubs of the caliphate' by including pictures of deadly weapons

Other questions in the twisted curriculum feature tanks, rockets, war planes and bazookas

More than a million pupils living under ISIS in Iraq have either been out of school or forced to learn from the terror group's curriculum in the last two years, it has emerged.

Many of those whose towns have been liberated by Iraqi forces have since revealed how even basic skills like reading and writing were ignored by extremist teachers who tried to brainwash them with jihadist ideologies.

Instead, youngsters were forced to learn how to use guns, construct bombs and behead prisoners, according to the charity Save the Children.

Tens of thousands have fled the ISIS stronghold of Mosul in Iraq as Iraqi forces move in to recapture the city.
Missing: Police officers, dogs and specialist teams are searching for Adam Mitchell, 18

A gentle teenager has been missing for nearly a fortnight having last been seen after leaving a pub alone in the early hours of the morning.

Police officers, dogs and specialist teams are searching for 18-year-old Adam Mitchell to return him home to his anxious parents in Inverness.

Mr Mitchell, whose parents said he rarely strayed from home without letting them know when he would be home, was last seen in the early hours of November 9.

Police Scotland said searches are focusing on areas around the Longman industrial estate where Mr Mitchell was last seen and Moray Firth coastline.

He was seen talking and laughing with people he met in the Tooth and Claw pub, and spoke to his father at 8.30pm.

Mr Mitchell then left the The King's Highway, a Wetherspoon-owned pub, alone just after 12am and was last seen at 1am on CCTV.

His parents said: This is totally out of character for Adam who rarely strayed from home without letting his parents know when he would be home. Adam is a typical teenager who loves heavy metal music.

'He constantly wore his off-cut denim jacket that was decorated with patches of his favourite bands, it was his pride and joy.

Concerns: Mr Mitchell (pictured), whose parents said he rarely strayed from home without letting them know when he would be home, was last seen in the early hours of November 9

He was wearing it when he was last seen over the top of his leather jacket, he always wore black jeans and black boots.

Adam has a very distinctive look - long flowing brown hair and a beard. He didnt wear jewellery unless you include his headphones, he was always listening to music when he walked anywhere.

They added: He was friendly and open with everyone he met and he was a gentle fun loving young man who was loyal to his friends.

We are desperately concerned for our son who seemed to have lost his way. We would dearly love for our son to return home to us.
MANDAN, N.D.  Gov. Jack Dalrymple expressed frustration Friday at the federal governments inaction on the Dakota Access Pipeline and said hes continuing to push the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to resolve the situation.

The frustration is that delaying has no purpose. It does no good whatsoever. We continue to make that argument to the federal government, Dalrymple said. We are hopeful that they will at some point realize that in order to resolve this situation in total, we have to have a decision on the easement.

A news conference hosted by Dalrymple and law enforcement officials Friday came after protests escalated this week in Bismarck and Mandan and a day after a state legislator posted a video plea asking for leaders to be more visible about their efforts to resolve the protests.

Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, said in a video post hes fed up with the protests that have continued since mid-August and has heard some residents question whether the governor who retires next month has checked out.

Please show us that youre not checked out, Becker said. Please show us whats going on.

Dalrymple said he has called on Corps Brigadier Gen. Scott Spellmon and other Corps officials to act quickly to make a decision about the Dakota Access easement thats still under review. The Corps announced Monday that additional discussion with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is necessary before the agency will make a decision on the Lake Oahe crossing north of the reservation, but a timeline for the process has not been announced.

We believe this is an unnecessary and problematic delay, Dalrymple said. It does nothing but continue to prolong the difficulty that we have as a state and as counties dealing with this great challenge.

Maj. Kamil Sztalkoper, deputy director for public affairs for the Corps, said Friday the agency has not scheduled a meeting with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe since inviting the tribe last week to participate in additional discussion related to the pipeline easement. Federal agencies did hold a tribal consultation with Standing Rock and other tribes on Thursday in Rapid City, S.D., that was previously scheduled.

Dalrymple said hes also pressing the Corps to resolve the issue of allowing pipeline opponents to camp without a permit on Corps property near the Cannonball River. The Morton County Sheriffs Department released aerial photos Friday that show that temporary and permanent structures have been illegally constructed on Corps land.

Those camped on Corps-managed land are encouraged to relocate to land on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation that has been provided for the camp, Sztalkoper said.

Those who remain on Corps property are there at their own risk and that risk will increase as temperatures drop and snow begins to accumulate, he said.

In addition, Dalrymple said hes continuing to press for the federal government to help with additional law enforcement and financial assistance.

Thus far, Im sorry to report, the burden has fallen almost entirely on the state and local counties, Dalrymple said.

Law enforcement officers addressed a recent increase in pro-law enforcement demonstrators who have countered anti-pipeline demonstrations in Bismarck and Mandan. Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin said officers appreciate that support, but encouraged people to refrain from saying or doing anything that could escalate the protests.

We want to ensure that you dont become part of the problem at any protest site, Donlin said.

In an interview with Forum News Service, Becker said one of his concerns that prompted him to post the video is that residents who are frustrated may start taking matters into their own hands.

People are getting agitated right now with the perception that theres no leadership, Becker said.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Friday he is working with federal and state officials to apply for law enforcement funding through a Department of Justice reserve fund.

In addition, Hoeven said hes working to secure funding through the Department of Homeland Security that is designated for countering violent extremism and emerging threats and continuing to push for additional federal law enforcement personnel.

Were going to keep working this, Hoeven said. We need to make sure we have enough law enforcement so people feel safe and protected.

U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., has gotten support from Senate Democrats to secure federal funding but needs support from Senate Republicans, and is working with Hoeven and the governor to seek federal funding, according to Heitkamps office.

Hoeven, Heitkamp and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., have all said theyre continuing to push the Corps to make a decision on the easement.

Hoeven, the only member of the delegation available for an interview Friday, said he thinks the Corps is ready to issue an easement but the Obama administration is holding them up. Hoeven said hes also reached out to the Trump administration and said he believes theyll provide that easement right away.

The state cost to respond to protests was estimated to be $10.9 million as of Nov. 9 and expected to keep growing.

Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, the parent company of Dakota Access LLC, has made public statements about the possibility of the company reimbursing North Dakota for those costs.

Company spokeswoman Vicki Anderson Granado said Energy Transfer executives made a verbal offer to Gov. Dalrymple to reimburse the state.

However, Dalrymple said Friday he has not received any such offer in his office.

Jeff Zent, a spokesman for the governor, said hes not sure if theres a legal mechanism that would allow the state to receive a reimbursement from the company.
Police said the attack was not a random act of violence, and Bunte's father suggested his daughter has gotten mixed up with a bad crowd in Texas

odds, Bunte survived the attack, which robbed her of her eyesight

An 18-year-old girl who had recently moved from Chicago to Texas has been left blind after surviving a brutal attack where she was beaten, shot three times in the head and left for dead.

Just over two weeks after the violent incident that robbed Evelyn Bunte of her eyesight, made her partially paralyzed and nearly ended her life, the teenager is beating the odds by re-learning how to walk and control her body.

'What Im seeing unfolding in front of me eyes is so incredible,' Bunte's father, Victor Raga, told the station CBS DFW. 'Even through a vicious attack, she could be an inspiration to people.'

Survivor: Evelyn Bunte, 18, is pictured in the hospital not long after a horror attack that left her partially paralyzed and robbed her of her eyesight

Ambushed: Bunte, a native of Illinois who had recently moved to Texas, was shot three times in the head as she slept on November 5

Bunte had recently relocated from her native Chicago to Fort Worth, even though her father had tried to talk her out of the move.

'She bought her plane ticket, she came to me and said, Dad, Im going, Raga recounted to the station.

Bunte was planning to enroll at Texas Community College and got a job working the graveyard shift at a local Walmart so she could buy a car.

On November 5, Evelyn, who also goes by the name 'Erin,' was napping before work at a home in East Fort Worth where she was staying with her boyfriend, when a person or several people entered the residence and attacked the teen as she slept.

Bunte was shot in the face, in the back of the head and the side of the head, stabbed, beaten and possibly strangled, reported the station Fox 4 News.

New life: The 18-year-old got a job at a Walmart in Fort Worth and was planning to enroll in a community college next semester. Her father said she got mixed up with a bad crowd

Left for dead: The person or people who attacked Bunte brutally beat her, repeatedly shot her, stabbed her and possibly strangled her

According to her father, it was not until five hours later that someone found the badly wounded young woman and called for medical assistance.

Bunte was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital, where she underwent brain surgery and another operation to remove metal fragments from her mouth.

Victor Raga, Evelyns father, said doctors also found shards of glass in his daughter's scalp, suggesting that she fought back against her attackers.

Raga recounted how he fell to his knees when he flew in from Chicago after getting the worst call of his life and saw his daughter in a hospital bed.

'She said, Dad, dont cry, I'm still here, he recalled.

Police in Fort Worth do not believe the attack on Bunte was a random act of violence. They have not found a motive yet and as of Monday morning, no arrests have been made.

Raga revealed that his daughter got mixed up with the wrong crowd after moving to Texas.

As for Evelyn, her recollection of the incident is foggy, but as her brain heals, her father is hopeful she would be able to shed light on the events of that fateful night.

Although Bunte still has many challenges to overcome on her long road to recovery, she has been making major progress.

Making stride: After undergoing brain surgery, the 18-year-old has been working to regain motor skills. Her family say her progress has been nothing short of remarkable

Moving on: Short cellphone videos posted on her fathers Facebook page show Evelyn, with her hair shorn smiling, talking and doing exercises with a therapist

Over the past two weeks, the 18-year-old has been regaining basic motors skills, getting out of bed on her own, walking on a treadmill and using a stationary bike to strengthen her muscles at a rehabilitation facility.

Short cellphone videos posted on her fathers Facebook page show Evelyn, with her hair shorn after the brain surgery, smiling, talking and doing exercises with a therapist.

My daughter is such a blessing, Mr Raga wrote in a status update. Her strength is something beyond my comprehension!! Blessed we are to witness what she is capable of!!!

Meanwhile, a relative has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Bunte's family with her mounting medical expenses.
Drug user: Christopher Whelan, 21, strangled his grandmother and drowned his aunt in a bath in a 'savage' double-killing in February

A drug user strangled his grandmother and drowned his aunt in a bath in a 'savage' double-killing after hearing the 'voice of Satan'.

Christopher Whelan, 21, was armed with an axe and pen knife when he attacked Julie Hill, 51, and Rose Hill, 75, at his aunt's home in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, on February 25.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Whelan, who is said to have had a 'fundamentalist' Christian upbringing, claimed to have heard the voice of 'Satan' directing him on the night of the killings.

Former Matalan worker Whelan, of Sheffield, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Jailing him for life, High Court judge Mrs Justice Carr said both victims' final moments must have been 'terrifying, bewildering and agonising'.

She said: 'They died in the most horrific of circumstances at the hands of a grandson or a nephew. I have no hesitation in concluding that you pose a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm.'

The judge added that psychiatrists acting for the prosecution and defence confirmed he remains an 'unpredictable and dangerous person' and continues to 'suffer from violent urges'.

The court heard previously how Rose had been visiting her daughter from her Sheffield home and had arrived at the property a few minutes after her grandson.

Post-mortem examinations found Rose had been strangled. A bloodstained axe was found near her body.

Killed: Whelan was armed with an axe and pen knife when he attacked Julie Hill, 51, and Rose Hill (pictured), 75, at his aunt's home in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, on February 25

Julie was punched in the face, knocking out one of her teeth, before she was drowned. The court heard that her son Liam Parker, 22, took his own life in April after finding his mother's body.

Whelan was arrested after he phoned police from a decorating store in London.

Whelan told the call handler: 'I have done something really bad, a murder. It's my auntie and my nan. I have messed up, I need to serve the punishment.'

Whelan, who appeared in the dock wearing a dark blue suit, is believed to have started using cannabis aged 16, smoking around an ounce of the drug each week.

Whelan, who is said to have had a 'fundamentalist' Christian upbringing, claimed to have heard the voice of 'Satan' on the night of the killings at his aunt's house in Shirebrook (pictured)

Mrs Justice Carr said: 'I am sure that you inflicted significant physical suffering on both of them. You also inflicted mental suffering, at least on Rose, with the use of an axe as a threat. These were savage and brutal attacks even before the killings.'

Addressing the defendant's mental state, the judge added: 'There is no suggestion that your ability to understand the nature of your own conduct was in any way impaired.

'You knew what you were doing and that it was wrong, even if your ability to form rational judgment or to resist you violent urges was mentally impaired.
President-elect Trump continued to hold meetings today at Trump Tower  including one with a rising Democratic star, several with familiar Republican faces and he even broke bread in an off-the-record meet-and-greet with prominent broadcast reporters.

Trump, back in New York after two days of meetings at his Bedminster resort, nicknamed the 'New Jersey Camp David,' kicked off his morning with a meeting with Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a veteran from Hawaii who resigned from her Democratic National Committee post in February to support the candidacy of Bernie Sanders.

More unlikely faces poured into the lobby of Trump Tower later in the day. Names like Wolf Blitzer, Chuck Todd and George Stephanopoulos were there, despite Trump's self-professed detest of the media.

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (left), accompanied by wife Callista (right), arrived at Trump Tower Monday afternoon for a meeting with the president-elect

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who also ran for president and endorsed Donald Trump in May, arrived at Trump Tower Monday morning for a meeting with the president-elect

Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown was caught arriving for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower Monday morning

NBC News' Lester Holt (right), who moderated the first presidential debate, was spotted getting out of the elevator at Trump Tower alongside CNN's Wolf Blitzer (center)

EXTRA, EXTRA: Television personalities including ABC's George Stephanopoulos (left) and CBS' Gayle King (right) paid a visit to Trump Tower today for an off-the-record meet-and-greet

Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway arrived this morning at Trump Tower so that the president-elect could continue meeting with potential hires

So was NBC's Lester Holt, who moderated the first presidential debate between Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Plenty of Republicans came through the lobby as well.

First came former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who hoped to impress the newly-elected president so much that he would be given the job of Veterans Affairs secretary.

'We obviously spoke about my passion and his passion, which are veterans and veterans issues. And, you know, obviously, I think the toughest job in the cabinet is to leave the VA because, while it has so many angels working there, it has so many great problems as well,' Brown said.

Like Sen. Jeff Sessions, who Trump made his attorney general pick, Brown was one of the first Republican lawmakers to endorse Trump's candidacy.

Former Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican from Massachusetts, stopped to talk to reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower on Monday

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin was spotted arriving at Trump Tower for her meeting today with President-elect Donald Trump. She's reportedly up for the department of the interior post

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin arrived at Trump Tower Monday morning. Kellyanne Conway suggested she could be given the interior secretary job

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of Donald Trump's staunchest Republican allies, has said he won't be taking a cabinet position in the new administration

Trump met with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and former House Speaker New Gingrich too. Gingrich showed up late in the day accompanied by his wife, Callista. Former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao was also on tap.

Chao's husband is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The president-elect will spend time with Brandon Judd, head of the Border Patrol Agents union, and Chris Crane, the National ICE Council President, whose groups endorsed the Republican in the primary.

Gingrich, a staunch Trump ally during the campaign, has already said publicly that he won't be joining the administration in an official capacity.

'I want to be free to network across the whole system and look at what we have to do to succeed,' Gingrich told the Washington Post, adding that a cabinet position is 'not physically doable.'

Kellyanne Conway previewed some of Donald Trump's meetings during an appearance on 'Fox & Friends' this morning

Future first daughter Ivanka Trump was spotted arriving this morning at Trump Tower for her father's next set of meetings with potential cabinet picks

Ivanka Trump was on hand this morning at Trump Tower as her father was set to meet with a rising Democratic star, along with several Republicans insiders

Ivanka Trump was spotted out in New York City today as she headed to Trump Tower as part of her father's transition team

Ivanka Trump looked cool in blue as she sauntered down the New York City sidewalk en route to Trump Tower where Donald Trump is holding more meetings today

Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who's simply labeling herself as a Trump adviser post-election, previewed some of the meetings on her tour of the morning shows today.

She and Ivanka Trump were spotted entering Trump Tower early in the morning.

On 'Fox & Friends' Conway reminded the hosts that Perry was a 'former rival for the presidency' and confirmed that he was meeting with Trump to possibly be tapped to be the secretary of energy or the secretary of defense.

Fallin, an active governor, was being looked at for secretary of the interior, Conway confirmed.

But Conway also reminded people that a meeting with the president-elect doesn't necessarily translate into a job offer.

'Again it doesn't all lead to a position,' Conway said on Fox.

'She's a sitting governor,' the campaign manager said of Fallin.

UP AT BAT: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (left), Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (center) and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (right) are all meeting with Donald Trump today

Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao (left) - the spouse of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - will be meeting with Trump, along with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (right)

Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (right) - photographed alongside Donald Trump (left) in February - took a meeting with the president-elect this morning at Trump Tower

'So he will be working with her and probably three dozen Republican governors,' Conway continued.

'This country not only elected a Republican president and vice president, but gave them a Republican House and Senate, a majority of governorships and a huge majority of the state legislatures,' Conway noted. 'Sixty-nine of the 99 state legislative chambers are Republican. That's not accidental, or coincidental, that's called a mandate,' Conway said.

Upon leaving her Trump Tower meeting, Fallin said she hadn't been offered a job, classifying the get together as an 'initial meeting to discuss a wide range of topics.'

On 'Fox & Friends' Conway didn't mention the meeting with Gabbard, who wasn't photographed coming or leaving Trump Tower today, though the Democrat is reportedly being considered for the role of UN ambassador.

Conway explained to reporters later Monday why Gabbard's meeting with Trump made sense, saying they share 'a lot of common ground.'

'I think they both understand the country very well,' Conway added.

This weekend team Trump conducted meetings at Donald Trump's (left) Bedminster, New Jersey resort though took time Sunday to attend services at Lamington Presbyterian Church

'Rep. Gabbard went against her party quite boldly early on. I think you are hearing people like Tim Ryan also raising concerns,' Trump's campaign manager said.

Ryan is challenging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in next week's House leadership race.

'Bernie Sanders today was also quoted as saying they should stop identity politics in the Democratic Party. Whoa,' Conway expressed. 'He can tell and we'll tell him how to do that and win.'

'So I think there's a recognition that there's a big country, a massive amount of voters feel disaffected from their party, the Democrats.'

On a call with reporters this morning, transition spokesman Jason Miller said no big announcements were expected to come today.

At a later press gaggle, Conway said that no new cabinet announcements would be coming until next week.

Neither Conway nor Miller mentioned the meeting with broadcast reporters before it happened.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer had to walk in front of the press as they arrived for an off-the-record meeting with the incoming administration

CBS' John Dickerson (left) and Charlie Rose (right) arrive for an off-the-record meeting with Donald Trump and Kellyanne Conway

Network representatives from Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS met with Conway and Trump.

NBC sent Deborah Turness, Lester Holt and Chuck Todd, CNN's Jeff Zucker, Wolf Blitzer and Erin Burnett were part of the pack and Fox's Bill Shine, Jack Abernathy, Jay Wallace and Suzanne Scott attended.

From CBS, John Dickerson, Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell were there.

ABC News sent president James Goldston and talent George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Martha Raddatz.

Off-the-record meet-ups with the media are not unusual for an incoming administration, but usually reporters and executives heading to the meeting don't have to worry about the pack of journalists to report their moves and the C-SPAN cameras scanning the elevator banks.

Talking to reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower after the meet-and-greet, Conway said its purpose wasn't to 'mend fences.'

Jeff Zucker, the president of CNN, arrived at Trump Tower Monday afternoon with other leading journalista and network executives

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer (center) and NBC's Lester Holt (right) are captured by photographers as they exit Trump Tower Monday afternoon

CNN's Erin Burnett (center) was among the journalists invited to an off-the-record chat with President-elect Donald Trump and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway

'It was very cordial, very productive, very congenial,' she said. 'It was also very candid and very honest.'

'From my own perspective, it's great to hit the reset button,' she continued. 'It was a long hard-fought campaign. Donald Trump proved that he animated America. He understood America and now he will be president of all Americans.'

Conway also said the New York Times would be meeting with the president-elect tomorrow.

The campaign manager also promised the media that Trump would hold a press conference soon.

'The man works 18 hours a day interviewing people taking calls from all around the world,' she said. 'He will take have a press conference in due course. And he will make his announcements for his cabinet.'

Miller told reporters that Trump will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday at Mar-a-Lago, his Floridian resort, and will likely leave town tomorrow.
Advertisement

Security won't be a worry with this stunning property - a 160-year-old former fort built to defend the Isle of Wight from the threat of the French Navy.

The once-functional military building is now a beautiful home perched on a cliff with one of the UK's best coastal views.

Freshwater Redoubt still has its old ramparts, tunnels and gun emplacements, as well as a helicopter landing pad and its own beach which is only accessible by boat or at low tide.

The house, which can be an eight-bedroom home or divided up into several smaller properties, is now on the market with Biles and Co for 3million.

Known as Fort Redoubt, the building was created in 1855-56 to protect Freshwater Bay on the western end of the island, which was a possible landing beach for enemy troops to attack the Needles Battery.

The once-functional military building is now a beautiful home perched on a cliff with one of the UK's best coastal views

Quirky Freshwater Redoubt still has its old ramparts, tunnels and gun emplacements, as well as a helicopter landing pad and its own beach which is only accessible by boat or at low tide

The house, which can be an eight-bedroom home or divided up into several smaller properties, is now on the market with Biles and Co for 3million

The cliff was, and still is, too steep to climb and the north and west sides were protected by a deep, dry, brick-walled moat, which is still visible.

It was one of many Palmerston forts built under Prime Minister Lord Palmerston during the Victorian period as a response to the threat of possible invasion by the French under Emperor Louis Napoleon.

But the threat evaporated when the French were defeated in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the forts became largely obsolete.

They were the most costly and extensive system of fixed defences undertaken in Britain during peacetime.

In 1861 Queen Victoria and her four-year-old daughter Princess Beatrice, who lived in Osborne House in nearby East Cowes, visited Freshwater Redoubt, after they were invited by the wife of Colonel R. B. McCrea, Royal Artillery.

And it is rumoured that poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson, who moved to Farringford House in Freshwater in 1853, was inspired by hearing guns test firing at the fort when he wrote his most famous poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854.

The property was one of many Palmerston forts built under Prime Minister Lord Palmerston during the Victorian period as a response to the threat of possible invasion by the French under Emperor Louis Napoleon

During the First World War the fort was manned against attacks from German raiding parties before being decommissioned in 1918 and sold by the army in 1928

This fort was designed with an upper battery facing the sea and a lower battery that covered Freshwater Bay and a total of seven guns.

The upper battery became instructional for the School of Gunnery at nearby Golden Hill Fort. A gun exploded there in 1901, killing an officer and three men.

During the First World War it was manned against attacks from German raiding parties before being decommissioned in 1918 and sold by the army in 1928.

It was converted into a two-storey private residence in 1936 and was used by the owner as a summer retreat. It even had a swimming pool in the fort's water tank.

The Home Guard kept watch from the fort during the Second World War and it operated as a tea room from 1977 until the 1990s.

The Grade II listed house is currently divided with a 'Main house', which has a stunning triple-aspect living room and a large open split-level room called the Sea Lounge, and three bedrooms, an 'Upper Flat' which is an adjoining three-bedroom apartment and a 'Lower Annexe' which has two bedrooms and its own front door.

It comes with three acres of grounds and includes a separate one-bedroom holiday cottage called Moonfleet, which was originally married quarters for the master gunner

The fort was designed with an upper battery facing the sea and a lower battery that covered Freshwater Bay and a total of seven guns

It comes with three acres of grounds and includes a separate one-bedroom holiday cottage called Moonfleet, which was originally married quarters for the master gunner.

Peter White stayed at the fort in 2005 and wrote Moonfleet the opera, based on the novel Moonfleet about smuggling by J Meade Falkner.

There is also the Caponier - a two-storey 1850s building which served as barracks for 24 men with planning permission to be turned into two flats - and the Casemates, eight arched store rooms around the courtyard.

A spokesman for the estate agents Biles and Co said: 'It's a spectacular coastal house commanding magnificent panoramic sea views and set within a Victorian fort, atop chalk cliffs overlooking Freshwater Bay.

'The location is truly spectacular and stands at the foot of Tennyson Down, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is on the Heritage Coast, at the centre of one of the island's most photographed and painted landscapes.

'The Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson lived nearby at Farringford and it has been suggested that the gun practice from the Fort helped him when writing his most famous poem - The Charge of the Light Brigade.

'The main building has evolved from the original Army officers quarters and the current owners have upgraded and restored the accommodation in the Main House and Upper Flat.

'The property provides a wonderful opportunity for a principal residence or a coastal second home with the other accommodation usable for staff or caretakers or for generating additional letting or holiday letting income.'
The fallout over a controversial drawing by cartoonist Bill Leak has continued, with panelists on the ABC's Q and A arguing heatedly over whether or not it was racist.

Aboriginal actress Nakkiah Lui went on the attack as the panel debated the cartoon and section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, telling journalist Greg Sheridan as 'a white man' he shouldn't decide on what is and isn't racist.

Ms Lui and Mr Sheridan were joined on the panel by comedian Benjamin Law, as well as politicians Terri Butler and Eric Abetz, will all five involved in the debate.

But it was Ms Lui who had the largest impact, slamming the views of Mr Abetz and Mr Sheridan who supported Bill Leak and said the comment wasn't racist.

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Aboriginal actress Nakkiah Lui (pictured) went on the attack as the Q and A panel debated the Bill Leak cartoon, telling journalist Greg Sheridan as 'a white man' he shouldn't decide what is and isn't racist

'Oh I think it's racist, as an Aboriginal person I think it's very racist,' Ms Lui said.

'Very, very, very, very racist.'

The controversial cartoon depicts a policeman dragging an Aboriginal boy back to his father and telling him to talk to him 'about personal responsibility'.

The Aboriginal man then responds by saying 'yeah righto what's his name then?'.

The cartoon, published in The Australian, was defended by Mr Sheridan, a foreign affairs journalist with the paper.

He also defended his colleague Bill Leak, saying he was not a racist and that neither was the cartoon.

'Bill Leak is a magnificent guy, there is not a racist bone in his body,' Mr Sheridan said.

'That was not a racist cartoon even if you think it was it certainly shouldn't be illegal.'

However as he looked to continue talking he was cut off by an angry Ms Lui.

Ms Lui attacked journalist Greg Sheridan (pictured) who defended his colleague Bill Leak and his cartoon about Aboriginal issues

'As an Aboriginal person I am interrupting you Greg, and I do think it was racist,' she said.

'So please do not make that general statement. As a white man you think it wasn't so good for you.'

Receiving a large round of applause from the audience, Ms Lui then went on to back the Racial Discrimination Act, saying the law was put in place 'for equality and protection'.
A teenage boy accused of stabbing a senior off-duty police officer in between his eyes during a violent home invasion was reportedly granted bail twice in two weeks.

The 19-year-old boy from Scoresby allegedly broke into Senior Constable Daniel Yeoman's home in Melbourne's eastern suburbs at 1.50am on Saturday morning.

The teen is alleged to have assaulted his wife and then stabbed him multiple times before fleeing the home with the couple's Hyundai car, the Herald Sun reported.

Off-duty Melbourne police officer Daniel Yeoman (pictured) was allegedly stabbed by a 19-year-old teen during a violent home invasion on Saturday morning

Horrific photographs supplied to the publication reveal the extent of the violent stabbing, which left Constable Yeoman with a fractured eye socket.

The teen was arrested at a nearby location after allegedly crashing the stolen car in Glenn Iris.

He was charged with armed robbery, intentionally causing serious injury, aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, and was remanded in custody ahead of a court appearance on Thursday.

The Herald Sun reported that the same boy, born in New Zealand, had been granted bail on October 24 and then again on October 28 for separate burglary offences.
A search and rescue operation is underway for a woman who drove her car into the Yarra River.

The car was believed to have entered the water near the Swan St bridge at around 11pm on Monday, the Herald Sun reported.

Police divers and SES crews are searching the waters near Batman Avenue, where the car reportedly sunk.

A search and rescue operation is underway for a woman who drove her car into the Yarra River

Detective Senior Sergeant John Rodger told the Herald Sun that the car simply drove in the water and floated down the river.

'A couple of witnesses have had a conversation with the female and told her to get out but she made no attempt, she just said Im not getting out.'

The car is yet to be located.

The car was believed to have entered the water near the Swan St bridge at around 11pm on Monday
A fertility nurse who recruited Cambodian women to act as surrogates for Australian couples has fronted court as it is revealed up to 70 babies could be caught up in the scandal.

Tammy Davis-Charles, 49, buried her face in her hands as she was taken back to prison after being questioned over her involvement in recruiting 20 child surrogates at the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh in Cambodia on Monday.

The fertility specialist was detained by anti-human trafficking police on Sunday after the Cambodian government banned commercial surrogacy on October 24 and faces charges of engaging in surrogacy, human trafficking and falsifying documents.

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Australian nurse and fertility specialist Tammy Davis-Charles, 49, was arrested on Sunday

The 49-year-old buried her face in her hands as she was taken back to prison after being questioned at the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh in Cambodia on Monday

The fate of up to 70 babies is believed to now hang in the balance as Australian and Cambodian officials prepare to interview pregnant surrogates about their child's future following an industry crack down.

Police said eighteen women involved are currently pregnant in Cambodia, while five babies have left the country with their Australian biological parents, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Five surrogates who birthed six children received payments between $10,000 and $12,000 through Ms Davis-Charles' company Fertility Solutions PGD Clinic, according to The Australian.

Sam Everingham, director of Families Through Surrocacy said Ms Davis-Charles was a 'rouge operator' who falsified documents so she could bring Thai women into Cambodia to act as surrogates.

The fertility specialist was detained by anti-human trafficking police on Sunday after the Cambodian government banned commercial surrogacy on October 24

A police court official stands in front of the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh during as Tammy Davis-Charles is questioned

'She has been presenting non-Cambodian surrogates as Cambodian in records and governments are very anxious to ensure women are not moved across the border for surrogacy,' Ms Everingham told The Australian.

Ms Davis-Charles is the mother of twin boys who were products of surrogacy.

The fertility specialist and mother of twin boys through surrogacy in Thailand allegedly organised for more than 20 Cambodian women to bear children through her Fertility Solutions PGD Clinic.

Head of Anti-Human Trafficking Office, Police Colonel Keo Thea, told Fairfax Media that Ms Davis-Charles allegedly fabricated Cambodian birth certificates and other documents.

She was detained by anti-human trafficking police and questioned on Sunday

The Melbourne-based nurse faces up to two years behind bars if charged and found guilty of engaging in surrogacy and falsifying documents.

Colonel Thea claims Ms Davis-Charles has a network of clients, most of them Australian, and was allegedly paid $US50,000 for one surrogacy.

Her clinic, which moved to Cambodia from Thailand following the Thai government's crackdown on surrogacy clinics after the 2014 Baby Gammy controversy, claims to have a 90 per cent success rate.

A Cambodian nurse and male civil servant, both 28, were also detained after a raid in Phnom Penh on Friday.

She runs a surrogacy clinic in Phnom Penh and was arrested after the government banned commercial surrogacy on October 24

The Cambodian Health Ministry clamped down on the industry after surrogacy began to boom in Phnom Penh following bans in Thailand, India and Nepal.

Officials say the government plans to put in place a law that protects Cambodian women involved in surrogacy.
Police broke the door down last May and found them both dead

A retired soldier stabbed his wife with a bread knife before gassing himself to death in a suspected murder-suicide, an inquest has heard.

Graham McCartney, 63, is said to have felt humiliated by his failed marriage and stabbed wife Jane, 59, twice before he gassed her and himself just eight days after their daughter married.

A prospective house buyer came to their home in Dalwood, Devon in May last year and called police after being unable to gain access to the property and becoming suspicious.

Police broke into the house and discovered the bodies of the couple in their sitting room.

Graham McCartney and Jane McCartney were found dead in Dalwood, near Axminster, Devon

The inquest heard Mrs McCartney said she had been the victim of a blunt force assault - and she also had a makeshift tourniquet on her arm - but it was unclear who had put that on.

She was alive for 30 minutes before she succumbed to her injuries but may have been unconscious during this time, said assistant Devon coroner Luisa Nicholson.

A pathologist concluded that Mr McCartney had died from inhaling carbon monoxide fumes.

The hearing was told that his son George was concerned that he was depressed after his mother had left him.

The couple's son said his father left a note saying don't go into the house and to call the police.

In the note Graham said: 'I just cannot stand the humiliation anymore. Sorry, Dad.'

The hearing was told Mr McCartney had previously refused to go his daughter Nicolle's wedding shortly before his death

He did eventually give his daughter away but left the London wedding immediately afterwards without speaking to his wife.

An inquest heard Mr McCartney stabbed his wife and then gassed them both in his home

Daughter Nicolle said: 'He was a very private person, the man of the house.'

He had told told his brother in law Timothy Pitt that 'I will surprise you. Remember the dog and its day'.

Mr Pitt, 53, said he did not envisage him doing anything and did not see it as a threat.

Mrs McCartney's sister Angela Pitt said the couple, who had together for more than 40 years, had ups and downs in their marriage.

She said Mr McCartney was 'humiliated by the prospect of the split' but said he was not violent.

She said: 'Graham was not an aggressive monster. He would have utterly condemned what happened. He just lost control of reality.'

Mrs McCartney's friend Margaret Evans said that Mr McCartney threatened that if she met someone else he would 'kill her and him'.

She said Jane would not have taken part in any 'bizarre suicide pact' saying Mr McCartney had planned to kill her.

The inquest continues.
He's been labelled the 'saddest cat on the Internet'.

BenBen is a ginger stray who was brought into an emergency veterinary clinic in Vancouver, Canada, in April in an abysmal state.

He was suffering from a crushed spin, several cuts and a cauliflower ear.

Veterinary technician Sandy was working at the clinic when BenBen was brought in.

She noticed he was so sad he wouldn't move, let alone eat.

BenBen the cat is pictured here at BCSPCA hospital in a sorry state after being brought in for treatment

After he was fixed up a little, given a pink bandage for his leg, and transferred to the BCSPCA hospital it was hoped someone would adopt him.

But his severe ailments meant no one came forward to take him home and he was listed to be euthanized.

When Sandy learned of BenBen's fate, she and her boyfriend Adam stepped in.

'We decided to adopt him because we believe everyone deserves a chance! He was so broken and sick and didnt look like hed ever been loved.

'His face melted our hearts and we knew we had to take a chance on him,' she told The Huffington Post.

Sandy managed to get everything arranged for his adoption a day before he was scheduled to be put down.

The ginger stray's sad eyes and cauliflower ear has earned him a legion of fans online

This photo was taken the first time BenBen met his 'future mom to be', Sandy

Since finding a home with Sandy and Adam, BenBen is now pictured snuggling up with a blanket

This adorable photo was taken after BenBen had a bath at his new home

This sweet picture was captured as BenBen made his way to Sandy and Adam's for the first time

The couple have documented BenBens journey back to happiness via social media.

The cat now has over 31 thousand followers on Instagram alone.

'He's just finishing up a long term treatment for any bone infections. He will however, be on pain killers for the rest of his life to manage nerve pain,' Sandy's boyfriend Adam told MailOnline.

'He can walk and run. Although with a very noticeable wobble. But for a cat that was never supposed to be able to walk after going through what he went through, he's doing amazing. He can even jump!,' Adam said.

Mystery still surrounds exactly what happened to BenBen before he was rescued but the couple have a theory.

'It is believed that he was attacked by a large animal. Possibly a large dog. The attack left him with 5-6 spinal fractures, multiple punctures and lacerations to his body, and of course his unmistakable cauliflower ear,' Adam said.

Sandy and Adam are now using her cat's new found fame to raise money for other strays.

They have set up a GoFundMe page to gather donations and it has, at the time of writing, raised over $3,500.

Many people let their dogs ride up front... BenBen is a cat and gets the same special treatment

BenBen is pictured here in a hat looking much cheerier at the vets
There will be a buffalo rifle gong match and turkey shoot on Sunday at the Yellowstone Rifle Club, 7212 Molt Road.

Both events are open to original and replica big-bore, breech-loading, single-shot and lever-action rifles representative of models made between 1865-1900. There are eight targets from 190-700 yards, with seven shots per target. Only lead bullets, black, black substitutes and smokeless powders are allowed. The entry fee is $15.

The sight-in period will be from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. The match will begin at 10 a.m. A lunch break will be held midway through.

There are eight chances to win prizes.

The event is open to the public and spectators. For more information visit www.yrc.org or call Bill Gloor at 672-1053.
But Asha is facing a financial struggle to afford further vital

than 10 years later she has recovered movement and speech

Asha Prasad was paralysed from the neck down at just 26-years-old

A woman who was given no longer than a year to live after a stroke caused by ruptured blood vessel caused during a massage has regained movement and speech.

New Zealander Asha Prasad, who lives in Sydney, was only 26-years-old when she received a free massage at work, which ruptured a blood vessel and four days later she suffered a stroke.

Tragically, Asha woke up and was paralysed from the neck down and was given no more than a year to live.

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New Zealander Asha Prasad was only 26-years-old when she received a free massage at work, which ruptured a blood vessel and four days later she suffered a stroke

However, her fighting spirit came to the fore as 10 years later she has regained speech and movement defying the odds.

Her intensive gym therapy helped build the strength back so she could gain the control to do her own makeup, brush her teeth and use her computer.

But her battle hasn't come without more obstacles with Asha's ongoing medical bills compiling after she claims her insurer GIO, a body of insurance giant SUNCORP, began rolling back payments, according to 7 News.

One of the payments rolled back was her intensive therapy, with an expert reviewing her program and advising the company to fund a cheaper option.

'It was unreasonable and unnecessary,' Asha told 7 News.

Despite Asha's claim, a media spokesperson for SUNCORP Rob White told Daily Mail Australia, 'Suncorp GIO is not responsible for her care and treatment now. The NSW Govts icare area is managing her treatment.'

Asha is in desperate need of funds to help afford a new manual wheelchair to replace her crumbling, patched up, ten-year-old one.

Asha is in desperate need of funds to help afford a new manual wheelchair to replace her crumbling, patched up, ten-year-old one

She also needs other support equipment such as a new bed, a new stand up hoist, a van and nursing supplies.

But her struggle against the insurer does not seem to be making any leeway.

A SUNCORP/GIO media officer told 7 News that based on their advice, Asha will struggle to get any of these items.

According to 7 News SUNCORP stopped the respective funding of intensive therapy treatment because of expert advice telling them the treatment Asha was undergoing was unreasonable.

Now Asha has turned to crowdfunding for support.

On her site, it says, 'I am still wheelchair bound, I still talk slurry, I cant walk yet, my left side is weak and my left toes still do not move but, I believe I can rehabilitate further.'

Asha explains on the site after her insurer offered a home based physiotherapy program, instead of her intensive therapy, her progress deteriorated.

Asha is attempting to turn to Neuromoves, an innovative program aimed at improving neurological conditions, but it is expensive and is located in Newtown.

'We do that by using quite an innovative approach but basic science tells you if you keep the body moving, it will keep improving and seeing improvements,' Kierre Williams said.

Asha is struggling afford the costs to fly from New Zealand to Sydney, which was the purpose of the crowdfunding.

Her intensive gym therapy helped build the strength back so she could gain the control to do her own makeup, brush her teeth and use her computer

The crowdfunding site is set up to help her raise the funds to keep fighting and will go towards the airfares, cost of care givers services, extra luggage expenses, medical supplies, accommodation expenses, injury equipment costs and cost of the rehab programs.

Asha wants to achieve a better quality of life and is determined to get there.

To donate to Asha's rehabilitation, visit he crowdfunding site.

SUNCORP said in a statement they will be continuing payment for Asha's rehabilitation program for the rest of her life.
A 21-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the head after waving a revolver around in a car, state police said.

Kavon Cooper of Church Road, Virginia, was riding in a vehicle with two other men at 2.45am on Sunday when he accidentally shot himself, according to investigators.

The driver immediately took an exit off the I-85 and pulled into a McDonald's parking lot, where police arrived and pronounced Cooper dead on the scene.

Kavon Cooper (pictured) of Church Road, Virginia, was riding in a vehicle with two other men at 2.45am on Sunday when he accidentally shot himself

Cooper was waving a revolver around when he accidentally shot himself, according to Virginia State Police.

The driver called the police after pulling into a Mcdonald's off the Boydton Plank Road exit, but Cooper died on the scene.

Police found the revolver inside the car and an investigation by the State Police Bureau is still ongoing.

The driver and the other passenger were not injured.

Tributes poured in on Facebook for Cooper, who graduated from Dinwiddie High School in 2014.

Janice Harris wrote: 'RIP Lil Coop I'm going to miss you stopping by my house...You were a real good person with a big heart and had real respect for everybody.'

Rachel Wiseman wrote: 'One thing everyone can agree on is there was no one out there like you and there never will be.'
Boudicca Scherazade, pictured, 47, is on trial accused of stalking market trader Laurence Roche over a three-year period

A reality TV star bombarded an antiques dealer with kinky texts, emails and voicemails because she was in love with him, a court heard.

Boudicca Scherazade shot to fame on smash hit show Storage Hunters UK - a spin off of the popular US show.

The 47-year-old, who featured on the show in nine episodes last year, appeared at St Albans Magistrates' Court today, facing one stalking charge.

Scherazade fell for antiques dealer Laurence Roche while he ran a market stall in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and acquired his email address and phone number from his business card.

The court heard the wealthy dealer, who lived in a 1million flat in a Grade-I listed building in Hampton Court, embarrassed him in front of dozens of customers.

She was said to have shouted 'I love you' before calling him a 'c***' when he did not return her affection.

Reality show star Scherazade allegedly subjected Mr Roche to a three-year ordeal of harassment, the court heard, including 'sending sexually explicit messages'.

Prosecutor Clinton Hadgill said: 'The victim is an antiques dealer. He had met the defendant through the course of his work. She is also involved in buying antiques and selling them on.

'The defendant arrives at his place of work and makes the remark: 'I've been watching you for a while' in June 2013, she follows that up with: 'I'm in love with you.'

'The defendant may have been ill advised to interact in any contact after never having seen her before, but he does and finds the situation somewhat escalated.'

Mr Hadgill added: 'The defendant begins to text and email him.

'He was polite and would text her back but then the messages became more and more sexual.

'You will hear of a lot of content of emails in 2013, 2014, and 2015, some of them are sent within minutes of each other, and some are sent in unsociable hours for the average person with a nine to five.

The court heard that Laurence Roche, above, was subjected to a three-year ordeal of harrassment after Scherazade took his details from his business card

Scherazade appeared on nine episodes of Storage Hunters UK, pictured, last year in which antique dealers buy up contents of security lock-ups and try to sell them on for profit

'The victim also asserts that the defendant attended his stall, standing by for 45 minutes before shouting 'I love you' and 'c***' when he does not look at her.

'This was in front of about 30 members of the public, some of whom would have been fellow market traders.

'She also says that he better "watch his back" and that somebody might appear with a knife at the market.'

Mr Hadgill read some of the messages to the magistrates, including one that was a picture of a pair of female underwear on a rug with the caption 'I've taken them off just for you'.

The court heard another said 'My pals want us to get together,' while another said 'I love your curls.'

Mr Roche was also said to have received an email which started 'Come home...I beg you', before saying 'come over, make me yours. Own my soul. Say my name I will give everything I own, I love you Laurence Roche'.

Mr Roche, above, who was in a relationship, denies ever encouraging Scherazade's behaviour

Mr Roche, who was in a relationship, denies ever encouraging Scherazade's behaviour and told the court he had no idea why she would message him.

He told the court during Scherazade's unwanted courtship he felt 'scared' and described the messages as 'erratic'.

The court heard how on Halloween last year she sent him an image of the lower torso of a naked man with the message 'Is this my naughty Laurence?' despite the pair having never had a relationship, according to the alleged victim.

Mr Hadgill told the court how in November 2014, Scherazade wrote to Mr Roche: 'Is it so, so crazy to fall in love with some special, special person?

'What's crazy when you're 25 is not crazy when you're 46.'

On the December 11, 2015, the court heard she wrote to him 'Did I traumatise you? You've only got yourself to blame you a*******'.

But just two days later she emailed again asking for him to come to her bed 'just one time.'

The court heard Scherazade's messages became more and more abusive and sexual, as Roche ignored them and admitted he once told her to 'F*** off'.

In December 2015, referring to her background, she was said to have written: 'The Jew ain't good enough for ya? You'd rather have a dirty Hemel bird?'

Another message read out in court said: '1,000 clothes or not, you're still a dirty little tramp.'

And another said: 'Dirty little rat face. You are ugly inside and out.'

Scherazade was also said to have written: 'I don't want your council estate version of self-respect, I'm not from Hemel baby, I'm from Hampton.'

St Albans Magistrates' Court heard the explicit messages became 'more abusive' after Mr Roche made it clear he was 'not interested'

In one expletive-ridden voicemail played to the court she was heard to say 'We are going to make sure your business goes down. You watch and see what we are going to do to you... You watch and see the power of a woman who has been duped'.

Earlier Mr Roche said he had answered up to 40 phone calls from the defendant who would ring him on his business phone.

He told the court: 'I told her she should leave me alone and it wasn't appropriate', and added on one occasion she had tried to give him a watch.

Mr Roche said there were also occasions when he would be working only to realise she was taking photographs of him.

Scherazade is charged with pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Laurence Roche from June, 2013, until May, 2016, which she knew or ought to have known amounted to harassment of him.

In Storage Hunters, dealers like Scherazade and Celebrity Big Brother star Heavy D out-bid each other to buy contents of abandoned security lock-ups, without examining the contents, before trying to flog their new wares for a profit.
This is the terrifying moment a little girl was mauled by a tiger which was being walked around a Saudi Arabian market on a leash.

Footage shows the predator being taken around the public area in the northwestern part of the kingdom - just yards from shoppers.

Children can be seen sprinting off as the beast is paraded around the market.

But moments later a little girl aged about six wanders too close - and the tiger grabs her in its paws and pins her to the ground.

Terrifying footage captured the moment a little girl was mauled by a tiger which was being walked around a Saudi Arabian market on a leash

A little girl aged about six wandered too close to the animal and it grabbed her in its paws and pinned her to the ground

She screams and the handler immediately begins to prise the animal away from her.

The video ends there but witnesses said he rescued the girl before the tiger had a chance to harm her.

However, social media commenters raged about the obvious lack of security and safety procedures at the event.

One quoted anonymously by local media wrote: 'Even if the tiger is tamed, this was a dangerous situation that could have been fatal for the young girl or other spectators.'

'Khalid Al Mutairi' wrote: 'This is a wild animal and its instinct is to attack, so regardless of the time spent taming it, its nature never changes and its killing-readiness remains strong.

'All the necessary measures should be taken to ensure the highest levels of safety. Unfortunately, some people today look at keeping wild animals as a harmless fashion.'

The little girl screams and the handler immediately begins to prise the animal away from her

A trend for keeping exotic animals has emerged in recent years among the Middle East's rich youth.

Authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have often warned people about the dangers of keeping wild animals in their homes.

But the practice has become a status symbol, and animals are easy to advertise and buy via social media.

The combination of these factors has led to several attacks.

In March, a female lion attacked and killed a Kuwaiti man after breaking free from the rope that held it. She broke the man's neck.

A Filipina household worker was killed by a lion her employer kept as a pet in 2014. She survived the initial attack but died of her injuries five days later.

In November 2013, a baby leopard savaged a five-year-old Qatari boy, injuring him seriously.

Little Fahad was enjoying a circus show with his mother in the Qatari capital Doha when the incident happened.

The cub leapt on him after the show and grasped his neck in its mouth.
A motorist spotted Harris' body on the side of Coffin Road in Benton County, Washington, Sunday morning

Tragic end: Kindapping victim Sandra Harris, 69, was discovered dead Sunday on the side of the road in Benton County, Washington

A woman from Washington state who was abducted from her home on Friday was found dead on the side of the road Sunday after a $250,000 ransom was paid to her alleged kidnapper.

A motorist driving along Coffin Road in Benton County spotted a body and called 911.

The deceased woman was later identified as kidnapping victim Sandra Harris, 69, of Kennewick. Officials with the Benton County Sheriff's Office said it is unclear how she died.

Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin said Harris was taken on Friday from her home in Kennewick by someone she knew.

Lattin said her abductor, later identified as 49-year-old Theresa Wiltse, then used Harris' cellphone to call her husband, Randy, at work to demand $250,000 in exchange for her return.

'This was not a random act,' Lattin said. 'They're not related.

'We're not exactly sure what the nature of the relationship was, but this was not random.'

Local law enforcement officials and FBI agents contacted the kidnapper and negotiated for several hours, ultimately agreeing to pay the ransom.

Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin (above) said Harris was taken Friday by someone she knew. Lattin said her abductor then used Harris' cellphone to call her husband to demand a ransom

Authorities made the money exchange just before 10pm Friday near the town of Eltopia, and shortly after SWAT officers arrested Wiltse, of Connell, Washington.

Harris' kidnapper used her cellphone to call her husband, Randy Harris (pictured in May) to demand a ransom

Wiltse was driving a rental car with California plates, according to a statement from police, and she was the only person in the car.

Court documents say blood was found in the back seat of Wiltse's vehicle, and that she confessed to being part of a plot to kidnap Harris

Wiltse was being held in the Benton County jail without bond on suspicion of kidnapping. Its unclear how Wiltse knew Harris and her husband.

'There's possibly another suspect or suspects involved, or it's possible she acted alone,' Lattin said. He said they didn't know what condition Harris was in or where she might be.

Abductions for ransom are rare in the United States.

'They are unusual for us here as well,' Lattin said.

'I've been here 28 years, our chief has been here 35 years plus, and that's not something that has happened during our lifetime here in Kennewick.'

The victim's husband, Randy Harris, is the owner of Ace Jewelry and Loan, a pawn shop in Kennewick. In March, he was interviewed by the station KHQ about his efforts to encourage other pawn shops to adopt an online system that helps identify people who try to offload stolen property.
Ive no problem with the cast of Hamiltons treatment of Mike Pence.

The Vice President-elect has vehemently opposed gay rights equality for his entire political career and fully deserved the words of advice he received, delivered by gay actor Brandon Dixon.

Theres nothing to boo here, were all sharing a story of love, Dixon said at the end of the performance on Friday night. We welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical  we really do. We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of ALL of us. We truly thank you for sharing this show  this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colors, creeds and orientations.

Mike Pence has vehemently opposed gay rights equality for his entire political career and fully deserved the words of advice he received from gay actor Brandon Dixon

President-elect Donald Trump was wrong to say this short, powerful speech was very rude, that the cast were guilty of terrible behaviour, and to demand an apology.

In fact, Dixons address could hardly have been more respectful or polite in its tone or delivery.

I dont like actors banging on about politics, but I absolutely defend their right to do it.

Just as I also defend Trumps right to say he found it thoroughly objectionable and to stick up for his mate.

And, for that matter, Trumps right to tweet his opinions, however unpalatable at times  especially as those celebrity and media types who scream loudest at him about those opinions tend to be just as opinionated themselves.

Thats what freedom of speech actually means, folks  the freedom to speak, as protected by the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

Or the freedom to imitate people, as we saw from Gigi Hadids amusing impersonation of Melania Trump at the last nights AMAs, which the PC police instantly and stupidly branded racist.

Pence must have expected some kind of reaction when he chose to attend Hamilton.

Pence must have expected some kind of reaction when he chose to attend Hamilton. The cast is packed with many gay actors and one is openly HIV-positive. They were hardly going to break out into applause at the sight of a man whos spent his life discriminating against them

The cast is not just incredibly diverse, it is also packed with many gay actors, and its star, Javier Munoz, is openly HIV-positive.

They were hardly going to break out into wild applause at the sight of a man whos spent his entire life discriminating against them.

Particularly when you consider his precise record.

In 2000, Pence, while running for Congress, said: Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.

Pence further suggested that federal money being used to fund research HIV/AIDS should instead be diverted to provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behaviour. This is the so-called conversion therapy that seeks to change sexual preferences of gays and lesbians.

In 2006, he said that being gay was a choice and keeping gays from marrying was not discrimination but an enforcement of Gods choice.

In 2010, Pence opposed the (successful) repeal of former president Bill Clintons Dont ask, dont tell policy aimed at protecting gays in the military, and a new law that ended the long-standing ban on openly-gay people serving their country.

In May this year, Pence opposed an Obama administration federal directive to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. He said it was a state issue.

So this guy is no friend of the gay community

To his credit though, Pence had no complaint at Dixons statement.

When we arrived we heard some boos and cheers, and I nudged my kids and reminded them, thats what freedom sounds like, he said. I wasnt offended by what was said.

Nor was I.

What I do have a problem with is the stinking hypocrisy of Broadway and those who work in it.

Why?

Well, lets just go down memory lane and examine two other leading politicians history on the question of gay rights and equality, shall we?

In 1999, Hillary supported the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as the union of one man and a woman. In 2000, she confirmed: I think marriage is as marriage has always been, between a man and a woman

First, Hillary Clinton.

In 1999, Hillary supported the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as the union of one man and a woman. She also refused to support her own husbands dont ask, dont tell policy. In other words, she opposed gay marriage AND supported a ban on gays in the military.

In 2000, she confirmed: I think marriage is as marriage has always been, between a man and a woman.

In 2006, Hillary began to change her mind, saying she would not support same-sex marriage in New York if it became state law.

I support states making the decision, she said.

In 2007, while running for president, she maintained she was opposed to same-sex marriage.

In 2013, Hillary announced she was now supporting same-sex marriage, saying she had been on an evolution.

President Obamas own evolution on this issue is slightly more complicated.

When he ran for Illinois state Senate in 1996, Obama was 100% in favour of gay marriage.

I favour legalizing same-sex marriage and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages, he declared.

Two years later, in 1998, he was less certain. When asked if he was in favour of legalising gay marriage he replied: Undecided.

And when asked if he would support a bill to repeal Illinois legislation prohibiting same-sex marriage, he again replied: Undecided.

By 2004, hed made up his mind and performed a complete U-turn.

I have been very clear on this, he said. I am not a supporter of gay marriage. I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman.

Obama has well documented, complicated history with gay marriage. In 2008 he was still against it

Two years on, in his 2006 autobiography The Audacity of Hope, Obama wasnt so sure again:

I remain open to the possibility that my unwillingness to support gay marriage is misguided and that I may have been infected with societys prejudices and attributed them to God, and that in years hence I may be seen as someone on the wrong side of history.

In 2008, he was still against it. I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. I am not in favour of gay marriage.

Then, in 2012, came Obamas famous conversion.

Ive concluded that for me, personally, it is important to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couple should be able to get married.

In other words, he returned to the exact same position he held in 1996.

Youd be hard-pushed to find a more extraordinary sequence of flip-flopping by a top politician on any important issue.

Yet I can still respect the fact he and Hillary have both clearly wrestled with what sexual equality really means, and finally reached the right answer.

If were honest, I suspect most of us have.

I was raised as a Catholic, a religion that still actively discriminates against gays in many different ways.

But I have personally evolved and now fully support all gay rights including same-sex marriage.

Nobody booed or lectured me as I did so. I just grew to realise that sexual equality, like racial equality, means full, not partial equality.

Why did nobody on Broadway boo Hillary and Obama during the years when they both discriminated against gays? Mike Pence holds very unpleasant views towards homosexuals, but they are sincerely held and, based, like Obamas were, on religious conviction

My irritation is this: why did nobody on Broadway feel inclined to boo or lecture Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the years when they both openly discriminated against gay rights, both as Senators and Presidential candidates?

Why is it one rule for Democrat bigots and another for Republican bigots?

In my opinion, Mike Pence still holds very unpleasant views towards homosexuals.

But I believe they are sincerely held views, based, like Obamas, on his religious conviction.

There are many millions of Americans who share them.

The best way to encourage Pence and those who agree with him, and allow them to evolve like Hillary and Obama - and me! - is not to mock and abuse but to engage them in respectful debate and conversation.

What happened on Saturday night was not a bad thing.

It was a good start.
A Florida deputy has been fired after video emerged of him tackling a woman to the ground, in what investigators deemed as an unnecessary and excessive use of force.

Officials said that officer Wayne Wagner used excessive force during a March 25, 2016, traffic stop at a Mobil service station in St. Petersburg.

The 28-year-old conducted a lawful stop, a sheriff's office spokesperson said, however the situation quickly turned when he instructed the female driver to exit her vehicle.

Excessive force: This is the moment officer Wayne Wagner, 28, grabs the woman after asking her to get out of her truck

Officials said that officer Wayne Wagner used excessive force during a March 25, 2016, traffic stop at a Mobil service station in St. Petersburg

Dash cam footage shows the deputy throwing the woman to the ground and cuffing her

Dash camera footage and surveillance video from the gas station shows Wagner throwing the woman to the ground after she exited her car.

The woman is seen in the videos getting her license from Wagner and then moving to walk away, however he stops her, throwing her against the video.

'When the woman turned to walk away, Wagner pushed the woman into the side of the vehicle and took her to the ground,' a sheriff's office spokesperson told WFLA.

Wagner also falsified a police report that said the woman 'ripped' the license from his hands and then shoved him in the chest.

Footage from the scene shows Wagner laughing with some colleagues following the incident.

Afterwards: Backup arrived at the scene and Wagner (center) was seen laughing

Wayne Wagner, 28, was hired by the department on Oct. 20, 2014. He was terminated Friday

The woman was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.

The arrest then came under review when the woman complained after the incident.

'The investigation substantiated that Wagner used excessive force to arrest the woman and he falsified a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office offense report to support his allegations,' the spokesperson told the station.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Friday: 'It is clear, unfortunately, that Deputy Wagner lied and didn't tell the truth about what happened out there. And that he used unnecessary force when he slammed her against the car. Everybody, especially a deputy sheriff, has to tell the truth. You don't tell the truth, you don't work here. It's that simple.'

Scene: Wagner used excessive force during a March 25, 2016, traffic stop at a Mobil service station in St. Petersburg

The charges against the victim have since been dropped. According to her lawyer, she has no criminal record.
This dramatic footage shows the horrifying moment a cow gored a man and flipped him into the air.

The video, filmed in Nigeria, showed a man trying to catch the long-horned cow with a rope on a pole, watched by a crowd.

However the cow evaded the rope and instead charged at a bystander.

The start of the footage shows a man trying to catch a long-horned cow with a rope on a pole

However the cow turned aggressive and charged at another bystander

The cow then gored the man with its horns while he lay helpless on the ground

As he sprinted away, the cow turned its attention to another man trying to run off.

In his desperate efforts to scramble to safety, he stumbled into a ditch and the cow stabbed him with its horns.

It then used them to flip the man into the air, leaving him in a crumpled heap on the ground.

To try and distract the cow, the crowd started hurling rocks at it but the animal continued to attack the man with its horns.

The final part of the video shows the man clinging onto the cow's horns and the crowd eventually rushed in to save him.

More than two million people have viewed the footage since it was uploaded.

The cow flipped the man into the air in front of a shocked crowd in Nigeria

People in the crowd started throwing rocks at the cow to try and distract it
Former Ukip leader Diane James, pictured being embraced by Nigel Farage after winning the race to replace him as leader in September, has now quit the party altogether

Former Ukip leader Diane James has quit the party, her office announced today.

The MEP for South East England said her relationship with the party had become 'increasingly difficult' and said she had decided it was 'time to move on'.

But she will continue to sit in the European Parliament as an Independent, which drew an angry reaction from interim Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who said her decision made her 'unfit to continue as an MEP'.

Her resignation marks yet another embarrassing episode in the Ukip soap opera and comes after she sensationally resigned as leader last month just 18 days after winning the race to replace Mr Farage.

She decided to step down as head of the party last month because she did not 'have sufficient authority, nor the full support' of the party.

The move sent the party into open civil war and the following day Steven Woolfe was hospitalised after a fracas with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem.

Mr Woolfe, then the favourite to take over as leader of Ukip, subsequently quit the party and is also sitting as an Independent in the Brussels Parliament.

Ms James, 56, said in a statement today that she had requested to be allowed immediately to take up the status of an independent MEP in the European Parliament.

She insisted she would continue to serve constituents 'effectively and diligently' as an independent for the remainder of her five-year term, which is set to end in 2019.

Diane James, the MEP for South East England, pictured, said it was 'time to move on' from the party but will continue to sit in the European Parliament as an Independent

Diane James' decision to stand down as Ukip leader after just 18 days in charge sent the party into open civil war and the following day Steven Woolfe (left) was hospitalised after a fracas with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem (right)

She wrote: 'The President of the Parliament, Martin Schulz, has accepted my request and will announce this is in his opening speech to the Parliamentary Session in Strasbourg on Monday 21 November.

'At a high profile public event in Cambridge last week, I was asked why I had not completed the process to become leader of Ukip. I had little option, but to give the truthful response that, although nominated Leader by popular vote in the membership, I found that I had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned.

'My decision to retire from the election process and not complete it was very difficult personally and professionally, given that Ukip has dominated my life and all my efforts for over five years.

'In recent weeks, my relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on.

'I wish the party well for the future under new leadership.'

Ukip is currently undergoing its second leadership contest in a matter of months, with Paul Nuttall, Suzanne Evans and John Rees-Evans competing for votes of party members, with the successor to Mr Farage due to be announced on November 28.

Steven Woolfe collapsed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg following his fracas with Mike Hookem last month, pictured

Mr Farage, who is serving as interim leader of Ukip until his replacement is announced next week, said Ms James should stand down from office.

He said: 'This pattern of behaviour says that is she unfit to continue as an MEP...[she] should do the honourable thing and resign.'

Ms James's departure means that the 24-strong contingent of Ukip MEPs elected in 2014 has been reduced to 20.

Amjad Bashir defected to Conservatives in 2015, while Steven Woolfe and Janice Atkinson now sit as Independents.

Suzanne Evans, one of the contenders for the Ukip leadership, said that all four - including Ms James - should give up their seats, which they secured due to their position on Ukip party lists under a proportional representation system.

'I am very sorry to hear Diane James has decided to leave Ukip,' said Ms Evans. 'I am sure she has her own personal reasons and I do not question those.

'However she, like Steven Woolfe, were both elected as MEPs on a Ukip ticket, not as individuals. If they have any honour or integrity, both should now stand down as MEPs and vacate their seats. I reiterate my call for defectors Amjad Bashir and Janice Atkinson to do the same, for the same reasons.'

Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn said: 'Sorry to lose a colleague but glad of my judgment that neither she nor Mr Woolfe were suitable candidates for leader.'

Suzanne Evans, one of the contenders for the Ukip leadership, pictured, said Diane James should give up her seat in the European Parliament after resigning from the party
President Barack Obama said on Friday that he 'can't' pardon Edward Snowden, the former NSA analyst who in 2013 revealed details of classified US government surveillance programs.

The president told the German publication Der Spiegel over the weekend that he 'can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves'.

Civil libertarians, privacy rights advocates and anti-surveillance activists have been vocal in recent weeks, urging the president to issue a pardon and thus protect Snowden from criminal prosecution in the waning days of his administration.

Snowden is wanted for allegedly violating the Espionage Act by leaking sensitive information about US government surveillance to journalists.

President Barack Obama (seen left boarding a plane after a visit to Berlin) told German media on Friday that he 'can't pardon Edward Snowden (right)'

If convicted, Snowden could face up to 30 years in prison. He is currently in Russia, where the government has granted him diplomatic asylum.

'I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves, so that's not something that I would comment on at this point', the president told Der Spiegel.

Obama has resisted calls from liberals to declare Snowden a whistleblower who performed a public service.

The president said that while Snowden 'raised legitimate concerns' about government surveillance, the manner in which he did so raises objections.

Civil libertarians have launched an online campaign (above) urging Obama to pardon Snowden before the president leaves office in January

'I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns', Obama said.

'How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community', the president said.

'If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system'.

The president said it was incumbent on Snowden to turn himself in and stand trial in the US.

'At the point at which Mr. Snowden wants to present himself before the legal authorities and make his arguments or have his lawyers make his arguments, then I think those issues come into play', Obama said.

The campaign to lobby for a pardon gained traction with the September release of a Snowden biopic directed by Oliver Stone (left) and starring actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (right)

'Until that time, what I've tried to suggest -- both to the American people, but also to the world -- is that we do have to balance this issue of privacy and security'.

In reaction to the president's comments, Snowden supporters pointed out that pardons have been granted to individuals even before they were charged or stood trial.

Noa Yachot, a civil liberties advocate, launched an online campaign, Pardon Snowden, that has garnered the support of a number of prominent public figures from the arts, media, business world, and government.

'The president can pardon anyone', Yachot wrote.

'Richard Nixon hadn't even been indicted when Gerald Ford issued a "full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in" over the course of his presidency'.

'Nor had the thousands of men who had evaded the Vietnam War draft, who were pardoned unconditionally by Jimmy Carter on his first day in office'.

Calls to pardon Snowden have gained public traction thanks to the recent biopic about the former NSA contractor which was directed by Oliver Stone.

Snowden was portrayed in the movie by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Stone has also called on Obama to issue a pardon.

'Mr. Obama could pardon him and we hope so', Stone told reporters back in September.

'We hope that Mr. Obama has a stroke of lightning and he sees the way, despite the fact that he's prosecuted vigorously eight whistleblowers under the Espionage Act, which is an all-time record in American history, [and he's created] the most extensive invasive surveillance state that ever existed'.

In response to talk of a pardon, a bipartisan group of legislators on a powerful intelligence committee co-signed a letter to Obama this past September urging him to resist calls for a pardon.

'We urge you not to pardon Edward Snowden, who perpetrated the largest and most damaging public disclosure of classified information in our nation's history', the House Intelligence Committee letter said.
With just one week left in this years general season, the deer harvest counted at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks three Region 5 check stations last weekend remained lower than average, but better than a year ago and trending upward.

The elk harvest has slowed from the 2015 season, but remains above the long-term average. Here are some details:

Big Timber

The number of hunters who stopped at FWPs Big Timber check station over the weekend was the highest since 2012 and above the long-term average. But the deer harvest was down from a year ago and well below the long-term average.

FWP wildlife biologist Justin Paugh checked 139 hunters over the weekend, up from 108 last year and an average of 130. Those hunters checked 15 white-tailed deer, down from 19 a year ago, and 34 mule deer, down from 41 during the same weekend in 2015. Hunters checked 11 elk, down from 14 last year but still well above the long-term average of seven.

Of those who stopped at Big Timber, 43 percent had harvested game, well below the 68 percent last year and an average of 61 percent over the years.

Balmy weather continued to influence hunting success, with light winds and temperatures in the 40s making tracking difficult and keeping animals mostly out of sight.

For the year so far, the number of hunters who have stopped at Big Timber is 15 percent above average. The white-tailed deer harvest is slightly below average while the mule deer harvest is slightly higher that the long-term average. The elk harvest measured at Big Timber is about half that of last year, but still above the long-term average for the first five weekends of the 2016 general season.

With the general big game season entering its final week, Paugh said, hunters are shooting more antlerless deer than on previous weekends.

Columbus

Ten inches of new snow last week improved hunting conditions along the Beartooth Front over the weekend, but the number of hunters and the number of white-tailed deer and elk continued to lag.

FWP wildlife biologist Shawn Stewart checked 191 hunters at Columbus over the weekend, down from 228 a year ago and a long-term average of 217. Of those who stopped, 38 percent had harvested game, up 2 percentage points from the same weekend in 2015, but still well below the long-term average of 50 percent.

This past weekend, hunters who stopped at Columbus had harvested 31 white-tailed deer, down from 36 during the same weekend in 2015. The mule deer harvest was identical to last years at 37 animals. Four elk were counted at Columbus, half of last years number but identical to the long-term average for the fifth weekend of the general season.

For the first five weekends of the year, hunter traffic through the Columbus check station is down 10 percent from last year and 7 percent from the long-term average. Only 110 white-tailed deer have been checked at Columbus so far  the second lowest harvest since 2006. The white-tailed deer harvest this year is 18 percent below the long-term average and 43 percent below the peak in 2008.

The mule deer harvest measured at Columbus is running 14 percent below last year and 43 percent below average. The elk harvest, meanwhile, is running 40 percent below last year, but still 40 percent above the long-term average.

With the rut in full swing, Stewart said, hunters were able to harvest several 6- to 9-year-old bucks of both deer species.

Lavina

The number of hunters who stopped at FWPs Lavina check station over the weekend  as well as the number of deer checked  was up from the same weekend in 2015. But the elk harvest was off substantially from a year ago and the percentage of hunters with harvested animals was slightly lower.

FWP wildlife biologist Ashley Taylor counted 241 hunters over the weekend at Lavina, up from 217 during the fifth weekend of the general season in 2015. Those hunters had 21 white-tailed deer, up from 16 a year ago, and 34 mule deer, up from 26 in 2015. Only four elk came through the check station over the weekend, down from 13 a year ago. Of the hunters who stopped, 24 percent had harvested an animal, down just 1 percentage point from 2015.

For the first five weekends of the 2016 season, the number of hunters checked at Lavina is 6 percent below the long-term average. The mule deer harvest is 9 percent below average so far this year while the white-tailed deer harvest is off by 21 percent. With the rut in full swing, however, the ratio of bucks to antlerless animals has changed, with the buck harvest up 31 percent from a year ago.

The elk harvest reported at Lavina is 2 percent below the long-term average so far this year with bulls up 26 percent from average. Antlerless elk make up 31 percent fewer harvested elk than average.
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From the comforting grip of a mother's love to the deathly grasp of the mighty lion, these incredible images capture the heartwarming and sometimes fierce beauty of nature.

Bringing together some of the most incredible images from all the world, the new collection features the African lion caught in a 'stare of death' with a wildebeast, toying with the small creature caught shortly after it was born.

Another shows a Japanese macaque monkey cradling its sleeping child's head in her hand in a contrasting image showing the more tender side of nature.

Penguin chicks can be seen huddling together to stay warm as they are blasted by a storm in Antarctica in another tender moment captured in pictures to be showcased at the Natural History Museum.

The pictures have been collected as part of the People's Choice awards, which the public can vote for and will be on display at the museum until the vote closes on 10 January 2017.

There were nearly 50,000 submissions from 95 countries and the prestigious competition is famous for capturing the most breathtaking sights in nature, rarely seen by the human eye.

The winner of the 25 photos submitted for the People's Choice award will go on display in the museum until September 2017, when the exhibition closes.

To vote for your favourite image, follow the link here.

The stare of death (Johan Kloppers, South Africa): Johan saw this little wildebeest shortly after it was born in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. Little did he know that he would witness its death later that same day  the small herd of wildebeest walked right past a pride of lions and the calf was caught by a lioness and then taken by this male lion

Hitching a ride (Daisy Gilardini, Switzerland): This female polar bear was resting with its two young cubs in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, when it suddenly got up and rushed downhill through the deep snow. One of the cubs jumped on to her, holding onto her furry backside with a firm bite  totally unexpected and humorous behaviour

The stand-off (Michael Lambie, Canada): It was breeding season and all the male turkeys were putting on a show for the females, but a number of birds seemed a little confused. This one was more concerned with the potential suitor in front of it, not realising it was its own reflection

Facing the storm (Gunther Riehle, Germany): Gunther arrived at the frozen sea ice in Antarctica in sunshine, but by the evening a storm picked up. Initially just strong winds, by the early morning snow had arrived. He concentrated on taking images of the emperor penguin chicks huddled together to shield themselves from the force of the snowstorm

Opportunistic croc (Bence Mate, Hungary): Although this shot was taken from a safe hide, Bence recalls that it was chilling to see the frightening, killing eyes of this four-metre-long Nile crocodile. This individual was baited with natural carcasses on an island in the Zimanga Private Game Reserve, South Africa, but crocs also come here to bask in the Sun

Monkey ball (Thomas Kokta, Germany): Cold temperatures on Shodoshima Island, Japan, sometimes lead to monkey balls, where a group of five or more snow monkeys huddle together to keep warm. Thomas observed a large group exhibiting this behaviour close to a tree, giving him the vantage point he needed. A few days and a tree climb later he got the image he desired

Head-on (Tapio Kaisla, Finland): Tapio took a trip to DovrefjellSunndalsfjell National Park, Norway, to find these magnificent oxen amid their natural habitat. Even though spring is not rutting season for these animals, they were already seriously testing their strength against each other and the air rang out with the loud bang of the head-on collision between these two beasts

Into the fray (Stephen Belcher, New Zealand): Stephen spent a week photographing golden snub-nosed monkeys in a valley in the Zhouzhi Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, China. The monkeys have very thick fur, which they need to withstand the freezing nights in winter. This image shows two males about to fight, one already up on a rock, the other bounding in with a young male

The couple (Sergio Sarta, Italy): During a dive off the coast of Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia, Sergio was finning across a volcanic, dark grey, sandy seabed when suddenly, he saw a bright-coloured organism  a fire urchin with an elegant couple of little Coleman shrimps. The fire urchin has quills that are very toxic to humans  the shrimps avoid this danger by seeking out safe areas between the quills

Jelly starburst (Andrea Marshall, USA): Andrea was snorkeling off the coast of Mozambique when she came across hundreds of large jelly fish. Many were covered with brittle stars  opportunistic riders, taking advantage of this transport system to disperse along the coast. Delicate lighting makes the jelly glow, so the viewer can focus on the subtle colours and textures

A mothers hand (Alain Mafart Renodier, France): Alain was on a wintertime visit to Japans Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park when he took this poignant photograph of a sleeping baby Japanese macaque, its mothers hand covering its head protectively

Eye contact (Guy Edwardes, UK): The Dalmatian pelican, seen here on Lake Kerkini, Greece, is the largest species of pelican in the world. It is native to eastern Europe, Russia and Asia, however, its population is currently threatened in some areas from hunting, water pollution and habitat loss, particularly a decline in wetlands

Colorado red (Annie Katz, USA): It was a crisp, clear day in January when Annie saw this Colorado red fox hunting in her neighbours field in Aspen, Colorado, USA. The light was perfect and she took the photo as the fox approached her, looking right into the lens of her camera

Sisters: The photographer encountered a large lion pride at a waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. One of the two males spray-marked the branches of a nearby tree. Later two females sniffed the markings and for a brief moment both adopted the same posture. Bernd Wasiolka, Germany

Confusion (Rudi Hulshof, South Africa): Rudi wanted to capture the uncertainty of the future of the southern white rhino in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa, because of poaching. He anticipated the moment when these two rhinos would walk past each other, creating this silhouette effect and the illusion of a two-headed rhino

Eye in focus (Ally McDowell, USA/UK): Ally often focuses on colours and patterns underwater. She nearly threw away an image of a fishs eye but her partner asked to see it and then turned it upside down. It was then that Ally saw it was an unusual, abstract view, and so on a night dive, when the parrotfish were still and sleeping, she focused on creating a similar image

Spiral (Marco Gargiulo, Italy): Sabella spallanzanii is a species of marine polychaete, also known as a bristle worm. The worm secretes mucus that hardens to form a stiff, sandy tube that protrudes from the sand. It has two layers of feeding tentacles that can be retracted into the tube, and one of the layers forms a distinct spiral

Into the night (Karine Aigner, USA): During the summer months, 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats arrive at Bracken Cave in San Antonio, Texas, USA, to give birth and raise their young. Each evening at dusk, the hungry mothers emerge into the night in a vortex, circling out through the entrance and rising into the sky to feed on insects

The blue trail (Mario Cea, Spain, left): The kingfisher frequented this natural pond every day, and Mario used a high shutter speed with artificial light to photograph it. He used several units of flash for the kingfisher and a continuous light to capture the wake as the bird dived down towards the water. Tasty Delicacy (Cristobal Serrano, Spain, right): The natural world provides countless magical moments, none more so than the delicate moment a tiny, elegant hummingbird softly inserts its slender bill into the corolla of a flower to drink nectar. Cristobal was lucky enough to capture that exact moment in Los Quetzales National Park, San Jose, Costa Rica

Ghostly snow geese (Gordon Illg, USA): These snow geese almost seemed like ghosts in the pink early morning light as they landed among sandhill cranes in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA. Gordon had no control over the patterns made by the landing geese, all he could do was compose the image around the cranes and keep pushing the shutter button as the geese dropped down
James Taylor, 21, was arrested for allegedly robbing the Dunkin Donuts store where he was recently fired for stealing, police said

A Dunkin Donuts employee who was recently fired for stealing from the cash register returned to his store - but this time came armed with a gun, police said.

James Taylor, 21, allegedly robbed the Dunkin Donuts in Immokalee, Florida, just as it was opening around 5.30am on Saturday.

Taylor, who was armed with a sawed-off shotgun and wore a bandanna to cover his face, held his former co-worker at gunpoint before fleeing with $350 in cash.

Authorities said Taylor forced the woman to the ground and told her not to watch as he took all the the money from the cash register and the tip jar, according to Naples Daily News.

Taylor then allegedly dragged his co-worker to the store's back office and made her unlock the door so he could steal more money that had been stashed inside.

The clerk identified Taylor as her former co-worker and told officers she had feared for her life.

Taylor, who was armed with a sawed off shotgun, allegedly robbed the Dunkin Donuts (pictured) in Immokalee, Florida, just as it was opening up on Saturday morning

A Dunkin Donuts employee at the store told Daily Mail Online that Taylor was fired on November 8 for stealing money from the cash register.

Authorities at the scene found the shotgun and a sweatshirt Taylor had been wearing in a dumpster behind the CVS Pharmacy store across the street.

Officers then spotted Taylor riding a bicycle just a block away from the crime scene, according to WINK.

A surveillance video had captured Taylor running through a nearby alley after the robbery and a homeless man likewise spotted him fleeing the scene.

Taylor has been charged with grand theft, armed robbery and possession of a short-barreled shotgun, which is illegal in Florida.

He is being held at the Immokalee Jail Center. No bond has been set.
A school has cancelled a talk by a right-wing journalist linked to Donald Trump after receiving advice from the Government's counter-extremism unit.

Milo Yiannopoulos, an outspoken conservative and senior editor for the 'alt-right' website Breitbart that backed Mr Trump's US election campaign, was due to address the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, which he attended as a child.

But the Canterbury school announced today that it had received advice from the Department for Education (DfE) to call off his visit tomorrow due to safety concerns.

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Milo Yiannopoulos, an outspoken conservative and senior editor for the 'alt-right' website Breitbart that backed Mr Trump's US election campaign, was due to address the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, which he attended as a child

The DfE's counter-extremism unit warned that protests from anti-Trump groups could jeapordise the security of pupils at the Canterbury grammar school.

The school said it was 'disappointed that both the pastoral care and intellectual preparation we offer to our students has been called into question'

Mr Yiannopoulos was barred from Twitter in the summer and describes himself on his official Facebook page as 'the most fabulous supervillain on the internet'.

His colleague Steve Bannon, chief executive of the Breitbart website, has been controversially appointed as chief strategist to President-elect Trump.

A spokesman for Simon Langton school said: 'This decision was taken following contact from the DfE counter extremism unit, the threat of demonstrations at the school by organised groups and members of the public and our overall concerns for the security of the school site and the safety of our community.

'We note that, within 24 hours of advertising the event, 220 Langton sixth formers had, with parental consent, signed up for the event and that objection to our hosting Mr Yiannopoulos came almost entirely from people with no direct connection to The Langton. The staff and students of the school were overwhelmingly in favour.

Donald Trump, pictured giving his victory speech after winning the Presidential election earlier this month, appointed Breitbart's chief executive Steve Bannon to be his chief strategist. Milo Yiannopoulos is a senior editor for the right-wing website

'Whilst disappointed that both the pastoral care and intellectual preparation we offer to our students has been called into question, we at The Langton remain committed to the principle of free speech and open debate and will resist, where possible, all forms of censorship.'

Mr Yiannopoulos reacted angrily to the intervention from the DfE today.

He wrote on his Facebook page: 'Who even knew the DoE (sic) had a 'counter-extremism' unit? And that it wasn't set up to combat terrorism but rather to punish gays with the wrong opinions?

'Perhaps if I'd called my talk 'Muslims are awesome!' the National Union Of Teachers (NUT) and Department of Education (sic) would have been cool with me speaking.'

Rachael Jolley, the editor of Index on Censorship magazine, also criticised the DfE's decision. She said: 'The point of education is to explore ideas. If students don't get the chance to do this, then ideas are never tested, and they don't get experience in having arguments.

'Whether they agree or disagree with Milo Yiannopoulos, students should have the chance to hear a speaker that 200 of them had signed up to see.'

Details of the event were made public in The Times on Saturday. Mr Yiannopoulos was invited by American academic James Soderholm, the schools humanities director, to speak about politics, the alt-right and the US election.

But Christine Dickinson, local secretary of the NUT, attacked the decision to invite someone who is well known for his inflammatory views to speak to their pupils without contest.

A Department for Education source said officials had contacted the school following a complaint, adding: Officials will have been very clear with the school that it was their decision. It is not the case that we have banned a speaker  it is a decision for the school.

A department spokesman said: When concerns are raised by members of the public following media coverage  the department would contact the school as a matter of routine to check they had considered any potential issues.

Breitbart News is a fast-growing conservative website that is connected with both the Trump campaign and Ukip.

Founded in 2007, it gained notoriety with videos targeting liberal groups and politicians.

Mr Trumps newly-appointed chief strategist Steve Bannon was executive chairman of Breitbart but took a leave of absence to work for the presidential campaign.
One person who was present detailed what allegedly happened behind closed doors, despite the meeting being off the record

Donald Trump reportedly used his secret meeting with executives from the major television networks and their top on-air talent on Monday to criticize and attack those in attendance.

The New York Post spoke with a source who said that the meeting felt 'like a f***ing firing squad,' and described the hour-long discussion as a 'total disaster.'

Some of those in attendance also got a 'Trump-style dressing down' according to the source, most notably CNN president Jeff Zucker and ABC's chief global correspondent Martha Raddatz.

A second source, who confirmed that there was an encounter between Trump and Zucker, said: 'Trump kept saying, "We're in a room of liars, the deceitful dishonest media who got it all wrong."

'He addressed everyone in the room calling the media dishonest, deceitful liars.'

This account differs wildly from the one Kellyanne Conway gave to members of the press after she left the meeting, which she said was 'very cordial, very productive, very congenial.'

She went on to say that Trump was 'very candid and honest' in the meeting, and on a personal note stated that it was 'great to hit the reset button' after a 'long, hard-fought campaign.'

Conway responded to the story in the Post on Monday evening by saying that Trump did not 'explode in anger,' but did not comment beyond that.

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Gayle King (above) was seen exiting Trump Tower after meeting with the President-elect and other members of the media on Monday

Good Morning America anchor and This Week host George Stephanopoulos (above) leaving the meeting on Monday

Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway planned the meeting on Monday, and described the proceedings as 'very cordial, very productive, very congenial'

Fox News co-president Bill Shine (above) in the lobby of Trump Tower after the meeting

Trump kicked things off by going after Zucker, according to the first source who spoke with the Post. That person claims that the President-elect told the CNN president, 'I hate your network, everyone at CNN is a liar and you should be ashamed.'

He later turned his attention to two of the women who had been covering the election said the second source.

'Trump didn't say Katy Tur by name, but talked about an NBC female correspondent who got it wrong, then he referred to a horrible network correspondent who cried when Hillary lost who hosted a debate  which was Martha Raddatz who was also in the room,' claims the source.

Tur was not present at the meeting on Monday.

Later in the meeting, those in attendance did have the chance to pose some questions to Trump according to that same source, at which point CBS This Morning host Gayle King asked: 'How do you propose we the media work with you?'

TRUMP'S MEDIA GUESTS ABC -James Goldston (ABC News president) -George Stephanopoulos (GMA host) -Martha Raddatz (World News reporter) -David Muir (World News anchor) CBS - Chris Isham (DC Bureau Chief) -Charlie Rose (This Morning host) -Gayle King (This Morning host) -Norah O'Donnell (This Morning host) CNN -Jeff Zucker (president) -Wolf Blitzer (Situation Room host) -Erin Burnett (OutFront host) Fox News -Bill Shine (co-president) -Jack Abernethy (co-president) -Jay Wallace (VP news and editorial) -Suzanne Scott (VP programming) Fox Business Network -Brian Jones (co-president) MSNBC -Phil Griffin (president) NBC -Deborah Turness (News president) -Lester Holt (Nightly News anchor) -Chuck Todd (Meet the Press host) Advertisement

Meet the Press' Chuck Todd used his time to ask a few 'pointed questions' said the source, while World News Tonight anchor David Muir asked if he had figured out his family's living situation come January.

'It was a horrible meeting,' added the source.

The surprise get-together came as a bit of a shock given some of the comments Trump made during his campaign about the 'dishonest media,' and had not been mentioned in a mid-morning conference call that his transition team held with reporters on Monday.

Representatives from CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business Network, NBC, ABC, and CBS were present at the meeting, which featured a cameo appearance from Trump's wife Melania at one point according to a source.

Members of Trump's team present at the event included chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen Bannon, spokesman Jason Miller, communications director Sean Spicer and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, a source told Politico.

That source said that Trump took some time to praise President Obama during the meeting, and revealed that the men had spoken on the phone twice since meeting at the White House for the first time just 10 days ago.

He spoke about his cabinet too with those present according to the source, saying Mitt Romney 'really wants' to be secretary of state, and that he really wants a member of the military as his secretary of defense.

Trump also went after NBC News president Deborah Turness at the start of the meeting for posting photos of him that he believes to be unflattering said the source.

Turness reportedly tried to deflect the criticism by saying that a 'very nice' Trump picture was on their website at that very moment.

Overall, the source said the meeting was 'largely substantive' and far less intense than the version described to the Post by their two sources.

CNN OutFront host Erin Burnett exiting Trump Tower on Tuesday after the meeting

MSNBC president Phil Griffin, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer and NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt departing the meeting with President-elect Trump on Monday afternoon

King (above with her CBS This Morning co-host Norah O'Donnell) reportedly asked Trump how the media could work with him moving forward according to a source

Trump will be back at it again on Tuesday as well, with an on-the-record session planned between the president-elect and reporters from The New York Times.

There will also be an off-the-record chat with those reporters and Trump will meet with the paper's publisher Arthur Sulzberger.

The meeting was set up at the request of Trump's team, and is being organized by Conway.

TRUMP TEAM AT MEETING -Kellyanne Conway (senior adviser) -Reince Priebus (chief of staff) -Steve Bannon (chief strategist) -Jason Miller (spokesman) -Sean Spicer (comm. director) -Jared Kushner (son-in-law) -Melania Trump (wife) Advertisement

She was responsible for putting together Trump's meeting on Monday as well, which she managed to do in just two days time.

Past presidents and presidents-elect have held similar off-the-record meetings, but they were easier to keep secret since attendees didn't have to tromp through a landmark gold-encrusted marble office lobby in full view of TV cameras managed by the same media companies that took part.

ABC was represented by president James Goldston and anchors George Stephanopoulos, David Muir, and Martha Raddatz.

Nightly News host Lester Holt and Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd were on hand for NBC , along with president Deborah Turness.

And rounding out the broadcast network presence at the meeting was Face the Nation host John Dickerson and the entire CBS This Morning team of Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell along with Washington Bureau Chief Chris Isham.

On the cable television side, CNN president Jeff Zucker attended on behalf of his network with on-air talent Wolf Blitzer and Erin Burnett.

Fox News had a handful of executives present at the meeting, including co-presidents Bill Shine and Abernethy, vice president of news and editorial Jay Wallace and Suzanne Scott, the vice president of programming and development at the network.

MSNBC president Phil Griffin was there for his network and Brian Jones attended for Fox Business Network.

Face the Nation host John Dickerson arrives at Trump Tower alongside CBS This Morning anchor Charlie Rose

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer (center) smiles as he enters Trump Tower, standing next to NBC News president Deborah Turness (with her back to camera in fur coat)

Turness was seen exiting the meeting behind Conway (above). Trump reportedly told the NBC News president that he took issue with the 'unflattering' photos the network posts of him

Tight-lipped transition officials wouldn't discuss the purpose for the meeting on Monday afternoon.

But it's expected that the Trump team would make a cease-fire overture to end his campaign's war on the press.

Trump referred to America's political press corps as 'the dishonest media, 'the most dishonest people' and 'unbelievable liars' while he ran for president, often drawing sternum-rattling boos and storms of shouted insults from his rally crowds.

He also referred to specific reporters as 'sleaze' and 'slime' when he thought their pro-Hillary Clinton biases were showing, and sometimes named them from the podium while thousands jeered.

The president-elect hasn't held a press conference since late July.

Questions are also swirling about what his administration might do to redefine the White House's relationship with the media.

Print, wire and broadcast reporters currently get the benefit of a lengthy on-camera briefing from a spokesperson every day, along with the chance to send a representative to follow the president everywhere in a 'protective pool.'

The pool makes note of everything from presidential small-talk to the exact time, down to the minute, he leaves and enters the White House or individual rooms inside.

Jeff Zucker, the president of CNN, was also on hand for the meeting, which Trump transition team members would not give any information about

Trump has 59 days left to solidify his personnel choices, but he's taking time out to set ground rules with the media he once lambasted as 'liars'

Trump Tower is once again transition-central following a weekend of meetings at Trump's golf course in New Jersey

Mike McCurry, who served as press secretary to President Bill Clinton, told National Journal last week that both institutions should be re-thought.

He explained that it was a mistake for him to implement the televised briefings without any restrictions.

McCurry also said that '[t]he idea of nonstop body-watch pool coverage is a bit ridiculous.'

Trump has yet to take questions from the assembled press corps in a formal news-conference setting since his Election Day triumph.

He did, however, take a handful of questions from pool reporters over the weekend in between meetings with potential cabinet appointees.
Comedian Dave Chappelle has signed on with Netflix to stream three new comedy specials next year, the network announced on Monday.

No exact date was given by Netflix, which said one of the specials is being produced exclusively for the network, Variety reported.

Two additional never-before-seen specials 'come directly from Chappelle's personal comedy vault', the streaming service announced .

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but it is the second major comedy coup scored by the streaming service in the space of a few weeks.

The streaming service announced last month that it had signed Chris Rock to a $40million deal for two shows.

Dave Chappelle has come to an agreement with Netflix, which will stream three shows starring the comedian sometime next year

Chappelle (left) will be joining another fellow stand-up legend, Chris Rock (right), at Netflix, which last month agreed to pay Rock $40million for two comedy specials

It is believed to be the most lucrative agreement ever given to a stand-up comic for just two specials.

Chappelle's comedy career includes movie roles in The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak.

In 2003, he achieved heightened fame and critical acclaim as mastermind of his Comedy Central sketch series, Chappelle's Show, until his abrupt exit in its third season.

Last week, Chappelle hosted the first post-election edition of Saturday Night Live.

The Washington, D.C., native used his monologue to offer a comedic take as well as poignant commentary on Donald Trump's victory.

'You know, I didn't know Donald Trump was going to win I did suspect it', Chappelle said to start his lengthy segment.

'I know the whites, you guys aren't as full of surprises as you used to be'.

'But America's done it, we've finally elected an internet troll as President'.

'And white people were furious, Never seen anything like it. Haven't seen whites this mad since the OJ verdict'.

Netflix, Amazon, and other television content streamers have been paying big bucks to A-list talent like Nicole Kidman (left), Naomi Watts (center), and Billy Bob Thornton (right)

'I haven't seen this before I watched a white riot in Portland, Oregon, the other night. The news said they did a million dollars worth of damage, all the black people were watching like, "amateurs".'

Chappelle's hosting debut for SNL earned the long-running hit variety show its best television ratings in three years, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Rock and Chappelle signings are part of a trend that has seen content creators like Netflix, Amazon, and other shell out astronomical amounts of money to acquire big-ticket talent.

Meryl Streep is slated to star in a TV miniseries, The Nix, for which she will be paid $825,000 per episode.

Robert DeNiro will be pulling down $750,000 per episode for a series that will air on Amazon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Netflix will also pay Noami Watts $275,000 for starring in Gypsy.

That's a bit more than the $250,000 per episode that Billy Bob Thornton will be earning for his role in the Amazon drama Goliath.
The 2005 killings, which were carried out with an AK-47, claimed the lives of Swindle and three people who happened to be with him at the time

Prosecutors said Postelle, his brother and a friend had plotted to kill James 'Donnie' Swindle Jr as payback for bike crash that injured Postelle's father

In 2008, Postelle got two death sentences and two life sentences in connection to quadruple homicide on Memorial Day 2005

right to wed and still might obtain the certificate by video

Postelle, 30, got engaged to 41-year-old Veronica Ward while in prison

A death row inmate in Oklahoma has been denied permission to go to a courthouse to obtain a marriage license.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a statement on Friday saying that convicted killer Gilbert Ray Postelle, 30, will not be transported from death row to the Pittsburgh County Courthouse to pick up the document.

Postelle was sentenced to death in 2008 after a jury found him guilty of four counts of first-degree murder in the machine-gun slayings of James Alderson, Terry Smith, James 'Donnie' Swindle Jr and Amy Wright on May 30, 2005.

Request denied: Oklahoma death row inmate Gilbert Postelle, 30, has been denied permission to travel to the courthouse to obtain a marriage certificate

The plan was for corrections officers to transport Postelle from the prison to the city clerk's office (pictured)

During his incarceration, Postelle informed prison officials he got engaged to 41-year-old Veronica Ward, and the two were planning to get married.

The plan was to transport the convicted killer from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in shackles and under guard to the courthouse so he could obtain a marriage license, unless the city clerk agreed to meet with Postelle in prison.

The court clerk, Cindy Ledford, said last week she did not want to go to the prison unless the law required her to do so.

Then on Friday, Shelli Milner, the sister of murder victim Donnie Swindle Jr, contacted the office of the governor asking her to bar Postelle from leaving death row.

On Sunday, Ms Milner praised Gov Fallin's decision to keep the inmate in prison, telling NewsOK she was 'thrilled beyond words.'

Postelle and Ward might still have a chance to tie the knot if the city clerk is allowed to issue them the marriage license by video.

In 1967, the US Supreme Court defined marriage as a fundamental right, meaning that despite his status as an inmate, Postelle is entitled to wed while in prison.

Convicted killer: Postelle (left) was sentenced to death in 2008 after a jury found him guilty of killing James Alderson, Terry Smith, James 'Donnie' Swindle Jr (right) and Amy Wright on May 30, 2005

Grisly scene: The victims were herded out of a mobile home in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day in 2005 and someone emptied a 30-shot magazine of an AK-47 assault rifle into them

During his trial, prosecutors argued that Postelle had concocted a revenge plot with his father, brother and a family friend targeting Donnie Swindle Jr, whom the family held responsible for a motorcycle crash that left Postelles father with a permanent brain injury.

In the prosecution's narrative presented to the jury, the victims were herded out of a mobile home in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day in 2005 and someone emptied a 30-shot magazine of an AK-47 assault rifle into them.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a statement on Friday saying Postelle will not be transported to the courthouse to obtained the marriage certificate

Another six shots were fired into Swindle's head with a rifle. He was 49 years old at the time of his death.

The victims' bodies were later found outside the bullet-riddled trailer. Officials said Alderson, Smith and Wright were killed just because they were with Swindle at the time of the ambush.

In 2007, Earl Postelle was declared incompetent to stand trial because of his injuries suffered in the February 2004 bike crash.

His son Gilbert Postelle received two death sentences for two of the murders and two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the other two. His brother, David, was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Donnie Swindle's mother, Mary Jo Swindle, has railed against the notion that her son's killer should be allowed to marry on death row.
that Rackover and Lawrence Dilione, 28, stabbed Comunale to death when he rejected their sexual advances

A Fort Lauderdale area waitress who says she lived with accused killer Jimmy Beaudoin for four years says the man who's been portrayed in the media as a gay, well-dressed Manhattanite has nothing in common with the man she knew in South Florida.

Samantha Grimm, 26, said she loved Beaudoin and they actually discussed marrying and having children together.

But then in 2013, Grimm tells DailyMail.com, Beaudoin started taking increasingly frequent trips to New York City.

Samantha Grimm, 26 (right), of Davie, Florida says she dated accused murderer James Rackover, 25 (pictured left in court on Thursday)

Rackover and another man, 28-year-old Lawrence Dilione, are accused of murdering Joseph Comunale, 26, after he allegedly turned them down for sex. Grimm says she doesn't believe Rackover is gay (the two pictured above kissing)

His time in the Big Apple got longer and longer, and his returns to their home in Davie, Florida, became briefer.

Grimm said she didn't know what he did up north, but Grimm said he always returned with wads of cash and became increasingly obsessed with money.

'I thought something was up but I didn't know what,' she said.

Beaudoin eventually moved into the swanky Upper East Side apartment owned by high-profile New York City jeweler Jeffrey Rackover and changed his name to James Rackover.

Comunale (pictured), who goes by the name Joey, was reported missing at 8am last Tuesday by his father and his body was discovered on Wednesday

While Rackover introduced him as his son, neighbors in their building at 418 East 59th Street in Manhattan assumed James was Jeffrey's younger lover.

On Friday, Beaudoin and Lawrence Dilione, 28, were charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of Joseph Comunale, 26, of Stamford, Connecticut.

The suspects are accused of stabbing Comunale 15 times after he allegedly rejected their sexual advances then tried to set his body on fire.

Beaudoin and Dilione are being held on $3million bond.

Grimm said she met Beaudoin through mutual friends in 2009. She was 19, and he was 18 and had been just released from prison after serving time for burglary.

Grimm says she met Rackover in 2009, after he was released from prison for a burglary conviction. He went by the name Jimmy Beaudoin back then. Pictured above in a 2009 mugshot

'He didn't have much of an education,' Grimm says, 'I don't think he graduated from high school. At first, I was not aware he had problems with the law but he got arrested for violation of probation. I don't have anything bad to say about him, though. He was my boyfriend.'

In time, Grimm says Beaudoin managed to get a job in a nearby boat yard and started working on yachts in need of repairs or refurbishing.

'He moved in with me and my mom,' Grimm said. 'We had a very normal existence.'

At one point in 2011, according to Broward County records, Beaudoin was arrested for driving without a license. Grimm paid for his $250 bond.

He started traveling to New York City and returned with loads of cash, Grimm said. His desire for money turned into an obsession.

They broke up three years ago when he moved to New York permanently.

While Grimm was aware of Rackover's criminal history, she says she never thought he was capable of murder (2007 mugshot left, 2010 mugshot right)

'He cut me and all of his friends in South Florida off from his life. I started seeing photos of him on Facebook in beautiful suits and well-groomed looks,' she said. 'That's not the Jimmy I knew. The guy I knew was chill. He wasn't fancy or a showoff. He wore baggy shorts and T-shirts and was always skateboarding.'

I can promise you Jimmy isn't gay. Did he travel to New York to turn tricks with older gay men? For the right amount of money, Jimmy would definitely do something like that. Samantha Grimm, former girlfriend of accused murderer James Rackover (aka Jimmy Beaudoin)

Grimm says she doesn't believe Beaudoin is gay, despite the allegations he killed Comunale because the victim wouldn't have sex with Beaudoin and Dilione.

'I can promise you Jimmy isn't gay,' Grimm said. 'Did he travel to New York to turn tricks with older gay men? For the right amount of money, Jimmy would definitely do something like that.

'And now I believe that's what he was doing during his trips.'

As for Beaudoin's arrest for murder, Grimm says she is still trying to wrap her head around it.

Grimm and Rackover (right) broke up three years ago when he moved to New York City permanently. Not long after, he moved in with jeweler Jeffrey Rackover (left) and changed his name to James Rackover. The two told residents in their building that they were father and son but many assumed they were lovers

'His crimes here were petty small stuff,' she says. 'I'd never, ever thought he could kill someone.'

Over the weekend, Rackover spoke out about his alleged crimes for the first time in a jailhouse interview with the New York Daily News.

Speaking from the Manhattan Detention Complex, Rackover admitted that Comunale had been to his apartment, but said he had nothing to do with his murder and said the charges were 'bulls***'.

'Ive never seen this kid. I dont even know who he is,' Rackover told the paper. 'I only found out about the real charges through my lawyer on Thursday before the arraignment.'

He said he didn't even know he was being charged with murder until his lawyer told him just before the arraignment last week.

Lawrence Dilione (pictured), 28, of Jersey City, New Jersey, has also been charged with murder in the case. A judge also set his bond at $3million on Thursday in court

He claims Dilione brought a group of people over to his apartment from a club around 4am and Comunale was among them.

He said there were no arguments and everyone left around 7am and he went to bed shortly after.

When asked about accusations that he murdered Comunale and drove his body to New Jersey to bury it in a shallow grave, he told the Daily News: 'Wheeled him out of the building? There was no body.

'There was no dolly. I was never even seen on camera with this kid. I have no idea who he is.

'I cant explain what happened at all. I didnt do anything.'

But Rackover fiercely denies this, claiming: 'I have no reason to hurt this kid. Ive never hurt anyone. Ive never killed anyone. I didnt do any of this.'
Jeremy Corbyn today told Theresa May to stop trying to 'chase after Donald Trump' with her pledge to make business tax rates the lowest in the developed world.

He accused the Prime Minister of 'reckless short-term grandstanding' after she promised business leaders she would ensure Britain continues to have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20.

The pledge suggests she could slash business rates to a record low of 15 per cent if Mr Trump goes ahead with his pledge to more than halve the US corporation tax rate of 35 per cent.

But Mr Corbyn, addressing the Confederation of British Industry conference in London today, said a 'race to the bottom' would harm the economy long-term.

He pledged Labour would increase corporation tax from its current level of 20 per cent if he wins power.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured addressing the Confederation of British Industry conference in London today, told Theresa May to stop trying to 'chase after Donald Trump' with her pledge to make business tax rates the lowest in the developed world

He said: 'The Prime Ministers suggestion that Britain should chase after Donald Trump, in a race to the bottom in corporation tax , to 15 per cent or below, is reckless short-term grandstanding.

'That would do nothing to bolster the long-term investment we all need or to raise productivity or boost innovation, and would undermine the rebuilding of our economy on which our prosperity depends.'

He said a Labour government would increase corporation tax to pay for investment in a National Education Service, which he has pledged to put at the heart of his administration, as well as paying for major infrastructure investment.

Corporation tax in the UK is currently 20 per cent but is due to fall to 17 per cent by 2020.

Theresa May, pictured left addressing the CBI conference in London today, promised business leaders she would ensure Britain continues to have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20. The pledge suggests she could slash business rates to a record low of 15 per cent if Donald Trump, pictured in Flordia, right, goes ahead with his pledge to more than halve the US corporation tax rate of 35 per cent

But today Mrs May, who also addressed the CBI conference today, said she will review the move and could slash rates even further.

She said: 'Now we want to go further, and look at how we can make our support even more effective  because my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20, but also a tax system that is profoundly pro-innovation.'

The move was seen as an olive branch to business after some company bosses complained about a negative tone towards enterprise.

However, Mrs May also urged firms to show they are 'playing by the same rules as everyone else' by paying tax and reining in corporate behaviour that alienates the public.

Mr Corbyn, pictured addressing the Confederation of British Industry conference in London today, said a 'race to the bottom' on corporation tax rates would harm the economy long-term

Mr Corbyn also hit out at Mrs May after she signaled a a dramatic watering down of her pledge to place workers on company boards today.

She played down the prospect - making clear it would not be compulsory and her objective was merely that staff had a 'voice' at the top table.

Mr Corbyn said today: 'We need to see genuine employee representation at board level, which the Prime Minister promised, but I see is already backing away from.
A female grizzly bear protecting her two cubs attacked and seriously injured an elk hunter, Montana wildlife officials say.

An initial investigation indicates it was a surprise encounter, with the bear defending her cubs, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden Capt. Dave Holland told the Great Falls Tribune.

The man didn't fire any shots at the bear, which ran off after the attack Sunday.

A female grizzly bear protecting her two cubs attacked and seriously injured an elk hunter, Montana wildlife officials say (file photo)

Holland told the newspaper: 'I'm confident it's not a predatory attack.'

It occurred on private property near the small northwestern city of Choteau.

The injured man, whose identity hasn't been released, was part of a hunting party and was taken by private vehicle to a clinic in Choteau, then flown by helicopter to a hospital in Great Falls.

It occurred on private property near the Ear Mountain Wildlife Management Area (seen in a file photo), the Great Falls Tribune reports

State officials planned to visit the site Monday morning, the newspaper report said.

The attack was approximately 30 seconds long, according to KTVQ.

FWP spokesman Bob Gibson told the TV station: 'He accidentally surprised her and then she roughed him up.'
On Monday night a huge brawl broke out on Cavill Ave after an Australian mocked the haka

Others have been picture posing in front of

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A huge brawl erupted between school leavers on the Gold Coast on Monday night after an Australian man mocked a group of New Zealanders who were performing the haka.

Footage shows a large group of Kiwi teenagers performing the traditional war dance on Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise in front of a large crowd.

One man, an Australian according to the Gold Coast Bulletin, jumped in front of the group and began mocking their dancing.

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A huge brawl broke out on Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise on Monday night between Australian and New Zealand teenagers

An Australian man is said to have mocked a group of Kiwi holiday-makers doing the haka (pictured)

The teenager was grabbed by police and removed from the group about 11pm on Monday night.

However just moments later one of the man's friends was involved in another tussle, with more than a dozen people joining the fight.

Those involved in the brawl were among nine arrested on Monday night. Two more were given liquor infringements notices.

There were 14 non-schoolies arrested on 18 charges.

Earlier, photos showed thousands of Australian school leavers waking on day three of Schoolies to continue their antics.

Busking for spare change to afford beer, swigging from goon sacks and cooking fish fingers to soak up the alcohol were just some of the activities taking place on the Gold Coast on Monday.

With the sun shinning many also took to social media to show off their bikini or tiny but colourful budgie smugglers, as others shared images of themselves drinking cheap bagged wine straight from the sack.

With the sun shinning on the Gold Coast Schoolies revellers, many have taken to social media to show off their bikini or tiny but colourful budgie smugglers

Thousands of Australian school leavers have woken on day three of Schoolies 2016 with heavy heads and upset stomachs but that has not stopped them continuing the party

A young blonde teenager shared an image of herself getting a schoolies tattoo as two young men wearing dark shades took a knee around the oven as they cooked some fish fingers.

Police said they were 'generally pleased' with the young revellers behaviour, but there was illegal activity that did not go unnoticed.

Officers arrested 11 schoolies on 17 offences, eight of which were relating to drug possession.

Seven received liquor infringements notices.

A man with a boot load full of alcohol gives the thumbs up as he appears to prepare for another big night on the drink

A young man flaunts his Southern Cross tattoo in a man-kini that leaves very little to the imagination

Another young school leaver whose friends spent almost $600 on alcohol shows off the invoices on social media

Four young women pose in front of a picturesque skyline during Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast

Another shows off her figure in a swimsuit before she has even purchased it - capturing a happy snap in the change room

Two young school leavers in dark sunglasses pose with drinks around the oven as they cook some fish fingers

A young man faces out at his view of the Gold Coast and holds his arms in the air while showcasing his colourful speedos

A man in a colourful floral shirt shows off his 'shot face' and recommends others having a chaser

A young blonde woman in denim shorts lays on a black leather seat and flashes a 'shakkas' hand signal as she gets a tattoo

Many schoolies groups shared backlit photographs on social media showcasing their silhouettes against a turquoise ocean

One young man tucked his shirt in his shorts before striking a pose in front of his view of the Gold Coast from his apartment

A group of grinning school leavers pose alongside two cooperative police officers during Schoolies 2016

Two young school leavers pose in front of a police car with the licence plate 'HEAT' at about 2am

Another school leaver had a creative idea to make some extra cash to fund his nights out during Schoolies 2016

A couple stroll arm in arm through chaotic scenes on the Gold Coast as thousands of schoolies celebrate the conclusion of their studies

A young man spruiks the need for safe sex as he holds up a box of condoms during his schoolies celebrations

Two scantily clad young women celebrate Schoolies 2016 as one takes a knee and appears to drink from a beer bong

A young man wore a sign that states 'the end is near' as revellers started to fill the main strip of Surfers Paradise

One group from school leavers posted a table full of empty bottles to social media on day three of Schoolies 2016

A woman not involved in Schoolies posted a friendly note to advise young revellers who keep ringing her door bell

One man balances a mate on his shoulders as he takes a swig from a bottle of Jagermeister

Two young women use flotation devices in the pool as they have a drink and relax following the conclusion of their studies

Crowds flocked to the beach to soak up the sun in Byron Bay, New South Wales, amid schoolies celebrations

Several young women kneel as they pose for a group photograph in the mirror while they wait for the elevator

But it was not just school leavers blowing off steam who faced arrest, with 23 people not involved in the formal celebrations detained.

The majority of the 23 arrested faces charges relating to being a public nuisance and drug possession.

This comes after a Schoolies reveller risked her life by walking across a ledge on a high rise building.

A Snapchat of a young girl who appears to have climbed over her balcony onto a ledge on the high rise Beachcomber building on the Gold Coast emerged online.

The stomach-churning video shows a female schoolie in a dress on a ledge, clearly more than five stories up, with her friends filming the action.

Some took to social media to share the humorous moments - including one person who found a lone shoe on the main strip of Surfers Paradise following night two of celebrations

Young woman on a ledge at The Beachcomber was filmed on Snapchat

One of her friends very calmly said, 'This isn't going to be funny when she falls'

One of her friends very calmly said, 'This isn't going to be funny when she falls.'

Police were aware of the incident but no further action was taken.

The dangerous thrill seeking did not impress Dimoty Short from Red Frog.

Police were aware of the incident but no further action was taken

'There's always going to be that sort of risk taking behavior,' she told 7 News.

'We encourage them as much as possible to keep them locked, they're definitely not a place to muck around on.'

The dangerous stunt comes as schoolies kicked-off on Saturday with 13 arrested on the Gold Coast.

Schoolies kicked-off on Saturday with 13 arrested on the Gold Coast

Three girls celebrating Schoolies on the Gold Coast on the weekend

Schoolie patrons talk across balconies as the celebrations kicked-off on the weekend
POPLAR  Margaret Abbott, a 73-year-old professor at Fort Peck Community College, has a simple reason for why president-elect Donald J. Trump didnt offend Native Americans like he did other minority groups during his campaign.

He cant send us anyplace, she said. He cant send us back where we came from, because were already there.

Trumps fraught relationships with minorities came out in a series of flashpoints during the campaign. Key staff appointments Trump made since his election have done little to calm fears.

As a candidate, Trump almost entirely overlooked Native Americans, which make up 1.7 percent of the total U.S. population and 6.32 percent of Montanans. But Trump has clashed with American Indian groups in the past. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that in the 1990s Trump claimed Indian reservations were controlled by the mafia and said in a radio interview that many who claim to be Indians arent.

Trump did not meet with tribal representatives in Billings before his May rally there. Both Democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders and former President Bill Clinton, who visited Montana on behalf of his wife, met with tribal leadership before their May events in Montanas largest city.

Many who live on Montana's seven reservations are unsure of what to expect.

Mark Azure, president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community in north-central Montana, sent a letter to his community after the election saying, in part, "what exactly this means to Indian Country is uncertain at this time."

Deanna Bigby, 32, is a student at Aaniiih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Reservation, where she lives. She is worried about what Trump's campaign pledge to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Once elected, Trump backed off from a full repeal, saying he would keep parts of the law, though its unclear what he will do once he takes office in January.

A lot of people here depend on the government for health care, Bigby said.

Her friend, Monique Doney, a 21-year-old student here, agreed. He could take a lot away from people who need free health care, Doney added. Both she and Bigby hope to be nurses one day.

Trump has not mentioned Indian Health Service, though Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, one of his advisers on American Indian issues, said any changes to the law must keep in place funding for health care for American Indians.

Jace Killsback, the newly elected chairman of the Northern Cheyenne and tribal health director, said his main concern is the permanent re-authorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which President Barack Obama included in the Affordable Care Act.

That gave tribes new avenues to provide better access and better services for their tribal members. Nursing homes, dialysis centers, traditional medicine, all those kinds of things weve been asking for, he said.

The law also has provisions that waive any cost-sharing, co-pays or deductibles for federally recognized American Indians who enroll in the marketplace and allows for enrollment at any time.

We were able to see a lot of tribal members sign up who otherwise didnt have health care because of the subsidy that was offered in the marketplace, he added.

The concept of insurance was fairly new in Indian Country, Killsback said. Before tribal members relied on Indian Health Service, which is not insurance but care available at clinics and hospitals.

Insurance coverage for tribal members lessens the financial burden on IHS, which is historically underfunded. IHS often treats patients only on a life-or-limb basis, meaning if a person isnt about to lose a limb or die, they don't get care.

Tribes are entitled to health care as a treaty right, Killsback said.

Our ancestors gave up millions and millions of acres of land in return for goods and services, he said. This is something we hold dearly because of the bloodshed our ancestors gave for this.

Mark Trahant, a professor at the University of North Dakota who writes about public policy from an American Indian perspective, said environmental issues will be potential challenging to tribes under a Trump administration.

Where that really impacts the Native community is in litigation, he said. Some tribal communities in Alaska, he said, will need to be relocated in the next four years because of rising sea levels.

In Big Horn County, which contains a large part of the Crow Reservation, Trump fared far better than he did on Montana's other reservations. There he received 42 percent of the vote to Clinton's 48, getting just 241 fewer votes. Trump received 31 percent of the vote in Glacier County, home to the Blackfeet Reservation.

The Crow Reservation is home to the Absaloka Mine, operated by Westmoreland Coal Co. The tribe also has a stalled deal with Cloud Peak Energy to open another mine. But Trumps promises to open up coal mining arent necessarily a rubber stamp on this project.

Both he and (Rep. Ryan) Zinke have made a big pitch about the resurgence of coal, Trahant said. Its a promise Im not sure they are going to be able to keep. Coal has been impacted by market forces more than anything else.

One potential good outcome that could come from Trumps administration, Trahant said, is if he keeps his promises on infrastructure spending.

Trump's transition website says his administration will "invest $550 billion" in roads, bridges, airports, transit systems and ports and mentions "poorly maintained farm/ranch-to-market roads." Two of Trump's senior financial advisers in an October paper presented a plan to provide private investors with an 82 percent tax credit on projects, though opinions on whether the plan is feasible are divided.

If in fact he does infrastructure spending, almost every reservation could use that, Trahant said. If theres any kind of equitable way of doing it and it creates jobs, thats a good thing.

What comes next could be a way to build both real and metaphorical bridges, said Trahant, whose grandmother lived in Frazer, about 40 miles west of Poplar.

This could be an opportunity for rural communities to try to figure out how to work together, Trahant said. In the end communities across the Hi-Line have so much more in common than apart. The same challenges in Frazer are facing rural communities across the United States.

He worries, though, where money to pay for those credits could come from and what could be cut from the nations budget.

So much of federal programs on the reservation are really lifelines, and theres really no replacement from a private sector. There isnt a private sector to depend on.
Willie Rogers, the oldest surviving member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, has passed away at the age of 101.

Rogers, who died of complications from a stroke on Friday, fought in World War II and was part of the 100th Air Engineer Squad as well as the Red Tail Angels.

He was shot in the stomach and leg by German soldiers during a mission in Italy in 1943, spending three months recovering before returning back to the battlefield.

Although he was a member of the first ever African-American military aviation squadron in the US Armed Forces, Rogers was known for being incredibly humble.

Willie Rogers, the oldest surviving member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, has passed away. He was 101 years old

St Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman tweeted a tribute to Rogers, who held a key to the Florida city. His portrait hangs on the wall of the St Petersburg Museum of History

In fact, Rogers' own daughters didn't even know he was a Tuskegee Airman until 2012.

Rogers later told his family that he kept silent all those years because his work had been on the ground in logistics and administration, not with the aviators in the sky.

'He would always say there were many who deserved attention more, but were not here to receive it,' his daughter Veronica Williams told the Tampa Bay Times.

'He didn't like a lot of fuss,' Rogers' nephew Clinton Glover said. 'He was humble. That's who he was.'

President George W Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen in 2007, apologizing for 'all the unreturned salutes and unforgivable' indignities they endured in an era marked by racial segregation.

Rogers, still keeping his involvement with the Tuskegee Airmen a secret from his family, missed the ceremony.

But in 2013 he received his own Congressional Gold Medal as well, finally getting the honor he never believed he deserved.

Rogers, who died of complications from a stroke on Friday, fought in World War II and was part of the 100th Air Engineer Squad (pictured is the 99th Pursuit Squad of the Tuskegee Airmen)

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first ever African-American military aviation squadron in the US Armed Forces

Rogers, who was born in Apalachicola, Florida in 1915 was 27 years old when he was drafted into the army.

Three years later he witnessed the horrors of the Dachau concentration camp , where the Nazis killed at least 32,000 people, after it was liberated by American troops at the end of the war.

'He didn't like to give specifics about what occurred to him,' Williams said of her father.

'He saw things that were bad. And he experienced treatment because he was African American that wasn't fair.'

But Williams said her father also knew he had seen progress in America.

'He recognized that we as a people and he as a black man have come a long way, but that there is still more to go,' she said.

'But in God's eyes there is no color, he'd say. We are all one and he lived by the greatest commandment - to love one another.'

Rogers moved to St Petersburg, Florida after the war and ran a shop called Rogers Radio Sales, where he sold and fixed small appliances.

Rogers' daughters didn't even know he was a Tuskegee Airman until 2012. He later told his family that he kept silent all those years because his work had been on the ground in logistics

Rogers was known for being able to 'fix anything', his daughter said, but he was also a man of faith.

Until recently, he would walk the short distance from his senior apartment to the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church every Sunday.

Rogers' family will make that same walk before his service on Saturday to honor the veteran.

Williams' said she is hoped her father is remembered for his honorable service, but also for the motto he lived his life by.

'Treat everyone with dignity, pride and integrity,' she recalled. 'He said that a lot.'
Police dash camera footage has been released of the moment a stolen car that lead cops on a high-speed pursuit crashed into a house in Ohio.

The car was reported stolen on October 21 in Covington, Miami County, and was quickly spotted by police.

Cops start following the suspect in their patrol cars, but they are seen on the video losing sight of the car as it exceeded 100 mph.

The pursuit then ended when the truck slammed into the property.

Chase: This is the moment police spotted the stolen truck, but the driver refused to stop and lead police on a 100mph chase in Covington, Ohio

Crash: The pursuit then ended when the truck, which deputies said was reported stolen out of Piqua, crashed into a house

The driver then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot from the scene, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Photos from the scene showed that the house sustained significant damage

Covington Exempted Village Schools were momentarily put on lockdown as deputies searched for a driver. However the lockdown was lifted right after the truck crashed.

Police have not released any information on capturing the driver behind the wheel.
by DAVID MARTOSKO, US POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

One of President-elect Donald Trump's potential cabinet picks showed photographers more than he intended over the weekend, revealing part of an aggressive plan to change the Department of Homeland Security's approach to combating illegal immigration.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who was rumored last week to be on an attorney general short-list, emerged as a contender for the DHS job and interviewed with Trump on Sunday.

When the two posed for pictures beforehand, however, Kobach was clutching his proposal  and photographs captured the parts that his left hand didn't obscure.

They included uncompromising approaches to deportations, providing for the 'rapid build' of the wall that Candidate Trump promised for America's southern border  1,989 miles of it  and part of a plan that appears targeted at making sure illegal immigrants can't vote in national elections.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: Department of Homeland Security director candidate Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, posed with President-elect Donald Trump as the two prepared to meet on Sunday in the clubhoue at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf course

OOPS: A close-up of this photograph published by the Associated Press clearly shows portions of the DHS 'strategic plan' Kobach brought with him to discuss with Trump

The Kobach doctrine would also make good on two other Trump campaign promises: completely ending the Obama administration's Syrian refugee resettlement program and instituting 'extreme vetting' of prospective immigrants from terror-prone countries.

Kobach used the phrase '[e]xtreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens.'

Part of that vetting would include asking them questions about their 'support for Sharia law, jihad, equality of men and women, [and] the United States Constitution.'

Another part of Kobach's proposal could explain how Trump plans to implement what he initially called a temporary 'shutdown on Muslims entering the country,' and later modified to reflect that program of nation-specific 'extreme vetting' rather than a religious test.

Kobach helped design the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System after ther 9/11 terror attacks, when he was a Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration.

Under NSEERS, people entering the U.S. from 'higher risk' nations were required to be interviewed and fingerprinted. Some men, and teens as young as 16, had to register in person at government offices and check in periodically like prison parolees, if they hailed from countries that harbored active terror threats.

Kobach's memo projects that '[a]ll aliens from high-risk areas are tracked.'

MAN WITH A PLAN? Kobach (left) arrived on Sunday with his plan in hand and shook hands with investor Wilbur Ross, a Commerce Department candidate who was on his way out

The Obama administration scrapped the program in 2011, saying it had become redundant with other programs. But conservatives complained that the real reason was a backlash from liberal activists including some in Muslim-American interest groups.

The American Civil Liberties Union has threatened to sue the federal government if the program is revived.

Kobach also wants to increase participate in what Homeland Security agency calls its 287(g) program and describes as 'one of ICE's top partnership initiatives.'

The program permits state and local governments to agree to give police the power to help enforce federal immigration law.

Kobach's proposal would strike 'expedited 287(g) agreements with at least 70 cities and counties.' The inclusion of the words 'alien criminals' suggests that power would be used mainly to help deport criminals who are in the United States illegally.

PART OF THE MASTER PLAN: KANSAS SECRETARY OF STATE'S HOMELAND SECURITY PROPOSAL Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach accidentally showed reporters part of his strategic plan for reshaping the Homeland Security Department on Sunday. Here are the portions revealed by a photo enlargement: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY / KOBACH STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FIRST 365 DAYS I. Bar the Entry of Potential Terrorists 1. Update and reintroduce the NSEERS screening and tracking system (National Security Entry-Exit Registration System) that was in place from 2002-2005. All aliens from high-risk areas are tracked. 2. Add extreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens; question them regarding support for Sharia law, jihad, equality of men and women, the United States Constitution. 3. Reduce intake of Syrian refugees to zero, using authority under the 1980 Refugee Act. [II. Deport] Record Number of Criminal Aliens in the First Year. [4. Reinstate] 193,000 criminal removal cases dropped by the Obama Administration. [5. ... ICE guidance memoranda adopted by Obama Administration; issue new guidance ... [to redefine "]criminal alien" as any alien arrested for any crime, and any gang member. [6. ...] to repatriate their citizens who have committed crimes in the United States. [7. ...] expedited 287(g) agreements with at least 70 cities and counties to enlist state and ... alien criminals. ... in addition to the 386 miles of existing actual wall within ... entire 1,989 miles planned for rapid build. ... under the PATRIOT Act to prevent illegal aliens ... ... immediately to forestall future lawsuits. V. Stop ... 21. Issue regulations ... voter rolls. Direct ... 22. Direct the Department of Justice ... 23. Draft Amendments to National Voter ... Advertisement

A tough question remains, however: Who might be considered a 'criminal alien'?

The Kobach memo appears to recommend replacing 'ICE guidance memoranda adopted by Obama Administration.' Instead, he would 'issue new guidance' redefining '"criminal alien" as any alien arrested for any crime, and any gang member.'

Combined with the 287(g) authority, that could give local police the power to fast-track deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants arrested for misdemeanors, declaring them 'criminals' without the benefit of a trial.

The 'due process clause' of the Fifth Amendment is generally held to apply to all immigrants, legal and illegal. It guarantees arrestees the right to a speedy trial.

But similar immigration laws are already on the books in Arizona and Alabama. Kobach helped those states' Republican majorities pass them.

The voting-rights section of the Kobach plan appears to refer to the National Voter Registration Act, although his hand and wrist block most of the section out.

The NVRA, which President Bill Clinton signed into law, included the 'motor voter' statute that required DMVs to offer easy voter registrations to people applying for drivers licenses and other state-issued ID cards.

Illegal immigrants can obtain licenses in 12 states and the District of Columbia, a fact that Republicans argue allows for millions of them to illegally register to vote. Local and county-level election judges often lack the computers and manpower to reconcile their voter rolls, and some officials accept drivers licenses as proof of voting eligibility in states that require them.

The Topeka Capitol-Journal was the first media outlet to spot the Homeland Security plan in Kobach's hand, shown in an Associated Press photo.
Said there had been no confirmed internal battery failures with S7 line

Samsung is defending its Galaxy S7 line of products, a couple of months after pulling its Note 7 smartphone as multiple customers said their batteries had exploded.

The South Korean manufacturer said in a statement Friday it stood behind the 'quality and safety' of the Galaxy S7 family - setting it apart from the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung's statement came days after a man in Winnipeg, Canada, claimed his Galaxy S7 had exploded in his hands, causing second and third-degree burns.

Similar reports got the Galaxy Note 7 banned from airplanes in October.

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Samsung has defended its Galaxy S7 products, days after a man in Winnipeg, Canada, claimed his Galaxy S7 had exploded in his hands. Pictured are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

'Samsung stands behind the quality and safety of the Galaxy S7 family. There have been no confirmed cases of internal battery failures with these devices among the more than 10 million devices being used by consumers in the United States; however, we have confirmed a number of instances caused by severe external damage,' the company wrote in a statement.

'Until Samsung is able to obtain and examine any device, it is impossible to determine the true cause of any incident.'

Amarjit Mann, 34, told the Winnipeg Sun last week, just a few days before Samsung's statement, that he had seen his Samsung S7 explode.

He claimed he was driving when he felt a 'warmness' in his pocket.

'I took it out and had it in my hands and it exploded right away,' Mann said. 'When you see smoke, I was shocked. You cannot expect this thing. It was like a nightmare.'

Mann, a mechanic, claimed the incident caused burns to his hands that would require up to nine days to heal.

Tech reporter Chris Mills reported in October that the battery inside his Samsung S7 Active (pictured), a product from the S7 family, had failed

The battery didn't catch fire but the phone swelled, a sign that the battery had released toxic gas, Mills wrote. Pictured is the inside of his phone afterwards

Tech reporter Chris Mills reported in October on BGR that the battery inside his Samsung S7 Active, a product from the S7 family, had failed.

The battery didn't catch fire but the phone swelled, a sign that the battery had released toxic gas, Mills wrote.

'This kind of failure of a lithium-ion battery is common, and it doesnt mean the S7 Active has the same battery problem as the Note 7  or that it has any serious battery problem at all,' he added.

'We hear reports all the time of smartphones catching fire, or the batteries bursting.'

In Mann's and in Mills' instances, Samsung said it couldn't comment on specific incidents without obtaining and examining the phone.

'The issues with the Galaxy Note7 are isolated to only that model,' the company told Mills and Fortune.

The DailyMail.com has reached out to Samsung for further comment.

Samsung's share plummeted by 7 per cent in the days that followed the Note 7 recalled.

Similar reports of explosions got the Galaxy Note 7 banned from airplanes in October. Samsung has discontinued the model and asked customers to bring back the devices

But the debacle could have little to no long-term effects on the brand, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released Sunday.

Samsung smartphone owners were as loyal to the South Korean brand as Apple iPhone customers, according to the survey conducted between October 26 and November 9.

An overwhelming 91 per cent of current Samsung customers said they would likely buy another smartphone from the manufacturer.
President-elect Donald Trump's pick for national security adviser was once heard denouncing the use of torture against suspected terrorists, a stance directly at odds with his new boss' plans.

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has made headlines for his outspoken criticism of President Barack Obama and his controversial remarks about Islam, said the methods were 'very dangerous' and exposed America to a backlash in the future.

He also questioned the use of drone strikes and night raids, similar to the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden in May 2011.

During an appearance before the Carnegie Council in December 2014, Flynn was adamant that using torture ran contrary to US values, CNN reported.

'I'll tell you what, I think it's very dangerous for a time, because it exposes the United States to something that we - I think history will look back on it and it won't be a pretty picture, regardless of all the people that you have heard in the media, what they have said,' Flynn said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (left) was named by President-elect Donald Trump (right, with Flynn) as the next national security adviser. Flynn has previously denounced the use of torture, even though his candidate vowed to bring it back while campaigning for the White House

'I think it was pretty telling -- I caught a little bit of Senator [Diane] Feinstein's statement on the Hill today, and I was able to read Senator [John] McCain's response.'

McCain, a Republican, and Feinstein, a Democrat, have been the most vocal lawmakers in criticizing the CIA for its use of methods that they say amount to torture.

Flynn was responding to a groundbreaking Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA interrogation methods that was issued in December 2014.

Flynn told a think tank in 2014 that he was opposed to the use of torture and was glad that the US government banned waterboarding in 2006

'I would encourage all of you to read Senator McCain's response', Flynn said.

'Senator Feinstein was incredibly articulate about why the report - I was interested to see what the other side would say'.

'In this case, I thought Senator McCain's very thoughtful - from an individual who really experienced enormous levels of torture himself - what his response was going to be'.

'If there's an American strategic advantage, it is our values. We must protect our values at all costs', he said.

Flynn's moderation stands in contrast to Trump's campaign vow to reinstate the practice of waterboarding.

'I like it a lot', Trump told supporters during a campaign rally in Ohio this past June.

'You have to fight fire with fire', he said.

Waterboarding was one of the 'enhanced interrogation techniques' introduced during the George W. Bush administration following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The US government banned it in 2006.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence told CBS on Sunday that he would not rule out restoring waterboarding in a Trump administration.

During an appearance at a security conference in Halifax, McCain vowed that he would fight any attempt by the incoming administration to bring back waterboarding.

Arizona Sen. John McCain (left) has vowed to fight Trump if he tries to restore waterboarding. At right, protesters denounce torture during a 2008 demonstration in Washington

'I don't give a damn what the president of the United States wants to do or anybody else wants to do', the Arizona senator said.

'We will not waterboard. We will not torture'.

'My God, what does it say about America if we're going to inflict torture on people?'

Flynn also told Al Jazeera in August of last year that while he would be open to using 'enhanced interrogation' with 'certain limits' if there was information a terror attack was imminent, he still remain opposed to torture.

'History is not gonna look kind on the -- on those actions that you're describing right now, and we will be held, we should be held accountable for many, many years to come,' he said.

Flynn also said that he was opposed to an over-reliance on aerial drone strikes on the grounds that the US needed to combat terrorism by focusing more on providing solutions to the socioeconomic plights of countries at war with America.

Flynn has also criticized the use of drone strikes by the US military, saying that they may spawn more terrorists than they are killing

'I think that we have invested in, in more conflict instead of actually investing in solutions', he said in the Al Jazeera interview.

'So, and when I say that, what I mean is that we invest in more drones, we invest in more bombs, we invest in more weapons, we invest in more ammunition, we invest in more guys to go out and kill more guys.'

'That's investing in conflict, instead of really taking a serious look and say, 'What ... what are the big excuses that these guys are using?' And if it's lack of, you know, if it's poor economic conditions, if it's poor social conditions, then let's fix those. But those kinds of things aren't gonna get fixed overnight. And the leaders of the Middle East have to decide that that's what they want to do.'

Flynn also said that drone strikes and night raids were encouraging terrorism rather than having their intended effect.

'The drone strikes for example, many have argued, they create more terrorists than they kill', he said.

When asked if night raids in Afghanistan have spawned more terrorism than eliminated it, he replied: 'Yeah, I don't disagree, I don't disagree with that. I think that that's -- that's conflict.'
A 37-year-old Yemeni national residing in Brooklyn was arrested on Monday and charged with attempting to join ISIS and expressing support for a terrorist attack in Times Square.

Mohammed Rafik Naji, who authorities say last year traveled to Turkey and his native Yemen in an effort to join the extremist group, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn.

He was arrested by federal agents earlier Monday, according to a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Targeted: Mohammed Rafik Naji, a Yemeni national from Brooklyn, is accusing of expressing support for an ISIS attack in Times Square (file photo)

Naji, 37, is one of more than 100 people to face charges since 2014 in cases related to ISIS, which has seized control of parts of Iraq and Syria.

According to the complaint, in March 2015, Naji flew to Turkey to join Islamic State in Yemen, where it operated in certain parts. He returned to New York in September 2015, flying from Djibouti, the complaint said.

While abroad, he frequently emailed with his girlfriend, who he later called his wife, asking her for money and sending her a 'selfie' of himself in all black clothing in which a tactical vest and large knife could be seen, the complaint said.

In one email addressed to the unnamed woman, Naji allegedly wrote: 'Its very hard to get in Im on my 5 try its difficult mad po po military and ppl here very scared inshallah I make it m keep trying if not m have to go from somewhere else,' reported CBS News.

Beginning in August 2015, a paid law enforcement informant made contact via Facebook with Naji, who the complaint said described ISIS as 'spreading like a virus' that non-believers 'can't stop it no matter what they do.'

FBI says Naji told an informant he was hoping to help plan a domestic attack similar to the one in Nice, France, in July that claimed the lives of 84 people (aftermath pictured above)

Naji remained in contact with the informant once back in the United States, meeting on numerous occasions in which their conversations were recorded, the complaint said.

Those conversations included one on July 19, 2016, five days after an attack in Nice, France, that Islamic State had claimed responsibility for that killed 84 and hurt hundreds, the complaint said.

In that conversation, Naji expressed his support for staging a similar attack in New York's Times Square, according to court papers.
Remains beautifully preserved after being kept in a dark room for 60 years

An early Frida Kahlo painting that for decades had only been seen in a photograph has resurfaced after a 90-year-old woman decided to sell it.

The unfinished portrait Nina Con Collar (Girl with Necklace), which was painted by Kahlo in 1929, is being auctioned next week by Sotheby's in New York City.

It is expected to fetch an estimated $1.5 to 2million at the auction house's Latin America: Modern Art sale after being hidden from the public for more than 60 years.

Kahlo painted Nina Con Collar, an oil on canvas, when she was just 22. It is a portrait of a young girl, believed to be about 13 or 14 years old.

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This early Frida Kahlo painting, a portrait called Nina Con Collar (Girl with Necklace), has resurfaced for the first time in decades after a 90-year-old woman decided to sell it

It is among the first of the 143 paintings the famous Mexican artist would make in her short life. Kahlo died at the age of 47 in 1954.

A year later her widower, muralist Diego Rivera, gifted the painting to a woman who had helped Kahlo in her studio, said Axel Stein, the head of Latin American art at Sotheby's.

The woman took the painting with her when she moved from Mexico to Sunnyvale, California.

It would hang on a wall in the woman's home until this summer, when she offered the painting to Sotheby's.

Before then, the painting had only ever been seen in one black-and-white photo.

Mexican photographer Lola Alvarez Bravo included a picture of the painting in her archive.

Kahlo painted Nina Con Collar, an oil on canvas, in 1929 - when she was just 22

Bravo began photographing Kahlo's work around the time she married Rivera in 1929, according to Sotheby's.

A picture of the photograph would then make its way into Frida Kahlo: Das Gesamtwerk, a complete catalog of the artist's work that was published in 1988.

Stein said he was shocked to see how 'beautiful and warm' the painting was when it finally surfaced.

'The blues are strikingly beautiful and intense,' he said. 'The vermilion is very, very sharp.'

Stein said the colors still looked as if the painting was 'made yesterday' because the owner had known to hang it in a dark room.

'The sun is the worst enemy of paintings,' he said. 'When she took it out it was beautifully preserved.'

It remains unknown if the subject of Nina Con Collar is a younger Kahlo.

Stein said it prefigures hallmarks of the famous self-portraits she would make later in her career, including the dark, distinctive eyebrows and the full frontal gaze.

The woman in the portrait is also wearing a jade necklace and hoop earrings that would similarly reappear the marriage portrait with Rivera that Kahlo painted in 1931.

Stein said Kahlo's paintings have sold for higher prices in international art markets than any other Latin American artist.

Just last May, Christie's sold the 1939 Kahlo painting Two Nudes in the Forest for $8million.

Kahlo's widower, muralist Diego Rivera (pictured together in 1945), gifted the painting to a woman who had helped Kahlo in her studio a year after the famous Mexican painter died

It was most her work had ever fetched at an auction, and broke a record for Latin American artists, according to Fusion.

And Sotheby's has privately sold Kahlo paintings for more than $15million each, according to the auction house.

Kahlo paintings are so highly valued because they are extremely hard to get one's hands on.

Mexico has barred the export of Kahlo's works from the country for several decades in an attempt to conserve their cultural heritage.

Making Nina Con Collar even more meaningful was that Kahlo kept it until her death, likely due to an emotional attachment to one of her first works.

'The painting would hold a particular meaning to her, as it became a point of departure on which she built various self-portraits over time,' Sothebys said in a release.
There is no evidence to prove that either of these claims are true

They also suggest he could have been behind the DNC email hack

Online sleuths claimed he was on the way to the FBI when he was shot

Reward has been increased from $25,000 to $125,000

But his family say his cell phone, watch and wallet were found on his body

The mother of a Democratic National Committee staffer shot dead in Washington D.C. in August has again appealed for help to catch his killer.

Seth Conrad Rich, 27, was gunned down in the affluent Bloomingdale neighborhood in July while he was on the phone to his girlfriend.

With no clues, police initially offered a $25,000 reward, but the sum has now been upped to $125,000, as announced by Rich's mother, Mary Rich, during a press conference on Monday.

'You have two people who shot my son twice in the back. We're not going to stop until we find my son's murderer. We will find his murderer, but we need all of you,' she said.

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Murdered: Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich (pictured) was shot dead in Washington D.C. on July 11. No arrests have been made in the murder

'Please help us': Mary Rich pleaded for help from the public in finding her son's killer

Fox 5 News reported that Mrs Rich continued: 'Please, help us find who killed him.'

'He fought with them. They have bruises and they have blood on them. If you saw anything, please call police. If may be nothing, and it may be the lead we need.

'We want to bring this to closure.'

Police have said there had been numerous robberies in the area in the lead up to Rich's murder and suspect he may have engaged in a fight with his attackers.

Mrs Rich said her son was always wary of his surroundings and played it safe.

'Next time something like this happens, it might be someone you love, ' she warned in a previous press conference.

'The only thing I can say as a mother is it warms my heart that he lived such a great life, even though it was cut short,' she added. 'I can always hold on to that.'

The victim's father, Joel Rich (left), and GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman (right) also spoke at the press conference on Monday

Despite D.C. police suspecting a robbery, Rich's family said that nothing had been taken from their son.

The trail seems to have gone cold after the DNC staffer was killed on July 11.

Rich's body was found covered in bruises on the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, but he still had his watch, cell phone and wallet on him.

A police report seen by DailyMail.com also states the circumstances surrounding Rich's homicide are 'unknown'.

The mystery surrounding his death has sparked a flurry of theories posted online, including claims that he was on his way to speak to the FBI when he was shot.

Mrs Rich had previously pleaded for people to come forward with information on what happened to her son. Police are yet to make any arrests

Flowers are left on the street near where Rich's bruised body was found in Bloomingdale

A mother's hearbreak. Mary Rich asks for help finding killers of her son Seth #sethrich @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/g2sZg5ugfr  Jackie Bensen (@jackiebensen) August 4, 2016

There have also been suggestions he fed Wikileaks the 3,000 DNC emails that were released at the start of the party's convention last week.

Reddit user The_Donald also constructed a timeline that links Rich to the Clintons, as pointed out by Heat Street.

He said Rich developed a relationship with environmentalists supporting Bernie Sanders. They then suggest this relationship was somehow connected to Rich's death.

There is no evidence to suggest any of these claims are true.

Cops said Rich may have been the victim of an attempted robbery, but his family insist the killers didn't take anything from him

One of his roommates said Rich was likely walking home from his girlfriend's house when he was shot. Rich had rented an apartment with three roommates

DailyMail.com has contacted the FBI for comment.

Julian Assange suggested the DNC leak may have been the work of an insider.

But he told DemocracyNow he didn't know their identity, and wouldn't reveal if he did.

In an interview with Britain's ITV, he also suggested that anyone within the Democratic organization could have had access to the trove of emails.

Rich was killed on July 11, two days after he appealed on Facebook to end gun violence.

Those who knew him said Rich (pictured center) liked to stay up late either due to a busy work schedule or to socialize

He wrote: 'I reiterate back to people stop hating each other. Too much pain to process. We have to be better and defend each other more true.

'A life is exponentially valuable. I have family and friends on both sides of the law. Please, stop killing each other.'

His death came after a spate of robberies in the neighborhood and DC police are now investigating if the murder is connected to those.

According to Fox 5, just an hour before the shooting there was a violent robbery in the 900 block on N Street, where police said three suspects pistol whipped, beat, kicked and robbed three people.

There were no witnesses to Rich's shooting, police said.

The attack took place across the street from a convenience store on the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, three blocks away from Howard University Hospital.

It was not far from where Rich lived in a brownstone with three or four roommates, according to the Washington Post.

Colleagues have paid tribute to Rich's infectious smile and strong work ethic. Rich, an avid Packers fan, is pictured above at an NFL game in his teams colors

One of his roommates told the Post that Rich was likely walking home from his girlfriend's house at the time.

Mr Rich, 68, told Daily Mail Online: 'He was a 27-year-old who wanted to make a difference. That's part of the reason he went into his line of work, helping with the political process.

'He had worked for candidates whose vision he felt was going to help the country get better.

'He was working on that now, and whether he ever wanted to run, I would not say no. He wanted to stay involved and he wanted to make a difference.

'What we're feeling is that his vision is going to be unfulfilled. He was so capable, he would have been able to make a difference, I think.'

Describing himself on LinkedIn, Rich wrote: 'I have an enormous interest in public service and working towards making the world a better place.'

Rich was killed on July 11, two days after he appealed on Facebook to end gun violence

Rich graduated with a BA in political science from Nebraska's Creighton University in 2011.

While studying, he worked for the US Census Bureau and the Nebraska Democratic Party, and interned for Senator Ben Nelson.

His first job out of college was as a research associate for the opinion research firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

In 2014, he took up his position at the DNC, which starts its all-important convention on July 25.

Former DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz paid tribute to Rich the day after his death.

'Our hearts are broken with the loss of one of our DNC family members over the weekend,' she said in a statement.

'Seth Rich was a dedicated, selfless public servant who worked tirelessly to protect the most sacred right we share as Americans  the right to vote. He saw the great potential of our nation and believed that, together, we can make the world a better place.

'He was a joy to have as a member of our team, and his talents, intelligence and enthusiasm will be deeply missed by the many friends, colleagues and coworkers who worked by his side in service to the highest ideals of our democracy.'

Rich lived in a brownstone with three or four roommates. It was close to where he was shot

Rich grew up in Omaha, where his family played a strong role in the Beth El Synagogue.

His grandfather was a founding member of the synagogue and his father was head of the congregation until recently.

Rich studied Hebrew at the synagogue, and traveled to Israel two years ago. His teacher paid tribute to Rich on Facebook, calling him 'a dynamic young man who loved his work at the DNC.'

The 27-year-old was described by friends as quiet, soft-spoken and focused on his work but with a comic streak.

'On the Fourth of July he wore a full American flag outfit,' one friend, who did not wish to be identified, said. 'If he went to a Redskins game he would wear entirely red and gold.

'He was a big Packers fan and when they played he would wear a 'Cheesehead'. Although he was quiet with his words, in that way, he was outgoing.'

Those who knew him said Rich liked to stay up late either due to a busy work schedule or to socialize.

The Metropolitan Police Department offers up to a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
A former bikie - dubbed the 'Lizard Man' - allegedly threatened to 'chop up' a man in a violent armed robbery just days before he killed himself and his ex-girlfriend.

Bronson Ellery, 24, was found dead in his Gold Coast apartment in Southport next to the body of Shelsea Schilling, 20, on November 11 after an apparent murder-suicide.

But five days before their bodies were discovered, Ellery and another man allegedly stormed a property wielding a sawn-off rifle and machete where they threatened two people, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Ellery allegedly terrorised the pair, threatening to 'chop [them] up' or 'put a bullet in them' before he and another man fled the scene in one of the victim's car.

A Queensland police spokesperson could not confirm the allegations but told Daily Mail Australia 'this is now a Coronial investigation.

'A report has been provided to the Coroner as such it is inappropriate for police to provide any further comment,' the spokesperson said.

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'Lizard Man' Bronson Ellery, 24, (pictured) allegedly threatened to 'chop up' a man in a violent armed robbery just days before he killed himself and his ex-girlfriend

The 24-year-old (right) was found dead in his apartment, alongside the body of his 20-year-old former girlfriend Shelsea Schilling (left) on November 11

The claims comes as distraught family and friends farewell Ms Schilling, a beauty therapy graduate, at her funeral on Monday.

Earlier this week, the final hours of Ellery emerged after witnesses claimed they saw him strangled his ex-partner when she tried to leave his unit.

After knocking her unconscious and suffocating her with a pillow, the heavily-tattooed man then slipped into a suit, put on his favourite tune before laying himself next to her lifeless body, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

A source claimed Ellery killed himself after taking a lethal dose of drugs as police investigate whether Ms Schilling died in a similar way despite her severe injuries.

The claim comes after Ellery penned an apology note to his ex-girlfriend's parents before he killed her in front of witnesses.

Ellery received the name Lizard Man for the tattoos he once had on his face - but he covered with further tattoos

On Sunday, it was revealed Ellery liked pigeons, believed in aliens and enjoyed spelling bees, his friend said.

Witnesses claimed they watched as Ellery attacked the 20-year-old (pictured) when she tried to leave his apartment

Nick Blandthorn - who found the pair's bodies - revealed the former Bandido bikie had a number of traits that his head-to-toe tattoos did not reflect, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Ellery would joke about the pair making a good-looking gay couple, Mr Blandthorn said.

When lightning struck, he'd attribute it to aliens.

'I'm seeing all these pictures of him with guns  I just think it's funny because I'd get to his place at times in the morning and the first thing he'd do  before he'd feed himself  he'd feed the pigeons,' Mr Blandthorn said.

'This is how tough he is  we'd do spelling bees at his house. He'd go 'Spell parallelogram'. I can't even say the thing. We'd sit there and deadset do spelling bees.'

The 24-year-old former bikie (left) and with his friend Nick Blandthorn who found their bodies

Mr Blandthorn (left) found Ellery's body alongside that of 20-year-old Shelsea Schilling

Mr Blandthorn also told the publication about Ellery's obsessive cleanliness.

Ellery had also been a fan of 'metal' music and had once released his own album.

The pair gave each other tattoos - Mr Blandthorn received a koi fish on his arm for Ellery, but when he began to return the favour - a dragon on the back of 'Lizard Man' - he was told to stop because he couldn't tattoo properly.

During Ellery's prison stint earlier in 2016 - for breaching a domestic violence order Ms Schilling had taken out against him when she tried to escape him - he and Mr Blandthorn kept in touch.

However, due to a new job, they hadn't seen each other in the weeks leading up to their deaths.

Mr Blandthorn said walking into the apartment and finding them dead would stay with him for a long time.

Earlier, revelations were made about how the pair were found.

Police have said a suicide note was found at the scene and investigators do not believe a third party was responsible for the deaths.

The investigation continues.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.

Ellery had a skull tattooed over his face before having the number 23 inked over the top of it
Johnthony Walker (pictured), 24, has been charged with multiple counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving after horrific bus crash

A bus driver who was transporting 35 students from an elementary school has been arrested after at least five children were killed following a horrific crash.

Johnthony Walker, 24, has been charged with multiple counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher told CNN late Monday night.

The bus that Walker was driving crashed and wrapped around a tree Monday afternoon, authorities confirmed.

Five children died at the scene.

Walker is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, but could face more charges as the case proceeds to a Hamilton County Grand Jury, Fletcher said.

It is unclear at this time what led to the crash.

Fletcher said that speed is being investigated 'very, very strongly' as a possible factor, adding that driving conditions were clear and dry.

He said 'a warrant has been issued to remove the informational box on the school bus and review the video', CNN reported.

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Walker is charged with five counts, but could face more charges after the bus he was driving crashed (pictured) killing at least five children in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Twenty-three more people were sent to area hospitals

Police Chief Fred Fletcher said 35 schoolchildren were on the bus Monday afternoon. The Chattanooga Fire Department said around 5.30pm that the last patient was extricated from the bus

A woman was spotted escorting three children who were on the bus at the time of the crash. The children all had cuts, bruises and scratches on them as they were taken away from the scene

A neighbor living on Talley Road near the crash said that the children were escaping from the roof hatch of the bus. Two children are pictured on the ground in front of a home with authorities and first-responders

District Attorney Neal Pinkston initially told WRCB that six people had died. However, police reconfirmed that the actual fatality count was five victims and not six.

Twenty-three more victims were sent to Erlanger Hospital after the bus crashed.

Fletcher said 35 schoolchildren were on the bus Monday afternoon.

Bloodied students lay on stretchers, while other children walked away dazed with their parents after the Monday afternoon crash.

At the scene, parents were heard crying and screaming 'that's my baby' as they arrived, CNN reported.

Fletcher did not have information about the extent of injuries.

He said the crash was 'every public safety professional's worst nightmare'.

He also said at a news conference that the bus was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

Chattanooga Police Assistant Chief Tracy Arnold said officials would not identify the students who died, or their ages, until parents were notified.

Some children were trapped in the bus and firefighters had to break into the vehicle to extricate them, according to WDEF-TV.

The Chattanooga Fire Department said around 5.30pm that the last patient was extricated from the bus.

The students on board ranged from kindergarten through fifth grade.

At the state Capitol in Nashville, Gov Bill Haslam called the crash 'a tragic event' and offered assistance.

The bus was carrying students from Woodmore Elementary when it crashed around 3.20pm along 313 Talley Road.

A neighbor living on Talley Road near the crash told NewsChannel 9 that the children were escaping from the roof hatch.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke told loved ones to go to the elementary school for more information.

Fletcher said at a news conference that the bus was the only vehicle involved in the crash

Blood Assurance released a statement calling for the community to donate blood. The organization said it is in 'critical need for blood' for the 23 victims who were taken to area hospitals. Residents in the area are pictured standing in line to donate blood

It is unclear at this time what led to the crash, but police said the bus driver is cooperating with them. First responders continued to work the scene for several hours

He tweeted: 'Please pray for the families of those affected by this horrible accident.'

Congressman Chuck Fleischmann shared his condolences to the families of those lost on his Facebook.

'My thoughts are with the young victims of the Woodmore Elementary School bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

'I am absolutely heartbroken over this tragedy and I will pray for the children and their families.'

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that a team would be heading to Chattanooga on Tuesday morning to investigate.

Blood Assurance released a statement calling for the community to donate blood.

The students on board ranged from kindergarten through fifth grade. At the state Capitol in Nashville, Gov Bill Haslam called the crash 'a tragic event' and offered assistance. Emergency personnel are pictured working the scene of the crash

Parents received text message notifying them of the crash. The message said that 'extra counselors and support staff' would be coming in from all over the state to help students process the tragedy

The organization said it is in 'critical need for blood' for the 23 victims who were taken to area hospitals.

Hours for Blood Assurance have been extended so that people can donate and the organization will also accept blood on Tuesday.

Mindy Quinn from Blood Assurance told CNN that 'hundreds and hundreds' of donors flocked to give blood to treat crash victims.

'We have had people who were refusing to leave until they give blood,' Quinn said.

Parents received text message notifying them of the crash, according to WDEF.

'We just wanted to inform you that Hamilton County schools faced a great tragedy today. School and county personnel are on scene of a bus accident on Tally Road in Chattanooga.

The message said that 'extra counselors and support staff' would be coming in from all over the state to help students process the tragedy.

Superintendent Kirk Kelly said that schools will be open on Tuesday with guidance counselors and support at schools for students and staff, according the Times Free Press.
Homebound Billings residents have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to receive delivery of a Thanksgiving Day meal through the Montana Rescue Mission.

Residents who know someone unable to attend the free Thursday meal or who cannot travel to the meal site, at 2822 Minnesota Ave., may call 259-3800 to arrange a free meal delivery, according to a release from the mission.

On Thanksgiving Day, a traditional meal will be served at the Montana Rescue Missions Mens Shelter. A chapel service will begin at noon. Seating for dinner will begin at 1 p.m. and will conclude at 3 p.m.
A farmer in China has found a rare spider with a disk attached to its abdomen, according to Chinese media.

The man, who found the wild spider on his orange farm, said he planned to sell the precious find for 'a good price'.

Zhao Li, an arachnid expert, told a local reporter that the spider was a Chinese hourglass spider and it was highly valuable.

A farmer in China has found a rare spider with an extraordinary disk attached to its body (pictured). The man said he planned to sell the rare Chinese hourglass spider

People's Daily reported the man's discovery in a short post on its website, citing a full report from Chengdu Business Daily.

According to both reports, the man, named Li Wenhua, found the spider on his orange farm in Pujiang village near Chengdu, south-west China, on November 14.

At first, Li did not realise it was a spider; instead, he thought it was a cultural relic.

The farmer was surprised by the find and he informed his neighbours, who flocked to Li's home to see the strange spider.

By searching on the internet, Li found out that the spider was called Chinese hourglass spider, or 'li shi pan fu zhu' in Chinese.

Zhao Li, the head of the Insect Museum of West China, told a reporter from Chengdu Business Daily that the spider was indeed a Chinese hourglass spider.

The arachnid is one of the earliest spiders to have been documented in China.

Chinese hourglass spider is one of the earliest spiders to have been documented in China

Chinese hourglass spider has been sighted six times since it was re-discovered in China's Sichuan Province in year 2000, reported Chengdu Business Daily.

Zhao Li said the spider was highly valuable.

He told Chengdu Business Daily: 'The spider has very high value in scientific research. It is an extremely rare species in Sichuan.

'I had spend great effort trying to find it, but I didn't see one.'

Zhao also said that the spider fitted the descriptions of a species mentioned in an ancient book called Er Ya.

Published between the fifth century and the second century BC, Er Ya is said to be the oldest surviving Chinese dictionary, dating back as far as the fifth century BC.

Farmer Li said he planned to sell the spider as pet. He also said that he hoped it could fetch a good price on the market.

Chinese hourglass spider is a type of trapdoor spiders.

Trapdoor spiders are rarely seen because they live their lives in below-ground burrows that are covered by trapdoors.
This is a nightmare moment for any bride - to marry alone on her biggest day. A woman from China, however, was happy to do so.

Zhang Dongfang, from Guizhou province, had to take wedding vows by herself last week after her fiance had decided to attend a SWAT contest on their wedding day, reported Huanqiu, a publication affiliated to People's Daily.

The woman said she was proud of her fiance and she was happy to go through the nuptials on her own.

The bride (in red), surnamed Zhang, attended the wedding on her own last week in China

According to the report, the wedding took place on November 16 in Guizhou province.

In the wedding photo, relatives and friends left a space next to the bride for the absent groom.

The fiance, named Zhu Junzai, had joined the SWAT force at the public security bureau in Tongren city since 2010.

He had taken part in several missions, including rescuing hostages and arresting suspects of serious crimes.

The SWAT officer and his girlfriend, Zhang Dongfang, decided to get married two years ago.

However, the wedding plan had to be postponed several times due to Zhu's busy work.

His fiancee, Zhang, had never complained about it.

The above photo shows the relatives and friends leaving a space for the absent groom next to the bride(dressed in red). They later drew a figure and wrote the groom's name on the photo

A year ago, the couple had finally decided the wedding day would be November 14, 2016.

Picking the wedding date is an important step in the Chinese tradition as an auspicious date could mean a successful marriage.

While happily preparing for their wedding ceremony, Zhu and Zhang received a phone call from Zhu's SWAT office one month before their big day.

Zhu was asked to attend a SWAT contest at Duyun city of Guizhou province on the same day of their wedding.

Zhu decided to participate in the contest for 'the honour and glory' of his police bureau.

Zhu Junzai, the absent groom, decided to enter a SWAT competition on his wedding day

Zhang, who is also a civil servant, supported Zhu's decision.

The bride-to-be told a reporter from Guizhou Metropolis Daily: 'I am proud of you. I will be a good wife.

'Our wedding will proceed as planned even if you can't show up, I am still happy to marry alone as I have you.'

At first, Zhang's family found it difficult to accept the idea.

The bride-to-be had tried very hard to convince her family, who eventually agreed to let her proceed with the wedding.

The story has attracted tens of thousands comments on Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter.

Many Chinese online users criticised the groom's decision.

One user said: 'It's just a SWAT competition. It's not an urgent mission. Attending his own wedding is more important.'

Another one wrote: 'I won't marry this man who can't even be bothered to attend the wedding.'

'It just explains that the woman loves him a lot,' a third user said.
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This adorable calf is the first artificially bred baby beluga whale to have survived more than two months in China.

A set of beautiful photos taken today show the baby whale bonding with her mother Zhuoya at Changsha Sea World Park in southern China.

The female calf, still unnamed, follows her mother every day, swimming actively inside the tank.

This adorable calf is the first artificially bred baby beluga whale to have survived more than two months in China

The beautiful picture shows the baby whale bonding with her mother Zhuoya at Changsha Sea World Park

A keeper at the park said it was extremely rare for a beluga whale to survive in the captive environment, according to a report on People's Daily Online.

The mammals' natural habitat is Arctic.

The calf, born on September 22, is currently in a good physical condition, the report said.

At birth, she weighed 100kg (220 pounds) and measured 1.55 meters (4.9 feet) in length.

Now she has grown to 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) long.

The newborn is the daughter of Zhuoya and Shula. Both were imported from Moscow to Changsha in 2010.

Zhuoya was conceived through artificial insemination and the calf was raised in an artificial breeding environment. Both were considered as great achievements of the park by Chinese media.

The baby whale only stays with her mother, Zhuoya, for the time being.

Shula, described to be ill-tempered, has been kept at another pool. He can communicate with the baby whale through ultrasonic sound under the water.

The baby girl, still unnamed, swims actively back and forth inside the tank following her mother every day

As Zhuoya has no experience raising the baby, the calf is now feeding on cetacean baby formula and mashed fish, which costs over 1,000 yuan (116 pounds) every day.

A baby beluga whale can feed itself by catching fish after it turns six months old.

As the calf grows bigger, its appearance will also change.

Born dark grey, a baby beluga whale will shed its skin and grow whiter.

Its entire body will become completely white when it reaches adulthood.

Zhuoya was conceived through artificial insemination and the calf was raised in an artificial breeding environment
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The most advanced weather satellite ever built rocketed into space on Saturday night, as part of an $11 billion (8.91 billion) effort to revolutionize forecasting and save lives.

This new GOES-R spacecraft will track US weather as never before, according to Nasa.

It will monitor hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, wildfires, lightning storms, and even solar flares and relay crucial information to forecasters so they can issue space weather alerts and warnings.

The most advanced weather satellite ever built rocketed into space on Saturday night from Nasa's at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida (pictured). The satellite is part of an $11 billion (8.91bn) effort to revolutionize forecasting and save lives

THE INSTRUMENTS The new GOES-R spacecraft will track US weather as never before. It will monitor hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, wildfires, lightning storms, and even solar flares. GOES-R's premier imager, one of six science instruments, will offer three times as many channels as the existing system, four times the resolution and five times the scan speed. It will churn out full images of the Western Hemisphere every 15 minutes and the continental United States every five minutes. Specific storm regions will be updated every 30 seconds. Advertisement

The first in a series of four high-tech satellites, GOES-R hitched a ride on an unmanned Atlas V rocket, after being delayed an hour by rocket and other problems.

'The launch of GOES-R represents a major step forward in terms of our ability to provide more timely and accurate information that is critical for life-saving weather forecasts and warnings,' said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

NOAA teamed up with Nasa for the mission.

'It also continues a decades-long partnership between NASA and NOAA to successfully build and launch geostationary environmental satellites.'

About 50 TV meteorologists from around the country converged on the launch site on Saturday, including NBC's Al Roker, along with 8,000 space program workers and guests.

'What's so exciting is that we're going to be getting more data, more often, much more detailed, higher resolution,' Roker said.

In the case of tornadoes, 'if we can give people another 10, 15, 20 minutes, we're talking about lives being saved.'

The new satellite is the equivalent of a super high-definition TV, where previous satellites are the equivalent of black and white screens.

'Really a quantum leap above any satellite NOAA has ever flown,' said Stephen Volz, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's director of satellites.

'For the American public, that will mean faster, more accurate weather forecasts and warnings,' Volz said.

'That also will mean more lives saved and better environmental intelligence' for government officials responsible for hurricane and other evacuations.

Airline passengers also stand to benefit, as do rocket launch teams.

Improved forecasting will help pilots avoid bad weather and help rocket scientists know when to call off a launch.

Nasa declared success 3.5 hours after lift-off, following separation from the upper stage.

Typically, it will churn out full images of the Western Hemisphere every 15 minutes and the continental United States every five minutes. Specific storm regions will be updated every 30 seconds. Improved space weather sensors on GOES-R will monitor the sun and relay crucial information to forecasters so they can issue space weather alerts and warnings

The first in a series of four high-tech satellites, GOES-R hitched a ride on an unmanned Atlas V rocket, delayed an hour by rocket and other problems. The new satellite is the equivalent of a super high-definition TV, where previous satellites are the equivalent of black and white screens

The satellite, valued by NOAA at $1 billion (8.91 billion), is aiming for a 22,300-mile-high equatorial orbit. There, it will join three ageing spacecraft with 40-year-old technology, and become known as GOES-16. After months of testing, this newest satellite will take over for one of the older ones

Forecasters will use the lightning mapper to hone in on storms that bring the greatest threats. Satellites primary instrument, the Advanced Baseline Imager, will provide images of Earths weather, oceans and environment with 16 different spectral bands, including two visible channels, four near-infrared channels, and 10 infrared channels. Artist's impression of GOES-R

THE NEXT STEPS The new satellite will become operational within a year, after undergoing a checkout and validation of its six new instruments, including the first operational lightning mapper in geostationary orbit. Beyond weather forecasting, GOES-R also will be part of the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) System, an international satellite-based search and rescue network operated by NOAA. The satellite is carrying a special transponder that can detect distress signals from emergency beacons. There are four satellites in the GOES-R series: R, S, T and U, which will extend NOAAs geostationary coverage through to 2036. Advertisement

The satellite, valued by NOAA at $1 billion (8.91 billion), is aiming for a 22,300-mile-high equatorial orbit.

There, it will join three ageing spacecraft with 40-year-old technology, and become known as GOES-16. After months of testing, this newest satellite will take over for one of the older ones.

The second satellite in the series will follow in 2018. All told, the series should stretch to 2036.

GOES stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The first was launched in 1975.

GOES-R's premier imager, one of six science instruments, will offer three times as many channels as the existing system, four times the resolution and five times the scan speed, said NOAA program director Greg Mandt.

A similar imager is also flying on a Japanese weather satellite.

Typically, it will churn out full images of the Western Hemisphere every 15 minutes and the continental United States every five minutes.

Specific storm regions will be updated every 30 seconds.

Improved space weather sensors on GOES-R will monitor the sun and relay crucial information to forecasters so they can issue space weather alerts and warnings.

In all, data from GOES-R will result in 34 new or improved meteorological, solar and space weather products.

GOES-R's premier imager, one of six science instruments, will offer three times as many channels as the existing system, four times the resolution and five times the scan speed, said NOAA program director Greg Mandt

Forecasters will get pictures 'like they've never seen before,' Mandt promised.

A first-of-its-kind lightning mapper, meanwhile, will take 500 snapshots a second.

This next-generation GOES program includes four satellites, an extensive land system of satellite dishes and other equipment, and new methods for crunching the massive, non-stop stream of expected data.

Hurricane Matthew, interestingly enough, delayed the launch by a couple weeks.

As the hurricane bore down on Florida in early October, launch preps were put on hold. Matthew stayed far enough offshore to cause minimal damage to Cape Canaveral, despite some early forecasts that suggested a direct strike.

'NOAA and NASA have partnered for decades on successful environmental satellite missions,' said Sandra Smalley, director of Nasa's Joint Agency Satellite Division at the agency's Headquarters in Washington, which worked with NOAA to manage the development and launch of GOES-R.

'Today's launch continues that partnership and provides the basis for future collaboration in developing advanced weather satellites.'

Beyond weather forecasting, GOES-R also will be part of the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) System, an international satellite-based search and rescue network operated by NOAA.
How does fire act in space? Researchers will soon find out, by igniting nine different materials aboard an unmanned spaceship on its way to a fiery re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, NASA said Monday.

The Cygnus cargo ship operated by the US company Orbital ATK left the International Space Station, packed with 1.5 tons of garbage, at 8:22 am (1322 GMT) on Monday.

Ultimately, the whole spaceship and its contents will burn up on re-entry to Earth's atmosphere at 6:30 pm (2330 GMT) Sunday.

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The Orbital ATK's Cygnus cargo craft (L) as seen from the Cupola module windows aboard the International Space Station on October 23, 2016 in a NASA photo obtained October 26, 2016

HOW FIRE BEHAVES IN SPACE To help understand how flames burn in space, Nasa researchers have previously ignited a small drop of heptane and methanol (pictured) Flames in space burn with a lower temperature, at a lower rate, and with less oxygen than in normal gravity. This means that materials used to extinguish the fire must be present in higher concentrations. The slow flow of air from the fans mixing the air in a spacecraft can make the flames burn even faster. To help understand how flames burn in space, Nasa researchers have previously ignited a small drop of either heptane or methanol. As this little sphere of fuel burns for about 20 seconds, it is engulfed by a spherically symmetric flame. The droplet shrinks until either the flame extinguishes or the fuel runs out. The latest experiment is aiming to test what would happen if flames appear on the ISS on a much larger scale. Advertisement

But until then, the spaceship transforms into a test bed that aims to improve safety for astronauts living in space by helping experts better understand how fire behaves in microgravity.

'A spacecraft fire is one of the greatest crew safety concerns for NASA and the international space exploration community,' said project manager Gary Ruff, part of the team working on the experiment known as the Spacecraft Fire Experiment, or Saffire.

The nine samples of materials to be set ablaze include 'flame retardant fabrics used for astronaut clothing, station Plexiglas window samples with edge variations and structures used for storage containers and silicone composites,' said NASA.

Each sample is two by 11 inches (five by 28 centimeters), and is placed in a separate compartment for the fire study.

'Saffire seeks to answer two questions,' said principal investigator David Urban.

'Will an upward spreading flame continue to grow or will microgravity limit the size?

'Secondly, what fabrics and materials will catch fire and how will they burn?'

NASA said the first fire in the series of experiments would start about five hours after the Cygnus departed.

The goal is 'to help investigators better understand flammability of these materials in a microgravity environment,' said a statement by Orbital ATK.

The company said data will be downloaded from the spacecraft via telemetry.

Cygnus launched from Wallops Island, Virginia and arrived at the ISS on October 23, carrying 5,100 pounds (2,300 kilograms) of food, supplies and science experiments for the team of global astronauts living in orbit.

Orbital ATK and SpaceX have each been awarded NASA contracts worth more than one billion dollars to supply the space station.

This summer, Nasa released two videos of a large fire that was lit inside an unmanned cargo ship in space in a daring experiment.

The experiment, the first of three planned Nasa experiments on how big fires grow in space, was an important test for astronaut safety.

The space agency confirmed the fire had been lit on June 15th at 4:55pm ET.

The first of the two videos, which were posted on Nasa Glenn Research's Twitter page, shows a test performed before the fire was lit, sending tendrils of smoke across the box to make sure that air was flowing through smoothly.

The second video shows the main experiment, where the fabric was ignited on one side by a hot wire on the material, and began to smolder and burn for approximately eight minutes.

Previous experiments in space were limited to the incineration of samples no bigger than an index card, said David Urban, lead researcher for the Spacecraft Fire Experiment, or Saffire.

'We tried for years to find a vehicle and a circumstance where this would work and initially we'd get a 'not on my spacecraft' reaction,' Urban said during a Nasa TV interview.

Nasa ultimately settled on using an Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship, which is designed to burn up in the atmosphere after it departs the space station.

The Cygnus, which departed the space station on Tuesday, was launched from Earth in March with more than 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg) of food, supplies and science experiments for the station, a research laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above the planet.

The second video shows the main experiment, where the fabric was ignited on one side by a hot wire on the material, and began to smolder and burn for approximately eight minutes

The cargo included Saffire, a module containing a 38-inch by 19-inch (97 cm by 49 cm) cotton-and-fiberglass material sample that was set on fire after Cygnus reached a safe distance from the station.

The experiment began with hot wires igniting the sample.

Air flowing through ducts fanned the fire, which lasted about eight minutes.

'One of the big questions is how big will the flame get?' Urban said.

Fire behaves differently outside of Earth's atmosphere, so scientists want to test whether microgravity will limit flames and what materials will burn.

In February 1997, an oxygen-generating canister aboard the Russian Mir space station erupted into a searing flame, blocking the crew's path to an emergency escape ship.

The crew fought the fire with foam extinguishers and water and it eventually burned itself out, leaving a thick residue of soot.
The endangered whale shark, the world's biggest fish, could be saved - simply by studying seawater

Swimming alongside the 'gentle giant' is one of the ultimate bucket-list experiences but numbers have been decimated by the appetite for shark fine soup.

One carcass is worth 19,000 ($23,760).

Now scientists have uncovered its genetic diversity by analysing a small sample of the ocean to detect traces of the whale shark's DNA.

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Pictured is a whale shark at Al Shaheen, Arabian Gulf, offshore Qatar. During the summer months, whale sharks gather here in large aggregations. The whale sharks release environmental DNA to the ocean water, which is a source to important genetic insights

WHALE SHARKS The number of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) has more than halved over the last 75 years, with legal and illegal fishing, entrapment in fishing gear, and collisions with boats blamed for most deaths. No one knows how many are left but rough estimates put their numbers somewhere in the tens of thousands worldwide. Fishing for the large, slow-moving sharks is particularly prevalent in China and Oman, though the species is showing some recovery in the Western Hemisphere and in India, the Philippines and Taiwan, thanks to legal protections. They can reach a length of 40 feet (12 metres). They feed by scooping huge amounts of tiny plankton and small fish from the water - particularly near the surface and in warm water. Advertisement

The technique - called environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing - could boost conservation of many creatures of the deep.

Fish leave specks of their DNA in the water and the researchers have used this to glean useful information on the iconic beast's health.

They analysed less than 30 litres of seawater from where the animals seasonally gather to feed off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf.

From this they were able to make an estimate of the size of both the local population and that across the entire Indo-Pacific.

They also showed these whale sharks are genetically distinct from those found in the Atlantic.

The research published online in Nature Ecology & Evolution says eDNA sequencing extracts trace amounts of an organism's DNA from water.

Conservation biologists routinely use the genetic diversity of wild populations to inform decisions about how best to manage them.

But getting this knowledge relies on taking invasive tissue samples from the study organism.

It also requires taking enough samples to adequately represent the population as a whole - which can be particularly difficult to do for marine animals living in large expanses of ocean.

Dr Philip Thomsen, of Copenhagen University, and colleagues said their monitoring method is much cheaper and efficient - and can complement existing conservation tools.

Fishing for the large, slow-moving sharks is particularly prevalent in China and Oman, though the species is showing some recovery in the Western Hemisphere and in India, the Philippines and Taiwan, thanks to legal protections

He has likened it to 'CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) work for a biologist' - looking at the biodiversity of the ocean by using environmental DNA as a proxy for what is actually living there.

The genetic material left in the water by fish during their lives is invisible to the naked eye but can be extracted and sequenced - yielding a 'DNA fingerprint of the ocean.'

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL DNA SEQUENCING? The technique - called environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing - could boost conservation of many creatures of the deep. Fish leave specks of their DNA in the water and the researchers have used this to glean useful information on the iconic beast's health. They analysed less than 30 litres of seawater from where the animals seasonally gather to feed off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. From this they were able to make an estimate of the size of both the local population and that across the entire Indo-Pacific. They also showed these whale sharks are genetically distinct from those found in the Atlantic. Advertisement

Sequencing eDNA from water has previously been used to detect the presence of aquatic organisms but this is the first time it has been used to gather information on the genetics of whole populations.

Whale sharks are currently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered.

Dr Thomsen said: 'Population genetic information is essential for the informed management and conservation of endangered species but for rare oceanic species sampling remains a challenge.

'The whale shark is an iconic, but endangered, oceanic species, mainly due to over-exploitation. Despite its large size much of the whale shark's biology remains unknown.

'For instance although studies have documented coastal aggregations of whale sharks around the world, little is known about offshore aggregations.

'Population studies have primarily depended on tissue sampling and tagging, which are expensive and potentially harmful.

'Here we investigated the use of seawater environmental DNA (eDNA) to obtain genetic information at the population level.

'Environmental DNA from water samples has been used to detect and quantify aquatic macroorganisms in freshwater, and, more recently, in seawater.

The genetic material left in the water by fish during their lives is invisible to the naked eye but can be extracted and sequenced - yielding a 'DNA fingerprint of the ocean'

'However, aquatic eDNA has yet to be applied for obtaining population genetic information.

'We studied a recently discovered seasonal aggregation of whale sharks at Al Shaheen oil field offshore of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf using eDNA from 20 seawater samples.

'To date over 300 individuals have been identified at this aggregation site..'

The number of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) has more than halved over the last 75 years, with legal and illegal fishing, entrapment in fishing gear, and collisions with boats blamed for most deaths.

No one knows how many are left but rough estimates put their numbers somewhere in the tens of thousands worldwide.

Fishing for the large, slow-moving sharks is particularly prevalent in China and Oman, though the species is showing some recovery in the Western Hemisphere and in India, the Philippines and Taiwan, thanks to legal protections.

They can reach a length of 40 feet (12 metres). They feed by scooping huge amounts of tiny plankton and small fish from the water - particularly near the surface and in warm water.

The huge but docile fish -sometimes called gentle giants - have long thrilled divers and are the stars of growing ecotourism operations around the world.
While you might think that clearing your browsing history is enough to keep your activity private, a new website could make you think again.

A creepy website called ClickClickClick has been developed to show how your online behaviour is constantly being measured by your browser.

The website details your actions in real-time, from your movements on the page, to the other websites you have visited, in the hope of creating awareness on privacy in a playful manner.

A creepy website called clickclickclick has been developed to show how your online behaviour is constantly being measured by your computer. The website details your actions in real-time showing just how much your browser knows about your behaviour online

HOW DOES IT WORK? The website  which does not cause damage to your computer - is very simple, with a white screen and large green button, reading 'Button.' But from the second you visit the page, it starts detailing your actions in real-time. For example, the website will write 'Subject has visited seven websites before coming here' or 'Subject has clicked the button five times.' As well as typing out what you're doing in real time, the site also encourages users to turn on their sound, allowing them to hear an English voice comment on every behaviour. After a few minutes of this, the website will give users the option of seeing their 'achievements'  a list of all the activities it has tracked so far, and those that it is yet to observe. Advertisement

Clickclickclick.click was developed by VPRO, a Dutch media company, and Studio Moniker, an interactive design company.

Roel Wouters, a designer at Studio Moniker, told MailOnline: 'We wanted to create awareness on privacy in a playful manner.

'We took the idea that all your online behaviour can have value literally.

'We listed all possible interactions we could come up with. We interpret these interactions in a direct and specific way by mirroring them back to the user.'

The website  which does not cause damage to your computer - is simple, with a white screen and large green button, reading 'Button.'

But from the second you visit the page, it starts detailing your actions in real-time.

For example, the website will write 'Subject has visited seven websites before coming here' or 'Subject has clicked the button five times.'

As well as typing out what you're doing in real time, the site also encourages users to turn on their sound, allowing them to hear an English voice comment on every behaviour.

After a few minutes of this, the website will give users the option of seeing their 'achievements'  a list of all the activities it has tracked so far, and those that it is yet to, but capable of, observing.

The technology used to create the site isn't anything revolutionary, and could be used by any web developer.

The simple tool does not do any damage to your computer, but is a reminder to be wary about who is watching you on the web (stock image)

Mr Wouters said: 'All these interactions are basic HTML 5 browser events  basically it's all javascript.

'They are in the hands of every web developer today.'

The simple tool does not do any damage to your computer, but is a reminder to be wary about who is watching you on the web.
Researchers suggest that male genetics are to blame for the split but still aren't exactly sure why

Study of primates that males in primate species also live shorter lives

Scientists have found that this 'male disadvantage' is not just a human

Women are genetically programmed to live longer than men, a study has found.

It is well known ladies tend to live longer than gentlemen.

But now scientists have discovered that this 'male disadvantage' is not just a human phenomenon  because of men having higher likelihoods of men dying in war, violence or exposure to industrial accidents.

A study of monkeys and apes find that males in primate species also live shorter lives.

A new study has examined why men still lag behind females in life expectancy, even in other primates. The researchers say that the male disadvantage has deep-lying hereditary roots

THE HUMAN LIFESPAN The lifespan of the average person - both male and female - has come in leaps and bounds over the past few human generations. Scientists from Duke University also investigated how and why this hike has occurred by comparing historic birth and death records of both humans and primates. They found that people worldwide are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. But it is not our genes we have to thank for our healthy lifespans. It is more likely due to advances in medicine and public health. These advances have increased the odds of survival for human infants and reduced the death toll from childhood illness. Advertisement

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed data from more than one million births and deaths from the 18th century to the present day.

Included in the data, were people from post-industrial societies such as Sweden and Japan, people born in pre-industrial times, and modern hunter-gatherers, who provide a baseline for how long people might have lived before supermarkets and modern medicine.

This data was measured against similar data for six wild species of primates from the past five decades, including Verreaux's sifaka lemurs, muriqui monkeys, capuchins, baboons, chimpanzees and gorillas.

Co-author Professor Susan Alberts, from Duke University in North Carolina, said: 'The male disadvantage has deep evolutionary roots.'

She added: 'Males are generally disadvantaged relative to females in both life expectancy and lifespan equality, across the primate order and at all levels of human life expectancy.'

The data confirmed that humans are making rapid and dramatic gains in term of life-expectancy.

For example, in the last 200 years, the life-expectancy for people in Sweden had jumped from the mid-30s to over 80, meaning a baby born today can hope to live more than twice as long as one born in the early 19th centruy.

The oldest human populations across the world have an average of 40 or 50 years advantage over populations who life a traditional lifestyle, Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania and the Acha people of Paraguay.

The researchers also studied the mortality rates of wild primates, including lemurs, muriqui monkeys, capuchins, baboons, chimpanzees and gorillas (pictured: an Eastern Lowland gorilla). The age gap is true in primates as well as humans, suggesting an early ancestral link

But modern hunter-gatherers live an average of between ten and 20 years longer than the chimpanzees from which human ancestors diverged millions of years ago.

Professor Alberts said: 'We've made a bigger journey in lengthening our lifespan over the last few hundred years than we did over millions of years of evolutionary history.'

The prevalence of child mortality had dropped from more than one in ten two centuries ago, to less than three in 1,000 in modern Japan or modern Sweden.

But to the author's surprise, the gap between male and female life-expectancy has barely shifted.

For example, a girl born in Sweden in 1800 would have been expected to outlive her male counterpart by three or four years.

Two hundred years later, and with 45 years added to the Swedish lifespan, that three- or four-year gap between the sexes has barely changed.

Professor Alberts said; 'It's puzzling. If we can make life last so long, why can't we shrink the male-female gap?'

A number of explanations have been suggested, including genetics.

Males only carry one copy of the X chromosome, meaning females who carry two are better able to compensate for harmful gene variants.
Prototype should be ready by 2017 and Airbus hopes to have a demonstration model by 2020

Will test vehicle that is designed to move both cargo and passengers at one of the three test sites in Oregon

the' Flight Test and Range' contract to test the self-piloted aircraft

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Airbus's vision for driverless flying taxis is one step closer to becoming a reality.

MTSI has been awarded awarded a 'Flight Test and Range' to test the single seater self-piloted flying vehicle that can carry both cargo and human passengers.

A, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley, unveiled plans for 'Project Vahana' earlier this year and says it hopes to have a full-sized prototype built by 2017 and a demonstration model by 2020.

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A, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley, unveiled plans for 'Project Vahana' earlier this year, and says it hopes to have a full-sized prototype built by 2017 and a demonstration model by 2020 . MTSI has been awarded awarded a 'Flight Test and Range' to test the single seater self-piloted flying vehicle

MEET AIRBUS'S VAHANA Project Vahana began earlier this year and is one of the first projects at A, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley. The first conceptual renders have been revealed showing a sleek self-flying aircraft with room for one passenger who sits under a canopy that retracts similar to a motorcycle helmet visor. Its also believed that the self-piloted aircraft will take off and land vertically, as there are helicopter-like struts, and tilting wings each with four electric motors. The team at Vahana aims to have a full-sized prototype built by 2017 and a demonstration model by 2020. Advertisement

SOAR Oregon, an economic development agency, has joined this endeavor and received a sub-contract from MTSI (Modern Technology Solutions).

SOAR will help test the vehicle that is designed to move both cargo and passengers at one of the three test sites in Oregon  Pendleton, Warm Springs and Tillamook.

MTSI states that the contract with Vahana covers the 'Alpha Phase' of the project.

MTSI will lead the flight test effort and SOAR Oregon will provide test range support and other services.

'The MTSI team is proud to be selected as the flight test lead for Vahana,' Civil and Commercial Director Paul Linnell said in a prepared statement.

'Vahana sought out industry partners with deep experience in flight test and unmanned aircraft test range services to support this innovate project and they found that in MTSI and SOAR Oregon.'

In addition to commercial markets, MTSI also provides engineering and technology solutions to the defense industry and intelligence community.

Project Vahana began earlier this year and is one of the first projects at A, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley.

'At Vahana, we are passionate about personal flight. The aircraft we're building doesn't need a runway, is self-piloted, and can automatically detect and avoid obstacles and other aircraft,' A CEO Rodin Lyasoff wrote on the Vahana website.

'Designed to carry a single passenger or cargo, we're aiming to make it the first certified passenger aircraft without a pilot.'

The conceptual renders suggest that the air taxis will take off and land vertically, as there are helicopter-like struts, and tilting wings each with four electric motors, reports CNN Money.

And there is space for one passenger, who will sit under a canopy that retracts like a motorcycle helmet visor.

Project Vahana began earlier this year and is one of the first projects at A, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley. There is space for one passenger, who will sit under a canopy that retracts like a motorcycle helmet visor

AIRBUS' PROJECT CITYAIRBUS: SELF-FLYING TAXIS THAT ARE SUMMONED LIKE UBERS Airbus is designing a fleet of self-flying taxis called CityAirbus, the firm announced in August. The taxis will first be operated by a pilot, but will fly themselves once national regulations allow it. As well as flying taxis, Airbus is also creating an electric, self-piloted aircraft in a project called Project Vahana. The idea is that the aircraft can be used for both commercial and personal use" In February, Airbus also announced a new project called 'Skyways' in which they are creating a parcel-delivery system above the University of Singapore campus. Airbus hopes to conduct its first flight tests on the University of Singapore campus by 2017. Advertisement

'Many of the technologies needed, such as batteries, motors and avionics are most of the way there,' Lyasoff said.

'This is just starting to be introduced in cars, but no examples of it for aircraft currently exist.'

'That's one of the bigger challenges we aim to resolve as early as possible.'

The company thinks one way it could work would be for group vehicles, similar to car-sharing.

'We believe that global demand for this category of aircraft can support fleets of millions of vehicles worldwide,' Lyasoff said.

'In as little as ten years, we could have products on the market that revolutionize urban travel for millions of people.'

SOAR Oregon, an economic development agency, will test the vehicle that is designed to move both cargo and passengers at one of the three test sites in Oregon  Pendleton, Warm Springs and Tillamook. The conceptual renders suggest that the air taxis will take off and land vertically, as there are helicopter-like struts, and tilting wings each with four electric motors

Officially underway since February, the project's team of internal and external developers and partners have agreed on a vehicle design and is beginning to build and test vehicle subsystems.

Airbus first announced plans for a separate self-flying vehicle in August, which they said will be called CityAirbus and passengers can summon vehicles with their smartphone.

Airbus said that the biggest challenge in creating the CityAirbus taxi, will be making it fly autonomously.

The taxi will first be operated by a pilot, but will become self-driving once national regulations allow it.

MTSI (Modern Technology Solutions) states that the contract with Airbus Group covers the 'Alpha Phase' of the project. MTSI will lead the flight test effort and SOAR Oregon will provide test range support and other services

While it might currently seem like something out of a science fiction film, Airbus CEO, Tom Enders, said: 'It's not crazy to imagine that one day our big cities will have flying cars making their way along roads in the sky.

Traffic during rush-hour can be a nightmare for commuters today, and with 60 per cent of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2030, the problem is only going to grow. The French firm first announced plans for its flying taxis in August, which they said will be CityAirbus and passengers will be able summon these vehicles with their smartphone

'In a not too distant future, we'll use our smartphones to book a fully automated flying taxi that will land outside our front door  without any pilot.'

In February, Airbus also announced a new project called 'Skyways' in which they are creating a drone parcel-delivery system above the University of Singapore campus.

The team hopes by demonstrating the safe operation of Skyways, this could help shape the regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft system operations, and potentially increase acceptance for passenger flight testing.

In February, Airbus also announced a new project called 'Skyways' in which they are creating a parcel-delivery system above the University of Singapore campus

Bangkok in Thailand is one of many cities which is notorious for huge traffic jams and delays getting from one place to another. However, by 2030, the population of Bangkok is set to hit 11.5 million which will further increase congestion. Airbus hopes to conduct its first flight tests on the University of Singapore campus by 2017
A new discovery could help shed light on why the mysterious Stonehenge was built.

The large complex, found in a city around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the famous stone circle, is thought to date back more than 1,000 years before Stonehenge.

The researchers say the complex was a sacred place where Neolithic people performed ceremonies, including feasting and the deliberate smashing of ceramic bowls.

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A new discovery could help shed light on why the mysterious Stonehenge was built. The large complex, found in a city around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the famous stone circle, is thought to date back more than 1,000 years before Stonehenge (pictured)

WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHY STONEHENGE WAS BUILT No one is exactly sure why, or even how, Stonehenge was built. Experts have suggested it was a temple, parliament and even a graveyard. Some people think the stones have healing powers, while others think they have musical properties when struck with a stone. They could have acted as a giant musical instrument to call ancient people to the monument. There is evidence the stones were aligned with phases of the sun and some have proposed it was used as a giant observatory to monitor the stars. People were buried there and skeletal evidence shows that people travelled hundreds of miles to visit Stonehenge - for unknown reasons. Recently, experts said the route was a busy one and that Stonehenge could be viewed differently from different positions. It seems that instead of being a complete barrier, the Neolithic structure acted as a gateway to guide visitors to the stone circle. Advertisement

The new discovery shows the entire area around Stonehenge was even more sacred and ritually active than archaeologists had thought, hundreds of years before Stonehenge appeared.

The complex was built about 5,650 years ago, around 3650 BC, more than 1,000 years before the stones of Stonehenge were erected.

The 656 foot (200 metre) diameter complex consists of around 3,000 feet (950 metres) of ditches and is the first major early Neolithic monument discovered in the Stonehenge area for more than a century.

It was discovered in a village called Larkhill in Wiltshire, just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north east of the famous site.

A group of archaeologists found the site after the UK Ministry of Defence was preparing to build British Army houses on the land.

The researchers, led by Wessex Archaeology, found evidence of cattle bones, ceramic dishes and human remains.

Freshly broken pottery, dumps of worked flint and even a large stone saddle quern used to turn grain into flour were also found.

The researchers will now test the remains of the the findings, including the ceramic bowls, to try to determine what they were used for.

Each bowl could have held up to 10.5 pints (six litres) of beverage or partially liquid food, potentially a broth.

'The newly found site is one of the most exciting discoveries in the Stonehenge landscape that archaeologists have ever made,' a prehistorian from Wessex Archaeology said.

'These discoveries are changing the way we think about prehistoric Wiltshire and about the Stonehenge landscape in particular,' said Martin Brown, Principal Archaeologist for WYG, consultancy company WYG, which is leading the Larkhill housing development.

'The Neolithic people whose monuments we are exploring shaped the world we inhabit: They were the first farmers and the first people who settled down in this landscape, setting us on the path to the modern world.

'It is an enormous privilege to hold their tools and investigate their lives.'

Around 300 feet (100 metres) of the ditches have been excavated so far.

The researchers, led by Wessex Archaeology, found evidence of ceramic vessels (left) and arrowheads (right)

The Larkhill enclosure has produced freshly broken pottery, dumps of worked flint and even a large stone saddle quern (shown right) used to turn grain into flour. Antlers are shown left

The Trundle near Chichester, Sussex, is an Iron Age Hill Fort built around a Neolithic causewayed enclosure - pictured. Researchers believe that causewayed enclosures were rapidly erected all over southern England in just 75 years

The findings indicate the people used the sacred area for rituals, including feasting on cattle and smashing plates, as well as a burial ground.

Human skull fragments were also found in the ditch, probably reflecting ceremonial practices and religious belief.

No one is exactly sure why, or even how, Stonehenge was built, but the new findings could provide some fresh clues.

About 70 enclosures of this type are known across England, although this is only the second discovery in the Stonehenge landscape, with the other further to the north at Robin Hoods Ball on the Salisbury Plain Training Area.

Researchers believe that enclosures were rapidly erected all over southern England in just 75 years.

Around 300 feet (100 metres) of the ditches have been excavated so far. The researchers found evidence of cattle bones, ceramic dishes and human remains

The site was discovered in a village called Larkhill in Wiltshire, just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north east of Stonehenge (both shown on a map)

DID STONEHENGE START LIFE AS A CEMETERY? A recent study by archaeologists has suggested the imposing stone circle may have initially been used as a cremation cemetery for the dead. Charred remains discovered on the site were unearthed in holes - known as the Aubrey Holes - that have been found have to once held a circle of small standing stones. Fresh analysis of the burned bones has revealed they were buried in the holes over a period of 500 years between 3,100BC and 2,600BC. During this time the enormous sarsen trilithons, many of which still stand today, were erected. But after 2,500BC, the people who used Stonehenge appear to have stopped cremating and burying human remains in the stone circle itself, instead burying them in a ditch around the periphery. This, according to Professor Mike Parker-Pearson, an archaeologist at University College London, and his colleagues, suggests there was a shift in the cultural significance of Stonehenge around this time. They argue that it later became a place to revere long-dead ancestors who had been buried on the site. Advertisement

An artist's impression of the Whitehawk causewayed enclosure in Sussex that was built in 3650BC. It was only used for 200 years. About 70 enclosures of this type are known across England

BRITAIN'S ANCIENT STONE CIRCLES The UK has its fair share of ancient stone formations. some of the oldest include: Stonehenge - Wiltshire, 3,100 BCE Stenness - mainland Orkney, 3,100 BCE. Ring of Brodgar - Orkney, 2,500 BCE Callanish - Isle of Lewis, c.2,900 BCE Avebury Circle - Wiltshire, c.3,000 BCE Advertisement

Researchers have suggested it was a temple, parliament and a graveyard.

Some people think the stones have healing powers, while others think they have musical properties when struck with a stone.

They could have acted as a giant musical instrument to call ancient people to the monument.

There is evidence the stones were aligned with phases of the sun and some have proposed it was used as a giant observatory to monitor the stars.

People were buried there and skeletal evidence shows that people travelled hundreds of miles to visit Stonehenge - for whatever reason.

Recently, experts said the route was a busy one and that Stonehenge could be viewed differently from different positions.
HAVRE  A Havre man met two siblings for the first time just in time for his, the eldest's, birthday.

The three embraced and cried before entering older brother Mike Jennings' Havre home.

Sandy Erby had flown in from Baltimore and Jim Reimer from Rancho Cucamango, California, to meet their half-brother. Jennings, 70, said he had plans to show them Havre  "which shouldn't take more than five minutes"  have dinner, and take them to the Bear Paw Mountains over the weekend.

Erby, Reimer and Jennings are originally from Indiana, where they were adopted or put into foster homes. Erby said the family had seven siblings, but the only ones still alive were the three on Jennings' couch.

"I had foster parents ... and I was adopted when I was 7," Reimer said. "I didn't know for sure that I had brothers and sisters. I was told I had a twin sister and possibly a brother by the administrators and my foster parents, and also my adopted parents."

The three siblings said they all had different fathers, reported the Havre Daily News.

The reunion had taken time, diligence and an all-hands-on-deck approach.

"After I went through Indiana, a source, a woman that did the investigation of adoptions, she gave me records of birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses, everything. And that's how I got started doing it," Erby said.

Erby's and Reimer's daughters then got involved.

Erby said her daughter called Reimer to tell him that he might be her uncle, but forgot to leave a callback number. The call, however incomplete, prompted Reimer's daughter to investigate via Facebook. Erby said the daughters, at some point, also hit Ancestry.com.

Erby and Reimer finally connected and began talking on the phone in October 2015. In March, Erby said, she flew with her grandson and daughter to California to meet Reimer and his family over Easter.

During that visit, Reimer said, they discussed their other siblings.

"When Sandy (Erby) was visiting with her grandson, we thought Mike (Jennings) had passed. So we thought it ended there, which is Sandy and I," Reimer said.

Once again, one of the daughters did some digging and found out Jennings was alive.

"We got back Easter Sunday and found out Mike (Jennings) was here in Montana," Erby said. "We found him the Thursday we got back and had a three-way call. So we've been talking once or twice a month since March."

Erby said the plan had been to unite next summer in Indiana, where they're all originally from. But then someone came up with a better idea.

"We wanted to surprise him on his birthday," Erby said.
Her first experience of the sea was around

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This was the moment all of my worst shark-diving nightmares suddenly came true. My heart stopped and a paralysing numbness stung through my body.

I was in a shark cage in the waters of Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexico, where the infamous YouTube video - which garnered more than 19million hits - had been filmed just weeks before.

The terrifying clip showed a big shark getting inside a submersible cage after breaking the bars and flipping around with bloody gashes on its body. After finally freeing itself and swimming off, a rather shell-shocked diver was seen emerging from the frothy waters, his heartbeat almost audible to viewers.

It appeared things weren't going swimmingly for me, either. Would there be a similar scene about to unfold?

A 20-foot-long great white shark had just lurched towards the cage in a frenzy and got its nose lodged in the bars just where I was kneeling.

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Into the blue: MailOnline Travel's Sadie Whitelocks ventured to Guadalupe Island in Mexico to dive with great white sharks after learning how to dive in London - she had a rather close encounter with one huge specimen (pictured above)

Due to the force, I was flung to one side struggling to keep my limbs from flailing around in the strong ocean current. I couldn't move to take a photo of the giant beast as it flashed its black eyes and razor-sharp teeth at me but someone behind quickly got a snap.

After several seconds  which felt like an eternity  the shark managed to free itself, lashing its tail in frustration as it swam off into the deep blue.

This heartstopping experience happened during a six-day great white shark diving trip on a research boat along with 17 other people.

The trip, run by New Jersey-based Elite Divers and non-profit Fins Attached, had the aim of showing one the worlds most feared creatures in a different light.

Popular spot: Coincidentally, Sadie landed in the exact same spot where an infamous YouTube video was filmed just weeks before

Seeing them in a new light: The six-day trip, run by New Jersey-based Elite Divers and non-profit Fins Attached, had the aim of showing one of the worlds most feared creatures in a different light

Coincidentally, we were in the exact same spot where the YouTube video was filmed.

After watching the video before the trip I did start to worry a little about what I was letting myself in for.

Id always been afraid of the ocean, since I was little. I remember paddling in the sea as a kid on holidays and squealing when seaweed wrapped itself around my ankles in fear it was deadly jellyfish. I also refused to swim in the dark patches, worried that menacing eels and giant octopuses would emerge from the depths.

However, in a bid to conquer my watery fears at age 29, Id decided to learn how to dive and meet one of the ultimate scary sea creatures  great whites.

This would take me from a training swimming pool in Soho, London, 5,725 miles across the world to one of the best spots in the world to meet the great white - Guadalupe Island.

The 94.2-square-mile spit of rock lays within a protected area for wildlife, and the prime season for spotting great whites runs from September to November.

Just coming to say hello: Sadie said the sharks didn't seem threatening as they circled the cages during dives

The sharks showed their razor-sharp teeth off as they swam through the blue waters

Diving club: Sadie was on a research boat just off Guadalupe Island in Mexico along with 17 other people

From the city to the sea: She learned to dive with Oyster Diving in London, attending dive classes after work on Tuesday evenings

After doing a little research I came across Oyster Diving  one of the only dive schools in London with a central location.

Every Tuesday evening after work I made my way to a pool just off Carnaby Street in Soho to get to grips with diving.

I felt surprisingly at ease with all of the diving gear on and there was only one moment I remember hyperventilating with panic.

Other people I met on the course all had a reason for getting a Padi (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) qualification. One woman I met was going to dive on the Great Barrier Reef over Christmas with her husband while another was off to Malaysia.

Thats crazy, you wouldnt get me there, one man said, when I relayed the fact I was going to dive with great whites. I had to admit he had a point when it came to crazy.

With my Padi in my pocket and everything signed off, I set off to face my fears. With the trip having an environmental angle, I decided to fly with Air New Zealand to Los Angeles, as the airline just claimed the 2016 Eco-Airline of the Year.

From LA, I took a beautiful scenic two-hour journey along the coast on an Amtrak train before landing in San Diego.

Leap of faith: A great white shark lurches out of the water as it swims towards some bait

At threat: Sharks are threatened by fishermen, with their fins used for soup and teeth used to make souvenirs - conservationists are now working to educate people about these sea creatures

Perfect vision: Guadalupe Island is one of the top spots in the world to dive with great white sharks

Up close and personal: As the trip continued, Sadie said the sharks appeared to get more friendly

Going under: Sadie said divers spent around an hour at a time in the cage watching the sharks swim by

After spending a few days exploring San Diego and experiencing the city at Halloween  where I did see several people dressed as sharks from the film Sharknado  I met up with the group I would be spending the next six days on a boat with.

The majority of the group had journeyed from the east coast of America where Elite Divers is based.

Along with myself, there was one other man from Norway who had flown in from Europe.

All a little bleary-eyed but buzzing with a mix of excitement and trepidation we boarded a mini van and drove for two hours down the Mexican coast to the port city of Ensanada. From there we hopped on a 40ft-long boat.

I was very glad that Id picked up some seasickness medication in San Diego, as the overnight crossing to Guadalupe Island was one of the worst journeys Id ever endured. Throughout the night, my cabin seemingly revolved 360 degrees as I sailed in and out of sleep.

As the sun rose, things slowly leveled out and it appeared we had reached our destination.

Guadalupe Island has a somewhat desolate beauty to it. Cliffs of jagged rust-coloured rock tower high above the deep blue waters.

The haunting sound of seals echo across the cavernous landscape, as waves pound the rocky beaches.

Home for the week: The Elite Divers trip took place on this boat, with meals and drinks included

Cabin space: All of the divers had their own rooms, with washroom facilities available

View from top deck: Sadie said the sharks continually circled the boat during the day

Nature at its best: Along with sharks, the area was peppered with birds and noisy seals on the beach

Occasionally the sound of an excited gull passing overhead pierces the air. The sunrises and sunsets cause you to look to the horizon, with not another landmass in sight.

Along with us, there were only three other boats anchored up on the east coast of the island.

Under the crystal-clear waters surrounding the rocky outcrop, there is another world, dominated by great white sharks and rather mean-looking tuna.

On the first morning after landing, I remember the excitement I felt when I spotted my first shark from the top deck of the boat. I stood still with my camera to hand as I watched its giant body glide effortlessly through the blue and slip under the bow.

My excitement soon turned to a feeling of immense fear, when I realized I was up for my first dive.

Ive never seen anything like it. It was a freak accident, the dive master Jonathan said, when quizzed about THAT video again. Dennis Santos, who runs Elite Divers, also told me that he had never heard of a shark getting inside a cage.

Its meant the regulations have become a lot tighter. Our aim is to show what magnificent creatures the great whites are and that video was over-sensationalized in the wrong way by a lot of people.

Feeling reassured I was in safe hands, I popped my 7mm wetsuit on  the waters surrounding Guadalupe Island average around 65 to 70 degrees. Completing my kit was a pair of booties, hat, gloves and a harness stuffed with weights. A hookah-style regulator system provided enough air for four people in the cage at the same time.

Safety measures: A helper gets the divers rigged up to air before they enter the cage

Sense of scale: Some of the sharks were colossal in size, bigger than the diving cages

Meet the crew: All of the divers stand on the boat's top deck after a shark-filled week on the high waters

After less than a minute of being in the water, we saw our first shark.

The large male  more than 13 feet in length  seemed uninterested in us as it circled around and swam off into the dark blue.

Another one emerged and mimicked the same movements.

I thought I would be scared, but instead I was in awe. I looked at the sharks as if they were big fish, with pretty gills, shiny mischievous eyes and beautifully sculpted fins.

Renee Cicchino from New Jersey, who has dived all over the world with a variety of sharks, from Tigers to Hammer Heads, said she was surprised how placid the great whites were.

Theyre beautiful, they really dont want to come close. They didnt seem bothered by us at all, she said to me with a massive grin on her face after just coming out of the cage.

Her sentiments were echoed by the rest of the group. We were told that the great whites had been unusually aggressive  this year for some unexplained reason but during our six-day trip we didnt see an ounce of aggression.

Guadalupe Island: The 94.2-square-mile spit of rock lays within a protected area for wildlife, and the prime season for spotting great whites runs from September to November

Water play: The waters surrounding Guadalupe Island average around 65 to 70 degrees

Two by two: A pair great whites cross each other's paths, Sadie said the majority appeared to swim solo

Tony, a Hollywood stuntman from Toronto, Canada, was the only one to get bitten. However, instead of a shark nipping his arm it was a pesky tuna. It took the camera right out my hand, he chimed, relaying the story at dinner one night.

Doing my Padi course was especially helpful with making me feel at ease when we plummeted 35 feet below the waters surface in the submersible cage.

I was able to clear my mask without panicking and equalize my ears. Down in the deep one day there were four sharks circling the cage. Instead of feeling fear I suddenly felt sorry for the giant creatures.

With one person sticking a GoPro towards a rather beat-up looking female, I felt we were almost trying to provoke it for some teeth action shots. A round of baiting is what caused the shark to bump into my cage that day.

Along with everyone else, I returned home with all of my fingers and toes intact  to my mothers relief  and a new sense of respect and awe for one of the worlds most misunderstood creatures, the great white shark.

Theres still so little we know about them, Dennis Santos concluded as we journeyed on, leaving the sharks to continue on their 1,000-plus mile migration through the ocean until they hit Guadalupe Island the same time next year.
They're the Hollywood heavyweights who started filming Ocean's Eight just a few weeks ago.

But Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway are reportedly 'butting heads' on set of the all-female reboot of the popular movie franchise.

'Cate's very laid back and easygoing, but Anne's rubbing her the wrong way,' an insider told Woman's Day magazine.

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'They had a few angry words': Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway are reportedly 'butting heads' as they film upcoming flick Ocean's Eight. Above, they are pictured at the Giorgio Armani Fashion show in Paris in 2007

'They had a few angry words and didn't speak for a few days. Now they're trying to keep things cordial... but it's difficult to say the least.'

According to the magazine, Anne, 34, is also clashing with other members of the star studded cast, which includes Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Dakota Fanning and Rihanna.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Cate and Anne's respective representatives for comment.

'They're trying to keep things cordial': An insider told Woman's Day the pair are trying to patch things up

Ruffling feathers? According to the magazine, Anne is also clashing with other members of the star studded cast

Meanwhile, the film, directed by Gary Ross, is a big screen reboot of Ocean's Eleven.

Matt Damon, who starred in Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, will be making a cameo in the new all-female spin-off.

George will also reportedly have a part in the film as Sandra's brother, who mentors her for her heist.

It has not been confirmed if he will have an acting role in the movie, but it is known that he is producing the caper along with his Smokehouse banner.

'Cate's very laid back and easygoing': According to the insider, Anne is getting on Cate's nerves

The past: Matt Damon will play a cameo role in the film. He and Cate also worked together on the 1999 caper The Talented Mr Ripley

The movie will be released in 2018 by Warner Bros.

Meanwhile, 47-year-old Cate, who hails from Melbourne, is mother to sons Dashiell, 14, Roman, 12, and Ignatius, eight, and adopted daughter Edith, one.

She shares her children with her respected Australian playwright husband, Andrew Upton, 50.

Anne welcomed her first child with actor and producer husband Adam Shulman earlier this year.

Starting a family: Anne and her husband Adam Shulman welcomed their first child earlier this year
There was no missing Mariah Carey, even as she headed out in camouflage print for a night out at an Airbnb bash on Saturday.

The songbird rocked a plunging mini dress that clung to every bit of her phenomenal body as she posed up a storm at the red carpet event.

Mariah, 46, was bound to capture everybody's attention as she gave the cameras a wide and bright smile.

No missing her! Mariah Carey rocked a plunging mini dress that clung to every bit of her phenomenal body as she posed up a storm at an Airbnb bash in Los Angeles on Saturday

The starlet's complexion was made all the more eye-catching with heaps of mascara, pink blush, and bronzer eye shadow to accentuate her naturally radiant complexion.

She wore her long blonde locks down in loose ringlets and continued to glam up the look with chunky silver bracelets and wide hoop earrings.

The glam factor: The starlet's complexion was made all the more eye-catching with heaps of mascara, pink blush, and bronzer eye shadow to accentuate her naturally radiant complexion

As Mariah flawlessly posed for photographers, it's clear the chart-topper was in a great mood - and perhaps for good reason.

In just a matter of days, she will be jetting off to Hawaii for three more stops on her Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour.

She will be performing from November 23 to 26 at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu.

So fly: In just a matter of days, she will be jetting off to Hawaii for three more stops on her Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour

Mariah will be in New York City next month for her All I Want For Christmas Is You concert series, which begins on December 5.

And while the songbird is reportedly in the middle of a messy split from her ex fiance James Packer, it's clear she was doing her best to put that at the back of her mind for an evening of fun at the star-studded bash.

Also joining her on the red carpet were Emma Roberts and Julianne Hough.
Kaitlyn Cardwell was at first dead set on keeping her extra thumb.

The four-year-old Here Comes Honey Boo Boo bravely went under the knife on October 18th to have the appendage surgically removed.

Her mother Anna Cardwell dished to Us Weekly that initially, the patient 'was like: "No, Mommy, I'm going to miss my little finger."'

Brave: Before Kaitlyn Cardwell had surgery to have her extra thumb removed, she'd told her mother Anna Caldwell: 'No, Mommy, I'm going to miss my little finger'

The 22-year-old known as Chickadee tried arguing that 'When you get older, people might pick on you. You don't know that.'

Adorably, Kaitlyn fired back with the retort: 'Well then, Ma, you can get on to them and go back and pick at them.'

Her family finally prevailed upon her by turning to fantasy. 'We kept telling her that it was magic, that the doctor would do magic ... they would put her to sleep, and then that it was going to be magically gone, and she got all excited about it'

Before: The four-year-old had an extra thumb growing on her right hand

Post-op, 'she thinks somehow, now that it's healing [at] home, she thinks she's gonna have Frozen powers.'

The Cardwell parents - Anna and Michael, who've been married since 2014 - has also got a one-year-old daughter called Kylie.

Chickadee herself has got three younger sisters: 11-year-old Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson herself, 16-year-old Lauryn Shannon and 19-year-old Jessica Shannon.

All better: According to TMZ, her recovery went faster than expected and she had her cast removed early as her hand is shown without the extra appendage

To hear Mrs Michael Cardwell tell it, her sisters and her 'Mama' June Shannon were a bit perplexed about Kaitlyn's operation before it happened.

'All my Mama was worried about,' per Chicakdee, 'was would [Kaitlyn] have mobility in her thumb after the surgery. That's why she didn't want [Kaitlyn] to get it done, and same for my sisters ... They got upset whenever I told them.'

She recalled: 'I said: "I really hope Kylee don't have it because I don't want to go through it again." My sister Jessica got kind of really upset about that. And then [Kylee] ended up not having it.'

Close look: On a 2014 episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Kaitlyn's second thumb was seen in an X-ray

According to TMZ, it was Anna who'd made the decision last month to have the finger from Kaitlyn's right hand removed.

The procedure went well and recovery went even faster than expected so she had the cast removed early, according to the gossip site.

Her mother had explained to the site previously that the surgery was done to prevent teasing and to avoid a future medical issue.

Protective: Kaitlyn's mother Anna Cardwell, pictured in 2014, told her Facebook followers on October 18 that she would be entering 'mommy mode' as she took her daughter to the hospital for surgery

Anna had used Facebook to reveal that her daughter would be entering surgery, writing a lengthy post hours before the procedure was due to take place.

The reality star wrote: 'Well today is this the day my baby girls surgery for her thumb in less than 4 and half hours we have to be at the hospital and me to go in mommy mode and stress worrying if everything is going to be okay which I know it will just everyone pray everything goes smooth.'

Kaitlyn's thumb was addressed on her family's now-cancelled reality show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Weighing their options: In an episode that aired in 2014, Mama June accompanied Anna and Kaitlyn to a doctor's appointment as they discussed removing the thumbg

In an episode that aired in 2014, Mama June accompanied Anna and Kaitlyn to a doctor's appointment as they discussed surgically removing the thumb.

Anna decided not to take the doctor's advice to have the thumb removed straight away. 'I want to wait a year first,' she said, citing concerns about paralysis and problems with anesthesia.

The decision did not come easily for the teenager. 'Its hard being a mother,' she sobbed as she weighed up her options.

'I'm worried people are gonna start picking on her if I dont get it removed,' she said.

Proud grandma: June Shannon, pictured in New York in 2013, is Kaitlyn's grandmother
PR mogul Roxy Jacenko has revealed that if it wasn't for her getting a spray tan, she may not have noticed a cancerous tumour growing in her breast.

The 36-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, just three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail for insider trading.

The mother-of-two revealed in her candid interview with 9Honey: 'It was just lucky I was rigorously washing off my spray tan, which is why I noticed it.'

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'I wasn't checking regularly': PR mogul Roxy Jacenko, 36, credits her spray tan for saving her life after finding a lump in her breast when 'rigorously washing it [the spray tan] off'

The mother-of-two found the mass while showering at her Bondi home and asked her daughter Pixie, who was four at the time, to feel it afterwards.

'Her instant reaction was "eugggh mum!",' said Roxy to Daily Mail Australia in July.

'When I found the lump and got out of the shower, I asked Pixie to feel it as I was a little confused as to what it actually was,' she added.

With her husband behind bars and her son Hunter, aged just two at the time, Ms Jacenko said there was no one else in their home to share her fears with.

'Look life is good': Roxy also revealed the challenges she has faced over the year, including her husband Oliver Curtis being jailed for insider trading, haven't got her down

'I guess I showed her as my initial options were Pixie or Hunter. I then called my mum and she raised her concern.

'I didn't think I was letting her feel cancer at the time, you just don't think that at 36,' she continued.

Roxy revealed her cancer battle in July, just weeks after her husband Oliver was jailed for two years, leaving her family completely shattered.

'I didn't think I was letting her feel cancer': Earlier this year Roxy revealed that her daughter Pixie (R) was the first to feel the lump because she had no one else to turn to at the time

'I don't really give a f*** what they think on my timing': Roxy documented the tumour being removed from her breast on 60 minutes with reporter Allison Langdon

She later had a tumour from her breast removed, which was filmed for a 60 Minutes documentary about her life.

In her interview, Roxy told 9Honey of her decision not to have a mastectomy, saying: 'I wasn't in the head space to make rash decisions' during the program.

Roxy revealed in September that she was done with radiation therapy and took to Instagram to post a celebratory snap.

Treatment: In a clip from the 60 Minutes documentary, Roxy was seen being pushed through a ward on a hospital bed

'And I'm DONE': In the snap, Roxy was seen flashing two peace signs as she sat on a bench at one of Sydney's Gensis Cancer Care clinics after finishing radiation. She is now in remission

In the snap, Roxy was seen flashing two peace signs as she sat on a bench at one of Sydney's Gensis Cancer Care clinics.

'And I'm DONE,' Roxy captioned the snap alongside a smiling face emoji.

Clad in tight activewear and flashing two peace signs, Roxy looked the very picture of content as she sat on a bench inside the cancer clinic.

'Now I just take Tamoxifen, and I eat very healthily': The blonde beauty has been keeping up an extremely healthy lifestyle since being in cancer remission

'I'm very lucky I have two incredible children': Roxy shares her daughter Pixie and son Hunter with husband Oliver and revealed that they have kept her strong during the challenging year

The blonde beauty has been keeping up an extremely healthy lifestyle since being in cancer remission.

She told 9Honey: 'Now I just take Tamoxifen, and I eat very healthily, and I drink green juices.'

Roxy daughter Pixie, five, and son Hunter, two, with her husband Oliver and revealed that they have kept her strong throughout the tumultuous year.

'Look life is good, it's obviously been a seriously challenging year but it's also a year where I've gone 'Ok, well I'm very lucky I have two incredible children'.'
She gained fame as Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years.

And Danica McKellar is still turning heads over 25 years later, this time on the red carpet for the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 41-year-old put her sculpted legs and toned back on full display in a black and white patterned romper.

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What a vision! Danica McKellar arrived on the red carpet for the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday wearing a black and white romper

The actress looked incredible in the halter-style one piece, featuring a lacy design and tasseled detailing on her torso.

Danica highlighted her toned stems and svelte frame in the playful number.

The My Christmas Dream star complemented the two-tone number with several bangles, silver hoop earrings and her wedding band.

The beauty hit the carpet at Microsoft Theater in peep-toe heels to round out her look for the awards show.

Putting her best foot forward: The 41-year-old put her sculpted legs and toned back on full display in a black and white patterned one-piece

Danica wore her dark brunette tresses half-up, opting for a slight wave.

The mother of one wore smoky brown eye shadow with pink glossed lips to round out her glamorous look.

Her character, Winnie, on The Wonder Years, was the main love interest of Kevin Arnold, who was played by Fred Savage.

Danica starred on the hit series from 1988 until 1993.

Following the series finale of The Wonder Years, the published author took some time off from Hollywood and focused on her education.

Star power: The actress looked incredible in the halter-style one piece, featuring a lacy design and tasseled detailing

Blast from the past: Danica McKellar pictured in a 1988 episode of The Wonder Years with her co-star Fred Savage
She recently revealed that she had split from her actor boyfriend Robbie Jarvis.

But Evanna Lynch put her romantic woes aside on Saturday night as she made an elegant appearance at the Animal Equality 10th Anniversary Celebration in LA.

The Harry Potter star, 25, dazzled on the carpet in a plunging floor-length gown, which gave a subtle glimpse of her cleavage, as she headed to the charitable event alone.

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Stunning: Newly-single Evanna Lynch, 25, put her romantic woes aside on Saturday night as she made an elegant appearance at the Animal Equality 10th Anniversary Celebration in LA

The stunning blonde certainly held her own on the carpet in the feminine frock of soft, navy material.

The dress cinched in at her waist with a thin tie belt, before flowing out gently and skimming her slender figure all the way to its train.

Adding subtle but sexy hints however, the outfit then cut into a slit at the front, to give a glimpse her pins underneath, and plunged into a deep V at her chest - to give a sophisticated flash of her delicate cleavage.

Getting back out there: The stunning blonde dazzled in a plunging floor-length gown, which gave a subtle glimpse of her cleavage and cinched in at her slim waist

The Irish beauty maintained the classically glamorous feel of her look by teaming her dress with a simple pair of black heels, featuring a chic pointed toe and ankle strap.

She then accessorised with a pair of large earrings styled into the shape of wings, as well as a dainty bracelet and necklace set of shimmering gold.

The actress styled her hair into soft and bouncy waves and dressed her face with minimal, glowing make-up to enhance her naturally stunning features.

Natural beauty: The actress styled her hair into soft and bouncy waves and dressed her face with minimal, glowing make-up to enhance her naturally stunning features

Evanna appears to putting on a brave face after announcing she had broken up with her long-term partner Robbie Jarvis earlier this week.

Talking at Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them premiere, she confirmed that the pair were no long together but that they are 'still friends.'

'We're both vegans, so we go to a lot of vegan events together,' she added.

They met on the set of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix back in 2007, where they played the characters of Luna Lovegood and James Potter, but did not confirm their romance until last year.

Supporting the cause: It is no wonder Evanna was present at the animal-loving event, as an openly passionate vegan

Evanna and Robbie had regularly posted snapshots of them on their Instagram accounts - with the 30-year-old hunk posting a throwback holiday photo, where he thanked the blonde for introducing him to veganism, just last month.

While the actress has embarked on multiple screen and theatre projects since, including a production about Harry Houdini, she is best known for her role as Luna in the Harry Potter franchise.

Speaking recently to the Irish Times, the young star candidly confessed that the role was not only vital for career but for her mental health too - having used the Harry Potter books as an escape from her battle with anorexia.

She said of the role, which she was immediately drawn to: 'Id open those books and I was free. I loved Luna because she was different.'

'She wasnt making a statement or doing it to be defiant. And she didnt feel out of place because she wasnt judging herself or others. Id read her and Id feel safe and relaxed. I didnt think: Oh, shes just like me. I thought: I want to be just like that.'
It is a rare day indeed when it rains in Los Angeles.

So no wonder heavily pregnant Katherine Heigl decided to take advantage of some showers by clambering on her Wellington boots before stepping out in the city on Sunday.

The Knocked Up actress looked like she was enjoying the unusually cool temperatures as she padded down the street, happily wading through whatever puddles she could find.

A boot-iful sight: Knocked Up actress Katherine Heigl wore Wellington boots on a rare rainy day in Los Angeles on Sunday

Literally yummy, mummy: She was later spotted treating her entire brood to lunch

Mother-to-be Katherine, 37, covered her burgeoning bump in a tan-coloured pullover, and was also wearing a striped blouse and leggings.

But it was her trendy brown boots that really caught the eye, thanks to decorative stitching around the ankle and contrasting black toes.

She was later spotted heading out for lunch at a fancy Italian restaurant All'Aqcua, with her full brood in tow.

A bumpy arrival: Katherine's burgeoning bump was prominent as they headed for lunch

Teamwork: The actress and her husband Josh had a daughter each as they headed inside

Glamorous granny: They were joined for their meal by Katherine's mother Nancy

The mother-of-two, who is now only around two months from giving birth, was accompanied by her husband, daughters and her mother Nancy.

And there is little doubt Katherine's pregnancy will have been one of the hot topics of discussion as they tucked into their spaghetti and meatballs.

It is an especially exciting development for the Ugly Truth star as her baby will be not only her first biological child, but also her first son.

She and her self-styled musician husband Josh Kelley, who she married in 2007, adopted daughter Naleigh from South Korea in 2009. Naleigh's little sister Adalaide was adopted domestically three years later.

Mum's the word: The starlet kept a close eye on her two daughters as the got ready to leave

Things that go bump in the afternoon: She covered her burgeoning belly in a chic pullover

Giving it some welly: She made the most of a rare chance to wear some rain boots

But her pregnancy has not stopped her from working on her exciting return to television in legal drama Doubt.

The CBS show will centre around her defence lawyer character Sadie Ellis, who becomes ethically compromised by her affair with a client.

Her employer turned lover will be played by Steven Pasquale, and the cast will also feature such names as Laverne Cox, Dule Hill, Dreama Walker and Elliott Gould.

Doubt is slated to appear sometime during 2017, an offical date is yet to be announced.

Legging it: She rounded off her chic maternity look with tight-fitting stretch pants

What a difference a few days make: She was wearing a much skimpier ensemble last weekend
His Gold Logie win this year was a watershed moment for diversity on Australian television.

But in a new interview with TV Week, Waleed Aly has seemingly joked that he was given no time to 'sit back' and soak up the win unlike his predecessors.

The Project host remarked how 2015 winner and colleague Carrie Bickmore was on maternity leave after taking home her statue.

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No time to rest: The Project's Waleed Aly said after his Gold Logie win he didn't get any time off unlike 2015 Gold Logie winner Carrie Bickmore, who went on maternity leave after her accolade (Pictured with his gold and silver logies)

'Something I noticed in the aftermath is that Gold Logie winners rarely have to go to work the next day. Karl Stefanovic [the Nine Network who won in 2011] did, but Carrie [Bickmore, who won the Gold Logie in 2015], didn't - she was on maternity leave,' Waleed told the publication.

'So, I never had that moment where I could just sit back. I was back to the grind the next day. You return with a thud to normality very quickly.'

The 38-year-old journalist won the prestigious television award in May.

He delivered an emotional acceptance speech, preaching the importance of more diversity on Australian screens.

'You return with a thud to normality pretty quickly': The 38-year-old had no time to soak up his win

Landmark: Waleed (pictured with wife Susan Carland) used his Gold Logie speech to talk about the importance of diversity on Australian screens

'If tonight means anything is that the Australian public our audience, as far as they're concerned, there is absolutely no reason why that can't change,' Waleed said.

During his speech he mentioned the plight of an Australia actor called Mustafa, who was forced to change his name to get work in the acting industry.

The actor was later revealed to be Here Come The Habibi's Tyler De Nawi.

Channel Ten personality: The former ABC radio presenter has forged a niche with his hard-hitting journalism pieces on The Project

Waleed told TV Week it 'wasn't my intention' to reveal Tyler's real name.

'A big part of me was annoyed that it became about finding out who Mustafa was rather than the point of the story,' he said.

'I suppose I naively thought people would focus on the point.'

Winners: Waleed's Gold Logie wasn't the only win for the project, with Carrie Bickmore (centre) and Peter Helliar (right) also winning the award for best news panel or current affairs program

Waleed's win came after a storm of earlier controversy over his nomination, with an opinion piece in The Daily Telegraph listing six reasons why he should not win the gold statue.

The Herald-Sun also quoted an insider who said the former ABC radio presenter's nomination was a joke.

'What has Waleed ever done? Because he does an editorial slapping someone down every now and then, does that qualify him for a Gold Logie? And is The Project successful? No,' the TV source said.
She's been a new mother twice before, but it seems Rebecca Judd can't get enough of the newborn smell.

The brunette beauty appeared to be make-up free in a new image posted to Instagram on Sunday, in which she is seen cuddling up to one of her twin sons.

Holding little Darcy close to her chest and leaning her cheek delicately against the top of his head, the 33-year-old is seen closing her eyes, basking in the sunlight.

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'Could sniff his little head all day long': Rebecca Judd appeared to be make-up free in a new image posted to Instagram on Sunday as she cuddled up to one of her twin sons, Darcy

'Could sniff his little head all day long. Oh wait, that's what I already do,' Bec captioned the shot, adding the hash-tag: 'This is Darcy'.

In what's understood to be a selfie, the mother-of-four is enjoying the cuddle with a content look on her face while the little one's face is away from the camera.

And it appears Bec is not alone in relishing in the smell of a newborn baby, with research earlier this year showing the effect it has on mothers.

Not alone: According to researchers at the University of Montreal, the smell of infants triggers a physiological response in mothers similar to that experienced by hungry people presented with a delicious meal

Growing family: Bec and Chris Judd (pictured) share the twin boys, along with two-year-old daughter Billie and five-year-old son Oscar

According to researchers at the University of Montreal, the smell of infants triggers a physiological response in mothers similar to that experienced by hungry people presented with a delicious meal.

Bec and her former AFL star beau Chris, who also share Billie and five-year-old Oscar, welcomed the twin boys on September 29.

Revealing the older of the two, the proud mum told Lisa Wilkinson in a recent interview with the Today show: 'Tom's [the oldest] and biggest by one minute'.

Babes: Bec revealsed that Tom (L) is the oldest and biggest out of the twins with Darcy (R) being 400 grams lighter during an appearance on the Today show

Daddy duty: Chris seems to have learnt which twin is which now as he holds Darcy

'So 12.43pm and [Darcy] 12.44pm. He was about 400grams lighter and he still is.'

The couple have shared a slew of images with fans across social media as they relish in the twin-tastic surprise, which came about as they contemplated trying for baby number three.

The model mum gave birth to the twins only a few weeks premature, getting past her goal of getting the babies to 34 weeks.
KALISPELL  A Bigfork man has been sentenced to four years in prison for felony stalking, including cutting off a GPS monitor and traveling to Colorado, where he was arrested within a mile of the woman's house.

District Judge David Ortley sentenced Severin Gislason on Nov. 15 to 15 years in prison with 11 years suspended.

Ortley required Gislason, 21, to complete substance abuse and cognitive behavioral treatment before becoming eligible for parole. He must also pay restitution for the victim's therapy and for an earlier burglary conviction.

Gislason was on probation following the 2014 burglary conviction, and he was ordered by a court in September 2014 not to contact the woman, but continued to text her and used a phone app to disguise his number, prosecutors said.

He was charged with felony stalking in 2015 and was released from jail with a GPS monitor. He cut the monitoring bracelet off at the Kalispell airport and took a bus to Colorado, prosecutors said. After his arrest, Gislason asked corrections officers if he could call his father, but used the phone to call and harass the woman, prosecutors said.

Gislason acted as his own attorney to confront the woman during his trial, prosecutors said. He had a loud outburst in court and was removed by police officers before pleading guilty.

"Severin Gislason is hands-down the most manipulative defendant I've ever prosecuted," said Deputy Flathead County Attorney Alison Howard, who sought a 35-year prison sentence.

Public defender Jessica Polan and Gislason's family asked Ortley to take into consideration that mental health professionals believe Gislason could do well with treatment for addiction and a personality disorder.
She certainly knows how to heat things up in the kitchen.

And Padma Lakshmi made sure to plug her new guide for spicing things up on Sunday in Miami, Florida.

The 46-year-old dropped by the Miami Book Fair, standing for photos whilst holding The Encyclopedia Of Spices & Herbs.

Lady of the hour: Padma Lakshmi was one of the famous faces at the Miami Book Fair on Sunday

The Top Chef hostess had slid into a sky blue miniskirt that tightened about her impressively svelte figure as she posed.

Its neckline fell slightly off her left shoulder, and its sleeves stopped shortly below the Chennai native's elbows.

The mother of one's wavy hair fell free, and her dress was cut off halfway up her thigh, enabling her to show off her toned legs.

An ornate jewelled bracelet glinted on her left wrist. She completed her ensemble with a pair of nude ankle-strap stiettos.

Her own best advert: The 46-year-old posed with her latest book, The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World

Subtitled An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World, the tome includes a bit of history and more background information, as well as cookery tips.

Published on October 4th in the United States, it was released in the United Kingdom a month later.

The erstwhile Mrs Salman Rushdie was not, however, the only famous name who'd dropped into Miami Dade College for the fair; Senator Bernie Sanders put in an appearance as well.

Staggered: The book was released stateside on October 4th and in Britain a month later

Having launched to national fame when he mounted a failed run for this year's Democratic presidential nomination, he gave a speech in which he responded to Donald Trump's victory in the general election.

Per the Miami Herald, he sharply criticised the President-elect for, in Sanders' words, 'the damage he has done to our country internally and around the world.'

He went on: 'What I say to Mr. Trump is: We are not going backwards,' adding that 'It is the job of the majority in this country to stand with minorities.'
It's one of their hottest songs.

And Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj turned up the sizzle factor as they performed their sexy new collaboration, Side To Side, at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

The ladies turned the stage into a real-life dance party as they grinded beside their team of shirtless and bikini-clad back-up dancers in a beach-themed performance, not long before Ariana collected the night's top award for Artist Of The Year.

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Come hither: Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj turned up the sizzle factor as they performed their sexy new collaboration, Side To Side, at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday

Ariana, 23, pulled her hair up into an especially high ponytail contained within a gold barrette as she got on all fours on the floor in a flirty green mini dress, fishnet stockings, and thigh-high suede boots.

Surrounded by all of her backup dancers, Ariana is initially in the center of attention as she seductively dances while putting her powerful pipes on full show.

Just over half-way into the routine, Ariana introduces her co-collaborator Nicki.

The rapper is unveiled behind a group of back-up dancers, who begin to twerk as she sits in a grand wicker chair.

Teamwork! Grande and Nicki Minaj grinded with their sculpted and shirtless back-up dancers

Keep on grooving: Grande didn't let some dancing stop her from singing

Can't take his eyes off of her: Ariana's hunky and shirtless back-up dancer was transfixed by the star

In what is perhaps one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the routine, Nicki kicks her legs wide open and touches her body.

The ladies then join forces as they grind in formation with their back-up dancers.

It has been a very big night for Ariana.

It's their big show! The ladies collaborated together on their latest hit, Side To Side

Top of the crops! Nicki showed off her curvaceous physique in a sexy bralette and high-waist hot pants

Her go-to look! Grande rocked her signature pony tail for her seductive performance

The songbird won one of the night's top honours - Artist Of The Year.

The awards are given to those with the most votes, something Ariana says holds a special place in her heart.

'I saw my fans voting their a**es off online and I appreciate them so much,' she told E!'s Jason Kennedy on the awards show red carpet.

It takes two! The stars shared a warm embrace on stage

Group effort! Surrounded by all of her backup dancers, Ariana is initially in the center of attention as she seductively dances while putting her powerful pipes on full show

Having a moment: The gal pals smiled at each other during their moment in the sun

'I love them from the bottom of my heart no matter what. I appreciate all of that, but at the same time I don't need an award to let me know how much they love me.'

'Thank you guys so much,' Ariana said breathlessly on stage as she accepted the award. 'I'm shaking. I just wanted to say, thank you so much to all my fans who voted so, so, so much. I love you! With or without this, I love you from the bottom of my heart, you guys, I think of you with everything I do. You guys are everything to me.

'Thank you, I can't believe this, I'm shaking, I'm nervous, this is horrible! I want to thank my family, who did everything they could to be here with me today. I love you guys, so much. Thank you, to Monty and Avery and Scooter and Charlie and everyone who takes care of me! I love you guys are family, thank you so much.

The mane attraction! Grande played with her long thick locks on stage

Off they go! The ladies strolled down stage hand-in-hand

It's an honour! The star profusely thanked her fans and loved ones for the Artist Of The Year award

Top prize! The popstrel is no stranger to success at the awards show, as in 2015 she was awarded Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, and was crowned New Artist Of The Year in 2013

After thanking other loved ones, she gushed, 'I love you guys, thank you so much... Oh my God, I'm trying not to cry!'

Ariana says once the music begins playing: 'Wait! No, no, no! Oh my God! I just want to say that I'm so thankful for art, and I hope that with whatever it is that I create in my life that I hope you feel a little bit of light, and I hope that I can bring joy to you and make you feel unified and happy, and I love you.'

The popstrel is no stranger to success at the awards show, as in 2015 she was awarded Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, and was crowned New Artist Of The Year in 2013.

This last year has seen Ariana release her third studio album, Dangerous Woman, which contains Side To Side.

Congratulations! The singer was presented with the prize by Jenny McCarthy and her husband Donnie Wahlberg

Simply chic: The popstrel rocked slouchy white trousers and a black crop top

A family affair! She was joined by her grandmother, Marjorie Grande

Pucker up! Minaj shared a photo of her with Ariana, who leaned over to plant a peck on the rapper

Strike a pose! Minaj paraded her fabulous physique for her fans
He's known as Home And Away's bad boy Brax - but has vowed never to return to the Australian soap after leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood.

And Stephen Peacocke, 35, has defended his decision once again, telling TV Week that he believes he left the show at the 'perfect time'.

The 35-year-old actor, who lives to LA with wife and former co-star Bridgette Sneddon, said that 'America is where (he) wants to be at the moment'.

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Farewell! Home And Away's former bad boy Stephen Peacocke, 35, has defended his decision to leave the Australian soap to follow his dreams of becoming a Hollywood star

'For me, I left Home And Away at the perfect time. With any performance, you leave when they're saying ''This is really good'' instead of ''Oh, gosh get rid of this guy''.'

Since leaving the show, he has been back and fourth from LA to film Australian based projects, including a Home And Away cameo in June.

This week, Stephen has returned Down Under again to promote his role in Cooped Up, and says he will likely stay at home until Christmas.

Stephen, who played Darryl 'Brax' Braxton on the soap, left Summer Bay at the start of last year to focus on his international career.

Never coming back! Stephen left his role as Home and Away bad boy Darryl 'Brax' Braxton (centre) at the start of last year to focus on his international career

His decision has clearly paid off, with the Dubbo-born star appearing in Me Before You and alongside Tina Fey in Whisky Tango Foxtrot.

When asked what the appeal of leaving a comfy acting job with a popular Australian soap was, he said he was ready to try something different.

Adding: 'People say 96 per cent of actors in Hollywood are unemployed, but at the same time only 20 per cent want to be actors - a lot just want to be famous.'

'I've been back for a week': This week Stephen has returned again to promote his latest role in Australian feature Cooped Up (pictured) saying he'll likely be Down Under until Christmas

Rising star: His decision to leave the long-running drama has paid off, with the Dubbo-born star appearing in Me Before You (pictured) and alongside Tina Fey in Whisky Tango Foxtrot

Stephen believes that with his determination and persistence to break into tinsel town 'good things will happen [to him]'.

Stephen and Bridgette married over the Christmas period after nine years together, before making the move to Hollywood.

The 28-year-old, who joined Home And Away's cast after her husband, told TV Week that she's 'excited about the future'.
She's the Bachelorette star who has been dedicating her spare time to raise awareness for Pancare Australia after her mother died from pancreatic cancer.

And now Georgia Love seems to be the gift that keeps on giving after being spotted donating nine bags full of clothing to the homeless at Hobart's Salvation Army.

The brunette reality star posted a picture of herself holding two bags full of old clothing while surrounded by seven more on the ground beside her.

'Yes sir, yes sir, NINE bags full': Georgia Love appears to have dedicated herself to charity work after being spotted donating clothing to Hobart's Salvation Army

Georgia captioned the image: 'Always feels good to pass on things I no longer need to those who need it more.'

She added the hash tags, 'salvationarmy' and 'yessiryessir9bagsfull' to the post.

Fans gushed over her generosity commenting on how it is 'always great to help the poor and less fortunate'.

While one Bachelorette fan quipped: 'This could be the start of her making wardrobe space for bf, lol.'

'In memory of my mum': The snap comes just days after a post about Pancare in which Georgia was seen raising awareness to the disease which took her mother Belinda's life last month

The snap comes just days after a post about Pancare in which Georgia wrote: 'In memory of the strong, beautiful, funny and intelligent woman I knew as my mum.'

Georgia lost her mother to pancreatic cancer last month and posted a picture collage to her 118,000 followers to break the news.

'My heart is utterly broken. 7 weeks ago we were sipping cocktails in Italy. 7 months ago you weren't even sick. How is it possible you're no longer here?,' she wrote.

'My heart is utterly broken': Georgia lost her mother to pancreatic cancer last month and posted a picture collage to her 118,000 followers to break the news

Moments later Lee broke his social media silence to express his love for his new partner and share his condolences for her family's tragic loss.

'I could not be any more saddened by what you and your family are going through right now,' he wrote on the Instagram post.

Georgia, who worked in Tasmania before filming the Bachelorette, said people had asked her if she regrets 'going away for three months' while her mother was sick.

'I could not be any more saddened by what you and your family are going through': Moments later Lee broke his social media silence to express his love for his new partner and her family

But she explained: 'You know, you can look back at any point of your life and go, "Well, I was away for two months travelling there or a year working there".

'If I had not have gone on The Bachelorette I would not have (met) Lee. But I would have still been in Tassie, I would have been further away from my mum. So, you know, I don't regret anything that happened.'

Georgia found fame when she appeared on the second season of the Bachelorette where she met her partner Lee Elliott during their quests to find true love.
Mel B famously signed on as the face of Jenny Craig back in 2011.

And five years later, the 41-year-old still credits her ongoing relationship with the weight loss company for her enviable physique.

'I had my weigh in two weeks ago!' she said proudly during an appearance on The Morning Show on Monday.

'I'm on their maintenance thing:' Mel B admitted that she's still using Jenny Craig during an appearance on The Morning Show on Monday

'I'm on their maintenance thing which I've been on for the last three years.'

She continued: 'So it's not about just working out and not eating, you have to eat the right foods and Jenny Craig has taught me what to eat and how to eat for the last five years.'

The Spice Girls songstresses explained that she sometimes 'dreads' her monthly weigh ins when she's 'been eating too many pies.'

Transformation: Mel B in 2011 where she was markedly larger

'I've worked soooo hard for this body!' The 41-year-old famously lost 30 pounds this year

Mel notably lost 30 pounds earlier this year.

The British star announced the exciting news in an Instagram post in July.

'I've worked soooo hard for this body,' she wrote.

'It takes a lot of dedication control discipline,' the star wrote on Instagram

She continued: 'Trust me it didn't come easy...it takes a lot of dedication control discipline and will power cos it isn't fun been the only girl at the party not drinking and the only one waking up at the crack of dawn to workout [sic].'

Mel is currently working as a judge on The X Factor Australia and America's Got Talent.

She's also preparing to return to Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago next month.
The rumour has been sent into overdrive in the past few months after Today star Karl Stefanovic split with his wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn.

And this week, his show co-host and good friend Lisa Wilkinson has slammed all the 'lies' that have been published in magazines about Karl's split.

The 56-year-old journalist told Mamamia she's 'angry' and 'disgusted' about all the reports because she's concerned for Karl and Cassandra and their three young children.

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Defending her friend: Lisa Wilkinson has slammed all the 'lies' that have been published in magazines about Today co-host Karl Stefanovic's marriage split, saying she's concerned about his family (Lisa and Karl are seen here in April 2014)

'He's good,' Lisa said of Karl.

'There's a lot of rubbish out there, a lot of lies,' she said.

Mentioning magazines as one media outlet, she said she was 'disgusted' about all the reports being published and even the comments on all the stories.

Going their separate ways: The rumour has been sent into overdrive in the past few months after Today star Karl Stefanovic split with his wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn (seen in 2014)

'I am disgusted with some sections of the media at the moment and some of the comments sections, the fact they have no moderators at all and the complete, well again, lies that are published without any regards to the fact that there are human beings involved here and there's children involved.'

She added: 'My anger knows no bounds over that and I feel very protective towards the people involved. But you don't want to give it oxygen.'

The editor at large of Huffington Post Australia added there is no reason for Karl or Cassandra to comment on any claims so as to not 'dignify' them.

Give them no air: The editor at large of Huffington Post Australia added there is no reason for Karl or Cassandra to comment on any claims so as to not 'dignify' them

Split: Karl and Cassandra's 21-year marriage ended in September and Karl has reportedly moved out of their family home

Karl and Cassandra's 21-year marriage ended in September and Karl has reportedly moved out of their family home.

Recently, Channel Nine boss Darren Wick confirmed the morning TV host will be taking at least a month off work as he deals with family issues.

This week, New Idea magazine claimed Karl has taken a liking to a younger woman since his relationship breakdown and developed a crush on engaged food blogger Sofia Levin, 27, after she made a guest appearance on the breakfast program several weeks ago.

'Karl loves how free and easy Sofia is - she's a lot of fun,' the magazine's insider claimed.

Claims: This week, New Idea magazine claimed Karl has taken a liking to engaged food blogger Sofia Levin, 27 (seen)

'The fact that she's seriously beautiful doesn't hurt either,' the source added.

Reportedly, they have 'liked' one another's Instagram posts.

'Karl just wants someone who's going to make him smile and feel young again,' the source further claimed.

'If it's not Sofia it will be someone else. He's a patient man.'

A Channel Nine representative has issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia in response to the magazine's claims.

Speaking up: A Channel Nine representative has issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia in response to the magazine's claims

'Articles suggesting any "new" relationships are 100 per cent untrue, and incredibly hurtful to all of those mentioned in the articles,' a spokesperson said.

Last week, Woman's Day reported that Karl's wife Cassandra was 'devastated' after discovering her husband's messages and Facetime call records to a younger woman following their split.

Karl was reportedly making video calls and exchanging texts with a 27-year-old brunette, with whom he struck up a friendship after the woman made a guest appearance on Today.

It's also claimed Karl introduced the woman to his circle of friends at a private Melbourne Cup party earlier this month.

It's unclear whether the woman mentioned is Sofia.
The Bachelorette runner-up made no secret of the fact he was excited to start a family, and it put a definite wedge between him and the show's star, Georgia Love.

And though he did not win the heart of the former journalist, Matty Johnson appears to still be holding on to his dream.

An adorable photo shared with his 75,000 Instagram followers showed the marketing manager surrounded by babies - five, to be exact, as he spent time outdoors on Monday.

Daddy is that you? Former Bachelorette contestant seemed right at home as he surrounded himself with babies on Monday in an adorable Instagram picture

The Sydney-based hunk appeared completely comfortable, and delighted, with the situation.

'Of course I can look after your child,' he joked in the picture's caption.

'No I definitely don't have my hands full.'

His fans on the photo-sharing social network were more than excited about the image, which most of them referred to as 'ovary exploding'.

Family ties: Matty's sister Kate (right) recently had a son, which was enough to lure her brother home from London

One of the babies belonged to his sister Kate, and was the very child that lured him home from London to be with his family.

During the show, when Georgia visited the homes of her four remaining contestants, there was tension between her and Matty over his desire to be a father in the near future.

When the Bachelorette entered his sister's home in Sydney, Matty immediately lunged for his baby nephew, but Georgia hesitated - and appeared distressed about her date's interest in babies.

She knows what he wants: Both Matty and his sister were upfront with Georgia about the marketing manager's desire to start a family in the near future

'Matty seemed really clucky. I know his family wants him to have kids soon, and I don't want kids soon,' she said with panicked eyes to the camera.

'I don't feel ready for a baby in the next few years.

'That's a huge thing. That could be a massive wedge in a relationship.

'That might be a huge red flag for us.'
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They jetted away from the dismal UK weather for a sun-kissed adventure in Mauritius.

And Millie Mackintosh and her boyfriend Hugo Taylor certainly looked like they were in paradise as they enjoyed a PDA-filled beach day in the sun-drenched location last week.

Millie, 27, showed off her gym-honed figure in a teeny yellow bikini as she frolicked with her handsome beau on the white sands.

This is the life! Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor shared a lingering smooch as they hit the beach in Mauritius last week during their romantic winter sun break

The ex Made In Chelsea star made sure to show off her toned and tanned beach body in her skimpy choice of bikini.

The yellow two-piece featured a wild touch, with an animal print trim, while the beauty accessorised with some dark shades and kept cool by sweeping her honey-coloured locks into an effortless up do.

Hugo meanwhile showed off his holiday tan in a pair of purple and red print swimming shorts.

Just the two of us: Millie, 27, showed off her gym-honed figure in a teeny yellow bikini as she frolicked with her handsome beau on the white sands

The two enjoyed some time to themselves, strolling through the surf before stopping and sharing a lingering smooch in the sunshine.

Later the besotted couple hit the water, again packing on the PDA as Hugo cuddled his gorgeous girl in the ocean.

Millie and Hugo were enjoying a working holiday in the East African country, where she has modelled for his wildly successful sunglasses collection.

What a body! The ex Made In Chelsea star made sure to show off her toned and tanned beach body in her skimpy bikini

Beach style: The yellow two-piece featured a wild touch, with an animal print trim, while the beauty accessorised with some dark shades and kept cool by sweeping her honey locks into an effortless up do

Me and you: The two enjoyed some time to themselves, strolling through the surf as they lapped up the sunshine

On the trip, the couple, who were joined by Millie's gal pals Zara Martin and Alicia Rountree, have been avidly sharing snaps with the fitness buff determinedly showing off the idyllic scenery.

The group stayed at the luxury Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, which is widely considered 'the most romantic hotel' on the north west coast of Mauritius.

Hugo and fellow sunglasses line founder Charlie Morris have called on Millie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's brother Toby to model for their new collection abroad.

Natural beauty: Millie ditched the makeup for her day at the beach, showing off her natural beauty and a touch of sun burn

She works out! The ex MIC star looked fabulous in her summery swimwear as she enjoyed another day in paradise

Kiss me quick: Hugo pulled his gorgeous girl in for a smooch during their walk by the ocean

Millie and Hugo went public with their romance while celebrating Hugo's 30th birthday at the Monaco Grand Prix in May - the same week that Millie's divorce from rapper husband Professor Green, 32, was finalised.

They previously dated back in 2011 when they met on E4 reality show, Made In Chelsea. But the union was not to last and ended rather dramatically when Millie discovered Hugo had cheated on her with her friend, Rosie Fortescue.

At the time, Millie claimed she would always love Hugo, saying in an interview: 'I loved him - those feelings dont disappear  but I just always have to remind myself why were not together.

Smitten: The couple couldn't keep their hands off one another as they enjoyed time to themselves during their group trip

Colourful duo: Hugo clashed with Millie with his bold choice of swimming shorts - rocking a purple and red print pair

Can't take my eyes off of you: Millie shot her man a smitten look as they basked in the Mauritius sunshine

Say cheese! Hugo was on camera duty as Millie posed in the ocean for another snap that found its way onto her Instagram account

'I do think that, for the rest of my life, every time I see him, Ill get that feeling in my stomach. I dont think I could ever not get that butterfly feeling.'

Millie and Pro Green announced their split in February after just over four years together. Their two-and-a-half-year marriage was dissolved in just 30 seconds in May.

In a statement at the time, they said: 'It is a mutual decision, we still care deeply about each other and would like it to be known that it is on amicable terms and we wish each other well.'

Simply smitten: Millie kept her eyes closed as she gave Hugo a big hug during a romantic swim

Cooling off: The couple sipped on drinks after their fun time splashing around in the beautiful blue ocean

Kicking back: Millie cooled down with some water as she got ready for a sunbathing session during her lazy day

Looking after her man: After Hugo complained about some sun burn earlier in the week, Millie made sure her man was covered in suncream

I wanna hold your hand: Millie reached for Hugo's hand during their romantic walk

They were granted a decree nisi at Central London Family Court with Millie citing 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason for their split.

Millie and Stephen started dating in November 2011 after the rapper saw her on the cover of men's magazine FHM.

The rapper contacted Millie through her agent and they had their first date at the Groucho Club in Soho.

Inked: The beauty flaunted her butterfly tattoo and her three stars on her shoulder as she stood chatting to her beau

Work and play: Millie and Hugo were enjoying a working holiday in the East African country, where she has modelled for his wildly successful sunglasses collection

Model behaviour: Hugo and fellow sunglasses line founder Charlie Morris have called on Millie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's brother Toby to model for their new collection abroad

They went public at the Brit Awards in February 2012, with Stephen proposing on holiday in Paris just over a year later.

The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Babington House in Somerset in September 2013.

Pro Green recently lashed out at Millie in his new track Eye On The Door, rapping about their lack of sex life, drug use and hinting that cheating was to blame for their split.

Besotted: Millie and Hugo went public with their romance while celebrating Hugo's 30th birthday at the Monaco Grand Prix in May - the same week that Millie's divorce from rapper husband Professor Green, 32, was finalised

Back on: They previously dated back in 2011 when they met on E4 reality show, Made In Chelsea

The one? The couple have been inseparable since reuniting, and Millie has well and truly moved on from her ex husband

Made for each other: The couple shot to fame together on their hit E4 reality show Made In Chelsea

But in spite of his very public bashing of his ex-wife, the musician admitted last week that splitting from Millie felt like experiencing 'a death.

He told the i newspaper on Friday: 'Of course whether youre happy somethings finished or not, it doesnt change the fact that it does still feel like theres been a death.

'An energy thats always been in your presence is suddenly no longer there and youre an idiot if you think thats not going to affect you.'

Simply stunning: Millie is well known for her love of travel and it surely won't be long before she's back in the sunshine

Romantic moment: Millie didn't care who was watching as she gave her boyfriend a passionate kiss

Not all play: Businessman Hugo checked his phone as the couple took a break from their PDA
She's the 27-year-old known for playing a teenager on the hit American series Pretty Little Liars.

And, the youthful Lucy Hale cut a casual cool figure in playful denim shorts and a loose white frilly top as she departed Adelaide Airport on Monday.

The actress sported a relaxed laid-back look with her boyfriend Anthony Kalabretta, as she sipped on iced coffee after a two-week Australian promotional visit.

Perking up! Makeup-free Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale sips on iced coffee as she departs Adelaide Airport with her boyfriend Anthony Kalabretta on Monday after a busy week of media appearances across multiple Australian cities

Lucy, who plays Aria Montgomery on the teenage drama, has been in the country primarily to promote the series at Supanova pop culture expo.

Seemingly requiring a pick-me-up after her long week, Lucy carried a large iced coffee in her free hand as her long-time beau walked beside her.

The petite star opted for comfort with frayed denim shorts, beige slides and a black LA cap.

Lucy showed a glimpse of her taut stomach with the white flared-sleeved top tying in a bow around her belly button.

Couples for coffee! Seemingly requiring a pick-me-up after her long week, Lucy carried a large iced coffee in her free hand as her long-time beau walked beside her with his own caffeinated beverage

Natural beauty! The brunette beauty appeared to go makeup free for the flight and tied her hair in a messy low bun below her cap

The brunette beauty appeared to go makeup free for the flight and tied her hair in a messy low bun below her cap.

She accessorised her low key ensemble with a personalised black body-cross bag and a multi-layered gold necklace.

She chose to tote her own suitcase and handbag through the airport, while her boyfriend carried a spotted gift bag while lugging a backpack on his back.

Youthful ensemble: Lucy, who is known for playing a teenager on the hit-series Pretty Little Liars, cut a youthful figure in playful denim shorts with an embroidered patch and a loose white frilly top with a bow tied around her waist

Full hands: She chose to tote her own suitcase and handbag through the airport, while her free hand was either sporting a hefty novel or a large iced coffee

Details: She accessorised her low key ensemble with a gold necklace and a personalised black body-cross bag with 'Lucy' printed on the bottom in cursive and a keychain with her initials 'LH'

Ready to relax! Lucy is now finished with her media appearances, with the pair rumoured to be heading to Melbourne to spend the last of their Australian trip relaxing together

The pair are rumoured to be heading to Melbourne to spend the last of their Australian trip before heading home.

Lucy appeared at Supanova in Brisbane and Adelaide, alongside Holly Marie Combs, who plays her mother Ella Montgomery on the long-standing show.

Fans could purchase her autograph for $100 and a photograph with the star for $110.

The Memphis-born actress has visited several cities during her short visit to Australia, including a Sydney visit and Sydney Harbour Bridge climb.
She stole the show as a fiesty vampire in the hugely popular Underworld franchise.

And Kate Beckinsale took centre-stage once again as she promoted Underworld: Blood Wars, the fifth film in the action horror series, in Moscow, Russia, on Monday.

The actress, 43, looked incredible as she flaunted her enviably svelte legs in a black miniskirt while posing for photographs on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Leading lady: Kate Beckinsale dazzled as she promoted Underworld: Blood Wars on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow, Russia, on Monday

The Serendipity star effortlessly flaunted her slim physique in the thigh-grazing skirt, which she lent an 80s edge thanks to a jewel-encrusted heart motif belt.

Sticking to a monochrome theme, Kate, who has a 17-year-old daughter Lily with her ex-husband Michael Sheen, rocked a black poloneck jumper.

She wore her trademark glossy chestnut locks in tumbling waves that cascaded past her shoulders, and outlined her eyes with a smoky eyeshadow.

Finishing off the look with some black stilettos, the Love & Friendship actress didn't seem to have aged at all since the first Underworld film in 2003.

Legs for days! The British actress, 43, flaunted her enviably svelte legs in a black miniskirt and tights as she promoted her latest movie offering in the Russian capital

Striking: The star wore her trademark glossy chestnut locks in tumbling waves that cascaded past her shoulders, and outlined her eyes with a smoky eyeshadow

Monochrome maven: Kate, who has a 17-year-old daughter Lily with her ex husband Michael Sheen, rocked a black poloneck jumper

The next installment in the blockbuster franchise follows Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate) as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

With her only allies, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires - at risk of making a huge sacrifice.

The film also stars Tobias Menzies, otherwise known as Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones, who plays a mysterious new Lycan leader.

Sultry: The Total Recall star wore a nude lipgloss that plumped her full pout

Youthful: The Love & Friendship actress didn't seem to have aged at all since the first Underworld film in 2003

Kate, who started out in independent roles, recently revealed the backlash she faced when she was typecast at the start of her career.

She told ScreenDaily: 'I started in independent British film-making. When I began working outside of England, what I kept running into was, "She's very British and delicate, she doesn't have much edge."'

Originally set for October release, the film's debut has since been pushed back to January 6, 2017.

Turning heads: The Serendipity star effortlessly flaunted her slim physique in the thigh-grazing skirt, which she lent an 80s edge thanks to a jewel-encrusted heart motif belt

Effortlessly chic: Kate even matched her black nails to her polished monochrome ensemble

The actress shot to fame however with blockbuster roles in Underworld, sci-fi thriller Total Recall and vampire horror Van Helsing.

Kate revealed she was pigeonholed as a 'female Jackie Chan' in Underworld, which felt like 'an extreme departure from my comfort zone'.

She added that she feels the franchise has empowered more female leads to take on ball-busting fiesty roles - like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.

She said: 'When we were making the first Underworld, the only female action heroes were Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hamilton; there hadn't been one for a while.

'Now you have The Hunger Games etc - I feel like I had a small part in moving that dial.'

Taking centre-stage: The actress shot to fame however with blockbuster roles in Underworld, sci-fi thriller Total Recall and vampire horror Van Helsing
GREAT FALLS  Montana wildlife officials say a female grizzly bear protecting her two cubs attacked and seriously injured an elk hunter.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden Capt. Dave Holland said an initial investigation indicates it was a surprise encounter, with the bear defending her cubs.

The man didn't fire any shots at the bear, which ran off after the attack Sunday. It occurred on private property near the small northwestern city of Choteau.

The injured man, whose identity hasn't been released, was part of a hunting party and was taken by private vehicle to a clinic in Choteau, then flown by helicopter to a hospital in Great Falls.

State officials planned to visit the site Monday.
She's been sending pulses racing with her steamy shower scenes in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Outta Here.

And ahead of her appearance Ola Jordan stripped off completely naked in her arguably raciest calender shoot to date.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, showed off her enviable body as she made a splash skinny-dipping in the sea.

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Making a splash! Ahead of her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Outta Here, Ola Jordan stripped off completely naked in her arguably raciest calender shoot to date

Seen holding her generous bust with her arms crossed across her tanned body, the dancer flaunts her toned damp midriff as she poses in the sea.

Going for a natural look with just a dash of mascara and bronzer, the married star wears her wet hair slicked off her face.

Posing against a backdrop of blue skies and rippling waves, the shot is sure to send pulses racing.

At one with nature: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, showed off her enviable body as she made a splash skinny-dipping in the sea

And another glimpse of the risque shoot sees the blonde beauty covered in sand, leaning naked against an unsuspecting rock.

Covering her chest with her arms and folding her toned thigh across her body, Ola glances seductively at the camera.

With a subtle French manicure the only sign of her wardrobe, she goes jewellery and accessory free.

Meanwhile she has sent pulses racing in the iconic jungle shower.

Amid reports the jungle shower is actually manually operated, the professional dancer didn't seem to mind the conditions as she leant back and soaked herself under the stream of water.

Jungle godess: She's been sending pulses racing in the junglewith her steamy shower scenes

Sizzling: Flaunting her incredible figure, the Polish born beauty had donned a skimpy bikini top that showed off her cleavage

Flaunting her incredible figure, the Polish born beauty had donned a skimpy bikini top that showed off her cleavage.

Earlier this week, Ola's husband James Jordan admitted on Lorraine that he had taken his sexy wife shopping for bikinis that 'covered everything'.

The Big Brother star explained his stunning wife was being careful about showing off too much in those inevitable jungle shower scenes, with James explaining: 'When we go on holiday, normally she wears slightly more skimpy [bikinis] because people might not know who we are there.

'But we went bikini shopping [before the jungle] because she wanted to make sure everything was more covered up,' he said, gesturing to his behind.
She's spent much of her year resting and relaxing in various sunny spots around the world.

But Lindsay Lohan showed that she's also partial to a spot of adrenaline-seeking, as she hit the rides at London's Winter Wonderland on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old actress braved the wet weather plaguing the capital, and made a bee-line straight for some of the more high-octane attractions.

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Having a scream! Lindsay Lohan showed that she's also partial to a spot of adrenaline-seeking, as she hit the rides at London's Winter Wonderland on Saturday night

Accompanied by several friends, the Mean Girls actress headed out to Hyde Park for a fun-filled evening.

And it seems that Lindsey was feeling adventurous, as the flame-haired star made a bee-line for a series of whirling, rotating and speeding rides.

Jumping into the seat of one particular ride, the star could be seen grinning in anticipation of what was to come.

Clutching at the restraint harness, Lindsey didn't appear to troubled that she was about to be whipped around at high speeds.

A real daredevil: The 30-year-old actress braved the wet weather plaguing the capital, and made a bee-line straight for some of the more high-octane attractions

And as she enjoyed a different, but no less thrilling ride, later on, the Herbie: Fully Loaded actress was seen screaming in delight as she and two friend were spun around on a rotating platform.

The fashion-conscious star opted for a chic approach to the casual theme, teaming a pair of skin-tight leather legging with a black roll-neck jumper.

Making sure she kept warm, the star wore a leather shearling-lined pilot's jacket.

Tucking he signature red locks away under a slogan cap, the actress appeared to be truing to keep a low-profile during her night out.

Friends like these: Accompanied by several friends, the Mean Girls actress headed out to Hyde Park for a fun-filled evening

And summing up her fun-filled evening, the star took to social media, posting a selfie as she declared: 'Beautiful night with beautiful people and family friends.'

And while she's been keen to slip into the social side of things in London, the former wild child has also been focusing on her humanitarian work over partying.

She is currently trying to learn a variety of languages, after spending much of the year in Europe and Russia, with Lindsay telling DailyMail.com: 'I've been learning different languages since I was a child.

Having a blast: Summing up her fun-filled evening, the star took to social media, posting a selfie as she declared: 'Beautiful night with beautiful people and family friends'

'I'm fluent in English and French can understand Russian and am learning Turkish, Italian and Arabic.'

With the star choosing to launch a clothing range in association with Represent with slogans such as 'I only speak Lilohan' plastered across the front.

She explained: '[Represent and I] decided to make the T-shirts to turn mainstream media into something positive for the world and thought it would be a nice thing to do.

'The shirts will support young children suffering and help raise money for Turkey to help with Syrian refugees, I'm very excited we could make this happen!'
She recently dyed her trademark blonde locks black for new movie, Down A Dark Hall.

But Uma Thurman enjoyed a well-earned break from shooting her latest project in Barcelona, Spain, as she took her sweet daughter Luna, four, for a day of fun in the park over the weekend.

Enjoying the sights of the city, the actress, 46, seemed to be having a ball with her little mini-me as they enjoyed some quality time together.

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Family fun: Uma Thurman enjoyed a well-earned break from shooting her latest project in Barcelona, Spain, as she took her sweet daughter Luna, four, for a day of fun in the park

Luna's appearance comes amid reports that Uma's ex-fiance Arpad Busson was trying to prevent her from taking their daughter from New York to Barcelona while the actress films the movie.

Showing off her recently-dyed raven bob, the mother-of-three rocked leather leggings and boots, layering up in red chunky knitwear.

Wrapping a khaki military-inspired trench around her hips, she carried her adorable daughter along the street.

This time wearing a black jumper, stylish shades and a lime-coloured scarf, Uma laughed along with her daughter as she pushed the little girl on the swing.

A fun-folled day out: Enjoying the sights of the city, the actress, 46, seemed to be having a ball with her little mini-me as they enjoyed some quality time together at the park

In July 2012, Thurman and Arpad welcomed their daughter Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson, who goes by the much shorter nickname Luna.

The Pulp Ficton star began dating Busson two years after her divorce from actor Ethan Hawke.

Thurman married Hawke, 43, in 1997 and they have 18-year-old daughter Maya and 14-year-old son Levon together.

Last month, it was claimed Uma's ex-fiance Busson was trying to stop the actress from taking daughter Luna to Spain while she films a new movie.

French financier Arpad, 53, filed legal documents to ask a judge to prohibit the Kill Bill star from taking Luna to Europe with her during the shoot.

According to TMZ's sources, the move blindsided Uma at the time, as it was supposedly made two days before she was due to travel.

Arpad reportedly requested that their daughter stay in New York, posing a difficult choice for the actress.

Uma and Arpad will be heading to court in the next couple of months amid their ongoing custody battle over their daughter.

Doting: Luna's appearance comes amid reports that Uma's ex-fiance Arpad Busson was trying to prevent her from taking their daughter from New York to Barcelona while the actress films

In October, it was claimed that Uma is set to fight her ex on visitation time with Luna which he wants more of.

Sources told TMZ: 'When she and Arpad head to court in a few months, Uma will argue he cancels his scheduled time to see her '7 times out of 10'.

'Arpad is the one who's asking the judge for more time, but the sources say these are just 'tactics.'

'Our sources say he gets a significant amount of custodial time currently, yet doesn't come close to taking advantage of it.'

Uma apparently wants to co-parent with Arpad but a lot of the time she has to arrange a nanny to take the child to London or the Bahamas where he lives.

Hair today: Showing off her recently-dyed raven bob, the mother-of-three rocked leather leggings and boots, layering up in red chunky knitwear

The insider added 'he won't take the time to pick her up.'

Arpad reportedly demanded more visitation with the couples daughter, less than a year after they reached an initial settlement over the custody of their child.

Arpad filed a motion for temporary visitation rights on August 31. He first filed a custody lawsuit against Thurman in New York in 2014.

The former couple are set to face off in Manhattan Supreme Court by December, according to Page Six.

Arpad has had a rocky relationship with Uma since they first started dating in 2007.

The investor and actress were originally set to be married in 2009, but the wedding was called off, and Thurman returned her eight-carat diamond ring.

In 2011, the couple reconciled and shortly thereafter Thurman became pregnant with their daughter, who she gave birth to in 2012.

Uma and Arpad then were again set to get married, but the actress called off the engagement a second time and the couple again parted ways.

Shortly following their breakup, Arpad reportedly slapped Uma with a lawsuit demanding more custody of their daughter and the power to make important life decisions for their daughter.
He scored the first 40 of the series as Strictly Come Dancing visited Blackpool on Saturday.

And Danny Mac, 28, paid a trip to the This Morning studio on Monday following his triumphant performance in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

The actor was nothing but humble as he told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that he's never felt safe following his performances on the show.

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King of the dance hall: Danny Mac, 28, paid a visit to the This Morning studio on Monday following his triumphant performance in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom

He was also full or praise for Ed Balls and refused to say he was more likely to win the show than the politician.

'That guy's fantastic,' said Danny. 'You're not going to turn off because Ed Balls is dancing.

'It's a show where the audience vote. I've never once felt safe in that elimination show.

Riding high: Danny scored the first 40 of the series as Strictly Come Dancing visited Blackpool on Saturday

One week at a time: The actor was nothing but humble as he told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that he's never felt safe following his performances on the show

Furry friend: Dog lover Danny gave guide dog Luna a hug

'There's more to the show than being the best dancer. He's going out there getting his steps right, dancing in time and entertaining people. He puts in the effort. He's not there as a joke, he 's there because he's putting in the effort.'

The star is set to marry his fiancee Carley Stenson next year but insisted his primary focus is remaining on Strictly.

He explained: 'We set up a lot just before this for next year so that was handy. At the minute we are just focused on staying on Strictly for as long as possible.'

Humble: Danny was also full or praise for Ed Balls and refused to say he was more likely to win the show than the politician

The right time: The star admitted that he had previously been unsure of doing Strictly due to concerns about opening himself up to judgment from the audience

Sending his best: Danny wished pro dancer Gorka Marquez well, after reports the Spaniard was viciously assaulted at the weekend following filming

The star admitted that he had previously been unsure of doing Strictly due to concerns about opening himself up to judgment from the audience.

He said: 'There's a whole other side to Strictly... being yourself. The audience have to take to you, you have to be yourself. I've never done that.

'I had left the show (Hollyoaks). I had just got engaged and I thought, do you know what, I need to broaden my horizons and be more open-minded about my career.

Firt things first: The star is set to marry his fiancee Carley Stenson next year but insisted his primary focus is remaining on Strictly

Facing his fear: Danny said being scared of doing the show spurred him on to sign up

'If I'm that scared of doing it then that's a reason to do it. I'm a perfectionist. I want to do as good as I can, but the pressure is amazing out there.'

Danny also wished pro dancer Gorka Marquez well, after reports the Spaniard was viciously assaulted at the weekend following filming.

Meanwhile, fans of Ed, 49, have rallied around the unlikely ballroom hero, willing him on to the win the glitterball trophy.

Following his mesmerising performance to Great Balls of Fire on Saturday night, fans flocked to Twitter to encourage Ed to continue.

Dark horse: Fans of former politician Ed Balls have rallied around the unlikely ballroom hero, willing him on to the win the glitterball trophy

One gushed: 'Congratulations to @edballs and @Mrs_katjones for getting through to another week of @bbcstrictly I hope you both Win!.'

Another said: 'This @bbcstrictly fan doesn't want him to quit. Carry on Ed and win it! Power to the peepleeeee! #StrictlyComeDancing #ballstoblackpool'

A third enthused: 'I am so glad Ed Balls is still in strictly. He should win just for that Gangnam Style routine! #edballsoffire #Strictly'

Fan favourite: Ed's become a dark horse for the Strictly Come Dancing crown following week after week of wacky routines

It's widely acknowledged that Ed is nowhere near the strongest dancer left in the competition, but some claim his determination and effort are enough to see him win.

'I want Ed Balls to win,' wrote one fan, 'because he's the only one who's put 100% in every week & got better as the contest has gone on...'

Another said: 'Ed Balls on Strictly - a practical demonstration of democracy in action-the experts don't choose and the technically best don't always win'

Supportive: Following his mesmerising performance to Great Balls of Fire on Saturday night, fans flocked to Twitter to encourage Ed to continue

Showstopping: Ed stole the show in Blackpool as he descended from the heavens playing Great Balls Of Fire on a piano crowned with flame

Ed stole the show in Blackpool as he descended from the heavens playing Great Balls Of Fire on a piano crowned with flame.

The spectacle of Balls playing the Jerry Lee Lewis classic marked the landmark moment the hapless politician and his partner Katya Jones reached the crucial Blackpool stage of the competition.

At the start of the series, the pair were greeted with ridicule when they announced they wanted to dance at the world capital of ballroom dancing. But now, in week nine, Balls is one of the seven stars left from the original 15 to have made the lavish final rounds at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Raging: However, not everyone is enamoured with Ed's extravagant performances, with a number of viewers claiming thew show is fixed to keep him in.

Craig Revel Horwood even said it was entirely possible that Balls could win the glitterball trophy.

However, not everyone is enamoured with Ed's extravagant performances, with a number of viewers claiming thew show is fixed to keep him in.

'wtf....what a fix,' raged one, following Sunday's results show, 'how the hell can Greg and Claudia be rated worse than Ed Balls. Sorry lost a viewer here I've had it.'

Another asked: 'I dare you to show the Public how Ed Balls remains in this completion. He IS the worse dancer without doubt! Is this showa (sic) fix?'

A third vented: 'So Ed Balls is still on Strictly, and Honey G is still on X Factor.. it's either a massive fix, or the people voting are f***ing stupid.'

While a fourth exclaimed: 'without doubt this show is about tv ratings NOT the dancing. Ed balls still In?TOTAL FIX! #Lasttimeiwatchstrictly'
She's known for her figure flaunting ensembles throughout the years.

And Lady Victoria Hervey was no different in the style stakes as she sported a skimpy white bikini while soaking up the sun, holidaying in Palm Springs, California.

The 40-year-old model - who celebrated the birthday milestone in October - slipped into a revealing two-piece that was sure to showcase her taut abs as she lounged by the pool with British fashion designer Julia Clancey.

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Turning heads! Lady Victoria Hervey sizzled in the style stakes as she sported a skimpy white bikini while soaking up the sun, holidaying in Palm Springs, California

Sporting the tiny swimwear by Clancey, Victoria worked a halterneck bandeau top that hugged her ample cleavage and featured an eye-catching gold seahorse clasp in the midst of her bust.

The IT girl offset the bust enhancing top with a pair of low-slung bikini bottoms which boasted a panel of fabric draping around her slender hips and highlighted her toned stomach furthermore.,

Her choice of swimwear brief's hugged her honed pins and accentuated her pert behind as she enjoyed a dip in the swimming pool with a drink in hand.

Victoria - who is the daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol - oozed St Tropez vibes in her stylish two-piece as she teamed the poolside look with a pair of oversized shades.

Commanding attention! The 40-year-old model - who celebrated the birthday milestone in October - slipped into a revealing two-piece that was sure to showcase her taut abs as she lounged by the pool with a pal

A vision in white: Sporting the tiny swimwear, Victoria worked a halterneck bandeau top that hugged her ample cleavage and featured an eye-catching gold seahorse clasp in the midst of her bust

Bronzed beauty: In between dips, she enjoyed a number of sun-bathing sessions as she wrapped her white and aqua blue sarong around her hips, applying suncream to her bronzed skin

Neatly blow drying her bleach blonde tresses into a bouncy curl, Victoria made sure her locks were never immersed in the water as she walked waist high into the water.

In between dips, she enjoyed a number of sun-bathing sessions as she wrapped her white and aqua blue sarong around her hips, applying suncream to her bronzed skin.

Sitting cross legged, she left her embellished sandals at the foot of her sunbed as she was joined by an adorable four-legged friend, looking for some respite from the burning Californian sun under her lounger.

Relaxed: Sitting cross legged on her lounger, she left her embellished sandals at the foot of her sunbed

Chic: Victoria pushed her blonde tresses off her face as she sat by the pool

Pool chic: Her choice of swimwear brief hugged her honed pins and accentuated her pert behind as she enjoyed a dip in the swimming pool with a drink in hand

Overboard: Neatly blow drying her bleach blonde tresses into a bouncy curl, Victoria made sure her tresses were never immersed into the water as she walked waist high into the water

Victoria's skimpy display comes after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction while wearing a barely-there cut-out swimming costume which came unfastened as she emerged from the pool.

The eye-popping encounter then resulted in her exposing her entire chest as she grabbled for the hand rails.

The belted swimsuit fell from Victoria's shoulders and exposed her entire bare chest - showing perky assets which far defied her age.

Holiday pals: Victoria was joined in the pool by British fashion designer Julia Clancey

Keeping fresh: Both girls were aware not to dipped their neatly blow dried tresses hair into the pool

Sun-soaked: Victoria displayed her perky derriere in her skimpy white bikini bottoms

Lady Victoria, who is known for her glamorous sense of style, recently told the Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy.

'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing,' she said, 'I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach.'

Victoria added that she still leads by example, sporting an array of sheer ensembles at parties recently, she said: 'Its empowering to dress provocatively'.

Her body confidence put her in good stead during her modelling career, which saw her work for the likes of Christian Dior.
Australian model Jesinta Campbell and AFL star Buddy Franklin were reported to be honeymooning on the Gold Coast after tying the knot two weeks ago.

And at the weekend, the pair had some of their close friends crash their honeymoon.

Buddy took to Instagram on Monday to share a snap of himself with his new wife and West Coast Eagles player Sharrod Wellingham and his partner Tory.

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'La mia famiglia': Jesinta Campbell and Buddy Franklin (L) had friends Sharrod Wellingham and his partner Tory crash their Gold Coast honeymoon this week

Buddy captioned the happy snap: 'La mia famiglia.'

Tory meanwhile shared the same image to her public Instagram account, writing: 'honeymoon crashers.'

In the image, Tory holds the camera as Sharrod sits next to her, with Buddy going shirtless and Jesinta wearing a bikini and a white throw over as they sit by the water.

Life's a beach! Tory also shared a shot of herself on a main beach on the Gold Coast, having gone for a swim with a fresh-faced Jesinta and her pal Elliot Garnaut

The former pageant queen had her locks pulled back into double buns and she covered her face with a dark pair of sunglasses.

Tory also shared a shot of herself on a main beach on the Gold Coast, having gone for a swim with a fresh-faced Jesinta and her pal Elliot Garnaut.

Elliot also shared to Instagram a shot of himself sunbathing in a modern-style house as Jesinta shows off her flawless bikini body lying near him.

In another image, he takes a selfie as Jesinta and Buddy and Sharrod and Tory stand behind them.

Basking in the sun: Elliot also shared to Instagram a shot of himself sunbathing in a modern-style house as Jesinta shows off her flawless bikini body lying near him

Selfie! In another image, he takes a selfie as Jesinta and Buddy and Sharrod and Tory stand behind them

Jesinta and Buddy kept their honeymoon location a secret since getting married in the Blue Mountains earlier this month.

But their luxury beach destination was recently revealed as Queensland's Gold Coast.

The Sunday Telegraph reported the couple have spent the last 10 days at the tourist hotspot - right in the middle of Schoolies.

Jesinta and Buddy's wedding two weeks ago was kept secret from the public and media until after the ceremony.

And the couple took an equally low-key approach to the honeymoon by offering fans just a few glimpses of coastline in their Instagram photos.

Newlyweds: Jesinta and Buddy kept their honeymoon location a secret since getting married in the Blue Mountains earlier this month

But it has now been confirmed they are celebrating their first days as husband and wife in Australia's Schoolies capital.

Jesinta and Buddy's holiday destination was revealed after Queensland socialite Judy Brine shared a photo of herself with the couple on Instagram.

She notably declined to comment when approached by the News Corp publication about their 'chance' meeting.

Meanwhile, a Range Rover dealer in Southport confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph they was using one of their vehicles during the trip.

She's a fan! Jesinta and Buddy's holiday destination was revealed after Queensland socialite Judy Brine shared a photo of herself with the couple on Instagram

But the Gold Coast may not be the most idyllic of destinations for a newly-married couple this week.

Because thousands of teenagers have flown to Queensland to celebrate the end of their final year of high school.
He's the actor who has already played two major Marvel superhero roles in the past ten years.

And, Chris Evans explains his 'good guy' appearance off the screen is a result of his experiences growing up.

The 35-year-old star spoke to TheFIX on Monday about his adult activism efforts, claiming it flourished from experience supporting his gay brother.

'It's really important to put faces to the situations': Actor Chris Evans says his adult activism efforts flourished from experience supporting his gay brother and growing up with two sisters on TheFIX on Monday

Making issues more relatable: Chris claimed 'It's really important to put faces to the situations that we're navigating as a society', as he says America is in 'tricky times right now' after the recent presidential election (Pictured: Chris with his brother Scott)

Chris claimed 'It's really important to put faces to the situations that we're navigating as a society', as he says America is in 'tricky times right now' after the election.

'I've never felt any sort of backlash or friction as a result of the stance I've taken in my career in support of him or any other human rights... hopefully it stays that way going forward,' he said.

The American actor and filmmaker explained that growing up with a gay sibling and with two sisters influenced his deep connection to human rights and women's rights.

'Hopefully it stays that way going forward': Chris says he's never felt any backlash from supporting his gay brother or other human right's issues and hopes that doesn't change in light of the recent election

'To encourage and cultivate compassion and understanding': He says it's important for people to experience things that are different from what they know to better understand others

His actor brother Scott, 33, is best known for his role as the police officer Oliver Fish on the American ABC soap One Life to Live.

'It's important to understand, whether it's growing up with women, whether it's growing up with other ethnic groups... it's important to experience anything different from what you know. To encourage and cultivate compassion and understanding,' Chris said.

He continued: ' So certainly growing up with women helped me, but growing up in the theatre helped me, growing up in a progressive community helped me.'

Superhero roles! Chris is best known for his superhero roles as the Marvel Comics characters Captain America of the Avengers and the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four franchise

Chris is recognized for his superhero roles as the Marvel Comics characters Captain America of the Avengers and the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four franchise.

In the interview he named his Fantastic Four co-star Ioan Gruffudd as his all-time favourite co-star as he said: 'Every single day he made me laugh.'

He's also recently gushed about Australian co-star Chris Hemsworth, saying the Thor star is 'destined to greatness,' joking: 'It is infuriating.'
Last week Carrie Fisher dropped a bomb on Star Wars fans in her newly released autobiography, The Princess Diarist, when she revealed she had an 'intense' three-month tryst with Harrison Ford, which was kept a secret for 40 years.

And on Monday, the 60-year-old actress gave her first interview since the reveal.

The icon said she doesn't see what all the fuss is about. 'I'm surprised at the reaction,' the original Princess Leia star told The Today Show's Savannah Guthrie.

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First interview: On Monday, Carrie Fisher, 60, stepped out for her first interview and public appearance on The Today Show after her memoir's Harrison Ford affair revelation

'I'm surprised at the reaction': Because 'I don't think it is that surprising,' the original Princess Leia star told The Today Show's Savannah Guthrie about her tryst with Ford

'I don't think it is that surprising,' she added.

She was 19 at the time in 1976, 14 years younger than Ford, then 33. He was also married at the time to Mary Marquardt and was a father-of-two.

Guthrie, a self-professed 'Star Wars nerd' then prompted, 'I guess I never really thought about it but once I did I was like, "I'm so glad that happened."'

Carrie continued, 'A lot of the fans thought about it for a while. They made up 'Carrison' (Carrie plus Harrison) as a word.'

Fisher said fans used to ask all the time 'Is Carrison real?'

'Carrison': Carrie said fans made up the nickname 'Carrison' for her and Harrison, and that they used to ask all the time 'Is Carrison real?'

The Princess Diarist: In her newly released autobiography, Carrie revealed intimate details from her journal about she and Ford's 'intense' three-month affair, which was kept a secret for 40 years

When Guthrie slyly asked if she were in love at the time Carrie was coy saying only, 'I was 19. Yeah, so... I was not a cavalier type person.'

Guthrie asked further: 'What did the diaries bring back? What was that time like?'

At first Carrie joked that she didn't remember any details because she doesn't have a 'good memory' due to 'varied activities.'

She added more seriously: 'It was sad, because I was so insecure. It's very raw. Obviously I didn't expect anyone later on to read it.'

In love? When Guthrie slyly asked if she were in love at the time Carrie was coy saying only, 'I was 19. Yeah, so... I was not a cavalier type person'

What memories did the diaries bring back? 'It was sad, because I was so insecure. It's very raw. Obviously I didn't expect anyone later on to read it'

In her new memoir, Fisher revealed that she and Harrison had a whirlwind three-month-long, drink-sozzled, drug-addled affair while filming the first Star Wars movie at Elstree studios in Hertforshire in 1976.

In excerpts that have already emerged (it hits bookstores on November 22), she recounts how the co-stars spent their first night together after a birthday party for Star Wars director George Lucas.

The actress described her affair with Ford as 'a very long one-night stand', adding: 'I was relieved when it ended. I didn't approve of myself.'

About her regret she told Today, 'Yeah, I wasn't raised that way. But when you're on location everything is permitted.'

Adding, 'I haven't been on location since.'

On-camera chemistry: 'When you're on location everything is permitted,' Carrie told Today. At the time of the affair in 1976, she was 19 and 14 years younger than Ford, then 33 and also married to Mary Marquardt at the time and a father-of-two

Has he read it? The former co-stars and lovers reunited on screen last year in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. While Carrie sent him a draft, she doesn't know if he's read it

Fisher and Ford remain longtime friends and even reunited on screen last year in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

She has said that she gave Harrison a heads up and even sent him a draft of her book, to which he jokingly responded: 'Lawyer!'

Carrie told Today she doesn't know if Harrison has actually read her book, but she 'feels really bad for doing that to him' because 'he's incredibly private.'

'He's incredibly private': Carrie told Today she 'feels really bad for doing that to him'

3rd marriage: Ford, now 74, has been married to Calista Flockhart since 2010, and they have a 15-year-old adopted son. Harrison also has three grandchildren (photographed in 2015)

Ford, now 74, has been married three times, divorcing his first wife Mary in 1979 and separating from his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, in 2001 and the couple later divorced in 2004.

He has been married to Ally McBeal actress Calista Flockhart since 2010, and they have a 15-year-old adopted son. Harrison also now has three grandchildren.

Before her TV appearance, Carrie was spotted leaving her hotel in New York City and headed to Rockefeller Center.

Before her TV appearance: Carrie was spotted leaving her hotel in New York City and headed to Rockefeller Center

Furry companion: The actress was accompanied by her dog, Gary, a brindle French Bulldog, who also sat with her on the set of Today during the interview

The actress was accompanied by her dog, Gary, a brindle French Bulldog, who also sat with her on the set of Today during the interview.

Carrie pulled her long grey-ish brunette tresses half up and bundled up for the brisk day in a navy turtleneck, black leggings, and a cozy topper.

Later, she sported a pair of black specs and puffed on a cigarette - showing off a bright red manicure - while strolling around the Big Apple with her beloved pup.

Today look: Carrie pulled her long grey-ish brunette tresses half up and bundled up for the brisk day in a navy turtleneck, black leggings, and a cozy topper
She's away from her beau Lewis Bloor filming for her hit reality show Geordie Shore.

But it looks as thought the long distance may be getting to Marnie Simpson, as she launched a tearful rant at show producers and security during filming at a Newcastle club on Saturday.

The emotional star was filmed perched on a railing outside the club as crew members tried to persuade her to go back to the Geordie Shore house.

'I want to go home!' Marnie Simpson launched an emotional rant at Geordie Shore crew members on Saturday night outside a Newcastle club

Marnie was tearful as she yelled at producers, telling them: 'I'm 25 years of age, I'm going home! You're not looking out for us though making me go back to that f**king house.'

The star, who was wearing a short black dress, was barefoot as she tried to climb over the railing, with a crew member trying to help her.

Later, Marnie was seen crouched on the pavement outside the club as a producer tried to reason with her, only for the star to tearfully explain again that she just wanted to go home.

Tearful: The emotional star was filmed perched on a railing outside the club as crew members tried to persuade her to go back to the Geordie Shore house

Let me go! Marnie was helped by a member of security as she tried to scale the railing

We got you: Marnie, dressed in a short black dress, was surrounded by producers and security staff as they tried to reason with her

Calming down: The star, who was wearing a short black dress, was barefoot as she talked to producers outside

Helping hand? One member of security held Marnie's heels as she tried to climb over the railing

Take me home! Marnie was tearful as she yelled at producers, telling them: 'I'm 25 years of age, I'm going home!'

Compromise? 'You're not looking out for us though making me go back to that f**king house,' she added

After half an hour, security and production eventually talked Marnie round to getting into a car and they took her back to the Geordie Shore house.

Marnie has been separated from her boyfriend, former TOWIE star Lewis, for the past week while she films her show.

The couple, who met on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, have revealed that they plan to move in together in Lewis' home county of Essex once Marnie finishes work.

Long night: The star wiped away tears as she continued to talk to staff

It's too much: Marnie was seen crying as she sat on the wall after another dramatic night for the Geordie Shore cast

Crying: Marnie looked distraught as she was later seen crouched on the pavement outside

Standing her ground: Marnie desperately tried to get her point across

The show must go on: It looked as though producers were keen for Marnie to finish her night of filming

Time for bed? The brunette beauty found a wall to perch on as the talks continued

Shoe-less: Marnie didn't care that she was barefoot as a security guard kept hold of her heels

Stalemate: It didn't look as though the reality star was prepared to move anytime soon

Talking it out: Marnie kept repeating that she wanted to go home despite the producer's pleas

Marnie's meltdown came on the same night she and her Geordie Shore co-stars were heckled by angry party-goers in Newcastle.

Several members of the cast, including the notorious Gaz Beadle, were forced to leave The Riverside on the River Tyne after they were heavily booed and jeered at by crowds while trying to film.

The likes of Gaz Beadle, 28, Aaron Chalmers, 25, and Marty McKenna, 22, headed to the waterside hotspot with new girls Zahida Allen, Eve Shannon and Abbie Holborn to film scenes for the new series.

Waiting it out: The star was surrounded by staff as they attempted to get her back to the house

Off we go: After half an hour security and production eventually talked Marnie round to getting into a car and they took her back to the Geordie Shore house

Calling it a night: Marnie still looked emotional as she walked away with the crew

Homesick: Marnie has been separated from her boyfriend, former TOWIE star Lewis Bloor, for the past week while she films her show.

Missing someone? The couple, who met on CBB earlier this year, have revealed that they plan to move in together in Lewis' home county of Essex once Marnie finishes work

Drama: Marnie left the club where the Geordie Shore cast had been filming

However an onlooker told The Sun that the reality stars caused outrage among fellow clubbers due to their privileged treatment.

Certain areas of the club, including the popular balcony area, were reportedly closed off so they could film privately, while the venue's guards were claimed to disregard the other clubbers present entirely.

The eyewitness told the paper: 'The security were being rude to the staff and regular clubbers, it was like they were guarding Hollywood A-listers not drunk reality stars!'

Walking away: The Geordie Shore cast, including Gaz Beadle, Aaron Chalmers and Marty McKenna (above) were heckled in the club in Newcastle on Saturday

Get outta here! A video of the event was posted to Twitter - which showed angry crowds shouting 'who the f***ing hell are you* to the area where the cast were filming

Trying hard: The stars seemed to be doing their best to get the crowd on their side as they filmed their scenes

Ruining their night? The club-goers jeered and booed the cast as they filmed above them

Filming: The cast seemed oblivious to the rage as they waved at the crowd

Not impressed: According to The Sun the lads caused outrage due to their privileged treatment on the night, acting like 'Hollywood A-listers' rather than 'drunk reality stars'

Becoming frustrated, the crowds then began to boo the stars and throw their cups onto them up on the balcony.

'The regulars at the club weren't happy, some of the cast were spotted arguing and shouting,' the source continued.

'In the end the customers got sick and started to chant 'who the f**king hell are you?''

Not a good start: The boys were joined by new girls Zahida Allen (above), Eve Shannon and Abbie Holborn when the incident occurred

After being heavily taunted by the chant, which was repeated over and over by the capacity of the club, the stars were thought to have made a quick getaway - venturing elsewhere to enjoy their night in peace and avoid further embarrassment.

Upon exit, it was also reported that bar staff were discussing how rude the cast had been during the appearance.

Representatives for Geordie Shore declined to comment when asked by MailOnline.

The event marks another speed bump in the start of the new series - which has faced its fair share of drama in recent weeks.

Not ideal: Known for their love of wild and raucous nights out (above), the night certainly did not go to plan as they were forced to retreat and venture elsewhere

Earlier this month, it was reported that the 21-year-old Chloe Ferry had been axed from the series after she aggressively lashed out at Zahida during their first night on the town.

An inside source told The Sun that the reality star began 'kicking the new girl in the head' when she saw her holding hands with her ex Marty.

The eyewitness explained: 'Chloe was completely mortal. She kicked off in the club after seeing Marty holding hands with Zahida. She was totally radge.'

Matters later turned sour when the girls came face-to-face back at the Geordie Shore house - where Chloe reportedly unleashed her rage.

Further drama: The event comes just days after it was reported Chloe Ferry had been fired for lashing out at new girl Zahida Allen

The insider continued: 'All of a sudden Zahida was cowering on the floor as Chloe began kicking her in the head.'

However, both Chloe and Zahida seemed to have put an end to their differences as they have been seen heading out together on multiple evenings since.

It then emerged that her pal Sophie Kasaei, 27, had intervened in the brawl, resulting in her departure from the show, too.

To make matters worse: It then emerged that her pal Sophie Kasaei, 27 (above), had intervened in the brawl, resulting in her departure from the show, too

Making matters worse, a document belonging to a producer was then discovered and subsequently posted on Twitter for all to see - seemingly showing how scripted the show really is.

It instructed whoever is directing the scene to 'get some funny chat from Nathan and Marnie informing the newbies that if they are proper Geordies then they need to be properly preened'.

It also suggests Abbie 'has a funny chat about her tan' before encouraging the cast members to discuss the 'shock exit' of Chloe after her alleged violence.
She's a Hollywood icon whose Oscar-nominated roles span 30 years.

And Glenn Close was back on set once again as she got to work shooting scenes as the female lead in gripping new drama, The Wife, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday.

The actress, 69, was shooting scenes at a former hospital, where she was joined by her co-star Christian Slater, 47.

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Talented: Glenn Close was back on set once again as she got to work shooting scenes as the female lead in gripping new drama, The Wife, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday

Glenn wrapped up against the November chill in a black padded jacket as she showed off her white cropped hairdo.

The actress beamed as she was seen walking her dog Pip in between shooting.

Close's four-legged friend has been treated lavishly on the trip, being chauffeured in a luxury people-carrier and flying in to the airport on the star's lap.

Christian Slater, who last year won his first Golden Globe for his role in the series Mr Robot, has also been enjoying his stint in Glasgow.

Stellar cast: Christian Slater looked casual in a leather jacket as he headed for filming

Lowkey Glenn wrapped up against the November chill in a black padded jacket as she showed off a white cropped hairstyle

On Sunday, he visited the Riverside museum to get a glimpse of the city's historic ship-building heritage.

The Wife tells the story of a writer who decides to leave her husband while travelling to receive an award.

The drama sees six-time Oscar nominee Glenn playing Joan Castleman, a woman best known as the wife of an incredibly successful man.

Diverse roles: Six-time Oscar nominee Glenn plays Joan Castleman, a woman best known as the wife of an incredibly successful man, in the drama

Puppy love: The 101 Dalmatians actress beamed as she was seen walking her dog Pip in between shooting

It will also feature English actor Jeremy Irons and actress Frances McDormand, who has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films, such as Fargo and Almost Famous.

Close's daughter, 28-year-old Annie Stark, will also star in the movie, playing her mother's younger double.

With her blonde hair style in bouncy pin curls, she bore more than a passing resemblance to the 101 Dalmatians actress, 69, in her younger years as she got to work on set earlier this month.

A-list line-up: The Wife will also feature English actor Jeremy Irons and actress Frances McDormand, who has starred in critically acclaimed films such as Fargo and Almost Famous

Taking centre-stage: Scenes were shot at a former hospital in the city centre

Wearing a checked coat and a dress with a Peter Pan collar, Annie's ensemble had a quirky retro vibe.

Filming for The Wife on the backstreets of Glasgow has only started this month and is set to last for six weeks.

Annie, whose dad is producer John Starke, appears alongside her famous actress mum in the Bjorn Runge directed flick.

Steps to stardom! Glenn;s (R) lookalike daughter Annie Starke (L) was spotted playing her mother's younger self in the new film The Wife in Glasgow earlier this month
A man who admitted his role in distributing methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation was sentenced to about a year in federal prison on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters departed from a guideline range of 30 months to 37 months to sentence Joshua Don Ray, 37, to one year and a day, saying he needed treatment and had no criminal record.

Ray, of Ashland, Watters said, got into meth distribution to support his own habit and had not been treated for substance abuse. Ray also had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder while in the U.S. Army, was honorably discharged and began self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, she said.

Ray told the judge that getting caught was a blessing because it has helped him stay sober and to reconnect with his faith. God stepped in and saved my life, he said.

Assistant Federal Defender Steve Babcock recommended a time-served sentence of about seven months, saying Ray had no criminal record, was a hard worker and wanted treatment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek asked for a 30-month sentence but also favored a shorter time if Ray got treatment.

Ray pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute after an investigation led to his indictment along with charges against his girlfriend, Georgia Ann (Annie) Wilson and her daughter, Troy Dee Wilson. Both Wilsons have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs used a confidential informant to make three controlled buys of meth from co-defendants at Rays residence. Ray told agents in an interview that he had been living at the residence for about two years and admitted to getting up to a half-ounce of meth once or twice a week from a supplier from December 2014 to through March 2016.
Along with her strong acting prowess, she has earned recognition as a model and fashion designer.

And Milla Jovovich displayed her impeccable stylish taste on Sunday while leaving Los Angeles hot spot, Delilah, where she attended the American Music Awards afterparty event.

The 40-year-old star turned heads in a bright orange fitted blazer, which was uniquely designed with an array of colorful bows.

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Bow-tiful! Milla Jovovich stepped out in a bold, orange blazer adorned with colorful ribbon bows for the American Music Awards afterparty event at Delilah in Los Angeles

The Ukrainian beauty complimented the bold piece with a black-and-white striped shirt that she tucked into high-waisted black skinny jeans.

Adding a pair of silver-sequined stilettos, she rounded out her ensemble with drop-down silver earrings and a black leather Chanel purse.

Fresh from presenting at the AMAs, Milla's brunette locks were styled sleek and straight as her thick bangs swept to the side.

The former Revlon model went with dark smokey eyes and a rose gloss lip.

Wears it well: The 40-year-old actress complimented her jacket with a black-and-white striped top that she tucked into a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans

Head-turner! The Resident Evil star rounded out the ensemble with silver-sequined stilettos, a black Chanel purse and drop-down earrings

Bold and beautiful: The mother-of-two styled her chestnut locks with a sleek and straight cut as she went with a smokey eye and rose gloss lip

Photo booth fun! The star also stopped by SoHo House in the West Hollywood neighborhood with her industry pals

Milla was one of the slew of stars who presented at the packed awards show Sunday evening, introducing Twenty One Pilots on stage as they performed hit songs, Heathens and Stressed Out.

The award-winning actress wore a jaw-dropping number at the show, dazzling in a plunging sequinned gown with thigh high slit.

Her celestial frock was designed by Lebanese designer, Elie Saab, whose dresses have been worn by stars including Cara Delevingne, Elizabeth Banks and Diane Kruger to name a few.

Showstopper! Milla revealed her best assets at the AMAs in a plunging, sequined black gown

Backstage diaries: The Fifth Element actress was one of the presenters at the star-studded awards show

Meanwhile, the mother of two, who is married to writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson, will star in the sixth and final installment of Resident Evil, due out January 2017.

She will also appear in James Franco's post-apocalyptic thriller, Future World, alongside Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu.
He has been travelling the world to promote new WWII drama Allied amidst his messy divorce proceedings.

But Brad Pitt finally hit London on Monday night to enjoy the film's glitzy and star-studded UK premiere, sharing a high five with his co-star Marion Cotillard to mark the occasion.

The actor, who has endured a turbulent few months, looked in better spirits than ever as he waves happily for crowds at the Odeon Leicester Square.

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Allied: Brad Pitt (left) and Marion Cotillard (right) high-fived at the London premiere of Allied on Monday night, as they marked another promotional duty off the schedule

Brad's mind was firmly focused on the job in hand, and he and Marion seemed happy to mark another promotional duty for the wartime film, off the list.

The duo looked in good spirits as they took to the carpet together side-by-side - with Marion leaning in to the recently-divorced star to give a hug of support.

After a sweet kiss on the cheek, the pair briefly caught up before sharing a cute high-five after their hit red carpet appearance - to the delight of fans.

The good-looking pair then split up to welcome and greet their adoring British fans - in equally as show-stopping ensembles.

Good terms: The pair looked in good spirits as they took to the carpet together side-by-side - with Marion leaning in to the recently-divorced star for a hug

A strong bond: On the screen, Marion and Brad shared undeniable chemistry

Showing support: He then shared a sweet embrace with Marion Cotillard, 41, as they premiered their film Allied in London on Monday - after a difficult few months

Gimme five! The pair shared a cute high-five as they made a successful red carpet appearance in London

The hunky actor, 52, no doubt made all his female fans swoon as he made a typically handsome arrival in a sleek three-piece suit, while Marion dazzled in a chic black gown with quirky short front.

Brad, who has recently returned to the limelight after a difficult divorce with Angelina Jolie, appeared back to his best as he smiled and waves at fans.

The Ocean's Eleven star looked dapper as ever in the cool navy ensemble - which he subtly jazzed up with a maroon scarf draped round his neck.

Staying strong: Brad looked in good spirits as he made his return to the limelight after laying low in light of his divorce from Angelina Jolie

Brave face: Brad , 52, gave his beloved fans a wave, showing his improved spirit

Having a ball: The pair showed no signs of fatigue from their endless string of public appearances together prior to the London bash

Glamorous pair: The hunky actor, 52, made a typically handsome arrival in a sleek three-piece suit, while Marion dazzled in a chic black gown with quirky short front

Relief: Brad happily greeted his co-star as he headed to the premiere in light of being cleared of abuse claims by the DCFS over accusations of an altercation with son Maddox

Helping hand: Marion put an affectionate arm on his shoulder after a difficult few months

Sealed with a kiss: Marion gave a glimpse of her sexy but sophisticated outfit, with a short front skirt, as she posed with Brad

Brad-ical transformation: The actor looked worlds away from his figure seen in recent weeks, as he arrived at the premiere with confidence

Classic: The Ocean's Eleven star looked dapper as ever in the all-black ensemble - which he subtly jazzed up with a maroon scarf draped round his neck

What a man: Layering a smart black winter coat over the suit, the actor looked every inch the classic and clean-cut gentleman as he posed for the cameras

Dashing: The actor rocked a freshly cut trim, which only served to enhance his famously handsome looks

Smile! Brad spent plenty of time signing autographs and taking selfies for fans

Layering a smart black winter coat over the suit, the actor looked every inch the classic and clean-cut gentleman as he posed for the cameras.

Finishing off the look in his usual suave style, the Moneyball star dressed his feel in stylish black loafers and rocked a freshly cut trim, which only served to enhance his famously handsome looks.

Brad was even undeterred by the fact that his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston was just one mile down the road.

Elsewhere in London: Brad's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston was elsewhere on the night, just one mile down the road in London

Friends actress Jennifer - to whom Brad was married for five years - was filming The One Show elsewhere in London that evening.

Live on air, she stunned with a gaffe about 'sex toys' when talking about one of her previous films, Horrible Bosses.

Meanwhile French beauty Marion caught the attention of everyone at the event in her chic black mini dress.

But first, let me take a selfie: Brad is known for his appreciation of fans at each of his premieres

He's back: Brad looked comfortable and confident as he returned to one of his first big events since his divorce from partner of 12 years Angelina Jolie

Strike a pose: The pair cut effortlessly glamorous figures as they wowed crowds with their elegant ensembles

Stunning: Meanwhile French beauty Marion caught the attention of everyone at the event in her chic black mini dress

Chic: The actress, who is pregnant with her second child, concealed her blossoming bump in the loose-fitting frock with a dropped waist

The actress, who is pregnant with her second child, concealed her blossoming bump in the loose-fitting frock with a dropped waist - although her glowing complexion as a mother-to-be was clear to see.

Making her look more quirky, the long-sleeved number then featured a satin panel attached to the back with a ruched seam, transforming the dress into a stylish maxi on one side.

Adding a pair of striking gold stiletto heels and bedazzling diamond drop earrings, the actress exuded pure and effortless glamour as she strutted her stuff on the carpet.

Act natural! Not taking herself too seriously, the glamorous brunette laughed as she playfully posed for cameras with a hip cocked and a hand behind her head

That's how its done: Adding a pair of striking gold stiletto heels and bedazzling diamond drop earrings, the actress exuded pure and effortless glamour as she strutted her stuff

Simplicity is key: The beauty paired her black dress with a shimmering gold box bag

Glamour puss: Keeping warm in the chilly London weather, the actress layered a smart jet black wrap coap as she signed autographs

Not taking herself too seriously, the glamorous brunette laughed as she playfully posed for cameras with a hip cocked and a hand behind her head.

The Hollywood actors have been jetting all over the world to promote the new drama Allied, directed by Robert Zemeckis - attending photo calls in the States and Paris in the last week.

The cast also fronted a screening in China - which marked Brad's first public press appearance in the country since he was banned over a controversial film of his over 20 years ago.

Stealing the show: Pregnant Marion showcased a glowing complexion as she beamed on the carpet

Hot mama: While she always remains classy, the actress did show a sexier side to her style with the short-fronted skirt

No signs of fatigue: The Hollywood actors have been jetting all over the world to promote the new drama Allied, directed by Robert Zemeckis - attending photo calls in the States and Paris

According to CBS News, the Chinese government reportedly didn't like his 1997 film, 'Seven Years in Tibet,' because of its portrayal of harsh Chinese rule in the Himalayan region.

The film, set for release later this week, follows Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) and his marriage to French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour, played by Marion Cotillard.

The couple are then hit by war, and threatened with accusations that the French beauty is actually a spy for the Germans - with Vatan then setting out to clear her name.

First for everything: The cast also fronted a screening in China - which marked Brad's first public appearance in the country since he was banned over a film 20 years ago

Comeback kid: According to CBS News, the Chinese government didn't like his 1997 film, 'Seven Years in Tibet,' because of its portrayal of harsh Chinese rule in the Himalayan region

New drama: Allied, set for release later this week, follows Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) and his marriage to French Resistance fighter Marianne (Cotillard)

The La Vie En Rose actress had gushed about the Troy star during a press interview last Friday, admitting he had been a dream to work with.

'[Brad is] such a good man,' she said, explaining he had a heart of gold. 'Of course he's an amazing actor. He's such a good person that it's really not difficult to get along with him.'

Yet despite getting along so well, the French beauty admitted that the romantic and erotic scenes with Brad were still awkward to film.

Further drama: The couple are then hit by war, and threatened with accusations that the French beauty is actually a spy for the Germans - with Vatan then setting out to clear her name

Dramatic: The WWII flick is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who was in charge of the famous Back To The Future trilogy

Talking on the Stephen Colbert's Late Show earlier this month, she explained: 'Let's imagine you're with your wife, in bed or anywhere, like here and then all those people are watching... cameras, like 50 people are watching. Do you still find it sexy?'

However she later added: 'But it's a beautiful love scene.'

The good-looking pair appeared to be having a laugh together on the carpet - showing them to be rising above rumours of an affair that emerged last month.

Looking good: The film makes its UK release on Thursday

Brad announced he was separating from long-term partner Angelina Jolie as promotional proceedings for Allied were kicking off - which caused speculation of a romance between him and the French actress to swirl.

However Marion took to her Instagram page in a rare post to staunchly confirm that such a romance did not take place.

She wrote: 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into.

Grateful: Brad was sure to thank crowds for all their support for his new film - and current wellbeing

She's a fan: Marion previously gushed of her respected co-star, calling him 'an amazing actor' and stating: 'He's such a good person that it's really not difficult to get along with him'

Irresistible: Brad showed off his usual humour and playful nature by throwing a mischeivous glance at the crowds

Loving it: He chatted animatedly with several of his co-stars on the carpet

'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up'.

She continued on her long-term partner Guillaume Canet: 'Many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need.'

Marion went on to wish Brad and Angelina 'peace in this very tumultuous moment,' in her lengthy Instagram response.

It was at the LA premiere for the film where Brad confirmed he was getting back to good health and happiness as he thanked fans for support during his difficult time.

Moving on: The good-looking pair appeared to be having a laugh together on the carpet - showing them to be rising above rumours of an affair that emerged last month

Thankful: Brad thanked fans at the LA premiere for their support during the time, stating: 'It's really sweet, everyone has been really kind. It's really nice to have all the support support'

He told E! News: 'It's really sweet, everyone has been really kind out here. It's really nice to have all the support.'

The promotional tour for the new movie marks Brad's return to the limelight after laying low in light of his divorce from Angelina Jolie.

The 41-year-old actress, who has six children with partner-of-12-years Brad, filed for divorce the day after an alleged altercation on a plane between the actor and their eldest son Maddox.

However Brad has since been cleared by the DCFS, who found no abuse.

Yet following this news, a rep for the actress told TMZ she's prepared to present evidence to a judge that he did commit the incident in order to secure full custody of the kids.

Setting the record straight: Meanwhile Marion took to her Instagram to make a rare address of the rumours, which she staunchly denied as false

He's got a friend: Marion then went on to wish Brad (above) and Angelina 'peace in this very tumultuous moment,' in her lengthy response

Other guests in attendance included Strictly pro Katya Jones, who co-ordinated the carpet as she arrived in a vibrant red suit.

The dancer, 27, put on a very saucy display in a velvet blazer with no top underneath - which saw the lapels plunge low at her chest to give a flash of her cleavage.

Paired with a matching pair of high-waisted and perfectly tailored trousers, the Russian beauty showed off her sensationally slender and toned legs as she enjoyed a night away from the rehearsal room.

Keeping things classically glamorous, Katya accessorised with a chunky gold choker and sleek leather clutch - before adding a slick of red lipstick as the finishing touch.

Red hot! Strictly pro Katya Jones, who partners former MP Ed Balls on this year's series, co-ordinated the carpet as she arrived in a vibrant red suit

Chic: The dancer stood out from the crowds in vibrant red velvet trousers and a matching blazer - which she wore nothing underneath to flash her cleavage

London style: Made in Chelsea's Lucy Watson arrived next in eye-watering leather hotpants and a cool black blazer

Dotty for her style: Co-star Lizzy Caplan arrived in a feminine polka dot frock with a lace top - and with 'Love Trumps Hate' written on her hand

Veterans: Former SAS soldiers from Who Dares Wins Ollie Ollerton (L), Jason Fox (R) and winner Moses Ican (centre) also made an appearance

Classy: Linzi Stoppard (L) dazzled in a black and white floral gown with a semi-sheer skirt while Raffey Cassidy (R) kept things simple in a black LBD

Star-studded: Brad and Marion's co-star Raphael Desprez also made an appearance on the carpet

Big name: Oscar-winning producer Graham King also got himself suited and booted for the occasion
She has been blazing the promotional trail in a bevvy of sophisticated ensembles.

And pregnant Marion Cotillard once again pulled it out of the sartorial bag as she graced the red carpet at the premiere of her latest movie Allied on Monday night.

The 41-year-old French beauty, who is expecting her second child with French actor and director Guillaume Canet, looked incredible in a loose-fitting black gown with a chic train detail.

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A vision: Pregnant Marion Cotillard once again pulled it out of the bag as she graced the red carpet at the premiere of her upcoming movie Allied on Monday night

Marion stars alongside Brat Pitt in the movie, which has courted controversy due to the Brad's marriage split from wife Angelina Jolie, leading to reports of a romance between the co-stars.

However, the brunette beauty has proved herself to be defiant in the face of the whispers as she stormed the red carpet looking sensational in her high-necked black gown - oozing elegance as she went.

Her black dress gently skimmed her burgeoning baby bump although she was sure to flash her endless legs with the help of the mullet hemline.

The long sleeves and high-neck ensured she did not go over-the-top with her ensemble as she opted for understated glamour.

Glowing: The 41-year-old French beauty, who is expecting her second child with French actor and director Guillaume Canet, looked incredible in a loose-fitting black gown with a chic train detail

Glamour: Marion stars alongside Brat Pitt in the movie, which has courted controversy due to the Brad's marriage split from wife Angelina Jolie, leading to reports of a romance between the co-stars

Not listening: However, the brunette beauty has proved herself to be defiant in the face of the whispers as she stormed the red carpet looking sensational in her high-necked black gown - oozing elegance as she went

Boosting her height and lengthening her legs was a pair of gold pointed stiletto heels which tied in perfectly with a pair of dazzling chandelier earrings - the perfect accompaniments to make the muted look pop.

Her lustrous brunette tresses were styled into a sweeping side-parting with the ends formed into a bouncy style to perfect her polished red carpet look.

Marion perfectly exhibited the fabled expectant mum glow as she showed off her alabaster complexion with just a dab of rouge and a smudgy eye setting off the look even further.

All eyes on me: Marion was an expert in front of lenses from around the world

Dazzler: Her serene look was perfect for one of the world's most chic movie stars

All smiles: Marion is proving herself to be every inch the all rounder as she juggles pregnancy and promotion

Joining her on the red carpet was Brad, who lived up to his title of one of Hollywood's hottest hunks as he wore a slick black suit and pea coat.

The pair looked in high spirits as they hugged and shared a joke on the carpet together - showing them to be rising above rumours of an affair that emerged earlier this year.

Following Brad's announcement that he had split from wife Angelina Jolie, 41, in September, Marion became caught up in rumours of an affair.

Golden girl: Boosting her height and lengthening her legs was a pair of gold pointed stiletto heels which tied in perfectly with a pair of dazzling chandelier earrings - the perfect accompaniments to make the look pop

Stunner: Her lustrous brunette tresses were styled into a sweeping side-parting with the ends blow-dryed into a bouncy style to perfect her polished red carpet look

Chic pair: Joining her on the red carpet was Brad, who lived up to his title of one of Hollywood's hottest hunks as he wore a slick black suit and pea coat

High five! The co-stars clearly share a close bond as they high fived

The actress spoke out at the time, announcing on Instagram that she was expecting a baby with 'my love, my best friend, the only one that I need,' her partner, Guillaume.

The La Vie En Rose star has been with Guillaume since 2007, and the pair have a five-year-old son named Marcel.

During an appearance on the Today Show on Thursday, Marion insisted that she did not hold a grudge when the affair gossip floated around.

Pals and colleagues: The pair looked in high spirits as they hugged and shared a joke on the carpet together - showing them to be rising above rumours of an affair that emerged earlier this year

Mummy dearest: The La Vie En Rose star has been with Guillaume since 2007, and the pair have a five-year-old son named Marcel

She explained: 'I never take anything personally when it doesn't concern me. So I didn't take it personally because I had nothing to do with those rumors or situation.'

She was then pressed by interviewer Matt Lauer who asked if she had let any of the whispers affect the making of the movie.

Marion replied: 'No I don't give energy to this and it was a wonderful, wonderful experience working with such a visionary director and amazing actor so that's all that matters.'
Kylie Jenner has an enormous brand to promote these days.

And it seems the 19-year-old beauty is using sexy images to do so.

On Monday the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared one of her more risque images as she lay on beau Tyga's bare chest while he was still in bed.

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Her own best advert! Kylie Jenner has been promoting a mysterious new Kylie Shop by posting sultry Instagram snapshots of herself and with her rapper beau Tyga

The platinum blonde was made up nicely while wearing a green fur jacket. Her large diamond ring from the rapper was also on display.

Tyga, whose head is not seen but his tattoos give him away, is wrapped in white bedding.

Jenner has been plugging her new pop up shop which will launch at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park, California.

'December 9th... my first pop-up at the Topanga Mall! I can't wait!' she wrote on Sunday to her Snapchat followers.

The star shared a video on the popular social media mobile app as she visited the soon-to-be opened store.

'Let's go next door to Gucci,' the reality store boasted as her shop is situated two doors down from the high-end Italian luxury brand.

She wore her platinum blonde locks in a high messy bun and a grey hooded sweatshirt with a photo of herself in a bra emblazoned on the back.

'I can't wait!': The 19-year-old reality star took to Instagram on Monday to share her excitement about her new pop-up shop which will launch at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park, California

'Let's go next door to Gucci': The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star boasted on a Snapchat video as she visited the soon-to-be opened store

'It was all just a dream... coming soon to the Topanga Westfield Mall. I grew up at this mall .. Crazy 12.9.16,' she captioned an Instagram photo of the store with her name scrolled in huge letters across the front.

The brick-and-mortar will stay open until supplies last and feature her line of cosmetics and new Limited Edition Holiday Gift Sets.

On Monday the Kylie Jenner Lip Kit entrepreneur wrapped herself in a plush emerald fur while cosied up to the Rack City hit-maker, who turned 27 on Saturday.

Sexy sweatshirt! Kylie wore her platinum blonde locks in a high messy bun and a grey hoodie with a photo of herself in a bra emblazoned on the back

'Waking up this morning like...,' she captioned the image of the loved up pair.

Meanwhile, the teen beauty shared more exciting news as her adorable pooch Bambi gave birth to a litter of puppies on Sunday.

'This is so crazy... you did it Bamb's,' she could be heard off camera in a Snapchat video while comforting the new mom.

Precious! Meanwhile, the teen beauty shared more exciting news as her adorable pooch Bambi gave birth to a litter of puppies on Sunday

'Bambi went into labor': Kylie tweeted that she had to miss out on the American Music Awards to look after the newborn pups

Kylie tweeted that she had to miss out on the American Music Awards to look after the newborn pups.

'For those asking.. I was planning on going to AMA this year but Bambi went into labor so I'm here taking care of puppies,' she tweeted.

After the precious furry friends were born, Kylie took extra special care of them and posted several heartwarming photos and videos of the infants.
Food blogger Sofia Levin has denied claims Karl Stefanovic is 'smitten with her' following his split from wife Cassandra Thorburn.

The 27-year-old broke her silence on Monday night after New Idea claimed the pair formed a bond after she appeared on the Today show in September.

'It's not true at all, we're just friends,' the engaged Melbourne resident told Woman's Day magazine.

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Setting the record straight: Food blogger Sofia Levin has denied claims Karl Stefanovic is 'smitten with her' following his split from wife Cassandra Thorburn

'We're just mates and have stayed in contact since that shoot [on the Today show].'

Sofia's fiance Matt also laughed off the magazine claims during the interview.

'We're all friends, I've hung out with Karl and Sofia together,' he told the glossy publication.

In Monday's New Idea, the magazine claimed Karl had developed a crush on Sofia after she made a guest appearance on the Channel Nine breakfast program several weeks ago.

Food for thought: The 27-year-old broke her silence on Monday night after New Idea claimed the pair formed a bond after she appeared on the Today show in September

Not interested: The Melbourne resident has told: 'It's not true at all, we're just friends. 'We're just mates and have stayed in contact since that shoot [on the Today show]'

The brunette was part of a cooking segment alongside celebrity chef Luke Mangan, and even posed for a photo alongside Karl.

'Karl loves how free and easy Sofia is - she's a lot of fun,' the magazine's insider claimed.

'The fact that she's seriously beautiful doesn't hurt either,' the source added.

But unfortunately for the Logie-winning presenter, who 'thought their friendship could grow into something more,' Sofia is already happily engaged to her long-term partner.

Turning a blind eye: Sofia's fiance Matt also laughed off the magazine claims, saying: 'We're all friends, I've hung out with Karl and Sofia together'

What he wants: In Monday's New Idea , they claimed Karl had developed a crush on Sofia after she made a guest appearance on the Channel Nine breakfast program several weeks ago

Still, it hasn't stopped the Melbourne-based food journalist and the TV host from actively 'liking' each other's Instagram posts.

'Karl just wants someone who's going to make him smile and feel young again,' the source further claimed.

'If it's not Sofia it will be someone else. He's a patient man.'

A Channel Nine representative issued a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Monday in response to the magazine's claims.

'She's a lot of fun': New Idea's source claimed Karl 'loves how free and easy Sofia is'

'Articles suggesting any 'new' relationships are 100% untrue, and incredibly hurtful to all of those mentioned in the articles,' the spokesperson said.

Last week, Woman's Day reported that Karl's wife Cassandra was 'devastated' after discovering her husband's messages and Facetime call records to a younger woman following their split.

Karl was reportedly making video calls and exchanging texts with a 27-year-old brunette, with whom he struck up a friendship after the woman made a guest appearance on Today.

It's was also claimed Karl introduced the woman to his circle of friends at a private Melbourne Cup party earlier this month.

Denial: A Channel Nine rep told Daily Mail Australia on Monday: 'Articles suggesting any 'new' relationships are 100% untrue, and incredibly hurtful to all of those mentioned in the articles'

It's unclear whether the woman mentioned is Sofia.

Meanwhile, Channel Nine boss Darren Wick confirmed the morning TV host will be taking at least a month off work as he deals with family issues.

Darren said that Karl needs a break to spend time with his family as they face a difficult time.

'Previously what we've done with Karl is that he has often shot 60 Minutes stories over the summer,' added Darren.

'Devastated': According to News Corp , Karl will be rested from TV duties from November 26 - the date when the ratings year ends - to deal with his marriage breakdown

Shock split: Reports emerged about the couple's split after 21 years of marriage in September

'We don't want him doing that this year  just have a break. Obviously what he's working through with his family situation ... he needs to have a break and just rest and spend time with his family.'

'He's going to do that and come back fresh next year,' he continued.

According to News Corp, Karl will be rested from November 26 - the date when the ratings year ends.

Reports emerged back in September that Karl had separated from Cassandra, a former ABC journalist, after 21 years of marriage, and moved out of their family home.
Her site is famous for sharing ridiculously opulent recommendations, such as a smoothie that costs almost $200 to make, or an $8,000 yurt.

But speaking at the Airbnb Open conference this past weekend, Gwyneth Paltrow complained about being on a budget for Goop that didn't quite rival those of the movie studios with whom she used to work.

'Now, like, we're on JetBlue,' the 44-year-old lamented, slamming the low-cost airline, as reported by Page Six.

'Now people are like, f*** you': Gwyneth Paltrow joked about her smaller budget as an entrepreneur with Goop than as a movie star with studio backing as she chatted during a panel for Airbnb Open conference on Saturday

JetBlue is said to be 'committed to finding the lowest fare for flights,' and has a 'best fare guarantee' as well as a 'Bill of Rights' for its customers to stick to its mission.

Gwyneth complained about the airline as she discussed her new budget as an entrepreneur as opposed to an actor.

'I had no idea how much I was in a career where everyone kissed my a**,' she said, adding: 'And now people are like, 'f***' you, what's the bottom line?''

Things certainly are not quite as sugarcoated for the star as they used to be, with Goop often mocked by critics.

Snobby: The actress slammed low-cost airline JetBlue as she commented on stricter budgets, sharing: 'Now, like, we're on JetBlue'

Most recently the website made headlines for recommending a $15k 24-carat gold-plated sex toy.

However, Gwyneth insisted she was happy to take on the critics and fewer benefits for the satisfaction she gets from running the brand.

'I have never felt so professionally fulfilled in my life,' she gushed. 'It's such a grind, it's such hard work, but it's so amazing to be involved in something you believe, making a product you love.'

Quite a change! The star, who won an Oscar for her role in 1998's Shakespeare in Love (pictured), admitted that she 'had no idea how much I was in a career where everyone kissed my a**'

Gwyneth had joined Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky for the 'Cultivating the Art of Taste & Style' panel at the Los Angeles Theater.

She also weighed in on the current political climate with an optimistic outlook following the election of Donald Trump to the White House.

'It's such an exciting time to be an American because we are at this amazing inflection point,' she said.

'People are clearly tired of the status quo, and  it's sort of like someone threw it all in the air and we're going to see how it all lands,' she said according to Page Six.

Rewarding: Despite the setbacks for her career change, Gwyneth shared: 'I have never felt so professionally fulfilled in my life'

She added: 'It's very important for me, personally, now more than ever, to create a community and to remember the humanity of everybody and to create love and  understanding'.

Gwyneth said the election was a real eye opener for her.

'The most amazing thing for me about this election is I felt  ''I don't understand the opposition well enough at all.'' I'm not going to tell you what side I'm on, but my big takeaway was, ''I really need to open my mind and understand better because I don't'',' she said.

Exciting time: Gwyneth said that it was an 'exciting time' to be an American due to the political climate

The star, who won an Oscar in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love, also sat down to discuss 'how she's transformed her tastes, experiences, and sensibilities into a variety of successful brands, including goop, the modern lifestyle platform she founded in 2008.'

Back in July she had shared that she wanted to distance herself from Goop so that it can 'grow into a brand of its own.' However, she said at this event that she is still spending '100 percent' of her energy on the site.

The mother-of-two discussed her decision to start the company, calling it a 'crazy risk.'

'I had a perfectly good day job,' Gwyneth shared of her acting career, adding: 'I was scared but I had self-belief.'
It's believed he has finally found love again, after his split with actress Kassandra Clementi.

Now Bondi Vet's Chris Brown has revealed he will be taking time off over the Christmas break to spend with his family and pet dogs in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

In an interview in the December issue of the Australian Woman's Weekly, the 38-year-old opened up about his yearly traditions as the countdown towards the festive season kicks in.

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Festive feelings: Bondi Vet's Chris Brown will be taking time off over the Christmas break to spend with his family in Sydney's eastern suburbs after it's rumoured he has found new love

The hunky vet explained every year he begins his Christmas with a walk along the beach with his dogs.

'We do it to clear the sinuses after we've been smoked out of bed by the smell of burning kerosene,' he joked to the publication.

The TV host added: 'Dad's [Graeme] pretty intent on getting his prized roast pork in the barbecue at 6am to ensure it's only identifiable by carbon dating at Christmas lunch.'

Pets come first: The 38-year-old has explained every year he kicks off his Christmas morning with a walk along the beach with his pet dogs

Chris also added no one will be on call this Christmas as both he and Graeme take time off from their vet workplaces.

During the interview with the monthly publication, the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here host kept tight lipped as to whether his rumoured new flame will be joining the Brown household for Christmas lunch.

In March, he told the Daily Telegraph he didn't like to speak about his personal life.

Morning: He joked: 'We do it to clear the sinuses after we've been smoked out of bed by the smell of burning kerosene. Dad's pretty intent on getting his roast pork in the BBQ at 6am'

'It's called a private life for a reason. What you have with a girlfriend is between the two of you and it feels more special when it's private.'

He also revealed he would one day like to get married, but admitted he was in no rush.

'When the time is right, the time is right. I don't worry about my age. I think about the 25-year-old me and he wasn't very worldly.'
Dancer has taken to Twitter to confirm he is 'feeling better' and is expected to be back in training this week

Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez was beaten up by a group of youths, who broke two of his teeth, hours after

Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez has confirmed he is 'feeling better' after being attacked in Blackpool.

The 26-year-old professional dancer took to Twitter on Monday to thank fans for being so supportive, after it emerged he had two teeth knocked out by a group of yobs on Saturday night.

He wrote on the social media site: 'Thanks for all your kind messages about Blackpool. It was a bad experience but I'm feeling better and just want to look forward to the show on Saturday!'

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Road to recovery: Gorka Marquez, who partnered Tameka Empson's on this year's Strictly, took to Twitter to confirm he was 'feeling better' on Monday after being attacked in Blackpool

His reassuring message comes after a source revealed he had been left 'shaken' by the 'entirely random and shocking' incident, which occurred on his way to a post-show night out with co-stars Neil Jones and Aljaz Skorjanec.

The source said to The Sun: 'Gorka and a few of the other dancers were heading to a nightclub to let their hair down after another brilliant show. All of a sudden this group of local louts came out of nowhere.

'One of them punched Gorka in the face and broke two of his teeth. Gorka was sober, he doesn't drink.

Pictured: Gorka made his first appearance since the terrifying ordeal at the hands of a group of youths when he left Blackpool on Sunday

'This was an entirely random and shocking attack on a group of friends simply trying to enjoy a night out. He wasn't angry, he was just more shaken by the event. They went straight back to the hotel to see if he needed urgent medical care before going back to London for dental surgery.'

Gorka is expected to return to training this week ready for the show next weekend.

On Sunday morning, the 26-year-old professional dancer made his first appearance since the terrifying ordeal as he left Blackpool for home.

The BBC star appeared understandably downcast as he left his hotel alongside his fellow pro dancers, wrapped up in a navy jacket and tartan scarf as he was flanked by towering security.

Tired: Opting to take a step back from the high jinx, he folded his arms as he watched his pals playfully hug and smile (pictured with Giovanni Pernice far left, and Janette Manrara on the far right)

A spokesman for the broadcaster said: ' Gorka was sadly the victim of an unprovoked incident in Blackpool on Saturday night, but he will be back in training this week and is looking forward to the group routine next weekend.'

While the incident was not reported to Lancashire Police, the force has made contact with the BBC to establish more details.

A police spokesman said: 'We are aware that reports of this incident are in the media today.

'This matter has not been reported to the police but we have made contact with the BBC this morning to try and establish details of the incident which would allow us to investigate further.'

Smirking: Gorka smirked as he watched fellow dancer Janette Manrara be lifted into the air

Despite his injuries from the incident, the dancer admirably made time to sign autographs for awaiting fans as he left his lodgings momentarily.

Appearing still shaken, he kept an expressionless look with his mouth firmly shut while greeting loyal followers of the show.

After his brief meet and greet, Gorka looked grey in palour as he stood outside his hotel waiting for his transport back to London whilst surrounded by his Strictly cast.

Opting to take a step back from the high jinx, he folded his arms as he watched his pals playfully hug and smile.

Feeling blue: Gorka's appearance looked in contrast to his beaming performance at the Tower Ballroom on Saturday night

Scene: The 26-year-old performer had been heading to the Flamingo nightclub in Blackpool (pictured) with co-stars Neil Jones and Aljaz Skorjanec when he was attacked

Looking tired from his eventful night, Gorka attempted to go incognito while standing with the rest of his fellow pro dancers, wearing a maroon beanie that covered his dark coiff.

His downtrodden appearance comes after he was beaten up by a group of youths who broke two of his teeth.

The Spanish talent was heading to the Flamingo nightclub in the Northern seaside town with co-stars Aljaz Skorjanec and Neil Jones when the 'random' attack took place.

According to The Sun, the yobs 'broke two of his teeth' with their punches - resulting in the Spanish hunk having to schedule emergency dental surgery.

Shaken: Appearing still shaken, he kept an expressionless look with his mouth firmly shut

Incognito: Gorka attempted to go incognito while standing with the rest of his fellow pro dancers, wearing a maroon beanie that covered his dark coiff

Millionaire boss of the In The Pink leisure group Basil Newby which owns the Flamingo on the restort's Queen Street said: 'I don't know where he is coming from.'

'I was at the Flamingo until the last of our guests left at 6 am on Sunday morning. This place is littered with CCTV cameras inside and outside and we have not seen a thing.'

'The bar staff have not reported anything and more importantly the door staff have not reported any incidents.'

Watching on: The dancer looked on as he watched Janette hug her fellow pro

Relaxed: Giovanni Pernice looked on smiling at the two having a moment

Patient: Gorka patiently waited for his transport to come

Lancashire Police confirmed they have not had any official complaint of assault from Marquez.

Mr Newby added :'Last year we hosted the Strictly after show party. This year we didn't . We did have some of the crew in the club and they had a good time.'

'Maybe Mr Marquez was a little disorientated on Saturday. We have had no contact from the police or the BBC,' added Mr Newby who was made an MBE for services to tourism. 'Why he should link this alleged attack to The Flamingo is a mystery.'

All smiles: The pro Gorka (pictured with his girlfriend Lauren Sheridan in Blackpool on the weekend) was beaten up by a group of youths

One regular at the Flamingo said: 'It is massive club and very gay and lesbian friendly. It certainly has not got a reputation for being rough. If something happened between The Tower and the Flamingo it will be on camera.'

Gorka was partnered with EastEnders star Tameka Empson, 39, on the show but the duo were eliminated after the third week.

But despite being voted off, the dancer still appears in the routines which involve the other professionals on the hit BBC show.

Just hours before the attack, he was dancing with fellow professional Janette Manrara, 33, in a routine to a song by Rick Astley, as well as in the opening group dance.

Not a worry: Just hours before the attack, he was dancing on the hit television show to a Rick Astley song

Celebration: He performed on the show on Saturday night and then went into Blackpool town centre to celebrate

In high spirits: Louise Redknapp beamed after her triumphant Paso in Blackpool with hubby Jamie Redknapp
Obama 'not optimistic' about Syria's immediate future

US President Barack Obama said he was "not optimistic" about Syria's immediate future as the regime and its Russian backers launch a sustained bombardment of civilians in Aleppo.

"I am not optimistic about the short term prospects in Syria," Obama said at a press conference in Peru, warning Syria's second city was likely to fall.

"Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back (Bashar al) Assad in a brutal air campaign... it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time."
Green Day chants against Trump at American Music Awards

Green Day led a furious chant against President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday at the American Music Awards, where Ariana Grande proved her superstar status by taking the top prize.

On a stage full of pyrotechnics, Green Day turned the punk rockers' recent song "Bang Bang" into an anti-Trump anthem at the awards ceremony broadcast live on US television.

"No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA!" Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shouted repeatedly, to smiles from the star-studded audience in Los Angeles and quick commentary on social media.

(L-R) Musicians Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt of Green Day perform onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP)

Green Day, who led a revival of punk rock in the early 1990s, repeatedly denounced Trump during the election campaign in which the Republican ran on staunch criticism of immigrants.

Well before the election, Trump wrote on Twitter in 2010 that he saw Green Day's Broadway musical "American Idiot" with his wife Melania and found it "excellent."

The American Music Awards are based on voting by fans, unlike the more prestigious Grammys, which will take place on February 12 and are determined by a poll of music industry figures.

Ariana Grande, the former child actress who has become one of pop music's leading stars with the success of her latest album "Dangerous Woman," won the top award of Artist of the Year.

The 23-year-old teamed up with rapper Nicki Minaj for the steamiest moment of the evening.

They performed their collaboration "Side to Side" on a jungle-themed stage as topless male dancers rubbed against them, with Minaj opening her own legs and sliding a finger in between.

Chart-topping rapper Drake was up for a record 13 awards on Sunday. He wound up winning four, dominating the rap categories.

- Different ways to address election -

Sting, presented with a lifetime achievement award, performed a medley from Police classics "Message in a Bottle" and "Every Breath You Take" to a song off his new album.

The "Englishman in New York" made what may have been a veiled reference to the political climate as he described rock 'n' roll as "perhaps America's greatest and most influential export."

Rock music has been "always open to all colors in the spirit of welcome and inclusion," Sting said.

"A mixing of culture, of rhythm and passion is what made this country the greatest country in the world."

John Legend and Lady Gaga, two US artists outspoken in the denunciations of Trump, steered clear of politics as they performed new singles.

But award co-hosts Jay Pharoah -- a comedian from "Saturday Night Live," the television comedy show that has upset Trump -- and model Gigi Hadid made multiple cracks on the president-elect.

Pharoah said Trump must have enjoyed performer Bruno Mars, the Hawaiian-born star whose heritage includes Puerto Rican and Filipino roots.

"'I love Bruno Mars. I don't know what color he is, so I can't deport him,'" Pharoah said, imitating Trump's booming voice.

- Inspirational talk from Gomez -

One of the most heartfelt speeches came from Selena Gomez, who won Favorite Female Artist.

Her appearance marked her public return after halting her tour in August, saying she needed to care for depression and anxiety that were side effects of lupus.

"I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside," Gomez said as she fought back tears.

"I don't want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what's in here," she said with her hand on her heart.

Prince's sister Tyka Nelson also became emotional as she accepted the soundtrack award for the pop icon's landmark 1984 album "Purple Rain" -- which was again eligible as it returned to the charts following his death in April.

"Prince defied the odds. A black teen from Minneapolis with a goal to electrify the world, he had the courage to be different," she said.

Best New Artist went to Zayn Malik, whose former group One Direction won Artist of the Year for the last two years -- and whose onetime bandmate Niall Horan performed separately.

"Wow, this one just has my name on it, right?" Malik quipped as he inspected the award.

Recording artist Ariana Grande arrives for the 2016 American Music Awards, November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California Valerie Macon (AFP)

Musician Sting was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 2016 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP)
Speaking out against law enforcement's use of water, rubber bullets, and mace on Dakota Access Pipeline protesters the previous night, activists gathered Monday on the street corners of a busy Bismarck intersection.

The group arrived at North Fourth Street and East Main Avenue around 11 a.m. Armed with signs and banners, they stood on the sidewalk chanting out against the pipeline and condemning police actions.

"Its time for President Obama to condemn these tactics and this pipeline," Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said in a statement.

Some protesters were reported to have been injured Sunday night after being doused with water in 20-degree weather. Police also used pepper spray, rubber bullets and concussion grenades.

Everybodys on no sleep right now," said Victor Botello, of California.

Protesters met law enforcement at the Backwater Bridge, the same bridge where, last month, clashes between the two groups left burnt out vehicles. Protesters in Bismarck on Monday said they had gone out to the bridge to remove the vehicles.

We were there to remove the barricade. They (law enforcement) promised it would be gone three weeks ago, its not," said Ray Skenandore, of Wisconsin.

Skenandore said they had gone out to the bridge around 6 p.m. and were able to remove one of the two vehicles left on the bridge.

We want that pathway (open) thats cut off now for emergency vehicles," Skenandore said. Right now nothing can pass, nothing."

Rob Keller, a spokesman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department, said Mandan Rural Fire Department trucks were sent out to the bridge Sunday night to put out fires that protesters had set. But those fire hoses ended up being used to disperse the crowd as well.

They brought in fire trucks to refill three different times so they can continuously unload the water on the people," said Shane Miers, of Ohio.

Botello said he was at the bridge Sunday night to take care of protesters who may have been hit with the water or injured.

I, personally  was there to take care of those that were coming to the fire, to keep them warm with warmth pads, with blankets, with water," he said.

The place was completely iced. People were kind of slipping around, but you know what, we were there. We stayed there," said Shereena Baker, of Kansas.

Baker said hundreds of gallons of water were used constantly on protesters last night.

Having spent several hours Sunday night at the Morton County Law Enforcement Center as the protests unfolded, its clear these dangerous altercations are a formula for disaster going forward," Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said in a statement. Any protesters should be able to exercise their First Amendment right lawfully and peacefully, but many of the actions we have seen over the past several weeks are not those of lawful protesters and they pose serious safety concerns to other protesters -- especially as the temperatures drop -- and law enforcement officers, as well as to children, residents, and workers trying to live their lives in their communities."

Police were seen observing the protesters as they stood on the sidewalks of Bismarck. The group also went to the Mandan Police Department to demonstrate.

Bismarck police arrested a 24-year-old Colorado man in connection to the protest on Monday, according to a news release from the police department. He was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Exhume Marcos, Philippine court asked after hero burial

Campaigners launched legal action Monday to exhume the body of former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, just three days after his burial in a national heroes' cemetery triggered street protests.

He was finally laid to rest Friday in a secretive ceremony at the "Cemetery of Heroes" with military honours almost three decades after his death, angering critics who accuse Marcos of massive corruption and human rights abuses.

Relatives of victims of his rule asked the Supreme Court Monday to dig up his remains, claiming they had not been given enough time to appeal a ruling allowing his burial in the cemetery.

Protesters demonstrate in Manila following the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a secretive ceremony at the national heroes' cemetery Ted Aljibe (AFP)

"How can a plunderer and despot and violator of human rights be given that honour of being buried in the memorial of good men?" said Congressman Edcel Lagman, brother of an abducted anti-Marcos dissident who was never seen again.

Two weeks ago the Supreme Court endorsed a decision by President Rodrigo Duterte to bury the dictator at the heroes' cemetery.

The Marcos family and government moved quickly after the verdict, secretly flying the embalmed body from their home town in the northern Philippines to the cemetery in Manila on Friday and interring him.

But Lagman, an opposition member of the House of Representatives, filed a "motion for exhumation" Monday arguing the court ruling was not final because opponents were entitled to 15 days to appeal.

"The exhumation is imperative in order not to render moot and academic the petitioners' forthcoming and seasonable motion/s for reconsideration," the motion read.

Lagman and another group representing victims of Marcos' martial law also asked the Supreme Court Monday to cite the Marcos family and the military in contempt of court for organising the burial.

Opponents also announced a major street protest for Friday.

- 'Insulting soldiers' -

Former president Fidel Ramos, a senior Duterte advisor and former military chief who was among the leaders of the anti-Marcos revolt, criticised the burial.

"It was an insult, it was a trivialisation of the role, the sacrifices of our armed forces.... Of course they (anti-Marcos forces) are entitled to protest," Ramos told a news conference Monday.

"It is a step backward for this administration in the sense that they are losing support, they are losing friends," he said, urging the Duterte government to fire military and police officials who helped carry out the burial.

Millions of Filipinos took to the streets in 1986 in a famous "People Power" revolution to oust the then dictator.

Marcos died in exile in Hawaii three years later, and his body was put on public display in his northern home town because previous presidents had refused to allow the dictator to be buried at the heroes' cemetery.

The former leader, his wife Imelda, 87, and their cronies plundered up to $10 billion from state coffers and plunged the Philippines into crippling debt during his rule, according to government investigators and historians.

The dictator also suppressed dissent, with thousands killed and tortured, previous Philippine governments said.

But his heirs staged a political rehabilitation that saw his wife and their children winning public office.

Their comeback culminated in the election this year of Duterte, a long-time ally of the family.

Duterte has defended the burial, saying laws entitled Marcos to be buried at the heroes' cemetery as a former president and soldier.

Over the weekend, an emotional widow Imelda said her dead husband was "at peace" there.

"I know Marcos stood for the truth and if you are on the side of truth, God is on your side," she told supporters at a memorial mass at her late husband's grave.

Members of the late ex-Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos led by former first lady Imelda Marcos (in black) follow the hearse during the burial at the heroes' cemetery in Manila HO (Office of Governor Imee Marcos/AFP)
Africa looks to solar for communities off the grid

Above the sacks of seeds and coal, three kerosene lamps gather dust in the tiny shed that Kenyan chicken farmer Bernard calls home.

He prefers to use solar energy to light up his evenings, listen to the radio or watch television, after abandoning a diesel generator he said was expensive to maintain and burned fuel too quickly.

"Solar panels are a good, cheap solution," he told AFP.

The opening ceremony of a photovoltaic solar farm in Bokoul, Senegal, last month Seyllou (AFP/File)

Across the continent, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes and small businesses, even as African governments unveil massive new solar projects seemingly every month to expand their grids.

According to International Energy Agency projections, almost one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will gain access to the grid by 2040, but by that time 530 million will remain off-grid, almost comparable with the 600 million who cannot access power today.

Governments have ramped up their efforts: on Africa's Atlantic coast, Senegal last month inaugurated a massive 20 megawatt (MW) project that will deliver energy to 160,000 people, which President Macky Sall saluted as ushering in "a new, clean-energy era".

But Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, director-general of national utility Senelec, underlined upcoming problems in an interview with AFP.

"We actually have an excess of 100MW of power," he said. "But we have a distribution problem. We have been thinking in terms of roads and railways... but not about electricity highways."

With around 55 to 65 percent of homes receiving electricity, Senegal's grid strength is above average for sub-Saharan Africa, whereas in South Sudan and Liberia this hovers between one and two percent.

But even in Senegal, neighbouring Mauritania and Rwanda, which have all invested in large-scale solar projects as the cost of panels tumble, the twin challenges of limited grids and Africa's demographics remain.

- 'Space for innovation' -

"The grid and the off-grid are so far apart right now that it's creating a huge space for innovation," enthuses Andrew Herscowitz, coordinator for US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative.

Power Africa, which identifies governments and businesses requiring sustainable and affordable energy and offers funding and expertise in more than 15 countries, has taken a particular interest in solar.

Power Africa is pushing this renewable source so that people "don't have to wait for the grid to arrive to them, they can access a company today and have a solar panel put on their roof," Herscowitz told AFP.

Half of sub-Saharan Africa's power is generated in South Africa, while north Africa has built effective grid systems that largely serve their populations with a constant flow of energy.

But for the rest, off-grid systems and the technology needed to make them reachable to the sub-continent's poorest homes have reached a tipping point in the last five years, spurred by advances that have lowered costs.

Lighting homes with kerosene and candles remains expensive, dangerous and polluting, but in Kenya micro-solar firms have brought power to 30 percent of the off-grid population.

"A person can for the same amount of money they were spending to buy kerosene just for that little flicker of light use that money to buy a small solar panel that can power safe lightbulbs," Herscowitz said.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of British "pay-as-you-go" solar panel firm Azuri, noted that the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity in the West was around 15 US cents, while kerosene was 53 times higher and candles 105 times higher on average for African consumers.

Azuri and rival M-Kopa offer a package of solar-powered lightbulbs, radio, and phone charging ports for as little as 50 US cents a day.

Solar-powered televisions are available for a little more and fridges are expected to follow.

The firms have made their mark in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, which also have the heaviest uptake of mobile money systems, allowing users to pay for these services automatically through cheap and easy-to-access bank accounts provided by telecoms firms.

In these markets, customers are often so sparsely distributed that even if they have the opportunity to connect to the grid, doing so is still often more expensive than solar packs.

- Sunshine continent -

Investment in the sun to feed Africa's grids is appreciable: by the end of 2014 output stood at 1,334 MW, more than ten times larger than in 2009 (127 MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As consultancy firm KPMG put it in a recent report, solar power is "the most widely available source of renewable energy in Africa", and could "bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without the need for expensive large-scale grid level infrastructural developments."

The uptake of solar still remains extremely low compared to coal and biomass, accounting for less than five percent of overall grid power, but solar is getting cheaper and easier to install than ever.

Besides, most off-grid communities have no other option, as Africa Power's Herscowitz noted: "the amount of money needed to solve the energy deficit in Africa is hundreds of billions of dollars. No government has that money."

Across Africa, consumers are opting for their own off-grid solar solutions to power homes Tony Karumba (AFP)

Senegal now has an excess of power, though it still has a distribution problem Seyllou (AFP/File)

Solar panels in Tafoughalt, in Morocco's eastern Berkane province Fadel Senna (AFP)

Simon Bransfield-Garth (right) receives a sustainability award from Arnold Schwarzenegger in Copenhagen Jakob Dall (Scanpix Denmark/AFP)
Protests turn violent near US pipeline site

Hundreds of people protesting a North Dakota oil pipeline project clashed early Monday with police who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon, soaking the crowd in subfreezing temperatures.

Protest organizers said 167 people were hurt, including three Native American tribal elders, and that seven people have been hospitalized for severe head injuries.

"The police... targeted the heads and legs of Water Protectors," read a post from the head medic of the Oceti Sakowin Camp, referring to people protesting the contentious project, which is opposed by Native Americans who say it is being built on ancestral lands.

Members of some 200 tribes and supporters have protested for months at a North Dakota camp site near the planned route of the Dakota Access Pipeline Robyn Beck (AFP/File)

The Morton County Sheriff's Department put the number of protesters at 400, saying they were engaged in a "riot" and had started a dozen fires.

The Bismarck Tribune quoted the sheriff's department as saying protesters threw rocks and logs at officers, and one officer was struck in the head.

One person was arrested, the report added.

"We have seen at least four gunshot wounds, three of them I know to the face and head, rubber bullets," medic Leland Brenholt said in a video posted on social media, adding that police were also using water, pepper spray and tear gas on protesters.

"Right now, we are trying to keep people warm, we're trying to get them decontaminated, and treating all kinds of different wounds. People have been hit with (tear gas) canisters in the chest or the leg and that sort of thing."

Twitter user Ruth Hopkins commented: "WHAT EVIL LOOKS LIKE. Police spraying innocent civilians with water cannons. Current temp. 25, you could die #NoDAPL."

Last week the US government put a halt to the pipeline construction project, saying more analysis and debate are needed.

Pipeline operators Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics Partners struck back, asking a court to stop regulators from further delaying the project, to be built under the Missouri River and man-made Lake Oahe in North Dakota.

The waterways are the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's drinking water source, and it has objected to building the 1,172-mile (1,886-kilometer) pipeline underneath the river and lake, for fear that it might leak.

The tribe, which now believes it has the momentum in its battle against the companies, wants the pipeline's route altered away from lands near its reservation. It also claims those lands contain sacred historic artifacts.

The conflict between the tribe and the oil pipeline company has galvanized North American native tribes and supporters, who have camped in the thousands near the construction site for months in an effort to block it.
UNESCO chief demands DR Congo action over journalist murder

UNESCO's director-general Irina Bokova on Monday urged authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo to bring the murderers of a television journalist to justice.

Marcel Lubala was killed at his home in Mbuji-Mayi, central DR Congo, on the night of November 14-15 by armed men. The 59-year-old had worked for the RTNC MbujiMayi television channel that is part of state broadcaster RTNC.

"I condemn the murder of Marcel Lubala. Journalists must be able to do their work informing citizens without fearing for their lives," said Bokova in a statement published in Paris.

Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova speaks during a press conference in New York on September 20, 2016 Kena Betancur (AFP/File)

"I trust the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice."

According to local authorities in the Kasai-Oriental province, where Mbuji-Mayi is located, an investigation has been opened into the murder and five people have been arrested.

But various charities and media rights organisations decried the fact the murder took place during a curfew between 10pm and 5am, when local security forces were supposed to be in control of the town.

Following the murder, local activists Journalists in Danger (JED) denounced "the increase in targeted attacks against the press".

Joseph Tshilunde, president of the national union of Congolese media (UNPC), told AFP that Lubala was the "16th journalist killed in DRC in 10 years and too often the perpetrators and organisers are not sanctioned".

DR Congo has been wracked by recent violence sparked by a political crisis brought on by the postponing of a presidential election which had been due to take place before the end of the year.

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he succeeded his father Laurent Kabila, who had been assassinated.

Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election having served two terms but his opponents are worried the election postponement is part of a wider bid to hold onto power.

Anti-Kabila protests have been suppressed by police while authorities have used various means to clamp down on the press.

Kabila's government has frequently blocked the signal of foreign media such as Radio France International any time opposition supporters have organised protests.

Ten days ago, the government also issued a decree affecting foreign broadcasters that gave them a month to hand over a majority share of their companies to locals, a move criticised by the United Nations.

DRC was classed 152nd out of 180 countries in 2016 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.
Doctors use WhatsApp to find kin of India train survivors

Eight-year-old Sejal Yadav was pulled from the wreckage of a derailed train in northern India and rushed alone to hospital. Hours later she was reunited with her brother -- thanks to WhatsApp.

As survivors were rescued from the mangled carriages of the Indore-Patna Express on Sunday, many -- including children -- became separated from their relatives as they were shunted into ambulances and taken to various hospitals in the area.

In the chaotic aftermath of the accident, which claimed at least 146 lives and left hundreds injured, doctors took to WhatsApp -- sharing pictures of their patients with other hospitals in the area via the messaging app.

Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016 Sanjay Kanojia (AFP/File)

"We clicked (a photo of) every patient who came to our hospitals on our phone and immediately shared his, her name and identity on the group," A K Srivastava, a senior doctor at one of the local hospitals, told AFP.

"This way, if anyone from his family or acquaintances was at the other hospital looking for him, we were able to unite them swiftly," he said, scrolling through pictures of the injured on his phone.

The hospitals around Kanpur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh have been flooded with dozens of victims, many severely injured and in a state of shock.

Yadav was one of the first children rescued from the accident site. She arrived at a government hospital in the town.

"For the initial part, she was in trauma and didn't say much but later she shared her name," a senior doctor at the hospital told AFP.

Her name and picture was then sent to the WhatsApp group and her name added to the survivor list, allowing her brother to track her down.

"She was with her maternal grandfather and two uncles at the time of the accident. All three of them are dead and she doesn't know this," her brother Rahul, 18, told AFP.

Rahul tried to hold back tears as he sat beside his sister's bed in the intensive care unit.
Iraq militias train sights on key IS-held town near Mosul

Iraqi militia fighters peered from a front line position at Tal Afar, a town still held by jihadists, as sniper bullets rang overhead and mortar rounds crashed nearby.

After storming a former airbase, they have pushed forward to around four kilometres from the strategic town, 55 kilometres (35 miles) west along the road running from the Islamic State group's bastion of Mosul to territory under its control in Syria.

"God willing, we are going to advance forward!" field commander Abu Hanan al-Kanaani said. "The enemy knows us, nothing will stop us and we are coming to liberate, to let the people live in freedom and safety."

An Iraqi militia member checks the position of an Islamic State sniper at Tal Afar airport Achilleas Zavallis (AFP)

The push by the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces -- a paramilitary umbrella group dominated by Tehran-backed Shiite militias and nominally under the Iraqi prime minister's command -- is part of the broader offensive to retake Mosul, IS's last major hub in Iraq.

But while the forces' thrust should be a vital move to cut off IS escape routes, its involvement around Sunni-majority Mosul and its targeting of Tal Afar have proved deeply divisive.

Alleged executions and abuses carried out by Hashed fighters in territory taken from IS elsewhere have stoked local fears and, given its close ties to Iran, its advance has sparked warnings of a possible intervention from Tehran's regional rival Turkey.

On the battlefield, however, the group is bullish after recapturing what was once a major Iraqi military facility that IS fighters seized as they swept through the country in 2014.

On Sunday, the paramilitary group drove a group of Western journalists six hours on a press trip through the desert to showcase the capture of the airbase.

"Daesh sent several car bombs at us but when they saw we would not back off, they fled," representative Mohammed al-Barghuthi told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "It took us about an hour to capture."

- Regional game -

Now the group has Tal Afar firmly in its sights and is waiting for orders to move.

"We are waiting to tighten our grip around the city and trying to secure a route for the civilians to leave," said Abu Mohamed al-Ettabi, a senior commander on the Tal Afar front.

The likely capture of Tal Afar -- a mainly Turkmen city -- by the Popular Mobilisation has drawn the ire of the president of Sunni neighbour Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He cautioned that Ankara -- which has some hundreds of soldiers based at Bashiqa, north of Mosul, and more along the borders -- would "not look favourably" on an attack by Shiite militias on the town.

Ettabi said the plan was for local units from the area fighting under the banner of the Popular Mobilisation force to try to move into the city.

"But if they cannot make it, then we are going to intervene," he said.

He dismissed the potential threat of Turkish military action if the militias take the town.

"Turkey is not Iraq -- they can't impose what they want on us," the senior commander said. "Iraq will decide what it wants and no one can interfere."

The role played by the Hashed remains a potential flashpoint and the group -- which includes US terror-listed organisations -- is not receiving air support from the US-led coalition fighting IS.

But Ettabi angrily lashed out at suggestions the group was part of a plan by Iran to carve out a corridor of control to neighbouring Syria, where it is fighting to prop up President Bashar al-Assad.

"Let's stay far away from these political plots and focus on the issue that our population has been attacked," he said.

Militia from Iraq's Hashd Al Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Units) on a truck on their way to Tal Afar airport Achilleas Zavallis (AFP)

Members of Iraq's Hashd Al Shaabi on the tarmac at Tal Afar airport Achilleas Zavallis (AFP)
Turkey blasts Israeli mosque prayer call bill 'insult'

Turkey on Monday denounced as "unacceptable" and an "insult" a bill being discussed in the Israeli parliament to limit the volume of calls to prayer at mosques.

Israel and Turkey had earlier this year finally mended a years-long crisis in relations with the naming of ambassadors, but a considerable potential for tension remains.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the bill, which if agreed would apply across Israel and also to annexed east Jerusalem where more than 300,000 Palestinians live.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that for centuries the Islamic call to prayer, church bells and Jewish prayers had mixed together in multi-faith Jerusalem Thomas Coex (AFP/File)

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that for centuries the Islamic call to prayer, church bells and Jewish prayers had mixed together in multi-faith Jerusalem.

"This is something on which there can be no compromise," Kurtulmus, who is chief government spokesman, said after a cabinet meeting. "It's absolutely unacceptable.

"It's an insult to the culture, past and history of Jerusalem. It makes no sense and is contrary to freedom of belief."

The bill initially met opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews -- who feared Jewish rituals could also be hit -- but could now be revived after efforts were made to meet their concerns.

The bill was drafted in response to complaints about noise from mosques, but would in theory apply to all religious institutions.

Israeli Jews living in settlements in the east of Jerusalem had protested against the volume of Islamic prayer calls.

Relations between Israel and Turkey plunged to an all time low in 2010 after an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship killed 10 Turkish activists heading to Gaza.

But the two sides are already working to bring cooperation back to former levels and are holding talks on building an ambitious pipeline project to pump Israeli gas to Turkey and Europe.

Nevertheless, considerable tensions remain with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presenting himself as a champion of the Palestinians and regularly meeting with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal.

Israel, the United States and the European Union all view Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, as a terrorist organisation.
Syrian towns under siege

Numerous towns in Syria, where nearly a million people live, are currently besieged, mainly by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad's regime but also by rebels and jihadists.

Assad is accused of resorting to sieges to force rebels to lay down their arms in Syria's devastating more than five-year conflict.

The UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said Monday the number of people living under siege in Syria more than doubled in six months to 974,080 on November 1.

Syrian pro-government forces take part in an operation to take control of Aleppo's Suleiman al-Halabi neighbourhood on September 30, 2016 Georges Ourfalian (AFP/File)

O'Brien said new areas had come under siege, including a district in Damascus and many locations in the Eastern Ghouta region of rural Damascus.

According to the UN, Jobar, a east Damascus district, as well as Hajar al-Aswad and Khan al-Shih, to the south of the capital, have been added to the list.

On October 5 the UN said the rebel-held east of Syria's Aleppo had been declared a "besieged area", following a months-long government offensive and a lack of access for aid workers.

- Besieged by the regime -

- EAST ALEPPO: More than 275,000 people are trapped in the rebel-held east of the northern city, under a government siege.

Government forces have pounded east Aleppo with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire since Tuesday, in the latest phase of an operation the army, backed by its Russian ally, announced in late September.

- MADAYA: more than 40,000 people have been under siege in Madaya for the past two years, with the town under a total siege since mid-2015.

It became infamous in late 2015 after more than 60 people starved there, according to non-governmental organisations.

The town has become a symbol of those in agony under the siege and four deliveries of humanitarian aid have not sufficed to put it out of its misery.

- MOADAMIYEH AL-SHAM: A rebel town southwest of Damascus, Moadamiyeh al-Sham was listed as under siege by the UN in January, after the regime imposed new restrictions which led to new food shortages. More than 40,000 people are besieged there. On October 19 some 620 rebels and their families started to evacuate the town under an accord struck with the government.

Other rebel-controlled towns are also surrounded in Damascus province, such as Zabadani. Many localities in the Eastern Ghouta area have been grouped into five zones in the UN report: Douma, Erbin, Harasta, Kafr Batna, and Nashabiyah.

- Towns surrounded by rebels -

- FOUA and KAFRAYA: The two Shiite pro-regime towns in northwestern Idlib province are under siege by Islamist rebels.

The rebels are seeking to link the fate of the two towns to those of Zabadani and Madaya, demanding that aid destined for loyalist villages should also go to these two rebel-held towns.

In April, 2016, 250 inhabitants of Madaya and Zabadani and an equal number from Foua and Kafraya were evacuated. The evacuations went side by side with a delivery of humanitarian aid to these towns. On August 19, 18 civilians were evacuated from Madaya and the same number from Foua and Kafraya. And on September 25 aid was delivered for the first time in six months to these four besieged areas.

In early February, government forces, backed by Russian air power, managed to break through the siege imposed for the past three years by Islamist rebels on the Shiite towns of Nubol and Zahraa in the northern province of Aleppo.

- Under siege by the IS -

- DEIR EZZOR: The jihadist Islamic State group has since January 2015 besieged the eastern city of Deir Ezzor where more than 200,000 people live.

The IS controls more than 60 percent of the city, the capital of the province of the same name, most of which is in its hands.

The World Food Programme has been carrying out food drops over the city.

The government has also managed to deliver aid to besieged towns that it controls by air drops. Rebels do not have access to aircraft.

Syrians wait for the arrival of an aid convoy on January 11, 2016 in the besieged town of Madaya

A convoy of ambulances transporting wounded civilians and rebels from the villages of Foua and Kafraya in Syria's northwest Idlib province, cross into Turkey during an operation as part of a UN-backed truce on December 28, 2015 Omar Haj Kadour (AFP/File)
Libya unity forces say closing on Sirte jihadists

Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord said on Monday that they are closing in on the last Islamic State group fighters in the coastal city of Sirte.

The pro-GNA forces said they managed to dislodge IS fighters from a fortified school in the Al-Giza Al-Bahriya district that the jihadists had fiercely defended.

Artillery pounded IS positions as pro-GNA fighters mainly from the western town of Misrata advanced house by house, said an AFP correspondent who reported seeing wounded.

A T-54 tank belonging to forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord takes position in Sirte's Al-Giza Al-Bahriya district on November 21, 2016 Mahmud Turkia (AFP)

A medical source said the fighting killed two pro-GNA fighters and wounded 17 others.

Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, had a population of 120,000 before IS seized it in June 2015 and residents began to flee.

The pro-government forces announced the launch of the battle for Sirte on May 12 and, within weeks, they recaptured large chunks of the coastal city.

But the pro-GNA forces slowed down the offensive in an effort to avoid losses among their own ranks and to protect civilians trapped in the city.
Lebanon builds wall near Palestinian refugee camp

Lebanon is building a wall near the country's largest Palestinian refugee camp to prevent jihadists from infiltrating, a military source said Monday.

The overcrowded and impoverished Ain al-Hilweh camp near the southern coastal city of Sidon has gained notoriety in recent years as a refuge for Muslim extremists and fugitives.

It also saw deadly fighting last year between the Jund al-Sham Islamist group and members of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement.

A picture taken on November 21, 2016 shows a building structure at the Palestinian Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp, near the Lebanese southern coastal city of Sidon

And in September the army said security forces had arrested a Palestinian refugee suspected of links to the Islamic State group who was in the camp.

"The construction of the wall began some time ago and the aim is to stop the infiltration of terrorists inside Ain al-Hilweh from nearby orchards," the military source told AFP.

"It's a security measure" that was taken after the arrest of "fugitive terrorists" who had taken shelter in the camp, he said.

Pictures were posted online showing cranes lifting huge concrete blocks on the western side of Ain al-Hilweh then setting them side by side, as well as watchtower.

Social media users compared the wall to a controversial separation barrier which Israel has been building in the occupied West Bank since 2002.

"Soon, the children of Ain al-Hilweh will draw pictures depicting Palestine and freedom on the wall of shame," one person said online.

A camp official, Fuad Othman, called the wall a "provocation".

Major General Mounir al-Maqdah, the head of the Palestinian security forces in Lebanon, criticised the construction of the wall.

"The wall, parts of which have been erected, is causing psychological pressure for the Palestinian refugees," said Maqdah.

"We wouldn't have needed a separation barrier and watchtowers if the Lebanese authorities had, years ago, found a solution to the Palestinian presence in Lebanon," he added.

The military source said Lebanon "is not building a prison or a separation wall, but a wall for protection", adding residents would be able to go in and out from the camp, except from the western side.

By long-standing convention, the army does not enter Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon but holds positions outside of it, leaving the factions to handle security inside.
Kelly Gunsch and Pamela Scherf sit with their laptop computers in a cramped office filled with stacks of papers and storage bins containing remnants from the old shelter.

There are boxes of envelopes to mail out before the holidays. On the walls are a full calendar and a whiteboard with a list of current donations.

The room is a bit crowded, but the two women have made it work despite adverse circumstances.

The transition to their temporary office at the Salvation Army in Bismarck was the most difficult part of closing the Welcome House, a homeless shelter for families with children in Mandan.

Of course, there was donated furniture  beds, mattresses, couches  that all had to go when the doors shut last month. Even the Welcome House sign has been removed.

It looks nothing like the shelter at this point. Everything that we had in there to make it homey and comfortable has been taken down  either donated or put into storage for our new facility," said Gunsch, the shelter's executive director.

Food was all donated to other local pantries, and 10 to 12 mattresses were donated to a refugee agency in the area.

It was a beautiful facility. It was definitely a labor of love, and thats why its so hard to sit here and say, Well, you know we just werent able to sustain it financially. But we werent. Every month, it was just going further and further into the savings," Gunsch said of the building at 1406 Second St. N.W., which the Welcome House began leasing from North Dakota Teen Challenge in 2014.

"We bit off a little bit more than we could chew, I guess," she said.

They decided to close the facility because expenses were just too high and donations were too low, according to Gunsch. They're now looking for a more affordable place in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

Were not the only agency thats seeing that. Theres agencies communitywide that are really struggling right now with grants being down and donations being down," she said.

Gunsch and Scherf are the only remaining employees at the Welcome House, which became a nonprofit in 2005. The organization has been providing shelter for the past five to six years.

Welcome House offers assistance to struggling single moms and dads as well as two-parent families. In Mandan, the temporary shelter was equipped to handle nine families at a time, providing close and direct care.

And thats one thing the clients really pointed out: 'We hate to see you guys closing your doors because you do make us feel welcome. You do make us feel like this is our home, that were not just another somebody walking in off the street,' Scherf said.

The average length of stay was 45 days; however, families could stay as long as three months.

Scherf and Gunsch said the organization will continue to offer other services to people, despite the shelter's closure. Welcome House is looking for a facility that can house at least six families.

Gunsch said the organization is hoping to open a new shelter within six to eight months. The board of directors is planning to review and approve a budget soon that would get them through the next several months and provide funding for a down payment on a property.

The organization has also established a YouCaring page for donations to help with expenses.

The need for a homeless shelter is great in the community, and calls have been streaming in for the past two months, according to Gunsch.

Its just, unfortunately, an essential need in our community," she said.
'Fire in space' experiment kicks off aboard US cargo ship

How does fire act in space? Researchers will soon find out by trying to ignite nine different materials aboard an unmanned spaceship on its way to a fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, NASA said Monday.

The fire experiment is the second of its kind aboard a Cygnus cargo ship operated by the US company Orbital ATK. The first experiment took place in June.

The controlled blazes will take place aboard a vessel that left the International Space Station, packed with 1.5 tons of garbage, at 8:22 am (1322 GMT) on Monday.

The Orbital ATK's Cygnus cargo craft (L) as seen from the Cupola module windows aboard the International Space Station on October 23, 2016 in a NASA photo obtained October 26, 2016

Ultimately, the whole spaceship and its contents will burn up on re-entry to Earth's atmosphere at 6:30 pm (2330 GMT) Sunday.

But until then, the spaceship transforms into a test bed that aims to improve safety for astronauts living in space by helping experts better understand how fire behaves in microgravity.

"A spacecraft fire is one of the greatest crew safety concerns for NASA and the international space exploration community," said project manager Gary Ruff, part of the team working on the project known as the Spacecraft Fire Experiment, or Saffire.

Compared to Earth environments -- where fire has been studied extensively in everything from mines to submarines to high-rises -- little is known about how fire behaves in microgravity.

A fire broke out on the Russian space station Mir in 1997 when an oxygen-generating container erupted in flames, endangering the crew.

Cosmonauts fought the fire with extinguishers and it eventually burned out.

- 'Just light it on fire' -

The Saffire project seeks to find out if an upward spreading flame will continue to grow, or if microgravity will limit the size of the fire.

It also aims to reveal which fabrics and materials will catch fire and how they will burn.

Before any of this could be tried in space, scientists had to find a spaceship on which to stage their experiments.

With astronauts' lives at risk, not to mention expensive spacecraft components, there were no takers until Orbital offered its unmanned Cygnus, which burns up anyway on re-entry. SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship is made to return to Earth intact.

"My initial idea was just to light the trash on fire and see what happens," principal investigator David Urban told AFP.

"But for various reasons -- not the least of which was I needed to get the data back -- that was not quite the way we went."

Instead, an international team of researchers including the European Space Agency made nine compartments for materials to be set ablaze.

These included "flame retardant fabrics used for astronaut clothing, station Plexiglas window samples with edge variations and structures used for storage containers and silicone composites," NASA said.

Each sample is two by 11 inches (five by 28 centimeters), and is placed in a separate compartment for the fire study.

Two high-definition video cameras are placed inside, collectively filming all the samples, said Urban, chief of the combustion physics and reacting processes branch at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio.

Hot wires were scheduled to ignite the first of the fires Monday afternoon.

Images and data will not arrive back on Earth until Tuesday, Urban said.

Not all of the samples are expected to ignite, said Urban. If they did, it would be "very surprising."

Another Saffire experiment is planned for early 2017.

Cygnus launched from Wallops Island, Virginia and arrived at the ISS on October 23, carrying 5,100 pounds (2,300 kilograms) of food, supplies and science experiments for the team of global astronauts living in orbit.
In Milwaukee, hard-pressed black voters dumped Clinton

On North Avenue, young black men with nothing to do wander past boarded-up buildings and dilapidated shops. It is a sad, desolate landscape.

They and other African Americans in Milwaukee contributed to Hillary Clinton's crushing defeat in the presidential election: not only did they not vote for her, as had been expected, some even backed Donald Trump.

Wisconsin's largest city is also America's most racially segregated one, according to a study based on the 2010 census.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin is America's most racially segregated city according to a study based on the 2010 census Tasos Katopodis (AFP/File)

And Wisconsin served up one of the biggest surprises of an election day that shocked America and the world: no one thought the midwestern state would fall to the Republican billionaire.

Clinton was so sure of victory she did not even bother to campaign here after the Democratic primaries, instead sending her daughter Chelsea or her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

"She probably thought she had Wisconsin wrapped up," said Ronald Roberts, a 67 year old retiree, as he left a shop called Bill the Butcher. Its aging sign is missing the R.

"You can't take the voters for granted because they'll stay home," said Roberts, who used to work as an auto mechanic.

That is just what happened here, according to exit polls taken on November 8. Stop anyone in this part of town, where there is not a white person in sight, and they will tell you as much.

"I feel that she is no better than Trump. That's why I didn't vote," said Brittany Mays, a young woman who works in a beauty salon.

Around her decay abounds: empty housing developments or boarded up homes symbolizing the economic woes of families that fell on very hard times.

- Divide deepened -

Barack Obama had won over the state's traditionally Democratic electorate in 2008 and 2012, and Clinton had been banking on a strong turnout here among African Americans as she campaigned with the blessing of the nation's first black president.

But in Milwaukee, turnout slumped the most in poor, black areas of the state, compared to wealthier -- whiter -- areas.

Many black people here were left out of the economic recovery that Wisconsin enjoyed after the Great Recession.

"Now you have got a lot people walking around here with no job. There is not a lot of money circulating," said Roberts.

In Milwaukee, practically all of the white people have moved to the suburbs, and Trump campaigned there, of course.

Black residents moved here from the south in the 1960s, just as the city's manufacturing base was starting to decline. The settled in the north of the inner city, and Hispanics set up in the south.

Over time, little by little, the racial divide has deepened. These days the unemployment rate among black people is three times that of whites. African Americans hold the national record in school drop-outs.

In Milwaukee County, more than 50 percent of black people aged 30 to 40 have spent time in jail, meaning they are barred from voting for a while.

What is more, a recent law forces people to show a photo ID in order to vote. Advocacy groups argue that this was designed to limit minority turnout in the presidential election.

"In some case, voters were wrongly turned away," said Andrea Kaminski, who runs the Wisconsin chapter of the League of Women Voters, which deployed 250 observers on Election Day.

- 'Dismal picture' -

"You cannot count the number of people who did not even try to vote because of the voter ID law. But that's probably a much bigger number than the people who were actually turned away," Kaminski said.

"I do know a few people who did not have ID or were restricted to vote and they feel like it was unfair to them," said Derricka Wesley, 24, who works at a Walmart store.

Hard hit by drug abuse, violence, a collapse in real estate prices and unemployment, many people in black neighborhoods of Milwaukee have simply lost hope, said LaTonya Johnson, a black local elected official.

"You see this dismal picture where people aren't really seeing the correlation between actually casting their ballot and improving their living conditions," Johnson said.

She argued that Trump's relentless campaign rhetoric about corruption discouraged people from voting.

"Trump was talking about all the corruption in politics and the rigged voting. So you got a lot of people who just really felt like their vote wasn't going to matter," said Johnson.

Some black voters reasoned themselves into backing the real estate tycoon with no experience in government.

"I voted for Trump because I believe he can create jobs. Period," said Dennis Johnson, a 39-year-old truck driver.

"He said, 'Hey, what have you got to lose?' To me, it just made perfect sense," said Johnson.

He added: "Now, listen, this country will survive four years of Trump. We survived eight years of Obama and eight years of Bush."

Many black people here were left out of the economic recovery that Wisconsin enjoyed after the Great Recession Tasos Katopodis (AFP/File)

A man stands at the area near North Avenue and 36th street in Milwaukee on November 17, 2016 Tasos Katopodis (AFP)

"I do know a few people who did not have ID or were restricted to vote and they feel like it was unfair to them," said Derricka Wesley, 24 Tasos Katopodis (AFP)
France says ready to help ICC to prosecute IS fighters in Syria

France is "ready to cooperate" with the International Criminal Court to probe Islamic State jihadists in Syria for war crimes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday.

The ICC, founded in 2002, is the world's only permanent war crimes court. But moves so far to refer Syria to The Hague-based body have been unsuccessful as Russia has blocked them with its veto in the UN Security Council.

The UN go-ahead is needed as Syria is not a member state.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (C) meets with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons during his visit to the International Criminal Court in The Hague on November 21, 2016 Anoek de Groot (AFP)

Ayrault told AFP that action "can be launched it they concern (French) nationals who are engaged in the war in Syria alongside Daesh," using another name for the Islamic State group.

"We are ready to cooperate and give our backing if there is a track to follow," he said. "Even if the margin for manoeuvre is limited, it's a chance to recall that we do not accept impunity."

Russia dealt the International Criminal Court a blow Wednesday saying it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal's founding Rome Statute.

"The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent," Russia's foreign ministry said, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient".

Ayrault said the "action is symbolic and political which I regret because it would have been preferable that Russia does the opposite" and ratifies the founding Rome Statute.

He was in The Hague for the annual meeting of the court's member states who ware discussing among other things how to bring those guilty of crimes in Syria to justice.

In May 2014, France presented a draft resolution calling for war crimes to be investigated in Syria, but the measure was defeated when Russia and China vetoed the request.

A country that has signed up to the Rome treaty or whose citizens have been the victims of crimes may refer cases to the ICC's chief prosecutor for investigation.
PICTURED: Editor selections from the past week in Asia

The late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried last week at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago.

In other images from the Asia-Pacific region last week, a powerful earthquake in New Zealand left two people dead, triggered a small tsunami, and brought down rocks and mud that swept across highways, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly quake struck the same region.

Chinese and American troops staged joint drills in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming in an effort to better coordinate responses to humanitarian disasters. Commanders from both sides stressed the importance of maintaining military-to-military exchanges under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, saying they're crucial for building confidence between the two armed forces, which remain deeply wary of each other.

In this Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 photo, a jet plane flies across the moon seen from Beijing, China. The brightest moon in almost 69 years lights up the sky on Monday in a treat for star watchers around the globe. The phenomenon is known as the supermoon. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Two newly elected Hong Kong separatist lawmakers who altered their oaths by adding anti-China insults were disqualified from taking office. A High Court judge ruled that Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching of the Youngspiration party violated a section of the semiautonomous Chinese city's mini-constitution, as well as laws covering oaths taken by officials.

A "supermoon"  the brightest moon in almost 69 years  lit up the sky in a treat for star watchers around the Asia-Pacific region and the globe.

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This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Hiroshi Otabe in Tokyo.

This Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 aerial photo shows the damage to a state highway near Kaikoura after a powerful earthquake hit New Zealand. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP, File)

In this Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 photo, Indians stand in a queue to deposit and exchange discontinued currency notes outside a bank in New Delhi, India. Chaotic scenes played out across India over the weekend, with long lines growing even longer and scuffles breaking out, as millions of anxious people tried to change old currency notes that became worthless days earlier when the government demonetized high-value bills. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)

In this Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 photo, a worker prepares to add final touches on rubber masks depicting President-elect Donald Trump at the Ogawa Studio in Saitama, north of Tokyo. Ogawa Studio, the only manufacturer of rubber masks in Japan, is working non-stop to catch up with a flood of orders for Trump masks since his election victory one week ago. The masks cost 2,400 yen or US$ 22.40 dollars each and are on sale at local toy shops, retail stores as well as through the internet shopping sites. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

In this Friday, Nov. 19, 2016 photo, a soldier is lowered from a helicopter to practice rescuing a person in the water during a joint rescue operation in the U.S.-China Disaster Management Exchange (DME) in Kunming, southwestern China's Yunnan Province, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Chinese and U.S. commanders on Friday stressed the importance of maintaining military-to-military exchanges under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, saying they are crucial for building confidence between the two armed forces that remain deeply wary of each other, after troops from the two sides staged joint drills in an effort to better coordinate responses to humanitarian disasters. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

In this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 photo, South Korean protesters hold up candles during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. For the fourth straight weekend, masses of South Koreans were expected to descend on major avenues in downtown Seoul demanding an end to the presidency of Park, who prosecutors plan to question soon over an explosive political scandal. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

In this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 photo, a South Korean protester wearing a mask listens to a speech during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. For the fourth straight weekend, masses of South Koreans were expected to descend on major avenues in downtown Seoul demanding an end to the presidency of Park, who prosecutors plan to question soon over an explosive political scandal. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

In this Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 photo, newly elected Hong Kong lawmakers Yau Wai-ching, right, is surrounded by photographers and reporters outside the high court in Hong Kong. Two newly elected Hong Kong separatist lawmakers who used anti-China insults when being sworn in were disqualified from taking office in a court decision Tuesday. A Hong Kong High Court judge ruled that Sixtus Leung and Yau of the Youngspiration party violated a section of the semiautonomous Chinese city's constitution, the Basic Law, as well as laws covering oaths taken by officials. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

In this Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 photo, protesters chant slogans as the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos is finally buried at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Marcos was buried "like a thief in the night" Friday at the country's heroes' cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony which opponents said mocked the democratic triumph won when a "people power" revolt ousted him three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

In this Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 photo, a Filipino military band rides a truck inside the Heroes' Cemetery where former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried in Taguig, near Manila, Philippines. Marcos was buried "like a thief in the night" Friday at the country's heroes' cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony which opponents said mocked the democratic triumph won when a "people power" revolt ousted him three decades ago. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

In this Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 photo, Australia's David Warner crashes over the boundary rope while fielding against South Africa during their cricket test match in Hobart, Australia. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
Lawyers take Chinese organ-harvesting claims to Australia

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Two Canadian lawyers came to Australia's Parliament House on Monday to persuade lawmakers to pass a motion urging China to immediately end the practice of what they say is organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.

David Kilgour, a former prosecutor and Canadian secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific, and David Matas, a human rights lawyer, have published evidence they say shows that China performs an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 transplants a year, with organs primarily taken from Falun Gong practitioners, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians.

China says it performed 10,057 organ transplants last year and has not harvested organs of executed prisoners since January 2015.

Canadian lawyers David Matas, left, and David Kilgour pose for a photograph at Australia's Parliament House in Canberra, Australia Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. The pair came to Australia's Parliament House on Monday to persuade lawmakers to pass a motion urging China to immediately end the practice of what they say is organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

The U.S. House of Representative passed a resolution in June calling on the State Department to report annually to Congress on the implementation of an existing law barring visas to Chinese and other nationals engaged in coercive organ transplantation. The resolution also condemns persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual group China calls a cult and has outlawed.

China accused Congress of making "groundless accusations."

The European Parliament passed a similar declaration in July calling for an independent investigation of "persistent, credible reports on systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience" in China.

Kilgour said the Australian government was reluctant to accept evidence of large-scale, forced organ harvesting in China. Kilgour blamed Australia's close economic ties with China, its largest trading partner.

"The greatest amount of skepticism seems to be in Australia," Kilgour said.

Kilgour and Matas first published a report on organ harvesting in China in 2006, which became the basis of their 2009 book "Bloody Harvest. The Killing of Falun Gong for their Organs."

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Graham Fletcher told a Senate committee last month that he had doubts about the credibility of Falun Gong reports of forced organ harvesting.

"They are not given credence by serious human rights activists," Fletcher said, referring to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International's Australian spokeswoman Caroline Shepherd said the London-based organization had not done its own research into organ harvesting in China and supported United Nations' calls for an independent investigation of such allegations.

The Australian Health Department said at least 53 Australians traveled to China for organ transplants between 2001 and 2014.

Matas said it was not possible for such a large organ-transplant industry to thrive without the support of the Communist Party.

"This is an institutionalized, party-driven scheme, with an institutionalized cover up," Matas said.

Around 200 Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated outside Parliament House against forced organ harvesting on Monday as Matas and Kilgour addressed a meeting of lawmakers from several political parties.

Canadian lawyer David Kilgour addresses Falun Gong practitioners demonstrating outside Australia's Parliament House in Canberra, Australia Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, against forced organ harvesting in China. Kilgour, a former prosecutor and Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, and David Matas, a human rights lawyer, have published evidence they say shows that China performs an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 transplants a year, with organs primarily taken from Falun Gong practitioners, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
PICTURED: Faces In Iraq's Fight For Mosul

MOSUL, Iraq (AP)  The operation to drive the Islamic State group out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis  young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment.

Often the forces look rag-tag, sometimes professional. But many chose looks that are highly original for the fight, not expected to end anytime soon.

Not all soldiers wear uniforms, or markings, insignia or even body armor. One Iraqi army soldier wore only a T-shirt and a black-and-white scarf, proudly displaying his Soviet-designed PK machine gun. At a checkpoint in Gwer, 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Mosul, a Kurdish peshmerga fighter wrapped his rifle in the colors of the Kurdish flag.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, an Iraqi army soldier poses for a portrait in the village of Al-Hut, some 40 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

Iraqi police and intelligence have also joined the fray. One such recruit, just 19 years old, wore a green medical mask while working as guard for national security forces.

A month into the offensive, dozens of troops and civilians have lost their lives, and thousands of residents have fled. Iraqi forces have a foothold in eastern Mosul and are advancing slowly, fighting house to house. But with IS fighting from within densely populated neighborhoods, the battle for the city is far from over.

Here is a selection of portraits by AP photographer Marko Drobnjakovic of fighters taking part in the battle for Mosul.

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, Riyad Jaffar, 27, from Baghdad, an Iraqi army sniper, poses for a portrait at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, Hiwa Omar, 25, from Irbil, Iraq, a Kurdish Peshmerga soldier, poses for a portrait while guarding a checkpoint in Gwer, some 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, Raad Muqdam al-Mosieh, 35, from Baghdad, Iraq, an Iraqi army soldier, poses for a portrait as he guards a checkpoint while wearing a gas mask on the outskirts of Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, Alaa Hashid, from Shura, Iraq, an Iraqi army soldier, poses for a portrait at a checkpoint in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, Abdelyusef, no last name given, an Iraqi Federal Police officer, poses for a portrait at a checkpoint in the village of Al Hut, some 40 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, Haidar Hussein, 20, from Diwaniya, Iraq, an Iraqi army soldier, poses for a portrait while holding his machine gun on the outskirts of Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, US Air Force Senior Airman Dennis Marshall, 26, from Memphis, Tenn., poses for a portrait while holding his radio at the Qayara West Coalition base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, a Kurdish Peshmerga soldier, no name given, poses for a portrait in Nawaran, some 20 kilometers northeast of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, Loay Mahdi, from Kirkuk, an Iraqi army soldier, poses for a portrait at the Qayara West Coalition base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, Bergam Kadhim, from Najaf, Iraq, an Iraqi Special Forces soldier, poses for a portrait on a street in Gogjali, an eastern suburb of Mosul, Iraq. The push to kick the Islamic State out of Mosul has brought together an eclectic mix of Iraqis, young and old, police and soldiers, and a variety of irregular uniforms and equipment. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
AP Explains: Things to know about S. Korean scandal

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A scandal that has captivated a nation took a new twist this weekend when prosecutors directly linked South Korea's president to alleged misdeeds by a shadowy confidante seen as pulling government strings.

With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets each weekend in anger, President Park Geun-hye is digging in her heels, refusing to meet with prosecutors. The looming question now is: Will legislators take the politically risky path of impeaching her?

Here are several things to know about the troubles mounting around Park:

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, file photo, South Korean protesters march in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate to the royal Gyeongbokgung Palace of the Joseon dynasty, on their way to the presidential Blue House during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul. A scandal that has captivated a nation took a new twist this weekend when prosecutors directly linked South Korea's president to alleged misdeeds by a shadowy confidante seen as pulling government strings.With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets each weekend in anger, President Park Geun-hye is digging in her heels, refusing to meet with prosecutors. The looming question now is: Will legislators take the politically risky path of impeaching her? (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

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A NEW TWIST

The scandal centers on Choi Soon-sil, Park's friend for about 40 years and the daughter of a late cult leader.

Choi, who has no official role in Park's administration, allegedly pulled government strings from the shadows and, with the help of two Park aides, used her ties to the president to pressure companies to donate millions of dollars to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi.

Prosecutors on Sunday indicted Choi and the two former presidential advisers on Sunday. Investigators also said they believe Park conspired in the criminal activities.

According to documents submitted by prosecutors to the court, Park allegedly ordered Choi and one of Park's ex-aides last year to collect money from businesses to help support the launch of the two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi.

Prosecutors also say in the court documents, which were revealed to South Korean media, that another ex-presidential aide allegedly passed dozens of confidential presidential documents to Choi, at Park's order. Those sensitive documents include high-profile personnel appointments and secret military talks with North Korea before Park took office, according to South Korean media.

Park's office and her lawyer called the accusations groundless.

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WILL SHE BE IMPEACHED?

The prosecutors' announcement provides Park's liberal rivals and dissidents in her own conservative ruling party with a real legal path to parliamentary impeachment. That's because the National Assembly can only oust a president when enough lawmakers believe he or she has violated the law.

Two main opposition parties said Monday they'll seek parliamentary impeachment because Park has refused to step down. Presidents have immunity from criminal lawsuits while in office.

To get an impeachment through the single-chamber 300-member parliament, at least 200  or two thirds of the total  votes are necessary. South Korean media said opposition parties, left-leaning independents and anti-Park lawmakers in her own ruling Saenuri Party can band together for more than 200 seats.

If Park is impeached, she'll be immediately stripped of her constitutional powers until the Constitutional Court can rule on her fate. Park's prime minister, the No. 2 position in the government, would take over her presidential responsibilities, including her role as commander of chief for South Korea's 630,000-member military, which faces a standoff with nuclear-armed North Korea.

If at least six of the nine-member Constitutional Court approves her impeachment, she'll be formally unseated. Then, within two months, South Korea must hold national elections to choose her successor, who will have a single five-year term.

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PARK'S GAMBLE

Park, the daughter of late dictator Park Chung-hee who is still revered by many here for his economic achievements, may believe that daring parliament to try for impeachment is her last, best hope to finish out the five-year term that ends in early 2018.

Even if she's impeached, the conservative-leaning Constitutional Court can take up to 180 days to deliberate. That could buy her enough time to allow current public anger to subside.

Or the court could overturn the impeachment.

That's what happened in 2004 to the liberal president at the time, Roh Moo-hyun. He was impeached on allegations of incompetence and illegal electioneering. But the impeachment triggered a strong public backlash that helped his party win big in parliamentary elections; the Constitutional Court then ruled that his actions did not warrant removal from office.

Impeachment could also backfire for current liberals. Even though she's extremely unpopular, South Korean politics are still deeply divided. Many conservatives here could band together in elections next year if they see a partisan frenzy to get Park impeached in parliament.

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Follow Hyung-jin Kim on Twitter at twitter.com/hyungjin1972

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, file photo, South Korean protesters wearing masks of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, right, and her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of a political scandal, attend a rally calling for Park to step down in downtown Seoul. A scandal that has captivated a nation took a new twist this weekend when prosecutors directly linked South Korea's president to alleged misdeeds by a shadowy confidante seen as pulling government strings. With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets each weekend in anger, President Park Geun-hye is digging in her heels, refusing to meet with prosecutors. The looming question now is: Will legislators take the politically risky path of impeaching her? (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - In this March 12, 2004 file photo, South Korean National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong, center, is surrounded by National Assembly officials after announcing impeachment of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun at the National Assembly in Seoul. In 2004, former liberal President Roh was impeached by the Assembly on allegations of incompetence and illegal electioneering. But the impeachment triggered strong public backlash that helped his party win big in parliamentary elections; the Constitutional Court then ruled that his infractions did not warrant removal from office. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - In this March 13, 2004 file photo, protesters holding candle lights pack a street during a rally against the impeachment of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun by opposition party lawmakers in downtown Seoul. In 2004, former liberal President Roh was impeached by the Assembly on allegations of incompetence and illegal electioneering. But the impeachment triggered strong public backlash that helped his party win big in parliamentary elections; the Constitutional Court then ruled that his infractions did not warrant removal from office. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
GOP's control of Washington carries risks

WASHINGTON (AP)  For Republicans, there will be no one left to blame.

As they prepare to take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress next year, Republicans are celebrating the opportunity to enact a new agenda for the country, including lowering taxes, securing the border and repealing President Barack Obama's health care law.

But with that opportunity comes massive political risk: If President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans don't deliver, they will face a serious reckoning with voters. That could begin with the 2018 midterm elections, when every House member and one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., stands with fellow Senate Republican leadership at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, following a closed-door Republican policy luncheon. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

"The American public has clearly said that they want to go a different direction," said Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. "And if we are not effective in moving in that different direction, they will take the opportunity away from us, and they will return it to the Democrats."

Said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, speaking Friday at the Federalist Society: "It's time to put up or shut up. There are no excuses."

That sobering reality has been sinking in for GOP members of the House and Senate as they begin the early stages of planning an agenda for next year.

Republicans point out that although they will control a majority in the Senate with 52 votes, that's well short of the 60-vote supermajority needed to advance most major initiatives, including Supreme Court nominees. So although Republicans would be able to use a legislative maneuver to send a health care repeal to Trump's desk with just a simple majority, other major objectives, including immigration and border enforcement, would require some degree of cooperation from minority Democrats.

That could give Senate Democrats' new leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, veto power over major chunks of Trump's agenda. And it's led to a call from some House Republicans for their Senate colleagues to try to push through a rules change to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster barrier.

"They're either going to have to modify that rule, or they're going to have to face the wrath of the voters," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., who is retiring at the end of this year.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is an institutionalist who has shown no enthusiasm for such a move. But Republicans fret that a shortage of votes in the Senate is not likely to be a winning political excuse to most voters who picked an outsider in Trump to bring wholesale change to Washington, and now want to see that happen.

"We can talk about not having 60 in the Senate, but I think that our time to show that we can govern is now," said GOP Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida.

The Republican role on health care seems particularly risky to some in the party. Democrats have suffered severe political consequences for pushing through the Affordable Care Act in 2010. They lost control of the House in that year's midterm elections, and Republicans have used the health care issue ever since to rally their base and attack Democrats.

But if Republicans repeal it, as they are determined to do, they will be the ones responsible for whatever comes next. And given the enormous complexity of the U.S. health care system, which accounts for fully one-sixth of the U.S. economy, the potential for complications looks immense. Even after six years, Republicans have failed to unite around a single alternative to Obamacare, or a solution to ensure that the 20 million Americans who gained health coverage under the law don't suddenly lose it.

Schumer warned in an interview Friday that repealing the health care law would turn into "a political nightmare" for Republicans.

And even while cheering the opportunity to undo the health law, House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged in a news conference this past week that, "It's too early to know the answer to, 'How fast can Obamacare relief occur?' "

Many Republicans believe Democrats overreached in the early years of the Obama administration, when they controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress. Voters took Democrats' majorities away, and now Republicans are mindful of making the same mistake themselves.

Rather than a rightward lurch, "It's paramount right now in American politics to build a plurality coalition, because we are still a country of great diversity," argued Paul Schumaker, who was North Carolina GOP Sen. Richard Burr's chief re-election consultant this year.

And even as Republicans prepare to enact a governing agenda, it's unclear in some cases what that agenda will be, because some of Trump's promises clash with goals set out over the years by Ryan and other congressional Republicans. For example, Trump has promised to protect Medicare; Ryan has proposed turning it into a voucher-like program for future retirees. Trump is proposing a $1 trillion infrastructure bill; most conservatives balk at major new government spending.

As for Democrats, even from their defensive crouch they're eyeing the political upside that could result from full Republican control of the nation's capital.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is facing a rare leadership challenge from Democratic colleagues distraught about the election results, tried to reassure her caucus this past week that midterm elections in an opposition president's first term offer a singular chance for political gain.

"Trump is president, we have a bigger opportunity to take the Congress, just following history, in our generation of being involved in politics," said the California Democrat.

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Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

Outgoing Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., left, speaks with Sen.-elect Todd Young, R-Ind., right, as they leave a Senate Republican conference leadership election meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. leave a Senate Republican conference leadership election meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, after Senate Republicans re-elected Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. to be majority leader for the upcoming 115th Congress. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., followed by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., walk to their caucus organizing meeting to elect their leadership for the 115th Congress, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Crucial Cyprus peace talks at Swiss resort 'inconclusive'

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Crucial talks being held at a Swiss resort aiming to reunify ethnically divided Cyprus have hit an impasse, officials said Monday, in a serious setback that casts doubt over whether 18 months of negotiations can successfully resolve the decades-old dispute.

Cyprus' government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said United Nations-backed talks on how much territory Greek and Turkish Cypriots will administratively control under an envisioned federation have proven "inconclusive."

"This isn't good for anyone," Christodoulides told reporters after the talks broke off shortly after midnight Monday. We are not at all happy with the outcome."

People stand on the Venetian wall behind a fence at the Turkish Cypriot controlled area and looks to the Greek Cypriot part in the divided capital Nicosia, on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus are locked in crucial talks for a second time in two weeks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland that will determine whether a peace deal is within reach. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A U.N. statement said Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, and breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have failed to narrow differences on the territorial aspect of a deal over two days of negotiations at Mont Pelerin, Switzerland.

"Despite their best efforts, they have not been able to achieve the necessary further convergences on criteria for territorial adjustment that would have paved the way for the last phase of talks," the statement said.

A deal on territory would have paved the way for a final summit bringing together Greece, Turkey and Cyprus' former colonial ruler Britain to agree on how implement security arrangements in a reunified island.

A 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a coup aiming at union with Greece divided Cyprus into an internationally recognized, Greek-speaking south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and maintains more than 35,000 troops in the north.

The U.N. statement said Anastasiades and Akinci have decided to return to Cyprus "and reflect on the way forward."

U.N. envoy Espen Barth Eide will brief U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the result.

Christodoulides said the main area of disagreement was on the amount of territory that would make up the federal zones each side would run. Greek Cypriots sought the return of enough territory that would enable as many as 100,000 displaced people to return to the homes and property they lost during the war. That would serve to build support for an accord that would be put to a vote and help reduce the costs involved with compensating those unable to return.

Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu accused the Greek Cypriot side of being inflexible in negotiations and of keeping a "maximalist" approach, even as Turkish Cypriots agreed to cede about 7 percent of the territory now under their control.

Christodoulides dismissed Burcu's accusation as "not corresponding with reality."

"Now is not the time to apportion blame," he said.

Neither Christodoulides nor Burcu would say what the next step was, saying they would reevaluate where things stand on their return to Cyprus.

Numerous rounds of talks over four decades have ended in failure. Officials repeatedly said this latest round has marked significant progress especially on how power will be shared between the majority Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

A reunified Cyprus would usher in a significant degree of stability in a tumultuous region and unlock cooperation on newly-found undersea gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean among rival neighbors.

But important obstacles remain, including Turkish military intervention rights that Turkish Cypriots insist are vital to their security and that Greek Cypriots reject as a threat.

Monday's impasse dashed the hopes of hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots who gathered inside the U.N. controlled buffer zone dividing the capital, Nicosia, to demonstrate for peace.

Waving peace flags and dancing to Cypriot folk music, the event aimed underscore the determination of Cypriots from both sides for reunification.

"Fear is holding us back," said Greek Cypriot Rania Georgiou. "Our future must be a shared one."

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, left, speaks with Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, right, next to Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, 2nd right, and Elizabeth Spehar, Deputy to the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, 2nd left, during the Cyprus Talks, in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Turkish Cypriots women shout slogans during a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A shadow of a boy is seen on a banner showing the Cyprus island with two hands and a pigeon during a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greek and Turkish Cypriots shout slogans to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort.(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greek and Turkish Cypriots shout slogans during a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greek and Turkish Cypriots clap and sing during a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greek and Turkish Cypriots release pigeons and balloons to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A Turkish Cypriot woman with a peace sign on her t-shirt takes part in a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Turkish Cypriots women shout slogans during a peace rally to support the peace talks inside the UN buffer zone "Green Line", in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots are demonstrating for peace as the ethnically divided island's rival leaders continue complex reunification talks at a Swiss resort. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Berlusconi wants to retain powers after selling AC Milan

MILAN (AP)  Silvio Berlusconi would stay on as honorary president at AC Milan after selling the club to Chinese investors if he can retain powers impacting the squad.

"I would have to have some abilities to intervene, like yes or no on buying or selling players or on playing formations," Berlusconi told reporters early Monday following Milan's 2-2 draw with Inter in the city derby, confirming that the Chinese group offered him the position.

"If I'm assured of that I'll try to accept even the honorary presidency," he added.

AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saves during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

The closing for the club sale is slated for Dec. 13.

The deal with the Chinese group, which includes the participation of a Chinese state investment fund, values Milan at 740 million euros (about $800 million).

Whether he becomes honorary president or not, it was likely Berlusconi's final derby as Milan's owner and the Rossoneri fans paid tribute in their pre-match choreography, unveiling a giant banner with a picture of him and all the trophies won during his tenure.

Berlusconi owns 99.93 percent of the club, which he purchased 30 years ago. The three-time former premier and billionaire businessman has been negotiating for more than a year to sell the seven-time European champions.

Fininvest, Berlusconi's holding company, is still waiting for the Chinese group to pay the final chunk of 440 million euros ($465 million). The Chinese group  of which all the members have not been named yet  has already provided a 100 million euro ($105 million) deposit.

"We have very precise assurances from the banks that the deal will be closed the 13th," Berlusconi said. "So we'll wait until the 13th and see what happens. If it's not concluded then we'll see what to do."

The Milan sale comes after Suning, the Chinese retail giant, took control of 70 percent of Inter in June.

Berlusconi also wants longtime club vice president Adriano Galliani to stay on at Milan, even though Galliani has indicated he would be interested in running for Serie A president.

"I really hope there's space for him," Berlusconi said. "I'm going to make that one of the conditions for me accepting the honorary presidency."

AC Milan's Suso, left, celebrates with his teammate Carlos Bacca after he scored during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

FILE - In this file photo taken on July 3, 2015, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi waves to supporters flanked by his daughter Barbara, outside the Milanese soccer club's headquarters, in Milan, Italy. Next Sunday's it will likely be Silvio Berlusconi's final derby as AC Milan owner. And the first for Inter's new Chinese proprietors. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., called for an early start on reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill as the new Congress convenes.

Heitkamp told a crowd of around 300 at the annual meeting of the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts in Bismarck a new farm bill will be a top priority for her heading into next year in order to ensure the interests of North Dakota producers are provided for.

Its going to be a challenge, Heitkamp said. Im hoping that we can move that Farm Bill fairly quickly.

She hopes the discussions on a new 2018 bill wont get bogged down as they did on the 2014 bill, which came after the previous one had expired in 2012.

Heitkamp expects the Senate to be able to work reasonably well together but debate over conservation, food stamps and other items to potentially slow efforts down in the House.

The 2014 legislation provided funding for North Dakota farmers to utilize conservation practices on their land. Funding was also included for research, which she considers one of her main concerns in the 2018 bill.

We will not be doing our job, Heitkamp said, if adequate research dollars arent maintained, especially in states experiencing a budget crunch like North Dakota.

Heitkamp said working to provide good access to trade markets for American products is also critical in successful farm legislation.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., will address the group Tuesday, highlighting his focus on conservation measures like CRP, SAFE and EQIP.
Texas, Missouri, Florida officers shot in attacks; 1 killed

A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a veteran Texas police detective ended Monday with an arrest in the killing that was one of several weekend attacks against law enforcement in multiple states, authorities said.

The San Antonio detective and officers shot in Missouri and Florida were conducting routine tasks Sunday when they became the targets of violence. The detective was writing a traffic ticket when he was shot to death in his squad car Sunday morning outside police headquarters.

"I think the uniform was the target and the first person that happened along was the first person that (the suspect) targeted," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Monday.

A woman leaves ties balloons at a make-shift memorial for slain San Antonio police officer Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, in San Antonio. Marconi was fatally shot during a traffic stop near police headquarters Sunday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The 31-year-old man charged in the ambush shooting of Detective Benjamin Marconi said later Monday that he was angry with the court system for not letting him see his son and took it out on the officer.

"I've been through several custody battles, and I was upset at the situation I was in, and I lashed out at someone who didn't deserve it," Otis Tyrone McKane told reporters as he was being led by police to the Bexar County Jail. He said he wished to apologize to the family of the slain officer.

In Missouri, a St. Louis police sergeant was shot twice in the face Sunday evening while he sat in traffic in a marked police vehicle. He was released from a hospital Monday.

Law enforcement officials say there's been an alarming spike in ambush-style attacks. Sixty officers, including the San Antonio detective, were shot to death on the job this year, compared to 41 in all of 2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Of the 60 killed, 20 were purposely targeted by their assailant compared to eight last year, the group said.

Police officers also were shot and injured during traffic stops in Sanibel, Florida, and Gladstone, Missouri, on Sunday night, but authorities have not suggested these were targeted attacks. All the shootings come less than five months after a black military veteran killed five white officers at a protest in Dallas  the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Race was a factor in the Dallas attack, but police have not said if race played a part in any of the attacks on Sunday. In San Antonio, police say the suspect is black and the officer was white. In St. Louis, the suspect was black, but police have not released the officer's race. Most killings of police officers are carried out by white men, and most people shot and killed by police are white, said Craig W. Floyd, president of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Chief McManus said McKane was arrested on a capital murder warrant without incident after the car he was riding in was stopped Monday afternoon on an interstate.

McManus said earlier that he doesn't believe the suspect has any relationship to the motorist who was pulled over initially.

Surveillance video shows the suspect at San Antonio police headquarters about four hours before the 50-year-old Marconi, A 20-year veteran of the force, was shot. The suspect asked a desk clerk a question but left before receiving an answer, said McManus, who declined to say what the man asked.

"I don't know why he was in headquarters. We have some ideas," he said.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson declined to name the 46-year-old officer who was shot and wounded there. He said the officer is a married father of three and has been with the department for about 20 years.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Dotson said.

The suspect, 19-year-old George P. Bush III, was wanted for questioning in recent violent crimes that included several robberies, a carjacking and perhaps a killing, Dotson said without elaborating.

"We believe he knew he was good for those crimes and that we were looking for him," Dotson said. "That's why he aggressively attacked a police officer."

Police said Bush was later killed in a shootout with officers.

At least two other police officers were wounded in shootings in other cities Sunday, but it wasn't clear whether they were targeted attacks.

An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot, and the suspect was shot and killed. The officer, whose name has not been released, is expected to recover.

Sanibel, Florida, officer Jarred Ciccone was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop and released after being treated for his injuries. Authorities said they arrested Jon Webster Hay, 49, about 90 minutes after the shooting. They said he was booked into jail on an attempted murder charge Monday once he was released from a hospital, where he was treated after being wounded during a standoff and shootout with officers.

On July 7, Micah Johnson shot and killed five law enforcement officers who had been working to keep the peace at a protest in downtown Dallas over the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days after that attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

"It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country," McManus said.

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This story has been corrected to show that the suspect was arrested in a car that he was riding in, not a car that he was driving, and to show that the suspect's last name is 'McKane' and not 'McCain.'

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Salter reported from St. Louis and Warren from Dallas. Jamie Stengle and Terry Wallace in Dallas and Tammy Webber in Chicago also contributed.

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Video online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd2Ussa81nU

This photo provided by the San Antonio Police Department shows Otis Tyrone McKane. A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a veteran Texas police detective ended Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, with an arrest in the killing, authorities said. San Antonio Detective Benjamin Marconi, who was killed Sunday while writing a ticket, was a 20-year veteran of the force. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Monday evening that a 31-year-old man, Otis Tyrone McKane, was arrested on a capital murder warrant Monday. (San Antonio Police Department via AP)

San Antonio Police Department personnel investigate the scene after Det. Benjamin Marconi was fatally shot Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in San Antonio. Marconi was writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist when he was shot to death in his squad car Sunday outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, authorities said. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

A woman leaves balloons at a make-shift memorial for slain San Antonio police officer Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, in San Antonio. Marconi was fatally shot during a traffic stop near police headquarters Sunday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Police investigate a scene after a St. Louis police officer was shot in what the police chief called an "ambush" on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in St. Louis. Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

An American flag and a Texas state flag fly at half-staff at San Antonio Police Department headquarters near a sign and flowers left by Lucy Aldaba after Det. Benjamin Marconi was fatally shot Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in San Antonio. Marconi was writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist when he was shot to death in his squad car Sunday outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, authorities said. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Police investigate a scene after a St. Louis police officer was shot in what the police chief called an "ambush" on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in St. Louis. Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Police investigate a scene after a St. Louis police officer was shot in what the police chief called an "ambush" on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in St. Louis. Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search was underway. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

This undated image released by the San Antonio Police Department shows 20-year police veteran, Det. Benjamin Marconi, 50, who was shot and killed Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, while on duty in San Antonio, Texas. Marconi was shot to death in his squad car while writing out a traffic ticket. (San Antonio Police Department via AP)
'Hamilton' actor: 'There's nothing to apologize for'

NEW YORK (AP)  If Donald Trump is waiting for an apology from the cast of "Hamilton," he will have to continue to wait.

Actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr in the celebrated musical, told "CBS This Morning" on Monday that "there's nothing to apologize for." Dixon gave Vice President-elect Mike Pence an onstage earful about equality at the end of Friday's performance.

Trump has taken to Twitter several times to demand an apology. Pence on Sunday said he wasn't offended by the message.

In this image made from a video provided by Hamilton LLC, actor Brandon Victor Dixon who plays Aaron Burr, the nations third vice president, in "Hamilton" speaks from the stage after the curtain call in New York, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is the latest celebrity to attend the Broadway hit "Hamilton," but the first to get a sharp message from a cast member from the stage. (Hamilton LLC via AP)

Dixon said "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda had a hand in crafting Dixon's remarks, although Dixon said he "made some adjustments."

Dixon said that both Trump and Pence are welcome to come backstage and meet with the cast at any time, adding, "Art is meant to bring people together."

From the stage on Friday night, he sparked controversy by saying he and the cast were "alarmed and anxious" that the Trump administration "will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights."

The musical is by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the story, music and lyrics. It stresses the orphan, immigrant roots of first U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and has been cheered for reclaiming the nation's founding story with a multicultural cast.

Dixon's unprecedented address of the vice president-elect has divided many, with critics saying theater should be a safe place and the "Hamilton" cast comments seemed aggressive. But supporters contend Dixon was respectful and note that artists speaking out is a timeless ritual.

The debate has even divided members of Bruce Springsteen's The E Street Band, with Steven Van Zandt calling the Pence address "the most respectful, benign form of bullying ever."

Van Zandt said on Twitter on Saturday that the statement was "beautiful," but "completely inappropriate at that time." He added that singling out an audience member to "embarrass him from the stage" is "a terrible precedent to set." But Nils Lofgren, his bandmate, supported the protest, arguing: "Everywhere and anytime you can raise your voice is appropriate, especially right now."

Springsteen himself attended the Broadway show with his wife, Patti Scialfa, on Sunday and went backstage to have their picture taken with Mandy Gonzalez, an actress in the show. Springsteen and Scialfa posed for a photo in front of a poster of the show. She later called it "joyous and necessary."
Germany: man arrested over Syrian's bomb plot released

BERLIN (AP)  German prosecutors say a man who was arrested last month as a suspected accomplice in a Syrian compatriot's alleged bomb plot has been released.

The 33-year-old, identified only as Khalil A., had been accused of helping main suspect Jaber Albakr plan what authorities believe was an intended attack using homemade explosives on one of Berlin's airports. Police found explosives hidden at Khalil A.'s apartment in Chemnitz.

However, federal prosecutors said Monday that the investigation hadn't produced evidence to substantiate the case against Khalil A. He was released on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia invites Lebanese president to visit the kingdom

BEIRUT (AP)  Saudi Arabia on Monday invited the newly elected Lebanese president to visit the oil-rich kingdom.

Saudi Prince Khaled al-Faisal told reporters after meeting President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace near Beirut that the president has accepted the invitation and agreed to visit after a new Cabinet is formed in Lebanon.

Aoun was elected last month after a 29-month vacuum in the country's top post. Lebanon's political factions are deeply divided, with some, like Aoun's Christian party and the Hezbollah militant group, aligning with Iran and their opponents siding with Saudi Arabia.

In this photo released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, meets with Saudi Arabia's Prince Khaled al-Faisal, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. al-Faisal said, he handed an invitation to the newly elected Lebanese president to visit the oil-rich kingdom. (Dalati Nohra via AP)

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, is working on forming a new Cabinet
Israel to begin demolishing Bedouin Arab village

JERUSALEM (AP)  An Israeli government body says Israel is to carry out the first step in the planned demolition of a sprawling Bedouin Arab village in the southern desert.

The Israel Lands Administration says that initially, about 30 Bedouin residents will be displaced on Tuesday.

The case involves a long-running dispute between Israel and the formerly nomadic Bedouin of the Umm Al-Hiran village. Israel moved part of a Bedouin clan to the state-owned land 60 years ago, but now wishes to relocate resident to a government-designated Bedouin township.

An adjacent part of the village that's slated for future demolition is zoned for a new development catering to religious Jewish families with ties to the West Bank settlement movement.
Romania: 3 charged with overcharging gov't for IT licenses

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Two former managers of Microsoft Romania and the former manager of Fujitsu Siemens Computers in Romania were charged Monday on suspicion of abusing their positions for illicit gain which cost the state $67 million.

Romania's anti-corruption prosecutors charged former Microsoft general managers Silviu Hotaran and Ovidiu Artopolescu and Claudiu Florica, former general manager of Fujitsu. They were placed under judicial control, meaning they have to report to police and are not allowed to leave Romania.

Hotaran denied wrongdoing. Artopolescu and Florica declined comment.

The case involving IT licenses sold to the government which were then used in Romanian schools over a period of four years is one of the biggest and most complex cases of alleged corruption in recent years.

In October, a former minister, a former mayor and two businessmen were handed prison sentences in the same case on charges of money-laundering, influence-peddling and bribery. The ruling said the four maneuvered to pocket a 47 percent discount offered by Microsoft. Some 15.7 million euros ($16.7 million) were paid to their companies. By 2009, when the contract expired, the state had bought more than 150,000 licenses.

Until Monday's case, the investigation had not targeted company officials who allegedly signed contracts giving the government a discount, but then charged a much higher rate.
Egypt confiscates assets of 46 Muslim Brotherhood members

CAIRO (AP)  An Egyptian government committee has ordered the confiscation of assets of 46 members and supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The move is part of the crackdown on the Brotherhood, once Egypt's largest opposition group, since the ouster President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president whose rule proved divisive.

The government committee, which is affiliated with the Justice Ministry, says the confiscated assets include five companies involved in trade, construction, and pharmaceuticals.

It says Mohammed Abdel-Gawad, a former head of the pharmacists' union under the Brotherhood's rule of Egypt, is among those affected by Monday's order.
The lawyer for a man charged with disrupting a Chicago performance of the musical Hamilton blamed the incident on a 'hostile' and 'partisan' audience.

Attorney Jonathan Feldman says 56-year-old John Palmer was not intoxicated Saturday night as witnesses described him.

Witnesses also said Palmer yelled obscenities at the people around him and at the actors on stage after they sang the line, 'Immigrants - we get the job done.'

Scroll down for video

Witnesses said that John Palmer, who was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, was shouting 'Our side won!' and 'F*** anyone who didn't vote for Trump - you don't belong here!'

The Saturday evening performance of Hamilton was briefly interrupted as a man was wrestled out of the audience by security after he allegedly began hurling insults at audience members

Palmer's lawyer, Jonathan Feldman, blamed the Hamilton cast for the man's bizarre behavior - but it's unclear if he meant the Chicago cast or the New York cast, who read a statement to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence about 'diverse America'

Chicago police say Palmer of Chicago is charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass in the incident.

Feldman said Monday that Palmer was incited by an audience that was clearly against President-elect Donald Trump, whom Palmer supports.

He said the 'biased audience' seemed whipped up by comments made by the cast of the Broadway production last week to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

The New York Hamilton cast, led by Brandon Victor Dixon (above) confronted audience member Mike Pence last week

Palmer was charged with criminal trespassing after he reportedly refused to leave the production, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Witnesses on Twitter described Palmer as ranting and raving in the audience.

Video taken by one audience member showed him swearing as he was held up against a wall by security, according to the outlet.

The video-taker, Jeff Grider, said that Palmer was yelling 'Our side won!' and 'F*** anyone who didn't vote for Trump - you don't belong here!'

Hamilton has been a magnet for controversy lately, after cast members in New York confronted Vice President-Elect Mike Pence about his record on gay and women's rights

In the video, in which security holds Grider up against a wall outside the theater, he is heard yelling, 'You pu*** piece of s**t' over and over.

Trump was widely criticized for being caught on hot mic saying 'grab them by the p****' of women.

In his account on Facebook, Grider said that Palmer 'proceeded to make derogatory statements to several women in the audience, and uttered many ethnic and homophobic slurs.'

He said he had to comfort a sobbing woman in the audience who asked, 'It's not going to be okay, is it? This is what it's going to be like for the next four years, isn't it?'

Palmer was at the show with seven members of his family, including his children, according to his lawyer. His lawyer blamed the 'cast and production of Hamilton itself' for the man's behavior, saying it created a 'hostile, partisan, and biased' environment.

It is unclear if the lawyer meant the New York cast or the Chicago cast - and what the cast may have done to create a 'hostile' atmosphere.

Palmer is due in court January 9.

Last week, the cast of Hamilton in New York made waves when audience members booed Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, who had come to see the show.

Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, read a statement to the Indiana governor, asking him to 'uphold the American values' of a 'diverse America' who are 'alarmed and anxious' over the Trump/Pence administration.
Puerto Rico governor defies new federal control board

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Puerto Rico's governor on Monday challenged a federal control board created by Congress just months ago to oversee the finances of the U.S. territory and help pull it out of an economic crisis.

In what could be a test of the board's powers, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced he would not submit an amended fiscal plan  the board's first request of the island's leader. He said he believes new austerity measures would only worsen the crisis and insisted the board restructure nearly $70 billion in public debt that he has said is unpayable.

"It's not right, and it's not necessary," he said of austerity measures. "That would push us into an economic death spiral. It would mark a return to policies of depression."

FILE - This Dec. 1, 2015 file photo shows Puerto Rico Gov, Alejandro Javier Garcia Padilla testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington. Padilla is challenging a federal control board created to oversee the finances of the U.S. territory and help pull it out of an economic crisis, saying on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 new austerity measures would only worsen the crisis and insisting that the board restructure nearly $70 billion in public debt that he has said is unpayable. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Board members who met in Puerto Rico for the first time last week said the 10-year plan issued last month needs to be amended, in part because it is not realistic and assumes federal financial help when none is likely. They requested that Garcia submit an amended plan by Dec. 15 so they could approve a final version by Jan. 31.

It was not immediately clear what happens now. A board spokesman said he was checking on whether board members would comment on Garcia's announcement. A U.S. financial rescue package that created the board says the board itself can develop a fiscal plan and submit it to Puerto Rico's governor and legislature if the governor fails to do it himself.

Garcia steps down as governor Jan. 1, but he has promised to reject any austerity measures while still in power.

"While I'm governor of Puerto Rico, I will oppose any ... measures such as laying off public employees, reducing the pensions of our retirees and leaving the University of Puerto Rico unprotected," he said.

The board previously requested that some of Puerto Rico's most heavily indebted agencies submit their own fiscal plans, something that had never been required before. Government officials said at the board's meeting Friday that the agencies, including Puerto Rico's utility companies, would submit their plans.

During that meeting, board member Jose Gonzalez said Puerto Rico's government needs to set priorities.

"Not everything is an essential service," he said. "It's an incredibly delicate balance between fiscal adjustment and economic growth ... We'll try to get the balance right."

The board had requested the opinion of U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on the territory's fiscal plan. He said in a letter before Friday's meeting that the plan should promote economic growth and allow Puerto Rico to achieve a sustainable debt level, among other things. He said that one part of the plan lacked detail and clarity and that a required formal debt sustainability analysis was needed, adding that the government should not rely solely on austerity measures.

"As we have emphasized from the beginning of Puerto Rico's crisis, austerity alone is a self-defeating remedy," Lew wrote.

With Puerto Rico in a decade-long economic slump, Garcia's administration has taken measures such as increasing utility rates and imposing new taxes to help generate more government revenue. Despite those measures, the island's government has already defaulted on nearly $1.4 billion in bond payments since August 2015. It also owes $1.5 billion to government suppliers as it continues to delay vendor payments amid the economic crisis, which has prompted more than 250,000 people to move from the island to the U.S. mainland in recent years.
The Latest: Slager witness testifies about child support

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  The latest in the trial of a former South Carolina police officer charged with murder in the shooting of an unarmed black motorist (all times local):

4:30 p.m.

An attorney who practices mainly in family court has told the jury in the Michael Slager murder trial how the child support system works in South Carolina.

Defense attorney Andy Savage hands documents to State Law Enforcement Division trace evidence examiner Megan Fletcher as she testifies in the murder trial of former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager at the Charleston County court in Charleston, S.C., Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop. (Grace Beahm/Post and Courier via AP, Pool)

That's key in the case of Slager, the white former North Charleston patrolman who is charged in the April 2015 slaying of Walter Scott, an unarmed black motorist shot while fleeing a traffic stop.

Scott's family has said he may have fled because he worried about going back to jail because there was an outstanding bench warrant for not paying support.

Attorney Amanda Haselden, testifying for the defense, said someone arrested on a bench warrant goes to jail until they can appear before a family court judge. But she said courts generally don't want to keep someone locked up if they have a job because getting the money for the children is their top concern.

Scott was employed at the time of the shooting.

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2:25 p.m.

The defense is laying out a case that Michael Slager, the white former South Carolina patrolman charged in the death of an unarmed black motorist, was stunned by his own Taser in a struggle before the shooting.

Slager faces 30 years to life if convicted of murder in shooting death of Walter Scott in April of 2015. The 50-year-old motorist was killed as he fled a traffic stop in North Charleston, the shooting captured on a bystander's dramatic cellphone video.

Mark Kroll, an expert on the effects of electrical shocks, testified Monday that melted fibers on Slager's uniform could only have been caused because he was stunned at close range with a Taser.

A South Carolina Law Enforcement analyst testified earlier that she wasn't aware of any other heat source that could cause the damage but couldn't say definitively that it was the result of a stun gun.

The defense contends Slager and Scott struggled over the stun gun on the ground before Scott was shot as he ran away.

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1:30 p.m.

Gov. Nikki Haley is asking South Carolinians to pray for healing amid two racially charged murder trials in Charleston and the recovery from Hurricane Matthew.

Haley on Monday called on all places of worship to hold a prayer vigil at noon Tuesday. She also wants church bells to be rung statewide.

The governor says she will be at "Mother Emanuel" AME Church in Charleston, where nine black worshippers were gunned down last year. A judge is weighing whether the white man accused of killing them is competent to stand trial.

The murder trial of former North Charleston officer Michael Slager is continuing. He's accused of fatally shooting a black motorist in the back as he fled.

Haley says "we don't know what's going to come out of these murder trials." She says it's important "we all come together" and reflect.

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11:15 a.m.

A witness has testified that gunpowder residue was found on the hands of Walter Scott after he was shot while fleeing a traffic stop in South Carolina.

Former North Charleston patrolman Michael Slager is charged with murder in the shooting death of Scott, a 50-year-old black motorist whose shooting in the back was captured on cellphone video that stunned the nation.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division analyst Megan Fletcher, who was called by the defense, testified that gunpowder residue was found on the palm and back of Scott's right hand and the back of his left hand.

She said gunpowder residue can be transferred by holding a weapon, being shot a weapon or touching a weapon recently fired.

The defense contends that before the shooting the two men wrestled on the ground and Scott got control of the officer's stun gun.

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9:45 a.m.

The trial of former police officer Michael Slager in the death of a black motorist is now expected to last into December.

Slager is standing trial for murder in South Carolina in the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. Slager was working for the North Charleston police department in April 2015 when he pulled Scott over during a traffic stop and then shot him.

A bystander caught the shooting on video, which sparked national outrage after it was shared on the internet.

Defense attorney Andy Savage told Judge Clifton Newman on Monday that he will need until Wednesday or Thursday of next week to present its case. Defense witnesses are coming to Charleston to testify from as far away as Washington state, New York City and Canada.

The case entered a fourth week on Monday. Before resting last week, prosecutors called 32 witnesses over nine days.

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3:30 a.m.

The defense in the Michael Slager murder trial is focusing on the seconds before the white former South Carolina police officer shot and killed an unarmed black motorist.

Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop. The shooting was captured on cellphone video that stunned the nation.

The defense, which contends the two men wrestled and Scott got control of the officer's stun gun just before the shooting, continues its case Monday.

Slager's trial is entering its fourth week in Charleston.

Last week, a video analyst testified that the shaky and blurry cellphone video shows the two men wrestled on the ground and Slager was entangled in Taser wires before the shots were fired.

Former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager is seen at his trial at the Charleston County court in Charleston, S.C., Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop.(Grace Beahm/Post and Courier via AP, Pool)

Judge Clifton Newman speaks during the trial of North Charleston police officer Michael Slager at the Charleston County court in Charleston, S.C., Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop.(Grace Beahm/Post and Courier via AP, Pool)
Bismarck-Mandan Republican lawmakers are figuring Gov.-elect Doug Burgum will see a steep learning curve that likely will prevent him from making significant changes in his administration until after the 2017 Legislature has concluded.

Lawmakers say theyre eager to work with him and expect a spate of new ideas when he gets his hands on Gov. Jack Dalrymples executive budget proposal next month and makes adjustments.

Itd be a smart move on his part, Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, said of not making any major moves immediately. Were going to treat him like any other governor. I think itll be a bit of a wake-up call for him.

During the interim, Dockter chaired the Political Subdivision Taxation Committee, which looked at reforming and eliminating some economic development incentives as well as studying a potential state takeover of county social services.

Whether the tight budget allows for those initiatives to progress under Burgums administration will be something hell be watching closely.

Burgum, a Fargo businessman and former software executive, described himself during the campaign as a political outsider looking to change up the political landscape in North Dakota. Hes promised to chart a new path during his administration, creating a more efficient and responsive state government.

Gov.-elect Doug Burgum and his transition team have been meeting with the department heads of every agency to identify how we can move our state forward in the 21st century, Jodi Uecker, Burgums transition team chair, said in a statement. Were going to have a top-notch team that is committed to Doug and Brents priorities of balancing the budget without raising taxes and reinventing state government so that we can treat the taxpayers of North Dakota like the customers that they are.

Burgum will take office with one of the most Republican-dominated legislative majorities the state has seen in decades as well as every statewide elected office in the Capitol tower remaining in GOP hands.

Hell have to navigate a tight fiscal situation after the state was forced to make two rounds of generally funded agency budget cuts this year and drain rainy day funds to address a nearly $1.4 billion budget shortfall this year.

Burgum will also inherit the ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protest movement that has drawn international attention and resulted in hundreds of arrests and millions in law enforcement expenses since August. Hes declined prior to taking office to address how hell handle the situation.

Others lawmakers are awaiting specifics from Burgum.

I would expect right out of the chute in January there would be some requests in his state of the state that will set the course, Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, said. I would expect to see more details. If he should choose not to, it would really be status quo.

Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said hes in a wait-and-see mode, as are others, to see what specifics come from Burgum.

Some people will be very open, others will be entrenched, Nathe said.

Nathe said his top priority in recent sessions has been education. During the upcoming session he said the budget situation will drive funding levels and per-pupil dollars for K-12 education under the formula passed in 2013. He said every new governor has a management style so itll be interesting to see how much he shakes things up.

Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, expects change to be gradual.

I dont see a lot of change until after his first session, Dever said.

Dever said Burgums focus on diversifying the economy and on the technology sector should lead to some interesting proposals.

Dever said he is hoping next session some movement can be made in the area of behavioral health and prison reform.

Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, said, in speaking with Burgum, he feels theyre on the same page on taxes.

I dont see any major changes in the tax legislation that Ive been working toward in the last few years, Cook said.

Cook, who was first elected in 1996, downplayed any potential issues between Burgum and the GOP majority. He said all governors bring something new to the table, adding that Burgums lack of previous government experience will require a steep learning curve.

I expect no more than what would be normal battles, Cook said.
Chinese president talks trade on state visit to Peru

LIMA, Peru (AP)  Chinese President Xi Jinping is beginning a state visit to Peru on by laying a floral wreath at a monument to the South American nation's independence heroes.

The official visit starting Monday comes on the heels of Xi's participation the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, and it too will be dominated by trade issues.

China in recent years has surpassed the U.S. as Peru's top trading partner, spurred by a free trade agreement between the two countries and soaring Chinese demand for Peru's abundant metal resources. Peru is home to China's biggest mining investment in Latin America.

China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Li Yuan arrive to the government palace in Lima, Peru, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Xi Jinping is starting his official visit after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski chose China as his first trip abroad after taking office in July.
German court acquits suspects in 'Sharia police' case

BERLIN (AP)  A German court has acquitted seven men who were charged with violations of rules on wearing uniforms over the appearance two years ago of a self-styled "Sharia police" in the city of Wuppertal.

A group of men wearing orange vests with the words "Sharia police" went into the streets of Wuppertal in September 2014, handing out leaflets declaring the area a "Sharia-controlled zone" where alcohol, music and pornography were banned. Their behavior prompted an outcry in German media.

News agency dpa reported that the Wuppertal state court ruled on Monday that the men couldn't be convicted under any law. It found that the vests couldn't be classified as a uniform and weren't intimidating.
Meningitis outbreak defendants seek access to evidence

BOSTON (AP)  Lawyers for two men charged with murder in the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people say prosecutors have "overreached" and are demanding they produce evidence to justify the charges before trial.

The Boston Herald (http://bit.ly/2gaR0bl ) reports that attorneys for Barry Cadden and Glenn Chin said in documents filed last week that their clients are being subjected to the federal government's "excessive ambition." Lawyers say there's no evidence they knew their actions could result in death.

Cadden was a co-founder of the now-closed New England Compounding Center. Chin was the Framingham, Massachusetts company's supervisory pharmacist. Prosecutors say the company distributed tainted medications.

The men are facing 25 counts each of second-degree murder. They're scheduled to go on trial together on Jan. 5.

Prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Pakistan says Indian fire kills 4 civilians in Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP)  Pakistan's military says Indian shelling has targeted several villages in Kashmir, killing four civilians and wounding 10.

The army statement on Monday said Pakistan fired back. There was no immediate comment from India.

Pakistan and India have been trading fire in recent weeks in the Himalayan region, which is divided between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and claimed by both in its entirety.

Pakistani villagers living at the Line of Control between Pakistan-Indian Kashmir, Chakoti, build concrete house in Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Pakistan's military says Indian shelling has targeted several villages in Kashmir, killing scores of civilians and wounding others. (AP Photo/Roshan Mughal)
Officers douse pipeline protesters in subfreezing weather

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP)  Authorities on Monday defended their decision to douse protesters with water during a skirmish in subfreezing weather near the Dakota Access oil pipeline, and organizers said at least 17 protesters were taken to the hospital  including some who were treated for hypothermia.

The clash occurred late Sunday and early Monday as protesters trying to push past a long-blocked bridge on a state highway were turned back by authorities using tear gas, rubber bullets and water hoses. One officer was injured when struck in the head with a rock. One protester was arrested.

Protesters and officers massed at the bridge again late Monday morning, but protesters dispersed a few hours later at the request of tribal elders after police warned the crowd that they'd identified firearms and that anyone with a weapon should leave.

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. At least one person arrested as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

The Standing Rock Sioux and others oppose the 1,200-mile, four-state pipeline being built to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois because they say it threatens drinking water on their nearby reservation and cultural sites. Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners has said no sites have been disturbed and that the $3.8 billion pipeline will be safe.

The pipeline is largely complete except for the section under a Missouri River reservoir in southern North Dakota, and ETP Chief Executive Kelcy Warren said Friday the company is unwilling to reroute the project.

What's known as the Backwater Bridge on state Highway 1806 has been shut down for weeks because authorities say it might be unsafe due to earlier fires set by protesters. Protesters say the closed bridge near their main camp blocks emergency services, and they accuse authorities of keeping it shut down to block their access to pipeline construction sites.

Authorities dispute that. Additional testing is needed to make sure the bridge is safe, and that can't be done until the area is deemed safe for inspectors, said state Transportation Department spokeswoman Jamie Olson.

At least 17 protesters were injured severely enough to be taken to hospitals during the overnight skirmish at the bridge, said Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network.

"Hypothermia, a number of head injuries from being shot with rubber bullets, one individual had a heart attack," he said.

Daniel Kanahele, 64, a native Hawaiian, said he was hit with tear gas, water spray and a rubber bullet in a leg, and "it took me off my feet." He was treated at the scene.

Although Goldtooth said a water cannon was used to douse the protesters, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said only fire hoses were used. Sheriff's spokesman Rob Keller said a tactical vehicle spraying tear gas has been mistaken by some people as a water cannon.

Kirchmeier defended the use of water hoses, saying protesters were using aggressive tactics themselves.

"We're just not going to let people or protesters in large groups come in and threaten officers. That's not happening," the sheriff said.

Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler said authorities won't rule out using water again if it's deemed necessary "to maintain control and order."

Margaret Huang, executive director of the human rights organization Amnesty International, sent a letter to Kirchmeier on Monday saying the water tactic "risks potential injury and hypothermia." Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued a statement calling the use of water an "act of brutality" and "inhumane." Greenpeace spokeswoman Mary Sweeters called it "nothing short of horrific."

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, calling the use of water "excessive and unnecessary" and urging the Justice Department to "prevent further escalation of violence."

Protesters also were active Monday in Bismarck, about 50 miles to the north. A group briefly blocked streets in the downtown area, and protesters later locked arms outside the police station and refused to leave. There was one arrest in the first incident and 16 arrests in the second.

Doors at the state Capitol, where protesters have previously demonstrated, were locked due to the protest activity in the city. Access to the building was granted only to workers with security key cards and members of the public with legitimate business, according to Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson. The patrol provides security at the Capitol.

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Associated Press writer Blake Nicholson reported from Bismarck. Follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/NicholsonBlake

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. The clash came as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. The clash came as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. The clash came as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. The clash came as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

In this image provided by Morton County Sheriffs Department, law enforcement and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cannon Ball, N.D. The clash came as protesters sought to push past a bridge on a state highway that had been blockaded since late October, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. (Morton County Sheriffs Department via AP)

A burned-out truck is seen Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, where protesters against the Dakota Access oil pipeline removed it from from a long-closed bridge on a state highway near Cannon Ball, N.D., close to their camp in southern North Dakota. Their efforts led to the latest skirmish between protesters and law officers late Sunday and early Monday. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)

Protesters against the Dakota Access oil pipeline congregate Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, on a long-closed bridge on a state highway near Cannon Ball., N.D. near their camp in southern North Dakota. The bridge was the site of the latest skirmish between protesters and law officers late Sunday in which officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and water hoses. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)

Protesters against the Dakota Access oil pipeline congregate Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, near Cannon Ball, N.D., on a long-closed bridge on a state highway near their camp in southern North Dakota. The bridge was the site of the latest skirmish between protesters and law officers, in which officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray, and authorities say protesters assaulted officers with rocks and burning logs. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)
A look at killings of law enforcement officers in the US

The weekend shootings of police officers in Texas and Missouri follow a string of surprise attacks  many of them deadly  that have targeted officers around the country.

In San Antonio, a detective was shot and killed while writing a traffic ticket in his squad car Sunday morning outside police headquarters, authorities said. In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday evening after he was shot twice while sitting in traffic in a marked police vehicle. In other cases:

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Nov. 2: Two Des Moines, Iowa area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars. Scott Michael Greene, an unemployed 46-year-old father, is charged with killing first-year Urbandale police officer Justin Martin, 24, and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio, 38, within minutes of each other.

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July 17: A Missouri man armed with two rifles and a pistol and wearing a ski mask ambushed and killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The gunman, Gavin Long, was killed by police. His mother said the Iraq war veteran suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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July 7: A gunman in Dallas opened fire on police officers working at a protest about recent killings by police of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The attacker, Micah Johnson, killed five officers and wounded nine others and two civilians before police killed him with a robot-delivered bomb when negotiations failed. Authorities say Johnson, who was black, told negotiators he wanted to kill as many white police officers as he could. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

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Dec 28, 2015: Officer Guarionex Candelario Rivera showed up unannounced at his police station in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and fatally shot three fellow officers. Candelario, a 19-year police veteran, killed Lt. Luz Soto Segarra, Cmdr. Frank Roman Rodriguez and policewoman Rosario Hernandez De Hoyos. Candelario was shot twice but survived.

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July 13, 2014: Jersey City, New Jersey Officer Melvin Santiago was shot in the head by a man who had grabbed a security officer's gun, waited for police to arrive and then opened fire outside a drug store. The shooter was killed by other officers. Investigators later said the suspect had alcohol and PCP in his system and cocaine in his possession.

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Dec 20, 2014: Two New York City police officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were ambushed and fatally shot while in their vehicle without warning by a man who approached the passenger window of their marked police car. The suspect, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, then fatally shot himself. Brinsley was black; the officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. The shooting came amid heightened tensions between law enforcement and minority communities.

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September 12, 2014: A survivalist ambushed two Pennsylvania state troopers outside of a police barracks late at night, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass. Suspect Eric Frein led authorities on a 48-day manhunt through the heavily wooded Pocono Mountains before U.S. marshals captured him at an abandoned airplane hangar. He has pleaded not guilty.

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June 8, 2014: A man and a woman ambushed two police officers eating lunch at a Las Vegas pizza restaurant, fatally shooting them before fleeing to a nearby Wal-Mart where they killed a third person and then themselves in an apparent suicide pact. Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo died.

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May 25, 2013: Bardstown, Kentucky Police Officer Jason Ellis was fatally shot in an ambush as he cleared debris from a parkway exit ramp. Investigators believe tree limbs were put on the exit ramp to force Ellis to stop.

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Aug. 28, 2010: Two police officers were ambushed in a tiny Alaskan village of Hoonah before a SWAT team and dozens of other law officers surrounded a house where the gunman took refuge. Officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka died after the shooting. Hoonah resident John Marvin Jr. was captured and charged in the deaths.

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May 20, 2010: Two West Memphis, Arkansas, police officers doing anti-drug work were shot to death by two men wielding AK-47s along a busy Arkansas interstate. Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans died at a nearby hospital. The suspects were later killed in a shootout that injured the local sheriff and a deputy at a crowded Wal-Mart parking lot.

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Yesenia Sesmas, 34 (pictured), of Dallas has been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping for allegedly killing an acquaintance and abducting her newborn baby

A Texas woman suspected of faking a pregnancy for months and kidnapping a newborn was a longtime acquaintance of the girl's mother, who was found shot to death at her Kansas home, authorities said Monday.

The missing baby was been found safe and sound in Dallas on Saturday, after her mother was found shot to death in Kansas last week.

Police say 34-year-old Yesenia Sesmas faked a pregnancy for months and then traveled to Wichita on Thursday to murder Laura Abarca-Nogueda, 27.

She then stole the woman's one-week old daughter and took her back to Texas to pass as her own.

Police tracked down Sesmas and arrested early Saturday morning at the Dallas home she shares with her boyfriend, son and niece. The baby was there too, unharmed.

She was booked in jail and is expected to be charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Authorities who are pursuing the charges are seeking to have her extradited back to Kansas.

Police say that Sesmas knew her victim, 27-year-old Laura Abarca-Nogueda (pictured with her baby girl), for years

Baby Sofia is now in the care of her family members, after being found safe at Sesmas' Dallas residence

The baby was reunited with family members in Kansas on Saturday.

Abarca-Nogueda, was found shot to death her Wichita home on Thursday, setting off a search for the missing baby, whose name has been spelled by police both as Sophia or Sofia.

The infant was six days old when she was reported missing.

Sesmas had known the baby's mother for years and had spent some time in Wichita before returning to Texas to live several months ago, Wichita police Lt. Todd Ojile said. However, he did not elaborate on their relationship. Sesmas was from Texas, but had lived in Wichita for a while.

Law enforcement received a tip about 4:30 am Saturday that Sofia (pictured) was in Dallas and served a search warrant, Ramsay said

Police say the three other people living in Sesmas' apartment had no clue about her plot

She traveled to Wichita to kidnap the baby, he added, after faking pregnancy for months.

The FBI joined in the investigation with 25 agents working on the case, Ojile said.

Late Friday night investigators identified a suspect in the case, leading them to a house in Dallas where the baby was found unharmed after a swat team executed a search warrant at 4:30am Saturday.

The baby was inside the home along with Sesmas. Also living there were Sesmas' boyfriend along with the suspect's son and niece.
Kanye West cancels remaining dates on Saint Pablo Tour

Kanye West has abruptly pulled the plug on his Saint Pablo Tour a few days after making statements onstage about how he "would have voted for Donald Trump" and after a stormy weekend in which he abruptly canceled a show after four songs.

A representative for the rapper said Monday the remaining 21 dates of West's current tour have been canceled. No reason was given. Live Nation said tickets will be "fully refunded at point of purchase."

The tour, now in California, was to make stops through Dec. 31 in Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C., among others.

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2016, file photo. Kanye West appears at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York. At a Sacramento concert Saturday, Nov. 19, West told the audience he heard Beyonce refused to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards unless she won Video of the Year over him, and also urged Jay Z to call him and not to send killers. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

The cancellation comes after a complex weekend for the musician, who ended a concert early in Sacramento, California, on Saturday, then canceled a performance Sunday in the Los Angeles area.

Saturday's truncated show became a hot topic on social platforms as amateur videos circulated of a 10-minute tirade by West about Beyonce, Jay Z, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the radio and MTV.

Over the weekend, West also flooded his Instagram account with nearly 100 fashion photos, many snaps of photos that were out of focus and poorly cropped.
Bellerin signs new deal with Arsenal

LONDON (AP)  Spain right back Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal as the English Premier League club looks to secure the services of its leading players.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is also keen to tie up new deals for star forwards Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, whose contracts expire in June 2018.

Bellerin's new deal was announced on Monday, with Arsenal not disclosing the length of contract. Sections of the British media reported the 21-year-old Bellerin has signed for six more years. The defender has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Manchester City

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 file photo, Arsenal's Hector Bellerin applauds the crowd after the Champions League group A soccer match group between Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Spain right back Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal as the Premier League club looks to secure the services of its leading players, it was reported on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is also keen to tie up new deals for star forwards Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, whose contracts expire in June 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Former UKIP leader Diane James quits pro-Brexit party

LONDON (AP)  A former leader of the U.K. Independence Party has announced she is leaving the pro-Brexit party.

Diane James said Monday she is leaving UKIP but will remain in the European Parliament as an independent.

She said her relationship with the party had become "increasingly difficult."

James was elected party leader in September after prominent Brexit supporter Nigel Farage stepped down, but she resigned the top post just 18 days later.

Farage has returned as interim leader. He has remained in the spotlight by forming a friendly relationship with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

The party is engaged in another leadership contest, with the winner expected to be announced next week.
FARGO  The Environmental Protection Agency has a short-term registration for a new dicamba formulation  Xtendimax with Vapor Grip Technology  a low-volatility formula that can be applied on genetically engineered dicamba-tolerant soybeans.

North Dakota State University Extension Service Weed Specialist Rich Zollinger says North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota are among 34 states where the formula can be used on dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Southern states will also use it on cotton.

Dicamba-resistant soybean was registered in 2016, Zollinger says, and many growers planted dicamba-resistant crops. But the herbicide that goes with it  a form of dicamba  wasn't approved until Nov. 9. Seed companies have developed lines with a better fit for the southern region of the U.S., and is designed to engage what Zollinger calls "rampant weed resistance" to glyphosate and glyphosate-dicamba across the country and North Dakota.

Dicamba has been used in wheat and corn for many years and is very effective weed control, Zollinger says. Now it can be used on soybeans to kill many broadleaf weeds in those fields.

Not fool-proof

"This kind of technology is completely different than anything we've had before," Zollinger says. "Glyphosate doesn't volatilize -- doesn't form vapors. Dicamba does. The companies  BASF and Monsanto have formulated the active ingredient in such a way that it will not volatilize as much as the other formulations."

The product is not foolproof and it still can move off-site, Zollinger says. The companies have come out with best management practices. These BMPs dictate lowering boom height, using nozzles that provide large droplets, using the product at low speed, and using several drift mitigating techniques to help prevent water movement. "Dicamba will kill a lot of weeds but it can harm many other plants, such as trees, vegetables, flowers and other broadleaf crops," he says.

Farmers in some southern states have become "desperate" to control herbicide-resistant crops, especially Palmer amaranth weed, which puts out hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant. Some farmers bought the new seeds, but without the chemical registration were "tempted to the point where they actually used the herbicide illegally, and some used formulations that were more volatile, and were probably cheaper," Zollinger says. When the herbicide volatilized, it moved off-target and harmed surrounding crops, vegetables and flowers.

Non-dicamba-resistant soybeans would be most likely to be harmed in North Dakota. A bottle capful of dicamba in a tank will curl the leaves on susceptible crops. Sunflowers, canola and field peas are all susceptible and would show some leaf-cupping and possibly yield loss from volatilized dicamba.

The long wait

Carl Peterson, president of Peterson Farms Seed in Harwood, says the approval is an important development. The industry has been looking forward to the Xtend technology for three or four years.

The technology will "grab a very significant part of the market share in our region this coming spring," he says. Many companies, including Peterson's, produced significant quantities of seed for the coming year.

Most of the industry has access to the Monsanto-derived technology, but some companies were more aggressive in moving the product into the marketplace. A year ago, when companies were planting the 2016 seed crop, the European Union hadn't approved the beans and elevators weren't accepting Xtend beans, some companies slowed down, while others sped up.

"The volatility is a big deal because typically a dicamba  Banvel or Clarity formulations of that herbicide  have had a tendency to move in humid and hot conditions," Peterson says. "This new formulation all but eliminates that."

Peterson says there has been herbicide weed resistance since about 1947, but it became more prevalent because farmers overused glyphosate or Roundup. "The Xtend system is another answer," he says, but adds it must be managed to avoid overuse.

The dicamba formulation will no-doubt be mixed with glyphosate (Roundup), a combination which the EPA is expected to approve before planting time. "Most of the corn in the area is Roundup Ready, as well, so you still need a tank mix partner (dicamba) to get rid of the Roundup Ready corn (weeds) in your bean fields," Peterson says.

He says state approval should happen quickly. He doesn't expect stricter rules in North Dakota. Some early proposals were 110- to 220-foot buffer distances, depending on rates used, for spraying next to crops that are sensitive to dicamba. The reality is that farmers will likely be more careful than the law requires, Peterson says, spot-spraying next to downwind neighbors growing sugar beets or other sensitive crops.

State process

Jerry Sauter, pesticide program manager for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, says the department hadn't yet received the permit application request as of Nov. 14, but says he expects the application will come when it needs to. The department would make sure the application is complete, suggest any desired changes, and then either approve or deny it. That's usually done within a month, unless there are changes.

Sauter says the department "is discussing" whether they need to propose additional restrictions on the formulation. "There's a lot of discussion around it with all of the misuse and the EPA only giving it a short-term registration," he says. "Nothing has been seriously proposed."

The formulation contains an additive that reduces its volatility, or evaporation. It is different from products that were alleged to have been used illegally, which the EPA continues to investigate in various parts of the Midwest.

The label requires drift mitigation measures. They include: no application from aircraft; no application when wind speed is over 15 mph; application only with approved nozzles at specific pressures; and buffer zones to protect sensitive areas when the wind is blowing toward them. It includes reporting by the registrant to EPA of any suspected resistance as well as remediation and grower education. The EPA is placing time limits on the registration to allow the agency to either let the registration expire or make it easy to make necessary changes if there are problems with resistant weeds or pesticide drift.
German neo-Nazi convicted of Holocaust denial _ again

BERLIN (AP)  A well-known German neo-Nazi has been convicted again of Holocaust denial and sentenced to prison, but is showing no signs of changing her views.

Ursula Haverbeck in her closing statement in Verden district court Monday talked of the "Auschwitz lie" and said the infamous death camp was actually a labor camp where nobody was killed by gas, the dpa news agency reported.

She'd been charged with Holocaust denial, a crime in Germany, for the content of several articles she wrote for a magazine called the Voice of the Reich.

Haverbeck, 88, said she'd appeal her conviction and 2 year sentence.
Guggenheim museum in Helsinki gets preliminary approval

HELSINKI (AP)  The Helsinki City board has narrowly recommended that the council approve a proposal to build a Guggenheim art museum in the Finnish capital.

In a reversal of a 2012 vote that seemed to have buried the project, the 15-member board voted 8-7 on Monday to approve the 130-million euro ($180-million) plan. A final decision is expected next week by the 85-member city council.

The city has pledged 80 million euros for the construction of the seafront museum, with the Guggenheim Helsinki fund donating the remaining 50 million euros.
Pence, who touts openness, tries to stop document release

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Lawyers for Indiana Governor and Republican Vice President-elect Mike Pence argued in court Monday that the state's judicial branch has no authority to require him to comply with Indiana's public records law.

The civil case before Indiana's Court of Appeals was brought by Indianapolis attorney William Groth, who sued in 2015 after the Pence administration denied a request for un-redacted records, including a document related to Republican efforts to stop President Barack Obama's immigration executive order.

Pence has long presented himself as a champion of a free press and the First Amendment. That's a contrast to President-elect Donald Trump who made attacks on reporters a hallmark of his campaign and refused to release his tax records as other modern presidential candidates have done.

President-elect Donald Trump, left, calls out to media as he and Vice President-elect Mike Pence appear at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In March, Pence vetoed a bill that would have exempted private universities from releasing some police records, calling it "a disservice to the public and an unnecessary barrier to transparency." And on the campaign trail he aggressively criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton for refusing to release emails sent from a private server she maintained while secretary of state.

But his gubernatorial administration has argued against the public release of emails and other documents that could shed light on his tenure as governor. In some cases, his office has withheld documents, delayed responses or flatly denied public records requests filed by The Associated Press and other news organizations.

On Monday, Pence attorney Joseph Chapelle told the judges that the separation of powers established under the state's constitution should prevent the court system from forcing Pence and his immediate staff to comply with the open records law if they are sued.

"Inquiry into the personal papers of the governor would (interfere) with the affairs with of the governor's office," Chapelle said. "He's different than other state agencies."

The appellate court took up the case after a lower court ruled that Pence did not have to turn over emails, billing invoices or a document authored by the chief-of-staff to now-Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The documents, sought by Groth, outlined legal arguments for the GOP's successful challenge to Obama's immigration executive order.

Pence's administration released 57 pages of emails with some redactions, as well as redacted invoices to Groth, a Democrat. But it declined to provide an attached document that Abbott's staff had emailed to many Republican governors while trying to recruit other states to join the legal challenge.

Pence's attorneys argue that the governor's office acted within its rights by refusing to release the records, which they say are "work product" that is "deliberative" in nature and also protected by attorney client privilege. But Pence's attorneys also argued that an Indiana Supreme Court ruling that effectively exempted the state's General Assembly from releasing emails should also apply to them.

The state's highest court ruled in April that that it could not order the Legislature to release lawmakers' email correspondence because it would violate the state constitution's separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of government.

"It's extremely ironic because hidden emails were a hot topic during the presidential campaign," said Julia Vaughn the policy director for the left-leaning government watchdog group Common Cause Indiana. "He could set an example by walking the walk and not just talking the talk. Sadly I don't expect him to do that."

A ruling in the case against Pence is not expected immediately. But government watchdog groups say that if the courts ultimately agree with Pence's interpretation, the Indiana governor's office would police itself when it comes to the release of public records, seriously weakening the law by limiting the ability to sue for records.

Appeals Court Judge Edward W. Najam, Jr. aggressively questioned Pence's attorney, asking Chapelle if he could point to a specific passage in the state's open records law that exempted the governor's office.

"No, your honor," Chapelle replied.
Hitler comparisons mar Austrian presidential election

VIENNA (AP)  The campaign manager of left-leaning Austrian presidential candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has criticized photos posted by right-wing opponents comparing Van der Bellen to Adolf Hitler.

Lothar Lockl complained over a Freedom Party Facebook posting showing Van der Bellen with a dog against an Alpine backdrop next to a photo of Hitler in a similar pose.

The Freedom Party has itself objected to a recent Facebook post it says is linked to Lockl that had Hitler's face altered to look like its presidential candidate Norbert Hofer.

In a comment accompanying the poster, which had disappeared by Monday, the Freedom Party said it's "something to think about, ahead of the next ... Nazi comparison" against Hofer.
UN, Vatican call for efforts to end forced labor in fishing

ROME (AP)  U.N. and Vatican officials are calling for intensified efforts to end rights abuses, including forced labor and human trafficking, in the world's fishing industry.

Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization, on Monday noted that the industry provides food and income for millions of people. He added: "Sadly, the same industry that offers so many opportunities also victimizes the most vulnerable."

Marking World Fisheries Day, the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, recommended coordinated international efforts "to break the chain of exploitation" in the fishing industry in many countries.
Brett Cecil, Cardinals finalize $30.5 million, 4-year deal

ST. LOUIS (AP)  The Cardinals filled the biggest void in their bullpen Monday with Brett Cecil, the only left-handed reliever that piqued their interest on the free-agent market.

Cecil was introduced at Busch Stadium after finalizing a $30.5 million, four-year contract. He is expected to provide help in high-leverage situations along with Kevin Siegriest and ahead of closer Seung Hwan Oh, though general manager John Mozeliak said all three are capable of finishing games.

"Brett was the one person we thought if we were going to make a splash in the bullpen, he was the one we identified," Mozeliak said. "There was a lot of demand for him and it was moving."

Newly signed left-handed relief pitcher Brett Cecil smiles during an introductory press conference at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

The four-year deal for the 30-year-old Cecil gained attention, but Mozeliak said he was comfortable with the length of the contract because of the interest he was generating.

"Our offseason plan has been to take steps to try to improve this club and certainly today we feel like we have," Mozeliak said. "I think it's a way we envision keeping a fresh bullpen."

Shoring up the bullpen became one of the Cardinals' biggest needs following injuries to Zach Duke and Tyler Lyons. Duke is expected to miss all of next season after Tommy John surgery, while Lyons has had offseason knee surgery that leaves him questionable for the start of the regular season.

Cecil had a 3.93 ERA in 36 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last season. He was slowed by a torn lat muscle but dominated down the stretch, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.

"The lat issue, it was kind of an accumulating thing," Cecil said. "We tried to rest, tried to let it heal. It wasn't working. I was sidelined for six weeks. I almost had to start spring training over again in the middle of the season. It took me a little bit to get going, and there in August and toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, I was beginning to feel like my old self again."

Cecil, who had a 2.90 ERA in four years as a full-time reliever in Toronto, was testing free agency for the first time. He said that he left most of the negotiations up to his agent, but he was happy that a deal got done relatively early in the process.

"I honestly didn't know when it was going to happen," he said. "I do like to get these types of things over and done with as quickly as possible. That way I can get my focus more toward the offseason, to come to spring training ready to go."

Under the deal negotiated by agents Sam and Seth Levinson, Cecil gets a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by Major League Baseball, and salaries of $7.5 million in each of the next three seasons and $7 million in 2020. He also receives a full no-trade provision and award bonuses.

Cecil said he doesn't know anybody on the current roster, which is still in need of an outfielder, but that the longtime American League pitcher is ready to take on the National League.

"Absolutely. This team is rich with baseball history," he said. "They have a rich winning tradition. They always have good teams  good, winning teams. And like I said, for my family and me, this is where we wanted to come. It was the best fit for us."

Newly signed left-handed relief pitcher Brett Cecil, left, smiles during a press conference where he is introduced by St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Newly signed left-handed relief pitcher Brett Cecil, left, smiles during a press conference where he is introduced by St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
The Latest: Roof competency hearing to go into second day

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  The Latest on the trial of a white man accused of gunning down nine black parishioners in Charleston (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

A closed hearing on the competency of Dylann Roof to stand trial in the killing of nine black worshippers at a Charleston, South Carolina, church is expected to go into a second day.

Federal court officials said Monday a hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel was still going on and would continue Tuesday.

Gergel recently ruled that Monday's hearing would remain closed despite pleas from family members of the slain and arguments from the media that it should be open.

Gergel expressed concern anything said could be seen by potential jurors and taint their view of the defendant. The hearing was expected to include extensive statements made by Roof that might not be allowed at his death penalty trial.

Gergel says he'll issue a ruling on whether the trial can continue later this week in connection with the June 2015 attack at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

___

1:30 p.m.

Gov. Nikki Haley is asking South Carolinians to pray for healing amid two racially charged murder trials in Charleston and the recovery from Hurricane Matthew.

Haley on Monday called on all places of worship to hold a prayer vigil at noon Tuesday. She also wants church bells to be rung statewide.

The governor says she will be at "Mother Emanuel" AME Church in Charleston, where nine black worshippers were gunned down last year. A judge is weighing whether the white man accused of killing them is competent to stand trial.

The trial of former North Charleston officer Michael Slager is underway. He's accused of fatally shooting a black motorist in the back as he fled.

Haley says "we don't know what's going to come out of these murder trials."

She says it's important "we all come together" and reflect.

___

4 a.m.

A closed hearing on the competency of Dylann Roof to stand trial in the killing of nine black worshippers at a Charleston, South Carolina, church is planned in federal court.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel recently ruled that Monday's scheduled hearing would remain closed despite pleas from family members of the slain and arguments from the media that it should be open.

Gergel says he's concerned anything said at the hearing could be seen by potential jurors and taint their view of the defendant. The hearing's expected to include extensive statements made by Roof that might not be allowed at his death penalty trial.
Russia accuses Ukraine of arresting 2 servicemen from Crimea

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's Defense Ministry says Ukrainian security services have arrested two Russian servicemen.

The ministry said Ukrainian agents whisked the two servicemen from Crimea into the Mykolaiv region Sunday. In Monday's statement, the ministry denounced the Ukrainian action as a "rude provocation" and demanded their immediate return.

Ukraine's security agency said, according to the Interfax news agency, that the two were detained on the border with Crimea. It said they were former Ukrainian servicemen facing accusations of treason.

Russia-Ukraine relations are at freezing point after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine.
Iraq's ascendant Shiite militias take the fight to Tal Afar

TAL AFAR AIRPORT, Iraq (AP)  A sandstorm is brewing west of the Iraqi city of Mosul, kicked up across a barren landscape by thousands of men and machines headed to war.

Trucks, armored transports and even tanks carry fighters through a cloud of fine dust past a series of base camps and heavy weapons depots dotting the route to the front line against the so-called Islamic State.

These are the Shiite militias, and their goal is Tal Afar, on the main road to the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of IS' self-declared caliphate.

Popular Mobilization Units fighters talk on the radio as they watch Islamic State positions in the airport of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Currently a sideshow compared with the street-to-street fighting in Mosul, some 70 kilometers (44 miles) to the east, the battle for Tal Afar is certain to boost Shiite power. And its significance could be just as great  if not greater  for Iraq and the future of the region than the main battle for Mosul itself.

Officially, the Iraqi government and top militia leadership say that only Iraqi army units will enter Tal Afar, once dominated by Shiites but now primarily Sunni Turkmen, a minority in the country with cultural and historic links to nearby Turkey to the north.

But some of the militias' most powerful units, as well as field commanders and troops  all backed by a newly empowered Iran  tell a different story.

Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesman for Iraq's Hezbollah Brigades, said it is the militias backed by Shiite-heavy army units and Iranian weapons that will lead the charge into Tal Afar to drive out IS extremists.

"The Iranians are with us," he said, adding that Tehran was supporting the militias directly, including strategy from Revolutionary Guards commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who is in charge of a crescent of Shiite power stretching from Tehran to Beirut.

"Our mission and that of the (Iraqi Shiite) Badr Brigades is to encircle Tal Afar from the east. Then we will storm it," he said, adding that Soleimani visited a nearby staging ground three days ago.

Iraq's Shiite militias mobilized against IS in 2014. Since then, they have shown a growing determination to be a major force shaping the country.

The prospect worries Iraq's Sunni minority but also some officials in the military and the Shiite-led government, who fear the militias, bolstered by prestige from battles with IS, could one day dominate the country like the Revolutionary Guard does in Iran and the guerrilla group Hezbollah does in Lebanon.

The larger militias, like Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Hezbollah Brigades, Badr and the Peace Brigades, emerged after the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, and are linked to political parties. But their ranks surged after IS overran nearly a third of Iraq in 2014, and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite cleric, called on able-bodied males to fight the militant group's Sunni extremists.

Thousands rallied to the militias late last month, bringing their strength to at least 15,000 men in the push toward Tal Afar to cut off IS supply lines west of Mosul. Their umbrella group, Hashd al-Shaabi, has agreed not to enter Mosul itself, but the same cannot be said of all groups when it comes to Tal Afar.

On the winding route through the desert, a relentless flow of pickup trucks and Humvees carried men bristling with weapons. The Iraqi flag was a rare sight; instead, most carried banners from various Shiite militias, with their distinctive font and iconography similar to that of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The deployment has not gone unnoticed in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the militias could prompt a Turkish response if they "terrorize" the area's Iraqi-Turkmen. Ankara has deployed tanks and other vehicles to Silopi, a Turkish town on Iraq's northern border.

"In this respect, mistakes in Tal Afar could re-ignite a Sunni-Shiite civil war, or at the very least create obstacles to liberating Mosul," said Ayham Kamel, Director of Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group, a global political risk consultancy.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's official plan to have only the army enter Tal Afar played down the chance of an escalation, although the militias' actions may not.

Rights groups have accused the militias of abuses against civilians in other Sunni areas retaken from IS  allegations the militia leaders deny. Residents of Fallujah said Shiite groups exacted revenge during operations to retake the Sunni city last summer, alleging Sunni Arab civilians who fled IS-held areas were detained, tortured and killed.

Erdogan's ire probably was directed more toward Iran. The two countries' rivalry extends to northern Syria, where Iranian-backed militias fighting alongside Syrian forces are competing with Turkish-backed opposition forces for supremacy around the northern city of Aleppo.

Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in August, partly to drive back Islamic State militants from its borders. But the rebels it backed have advanced south, raising alarm among hundreds of Shiite militiamen from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon trying to seize opposition-held eastern Aleppo.

Outside Tal Afar, the commander who led the operation to retake its airport last week said forces in the area would not stand for any Turkish intervention.

"We are Iraqis, and this is our country, and we consider any foreign intervention to be a provocation for us and our national sentiment," said Abu Taha Naser, "and God willing, this will not happen if the Turkish leadership is wise."

Should the militias take the city, it would cut a main IS artery into Syria, where the militants already face a recent offensive by a Syrian Kurdish-led force. That would be another major blow for the retreating militants and a boost for Syrian President Bashar Assad, an ally of Iran. Tal Afar would then be the last of a string of Shiite cities and towns stretching from Iran across Iraq toward the Syrian border.

No matter who leads the offensive into Tal Afar, the Shiite forces will inevitably hold the city because they  and not the Iraqi army  are in the area by the thousands, said Dana Jalal, a Kurdish specialist on Iraqi militias.

"Yes, they will enter Tal Afar, along with the Iraqi army's 92nd brigade," he said. "It's actually more the will of the Iraqi army and less that of the government."

Iraqi officials still deny that the military will play a secondary role to the militias or leave it in their hands once Tal Afar is taken. But a look at the army unit intended to join the militias in the days ahead raises further doubt that Iraq's central government will be the main force in the fight for the city.

The 92nd brigade, nicknamed the "Tal Afar Brigade," is made up almost entirely of Shiites from the city. But it also goes by another label: the "Hussein Brigade"  named for the revered Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and a key figure in Shiite Islam.

Flags featuring the Iman Hussein were a common sight on vehicles racing through the desert, with militiamen exclaiming, "On to Tal Afar!" At a provisions depot farther behind the front line, militiamen ate sandwiches while listening to hymns chanting the imam's name.

With the thud of incoming mortar rounds from IS positions and ricochets from sniper fire as a backdrop, militiaman Taha Naser was clear.

"The priority is to cut the supply route between Tal Afar and Raqqa," he said, "and then to liberate the city of Tal Afar."

___

Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed from Erbil.

___

Follow Brian Rohan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/brian_rohan

A truck carrying Popular Mobilization Units fighters rides through the desert on their way to fight against Islamic State militants in the airport of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Popular Mobilization Units fighters ride on the back of a truck on their way to fight against Islamic State militants in the airport of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

An Iraqi family sits inside a car as they wait at a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A ladder sits at the entrance of a tunnel used by Islamic State militants during fights against Popular Mobilization Units fighters in the airport of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Live from New York! The elevators to Trump's residence

NEW YORK (AP)  The three golden elevator doors in the Trump Tower lobby have turned into the most unlikely television feature.

C-SPAN is carrying a near-constant video feed across from the elevator bank, catching people as they arrive for and depart from meetings with President-elect Donald Trump at his residence. Monday offered star-gazing potential as television news personalities were summoned  and an unexpected performance from New York's Naked Cowboy.

It all seemed natural, considering the unseen star is the nation's first elected president who was once a TV reality star.

Kellyanne Conway speaks to media as she arrives at Trump Tower, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in New York. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

"This is for people who love watching a government in transition," said C-SPAN spokesman Howard Mortman, "or who love watching a bank of elevators."

The feed comes from the television network pool set up by reporters on stakeout duty in the lobby below the president-elect's residence. Most of the time the camera shot is fixed in place, focusing on the elevator doors and a golden security desk with a "TT" insignia.

C-SPAN began showing it last Wednesday, airing nearly 23 hours of the doors last week. The stream is shown constantly on C-SPAN's website, with highlights on the TV network itself, say when somebody decides to address reporters' questions.

On Monday, ABC's George Stephanopoulos stepped off an elevator and away from the off-camera reporters. CNN's Wolf Blitzer walked across the lobby in front of the waiting media.

"Wolf, how was the meeting?" someone asked, and Blitzer ignored the question.

Television news stars and executives were invited on two days' notice to the off-the-record meeting. Lester Holt and Chuck Todd came from NBC News; John Dickerson, Charlie Rose and Gayle King from CBS; David Muir and Martha Raddatz from ABC News. Top television news executives like ABC's James Goldston, CNN's Jeff Zucker and Fox News' Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy also attended.

It's not unusual for television executives and personalities to meet for off-the-record conversations with presidents, particularly when they have particular policies to push.

There was certainly a lot for the incoming president and media executives to discuss, beginning with Trump's near-unceasing attack on the media during his campaign. Since the election, the media has expressed concern about whether Trump will stick to protocol by allowing a protective pool to cover his whereabouts, and when he will hold his first news conference as president-elect.

Less than 90 minutes after the planned start of the meeting, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway emerged from the elevator with NBC News President Deborah Turness. Turness peeled away, and Conway took questions from reporters.

She called it a congenial and candid meeting, giving few details. "From our perspective, it was great to hit the reset button," she said.

Asked about incidents of intimidation or violence involving Trump supporters since the campaign, she appealed to reporters for their assistance in helping the country move on. "Some people are still in election mode and the election is over," she said.

"Thanks for sharing your bosses with us today," Conway said to the reporters, saying Trump will meet Tuesday with editors from The New York Times.

Conway's appearance on "Trump Tower Live" came less than an hour after the guitar-wielding Naked Cowboy stepped in front of the camera for a few songs. The Times Square denizen is known to tourists for wearing a cowboy hat, white underwear and little else.

Monday he had something special for the camera: "Trump" painted on the back of his underwear.

___
Pipeline protesters attempted to remove burned out vehicles blocking the Backwater Bridge on Highway 1806, which led to an hours-long standoff with police using water cannons to repel protesters on Sunday night.

The bridge has been closed since Oct. 27. Multiple vehicles burned there that night as law enforcement pushed protesters out of the northern "front line" camp atop the pipeline route and back to the main camps near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

Authorities have said the bridge may be unsafe for traffic due to the fires. Protesters criticize the barricade as blocking emergency services and suggest it is being used to prevent access to construction sites just north.

As of 1 a.m., about 100 to 200 protesters remained at the bridge where about 400 people were gathered several hours earlier, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

Throughout the night, protesters started a dozen fires and tried to move north through a line of police, according to the sheriff's department, who reported that rocks and logs were thrown at officers, and one officer was struck in the head.

According to the sheriff's department, the incident began around 6 p.m. and one arrest was made as of 8:30 p.m. The sheriff's department is characterizing the protesters as "very aggressive" and said they have attempted to "flank and attack the law enforcement line."

Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network, reported Sunday night that police sprayed protesters with a water cannon and used tear gas and concussion grenades to repel the protesters. It was 26 degrees in Cannon Ball at 9 p.m. He said the fires reported by police were set in order to help people warm up who had been sprayed.

Rob Keller, spokesman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department, confirmed that water was being used for crowd control as well as to douse fires and wet the land to keep the flames from spreading.

Goldtooth said numerous people have been struck in the head with rubber bullets and one person was in cardiac arrest from a direct hit.

The Cannon Ball gym has been opened for emergency relief, and EMTs from Standing Rock and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the reservation directly south, are providing support, Goldtooth said.

Goldtooth said activists have been frustrated with the barricade for weeks. It has blocked access for emergency services heading south to the camp and protesters heading north to demonstrate at the pipeline construction sites near the Missouri River, he said. The site where Dakota Access plans to drill under the river is about one mile north of the bridge.

"Folks have a right to be on a public road," he said by phone Sunday night. "It's absurd that people who've been trying to take down the barricade now have their lives at risk."

He said part of the intention of taking the vehicles away Sunday was to show the police force staged behind them  even if protesters still could not cross the bridge block, which has been reinforced with wire and cement jersey barriers.

"We hope that we're able to demonstrate that clearly with photos," he said.

Authorities have said the bridge is closed due to concerns about its structural integrity since the vehicle fires in October.

Keller wrote in an email that the Department of Transportation has not been able to inspect the bridge due to ongoing protests there. He said burned vehicles have remained, because it would be unsafe for crews to remove them in the current atmosphere.

"At this time the environment is not safe with the close proximity of protesters from the camp that can make their way to the bridge in a matter of minutes," he wrote.

Aidoneus Bishop, a protester on scene who helped move a burned vehicle, said he was hit with a rubber bullet in the hand and back. He questions the logic of the barricade, which is set behind the vehicles on the northern part of the bridge.

'The only thing that makes sense is that it's blocked to keep us away from the pipe," Bishop said.

Tara Houska, an organizer with Honor the Earth, said over 200 people have been pepper sprayed, tear gassed or soaked with water.

"They're using everything and anything," she said.

Houska noted that police reinforced the roadblock of burned vehicles with barriers and wire behind the vehicles on the bridge after the October fires.

"This has been weeks and weeks of those vehicles on the road for no apparent reason, and it's a huge public safety risk. It's putting enormous pressure on the Standing Rock Sioux community and people who live and work in the area," she said.

Goldtooth said protesters negotiated with law enforcement to remove the barricade three weeks ago and were told that if they demonstrated there peacefully, it would be taken down. Several marches have taken place there in recent weeks.

Keller countered that protesters were asked to stay off the bridge to allow for the assessment.

"As long as protests and marches happen almost daily on the damaged Backwater Bridge it will not open due to the possible damage done," Keller wrote. "The protesters are the ones not keeping their word."

The 1,200-mile, four-state pipeline is intended to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois. But construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline has been protested for months by the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation lies near the pipeline route, and the tribe's allies, who fear a leak could contaminate their drinking water. They also worry that construction could threaten sacred sites.

Energy Transfer Partners has said no sites have been disturbed and that the pipeline will have safeguards against leaks, and is a safer method of transport for oil than rail or truck. The company has said the pipeline is largely complete except for the section under Lake Oahe.

On Friday, Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, said the company is unwilling to reroute the pipeline.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ohio prosecutor plans to discuss police shooting case

CINCINNATI (AP)  An Ohio prosecutor plans to discuss the case of a white former University of Cincinnati police officer whose trial in the fatal shooting of a black motorist ended in a hung jury on murder and voluntary manslaughter counts.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters (DEE'-turs) could say in Tuesday morning's news conference whether he will seek to try Ray Tensing again on the same charges, or pursue another strategy in the July 2015 shooting of Sam DuBose.

A judge declared a mistrial Nov. 12 when jurors said they couldn't reach a verdict after deliberating some 25 hours.
PM 'breaks promise' over 'workers on company boards' plan

Theresa May has been accused of breaking a promise to British workers after ruling out imposing the appointment of employees to company boards.

The Prime Minister offered an olive branch to businesses who were concerned about the proposals but unions reacted angrily to the announcement.

Mrs May told business organisation the CBI that she wanted a partnership with firms as part of a "great national effort" - but warned that a minority of rogue bosses had damaged public opinion of the corporate world.

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference in London

The Prime Minister said the Government was preparing to take action to tackle problems with executive pay and accountability and would ensure employees have a "voice" in the boardroom - but promised to "work with the grain of business" on the reforms.

Proposals will be set out in a Government Green Paper kicking off a period of consultation later this autumn. But Mrs May told the CBI conference in central London: "I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on boards."

While those measures could be appropriate for some firms, others could continue to use existing board structures "complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels" to ensure that workers are represented.

Mrs May's comments appeared to represent a step backwards from her promise at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham last month, when she said she planned to have "not just consumers represented on company boards, but workers as well".

But speaking on a visit to Cambridge after her CBI address, Mrs May denied she had watered down her pledge: "No, what I've always said is that we want to look at ways in which we can improve corporate governance, looking at a number of areas including workers' representation on boards.

"You can do that in a number of ways. We want to work with business on this, and that's why we'll be consulting later this year on the various ways in which we can do it to find a model that works."

GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: "The mask is slipping - nice speeches followed by broken promises will not help working people get fairness and dignity in the workplace."

Mrs May used her keynote address at the CBI, just two days ahead of Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement, to set out a range of business-friendly plans, including her ambition to ensure the UK has the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20 group of advanced economies and measures to boost productivity.

Following the rise in anti-establishment and anti-globalisation movements across the West, Mrs May said she would defend capitalism and free trade, but warned that the image of business had been "bruised" by poor behaviour from "a limited few" bosses.

She said the vote for Brexit reflected not only a desire to leave the EU but also a public demand for "change" in the way capitalism and the market system operate in the UK.

"If we support free markets, value capitalism and back business - and we do - we must do everything we can to keep faith with them," she said. "And with not enough people feeling that they share in the wealth created by capitalism - and with the recent behaviour of a small minority of businesses and business leaders undermining the reputation of the corporate world as a whole - the way to keep that faith is to embrace reform."

She added that when some bosses "appear to game the system and work to a different set of rules, we have to recognise that the social contract between business and society fails and the reputation of business as a whole is undermined".

The PM's aim to keep UK corporation tax lower than its international rivals may mean going beyond the cut from the current 20% rate to 17% by 2020 already announced by former chancellor George Osborne, as US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he will slash the equivalent tax in America to just 15%.

Mrs May also said she aimed to deliver "a tax system that is profoundly pro-innovation".

The Autumn Statement would set out an agenda that is "ambitious for business and ambitious for Britain", including a 2 billion-a-year boost to investment in science and technology with a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund directing money towards priority technologies.

Mr Hammond will set out how the Government will take "big decisions" to invest in infrastructure, as well as continuing the work of reining in the deficit and supporting Bank of England efforts to support the economy, she said.

And she confirmed that the Government will set out its proposals for a "proper industrial strategy" in a green paper later this year, followed by legislative plans in a white paper early in 2017.

Mrs May announced the launch of a Patient Capital Review, chaired by Sir Damon Buffini, to help innovative firms get the long-term investment they need to transform breakthrough ideas into sustainable businesses. And she said that the Government was launching a review of its Small Business Research Initiative under Cambridge entrepreneur David Connell to ensure it does more to give innovators their first break.

In his address to the CBI, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The Prime Minister's suggestion that Britain should chase after Donald Trump in a race to the bottom on corporation tax - to 15% or below - I think is reckless and short-term grandstanding."
Group of MPs from different parties call for legalisation of cannabis

Cannabis should be legalised to bring Britain up to speed with a growing number of Western countries and end the "embarrassment" of domestic drugs policy, a cross party group of MPs have said.

Former deputy prime minster Nick Clegg and former health minister Norman Lamb joined Labour and Tory figures to back a new report which claimed legalisation could net the Treasury more than 1 billion a year in tax revenue.

The Adam Smith Institute and Volteface study argued that the UK should follow the lead of the United States, where four further states legalised marijuana in this month's elections.

A group of MPs has called for the legalisation of cannabis

It came as Germany gets ready to legalise cannabis for medical purposes and Canada prepares for all-out decriminalisation.

The Netherlands effectively decriminalised cannabis decades ago while Portugal legalised it in 2001.

The report argued that Britain's "dark ages" drugs policy has failed to stop people drugs being manufactured and used, and to stop associated crime, corruption and killing.

It called for "root and branch" reform to legalise and regulate cannabis to ensure it meets acceptable standards, and to remove the market for criminal gangs.

A legal cannabis market could be worth 6.8 billion to the economy annually, potentially netting between 750 million and 1.05 billion in tax revenues and reduced criminal justice costs.

The number of offenders in prison for cannabis-related offences in England and Wales would also likely drop from the current 1,363, who cost taxpayers 50 million a year, the report said.

Mr Clegg said: "British politicians need to open their eyes to what is happening in the rest of the world.

"Cannabis prohibition is being swept away on a tide of popular opinion and replaced with responsible legal regulation.

"Now is the time for ministers to start writing the rules for this legal market, including age limits and health warnings, so that we can finally take back control from the criminal gangs."

His Liberal Democrat colleague Mr Lamb said: "Prohibition is harmful and counter-productive, helping neither to reduce drug use nor the risks to public health. While other countries and US states are increasingly coming to adopt a more enlightened approach to drug policy, we are stuck in the dark ages, filling the pockets of criminals and perpetuating the stigma which prevents so many drug users from seeking help."

Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley said: "It is time we legalised cannabis. Currently cannabis can only be obtained from illegal gangs who also push hard drugs. So we are driving soft drugs users into the arms of hard drugs pushers."

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said: "There can be no doubt that just as prohibition on the sale of alcohol failed in the United States and encouraged gangsterism, the banning of drugs has promoted a wicked and lucrative black market which pushes illegal drugs on the innocent."

Labour MP Paul Flynn said: "The UK's 45 years of harsh prohibition has multiplied use and harm.

"A legal market would destroy the drug's attraction as forbidden fruit and encourage users to ingest cannabis, of known strength and quality, in ways that will the avoid deadly dangers of smoking."

Co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas said: "The War On Drugs has been an abject failure, and the continued criminalisation of cannabis users is deeply counter-productive .
Royal Navy fleet 'way below critical mass' if international tension worsens

Uncertainty over plans to replace the "woefully low" number of warships risks jeopardising Britain's defences, an influential committee has warned.

MPs said they had "serious concerns" about the funding and timetable of the new fleet replacing frigates that are due to be decommissioned.

Dropping below the current 19 ships even for a short time would be "completely unacceptable" and leave the UK lacking the maritime strength to deal with the threats it faces from areas like Russia, the Defence Select Committee said.

Dropping below the current 19 ships even for a short time would be 'completely unacceptable', a select committee said

MPs also attacked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the "extraordinary mistakes" in the design of Type 45 destroyers after it emerged they had faulty engines.

They accused the MoD and contractors of a "serious failing" for under-testing the system, which is unable to operate continuously in warm waters, and warned the problems had "potentially dangerous" consequences.

" It is astonishing that the specification for the Type 45 did not include the requirement for the ships to operate at full capacity - and for sustained periods - in hot regions such as the Gulf," the committee said.

"The UK's enduring presence in the Gulf should have made it a key requirement for the engines. The fact that it was not was an inexcusable failing and one which must not be repeated," it added. "Failure to guarantee this would put the personnel and ships of the Royal Navy in danger, with potentially dangerous consequences."

T wo new classes of frigate, the Type 26 global combat ship and the Type 31 general purpose frigate, are planned to modernise the fleet.

Some 13 ageing frigates are due to leave service at the rate of one a year between 2023 and 2035 but MPs said the Government has not set out the necessary detail on how and when they will be delivered.

" As an island nation, the importance of the Royal Navy to UK defence must not be underestimated," the committee said. "Our starting point in this report is our conviction that the current number of frigates, destroyers and personnel inadequately reflects the potential threats and vulnerabilities facing the UK and its interests overseas."

Defence committee chairman Julian Lewis said MPs were "putting the MoD on notice" to deliver the modernisation programme on time.

He said: "For decades, the numbers of Royal Navy escort vessels have been severely in decline.

"The fleet is now way below the critical mass required for the many tasks which could confront it, if the international scene continues to deteriorate.

"What remains of our surface fleet now faces a prolonged period of uncertainty, as the frigate class is replaced in its entirety and all our destroyers undergo urgent, major remedial work on their unreliable engines.

"The national shipbuilding strategy offers the potential not just to manage this work efficiently and effectively, but also to reverse the trend of ever-decreasing numbers. To do this, however, it has to contain the degree of detail and scheduling for which we have asked.

" The Ministry of Defence must deliver this programme of modernisation on time. If it fails to do so, the Government will break its categorical pledge to maintain at least 19 frigates and destroyers - already a pathetically low total.

"The United Kingdom will then lack the maritime strength to deal with the threats we face right now, let alone in the future. We are putting the MoD on notice that it must not let this happen."

An MoD spokesman said: "We are investing in a growing Royal Navy by building two aircraft carriers, the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship, Dreadnought and Astute class submarines, and offshore patrols vessels.

"We are also developing new class of Lighter General Purpose Frigate so that by the 2030s we can grow the size of the fleet. This major programme of investment will ensure that the Royal Navy remains one of the world's most modern and powerful navies with a genuine global reach."

He added: "Type 45 Destroyers are hugely capable ships and have been deployed successfully on a range of operations worldwide. They continue to make an enormous contribution to the defence of the UK and our international partners.
Chancellor urged to halt northern 'brain drain'

Chancellor Philip Hammond should cut housing and business taxes to stop the North continuing to suffer a "brain drain" as high-skilled British workers leave the region in their thousands, a new report says.

The Homes for the North study said that over the past decade the North has suffered an exodus of 310,000 highly qualified British workers with just 235,000 moving the opposite way.

It said the deficit suggests an average of 7,500 highly qualified British workers leave the region every year.

Skilled workers are flooding out of the North, according to a study

At the same time, 155,000 highly qualified migrant workers moved to the North over the last decade, according to the campaign group's analysis of data from the official Labour Force Survey and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

The report suggested that while migrants were plugging skills gaps in the workforce, business investment could be put at risk after Brexit if there is an expected clampdown on immigration, potentially threatening the Government's so-called "northern powerhouse" initiative.

The group, made up of 19 housing associations which provide homes to a million people, claimed a better housing offer for graduates could help stem the flow.

Mr Hammond should therefore use his Autumn Statement to raise the stamp duty threshold to 350,000 and reduce business rates in an attempt to attract and retain high-skilled Britons, the campaigners said.

The twin measures could go towards creating "home and enterprise zones" identified by local authorities as being in need of urgent housing development, which could also see VAT exemptions for housing refurbishments.

A series of targeted "northern housing deals" between the Government, councils and providers could ensure the rapid building of affordable homes.

And a graduate homes scheme could be piloted in the north offering flexible tenancies and shared ownership using funds from the Government's shared ownership affordable homes programme, the report said.

Mark Henderson, chair of Homes for the North, said: "Stemming the flow of graduates and attracting more highly qualified British resident and foreign workers will be critical to economic growth across the north of England.

"While some regions in the north are clearly outperforming others when it comes to retaining degree level workers, it is apparent that the number of highly qualified immigrants working in the north has provided a shot in the arm for cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
James Horwill set for spell on the sidelines after gruesome finger break

Harlequins lock James Horwill should face a short stint on the sidelines owing to the gruesome compound fracture of his finger suffered in Sunday's 25-6 defeat at Leicester.

Former Australia captain Horwill asked physios to tape up his nasty finger injury so he could keep playing, immediately inking his name into rugby's hard-man annals. Stills of the horrific injury were quickly tweeted and duly went viral.

The 31-year-old had no option but to be withdrawn from the closing stages of the Aviva Premiership clash at Welford Road, and has since undergone corrective surgery.

Harlequins James Horwill gets treatment to his finger during the Aviva Premiership match at Welford Road, Leicester.

Horwill's humour has remained undimmed in light of the nasty blow, as he took to social media to offer an update on his recovery.

"Finger is looking normal again and all good!" tweeted Horwill. His message continued: "Thanks to Doc @mike_hayton for seeing me on a Sunday. Appreciate all the messages. #COYQ"

Specialist hand and wrist surgeon Hayton is based in the north-west and was able to quickly carry out the procedures to repair Horwill's awful-looking injury.

Television cameras picked up the extent of Horwill's injury during Sunday's Premiership encounter, leading to immediate messages of respect from fellow rugby stars on Twitter.

Former Leicester and England fly-half Andy Goode tweeted a picture of the injury with the message: "Fair play to @JHorwill playing for @Harlequins, hard as nails asking the physio to tape this up to play on!"

Horwill later quipped back: "Fair to say my days as a hand model may be over!"

Harlequins are continuing to monitor Horwill's condition before determining when he can return to action.

New Zealand full-back Ben Smith suffered a similar injury in the All Blacks' 21-9 win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
UK lashed by heavy rain as Storm Angus brings floods chaos

Heavy rain continued to lash Britain in the wake of Storm Angus causing flooding and travel chaos across many parts of the country.

The wind and torrential downpours which deluged many parts of the UK on Monday saw a ferry stranded at sea, with roads closed, homes flooded, schools shut and cars submerged.

More than 75 flood warnings were put in place across the South West, the Midlands, North East, North West, Wales and the East of England by the Environment Agency on Monday evening, with a further 207 flood alerts issued across England and Wales.

Cars under flood water on Whitchurch Lane in Hartcliffe, Bristol (Lee Gitsham/PA)

Owing to the extreme weather, passengers and crew onboard a Stena Europe ferry were forced to stay on board after the vessel failed to dock in Fishguard Harbour at 12.30pm after sailing from Rosslare, Ireland at 9am.

A spokeswoman for Stena Line said: "The health and safety of passengers and crew is of paramount importance to Stena Line, therefore the 87 passengers and 59 crew members will remain onboard overnight until a second attempt at docking takes place at midday tomorrow."

Many railway lines were also affected by the flooding, with multiple providers reporting delays and blocked lines.

Great Western Railway (GWR) advised commuters not to travel owing to the "severe flooding at a number of separate locations" across their network.

A spokesman said the mainline route into Devon and Cornwall was blocked at two separate locations, as well as the mainline route between London and Bristol Temple Meads - significantly affecting their services.

He also said a queueing system was put in place at Bristol Temple Meads station to ensure passengers could board and alight trains safely.

Services between London Paddington and Cardiff were also disrupted, and CrossCountry trains also said a number of their lines were blocked because of flooding.

Commuters were also advised by TransPennine Express "not to travel unless absolutely necessary" owing to the disruption caused by the flooding.

A spokesman for Network Rail, who manage the Britain's rail infrastructure, said flooding had affected people travelling in and around parts of Wales and the West of England.

There were also reports of people being helped from their vehicles. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said two people were "assisted from a vehicle" on the B3109 in South Wraxall.

While in Carmarthenshire, Wales, Dyfed Powys Police said a man was helped from a van which had become trapped in flood water before it was "washed away".

A man was also rescued from a car stuck in flood water near Frome, Somerset, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said in the hours between 5am and 5pm on Monday, 48mm of rain fell in Brendon Hill in North Devon, 35mm fell in Bristol, 48.6mm in Pennerley, Shropshire, and 49.4 in Tafolog, Monmouthshire.

"The heaviest and more persistent rain is clearing northeastwards, so it will affect southern and eastern parts of Scotland through tonight and early tomorrow morning," he added.

"But behind all the rain across the rest of the UK there is a lot of showers and some of these heavy and thundery at times - these will gradually clear as we go through tomorrow. It will be a better day, but it is still going to be quite windy."

He said there are wind warnings for the North and North West England, valid from 9pm until 6am, and a warning for the South Coast from Hampshire eastwards valid from 1am to 9am, in place.

Mr Burkill said across the south coast gusts of between 50-60mph could be seen with up to 70-80mph on the most exposed coastal parts, with 50-60mph expected in the North East with up 70mph on the highest grounds.

"Even though the worst of the rain is clearing northwards, we have still got some pretty strong winds to deal with which will likely cause some further problems," he added.

The Environment Agency warned the forecast of "widespread heavy rain and showers" will affect "most parts of England over the next 36 hours" and could cause more flooding.

Clare Dinnis, national flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Environment Agency teams are working hard to reduce the risk of flooding, but we want to remind people not to take unnecessary risks and avoid driving through flood water or walking near swollen rivers.

"People should also take care if walking by the coast as there is a risk of large waves caused by strong and gale force winds."

Devon County Council said 14 schools were shut owing to flooding and in Somerset schools were closed due to "weather related" problems, Somerset County Council said on its website.

Meanwhile, police in South Wales have stood down a search for a pensioner who has disappeared during Storm Angus due to fading light and treacherous weather conditions.

The search for Russell Sherwood, 69, from Neath, will resume on Tuesday.

Mr Sherwood has not been seen since he left his home in his silver Ford Focus car on Sunday morning to drive to Bridgend.

He failed to arrive at the address and a search was launched by police.

"Officers believe he reached Stormy Down, Bridgend, in his vehicle and are appealing to anybody who may have information," a force spokesman said.

Residents in Bristol were shocked as deep floodwater trapped cars in Whitchurch Lane. (Lee Gitsham/PA)

Some 2ft-3ft of water had left several cars submerged (Lee Gitsham/PA)

A lorry goes through flood water on a road outside Atworth, Wiltshire

Yellow "be aware" warnings are also in place across the majority of south-west England

Flooding in the Axe valley near Axminster, Devon, seen from a passing train ( Dave Thompson/PA)

A sign by the road outside Neston, Wiltshire as Storm Angus continues to sweep across the UK

A flooded road in Wiltshire proved tempting for ducks

A number 55 bus creeps through flood water on the main A396 between Tiverton and Exeter, near Upexe

Cars speed through flood water on the main A396 between Tiverton and Exeter as it runs off fields and collects on the main carriageway as Storm Angus continues to sweep across the UK
Sauber retain Marcus Ericsson for 2017 season

Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson has been retained by Sauber for the 2017 season.

Sauber's announcement ahead of this week's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix leaves just three seats available on the grid next year.

The identity of Ericsson's team-mate, currently the Brazilian Felipe Nasr, remains unclear while Manor are also yet to determine their line-up for 2017.

Marcus Ericsson is yet to score a point for Sauber this season

"It is great news that I will be racing for another year for the Sauber F1 Team," Ericsson, who joined the Swiss outfit in 2015, said.

"I have spent two years with Sauber now and I really feel at home. A big thanks to everyone within the team for trusting in me again.

"From a personal point of view, I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber. We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can.

"Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsport experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future.

"For 2017 my aim is to build on my performance from the second half of this season and to continue working hard with the team. I cannot wait for the 2017 season, so that we can make our way up to the midfield with the objective to score points on a regular basis."
Joe Launchbury banned for two weeks after being found guilty of kicking

Joe Launchbury has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of England's autumn series after being found guilty of kicking Fiji's Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Launchbury will miss the clashes with Argentina and Australia after his boot connected with the head of the Fijian outside centre in the 42nd minute of a record 58-15 victory at Twickenham.

The act was deemed reckless rather than deliberate and the low end sanction for the offence of a four-week ban was reduced to two weeks due to Launchbury's admission of guilt, his previous clean disciplinary record and good conduct at the hearing.

England lock Joe Launchbury has been banned for two weeks for kicking

Launchbury appeared before a three-man independent disciplinary committee in London and accepted he had committed an act of foul play that would have warranted a red card.

The Wasps captain is free to play from December 5, two days after Australia conclude the autumn program at Twickenham, but has the right to appeal.

While Launchbury can have few complaints with the sanction - the kick left Tikoirotuma in significant discomfort - his absence is a major personal blow given his strong form against South Africa and Fiji.

The injury-enforced absence of Maro Itoje and George Kruis offered Launchbury the chance to revise Eddie Jones' second row hierarchy by resurrecting his lock partnership with Courtney Lawes.

His work-rate and impact on the opening two matches of the Old Mutual Wealth Series had served to illustrate England's extraordinary depth in the second row, but he must now resign himself to the role of spectator.

It is a less of a blow to his country, however, as fortuitous timing has seen Kruis make a rapid recovery from ankle surgery and he is available to start Saturday's showdown with the Pumas.

Adding to the number of options in the position is Dave Attwood, who has overcome the knee problem that forced him to miss the rout of Fiji and the Bath forward is in contention for selection.

Kruis is set to start against Argentina alongside Lawes and would resume calling the line-out.

"George has worked really hard on his rehab and he's done really well to get back so quickly," forwards coach Steve Borthwick said.

"He's been around in the later stages of his rehab and it's testament to his character that he's been able to get back from his injury so quickly. He's in contention for Argentina."

Jones is scheduled to name his team on Thursday morning and with the composition of his second row decided by Launchbury's suspension and Kruis' return, his focus up front will turn to openside where Teimana Harrison is likely to make way for Tom Wood.

England are expected to revert to their first choice starting XV against Argentina, who finished bottom of last summer's Rugby Championship, with Mike Brown returning at full-back.

The wings are fiercely contested, however, with Jonny May, Semesa Rokoduguni, Marland Yarde and Elliot Daly competing for the two slots available.

Meanwhile, Borthwick admits it would be an "honour" and "privilege" to act as forwards coach on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand next summer.
Russian bank VTB may appoint former cbank governor as board head - CEO

MOSCOW, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Russian bank VTB is considering appointing former central bank governor Sergei Dubinin as chairman of its supervisory board again following the arrest of current chairman Alexei Ulyukayev, Chief Executive Andrei Kostin said.

Russia's second-largest bank is set to elect a new board chairman at a meeting on Dec. 14, Kostin told Rossiya 24 state television on Sunday.

President Vladimir Putin fired Ulyukayev as economy minister earlier this week after his arrest over allegations that he extorted a $2 million bribe from oil major Rosneft.

Ulyukayev was seen as an ally of Kostin and had been a member of VTB's board since June 2015. Previously, the board was headed by Dubinin, who was central bank governor between 1995 and 1998. Dubinin is a member of VTB's board.

Kostin said Ulyukayev's arrest was a "sad story", adding that his service in senior government posts should be taken into account during the investigation into his alleged offences.
An hours-long standoff between Dakota Access Pipeline protesters and police on the Backwater Bridge ended midday Monday as an elder encouraged people to leave the bridge where hundreds were sprayed with water in subfreezing temperatures the night before.

The previous nights confrontation followed efforts by the protesters to remove burned out vehicles blocking the bridge since late October. The attempt escalated into hours of conflict in which protesters reportedly threw rocks and logs at police, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and cold water.

It was the most tense conflict between law enforcement and opponents of the 1,168-mile crude oil pipeline in weeks, and led to at least 26 serious injuries among protesters, according to a camp medical group, and one officer was reportedly hit in the head with a rock.

The use of water to repel the protesters has come under criticism from people who say it made dozens hypothermic, but law enforcement defended its use Monday as the best option we had.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, who said police used fire hoses not water cannons as reported by numerous protesters, said water is not normally used by his department as a method to disperse a crowd. He said field commanders on scene who made the decision to use fire hoses on protesters considered the effect the water would have on people in the cold temperatures.

Were just not going to let people, protesters, in large groups, come and threaten officers, he said.

Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler added, It was effective. Wasnt it? when asked whether the use of force was necessary to keep officers safe. Law enforcement would consider using water again, he said.

Kirchmeier said local law enforcement has begun getting federal aid in the form of Customs and Border Patrol officers.

Protesters have voiced concerns that a leak in the pipeline would contaminate the Missouri River and Angela Bibens, an attorney who works at the camp, did not miss the irony that people protesting about protecting water were being repelled with it.

Its using our medicine as a weapon against us to inflict pain and suffering, she said. I am appalled by Morton Countys utter lack of regard for the sanctity of human life.

Bibens said her team was taking statements throughout the day in preparation for a potential lawsuit alleging police brutality. Amnesty International said Monday they would send human rights observes to the pipeline protests, for their fourth visit since August.

Treating injuries

Michael Knudsen, a member of the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council, was giving medical treatment at the front line of the protest on Sunday night. He said people were suffering mostly from hypothermia, as well as blunt trauma from the rubber bullets and tear gas contamination.

He said the medics started campfires to warm people, handed out emergency blankets and organized warmer, winterized beds in camp for cold people to sleep.

This was a disaster zone yesterday, Knudsen said.

Knudsen said ambulances from Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Kidder and Morton counties were present.

According to a release from the medic and healer council, 300 people in total were injured in some form. At least 26 seriously injured people had to be evacuated by ambulance to three area hospitals, according to the release.

CHI St. Alexius spokeswoman Chelsey Kralicek confirmed six people involved in the protest were treated there for "minor injuries." Sanford Health spokesman Jon Berg said nine people were treated at Sanford but he could not release information on their condition. Cecily Fong, public information officer for the Department of Emergency Services said six were treated at the Fort Yates Hospital. One person was in serious condition at the Hennepin County Medical Center, according to the hospital.

Among the most serious injuries were a man who had a seizure, an elder who had to be resuscitated and a woman suffering an eye injury from a rubber bullet to the face, according to the release from the medic and healer council.

Opening the bridge

Authorities have said the bridge may be unsafe for traffic due to fires set Oct. 27 as law enforcement pushed protesters back from a northern front line camp directly atop the pipeline easement. Protesters criticize the barricade as blocking emergency services and suggest it is being used to prevent access to construction sites just north.

Archie Fool Bear, a former tribal councilman and member of the Akicita warrior and veterans group who has been involved with the protest camps, said he and several tribal leaders approached law enforcement at the bridge two to three weeks ago to ask what it would take to get the bridge reopened. He said they asked for a meeting on "neutral ground" but, to his knowledge, no such meeting has taken place and no agreements have been reached.

Jeff Zent, a spokesman for the governor's office, said its not a matter of negotiation.

"That area has to be secure," he said, before state officials can come in to determine the integrity of the bridge and make repairs.

Zent said law enforcement has repeatedly asked protesters to leave the area but demonstrations at the bridge continue daily: "Until that happens we're kind of in a holding pattern."

North Dakota Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jamie Olson said the department has not received any update from law enforcement on when they might be able to come do testing. She said testing can still be done despite the cooler temperatures but snow or ice would complicate the process.

'Figured it was time'

Aidoneus Bishop helped pull one burned vehicle off the bridge Sunday night. He said the move was the end of a two-week-long ritual, in which he would pull a semi-truck up to the burned vehicles as if to tow them, then turn back around to camp. He said there was no special reason for going through with the job Sunday night, just that he figured it was time.

It took six tries to attach and pull the vehicle, during which time law enforcement told them to stop. Protesters started arriving to check on what was happening.

The whole plan was to remove the trucks. Everyone showed up and we couldnt get the other one out  It just escalated Bishop said.

From there, officers started firing the rubber bullets and more people gathered on the bridge and across the fields to the sides.

This led to the long confrontation with police, in which protesters started fires and allegedly threw rocks and burning logs at officers, according to Kirchmeier. Law enforcement responded by spraying the protesters with water and firing rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd.

They were only able to get one of the trucks, and Bishop said theyll be back to get the other.

Were upholding what we see as our end of the deal, because theyre blaming those vehicles on us. Were going to clean up our mess, said Bishop.

Protesters left the bridge late Monday at the request of tribal elders after police warned the crowd that they had found firearms, the Associated Press reported.

Bishop said police were reinforcing the barricade with razor wire as protesters retreated.

Among the crowd on the bridge Sunday night was Elih Lizama, 24, who stayed for four hours despite several hits from rubber bullets, he said.

Weve been fighting this for 500 years. Another 24 hours is nothing, he said. Its not in our blood to quit. We can expect to fight to the end.

Lizama described the rubber bullet hits as like getting hit with a baseball. He fended off some of them with a plastic container lid, which ultimately broke, and then picked up a piece of sheet metal, which he said worked better. He came back to camp after four hours when his girlfriend said it was time.

I did my part, he said.

Bismarck Tribune reporter Jessica Holdman and Forum News Service reporter Amy Dalrymple contributed to this article.
Chinese solar firm to build plant in Chernobyl exclusion zone

SHANGHAI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Two Chinese firms plan to build a solar power plant in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which has been off limits since a devastating explosion contaminated the region with deadly radiation in 1986.

GCL System Integration Technology (GCL-SI), a subsidiary of the GCL Group, said it would cooperate with China National Complete Engineering Corp (CCEC) on the project in Ukraine, with construction expected to start next year.

"There will be remarkable social benefits and economic ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy," Shu Hua, the chairman of GCL-SI, said in a press release.

The 1-gigawatt plant was part of the group's plan to build an international presence, he added.

CCEC, a subsidiary of state-owned China National Machinery Industry Corp, will be in overall charge of the project. GCL-SI did not say how much it would cost.

China has been trying to encourage solar developers at home to make use of damaged or contaminated land to build solar or wind power projects, with plants now operating in subsidence-hit regions of Shanxi, the country's top coal province.

The Chernobyl plant, which is due to be covered next year by a 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) steel-clad arch, is surounded by a 2,600 square km (1,000 square mile) exclusion zone of forest and marshland.

GCL-SI did not say where the plant would be built, or give details of the construction plans.

The firm was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.

China is the world's biggest solar power manufacturer and produced 72 percent of global solar power components in 2015, according to a research note by Everbright Securities last week.
Politics may trigger shift in European economic policy

By Noah Barkin

BERLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Slowly but surely, the economic policy tide in Europe is turning, and it may only be a matter of time before Germany is swept up.

By adding its voice this week to the long list of institutions pressing Germany to spend more, the European Commission left Berlin looking more isolated and out-of-step than at any time since the outbreak of the global financial crisis nearly a decade ago.

Predictably, the Commission's call for a "significantly more positive fiscal stance" in the euro area was shot down by Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and the conservative media establishment in Germany.

On Friday, Schaeuble accused the Commission of overstepping its mandate and urged it to focus its energies on enforcing the EU's fiscal rules.

But by this time next year, the episode may be looked back upon as the first step towards a broader change in Europe's economic approach, away from the austerity-first stance pushed successfully by Berlin for many years.

This could be fuelled by a range of factors: the pressures arising from Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. election and the arrival of new governments in France and Germany in 2017.

"We expect that the German position will gradually lose influence," Marco Protopapa of JPMorgan said this week.

Trump's win is especially significant. On the one hand, it is likely to increase pressure on Germany to spend more public money on defence and security.

On the other, it sends a powerful signal to the German political establishment about the dangers of ignoring an increasingly frustrated underclass, buffeted by the forces of globalisation, that has shown a readiness to vent its anger at the ballot box.

GRAND BARGAIN

The looming French election will be crucial. Centre-right frontrunner Alain Juppe, and his top conservative rivals Francois Fillon and Nicolas Sarkozy, are all promising radical economic reform if they are elected in May of next year.

That could open the door to the sort of "grand bargain", or reforms-for-stimulus compromise between France and Germany, that has been talked about for years but was impossible with a weak, unpopular Francois Hollande in the Elysee and the French economy languishing.

"We are very much in the grand bargain game," an adviser to Juppe told Reuters.

The real game changer could be the German election in the autumn of next year and the fate of Schaeuble, the personification of Germany's rule-based restrictive approach to fiscal policy.

The most likely outcome of that vote looks like another "grand coalition" between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

Schaeuble, 74, has already said that he plans to run for a seat in the Bundestag again, a signal to many that he would like to continue to play an important role in the next cabinet.

But the SPD, which would probably have first choice of ministries in such a constellation, could claim the finance ministry this time around, as they did in 2005 in Merkel's first term. That would push Schaeuble into another ministry, blunting his role as a guardian of fiscal rectitude.

One senior official who served in both grand coalitions said the lessons of the past years would push Merkel's next coalition partner to take the finance ministry instead of the foreign ministry, the traditional first choice.

"Regardless of who that partner is, everyone has understood that the finance ministry has a great deal more value than the foreign ministry," the official said.

FROM WITHIN

Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said the European Commission's call for more spending was unlikely to sway Germany.

"The change needs to come from within," he said. But Odendahl does believe that a more vigorous debate is developing within Germany over the wisdom of Schaeuble's "Schwarze Null", or balanced budget, policies.

A poll for public broadcaster ARD in September showed that 58 percent of Germans favoured spending additional tax revenues on infrastructure investments, compared with 22 percent who prefer debt reduction and 16 percent who want tax cuts.

"If you had a different finance minister or if the political case for a topic-based fiscal expansion grew, then you could see a shift," he said, citing the messages from Trump's election. "Merkel is far too pragmatic and political to make the Schwarze Null a priority when there are other problems to address."

A more expansive German fiscal policy after the election may help pave the way for a tightening of monetary policy, a step Schaeuble himself has called for.

The European Central Bank (ECB), which meets next month to decide on whether to extend its quantitative easing (QE), or bond-buying programme, has been looking for ways out of its ultra-loose stance. It too has called on Germany to grab the stimulus baton.

Marcel Fratzscher, who runs the Berlin-based DIW economic institute and is a former senior official at the ECB, says the pressure is building on Berlin to shift its stance.

His worry is that the ruling parties may end up wasting the fiscal wiggle room they have by making lavish promises to pensioners in the coming election campaign.
India rail crash toll hits 146, survivor search called off

By Jitendra Prakash and Rupam Jain

PUKHRAYAN, India/NEW DELHI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Indian rescuers on Monday called off a search of the mangled carriages of a derailed train after pulling more bodies from the wreckage, taking to at least 146 the number of passengers killed in the disaster.

Sunday's derailment in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh was India's deadliest train tragedy since 2010 and has renewed concern about poor safety on the state-run network. A lifeline for millions, the railways suffer from chronic underinvestment, which has left it with ageing tracks and outdated rolling stock.

Rescue teams worked through the night with cranes and cutters to disentangle the train before police halted the search of the 14 carriages that derailed in the early hours while most passengers slept.

"The rescue operations are over. We don't expect to find any more bodies," said Zaki Ahmed, the police inspector general in the city of Kanpur, about 65 km (40 miles) from Pukhrayan, the crash site.

All of the carriages, some crumpled beyond recognition, have since been removed from the tracks.

The crash came during India's busy wedding season and media said blood-stained bags of saris and wedding cards carried by at least one wedding party on board were scattered beside the wreckage.

The derailment injured close to 200 people, scores of them seriously, officials said. After the tragedy, relatives thronged hospitals in a search for survivors.

A railways spokesman said the train carried 1,000 people travelling on reservations, but 700 more were estimated to have squeezed into the unreserved carriages.

AGEING BADLY

The largely colonial-era railway system, the world's fourth largest, carries a saturation-level total of about 23 million people daily. Ageing badly, its average speeds top just 50 kph (30 mph) and train accidents are common.

The crash is a stark reminder of the obstacles facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering on his promise to turn the railways into a more efficient, safer network befitting India's economic power.

Modi this year pledged record levels of investment and has announced a new high-speed line funded by Japan, but the main network has made little progress on upgrading tracks or signalling equipment.

He has also shied away from raising the highly subsidised fares that leave the railways with next to nothing for investment. By some analysts' estimates, they need 20 trillion rupees ($293.34 billion) of investment by 2020.

Modi held a political rally on Sunday about 210 km (130 miles) from the crash site in Uttar Pradesh, which heads to the polls early next year in an election his Bharatiya Janata Party is vying to win.

Mayawati, the state's former chief minister who uses only one name and is a Modi critic, said the government should have "invested in mending tracks instead of spending billions and trillions of rupees on bullet trains", media reported.

Junior railway minister Manoj Sinha said a fractured track might have caused the train to roll off the rails on its journey between the central Indian city of Indore and the eastern city of Patna. The government has ordered an inquiry to determine the precise cause.

Sunday's crash is India's worst rail tragedy since the collision of a passenger and a goods train in 2010, which the government blamed on sabotage by Maoist rebels.

In 2005, a train was crushed by a rock and another plunged into a river, each disaster killing more than 100 people. In what was probably India's worst rail disaster, a train fell into a river in the eastern state of Bihar of 1981, killing an estimated 500 to 800 people.
China grain buyers turn abroad as local suppliers fail to keep on trucking

By Dominique Patton and Hallie Gu

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A surge in Chinese corn prices after the government clamped down on the overloading of trucks has boosted demand for cheaper feed grains like sorghum and barley from top exporters the United States and Australia.

Beijing launched a nationwide crackdown on overloading lorries in late September, hitting supplies of corn which usually have to be transported around the country from northern growing regions.

Chinese corn prices have climbed 16 percent since the start of October, also supported after the government introduced subsidies for corn processors and as wet weather slowed the latest harvest.

That has provided an unexpected boost to overseas suppliers of grains that can be used as alternatives to corn in animal feed, with traders reporting an uptick in shipments of sorghum from the United States and barley from Australia.

"Inspections on overloading ... have limited overall transportation capacity and pushed up the cost (of local corn). Imported grains now have more price advantage," said Cherry Zhang, an analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. Ltd. The government wants to stamp out overloading to curb damage to roads and reduce accidents.

Beijing has also been giving priority to coal freight on its railways amid surging prices for the fuel as winter starts to bite, according to energy market participants.

U.S. sorghum shipped to south China currently costs around 1,660 yuan ($240) per tonne, said traders and analysts, compared with domestic corn arriving at Shenzhen's Shekou port for 2,040 yuan per tonne. Feed barley is about 1,500 yuan per tonne.

China has booked more than 20 vessels of U.S. sorghum since late October for arrival by February, said a trader in China, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak with media. That would amount to more than 1 million tonnes.

While overall volumes of sorghum imports are still seen dropping in 2016/17 from previous years, suppliers had not expected a sudden jump in demand just after China had harvested a bumper corn crop.

And at least three vessels of Australian barley are on their way to China, said a Singapore-based trader, adding that there had been a significant upturn in enquiries.

China is the world's top sorghum importer and its No.2 importer of barley.

China's grain markets have been in a state of flux since Beijing this year abandoned a state stockpiling policy that had seen it amass about 250 million tonnes of corn, more than the country can consume in a whole year. It had been looking to offload grain, but suspended auctions to encourage purchasing of new crop corn.

Meanwhile, the China-based trader said that new bookings for corn substitutes may begin to ease as buyers expect more corn to reach southern China soon after the government takes measures to boost transport capacity.

And sorghum prices have strengthened on recent Chinese activity, deterring forward purchases. ($1 = 6.8975 Chinese yuan renminbi)
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Nov 21

SOFIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Dozens of nationalists protested in Sofia and two other cities in the country, demanding better protection of the country's border with Turkey to prevent inflows of migrants. (Trud, Standart, Duma)

STANDART - The president will try to forger consent among political parties for a technocrat government with the mandate of the nationalist Patriotic Front and avoid appointment of an interim administration after the collapse of the centre-right government, sources familiar with matter said.

-- Police said it has arrested six people and seized over 50 Uzi submachine guns in Sofia in the biggest haul of illegal weapons in the past 30 years. (Standart, Sega, Monitor, Duma, 24 Chasa)
European shares fall on Italian worries

By Danilo Masoni

MILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Monday, weighed down by losses among pharmaceuticals and financials and by worries that next month's Italian referendum on constitutional reform could create political instability.

The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.5 percent by 1000 GMT. Italy's blue chip index fell 1 percent after hitting its lowest point since end-September as investors priced in a possible rejection of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's reform plan.

Investors are concerned that if Renzi loses the referendum, as the latest polls predict, the Italian government would fall into a serious crisis, threatening to destabilise the whole continent ahead of a string of national elections next year.

"The growing focus on political risk is contributing to Italian assets' difficulties," said JCI Capital portfolio manager Alessandro Balsotti, who noted how continued uncertainty over multi-billion-euro capital increases at UniCredit and Monte dei Paschi di Siena had also been weighing.

Among the biggest weights on the STOXX were Swiss-listed heavyweight drug makers Novartis and Roche, which fell 1.4 and 0.6 percent respectively; and big banks Lloyds and UBS, both down more than 1 percent.

German chip designer Aixtron fell more than 6 percent after a U.S. regulator moved to stop a planned Chinese takeover. The move raised concerns the deal would not go through.

"It is totally unclear whether the acquisition by Chinese investors will take place," said DZ Bank analyst Harald Schnitzer, who has a sell rating on the stock.

But BCP Millennium rose more than 3 percent after agreeing on a stake sale to Chinese conglomerate Fosun in a deal that would help the Portuguese lender to beef up its balance sheet.

UK midcaps were also on the backfoot after Essentra and Mitie warned over their outlook, raising concerns over the impact of Brexit on domestic UK companies. Essentra fell 19 percent and Mitie slumped 10 percent.

Gains in mining and energy stocks helped limit the broader market losses, as the sectors benefited from rising metal prices and hopes OPEC was moving closer to reaching an agreement to cut output when it meets next week.

Markus Huber of stockbrokers City of London Markets said concerns over the Italian vote on Dec. 4 as well as the likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise rates next month kept investors cautious, even though broader sentiment remained positive.
Mitie warns again on profits, blaming Brexit uncertainties

By Esha Vaish

Nov 21 (Reuters) - British outsourcing services firm Mitie issued its second profit warning in two months on Monday, saying the uncertainty amongst its customers after Britain voted to leave the European Union had resulted in fewer new orders.

The provider of pest control to property cleaning, security and healthcare services, said rising labour and other costs had hit its ability to win new business at a time when clients were looking to cope with the prospect of their own costs rising and budgetary pressures, particularly in the public sector.

As a result the company said it had decided to withdraw from the low-margin home healthcare services market, causing it to report a pretax loss for the six months ended Sept. 30 of 100.4 million pounds ($125 million) after writing off 117.2 million pounds from the value of the healthcare business.

Operating profits also fell by a worse than expected 39 percent to 35.4 million pounds, on revenue down 2.6 percent at 1.1 billion pounds, and the company said it expected underlying earnings for the full year would also be below its previous expectations.

The half-year dividend payout was cut by 25.9 percent to 4 pence on a 44 percent drop in underlying earnings, before exceptionals, to 6.2 pence a share.

The shares were down 7 percent at 194 pence by 1350 GMT, losing the gains made since the company gave its first profit warning in September, when the shares plunged by nearly 30 percent to 194 pence.

While most British support services firms have reported resilient trading since Britain voted to leave the European Union, Mitie and rival Capita have issued warnings, with Mitie saying customers were proving particularly hesitant in areas of higher margin discretionary spending.

Analysts say Mitie could underperform rivals in uncertain markets as it had not anticipated the additional costs from new labour laws on pay and training, as others had done last year, and discretionary spending in higher-margin businesses such as catering services were more vulnerable to clients seeking to cut their own costs.

"I think their costs are out of sync and their margins have always been very high relative to other people and that's the issue," Howard Seymour of Numis Securities told Reuters. "The market is not good, but it's not (bad) to the same degree that (Mitie is) saying by any stretch of imagination."

Chief Executive Ruby McGregor-Smith, who steps down on Dec. 12 after 10 years at the helm, said the company would be further reviewing its cost structure.

"Everyone is looking differently at their cost base in this environment ... I don't think that this is (like during the financial crisis of 2007-09) which was a much more dramatic change. I think it's much more softer, but everyone is preparing for a tougher economy going forward," she told Reuters.

Liberum analysts expect the new chief executive, Phil Bentley, a former head of British Gas, will take up to six months to formulate a new plan, which they expect will include more investment in IT to help reduce the cost base.
IS claims attack that kills dozens at Shi'ite mosque in Kabul

By Mirwais Harooni

KABUL, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded mosque in Kabul on Monday that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens, its third major attack on minority Shi'ites in the Afghan capital since July.

Officials said the attacker entered the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque shortly after midday as worshippers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi'ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

A statement in Arabic from Islamic State's Amaq news agency said one of its fighters had attacked the mosque.

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, a majority Sunni country, but the attack underlines the deadly new dimension that growing ethnic tension could bring to its decades-long conflict.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said at least 27 people had been killed and 35 wounded, while the United Nations said at least 32 had been killed and more than 50 wounded, including many children.

"I saw people screaming and covered in blood," one survivor told Afghanistan's Ariana Television, adding that around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene.

Another witness said he had helped to carry 30-35 bodies from the mosque.

Islamic State, based mainly in the eastern state of Nangarhar on the border with Pakistan, has gradually expanded its reach since emerging in Afghanistan last year.

Prior to Monday, it had claimed responsibility for two major attacks on Shi'ite targets in Kabul, including a suicide bombing which killed more than 80 people at a demonstration by the mainly Shi'ite Hazara community, the worst single attack on civilians since 2001.

Last month, it claimed an attack in which 18 people were killed when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Kabul for Ashura, one of the holiest occasions in the Shi'ite calendar.

At least 14 people were killed in an attack on a Shi'ite mosque in northern Balkh province, for which no group has so far claimed responsibility.

ISLAMIC STATE THREAT

The Taliban, itself fiercely opposed to Islamic State, had already denied any involvement.

"We have never attacked mosques as it's not our agenda," said the movement's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

But as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next year, the attack underlines the potential threat Afghanistan continues to pose as a haven for militant groups like Islamic State or al Qaeda that may try to use it as a base for attacks on targets outside the country.

Afghan security officials have been concerned that if Islamic State is forced out of its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, Afghanistan could become a new target.

"If they're put under pressure in the Middle East, a lot of their fighters from central Asia could end up in Afghanistan," said one senior official closely involved in security policy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Any resurgence of sectarian or ethnic violence stoked by the movement could threaten the fragile stability of the government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, who described the mosque blast as an attempt "to sow seeds of discord".

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".

"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he tweeted.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in the 15 years since the Taliban government was brought down in the U.S.-led campaign of 2001.
Pro-business Sessions will not go easy on corporate crime -lawyers

By Nathan Layne and Joel Schectman

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Jeff Sessions may be known as a pro-business conservative but as U.S. attorney general he is unlikely to shy away from indicting big companies and individuals for serious white-collar crimes, legal experts said, citing his record as a lawmaker.

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Sessions, a four-term senator from Alabama and former federal prosecutor, to lead the Justice Department. Sessions, 69, an early supporter of Trump, is expected to accept the cabinet post if confirmed.

A spokesman for Sessions did not respond to a request for comment.

Because of the dearth of big banks and companies in his home state, there is little in Sessions' track record as a federal prosecutor and state attorney general from the 1970s to the 1990s to suggest how he might approach complex cases of corporate malfeasance.

But a review of his record in the Senate indicates he will likely push for corporate indictments, instead of settling for fines, and may focus on putting more executives in prison, lawyers who specialize in white-collar crime said.

For example, during a 2010 confirmation hearing for James Cole, Sessions questioned the former U.S. deputy attorney general about the "dangerous" philosophy of not charging companies criminally because of concerns that doing so could lead to bankruptcy and hurt employees and shareholders.

"Normally, I was taught if they violated a law, you charge them. If they didn't violate the law, you don't charge them," Sessions said during the hearing.

RENEWED PUSH TO PROSECUTE

Matthew Schwartz, a former federal prosecutor and lawyer at Boies, Schiller & Flexner, said Sessions' remarks suggested that he may be more willing than the current administration to require a guilty plea from corporations with less concern for collateral consequences.

He said Sessions would also likely support the Justice Department's renewed efforts to prosecute executives, outlined in a policy memo last year by Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

While an unabashed businessman, Trump was highly critical of Hillary Clinton's ties to Wall Street, accusing his Democratic rival of being beholden to the interests of big investment banks.

That message resonated with many working class voters who suffered in the financial crisis of 2008 and are still angry that no top-level Wall Street figures have been prosecuted for acts that almost brought down the global financial system.

"Until we see evidence to the contrary, it appears that the new Justice Department will be one that will seek to hold every individual accountable to the fullest extent. So the stakes may be higher," Schwartz said.

NO LENIENCY

Jackson Sharman, a white-collar defense lawyer in Alabama, said that he believed Sessions would want to be as tough on white-collar as on street criminals. He pointed to Sessions' recent opposition to a crime bill that would have shown sentencing leniency for non-violent offenders.

Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor and Columbia Law School professor, who has testified before Sessions' Senate Judiciary Committee, agreed that the Alabama senator will be "a strong supporter" of corporate enforcement.

In the past, Sessions has come out in favor of tough Justice Department tactics against companies accused of fraud.

In 2007, corporate counsels pushed for a law that would have stopped the Justice Department from pressuring companies to waive attorney-client privilege during fraud investigations.

But during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sessions argued against any such rule, noting that prosecutors regularly pressure street criminals to waive constitutional rights using the threat of tougher penalties if they do not co-operate.

Sessions said the Justice Department should be able to use similar leverage against corporations.
Britain's Black Friday expected to be a record-breaking online affair

By James Davey

LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Spending on Britain's Black Friday discount shopping day is forecast to break last year's record takings, though it is expected to be predominantly an online affair this year.

Last year marked a change in the nature of the event imported from the United States. It generated record revenue but was unexpectedly subdued in terms of store-based sales, with shoppers put off by bad weather and memories of chaos and scuffles in 2014.

Shoppers searching for deals are expected to focus more sharply on online offers rather than those in stores.

PwC, the accounting and consultancy firm, is forecasting revenue from Black Friday promotions to grow by 38 percent to 2.9 billion pounds ($3.6 billion).

Its research found that 27 percent of British adults intend to buy something over the weekend and on average expect to spend 203 pounds, with 77 percent of the survey's respondents planning online purchases, against only 17 percent setting their sights on in-store deals.

Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, was so named because spending would surge and retailers would traditionally begin to turn a profit for the year, moving from the red into the black.

A fixture in Britain since 2010, it falls on Nov. 25 this year.

The day has developed into an important part of a Christmas trading season that now has three peaks - Black Friday, the week up to Dec. 25 and then the post-Christmas sales, when products are offered at reduced prices.

Analysts argue that Black Friday discounts pull forward Christmas sales that store groups would otherwise have made at full price and can dampen business in subsequent weeks.

Retailers, however, say that carefully planned targeted promotions with global suppliers allow them to achieve a sales boost while maintaining profit margins.

This year more retailers, including Amazon, Dixons Carphone, Argos and Tesco, have stretched Black Friday promotions over a week or two to smooth demand and reduce pressure on supply and distribution infrastructure.

Dixons Carphone's Currys PC World electrical retail chain is offering deals on more than 3,500 products over 10 days. It is anticipating 141 orders per minute over the period, with shopping on mobile devices expected to be greater than that on desktop computers for the first time. Amazon launched its Black Friday sale on Nov. 14.

"Retailers have been, understandably, learning about the pitfalls of over-distributing overly discounted lines to eager shoppers ahead of what has traditionally been peak trading season," said Shore Capital analyst Clive Black.

"Equally, shoppers have sussed out a lot of the specially ordered low-quality tat that comprises Black Friday, too, so conditioning some of their behaviour." ($1 = 0.8091 pounds)
JAMESTOWN -- The Jamestown Police Department is still searching for an adult male who robbed the Jamestown M&H gas station and attacked an employee who was opening the business early Saturday morning.

Sgt. Brian Miller said Sunday afternoon there was no new information to provide in the case. He said the investigation is ongoing.

At approximately 4:38 a.m. Saturday an employee at M&H gas station contacted police to report that the store had been robbed by a man who displayed a weapon and accosted her.

The employee was outside preparing the store to open at 5 a.m., Lt. Justin Blinsky said. She was approached by the masked suspect, who knocked her to the ground before ordering her to go back into the store.

Once inside the store the suspect displayed a weapon, Blinsky said. The employee complied with the suspects demands to hand over an undisclosed amount of cash, and the suspect left the store shortly after, he said.

The employee did what she was supposed to do and followed commands and did not resist, Blinsky said. The is the best procedure to do when confronted by someone with a weapon.

The employee did not suffer serious injuries but was obviously shaken by the robbery, Blinsky said. The employee was taken to the Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center to provide a statement.

The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, with a large, heavy-set build. No information on race or age was given other than the suspect appeared to be between 20 and 40 years old.

Jamestown Police Department is investigating this case. Stutsman County Sheriffs Office is assisting in the investigation that is ongoing. There is no connection between this robbery and any other crime locally or regionally at this time, he said.

If anyone witnessed a person walking in the vicinity of the gas station at 325 1st Ave S. before or after the time of the robbery on Saturday, call 252-1000 or 252-2414 to report any information. A photo of the suspect may be available in the future, he said.
Trump meets with Oklahoma governor, ex-Texas governor Perry, others

Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican President-elect Donald Trump holds more meetings on Monday as he continues to form the cabinet and administration that will take over from President Barack Obama on Jan. 20. He was scheduled to meet with the following people, according to his transition team:

MONDAY

JEROME ADAMS

* Indiana State Health Commissioner

* Appointed by Vice President-elect and Indiana Governor Mike Pence in October 2014

SCOTT BROWN

* Former one-term Republican U.S. senator from Massachusetts

* Defeated by Democrat Elizabeth Warren in 2012

* Former member of Massachusetts Army National Guard

* Told reporters he was vying to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration

ELAINE CHAO

* U.S. labor secretary under President George W. Bush

* Deputy U.S. transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush

* Wife of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

MARY FALLIN

* Two-term Oklahoma governor; first elected in 2010

* One of 64 agriculture policy advisers to Trump's presidential campaign

* Under consideration for an administration post, including with Department of Interior

* Told reporters after her meeting that she was not yet offered a position, calling it an "initial meeting"

TULSI GABBARD

* Democratic U.S. representative from Hawaii, an early supporter of Bernie Sanders

* Serves on the U.S. House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees

NEWT GINGRICH

* Former U.S. House of Representatives speaker, 1995-1999; represented Georgia from 1979 to 1999

* Has said he hopes to have an advisory position to Trump administration rather than a Cabinet post; had been floated as possible secretary of state

BRANDON JUDD AND CHRIS CRANE

* Judd is the president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing U.S. Border Patrol agents

* Crane is president of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Council, a union representing ICE agents

* Both unions endorsed Trump

RICK PERRY

* Former Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016

* Under consideration for Cabinet posts including defense, energy and veterans affairs
Turkish-backed rebels and Kurds battle over Syria's al Bab

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels backed by Turkey who are trying to drive Islamic State from the city of al Bab said on Monday they clashed with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces as both groups seek to dislodge the militants to expand their own territory.

The rebels said the fighting with the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab tribal fighters, led by the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, erupted in the village of Sheikh Nasser.

The village and others that were captured by the Turkish- backed operation were until recently in the hands of Islamic State and part of the militants' last enclave near the Syrian-Turkish border.

"We clashed with the Kurdish YPG and we took over the village," said Abu Assad Dabeq, a commander in the Turkish-backed Operation Euphrates Shield. The operation was launched in August when Ankara sent warplanes, tanks and artillery into Syria in support of mostly Arab and Turkmen rebels.

The SDF could not be immediately reached for comment and there was no way of independently verifying if the rebels did have control of the village.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said last week seizing control of al Bab, around 30 km (19 miles) south of the border, is a goal of the operation before targeting Manbij, where Kurdish-led forces drove out Islamic State, and the militants' de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa.

Ankara views the YPG militia as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Ankara has also said YPG fighters should not be involved in the planned Raqqa offensive.

So far, the rival sides have had minimal direct confrontation as they compete to grab territory from the retreating Islamic State who once dominated swathes of territory from the Turkish border further south towards Aleppo city.

"The YPG are trying to advance to the areas we are advancing to," said Abu Assad Dabeq, adding his troops were already only a few kilometres away from al Bab and were fortifying their positions to hold back any advance by Kurdish-led forces.

"They are competing with us to reach al Bab. They are working on cutting all roads either from Aleppo or in the direction of al Bab," he added.

The SDF had effectively created a belt that separated the mainly Arab Sunni rebels from where the Syrian army was positioned further south, he added.

Capturing al Bab would be a significant victory for Ankara, which is seeking to establish a de facto safe zone and thwart Kurdish hopes of establishing a corridor between areas east and west of the Euphrates.

The Syrian army is also nearly 12 km south of the city. Damascus has said it would not allow Turkey's allies to take the city.

A fighter in Failaq al Sham said the Turkish army had since Saturday stepped up its artillery shelling and aerial raids of both the militants in Qabasin, located on a strategic ground that overlooks al Bab, and the SDF in their newly gained villages in an attempt to halt their advance.
The senior holders of the status of SLIM Certified Professional Marketer (CPM) engaged in an open discussion with the president of the Asian Marketing Federation (AMF),Gwen Albarracin at SLIM home, Colombo recently.

The objectiveof the meeting was to discuss the way forward for AMF activities in Sri Lanka while providing a forum for a mutualsharing of experiences.

Gwen Albaracinmade an appearance as a special guest at Brand Excellence 2016 organized by SLIM which was held on the 8th of November and this is her first visit to a member country after coming into her role as President. Her discussion with CPM senior status holders coincided with this event.

SLIM being the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka grooms aspiring marketers to become leading marketing professionals in the country and beyond. With this core objective, SLIM as the only accredited study center in Sri Lanka for CPM studies facilitating Sri Lankan marketers to obtain CPM (Asia) status which is conferred by the prestigious Asian Marketing Federation (AMF).

AMF, representing 16 Asian countries in the region endorses professionalism of marketers in the region with the CPM certification.

CPM certification sheds light on an individuals professional competency, high standards of experience, knowledge and conduct. Thus CPM status endorses a person as a fully fledged marketer that could be looked up by his/her employer, clients/customers and peers in the marketing sphere.

The President of SLIM, Upul Adikari welcomed the AMF president and senior CPM status holders by stating that the organizing this forum was an initiative towards maintaining a strong relationship between AMF and SLIM.

SLIM constantly carries out macro activities in the country to facilitate and elevate the nations value. Our vision being to support Sri Lankas efforts towards sustainable development and economic prosperity, whilst creatingthe best marketing forums for networking facilitates in the process. SLIM intendson conducting many more activities for the benefit of the CPM fraternity in the future, he added. President of the AMF, Gwen Albaracin shared her plans towards the growth of AMF activities in the region.

CPM (Asia) is the highest recognition for marketers who have attained a competent level of academic and practical understanding of marketing in the Asian region. Persons who have the CPM (Asia) status have endeavoured in championing the growth of their respective companies to become influential marketers in the region. These facts are sheer proof of the importance and credibility of the CPM (Asia) qualification, she commented.

SLIM being one of the most credible marketing institutes in the region is very concerned about the professional growth of its members and students. SLIM grooms passionate and experienced marketers who could rub shoulders with their peers in the global marketing sphere, she endorsed.

Albaracin added, I believe SLIM having its members as CEOs and CMOs in the best companies in the country is the best mentor for CPM program in Asia. I invite Sri Lankan marketers to follow the CPM program at SLIM.

Those senior CPM (Asia) status holders who participated in the event were; SLIM Past President Nalin Artiyagala, Prof. Kamalgoda, Nishan Navarathna, Wasantha Mallikarachchi, Sarath Fernando and Rohan Somawansa (Vice President AMF). Also attending were Adel Hashim, Dr Rizwan Jaldeen, Senaka Amaratunga, Sudarshana Jayatilaka and Taraka Ranwala.

Sharing their experiences, ideas and suggestions they saidthe CPM (Asia) status inspires and motivates young and budding marketers on their quest to climb the corporate ladder.

Further all CPM holders endorsed CPM as the only professional qualification that bestows marketers with the experience and confidence necessary to handle the Asian market.They urged the need for further networking opportunities to strengthen Asian Marketers.

The CPM members stated thattheyhave already announced that the CPM status is one of the main criterions to apply for marketing related job vacancies.

Secretary of SLIM, Suranjith Swaris commented, In the view of celebrating the 20th anniversary of CPM at SLIM in Sri Lanka, this is the very first forum organized by SLIM for the CPM fraternity and SLIM will organizeinnovative activities in the future with a view to offering all CPM holders networking opportunities with the regional marketing fraternities in Asia.

AMFs crucial mission is to effectively promote the interests in marketing in Asia in general with a view to strengthening the Asian marketing fraternity.
Sri Lankas leading private sector bank, HNB announced the launch of its new web-based, fully-integrated payments and cash management (PCM) platform  HNB Online, a comprehensive new online banking portal featuring robust functionalities capable of meeting the needs of any corporate - large

or small.

Designed and developed to be highly scalable, the new portal allows corporates complete and secure access to their portfolio of HNB accounts and facilities, at any time, from

any location.

First local bank to offer fully-integrated electronic PCM

Until recently, the offering of a fully integrated electronic banking portal to top tier corporates to better manage their payments and cash management was a captive business of the multinational banks. What is noteworthy is that with the launch of HNB Online, HNB now enters this market as the first local bank to support corporates in this important business sphere. HNB Online is designed to allow corporates comprehensive real time control over their day to day management of collections, payments and liquidity investments whilst also supporting in-depth performance capabilities that can easily be integrated into any Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as SAP and Oracle, in order to deliver a total banking solution for enterprise-level clients.

From its inception, HNB has always sought to carve out market leadership positions through investment in the state of the art services and technology innovation. In more recent years in particular, the Bank has worked aggressively develop and refine its product depth and service offering, both from a human resource perspective as well as from the adoption of breakthrough technologies. Our new Payments and Cash Management platform - HNB Online, represents the latest and most bold step in this long journey and we are confident that its unprecedented functionalities and capabilities will revolutionize the experience of banking in Sri Lanka and permanently raise the bar for customer expectations of integrated banking systems, HNBs Ruwan Manatunga, DGM Corporate Banking said.

From real-time information on account balances and cash flow status to automated fully integrated payments and collections, HNBs Payments and Cash Management system comes with a far-reaching suite of product features that can be scaled to meet the needs of any corporate, from a vibrant new start-up to a diversified conglomerate.

Migrating from traditional

manual payments

Sandun Hapugoda, Head of Payments and Cash Management, further elaborated that the portal is rich with many functionalities that includes migrating manual paper based cheque and pay order payments to electronic-based processing, as well as supporting electronic fund transfers such as Sri Lanka Interbank Payments (SLIPS), Common Electronic Fund Transfer System (CEFTS) and Real-Time Gross Payments (RTGP) etc, as template based transactions or as bulk payments through file upload or direct ERP integration.

With the use of HNBs electronic fund transfer product suite, corporates are capable of experiencing reduced processing costs and improved workflow efficiencies whilst been able to initiate transactions through a highly secure environment. HNB Online also allows corporates to maintain complex authorization matrixes as well as schedule payments to be effected at a future date.

With HNB Online, corporates now have the ability to outsource to the Bank the processing of paper based payment instruments such as cheques, pay orders, dividends to the extent of printing these instruments with signatures and dispatching them to beneficiaries, thus benefiting with time and cost saving. Additionally, an array of MI reports are available for ease of reconciliation.

Compatibility to receive data files

in any format and initiate transaction alerts

Another key feature of HNB Online is the ability of the system to accept any file format of a corporate without the company having to incur any additional cost to change their corporate ERP system to be compatible to upload files to HNBs platform. The system also initiates automated alerts to the beneficiaries as well as authorizes transactions confirming the completion of transactions effected.

Real-time reconciliation of collections and receivables

The platform further supports a fully-integrated collections solution through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Invoice Presentment & Payments (EIPP) that provides capabilities for streamlining collections and receivable reconciliation. These features provide significant value to corporates that have a large daily collection volume from multiple sources.

With the EDI solution, the bank makes available and extends to corporates HNBs full 250 branch network along with 400 plus ATMs and cash deposit machines as collection points. Collection transactions from across the Banks delivery channels are processed by the EDI system and updated real-time with the corporates ERP account receivable module. This automation of real time reconciliation of collection transactions help eliminate manual reconciliation requirements and as a result Corporates are now able to leverage on this system to fasten time critical business processes. That is the release or dispatch products and services immediately upon the realtime update of collections and reconciliation of accounts receivables.

HNB also further extends the EDI collection solution to corporates by partnering with third party service providers to collect physical cash and cheques from designated collection points.

Electronic platform to support distributor and supplier financing

Additionally, the distributor and supplier financing capabilities of HNB Online also provide an electronic platform for corporates to integrate their entire supply value chain and the effective management of receivables leading to improved Day Sales Outstanding (DSO).

The improved efficiency and enhanced visibility allows corporates to conduct more accurate forecasting  helping to lower the overall cost of doing business while also potentially strengthening supplier and customer relationships.

Executing paperless intl trade transactions

HNB Onlines trade platform further supports the execution of paperless trade transactions from LC opening, bill presentment and trade financing. This eliminates the need of manually completing documentation and provides a speedier service to execute trade transactions.

Multi-level security matrix

Parallel to the development of its comprehensive list of online services, HNB has also channeled extensive resources towards securing its online banking portal.

HNB Online features multiple security features and dual authentication protocols that can be seamlessly linked into existing customer file formats and multi-level authorization matrixes. With access to comprehensive MI reports, detailed corporate financial transaction history and audit trail, HNB Online also supports management teams the ability to improve decision-making and create process efficiencies.

World class banking experiences

To conclude, Ruwan Manatunga commented that HNB aims to position its Payments and Cash Management Platform as the very pinnacle of integrated technology-led banking services.

The portal empowers corporates with complete flexibility to fully integrate and automate collections , payments and liquidity investments with real time reconciliations and updates with the additional benefit of having access to HNBs island wide footprint of customer centers and electronic delivery channels. HNBs investment in this state of the art platform technology is a further affirmation of the Banks continued desire to provide world class corporate banking services to its large and valued customer base.
Sunsilk and Ramani Fernando revealed Sunsilks new and vibrant hair care range embarking on an exciting journey of hair adventure with the girls of Sri Lanka. This revolutionary unveiling is expected to create exhilaratingwaves in the hair care market,starting thisfestive season,as opined by beauty and hair care experts of the industry.

The new Sunsilk range, with its wow inside, has been co-created by seven of the worlds top hair experts, and is the brands most effective formula, yet. Some of the variants which have been significantly improved are;Thick and Long- enriched with keratin yoghurt, Soft and Smooth enriched with 5 natural oils, Perfect Straight  enriched with silk proteins and Damage Restore - enriched with keratin and calcium. The product caters to a variety of Sri Lankan hair care needs be it hair volume, shine, length or the straightness that girls are looking for. The new outside presents a vibrant outlook and 3D packaging giving the bottle a refreshing look and feel.

Sri Lankas leading hair care expert, Sunsilk, together with Ramani Fernando unveiled the exciting new range during an event held in Colombo which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Ramani in her career as a pioneering hairdresser in Sri Lanka. At the event, the two expertsjointly showcased the future of hair care in enthralling hair fashion segments which projected trending hairstyles for the upcoming year.

Marketing Director-Personal Care for Unilever Sri Lanka, Sharmila Bandara said, Sunsilks promise of hair on your side has stayed true for over 6 decades, evolving and always tuned in to what girls want and need. This promise has been mirrored by our esteemed collaboration with Ramani Fernando. Together, we have createda standing for hair that is unprecedented in Sri Lanka, taking hair care and style from an afterthought to a defining factor in every girls life.

Sunsilk and Ramani Fernando have set down strong roots as brands that articulate trends and needs long before they become popular. These are two empires building a future together that goes beyond just product, fad or supply and demand. We are arming generations with the potential to be more. Taking hair from an indulgent space into an empowering and necessary one. Something they can count on, and will always have on their side, she said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Founder of Ramani Fernando Salons, Ramani Fernando said I had the pleasure of partnering with Sunsilk at an early stage in my career andit was an honour for me to be associated with such iconic names in the industry. What was even better was that this relationship never felt like a business partnership but more of a cherished friendship that has lasted for over 3 decades.

Speaking further she said, My proudest contribution with Sunsilk to the community has been in training talented young hairdressers and engaging them in various meaningful programmes which has redefined, and brought the idea of hairdressing to a higher pedestal in Sri Lanka. A feat that I would not have been able to achieve without the support given to me by Unilever as the driving force behind this venture.

The enduring partnership between Ramani Fernando and Sunsilk includes more than a decade-long collaboration on the Ramani Fernando Sunsilk Hair and Beauty Academy which has seen over 5,000 students pass out from the institute to enter the haircare and beauty industry of Sri Lanka in a professional capacity. The two have also tied up in as the island wide search for talent through the Hadakaari competition, giving opportunities to scores of budding hairstylists to realize their potential. Both initiatives have made significant progress in discovering and grooming potential hair and beauty professionals around the country, ultimately contributing to the progress of the industry.
Some Diyawanna backbenchers forced to be present in the House in view of the ongoing debate on the Budget 2017 have taken to playing cyber games to kill time.



These backbenchers  mostly newcomers  are said to be unhappy that they have been compelled to attend the debate on the Budget continuously for several days, and they have found cyber games a good pastime.



Party leaders have made it compulsory for the backbenchers to attend the sittings these days expecting them to familiarize themselves with the working of Parliament apart from ensuring a steady quorum in the House. But all indications are that these members are not interested in fulfilling either purpose, they say.
If family WhatsApp groups are to be believed, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have no other job in the world besides announcing various Indian things have been declared the best in the world. So far, if these mass forwards are to be believed, everything starting from our national anthem, to our prime minister, to Patanjali products, to Mumbai locals, everything has been declared the best in the world by UNESCO and therefore should be above questions.

Of course, one has to wonder why the UNESCO is judging random things at god-knows-what arbitrary standards, but when has the world known WhatsApp forwards to lie?

Photo: Indiatoday.in

Post the demonetisation drive (that has been heavily criticised by economists, the opposition and a huge section of the general population) and the launch of the new Rs 2,000 currency note (that has been criticised as well), the hurt fanboys of the Modi government, in a bid to regain national confidence in Modis moves, have floated the rumour that UNESCO has declared the new Rs 2,000 notes, the best currency notes in the world?

Congratulation to all of us. Our new Rs 2000 note is declared as the "BEST CURRENCY OF THE WORLD"by UNESCO Just few minutes ago. Dr. Saurabh Mukherjee, head of cultural awareness department of UNESCO announced this to media this afternoon.

Kindly share this.

Very proud to be an INDIAN.

Photo: Screengrab

Good news of the morning is: our new Rs 2000 Note is declared best in the world by UNESCO just Few minutes back, Cheers!!!  Note????Worthy (@indian_spicy) November 21, 2016

Congratulations to all of us. The new Rs 2000 note has be declared as "THE BEST CURRENCY OF THE WORLD" by UNESCO. ????????????  Navin Khaitan (@navinkhaitan) November 20, 2016

Photo: Screengrab

Photo: Screengrab

Photo: Screengrab

Are you feeling proud? Please dont.
Away from the hustle bustle at Marrakech in Morocco, where the world leaders were busy charting out rules and procedures for the implementation of the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature from rising, are Lohit and Anjaw, two districts in the far north-eastern corner of India, in the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Himalayan state has been experiencing an increasingly erratic pattern of rainfall. Anthropogenic activities such as increasing urbanisation vis-a-vis concrete buildings in towns across the state, the increasing use of polluting vehicles, the great dam surge (carried out to supposedly exploit the hydropower potential of the mighty Himalayan rivers cutting across the breadth of the state) and vanishing forests  people use them for firewood in the absence of adequate LPG in remote mountain areas  have started taking their toll on the health of the Himalayas.

India was able to spearhead renewable energy enthusiast countries, but at the risk of the financial aspect being hijacked by the rich countries.

When I spoke to a friend who runs a school in Lohit district about what Arunachal Pradesh government is doing to combat climate change, his blunt response was: Human resources which will influence anything and everything are misguided and allowed to go to hell.

His reaction is understandable. The Indian state machinery  both at the Centre and in the various states under the federal structure  has been a tad lethargic in reaching out to all stakeholders, especially the communities that are likely to experience the direct impact due to rising temperatures, erratic precipitation, untimely rains and increasing instances of drought.

We have had the Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) tragedy in 2013, we have had unprecedented unseasonal floods in Chennai (2015) and we have the annual, and increasingly intensifying Brahmaputra (Assam) floods, all of which have led to colossal damage to life and property, not to mention the deceleration of the economy. Climate change has made the situation challenging, but faulty policies to battle climate change are making it worse.

Uttarakhand floods (2013)

Manipur floods (2015)

Chennai floods (2015)

Assam floods (2016)

The answers to questions such as how much / what action and for whom really matter in deciding the action India takes for its denizens, including those from the tiny Himalayan hamlets, coastal towns and villages, the three most vulnerable communities that face the heat due to climate change.

While what is achieved at the United Nations Climate Change summit (for the uninitiated, COP  Conference of Parties signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC)) that concluded at Marrakech on November 19 is necessary, much more needs to be done.

India especially needs to gear up its machinery at the state level to leverage the various agreements and action plans it has promised her people.

What was achieved at Marrakech?

After two weeks of deliberations at Marrakech, leaders from more than 190 countries adopted what was called the Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development to combat the alarming and unprecedented rate of climate change. The governments strongly reaffirmed their resolve to work together on implementing the Paris Agreement, which paves the way for closing in the gap between current emissions of polluting gases and the future projections to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius by 2100.

India was able to spearhead renewable energy enthusiast countries, but at the risk of the financial aspect being hijacked by the rich countries. In all, 23 countries signed the framework agreement for the International Solar Alliance (ISA)  launched with much fanfare in India in early 2016 with its international secretariat located at Gurgaon  an important step in the clean energy track.

At a climate change protest, at Marrakech 2016.

As part of its action plan to help keep rising temperatures in check, India has announced that it will aim for 100GW of solar energy by 2022 (part of the energy mix comprising renewable energy).

Leveraging the bright sunshine available to most Indian cities more than 300 days a year is an ambitious step for which India needs assistance in technology and funding. The ISA should help in its avowed purpose of developing cheaper solar technologies and raise funds. The tricky part is  will there be enough funds?

Reposing the responsibility for historic emissions on the shoulders of the developed nations, poorer and developing countries have been demanding that rich countries pay them to fight the ill-effects of climate change  Green Climate Fund, Adaptation and Mitigation, Loss and Damage Mechanism and so forth.

It was never easy to make richer countries pay and the Marrakech COP was no different. The bottom line remains that rich countries get to dictate what they call as climate finance even when the kitty of $100 billion annually, as part of Green Climate Fund, is nowhere near 25 per cent; forget about other heads of funds.

Ahead of the COP22, India had repeatedly said it demands climate justice and transparency in the processes. Also, Anil Madhav Dave, the minister for state for environment, forests and climate change, had said  rather repeated what his predecessor Prakash Javadekar used to say  that India would demand developing countries to make changes in the lifestyles of rich nations to bring down their per capita energy consumption. The Marrakech COP was yet another opportunity for India to show to the developed world what you are doing is insufficient on the counts of money and lifestyle. Not that India did not try, but not enough was done to call a spade a spade.

Problems in implementation of Indias action plan to combat climate change as submitted to the UNFCCC called the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs) does not have sectoral goals; rather, it aims at economic goals.

It does not have any kind of punitive provision, and speaks the language of this shall be done, that shall be done". There is no clarity as to how the states  which have their own "action plans for climate change" will deliver on their proposed actions and promises under the National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change and eight different missions under it (with a separate one for the Himalayas).

Such issues have remained unattended for many years now. At a pre-COP consultation in Delhi in October 2016, Harjeet Singh of Action Aid International, had rightly pointed out: There is a start difference between state level and national level action plans.

The states also lack the capacity to think about changing paradigms and effectively implement their own action plans, drawn mostly by outsourcing. Informed decisions, advocacy at official and community levels and effective implementation hold the key.

Two of the significant points made at the Marrakech Action Proclamation:

1. We call for the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority.

2. The transition in our economies required to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement provides a substantial positive opportunity to increase prosperity and sustainable development.
FARGO  A snow plow operator remembers working 25 straight days for 12 hours at a crack, moving mountains of snow.

A police officer recalls having to borrow four-wheel-drive vehicles from another city department in order to get around.

A meteorologist is reminded of the North Dakota National Guard being called out for emergency snow removal.

For a commuting mail carrier, being stranded comes to mind.

Memories are vivid in the Fargo-Moorhead area of the infamous winter of 1996-97, which brought eight blizzards, a record-smashing amount of snow and brutal cold followed by a terrible flood.

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the first of the eight blizzards. What began as a slushy snow segued into a blizzard that dropped 13.5 inches of snow and packed winds gusting to 47 mph.

Fargo Public Works supervisor Lee Anderson said from there, it was an uphill battle for city street crews.

We were losing control of the streets that winter, Anderson said. I think we lost control from the start.

John Wheeler, longtime meteorologist at WDAY TV and 970 AM WDAY radio, said the winter featured many tough days for people simply trying to get to work, the store or to school.

It just wore down on you, Wheeler said.

Plows and police cars

Lee Anderson, who has been with Fargo Public Works for 36 years, said the first snow was difficult to move because it was so wet and heavy. The citys biggest equipment  loaders and road graders  managed OK as the snow piled up, storm after storm. The same couldnt be said for the plows.

You can only push so much, he said. Some of the banks were literally 5 to 6 feet tall, for hundreds of feet.

Anderson said Fargos street crews were never able to fully widen the roads and the intersections were ridiculous.

Between the winter and the spring flood that followed, Anderson racked up many hours of overtime from November through June.

To this day, that winter and spring, its still the most money I ever made, he said.

For another city employee, the brutal winter made for a rude welcome.

Deputy Police Chief Joe Anderson was 24 and newly hired to the force in January 1997.

Instead of the all-wheel or four-wheel-drive vehicles police now have for patrol duty, the department was mostly equipped with rear-wheel drive Ford Crown Victorias or Chevy Caprices.

They didnt get around well at all, Joe Anderson said.

The police department had to borrow 4-by-4s for much of that winter.

I remember the entire night shift driving city engineers vehicles, the deputy chief said.

Those vehicles had no radios, lights or sirens  just a city of Fargo emblem on the side. Officers sometimes used plug-in strobe lights to pull someone over.

Another issue was the huge snowbanks at corners, which prompted drivers to inch precariously into intersections, leading to more than the usual number of crashes.

Joe Anderson was involved in one of those. Driving his personal vehicle, he tried backing up after venturing too far into the street to see approaching traffic.

In his high-profile pickup, he failed to see a car right behind him, causing a fender bender, he said.

Neither snow nor rain

According to the U.S. Postal Services motto, the weather isnt supposed to prevent carriers from delivering the mail.

The winter of 1996-97 didnt keep Darrell Boreen from doing his job, but it did keep him from sleeping in his own bed many nights.

Now a letter carrier in Fargo, back then he delivered mail in Wahpeton and commuted from his south Fargo home each day. When the storms raged and he couldnt make it back, he got a hotel room across the street from the Wahpeton post office.

A number of times that winter, he only made it home to Fargo on weekends.

Maybe 20 to 25 days, maybe more, spending nights in a hotel, Boreen said. I lost track.

Lynn Brosowske, another postal carrier, remembers piles of snow around his own home and the landscaping job they brought later.

A brother-in-law got hold of a skid steer and came and pushed it all up in my yard and managed to take about three-quarters of my turf with it, Brosowske said, adding, I was regrowing grass for a while.

Rogue record

Wheeler describes the 117 inches of snow that fell that winter as a rogue record.

Thats 3 inches shy of 10 feet! Not only that, thats more than 2 feet more than second place, he said.

Wheeler said it really got crazy when the National Guard brought out its equipment in mid-January. According to Forum archives, 20 bulldozers and six large rotary snow blowers were deployed, mostly in the southeast and south-central parts of the state.

You knew it was not a standard winter, Wheeler said. You knew, this is epic.

Dave Oddens mark on that winter was seen far and wide. A photo of him blowing snow in his driveway in West Fargo, surrounded by towering snowdrifts, was published in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

He still lives in the same house and still owns the snowblower that got him and his family through the winter of 1996-97.

He said the machine still runs great, and is ready for another round of whatever winter dishes out.

Its tuned up and starts on the first pull, Odden said.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed-ended fund targeting the fixed-income markets of Pennsylvania. It was previously known as Nuveen Pennsylvania Investment Quality Municipal Fund and was founded in December 1990. The fund is headquartered in the U.S. and is subject to applicable laws and taxes.

The primary objective of the fund is to generate income exempt from Pennsylvania personal income taxes as well as federal income taxes. The secondary objective is to generate capital gains by improving the portfolios value. The fund is externally managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. Nuveen is a TIAA company that was originally founded in 1898 to finance public infrastructure projects. Among its achievements are funding the building of Americas public schools and innovating new forms of bonds to fund highways.

The fund invests up to 80% of the portfolio in tax-exempt municipal bonds with a rating of Baa/BBB or higher. Up to 20% of the portfolio may be sub-investment grade with 10% allocated to bonds rated B-/B3 or lower. Total assets under management topped $720.750 million in the second half of 2022 with total distributions in excess of $27.00 per share since inception.

The fund managers use a blend of fundamental analysis and a bottom-up stock-picking approach in creating their portfolio and actively manage its components. The fund's average return on NAV since inception is 5.45% as of October 2022 and the shares tend to trade at a 15% discount to its NAV or net asset value.

The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Standard & Poor's Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Index and Standard & Poor's National Municipal Bond Index. Income is distributed monthly in the form of a dividend that is paid from earnings. The company also uses leverage to enhance gains but the leverage ratio tends to run low near 40%. The average cost of financing was 2.38% in October 2022 with an average portfolio coupon of 4.56%. There were 288 holdings at the time with an average maturity of 16.6 years. The top 3 holdings, comprising roughly 20% of the portfolio, were Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Energy Harbor Corp, and Pennsylvania State Turnpike Commission Toll Revenue Bonds.
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. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U.  Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited  Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. 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..

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Donald Trump might be busy trying to figure all the details out of his move to the White House, but apparently, he still has the time to meet during his busy day with business partners.

Last week Trump had a meeting with three businessmen from India. The three are building a new apartment complex that will have the president-elects name. This raised new questions about whether Trump can separate his business interests once he becomes the U.S. president.

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The Trump meeting was reported early last week by a newspaper in India, which said the three India businessmen discussed the expanding of business interests of Trump in India.

Currently Trumps company has five ongoing projects in India. He allegedly praised the prime minister of India during that meeting. He is reported to have said that Narendra Modi the prime minister was doing an excellent job.

On Sunday, this story was run by the New York Times that noted the meeting raised new concerns about the conflict of interest on Trumps part, once he is the president.

A Trump spokesperson played the significance of last weeks meeting down, emphasizing that it was only a courtesy call from those people who were wanting to give their congratulations to Trump for being elected president.

Ethics experts quickly sounded an alarm. One expert said there might be some who look at the meeting as ok, but for most of the public in the U.S., it will not be ok. His president-elect role should dictate that there is someone else handling the business matters.

All this comes following other news that has raised questions if Trump can maintain business interests apart from his commander in chief role.

Earlier Ivanka Trump was present at a meeting with Shinzo Abe the Prime Minister of Japan. That concerned many since she is one of the children of Trump who will operate a blind trust that would be operating his businesses while he is president of the U.S.

In addition, on Saturday it was revealed by the Washington Post that the Washington hotel owned by Trump was attempting to woo embassies into putting visitors at that property when they visit the capital.

Time will tell what other items pop up to give people concerns over Trumps business concerns and his running the nation.
This is a current list of the top 250 companies by market capitalization on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Learn more .

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is one of the largest, and most recognizable, stock exchanges in the world. The NYSE is in New York City, New York at 11 Wall Street. The NYSE has been in existence since the earliest days of the United States becoming a nation, in 1792 and is primarily made up of blue-chip companies with large market capitalizations. In fact, many of the stocks that make up the Dow Jones Composite Index (i.e. The Dow) are listed on the NYSE.

This article gives a brief history of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, it covers topics such as what kind of stocks trade on the exchange, what are the listing requirements, how trading is performed, and what the daily price movement of the NYSE tells investors about investor sentiment.

What Were the Origins of the NYSE?

Today, the New York Stock Exchange is known as the center of the financial universe. However, the exchanges origin is far more humble. On May 17, 1792, 24 stockbrokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement creating a centralized exchange to help provide order to the securities market in what was still a young nation. The "Buttonwood Agreement comes from the tree of the same name under which the founders signed the agreement.

An initial benefit of the exchange was how it removed the need for auctioneers when trading commodities like wheat and tobacco and to set a commission rate. The exchange initially focused on government bonds.

However, the exchange had no formal home. Business was usually conducted informally in the local coffeehouses. In 1817, the exchange changed its name to the New York Stock & Exchange Board which later became the New York Stock Exchange. At this time, the exchange adopted a constitution that set the rules for trading. A group of stockbrokers met twice a day at 40 Wall Street to trade 30 stocks and bonds.

Over time, the exchange moved became the financial hub of the country and moved to its current location in 1865.

What Kind of Stocks Trade on the NYSE?

As of June 2022, the NYSE includes approximately 2,400 companies with a market capitalization of over $28.2 trillion. Although the NYSE trades stocks of all market capitalizations, its best known for trading the stocks of large cap companies. These have the benefit of being mature companies in mature industries. And many of these companies reward shareholders with dividends.

However, that also means that many of these companies are better suited for value investors as opposed to growth investors. In bear markets this stability can be a benefit for investors as these stocks tend to perform less bad than more volatile stocks. But in a bull market, these stocks are not likely to provide investors with the growth that they look for.

An interesting fact about how the NYSE and NASDAQ operate is that the companies with the five largest market caps on the NYSE are also listed on the NASDAQ exchange.

What Are the Listing Requirements For the NYSE?

The NYSE has strict guidelines that govern the types of companies that can list on the exchange. Here are the major requirements that all companies must meet:

The company must have at least 2,200 shareholders

The company must trade over 100,000 shares per month

The company must have a market valuation of over $100 million

The company must generate more than $75 million in annual revenue

However, there is at least one advantage of having such stringent requirements. That is the companies that meet the requirements generally find it easier to get more investors funds when they hold their initial public offering (IPO).

Once a company begins trading on the NYSE, it must continue to meet these requirements. If it doesnt it can be delisted. In addition to these requirements, the stock must continue to trade above $1. If the price of a stock drops below $1 for more than 29 consecutive trading days, the stock receives an Initial Price Violation Notice.

At that point, the company has 10 days to provide the exchange with a plan for bringing their shares above $1.

How are Trades Executed on the NYSE?

For over a century, the floor of the NYSE was the place for investors to be. This meant trades were conducted by traders who ran buy and sell orders across the trading floor looking to broker a deal for their clients. But with the birth of the NASDAQ exchange in 1971, the New York Stock Exchange began conducting electronic trading.

However, the NYSE continues to conduct trades in an auction style. Brokers purchase stocks on behalf of their clients or firms. Every order features a broker who will enter the order electronically and a specialist who serves as the market maker for that stock. The specialist posts bid and ask prices and manages the actual execution of the trades. And there are still a handful of stockbrokers who still traffic buy and sell orders physically on the floor of the exchange.

How Does the NYSE Signal Investor Sentiment?

Like its counterpart, the NASDAQ, the NYSE measures the risk appetite of investors. When the NYSE is moving higher over a length of time, it signals that a risk on environment. Conversely when the NYSE moves lower over a significant period, it signals that investors are moving to a risk off position.

Some Final Thoughts on the NYSE

Financial news networks plan their programming schedule around the opening and closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Its still considered a distinguished honor when individuals or groups are invited to ring the opening bell. In fact, Warren Buffett is attributed with saying that in the short term, the stock market acts like a voting machine. A fact that many U.S. presidents will attest to.

The NYSE is the oldest and most recognizable of all the stock exchanges. It also has the most stringent requirements for inclusion. And those requirements must be maintained even after a stock begins publicly trading on the exchange.

Although the NYSE still has a small in-person Trading Floor, much of the trading is done electronically to provide traders with the speed to execute trades.
BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer).


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Blog Birding #297 A recent journal article published in Science Advances suggests that the number of critically endangered bird species in the world may be far higher than we are aware of. John Platt at Extinction Countdown has more. According to the paper, hundreds of bird species in six of the worlds most biodiverse regions have much smaller levels of suitable habitat available to them than previously recognized. Of the nearly 600 species the researchers studied for the paper, they estimated that 189 species not currently assessed as being at risk may actually be threatened, some critically so. The cheery Dickcissel, conspicuous denizen of fields and pastures across much of North America becomes a completely different bird in the colder months, as Brett Ewald explains at View From the Cape. In New Jersey, Dickcissels are most likely to be encountered in the fall, when they are considered a scarce migrant. As with many species, however, Cape May exceeds the norm. With an average count of about 50/fall, you would think your chances of getting a good look at one, with an acceptable amount of effort, would be high. You would most likely be wrong. Most of these records are flyovers, detected because of their distinctive raspberry call, with a fleeting glance the only visual reward. The Ring-necked Duck is clearly on the short list of most mis-named species in North America, and Peter Cashwell, writing at Audubon, thinks its time to do something about that. Like most birders, I have on occasion felt frustrated with a birds nomenclature. Why oh why did the American Ornithologists Union pick that name? I will moan silently, desperately trying to remember whether Im looking at a Nashville or Tennessee Warbler, or whether my life list contains the Black-throated or the Black-chinned Sparrow. (Black-throated. I looked it up.) And for that reason, I make the following plea to the AOU: Can we please get rid of the Ring-necked Duck? And speaking of weird names, Carrie Laben of 10,000 Birds has something to say about the desert-loving Crissal Thrasher, or, as it was once called, the Red-vented Thrasher. Sometimes the blame is on ornithologists having no imagination at all. According to Bent, the Crissal Thrasher was once known as the red-vented thrasher, a name from the Yellow-rumped Warbler school of nomenclature and perhaps even more embarrassing. Crissal, derived from the Latin crissum for the feathers of the area around the cloacal opening, is simply a veil of classical learning thrown over the fact that this is a bird named after the patch of bright(ish) color on its lower behind. A hypothetical Mr. Crissal would never have become an ornithologist in the 1800s, as he would have been teased mercilessly from his first day in Bird School. As the weather turns cold in the northern hemisphere, birders eyes turn to finches, and David Sibley at Birdwatching Daily shares some tips on differentiating your resident House Finches from the Purple Finches that will soon be arriving. A more reliable way to distinguish the species, regardless of color or sex, is by shape and proportion. The best details to focus on are at opposite ends of the bird: head shape and tail shape. Look for a slight peak or triangular crest on the head of Purple Finch and a smoothly rounded head on House Finch. Purple Finch also has a shorter tail with a distinct notch at the tip, while House Finch has a longer tail whose feathers are all about the same length.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, wants to change the rules of one of the biggest crony capitalist organizations in Washington. He wants to make it easier for the Export Import Bank to dish out large amounts of corporate welfare to companies such as Boeing, which already brings in revenues upward of $95 billion per year.

USA Today reported in a recent article that Graham, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds foreign operations, has added a provision to the 2017 spending bill that would allow the Export-Import Bank to consider projects of more than $10 million.

Many supporters of free trade have long opposed the cronyism and corporate welfare of the Export-Import Bank, all while only celebrating minor victories. In the summer of 2015, the Export-Import Banks charter expired forcing it to close its doors until five months later when Congress reauthorized the bank for another five years.

Another minor victory for those who oppose the Export-Import Bank might be the election of Donald Trump. Although evidence from Trumps past portrays him as a mercantilist, the president-elect is on record of making critical remarks toward the Export-Import Bank:

I dont like it because I dont think its necessary. Its a one-way street also. Its sort of a featherbedding for politicians and others, and a few companies. And these are companies that can do very well without it. So I dont like it. I think its a lot of excess baggage. I think its unnecessary. And when you think about free enterprise its really not free enterprise. Id be against it.

The Export-Import Bank, or Ex-Im, is a corporate welfare government organization that exists in order to give loans and guarantees to foreign countries in order to buy American made products. One of the biggest problems with Ex-Im, like most forms of corporate welfare, is that it is sprinkled with cronyism. It claims to promote trade and produce jobs in the United States but it seems like the only thing it actually does is pick winners and losers in the economy.

What, at one time, appeared to be a victory for many advocates of free trade is now being threatened.

The Export-Import Bank operates under the direction of a Board of Directors which consists of a president, vice-president, and three other directors. When a seat on the board becomes vacant, it is filled by the senate approving a nomination from the U.S. president. This is important because in order for the Export-Import bank to approve any transaction greater than $10 million they need a majority of the board to approve it.

Recently, this has prevented Ex-Im from making any transaction over $10 million because currently, there are three vacant seats on the board and the process to fill those vacancies is being held up by Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Sen. Shelby, along with many other members of Congress including West Michigan U.S. representatives Justin Amash and Bill Huizenga, oppose the cronyism supported by Ex-Im. Last year when Ex-Im closed its doors, Amash said this in an article for MLive: Ex-Im embodies everything Americans hate about Washington. Its finally dead. Lets keep it that way.

Sen. Grahams provision to the 2017 spending bill will make it so that Ex-Im can resume making transactions greater than $10 million without a majority of the boards approval, bypassing Sen. Shelbys blockade. Not only does this have the potential to increase the level of cronyism in Washington but it defeats the purpose of checks and balances.

So what can we expect to happen? It will come down to a lame-duck session which will probably take place sometime in early December. Typically the congressional appropriations committees that are responsible for creating the government spending bills do so by the end of October. But, once again this year that failed to happen and a short term spending bill was put in place to extend government spending until December 6th. Now Congress will be forced to meet in a lame-duck session in order to pass the 2017 government spending bill.

According to Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky:

The main business of the lame-duck session will be an omnibus spending bill that will fund every branch of the government. Although it will be over 1,000 pages long, congressmen will have only hours to read this budget-busting legislation that will fund virtually the entire Obama agenda until Sept. 30, 2017.

Will congress risk a government shutdown over a small provision that increases the cronyism in Ex-Im? Most likely not. This can be demoralizing for supporters of free trade but now we will have all the more reason to spread the word about the benefits of free markets and the harmful effects of cronyism. And with a Trump presidency starting in 2017, there is hope that he will stay true to his previous comments about being against the corporate welfare bank.
 Wheres the Coverage? Incitement in Palestinian Textbooks | Main | BREAKING: InterVarsity Press in United States to Cease Publication of Stephen Sizer's Books 

November 21, 2016

Analyst: The U.S. Should Cut Aid to Lebanese Armed Forces



The U.S. Congress should immediately defund the Lebanese Armed Forces,? a recent Weekly Standard article argues (The Lebanese Army Is Misusing U.S. Aid,? Nov. 14, 2016).

In his commentary, Lee Smith, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard and a senior fellow at the Washington D.C.-based think tank, Hudson Institute, stated that U.S. aid may be winding up in the hands of Hezbollah, a Lebanese-based, Iranian-backed U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

Smith cited pictures of a Hezbollah parade in the Syrian city of Qusayr [that] showed Hezbollah fighters using American-made armored personnel carriers (APCS). If the vehicles were transferred by the Lebanese Armed Forces [LAF], a recipient of U.S. aid and equipment, to Hezbollah, as some analysts have speculated, the consequences could be significant.?

The purpose of U.S. aid to the LAF according to the most recent Congressional appropriations bill, is to professionalize the LAF and to strengthen border security and combat terrorism, including training and equipping the LAF to secure Lebanons borders, interdicting arms shipments, [and] preventing the use of Lebanon as a safe haven for terrorist groups.?

Yet, Lebanon itself remains a state that is, to a great extent, controlled by Hezbollah. In many important respects, the country is a vassal state of the mullahs in Tehran, a trend that is perhaps likely to continue with the recent election of Hezbollah ally Michel Aon to the presidency.

As CAMERAs backgrounder on Hezbollah pointed out, several United Nations Security Council resolutions have called for the terror group to disarm. Despite this fact, Hezbollah has dramatically increased its weaponry and capabilities and continues to routinely call for the destruction of Israel and the West.

According to Smith:

Lebanon is the fifth largest recipient of American military aid, receiving $220 million in 2016, including an August shipment that included 50 armored vehicles.? Smith noted if any U.S.-made weapons are transferred from the LAF to Hezbollah, the U.S. State Department is required to notify Congress.

Smith noted that although Washington believes funding and supporting the LAF is one of its few options in Lebanon, it is no longer possible to see the army as anything but a Hezbollah asset.?

Hezbollah, as CAMERA has written, was, until the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks by al-Qaeda, responsible for more American deaths than any other terrorist organization.

Despite this, one is far more likely to encounter an Op-Ed calling for cutting U.S. aid to Israela key U.S. ally.

Lee Smiths Weekly Standard article can be found here.

Posted by SD at November 21, 2016 03:36 PM

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Authorities arrested a third man in Fridays shooting on Lake Monticello Road in Fluvanna County.

Deputies were called to the scene of a reported burglary and shooting in the 2000 block of Lake Monticello Road on Friday. A property owner told authorities that he and some friends met with gunfire when they walked in on a burglary. Police said the property owner suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was shot in the legs.

On Saturday, Fluvanna deputies sought arrest warrants for 36-year-old John Morton Abbitt, of Virginia Beach, and on Sunday, Virginia Beach police officers arrested him. He is charged with breaking and entering, malicious wounding, attempted malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

On Friday, police arrested Dante J. Givens, 35, and Thomas A. Jackson, 36, both of Charlottesville, in the incident. They both are charged with burglary, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Givens and Jackson currently are being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. Abbitt soon will be transported to the jail and is scheduled to appear in Fluvanna County General District Court on Tuesday.

Authorities are still looking for one additional suspect, as well as a grey Lexus SUV, possibly with Virginia license plate of VRU1372.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Fluvanna County Sheriffs Office at (434) 589-8211.
A low-speed pursuit following a hit-and-run Sunday night ended when the driver collided with an Albemarle County police patrol car.

According to police, Brittany E. Cole, 19, of Louisa County, fled the scene of a multi-vehicle wreck in the 900 block of Monacan Trail (U.S. 29) at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday.

Police pursued the vehicle, which was traveling southbound on Monacan Trail at about 25 to 30 mph, until it collided head-on with a police cruiser in the 3300 block of Monacan Trail.

There were no serious injuries to either Cole or the officer, police said.

Cole is charged with hit-and-run, felony eluding and assault on a police officer.
Its been four years since a black transgender teenager went missing from the streets of Charlottesville, but dozens gathered together on Prospect Avenue on Sunday night to ensure that Sage Smith has not been forgotten.

Smith was last seen on Nov. 20, 2012, walking down West Main Street to meet a man named Erik McFadden at the Amtrak station. While McFadden was long considered a person of interest in the case, police have since backed off him, saying that the two likely never met up.

With no other known leads, questions still abound as to Smiths whereabouts. But stacked against other high-profile missing persons cases that have rocked the area in recent years, Smiths family and others in the community are dissatisfied with the response from city officials and police over Smiths disappearance.

Smiths grandmother, Lolita Cookie Smith, was joined by about two dozen others at her Prospect Avenue home Sunday night to decry that incongruity and to keep Smiths memory alive. Gathered around a blazing fire pit in the late November cold, community member Donna Gasapo spoke to the crowd of concerned residents, all clutching glowing candles, balloons and hot cocoa.

Because of Sages identity as a black transgender woman, from a family in a low-income neighborhood here in Charlottesville, the Charlottesville police, the media and the community failed to respond to her disappearance in the way they have responded for other missing women in this community, Gasapo said. It means a lot to us to see your faces here, to support the family.

Gasapo said she became connected to the case after Smiths family reached out to the community for support following Smiths disappearance. The family had asked for help in putting pressure on Charlottesville officials to do more than what they saw going on in tracking down Smith, so Gasapo stepped up to the plate.

While Nov. 20 is the anniversary of Smiths disappearance, it also happened to be this years Transgender Day of Remembrance, a holiday all too befitting of Smiths struggle as a transgender woman.

Thats significant to us  we like to make sure people know that its significant, that its a day that she disappeared and that as a community supporting the family, we see the discrepancies between the response to Sages disappearance versus the disappearances of other women here in Charlottesville, Gasapo said.

Cookie Smith, who has been at the forefront of the efforts to keep Sage Smiths memory in the public sphere, was emotional as she spoke about her grandchild on Sunday night. Wheelchair-bound, Smith said that in the wake of the disappearance, she was saddled with a series of health problems that have only compounded her grief, including a triple bypass surgery.

Four years is a long time, and it has broken my heart, Smith said. I have tried so hard to be strong, and by the grace of God, Im still breathing.

Smith thanked the crowd for coming to the vigil, saying she believed this was proof that the community still cares for her lost grandchild, even if public officials appeared not to after her disappearance.

It just hurts so bad to know that my baby wasnt treated fairly, and still has not been treated fairly, Smith told the crowd. Anybody that knows anything, I dont care how small it is, please come forward and let us know something. We need closure.

A spokesman for the Charlottesville Police Department said in an email Sunday that they, too, believe people in the community may still have information pertinent to Smiths disappearance.

If you saw anything on that fateful day, no matter how insignificant it may seem, Lt. Steve Upman said to call the Investigations Bureau of the city police department at (434) 970-3280.

United in commemoration, the vigils crowd released a flurry of multi-colored balloons into the night sky, a symbol of hope for Smiths safe return.

I would tell Sage that I miss her, I love her and I just want her to come home, Smith said. Theres nothing on Gods green Earth that she ever could have or would have done that would make us turn our backs on her. She knows that I love her unconditionally, and I just want for her to come home.

Asked what the community should do to help support the cause, Smith requested that concerned citizens stay on City Hall, stay on the police department, let them know that were not going nowhere.

Im not going nowhere, till God calls me home, Smith said. Thats when it will be over for me. But until then, Im going to be there, in their face, whenever they turn around.

They will not sweep this under the rug.
Del. Rob Bell announced Monday that he is ending his campaign for Virginia attorney general to focus on family matters.

Bell, R-Albemarle, was one of three Republicans competing for the chance to take on Democratic Attorney General Mark R. Herring next year.

In a statement, Bell said his duties as a father to two young children, one of whom has special needs, outweighed his desire to seek higher office.

"This school year has brought significant new challenges that require my personal and immediate attention," Bell said. "Despite my best efforts, it has become clear to me that I cant possibly fulfill my responsibilities as a father while making a statewide run."

Bell said he will seek re-election to the House of Delegates but intends to return donations made to his attorney general campaign.

"I look forward to continuing my work in the House of Delegates and spending Thanksgiving with my family," Bell said.

Bell, a 49-year-old lawyer, has served in the legislature since 2002. He unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for attorney general in 2013.

The other two Republicans running for attorney general are John Adams, a Richmond attorney, and Chuck Smith, a Virginia Beach attorney.
State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine has declared Virginia's opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency.

In response to the emergency, Levine has issued a standing order that allows all Virginians to get the drug Naloxone, which can be used to treat narcotic overdoses.

The state is grappling with responses to a crisis that has gripped the nation as the number of deaths and hospital admissions continue to spike, Levine said in announcing her decision to escalate the administration's response.

The consequences of opioid addiction in Virginia have risen to unprecedented levels and can now be classified as an epidemic," Levine said.

The emergency declaration comes days after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a landmark report declaring drug and alcohol abuse among the nation's most pressing health crises on equal footing with AIDS and cancer.

It also comes as increasing numbers of Virginia families prepare for a Thanksgiving meal a loved one won't be around to enjoy, state officials noted.

More than 1,250 people will likely die in Virginia of a drug overdose this year, according to projections from the state health department; drug overdoses surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of unnatural deaths in 2013, and the numbers have only increased, thanks in large part to a surge in opioid abuse. Young adults are the hardest-hit group, a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis found.

People ages 25 to 44 accounted for more than half of all drug-related deaths between 2007 and 2014 - in large part casualties of the intersection between genetic predisposition to substance abuse and the widespread availability of prescription painkillers, treatment experts say.

Too many Virginia families have lost someone to opioid addiction," Levine stated. "These actions today will not diminish their loss, but we owe it to them and each other to work together, watch out for each other and continue to combat the seriousness of this crisis.

Addressing an issue that impacts about one in seven Americans over the course of their lives is "a moral test" for the country, Murthy concluded in the federal report; Only one in 10 of those with substance abuse issues receives treatment, his office found.

Virginia officials last year enacted measures to expand substance abuse treatment but wait lists at the community services boards that serve as the local point of entry for Virginia's public system of mental health remain lengthy in many places.

"Obviously, there's an enormous amount of work that needs to be done - especially for (those without insurance)," said Dr. Jack Barber, interim head of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The McAuliffe administration said the state's move comes in response to a growing number of opioid overdoses and evidence that Carfentanil, described as "a highly dangerous synthetic opioid used to sedate large animals such as elephants," has made its way into Virginia.

The incidence of Carfentanil has thus far been largely confined to the Hampton Roads area but Central Virginia authorities are eyeing its emergence with caution, said Richmond police Capt. Michael Zohab.

"It's so potent it kills people almost immediately," Zohab said of the substance. "It's terrifying, but it's where we are these days.

More than two dozen people are treated for drug overdoses daily in Virginia and three die, on average, according to state officials.

The standing order on access to Naloxone acts as a prescription for the general public, removing a barrier to access. Those with insurance will be charged the cost of a co-pay. Those without may expect to pay upward of $120 depending on which version of the antidote is on-hand, officials said.

As we see the nature of drug addiction shift, from prescription opioids to heroin and synthetic fentanyl, we must be vigilant and ready to respond quickly, said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel.

Authorities welcomed the move but cautioned that applications of the reversal drug should be followed up whenever possible with medical care. Sometimes emergency responders working in the Richmond area have needed to administer two doses to an overdose victim.

Levine said that emergency room visits for heroin overdoses are 89 percent higher for the first nine months of 2016 than over the same period last year. Drug overdoses were likewise 35 percent higher in the first six months of 2016 than they were in 2015. By the end of this year, the number of fatal drug overdoses is expected be 77 percent higher than it was five years ago.

State officials also said they have seen a 28 percent increase in the number of Hepatitis C cases reported between 2010 and 2015, which they suspect may be driven by a boost in intravenous drug use.

The declaration of emergency was welcomed Monday by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, which called the proclamation "an important and appropriate step in the ongoing campaign to combat this issue."

"The human costs of this epidemic are staggering," association spokesman Julian Walker said in a statement highlighting the health sector's partnerships with public officials and community groups.

The number of people who overdosed and lived in Richmond on opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers is about 350 percent higher than at this point in 2014, according to city police. The number of fatalities increased nearly 375 percent over the same time period.

As of Monday 41 people in the city had overdosed on opioids and died in 2016 and people had overdosed and lived 293 times, according to Zohab, who is organizing a nonprofit dedicated to helping combat the disease of addiction.

Henrico County's fatal opioid overdoses year over year have held steady, at 34, but the number of non-fatal overdoses rose from 72 to 140 - a nearly 200 percent increase since this point in 2015, according to county police data.
The Republican chairman of the House of Delegates elections committee has introduced a bill to tighten rules governing voter registration drives after multiple cases of potential fraud leading up to the presidential election.

Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania, pre-filed a bill that would add stricter paperwork and reporting requirements for non-governmental groups that canvass neighborhoods and events to register Virginians to vote.

Coles bill, which will be considered when the legislature reconvenes in January, would require every individual employee or volunteer working with outside groups to register with the state and submit logs of their activity.

The state would assign each worker a unique identifying number and keep a record of each persons name and contact information. The bill would prevent voter registration groups from paying employees on a per-application basis, which some have speculated could create a financial incentive for phony applications.

Del. Hyland F. Buddy Fowler Jr., R-Hanover, pre-filed the same bill.

The legislative proposals come as lawmakers continue to debate how to strike a balance between election integrity and an easy process for democratic participation. The policy battle has played out over the states voter ID law and Gov. Terry McAuliffes push to soften the states policy of felon disenfranchisement.

Several states have laws in place for certifying third-party volunteers and workers before allowing them to register others to vote, a process typically handled by local registrars offices.

Under existing Virginia law, groups are required to register only if collecting 25 or more voter registration applications, a provision the General Assembly passed in 2013. There is no registration requirement for individuals, but all representatives of a group must undergo training and sign a form swearing to follow the law.

The proposal comes after people working with third-party groups in Alexandria and Harrisonburg submitted allegedly fraudulent voter applications using false identities, including some applications that used names of dead people.

Both cases involved employees of third-party groups. Charges have been filed in the Alexandria case. The other is under investigation.

In an email, Cole said the Harrisonburg and Alexandria cases brought the issue to light.

There have been concerns and complaints about third-party registration groups before, including the failure to properly complete forms and the failure to turn in forms, Cole said. This can cause people to think they have registered to vote when they may not be.

In 2012, a Republican operative was arrested for allegedly dumping completed voter registration applications in a trash bin behind a Harrisonburg store, but the charges were dropped.

At a pre-election committee hearing at the Capitol, several registrars raised concerns about third-party groups turning in applications after the states legal deadlines. After a would-be voter fills out and signs an application with a third-party group, the organization has 10 days to deliver the form to an official election office.

Some local election officials suggested at the hearing that the state should stop allowing third-party registration altogether.

Cole said he wants to see if problems can be fixed before considering a ban. He said some of these groups do perform a worthy public service.

Like anything else, there are just some bad apples that need to be addressed, he said.

Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of Alexandria-based voter outreach group New Virginia Majority, said her organization already has a tracking system in place. From a practical standpoint, Nguyen said, the legislation wouldnt change much for her groups work.

I think at the end of the day, most organizations that do this want to get as many eligible citizens on the rolls as possible, Nguyen said.

With the focus on voter registration, Nguyen said she hopes lawmakers will consider a system to register automatically voters who conduct business at the Department of Motor Vehicles or other agencies, unless they opt out.

The man charged with fraud in the Alexandria case was working for New Virginia Majority, but the group said it severed ties with him after learning of the issue. Nguyen said New Virginia Majority pays its employees by the hour, not per application.

The General Assembly convenes for the 2017 session on Jan. 11.
Au revoir Sarko, you have had your day. Marine Le Pen is sweeping to the helm of the right wing candidates and Fillon will be swept aside too in the upcoming French election in May, 2017.

To be set free from the shackles of euro slavery, and for her economy to shoot up into the outer reaches of space, can the French maiden let loose from the darkness and reach her hand into the light to free France once and for all?

Could this be another Trump/Brexit moment at the polls?

The EU and its ludicrous Schengen policy has stifled France, muffled her voice and condemned her to the wild tax mad ramblings of the clinically insane Francois Hollande  a puerile man whose idea of economic embellishment is to categorically destroy everything with socialistic punitive taxes and burdensome mass unfettered migration.

Can the rising Joan of Arc save France from being marginalised forever? The French are understandably fed up with the EU communist entity and will do or vote for a saviour from the filthy dank EU prison. The boulevards of Paris may once again be something to be proud of, instead of a stinking piss filled camp of degradation.

The Bastille gates will be breached and the EU technicians taken to the guillotine for some swift justice.

Vive La France, they will shout as the heads roll into the baskets, these bringers of EU monstrosities onto a land that once coined the phrase Liberte, egalite, fraternite, only to be given Contraite, inegalite, haine.
Mauritania is located in the Maghreb region of Africa, it has borders with the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Morocco and the remnants of Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mali in the east and southeast, and Senegal in the southwest.

In this blog, I will cover some brief facts about Mauritania for anyone traveling or doing business there.

Mauritanian Demographics

Mauritania is officially called the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Nouakchott is the capital and largest city in Mauritania.

The current population is just over four million.

The official religion is Islam.

The median age is 19.3 years old.

Mauritanian Languages

Modern Standard Arabic is the official language

Hassaniyya is the local and spoken form of Arabic used by the majority of the Mauritanian people.

French is widely spoken among the media.

Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof, Serer are also spoken.

Mauritanian Culture

Food in Mauritania is a very important part of social functions. People eat in groups, sharing a large bowl of calabash, using their right hand.

Eating with your left hand is forbidden. Also its not acceptable to eat in the presence of ones in-laws.

Mauritanian brides wear black gowns on their wedding day.

Slaughtering an animal is customary for many different occasions, such as name-giving, initiation, marriage and funeral ceremonies.

Mauritanian Consumers

The currency is the MRO (Mauritanian Ouguiya). One USD is approximately 355.535 MRO.

The GDP value of Mauritania represents 0.01 percent of the world economy.

Internet penetration is only 19%.

Mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas.

WooCommerce is the top ecommerce platform in Mauritania.

Mauritanias Future

Mauritania is an agricultural country. It has significant iron ore deposits, which are the backbone of the export economy.

Main exports are iron ore, fish and gold.

Main trade partners are China, France, Japan, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

Mauritania is facing multiple development challenges, such as the efficient use of revenue derived from natural resources, diversification, competitiveness and poor governance.

The extractive industries are creating very few jobs. The agriculture and fisheries sectors employ most of the labor force, but productivity levels are low.

Summary

Mauritania is a challenging country, with specific culture and traditions. Sharia is the main law there, so laws and regulations are similar with most of the Islamic countries. Modern Standard Arabic is official language, so Arabic speakers will be very comfortable doing business with and in Mauritania, as they will not have any language barrier. Certainly, visiting Mauritania is a very different and unique experience.
Jeannie Foster

Jeannie Foster stood before the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Monday to plead her case like others for the supervisors to take action to have Dr. Terry Millette reinstated to Singing River Health System. Foster said Millette was licensed to provide her Botox shots to alleviate pain and allows her to live a normal life. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- After news broke on Thursday that Singing River Hospital parted ways with neurologist Dr. Terry Millette, patients of Millette showed up in masses at Monday's Board of Supervisors meeting.

According to media reports, Millette was relieved of his duties with the hospital because there were questions related to his treatment of patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

During Monday's public comment section, many patients and supporters of Millette stood and told success stories in their experiences with him, saying he was important to the community, and that SRHS had made a grave mistake by forcing him from his position.

Last week, SRHS CEO Kevin Holland and Chief Medical Officer Randy Roth sent letters to former patients notifying them of their intentions to no longer work with Millette and saying they were in contact with regional and national experts in neurology to assist the patients with care.

Many patients stood and said that they had yet to have received a letter and others said they were being funneled into other hospitals such as Merit Health.

Jeannie Foster stood and spoke about Millette passionately and his commitment to not just her, but to all of his patients. One thing Foster said struck brought about a deafening silence to the meeting as she shared her story.

"Before I met Dr. Millette, I spent six years confined to my bed," Foster said. "Dr. Millette approved Botox injections that allows me to turn my head from left to right. Last Friday, I bought my first car in the last 10 years and before then, I had to wait on someone to take me to run errands. Now with Dr. Millette removed, I'm afraid that I will slip back into the condition I was in. Without his treatment, I wanted to die. I want to live and walk and be independent, and I need Dr. Millette."

Supporters of Dr. Terry Millette showed up in numbers on Monday to lobby the Board of Supervisors to find a solution that would allow Millette to continue his work at Singing River Hospital. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)

Patients and supporters of Millette wore stickers with his picture that said, "I support Dr. Millette."

Many in attendance expressed displeasure with the way SRHS has treated doctors from the community and they are displeased with the hospital running their "own" away.

"These people went off, got their education, and came back to the community where they were raised so they could help their community," Marlene Tompkins, a multiple sclerosis patient of Millette, said. "Dr. Millette has went above and beyond for every patient he has had, not just me, and we were lucky to have him."

Ashley Verrett worked alongside Millette for 15 plus years and said she was as confused as anyone in attendance at Monday's supervisors' meeting as to why Millette was removed.

"We received a call on Sunday and we were told not to report to work on Monday," Verrett said. "We were told that Dr. Millette's position had been absolved. Dr. Millette has always offered second opinions to his patients and right now, it's being made to seem as if he did not perform the necessary tests to treat patients. That is false."

District 3 Supervisor Ken Taylor asked supporter Becky Southern if she received a phone call from the hospital alerting her of the change and Southern said she did not.

"I received a letter in the mail, but I do not want a new neurologist, I want my neurologist," Southern said.
5 Causes of Nursing Home Resident Anxiety Unfortunately, for many reasons anxiety happens more often by long-term care residents than by those who live in
The folks on President-elect Donald Trumps education transition team will help set the policy courseand likely, even appoint key personnelfor the new administration. Their backgrounds could provide clues on the direction the Trump administration wants to go on K-12. Heres a look:

James Manning

Trumps transition team told reporters Monday that Manning will be a part of the landing team at the U.S. Department of Education; the transition team said his name would be sent to President Barack Obamas administration at noon on Monday.

Manning worked on higher education issues at the department under President George W. Bush. Read testimony Manning gave to the House foreign affairs committee in 2007 about postsecondary issues here . America must remain the primary destination for international students. We must work together to make sure our nations institutions of higher education continue to be open to students from around the globe, Manning said.

Williamson Bill Evers

Evers name is probably familiar with long-time Education Week readers, in fact we profiled him back in 2007 . He served as assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy development under President George W. Bush.

He was a veteran of the so-called math wars in California. In helping to write standards and curriculum for the state, he championed a strong foundation of core content, particularly in the early grades. Hes also no fan of the Common Core State Standards. In fact, he wrote a commentary opposing the standards for Education Week, which you can read here .

And as a school board member in Santa Clara County Calif., Evers supported a ballot resolution that would have made it easier to fire tenured teachers.

Evers also served as an education adviser to President Bush in Iraq, and sought to ensure that standardized testing could continue despite widespread violence after the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Iraqi parents love standardized testing and were fervently concerned not to let either the war in March and April [2003], or the subsequent guerrilla skirmishes, interfere with the nationwide testing program, Evers wrote in a 2004 essay published in the Wall Street Journal.

And also relevant to current education debates, Evers is skeptical of dashboards that get at students opportunity to learn. (More in this Education Week commentary he wrote with Zeev Wurman, another one-time Bush advisor.) Hes a fan of holding schools accountable for a single data point. But thats exactly what some states, including California, want to avoid under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Gerard Robinson

Robinson is the former state chief in Virginia and Florida, and was a member of the education reform group Chiefs for Change. CLARIFICATION: In Virginia, Robinson was secretary of education under GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell, a cabinet positionthe state superintendent during Robinsons time in that post was Pat Wright.

He only served for a short time as state chief in the Florida, working for just one year and leaving in 2014. Right before he left, the state rushed to change the passing score on the states writing test because so many students had performed poorly. That was partly because, before Robinson took office, the state legislature directed the department to come up with tougher standards. And Robinson sought to respond to the score drop, launching a townhall type tour reassure parents, and devoting a section of the state departments website to parent outreach. More in this story from the Andrew half .

Robinson also faced criticism for how he factored English-language learners into Floridas A-F school grades.

Townsend McNitt

Other transition staffers include Townsend McNitt, another Education Department official under Bush who served as deputy chief of staff there from 2005 to 2007. In that role, she helped implement the No Child Left Behind Act, according to this bio from the Center for Public Justice, a Christian think tank. Before working at the department, McNitt was the staff director of the Senate education committee. Since 2007, McNitt has been working as a strategic consultant according to this online resume .

One Republican and former Education Department official described McNitt as a strong behind-the-scenes player. Shes serious, capable, diligent, gets done stuff done, the official said.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Mumbai: To help crash-starved travellers,the state-run IDBI Bank has deployed its point of sale (PoS) machines at the Mumbai airport.

The PoS machines deployed at both domestic and international airports will allow Visa and RuPay debit card holders of IDBI Bank as well as a few select banks to withdraw cash for urgent needs. A customer can get Rs 2,000 per card.

"We have deployed around 4-5 PoS machines at the Mumbai airport terminals where people can swipe a Visa or a RuPay card and the bank officials present there would give them cash. The intention is to help travellers meet their immediate cash needs," Deputy Managing Director K P Nair said.

Besides IDBI Bank, Visa and RuPay debit card holders of State Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank and HDFC Bank can also withdraw cash at the IDBI Bank's PoS terminals at the airports.

Nair said the bank is now deploying such PoS machines at the New Delhi airport also and is in talks with a few more airports.

He said the facility to withdraw cash from PoS terminals is only for Visa and RuPay cards, launched by National Payments Corporation, as both the companies are certified to undertake this exercise.

"Cash withdrawal on PoS machines requires a certain certification to be done. That certification exercise had already been done by Visa and RuPay," Nair explained.

He said the bank has collected Rs 18,000 crore of deposits between November 10 and November 19. It has exchanged Rs 400 crore of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Out of the 3,300 ATMs of the bank, 500 ATMs are recalibrated to dispense the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.
Famous business chief JRD Tata had in 1962 re-enacted his first flight from Karachi to Bombay for the airlines 30 anniversary.

New Delhi: Vintage lovers, here is a good news. Leopard Moth, the plane that Indian pioneer aviator and founder of Air India  Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata flew from Karachi to Mumbai and later gifted to the headquarters of Aero club of India at Safdarjung airport in 1984 will soon be seen purring again.

Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, who is credited with reviving the oldest working steam locomotive in the world, the 1855 built EIR 22 famously known as Fairy Queen, plans to make JRDs cub flyable by 2017, which is also the 75th anniversary of Air India.

We are looking at JRD Tatas plane which is at the Aero club - to restore the aircraft back to its original condition and recreate the the first flight from Mumbai to Karachi," Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director of Air India told this newspaper.

However, given the complex relations between India and Pakistan, Air India has a plan B ready too and that is to fly it from Ahmedabad-Mumbai, if the original plan doesnt work.

Famous business chief JRD Tata had in 1962 re-enacted his first flight from Karachi to Bombay for the airlines 30 anniversary. In 1982, JRD flew the refurbished Leopard Moth once again along the same route to celebrate Air Indias 50 th anniversary before he gifted it to the club in Delhi in 1984.

Mr Lohani who has executed various heritage projects during his earlier stint as a railway man is all set for another feather in his cap. While it takes a tremendous operation to get a retired aircraft back to air, Air India has already chalked out a plan for making it possible.

Indicating their interest to commemorate JRDs flight, cash starved Air India has already approached Ratan Tata for his support to pump in money so that the plane his uncle flew has its engine humming again.

The restoration and refurbishing is estimated to cost around `3 crores. The project was put in abeyance for a while as Air India which is already a loss making company could not support it.

However, good news is we have got positive response from Ratan Tata. We are expected to meet him soon,sources said. To rebuild the aircraft in same fashion, aircraft refurbishing companies in the UK and US have been looked at. India lacks experts for vintage aircraft maintenance.
ASG Sanjay Jain argued that the agreement makes it clear that the appellants only have a right to seek renewal and that it is up to the NDMC to renew it or not.

New Delhi: In a huge relief to Tatas, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered status quo on the proposed auction of Taj Hotel on Mansingh Road in the capital and rejected the plea of New Delhi Municipal Council to restrain the hotel from making any bookings after March 31.

Giving this relief, a Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Uday Lalit after haring senior counsel Harish Salve for Tatas and NDMC counsel said, we can't stop running a hotel. We will decide everything when we decide the case in January next.

When the case came up for hearing on Monday, Mr Salve argued that the Indian Hotels should be offered the right of first refusal on a price discovery or otherwise. ASG Sanjay Jain argued that the agreement makes it clear that the appellants only have a right to seek renewal and that it is up to the NDMC to renew it or not.

The Bench while ordering status quo issued notice seeking NDMC response to the appeal filed by the hotel against the Delhi HC order approving the proposed auction and asking NDMC to go ahead with it.

The Delhi High Court had dismissed the plea of Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), Tata Groups hospitality arm which has been running the five-star hotel at Mansingh Road for 33 years. IHCL has sought renewal of licence on grounds of the equity investment it had made in the property. The HC had held that NDMC was within its power to secure maximum consideration for grant of licence for the property in the Lutyens Delhi and the IHCL had no right under the licence for a renewal thereof.

The property, owned by NDMC, was given to IHCL on a lease for 33 years, which ended in 2011. The IHCL has been managing the property since then through several extensions. The municipal body had entered into an agreement with the IHCL, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, in December 1976 to construct and run the eleven-storey hotel. NDMC had served eviction notice to IHCL to clear all applicable dues and handover the possession of the said property immediately.
New Delhi: Worried over the impact of demonetisation of high value notes on production chain, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today assured exporters that she would take up their demand of increasing the cash withdrawal limit with the Finance Minister.

The issue was raised by export promotion councils during their meeting with Sitharaman here. "They voiced the short term difficulty that they are facing. Majority stated that a segment of their activity like procurement of raw material is happening to a large extent in cash," she told reporters.

Exporters demanded an increase in the withdrawal limit from Rs 50,000 a week to up to Rs 5 lakh, she said. "In labour intensive sectors like carpet and handloom, working is dependent on cash withdrawal. Their demand is to increase this limit to Rs 3 lakh or Rs 4 lakh or Rs 5 lakh," Sitharaman said.

"We have assured them that we will take very quick and well compiled report to the Finance Ministry so that quick remedial solutions are offered. We will pitch for them and I am sure that the Finance Ministry will give us a sympathetic hearing.

"I will definitely draw the attention of the Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) on the cash withdrawal limit," she added.

Certain sectors informed that because of this cash limit "some of them have preferred closing of the units for a week and some of them reducing the capacities of production from 100 or 70 per cent to about 35 or 40 per cent".

Others felt that this month's output might have a bearing, she added.

The government this month demonetised high value notes of Rs 1000/500 to flush out black money. The sudden move led to people thronging at banks and ATMs to deposit and exchange old notes causing hardships on an enormous scale and impacting business operations across the country.
The mobile payments network has over 1 lakh merchants and 35 million customers at present and has witnessed a 40 per cent increase in its mobile application downloads since the government's demonetisation initiative.

Mumbai: In the wake of demonetisation drive and a surge in the demand for digital payment options, mobile wallet MobiKwik has revised its monthly annualised Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) sales target by 10 times to USD 10 billion by 2017, a top company executive said.

GMV is used in online retailing to indicate a total sales value for merchandise or services sold through a marketplace over a period of time. "The currency reform implemented by the government has liberated Indians from cash and has also promoted adoption of mobile wallets and digital payments across platforms.

We have a target to reach USD 10 billion GMV sales by next year," Upasana Taku, co-founder, MobiKwik told PTI. The mobile payments network has over 1 lakh merchants and 35 million customers at present and has witnessed a 40 per cent increase in its mobile application downloads since the government's demonetisation initiative, she added.

"User traffic and merchant queries have also gone up by 200 per cent since the announcement of currency notes ban on November 9," Taku pointed out. The platform which is looking to become profitable by April 2018, is also sure that it will get 5 lakh merchants onboard well before target of next year, she added.

It has launched a new service "MobiKwik on delivery" to address the challenges being faced by e-commerce companies in operating the cash on delivery service. It offers customers options to pay through its digital services on delivery of products.

MobiKwik had earlier introduced cash pickup services where an agent comes to the user's house to collect cash to load the wallet, currently available in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Jaipur.

In addition MobiKwik is reaching out to autorickshaw and cab drivers who are opting for a mobile wallet for a hassle-free payment method, said Taku. Online train ticket booking platform IRCTC is among the companies that accept MobiKwik's wallet for transactions.
Varun Dhawan, who was otherwise diplomatic throughout the episode, let the interesting tidbit slip out of his mouth.

Mumbai: Koffee with Karan has been belting out one explosive moment after other and its just three episodes down.

The most recent episode had real life friends Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor live it out on the couch. Karan, who was his sassy, influential best, tried to get the best out of the two.

While Arjun was his usual blunt self, Varun was pretty diplomatic.

But then came the rapid-fire round and Varun let out a massive shocker.

While playing the 'Never have I ever' game, Karan quizzed if he has ever hooked up with a fan.

Varun vehemently denied having ever have done that, but also let out a major shocker.

"I've never done that. I know a friend of mine, who's an actor, who does that."

At this moment Karan asks if it is Arjun Kapoor.

Pat came Varun's cracker of a response, "No. But he is a Kapoor."

Well, are you thinking of the same Kapoor as we are? We might never know!
Chicago: A newspaper investigation found more than a thousand cases of abuse and neglect of Illinois adults with disabilities who were placed into private group homes.

The Chicago Tribune says its investigation revealed mistreatment inside Illinois' taxpayer-funded group homes and their day programs, with caregivers failing to provide basic care while regulators conceal harm and death with secrecy and silence.

The investigation found at least 42 deaths linked to abuse and neglect in group homes or their day programs over the last seven years. Residents have been humiliated and lost freedom, state records show.

The Chicago Tribune's investigation also shows 1,311 cases of documented harm since July 2011 - hundreds more cases of documented harm than publicly reported by Illinois' Department of Human Services.

Thomas Powers was one of those unfortunate cases. He died in a Joliet group home for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Grieving relatives of Powers didn't know there was evidence found of neglect, which included an instance of the 50-year-old, with the intellect of a small child, being forced to sleep on a soiled mattress on the floor in a room for storage.

Other incidents similar or worse than Powers' experience have also been revealed. A male group resident was beaten to death by his caregiver after being accused of stealing cookies.

Employees at another home abused a female resident by binding her hands and ankles with duct tape, and covering her head with a blanket and leaving her on a kitchen floor for several hours.

In many of these cases, the health and safety of residents has been left to unlicensed and scantly trained employees. The death toll has risen due to caregivers failing to promptly call 911, perform CPR or respond to medical emergencies.

The department in many instances let the group homes investigate allegations of neglect and mental abuse in their own workplaces, the Chicago Tribune found.

Human Services officials retracted five years of erroneous reports after confronted with The Chicago Tribune's findings and said the department had launched reforms to ensure accurate reporting.

The investigation results from the Chicago Tribune have prompted Human Services Secretary James Dimas to order widespread reforms to improve public accountability and streamline investigations.

"My concern is that too often agencies hide behind their confidentiality statutes, which makes it harder for the public to know what is going on," Dimas said.
Kollam: The initiative by a rural library here to fight the scorching summer in a drought affected state has grabbed public attention. The group functioning under the unity library in Champakadavu here has called for planting a tree every Sunday through online media and to post it as profile pictures. Hundreds of trees were planted after the commencement of the project a few months back, and it has won accolades.

The workers of the library spread the message through social media like Facebook and Whatsapp asking the question, What about planting a tree this Sunday fighting this scorching summer? Let this picture be our profile picture, which got a huge response.

We thought of doing something for fighting the summer using the reach of social media. By changing our profile pictures to the picture of planting trees would encourage others to follow the path. We got responses from eminent personalities, panchayat members, and students at several educational institutions, Arun Champakadavu, president of Unity Library, told DC.

The library started functioning two years back in memory of Mukesh, a youth from Champakadavu who died in an accident. His friends who gather at the library also involve in social issues to the benefit of the public.

The library has also initiated a free computer training programme for children under 15 years of age in the Panmana panchayath. As per the programme, the children will get free computer training, a day each week.

The programme was launched this Childrens day at the library. The workers also actively intervene in environmental issues and are at the forefront of blood donation in the area.
A katana sword was missing from an Alaska card shop after a burglar in a ninja outfit broke in. (Photo: Pinterest)

Anchorage, Alaska: A katana sword that was missing from an Anchorage card shop has been returned.

KTVA-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2gsRYQO) surveillance video shows a person dressed as a ninja leaving BOSCO'S Comic, Cards & Games with what looked to be the Japanese-style sword.

Employee Eric Helmick said in an email that a man bought the sword from the thief and brought it back to the shop Thursday after hearing on the news that it was stolen.

Helmick said the man waited at the shop for Anchorage police officers to arrive and told them what happened.

The sword was slightly damaged. He said the shop's staffers are thankful this odd situation wasn't worse and that they all got a chuckle out of it.
According to police, the woman received a friend request on her "Facebook" account from a person claiming to be a US citizen in June this year and she accepted it. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Three persons, including two Nigerian nationals and a woman belonging to Nagaland were arrested from Bengaluru for allegedly cheating a local woman of Rs 3.5 lakh under the pretext of sending her a gift parcel, police said on Monday.

Police suspect that at least 35 members from different parts of India and about 20 persons from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Estonia have fallen into their trap.

According to police, the woman received a friend request on her "Facebook" account from a person claiming to be a US citizen in June this year and she accepted it. They started chatting soon.

"After few days, they exchanged their WhatsApp numbers and began talking over WhatsApp calls. The conman told the lady that he is a wealthy American and wants to invest in India with her help. On September 12, he called her up saying that he has sent her a parcel through courier," Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said.

After two days, the woman received a call from a lady who introduced herself as a Customs officer working at New Delhi airport and inquired whether she is expecting any parcel from US, he said.

The 'officer' further informed the woman the 'parcel' contains a cheque of USD 5 lakh, diamond jewellery, iPhone, laptop, and other gift items. "The fraudsters sent emails to the victim under the guise of Customs department and asked her to pay charges towards customs clearance, anti-terrorism certificate, United Nations Money Laundering certificate etc.

"Believing their version and as per their instruction, she deposited Rs 3.5 lakh in the bank account numbers provided by them. However, after they demanded another Rs 3.2 lakh, the woman grew suspicious and filed a complaint with police," Bhagwat said.

A case was registered and the trio were arrested during the course of investigation.

They are identified as Simon EbukaUmebee, who is a ring leader, and Okonkwo--both Nigerian nationals--and Changkhumla who hails from Nagaland.

According to police, Simon and Okonkwo came to New Delhi in 2013 on a two-month business visa and after its expiry created a fake Indian visa.

The duo were presently staying in Bengaluru with Changkhumla.

Simon posed himself as a white US citizen in his profile photo and had been communicating with victims, police said.

The police commissioner said that at least 35 members from different parts of India and about 20 persons from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Estonia have fallen into their trap.

As per the initial probe, Simon was constructing a villa in Lagos.

The arrested trio were produced before a local court here today, which remanded them in judicial custody.
From time to time, Ellen DeGeneres features education stories on her daily syndicated show, Ellen. The one this past Friday was a real treat.

DeGeneres featured a video report about the Center for Advanced Learning , a charter school in a gang-infested neighborhood in South-Central Los Angeles. The K-5 school first petitioned the Los Angeles Unified School District for charter status in 2006 and renewed the charter in 2012.

In the video and in a conversation with DeGeneres on the set, CAL Principal Brooke Jackson and 3rd grade teacher Johanna Parker discuss the fact that the schools neighborhood has 14 competing street gangs in the vicinity, and the school has been on lockdown four times in the last six weeks because of gunfire in the neighborhood.

What is most amazing is the educators description of what happens when such lockdowns occur: instead of cowering in fear, the students have been trained to return to their classrooms and focus on learning.

If you ever watch Ellen, youll know that DeGeneres has some surprises up her sleeve for segments such as this. Fridays segment does not disappoint, and the principals reaction is priceless.
Police said a housewife from LB Nagar was trapped by Simon, who pretended to be a rich US citizen, using a fake FB profile. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: A Nigerian fraudster, who is building an expensive villa in his country using the money he extorted in India, was arrested by the police after he trapped a Hyderabadi woman in a scam.

Simon Ebuka Umebee, also targeted victims in countries like Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Estonia and earned millions. He operated from Bengaluru with the help of another Nigerian and a woman from Nagaland. The two Nigerians have been staying in India with fake visa.

Besides Simon, police arrested his two associates Changkhumla from Nagaland and a Nigerian named Okon-kwo Kenneth Chigbo.

Police said a housewife from LB Nagar was trapped by Simon, who pretended to be a rich US citizen, using a fake FB profile. He started chatting with her on WhatsApp, and told her that he wanted to invest in India with her help.

In September, he called her up and told her that he wanted to give her a surprise gift. After two days, she received a call from a woman, who introduced herself as a customs officer working at the New Delhi airport and enquired whether she was expecting any parcel from the US. When she replied yes, the officer claimed the parcel contained a cheque of USD 5 lakh, diamond jewellery, iPhone, apple laptop, and other items.

The woman then asked her to pay Rs 3.5 lakh into a bank account for customs clearance and anti-terrorism certificate.

Meanwhile, Simon also sent her a mail saying he had sent her a gift. The woman deposited the money. But, later she was again asked to deposit Rs 3.2 lakh. Then she approached police.

The police found the woman who introduced herself as customs official was Changkhumla. They also found the third accused Okonkwo Kenneth Chigbo. Chigbo, a childhood friend of Simon, helped him to pull off the scam.

We found that Simon had duped around 35 people across India, said Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh M. Bhagwat.

The police found that Changkhumla manages bank accounts of people from Nagaland and uses them to get money from victims. She takes a 15 per cent commission.

After receiving money from victims, Simon purchased readymade garments from Tiruppur and exported them to his relatives in Nigeria. We found that he is constructing an expensive villa in Lagos and had shared his villas pics on WhatsApp with friends, said inspector Riyazuddin.
Hyderabad: The multi-crore wedding gala of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddys daughter has come in handy for tjhe Congress to target the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

While Congress Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma questioned the government on why no action was taken against the mining baron despite the blatant display of black money on the lavish marriage, in Hyderabad, Congress senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao alleged that the extravaganza was proof of possession of black money by BJP leaders.

Gali Janardhan Reddys daughters gala wedding indicates possession of black money by BJP leaders. When the poor and middle class are struggling to perform marriages due to shortage of money after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, how come persons like Gali are spending crores of rupees, Mr Rao asked.

The former MP said that poor and middle class are standing for hours together in queues in front of banks to exchange notes, but the rich and powerful, who the government suspects possess black money, are at ease and not found in queues.

Cant Prime Minister Narendra Modi see this? You dont find a single millionaire or billionaire in front of banks. Show me one and I will take political sanyas, Mr Rao said. Janardhan Reddy, a former Karnataka minister, is facing charges of disproportionate income, and is out on bail, yet spent hundreds of crores on his daughters wedding.
BSF head constable Rai Singh who lost his life in heavy shelling by Pakistan in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: ANI Twitter)

Jammu: A soldier, Rai Singh, was killed and three others injured as Pakistani army resorted to heavy cross-border firing in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night, in the third ceasefire violation in less than 24 hours.

"The firing is being responded to and will be responded to appropriately", the Northern Command of Indian Army said in a tweet.

Sunday's violation of ceasefire came a day after a Border Security Force or BSF jawan and a woman were injured and two houses damaged when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortar attacks and small arms fire.

On Saturday, Pakistan army resorted to violation of the ceasefire in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon, they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas.

On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu district.

Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.

There have been a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29.
Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, was arrested by CBI on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe from a prominent pharmaceutical company. (Photo: Screengrab)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the government and the CBI on a plea seeking SIT probe into the controversial suicide case of senior bureaucrat B K Bansal.

A bench of Justices J S Khehar and Arun Misra issued notice to the government and CBI on a plea filed by former bureaucrat EAS Sarma, who sought setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers with impeccable integrity to probe the incident.

The plea also sought prosecution of those allegedly involved in the suicide of Bansal and his family.

Bansal, a former Director General of Corporate Affairs, was facing a CBI probe in a corruption case, and his son allegedly committed suicide at their East Delhi residence on September 27.

The development had come nearly two months after his wife and daughter committed suicide by hanging themselves from ceiling fans at their residence.

The two had left separate suicide notes, saying the "CBI raid" caused them "great humiliation" and they did not want to live after that.

They had however held nobody responsible for their death. Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, was arrested by CBI on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe from a prominent pharmaceutical company.

CBI had carried out searches at eight locations in connection with the case during which the agency had claimed to have made cash recoveries. He was later arrested but released on bail.
People stand in a long queue outside an ATM to withdraw money in Gurugram on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: In the wake of certain restrictions on money exchange norms by the government, chaos and rush at banks eased but the situation did not quite improve at ATMs as people were still seen waiting in long queues to withdraw valid currency notes.

As banks opened after a day's break on Monday, people rushed to exchange old defunct bills or withdraw cash. On the 12th day of demonetisation today, people still have to stand in queues for hours at ATMs as most of the cash vending machines are either dysfunctional or running out of cash due to huge rush.

There have been reports coming from different parts of the country about people being frustrated with shortage of cash at branches, leading to scuffle with bank staff and rioting at some branches.

Besides, those having wedding in their families are still not able to withdraw Rs 2.5 lakh from their accounts, even after the relaxation announced by the Centre five days ago.

Banks said they have not yet received operational guidelines from the RBI in this regard.

People are visiting their branches with gazette notification that talks of relaxation being provided to farmers and for marriage, but to no avail.

"Withdrawal for marriage purpose can be availed only after RBI's notification, which will have clear direction about the various formalities needed to be furnished by the customers for withdrawal," said a senior public sector bank official.

To screen repeat customers, banks at many places have started using ink mark on fingers of people who are exchanging old notes.

Besides, the government last week also reduced the exchange limit of old defunct notes to Rs 2,000 from the earlier Rs 4,500.
Majority of black money hoarders are now planning to take refuge under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act to safeguard their money and also escape punitive action. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Warning people against depositing their unaccounted old currency in someone else's bank account, the tax department has decided to slap charges under the newly enforced Benami Transactions Act against violators that carries a penalty, prosecution and rigorous jail term of a maximum seven years.

In a related development, official sources said that the department has detected over Rs 200 crore in undisclosed income after it conducted over 80 surveys and about 30 searches in cases of suspicious usage of the scrapped currency. About Rs 50 crore has also been seized in these operations since November 8, they said, across various states.

The sources said the taxman has initiated a country-wide operation to identify suspect bank accounts where huge cash deposits have been made post November 8, when government demonetised the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.

Such instances where the suspicion is found to be true will be prosecuted under the Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, applicable on both movable and immovable property, that has been enforced from November 1 this year.

They said the Act empowers the taxman to confiscate and prosecute both the depositor and the person whose illegal money he or she has "adjusted" in their account.

"The CBDT has asked the Income Tax department to closely monitor all such transactions where people are using bank accounts of other persons for hiding and converting into white their black money using the old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

"Already some instances have been reported in this regard and the department is set to issue notices under the Benami Act," the sources told PTI.

Primarily, they said, the notices will be issued in cases of huge cash deposits beyond the threshold of Rs 2.5 lakh but in cases where a suspicious report is received from the bank or the Financial Intelligence Unit below this threshold will also be investigated.

"Such an arrangement where a person deposits old currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in the bank account of another person with an understanding that the account holder shall return his money in new currency, the transaction shall be regarded as benami transaction under the said Act.

"The person who deposits old currency in the bank account shall be treated as beneficial owner and the person in whose bank account the old currency has been deposited shall be categorised under this law as a benamidar," a senior official explained.

The Benami Act, the official said, provides that the benamidar, the beneficial owner and any other person who abets or induces the Benami transaction, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a period ranging from 1-7 years.

"The benami amount in the bank account deposited post de-monetisation will be seized and confiscated and the accused will also be liable to fine which extends upto 25 per cent of the fair market value of the benami property," the official said.

The Income Tax department has stepped up its action to check black money transactions, money laundering and tax evasion in the wake of the de-monetisation and has issued hundreds of notices of enquiry to charitable and religious trusts to show their account balances and to those who have deposited huge cash in their bank accounts.
RBI said that the public has withdrawn about Rs 1.03 trillion from their bank accounts between November 10 and November 18, following demonetisation. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Faced with increasing pressure from the Opposition over demonetisation, the government on Monday allowed farmers to purchase seeds from Central and State-run outlets using demonetised notes of Rs 500.

Seeds can also be purchased by farmers from PSUs, National or State Seeds Corporations, Central or State Agricultural Universities. Proof of identity will have to be shown while buying the seeds, the government said.

The decision to allow farmers to buy seeds using old notes is a reversal of the Centres stand. Earlier, the Finance Ministry had rejected the Agriculture Ministrys proposal for allowing the same.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a statement said that holders of current, overdraft or cash credit accounts, which have been operational for last 3 months or more, may now withdraw up to Rs 50,000 in cash per week. Such withdrawals may be disbursed predominantly in Rs 2000 denomination bank notes, it added.

However, this enhanced limit for weekly withdrawal is not applicable for personal overdraft accounts, the central bank clarified.

RBI said that the public has withdrawn about Rs 1.03 trillion from their bank accounts between November 10 and November 18, following demonetisation.

The decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has caused massive chaos, with people lining up outside banks and ATMs. The situation has not eased even after 12 days as banks and ATMs continue to face cash crunch, despite a slew of measures announced by the government to ease problems after the decision.

More than 50 people have died so far, standing in queues as well as at banks, since November 9.
Ahmedabad: Quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel on Sunday slammed the Centre for its demonetisation move, claiming it only increased the hardships of the common man.

Addressing a massive rally of his community in Bhayavadar town of Rajkot district through video conference, Patel claimed that the Centre's move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes increased the hardships of poor people.

The fire-brand leader claimed that only these (poor) people are seen in the queues outside banks and not those who are having connections with politicians.

"Many of you must have stood in long queues during the last few days. I wonder how many of you saw a politician in the queue. Have you seen any relative of a minister or party leader? You will only find poor farmers and citizens, who are struggling to make both ends meet, in those queues," he said.

"This move has only increased the hardships of poor people. Those who are in power must not forget if you bring tears in the eyes of farmers, youths and labourers, a revolution would come and people in power would be thrown out" Patel said.

On November 8, Modi had announced the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes.

Patel also urged his community members to uproot the ruling BJP in the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled next year.

"I urge you to continue the agitation. No one can stop us from getting our right if we stay united. We will not sit quiet till we get reservation. I am coming back to Gujarat on January 17 to join our movement" he said in the video conference from Udaipur in Rajasthan.

While granting him bail in two sedition cases in July this year, Gujarat High Court had put a condition that he will have to stay outside Gujarat for six months, starting from

July 17.

Hardik asked his community to not to forget the injustice and atrocities meted out to them by BJP-ruled Gujarat government.

He urged the Patel community to teach a stern lesson to the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls.

"We should not forgive those who were responsible for the deaths of 14 Patel youths during our stir last year. I urge you not to let any BJP leader enter in your area. Time has come to teach them a lesson by uprooting them in 2017. If Patels can bring them to power, we also have the power to throw them out," said Hardik.
The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning. (Photo: File)

Pune: An infant girl died at KEM Hospital in Pune on Sunday after she was allegedly refused treatment by a prominent hospital for her heart condition, apparently over the issue of payment in demonetised currency notes.

However, Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was to be admitted for heart surgery, refuted the claim made by her relatives that their request to accept at least part payment in defunct banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 was turned down.

A close relative of Amrapali and Gaurab Kunte, parents of the deceased girl, said the doctors had advised them to admit her in Ruby Hall Clinic for heart surgery.

"However, when we went to Ruby on Saturday morning, the billing department gave us quotation of Rs 3.5 lakh and told us to deposit the same before any treatment.

"We then offered to make Rs 1 lakh payment in demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. However, the hospital administration refused to accept these notes," claimed Sudhakar Gawandgave.

He said her parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards.

"When they (Ruby Clinic) turned down the demonetised bills, we offered them that we would pay Rs 1 lakh through current cheque and Rs 30,000 through card payment and requested them to allow the remaining payment through another cheque, which needs to be deposited in bank on Monday," Gawandgave said.

He alleged that the hospital administration turned down their offer and instead demanded full payment which he said resulted into wastage of golden hours.

"They made us run from pillar to post to admit the girl. Had she been admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital, the golden hours would not have been wasted.

"The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning," Gawandgave said.

When contacted, Dr Sanjay Pathare, Director, Medical Services, at Ruby Hall Clinic, refuted as "baseless and false" the claims made by the relatives.
Around 800 students from 11 schools in the national capital where different departments had set up their respective stalls acting as information centre for prospective students and also detailed their achievements. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University, which has been at centre of controversies in recent months on Monday organised an open day "Jan Jan JNU" for school children to work on the varsity's image and inform them about the university's contribution to various fields.

Around 800 students from 11 schools in the national capital where different departments had set up their respective stalls acting as information centre for prospective students and also detailed their achievements.

"Universities should not remain as ivory towers. They should connect with the society. The main objective of Jan-Jan JNU is precisely this," JNU Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said.

IIT Delhi Director V Ramagopal Rao emphasised on the need to inquisitive for students.

The students were also shown a movie about inception and development of JNU and were led through a range of exhibits followed by three parallel sessions on Mind Mapping and basic introduction to Indian sign languages, animation film on Panchantantra and a documentary from School of Languages.

The varsity has been hogging limelight for negative reasons including a journal calling the varsity den of anti-nationals and three of its students being arrested for sedition in connection with an event on campus during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Recent disappearance of a student from campus following a scuffle with few alleged ABVP members has also brought adverse publicity to the university.
During the industrial age, education required standardization and strict adherence to rigid learning sequences. Today, as we move full throttle into an increasingly globalized era, we must cultivate new educational systems that prepare our children for meaningful participation and growth in a new world.

In California, we have been on a remarkable journey in recent years, moving away from outdated, centralized state systems to flexible, local control.

The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) California adopted in 2013 moves equity into the drivers seat for this journey; it provides districts great flexibility in creating continuous improvement plans for teaching and learning for all students, especially those with the greatest needs - English learners, foster youth, and those from low-income families.

Yet, during the first three years of LCFF implementation, most of Californias attention focused on system accountability: how we determine whether we have been successful. In September, the State Board of Education (SBE) took a remarkable step forward with this work by adopting the first phase of the LCFF Evaluation Rubrics, which spell out how we measure school and district progress.

Now California faces a deeper challenge: a shift in focus from accountability to building systems of supports that foster success. As state board President Mike Kirst has noted, ... [we] must move now from the back end of accountability to the front end of capacity.

To do this, California has committed to a path of continuous improvement, but what does this mean, and how will we get there?

We believe the continuous improvement process underway at the California Department of Education (CDE) may serve as a model for this path.

Defining a Continuous Improvement Theory of Change

Continous improvement is a process that:

...learns from experience by carefully measuring the effectiveness of different policies and practices, supporting the intrinsic motivation of educators and stakeholders, sharing best and promising practices, cultivating a culture of reflection and learning, encouraging innovation, and making changes based on learning.

To promote their ongoing success, high-performing education systems rely on cycles of inquiry, where participants reflect and analyze current practice and then collaborate to support growth and improve their results. Similarly, we know that successful education change efforts engage change makers at the school, district, and state levels in reflection, planning, and action in ongoing cycles of engagement.

We can then posit a continuous improvement theory of change that intentionally links inquiry into what works with effective stakeholder engagement.

Theory of Change

Cycles of Inquiry X Cycles of Engagement = Continuous Improvement

Practicing What We Preach

The CDE is building its own continuous improvement capacity by implementing a key recommendation of our Blueprint 2.0 strategic plan: In order to better serve and support districts and LEAs...continue work to build the CDEs capacity for service and support.

Our process for building our own capacity, aptly called CDE Team Advancement, includes creating our own continuous improvement Cycle of Inquiry methodology: Discover, Design, and Deliver. Discoverwhat works well, strengths, and challenges; Designactions that will generate improvement; and Deliver results. Repeat cycle. We always keep in mind the goal of our improvement efforts: better serving students.

CDE Team Advancement success hinges on the effective participation of as many CDE team members as possible in our Cycle of Engagement. We have now completed two of these cycles resulting in the creation, initial implementation, and evaluation of the CDE Team Advancement Plan.

Our efforts are producing results. For example, we created a Local Control and Accountability Support Team at the CDE to help all our districts work on our LCFF state priorities, which include improving parental engagement and school climate, and raising student achievement. We have launched a One System Action Team to serve the whole child from cradle to career, and we have initiated a variety of roundtable discussions to help all CDE employees deepen their knowledge about education issues such as LCFF and our new academic standards. One outside observer, noted, I have seen a big shift in the ability of department staff to form effective teams across a previously very siloed work environment for both ad hoc and ongoing work efforts.

We hope our CDE Team Advancement work will inspire California schools and districts to implement their own continuous improvement plans and that we can all learn from each other on this journey, because changing to a continuous improvement culture requires all of us.

Is California Ready for Continuous Improvement?

California has a unique opportunity to abandon the top-down, compliance modes of the past and initiate new forms of deep collaboration that will model the kinds of work environments our students will see in the future.

To do all of this, our state education department must alter the way it operates. In order to make California a learning state, its education agency must first become a learning community.

   

Tom Torlakson is the California Superintendent of Public Instruction. Glen Price is the chief deputy superintendent in the California Department of Education

For Further Reading:

Superintendents Accountability and Continuous Improvement Task Force, California Department of Education (2016), Preparing All Students for College, Career, Life, and Leadership in the 21st Century, Retrieved from: //www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/account-report-2016.asp

California Department of Education, Blueprint 2.0 Planning Team (2015). A Blueprint for Great Schools, Version 2.0. Retrieved from //www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/bp/documents/yr15bp0720.pdf .

This cycle of inquiry is adapted from the Appreciative Inquiry 4D cycle. See: //www.davidcooperrider.com/ai-process/

The PLC methodologies developed by Rick and Becky DuFour, What is a Professional Learning Community?, Retrieved from: http://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/teach_learn/images/plc_article.pdf
Teachers were to be given training on how to leverage Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. (Representational image)

Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when children in the state are becoming increasingly vulnerable to sexual abuse, the General Education Department has not shown the least bit of inclination to implement a comprehensive 'primary to higher secondary' anti-abuse strategy.

Following the directive of the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, the GED had issued a circular on March 18, 2015, to empower distressed children. It was a many-tiered strategy. At the childrens level, complaint boxes will be kept in private corners of a school into which children can drop their written complaints; they can remain anonymous if they want to.

At the teachers level, a protocol was evolved on how to deal with abuse complaints. Teachers were to be given training on how to leverage Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A vetting committee - comprising teachers, parents, psychologists and a prominent public figure in the locality  had to be set up in each school to vet these complaints weekly.

Further, local police stations had to set up a special cell to deal with issues related to schools in their area. None of this was implemented. In fact, the GED issued the circular after the Commission asked for a report when it was found that certain schools were not acting on the complaints of children. But now this circular has been forgotten, said a source in the Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.

The GEDs inaction is all the more intriguing because the complaint box strategy had worked wonders earlier. Four years ago, when Mahila Samakhya had installed such boxes in 100-odd government schools in the state, it had collected nearly 800 serious complaints in three months.

Then, the number of children who had to be rescued from their homes were so large that the state did not have enough welfare homes to hold them, said Dr Seema Bhaskar, the former Mahila Samkhya head who had initiated the strategy.
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) plans to summon radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik soon, and might move for a red corner notice against him if he keeps avoiding official agencies.

According to a report, if Naik doesn't return, a non-bailable warrant could be issued against him and he would get an Interpol notice. This means authorities in Saudi Arabia, where he is believed to be located, would need to hand him over to India.

NIA also wants to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were drawn to violent extremism after listening to Naik's sermons.

The NIA is currently probing funds received by Naiks organization the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and others, from different countries after the agency raided Naik's residence and premises of firms such as Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, which makes content for the banned Peace TV.
New Delhi: With the Opposition huddling up ahead of the Parliament session on Monday, where turbulence is expected over the issue of demonetisation, the Congress is planning to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show in the House and address the matter at hand.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that an adjournment motion has been passed on this issue and the Opposition will be looking to raise the matter of demonetisation in the Parliament unitedly.

"We will start the discussion on the issue and then we are going to insist on the Prime Minister's presence in the house. We are all against black money, but the Centre's intention is different regarding demonetisation," Kharge said.

But the government said that the Prime Minister would not speak in the Rajya Sabha on the demonetisation issue.

However, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is likely to speak in the Lok Sabha.

Opposition parties in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha held a meeting at the Parliament ahead of Day 4 of the Winter Session, to discuss fresh strategy to attack the government on the issue of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi met people at queues outside ATMs in Delhi, urging them to take a stand against the governments demonetisation decision.

On Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Amit Shah turned up the heat on the opposition in a strong move to corner them on the demonetisation debate, saying that opposition parties were climbing "the same tree like rats, cats and snakes to escape the demonetisation flood", and appealed to the people to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi change the country by giving him 15 years "from panchayat to Parliament".

Addressing BJP workers in Chandigarh, Shah trained his guns on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for coming down heavily against demonetisation and said he was not surprised by Gandhi's reaction since the last two UPA governments were "synonymous with scams".

The opposition has called the Centre to form a joint parliamentary committee for probing allegations of prior information on demonetisation being leaked to BJP leaders.

The Congress has been clamouring for the Prime Minister's presence in the Parliament, saying that he has a moral obligation to answer the common man whose life has been thrown in turmoil because of demonetisation.

"Fifty five people have died. Crores stand in line for the past 11 days. Banks do not have cash, ATMs do not have notes. People have money in their accounts, but there is no money to be withdrawn from their accounts," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, adding that the Prime Minister was missing from parliament since the Winter Session began.
New Delhi: Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation issue, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the PM was working for a select few only and was not concerned for the poor common man, who has been queueing up for hours outside banks and ATMs.

"I have gone to the banks to see the situation myself in the morning. People there told me that they are facing a lot of inconvenience," Rahul said outside Parliament.

Both Houses were adjourned repeatedly as the combined Opposition was unrelenting in its protest on the demonetisation issue.

Rahul said people were alleging that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from the back door in the banks for a few "selected people" while there were long queues of common people waiting outside for hours.

"They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash. Those who are rich getting that and those who are poor they are made to stand in the queue.

"They will be in the queue for three days and then they will leave (without cash). People are facing losses because of this," he said.

Earlier in the day Rahul visited several ATMs in the city where he spoke to people about their problems.

On PM's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, the Congress scion asked, "For whom? "and added "I feel the treasuries of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people those who are in the queue will only suffer losses."

Asked why opposition is not ready for discussion, he, however, said "We are going to discuss. We are ready for discussion."

On the question of PM's absence in Parliament, Rahul said "What is the need for the PM to come to Parliament? These days he is at a different level. Neither he discusses with his Ministers nor he talks to anybody. Whatever he thinks, he decides on his own.

"Such a big economic decision was taken in the history of India and he did it after talking with three-four people.

There was no planning. What will happen to farmers, poor people, fisheries industries in Kerala and Bengal? He did not think of them."

Taking a pot shot at Modi, the Congress leader said, "He is in a new form these days. You cannot call him super PM also. One has to think to define him, a new word has to be coined to describe him."

Rahul also condoled the loss of lives in Sunday's train accident in Uttar Pradesh and said the Prime Minister should first focus on improving safety and facilities for common man in trains, instead of planning to introduce bullet train.

"Infrastructure of Indian Railways needs to be improved.

Modiji has talked of bullet train with Rs 1 lakh crore investment. The focus is at wrong place. Focus should be on how to make travelling in trains safer for the common people," he said.

Talking of the need to reduce train journey time, he said, "If it takes two hours to reach a place then how it can be reduced to one hour. If it takes 20 hours then how we can make him reach in 10 hours."

"But Modiji's entire thinking is for 3000-5000 people.

There is likely to be no let up in Opposition's protest over the demonetisation issue in the second week of the Winter Session of Parliament.

At a meeting of opposition parties this morning, it was decided that they will continue to press for an adjournment motion on demonetisation amid suggestions that

House may begin discussions under a separate rule which does not entail voting and moving a formal motion.

"The meeting at the outset noted with concern the insensitivity of the government regarding the train accident.

On an earlier occasion, the Prime Minister had rushed to an accident site in Kerala. But yesterday he was in Agra and did not go to the site," said CPI(M) leader Mohd Salim.

He said the opposition would also press for an obituary and adjournment of proceedings as a mark of respect for the people who are said to have died standing in queues at banks and ATMs victims.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge agreed that there is no precedent but added that the opposition would still press for it.

He also said the opposition may organise a dharna on the issue of demonetisation at Mahatma Gandhi's statue outside Parliament House but a final call could be taken this evening or tomorrow.

Discussions also took place on meeting the President after the dharna, but no final decision could be arrived at.

"The PM can speak on Coldplay but not address the Opposition on demonetisation, demands for a JPC on (alleged) leakage of demonetisation information to some corporates and deaths of people standing in queue to get money from banks and ATMs," said Salim.
RLD chief Ajit Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and BS-4 leader Bachan Singh Yadav held a joint press conference in Lucknow to announce their alliance which will contest on all the 403 Assembly seats. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: Rashtriya Lok Dal, Janata Dal (U) and a local outfit BS-4 on Monday announced their alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, a move which comes after SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav ruled out entering into any alliance.

RLD chief Ajit Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and BS-4 leader Bachan Singh Yadav held a joint press conference in Lucknow to announce their alliance which will contest on all the 403 Assembly seats.

"There is no name of this alliance as of now but it will be an honest alliance. Though this is an alliance of three parties, talks are on with other smaller outfits," they said.

Attacking Mulayam, Ajit Singh said during Bihar Assembly polls all 'Lohia wadi' and 'Charan Singh wadi' parties had agreed for an "alliance with SP" but then SP declined.

"Now when alliance talks were on with SP, Mulayam talked about merger," he said, wondering, "Why Mulayam does not want any alliance against communal forces."

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said they were trying for unity for a long time and "Mulayam was projected as a leader but it did not materialise."

"I would have merged my party with SP on Mulayam's call but no time is left for this," he said.

The SP supremo had recently ruled out any alliance for the UP Assembly polls, but had said mergers with his party could be considered.

Yadav said on invitation of the SP supremo he, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Ajit Singh, JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda had attended the silver jubilee celebrations of SP here on November 5.

"At that time, it appeared that alliance talks have started but nothing came out of it," he said.

Appealing to the people of the state to support the new alliance, the JD-U leader said it wanted to take the politics of the state on the right track and people should "support" it.

JD(U) General Secretary KC Tyagi said at the time of grand alliance (formed during Bihar polls) leaders had accepted everything what Mulayam said but even after that he left it.

Asked about possibility of Congress joining the alliance, Ajit Singh said, "No talks have been initiated with Congress in this regard."
TS Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma has written to the Union home secretary that he wouldnt be able to attend the meeting since he was busy with some assignment. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: Responding to a request by the Telangana state government, the Centre has postponed the meeting on sharing of assets of AP Bhavan scheduled for Monday in Delhi.

Earlier, the meeting was postponed to November 21 from November 15 on the request of the AP government.

Following a nudge by the Supreme Court, the Central government decided to resolve the issue of sharing of assets of the AP Bhavan between AP and TS, directing the Union home secretary to convene a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of the two states.

TS Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma has written to the Union home secretary that he wouldnt be able to attend the meeting since he was busy with some assignment.

Following this, the Centre sent a communication to both the states, informing of the postponement and said that a fresh date will be decided later.

Meanwhile, Mr Sharma will be retiring this month-end. Sources said that the meeting on sharing of AP Bhavan assets between TS and AP will be possible only in December, after appointment of a new Chief Secretary to TS.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao interacts with Union minister Nitin Gadkari as MP B. Vinod Kumar and TS minister T. Nageswara Rao look on, in New Delhi on Monday.

Hyderabad: The Centre has promised to develop 2,600 km of National Highways as early as possible after TS acquires land for these roads in the state.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and discussed the pending NHs, conversion into four-lane roads and development of other roads including one from Paradise to Bowenpally in Cantonment area and waterways on Godavari, among others.

After formation of Telangana, several National Highways were announced by the Centre. We sought their in principle approval. The Union minister promised to issue orders in a day or two. We also sought sanction of NH for which DPR were submitted, TS minister Tummala Nageswara Rao told the media in Delhi on Monday.

The state sought permission for land acquisition for expansion of 650 km of roads under National Highways Authority of India.

Development of waterways on Godavari River, expansion of Yadadri-Warangal four-lane road, Amaravati, Kothagudem, Jagdalpur highway works, a second bridge over Godavari at Bhadrachalam and four-lane roads in new and old district headquarters were also taken up with Gadkari.

TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said land acquisition has become a tough task not only in TS but across the country.

Several states are facing this problem which has delayed National Highways projects. States have to acquire the land for National Highways. The CM promised to personally look into the matter and speed up land acquisition, he disclosed.

Earlier, another delegation, led by municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao, met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and discussed pending issues in AP Reorganisation Act. Mr Rama Rao sought Rs 1,290 crore for infrastructure and roads in four Naxal-affected districts. The union minister promised to take up the issue in the next Cabinet meet.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday granted a week to the TS government to explain why the market values of properties have not been revised since 2012.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankar Narayana was dealing with a PIL by Congress former MLA M. Kodanda Reddy seeking to declare as illegal the inaction of the respondents in revising and updating the market value of land in rural areas and in correcting anomalies in the market values.

The bench asked TS advocate-general K. Ramakrishna Reddy to file a sworn affidavit explaining that whether district collectors have revised the market value of lands before issuing notifications under the New Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

During the hearing, the A-G told the court that in 2013, the government revised the market value of lands in the state.

Counsel appearing for the petitioner objected to the A-Gs submission and placed a judgment of the court setting aside the notification issued in 2013 for revision of market values.

Counsel told the bench that the rules mandate revision every two years in rural areas and the evaluation of market rate forms the basis for compensation when lands are acquired.

While adjourning the case to next week, the bench told the A-G that it wanted specific information regarding the exercise carried out by district collectors before issuing notifications for acquisition of lands and also the stand of the government in light of the provisions under the Act 2013, and rules under Indian Stamp Act.
The CCS will soon be questioning officials, including IAS officers who were at the helm of the affairs in CCLA and Revenue department at the time when the orders were passed. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Central Crime Station officials of Hyderabad police are now probing the role of officials of the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration regarding orders allotting Rs 8,000 crore worth of evacuee land in Puppalguda after they found that the orders were obtained using a forged general power of attorney of a dead individual.

The CCS will soon be questioning officials, including IAS officers who were at the helm of the affairs in CCLA and Revenue department at the time when the orders were passed.

On November 11, a CCS team led by assistant commissioner of police Mohd Tajuddin Ahmed had arrested the key accused in the land scam, identified as C.R. Laxminarayana, an advocate and the general power of attorney holder of the evacuee land. He is a resident of Alwal and practises in the Medchal court.

CCS DCP Avinash Mohanty said, Our investigators visited Pune and probed the family members of K. Bhagwandas Makhija, son of Late Hemandass Makhija. Interestingly it was found that Bhagwandas Makhija too died in 1995. We could prove it with a death certificate obtained from a local body. However, Laxminarayana obtained the GPA in 1996. This shows that he had used a forged GPA to get an order from CCLA. When asked about questioning officials in the case, he said, Investigation is yet to be completed.

Mr Tajuddin added, We are questioning Laxminarayana to know the role of other persons in the scam of 50 acres of land with the forged GPA. One more GPA of 150 acre of land was obtained in 1998 from the legal heirs of Parasuram Ramchand Malani.

What is it

1. During Partition, some people displaced from Pakistan were given lands in India as compensation.

2. Records say 20 families migrated to Telangana from West Pak against the hundreds of families that left for Pakistan, leaving behind vast tracts of land which is called evacuee property.

3. Official records show about 2,500 acres in Ranga Reddy district alone is evacuee property.
Hyderabad: In a significant development, the TS government has filed an affidavit before the National Green Tribunal, seeking a detailed survey on the impact of backwaters of Polavaram dam on Telangana state territory. The TS government also sought a direction to the AP government to take up all necessary protective measures to avert flooding in Telangana state, especially in the famous Rama temple at Bhadrachalam and in Parnasala. The NGT, after considering the affidavit on Monday, adjourned hearing to January 2, 2017.

The TS government submitted to the NGT that the impact of any flood at full reservoir level of 150 ft at Polavaram and the impact of backwaters due to that have not been studied so far and hence a detailed survey was needed to be ordered.

The TS government also contended that it was only notional that backwaters of Polavaram dam will not affect any flooding of the Bhadrachalam temple and of the Parnasala structure near Bhadrachalam unless a clear cut study was ordered.

It also said that if the backwater study found any possible impact of flooding in TS territory, the AP government should take up remedial measures like construction of protection walls and structures to avoid likely submergence of the area.

The TS government pointed out that construction of similar structures has been assured for Chhattisgarh and Odisha states, and similar action shall be ensured in the case of TS also.

Special chief secretary (irrigation) S. K. Joshi confirmed to DC the TS governments affidavit before the NGT, seeking a study by an independent agency on the impact of backwaters of Polavaram.
A group of education-related organizations are calling on school leaders and educators to respond to numerous reports of violence , harassment, and intimidation that have occurred since the presidential election by publicly reaffirm[ing] the inclusive values that are the foundation of healthy learning cultures.

In the almost two weeks since Republican Donald Trump won a narrow electoral victory in the divisive race, schools around the country have reported hate speech, racist graffiti, and fear among immigrant and religious minority students who are troubled by Trumps tough talk on immigration .

The organizations issuing the call to action are: the AASA, the School Superintendents Association; the American School Counselor Association; GLSEN, an LBGT student group; the National Association of Elementary School Principals; the National Association of Secondary School Principals; National PTA; the National School Boards Association; the National Association of School Psychologists; and the National Association of Independent Schools.

We come together as national education organizations in the wake of the troubling rash of reports of bias incidents and violence occurring in schools across the nation in recent days, the groups said in a statement. As learning communities, schools and school systems are responsible for providing all students with a physically and emotionally safe learning environment. This principle is the foundation of academic achievement, healthy individual development, and civic engagement. Violence, intimidation, and purposefully harmful expressions of bias undercut the core mission of schools and have no place in our school communities.

The statement applauded the schools and districts that have already taken meaningful steps to develop and support positive school climate in their communities. It did not list any examples. In recent weeks, districts like Los Angeles Unified have approved resolutions following repeated school walkouts by thousands of students . Those resolutions call for safe and supportive learning environments, and some have made special mention of a refusal to cooperate with possible future federal immigration enforcement.

Many teachers have also made extra efforts to discuss students fears in the classroom and to use the election as an opportunity to talk about civics issues, such as the separation of powers and civil rights.

The groups statement asks their constituents and all education leaders to take the following steps:



Publicly reaffirm the inclusive values that are the foundation of healthy learning cultures,

Lead a conversation with their school community on the core values of respect and inclusion at the heart of all learning; and

Consider posting a statement regarding these core values throughout their schools and/or all the schools within their district.

These actions should specifically affirm the right of all students, regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion to be educated in an environment free from fear, violence, and intimidation, the statement said.

Before the election, national teachers unions, which endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton, flagged Trumps coarse campaign rhetoric as a driver of bullying in classrooms around the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center called the trend The Trump Effect.

In the time since the polls closed, hurtful and racist acts have also spread beyond schools and into other areas of the public through vandalism and sometimes violent confrontations.

In a 60 Minutes interview shortly after his win, Trump told supporters committing racist and discriminatory acts to stop it. He has said little about the issue since.

East Los Angeles high school students protest against the election of President-elect Donald Trump in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 14. Some carried signs that read Deport Trump, while others waved the U.S., Mexican and gay pride flags. (Nick Ut/AP)

Related reading on Donald Trump, the presidential election, and schools:

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Hyderabad: Three people were killed and two others were injured when a MUV hit a bike, went off the road and rammed into a tree at Maheshwaram on the Srisailam highway on Monday morning. Two farmers riding on the bike and the MUV driver were killed on the spot. The two injured victims were rushed to hospital.

Maheshwaram police said the driver of the MUV was speeding and driving rashly. The victims are two farmers from Kandukur, V. Sreenu, 32 and K. Ramulu, who were on the bike and MUV driver G. Ramesh.

The mishap occurred at around 9 am, when the MUV was going to Kandukur and the bikers were coming towards Hyderabad.

The MUV driver lost control over the wheels due to high speed, and went to the right side of the road where the two victims were coming on a bike. The bike and the MUV collided head on, and the duo on the bike were flung into the air. They hit the road and suffered serious injuries.

The MUV went off the road, rolled over once and hit a tree. The bikers died on the spot due to serious head injuries. The MUV driver also died before getting any medical attention, said inspector A. Manmohan of Maheshwaram. The dead and the injured belong to Kandukur.

The two farmers, who belong to Sai Reddy Guda in Kandukur, were coming to Hyderabad to buy material needed for farming. The MUV driver Ramesh was taking two construction workers to Kandukur from Hyderabad. The MUV was fully damaged in the accident.
New Delhi: Upping the ante against demonetisation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday exhorted people to "change" the Prime Minister instead of defunct notes, saying those supporting the exercise were against the country, even as AAP announced a march to Parliament tomorrow.

Countering his Mahasrastra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis' contention that opposing the decision was "anti-national", Kejriwal said it was those who were in support of the drive that were against the country and the citizens.

Kejriwal also continued to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, asking the latter to come clear on his "relations" with a mobile wallet company, claiming its business has seen an "upswing" since demonetisation.

"Note nahi, PM Badlo (Change PM, not note)...Fadnavis ji, fire is raging across the country following the decision of the Prime Minister. The person who is standing with the PM on this would be against the country and the citizens," the Chief Minister, who is touring poll-bound Punjab, tweeted.

In another tweet, he urged Modi to either "waive off" farmers' loans or deposit Rs 10,000 in each Jan Dhan account using the money deposited by people in banks since November 10, the day banking opened post demonetisation.

Kerjriwal had earlier set a three-day deadline to the Centre demanding that demonetisation, "a massive scam", be rolled back. He will also address rallies in Varanasi, Meerut and Lucknow next month to corner the government on the issue.

The deadline expired yesterday and AAP said tomorrow's march to Parliament was part of its plan to sustain the momentum of its pitched battle against the exercise.

Several ministers of the Delhi cabinet, led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, will take part in the march.

Alleging that the drive by the Modi government was a "scam", senior AAP leader Ashish Khetan said common people were suffering while the loans of big industrialists were being waived off.

"We will be a undertaking Sansad March tomorrow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Demonetisation was aimed at giving BJP the advantage of being the only one with the largest amount of black money in new currency which they can use in the elections," Khetan told a press conference.

Apart from party leaders, Delhi ministers will also join the march, which will start from Jantar Mantar around 11.30 AM.
Thiruvananthpuram: Confusion in the Congress has become worse confounded with UDF convener P. P. Thankachan joining the chorus for supporting the LDF agitation against the centres assault on the cooperative sector while KPCC vice-president M. M. Hassan has rallied behind PCC chief V.M. Sudheeran stating that the Congress was not desperate to do that.

The discordant notes came on the eve of the all-party meet called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Monday after former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and the Muslim League called for a joint struggle.

The poor people in the state have been suffering due to the demonetisation. So the Congress should also join hands with the LDF, said Mr Thankachan.

Mr Hassan told reporters at the KPCC office on Sunday that the Congress was not in a hurry to conduct a joint stir. Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty, however, said that there were no issues in the UDF and that the UDF meeting on Monday would discuss the issue.

Mr Sudheeran maintains that a joint agitation will only boost the image of the LDF government and wants separate strikes.
Bengaluru: While lauding demonetisation as a bold step to counter black money, former Prime Minister Mr H.D. Deve Gowda came down heavily on the crude and pompous display of wealth by a BJP leader (former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy).

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Gowda said: While millions of common people faced inconvenience, your colleague celebrated a festival of black money.

Mr Gowda was referring to the extravagant marriage of former BJP minister Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy's daughter Ms Brahmini which was attended by several BJP leaders and even Congressmen.

I am writing this letter to congratulate you like every citizen would for the bold step you have taken to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. If this step is able to stop the demon of black money, the nation will ever be grateful to you. For once, my head and my heart thought of supporting you, Mr Gowda said.

Stating that the move has, however, put the common people in hardship, Mr Gowda said the poor are heeding the PMs emotional call and going without food and essentials. They have postponed their needs and even sowing of crops.

However, the common people witnessed a crude and pompous display of wealth, which mocked at their plight. Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy, erstwhile minister of your party's government in Karnataka has spent more than Rs 200 crore on a lavish wedding. Your colleagues from BJP were wallowing in this crude display of wealth of one of their own, who was jailed for illegal mining. As you called for sacrifice, your colleagues celebrated a festival of black money, Mr Gowda said.
Belagavi: The unending sugarcane crisis continued to haunt the Siddaramaiah government even as the winter session of the state legislature got underway in Belagavi on Monday. Several farmer organisations led by Karnataka Ryot Sangh launched their dharnas in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha accusing the government of neglecting the agriculture sector, especially sugarcane growers. Headed by president of Ryot Sangh, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, the agitators vowed to continue their dharna until the Siddaramaiah government took a decision to waive farm loans besides fixing a scientific price for cane and other crops. Highlighting the worsening plight of farmers in drought-hit areas, Mr Chandrashekhar questioned the government on the concrete measures it had taken to help farmers who lost their crops. He blamed the government for the farmers agitation and said the protests will continue until farmers get justice.

A team of senior police officials held a meeting of farmer leaders at the Deputy Commissioners office in Belagavi prior to the start of the legislature session at Suvarna Soudha in an attempt to stop them from staging dharnas. The farmers did not agree to what the officers assured them and decided to launch their dharna.

The Chief Minister decided to hold a meeting of farmer leaders at the Soudha soon after the first day's proceedings of the session in an attempt to end the ongoing agitation.

However, according to the leaders, they will not withdraw their agitation until the government announces a waiver of farm loans.

Another indefinite agitation was launched by a group of activists headed by freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy in front of the Soudha late on Sunday night. He urged the government to ensure work and shelter to all those working as agriculture labourers in the state while highlighting the plight of the workers whose future was bleak due to the harassment by landlords.

Shettar: Stop politicising drought

Leader of the Opposition in the legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar on Monday demanded that the state government stop politicising the release of compensation to drought-hit farmers in various parts of the state.

Speaking during the debate on farm distress in the Assembly, Mr Shettar said that the state government must stop blaming the Centre for all its problems.

The state government must take steps to release its share of funds rather than wait for the Union government to release its share, he stated.

Mr. Shettar recalled that when he was Chief Minister, he had released Rs 3,500 crore to mitigate farmers problems even before the Union government could act and had brought some commodities under VAT.

This was a stop gap arrangement. But after the Congress party led by Mr Siddaramaiah came to power, he had not reversed this policy and continued to mop up resources. Why cant you spend this amount on farmers? he questioned.
An Indian-American man was sent to jail on Friday for attempting to join ISIS in Syria and providing support to the group in 2014. (Photo: AP/Representational)

New York: A court in Chicago, the United States, on Friday awarded a 40-month jail term to an Indian-origin man who provided support to the Islamic State group and also attempted to join it in 2014.

According to reports, 21-year-old Mohammed Hazra Khan is the first Indian-origin person to be sentenced in the US for links to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.

Northern Illinois federal court judge John J Tharp ruled that Khan should undergo "violent extremism counselling" and a mental health treatment programme for 20 years after serving his sentence.

"Mr. Khan set off to join and aid a terrorist organization that believes it is appropriate, indeed believes it is holy, to kill anyone who disagrees with its religious dogma," Tharp said.

Khan, who was 19 when he attempted to leave the US to join ISIS in Syria, had in a Chicago court last year admitted to the charges of links to ISIS, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B McCord said in a statement.

Khan was arrested from Chicago's O'Hare Airport by anti-terrorism officers. He was trying to leave the US with his brother and sister, who were then aged 16 and 17, respectively. However, they did not face any charges.

Khan, who was born in New York City and later moved to Chicago with his family, would be allowed to join college next year as remission for good behaviour.
The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on Monday said they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar. (Photo: AP)

Kuala Lumpur: The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on Monday said they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane.

Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Voice 370, a family association, said the debris collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast.

"Despite these hugely important finds, there has been no systematic, organized search by any responsible party. This leaves the (next-of-kin) no other choice except to take it upon ourselves to do something to find answers and closure," it said in a statement.

An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon.

Grace Subathirai Nathan, whose mother Anne Daisy was on the flight, said she will be going to Madagascar with three other Malaysians, two Chinese and a French next-of-kin. She said the group is financing the Dec. 3 to Dec. 11 trip from their own pockets.

"We hope to mobilize the fishing villagers and coastal population to be on the constant lookout for new debris that could become new credible evidence," she told The Associated Press.

The Voice 370 statement said the seven-member team will focus their search along high potential sites based on drift modelling, largely focusing in areas on and around Ile Saint Marie, a tropical island off Madagascar's east coast.

The group said they may set up an incentive system using their own funds to encourage the search for debris, and will aim to set up a notification system and local collection point for potential aircraft debris.

So far, none of the six pieces of debris has helped narrow down the precise location of the main underwater wreckage. Investigators need to find that in order to locate the flight data recorders that could help explain why the plane veered so far off course.

Search crews are expected to finish their sweep of the 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) search zone in the Indian Ocean next month.

Oceanographers have been analyzing wing flaps found in Tanzania and on the French island of La Reunion to see if they might be able to identify a potential new search area through drift modelling. But any new search would require more funding. Malaysia, Australia and China said in July that the $160 million hunt will be suspended once the current stretch of ocean is exhausted unless new evidence emerges that would pinpoint a specific location of the aircraft.
India will not tolerate a military take over in Sri Lanka and will fully support President Maithripala Sirisena to foil any coup attempt in the country.

Colombo: India will not tolerate a military take over in Sri Lanka and will fully support President Maithripala Sirisena to foil any coup attempt in the country, a senior minister said on Monday amid reports of the opposition warning of a military coup.

Minister of social services SB Dissanayake said President Sirisena enjoyed good relations with India and could trust Indian support to foil any military coup attempt in Sri Lanka.

"President has the Indian support. India will send two ships (to support Sri Lankan government)," Mr Dissanayake told 'Neth FM radio'.

New Delhi would not tolerate a military attempt to take over power in Sri Lanka, Mr Dissanayake said when asked about the opposition warning of a military coup.

The parliamentary leader of the Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament on Friday that there was a threat of a military coup happening in Sri Lanka due to government's alleged curbing of democratic freedoms in the country.

He was addressing President Sirisena who was present in the House to take part in the 2017 budget allocations.

The Joint Opposition backs Sirisena's predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa who had blamed the international community including India for engineering his defeat to Sirisena last year.
Vatican City: Pope Francis is allowing all priests to absolve the faithful of the "grave sin" of abortion, extending indefinitely the special permission he had granted for the duration of the just-ended Holy Year of Mercy.

Francis wrote in the Apostolic Letter made public by the Vatican on Monday that "there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled" with God.

But he also wrote: "I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life."

Because the Roman Catholic Church holds abortion to be such a serious sin, it was long a matter for a bishop who could either hear the woman's confession himself or delegate that to a priest who was expert in such situations.

But in 2015, Francis allowed all rank-and-file priests for the duration of the Holy Year to grant absolution for an abortion. The Holy Year, which began on Dec. 8, 2015, ended on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, the day he signed the letter.

By permitting all priests to absolve the sin of abortion, Francis was further applying his vision of a merciful church. Last year, he wrote that some women who had abortions felt they had no choice but to make "this agonizing and painful decision."

"May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation" after abortion, Francis said in his latest letter.

A top Holy See official, Monsignor Rino Fisichella, told a news conference at the Vatican Monday that the pope's words applied also to those who were involved in an abortion.

"The sin of abortion is technically an expression that includes all the people who are involved in an abortion," Fisichella replied to a question from The Associated Press. "Thus from the women to the nurse to the doctor and whoever supports this procedure."

Fisichella added: "The sin of abortion is inclusive. Thus forgiveness for the sin of abortion is all-inclusive and extends to all those who are participants in this sin."

In his Apostolic Letter, Francis explained his rationale: "Lest any obstacle arise between the request for reconciliation and God's forgiveness, I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion."

During the recent U.S. presidential election campaign, some pastors urged their congregations to keep the "sacredness in life" - seen as a reference to abortion - in mind when deciding which candidate would get their vote. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump voiced his opposition to abortion while campaigning, while his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, supported women's right to have an abortion.

Four cardinals, including archconservative U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke, recently criticized Francis for what they indicated was ambiguity in past statements on whether divorced Catholics who remarry can receive Communion. Burke and the others expressed fear that Francis was causing "confusion" by saying the matter could be left to the discernment of local priests. Church teaching holds such Catholics are adulterers living in sin, and thus shouldn't receive Communion.

In the letter on abortion, Francis made plain that there can be no ambiguity in laying out moral principles, even while stressing the church's merciful side.

Addressing priests in part of the 10-page letter, Francis said: "I ask you to be welcoming to all, witnesses of fatherly love whatever the gravity of the sin involved, attentive in helping penitents to reflect on the evil they have done, clear in presenting moral principles, willing to walk patiently beside the faithful on their penitential journey, farsighted in discerning individual cases and generous in dispensing God's forgiveness."

"Mercy cannot become a mere parenthesis in the life of the church; it constitutes her very existence," Francis wrote.
At the weekend, thousands rallied against the bill in Istanbul, urging the government to withdraw the proposals. (Photo: Representational Image)

Ankara: The Turkish government said on Monday it was open to changes proposed by the opposition to a controversial bill that could overturn the convictions of thousands of male sex offenders, after a huge public backlash.

Critics have said that the bill, which would allow the release from jail of men convicted of assaulting underage girls if they marry their victims, risks legitimising rape.

At the weekend, thousands rallied against the bill in Istanbul, urging the government to withdraw the proposals.

"This (bill) does not in any way cover rape crimes... This is not forgiveness, it is only a legal amendment," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said in televised comments after a cabinet meeting.

But he said the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) could suggest changes ahead of a second vote on Tuesday.

"If the MHP or CHP have other proposals regarding this case, we state clearly that we are open to evaluating those proposals," Kurtulmus added.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has said marriages involving minors were "unfortunately a reality" in Turkey but the men involved "were not rapists or sexual aggressors." He said the measure would affect some 3,000 families.

The bill is due to be voted on again on Tuesday after it was approved in an initial parliamentary reading on Thursday.

If it is passed, it would permit the release from prison of men guilty of assaulting a minor if the act was committed without "force, threat, or any other restriction on consent" and if the aggressor "marries the victim".

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said last week that the claims it would de-facto legalise rape were "completely false" and the measure would only be applied once to past offences committed before November 11, 2016.

On Monday, thhe UN children's agency UNICEF together with three other UN agencies said if the bill was passed in its current form, it would weaken Turkey's ability to fight against child marriage and sexual abuse.

In a statement they said the proposals would "create a perception of impunity in favour of perpetrators of such child rights violations".

The legal age of consent in Turkey is 18, but child marriage is widespread, especially in the southeast.
Casino Not Liable for Man's Drunken Assault

Perfectly reasonable laws can sometimes lead to some wacky lawsuits. Usually, it's due to some lawyer with a novel theory on how to apply the law. Recently, a Pennsylvania judge dismissed one such wacky lawsuit against the Sands Casino.

Basically, a Pennsylvania man sued the casino claiming that he suffered damages because he was convicted of battering his fiance there. He claimed that the casino was at fault for serving him too much alcohol. Fortunately, the judge in the case wasn't having any of that nonsense.

Dram Shop Laws and Social Host Liability

While most people are familiar with the concept of social host liability, most get confused when they hear it called dram shop liability. Basically, dram shops existed over a hundred years ago and sold alcohol by the spoonful (or dram). Dram shop laws exist in nearly every state to allow the victim of a drunk person's actions to pursue the dram shop (or bar/social host) that served the person the alcohol in addition to the person that caused the harm.

When a business or host is providing alcohol to guests, they have a duty to the public to not let their guests drive drunk. Most frequently, dram shop and social host laws are used when a drunken person causes an automobile accident and injures another person.

Shouldn't the Dram Shop Laws Apply Here?

While it might sound like the dram shop laws should apply, the definitely should not. The judge went so far as to explain that the casino could not have reasonably foreseen the plaintiff's actions, and that he had no one to blame but his-self.

This case is wacky because the victim is not the one relying on the dram shop laws, but rather the person who got drunk and broke the law. The dram shop laws do not absolve the drunk person from liability, but rather just force the alcohol provider to share liability. Part of the purpose behind this is to allow a victim to be able to more fully recover, as well as to put alcohol providers on notice that if they are going to profit by serving alcohol, they must be cognizant of their duty to protect the public.

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Turkish women stage a protest in Ankara, Turkey after a debate flared in Turkey after a government proposal which would pardon some people imprisoned for statutory rape, fell short of passage by legislators. (Photo: AP)

Istanbul: Thousands of people, including women and children, marched Saturday in Istanbul against a controversial bill that would overturn men's convictions for child sex assault if they married their victim.

"We will not shut up. We will not obey. Withdraw the bill immediately!" the around 3,000 protesters shouted amid claps and whistles as they marched to Kadikoy square on the city's Asian side.

Others waved banners emblazoned with slogans such as "#Rape cannot be legitimised" and "AKP, take your hands off my body," a reference to the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which introduced the bill.

The opposition, celebrities, and even an association whose deputy chairman is Erdogan's daughter have expressed alarm over the move.

But the government insists the legislation was aimed at dealing with the widespread custom of child marriages and the criticism was a crude distortion of its aim.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag on Saturday moved to reassure opponents that the bill would not pardon rapists.

"The bill will certainly not bring amnesty to rapists.... This is a step taken to solve a problem in some parts of our country," he told a NATO meeting in Istanbul.

After the controversy, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim late Friday ordered his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to hold talks with the opposition in parliament on the planned measures.

'Women will take to streets'

The measures were approved in an initial parliamentary reading on Thursday and will be voted on again in a second debate in the coming days. Critics have said the government is encouraging the rape of minors.

"We will not allow the AKP to acquit and set free rapists in this country," one of the women protesters who gave her name as Ruya told AFP.

"Women will resist and take to the streets until this law and similar other laws are withdrawn."

Another protester, a middle-aged man named Ugur, was at the protest with his 14-year-old daughter.

"I am concerned about my daughter's future," Ugur told AFP. "AKP is passing any law they want in the parliament."

The AKP enjoys a comfortable majority in the 550-seat parliament, holding 317 seats.

"That's the maximum we can do. To protest," he said.

If passed, the law would allow the release from prison of men guilty of assaulting a minor if the act was committed without "force, threat, or any other restriction on consent" and if the aggressor "marries the victim".

The legal age of consent in Turkey is 18 but child marriage is widespread, especially in the southeast.

Another protester, Yagmur, called the bill "nonsense".

"In which century are we are living? Forgive me but we are talking about rape while other issues should be up for discussion," he said.

"A country cannot advance with more bridges or roads. We are against the bill and we will not remain silent."

'Violence against children a crime'

The UN children's fund said Saturday it was "deeply concerned" over the bill.

"These abject forms of violence against children are crimes which should be punished as such, and in all cases the best interest of the child should prevail," spokesman Christophe Boulierac said.

The latest controversy comes after Turkey's constitutional court in July annulled a criminal code provision punishing as "sexual abuse" all sexual acts involving children under the age of 15.

Defenders of that law argued it made a distinction between cases of sexual acts involving a young teenager as opposed to a much younger child.

The bill comes amid widespread concern at what the UN rapporteur on freedom of expression on Friday described as a "grim" situation in Turkey following an attempted coup in July.

Since a rogue military faction tried to oust President Erdogan from power, over 100,000 people within the judiciary, media, military and civil service have been arrested, suspended or sacked.
Washington: On December 4 Italians will vote over whether to accept Prime Minister Matteo Renzis flagship reform, which would drastically reduce the role of the Senate (upper house of parliament) and take powers back from regional governments. With Britain choosing to leave the European Union earlier this year and the surprise win of Donald Trump in the US presidential elections this month, Italys referendum could be the next test for Western voters that could likely shake up one of the worlds ten biggest economies.

Polls have given the No camp a comfortable lead, but after Brexit and Mr Trumps victory voters may be a bit wary of the numbers. If the Italian prime minister loses the referendum, it could bring his tenure to an abrupt and premature end. It could also have far-reaching effects. If Italians vote against the reform, the Italian premier has said he will step down from office ahead of the next 2018 general election. This would mean an early vote, delay in reforms and political chaos. According to Time magazine, a prolonged period of political instability could trigger a financial speculative attack and a risk of fuelling a financial crisis similar to the one of 2011.

Meanwhile, Italian populists and right-wing parties are already exploiting Mr Trumps unexpected presidential victory. They claim it has lowered Mr Renzis chances of referendum success. The U.S. elections have shown that a wind of change is blowing across both sides of the Atlantic and will soon wipe Renzi away. His time is over and Italy needs a new government, Massimiliano Fedriga, a Lower House leader and a member of the no front, told th magazine.
The PPP chief abruptly left the country last year after lashing out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain. (Photo: PTI)

Dubai: Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has said that he is not in exile and will return home in a few weeks.

In an interview to Geo News yesterday, Zardari denied being in "exile" and said he would return to Pakistan within the next few weeks.

The PPP chief abruptly left the country last year after lashing out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani also confirmed the possibility of Zardari's return saying the former president would be back in December.
Karbala: Millions of black-clad Shiite Muslims, crying and beating their chests in mourning, streamed through a shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala on Monday under heavy protection from the security forces.

The processions of faithful walking to Imam Hussein's mausoleum from all over Iraq have been routinely targeted by bombings over the years, but this time the Arbaeen commemoration saw very few attacks.

The Islamic State group is battling tens of thousands of Iraqi forces in and around its last major stronghold of Mosul, and observers had feared it might seek to strike Baghdad or Karbala during Arbaeen.

The authorities in Karbala, which lies about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Baghdad, said at least 24,000 soldiers and police were securing the area.

Some pilgrims came from as far afield as Basra, Iraq's main southern port city some 500 kilometres away by road.

"I came walking from Basra with my wife and three sons... This is the third time," said Jaber Kadhem Khalif. "We started walking 13 days ago and reached Karbala on Sunday night."

The 40-year-old said his prayers would go to the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which has tens of thousands of men deployed on the front lines to fight IS.

Umm Ali came without her husband, who is with the security forces on the front lines.

"I came with my son and two daughters. I came from Samawa to Najaf by car, then from Najaf to Karbala on foot, to make a plea for my husband's safety," the 45-year-old said.

"We ask God to support us against Daesh (IS) members, to help us liberate Mosul and urge our politicians to remember the people who have sacrificed so much," she said.

Arbaeen, which means "40" in Arabic, is an observance that peaks on the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's 680 AD death, but the pilgrimage takes place over several days running up to it.

Nusayyef al-Khattabi, who heads the Karbala provincial council, said he expected the total number of visitors over several days to range "between 17 and 20 million".

Among them are an estimated three million foreigners, mostly Iranians who started crossing the border days ago. The last day of Arbaeen was dominated by a controversy in Iraq over the publication by Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat of an article accusing Iranian pilgrims of sexually harassing women during the commemoration.

The article quoted a spokesman from the UN's health agency, which denied any such comment was ever made.

It drew condemnation from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shiite figures and bodies demanding an apology.

It kept Saudi-Iranian tension as a backdrop to the pilgrimage, after the deadly 2015 stampede during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca prompted Tehran to angrily question Saudi custodianship of holy Muslim sites.

"I want to respond to what was published in Asharq al-Awsat. They want to slander the pilgrims and this event," said Magdi al-Muslim, a Shiite who is himself from Saudi Arabia.
From the random checking of 200 game operators, 36 were found to provide games with illegal content, such as pornography and gambling. (Representational Image)

Beijing: China's government on Monday said it will punish 36 online game operators for disseminating pornography and aiding and abetting gambling.

The ministry of culture began inspection of the online games market in September in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities.

From the random checking of 200 game operators, 36 were found to provide games with illegal content, such as pornography and gambling, as well as contents abetting to crimes and "offending social morality", state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry urged the 36 operators to cooperate with law enforcers and learn from their mistakes.

The ministry will continue random inspections, disclose inspection results in a timely manner, and better publicise relevant rules and regulations.

China's online game industry has increased by 30 per cent for nine consecutive years in terms of its annual output value, and gave birth to the world's largest online gaming company in terms of revenue.

However, some online games have "poor social values", and are low quality, Chen Tong, director of the cultural market department of the ministry, said at a press briefing, calling on online games to "propagate socialist core values".
Beijing: Pakistan should realise that fanning terror in Kashmir will not serve its cause, a state-run Chinese newspaper said on Monday while underlining that India and Pakistan should make "compromises" to end the conflict in the disputed region.

"The conflict between India and Pakistan has hindered the development of each country. The Pakistani government, military and other groups should realise that armed struggles and terror attacks will not change the chaotic situation of Kashmir, and will leave people in desperation," an article on the website of state-run Global Times said.

"After decades of confrontation, it is time that the two sides make some compromise," it said.

The article also claimed that the mention of Balochistan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address proves Pakistan's accusations about India's alleged involvement in the restive province.

"Pakistan has been accusing India of backing the separatist movement in its Balochistan province, which India has denied. This year, Modi mentioned Balochistan in his Independence Day address, which actually proved Pakistan's accusation," it said.

"It indicated that the Indian government would turn the province into the second battlefield to counter Pakistan's support for anti-India forces in India-controlled Kashmir.

"If Balochistan really separates from Pakistan, the Pakistani government will lose its control over the country and the country will be torn apart.

"A chaotic Pakistan will become a hotbed for extremism, which India will find more difficult to tackle. It may even incite separatism within India, especially in states and northeastern regions where Muslims make up the majority," the report said.

Stating that India-Pakistan conflict is also affecting neighbouring countries, it said "some forces in India launched an unprecedented boycott of Chinese products, using the excuse of China's support for Pakistan".

Referring to terrorist attacks disrupting the India-Pakistan peace process it said "in the past two decades, whenever the Indian and Pakistani leaderships exchanged visits and the bilateral ties were about to develop, destructive events would occur and bring the two back to confrontation".
Islamabad: The successor to Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif will be chosen by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif based on consultations with the military and

Cabinet, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday.

Asif said that Gen Raheel, who will retire on November 29, will send a list of the senior most general to Prime Minister Sharif.

Asif told Geo News that Pakistan's next army chief will be chosen by the prime minister.

"The prime minister will decide on a name after first consulting the COAS (General Raheel), colleagues and cabinet members."

According to Pakistani media reports, the four contenders are: Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat, Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

"General Raheel Sharif had several successes during his tenure. No other Army in the world has achieved such success against terrorism. I think that General Raheel Sharif is leaving a legacy which he and the armed forces can be proud of," Asif said.

Earlier, Gen Raheel started his farewell visits beginning from Lahore, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

He addressed a large gathering of soldiers of army and Rangers at Lahore Garrison.

The new army chief, whenever the name is finalised, will take charge on the same day.

Meanwhile, ahead of his retirement, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Gen Rashid Mahmood today met with Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah.

Gen Mahmood is also set to retire on November 29. Gen Mahmood paid a farewell visit to the naval chief in Karachi, according to spokesman Pakistan Navy.
Raheel in January had declared he would not seek extension. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: Ending the suspense over the tenure of its powerful chief, Pakistan army on Monday said General Raheel Sharif has kicked off his farewell visits to various army units before his retirement on November 29.

"The COAS (Chief of Army Staff) kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

Bajwa said General Raheel met troops and addressed a "huge gathering of soldiers of army and Rangers at (Lahore) Garrison."

General Raheel said accomplishment of peace and stability was no ordinary task.

"Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in off-setting all odds against the country," he said.

General Raheel, 60, is expected to pass on the baton of command of the army to the next army chief at a ceremony by the end of this month.

On Friday, General Raheel visited Government College University (GCU) Lahore, his alma mater and interacted with the students and faculty members.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has four options before him for the post of new army chief.

The line-up as per seniority is more or less clear. Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat is the senior most followed by Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Official sources privy to the development told PTI that Lt Gen Nadeem and Lt Gen Bajwa are the potential candidates for the slot of the army chief for different reasons.

"PM Sharif has completed the consultation with Gen Raheel about the appointment of new chief and he is likely to pick between Ahmed and Bajwa this week," a source said.

Raheel in January had declared he would not seek extension.

"I will retire on the due date," he had said. There was speculation that the PML-N government would give him extension at the eleventh hour citing reasons that he was needed by the country to lead war on terror. The post of army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan.

This will be the fifth time that Prime Minister Sharif will pick the top commander of the countrys nearly 550,000 ground troops.

If his botched attempt to replace General Musharraf with Ziauddin Butt in 1999 is also counted, this will be the sixth time Sharif gets to choose an army chief.
Afghan police gather at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Representational Image, Photo: AP)

Kabul: A massive suicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Kabul killed at least 27 people on Monday and wounded 35 as worshippers gathered for a religious ceremony, officials said.

"It was a suicide bomber who blew himself up among worshippers inside the mosque, killing 27 and wounding 35," senior police official Fridon Obaidi said.

Police cordoned off the area around the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the Afghan capital.

"I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming," Ali Jan said.

Worshippers were gathering to mark the Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen, which comes 40 days after the major festival of Ashura.

Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was assassinated in the year 680. His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan. Arbaeen marks the end of the mourning period over his death.

Earlier this year a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It came days after twin attacks claimed by Islamic State, which also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday's blast.
Kabul: A massive suicide blast targeting Shiites killed at least 32 people and wounded 64 as worshippers gathered at a Kabul mosque Monday, officials said, the latest sectarian attack claimed by Islamic State in the Afghan capital.

The attacker was mingling with worshippers inside the Baqirul Olum mosque in the west of the city when he detonated the bomb, said senior police official Fridon Obaidi.

The blast around 12:30 pm left a large crater inside the two-storey mosque. Bodies covered in blood could be seen on the ground among shattered glass. Police cordoned off the area as ambulances rushed to the scene.

"I heard a blast and dust covered the whole mosque," said worshipper Nadir Ali.

"When the dust settled down, I saw the mosque was full of flesh and blood. I was injured in my waist and had to crawl out of the mosque."

Another worshipper, Ali Jan, said: "I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers. Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming."

The worshippers were gathering for the major Shiite ceremony of Arbaeen marking the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was assassinated in the year 680. His fate laid the foundation for the faith practised by the Shiite community, a minority in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan.

The death toll given by Obaidi was confirmed by health ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi, who said Monday evening the wounded toll had jumped from 35 to 64. Women and children were among the injured.

The UN gave a different toll of at least 32 dead and more than 50 wounded.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack in a statement via the jihadist-linked Amaq news agency.

President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement he strongly condemned the "barbaric" attack, which the UN called an "atrocity".

NATO commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson offered condolences and the US embassy in Kabul also condemned the blast, which Amnesty International called "horrific and deliberate".

"(Afghan authorities) have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shia Muslims from attacks," said Champa Patel, Amnesty's South Asia director.

Call for security

Mosques in Kabul generally do not have any security -- though police patrols can be seen near some on Fridays -- and some eyewitnesses criticised the government over the lack of protection.

"They know that Daesh (IS), who is able to conduct attacks in Europe, can reach places in Afghanistan easily. They should provide security to sacred places," said one man who gave his name as Rahmat.

Last month a powerful blast targeting Shiites during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. It followed twin attacks claimed by IS that also targeted Shiites and killed 18 in Kabul.

In July IS jihadists claimed twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 and wounding more than 400 others.

Those bombings marked the deadliest single attack in the Afghan capital since the Taliban were ousted from power in a 2001 US-led invasion.

Fighters from IS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, have been making steady inroads in Afghanistan, challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country's east.

The Taliban, who are waging a bloody war to topple the US-backed Afghan government, said they were not involved in Monday's attack.

The assault underscores rising insecurity in the war-torn country nearly two years after US-led NATO forces formally ended their combat operations.

Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims gather each year in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious events. The pilgrimage is seen as a major potential target for sectarian attacks.
Donald Trump to Settle Trump University Lawsuit for $25M

The New York Attorney General's office today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with President-elect Donald Trump in a series of lawsuits regarding his eponymous Trump University. According to a statement from Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, Trump has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations of fraud after thousands people across the country were duped into paying for Trump University courses, which more often than not left students "worse off financially than they had been before."

It marks a change of heart for the litigious future president, and means he'll carry one fewer legal headache into office next year.

Pricey Pivot

Given Trump's previous statements on litigation, the settlement came as somewhat of a surprise. Here he is in February, touting his now-defunct real estate baron academy's approval rating among former students:

Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won't out of principle! -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 29, 2016

Those principles must've changed since the election, putting Trump in a more conciliatory mood. Trump will pay the state of New York $1 million "for violating state education laws." The rest of the settlement will ostensibly go to "over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university," some of whom paid up to $35,000 to learn the secrets behind building a Trumpian real estate empire, straight from instructors "hand-picked" by Trump himself. Those instructors never materialized, and Trump U. turned out to be an aggressive sales pitch for increasingly expensive courses.

Swindler-in-Chief

"In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of millions of dollars through a scheme known as Trump University," Schneiderman's statement said. "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university ... Today's $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university."

The settlement also staves off a federal class action lawsuit that was set to being in San Diego in less than two weeks. In that case, Trump accused the presiding judge, Indiana-born Gonzalo Curiel, of being biased against him. "I'm building the wall, I'm building the wall," Mr. Trump told the New York Times in June. "I have a Mexican judge. He's of Mexican heritage. He should have recused himself, not only for that, for other things."

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An infant girl died at KEM Hospital here today after she was allegedly refused treatment by a prominent hospital for her heart condition, apparently over the issue of payment in demonetised currency notes.





However, Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was to be admitted for heart surgery, refuted the claim made by her relatives that their request to accept at least part payment in defunct banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 was turned down.



A close relative of Amrapali and Gaurab Kunte, parents of the deceased girl, said the doctors had advised them to admit her in Ruby Hall Clinic for heart surgery.



"However, when we went to Ruby on Saturday morning, the billing department gave us quotation of Rs 3.5 lakh and told us to deposit the same before any treatment.



"We then offered to make Rs 1 lakh payment in demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. However, the hospital administration refused to accept these notes," claimed Sudhakar Gawandgave.



He said her parents even offered to pay part payment through cheque and cards."When they (Ruby Clinic) turned down the demonetised bills, we offered them that we would pay Rs 1 lakh through current cheque and Rs 30,000 through card payment and requested them to allow the remaining payment through another cheque, which needs to be deposited in bank on Monday," Gawandgave said.



He alleged that the hospital administration turned down their offer and instead demanded full payment which he said resulted into wastage of golden hours.



"They made us run from pillar to post to admit the girl. Had she been admitted to Ruby Hall Hospital, the golden hours would not have been wasted.



"The infant girl, who was in ICU at KEM, had to put on ventilator support and died early Sunday morning," Gawandgave said.



When contacted, Dr Sanjay Pathare, Director, Medical Services, at Ruby Hall Clinic, refuted as "baseless and false" the claims made by the relatives.



"Firstly, at Ruby Hall Clinic, patients in critical condition are never denied admission. In this case, the baby never reached the hospital and died at KEM.



"There is no question of demonetised notes as I have got the information that the billing department told them to bring the infant to the hospital and pay whatever you have, but we have no idea after that conversation, who did they approach and who misguided them," he said.



Pathare said that in emergency situation there is no question of money as the priority is always given to treatment.



In the wake of demonetisation, the Maharashtra government has directed private hospitals to accept cheques from patients in case of emergencies. The hospitals can face action if the patients are denied treatment for want of cash.
Focussing on the importance of theatre in todays world, Bollywood Actor Irrfan Khan said theatre is the purest form of expression and is here to stay for times to come.





Irrfan Khan who is also the brand ambassador of the Annual Theater Festival of Pink City, Au-Jairangam was addressing the press on Sunday. Reminiscing his childhood days in Jaipur, the actor said there was no culture of theatre in Rajasthan during earlier days.



In fact, theater was looked down upon. Au-Jairangam is making an earnest effort to promote quality theatre and ensure that it reaches out to the masses, Irrfan added.



The 5th edition of Au-Jairangam, the annual theatre festival of Pink City will be held from 21 November to 27 November this year. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will inaugurate the festival on Monday at 6.30 pm at Birla Auditorium.



The plays under the ambit of Au-Jairangam will be held at different venues like Birla Auditorium, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Maharana Pratap Auditorium as well as various schools and colleges.



Apart from this, street plays (nukkad natak) will also be held across different places in the Pink City.



It will also have a plethora of play relating to history. Some of them include Aurangzeb directed by K S Rajendran, Ishq Aaha by Gagan Dev Riar and Sukant Goel, Nights End by Gowri Ramnarayan, Hamlet in and Hamlet out by Pranab Mukherjee, and Bidesia by Sanjay Upadhyay.
A man was shot dead barely 200 metres from a police post in East Delhis Krishna Nagar area. The victim is yet to be identified.





The police control room got a call informing about gunshots being heard on Saturday evening in Krishna Nagar police stations post near Gali No 4 near Old Seelampur police post.



Soon after the gunshots there was commotion in the area as people rushed for cover, police said, quoting a witness. On reaching the spot the police found a youth lying in a pool of blood.



A PCR van rushed the victim to Swami Dayanand Hospital. But he died on way to hospital, said a police official.



A knife was recovered from the spot. A murder case has been registered and a hunt has been launched for the assailant. In another incident, three youths opened fire at a door of a godown in south Delhis Jaitpur area.



The employees of the godown raised an alarm due to which the assailants panicked and fled from the spot, police said. Vinod Kumar, owner of the godown told police that two of the assailants jumped the wall of the godown and entered the area, while the third accomplice entered from the door.



When a worker raised an alarm, the godowns guard Nityanand woke up and started chasing the assailant, police said. A case has been registered and there policemen are probing if the godown owner had any personal enmity.



The police said the youths did not show any intention to rob the employees. But they tried to threaten them by breaking the glass doors and windows of the rod.The motive behind the crime is not clear. We are trying to check the CCTV footage of the godown, said an investigator.
Delhi Police is in the process of setting up a separate control room for handling calls on phone number 112, which will be Indias equivalent of 911 of the USAs all-in-one emergency services.





Sources said top Delhi Police officials are looking at logistical requirements for the new helpline and a place where the control room can be set up.



The police control room is located at the police headquarters in ITO area but meetings are currently being held to see where the new control room can be built. The new control room will be coming up somewhere at Haiderpur, said a senior police officer.



The 112 emergency helpline will be the go-to solution for availing all kinds of emergency services like fire control and ambulances.



All the calls that are coming to 100 will be coming on 112 also. The only difference will be that our personnel will also be attending to calls about fires and ambulances. Two sister services will be added. We currently have 50 lines. We are preparing for it since we will be needing more personnel and lines, another officer said.



From November 30, we will be linking the Centralised Ambulance Trauma Services (CATS) helpline to 100. We are developing a control room in Haiderpur that will be taking calls made to 112, but since there are directions that it should be rolled out soon, we will take the load on our existing phonelines from the last week of November, he added.



In many cases, ambulances and police services are required. In those circumstances, we will initiate police proceedings as well as transfer the calls to CATS helpline, he said.



The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the implementation of the proposed service and every state has been given necessary funds. Sources said Delhi has received Rs 12 crore for rolling out 112 emergency helpline.



Delhi Police will soon be inviting tenders for buying hardware required, sources said. Officers involved in the execution of the project say they are anticipating hoax calls to go up after the new emergency number comes into existence.



We get Rs 26,000-27,000 calls everyday. In the normal process, we also get fire calls and even calls for ambulances. We are not expecting our load to increase. However, blank calls might go up, he said.



Out of the 27,000 calls that the PCR unit handles daily, almost 40% are blank calls.



There are close to 11,000 blank calls or repeat calls. Many people have second thoughts about calling the police and even after dialling they disconnect the calls. Many times they make multiple calls for one issue. So we are anticipating a rise in those kind of calls, he said.
India and China today agreed on the need to keep their borders "tranquil and peaceful" as army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag held talks with top Chinese military officials, including his counterpart, amid frequent transgressions by the PLA along the LAC.



Kicking off his four-day visit, General Suhag met General Li Zuocheng, the head of China's ground forces which have undergone major restructuring in the last three years.



Suhag was welcomed by Gen Li with a Guard of Honour at the Bayi Building. Later, both held official talks in which a wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed.



They both noted with appreciation the 6th India-China Joint Training Exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' 2016 which is currently going on in Pune and agreed to further expand defence exchanges between the two armies, a statement issued by the Indian Embassy said.



Later Suhag held talks with Chinese Air-force General Xu Qiliang, who is also the Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission, the high command of China's military.



During the meeting Suhag and Xu "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful", the statement said.



Gen Xu also accepted invitation to visit India.



Suhag also extended an invitation to Li to visit India, which he accepted hoping to make it soon.



The Chief of Army Staff's delegation is comprised of four senior Army Officers, holding key posts in the Indian Army. Suhag will also visit Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations, as well as interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, the statement said.



During the visit, General Suhag is expected to discuss a host of issues including efficacy of mechanism put in place to deal with transgressions of troops aggressively patrolling the areas claimed by both the countries.



Several such transgressions by Chinese troops specially in the Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh sectors in the recent past resulted in long standoffs between troops on both sides.



While relations between the two militaries improved with constant visits by high-level officials including the Defence Ministers, officials say the relations remained tenuous with steady increase of Pakistan-related issues affecting their growth.



General Suhag's visit also comes at a time when relations between the two countries were stressed by issues like the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China blocking India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and move to impose a UN ban on JeM Chief Masood Azhar.



However, officials on both sides say despite contentious issues, both sides managed to keep up the dialogue at the highest level going, ensuring peace and tranquillity along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).



Besides the constant interactions under the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to address ground level issues, the two sides also held 19 rounds of talks to resolve the border dispute.
India has emerged as a new destination for property investors with Bangalore and Mumbai topping the list of real estate markets for investment and development, according to a report.





"India is on the radar of fund managers for good growth potential. Large institutional investors believe in long-term growth potential," said John Fitzgerald, chief executive of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).



This year's Investment Prospects survey shows a strong shift away from last year's favorites, which featured core markets in Japan and Australia. Instead it favours emerging-market destinations, with two Indian cities topping a list which also includes Vietnam, the Philippines and Shenzhen (in China), said the report prepared by ULI along with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).



Bangalore has emerged first in investment and development for 2017, it said.

"The big story for investors has long been the city's role as India's main hub for the business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT industries," said the report.



There is a huge demand for space as both domestic and international companies flock to open both call-in and research-and-development centres, it pointed out.



Mumbai was second in investment, third in development out of the 22 Asian cities.



A major road and rail infrastructure programme in Mumbai will allow easier access to the centre from outlying areas, with most construction scheduled for completion before 2019, said the report, adding that Mumbai was previously considered most expensive and slow growing city in India.



Bangalore and Mumbai also emerged as first and second in 'Historical Investment Prospect Rankings' for 2017, shooting up from 12 and 13 positions in 2016.



New Delhi was ranked 10 in development and 13 in investment for 2017.



The capital city was also ranked 13 under the Historical Investment Prospect Rankings for next year.



Following the removal of various regulatory stumbling blocks, there appears to be real motivation at the central government level to make a deal happen, the report said.

As ever, however, resolving bureaucratic issues in India can be complex and time consuming, it pointed out.



While managers at domestic and foreign investment funds active in India were positive about the prospects for a working REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) framework to emerge within the foreseeable future  possibly the next 12 months  a raft of issues remains to be addressed, it said.



These range from resolving ongoing regulatory disagreements between central and provincial authorities, to overcoming obstacles posed by the standard use of a lease rent discounting model to obtain bank financing, to listing REITs at cap rates that will be appealing for retail investors.



"Again, how long these will take to resolve remains an open question," said the report.
The CBI is moving to seek the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom after securing non-bailable warrant against him from a Mumbai court.





A request for extradition will soon be forwarded to designated authorities in the UK through diplomatic channels, CBI sources said today.



The investigative agency secured a non-bailable warrant against Mallya following it with an extradition request from the Special Court to competent authorities in the United Kingdom, the sources said.



The sources said that the agency is also examining the role of top bankers of IDBI which had extended over Rs 900 crore loan to now defunct Kingfisher Airlines in 2008-09.



They claimed that CBI has got sufficient evidence against Mallya and despite notices he has not joined the investigations following which the agency secured a non- bailable warrant against him from Special CBI Court in Mumbai.



Mallya had left the country in March despite look out circulars from CBI. He was not stopped by the Bureau of Immigration because of change in the nature of Look Out Circular issued by the agency.



The agency had registered a case against Vijay Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and other unknown officers of IDBI Bank for allegedly showing undue favours to Kingfisher Airlines, now defunct, to sanction loans aggregating Rs 900 crore in Oct 2008-09.



The sources said the loans were extended despite weak financials of the company, negative reports, low credibility, and in deviation from corporate land policy of the bank.



It is alleged that significant portions of the loans were utilised by KFA to service existing debt to other banks, lenders or to settle outstanding documentary bills.



The FIR alleged that large sums were remitted out of India as rentals or payment of spare parts, they said.



It alleged documents show there was a criminal conspiracy between Mallya and top officials of IDBI Bank wherein the bankers abused their position and disbursed loans amounting to Rs 900 crore even as Mallya and subordinates provided false information to banks to get loans sanctioned.
The NIA carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day today, even as it blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.



The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name cropped up after the Dhaka terror attack on July 1 when one of the terrorists involved posted on social media that they had been inspired by the former's speeches.



Search operations were carried out by the National Investigation Agency at the offices of IRF, premises of Naik as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naik's Peace TV.



The NIA also blocked the website of IRF, which was allegedly promoting "hate speeches" of Naik.



"As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken," an NIA spokesperson told PTI.



Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.



If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.



The NIA is still trying to block Naik's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged "objectionable" material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials.



The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naik's sermons.



Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.



The NIA had on November 19 carried out searches on 10 premises of the IRF in Mumbai after registering a case against Naik and others under the anti-terror law.



The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises, including IRF's head office.



IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.



Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.



Justifying the ban imposed on IRF, the government said Naik has been extolling Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted 80 per cent of Indians would not have remained Hindus.



In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the IRF and its members, particularly, founder Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities.



"The central government has received information that the statements and speeches made by Zakir Naik, the president of IRF are objectionable and subversive in nature as he has been extolling the known terrorists like Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted, 80 per cent of Indian population would not have remained Hindus as they could have been converted 'if we wanted' by sword, justifying the suicide bombings, posting objectionable comments against Hindu Gods, claiming that Golden Temple may not be as sacred as Mecca and Medina and making other statements which are derogatory to other religions," the notification said.
Is Driving With a Cold as Dangerous as Driving Drunk?

Flu season is upon us, which means quite a few folks will be driving while sniffling, either hopped up on decongestants or hoping they don't have to sneeze while rolling up to a stop sign. (And just so you know, yes, you can get a DUI for driving while on cold medicine.)

But that's not the half of it -- two recent studies found that driving with a cold could be as dangerous as drunk driving. So is getting behind the wheel with the sniffles really as bad as driving after a snifter or two?

DWI: Driving While Ill

One study, conducted by the oddly-named British insurance company Young Marmalade, found that being sick diminished a driver's skill by about 50 percent, and ill drivers were more likely to suffer from reduced reaction times and major losses of concentration while behind the wheel. In fact, researchers compared cold-impaired drivers to those who were driving after "four double whiskeys."

"Everyone knows that when they have a fever and flu symptoms they are not at their best physically or mentally," Dr. Christopher Ohl, associate professor of medicine at Wake Forest University, told ABC. "Those with illness with high fever should be staying home for a lot of reasons, including getting needed rest and protecting others from illness. Perhaps we should add safe driving to that list." Given the prevalence of the flu, colds, and other winter ailments, along with Americans' propensity for driving, it's estimated that one million Americans could be driving with a cold on any given day.

DUI: Driving Under Illness

Another British study found cold-stricken drivers had slower reaction times than those who had quaffed four pints of beer. "Colds slowed reaction times by 36 milliseconds," said Professor Andy Smith, of Cardiff University. "Yet consuming the amount of alcohol that would lead to a driving ban slows reactions by just 15 milliseconds." A simple sneeze could take a driver's eyes of the road for up to three seconds, meaning a simple case of the sniffles could have you missing street signs and traffic hazards.

Along with simple physical effects, studies have also suggested that fighting off infection could cause changes in the levels of key chemicals in the brain, leading to changes in mood, memory, and movement, all of which could affect or driving ability.

So if you feel a cold coming on, maybe stay off the roads.

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The illegal ivory trade is fuelled almost entirely by elephants that have been recently killed, say researchers who carbon-dated hundreds of ivory tusks seized by law enforcement officials. That puts to rest a speculation which has been at the back of everyones mind, says George Wittemyer, a conservation ecologist and elephant specialist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, USA.



Some had wondered whether corrupt governments were contributing to the ivory trade by selling off old ivory, bit by bit, from stockpiles built up over the years. Now, conservationists can concentrate their resources on protecting elephants from poachers, he says, rather than worrying so much about fighting government corruption.



Thure Cerling at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, USA and his colleagues measured the decay of carbon-14 isotopes in 231 ivory tusks, confiscated between 2002 and 2014, to determine when the elephants they were taken from had died. According to their analysis, published on November 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, only four specimens were more than five years old at the time they were seized.



Better understanding

By combining their measurements with earlier analysis of the tusks DNA, the researchers were able to tell where the poached elephants had lived. In East Africa, the seized ivory mostly derived from elephants that were killed less than one year ago. Ivory from Central Africa, however, was on an average more than two years old.



That makes sense, says Tom Milliken at the wildlife-monitoring network Traffic, based in Cambridge, England. The road network in East Africa is much better than in Central or West Africa, so poachers can get the tusks to the coast faster to ship them to Asia, he says.



The study confirms what many researchers already assumed, but the study is welcome, Tom adds. It helps us to understand fundamental dynamics in ivory trafficking. As prices for ivory have soared over the past decade  particularly in East Asian auction markets  Africas elephant population has dropped: falling to 4,15,000 in 2015 from 5,26,000 in 2006, according to the International Union for Conservation of Natures latest African Elephant Status Report. Tanzania alone has lost 60% of its elephants in the past three years because of poaching, Tom says.



Increased protection

In Africa, countries are strengthening protections: Tanzania, for example, has increased penalties for poaching and ivory trafficking and has prosecuted large-scale ivory traffickers with long prison sentences. Elsewhere, China introduced restrictions on ivory trade last year, and delegates at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora recently voted for a nonbinding agreement to close remaining legal domestic ivory markets. But it is not yet clear whether these measures are cutting down poaching. I am sure we are not out of the woods yet, Tom says.




At whatever moment you read these words, there are birds aloft in the skies, migrating. A skein of geese, a stand of flamingoes, a cast of falcons, all bound for a destination which promises warmer weather, abundant food or a chance to find a partner. Migration is indeed, the one truly unifying natural phenomenon in the world, stitching the continent together in a way that even the great weather systems, which roar out from the poles but fizzle at the equator, fail to do,as Scott Weidensaul describes in one of his books.



The fact that delicate looking creatures such as the birds can take monumental journeys across the planet for days and months in itself proves how significant a role migration plays in our natural world. And yet, rather than being in awe of this magnanimous feat of the birds, humans have begun to make these journeys more challenging and in some cases life threatening for the birds. From climate change, habitat destruction to hunting, the modern day bird migration has hurdles abound for the avians.



The world travellers

Every spring, flocks of bar-headed geese fly from India through the Himalayan range, above the tallest mountain in the world  the Mount Everest, on their way to their nesting grounds in Tibet. They are capable of flying through the passes of the highest mountains at heights of 12,000 to14,000 feet with winds that blow at speeds of more than 200 mph and temperatures low enough to freeze exposed flesh instantly. At this height, oxygen levels drop by one-third; even kerosene cannot burn there and helicopters cannot fly. And yet, an invisible signal triggers flocks and flocks of the geese to migrate more than 1,000 miles in a single day.



A small white bird, the Arctic tern, undertakes the longest-known bird migration in the world  around 72,000 km  linking the Arctic to the Antarctic in its circumpolar flight. From the Amur region of Russia, northern China and Mongolia, the Amur Falcon sets out for South Africa 24,000 km away with a pit stop here in India. For centuries, the island called Hanj Bet in the Rann of Kutch has become ideal breeding grounds for greater flamingoes coming in batches to bring the next generation to the world in the salty marshes. Khichan, a small village near Jodhpur, Rajasthan, comes alive every winter with a congregation of 12,000 to 15,000 Demoiselle Cranes. The Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka provides ample mud banks, islands and islets for the birds like northern shoveler, ruddy shelduck, Eurasian wigeon, whiskered tern etc to congregate. Across India, wetlands, lakes and small water bodies provide a brief stopover or an all-winter residence for birds crossing nations and continents. According to Dr Girish Chandra, ex-professor of zoology in Delhi University, in India and South Asia, out of over 2,000 species and sub-species, about 350 are migrants. It is estimated that over 100 species of migratory birds fly into India.



Siberian cranes, greater flamingo, ruff, black-winged stilt, common teal, common greenshank, northern pintail, wagtail, northern shoveler, great white pelican, gadwall, sandpipers, Eurasian wigeon, black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, starling, bluethroat, long-billed pipit, Amur falcon, swallows: the list of migrating birds is endless. Unsurprisingly, so is the list of perils that come their way during the birds epic journey.



A perilous journey

Migration is not an easy feat for any bird  big or small. The most common and often deadly threats to migratory birds include exhaustion, starvation, attack of predators, and running into natural disasters like hurricanes, flood, thunder storms and wildfires. Many times, it is sheer inexperience of the young birds that adds to their woes. Juveniles often may stray from the migration route if unaccompanied by an adult and might end up without food or shelter. In modern times, however, it isnt the challenges set by nature which create the major obstacles that the birds are perhaps genetically tuned to face and overcome. It is the challenges thrown at them by humans.



In the saline flats of Gujarat the greater flamingoes accidentally collide with or get electrocuted by high-tension cables and telephone lines that pass over their breeding grounds in the Rann of Kutch. In the North-east, Amur falcons resting before their flight to Africa have been known to be captured with large nets and hunted. Wetlands like the Okhla Bird Sanctuary right in the middle of urban buildings in Delhi NCR might look like an idyllic location for city dwellers to connect with nature, but its pristine ambience is lost everyday with tonnes of garbage dumped into the waters and the wetlands reclaimed by land sharks to build more high rises. Indias world renowned Keoladeo National Park (formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, what once was the only known wintering site for Siberian cranes in India, hasnt seen the bird in the last 15 years.



The greatest threat to all migrant birds is climate change. Like a silent demon unleashed on their ecosystems, their food supplies, their health and their reproductive ability, the warming planet is creating irrevocable damages in the lives of all of the birds whose very reason to migrate is to find perfect temperature conditions for feeding and breeding. According to a 2013 research conducted by Birdlife International, at least 45% and up to 88% of 370 species of migratory birds of Asia will have no habitat to go to in the coming years if Earth continues to get warmer. Additionally, the ideal habitat for the birds might not be a protected site, but a place already under pressure from human inhabitation. Under such circumstances, the need to accommodate and live in harmony with the avian visitors would be the only way that the birds may continue to exist.



Helping hand

It is said that the local Jain community residing in Khichan village, Rajasthan started a practice years ago. Daily, the villagers would put out grains for birds to feed on while they flew past the village. These places were called Chuggaghar (quite literally it means bird seed house) and from a few dozens, now thousands of Demoiselle Cranes make sure to stop, rest and refuel before alighting on the journey further south. What was once an annual massacre for Amur Falcons in north east villages has now slowly turned into a massive conservation success due to community empowerment and engagement movements run by many civil society organisations and the Forest Department.



If we want to, it is indeed within our capacity to keep the air, land and water safe for the visitors. In the words of Sir David Attenborough, Birds were flying from continent to continent long before we were. They reached the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica, long before we did. They can survive in the hottest of deserts. Some can remain on the wing for years at a time. They can girdle the globe. Now, we have taken over the earth and the sea and the sky, but with skill and care and knowledge, we can ensure that there is still a place on Earth for birds in all their beauty and variety  if we want to and surely, we should.




Prashanth Swaminathan discovered his interest in photography during a college competition. He tagged along with a friend who had a camera, without knowing the basics of how to work the gadget. After college, he decided to try his hand at wielding the camera and thus his journey began. He speaks to Anila Kurian about his expeditions and plans.



Why did you choose photography?



My friend was into wildlife photography and I just tagged along with him. But when I decided to try my hand at it, I joined a photography group that taught me everything. I joined them on photo walks and travelled places with him. It was their interest in observing others and learning the technique that led me to where I am now.



Tell us about your genre of photography.



I love travel photography. When I completed college, I did a few documentaries. One my favourite is the transgender festival that takes place in Tamil Nadu. Though it is an annual festival, I wanted to focus on how it is losing its charm. It used to be a festival to assert the transgenders lives and pride. But since a lot of people know about it now, it has become more of a tourist location. People are diluting the authenticity of the festival. That was my focus and travel photography has helped me do that.



Some of the places you have travelled to.



Ive been to Varanasi, Kerala, Shivamogga, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Like any other photographer, I want to visit Leh and learn about the culture there.



A dream location you want to visit?



I want to visit Cambodia one day. Many become a fan of the place after going there, but with the research I have done, I am already in love with it.



Some of the difficulties you have faced while travelling.



Ive realised that local people ask a lot of questions when we go for photo walks, especially if you travel to North India. Not everyone understands that we are freelance photographers who want to capture different aspects of the location. Thankfully, we will have someone along who can speak the language to calm the situation.



Your favourite picture.



Many consider this picture a street photography picture but this happened during one of my expeditions with my camera. At Marina Beach, I saw a fisherman who was back on shore, separating the fishes from the net. It is a picture where the fish looked like they are popping out of the sea and pulling at the hook. I love this picture because I know this moment can never be recreated.



What are your plans for the future?



I am completing my Visual Communication course right now. I want to work as a content writer and with whatever money I make, I want to travel the world.



One thing that you practise every day.



Ive learnt this from another photographer I met during photo walks. You might go out for pictures twice, thrice a week, but it is important to post process a couple of pictures every single day. Its good to inculcate that habit so that it makes your work easier in the future.


Farmers can buy seeds with demonetised Rs 500 notes, the government announced on Monday.





They can produce proof of identity and make their purchases at central and state government outlets, PSUs, national and state seeds corporations, state agriculture universities and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.



The relaxed rules will stay in force for the entire rabi season.



The government also asked banks to make available funds for farmers through co-operative banks.



The announcement came after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met officials of the Reserve Bank of India, Nabard and public sector banks, and discussed ways to ease the cash distress in rural areas.



The only item for discussion was with regard to transfer of resources to the rural areas, Jaitley said, emerging out of a late evening meeting.



Nabard has given the details of immediate requirements and its been decided that banks with whom the cooperatives are associated will make the resource available straightaway, Jaitley told reporters.



The latest relaxations come close on the heels of the government allowing farmers to make cash withdrawals of up to Rs 25,000 a week against sanctioned crop loans.



The government is committed to ensuring that the farmers are suitably facilitated during the rabi season, a statement from the Finance Ministry said.


Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday sought to describe Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a super PM for taking the biggest economic decision of demonetisation without consulting anyone.





Rahul, who interacted with people queuing at various ATMs early Monday morning, also accused the prime minister of favouring a few of his friends through the decision to scrap high-value currency notes. I am not sure what to call him a super PM, perhaps.  He is on a different level these days, Rahul told reporters outside Parliament.



Sharing his experiences at ATMs in the capital, the Congress vice-president said people were facing lot of inconvenience and accused banks of striking backdoor deals for a select few while others waited in serpentine queues to exchange notes.



They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash, Rahul said.



I feel the treasuries of the PMs own 15 or 20 people will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people who are in the queue will only suffer losses, he said. The Congress has accused the Modi government of writing off loans owed by industrialists, including Vijay Mallya. This was Rahuls third visit to an ATM since banks started dispensing new currency notes from November 10.



To a question on Modis absence from Parliament, Rahul said: What is the need for the PM to come to Parliament? These days he is at a different level. Neither he discusses with his ministers nor does he talk to anybody. Whatever he thinks, he decides on his own.

Rahul said a big economic decision such as demonetisation was taken in the history of India and the prime minister took it after talking to three-four people.



There was no planning. What will happen to farmers, poor people, fisheries industries in Kerala and Bengal? He did not think of them, the Congress scion said.


Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said the party was certain to displace the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in the next Parliamentary elections.





She said in a television interview that her party would rise from its dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections because in politics, you win and you lose. You come up in power, you go down. It is part of life.



Her remarks came in the backdrop of the Congress mounting an aggressive campaign against the Modi government on the demonetisation issue, which many party leaders think has the potential to hit Modis image.



I think it is absolutely possible. We will come up from 44 seats to the seats needed to strengthen the party, Sonia said in an interview to the India Today channel.



Sonia said it was for Rahul Gandhi to take forward the legacy of Indira Gandhi. She, however, refrained from answering questions about Rahul becoming the Congress president. I am not the person to decide or reply, she said.



She dismissed the criticism that dynastic rule was sought to be perpetuated by his ascent to the top. I see and understand that people look at it that way. But, just as in a family of doctors or a family of professors or business, one of the family members will choose the same path as their father. But in politics, there is a difference. You are elected and defeated democratically, Gandhi said.



The Congress president dismissed any comparison between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indira Gandhi on the basis of their style of functioning. Absolutely not. I have my clear views, there is no comparison, she said.



Sonia said the Congress would continue fighting for its ideals of secularism. We will keep fighting. Indira Gandhi was written off, she fought back, we will fight too, she said.


The Union environment ministry on Monday denied allegations of scientists doctoring their data, while submitting their application on Genetically Modified (GM) mustard for the governments consideration for commercial release.





No data manipulation has been noticed in the documents made available by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation and Crop Plants, University of Delhi South Campus, for safety assessment of genetically engineered mustard, Environment Minister Anil Dave informed the Rajya Sabha.



The indigenous GM crop is facing stern opposition from activists, who are lobbying hard to block its marketing approval. They claimed that scientists rigged the trial data to claim higher yield for the GM mustard.



The charges were refuted by the researchers who stated that since the field trials were conducted under the supervision of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), they could not fudge the data.



All the field data has been generated and submitted by the ICAR under its All India Coordinated Research Project on rapeseed mustard, Dave said in a written answer, responding to a query from CPM member K K Ragesh.



Countering another argument from anti-GM activists, who claimed that GM mustard carried herbicide tolerant traits, Dave said there was no proposal to introduce herbicide tolerant crops.



GE Mustard is assessed through a step-by-step process for safety assessment. A detailed Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety document was placed on the (environment) ministrys website inviting comments from all stakeholders, including the state governments, for 30 days. However, no specific time frame for its commercial release has been stipulated, he said.


You can't judge a book by its cover, so the saying goes, and it's equally ill-advised to make assumptions about a film based on its cast, crew, and title. Take 'The Chase.' With legendary actors like Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Angie Dickinson, Robert Duvall, James Fox, E.G. Marshall, and Miriam Hopkins, a screenplay by Lillian Hellman (adapted from a novel and play by Horton Foote), and direction by Arthur Penn ('Bonnie and Clyde'), why wouldn't we anticipate a stirring, literate, and riveting motion picture? But dim the star wattage and peek under the hood and you'll find a rambling, unfocused movie that travels in fits and starts on a circuitous path that doesn't really lead anywhere. Although some big moments punctuate the story and a motley crew of intriguing characters pique interest, 'The Chase' is hardly the fast-paced pursuit film its title promises. On the contrary, this off-beat, soapy portrait of a small Texas town and the small minds that populate it is often maddeningly inert.

When the residents of a tight-knit community learn no-good trouble-maker Bubber Reeves (Redford) has escaped from prison and might be headed back home, they batten down the hatches and steel themselves for an imminent showdown. Sheriff Calder (Brando), who many believe is beholden to the town's rich, smug banker, Val Rogers (Marshall), combs the area looking for clues that might help him capture the convict, while Bubber's estranged wife Anna (Fonda), who still loves him despite carrying on a torrid affair with Val's son Jake (Fox), tries to sort out her conflicted feelings and loyalties. Other characters peppering the spicy brew include Edwin Stewart (Duvall), who fears Bubber may seek revenge for a prior betrayal; Edwin's promiscuous wife Emily (Janice Rule), who tries to emasculate and humiliate her husband at every turn; Calder's devoted wife Ruby (Dickinson); and Bubber's guilt-ridden and distraught parents (Hopkins and Malcolm Atterbury). As tensions rise, Calder tries to keep the percolating pot from bubbling over, but when the riled up residents go on a rampage, he's powerless to stop them.

With its tangled relationships, eccentric characters, and rural setting, some have likened 'The Chase' to the granddaddy of all potboilers, 'Peyton Place.' 'The Chase' tries to be edgier and more layered even as it depicts a host of tawdry episodes (a violent beat down of Sheriff Calder by a gang of blood-thirsty thugs is especially brutal), but it lacks cohesion and direction. A rebellious, anti-establishment tone that would come to fruition and heavily influence cinema a couple of years later permeates the film, but it's not developed enough to wield the desired impact, and though elements of 'High Noon,' 'The Ox-Bow Incident,' and 'Rebel Without a Cause' - as well as a striking parallel to the Kennedy assassination - also pervade the proceedings, they only further muddy the film's troubled waters.

Hellman was one of America's premier playwrights, and the topics she addresses in her two most famous dramas, 'The Children's Hour' and 'The Little Foxes' - bigotry, greed, class struggles, gossip, hypocrisy, and lack of morality - also turn up in 'The Chase,' where they all simmer beneath the surface and insidiously infect the characters. No one is immune to the malaise, and the effects, characterized by disillusionment and regret, seem terminal. Hellman, however doesn't deserve all of the blame for the choppy, meandering script. Producer Sam Spiegel reportedly disliked her original draft and ordered major chunks rewritten, prompting Hellman, who was not told of the changes, to later disown the film.

Spiegel also clashed with director Penn. When shooting wrapped, Penn immediately began work on another project and Spiegel grabbed the reins of 'The Chase,' editing it without Penn's knowledge or input. His decisions altered the tale's intended rhythm and flattened the performances, inciting a disgusted Penn to also criticize the finished film.

And yet somehow the actors rise above the treatment they receive. Even when subdued, Brando is a mesmerizing presence, and though his portrayal pales when compared to Terry Malloy and Stanley Kowalski, his work remains impressive. Fonda, Redford, Duvall, and Dickinson all file breakout performances in roles that would help shape their respective careers, and old-timers Marshall and Hopkins make the most of their limited screen time. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded cast, and the big names in front of and behind the camera sustain the film's appeal.

Terrific acting, however, only takes a movie so far. Joseph LaShelle's superior cinematography also enlivens 'The Chase,' but can't save it. Though plenty of bizarre antics hold our attention, their random nature, the film's excessive length and sluggish pacing, and too many narrative tangents that rev up then mysteriously peter out dull enthusiasm and ultimately leave us dazed and confused. 'The Chase' is surely an interesting curio that makes some incisive observations about society and relationships, but it never lives up to its potential, which is especially frustrating given the array of talent involved.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'The Chase' arrives on Blu-ray in a limited to 3,000 edition packaged in a standard case. An eight-page booklet featuring an essay by film historian Julie Kirgo, production stills, and a reproduction of the movie's poster art is tucked inside the front cover. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu without music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.
Hour-long tests followed by interviews in which the students are asked a series of questions to determine their readiness for a course. These are not for those seeking admissions to college but for children as young as five and six years old.





In several schools in the city, admission to Class 1 requires children to answer a paper. A child who cannot frame sentences using a given word, write opposite words, add and subtract two-digit numbers, may not have a chance to enter school.



A parent, who is moving to Bengaluru from Gurgaon for the next academic year, was uncomfortable to have her son take such exams for Class 1. He was taken away to a separate classroom to give the exam. Though the test was elementary, I was uncomfortable because I think it is too intimidating for such a young child. In Gurgaon, schools interact only with parents leaving the child out of the process, she said.



When Yashaswini Sharathkumars son had to proceed from Kindergarten to Class 1 in the same school, he had to undergo an assessment to find out if he was fit for ICSE syllabus. If not, he would have to continue in the state syllabus. The school wanted to conduct a written test. But when the parents collectively protested saying that the children were too young, they settled for an oral test. The child had to answer questions on grammar and identify vowels and consonants among other questions.



Such screening processes begin much before Class 1. Yashaswinis son had an oral test for admission to pre-nursery in the same school. He had to recite the alphabet, name the months of the year and identify animals. The school has a reputation of excellent results in Class 10. The students get nothing below first class. They want to maintain this standard so there is pressure on children from the beginning, Yashaswini said.



All of two years and 10 months, Trupti Kulkarnis son was rejected admission by a preschool for the 2017-18 academic year. The teacher did not address me at all. She asked my son to identify objects and even asked him to draw standing and sleeping lines, Trupti said.



Schools defend the practice saying that they receive a large number of applications and some form of filtering is required. Referring to the tests in a school where she used to teach, Priya Venkat said, Schools need a method to filter applicants when there is a vacancy for only 10 in Class 1 but 150 apply. Indian pre-school system is very competitive so they are considered ready enough to do a test. Selecting by picking lots had been considered but parents preferred to have tests, she added.


Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said in the Assembly on Monday that the state government had failed to take urgent measures to help the drought-affected and farmers. Though 139 taluks have been declared as drought affected, the entire state has been reeling under drought, he said.



Initiating a discussion on the drought situation and drinking water scarcity, Shettar said during situations like drought, the government should also take long-term measures and come up with permanent solutions for drinking water woes. Mere release of funds and formation of a task force were not sufficient.



Some villages regularly feature in the list of drought affected, he said. Permanent measures and solutions would free them from the list of villages supplied drinking water through tankers, Shettar said.



Situation to aggravate

Water sources have been drying up and groundwater has been depleting. There is no water for livestock. The situation will aggravate in summer, he said. Shettar said, people have been migrating to neighbouring towns and states in search of jobs as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has not been implemented effectively. The government is not taking action against officials responsible for lapses.



No interest in waiver

He lamented Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs attitude towards waiver of loans. He said if the state agrees to waive 25% of the loans taken by farmers, the Centre is prepared to waive the rest. Shettar said though the state had been asked to write to the Centre in this regard, the chief minister had not shown interest.



Shettar asked the government to extend the deadline for repayment of loans availed by farmers from cooperative sector and convert short-term loans into medium-term and medium-term into long-term loans.



Energy Minister D K Shivakumar demanded solutions to the money crisis as farmers would have to pay 14% interest instead of 3%, if loans taken from cooperative sector are not repaid within the stipulated period. This led to exchanges between the ruling and opposition groups.



Govt reply on Nov 23

The government, on November 23, will reply to the discussion on the drought and drinking water problems. The discussion will continue on Tuesday. Both the Houses will discuss the Mahadayi project on November 23 and 24 and the government would reply on the issue on the evening of November 24, Speaker K B Koliwad said after the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Monday.


Tension prevailed in Mudhol town after more than 150 farmers who were planning to proceed to Belagavi for laying siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha were taken into custody by the town police on Monday.



The arrested were released later in the evening. Farmers, led by the Raitha Sangha, have been staging a dharna at Rayanna Circle here for the past 12 days, demanding a fair and remunerative price for sugar cane. The town police learnt that they were planning to lay siege to Suvarana Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi where legislature session is on. As a preventive measure, the police took 10 farmers leaders into custody on Sunday night and took them to Bagalkot.



On Monday morning, a large number of farmers assembled at the dharna venue and began a protest. The police took more than 150 protesters into custody and brought them to the police complex. The farmers again began a protest there too.



Meanwhile, the farmers leaders, who were taken to Bagalkot on Sunday night, were released by the police after they executed an undertaking. Additional police forces have been deployed in the town.


Around 20 branches of some banks in Bengaluru received Rs 500 notes on Monday while others are expected to get them on Tuesday.





But the problem of cash shortage at ATMs is yet to be solved as the two companies that manufacture and recalibrate the machines say they are working against time with limited manpower to reset more than 2 lakh machines across the country.



S K Srinivas of the All India Bank Officers Association said, Twenty per cent of the ATMs in the city have been recalibrated to dispense the 500-rupee notes. Select branches of all banks have received the consignment. By the end of this week, 50% of the ATMs will be recalibrated. The shortage was due to limited storage capacity which will now be doubled as Rs 100 notes will be replaced by Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes.



A spokesperson for State Bank of India also attributed the delay in the arrival of Rs 500-rupee notes to problems in recalibrating the ATMs. He said the vendors, NCR and AGS Transact Technologies Ltd, had limited staff and capabilities. The recalibration programme given by the Centre is being implemented at a slow pace, he said.



A spokesperson for State Bank of Mysore said they had recalibrated all their functional ATMs and would get additional stocks of Rs 500 notes from the RBI on Tuesday. The notes would be available in 90 out of the 200 branches from Tuesday onwards, he added.



AGS Transact Technologies Ltd, which has installed 2,500 ATMs in the city, has a subsidiary, Secure Value India Limited (SVIL), that helps in loading and transporting cash, catering to 2,000 ATMs. Our staff are working for 15-16 hours a day. The process is ongoing. The situation will improve once the recalibration is complete, said a spokesperson for the company.



The company said it had taken additional steps to ensure a smooth transition. Cash vans are fitted with GPS and manned by guards. We have state-wise control rooms that closely monitor the route of each SVIL van and call the driver almost every half an hour to check their current location. As a security protocol, none of our van follows the same route every day. The ATM manager decides the route on the spot, the spokesperson added.



NCR Corporation, a company which provides transaction technologies, has recalibrated 65,000 out of the 2 lakh ATMs across the country, said its managing director, Navroze Dastur.



RBI low on cash

A staffer of an agency that caters to Canara Bank said on the condition of anonymity that no bank in Bengaluru had received sufficient cash from the Reserve Bank of India. An RBI official refused to confirm or deny the matter, saying he was not authorised to speak to the media.



Despite the shortage, Canara Bank has managed to keep the cash flowing to ATMs but is grappling with scarcity of low-denomination notes. Whenever the RBI supplies the notes, we get Rs 49 lakh in 2,000 bills and Rs 1 lakh in lower denominations. This causes frustration among customers who vent their anger on us when we fail to give them change. We are waiting for the new Rs 500 rupee notes, said P V Kamath, assistant general manager of the Cantonment branch.




A BSF head constable, who was injured in cross-border shelling on Sunday along the Line of Control in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, succumbed to injuries on Monday.





Four BSF jawans suffered splinter injures due to heavy shelling from Pakistan side along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri sector on Sunday night. Among them head constable Rai Singh, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of another jawan is serious, a BSF official said.



Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by his wife, three sons and mother.



Reports said the intermittent shelling from across the border was going on in Nowshehra and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri on Monday.



The BSF and the Indian Army were responding to Pakistani shelling appropriately.



There have been 290 ceasefire violations on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK on September 29. Twenty-six people, including 12 civilians and 14 security personnel have been killed and nearly 100 people, mostly civilians have been injured in these incidents.



There is 198-km IB and over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.



Pak summons Indian diplomat

Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and lodged a protest over alleged ceasefire violations by India at the LoC that resulted in the death of four civillians, and also over New Delhis refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft, reports PTI. Singh was told that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was highly deplorable, the foreign office said.


After two days of relaxation, the separatists-sponsored strike partially affected normal life in Kashmir on Monday.





Kashmir witnessed peace in the last two days after separatists relaxed the agitations for the weekend following the 133-day unrest. More than 87 people have been killed in the unrest, triggered by the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter by security forces on July 8.



Civil lines better

While shops and business establishments in and around city centre Lal Chowk and old city areas remained closed, the impact of strike was less in civil lines areas.



Private vehicles were plying on roads throughout the city, while public transport was off the roads in various parts of Srinagar and other district headquarters.



Cabs, auto-rickshaws and intra-Kashmir train service functioned normally.



Street vendors were also seen putting up their stalls in various areas of the city.



Besides the strike, the intense cold kept people indoors for the most part.


The Janata Dal (U) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) formed a joint front ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh scheduled to be held early next year.





JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav and RLD president Ajit Singh announced their decision to contest the upcoming Assembly polls in an alliance here on Monday. The new alliance will put up its nominees at all 403 Assembly seats in the state.



Though leaders claimed that BS-4, an outfit formed by former BSP general secretary R K Chaudhary, would also be part of the alliance, it was not confirmed by the outfit.



Chaudhary was not present at the joint press conference addressed by Yadav and Ajit Singh.



Both Yadav and Ajit Singh blamed Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh

Yadav for thwarting efforts to form a Bihar-like Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Uttar Pradesh.



We wanted such an alliance to defeat the communal forces, Singh said.
A man waiting in a queue to draw money from an ATM, died in Najafgarh area here on Monday even as people complained about hardships and losses suffered while trying to get legal tender.





Politics over demonetisation got hotter in the capital as Satish Kumar, 49, a resident of Uttam Nagar, died around 3 pm while waiting in a queue outside Oriental Bank of Commerce.



Kumar had gone to the banks branch to withdraw cash from the ATM. However, he fainted while standing in the long queue and was rushed to Mata Chanan Devi hospital, where he was declared brought dead.



His body has been sent for post-mortem. Political party representatives rushed to show solidarity with the family of Kumar, who worked in the vegetable market at Kesheopur and was in financial trouble due to business woes.



On Monday, queues formed outside banks much before they opened after a weekend break. The rush was more at banks where indelible ink was not applied.



Both, the Congress and the AAP parties, slammed the Centre for poor implementation of the demonetisation exercise. The AAP has planned a march to Parliament on Tuesday to press for rollback of demonetisation, under the leadership of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is busy holding rallies in Punjab against what he dubbed as Centres anti-poor move.



ATMs in central Delhi and in some colonies have started dispensing the new Rs 500 notes. But ATMs dispensing only Rs 2000 notes left users worried about finding change for the high value notes.



I keep scanning the social media for updates on which ATM near my house in Saket is dispensing which denomination currency notes, said Ayush, a law professional.



AAP national spokesperson and senior leader Ashish Khetan, at a press conference, charged that the main purpose of demonetisation was to give the BJP the sole control over black money so that it could convert it and use it in the upcoming state Assembly elections.
The organisations help provide birth certificates and documentation to unregistered children born in the border areas of Karen State, including in Karen National Union (KNU) controlled areas. Once they are registered the children will be Burmese citizens and will be able to claim all their relevant rights and have the same future chances as other Burmese citizens.

The eight organisations are: the KNU Interior and Religious Department, the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW), the Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), the Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT), the Karen Womens Organisation (KWO), the Burma Medical Association (BMA), the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), and the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (CPPCR).

Saw Eh Kalu Shwe Oo, the head of the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW), said to KIC News: We were working on these issues even before the U Thein Sein administration took office. We are going to observe what the government has done so far and tell them what we have been doing.

The Karen State Government departments the organisations will meet with to discuss their work are: the General Administration Department, the Immigration Department, the Social Welfare Department, the State Health Department, and the Central Audit Department.

Although border-based health organisations have been meeting separately with officials from the Karen State Government since the preliminary ceasefire was signed in 2012, this will be their first meeting as a group with the Karen State Government.

Health organisations from Burmese refugee camps have also been working together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) to issue birth certificates to children born both inside Burma and on the Thai-Burma border.

In May 2015 the Burmese Government and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) cooperated to issue birth certificates to children from 40 townships in Karen State, Karenni State and Irrawaddy Region.

According to UNICEF 29,160 children under the age of five have been registered in Karen State.

On average 200 children are born every month at the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand. The clinic, which serves Burmese people in the Mae Sot area of Thailand and in the Karen border areas, issues birth certificates that are recognised by the Thai Government. From January till September this year 1,899 Burmese children were born at the clinic.

Despite all these efforts there are still tens of thousands of unregistered children living along the Thai-Burma border in areas that are inaccessible to health organisations.

According to health organisations and child rights groups the future for unregistered children, who are officially stateless, remains very uncertain.

Reporting by SPhan Shaung for KIC

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
Victims of the Trump University con were roped in by an initial free class endorsed by "the most celebrated entrepreneur on earth" that would, in Trump's words, "turn anyone into a successful real estate investor, including you."

The marketing materials said that Trump reviewed the curriculum and picked the instructors, but the president-elect didn't do either  instead, he let other people do the homework and then he took the credit for it. The "instructors" were really ropers for a deeper con: their job was to evaluate attendees to figure out just how much money they could raise  for example, by borrowing from family and maxing out their credit cards  and then hard-selling them to attend "seminars" that would clean them out.

This was laid out in writing, in a document called the "Trump University Playbook" that told employees it was their job to push the victims to go into debt to pay for more courses. The tactics set out in the playbooks are a mix of a timeshare hustler's hard-sell and cult tactics that will be familiar to students of Scientology and similar ripoffs.

Ronald Schnackenberg, one of Trump University's salesmen, filed an affidavit in the case that revealed that he was reprimanded for refusing to pressure a disabled man into borrowing money to attend a $35,000 seminar, though he believed that the man couldn't afford it. This prompted him to quit.

Clinton's press secretary Brian Fallon nailed it when he wrote, Trump U is devastating because it's metaphor for his whole campaign: promising hardworking Americans way to get ahead, but all based on lies."

Trump has paid his victims $25,000,000 (though he repeatedly claimed that he doesn't settle lawsuits)*, and he claims that he could have won if he'd stayed in court**, but didn't want the distraction hanging over his presidency.

In fact, Trump hadn't handpicked the instructors, and he didn't attend the three-day seminars. Moreover, the complaint said, "no specific Donald Trump techniques or strategies were taught during the seminars, Donald Trump 'never' reviewed any of Trump University's curricula or programming materials, nor did he review any of the content for the free seminars or the three day seminars." So what were the attendees taught? According to the complaint, "the contents and material presented by Trump University were developed in large part by a third-party company that creates and develops materials for an array of motivational speakers and Seminar and timeshare rental companies." The closest that the attendees at the seminars got to Trump was when they were encouraged to have their picture taken with a life-size photo of him.

TRUMP UNIVERSITY: IT'S WORSE THAN YOU THINK

[John Cassidy/New Yorker]

* He does

** He's wrong
If someone offered to sell your business server-compute cycles for one-tenth the going price, you might think there was a catch. But in this case youd be wrong.

Nathan Goulding is the senior vice president of engineering of bare metal server startup, Packet, and thats precisely what he and his colleagues are offering thanks to ARMv8-A powered technology.

You can now provision hourly on-demand ARMv8 servers powered by 2 x 48 Cavium ThunderX SoCs (Cavium) on Packet, Goulding (pictured far right) wrote in a recent Packet blog post. Were starting with our EWR1 home (New York metro), as well as Sunnyvale and Amsterdam. Well add in Tokyo in early December when the facility opens for production customers.

The price? $0.50 per hour per server, or $0.005 per core per hour. (Yes, youre reading that correctly).

Click here to read more ...




Demonetization Effect: Will All Biggies Of 2016 Get Pushed To 2017?
Mexico has awarded the tender for the countrys national wholesale mobile network to Altan.

Altan, which is a consortium with backers from China, the US and Mexico, was the sole remaining bidder for the tender after the Ministry of Communications and Transport disqualified the only other interested party.

Morgan Stanley Infrastructure holds the largest stake in Altan (33%) with the China-Mexico Fund holding 23%. Other shareholders include Mexican TV operator Megacable, local operator Axtel, and Canadian pension fund Caisse du Depot et Placement du Quebec.

The tender for the billion dollar network has met with numerous delays, most recently when the Ministry of Communications and Transport ruled out accepting a bid from another consortium (Rivada Networks and Spectrum Frontier) after it failed meet a deadline for providing a $52 million bid bond. The consortium is appealing against this decision in court.

Having already accrued $750 million in investment, Altan is aiming to extend the network to 92% of Mexicos inhabitants over the next seven years. Mexicos government had previously estimated that 85% coverage would require $3.5 billion, while this figure would double to bring coverage up to 95%.

Altans would-be rival Rivada Networks expressed its distaste at Altans win, with co-CEO Declan Ganley tweeting: No surprise, Rivadas coverage plan is significantly higher than only opened bid. People of Mexico are being given a raw deal, which is sad.

The winning bidder will have access to high quality 700MHz spectrum as part of its 20 year public-private partnership contract. The resulting 4G network will be leased out to operators, with the model aimed at reducing the clout of market leader America Movil.
Global Technologies has acquired C-band capacity on Eutelsats 8 West B satellite in order to upgrade the mobile and Internet network of Tunisie Telecom subsidiary Mattel.

The leading mobile operator in Mauritania, Mattel is looking to overhaul its VSAT network in order to deliver improved Internet access and service quality, particularly in areas isolated from terrestrial networks. To implement this, Global Technologies will work in partnership with Eutelsat, from design phase to nationwide deployment of a state-of-the-art solution for Mattel.

Michel Azibert, Eutelsats Chief Commercial and Development Officer, said: This contract positions EUTELSAT 8 West B on the Mauritanian market for the first time. In the future, we would like to replicate the partnership model that has been set up with Global Technologies in Mauritania on other markets.
British regulators determined that a joke about Queen Elizabeth II having sex "breached" broadcasting rules.

The edition of the show, which aired in April this year, featured a panel of comedians who are given a subject which they have to prove is not funny. If the audience does laugh, the subject passes to the next contestant. Panellist Russell Kane was asked to explain why there was nothing funny about why the Queen, who has four children, must have had sex at least four times in her life. "Four times we have to think of republicanism as we imagine four children emerging from Her Majesty's vulva," said Kane to audience laughter.

Ofcom ruled that the quips, uttered on BBC Radio 4, were "not justified". Moreover, "the potential for offence was increased by the fact that these remarks were broadcast on the Queen's 90th birthday".

The show, Don't Make Me Laugh, was cancelled in the wake of the controversy, which led to a staggering 12 people writing in to complain.

I can't immediately find a clip of the segment in question, so you'll instead have to make do with some amusing media navelgazing over a previous instance of British lese majeste, wherein the line "I'm so old my pussy is haunted" was repeated in Streisand-esque fashion in a watchdog show.

No sanctions were reported other than Ofcom's stern telling-off. But whatever you do, don't talk about Queen Liz getting into bed with Donald Trump.

UPDATE: I believe this is the episode in question, but haven't got a timestamp for you yet:
A campaign calling for airport security to allow insulin pumps to be exempt from being put through x-ray machines is to be considered by the United Nations (UN).

Rachel Humphrey, from Hampshire, launched the campaign, after she was detained along with her husband and 14-year-old son George, who has type 1 diabetes and uses an insulin pump, by security at Dubai airport. A security officer ordered that Georges insulin pump must be disconnected and put through the x-ray machine.

Despite producing official documentation and informing the officer of the medical consequences of removing the pump along with the risk of damage being caused to the pump by passing through an x-ray machine, the family were made to wait two hours and only allowed to travel after a doctor confirmed Mrs Humphrey was correct.

Georges spare pump was taken away from him and held by staff until they arrived at Heathrow airport. The upset of the situation led the mother to campaign for better treatment at airports for users of insulin pumps.

So far the campaign has gained the support of almost 5,000 people including Prime Minister Theresa May.

Responses have also been received from the Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Associatio, the trade association made up of more than 50 airports, which represents the interests of UK airports.

Mrs Humphrey has received assurances from the Airports Council International (ACI) that the campaign has been forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UNs agency for aviation. The ICAO will give their advice on how to bring the forward issue to airport screening authorities globally.

It is really great that Mrs Humphreys has put in so much time to this campaign which could save many families in future from unnecessary hassle and anxiety.

People can support the campaign by signing the petition called, Standard Policy for Insulin Pumps at Airport Security.
Nokia might announce two flagship and one mid-range Android smartphones at MWC 2017

Nokia will be the biggest smartphone story in 2017 and the company is already making a spirited comeback with confirmed debut of new handsets at Mobile World Congress in February. At the Capital Markets Day 2016, Nokia confirmed its plan to re-enter the industry it once dominated. Interestingly Nokia's two-year non-compete deal with Microsoft ends this year and the company plans to start connecting people once again in collaboration with HMD Global.

Nokia CEO has already promised to deliver the trademark design and build quality we come to associate with the brand. However, Nokia won't be building its own smartphones rather will be outsourcing it to HMD Global, a Finnish hardware startup run by former Nokia employees. HMD Global holds the right to license Nokia's brand for the next 10 years. The company will further license the manufacturing part to Foxconn and use Nokia's diverse set of design and telecom patents.

Nokia is reported to make its smartphone comeback with three new devices. Rumours indicate that Nokia will announce two flagship devices and another mid-range smartphone at MWC in February 2017. Initially rumours indicated that Nokia's comeback devices will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor but the company might jump to Snapdragon 821 or the latest Snapdragon 835 ahead of the launch in order to better compete with Google's Pixel and Pixel XL range in the flagship segment.

Nokia's flagship devices are reported to come in two display variants - a 5.2-inch variant and another 5.5-inch model. Both the devices are likely to sport an OLED display with Quad HD resolution. The smartphones are also rumoured to feature a 22.6MP primary camera but it is not clear whether these cameras will get ZEISS and PureView branding like their Windows Mobile counterpart.

Nokia is also working on a budget Android smartphone codenamed D1C. The device is likely to attract more attention than the flagship models. The smartphone is reportedly powered by Snapdragon 430 processor and will feature a full HD display. The rumours also indicate that D1C will feature 3GB RAM, 32GB storage along with a combination of 13MP and 8MP cameras.

Nokia, however, has promised to deliver the latest Android operating system. The large part of play here is the use of company's very own Z-launcher based UI instead of stock one. Nokia's Z launcher is a fun third party launcher that adapts itself according to use. Users can access their favourite apps quickly and there is even an option to scribble to reach apps.

Nokia has already made significant strides in the world of virtual reality. Nokia's OZO VR camera is already helping in the production of world-class VR content. One can expect Nokia to bring Daydream ready VR support to its flagship devices and probably Nokia might bring its own content in order to drive adoption.

While Nokia has only confirmed the return of its smartphone brand - it is yet to officially delve out details of the products it is working on.
A total of 137 brands shipped mobile phones, of which 69 brands shipped smartphones

India shipped 197.5 million mobile handsets by the end of September 2016. The shipments are set to clock 265 million by the year end with 78.4 million mobile handsets being shipped in the third quarter alone.

At the end of the third quarter of 2016, Samsung topped the overall mobile handset shipments. The Korean smartphone vendor, now struggling with its Note7 debacle continues to sell more smartphones than peers with a market share of 24.6 percent. Samsung also commands 24.5 percent market share in the feature phone segment.

"All these years, Smartphone makers have been focusing on making the handsets affordable for more and more hands-on experience. This has paid off well, but cannot promise continuous sustainable growth for Smartphones in the country. Time has come when the things need to be looked at holistically and increase the relevance of Smartphones in the lives of wider user base. That will spur the era of next growth for Smartphones," said Faisal Kawoosa, Principal Analyst for Telecoms at CMR.

CMR report says 66 percent of the phones sold in Q3 were made in India. A total of 137 brands shipped mobile phones, of which 69 brands shipped smartphones. Every second 4G smartphone shipped during Q3 2016 had a Qualcomm chipset and 83 percent of the 4G smartphones shipped supported 4G VoLTE.

Samsung has a significant lead in the 4G smartphone market. Samsung has a market share of 32.1 percent followed by Lenovo with 14.6 percent and Reliance LYF with 10.7 percent. Lenovo Group (including Motorola) has overtaken Micromax as the second biggest smartphone brand in India. However, Lava and Intex dominate the overall mobile handset market with 9.7 percent and 9.3 percent share respectively.

"While the ecosystem is working on to make data services more affordable, accessible and meaningful for the subscribers, the majority is still looking for a reliable voice communications. This is forcing even a future ready network like Jio to work on innovative models of launching Volte-enabled 4G Featurephones to tap the voice potential," added Faisal.

Over 98 percent of the smartphones were powered by Android operating system with more than 25 percent running Marshmallow out of the box. Oppo has managed to become the second most popular brand among value for money and premium smartphone buyers. Samsung has 49.2 percent market share in the supremium smartphone segment, closely followed by Apple with 43.3 percent share.

The CMR report further cautions that the handset makers need to align their product roadmaps with the expectations of actual users. The report says mobile makers need to switch from 'Connecting India' to 'Connect with India' and understand user requirements going forward.
China Africa Resources has proposed returning its sole investment to shareholders via a special dividend as new investors plan to transform the business into a cash shell focused on 'energy metal and minerals' with a discounted 1m fundraising.

The AIM-listed company said that as investors in the proposed fundraising had no interest in funding its 100% owned Berg Aukas zinc and lead project in Northern Namibia, it would distribute the shares of its Namibian subsidiary via a 1.75p dividend to all shareholders.

China Africa has agreed the 1m fundraising at a price of 2.17p, with each share coming with an attached warrant to acquire an additional ordinary share at an exercise price of 4.34p within the next two years.

Brokers SI Capital and Beaufort Securities will also each get 500,000 warrants to subscribe for new shares at 4.34p, with an exercise life of two years as part consideration for their services, while current and propose directors will received 6.7m shares between them.

Non-executive chairman Cungen Ding and several other directors will step down, with 25% shareholder Weatherly International's Rod Webster taking over as chairman and ex-Metal Tiger boss Paul Johnson becoming chief executive.

As a cash shell, the company intends to focus on finding a suitable reverse takeover in the energy metal and minerals sector, with a key focus on opportunities in respect of uranium, lithium, cobalt, copper and coal.

"The new board considers that, as evidenced by the financial support provided by the new investors for the proposals outlined there is a strong demand for energy metal and mineral opportunities on London's AIM," the statement said, adding that the 1m cash "should provide operating cash for at least 18 months".

Shares in China Africa, having last Wednesday topped 7.5p before finishing the week at 5.6p, dropped 24% on Monday to 4.18p.
Kibo Mining , a Tanzania-focused mineral exploration and development company, has entered into a collaboration agreement with General Electric International (GE) to help with the development of the Mbeya coal power project.

The agreement follows the memorandum of understanding announced on 16 September 2016 and sets out in detail the terms and conditions of said collaboration into a binding agreement.

GE will supply equipment, technology and services to the MCPP power plant alongside assisting and co-operating with Kibo on implementing the project, under the agreement.

Kibo chief executive Louis Coetzee said: As one of the largest and technologically advanced international companies, we are looking forward to growing this relationship. By working closely with GE, we will benefit from their experience and reputation and this will expedite the remaining work required to reach successful financial close on the MCPP.

GE steam power systems sales executive for Africa said: GE is delighted to partner with Kibo for the Mbeya power project. We offer the best in class power generation technology and services that employ GE Digital and Environmental Control Solutions making our steam plants smarter and cleaner to meet today's and tomorrow's power needs for our customers.

The share price rose 3.49% to 7.11p at 1108 GMT on Monday.
Ronny Deila has revealed the demands of being Celtic manager caused him anxiety attacks.The Norwegian had sleepless nights and saw his personality affected during his two-year spell at Celtic Park.The 41-year-old stepped down at the end of last season after winning a second consecutive title, but a failure to qualify for the Champions League and add to his sole League Cup success in the cup competitions had put him under pressure.Deila told Norway's NRK television channel: "I could have a stressful thought like: 'We have to win this weekend.' Then I would be soaked in sweat, my heart would be pounding and head aching. I could wake up at four in the morning and couldn't fall asleep again."I almost got social anxiety, I was more passive. It took my freedom from me, the freedom to be myself. Then it became a question of values: can you do this for the rest of your life?"Deila admitted he underestimated what he was letting himself in for when he left Norwegian title winners Stromsgodset to take over from Neil Lennon."But I would take the challenge at Celtic a thousand times again," he added. "With hindsight I see that I didn't have a chance to understand how big a a club Celtic is."We have 10 million fans, plays 60 games a season. You have to win all the time. One loss leads to unrest, two are a disaster and three, you are fired. It's almost at that level."You do not get better by playing chess with your daughter for eight years. She gets better, not you. You have to go for something that is unsafe, where you do not know what's going to happen."That's the way you handle the different experiences that determine whether you are improving or not."Copyright PA Sport 2016, All Rights Reserved
Personal Group Holdings said it has signed a three-year agreement with Sage (UK) Ltd to launch Sage Employee Benefits, a new employee-engagement product designed for the SME market.

This follows an announcement made by Personal Group on 19 April. Sage (UK) is a subsidiary of Sage Group.

AIM-quoted Personal Group said it was providing Sage with its proprietary technology platform Hapi.

It added that this Software as a Service platform would operate on a monthly subscription model for Sage's payroll customers with no upfront fee.

"This is a significant step in the continuing advancement of Personal Group's delivery of leading employee benefit packages and is a significant extension of Hapi," it said in a statement.

Launching immediately, Sage Employee Benefits would be sold by Sage initially to its Payroll 50 customers reaching about 50% of the private sector employees in the UK.

Sage Employee Benefits integrates the Hapi platform with the Sage Payroll 50 product.

"This agreement opens up a completely new and incremental channel to market for the Company to target the 15.7m employees in the SME sector," said Personal Group.

At about 11:28 GMT, shares in Personal Group were up 1.76% to 432.5p each.
AIM-listed miner RedRock will receive a 0.5m payout from a South African investment due to strong manganese prices, which if they continue are expected to lead to more of the same.

Jupiter Mines, an Australian company in which Red Rock owns over 27.3m shares, has announced that its 49.9% owned business Tshipi e Ntle Manganese Mining Proprietary is to distribute 1bn South African rand to its shareholders for the year ending 28 February 2017, subject to no material change in production and market conditions for the rest of the financial year.

As a result, Jupiter will distribute $55m of the funds received from Tshipi to its own shareholders, with $0.66 (0.53m) to Red Rock, payable in March 2017.

The distribution from Tshipi, which is one of the five largest manganese operations in the world, repays shareholders 50% of the capital cost of mine, while there is over 60 years of the mines life left.

Jupiter expects further distribution next year if the price of manganese price continues to be strong, while production in year to February 2017 is anticipated to exceed the near 2m tonne target.

Red Rock chairman Andrew Bell said the last 12 months have seen all-time lows in the manganese market and more recently record prices in the South African Rand, and that Tshipi had already shown itself to be profitable at prices below $3 per dry metric tonne unit, and when prices were low Tshipi tightened its cost structure further, making it one of the most efficient and low-cost operators.

We anticipate a continuation of stable-to-favourable market conditions, from which Tshipi is well placed to benefit, as it enters what the Jupiter Chairman calls the value optimization phase. Red Rock has patiently held this investment, confident in its underlying quality, and continues to see significant upside."

Shares in Red Rock Resources were up 10% to 0.44p at 1054 GMT.
The economic agenda for Tuesday was exceedingly light although the corporate news-flow was set to pick-up noticeably.

Thus, the focus was expected to be on Octobers official public finance figures from ONS, particularly as they would be the last set of data ahead of the Chancellors Autumn statement on the next day.

Economists at Barclays forecast the public sectors net borrowing requirement (excluding bank interventions) would decline from 10.6bn in September to 6.7bn.

Nonetheless, Hammonds room-to-manoeuvre on fiscal stimulus was expected to be rather limited given lower projections for economic growth going forward.

A reading on the state of manufacturing courtesy of the Confederation of British Industrys Industrial Trends survey was also due to be published.

Acting as a backdrop, the House of Lords was set to debate on two reports from the European Union Select Committee, entitled 'The Invoking of Article 50' and 'Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny'.

Among the firms which were scheduled to update shareholders and the markets was DIY retailer Kingfisher.

Analaysts at Numis believed the market/weather backdrop in the UK had remained supportive in the third quarter, although recent figures from the French central bank had pointed to a "surprisingly tough month" in September.

Numis also pointed out how over the past twelve months the shares had outperformed the sector by 24%, especially since the Brexit vote, while consensus forecasts for profits before tax for the company in fiscal year 2018 had in fact reduced slightly since end-June.

That had pushed the stocks 2017 price-to-earnings multiple to 15.4, for a 33% premium to its peer group.

INTERIMS

AO World, Assura , Big Yellow Group, CML Microsystems, De La Rue, Halma, Homeserve, Scapa Group, Solid State, Telecom Plus, ULS Technology , Victoria

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Intu Properties

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (EU) (15:00)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

Q3

Frutarom Industries Ltd GDR (Reg S)

FINALS

Cambria Automobiles, Compass Group, CYBG , Focusrite, Mitchells & Butlers, Renew Holdings

AGMS

Berkeley Energia Limited (DI), Dunelm Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Homeserve, Intertek Group, Kingfisher, Rotork, Spectris, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, SVG Capital

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Close Brothers Group
US tech giant Facebook has pledged to create over 500 jobs with the opening of its new London headquarters next year, in a sign that global companies are still not shying away from Britain in the aftermath of Brexit.

The new employees will be hired in the fields of engineering, marketing and project management next year. The headquarters will be opening in Fitzrovia in central London.

Rejecting a common opinion that ultimately Britain's withdrawal from the European Union would be bad for business, executive Nicola Mendelsohn said that for tech companies it's still an ideal environment.

"The UK remains one of the best places to be a tech company and is an important part of Facebooks story," Mendelsohn will say on Monday at a speech announcing the news.

"Many of those new roles will be high-skilled engineering jobs as the UK is home to our largest engineering base outside of the US," Ms Mendelsohn said, vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Facebook.

Just last week, Google also pledged to create a significant number of new jobs in the UK, expanding its workforce from 4,000 to 7,000 in the next four years.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said the news gave an indication that Brexit has not put off businesses.

"Facebook's decision to expand in London is further evidence that London's strength as a tech hub keeps on growing," Khan said.

"The capital's vibrant tech scene is the envy of Europe and Facebook's continuing commitment is another sign that London is open to talent, innovation and entrepreneurship."
US bank Wells Fargo has been imposed with tighter regulations by a federal body in the country after admitting to fraudulently setting up accounts and credit cards in their customers' names.

The California-based bank has been flagged by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees the actions of large national banks.

The bank will now require approval from the regulatory body in order to make a large number of decisions with regards to its business.

John Stumpf, former CEO of Wells, resigned earlier this year following the unauthorised accounts scandal, after being grilled at several congressional and senate committees for the bank's actions.

There was little by way of explanation offered by the OCC, who made alterations to an agreement which was signed by both parties after Wells agreed to pay $185m in fines to settle the case.

Wells Fargo released a statement in response to the changes, saying it would comply with any new restrictions.

"This will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy, rebuild trust and serve our customers, and continue to operate the company for the benefit of all our stakeholders," the statement read.

New account openings dropped 44% for the bank in October compared with the same period last year, as well as a 50% fall in credit card applications, as customers turn their backs on Wells after the malpractice.
Asias main stockmarket benchmarks were higher at the start of the week, but trading across the region as a whole ended on a mixed note, with several of the main bourses sporting losses by the closing bell.

The Nikkei-225 ended the session higher by 0.78% to 18,106.02, alongside similar gains for the Shanghai Stock Exchanges Composite index, which tacked on 0.79% to close at 3,218.15 - a 10-month high.

Some traders noted the possible imminent start of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen stockmarkets as the trigger behind the rise in Chinese stocks.

Energy stocks were among the best performers in the region after Irans Oil Minister said a deal from OPEC to curb output at the end of the month was "highly probable".

Chinese insurers were also among the best performers, with stock in China Life Insurance rising 7.8% and that in New China Life up by 6%.

The Hang Seng edged up by 0.06% to 22,357.78 and Taiwans TAIEX gained 0.36% to 9,041.11.

However, South Koreas Kospi retreated 0.43% to 1,966.05, while Indias Sensex gave back 1.47% to end at 25,765.14. Benchmarks in Singapore and Indonesia were also lower.

Losses in Seoul came amid news over the weekend that President Park Geun-Hye had been found by prosecutors to have had a role in an influence-peddling case. Meanwhile, losses in Mumbai were linked to worries about the governments anti-corruption drive and capital outflows.

Japanese exports fell by 10.3% year-on-year in October to reach 5.87trn yen (consensus: -9.4%), according to the countrys Ministry of Finance, worse than the previous months fall of 6.9%.

In parallel, imports declined 16.5% year-on-year to 5.37trn yen, their 22nd consecutive monthly fall, leaving a trade surplus of 496.2bn yen.

Dollar/yen was little changed, rising by just 0.02% to 110.84.

Japans all-indudstry activity index shrank by 0.2% over the month (consensus: 0.0%), while the tertiary activity index, which tracks services, dipped by 0.1% month-on-month.

In Sydney, the All Ordinaries lost 0.15% to finish the session at 5,419.35 as iron ore prices slipped back on the heels of higher Chinese trading charges and falling prices for steel, according to traders.

One trader referenced news that the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang had stopped output of cement and steel as well as having cut threal coal power generation in order to meet air pollution limits.

Australias Boral Ltd. agreed to the purchase of US building products firm Headwaters Inc for $1.86bn.

Abu Dhabi led losses among Gulf markets after two of the countrys after three of the countrys lenders told investors they were not involved in merger talks.
Londons top flight index eked out a small rise as the US dollar paused for breath amid big gains for key commodity markets.

The FTSE 100 finished 0.03% or 2.19 points higher at 6,777.96, propped up by gains of 3.5% for front month Brent crude oil futures to $48.68 a barrel and a rise of 2.10% for COMEX-traded copper futures to $2.5350 per pound.

In parallel, traders were digesting the panoply of political news out over the weekend.

Oil futures jumped after Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Sunday: "we will do everything that our partners from Opec are expecting. To freeze crude production is not an issue for us."

A report from Reuters later in the day referencing progress at a two-day meeting between OPEC experts that started on Monday also contributed to oils advance.

Copper futures on the other hand were higher on upbeat sentiment about the outlook for demand in China.

"Feedback from last weeks CESCO conference in Shanghai will likely be a hot topic [...] overall sentiment was solid, with most Chinese players we spoke to expecting good demand for next year (3-5%) on sustained government stimulus policies and continued signal strength from both customers and national data. [...] From here, the outlook from the hedge funds we spoke to ranged from neutral to cautiously bullish," analysts at Macquarie said in a research note sent to clients.

Meanwhile, the pound bounced back against the US dollar after Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to suggest in a speech to the CBI that she would seek a transitional Brexit deal to soften the impact for businesses once the UK leaves the EU.

By the closing bell, cable was up by 1.05% to 1.2484.

The weekend saw another political upset as ex-French prime minister Francois Fillon (44.2%) beat Nicolas Sarkozy (21%) in the French Republican party's primary elections. Fillon was now set to face another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe (28.5%), in a second run-off vote on 27 November.

Significantly, some recent polls had shown Fillon easily beating the National Front's Marine Le Pen in a hypothetical confrontation, but there was uneasiness among some observers about the risk that Le Pen might yet upend the current political landscape.

"[Le Pens] presidential hopes mighthave risen after the US election result, but based on the polls released since the US elections,her chances have not. However, deep divisions among the Left, intensified by former economy minister Emmanuel Macron's presidential bid, may discourage left-wing voters from voting. This could conceivably give an advantage to Le Pen. Moreover,a rejection of the Italian referendum and a far-right victory in the Austrian presidential elections on December 4 could add momentum to anti-establishment parties," analysts at Morgan Stanley said.

Traders also welcomed news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had announced she would run for a fourth time in next years elections.

Profit warnings from Essentra and MITIE

Higher commodity prices were behind the rise in blue chip resources heavyweights Glencore, Randgold Resources, Anglo American, Fresnillo, Antofagasta and Polymetal International.

Meanwhile, Big oil found a bid on the back of the rise in oil futures.

In corporate news, as well as reporting worse profits for the first half and cutting its dividend, facilities management group Mitie said the second half should see an improvement but the full year turnout will fall short of expectations.

The company also took the decision to withdraw from the domiciliary healthcare market, placing the business under strategic review, with several big write-offs leading to a large first-half loss.

Essentra also cut its profit guidance for the year due to delays in delivering projects, a soft Chinese market and the slow integration of an acquisition. The FTSE 250 plastics company now expects the calendar year will see a 7% like-for-like revenue decline in line with the first half of the year, with adjusted operating profit of 137-142m, which was revised down from 155-165m.

The third piece of disappointing profit news came from clothing retailer Bonmarche, which reported a drop in revenue and profit for the 26 weeks to 24 September, attributing the decline in part to the weather and the fact that competitor BHS went into administration.

More positively, GlaxoSmithKline filed a US regulatory submission for a new three-drug inhaler treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema around 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Technical products supplier Diploma said full-year pre-tax profits rose 4% to 54m on the back of a rise in revenue to 382.6m from 333.8m. The total dividend jumped 10% to 20p a share.

Direct Line skidded lower, with a note from Barclays on the motor insurance sector highlighing that the company faces headwinds from the loss of the Nationwide and Sainsburys contracts "and faces more pressure in home insurance versus peers".

TalkTalk was also unloved after analysts at Redburn downgraded their recommendation on the shares to a 'sell', telling investors they no longer expected a dividend payment in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

US science and technology developer Allied Minds has created a new subsidiary, Vatic Materials, which has agreed to license certain technologies from Pennsylvania State University. Vatic Materials will focus on developing materials and fabrication processes for transparent conducting thin films, such as on touch screens, lighting and photovoltaics, which will allow conductive surfaces to be potentially thinner and more cost effective.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,777.96 0.03%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,527.55 -0.75%

techMARK (TASX) 3,296.36 -0.64%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,005.00p 3.71%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,328.00p 3.18%

Anglo American (AAL) 1,122.50p 3.03%

Polymetal International (POLY) 782.00p 2.56%

Pearson (PSON) 785.00p 2.48%

Glencore (GLEN) 268.15p 2.39%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 681.50p 2.33%

BP (BP.) 456.25p 1.92%

Croda International (CRDA) 3,198.00p 1.81%

GKN (GKN) 309.10p 1.58%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

ITV (ITV) 165.60p -2.59%

Whitbread (WTB) 3,511.00p -2.58%

Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 346.50p -2.48%

Centrica (CNA) 195.20p -2.20%

Sky (SKY) 750.50p -2.15%

St James's Place (STJ) 932.50p -2.05%

Barratt Developments (BDEV) 479.60p -1.90%

Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,610.00p -1.88%

Schroders (SDR) 2,818.00p -1.88%

Dixons Carphone (DC.) 334.00p -1.82%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 230.10p 4.45%

Tullow Oil (TLW) 278.80p 4.11%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 136.50p 3.25%

Cairn Energy (CNE) 198.40p 3.06%

Metro Bank (MTRO) 3,280.00p 2.56%

AO World (AO.) 168.00p 2.44%

Evraz (EVR) 240.50p 1.99%

Hays (HAS) 140.90p 1.95%

Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 149.00p 1.85%

Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 804.00p 1.77%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Essentra (ESNT) 393.30p -20.43%

Mitie Group (MTO) 190.00p -9.52%

Polypipe Group (PLP) 288.30p -6.03%

Greencore Group (GNC) 290.80p -5.58%

TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 171.00p -5.00%

Laird (LRD) 142.10p -3.79%

Workspace Group (WKP) 663.50p -3.63%

Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 671.00p -3.58%

Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,516.00p -3.50%

JPMorgan Indian Investment Trust (JII) 582.50p -3.25%
Stocks were seeing slight gains on Monday as traders poured over the Prime Ministers new industrial strategy while analysts reacted to the panoply of political news out over the weekend.

As of 1208 GMT, the FTSE 100 was higher by 0.37% or 23.88 points at 6,799.65.

Many investors' eyes were on Prime Minister Theresa May as she unveiled her new industrial strategy in a speech to the CBI.

Particularly noteworthy was what some took as a suggestion that she would seek a transitional Brexit deal to soften the impact for businesses once the UK leaves the EU.

"I am conscious that there will be issues that need to be looked at ... that people don't want a cliff edge, they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward, that will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation," she said at the business lobby groups annual conference.

That came ahead of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on Wednesday, with Philip Hammond having said at the weekend that new government spending would be restrained due to "eye-wateringly" high levels of public debt.

Brent crude futures were up by 2.1% after Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Sunday: "We will do everything that our partners from Opec are expecting. To freeze crude production is not an issue for us."

Nickel, copper and zinc futures were all higher as the US dollar spot index slipped 0.22% to 100.99, although coal and steel rebar futures slipped.

The weekend saw another political upset as ex-French prime minister Francois Fillon (44.2%) beat Nicolas Sarkozy (21%) in the French Republican party's primary elections. Fillon is now set to face another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe (28.5%), in a second run-off vote on 27 November.

Significantly, some recent polls had shown Fillon easily beating the National Front's Marine Le Pen in a hypothetical confrontation, but there was increasing uneasiness among some observers about the risk that Le Pen might yet upend the current political landscape.

However, Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, said France had avoided a Le Pen versus Sarkozy contest in the run-off for the presidential election, which could have been an unpredictable version of the Trump versus Clinton campaign in the US, with a divisive candidate from the odious right running against a mainstream candidate with significant baggage.

Some traders also welcomed news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had announced she would run for a fourth time in next years elections.

No major economic data releases were scheduled for Monday, although investors were expected to be closely watching for any possible hints about further quantitative easing from the European Central Bank when Mario Draghi spoke later in the day.

The ECB's chief was due to take part in discussions about the monetary authority's annual report at the European parliament at 1600 GMT.

Profit warnings from and MITIE

In corporate news, as well as reporting worse profits for the first half and cutting its dividend, facilities management group Mitie said the second half should see an improvement but the full year turnout will fall short of expectations.

The company has also taken the decision to withdraw from the domiciliary healthcare market and has placed this business under strategic review, with several big write-offs leading to a large first-half loss.

Essentra also cut its profit guidance for the year due to delays in delivering projects, a soft Chinese market and the slow integration of an acquisition. The FTSE 250 plastics company now expects the calendar year will see a 7% like-for-like revenue decline in line with the first half of the year, with adjusted operating profit of 137-142m, which was revised down from 155-165m.

The third piece of disappointing profit news came from clothing retailer Bonmarche, which reported a drop in revenue and profit for the 26 weeks to 24 September, attributing the decline in part to the weather and the fact that competitor BHS went into administration.

More positively, GlaxoSmithKline has filed a US regulatory submission for a new three-drug inhaler treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema around 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Technical products supplier Diploma said full-year pre-tax profits rose 4% to 54m on the back of a rise in revenue to 382.6m from 333.8m. The total dividend jumped 10% to 20p a share.

US science and technology developer Allied Minds has created a new subsidiary, Vatic Materials, which has agreed to license certain technologies from Pennsylvania State University. Vatic Materials will focus on developing materials and fabrication processes for transparent conducting thin films, such as on touch screens, lighting and photovoltaics, which will allow conductive surfaces to be potentially thinner and more cost effective.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,803.25 0.41%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,594.52 -0.37%

techMARK (TASX) 3,307.01 -0.32%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Anglo American (AAL) 1,129.00p 3.63%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,331.00p 3.26%

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,975.00p 3.20%

Glencore (GLEN) 270.15p 3.15%

Polymetal International (POLY) 783.00p 2.69%

BP (BP.) 457.65p 2.23%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 679.50p 2.03%

Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,109.50p 1.93%

Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,022.00p 1.86%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,287.00p 1.86%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 234.00p -2.05%

Sky (SKY) 752.00p -1.96%

Whitbread (WTB) 3,540.00p -1.78%

Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,635.00p -1.60%

Next (NXT) 5,015.00p -1.47%

Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 331.60p -1.43%

Centrica (CNA) 197.00p -1.30%

St James's Place (STJ) 940.50p -1.21%

Royal Mail (RMG) 465.20p -1.17%

British Land Company (BLND) 596.50p -1.16%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 230.30p 4.54%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 136.30p 3.10%

Acacia Mining (ACA) 450.30p 2.29%

Cairn Energy (CNE) 196.90p 2.29%

Pagegroup (PAGE) 372.70p 2.19%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 351.10p 2.09%

Hays (HAS) 141.00p 2.03%

Investec (INVP) 516.00p 1.98%

Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 805.50p 1.96%

Entertainment One Limited (ETO) 246.40p 1.94%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Essentra (ESNT) 402.40p -18.59%

Mitie Group (MTO) 193.30p -7.95%

Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,499.00p -4.58%

Greencore Group (GNC) 296.50p -3.73%

TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 173.80p -3.44%

Inmarsat (ISAT) 699.00p -2.92%

JPMorgan Indian Investment Trust (JII) 583.00p -2.75%

Laird (LRD) 143.80p -2.64%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 260.60p -2.51%

Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 603.00p -2.51%
Stocks were seeing slight gains in early trading on Monday as traders digested a panoply of political news out over the weekend amid a bounce in many key commodities as the US dollar took a step back.

As of 0824 GMT the FTSE 100 was higher by 0.29% or 18.67 points at 6,794.44.

Many investors eyes were on Prime Minister Theresa May as she unveils her new industrial strategy in a speech to the CBI later in the day.

That comes ahead of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on Wednesday, with Philip Hammond having said at the weekend that new government spending would be restrained due to "eye-wateringly" high levels of public debt.

Brent crude futures were up by 1.1% after Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that: "We will do everything that our partners from Opec are expecting. To freeze crude production is not an issue for us."

He was joined by Iran's oil minister, who said it was "highly probable" that the oil cartel would reach a consensus on production cuts at its end November meeting.

Nickel, copper and zinc futures were all higher as the US dollar spot index slipped 0.16% to 101.05.

The weekend saw another political upset as ex-French prime minister Francois Fillon (44.2%) beat Nicolas Sarkozy in the French Republican party's primary elections. Fillon is now set to face another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe (28.5%), in a second run-off vote on 27 November.

Significantly, some recent polls had shown Fillon easily beating the National Front's Marine Le Pen in a hypothetical confrontation, but there is increasing uneasiness among some observers about the risk that Le Pen might yet upend the current political landscape.

No major economic data releases were scheduled for Monday, although investors were expected to be closely watching any possible hints about further quantitative easing from the European Central Bank when Mario Draghi speaks later in the day.

The ECB's chief is due to take part in discussions about the monetary authority's annual report at the European parliament at 1600 GMT.

Profit warnings

In corporate news, as well as reporting worse profits for the first half and cutting its dividend, facilities management group Mitie said the second half should see an improvement but the full year turnout will fall short of expectations.

The company has also taken the decision to withdraw from the domiciliary healthcare market and has placed this business under strategic review, with several big write-offs leading to a large first-half loss.

Essentra has cut also cut its profit guidance for the year due to delays in delivering projects, a soft Chinese market and the slow integration of an acquisition. The FTSE 250 plastics company now expects the calendar year will see a 7% like-for-like revenue decline in line with the first half of the year, with adjusted operating profit of 137-142m, which was revised down from 155-165m.

The third piece of disappointing profit news came from clothing retailer Bonmarche, which reported a drop in revenue and profit for the 26 weeks to 24 September, attributing the decline in part to the weather and the fact that competitor BHS went into administration.

More positively, GlaxoSmithKline has filed a US regulatory submission for a new three-drug inhaler treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema around 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Technical products supplier Diploma said full year pre-tax profits rose 4% to 54m on the back of a rise in revenue to 382.6m from 333.8m. The total dividend jumped 10% to 20p a share.

US science and technology developer Allied Minds has created a new subsidiary, Vatic Materials, which has agreed to license certain technologies from Pennsylvania State University. Vatic Materials will focus on developing materials and fabrication processes for transparent conducting thin films, such as on touch screens, lighting and photovoltaics, which will allow conductive surfaces to be potentially thinner and more cost effective.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,797.40 0.32%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,650.92 -0.05%

techMARK (TASX) 3,319.34 0.05%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Antofagasta (ANTO) 689.00p 3.45%

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,950.00p 2.76%

Glencore (GLEN) 268.65p 2.58%

Anglo American (AAL) 1,116.00p 2.43%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,293.00p 2.33%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,315.00p 2.02%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 2,985.00p 1.74%

Polymetal International (POLY) 773.50p 1.44%

Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,011.50p 1.34%

Prudential (PRU) 1,534.00p 1.25%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 58.64p -1.35%

Admiral Group (ADM) 1,899.00p -0.94%

Babcock International Group (BAB) 971.00p -0.87%

Royal Mail (RMG) 467.10p -0.76%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 653.00p -0.68%

British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,331.00p -0.65%

Diageo (DGE) 2,017.00p -0.59%

Shire Plc (SHP) 4,775.00p -0.50%

Mediclinic International (MDC) 751.00p -0.46%

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 204.20p -0.44%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Vedanta Resources (VED) 833.00p 3.48%

Hays (HAS) 142.00p 2.75%

Acacia Mining (ACA) 451.00p 2.45%

Electrocomponents (ECM) 461.70p 2.28%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 135.00p 2.12%

Sophos Group (SOPH) 246.30p 1.78%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 224.20p 1.77%

BGEO Group (BGEO) 2,874.00p 1.73%

Meggitt (MGGT) 456.00p 1.65%

Softcat (SCT) 311.00p 1.63%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Essentra (ESNT) 397.30p -19.62%

Mitie Group (MTO) 181.30p -13.67%

Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,533.00p -2.42%

Man Group (EMG) 123.40p -1.59%

Rightmove (RMV) 3,829.00p -1.54%

Foreign and Colonial Inv Trust (FRCL) 514.00p -1.34%

Laird (LRD) 145.80p -1.29%

Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 428.20p -1.15%

Just Eat (JE.) 567.00p -1.13%

Debenhams (DEB) 57.35p -1.12%
Stocks in London were set for a slightly higher open on Monday following positive Asian cues.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 13 points higher than Fridays close at 6,788.

CMC Markets Jasper Lawler said: European markets look set for a higher open on Monday. It could be another week in which politics Trumps economics as a main driver of the action.

Stock market gains harder to come by in last few days with rising bond yields and a drop in commodities outweighing the enthusiasm of a unified and pro-business US government. Interest in president elect Donald Trumps team selection in the States will be matched in Europe with the British government issuing its Autumn Statement and the first round of French Republican party primaries for its Presidential election.

There are no major UK data releases due on Monday but investors will be eyeing the Autumn Statement on Wednesday.

In corporate news, GlaxoSmithKline has filed a US regulatory submission for a new three-drug inhaler treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The filing was achieved around 18 months earlier than originally planned, with a regulatory submission in the EU also planned in the coming weeks, the company said.

Technical products supplier Diploma said full year pre-tax profits rose 4% to 54m on the back of a rise in revenue to 382.6m from 333.8m.

The total dividend jumped 10% to 20p a share.

Acquisitions completed during the year contributing 16.3m and currency movements boosting the revenues of overseas businesses when translated into sterling by 13.8m, when compared with last year, the company said.

As well as reporting worse profits for the first half and cutting its dividend, facilities management group Mitie said the second half should see an improvement but the full year turnout will fall short of expectations.

As chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith steps down in December, the company has already taken the decision to withdraw from the domiciliary healthcare market and has placed this business under strategic review.

US science and technology developer Allied Minds has created a new subsidiary, Vatic Materials, which has agreed to license certain technologies from Pennsylvania State University.

Vatic Materials will focus on developing materials and fabrication processes for transparent conducting thin films, such as on touch screens, lighting and photovoltaics, which will allow conductive surfaces to be potentially thinner and more cost effective.
*M*ake what you will of this. In the modern era of partisan polarization, which can be dated back to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, only the presid...
The banking regulator wants to lift the level of protection on savers' deposits to 85,000 from 75,000 in the event of a bank's collapse.

The Prudential Regulation Authority has begun consulting on restoring the 85,000 deposit protection limit under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Banks would have until 30 June next year to implement the necessary changes to their systems and published materials.

The limit was reduced to 75,000 from July 2015 because a European Union directive on deposit guarantee schemes required non-euro member states to adjust their deposit protection limits.

"The Directive also requires that limits be adjusted outside of the five-year review cycle following the occurrence of unforeseen events such as currency fluctuations. Taking into consideration the developments in financial markets following the UKs referendum vote on 23 June 2016 to leave the European Union, including with respect to the GBP/EUR exchange rate, the PRA considers that a structural shift in the exchange rate has occurred," the PRA said in a statement on Monday.

"These events were unforeseen when the UK limit was reduced in 2015."

The regulator said it will continue to monitor fluctuations in the exchange rate but, barring unforeseen events, will seek to avoid making further adjustments to the deposit protection limit.
Ofcom will auction 190 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz bands next year  an increase of just under a third of the total mobile spectrum currently available  but BT/EE will not be able to bid as it already owns 45% of immediatelyusable UK mobile spectrum.

The telecoms regulator said it has proposed a cap of 255MHz on immediately-usable spectrum that any operator can buy. Vodafone holds 28% of immediately-usable mobile spectrum, while O2 and Three hold 15% and 12%, respectively.

Ofcom said it is concerned that, if these immediately usable holdings were to become more unbalanced, this could harm competition in the next few years.

As a result of the new spectrum in the market after the award, BT/EEs overall share of immediately-usable spectrum will fall, from 45% to 42%. If BT/EE were to acquire all the 2.3 GHz being awarded, it would have almost half of the immediately usable spectrum in the market.

The regulator is not proposing a cap on the amount of 3.4 GHz spectrum as the band is not immediately usable and it believes it is important that operators are given an opportunity to acquire this spectrum so they are able to consider early development of 5G services.

Philip Marnick, Ofcom Spectrum Group director, said: Spectrum is the essential resource that fuels the UKs economy. This auction can help ensure that UK consumers can access the mobile data services they need, and that operators can continue to innovate and build for the future.

The UK has long benefitted from strong mobile competition. We are designing the auction to ensure everyone benefits from a market that continues to innovate and serve them well.
The sale price  which is in line with the March 2016 book value  reflects a net initial yield of 4.85%.

Helical bought the office building from receivers in 2012 and since then has undertaken a programme of value enhancement through the rolling refurbishment of the office space and adding an additional floor to the building to deliver 26,000 sq ft of offices with retail units on the ground floor.

The property is fully let to a range of tenants at rental levels that set a new benchmark for the Hammersmith market at the time of leasing.

Senior investment executive Tom Anderson said: "Having delivered on our business plan to provide a good quality institutional grade investment, this had now become one of our more mature investments and we therefore took the opportunity to make this disposal, the proceeds of which will be recycled into our London development and refurbishment programme."
UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday backtracked on her pledge to have worker representatives on the boards of companies.

In a speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, May said there were other ways of giving employees a voice on corporate matters.

She had previously said she would introduce plans to have consumers and workers represented on boards, but this had attracted criticism from the business lobby.

"While it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on boards," she told the CBI.

"Some companies may find that these models work best for them  but there are other routes that use existing board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented. It will be a question of finding the model that works."

May said the process of exiting the European Union should not be rushed, but that there were opportunities to create partnership with old allies and new partners.

May suggested she would seek a transitional Brexit deal to soften the impact for businesses once the UK leaves the EU. She said she would seek an arrangement to stop companies going over a cliff edge.

"Obviously as we look at the negotiation we want to get the arrangement that is going to work best for the UK and the arrangement that is going to work best for business in the UK," she told delegates.

"Im conscious that there will be issues that will need to be looked at. I understand the point that Paul [Drechsler, CBI president] has made, others have made this point, that people dont want a cliff edge, they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go forward. That will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation that we are undertaking with the European Union."

"I know leaving the EU creates uncertainty for business," May added.

May added that she wanted Britain to have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20, a direct riposte to US President-elect Donald Trump's claim he would cut the rate to 15% from 35%.

UK corporation tax is scheduled to fall to 17% from its current 20% by 2020.

Since 2010 we have made the Research and Development Credit more generous and easier to use  and support has risen from 1bn to almost 2.5bn a year.

Now we want to go further, and look at how we can make our support even more effective  because my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20, but also a tax system that is profoundly pro-innovation.

May also said the business community needed to change its approach to corporate governance, executive pay, and boardroom representation.

"We all know that in recent years the reputation of business as a whole has been bruised. Trust in business runs at just 35% among those in the lowest income brackets. The behaviour of a limited few has damaged the reputation of the many. And fair or not, it is clear that something has to change," she said.

The reputation of the business community has been tarnished in recent months by scandals such as the collapse of BHS, where former owner Philip Green stands accused of paying himself large dividends the business, selling it to a serial bankrupt a leaving the pension fund with a 571m deficit.

"For when a small minority of businesses and business figures appear to game the system and work to a different set of rules, we have to recognise that the social contract between business and society fails  and the reputation of business as a whole is undermined."

"So just as government must open its mind to a new approach, so the business community must too. That is why we will shortly publish our plans to reform corporate governance, including executive pay and accountability to shareholders, and proposals to ensure the voice of employees is heard in the boardroom."
Theresa May will try to repair her damaged relationship with business leaders when she promises today to match Donald Trumps plans to slash corporation tax. The prime minister will insist that she supports free markets, values capitalism and backs business, as she makes a concerted effort to win back support lost after her maiden speech as leader to the Tory conference. - The Times

Theresa May has set out the terms of a new grand bargain with business, where the government invests to boost productivity and cuts corporation tax, in exchange for help tackling the worst excesses of capitalism. Setting out her business strategy, the UK prime minister proposes a pact with corporate Britain to work together to defend capitalism, free markets and free trade from populist attacks. - Financial Times

Theresa May is to commit the UK to a 2bn annual fund for scientific research and development and a review of tax incentives for innovative corporations in an effort to boost the technology industry. In her first speech to the CBIs annual conference, the prime minister will outline the first steps in a modern, ambitious industrial strategy following increasing anger from bosses at her administrations approach towards big business. - The Guardian

China will not "shut the door" on globalisation, despite Donald Trump's threats to abandon free trade deals and slap tariffs on the world's second largest economy, president Xi Jinping has vowed. Mr Xi described Mr Trump's surprise victory in the US presidential election as a "hinge moment" in US-China relations but insisted the country would play an even bigger role in the process of economic integration and pledged to open up the country to foreign investment. - Telegraph

One of the biggest auctions of mobile-phone spectrum could be launched this week in a deal that could rake in at least 1 billion for the Treasury and is likely to attract intense interest. BT, O2, Vodafone and Three are among likely bidders in the auction for 190 MHz of capacity being put up for sale by Ofcom, the telecoms regulator. - The Times

Oil prices were the big movers in Asian trade on Monday and closing in on first back-to-back gains in a month amid hopes major oil producing countries would agree to output cuts and help rein in oversupply. In the wake of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, Russian president Vladimir Putin told reporters he saw few hurdles to Opec reaching an agreement on supply cuts at its Vienna meeting slated for later this month. - Financial Times

The Treasury has dismissed claims it used its access to the City watchdog to obtain price sensitive information before selling shares in Royal Bank of Scotland. The Commons Treasury Select Committee (TSC) released correspondence from Tom Scholar, the permanent secretary to the Treasury, in which he said it was entirely untrue and without foundation that the Government sought information from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to gain an advantage when it offloaded RBS stock in August last year. - Telegraph

Insurers have called on the government to help them crack foreign markets as part of efforts to foster global trade following the EU referendum. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said China and India should be priority places to open up links for the industry, which represents 60pc of the UKs services exports. - Telegraph

Lloyds Banking Group has emerged as a potential frontrunner to acquire the UK credit card business of Bank of America, worth an estimated 7 billion. It is keen to acquire the business in a deal that would mark its first acquisition since being bailed out by taxpayers at the height of the financial crisis. - The Times

The budget coffee shop chain backed by easyJet tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is eyeing expansion in London and beyond after receiving approaches from about 200 potential franchisees interested in opening sites. Sir Stelios, the entrepreneur who made his name with the budget airline he founded 21 years ago, started easyCoffee earlier this year and the business has since expanded to two sites in London and one in Southend-on-Sea. It aims to undercut giants such as Starbucks and Costa by selling cups of coffee for 1.

Exhausted delivery drivers could pose a road safety risk over the next few weeks as thousands of staff are urged to work up to 20 days in a row to cope with the rush of online orders around Black Friday. Government safety inspectors have been called on to investigate the possible danger from delivery drivers who work six days a week and have been asked if they are also willing to work Sundays. - Guardian

Investigators are probing claims that traders manipulated complex derivatives prices on the energy market. Industry watchdog Ofgem is said to have launched a secret operation, called Project Damson, to examine allegations that dealers sought to push up the price of so-called spark spread contracts to make more money. - Mail

Facebook will today pledge to create 500 more jobs in the UK in another vote of confidence from Americas technology giants in post-Brexit Britain. Google last week reaffirmed its commitment to the country with plans to expand its workforce from 4,000 to 7,000 by 2020. - The Times

A company looking to reopen a zinc mine in Montenegro is planning the first full stock-market float of a miner in London since 2013. Balkan Zinc intends to join Londons junior Aim market before Christmas with a view to raising 10m. It expects to have a free float of around 60pc and a market cap of 25m. - Telegraph

A company which advised the UK government over the Hinkley Point nuclear power project has been accused of a potential conflict of interest after it emerged the same company was also working for EDF, The Times has learnt. Leigh Fisher, a management consultancy, worked as an adviser to the Department of Energy and Climate Change on a 2013 deal to pay EDF double the current wholesale price of electricity for the power produced by Hinkley for 35 years. - The Times

Smiggle, the childrens stationery chain backed by one of Australias richest men, is pushing ahead with plans to open 200 stores across the UK in the next two years, despite concerns that Brexit could slow consumer spending. The rapid expansion of the chain, which sells brightly coloured pencil cases and lunchboxes, helped push billionaire Solomon Lews Premier Investments sales through the AUS$1bn (590m) mark in September. - Telegraph

Londoners are being unfairly hit by stamp duty levels compared to home buyers in the rest of the country, according to new research. Estate agency Haart found that while the average salary in London is 24.6pc higher than the rest of the UK, homebuyers in the capital must pay stamp duty which is 750pc more than in the country as a whole. - Telegraph

The mayor of London has written to Volkswagen imploring the car manufacturer to fully compensate the capitals residents affected by the emissions scandal. Sadiq Khan called on VW to reimburse Transport for London (TFL) some 2.5m in lost congestion charge revenue from vehicles that were not known to be contributing to the capitals pollution levels.

Samsung and Panasonic, two of the worlds leading electronics brands, are facing allegations that workers in their supply chains are being duped, exploited and underpaid in Malaysia. The two companies have launched investigations into allegations of abuse made by Nepalese workers after a Guardian investigation raised multiple concerns about their treatment.

A consortium of investors from Russia is understood to be in exclusive talks about buying Silverstone, the Northamptonshire track which is home to Formula Ones British Grand Prix. Silverstone is owned by the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), a group of 850 racing personalities including champions Jackie Stewart and Damon Hill. - Telegraph
The FTSE 100 was skirting either side of the horizontal on Monday, as resurgent commodities stocks counterbalanced a broad decline elsewhere.

Higher commodity prices were behind the rise of blue chip resources heavyweights Glencore, Randgold Resources, Anglo American, Fresnillo, Antofagasta and Polymetal International on Monday.

Copper futures firmed, along with nickel and zinc boosted as the US dollar spot index slipped 0.22%, although coal and steel rebar futures slipped.

Oil prices also sprang higher on talks of a potential production cut from the Opec countries, bolstered by talk from Vladimir Putin over the weekend that freezing production would not be an issue.



This saw BP and Shell help join their mining cousins among the highest risers.



Jasper Lawler, market analyst at CMC Markets, said: OPEC speculation continues to drive the oil price in the countdown to the November 30 meeting. Iran, Iraq and Russia have made positive utterances about a deal being done in recent days- but they are contributing the least to making it happen. Whether the deal goes ahead rests with Saudi Arabia deciding its own lost market share is a price worth paying for a policy that should- but may not - stabilise the price of oil.

Whitbread was off the boil on news that its Costa Coffee arm will face even hotter competition on the high street.

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has launched easyCoffee to sell 1 coffee in three UK locations and, and according to the Telegraph, has received over 200 approaches from potential franchise partners.

Direct Line skidded lower, with a note from Barclays on the motor insurance sector highlighing that the company faces headwinds from the loss of the Nationwide and Sainsburys contracts "and faces more pressure in home insurance versus peers".

It was a note from Jefferies that did for Royal Mail on Monday, trimming estimates on the back of last week's weaker than expected interim results. "We have cut our EPS estimates and price target by 5% and remain relatively cautious ahead of the upcoming pension reforms, with further details expected after Christmas, and in view of likely increasing competition in parcels from DHL."

FTSE 100 - Risers

Glencore (GLEN) 269.75p 3.00%

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,950.00p 2.76%

Anglo American (AAL) 1,117.00p 2.52%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,319.00p 2.33%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 680.50p 2.18%

Polymetal International (POLY) 778.50p 2.10%

Pearson (PSON) 780.50p 1.89%

BP (BP.) 455.55p 1.76%

Standard Chartered (STAN) 635.20p 1.60%

Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,102.50p 1.59%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Whitbread (WTB) 3,528.00p -2.11%

Next (NXT) 4,986.00p -2.04%

St James's Place (STJ) 933.00p -2.00%

Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 348.30p -1.97%

Royal Mail (RMG) 461.60p -1.93%

Provident Financial (PFG) 2,890.00p -1.90%

Sky (SKY) 753.00p -1.83%

Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,615.00p -1.82%

Centrica (CNA) 196.40p -1.60%

British Land Company (BLND) 594.00p -1.57%
Commodity prices jumped at the start of the week, with crude oil futures climbing to three-week highs while copper futures bounced back after a retreat in the previous week that saw them trim their year-to-date gain to 18%.

Helping to stoke buying interest, the US dollar spot index spent much of the session lower after 10 consecutive days of gains, its longest such stretch in over three years.

Reflecting the more positive sentiment in the market, analysts at Maquarie told clients that: "Feedback from last weeks CESCO conference in Shanghai will likely be a hot topic [...] overall sentiment was solid, with most Chinese players we spoke to expecting good demand for next year (3-5%) on sustained government stimulus policies and continued signal strength from both customers and national data.

"[...] From here, the outlook from the hedge funds we spoke to ranged from neutral to cautiously bullish," analysts at Macquarie said in a research note sent to clients."

On the other side of the argument, in a research report sent to clients analysts at Goldman Sachs said they believed that "while part of the rally has been warranted, prices have rallied too much too soon, and we expect copper will decline to c.$5,000/t on a 3-mo view."

"Copper prices have rallied sharply and net speculative positioning has reached its highest level since 2005 over the past two months," Goldman added.

To take note of, net long positions in copper futures and options rose by 19% to 70.456 lots during the week ending on 15 November, according to data published by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on 18 November.

Some traders also linked recent strength in commodities to a buying spree by Chinese investors looking to sidestep weakness in the countrys currency.

In any case, in the same report Goldman Sachs upped its forecast for gains in the Goldman Sachs Commodities Index over a three, six and twelve-month view from -2.0%/+1.7%/8.3% to 9.0%/11.0%/6.0% and recommended clients 'overweight' the asset class on a three and twelve-month basis.

Among other commodities, they upgraded their view for iron ore prices, predicting they would be at $55 a tonne in 12 months time (and at $63 in six months), in part because steel consumption was proving to be more resilient than expected.

"A bullish dollar view is not incompatible with a bullish commodity view," Goldman also said.

Just as well, as by 1938 GMT the US dollar spot index had recouped nearly all of the days losses and was drifting lower by just 0.07% to 101.11, alongside a 4.1% advance for front month Brent crude oil futures to $48.86 on the ICE.

Oil prices on the other hand saw sharp gains as Russian president Vladimir Puting and officials from Iran and Iraq weighed in with conciliatory remarks ahead of OPECs next regularly-scheduled summit on 30 November, in Vienna.

In parallel, March 2017 COMEX-traded copper futures could be seen rising 2.06% to $2.5290 per pound.

Top performing sectors so far today

Industrial Metals & Mining 2,368.62 +1.99%

Mining 14,236.48 +1.80%

Oil & Gas Producers 7,604.86 +1.64%

Automobiles & Parts 7,226.96 +1.58%

Forestry & Paper 17,104.92 +1.28%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Technology Hardware & Equipment 943.75 -3.79%

Real Estate Investment & Services 2,329.87 -1.48%

Real Estate Investment Trusts 2,714.55 -1.43%

Mobile Telecommunications 4,550.52 -1.41%

Financial Services 9,287.71 -1.16%
Axis Bank has become the first Indian bank to use Earthport s, cross-border payments service, following approval from the countrys central bank. India's third largest private bank will allow its clients to make outbound cross-border payments through the AIM-listed company's network of over 60 countries.

Craven House Capital has raised $3m in cash through a placing of 240,000 new ordinary shares at $12.50 each to help further execute the companys investment policy.The group said a number of prospective investment opportunities in its target markets are currently under evaluation and it will update the market further in due course.

Blue Prism said it expects trading for the year ended 31 October to be comfortably ahead of its existing expectations. It said this was based on momentum having continued in the final quarter of the financial year.

Shares in Instem plunged on Monday after the healthcare computer services company warned full year results would be behind expectations as its clinical business had further deteriorated from the first half of the year. Instem Clinical has been hit by a slowdown in the clinical market and while the company is focused on resolving the problem, the clinical business will fall "materially" short of its financial targets this year.

Kibo Mining, a Tanzania-focused mineral exploration and development company, has entered into a collaboration agreement with General Electric International (GE) to help with the development of the Mbeya coal power project. The agreement follows the memorandum of understanding announced on 16 September 2016 and sets out in detail the terms and conditions of said collaboration into a binding agreement.

Property investment company Palace Capital has hiked its first-half dividend by almost a third as it posted a much-reduced pre-tax profit for the period. Interim dividend was up 29% to 9p a share, from 7p. Pre-tax profit came in at 3.9m, from 7.6m. Net asset value per share was 419p, from 414p at the end of its full-year.
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has responded to media reports indicating the company is facing EU and US antitrust investigations by saying it has not received...
Business / Companies

by MichaeL Hamilton

CBZ Bank took first place in all the Banking Institutions Awards categories of the Excellence in Corporate Governance Banking Awards on Thursday, while its parent company, CBZ Holdings, was among the top three in all the Listed Companies categories.The overall winner in the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed companies category was Innscor Africa. CBZ Holdings came second and Dairibord Holdings came third.First place in the State Enterprises and Parastatals Best Corporate Governance Practices Awards went to the People's Own Savings Bank. The Deposit Protection Corporation came second. TelOne came third.There were two individual winners of the Governance Professional of the Year Award. CBZ Holdings group legal corporate secretary Rumbidzayi Jakanani won the award for her company's consistently winning Excellence in Corporate Governance Awards every year, since the awards were inaugurated four years ago.Innscor Africa company secretary Andrew Lorimer won the other Governance Professional of the Year Award for his company having the most improved ranking in the listed companies category.The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ) has been holding the Excellence in Corporate Governance Awards since 2013 as a way of promoting good corporate governance.Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and internationally renowned corporate governance guru Professor Mervyn King both attended this year's event.In the Banking Institutions Awards Overall Best Banking Corporate Governance Practices category, CBZ Bank came first, Cabs came second and MBCA Bank came third.In the Best Banking Governance Practices category CBZ came first, Cabs came second and NMB Bank came third.CBZ came first, FBC Bank second and MBCA third in both the Best Banking Risk Management Practices category and the Best Banking Internal Audit Disclosures category.In the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Listed Companies Awards, CBZ Holdings took first place in the Shareholder Treatment category. African Distillers was second and Innscor Africa third.Innscor Africa came first in the Stakeholder Practices and Sustainability Reporting category. Dairbord came second and CBZ third.First place in the Board Practices category went to NicozDiamond Insurance. CBZ came second and Africa Sun third.Presenting the adjudicators' report, ICSAZ chief executive Farai Musamba said a panel of eight adjudicators evaluated the companies, banks and parastatals using the ICSAZ corporate governance scorecard.All companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange were evaluated, apart from two companies with a secondary listing on the ZSE and three newly listed companies that did not have 2015 annual reports on the ZSE website. The adjudicators use annual reports and other publicly available documents in their adjudication.All 53 companies evaluated were ranked, although only the names of the top three were announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday. The rankings of the other companies would be posted on the ICSAZ web-site, Dr Musamba said.Fifteen banking institutions were evaluated. Ninety-seven state enterprises and parastatals were eligible for evaluation. However, the adjudicators faced challenges obtaining information. Most state enterprises and parastatals did not have up-to-date annual reports. For these reasons only 10 were evaluated.Dr Musamba said the adjudication exercise revealed that reporting entities in Zimbabwe had not applied the National Code on Corporate Governance, which was launched by the government in April last year."Also there is evidence of participants following some reporting templates without serious efforts to disclose relevant and reliable information to users."Best corporate governance practice recommends voluntary as opposed to mandatory disclosure regimes. Any corporate board that takes corporate governance seriously should not wait for the stick' to do the right thing. The responsibility of stewardship should be the utmost drive to voluntarily disclose relevant and reliable information to shareholders and other stakeholders," he said.The Excellence in Corporate Governance Awards Dinner has become an important annual event for corporate bodies, as evidenced by the turnout at the dinner on Thursday. The awards have become a hallmark of excellence and provide a yardstick for best corporate governance practice. They recognise the efforts of corporate boards that effectively lead their organisations in a sustainable, innovative and ethical way.The adjudicators' remarks highlight shortcomings, which provide a further yardstick for organisations to measure up to.
Chaminade blowout shows new Buckeyes they still have much to learn
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former vice president and Zimbabwe people interim leader Joice Mujuru has received a significant boost in her quest to become the country's first female president after her potential Margaret Dongo confirmed yesterday that she will not be contesting foe the party's leadership at its forthcoming election convention.The ex-cabinet minister has already given notice that she is ready to become Zimbabwe's first ever female presidential candidate in the eagerly anticipated 2018 national elections, although she still has to win her party's nomination and possibly also navigate the hazardous terrain that is the mooted grand opposition collation.Meanwhile, Mujuru yesterday declared she is the next President, only needing the support and the vote of the youths to step into State House after the 2018 elections.Mujuru, who was addressing ZimPF youths at White City Stadium Youth Arena in Bulawayo, rallied party youths to register to vote for the next elections to unseat President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF.The former Vice-President said Mugabe and Zanu-PF will never be removed through sloganeering, saying registering to vote and voting during the 2018 elections was the answer.The opposition leader urged youths to refuse to be used by politicians to commit human rights abuses, saying: "Zimbabwe has had enough of that and we need a new culture of politicking".
Opinion / Columnist

Wilson Chipangura nom de guerre Comrade Mazhambe is the leader of the Pan-Zimbabwe Society a social group advocating for extreme patriotism. He is currently in Sanyati on a mission and for feedback email: wilsonchipangura@gmail.com

The 'baritone' choruses have grown louder with each passing day in Zimbabwe as things continue to go for the worst especially economically.As is usually the norm the economy is the fundamental stabilizer of the society and the politics of any country one can think of in this global village.A murky and nose diving economy will affect the stability of the social structure for instance, crime rate will begin to rise while politically violence and political activism are the supper of the day. In Zimbabwe all events seemed to point towards a catastrophe until the government urgently moved to at least curb the pandemonium by banning demonstrations which were threatening to spill into a bloodshed. The government together with the uniformed services gazetted a statutory instrument outlawing all demonstrations for a period in time.The reason why the demonstrations were growing by each passing day was that the players for instance, Tajamuka and #ThisFlag movements were demanding for the provision of bread and butter to their houses accusing the ZANU PF government of failing to honour its 2013 election campaign promises.All the people who were staging the demonstrations wanted the current government to admit failure and step aside for a new government which in their view would help normalise the economic crisis facing Zimbabwe.War veterans who are deemed the backbone of the ruling revolutionary party also downed their henchmen role and joined the bandwagon of dissenting voices.Their agenda was that President Robert Mugabe must put in place a succession plan to remove the notority of a shadow faction widely known as Generation40 (G40) which to them is turning the party into an oligarchy.The differing grievances led to headaches among the sect of opposition figures and those in the ruling government.The social clubs had no aftermath plan of what they were going to do in the post-ZANU PF era or who was going to stabilize the ship which they were saying to be on the verge of sinking.At that moment Ibbo Mandaza of the Sapes Trust and ambitious lunant Tendai Biti of the PDP party came up with a proposal for a transitional authority which they argued would bring stability while also helping by putting in place electoral reforms.The issue of electoral reforms has been at the apex order of all opposition parties who have always accused the ZANU PF government of manipulating the votes and the results of elections to maintain a firm grip on power.At the same time ZANU PF accuses the opposition of being mere cry babies who only want to find rigging as a scapegoat for their election defeat and failure to dislodge the regime from power.The government always disagree with the opposition on how electoral reforms should be aligned to avoid inconvienences in the aftermath of a pebliscite.This problem has led to calls by independent civic groups and various stakeholders including the church for the designation of a national transitional authority(NTA) to implement the reforms.Some of the critics of the NTA have cited the GNU of 2009-2013 as a good example of how transitional governments can be useless to put in place the wanted reforms before the holding of an election.The NTA which has been proposed this time is a different baby from that GNU which failed to implement meaningful electoral reforms which ironically all vocal opposition parties was part of and were seized with the opportunity to solve the problem during their tenure of office.The MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai, PDP's Tendai Biti,MDC of Welshman Ncube and Joice Mujuru and all her ZimPF members were part and parcel of the once in a lifetime trip to the Mars in the form of a unitary government to implement the reforms.Most people are now left confused why the opposition players are crying foul over the issue of electoral reforms and even if it is a genuine call or a stroll in the park to buy calamity.If it is Tendai Biti one wonders why he is so vocal to blame anyone for the failure to implement reforms when he was actually one of the leaders of the Joint Monitory Implementation Committee(JOMIC) which would meet regularly to discuss the issue of reforms and their implementation as had been proposed by the Global Political Agreement(GPA).As of the call for a NTA one asks is it out of generosity by Mr Biti or an elementary lust or crave for power. No one knows but only his idea seems commendable at a distant scrutiny though not realistic. The NTA would only be idealistic if it can be led by non-partisan groups or stakeholders who will only focus on the economy and the reforms.The proponents of the NTA have seconded the church as the idea candidate to lead the ambitious NTA citing them as non-partisan. In contrast,it is difficult to say there are people who are non-partisan in this world and taking Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag as an example can be said to be partisan or Johannes Ndanga of the AACZ can be labelled to be partisan,hence,proposing someone of their calibre to lead the NTA will only further the uproar either from ZANU PF or members of the opposition as they will justify their claims that these individuals will further manipulate the election in either side's favour,thus the issue of the NTA is a difficult issue to handle.The issue of the NTA was dismissed by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai citing that it was a tricky,confusing and un-idealistic project as the people will start to ask who is leading us and after all where are our leaders thus further creating another crisis if confusion erupts. It is true that there is no ideal candidate who is non-partisan but lets stop running from left to right time and again without nailing everything to the point.The truth is that there is no way the current government can step aside while it has not finished its term to pave way for political nonentities being proposed to lead the NTA. Even if it was them(opposition) who were leading there was no way they would have agreed to that plan no matter how grand it might sound to be in the ears of theoretical pro-democrats.It is therefore only ideal that the NTA be set up after the expiry of the ZANU PF government's term in August 2018 for six months to put in place the necessary modalities for a free and fair election which should be led by one none other than Strive Masiyiwa who is the only probable candidate for the NTA post even though some might object the notion.The elections like those of the 1980 General Elections which were supervised by Great Britain our former colonial master should be supervised by our 'new colonial master' China.Sceptics will say China will rig the elections in favour of ZANU PF but I do no think so because China only need a working government in Zimbabwe who would not be a liability to them but who will be beneficial to their fundamental economic objectives and also a functioning government which will pay back the overdue debts which have been accumulating with each passing day and has no idea of when and how it shall be paid back to them.
Alaska Air, US regulators near settlement on $2.6-bn acquisition of Virgin America

Alaska Air Group Inc is nearing a settlement with US antitrust regulators over its proposed $2.6-billion acquisition of Virgin America Inc, Reuters today reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) had launched an anti-trust investigation after consumers and travel agents filed a lawsuit to block the merger on the grounds that it would reduce competition and air services.

Virgin's lawyers said in a filing with the Northern District Court of California that ''Alaska believes that Department of Justice review will likely be completed by the end of November.''

Seattle-based Alaska Air had in April struck a deal to buy San Francisco-based Virgin America for $57 per share or $2.6 billion in order to create the 5th largest airline in the US.

The deal would also make Alaska Air the top carrier on the US West Coast and be able to compete with larger airlines.

Alaska Air has been in talks with the DoJ and is said to have offered concessions, including scrapping part of one or more code-sharing agreements it has with larger US carriers.

Alaska Air, based in SeaTac, Washington, was formed in 1985 and a year later acquired Horizon Air and Jet America Airlines.

Alaska Air subsidiaries has around 12,000 employees and operates only US built Boeing aircraft with up to 181 seats.

A successful deal would help Virgin America expand its route network out of Washington State, Oregon, Alaska, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as rights to operate at New York's LaGuardia and Kennedy, New Jersey's Newark Liberty and Washington's Reagan National airports.


Dr Mary F Cooney, Mountcharles and Dublin, who died in Dublin on Saturday last (Nov 12th), was one of the key people involved in the delivery of health services in County Donegal for 30 years, from 1962 to 1992.

An assistant National Director of todays HSE and a former member of the North Western Health Boards Regional Management Team, Tom Daly, described her as one of the most significant people in the health service for three decades in Donegal and the north west.

Colleague and close friend, Dr Ann Shannon, echoed that sentiment, saying Dr Cooney was a very important person in Donegal in her role as Medical Officer for Health (MOH).

From 1962 to 1992 she held key and high profile roles in the health service as it was in Donegal; her role as Medical Officer for Health came under the direction of Donegal County Council, but as huge change came into how the health services were organised, she completed her career as Director of Community Care, based in Ballybofey, and working for the then North Western Health Board.

Dr Cooney loved Donegal and lived here for most of her life in Mountcharles. An innovator, a problem solver, she was also said to be very down to earth and was described as brilliant, with a great mind, very capable and straight-forward.

In some respects her life story is a road map offering an insight into the myriad changes and developments of health care in Donegal, the north west and nationally.

In a comment to a health board archive publication, Reflecting on the North Western Health Board 1970 to 2004, Dr Cooney said that one of the changes she noted when the service moved from the county council control to the NWHB was that the number of officials seemed to increase.

Originally from West Meath, she followed in the footsteps of her late father, Dr Mark Cooney, who had served as Medical Officer for Health in Cavan.

She became Assistant County Medical Officer (A/CMO) for Donegal County Council in 1962. It was her first permanent job. At that time there were four assistant county medical officers reporting to the county medical officer (CMO).

The CMO was responsible for safeguarding the health of the community, and responsibilities included:

* Infectious diseases - including TB and typhoid

* Child health - school medical examinations were carried out yearly

* Environmental Health - the health inspectors worked to the CMOs

* District Nursing and midwifery services

* Ambulance services

* Housing allocations

Each A/CMO had his/her own area. We did everything in our own area, Dr Cooney told the NWHB legacy archivists. We had full responsibility. The CMO planned strategy. Community services are still planned on the same area basis today.

Working very closely with the public health nursing service, the A/CMO conducted TB clinics providing clinical care for people discharged from the sanitorium in Killybegs, in order to limit the spread of infectious diseases.

They carried out BCG vaccinations, which had first been introduced in the county in 1953. She recalled the mobile x-ray van which travelled around the county providing a miniature chest x-ray to the people in an effort to detect undiagnosed TB in the community.

Child health was a very big area. The women in Donegal were, Dr Cooney remarked to the archive publication, very powerful - they were great women for bringing the children in for examinations and vaccinations.

The A/CMOs also clinically assessed people for a range of disability and infectious-disease allowances and grants.

Drumbeg House

Dr Cooney, in a 2004 interview, recalled the start of services for the mentally handicapped, then the common descriptive term for people with learning disabilities. The Parents and Friends Association bought Drumbeg House in Inver, with a grant from the Department of Health, to provide care for the mentally handicapped.

The La Sagesse nuns ran it. Until that point there had been absolutely no residential care for the mentally handicapped in Donegal, she said. Mary sat on the Board of Drumbeg House.

Before the North Western Health Board took over there were no child psychologists. She recalled that one of the child psychologists in Galway was originally from Glenties and he would come every while or so and do clinics for us. Likewise in the late 70s a speech therapist came over and provided clinics on a Saturday.

A time of changes

The role of County Medical Officer changed when the Health Boards took over. The title changed to Director of Community Care and Medical Officer of Health. When Dr Kevin Murphy left for Dublin in the late 1970s, he was followed by Dr Pat Judge, who then moved to Wexford - shortly afterwards Mary was appointed. She held the post until she retired in 1992.

In 2004 she said her day job as an A/CMO didnt really change when the Health Board came in. Life was different as DCC/MOH. The environmental health officers still reported to the Director of Community Care (DCC), providing services to Donegal County Council on an agency basis.

Similarly the public health nursing and community welfare officers came under the umbrella of the Director of Community Care.

There was an expansion in other professional staff, including social workers, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists etc. She remembers there were more officials after the Health Board came.

As well as her many other responsibilities, Mary served a number of terms on the North Western Health Board in her capacity as DCC/MOH.

When AIDS was identified as a problem in the 1980's, she was responsible for organising information sessions for the GPs and the hospitals. She also organised the Hepatitis B campaign for Health Board staff and oversaw the organisation of Rubella programmes in schools.

Mary, herself, described the job of Director of Community Care and Medical Officer for Health as really an office job. It was a change for her because she had been used to getting out and about when she was Assistant County Medical Officer. Child protection was a big issue as were environmental and infectious disease problems.

In her role as DCC/MOH while each senior ran his/her own service, the services worked well together for the good of the people of Donegal. Under her direction the area medical officers co-ordinated the delivery of services for children and some adults with disabilities.

Four years after her retirement in 1992, the post of Director of Community Care and Medical Officer of Health was done away with in 1996 and replaced by a general manager. Responsibility for the health protection functions of the job were vested in the newly created post of Director of Public Health and changed from a county to a regional post.

Dr Shanon's comments

Dr Ann Shannon, now retired and formerly a Public Health Specialist with both the North Western Health Board and the HSE, who worked with Dr Cooney, described her as hugely committed to health services in Donegal, adding that she dearly loved Donegal and its people.

Dr Shannon, who succeeded Dr Cooney in a temporary capacity, said Dr Cooney had a huge interest and passion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and this manifested itself in her voluntary commitment to those with intellectual disabilities long after she retired.

Dr Shannon said: She was involved in the services for people with intellectual disabilities and she was involved with the group Parents and Friends of families with disabilities and was very helpful to some people. Asked to expand on this she added: She was very discreet; you never knew the half of what she did, or did for people, it was the way she was.

Asked what kind of person Dr Cooney was, she said: I would have seen her as a down to earth, sensible, straight-forward woman. She was very capable. She was good with people. She had a very good mind, one of the best I have ever come across. She reflected on problems. After a brief pause, she added: And how she loved the cryptic crossword when the day was done.

Dr Cooney, who was 88, died last weekend at Our Ladys Manor, Bulloch Castle, Dalkey.

She was predeceased by her sister Christine and brother Fintan and is survived by her brothers and sisters, Dr John, Pat (a former Minister for Justice), Garrett, Agnes and Gemma (Rowley), brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Requiem Mass was celebrated on Wednesday at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Merrion Road with interment at Mulhuddart Cemetery. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Fergus O'Connor PP, and Fr Brendan McCann.

May she rest in peace.
A large crowd gathered in Carriagrt Parochial Hall on Saturday evening for the launch of a new book on the life of Canon James McFadden, known as the "Patriot Priest".

The book is published by author, Martin Jim McFadden from Carrigart, who said the new title is merely the resurrection of a chapter on the noted clergyman that appeared in a book by Proinnsias OGallchobhair and he thanked all those who helped him with the book as it approaches the centenary of his death.

Mary Gallagher, from Falcarragh, great-grandniece of Canon McFadden, performed the official opening and spoke passionately about the highly regarded Canon as a spiritual and political leader, community activist and advocate of the Irish language, who emerged as a champion of the people during a turbulent time of landlordism and hardship.

Master of Ceremonies was Joyson Joy from Radio Maria in Dublin who outlined that Martin Jim's autobiography "Don't Go There" was also an important new release that is also now available.

He stated there was an important link between both publications in that the are about courage in dealing with both external and internal problems.
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Home Four wheelers Dutch Couple Drives From Kerala To Holland In A Maxi Cab oi-Abijith Vilangil

A couple from the Netherlands, have just completed their journey of a lifetime from Kerala to Holland, in a Mahindra Maxi Cab.

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Home Four wheelers Ford Will Not Shift Facility To Mexico  Trump Claims Victory oi-Dennis James

American carmaker Ford has decided not to shift the production of one of its SUVs, the Lincoln MKC from Kentucky to Mexico.

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Twitter Is Attacking The Wrong Hamilton, And The Wrong Pence

Trending News: This Mike Pence, Hamilton Thing Has Gone Completely Off The Rails

Long Story Short

After Hamilton the musicals audience booed, and then the cast itself spoke to VP-elect Mike Pence (asking him to protect the diverse America represented in the show), some Twitter users expressed their outrage... to a city in Canada: Hamilton, Ontario. There's also another Mike Pence, who is a little taken aback by all the rage.

Long Story

On Saturday, Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended the smash musical/cultural juggernaut, Hamilton in New York City. The audience booed Pence, and apparently got on their feet for a standing ovation for the lyric immigrants, we get the job done. When taking their bows, one of the musicals leads, Brandon Victor Dixon, implored Pence to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us.

In reaction, many people took to Twitter  including the President-elect himself  to express their various opinions on the cast of a popular musical breaking the fourth wall to talk to a politician in the audience. Including, as it turns out, a number of people who didnt double-check where they were sending their tweets.

Instead of directing their rage at @HamiltonMusical, they sent it to @HamiltonTheatre, Ontarios oldest theatre company, according to Riane Leonard, a member of the theatre companys production team.

@realDonaldTrump @HamiltonTheatre I SAW THAT &I WAS GOING 2c THAT SHOW NOT ANYMORE Hope the owners of the show feel some $ pain from this  Santo (@Mysonmylife4) November 19, 2016

@cmdorsey You're right and it's sick how RACIST DemocRATS ?.@HamiltonTheatre Ignore HISTORY but also what Trump Voters wanted!? pic.twitter.com/6Om3XfSQDV  1VoiceMatters (@1VoiceMatters) November 19, 2016

@TheLibRepublic

@JackPosobiec#BoycottHamilton

Trump Flash Mob at Hamilton Theater Today @HamiltonTheatre 226 W 46th St, NYC  RJ (@RJMills) November 19, 2016

A theatre company in Canadas ninth-largest city was probably not expecting so many calls for boycotts on a Saturday night, but ultimately Leonard says she supports the casts move.

And this isnt the first time Mike Pence has been in the center of a Twitter confusion: theres also the case of @mikepence, a software developer in Florida. Unlike the Canadian theatre company, hes probably used to a few misdirected tweets at this point.

I'm a liberal software engineer, not a Republocrat bigot. Send your hate-tweets to @GovPenceIN  Mike Pence (@mikepence) July 13, 2016

Somehow, Hamilton Watches have escaped scrutiny thus far.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

So, whens the Hamilton, Ontario musical coming to Broadway?

Drop This Fact

The original cast may be gone, but tickets to Hamilton the musical are still sold out two years in advance.
In 1919, Victor Tausk, a disciple of Sigmund Freud, committed suicide by simultaneously hanging and shooting himself. I have no melancholy, he wrote in his suicide note, which was addressed to Freud. My suicide is the healthiest, most decent deed of my unsuccessful life. His essay, On the origin of the Influencing Machine in Schizophrenia, which has since become a classic in psychiatric literature, had just been published.

In the article, Tausk described the elaborate mechanical devices that paranoid schizophrenics invent in their imaginations to explain away their mental disintegration. As the boundaries between the schizophrenics mind and the world break down, they often feel themselves persecuted by machines of a mystical nature, which supposedly work by means of radio-waves, telepathy, x-rays, invisible wires, or other mysterious forces. The machines are believed to be operated by enemies as instruments of torture and mind-control, and the operators are thought to be able to implant and remove ideas and feelings, and inflict pain, from a distance.

Influencing Machines are described by their troubled inventors as complex structures, constructed of boxes, cranks, levers, wheels, buttons, wires, batteries and the like. Sometimes these devices are thought to be their doubles, unconscious projections of their fragmented bodily experience. Patients will typically invoke all the powers known to technology to explain their obscure workings. Nevertheless, they always transcend attempts at giving a coherent account of their function: All the discoveries of mankind, Tausk asserts, are regarded as inadequate to explain the marvelous powers of this machine.

Tausk took his term from an apparently magical device invented in 1706 by Francis Hauksbee, a student of Isaac Newton. His Influence Machine was a spinning glass globe, which cracked like lightning when touched, transmitting an electrical spark and emitting a greenish neon light when rubbeda mysterious luminosity which was called the glow of life. These apparently supernatural effects were caused by the introduction of static electricity into a vacuum; it worked like the shimmering vacuum tube of the modern TV. Its psychological incarnation had similarly mesmerizing effects: The influencing machine, Tausk wrote, makes the patients see pictures. When this is the case, the machine is generally a magic lantern or cinematograph. The pictures are seen on a single plane, on walls or windowpanes; unlike typical visual hallucinations, they are not three-dimensional.

The psychiatrist Hans Prinzhorn began collecting for his famous Museum of Pathological Art the same year that Tausk published his essay (within a year Prinzhorn had acquired forty-five hundred works, which are currently housed in the Psychiatric University Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany). One of these images illustrates an Influencing Machine in strikingly graphic form. The artist was Jakob Mohr, a farmer and hawker suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and his picture shows someone holding a small box which resembles an old-fashioned camera and transmits something like static at its victim. The structural workings of the contraption are explained in a palimpsest of scribbled notes, which Prinzhorn called word salad. The operator, who is thought to be the psychiatrist (he wears headphones so that he can listen in on Mohrs thoughts), aims a radiation tube at his subject that emits electric waves and renders him a hypnotic slave. The machines energy flows two waysit is a magnet as well as a gun: Waves are pulled out of me, Mohr scrawled, through the positive electrical fluorescent attraction of the organic positive pole as the remote hypnotizer through the earth. The appliances malevolent power over Mohr is illustrated by a series of childishly drawn arrows and wavy tentacles which unite both men in a painful-looking spasm of electricity.

  
Addressing Europe's economic and political challenges

Introductory remarks by Benoit Cure, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at TUM Speakers Series/HEC Debats organised by the Technical University of Munich, Munich, 21 November 2016

Recent political developments in the United States and the United Kingdom have been interpreted as reflecting widespread concerns about globalisation as well as scepticism about international cooperation[1]. Many Europeans also regard the responses to cross-border challenges such as economic fragilities, migration and terrorism as unsatisfactory. A broad debate is under way about the European Unions raison detre and its future. This debate resonates particularly strongly as we approach the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Maastricht.

For Europe to thrive, Europeans, young and old alike, need to be confident that working together is still the best way forward.

Participation in the European project has rested on three successive promises. For the post-war generation, it was a guarantee of lasting peace and democracy. For Europeans who witnessed in their youth the fall of the Berlin Wall, it held out the promise of freedom of movement and better life chances. For European workers hit by technological change and global competition, it promised economic security and protection.

The first two promises have been fulfilled and generated strong support for the European project.

But many now consider that the third promise has not been kept. Europe has suffered from the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. It partly originated abroad but it was partly also of its own making.

Next summer it will be ten years since the crisis erupted in Europe. Many people of your age have felt its effects to a disproportionate degree. With high levels of youth unemployment in several Member States[2], large numbers of young people feel economically and socially marginalised.[3] For them, the national and European responses have not been sufficient. The emergence of a lost generation is morally unacceptable  and it would affect Europes prosperity in a persistent way[4].

In my remarks tonight, I will tell you why I believe that Europes raison detre remains strong and could be made stronger. As a European central banker, I will focus on the economic dimension. I will only touch on the political dimension insofar as it influences economic outcomes[5].

The benefits of European integration

As President Obama said during his recent visit to Europe: at a time when the European project is facing challenges, its especially important to show the benefits of economic integration.[6] I believe that the way Europe addresses its current challenges does not only matters for our own future prosperity. It also holds lessons for the rest of the world.

European integration translated European values into tangible benefits: EU citizens today have the right to live, work, study and do business anywhere in the Union. They enjoy equal judicial protection, guaranteed by European courts of law.

In fact, the establishment of a single European market was never solely about economic efficiency. It was also about creating a free and open European society under a common rule of law.

Today, the European Union is one of the worlds biggest economic blocs, alongside the United States and China. This will not last forever. At a time when several regional powers are increasingly assertive on the global stage, the single market and the single currency are essential assets. They enhance Europes significance and influence worldwide.

Beyond its economic benefits, the euro indeed forges political bonds that have been repeatedly underestimated  not least by observers outside of Europe. The crisis put those ties to the test and the commitment to the euro areas integrity was strongly reaffirmed. One example of this was euro area leaders commitment last year to secure the future of Greece in the euro, provided that it undertakes the necessary reforms. It is also reflected in public opinion in Europe: popular support for the euro has remained high throughout the crisis[7].

And indeed, the crisis showed that when Europeans act together, they are stronger. But when uncertainty has the upper hand, attention turns inwards to national fragilities, fuelling economic selfishness and accentuating financial fragmentation.

Monetary policy as an example of acting together

Monetary policy is a clear example of where we did act together in a decisive manner.

Monetary policy undeniably played a key role in stabilising the economy in Europe after the crisis. By deploying a range of conventional and unconventional monetary policy measures, the European Central Bank (ECB) avoided deflation, reduced financial fragmentation and supported the economic recovery. Weve done it within the mandate given to us by the people of Europe, namely price stability. And we are fully accountable to the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice.

But monetary policy alone cannot achieve sustainable growth. It needs to be complemented by economic, and where available, fiscal policies at national and European level.

Organising our interdependencies

We also need to better organise our interdependencies.

First, we should not ignore our economic and financial connections when considering national policies. Under EU Treaties, Member States have a duty to regard their economic policies as a matter of common concern and to coordinate them.

Second, the crisis has shown that common institutions can help respond to crises and also to prevent them from occurring in the first place by avoiding excessive risk-taking.

Important measures to improve the financial architecture of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) have already been adopted. For instance, the creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the launch of banking union were essential steps towards safeguarding financial stability. As a result, our Monetary Union is considerably more resilient today than it was at the peak of the crisis in 2012.

Some institutional shortcomings remain, however.

Banking union still has to be completed. What has been called the doom loop between banking and sovereign risk remains to be broken. Agreement on a European deposit insurance scheme is not within sight and the Single Resolution Fund still lacks a common financial backstop. ECB Banking Supervision is doing impressive work, and euro area banks are now more resilient[8].

But achieving a level playing field in banking supervision, at arms length from national and vested interests, will be a long journey given the place we started from.

Fiscal rules, albeit revised several times, have failed to build confidence in fiscal sustainability at national level, which is a prerequisite for any further move towards shared fiscal sovereignty. Likewise, the rules aimed at preventing macroeconomic imbalances remain untested.

The ESM is a strong and efficient institution, but the euro areas crisis resolution arrangements, which are still mostly intergovernmental, are unnecessarily slow and costly, as the protracted discussions on Greece showed last year. Enshrining crisis resolution in Union law and bringing it under the oversight of the European Parliament should remain a key objective.

Europeans of all ages are demanding that Europe offers more protection.[9] And indeed, Europes focus today is clearly on defence and security, rather than on completing EMU. This is for very good reasons, but make no mistake: Europe will not strengthen its capacity in these areas if it cannot rely on a stronger economy and a more resilient monetary union. [10]

And let me be clear: we should only embark on new projects if there is a consensus that joint action is necessary, that it is clearly linked to peoples concerns and that it addresses a matter of European or global relevance.

When we do take joint action, we need to be consistent in our efforts and complete the initiatives we have started. Half-built houses are the most dangerous option. We cannot take competences away from the national level without empowering the Union level to provide at least as much protection for citizens as they had before.

And where responsibilities are clearly assigned to one level, there needs to be commensurate democratic accountability at that level.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

Policies often create winners and losers. For this to be acceptable at European level, we need to share a feeling of belonging together as Europeans. One way to develop and strengthen that feeling of belonging is to share tangible common goods that we can all relate to. Democracy comes to mind first. The euro is another example, and so is the commitment to make our social model sustainable. They bring us together and shape our identity in the world.
The following guest post is by my friend Ned Staebler. Today, Ned presents us with sage advice on how to move forward in the new America with a man like Donald Trump at the helm. Its a good segue from the PROCESSING TRUMP series I have been running.

You can follow Ned on Twitter at @NedStaebler and hes a dynamite follow on Facebook where much of his content is public.

Enjoy.

After one of the most turbulent weeks in American history, this morning I read an Op-Ed by Nicholas Kristoff titled A 12-Step Program for Responding to President-Elect Trump. It read to me as exemplary of the well-intentioned but impotent liberal political thinking that frankly has lead us to this terrible situation in the first place. To repeat the worlds most tired and overused cliche, repeating the same actions and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

Earlier this year, I asked the question: They Didnt Stop Hitler. Will We Stop Trump?  a metaphor more apt than ever and yet directly in violation of Kristofs Step #3. Well, last week we had a chance to Stop Trump with a bright blue exclamation point on Election Day. Though we as a nation failed that major test, the fight for our Democracy is not lost  and before you reject my reference as alarmist, (a) remember last Tuesday and (b) read #1 below.

In fact, the fight has just begun, and as discouraged or scared or just plain tired as you are right now, YOU MUST PICK YOURSELF UP AND FIGHT! Sorry about the yelling. But, it seems that you didnt hear me before, and the stakes are even higher now. Our Democracy is even more at risk. We must fight.

But how? Lots of people have asked me that this week, so here are 10 actual steps you can take to defend our Constitution and keep our Republic:

1. Dont accept this as normal. From the beginning, the media and pundits have referred to Trump as an unconventional candidate, but lets be clear. If the last week has proven anything, its not that hes unconventional, its that hes antithetical to the very foundations of our democracy. In the campaign, he refused to release his tax returns or outline his potential conflicts of interest. He attacked the freedom of the press repeatedly, threatened to shut down parts of the internet, and in what should have been a deal breaker, he refused to agree to accept the outcome of the election. Ill deal with several of his other attacks on the Constitution below, but suffice it to say that he has no regard for the fundamental underpinnings of this country. And, after this election, he has made that even more plain. He and his team have avoided the press entirely, appointed the self-proclaimed mouthpiece of a movement of racists, misogynists, and bigots as his chief advisor, sought top secret clearances for his children, refused to divest himself of his financial holdings, and began floating proposals to register Muslim immigrants. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

2. Treat every poisoned word as a promise. Leil Leibovitz absolutely nails it in his piece in Tablet. I remember as a kid being completely flabbergasted that people didnt believe Hitler (Sorry, Mr. Kristof) would do the evil things he did. OMG, people, he wrote his plans in a flipping book while sitting in jail for actually trying to do them the first time Yet, in 1934, eight years after Mein Kampf and after the plebiscite the New York Times described as giving him dictatorial powers unequalled in any other country, and probably unequalled in history since the days of Genghis Khan the Times still ignorantly asked in the very same article: The question that interests the outside world now is what Chancellor Hitler will do with such unprecedented authority. Really? Really? He told you in the book that he wrote where he said what he was going to do

Similarly, we must hear and heed Donald Trumps words. When he and his team says they will register Muslims, commit war crimes and torture, weaken or withdraw from NATO, or give nuclear weapons to Japan or Saudi Arabia we should believe him. Perhaps some of this is just bluster and lies designed to rile up a xenophobic and Islamophobia base. But, wouldnt you prefer to be prepared for the worst and have it not come to pass than to be unprepared? Besides, vocal and adamant opposition might make him reconsider or at least temper his atrocious plans.

3. Dont mainstream this as Politics. Kristof and others have followed the dangerous path of trying to relegate this threat to the realm of politics. They implore us to call our elected representatives and urge them to oppose this impending fascism. Yeah. Thats fine. We should do that. Our representatives generally have a broader platform and greater influence than us. They need to be on the front lines of this battle. But, dont be confused. This is not a political battle, and we shouldnt ask for their help solely in their roles as legislators. We cant let it be acceptable that basic human rights and the pillars of our democracy are subjects for debate on the floors of the Senate, the House of Representatives or various State legislatures. Let them debate trade policy and tax rates, transit and infrastructure. But, if we allow the underpinnings of our system to be up for debate, we slide down a slippery slope.

4. Dont rely on our Institutions alone. Several times in the past week I have had friends tell me that they had faith in the institutions of our Democracy. This is still America, they say. Well, that is exactly what I am worried about. These friends, all white and mostly male, forget that those institutions have failed various segments of our population, usually minority and impoverished communities, time and time again. The criminal justice system is a clear example of an American institution that has been twisted and distorted by the power of institutional racism and fails to protect the rights of Americans on a daily basis.

And, at this point, my faith in Americas political institutions is no stronger. Yes, clearly our democracy is stronger and more rooted in tradition and the publics consciousness than that of Weimar Germany, but how have our sacred institutions been doing so far? The Republican Party failed to stop Trump even with an arcane nomination process of winner take all states, unpledged delegates, caucuses, and open and closed primaries. The Democratic Party clearly failed on election night though the pundits and pollsters of the Fourth Estate assured us it would be fine. Remember, it was those same reporters and editors who gave Trump billions in free media during this campaign. Dont hold your breath that the Electoral College will have any better results, if it even attempts to protect us from a demagogue. But, thats OK. Our institutions draw strength from the people, not the other way around. This challenge serves as a good reminder of that.

5. Do, Do, Do! No, Im not suggesting you listen to the 1980 song from the Police with a similar title. Though, Stings point that the simple can be so powerful is apropos here. Rather, this is the call to action. Whatever you do, DO SOMETHING. Doing nothing is not an option. What should you do? Well, generally speaking, you should do whatever youre comfortable doing. There is no magic, one-size-fits-all approach to defending our civil liberties, and its actually more effective to have the resistance coming from multiple channels. Heres the challenge: Do what youre comfortable doing, but take it past your comfort zone. Be a little more aggressive with your tone. Be a little more generous with your pocketbook. Be a little more vocal or a little louder or a little more colorful or a little more insistent or a little more confrontational. Trust me, a little discomfort now will save us all a lot more discomfort later.

6. Determine your biggest asset. This is important. Spend a little time thinking about what your greatest strength is and focus on it. Do you write well? Write a blog. Can you sing, dance, or play an instrument? Put on a performance and donate the proceeds to the resistance. Do you like making phone calls or writing letters? Have you got extra cash? Do you hold a position of influence in your church or local nonprofit or business community? Whatever it is, figure it out. Then think about how you can use that asset to make your voice heard and to share your message with others. Im sure that youre far more creative than me. Be original, be persistent, and be relentless. The stakes are high.

7. Make a donation. If, in the item above, you decided your net worth was your biggest asset, then this one is for you. But, even if it wasnt, that doesnt mean youre off the hook. Our voices are loudest and most clear when we use them together, and donations are an easy way to demonstrate solidarity. There are some great organizations that can help to amplify our message. For starters, try the ACLU who came right out the day after the election and told Trump to get his act together or hed face the firepower of a fully armed and operational network of activists and litigators. Theres also the Southern Poverty Law Center which is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Lastly, Id recommend Planned Parenthood whose mission of providing access to quality health care, education and information to individuals and families is in serious jeopardy today.

8. Protest with a purpose. Heading out to the streets is a time-honored and highly effective method of getting your voice heard. But, dont expect to do it without controversy and complaints from those whose status quo youre challenging. You already hear it  Theyre doing it wrong by blocking traffic. Martin Luther King would never have protested like this. Dont believe the hype. The whole point of a protest is to cause people unwilling to pay attention to or take action against injustice happening around them to wake up and listen. If youre not disrupting their daily routine, that aint going to happen. Kings civil rights movement routinely blocked traffic and used economic disruption as a tactic.

But, heres the important part. You must have a clearly stated purpose to your protest. If youre just marching, it makes it too easy for detractors to label you however theyd like, and most likely theyll dismiss you as sore losers. Pick a mission  Fire Bannon or No Registration, for example. Then, its important to make a plan, considering all of the possibilities including what youll do if things go wrong. I dont want to dissuade you from taking to the streets, but be careful! You also might want to download the ACLUs Mobile Justice app to safely upload video of any potential incidents with police to the cloud.

9. Be vocal. This might be the easiest suggestion and the hardest. Its easy because it requires nothing from you but a little bit of courage. Its hard because it requires nothing from you but a little bit of courage. What do I mean by be vocal? In short, stop letting things slide. This is how we got here in the first place. When bigots and misogynists dont get pushback for saying the things they do, they get emboldened and the ideas get mainstreamed. Our kids hear them and think its acceptable talk and behavior. Similarly, when someone is standing up and doing the right thing we need to support them. If we dont they and others will be less likely to do it again. So, go ahead. When that vaguely racist uncle at Thanksgiving dinner says something about how Trump just wants America to be for Americans again, give him hell.

10. Dont be a hater. Finally, lets keep our eyes on the prize. There is strength in numbers, and we need to stick together. Every minute we spend criticizing each other is one we arent spending defeating Trump and protecting our rights. So, if you think that someone wearing a safety pin is embarrassing themselves, thats certainly your right. If you think its more about appeasing their guilt than showing actual solidarity, you very well might be right, and if you think they need to do more, please tell them to. But, if were going to believe Trump about all the horrible things he says, I think its only fair to give the benefit of the doubt to potential friends as well. The election was just another battle in what is unfortunately likely to be a very dangerous and bloody war. Were going to need all the help we can get.

[CC photo credit: Kyle J. Schultz | Flickr]
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DHAKA - A new report claims the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is overstating progress made by Bangladesh factories in repairing safety defects in factories supplying to member companies such as Walmart, Gap, VF Corporation, Target and Hudson's Bay Company. The report, published by four worker rights organisations, claims many of the factories listed as "on track" on the Alliance website still face major safety hazards. "These brands, despite knowing about these risks for a considerable time, have failed to make sure these factories are safe," says the report.
Californias six years of drought has left 102 million dead trees across 7.7 million acres of forest in its wake, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced following an aerial survey. If that is not horrendous enough, 62 million trees died in the year 2016 alonean increase of more than 100 percent compared to 2015.

In the photo below, all the dead trees are grey or orange.

The scale of die-off in California is unprecedented in our modern history, Randy Moore, a forester for the U.S. Forest Service, told the Los Angeles Times, adding that trees are dying at a rate much quicker than we thought.

You look across the hillside on a side of the road, and you see a vast landscape of dead trees, added Adrian Das, a U.S. Geological Survey ecologist whose office is located in Sequoia National Park. Its pretty startling.

Most of the dead trees are located in 10 counties in the southern and central Sierra Nevada region.

Five consecutive years of severe drought in California, a dramatic rise in bark beetle infestation and warmer temperatures are leading to these historic levels of tree die-off, the USFS said.

Forest Service experts believe that more trees will die in the coming months and years due to root diseases, bark beetle activity or other stress agents. The agency warned that tree deaths are on the rise in northern regions, especially in Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties.

The lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures has added stress to the trees. These factors have made trees increasingly vulnerable to bark beetles infestations and disease.

Some have raised concerns that the staggering number of dead trees can fuel even bigger and more destructive wildfires in the Golden State.

Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack lamented that not enough resources are being invested into forest health and restoration.

These dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire, complicate our efforts to respond safely and effectively to fires when they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property across California, Vilsack said in a statement.

Not only that, researchers from the University of Washington found that large forest die-offsfrom drought, heat, beetle infestations or deforestationcan significantly impact global climate patterns and alter vegetation on the other side of the world. The study was published this month in PLOS ONE.

When trees die in one place, it can be good or bad for plants elsewhere, because it causes changes in one place that can ricochet to shift climate in another place, said lead author Elizabeth Garcia. The atmosphere provides the connection.

In October 2015, California Gov. Jerry Brown declared the states unprecedented tree die-off a state of emergency. He formed a Tree Mortality Task Force to help mobilize additional resources for the safe removal of dead and dying trees.

However, some experts have suggested leaving the dead trees in the forests. Douglas Bevington, the forest program director for Environment Now, wrote that dead trees are vital to forest ecosystems.

Dead trees can remain standing for decades or more and a standing dead treeknown as a snagprovides great habitat for wildlife. Birds and mammals make their homes in openings carved within snags, while wood-boring insects that feed on snags provide the foundation of the food chain for a larger web of forest life, akin to plankton in the ocean, he wrote.

From the perspective of the timber industry, a snag in the forest is a waste, so timber companies and the Forest Service have spent decades cutting down snags as quickly as possible, Bevington continued. As a result, there is now a significant lack of snags in our forests and this shortage is harming woodpeckers, owls and other forest wildlife. For them, the recent pulse of snag creation is good news.
Donald Trumps election win and his pick for attorney general could be a big boost to Bayer AGs $66 billion purchase of Monsanto Co. that is currently undergoing state and federal antitrust investigations.

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Sen. Jeff Sessions as his attorney general. Flickr

Investopedia reports that Monsanto stocks have risen more than 4 percent since Trumps surprise victory. Additionally, Terry Haines of the investment banking advisory firm Evercore ISI said that the president-elects nominee for attorney generalSen. Jeff Sessions, a pro-business conservative from Alabamais good news for any pending mega-deals.

Sessions likely nomination and confirmation by the Senate, in which he has served since 1997, is a market positive for merger and acquisition activity, Haines, who heads Evercores Political Analysis team, wrote in a note last week.

Sessions as attorney general would shift immediately from the current mostly red light Obama antitrust/competition policy and move towards one that would be friendlier to M&A activity, Haines added.

A successful merger between the German pharmaceutical company and the St. Louis-based agritech giant will form the largest seed and pesticide company in the world. Critics are concerned that the consolidation of the two multinational juggernauts will increase pesticide and herbicide prices for farmers, and will have less incentive to compete and introduce better and cheaper products.

Farmers get paid less for their crops, more pesticides are used and there are fewer options for consumers at the grocery store, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of Food & Water Watch, told EcoWatch after Bayer and Monsanto announced acquisition plans in September.

Haines, however, pointed out that Sessions might not think that big businesses unfairly reduces competition. [Sessions may decide] that no reflexive test for the disapproval of a merger should be applied, as Obama regulators did with their no four into three doctrine, he wrote.

Although, legal experts told Reuters that as U.S. attorney general, Sessions would be tough on any corporate crime. Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor and Columbia Law School professor, told Reuters that the senator will be a strong supporter of corporate enforcement.

Regardless, as Carey Gillam of U.S. Right to Know wrote that President Trumps era signals [dark days] ahead for Americas burgeoning food movement, which has been advocating for more transparency and fewer pesticides in food production. Case in point, he has picked U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo to be CIA director, a designated hitter for Monsanto and the other Big Ag chemical and seed players.

In October, Trump blamed an intern for retweeting an insult to Monsanto.

#BenCarson is now leading in the polls in #Iowa. Too much #Monsanto in the #corn creates issues in the brain? #Trump #GOP, the post read.

The retweet shunned Monsanto, which has a major presence in Iowa, with facilities in 18 different cities in the state. The company also happens to be a major GOP donor.

Trump, who reportedly holds between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of Monsanto stocks, does not support the labeling of foods made with genetically modified ingredients.

When asked by the Iowa Farm Bureau, Do you support the use of biotechnology in food products and oppose efforts to require mandatory labeling for foods simply because they contain ingredients derived from biotechnology? Trump allegedly responded, Yes.

Not only that, Modern Farmer noted that Trump, a junk food lover, does not seem to have an interest in organic food or organic farmers, and assembled an agribusiness-friendly agriculture advisory council during his presidential campaign.
With nearly two weeks since the presidential election, the shock has worn off and reality has set in. Donald Trump will take office at Noon of Jan. 20, 2017, and become the 45th president of the United States.

Once in office, Trump will have the dubious distinction as the only national leader in the world to reject the scientific consensus that humans are driving climate change.

Though Trump could choose to invest in the clean energy economy and support strong climate action, every indicationfrom his campaign to his cabinet picksshows that his plans will be devastating to our planet. From wanting to cancel the U.S. participation in the Paris climate agreement to dismantling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Trump shows no signs of pivoting.

For the next two months as Trump prepares for the White House and through his first 100 days in office, EcoWatch will track the president-elects actions on the environment and be a central communication hub for the environmental movement, politicians, companies and individuals working to keep the Trump administration in check.

EcoWatchs TrumpWatch will galvanize the movement working to ensure that environmental protections remain intact, and America remains a leader in reducing global carbon emissions and investing in renewable energy.

There has never been a more important time to be engaged on these issues to ensure the health and longevity of our planet.

Will you join us?
Hundreds of water protectors were injured at the Standing Rock encampments Sunday evening when law enforcement blasted them with water cannons in freezing temperatures.

The attacks came as water protectors used a semi-truck to remove burnt military vehicles that police had chained to concrete barriers weeks ago, blocking traffic on Highway 1806. Water protectors efforts to clear the road and improve access to the camp for emergency services were met with tear gas, an LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device), stinger grenades, rubber bullets and indiscriminate use of a water cannon with an air temperature of 26 degrees Fahrenheit.

[facebook https://www.facebook.com/RTnews/videos/10154912158589411/ expand=1][facebook https://www.facebook.com/Indigenousrisingmedia/videos/1526535327363288/ expand=1]

It is below freezing right now and the Morton County Sheriffs Department is using a water cannon on our people, that is an excessive and potentially deadly use of force, Dallas Goldtooth of Indigenous Environmental Network said.

Some flares shot by law enforcement started grass fires which were ignored by the water cannons and had to be extinguished by water protectors. Law enforcement also shot down three media drones and targeted journalists with less lethal rounds.

National Lawyers Guild legal observers on the frontlines have confirmed that multiple people were unconscious and bleeding after being shot in the head with rubber bullets. One elder went into cardiac arrest at the frontlines but medics administered CPR and were able to resuscitate him. The camps medical staff and facilities are overwhelmed and the local community of Cannonball has opened their school gymnasium for emergency relief.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribes Emergency Medical Service department arrived on scene to administer medical services. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe also sent Emergency Medical Service vehicles to the Oceti Sakowin Camp to assist. Hundreds are receiving treatment for contamination by CS gas, hypothermia, and blunt traumas as a result of rubber bullets and other less lethal ammunition.

Listen to Phone Interview with Angela Bibens by @dallasgoldtooth about actions tonight #NoDAPL (11/20)https://t.co/8MCPzBCzyu  Indigenous Environmental Network (@IENearth) November 21, 2016

Tribal EMS are stepping up and providing services that should be the responsibility of Morton County, this is ridiculous, continued Goldtooth. Because of the police enforced road block, ambulances now have an extra 30 minutes to get to the hospital. Those are life and death numbers right there, and Morton County and the State of North Dakota will be responsible for the tally.

The military vehicles blocking the bridge were burned in a blockade fire on Oct. 27, after law enforcement raided and cleared the 1851 Treaty Camp, an occupation of the pipeline corridor and reclamation of unceded territory. Despite the obvious public safety risk, and despite promises from Morton County that they would clear the road, law enforcement has insisted on keeping the vehicles on the bridge for weeks.

For weeks, the main highway to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation has been cut off, with no movement by the state to address a public safety risk, Tara Houska, national campaigns director for Honor the Earth, said. Attempting to clear the road was met with police spraying people with water cannons in 26 degree weatherthats deadly force, its freezing outside. They want to kill people for clearing a road? When will our cries be heard? Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Respect the rights of indigenous people, of all peoples.

This obstruction of Highway 1806 threatens the lives of the water protectors and residents of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, as emergency services have been needed but unable to reach camp quickly. The blockage also unjustly restricts the free movement of local residents and hurts the Tribe economically by cutting off travel to and from the Prairie Knights Casino. Images of the burned vehicles have fed negative, distorted and sensationalist media portrayals of the encampment.

Standing Rock is the moral center of the nation right now; the real question is why theres no response from the White House to kind of abuses that would make us protest loudly if they happened abroad, Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, said. This is Americas oldest shame, and its sad that were still seeing it in the waning days of the Obama presidency.

Greenpeaces spokesperson Mary Sweeters agrees. The violent scenes at Standing Rock last night were nothing short of horrific. It is clear that the militarized police response has completely disregarded the protection of human life, she said.

Law enforcement put peoples lives in danger last night as water protectors attempted to clear a path for emergency services to reach the camp. President Obama must step in to stop the pipeline and end the violence immediately. This is about standing up for Indigenous peoples rights and sovereignty. This is about ensuring Standing Rocks survival by protecting its water supply and land. It is time to do the right thing before more damage is done.
(Photo: REUTERS / Yannis Behrakis)A Greek Orthodox priest walks through an empty Syntagma (Constitution) square in central Athens during a visit by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble July 18, 2013. Greek police have banned protests and traffic in downtown Athens on Thursday during a visit by Schaeuble, whom many accuse of forcing painful cuts on Greece in return for the multi-billion euro bailouts keeping it afloat.

It is a great honor to be with you here today, and to receive this most prestigious of honorary doctorates.

We find ourselves today at a complex point in the life of Europe. There are many issues that appear to be pulling us apart, and our political leaders are making difficult decisions about whether or how to move with those forces, or to resist and seek the strengthen the ties that bind us.

There are great uncertainties. In the week after the anniversary of the Bataclan, we are aware of the great threats of disorder, of the reality of those alienated, disturbed, radicalized. We are aware of the cry of dispossession and alienation in the British referendum and the US election.

We hear the cry, and fear its echo across Europe, especially in those countries where the roots of democracy are shallow and the weeds of authoritarianism spread far and wide. Add to this the major economic and social challenges facing the continent, and it may seem frivolous to be talking about a vision of Europe in the 21st century in light of the common good.

In the midst of so much uncertainty, is it not better simply to prioritize our own well-being, whether that be as an individual, or as nation states? That is what many are saying. "The European elite is wrong. We must look after ourselves." Certainly for many the response to Trump has been more Europe, by which they mean more centralism, more imposed federation, less flexibility.

My argument today is that such a response is wholly inadequate for the challenges that we face as a continent. In order to overcome these challenges, we need 21st-century answers. And we will find satisfactory answers only if they are grounded in a vision we can all recognize, and one that seeks the common good.

It is no use treating God as a means to a 21st-century Europe: to do so is the creation of an idol, not the service of the true God whose revelation in Christ is the foundation of our values. I shall be seeking to argue that Europe's future lies in a process of subsidiarity, re-imagination and inclusion, especially the development of concepts of intermediate communities of many kinds.

This is a theological vision, one that allows commonality of vision, but sets strong boundaries to what is acceptable.

We need a 21st-century response that echoes Jean Monnet's words at the signing of the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty: "This treaty... should open a breach in national sovereignty, by substituting for the barriers of the past, which have until now divided and impoverished us, common rules accepts by all and applicable to all for the common good."

The immediate concern of the six nations that signed the ECSC Treaty was post-war reconstruction, based on mutually-beneficial economic and trade policies. Today we are faced with a different set of challenges.

But our response to these challenges - Brexit, the migration crisis, religiously-motivated violence and terrorism, and many other issues - must be to reach for the common good, intermediate institutions (schools, charities, companies, churches, civil society, families above all) and subsidiarity, rather than the barriers of the past. We must eliminate the barriers, tear them down - but not erect others, even more dangerous.

You may be skeptical of a British cleric talking about the common good and a shared vision for the next century - and with reason. To view the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union as a raising of the drawbridge from all of our relationships with the European continent is something that none of us can afford. A vision for Europe must go beyond the boundaries of the European Union.

When the political tensions rise, as I am sure they will in the course of the next two and a half years before the UK formally leaves the EU, it is even more necessary for the church to speak in solidarity and witness together to a shared vision for life lived well together

It is in that spirit that I want to frame my words to you tonight. The path ahead for Europe must be, ultimately, of a catholic Europe. I do not mean Roman Catholic - although later in my speech I will talk about the need to draw on the deep well of Catholic Social Teaching, in order to develop a vision for Europe in the 21st Century.

The State of Europe: Economics

Since the creation of the ECSC and subsequently the Treaty of Rome, prosperity - enumerated most visibly in material and economic prosperity - has been a central pillar of European cooperation. The Treaties of Rome and Paris both refer to "the constant improvement of the living and working conditions of their [member states'] peoples".

When we look at the progress made since the end of the Second World War, it is hard to argue that economically, European cooperation has been anything other than a great success. Of course, since 2008, this has not been the whole story. In Southern Europe particularly, talk of economic success would be met with confusion and anger.

Greece is the clearest example of that. It was urged to enter the Eurozone on essentially a false prospectus, with declared debt well below the reality, and thus outside the criteria for Euro entry. There was a level of collusion by all concerned, who wanted more countries in the Eurozone. By taking on what is essentially a foreign currency, a country loses the ability to service its debt by printing money to inflate its way out of its problems. It thus depends on trade balances and economic activity to generate income sufficient for all its needs, including debt service.

When the Great Recession arrived in 2008, it is little surprise to us now that Greece could not pay the bill. And because of previous mismanagement and even corruption by an elite, the poor of an entire nation have been put effectively into involuntary bankruptcy. The weight has fallen on those least able to survive, and when their own suffering was aggravated by the desperate plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees, and now millions, little help was given. What we have seen is the global market system, and especially the EU, lend people money to buy things and then strangle their hopes and futures when they cannot repay. What we now have is the biggest debtor's prison in European history.

So on the one hand we look at the progress since the war and see a huge increase in the material wellbeing in the vast majority of Europeans. But on the other we see policies that are pushing and keeping large sections of entire countries in increasingly desperate circumstances, with no apparent vision for how the circumstance might be overcome.

The problems are accentuated by aspects of European Union practice in terms of centralization, corruption and bureaucracy that provided cheap and easy ammunition for the opponents of the European ideal, and in the end created a mythology which has been absorbed in popular imagination in northern Europe and on its fringes.

At the same time Europe seems to have been in three layers: Brussels, the nations and individuals, or consumers. Lobbies exist, for farmers, or fish or many other sectors but there is less sense of towns and communities, of families and informal groups being valued, enhanced, and liberated.

Yet God's creation of human society is far more than individual or bureaucratic: it is relational, and for it to be so every form of human relational institution from the base community of the family, to the small and medium sized business, or the church, or anything else must be treated as possessing legitimacy and value in the rich and luxuriant mix of European human society. It is, after all, these intermediate groups that have been behind the success of our countries and societies.

This neglect of the intermediate seems to me also to be at odds with the vision of the political leaders who first developed post-war European cooperation - Monnet and Schumann, Adenauer and de Gaulle. It was a vision that was deeply moral, deeply Christian, and full of hope.

A vision for "the constant improvement of the living and working conditions" of course requires economics as a tool for delivery. But we seem to have lost sight of how economics was harnessed to enable human flourishing, rather than economic structures enslaving human beings.

What is economic cooperation for? What is our vision for it? Is it simply that the line showing economic growth on a chart goes up? Or is there something greater - more hopeful - driving policy development?

I want to draw a distinction here between what we can call the general interest and the common good. As I have alluded to, the general interest is concerned with the general rise in the economic tide and makes that assumption that this will benefit everyone. My personal experience in Liverpool certainly showed me that this is not true. The common good is concerned with a rising tide that truly lifts all boats.

So national and regional economic policy must be reimagined - realigned - to liberate human flourishing. The means being concerned with growing inequality across the continent - not only in incomes, but also in wealth, health, education and many more areas. This reflects a changing reality that, "although absolute levels of poverty and economic disadvantage [are] still highest in the former Eastern bloc, the sharpest contrasts [are] now within countries rather than between them"

It is through such concern that we will being to revive a vision of what economic is for that is more hopeful and human-centered than the more mercantilist policies we have seen in recent years.

The State of Europe: Social

The social makeup of Europe in 2016 is drastically different from the Europe of Monet and the other founding fathers. Since the reunification of Germany and the fall of the Soviet Union, we have seen a dramatic shift in how we understand 'Europe' - seen most clearly in the membership (desired or achieved) of the European Union. Newly independent states have emerged, populations have found themselves able to move more freely across the continent.

(Photo: Church of England website) The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was first to sign a register for a credit union at the General Synod of the Church of England in York in July 2013.

And yes, despite more integration at a political level - since the end of the Cold War, the EU has grown from 12 to 28 (soon to be 27) member states - there has been a notable and damaging absence of a clear process of integration within Europe, quite aside from the changes that we have seen in terms of those coming from beyond Europe's borders.

As European has integrated economically - it has ignored the need to integrate our values, culture, dreams and ideals. In short - we have no common vision of what Europe is, beyond an increasingly complex web of economic activities.

Beyond this, the closest we have come to articulating what Europe is, is by talking about what it is not. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Europe has been defined (particularly at its external borders) by exclusion, rather than inclusion. We need to recover that vision of what Europe is, or what we wish it to be, very quickly, and I will address this in the latter part of my address.

The failure to adequately address integration within Europe has clearly had a detrimental effect on being able to successfully address it with those who come to Europe from elsewhere. This initial failure derives in part from an assumption that by and large, we are all the same.

Europeans are fairly similar, we say, perhaps subconsciously. We generally look the same, dress the same, our past times and interests tend to overlap. Many of our cities look the same, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

But I would argue that these common features only amount to a superficial likeness. We face each other, and see something familiar, but we do not interrogate more deeply into whether this superficiality leads to a deeper cultural likeness.

We are finding this to be the case even within the borders of the United Kingdom. Most prominently in Scotland, but also in Northern Ireland, Wales - even Cornwall - we are hearing more and more articulations of a deeper and distinct understanding of culture, of history and so on. Those articulations are amplified and exacerbated significantly at the pan-European level.

Across Europe, we face each other, but the superficiality of that facing is utterly deceptive. In a powerful meditation on St Ephrem the Syrian's Hymns on Paradise, the Irish theologian David Ford talk about face-to-face meetings being of 'salvific value' - that in them, "many of the most significant things in our lives happen"

St Ephrem's poem powerfully illustrates what happens when we catch a glimpse of the face of God:

"The Lord of all

Is the treasure store of all things:

upon each according to his capacity

He bestows a glimpse

of the beauty of His hiddenness, of the splendor of His majesty.

He is the radiance who, in His love,

makes everyone shine

- the small, with flashes of light from Him,

the perfect, with rays more intense,

but only His Child is sufficient for the might of his glory.

Accordingly as each here on earth

purifies his eye for Him,

so does he become more able to behold

His incomparable glory..."

The poem, and Ford's own meditation on it show us that when we face each other, deeply and sincerely, we begin to catch a glimpse of our creation, our Creator, and thus our shared humanity. We face each other not as economic beings, but as individuals and through our intermediate institutions. On Monday we had a wonderful meeting at Lambeth Palace of Rabbis and Anglican clergy, facing some of the toughest questions that divide and provoke us, but doing so on a scale that is human and may well be effective.

But if we are mistaken in what we think we see - if we mistake the superficial for the deep - then our approach to issues such as integration will be the wrong response, or indeed no response at all.

The flip side to all of this is the mistake we make in assuming that superficial differences - such as ethnicity - are deep and intractable differences. The culture of a nation or ethnic group and its ethos - the collective values of a people - are linked and influenced by how people look. But that culture is also something other.

Simply arguing that because we look the same or different to another person or individual, they do or do not share our culture, values, priorities, etc., is a dangerous assumption to make. And because we have relied on a notion of superficial likeness to articulate what we believe Europe is, we have therefore failed to put down deep enough roots that give us the confidence to overcome superficial differences when they present themselves in front of us.

Our inability to successfully integrate parts of those groups of people who have immigrated into Europe's borders is therefore a symptom of our inability to define and live out a deep and confident European identity.

That failure has had clear consequences. First, it has made it easier for those who seek to do harm to the citizens of Europe - in Paris, in Nice and other cities - to indoctrinate their followers with a narrative of what Europe is for and what it is against. I will speak in more detail later about what our counter-narrative to this should look like. The second consequence is that nations within Europe begin to turn inwards, seeking comfort and stability in national identity - which has, in some circumstances, manifested itself in the election of populist and nationalist governments and politicians. I want to turn to this now and consider the political state of Europe.

The State of Europe: Political

The political conversation in Europe has, naturally, been dominated by the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Not only will the decision result in a contraction of the Union's membership for the first time, but it has also opened up the space for discussions about the nature of Europe going forward. Whatever our perspectives on the rights or wrongs of the decision, the role of political leaders, from both sides of the English Channel, must be to ensure that both parties can thrive in the new reality and that the pursuit of the common good remains at the heart of the process.

But the bigger political change that has been developing across Europe is not Brexit, although there are strong arguments to suggest that they are connected. In recent times, we have seen what I would consider to be a rapid rebirth of nationalism across Europe. We have seen the election of nationalist governments in Austria, in Hungary and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe. Here, in France, the Front Nationale dominate the polls. In the United Kingdom, as I have already mentioned, much of the debate was about the UK's national identity and how that interacts with our relationship with the rest of Europe.

In the post-war period, the "economic prosperity, social peace and international stability" that defined the era, the visceral or even rational need for the nation state began to evaporate. Across Europe, the borders that had defined ally from enemy over the previous two centuries began to blur. So what has changed?

I will not attempt to assert a correlation or causality between the two, but I would observe that we are currently living through a period where a younger generation of Europeans may be less wealthy than their parents, where the social norms of many countries have been challenged and the expectations of social welfare that have been afforded to my generation my not be viable for the next. And we find ourselves in a world lacking any true stability.

Is it any wonder that faced with this, people have begun to turn inwards, towards the hard borders of the nation state?

We cannot say that the rebirth of the nation-state is a good or bad thing. If it is a reality, then it is one that we must put to good use. At this moment, when we are talking about the values and vision of Europe in the 21st Century, then we must be having the same conversation within our respective countries.

In a few weeks, I will lead a debate in the House of Lords on the shared values underpinning our national life and how they shape our public policy priorities. How the state is lived out is a challenge for all of us, and one that has perhaps been somewhat forgotten during a time of European stability and prosperity. In the midst of this rebirth, was need to be speaking into our national contexts - speaking of and, more importantly, demonstrating national values and virtues that are vital to the pursuit of the common good - including, but not limited to hospitality and generosity, in contrast to a propensity towards mercantilist and inward-looking perspectives.

If we allow our national and international political contexts to define our values and virtues, then we will be disappointed. Values emerge from histories of interaction and are rooted in stories of virtue, above all in Europe the stories of the Judaeo Christian tradition. They are embedded as much in informal and intermediate groups as in the state, probably more than in the state.

The State of Europe: Religiously-motivated violence

There is a further factor that has a significant and growing impact on how we understand what it means to be Europe, and how to live that out in a commitment to the common good: religiously-motivated violence and its outworking within Europe in the most barbarous acts of terrorism. We have not experienced religion as a contributing factor in global politics since the Wars of Religion in the 15th and 16th centuries.

It is a legitimate to therefore ask: how can we expect to respond effectively to religiously-motivated violence across our continent if we don't have the ability to understand it? You here have experienced it in all its fury and terrible cruelty. Even watching the anniversary celebrations in England we felt again the horror and wept. How we feel for you!

As such, one of the major challenges is to work out how we talk about religion in Europe. On a continent that is seeing growing secularism and apathy (in some cases outright hostility) towards religion and religious people, a challenge for all of us here today is to find new ways to share our religious vocabulary with the rest of the continent.

This also means feeling confident to talk about the Judeo-Christian tradition of our continent and why this tradition needs to be reflected in our understanding of Europe. This is not - for those concerned - a call for a return to Christendom, but being open about our tradition and heritage - both the good and the bad.

In a speech I gave in September to head teachers of Church of England schools, I said - uncontroversially in my view - that in order to defeat terrorism, we need to understand the mind-set of those who perpetrate it. To my surprise, a small number of media commentators viewed my comments as appeasing terrorists and their acts. However depraved it may be, groups like ISIS have an ideology, indeed a theology - which is at the heart of their propaganda, and therefore the driving force - which holds an apocalyptic understanding of human history, not as a loose term but in its strictest technical terms: they believe that the world is about to end, that the Prophet will return with Jesus, and will defeat the western powers.

It's very difficult to understand the things that impel people to some of the dreadful actions that we have seen over the last few years unless you have some sense of religious literacy. You may reject and condemn it - that's fine - but you still need to understand what they're talking about.

And in order to understand, religious people in Europe must regain the ability to share our religious vocabulary with the rest of the continent. If we treat religiously-motivated violence solely as a security issue, or a political issue, then it will be incredibly difficult - probably impossible - to overcome it. A theological voice needs to be part of the response, and we should not be bashful in offering that.

This requires a move away from the argument that has become increasingly popular, which is to say that ISIS is 'nothing to do with Islam', or that Christian militia in the Central African Republic are nothing to do with Christianity, or Hindu nationalist persecution of Christians in South India is nothing to do with Hinduism. Until religious leaders stand up and take responsibility for the actions of those who do things in the name of their religion, we will see no resolution.

Of course, it is insufficient to only use our understanding of religious language in a defensive or preventative sense. In the United Kingdom, our counter-radicalization program in schools and universities is called 'Prevent', which I believe sums up the overall approach to religious extremism. Rather than simply seeking to prevent 'bad' religion, however, we have to offer an alternative vision of the role of faith in our societies that is more convincing. That is more profound. That is more satisfying to the human spirit. And where to do we find a better vision than in the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the good news of Christ?

So finally, I want to speak to you about why I believe it is absolutely necessary for us to reclaim religious language for the common good of Europe. And the way we can do this is to set a vision for a 'catholic Europe'.

The Vision: a catholic Europe

The answers that we have given before to the challenges that face Europe are no longer suitable. Here, in France, I would say - perhaps somewhat provocatively - that laicite has served its purpose. Materialistic laicite, which is not laicite in its original form, is not capable of dealing with the challenges of religious groups with powerful, internally coherent, albeit evil narratives that challenge entirely understanding of what a righteous and good society looks like. The same is true of many other European states, and particularly the UK, without laicite but full of secularism.

So it is time to offer new solutions. The values of vision of the founding fathers of the European project drew heavily on Catholic Social Teaching. Catholic Social Teaching has played a significant role in the development of my own faith. I believe that the values and vision for the 21st century need to be catholic (with a small c). By this I mean that it needs to be broad, flexible, comprehensive, with a fundamental drive towards inclusion. Inclusion refers to people but also to institutions and human gatherings and groups and communities, as such, not just as individuals.

And when things are flexible, comprehensive and inclusive, in reality, they cannot then be simple. We need to recognize that in order to come up with a workable and convincing vision for the 21st century Europe, we must accept that Europe needs to become more complex. This is something that I have learned through my years working in conflict situations. Conflict is not solved by simplification but by recognizing the complexity of the situation. Complexity will lead to untidiness - a teenager's bedroom being a perfect example!

In the context of our discussion today, complexity means recognizing difference and valuing it. Europe is not the United States of America. It is not a nation state at this point. It is a collection of states with some common culture and some very different cultural aspects. To that, we must also add an unbelievably bloody history. Building a good Europe - which must be the goal of a vision based in the common good, therefore means addressing complexity - accepting it, and embracing it.

How then can we use Catholic Social Teaching as the foundation for this vision for Europe in light of the common good?

First, the vision for Europe needs to renew its commitment to true subsidiarity. Having structures of economic, political and social relationships that liberate subsidiarity will make accepting complexity more realistic. It seems to me that current debates about what Europe is have fallen into the trap of equating strength and unity with simplicity. As I have just said, the opposite seems to be true. Attempts to explain European structures and identity with a single overarching story have ended in failure because they have not allowed sufficient flexibility for these structures to be lived out below the continental level.

There is, as I hope I have made clear, and important story to be told about Europe, which will help us set values for the 21st Century. But this story is not something that can be applied generally. All stories of identity and belonging are applied at the local level. The story of Europe, as well as the structures of its institutions, must therefore be applied locally.

This point is key if we are to do better at integration in Europe. Integration does not occur if the values and virtues that are important are abstract and distant from the lived reality. They must recognize the complexity of diversity - noting that religious and values-based beliefs will require complexity - whilst also assertively proclaiming values that are non-negotiable, for example our commitment to democracy. This is a commitment, incidentally, that will be greatly strengthened with a renewal of subsidiarity within Europe.

The second CST concept that is vital for a 21st century vision of Europe is solidarity. Reclaiming the Christian definition of solidarity for the common good is vital if we are to reimagine Europe so that individuals and communities are no longer left behind or excluded, but are deeply and sincerely valued.

A deep commitment to solidarity will be reflected in the relationship between the 'center' of Europe and its margins. As I have already spoken of. Solidarity must extend right across Europe - particularly to those parts that are most heavily touched by the changes that are taking place around and outside Europe, not least the arrival of migrants and refugees into Southern and South Eastern Europe.

(Photo:  UNHCR / I. Prickett) Refugees and migrants arrive in Greece on flimsy boats after crossing treacherous seas to Greece mostly fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in September 2015.

Solidarity must therefore not simply be based on the superficial likenesses that have defined how we have understood Europe. The vision for Europe in the 21st century must develop deeper roots - roots that are deep enough to overcome difference and are not confused with superficial likeness.

A sense of gratuity - what Pope Benedict called 'grace in action' - must also be a defining feature of 21st century Europe. European citizens cannot simply be seen or treated as consumers. Gratuity is about going beyond worldly understandings of exchange and equivalence and recognizing that within human relationships there is a real capacity to enjoy God's economy - which is one of abundance, not scarcity. Economic systems must be rooted in the fundamental understanding of the inherent value of the human being - that humans are not simply economic units. This applies as much to those who live beyond Europe as those within.

The final aspect of CST that I want to apply to the vision for Europe in the 21st century is creativity - by which I mean recognizing the creativity of what has been achieved in Europe over the past sixty years. The remarkable transformation of life for the everyday European citizen is something that must be cherished and celebrated. It is also something to be exported: Europe is not a cozy club for its members, it should be a beacon for other parts of the world. The vision is something that should be shared with others, whilst always remaining humble in the face of the failings of European imperialism, where this vision was imposed rather than shared.

Subsidiarity. Solidarity. Gratuity. Creativity

These can be the building blocks for a vision of a catholic Europe in the 21st century. One that is unwaveringly committed to the common good and to the flourishing of all.

Thank you.
(Photo courtesy Lambeth Palace)The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, with survivors of the 2013 Peshawar church bombings at St. Thomas Church, Islamabad, Pakistan on Nov. 19, 2016.

People should no longer say the atrocities of ISIS have "nothing to do with Islam" because such a description restricts efforts to fight extremism, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.

In a Nov. 17 speech made in Paris, Archbishop Welby called on all religious leaders to "stand up and take responsibility" for the actions of extremists who claim to be following their faith, The Independent newspaper reports.

The Islamic State, ISIS, ISIL and IS are all names for a self-proclaimed state of Islamist extremists who say they want to introduce a true form of the Muslim religion that many see as barbaric in the 21st century.

"If we treat religiously-motivated violence solely as a security issue, or a political issue, then it will be incredibly difficult - probably impossible - to overcome it," said Welby at the Catholic Institute where he was receiving an honorary doctorate.

"A theological voice needs to be part of the response, and we should not be bashful in offering that," said the archbishop who is the most senior cleric in the 88-million strong Anglican Communion according to Independent Catholic News.

Welby, visited Pakistan last weekend to express solidarity with the Church of Pakistan and church communities across the country, Lambeth Palace said.

During visits to Lahore and Islamabad, the archbishop met with church communities who have endured terror attacks in recent years, and took part in prayer and worship.

The Anglican leader was hosted and accompanied throughout the trip by Bishop Samuel Azariah, Moderator of the Church of Pakistan and Bishop of Raiwind.

PAKISTAN'S BLASHPHEMY LAWS

Chrisitians are a tiny minority of Pakistan's 202 million people and more than 90 percent of them are Muslim of whom the overwhelming majority are Sunnis. Many Christians face face social discrimination and Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws have also seen many Christians fall into trouble for allegedly insulting Islam says UK's Premier.org.

In his Paris speech Welby noted there needs to be, "a move away from the argument that has become increasingly popular, which is to say that ISIS is 'nothing to do with Islam', or that Christian militia in the Central African Republic are nothing to do with Christianity, or Hindu nationalist persecution of Christians in South India is nothing to do with Hinduism."

He said until religious leaders stand up and take responsibility for the actions of those who do things in the name of their religion, there will be no resolution.

"If we treat religiously-motivated violence solely as a security issue, or a political issue, then it will be incredibly difficult - probably impossible - to overcome it," the archbishop said.

Welby'a comments came after several high profile figures, including Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, had repeatedly urged people to stop referring to the group as "Islamic State" as they say the terrorists go against all of Islam's teachings and use that they use the name for propaganda.

Islamic State is also known as ISIL, IISIS and Daesh.

The archbishop said that it is essential to recognize extremists' religious motivation in order to get to grips with the problem, The Telegraph reported.

If religiously-motivated violence is treated solely as a security, or a political issue, then it will be extremely difficult and probably impossible to overcome it said Welby who is also the spiritual leader of the Church of England.
Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...
The number of Indian students in the US soared by 25% to a record 165,918 in 2015-16, says a recent report. Overall, the ranks of international students at US colleges and universities crossed one million for the first time, an increase of seven per cent from the previous year. At 1,044,000, they now make up five per cent of the total student population on US campuses, as per the 2016 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.



The US has the largest contingent of international students, more than double the number hosted by the number-two, the UK.



The report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.



About the factors which draw Indians to the US, Kim Dixit, president and co-founder of a Mumbai-based education advisory firm, says, First is flexibility  for students who want the chance to explore different subjects or combine traditional subjects in flexible ways, US institutions offer some of the most innovative curricular options in the world. The second reason has to do with the ethos of US education  US educational, political, and economic structures are designed around deep cultural beliefs in meritocracy and talent. Though this seems under threat at the moment, protests are a sign that these beliefs are still alive and well and worth fighting to protect. Students feel their intellect and hard work will be recognised. Lastly, US colleges and universities offer unmatched resources, such as world-class libraries, labs, faculty and campus facilities.


Linda Lim, professor of corporate strategy at the University of Michigan s Ross School of Business:



Donald Trump s campaign focused heavily on trade, especially NAFTA and other trade agreements, the US trade deficit, and offshoring of manufacturing jobs. He has specifically said that he would impose large  35%  tariffs on imports from Mexico and China. He does have the authority to do so unilaterally, and to terminate trade agreements after consulting with Congress.

If he does do so, the consequences for the US and world economies would be dire. American consumers and businesses that depend on imported goods and inputs from Mexico and China would immediately be faced with higher costs and prices, and global supply chains would be disrupted, including for the auto industry. A trade war would likely result, with the impacted countries imposing retaliatory measures, hurting US exports. There would be revenue losses and eventually business shutdowns and worker layoffs.

US economic growth and employment creation would be nipped in the bud and a recession would likely result. Since the US is the strongest-growing large economy, the world economy as a whole would also slow and slip into recession, exacerbating the decline.

Given these dire consequences, it is possible that Trump would NOT carry out his promises to restrict trade. Still, the mere threat of such protectionism would be sufficient to discourage some business investment and thus slow growth and employment creation.

As for the trade deficit, it is mathematically determined by the balance between private sector savings and investment, and the government budget balance. High savings and low investment, and/or a reduced or eliminated budget deficit, could wipe out the deficit but at the cost of much lower growth or even recession. Japan, for example, has run current account (trade) surpluses during its past two-and-a-half lost decades of slow economic growth and stagnation. We should not want the US to end up in a similar position.



Kyle Handley, assistant professor of business economics and public policy at the school:



I would not make much of this short-term market volatility, and it is likely to last only a short time as it becomes clearer what the Trump presidency will look like. The longer-lasting sources of uncertainty are the following:

What policies will Trump and a Republican Congress change?

When will those changes occur?

What will be the impact of a completely new set of Republican policy ideas unfettered by the need to compromise with a Democratic president or legislators?

Trump could outline some concrete proposal. That would reduce uncertainty generally. However, many of his policy ideas have no precedent in US history. So, even if he is clear about his intentions, expectations about the effects of those policies are fraught with uncertainty. For example, large changes to immigration policy or a repeal of the Affordable Care Act are huge unknowns in terms of their effects on US workers and businesses. For more standard economic policy changes, it is easier to make predictions and final outcomes are less uncertain. For example, modifying the rate of corporate and personal incomes taxes or making changes to benefits levels in social programmes generates well-known, short- to medium-term responses in terms of tax revenues, consumer behaviour, or business investment rates. But the timing and magnitude of the policy changes continue to be potentially large sources of uncertainty.

The most dangerous aspect of the Trump candidacy and now the Trump presidency is a disdain for many institutions of the world economic and political system. Trump seems to view all international relationships as a transaction where the US needs to get something tangible in return for any commitments. This ignores that those commitments are a form of insurance against bad outcomes. For example, who would have thought Article 5 of the NATO alliance would have been invoked for the US on September 11. It was intended as a form of insurance and deterrence against Russian aggression in Europe, but it turned out to be important in a different, unexpected context. Likewise on the economic policy front, the US has many international trade commitments at the World Trade Organization, through NAFTA, and other free-trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties. These agreements are all intended to provide a stable, secure environment for US and international businesses.

When it becomes fashionable to threaten protectionism or promise to start a trade war with China, these global institutions are meant to restrain policymakers and prevent a return to 1930s-era beggar-thy-neighbour protectionism and economic isolationism. If US firms are concerned their business opportunities abroad will be diminished by trade wars and chipping away at 60 years of institutions meant to provide policy stability, that could indeed be very bad for the US and the global economy. Bad policies can always be reversed at some point, creating the prospect of more uncertainty and more reasons for business to behave cautiously. I am afraid the losses in terms of income and total well-being for the US and the world might have permanent and lasting effects.
Why did the university feel the need to carve out a new position  PVC- International?

For the last 10 years the university has been actively engaging in a variety of international activities, but it was more on an individual basis  faculty or school. These activities, from student recruitment to research partnership, needed to be streamlined through a central strategic co-ordination, thus the position was created. I will be working with stakeholders both within the university and external to further enhance the university brand globally. Leeds has developed a strategic plan from 2015 to 2020 with a strong focus on international partnerships.

What in your view contributed to Leeds being ranked as the University of the Year for 2017 by a British publication? And moving on, what is the next goal for the university?

We are committed to our students and consistently rank highly in student satisfaction, which has led to this award. We ensure that our students not only get the best learning opportunities but also feel welcomed and supported. We are a research intensive university but at the same time work closely with the industry to ensure that the curriculum and skills remain relevant, as we want our graduates to be employable.

We are not complacent about our achievement, and in fact investing a lot more in the coming years. We want to invest in the best minds both students and faculty, after all it is the people who can help a university achieve excellence. The key focus will be on enhancing our research capability, recruiting high quality students globally, improving the infrastructure, and attracting talented faculty. We are also actively engaging more with our alumni globally, they are a good network for our current students to benefit from with mentoring.

Why has internationalisation become so important in higher education?

Historically, higher education has always been without borders. To achieve excellence, universities have to be outward thinking and internationally connected. We have to make our graduates global citizens so the more they interact with a multi-cultural community the better for them. Even for research to have a global impact, it needs to be internationally collaborative and multidisciplinary. We cannot achieve our goals in isolation, we have to work with partners across the globe.




Thailand resumes chicken exports to So. Korea after 12-year ban

Thai chicken imports are again welcome in South Korea following a 12-year-long ban imposed after an avian influenza outbreak in 2004.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said Friday, Nov. 18, that South Korea

resumed imports of Thai chicken this month, Bangkok Post reported.

Chatchai said Seoul had approved 12 factories processing raw chicken to supply meat to the South Korean market and that 18 other chicken-processing factories would be inspected by South Korean officials early next year for possible certification.

"South Korea used to import 30,000-40,000 tonnes of chilled and frozen chicken from Thailand annually. If old customers are regained, exports could be worth about 3 billion baht (US$84.5 million) a year," Chatchai was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post report.
Food bank launches Reverse Advert Calendar appeal

The Isle of Man Food Bank is appealing for help to make sure all Manx residents can put food on the table over Christmas.

The charity has launched its Reverse Advert Calendar campaign - asking people to put aside one item of food per day from Friday this week until December 20th.

All the items can then be delivered to Housing Matters, Noa Bakehouse or Port Erin Methodist Church to be distributed to those in need.

Donations suggested for the appeal include tinned goods, pasta and preserves, as well as items like shaving gel and shampoo.
Righteous blowback: Why Donald Trump Is the Man Of The Current Year By Daniel M. Ryan

2016 has certainly been a strange election! Virtually everyone in the political class was flummoxed by Donald Trump's victory  and they weren't the only ones. Your humble author bet real money on Trump winning the Presidency, but I had girded myself  right up to the 11 o'clock hour of Election Night  to losing the bet. (I had won an equal amount of money from the same friendly opponent when Trump won the nomination.) It's an odd feeling when your gut is opposed to your ratiocination  and your gut gets it right. If you look at the excuses flying around, you get a peek at how the Dem-dominated echo chamber thinks. Most so in the SJW haunts. As sub-elites clinging to the elites, the SLWers act like blabbermouths. They telegraph what the Dem-affiliated elites are really thinking but prefer to keep from us. Put both together and you get support for the theory that America is becoming an elective monarchy. The real elites have appropriated for the government one of the prime duties of the King: "Protector of the Weak" (or weak-sounding.) As those infringements on free speech grow, it's clear that the next appropriation is "Defender of the Faith." Even if part of the Faith is wrapped in the mantle of science, part of it is definitely not. An intellectually honest Darwinian biologist is now pegged by the feminist gatekeepers of the Faith as people who "believe in biology." Their "belief" has not been targeted as heretical, as yet. The Pashtunish worthies of the press have freaked out because President-Elect Trump didn't invite any of them to a steak dinner. It's a good time to be a historian of a European country during times of a powerful monarchy. Sixty years ago, college students would have snickered bemusedly when Prof explained why the King's snubbing the Master of the Bedchamber by having a butler empty out the chamberpot was an important political signal. Now, he can add: "just like the press got alarmed when President-Elect Trump went to dinner alone with his family." Sure, there'll still be the snickers, but they'll be knowing. Consider this astounding paradox: legislatures at the State level are so red, the tilt towards the Pubbies is almost Rooseveltian in scope. The 2016 elections, in which the Republicans were purportedly dogged by Trump's reverse coattails, make the pro-Pubbie tilt even more lopsided. The state-level Republicans only need five more legislatures to pass an Article V Amendment - through a Convention of States bypassing Congress - without caring a whit what the Dems think. George Soros has some reconsidering to do. This tilt has been extant for some time. American politics has seen blowouts, but they don't last long. Just as Obama was rebuked by a Republican House landslide in 2010, Lyndon Johnson was rebuked by the 1966 elections. So was Harry Truman in the 1946 election, in which house Republican scored a landslide victory with the two-word slogan: "Had Enough?" Durable tilts only exist when a large swath of the American voting public sees a tilt as a necessary counterweight to some prevailing (often aggressive) force. In Roosevelt's time, when Dems were still populist, those supermajorities were seen as a counterweight to "economic power." Truly or falsely, or a blend of both, Joe Average saw a sea of blue as protective instead of aggrandizing. This counterweight theory is consistent with the oft-made observation that landslides at the federal level tend to bring divided government. It's quite obvious that the progs have acted in accordance with this "landslide as shield" theory. The pro-Pubbie tilt in 2016 wasn't much greater at the state level than the tilt in 2014, but the progs weren't bothered in the least. They only got royally upset when Donald Trump won the Presidency. Even now, more than a few of them are ascribing his victory to befuddled voters. When you see or hear the phrase "real interests," you know what comes next: a specification of "real interests" that's both materialistic and file-cabinet banal. Try counting the number of feminists who are decrying the fact that too many white-women voters slipped out of the binder full of women  the binder labeled "Real Interests." Note the incuriousness amongst the poohbahs about the value-voter phenomenon, even though a values-voter model perfectly explains a rich Dem who honestly doesn't mind paying higher rates of income tax. (At least ostensibly, those Dems value caring; there might be other relevant values.) The keepers of the gates even have difficulty living up to their real-interest materialism when the Blue-Collar Blows vote for Donald Trump for obvious reasons like more jobs, particularly in manufacturing, and higher wages. Any acknowledgment of such comes grudgingly or with hedging (with the notable exception of the Bernie Sanders circuit.) We're expected to believe that folks who are stuck in trailer parks in a jobless wasteland are turning to Trump because they're afraid of losing their "white privilege." We're expected to believe that there's something called a "patriarchy" even though the male-dominated Tory party in the U.K. served more-or-less docilely under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. (If men so resented female power, Thatcher would have been thrown out on her ear in the late 1970s via a backbench revolt.) We're also expected to believe that the Tea Party was motivated by "authoritarianism," even though it acted a heckuva lot more like Claus von Stauffenberg than Ernst Rohm when John Boehner was the Republican Fuhrer. Never mind the countervailing facts, as prog land is Narrative Land. Increasingly, the Narrative  a Narrative with a hermeneutical immunity to contrary facts - is defended not only by social-media mobbing but also by laws. Back in the days before the Enlightenment, there were laws that criminalized seditious libel. What outraged Enlightenmenteers was the stand-out provision that truth was not a valid defense. If dissemination of facts were deemed to be injurious to the Realm, the disseminator was found guilty. Back then, you really did risk jail by spreading around "hate facts." (Case in point: saying in a pamphlet that Queen Anne Boleyn was faithful to Henry VIII, after he had her executed for high treason, would have been treated as disseminating a hate fact  until her daughter Elizabeth I became Queen.) Since the Enlightenment worldview treated "truth no defence" as an outrage against the free mind, seditious-libel laws were gotten rid of, implicitly but intentionally deemed unconstitutional, or allowed to fall into dormancy. As the Enlightenment proceeded, "truth always a valid defense" became the new custom. Until relatively recently. One of the 'innovations' of hate-speech laws, such as Canada's notorious (and recently-repealed) Section 13(1) of its Canadian Human Rights Act, is the revival of truth no defense. Revived under the rubric of Protection of the Weak, or of a member of a protected class deemed Weak, is the contra-Enlightenment credo that spreading certain facts is injurious to the Realm. The United States came close to this in the high Obama years with the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. So close, the lawmakers back then felt obliged to add a Section 909 that explicitly says the Act cannot be used to infringe upon freedom of religion or expression. We've yet to hear from John Roberts about this. True: the infringements against freedom of expression  the attack on the Enlightenment principle "truth always a valid defense"  are typically brought to bear against marginal and fringey figures, the bulk of which have odious opinions. We're continually reassured of this - just like our forebears were assured more than a hundred years ago that the income tax was only going to be levied on rich folks. I trust you're as reassured as I. How reassuring to know that the same Obama Administration notched up a record as the most aggressive against whistleblowers. "Injurious to the Realm". Revolution From Above, Blowback From Below To be charitable to the fellow, Obama only played a part in the post-modern Counter-Enlightenment. The most aggressive infringements against controversial speech and religious expression have not been governmental. Take a look at this list of SJW-purged Purgees. Granted, it would be hand-waving exaggeration to dross up that list as a "Book of Martyrs." But it does speak to a trend of shrivelling discourse to what the poohbahs deem non-outrageous, which is a step towards shrivelling it even more to "morally acceptable." In a recent video, Prof. Jordan B. Peterson revealed the results of a character study of people he labeled "SJW Liberals" and "SJW authoritarians." One trait of the latter is that they seem fine with actual censorship. Like Obama himself, they're only part of a trend: the values-voter answer to the Enclosures Acts of Great Britain. These Acts authorized aristocrats to rip up the customary rights of their peasants so that the aristocrat-beneficiaries could put their lands to better use. Similarly, the current "Enclosure of Beliefs" rips up the customary rights of expression and religious belief: Both are Revolutions from Above. Just as Parliament bore down on the customary rights of voteless peasants, the "Enclosure of Beliefs" push has seen the CEOs of huge companies bear down on a state legislature. The CEO of the publicly-listed company GrubHub recently told his Trump-supporting employees to take a hike, an order he softened when it was spread around. Neither of these can be counted as government censorship, but they're certainly paving the way for the real thing. As Kevin Williamson recounted almost a year ago, the Dems are starting to get a taste for the real thing. Had Hillary won, the clear plan was to escalate the lean-ons into formal restrictions on disseminating hate facts that contradict the global-warming Narrative. Because they're injurious to the Realm, perhaps? Because criminalization of dissent Defends the global-warming Faith? Thankfully, Joe Blow reacts badly when new customs are shoved down his throat. We saw this in the last Presidential election, which has made Donald J. Trump the Man of the Current Year. True, a lot of his support came from folks wanting a better shake in life. But the intensity of the support  and his immunity to his gaffes  was clearly caused by public anger over the politically-correct Revolution from Above. Mr. Blow does not want his values to be enclosed, God bless him. Daniel M. Ryan, as Nxtblg, is shepherding the independently-run Open Audi Initiative Prediction Market Shadowing Project. He has stubbornly assumed all the responsibility and blame for the workings and outcome of the project. Home
Pipeline anarchy By Paul Driessen

Is this to be our future? This month's elections will soon end autocratic rule via executive fiat, the war on coal and hydrocarbons, IRS agents targeting conservative groups, government SWAT teams invading businesses and homes, and numerous other Abuses and Usurpations. But now we're getting leftist anarchy and riots  with mindless, incoherent radicals smashing Portland storefronts, beating a Chicago motorist, and pummeling a ninth grade Woodside, CA Trump supporter. Amid it all, the epitome of nihilist, watermelon environmentalist, criminal, sore-loser fury is raging south of Bismarck, North Dakota, where thousands of "peaceful protesters" are camping illegally on federal and private lands, "venting their anger" over the Dakota Access Pipe Line. This $3.8-billion, 1,172-mile, state-of-the-art, 30-inch conduit will carry 470,000 barrels of oil daily from the state's Bakken oil fields to Illinois. It's about 85% complete, and the only segment left to be finished in North Dakota is a 1,000-foot passage under Lake Oahe, a manmade reservoir on the Missouri River. DAPL runs parallel to the existing Northern Border natural gas pipeline, through the same area and under the lake. The pipeline would replace 700 railroad tanker cars or 2,000 semi-trailer highway tanker trucks per day. It has created thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs. Bakken's light, sweet crude oil replaces imports, fuels our vehicles, powers our economy, and provides raw materials for many essential products. Since it is underground, once it is installed and grasses are planted, the pipeline will be invisible except for occasional pumping stations, valves and other facilities. Modern metals, warning systems, automatic shutoff valves, 24/7/365 monitoring and other safeguards minimize the risk of spills  and nearly 140 revisions rerouted the DAPL around populated areas and sensitive ecological, archaeological, sacred and historic sites. The pipeline is 99.98% on private land and is covered by easements and other agreements. All these and other issues were addressed repeatedly and thoughtfully during a three-year, 389-meeting review and approval process. Landowners, communities, environmentalists and citizens provided input, and 55 Native American groups were consulted. Prominent in their refusal to participate were the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is a half-mile from Lake Oahe, where the pipeline is set to cross. Only now are Standing Rock tribal leaders and members voicing opposition. Not surprisingly, they have been joined by Indians from across America, and by a motley assortment of activists, agitators and anarchists whom friendly media and politicians insist on praising as "peaceful resisters" against an industrial intrusion that "threatens" the climate, tribal culture, drinking water, historic artifacts and sacred sites. A United Nations "special rappoteur" on human rights claims law enforcement officials are using "violent" tactics against arrested protesters and subjecting them to "inhuman and degrading" conditions! These claims are "tonka chesli"  Lakota for BS. These thousands of militants are trespassing. They've wiped out forage that ranchers were depending on to feed their cattle and bison during fall and winter months. They blockade roads and rail lines, set fires to make passage impossible, and harass reporters who question their actions. One tried to shoot a deputy. They have burned bridges, destroyed millions of dollars of construction equipment, chased livestock until they lose their calves or die of exhaustion  and killed, maimed or eaten cattle, horses and domesticated buffalo. They've promised far more destructive actions, and even issued death threats against their critics. A favorite tactic employs "peaceful dissidents" and "prayer groups" to block and distract ranchers and sheriff's deputies from an area, while others destroy nearby fence wire and posts. One rancher told me repairing just the fence on the ranch where they graze buffalo will cost at least $300,000 and weeks of hard work. The anarchists obviously don't care about innocent people who are caught in the middle. Other ranchers' lost forage and animals, time and fuel spent on repairs, and other expenses will cost well over $500,000. No one has offered any compensation, even though the militants have millions of dollars. Washington Times journalist Valerie Richardson reports that, as of November 1, the militants' Sacred Stone camp alone raised $1.3 million for supplies on GoFundMe and $1.2 million on FundRazr for legal defense. The Red Warrior Camp quickly collected $142,000 via GoFundMe and $105,000 in legal defense cash on IndieGogo, even though the Standing Rock council is frustrated and wants them gone. Rumors run rampant that the "protesters" are also raking in bundles of welfare checks, plus "charitable and educational contributions" from "progressive" billionaires like Tom Steyer (coal), George Soros (currency speculation), Warren Buffett (railroads and tanker cars); outfits they fund, such as the Tides Foundation, 350.org, EarthJustice and Indigenous Environmental Network; and various Russian, Saudi and other foreign sources that would like to keep US oil and gas locked up. Perhaps the abundant cash will attract corporate and pro bono lawyers, legal foundations and attorneys general who can freeze the assets and pursue individual or joint and several liability claims, plus punitive damages, to compensate ranchers, other locals and companies  and dissuade future lawlessness. Last January, 26 peaceful ranchers who encamped on federal wildlife refuge property in Oregon were arrested, one was shot and killed, and the survivors were charged with, tried for (and found not guilty of) theft, conspiracy and weapons violations. Many wonder why these North Dakota militants and criminals are getting a free pass, glowing press coverage, and millions of dollars from crime-financing enablers. The nearly completed DAPL has to cross the river somewhere and will pose the same low pollution risks wherever it goes. But it will be built with the utmost care, with the best technologies and materials. So what is actually driving these destructive, vindictive, violent protests against this convenient "poster child" pipeline? * True-believers are obsessed with "dangerous manmade climate change"  to justify and obscure their real agenda: a new world economic order to replace capitalism, global wealth redistribution, and UN control of development, livelihoods and living standards, for rich, poor and emerging nations alike. * The "keep it in the ground" anti-hydrocarbon movement prefers blanketing the USA and planet with billions of solar panels, wind turbines and biofuel fields, to produce expensive, subsidized, unreliable energy  while killing birds, bats and other wildlife by the millions  rather than producing affordable energy-dense fossil fuels from holes in the ground, and transporting them by pipeline. (Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II supports much greater emphasis on renewable energy.) * Radical elements among Native Americans (and Canadian Indigenous Peoples) want to control the land, water, energy and lives of white people whose predecessors took their ancestral lands. Their feelings are understandable. But imagine the chaos this would cause and the precedent their success would set for Europe, Latin America, China, Hawaii, the Middle East and beyond, as PC politics rewrite history. * The anarchists think they have a right to vilify and void laws, processes, approvals and property rights  even threaten lives. 90% of those arrested have been out-of-state agitators, and many get paid to raise hell. * And of course, they are outraged, inconsolable and defiant over Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump. They have no grasp of basic facts. Pipelines are safer than trucks or rail cars. This low-pressure line is state-of-the-art and will be monitored constantly and inspected regularly. High-cost renewable energy impacts small businesses, hospitals, blue-collar workers, and poor and minority families the hardest. And President Obama's refusal to accept a court order or speak out against the crime is fueling the insanity. Hopefully, President Trump, governors, AGs, other elected officials, and publicly spirited lawyers and judges will do the right thing: shut these anarchists down, compensate ranchers and other victims  and award punitive damages against the Big Green operatives who have caused so much damage, under the guise of freedom of speech (for them only) and phony concern for Native culture and the environment. Then finish the pipeline, renew our focus on energy we can count on, and put America back to work. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org), and author of Eco-Imperialism: Green power - Black death and other books on the environment. Home
President-Elect Trump  The week in review By Mark Alexander

This past week has been interesting. In some ways, it seems the surreal election results just came in. In other ways, it seems they arrived six months ago. The day after the historic national elections and Donald Trump's victory, I offered punctuated commentary on the results above my Veterans Day edition, "Honoring Those Who Have Earned It." Two days later, I rebutted Barack Obama's remarks about the election. Today, I'll briefly focus on some topical observations regarding BO's condescending welcome remarks about Trump, as well as BO's "Denial Tour." I then have some observations about Trump's first week and his transition team. On Barack Obama's exit... Recall that in 2012, Obama chastised Republicans after his defeat of Mitt Romney: "You don't like a particular policy or a particular president? Go out there and win an election. But don't break what our predecessors spent over two centuries building." He then continued breaking everything "our predecessors spent over two centuries building" for another four years. In response to his "go out there and win an election" challenge, Republicans chalked up another round of historic wins in the 2014 Midterm Republican Wave, and the GOP continued that winning streak in 2016. Last week, BO, who's in a state of pathological denial about the wide and deep GOP gains across the country, offered this assessment: "I believe that we have better ideas. But I also believe that good ideas don't matter if people don't hear them." Actually, it wasn't a hearing problem. It was an ear-splitting repudiation of the ideas Obama and his error-apparent, Hillary Clinton, personified. Since BO was elected, Democrat control of the nation's 99 state legislative chambers has dropped from 62 to 30, and only five states now have a Democrat trifecta  control of the senate, house and governorship  while 25 states have Republican trifectas. Democrats have lost 13 governorships, leaving Republicans with 34 governors (depending on North Carolina's results). But the most notable trifecta was in Washington, DC, where Trump will have a Senate majority of 52 Republicans (after the Louisiana runoff) and at least a 238-to-193 House majority, with a few results still out. And I would argue that, contrary to the top-down assertion that Trump carried a lot of conservatives down ballot, this was in fact a bottom-up grassroots election that Trump won as an up-ballot result of state and local elections. The Washington Post provided a remarkable set of visual charts referencing the Democrat Party decimation since BO was elected. Obama offered additional condescending remarks about his successor before heading off on his global denial tour, ostensibly to reassure other nations that Trump was fit to lead, despite his previous assertions that Trump was unfit to lead. This from a president with the most inept and dangerous foreign policy failures since James Earl Carter. Indeed, Obama's tenure is marked by his retreat from Iraq, resulting in the rise of the Islamic State and an epic humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. As further evidence of Obama's delusional state, he declared "those folks" who voted for President-Elect Trump "are better off than when I came into office." No, they are not  and neither is anyone else across the nation. BO insists, "People seem to think I did a pretty good job. ... Perhaps the view of the American people is that you just need to shake things up. I think I can make a pretty strong argument that the policies that we put forward were the right ones." Apparently not. And in remarks from Greece last week  a national model of the economic consequences when the socialist policies that Obama advocates are fully implemented  Obama had this assessment of the election results: "The more aggressively and effectively we deal with [people's fears], the less those fears may channel themselves into counterproductive approaches that pit people against each other. And frankly, that's been my agenda for the last eight years." Clearly, Obama's agenda has been all about "pitting people against each other." In the end, Obama succeeded in one area  "[fundamentally transforming the United States of America]," though not exactly as he had in mind. Just prior to the election he declared it would be "a personal insult, an insult to my legacy" if Clinton was not elected. Indeed it was, is and always will be. As Charles Krauthammer summed it up, "Historians are going to see [Obama] as a textbook definition of a guy who won on hope and change, who won with a wave of goodwill and who completely destroyed his presidency with liberal overreach. ... This [election] is a rejection of his ideology." That being said, however, BO does not leave office for two months, and there is still plenty of damage he will do. Until then, we must remain vigilant. On Donald Trump's entrance... Like many of you reading this column, I voted for the presidential candidate who vowed to appoint constitutional constructionists to the Supreme Court  appointments critical to the protection of our Republic and its foundational Rule of Law. I also supported the candidate who I believed, as commander in chief, vowed to extend to all military personnel and veterans the due respect they have earned. He won. Since then, I have asked many conservatives who didn't make the transition from #NeverTrump to #NeverClinton this question: "You didn't vote for Trump, but Wednesday morning were you relieved that Trump won?" To a person, they have all responded, "Yes." Moving forward, I hope Trump doesn't forget who brought him to the dance  and follows through with his commitments to appoint conservative justices, to secure our nation's borders and enforce immigration laws, to restructure taxes and dramatically cut regulations, to strike down Obama's executive orders, and more. And I hope he'll demonstrate the humility to make amends with fellow Republicans with whom he failed to forge unity. But unlike what some of Trump's most ardent supporters would like to believe, Trump is not going to be the next Ronald Reagan, as some of his appointments and policies will soon demonstrate. Will Trump seek to repeal or amend Obama's signature, and inestimably misnamed, Affordable Care Act? What will Trump's border and his immigration strategy really look like? It will not look like what he promised in the campaign, but at the same time, the "circular firing squads" that have threatened both conservative unity and Liberty over this past year must cease and desist. In the early hours of the morning after his win, Trump said, "I can only say that while the campaign is over, our work on this movement is now really just beginning." Indeed it is, and untangling eight years of the most damaging socialist policies in our nation's history will be very difficult  and not something that will happen in one election cycle. Trump also said, "To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It is time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all of Americans." I believe he'll be just that, though he'll also be under constant assault from Democrats whose power is dependent on dividing our nation by race and gender and other special-interest constituencies. Trump's decisions over the last week regarding his administration's key leaders and advisors reflect his business acumen. Drowned out by the leftmedia howls over Trump's key advisor appointments is the good news that he demoted New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from his position heading the transition team and replaced him with Indiana Gov. and Vice President-elect Mike Pence  who will now have the most influence in the transition process. Given the fact that Trump has never held a government job or elected office at any level, choosing Pence for his ticket was wise. It was equally wise to make Pence his transition team leader. Pence, who will oversee hundreds of key appointments, is a highly respected conservative and Christian whom I have followed since he was first elected in 2000. He was chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee from 2005-07 and the House Republican Conference from 2009-11. He is a close friend of Paul Ryan, who was re-nominated as House Speaker with unanimous support from House GOP members. Pence and Ryan will be instrumental in guiding executive branch initiatives through Congress. I should note that the first test of Ryan's leadership will come today, as the House votes on whether to restore the corrupt practice of redistributing wealth by way of special interest earmarks, which Republicans banned when they took over Congress in 2010. Among Pence's first "swamp draining" acts as Trump's team leader was to remove all lobbyists from the transition team, and others who were brought in by Christie. Among those others was former Rep. Mike Rogers, who, when he was in the House, endeavored to block the formation of Rep. Trey Gowdy's House Committee to investigate Benghazi  which ultimately discovered Clinton's illegal subterfuge to conceal her communications when secretary of state. The list of folks being considered for key cabinet posts and other leadership positions is strong. As for Trump's appointments of Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as chief of staff and media executive Steve Bannon as chief strategist and counsel, that breaks the conventional mold  but that's been the basic formula for Trump's success. Bannon is the quintessential outsider, and Priebus is the quintessential insider who will team with Pence and Ryan. On those two key appointments, Trump's transition team stated, "Bannon and Priebus will continue the effective leadership team they formed during the campaign, working as equal partners to transform the federal government, making it much more efficient, effective and productive." Priebus, chairman of the RNC since 2011, was the principal architect of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's 2010 victory. Walker endorsed Priebus for the RNC leadership post, applauding his "leadership and involvement in the grassroots Tea Party movement that swept the state and the nation" in 2010. I should note that Priebus has promoted and distributed The Patriot Post's Essential Liberty Guide to the Declaration and Constitution when presiding over Republican conventions. In a major sense, Steve Bannon, the CEO of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, is Priebus's maverick alter ego. A gruff and tough bulldog Virginian, Bannon graduated from Virginia Tech, earned a master's degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown and then an MBA with honors from Harvard. He was also a Navy officer who served as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. After his military service, he was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before launching his own successful company. In 2012, Bannon assumed control of an online publication after the death of his friend, Andrew Breitbart. Since that time, Bannon has become a lightning rod for everything published by Breitbart News. Indeed, that's the curse that follows every publisher. Most notably, Bannon is accused of being anti-Semitic by his leftist detractors. This charge is largely based on Breitbart News's "alt-right" nationalist tone, but Bannon's Jewish friends and colleagues have defended him vigorously. Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot and a national Jewish philanthropist, had this to say about Bannon: "These attacks are nothing more than an attempt to undermine the incoming Trump administration. I have known Steve to be a passionate Zionist and supporter of Israel who felt so strongly about this that he opened a Breitbart office in Israel to ensure that the true pro-Israel story would get out. What is being done to Steve Bannon is a shonda [scandal]." Fact is, Bannon should only scare leftists who are, themselves, a threat to Liberty. And speaking of threats to Liberty, all Americans should take note that a potential successor to San Fran Nan Pelosi as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee is none other than Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a radical black Muslim member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Ellison is now co-chair of the Congressional [Regressive] Caucus and has been endorsed by outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and his replacement, Chuck Schumer. In closing, I've been asked by many people if I was elated about Trump's victory. The answer is no. I was relieved. Our nation has been given a reprieve, and the near-term prospects for the Supreme Court and our Constitution are now immeasurably better than they would've been had Hillary Clinton been elected. Let's reconvene our forces and form a solid front ahead of the president-elect and Republicans at every level nationwide and ensure that 2018 can be yet another record year for growth in the ranks of conservative Republicans, as was the case in 2010, 2014 and 2016! Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home
Are the Saudis about to reveal the best kept secret in oil? By Nick Cunningham





One of the oil world's longest and best kept secrets may finally be revealed. Saudi Arabia is preparing to unveil how much oil it holds, a closely guarded state secret that has been kept quiet for decades.



The decision to bring such important data to light comes as Saudi Aramco is preparing to partially privatize its assets, an IPO that could bring in some $100 billion. The IPO will be a monumental event, one that the Wall Street Journal says could offer Wall Street some of the largest fees in history.



Saudi Arabia often trades off with Russia  and more recently, with the U.S.  as the world's largest oil producer. But while it produces at similar levels as Russia and the U.S., it is long been a vastly more influential player in the oil world. That is because of two reasons  the size of its reserves, and the ability to use latent spare capacity to quickly adjust supply, affording it an outsized influence on crude oil prices.



But while everyone believes Saudi Arabia has some of the largest oil reserves in the world, perhaps rivaled only by Venezuela, there has been a lot of uncertainty and skepticism over exactly how much sits beneath the Saudi desert. The world's largest oil field, Ghawar, has been producing since the 1950s, raising speculation about the longevity of the supergiant oilfield. It alone is thought to hold around 75 billion barrels, and it churns out more than 5 million barrels every single day. Surely, it cannot continue like this indefinitely, but the Kingdom has not revised its official reserves for years, which have stood at 260 billion barrels since the 1980s. It is hard to overstate how valuable this information is, and how fiercely Saudi leadership protected it.



However, the collapse of oil prices since 2014 has pushed the Saudi budget deep into the red. The Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is undergoing an historic transformation of the Saudi economy, a multi-decade plan to diversify the country's economic base and create new sources of revenue. At the heart of the plan is spinning off roughly 5 percent of Saudi Aramco, the most valuable oil company in the world. Saudi officials believe that the company is worth between $2 and $3 trillion.



But in order to settled on a valuation and launch an IPO of some of Aramco's assets, investors need to get a look beneath the hood. That is why Saudi Arabia is now prepared to unveil not just its financials, but also the long sought after data surrounding its oil reserves. "Everything that Saudi Aramco has, that will be shared, that will be verified by independent third parties," Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Arabia's energy minister, told the Financial Times in an interview. That would include, "reserves... costs [and] profitability indicators." He went to lengths to emphasize Saudi Arabia's seriousness about the IPO, in an effort to dampen skepticism. "This is going to be the most transparent national oil company listing of all time," he said.



There is a great deal of suspicion regarding Saudi Arabia's insistence that its reserves still stand at 260 billion barrels. After all, how could such a figure stay constant when it is producing 9 to 10 million barrels every day, which adds up to a few billion barrels each year? Aramco would have to add billions of barrels of newly discovered reserves on an annual basis in order to prevent its reserve base from declining. It is doubtful that it has done that consistently since the 1980s. But nobody knows except the Saudis.



As the FT notes, this figure will have massive ramifications for both Saudi Arabia and the global oil market. Right now, everyone is operating under the assumption that Saudi Arabia can continue to pump at its current pace for another seven decades. Long-term oil forecasts are predicated, in part, on Aramco's ability to do that. More important for Saudi Arabia itself, its credit rating as well as the fortunes of its economy over the coming decades is also predicated on that assumption. A sharply lower reserve estimate could send oil futures up if fears over supply surface, and it might also affect Saudi Arabia's credit rating.



Aramco is preparing to launch the IPO in 2018, which means that it will need to publish data on its oil reserves before then. The oil world's biggest secret could soon be publicly released.



Nick Cunningham is a writer for Oilprice.com where this originally appeared. Home
The start of the deal By Dr. Peter Morici

President-elect Donald Trump faces the challenge of governing a deeply divided nation. He won with overwhelming majorities of non-college-educated white men and women, especially outside large metropolitan centers. Among college-educated and urban voters, Hillary Clinton did well and Mr. Trump faces lots of skepticism. Winning their respect will be critical to uniting the country and rebuilding an economy handicapped by too much bad government. He promises big changes on trade and immigration. On the former, he can move quickly based on presidential authority, but accomplishing a desirable outcome will require complex negotiations with China, Mexico and others. Simply throwing up tariffs or withdrawing from NAFTA wont secure changes in foreign government policies needed to avoid crippling international commerce, reopen shuttered U.S. factories, create jobs and lift wages for working-class Americans. Framing U.S. negotiating objectives and selling those to partners in Europe and Japan  and winning at negotiations with China and others  will take resolve, patience and time. Similarly, U.S. immigration policy needs radical reworking, but the nation still needs new arrivals. Crafting a policy that enforces our borders, screens for threats and welcomes those who would contribute positively to the economy, embrace American values and assimilate is a complex task. With the Republicans holding only a narrow majority in the Senate, that will require the good will and cooperation from Democrats to pass Congress and succeed. On taxes and other issues, both the Senate and House Republican caucuses have many members with views differing sharply from Mr. Trump. He will often face the tough task of seemingly having to negotiate with two opposition parties at the same time. To win over a skeptical public and cultivate support on Capitol Hill, Mr. Trump would do well to initially push for results in a few areas that require both immediate attention and ideological concessions from members of both parties to get something impactful done. Just about everyone wants better roads and mass transit, and an upgrade to airports, train stations, ports and the like. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump promised big infrastructure programs but as the 2015 reauthorization of federal highway funding illustrated, members of Congress are reluctant to raise fuel taxes or increase user fees to pay for those projects. Moreover, federal contracting rules virtually ensure Americans pay too much for public investments. Those mandate that high union labor rates and burdensome work rules apply on federally assisted projects, even though unions now represent fewer than 7 percent of private-sector workers. Mr. Trump could offer to pay for half of the cost of an infrastructure program by awarding contracts to the most competitive bids  regardless of whether union labor is employed as long as other worker protections applied  in exchange for higher gas taxes and user fees to pay for the balance. Obamacare is a terrible burden on family budgets and federal finances. Insurance premiums are skyrocketing, and Americans pay about 50 percent more for health care than do the Germans and Dutch, who also have high-quality private insurance systems. Simply repealing the Affordable Care Act without preserving popular provisions, such as guaranteeing that no one can be denied insurance based on pre-existing conditions and subsidies for low- and moderate-income Americans, is a nonstarter. However, those aspects of the law are driving prices for drugs, hospital procedures and the like through the roof. The Germans recognize market disciplines are absent in most aspects of health care and freely apply price controls, but those are an anathema to most Republicans. Mr. Trump could offer Democrats continued assistance for low- and middle-income Americans in exchange for repealing mandates for businesses and individuals to purchase health insurance. And he could require Republicans to accept price controls as the condition for repealing those mandates while maintaining other popular provisions of the law. Such legislation could benchmark the prices Medicaid, Medicare and private insurers pay to service providers, drug manufacturers and the like to those charged by their German and Dutch counterparts. Progress on other tough issues like taxes, immigration and burdensome business regulations will also require significant fractions within both parties to cede cherished positions, but opportunities abound for genuine progress through mutual concessions and compromise from all sides. Thats all quite difficult. However, both Congress and the president-elect face the challenge of convincing voters they can do what ordinary Americans must do every day  be honest about facts and make tough, often painful choices to get things done. Dr. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. Home
Can Turkey and Israel reconcile? By Pinhas Inbari

Turkey and Israel signed a reconciliation agreement in June 2016, which was controversial in Israel. The agreement's main points are Israeli compensation for the families of those killed in the Marmara flotilla, the cancellation of Turkish claims against IDF soldiers, and Turkish access to Gaza. Before the ink had dried on the pact, Turkey was rocked by a coup attempt that failed. Then, Turkey was absorbed in the Iraq crisis when the anti-ISIS coalition and Shiite government in Baghdad launched an attack on Mosul, leaving Turkey out of the picture. Where do these events lead Israeli-Turkish relations? To answer, another question first must be addressed: Where is Turkey heading? Turkey is in the midst of defining its identity  as Turkish first or Muslim first with a "neo-Ottoman underpinning. If Turkey chooses its "Turkish" identity, a true Israeli-Turkish reconciliation may be possible, but if Erdogan chooses his neo-Ottoman Muslim path, obstacles may block the reconciliation. Their relations are also affected by Turkey's ties with the Palestinians, which have several dimensions: Turkey's ties with Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the reactions in Gaza and the West Bank to the developments involving Israel. There are also repercussions for Israel's gas deal, but this paper will not deal with them. Eyes on Gaza Turkey's entry into Gaza has several implications: A challenge to Turkey's enemies in the Middle East: Egypt and Iran. A challenge to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. The agreement on Gaza was reached behind the PA's back, and the opening of the Ashdod Port to Turkey means the PA has no access point to Gaza. For example, Egypt restricts the Rafah crossing by demanding that it be manned by personnel who are loyal to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Placing Gaza's rehabilitation in Turkey's hands pulls the rug out from under Europe's status  it was Europe (Norway in particular) that initiated the Gaza rehabilitation conference in Cairo  and from under the businesses that Ramallah chose to carry out the rehabilitation. Thus, with regard to weakening the PA, which is waging an all-out diplomatic assault on Israel, Turkey's entry into Gaza has its advantages. The same pertains to the possibility of making Ashdod Port a port of exit, which would relieve pressures in overcrowded Gaza. Undermining Europe's status also has its advantages given Europe's problematic positions toward Israel. There is, however, a problem involved in posing a challenge to Egypt, as well as Iran. While Egypt has grown very close to Israel, it is an enemy of Turkey and does not look favorably on Turkey's entry to Gaza. Challenging Iran, too, may have negative outcomes. If Iran feels threatened it may play a spoiler's role in Gaza, as has occurred in the past. Turkey's Involvement in Jerusalem and the West Bank Turkey is already well entrenched in east Jerusalem, acting without hindrance in the Israeli capital. Although currently there are no frictions between Turkey and Israel, they may well emerge, particularly in light of the elements that are cooperating with Turkey in east Jerusalem. Furthermore, Turkey's involvement is also likely to affect the West Bank. That poses a danger to the PA, but it also challenges Iran, which may support anti-Turkish groups by, for instance, facilitating Hizbullah/Shiite infiltration and strengthening the Popular Front and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; indeed this is already happening. In other words, Israel will find that the conflicts now tearing the Middle East apart are at its doorstep. The coup attempt shed new light on Turkish-Palestinian relations. Fatah and Hamas expressed common support for Erdogan, while Palestinian leftist organizations linked to Syria did not. The Popular Front and Islamic Jihad, which favor Iran, issued statements criticizing the Israeli-Turkish agreement. The statements claimed that Turkey had violated its commitment to remove the blockade from Gaza, and that its commitment not to prosecute the IDF officers is a fatal blow to the Palestinians' efforts to turn Israel into a war criminal. Fatah's representative in Lebanon, Abdullah Abdullah, leveled similar criticism at the agreement. Yet, unlike the pro-Iranian fronts, Fatah was pleased that the coup failed, as we shall see. Fatah's Abbas Zaki, a known Iran supporter, told Al Mayadeen TV in Lebanon that if Turkey abandons the Palestinians in the wake of the agreement with Israel, it will mark the end of the Palestinian issue. He expressed confidence that this will not happen, saying that the agreement is a fruit of circumstances that will change and that Turkey supports "every Palestinian" (and not only Hamas). Turkey and Hamas Although Turkey and Iran are the two regional powers with the greatest influence on Hamas, instead of coordinating the influence, they fight over it. The struggle between Turkey and Iran has also divided Hamas between Turkish supporters and Iranian supporters, with the pro-Turkish leadership linked to the West Bank and the pro-Iranian leadership situated in Gaza and Lebanon. The Turkish entry to Gaza disrupts these balances, and it is still too early to assess how this will affect Iran's behavior. Israel must pay attention to this issue because such struggles usually work to its detriment. One thing that has damaged Turkey's reputation in Gaza is the "blockade." Although Turkey has insisted that the "blockade" be lifted, the agreement on its use of Ashdod Port under Israeli supervision was understood as a concession on the blockade in return for direct Turkish benefits. In contrast to the pro-Iranian fronts, the pro-Turkish Hamas mouthpiece in Gaza, Al-Risala, published an interview with Hamas foreign relations chief, Osama Hamdan, in which he tried to defend the agreement. He said Turkey had not finished its struggle to get the blockade lifted and meanwhile had succeeded to have it "eased." Hamdan's statements are interesting because he is, in fact, considered a pro-Iranian Hamas official. Despite Hamas' public support for Turkey, Israeli Palestinian-affairs expert Alon Eviatar told the Galei Zahal radio station that Hamas did not look favorably on the agreement. Since Iran cut back its support for Hamas, Turkey has been its main support, and the organization has relied on Erdogan's backing in all of its struggles against Israel. The loss of that Turkish cushion will likely, in fact, lead to an escalation toward Israel aimed at creating a new equation. Before the agreement was signed, a Hamas source said that the movement put its trust in Turkey, was leaving it to Turkey to announce the details of the emerging agreement, and that Israel had also informed Turkey that it was interested in giving Turkey access to Gaza in order to ease the residents' lives and improve the infrastructures. Not long before the agreement was finalized, Ismail Haniyeh said11 Hamas had not conceded on a port: "No one does us favors, it is our right, and we will attain it by force." In other words, he was threatening a war that would create an equation whereby Gaza would be given a port. Haniyeh was probably briefed on the talks and drew up a "warning list" beforehand. He made the statements in a Gaza mosque on June 3, and the agreement was signed on June 27. The Hamas official most identified with Turkey is Khaled Mashal. He is not popular in Gaza, and the Gaza leadership's rejection of him leaves him to fight for his status in the West Bank, where he was born near Ramallah. At one stage he considered quitting the Hamas leadership. Turkey, however, talked him out of it. For one thing, it is not acceptable in the Muslim Brotherhood for a leader to step down; for another, Turkey saw Mashal as a key ally in promoting its aspirations in the West Bank. Turkey's support for Mashal has come to the fore in the initiation and planning of West Bank terror attacks. Mashal's right-hand man Saleh al-Aruri, also originally from the village of Aroura near Ramallah, has been the guiding hand of the attacks. The operational arm of Mashal's branch in Turkey was the Qawasmeh family in Hebron,13 and the terror attacks they perpetrated may have been meant to have a "spoiler" effect for Gaza at Israel's expense. It was the kidnapping of three young Israelis in Gush Etzion14 in the West Bank that led to Operation Protective Edge, which inflicted huge damage on Gaza and created the need for the rehabilitation effort there. Israel insisted that Turkey close the Hamas offices there and expel Aruri and his associates. It is not clear whether this has really happened.15 New reports suggest that the office still exists. The Palestinian faction that supports the Gulf States, headed by Muhammad Dahlan, opposed the Israeli-Turkish reconciliation. It was undoubtedly impelled to do so by the Gulf States, which oppose the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar, and Turkey. Impact on the PA Municipal Elections Turkey's entry into Gaza has no influence on the municipal elections there, directly or indirectly, but it does indirectly influence the West Bank elections. Hamas' problem in West Bank elections has been that its operatives are revealed to the Israel Security Agency (Shabak) and to the Palestinian security mechanisms. That was a mistake Hamas made in the 2006 elections. The Israeli-Turkish agreement led Hamas to believe that Turkey would protect the election results and would not allow Israel and the PA to cancel them as they did in 2006. It is very possible that Erdogan and Mashal agreed on these matters during the Israeli-Turkish talks. Meanwhile, though, two things happened that were likely to alter Hamas' view of the West Bank elections, and they are both connected to Turkey. One was the coup attempt, which distracted Turkey from the Palestinian issue as it focused on its internal struggles instead, including the supreme priority it accords to the Kurdish problem. The other was Israel's arrest of the Hamas representative on the elections committee, Hussein Abu Kweik of the el-Amari camp in Ramallah. The arrest made clear to Hamas that Turkey would not provide protection to Hamas representatives who are elected, and that if they are removed and arrested as occurred after the 2006 elections, there is no power that can shield the election results, including Turkey. The fact that Turkey's involvement was on the agenda at all, however, also prompted Iran to get involved. According to some reports it has supported the pro-Assad leftist organizations, such as the Popular Front, and foiled Hamas' attempts to create a joint list with them. Palestinians Support for Erdogan against the Rebels Despite the fact that at this stage Turkey is not involved in the West Bank, the enthusiastic responses from both Fatah and Hamas to Erdogan's quashing of the coup will strengthen Turkey's desire to widen and deepen its involvement in Jerusalem and in the West Bank as well. Fatah's support is expressed on its members' Facebook pages. For example, one of them wrote: "If Turkey leaves the regional equation, the result will be Israeli-Iranian hegemony in the region." The Big Problem: East Jerusalem The real difficulty likely to arise between Turkey and Israel, however, concerns east Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Turkey has ties with the most extreme elements, such as former mufti Akrama Sabri, inciter Raed Salah, and Hamas. If it decides to protect them against Israel to assume leadership of the "al-Aqsa is in danger" campaign, thereby promoting its status as a regional Islamic power, Israel will find itself facing a problem. Thus, the future of Israeli-Turkish relations depends on the question: will the reconciliation with Israel, along with the lessons of the failed rebellion against him, lead Erdogan to be less "Islamic" and more "Turkish?" In other words, will he prefer Turkey's interests as a state to those of the Muslim Brotherhood? Pinhas Inbari is a veteran Arab affairs correspondent who formerly reported for Israel Radio and Al Hamishmar newspaper, and currently serves as an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Home
On the 200th anniversary of the founding of the University of Warsaw (November 19, 1816) By Mark Wegierski

The official founding date of the University of Warsaw is November 19, 1816. It was established as part of the partial autonomy which the Poles had under the Russian Empire at that time, in the so-called Congress Kingdom of Poland. (The name of that territory was derived from the Congress of Vienna, where Europes post-Napoleonic boundaries were decided.) Unfortunately, the rights of Poles in the Russian Empire were continually curtailed, and, after the 1860s, the Tsarist Empire endeavoured to forcibly russify the Poles. Only the Russian language was permitted in all the state institutions and apparatus, as well as public and commercial signage, of the former Congress Kingdom. Indeed, the very name of Poland was to be eradicated  the Poles were ordered to call themselves Privislentsi. Active Polish patriots faced severe jail terms  or deportation to Siberia  or were executed outright. So for a number of decades, the University of Warsaw functioned as an entirely Russian university. Finally, in 1918, Poland regained her independence, after 123 years of Partition (frequently harsh foreign occupation under Tsarist Russia, Prussia/Germany, and the Habsburg Empire). The interwar Poland got underway with great dynamism and numerous successes, especially in academic and cultural endeavours. Then, in September 1939, Hitlers Nazi Germany and Stalins Soviet Union  united by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact  launched a ferocious assault on Poland. The murders of Polish intelligentsia  and of Poles of all classes  began from the first days of the war. Under the German occupation, all Polish higher education was shut down, and had to go underground. The Germans saw Poles as fit only for slave labour, and the Polish intelligentsia was to be exterminated. The buildings of the University of Warsaw were used as a fortified outpost by the Germans. Indeed, during the fateful Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the Polish insurgents failed to capture those buildings, despite fierce fighting. Over 240,000 Poles perished during the suppression of the Uprising, most of the city was reduced to rubble, and the remaining population of the city was deported to concentration camps. It was one of the most terrible fates to be suffered by any city during the Second World War. Nevertheless, with the Soviets bringing so-called liberation, Poles threw themselves enthusiastically into rebuilding Warsaw. Many professors and researchers (of those who had survived) arrived from the excellent Polish universities of eastern Poland  that area being swallowed into the Soviet Union, with the Stalin-mandated boundary shifts. There was a few years respite until the late 1940s, when Stalinism became ever more tightly enforced in Polish academic institutions, and in Polish society as a whole. It was only as a result of The Thaw after late 1956 (also sometimes called the Polish October) under the leadership of Wladyslaw Gomulka, that Stalinism was finally relaxed, and the Communist regime could be considered as polonized. While certain topics and themes were clearly taboo, the academic system was not harsh and grinding in the enforcement of Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy, as during the Stalinist period. The student protests of 1968 in Poland began and were mostly focused on the University of Warsaw. The crises of 1968-1970 profoundly affected the universities, but the Communist system was able to stabilize with the coming to power of Edward Gierek. Indeed, he inaugurated an era of can do spirit and relative prosperity. By the late 1970s, however, the situation had soured. During the Solidarity period of 1980-1981, there was a flowering of Polish academic and cultural life, with almost no one believing in Soviet Communism anymore. Indeed, it had to be enforced on Poland at the point of a gun (Communist General Jaruzelskis declaration of martial law on December 13, 1981). 1989 was clearly another watershed, and, in the 1990s, there was an incredible expansion of higher education in Poland. Indeed, the number of students attending public and private universities and colleges in Poland has been reaching ever-higher levels with every year. There has been an incredible boom in private colleges since the 1990s. Also, there have been numerous State Higher Schools of Vocational Learning established. However, the ever-higher tuition costs for some studies (as well as the high costs of living in the major university towns), and high levels of poverty in Poland, may mean that above-average but not stellar students, from less affluent families, may not get the chance to attend university. There is also a major trend to political correctness and probably too much emphasis on E.U. guidelines in some institutions of higher learning, resulting in less and less Polish patriotic spirit. A parallel trend is the excessive stress on career-related business and technical studies, rather than on what could be seen as a better-rounded education in liberal arts such as philosophy, history, and literature (at least for part of ones pre-professional studies). I recall that on Friday, September 27, 2002, I had travelled with my female relative from Ciechocinek, the spa and resort town at which I was staying during the late summer and early autumn of 2002, southwestward to Lodz, the second-largest city in Poland. She drove a compact yet elegant Peugeot 206. Ciechocinek lies about two hundred kilometers northwest of Warsaw. She was going to pick up the formal graduation papers associated with the Masters degree she had just completed, at the Wojskowa Akademia Medyczna (Military Medical Academy) in Lodz. There was some urgency to the matter, as the WAM was merging with another institution to become the Uniwersytet Medyczny (Medical University) in Lodz. The WAM had been open to civilian students for a number of years, and my relative had completed a Masters in Public Health on a part-time basis. As we sat in the car in front of the guard-house entrance to the university, I recalled her complaints, in earlier telephone conversations, about the long trips to classes she had to take from the environs of Ciechocinek, where she lives, to Lodz, often in inclement weather. The WAM campus consisted of several large buildings constructed in what I thought to be a 1920s, Neoclassical style. I still remember the pleasant sunshine and warm weather at the time of our trip there, on that day in September. Among her other studies, my relative has completed a Licentiate (the Polish equivalent of a B.A.) in Cosmetology, at the Rydygier Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz, Poland. There was some controversy when that Medical Academy proposed to merge with the Nicolaus Copernicus Univeristy (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika  UMK) in Torun  since the city administration of Bydgoszcz had hoped that the Rydygier Medical Academy could have become part of a major new university in Bydgoszcz itself. Indeed, the Rydygier Medical Academy became the Medical College of Nicolaus Copernicus University. Nevertheless, a few years later, there was a major university established in Bydgoszcz  Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego (UKW) (University of King Casimir the Great). Having reached Lodz, we then continued southward to Czestochowa, where most of my relatives immediate family  including her mother, sister, and brother  live, in a fairly big house with a large yard, on the citys outskirts. Driving around Czestochowa, we noticed the large, elegant building of the Akademia Polonijna (Polonia University), a major new private college, which is very well-regarded  as seen, for example, in its high place in the annual college rankings put out jointly by the large-circulation newspaper, Rzeczpospolita (The Republic) and Perspektywy (Perspectives), a major magazine for students. The Akademia Polonijna has set, as one of its missions, extensive cultural and scholarly interaction with persons of Polish descent living abroad, as well as documentation of the various cultural and patriotic achievements of the various Polonia communities. (Polonia is the term often used in the Polish language to describe Polish communities outside of Poland.) The combination of the activities of the Akademia Polonijna may, indeed, be seen as felicitous. Since we had arrived unannounced at her familys house, we decided to go for supper to Zornica, an elegant restaurant (and inn) on the southern outskirts of Czestochowa, built in the style of the Goral (Polish Mountaineer) architecture. Although, at six P.M., the place was rather empty, my dish was nevertheless tasty, consisting of pork medallions baked with mountaineer cheese and mushrooms, along with spicy roast potatoes, on a bed of sauerkraut. We went back to the house for tea and cake, and then started the long trip back to Ciechocinek at about 8 P.M. In a feat of driving I thought incredible, we got back to Ciechocinek somewhere after midnight. Many young people (as well as some persons in middle age) in Poland today, face the problem that, although they may in fact have very good training in a technical or business field, jobs for them simply dont exist. The unemployed graduate of Management and Marketing studies in Poland is a virtual cliche. The nationwide average of unemployment was for many years around twenty percent, and was actually somewhat higher for young people, and in certain regions, such as the southeast. And, in fact, two to three million Poles (especially younger people), have actually left since 2004, emigrating mostly to Great Britain, Ireland, and other E.U. countries. Those Polish politicians who can somehow improve the employment situation in Poland, in a way that will be sustainable over the long run, can expect to receive major support from the people of Poland. Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based writer and historical researcher. Home
Make money great again: Vote for gold



By Guy Christopher

Who could possibly have predicted the astounding results of the November 8th presidential election? A lot of folks, it turns out. Better than 60 million at last count. But that doesn't include highly paid, and obviously over-paid, pollsters. And it doesn't include "journalists," who showered their elitist agendas on television screens, in newsprint headlines and across cyberspace during the 17-month presidential campaign. In short, those posing as experts predicting the future blew it. And they blew it "big league," both before and after the election. "No question  markets are going to tank all over the world," said top experts at Yahoo Finance, during online, streaming coverage election night. Stock markets instead went straight up for two days before modestly retreating. Yahoo was not alone with that post-election financial advice. True to form, every business reporter in town got it dead wrong. Curiously, not one dared repeat Trump's constant drumbeat to his supporters  "stay out of this dangerous stock market!" Trump's politically-incorrect bond with his supporters was aptly captured by columnist Peggy Noonan. "There was no state-of-the-art get-out-the-vote efforthis voters got themselves out. There was no high-class, high-tech identifying of supportersthey identified themselves. It somehow makes it more beautiful that few saw it coming." Donald Trump's victory in the face of pitifully wrong predictions is historic, but far from unique or unprecedented, despite what press and pundits would have you believe. The 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" has been the poster child for 68 years for deplorable journalism and pathetic polling. Now, Newsweek has taken the Dumb & Dumber Award for its cover sporting a smiling Hillary Clinton as "Madam President." That issue was planned, printed and distributed days before the election. Quickly recalled, surviving copies are going for hundreds on eBay as collector items. Dead Wrong Pollsters... You're Fired! Lesser known is the polling and reporting surrounding Louisiana's 1956 gubernatorial election. Earl K. Long, brother to Huey "Kingfish" Long, was a corrupt but beloved rascal who once ushered a herd of farm animals onto the floor of the Louisiana legislature to make his point. His shameless dalliance with Bourbon Street stripper Blaze Starr was merely the highlight in a constant stream of public embarrassments, fancifully portrayed in the movie "Blaze" starring Paul Newman. Long was even committed to a Louisiana mental institution while in office. He escaped by firing the head of the hospital and hiring a new medical chief, who quickly certified Long as sane and fit for office. "Uncle Earl" won his third term in 1956 in an unexpected landslide. Portrayed as a backwoods hick by his silk-stocking opponents, with the press pounding him every day, he wiped them all out in the primary  no runoff election was needed. No one saw that coming. "The day before the election you couldn't find anybody who says he was voting for me," crowed Uncle Earl. "And today, after my landslide, you can't find anybody who says he voted for me." The media's most astounding back flip comes from the New York Times, this nation's supposed "newspaper of record," decidedly pro-Clinton throughout the campaign, which headlined Clinton's prospects of winning at 86% five days before the election. Publisher Arthur Sulzberger was cowed into publicly "rededicating" The Times to "honest, unbiased reporting." One of Sulzberger's editors had publicly admonished him to "change your focus" from telling readers what and how to think to what readers actually think  to stop "pushing the limited agenda of your editors." One salient post-election observation comes from Craig Hemke of the TF Metals Report in a Money Metals podcast interview three days after the votes were counted. Predictions, says Hemke, are "a fool's errand  people thinking that they know one day after Trump was elected what's going to happen now." So, what can we, at least, strongly expect? On the economic front, Donald Trump has promised individual and corporate tax cuts, accelerated energy development, and new infrastructure spending, all meant to grow jobs. His promise to rebuild the military will hike government spending and may be offset by reducing overseas commitments. but his solemn promise to repeal Obamacare has already been walked back to "parts of Obamacare." Ditto the walk back from his signature "severe" immigration restrictions. Make no mistake  Donald Trump is not a small-government guy. Never was and may never be. Based on his preference for "smart trade" over free trade, we may see "smarter government," but it won't be smaller government. Trump and His Advisors Have Made Positive Noises about Gold Trump was one of the few candidates to hint at being a champion of gold, saying "how great" a gold standard would be. He has top advisers who favor a refreshed and modern look at gold in the monetary picture. But sound money advocates should not leave designing their own personal gold standard to others. Neither government nor media has been a friend to sound money for some 80 years now. In fact, anyone ever doubting the wisdom of his own course should now be convinced never to leave critical analysis to dead-wrong government, to dead-wrong journalism, or to dead-wrong pollsters. Sound money advocates should look to what they know protects wealth. Five thousand years of gold and silver are winners, no matter who is preparing to get into the White House, or who is scheming to get out of the nut house. Money Metals columnist Guy Christopher is a veteran writer living on the Gulf Coast. A retired investigative journalist, published author, and former stockbroker, Christopher has taught college as an adjunct professor and is a veteran of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. This essay originally appeared on Money Metals Exchange. Home
INTERVIEW with Eduard Kukan (Member of European Parliament and former Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister)

EUBULLETIN: Which countries in the Western Balkans are currently the closest to joining the European Union?

Eduard Kukan: If you look at the current situation in the accession negotiations in Western Balkans, the frontrunner is clearly Montenegro. This country started the negotiations two years ago and it already closed several preliminary chapters and more new chapters are being opened. Although the Serbs dont like it very much but it is clear that Montenegro is a true leader in the negotiation process. The Serbs dont like the fact that we call Montenegro the leader  there is basically some kind of historical rivalry between these two countries like between the Czechs and Slovaks. (laughing)

And the second is Serbia, which is also in the process of going through the accession negotiations, several chapters were opened but the process will be difficult and more complicated because of the Kosovo issue. Some EU Member States are even asking Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, and although there is not any official EU document that would request Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, it is still a difficult issue. What everybody is calling upon Serbia to do is to regulate and normalize the relationship with Kosovo. Yes, they reached an agreement about the normalization and now they should implement what has been agreed. So, this is an additional burden for Serbia, which would make it to take a longer time for this country to become an EU member.

EUBULLETIN: Why are, in your view, the other candidates for the EU membership lagging behind?

Eduard Kukan: Montenegro and Serbia are the only two countries, which are negotiating now. Turkey is also involved in the EU accession negotiations but we should put this country into a completely different category. It would be good if also Albania could join these negotiations. Albania already has the candidate country status and, provided they deliver on some reforms this year, they would get the date when they could also start the accession negotiations. So, these are the countries that we could expect to sooner or later become the next new members of the European family  but this will take time, eight years or nine years, but not earlier.

EUBULLETIN: You mentioned Montenegro being a frontrunner in the accession negotiations and Serbia lagging behind. But do you see as one of the problems with Serbia the fact that this countrys political elite clearly has conflicting allegiances? They appear to be somewhat divided about whether Serbia should align itself more with the EU or Russia?

Eduard Kukan: I firmly believe that Serbia is going to the European Union  thats what we hear from the Serbian leaders, especially with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic who is the most influential politician there and the way he explains it makes us believe that he sincerely wants his country to be a member of the European Union. But the issues you mentioned that they are sometimes cooperating closer with Russia, they have the argument that if they would cut their economic relations with Russia, then that would be very difficult for them. I dont think that all these arguments, which they are using, are valid. I think that the EU should be more strict with Serbia because even if it dont apply sanctions against Russia saying that Serbia is not a member of the European Union, well this is ok but you would still expect from the country, which is preparing to join our EU family, that it would behave more friendly and be closer to us and not to the other side. I hope that Serbia will make the right choice in the future.

EUBULLETIN: The last question concerns the migration crisis. To what extent, do you think, has the fact that hundreds of thousands of these migrants have transited through the Western Balkans can destabilize this region, particularly in light of the fact that many of the Muslim migrants have stayed in these economically vulnerable countries along the way?

Eduard Kukan: I think this is a question or an issue that we should be worried about  I think we should take it seriously. Unless we pay a proper attention and use the necessary measures to keep the situation under control, we can face a very dangerous situation in the future. So, I think this is a difficult problem and the European Union should really provide all the necessary assistance to its partners in the Western Balkans to cope with the situation because it is a big burden for them.

Dr Eduard Kukan has been a Member of the European Parliament where he has been also serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1999, he was appointed United Nations Special Envoy on Kosovo by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, a role he held alongside Carl Bildt. From 1998 to 2006, Dr. Kukan was the Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister. He graduated from Comenius Universitys Faculty of Law and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
Outgoing US President Obama has visited Europe one last time to discuss the concerns regarding President-Elect, Donald Trump. Both the United States and the European Union have used this chance to reaffirm their commitment to the unity of the NATO military alliance and sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Barack Obama met with his French, German, Italian, British and Spanish counterparts in Berlin.

It was the first US-EU summit since the US election and President Obama tried to soothe the looming worries over Donald Trumps promises to withdraw from the US military commitment to ensure Europes security under NATO as well as his remarks on warming up the US ties with Russia despite the Kremlins controversial involvement in Syria and Ukraine. In some of Mr Trumps comments, he called the Alliance obsolete and said that Washington may only defend those states that were attacked if they had paid their NATO dues.

NATO General Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, tried to ease tensions too by saying that he had spoken to President-Elect and congratulated him on the victory. Mr Stoltenberg also said that he understood Mr Trumps concerns about military spending and burden-sharing across the Atlantic. He added that a more balanced burden-sharing was necessary between the United States and Europe. Its not viable in the long run that the United States pays 70 percent of the total defense spending of NATO, he said.

NATO was not the only point on the agenda. The US President and European leaders also raised their concerns over Syria. They said that attacks on the city of Aleppo by Syrian government troops and Russia should be immediately halted. They also stressed that the sanctions against Moscow must remain in place until the Kremlin fully implements the Minsk Accords.
Written by ACM



*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- European Court of Human Rights' new President, Guido Raimondi, speaking to "Eurofora" in the CoE, almost at the Same Time that a Final Push was reportedly prepared at Crucial Nearby UN sponsored Top level Talks for the ReUnification of Cyprus, on the Geneva-lake's "Pilgrim Mountain", stressed that, in his view, we should all "Trust CoE's Committee of Ministers" for the Implementation of ECHR's Judgements on Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons.



That key Human Rights issue, (which affects an estimated 190.000 of Greek Cypriots obliged to flee from their Family Homes, private Properties and Ancestral Land, since the 1974 Turkey's Military Invasion and Occupation, and still Hindered to Return, not even hav Access to their belongings, Despite a well established ECHR case law, already since 1996 and 2001, etc, in Both Individual and Inter-State cases, more Recently Coonfirmed and Further Explicitated in more Concrete Terms also by a Landmark 2014 Decision of ECHR's Great Chamber), is currently at the Focus of still on-going UN sponsored Inter-Communal Talks at nearby Switzerland, particularly in relation with an Expected Agreement on Territory, that might, Hopefuly, open a road for a Multilateral Internatiobal Summit, due to deal with the Security Issues for a Comprehensive Political Solution, according to pertinent UN SC Resolutions, EU Law, and CoE's Values and Rules.



Raimondi had earlier said that, nowadays, the CoE is Advancing quite well in the process of Developing Adequate "Tools" in order to Ensure, also in Real Practice, that ECHR's Decisions can be Taken nd Implemented on Time.



But Turkey is the Only "Western" world-oriented Country which has an Exceptionaly High Number of ECHR Judgements still Pending for Execution, for Many Years, most of which concern "Serious Violations of Human Rights", (Unlike f.ex. Italy, whose Delays concern, Comparatively, much more Lenient matters), he acknowledged.



Another, and much More Tragic Human Rights Issue, still Pending for Execution of ECHR Judgements which have Condemned Turkey's Authorities too, is that of about1.500 Greek Cypriot "MISSING" Persons, Strasbourg University's Professor at International Law, and Experienced former Long-Time EU Council's Legal Director in Brussels, Jean-Paul Jacque observed spontaneously, speaking also to "Eurofora", earlier this Noon.



But, particularly since a 1997 Inter-Communal Agreement, brokered also during Cyprus' Talks under UN auspices at nearby Switzerland, in Montreux/Glyon city, (by a Symbolic Coincidence, very Close to nowadays' "Pilgrim Mountain" Top level Talks, oriented the "Missing" Persons' Human Rights matters among the so-called "Humanitarian" affairs, i.e. out of the mainly Political Top Talks.



Meanwhile, ECHR has notoriously Condemned Ankara's authorities repeatedly for "Continuous" Violations of Both Refugees/Displaced Persons and "Missing"Persons and their Families' Human Rights, CoE's Committee of Ministers, whose Statutory Duty is to "Supervise the Execution of ECHR's Judgements", hasn't yet taken any really Convincing Measures vis a vis Turkey's reluctactance to act, except from several official "Calls", "Appeals", and other "Resolutions", which had a rather Limited Result until now, since Ankara still persists to drag it feet, (Comp., f<;ex., recently : ....).



President Raimondi, reminded, however, that, in Addition to certain Individual Measures, whenever a CoE's Member State is Condemned for Violations which "Reveal also a mich Wider, "Structural" Problem, then, it must also take some Sufficient "General Measures".







+ But, Experienced, former CoE's Secretary General, Catherine Lalumiere of France, (a Socialist University Professor, from the same Governing Party as French President Hollande), who had Earlier observed, Criticaly, the Fact that a really Efficient Implementation of ECHR's Judgements "required also Political Will", added Now, in Reply to a relevant "Eurofora" Question, that, in her view, CoE's Committee of Ministers' above mentioned Statutory Duty in itself, wasn't always enough in order to ensure a Serious and Timely Implementation of ECHR's Judgements, but it was "Also Something Else, that was Needed" for that purpose, in fact.





Lalumiere said that, also at the CoE, just 1 Day before Cyprus takes over the rotating Presidency of the PanEuropean Organhisation of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, Tomorrow in Strasbourg, Tuesday 22 November 2016, in a Special Event of its 47 Member States strong Committee of Ministers, for which, the Experienced, Long-Time Cypriot Foreign Minister and former EU Parliament's MEP, Ioanis Kasulides, has just Arrived from Switzerland to France.



The Exceptional Importance of that Event is obvious also from the Fact that the Latest Time that Cyprus' Chaired the CoE was ...More than 22 Years Ago, on 1994-1995, (Comp. "Eurofora" co(Founder's various Publications from then).



Cyprus' CoE Presidency durates from November 2016 up to May 2017, included. But, as far as ECHR Judgements' Implementation is concerned, following an Established Practice, it will pass over that Specific Chair to Denmark, who will be its Successor at the General, Committee of Ministers' Chairmanship, approximatively from June 2017.

+++ However, CoE's Director General for Legal affairs and Human Rights, Philippe Boillat from Swiitzerland, speaking Previously with "Eurofora", revealed that CoE's Committee of Ministers, which had recently, Suspended, exceptionaly, any Further Examination of the Issue of ECHR Judgements Implementation in the cases of Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced Persons, had only done so, in order to "Help" the UN sponsored InterCommunal, Top level Talks, at nearby Switzerland, to Hopefuly Advance towards an Agreement for Cyprus' ReUnification, which would appropriately include also that Human Rights' Issue.



=> We (CoE) are Following how that situation evolves, and, naturaly, if there is not sufficient Progress made there, we are Ready to Resume Consideration on that matter, and possibly Take adequate Action, Boillat warned then, in Reply to a relevant Question raised by "Eurofora", while the PanEuropean Organisation's Committee of Ministers has, in parallel, Fixed already a Date in order to Re-Open anew the Greek Cypriot Refugees/Displaced persons' issue as far as the Long-Awaited Implementation, by Turkey, of ECHR Judgements is concerned, during the First Months of 2017.





(../..)



***



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Qualifying School

The DP World Tour Qualifying School will return for the first time in three years in 2022. Since its inception in 1976, Q School has been providing players from all over the world with a platform to earn their place on Europes top tier for the 2023 season.
My new book, Hitlers Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich, is out today, so I know I am going to hear a refrain Ive heard before when my earlier books were published: Darwinism (they will say) not only did not serve as an important component of Nazi ideology, but Darwinism was banned from Nazi Germany.

This notion that Darwinism was banned in Nazi Germany is pretty widespread on blogs, especially those by atheists and freethinkers. For instance, a blog called Skeptical Science states emphatically: Fact: Darwins books were banned in Nazi Germany, not endorsed. A blogger on Patheos claimed that the Nazis burned copies of the Origin of Species. The famous atheist Christopher Hitchens once responded to a question about the link between Darwinism and Nazism by replying, Darwins thought was not taught in Germany. Darwinism was derided in Germany, along with every other form of unbelief. University of Chicago historian Robert Richards in his book, Was Hitler a Darwinian? agrees that Darwinism was persona non grata in Nazi Germany.

If we want to know whether Darwinism was taught or banned in Nazi Germany, the logical place to start would be to look at the schools and universities. The Nazis were zealous about controlling the educational institutions, so they could inculcate their ideology into the minds of the youth.

What was in the official Nazi biology curriculum and the textbooks? As it turns out, the Nazi Ministry of Education published curricular guidelines in 1938, and the biology curriculum mandated extensive teaching about evolution. Further, the National Socialist Teachers League developed a biology curriculum in 1936-37. Of the ten major topics covered in the higher grades, one was biological evolution and another was human evolution. I have examined numerous biology textbooks published in Nazi Germany, which were approved by the Nazi Ministry of Education, and they uniformly taught Darwinian evolution, devoting considerable attention to it in the higher grades.

What about the universities? Were Darwinian biologists and anthropologists demoted or promoted there? Most biologists and anthropologists at German universities embraced Darwinism before the Nazis came to power, but the Nazi regime continued to appoint Darwinists to biology and anthropology professorships. Karl Astel, whom the Nazis appointed professor of human genetics and later promoted to rector (equivalent of president) of the University of Jena, was an avid Darwinist. He was also an SS officer who wanted to turn the University of Jena into a fully Nazified university. In order to accomplish this goal, he received Himmlers help in recruiting the biologist and SS officer Gerhard Heberer as a professor of human evolution at the University of Jena. Nazis appointed many other Darwinian biologists and anthropologists to professorships, too.

If we examine the Nazi press, we find that the official Nazi newspaper, magazines, and journals occasionally published articles favorable to Darwinism. Der Biologe, the official journal for biology teachers, was taken over by the SS and regularly published articles promoting Darwinism and bashing creationism. One of these articles was by Konrad Lorenz, a later Nobel Prize winner, who argued that Darwinism was a firm basis for Nazi racial ideology. Articles against Darwinism were nowhere to be found in the Nazi press.

Where, then, did this myth of the Nazis banning Darwin arise? As with many myths, there is a small element of truth, but it was wrenched from its context and blown out of proportion. In 1935 a minor official overseeing the libraries of Saxony published an article in a journal for librarians, in which he recommended banning certain categories of books. One category was: Works of worldview or biological character whose content is the superficial scientific enlightenment of a primitive Darwinism and monism (Haeckel and those emulating him, as well as Ostwald). Note that the target was primitive Darwinism and monism, not Darwinism per se. Also, the only two authors mentioned were Ernst Haeckel and Wilhelm Ostwald, not Darwin nor any of the myriad of other Darwinists who continued to publish pro-Darwinian science books and articles throughout the Nazi period.

Worse yet for those who base their argument on this supposed ban, there is no evidence that this ban ever took place, despite this one article (by a low-level functionary in a relatively obscure journal). Indeed, other articles published later in the same journal approvingly reviewed books with heavy doses of Darwinism, so clearly Darwinism was not banned.

Not even Haeckel was banned in Nazi Germany. Indeed, some books lauding Haeckel were published in Germany during the Nazi period and received positive reviews in the Nazi press. In 1943, twenty-nine books by Haeckel published by five different publishers were still in print, including his two most important works, Naturliche Schopfungsgeschichte (Natural History of Creation) and Weltratsel (Riddle of the Universe). Also, in 1941 Heberer and Astel formed the Ernst Haeckel Society and recruited professors from all over Germany to join. Before doing this, they asked the Nazi Gauleiter (district leader) Fritz Sauckel to be the honorary head. He consulted Martin Bormann and Alfred Rosenberg, both of whom gave him the green light. Apparently these high-ranking Nazis did not get the memo that Haeckel was banned.

Now, none of this proves that Hitlers ideology relied on Darwinism. For that evidence, you should read my new book, Hitlers Religion, which provides plenty of evidence that Hitlers worldview was Darwinian. But the myth of the Nazis banning Darwin does show how desperate the counterarguments of my critics are.

Richard Weikart is professor of history at California State University, Stanislaus, Senior Fellow at Discovery Institutes Center for Science & Culture, and author most recently of Hitlers Religion and The Death of Humanity: And the Case for Life.

Photo: Charles Darwin from the Darwin observador, Darwin naturalista exhibition, CosmoCaixa, Barcelona, by Eduard Sola (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
The centre has been launched on a pilot basis with the aim to provide a holistic approach to address the inter-connected issues of poor hygiene, lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation in urban areas

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has unveiled an urban water, hygiene and sanitation community centre in Azad Nagar, Ghatkopar, one of the largest slum areas in Mumbai. HUL CEO and MD Sanjiv Mehta recently inaugurated the centre.

Named Suvidha, this centre is a purpose-built, sustainable community centre which addresses the hygiene needs of low income urban households, who face severe challenges due to lack of infrastructure and facilities. Suvidha provides toilets with flush, handwashing facilities with soap, clean showers, safe drinking water and state-of-the-art laundry operations at an affordable cost. Suvidha will cater to over 1,500 people living in the area.

The Suvidha centre has been launched on a pilot basis with the aim to provide a holistic approach to address the inter-connected issues of poor hygiene, lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation in urban areas.

Mehta said, There is an urgent need for innovative solutions that work at scale to address the challenges of rapid urbanisation in India, particularly for the less privileged sections of society. Suvidha is a unique community initiative that aims to address the key challenge of providing people with easy and affordable access to quality hygiene and sanitation facilities in a sustainable manner. The centre would not have been possible without the support of Pratha Samajik Sanstha, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the local community.

Suvidha uses circular economy principles to reduce water use. Fresh water is first used for brushing teeth, bathing, handwashing and laundry while the waste water from these activities becomes the input for flushing toilets. This will help save an estimated 10 million litres of water per annum.

The launch of Suvidha on World Toilet Day (November 19) reinforces Unilevers commitment to helping 25 million people gain improved access to toilets by 2020. Together with its partners, Unilever has helped over five million people gain access to a toilet through behaviour change interventions and capacity building initiatives since 2012. Even in Bihar, HULs Domex Toilet Academies (DTAs), in partnership with PSI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have helped build over 70,000 toilets in rural households impacting 350,000 people.

Last year, HUL also launched the Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat (Clean Habits Clean India) programme in line with the Government of Indias Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) to promote good health and hygiene practices. The Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat programme educates people on the need to adopt three simple but good habits  washing hands five times a day, using toilets for defecation and adopting safe drinking water practices.

These initiatives are in line with the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan global ambition of helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being.

Read more news about (marketing news, latest marketing news,internet marketing, marketing India, digital marketing India, media marketing India, advertising news)
New research provides an explanation of why high levels of earth elements, vital for digital technologies, are found at the Songwe Hill Rare Earth Project.

New research in Malawi will help to secure raw materials for green technologies.

Pioneering new insights into why high concentrations of some of the most rare and desirable natural elements - vital for the production of vital environmental, digital and security technologies  have been revealed.

Pivotal new collaborative research, led by the world-famous Camborne School of Mines, provides a ground-breaking explanation of why remarkably high levels of these crucial earth elements are found at the Songwe Hill Rare Earth Project in Malawi, Southeast Africa.

The research team insisted that the new findings could pave the way for mining companies to significantly increase the likelihood of enhancing the global security of the supply of critical, yet rare, earth elements.

The innovative findings are published in the respected journal Ore Geology Reviews.

At present, many of the 15 naturally occurring rare earth elements are essential components in the vast majority of green and digital technology production and advances.

These include neodymium, a light rare earth element vital for the production of permanent magnets in electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones; and heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium, europium and terbium which are used in lighting, anti-fraud and safety technologies.

However, all 15 are considered as critical raw materials by the European Union, due to risks of disruption to the supply by the dominant global producer, China.

The new research reveals that the Songwe Hill carbonatite - an igneous rock containing at least 50 per cent carbonate minerals  is composed not just of the relatively common rare earth mineral synchysite, but also the heavy rare earth-enriched variety of the mineral apatite.

This apatite is the key to why Songwe has a higher content of heavy rare earths than most other similar types of carbonatite host rock.

Dr Sam Broom-Fendley, lead author of the study said: The occurrence of heavy rare earth rich apatite is particularly uncommon in carbonatites. Our work indicates that you need to simmer these rocks in hot fluids to cause heavy rare earth enrichment. This is particularly useful as combined extraction of both light rare earth minerals and the heavy rare earth rich apatite creates a well-balanced deposit potentially suitable to support the growing magnetics industry.

The research team employed a variety of techniques including cathodoluminescence, laser ablation and electron microprobe analysis, to unravel the sequence of events that formed the rare mineral apatite. It was conducted in collaboration with the UK / Canadian exploration company Mkango Resources, who are working predominantly in Malawi.

William Dawes, CEO of Mkango Resources and co-author of the paper adds: Mkango is very pleased to have collaborated on this pioneering research into heavy rare earth enrichment at Songwe. Our focus is on developing a new sustainable source of light and heavy rare earths outside China. Pushing the boundaries of research into rare earths through collaborations with leaders in the field is a core theme of the companys strategy.

Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at Camborne School of Mines said, A better understanding how and where heavy rare earths can be concentrated helps exploration companies improve their deposit models and increases the chances of a new rare earth deposit coming into production.

The research was funded by the UKs Natural Environment Research Council, including its Security of Supply of Minerals programme.
Currently it's pass at B1 or higher, though that's always subject to change.

No more IHS for settlement.

You have to make a separate application for naturalisation, but you can do so as soon as you get your ILR, provided you meet the residence requirement (no more that 270 days away from UK during the last 3 years, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months).
A record number of Texans are projected to hop in the car or on an airplane to reach their Thanksgiving holiday destination amid low gas prices and growing consumer confidence, according to a new forecast by AAA Texas.

The auto group projects that 3.9 million Texans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving travel season, about 160,000, or 4.3 percent, more than last year. AAA Texas says this will be the largest volume of turkey day travelers since the 2008 financial crisis.

Nationwide, about 48.7 million people are expected to travel this week, up 1.9 percent from last year, according to AAA.

Carving out time to share with friends and family is a tradition for many people, Rhonda Wilson, AAA Texas vice president of branch operations, said in a statement. Most Texans will reach their Thanksgiving dinner tables by taking a tried and true holiday road trip, but some will also fly, take a bus or set off on a cruise to celebrate with loved ones.

Travelers will embark on their trips amid signs of a steadily improving U.S. economy. Employers added 161,000 workers in October as the national unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent, according to the Labor Department. Average hourly earnings also rose, by 2.8 percent. Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent last month as businesses here added 13,700 jobs, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday.

About 3.5 million of those Texas travelers, or 89 percent, are expected to hit the road, enticed by low fuel prices. Unleaded gas in Texas stood at an average price of $1.95 a gallon, down 5 cents from last week and 3 cents from last year, AAA Texas said Thursday. Nationally, gas prices are hovering around $2.15 a gallon.

Gas prices in San Antonio averaged $1.89 a gallon Friday, 5 cents cheaper than last week and 2 cents lower than this time last year, according to AAA Texas.

Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, based in New Jersey, said gas prices will likely stay level through the remainder of this year, in spite of an impending agreement by OPEC to limit output, expected later this month. U.S. crude was trading around $45 a barrel Friday.

Its a little bit of a deja vu or Groundhog Day effect, Kloza said of this years level gas prices, compared with last year.

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.

Roughly 254,000 Texans will hop on a plane to their Thanksgiving destination this week, up 3.3 percent from last season, AAA Texas projects.

Evelynn Bailey, spokeswoman for San Antonio International Airport, said the airport doesnt have exact projections for how many travelers it expects to see this week. But last year, Transportation Security Administration workers handled 14,000 travelers a day during the 2015 Thanksgiving season, compared with about 12,000 during normal travel periods, Bailey said. She said she expects to see heavy passenger traffic Wednesday and on Nov. 27 and 28.

The airport saw more than 721,000 passengers in November 2015, up 8.1 percent from the 667,000 during the same period in 2014, according to airport passenger data.

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports
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La Focaccia, one of the few constants in a King William neighborhood churning with bar and restaurant projects, is for sale after 20 years in business.

Luigi Domenic Ciccarelli, the son of La Focaccias late founder Luigi Ciccarelli, characterized the sale as an all-or-nothing deal: land, building and business.

He said the deal would give the buyer the option of carrying on the La Focaccia name or starting from scratch in a neighborhood thats become a food and drink magnet since the restaurant opened in 1996.

There is no timeline for the sale, Ciccarelli said. La Focaccia will operate as usual until it happens. And if it doesnt sell? Well keep it going, he said. Im looking to retire, not find another job. Ciccarelli wouldnt say the asking price.

La Focaccia, at 800 S. Alamo St., is one of two iconic Italian restaurants associated with the Ciccarellis in San Antonio. The family also ran Luigis on San Pedro Avenue from 1972 to 2006.

Based in part on the popularity of its congenial founder, who died in August at age 79, La Focaccia has made its name with pizza and bread from a wood-burning oven, traditional red-sauce pasta dishes and family recipes like Chicken La Focaccia with white wine sauce. The restaurant was among the neighborhoods first to offer cooking classes and wine dinners drawn from its pioneering wine list.

Domenic Ciccarelli said business is still strong, even as the industry fights to attract and keep qualified cooks and waiters.

We have our generations of family and friends, he said. Their kids have brought their children. Its a family tradition.

Even so, Ciccarelli said he and his family, including brother Raymond, who also works at the restaurant, are ready to take a rest. Even their mother, Dolores Ciccarelli, supports the sale, Domenic Ciccarelli said, telling the family, Weve paid our dues.

On a recent Friday afternoon, it was business as usual, even as the restaurant entered its second month on the market. A 20-person office group walked in for lunch, the kitchen brought out a pork-and-shrimp kebab to consider for the nights special and Ciccarelli himself tossed fresh focaccia into the brick oven.

We still cut our own steaks, clean our own fish, bake our own bread, Ciccarelli said. Its Old World-style Italian cooking.

msutter@express-news.net

Twitter: @fedmanwalking
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For 125 years, the Aaron Pancoast Sr. house has anchored a corner in the King William Historic District, aging gracefully, lovingly cared for by three families.

Seldom sold, the last time it changed hands was in 1980, when Mike and Penny Wiederhold and their 4-year-old son Ted moved from the Washington, D.C. area.

The Wiederhold residence is one of four private homes on the King William Association Holiday Home Tour & Fair Dec. 3. A bed and breakfast, the Oge House; and two houses that became museums, the San Antonio Art League Museum and Villa Finale are also featured on the tour.

According to information from the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation Library, Aaron Pancoast Sr., a tailor from Philadelphia, bought land on King William Street in 1863. Three years later he built a small cottage (now an apartment) and then the main house in 1891. Pancoast died in about 1894 and the house stayed in the family until 1920, when it was sold to corn mill owner, Bartolo Martinez.

Martinez gave the exterior a new look, enlarging the porches and pillars and coating the brick house in stucco. Inside, the pine floors that had been ruined in a 1921 flood were replaced with oak.

More Information 50th King William Holiday Home Tour & Fair When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3 About: The tour features seven historic properties. There also will be a fair with food and crafts from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at King William Park. Cost: Fair is free. Home tour tickets cost $15 in advance at ourkwa.org and $20 the day of the tour at the King William Association booth in King William Park. See More Collapse

Like Pancoast, Martinez lived in the house for just a few years before he died. His daughter, Alicia Calderon assumed ownership and held on to it for more than 50 years. The next owner, an investor bought the property and put it on the market a short time later.

Thats when the Wiederholds came along.

We loved the neighborhood, Penny recalls about their first look at King William. They loved the house too, impressed by its more than 4,000 square feet and the spacious yard that had pecans all over the place.

Appreciating the original features  elegant chandeliers, eight lovely fireplaces, stained glass windows, sturdy woodwork and tall ceilings  the couple did very little to modify the interior, except when it came to the kitchen.

Mike basically designed the kitchen, Penny noted. Again, their goal was to keep as much of the original kitchen intact, while making it fit with the way they used the space. In the remodel she got a baking area with a marble top, butcher block counters and a Chambers cook top.

The houses original pale brick from the 1800s makes up one wall of the kitchen. The other walls, plaster, were painted yellow.

Colorist Jim Smith helped select paint colors for the rest of the house. The living room is a soft green; the dining room a peachy-pink. Paintings the couple acquired over the years brighten the atmosphere. Several are by Colorado artist Mary Chenoweth, collected by Pennys mother.

Each piece of their furniture comes with a story about its provenance. The hall table that opens up to a card table was built by Pennys great-great-great-grandfather. Two beautiful wing chairs in the living room were neighborhood castoffs, rescued by Penny and professionally reupholstered. Mike laboriously removed every speck of black paint from a cherry chest, the lower half of a mismatched china cabinet in the dining room. He found the grand antique sideboard in New Orleans.

Thirty-six years after first seeing the house, Pennys feelings havent changed at all.

I love this house. I love living here.

Chrissie Murnin is a San Antonio freelancer.
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President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of immigrants who have been convicted of a crime and are living here are illegally, a policy on deportations that is similar to President Barack Obamas strategy.

Under Obama, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has managed to incense both pro-immigration advocates who criticize the administration for increasing deportations and restrictionist groups who say agents hands have been tied.

Since 2008, ICE has deported nearly 3 million immigrants, more than any other administration. Advocates for tighter controls on immigration have pointed out that about half of those were caught near the border, turned over to ICE for deportation and not tracked down living in the U.S. interior. Less than 50 percent of them were convicted of crimes.

When Trump takes the presidential oath, he will likely struggle to find 2 million to 3 million undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, as he promised in a recent television interview, and increasing deportations will take time, experts said.

What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, we have a lot of these people, probably 2 million, it could be even 3 million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate, Trump told CBS 60 Minutes.

He said hed consider what to do about the remaining nearly 10 million undocumented immigrants after the border is secured.

It remains unclear, however, how Trump arrived at the numbers. ICE says it doesnt know how many immigrants have committed crimes for which they could be deported. Its possible that Trumps relying on a 2013 estimate by the Homeland Security Department of 1.9 million immigrants who committed criminal offenses, based on census data and criminality rates.

Who are the criminal aliens?

Living in the country without permission does not incur criminal penalties; deportation is a civil matter. Under the Obama administration, ICE has focused on deporting immigrants whove been convicted of crimes or been arrested and ended up in local jails.

The trend began with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which allowed federal authorities to train local police to help them identify immigrants whod been arrested, said Muzaffar Chishti, who directs the office of the Migration Policy Institute at New York University School of Law.

After 9/11, the capacity of the newly formed ICE to identify immigrants in local jails and state prisons was increased with the implementation of Secure Communities, which gave agents access to a fingerprint database of almost everyone booked into jails and put holds on immigrants, asking the local jurisdiction not to release them.

The intersection between the criminal justice system and immigration now has become a very important nexus for removal of immigrants in general, and removal of criminal aliens in particular, Chishti said. It provides the basic funnel.

The focus on criminals is born of ICEs limited resources. Its much easier to find immigrants who are eligible for deportation when theyre booked into prisons and jails than to identify them living in U.S. communities, Chishti said.

But an ICE spokeswoman said last week that the agency does not have an estimate of how many immigrants have committed crimes that make them deportable.

In its 2013 budget message, the Homeland Security Department estimated that there were 1.9 million removable criminal aliens, the term the government uses for immigrants in the U.S. both legally and illegally who can be deported because theyve committed certain crimes. That estimate is based on census data on the number of noncitizens living in the U.S. and on Justice Department data on the criminality rates of the U.S. populace.

ICE deported more than 300,000 criminal aliens in 2014 and 2015, but Chishti said there will also have been new arrests of immigrants in that time frame. His organization estimates that there were 820,000 undocumented criminal aliens in 2013, based on the percentage of the U.S. immigrant population thats here illegally.

Questions remain on the accuracy of that number.

They assume the rate of criminality is similar to some other group, and in my studies I know undocumented immigrants are less likely to engage in criminal activity, because the risks are much higher, said Guillermo Cantor, deputy director of research at the American Immigration Council, a group that advocates on behalf of immigrants.

Interaction with police could lead to their deportation, Cantor added.

How will they be rounded up?

Trump has been vague on details, but the Obama administration has relied heavily on deporting immigrants it finds in jails and prisons. That strategy has drawn criticism from both sides of the debate.

Groups advocating for stricter immigration enforcement derided a 2011 directive to ICE agents to concentrate on finding and deporting criminals and to review open deportation cases and close those that didnt fall under a set of priorities.

Cantor analyzed ICE data from 2013, the most recently available after litigation over a Freedom of Information Act request, and found that ICE had difficulty finding the most dangerous criminals.

From 2010 to 2013, about 20 percent of criminal aliens ICE deported had committed traffic offenses, the study found. In 2013, about 40 percent of criminal aliens had committed serious crimes. Nearly a quarter committed misdemeanors. Some had been charged with crimes but never convicted.

Over time, ICE is getting better at meeting their (priorities), but the problem is not the levels themselves, its the way in which these categories are defined, these priorities are defined. (Its) too broad, Cantor said. You see that a big portion of those deportations are people who are not posing serious threats or who have not committed violent crimes.

In 2014, ICE abandoned Secure Communities for the Priority Enforcement Program, which only flags certain criminal offenders. Restrictionist groups blame that change for a drop in deportations.

Rosemary Jenks, director for government relations for NumbersUSA, called it a much-watered-down program that limits the scope of the crime DHS is interested in.

Instead of notifying ICE during the fingerprinting process, it asks the jurisdiction to notify ICE when the immigrant is released, if it meets these priorities, Jenks said.

Most of the estimated 1.9 million immigrants who committed criminal offenses are likely in prison or going through the immigration court system, said Chishti from the Migration Policy Institute. Its unclear how many were released without being turned over to ICE or are legal immigrants who committed crimes that the 1996 immigration law retroactively made deportable.

Can ICE deport 2 million people?

In its new budget, ICE seeks $6.2 billion for its nearly 20,000 employees. Of those, 5,900 are Enforcement and Removal Operations officers tasked with finding and deporting immigrants. ICE also wants

$2.2 billion to maintain 31,000 detention beds.

When you look at 5,000 (agents) compared to 11 or 12 million illegal aliens, thats fairly significant, Jenks said. With that few agents, they really have no chance at serious enforcement without going after low-hanging fruit, the people in state or local custody  the people who come into contact with law enforcement without just an immigration violation.

She said other Trump proposals, such as mandatory E-verify for employers and a system for tracking foreign visitors who overstay their visas, need to be part of a package to reduce illegal immigration.

First of all, nobody that I know of has said we should deport every illegal alien, Jenks said. We have always said, have a ramp-up. Start with criminals, then ramp up, so it is more likely that people who come into contact with law enforcement will actually be removed, if they came here illegally.

Even people in the U.S. without permission are guaranteed a constitutional right to due process, and those detained by ICE are fed into an already overtaxed immigration court system, said San Antonio immigration attorney Lance Curtright. In San Antonio, new removal cases are being set for 2019, he said.

You cant go round people up and deport them the same day. Theres a right to a fair hearing. Theres a right to a judge. And some of these people have substantial family ties to the United States, and they have potential paths to legal status, depending on the circumstance, Curtright said.

jbuch@express-news.net
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The man police believe fatally ambushed an officer Sunday morning had entered the San Antonio Police Departments downtown headquarters hours before shooting Det. Benjamin Marconi in his patrol car nearby, officials said at a news conference this morning.

SAPD Chief William McManus said the suspect, now the target of a massive manhunt, entered the headquarters at 315 S. Santa Rosa about 7:45 a.m.

About four hours later, police say, the suspect approached the 20-year SAPD veterans car on the south side of the building as Marconi carried out a traffic stop on another driver and shot him twice through the passenger window of Marconis patrol cruiser.

I think the uniform was the target, McManus said. We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous to the police and the public.

McManus said the suspect spoke to a clerk in the headquarters lobby for about 20 seconds before leaving. McManus said no officers were in the building at the time, but he declined to elaborate on the interaction with the clerk, citing the ongoing investigation.

Officials said they have few other details on the suspect, who was originally identified Sunday evening as a person of interest. Police said they do not know if he is from the area.

Local police, in coordination with federal agencies, have questioned several individuals, including the driver who had been pulled over by Marconi, but all of them have been released, McManus said.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the capital murder. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday morning his office is offering an additional $15,000 for that information.

The suspect was driving a black Mitsubishi Galant, between the years of 2009 and 2015, with custom chrome wheels. Police have released a photo of the man and the car and a video.

The suspect is described as dark-skinned, 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall, and wearing a gray shirt and black pants.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867.

Marconi, 50, a member of the Special Victims Unit, was pronounced dead at San Antonio Military Medical Center a short time after the shooting.

Speaking at the news conference this morning, McManus said investigators would not be specific about why the person was at the building on Sunday.

Officials said the suspect in Marconis death pulled up in a black sedan behind the detectives patrol car as he was in the car issuing a citation. The unidentified man approached Marconis passenger window, McManus said, and shot Marconi in the head. He then reached in and fired a second round.

This is everyones worst nightmare, McManus said. While most families will be celebrating the holidays, SAPD will be burying one of its own.

McManus said police are looking at all possible motives.

Jonathan Segura, who was visiting San Antonio from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, said he saw the shooting occur. It didnt seem like the suspect was drunk or on drugs, Segura said.

On Sunday, Marconi was working overtime and filling in on a downtown patrol shift.

Marconi leaves behind two adult children, said Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association.

I can tell you this: Everyone was stunned and shocked, Helle said. Even for myself, Im still trying to come to the realization that this actually did happen to someone we knew in our family.

Marconis shooting came hours before a separate attack of another member of law enforcement in the U.S. A St. Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot Sunday night in what the police chief called an ambush.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot twice in the face. It was reported early today that the suspect was later killed in a shootout with police.

Two other police officers were also shot Sunday night, but it wasnt clear whether the incidents were targeted attacks. An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot, along with a suspect. A Sanibel, Florida, officer was shot during a traffic stop Sunday night. He was treated for his injuries and released.

Sgt. Jesse Salame, an SAPD spokesman, said Marconi was a friendly person. Marconis colleagues from the Special Victims Unit gathered at Public Safety Headquarters on Sunday to support each other and express their condolences, Salame said.

He was a great guy, Salame said. He cared about the job he did and the people he worked with.

A Twitter profile that appeared to belong to Marconi included photos of the detective smiling with friends and family. On the profile, Marconi shared a photo of his father, who was also a law enforcement officer. He also expressed his condolences for officers killed in the line of duty, including five Dallas officers shot and killed in July, and for the victims of the Orlando LGBT nightclub massacre.

On Facebook, the Human Rights Campaign San Antonio said Marconi was a friend and supporter or the organization.

Meanwhile Sunday, police officers were ordered not to attempt traffic stops unless they had a cover officer.

Charley Wilkison, executive director of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, said the news of Marconis death was soul-crushing.

Its that kind of moment that causes you to think about first, the senselessness of the tragedy and next, the massive number of deaths in Texas, he said.

In Texas this year, 17 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. Of those, six were killed by gunfire, including the five Dallas officers ambushed in July, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Since 1791, Texas has had the most law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty among the states, with 1,881, according to the memorial page.

The last San Antonio officer killed in the line of duty was Robert Deckard Jr., 32, a seven-year veteran who was shot Dec. 8, 2013, as he pursued two robbery suspects. The chase reached speeds of 115 mph, police said. Deckard died after 13 days in intensive care.

Local and statewide leaders expressed shock and their condolences about the slaying, which many called senseless.

In a news release, Mayor Ivy Taylor said this type of crime cannot and will not be tolerated. She gave her condolences to the family of the officer and to the entire police force.

This type of senseless violence is unacceptable, Taylor said during an afternoon police news conference.

Make no mistake about it, this is pure evil when you execute an individual in cold blood, District Attorney Nico LaHood said.

District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales said communication between police and residents needs to improve and that one way to start could be by opening to the public and media all meetings by San Antonios Council on Police-Community Relations. So far, the councils first and third meetings have been closed.

Taylor has said some meetings of the group need to be closed on a case-by-case basis to guarantee that participants feel comfortable sharing their deeply personal feelings on policing in San Antonio.

City, state and national officials and police departments nationwide condemned the killing and expressed their condolences to Marconis family, including Taylor, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, outgoing Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and the New York Police Department.

On Sunday afternoon, Lucy Aldaba, a San Antonio resident, left flowers and a poster thanking Marconi for his service at police headquarters.

I dont even know the officers name, but it does hurt, said Aldaba, who has many friends on the force. I think everybody should come and show appreciation in their own way, in whatever way they can, but take your city back.

Fidel Two Bears Castillo is a veteran and Native American who, like Aldaba, wanted to show his solidarity. He stood on the northeast corner of police headquarters Sunday evening holding a patriotic banner that asks God to save this land from those who seek to destroy it.

I just wanted to come and say a prayer for him, he said. I thought, I have to go say something, at least for him, you know, to give my heart.

Wilkison, lamenting the death toll, said the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Wall in Austin likely will be full in a year and officials will have to look into building a new one.

Theres an empty chair at a table this holiday, Wilkison said heavily. Theres another person these officers wont get to have coffee with and talk to, another person who wont be on the front lines protecting San Antonio.

On Sunday evening, the flags at police headquarters were lowered to half-staff. The streets surrounding the building reopened, and people gathered to pay their respects and leave makeshift memorials.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net

cquinn@express-news.net

eeaton@express-news.net
Editors Note: This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on August 10, 2000. It was one of three items included in a Roddy Stinson column headlined Good, mad, egad! and bury 'em ugly. Generally, in these columns, Stinson would write about letters he had received from readers. Officer Marconi, who was fatally shot Sunday afternoon in front of police headquarters, wrote to Stinson because he wanted to thank three strangers who helped him with a runaway suspect. His letter was under the Good heading.

THE GOOD

SAPD patrolman Ben Marconi and several other officers apprehended three robbery suspects on Sunday afternoon.

The arrests occurred shortly after holdups at two South Side convenience stores.

We had a real good description of their vehicle, and it went right by a patrol car, Marconi said, recalling the events that led him to call this column.

After capturing and handcuffing the suspects, the officers put each one in a patrol car for the ride to the hoosegow.

The one I was transporting fought when we apprehended him, and while I was taking him downtown, he started kicking out my passenger-side back window, Marconi said. He managed to get the handcuffs in front of him, and once the window was gone, he crawled out and got on top of the vehicle.

Marconi, a five-year SAPD veteran, stopped his car, grabbed the suspect, and the fight was on.

Within seconds, they were rolling around on the ground, half on the shoulder and half in the left lane of I-35. My main concern was keeping him from rolling into the traffic and getting killed by an 18-wheeler.

Marconi was aided in that effort by three passersby, who stopped and quickly got involved.

One was an older man, probably in his 70s, the officer said, describing the trio of good Samaritans. One was a younger man, probably in his late 30s. And one was a woman who was driving a big, black Suburban. She really went after him!

Happy ending:

With all of that body weight, we were able to pin him against the car.

One regret:

I'm sorry that I didn't get the names of those people.
When we think of college students and college living, its easy to draw on images of beat up bean bag chairs, bookcases constructed from cement blocks and lots of lots of ramen noodles.

Its a stereotype that could be funny, if it werent so cruel.

Throughout the country, theres a rising number of college students that should be concerned about writing papers and tests. But in addition to those demands, they live precariously on the edges of hunger and homelessness, inches from dropping out. They want to stay in school but have overstayed their welcome on a friends couch, dont have bus fare, cant pay essential bills and cant rely on family.

Last week, faculty, staff and students at San Antonio College, led by President Robert Vela, launched an anti-poverty initiative named the Student Advocacy Center. It raised $1,000 worth of non-perishable food to start what a college campus shouldnt have  a student food pantry.

It was willed into existence by faculty who witnessed the suffering of students, said Lisa Black, the centers director and an associate professor of social work.

Black, who credited Vela with getting the center off the ground, said the project was spurred by several faculty members who learned of a college pantry in Amarillo.

SAC isnt the only local college with a pantry. Palo Alto College will launch its own in early December, officials said, and Northwest Vista College holds food drives every year.

In the two classrooms where the SAC pantry is housed in the Chance Academic Center, student volunteers last week were organizing packages of noodles, stacks of canned tuna and boxes of cereal. Theyll need shelving and continued food donations.

Black said students have stopped by, though appeared hesitant to take any food. Shes haunted by the thought of one of them  he wanted to see where the pantry was, to know it existed, but didnt reach for anything. All he said was, Im OK for now.

Even students in great despair crave independence. They dont want to be needy, but studies show they are.

A survey reported in the magazine Inside Higher Ed last month said 22 percent of college students have very low levels of food security. Latino and African American students came in at a higher percentage; white and Asian students fared better.

All of us know that many times, student losses have nothing to do with heart or commitment to academics, Black said. One student recently left SAC because she couldnt pay a $200 utility bill and took a second job to keep the lights on for her family.

We are the downtown inner-city campus, said Dee Dixon, SACs Senior Student Success adviser and Staff Council president. We have students who face all manner of socioeconomic challenges.

SAC has students who are homeless and others who live at the shelter Haven for Hope, she said. The Student Advocacy Centers goal will be to help students succeed and get them on a path to prosperity.

Prosperity is not just financial, Dixon cautioned. Its more than that. Its mental prosperity, where they feel safe and can provide for themselves.

In addition to emergency food, the center will provide case management. Four graduate students in social work from UTSA and Our Lady of the Lake University will provide it as part of their training.

Next semester, the center will have 10 graduate students to help students navigate the maze of local, state and federal resources available to them.

Help isnt a handout that lists the 50 places that can help you, Black said. Case managers will make calls on behalf of students who dont speak the language of bureaucracy. Theyre lost, and because there is distress, its easy to just give up.

Case managers will teach students to advocate for themselves, too.

Thats the social justice side of the center, Black said. Were not just giving food. We want to help build that student up and develop the skill set to navigate the system. They wont need it forever.

They just need it now.

The poverty on college campuses doesnt surprise State Rep. Diego Bernal. The depth of hunger in our city is larger than many of us realize, he said.

The San Antonio Democrat saw as much during his visits to the 55 public schools in House District 123; and he saw several solutions that will show up as proposed legislation.

One proposal, which would cost nothing, is to allow school districts to give to students the unopened, untouched cafeteria food they now throw away.

To reach SACs pantry, call 210-486-1003.
Enchilada sauce offers another option for using pumpkin

Here's a twist. Try using pumpkin when next time you make sauce for enchiladas.
Brexit may open the door for British farmers to grow genetically modified crops, according to plans being drawn up by ministers.

Agriculture minister George Eustice said in a written parliamentary answer that as part of preparations for the EU exit, the government is considering possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms.

"The governments general view remains that policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate," he said.

Only one type of genetically modified crop has ever been grown commercially in Europe due to concerns amongst EU member states. A variety of maize, MON 810, was genetically modified to be more resistant to pests.

Paul Temple, a mixed farmer, said that 'the benefits are there to be seen'

Political opposition to the technology among other member states in Europe resulted in only one GM product being licensed since 1998.

Paul Temple, a mixed farmer, said that 'the benefits are there to be seen.' He went on to say that 'science is fundamental to future production' and that 'it will be required when you see the kind of pressure on demand that is constantly building.'

"The UK leaving Europe means we are open for business," Mr Temple said, "the benefits of GM crops are there to be seen, 90% of the world's soya is GM, the majority of the maize crop is GM, there's GM cotton grown - all showing significant benefits, and farmers have a free choice. Farmers would not choose to grow these unless they saw benefits. A US economist said the adoption of GM traits across the world is the nearest thing the world has had to a free meals."

'No risk'

Controversies about GM technology remain

But last year it was reported that GM crops could be grown commercially by farmers in England following approval of EU legislation.

After 4 years of negotiations, the European Council, Commission and Parliament reached an agreement that gave Member States the ability to decide whether or not to cultivate GM crops once they have passed the safety assessment.

According to results of a study, on average, GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%. Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops. Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries.

In May, a major review of GM crops by scientists in the US tentatively concluded that they pose no risk to human health.

'Contamination'

Despite rapid adoption by farmers in many countries, controversies about the technology remain, with even the likes of Pope Francis criticising the use of GM technology in the past.

Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, GeneWatch UK, GM Freeze and the Soil Association each expressed concerns that controversial Roundup Ready GM crops might be planted in England in Spring 2015. They said that would eventually harm the environment.

"Monsanto and other GM companies are desperate to push their GM crops into other countries before the devastating impacts on wildlife and farming destroy existing markets," said Dr Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK.

"The Government should not be caving in to commercial lobbying and putting British birds and butterflies at risk."

Peter Melchett from the Soil Association said: "If GM crops spread, GM contamination will make organic farming impossible, and our growing organic market will have to be supplied with imported food."

Liz O'Neill from GM Freeze said: "British consumers don't want to eat GM food and both Scottish and Welsh governments have made it clear they are opposed to GM crops. So why are our representatives in Westminster doing their level best to hand over control of our food and our natural environment to big business?"
Hull-based meat producer Cranswick has bought Dunbia Ballymena, a pork processor based in Northern Ireland, marking its third acquisition in two years.

Dunbia Ballymena employs 360 people and slaughters around 7800 British-reared pigs each week, turning over more than 70m last year.

The acquisition will boost Cranswick's existing pork business, which sells fresh meat, sausages and other products to food retailers and supermarkets. It is also its first foray into Northern Ireland.

Adam Couch, CEO of Cranswick, said: This acquisition strengthens our UK pork processing business and provides us with greater control over our supply chain, ensuring that we can maintain the production and processing of high quality, UK farm-assured, pigs which is central to our customers requirements.

The management at Ballymena have created long-lasting and sustained supply chain relationships and we look forward to building on this and continuing to invest in the facilities, and the team, over the years ahead.

Jim Dobson, Dunbias group chief executive, said Cranswick specialises in pork production and has the scale and growth potential to continue to grow the Ballymena business.

Dunbia is pleased to welcome the investment of a major UK PLC into the Northern Ireland economy and we wish them every success. The wider Dunbia business is unaffected and will continue as normal, Mr Dobson added.

Dunbia was founded by brothers Jack and Jim Dobson in 1976 and started out as a small, family butcher shop in Tyrone. Today, it is still controlled by the Dobson brothers but it has grown into a multinational organisation, which employs 4,000 people and has an annual turnover of more than 1 billion.
The Met Office has issued series of National Severe Weather Warnings for the rest of Monday and Tuesday for heavy rain in southwestern England, northern England and Wales.

Andy Page, a Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: Following periods of heavy rain, a further broad area of heavy, persistent rain will extend across southwestern England and Wales on Monday. Devon, which has already experienced heavy rainfall, is most likely to have the greatest impacts. Although the more persistent rain should clear from Devon by early afternoon, heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to follow.

Around 20-30 mm of rain is expected fall in a three to six-hour period in places, with as much as 40-60 mm possible locally through the whole of Monday. The ground has been left very wet from Saturday night's rain and this increases the risk of further flooding.

Andy added: The band of rain affecting parts of southern England and Wales on Monday will extend to northern England later on Monday and into Tuesday morning.

The Environment Agency (EA) has urged the public stay safe around rivers and not to drive through flood water, as rain battered many parts of the country.

Chris Francis, of the EA, told ITV News that rivers in the south west of England are "very swollen" due to heavy rain, so people should remain very cautious.

"We've had so much rain, and debris in the river has got caught up with all the flooding. Hopefully the rain should stop soon. The water seems to be flowing clearly under the river now, so it should start to recede fairly soon."

Last year, farmers experienced numerous devastating storms, which caused the government to set up a flooding Recovery Fund.
The scheme was set up to help consumers support British dairy farmers, but three quarters of the proceeds from the 'Milk for Farmers' project is going to farmers abroad, it has been revealed.

Both Morrisons and Asda run the programme which sold milk at a higher price with the money going back to dairy farmers in the UK.

The proceeds are in fact divided up among farmers producing milk, butter and cheese in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.

When the scheme was launched last year, in a joint statement, the National Farmers' Union, Tenant Farmers' Association and Farmers for Action said it was 'absolutely vital' that the extra money goes back to British farmers, 'we cannot emphasise this enough.'

But data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) said Arla contracted British farmers received 290 from the scheme but would have been paid 1,300 had it not been distributed overseas.

European farmers benefit from money paid by shoppers for 'British milk'

In a statement Asda said: "Arla unveiled Arla Farmers Milk to give shoppers the opportunity to pay a little extra on each bottle to help Arla farmers during challenging market conditions.

"The extra 25p for Arla Farmers Milk will be returned directly to Arla farmers. In line with Arlas cooperatives principles, this extra money will be shared amongst its 12,700 farmer owners."

Morrisons said: "Our customers tell us they welcome the opportunity to give extra money to dairy farmers if they so choose.

The packaging on our Milk for Farmers products is clear that this extra money is distributed by Arla to its farmers in the UK and European countries."

Price conscious

82% of the British public say they would disappointed to see a reduction in UK dairy farming and would be willing to pay a little extra to support it, according to AHDB.

Among the 55 years and older age group, this rises to 91%. More than three-quarters (76%) would do something to stop dairy farming significantly reducing, this score is at the highest level since the study was relaunched in July of last year.

More than half now say that they intend to buy more products with a quality logo; 43% are considering switching to a retailer that sells only British dairy products. Further evidence of the growing sympathy towards dairy farmers can be found in attitudes towards milk price, AHDB said.

Since the recession of 2009, British consumers have become increasingly price conscious, so it is significant that a substantial majority say they would be willing to pay more for their milk.
Yorkshire will soon become one of the best places in Europe for pig research, thanks to significant investment from the University of Leeds and the government.

Leeds University is about to launch new facilities at its farm to carry out research into outdoor-reared pigs, and is set to significantly upgrade its indoor-reared pig research centre. The combined investment across the in- and outdoor facilities is worth in excess of 7m.

Professor Helen Miller, Director of the University Farm said: We are making the investment to create new knowledge which will benefit both British pigs and the pig industry.

Leeds pig research focuses on themes identified by the livestock industry as central to improving quality and productivity: animal nutrition, production systems and reproduction, behaviour and environment.

Animal feed is the largest variable cost which the industry bears, Professor Miller added. One of the areas we will study in this new facility is how to improve outdoor sow nutrition to maximise the wellbeing and productivity of individual animals. This should also result in improved profitability, providing significant support for individual farmers and for larger businesses across the rural economy.

Yorkshire will soon become one of the best places in Europe for pig research (Photo: Leeds University)

Threefold increase

The investment includes a threefold increase in the number of sows from 200 to 600. Of these, 200 will live outdoors. This will put the facility on a par with commercially run pig farms and will create a step change in the type of research the Universitys academics can carry out.

Larger sample sizes will increase the scope of research that can be conducted and will provide information to commercial farmers and the livestock support industries to enable them to make informed choices that could help them to be more profitable and sustainable.

Installing new outdoor facilities alongside the indoor facilities already available to researchers at the Universitys research farm will create a unique capability, according to Professor Miller. Among the most prominent outcomes of the new investment will be a greater ability for researchers to make feed recommendations for pigs to keep pace with ongoing genetic improvements.

New equipment and facilities will include a CCTV network to monitor the pig herd 24/7 and equipment to automatically feed and monitor what each pig consumes.

To rival European leaders

Professor Miller said the new facilities and staff, plus existing expertise would put the University in a unique position in the UK, and would rival European leaders in this field.

The investment in the farms facilities is majority funded by the University, with support from the government-funded Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Livestock (CIEL). This is a UK wide programme to link leading livestock research bodies with industry partners, to improve livestock quality and husbandry across the board.

Each of the 12 research organisations takes the lead on one aspect of livestock or related food research  Leeds is the lead organisation for pig research, while others such as the University of Nottingham lead on dairy, and the SRUC leads on poultry.

Dr Mark Young, Head of Innovation at the centre said: CIEL is investing in world class facilities to empower our world class scientists with the aim of driving innovation to enhance livestock food production across the supply chain. Our focus on innovation and our industry membership mean this will deliver real value to all parts of the supply chain. The University of Leeds outdoor pig unit is a key facility in our work to deliver user focused innovation to the pork industry.
'Brexit barrier': Sheep sector slams new rule for meat exports to EU
Farmers in Iowa produced more than 15 per cent of U.S. corn crop

By Diego Flammini

Assistant Editor, North American Content

Farms.com

A book released by the Iowa Farm Bureau provides some insight into how successful Iowa producers have been in the past few years.

The 2016 Iowa Agriculture Statistics book shows that Iowa farmers led the nation in crop production last year, with Iowa farmers accounting for more than 15 per cent of the U.S. corn crop, the Iowa Farm Bureau says on its website.

The 119-page book includes data collected from surveys and questionnaires filled out by farmers across the state. In addition to having the largest U.S. soybean harvest in 2015, Iowa farmers produce the most pork and eggs than any other state. The book also includes crop, livestock and farm economics information.

The most recent ag statistics highlight just how productive Iowa farms are. Yields across the state were much above average in 2015, said Dave Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau director of research and commodity services, in a release. Many counties recorded all-time record yields in both corn and soybeans.

Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill said large harvests arent possible if Iowas farmers dont adapt to the changing agricultural landscape and take care of the land.

This degree of productivity is not possible without innovation and being good stewards of the land, he said in the release. The 2016 Ag Stats book quantifies what an agriculture powerhouse Iowa is, where agriculture is the engine driving the states economy and providing one in five Iowa jobs.

For those interested in a copy of the book, it costs $12 and can be ordered from the Iowa Farm Bureaus marketing and communications division.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits troops at Fort Bragg

The commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps said, "Welcome Home," to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when he arrived on post Tuesday.
Ashton Kutcher lived in an Airbnb following the end of his marriage to Demi Moore.

Ashton Kutcher

The 'What Happens In Vegas' star has revealed he stayed in a series of different homes for a year after he split from the 54-year-old actress.

Speaking to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at Airbnb Open 2016 in Los Angeles on Saturday (19.11.16), he said: "I went to Europe and I flew in and got in in the middle of the night. I arrived at the Airbnb at 2 a.m. The person had left me dinner and a glass of wine.

"It was ... the magic and the love that I needed in that moment. I was shocked that someone would care that much about a total stranger."

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old actor - who is an investor of Airbnb - is now happily married to Mila Kunis and they are preparing to welcome their second child into the world but they cannot agree on a name for the little boy.

He said: "There was a rallying cry from a collective that believed in the name Hawkeye. A kid named Hawkeye, it could be 'M*A*S*H*'-y, like he could be a doctor.

"Hawkeye Kutcher, it didn't fly, it didn't cross the Mila threshold, it came to the threshold but it got knocked out ... You don't want everyone else's opinion on the name. When we get in the naming process she hates every name I come up with."

The couple - who already have Wyatt Isabelle, two, together - are excited about the baby's arrival but Ashton admits he's a bit "worried" as he hasn't done anything in preparation.

He said: "I'm worried. The first one, I was almost like a doula. I was reading every book. I was ready. I had a catcher's mitt on. This one, I haven't done anything ...

"[But] I'm like, 'Well, we already didn't break the first one.' They're really durable. They don't break very easily. You have to really try to break them."
Queen Elizabeth is reportedly planning to invite Donald and Melania Trump to Windsor Castle.

Donald Trump

However, according to insiders, the 90-year-old monarch will only send out the invitation to the newly-elected President of the United States of America and his wife, "once he is sworn in as president on January 20."

If it goes ahead, it would be one of the 70-year-old Republican's first trips abroad as president.

It's reported that two ministers and a senior official from Downing Street has confirmed there are to be talks of Trump visiting in June or July, 2017.

A source has told Britain's The Times newspaper, that Downing Street the Prime Minister Theresa May's office have confirmed Trump will visit the UK next year.

The insider said: "Discussions between British officials and Trump's team are expected to begin soon to ensure that a date can be agreed for June or July next year.

"The Queen will also send an official congratulatory message to the president to mark the inauguration."

It's also reported that Trump has discussed a visit to the UK to see Queen Elizabeth with the head of UKIP Nigel Farage and that his mother was a big fan of the monarch.

A member of Farage's team told the newspaper: "He's looking forward to it.

"He's a massive Anglophile. He was really, really keen. His late mother, Mary, [who was born in Scotland] loved the Queen. He said, 'I'm going to meet her, too. I can't wait to come over to England. My mother would be chuffed to bits when I meet the Queen.'"
Meghan Markle will reportedly join Prince Harry in Sydney for the 2018 Invictus Games.

Meghan Markle

The 'Suits' actress has just wrapped up filming for season six of the American drama so has a free schedule and could be set to join the flame-haired hunk in Australia.

According to Yahoo! Australia a source said: "Harry is already talking marriage and babies with Meghan - of course she'll visit Australia with him."

The brunette beauty confirmed she had finished filming on Twitter on Sunday (20.11.16).

Alongside her breakfast, she wrote: "We wrapped seas 6 of #suits at 5.30am today! Breakfast! (Let's call this a frittata/scramble/shakshuka hybrid). Happy Sunday, friends! Xx (sic)"

It comes following reports that Harry is considering personally funding a security guard to protect his girlfriend.

The 32-year-old royal has grown concerned about the star's safety since they started dating in recent months, and as a result he is said to be thinking about splashing out on a retired Scotland Yard Personal Protection Officer to look after her when she visits the UK.

A senior inside security source said: "There have been initial discussions about this matter.

"HRH has made it clear that he believes Miss Markle's personal safety is paramount and that the behaviour of some elements of the media and press has been grossly unacceptable.

"But in the end it comes down to a matter of cost, who is paying for what. Protecting the Royal Family is a hugely expensive business."

Harry's late mother Princess Diana's former personal protection officer, Inspector Ken Wharfe, admitted it is "extremely unlikely" the Metropolitan Police headquarters would fork out for security for the 35-year-old beauty, but insisted it would be "sensible" for Harry to pay for protection for her.

He said "It is extremely unlikely that Scotland Yard would fund protection for Miss Markle at this stage.

"In America and Canada where she lives she is well used to the attention she gets as a star actress.

"Should, however, Prince Harry fund a retired, and therefore unarmed, ex S014 officer to accompany her whilst in the UK I think it would be a sensible move."
Prince Harry marked the start of his visit to the Caribbean by reading out a message on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Prince Harry

The 32-year-old royal attended Antigua's Clarence House, where he was welcomed by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams on Sunday night (20.11.16).

The flame-haired hunk's grandparents celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on the same day and Harry read out a touching tribute to the people of Antigua and Barbuda from the royal couple, in which they recall their visits to the West Indies over the years.

He read: "Prince Philip and I send our warmest wishes to Antigua and Barbuda on the occasion of this celebration to mark 35 years of independence.

"I have fond memories of visiting your country in 1966, 1977 during the Silver Jubilee and again in1985.

"I will never forget the warmth of your people and the incredible natural beauty of the islands. It has been a great privilege for me to watch Antigua and Barbuda develop into the confident country it is today with a strong national identity and a positive outlook.

"I congratulate all of you for the part you have played in building this community and creating so many opportunities for the next generation."

Next on Harry's itinerary is a trip to Barbuda later this week.
Prince William has called on the British public to help young homeless people.

Prince William

The 34-year-old royal was speaking at the launch of a new campaign by The Independent newspaper and charity Centrepoint, Christmas Appeal, which today (21.11.16) launched a new helpline to help youngsters living on the streets in extreme poverty.

William said it's important that these vulnerable youngsters are not just given somewhere to stay, but are educated.

William, who is a patron of Centrepoint, said: "Ending youth homelessness not just about putting a roof over someone's head.

"It's about teaching a young person to read and write.

"It's about helping them to live with the consequences of abuse and neglect. It's about stopping people becoming homeless in the first place.

"As a society, we will have a duty to help out most vulnerable young people."

He added: "You have the chance to save young lives.

"Over the past decade, I have met hundreds of courageous and inspiring young people trying to escape homelessness.

"Unfortunately, their courage alone is not enough."

Together with the help of the Duke of Cambridge and the British people Centrepoint will be able to use the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline to combat homelessness.

William added: "When a young person's world falls apart, they have nowhere to go.

"This is why we are launching this Helpline in 2017.

Centrepoint Helpline will provide the information and support that vulnerable young people need before they become homeless."
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Weddings on Female First

A Jaffa Cakes loving bride and groom stunned guests at their wedding by celebrating with a one-of-a-kind three-tiered Jaffa Wedding Cake, created by McVitie's.

Designed by Paul Courtney, McVitie's Culinary Innovation Manager and creator of Prince William's 'Groom's Cake' at his wedding, the Jaffa Wedding Cake was an impressive three-tiered Jaffa inspired sponge, covered by almost 1,000 original Jaffa Cakes which took 12 hours to make.

Tristan and Maria Weedon, from Waltham Cross, married on the 11th November at Pendley Manor in Tring, and were approached by McVitie's after commenting on a Facebook post about how much they love its famous zesty treats.

Newlywed Tristan Weedon, 36, a Contracts Manager, said: " We've both always been big fans of Jaffa Cakes and having this Jaffa Wedding Cake created for us was amazing. Our family and friends loved it and it was such a talking point.

"Our original wedding plan fell apart when our venue went into administration, and we hadn't even had time to sort a cake out. When McVitie's approached us and offered to create our wedding cake, it was perfect timing - we're over the moon that they helped save our day!"

The couple estimate that they have enjoyed almost 4,000 of their favourite zesty treats together since sharing one on their first date.

Maria Weedon, 37, a nurse at a hospital in London, said: " Jaffa Cakes have been involved in our relationship ever since Tristan bought them along to our first date and I couldn't stop laughing! We still have mini competitions to see who can eat around them the closest - leaving just the orange bit - and always get McVitie's Jaffa Poles for each other at Christmas. Being big fans of Jaffa Cakes we loved being able to incorporate something so fun and unique into our special day."

Paul Courtney said of the experience "Making Tristan and Maria's wedding cake has been one of my favourite projects to date at McVitie's - We even included Jaffa Cakes that were handpicked by them both before the big day at our factory in Manchester. Within the space of a month, we designed, tested and created the cake so that Tristan and Maria were able to have a truly bespoke creation for their big day, and I'm delighted that it went down so well."

Paul Courtney created Prince William's 'Groom's Cake' for his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton. A childhood favourite of Prince William, the chocolate fridge cake was made using 1,700 McVitie's Rich Tea biscuits. McVitie's has also made many of the wedding and christening cakes for members of the Royal Family through the years since the marriage of George V to Queen Mary in 1893 - it also baked the official cake for HM The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary. Paul was assisted in creating the cake by Mark Schomberg, Development Chef, at McVitie's.

Kerry Owens, McVitie's Brand Director said: "McVitie's Jaffa Cakes have been a family favourite for generations, and we're always looking for new ways to create special moments for our consumers. We would like to say a big thanks to Paul Courtney in creating this fantastic cake and for helping make this couple's dream a reality. We were delighted to hear about how important McVitie's Jaffa Cakes are to Maria and Tristan and are so pleased that we were able to help make their special day that little bit sweeter."

by Lucy Moore for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Global apparel marketer Gap Inc. reported a 2 per cent drop in sales at $3.80 billion for the three months ended October 29, 2016, as against $3.86 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Translation of foreign currencies into US dollars positively impacted its sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 by about $17 million.In the quarter under review, comparable sales too were down 3 per cent, which includes an estimated negative impact from the Fishkill distribution centre fire of approximately 2 percentage point. In the prior fiscal's third quarter, the company had recorded a decline of 2 per cent in comparable sales.

Global apparel marketer Gap Inc. reported a 2 per cent drop in sales at $3.80 billion for the three months ended October 29, 2016, as against $3.86 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Translation of foreign currencies into US dollars positively impacted its sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 by about $17 million.#

Brand wise, comparable sales for Gap decreased 8 per cent, which includes an estimated negative impact from the fire of around 4 percentage points, versus negative 4 per cent in the third quarter of last fiscal.Comparable sales too fell 8 per cent at Banana Republic brand, which too was impacted by approximately 2 percentage points, vis-a-vis negative 12 per cent in the earlier fiscal's same quarter.However, Old Navy brand posted a 3 per cent growth in comparable sales, including an approximate negative 1 percentage point impact. This compares with an increase of 4 percent in the same period of last fiscal. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Premium fashion goods marketer Hugo Boss Group has initiated a new strategy for two of its brands, Boss and Hugo, with the intention to steer the group back toward sustainable growth. In order to appeal to customers clearly and rigorously, Hugo Boss will now operate with only these two brands, by merging various sub lines into these two brands.So, while Boss will offer upper premium businesswear as well as sophisticated casualwear, Boss Orange and Boss will no longer be continued as independent brands, but instead, both lines will be integrated into the Boss core brand.

Premium fashion goods marketer Hugo Boss Group has initiated a new strategy for two of its brands, Boss and Hugo, with the intention to steer the group back toward sustainable growth. In order to appeal to customers clearly and rigorously, Hugo Boss will now operate with only these two brands, by merging various sub lines into these two brands.#

Hugo will in future, appeal to a broader base of younger customers with fashionable collections offered at attractive prices and so its entry-level price range will be around 30 per cent lower than that of the Boss core brand.The realignment of the brand portfolio is set to be completed with the delivery of the Spring 2018 collection. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Aircraft company, Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, will show the latest technical solutions for producing technical textiles, sophisticated decorative fabrics, and clothing with refined quality for the premium segment with very high economic efficiency, at India ITME expo in Mumbai, from December 3 to 8, 2016, in hall 6, booth H6B16, under motto The Green Machine.Citing the traditional green colour of Dornier's weaving machines, this also encompasses the  sustainable effect of the fabrics produced on them. Dornier's Green Machines are indispensable tools manufacturing customised precision fabrics. The latest machine types of the Dornier system family comprising rapier and air-jet weaving machines are the centrepoint of the presentation. Experts will demonstrate how Indian weavers can utilise the superior Dornier technology to master the current weaving mill demands as to the highest quality for fabrics and applications in the individual segments.

Aircraft company, Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, will show the latest technical solutions for producing technical textiles, sophisticated decorative fabrics, and clothing with refined quality for the premium segment with very high economic efficiency, at India ITME expo in Mumbai, from December 3 to 8, 2016, in hall 6, booth H6B16, under motto The Green Machine.#

For sophisticated decorative fabrics, Dornier will demonstrate to the Indian weavers, in the premium segment, how to implement Dornier's technical advantage in weaving machines to also meet the latest and fancy demands. Dornier will also show Indian weavers how they can produce premium quality with high productivity in the rapidly growing market of especially high value and sophisticated clothing fabrics. Quality creates value is the focal point at the India ITME with weaving machines and applications that include the rapier weaving machine P2. With this machine, a high density filter fabric with a width of 320 cm can be woven. The new rapier weaving machine P2 provides weavers a multitude of new application options as well as the chance to open up new markets. As real Green Machine it will prove its special strength and sturdiness above all in fields that require more efficient, heavier and denser fabrics with highest regularity.The company will also show the Dornier's air-jet weaving machine A1 that provides an exceptionally wide application variety. Whether combined with a cam machine, a Jacquard machine with up to 12,000 lifting hooks, a dobby machine with up to 16 shafts or a Dornier EasyLeno unit, the A1 is the perfect tool for creative, economic, and precise production of technical textiles, home textiles and clothing fabrics  in nominal machine widths from 150 to 540 cm. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Germany's Karl Mayer, that offers solutions for warp knitting, technical textiles and warp preparation for weaving, is celebrating its successful exhibition at the recently held international textile machinery expo, ITMA Asia + CITME 2016, in Shanghai, China, from October 21 to 25, 2016, as a world market leader with a profound sense of responsibility.The world market leader was holding two presentations simultaneously to mark ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016. The first was on its impressive stand at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai, and the second was at an in-house show held at KARL MAYER (China) in Wujin, Changzhou. Both of these presentations were extremely successful. The company's representatives had more than 600 meaningful conversations at the trade fair. Most of the interested visitors came from China, India, Taiwan, Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Turkey.

Germany's Karl Mayer, that offers solutions for warp knitting, technical textiles and warp preparation for weaving, is celebrating its successful exhibition at the recently held international textile machinery expo, ITMA Asia + CITME 2016, in Shanghai, China, from October 21 to 25, 2016, as a world market leader with a profound sense of responsibility.#

Karl Mayer's presentations at the NECC and in Wujin, Changzhou, both focused on the future. For example, features such as technical solutions concentrating on sustainability , such as the Low Energy Option (LEO) for warp knitting machines and the materials-conserving HSB-PW Size Box for warp preparation, as well as textile applications having ecological implications in the field of multiaxial technology attracted a great deal of attention at the show.Karl Mayer's media presentation at the NECC also focused on digital technology: large displays showing striking images attracted the attention of the visitors from some distance away, and sent out the message: Innovation is at home here. The products on show were demonstrating their high level of innovation, in terms of both their technology and appearance. In the tricot machine sector, Karl Mayer was presenting two HKS models of the next generation in Shanghai. Their modern design clearly sets them apart from other machines on the market. The visitors were full of enthusiasm for the new design.The new OJ 59/1 B for the lace sector was on display at the in-house show in Wujin, Changzhou. This first representative of the new LACE.EXPRESS series created quite a stir at the fair. Some new developments in shoe fabric production and an innovative warp preparation machine for warp knitting rounded off the presentation at the in-house show at Karl Mayer (China). (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Actor Salman Khan, who attended the first look launch of Rajinikanth's upcoming Tamil science-fiction actioner 2.0, said he wasn't invited but he still came, just to meet the Tamil superstar. "I just showed up without being invited because I wanted to meet Rajinikanth sir," Salman said at the event here.

Salman referred Rajinikanth as "garu' (Telugu for sir), as he addressed the Telugu audience present at the venue. He later asked Karan Johar, the emcee of the event, as to why he doesn't make films like S. Shankar, the director of 2.0.

Check Out Candid Pics Of Celebs From 2.0 Poster Launch:

Rajinikanth Thanked Salman Thanking Salman Khan for his presence at 2.0 poster launch, Rajinikanth told at the event, "If Salman says yes, I'll work with him in a film even tomorrow." Salman With Amy Aww! This is surely one of the cutest moments from 2.0 poster launch event. Seen here are Salman Khan & Amy Jackson giggling on the stage. Akshay, The Real Hero Of The Film Superstar Rajinikanth said he was quite tempted to play Akshay Kumar's role in his upcoming Tamil science-fiction actioner 2.0. Rajinikanth On Akshay's Role In 2.0 "If given a chance, I would have played Akshay's character. He is the real hero of the film," Rajinikanth said. Akshay Kumar plays the prime antagonist in the film, which will hit the screens worldwide during Diwali 2017. In Picture: Akshay With KJo Talking at the event, Akshay said: "Director Shankar said my role will be difficult but I enjoyed it. The subject is very unique. I'm sure this film will reach the standards of Hollywood." Awesome Trio A candid picture of Superstar Rajinikanth flanked by Akshay Kumar & Salman Khan. Amy With Karan Amy Jackson, who is one of the lead characters of the film, was seen sharing stage with Karan Johar. Did You Know? According to the producers, the make-up for Akshay's character would take up to six hours. "Every day he has to get up six hours early, so that he can be on the sets on time," read a slide released by Lyca Productions. First Look 2.0 is the sequel to 2010 Tamil blockbuster 'Enthiran', the film is being made on a lavish budget of Rs 350 Crores. While Rajinikanth returns as scientist Vaseegaran, Akshay will be seen playing an eccentric scientist called Richard.

Latest Pictures: Aishwarya Rai Attends An Engagement Ceremony With Big B!

Superstar Rajinikanth believes his upcoming Tamil science-fiction actioner 2.0 is not a prestigious film just for its makers but for the entire Indian cinema.

"I enjoyed working on this film. This subject is very unique. This is not just a prestigious picture for the producers, director Shankar or the unit but it's one for the whole Indian cinema," Rajinikanth said at the first look launch event.

He's confident the Rs.350 Crores mega budget film will match Hollywood standards.

"Despite our (Indian cinema's) technical excellence and the financial strength, we could not reach Hollywood standard yet. But I'm confident this film will reach Hollywood level. It'll be a film our entire Indian film fraternity will be proud of," added the superstar.
Actor Sidharth Malhotra says that Indians have lost respect for environment and should learn how New Zealanders keep their's clean.

"I think in terms of learning from them (New Zealanders) and their society, which we actually had but somewhat lost, is the respect for our environment, forest and the animals that we have," Sidharth told IANS during a car ride on the Auckland streets.



Sidharth, the Tourism New Zealand brand ambassador in India, is on his second trip to the country and he is mesmerised by the scenic beauty of the country again.

Also Read: Katrina Kaif & Ranbir Kapoor Are Back Together; Engagement On The Cards?

Talking about how Indians have slowly lost the respect for the nature, he said, "We should be the first and pioneer in doing that because we worship trees, animals so we do have it our culture. But I think somewhere we have lost it. When I come to a country like New Zealand, I feel great to see them take out so much time and effort in taking care of nature."

"We have somewhere lost that appreciation for our environment and animals because, of course, there are other conditions. We are struggling with other economic problems and people in general have those issues. But I think this is very fascinating to see somewhere else in the world," added the 31-year-old.




Mitsubishi Corporation Telephone: +81-3-3210-2171 Facsimile: +81-3-5252-7705

TOKYO, Nov 21, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), together with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd. (MHPS), has been awarded a full turnkey contract by Joint Stock Company Uzbekenergo (UE) for the construction of a combined cycle power plant at the Turakurgan Thermal Power Station in eastern Uzbekistan. MHPS will supply the main components while Calik Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (CE)(1), a Turkey-based engineering and construction company in which MC is an investment partner, will supply the remaining components needed for plant construction and handle inland transportation as well as conduct civil engineering and installation works. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2020.This project is aimed at building a high-efficiency combined plant with the capacity to supply 900 MW of power. This project will be financed by an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Uzbek government funds.Aging infrastructure has led to concerns about the security and reliability of power supply in Uzbekistan, thereby creating an urgent need for the construction of additional facilities and the upgrading of existing ones. This project follows closely on from the Navoi Thermal Power Station (with the capacity to generate 450 MW of power and 200 Gcal/h of heat)(2), for which MC and MHPS were awarded a full turnkey contract by UE in October 2016. Once completed, these projects are together expected to supply 1,350 MW of power in Uzbekistan, which amounts to about 10% of the country's overall energy by 2020.By investing in this sector, indispensable for stimulating industrial development and improving standards of living, MC aims to continue to contribute to economic growth in Uzbekistan, while at the same time playing a role in Japan's aim to increase the export of high-quality infrastructure.(1) The partnership between Calik Holding(Calik), one of leading conglomerates in Turkey, and MC dates back to the 1990's when the two companies started collaborating on a number of plant construction projects in Central Asia. On 4 June, 2015, MC entered into a strategic alliance with Calik and CE, a subsidiary of Calik that includes the acquisition of shares in CE and exchange of personnel.(2) Visit the news release via the link below for more details.http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/pr/archive/2016/html/0000031176.htmlAbout Mitsubishi CorporationMitsubishi Corporation (MC; TSE: 8058) is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business. MC's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods. With over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide and a network of over 500 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of nearly 60,000 people. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishicorp.com.Source: Mitsubishi CorporationContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
EQS-News / 21/11/2016 / 11:05 UTC+8 *China Xiniya Fashion Limited Reports 2016 First Half Financial Results* XIAMEN, FUJIAN, China-November 21, 2016-China Xiniya Fashion Limited ("Xiniya" or the "Company" NYSE:XNY) today reported financial results for the first half of 2016. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and other financial information included in this press release have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The Company publishes its consolidated financial statements in Renminbi ("RMB"). *First Half 2016 Highlights* - In reassessing its first half 2015 presentation of the sales of repurchased inventory and the components within this line item, the Company made a determination that the components of the transaction should be revised to reclassify and reallocate this amount between the revenue and cost of sales line items. The components of the sales of repurchased inventory transactions consisted of sales of repurchased inventory of RMB45,849 as an increase in revenue and cost of sales of repurchased inventory of RMB45,849 as an increase in cost of sales. The Company evaluated the materiality of this revision, quantitatively and qualitatively, and concluded it did not constitute a material change to the Company's previously issued financial statements first half of 2015. However, the Company elected to revise the first half of 2015 to avoid inconsistencies with its financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2016. Accordingly, the Company revised previously reported results for the first half of 2015. - Revenue during the first half of 2016 was RMB15.1 million, as compared to revenue of RMB214.3 million in the first half of 2015. - Loss before taxation during the first half of 2016 was RMB129.2 million, as compared to profit before taxation of RMB13.3 million in the first half of 2015. - Net loss in the first half of 2016 was RMB129.2 million as compared to net profit of RMB9.6 million in the first half of 2015. - Loss per ADS was $1.37 in the first half of 2016 as compared to earnings per ADS of $0.11 in the first half of 2015. *First Half 2016 Results* Revenue for the first half of 2016 was RMB15.1 million, a decrease from RMB214.3 million during the first half of 2015. The decrease in revenue was primarily attributed to the inventory buyback in the first half of 2016. During the first half of 2016, the Company repurchased inventory of RMB294.2 million from distributors, of which RMB124.5 million was a reduction in revenue and RMB169.7 million was a reduction in provision for liability. The decrease was also attributed to a decrease in revenue of RMB74.7 million. Excluding the inventory buyback in the first half of 2016, the Company delivered approximately 1,320,000 units to it's customers during the first half of 2016, compared with 1,806,000 units during the first half of 2015. The Company's network of authorized retailers had a net addition of one retail outlet in the first half of 2016, consisting of 53 new retail outlets opened and 52 retail outlets closed. The total number of authorized retail outlets was 505 as of June 30, 2016. The table below sets forth the number of retail outlets by outlet type: *As of *As of *Outlet Type:* December June * 31, *30, 2015* 2016* *Company operates flagship store* 1 1 *Distributors operate stores * 64 56 *Distributors operate flagship stores* 2 2 *Distributor operates retail website* 1 1 *Authorized retailers operating outlets* 435 445 *Authorized retailer operating flagship store* 1 - *Total * 504 505 The cost of sales decreased from RMB162.1 million in the first half of 2015 to RMB100.7 million in the first half of 2016. The decrease in cost of sales was primarily attributed to the inventory buyback in the first half of 2016. During the first half of 2016, the net realizable value of repurchased inventory was RMB84.9 million, of which RMB40.7 million was a reduction in cost of sales and RMB44.2 million was a reduction in provision for liability. Gross loss was RMB85.6 million in the first half of 2016 as compared to gross profit of RMB52.3 million in the first half of 2015. The gross loss was mainly due to inventory buyback in the first half of 2016. Interest and other income was RMB2.7 million in the first half of 2016 as compared to RMB10.5 million in the first half of 2015. The decrease was mainly due to lower balances of time deposits in the first half of 2016 as compared to time deposits of RMB370 million placed with banks during the same period last year. Selling and distribution expenses were RMB36.0 million in the first half of 2016, a decrease from RMB37.0 million during the first half of 2015. The decrease was primarily attributed to the reduction of advertising and shop rack expenses. The decrease was partially offset by the increase in amortization expenses of retail network acquisition costs of RMB4.0 million. Administrative expenses were RMB10.3 million in the first half of 2016, a decrease from RMB12.4 million during the first half of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to reduction of headcount, office and other miscellaneous expenses during the first half of 2016. Loss before taxation was RMB129.2 million in the first half of 2016, as compared with profit before taxation of RMB13.3 million during the first half of 2015. Loss after taxation for the first half of 2016 was RMB129.2 million, as compared with net profit of RMB9.6 million during the first half of 2015. Loss per ADS was $1.37 in the first half of 2016, compared to earnings of $0.11 per ADS in the first half of 2015. *Financial Position* As of June 30, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB63.1 million. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had inventory of RMB106.7 million which mainly resulted from the inventory buyback in the first half of 2016. *Conference Call* Xiniya's management will host and earnings conference call on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (8 p.m. Beijing time on the same day). The toll free dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows: - USA: 1-800-8713110 or 1-888-7007397 - China: 800 803 6017 - Hong Kong: 800 96 8899 - International access: +886 2 21928018 Participant PIN Code: 913206# A live webcast of the conference call will be available on: http://www.zucast.com/webcast/TuyVthBE [1] A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the end of the conference through December 20, 2016 at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows: 1. Dial the playback number: +886 2 33220777 2. Enter playback reference number: 186625 # 3. Enter participant pin code: 691450 # Accessible Duration: 30 Days *Safe Harbor Statement* This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. *Exchange Rate Information* The United States dollar ($) amounts disclosed in this press release are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars for the convenience of the reader were calculated at the certified exchange rate of $1.00 = RMB6.6459 on June 30, 2016 as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into $ at that rate on June 30, 2016, or at any other date. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB amounts. *About China Xiniya Fashion Limited* Xiniya is a leading provider of men's business casual apparel in China. The Company designs men's business casual and business formal apparel and accessories, which are marketed under the Xiniya brand, and sells through its distributors and retail network. Its products are sold to consumers at over 300 authorized retail outlets owned and managed by third parties located in 20 provinces, four autonomous regions, and four municipalities in China. This retail network focuses on second and lower-tier cities, where increasing affluence has led to an improvement in living standards and where most international men's apparel brands do not have a significant presence. The Company's target consumers are male working professionals in China between the ages of 25 and 45 who seek fashionable clothing to suit their working and lifestyle needs. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.xiniya.com [2]. For additional information, please contact: China Xiniya Fashion Limited

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

November 20, 2016 22:05 ET (03:05 GMT)
CULVER CITY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- FlitWays Technology Inc. (OTC PINK: FTWS) ("FlitWays" or the "Company"), a Los Angeles-based ground travel technology company, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to present at the VISIT FLORIDA Digital Innovation Forum at the Omni Resort Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

The VISIT FLORIDA Digital Innovation Forum is a two-day event (Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2016) where global travel executives can hear insights from other industry experts, learn how to leverage unique business opportunities, and attend presentations from innovative travel companies showcasing emerging technology and trends.

VISIT FLORIDA, the state of Florida's official marketing corporation, serves 11,000+ travel and tourism industry businesses. Florida is the #1 travel destination in the world, welcoming 106.6 million visitors in 2015 that spent $89.1 billion, employing 1.2 million Floridians.

"This is a great opportunity and honor for FlitWays to be selected as one of a small group of companies to showcase their technologies to a respected international travel marketing organization such as VISIT FLORIDA," commented FlitWays Director of Growth, Zacky Hamraz. "We strive to give our B2B partners in the travel industry a true seamless experience for their travelers when they use FlitWays to connect to ground transportation. We are very confident that global travel executives at the Digital Innovation Forum will understand and appreciate how FlitWays innovative technologies that can help improve travelers' experiences while visiting Florida."

About FlitWays Technology Inc.

FlitWays, a Los Angeles-based travel technology company, offers Pre-Booked and On-Demand ground transportation in 170 cities around the world -- including rideshares, taxis, black cars, and airport shuttles. Currently servicing over 400 airports with a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles, FlitWays is there to handle all travel ride needs. FlitWays provides security and peace of mind for both business and private travelers with secure booking and all-inclusive rates.

For additional information regarding FlitWays, visit www.FlitWays.com.

Additional information regarding FlitWays Technology, Inc. can also be found in the Company's most recent filings with SEC at www.sec.gov and further Company press releases.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Flitways Technology Inc. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to; the proposed corporate name change; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3082934



Hermosa Capital Management Inc.

(310) 546-4600

ir@FlitWays.com




CORONA, CA--(Marketwired - November 21, 2016) - Acology Inc. (OTC PINK: ACOL) published its 10Q today and is pleased to report that revenues have increased substantially from this same period last year. The unexpected presidential election results could give Acology's American-Made products and services more traction than was previously projected. The Trump Administration has stated publicly that American manufacturers and sales organizations would receive preferential treatment. Many of the packaging products that are currently used in the US cannabis industry come from China and other countries, which could face much tougher tariffs under the Trump administration. Acology's signature product, The MedTainer', is 100% manufactured and sold in the United States. Acology intends to exploit this advantage against other foreign-made and inferior competitors' products.

The national elections were a successful referendum for the cannabis industry with 8 more states voting to legalize the use of recreational or medical cannabis products. This brings to 26 the number of states that have legalized cannabis use. Acology's home state, California, is the biggest winner, with potential tax revenues rising into the billions as more licenses are granted and operators rush to enter the industry. Acology's location advantages are evident, both in the volume of products sold and the steady increase of new vendors seen in the past year. Acology has aggressively taken a position as the premier packaging-solution in this rapidly-expanding industry.

Acology, in its partnership with Kush Bottles (KSHB), one of the largest container suppliers in the industry, is uniquely positioned to move forward with other strategic partners in making the transition to safe, publicly responsible packaging. In the past 3 years Acology has reached into 20 countries and is closing-in on 3 million units sold. For investor or sales information please visit Acology Inc. and D&C Distributors online or by phone. The company is located in their production and distribution facility at 1620 Commerce St. Corona, California, 92880.

Acology trades on the OTC under the call letters ACOL. The company's websites are www.Acologyinc.com for the hospice and palliative care industry and www.themedtainer.com for the recreational and medical marijuana industry. Orders for Acology products can be taken online and by phone. Custom orders are especially welcome. Please send all inquiries to info@acologyinc.com or call (844) ACOLOGY (844-226-5649). Ask for Jack Rein, National Services Director. Acology can also be accessed through Twitter and Instagram at @Acologyinc

This press release includes statements that are covered by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements deal with future events they are subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results for fiscal year 2016 and beyond could differ materially from the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are identified by such words as "anticipates", "projects", "expects", "planned", "intends" and "believes" "estimate" "targets" and other similar expressions that indicate trends and future events. It is understood that investment entails risk on the part of the investor and could result in the loss of some or all of his or her investment.

Contact:

Acology Inc.

info@acologyinc.com
ALBANY, New York, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global market for release liners demonstrates a fragmented and a highly competitive landscape due to a large pool of manufacturers, finds a new research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). At the forefront of this market are Mondi Group, 3M, Avery Dennison Corp., Gascogne Group, Rayven Inc., UPM, and Loparex Holding B.V.

Currently, these players are concentrating on technological advancements of their existing products and novel marketing strategies to gain an edge over their competitors. However, over the coming years, their focus is expected to shift towards product innovation to seize a greater share of this market. Mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships are also projected to gain prominence among players looking for expansion in the near future, states the report.

Download Sample PDF Brochure for Professional & Technical insights athttp://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=10997

According to TMR, the global market for release liners is likely to expand its opportunity at a CAGR of 6.30% during the period from 2016 to 2024, increasing from a value of US$10.0 bn in 2015 to US$17.0 bn by the end of the forecast period. Researchers predict the consumption of release liners to cross 66,278 mn m2. Among application segments, the pressure sensitive label stocks segment led the global market in 2015 with US$5.4 bn in revenues and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period.

Asia Pacific to Witness Continued Demand for Release Liners

The report also analyses the global market for release liners in terms of its geographical presence. Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, and Europe are the prime regional markets for release liners across the world. In 2015, Asia Pacific led the overall market with US$3.2 bn in revenues.

Thanks to the presence of release liner manufacturers and vendors in a large number, this regional market is likely to witness continued dominance over the forecast period. Besides, the rise in the construction of new manufacturing units in various Asian economies, such as Malaysia and Indonesia is also anticipated to support the Asia Pacific market for release liners in the coming years. The demand for release liners is also projected to experience a healthy rise in the Middle East and Africa over the next few years, states the report.

Browse Regional PR: http://www.europlat.org/global-release-liner-market.htm

Growing Emphasis on Better Labeling of Products to Fuel Demand for Release Liners

"The growing emphasis on better labeling in a number of end-use industries is the key driving force behind the tremendous rise in the demand for release liners," says an analyst at TMR. In addition, the increasing investments in the food and beverage and the pharmaceutical industries, aimed at improving the packaging quality, is anticipated to reflect remarkably on this market over the forthcoming years.

Apart from this, the market is also expected to benefit significantly from the substantial rise in international trade, leading to the increasing demand for quality packaging and labeling, notes the study.

High Cost of Release Liners to Limit Market's Growth

While the growth prospects of the global market for release liners are bright, the high cost of release liner products may limit their demand in the coming years. The high initial investments needed to setup manufacturing units are also restricting players to expand their businesses, impacting the overall market negatively, reports the study.

The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled "Release Liner Market (Application - Envelopes and Packaging, Graphic Arts, Hygiene, Industrial, Medical, Pressure sensitive label stock, and Tapes; Labeling Technology - Adhesive applied, In-Mold, Pressure sensitive labeling, and Sleeving; Substrates - Film, Glassine, Polyolefin Paper, Clay Coated paper, and Art paper) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016-2024."

The global release liner market has been segmented as below:

By Application

Envelopes and Packaging

Graphic Arts

Hygiene

Industrial

Medical

Pressure sensitive label stock

Tapes

By Labeling Technology

Adhesive applied

In-Mold

Pressure sensitive labeling

Sleeving

By Substrates

Film

Glassine

Polyolefin Paper

Clay Coated paper

Art paper

By Region

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany U.K. France Spain Italy Russia Poland Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India ASEAN Australia & NZ Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC South Africa North Africa Rest of MEA

& (MEA)

Related Research Reports by TMR:

Stretch and Shrink Film Market:

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/stretch-shrink-film-market.html

End-of-line Packaging Market:

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/end-of-line-packaging-market.html

About Us

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.

Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.

US Office Contact

Transparency Market Research

90 State Street, Suite 700

Albany, NY 12207

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com



Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

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AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap"), (NYSE: AER) announced today that it has completed the closing of a new $0.6 billion secured credit facility. The facility will primarily be used to acquire new narrowbody and widebody aircraft as they deliver from Boeing and Airbus through 2017. The facility was signed to finance a portfolio of eight aircraft and matures in 2024.

AIB Corporate Banking, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking, Commerzbank AG, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Credit Agricole CIB, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, Helaba, HSBC, KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, MUFG and National Australia Bank acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Credit Agricole CIB acted as Facility Agent and Security Trustee on the transaction.

Paul Rofe, Group Treasurer of AerCap, said: "We are delighted with the successful closing of this facility, which strengthens further our committed liquidity for funding aircraft throughout 2017. We appreciate the great support from both new and existing banking partners."

The total amount of financing transactions completed in 2016 to date is $3.5 billion.

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing with, as of September 30, 2016, 1,607 owned, managed or on order aircraft in its portfolio. AerCap has one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 200 customers in approximately 80 countries with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Shannon, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Singapore, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005567/en/

Contacts:

AerCap Holdings N.V.

For Investors:

John Wikoff, +31 20 655 9661

Head of Investor Relations

jwikoff@aercap.com

or

For Media:

Gillian Culhane, +353 1 636 0945

Vice President Corporate Communications

gculhane@aercap.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Senator Rand Paul, R-Ken., had some harsh words for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and suggested they may have trouble getting confirmed if nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for Secretary of State. In an appearance on CBS' 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, Paul suggested that Giuliani and Bolton are 'out there on the extreme' regarding foreign policy. 'I don't think they're very diplomatic,' Paul said. 'And I think you want the chief diplomat to be diplomatic.' He added, 'I have said before Bolton might be better as a secretary of war, but he's certainly not a diplomat or someone who acts in a diplomatic way or thinks that diplomacy might be an alternative to war.' Paul took particular issue with Giuliani and Bolton for continuing to support the Iraq war and advocating for regime change in Iran. The libertarian-leaning Senator noted that Giuliani and Bolton are not guaranteed to get any Democratic support and could also see some Republicans voting against them if nominated. Paul suggested that former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who is also reportedly being considered for Secretary of State, would be a more 'reasonable' and 'even keel' nominee. (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.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award (CBLEA). Award winners are recognized for their diligent police work in fighting financial crime and protecting bank employees and customers in Canada. This year's award will be presented at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference gala awards dinner being held in Montreal, Quebec on July 18, 2017.

"This award gives the banking industry the opportunity to honour exceptional police officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in combating financial crime," said Malcolm Chivers, Director of Corporate Security, Canadian Bankers Association. "Banks in Canada rely on their longstanding relationship with law enforcement agencies and police officers to help protect their customers and employees from financial crime."

Nominations from banks and Canadian law enforcement agencies will be accepted by the CBA until February 8, 2017.

Eligibility

The CBLEA can be presented to a sworn member of law enforcement (includes Special Constables and sworn auxiliary Peace Officers) for exceptional achievement in an investigation involving the banking industry. Officers can be awarded for either an Individual or a Group (Team) achievement. The criteria for nominations are as follows:

-- Individual: This award is presented to a sworn member of law enforcement for a unique investigation (not just high profile) involving a bank. The officer has displayed exceptional diligence in order to overcome obstacles and extenuating circumstances. This award may also be presented in cases where the officer knowingly placed themselves at great risk (threat of serious bodily harm or death, imminent danger, etc.) during the protection of life involving a bank employee, customer or bank property. -- Group (Team): This award is presented to sworn members of law enforcement working in a group/taskforce/team investigation involving the banking industry. The results of the investigation demonstrate exemplary performance in overcoming extraordinary circumstances resulting in a successful conclusion to the investigation. Examples could include investigations for robbery against a bank (branch) where employees and customers may be at risk, or fraudulent acts against a bank or banks, by an organized criminal group.

Additional information about the nomination process and eligibility, as well as a list of past award recipients, can be found on the CBA website.

Nominations may be submitted by members of law enforcement or bank security personnel. All completed nomination forms should be sent to security@cba.ca for consideration.

About the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award

Since its creation in 1972, 248 officers from across Canada have been honoured with the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award for their outstanding bravery, dedication and other noteworthy achievements in combating crimes against Canada.

About the Canadian Bankers Association

The Canadian Bankers Association works on behalf of 59 domestic banks, foreign bank subsidiaries and foreign bank branches operating in Canada and their 280,000 employees. The CBA advocates for effective public policies that contribute to a sound, successful banking system that benefits Canadians and Canada's economy. The Association also promotes financial literacy to help Canadians make informed financial decisions and works with banks and law enforcement to help protect customers against financial crime and promote fraud awareness. www.cba.ca.

Follow the CBA on Twitter: @CdnBankers

Watch videos: Youtube.com/CdnBankers

Follow the CBA on LinkedIn

Contacts:

Andrew Perez

Manager, Media Relations

Canadian Bankers Association

(416) 362-6093, ext. 219

Cell: (416) 587-7733

aperez@cba.ca




Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2016) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the agenda for the December 8 meeting of its Investor Advisory Commitee. The meeting will commence at 9:30 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room at SEC headquarters at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. and is open to the public. The meeting will be webcast live and archived on the Committee's website for later viewing.

Among other items, the Committee will discuss investor protection priorities for the New Year. It also will hear an update on the Commission's response to the rulemaking mandate of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act concerning public company disclosure requirements.

In addition, the Committee welcomes new member Anne Simpson, Investment Director, Sustainability, at the California Public Employees' Retirement System. Members of the Committee represent a wide variety of investor interests, including those of individual and institutional investors, senior citizens, and state securities regulators. For a full list of Committee members and resources for the upcoming meeting, see the Committee's website.

The Investor Advisory Committee was established under Section 911 of the Dodd-Frank Act to advise the Commission on regulatory priorities, the regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, the effectiveness of disclosure, and on initiatives to protect investor interests and to promote investor confidence and the integrity of the securities marketplace. The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes the Committee to submit findings and recommendations to the Commission.

AGENDA
The Management Board of AS Silvano Fashion Group, registry code 10175491, registered address Tulika 15/17, 10613 Tallinn, (hereinafter "SFG") convenes an Extraordinary General Meeting (hereinafter: "EGM") of shareholders on 14th of December 2016 at 12:00 (Estonian time) in Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia conference hall "Sigma", address Liivalaia 33, 10118 Tallinn, Estonia.The registration of participants of the Extraordinary General Meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. (Estonian time).I AgendaThe agenda of the EGM is the following:1. The amendment of the profit distribution decision approved by the Annual General Meeting held on 29th of June 2016 and additional distribution of profit of AS Silvano Fashion GroupII Proposals of the Management Board and the Supervisory BoardThe Supervisory Board of SFG has approved the agenda of the EGM as proposed by the Management Board. The Management Board and the Supervisory Board make the following proposals to the shareholders with regard to the agenda:1. The amendment of the profit distribution decision approved by the Annual General Meeting held on 29th of June 2016 and additional distribution of profit of AS Silvano Fashion GroupProposal of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board:1.1. To distribute the profit by paying dividends to the shareholders from the profit of the company based on the approved annual report of 2015 as follows: 1.1.1. The list of shareholders of AS Silvano Fashion Group entitled to profit distribution shall be fixed on 29st of December 2016 at 11:59 p.m; 1.1.2. EUR 0.10 per share shall be payable to the entitled shareholders as a dividend at the latest on 30th of December 2016.III Organizational questionsThe list of the shareholders entitled to participate in the EGM shall be fixed 7 days prior to the date of the meeting, i.e. on 7th December 2016 at 11:59 p.m. (Estonian time).At the EGM, a shareholder is entitled to receive information from the Management Board about the activities of SFG. The Management Board may decide to withhold information if there is a reason to believe that the disclosure of information may cause significant damage to the interests of SFG. If the Management Board refuses to disclose information, the shareholder may demand from the EGM to adopt a resolution regarding to the lawfulness of the information request or file a petition to a court of law within two weeks of the EGM requesting the court for the ruling requiring the Management Board to disclose the information.The shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital may request for additional items to be included in the agenda of the EGM, if the respective request is submitted in writing at least 15 days prior to the EGM.The shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital may present their draft resolutions to each item in the agenda in writing no later than 3 days before the EGM.Draft resolution regarding to the agenda items and other documents presented to the EGM (including annual report, report of the sworn auditor, profit distribution proposal and report of the Supervisory Board) are available for examination on every working day as of the notification of the EGM until the business day preceding the day of the EGM at the headquarters of the Company at Tulika 15/17, Tallinn on business days from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Estonian time).On the day of the EGM the materials related to the agenda of the General Meeting are available for examination at the venue of the EGM as of the opening of registration of participants until the end of the EGM. In order to examine the documents: (1) the shareholders who are natural persons are required to present a document verifying their identity and their representatives are additionally required to present the power of attorney in written form; (2) the representatives of the shareholders who are legal entities shall present (a) an extract from the registry where the legal entity is registered; and (b) a document verifying the identity of representative; and (c) in case of representation on the basis of proxy, also a power of attorney.Documents and data which are disclosed according to Article 2941 of the Estonian Commercial Code and the templates of power of attorney are available on the homepage of the Company: http://www.silvanofashion.com.The following documents must be submitted to participate in EGM?- the shareholders who are natural persons shall present a document verifying their identity and their representatives shall present the power of attorney in written form;?- the representatives of the shareholders who are legal entities shall present (a) an extract from the registry where the legal entity is registered; and (b) a document verifying the identity of representative; (c) in case of representation on the basis of proxy, also a power of attorney.Unless otherwise provided by a foreign agreement, a document issued by a foreign authority shall be duly apostilled or legalized. Documents in foreign language should be accompanied by the translation into Estonian, verified by relevant institution.Prior to the EGM the shareholder may notify the Company of the appointment of a representative or the revocation of the representative's authority by sending a digitally signed e-mail message to info@silvanofashion.com or by delivering the information in person on workdays between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Estonian time) or via mail to AS Silvano Fashion Group, Tulika 15/17, 10613 Tallinn, Estonia by 5 p.m. (Estonian time) on the business day preceding the day of the EGM.For any information regarding the EGM or the agenda items, please contact Mart Meerits (e-mail info@silvanofashion.com; phone +372 684 5000).Jarek Sargava Board Member Silvano Fashion Group E-mail: info@silvanofashion.com Tel: +372 684 5000; Fax: +372 684 5300 Address: Tulika 15/17, 10613 Tallinn, Estonia http://www.silvanofashion.com
GRAND ISLAND, NE -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- Axis Capital, Inc. (Axis), one of North America's leading commercial equipment finance companies, is delighted to announce that the company's Co-President and Chief Operating Officer, Malia K. Du Mont, has been named the winner of the Bronze Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the Business Services category for companies with 11-2,500 employees in the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

"I am honored to be named the Bronze winner for Female Executive of the Year and wish to congratulate all of the other winners and nominees of this year's Stevie Awards," said Malia K. Du Mont. "I would also like to extend this award to all of my colleagues at Axis, as this certainly would not have happened without their continued enthusiasm and dedication to the success of our company. I'm very proud that we have successful women at every level of the company."

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the world's top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2016 awards received entries from 31 nations and territories.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned," the awards were presented to winners on November 19th during a dinner event attended by more than 500 people at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The event was broadcast on Livestream.

"Each year we think the quality of achievements portrayed in Stevie-winning nominations couldn't possibly get any better, and each year the amazing women who are recognized in this program prove us wrong," said Michael Gallagher, Stevie Awards founder and president. "We are thrilled and humbled to be able to recognize so many outstanding women in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and to share the stories of their achievement with the world."

More than 1,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories. Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 160 professionals worldwide who participated in the judging process this year.

To view a video of Malia's interview at the Stevie Awards, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p07VSdo8fwI

About Axis Capital

Axis Capital, Inc. (Axis) is a nationally ranked Top Ten independent equipment finance provider and a Top Twenty vendor channel origination company that customizes capital financing programs for a wide variety of suppliers and businesses nationwide. Founded in 1996 in Grand Island, NE, Axis delivers solutions that help businesses across the country grow, succeed, and create value. Axis serves as a reliable capital partner to many active vendor programs and has funded transactions with over 15,000 vendors across diversified markets in the United States. Axis Capital is a subsidiary of New York based, Amur Finance Company, a global diversified holding company with over $800M in assets.

For more information, go to axiscapitalfinance.com.

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com

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Media Contact:



Jacklynn Manning

Marketing Director

Axis Capital, Inc.

+1 (800) 994-0016 x266

Email Contact




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- Veresen Inc. ("Veresen") (TSX: VSN) announces that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for November 2016 of $0.0833 per common share. The dividend will be paid on December 23, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2016. This dividend is designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes.

Preferred Shares Series A, Series C and Series E

Veresen's Board of Directors also declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share, $0.3125 per share and $0.3125 per share for the period ended December 31, 2016 on its Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares Series A, Series C and Series E, respectively. These dividends will be paid on December 30, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2016. These dividends are designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes.

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

Director, Corporate Planning & Investor Relations

(403) 213-3633

investor-relations@vereseninc.com

www.vereseninc.com




BELLINGHAM, WA--(Marketwired - November 21, 2016) - Fundamental Research Corp., an independent research firm specializing in the small-cap and microcap sectors, has announced that it has updated its analysis of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI). To view the updated research report in its entirety visit http://www.otcmarkets.com/financialReportViewer'symbol=EXPI&id=163022.

eXp World Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for eXp Realty, the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage. The Company's real estate brokerage division now has more than 2,200 real estate professionals who span across 41 states, the District of Columbia and parts of Canada. The Company had 864 agents on January 1, 2016.

In the report, Fundamental Research Corp., which initiated coverage of eXp World Holdings, Inc. back in April of this year, cites the Company's record third quarter revenues, a revision in its long term projections, and a healthy balance sheet among the reasons for its upward revisions.

All research issued by Fundamental Research Corp. is based on public information. Fees were paid by EXPI to FRC. The purpose of the fee is to subsidize the high costs of research and monitoring. FRC takes steps to ensure independence including setting fees in advance and utilizing analysts who must abide by CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Additionally, analysts may not trade in any security under coverage. Our full editorial control of all research, timing of release of the reports, and release of liability for negative reports are protected contractually. To further ensure independence, EXPI has agreed to a minimum coverage term including four reports.

About eXp World Holdings, Inc.

eXp World Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for a number of companies most notably eXp Realty LLC, the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage as a full-service real estate brokerage providing 24/7 access to collaborative tools, training, and socialization for real estate brokers and agents through its 3-D, fully-immersive, cloud office environment. eXp Realty, LLC and eXp Realty of Canada, Inc. also feature an aggressive revenue sharing program that pays agents a percentage of gross commission income earned by fellow real estate professionals who they attract into the Company.

As a publicly-traded company, eXp World Holdings, Inc. uniquely offers professionals within its ranks opportunities to earn equity awards for production and contributions to overall company growth.

For more information you can follow eXp World Holdings, Inc. on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, or visit eXpWorldHoldings.com. For eXp Realty please visit: eXpRealty.com.

The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's expansion, revenue growth, operating results, financial performance and net income changes. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include changes in business or other market conditions; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at modest levels while increasing revenues; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/11/21/11G122867/Images/eXp_World_Holdings_image-40adbe37ce72b4259b952e2c9e514332.jpg

Contact:

Sid Rajeev, CFA

www.researchfrc.com

Direct: 604-682-7065
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- Chris Burckhardt, Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Housing (USA) will share with Calgary's affordable housing community how he has helped develop affordable housing in 19 states for over 35,000 residents.

With a business-like vigour, this international housing expert leverages a winning formula. Burckhardt ties housing and health outcomes, and identifies a quantifiable return on investment of affordable housing in communities.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi will speak about the urgent need to address the local shortage of affordable housing and what the City of Calgary is doing.

A panel discussion will take place with federal, provincial and municipal representatives each sharing their respective governments' housing priorities and updates on the various stages of development and implementation of their affordable housing strategies.

The Opening Doors Conference is an opportunity for the affordable housing sector to gather to explore the changing profile of housing in Alberta, discuss challenges and opportunities, and learn more about strategies taking shape among all levels of government. Learn more.

The Conference is held in commemoration of National Housing Day, which has been officially recognized by the Government of Canada for 16 years. The day sees local events to raise awareness about housing and homelessness. This is the 12th annual event held in Calgary.

What: Opening Doors Conference When: November 23, 2016 Mayor Naheed Nenshi from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. Panel discussion from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Chris Burckhardt, Mercy Housing from noon to 1:00 p.m. Where: Executive Royal Inn Calgary, 2828 23 Street NE, Calgary

Contacts:

Sabrina Grover

403.614.6498

sabrinakgrover@gmail.com




MONACO--(Marketwired - November 21, 2016) - Scorpio Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SALT) (the "Company") announced today that it has entered into time charter-out agreements for two Ultramax vessels and one Kamsarmax vessel.

Time Charter-Out Agreements

Earliest Vessel Type Duration Redelivery Date Rate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SBI Leo Ultramax Min 5 - Max 7 months 04/06/2017 $9,000 SBI Cakewalk Kamsarmax Min 5 - Max 8 months 03/31/2017 $9,000 SBI Achilles Ultramax Min 6 - Max 8 months 05/23/2017 $11,000

About Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities. Scorpio Bulkers Inc. currently owns 41 vessels, consisting of 15 Kamsarmax vessels and 26 Ultramax vessels. The Company also time charters-in two dry bulk vessels (consisting of one Panamax and one Kamsarmax vessel) and has contracted for seven dry bulk vessels consisting of five Kamsarmax vessels and two Ultramax vessels, from shipyards in China. Upon final delivery of all of the vessels the owned fleet is expected to have a total carrying capacity of approximately 3.4 million deadweight tonnes. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company's website www.scorpiobulkers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact:

Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

+377-9798-5715 (Monaco)

+1-646-432-1675 (New York)
Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2016) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Matthew C. Solomon, the Chief Litigation Counsel for the SEC's Enforcement Division, will leave the agency early next month.

Mr. Solomon has led the Enforcement Division's litigation program since September 2013, managing cases pending both in federal courts and administrative proceedings at the Commission. The trial unit has 48 attorneys at the SEC's Washington headquarters as well as more than 100 additional litigators throughout the agency's 11 regional offices.

During Mr. Solomon's tenure as Chief Litigation Counsel, the agency received favorable verdicts in 22 federal jury trials, including the SEC's cases against two brothers accused of violating the laws governing ownership and trading of securities by corporate insiders, its insider trading cases against two brokerage employees and a pharmaceutical executive and a U.K. resident, and a first-ever case against a recidivist municipality and one of its city officials. The agency also enjoyed strong successes in administrative proceedings before the SEC's administrative law judges.

"Matt has won the respect of every trial and investigative attorney in the Enforcement Division with his keen intellect, strong strategic sense, and outstanding trial skills," said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SEC's Enforcement Division. "He has bolstered our already strong litigation program, and been an important reason for our success at trial over the last few years."

Mr. Solomon said, "Our enforcement program has been built on a strong partnership between investigative staff and litigators who are prepared to go the distance at trial. I am proud of the strong record we have built over the last few years litigating some of the Enforcement Division's most complex and challenging cases."

Mr. Solomon joined the SEC in June 2012 as the Enforcement Division's Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel. Before joining the SEC, Mr. Solomon served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and was later elevated to chief of that office's fraud unit, where he supervised 25 prosecutors handling hundreds of white-collar criminal matters, including securities fraud offenses. Prior to his work in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Solomon was a trial attorney in the public integrity section of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice and, before that, he served as a counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and then as a law clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Solomon received his B.A. magna cum laude from Wesleyan University, and his J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was notes & comments editor of the Georgetown Law Journal.

Following Mr. Solomon's departure, David Gottesman, the Enforcement Division's Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel, and Bridget Fitzpatrick, a supervisory trial counsel in the Enforcement Division, will serve as acting Co-Chief Litigation Counsels.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/21/16 -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. ("Gran Tierra" or the "Company") (NYSE MKT: GTE)(TSX: GTE) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell 43,335,000 shares of its common stock, on a bought deal basis, at a price of US$3.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately US$130.0 million (the "Offering"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay borrowings outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility, which amounts may be reborrowed for general corporate purposes, including to fund appraisal and development and to finance potential acquisitions.

The Offering will be made to the public in the United States and Canada through a syndicate of underwriters (the "Underwriters") led by Scotia Capital Inc., RBC Capital Markets and Dundee Capital Markets. Completion of the Offering is subject to, and conditional upon, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including approval of the NYSE MKT and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Offering is expected to close on or about November 29, 2016.

The Company has also granted the Underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 6,500,250 shares of its common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any, on the same terms and conditions as the Offering, including the offer price, exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, until 30 days after the date of the execution of the definitive agreement in respect of the Offering. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering will be approximately US$149.5 million.

The offering of securities to which this communication relates is being made in the United States pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and, in Canada, pursuant to a supplement to the Company's MJDS base shelf prospectus filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. You can get copies of these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov and SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Alternatively, copies of these documents may be obtained, when available, from Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., Attention: Equity Capital Markets (tel: 212-225-6853), 250 Vesey Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York, 10281 or RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098; Attention: Equity Syndicate; Phone: 877-822-4089; Email: equityprospectus@rbccm.com, or in Canada from Scotia Capital Inc., Attention: Equity Capital Markets (tel: 416-862-5837), Scotia Plaza, 66th Floor, 40 King Street West, M5W 2X6, Toronto, Ontario,RBC Capital Markets, Attn: Simon Yeung, Distribution Centre, RBC Wellington Square, 8th Floor, 180 Wellington St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M5J 0C2 (Phone: 416-842-5349; E-mail: Distribution.RBCDS@rbccm.com) or Dundee Capital Markets, Attn: Equity Capital Markets 416 350 6654 ecm@dundeesecurities.com, 1 Adelaide Street East, Suite 2100, Toronto, ON M5C 2V9.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in the United States, trading on the NYSE MKT (GTE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (GTE), and operating in South America. Gran Tierra holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Gran Tierra has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a base for future growth.

Gran Tierra's SEC filings are available on a web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Disclaimer

General Advisory

The information contained in this press release does not purport to be all-inclusive or contain all information that readers may require. You are encouraged to conduct your own analysis and review of Gran Tierra and of the information contained in this press release. Without limitation, you should read the entire record of publicly filed documents relating to the Company, consider the advice of your financial, legal, accounting, tax and other professional advisors and such other factors you consider appropriate in investigating and analyzing Gran Tierra. You should rely only on the information provided by Gran Tierra and are not entitled to rely on parts of that information to the exclusion of others. Gran Tierra has not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information, and any such information, including statements in media articles about Gran Tierra, should not be relied upon.

An investment in the securities of Gran Tierra is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Gran Tierra's business is subject to the risks normally encountered in the oil and gas industry and certain other risks that are associated with Gran Tierra's current stage of development. An investment in the Company's securities is suitable only for those purchasers who are willing to risk a loss of some or all of their investment and who can afford to lose some or all of their investment. You should carefully consider the risks described under the heading "Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in the other reports and filings with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Information Advisory

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion, timing and size of the Offering and use of proceeds thereof.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain assumptions made by Gran Tierra based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future development and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including conditions to the completion of the Offering, many of which are beyond Gran Tierra's control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include the factors discussed or referenced under the heading "Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in the other reports and filings with the SEC.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and Gran Tierra undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Gran Tierra's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in the other reports and filings with the SEC, available from the Company's offices or website. These forms can also be obtained from the SEC via the internet at www.sec.gov or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Contacts:

For investor and media inquiries:

Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gary Guidry

President and Chief Executive Officer

403-767-6500



Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Ryan Ellson

Chief Financial Officer

403-767-6501



Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Rodger Trimble

Vice President of Investor Relations

403-698-7941

info@grantierra.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Three Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) customers in Los Angeles have filed a lawsuit against the Mexican-themed casual restaurant for 'false nutritional information.' According to complaint, David Desmond ordered the menu item on November 3 thinking it was a 300-calorie dish, however, 'felt excessively full and realized that the burrito couldn't have been just 300 calories' after eating it. Chipotle had started serving chorizo in all U.S. restaurants from the first week of October. The chorizo burrito includes chicken, pork sausage, rice, beans, and cheese and tortilla. However, Chipotle has mad it clear that the 300 calories is for the chorizo alone. Chipotle has been struggling with a sales slump caused by a series of food-related disease outbreaks and has been trying new avenues to woo back customers to its outlets. The company, a burrito and tacos chain, was spun off from McDonald's in 2006. 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.
Apptopia, a Boston, MA-based mobile app intelligence provider, raised $2.7m in a second seed funding round.

The round was led by Ashton Kutchers and Guy Osearys Sound Ventures with participation from Mark Cuban, 500 Startups, RTA Ventures, Full Tilt Capital, Telegraph Hill Capital, and Expansion VC.

The company, which has raised $5m in total funding, intends to use the funds to continue to develop its products.

Co-founded by CEO Eliran Sapir and COO Jonathan Kay, Apptopia provides Mobile publishers and developers, service providers, and investors with app store downloads, revenue, and SDK data to understand and monitor competitors, inform business strategies, and identify emerging consumer interests and trends.

The company now has 42 employees in its offices in Boston and Kiev, Ukraine.

FinSMEs

21/11/2016
Arch Venture Partners, a Chicago, IL-based technology venture capital firm, is to raise two new funds.

According to different forms raised files with the SEC, the funds include:

 ARCH Venture Fund IX, L.P., which aims to raise $550m and has already raised $408.3m from 19 investors, and

 ARCH Venture Fund IX Overage, L.P., which aims to raise $450m.

Led by managing directors Clinton Bybee, Keith Crandell, Robert Nelsen, Steven Lazarus, Steve Gillis, Kristina Burow, Paul Thurk, and Mark McDonnell, Arch Venture Partners invests in seed and early stage life sciences, physical sciences, and information technology companies having the potential to grow into successful businesses.

The firm currently manages $2 billion in committed capital primarily through eight funds and has invested in the earliest venture capital rounds for more than 180 companies. Limited partners include major corporations, pension funds, university endowments, financial institutions, and private investors.

FinSMEs

21/11/2016
Leneo, a Ballerup, Denmark-based fintech startup, raised funding from SEED Capital.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to develop the platform and expand operations.

Co-founded by Peter Stuhr, CEO, and Heidi Srensen3rd, COO, Leneo provides banks, people and companies with a SaaS white label platform to handle leasing.
PatSnap, a London, UK-based provider of an innovation intelligence platform, closed its Series C funding of undisclosed amount.

The round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Shunwei Capital and Qualgro.

The company intends to use the funds to further its R&D work and to expand its team globally.

Founded by CEO Jeffrey Tiong, PatSnap provides an innovation intelligence platform teams to comprehend the entire R&D life cycle of a technology companys intangible assets  from idea generation and research, through product development and commercialization.

The company, which currently has some 400 employees in offices in London, China and Singapore, serves over 3,000 customers worldwide, including NASA, Vodafone, LOreal and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

PatSnap has earlier raised a Series A of US$3.6m in 2014 and a Series B of US$11m in 2015.

FinSMEs

21/11/2016
The pain of demonetization is in full swing. The hardships to both tax payers and non-tax payers is real. Indians have borne it with a stoic acceptance that the system is being cleaned of black money. Unfortunately, the system is taking the stoic quiet as an acceptance of their continued inefficiency.

If so many people can bear the hardship for so long, do you think public sentiment will not change towards the system? The banking system in particular, which is wholly responsible for the mess in demonetization. Banks have lost touch with reality of branch banking. Over the last few decades both public and private sector banks went for an ATM expansion. Then they followed it up with a digital approach to customer service. As a result, banks, be it State Bank of India or ICICI bank, cannot service their customers through branches anymore.

This is the sad reality of banking today, and it needs to be realised by all stakeholders of banks -- shareholders, independent directors, customers and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). A shock therapy is needed for the banking system too, if they have to be prepared for the future. This is something that RBI has to do, but is the new Governor ready for it? The last two weeks have shown that he is grossly under-prepared for any task that requires quick decision-making. He is inadequately prepared for surprises.

The shoddiness with which demonetization has been executed should have been the responsibility of the RBI governor. Instead, overzealous and over enthusiastic mandarins are taking the blame. Their misplaced enthusiasm in trying to direct a situation does not help. It just shows the bureaucracy in a poor light. Once the decision is taken, it should be up to the banking system to execute. Why are mandarins taking tactical decision? Maybe, the euphoria of being in public eye has prevented them from seeing the reality.

The execution is a systemic problem, which has several variables. Like consumer behaviour when you scrap currency where all trust resides -- crowd behaviour in dealing with the process at the counters. The size of transaction and their impact on retailing, agriculture, commerce, savings and asset allocations. The variance of these transactions across different consumer class-based on their geography and income levels.

If the variables of demonetization are so diverse across the country can they be centrally controlled and planned. The bureaucracy in spite of the repeated failures over the last few days, still believes so. The distributed system approach does not occur to any bureaucrat, schooled in a command and control system. They think in terms of notifications, and orders issued. Imagine the plethora of orders that need to be issued if all variables have to be covered. This is why the banking system has failed. Will someone step up and acknowledge it from banking system. Head of banks continue to sing hosannas of what they are doing to correct course.

The decision to bring demonetization was sudden due to the secrecy, but it is two weeks now. The system is still not able to cope with it. Therefore, responsibility has to be clearly assigned. It is also important that economic impact of the decision is understood by the banking system.

Bankers, both public and private, have always taken the easy route when it comes to retail consumers. Retail consumers are always given the short end of the stick. Which is why a personal loan still rule at 12.5 percent while overdraft for companies are 250 to 300 basis points less. Automobile loans from banks still demand a premium when large auto makers give interest free loans. Corporate loans are the first priority for any bank because of the ease with which they can disburse a large chunk of their responsibility. In opening ATMs and digital banking they have not really thought about retail consumers but tried to cut the cost of their delivery of services as much as possible.

An ATM cuts the cost of a branch, moving customers to internet banking, reduces the number of branch personnel needed. All this in the name of cost rationalisation. The response of digital wallet companies to demonetization shows that bankers have been really penny wise and pound foolish. Their Achilles heel is showing. The problem is bigger as the economy slows down in the next two quarters.

The storm is on the way. Transactions will slow down because of drop in discretionary spending across multiple sectors and bankers will be asked to pump it up. It is a big decision that the government will take, sooner the better. The question is: Will the RBI governor be able to make the banking sector deliver it? If he is not ready for it or if the system is not ready, the delicate growth momentum will tank. This in an environment of slowdown in China, expected Fed rate cut in US and the fall in Indian stock market. In the long run, demonetisation may be good but the loss in growth momentum will be disastrous.

Alan Greenspan, the Federal Governor, lauded as the most important financial mind, said in 1999, on the feds operation of the monetary policy, The bottom line is we really do not know how this system works. It looks as if the Indian Economy is heading for a period where either Governor Patel knows how to work the system or he fails to move it.

The stock market typically discounts the economy six months in advance. It is at this stage of discounting it downwards. The belief in the banking system to give push start to the stagger in the economy is low. Therefore, either Patel steps up to the crease to bat or the government needs to find somebody who can.

(The author is a policy commentator based in New Delhi, He tweets @yatishrajawat)
BRUSSELS European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will not step down, a spokesman said on Monday, after a German magazine raised the possibility amid mounting speculation about senior jobs in Brussels and Berlin."The president is not going to resign," a Commission spokesman told a news briefing when questioned about the report in Der Spiegel that Juncker had threatened to quit if European Parliament President Martin Schulz has to give up his post.The spokesman declined further comment on words attributed to Juncker, a center-right former premier of Luxembourg who has formed a close alliance with Schulz, a German Social Democrat.Both have been pushing for Schulz to have a third 30-month term as speaker in January, despite opposition from the center-right in the EU legislature who want to hold him to a previous deal that he make way for a conservative.Adding to the intrigue, Schulz is also seen in line for high-profile positions at home, as foreign minister since this month's nomination of Frank-Walter Steinmeier as German head of state. Schulz may also be the SPD's candidate to challenge conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in September.

Others have also questioned whether Schulz should go at a time of turbulence for the Union since Britain's vote to leave.It would leave all three main EU institutions led by the center-right and could see pressure on European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair negotiations on BrexitTusk's first 30-month term expires at the end of May. Juncker has a five-year term that runs until October 2019.

The center-right and center-left in the legislature formed an effective grand coalition after Juncker defeated Schulz in 2014 to be parliament's choice to run the executive Commission.Since then, Juncker and Schulz have formed a close partnership, notably in confronting a strengthening challenge from eurosceptics.

The center-right European People's Party (EPP) wants the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) to honor the promise that Schulz step down. Last week, the EPP re-elected its German leader, Manfred Weber, as head of the group in the Parliament. Weber, from Merkel's allied CSU party in Bavaria, has not ruled out seeking Schulz's post himself. The EPP is expected to choose in December its candidate for the position. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Piya Sinha-Roy

| LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES Growing up as the son of immigrants in London, actor Dev Patel did not feel much connection to India. In fact, he says he spent most of his youth "trying to distance myself from my culture." That all changed after shooting five films in India. The latest of those, "Lion," is an adoption drama about a young man conflicted about his identity, and the film seems tailor made for him."It's kind of been the most nourishing experience of my career so far," said Patel.Patel, 26, made his name as the star of the 2008 Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire." "Lion," out in U.S. movie theaters on Thursday, is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, who as a 5-year-old boy was separated from his family in rural India when he accidentally boarded the wrong train.

Unable to remember his home town or his mother's name, Saroo is placed in an orphanage, adopted by an Australian family and taken to live in Tasmania. More than 20 years later, he uses the Google Earth map tool to try and find his home in India."I could really relate to it. As someone who hadn't been to India as a young man and tried to hide (his Indian ethnicity) for a long time, when I went there for 'Slumdog,' it kind of opened my mind to a whole new level of consciousness and acceptability of who I am," Patel said.

Patel, who also appeared in the two "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" movies, said he now finds India enthralling and exciting and a place that brings out "the innermost feelings of your soul.""All those preconceived notions that I had as a young boy were broken, and it's a love affair with (India) now," he said.In "Lion," the adult Saroo considers himself Australian, but little moments start to jog his childhood memories of India. He becomes obsessed with trying to find his way back home to his birth mother and family.

The actor said he hopes the film will highlight the plight of the thousands of street children in India."Stories like this can help generate a dialogue to get these kids off the street and put them in the right homes because there are thousands of people around the world who want to adopt children and don't know how to," he said. (Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Cynthia Osterman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
When The Indian Express put out a story on Arvind Kejriwal being the new rage on social media, there was nothing new about it. In fact, Kejriwal's off-the-cuff ad lib comments on almost every issue are not surprising anymore. The Delhi chief minister is omnipresent, especially when it comes to condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest decision: Be it the current demonetisation furore (or success, depending on which side you're on) or the infamous 29 September surgical strikes across the LoC.

Kejriwal went live on Facebook criticising the Modi government's decision to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, beginning on a neutral note  "If this was to reduce black money and corruption, I'm for it... If something good happens in the country, I don't do politics over it," he said. However, Kejriwal said that "if by banning Rs 500 and 1,000 notes and introducing Rs 2,000 notes, the move would reduce corruption, please think about it," he urged. "It will only increase it."

On Sunday, the Aam Aadmi Party released official figures for the number of viewers of his speech  it stood at five million. Reportedly, the AAP Facebook page also saw an "organic growth of about 640 percent in the week of demonetisation and Arvind Kejriwal's response to it", the press release added. "Kejriwals speech has recorded 48,02,000 views and 1,72,128 shares on partys Facebook pages, the AAP national Facebook page recorded 27,000,00 views on the speech, while AAP Delhi page recorded 10,50,000 views on speech," the release mentioned.

As mentioned earlier, Kejriwal seldom shies away from making his point being heard. In this piece for Firstpost, Sandeep B, argues that the AAP chief must stop his noisy politics and go back to work. "... [he's] doing everything but discharging his constitutional duty of governance...

It takes hard work, patience, and calmness, and an ability to deal with, sustain and digest monotony, to govern. The easy route is what Kejriwal is familiar with: constitutional nihilism... campaigns targeting the Prime Minister, maintaining radio silence on the record number of AAP MLAs being arrested and disqualified and the "internal inquiries" that have unfailingly absolved even the most criminal of his partys elements.

His comments on demonetisation that the government has "lost connect" with people and that the move smacked of "insensitivity" or alleging that Narendra Modi took Rs 25 crore bribe as Gujarat CM or even alleging that the BJP had informed its 'friends' beforehand about its decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, to help them fix their black money  Kejriwal is truly the gift that keeps on giving. In the last allegation, Kejriwal might have a point: How did Sanjeev Kamboj get access to the new Rs 2,000 note much before the announcement of demonetisation?

Delhi, which was in the news, for its dangerous levels of pollution, and for which Kejriwal came under the scanner, has now disappeared from the daily news cycle: The focus is all on demonetisation. And one man stands tall. In a recent interview to BBC Hindi, he slammed the reporter who questioned him about the link between the deaths (people who stood in queues to withdraw money) and the currency ban. "Yeh janta dekh rahi hai ke BBC waale kitne imaandaar hain [The public can now see how honest BBC is]," this report from The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

However, as Livemint notes in its piece, Arvind Kejriwal might be the biggest recipient of the damage caused by Modi's demonetisation drive. It says that the "political implications are relatively clearer: Modi is the change agent, and the Opposition parties including AAP are status-quoist". But Kejriwal is not alone: He seems to have an ally in TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee  the duo even jointly addressed a rally on 17 November in New Delhi slamming the Modi government's move. Livemint even observes that Kejriwal might be part of a "loose coalition" that is against the decision.

Essentially, has Kejriwal's tour de force made him the winner of this round?
The All India Bank Officers Confederation has called for the resignation of Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel, taking the moral responsibility for the current crisis in the country and the deaths of more than 50 people, including 11 bank officials, according to a report in The Indian Express.

"The present governor has utterly failed in his role by taking a crucial economic decision without planning, which has brought havoc to the nations economy and lives of the majority," D Thomas Franco, senior vice-president of the confederation, has been quoted as saying in the report.

According to him, as neither prime minister Narnendra Modi nor finance minister Arun Jaitley is an economist, the RBI has economists who are capable of taking the right decisions on "matters relating to economy and people's lives".

In 1978, when the Janata government decided to demonetise, then RBI governor IG Patel had advised against it, he has pointed out.

With the confederation raising calling for the resignation of the RBI governor, the focus now seems to be shifting to the RBI's role in the development.

An article in Scroll today has pointed out that the RBI's silence over the last 13 days, when the common people went through serious hardships and the economic activities in both rural and urban areas almost ground to a halt, raises questions about on its independence.

"Urjit Patel, who took over from Raghuram Rajan as the Reserve Bank of India governor in August, has not found it necessary to make a single statement about the chaos that demonetisation has unleashed," the article says.

Firstpost columnist Yatish Rajawat has also raised the issue in an article today. "The shoddiness with which demonetisation has been executed should have been the responsibility of the RBI governor," he has said.

The article further argues that the developments over the last two weeks have shown that Patel is "grossly under-prepared for any task that requires quick decision-making".

Franco too is making this point when he says that the shoddy way in which the entire scheme has been executed shows that the central bank did not have a roadmap at all.

"It was very, very poor planning on the part of RBI that has led to this crisis," Franco has been quoted as saying in the reported.
Banks have amassed deposits worth Rs 5,11,565 crore until 18 November after the government announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and exchanged notes worth Rs 33,006 crore, the Reserve Bank of India said in a press release today.

What this means is the banks have received Rs 5.45 lakh crore worth Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations over the eight days of demonetisation exercise.

Earlier, finance minister Arun Jaitley had said that In the first four days until 13 November 5 pm, banks had received deposits worth Rs 3 lakh crore.

The government announced cancellation of legal tender of the high denomination currencies claiming it would put an end to circulation of fake notes, terror financing and also black money generation.

Ever since the measures came into force, banks, ATMs and post offices have been seeing huge crowds thronging to either exchange or deposit the banned currency notes they possess.

The government has also taken a few measures to curb any misuse of the deposit and exchange scheme by black money holders to whiten their ill-gotten wealth.

A look at the numbers released today shows that the pace of deposit accretion in the banks is slowing progressively.

While in the first four days, the accretion stood at Rs 3 lakh crore, in the next five days the corresponding figure is just more than Rs 2 lakh crore.

Observers don't see anything fishy in the figures. Anis Chakravarty, lead economist, Deloitte, said the the surge on deposits in the first few days could be because of the initial panic.

"People might have rushed to the banks to deposit at the first instance due to panic. Over the last few days the queques have also reduced showing the worries may be subsiding. However, these figures are of least importance. What I am looking at is the final figure that the government will give out after 31 December," he said.
Corruption generates black money. Black money in turn funds elections. The elected makes good on the expense by being corrupt, thereby corrupting others in the process. Theres no disputing this infallible vicious cycle, that has now become part of the folklore in our country.

As former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), SY Quraishi, had said, Money power in elections is one of the biggest sources of corruption in the country and although there is a legal limit to expenditure, we know anecdotally that much above the limit is often spent.

His views are reflected by most other CECs as well. But despite recognising the problem, as Quraishi said, the politicians and candidates continue to fudge the accounts, hence sustaining the scourge.

So when the Narendra Modi government declared a war on black money with their demonetisation drive, why was the Election Commission (EC) not empowered to clamp down on corruption and black money employed during elections? Does it not fall into the ambit of the stated purpose? Why was demonetisation limited to destroying the chests of counterfeit currency that fund terror, when it could've also been used as an opportunity to cleanse the system?

As reported by The The Indian Express, the Law Ministry shot down a proposal from the EC on Monday that permanently empowered it to cancel elections in case there was credible evidence of voters being bribed.

The refusal, though reported post-demonetisation, had been conveyed well before the step was taken  the letter to the EC was dated 28 September. But it is not the chronology but the intent that is relevant here.

It's not as if the EC cannot cancel elections presently. It had cancelled elections in two Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies, Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, in May this year following a seizure of large sums of money. But the move was unprecedented, and was postponed twice before the notification for those constituencies was eventually rescinded.

The EC does not possess permanent legal power to cancel such elections as the government has to approve its proposals. That it refused to grant the EC its requirement raised eyebrows, especially if you see it in the context of the current demonetisation wave. If the EC was empowered, in tandem with the demonetisation, then the scare among the corrupt would have been wider and much deeper.

The Deccan Chronicle reported that, the Commission usually takes such a harsh step when there are evidences that muscle power has been used to influence voters. But cancelling polls following use of money to induce voters is so far unheard of. The Law Ministry has now told the EC that, It may not be advisable to compare booth capturing with allegations of bribery of voters since the circumstances are incomparable.

The perspectives of the Law Ministry and the EC clearly differ. The former has said that it would be desirable to maintain status quo, for allegations of bribery are a matter of investigation and proof, and that it cannot be compared with booth capturing  that currently warrants the cancellation of polls. But, as asked by an unnamed EC source quoted in The Indian Express report, Is booth capturing not a matter of investigation and proof?

It's possible that this is not the last we hear on the matter as the EC, regardless of who heads it and who its members are, has a tendency to quietly push on issues it considers important to cleanse the system. Though it is also true that bribery is and has been an inherent problem of the elections, as money is used to overcome the ideological resistance of voters or to persuade those not inclined to vote.

During its crackdown on bribe money in Tamil Nadu this year, the EC had seized Rs 7.12 crore in cash, 429 litres of liquor, 33.256 kg of silver from Aravakurichi and Rs 75.20 lakh in cash, 2,145 litres of liquor from Tanjavur, apart from one lakh saris and dhotis. That apart, Rs 200 crore was seized in the state overall by the EC making it, as had been reported then, the largest haul of money purported for influencing an Assembly poll.

These numbers would make anyone gasp, but then again, we as a country are used to taking it all in our stride for use of money to influence elections is routine. Ask any voter, and any politician who is willing to admit it, and they will reveal the same.

The difficulty is that despite the near universal use of money as a major influencer in elections, the EC has not been able to do much about it on the scale it ought to have. In lieu of the current demonetisation wave, the Centres reluctance, nay refusal, to empower the EC to clamp down on black money in politics does raise eyebrows.
It was very moving to hear BJP representative Sambit Patra give his word on behalf of his party that every single drop (sic) of the black money unearthed and sent to banks would be used for the upliftment of the poor.

All Rs 600,000 crores of it and counting.

He scoffed at the idea that it was money that would cover the losses suffered by the banks in their massive and lost loans to corporations in what is now known as the Vijay Mallya syndrome.

I dont know how this is going to happen and have no clue what the road map is or who will mount surveillance on the upliftment of the poor, but the patience shown by the people does indicate not just an ongoing strength of the national moral fibre but a probably ill expressed but core belief that the Modi initiative is worth believing in.

That something about the attack on the black money brigade is right, good, got to be done.

Sure, as an exercise it has been flawed with fragments of clumsiness and absurdity, not to mention the shortsightedness reflected in the ATM fiasco make great grounds for accusations against the prime minister and his cohort. Indeed, there is little doubt it could have been better planned and executed  in hindsight, we are all so much cleverer and knowledgeable of how it should have been done. But the shrapnel that we nitpick over does not entirely betray the honesty of the intent.

Yes, every time a new angle rises up the Opposition picks it up and tries to fan the flames but it must say something for the public attitude of forbearance and patience that the flames have not caught. It has kept the faith.

Anti-BJP forces would like to generate rage and turn it into rioting and place the government on the backfoot as the discomfort turns into violence. With Day 50 still a murky distance away, the Opposition can still fondly believe that this patience in the people will wear off and they are probably hoping that financial logjams in the dawning of the new month could ignite the spark.

Delayed salaries, default on EMIs, fines on non-payment of loans and credit cards, a sudden surge for money to kick-start the month and a shortage of cash  all these elements are kindle that is dry and can cause a spike in anger.

But the odds are that despite the efforts to derail the Narendra Modi doctrine of lets do it the line will hold. Somewhere, in some fashion Indians have felt a spasm of sincerity from New Delhi and are prepared to make it their war, too.

He has struck a chord, one that says enough is enough and with every passing day the feeling that things are getting better intensifies.

Within ten days to go for the first of the month pressures to build it would make sense for the authorities to be a little more vigilant. After all if it is everyones war then EMIs can be delayed without a fine by federal fiat, a fifteen day freeze by property dealers, car and motorcycle salespeople and especially banks and their loans and their credit card bouquet of charges even if there is a one day delay in payment. Rents can be put on hold, credit can be extended and a sense of community can prevail.

Why should anyone be exempt? These institutions are as Indian and should also do their bit, be it the bans, business enterprises or brokers in the property business. There will be so much relief for people at various levels if they get this sort of a breather even as more money is funneled into the public coffers and the queues reduce.

Dont mess up the month end priorities and give the matchstick a chance to flare.
Kerala is one of the few states where demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes generated so much heat. The state witnessed a rare phenomenon of the entire state Cabinet sitting on a day-long dharna with the mutually acrimonious ruling party and the Opposition joining hands against the Union Government over the issue.

Economic experts are wondering why the demonetisation move aimed at flushing out black money has met with so much protest in Kerala, which incidentally is the countrys first total banking and completely digitised state. They feel it could be because of pressure from the black money lobbies.

Firstpost talked to a cross-section of experts to get a dispassionate view of the situation. This is the first in a four-part report.

The five-year average growth rate of Keralas total revenue came down from 17.2 percent in 2006-11 to 14.20 in 2011-16. The share of primary and industry sectors to the states Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) declined from 39.2 and 26.3 percent respectively in 1980-81 to 12.5 and 25.11 percent respectively in 2014-15.

The agriculture and allied sector, which is key to the states economy, continued to record negative growth during the last five years. It was (-) 4.67 % in 2014-15 and (-) 2.13 percent in 2013-14. In spite of this, the states overall growth rate has been above the national average during the period except in 2014-15, when it was 6.49 percent.

This has been the pattern of the states growth in the last two decades. The growth rate of the state economy was above national average consistently in the last two decades in spite of negative growth in the primary sector, stagnation in the industrial sector and cyclical global economic recessions.

Similarly, the state has also been consistently maintaining the per capita income above national average. The per capita income of Kerala was Rs 127,166 during 2014-15 as against the all-India average of Rs 93,293.

The steady growth in the economy and per capita income without matching growth in the productive sectors of the economy is a paradox for many. Economists attribute this to foreign remittances that the state receives from nearly 2.75 million migrants, especially those from West Asia.

Deposits of non-residents (NRs) in banks in the state had crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in 2014-15. According to the state-level bankers committee, it climbed from Rs 66,190 crore in March 2013 to Rs 93,883 crore by 31 March, 2014, and further to Rs 109,603 crore in the last fiscal.

However, a section of economists argue that these remittances alone were not sufficient to help the economy register such a high growth. Mary George, former head of the department of economics, University of Kerala, is of the opinion that the state was maintaining high growth with the help of black money pumped into the state through various channels.

She considers hawala money as one of the main sources of black money circulating in Kerala. Hawala was the main channel of transfer of money when Keralites started migrating to West Asia in large numbers since early 1970s. This parallel system is the favourite mode of money transfer from the Middle East to India for a large number of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) even now, according to the economist.

Hawala does not involve physical movement of money. A person, who wishes to transfer money, needs to hand over the same to the agent at his end, who collects the money and informs his counterpart at the receiving end. The latter delivers the cash to the intended recipient at his door step after collecting the commission.

The money received at a location is compensated with a matching transfer of money in the opposite direction. The receipts are also some times compensated by way of exports of goods, under-invoicing or over invoicing exports or imports and other means.

Kerala emerged as a major destination to channel hawala money because of the states connections with Dubai, which is the global hawala hub. The hawala operators from other countries like Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia route the hawala money to India and other destinations through Dubai.

Similarly, the hawala money received in Kerala goes to other states in the country. There are said to be about 400 hawala operators in the state to receive and distribute the hawala money. They are mostly based in the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Kannur.

There is no reliable account of hawala money arriving in the state. While former state director general of police Jacob Punnose revealed a few years ago that Kerala was getting hawala money worth Rs 10,000 crores a year, oneindia.com quoted a Union Home Ministry report putting the annual hawala receipts at Rs 23,000 crores.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) director Hormis Tharakan said these were mere estimates and they could not be relied upon to make informed comments on the issue. He said there was no mechanism available to track the hawala money arriving in the country.

Mary George believes that the money received in Kerala through hawala channels could be much more since businessmen, smugglers and even extremist forces have started using the channel to transfer money. Migration experts do not contest this.

S Irudaya Rajan, head of the Research Unit on International Migration at the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, said that the money and goods coming to Kerala through unofficial channels were equivalent to the money received through legal channels.

The remittances received through legal channels account for 36 percent of the states revenue. Though we have not done any specific studies on hawala operations, based on the data from our other studies, we estimate that transfers in the form of cash, gold and other goods through illegal channels will be the same as that of the remittances received through legal channels, he added.

K V Shamsudheen, chairman of Sharjah-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, said that the migrants were using the hawala channel even now because of high discount offered by the dealers. Hawala money is only one form of black money circulating in Kerala.

Apart from this, counterfeit currency pumped into the state from abroad and black money generated within the state by way of bribes received by corrupt officials and politicians and the sale of property are also believed to be substantial.

The state is prone to the menace as a large number of people from the north eastern states, who have easy access to fake Indian currency notes (FICN), come to the state for work. A senior police officer at Kozhikode said that fake currency was also coming to the state in large size through hawala.

Enforcement agencies have reported a 360 percent increase in the flow of FICN to the state in 2015 compared to 2014. Though the total seized value of counterfeit money is worth only Rs 34.55 lakhs in 2015 compared to Rs 7.51 lakhs in 2014, police estimates that the seized amount is just below 10 percent of the actual volume being circulated in the state.

The NIA, which is investigating about eight FICN cases in Kerala, has tracked the role of Pakistan's ISI in production and distribution of fake notes via Dubai, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Ports are still the hot destinations for the rackets to smuggle in FICNs. The new strategy is to smuggle in printed sheets of counterfeit and cut them to size in various hideouts in the state, according to an intelligence officer.

The NIA suspects that rackets, including those led by underworld gangsters of Indian origin, pump fake currency into India with assistance of the ISI. The agency had unearthed the links of the ISI and D-Company in a case they have investigated in Kerala. They also found the involvement of Dawoods brother Anees Ibrahim and his close aide Aftab Batki in some cases.

Economists believe that the hawala money and counterfeit currency notes pumped into the state will certainly be playing a big role in the economic growth of Kerala and the high standards of life of the people in the state, which has achieved developed world levels of social development.

A National Sample Survey Organisations household consumer expenditure survey from July 2011 to June 2012 showed Kerala topped among large states in household per capita expenditure in rural areas and came second in urban areas. Haryana topped in urban expenditure.

Economists see the trace of black money in the mismatch between the declining tax revenue and the growing consumer expenditure.

Part Two: Curbs on cooperative banks are hurting Non-Resident Keralites

Part Three: Terror outfits use contraband money to indoctrinate youths
New Delhi: Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the demonetisation issue, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the PM was working for a select few only and was not concerned for the poor common man, who has been queueing up for hours outside banks and ATMs.

"I have gone to the banks to see the situation myself in the morning. People there told me that they are facing a lot of inconvenience," Rahul said outside Parliament.

Both Houses were adjourned repeatedly as the combined Opposition was unrelenting in its protest on the demonetisation issue.

Rahul said people were alleging that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from the back door in the banks for a few "selected people" while there were long queues of common people waiting outside for hours.

"They said they are in the queue and deals are being made and cash is taken out from back door. And some selected people are given that cash. Those who are rich get that and those who are poor are made to stand in the queue.

"They will be in the queue for three days and then they will leave (without cash). People are facing losses because of this," he said.

Earlier in the day Rahul visited several ATMs in the city where he spoke to people about their problems.

On the PM's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, the Congress scion asked, "For whom? "and added "I feel the treasuries of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people those who are in the queue will only suffer losses."

Asked why opposition is not ready for discussion, he, however, said "We are going to discuss. We are ready for discussion."

On the question of PM's absence in Parliament, Rahul said "What is the need for the PM to come to Parliament? These days he is at a different level. Neither does he discuss with his Ministers nor does he talk to anybody. Whatever he thinks, he decides on his own.

"Such a big economic decision was taken in the history of India and he did it after talking with three-four people. There was no planning. What will happen to farmers, poor people, fisheries industries in Kerala and Bengal? He did not think of them."

Taking a pot shot at Modi, the Congress leader said, "He is in a new form these days. You cannot call him super PM also. One has to think to define him, a new word has to be coined to describe him."

Rahul also condoled the loss of lives in Sunday's train accident in Uttar Pradesh and said the Prime Minister should first focus on improving safety and facilities for common man in trains, instead of planning to introduce bullet train.

"Infrastructure of Indian Railways needs to be improved. Modiji has talked of bullet train with Rs 1 lakh crore investment. The focus is at wrong place. Focus should be on how to make travelling in trains safer for the common people," he said.

Talking of the need to reduce train journey time, he said, "If it takes two hours to reach a place then how it can be reduced to one hour. If it takes 20 hours then how we can make him reach in 10 hours."

"But Modiji's entire thinking is for 3000-5000 people. He spoke on bullet train but why did he not speak of track maintenance and safety?"
Beijing: Indian Army chief, General Dalbir Singh, began a four-day visit to China on Monday and is set to visit the eastern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army in Nanjing.

He will also meet the Vice Chairman of all-powerful Central Military Commission Fan Changlong.

"He is here (China)," said an Indian embassy official in Beijing.

Eastern theatre command is one of the five zones of People's Liberation Army  the world's largest standing military.

"The visit aims at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping training," the embassy said.

"This visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations. The delegation will also be visiting military installations including Infantry Division and Army Air Defence Brigades," the statement said.

Singh's visit coincides with the ongoing joint military exercise between the two countries in Pune.

The drill will be followed by the visit of General Zhao Zongqi, commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA, in the second week of December.
The "surgical strike" on Indian currency notes has all the classical signs of quackery. People are dying in large numbers, there is pain and suffering all around, and the after-effects of the move threaten to cause financial havoc. Yet, those responsible for the botched operation are prescribing more nostrum and promises daily. It's all a cold play for them.

Almost a fortnight after notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 were outlawed, the complete lack of planning and competence is obvious. Here's how:

- We were told that ATMs and banks would replace cash fast. But it may take nearly six months to print currency that could fill the void in the system. The mints just don't have the capacity to print notes worth Rs 14 lakh crore that may have to be exchanged.

- We were told that counterfeit notes would turn into pieces of scrap. But banks are now reporting that large amounts of fake currency are being tendered at the counters and getting replaced with new notes. The overworked banking system just doesn't have the time and wherewithal to check counterfeit currency. Besides, the cost of printing those notes and the effect of demonetisation on the GDP, make the counterfeit currency threat appear loose change.

- We were told that large amounts of illegal assets would be disclosed too. But that looks like another jumla now. Cash forms just about six per cent (that's the most liberal estimate) of the country's black economy GDP as this Hindustan Times report points out referring to Income-Tax probes between April 1 to October 31 in 2016. And, some of this may never return to the banks in the end since a major portion may have already been laundered or syphoned off to offshore accounts because some people could have had prior information about the government's decision.

- We were told that outlawing old notes would break the back of terror networks and tame Pakistan. Well, just a couple of days ago, terrorists struck in Assam. On Monday morning, India woke up to the news of Pakistan shelling the border and killing one more jawan. For them, it is business as usual. And if you are reading too much into the silence in Kashmir, probably you are among those who believe that Kashmiris were throwing bricks of gold instead of stones at security forces.

It is obvious the surgery is not going to cure anything. Writing in The Economic Times, Amit Varma argues that even if this were implemented right, we would not have been spared the havoc it has caused. "Indeed, Burkean conservatives and Hayekian libertarians alike would be aghast at Modi's actions, as he propels India towards the Soviet Union so admired by Nehru, with its state oppression, artificial shortages and infamous queues," he argues.

Given that economics is not every politician's cup of tea, what were the experts in this country drinking while rolling out this scheme? Did nobody tell the government that only 53 percent India has bank accounts? Did nobody tell them that printing Rs 2,000 notes will create more problems because nobody would have smaller notes to break them? Did nobody tell them that at the least they should print notes that could fit in the ATM cassettes, and print smaller notes first? Did nobody have the sense to laugh at the joke of moving towards a cashless economy with notes of higher denominations?

Ad-hocism, knee-jerkism and post facto wisdom are in circulation as cash disappears. Everyday rules for withdrawal change and new farmans are issued prompting WAGs to joke that one should quickly withdraw money while they are using indelible ink on fingers. For, tomorrow somebody might suggest the idea of blackening the entire face to mark people.

The government appears as clueless as a fielding captain whose bowlers are being thrashed all around the park. Out of desperation, the captain is changing the field placement after every delivery, in the hope that something may work.

Two days after the government unleashed surgical strife on millions of Indians through its policy of demonetisation of the poor and the honest, Firstpost had argued that this will be the BJP's Waterloo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team should read the writing on the wall: change is coming.

The BJP's core constituency of traders is despondent. Unorganised labour, farmers and small traders have suffered huge losses over the past fortnight and fear a financial freeze over the next two quarters. The worst is yet to come, though. Some estimates suggest the GDP may fall by half, down to around 3.5 percent in the next financial year. According to Ambit Capital, the economy may get paralysed over the next few months.

Politics in India may run on empty jumlas but the economy can't survive on empty coffers. So, when the full impact of demonetisation is felt by the market, growth shrinks, jobs disappear and cash goes out of supply. There will be a backlash. The final price of demonetisation could be heavy for the BJP.

They say you learn by reading and observing, but here the BJP seems to have dived into boiling oil to take some valuable lessons home. As a scribe friend said: only diehard bhakts wouldn't mind that.

However, if the government is looking for lessons, I would suggest a Panchtantra tale: A king once befriended a monkey and made him his guard. One day, while the king was asleep, the monkey struck a fly on the king's nose with a sword. Moral of the story: Good intentions are nothing, if not backed by common sense.
Islamabad: At least 43 Indian fishermen were on Sunday arrested by Pakistan for allegedly entering its territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, officials in Islamabad said.

The fishermen were nabbed by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency off the coast of Sindh province and taken to provincial capital Karachi.

"The fishermen were handed over Dock Police Station for registration of case against them," an official of the PSMA said.

A police official said that a case has been registered against them under the Foreigner's Act and the Fisheries Act.

"The arrested fishermen will be presented in the court tomorrow for further legal action," he said.

Edhi Foundation has been providing food to the arrested fishermen, a spokesperson of the foundation told reporters.

Both Pakistan and India often arrest fishermen from the other country for violation of their territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.

These poor fishermen spent months and sometimes years in jails before released and repatriated back to their countries.
Kanpur: 83 of the 202 passengers injured in the Indore-Patna Express train derailment are now admitted in hospitals of Kanpur and neighbouring Kanpur-Rural districts while rest of them have been released, officials said on Monday.

Chief Medical Officer Kanpur Ramayan Prasad said 105 bodies have been identified and were handed over to family members after postmortem and free ambulances were provided.

24 bodies have been sent to Bihar, 25 to Madhya Pradesh and 56 in several districts of UP.

He said 202 passengers injured in Sunday's incident were admitted to different hospitals of Kanpur and Kanpur Rural districts.

73 of them who were seriously injured are undergoing treatment at government and private hospitals in Kanpur.

Similarly, 10 seriously injured patients are admitted in Mati hospital and CHC Devipur of Kanpur Rural district, he said.

Rest of the injured were sent to their homes by buses and trains after treatment, he said.

According to the information available of the deceased identified with the Bhopal division, seven persons hailing from Bhopal, four from Indore, two from Gwalior and one from Ujjain districts died in the mishap, West Central Railways's Bhopal division Public Relations Officer IA Siddique told PTI on Monday.

The people injured in the mishap include 28 people from Indore, nine from Ujjain, seven from Bhopal, five from Dewas and two from Gwalior, he said.
Haunted by the spectre of cheating in the MBBS entrance exam for those aspiring to be doctors, the Uttar Pradesh Combined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT) organisers have this year put in place unprecedented security measures.

These include bringing answer sheets on a chartered flight, keeping secret the forward route of the sheets and closing all photocopying shops around the test centres. Other steps include taking fingerprints, keeping handwriting experts on standby and videographing all examinees as they enter the centres to write their paper.

Around 77,000 students will appear for the test on 3 June. The Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) is conducting the test.

CPMT had been in the past marred by accusations of mass copying and impersonation.

But organisers said security this year was unprecedented, with some of them even calling it bizarre.

CSMMU spokesman Abbas Ali said steps such as using a chartered plane to fly in the sheets were being taken for the first time.

"This is the first time such foolproof arrangements are being made," Ali told IANS.

Students will get four answer sheets, of which one will be retained by the student, two copies will go to the medical university and one to the director general medical education (DGME) to avoid any scope for manipulation, said a university official who did not want to be named.

The examinees will also not be allowed to take pens, pencils, copies and water bottles inside the test centre.

This was decided at a meeting headed by CSMMU Vice Chancellor D.K. Gupta to review the preparations for the test.

Pens will be provided to the examinees at the centre, a senior official told IANS.

The use of mobile phones or any other electronic gadget within 500 metres of the centres has been banned.

The examinees will also have to give their fingerprints. Their handwriting will be preserved for matching during counselling to check if the person who wrote the exam and the one appearing for counselling are the same.

Invigilators will be given a code of conduct -- do's and don'ts.

Those conducting the exam have been asked to note body marks and birth signs of the examinees for matching them later.

A special type of ink has been brought to ensure that the fingerprints last longer than usual, said A.A. Mehndi, a CSMMU professor.

IANS
Just after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided multiple locations linked to the controversial preacher and televangelist, Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation on Sunday, authorities have also blocked Naik's websites which were used for publishing controversial speeches and statements.

The IRF shot into the limelight following allegations that Naik's teachings and speeches had inspired terror strikes, including the terror siege on a Dhaka cafe in July this year that left over 20 people, mostly foreigners including an Indian woman, dead. Over the past four months, Naik and the IRF are under the scanner of Indian agencies for the alleged misdeeds, spreading or promoting communal disharmony, inciting feelings of enmity between communities and inspiring or supporting terror acts.

According to The Times of India, the NIA will also summon Naik and work towards getting an Interpol "red corner notice" if he continues to elude law enforcement agencies. According to the report, the NIA could also issue a non-bailable warrant against Naik. A red corner notice is usually issued by Interpol to seek the location and arrest of wanted persons  the closest tool to an international arrest warrant. If such a notice is issued, Saudi Arabia (where Naik is allegedly located) will have to hand over Naik to Indian authorities.

The raids continued for nearly 12 hours. DNA reported that electronic evidence  laptops, mobile phones were seized during searches at 12 locations in Mumbai. The Economic Times reported that the NIA seized Rs 12 lakh in cash from Naik's Mumbai properties. In the evening, the teams searched the residences of IRF and Peace TV office bearers, comprising Naik's immediately family members and others holding various posts in his NGO and private television channel.

An IRF account in the Development Credit Bank Ltd's Dongri Branch has also been sealed by the NIA from where the NGO pays salaries of its school staffers and manages other expenses. "CDs and computer data from all IRF offices are being scrutinised. Telephonic and email conversations will be checked. Telecom experts have also been roped in," an NIA official is quoted as saying in DNA.

Teams of the NIA investigators, accompanied by Mumbai Police, started the raids at around eight locations owned or connected with the IRF and Peace TV, including its headquarters in the congested Dongri area of South Mumbai. Besides the head office of IRF and four other branches, an old office, a women's centre, and an office preparing content for telecast on Naik's Peace TV programmes were raided.

Taking over the case from Mumbai Police in mid-October, the NIA raids and search operations were completed around 5 pm. The teams moved to residence searches of Naik's medico brother Mohammed and their mother, two sisters and others. During the NIA raids, no IRF and Peace TV staffers were permitted inside any of the premises. Peace TV was banned by Bangladesh following the terror strike.

Naik's social media

According to The Economic Times, it is proving to be difficult for the NIA to get Naik's social media presence muted. Authorities might get help from US authorities in getting Naik's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos which contain "objectionable" content suspended.

With inputs from IANS
Chandigarh: In a bid to lure young blood, Punjab Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said the party will give 50 lakh smart phones with one year of free data and calling to the youth in the state, to empower them and connect them digitally, once it comes to power.

Singh made this announcement while launching the scheme  'Captain Smart Connect'  in presence of thousands of youths from across the state in Chandigarh.

He promised the youth that those who registered themselves for the smart phones would get them within 100 days of the formation of the Congress government in the state.

The scheme promises an overall distribution of 50 lakh smartphones over a period of five years.

Within minutes of the launch of the scheme, for which Singh had invited the youth via Twitter, several thousand registered on captainsmartconnect.com  a website set up exclusively for the purpose.

The last date for registering on the website  the only platform for registration under the scheme  is 30 November, 2016.

Amarinder's Facebook profile, which went live with the event, recorded 1,200 likes and 8,200 views in the first one hour of the launch, a party release said.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president said the scheme will cost about Rs 300-400 crore a year after the initial investment in the first year.

Allocation will be made in the state budget itself to fund the scheme, as part of the youth welfare programme of his government, once he takes over the reigns of the state, he added.

Explaining the rationale behind the scheme, Amarinder said even though one-third of Punjab's population comprised of youth in the 18-35 age group, this section remained backward.

Large-scale unemployment is pushing the youth to drugs and other problems, making it important for the government to connect with them, he said.

He said the initiative would enable him to build the bridges with the youth and provide them with the necessary opportunity for growth by empowering them digitally.

Responding to a question, he said the early launch of the scheme would ensure that no time is wasted in its implementation, once Congress forms the government after the Assembly polls.

The scheme is applicable to youths who are residents of Punjab and are in the age group of 18-35 years. He/she should be 10th pass, with annual household income less than Rs 6 lakh, to be eligible for registration.

Youths registering on the website will receive receipts with unique codes, which will entitle them to receive the 4G enabled smartphone of set specifications  the best in the market at the time of disbursement.

At 13.5 percent, Punjab has the country's highest unemployment rate in the age group of 15 to 29 years, said Amarinder.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation policy on 8 November, Arvind Kejriwal has fought and opposed the move tooth and nail. Taking to Twitter, one of the Delhi CM's preferred methods of communication, he tweeted, "Not the note, change the PM".

 , PM   Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 21, 2016

The Delhi Chief Minister has thrashed the demonetisation move and accused that the demonetisation policy was introduced by Modi for the betterment of his few industrialist friends only and not the 'aam aadmi'.

On 15 November, Kejriwal took to Facebook and went live with a video criticising the demonetisation move by the Modi government. The video gathered five million views.

The past few days also saw Arwind Kejriwal joining hands with Mamata Banerjee to oppose the demonetisation policy. Mamata has also lambasted the Prime Minister for his move by citing the example of long queues for exchanging and withdrawing money from the banks and ATMs.

Continuing his attack, Kejriwal on Monday tweeted that Paytm, an e-commerce website headquarted in Noida, has benefitted immensely from demonetisation and pointed out that Modi had even done a commercial for Paytm. He urged the prime minister to reveal what association he has with Paytm. A minute later, he tweeted that ''Note Nahi, PM badlo" (Change PM not note).
After 12-days of demonetisation, theres still both praises and curses for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was late evening on 8 November when Modi announced on national television that India will cease to use Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes from midnight to fight fake currency and black money in the system.

Twelve days later, a majority of people havent made up their minds yet on whether to name this move a revolutionary reform with short-term pain or a poorly executed big-bang idea. The jury is still out on this. Anyone who is tempted to give their verdict on demonetisation in the span of 12 days is undoubtedly making a mistake, no matter their degree of expertise.

For now, if one leaves the macro economy out of this, the big and immediate challenge for the Modi government is to replenish the system with cash. Life is quite tough for the common man in a cash-scarce, cash economy as it is in the present.

SBI chair Arundhati Bhattacharya is optimistic that the cash-crunch will get over soon. A lot of cash is getting pushed out. People have to start spending as well. The ATM recalibration will be over in a few more days, Bhattacharya told Firstpost. A banking industry official, who didnt want to be named, wasnt that optimistic. There is an acute problem as of now. Even on Saturday, many branches were closed. There is no clarity as of now how long this will situation last, said the official.

Will the the issue get resolved or not is in the realm of speculation as of now, but the reality is that there are still long queues before ATMs to draw money. Small traders, vegetable vendors, contract labourers who get daily wages in cash, salaried class and unbanked rural villages are hit hard (read here and here ). Those migrant laborers who work in the construction sector are hit most, since their employers do not have enough cash to pay. Similarly, chit funds, cooperative banking sector too are bearing the brunt.

How did cash crunch occur?

Broadly speaking, there were both logistical and availability issues. Also, the government didnt anticipate the kind of panic amongst the public post the demonetisation announcement. There was lack of clarity even within the government, it appears.

But, there are two main reasons for the immediate cash crunch:

First, though government mints are working to their full capacity to print new notes, the process started too late and their combined output is far inadequate to quickly meet the current demand. With 86 percent notes in value terms having disappeared and what has been pulled out of the system, it might take 3-4 months before the cash-gap is filled, even though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government keep assuring the public that there is enough cash.

Clearly, there was a failure on the part of the government in planning the printing of lower denomination notes to offset the annulment of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Since these two denominations arent adequately available, the Rs 100 denomination notes are in big demand. And panic-driven cash hoarding only multiplies the problem.

This takes us to the second reason --technical limitations of existing ATMs. ATMs typically have four trays, which are typically designed to carry Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Of the four trays, one or two are normally designed for Rs 100 notes, one for Rs 500 notes and one for Rs 1,000 notes, with each cassette's holding capacity being 22 bundles. Each bundle can hold 100 notes. These denominations are detected and dispensed by electronic sensors when a customer enters the required amount/denominations.

The problem arose since the Rs 100 currency notes cannot be accommodated in other trays. Hence, the amount that must be filled in ATMs that arent recalibrated is less than Rs 5 lakh, as against a minimum of at least Rs 8-10 lakhs or even more earlier. The software and hardware also has to be realigned. Given that there are about two lakh ATMs in the country, this is a massive exercise for an engineer to work on every ATM and equip it to dispense the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. According to banking sources, about 40,000 ATMs had been replenished in the first 11 days. this rate, it should take 40-45 days to recalibrate the entire ATM network. But, since there isnt official data yet, this is still an estimate.

But, it is fairly safe to assume that it might take 3-4 months for the situation to be normal.

The governments lack of planning has reflected in certain aspects: First, it could have begun printing the new notes in lower denominations a few months in advance without compromising the secrecy of the operation. The logic of coming out with Rs 2,000 denomination notes probably is that it requires much smaller printing time and helps infuse higher value into the system. But, it didnt help much since those dealing in cash economy mainly needed lower denomination notes. For them, the new Rs 2,000 notes became largely a showpiece. This situation is expected to continue for some more time till there are enough lower denomination notes in the market. Yet again, the idea of marking people with ink, offering cash at petrol pumps and higher limits for wedding were only touching the peripheral part of the problem.

Even there, there was criticism. The election commission wrote to the government saying inking people could lead to issues with respect to the upcoming state polls. The governments plan to up limit for wedding-related cash withdrawals to Rs 2.5 lakh too didnt work well, since a fundamental problem arose: How will the banker know the man who is flashing his wedding card or giving a self-declaration to claim the benefit, isnt faking? Also, there is very little amount of cash with us these days to permit large withdrawals, said the above mentioned banker, requesting anonymity.

In short, the governments ill-preparedness surfaced again and again on the execution front.

Now, for the next logical question: Is all the suffering by the common man in the transition phase worth the pain?

The positives

There are of course a few positives: For sure, the demonetization breaks the back of fake currencies circulating in the system in high value denominations. They will become redundant for now. But, make no mistake, this will be only for now. After a few months time, when the counterfeit note makers will recalibrate their machines, fake notes will yet again start coming into the economy.

Also, the funds used for terror activities have been frozen with this move.

Thirdly, at least a fraction of the black money (unaccounted wealth) in the system stored in the form of cash can be drawn back into the formal economy. Fourth, the whole exercise instills some sort of confidence in the minds of the honest taxpayer, who perhaps felt demoralised looking at the easier conditions set by the government for tax-evaders in the amnesty-like black money window that ended in September. For the investors too, Modi governments action sends a positive signal as it gives them an impression that this government is capable of taking tough reform decisions.

The negatives

But, it isnt correct to say demonetization will end corruption or vaporize the entire black money in the system. Corruption is so deep-rooted in society and its culture that it will refuse to die down whether the currencies change color or size. Instead of the old Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes, the corrupt will now seek bribes in the new denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. Hence, demonetization cant do much to address the corruption issue.

Secondly, much of the black money in the system is invested in some or other assets or in benami transactions. The argument that as long as black money in cash returns to bank accounts post demonetization and becomes taxable isnt a sound argument. That is because a tax evader doesnt cease to be one if he deposits his money into a bank account or uses it to buy a house or gold. He is only trying to save a part of his booty, to save himself from a situation that he will have to burn down the whole thing.

The issue of dubious rise in bank deposits in the July-September quarter has raised more questions whether some some 'friends' were tipped off about the move.

Having said that, the intention behind Modi governments move deserves credit. It is a courageous, unpopular move taken by any government in the country in a long time. At least some part of the black money will come back. That is good news, said D K Joshi, chief economist at Crisil. However, the impact of this move on the economy, especially on the lower end of the pyramid will be tangible. It will take at least 2-3 quarters before things become normal, Joshi said.

Only time will tell whether Modis demonetization exercise will indeed achieve its desired objectives. But, for now, his big challenge is to replenish the cash-gap in the economy as soon as possible, before it deepens the pain at the bottom of the pyramid.
Patna: Promulgation of a stringent liquor law coupled with a string of new development initiatives to provide power, toilets and drinking water to every household were the highights of the annual report card released by the Nitish Kumar government on the completion of a year in office.

A function to mark the release of the report was slated for Sunday, but was cancelled in the wake of the Indore-Patna Express tragedy in which 143 passengers were killed, many of them from Bihar.

Kumar after assuming power in the state in 2005 had started the tradition of releasing an annual report card to give an account of government's developmental and welfare initiatives taken during the year.

In continuation with this, the report, the first of the grand secular alliance headed by Kumar was released on Monday on the website of the state Information and Public Relations Department.

The 140-page report titled "Development with Justice Mahagathbandhan Government Ist year" showcases the launch of "Saat Nishchay" (seven resolves) to usher in allround development of the state in the next four years of the JD(U), RJD and Congress coalition ministry.

It asserts that "rule of law" prevailed in the state. "Stringent enforecement of legal procedures and provisions without any malice or discrimination have led to reduction in crime rates with effective punishment to criminals rendering them ineffective. We have cracked down strongly on organised crime and shall continue the momentum with strict enforcement," the CM said at the outset.

While highlighting the new initiatives by way of launch of programmes to realise the goal under 'seven resolves', the state government in its report said that it would continue with programmes and policies of 'Agriculture Roadmap','Mission Manav Vikas' (Human resources development), 'Kaushal vikas mission (skill development mission)' and Industrial promotion and incentives.

"Reiterating our old commitments to programmes of good governance, we have taken some resolves for all-round development of the state," the CM said in the report.

"Our programmes and schemes of education, health and SC/ST, OBC, BC and Minority welfare, women and child development will continue to be implemented in the same or even stronger vigour," he added.

The "Saat Nishchay" promises to provide electricity, drinking water, sewage, toilet and road to every household.

Aimed at youth and women, it also has facilities like interest-free loan of Rs 4 lakh, start-up venture capital, free WiFi in colleges and universities and 35 percent reservation for women in all state government jobs.

Painting a rosy picture on economic front, the report card highlighted that Bihar registered a growth of 10.59 per cent in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2015-16, which is more than the national growth of 8.71 per cent for the corresponding year.

Percentage contribution of Bihar's GSDP in India's GDP increased to 3.05 per cent in GDP of the country in 2015-16 (Q) from 2.83 per cent in 2011-12, according to the report. The revised plan outlay for the financial year for 2016-17 is Rs 79014.99 crore, 26 times higher than it was in 2004-05 at Rs 3059.22 crore.

In addition to giving details of the 'seven resolves', the annual report card highlights some other landmark initiatives of the state by bringing in Public Grievance Redressal Act and newer measures in the field of disaster management and police reforms.

The Nitish Kumar government launched Public Grievance Redresal Act, 2015 on the occasion of Sampoorna Kranti Divas and World Environment Day on June 5, 2016 to hear the complaints of the common man and address them within a timeframe.

The report card also gives details of aims and objectives of prohibition.

The CM had announced his seven resolves on the eve of Bihar poll 2015 in an apparent response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declaration of Rs 165 crore special package (which included Rs 40,000 of previous packages) during state election.

The resolution for youths provides special schemes/programmes/policies to enable them to become self-reliant. It has provisions like Rs 4 lakh interest-free loan to every 12th pass student willing to go for higher education. This loan is available for general courses like BA/BSC and professional/technical courses like engineering/medical/management/Law.

It is expected to cover 5 lakh students during this financial year itself. Other items included providing Rs 1000 monthly allowance for two year to youth between 20-25 years of age to search for jobs without bothering family, imparting basic training in communication skills (hindi & english), soft skills and basic computer skills, free WiFi in colleges and universities and start of a venture capital of Rs 500 crore to encourage young enterpreuners.

As part of women empowerment policy, 2015, the state government has reserved 35 per cent jobs for women across all cadres and services of the state with effect from 20th January, 2016.

The resolves include ensurinng electricity in every rural and Urban household in Bihar.

"Har Ghar Bijli Lagaatar" launched on 15 November last promises to provide metered electricity connection to all households in the state. A total of 1387 villages without electricity connection have been identified under the scheme which intends to provide them power connection by end of 2018.

Another resolve promises to provide Clean drinking water to every citizen of Bihar without any discrimination. This resolution is an unflinching endevour to provide clean drinking water in the homes of approximately 2 crore households.

Another ambitious resolution is to build toilet in every household to make Bihar free of open defecation. An approximate 1.68 crore toilet less families are being targetted to ensure they have toilet facility in the next 5 year.

The state government also promises to provide sewage and road facilities across the state. After implementation of the 'Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak yojna', left out habitations having no link shall be connected with pucca road, pucca drainage and by-lines will be provided in all villages and towns under the scheme "Ghar Tak Pakki Gali-Naliyaan."

The state government also unveiled its dream of opening one engineering college in every district, one Bsc Nursing college in all Medical colleges, establishment of five more medical colleges in the state.

In the field of disaster management, it says that Bihar is the first state in the country to prepare 15 years "disaster risk reduction road map 2015-20. The card says that Bihar is the first state in the country to form and operate full time battalion of SDRF (State isaster Response Force) under control of Disaster Management Department to facilitate quick response and relief distribution.

There is arrangement of ex-gratia payment to the families of deceased persons within 24 hours codified, it added.
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"Most of the people eat food in dhabas when they eat outside. Can the government inform us about a dhaba in which a person carries card-swiping machine in his dhoti?" he said.

"Many labourers became unemployed today...there are very long lines and crores of people in those lines. But it is not just that," he said.

"Does the farmer own black money when he engages in transactions for seeds, fertilisers?" he said.

"It is a reality that the farmer is an important part of the economy. That is why India does not have to beg," said a dramatic Anand Sharma in the Rajya Sabha.

"What authority do the prime minister and finance minister have so that we have to beg you for our very own money?" thundered Anand Sharma.

"You have created a condition in which you told a person that he can exchange Rs 4000...I marvel at your generosity," Anand Sharma said sarcastically in the Rajya Sabha.

"After the Uri attack and surgical strikes, we posed various questions about the army....You said we cannot ask questions about the army," said Anand Sharma.

"If you are the government, that doesn't mean India belongs to you. You have created such an environment that we cannot ask questions," he said. "If we ask questions, you start asking questions about our nationality," he added.

"Who got the benefits of your decisions?" he said. "Your government is only for those people who are your friends. You hurt those people who question you."

"If you are trying to give this impression to the country that India started fighting money laundering now, then the prime minister is living on a different planet," said Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha.

After this statement, the Congress MPs began shouting again. Note that Anand Sharma was not interrupted even once when he was talking in the Rajya Sabha.

"But I think Anand Sharma does not know much about economics," he said. "If his claim of fight against black money is true, he would not have ignored the fact the entire country has welcomed this move by the Narendra Modi government," he added.

"In the future, inflation will be controlled when more people pay taxes," he said. "The central government will also get more resources for the welfare of farmers, labourers, youth, women in the country."

"Some people had suggested that this move should have been made public seven days before implementing it. But secrecy is most important in such issues," he said.

"The government has taken many steps against corruption. Demonetisation was a historic step against corruption. This was also a warning to the corrupt that the black money they had was useless now," he said.

"Finance Minister had informed the House only about the counterfeit money in the economy, not the money which some people have got through corruption," Goyal said in the Rajya Sabha.

"Some people just seem to be unhappy that Prime Minister Modi has taken an important step against corruption and black money," he said.

"When the government had just come to power in 2014, there was an atmosphere against corruption," Piyush Goyal said in Rajya Sabha.

"This is a step after which a person will think twice before engaging in corruption," he said. "The poor labourers will benefit the most," he added.

"Please do not hold views which the corrupt can use to free themselves," Goyal added.

"You (Congress) talked about surgical strike. We did not mention it. This is good. You have given us a certificate that we conducted precise strikes against corruption," he said.

"The country is ready to tolerate a few days of inconvenience," he said. "The entire country is with us," he added.

"And even the Election Commission won't be able to notice when someone is carrying the Rs 2000 note in one's pocket," he said.

"Several crore vegetables were just thrown away per day from markets," he said. "Who gave you the advice to come up with the Rs 2000 note? Go outside Delhi to the villages of India. Nobody will accept that note," he said.

"The farmer is unable to buy fertiliser and seeds," said SP's Ram Gopal Yadav in Rajya Sabha. "Farmers are not able to sell potatoes now. Were these potatoes made using black money?" he said.

Who gave you the advice to come up with the Rs 2000 note? SP asks govt in Rajya Sabha

"Our party will move adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha," she said, adding that demonetisation was a dictatorial and draconian step by the government.

"We told the President that he is the custodian of the Constitution. We told him to talk to the government," Mamata Banerjee said.

"Today, people are not getting access to vegetables in the markets. Children are not getting milk. People are dying," she said.

"Today, how did the non-performing assets increase in the last six months?" the Bengal chief minister said.

"After cancelling notes, there were a lot of notes needed in banks for the huge demand," Mamata Banerjee said after meeting the President.

"90 percent of blak money is in tax havens abroad," Yechury further said. "It's like the prime minister is killing the pond to kill the crocodiles, forgetting that the crocodiles can survive on land too."

"But where is this black money? All estimates say 6 percent of this black money is in cash," he said. "Black money is in circulation, in real estate...gold imports have surged in the last few days."

"We want black money controlled. We want it eliminated. The World Bank says that nearly 21 percent of the Indian economy is in the black economy," Yechury said.

"If you stop these Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, you think corruption will stop? Now, corruption will double with the Rs 2000 notes," Yechury said.

"After 26/11, we went on debating over a new law to combat terrorism. On many issues, we had agreed over how terror funding needed to stop," Yechury said.

"We want to stop counterfeit money. Locate where this is happening. Punish them. We will all support this. But this is not the way to stop it," he said.

"By this way, you are killing the poor," he said. "As Anand Sharma said, 0.02 percent of the cash is counterfeit. To take care of that, you needed to do this?" he added.

"The point is that black money is not going to go away with this. Black money is not stock, it is a flow," Yechury said in the Rajya Sabha.

"For the rest of India, it is Tarasta Bharat," he said. "People can't get their children treated at hospitals."

"In our rural population, 80.8 percent of the rural population is not covered by the banks," he said. "What banking does the prime minister want us to go to? There is Shining India with e-wallets for them," he said.

"Why are you agonising the Indian people?" Yechury said. "Agonising people is a way to tell people: I control your personal lives," he said, adding that this was a fascist move.

"People will say this Tughlaqshahi," he said. "This does not meet the objectives of what the prime minister set out to do."

"You have allowed banks to exchange notes. Bulk of Indians today are dealing with rural cooperative banks. You don't allow them to change notes...86 percent of the rural population is dependent on transactions from these banks," Yechury said.

"Don't give this exemption to political parties to spend whatever they want," Yechury said. "If you're serious about stopping corruption, stop the supply side of corruption," he added.

Laughing at Das, Patel said, "Are you kidding me? How can you allow your EAS to issue such statements. You are making a fool of yourself."

Slamming the Narendra Modi government's handling of the issue, Patel gave example of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, who during a press conference on Wednesday said: "The new currency notes, just as the old ones, will lose colour if rubbed with a piece of cloth wet because that's the nature of the dye used. If your note does not lose colour, it's one of the signs that it may be fake."

"Abolishing black money is a move we all support, and BJP government's intention is great but you are asking people to be hungry for 50 days for a feast on the 51st day. Vo aadmi toh mar ayega, bhoj kya khayega (The person will die on the 51st day, what will he do with the feast)," says Patel.

Rajya Sabha erupted after the comment. Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad interrupted Tiwari's speech and said that the statement, which was "atrocious", should not go in record. "No one speaks about the country's prime minister in such an atrocious way. It should not go in record,"Prasad urged the Chair.

In a dramatised speech, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari from Uttar Pradesh compared prime minister to former dictators like Gaddafi, Adolf Hitler and Mussolini. "The seat that you (Narendra Modi) occupy, has been occupied by Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Shastri ji, Charan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But the way you are working, I am forced to say that it reminds me of dictators like Gaddafi, Hitler and Mussolini."

"Modi government marched to victory in 2014 because the country was tired of scams and scandals. That was our poll promise. I request Congress to come out of the dilemma - are you in favour of the people who are hoarders and scamsters or you are in favour of a bold step that eradicates black money from the country. Narendra Modi is capable of taking very strong steps. Temporary pain for long term gain - is the buzz across India. One thing I want to assure - if your money is valid, nothing will happen to it."

"You have got a chance to discuss important things on this platform so do not waste it by mud-slinging. When it comes to people and their hatred towards our PM (the way you claim), we saw their hatred in 2014 and we will see it in 2019," Naidu says to a thundering applause.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu addresses Rajya Sabha and says that people across the nation are watching this Session and they are not interested in a history lesson.

As expected, the Opposition targetted the Narendra Modi governmemnt over its "ill-preparedness" and "lack of empathy" for the general public. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad at the end of day one requested the prime minister to appear in the House tomorrow and discuss the issue of demonetisation.

While the Lok Sabha was adjourned earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha argued and debated on topics till 6 pm on Wednesday. Chairman of Upper House PJ Kurien announced that the House will resume the same discussion (on demonetisation) from 2 pm on Thursday.

The first day of Winter Session went as expected, in fact it went better than expected.

While the Union ministers and BJP MPs are demanding an apology from Leader of Opposition in the House Ghulam Nabi Azad for his Uri remark, Congress MPs are demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation scheme.

"The nation wants to know today," he added, reminding of a news anchor famous for shouting at the panellists on his show.

"The Opposition has disappointed us and the country," he said. "I want the Congress to clarify on Azad's remark," he said.

"Those who ruled over the country for 50 years and ruined the situation of the aam aadmi and those who did not let the Parliament function are now also on the same path," said Naidu. "The prime minister will respond if needed," he said.

"They are not strong...they are not on the side of the truth, the people are not with them," Naidu further said.

"The government is ready for a discussion. We don't know what has happened with the Congress. Suddenly, they took a U-turn," said Venkaiah Naidu.

"There is a need to fix the railway infrastructure. Modiji talked about the bullet train. But there is no focus. How will the aam aadmi benefit and get safety?" said Rahul on the Patna-Indore Express tragedy.

"This is one of the biggest economic decisions in India. But the prime minister had not thought about the impact," he said. "This is some other form of the prime minister," he added.

"We are ready for a discussion. These days, why does the prime minister need to come to the Parliament? He is on a different level. He does not need to interact with his ministers," said Rahul sarcastically.

"People are complaining of deals at the back of long lines to banks. So people are suffering huge losses," he said. "Only 15 or 20 friends of the prime minister will benefit from this move," he added.

"People have told me that they are suffering a lot," said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi outside the Parliament on the issue of demonetisation.

The Opposition members raised slogans, even as deputy chairman PJ Kurien threatened to adjourn the House. And... he did. The Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 12 pm.

Rajya Sabh and Lok Sabha will resume in a while. Meanwhile, asking his countrymen to tell their views on demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying, "I want your first-hand view on the decision taken regarding currency notes. Take part in the survey on the NM App."

Speaker of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan, quite hassled by the way the MPs were behaving, threatened to adjourn the House. "Kyun kar rahe ho?" asks Mahajan very politely as Opposition MPs raised slogans and asked for debate over demonetisation. The protesting MPs also demanded that Modi should come to the House and make a speech.

The Lok Sabha is heading for another adjournment as the Opposition escalated their attack on the BJP government over the same issue of demonetisation. By the look of it, the Winter Session of Parliament till now has been a total washout with no constructive debate happening on the floor.

After the ruckus got out of hand, a very calm Hamid Ansari stood up and adjourned the Upper House till 2 pm.

Members could not keep it together even as the Rajya Sabha resumed proceedings at 12.32 pm.

However, an unrelenting opposition continued to raise slogans. The Speaker again appealed to the opposition to participate in the debate saying that the disruption of proceedings would not resolve the problem. "I am really pained. If you are people's representatives, you should stand by them," she said. As pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon after 20 minutes of proceedings.

Ignoring the slogan shouting opposition members, Speaker allowed the Question Hour to continue amidst noise. When some opposition members tried to bring a placard, denouncing the demonetisation move, infront of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was replying a question related to his Ministry, the Speaker tried to intervene and asked the MPs not to disturb the Minister. "This is not good. Everyone will be shown on TV, but don't disturb the Minister. If you want to discuss something, raise it before the government. People are in pain, tell the government. But this is not the way to highlight people's grievances," Mahajan said asking them to return to their seats.

Samjawadi Party, NCP and RJD stood in the aisles in solidarity with the other opposition members. While AIADMK members were also on the aisles raising the issue of Tamil fishermen injured allegedly in firing by Sri Lankan Navy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was seen busy in his seat in an intimate discussion with AAP MP from Punjab Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Opposition disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the fourth consecutive day demanding discussion on demonetisation on a rule which entails voting forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for about 50 minutes soon after it assembled. As soon as the House met, members of Congress, TMC, Left parties and AAP rushed to the Well of the House demanding discussions on the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 under Rule 56, that entails.

As BJP members also created a ruckus, an angry Kurien snapped at them. "Why should treasury benches do this? Mr Minister, why should treasury benches to this," he asked Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

He told Azad that he was ready to accept his notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business. "Mr Azad, I am ready to admit your notice under 267 if only there is order in the House."

As they shouted slogans from the Well, Kurien said, "You cannot speak in the Well. Shouting in the Well is of no use. If you go back to your seats, I will give you time (to speak)."

At this point, TMC members carrying placards of "Financial Emergency" trooped into the Well, with Congress members following suit.

"He should come and listen to the pain people have faced because of his decision," Mayawati said. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition is ready for discussion on the issue but Prime Minister should come to the Rajya Sabha first. As he spoke, members of the BJP moved into the aisles raising slogans.

No sooner were the listed papers laid on the table in Rajya Sabha, Sharad Yadav of JD(U) said the government should pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to kin of the 70 persons who lost their lives due to hardships caused by withdrawal of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. Naresh Agarwal (SP) and Mayawati (BSP) said Modi should be called before starting discussion on the demonetisation.

"Today they want PM Modi to address Parliament, tomorrow they will be demand a JPC on the demonetisation issue. Trust me, the opposition is just shifting the goalpost. Why are they running away from a debate? Why do they just want prime minister to speak, is the finance minister not competent enough to reply to their questions," asks Prasad.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked the Opposition on their demand of asking Prime Minister Modi to address the House of Parliament and in turn asked, "Why is the Opposition running away from debate?"

"Government wants that there should be a long and elaborate discussion so that we can explain to this country the enormous benefits of this move," Singh said. "Congress and other opposition parties are on a self-destructing course."

On the other hand, Jitendra Singh said that the Opposition was on a self-destruct course.

"Let's keep Opposition and government out of this. Let's think of the people," he further said.

"Almost 70 people have died. He must be crying for them. And I respect that," Congress leader Kapil Sibal told Times Now, clearly taking a dig at the prime minister and implying that he could not come to the Parliament because he was crying.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Rahul alleged that the government and the prime minister are not allowing a debate in the House. "We have filed an adjournment motion in the House and we want Modi to discuss the issue with us," says Rahul Gandhi

"Main poochna chahti hoon prime minister se ki agar unhone itna acha kaam kiya hai to vo ghabra kyu rahe hain? (I want to ask PM Modi that if he has taken a decision which is so good why is he scared?) I urge President to summon Modi and ask him to take measures to solve the problems faced by people post demonetisation move," Mayawati told the media after Lok Sabha got its first adjournment of the day.

Alleging that it sends a wrong message if prime minister keeps shying away from a debate, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday that a debate is a must because otherwise the BJP government looks like it has done something wrong. "Puri daal kali lag rahi hai."

Proceedings was continuously disrupted as Opposition leaders raised loud slogans against the BJP government. Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu urges Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not to adjourn the Lower House. "The debate has begun, madam Speaker. Please let the debate happen. The world is watching what Congress and the Oppostion is doing inside the House," Naidu said.

The protesting MPs, for the past half an hour, have continously made noise and tried to disrupt the Lok Sabha proceedings. Speaker Mahajan still holding solid ground.

Opposition members are trying their best to disrupt the proceedings, but BJP MPs (MJ Akbar, Jitendra Singh) are holding their ground and not giving in to the awful noise that the protesting MPs are making.

 Samajwadi Party's Akshay Yadav tore paper and threw it at Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in the Lok Sabha. This is definitely a new low for Opposition parties in the Parliament.

"I am very sorry that the RBI has been exposed to this kind of criticism which is fully justified," he added.

"It is not good that every day, the banking system comes up with some modifications. That reflects very poorly on the prime minister's office," he said.

"The national income can decline by about 2 percentage points...I feel that the prime minister must come up with some constructive proposal," said the former prime minister.

"In my opinion, the way demonetisation has been implemented will hurt agriculture, small industries and the people in the informal sector," he said.

"I want to know from the prime minister the names of countries where people have deposited their money in banks but are not allowed to withdraw it," he said.

"What has been done can weaken and erode our people's confidence in the currency and banking system," said Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha.

"I say so with all responsibility that we do not know what will be the full outcome," he said. "50 days is a short period but for those who are poor, even 50 days can bring about disastrous effects. About 60-65 people have lost their lives," he said.

"Today, there are no two opinions in the country. It is important to take note of the grievances of the common people who have suffered," said Manmohan Singh.

"I do not disagree with the objectives of taking steps against terroism and black money," said former prime minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House.

"By the day, the damage to the economy is increasing. Today, reports have come which have said that in three sectors that are biggest in exports, 4 lakh people have lost their jobs in the last one week or so," Sitaram Yechury said.

Addressing the Upper House, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said how can the prime minister say something like this? "How can the prime minister allege that Opposition parties are in favour of black money? This is wrong."

Within minutes after the Rajya Sabha began today, the opposition members were up in arms protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that those cirticising the government are not angry with the government's preparedness but the fact that they did not get time to prepare.

Slamming the prime minister for his statements on black money hoarders and his veiled attack against the Opposition, the leaders of Congress and SP and BSP created ruckus in the Upper House and demanded that Modi should address the MPs and apologise for his remarks.

"I'm sure many of us have read analysis of noted economist Lawrence Summers, former chief economist of the World Bank and advisor to Obama government who concludes that this exercise has "resulted in chaos and loss of trust" and "without new measures, is unlikely to have lasting benefits. Don't you think it is high time and right time to form a committee of our real experts and intellectuals like Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha, Subramanian Swamy and other top economists and intellectuals of our party and veteran Murli Manohar Joshi to help the government in this hour?"

In a series of tweets on Friday, BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, reiterating his faith in PM Modi's intention, said, "However, I have serious concerns about the outcome, fallout and responses of the people of India and the almost united opposition in particular."

Seventh day of Winter Session and looks like this week business will take a massive hit due to ongoing protests by the Opposition

As Opposition din did not die down even after many requests by the Speaker, Mahajan adjourned the Lok Sabha till Monday (28 November) 11 am.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that a man  Rakesh Singh  tried to jump in the Lok Sabha off the audience gallery on Friday after the House was adjourned. "Security officials overpowered him and took him under custody and he has been let off with warning," Mahajan added.

Taking the nation by surprise, the Prime Minister had on November 8 announced demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes with effect from midnight.

Latching on to media reports, Yechury sought to pick holes in the November 8 decision as he noted that 29 crore out of the 30 crore Rupay card holders have never used their cards in a swipe machine. Referring to a report on surfacing of two variants of Rs 500 currency notes, the Marxist leader also took a dig at Modi, saying it was the "Prime Minister's way" of stopping circulation of fake currency.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, dubbing him as 'Tughlaq' who had "gone missing" after issuing a farman (order). "Barely 20-25 percent of cash demand being met in Metros. Rural areas even worse. While Tughlaq goes missing after his firman," Yechury tweeted.

Will government's wait-and-watch technique, as far as Opposition's protests are concerned, work out in their favour? Most political observers say no because the government does not have the luxury of time. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders are still not relenting with their demand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in Parliament.

Opposition leaders met before Parliament session commences for the tenth day. However, the worry again is will the Opposition let the Parliament function? Winter Session will go on for 22 sittings - 50 percent of the sittings are already over - the Upper House and the Lok Sabha have still not been able to table crucial bills.

"Why is the BJP government so stubborn? Why is the prime minister not coming to debate?" Mayawati asks.

In Samba, security forces killed two militants early on Tuesday when a group of militants tried to sneak in from Pakistan through the International Border near a border outpost in this Jammu district. According to reports, the two militants were killed following a "heavy firing exchange" with the BSF.

Even as terrorists infiltrated the International Border and attacked two - Nagrota and Samba - districts of Jammu and Kashmir, there was no talk of that in Parliament. The attack in Nagrota reportedly started around 5.30 am with militants firing at a field regiment camp located in the garrison town of Nagrota near the headquarter's of army's 16 corps in the state.

Demonetisation has been the reason for Parliament washouts over ten days now since Winter Session began on 16 November. Interestingly, Parliament has not discussed anything else except note ban imposed by the Narendra Modi government since the Winter Session began.

TMC leader slammed the BJP government for deploying Army in West Bengal. Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu told Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien that the deployment was a routine exercise and casting aspersions on the prime minister is not acceptable.

Opposition: Modiji says he wants the poor to build their own homes, but what about those homes which are being broken?

If one had to compare, Rajya Sabha gets adjourned way faster and sooner than the Lower House.

Unrelenting Speaker Sumitra Mahajan continues to let MPs speak on different issues while a group of MPs continue to try to disrupt Lok Sabha. But since Winter Session has begun (16 November) members who are against the demonetisation drive have tried, and sometimes successfully, to stall Parliament.

"These photos on the walls of the Rajya Sabha, from where emanates the power of democracy, often haunt me. It has been particularly difficult these last few days to get past those photos.Till 1 December (15th day since the commencement of the Winter Session) no business has been allowed to occur in the House except on the first day when a good debate took place in the Rajya Sabha over demonetisation. Regular disruptions, chaos and high-pitched slogan shouting have resulted in complete pandemonium in the House. The continuous ruckus usually leads to the suspension of the House proceedings and, sadly, it has become a regular feature. I ask myself: is this the only alternative left to us to address the genuine grievances of the public, the states and the nation?"

"Today, the situation is that the withdrawals of the foreigners who come to India are being rationed," he said. "This has globally affected India's image," he added.

"Demonetisation created a situation that 86 percent of the currency was invalidated. Now, after one month, tens of millions of Indians are standing in queues...It is wrong to give an impression that the Opposition is opposing the prime minister's crusade against black money," Sharma said.

"The government has collective responsibility but the prime minister is the first among the equals," said Congress leader Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha.

"In the 2G debates, we have insisted that the prime minister participates in this discussions but there is no such practice in this House that the prime minister must be here to listen to each and every member," Jaitley said.

"What is the stage we are in? Halfway through the debate, you interrupted the debate and are now raising concerns which have never been raised in the House," he told the Opposition.

"In this case, we've repeatedly said that the prime minister is going to participate in the debate," Jaitley said.

"It's obviously an important issue. The questions have to be answered," he said. "The government and the council of ministers fucntions on a collective responsibility. There is no such principle that a specific person has to answer."

"We've gone through this exercise of having a major debate which is incomplete. We have spent seven hours on the debate under rule 167," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha.

When asked what does the Opposition want, Rahul said, "He should come and debate in Parliament and explain his decision," he said.

Targetting the Prime Minister over the issue of note ban, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP government saying that the decision to scrap high denomination currency was the biggest mistake ever. "It was a bold decision - that's what Modi ji says - but bold decisions are also foolish decisions. Demonetisation was a foolish decision. Our farmers, fishermen and the poor of the society are dying, our Prime Minister does not care for any of that. He (PM Modi) is laughing and having a nice time while the people of the country are suffering. The idea behind cashless economy is that a few people and corporates will get maximum benefits from these transactions. This has damaged the nation."

Today, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a full frontal attack on the prime minister and an united Opposition on Thursday observed Black Day to mark one month since the demonetisation scheme kicked in.

8 November was when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. It's been a month since then and the Opposition protests have gone on unabated - both in and outside Parliament.

"It is a matter of shame that the government refused to pay tributes to the martyrs," Azad thundered, provoking the ruling party ministers and MPs, who began shouting as if Azad had just thrown something at them.

He also said that by protesting in front of the Gandhi statue, the Opposition was the one which paid tributes to the deceased.

"We have been saying for a long time that over 100 people have died because of demonetisation," said Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajya Sabha. "But the government refused to pay tribute to the deceased," he added.

President Pranab Mukherjee has accused the Opposition of "gagging majority" in both Houses of Parliament. "Debate, dissension and decision are necessary," Times Now quoted the President as saying. "The Parliament must not be disrupted...this is unacceptable."

The Winter Session of Parliament began on 16 November. On 8 December, both the Houses  Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha  met for the 14th day but within minutes of commencing, both the Houses were adjourned. The deadlock over demonetisation has led to wastage of the Winter Session so far and considering that just one more week is left for the session to wrap up, there is little hope that the Houses will be able to pass, introduce or even debate the Bills that have been listed for consideration.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Venakaiah Naidu also termed the 'dharna' by opposition leaders near the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises as a big 'tamasha' and an insult to the Father of the Nation. "Our opponents particularly the Congress I am told are observing a Black Day. I say what they are observing is a 'Black Money Support Day'," Naidu said.

Hitting out at the Congress-led Opposition for observing a 'Black Day' against demonetisation decision, government on Thursday said they are actually observing a "Black Money Support Day".

According to Times Now, the parliamentary panel has found Mann guilty of security breach after he filmed a video entering Parliament by crossing several security layers and posted it on social media.

 As if the logjam in Parliament  for which President Pranab Mukherjee admonished both Houses  was not embarrassing enough for the country, there is now a delegation of parliamentarians from Vietnam who are going to witness what happens in an Indian Parliament.

"Govt running from debate, if they allow me to speak then you will see what an earthquake will come," says Rahul Gandhi.

Keep in mind that Vietnamese Parliamentarians are in both the Houses to witness this scene.

It's hard to decide at this point who is trying to stall Parliament. During zero hour in Lok Sabha, MPs in Lok Sabha kept raising ruckus while Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tries her best to keep the House in session.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 14 December On Friday as the count of members in the Upper House remained 21 despite calls from the Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien, the house was adjourned till Monday. The benches remained empty while BJP and Congress leaders sparred with each other blaming each other for the non-functioning government.

According to an NDTV report Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that Prime Minister Modi will be present in Parliament for the three remaining days of the Session and can participate in proceedings for either of the House depending on the need.

Congress is going to raise the issue of corruption charges against Kiren Rijiju. Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader, Anand Sharma has given notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha for discussion on corruption charges against Rijiju.

"This is the first time that the government is scheming to make sure Parliament does not function. It usually is the job of Opposition to stand up and protest. However, this government is doing a pretty job of that and making sure that Parliament does not work and no one questions the ruling party's decision. Demonetisation has hurt a lot of people, but Modi government's arrogance is not allowing us to debate it in the House," a TMC member said.

BJP was reacting to Congress vice-president's claim that he has information of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged involvement in "personal corruption." Rahul was speaking a joint press briefing of the Opposition after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid din created by Opposition.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said that if Rahul Gandhi had any information, he could have revealed them twenty days ago, ""but till today he wasn't ready to make any earth-shattering revelations."

Soon after Rajya Sabha passed the amended The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill (2014) and Kurien congratulated the members over a productive day, Anand Sharma raised the issue of Rijiju and his alleged involvement in the Rs 450-crore scam. Kurien tried to maintain calm in the House by saying, "Allegation without informing the Chair cannot be allowed."

As Opposition members raised slogans and ruckus, Kurien said, "What can I do except adjourning. Both sides are indisciplined. The House is adourned till tomorrow (15 December) 11 am."

It seemed like the members in the Upper House were just waiting to pass one single Bill this Winter Session. Soon after Kurien praised the members of the Upper House for being disciplined, ruckus over alleged corruption allegations on Kiren Rijiju took the House by storm again.

Kurien: "I have given the floor to Leader of Opposition. That's the tradition. Let's follow it. Please sit down."

Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi object to leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad speaking in the Upper House. Kurien asks BJP members to sit down. Amid slogans of "Agusta Agusta" , BJP leaders demanded to know what is the topic of discussion?

"I have to adjourn.. what should I do?" asks Kurien. "This is for the first time in history of India that it's the ruling party that's not letting the House to function," says Azad.

Sources said that it was also decided in the meeting to raise the plight of farmers and common people in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and demand a loan waiver for farmers. Representatives of Congress, Trinamool Congress, BSP, SP, JD-U, CPI, CPI-M, NCP, DMK and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) were present in today's meeting.

Leaders of various parties said the entire opposition has decided to approach the President to "complain" against the ruling party for not allowing them to speak in Parliament. The leaders said they were elected representatives of the country and had every right to speak in Parliament and it was "unconstitutional" not to allow them to speak in both Houses. Sources said time is being sought from the President till Friday and all opposition parties were ready to raise the issue unitedly before him.

Taking their protest on demonetisation to President Pranab Mukherjee's doorsteps, Opposition parties sought a meeting with the president to convey the problems caused by the measure to the common man and "over not being" allowed to speak in Parliament. At a meeting of the opposition held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, representatives of various parties decided to raise with the President the problems of the common people, including the poor and farmers arising out of demonetisation.

Advani also added that "had Atal ji been in Parliament today, he would have been upset."

Senior BJP leader LK Advani told Home Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene and stop disruptions in both Houses of Parliament. Expressing his unhappiness, Advani allegedly said that he "feels like resigning".

Opposition leaders are scheduled to meet the President and PM Modi to push for a way to break the deadlock.

The BJPs Parliamentary Party meeting to discuss the strategy to counter the Oppositions charges against the government is currently underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the gathering.

The last day of the Winter Session of Parliament is setup for a big tussle between the government and the Opposition as both try to break the deadlock.

"Regular and continuous disruptions signify this session... The rules about displaying placards and shouting slogans were ignored by all sections of the house," Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said in his closing statement before adjourning the house.

The Rajya Sabha on Friday concluded its winter session after an emotional speech by the Chairman as the house was adjourned sine die.

On the eve of Winter Session, two all-party meetings were convened, first by the ruling NDA and the other by Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan. At the all-party meeting Modi requested all parties for cooperation in order to make Parliament session a fruitful one.

"I hope that Winter Session will be fruitful. I expect that Winter Session will proceed in a positive way. I hope that Winter Session debate will strengthen democracy. I believe that to take the country ahead this Winter Session debate will be useful, " said Modi as Winter Session sets to begin.

"If you will put their husbands in jail, who will provide for them, who will pay for their children," Azad asked as he reiterated that Congress leader Anad Sharma's suggestion to send it to Standing Committee should be taken into consideration.

Ghulam Nabi Azad stood up as the bill was taken up for discussion and said that none of the parties are in opposition of the bill in essence. However, he said that the government's bill will "finish Muslim women" instead of saving them.

He said that a committee should reflect the nature of the House, which the list of suggestions given by Sharma does not. Sharma's suggestion did not include names from the BJP.

Jaitley said that the previous precedents show that any amendments or motions should be introduced with prior notice. He said that the Opposition's demand to send the bill to Select Committee was invalid. He also raised objection on the suggestion on members of Select Committee made by Anand Sharma.

Kurien said that the Leader of the House is a very learned advocate himself and all points raised by him are of relevance. The rule he quotes that a prior notice should be given is also correct, he said. "However, the same rule adds that the Chairman has the power to admit such a motion and which is why I cannot overrule it. It is now admitted and hence is the property of the House, only members can amend it," Kurien said on Jaitley's objection over the Opposition motion seeking triple talaq bill be sent to Standing Committee.

Roy, responding to Jaitley's objection that the Select Committee suggested by him did not reflect the nature of the House, Roy said that he had included members from all parties who were willing to send the bill to the Standing Committee. However, BJP members were not included because the government was not willing to send the bill to the committee. Roy added that if the BJP is interested in sending the Bill for further scrutiny, he has no objection to ammend the list to include its members too.

Govt requests to take up GST bill first as Dy Chairman ruled Triple Talaq bill can't be taken for passage without first building consensus in House

"If you will put their husbands in jail, who will provide for them, who will pay for their children," Azad asked as he reiterated that Congress leader Anad Sharma's suggestion to send it to Standing Committee should be taken into consideration.

Ghulam Nabi Azad stood up as the bill was taken up for discussion and said that none of the parties are in opposition of the bill in essence. However, he said that the government's bill will "finish Muslim women" instead of saving them.

He said that a committee should reflect the nature of the House, which the list of suggestions given by Sharma does not. Sharma's suggestion did not include names from the BJP.

Jaitley said that the previous precedents show that any amendments or motions should be introduced with prior notice. He said that the Opposition's demand to send the bill to Select Committee was invalid. He also raised objection on the suggestion on members of Select Committee made by Anand Sharma.

Kurien said that the Leader of the House is a very learned advocate himself and all points raised by him are of relevance. The rule he quotes that a prior notice should be given is also correct, he said. "However, the same rule adds that the Chairman has the power to admit such a motion and which is why I cannot overrule it. It is now admitted and hence is the property of the House, only members can amend it," Kurien said on Jaitley's objection over the Opposition motion seeking triple talaq bill be sent to Standing Committee.

Roy, responding to Jaitley's objection that the Select Committee suggested by him did not reflect the nature of the House, Roy said that he had included members from all parties who were willing to send the bill to the Standing Committee. However, BJP members were not included because the government was not willing to send the bill to the committee. Roy added that if the BJP is interested in sending the Bill for further scrutiny, he has no objection to ammend the list to include its members too.

Govt requests to take up GST bill first as Dy Chairman ruled Triple Talaq bill can't be taken for passage without first building consensus in House

The Winter Session of Parliament opened on Wednesday with a united Opposition mounting an assault on the government over demonetisation, saying it had led to "economic anarchy" in the country. The opposition parties also demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the alleged selective leak of information before the official announcement.

While Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after paying tributes to nine leaders, including sitting TMC MP Renuka Sinha, the seven-hour-long debate in Rajya Sabha, however, remained inconclusive. The debate in Rajya Sabha continued till 6 pm on Wednesday before Deputy Chairman of the House PJ Kurien adjourned it till 11 am tomorrow. Kurien said that the discussion on demonetisation will be resumed on Thursday at 2 pm. "From 11am to 12 pm will be the Zero Hour and Question Hour will be from 12-1 pm," said Kurien. There were repeated demands by the opposition members that the Prime Minister should be present in the House to listen to the members.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said Modi, who did not come to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, should at least be present tomorrow and possibly intervene. The government rejected as baseless the opposition charge that there was "leakage" of the 8 November decision and said everyone was taken by surprise which is why there are "initial" problems.

Joining ranks over the raging issue, parties like Congress, JD(U), RJD, SP, BSP, Trinamool Congress, Left and AIADMK slammed the government, particularly targeting PM Modi, for making Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes invalid and said the "ill-timed" and "ill-conceived" step had severely hit the common people, the farmers and the poor.

During a discussion on demonetisation, which was taken up after suspension of all business in response to notices given by a host of opposition members, a scathing attack was made on the government which strongly defended the step as one taken in national interest and to end corruption and black money, which it linked to terror activities in the country.

Here's a quick recap of what happened today

Anand Sharma uses wit and humour to attack Modi

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma on Wednesday demanded a probe into "selective leakage" of the demonetisation move, which he termed a "Nadirshahi farman" (autocratic order). Initiating a debate after listed business was suspended to take up a discussion on the 8 November decision to withdraw old higher denomination currency, Sharma used wit and humour to attack Modi for being insensitive to problems caused to the common man.

He asked Modi to state where he got Rs 23,000-24,000 crore, estimated by the International Money Watch Group, for his Lok Sabha elections. He also asked if cheque or credit card payments were made to organise his rally at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh a few days ago. Alleging that the information on demonetisation was selectively leaked, he said, "Your BJP units have deposited crores (just before the 8 November decision)."

Sharma also sought to know from the Prime Minister as to "who wants to kill him", referring to the Prime Minister's speech in Goa where he had said that with demonetisation resulting in "Looting of their 70 year corrupt earnings, they will destroy me, they can kill me". "There should have been an ordinance for demonetization. But no ordinance was brought. This is a Nadirshahi farman (autocratic order)," Sharma said.

"The decision to demonetise high currency notes was leaked to a select few. Secrecy was not maintained on this issue. It was published in a Gujarati newspaper long back and even other newspapers wrote about it," said Sharma. "There should be a probe into the selective leakage of information," he said, asking: "What did the government do to prepare for effective implementation of the policy."

He also sought to know from the government which law gave it the right to impose limits on withdrawing money from peoples' own accounts. "I condemn Prime Minister's statement in Goa for mocking the people who are standing in queues. He must apologise. Please explain who wants to kill you," said Sharma posing a question to Modi. Congress will not tolerate anyone planning to harm the Prime Minister of the country, he said. "An atmosphere has been created by the government where questioning them has become a parameter to decide one's nationalism," said Sharma.

He sought to know from the Prime Minister as to from where the "15 thousand crore rupees spent on your mega election campaign come from". "Did you pay for your recent Ghazipur rally through credit card," Sharma said mocking the government for asking people to use plastic money for day-to-day expenses.

Sharma also demanded that Modi must disclose the list of those names, who are holding black money in Swiss banks. "Government has a list of those holding black money in Swiss banks. We demand that the Prime Minister must tell who all are there in the list," said Sharma. He said the government should disclose how much money left India between March and September this year and how many people invested in bullion, bought gold or forex during this period.

Sharma took a dig at the government for using the term "surgical strike" in the context of demonetization and the unplanned consequences of the move, saying, "Bina doctori padhe sab surgeon ban gaye (You became a surgeon without training or education)."

Quoting media reports, Sharma said State Bank of India  the country's largest lender  knew of the decision way back in March and a Gujarati newspaper had in April published a report of the move to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. He demanded a probe into "how many people bought more than Rs 1 crore of foreign currency and bullion" since April. "This is a serious issue... you never kept secrecy (about the decision)," Sharma said. The "ill-timed" and "ill-conceived" move had unleashed "economic anarchy" in the country and benefited a few, he said, adding that to fight black money created by higher denomination currency, a bigger Rs 2,000 note has been brought which is similar to the paper on which 'churan' is sold and "shed colour" was brought.

"Your government is insensitive," he said adding Modi was riding a bullet train in Japan when old, women and common man were queueing up at banks at 3 am in the morning to get currency to buy their daily needs. Sharma said Modi had in his Goa speech had stated that those standing in line at banks were those involved in 2G spectrum and coal scam as well as holding black money. "I condemn the Prime Minister for calling the poor standing in the queue for his Rs 4,000-4,500, black money holders and scamster," he said.

Taking a dig at the Modi, he said someone who "changes clothes five times a day", has become Prime Minister and travels around the globe was "calling himself a sanyasi and tapasvi".

Sharma demanded that the names of persons holding accounts in Swiss bank and those revealed in the Leichtenstein and HSBC lists should be made public. The names of bank loan defaulters above Rs 5,000 crore should also be made public. While the decision had put the common man to immense hardship by way of having to stand in long queues to lay hands on valid currency to meet daily needs, the information about demonetisation was selectively leaked to the "friends of BJP," Sharma alleged. The move had branded 86 percent of the currency in circulation black money and "everyone a criminal," he said adding when Modi announced the plan it was expected that adequate arrangements would be made for dispensing new notes.

"The magnanimous prime minister allowed Rs 4,000 of old currency to be changed... what right does the Constitution give the government to place restrictions on withdrawal of ones hard-earned money," he asked, adding one has to "beg to be allowed to withdraw his own money." He said former RBI Governor IG Patel had written about the government's decision to demonetise currency in 1978 and it would be absurd to think that all ill-gotten money is kept in cash and not invested in real estate, billion, equities or foreign exchange.

Moving towards cashless economy was fine but even the most developed economies of US or Europe have not achieved that objective yet. If they had, the US central bank would have stopped printing dollars, European Central Bank won't be printing Euros and UK central banks would have stopped printing pound sterling, he said.

Stating that the government had in one stroke declared everyone a criminal, he said the government and the finance minister have stated that terrorists would have benefited if advance information on the decision was given. "Which terrorist goes to RBI with sack full of counterfeit currency to change."

After withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, restrictions were placed even on foreign tourists who could not get their currency changed.

The Congress leader said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had informed Parliament in August that fake currency was 0.02 percent of the total currency in circulation. "If 0.02 percent by government admission is counterfeit currency, how can that be made the base to remove 86 percent of currency in circulation," he said.

An undeclared emergency has put common people in grave inconvenience, he said while crime money, ill-gotten wealth and that accrued through corruption or tax evasion is blackmoney, Prime Minister should answer if he considered money in the market, or in households, or with farmers, workers and employees was also blackmoney.

"This question arises because a message has gone that Indian economy was run on blackmoney... you decide but don't brand the whole country," he said, adding whether the cash the farmers gets for his crop or the one he uses to buy seeds or fertilizer was blackmoney. He said the move had rendered millions of agriculture workers and labourers unemployed.

Mayawati calls demonetisation ill-timed

As the debate was in progress, BSP chief Mayawati demanded the presence of the Prime Minister in the House to hear out the Opposition parties and address their concerns.

Mayawati questioned the government's preparedness for the demonetisation of high-value bank notes, accusing it of spending the last ten months on settling the black money of its people. Participating in a debate in Rajya Sabha on the demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes, she said: "The government has said that they spent ten months preparing for this decision. Ten months was a long time to prepare. If they were serious about it, they would have prepared well for all the problems that people are facing today."

"What we are witnessing in India today would not have happened had they prepared," she added. Accusing the government of supporting those close to it in settling their ill-gotten wealth, Mayawati said: "In the last ten months, the BJP government has worked to help the party supporters and big businessmen to settle their black money.

"If the government had spent ten months preparing for it, then why do they need another 50 days? There is something fishy."

"Masses are in pain. The Prime Minister must be sleeping after taking pills. The move is without preparedness and people will punish BJP in 2019 during general elections. People of five states going for elections including Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab will punish BJP," she said, adding that the poor and the middle classes were the worst sufferers. "It is an immature decision taken in haste and the whole country feels that is an 'economic emergency'," she said adding that it was like a "Bharatbandi situation."

Opposition demands Modi's presence in Rajya Sabha

Mayawati said the House should request the Prime Minister to be present and answer the members' concerns. It is "a very serious issue", she said, adding she has been observing Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, appears "sad".

Her demand was supported by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who said the PM must be present in the House to hear out the concerns of various parties.

Earlier, Kurien said he had received as many as 13 notices under rule 267 for suspension of business to take up discussion on inconvience and hardships caused by demonetisation of currency. He said there was a general consensus for discussion and the government too was agreeable, so the list of business as notified stands completely suspended.

Azad demanded that the prime minister should at least "hear out the feelings of six-seven main parties, otherwise there is a mismatch. The feelings of opposition members should be heard by PM. I demand that at least he hears them out and sit in the House at least today. We can wait for him to come."

This was objected to by DP Tripathi (NCP), who said that as Leader of the Opposition he should not distinguish between the big and small parties. Ram Gopal Yadav (who was expelled from Samajwadi Party) joined Anand Sharma to allege that information on demonetisation was "leaked" and termed it as a scam while demanding a thorough probe into it.

"A BJP leader in Punjab had tweeted on 5 November about the new Rs 2,000 note. How did this happen? This is an issue of concern. There is a scam in this. This should definitely be probed," he said, alleging further that 10 percent of the people have 90 per cent of wealth of the country and the remaining 90 per cent do not have anything.

The common people, especially the poor and the housewives were put to great hardship through this move and if elections are held today they will teach this government a lesson, he said, adding that majority of women who saved money through household savings were upset with the move.

"Elections are not fought with money power. You cannot win elections through money power. No one can win elections like that. Elections are won only by winning the hearts of people," he said.

Demonetisation of high denomination currency has created big problems to common people and and law and order situation is being created with police being deployed outside banks to control the queue.

"Do not hold elections now. If you meet and ask for votes from housewives in villages, they will beat you up with 'belan' and you will have to embalm your back with turmeric," he said, adding that you might lose elections if you hold early polls. Yadav said the entire House was against corrupt and drug money, but lamented that an impression is being created that those opposing this are against curbing black money which is erroneous.

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who also sought a JPC probe into the suspected leak, said the sudden move was akin to "jumping out of a moving train". He said unlike the rich, who the PM said were standing in queue, it was the poor, handicapped and old people who were doing so to get their hands on their hard earned money. He alleged that while loans worth Rs 7,000 crore was written off today by banks including Rs 1,200 crore of Vijay Mallya and said that the prime minister has made the honesty of the country to stand in queues.

Yadav also took a dig at Jaitley saying he was sure that the Finance Minister was not part of the decision making on demonetisation, because had he been, Jaitley would have tipped him off. This remark left most members including Jaitley laughing.

Yechury renames PM as "Modi Antoinette"

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said that of the 130 crore population in the country, only 2.6 crore have credit cards.

He took a dig at Modi and narrated the infamous quote of Queen Marie Antoinette during the French revolution who had said that people can eat cakes when they don't have bread. "We have Modi Antoinette who says 'If you don't have paper, use plastic'".

Yechury compared the Prime Minister with a Roman ruler. He said a Senator had remarked about this ruler that: "I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the Coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it."

Alleging that a BJP unit in Kolkata deposited Rs 1 crore in Indian's Bank Account on 8 November, he said "prove me if I am wrong." He added that Prime Minister was advertising for Paytm while talking about cashless economy.

The CPM leader said 1/5th of the economy is black economy and people who kept black money invested it in real estate, gold etc. That is why the imports surged and stated that it was this PM only who had stated that 95 percent of the black money is stashed offshore and is in safe havens.

"PM is cleaning a pond to kill crocodiles but big crocodiles have survived and only small fishes are dying."

He also demanded that corporate funding of all political parties should stop and there should be a stystem of state funding for elections to which Kurien said "why don't you move a private members bill in this regard."

Terming the demonetisation move as "Tughlaq shahi", he said the length of queues before banks and ATMs was ever increasing and asked why the government was agonising the people. He sought an investigation into the move, saying "let there be a joint parliamentary committee" for a proper probe. "We need to know the motive behind the move" as before every parliamentary session there is some gimmick which diverts attention from other major issues.

With inputs from agencies
Mumbai: A week after sharing stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and showering praises on him, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday attacked the NDA government over the issue of issue of demonetisation and Rs 98,000-crore bullet train project.

Pawar alleged that the Modi government was harassing people on the pretext of demonetisation. But people will respond to it by voting against his party, he said at a rally in Ghatkopar in the run-up to the crucial BMC elections due early next year.

"This government is not concerned about millions of people commuting by local trains in Mumbai... Trains in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai can be operated in Rs 98,000 crore. But, Modi is in a hurry to go to Ahmedabad," the NCP leader said.

On the issue of demonetisation, Pawar said, "If the situation continues, it will become difficult for the common man to survive."

"The common man is suffering and the Prime Minister says those with black money have lost sleep. 'Parivartan' (change) must take place in the next Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections," Pawar said.

Citing official figures, Pawar said only 0.28 percent of the total notes in circulation were fake. However, 86 percent of the total notes in circulation were scrapped, he said.

He said Modi should travel abroad and resolve India's (global) issues, but he should travel as a representative of the country and not of BJP.

Problems will increase if the infrastructure is not improved. People of Mumbai should decide to oust those troubling them, the NCP leader said.

"If the head of the country (prime minister) is responsible for the feeling that this is a country of criminals, then we must prove that India is a country of hard-working people," said the NCP supremo.

"The country is in the grip of an economic emergency due to Modi's (demonetisation) decision," he added.

The former Union Minister described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan against demonetisation, as a "simple and honest" leader.

The Shiv Sena had recently supported her over demonetisation.

On 8 November, Modi had announced the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.
In trying to understand the concept of simultaneous elections, the following chronologically-arranged sequence of events deserves attention.

21 January, 2015: The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice identifies Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies as a subject for examination and report. 28 January, 2015: The then chief election commissioner, HS Brahma records a note stating, Nripendra Misra, (principal) secretary to the prime minister, informed me that there is a strong feeling of having simultaneous elections for both Parliament and the state Assemblies. He mentioned that the repetitive state elections of all the 36 states and (Union Territories) causes lots of disruption, both in terms of implementation of various schemes as well as the socio-economic scenario. There are states, for example, the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, where between 2008-2013, there were 60 by-elections held on flimsy grounds, where the same candidate resigns and is re-elected after few months. This causes loss of public confidence besides tremendous financial cost to the state. After all, elections cost money, as reported in The Indian Express. 5 March, 2015: The Election Commission of India (ECI) sends its comment to the Parliamentary Committee on simultaneous holding of elections. 10 March, 2015: First meeting of the Parliamentary Committee. 21 March, 2015: Parliamentary Committee issues a press communique. 17 December, 2015: Parliamentary Committee submits its report. 3 February, 2016: Law ministry seeks ECIs comments on the Parliamentary Committee Report. 2 March, 2016: Law ministry sends reminder to ECI for comments on the Parliamentary Committee Report. 19 March, 2016: Prime minister speaks "at a closed door meeting of the BJPs national office bearers just before the partys national executive meet was kicked off,  in laudatory terms for simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. Despite the meeting being closed door, the content is reported in The Hindu. 5 May, 2016: ECI responds to law ministry, sending a copy of its letter of 5 March, 2015.

The substantive issue is whether it is feasibility, and advisable, to hold elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies simultaneously. While the merits and demerits of holding simultaneous elections can, and should, be discussed, what the above sequence of events highlights is the process that seems to be being followed.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee is perfectly within its rights to examine and report on any issue it likes. The committee is also within its rights to seek the views of all those who it thinks may be able to contribute to the examination and understanding of the issue. And since the ECI is the institution entrusted with the task of conducting elections by the Constitution of India, it is absolutely correct for the committee to seek the views of the ECI.

It is generally understood that although the election commissioners are appointed by the President of India  obviously based on the advice of the Cabinet, the ECI, as a constitutional institution, is meant to function under the provisions of the Constitution and is not a department of the government. It is not meant to function under the government, and is therefore not answerable to the government of the day. Its accountability and allegiance is to the Constitution of India, as interpreted by the higher judiciary.

Based on this, the event of 28 January, 2015, as recorded by the then chief election commissioner seems very curious. With the Parliamentary Committee having taken up the issue for examination, why should the principal secretary to the prime minister take it upon himself to inform the CEC of a strong feeling of having simultaneous elections for both Parliament and the state Assemblies?

It is even stranger to note that the senior functionary of the PMO considers 60 by-elections (to be) held on flimsy grounds.

It is actually disturbing to note that elections are considered to be caus(ing) lots of disruption, both in terms of implementation of various schemes as well as socio-economic scenario. One wonders what might happen to democracy if elections are considered to be disruptive elements.

Then there is a startling statement: This causes tremendous financial cost to the state. After all, elections cost money. Are elections an unnecessary expense in a democracy? And what exactly is meant by financial cost to the state? Where do the funds for the state come from? Usually they come from the people and elections are one, the only, way for people to have a say in who should govern them and how. If the state finds elections to be unnecessary, it is frightening to think of what might happen to the people.

Yes, elections cost money but is there any greater priority in a democracy than to hold elections?

There is no doubt that the communication recorded by the then CEC has not broken any law but it does seem to raise the question of crossing the line of propriety.

Propriety is described by a dictionary as conformity to established standards of good or proper behaviour or manners, appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability and rightness or justness.

One is left to wonder if such concepts have any place in India today.

The author is a former professor, dean, and director-in-charge of IIM-Ahmedabad. Views are personal.
By Michelle Nichols

| UNITED NATIONS

UNITED NATIONS African states failed on Monday to halt the work of the first U.N. independent investigator appointed to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination.The 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, created the position in June and in September appointed Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand, who has a three-year mandate to investigate abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.In an unusual move, African states put forward a draft resolution in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly third committee, which deals with human rights, calling for consultations on the legality of the creation of the mandate. They said the work of the investigator should be suspended. However, Latin American countries, supported by Western nations, successfully proposed an amendment that gutted the African group draft resolution. The amendment was adopted in the third committee on Monday with 84 votes in favour, 77 against and 17 abstentions.

The amended draft resolution, which makes no change to the work of the gay rights investigator, was then adopted by the third committee with 94 votes in favour, three against and 80 abstentions. Russia and Egypt, speaking on behalf of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, said they would not recognise the mandate of the gay rights investigator and would not cooperate with Muntarbhorn. Britain urged all countries to cooperate with the investigator.

Being gay is a crime in at least 73 countries, the U.N. has said. The issue of gay rights consistently sparks heated debate at the United Nations.In 2014, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the U.N. would recognise all same-sex marriages of its staff, allowing them to receive U.N. benefits. Russia unsuccessfully tried to overturn it last year, with Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, India, Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria among 43 states that supported Moscow.

In February the African Group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the 25-member "Group of Friends of the Family," led by Egypt, Belarus and Qatar, protested the launch of six U.N. stamps promoting LGBT equality.Then a group of 51 Muslim states blocked 11 gay and transgender organizations from officially attending a high-level U.N. meeting in June on ending AIDS, sparking a protest by the United States, Canada and the European Union. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
PARIS France said on Monday it had foiled a terrorist plot and arrested seven people, a year after a state of emergency was imposed to counter a wave of Islamist attacks.Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the seven people of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin, aged 29 to 37, were detained on Sunday. One of the detentions followed a tip-off from a foreign government, he said.Two were arrested in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille and four in Strasbourg in the northeast. Cazeneuve did not say where the seventh was arrested."Yesterday, a terrorist act on our soil that was being prepared for a long time was foiled thanks to the work of the DGSI," Cazeneuve said in a statement, referring to the internal intelligence service."The scale of the terrorist threat is enormous and it is not possible to ensure zero risk despite everything we are doing."

The minister gave no information on the target of the planned attack. The mayor of Strasbourg said it appeared the plot had not concerned his city but rather "the Paris region".A source close to the inquiry told Reuters that some of those detained had spent time in the Syria-Iraq region. Security is a major theme in campaigning ahead of France's presidential election next spring.

More than 230 people have been killed in attacks on French soil since January, 2015, when Islamist militants killed 17 people in Paris in an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.Gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in coordinated strikes in Paris last November 13.

Islamic State, whose strongholds in Syria and Iraq are being bombed by warplanes from an international coalition including France, has urged followers to continue attacking the country.Le Parisien newspaper cited a source as having told it the suspects arrested were awaiting a consignment of weapons. (Reporting by Brian Love, Matthias Blamont and Chine Labbe; Editing by Richard Lough and Andrew Roche)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Kuala Lumpur: The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-370 said they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane. Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. Voice 370, a family association, said the debris

collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast.

"Despite these hugely important finds, there has been no systematic, organized search by any responsible party. This leaves the (next-of-kin) no other choice except to take it upon ourselves to do something to find answers and closure," it said in a statement.

An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon. Grace Subathirai Nathan, whose mother Anne Daisy was on the flight, said she will be going to Madagascar with three other Malaysians, two Chinese and a French next-of-kin. She said the group is financing the 3 December to 11 December trip from their own pockets.

"We hope to mobilize the fishing villagers and coastal population to be on the constant lookout for new debris that could become new credible evidence," she told The Associated Press. The Voice 370 statement said the seven-member team will focus their search along high potential sites based on drift modeling, largely focusing in areas on and around Ile Saint Marie, a tropical island off Madagascar's east coast.

The group said they may set up an incentive system using their own funds to encourage the search for debris, and will aim to set up a notification system and local collection point for potential aircraft debris. So far, none of the six pieces of debris has helped narrow down the precise location of the main underwater wreckage. Investigators need to find that in order to locate the flight data recorders that could help explain why the plane veered so far off course.

Search crews are expected to finish their sweep of the 1,20,000-square kilometer (46,000-square mile) search zone in the Indian Ocean next month. Oceanographers have been analyzing wing flaps found in Tanzania and on the French island of La Reunion to see if they might be able to identify a potential new search area through drift modeling. But any new search would require more funding. Malaysia, Australia and China said in July that the US $160 million hunt will be suspended once the current stretch of ocean is exhausted unless new evidence emerges that would pinpoint a specific location of the aircraft.
More than 2.4 lakh Pakistanis have been deported from across the world between 2012 and 2015, reveals an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report.

Titled Labour Migration from Pakistan: 2015 Status Report, made some worrying but startling revelations on Pakistan's labour market including an increase in illegal traficking and smuggling of migrants.

Based on data from the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan, the report says that a total of 2,42,817 Pakistanis were deported between 2012 and 2015. Of them, more than half of the deportations took place from Saudi Arabia (131,643), followed by United Arab Emirates (32,458) and Islamic Republic of Iran (28,684) and Oman (13,1643).

Interestingly UAE and Saudi Arabia constitute 80 percent of the total international migration that takes place from Pakistan. No doubt, "after India, Pakistan annually sends abroad the second-largest grouping of workers in South Asia, mainly to the Gulf region", the report says.

Referring to statistics on deportations between 2007 and 2015, the study claimed that "deportation is continuing to increase", however, it warned that these trends might be "indicative of an increase in the trafficking of persons and the smuggling of migrants".

According to the report, migration from Pakistan is very region-centric, though. Based on data from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), at the district level, "more than 50 percent of Pakistanis migrated from only 20 districts in 2014 and 2015, with a heavy concentration coming from northern Punjab Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Karachi in Sindh Province and couple of districts in southern Punjab", the report said.

As for the reasons of deportation, the reported pointed out that "most of the individuals deported from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates were job-seekers and businessmen, and those deported from the Islamic Republic of Iran were in transit to Greece". Deportations from GCC countries are attributed mainly to security-related issues, it added.

According to a report highlighting the ILO report, Dawn said, "From 2005-06 to 2014-15, around 932,051 migrant workers were stranded in destination countries due to lack of proper documentation and thus deported. The largest number of stranded Pakistanis at 882,887 was deported from Jeddah, followed by Doha and Qatar at 4,200."

Around 14,628 migrant workers were detained in jails in destination countries during the said period, while consulate officials or community welfare attaches made 4,200 monitoring visits to the employment sites of the migration workers, the news report added. Most of the visits were made in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (1,863), followed by Kuwait (652), Manama, Bahrain (496) and Seoul, Republic of Korea (400), the ILO report said.

Though not directly linked, the report points out that "direct employment is increasing" wherein "friends and relatives who are already working abroad are becoming more active in helping aspiring migrants to obtain a job and work visa".

Though Europe (barring Italy) didn't even feature in the top 10 favoured destinations, it featured a considerable number of deportations from countries like Greece (14,145), and United Kingdom (9,778).
By Jeffrey Heller

| JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM A deal to buy three German-made submarines has come under public scrutiny in Israel after Israeli media discovered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal lawyer represents the local agent of the German conglomerate set to build the vessels.Both Netanyahu and his attorney, David Shimron, have denied any impropriety, and the shipbuilder, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, said it has no contractual connection with the lawyer.Opposition legislators have called for a parliamentary inquiry and the Justice Ministry said late on Sunday that the attorney-general is looking into whether there had been any conflict of interest.In a statement, the ministry said evidence collected so far did not warrant opening a criminal investigation by police.Shimron represents Miki Ganor, an Israeli businessman described by the Kiel-based shipyards as its sales partner. A Shimron spokesman told Army Radio on Monday that the lawyer did not discuss the submarine purchase with Netanyahu and looks after a wide range of Ganor's legal interests.

The three submarines, costing about $1.5 billion, are due to replace ageing vessels, with delivery only in about another 10 years. Israel currently has a fleet of five German submarines, with a sixth due to go in service around 2018.With the Israeli media largely focused on Shimron and whether his representation of both Netanyahu and Ganor was ethical, the prime minister, now in his fourth term, did not appear to be in any immediate political danger.Nor has there been any indication that the deal itself, which Netanyahu, 67, defended in public remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, is in any jeopardy.

The German-supplied submarines are widely believed to be capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads and serve as a second-strike deterrent against Iran, should it ever build atomic weapons. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear arms and Israel has never acknowledged that it has any of its own. "These are strategic weapons systems that ensure the future, and I tell you, the very existence of the state of Israel for decades to come," Netanyahu told the cabinet at its weekly meeting."Increasing the security and strength of the state of Israel is the only consideration that guided me in acquiring the submarines," he said.

Amos Harel, military affairs commentator for the left-wing Haaretz daily, wrote on Monday that even if Netanyahu and Shimron never discussed the submarine issue, there should have been "a Great Wall of China" between the attorney as the prime minister's lawyer and as Ganor's representative.First elected to Israel's top office two decades ago, Netanyahu has weathered several scandals, including a police investigation and state audits into his family's spending.A former defence minister, Moshe Yaalon, who was removed by Netanyahu and is now a political rival, has said that the new submarines are surplus to requirements. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; editing by Mark Heinrich)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to declare a lagoon in China-controlled waters to be a marine sanctuary where Filipinos and Chinese will be prohibited from fishing, officials said Monday.

China seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a tense standoff with the Philippines. Duterte's plan is delicate because it may imply Philippine territorial control there. Chinese coast guard ships have closely guarded the shoal since then, and both governments have suspected the other of planning construction to cement their claims to the area.

If Duterte's plan proceeds, fishermen of any nationality would only be allowed in the deeper waters just outside Scarborough, but not its vast triangular-shaped lagoon naturally fenced by coral outcrops with an entryway watched by Chinese coast guard personnel.

Duterte relayed his marine sanctuary plan to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr said.

Xi did not say whether he agreed to Duterte's plan in the Scarborough Shoal, according to the statement from Esperon and other Philippine Cabinet officials present at the meeting.

"It is our position not to have fishing activities inside the triangle," Esperon said of Scarborough's shallow lagoon. "The president has decided to declare that as a sanctuary. That is a unilateral action from government."

China, Esperon said, also prohibits fishing inside the shoal's lagoon.

"If they don't want to allow fishing there, we don't want to allow fishing there either," Esperon said of the countries' similar but separate regulations in the disputed area.

The Philippine government is considering declaring other disputed South China Sea areas as government-protected marine sanctuaries, according to Esperon.

After taking control of Scarborough, which lies about 228 kilometers (123 nautical miles) off the northwestern Philippines, Chinese coast guard personnel shooed away Filipino fishermen, at times with the use of water cannons or by deploying armed personnel on speed boats to chase them off.

Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, responded by bringing the shoal dispute and other territorial issues against China to international arbitration. An international tribunal ruled in July against China, saying it violated the Filipinos' rights by banning them from fishing.

China, however, ignored the ruling, which also invalidated its vast claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. Duterte, who took office in June, reversed his predecessor's adversarial stance and reached out to China.

Shortly after Duterte discussed the Scarborough dispute with Xi in a state visit to Beijing, Filipinos were allowed to return to the shoal to fish. Philippine coast guard ships also resumed patrols in the vicinity of the shoal.

While the territorial disputes persist, China and the Philippines have signed about 20 trade and economic agreements. China has also sent officials to meet Filipino fishermen, who were displaced by the rift over Scarborough, to find ways of helping them, Esperon said, explaining how Duterte's approach has reaped immediate benefits.

"Remember that in our relations with China, the sum total is not Scarborough," he said.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian security forces pounded opposition areas across the country on Monday, activists said, adding that at least 23 people had been killed in clashes they say have escalated since international observers suspended their mission.

Activists said artillery had targeted Douma, a town 15 km (9.3 miles) outside the capital Damascus. The town has for weeks been under the partial control of rebels who have joined the 15-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

"We can't even accurately count the dead because we have so many injured people to treat, there's no time to think about anything else," said an activist in Douma who called himself Ziad.

"The army attacks all the time. They have tanks, missiles, mortars, and artillery. Even helicopters have fired on us. People can't escape because the army is surrounding the town."

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists across Syria, said at least 23 people had been killed by midday on Monday, seven of them in Douma.

In a sign it fears Syria's conflict could escalate further, an unnamed Russian naval source said Moscow was preparing to send marines to Syria in the event it needed to protect personnel and remove equipment from its naval facility in Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartous, according to the Interfax news agency.

Russia is one of the Syrian government's staunchest backers and supports Assad's argument that foreign-backed terrorists are behind the unrest. Moscow has repeatedly urged Western and Arab countries, who mostly back the rebels, to rein in their support in order to stem the violence.

International outrage over Syria has grown in recent weeks after two reported massacres of nearly two hundred civilians, most of them from the Sunni Muslim majority population that has led the revolt. Assad comes from Syria's Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that has mostly backed the president.

Heavier fighting and apparent sectarian killings have led many, including the head of U.N. peacekeeping forces, to brand the violence a civil war.

The international community's efforts to halt the violence are deadlocked because Russia and China, which both wield vetoes in the Security Council, have blocked tougher action against Assad. They say the solution should be through political dialogue, an approach most of the Syrian opposition rejects.

Western powers have been pushing for stronger measures to be taken against Assad, whose forces have not only used artillery in recent weeks, but helicopter gunships against rebels in civilian areas.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to discuss the Syria crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet in Mexico on Monday. But few observers expect a breakthrough.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have further frayed after a week of Cold War-style recriminations over Syria.

TRAPPED IN BOMBARDED HOMS

The head of the United Nations observation mission, General Robert Mood, is scheduled on Tuesday to brief the U.N. Security Council in New York on the violence in Syria.

The mission recently halted its operations due to security concerns, and Mood said on Sunday he was worried about civilians trapped in central Homs.

"In Homs attempts to extract civilians form the line of fire over the past week have been unsuccessful," he said in a statement. "This requires willingness on both sides (of the conflict) to respect and protect the human life of the Syrian people."

Residents in Homs, the bloody epicentre of the revolt against Assad, said their city has been pummelled daily by mortar and rocket fire since early June.

"It's getting worse since the UN observers suspended their mission," wrote Alaa, who said he was a Homs resident but would only give his first name.

"There are tanks shooting now and most stores are closed. The streets are blocked by security barriers and cement blocks."

Bernard Valero, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry, said the "relentless repression of the regime, and in particular in the city of Homs" meant it was more necessary than ever for the United Nations to enforce Kofi Annan's failing peace plan.

France has called on the United Nations to invoke Chapter VII - which can authorise the use of force - to impose the plan brokered by international mediator Annan, including a widely ignored April 12 ceasefire agreement.

U.N. monitors say violence has been escalating rapidly in Syria, where peaceful protests were overtaken by an armed insurgency several months ago in response to Assad's crackdown on dissent.

In Geneva, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the government's use of heavy arms and shelling in populated areas could amount to war crimes, and called on the international community to act.

"I urge the international community to overcome its divisions and work to end the violence and human rights violations to which the people of Syria have been subjected," she said. (Additional reporting by Steve Gutterman in Moscow, Tom Miles in Geneva and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Erika Solomon; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Ayman al-Warfalli

| BENGHAZI, Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya Authorities in eastern Libya say they have arrested a woman believed to be the wife of veteran Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar after she travelled from southern Libya to the city of Derna to give birth.East Libya's counter-terrorism department said the woman, named as Tunisian Asma Kadoussi, had told investigators that Belmokhtar was alive and living in southern Libya.A spokesman for the department, Sami al-Matrih, told Reuters on Monday that Kadoussi had given birth to a girl 40 days ago.Belmokhtar, leader of the al-Mourabitoun group, has long been a major militant figure in the Sahel with deep connections across the region. He has repeatedly been pronounced dead by authorities before resurfacing to plot attacks or kidnappings, including a raid on an Algerian gas plant that killed 40 workers in 2013. In June 2015, Belmokhtar was targeted by a U.S. air strike in the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya, but his group declared shortly afterwards that he had survived. The east Libyan counter-terrorism office said in a statement that Kadoussi had been travelling with a second Tunisian woman, Afaf Haji, and that the two had stayed with an al Qaeda militant in Derna named as Jibril al-Abd.

They were detained on a road south of Derna after hospital staff in the city tipped off authorities because a foreign woman had checked in to give birth without her husband, the statement said.According to initial investigations the two women had earlier been staying in "terrorist camps" in the central Libyan desert region of Jufra with Belmokhtar, and the statement said that "it was him who sent them to Derna for the birth".Authorities posted photos of Tunisian identity cards and forged Libyan passports that they said the women were carrying.

Derna has historically been a stronghold for Libyan Islamists, and Islamic State took control of the city in 2014 before being ousted by rival Islamists and other opponents. The city, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Benghazi, is now the scene of fighting between security forces loyal to Libya's eastern government and an Islamist-led alliance.Militants loyal to both al Qaeda and Islamic State have a presence in the vast expanses of Libya's southern desert, an increasingly lawless space due to the conflict that developed after Libya's 2011 revolution.

Now in his 40s, Belmokhtar fought in Afghanistan in the 1980s before joining the Islamic Armed Group (GIA) during the Islamist insurgency in Algeria in the 1990s. He then helped found the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), which later transformed into al Qaeda's North African wing.As well as the 2013 gas plant attack in In Amenas, which authorities said was planned from Libya, Belmokhtar has been blamed for kidnapping foreigners and running lucrative smuggling rings in the Sahara. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Check out the new FoneArena Daily video that gives you a quick roundup of todays technology news.

HMD Global which bagged a 10 year licence to sell Nokia-branded phones will announce new Nokia Android phones at MWC 2017.

A prototype image of Huawei P10, successor of P9 has surfaced that shows dual rear Leica cameras.

Meizu X high-end smartphone with MediaTek Helio Soc is expected to be announced on November 30 in China.

ZUK Edge with Snapdragon 821, 6GB RAM and Android 7.0 has surfaced in AnTuTu benchmark. The phone is expected to go official this month.

Todays Deal  Offers on SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive SDDD3 on Flipkart.
Vodafone has started offering 4G-ready SIM cards to its existing customers in Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) through Vodafone stores, Vodafone Mini Stores and close to 10,000 multi brand outlets, ahead of 4G roll out in the circle. Initially the 4G services will be launched in select towns of Tamil Nadu, said the company. It will be based on 2100 MHz band 1, making the company first in the country to use the band that it had acquired recently.

Pre-paid customers can enjoy the one time offer of 2GB 3G/4G data for free, for a period of ten days while post-paid customers can avail the benefit for one bill cycle. Free data will be added to the customers data balance within 48 hours of the SIM exchange. Vodafone said that customers will need to use their 4G ready SIM on a 4G enabled handset only.

With the new 4G ready SIM, they will continue to enjoy uninterrupted mobile internet experience as per their existing plans and will be automatically upgraded to 4G as soon as the services are launched commercially in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier this month Vodafone announced that it will launch 4G services in 8 more circles  Assam & North East, Maharashtra & Goa, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) and UP (W) in 2,400 towns by March 2017.

Customers can switch to a 4G ready SIM following these easy steps: Walk in to any nearby Vodafone Store, Vodafone Mini Store or multi brand outlet and place your request for 4G ready SIM

To activate the 4G SIM card, use your existing Vodafone number to SMS SIMEX <your 20 digit new 4G SIM card number> to 55199 (this number will be available on the new SIM card/jacket given to you)

You will receive a response SMS from 55199 with partial SIM number entered

Please send the last 6 digits of the new SIM number to 55199 within 2 hours of receiving the SMS mentioned in the above step

You will receive a success SMS, post which your 4G ready SIM will be activated within 5-10 minutes.

Subsequently, replace your old SIM in the handset with the new 4G ready SIM and continue to enjoy un-interrupted Vodafone services.

You will enjoy benefits of high speed 4G services as soon as they are launched commercially in Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the 4G SIM upgrade program, S. Murali, Business Head-Tamil Nadu, Vodafone India said:

Vodafone is one of the leading telecommunication services providers in Tamil Nadu, and our more than 15 million customers in the region have a lot to look forward to. We have made 2GB of 3G/4G DATA free for our customers to start experiencing the benefits be 4G and be ready to enjoy high speed mobile internet services as soon as these are launched commercially. We are excited and fully geared up to launch our 4G services on the superior 2100 MHz band in Tamil Nadu very soon.
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Before Wells Fargo (WFC 2.09%) found itself in the midst of a fraudulent account scandal that cost John Stumpf his job as CEO, Stumpf was widely regarded as one of the best bankers in the industry. He successfully led Wells Fargo through the great financial crisis and became famous for pushing back on the idea his bank should be forced to participate in bank bailouts in 2008.

In this segment of Industry Focus: Financials, join The Motley Fool's Gaby Lapera and contributor Jordan Wathen as they discuss the end of Stumpf's career as Wells Fargo CEO, and how differently history might remember Stumpf if not for Wells Fargo's recent scandal.

A full transcript follows the video.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 7, 2016.

Gaby Lapera: I was thinking maybe we could start with a story we were following really closely before I left, but I don't know anything about right now, which is the Wells Fargo story. As you guys might remember -- I hope you remember, I don't know, the new cycle is so short these days -- Wells Fargo was accused, and it was eventually proven correct, that they had opened a bunch of fake accounts. They were being investigated, they had to pay a bunch of fines, John Stumpf, the CEO, was required to stand up in front of the Senate Banking Committee, in front of Elizabeth Warren, and he got absolutely roasted. Totally watch that footage if you haven't yet, even though it's totally a month old now. What's happened with Wells Fargo since I left?

Jordan Wathen: I think the big story with Wells Fargo is that John Stumpf's career actually came to an end over the fraudulent accounts scandal at Wells Fargo. To recap, they opened 2 million accounts for people who never said they wanted them, and now, John Stumpf, finally, after some push and shove, he exited on Oct. 12 and stepped down as CEO of Wells Fargo.

Lapera: This is really wild. John Stumpf has been the CEO of Wells Fargo since 2007. Before all this happened, people thought he was an incredible CEO and an incredible leader. And here we are, 2016, and he has to step down because his company has been up to things that they really shouldn't have been.

Wathen: Right. If you go back and read any book on the financial crisis, and look at what happened during the bailouts, John Stumpf basically said, "Wells Fargo is on solid ground, we don't need your bailout money, I don't even know why you're bothering me and bringing me here." Wells Fargo really was, they were perhaps better off than any other bank. Really, his legacy could have been that he successfully guided Wells Fargo through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Now, basically, his name gets tarnished with this whole scandal.

Lapera: Yeah. And it's really interesting to me, because at the beginning of this scandal, it didn't seem like he had a great grasp of how seriously everyone was taking it. Like, I don't know if you've seen any of the footage of him talking about it really early on, but he didn't even seem like he was going to stop down or apologize, and Carrie Tolstedt was going to get a ton of money and stock options. So, it's really interesting to see how things have shifted. I wonder what happened that caused him to be like, "You know what? I'm stepping down."

Wathen: I think it's the pressure. This is one of those things that -- during the financial crisis, every bank was in trouble. They all underwrote terrible loans, they all lost billions of dollars on these loans. But right now, it's just Wells Fargo. It's just Wells Fargo that you're hearing about with these account scandals. And the numbers they've put out this quarter have indicated that there's at least been some kind of change in the sales process, because they noted that checking account opens were down 25% year over year in September, and credit card applications were down 20% year over year in September, also. It's probably two things. The consumers are wary of Wells Fargo to some extent. And there's probably a very obvious change in sales practices. People are no longer getting accounts they didn't necessarily request.

Lapera: Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see what happens to Wells Fargo long term. I'm not going to make a call right now, because I literally just got back, so I haven't looked at anything they put out. But you better believe we're definitely going to do a show on it later on, probably this quarter.
The deal means Ericsson will spend a third straight year with the Swiss team, for whom he has raced for all but one year of his F1 career - his debut season with Caterham back in 2014. While the Swede is yet to score points this year, he took a best finish of eighth last year in Australia.

"It is great news that I will be racing for another year for the Sauber F1 Team," Ericsson said. "I have spent two years with Sauber now, and I really feel at home. A big thanks to everyone within the team for trusting in me again.

"From a personal point of view, I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber. We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can.

"Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsport experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future.

"For 2017 my aim is to build on my performance from the second half of this season, and to continue working hard with the team. I cannot wait for the 2017 season, so that we can make our way up to the midfield with the objective to score points on a regular basis."

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said Ericsson's clear development - and his dedication even during troubled times for the team - made him a stand-out candidate.

"We are very pleased to announce that Marcus will remain our race driver for the Sauber F1 Team in 2017," Kaltenborn commented.

"During the current season Marcus has again showed he is willing to go that extra mile in order to make progress. He went through very difficult times with us, but managed those very well.

"In the last two years, he has made significant steps in regards to his personal development, proving his skills on as well as off track, especially when circumstances are not easy. He is not only a good driver, but also an important team player who understands how to work with the team and how to motivate everyone with his positive attitude.

"Formula One goes into a new era in 2017, and I am confident that we can count on Marcus to bring the team back into the competition."

Sauber said they will announce their second driver 'in due course'. Only two other F1 seats - both at Manor - remain open for 2017.
Russia is ready to freeze its oil output - among the world's highest - at current level as there would be no problems for Moscow to do so, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

OPEC nations are due to agree a world oil freeze pact with non-OPEC countries on Nov. 30.

"We will do everything that our partners from OPEC are expecting. To freeze crude production is not an issue for us," Putin told a news conference in Lima after the APEC summit.

He added that Russia's oil firms are ready to do so.

Putin also said he has seen a "high probability" that the deal aiming to prop up the markets and boost prices would be reached in an OPEC meeting next week.

(Writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Fixing Americas health care system is more than addressing rising costs according to Dr. Toby Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most technically advanced medical facilities in the country.

I think the delivery system has to recognize that we have to take cost out and we have to do it through efficiency, he told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

He adds that consolidation specifically would give hospitals more purchasing power and avoid duplication of services without substantially raising costs.

Hospital occupancy across the United States is about 65%. For example, in Ohio, we have 202 hospitals across the state. One of the concerns right now is with decreasing payments that hospitals are getting for their services they provide, we are seeing almost a quarter of the hospitals now running in the red. So ultimately, if we do not see consolidation and increase efficiency, we are going to see hospital closures across the country, he said.

Cosgrove expects to see more consolidation across other aspects of the health care industry as well.

I think we are going to see consolidation across the insurance industryacross the pharmaceutical industryacross devices and I think we are going to see it amongst the hospital providers. He added: This is what the response is to the demands to have more efficiency in our health care delivery system. Theres no question that if the insurance industry consolidates, we are going to have to consolidate as providers who negotiate with them, he said.

The Cleveland Clinic CEO also stressed the importance of keeping the current 20 million people with health insurance covered.

We have to continue to keep those people covered otherwise the premise for hospitals of more patients, even though we are being paid less, is going to cause more and more hospitals to have major economic problems. We need to continue to cover those individuals, the question is how we do it, and we do it most efficiently, he said.
Dr. William Petit, the lone survivor of a horrific home invasion that claimed the life of his wife and two daughters, is now Connecticut State Representative-elect. In a FOX Business exclusive, the Republican weighed in on his decision to run for state office.

Mostly, it was my concern about the fiscal future of the state. I have a little boy, William, Im remarried to Christine, weve been married for four years and [Im] worried about the future of our state and felt like we were going down the wrong fiscal path. And instead of complaining about it all the time I thought I should jump in and try to help make a change, Petit told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

Connecticut has been under fire for its tax policies among other things. Earlier this year General Electric (NYSE:GE) announced plans to move its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts which offered the industrial giant more business friendly incentives.

While Connecticut may be facing fiscal challenges, Petit noted the state is receiving high marks for education, contrary to what President-elect Trump may think.

I know hes [Trump] got some issues with the Department of Education and Ive always felt that education was best handled at the local level. I think we have excellent, well-trained people at the local and state level to be able to run the education so Im not sure that we need a lot of oversight from the federal government in terms of our educational systems.

Petits tragedy of losing his wife and two daughters during a brutal home invasion and fire in 2007 made national headlines for the violent nature of the crime and for the trial that followed. The two murderers received the death penalty, but are now serving life sentences after Connecticut abolished the death penalty.

Petit described how he coped with the loss of his family and the advice he has given to others in crisis.

I was fortunate to have a wonderful, large and loving family, a lot of friends, so I got surrounded by a lot of people. And when people come up to me and talk about it, I say, you know, when you have a big tragedy, when you have something that may cause huge stress in your life, maybe even to the point of PTSD, you need professional help.

Petit then stressed the importance of understanding the difference between support from family and friends and the support from mental health professionals.

So people come up to me and I say, you know, your friends and family need to be your friends and family, you need professional help, you need to avail yourself of proper care in terms of psychologists, psychiatrists, etc., because you cant have your friends and family be your professional caretakers, they need to be your friends and families and they cant be your doctors, so you really need to get the therapy that you need.
The first and only casino in Massachusetts so far has been "falling far short" of its job creation promises, and the state agency charged with overseeing the casino industry hasn't been holding it accountable, a state audit released Monday found.

Auditor Suzanne Bump said Plainridge Park Casino is required to hire 90 percent of its workforce from its host and surrounding communities as a condition for receiving one of the state's few gambling licenses.

But her office found the slots parlor and harness racing track had only hired 36 percent of its staff from those cities and towns as of June 15, 2015  days before its official opening that month.

Bump recommended the commission establish targets for meeting the hiring benchmarks and procedures to monitor its compliance.

The commission, in a response included in the auditor's report, acknowledged the casino still has not met its "ambitious" 90 percent goal. But it said the hiring goal represented an "ongoing obligation" and not one "necessarily met at a specific time."

The commission said it is "pleased" that 65 percent of Plainridge Park employees now live within a 20-mile radius of the casino and 77 percent are Massachusetts residents.

It also noted the casino is exceeding a requirement that at least 10 percent of the workforce be comprised of minorities.

The casino said prior to its opening last year that 14 percent of its staff was from ethnic minority groups, though Bump's office said in its report that the casino could not provide details in support of that assertion.

Bump also noted the workforce development plan Plainridge Park submitted to the state did not include specific timeframes to achieve its hiring goals.

A spokesman for Plainridge Park didn't immediately comment.

Bump's performance audit focused on certain oversight functions of the gaming commission and covered the period from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015.

Three other major resort casinos are also in development in Massachusetts by Wynn Resorts, MGM and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.
Image Source: Disney/ABC Television Group via Flickr.

President-Elect Donald Trump gained the support of millions of Americans with his tax proposals, which includelower income tax rates and a simplification of the tax code that will reduce taxes for most Americans. However, not everyone would benefit from Trump's tax plan. Here are two specific cases in which a taxpayer's deductions could be reduced during a Trump presidency.

Eliminating personal exemptions would hurt big families

One major part of Donald Trump's tax plan involves more than doubling the standard deduction amount to $15,000 for single filers or $30,000 for married couples filing a joint return. When compared to the $6,200 and $12,600 standard deductions we have now, this may seem like a massive universal tax cut.

But not so fast. Trump also proposes getting rid of the personal exemption, which reduces taxable income by $4,050 for each taxpayer, as well as $4,050 each for their spouse and any dependents claimed on their return. For example, I'm married with one child, so I'll get a $12,150 personal exemption on my 2016 tax return.

For most people, this change will still work in their favor by a significant margin. In my personal situation, the loss of my $12,150 personal exemption would be more than offset by the $17,400 increase in my standard deduction.

However, larger families whose personal exemptions are more than Trump's proposed increase in the standard deduction could see their deduction go down. Let's say that my wife and I had four children. Our family of six would be entitled to $24,300 in personal exemptions, as well as a $12,600 standard deduction, for a total of $36,900 in deductions. Under Trump's proposed $30,000 standard deduction for married couples, we would lose $6,900 worth of deductions.

In a nutshell, Trump's standard deduction and personal exemption plan is mathematically unfavorable for married couples with more than two dependents and for single taxpayers with more than one.

It's also worth mentioning that Trump's plan includes an expanded deduction for child care expenses, which could potentially help to offset the lost personal exemptions for many large families with younger children.

No more head-of-household filing status

Another potentially negative Trump tax change is the proposed elimination of the head-of-household filing status, which was used by more than 22 million taxpayers in the most recent year for which complete data is available.

The head-of-household status allows single taxpayers who have one or more dependents to add $3,000 to their standard deduction. This tax filing status is often used by single parents and taxpayers whose elderly parents reside with them, to give a couple of examples.

For millions of taxpayers, eliminating the head-of-household status would sharpen the sting of losing the personal exemption. I did an analysis of Trump's standard deduction plan using current IRS data, and the plan is mathematically unfavorable for head-of-household filers with any dependents. Because one of the main qualifications for the head-of-household status is having at least one dependent or other qualifying person, this means that 22 million people are likely to lose some of their deduction during Trump's presidency.

The bottom line

If Donald Trump's tax plan is implemented (which is far from certain), most Americans will see their taxes go down. As I discussed in another article, the increased standard deduction alone will result in an additional $4,970 deduction for single taxpayers and $5,918 for married joint filers, even when accounting for the loss of the personal exemption.

Donald Trump is certainly in favor of lowering taxes for most Americans. However, saying that most people will benefit from Trump's plan is very different from saying that everyone will benefit. Because we'll have Donald Trump as our president for at least the next four years, it's important to know if you might belong to one of the groups that could see a tax increase.

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The Latest on the federal government's recommendation that all railroads test engineers for sleep apnea (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

The nation's second-largest commuter railroad is no longer allowing engineers to operate trains while they are being treated for sleep apnea.

New Jersey Transit said it made the change last month after a deadly crash in which the engineer was later found to have sleep apnea.

Federal regulators are targeting the fatigue-inducing disorder this week with a new safety bulletin urging all railroads to screen engineers.

Metro-North, in the New York City suburbs, allows engineers with sleep apnea to keep operating trains as long as they're being treated.

That railroad started testing engineers after a deadly, sleep apnea-related crash in 2013. It found that 1 in 9 of its engineers suffers from sleep apnea.

Treatments for apnea include wearing a pressurized mask or oral appliances to force the airway open while sleeping.

__

12 a.m.

Federal regulators want railroads across the country to test train operators for a sleep disorder.

The safety advisory being issued this week by the Federal Railroad Administration comes after the engineer in September's deadly New Jersey commuter train crash was found to have the fatigue-inducing sleep apnea.

FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg tells The Associated Press that the safety advisory will stress the importance of sleep apnea screening and treatment.

The advisory is akin to a strong recommendation and is a stopgap measure while regulators draft rules to require railroads to screen engineers.

The attorney for the NJ Transit engineer whose train slammed into Hoboken Terminal at double the 10 mph speed limit says he was diagnosed after the crash that killed one woman standing on a platform.
Editor's Note:

This is a weekly personal-finance column provided by the website NerdWallet and distributed by The Associated Press. The opinions contained are those of the columnist alone.

______

Ten years ago, bullies had taken over the playground. Financial service firms preyed on their customers with impunity:

 Lenders made expensive, risky mortgages to people who couldn't afford to pay the money back.

 Credit card issuers foisted overpriced insurance and other add-on products on millions of unsuspecting customers.

 Credit bureaus ignored evidence submitted by people disputing errors in their credit reports.

 Companies sold delinquent debts to collection agencies that ran amok, violating fair debt collection laws and strong-arming people into repaying debts they didn't even owe.

People's complaints fell on deaf ears, since consumer protection wasn't a priority at any agency. Huge swaths of the credit and debt industries, including credit bureaus, collection agencies and payday lenders, operated with little government oversight.

Then the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau pushed back.

Created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal, the CFPB launched five years ago to defend the little guy. Now the agency itself needs a strong defender, one who understands that a truly healthy, competitive financial marketplace can't exist without sensible regulation and enforcement. It's unlikely to find that defender in Trump.

A SYSTEM RIGGED AGAINST THE CONSUMER

Financial companies fear and loathe the CFPB because it has teeth. In its five-year existence, the bureau:

 Created rules requiring lenders to consider people's ability to repay a mortgage and curbed their ability to make the risky loans, such as interest-only or negative amortization loans, that set off the financial crisis.

 Ordered lenders that were illegally overcharging service members to refund millions of dollars to their military borrowers.

 Forced multiple credit card issuers  including American Express , Bank of America , Chase and Citibank  to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to consumers over illegal practices, including unfair billing and deceptive marketing.

 Got the three main credit bureaus to finally update their dispute-processing software so that documents submitted by consumers, such as account statements or receipts, could be forwarded to companies reporting incorrect information.

 Took steps to rein in the debt collection industry, including fining Chase $136 million for selling "zombie debts" to debt buyers that included accounts that were already settled, discharged in bankruptcy or simply not owed.

PROFIT, BUT HONEST PROFIT

It's no wonder the financial services industry is bent on destroying or at least defanging the bureau. It's not just the billions of dollars they've paid out in fines and restitution. The industry would like to pretend the abuses that led to the Great Recession either didn't happen or couldn't happen again. It claims the agency is meddling unnecessarily in its business and thwarting the free market system.

In fact, it was the financial services companies that did their best to thwart the basic tenets of capitalism. Instead of competing based on quality and price, they larded contracts and service agreements with hidden "gotcha" clauses to increase revenue. They lied to customers about what products really cost and signed people up for services they didn't want. They offered incentives for mortgage lenders and brokers to steer unwitting customers into high-cost loans when the borrowers qualified for safer, low-cost loans.

Just after the CFPB opened its doors, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan became the poster child for financial sector arrogance. Asked to defend a new $5 monthly fee the bank announced it would charge for using a debit card, Moynihan insisted "we have a right to make a profit." No, actually. Under our system, companies have the right to TRY TO make a profit. That's a huge difference, since no one has a right to profits that aren't earned honestly.

And that's why the CFPB exists: because many financial service companies don't understand that distinction, and will go to any lengths to make a buck. Without an enforcer to make sure they adhere to the rules that make marketplaces transparent and fair, these companies will run roughshod over consumers.

The CFPB's sole priority is to make sure the average person gets a fair deal. President-elect Trump, you were elected by those people  people who've been bypassed by the economic recovery and run over by Wall Street. If you really had their interests at heart, defending and even strengthening the CFPB would be among your highest priorities.

__________

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

Liz Weston is a certified financial planner and columnist at NerdWallet. Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.

RELATED LINKS:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

NerdWallet: 3 strategies to deal with debt collectors

https://nerd.me/3-nerdwallet-finance

Associated Press: Consumer watchdog structure ruled unconstitutional http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONSUMER_AGENCY_LEGAL_FIGHT
Oil prices rose to a three-week high Monday as investors continued to bet that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will reach a production deal at the end of the month.

Light, sweet crude for December delivery settled up $1.80, or 3.9%, to $47.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, closing at the highest level since Oct. 28. Brent, the global benchmark, settled up $2.04, or 4.4% at $48.90 a barrel.

Prices were buoyed by news that the energy ministers from two of OPEC's most reluctant members in terms of cutting output, Iraq and Iran, are backing the proposal. The cartel meets Nov. 30 when it will formally decide on strategy for the first half of 2017.

"It's all adding up to where people are a little bit more bullish," said Donald Morton, senior vice president at Herbert J. Sims Co., who runs an energy-trading desk. "Everybody wants to turn into a buyer."

The change in sentiment marks a one-week turnaround for crude oil, as skepticism over OPEC's ability to come to a deal has tempered.

Analysts have also become more positive on the outlook for a production cut. On Monday, Goldman Sachs raised the forecast for oil prices in the first half of 2017, given expectations that OPEC will announce and implement a production cut. A Bank of America Merrill Lynch research report also noted that a supply cut looks highly probable.

However, "political risks can still derail an otherwise economically sound decision," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote. While the market largely expects OPEC to cut production, some remain cautious going into the meeting.

"Their track record is horrendous," said Mark Waggoner, president of Excel Futures. "Somebody makes another statement, things could change."

Traders also noted that any shift in expectations could lead to heightened volatility before the meeting, especially given the holiday week and less activity in the market.

Should OPEC decide against a production cut, oil prices face headwinds such as a strengthening U.S. dollar, high production levels and growing crude-oil stockpiles. These challenges could make a production cut more difficult for the cartel, Barclays analysts wrote in a note this week.

Cutting production would give prices a short-term boost, but it would be U.S. producers that reap the benefit in the midterm, by using the fillip to lock in higher prices for future production, the bank said.

"We still expect OPEC to agree to a face-saving statement. It would showcase agreement, provide flexibility, and not veer too far from what countries had planned initially for [the first half of 2017]," said Barclays. "Should a credible deal prove out of reach, only the normal uptick in winter demand could save the market from declining further."

While the absence of a deal would be bearish for oil prices, Morgan Stanley analysts said the downside risk for OPEC not agreeing to cuts is limited since a "fair amount of skepticism" has already been priced in.

Gasoline futures settled up 4.3% at $1.3965 a gallon and diesel futures settled up 4.6% at $1.5245 a gallon.
The U.S. government should go after payouts to former Wells Fargo & Co <WFC.N> executives involved in a scandal over unauthorized accounts now that a federal regulator has said it has the power to do so, lawmakers said on Monday.

The San Francisco-based bank reached a $190 million settlement with federal regulators after admitting employees opened as many as 2 million accounts without customer consent.

That September deal allowed Wells Fargo to make "golden parachute" payments to departing executives. But on Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees many federal banks, voided those terms.

On Monday, two leading Democratic lawmakers urged the OCC to move ahead and revoke compensation to relevant executives.

"Bank executives shouldn't get golden parachutes while employees making $12 an hour get shown the door," U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio told Reuters in a statement.

Brown, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, has said Wells Fargo scapegoated low-paid tellers in the scandal while bank bosses escaped blame. Wells Fargo fired 5,300 workers over the course of five years that the fraud persisted.

"The OCC and all federal watchdogs shouldn't give banks that cheat a free pass," he said.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia also urged the regulator to go after former executives with all its authority.

"I am encouraged that the OCC has now positioned itself to take appropriate action, and I would strongly urge them to do so," he told Reuters in a statement.

On Saturday, Wells Fargo's chief executive, Tim Sloan, wrote employees that the bank would "comply with the revised requirements and continue to cooperate with the OCC."

A Wells Fargo spokesman cited that memo when asked for comment on Monday.

Last week's move was a reversal for the OCC, which had stopped short of imposing the toughest controls on executive payouts in its original settlement with Wells Fargo.

The San Francisco-based bank "is not subject to the limitation on golden parachute and indemnification payment," according to the September accord.

On Friday, the OCC said that it had "revoked" that earlier exemption for Wells Fargo, allowing it to keep a check on executive payouts, new bank leaders and other controls.

An OCC official declined to say what steps the regulator would take next. The agency also declined to say why it had initially offered Wells Fargo an exemption or what prompted the reversal.

The regulator often waives its authority over "golden parachutes."

In 2014, for instance, the OCC sanctioned Bank of America and Citibank but exempted the lenders from those controls, according to a Reuters review of enforcement paperwork.

Bank of America Corp <BAC.N> and Citigroup Inc <C.N> both declined to comment.

Following the settlement, lawmakers held hearings where they grilled then-CEO John Stumpf about Wells Fargo's sales practices and corporate culture. He resigned in October.

Stumpf and Carrie Tolstedt, the former head of retail banking, relinquished about $60 million in stock compensation in the aftermath of the scandal. But the pair also stood to take home more than $350 million in compensation, according to a Reuters review of filings.

Stumpf and Tolstedt could not be immediately reached for comment.

Wells Fargo has said that it might try to recoup some of Tolstedt's compensation - but only after the firm has completed an internal investigation.
Kanye West was hospitalized after abruptly canceling the last 21 dates of his national tour, a rep for E! confirmed.

A spokeswoman for the E! network, which airs the Kardashian family reality show and its spinoffs, confirmed that West was hospitalized Monday afternoon after his personal doctor called 911. Christel Wheeler said Tuesday that E! cameras were not filming when the 911 call was made and that they are not filming at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where West is being treated.



Without confirming that the patient was West, Los Angeles police told The Associated Press that officers were called to a house on Laurel Avenue near West Hollywood for a disturbance at about 1:20 p.m. When they arrived it was clear that nothing criminal was occurring and it was a medical situation instead.

Police told the AP that the patient was taken in an ambulance to the hospital and placed on a psychiatric hold.

Representatives for West and his wife Kim Kardashian did not reply to FOX411's request for comment.

Kardashian had been expected to make her first public appearance Monday night since she was tied up and robbed at gunpoint last month in Paris. It was to come at the Angel Ball, a charity event in New York honoring her late father, Robert Kardashian.

But amid the reports about West, she did not show up.

Her mother, Kris Jenner, and sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian were on hand.

When asked how the couple was doing, Jenner simply smiled and said, "They're good."

West had just pulled the plug on his Saint Pablo Tour after days of erratic and angry behavior that made an even hotter topic than usual on social media.

On Friday, during a concert in San Jose, West said he didn't vote in the presidential election but would have cast a ballot for Donald Trump, praising the president-elect's "method of communication" as "very futuristic."

On Saturday in Sacramento he ended his show after just four songs but not before a 10-minute tirade about Beyonce, Jay Z, Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the radio and MTV.

Saturday's outburst and truncated show became a hot topic on Twitter and other social platforms Sunday morning, as amateur videos circulated of West's rant where, among other things, he said he was hurt because he heard Beyonce refused to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards unless she won Video of the Year over him. He also urged her husband Jay Z to call him and "talk to me like a man."

West took aim at radio stations for playing the same stuff "over and over and over," too and also addressed Hillary Clinton.

"It's a new world, Hillary Clinton, it's a new world," West said. "Feelings matter. Because guess what? Everybody in middle America felt a way and they showed you how they felt. Feelings matter, bro."

The performer said he was putting his life, career and "public well-standing" at risk by talking to the fans in the audience "like this," adding that his Saint Pablo tour "is the most relevant (expletive) happening."

He continued: "I am here to change things. And things won't change until people admit their own falsehoods. I got the visions, bro. That's what I've been blessed with. My vision. I'm not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way. But I'm going to say how I feel."

Over the weekend, West also flooded his Instagram account with nearly 100 fashion photos, many snaps of photos that were out of focus and poorly cropped.

Sunday's show in the Los Angeles area was canceled then West decided to scrap the entire tour.

Concert promoter Live Nation said tickets would be fully refunded. The tour was to have made stops through Dec. 31 in Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C., among others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The city of Denver will soon allow people to smoke or consume marijuana in some bars and restaurants, thanks to the passage of a new initiative in the 2016 election.

The new law, called Initiative 300, mandates a four-year pilot plan in the city that allows bar and restaurant owners to apply for permits to allow marijuana use on their premises. Users won't be able to smoke indoors, but they will be able to smoke in outdoor areas. They'll also be able to vape marijuana (using electronic cigarettes) or consume marijuana edibles on properties with permits. However, restaurants and bars won't be able to sell marijuana, so the rules will by BYOP  bring your own pot.

The measure  which could start becoming implemented in 2017, according to the Denverite  has won praise from some in the tourism industry, given that tourists and renters in Denver often have few places to go to use the pot they can legally buy in Colorado. But other advocates are worried about the potential health effects of the new law.

"Secondhand marijuana smoke has 33 cancer-causing chemicals, according to the California EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], and some of the same chemicals in marijuana smoke are also into tobacco smoke," said Peter Bialick, president of The Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution (GASP) of Colorado.

Secondhand high?

One thing Denverites won't have to worry about much with the new law is getting a secondhand high. That's not because marijuana can't cause "contact highs." Research suggests that, in some extreme situations, it can. But this depends on the room ventilation and the strength of the pot smoked. A series of studies conducted at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine put nonsmokers in a closed plexiglass room with six smokers puffing away at joints containing either 5.3 percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in pot) or 11.3 percent THC. Previous research on secondhand effects had mostly used fairly weak weed, the researchers wrote in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology in 2015, which isn't a good representation of the increasingly concentrated pot being sold today. A study of seized illegal pot published in February 2016 found that the average strength of marijuana has increased from about 4 percent THC in 1995 to about 12 percent in 2014.

The Johns Hopkins researchers found that an hour of exposure to high-THC pot in no ventilation caused detectable THC in nonsmokers' urine, peaking within 2 to 11 hours after exposure. Lower, but still detectable, levels were found when nonsmokers were exposed to low-THC pot without ventilation or high-THC pot with ventilation. In a follow-up analysis published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2015, the same researchers found that nonsmokers who were exposed to marijuana in unventilated rooms had increased heart rates, and that the secondhand smoke caused a mild to moderate sedative effect and impaired their performance slightly on some cognitive tasks.

However, when nonsmokers were exposed to marijuana smoke in ventilated areas, they did not show any of these effects.

Because indoor smoking isn't allowed under Denver's new law, the contact high isn't likely to be a problem.

Vaping and lung health

Rather, what worries health experts are other compounds in marijuana smoke or vapor. Smoke from people using marijuana on rooftop patios or in outdoor smoking sections could affect those in neighboring buildings or passersby, Bialick told Live Science.

Portable vaporizers might also expose nonsmokers to pollutants. But e-cigarettes are relatively new, so research on secondhand exposure to their vapors is limited compared to research on secondhand smoke. The studies that have been done generally focus on tobacco e-cigarettes, not marijuana. E-cigarettes use battery power to heat a liquid (known as "vape juice") into a vapor, allowing the user to inhale the substance without any combustion. (Vaporizing a liquid into a gas does not change the substance's chemical formula, but the combustion of a substance into smoke does involve chemical reactions, so it does change the chemistry of the substance that is inhaled.)

However, initial investigations suggest that the vapor from e-cigarettes may be dangerous for health. A 2014 study on e-cigarettes found that their vapors contain ultrafine particles that can become lodged deep in the lungs of people exposed to secondhand smoke. A separate study released the same year found higher levels of nicotine in the air of homes of e-cigarette users than in homes where no one smoked or vaped tobacco; the researchers also found that people who were exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke and to secondhand tobacco vapor had similar levels of a biomarker for nicotine exposure in their saliva.

Research on vaping marijuana, however, is hard to come by. A 2015 review paper in the Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy found that most studies so far have suggested that firsthand exposure to marijuana vapors is safer than firsthand exposure to marijuana smoke. A 2008 study, however, found that unregulated "street" cannabis could produce dangerous levels of ammonia when vaped. None of the research looked at secondhand exposure.

"The unfortunate part about the research on marijuana is that because it's been illegal, it's limited in terms of the research that's been done," Bialick said. More studies are beginning to emerge, however. "Hopefully, we'll see some more research on the use of vaping devices," he said.

Original article on Live Science.
The mental health benefits of participation in childhood scouting activities might last for decades, a new study suggests.

In the middle-aged study participants, mood and happiness tended to range in association with childhood social position - but not for grown-ups who had been in the Scouts-Guides program when they were young, researchers found.

"Scout or Guide membership appears to almost completely remove the inequality in mental health (aged 50) associated with early life economic disadvantage," said lead author Chris Dibben of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

"Given the difficulty governments around the world have in tackling health inequalities, we think any evidence of substantial impact is significant," Dibben told Reuters Health by email.

The Scout Association provides active, outdoor, social activities for young people, male and female, age six to 25 in the U.K.

Girlguiding is a similar program, and the largest girls only youth program in the U.K.

For the new study, the researchers focused on more than 9,000 people born in 1958, 28 percent of whom had been in the Scouts or Guides program. Mental Health Index tests at age 50 assessed nerves, calmness, downheartedness and happiness over the previous four weeks, with answers scored on a scale of one to 100.

On average, participants scored about 75. Adults who had been in Scouts-Guides scored about 2.2 points higher than other adults. For those who had not taken part in the programs, mental health scores ranged along the lines of childhood social position, but there was no similar range for adults who had been in Scouts-Guides, as reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

"Detecting an apparent effect 40 or so years after an activity is always going to be notable, however in many ways existing research on social mobility, resilience and activities that may be protective of mental health, provide many explanations of why the kind of programs used by the scouts and guides and other similar youth organizations might be protective of mental health," Dibben told Reuters Health by email.

"We know that many of the things being a Scout or Guide enable you to do or learn are useful for protecting mental health: taking exercise, eating well, enjoying the outdoors, having good social skills, having fun and making a contribution," he said. "We also know that being a Scout or Guide helps people to encounter new or challenging situations and cope well, with the help of others."

"Character skills" like conscientiousness, perseverance and curiosity may be as important as intelligence for overall life achievement, he said.

"This then supports the idea that parents might look to activities that might develop these skills in children," Dibben said.

The researchers did not account for how caring or supportive people's childhood homes were, which may have had an impact, said Dr. Oliver Huxhold of the German Center of Gerontology in Berlin, who was not part of the study.

"Caring or supporting parents would have been more likely to put kids into these Scout or Guide programs," Huxhold told Reuters Health by phone.

But there are no real downsides to these types of programs, which exist in many countries, he said.

"That's the main reason why I don't think it's problematic to recommend something like this," he said.
After President Obamas attempts to rule by pen and phone, President Donald Trump will face a profound question.

Undoubtedly, he will reject some of the prior administrations bad policies. But will he also repudiate the Obama administrations unlawful means of imposing policy?

What are these unlawful means?

Most of the rules that entangle Americans nowadays are issued not by Congress, but by Executive Branch agencies. This mode of government is called administrative power, and it makes a mockery of the Constitution and of the ideal of representative government.

To be sure, the shell of a republic remains, but within it a very different sort of government has arisen.

President Obamas defining domestic legacy will be not merely his policies, good or bad, but his exuberant use of administrative power to adopt policies without the accountability of legislating in Congress. He did not invent this mode of power, but more than any of his predecessors, he has revealed its profound danger.

In imposing its Clean Power Plan, which threatens the coal industry and inflicts tens of billions of dollars in costs on the electrical industry, Obamas Environmental Protection Agency did not propose legislation to Congress. Instead it issued a novel rule interpreting an alleged ambiguity in a statutean interpretation that suddenly gave the agency power over energy generation across the country.

The Department of Education did not even issue a rule when it recently redefined sexual harassment on campuses so as to restrict speech relating to sex. Instead, it instituted this policy merely as guidance in a smarmy Dear Colleague letter that it sent to academic institutions.

None of this is law. Instead, it is executive diktat.

The Constitution places all legislative powers in Congress, leaving no room for other federal bodies to exercise legislative power. Nonetheless, binding legislation increasingly comes from the Executive Branch in the form of agency rules, interpretations, and guidance.

These are unconstitutional, for they have not been enacted in Congress by the peoples representatives. Congress alone possesses the lawmaking power. In contrast, the Chief Executive can merely veto the laws, and if he does not do that, his job is to faithfully execute them.

As a result, President Trumps defining domestic challenge will be what he does about administrative power.

Many lawyers assume that, to reverse Obama-era policies, President Trump will have to use the same unlawful mechanisms as his predecessor. From this perspective, he can overturn the administrative interpretation that creates the Clean Power Plan only by issuing new administrative interpretation, and he can reverse the administrative guidance that suppresses campus speech only by issuing additional guidance.

If he takes this path, without addressing the unlawful means of lawmaking, he will merely slow the administrative tide--without preventing it from flooding back when he leaves office.

But if he goes beyond policy reversals and actually dismantles the mechanisms of administrative power, his presidency will be transformative.

Trump therefore should seize the opportunity to return the United States to its constitutional pathways of power. Most basically, he should require agencies, one by one, to submit their existing rules to Congress, so they can be adopted as statutes. And he should require congressional enactment of any future agency rules.

As for bureaucratic guidance and other interpretation, it has binding effect only because the courts defer to it, instead of exercising their own independent judgment.

President Trump should therefore ask government lawyers not to seek deference for agency interpretations and guidance, lest they participate in a due process violation. He thereby would terminate not only bad policies but also the unconstitutional methods by which they are adopted and sustained in court.

Of course, if President Trump is to cut back on administrative power, he will have to persuade Congress and the courts to do their jobs.

He will have to force Congress to enact laws rather than leave lawmaking to agencies. And he will have to persuade judges to abandon their deference to agency interpretation and guidance and, instead, exercise their own judgment in interpreting the law.

But this would be no more than they are supposed to do.

If President Trump fails to do this, administrative power will remain a profound threat to civil liberties and a stultifying burden on the lives of all Americans.

Now is the time for real change: Not just a transient shift in policy, which might be reversed by the next administration, but an enduring reestablishment of constitutional governance.

If President Trump seizes the opportunity, his administration will be of historic importance, and he will secure a legacy that transcends all particular policies.

And if he does not, the opportunity may never come again.
President-elect Donald Trump says economic growth and job creation are top priorities of his administration, and with good reason. For much of the past eight years, the Obama administration issued new burdensome regulations that created real problems for job creators.

More than 150,000 American workers lost their jobs due to Obama labor decrees, according to a National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) estimate. And the aggregate costs of labor regulations implemented in just the past year by the Obama administrations primary labor agencies cost $80 billion and added over 400 million paperwork hours to employers, according to NAM.

Clearly, overreaching regulation has drained immense time and resources from businesses, which means they have fewer resources to hire workers, give raises and offer the goods and services consumers want.

Thats why the next administration should promptly repeal the many misguided rules, executive orders and guidance documents of the past administration.

Since President Obama resorted to using a pen-and-phone strategy to get around Congress, so can the next president set about undoing its worst parts.

Fortunately, some of these regulations could be repealed quite easily. Since President Obama resorted to using a pen-and-phone strategy to get around Congress, so can the next president set about undoing its worst parts.

For instance, the next president can withdraw Executive Orders, starting with those that do more harm than good. President Trump should rescind President Obamas blacklisting order and accompanying rules, which require federal contractors to report alleged and actual labor violations over the last three years. That may sound fine on the surface, but in practice, it means unions trying to pressure a company can use bogus reported violations to unjustly block its federal contract bids.

Adding insult to injury, government analysts could not find any benefits deriving from the blacklisting rules, but they did find that, altogether, those rules would cost contractors $458.35 million in compliance costs and cost taxpayers $15.77 million due to costlier federal contracts.

Next, the Trump administration should take a hard look at regulations already being implemented. That will take a little more work, but there are three primary options to stop the most harmful ones:

1. Defund the enforcement of the rules through the annual appropriations process.

2. Issue new regulations, which take time to go through a formal public notice and comment period.

3. Work with Congress to pass legislation repealing the harmful regulations.

Start with the Labor Departments overtime rule, which raises the salary threshold for overtime-eligible employees. The overtime rule goes into effect this December and is expected to impose costs of about $600 million in the first year and an estimated paperwork burden of 1.2 million hours. Instead of getting a raise, many workers will be reduced to hourly employees or simply forbidden to work overtime, as employers scramble to avoid budget-busting payroll costs.

Congress should pass and the president should sign legislation to stop such harmful regulations early on. Force regulators to calculate the number of jobs lost as part of a rigorous cost-benefit analysis. And dont let regulators assume that people who lose jobs can quickly obtain new jobs at equal wages. Most workers who are displaced earn less than non-displaced counterparts for years to come, perhaps 10 to 18 percent less, according to multiple estimates, such as one by Jonathan Masur and Eric Posner of the University of Chicago.

Congress should also require regulators to consider the likely health impact of job displacement, due to a loss of health benefits and other factors. The health impact can be quite dire. A 2009 study by Daniel Sullivan of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Till Von Wachter of Columbia University found that senior male workers have mortality rates 50-100 percent higher within a year after job displacement.

Another big reform the new administration and Congress should implement is requiring regulators to assess the impact of their rules, especially outcomes related to job loss resulting from regulatory action. This is not currently done. Congress needs to know whether regulations are harming workers and reevaluate the merit of rules that cause job loss.

When considering the implementation of regulation, its time for our lawmakers to start paying more attention to what actually happens to the people and businesses at the receiving end of government. Labor regulations are a good place to start.
The congregation of Lamington Presbyterian Church gave President-elect Donald Trump a standing ovation following the Sunday morning worship service.

The New York Post reports that worshippers told Trump to "follow his heart."

I just told him that I hope he understands the country supports him and not to be distracted by the noise, said church member Jim Tiesei.

Click here to get Todd's FREE newsletter: Conservative news you can TRUST!

The enthusiastic welcome was far different than the one Vice President-elect Mike Pence received at "Hamilton the Musical." Pence was heckled and then publicly shamed by the cast.

The Post reported that Trump's ovation at the church was "rousing."

Click here to continue reading Todd Starnes' column on ToddStarnes.com.


A fired up President Obama vowed Monday that Donald Trump will find its not so easy to roll back his myriad regulatory policies, previewing a long fight ahead between his allies and majority Republicans taking control next year.

President-elect Trump has vowed to repeal and replace ObamaCare, while canceling every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.

Trump also pledges to sharply increase oil and gas drilling on federal lands while opening up offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and other areas where it is blocked. Further, he wants to repeal the Clean Power Plan, Obama's signature effort to limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. The plan -- the linchpin of Obama's strategy to fight global warming -- is currently on hold awaiting a court ruling.

It is all but assured that Trump, together with the Republican-controlled Congress, will try anew next year to repeal or significantly change ObamaCare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act.

But in a conference call with Democrats Monday, Obama warned that unraveling his policies is not as easy as some say. Plus, he said even if the Trump administration rolls back 15-20 percent of his work, theyre still 80 percent ahead.

The outgoing president did not specify what his post-presidency role will be, but hinted hed be involved and said hed be working shoulder to shoulder with Democrats for many years.

Obama said hed be in a position to make the case for why policies like ObamaCare should be preserved and said, Im still fired up, referencing his 2008 campaign catch phrase.

In an earlier White House press conference before he left the country for his final overseas trip as president, Obama specifically addressed Republican plans to upend ObamaCare.

Now that Republicans are in charge, they got to take a look and say, let's see. We got 20 million people who have health insurance who didn't have it before, he said. Health care costs generally have gone up at a significantly slower rate since ObamaCare was passed than they did before, which has saved the federal Treasury hundreds of billions of dollars.

Some Democrats, though, have acknowledged a need to at least change the system to address rapidly rising premiums and other issues.

Trump has indicated a willingness to keep certain elements of the law in place.

His potential picks for key positions, meanwhile, signal big changes ahead for environmental and energy policies.

Those under consideration for energy secretary include Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil tycoon and leading proponent of fracking, and North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer, an early Trump supporter from a major oil drilling state, according to transition planning documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Venture capitalist Robert Grady, who worked in President George H.W. Bush's administration, is listed as a contender to lead both the Energy and Interior departments.

It's unclear whether the list is exhaustive or has been reviewed by Trump. The Republican is in the early stages of setting up his administration.

A coalition of conservative states has challenged both the Clean Power Plan and a controversial water rule, which expanded the definition of waters protected under the Clean Water Act to smaller non-navigable waters and seasonal tributaries.

The administration says the rule would safeguard drinking water for 117 million people, but Republicans and some Democrats representing rural areas say the regulations are costly, confusing and amount to a government power grab. Federal courts have put the rules on hold as judges review lawsuits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Barack Obama said Sunday he doesn't intend to become his successor's constant critic -- but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain "values or ideals."



Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Obama suggested once he was out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern. He heaped praise on former President George W. Bush, saying he "could not have been more gracious to me when I came in" and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda "without somebody popping off" at every turn.



But Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.



"As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes," Obama told reporters.



Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own. Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president whose views on many issues are antithetical to his own.



The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally, reinstituting waterboarding, repealing "Obamacare" and canceling the Paris climate deal, to name a few. Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Trump and are hoping that vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Trump from implementing them.



Yet Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging the next president.



"My intention is to, certainly for the next 2 months, just finish my job," Obama said. "And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking."



Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years. Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Obama said they should not.



"You give them a hearing," said Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered. Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.



"That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games," Obama said.



He declined to weigh in explicitly on whether House Democrats should stick with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader, arguing it was improper to meddle in the vote. But he said of the California Democrat, who faces a challenge for the leadership post: "I cannot speak highly enough of Nancy Pelosi."



Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. For Obama, it was the last time he'd take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press.



Obama said he'd avoided ethical scandals by trying to follow the spirit, not just the letter, of the law, and suggested Trump would be wise to follow his example about conflicts of interest. Though he declined to explicitly offer Trump advice, Obama said he'd been served well by selling his assets and investing them in Treasury bills.



"It simplified my life," Obama said. "I did not have to worry about the complexities of whether a decision that I made might even inadvertently benefit me."



Good government advocates have criticized Trump's decision not to liquidate his sprawling business interests, but put them in a blind trust entrusted to his children, who are playing major roles in helping him form his administration and are expected to remain involved in one capacity or another.



On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis. The four-minute conversation, likely the leaders' last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation and concern about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory U.S. approach to Russia



Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had noted that while their working relationship had been difficult, they'd "always respected each other's positions -- and each other."



"I thanked him for the years of joint work, and said that at any time, if he considers it possible and will have the need and desire, we will be happy to see him in Russia," Putin said later.



Questions about Trump trailed Obama throughout his final overseas trip, as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Trump's stances on key issues like trade, foreign policy and the NATO alliance. Obama sought to reassure Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders gathered in Peru that their longstanding ties with the U.S. wouldn't falter under Trump.
The Ohio congressman running to unseat Nancy Pelosi as House minority leader said Monday that the Democratic Party is playing with fire.

Rep. Tim Ryan said on Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria that President-elect Donald Trumps victory  combined with the GOP protecting its majorities in the House and Senate  sent a clear signal to lawmakers that working-class Americans had flipped their middle finger to the establishment.

I am pulling the fire alarm right now, is what Im doing in the Democratic Party, Ryan said of his challenge to Pelosi. I believe we are in denial of whats happened, and Im pulling the fire alarm because the house is burning down.

FORTUNES RISE AND FALL IN BIDS TO LEAD CONGRESS

And despite Democratic President Barack Obamas eight years in the White House and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons close loss to Trump, Ryan said he fears for the future of his party.

We better get our act together or we will cease being a national party, Ryan said. We are going to be a regional party that fails to get into the majority and fails to do things on behalf of those working-class people that were the back of the Democratic Party for so long.

Ryan is talking about people in states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio  part of the so-called blue wall that Trump knocked down on election night. While Republicans had an overarching message  and Trump, in particular, with his Make America Great Again slogan  Ryan decried the lack of a simple, coherent, national message to deliver in the lead-up to Election Day.

The problem is they talk to people in segments, Ryan told The Washington Post on Monday. Heres our LGBT community. Heres our labor guy. That doesnt work. You stop becoming a national party.

Things were different in previous elections, Ryan said, because of the person at the top of the ticket.

If we dont have Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, we cant win elections, Ryan told The Post. That is an unsustainable model.

So Ryan, who launched his bid on Thursday, proposes changes such as elevating junior members to positions of leadership and giving members whose seats may be in danger more of a voice.

Im talking Democratic Party 2.0, Ryan said.

Ryan, 43, was first elected to the House in 2002, after former Rep. Jim Traficant was convicted on federal corruption charges and expelled from Congress. A fierce critic of President Bush, Ryan also pressed  and failed  to place punitive tariffs on nations such as China that were guilty of currency manipulation  a topic Trump addressed on the campaign trail numerous times.

But Ryan faces an uphill climb to become the other Ryan in House leadership  joining House Speaker Paul Ryan, R.-Wis.

The 76-year-old Pelosi, who has been in the House since 1987, has led Democratic congressmen since 2002, when she replaced Rep. Dick Gephardt as minority leader. Pelosi in 2006 became the first female Speaker of the House when Democrats took back the majority from Republicans. During her tenure she helped spearhead the passage of ObamaCare, which Trump has promised to repeal. Pelosi lost the speakership in 2010 when Republicans won control of the House, but she remained in a marquee role as minority leader.

Democrats are set to vote for their leader on Nov. 30.
President Obamas eight-year effort to rein in the energy and mining industries with environmental regulations will likely come to a halt under President-elect Donald Trump, who is poised to green-light key job-creating projects from the Atlantic Coast to Alaska.

With the election of Donald Trump -- and a transition team that includes GOP energy lobbyist Mike McKenna and outspoken climate change skeptic Myron Ebell -- both sides now see their fortunes reversing amid Trumps promise to rescind Obamas signature Clean Power Plan and jump-start oil, and natural gas projects.

I think 80 percent of President Obamas policies will be reversed very soon after Trump moves into the White House, Robert McNally, the president of the Rapidan Group, the energy consulting firm, and former official in the George W. Bush administration, told FoxNews.com. The Trump administration will reverse the global warming principles enacted under Obama and he will stop the politicization of infrastructure. This will definitely spur on the growth of the oil and gas industries.

Summary

Trump's Energy Plans

Invest in shale, oil, clean coal and natural gas reserve

Open onshore and offshore leasing on federal lands

Rescind Obama's Clean Power Plan and other executive actions

Make the U.S. energy indpendent and create new jobs

Here are three projects that could be revived soon after Trump takes office in January:

Keystone XL Pipeline

One of the biggest environmental flashpoints of Obamas presidency, the pipelines final phase  which would create a shorter route for American and Canadian crude oil coming from Alberta to Nebraska  was rejected by Obama for not serving the national interests of the United States.

Keystone XL faced stiff opposition from environmental groups and a minority of U.S. lawmakers amid concerns of oil spills in highly sensitive ecological terrain and worries from the Environmental Protection Agency about large increases in greenhouse gas emissions from Albertas carbon intensive oil sands.

Throughout his campaign Trump vowed to immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline -- adding he believed it would have no environmental impact and would create hundreds of jobs -- and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is already pressing the president-elect to make it a priority in his first 100 days.

TransCanada, the company tasked with building the pipeline, said it's hopeful that Trump will approve the project and that theyre working to convince the president-elect to move on it quickly.

TransCanada remains fully committed to building Keystone XL, the company said in a statement sent to FoxNews.com. We are evaluating ways to engage the new administration on the benefits, the jobs and the tax revenues this project brings to the table.

Offshore Drilling in the Atlantic

The Obama administration recently moved to restrict drilling in waters off the Eastern Seaboard from 2017 to 2022, but environmentalists, fishermen and those in the East Coasts tourism industry want to make that restriction permanent before Trump comes into office.

Despite his vocal stance on U.S. energy independence and support of increased oil and gas development, Trumps stance toward offshore drilling in the Atlantic has been vague -- saying only that he backs it when done responsibly" -- but if he green-lights drilling in the Atlantic it would make him many friends in U.S. oil and gas companies and could open the possibility to expand drilling other U.S. waters.

Obama, however, could prevent this by invoking an obscure section of the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Act that would make it difficult, maybe impossible, for future presidents to reverse the ban. He has used the act before to safeguard parts of Alaskas Bristol Bay and parts of the Arctic.

Thats the big question, David Goldston, the director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told FoxNews.com. Will the Obama administration go beyond the five-year ban?

While a permanent ban is still in question, late last week Obama blocked the sale of new oil and gas drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska for the next five years -- a move that was praised by environmentalists and largely scorned by oil industry representatives.

"Once again, we see the attitude that Washington knows best -- an attitude that contributed to last week's election results," Randall Luther, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, told The Associated Press in reference to Trump's surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Reviving Coal

Trumps campaign promises of reviving the coal industry helped him win over voters in places like Wyoming, West Virginia and other states hard hit by declining production of the energy source. Now as he readies to enter the White House, many of the voters are looking to see when  and, maybe more importantly, how  the incoming president will fulfill that promise.

Coal production has been on the wane for a number of years as Americans move toward cheaper, cleaner alternatives like natural gas and the industry struggles to cope with tighter environmental regulations imposed by the Obama administration.

Saving the coal industry is part of Trumps 100-day action plan and, although he has not given any specifics so far, his campaign trail promises included rescinding the EPAs Clean Power Plan and the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule.

While those moves may delay the closure of some aging coal-fired plants, many states regardless of how they voted are opposed to new coal plants and instead actively favor renewable energy as more people become aware of the dangers of coal combustion for humans.

Coal is a dirty power source, Goldstone said. The more coal we burn, the more goes into the air and the more it affects peoples lives.

Besides the health risks, energy industry experts argue there is a more economic reason why Trumps coal revival may face difficulty.

Jobs in the coal industry were not lost because of environmental policies, McNally said. Those jobs have become mechanized and the labor overseas is cheaper. Also there is much more interest in natural gas which is both cleaner and cheaper.

Copper and Crude

Besides Keystone XL and the coal, there a number of projects either on hold or in the exploratory phase that could move under the Trump administration -- especially in regards to copper and gold.

Pebble Mine, in Alaskas Bristol Bay watershed, contains one of the worlds largest deposits of copper, gold and molybdenum, but the project has been hampered since its inception over concerns from environmentalists, Native Americans and local politicians that toxic residue from the mine could harm the worlds largest population of sockeye salmon and endanger the $252 million-a-year local fishing industry.

Trump has not weighed in on the issue, but Sarah Palin -- Alaska's former governor who is rumored to be on Trumps short list for Interior Secretary  helped ease the path for what would be one of the worlds largest open pit mines by appointing mining industry officials to lead her Department of Natural Resources and embracing resource extraction.

In southeast Arizona, the so-called Resolution Mine could supply 25 percent of the U.S. copper needs for the next 40 years, but stiff opposition from environmental groups like the Sierra Club and from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which regards the land on top of the mine as one of the most sacred places on Earth, has put the project in jeopardy.

Again Trump has remained mum on the issue, but industry insiders say his massive infrastructure plans could be a good sign for the two foreign companies running the mine.

"Everyone had written copper off; now copper is absolutely motoring," Jeremy Wrath all, head of global natural resources at Investec PLC, told Investors Business Daily. "If you start massive infrastructure building, particularly when you start talking about modern smart-grid building, you're going to have a lot more copper use."

Then there are the massive oil reserves in the Bakken Shale formation in North Dakota, which would be carried to a shipping point in Illinois by the controversial Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). Environmentalists and members of Standing Rock Sioux tribe argue that the pipeline will skirt their reservation and threatens drinking water and cultural sites.

The oil industry in the upper Midwest has taken a hard hit as global oil prices have dropped to between $40 and $20 a barrel over the last year in large part due to OPEC regulation. Trump has made it clear he is no fan of OPEC and believes that U.S. oil production is key to the countrys energy independence.

Trump has a lot of animosity toward OPEC," McNally said. And hes likely to buy into the U.S.-centered business thinking.

While analysts say that the Obama administration hopes to use the "death by delay" strategy to stop DAPL, the company building the $3.8 billion pipeline -- Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners -- hopes to receive a more friendly tone from Trump.

"Dakota Access has been waiting long enough to complete this pipeline, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren said last week.
For 60 years, one of the earliest paintings by Frida Kahlo hung on the wall of a California home, unseen by the public and its location a mystery, Reuters reports.

Now it's expected to fetch up to $2 million at auction. According to Fusion, Kahlo painted Nina Con Collaror "Girl With Necklace"in 1929 when she was just 22.

It was never publicly displayed, and Kahlo hung on to it until her death in 1954. "The painting would hold a particular meaning to her," according to Sotheby's, which is auctioning Nina Con Collar on Nov. 22.

"It proved to be a spring well of ideas for works to come." After Kahlo's death, her husband gave the painting to a woman who helped the artist in her studio.

For decades, Nina Con Collar was known only from a black-and-white photo, Artnet reports. Then last summer, the woman, now in her 90s, decided to give the painting to Sotheby's to auction off.

The auction house's Axel Stein calls it a "beautiful and warm painting." "The painting looks very fresh," Reuters quotes Stein as saying. "It was in a dark part of the house so the colors are vibrant." Past Kahlo works have gone for more than $15 million at auction, though Nina Con Collar is expected to fetch a fraction of that.

Kahlo paintings are very rare, partly because it's illegal to export them from Mexico. (A long-lost Victorian painting turned up on Antiques Roadshow.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: A Long-Lost Painting Finally Resurfaces

More From Newser
A teenager from Southeastern Australia who suffered burns to his genitals when a coffee was spilt on an international flight is suing Virgin Australia.

Rhett Butler, 16, suffered burns, blisters and scarring to his thighs, groin, genitals and midriff when a cup of coffee served by a member of the cabin crew slipped from a tray table into his lap on during a flight in May last year, according to a lawsuit filed in the County Court of Victoria.

The incident occurred soon after takeoff on Sydney-bound flight from Los Angeles International Airport.

FORMER NEW JERSEY 'HOUSEWIFE' SUES VIRGIN AMERICA

Butler's father, Brian Butler, had to provide medical assistance for the rest of the journey in the absence of help from the crew, the claim states.

The tray table did not have a recess to hold a cup securely and was defective, tilting downwards towards the teen, the family claims.

Teen sues Virgin Australia over burns to genitals caused by spilt coffee https://t.co/oYkVMVnzcF  Wombat Daily (@Daily_Wombat) November 21, 2016

Virgin Australia confirmed the incident on Monday, saying an incident did occur on flight VA2 from Los Angeles to Sydney on 3 May 2015."

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES FACES DOT INVESTIGATION FOR WEIGHING PASSENGERS

But a spokeswoman for the airline said it would not provide any further details on the pending suit.

Virgin Australia takes the safety and comfort of our passengers extremely seriously, however given this particular matter has not yet been resolved it would not be appropriate to comment any further, the spokeswoman said in a statement.

This story originally appeared on news.com.au
A St. Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot in the face twice Sunday in what the police chief called am ambush.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the injured officer was 46 years old and a 20-year veteran of the force. Police said early Monday that the suspect was killed after shooting at officers again.

Neither the officer or the suspect were identified.

"Fortunately for the blessing of God the officer's going to survive," Dotson said during a brief news conference after the shooting. A second news conference was slated to come Monday.

KTVI reported that the shooting occurred in south St. Louis at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time.

The officer was sitting in his car at an intersection with the windows rolled up when a silver vehicle pulled up. Someone inside the car opened fire at least twice. Bullets broke through the glass and struck the officer.

Dotson said the officer was not responding to a call and was targeted because he was sitting in a marked police vehicle.

"He didn't have any chance to react to this threat," the chief said of the injured officer.

Mayor Francis Slay said the officer did nothing to provoke an attack.

"He didn't deserve this," Slay said. "It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK. But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job."

The attack in St. Louis came on the same day three other officers were shot, one of whom was killed.

A San Antonio detective was fatally shot in his squad car while writing a traffic ticket by someone who pulled up from behind. Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was a 20-year veteran of the San Antonio department.

An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot late Sunday, along with a suspect. Also, a Sanibel, Florida, officer was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop Sunday night, and was treated and released for his injuries.

In July, a gunman in Dallas killed five officers who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days later, a man killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

In the St. Louis area, Ballwin, Missouri, officer Mike Flamion was paralyzed from the neck down after being shot during a traffic stop in July. And St. Louis County officer Blake Snyder was fatally shot while responding to a disturbance call in October.

"This just shows the dangers of policing, not only here in St. Louis but around the country," Dotson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A St. Louis police officer has been shot.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the shooting took place around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, a half-block south of the St. Louis Police Officers Association Union Hall.

The St. Louis Police issued a statement saying the officer "is conscious and being treated at a hospital."

The Post-Dispatch reports the officer was shot twice in the face and was in serious condition but expected to live.

A police detective in San Antonio, Texas, was fatally shot Sunday morning while writing a ticket in his squad car.
The man suspected of executing a San Antonio police officer late Sunday morning staked out police headquarters just hours before the shooting and briefly gained access to a vestibule of the building before quickly leaving, officials said.

An extensive police dragnet had failed Monday to catch the unnamed suspect in the ambush killing of Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran. Marconi was the first of four police officers in three states shot during a seemingly unconnected Sunday spree.

Three of the incidents appeared to be targeted attacks and involved law enforcement officers sitting unsuspectingly in their patrol cars, either waiting in traffic or after pulling vehicles over for traffic stops.

"I think the uniform was the target and the first person who happened along was the person he targeted," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said on Monday of the Texas case.

A GLANCE AT POLICE AMBUSH KILLINGS IN THE US

Police in that investigation are searching for a 2009-2012 black Mitsubishi Galant with black rims that was believed to be driven by the suspected gunman.

Earlier Monday, San Antonio authorities released video surveillance footage showing the man outside police headquarters. He is seen speaking to a clerk on an intercom before being let in to a vestibule. But the man only stayed a short time before leaving. McManus wouldn't detail what the suspect said, only that he asked a question.

"I dont know why he was in headquarters," McManus said. "We have some ideas why we believe he may have been in headquarters, but we're not sure."

Four hours later, the man is suspected of killing Marconi as Marconi sat in his patrol car across from police headquarters writing a traffic ticket at 11:45 a.m. local time.

While Marconi was in the squad car, a vehicle thought to be driven by the suspect pulled up behind him. A man got out and shot Marconi twice in the head. The final shot was fired as the assailant reached inside Marconis passenger window to shoot the father of two at close range.

McManus said dashcam footage of the incident existed, but he wouldn't say what was on the video.

Authorities had yet to identify a motive in the apparent ambush, which was only the first in a bloody day for police.

A St. Louis police sergeant was shot twice in the face at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night, but was expected to survive and was hospitalized in critical condition. The 46-year-old officer, who was not named, is a married father of three and, like Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the force.

This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officers window, Police Chief Sam Dotson said.

The gunman was later killed after he shot at other officers who returned fire. No officers were injured during that encounter.

An officer in Sanibel, Fla., was shot and injured during a similar incident when a person fired at the officer as he sat in his patrol car after finishing a traffic stop just before 8 p.m., The News-Press reported. Other officers fired back at the suspect, who was eventually taken into custody.

An officer in Gladstone, Mo., sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a struggle with a man in his late teens who had fled from a traffic stop, FOXC4KC reported. During the tussle, authorities said the man revealed a handgun, shots were fired and the teen was killed.

The shootings came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, La. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

In 2016, 56 state, county and local officers have been shot while on duty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Four people have been convicted of charges stemming from the kidnapping and torturing of two college students in Rochester last year.

A jury on Monday found the two men and two women guilty of kidnapping the two male University of Rochester students in December, when the victims were abused during a 40-hour ordeal that ended when they were rescued by a police SWAT team.

Prosecutors say the men were mistakenly targeted for retribution for a drug-related robbery. Both have since graduated.

Lydell Strickland was found guilty of all 31 charges, which also included assault, gang assault and robbery. The three other defendants  David Alcarez-Ubiles, Inalia Rolldan and Ruth Lora  were also convicted of weapons-related charges.

Five others involved previously pleaded guilty. The Associated Press isn't naming the victims because authorities say they were sexually abused.
A 69-year-old woman kidnapped for ransom from her home in Washington state Friday was found dead Sunday, Q13Fox reported.

The body of Sandra Harris was discovered midday Sunday along Coffin Road by a motorist who called 911, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

Harris was taken from her Kennewick residence by someone she knew, Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin said.

"This was not a random act," Lattin said regarding the abduction. "They're not related. We're not exactly sure what the nature of the relationship was, but this was not random."

Local and federal law enforcement agencies contacted a kidnapper and negotiated for several hours, ultimately agreeing to pay the ransom.

Authorities made the money exchange just before 10 p.m. Friday near the town of Eltopia, and shortly after they arrested a suspect: 49-year-old Theresa Wiltse of Connell, Wash.

Wiltse is being held without bond. It was not immediately clear if she had retained an attorney.

"There's possibly another suspect or suspects involved, or it's possible she acted alone," Lattin said.

Abductions for ransom are rare in the United States.

"They are unusual for us here as well," Lattin said. "I've been here 28 years, our chief has been here 35 years plus, and that's not something that has happened during our lifetime here in Kennewick."

Anyone with information related to this case in encouraged to contact the Kennewick Police Department at (509) 628-0333 or Crime Stoppers at (509) 586-8477.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




California homicide detectives reopened the 16-year-old cold case of a missing woman last week after getting an anonymous tip.

Diana Rojas was 27 when she disappeared in October 2000. She was a church worker and the mother of a 2-year-old and Long Beach police believe she was murderered, though they have no suspect.

The tipster called cops to say where the womans body had been buried, KNBC-TV reported.

Following the tip, police drove 100 miles northeast to Ridgecrest on Thursday and dug four holes in the desert with the help of a backhoe and ground penetrating radar, according to the station.

After several hours the search was called off in the middle of the afternoon, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.

PENNSYLVANIA INMATE ARRESTED IN 2008 MURDER OF NEW YORK TEENAGER

Were not discouraged, Sgt. Megan Zabel, of the Long Beach Homicide Squad, told KGET-TV. We definitely still feel very good about the investigation.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Long Beach Police received several tips about Rojas disappearance that were worth pursuing after announcing on Wednesday that the case had been reopened.

Her church job involved helping young single mothers, according to the paper.

Police suspect foul play based on evidence found in her Long Beach apartment.

BOY WHOSE 81-YEAR-OLD MURDER REMAINS UNSOLVED GETS GRAVESTONE

Her 1992 Nissan Extended Cab black pickup with Texas plates also has been missing since the day she disappeared.

The Times reported that Rojas was in the process of getting a divorce but that her estranged husband had been ruled out as a suspect.

Her boyfriend reportedly also was ruled out as a suspect.
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The defense in the Michael Slager murder trial is focusing on the seconds before the white former South Carolina police officer shot and killed an unarmed black motorist.

Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop. The shooting was captured on cellphone video that stunned the nation.

The defense, which contends the two men wrestled and Scott got control of the officer's stun gun just before the shooting, continues its case Monday.

Slager's trial is entering its fourth week in Charleston.

Last week, a video analyst testified that the shaky and blurry cellphone video shows the two men wrestled on the ground and Slager was entangled in Taser wires before the shots were fired.
One person was in custody Sunday after shooting a Florida police officer.

Sanibel police said the incident occurred at around 8 p.m. The Sanibel police chief said the officer was wounded during a routine traffic stop. The shooter fired at the officer and then fled the scene.

Officers wounded the suspect in an exchange of gunfire near a home a few miles from where the Sanibel officer was shot. Police said the suspect drove home and was subsequently arrested.

The wounded officer wasnt immediately identified. Sanibel police said he was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released, according to Fox 4 Now.

Police were still investigating the shooting. The suspect hasnt been identified and his condition was unknown.

The Florida shooting comes after a 20-year veteran San Antonio, Texas officer was shot and killed earlier in the day and a St. Louis, Missouri officer was shot twice in the face.

Click for more from Fox 4 Now.
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The latest in the trial of a former South Carolina police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black motorist (all times local):

9:45 a.m.

The trial of former police officer Michael Slager in the death of a black motorist is now expected to last into December.

Slager is standing trial for murder in South Carolina in the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. Slager was working for the North Charleston police department in April 2015 when he pulled Scott over during a traffic stop and then shot him.

A bystander caught the shooting on video, which sparked national outrage after it was shared on the internet.

Defense attorney Andy Savage told Judge Clifton Newman on Monday that he will need until Wednesday or Thursday of next week to present its case. Defense witnesses are coming to Charleston to testify from as far away as Washington state, New York City and Canada.

The case entered a fourth week on Monday. Before resting last week, prosecutors called 32 witnesses over nine days.

___

3:30 a.m.

The defense in the Michael Slager murder trial is focusing on the seconds before the white former South Carolina police officer shot and killed an unarmed black motorist.

Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott fled from a traffic stop. The shooting was captured on cellphone video that stunned the nation.

The defense, which contends the two men wrestled and Scott got control of the officer's stun gun just before the shooting, continues its case Monday.

Slager's trial is entering its fourth week in Charleston.

Last week, a video analyst testified that the shaky and blurry cellphone video shows the two men wrestled on the ground and Slager was entangled in Taser wires before the shots were fired.
A Pennsylvania man accused of sexually assaulting six girls in the same family will head to trial after waiving a preliminary hearing.

A Bucks County prosecutor said 52-year-old Lee Donald Kaplan waived the hearing Monday on charges filed last month.

Defense attorney Ryan Hyde says Kaplan maintains he's innocent but didn't want to make the girls to testify during the holiday season.

Authorities claim the Feasterville man fathered two children with a then-14-year-old girl who had been "gifted" to him for helping her parents financially and that he sexually assaulted five others.

Hyde says Kaplan maintains the mother of his children is his wife and that he didn't touch the others.

He's jailed with bail set above $1 million.
A Brooklyn man has been arrested for plotting a terror attack on Times Square and trying to join ISIS at least five times, according to a complaint unsealed Monday.

Mohamed Rafik Naji, 37, is charged with traveling to Turkey and Yemen between March and September of last year in an effort to join the terror group, court papers filed in Brooklyn federal court say.

But in emails exchanged with his girlfriend back in the US, the Yemen-born man disclosed he faced problems crossing into ISIS-controlled areas.

Its very hard to get in Im on my 5 try its difficult mad po po military and ppl here very scared, he allegedly wrote to his girlfriend.

Naji also hit up his lover several times for cash to fund his terrorist endeavors.

Hunny 1 last favor $2 grand for plane ticket and to get back I promise Ill pay u back when I get there, he wrote her on April 4, 2015. Its hard then [sic] I thought m [sic] tired hiding n mountains for 3 weeks its very very hard wallah, he added using the Arabic expression for I promise by God.

Naji allegedly sent the girlfriend video files of his first day on the job on April 21, 2015  around the same time when ISIS was known to be fighting in Yemen  in which gunshots and male voices can be heard, the papers say.

Days after the terror attack in Nice, France in July, Naji was caught on wiretaps discussing with a confidential source plans to stage a similar attack in Times Square.

Click to read more from the New York Post.
Authorities in Texas were hunting for a gunman Monday accused of killing a detective after shooting him twice in the face while he was writing out a traffic ticket to a driver.

San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the fallen officer as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force. Marconi was shot to death in his squad car late Sunday morning outside police headquarters, police said.

According to Fox San Antonio, the U.S. Marshals service took a person of interest into custody at around 9:20 p.m. local time but no further information was given on the person.

However, police said early Monday that the search for a male suspect was still underway and that no arrest had been made. McManus said he doesn't believe the suspect has any relationship to the original driver who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare. You never want to see anything like this happen," said McManus, who then ticked off several other cities that recently had police officers targeted and killed. "Unfortunately, like Dallas, like Baton Rouge, it's happened here now."

Police released a still image of the suspected gunmans vehicle speeding away from police headquarters and another image of a person sought "in connection with the shooting." Authorities were still looking through video footage to help identify the gunman. A reward of up to $10,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the detectives murder.

"We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public," said McManus, who added that after the shooting officers had been instructed to not make traffic stops alone.

The chief said investigators are looking into all leads and motives, including whether it could be related to an officer-involved shooting earlier Sunday in the city. In that incident, McManus said, police fatally shot a man who pointed a gun at officers outside an apartment following a seven-hour standoff.

"Hopefully, we'll solve this one real quick," McManus said.

Some streets downtown were blocked off with police tape as officials investigated the slaying.

In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot twice in the face Sunday night in what the police chief called an "ambush." Police reported early Monday that the suspect was later killed in a shootout with police.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot twice in the face.

"Fortunately for the blessing of God the officer's going to survive," Dotson said during a brief news conference after the shooting. He declined to name the officer but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

The officer was not involved in a call or a traffic stop but was sitting in traffic about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when another car pulled up alongside his marked police vehicle. The officer told police he heard at least two shots.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Dotson said.

Police reported that officers later pulled up behind the suspect's vehicle and that he fled on foot. Police said the man fired shots at the officers, who returned fire, killing him. No officers were shot.

Two other police officers were also shot Sunday night, but it wasn't clear whether the incidents were targeted attacks.

An officer with the Gladstone, Missouri, police department near Kansas City was shot, along with a suspect. A Sanibel, Florida, officer was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop Sunday night, and was treated for his injuries and released.

"It's always difficult, especially in this this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country," McManus said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the San Antonio slaying a "horrific act of violence." Abbott said in a statement that "attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice."

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor extended condolences to the family of the slain officer and the entire police force.

The shootings came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rutgers University is confronting its historical ties to slavery.

The New Jersey school founded in 1766 has compiled research that sheds new light on its beginnings, including an untold story of a slave who helped build the university's iconic Old Queens administration building.

The detailed report released Friday is published in the book "Scarlet and Black." It shows how intertwined slavery is with the early history of Rutgers, a common theme among America's colonial colleges.

The book combines previously documented history with some new details to paint a vivid picture of the university's relationship with slavery, a history school officials say was largely unacknowledged by Rutgers until this year. It also examines the displacement of Native Americans who once occupied land later transferred to Rutgers.

"It's something that I think most people at Rutgers had no clue about," said New Brunswick campus chancellor Richard Edwards, who ordered the report last year after black students raised concerns about the racial climate on campus.

The book notes that Rutgers' namesake, Henry Rutgers, and its first president owned slaves. Some early university trustees also owned slaves and were among the most ardent anti-abolitionists in the mid-Atlantic region.

The committee of university professors and students that spent eight months combing through archived documents and compiling the report has issued more than a dozen recommendations.

Among them are calls for the university to place historical markers on campus recognizing the contributions of slaves and to consider naming new buildings after prominent blacks or Native Americans. They also suggest that all Rutgers students should be required to take a course in diversity.

"The committee has explored aspects of our history that are difficult and complex and I applaud them for it," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said. "Their findings provide a fuller understanding of the institution's early days."

Rutgers will consider all of the suggestions, Edwards said. It also will continue its research and document the experiences of blacks and Native Americans at the university through the 20th century.


To earn extra income for her family, Iman Iraqi set up a home business doing wedding makeup for brides in the Islamic State-controlled city of Mosul. She lived to regret it.

When the extremist groups religious police found out, they stormed her house, confiscated her equipment and detained her and her brother. They made Ms. Iraqi sign a pledge she wouldnt reopen the salon, or her brother would be lashed.

After that, I never wanted to leave my house again, said Ms. Iraqi, who is 21. She was trembling as she spoke last week at a camp for displaced people east of Mosul, on the same day she escaped Iraqs second-largest city.

Ms. Iraqi is among more than 50,000 civilians who have fled the city of over 1 million people in the weeks since Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched an offensive last month to retake the city.

She and about two dozen other women recounted living like prisoners in their homes for more than two years under a system that made them invisible.

Click for more from the Wall Street Journal.
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The U.N.'s special envoy to Syria has arrived in Damascus to meet with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem amid an intensified government campaign in Aleppo that has left all hospitals in the city's opposition-held districts out of service.

U.N. Envoy Staffan De Mistura and al-Moallem are expected to hold a press conference Sunday afternoon.

De Mistura warned in an interview with the U.K. newspaper The Guardian earlier this week that the government was chasing a "phyrric victory" in Aleppo if the government does not arrive at a political settlement with the opposition

He warned the that military's unrestrained approach would drive more moderate rebels into the ranks of the Islamic State group.

The pro-government Al-Watan newspaper reported Damascus's displeasure with De Mistura's comments ahead of Sunday's meeting.
OUTSIDE OF MOSUL, Iraq -- Clouds of black soot and the acrid stench of burning tires hang over the ISIS-controlled road in the early morning, as rockets whistle through the air toward the Peshmerga-held posts.

The smoke helps ISIS fighters re-position, and even flee. In the case of foreign fighters, it could even allow them to live to fight another day in their homelands, including America.



"The smoke is designed to dampen our vision. But this is more than normal, which means they are moving around the ISIS leaders," one Kurdish lieutenant commander told FoxNews.com from the front line wrapping around Shengal, also known as Sinjar. "And likely, their key Western fighters, too."

Within the ranks of the brutal terrorist organization, Western fighters  especially those holding U.S. passports  have held an esteemed position, if only for propaganda purposes. In the early days of ISIS rise, Westerners routinely got the nicest homes, their pick of Yazidi sex slaves and the freshest food.

According to an FBI spokesperson, 250 Americans have "traveled or attempted to travel" to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS or other terrorist groups over the past few years. It is not clear how many made it, but the FBI reports a decrease in recent months. The slowing of all foreign recruits  from a pinnacle of 2,000 per month to now less than 50  comes as a result of both stricter border controls in neighboring countries and evident ISIS battlefield losses, which hurts their resolve and enlistment efforts.

As the noose tightens around ISIS Iraq headquarters of Mosul, and international forces take aim at the terror armys main stronghold of Raqqa, in Syria, U.S. intelligence officials are watching for American jihadists aiming to flee for their homeland. As it stands, around 8,000 total ISIS fighters, one-fifth foreign, are believed to still be inside the Mosul area alone.

Col. Marwan Sabri, of the Yazidi Peshmerga battalion, recalled that in March this year, a disillusioned American surrendered, begging Kurdish fighters not to shoot at him. He turned out to be 26-year-old Mohamed Jamal Khweis from Virginia. He was extradited to the U.S. and is scheduled to stand trial in April.

"The Americans are in the ranks," Sabri said.

Another high-ranking soldier affirmed that American accents have been heard on radio intercepts.

"Some Americans were working intel and some were fighting. Some get to high positions, some have been killed," the source said. "And some, we think, are still alive."

According to Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qader Mohammad, director of the Kirkuk Province Police Department, forces have "killed many" ISIS fighters, thought to be from the U.S., throughout the war's duration.

Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, senior Middle East analyst and former intelligence adviser to Gen. David Petraeus, cautioned that Western fighters may now have new Muslim names and freshly-minted counterfeit passports, and could push its fighters into the refugee ranks without immediate detection.

"These Western fighters have the ability to go back home after their deadly training," Pregent said. "And blend in."

While the smoke hanging over the battlefield may be helping foreign fighters, including Americans, move undetected, the biggest target who may be inside Mosul is ISIS chieftain Abu Bakr Baghdadi. The locale of the 45-year-old is still a swirl of speculation, fueled by a string of alleged recent sightings in different places.

Kirkuk Police Gen. Mohammad told FoxNews.com that Baghdadi was seen less than two months ago in Mosul, discreetly visiting his troops in an effort to boost morale. Three weeks ago, he released his first audio message in more than a year  addressing the Mosul operation and urging his eroding infantry to "stay and resist the apostates and unbelievers."

"He moves frequently and very carefully, with family, avoiding the use of any technical communication, using tunnels," one Iraqi intel source noted. "And he has very good personal protection, mostly foreign fighters. He doesn't trust anyone outside his close circle."

Since the beginning, Baghdadi's location has been a secret to leaders even within his own terrorist organization  as have personal details pertaining to his life or background. Asking any questions about him too is strictly off-limits. ISIS jihadist and confessed bomb maker Jasim Mohammed Atti'ya, who held the leadership post of Amir before being captured by Kurdish authorities late last year, affirmed to FoxNews.com that it is "prohibited" for anyone to see Baghdadi.

"It's very dangerous to meet him. I wouldn't want to meet him," Atti'ya said, his eyes nervously widening as if to suggest the self-styled Caliph was too almighty to meet on Earth.

He then recited the seeming propaganda they were fed about their ruler  stressing that he was a "good leader," "a simple soldier" and "just like everyone else."
United Nations agencies are urging Turkey's government not to press ahead with a proposal that critics say would legitimize child marriages.

The proposal, scheduled to undergo a final vote on Tuesday, would defer sentencing or punishment for sexual assault in cases where there was no force and where the victim and perpetrator were married. The age of consent in Turkey is 18, although courts can permit civil marriages for people as young as 16. Many younger people are married in Islamic ceremonies.

U.N. agencies including UNICEF said the bill  which has sparked an outcry in Turkey  would weaken the country's ability to "combat sexual abuse and child marriages." Critics also say it pardons statutory rape.

The government insists it is committed to fighting child marriages but says the one-time measure is needed to help couples who were married according to their customs.
An Egyptian government committee has ordered the confiscation of assets of 46 members and supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The move is part of the crackdown on the Brotherhood, once Egypt's largest opposition group, since the ouster President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president whose rule proved divisive.

The government committee, which is affiliated with the Justice Ministry, says the confiscated assets include five companies involved in trade, construction, and pharmaceuticals.

It says Mohammed Abdel-Gawad, a former head of the pharmacists' union under the Brotherhood's rule of Egypt, is among those affected by Monday's order.

Over the past three years, Egypt has confiscated assets of scores of Brotherhood members and seized their businesses, including schools, hospitals, and companies. Thousands of Brotherhood figures are also jailed or imprisoned.
A former leader of the U.K. Independence Party has announced she is leaving the pro-Brexit party.

Diane James said Monday she is leaving UKIP but will remain in the European Parliament as an independent.

She said her relationship with the party had become "increasingly difficult."

James was elected party leader in September after prominent Brexit supporter Nigel Farage stepped down, but she resigned the top post just 18 days later.

Farage has returned as interim leader. He has remained in the spotlight by forming a friendly relationship with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

The party is engaged in another leadership contest, with the winner expected to be announced next week.

UKIP played an important role in persuading British voters to choose to leave the European Union in the June referendum.
The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation into whether national defense secrets were compromised when a newspaper article quoted from a 2013 document  obtained after an interview with the president of France  detailing a planned airstrike in Syria.

The prosecutor's office said Monday it's opened an investigation for "compromising national defense." No one is currently targeted.

President Francois Hollande has been embarrassed by a book resulting from scores of interviews he gave two journalists from Le Monde, "A President Shouldn't Say That ...", published this fall. Before that, the journalists, Fabrice Lhomme and Gerard Davet, wrote an article based on an Aug. 30, 2013 meeting with Hollande as he awaited an OK from Washington on an airstrike in Syria.

The strike was not carried out.
A well-known German neo-Nazi has been convicted again of Holocaust denial and sentenced to prison, but is showing no signs of changing her views.

Ursula Haverbeck in her closing statement in Verden district court Monday talked of the "Auschwitz lie" and said the infamous death camp was actually a labor camp where nobody was killed by gas, the dpa news agency reported.

She'd been charged with Holocaust denial, a crime in Germany, for the content of several articles she wrote for a magazine called the Voice of the Reich.

Haverbeck, 88, said she'd appeal her conviction and 2 year sentence.

She's currently free as she appeals other convictions from courts in Detmold and Lueneburg.
A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital on Monday, killing 32 people, the U.N. office said, the second large-scale attack targeting minority Shiites in Kabul in just over a month.

Hours later, the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. monitoring service that tracks militant postings.

Afghan police said the bomber, who was on foot, had walked into the Shiite mosque in western Kabul where he detonated his explosives among a crowd of worshippers.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the explosion also wounded more than 50 people, many of them children. Earlier in the day, the Afghan authorities said at least 28 people were killed and 48 wounded.

In its statement, ISIS said the group's martyr hit a gathering of close to 1,000 inside a "temple of Shiite polytheists" in Kabul and detonated his vest bearing 35 pounds of explosives, SITE said. ISIS claimed nearly 200 Shiites were killed and wounded. However, militants often exaggerate their claims.

Sunni extremists such as the Taliban and ISIS militants view Shiites as heretics and apostates and frequently target Shiite mosques and public gatherings.

"This appalling attack on worshippers is an atrocity," the statement quoted Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. "UNAMA expresses its revulsion at this latest effort by extremists to stoke sectarian violence in Afghanistan."

Monday's bombing hit during a prayers ceremony commemorating 40 days since the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the slain grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The ceremony is known as Arbaeen, meaning 'forty' in Arabic. Hussein is a revered Shiite martyr who was killed in 680 A.D. in the city of Karbala in present-day Iraq.

In early October, militants attacked another Shiite ceremony at a shrine in Kabul, commemorating the anniversary of Hussein's actual death. That attack killed 17 people, mostly worshippers but also several policemen. A day later, a similar attack struck Shiites in the city of Mazer-e Sharif in northern Balkh province, killing at least 14 people.

The ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan also claimed responsibility for one of those two attacks, the U.N. statement said.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the criminal investigation department for the Kabul police, said the attacker in Monday's bombing walked into the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque and mingled among the crowd on the first floor of the two-story building where he detonated his explosives.

"Suddenly, a huge explosion happened, then everything went dark," said Ewaz Ali, 50, who was inside the mosque but suffered only minor wounds.

Kardel from UNAMA added in her statement that "religious and ethnic tolerance are values the Afghan people hold strong."

"I urge the Afghan authorities to do everything possible to defend Afghans of all faiths," she added.

U.S. Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of the U.S.-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, condemned the bombing.

"On behalf of the men and women of Resolute Support, we offer our condolences to the families of the innocent men, women and children killed and wounded in today's attack," Nicholson said. "We will continue to stand with our Afghan partners and do everything possible to secure a peaceful, stable Afghanistan."

Shiites in Afghanistan make up an estimated 15 percent of the country's population of around 30 million. Their public celebrations and commemorations were largely banned during the five years when the Taliban controlled the country. But Afghanistan's Shiites have become more public since the extremists were overthrown in the U.S. invasion of 2001.

In July this year, a suicide bomber targeted ethic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite, as they marched through central Kabul to protest discrimination. At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded in that attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.

In 2011, at least 54 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a Shiite shrine in Kabul where hundreds of people had gathered to mark the Ashoura.

The Islamic State group emerged for the first time last year in Afghanistan as an offshoot of the militant group fighting in Iraq and Syria. Analysts believe the affiliate in Afghanistan is mostly made up of disenfranchised Taliban fighters.

The Afghan group calls itself the Khorasan Province  following the style of other IS offshoots, such as the one in Egypt which calls itself Sinai Province  and has battled both Afghan forces and the Taliban. It has attempted to carve out an enclave in Nangarhar, a rugged eastern province bordering Pakistan.

The U.S. State Department has added the ISIS Afghan affiliate to its list of foreign terrorist organizations.


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The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local):

2 p.m.

Germany says Russia and Iran are partly responsible for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people besieged by Syrian government forces in Aleppo.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert says the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad wouldn't be able to continue pounding the city without the help of its foreign allies.

Seibert told reporters in Berlin on Monday that "it's obviously the Russian and Iranian support for the ... Syrian regime which has caused a dramatic worsening of the situation for the population."

He acknowledged that Germany has few options other than to keep raising the issue in public.

Asked whether Germany would consider seeking sanctions against Russia and Iran over their actions in Syria, Seibert said that "all options must remain on the table."

___

10:30 a.m.

Turkey's president has called on the United States and other nations to re-assess his country's proposal for the creation of a no-fly zone in northern Syria.

Addressing a NATO parliamentary assembly meeting in Istanbul on Monday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan again criticized allies' reliance on Syrian Kurdish fighters to battle the Islamic State group. Turkey considers the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters an extension of outlawed Kurdish militants in Turkey.

Although Turkey has repeatedly called for secure zones to protect Syrians, Washington has been unwilling to wade too deeply into the conflict.

Erdogan said: "I hope that in the upcoming process, this will be reassessed especially by the United States and positive steps will be taken so that terrorism's back is broken and Turkey is rid of the threat of terrorism."
NATO's general secretary says he is "looking forward" to working with Donald Trump's upcoming U.S. administration and reiterated the trans-Atlantic alliance's dedication to increasing funds from non-U.S. members.

Speaking at the NATO summit in Istanbul Monday, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said president-elect Trump assured America's "strong support" for the alliance and the security of Europe during a phone call.

Stoltenberg added that Trump pointed out during Friday's call of the "importance of increased defense spending among European allies."

During the election campaign, Trump had called for increasing contributions from allies.

Stoltenberg reminded that all members had pledged to dedicate 2 percent of their GDP to defense spending at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales.
Russia's Defense Ministry says Ukrainian security services have arrested two Russian servicemen.

The ministry said Ukrainian agents whisked the two servicemen from Crimea into the Mykolaiv region Sunday. In Monday's statement, the ministry denounced the Ukrainian action as a "rude provocation" and demanded their immediate return.

Ukraine's security agency said, according to the Interfax news agency, that the two were detained on the border with Crimea. It said they were former Ukrainian servicemen facing accusations of treason.

Russia-Ukraine relations are at freezing point after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Russia's Federal Security Service reported the arrest of several Ukrainian citizens in Crimea who were accused of plotting acts of sabotage. Ukrainian officials have rejected the accusations.
Russia President Vladimir Putin has warned that his country will move its missiles closer to Europe in response to NATO "expansion" plans.

In a television interview to be broadcast later on Monday, Mr. Putin said he was "concerned" about what NATO is doing.

He said: "Why are we reacting to NATO expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by NATO's decision-making."

Russia is to deploy its S-400 air missile defense system and ballistic Iskander missile in the Russian region of Kaliningrad, according to the country's RIA news agency.

Kaliningrad is separated from mainland Russia by borders with Poland and Lithuania.

Vikto Ozerov, head of the defense committee in the upper house of parliament, was reported as saying Russia sees the deployment as a response to the US setting up a missile shield in Europe.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, said: "Everything NATO does is defensive, proportionate and fully in line with our international commitments.

Click for more from SkyNews.
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If there's one thing that South Korean presidents dread more than the looming threat of rival North Korea, it may be this: becoming an ex-president.

Nearly all former presidents, or their family members and key aides, have been embroiled in scandals at the close of their terms or after leaving office. There have been corruption allegations, coups  even a suicide and an assassination.

Now, South Korean prosecutors say they believe current President Park Geun-hye, facing historic levels of unpopularity as she approaches her last year in office, conspired in the criminal activities of a confidante who allegedly exploited her presidential ties to force businesses to donate money to two foundations she controlled.

Here's a look at the troubles faced by South Korean presidents over the years:

___

SYNGMAN RHEE (1948-1960)

A U.S.-educated Christian leader who campaigned for Korean liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Rhee became South Korea's founding president in 1948, with help from Washington.

Rhee staged vigorous campaigns to fight communism but later turned authoritarian and, critics say, resorted to corruption and nepotism to cling to power. He won his fourth presidential term in 1960 amid widespread allegations of vote-rigging. Nationwide student demonstrations forced him to flee to Hawaii, where he died in 1965.

___

PARK CHUNG-HEE (1961-1979)

A former Japanese colonial army lieutenant and primary school teacher, Maj. Gen. Park took power in a coup in 1961, which ended a brief period of civilian rule after Rhee resigned.

Park, the father of the current president, was credited with laying the foundation for South Korea's economic growth. But his critics point out that he also arrested and tortured dissidents. He was assassinated by his spy chief during a drinking party in 1979.

___

CHUN DOO-HWAN (1980-1988)

Maj. Gen. Chun and his military cronies rolled tanks and troops into Seoul to seize power in a coup that ended the interim government of acting President Choi Kyu-hah.

Chun had himself elected president in a gymnasium filled with a pro-government electorate. In 1987, massive pro-democracy demonstrations forced him to accept a constitutional revision for direct presidential elections.

After his tenure ended, Chun spent two years in exile in a remote Buddhist temple as calls mounted to punish him for corruption and human rights abuses.

___

ROH TAE-WOO (1988-1993)

Roh, Chun's army buddy and hand-picked successor, won the 1987 election, thanks largely to divided votes among opposition candidates. He presided over the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In 1995, both Chun and Roh were arrested on charges of collecting hundreds of millions of dollars from businessmen while in office. They were also indicted on mutiny and treason charges stemming from Chun's coup and a bloody 1980 crackdown that killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the southern city of Gwangju.

Chun was sentenced to death and Roh to 22 1/2 years in jail. They were pardoned in December 1997.

___

KIM YOUNG-SAM (1993-1998)

Kim's election formally ended military rule. He arrested Chun and Roh and launched a widely popular anti-corruption campaign.

His mismanagement of the economy, however, helped precipitate the 1997-1998 financial crisis that toppled some of the country's debt-ridden conglomerates and forced the government to accept a $58 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

He left office amid rock-bottom popularity with his son arrested and jailed for corruption.

___

KIM DAE-JUNG (1998-2003)

Sentenced to death by a military tribunal under Chun, Kim rose to the presidency and held an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000; he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that year.

He left office tainted by corruption scandals involving aides and all three of his sons and dubious cash remittances to North Korea shortly before his historic inter-Korean summit.

___

ROH MOO-HYUN (2003-2008)

Roh committed suicide in 2009, a year after leaving the presidential Blue House, amid allegations that his family members took bribes in exchange for their influence.

Roh's older brother was sentenced in 2009 to two and a half years in prison for influence-peddling while his brother was president. He was later pardoned.

Roh was impeached in 2004 on allegations of incompetence and illegal electioneering. But the impeachment triggered a strong public backlash that helped his party win big in parliamentary elections. The Constitutional Court then ruled that his actions did not warrant removal from office.

___

LEE MYUNG-BAK (2008-2013)

Toward the end of his term, Lee, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, watched his only son and an elder brother come under fire for alleged irregularities in funding Lee's retirement home.

Another brother was arrested on separate allegations of taking bribes from bankers and served a 14-year prison term.

Lee called the corruption scandals involving family and aides "heartbreaking."
A union representing pilots at Germany airline Lufthansa says it's going on strike in a long-running dispute over pay.

The Cockpit union said Monday that pilots of all short- and long-haul flights out of Germany will go on strike all of Wednesday.

The union says Lufthansa has been posting "very good numbers for years" but that its pilots haven't seen any consequent pay increases.

It says "an offer of 2.5 percent is no offer," and that it's been asking for a 3.66 percent yearly raise for 5  years.

It is also rejecting Lufthansa's offer to call in an arbitrator.

The dispute comes as Lufthansa restructures to meet increasing competition from Gulf airlines.

Lufthansa called the union's position "absolutely incomprehensible."
Emmanuel Abayisenga, soupconne du meurtre en Vendee du pere Olivier Maire decede des suites de coups portes a la tete en aout 2021, a ete mis en examen pour " assassinat "
Macquarie University announces two Scholarships worth AUD 1.8 million for Indian women and undergraduate students

New Delhi | Published : 18th November, 2016

Macquarie University today announced scholarship valued at more than AUD 1.8 million for outstanding students in India, with a focus on support and opportunities for postgraduate female students and undergraduate students across all Macquarie courses.

The Macquarie International Women's Scholarship for postgraduate female students will enable women in India to achieve their career goals by improving the affordability of acquiring an internationally renowned Masters degree from Macquarie. The scholarship will provide for up to AUD 11,000 in tuition fees for the full duration of the course.

The Macquarie University Undergraduate Scholarship is being offered to applicants applying for undergraduate degrees and provides for up to AUD 17,000 in tuition fees for the full duration of the course for academic session commencing in 2017.

"Macquarie has one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia, and we are excited to launch this program providing fantastic support to stand-out undergraduate students as well as exceptional female postgraduate candidates. We look forward to receiving applications from some of the brightest young minds in India" said Pro Vice-Chancellor, International, Nicole Brigg.

Applicants for both scholarships will be required to meet the English requirements for the course they have selected and meet a minimum academic score in their last completed qualification.

About Macquarie University, Australia

Established in Sydney in 1964, Macquarie University is consistently ranked amongst the Top 10 universities in Australia (ARWU, 2015) and Top 250 in the world (QS, 2015). It is ranked amongst the top 100 in the world in nine disciplines (QS 2015 rankings by subject). It was created during a time of extraordinary social transformation to be a different kind of university: it was, and will always be, a bold experiment in higher education. True to its founders' vision, the University has challenged the conventional thinking of academia through innovations in its campus set-up, curricula, interdisciplinary research and engagement with industry and the wider community.

Macquarie's approach has paid off. Hundred percent of its research activity is rated through the 'Excellence in Research for Australia' initiative at world standard or higher, and it has received a rating of 5 stars across all categories measured by QS. 90% of its graduates under the age of 25 are employed within 6 months of completing their studies. More importantly, the University has helped to form generations of individuals who are audacious and responsible leaders in their field and active members of their communities.

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IC Media Direct - Announces the Release of Their Third Groundbreaking Book

The early edition will contain a collection of over one hundred articles that comprehensively discuss the latest online reputation management trends.

--

IC Media Direct, the internet's leading firm in public relations and marketing, is releasing their third book to date, Second Chance at First Impression. The company announced that during 2016's ad:tech New York conference on November 2nd, there will be a limited edition release of five hundred copies of the new book. The early edition will contain a collection of over one hundred articles that comprehensively discuss the latest online reputation management trends, and an in depth look into the firm's strategy of providing 100% control of search results for elite individuals and high end brands.

As businesses and individuals recognize the impact of their digital footprint, optimizing search engine results has become imperative to both PR and customer acquisition. Many corporations utilize dedicated social media accounts that rank well on Google, such as Facebook and Twitter, but still struggle with irrelevant or negative listings. A third of all people click on the first search result, and over three quarters never leave the first page. Effectively managing that content allows for the full control of branding and the promotion of products or services through websites, blogs, and social media. Being two years older than Google, IC Media Direct has been able to perfect their strategies, build trust with an established client base, and rise above their competition. Their book will chronicle how the company has grown and skillfully adapted to the quick pace at which technology changes, and shows how others can do the same.

Second Chance at a First Impression is the product of years of research and collaboration, and contains contributions from authorities in various Internet marketing industries, including Interactive Marketing Strategies, Blog Marketing, Display Media Advertising, Online Public Relations, and many more. The publication's authors have decades of combined experience and offer invaluable insights into their respective fields. In addition to covering the foundation of establishing a positive online presence, the book's detailed subchapters provide advanced and alternate strategies for the aspiring Internet industry expert. Readers can learn about the branding, product development, and business strategies used by multinational corporations and millionaire entrepreneurs that continue to shape the global landscape of online reputation management.

For over two decades, IC Media Direct has set the standard in full service public relations and online reputation management. The firm believes that first impression is everything and offers their clients a second chance at first impression by completely transforming their first page of Google search results with positive and pre-approved content that is published on the world's top news publications. By publishing relevant, captivating, and shareable news articles, undesirable search results are pushed down and effectively eliminated. The company has won the New York Excellence Award from the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce for three consecutive years, and is a regular sponsor of industry conferences including the Affiliate Summit, Leadscon, and ad:tech.

IC Media Direct - PR and Marketing News: http://icmediadirectnews.com

IC Media Direct (@ICMediaDirectCo) - Twitter: https://twitter.com/icmediadirectco

ICMediaDirect.com - Google Reputation Management - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/icmediadirect

For more information, please visit http://www.ICMediaDirect.com

Contact Info:

Name: ICMD

Email: pr@icmediadirect.com

Organization: ICMediaDirect.com

Phone: 800-595-0821

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3QHOeY8qAM

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ic-media-direct-announces-the-release-of-their-third-groundbreaking-book/147988

Release ID: 147988

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ICMediaDirect - Joins Industry Experts at Affiliate Summit East 2016

Affiliate Summit Inc. has a proven track record in managing highly successful marketing projects and delivering numerous insightful events, educational sessions, and tradeshows.

--

ICMediaDirect experts shared invaluable market insights at this year's Affiliate Summit East (ASE) 2016 conference, where they heard views of other participants on most trending issues nationwide and internationally. Taking place at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York, the annual tradeshow brought together over 5,000 marketers, vendors, networks, and media outlets. Reputation management experts at ICMediaDirect spoke on the importance of building an unparalleled online brand for businesses as well as individuals, and tackled some of the forward-thinking strategies they utilize for successful content marketing.

Founded in 2003, Affiliate Summit Inc. has a proven track record in managing highly successful marketing projects and delivering numerous insightful events, educational sessions, and tradeshows. With combined experience of more than 30 years in affiliate marketing, founders of the company Shawn Collins and Missy Ward believe in the power of interpersonal networking and information exchange in today's fast-paced digital world. Their landmark events create an invaluable learning and sharing environment for thought leaders, start-ups, merchants, and vendors to discuss new opportunities for effective business development and digital innovations. With an established expertise in providing state-of-the art solutions to customers who aim to showcase their brand online in the best light, ICMediaDirect was delighted to bring first-class advice and tips on effective reputation management to affiliates and merchants at the conference. Experts at ICMediaDirect reinforce confidence in search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and emphasize the need for every brand to regularly put out content and use technological advancements to develop and maintain captivating online presence.

This year's edition of Affiliate Summit featured a collection of keynotes from most influential and thought-provoking public figures in the field of digital platforms and marketing. Speaker Scott Stratten, a social media and relationship marketing expert, President of Un-Marketing and the author of four best-selling business books, is one of "America's 10 Marketing Gurus", according to Business Review USA. The final and concluding day of Affiliate Summit East 2016 saw an SEO keynote panel, featuring Bruce Clay (President of Bruce Clay, Inc.), Duane Forrester (VP at Bruce Clay, Inc.), and Stephan Spencer (Co-Author of The Art of SEO).

Established in 1996, ICMediaDirect is an award-winning PR and online reputation management company, dedicated to brand repair for companies and individuals across the globe. Its cutting-edge technological solutions and highly competitive and unmatched online reputation packages have vastly improved the Internet presence of numerous businesses, professional athletes, politicians, fortune top 500 CEOs, celebrities, among many others. Major marketing conferences and events frequently benefit from ICMediaDirect's participation and sponsorships, including Affiliate Summit, Leadscon, SES, and ad:tech conferences.

IC Media Direct - PR and Marketing News: http://icmediadirectnews.com

IC Media Direct -- Reputation Management -- Attends ad:tech Conference in New York City: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstories/ic-media-direct-reputation-management-attends-adtech-conference-in-new-york-city/ar-BBr2o4W

ICMediaDirect.com - Google Reputation Management - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/icmediadirect

For more information, please visit http://www.ICMediaDirect.com

Contact Info:

Name: ICMD

Email: pr@icmediadirect.com

Organization: ICMediaDirect.com

Phone: 800-595-0821

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3QHOeY8qAM

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/icmediadirect-joins-industry-experts-at-affiliate-summit-east-2016/147995

Release ID: 147995

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Daniel Yomtobian - Presents InText Publisher Monetization Tool

InText joins the network's comprehensive suite of publisher monetization products, including Banner Ads, Adentify, InterYield, ExitYield, ConversionPlus, and XML Ad Feed.

--

CEO of Advertise.com, one of the largest privately owned online advertising networks, Daniel Yomtobian has announced the release of the firm's InText publisher monetization tool. This new, text-based advertising product will help website publishers boost their revenue by targeting users' incoming search behavior and page interests.

The appearance of the solution is both simple and elegant: InText automatically identifies and highlights commercial keywords that advertisers bid on, then triggers relevant text ads when a user scrolls over a highlighted keyword. Because the user sees a related ad in the context of their browsing session, it is likely to be more useful and less intrusive.

"By implementing a keyword-targeted ad unit for related content sites, we hope to create a pleasant viewing experience for the user that is also flexible to the various needs of our publishers, explains Daniel Yomtobian, CEO and Founder of Advertise.com. "So we made InText very easy to implement with a simple JavaScript code--requiring no change to a website's structure or general design."

InText joins the network's comprehensive suite of publisher monetization products, including Banner Ads, Adentify, InterYield, ExitYield, ConversionPlus, and XML Ad Feed. Similar to other products in the Advertise.com portfolio, InText generates revenues for publishers at highly competitive CPC rates.

Advertise.com has been delivering high-quality traffic to advertisers and publishers around the globe for 13 years. With advertising solutions such as contextual pay per click, display, mobile, video and remarketing traffic, Daniel Yomtobian and his team offer full-service digital solutions suitable for businesses large and small. The company follows its mission to provide advertisers with quality traffic that converts, and publishers with competitive listings that yield high revenues. More than ten thousand businesses have used Advertise.com to drive traffic to their website, and 240 million visitors (as verified by comScore) are delivered to publisher websites every month.

Advertise.com was originally founded by Daniel Yomtobian in 2001 as ABCSearch.com, and rebranded in 2009. Yomtobian, who was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, started experimenting with the Internet almost two decades ago when a family friend suggested he learn web design. What started as a two-day HTML course developed into a hugely successful career resulting in a company that Daniel is rightly proud of: "We launched Advertise.com to provide advertisers and publishers with a new value proposition--effective, affordable, and easy-to-use advertising campaigns all under one roof."

Prior to founding Advertise.com, Daniel launched the online media and advertising company, WayInternet, as well as the search engine, Findology. Today, Daniel is considered a pioneer in the online advertising industry and is acknowledged for his innovative concept. He was recently described by C-Suite Quarterly as a "...young leader [who] will continue to play an important role in shaping the online world of tomorrow."

Daniel Yomtobian Blog: http://www.DanielYomtobianInfo.com

Daniel Yomtobian - CEO & Founder @ Advertise.com - crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/person/daniel-yomtobian

Companies Are Turning to Daniel Yomtobian and Advertise.com for Contextual Advertising: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/companies-turning-daniel-yomtobian-advertise-070000163.html

For more information, please visit http://www.DanielYomtobianInfo.com

Contact Info:

Name: DYI

Email: daniel@danielyomtobianinfo.com

Organization: DanielYomtobianInfo.com



Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoZr4UgvY8Q

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/daniel-yomtobian-presents-intext-publisher-monetization-tool/147909

Release ID: 147909

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Aaron Smith, Founder, Announces the Launch of Pro Built-In Wardrobes Website

Aaron Smith, Founder, is pleased to announce the launch of New Website - Pro Built-In Wardrobes in Sydney.

--

Nearly everyone wishes they had more wardrobe space. In nearly every home, no matter its size, the call for additional storage space can be heard. Of course, once the decision is made to add more wardrobe spaces the questions begin to arise. One first needs to determine the amount of space available in which to add a new built-in wardrobe. This involves ensuring that the bedroom won't feel cramped and the rest of the furniture will fit nicely. In addition, one needs to consider whether the new wardrobe will house a vanity or chest of drawers. The questions and the options may start to seem endless and this is just the planning stages.

But now, those seeking to create a new built-in wardrobe can simply CLICK HERE and learn how to add the needed and desired storage space to the home with a multifunctional professional built-in wardrobe. Whether the home is a compact contemporary flat or a massive single family home, custom built-in wardrobes are the ideal solution to the age-old problem - a lack of storage. Pro Built-In Wardrobes of Sydney has the answer to virtually every home storage problem and promises to deliver the solution in beautiful, practical way with custom made wardrobes to meet each client's specific needs.

Pro Built in Wardrobes Sydney promises solutions that are custom design to each clients' specification, whether trendy and cool or traditional and beautiful. There is a Pro Built-In Wardrobes custom solution for every taste and every room no matter the style or size desired. There are antique style selections, as well as natural wood, painted wardrobes, metallic options, and even hip glass or plastic choices. Clients can even add mirrors, sliders, or traditional doors to make their built-in wardrobes unique.

"Choosing the right built-in wardrobe for your room can actually make the room look larger and more spacious. That's where we, the experts at Pro Built-In Wardrobes in Sydney, come in, offering advice on mirrors, doors, the perfect fit, wardrobe dimensions, and color, all of which can give your room added light and a died open feel even after your new wardrobe is installed." - Aaron Smith, Pro Built-In Wardrobes in Sydney

About Pro Built-In Wardrobes in Sydney: Pro Built-In Wardrobes in Sydney is the brainchild of Aaron Smith, who wanted to help everyone with storage space issues that exist in virtually every home, no matter its size. At Pro Built-In Wardrobes the goal is to find the perfect solution with beautiful, multipurpose wardrobes that clients can count on to keep their belonging organized for easy retrieval when needed.

For more information, please visit http://probuiltinwardrobessydney.com.au/

Contact Info:

Name: Aaron Smith

Email: pr@probuiltinwardrobessydney.com.au

Organization: Pro Built In Wardrobes Sydney

Address: 23 Downing St, Epping NSW 2121

Phone: (02) 8294 6884

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/aaron-smith-founder-announces-the-launch-of-pro-built-in-wardrobes-website/148046

Release ID: 148046

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Roland Dickey Jr. Introduces Great Black Friday and Cyber Monday Specials At The Barbecue Pit

Roland Dickey Jr. of Dickey's Barbecue Pit has introduced great specials for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, to help people fill up after Thanksgiving.

--

Roland Dickey Jr. understands that appetites get stretched at Thanksgiving, and that some people don't want the festive feasting to end. At the same time, the herculean effort that goes into preparing a thanksgiving meal can't be repeated every day. To solve this, Dickey Jr. is helping take the load off by introducing Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals at Dickey's Barbecue Pit.

The new and exclusive moneysaving deals are available for the first time this year, to be enjoyed by barbecue lovers throughout the nation. Whether for people out shopping who need to fuel their spree, people who didn't get enough to eat at Thanksgiving, or barbecue fanatics who cannot pass up a great deal, Dickey's has an offer they can't refuse.

On Black Friday at Dickey's, kids under 12 eat free with the purchase of a $10 adult dine-in meal. Guests who are members of Dickey's Big Yellow Cup Club will also receive a free Big Yellow Cup with a purchase of $5 or more.

On Cyber Monday, Dickey's is offering $5 off any purchase of $25 or more, for online ordering only. People can now order delicious, slow-smoked barbecue online, for collection or home delivery.

With more than 560 locations, there is sure to be a Dickey's just around the corner (https://www.dickeys.com/locations). To get the coupon codes, customers can simply follow Dickey's on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

A spokesperson for Roland Dickey Jr. explained, "Roland Dickey Jr. is always looking for opportunities to give back to customers. Black Friday is one of the biggest giveaway days in the calendar year, so it was essential for us to get involved. Now, we can help people to get better value on our amazing meals. Roland is looking forward to seeing more customers than ever at the nation's Barbecue Pits this weekend."

About Roland Dickey Jr.: Roland Dickey Jr. is the CEO responsible for the explosion in popularity of the Dickey's Barbecue chain of restaurants. He has taken the family business from five locations in Texas to more than 560 throughout the continental United States. Dickey Jr. now tours the country helping Dickey's Barbecue Pit Franchise and business owners set up for success through his own consultancy, as well as regularly lecturing on the convention circuit.

For more information, please visit https://www.dickeys.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Daniel Mark

Organization: Dickey's Barbecue Pit

Address: 4514 Cole Ave #1015, Dallas, TX 75205

Phone: 9722489899

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/roland-dickey-jr-introduces-great-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-specials-at-the-barbecue-pit/148159

Release ID: 148159

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Free Bottomless Mimosas: RIVALRY Launches Saturday & Sunday Brunch Milwaukee

RIVALRY Milwaukee is celebrating the launch of their new Saturday and Sunday brunch service in the Milwaukee Wisconsin

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In a slightly different approach to launching its new Saturday and Sunday brunch service, RIVALRY Milwaukee, a Brunch Restaurant in Milwaukee Wisconsin has decided it will give away Free Bottomless Mimosas if the first name is one of the 3 first names picked at random for that given week, and this is expected to begin Saturday, November 26, 2016 and Sunday. Find out if the name is one of the three selected this week and monitor facebook for weeks to come - RIVALRY Facebook or RIVALRY Twitter.

Where most businesses tend to just run a buy one get one free promotion, RIVALRY Milwaukee has decided to be a little more exciting and delicious with the start of its new Saturday and Sunday brunch service.

Joshua Janis, Owner at RIVALRY Milwaukee, says: "We wanted to be exciting and delicious with the launch of our new Saturday and Sunday brunch service because we wanted to do something memorable that people have not seen before.

It should be really worthwhile and we're hoping it will satisfy brunch cravings in Milwaukee. It should go great unless you don't like brunch, mimosas, bloody marys or having a great time!"

RIVALRY Milwaukee has always made a point of standing out when compared to other Brunch Restaurants in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area. This launch celebration is just one of the many ways it does so.

This is a great chance for Milwaukee Wisconsin residents to meet new people and try the new offerings and support a much loved new local business.

RIVALRY Milwaukee has been serving the Milwaukee Wisconsin area since October 20, 2016. To date it has served thousands customers and has become recognized as having the best brunch in Milwaukee. It can be found on Water Street on the River Walk in the Third Ward.

Joshua Janis also said: "While RIVALRY Milwaukee may not be the only business with this kind of offering, local residents are choosing RIVALRY Milwaukee because customers are always guaranteed a smile."

When asked about the new Saturday and Sunday brunch service, Joshua Janis said: "We think it's going to be a hit because we use the best ingredients available".

Further information about RIVALRY Milwaukee and the new Saturday and Sunday brunch service can be discovered at http://rivalrymke.com/best-brunch-milwaukee-sunday-saturday-breakfast/

For more information, please visit http://rivalrymke.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Joshua Janis

Organization: Rivalry

Address: 223 N Water St

Phone: (414) 210-3960

Release ID: 147979

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Ordinary Time - Cicle C

Author: Order of Carmlites | Source: www.ocarm.org

1) Opening prayer

Lord,

increase our eagerness to do your will

and help us to know the saving power of your love.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



2) Gospel reading - Luke 21,1-4

Looking up, Jesus saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; and he noticed a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'



3) Reflection

 In todays Gospel Jesus weaves the praise of a poor widow who knows how to share more than the rich. Many poor people today do the same. People say: The poor do not let the poor starve to death. But, some times, even this is not possible. A woman who went to live out in the country in the periphery of a city in Brazil, in Paraiba, said: In the country the people are poor, but they always have something to share with the poor who knock at their door. Now that I am here in the city, when I see a poor person who knocks on the door, I hide because I feel ashamed, because I have nothing in the house to share with him! On one side, there are rich people who have everything but do not know how to share; on the other side, there are poor people who have hardly anything, but who want to share the little they have.

 At the beginning, in the Church, the great majority the first Christian communities, were formed by poor people. (1 Co 1, 26). After a short time, well- to-do people also entered these communities, and this caused several problems. The social tensions which were present in the Roman Empire began to appear also in the life of the communities. That manifested itself, for example, when they met together to celebrate the supper (1Co 11, 20-22), or when they held the meeting (Jm 2, 1-4). This is why, the teaching of the act of the widow was very actual, both for them as well as for us today.

 Luke 21, 1-2: The widows mite. Jesus was before the treasure in the Temple and observed people who put their offering into the treasury. The poor put in a few pennies, the rich offerings of great value. The Treasury of the Temple received much money. All gave something for the maintenance of the worship, to support the clergy and for the preservation of the building. Part of this money was used to help the poor, because at that time there was no social security. The poor lived at the mercy of public charity. The persons who had the greatest needs were the orphans and the widows. They depended for everything on the charity of others, but even in this way, they tried to share with others the little that they had. Thus, a very poor widow put her offering into the treasury of the Temple; just two pennies!

 Luke 21, 3-4: The comment of Jesus. Which is worth more: the few pennies of the widow or the great amount of the rich? According to the majority, the money of the rich was more useful for charity, than the few pennies of the widow. For example, the disciples thought that the problem of the people could be resolved only with much money. On the occasion of the multiplication of the loaves, they had suggested to buy bread to feed the people (Lk 9, 13; Mk 6, 37). Philip succeeded in saying: Two-hundred denarii of bread are not sufficient even for everyone to have a piece of bread (Jn 6, 7). In fact, for anyone who thinks like that, the two pennies of the widow do not serve for anything. But Jesus says: I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them. Jesus has diverse criteria. Calling the attention of the disciples on the act of the widow, he teaches them and us where we have to look for the manifestation of Gods will: in the poor and in sharing. This is a very important criterion: In fact all these have put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on.

 Alms, sharing, riches. The practice of giving alms was very important for the Jews. It was considered to be a good work, because the law of the Old Testament said: Of course, there will never cease to be poor people in the country, and that is why I am giving you this command: Always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and poor (Dt 15, 11). The alms put into the treasury of the Temple, whether for the worship or for the needy, orphans or widows, were considered a pleasing act to God (Eccl 35, 2; cf. Eccl 17, 17; 29, 12; 40, 24). To give alms was a way to recognize that all goods of the earth belong to God and that we are only the administrators of these gifts. But the tendency to accumulate continues to exist and is very strong; it always arises anew in the human heart. Conversion is always necessary. This is why Jesus said to the rich young man: Go, sell all you possess, give it to the poor! (Mk 10, 21). In the other Gospels the same requirement is repeated: Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it (Lk 12, 33-34; Mt 6, 9-20). The practice of sharing and of solidarity is one of the characteristics which the Spirit of Jesus wants to realize in the community. The result of the effusion of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was that: None of the members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them, to present it to the apostles (Ac 4,34-35; 2,44-45). This money deposited at the feet of the Apostles was not accumulated but it was then distributed to any who might be in need (Ac 4, 35 b; 2, 45). The entry of the rich into the Christian communities on the one side rendered possible the expansion of Christianity, providing better conditions for the missionary voyages. But on the other side, the tendency to accumulate blocked the movement of solidarity and of sharing. James helped people to become aware if they were following a mistaken path: Well now you rich! Lament, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is rotting; your clothes are all moth-eaten. (Jm 5,1-3). To undertake the way to the Kingdom, all need to become pupils of that poor widow, who shared with others that which was necessary for her living (Lk 21, 4).



4) Personal questions

 Which are the difficulties and the joys that you find in your life in practicing solidarity and sharing with others?

 How is it that the two pennies of the widow can be worth more than the large amounts of the rich? Which is the message of this text for us today?



5) Concluding prayer

Be sure that Yahweh is God, he made us,

we belong to him, his people,

the flock of his sheepfold. (Ps 100,3)
Changes to the tax and planning system are needed to encourage more landowners to release land in rural areas for affordable housing, according to countryside campaigners.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says landowners could play a crucial role in solving Englands housing crisis, but obstacles need to be removed to enable it to happen.

In a report, On Solid Ground, CPRE proposes that landowners should be given the power to ensure that their land will benefit people with local connections.

See also: Farmers can be part of affordable rural housing solution

At the moment, most local authorities use a system of choice-based lettings for affordable housing.

This is essentially a bidding system for people on the statutory housing waiting list, in which social housing is advertised to eligible people near the top of the list and individuals then bid for a property.

Local connections

This system means that rural affordable housing can be allocated to individuals, even if they have no family or employment connections to the area.

However, rural landowners and the local community are often keen to ensure that prospective tenants grew up in the area or work for a local employer.

The fact that they have little control over who will eventually live in the houses is seen as a disincentive for landowners to put land for affordable homes, known as rural exception sites, forward and also a key reason why local residents may object to an application for planning permission.

Ensuring that new housing units are reserved for those with strong bonds to the local community is crucial to securing investment, says the report.

Were government to allow nomination rights on rural exception sites to rest solely with the landownerthey would be reassured that their investment would benefit local residents.

Tax barriers

The document also recommends the removal of tax barriers that discourage landowners from providing affordable housing.

Currently, if a rural landowner lets properties, any excess of expenditure over income earned is ineligible for income tax relief in the year the loss is incurred.

Legislation could be amended so that this loss can be offset against other taxable income, says the report.

Providing income tax relief for any excess of expenditure over income earned on properties let at below market rent in rural areas would better incentivise rural landowners.

Allowing landowners to benefit from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rollover provisions on rural exception sites could also increase the amount of affordable housing, it adds.

Trinley Walker, CPRE policy and research adviser, said: There is a clear appetite among landowners to help create affordable housing for local people, but the current system discourages them from doing so.

Removing some of the obstacles preventing landowners from providing land is a straightforward way to get more houses built for those who need them.

Landowner support

Ross Murray, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), offered his backing to the report.

We want life in our villages  to support young families, local workers and those in the community who are ready to downsize, he said.

At a time when housing costs are spiralling, providing more affordable housing is an excellent way to sustain rural communities for future generations and ensure people have the opportunity to live and work in the countryside.
Story Highlights 43% say now is a good time to find a quality job

This is roughly the same as Gallup has measured since early 2015

Views of the job market are highly related to U.S. unemployment rate

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Forty-three percent of Americans currently say now is a good time to find a quality job. This percentage, from a Gallup poll conducted right after the election, is essentially the same as the 42% recorded in October and about average for the measure since early 2015.

Americans' views of the job market have gone through several phases since Gallup began measuring them each month in October 2001, when roughly a quarter saw positive job market conditions. Attitudes about jobs improved from 2004 through early 2007, including the 15-year high of 48% in January 2007. Then, with the start of the 2007-2009 recession, perceptions of the job market fell dramatically, bottoming out at 8% in November 2009 and remaining low through much of 2011. Views improved from 2012 through the beginning of 2015 and have been fairly stable since, in the low- to mid-40% range.

Just as Americans' impressions of the job market are the same this month compared with October, there was no short-term change in views when Barack Obama was elected for the first time in November 2008.

Americans' Views of Job Market Closely Mirror BLS Unemployment Rate

Gallup's measure of Americans' subjective views about the job market is designed to augment the objective economic data from government and other sources. But the reality is that Americans' perceptions track closely with the unemployment rate that the U.S. government publishes each month. Views that it is a good time to find a quality job rise when the unemployment rate falls, are generally stable when the rate is stable and drop when the rate goes up.

The accompanying chart displays trends on both Gallup's quality job measure and the monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) unemployment rate. Because the two measures are on different scales, each has been indexed to its average over the October 2001 to October 2016 period, with 1.0 representing the average for each.

The overall correlation between the monthly BLS unemployment rate and Americans' belief that it is a good time to find a quality job is -.88.

The strong relationship between these measures suggests Americans may be aware of the official, widely reported employment rate when it comes out each month, and may consider that rate when asked to assess the job market. Broader reporting about the economy's health, such as GDP growth, may influence the public's views as well. Americans may also more directly assess the jobs-related reality they see around them daily, the same reality that is reflected when the government assesses employment trends each month.

Whatever the underlying reasons, the key takeaway is that Americans' collective views of the job market appear to be mostly grounded in employment reality -- at least as measured by the government.

Bottom Line

President-elect Donald Trump maintained during his campaign that Americans were experiencing economic malaise, including increased worry about the availability of good jobs. The percentage of Americans who say it is a good time to find a quality job (43%) is not high on an absolute basis but is generally in sync with what one would expect based on the patterns over the past 15 years -- given an unemployment rate hovering near 5%. Americans do not appear to be in an unusual funk, but rather reflect the objective reality in the same way they have since 2001.

If the unemployment rate drops in the months ahead, history shows that the percentage saying it is a good time to find a quality job could rise closer to 50%. The most positive view of the job market Gallup has measured was 48% in early 2007, when the unemployment rate was hovering in the mid-4% range.

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Nov. 9-13, 2016, with a random sample of 1,019 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 4 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.

View survey methodology, complete question responses and trends.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
Drones Latest News and Updates 2016: New Zealand Serves as Pilot Country for Domino's New Air Delivery Service

Trying to make use of available technology, Domino's has tried delivering pizza using a drone. The first successful delivery was done in New Zealand last Wednesday.

The pizza company partnered with Flirtey, a delivery service in the said country, to fly the first pizza to a customer in Whangaparaoa, New Zealand. Domino's Group CEO Don Meij said this move is the company's effort to deliver fast delivery service to its customers.

Hot off the oven

"We believe drone delivery will be an essential component of our pizza deliveries, so even more customers can receive the freshest, hottest pizza we can offer," he added in a statement. "I am proud of this partnership that has not only delivered this momentous event, but is leading the world for this important technology."

As for the process of delivery, the pizza is placed inside a box which is connected to the drone. The drone will then transport the fresh and hot pizza to the home of the customer but those who will avail the service should make sure enough space will be available for the drone to drop the pizza.

Why New Zealand?

The pizza chain reportedly chose New Zealand for its pilot testing of the drone deliveries because the regulations are not very strict. For its part, Flirtey also wanted to make drone deliveries known in the country as well as using the flying gadget for emergency situations.

Residents of New Zealand who are excited for this delivery service should not keep their hopes high as it will be initially available for residents who live 1.5 kilometers away from the Domino's store in Whangaparaoa store. The company said it is planning to expand the drone delivery to other stores and areas in the country.

Domino's is also positive that this will create more jobs for the residents of the country. What do you think of this drone delivery initiative?
'Homeland' Season 6 Air Date, Spoilers and Updates: Claire Danes Teases Next Season in New Trailer

"Homeland" Season 6 is coming early next year and fans have just been recently teased on what will happen in the new installment. Actress Claire Danes said the hit TV series will get more intense when it comes back on television in January.

New trailer and cast updates

In a teaser for the next season, Danes who plays Carrie Mathison explained that it was exciting to shoot at her hometown in New York City for "Homeland" Season 6. The former CIA agent is now back in the United States in an effort to stop an attack on the first female president of the country.

"It's a really fascinating time, that transitional moment, and that president will heavily inform the character of the [CIA]," she added. Danes also noted that her character will remain in the middle of a more intense and more complex storyline in this new "Homeland" offering.

What to expect?

After stopping an attack in Berlin for "Homeland" Season 5, Mathison will once again prove that her skills in figuring out terrorist plots are way beyond what any person in the CIA can do. She will also be starting a new law firm which aims to help Muslims wrongfully accused of crimes.

The Big Apple will also be an exciting place to have "Homeland" Season 6 as the election period and the president's inauguration make the story more interesting to viewers. Joining Danes for Season 6 are the other main characters of the show like Mandy Patinkin who plays Saul Berenson and F. Murray Abraham as Dar Adal.

Air date and time slot

"Homeland" Season 6 will return on Showtime on January 15 at 9 p.m. Many people can't wait to finish the year to watch the all-new television show. Are you looking forward for more exciting episodes from this crime-drama series?
Greys Anatomy Season 13 Finale: Fall in Love with Arizona Robbins One More Time

With "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 ending just when we started enjoying it, sends subtle longing for it to comeback. Jo (Camilla Luddington) has finally come clean to Alex (Justin Chambers) and told him how she's still married to a man she ran away from. Her confession was influenced by the court's order for her to testify on Alex's case. Apparently, she wanted Alex to learn things from her, instead of the court.

The episode finale of "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 also left some cliffhanger stories that significantly hints on what to expect in the next season. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) is beginning to some light at the end of her journey with Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez.) The arrival of Dr. Eliza Minnick (Marika Dominczyk) in Grey Sloan Hospital brought new feelings; something that is painfully familiar, yet equally pleasurable.

As Dr. Minnick's character in series is that of a self centered newbie, but experienced doctor, Arizona can't help but get irritated of her. But the undeniable spark that lights up every now and then when they are near each other sends all the signals. In "Grey's Anatomy Season 13, Dr. Robbins will try to reverse psychology Dr. Minnick and pretends she doesn't remember any of their previous encounter.

It's a tough process that Dr. Robbins has to go through, but she enjoyed how she makes Dr. Minnick crazy over her. And when the latter finally confesses in her usual arrogant way, we knew it's the start of a new love story.

"Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 had so much to offer and with several cliffhanger stories at the final episode, it seems like fans are in for a good follow up season. Are you moved by how Arizona Robbins is beginning to move on from Callie Torres? Just how effective is Dr. Minnick's approach is when it comes to dating Arizona?

Find out more about "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 spoilers here on GameNGuide.
'Star Wars Land' News & Update: Disney Reveals New Information For Their 'Star Wars' Theme Land Attraction

Disney released new information about their upcoming attractions that will be invading their parks soon. More than a year from now before the premiere date of "Star Wars Episode VIII," Disney announces new information for the new "Star Wars" theme land attraction.

According to the reports, a scene from the upcoming "Star Wars Episode VIII" movie will be included as part of "Star Wars" theme land in the future. The official website of Disney Parks confirmed the report and they also decided to add a little light on what exactly that will entail.

Disney and Lucas film remained mum about the movie's plot, but it is confirmed that the film will influence the "Star Wars" theme land. Also, many parts of the attraction are also based on the previous movies of the "Star Wars" franchise.

According to the Movieweb, one of the main attractions of the "Star Wars" theme land expansion would be a full-scale version of the Millennium Falcon. Visitors will be able to check out and will be able to walk around the ship, get hands on with it and be able to fly it via flight simulation technology.

Disney is putting very close details on the "Star Wars" theme land for the visitors to experience the movie's universe in real life. On the blog of Disney Parks, they also released a new piece of art, showing what the theme park will look at night. In addition to this news about the Star Wars Land attraction, reports also confirmed the new Avatar theme park. It is called "Pandora-The World of Avatar."

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman, Bob Chapek, announced at D23's Destination Amazing Adventures event in Orlando that the "Star Wars" theme land will open at Disney's Animal Kingdom in the summer of 2017. The construction of both versions of the land attraction, with a land size of 14 acres each, begins on April 2016 at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California and in Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, Specs, Features, News & Update: March 2017 Launching Alongside Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Confirmed! More Details Revealed

The battle between upcoming flagship smartphones Apple iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 has already started even before both companies announce them. According to the latest report, Samsung will launch the new Samsung Galaxy S8 in March 2017 and it will run on a Snapdragon 835 processor from Qualcomm. On the other hand, the iPhone 8 is expected to arrive during the third quarter of 2017 with impressive specs and features.

The recent partnership between Samsung and Qualcomm would certainly help the South Korean company's Samsung Galaxy S8 development. Apart from its powerful mobile CPU, the upcoming handset will also carry several advanced features such as the Quick Charge 4 system, which is said to speed up battery charging by up to 20 percent. There are also speculations suggesting that Samsung might also unveil its new Samsung Galaxy Note 8 early next year. The company has been surrounded by bad publicity regarding its safety features following the disappointing release of Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

According to a report by Engadget, Samsung will focus more on the safety features of its upcoming devices and that include the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. It is reported that the tech manufacturer and Qualcomm are working side by side to make sure the issues on the Galaxy Note 7 will no longer happen on the future releases. "An additional layer of protection is also being added to help prevent battery overcharging and regulate current throughout every charge cycle," Qualcomm said.

Meanwhile, WCCFTech reported that the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor of the Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature the company's custom-made Kryo CPU. This technology is expected to improve the clock speed of the processor without compromising the safety feature.

As of the moment, Samsung has yet to provide concrete details about its Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8. However, tech observers are saying that the company is making sure that its flagship will come out better than the upcoming Apple iPhone 8.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) Release Date, Specs, Features, News & Update: December Launching Highly Plausible, Price Revealed; Leaked Information Spotted; Details Revealed

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) has been a subject of numerous rumors and speculations all over the Internet and after leaked information that came out over the last few weeks, fans could no longer wait for the device to arrive in the market. The device was already spotted with a model number SM-A720F and industry observers predict that the handset will come out anytime soon after it was given Bluetooth certification.

The 2016 model of the popular smartphone was release in December last year and it is likely that the South Korean tech giant will launch the new Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) during the same period this year. Although the company has continued to stay mum with regard to the rumored release of the handset, several reports have already emerged suggesting its imminent availability.

According to a report by GSM Arena, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) has already been spotted in two bench marking websites. However, both sites have never really revealed the specs and features of the handset.

Nonetheless, industry observers predict that the new Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) will run on the company's Exynos 7870 chipset paired with Mali-T830 GPU. The impressive processor will also be paired with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage capacity. According to reports, the mobile octa-core CPU has the ability to clock at 1.8 GHz.

Other features of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) include a 5.7 inch screen with advanced display system at 1080x1920 screen resolution. It will also carry a 16 MP primary camera and an amazing 16 MP front-facing snapper for better selfie experience. The device will also runs on an Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS; however, no report has been spotted as of the moment suggesting an Android Nougat update in the future.

Despite the lack of official details coming from the tech giant, reports are already circulating that the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) will most likely arrive with a $200 price tag. Stay tuned for more news and update about the development and release date of Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017).
Microsoft, Linux News & Update: Tech-Giant Joins Platinum Membership To Promote Open Source Development

Technology is getting better, as partnership across different platforms continues. Microsoft just joined Linux Foundation and will be a Platinum member alongside with other tech giants in the open source development.

Microsoft is not open before with an open source development with other tech-giants most especially with Linux. Since the technology continues to progress, Microsoft has found its way to fall in love with Linux operating system for an open development.

According to PC World, Microsoft officially announced its partnership with Linux last Wednesday by joining the Linux Foundation. The Linux Foundation is a non-profit organization where tech companies do a collaboration with its technologies to develop the Linux operating system.

Being a top-level Platinum member of Linux Foundation, Microsoft has to annually pay $500,000 to have a seat in Linux Foundation's board of directors. Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, IBM, NEC, Oracle, Qualcomm, and Samsung are among the other Platinum members of the Linux Foundation. Google is the sole gold member of the foundation which contributes $100,000 annually.

Recently, Microsoft launched the public beta of SQL Server running on Linux which was announced last March. SQL Server is designed to help developers and organizations in building applications with industry leading performance and security technologies with their preferred language and environment. With this open development, developers can create applications using SQL Server on Linux and run it on Windows, Linux, Docker, and in the cloud.

Aside from Microsoft - Linux partnership, Microsoft also joined forces with Google and Samsung, which was announced during the Connect Conference 2016. Executive vice president of Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise Scott Guthrie said that tech companies now are embracing open development which in turn gives a positive output to better customer experience, Linux Insider reported.

Meanwhile, critics of Microsoft's strategy in the open source development agreed that this is a good move. The recognition of Microsoft to the importance of Linux technology only shows the importance of software or application to be developed in a way that it can run across multiple platforms.
Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have fallen 4.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.86 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.13 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices on Sunday were 2.1 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 14.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on November 21 in Chattanooga have ranged widely over the last five years:

$1.84 per gallon in 2015, $2.52 in 2014, $3.06 in 2013, $3.14 in 2012 and $3.16 in 2011.

Areas nearby Chattanooga and their current gas price climate:

Knoxville- $1.97, down 7.4 cents per gallon from last week's $2.05.

State of Tennessee- $1.95, down 5.3 cents per gallon from last week's $2.00.

Huntsville- $1.98, down 3.9 cents per gallon from last week's $2.02.

"As motorists pack their bags and prepare to head out for Thanksgiving, gas prices are falling across much of the country," said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. "With a record amount of travelers, motorists will be facing congestion not only on highways but gas stations. But at least low gas prices have lingered for much of this year. Keep an eye on word from OPEC over the holiday weekend- there could be some surprises at a major meeting to decide the fate of an oil production cut."

"But no matter what eventually takes place with the OPEC meeting, motorists are virtually guaranteed another year of gas prices that will remain well under all-time record highs as oil prices will likely remain confined between $40 and $60 for much of the next year," he added.
BROWNSVILLE  Marshall McManus owns 1st Rate Roofing and his job has always kept him plenty busy.

Hes had a lot less free time this past year, though, as hes been constructing a new downtown building for the business.

Were trying to keep that old town look and have gotten a lot of positive feedback, McManus said.

Weve moved a little bit of stuff in, but it will be a while before we can really say that were in the building. It may be another month or two, he added.

A new commercial building is a rather rare occurrence for the historic district, said Scott McDowell, Brownsville city administrator.

This is the first new structure in 10 years time at least. We couldnt be more thrilled that the McManuses decided to build in downtown Brownsville. Its absolutely fantastic, he said.

McDowell added that McManus worked with a historic review board in developing plans.

They did everything they could to make that building looks like its been here forever, McDowell said.

McManus said 1st Rate Roofing has been around for 29 years, but its always operated out of his home or a shop on his property.

Like a lot of people, we started in the garage, McManus said.

He felt that he needed more separation from his job, however. You should be able to leave it easier. Ive spent a lot of evenings doing paperwork if I wasnt doing something else, McManus said.

The new building has about 1,700 feet of shop space behind the storefront, as well as roughly 400 square feet for an office. While McManus will meet with clients there, the building wont be open all day long like a traditional office.

Its more of a storage building, McManus said.

The building will provide a boost in visibility in the small town, but McManus said he always has jobs thanks to positive word of mouth.

Construction on the project started in August 2015, and since McManus has done much of the work himself, its taken some time.

McManus, a 1986 Central Linn High School graduate, said he wanted to keep the business in Brownsville, his hometown, rather than create a headquarters somewhere else. The decision also makes business sense, though.

I grew up here. Its a nice little community, a small town, but its not too far to go to Albany, Eugene or Corvallis. Its centrally located, he added.

He also is using old truck parts for furniture in the new building. The bed of the old pickup will be transformed into a bookcase, and the fenders and grill will be used to create a desk.

McManus said that the Linn County Pioneer Picnic Kiddie Parade will continue to be able to stage in the gravel parking lot at his business new location.

The new building for 1st Rate Roofing is being constructed at 522 N. Main St. For more information about the business, call 466-5816 or visit its Facebook page.
Who says Oregon voters never will approve new taxes?

In the Nov. 8 election, voters in 111 Oregon cities and counties faced a measure to impose a brand-new tax. The measure passed in all 111 localities.

Of course, it was a measure to impose a local 3 percent tax on the sales of recreational marijuana. The local tax goes on top of a 17 percent state tax.

Even cities and counties where the sale of recreational marijuana continues to be banned voted in favor of the 3 percent tax, because  well, because you never know, and every local government could use a few additional bucks flowing into the coffers.

The bigger news from the Nov. 8 marijuana elections in Oregon, of course, is that voters in 30 cities and counties (including Linn County, Albany and Lebanon) struck down bans on the sales of recreational pot sales.

That means local officials in those locations now face the task of establishing the rules to govern those sales.

And they have to do it in a hurry, since the ballot measures allowing the sales go into effect in January. Jurisdictions that want to see tax revenue from the sales as early as possible have additional incentive to get these handled quickly.

Among the chores facing local officials is determining operating hours for marijuana retailers, growing farms and processors. They also need to figure out where the businesses should be located (an ongoing sore spot for the Albany City Council) and what sort of security and odor controls the businesses must provide.

The good news is that those governments don't have to create all these regulations out of whole cloth: They can turn to the examples set by jurisdictions that were early adopters of recreational pot sales. In fact, lobbyists for the organizations representing Oregon's cities and counties are encouraging their clients to find out what's worked elsewhere and to borrow regulations that seem to be a good fit.

This turns out to be one of the surprising benefits of how Oregon legislators and regulators have gone about implementing Measure 91, the 2014 ballot measure that paved the way for legalized recreational pot in the state.

Who knew, for example, that it would be a smart move to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to get a head start in selling recreational pot? These examples from communities that gave an early green light to those sales have provided important lessons for communities now working to come up with a regulatory framework.

In fact, the robust sales from those dispensaries  far exceeding anyone's expectations  may have done more than anything else to convince voters to take a second look at whether to allow recreational sales in their communities.

There is still plenty of work to be done regarding legalized marijuana, of course, and there will be for years to come: Colorado and Washington, two states that legalized pot before Oregon, still are tweaking their rules.

All the more reason, then, for the state Legislature to continue its generally solid work in guiding the rollout of legal marijuana.

And, speaking of taxes, legislators grappling with a state budget shortfall that now exceeds $1.5 billion may want to consider this: At a total of 20 percent, Oregon's tax on recreational pot is less than in Colorado and Washington.

You don't want to tax legal marijuana at such a steep rate that it encourages the black market, but it still might be worth considering notching the Oregon rate up a percentage point or two. (mm)
Free enterprise empowers entrepreneurs who have ideas and imagination, investors who take risks, and workers who hone their skills and offer their labor, Paul Ryan, American politician, said.

Mr. Ryans statement aptly describes the free enterprise accomplishment of Clevelands M.C. Headrick, for whom the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce named their highest honor.

Mr. Headrick was a successful local businessman who staunchly believed in the concept of free enterprise: Put men on their own to make economic decisions, and let them reap the rewards or lack of rewards from those decisions.

Each year the Chamber recognizes individuals who best demonstrate the principles of the late M.C. Headrick, Chairman of the Board Shannon Ritzhaupt said. Headrick believed in the concept of free enterprise and was an exceptional role model for business men and women in our community. Each fall we invite Chamber members to nominate any person they feel best represents the ideals of the free enterprise system.

Nomination forms and a complete list of award criteria are available at the Chamber office, by calling 472-6587 and online in the Downloadable Forms of the Membership section of the website, www.clevelandchamber.com. In addition to the form, nominations must include a resume of the candidate and a cover letter detailing reasons the nominee is eligible for the award. The selection committee may ask for additional information.

Stephen Wright, president and CEO of Wright Brothers Construction Company Inc. and Wright Brothers Contracting Inc., was recipient of the 2016 Headrick Award.

Additionally, the Chamber of Commerce recognizes those who understand that leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions (British businessman Harold S. Geneen).

Many Cleveland/Bradley County residents understand the attitude and actions of a leader but none higher than those the late Robert W. Varnell Jr. set for himself.

Varnell, for whom the Chamber named its prestigious Robert W. Varnell Leadership Award, is remembered best for outstanding community leadership and a passion for serving others. The late Robert W. Varnell faithfully served the Chamber in many important capacities before his death in 1993, including division vice president for economic development in 1990 and two terms as chairman-elect in 1991 and 1992. Ill health forced his resignation in 1993 before he could serve his term.

Presentation of the Varnell Leadership Award is one of the highlights of the Chambers Annual Meeting, Board Chairman Ritzhaupt said. Robert Varnell set high standards, and our goal is to annually acknowledge another individual whose life represents the passion reflected in his life.

Cheryl Dunson, executive vice president of marketing for Santek Waste Services Inc., received the 2016 Varnell Award.

Nomination forms and a complete list of award criteria for the Varnell Award also are available at the Chamber office, by calling 472-6587 and online in the Downloadable Forms of the Membership section of the website, www.clevelandchamber.com.

The Chamber will present both awards at the 91st Annual Meeting on Jan. 24, 2017, at Peerless Road Church. Deadline for nominations is Monday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m.
Objektiv betrachtet ist er der deutlich Bessere : Diese uberraschenden Ergebnisse liefert ein Datenexperte zu den FC-Profis
Man Arrested After Reportedly Disrupting 'Hamilton' With Pro-Trump Meltdown

By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 21, 2016 12:08AM



'Hamilton' / Courtesy of Broadway in Chicago

Ok, now this is what harassment at a performance of Hamilton looks like, President-elect Trump.

The same day Trump very conveniently castigated the Broadway cast of Hamilton for its perfectly respectful call to Vice President-elect Mike Pence that he uphold our inalienable rights," a local man was arrested at the Chicago performance, on Saturday night, after reportedly shouting at cast and audience members, flipping people off and even spilling a drink on a child.

John Palmer, 56, of the 100 block of E Illinois St., was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land, Officer Kevin Quaid, a police spokesperson told Chicagoist. Palmer was asked to leave by theatre workers for causing a disturbance, but had to be detained by security when he refused to go, Quaid said.

Witnesses told Pajaba that a seemingly drunk Palmer spilled wine on a kid seated behind him, but he really flew off the handle when after the famous Immigrants. We get the job done line was delivered on stage.

He started raising his voice and throwing up middle fingers at anyone who looked at him, including me and my best friend, Ken Keacher told Pajaba.

He was saying things like, We won. Trump is president. Get over it, witness Kate Hoyt told the blog. At some point (Keacher) leaned into the aisle to try and tell him to leave and the guy then put up both his fists and said Lets go Democrats. Ill kill you all.



In a video posted on Facebook by audience member Jeff Grider, a man who seems to be Palmer is seen spewing, "You pussy piece of shit" over and over again while what appears to be theatre security attempts to hold him. (Hat tip to DNA Info for the video.)

Palmer has a court date set for Jan. 9, police said.
World Beat Train : Bonn tram makes for an unusual party venue

Bonn A Line 66 tram was transformed into a travelling disco on Saturday as the third World Beat Train took to the tracks.

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Shortly before 8pm on Saturday night, a tram slipped into the underground station at Bonn main station. The train was greeted enthusiastically by around 130 people who were tightly packed onto the platform. And this was not just any train arriving; it was the World Beat Train. This was the third time organiser Darius Dareks team has transformed an SWB train into a discotheque on rails.

The party train is a totally normal Line 66 tram, which transports thousands of people daily between Siegburg and Bad Honnef. But with a few adjustments, the public transport vehicle is transformed into a very special sort of party location. We had a DJ stand built that we can put up between two rows of seats directly behind the drivers cab, explains Darek. There is also a bar in the middle of the train. Canned drinks such as beer, cola and water are sold.

Idea appeals to those on board and to people at the platforms

Then its off to Bad Honnef. The train attracts lots of attention at stops. The display at the front of the train showing World Beat Train bemuses people at the platforms. What on earth is a World Beat Train? asks one woman from Bad Honnef. As the train finally arrives, all questions are answered. Its a really good idea, says the woman. The Bonn party organisers idea also appeals to those on board. I think its fun to connect the everyday with a party, says Lea Hempel from Bonn. Also, you get talking to people really quickly in a small space.

This is not the first time tram driver Werner Merz has driven the train through the city. For me, the party is always a highlight, says Merz. The feeling of being part of it is simply unique. There are loads of nice people and the music is great. He says he has never had any problems with his dance-mad travel guests. Quite the opposite: Merz is loved for his calm and open-minded manner. As the journey begins and the organiser welcomes the guests over the loud speaker, there is thunderous applause when Merzs name is mentioned. The journey lasts four hours. After a short stop in Bad Honnef, it returns to Bonn and from there to Siegburg and back.
Dusseldorf Passengers who are scheduled to fly with Eurowings on Tuesday or Lufthansa on Wednesday should be prepared for cancellations: Both airlines will be affected by strikes.

In Dusseldorf and in Hamburg, Eurowings cabin crews will strike from 5 a.m. Tuesday morning until 8 p.m. in the evening. Despite months of negotiations, management and union could not reach a result on a new tariff agreement.

On Wednesday, Lufthansa pilots want to cause complete disruption to their companys air traffic The announcement was made by the Cockpit union in Frankfurt on Monday. All flights from Germany are affected. It is the 14th in a series of strikes by Lufthansa airline pilots. This time it is all about the salaries of around 5,400 pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and the subsidiary German Wings. Pilots have demanded a salary increase of 22 percent over a period of five years.
Skoda Greenline: Auf Sparsamkeit getrimmt

Der Fabia ist unter den Greenline-Modellen mit 3,4 Liter Diesel auf 100 km der Sparmeister. Foto: Werksfoto

Beim Preis-Leistungs-Verhaltnis machen Skoda-Modelle von jeher eine gute Figur. Jetzt sind sie auch noch besonders umweltfreundlich unterwegs.

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Beim Preis-Leistungs-Verhaltnis machen Skoda-Modelle von jeher eine gute Figur. Jetzt sind sie auch noch besonders umweltfreundlich unterwegs. Die tschechische Volkswagen-Tochter hat namlich fur alle funf Baureihen je eine Version auf auerste Sparsamkeit getrimmt und sie mit dem Namenszusatz "Greenline" gekennzeichnet.

Bereits seit 2008 konnten die Modelle Fabia, Roomster, Octavia und Superb mit verbrauchsmindernder Technik geordert werden. In der zweiten Greenline-Generation prasentieren sich daruber hinaus jetzt auch das SUV Yeti und das Flaggschiff Superb Combi als besonders kraftstoffeffizient.

Alle Greenline-Varianten sind mit mindestens sechs Airbags, Klimaanlage, Audioanlage mit CD- und MP3-Player, Bordcomputer sowie Leichtmetallfelgen ausgestattet; bei Octavia und Superb sind auerdem auch Lederlenkrad und Parksensoren serienmaig. Die Preise reichen von 16 980 Euro fur den Fabia Greenline bis zum 27 950 Euro teuren Superb Combi Greenline.

"Greenline" kombiniert verschiedene Modifikationen an Fahrzeug und Antriebsstrang und entspricht dem, was bei VW "Blue Motion" und bei der spanischen Schwester Seat "Ecomotive" heit.

Als wichtigste Manahme sind die Sparmodelle mit einer Start-Stopp-Automatik ausgestattet, die den Motor immer dann abschaltet, wenn der Fahrer vor einer roten Ampel, an einer Bahnschranke oder im Stau in den Leerlauf schaltet. Das Triebwerk wird wieder gestartet, sobald die Kupplung getreten wird. Das System arbeitet erfreulich direkt; Verbrauchssenkungen um bis zu 0,8 Liter im Stadtverkehr sollen damit moglich sein.

Daruber hinaus verfugen die Oko-Varianten uber ein System zur Bremsenergie-Ruckgewinnung, rollwiderstandsarme Reifen und eine Schaltempfehlung. Der hochste Gang des manuellen Funfganggetriebes ist besonders lang ubersetzt. Zusatzlich wurden aerodynamische Optimierungen an Karosserie und Unterboden sowie eine Anpassung des Motorsteuergerates vorgenommen.

Die Greenline-Technik ist an zwei direkteinspritzende Turbodiesel-Motoren aus dem Volkswagen-Regal mit 1,2 und 1,6 Liter Hubraum gekoppelt. In den Modellen Fabia, Fabia Combi und Roomster kommt der 1,2-Liter-Dreizylinder mit 55 kW/75 PS zum Einsatz, dessen maximales Drehmoment von 180 Nm bei 2 000 U/min erreicht wird. Damit mutieren Fabia und Fabia Combi zu absoluten Sparmeistern mit einem Normverbrauch von nur 3,4 Litern Diesel je 100 Kilometer bei 89 Gramm CO2-Aussto pro Kilometer; sie sind noch einmal deutlich verbrauchsgunstiger als in der ersten Generation.

Die vom Fabia abgeleitete Hochdachversion Roomster gonnt sich in der Greenline-Version im kombinierten Verbrauch 4,2 Liter Kraftstoff je 100 Kilometer (109 g CO2/km). Mit dem 1,6-Liter-Vierzylinder sind die Greenline-Versionen von Octavia und Superb - jeweils als Limousine und Combi - sowie der frontgetriebene Yeti besonders sparsam unterwegs. Das Aggregat leistet 77 kW/105 PS und stellt sein bestes Drehmoment von 250 Nm zwischen 1 500 und 2 500 U/min zur Verfugung.

Wie der kleinere Motor harmoniert auch der groe Selbstzunder gut mit den Sparmodellen und ist ausreichend durchzugsstark, wenn auch nicht besonders leise. Selbst der 4,84 Meter lange und immerhin 1,5 Tonnen schwere Superb Combi wirkt mit dem 77 kW-Aggregat nicht untermotorisiert.

Wie die Limousinen-Variante konsumiert er im kombinierten Verbrauch lediglich 4,4 Liter Diesel je 100 Kilometer, die CO2-Emissionen liegen bei nur 114 g/km - beeindruckend fur ein Fahrzeug dieser Klasse. Dabei ist der tschechische Lademeister mit einer Hochstgeschwindigkeit von 190 km/h durchaus flott unterwegs und beschleunigt in 12,6 Sekunden auf 100 km/h.

Noch umweltschonender prasentiert sich der kompakte Octavia Greenline. Er wartet mit einem durchschnittlichen Kraftstoffverbrauch von nur 3,8 Liter je 100 Kilometer und 99 g CO2/km auf, der Kombi kommt auf 4,2 Liter und 109 g/km. Von null bis 100 km/h vergehen 11,4 Sekunden, maximal 192 km/h sind moglich.

Beim Fahrverhalten fordert die grune Vernunft kaum Kompromisse. Der genugsame 1,6-Liter-Selbstzunder mit Turboaufladung und Direkteinspritzung zieht muhelos an und erlaubt eine ruckfreie, leicht untertourige Fahrweise.

Einen neuen Bestwert in seinem Segment markiert auch der Yeti Greenline. Ihn gibt es nur als Fronttriebler mit einer um funfundzwanzig Millimeter reduzierten Bodenfreiheit. Trotz groer Stirnflache begnugt sich das kompakte SUV im Normverbrauch mit 4,6 Liter Diesel je 100 Kilometer (119 g CO2/km).
The worlds largest cut emerald is set to go up for auction  and is expected to fetch $1.15million.

The 57,500-carat stone, which is the size of a watermelon, is scheduled to go under the hammer tomorrow by Western Star Auctions in British Columbia.

The gem, named Teodora, was found in Brazil and cut in India, before being sold to rare gems dealer Reagan Reaney in Calgary  but there are doubts over whether it is in fact a true emerald.

A BIG GREEN FAKE?

Emeralds are a green form of the mineral beryl, which is usually white. White beryl is so common that its worthless. But green berylemeraldsis rare and worth a lot of money. The darker the green, the more an emerald is likely to be worth.

As a result, many dishonest people dye white beryl green. Then they pass off their fakes as emeralds. Some gem experts say that Teodora is too big to be a real emerald. They think it must be white beryl that has been dyed.

Jeff Nechka, a gem expert in western Canada, was brought in to test Teodora to see if its real. At first I was very skeptical, says Nechka. Anything this large occurring in nature is extremely rare.

Nechka did find evidence that Teodora had been dyed. However, he says other factorslike its structureshow that it started off as a genuine green emerald. Someone simply dyed it a darker shade of green in an attempt to make it worth more. Nechka is the one who estimated that Teodora is worth $1.15 million, even with the dye job.

Both Nechka and Teodoras current owner, Regan Reaney, say that it could be sold at auction for much more.

Shane McClure, director of GIAs West Coast Identification Service, who cautions he hasnt looked at the stone, says that, if there is any white beryl in the stone, GIA would likely term it beryl with zones of emerald.

But the presence of dye brings up further doubts.

We probably would not call it emerald no matter what, he says. They seem to think there is indication of natural green coloration but we wouldnt call it emerald in any case.

Owner Of Emerald Arrested

Reaneys arrest was as a result of fraud offenses, said RCMP Constable Kris Clark reported :

The Kelowna RCMP became aware of his warrants through interaction with Reaney and made the arrest once Ontario agreed to return him to their jurisdiction. Reaney is known to police in Ontario, but is new to Kelowna and had no other dealings with the RCMP here. Read the report by the Kelowna Daily Courier.

Reference:

TheHuffingtonPost: Regan Reaney Arrested: Owner Of Worlds Largest Emerald Held, Gem Unsold At Auction

Toronto Star Newspapers: Giant emerald unsold at Kelowna auction after co-owner arrested

Reed Exhibitions: Worlds Largest Emerald May Not Be All Emerald

Scholastic Inc: The Worlds Biggest Emerald?
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
4 Ways To Stop Complaining & Help Others In This Post-Trump Election World

By Chicagoist_Guest in News on Nov 21, 2016 6:40PM

By Courtney Jacobson

Not even two weeks have passed since the presidential election, and the time for grief and comfort has passed now, evidently, is the time to attack our allies. News and social media are already filling up with debates over the right way to be an ally and activist, whether its the correct way to protest or the appropriate application of safety pins. This lack of cooperation for the same causes is maddeningand its a big part of how we got here in the first place. Instead of attacking one another, lets do a few simple things to focus less on what people arent doing and more on what they can do to help:



1. Stop criticizing the ways people are taking action.

If you dont want to wear safety pins on your clothing, thats fine: dont. If you dont think protests will accomplish anything: dont attend. But stop telling other people theyre doing something wrong by showing support or taking action. Undoubtedly, some people abuse symbols of solidarity or are superficial in their support. So it goes. But if the things that take minimal effort can do anything at all to help, theyre worth doing.

Its especially important to remember, with increasing threats to an open democratic system, that our country has a long history of protests that helped successfully fight for liberties long denied. Protests garner media attention around issues, are a key tool of democracy, and are one of our most fundamental rights. And, yes, theyre noisy and disruptive, thats why theyre called protests and not tacit approvals. These protests, signs, T-shirts, and pins are how we voice that bigotry is not acceptable. Theyre how we stand up and say, We will not be silenced. We will not accept this. This is not the new normal.

The sad truth is that most people dont even know where to start to support issues they care about. So, instead of criticizing people for taking that first step, talk to them about the next steps. And dont just encourage them to do something, do more. Be ready with specific suggestions.



(Photos by Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist)



2. Stop dismissing people for not acting soon enough.

Not two weeks out and were already seeing the age-old post-election criticismwhere were these people before the election? Well, quite likely, a lot of the people waving signs now were the same people phone banking before. These are the people taking action. But either way, people have now been motivated in a big way. A huge part of the population is under threat from a recent increase in hate crimes and, in a few months, a Republican dominated White House, Senate, House, and the potential for a Supreme Court ready to uphold some disastrous policy ideas. We need all the help we can get, so dont squander that opportunity by telling people that if they showed up to the party late then theyre not invited at all.

There are still things you can do right now to help. Trump is selecting appointees to his administration-including Stephen Bannon, whose racist views have no place in the White House. Right now, you can call your elected officials and ask them to vocally oppose such appointments, which present a clear conflict of interest (or thank them for having done so!). Call the House Oversight Committee (202.225.5074) and lend your support to a bipartisan review of Trump's financials. The elections over, but theres still one more Senate seat up for grabs in a runoff election in Louisianadonate or volunteer now to help balance the party divide in the Senate. Theres a short window in which to shore up support for a more fairly representative government, so if you havent taken action before, now is the time.

3. Be more welcoming to people of different backgrounds.

It can be difficult for people who dont share common ground to stand up for one another. It can be hard to know how best to navigate supporting a culture youre not familiar with. And it's hard for a lot of minority groups to trust people in positions of privilege because those people have all too often used that privilege to ignore, or even undermine their causes. But its the responsibility of those of us with privilege-white, male, straight, middle class, cisgender, educated, whatever-to stand alongside those without the same privilege.

As a white person, I need to do more to stand with People of Color. As a queer woman, I need my straight friends and male friends to stand with me. We all need to demonstrate loud and clear that our activism is real so that we can trust each other enough to work together. A show of solidarity is a great first step, but its only a first step. Be public in your show of support, because while Trump supporters and many media outlets normalize hate and bigotry, we need to normalize standing up for one another. That means promoting the Black Lives Matter message and Trans* Awarenessand not just on Transgender Day of Remembrance. We need to show that the people who care about these issues arent just the people most affected.

Be willing to talk to people you know about specific ways Trump administration policies would affect you. Call people out (politely) if they make offensive comments and explain why such statements are problematic, because silence normalizes hate. Be knowledgeable enough to discuss, for example, how increased police militarization disproportionately impacts people of color. And if you're helping organize the Chicago Womens March in January, then make an extra effort to include women of color, the LGBTQAI community, and your males allies, as well!



Photo: Tyler LaRiviere



4. Do whatever you cant not do. - Luisa Rey, Cloud Atlas

There are a lot of things in life we simply cant do. But we often fail to see the things we can do. When in doubt, find the thing you simply cant stand to see happen and do whatever you can about it, however small.

Our society is not designed to make activism easy for the oppressed. So dont blame people making minimum wage for not being able to take time off for a protest. Dont blame people with three kids for not having time to volunteer. Dont blame people with a mountain of student loan debt for not being able to donate money. There is no activism too small. There is no issue that doesnt ultimately affect us all. And if we all take enough baby steps, were going to get pretty far.

Here in Chicago, we have a large, diverse population and excellent local organizations. Refugee One needs help later this year settling a family in Hyde Park that has been displaced by the civil war in Syria. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights needs your support maintaining Illinois as a haven for immigrants and refugees (this is particularly important as anti-immigrant sentiment affects anyone perceived to be an immigrant). And if we want to revive checks and balances in two years, it will be time to start thinking about midterm elections soon: get ready to donate to or volunteer for campaigns of candidates you want to represent you, and send yourself a reminder to promote them and vote for them.
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.
6 Ways To Have A Great Thanksgiving Meal & Avoid Doing The Dishes

By Anthony Todd in Food on Nov 21, 2016 5:57PM



Photo via Shutterstock.

Thanksgiving can be a stressful holiday. There's tons of family, not a ton of distractions (no gifts, no tree) and all of the focus is on the poor chef! If you're looking for an alternative to spending an entire day basting and chopping, here are six great options for you this Thanksgiving.

Turkeys and Oysters at Shaw's Crab House

Shaw's is known for hosting some pretty epic buffets (like their Sunday brunch) and they're a great option this Thanksgiving. For $75 a person, they are hosting a buffet including (of course) turkey, beef tenderloin, stuffing, potatoes, all the fixins and, since it's Shaw's, oysters on the half shell. You could easily make up $75 in oysters alone, if you try. Kids are just $20.

Thanksgiving Festival at Chicago Q



Thanksgiving is a great time to let your inner carnivore out to play, and what better place to do it than Chicago Q? For their "Thanksgiving Festival" they'll be hosting a special menu, including smoked turkey or prime rib, cornbread dressing, brussels sprouts with home smoked bacon, bourbon pecan sweet potato pie, and more. Dinner runs from 11 a.m. to 8 a.m., and will run you between $40 and $45 per person, depending on what you order.

An Italian-Inspired Thanksgiving at Nico

Nico Osteria isn't the first place we'd think about for Thanksgiving, but they've tossed their hat into the holiday ring this year, and the menu looks great. They're serving their signature crudo, butternut squash bisque with scallops, a pasta with (what else) turkey bolognese, and then either heritage turkey breast or smoked pork chops. Plus pie! You're gonna leave stuffed. The whole mess is $85 per person.

A Michelin-Starred Thanksgiving at Acadia



It's time to upscale your thanksgiving a little. Head to Acadia for a five-course meal of upscaled comfort classics, including french onion soup with truffle gouda, haddock with braised spinach and garlic and, in case you've never tried it, a turducken main course! There's even a special kids menu. Tickets are $95 per adult.

Order a Whole Smoked Turkey From Smoke Daddy



It's not too late to call off the cooking and just order in a whole smoked turkey from Smoke Daddy, which, frankly, sounds like a pretty awesome idea to us. An 11 pound turkey, smoked in-house, is $65, and will be a delightfully different treat for your guests. They'll also serve you pulled turkey, a whole range of sides, and even all the fixings for an at-home bloody mary bar.

A Family Feast at Ann Sather



All these expensive turkey day feasts getting you down? Ann Sather to the rescue. You know they'll put on a heck of a spread, including chicken soup, homemade breads, roast turkey with cranberry and stuffing, and all the other classics, and it'll only run you $22 per person. Plus, their pies are pretty darn famous, and if you order an extra slice, we won't tell anyone.


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Demonetization: 5 Apps and Websites to Avoid Long Queues at ATMs and Banks News oi -Samden Sherpa Tired of seeing the long serpentine queues and wish you had an alternative? Why don't you check out these 5 alternatives that will help you locate a working ATM nearby.

While we are hoping that the current demonetization exercise will likely turn for the better, there is still some skepticism about where our nation and its economy will head in the days to come.

As of now, the cash crunch scenario has put curious impacts on many. People are rushing to banks and ATM machines creating serpentine queues in a quest to get information on exchanging their old notes for the new ones as well as deposit or withdraw money.

SEE ALSO: Quick Trick To Spot Nearby ATMs With Cash and Shorter Queues

Banks are trying their best to help people with a smooth transition but concerns regarding cash availability seems to arise now and then. In fact, all the banks' ATMs have not yet been loaded with cash and people have access to only select ATMs.

The news is that banks are yet to calibrate all their ATMs to support the new Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 500 notes. While it may still take some more time, people are now desperate to find a working ATM or an ATM with enough cash.

So if you are facing the cash crunch and are looking for a reliable solution, you can let out a sigh of relief. Many companies and app developers have come up with genuine tools to help you in your quest to find the ATM near you and spare you from standing in long queues only to find out that the ATM is not working or has run out of cash.

SEE ALSO: Shocking News: Reliance Jio Might Not Introduce its DTH Service!

More importantly, some of these tools help you to find working ATM with cash near you, others can even tell how long the ATM queues are.

Here are 5 ways to locate a working ATM near you.

# The Walnut App The Walnut app which primarily is one of the popular money manager cum expense tracker app allows users to find nearby ATMs that have cash. The app can also provide information regarding the length of the queues at the ATM kiosks and report the time a particular ATM kiosk was last active. In the app, you can see colour-coded pins and it indicates the activity status of nearby ATMs. A Green coloured pin indicates an ATM that is currently active, while an Orange coloured pin signifies an ATM that was recently active. Similarly, a Grey coloured pin means an ATM that has been active in the last few days. Walnut also enables its users to share the location and queue status of a working ATM kiosk with their friends or family. One thing to note, the app may not always give an accurate picture of the situation at an ATM, which is often the case with services that rely on crowd-sourced input. However, Walnut is free to download and is available on both iOS and Android devices. Click Here for New Tablets Best Online Deals # Cash No Cash It is another free service that has been launched in order to help citizens find the nearest cash point. The CashNoCash.com supported by Quikr and Nasscom is a crowd-sourced website which is helping people find the nearest ATM based on their pincode. You just need to type in your pincode in the search box and hit the 'Find Cash' button. Cash No Cash like the walnut app will also display the ATMs with cash in green pins, the ones with long wait time in orange, and out-of-cash ATMs in red. # ATM Search Similarly, by offering information based on crowdsourced data, ATMsearch.in is a website that can provide information about the status of ATMs around your area. You can search for any area on the website by typing the location and clicking the search ATM button. You will now see a list of ATMs that have cash or no cash and information on how long the ATM queues are. ATM Search gives users an option to update the information about existing ATMs in the database and allows them to add unlisted ATMs by providing basic details, such as bank name, landmark, and crowd status, thus enabling any user to solve the cash crunch issue that the public is facing. Click Here for New Android Smartphones Best Online Deals # CMS ATM Finder Well, CMS is the fifth largest ATM management company worldwide and is mainly involved in driving the cash cycle in India. You need to follow this link: http://atmfinder.cms.com/atmfinder/ATMStatus.aspx As you enter the above link in the browser or just click it, you will be directed to the ATM Finder page. Here there will be an option that lets you choose your State and City. On choosing your location using the dropdown box, it will help find a list of ATMs managed by CMS. The list shows ATMs that are up and running. At the right side, you also get the option to notify CMS if a particular ATM is shut or out of cash. However, this is limited to only the 55,000 CMS ATMs, but it has the benefit of having accurate information, straight from the company that operates these ATMs. # Google India Search Tab Google India has added a new tool called Find an ATM Near You' on its main page, just below the Google search button. This comes as finding an ATM that is working has become a challenge for many. So, once you click the tab, it will take you to Maps and displays the list of ATM nearby your place. Google also lists all the bank brands near to the user's location on the map with direction details. This feature is available on both mobile and desktop. However, no update regarding the cash availability or if there are any people can be seen.

There are other methods as well to find information about ATMs. Users can download respective bank's mobile applications on Google Play and Apple App stores. They too provide ATM location details services. Moreover, you can also use social media to find out if ATMs near you have cash or no cash. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals

Best Mobiles in India

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Nokias Comeback Smartphone to First Debut in China News oi -Chakri Kudikala According to the latest rumor, the upcoming Nokia smartphone will debut in China first.

A couple of days ago, we reported that Nokia will be entering into the smartphone business in early 2017. And now, we have another information which says that Nokia will likely launch the smartphone in China first.

The only Nokia phone we heard about all these days was the Nokia D1C , but the new leak suggests that Nokia will launch another smartphone with flagship specifications in China

SEE ALSO: This Upcoming Feature on Apple iPhone's Camera App Can Revolutionise the Way We See Things

However, there is no conclusive evidence on this. But, the flagship phone is said to come in two display variants- one with 5.2-inch and the other one with 5.5-inch. The smartphone might be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and boots Android Nougat out-of-the-box.

Also, the smartphone is said to feature IP68 rating, which means that you can swim with your smartphone for 30 minutes. The latest leak hasn't revealed any other specifications, apart from these.

Speaking about the Nokia D1C, it will boast of a 5-inch display along with Snapdragon 430 chipset and 3GB of RAM. This smartphone will also boot Android Nougat. Nokia is expected to unveil these smartphones at the MWC 2017.

Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals

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Overall, Double XL is a well-made film that might be liked by gentry in all shapes, sizes, and age too. By the way, do not miss the interval!!
Photos: Racial Tensions Continue To Flare At Mt. Greenwood Protests

By aaroncynic in News on Nov 21, 2016 3:55PM

Demonstrators once again descended on the corner of 111th Street and Kedzie Avenue over the weekend in the wake of a shooting in which an off-duty Chicago police officer shot and killed Joshua Beal earlier this month.

Various groups of mostly white residents of the neighborhood lined the street corners at the intersection to say they support police, waving Blue Lives Matter flags and chanting CPD. Meanwhile members of the Revolutionary Communist Party marched through the area and stood in the intersection, and were later joined by several other groups protesting against white supremacy, some of which later held a meeting at a nearby library to call for healing.

The killing of Beal by an off-duty copone of many in an ever-lengthening line of police shootings where the official account and account from witnesses and family members do not synch up touched off racial tensions in Mt. Greenwood last week, but some of these tension have been boiling over for decades in the mostly white enclave on the far South Side. Subsequent protests against police violence following the shooting in the neighborhood have been extremely tense, with counter-demonstrators making threats and hurling racial slurs.

This happened once again at Sundays demonstration, though a heavy police presence at the barricades surrounding the intersection kept most of the groups physically, though not verbally, separated from each other.





Now in Mt Greenwood, black lives matter, blue lives matter demonstrators face off pic.twitter.com/1lpVTqufeY  Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) November 20, 2016





Tio Hardiman, President of Violence Interrupters Incorporated, said that he and members of his group came to the demonstration to address the blatant racism that reared its head during the previous demonstrations.

This is the year 2016. Mount Greenwood or no other community should have such racist views of black people, said Hardiman. This is bigger than a lot of people understand. Youre not going to get rid of racism overnight, but youre going to continue to challenge the people involved in racist thoughts. Chicago has a 100 year history of police misconduct and excessive force. Even though this isnt about the police todayit goes to show you how people feel about African Americans in particular.

This community is polarized, he added. When African-American people come over here, the demon of racism shows its face.

While the majority of the larger chants from Blue Lives Matter demonstrators on the sidewalks were limited to ones that praised Chicago police or were at least free from overt racial expletives, some off the street still hurled racial epithets at those in the street.

Go back to Africa or wherever youre from, shouted one man from the sidelines. Theyre a bunch of assholes that are going to tear up the neighborhood, said another, who then used the n-word as another man pulled him back and led him away.





Blue lives matter protester accuses black lives matter protester of being paid. "I'm not getting paid, someone got murdered" #mtgreenwood  Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) November 20, 2016

While the bulk of demonstrators kept to the intersection at 111th and Kedzie, a smaller group carrying signs that read lets talk marched away to a nearby library for a community discussion between city officials, residents, activists and faith leaders over pizza.

The challenge of what's happening at 111th is it is two sides yelling at each other - they are not hearing each other, they are not trying to bridge the divide, said Chicago Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp, speaking to reporters alongside alderman Matt OShea and Pastor Bishop James Dukes of the Liberation Christian Center.

This is not a cookie-cutting, kumbaya meeting in here, said Dukes. This is a real meeting between different cultures that are trying to get an understanding of each other and still survive.

While a good start, it will take more than a single community meeting to even begin to heal the racial divide in the area.

Rev. Shaunte' Brewer of the Prayer Tabernacle Church however, who lives in Beverly, the neighborhood next door, was hopeful meetings like the one at the library could begin a dialogue.

Its a complex situation thats something thats been growing for years...this wasnt a problem that happened overnight...some of the Mt Greenwood residents are mad at the protests saying why are they here and thinking everything revolves with Mr. Beal, but thats not the case. Were here in response to how the family was treated after. Were here because people like me saw those live videos and were disgusted by both sides.
McCain on torture: I don't give a damn what Trump wants to do

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 7:36AM

Senator John McCain has issued a stiff warning to President-elect Donald Trump on the subject of torture, insisting the United States would not reinstate waterboarding.

"I don't give a damn what the president of the United States wants to do. We will not waterboard," McCain said at the annual Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday. "We will not torture people  It doesn't work."

McCain, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, warned that any attempt to bring back torture, including waterboarding, would be challenged in court.

"If they started waterboarding, I swear to you that we'd have them in court in a New York minute," he said.

The Arizona senator, who was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, acknowledged that waterboarding tarnishes the US image in the world.

"What does it say about America if we're going to inflict torture on people?" he asked.

McCain added that torture remains illegal under the Geneva Conventions and was also banned by the US Congress last year.

During his bombastic campaign, Trump repeatedly said he would use much harsher torture techniques against suspected terrorists than waterboarding.

"We have to fight fire with fire," he said at a campaign rally in June. "What do you think about waterboarding?" Trump asked his supporters. "I like it a lot. I don't think it's tough enough."

At a Republican primary debate in February, the billionaire businessman vowed to "bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."

Waterboarding had been used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on terror suspects captured after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The harsh practice, which simulates drowning, was banned in 2006.

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Senator McCain Pledges to Oppose Bringing Back Waterboarding

Sputnik News

07:37 20.11.2016

John McCain vowed to oppose reinstating the interrogation technique of simulated drowning if President-elect Donald Trump demanded this.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain vowed to oppose reinstating the interrogation technique of simulated drowning if President-elect Donald Trump demanded this.

"I don't give a damn what the president wants to do We will not waterboard. We will not torture people," McCain said at the Halifax security forum on Saturday, as quoted on its Twitter feed.

Speaking before an international panel on the Syrian crisis, the Arizona senator and former Vietnam War prisoner McCain said torture was against both US laws and Geneva conventions.

Donald Trump complained on CBS show in March that the United States was fighting a war against an enemy in the Middle East who could chop off heads, while having its hands tied by strict rules. He said he would seek to have laws expanded, including on extreme interrogation methods.

 Sputnik

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Defense, Spy Chiefs to Face House Panel After Reported Attempt to Oust NSA Head

Sputnik News

06:16 20.11.2016

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and National Intelligence Director James Clapper were asked late Saturday to appear before a House select committee by the end of the year after they reportedly urged President Barack Obama to fire National Security Agency (NSA) chief Michael Rogers.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Washington Post cited several unnamed officials familiar with the matter as saying Carter and Clapper recommended last month that Obama remove Adm. Rogers, as well as separate the US military's Cyber Command from the NSA.

"I will convene an open-session hearing at the earliest possible opportunity so the Committee may understand the veracity of the Post article and fully understand the impact of the proposed separation of NSA and USCYBERCOM on the IC [Intelligence Community]," Devin Nunes, the chair of the permanent select committee on intelligence wrote in a letter on the Committee's website.

Nunes gave Carter and Clapper until Sunday afternoon to submit a list of dates they were available to appear before the Committee by the end of December. He also described Adm. Rogers, NSA chief since 2014, as a professional whose expertise helped the agency through turbulent times after its online spying was outed by Edward Snowden in 2013.

Additionally, Nunes said he was "concerned that the article may contain unauthorized disclosures of classified information."

Michael Rogers is considered to be a contender for Clapper's post at the helm of 17 intelligence agencies under Donald Trump. Earlier this week, he reportedly met with US President-elect Trump in New York City, without informing his superior, which the Post said worried the US administration.

 Sputnik

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Who Killed JFK? The Mob Did It

John and Robert Kennedy brought to their respective positions as President and Attorney General an unprecedented familiarity with the threat of organized crime -- and a commitment to prosecute its leaders -- based on their service as member and chief counsel respectively of the McClellan Committee during its extensive investigation of labor racketeering in the late 1950's. An assassination of a President by organized crime could not be allowed to appear to be what it was.

Organized crime probably was active in attempts to assassinate Castro, independent of any activity it engaged in with the CIA. From the time he was a young man, Sam Giancana rose within the Chicago organized crime syndicate until he became syndicate leader in 1957. After an eight-year stint in Mexico, Giancana was deported back to Chicago where he was murdered in 1975, shortly before he was scheduled to testify before the Church Committee. Giancana is of historical interest with respect to the Kennedy assassination for a number of reasons: (1) Giancana was involved in the CIA plots to assassinate Fidel Castro; (2) Giancana expressed hostility t o w a rd the Kennedys because of the Kennedys' war against organized crime; (3) Giancana had associates in common with President Kennedy (namely, Frank Sinatra and Judith Campbell Exner); (4) Giancana allegedly contributed to Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign; and (5) Giancana was allegedly linked to Joseph P. Kennedy through the illicit liquor trade.

Hoffa and at least one of his Teamster lieutenants, Edward Partin, apparently did, in fact, discuss the planning of an assassination conspiracy against President Kennedy's brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, in July or August of 1962. Hoffa discussed the possible use of a lone gunman equipped with a rifle with a telescopic sight, the advisability of having the assassination committed somewhere in the South, as well as the potential desirability of having Robert Kennedy shot while riding in a convertible.

Santos Trafficante, the La Cosa Nostra leader in Florida, like Marcello, had the motive, means, and opportunity to assassinate President Kennedy. Trafficante's role as the mob's chief liaison to criminal figures within the Cuban exile community, provided him with the capability of formulating an assassination conspiracy against President Kennedy. Trafficante was alleged to have told prominent Cuban exile Jose Aleman that Teamsters Union President James Hoffa was principally involved in planning the Presidential murder.

Carlos Marcello (06 February 1910 - 03 March 1993) had the motive, means and opportunity to have President John F. Kennedy assassinated. As the long-time La Cosa Nostra leader in an area that is based in New Orleans but extends throughout Louisiana and Texas, Marcello was one of the prime targets of Justice Department efforts during the Kennedy administration.

The Kennedy Justice Department vigorously pursued Marcello, even subjecting him to a brief, nightmarish deportation through deportation proceedings personally expedited by Attorney General Kennedy. In March 1961, the Attorney General took steps to have Marcello deported to Guatemala (the country Marcello had falsely listed as his birthplace). On 4th April, Marcello was arrested by the authorities and taken forcibly removed to Guatemala. It did not take Marcello long to get back into the United States. Once he returned, Marcello hated the Kennedy brothers with a deep and vengeful passion. In 1963, only weeks after JFK was killed, the FBI questioned 14 Marcello mob associates. Yet Marcello's name doesn't even appear in the Warren Commission Report. In its investigation of Marcello, the 1979 Select Committee on Assassinations identified the presence of one critical evidentiary element that was lacking with the other organized crime figures examined by the Select Committee on Assassinations of the US House of Representatives : credible associations relating both Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby to figures having a relationship, albeit tenuous, with Marcello's crime family or organization.

Ruby was a personal acquaintance of Joseph Civello, the Marcello associate, who allegedly headed organized crime activities in Dallas; he also knew other individuals who have been linked with organized crime, including a New Orleans nightclub figure, Harold Tannenbaum, with whom Ruby was considering going into partnership in the fall of 1963.

David Ferrie worked as an investigator on the case involving deportation proceedings against Carlos Marcello. Oswald and Ferrie apparently first came into contact with each other during Oswald's participation as a teenager in a Civil Air Patrol unit for which Ferrie served as an instructor. Ferrie also worked with Guy Banister, whose firm occupied an office in 1963 in the Newman Building at 531 Lafayette Street. Another entrance to the building was at 544 Camp Street, the address Oswald had stamped on his Fair Play for Cuba Committee handouts. During the summer of 1963, Ferrie frequented 544 Camp Street regularly as a result of his working relationship with Banister. The only other Cuba-related activities that have ever been established at 544 Camp Street were virulently anti-Castro in nature. Another occupant of the Newman Building was the anti-Castro Cuban Revolutionary Council.

Lee Harvey Oswald's uncle & surrogate father Charles Murret, aka Dutz, was a bookmaker in Marcello's gambling operation in New Orleans. Charles "Dutz" Murret, a minor underworld gambling figure, served as a surrogate father of sorts throughout much of Oswald's life in New Orleans. Murret was in the 1940's and 1950's and possibly until his death in 1964: an associate of significant organized crime figures affiliated with the Marcello organization. Oswald's mother, Marguerite Oswald, was acquainted with several men associated with lieutenants in the Marcello organization. One such acquaintance, who was also an associate of Dutz Murret, reportedly served as a personal aide or driver to Marcello at one time.

An individual connected to Dutz Murret, the person who arranged bail for Oswald following his arrest in August 1963 for a street disturbance, was an associate of two of Marcello's syndicate deputies. (One of the two, Nofio Pecora, as noted, also received a telephone call from Ruby on October 30, 1963, according to the committee's computer analysis of Ruby's phone records.)

Any evaluation of Marcello's possible role in the assassination must take into consideration his unique stature within La Cosa Nostra. The FBI determined in the 1960's that because of Marcello's position as head of the New Orleans Mafia family (the oldest in the United States, having first entered the country in the 1880's), the Louisiana organized crime leader had been endowed with special powers and privileges not accorded to any other La Cosa Nostra members. As the leader of "the first family" of the Mafia in America, according to FBI information, Marcello had been the recipient of the extraordinary privilege of conducting syndicate operations without having to seek the approval of the national commission.

By 1972, Carlos was sixty-two years old, richer and more powerful, possibly the most powerful Mafia boss in the nation. His only contender to this title may have been Carlo Gambino, the ageing don who ran what was perhaps the biggest [Mafia] family in the country, based in Brooklyn. The House Select Committee on Crime declared in 1972, "We believe Carlos Marcello has become a formidable menace to the institution of government and the people of the United States."

In 1973, the first book was published on the assassination of President Kennedy, pointing a finger at Marcello; although in 1969, famous crime writer Ed Reid in his book The Grim Reapers had hinted at a possible connection. In 1976, an Italian documentary film called The Two Kennedys specifically nailed the Mafia as the force behind the murders of the brothers, again naming Marcello as the principal suspect.

In 1979, the US government finally succeeded in prosecuting Marcello, who spent most of the 1980s in prison. On June 17, 1980, Carlos Marcello, along with three other men, was indicted by a federal grand jury of twelve counts of racketeering in the BRILAB case. Carlos went off to prison in April 1983. The FBI groomed an informant who became Carlos Marcello's cellmate. A 07 March 1986 FBI transcript quotes Marcello confessing [or bragging], "Yeah, I had the son of a bitch killed. I'm glad I did. I'm sorry I couldn't have done it myself!" The memo was cited in the 2008 book "Legacy of Secrecy" by Lamar Waldron.

Bobby Kennedy's friend and biographer Jack Newfield wrote that a very close relative of Carlos Marcello told a government informant "we took care of 'em (the Kennedys), didn't we?" Bobby blamed the Mafia and New Orleans godfather Carlos Marcello in particular, for the death of his brother.

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U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 20, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Raqqa, six strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; damaged a supply route and an ISIL training camp; and destroyed seven oil production machines, one vehicle.

-- Near Ayn Isa, nine strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units, damaged a supply route, and destroyed two artillery pieces, two fighting positions and a tank.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed one oil well head.

-- Near Manbij, a strike destroyed an armored vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Qaim, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a vehicle bomb.

-- Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL-held buildings, a roadside bomb, two vehicle bombs, a vehicle bomb-making facility, and a mortar system.

-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two bunkers and a vehicle.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is a strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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USS Sampson Concludes Relief Effort Support to New Zealand

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161120-01

Release Date: 11/20/2016 3:31:00 PM

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Sampson (DDG 102) and two embarked MH-60R helicopters from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 concluded relief effort support to the residents of Kaikoura, New Zealand, Nov. 19.

Sampson and the embarked helicopters directly supported the Government of New Zealand onsite at Kaikoura from Nov. 17-19. Over the two days, the helicopters completed 14 flights lifting 11,000 lbs. of equipment and supplies from HMNZS Canberra to the shore and also took the mayor of Kaikoura on a visual inspection tour of the surrounding area. The crew of Sampson supported transporting New Zealand citizens from Kaikoura to HMNZS Canterbury via the Sampson's rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and 26 Sailors went ashore and assisted in establishing a food distribution center, assisting in the cleanup efforts, and engaging with the local residents to assess their needs.

"Words cannot express the enthusiasm that the crew and I have about being here helping those affected by the earthquake, while representing the United States. Operating in close concert with our counterparts in the Royal New Zealand Navy signifies the deepening bilateral partnership we have with them and with the Government of New Zealand," said Cmdr. Tim LaBenz, Sampson's commanding officer. "It's a privilege to assist where needed, and I must say we are glad to being doing our part in some small way to alleviate any kind of suffering happening ashore."

As operations supported by Sampson began to wind down on Nov. 19, the ship was visited by New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee as he reviewed the relief efforts and all of the supporting international ships supporting.

"[As] the first ship in 30 years or more to from the U.S. to visit New Zealand and then respond as you have to a reasonably big natural disaster here on the South Island is just unbelievably appreciated by New Zealanders," Brownlee said. "You cannot underestimate how much each of you has become an ambassador for the friendly relationship between New Zealand and the United States."

As part of the earthquake response naval task group, Sampson continued into Wellington Harbor for VIP visits the following morning along with the New Zealand frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, tanker HMNZS Endeavour, Australian ship HMAS Darwin and Canadian ship HMCS Vancouver. After the brief stop in Wellington, the task group continued on to Auckland, New Zealand.

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Saudis target Yemen in flagrant violation of truce

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 9:43AM

Saudi fighter jets have carried out more air raids against Yemen in violation of a ceasefire declared by Riyadh itself in the war-torn country.

Yemen's al-Masirah television reported that the Saudi warplanes targeted the Sirwah district of Ma'rib Province and bombarded three bridges in the Silw neighborhood of Ta'izz Province late on Saturday.

Earlier on the day, similar Saudi strikes were carried out in the provinces of Hudaydah, Sa'ada and Sana'a.

The Saudi jets also mistakenly targeted Riyadh-backed forces loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in the Midi district of the northwestern Hajjah Province, killing a large number of them.

Saudi mercenaries also launched mortar attacks in the al-Dhaba neighborhood of Ta'izz. The assaults left several Yemeni citizens dead and injured.

The deadly assaults came in violation of the 48-hour truce declared by Saudi Arabia on Saturday noon.

The announcement followed a request for a ceasefire by Hadi, who is based in Riyadh, to Saudi King Salman.

Yemeni counter attacks

In retaliation for the Saudi attacks, the Yemeni army and forces of the Houthi Ansarullah movement fired a ballistic missile at a Saudi military base in the kingdom's southwestern region of Najran.

Saudi ground forces claim that they had averted three other missile attacks allegedly fired from Yemen over the past few hours.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni army foiled an attempt by Saudi mercenaries to advance in the Midi district of the northwestern Hajjah Province.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an offensive against Yemen since March 2015 in a bid to crush the Houthis and reinstate the former Yemeni administration. The war has left at least 11,400 civilians dead, according to a latest tally by a Yemeni monitoring group.

The US has also been providing logistic and surveillance support to the kingdom in the bloody military campaign.

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Top IS Commander Reported Killed In Drone Strike In Afghanistan

RFE/RL November 20, 2016

Afghan officials say a top commander of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group has been killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in eastern Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the Nangarhar provincial governor said Mullah Bozorg, a leader of the IS group in Afghanistan, was killed along with seven fighters late on November 18.

The spokesman, Attaullah Khugyani, said the strike was carried out in the Lagharjo area of Kot district.

He added that weapons, ammunition, and explosives belonging to the group were also seized and destroyed.

"A commander of Daesh was killed in Kot district of Nangarhar Province," the Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement on November 19, using the Arabic acronym for the group.

IS militants have been active in Nangarhar, where they have seized pockets of territory in the past two years.

The group has recently spread to the neighboring provinces of Kunar and Zabul, located along the porous border with Pakistan.

The extremist group has also claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Kabul, the most recent a November 16 attack that killed six people near the Defense Ministry building.

In October, the IS group claimed responsibility for two separate attacks on Shi'ite worshippers in Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif that killed dozens of people.

The United States has stepped up air strikes against IS militants and rival Al-Qaeda fighters in the past year.

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, said in September that there are up to 1,300 IS militants in the country who receive money, guidance, and communications support from IS leaders in Syria and Iraq.

He said most IS fighters were former members of the Pakistani Taliban, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group fighting against Islamabad.

With reporting by dpa and Khaama

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- islamicstate-pakistan/28128629.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NATO Multinational Military Exercise Iron Sword 2016 Kick Off in Lithuania

Sputnik News

19:01 20.11.2016(updated 21:02 20.11.2016)

NATO multinational military exercise Iron Sword 2016 kicked off in Lithuania, with 4,000 troops participating, the country's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.

VILNIUS (Sputnik)  The exercise, set to last through December 3, will train soldiers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

"The multinational military exercise provides an opportunity to demonstrate skills. When we share our knowledge during exercises, we become stronger. I know that the military personnel, which have arrived to participate in the exercise, are prepared for it. I would like the Iron Sword 2016 to be challenging for all participants," Col. Dalius Polekauskas, the maneuvers commander, said during the opening ceremony.

Earlier this week, Lithuanian Land Forces Commander Valdemaras Rupsys said that the objective of the exercise was a quick and efficient response to all units in the area to conventional threats.

Iron Sword exercise, hosted by Lithuania for the third time, is a part of the NATO Military Training and Exercise Program.

 Sputnik

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Yemen's Authorities Accuse Houthi Rebels of Seizing Ships With Humanitarian Aid

Sputnik News

16:38 20.11.2016(updated 16:48 20.11.2016)

Houthi rebels have seized ships with humanitarian aid in the Red Sea harbor, Yemen's Minister of Local Administration Abdulraqeeb Fath said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Houthi rebels have seized ships with humanitarian aid in the Red Sea harbor, potentially causing famine in rebel-held areas, Yemen's Minister of Local Administration Abdulraqeeb Fath said, as cited by local media on Sunday.

According to SABA media outlet, Fath met with Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin in Riyadh on Saturday.

"It is a shame that the Hodeidah province, which hosts the world's biggest food storage facilities, is suffering from famine," Fath said during the meeting, as quoted by the media.

Dedushkin reportedly noted during the meeting that Russia was ready to provide humanitarian aid for Yemen, including food, medicine and power generators for hospitals..

The conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, which has been ongoing since 2014, has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen. Ansar Allah militants seized control over large areas of the county's territory including Yemen's capital Sanaa and a range of ports on the Red Sea. According to the World Food Program report on Yemen issued on November 14, over 21 million people, or 82 percent of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

 Sputnik

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North Dakota Cops Blasted #NoDAPL Activists With Water On Below-Freezing Sunday Night

By aaroncynic in News on Nov 21, 2016 10:00PM



Hundreds of demonstrators block the entrance to the Army Corps of Engineers headquarters as they protest against the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline November 15, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Nearly 200 water protectorsactivists who for months have been trying to put a halt to the construction of the controversial Dakota Access pipelinewere injured Sunday night in North Dakota after law enforcement agencies used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse them.

The 1,170 mile pipeline, which is about 85 percent complete, runs from North Dakota to Patoka, a town in Marion County in downstate Illinois. According to documents published by ABC in early November, a previously proposed route had the pipeline crossing the Missouri River north of Bismarck, but that was rejected due to concerns raised by engineers over the potential contamination of drinking water. Instead, the eventual route chosen takes the pipeline just upstream, through indigenous lands near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

The Morton County Sheriffs Department accused water protectors of starting fires, saying they moved in on the group to quell an ongoing riot. The Department said that the water cannons were used to put out fires, but dozens of accounts from local reporters, independent journalists and other witnesses however show demonstrators being hosed down by an armored vehicle in sub-zero temperatures without any visible fire. Many also published photos and videos detailing the injuries activists received, which sent at least a dozen to the hospital, according to the New York Times. One man had to be revived by a medical team for cardiac arrest.





Sheriff's spokesman Rob Keller told NBC that no water cannons were used and water was only deployed to put out fires set by #NoDAPL crowd. pic.twitter.com/9qc2l10rOX  Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Video of water cannons being used on protectors in 26AF/-3AC at barricades at barricades in North Dakota Y: @johnkdangers #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/L8gYUglJ9v  IndigenousEnviroNet (@IENearth) November 21, 2016

Morton County Sheriff's spokesperson Rob Keller told the Associated Press "Water hoses were used to keep distance between officers and criminal agitators and also to put out fires set by those agitators.

According to a report from Chicago-based Native journalist and organizer Kelly Hayes, who has traveled to the camp three times, there are at least 14 Midwestern law enforcement agencies involved in operations in Standing Rock, half of which are from Northwest Indiana.

A joint statement from several groups published by Camp of the Sacred Stones, however, alleges that small grassfires were started by police after they fired flares while water protectors were attempting to clear the road of vehicles that were disabled during previous clashes.

For weeks, the main highway to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation has been cut off, with no movement by the state to address a public safety risk, said Tara Houska, National Campaigns Director for Honor the Earth in the statement. Attempting to clear the road was met with police spraying people with water cannons in 26 degree weatherthats deadly force, its freezing outside. They want to kill people for clearing a road? When will our cries be heard? Stop the Dakota Access pipeline. Respect the rights of indigenous people, of all peoples.

Various activist groups in Chicago have organized several solidarity rallies for the water protectors in North Dakota. The Huffington Post reports on Saturday, several people were arrested at a Citibank branch on North Clark Street after shutting it down to demand Citigroup divest from the pipeline. Citibanks funding of the pipeline directly contributes to the desecration of the sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, said Sean Estelle, a member of Rising Tide, one of several groups that participated in the demonstration in a statement emailed to Chicagoist.

Meanwhile, activists with the group Black Rose/Rosa Negra the Bridgeport community are collecting supplies Monday evening for those on the front lines in North Dakota. According to a Facebook event, interested parties can bring supplies or cash to Bernices Tavern at 3238 S. Halsted St. beginning at 8:00 p.m.


Somalia Elections Not Credible, Country's Auditor General Says

By Harun Maruf November 20, 2016

Somalia's ongoing parliamentary elections have no credibility becauses of vote buying, fraud, intimidation and violence, the country's auditor general said in an exclusive interview with VOA Somali.

Nur Jimale Farah said Electoral College delegates, who are electing members of parliament, are voting for the highest bidder.

"Some votes were bought with $5,000, some with $10,000, and some with $20,000 or $30,000. But not all seats are equal. Some are influential seats and have a lot of candidates competing for them," he said.

He said two seats cost their respective winners $1.3 million each. He said his office recorded that one of the seats was won in Galmudug and the other in Hirshabelle.

Threats, exclusions

Farah said some delegates were threatened, some stayed away because they were afraid, and others weren't allowed into election halls while other people used their names to vote.

"In Baidoa, some delegates were kept outside, a candidate was kept outside; the one candidate who got inside was elected. It was claimed the other one gave up, although he is being kept outside. There were two such cases in Kismayo, too," he said.

Farah said his office recorded six candidates who were elected under these circumstances.

This was the first evidence of alleged vote buying in Lower House and Upper House elections, which are taking place in five major towns in Somalia.

More than 14,000 Electoral College delegates are voting for the 275-member Lower House of parliament, and so far, fewer than half of the members have been selected. Regional parliaments are also electing the 54-member Upper House, where 80 percent of the seats have been filled.

Farah said some candidates were elected unopposed, although their challengers were present and were kept outside election halls.

Asked why the seats are so expensive, Farah said some candidates, among them business leaders and well-known individuals, believe getting into the parliament will give them immunity and protection.

"They are using the seats as a sanctuary," he said.

Several former warlords with a history of violence were also elected to the two houses of parliament.

Plenty of blame

Abdirashid Hashi, director of the Heritage Institute, a Mogadishu think tank, said regional officials were getting themselves elected and were winning with higher vote margins. If someone is not wanted to win, he is not going to win, he said.

Hashi said anyone thinking that this election is legitimate is "walking in the dark."

He said the candidates who are paying the money and delegates who are accepting it are equally to blame.

Contrary to the rules of the election, Farah said, some of the candidates hold official government positions and have committed "abuse of power" to get seats.

"Someone who is in a government position and someone who isn't are not equal in competing for these parliamentary seats, because one person has the power and this election is about power. A civil servant and an ordinary person are not on equal terms in this election," he said.

Farah said he wasn't ruling out the possibility that taxpayer money had been used in buying votes, and that officials were trying to determine whether money taken from central government accounts had been used.

"When there is power abuse, there is nothing stopping them from using government money," he said.

Gunfire in Jowhar

The electoral commission Friday night suspended the election in Jowhar town where the government minister for youth, Mohamed Hassan Noah, was competing against a new challenger and gunfire broke out between bodyguards of the political rivals. Four people were wounded.

One clan elder responsible for selecting Electoral College delegates was shot dead in Adado town. Two weeks ago, a dispute between two Electoral College delegates turned deadly when one fatally stabbed the other.

The international community, including the U.N., acknowledges vote-buying practices. U.N. Special Representative for Somalia Michael Keating said that vote buying and bribes were a "reality," but he doubted that money would translate into votes.

"I think the important thing is that the voting, when it actually takes place, is secret, that there are no cellphones for people to take photographs of how they voted," Keating said in a U.N. video.

But Farah said money was translating into votes because, for some seats, voting was by show of hands, contrary to election rules, and in other cases candidates took their own fake delegates into the election hall to vote for them.

The presidential election is scheduled to take place November 30, after the election of the parliament is completed.

Hashi said the current leaders of the government want to return to power, while other new candidates want to unseat them.

"When we have a final list of the 275 MPs and the 54 senators, it will be clearer to predict who has the chance to win [the presidency]," he said.

The electoral commission could not be reached for comment.

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APEC Leaders Push Back Against Protectionism

By Cindy Saine November 20, 2016

Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations have ended their annual summit with a call to resist protectionism and protect the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, which has been thrown into uncertainty after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum closed Sunday in Lima, Peru, with a joint pledge to work toward a sweeping new free trade agreement that would include all 21 members as a path to "sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth,'' despite the political climate.

Trump strongly criticized the TPP -- which includes the United States but not China -- during an election campaign notable for his strong criticism of U.S. free trade deals.

But at a news conference at the end of the summit, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States should not retreat from global trade, but should seek to "do trade right'' so that workers are protected and environmental standards are upheld.

Obama said it's time for the U.S. to reaffirm its support for the TPP trade deal. He said if Trump withdraws the U.S. from the pact, it will be a weaker deal and the U.S. would lose an opportunity to shape the rules of global trade "in a way that reflects our values."

Earlier in the day, Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin had brief talks about Syria and Ukraine on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, the White House said, in their first face-to-face encounter since the election victory of Donald Trump.

Obama later told reporters he encouraged Putin to uphold Russia's commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict. Both the White House and the Kremlin said the leaders agreed that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov should keep working on initiatives to decrease the violence in Syria and alleviate suffering.

Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama noted that while their working relationship had been difficult, they'd "always respected each other's positions, and each other."

The Russian leader also said Trump has confirmed to him he is willing to mend ties.

"The president-elect confirmed he is willing to normalize Russian-American relations. I told him the same. We did not discuss where and when we would meet."

Barring unforeseen circumstances, this is the 52nd and final foreign trip of Obama's eight years in the White House.

A cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy was a focus on Asia and the Pacific, the so-called Asia-Pacific re-balance, but that could change substantially after he leaves office in nine weeks.

On Saturday, Obama had a message Saturday for 1,000 young leaders from all over Latin America and the Caribbean on President-elect Trump: "Don't assume the worst."

Speaking at a town-hall style meeting in Peru's capital, Obama took several questions from young people in the audience who were anxious about the future as the U.S. presidency changes hands.

Obama called on them to be optimistic, advising that no one can make things better unless they have hope.

"I think it will be important for everybody around the world to not make immediate judgments, but give this new president-elect a chance to put [his] team together, to examine the issues, to determine what their policies will be," Obama said.

"How you campaign is not always how you govern," he added.

The president appeared to be in his element interacting with young people in Peru Saturday, in a meeting similar to many other town-hall gatherings he has taken part in during previous trips across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Obama received a rock star's welcome from the crowd, and he sought to reassure everyone in his youthful audience, part of the Young Leaders of America initiative, that they can write their own history. Although his time as president is coming to an end, Obama said, the worldwide network of encouraging entrepreneurship among young people is just beginning: "The main message I want you to know is that you have a partner in me, and you have a partner in the U.S. government."

After the town hall, Obama held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In brief remarks to reporters beforehand, Xi expressed concern.

"We meet at a hinge moment in the China-U.S. relationship. I hope the two sides will work together to focus on cooperation, manage our differences and make sure there is a smooth transition in the relationship, and that it will continue to grow going forward," Xi said.

After the two leaders met, the White House released a statement saying: "The two leaders reflected on the significant progress they have achieved in strengthening the bilateral relationship through sustained engagement."

U.S. officials said Obama and Xi addressed the threat presented by North Korea's efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems and affirmed their firm commitment to achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Chinese and American presidents also pointed to the recent Paris Agreement to combat climate change as an example of their two countries' progress, and its benefits to the international community.

European and Asian leaders have expressed concern about President-elect Trump's skeptical statements about climate-change efforts, international trade agreements and international security alliances.

Latin American leaders including Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski also say they are concerned about Trump's avowed plan to act quickly and firmly to close U.S. borders to all Latino immigrants trying to enter the United States with inadequate documentation.

Obama has sought to reassure foreign leaders about America's commitment to bedrock democratic principles and alliances, pointing to his public comments throughout his current trip abroad, which began in Greece and Germany before bringing him to Peru.

Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York on Thursday, after Obama already had left Washington for Europe. Abe said afterward that he thought Trump was a "trustworthy leader."

Trump posted on his Facebook page, "It was a pleasure to have Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stop by my home and begin a great friendship."

Earlier Saturday, Obama met with Peru's president and with leaders of the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries. He tried to highlight a mutual commitment to free trade and to creating good jobs, but Obama has had to concede that the U.S. Congress will not take up the TPP issue now that Trump has been elected.

The president told the young people at his town hall meeting he does not anticipate the new administration will make major change in U.S. economic policy toward Latin America. However, he warned: "There are going to be tensions that are going to rise, probably around trade more than anything else."

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Water Rationing Extended in Bolivia as Drought Worsens

Sputnik News

01:51 21.11.2016(updated 02:26 21.11.2016)

Water rationing has been introduced in La Paz as Bolivia grapples with its worst water crisis in decades. The landlocked country is now suffering water scarcity in five of its nine departments.

La Paz's three main dams are almost dry, with one at 1% capacity and the other two at about 8% each, Al Jazeera reports. La Paz residents have seen their taps go dry for up to 60 hours at a stretch.

One hundred schools have been affected by the rationing, and the Ministry of Education is evaluating contingency measures to draw an early end to the school year, the Pan American Health Organization reported. Seventy percent of the population in the Corque municipality lacks drinking water.

There is no scheduled end to the rationing program in La Paz, which covers some 340,000 people. Rationing has also been introduced in other cities including El Alto, Cochabamba, Potisi and Sucre, Telesur reports.

The department of Social Control of Water and Sanitation (AAPS) declared the water crisis indefinite and that 2017 might bring more of the same.

President Evo Morales has fired the state's top water authorities, head of state water company Epsas and the director of AAPS, for not warning the government about the crisis looming in La Paz, according to Al Jazeera. The president said he has ordered water technicians to find a solution for the suffering city. One plan would bring water from the Kairuni River to La Paz, but it is not clear that would cover more than a quarter of the city's needs.

Meanwhile, Bolivians are frustrated. There have been protests in La Paz and Cochabamba this week, and community leaders reportedly kidnapped El Alto city water authorities November 17, holding Vice Minister of Water Ruben Mendez, Regional Director of Epsas Roberto Rojas and at least six other officials hostage when Minister of Water and the Environment Alexandra Moreira didn't show up for a meeting on the crisis, Telesur reports. Police eventually came to ensure the officials were released.

"We need water," La Paz resident Virginia Lopez explained to Reuters. "But the water is dirty, yellow, and now the dirty water is what we have to drink."

Parched residents have been digging makeshift wells to try to cover their water needs. Bolivian health authorities have found that only 6% of these wells meet safe drinking water requirements, according to Telesur.

As rates for basic sanitation services rise, there are fears that the scene is being set for water wars like those that drew tens of thousands to the streets in Cochabamba in early 2000 when the city's water supply was privatized and rates shot up.

Nacla.org reports that the problem is compounded by antiquated meters that register airflow as well as water flow, as well as the policy of municipal water company Semapa to charge a flat rate for sewage and water services  whether or not those services are received.

The disappearance of Andean glaciers due to climate change is having a huge impact on Bolivia. Without their waters, the country's second largest lake, Lake Poopo, was declared officially evaporated  gone  in December.

"This is a picture of the future of climate change," Dirk Hoffman, a German glaciologist who studies how rising temperatures from the burning of fossil fuels has accelerated glacial melting in Bolivia, said in a Guardian report at the time. Mining and other water diversion projects are also suspected of having a role in the lake's disappearance.

Last season's powerful El Nino effect caused flooding and landslides in the first part of this year, but has also raised temperatures, worsening the drought.

Morales is lauded by Water for the People as a champion of water and sanitation access. He has set goals for the country to reach universal access to drinking water by 2020 and to sanitation by 2025.

 Sputnik

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Philippine President Blasts Western 'Hypocrisy' in Meeting With Putin

Sputnik News

00:47 21.11.2016

President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte said the US should not be trusted as an ally during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin November 19 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima.

Duterte lashed out at Western "hypocrisy" and "bullying" of smaller countries.

"Of late, I see a lot of these Western nations bullying small nations. And not only that, they are into so much hypocrisy [] They seem to start a war but are afraid to go to war. That is what's wrong with America and the others," Duterte said, according to a transcript of Saturday's meeting provided by his office.

He also criticized the US for forcing their allies to join the wars they wage. "They were waging war in so many places, in Vietnam, in Afghanistan and in Iraq [] They insist if you are allied with them that they follow you," he said.

Duterte said his country was not an exception and was forced to send troops to Iraq. "They forced my country to contribute military forces. And when one Filipino worker in the Middle East was captured by the groups there, they threatened to behead the Filipino unless we (get) out of (the) war against the Middle East at that time," he added.

He said then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulled Filipino troops out, which drew criticism from the US and its allies. "From that time on, the Americans made it hard for us," Duterte said.

While the Philippine president slammed Western countries, he praised Putin. "I have been looking for this moment to meet you, Mr. President, not only because you represent a great country but (because of) your leadership too," he said.

As Putin noted, the Philippines and Russia are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.

 Sputnik

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Presidential & Parliament Elections - 2016

Haitis presidential runoff was postponed three times because of allegations of fraud that forced the country into a polarizing crisis with violent street protests. Campaigning for Haiti's presidential runoff election began 08 January 2016, with only one candidate participating, government-backed contender Jovenel Moise. The campaign team of the second-place finisher, Jude Celestin said he would take part in the runoff only if sweeping changes recently recommended by a special commission were adopted to improve Haiti's flawed electoral machinery.

Embattled Haitian President Michel Martelly left office 07 February 2016 as required by Haiti's constitution, ending his 5-year term with no one elected to replace him. Ahead of Martelly's departure, the former pop music star told lawmakers in Port-Au-Prince that he is leaving office "to contribute to constitutional normalcy." He then handed the reins of power to the leader of the heavily guarded national assembly, after an 11th hour deal under which lawmakers were expected to choose an interim president to take Martelly's place. Prime Minister Evans Paul was Haiti's temporary leader until the provisional president was chosen.

On 20 March 2016, Haiti's lower chamber rejected a program submitted by Prime Minister Fritz Jean, who only received 38 votes in favor, falling short of the 60 votes required for his appointment. Most of his opponents were supporters of former President Michel Martelly. Just days after the Congress rejected a new interim Prime Minister, on 22 March 2016 interim President Jocelerme Privert named via decree Jean Charles Enex to head the organizing of the presidential runoff vote after a disputed electoral results. This time, Privert took the time to reach a consensus among lawmakers before formally appointing via decree Jean Charles Enex, an experienced lawyer, after a one-day long debate between the different parliamentary groups.

Haiti will hold elections as soon as possible, new interim Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said on 25 March 2016, but he could not guarantee that an April 24 deadline could be met for the presidential vote that had already been postponed three times. Several thorny issues must be resolved before elections can be held, including demands by parties which lost in the October 2015 first round of the presidential election and which allege the result were fraudulent.

The presidential runoff vote was rescheduled for 24 April. The winner was set to take office by 14 May. The delay has triggered protests by supporters of the front-runner in the presidential elections, Jovenel Moise. He is set to go up against Jude Celestin when the vote is eventually held. Although the April 24 deadline for the election was widely seen as unrealistic, thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand the chance to cast their votes.

On 25 April 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply concerned that the agreed-upon date for holding elections in Haiti  24 April  had not been met. That date had been set following an agreement  known as the 5 February Agreement  between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.

Interim president Jocelerme Privert said the electorate will probably have to wait until October to cast their votes. Privert said the second round of elections which has already been postponed three times, will likely be staged the same time as the Senate elections on 30 October 2016.

On 14 May 2016 the United Nations Security Council has expressed its deep disappointment that Haitian actors failed to meet the election and inauguration deadlines agreed upon in the February political accord, calling on all actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order. In a statement, the Council welcomed, however, the reconstitution of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and noted the establishment of a commission to evaluate and verify the elections held in 2015, stressing the need for the commission to be technical, a-political, transparent and complete its work within its 30-day mandate.

The Independent Commission of Evaluation and Electoral Verification [CIEVE] on 31 May 2016 found that 99% of the electoral process was fraudulent. The Commission found that the October 25 first-round presidential vote was plagued by irregularities and a high presumption of fraud. The Commission recommended sweeping changes to the electoral machine, including a new nine-member electoral body. CIEVE recommended a do-over, also including legislative and local elections.

At the 01 June 2016 daily press briefing, the spokesman for the State Department John Kirby responding to a question on the position of the US Government, following the recommendation of the Independent Commission of Evaluation and Electoral Verification (CIEVE) to cancel the first round of the presidential election in Haiti. "As weve said before, the Haitian people deserve to have their voices heard and their needs met through a democratically elected president. We continue to believe that they urgently need to complete this process with a democratically elected government to address the challenges that Haiti continues to face. We urge the provisional electoral council to publish on June 6th, if not sooner, the revised electoral calendar establishing a date for prompt installation of the president-elect. Although this is a Haitian-led process, the longer it takes for Haiti to have a democratically elected president, the longer its going to take for the United States to consider new elements of partnership in helping Haiti confront the mounting economic, climate, and health challenges that they continue to face today."

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) of Leopold Berlanger, on 06 June 2016, announced a do-over first round of presidential elections for October 9, 2016 and a second round on January 8, instead of fixing a date for the holding of the second round of the 2015 election between Jovenel Moise (PHTK) and Celestin (LAPEH) according to final results published. These recommendations come after the international community coughed up more than $70 million to organize the new elections.

Several hundred supporters of former President Michel Martellys Haitian Tet Kale Party protested 08 June 2016 in Port-au-Prince after the results of last years election were nixed. The European Union announced 08 June 2016 that that it was leaving Haiti and ending its election observation mission because it disagreed with the countrys decision to nullify and redo the 2015 elections. The European Commission Vice President, Federica Mogherini, said the conditions were not met for the continuation of its activities in Haiti. In a separate statement, the head of the observation mission, Elena Valenciano, said the work of Haitis independent commission had many factual, legal, methodological and conceptual weakness.

Interim president Jocelerme Privert succeeded Michel Martelly when he stepped down without a successor in February 2016. Priverts term was scheduled to end 14 June 2016. Privert said he will stay in office until 2017 to transfer power to an elected president unless parliament rules otherwise. The majority of support Privert enjoyed in the Senate would make his departure by legislative vote difficult to obtain. But some members of the Chamber of Deputies, the Lower House of the Legislature, approached June 14 as a day where the term of the Provisional Head of State ends, with or without a vote.

On 07 July 2016 the US Government announced it had suspended its assistance toward completion of the presidential electoral process there, though it made notification to government officials in Haiti on 01 July 2016. The US had provided over $30 million in assistance to the 2015 Haiti electoral cycle, and did not plan funding for two more electoral rounds in 2016-2017, per the revised electoral calendar. Suspension of US electoral financial assistance did not signal a reduction in US support for the people or development of Haiti; rather, it enabled the United States to retain vital humanitarian and development programs that help ordinary Haitians improve their lives.

There are 27 presidential candidates contesting the election and only three of them had a chance to become the nation's next leader.

The front-runner is Jovenel Moise, the 47-year-old candidate of current President Michel Martellys Parti Haitien Tet Kale (PHTK). He was born in the countryside of Haiti from a modest family of farmers, and studied Educational Sciences in the capital Port au Prince, succeeding as a businessman in the banana industry. He promised to revive agriculture in Haiti and improve education, he also aims to put Haiti on the financial map by improving tourism and exports. Another proposal was to improve security and strengthen justice to restore the rule of law. He advocated food sustainability with the implementation of 570 greenhouses through the country. Second place in the presidential race is held by Jude Celestin from the opposition League for Progress and Haitian Emancipation (LAPEH). This was the second time that the 53-year-old engineer is running for president. He was the runner-up in the 2010 presidential elections and although he had been absent in politics for the past five years, he enjoyed great popularity among Haitians. Celestine is largely supported by former President Rene Preval and has claimed that if elected, his government would give priority to job creation, rationalization of government expenditure and the fight against corruption. It was necessary, he said, to find ways to harmonize relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, referring to the diplomatic tensions between the neighboring nations over the new Dominican immigration law, which threatens to deport hundreds of thousands of Haitians, including children born in the republic to undocumented parents. All polls place former senator and opposition leader Moise Jean-Charles in third place. He represents the platform "Pitit Dessalines," which refers to Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first emperor of independent Haiti (18041806). The 48-year-old politician said in multiple campaign events that Dessalines started the "political revolution," and that he will start the "economic revolution" in Haiti. If elected, he has pledged to create a new economy based on domestic production and massive investment in agriculture to fight the extreme poverty plaguing Haiti.

On 05 October 2016 Haiti postponed the planned rerun presidential and legislative elections  for the fourth time - in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The move came a year of violent protests, allegations of voter fraud, and three postponed presidential elections. The countrys Provisional Electoral Council, or CEP President Leopold Berlanger, said a new date could come by Oct. 12. The elections body needed to evaluate the damage and assess its ability to transport voting materials to the hardest hit areas. Haiti announced 14 October 2016 that its long-delayed presidential and legislative elections would be held Nov. 20, after a delay caused by Hurricane Matthew, which killed hundreds of people in the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation this month. The Provisional Electoral Council said the second round of elections was scheduled for Jan. 29.

Haiti went ahead with its rescheduled national elections 20 November 2016. Voting was delayed after Hurricane Matthew ravaged the Caribbean state in October 2016. Six million Haitians are eligible to vote for one of 27 presidential candidates, as well for members of both houses of parliament. There was no clear-cut leader among the 27 candidates for president. They include: Jovenel Moise, a plantation owner, chosen by the ruling PHTK ("the Bald Heads Party") and former President Michel Martelly; Jude Celestin of the LAPEH Party, who was runner-up in the 2015 ballot that subsequently was canceled; and Maryse Narcisse, one of two women on the ballot, who was a spokeswoman for former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He has endorsed Narcisse and encouraged his supporters to take to the streets in protest if her candidacy fails.

Two of Haiti's biggest parties stoked tension on 22 November 2016 by claiming victory for their candidates in a long-delayed presidential election. Martelly's PHTK party declared a win. According to PHTK spokesman Rudy Herivaux, apparently citing unconfirmed partial figures, not only did Moise win the first round vote but he secured more than 50 percent and avoided a run-off. Not to be outdone, supporters of the opposition Fanmi Lavalas  the party of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide  also declared victory for their candidate Maryse Narcisse.

Haitian businessman Jovenel Moise, the candidate backed by former president Michel Martelly, won the presidential vote in the first round, official early results showed 28 November 2016. Provisional Electoral Council chief Uder Antoine said Moise came ahead of Jude Celestin, candidate of the opposition LAPEH, scoring 55.67 percent against 19.52 percent. Moise Jean Charles got 11.04 percent and Maryse Narcisse 8.99 percent. Any candidate who wins more than half of the votes cast is considered the victor.

Runoff votes would be necessary in many cases. With so many candidates for president, no one is likely to gain an absolute majority of the vote, or reach a 25 percent plurality over the second-ranking candidate. The top two finishers would face off 29 January 2017, with the winner to be sworn into office for a five-year term eight days later. Jocelerme Privert, chosen to be Haiti's interim president in February, has remained in power even though his mandate expired five months ago. He is expected to remain in charge of the government until the next president is chosen.





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Somalia - 2016 Elections

Somalias presidential elections were originally scheduled for 30 November 2016, but the head of Somalias electoral body announced 01 December 2016 they will be postponed. On 09 December 2016 Somalia political leaders said they had agreed to hold the presidential poll on 28 December 2016 and expected a new parliament to elect a speaker on 22 December. In the countrys complicated election system, clan and regional delegates elected roughly 50 percent of the members of the lower and upper houses of parliament.

The presidential election cannot take place until the remaining parliament members are selected. So it would take some more time before lawmakers determined Somalias next president, as specified in the Provisional Federal Constitution. Some observers fear the elections will produce a corrupt regime, and will produce more fragmentation of Somalia than the 2012 election or the ones prior to that.

In the countrys electoral process, about 14,000 delegates representing Somalias clans are electing members to the 275-member lower house of parliament. Regional parliaments are selecting the 54-member upper house of parliament. The two houses elect the president. Somalia does not yet have a one-person, one-vote electoral system, though many citizens and experts hope that can be achieved in the near future.

Somali leaders agreed on the format of the electoral process scheduled for August 2016. On 28 January, after several weeks of consultations with regional stakeholders had failed to reach a consensus, the Federal Government of Somalia announced an executive decision whereby a 275-member lower house would be elected by broad-based electoral colleges rather than being chosen only by clan elders, as in 2012.

The seats would still be allocated to clans on the basis of the 4.5 clan power-sharing formula. Meanwhile, an upper house would be created with 48 seats divided equally among the six federal states, plus three additional seats each for Somaliland and Puntland. A total of 30 per cent of electoral college seats and of the seats in both houses of the Federal Parliament would be reserved for women.

The decision of the Federal Government was accepted by the Jubba, South- West and Galmudug Interim Administrations as a necessary step to renew the mandate of the federal institutions and as a bridge to universal el ections in 2020. However, the Government of Puntland expressed strong opposition to the use of the 4.5 formula, which many Puntlanders believe disadvantages their majority clan. An agreement reached with the Federal Government in Garoowe on 3 April facilitated the acceptance by Puntland of the electoral process.

Somali leaders met for a three-day conference in Mogadishu, where they consented to holding a general election later in 2016. During the conference that ended on 14 April 2016, regional states and the central government officials reiterated their commitment to a no extension of the terms of the legislative and the Federal Government beyond August 2016. The presidents of the semi-autonomous states of Puntland, Galmudug, Southwest and Jubaland also took part in the conference, where they also agreed on an electoral process for a parliament composed of Upper and Lower houses.

Somalia would go to the polls in August to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections, the countrys President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on 02 May 2016. Mohamud, in power since 2012, is in the final months of his four-year term, but he announced that he will seek reelection.

On August 07, 2016 Somalia officially released new poll dates for the 2016 elections. In a statement, Omar Mohamed Abdulle, chairman of the Somalias election commission announced that the countrys 2016 presidential election will take place on October 30. The commission said the election of 275-member Lower House will be from September 24 to October 10 while the election of Upper House should be completed by September 25. More than 14,000 delegates representing Somalia clans cast their votes for members of the Lower House, while the regional states will select the members of the Upper House.

There will be a new federal parliament, consisting of an upper and lower house. State assemblies will elect the 54 members of the upper house. The lower house will consist of 275 members, elected by 14,025 delegates selected by 135 clan elders. Voting for the lower house was scheduled to start 23 October 2016. Both houses would then elect Somalia's president on November 30.

On 30 October 2016 the United Nations, African Union, European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States expressed deep concerned over continuing allegations of corruption in Somalias electoral process and reports of recurring intimidation of prospective candidates for parliament, electoral college delegates and election officials. More efforts are needed to fight corruption and promote transparency, and candidates who have been harassed or intimidated are encouraged to lodge complaints with the Independent Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanism. International partners noted that the state of preparedness varies among regional states. A few states are almost ready to start the voting. However, elders in other states are yet to complete the selection of delegates for the electoral colleges that will elect the members of the Lower House and, furthermore, have not reserved the mandatory number of seats for women in keeping with the established rules.

Somalia's ongoing parliamentary elections have no credibility becauses of vote buying, fraud, intimidation and violence, the country's auditor general said in an exclusive interview with VOA Somali 20 November 2016. Nur Jimale Farah said Electoral College delegates, who are electing members of parliament, are voting for the highest bidder. "Some votes were bought with $5,000, some with $10,000, and some with $20,000 or $30,000. But not all seats are equal. Some are influential seats and have a lot of candidates competing for them," he said. He said two seats cost their respective winners $1.3 million each. He said his office recorded that one of the seats was won in Galmudug and the other in Hirshabelle.

More than 14,000 Electoral College delegates were voting for the 275-member Lower House of parliament, and fewer than half of the members had been selected. Regional parliaments were also electing the 54-member Upper House, where 80 percent of the seats had been filled. some candidates, among them business leaders and well-known individuals, believe getting into the parliament will give them immunity and protection. They are using the seats as a sanctuary. Several former warlords with a history of violence were also elected to the two houses of parliament.

The panel that rules on election disputes in Somalia on 15 December 2016 rejected the results in races for 11 seats in recent parliamentary elections because of numerous irregularities, including gunfire at a polling place. The decision by the Independent Electoral Disputes Resolution Mechanism is likely to further complicate Somalia's attempt to hold a presidential election by the end of the year.

The United Nations, African Union, European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States closely followed the work of the Independent Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IEDRM) in light of the many reports of serious irregularities during the electoral process, including bribery, intimidation, kidnappings, manipulation of delegate lists and failure to comply with the mandatory requirement to reserve every third seat for women candidates. International partners emphasized 23 December 2016 to the National Leadership Forum (NLF) and the IEDRM that, in their view, the gravity of the irregularities uncovered should be the basis for determining the electoral results that have to be nullified and re-contested.

The Somali presidential election was postponed for the fifth time 25 December 2016 following series of delays to conclude the parliamentary elections in regional states. Somalis expressed concerns to the corruption, intimidation and malpractices conducted in the electoral process, which undermine the credibility of the presidential election that is rescheduled to 24 January 2017.

Differences over the selection of the parliamentarians for Somaliland undermined crucial steps to conclude the electoral process by the end of December 2016. Politicians and elders from Somaliland community issued a statement demanding 33-percent quota in the upcoming Upper House chamber of the Federal Parliament, with reference to power-sharing accord between northern and southern Somalia back in 1960.

The plight of millions of Somalis is a calamity and an indictment. The vast majority continue to suffer abject poverty, displacement, insecurity, and predatory corruption, with little rule of law or respect for human rights. Somali resilience is legendary. But even the most resilient may buckle in the end. In all conscience Somalias leaders and international partners need to do more rather than less. Many are hoping that next level includes nationwide one-person, one-vote elections by 2020.

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Roscosmos Ready to Continue Delivering Mixed Crews to ISS After 2018

Sputnik News

10:23 20.11.2016(updated 10:28 20.11.2016)

Russia's Roscosmos state space corporation is ready to continue the delivery of mixed crews to the International Space Station (ISS) after 2018 using Russian manned spacecraft, Roscosmos head Igor Komarov told reporters on Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Last month, William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said that the organization had no plans to renew its contract with Roscosmos for the delivery of astronauts to ISS after 2018.

"We are ready to continue delivering mixed crews after 2018," Komarov said adding that the Russian side hoped to continue cooperation in the field with the foreign partners both from the United States and Europe.

He expressed confidence that all future ISS crews would consist of representatives of different states.

 Sputnik

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AEOI Confirms Iran's Shipping of Heavy Water to Oman for Further Sale

Sputnik News

00:49 21.11.2016

Iran has transported heavy water to Oman for subsequent sale, Deputy Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said Sunday, confirming earlier media reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing its sources, that Iran had sent 11 metric tons of heavy water to one of its ports, allegedly to Oman. After the shipment, the Iranian stockpile of heavy water was supposed to decrease to 120 metric tons.

"Given the progress in negotiations with several companies and states on purchase of heavy water surplus, it was transported to Oman," Kamalvandi said, as quoted by the ISNA news agency.

Kamalvandi added that a part of the resource would be sold to the other states, however he did not specify the volumes of the shipped away surplus.

On Thursday, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano warned that Iran should not to exceed the threshold for heavy water production under last year's deal with world leaders on its nuclear program. The IAEA estimates that Iran has amassed over 130 metric tons of heavy water as of early November, for the second time since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was reached in July 2015.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers  the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia plus Germany  signed the JCPOA, ensuring the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program in return for the gradual lifting of sanctions. The agreement came into force on January 16, after the IAEA submitted a report confirming the readiness of Iran's authorities to implement a program to reduce the country's nuclear potential.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi forces kill, injure some 240 Takfiris in anti-terror fight

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 7:32AM

Amid battles to rid Iraq of Daesh terrorists, the country's armed forces have carried out fresh operations, killing and wounding around 240 Takfiri militants on several fronts.

An unnamed Iraqi security source said on Sunday that a number of Daesh elements lost their lives and sustained injuries in airstrikes conducted by Iraqi fighter jets in western Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital, Iraq's War Media Cell reported.

The air raids targeted the militant-held Forqan military base near Ramadi's Raveh district, based on precise information obtained by the army's intelligence unit, the report added.

A large quantity of explosives was confiscated at the base, which was used by the terrorists for making car bombs and other purposes.

The strikes also killed 50 Daesh terrorists, among them ringleader Osama al-Qanzi, also known as Abu Salman.

The report also said that the Iraqi warplanes conducted similar aerial attacks in other Anbar neighborhoods such as Anah, Qa'im and Akashat that left some 140 Takfiris dead and injured.

Meanwhile, the Popular Mobilization Units foiled an attempted attack near Tal Afar airport, west of Mosul, killing seven militants and destroying 4 of their vehicles.

The commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, also said that 40 Daesh elements were slain in eastern Shirqat, which lies on the Tigris River 100 kilometers south of Mosul.

He added that the 9th Division of Special Forces made some advances on the west bank of Tigris River and purged several districts of terrorists.

There were also reports that three drones operated by Daesh were shot down near Tal Afar airport as they were carrying booby traps. It was the first time that Daesh used the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Iraqi troops.

The airport was liberated earlier this week as the Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters are leading a major offensive to retake the city of Mosul, the last Daesh bastion in the Middle Eastern country, for more than one month now.

Separately, Shirqat governor Ali Dudah resettled expelled residents of a neighborhood and resettled them in another area under tight security controls, citing their cooperation with Daesh.

He said that the locals hid Daesh bodies and set up a checkpoint in central Shirqat, killing five members of the Popular Mobilization Units.

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Israel's Netanyahu aims to buy German submarines despite brewing scandal

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 6:36PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is resolute in purchasing three German submarines as an unfolding scandal surrounding him reveals that personal interests have been involved in the billion-dollar deal.

The Israeli premier made the remarks in a weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem al-Quds on Sunday, claiming that his "only consideration" for the purchase had been aimed at boosting Israel's long-term security.

Netanyahu's comments, however, were an apparent attempt to downplay a surfacing scandal over the $1.5 billion deal, exposed through a report broadcast by Israel's Channel 10 on Tuesday.

The scathing report also triggered a growing wave of calls for an investigation into the case after it revealed that the premier's personal attorney and long-time confidant, David Shimron, had actually served as a local representative of the Germany-based conglomerate, ThyssenKrupp, the manufacturer of the submarines.

Suspicions of impropriety of the controversial deal were fueled after former minister of military affairs, Moshe Ya'alon, asserted that he had been sidelined on the purchase plans, which went forward after he was replaced. The 65-year-old Ya'alon abruptly announced his resignation on May 20, saying he had lost faith in Netanyahu and was "fearful for Israel's future."

Last week, Ya'alon also called for a "thorough probe by the relevant authorities" into the "very disturbing" claims made in the report.

The involvement of Shimron, perhaps Bibi's closest associate, heightened concerns that hidden incentives were at play in sealing the deal. Netanyahu says that he was only made aware of the role of Shimron in the purchase in recent days, a statement that drew more suspicion upon himself.

"This is the prime minister's royal attorney, who is also a private attorney, and the Netanyahu family lawyer, and also a lawyer who serves as the prime minister's official representative. He has a finger in every pot. And it was Netanyahu, of all people, who did not know that Shimron was involved with the submarines?" said Ben-Dror Yemini, a columnist in the Tel Aviv's prominent newspaper Yediot Ahronot.

Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog has called for a Knesset commission of inquiry to be established.

On Saturday, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, also called on Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to launch a criminal probe into the Netanyahu-backed purchase.

During the past two decades, Israel has ordered six submarines from Germany, with the final one set to be delivered in 2018. Tel Aviv says it has decided to buy the three more submarines to renew its submarine fleet.



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"The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons would join the cast of a film about a weirdly sensational Chinese-American friendship, based on a true event.

BuzzFeed editor and writer Matt Stopera and Li Hongjun ("Brother Orange") pose with Ellen DeGeneres during Li's U.S. trip. [File photo]

The actor will play the role of BuzzFeed editor and writer Matt Stopera in the upcoming movie, which tells the true story of Stopera's life. In 2014, his phone was stolen while he was at a bar in New York City. A year later, the cellphone made its way to China and random pictures began appearing on his photo stream, including a number of pictures of a Chinese man in front of an orange tree.

This encouraged him to write a series of stories about his experience. When his story went viral in China, Stopera had the chance to meet the man, Li Hongjun ("Brother Orange"), in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, who had his iPhone. The story exploded on social media platform Weibo, gaining more than 20 million views in 24 hours and over 100 million total shares. Back in the U.S., the two became overnight stars and appeared on The Ellen Show.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Warner Bros. and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures teamed up with Parsons and the actor's partner, Todd Spiewak, under That's Wonderful Productions, to produce the upcoming untitled film of the internet phenomenon.

Stopera is executive producing the Brother Orange film alongside "Broad City" co-creator Ilana Glazer, Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Kleeman. Michael Shamberg and Matthew Henick, head of development at BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, will also serve as producers.
S. Korean president suspected of conspiring with indicted confidante, former aides

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 12:29, November 20, 2016

South Korean President Park Geun-hye is suspected of having conspiring with her longtime confidante and former aides, who were indicted on Sunday for multiple charges, prosecutors said in an interim announcement of investigation results.

Park has a complicity "to a significant extent" with the three criminal suspects in multiple offenses, the head of a special investigative unit in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in charge of the case told a nationally televised press conference.

The announcement indicated the prosecution office regards President Park as a criminal suspect in its investigation. The special unit chief said such interim results are based on comprehensive evidence documents collected by prosecutors.

Park, however, cannot be indicted for criminal charges as the country's constitution bans a sitting president from being criminally charged until a single, five-year term ends, according to the prosecution office.

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South Korean prosecutors say President Park had major role in scandal

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 5:48AM

Embattled South Korean President Park Geun-hye will likely be finding it increasingly difficult to contain public anger over an influence-peddling scandal involving one of her close friends as prosecutors have now attributed a major "collusive" role in the case to the president herself.

At the center of the scandal has been President Park's long-time friend and confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is accused of, among other things, wielding influence over government decisions even as she held no official post or security clearance.

Already disgraced and in custody, Choi was officially charged with fraud and abuse of power on Sunday.

But the prosecutors investigating the case did not stop there. They are constitutionally barred from laying official charges against a sitting president. They took aim for Park, anyway.

"We, based on the evidence collected so far... view that the president played a collusive role in a considerable portion of the criminal activities involving the (three) people," said Lee Young-Ryeol, who is leading the probe into the scandal, on Sunday.

"We will continue to investigate the president," added Lee, who is the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have been taking to the streets in the capital, Seoul, and elsewhere in the country for four weeks to demand the president's resignation over the scandal. With the accusation by Lee confirming the scandalous allegations, which first surfaced and have since been going on in the media, it would not be hard to imagine toughened public fury and an even starker challenge to President Park's rule.

Opposition lawmakers have so far refrained from launching an impeachment process against the president. They may now decide to take the road not taken.

Park has apologized to the nation but has been defiant in the face of calls on her to step down.

A lawyer for President Park said later on Sunday that the accusation that she had a central role in the scandal was "imagination." Lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha also said in a statement that Park will not make herself available for questioning by prosecutors, a promise she had formerly made in an attempt to assuage public anger.

Apart from Choi, the South Korean prosecutors also formally indicted two of the president's former aides, Ahn Jong-beom and Jung Ho-sung. They stepped downed as the scandal became public.

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South Korea Prosecutors Implicate President Park in Friend's Corruption Case

Sputnik News

05:50 20.11.2016(updated 09:52 20.11.2016)

South Korea's prosecutors suspect President Park Geun-hye played a part in the corruption scandal.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  South Korea's prosecutors suspect President Park Geun-hye played a part in the corruption scandal surrounding her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil who was indicted on Sunday, local media said.

A prosecution team announced interim results of their inquiry on Sunday, according to the Korean news agency Yonhap. Choi, Park's confidante and daughter of her late mentor, stands accused of extorting donations from local businesses to nonprofits and trying to transfer money to her firm.

Choi is also suspected of having interfered with the country's home affairs, including correcting drafts of President Park's public speeches.

However, the prosecution cannot indict the country's president as she is immune from prosecution under the local legislation.

"Based on such judgment, the special probe team will continue investigating the president," Lee Young-ryeol, the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, said at a press conference as quoted by the media.

The presidential office told Yonhap that the results of the probe are "very regrettable."

 Sputnik

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Syria FM dismisses UN proposal for east Aleppo autonomy

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 1:53PM

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has strongly dismissed a United Nations proposal concerning the establishment of an autonomous region run by foreign-backed Takfiri militants in the eastern part of the strategically northwestern city of Aleppo.

"This was completely rejected... This is a violation of our sovereignty," he said in a televised news conference following a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in Damascus on Sunday.

Muallem then made it clear that the incumbent Syrian government has no intention to decrease attacks on terrorist positions in the eastern flank of Aleppo, located some 355 kilometers north of the capital Damascus, and that the Damascus administration does not accept leaving civilians there to be taken hostage by militants.

"We agreed on the need that terrorists should get out of east Aleppo to end the suffering of the civilians in the city," the top Syrian diplomat said.

Syrian government forces will eventually emerge victorious, liberate Aleppo and restore calm to all areas of the city, he stressed.

Muallem further pointed out that that government will spare militants that lay down their weapons and turn themselves in to authorities across the country, noting that the government welcomes those who have fled the country as refugees.

The Syrian foreign minister also expressed his country's firm support for the large-scale operation by Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters from Popular Mobilization Units to recapture the city of Mosul from Daesh.

He, however, argued that the international community is not offering such support to a military offensive on Aleppo because of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, and the fact that the United States has multiple scenarios and plans in a bid to salvage the terror network.

Muallem also called on the US President-elect Donald Trump to put an end to Washington's support for militant groups inside Syria, and restrain countries in the Middle East region that sponsor them militarily and financially.

"What we want from the new [US] administration is not just to stop support (for armed groups)... but to curb those regional powers that are supporting those groups... we have to wait," he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Muallem described Moscow-Ankara ties as economic, noting that Damascus views Moscow as a friend and ally whereas it considers Ankara as an aggressor that has invaded the Syrian soil and undermined the central government's sovereignty.

He termed as positive the latest international developments concerning the Syrian conflict, praising the strong alliance between Russia, Syria, the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. De Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

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Syria Says No To Autonomous Administration In East Aleppo

RFE/RL November 20, 2016

The Syrian government has rejected a proposal by the United Nations to grant Aleppo's rebel-held areas autonomy to help restore calm to the northern city.

"This was completely rejected," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said after talks with UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in Damascus on November 20, amid an intensified government military campaign in Aleppo.

The state's institutions "must be restored" to the city once rebels have been expelled from eastern districts, Muallem said, adding that Syria doesn't accept leaving some 275,000 people in east Aleppo as "hostages to 6,000 gunmen."

De Mistura told reporters in Damascus later in the day that he had proposed that jihadist fighters should leave Aleppo but that the government should let the local administration in rebel-held areas of the city stay in place.

Muallem had ruled out that, saying it was a "violation of our sovereignty."

But De Mistura said that he believed such measures could be temporary and that Aleppo should be treated as a special case.

Earlier this week, the UN envoy warned that the Syrian government was chasing a "pyrrhic victory" in Aleppo if it does not arrive at a political settlement with the opposition.

He also warned that the military's unrestrained approach would drive more moderate rebels into the ranks of the Islamic State extremist group.

World Health Organization official Elizabeth Hoff said on November 19 that five days of air and artillery strikes by government forces have left all medical facilities in Aleppo's rebel-held districts "out of service."

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 103 people have been killed in these areas since the latest government assault began on November 15, following a three-week moratorium.

Thirteen have died in the government-controlled areas.

On November 20, activists and state media said 12 children died in the government-held west of Aleppo after a school was hit by rebel fire.

Fifty-nine other people were injured at the school in the Furqan neighborhood, according to the SANA news agency.

And in rebel-held Sakhour district, medics were quoted as saying a barrel bomb killed a family of six.

White House national security adviser Susan Rice said on November 19 that the United States condemned "in the strongest terms" the latest air strikes against medical facilities and urged Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to take steps to halt the violence.

Aleppo has been divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-aleppo-air- strikes-artillery-fire/28128157.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Syria Rejects UN Plan to End Aleppo Airstrikes

By VOA News November 20, 2016

Syria's foreign minister on Sunday rejected a United Nations proposal that would grant autonomy to the devastated eastern sector of Aleppo, where rebels seeking to topple the government are locked in a months-long battle with government forces and their Russian allies.

Under the U.N. proposal, the Damascus government would allow rebel-held eastern Aleppo to be governed by a local administration if jihadists fighting alongside rebels leave the city.

"This is completely rejected," Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said of the proposal in televised comments in Damascus, after meeting with U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura. "This [proposal] is a violation of our sovereignty."

For his part, de Mistura offered no public comment on Syria's rejection of the U.N. autonomy proposal.

Verification team

But he used the news conference to propose sending a U.N. verification team to Aleppo to examine widespread claims that government aircraft have bombed and knocked out a series of hospitals in the city's eastern sector in recent days.

"Since we do have a difference of opinion between the Minister Muallem, saying there is a total denial of any aerial bombing of hospitals in eastern Aleppo... then perhaps we should be allowed to send a verification team on the U.N. side... to verify damage in both east and west Aleppo," de Mistura said.

It was not clear whether de Mistura raised the verification proposal during closed door talks that preceded his comments.

Rebels and medical workers say the last remaining hospital in eastern Aleppo was bombed and largely destroyed on Friday, leaving at least 250,000 civilians trapped in the fighting without a fully functioning medical facility.

Earlier Sunday, monitors and Syrian television reported at least eight children killed at a school in western Aleppo, by artillery shelling attributed to rebel forces. State media said nearly 60 others were wounded.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 240 people have been killed in eastern Aleppo and in the rebel-held countryside west of the city since Tuesday, when Syrian aircraft and Russian warplanes resumed bombings in and near the war-torn city after a two-week lull.

'Positive changes'

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Muallem said there were "positive changes" in the international arena, in an apparent allusion to the recent U.S. presidential election win by Donald Trump. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called Trump a "natural ally" in the fight against terrorism in a TV interview several days ago.

In a meeting Sunday with France's Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault, former Syrian prime minister Riyadh Hijab, now an opposition negotiator, urged an end to the offensive on eastern Aleppo by government forces, Russia and Iran.

He called the situation in eastern Aleppo "catastrophic," and urged the international community to pressure Russia and Iran to stop their offensive.

U.N. envoy de Mistura told the Guardian newspaper the Syrian government was pursuing a "Pyrrhic victory" in Aleppo if it fails to reach a political solution with the opposition.

Ed Yeranian contributed to this report from Cairo.

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Rebel Fire Kills 7 Children in Aleppo

By VOA News November 20, 2016

Syrian sources say rebel shelling on a school killed at least seven children Sunday in the government-held part of Aleppo. Dozens of other people were reported to have been wounded by the rocket fire on the Furqan neighborhood.

On Saturday, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice warned the Syrian government and its Russian backers they will be held accountable for the "heinous" bombings of hospitals in rebel-held portions of Aleppo.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions," she said." The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears the responsibility for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond."

Airstrikes and artillery fire carried out by government forces in Aleppo killed at least 27 people Saturday, marking the fifth straight day of bombardment of the city, which is home to more than 275,000 people.

On Friday, government bombs hit four hospitals in Aleppo, prompting the rebels' appointed health directorate to declare all hospitals in opposition-held areas out of service.

"The intentional destruction of infrastructure for survival has made the besieged steadfast people, including children, elderly and men and women, without medical facilities to treat them," the directorate said in a statement.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian warplanes bombed more than 20 neighborhoods.

Since the renewed assault began Tuesday, about 100 people have been killed, including two people killed by rebel mortars targeting government-held parts of the city, according to state media.

The freshly rekindled fighting in Aleppo comes after a brief period of calm when Russia agreed to halt its airstrikes and allow humanitarian aid into the city and fleeing residents out.

U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura is scheduled to visit Syria's capital, Damascus, Sunday to speak with Syria's foreign minister and other high-ranking military officials. The siege of Aleppo is expected to be among the topics discussed.

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Turkish president warns NATO against sheltering 'terrorist' soldiers

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:32PM

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned NATO against sheltering "terrorist" soldiers after Turkish officers in the military alliance's command reportedly sought asylum in the wake of the abortive mid-July coup.

"How can a terrorist, a terrorist soldier, a soldier who has been involved in plotting a coup, be employed in NATO?" Erdogan asked journalists on a plane taking off from Uzbekistan, adding, "They cannot do such a thing."

Erdogan warned NATO against providing them with a haven. "NATO cannot entertain accepting asylum requests of this kind. Those in question are accused of terror."

The Erdogan administration has called for the extradition of the soldiers who have asked for asylum.

On November 18, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a number of Turkish officers serving in NATO command positions had requested asylum following the botched coup of July 15.

"We would be wrong if we started to go into that kind of legal issue; that's for the judicial system" of the countries concerned, the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg is due to meet with Erdogan on Monday on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Istanbul.

President Erdogan has ordered authorities to eradicate all elements involved in the coup attempt.

Erdogan claims that US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind the coup. Gulen has denied any role in the coup attempt. He says Erdogan orchestrated the coup as a pretext to purge all his opponents and pave the way for his undisputed leadership.

President Erdogan has accused Western powers of failure to show solidarity in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

Turkey's repressive measures against journalists following the coup have been widely condemned by European officials and various rights groups.

Tens of thousands of people, including military personnel, judges and teachers, have been suspended, dismissed or detained as part of a massive crackdown by the government in Ankara.

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Turkey can join Shanghai Pact instead of EU: Erdogan

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:34AM

The Turkish president says his country should not be "fixated" on joining the European Union and could instead seek accession to the Eurasian Shanghai Pact organization dominated by China and Russia

"Turkey should first of all feel relaxed about the EU and not be fixated" about its membership, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cited in Sunday media reports as saying, as Ankara continues to rile up Brussels with its EU-unfriendly moves.

Turkey has been trying to join the EU since the 1960s. The formal negotiations started in 2005.

The two sides reached a landmark deal in March to stem the unprecedented flow of refugees into Europe. Under the agreement, Ankara agreed to receive all refugees landing on the coasts of Greece in return for concessions, including billions of dollars in funding, accelerated talks on Turkey's accession to the EU, and visa-free travel for Turks to the Schengen Area.

The bloc, however, has only opened 16 chapters of the 35-chapter accession process for Ankara and refused to lift the visa ban, finding fault with Ankara's treatment of opposition, especially in the aftermath of a mid-July failed coup against Erdogan.

The putsch has been followed by mass arrests and expulsions as well as reported torture, ruffling feathers in Brussels.

For its part, Ankara has accused the EU of treating the country differently regarding its accession attempt and failing to unlock all the cash it had promised to disburse to Turkey on the back of the refugee deal.

"Some may criticize me but I express my opinion," Erdgoan added, explaining on why the country should not put too much emphasis on EU membership.

"For example, I say 'why shouldn't Turkey be in the Shanghai 5?," he asked.

Erdogan said he had already discussed the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"I hope that if there is a positive development there, I think if Turkey were to join the Shanghai Five, it will enable it to act with much greater ease," added the Turkish head of state.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) -- also called the Shanghai Pact -- is a security and economic bloc led by Russia and China. Other members are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

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One Turkish Soldier Killed, Five Injured During Military Operation in Syria

Sputnik News

17:58 20.11.2016

One Turkish soldier was killed during Ankara's Euphrates Shield operation to liberate northern Syria from terrorists, and five were injured in an attack by the Daesh militants, the Turkish General Staff said on Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. As Jarabulus was retaken, the joint forces of Ankara, the coalition and Syrian rebels continued the offensive southwest.

"As a result of IS [Daesh] attack, two of our comrades were injured by shrapnel near the village of Al-Guz, as a result of a road accidentone of our comrades was killed and three wounded," the Turkish military said.

The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus accusing Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.

 Sputnik

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China's red-hot property market has shown more signs of cooling down following a series of targeted measures, as the country's economy grows on steady footing.

Milder price gains

Home prices in large and medium-sized cities still registered an uptick in October, but the growth pace was slower than September, evidence of nascent effects of recent tightening moves, experts said.

Breakdown figures showed that new home prices in first-tier cities such as Beijing as well as large second-tier cities across China edged up 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent in October month on month, with growth rates 2.8 percentage points and 1 percentage point lower than September, respectively, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said earlier this week.

Second-hand residential property sales reinforced the trend, as prices of existing homes in first- and second-tier cities rose 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent over the same period, with the growth rates 2.9 percentage points and 1.1 percentage points lower than September respectively.

NBS senior statistician Liu Jianwei attributed the milder price gain to policies rolled out by different local governments to contain spiking prices.

The data were released on the heels of a slew of measures to rein in speculative housing purchases, check the risk of asset bubbles and stabilize the market, with dozens of Chinese cities modifying market rules including higher deposits and more restrictions.

Recent tightening moves have effectively halted the housing price spike trend and helped regulate the market order, said Liu Hongyu, a professor at Tsinghua University, adding that the long-term policy effects still deserve observation.

Sales volume for both new and existing homes continued to trend down in November at a faster pace, with the tightening moves starting to exert ripple effects for other cities that have not seen such moves, observed Cheng Yun, a senior analyst at Centaline Property, a leading Chinese real estate agency.

The view was echoed by Xia Dan, a senior researcher at the Bank of Communications, one of China's top five lenders, who predicted that housing sales will further decelerate in November.

Firm footing

Housing is an essential sector in many economies including China, but it has been a source of vulnerability and financial crisis in some economies. The Chinese authorities are guarding against an unsustainable housing boom and facilitating reforms to channel resources into the real economy.

China's economic stabilization is truly sustainable without fast expansion of the property sector, said Jiang Chao, a senior analyst at Haitong Securities.

Despite the difficulty of transitioning to a more consumption and innovation-driven economy, a string of recent data pointed to the fact that the economy is growing on a firm footing. Some economists rejected worries that efforts to contain housing prices will cause the economy to lose momentum.

Policies to curb property bubbles may weigh on sectors related to the housing market around the second quarter of next year, but the impact might be limited, predicted Ren Zeping, chief economist at Founder Securities.

China's industrial output expanded 6.1 percent in October, largely due to strong performance in the high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors. It is the eighth consecutive month industrial output has exceeded 6 percent.

China's service sector grew at its fastest pace in four months, braced by growing new orders, with the Caixin China General Services PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) standing at 52.4 in October.

Despite anemic foreign trade demand, China's economy is stabilizing if judged from the perspective of company output, Jiang said, adding that the pace of China's consumption growth has remained tepid in recent months.

The most important task for the Chinese economy is reform, including reforms targeted at restructuring state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and improving growth quality, Jiang said.
A few years ago, Averett University aviation student Mark McKinney was working a retail job in Memphis, Tennessee.

A veteran came into the Target where McKinney was working and asked him point-blank: What do you want to do with your future?

McKinney told him about his dream of becoming a pilot with the military, but also his fear of leaving his home.

He was like: Go for it. Dont be afraid to leave home and pursue that dream, McKinney said.

Now, McKinney is enrolled at Averett and is enlisted in the Marines, working toward his dream of flying commercial and military aircraft.

Student veterans and active duty members in the Dan River Region said their military experiences have helped guide them to their career paths and inspired them to help others. Danville is home to 3,989 veterans, and another 5,218 live in Pittsylvania County. Veterans make up 8.8 percent of the Dan River Regions population, according to the Census Bureau.

Averett student Jasmine Lipscomb first thought of entering the military in high school during JROTC classes at George Washington High School. She said going into the military was then a way of out Danville, and less expensive than going to college.

I wanted a challenge, and what I got out of the recruiters were that the Marine Corps was the hardest, Lipscomb said.

In the Marine Corps, Lipscomb worked for years as a paralegal, security guard and a leader to junior marines.

I did paralegal work alongside with attorneys, she said.

After she was discharged, Lipscomb decided she wanted to go back to school to become a counselor, and was finally financially able to attend with the help of VA benefits.

I knew of Averett, and it was a win-win, Lipscomb said. It was a blessing to me to be able to go the route that I did.

At both Averett and Danville Community College, veterans can meet with admissions specialists who can help secure financial aid and program placement. At DCC, that person is veterans counselor Carl Amos.

I am the initial contact for the vets and handle program placement, Amos said. Once they have been tested and program placed, I escort them to financial aid, where they register for the GI Bill and financial aid.

Through the post-9/11 GI Bill, McKinney and Lipscomb were able to secure financial aid to become Averett students.

God just blessed me tremendously, Lipscomb said. Getting out with the benefits was just tremendous.

Nationwide, more and more veterans are choosing to attend college. The number of student-veterans doubled between 2009 and 2013 to more than 1 million according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The number also is estimated to increase by 20 percent during the next several years.

McKinney said his work in the Marines has prepared him tremendously for the classroom. He said he knows about being prepared and paying attention to the small details.

Have a backup plan for your backup plan, McKinney said. Always be ready to move on to something else.

McKinney plans to enroll in officer school upon completion of the Averett program, and eventually become a Marine reservist and commercial pilot.

I wont say Ive accomplished the dream, but Im living the dream, McKinney said.

Lipscomb said she was excited to pursue a career where she hopes to continue to work with people just like guiding her fellow marines.

Dealing with problems and being objective was important, Lipscomb said.

Lipscomb plans to continue to work in criminal justice in addition to becoming a marriage counselor.
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Authorities in border cities of southwest China's Yunnan Province have started an emergency response mechanism to cope with the latest clashes in the northern Myanmar border with China.

Stray bullets were seen falling into Chinese territory after Heavy clashes between Myanmar government forces and some ethnic armed groups occurred on Sunday morning. [Photo: CCTVNews]

Heavy clashes between Myanmar government forces and some ethnic armed groups occurred near the 105th Mile Muse Border Trade Zone in northern Shan State on Sunday morning, resulting in casualties, local sources said.

The three-hour exchange of fire, said to have involved the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), began early Sunday morning.

Two civilians were killed and dozens wounded, according to AFP.

Refugees from Myanmar have reportedly flooded across the China-Myanmar border.

The sound of gunshots could be heard in Wanding, a border city in southwest China's Yunnan Province separated by a river.

Stray bullets were seen falling into Chinese territory.

The emergency response mechanism will see patrol enhanced to maintain order along the border and provide humanitarian assistance.
SUDBURY, ON, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Sudbury Platinum Corporation ("SPC" or "the Company") and Transition Metals Corp. (XTM  TSX.V) ("Transition") are pleased to announce the results of the borehole geophysical program recently completed on the Company's 100% owned Lockerby East Property, Sudbury, Ontario.

The Borehole UTEM IV geophysical survey, completed by Lamontagne Geophysics Ltd. included the resurveying of 7 historic drill holes completed by past property owners Falconbridge Ltd. and First Nickel Inc. The final interpretation also included the incorporation of borehole UTEM data from 11 historic holes completed by both Falconbridge Ltd. and First Nickel Inc. (FNI) that were found to be inaccessible for resurveying.

Key Findings

Identification of 9 very strong geophysical conductors (5,000-10,000 siemen) extending over a combined distance of 1,100 metres, extending down-dip from the known Lockerby East Deposit to a vertical depth of 2,000 metres (Figure 1).

Modelled geophysical conductors occur in close proximity to the basal contact of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC), which is the primary host of massive Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization within this region of the Sudbury Basin.

Positive correlation between elevated nickel-copper sulfides in historic drill core and geophysical conductors.

Minimal drilling has been completed on the West Graham  Lockerby East Trend below 1,400 metres where the strongest geophysical responses were observed.

The drill holes resurveyed on the Lockerby East Property, together with the historic mineral resources (West Graham and Lockerby East Deposits) highlight a highly prospective mineralized trend extending from near-surface to a vertical depth of 2,000 metres. Historic drilling on this trend has resulted in the intersection of two distinct styles of sulphide mineralization. High-tenor, disseminated Ni-Cu sulphide mineralization associated with the West Graham Deposit where FNI reported up to 0.51% Ni and 0.34% Cu over a core length of 71.50 metres (see FNI Press Release dated April 2, 2007). And high-grade massive Ni-Cu sulphide mineralization such as encountered at the Lockerby East Deposit where FNI reported up to 5.60% Ni and 1.26% Cu over a core length of 10.0 metres (FNI Press Release dated February 7, 2006).

SPC President Grant Mourre remarked "We are very pleased with the results of the borehole geophysics data collected on the Lockerby East Property. We feel that the overall strength and size of these conductors further highlights the excellent potential the Lockerby East Property has to host Ni-Cu massive sulphide mineralization. Drill planning is underway to further test and evaluate these high-quality exploration targets."

On January 25, 2016 SPC announced the acquisition of the Lockerby East and West Graham Properties. (see Company Press Release dated January 25, 2016).

About the Lockerby East and West Graham Property

The Property consists of approximately 390 hectares of freehold patents located on the south range of the SIC, Sudbury, Ontario. It includes 100% of the Lockerby East and South Patents as well as a 70% interest in the West Graham Property (30% owned by Landore Resources Ltd.). In 2009, First Nickel Inc., disclosed a NI 43-101 Indicated Resource for the Conwest Zone at West Graham totaling 8.55 million tonnes grading 0.45% Ni and 0.31% Cu, along with an Inferred Resource of 2.0 million tonnes grading 0.38% Ni and 0.30% Cu. Adjacent to this resource at depth lies the Lockerby East Zone with 0.18 million tonnes grading 2.32% Ni and 0.78% Cu. The Company considers the cited public domain resource estimates to be historical in nature and cautions the reader that they may no longer be relevant. The Company is not treating the historic estimate as a current mineral resource. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources. The acquisition of the Lockerby East and West Graham Properties does not include certain property associated with the Lockerby Mine site which is currently in the process of closure on behalf of the province of Ontario.

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo (APGO), a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Information used in this release is of a historical nature and has not been verified by the Company and should not be relied upon. Transition is the majority shareholder of SPC and holds approximately 36% of the outstanding shares.

 Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario Canada prepared by Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., January 15, 2009

 Technical Report on the 2009 Resource Estimate for the Depth, East and Upper West Zones, Lockerby Mine, Sudbury, Ontario, prepared by First Nickel Inc., February 23, 2009

About Sudbury Platinum Corp

Sudbury Platinum Corp. is a Canadian private corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGM in the Sudbury region. The company is exploring the newly acquired Lockerby East and West Graham properties as well as its key 100% owned Aer-Kidd Property, an advanced exploration property located on the prospective Worthington Offset Dyke, in the heart of the Sudbury Mining Camp. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Owen Nickel Property. The Company is 36% owned by Transition Metals Corp. (TSX-V) and has a vision is to become a mine developer in the Sudbury district. Additional information regarding the company and project can be found on the Sudbury Platinum Web Site.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

SOURCE Transition Metals Corp.
 Flash

A police officer was killed by a driver on Sunday while writing a traffic ticket outside the police headquarters in San Antonio, a city in the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas.

The 50-year-old Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the police force, had pulled over a vehicle later Sunday morning. When he was inside his vehicle writing a ticket, a vehicle pulled up behind him. The driver of that vehicle got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot the officer in the head, the suspect then reached into the window and shot Marconi a second time. He was rushed to a hospital but died Sunday afternoon due to his serious injury, San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare," McManus said, adding that "It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, when police are being targeted across the country."

Until further notice, police officers will not be allowed to conduct traffic stops alone and they must have cover.

The suspect, who was as a black male wearing a hoodie, baggy pants, and possible facial hair, has not yet been arrested and a motive is not known.

Police are now looking for a black car which is believed to be the suspect's vehicle.

The shooting came less than five months after a gunman killed five police officers in the northern Texas city of Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in the U.S. states of Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a gunman killed three police officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana.
There is a growing discussion of how colleges' and universities' schools of public administration are failing to provide the kind of research that public-sector practitioners need to help them deliver services efficiently. Turning policy into effective practice presents many difficult challenges for public leaders, so it's a dialogue that has long been needed. But for those looking for solutions, there is a worthy model elsewhere in academia: schools of business.Over the past decade or more, for example, a prominent thread in business research has been on identifying practices that encourage employees to perform at their best. That brings together what we know about effective supervision, individual motivation, knowledge and skill development, creating a supportive culture, and the role of technology in decision-making.For the most part, the conclusions of this kind of research are reported in books and articles that are not peer-reviewed and that do not conclude with a long list of footnoted citations. But the findings have influenced a revolution in the way private-sector work is organized and managed -- a revolution accelerated by consulting firms, such as Gallup and McKinsey, that augment the research with practical studies.The private sector has the advantage that new companies with new organizational strategies are always emerging. When those companies are successful, their policies and practices are discussed at conferences and in articles. The research follows the headlines and confirms or debunks the value of new ideas.But for government, this is a chicken-and-egg situation. Research is needed to assess the value of new practices, but there is a more immediate need to adopt and "live with" new practices for a time to develop an understanding of their impact.Scrapping and replacing long-established policies takes leadership. A classic example is the way the head of a federal research lab committed to the concept of pay for performance shortly after it was permitted by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. He brought all of those who reported to him into a room and told them, "If you have any questions, this is the time to ask. But when you leave this room you will be supportive of the change in policy."That change was the first of the demonstration projects permitted by the new law. The experience with the change was assessed by federal psychologists each year, and when it proved to be a success it was made permanent. Now the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is authorized under the statute to approve proposals to test practices that would not previously have been permitted under federal civil-service regulations. This idea of permitting such "demo projects" could be helpful at the state and local level.Another model for assessing new ideas is the approach of the Nonprofit Organization Research Panel (NORP) created by the University of Missouri's Truman School of Public Affairs. The panel includes more than 1,500 nonprofits that are surveyed occasionally, asked for feedback on specific issues such as measuring performance.While the NORP model does not encourage the adoption of new practices, it suggests a way to conduct the kind of low-cost research that could be initiated by government agencies -- or by academia. Online survey platforms such as SurveyMonkey, for example, make it easy to gather response data, providing a channel to seek broad feedback on experience with alternative policies.That kind of research could explore the long list of management policies and practices that have been proven in business but are still largely untested in government. One prominent and almost universal practice in business, for example, is the use of organizational and individual goals. The acronym SMART (for specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused and timebound) is used regularly in private-sector discussions of goal-setting but does not appear to be widely used in government.The list of practices could include the potential value, for example, of monthly meetings to review progress in achieving goals, new practices for selecting supervisors and managers, the best use of performance scorecards, the impact of group or team incentives, or preferred supervisory competencies for managing millennials.None of this is to downplay the importance of public-policy research. My purpose, rather, is to argue for research that genuinely helps public employers assess effective ways to raise performance levels. Academic research to date has failed to focus on the possibilities, but it's very likely that governments and their agencies would welcome the support and assistance.
Nearly 100,000 Oregonians who otherwise may not have voted cast ballots in the Nov. 8 election after registering to vote in the states new automatic voter registration program, Democratic Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins said.Nearly 43 percent of voters who registered automatically after visiting a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office voted. Thats a lower rate however, than the 79 percent who registered by mail and through the secretary of states website.Many states were eyeing Oregon which was the first to start automatically registering voters in an attempt to encourage more residents to vote.Following a law passed in 2015, the state began automatically registering people to vote when they visited a DMV office, later sending them a piece of mail that asked them if theyd like to opt out of being a registered voter. More than 230,000 people were registered to vote through the program, and 97,184 of them voted in the presidential election.Although this contributed to the highest number of voters Oregon has seen in a presidential election  2.02 million ballots were cast the 80 percent turnout rate was Oregons lowest in a presidential election year since the 2000.Skeptics have argued that automatically registering people to vote may not lead to higher turnout because they dont become actively involved  even if simply taking the step to go register on their own.Of those automatically registered only about 20 percent of people responded to the subsequent mailed form and asked to be registered with a party, while the rest were automatically registered as unaffiliated voters.Participation from those who were automatically registered showed a sharp distinction between those who had returned the form and selected to register with a party and those who did not.Eighty-four percent of both Democrats and Republicans registered automatically voted in the election, just shy of the figures for those who were registered through other means. But 35 of automatically registered unaffiliated voters cast ballots in the election compared with nearly 60 percent who were traditionally registered.
In light of ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protest activities and increased demand on law enforcement, lawmakers broke tradition Thursday by canceling the traditional State of the Judiciary Address and Tribal-State Relationship message held during the first week of the upcoming legislative session.Following the decision, a backup plan was arranged between members of leadership and the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission to have tribal leaders meet privately with both parties' leadership during the opening days of the session to air concerns and propose legislative ideas.The motion was brought forward by House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, at the end of the two-day meeting of North Dakota Legislative Management in the state House chambers.Because of the burden placed upon the Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies, it is in the best interests of the Legislative Assembly and law enforcement to not further contribute to the depletion of those resources and place additional burdens upon law enforcement, Carlson said in his motion.
Description

GIS  21 November 2016 : The Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Mr Anil Gayan, expressed concern regarding the use, misuse and abuse of antibiotics which is causing increasing antibiotic resistance. He was speaking at the opening of a workshop on the theme Antibiotics: Handle with care, held on 18 November 2016 at Gold Crest Hotel in Quatre Bornes in the context of World Antibiotic Awareness Week.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week was held from 14 to 20 November 2016 with a view to help raise awareness and understanding on antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause. While antibiotic resistance happens naturally, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics has accelerated the process, leading to record high levels of antibiotic resistance which poses a major challenge to health, food security, and development. The objective of the workshop organised by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life was to promote the judicious use of antibiotics in both humans and in animals.

On this occasion, the Minister underscored the negative impact of antibacterial resistance on the health care and economic system of a country. One of the consequences is the increase in the cost of health care with longer duration of illness, lengthier stays in hospitals, additional tests, use of more expensive drugs and more intensive care required. Moreover, without effective antimicrobials for prevention and treatment of infections, medical procedures become very high risk, leading to more deaths.

Unfortunately, we have noticed that far too much antibiotics are being used in the country, said the Minister, who added that in 2015, Mauritius used a total of 41,000,532 units of antibiotics. Out of this number, almost 40 million units were used in public hospitals. Recalling that the Central Health Laboratory monitors drug resistance to bacteria, Mr Gayan deplored the gradual rise in the antibiotic resistance of the bacterium Escherichia coli, which causes urinary tract infections, from 1% in 1998 to reach 61% in 2014, due to the overuse of antibiotics.

The findings of a study on prescriptions carried out last year by officers of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life were also revealed by Mr Gayan who pointed out the irresponsible and unethical behaviour of certain doctors. Thus, it was found, among others, that the prescriptions are not written as being provided for in law; and that  of antibiotic prescriptions are written by doctors when they are not absolutely sure that antibiotics are necessary.

As part of measures to address the problem, the Minister announced that a new policy regarding antibiotic treatment is under preparation. Pending the implementation of measures of the new policy, Mr Gayan urged health practitioners, agriculture officers, communities and people at large to adopt best practices to avoid the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Everybody has to take some simple actions because unless the trend of antibiotic abuse is reversed, the future of humanity is bleak, he cautioned.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2016

The World Health Organisation initiated the first edition of World Antibiotic Awareness Week last year, following the endorsement at the World Health Assembly of a global action plan, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health, to tackle antimicrobial resistances.

The objectives of this years awareness week are four-fold: make antibiotic resistance a globally recognised health issue; raise awareness of the need to protect antibiotics through appropriate use; increase recognition of the role that individuals, governments, and human and animal health and agriculture professionals must all play in tackling antibiotic resistance; and encourage behaviour change as well as convey the message that simple actions can make a huge difference.
In late October, a systems outage at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lasted roughly two weeks, and stemmed from the cascading failure of three hard drives that overwhelmed the agencys network  despite it being decentralized and using two independent hardware systems, a state official said.Preceded by an unrelated issue on Oct. 19, the three hard drive failures on Oct. 24 sparked an event that persisted until Nov. 7, although most offices were restored days earlier.No data was compromised or lost, but the outage affected thousands of customers and 122 of 188 DMV offices in the nations most populous state. For a time, more than half of DMV offices were unable to process driver's license, ID or vehicle registration transactions.Such an outage is "rare," said Jessica Gonzalez, the DMVs assistant deputy director of Public Affairs, adding that online services were unaffected during either incident. Still, the department is working with its state partners "to closely analyze this issue, and determine best steps moving forward to ensure an outage like this does not occur again, Gonzalez toldvia email.The DMVs system was built with disaster recovery and business continuity in mind, and utilizes two hardware systems at two separate locations. Its hard disks are industry standard and current-day technology. The department handles its own backup, and conducts two technology recovery tests per year, in coordination with the state Office of Technology Services.Each of the DMVs hardware systems has failover and redundancy built in by having primary and backup systems in the same hardware chassis. And overall, the system was built to withstand the loss of multiple hard disks in either the primary or the secondary system, Gonzalez said  but not both.The failure was complicated, she said, because the systems in each of the physical locations have, in the intervening time period, transitioned to production usage for both  breaking redundancy and weakening the disaster recovery process.Gonzalez called it a series of events that the department has not previously witnessed. But she and several of her counterparts nationwide said its one for which they are constantly vigilant.As part of the agencys disaster recovery process, staffers worked around the clock to bring the DMVs system back online, rebuilding and reprogramming 190 processors from scratch. And to hasten service availability, offices that run on dual processors (because they process so many transactions) were restarted on single processors first.While agencies in many other states have so far avoided a widespread outage, they continue to plan for that possibility. Take Virginia, where Department of Motor Vehicles CIO David Burhop said the department has had situations where an individual service such as license renewals have gone down, but not anything that took a spectrum of services offline for several days.The state backs up its 90-plus departments through Northrop Grumman, and maintains separate primary and backup systems for its data, Burhop said, housing the primary system south of Richmond and the backup system in the southwest part of the state.They definitely wanted a separate power grid, weather zone, and so they went pretty far out and away from the shore in terms of hurricanes, etc., Burhop said, noting that the Virginia Information Technologies Agency acts as a liaison between Northrop Grumman and executive branches of the agency.Hardware includes servers from Dell and EMC, and an IBM mainframe.Knock on wood, they are some of the most reliable pieces of hardware that I have ever worked with, Burhop said of the mainframe. The great thing is, your average hacker today  whens the last time you ever heard, or have you ever heard of a mainframe getting hacked?To make sure departments are prepared for a service disruption, the commonwealth conducts an annual drill to test all system alerts and all notification trees as if a disaster had just occurred. The most recent edition was about a month ago, Burhop said, over a period of three to four days.The test began at around 3 p.m. on a workday, and the DMV  which isnt a "Priority One" department  was fully restored by the end of the following day. And an actual customer disruption, of course, never happened  in large part because customers have made it abundantly clear they like to be able to access their DMV at all times.Testing also is commonplace at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles; components are tested annually, and portions of the system are subject to random testing  the so-called point of sale systems at county offices coming up for review next year.Recently, said CIO Eric Obermier, more rigorous testing requirements have made departments that dont meet data restoration timelines subject to retesting in 90 days.Almost a year ago, the department, which hasnt experienced a widespread outage either, upgraded its system from running Natural and Database to Linux and DB2  in part because techs who speak the former are getting hard to find.In Illinois, where the DMV's data backup and recovery is handled by the Secretary of States office, a test data recovery is conducted every year, typically in the spring, said Data Systems Administrator Gary Dameron. During this time, the office tests the DMV's enterprise mainframe and rotates testing of different distributed systems.Testing is key, Dameron said. Testing of not only your DR [disaster recovery] solution but of your backups. Even though weve been doing this for a lot of years, every year we test, we find something new.Dameron said the DMV has facility servers in the field that communicate back to its main data center, the Storage Area Network. Thats its primary storage, but its backup is a newer virtual tape system  storage disks that emulate tape.Obermier also noted that maintaining multiple power sources for hard drives is a key to data preservation and recovery. That way, he said, the failure of any one of them is not linked to the other.In Oregon, DMV spokesman David House said that smaller outages happen regularly, but are almost always fixed within "a couple hours.Its usually a telecommunications issue, somebody cuts a fiber cable somewhere, he said.Oregon DMV backs up its data daily through a mirror agreement with another state, though House declined to say which one.If we had a complete loss like the system caught fire, we can just copy it back over from this state, he said, noting that he doesnt know how long that would take because its never happened before.The department has been computer reliant since the late 60s, and its core systems are COBOL-based with modern hardware. the Oregon DMV has had a disaster recovery plan in place for a decade or two, House said, and updates it every year or two. The plan covers everything from disaster recovery to staff contacts, and getting systems back up and running.Recently the department simulated a disaster recovery in conjunction with The Great Oregon ShakeOut, a local example of the multinational earthquake preparedness drill.Informed of the extent of California DMVs outage, House called it an extreme rare and unlikely event.Thats hard to plan for, he said. Theyll probably learn from that."On the whole, Texas DMV's Obermier likened information recovery and disaster recovery to buying insurance  and said both are typically difficult to fund until an actual crisis hits.People dont like insurance until they need it and theyre more likely to go without it until they need it, and then theyll never question it again, he said. In the state of California, its probably not going to be very hard to go and get money to make that system more resilient.
The tests at Valencia provided a final opportunity to see all of the MotoGP riders on track together until next year. It was an intense two-day session, with 12 riders changing team and some interesting questions being raised. We also saw the new bikes, some talented 'new' riders and much more.

The numbers don't always say it all, as everyone was working on different things, but the Spanish two-day session did throw up a lot of interesting points for discussion.

We've tried to sum these up with 10 questions and the related answers.



WAS LORENZO'S DEBUT ON THE DUCATI A POSITIVE ONE? Yes, and it had been a while since we'd seen a rider smile as he got off the Desmosedici for the first time. Day one was topped off with the 3rd fastest time, while on day two Jorge closed 8th. The Majorcan had a lot to get done in order to give the engineers as much info as possible, considering Valencia was his first and last test of 2016.

WHY DID DUCATI USE THE WINGLETS? - The appendages will be banned as of 2017, but the factory bikes continued to use them during the test. Gigi DallIgna explained the reasoning: we wanted to compare the 2016 and 2017 chassis without any other variables and without wasting our (limited) time in order to sort the setup. Dovizioso tested the GP16 without wings and test rider Michele Pirro also rode a bike with the smooth fairing.

WHY DID LORENZO'S #99 FEATURE TWO DEVILS? - There are his new graphics for next season. He previously had one 9 with horns and one with a halo but the Majorcan seems to have become more a devil with the red bike... An interesting aside: Lin Jarvis (Yamaha managing director) is very religious and never liked Lorenzo's use of these symbols.

HOW WAS VINALES IMMEDIATELY SO FAST? - His move from Suzuki to Yamaha is perhaps the least critical move, as the two Japanese MotoGP bikes are conceptually similar. Both have an in-line 4-cylinder engine and this has a bearing on the chassis and riding style. So Maverick would have found the M1 very similar to the GSX-RR.

WHY WAS VINALES FASTER THAN ROSSI? - Maverick was a lot quicker than his new team-mate, lapping 0734 of a second faster. But we're not talking about qualifying, this was a test. Vinales used the 2016 M1 over the two days, and had the sole task of gaining experience. Valentino meanwhile continued with the development work, comparing the new and old bikes and testing different If we consider that the Doctor lapped in 130128 in qualifying, the gap to the Spaniard drops to just two tenths.

DID ROSSI LIKE THE 2017 M1? - Unfortunately no, even if Valentino tempered his comments. He was not impressed by the first evolution of the engine: we expected more, while he reserves judgment on the frame, I'll wait to test it again at Sepang before I form a final opinion. More dark than light, for now at least.

WHO WAS THE SURPRISE? - Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia. On the RS-GP, the Spaniard didn't just replicate his qualifying time with the Suzuki, but also went one second faster than times set by Bautista and Bradl.

WHO WAS THE DISAPPOINTMENT? - Karel Abraham, on his return to MotoGP. It can't be said that the Czech rider is lacking in experience, but he was definitely lacking in speed at Valencia. On the final day, only Suzuki test rider Tsusa finished behind him.

IS THE NEW HONDA ENGINE A BIG BANG? - We're referring to the power strokes that, with this type of engine, don't fire at equal intervals but in close succession. Technicalities aside, the HRC technicians were keeping their mouths shut, but the Honda 4-cylinder definitely sounds very different now



HOW DID KTM PERFORM? - Better than in the race, that's for sure. Smith is not yet fully fit, but Pol Espargaro provides clear indications. A 1878 gap is not small on a short track such as Valencia but, if we make a comparison, it is in line with times set by Suzuki on its return: Aleix closed the first tests 1619 from the front.

WHO WAS THE BEST 'NEW-ENTRY'? - The prize is divided between the two Tech3 riders Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco. The German closed in 10th place, less than a second from Vinales, and the Frenchman was only 0.067 behind. The unluckiest of all was Rins who injured two vertebrae, Lowes also crashed hard on day one, ruling himself out of day two.
Singapore has become the latest grand prix with a cloud over its future.

Three races have provisional status on the 2017 schedule, others are in doubt for the future and now F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Singapore could be the next to go.

The night race has quickly become one of the most popular and spectacular on the calendar, and Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport: "Yes, it cost them a lot of money, but we also gave them a lot of money.

"Singapore was suddenly more than just an airport to fly to or from somewhere. Now they believe they have reached their goal and they do not want a grand prix anymore," he added.

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for race organiser Singapore GP told Channel Newsasia: "We don't comment on ongoing commercial negotiations."

Not just that, Ecclestone hinted that even some of F1's biggest team names might pull out.

"It could happen to us that Mercedes and Ferrari run away," said the Briton. "But honestly, if the races get better, this may not be such a terrible vision."

Indeed, it is a period of looming change for the sport, with new regulations, new owners and new bosses all arriving.

And Ecclestone told the Sunday Times that F1 needs to keep evolving, such as by splitting the current long-form grand prix format into two separate races.

"I don't know if we have the courage to change," said the 86-year-old. "Times change though and it is something we must look at."

As for F1's new owner Liberty, Ecclestone said the Americans are still getting their head around what they have bought, and need to clear European anti-competition approval.

"Let's wait," he said. "It's like a wedding -- you need to be married for a little while before you know if it works."

And he played down claims Ross Brawn is being lined up for a top job.

"He never spoke to me about it," he said. "But Ross has never done what I do. He has never negotiated with organisers and TV stations.

"He's been out of the business for a while -- I don't know what he could give to the sport."

Finally, when asked if he will be in Melbourne 2017, Ecclestone answered: "Did you see me in Melbourne 2016?"

(GMM)
Bernie Ecclestone on Monday said he is working to keep F1 in Singapore.

Earlier, the F1 supremo had been quoted by a German magazine as revealing that because the city-state had reached its objections with the spectacular night race, it no longer wanted to be on the calendar.

But Ecclestone told the Straits Times: "Everybody is happy to be in Singapore and (we) don't want to lose Singapore."

As for the controversial quote with Auto Motor und Sport, the 86-year-old Briton said: "My words were taken in a funny way. What I said was simple -- no decision has been taken yet.

"Negotiations are ongoing and will be sorted out shortly -- before the end of the year, I'm sure. We want to extend long-term. We'll see what happens."

(GMM)
nuTonomy will begin testing its self-driving Renault Zoe electric vehicle before the end of the year in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park in the Seaport section of the city. nuTonomy outfits its vehicles with a software system which has been integrated with high-performance sensing and computing components to enable safe operation without a driver. The companys autonomous and robotics technology system grew out of research conducted in MIT labs run by nuTonomy co-founders Karl Iagnemma and Emilio Frazzoli.

nuTonomy , developer of software for self-driving cars, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that authorizes nuTonomy to begin testing its growing fleet of self-driving cars on specific public streets in a designated area of Boston.

The testing in Boston will enable nuTonomy to build on the knowledge it has gained from the public road tests and public trials it has been conducting in Singapores one-north business district. nuTonomy plans to launch its self-driving mobility-on-demand service in Singapore in 2018. (Earlier post.)

During the Boston road tests, nuTonomys software system will learn local signage and road markings while gaining a deeper understanding of pedestrian, cyclist, and driver behavior and interaction across a complex urban driving environment. nuTonomy plans to work with government officials to expand the testing area to other parts of the city in the near future.

The MOU follows the Executive Orders issued in October by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker that direct the development of an on-street testing process. The City of Boston will be able to monitor carefully the effects of autonomous vehicles, and will further identify how autonomous vehicles will further the safety, access, and sustainability goals of Bostons transportation plan, Go Boston 2030.

As companies look to begin testing autonomous vehicles, MassDOT will work through the AV Working Group created by Massachusetts Executive Order No. 572 to manage a rigorous approval process and respective safety protocols. Criteria and credentials needed for testing will be thoroughly evaluated, such as a private companys demonstrated experience, licensing, inspection and registration status in order to ensure the safety of the public. Stephanie Pollack, Secretary & CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation

nuTonomy will monitor and evaluate the performance of its software system throughout this testing phase. An engineer from nuTonomy will ride in the vehicle during testing to observe system performance and assume control if needed.

nuTonomy recently forged a partnership with Grab, Southeast Asias leading ride-hailing app, to support the expansion of nuTonomys on-going public trial of self-driving cars in Singapore, the first such public trial in the world. The trial is giving select Grab users a chance to experience the full end-to-end experience of e-hailing and riding in a nuTonomy self-driving vehicle in and around Singapores one-north business district. nuTonomy has also been named an R&D partner by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA), to support the development of a commercial AV service in Singapore.

In May, nuTonomy completed a $16-million Series A funding led by Highland Capital Partners of Cambridge, MA that included participation from Fontinalis Partners, Signal Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and EDBI, the dedicated corporate investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
GREENWICH  Responding to uncertainty and outrage voiced by residents after the election of Donald Trump as president, the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee is holding a forum Tuesday to address their concerns.

The 7 p.m. session, in the Cone Room at Town Hall, is open to members of the public.

We have received a lot of communication from outside of our Democratic Town Committee, which has come from people upset with the outcome of the election and wanting to do something, DTC Chairman Jeff Ramer said. As the local Democratic Party, we think that we have some community responsibility to open a forum at which these feelings can be ventilated and at which responsible ideas for action exchanged and possibly implemented.

Ramer stressed the forum does not represent a refusal to accept the election results and said he wants it to be a civil and productive discussion.

But the tenor of Trumps campaign has given rise to worries about how he will perform as president, Ramer said.

Xenophobia toward Muslims and Latinos is not the philosophy of this country, which was built by our waves of immigrants, Ramer said. Nor is misogyny and sexual assault or scoffing a person's disability or a dozen other things that shocked us over the recent campaign.

To the extent that proposed presidential appointments of (Breitbart News head Steve) Bannon or (former Lt. Gen. Michael) Flynn (as chief strategist and national security adviser, respectively) are predictive of a demagogue who intends to erode the human rights of the few to feed populist support from a political base, people of conscience will speak out. That will be our agenda, Ramer said.

Attempts to reach Greenwich Republican Party officials and Trump supporters were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the national popular vote, out-polled Trump in Greenwich by a count of 17,630 votes to 12,215. It was a rare Greenwich win for a Democratic presidential candidate. In the past 50 years, the only others were Barack Obamas victory in 2008 and Lyndon Johnsons in 1964.

Trumps election two weeks ago spurred protests in many parts of the country, which continued with his first nominations and appointments. In addition to Flynn  a controversial choice given work for Russian state-run media, questionable lobbying ties and remarks criticizing Islam as a religion, including comparing it to cancer  and Bannon  with links to white nationalist supporters and allegations of anti-Semitism  the president-elect has nominated Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general, despite allegations of past racist remarks, which led to him being denied a federal judgeship in 1986.

kborsuk@scni.com
Building this nest in Brooklyn feels good. Photo: Melissa Hom

For Thanksgiving, Emily and Melissa Elsen will make 4,500 pies within the span of one week  a feat that requires five straight nights of 24-hour production, and comprises a whopping 40 percent of their annual sales. But even after the holiday, the sisters and owners of Four & Twenty Blackbirds have no plans to slow down. In fact, theyre going to expand their Brooklyn-based business in 2017.

Since they opened their smash-hit pie shop in Gowanus six years ago, the Elsens have gone to launch two satellite shops  a cafe in the Brooklyn Public Library, and a seasonal spot in Orient Village  as well as write a cookbook, build a production kitchen, launch a wholesale business, and collaborate with Shake Shack. In February, theyll open another location in Prospect Heights (on Dean, between Vanderbilt and Carlton), and unlike the others, this one will feel more like a diner, with counter seating. Its a ten-seat counter with a wall of pie, so you can sit down, pick your slice of pie, and also drink beer or wine, Emily says. I really see it as a place that parents can bring their kids and also have a beer, or if you just want to meet up with your friends without a bar atmosphere.

Even if the shop concept is new, the team is doubling down on what made them a hit in the first place. Four & Twenty Blackbirds is closely associated with Brooklyns artisanal boom  something that the Elsens are embracing by choosing to expand hyperlocally. Greenpoint, the Pfizer building  its all filled with food now, Emily says. Food production is what has stayed and taken over for manufacturing. If you want to dismiss the artisanal Brooklyn scene, the fact of the matter is we are there and creating jobs. And were running everything, so building this nest in Brooklyn feels good. Plus, theres a strong sense of community: Ample Hills hosts regular meet-ups, where business owners share ideas and contacts. (And yes, theyre bringing back the collaborative Thanksgiving ice-cream pie.)

What also impacts their growth is that the Elsens are the sole partners and owners in the company. Weve raised the money ourselves, through loans from banks and friends and family, Emily explains. Its challenging. When the bank accounts low, were the ones who dont get paid. But its been important to us just to have control over everything, to be able to focus on our long-term employees, and essentially stay a small business.



Still, the Elsen sisters want to eventually open pie shops in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and even Japan (see: their matcha pie), and theyre thinking critically about how to set themselves up for long-term success. Were six years in now, and were six years older, so you start to think about what the business should look like for your life, and for the people that work for you, Emily says. We want to keep growing, growing, growing every year.
Narcissa would be a nice place to eat some turkey this Thursday.

Thanksgiving is practically here. The holiday is just three days away, and youre probably here because youre staying in the city and forgot to think about what to do. Lucky for you, theres no reason to fret. Grub has done the work of finding out which top-tier restaurants still have reservations available (but as always, things book up, so move quick). Consider this your guide to having a special meal on the holiday  without having to actually do any planning.

Ai Fiori

Availability: For parties of two and six, there are lot of tables from as early as noon to after 8 p.m. Parties of six can still find tables from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Price: Lunch is three courses for $85 or four courses for $100; dinner is four courses for $100 with wine pairings at $70 and $120

On the Menu: The restaurant will give the holiday an Italian touch, with appetizers such as octopus with sweet potato caponata, pastas like duck ravioli with cherry gastrique, and entrees including turkey with sage stuffing and cranberry jus. Dessert options include cheesecake with caramelized apple and a brown-butter squash semifreddo.

Aldea

Availability: For parties of two, there are tables available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Parties of four have more choices, with tables still up for grabs from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Price: Three courses for $85 or $50 for children 12 or under; wine pairing is $45

On the Menu: George Mendess first restaurant is doing Thanksgiving the Portuguese way, serving mussel soup with chorizo; mushrooms with Bentons bacon; salt cod with white-corn pudding; and a classic turkey plate. Dessert is strictly traditional: pumpkin biscuit cake, fried apple pie, and ice creams.

Bar Boulud

Availability: Parties of two or four can still get a table around lunchtime.

Price: Three courses for $70

On the Menu: The Upper West Side restaurants prix fixe features dishes like a smoked salmon crepe mille-feuille; beef-tartare tartine; roast turkey with chestnut stuffing and cranberry relish; bavette steak; and spiced pumpkin custard.

Birds and Bubbles

Availability: There are still tons of reservations for parties of two, four, and six all day long.

Price: $65 for family-style prix fixe

On the Menu: The champagne and fried-chicken spot will keep it Southern with a family-style menu of pimento cheese with brown crackers, herb-roasted turkey, buttermilk biscuits, and banana pudding. Double down on bird with a fried-chicken supplement for another $9.

The Cecil

Availability: There are still tables for two at 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Price: $65 for three courses

On the Menu: If youre in Harlem and looking for lunch, head to the fusion Afro-Asian-American restaurant for oxtail dumplings with green-apple curry, palm-sugar-brined turkey with braised greens and giblet gravy, poussin yassa with coconut sticky rice, and pumpkin potpie.

Chefs Club

Availability: There are a decent amount of tables for two and four left between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., with a few left for parties of six as well.

Price: $75 for three courses

On the menu: Youll get your choice of chestnut soup with Parmesan or roasted squash salad, with an entree of roasted turkey with sides like green beans and mashed potatoes, and pies from Four and Twenty Blackbirds for dessert.

Covina

Availability: There are still lots of tables for parties of two or four from noon to 3 p.m., as well as during dinner from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Price: $65 per person

On the Menu: The California-style restaurant will keep its prix fixe classic with dishes like buttered peas with pearl onions, mashed potatoes, and roast turkey with fennel-sausage stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.

Dirty French

Availability: There are tables for two and four available from the early afternoon through prime hours during the evening, and tables for six during the late morning through afternoon.

Price: $95 for three courses

On the Menu: At Major Food Groups French-ish restaurant, youll start your meal with hors doeuvres like tuna tartare with crepe indochine, get an entree of roast turkey with sides like stuffing and mashed potato, and finish with pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and apple tatin.

Eastfields

Availability: There are tables for two and four available pretty much all throughout service, which is 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Price: $65 for three courses

On the Menu: Choose from starters like cauliflower gratin and wild mushroom risotto with anise mascarpone and entree including turkey with chestnut ragu and roast artic char with parsnip puree. Sides for the table include green beans and crispy shallots, while desert means pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and chocolate cake.

Freud

Availability: Its open season for tables of two, four, and six, and you can book a reservation pretty whenever you want.

Price: $69 for three courses

On the Menu: The Austrian restaurants special menu includes shrimp cocktail and a traditional Caesar salad, entree including spatzle with braised kale and turkey with stuffing, and apple strudel or pumpkin pie for dessert.

Houseman

Availability: There are still lots of tables for two and four available throughout service, as well as a couple at 1:15 and 1:30 for 6.

Price: $85 or $45 for children under 10 for three courses

On the Menu: At the American restaurant in Tribeca, theyre serving triple liver mousse, turkey with roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet white potatoes, and apple or pecan pie for dessert. There are add-ons, too.

Indian Accent

Availability: Parties of two can still get in between 2 and 5:30 p.m.

Price: $95 for four courses

On the Menu: The Mumbai import will serve a sweet-potato chaat, its excellent pickled pork, turkey stuffed with paneer, and sides like tandoori turkey kulcha. Dessert will be along the lines of caramelized pecan rice pudding.

La Sirena

Availability: There are reservations for parties of two, four, and six pretty much all day long, from the morning through the evening.

Price: $75 for four courses

On the menu: The hotel restaurant from Mario Batali is serving a prix fixe with appetizers like roasted acorn squash with smoked ricotta, pastas like pumpkin agnolotti, and entrees including turkey with cranberry mostarda and grilled lamb chops with chickpea flour fritters. Sides like cauliflower carbonara are an additional $9 each, and dessert means an apple torta, pine-nut tart, ice cream, or pumpkin cheesecake.

Meadowsweet

Availability: There are still some tables for two and four available at 2 and 3:45 p.m.

Price: $85 for three courses

On the Menu: In Williamsburg, theyll serve squash-and-chestnut bisque, filet mignon with onion jam, roasted and braised turkey, and devils food cake.

Narcissa

Availability: There are some tables for two still available from noon to 4 p.m., and tables for four from 12:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Price: $79 for prix fixe or $125 for prix fixe for parties of six or more

On the Menu: If you want a more vegetable-heavy meal, head here for porcini soup, carrots wellington, grilled short rib, a classic turkey, and sides like sourdough sausage stuffing.

Sauvage

Availability: There are a good amount of tables still available for parties of two and four from around 1 p.m until 9:30 p.m, but not a lot during prime dinner time. They will accept walk-ins at the bar.

Price: $65 for three courses

On the Menu: The handsome sequel to Williamsburgs Maison Premiere will offer butternut-squash veloute with chestnut and crab, venison tartare with pickled beets, turkey with sourdough harvest stuffing, and hazelnut cake.

Vaucluse

Availability: There are still a good amount of tables for parties of two, four, and six available during the early afternoon.

Price: $99 for three courses

On the Menu: Michael White will keep it French on the Upper East Side, with rabbit-and-Reblochon cheese ravioli, mains like turkey with pain perdu stuffing, and hazelnut-crusted sea bass. Dessert, of course, means fall flavors like a pumpkin tart, gateau au chocolat, or apple galette.

Wallse

Availability: There are tables for two available all day long, and a few tables for four during the early afternoon and from 7:15 through 9 p.m.

Price: $65 for three courses

On the Menu: Youll have your choice of warm smoked salmon with pears, roasted beets with caraway, or chestnut soup with Viennese melange to start. Go American with roast turkey with brioche dumplings or German with Wiener schnitzel for your entree, then finish with one of four desserts including apple strudel.

This post will be updated as reservations become available.
Sony has started rolling out an update to Xperia X devices running the company's Nougat concept build. Weighing in at over 220MB and carrying a build number of 38.1.A.0.342, the update brings along several changes, including the Android security fixes for the month of November.

The update also comes with X-reality support for pictures in Sony Album app as well as updated fingerprint driver, and a new version of Xperia Home and Xperia Transfer apps. Fixes for issues related to camera and FM Radio are also there.

Via
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Published on 2016/11/20 | Source

5 posters of "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" were released.

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The new tvN drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" is about to be released on the 2nd of December. The drama is about a goblin who needs a human wife to end his immortality, an angel of death who lives with him and a girl who claims she's the goblin's wife who should have been dead.

The five posters features the cast of the drama which includes Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na and Yook Sung-jae were created in different layouts.

The first poster with everyone in it shows the complicated relationship they are in. Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook are smiling softly while, Kim Go-eun and Yoo In-na are smiling fairly. Yook Sung-jae is staring far ahead.

In the poster of just the men, Yook Sung-jae has a fork in his mouth but he looks at Lee Dong-wook and Gong Yoo with awe. Lee Dong-wook has his arm up as if to scold someone and Gong Yoo seems surprised.

Another poster reveals 3 couples. Kim Go-eun is leaning on Gong Yoo while Yoo In-na is looking sexy in Lee Dong-wook's arms. Lee Dong-wook and Gong Yoo look like they're about to duel each other.

Sources say, "The actors and actresses of "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" are 200% synchronized with their characters and there will be much more to look forward to".
Published on 2016/11/20 | Source

Hallyu stars Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho came in first and second in a research conducted by a Korean research institute.

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This result was announced on the 20th after analysis on the Big Data. Jun Ji-hyun's keywords were related to 'pretty' and "Beautiful" while Lee Min-ho's were 'handsome' and 'sexy'.

The two are currently starring in the SBS drama "The Legend of the Blue Sea".
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

09:44, 30 OCT 2022
By Jesse Wood

The 200-acre Ashe County fire that started yesterday is about 40 to 45 percent contained, according to N.C. Forest Service spokesman Robert Ross, who was on-site on Monday afternoon.

It started from a structure fire and spread through the woods, Ross said, adding that he believed the structure fire was still under investigation with a cause still unknown.

Ross noted that the containment area encompasses a 400 to 500 acre wood area in the West Jefferson and Fleetwood region. Ross said that fortunately roads exist nearby and are helping to contain the fire.

Currently, 35 N.C. Forest Service personnel and 30 volunteer fire department personnel are on the scene as of Monday afternoon.

With the high winds we are not able to use a lot of aircraft and are waiting until the winds die down, but we are getting a lot of help from VFD and pulling resources from different parts of the mountain area, Ross said.

See more details about the Ashe County fire below in a N.C. Forest Service press release issued on Sunday.

Currently, tens of thousands of acres are burning in forest fires across Western North Carolina. Primarily, however, the fires have been located in the southwestern mountains of North Carolina. Heres the latest update on those fires.

Click here to see rolling post of Watauga Countys Horton Fire and more complete coverage of wildfires including maps and donation opportunities.

Approximately 120 acres have been burned thus far in an ongoing wildfire located in the West Jefferson/Fleetwood area. High winds caused the wildfire to spread from a structure fire on at 240 Hidden Pasture Lane yesterday morning and resulted in a response by the NC Forest Service, 12 local volunteer fire departments, rescue squad, emergency management and law enforcement agencies.

Currently, the fire, which is 40 percent contained, is primarily located in a containment area that encompasses a 400-500 acre wooded area between Mile High Lake Road, Sierra Road and US 221. The NC Forest Service plans to fully contain the fire using natural barriers and a burn-out. Burn-out operations involve working inside a control line to allow the fire to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line.

Burn-out operations take away the fuel so that if the winds pick up theres nothing there to burn, said NC Forest Ranger Tim Lewis.

There are 14 houses and 9 other structures nearby and some residents have voluntarily evacuated but no official evacuation orders have been issued.

We ask that residents monitor the local radio stations, local newspaper sites and the Ashe County Emergency Management Facebook page for updates. Please do not call the 911 communications center with questions about the fire or school operations as this takes them away from emergency calls. We will attempt to keep updates posted periodically on the fire, Emergency Management Coordinator Patty Gambill said.

We appreciate all the donations and assistance from the community, she added. It has been a tremendous help. For information on the effects of smoke, please visit the Appalachian District Health Department website and Facebook page.

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(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed fraud charges against four individuals and others who allegedly profited by defrauding investors in a cash-strapped California-based renewable energy company.

Patrick Carter, the founder and CEO of 808 Renewable Energy Corp. was charged along with the company, chief operating officer Peter Kirkbride, sales representatives Martin Kinchloe and Thomas Flowers, and three other firms: 808 Investments LLC, West Coast Commodities LLC, and T.A. Flowers LLC. The complaint alleges that the fraud began in 2009 and lasted at least five years, raising more than $30 million from hundreds of investors.

According to the SECs complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the defendants misled investors, falsely claiming their funds would be used to acquire new equipment and expand 808 Renewable. Instead, the complaint alleges that Carter paid millions for consulting fees by 808 Investments LLC, a company he owned and controlled, and diverted millions more to support his lavish lifestyle, to pay commissions to sales representatives, and to make Ponzi-like payments to investors. The SEC also alleges that in 2013 Carter falsely announced that the New York Stock Exchange had preliminarily approved 808 Renewables stock for trading on the AMEX, and sold millions of his own shares to investors.

We allege that Patrick Carter orchestrated a fraudulent scheme using 808 Renewable Energy Corporation to raise millions, said Michele Wein Layne, Director of the SECs Los Angeles Office. While telling investors their funds would be used for the benefit of the company, Carter and his associates looted 808 Renewable.

The SECs complaint charges Carter, 808 Renewable, Kirkbride, Kinchloe, Flowers, 808 Investments, LLC, West Coast Commodities LLC and T.A. Flowers LLC with violating federal antifraud laws and related SEC rules. The SEC seeks disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest and penalties, permanent injunctive relief, and penny-stock bars against the defendants, as well as officer and director bars against Carter and Kirkbride.

Flowers and T.A. Flowers LLC have offered to settle the SECs action without admitting or denying the allegations against them. Under the settlement, which is subject to court approval, they will agree to full injunctive relief, disgorgement plus prejudgment interest of $1.4 million, penny-stock bars, and a $160,000 penalty assessed against Flowers.
What good does it do to expel a pupil who has made a bomb threat six months after the fact? Why cannot the principal have the right to, for example, expel them for a week and if necessary request that the student welfare services provide support to them and their family? asks Nina Lahtinen, a development manager at OAJ.

The Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) has proposed that primary school principals be granted the right to issue detention and expel pupils for fixed periods of time.

Pupils can currently be issued detention only by teachers participating in teaching and expelled only upon a decision by a multi-member disciplinary board.

A temporary expulsion would always be the last-resort measure in basic education, Lahtinen underlines in a guest contribution to Helsingin Sanomat.

Principals, she adds, would first have to exhaust other disciplinary options, such as contacting the family, re-organising groups, staging a student welfare intervention, holding a disciplinary educational discussion and issuing detention.

OAJ has voiced its concerns about the insufficient disciplinary powers of primary school principals also to the Parliament's Education Committee.

Most Members of the Parliament have already voiced their support for a legislative proposal drafted by Tiina Elovaara (PS), a first-term Member of Parliament from Tampere, to grant municipalities the right to transfer bullies from one school to another.

It sends the message that also the pupil participating in bullying may have to change schools. The law would have a preventive effect on bullying and would articulate the central administration's position on bullying more clearly, she wrote in a press release in October.

Lahtinen estimates that granting principals the right to transfer trouble-making pupils to another school for periods ranging from a single day to three months would be an administratively lighter and more humane solution for all stakeholders, which could supplement the statutory right proposed by Elovaara.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Sari Gustafsson  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
I have never before heard anyone of significance outline the powers of [the authorities contributing to] the overall security situation in such a concrete way, he states in a blog published on Puheenvuoro .

President Sauli Niinisto's recent statement about the role of the police in responding to hybrid threats was unprecedented, estimates Mikko Paatero, an ex-National Police Commissioner.

Niinisto estimated late last week that if unmarked foreign troops were engaged in criminal activities in Finland, their activities would be interpreted simply as criminal incidents  or police matters  under the current legislation.

A re-examination of our legislation in regards to this area is highly warranted, he said at a seminar commemorating the 200th anniversary of policing in Finland on 17 November. The key questions include should it be possible for the police to receive official assistance from the armed forces in a wider variety of circumstances and should the criteria for declaring extraordinary circumstances be clarified.

Paatero says he fully agrees with the President.

Kari Tolvanen (NCP), the chairperson of the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, and Ilkka Kanerva (NCP), the chairperson of the Parliament's Defence Committee, similarly believe the possible need for legislative amendments should be appraised.

Paatero touched on the issue as recently as last month in commenting on the de-militarised status of the Aland Islands. He estimated that if the string of islands was the target of any aggression by a foreign power, it would likely first be the target of measures designed to ensure its susceptibility to aggression.

Such actions could include a variety of cyber-measures, measures to affect the energy supply, hybrid measures to influence and other outright criminal activities. This category includes the deployment of the so-called little green men, he listed.

Paatero also pointed out that responding to such measures would initially fall within the purview of police and border officials, instead of military personnel.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Evacuation orders lifted, forest service warns of post-burn hazards

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LAKE LURE  Because the threat from the Party Rock Fire has diminished, the U.S. and North Carolina forest services lifted all evacuation and pre-evacuation notices for the Town of Lake Lure and surrounding neighborhoods at noon Monday.

The evacuation orders were cancelled for parts of the Rumbling Bald Resort that have been under a mandatory evacuation notice: Deerfield; Fairfield; Youngs Mountain; and Quail Ridge. The pre-evacuation notice for Three Creeks, Cedar Creek Road, Buffalo Creek Road, Riverbend Highlands, Tatanka, Apple Valley, Shumont Estates and Buffalo Shoals, is also cancelled as of noon today.

A state of emergency remained in effect for the town of Lake Lure. Fire and town officials caution everyone that the recently burned areas contain many hazards, including damaged and standing dead trees called "snags," that can fall without warning at any time. There are also stump holes, some of which may still contain enough heat to cause serious burns to people and pets.

The Lake Town Hall is now open for normal business hours, but only through the front entrance, and using the front parking lot. The rest of the area around the municipal building is still being used as an incident command post and is closed to the public. The park also remains closed as it serves as fire base camp, with access restricted to incident personnel. Visitors to town hall should use caution because of the high volume of fire and emergency traffic.
Marshals, sheriff's SWAT team make arrest

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U.S. marshals and members of the Henderson County Sheriffs Office SWAT team arrested an East Flat Rock man on Monday on sex offender charges and other felonies.

David Eugene Staigo had outstanding warrants for Failure to Register- Sex Offender, Failure to Report New Address-Sex Offender, two grand jury indictments for Habitual Felon, along with other warrants for Failure to Appear, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release.

Members of the Henderson County Sheriffs Office contacted the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force in Asheville after obtaining warrants for Staigo. Staigo has an extensive criminal history in several states surrounding North Carolina. The collaborative investigation eventually led to a travel camper Staigo was living in on Nursery Lane. Officers found Staigo in the travel camper and arrested him. Staigo was transported to the Henderson County Detention Center, where he was jailed without bond.

Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by U.S. Marshals than all other federal agencies combined.
MADISON  Seven months ago, as Wisconsin Republicans looked ahead to the upcoming presidential election, they focused on the states nonpartisan race for the state Supreme Court as a test run of sorts.

They figured out the most effective way to identify and register Republicans with a low likelihood of voting and persuade independents to get to the polls. They analyzed where and when to put resources into the field. They looked at how best to spend on mailings and phone calls.

When we looked at the Supreme Court race, it was an opportunity for us to fine-tune our operation, said Mark Morgan, state director for the Republican National Committee.

Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley won by more than 95,000 votes in April. In November, Republican Donald Trump eked out a much tighter victory  just over 27,000 votes  against Hillary Clinton.

Republicans, both nationally and in Wisconsin, say the difference-maker for Trump was the ground game, which they built for more than a decade, first with a series of recall elections in 2011 and 2012 and honed with the Supreme Court race.

The Wisconsin GOP has a reputation as one of the best state party operations because of it, said Luke Martz, a Republican consultant who worked in eight states.

They run a very tight ship, said Martz, who was Bradleys campaign manager and noted that though that race benefited from the partys work, there was no coordination. They know what theyre doing. They know how to win races.

While Republicans revel in victory, Democrats are trying to chart a path forward as they look ahead to 2018, when theyll have to defend U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwins seat and attempt to win back the governors office.

The state spokeswoman from Clinton talked up Democrats efforts despite Novembers outcome.

Democrats up and down the ticket were supported by a robust organizing operation and an incredible volunteer network across Wisconsin, said Gillian Drummond, who also is a longtime Wisconsin Democratic operative. From phone banks in small towns to knocking doors in cities and organizing events everywhere in between, the Democratic operation was second to none.

The Republican ground game cant be credited for all of their success.

Clinton underperformed President Barack Obamas 2012 totals in Democratic counties. Key voters  young people, women, African-Americans and Hispanics  did not turn out in the numbers she needed to win. Plus, Democrats had to raise money without any visits from Clinton or the Obamas  the first presidential election since 1972 when one of the major party candidates skipped the state.

Still, the Republican track record in Wisconsin since 2010 shows Scott Walker winning three elections, including a recall; Johnson twice, the second in a presidential year; and Republicans flipping control of the Legislature. They now have their largest Senate majority since 1971 and their biggest in the Assembly since 1957.

Republicans shifted their strategy in 2004 after party leaders realized they couldnt win elections just through television advertising alone, GOP operative Mark Graul said. Republicans have invested in sophisticated data analytics to target the right voters at their homes, contacts that are more effective than phone calls, Graul said.

Republicans also instituted a turf model or neighborhood team approach that divided the state into 99 different regions.

We didnt leave any stone unturned, said Juston Johnson, the national partys regional political director for Wisconsin. We went into communities that we havent necessarily been in before.

The GOP state operation wasnt daunted like others after the 2012 presidential election, when Obama carried Wisconsin by 7 points. It kept the infrastructure for the 2014 midterm races and increased permanent staffing and number of offices in 2015.

Ultimately, the program went from four offices and eight staffers to 40 offices with 162 paid staff and trained organizers, Morgan said.

Republicans made 4.7 million voter contacts this election cycle, including knocking on 1 million doors in the final five weeks of the race, Morgan said. In 2012, less than half that many doors were knocked on in the final five weeks.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Janesville, provided a critical boost by funneling $1 million from his re-election fund to the state party.

Conventional wisdom among political operatives is that a solid ground game will, at best, yield up to 3 points in an election. Trump won Wisconsin by less than a point and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson won by 3.4 points.

The early investments paid off, Morgan said. The infrastructure is second to none.

They run a very tight ship. They know what theyre doing. They know how to win races. Luke Martz, Republican consultant
Margaret and Patrick McCarthy with three of their children  Paddy (7), Mariline (8) and Bill (2)  in their Shankill home

A mum-of-six living in one room with her husband and children has told of her safety fears, a year after her relatives were killed in one of Ireland's worst fire tragedies.

Margaret McCarthy (39) is a cousin of the two Traveller f amilies who died in the Carrickmines fire in October last year.

Eleven people died in the blaze at the halting site, including an unborn baby.

The deaths raised serious questions over how Traveller families were forced to live in cramped and unsafe conditions.

Mattresses

Margaret, who is mother to Michael (13), Thomas (12), James (9), Mariline (8), Paddy (7) and two-year-old Bill, is terrified her family could meet a similar fate unless they find a suitable home.

Their one-room residence in Shankill comprises a kitchen and separate small bathroom which has no shower, but there are no bedrooms and no living room.

Instead, Margaret and Patrick and their children have to sleep on eight mattresses on the tiled floor, some close to the cooker.

"When I think of our cousins who died just over a year ago because they weren't living in suitable conditions, I look at us and am afraid we could die too," said Margaret.

"If my cousins could see how we're living, after how they died, they would be so upset.

"It feels like because we're Travellers the council just sticks us anywhere, just to get us out of the way, but this isn't right, the way we are living. It's especially not right on my children."

Margaret had lived in a caravan, but when she had children she decided to settle.

"I wanted my children to have friends. Right now, because we're cramped in and hidden away here, they don't have friends outside of the Travelling community.

"We just want the same rights as everyone else and to live like everyone else."

Margaret recalled the last time she saw her pregnant cousin Tara Gilbert (27), who died in the Carrickmines fire along with her other two children, Jodie and Kelsey, and partner Willy.

"Tara was a lovely girl and she was so looking forward to having her baby. Both of the families were lovely," she said.

"But she wasn't happy, none of them were, with their living conditions. I saw how they lived and I felt so sorry for them. They were in very poor conditions and it got them down.

Dreading

"No one helped them. Instead, the family members left behind had to bury them. It's just awful. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. We're human beings.

"We have no central heating, so I'm dreading the cold winter coming in again - I just can't take any more."

Margaret said she has been on the Dun Laoghaire social housing list for 14 years and often calls the council but is never offered a more suitable place to live. A Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council spokesman said it does not comment on individual cases.
Ireland's only gay men's choir is gearing up for their Christmas concert.

The members of the 40-strong Dublin Gay Men's Chorus range in age from 25 to 40-plus and are as eclectic a bunch as their repertoire, which goes from classical music to jazz, pop and rock plus camp musicals such as The Sound of Music.

"We want to give a voice to people to be out there and to sing loud and proud," said chorus member and spokesman Jim Ippoliti (32) as they rehearsed for next month's free Christmas con cert at the Freemasons' Hall.

Formed in 2012, the chorus is already hugely-popular in the gay community.

However, it is also attracting a growing number of fans in the straight community following its annual Summer Serenade and Christmas shows and a concert held to commemorate the victims of the Orlando gay club shooting that killed 49 people in June.

The choir also sang hymns as part of an ecumenical thanksgiving to celebrate the outcome of last year's same-sex marriage referendum at St Audoen's Church in Cornmarket during this year's Dublin Pride festival.

Church of Ireland Canon Mark Gardner, who attended the service, said the choir's performance was "truly uplifting", and he hopes the service will become an annual event.

"Their sound is rich and their spirit is generous," he told the Herald.

Favourites

The chorus is also increasingly being asked to perform at wedding receptions and other celebrations where it performs some "camp favourites" from gay icons including Madonna, Cher, Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, as well as a mix of contemporary and classical music.

The chorus' upcoming Christmas concert takes place at 6.30pm on Sunday, December 4.
MADISON (AP)  Madison police have arrested two California men suspected of placing credit card skimming devices on gasoline pumps.

Police Chief Mike Koval said Friday the suspects, 46 and 49 years old, were arrested on tentative charges of identity theft.

Koval says one of the men was tentatively identified after being seen on surveillances videos last month, at locations where fraudulent cards containing skimmed data were used.

Police say the two men may have skimmers still inside gas pumps around Madison. The skimmers are secretly placed inside gas pumps to collect credit card information from customers.

So far, 11 skimmers have been found on Madison gas pumps. The Wisconsin State Journal reports police are urging business owners to check to see if more of the devices are hidden in their equipment.
A garda outside The Maltings, where the victim was found with serious injuries

A woman has been arrested after a man was found stabbed to death.

The victim, a Lithuanian aged around 40, was found with serious injuries at a flat in The Maltings in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

The grim discovery was made shortly after 2.30am yesterday.

Paramedics and a local GP tried unsuccessfully to save the man's life.

His body remained at the scene until a preliminary exam- ination was conducted by the State Pathologist's office.

It was then taken to University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.

Socialising

Gardai conducted door-to- door inquiries and were last night searching for the murder weapon, believed to be a large kitchen knife.

A woman, aged in her mid-40s and believed to be from Latvia, was arrested soon after the stabbing.

She was being questioned last night at Nenagh Garda Station.

The woman, who was known to the dead man, can be questioned for an initial period of 12 hours.

The victim is understood to have lived in Ireland for eight years and has family here.

Although he had an address in Roscrea, he is understood to have been living and working in Dublin.

He is believed to have been socialising in The Maltings on Saturday night.

Councillor Michael Smith said the neighbourhood was stunned.

"It's just a few metres from the church and probably ranks as the quietest part of the town," he said.

"Our thoughts and sym- pathies go to the family of the poor man."

Local man Davey Fanning said people in the area were deeply shocked.

"You would never think something like this would happen around here," he said.

"I passed by this morning on my way to Mass and I saw the garda patrol cars and knew something wasn't right.

"It's desperate that someone has lost their life."

The Maltings stands opposite a sheltered housing centre for the elderly.

One pensioner, who asked not to be named, expressed her shock and said the first she knew of the tragedy was when she awoke to see gardai outside The Maltings.

"It's a terrible thing to happen, especially so close to Christmas," she said.

Stunned

Staff at the Carry Out off- licence, 100 metres from where the stabbing happened, said the man was described by other eastern Europeans as very hard-working, quiet and close to his family.

Members of the immigrant community said they were stunned by his death.

"I didn't know him myself, but I heard someone say he was a very nice guy," said one man.
John Francis and Samuel Zwickel have played with each other in band programs since middle school.

Theyve participated in WSMA State Honors Band, the symphonic band at the Dorian Honor Band Festival at Lutheran College, the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and the Troppo Big Band Jazz Orchestra, to name a few.

Any band you can think of, weve probably done, Zwickel said.

On Thanksgiving Day, the two McDonell Area Catholic Schools students are going to be able to add the Macys Great American Marching Band to that list.

Both were chosen to represent Wisconsin in this years band during the 90th anniversary of the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The band is comprised of 245 students from all 50 states in the country. This year eight students are from Wisconsin. Aside from Zwickel and Francis, the other six students are from Memorial and North high schools in Eau Claire.

As far as they  and McDonell band director Sean Hanson  know, they are the first students from McDonell to be part of this band.

John and I have had a lot of shared musical experiences together at McDonell, Zwickel said. This will be maybe one of the peak experiences we have.

The boys, who both study privately with music majors from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, heard about the audition through former Memorial High School students now at UWEC.

They sent in a five-minute video audition of Class A solo literature and each compiled a music resume, highlighting their many accomplishments and experiences in music.

Weve been told by some past participants this is one of the most exhausting things well do in our life, Zwickel said.

Hanson said he was incredibly proud of his students for seeking out this opportunity. He didnt find out until after they sent in their audition, but he isnt altogether surprised.

It speaks to the character of these guys, and its great they made it in, Hanson said. This is just another thing they went out on their own to do.

They left Saturday for New York City with Francis parents. The next few days are filled with rigorous rehearsals and seeing sights such as the 9/11 museum, Times Square and a Broadway musical.

On Thursday, Zwickel said they have to wake up at 2 a.m. to be ready for a 4 a.m. dress rehearsal before the parade starts.

Its not worth trying to get a solid four hours of sleep, he said. A power nap might be our best bet.

But hes sure theyll be pumped up on enough adrenaline to get them through the morning.

Both play several instruments, but Francis will be playing the trumpet in the parade, while Zwickel will be playing the alto saxophone.

Francis thinks the marching aspect will be most difficult. While the McDonell band marches in a couple parades every year, many students will come from a competitive marching background.

Its a three-mile march and we havent really done that  I mean, you run cross country, Francis said, addressing his peer.

Its just a 5K with a saxophone, Zwickel said.

Hopefully were up for the challenge, Francis said. Itll be exciting and exhausting at the same time.

Theyve played with a lot of musicians of all sorts of ages, but theyve never played with students from every state in the country.

In addition to performing with them, Francis said they will also have the opportunity to sightsee with them. And, following Thursdays performance, theyll get one last hurrah together with a group dinner and dance.

It will be cool to meet students representing every state, Francis said. Not only can we share our musical experiences but also talk about their backgrounds and hear new perspectives.

More than that, though, they are proud to represent McDonell High School and the Chippewa Valley, as well as Wisconsin. Francis hopes doing this will pave the way for future students at McDonell.

We hope we can bring our experiences back to our school, he said. They will not only benefit us but we can share them with the entire band and music program here, and hopefully inspire other students to get involved in these sort of activities.

Chippewa Falls residents can tune in to the parade at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday to see the Macys Great American Marching Band. Following the parade, the band will perform again in Herald Square.
It's been 125 years since Dracula was published. And it's still scary.
MADISON  One of my summer jobs in high school was teaching swimming lessons at the local high school pool.

Have you ever seen a video of someone drowning? I watched a few such videos during my swim teacher training. Someone who is drowning will do almost anything to get his or her head above water, including pushing another human being under the water in order to save him or herself.

Wisconsin dairy farms are drowning right now  drowning in a global oversupply of milk. Oversupply drives prices down, with tragic but predictable results. According to the National Ag Statistics Service, Wisconsin lost 201 dairy farms in the first half of 2016  an average of 33 dairy farms per month, or one per day. How many dairy farms are in your county? How long until all but a handful are gone?

Given the level of our desperation, any opportunity to export our oversupply to another country looks like our saving grace. Maybe, we think, those new exports will give us just enough breathing room to get our heads above water.

In the midst of our own struggles, we usually dont think about the farmer we pushed underwater to save ourselves. In the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement, for example, increasing U.S. exports to Mexico meant the displacement of thousands of Mexican dairy farmers, who couldnt compete with cheaper U.S. imports. (Many of those displaced Mexican farmers immigrated  legally or otherwise  to the United States, but thats a discussion for a different day.)

If we do think about our Mexican counterparts who have lost their farms, we steel ourselves with the idea that thats just the cost of doing business, or they needed to get more efficient, like us. Mostly were just relieved to have the chance to farm another year, another decade, maybe keep alive the hope of passing the farm to the next generation.

We may find ourselves relating a lot more to the dairy farmers on the bottom of the stack if the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal between the U.S. and 11 other Pacific-Rim nations, is ratified by Congress. New Zealand, one of the signatories to the TPP, is the worlds largest exporter of dairy products, representing approximately one third of international dairy trade each year. Ninety-five percent of New Zealand dairy production is exported, compared to 14 percent of U.S. production. One of New Zealands top exports, MPCs, displaces raw milk as an ingredient in Wisconsin cheese production.

Do you think New Zealand dairy farmers, so reliant on export markets, might be feeling a little over their heads in the current global oversupply of milk? According to the Wall Street Journal, they are facing the lowest pay prices they have seen in 13 years. Maybe they are eying exports to the $48 billion U.S. dairy market as the saving grace they need to get through the next year, the next decade. You can hardly blame them for doing whatever it takes to save their farms for the next generation  even if it means undercutting an American dairy farmers livelihood.

If those drowning New Zealand dairy farmers are anything like us, they are only thinking about our farms long enough to rationalize that we probably just needed to get more efficient. (Nevermind that New Zealand dairy exports to the U.S. will be assisted by government policies in New Zealand such as a state-mandated monopoly on exporting  just as U.S. exports to Mexico were assisted by U.S. government subsidies such as the Dairy Export Incentive Program.)

There is an alternative. We fellow dairy farmers can stop pushing each other under in trade deals that throw farmers and workers, American or otherwise, into the floodwaters. We need to say no to the TPP. Instead of pouring out our oversupply elsewhere, we should take a good hard look inside our own borders and ask why we keep finding ourselves underwater in the first place.

That means we farmers need to get smart and demand a federal dairy policy that holds back the floodwaters of an oversupply of milk. Newsflash: Farmers  no matter where they are from  do not benefit from policies like the TPP that encourage oversupply and drive milk prices down. Thats true whether youre a farmer from Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, or the U.S. The only entities that benefit from an oversupply of milk are dairy processors and retailers who can get their primary input at bargain-basement prices, and then keep the savings for themselves rather than passing them along to consumers.

Canadian farmers years ago realized the problem of oversupply, and came together to prevent it through a quota system. As a result, Canadian farmers can actually make a living and afford to modernize on a farm of 100 cows or fewer.

However, if the TPP passes, the Canadian oversupply control system will be dismantled. American exports to Canada will increase, pay prices in Canada will drop, and thousands of Canadian dairy farms will go under. I, for one, take no joy in the fact that by pushing them under we can make it another year. I would rather that all dairy farmers kept their heads above water.

The take-home from my swimming teacher days is that you cant get pushed underwater yourself, and you wont drown anyone else either, if youre standing on dry land. Oversupply management is like draining the water out of the pool  it allows everyone to stand on their own feet, without pushing anyone else under for the sake of survival.
The following editorial appeared Friday in the Chicago Tribune:

If youre able to think past President-elect Donald Trumps nasty campaign bluster (we hear yoga and kitten videos help), youll discover something soothing, even exciting in his electioneering promises to create jobs: Elements of his economic plan could boost growth and standards of living here and nationwide.

This is potentially good news for millions of jobs-starved Americans.

There are yuuuuge caveats. Trump has not been good on details, hes a serial exaggerator, and hes completely out to sea in his insistence that America has the option to unplug from global trade. He also pays little heed to the nations $20 trillion debt, the looming threat of Social Security insolvency and Medicares unsustainable cost trajectory. If Trump ignores Americas glaring balance sheet woes during his presidency, things will go badly for the country. But Trump, unlike President Barack Obama, is a business guy and dealmaker at heart, and the country could benefit from having that perspective in the White House.

Trumps a real estate developer who views the American economy as a fixer-upper: It requires work but has great bones. His overall approach is free market-focused and pro-growth. Parts dovetail nicely with traditional Republican principles. So his job-creation philosophy is both sound and potentially doable since the GOP will control both houses of Congress. Expect negotiations on the details, though.

One prong of the strategy has the direct potential to encourage business investment, and thus hiring: Trump would cut business taxes, with the corporate rate dropping from 35 percent to 15 percent. Many Democrats acknowledge that the current high rate puts U.S. businesses at a disadvantage. Fixing that could lead some big corporations to stay on-shore or move here, rather than base themselves in countries with lower taxes.

He also proposes offering a one-time deal to American multinationals to entice them to bring home some of the estimated $2.6 trillion in profits they have parked overseas. That money sits (and works) abroad because if it were returned now it would be hit with the 35 percent rate. Trump would allow repatriation at a 10 percent rate. Companies could use the money in various ways, including investing in their businesses here, while the Trump administration could put the revenue windfall to work on bridge repairs, airport projects and other public works that create construction jobs.

Another Trump priority: reducing onerous federal regulations that hold back business activity. In Washington there are buildings full of agencies churning out reams of rules and requirements that needlessly constrain job creation.

In the regulatory agencies, getting rid of the Obama people and putting in people who are not anti-business will have a huge impact, Stephen Moore, an economic adviser to Trump, tells us. Yes, thats a partisan talking. And no, were not naive. We dont advocate shutting down environmental, financial and other valuable layers of oversight. But weve also seen enough dumb rules enacted  and good business proposals nixed  to know that the path to greater U.S. job growth is more likely to wind through a boss office than a regulators.

In the energy industry, for example, we argued that it was a mistake for the Obama administration to kill the 1,200-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline. Approval has been hung up for years over environmental concerns that dont withstand scrutiny. One overriding truth: Its more dangerous to transport oil by rail or truck than by pipeline. Trump seems inclined to approve the deal, an $8 billion investment by a Canadian company in the Great Plains, and in true dealmaker fashion suggests hed like a piece of the profits for U.S. taxpayers.

Yes, Republicans and Democrats will have to hash out their practical and philosophical differences. But when the starting point of a conversation in Washington is debating whose ideas for job creation are better, it will be a good day for everyone.
VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis warned against what he called a virus of polarization and hostility in the world targeting people of different nationalities, races or beliefs, as he led a ceremony Saturday giving the Roman Catholic Church 17 new cardinals from six continents.

The consistory ceremony in St. Peters Basilica formally inducted the churchmen into the cardinals ranks.

Francis used his homily to also caution the new princes of the church, as cardinals are sometimes called, to guard against animosity creeping into the church as well, saying we are not immune from this.

The pope spoke of our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn and cautioned somberly against those who raise walls, build barriers and label people.

Earlier this year, when asked about the plan by Donald Trump, then a Republican U.S. presidential candidate and now president-elect, to build a wall to keep Mexicans and others from illegally entering the U.S., the pope replied that anyone advocating building walls isnt a Christian.

Francis, in a message a few days earlier to U.S. bishops, had urged them to help heal a society facing growing polarization.

On Saturday, after receiving his red hat, Mexican Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, expressed concern about Trumps plans, including deporting large numbers of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, soon after assuming the presidency.

You cant divide a family. You cant divide a community. You cant divide the world, the prelate said in reply to a question by The Associated Press about Trump. The Mexican churchman added: One thing is the election campaign. Another thing is reality.

In Saturdays homily, Francis commented on how we see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of the stranger, an immigrant, or a refugee, become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country, or have different customs. An enemy because of the color of their skin, their language, or social class.

He added: The virus of polarization and animosity permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting.

Francis also lamented the tendency to demonize ones opponents, so as to have a sacred justification for dismissing them.

Cardinals serve as papal advisers and someday elect popes successors. Popes look to cardinals who share their approach to the churchs mission in the world.

Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin is among the newly made cardinals. Tobin defied the governor of the U.S. state of Indiana, Mike Pence, by welcoming Syrian refugees. Tobin in January will become archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, while Pence will be installed as U.S. vice president.

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, after being made a cardinal at Saturdays ceremony, said the church has a special role in trying to bring people together across the political spectrum. He noted that on Sunday, Masses are celebrated in 26 languages in his diocese.

People feel disenfranchised from sharing in the common good, the cardinal said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Another American in the latest crop of cardinals is Irish-born Archbishop Kevin Farrell, who led the Dallas diocese before Francis appointed him to head the Vatican office dealing with family issues.

At a post-ceremony reception, Farrell acknowledged that polarization is felt within the church, too.

Weve become gods on both sides  gods on the left, and gods on the right, and neither one of these are correct, Farrell told an AP reporter.

The clash of mentalities between the conservative camps and the so-called progressives chosen by Francis has played out publicly in recent days. Four prominent, disgruntled cardinals, including a U.S. prelate, Raymond Burke, who is one of Francis most vocal critics, in a letter to the pope aired their doubts about his more compassionate approach to the contentious issue involving divorced Catholics. They fear his approach could sow confusion among the faithful.

Church teaching forbids divorce, and says Catholics who remarry without annulments of their earlier marriage are essentially adulterers who cant receive communion. In a document earlier this year, Francis suggested that clerics could decide case-by-case if these Catholics could receive Communion.

Farrell, asked about the tensions over the divorce issue, appeared to be open toward the popes prescription for more compassion.

There is no situation in life thats black and white. Anybody thats lived in this world will have encountered those situations in their personal lives, Farrell said.

The new cardinals, who pledged loyalty to the pope, come from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and South America.

One of them, an 88-year-old Albanian priest, Ernest Simoni, spent 18 years in prison because of his faith during the communist regime in his homeland.

Since cardinals are usually bishops already, Francis bestowed a rare honor in giving that rank to Simoni, a simple priest. When Francis visited Albania in 2014, he was brought to tears when Simoni told him how he was persecuted.

The popes envoy to Syria is now Cardinal Mario Zenari. The Italian archbishop remarked how the bright crimson hue of the cardinals cassocks and of the square, peaked headgear evokes the color of the blood spilled by innocent children killed in the five-year-old civil war there.

Also among the new cardinals is Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, of Bangui, Central African Republic. Last year, Francis visited Nzapalaingas country, bloodied by sectarian violence between Christian and Muslim militants.

Thirteen of the 17 new cardinals are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in a secret conclave for the next pope.

Francis has now appointed 44 of the 120 cardinals young enough to elect his successor. The others were named by the previous two pontiffs, John Paul II, whom Francis made a saint, and Benedict XVI, who retired in 2013, and generally reflect a more conservative leaning on church issues.

After the ceremony, the new cardinals and Francis took minibuses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict lives so they could greet him.

One of the cardinals, an 87-year-old bishop from Lesotho, Africa, was too frail to come to Rome for the ceremony.

The clash between the conservative camps and the so-called progressives chosen by Francis has played out publicly in recent days. Four prominent, disgruntled cardinals, including a U.S. prelate, Raymond Burke, in a letter to the pope aired their doubts about his more compassionate approach to the contentious issue of divorced Catholics.
HICKORY  Lindsay Keisler believes Catawba County is on the cusp of something really great, and finds it satisfying to be playing a role in growing her community.

My family has deep roots in this community, said Keisler, interim president and chief executive officer of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce. Playing even a small part in growing this community is something that makes me feel humble and proud at the same time. To be able to serve is truly an honor.

Keisler, 29, is a Conover native who graduated from Tri-City Christian School and from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned her BSBA with a concentration in marketing.

While in college, she served internships with several organizations, including Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, where she crossed paths with former Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Danny Hearn.

After graduating from UNCC in 2009, Keisler heard a membership sales position was open at the Chamber of Commerce.

I contacted Danny, who said to come talk to him, Keisler said. I sat with him for about an hour, listened to him discuss his philosophy and the role of a chamber. And I left that meeting absolutely wanting what he described.

Keisler joined the Chamber of Commerce staff in 2010, and has since held several roles. She served as the senior vice president from 2013 until Hearns retirement this fall, when she was named interim president and CEO.

Ive fallen in love with Chamber work, said Keisler, who looks at it as a way to serve the community while fueling her own entrepreneurial fire.

Being able to work with entrepreneurs every day is wonderful, she said. I learn something new every day, and from everyone I work for and with. I especially enjoy listening to entrepreneurs, learning about the challenges they face, and figuring out how the Chamber can play a role in helping them be successful.

At the end of the day, if we can enable a Chamber business to do what it does even better, then were doing our job. And thats satisfying.

Hearn, who Keisler considers one of her greatest mentors, has nothing but praise for the Chamber of Commerces interim president/CEO.

The job suits her personality and her passion, Hearn said. Lindsay loves Catawba County, and it shows. She has found a way to put her leadership skills in the forefront while making a positive difference in the community.

She has a deep caring for the creative and the innovative, and is always willing to accept a challenge.

In addition to motivating the Chamber team, Keisler has been responsible for the organizations internal and external operations, including managing its annual operating budget, planning and executing special programs and events, overseeing marketing, communications and social media, and  the highlight of her work week  serving the Chambers top 90 Investors.

She looks after them like family, Hearn said.

Jim Correll, longtime executive tournament director of the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, agreed, and added he recognized Keislers potential from the first time he met her.

Lindsay has a great deal of desire and drive. I knew right off the bat that she was going places, Correll said. And when Danny (Hearn) hired her, I said Youre getting a good one.

In 2013, Keisler earned her IOM designation when she graduated from the US Chamber Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia. She graduated from Leadership Catawba in 2013 and was named one of the Greater Hickory Metros Top 10 Under 40 in 2014.

During her tenure as senior vice president, the Catawba County Chamber was named 2014 Most Outstanding Chamber of the Year in North and South Carolina and in August 2016, was designated 2016 Chamber of the Year, a national honor given by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Keisler has served on the boards of directors for the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the YMCA of Catawba Valley and the Hickory Young Professionals. In 2012, she started The Rubies, a group designed for young professional women.

Keisler is active in her church, First United Methodist of Conover, and said faith plays a major role in her life.

Displayed on her desk are two verses that serve as daily reminders. Colossians 3:23 urges her to work at whatever she does with all her heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. And 1 Timothy 1:7 reminds her that the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

She lives in Conover with her husband, Corey, and son, Jeb Franklin. Another son is due in March. Her parents are Conover Mayor Lee Moritz and Michele Moritz, a retired teacher.

Keisler considers her most important role to be a successful wife and mother.

But whatever shes doing, she has one driving philosophy: To ignite passion for community and to play a small role in bettering people and place.

Nominate a notable neighbor:

If you know of someone who might make a good person to profile because of their contributions to the community, tell us who they are and why they are special. Email the information to news@hickoryrecord.com with neighboring notable in the subject line.
Among the arguments one keeps hearing on TV debates, often not the best places to find economic literacy, is that demonetisation will not make any difference since only 5-6% of black money is in cash. Another criticism is that the government simply did not plan well for the fallout and that millions are queuing up before banks and ATMs, causing needless inconvenience to the ordinary citizen and disrupting everyday cash-based transactions.

The government has rejected the second argument by simply citing the need for secrecy. And it is by and large correct. The only way to be better prepared for a situation in which 80% of your currency will be rendered invalid is to have new notes ready in advance, and by reconfiguring the ATMs in advance. Neither effort could have been kept a secret, for ATMs are serviced by hundreds of engineers, and software and logistics service providers. Printing more 500 notes in advance would also have been an option, but scores, if not hundreds of people in the Reserve Bank of India, the finance ministry, and the currency printing presses would have been in the know.

Read | Cong says 2,000 note illegal, accuses PM Modi of financial anarchy

Now, to the larger point raised by critics, that junking high denomination currency is the worst way to attack black money, since cash constitutes only a small fraction of the total stock (and flows) of black money.

Lets assume that the critics are right about 5% being the likely proportion of black money in the economy. The bulk is in real estate and gold. The flaw in this argument is this: Every illegal real estate deal has a cash component. So 100% of such deals depend on cash.

Then there is the issue of velocity of money movement in illegal deals. Physical cash may be just 5% of deals, but when deals happen multiple times, the same 5% passes through many hands, expanding the level of tax evasion multifold. Cash is the grease needed to facilitate tax-evaded transactions, and if you want to apply the brakes, mixing sand in the grease is a good beginning. This stalls, at least temporarily, the black money engine.

The operative word in the above sentence is temporarily. Demonetisation is not the end, but only the beginning. The logical next question thus is: What next?

Read | Demonetisation: Modi has banked on personal equity to effect behaviour change

There are several answers to this question, especially real estate and gold, where black money is rampant. However, these are not the right places to begin for the simple reason that they can be even more disruptive than demonetisation. Real estate is very closely enmeshed with the entire financial system, and any major damage here can destabilise the economy. Consider the collateral damage: Banks are highly exposed to real estate and home loans; if you attack benami real estate aggressively, property prices will crash, and banks will have to force home buyers to either pay more EMIs or shorten their tenures or bring in more margin money. Moreover, their bad loan problem will get worse. And lets not forget, the entire core sector  from cement to steel and power  is linked to real estate and construction. So real estate black money will have to be defanged in stages. No surgical strike is possible.

The same applies to gold, which employs lakhs of workers in design and handcrafting of gems and jewellery and is easy to hide. Ferreting out anyones hidden gold wealth means invading the privacy of homes  the worst form of tax terrorism possible. Gold-linked black money can be reduced only by bringing the jewellery business into the formal system of taxation, which is what the GST system will do. We should leave the gold business to GST.

Read | Azad refuses to apologise, Cong dares PM to join demonetisation debate

The logical and only consistent long-term way of eliminating black money in any sphere is to promote transparency and coaxing citizens to move away from cash (through digital and web-based payments). Any interface where a citizen has to face a government official and pay fees or taxes in cash needs to be eliminated; this means e-payments must become the norm for registrar offices (for stamp duty, marriage certificates, home registration, etc), traffic violations, issue of trucking permits, highway tolls, et al. Only when the citizen-government interface is eliminated will the tendency of officialdom to demand bribes for speeding up processes reduce.

We have already seen this happen with train ticketing and tax payments. Both Centre and states need to take this to every possible area of citizen-government interface.

The way to tackle real estate corruption and black money is to make all processes  building and environmental permissions, floor-space index (FSI) rules  transparent and time-bound. Big money is generated in real estate primarily in two ways: Politicians and bureaucrats demanding bribes for building permits by using their powers to delay; and through the adoption of arbitrary FSI policies. Mumbai land prices are kept artificially high by maintaining low FSI. The minute the FSI is raised, land prices may crash, making mass housing viable. When these decisions are made rule-based and non-discretionary, netas and babus will lose their ability to demand bribes, most of which comes in the form of benami property ownership.

Unfortunately, these reforms depend on states, and not the central government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to prod the state governments to move faster on this front.

Read | Demonetisation: Why Indias poor will no longer believe the news

The Gangotri of black money is election funding. Modi talked of reforms in this area. Some commentators wonder if the money can be found for full State funding of polls. The answer is yes. If you end the MPLADS scheme, you get 20,000 crore every five years. Or you could add a cess of, say, 0.1-0.3% to GST. It would be enough to finance all polls at the Centre and states. Money is not the problem. Political will is.

R Jagannathan is an economic commentator and editorial director, Swarajya

The views expressed are personal
Imagine walking the streets of Delhi blindfolded. Will you be able to absorb the history of Qutub Minar or get an update on the new things on display in Khan Market?

Three walks, curated as part of the ongoing Delhi Walk Festival  on till December 4  will be lead by the visually-impaired. The participants will be blindfolded.

We were thinking how to make the walks interesting for participants this year. It occurred that sensitising people would be a better idea since the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) falls in between, says Aastha Chauhan, director of Delhi, I Love You  the festival organiser.

In its second edition, DWF has 200 walks led by 50 experts, to cover the length and breadth of the city. Themes vary from nature and heritage to culture, food and photography. This year, however, theres more. Not just Delhi, its neighbouring areas, too, have an interesting geography. For instance, Sonia Vihar has single units where garments such as T-shirts and bras are assembled.. Along with our walk leaders, we have six special guests who are experts in the field of research and guide us plan our walks, adds Chauhan.

Historian Sohail Hashmi, who is an authority on Delhis history, will conduct three walks  in Tughlakabad area, in the ruins of Mehrauli Archaeological Park and in Qutub Complex. I started conducted walks in early 2000, when I realised that most of the youngsters living in Delhi havent been inside the Red Fort or explored Qutub Minar, for instance. They are growing up in the city without knowing anything about it, says Hashmi.

He adds that its important for Delhiites to know about their citys history and heritage. My objective is to show them the places in Delhi, which people dont usually go to; and not repeat the information that is available.

Take your pick from some of these walks. For registration, visit www.delhiwalkfestival.com.

1. A walk down the lane of consciousness



Paranormal walks will also be conducted as part of the festival.

It is a paranormal walk through the famously haunted Jamali Kamali Mosque and tomb in Mehrauli. Attend to know if the place is really haunted. Lead by paranormal investigators Tathagata Marik and Anshul Sharma, this walk warns you to be responsible for your state of mind.

Where: Jamali Kamali, Mehrauli

When: December 4; 7pm-9pm

2. The Street Performers Tales



Ishamuddin Khan (left), with his son Aman, practices a rope trick at his home in Kathputli Colony. (Simon De Trey-White )

Ishamudin Khan, an Indian madari ranked among the worlds 20 top magicians, will lead this walk through Kathputli Colony. One can discover the realities and challenges in life of street performers of India, and the complex social dynamics that prevail in this nomadic community. The walk will end with a special magic performance on a roof top.

Where: Kathputli Colony, Shadipur Depot

When: December 4; 9am-11.30am

3. Khirkee Shaam

Hip Hop artists will conduct a walk in Khirkee Village.

Khirkee17 are Hip Hop artists who have grown up in the lanes of the urban village Khirkee. They will lead the art, culture and heritage tour of Khirkee Village. The walk will commence from a 14th century dam and cover places such as the Khirkee Mosque, Khoj (an experimental art studio) and the lanes of Hauz Rani  the place to dig into some of the best Afghani, Malyali, African and Indian delicacies.

Where: Khirkee Village, near Saket

When: November 26; 4pm-6pm

4. Food Coma In Chandni Chowk!



Try the popular delicacies of Old Delhi during the food walks. (Mayank Srestha)

This walk in Old Delhi is a gastronomical ride that claims to offer the best street food. You will find everything from Dahi Bhalla, Aloo Tikki, Matar Kachori and Japani Samosa to a variety of chaats, flavoured Lassi, twisty Jalebi, and mouth-watering Kulfi  recipes that have been passed down generations.

Where: Old Delhi

When: November 26; 6.30pm-9.30pm

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Thirty-two years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the mystery around who had allowed the escape of US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) chairman Warren Anderson -- within hours of his arrest in Bhopal on December 7, 1984 -- may be cracked soon, activists said on Sunday.

The district court ordered on Saturday that then Bhopal collector Moti Singh and superintendent of police Swaraj Puri in 1984 should be booked for letting Anderson leave India. The court summoned Singh and Puri on December 8 to give their statements on letting go of Anderson, whom they had escorted to the Bhopal airport.

I am now hopeful that they (Singh and Puri) will reveal who had called them to let go Anderson like that, gas activist Abdul Jabbar told HT.

The court order came on a 2010 petition filed by Jabbar and Shanawaz Khan.

It remains a mystery who actually instructed the senior government functionaries directing them to let Anderson go The decision effectively ensured that Anderson never had to face an Indian court for as long as he lived, Jabbar said.

Anderson died on September 29, 2015 at a nursing home in Florida at the age of 92.

Over 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked at the UCCs plant in Bhopal, killing over 5000 people on the night of December 2-3, 1984 and exposing more than 500,000 people to toxic fumes.

ND Jayaprakash, co-convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti, said police had arrested Anderson when he landed in Bhopal four days after the disaster, and taken him to the Union Carbide guesthouse where he had been kept under house arrest.

But on the same day, Anderson was released on a personal bond of `25,000, put on a state government plane, and flown out of Bhopal, Jayaprakash said.

What we dont know is that on whose instructions or order, he was released and let go. The superintendent of police and collector escorted him to the airport. After his arrest, he ought to have been produced before the court.

He said the Bhopal district court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Anderson in March 1992 and also declared him an absconder, but he never returned to face the trial.

On Saturday, the court ruled that Moti Singh and Swaraj Puri, both retired, would be booked under sections that lay down punishment for harbouring an offender and using their powers as public servant to save an offender from punishment.
Actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan have been in the limelight for their Hollywood ventures. But it appears John Abraham is not too keen on Hollywood for now.

I'm watching you... #BooWatch #BeBad ... Happy Halloween, everyone! @baywatchmovie A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:14am PDT

#serena #xxxthereturnofxandercage #january2017 A video posted by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Oct 31, 2016 at 3:44am PDT

I just want to make films here that are sensible enough to appeal to a global audience, rather than just work on something in Hollywood. Unfortunately, most of us just become character actors there, and thats very low on my priority list. I probably wont [do a Hollywood film].

When we say "blood and sweat" goes into making a film... we mean it! In the hospital on my way to 3 knee surgeries while shooting for Force2 #pain #comeoutstronger @force2thefilm A video posted by John Abraham (@thejohnabraham) on Nov 6, 2016 at 11:43pm PST

The actor recently released a video of his knee surgery on Twitter. Speaking about the operation, John said that he neglected the gravity of his injury while shooting his recently released film.

I hurt my knee, but I continued shooting. When I got back, the doctor said that they needed to cut my knee open. They did that, and they removed clotted blood for six days. On the seventh day, they told me that they would have to amputate my leg. I was like What?! Apparently, the infection in my leg was spreading. I didnt take it seriously. I called up my doctor, and he told me to get a third surgery. I did that and he told me that I had saved my knee in time, the actor reveals.

Last day of promotions in Pune. Incredible response to #RockyHandsome A photo posted by John Abraham (@thejohnabraham) on Mar 23, 2016 at 4:12am PDT

John has always known to be very approachable. When asked about that, the actor says that people are drawn to him because of the good vibes he gives out. But people wont jump on to me and they know where to draw the line. One of my closest friends is an auto rickshaw guy, he adds with a laugh.

But the actor does draw the line when it comes to the kind of people he will tolerate. I dont like people who do drugs. I am intolerant towards them. I dont care what their family history is. I am very extreme about this. I have a problem with people who misbehave with women. If you are not in that space, you are welcome in mine (smiles).If you are, and then stay away from me, he says.
Actor Sonam Kapoor says kindness is a rarity nowadays and she learnt to be more kind and compassionate from the late Neerja Bhanot.

The Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards for Social Justice 2016, which is in its 12th year, invited Sonam to be Guest of Honor at the event.

Sonam Kapoor during the Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards ceremony in Mumbai on Nov 21, 2016. (IANS)

And Sonam collected an award bestowed upon Neerja Bhanot - on behalf of the Bhanot family, who were present on the occasion.

For a 22-year-old girl (referring to Neerja Bhanot) to love, care and show patience is something we all should follow. And not distinguish between Hindu and Muslim or any other religion and save anyone who she could and look at them as human beings is a compassionate thing, she told reporters here last night.

Today kindness is a very rare commodity and she has taught me to treat everyone with kindness and compassion. And thats why the Mother Teresa award is so apt, she said.

Mahesh Bhatt along with Sonam Kapoor during the Mother Teresa Memorial Award in Mumbai on Sunday. (PTI)

For the 31-year-old actor she is happy to join the Bhanot family and receive this award on behalf of the brave-heart.

Neerja a biographical thriller film directed by Ram Madhvani had Sonam playing the title role.

The plot centres on the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in 1986 and how flights head purser, Neerja Bhanot gave her life to help save passengers and crew on board.

According to Sonam, Neerja has been a turning point in her life not because she did a film but because of the person she was.

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The fascination of social media users with the name Sonam, doesnt seem to die. After Sonam Gupta Bewafaa Hai, which was the toast of the internet for the last few days, this time, its another person  Sonam Wangchuk  an engineer from Ladakh, who is trending.

Internet users posted status and memes that said, Sonam engineer hai! The man, who won an award in Los Angeles on Tuesday, is popularly known to be the inspiration for actor Aamir Khans character, Phunsukh Wangdu, in the film 3 Idiots (2009). Wangchuk has been working to solve water scarcity issues in Western Himalayas and has often been asked at public events, whether he was the muse for Aamirs quirky character.

Mai thak gaya hun is sawaal ka jawaab dete dete (Im tired of answering this question), said Wangchuk, at a talk in the Capital last month. In flawless Hindi the 50-year-old said, Let me put a stop to this question, once in for all. I am Sonam and not Phunsukh Wangdu. I met Aamir Khan at an event in Mumbai (before the film) and suggested that he makes a film on how dispute between two countries can be solved through public talks.

Though Wangchuk didnt meet the actor post the event, soon 3 Idiots was released and he was flooded with mails from people, asking about his connection with the film. Aamir did see a documentary on my work at that event, but I cant say if that inspired him. I wrote to him two years after the film released. I havent received a reply till date and Im not even waiting for one, he said.

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Finding it tough to buy expensive medicines and medical devices due to the cash crunch? Worry not, help is at hand. Leading drug and medical device makers have found ways around the problem.

In January 2016, Mumbai-based drug maker Glenmark introduced easy monthly instalment (EMI) schemes on two of its cancer drugs, which treat prostrate and breast cancer. With the ongoing demonetisation drive, the company is offering two more top-selling cancer drugs under the EMI scheme and may extend it to other drugs too.

The new products on offer under the EMI scheme are breast cancer drug Fulviglen and prostate cancer drug Procabazi. The products range from 4,000 - 25,000, said Sujesh Vasudevan, head, India formulations and Africa region, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Going forward, we aim to bring the entire range of oncology products under this scheme.

Patients can opt to pay for these drugs within three, six and nine months. Moreover, the company claims they will pay the processing fee of 2.3% on credit card transactions.

Another leading healthcare company, Medtronic, which manufactures medical devices is offering loans to the consumer. Patients can get a device by paying 15% of the cost. They can pay the rest through EMIs that start from 1,000 per month.

The duration of loans varies from six months to three years. Moreover, the loan is disbursed within two to three days of getting sanctioned, said the Medtronic spokesperson.

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Ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry had caused enormous harm through unsubstantiated allegations that has affected not just Tata Sons, but also the group, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said on Monday, giving reasons for its call to oust Mistry as director of the company.

The software major on Monday issued a statement to stock exchanges giving the special notice for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders that will be convened on December 13, in Mumbai, to vote on the single-point resolution of removing Mistry as director from TCS.

In a separate statement, another group company, Indian Hotels, also said it has called a shareholder meeting on December 20 to remove Mistry as director from the companys board.

Under the Companies Law, a director can only be removed by shareholders of a company. Ishaat Hussain recently replaced Mistry as the chairman of TCS. Hussain was nominated by the companys board. Mistry was earlier removed as Tata Sons chairman on October 24.

Mistry and Tata Sons have been embroiled in a dispute ever since his ouster as chairman, with both sides trading charges and counter charges. The dispute has split the boards of the operating companies of the group, with independent directors of at least two companies publicly issuing statements of support for Mistrys leadership.

Detailing the reasons for the EGM, the TCS notice said: Subsequent to his replacement as executive chairman of Tata Sons, Mr Mistry has made certain unsubstantiated allegations which cast aspersions not only on Tata Sons and its board of directors but also on the Tata Group as a whole, of which TCS is an integral part. Mr Mistrys conduct has caused enormous harm to the Tata Group, TCS and its stakeholders, including employees and shareholders.

The board of directors of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has lost confidence in Cyrus P Mistry to lead Tata Sons for a combination of several factors, it said, adding, Tata Sons decision to replace him as the removal was absolutely necessary for the future success of the Tata Group.
Pro-Life Priorities: What We Expect from Mr. Trump's Presidency

info.operationrescue@gmail.com Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue



WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2016 / WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- With Donald J. Trump now our President-elect, and both houses of Congress firmly in the hands of pro-life Republicans, Americans who are opposed to abortion now have hope that real progress can be made in the struggle to protect innocent lives from the brutality of abortion death.

"Operation Rescue has named our five top priorities for the next Congress and the new Trump Administration," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. "During the election, promises were made to pro-life/pro-family groups, and after Inauguration Day, it will be time to make those promises a reality. We can accept no excuse for failure."

1. Make conservative, pro-life nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The promise that Mr. Trump would appoint a pro-life justice to replace Antonin Scalia was one of the strongest promises made. Fulfilling this promise must be among the Administration's top priorities. Without solid justices that will uphold the Constitutional right to life, all other pro-life actions become subject to reversal.

2. Defund and prosecute Planned Parenthood.

The majority of the American people oppose tax-funding for Planned Parenthood as long as it is in the abortion business. Money that now helps Planned Parenthood market abortions to vulnerable women should instead be reallocated to legitimate health care clinics so no one goes without the care they need.

It must be a high priority to prosecute Planned Parenthood for the hundreds of alleged crimes related to the illegal trafficking of aborted baby remains, and for over-billing government funds for prescriptions and services. A strong message must be sent that abortionists are not above the law.

3. Pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

This would ensure that babies at 20 weeks gestation and older have legal protections and cannot be aborted. This will end the savagery of poisoning and dismembering pre-born babies that are capable feeling pain.

4. Repeal Obamacare and its Abortion Mandate.

Obamacare has been a disaster for the American people in general and for those of faith in particular, who have been forced to pay for abortion and birth control in violation of their religious liberties. There are ways to improve health care for Americans that do not involve paying for abortion and other services that violate the deeply held religious convictions of millions of Americans.

5. Extend the Select Panel on Infant Lives into the next Congressional session.

It is important to continue the Select Panel's investigation into illegal abortion practices and trafficking in baby body parts, which is set to conclude at the end of the year, because of delay tactics that have left subpoenas unanswered. At the very least, any recommendations made by the Panel to state attorneys general or the Department of Justice should be respected and crimes prosecuted.

This is not an exhaustive list of everything that could be done, but it is a start.

"It is our hope that the table can be set within the next four years for the complete abolition of abortion," said Newman. "That is our ultimate goal, and for the first time since Roe v. Wade, it is now possible to achieve it."

About Operation Rescue
The government further eased cash withdrawal norms on Monday for small traders and farmers, who are among the hardest hit by a shock recall of high-value currency about two weeks ago.

The Reserve Bank of India said small businesses can withdraw up to Rs 50,000 in cash every week from their overdraft and cash-credit accounts that have been active for at least three months. This facility was earlier allowed only for current accounts of traders.

But the facility will not be applicable for personal overdraft accounts, a statement issued by the central bank said.

Read | Stranded trucks, unpaid workers: India Inc counts cost of demonetisation

The finance ministry also decided to allow farmers to purchase seeds with the now-scrapped Rs 500 notes from the centres, units or outlets belonging to the central or state governments or public sector undertakings.

The government earlier had already relaxed the norms for farmers allowing them to draw up to Rs 25,000 a week against crop loans.

The government has unveiled several measures to ease the hardships of demonetisation on the poor, farmers and traders but the opposition says poor implementation of the policy  which is aimed at weeding out black money  has triggered chaos across the country.

Read | Govts demonetisation move a disaster for rural women, say activists

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Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka talks to HT on transforming Infosys, his wonderful relationship with the companys fabled founders, and why he would rather do this job than any other despite the stress. Excerpts from an edited interview.

Have your grayed more after joining Infosys?

My health has suffered for sure. It is a very complex transformation we are doing, far more complex than people understand

The way we understand it is that from a people-centric businesses you are making it completely different, which is automation, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and all the other things you talk about.

Yeah, transformation from a cost-based idea to an innovation- and value-based idea. It is no longer enough to do things that were happening before because they are cheaper, because that doesnt work anymore. See, in the past the way our industry has grown... price is by far the criteria. That kind of work is going to be more and more automated, with the advances in AI. We have to be people who can innovate, who can come up with new ideas, who can help clients solve their real problems. The way out of the innovators dilemma is you squeeze your high-margin, successful cash-cow business to fund new things. This doesnt apply in our case, because our main business is the one under margin pressure.

So you dont have the elbow room to squeeze money from there to fund new initiatives.

It is a heck of a challenge.

On top of that you have not been kind to yourself, setting stiff targets.

What is the point of a target if it is not stiff? One of my friends used to joke that his teacher said he set the bar very low and did not make it. Life is too short to go after goals that are easy to achieve. What do you gain from that?

But there is so much talk around your targets, especially the $20 billion in revenue by 2020-21 ($9.5 billion now), 30% margin (25%), $80,000 revenue per employee ($52,000).

I set that up as an aspiration. A financial goal cannot be a goal. It has to be a consequence of the work we do. You can only connect the dots by looking backwards. So this $20 billion, 30%, $80,000 an employee is an aspiration we have. If we are able to bring in the automation and innovation culture, and are able to do next-generation technologies in software development to seed these improvements, then we will get to that kind of...

Read | First outsider CEO Sikka gets down to turning around Infosys

So the numbers are a filter through which you see your work and processes.

Exactly. The plans you make are for the time in front of you.

There were reports your salary was linked to the $20 billion target.

That is something you have to ask the board. It is based on some kind of a curve....I dont want to comment on that. I am not assigning myself my salary. If I was, I would do it very differently (laughs). You can ask me about other peoples salary, not my own. The thing I would like to say is that the cash component is actually lower than it was before. And the additional parts are deeply linked to the shareholders interest.

Why was that done? Do I need to ask the board about that, too?

You can ask the board why it was done. But obviously you want everyones compensation aligned with the interests of the shareholders.

Are you happy you took this job?

(Long pause) Earlier today, somebody asked me this question. Are you happier now than you were two and a quarter years ago? The answer to that is no, I am not. Am I less happy than I was two and a quarter years ago? No, I am not. So it is the same.

It has to be a stressful job. The transformation you are talking about is immense. And then there are all these things like your salary being a topic of public discussion. Dont you feel sometimes why do I have to do this? I was fine where I was.

It is true that I could be doing a far less stressful job for far more money much more easily. There is no doubt about that. Now we have to create a culture of outrunning and leveraging automation. But I had a discussion with a famous industry leader in India. He said to me, Vishal, beyond the revenue and margin and profits, just remember that parents in this country raise their children dreaming that they will work for Infosys.

The DNA of Infosys needs to change.

Not really. Mr Murthy (N R Narayana, Infosys founder and first CEO) always talked about learnability. Somewhere along that got diluted a little bit, but we have resurrected that. As long as we have the ability to learn we can do this. We can learn automation and we can learn innovation. We have close to 10,000 projects and we have created this mindset that in every project you will find something innovative. Today one of our teams presented a sales estimation tool that improved the ability to forecast sales by 5%. Thats a dramatic productivity jump for sales people. To watch regular Infoscions do this kind of a thing... So it is already happening. If you look at the customer satisfaction scores that came out... Overall our customer satisfaction is at a 10-year high. It reflects the fact that a deep-rooted transformation is happening. I think that counts for a lot.

For the longest time, Infosys was not known for cutting-edge work.

Yes, absolutely. It is necessary to go through the shift. We have this Principle of One -- you should do the thing only once. Once it has been done, the second time around a person should not do it. The second time around, a machine should do it. Creating a culture like that is a daunting challenge.

Communicating with people is equally important, to tell them there is no alternative.

We communicate with them. People have to see what is happening. When I used to talk about this two years ago, people used to ask, What is he talking about? What is he seeing nobody else is seeing? Now, of course, everybody speaks the same language. Its quite amazing.

Read | Wont sack employees in RBS project, will redeploy them: Infosys

Are the founders speaking the same language? You said you meet Mr Murthy pretty regularly. Do you communicate these changes with him?

We are not supposed to talk about any material or price-sensitive information. I meet him four to five times a year, whenever it is possible. I met him a few months ago in London. He actually told me, Vishal, I was reading some of your interviews and what you are trying to do is to convert us from reactive problem solvers to proactive problem finders. I said, Mr Murthy, this is such a beautiful way of saying it. Can I use it? He said, Of course, you can.

There are reports that founders are not happy with you.

I have no idea where that comes from. I was in a flight with Kris (Gopalakrishnan, another founder and former CEO) recently and I meet Mr Murthy. I dont see that. I have a wonderful relationship with them. Beyond that, what can I say? People have a lot of time on their hands.

So there is no chance of you being the next Cyrus Mistry?

Oh my God. (Pause) I dont want to comment on that. (Pause) Thats not a fair question. These are very serious things we are doing.

Mr (D N) Prahlad joining the board will be a boost to you, isnt it? He is very deep into technology.

Yes. When I first talked to him I was driving home from the San Francisco airport. I did not know him, obviously. But within 10 minutes we were completing each others sentences. It was incredible. So even though he left Infosys some 20 years ago, he actually used to work on some of the things we are now working on, like bringing automation into work, packaging up the services.

Read | Vishal Sikka vs Abidali Neemuchwala: A tale of two CEOs

Would you look at other board members of that kind? Would you like Mr. Nandan Nilekani (another founder and former CEO) to join the board?

You know I dont appoint board members.

True, but all CEOs work with and guide the board.

He categorically told me, when I started, he does not want to....but you will have to ask him, I dont want to answer on his behalf. I have a wonderful relationship with Nandan.
A 65-year-old man was killed in a stampede that broke out at the State Bank of India (SBI)s Tarkulwa branch in Deoria on Monday.

Ram Nath Kushwaha, a farmer from Deoria , was crushed when people waiting in queues outside the bank rushed to enter the premises as the branch opened in the morning.

This was the first instance of a stampede in the Uttar Pradesh since the government demonetised 500 and 1000 rupee banknotes on November 8.

Kushwaha was at the bank to withdraw money to pay for his daughter-in-laws treatment, who delivered a baby only two days ago.

Eye-witnesses informed that the bank did not have adequate security arrangements and had a single door for both exit and entry.

There was a huge rush outside the bank and people standing in queue for long lost their patience and ran towards the counter as soon as the bank opened. It resulted in a stampede, said Suraj Prasad, who was also waiting in lien at the time.

Prasad said Kushwaha fell on the ground in the rush and could not get up again as people trampled over him.

Police reached the spot and evacuated people from the bank about 20 minutes after the stampede broke out. The branch manager Vijay Bahadur told reporters that the incident occurred due to peoples impatience and that the bank had resumed its functioning under the tight vigil of police.

Kushwahas body was handed over to the victims family after the autopsy. Tarkulwa station house officer said no case had been lodged as the death occurred in a stampede.

For more on the governments demonetisation decision, click here.
Students and social activists accompanied by mothers of former Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula and missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed participated in a Sansad March against threats to India democracy in the present times.

The protesters marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar and raised slogans demanding justice for Rohith, who had committed suicide in January, and finding Najeeb, who disappeared from his hostel on October 15 after an alleged brawl with ABVP members last month.

Rohiths mother Radhika and Najeebs mother Fatima Nafees addressed the gathering and appealed the peace-loving people of the country to stand in solidarity to meet the challenges of the present times.

The march organised by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) was also aimed at seeking justice to the people including minority community members and tribals killed in various parts of the country.

Several incidents act as witness to the fact that there are some miscreants present in society who enjoy the sympathy of people in power. They spread communal hatred, assault the Dalits, the Adivasis, target Muslims, kidnap and kill innocents and propagate lies. This is challenging the internal security and law of the land, Laeeq Ahmed Khan Aqil, national secretary of SIO said in a statement.

Several social and political activists including Shezad Poonawala, John Dayal, Ashish Khetan and Navid Hamid also addressed the gathering.
A 49-year-old man died while standing in a queue at a government bank in southwest Delhis Najafgarh on Monday afternoon, police said.

Satish Sharma, a resident of Uttam Nagar in west Delhi, had gone to an Oriental Bank of Commerce branch with his friend to deposit money. The two were standing in the queue when Sharma collapsed and fainted.

His friend and others in the queue raised an alarm. The police control room was informed,and a police van arrived and rushed Sharma to Mata Chanan Devi hospital where he was declared brought dead, an official said.

Surender Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (southwest), told HT that police had yet to ascertain the exact cause of the death. Sharmas autopsy report was awaited.

A similar death was reported in Delhis Chandni Chowk after Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise announcement to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8.

The move has sparked chaos and confusion across the country, with millions of consumers queued outside banks and ATMs to change a limited number of old notes for new ones or withdraw cash.

Though there is no official confirmation, opposition parties are linking the death of more than 50 people to the demonetisation.

The government says the demonetisation move was aimed at curbing black money and counterfeiting of currency.

Read| Demonetisation: Stressed bank employee, tired customer die in Maharashtra
A team of crime branch officers will go to schools across the city to educate students about protecting themselves from falling prey to cyber crimes.

Armed with a 16-minute presentation, the officers have tied up with computer teachers at schools. The presentation has already started at a few schools and over the next few months, the police plans to cover around 800 schools in the city.

Among the many lessons on cyber safety, the presentation includes the use of Facebook, WhatsApp and downloading apps from the internet. In the audio-visual presentation, the students are taught about the privacy settings on Facebook and ways of ensuring that the photographs and videos uploaded by them are not misused.

Special commissioner of police (crime) Taj Hasan said the presentation across all city schools is to create awareness and ensure children dont end up as victims. Children use the Internet today but many are unaware about how mischievous elements can misuse innocent minds. After tying up with the computer teachers, the presentation is being shown to all students so that they know the basic steps to guard themselves.

To ensure that photographs uploaded by the students are not misused by pornographic websites, the students through the presentations are taught safe ways of settings on Facebook. Apart from Facebook, there is also a chapter on Whatsapp.

Following cases of display pictures which are uploaded from WhatsApp, police are teaching the different ways of restricting unknown person from viewing ones WhastApp display photographs.

The presentation is a simple guide for all students who use mobile phones and laptops. It includes simple steps to protect data from getting hacked. Children are targeted by paedophiles and terror recruits. If students follow the presentation, they will be much safer in the virtual space, said an officer.

The presentation also has four short movies and an explainer on how any student can identify sexual predators or dubious websites and inform the police with evidence of the websites or users without having to visit the police station.

Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal of Springdales, Pusa Road, welcomed the initiative. In our school we have such workshops held by cyber experts from time to time. When an authority such as the police department holds such initiatives, there is more seriousness. Because kids are connected to the Internet today, it can sometimes be a menace. Apart from the police, schools which do not have any workshop should also get cyber experts and talk to students because it is very important today.

Read | Not just faff and frills: Facebook can help you study better
The India International Trade Fair seems to have reclaimed some of its sheen, with an influx in the number of visitors on Sunday.

The fair, which can be a feast for your senses with bright lights, loud music and enticing fragrances, is a must visit for any foodie looking to try authentic local food from various parts of the country.

On Sunday, the trade fair seemed like its old self, with a huge number of people finding their way to Pragati Maidan. Approximately 1.5 lakh people visited the fair on Sunday. This is almost as many visitors that we recorded on weekends during the previous years, said Vikas Malhotra, general manager, corporate communications division at the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).

For foodies headed to the fair, scouting the exhibition grounds and halls that span over 65,000 square meters  might be exhausting unless they refuel every once in a while. The various food stalls at the venue are the answer to their hunger pangs.

On Sunday, HT spotted people queuing up at food stalls from as early as 5.00 in the evening.

Rajasthan cuisine was Sundays clear winner, with many praising the pyaaz ki kachauri and mirchi ki bhajiya. I would definitely recommend the kachoris to anybody who asks me about it, said Abhiti Agrawal, who had just had her fill at the Pragati food court no.2.

Stalls selling Maggi, near the Park Balluchi food court, also drew huge crowds with kids queuing up to eat what they said was their comfort food. Everybody loves Maggi! claimed 10-year-old Gaurang Bhatia, while slurping a long noodle.

Many of the foodies seemed unfazed by the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 notes. We came well prepared, we had to. Food stalls dont accept old notes and many of them dont have other cashless payment options like card swipe machines or Paytm, said Manpreet Kaur.

However, a lot of food vendors at the venue complained that business was slow. Sunday was definitely better than the earlier (business visitors) days. But I have been here before. Compared to previous years, business is slow this year, Jainendra Singh, who runs the taste of West Bengal stall.

A lot of the people turn up with 500 and 1,000 notes. If we tell them we dont accept it, they wont buy anything. So, even though there are larger crowds today, sale is not better, explained Manish Gupta, a food vendor from Bihar.

Just now I had to turn two young boys away who only had one 500 note. They claimed that they were hungry, but I cannot accept that money. I felt bad denying them food, said Bindu Udayan, from Kerala.

Abhay Kumar, from Madhya Pradesh, claims that though he was a staunch supporter of Modi and the BJP, he is not sure about the new move. We have had to reduce our prices. The demonetisation may have been a good move, but unfortunately there was little to no planning about how to deal with the consequences after, he said.

Many vendors said they were promised card swipe machines and other facilities to ensure cashless transactions, but got little help from the organisers. We were told we would get a machine soon. But we are yet to receive one. This is killing our business, claimed Jagdish from Rajasthan, who sells the popular pyaaz ki kachoris.

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The post of director in as many as 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), including Bangalore and Nagpur, are lying vacant, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The other IIMs where such post is lying vacant are Kozhikode, Amritsar, Sirmaur, Rohtak, Bodh Gaya, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Raipur, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam and Tiruchirappalli.

However, the Directors of the mentor IIMs are looking after the six new IIMs (Amritsar, Sirmaur, Bodh Gaya,Sambalpur, Nagpur and Visakhapatnam) till the appointment of regular Director, Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Mahendra Nath Pandey said in a written reply.

Read more: Govt for group discussion to appoint IIM directors

For other IIMs, the tenure of the outgoing director has been extended or the senior most Professor of the Institute has been given additional charge of the post, he added.

For IIM Kozhikode and IIM Udaipur advertisement for the posts has been issued, he said, adding that for others Search-cum-Selection Committee has recommended a panel of names.
Growing up as the son of immigrants in London, actor Dev Patel did not feel much connection to India.

In fact, he says he spent most of his youth trying to distance myself from my culture.

That all changed after shooting five films in India. The latest of those, Lion, is an adoption drama about a young man conflicted about his identity, and the film seems tailor made for him.

Lion is Dev Patels fifth movie that he shot in India.

Its kind of been the most nourishing experience of my career so far, said Patel.

Patel, 26, made his name as the star of the 2008 Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. Lion, out in US movie theaters on Thursday, is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, who as a 5-year-old boy was separated from his family in rural India when he accidentally boarded the wrong train.

Unable to remember his home town or his mothers name, Saroo is placed in an orphanage, adopted by an Australian family and taken to live in Tasmania. More than 20 years later, he uses the Google Earth map tool to try and find his home in India.

I could really relate to it. As someone who hadnt been to India as a young man and tried to hide (his Indian ethnicity) for a long time, when I went there for Slumdog, it kind of opened my mind to a whole new level of consciousness and acceptability of who I am, Patel said.

Patel, who also appeared in the two Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies, said he now finds India enthralling and exciting and a place that brings out the innermost feelings of your soul.

Nicole Kidman plays Patels adoptive mother in the movie.

All those preconceived notions that I had as a young boy were broken, and its a love affair with (India) now, he said.

In Lion, the adult Saroo considers himself Australian, but little moments start to jog his childhood memories of India. He becomes obsessed with trying to find his way back home to his birth mother and family.

The actor said he hopes the film will highlight the plight of the thousands of street children in India.

Stories like this can help generate a dialogue to get these kids off the street and put them in the right homes because there are thousands of people around the world who want to adopt children and dont know how to, he said.

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In a move to ban commercial surrogacy, a bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday which also seeks to protect women from exploitation and ensure the rights of the child born through surrogacy.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 was introduced by health minister JP Nadda amid protest by the opposition over the governments demonetisation move.

Once approved by Parliament, there will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy, but altruistic surrogacy will be permitted for needy infertile couples under strict regulations.

The bill entitles only Indian citizens to avail of surrogacy. Foreigners, NRIs and PIOs are not allowed to seek surrogacy in the country.

Homosexuals, single parents, and live-in couples are also not entitled for surrogacy. Also couples who already have children will not be allowed to go in for surrogacy, though they would be free to adopt a child under a separate law.

With no law governing surrogacy, India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries. There have been incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers and abandonment of children born out of surrogacy.

The bill allows surrogacy only for legally married couples after five years of marriage and with a certificate from a doctor stating that they are medically unfit to produce a child. Women within the age group of 23 years to 50 years and men aged between 26 to 55 years will be eligible to go in for surrogacy.

In an attempt to check commercial exploitation and middlemen, the surrogate mother can only be a close relative, like a sister or sister-in-law who is married and has at least one healthy biological child. A woman can be a surrogate only once in her lifetime.
Dramatic 'Confessions of St. Augustine' Audio CD Released by Actor Leonardo Defilippis

VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 21, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Actor and director Leonardo Defilippis captures the passion and poetry of "The Confessions of St. Augustine" in a new audio dramatization of this famous spiritual classic. Audiences experience in this riveting production a personal encounter with one of the most influential saints in Christian history.

Photo: Hi-resolution version available upon request.

Defilippis' performance is accessible, relevant, and deeply moving in his portrayal of St. Augustine, who struggled with promiscuity, fathered a child out of wedlock, and dabbled in a "new age" style cult. His relentless pursuit of truth was extraordinary and deeply encouraged by the prayerful perseverance of his faithful mother, St. Monica.

"As I explored this text, I discovered a completely modern story about a man absorbed in a decadent existence of sexual indulgence and intellectual arrogance," explains Defilippis. "The drama is about his early life with his mistress and his dramatic conversion to Christianity. Because of the emotional ground covered by the story, I found that Augustine revealed something very personal that our modern world could relate to."

Audience member Dr. Lisa Fulgenzi praised "The Confessions" this way: "What a beautiful and brilliant performance! I found myself praying for Augustine's conversion, as you presented such a real character, and then from that, the conversion of all of the souls of the people in the audience, and that of all of the people who would hear about it from them."

Leonardo Defilippis founded Saint Luke Productions in 1980. By bringing the lives of the saints to modern audiences, Saint Luke Productions actively participates in the "New Evangelization" of our culture and fosters religious vocations. Leonardo's high quality media productions, including the popular feature film "Therese," have experienced an overwhelmingly positive response worldwide.
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the controversial suicide case of senior bureaucrat Bal Kishan Bansal, who was arrested on charges of corruption.

The petitioner, EA Sharma, a retired bureaucrat, had approached the court seeking an impartial CBI probe into the alleged suicide of Bansal and his family.

The petition seeks the setting up of a team of senior officers of integrity and independence to take over from the CBI the investigation into the deaths of Bansal and his family and to prosecute the accused in accordance with law.

In Bansals alleged suicide note, it was mentioned that his family was tortured by CBI deputy inspector general Sanjeev Gautam and his team members.

Bansal had named several persons for making his familys life hell, including Gautam, superintendent of police Amrita Kaur, deputy superintendent of police Rekha Sangwan and investigating officer Harnam Singh, apart from an unnamed head constable.

In view of the charges, the CBI had recused Gautam from the team probing the corruption charges by Bansal, who along with his 31-year-old son committed suicide in September end.

In July, Bansal was arrested by the CBI on charges of corruption. Hours after he was produced in court, his wife Satyabala (58) and daughter Neha (28) were found hanging in two separate rooms at their residence in Neelkanth Apartments on July 22 after CBIs second raid at their residence.
Observing that prima facie there were some inconsistencies in the two circulars issued by the Reserve Bank to district co-operative banks on the demonetisation issue, the Bombay high court on Monday sought the RBIs response to a batch of petitions filed by these banks.

The Mumbai and Solapur District Central Co-operative banks had approached the high court last week, challenging the RBI circular of November 14 restricting them from exchanging or depositing old currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000, which were declared as illegal tender under the governments demonetisation move on November 8.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Karnik also directed Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to produce a copy of the transfer petition filed by the Union government in the Supreme Court.

Read | Lawyers file plea in Bombay HC challenging ban on Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes

Singh informed the high court that the Union government, in the transfer petition, has sought the apex court to direct for all petitions filed in various high courts in the country to be either heard by SC itself or any one HC.

He said the transfer petition has been posted for hearing on November 23.

The contentions raised by the district co-operative banks in these petitions here are similar to the petitions pending before the Supreme Court, Singh said.

Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, appearing for the Mumbai District Co-operative Bank, however, told the court that the petitions filed by the co-operative banks are different.

We are not challenging the demonetisation scheme. We are just challenging the RBI circular, Dwarkadas said.

The bench, while directing the Union government to produce the transfer petition tomorrow, said if the main petition filed in the Supreme Court covers the same contentions as raised in these petitions, then it would not hear the matter.

Read | SC says situation after demonetisation serious, fears riots

You (Singh) produce the transfer petition tomorrow. We will see. The RBI should also respond. We are not saying you (RBI) are right or wrong but prima facie we feel there is some inconsistency between the two circulars issued by the RBI, Justice Oka said.

Advocate V M Thorat, appearing for Solapur District Advocate V M Thorat, appearing for Solapur District Central Co-operative Bank, said while the RBI circular of November 8 included the co-operative banks and permitted them to accept and exchange old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, another circular issued on November 14 prohibited the co-operative banks from exchanging or depositing the old currency notes.

We have around 50 lakh account holders who have submitted cheques and cash after the scheme was announced. The cheques are cleared by the co-operative banks through the State Bank of India. But now because of the RBI circular of November 14, the SBI is refusing to clear our cheques or take the old currency notes from us, Thorat argued.

Dwarkadas submitted that under section 26 (1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, every bank note is considered as legal tender.

Also Read | Demonetisation: SC to hear Centres transfer plea on November 23
Unidentified burglars looted Rs 81.46 lakh in old currency on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday from a branch of Punjab National Bank located in Khera Alampur village in Rewari that stood without a night guard.

The police said the burglars broke a window to enter the bank, and used a cutter to cut the safe where the money was kept.

The assailants took away Rs 81.46 lakh in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency, which has been announced as illegal tender by the government, and also got hold of Rs 1 lakh in 100 and 10-rupee notes. The amount was deposited in the bank by people after the governments demonetisation move.

People living close by in the fields noticed the broken window on Sunday morning and informed the police, who reached the spot to conduct the investigation. Kosli DSP Anil Kumar said the burglars damaged the CCTV system so it could not ascertain the number of people who committed the crime.

The branch is situated in a secluded area. They didnt have a night guard. The burglars would have thought of targeting the new currency, but the bank hadnt received it yet. The branch had only a couple of new Rs 2,000 notes, which were in the lower section of the safe and probably remained unseen, DSP Kumar said.

According to sources in the bank, the said branch was robbed earlier, too, on October 7, 2015 and was under scanner to be shifted from the isolated area. The police said they were considering the angle of security lapse from the banks side. We have registered a case of theft and collected finger print samples. The accused will be arrested soon, DSP Kumar said.
Jayaram, a daily wage labourer from Mankave in Kozhikode district, needs a loan of Rs 2 lakh for his daughters wedding, scheduled for November 27. He approached the Calicut City Service Co-operative Bank (CCSCB), one of the largest primary co-operative banks that runs 24 branches across Kozhikode Corporation with over Rs 1,000 crore in deposits. The loan was approved, but the bank doesnt have money to disburse it.

I may have to postpone the wedding. I dont know why the Union government is targeting co-operative banks. Those sitting in Delhi will not understand the problems of common people, said an agitated Jayaram.

Sasi Mohan, secretary of the bank where Jayaram holds his account, said he is going through a difficult phase himself. All our customers are in distress. They have postponed medical surgeries, marriages and house constructions. They cry while explaining their problems. Two days ago, a woman agriculture labourer pleaded with me to sanction Rs 6,000 for her husbands medical emergency. I couldnt do it. I havent slept peacefully for the last one week.

Joshy Joseph from Poothady Panchayath in Wayanad district stalled the construction of his fish farm on Friday. I didnt get the loan amount of Rs 1 lakh from the co-operative bank. The construction work was stopped three days ago as I do not have money to pay the labourers, said the 45-year-old farmer.

Jayaram and Joshy are among the millions of Keralites who have been hit hard by the Union governments demonetisation decision, which includes not allowing these banks to receive old notes or issue new currency.

Backbone of the rural system

Co-operative banks in Kerala enjoy a rich legacy; they provided credit for farmers since the 1950s and 1960s, years before commercial banks found a foothold in the state. With a customer base of more than two million, the three-tier banking system is one of the largest in the country. It has 20 state co-operative banks, 784 district co-operative banks and 1,611 primary co-operative banks under its umbrella. The primary banks have more than 2,500 branches. The state and district banks follow the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)s guidelines, while the primary banks come under the district banks and follow the directives of the Registrar of cooperative societies. Primary cooperative banks deposit money with the RBI-monitored district banks.

The Calicut City Service Co-operative Bank (CCSCB) is one of the largest primary co-operative banks that runs 24 branches across the Kozhikode Corporation with over Rs 1,000 crore in deposits.

Little wonder, then, that Kerala finance minister, TM Thomas Issac, described co-operative banks as the lifeline of Keralas economy. The financial institution has Rs 90,000 crore in deposits and Rs 75,000 crore in credits. The deposit-credit ratio is 80%, much higher than Keralas largest nationalised bank, State Bank of Travancore, which is at just 52.6%. The figures speak volumes about the importance of co-operative banks, Issac wrote in an editorial in the Malayalam daily, Mathrubhumi, on November 18.

A deepening crisis amid transparency Issues

The crisis began almost a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise announcement that made 1000 and 500 rupee banknotes illegal tender. On November 14, the RBI stopped primary co-operative banks and district co-operative banks from accepting and exchanging the demonetised banknotes.In the interim period that had passed, between November 9 and 14, Rs 280 crore worth of old notes had been collected as deposits from account holders, though banks did not give out new notes.

It is believed that money-laundering suspicions forced the RBI to impose curbs on these financial transactions. The apex bank has not given any specific reasons for the decision so far, but its order paralysed the primary co-operatives. While the district banks are issuing new currency, primary banks can now neither accept scrapped notes nor issue new ones. They just have to do a balancing act with a meagre amount of Rs 24,000, provided by the district banks every week.

Read | Demonetisation will lead to 6 months of chaos: Ex-RBI deputy guv Chakrabarty

Predictably, Kerala has witnessed plenty of protests following the RBIs decision. The co-operative sector went on strike on Wednesday. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to lift the sanctions. Parliament members from the state, cutting across party lines, met Jaitley with the same demand.

CP John, former planning commission member, alleged that the union government aimed to discredit co-operative banks after demonetisation. The Centre gave money transaction nod to post offices and petrol bunks, and not the co-operative banks. It is part of a conspiracy to provide ideal fodder for new-generation banks to widen their presence in Kerala.

At the core of the current crisis lies the issue of transparency. It is alleged that primary co-operatives do not follow the KYC (Know Your Customer) process, thus making it easy to stash black money in benami accounts, i.e., accounts whose beneficiary is not the account holder on record. Successive state governments have objected to the RBIs attempt to bring primary co-operatives under its ambit and make the system more transparent.

The banks, too,have resisted the move, arguing that the apex banks regulations would stop them from participating in social service activities like running fair price shops, Neethi medical stores and dialysis centres.

A task force set up for the revival of rural co-operatives in 2004, chaired by A Vaidyanathan, Emeritus Professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies, had suggested that State governments need to make legislative amendments to enable the RBI to exercise its regulatory powers under the Banking Regulation Act directly, and not through the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS), if the cooperative banks are to be regulated effectively. It further noted: The state governments should enter into an appropriate memorandum of understanding (MoU), agreeing to desist from interfering directly or indirectly in the management of the finances of these banks.

Successive state governments have brushed these recommendations under the carpet and never acted on them.

Political controversies and the road ahead

The issue has taken a political turn with BJP state general secretary, K Surendran, alleging that the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the principal opposition Congress party stashed illegal money in cooperative banks, and this is why they are afraid of RBI intervention.

In a letter to Jaitley, he said that close to Rs 30,000 crore of black money had been deposited in cooperative banks in the state without paying income tax. The depositors include politicians, real estate mafias, hawala dealers and terrorists. It will be for the benefit of the country if these deposits are verified and necessary action is taken, he wrote.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayanhas hit back, accusing the BJP of wanting to destroy the cooperative banking sector in Kerala. The decision to impose restrictions on co-operative banks is a political conspiracy hatched by BJP leaders in Kerala, he said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Cooperative banks function under laws passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The income tax department can conduct inquiries if they find fault with the cooperatives.

The state also witnessed an unprecedented protest on November 18 when the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues staged a dharna in front of the RBI regional office in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaks to those gathered at a dharna in front of the RBI regional office in Thiruvananthapuram on November 18. (By special arrangement)

The agitation is expected to strengthen in the coming days with the Congress deciding to support the government agitations against the centres move. Interestingly, most of the co-operatives are either controlled by CPI(M) or the Congress, while the BJPs presence in the sector is quite negligible. CPI(M) and Congress candidates regularly win the elections for the president, secretary and board members of the co-operative banks.

With the Centre adopting a tough stand on unaccounted black money, observers believe that the primary co-operative banks have to fall in line and commit themselves to follow RBI guidelines, if they wish to resume banking services.

Economists also think that the co-operative system should be cleaned of black money. Dr BA Prakash, chairman of the fifth Kerala State Finance Commission, said that allegations of stashing black money in co-operative banks should be examined. Co-operative societies should be protected at any cost. So the government should make it black-money free.

(Published in arrangement with GRIST Media)
Each of the 88 families belonging to the Saharia tribe has lost at least one child to malnutrition in Bhairopura village in Madhya Pradeshs Shivpuri district.

Dhaka Adivasi, 30, has three children and has lost six over the past decade. Two of 32-year-old Parvatis five children died before the age of five. Anjana, 25, lost one baby last week, her third to die in as many years. Eighteen-year-old Maltis first-born Lakshmi died a few days after she turned nine months old.

Most of the deaths happened between nine months and three years. All the children died of hungerdefined medically as severe acute malnutrition (SAM) which, directly or indirectly, causes for one in three under-5 deaths in India.

Countless mothers across India share the tragedy of Parvati and Anjana. Though the shockingly high number of children dying of malnutrition has put the spotlight on Sheopur and Shivpuri, hunger and malnutrition are chronic in many parts of India.

Poverty and social exclusion plays a big role, as does lack of information. Mothers feed their children the best they can, but their best is not enough. Most children are being exclusively breastfed till well past the age of 18 months, sometimes up to age 2.

Malnourished and anaemic, most women cannot nourish their babies, who waste away slowly and die while the mothers watch helplessly.

The cause of the childrens deaths, when certified, is listed as SAM, characterised by very low weight for height (below -3z scores of the median growth standards), visible severe wasting, or nutritional oedema (swelling from acute protein deficiency).

Lives lost

Over the past two months, 23 children have died of malnutrition in neighbouring Sheopur district, where the highly-publicised Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) meant to save SAM children remain deserted.

Aganwadi workers and ANM (for auxiliary nurse midwife, or village health worker) bring visibly diseased children ages six months to 5 years to NRCs, where the children are admitted with their mothers for 14 days and given nutritional therapeutic care.

The mother is fed and trained in healthy nutrition practice and baby is discharged only after there is at least 15% weight gain over the admission day, which takes around two weeks. The children are followed up four times at an interval of 15 days over the next two months to ensure the weight gain continues and the child becomes healthy.

The 20-bed Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) at Pohri set up to save the lives children with Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) has three occupants. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT PHOTO)

Reality, however, presents a different picture. Last week, the 20-bed NRC at Karhal had one occupant and another at Pohari had three women with children. In both places, the women had been admitted that day.

There was a spike in admissions in Karhal NRC over September following an outcry over malnutrition deaths, with SAM admissions going up to 302 in April-October 2016, compared to 239 in April 2015-March 2016, but the referrals dipped during the festive season of Dusshera and Diwali, when most aganwadi workers and ANMs were on leave.

One woman was forcefully taken away by her husband today. Her baby was doing well, and had put on almost 300 gm over four days, said Arti Pathak, feeding demonstrator, Karhal NRC. Her husband said hed bring her back, but we have three more children on their way.

Big divide

The newer and larger NRC ward at Pohari has sicker children and less enthusiastic workers. All three children weigh half of what they should: Dipika and Lalita are 15 months old and weigh 5kg and 5.05kg respectively, and 14-month-old Kamal Singh weighs 5 kg.

These three just arrived, more should come over the week now that the anganwadi workers are coming back from leave, says Suman Tomar, caretaker at the NRC.

The block medical officer has a different take on the low bed occupancy. Mothers are given Rs 100 for travel, Rs 120 a day to compensate for lost earning, and Rs 220 for each follow-up, but they still leave. They dont like it here, they like living in the jungle. They dont care for their children like other people do, explains Dr Pawan Korku, block medical officer, Pohari.

Sachin Kumar Jain, state advisor to Supreme Court Commission on Right to Food, however, points to other factors.

More than half of the doctors posts are vacant, primary health system is not responding to the needs. Its a chronic hunger situation and we need a commitment to ensure the availability and access to diverse local food in a sustained manner, Jain says.

There is urgent need to plan interventions to address the underlying and structural causes of malnutrition. The Madhya Pradesh government has not shown any willingness for making operational framework for community based management of malnutrition.

When done right, under-5 malnutrition deaths can halve in hospital settings and by giving readymade therapeutic foods to women in community setting. We give therapeutic packages to mother for the SAM baby when they leave, but they take it home and share it with the entire family, so it gets over in a day, says Pathak.

In his Niti Ayog address last week, Microsoft-founder Bill Gates said, If I had one wish that I can get rid of any disease, any health problem, I will pick malnutrition. Thats saying a lot because there are other challenges, such as HIV, malaria and TB. But malnutrition causes the greatest problem, not only for the child who dies but the kid who survives, who never fully develops physically and mentally.

If India wants to make the most of its demographic edge, its young population must meet its nutritional and development indices.

Read | Wracked from within: In tribal Madhya Pradesh, TB continues to kill

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The Oppositions protest against the governments demonetisation drive is set to spill on to the streets after uproar over one of the countrys biggest financial decisions paralysed Parliaments winter session for three consecutive days.

As many as 11 opposition parties met on Monday morning to chalk out a strategy for a nationwide protest to corner the Narendra Modi government.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who visited several ATMs across the Capital and its satellite cities, accused Prime Minister Modi of acting on his whims and fancies.

We will have to find a new word to define him. He is at another level now. He took the biggest economic decision in the history of India by informing just three to four people. There was no plan and no thought was given to its negative repercussions, he said.

Gandhi alleged that cash was being taken out surreptitiously from banks for a few select people, while the common people suffered in long queues for hours.

People told me deals were being carried out behind the banks as cash was given to select few. This is only benefitting those close to the Prime Minister.

The Congress leader sharpened his attack on Modi on a day it was decided that about 200 opposition parliamentarians will hold a protest near Mahatma Gandhis statue in the Parliament complex on Wednesday. They will organise rallies in New Delhi and go to the states to highlight the economic anarchy and harassment to the people.

Farmers are being forced to walk 10km to the nearest bank to get some cash. The government has created an economic logjam through this step, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

Read: Demonetisation affects Nepal, black marketing of currency rampant at border

The Oppositions growing attack prompted BJP president Amit Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley to discuss the situation.

Jaitley accused the Opposition of shying away from a debate.

Merits and demerits will come out in a debate ... This is clear now that the Opposition is not ready for debate and is coming up with new excuses to disrupt the House, he said in Parliament.

The Congress also accused the government of introducing Rs 2,000 notes illegally.

Senior party leader Anand Sharma said it is an illegal act as the notification required to be issued under the RBI act for printing new notes has not been issued.

The notes recall  aimed at curbing illicit funds and corruption, but saddled with an implementation nightmare  has given the Opposition the glue to keep its fragile unity together.

Read: Rs 2.5 lakh cash withdrawal allowed for weddings: All you need to know

In November 2015, Congress president Sonia Gandhi led an Opposition march to President Pranab Mukherjee over the NDA governments land acquisition bill.

The opposition parties, barring the ruling Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh that didnt send any representative for Mondays meeting, decided to continue their protest in Parliament and organise a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan too.

During the day, both Houses of Parliament got adjourned.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress led a demand for a debate under the adjournment motion. The Speaker didnt agree. In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition parties demanded a joint parliamentary committee to probe allegations linked to the demonetisation exercise.

Will insist on Modis presence if the debate on demonetisation happens, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making fun of the problems faced by the masses following demonetisation, saying that unless he felt their pain, people would not forgive him.

In a series of tweets in Hindi and English, Banerjee seemingly referred to Modis video conference address before the Coldplay concert in Mumbai on Saturday, where he had quoted from one of Bob Dylans most famous songs and cracked a joke apparently alluding to the effects of his governments recent decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes.

Dont think peoples sufferings are mere fun. Why should your policies make people suffer? They should have instead benefited them, Banerjee said on her Twitter handle.

Economy of every state, entire country is in tatters. People are in distress, and your are in a celebaroty mood, she said in another tweet.

Banerjee advised Modi to listen to the peoples voice.

Listen to the voice of the people . Feel their pain. People will not forgive you for this. They are suffering (2/2)  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 20, 2016

In an obvious reference to Modi attacking her on the chit fund issue on Sunday, Banerjee said the prime minister was dubbing as corrupt anybody who opposed him.

Pradhan Mantri ji, you are equating corruption with anyone who opposes your policy. Are you the only magician? (1/2)  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 20, 2016

In his address in Mumbai, Modi had joked: Youve been smart in asking me to only address (the) gathering and not sing, or else Im sure youd be asking (for your) money back, that too in Rs 100 (notes), in an obvious reference to the demonetisation initiative.

In another veiled reference to the countrys situation, Modi quoted Dylans song The times they are a changing.

Targeting Banerjee, who has been in the forefront of the anti-demonetisation protests, Modi on Sunday raised the chit fund scam issue in Bengal.

Millions of people invested their hard earned money in this chit funds and under the blessings of politicians, all this hard-earned money disappeared in the scam. Many people lost their lives. And today, these people are levelling charges against me, he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the Saradha chit fund scandal, has arrested and quizzed several leaders of Banerjees Trinamool Congress.
Giving a final chance, the Union home ministry has decided to ask more than 11000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to submit their applications afresh for the renewal of FCRA licence.

We are sending emails and in case mobile number is available, SMS to all these NGOs to provide the home ministry necessary documents with complete application to get their registration, granted under the Foreign Contribution Registration Act (FCRA), renewed, said a senior home ministry official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A total of 11,319 NGOs lost their foreign funding licence as they failed to renew their registration within stipulated deadline of June 30 this year.

After the Centres decision to cancel registration of these NGOs, the number of outfits permitted to receive foreign funding has come down to around 19,000. Till two years ago, the country had around 42,500 FCRA-registered NGOs.
The Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who died in Pakistan shelling in Kashmirs Rajouri sector had last gone home more than three months ago, but wasnt willing to leave his brothers-in-arms in this time of turmoil at the border.

Head constable Rai Singh Indora, 39, died after being hit by a mortar shell from across the border on Sunday night. He is survived by his wife, Sunita, and three sons  Hitesh, Paras and Karamvir.

His one month leave was pending. He used to say, vo bhi to mere bhai hain... unhe akela kaise chor dun (The other soldiers are my brothers too. How can I desert them?), said his brother, Ramesh, who retired from the BSF in April.

In fact, it was his older brothers footsteps that Rai followed to join the BSF. And of the seven siblings, Rai was the youngest and the most loved in the family.

Read | BSF soldier killed in cross-border firing by Pakistan in J-Ks Rajouri

Chutti nai mil rahi (Im not getting leaves)... is all he would say when we spoke on the phone, recalls his widow, Sunita, at his native village Kheri Sampla in Rohtak.

Though Rai was posted far from home, he never failed keep in touch with his children, calling them up to thrice a day.

He didnt talk much; always asked if we were fine and how we were doing in studies. We spoke to him yesterday (Sunday) evening. That time he had agreed to take us to trade fair soon, says Hitesh, 16, the oldest of the three.

Losing his father has particularly affected 14-year-old Karambir. I wanted to be a soldier, but now I want to become a doctor because I want to take care of my mother, he says.

Inconsolable relatives expressed great anger against Pakistan for destroying the lives of families of soldiers.

Everyday were hearing news of jawans dying in Paks firing. Like this, they will finish our soldiers. What is our government doing? Is it enough to wait for soldiers to die on borders and then give Rs 5-10 lakh to their families? They must remove Pakistan from the world map, says his sister, Raj.

Also Read | Four army men injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire in J-Ks Rajouri

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Legal experts have questioned the NDA governments order to restrict withdrawal limits of account holders following demonetisation, saying the authorities cannot deny access to ones legitimate and taxed money.

Former banker and income tax advocate Yudhister Sharma said although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules allow 50 withdrawals every six months from a savings account, there is no ceiling on the amount. There cannot be such a restriction, Sharma told HT.

Last week, senior advocate Kapil Sibal had argued before the Supreme Court that government cannot curb his right to access his legitimate money.

Read | Demonetisation: Modi has banked on personal equity to effect behaviour change

How can they restrict me to withdraw just Rs 24,000 a week. It is possible that my expenses cross one lakh. Why should I not be allowed to get my money? The government is custodian of my money, he told a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, in a bid to impress upon the court to issue an order to do away with the restriction.

Sibal asserted there was no law to back the government order. What the former minister pointed out was that in effect demonetisation had frozen ones constitutional right to have unhindered access to ones money.

Senior counsel Pradeep Tara, an expert on income tax law, also questioned the order. There is no legal backing to this kind of a decision. They might give an explanation that it is being done for smooth administration of the country, but legally it is impermissible, he said.

A notice at the Bhutan Market on demonetisation of currency in Agartala, Tripura (PTI Photo)

Doubts have also been raised over the proposal to impose 200% penalty on deposits that cross Rs 2.5 lakh limit.

Tara said no penalty can be imposed unless there is an assessment. If there is an abnormal increase in the assessed income then only one can be penalised. However, this too is subject to legal challenge. But, Tara said there is no bar on professionals charging their fees and there are no rules that standardise professional receipts.

Suppose, a professional last year got a receipt of Rs 20 lakh then where is the bar that during current financial year he or she cannot earn Rs 50 lakh, he explained.

Read | Max 7-yr jail for depositing unaccounted money in someone elses account: Report

Another income tax law expert Kavita Jha said under the current scheme misreporting or under-reporting is illegal. However, after demonetisation there will be declaration of ones income. Therefore, one cannot penalise a depositor.

According to Jha, penalty can be imposed if there is huge mismatch in the income earned this year and the returns filed during the previous two years.

Sharma said the scheme will lead to a spurt in litigation. IT department can impose penalty if it is able to prove that the depositor did not wilfully disclose the amount. It is incorrect to bring everybody under scrutiny if the deposits exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.

Suppose there is a senior citizen. As per law his earnings up to Rs 3 lakh are exempted. If, he deposits Rs 4 lakh in his account then legally he can only be taxed for the extra one lakh and that too up to 10%. The authority cannot put such a person on a par with those who wilfully evade taxes, Sharma said, adding that several innocent people may get harassed subsequently.

Read | Demonetisation: Banks may allow cash withdrawal for weddings from next week

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Endorsed Pro-Life Candidates Win Overwhelmingly

Candidates who ran successful State Senate races include: William Ligon Jr., P.K. Martin, Greg Kirk, Lee Anderson, Michael Williams, Mike Dugan, Butch Miller, John Wilkinson, Steve Gooch, Jeff Mullis, and Charlie Bethel.

Successful State House of Representative races include: DeWayne Hill, Matt Gurtler, Terry Rogers, Wes Cantrell, Lee Hawkins, Emory Dunahoo, Ed Setzler, Sam Teasley, John Carson, Josh Bonner, Scott Hilton, David Clark, Buzz Brockway, Chuck Efstration, Joyce Chandler, Clay Cox, Tom Kirby, Terry England, Heath Clark, Greg Morris, Bill Werkheiser, and Jason Spencer.

"These pro-personhood legislators stand ready to address the important issues our state faces, particularly strengthening the defense of the pre-born child, the birthmother and father, the elderly, the infirm, and persons with disabilities," said GRTL PAC Director Genevieve Wilson. "This has been a hard-fought and difficult election process. It's now time for all of us to work together to advance policies that promote personhood across our state and nation."

Candidates received the GRTL PAC endorsement after signing the Personhood Affirmation. The document states that in accord with the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to life for all persons, and personhood begins at the moment of fertilization and ends at natural death.

By signing the affirmation, they pledge to support Human Life Amendments to the Georgia and U.S. Constitutions and other actions that would support these principles.

They also affirm their opposition to abortion for any reason, and agree that regardless of race, age, degree of disability, manner of conception or circumstances involving their health, a person's civil rights are protected by law.

Georgia Right to Life promotes respect and effective legal protection for all innocent life from earliest biological beginning through natural death. GRTL is one of a number of organizations that have adopted Personhood as the most effective pro-life strategy for the twenty-first century.
Patel quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel on Sunday slammed the Centre for its demonetisation move, claiming it only increased the hardships of the common man.

Addressing a massive rally of his community in Bhayavadar town of Rajkot district through video conference, Patel claimed that the Centres move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes increased the hardships of poor people.

The firebrand leader claimed that only these are poor people seen in the queues outside banks and not those who are having connections with politicians.

Many of you must have stood in long queues during the last few days. I wonder how many of you saw a politician in the queue. Have you seen any relative of a minister or party leader? You will only find poor farmers and citizens, who are struggling to make both ends meet, in those queues, he said.

This move has only increased the hardships of poor people. Those who are in power must not forget if you bring tears in the eyes of farmers, youths and labourers, a revolution would come and people in power would be thrown out Patel said.

On November 8, Modi had announced the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes.

Patel also urged his community members to uproot the ruling BJP in the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled next year.

I urge you to continue the agitation. No one can stop us from getting our right if we stay united. We will not sit quiet till we get reservation. I am coming back to Gujarat on January 17 to join our movement he said in the video conference from Udaipur in Rajasthan.

While granting him bail in two sedition cases in July this year, Gujarat high court had put a condition that he will have to stay outside Gujarat for six months, starting from July 17.

Hardik asked his community to not to forget the injustice and atrocities meted out to them by BJP-ruled Gujarat government.

He urged the Patel community to teach a stern lesson to the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls.

We should not forgive those who were responsible for the deaths of 14 Patel youths during our stir last year. I urge you not to let any BJP leader enter in your area. Time has come to teach them a lesson by uprooting them in 2017. If Patels can bring them to power, we also have the power to throw them out, said Hardik.
A deathly buzz shrouded sleepy Sukul Talab in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur Dehat district on Sunday as ambulances flitted to and from the neighbourhood mortuary and the site where the Indore-Patna Express train derailed, killing 142 people.

It was an unusual day even for our locality which is used to the sound of vehicles carrying bodies as its located barely 200 metres away from the mortuary, said Ram Sahay, who has been residing in the locality for the past 50 years.

Initially the residents did not pay much attention to the sound but as the vehicles kept coming, they realised something big had happened.

Residents said around 6am they saw the first flash of the tragic news on the television.

Soon the mortuary was cramped with bodies.

Also read | Kanpur Dehat train tragedy as it happened

I havent seen anything like this in my 65 years of age. I havent seen so many bodies at one place.

Within an hour or two of the incident, the courtyard of the mortuary was full with corpses, added Sahay, who is a farmer.

Health department officials put up a shamiayana in the complex and another in a nearby park to accommodate bodies, which kept coming till 6pm.

To accommodate the unending flow of bodies, a shamiayana was raised (HT Photo)

Initially we were counting the ambulances just to ascertain the numbers of deceased. But after few hours, we could not keep track as bodies kept coming one after another, said Santosh Kumar, who owns a Paan shop near the mortuary.

Read | In pics: Rescue operations on as Indore-Patna Express train derails

Read | Kanpur train tragedy: The spotlight is back on passenger safety

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The last thing Uttam Kumar remembers is a huge bang as his carriage was violently crushed. He was trapped upside down in the wreckage of the Indore-Patna Express train that derailed on Sunday, killing more than 140 people.

Fighting back tears, the 26-year-old business student recalled how he waited over three hours to be cut out of the mangled train carriage, which was crushed under another.

When rescuers finally put him in an ambulance, there were only dead bodies for company.

It was like being in a nightmare. It was happening, but I couldnt believe it was happening, he told AFP from his hospital bed in Kanpur near the accident site.

They cut the part of the carriage where I was stuck and pulled me out. Then I remember being moved to the ambulance, which was parked next to the site. I was the only one alive in the ambulance.

Read | Train mishap in UP: Passengers complaint of thunderous sound went unheeded

Officials fear they could find more bodies at the accident site. The derailment happened at 3.10 am on Sunday near Pukhrayan, about 100 km from Kanpur. (PTI)

An estimated 2,000 people were on board the intercity express train when it came off the tracks around 3 am on Sunday, violently jolting passengers out of their sleep.

Relatives have since flocked to the crash site and to nearby hospitals desperate for news of loved ones on the train, which was carrying at least one wedding party with the marriage season in full swing.

So far 147 bodies have been pulled from the mangled wreckage, a painstaking process involving metal cutters, heavy lifting equipment and sniffer dogs.

Rescue workers say many of the bodies are so badly damaged they are unrecognisable, and expect the toll to rise further as the worst affected carriages are cleared.

Read | Survivors of train derailment recount horror, pray for those still trapped

Relatives of passengers in the Indore-Patna Express train which derailed on Sunday, taking a look at the passenger manifesto at Bhopal railway station. (PTI)

Where is she?

Vivek Parikh, whose two sisters were on the train, left for Kanpur from his home town around 350 kilometres (215 miles) away as soon as he heard of the disaster.

One sister was confirmed dead, but he spent the night desperately searching Kanpurs hospitals for the other.

No hospital or location has any clue or detail about Roshni. Where is she? he said as he rushed from one hospital official to another pleading for information.

Kumars family managed to track him down quickly thanks to the help of local residents, who heard his screams for help from the wreckage and took down his home telephone number so they could contact his relatives.

The people heard my screams but no one could do anything as the carriage was crushed under another carriage, he said. (So) I shouted my home telephone number loud for anyone who could hear.

Read | Havent seen so many bodies: Witnesses at mortuary recall UP train tragedy

A man showing a picture of his father who was travelling in Indore-Patna Express train. (PTI)

Kumar suffered head and back injuries, but his biggest concern is finding his 75-year-old grandfather, who was sitting next to him on the train.

The pair had been on a pilgrimage to Ujjain and were on their way home to Patna, the trains final destination.

I dont know what happened to him. He was on a seat beside me, he said.

Now he is not in any of the two lists -- of victims and survivors. No one has a clue about where he is.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said the armed forces in Kashmir have complete power to shoot at those wielding guns, instead of waiting for the terrorists to open fire and getting martyred.

When I took over as the defence minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyones hand, dont expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him, Parrikar said addressing BJPs election rally at Vasco last evening.

In Kashmir, our army was fighting terrorists. The Congress government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you shouldnt retaliate, he said, claiming that the morale of the army has gone up since Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has come to power.

In the backdrop of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Parrikar said the Indian troops have complete power and they are giving apt reply to the enemy.

Now, our soldiers dont need to seek permission from the Defence Ministry to fire at the person who fires at them. They have complete power and they are giving apt reply to our enemy. I feel bad that some of our soldiers are martyred, the former chief minister said.

Parrikar said it took almost six to eight months for him to understand the functioning of the ministry.

Initially, I couldnt understand how the defence ministry works. It took 6-8 months for me to understood, the former Goa chief minister said.
In a dazzling display, six Indian Air Force (IAF) jets simulated landing on the Lucknow-Agra expressway, which was inaugurated by former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav here on Monday.

This 3.3-km stretch of the 302-km expressway can be used to land jets in emergencies when the military air fields are not available.

Thousands of villagers and onlookers gathered to witness the rare event, as fighter jets whizzed past, almost skimming the road before roaring off into the sky again. The landings, air force officials said, are simulated and the jets dont touch the road as it would damage the wheels.

The aircrafts flew over the expressway at a speed of nearly 300km/hour at around 1:07 pm, said a senior IAF officer.

The Rs 13,200-crore project was completed in a record time of 22 months and is expected to become operational by next year.

When open, the Lucknow-Agra expressway will be the countrys longest. It is a six-lane project presently, but can be expanded up to eight lanes if needed.

It will reduce travel time from Lucknow to Delhi to just five-and-half hours, less than half the time it takes now. The Delhi-Agra stretch is connected by the Yamuna expressway.

Two farm mandis, a logistics hub, IT city and a residential town are planned along the expressway, which goes from Lucknow to Agra via Unnao, Kannauj, Etawah, Mainpuri and Firozabad.

All facilities  such as a makeshift Air Traffic Control, safety services, rescue vehicles, bird clearance parties  were set up by the IAF, which also supervised the runway section of the expressways construction under technical specifications.

IAF jets had earlier performed test landings or touch-and-go manoeuvres on the Agra segment of the Yamuna expressway and the Saifai village airstrip in UPs Etawah in May last year, but those were either normal airstrips or roads.

Heres what sets this section of the expressway apart The road-runway on the Agra-Lucknow expressway is made specifically for emergency landings for fighter jets in war situations or other emergencies

Only a 3.3-km stretch can double as a runway. Engineering and construction of the road runway part is different from the rest of the expressway

The IAF was in talks for such a runway with the Uttar Pradesh government from May last year. Designers from the IAF had met Uttar Pradesh expressway and Industrial Development Authority officials regarding the specifications for this stretch.

The IAF selected the site for the runway section of the road. It wanted a section of land that was not undulating. While the rest of the expressway will have dividers, the road runway segment will not have any. There will be no flyover or underpass near it.

The IAF had asked the state to acquire more land on the sides of the expressway to install an Air Traffic Control, a taxi-way and a parking areaThe runway section wont have any electricity poles, masts or mobile phone towers near it. Nor will there be any high-rise construction

The IAF bore the cost for the road-runway project

It is the longest greenfield expressway in India, built at a cost of Rs 13,000 crore

Many countries, including China, Pakistan, Sweden, Germany and Singapore, boast of such road runways. These runways gain special importance during hostile situations, especially if airbases are crippled.
Eight-year-old Sejal Yadav was pulled from the wreckage of the derailed Indore-Patna Express and rushed alone to hospital. Hours later she was reunited with her brother -- thanks to WhatsApp.

As survivors were rescued from the mangled carriages of the train that derailed 100km from Kanpur on Sunday, many -- including children -- became separated from their relatives as they were shunted into ambulances and taken to various hospitals in the area.

In the chaotic aftermath of the accident, which claimed at least 146 lives and left hundreds injured, doctors took to WhatsApp -- sharing pictures of their patients with other hospitals in the area via the messaging app.

Read: Kanpur train tragedy: Womans walking stick saves family of seven

We clicked (a photo of) every patient who came to our hospitals on our phone and immediately shared his, her name and identity on the group, AK Srivastava, a senior doctor at one of the local hospitals, said.

This way, if anyone from his family or acquaintances was at the other hospital looking for him, we were able to unite them swiftly, he said, scrolling through pictures of the injured on his phone.

The hospitals around Kanpur have been flooded with dozens of victims, many severely injured and in a state of shock.

Yadav was one of the first children rescued from the accident site. She arrived at a government hospital in the town.

For the initial part, she was in trauma and didnt say much but later she shared her name, a senior doctor at the hospital said.

Read: Clueless about victims, families flock train accident site near Kanpur

Her name and picture was then sent to the WhatsApp group and her name added to the survivor list, allowing her brother to track her down.

She was with her maternal grandfather and two uncles at the time of the accident. All three of them are dead and she doesnt know this, her brother Rahul, 18, said.

Rahul tried to hold back tears as he sat beside his sisters bed in the intensive care unit.

I dont know what we can say or do after this. I hope that she recovers, he said.

Read: Kanpur villagers rescue train accident survivors, some rob them
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the family members of missing student Najeeb Ahmed on Sunday reached out to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for his help against the alleged inaction of the Delhi Police and JNU administration in the matter.

We acquainted him with demands of JusticeforNajeeb and made him acquainted with inactivity of Delhi Police and JNU administration. We also requested him to explore the possibilities of administrative intervention in searching Najeeb, said a statement issued by the JNUSU after the meeting with the UP CM in Lucknow.

Read | Missing JNU students mother: Will take son back forever once he returns

The CM of UP promised us that he will explore the possibilities of administrative intervention by the UP government. Besides this, we also requested him to write to home minister, Prime Minister and the President of India and ask them to act promptly and transparently in this case, it added.

Read | Kejriwal assures family help in tracing missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmad

Among the people meeting the CM were JNUSU president Mohit Pandey, its former vice-president Shehla Rashid, Ahmeds mother Fatima Nafees, and his brother Mujeeb.

Najeeb Ahmed went missing on October 15 from JNUs Mahi-Mandvi hostel where he was assaulted by students affiliated to Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the night of October 14-15.

Apart from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Delhi Police to trace Ahmed, the university had ordered a proctorial inquiry, which in its November 7 report, found one student Vikrant Kumar, an ABVP member, guilty of assaulting Ahmed on the said night, and served him with a show cause notice.

Read | Missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed was emotionally disturbed: Cops
Showing the warmth of his heart, a cold storage owner played a big role in ensuring dignity to the dead after the Indore-Patna express train derailment.

The trader opened his cold storage for the Kanpur Dehat administration to keep the bodies of the victims there after the mortuary was finding it difficult to accommodate all of them.

Atul Agarwal, owner of Sri Anandeshwar Cold Storage at Bara village in Akbarpur, 25km from the site of the derailment at Pukhrayan, took the step after he saw the situation going out of control.

I was closely following the developments in the train crash. But we never knew that the death toll would be so high that it could be difficult for the mortuary to accommodate the bodies, he told HT.

By Sunday evening, the death toll touched 125 and the mortuary had no space for more bodies. It was then that Atul handed over the keys of his cold storage to the Kanpur Dehat district administration so that the bodies could be kept there and prevented from decaying.

Rajeev Upadhyaya, tehsildar from Derapur village who was taking care of the bodies kept in the cold storage, said, It was a kind gesture by Atul Agarwal.

Upadhyaya said nearly 60 bodies were kept in the cold storage since Sunday evening as all other places, including the mortuary, did not have more room.

In fact, preserving such a large numbers of bodies with ice was not feasible. At this difficult hour, Atuls generosity gave us a solution, he added.

Only 13 bodies remain at the cold storage now. A majority of bodies have been dispatched after their identification. Only 13 are left now, he said.

Kanpur Dehat district magistrate Ravi Kant Singh said: I havent seen people so helpful before. People are coming forward to help with all the means (at their disposal).
Barely 100 metres away from the mangled remains of Indore-Patna Express sat Rasoolabad tehsildar Ram Dayal in the middle of the scores of bags kept in an empty field.

Dayal, along with two policemen, had sifted through the luggage and taken the cash and jewellery in their safe custody, to be later given back to their rightful owners. His job included making a list of bags and items before moving them to Reserve Police Lines in Mati Akbarpur, about 20 km from the accident site.

He found a number of mobile phones belonging to the passengers and attended to the calls being made by distressed family members. I tried to console them and give them strength. I asked them to collect their belongings. Such is the tragedy that at times I could not control my emotions and wept with them, Dayal said.

One of the bags at the spot was partially open and from it a wedding invitation card was peeping out. It was the wedding card of Rakesh Soni, who lost his life in the mishap.

Dayal spent 20 hours going through the pile of luggage and found Rs 3 lakh cash in old and new banknotes, 40 rings, 67 bangles, two jewellery sets, 80 watches and 600 bags.

Every time he was approached by the injured looking for their belongings, he would leave his work and join them. Thirty-four people found their luggage at the spot. They had injuries but wanted to go back home, he said.

Bride-to-be Ruby Gupta had been looking for her missing father Ram Prasad. Ram Prasads body was eventually found at a mortuary. Later, Ruby started looking for her belongings and approached Dayal. I handed over her bag to her. The jewellery that her father had bought was intact. Nothing was missing, Dayal recalled.

I will never forget the expressions on the faces of the people. Getting their belongings back lessened their pain to an extent, he added.

He also sent a number of passengers to the police in his vehicle to help them find out their possessions . People from nearby villages also extended help and gave to him whatever they found. I have seen tragedies. I know people take with them whatever they find. But here, they were kind enough to give it to us, Dayal said.
Will Sundays mishap involving the Patna-Indore Express -- Indias worst train tragedy in 6 years -- awaken the state-owned transporter to the urgent need to refocus on passenger safety issues?

Since the NDA government assumed office in 2014, the Indian Railways have been in a transformative mode with aims of increasing capacity and re-designing the business model. Somewhere along the line, routine safety drills have taken a backseat and the 1 lakh-odd vacancies in the safety category have remained, senior ministry sources said. Manoj Sinha, minister of state for railways, said that rail fracture could have caused the accident.

Read | Govt machinery steps in to insulate Kanpur train victims from demonetisation

Rail fractures are micro cracks on rails that develop into major cracks following the passage of a train with heavy load. Such accidents can only happen when Ultra Sonic Fault Detection (USFD) checks of tracks are not routinely done. Operating high or semi-high speeds at the current juncture will be risky, an official said.

NDRF men carry out rescue and relief works after the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Kanpur Dehat. (PTI Photo)

Sanjay Pandhi of the Indian Railways Loco Running Men Organisation (IRLRO) said that rail tracks had deteriorated on account of the business aims of the Indian Railways to run more and heavier trains.

Further, a ministry official admitted that there had been grave deterioration in observing safety drills. Fittings required for annual maintenance work  clasps, rubber pads, etc - have remained in perennial short supply while officials engaged in safety jobs have become most negligent, he said.

Read | I cannot find my father: A bride-to-bes frantic search at train mishap spot

While railways minister Suresh Prabhu has been praised for his initiatives, sections have been critical of his decision to de-link the stores department from the mechanical (rolling stock) department. We now have a situation when the procurement department has no link with the user department (rolling stock). This can impact passenger safety preparedness, said sources.

It is likely that Sundays accident will cause some heads to roll. But the problems run deeper. The required work attitude to prevent accidents is not there, a senior official said.

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An elderly womans walking stick proved to be the saviour for a family of seven from Muzaffarpur in the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Uttar Pradesh.

The family of Manoj Chaurasia had boarded the train at Indore and were travelling to their home in Patna.

Chaurasia said his mothers walking stick saved the lives of his family. He said that all the seven members of his family were trapped in bogey B S1 after the accident.

Trapped inside the damaged bogey, I broke the window pane with the help of my mothers stick and came out after nearly an hour of the mishap, he said.

Maa ki charri ne pure parivar ki jaan bacha li (My mothers walking stick saved life of the entire family), he said.

Walking with the help of the life-saving lucky stick,the elderly mother was in shock and could not speak anything.

The family left for their home after the special train arrived at Patna junction from the accident site at Pukhrayan in rural Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh around 04:05am on Monday.

Meanwhile, Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal is camping at Patna junction to supervise the relief provided to victims and their kins.

The team of doctors present at the station attended to the injured and a few of them were immediately rushed to hospitals in an ambulance parked at the station, the district magistrate told PTI.

The district administration also facilitated those arriving by the special train to go to their homes in Madhubani, Chapra, Muzaffarpur and other places from Patna junction.
The income tax department conducted raids on Monday in Karnatakas Bellary city on the offices of mining baron G Janardhan Reddy, who made headlines earlier this month by throwing a lavish wedding ceremony for his daughter.

The raids are being conducted on the offices of Obulapuram Mining Company and Associated Mining Company, the two companies through which Reddy conducted the iron ore mining business. Reddy is facing charges of corruption over alleged illegal mining of iron ore in the district.

Confirming the development, an official with the I-T department said departmental action is ongoing.

Reddy, part of the powerful Bellary brothers who amassed huge fortunes in mining, attracted criticism for the ostentatious wedding  which was said to have cost in excess of Rs 500 crore.

Attacks on him were especially sharp because the ceremony came at a time the rest of the country was reeling under a cash crunch following a shock scrapping of high-value currency.

At the time, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said it was for the I-T department to take up the issue of the lavish spend despite Reddys property being attached in a corruption case.

Reddy has been out on bail since January 2015 on the direction of the Supreme Court. Reddy was only last month allowed by the top court to visit the district from November 1 to 21 because of his daughters wedding. He was not allowed earlier as it was feared that he would influence witnesses in the ongoing cases.

Also read | Janardhan Reddys spending on daughters wedding is as strategic as extravagant

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West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress boss Mamata Banerjee has drawn her pan-India plan to protest against the Narendra Modi governments demonetisation scheme.

She will sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. Plans are afoot to get other parties join her rally. This is a national issue. Everybody is welcome to join our protest, said Trinamools national spokesperson Derek oBrien.

She will go to Lucknow on 29 November and Patna on December 1.

As the Centres demonetisation move continues to hurt the common man, Banerjee finds an opportunity to emerge as the most vocal critic of the notes ban and raise her national stature.

After knocking on President Pranab Mukherjees door, Banerjee, along with her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, had set a deadline for the government to roll back the move.

She came in for some sharpshooting from Prime Minister Modi on Sunday.

I know who all are protesting against me. The whole country knows who were involved in chit fund. Many people invested but because of the blessings of politicians their money vanished. And they are asking questions to me, the PM said at a rally in Agra.

His remarks were interpreted as a veiled reference to the Rs 2,500-crore Sharada chit fund scam in which several leaders of the states ruling Trinamool Congress got embroiled.

In her riposte, the feisty West Bengal chief minister tweeted: Pradhan Mantriji, you are equating corruption with anyone who opposes your policy. Are you the only magician?

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day on Monday, even as it blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.

The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name cropped up linking terror activities following the Dhaka terror attack on July 1.

Search operations were carried out by the NIA at the IRF offices and premises as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naiks Peace TV.

The NIA also blocked IRF website which was allegedly promoting hate speeches of Naik.

As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken, an NIA spokesperson told PTI.

Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.

If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.

The NIA is still trying to block Naiks Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged objectionable material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials said.

The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naiks sermons.

Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, beside various sections of UAPA.

The NIA had on November 19 carried out searches on 10 premises of the IRF in Mumbai after registering a case against Naik and others under the anti-terror law.

The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises, including IRFs head office.

IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that he had been inspired by Naiks speeches.

Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.
There is no need to invoke higher spiritual incentives in order to justify learning Sanskrit as the language makes a case for itself, vice president Hamid Ansari said on Monday.

He said the transition from an oral to a written form saw the rapid spread of Sanskrit across southern and eastern Asia and added that Thai and other Southeast Asian languages have strong roots in Sanskrit.

Underscoring its importance , Ansari said the corpus of scientific, philosophical, sacral and poetic texts produced in Sanskrit is one of the richest contributions to global textual culture.

Its grammar offers a clear structure as was recognised by Indian grammarians over 2,500 years ago. The script it is written in was designed especially for it and allows us to know with great certainty how it is pronounced, he said.

The vice president was addressing a gathering after giving away the World Sanskrit Award 2015 and 2016, instituted by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), in New Delhi.

He also conferred the awards to Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand and George Cardona, an American linguist and Indologist.

Stressing that Sanskrit is not just an Indian heritage, Ansari said, Within three centuries Sanskrit became the sole medium by which ruling elites expressed their power from as far west as Purusuapura in Gandhara to Panduranga in Champa of central Vietnam and Prambanan on the plains of Java.

Thai and other Southeast Asian languages have strong roots in Sanskrit which reflect their remote past relationship with the language. It also has a deep influence on Thai literature and culture, he said.

Leading institutions like Silpakorn University, Chulalongkorn University have included Sanskrit in their study programmes, he added.

Ansari said since the discovery of the Indo-European language connection in the late 18th century, Sanskrit played an important role in European comparative linguistics and was taught in major European universities and remains academically alive in Europe and increasingly in the United States.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said on Monday that she had no immediate plans to take up a more active role in Uttar Pradesh politics.

She added that she would herself inform people if and when she decided on the issue.

Replying to a question about state party workers wanting her to be given a more prominent role in UP politics, Priyanka said: When I am ready I will let the people know first-hand.

Priyanka was in Allahabad with Sonia Gandhi and her brother, party vice president Rahul Gandhi, to attend the inauguration of a photo exhibition on the life of her grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi).

Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier in her inaugural address, Sonia Gandhi said Indira Gandhi was not just a figure of history for her, but was her mother-in-law and, more so, a mother to her.

We lived under the same roof for around 16 years, shared joys and sorrows. I learnt Indian culture and values from her, besides I also imbibed my earliest political lessons from her, she said.

Referring to her as a person of strong grit and determination, Sonia said Indira on becoming the countrys Prime Minister in 1966, struggled against all odds for 16 years facing political challenges, hurdles in foreign policies etc to take the country ahead on the path of progress.

She was fully devoted to the people and hence received their complete trust. A day before her assassination, she had said that every drop of her blood would invigorate the nation, and it did, Sonia added.

The Congress chief also expressed sorrow over the tragic rail accident in Kanpur on Sunday that claimed over a hundred lives.

Several senior party leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheila Dixit, Saleem Sherwani, Raj Babbar, Rajeev Shukla, Nirmal Khatri, Jatin Prasad, were also present on the occasion.

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In a major setback to self-styled religious guru Asaram Bapu, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to give him relief in connection with two rape cases registered against him.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose will hear the matter next on November 28.

Asaram had earlier knocked the apex courts door seeking bail on health grounds.

Read | Rape case: SC rejects interim bail plea of Asaram Bapu

The Gujarat government told the apex court division bench that the rape case registered against Asaram would very likely proceed in an expeditious manner, adding that the trial would be completed within six months, so the bail should not be granted to him in the case.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month sought the response of the Centre and five states on a plea seeking a CBI probe into the alleged murder of children through black magic and attacks on 10 witnesses in Asaram Bapu rape cases.

Read | SC seeks Centres response on plea for CBI probe into Asaram Babu rape cases
Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner JP Singh to the ministry of foreign affairs and lodged a protest over alleged ceasefire violations by India at the Line of Control that resulted in the death of four civilians, and also over New Delhis refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft.

Singh was conveyed the strong condemnation of the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces on the LoC in Khuiratta sector on November 19, the Foreign Office said.

The violations resulted in the death of four children, including three girls, and injuries to two other civilians, it said.

The deputy high commissioner was told that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was highly deplorable, it said.

India was urged to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding in letter and spirit; to investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations; stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace along the LoC, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

Pakistan also expressed concern over Indian refusal of diplomatic flight clearance to Pakistani aircraft.

This action by the India constituted a violation of the 1991 bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India, it said.

Pakistan has summoned Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale twice in less than a week - on November 10 and 14 - over alleged Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC after the death of seven of its soldiers.

Pakistan has also alleged that Indian forces have been using heavy weaponry such as artillery fire at the LoC.
Pakistan High Commission has issued visas to as many as 81 Hindu pilgrims to visit shrines in Pakistan for the 308th birthday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Saheb.

In line with Pakistans efforts to encourage people-to-people contacts and promote religious tourism, the high commission has issued visas to pilgrims under the 1974 bilateral protocol, said Manzoor Ali Memon, counsellor (Press) in the Pakistan mission.

Taking note of the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries for the historic and sacred shrines in the other, India and Pakistan have agreed on a set of principles for facilitating visits to such shrines.

As per the protocol, such visits from one country to the other shall be allowed without discrimination as to religion or sect and every effort should continue to be made to ensure that places of religious worship mentioned in the agreed list are properly maintained and their sanctity preserved.
With India making a strong attempt at entering the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to spoil its pitch through demands for parity.

India and Pakistan, both non-signatories of the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), have applied for membership to the 48-country club that deals with trade in fissile materials and nuclear technology.

A consultative meeting of the group at Vienna on November 11 failed to make any headway on the issue of accepting new members.

Pakistan has reportedly told many NSG countries that a no-testing pact with India is necessary to strengthen non-proliferation measures in South Asia.

Pakistan claims that such an agreement would promote restraint in South Asia and be consistent with the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, whether its for civilian or military purposes, in all environments.

However, it is yet to come into force.

After the 1998 nuclear test at Pokhran, Pakistan had proposed a simultaneous adherence of CTBT with India  something that New Delhi ignored.

It has been using the idea of the no-test pact as a lobbying tool to bat for a non-discriminatory approach in allowing new members into the NSG.

In August, Pakistan offered to sign a no-testing pact with India on two occasions. However, no formal reaction came from the Indian end. Pakistans nuclear proliferation record is dubious, at best. This is an effort to seek parity with India, said an Indian source.

At present, India is engaging with China  Pakistans all-weather ally  in an attempt to gain NSG membership. Indian officials say its nuclear pact with Japan is a good example of its nuclear non-proliferation credentials. India is only the non-NPT country with which Japan has signed such an agreement.
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
Parliament continues to be disrupted with the Opposition demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present during the debate to answer queries on the governments surprise decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The government maintains it is not for the Opposition to decide who it fields to reply to the debate.

The Opposition has accused the government of unleashing financial emergency as people scramble for cash, queuing up for hours, even overnight, outside banks and ATMs.

Read | Those close to PM Modi will benefit from note ban as the poor suffer: Rahul

While the Prime Minister has stayed away from the proceedings, he has spoken several times on the demonetisation move outside Parliament after making the surprise announcement on November 8.

His first reaction came from Japan. After he announced the shock decision in a televised address to the nation, Modi left for Japan on November 10 for the annual bilateral summit.

Addressing the Indian community in Kobe in central Japan, Modi thanked the people of India for supporting his demonetisation drive despite hardships.

On his return, the Prime Minister attended three public functions on November 13 in Goa, Belgavi in Karnataka and in Pune in Maharashtra, where he made emotional appeals to the people, seeking their support for 50 days to help him eliminate black money and fight graft.

The government has set a December 30 deadline for the exchange of old high-value notes. He also said the demonetisation drive was not the end of his fight against illicit money.

He has even turned to Nobel winner and legendary US musician Bob Dylan to defend the decision. Addressing the Global Citizen Festival  British band Coldplay headlined the event -- in Mumbai through video conference on Saturday, the PM talked about demonetisation. He went on to quote Dylans iconic song The Times They Are A-Changin to claim public support for the second cleanliness drive, a reference to the currency switch.

Read | Cong says Rs 2,000 note illegal, accuses PM Modi of financial anarchy

Again on Sunday, the Prime Minister admitted that people were inconvenienced due to cash crunch but asserted the country would emerge victorious after the trial by fire.

Speaking at a rally in Agra, he attacked West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee for opposing the move, saying those who looted the poor with chit-fund scams were questioning the governments intention.

Its not just demonetisation on which the PM has come under attack from the Opposition. The Congress has parodied Modis poll call of Congress-mukt Bharat (Congress free India) by saying the country was forced to come to terms with a PM-mukt Parliament.

In August, Modi faced criticism for staying away from Parliament as it cleared a bill that set the ball rolling for the countrys biggest tax reform, the goods and services tax.

It was for the first time in independent India that a constitutional amendment bill was discussed, debated and passed without the Prime Minister being present, the Congress said.

The Opposition was also angered by Modis absence from Parliament during discussions on issues such as Kashmir, Dalit atrocities and Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Centre was left red-faced after the Supreme Court overturned its decision to impose Presidents rule in the two states.

Congress leaders allege the Prime Minister is not in the habit of answering questions. He likes addressing rallies and meetings as he doesnt have to answer the crowds but in Parliament, the Opposition will question him, they say.

Read | Demonetisation: Queues get shorter at banks; no respite at ATMs

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Rs 1.15 crore in demonetised currency notes was seized from a man on Monday who was to hand them over to two agents for exchanging those with legal tenders, police said.

We seized Rs 1.15 crore in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 demonetised currency notes from a four-wheeler and detained a person, Satish Kalola, who said the notes belonged to him, said University Police Chowky inspector K K Zala.

The officer said Kalola, who is into transport business, was to hand over the demonetised banknotes to Rajni Pandya and Gautam Pandya, who had promised to exchange those with legal tenders for 30 per cent commission.

Zala said the Income Tax Department has been informed about the seizure and further investigation is on.
The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not following the law in issuing Rs 2,000 banknotes and vowed to raise the matter inside and outside Parliament.

Accusing the PM of plunging the country into financial anarchy, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the introduction of Rs 2,000 denomination notes was an illegal act as the notification required to be issued under the RBI act for printing new currency was not issued, ignoring what is mandatory under the law.

He also hit out at the governments move to put indelible ink on the fingers of those exchanging notes. A united opposition would raise the in Parliament besides making it a subject for a mass movement, the Congress said.

Read | Stranded trucks, unpaid workers: India Inc counts cost of demonetisation

The deputy leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha alleged that the Prime Minister was deflecting attention from key issues and fooling poor masses by masquerading as a crusader against black money under the garb of nationalism and said those supporting the PM and his apologists are illiterate in Constitution and in law.

The Prime Minister is squarely responsible for plunging the country into financial anarchy. There is an undeclared financial emergency without invoking the provisions of article 360 of the Constitution.

The Prime Ministers sensational and theatrical announcement of November 8 on demonetisation had no legal sanctity as the monetary policy is the domain of the Reserve Bank of India, Sharma said.

The introduction of Rs 2,000 currency denomination was an illegal act as no notification was issued under the RBI act, which was mandatory, he said.

Circulation of this illegal new currency of Rs 2,000 denomination contradicts governments move to control black money circulation and is a continued illegality, Sharma told PTI.

The Congress leader accused Modi of making misleading statements and violating the law and the Constitution.

Tearing into the government for its move to ink fingers of people exchanging notes, Sharma said, Even dictators have not done what this government has done.

Only the Nazis branded people. Our citizens and foreign guests are also being branded for withdrawing money. It is a matter of shame and concern. Incredible India has been overnight converted into Indelible India.

Sharma said the replacements of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination were not yet ready and the scarcity had inconvenienced people.

It is inflicting great suffering on the people, especially the poor, the farmers and the total workforce of 33 crore Indians in the unorganised sector and the farm labour, he said.

He accused the Prime Minister of besmirching the image of India as a rule based country.

Opposition parties have come together in Parliament to take on the government on the demonetisation decision and its implementation.

Read | After cash crunch, Rs 2000 notes are new headache
Twelve-year-old Jyoti stares listlessly when her emaciated grandmother, Bhanwari Devi Bareth, 60, talks about her ordeal of raising seven children with a paltry Rs 500 widows pension from the government and some money that she earns by beating a drum in the village.

Jyotis mother  Bhanwaris daughter-in-law  went off to live with another man after tuberculosis claimed her husbands life three years ago.

Nata Pratha, a centuries-old custom in Rajasthan, allows men to live with women they are not married to. Women who follow the regressive practice leave their children behind with their marital families when they go off to another man.

When Jyotis mother left, she and her two siblings, 10 and 8, became Bhanwaris responsibility. The elderly woman was already raising four children of her daughter, Sanjana, whose husband hacked her to death over a domestic dispute in 2012. The man is in jail.

Pale-skinned Bhanwari wasnt aware of government aid for raising children left by women who follow Nata Pratha which is a social scourge for children left behind by their mothers.

On November 5, volunteers of Ladli Samman (Honour to the girl child) campaign visited the old womans mud house in Rajkot village in Deoli block, 160 km from the state capital Jaipur, and told her about the Palanhar Yojna, a social security scheme to provide honorarium to families that raise orphans.

Under the scheme, run by the department of child rights (DCR), the family gets Rs 1,000 every month for a child until he/she is 18 years and an additional Rs 2,000 every year for uniform, clothes and shoes. For children below five, the aid is Rs 500 every month.

The scheme launched in 2007, was for orphans who had lost both their parents or whose parents were in jail for crimes but was expanded in 2010 to include one child left behind by women practising Nata Pratha. In March 2013, the government extended the benefit to up to three children of a Nata Pratha woman.

Ladli Samman volunteers filled up forms for Jyoti and her siblings and helped them enroll for the scheme.

Last week, the DCR transferred Rs 3,000 to Bhanwari Devis bank account. Her daughters four children were also eligible for the scheme and soon Rs 4,000 more will come into Bhanwaris account.

In four blocks of Tonk, where Ladli Samman campaign is running since September 20 for social awareness and identification of eligible and vulnerable families for social protection schemes, there are many such children.

The campaign, which will cover 120 villages in Tonk, Todaraisingh, Deoli and Uniara blocks of Tonk district in 70 days, identifies deprived families and school dropouts, links them with government social security schemes and helps them integrate into the society mainstream.

The campaign ran in Bundi, Kota, Baran and Jhalawar districts in south-eastern Rajasthan in 2014, and linked 859 children to Palanhar Yojna. In 2015, the campaign ran in four blocks of Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Jhalawar and Jaipur and benefitted 2,476 children benefitted from the scheme. This year, with a week of the campaign still left, 790 children have already enrolled in the scheme.

The campaigns convener Vipin Tiwari says they follow up the cases even after the campaign ends. We make sure that these children dont drop out of school for them be remain eligible for the Palanhar scheme, he adds.

Meanwhile, Bhanwari has already said goodbye to the drum and wants to stay home to look after the young ones. A sum of Rs 7,000 a month is more than she could ask for, she says, her wrinkled skin stretching for a spontaneous smile.
Seven Tamil Nadu fishermen were injured on Monday after Sri Lankan naval personnel allegedly attacked them off Dhanushkodi.

The fisheries department officials quoted one of the fishermen as saying they were not in Sri Lankan waters, but in deep sea to ply their trade when they were attacked.

Officials said the fishermen were treated at a private hospital but were afraid to give a complaint to police.

Police said they had not received any complaint.

All the fishermen belong to Pamban near the coastal town.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi kept up his tirade against the Prime Minister on Monday, saying Narendra Modi scrapped high-value currency and unleashed chaos across India to benefit his own people.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said the Prime Minister hadnt consulted anyone, not even his own ministers, before announcing a surprise recall of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes about two months ago.

The 15-20 people close to the Prime Minister will fill their coffers, get their bank loans waived. Our poor folk who stand in line will be harmed, Gandhi told ANI.

Gandhi has been at the forefront of the opposition to the demonetisation move and his party, the Congress, has stalled Parliament for days demanding that the Prime Minister address the House on the issue.

The Opposition says the withdrawal of high-value notes has disproportionately hurt the poor, the farmers and the marginalised. But the government is in no mood to relent, accusing the Congress and other parties of not supporting a drive against the weeding out of illegal cash.

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Wherever I have gone, I have seen people in distress. They say we were standing the queue for hours and the money is being disbursed from backchannels.

Gandhis comments came after he visited a number of ATMs across Delhi early Monday morning, talking to people who had lined up for hours in the hope for cash.

The demonetization drive was aimed at stamping out black money but a bumpy rollout has seen snaking queues outside banks and ATMs.

Read | Cong says Rs 2,000 note illegal, accuses PM Modi of financial anarchy

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Several groups of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres travelled to Pakistan during the 1990s to receive training with the help of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to a new book on the spy agency.

Links between Pakistan and militant groups in Indias northeastern states date back to the 1960s, when the neighbouring country had supplied weapons to Naga militants, author Hein G Kiessling writes in his book Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI of Pakistan.

Kiessling, a historian who forged contacts with Pakistani military and intelligence officials while living in the country between 1989 and 2002, writes there was a temporary halt to weapons supplies after the 1971 war that led to the birth of Bangladesh.

However, ties between Pakistan and militant groups in the northeastern states were never completely broken off and they were revitalised in the 1980s.

In 1990, via the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and United Liberated Front of Asom (ULFA) developed contacts with the ISI In January 1991, with the help of the ISI, several high-ranking ULFA leaders travelled to Pakistan to sign a training agreement for ULFA cadres, he writes.

In 1991, two six-member ULFA groups arrived in Islamabad for training and a third 10-member group followed in 1993.

The ISIs auxiliary support for operations of this kind covered more than just the training courses in Pakistan. Well in advance, new identities and fake passports had to be procured, travel routes determined and the financing of the whole operation had to be secured, the book says.

In this way, the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka became an important ISI station, the hub of its operations in northeast India. In the ISI directorate in Islamabad, they must have been content with the results of the first training courses for ULFA fighters, since they continued through the 1990s and were extended to include other underground groups.

The ISI procured weapons for the northeastern militant groups from countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, from where they were shipped to Bangladesh before being smuggled into India.

In Thailand, after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from the 1980s onwards, light weapons and light machine guns awaited prospective buyers, so new supply opportunities opened up. Thus in 1991 the ISI provided weapons from Thailand to a group of 240 NSCN members, the book says.

Small boats brought the weapons to the Bangladeshi port of Coxs Bazaar, which became the hub for weapon supplies in the region. NSCN and ULFA fighters fetched the weapons from Bangladesh and took them back to their bases.

The book quotes an unnamed prominent Naga militant, imprisoned by Indian authorities, as saying that he received $1.7 million in three instalments from the ISI in the 1990s for weapon purchases. The ISI also received support in arms procurement from their Chinese colleagues, the book adds.

As far back as 1993, ULFA had contacts with the Chinese military. The first weapons supply came from a Chinese ship in 1995, another in 1997 by a land route through Bhutan, the book says.

Kiessling writes there are indications that the ISI is still present and active in northeast India. In August 1999, Assam Police announced the arrest of two ISI officers and two local agents. The officers came from Karachi and Lahore, he writes.

The ISI uses such agents for special missions, constructs sleeper cells, infiltrates local organisations, brings counterfeit money into the region and is responsible for acts of terror. Nor could they pass up the chance to expand their influence over madrasas in northeast India through their network of contacts and confidants, the book adds.

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The incoming Trump administration in the United States will have different priorities, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar said in his keynote speech at a seminar on India and the Great Powers: Continuity and Change at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi on Monday.

He said it would become imperative for India to engage with a multiplicity of actors in a multi-polar world considering that there may uncertainty at the regional level. The Trump administration may lead to a degree of decoupling with Europe and that it is this fluidity that leads to an uncertainty, according to the foreign secretary. There will be change in terms of engagement of the US with the world. What can be safely predicted is that the Trump administration will have different priorities, he said.

Jaishankar, who was in Washington last week to meet US administration officials, said that with Britains exit from the European Union and Trumps election in the US, we need to see if there will be some degree of decoupling, whether there is lesser Western unity.

He also posed the question as to whether the upcoming Trump administration would bilateralise most of the US ties with other parts of the world.

He said that how India positioned itself optimally in its engagement with the US, Europe, China and Russia would be a challenge.

In an evolving global order, India needs to engage with a multiplicity of actors in a multi-polar world, Jaishankar said.

Stating that India was not a beneficiary of the post-1945 world order, he said that forums like BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa) offered New Delhi opportunities to engage with powers like Moscow and Beijing.

As for the involvement of great powers in India-Pakistan relations, he said that the lesson we have learnt is that it has not been helpful.

Regarding Pakistans posturing of using tactical nuclear weapons, he said: We dont speak of tactical nuclear weapons. Somebody else does that.

Former Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, in a TV interview last week, said that the tactical nuclear weapons developed by Pakistan would be devolved to lower ranking officers at the battlefield level, who will be younger officers in an army that is increasingly religiously motivated and less and less professional and that has consistently produced rogue officers and staged coups against its own leaders.

This, according to him, means that the likelihood of such tactical nuclear weapons being used against India has increased. Tactical nuclear weapons are nuclear weapons which are designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations.

In his speech, Jaishankar also talked about regional unity and said that if there was any country that has more interest in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), it was India.

Following the cross-border terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September that claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers, India decided not to participate in the Saarc summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad earlier this month. Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan too followed suit resulting in the meet being called off.

Without mentioning Pakistan, Jaishanker said that the approach of not allowing regional trade and connectivity has to change.

On Chinas One-Belt-One-Road initiative, he said that India was open to be a part of any regional connectivity issue if it was consultative in nature.

He said for India to become a great power, it needed to develop a broader identity.
Amazons latest advertisement showing the friendship between a priest and an imam is trending as a message for religious tolerance and against xenophobia.

Given the recent anti-Semitic attacks and religious intolerance, the online retail company decided to respond by producing its Christmas advertisement promoting inter-faith solidarity.

The advertisement promoting Amazons Prime membership feature, shows two old friends, an imam and a priest, catching up over tea. As the imam leaves, they talk about pain in their knee-caps and difficulties while praying.

Both decide to surprise each other with knee-caps that they ordered via Amazon app and that was delivered using the Prime membership feature.

The 80-second advertisement, produced by London ad agency Joint, ends with the two religious men kneeling and praying to their respective gods.

Amazon has announced that they will launch the campaign in the US, UK and Germany, spreading the message of solidarity and inter-faith friendship.

Some even suggested that it was a strong response to the Trumps 2016 election campaign, which made banning Muslims from entering America a poll issue.

We think it is an authentic and charming story, Simon Morris, director of advertising at Amazon, told The Guardian. We think it is a legitimate story. We are conscious that some people may be sensitive to it. It is about selflessness and thinking of other people.

Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, was proud of his companys advertorial accomplishments as well.

Love this TV commercial for Amazon Prime. Very proud of our ad team. https://t.co/E8ceXs4nte  Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 17, 2016

As the ad hit social media, it quickly warmed hearts across the world.

How beautiful is the Amazon Prime ad? Literally has me in tears  pic.twitter.com/1818EqT4SF  tas (@tasnimakther_) November 16, 2016

Lots of love and respect to Amazon for this beautiful ad #LoveWillPrevail pic.twitter.com/KAs0RMkLmc  Abdullah Baig (@TheYoungMuslim) November 16, 2016

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday dismissed perceptions of the lack of a leader in her party to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying even Indira Gandhi was ridiculed and insulted when she took over as party chief.

Every era in politics or history has its own problems, its own leaders and its own opposition. I think the Congress party is taking on the present dispensation, Sonia Gandhi said in an interview to TV channel India Today.

Asked whether she was troubled by the fact that Modi was being compared with the late Prime Minister as a strong personality, Gandhi said, It does not trouble me because I do not believe in it. I have my own clear views about it. There is no comparison. Absolutely not.

To another question that her party did not have a tough and competitive leader like Modi, she said, I do not agree with that.

Sonia skirted a question on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis elevation, saying, I am not the person to reply on it.

Sonia also asserted that Congress revival was possible. We will come up from 44 seats... to get full majority in Parliament In politics, you lose, and you win.

Talking at length about her mother-in-law, she said Indira never saw herself as Durga after Bangladeshs creation in 1971. She felt proud for the people of East Bengal. We used to hear horrific stories about people there and she felt terrible about it. She would discuss with us. She never saw herself as Ma Durga.

About Emergency, Sonia said if Indira had not felt extremely uncomfortable, she would not have called elections. There were instances when Rajivji (Sonias husband and former PM Rajiv Gandhi) would meet people who would say this is happening, and he would tell his mother. I could see that she heard him and would see her respond.

On her joining politics, Sonia said she felt it was cowardly of her not to do so. At that time, there was nothing else on mind but to uphold the ideals of my mother-in-law, husband and the party.

On dynastic politics, Sonia said, Just like in a family of doctors, professors, businessmen, one or another will choose the path of the father. There is a difference in politics, as you are elected and defeated democratically.

She said she would explain everything in her book, As and if I write at all.

(With inputs from PTI)
Before Indian Air Force fighter jets successfully carried out manoeuvres on the Agra-Lucknow expressway, what caught peoples attention on Monday was the bonhomie the ruling Yadav family displayed at the inaugural of the expressway.

The Samajwadi Partys state president, Shivpal Singh Yadav, and general secretary, Ram Gopal Yadav, were seen together for the first time since a feud broke out in the party in August. The two were present along with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Ram Gopal, who was recently reinstated despite being expelled for six years, was seen in conversation with Mulayam while Shivpal sat next to urban development minister Azam Khan. Ram Gopal had been expelled based on Shivpals allegations of carrying out anti-party activities.

The show of unity comes just a day before the party patriarchs 78th birthday. The feud, which threatened to irreparably split the party, had pitted Akhilesh against his uncle Shivpal and saw supporters on either sides being moved within party and government ranks. Akhilesh had even stripped his uncle of his portfolios, but later returned them all, save for one.

As the fight grew more acrimonious and public, Shivpal was supported by Mulayam, and attended all party functions at which the party president was present.

In pics: IAFs Sukhoi, Mirage jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow Expressway

However, on Monday, when called to speak, Shivpal, congratulated both Mulayam and Akhilesh for completing the dream project in record time; he made no mention of Ram Gopal. The SP general secretary though acknowledged Shivpal as the maninye pradesh adhyaksh (honourable state president) of the Samajwadi Party.

Those who think that they can split the family and are hatching conspiracies to break the party are sadly mistaken. There are no bitter feelings, nor any differences now. The family was and is united as it was before, said Azam Khan. None of the other leaders made any comments or references to the feud.

After the Yadav family drama played out, it was the turn of the Indian Air Force jets to dazzle the crowd.

Six fighter planes touched down at the expressway, which was inaugurated by Mulayam Singh.

This 3.3-km stretch of the 302-km expressway can be used in emergencies when military airfields are not available. Only this particular stretch can double up as a runway because it has been constructed differently from the rest of the expressway.

Thousands of villagers and onlookers took pictures and made videos from their cell phones as the fighter jets came in, skimmed the road and roared off again.

All facilities like makeshift Air Traffic Control, safety services, rescue vehicles, bird clearance parties and other requirements were put in place by the IAF.

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Panic gripped patients as fire broke out at premier state run SSKM hospital in Kolkata. So much so chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself rushed to the spot and announced that fire tenders will be placed round the clock at the hospital. Sixteen fire engines were pressed into action to control the fire. No casualties were reported.

We will probe what caused the fire. Fire fighters and police did a good job to control the fire. We are planning to keep fire tenders at hospitals round the clock inside this hospital and other hospitals of the state. I have asked the police and fire brigade to inspect all the buildings in this hospital, said chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Fire engines, disaster management groups and police have been pressed into action. The fire is under control now, said Mayor Sovon Chatterjee who visited the hospital along with CM.

Heavy smoke was seen at the Ronald Ross building of the hospital around 11.15 am. Fire was located at the 6th floor of the building. Following which panic gripped patients and their relatives who started to run around the hospital premises.

Sixteen fire tenders rushed to the spot along with heavy deployment of police. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself rushed to the spot. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

The state government is mulling setting up a permanent fire stations, if not fire tenders placed at major hospitals in Bengal..

Meanwhile, patients at outdoors as well as those admitted faced trying time.

There are no doctors or nurses. They have all ran out. I have been waiting for a long time. Many patients are being left unattended following the panic, Ajoy Gopal Bhattacharya, (64), an outdoor patient of SSKM.

In West Bengal recently, a number of fire incidents have taken place in hospitals both government run and private. Three persons including a child died in August this year after a fire broke out at a Murshidabad Medical college and hospital.

In 2011 in tragic fire incident 89 people died in AMRI hospital in Kolkata after.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who is currently in Mumbai, will be visiting Colaba today. The Mumbai traffic police have issued parking restrictions at 10 roads in the area to facilitate the VVIP movement. Rivlin is on a six-day tour of India.

Rivlins convoy will be passing through various sites in Colaba, officials said. To ensure its smooth movement, no vehicles will be allowed to park on the 10 selected roads (read below) between 4pm and 11pm today.

In anticipation of huge crowd at and around the site and in order to avoid inconvenience to public at large, the restrictions have been are placed, said SS Burse, deputy commissioner of police (Traffic).

Traffic snarls are expected in south Mumbai due to currently placed restrictions and motorists are advised to plan their travel in advance.

No parking zones

NS Road

Mafatlal junction to Madam Cama Road

Cooperage Road

BEST Road,

P Ramchandani Marg

SBS Road

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg

Adam Street

Mahakavi Bhushan Marg

Boham Behram Marg

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Signal is clear. Will not be aggressive, but will not take it lying down threat to national security, said Defence minister Manohar Parrikar while addressing the audience at the commissioning of INS Chennai in Mumbai on Monday.

Speaking about relations with Pakistan, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visited Pakistan and he does not mind friendly relations with the neighbours.

Being friendly with neighbours always helps, but not at the cost of national security, Parrikar said, adding India was not taking the initiative to fire upon than fired on and the temperature on borders has cooled down. Commenting on the claims by Pakistan that an Indian submarine was blocked in their waters, the defence minister said the Naval PR had already rubbished it as a blatant lie.

Read: Made in India: INS Chennai commissioned

Speaking on other issues, he said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is highly capable and should use it capability so that projects get completed early. On the light combat helicopter, Parrikar said approval has been already given.

Many pending projects will get approval within one year or two, and the backlog will be cleared. I have to also see transparency in the process, he said.

On Chandu Chavan, the Indian soldier who accidentally ventured into Pakistan, Parrikar said that the standard procedure is being followed and that the government has raised the issue. Many a time this has happened, and we have exchanged people, he added.

On the commissioning of INS Chennai, one of the largest destroyers made in India, he said there was a need to focus more on advanced technology and ensure that development and research also happens at the right time. Congratulating the builder, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, Parrikar said the naval growth must keep with nations growth. Commissioning of INS Chennai into the Indian Navy marks the completion of Project 15A.

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Sounding the Chandigarh municipal poll bugle, Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah on Sunday made an appeal to people to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi 15 years, from panchayat to Parliament, to help him herald a change in the country.

Shah, who was addressing booth-level party workers at the Ramlila Ground in Sector 27 ahead of MC elections scheduled on December 18, said: In 1982, I worked as a booth president in Gujarat. Ours is a party where ordinary workers get opportunity. Is there any other party where a person from a humble background rose through the ranks to become the countrys Prime Minister?

Claiming there is a difference between the BJP and other political outfits, Shah said his party believes in following an ideology with a definite aim. Other parties win elections by holding big rallies and putting up advertisements, he said, adding that the BJP wins elections on the basis of work done by its booth-level workers. Reminding the gathering about the BJPs win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shah said it was after 30 years that people of this country voted for any party with full majority.

Lashing out at the Congress, the BJP chief said under its previous regime, the country witnesses scams worth `12-lakh crore involving land, submarine, railways, coal and whatnot.

`12-lakh crore are worth three development budgets of this country. This was the level of those scams, he said, adding that development was halted during that period.

Earlier, Chandigarh BJP chief Sanjay Tandon, too, slammed the Congress over various scams. Referring to former MP and Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal, he said even our former railway minister had to resign because of Railgate.

Tandon claimed what the BJP has done in the past 10 months, the Congress was not able to do in the past 10 years, while assuring the gathering that the city will get additional 29 million gallon daily (MGD) of water within six months.

Member of Parliament (MP) from Chandigarh Kirron Kher, too, listed out the partys achievements in the city in the past two-and-a-half years.

Among others who spoke were BJP national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal, national general secretary and party in-charge for MC elections Saroj Pandey, city mayor Arun Sood and former MP Satya Pal Jain.
Before the state elections, the Punjab Congress leaders are locked in a keen contest over the criteria for ticket distribution. After the proxy war  Rajya Sabha MP Partap Bajwa and Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singhs loyalists had exchanged fire through press statements  Bajwa squared up with Amarinder in the open at the meeting of the 34-member state election committee over tickets to turncoats.

With another former state party chief and Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Dullo providing the covering fire to Bajwa, the former Congress chief who was edged out by Amarinder not very long ago through an open revolt, said the Jaipur resolution of the party, which had decided that new entrants from other parties should not be allotted tickets before a three-year cooling off period, should be adhered to.

Having set the stage for a confrontation through similar statements in the last few weeks, Bajwa said the state election committee has been formed to debate on the criteria for candidate selection and not merely to pass a one-line resolution authorising party president Sonia Gandhi as is the party norm. He said multiple agencies had conducted surveys to judge winnability of candidates and reports should be made open for the panel to make an informed decision.

Dullo, who was at his offensive best, attacked Amarinder saying those he got from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) left the Congress high and dry after winning on the party symbol. They returned to the Akali Dal and forced bypolls on us. Be it Joginderpal Jain (Moga MLA), Arvind Khanna (former Dhuri MLA) or Jeet Mohinder Sidhu. They ate our cream and then ditched us. We cannot allow Congress to become Akali Dal, Dullo said at the meeting.

Sources in the Congress said Amarinders response to both the leaders was meek. The way an emboldened Bajwa took on Amarinder has also set off rumours within the party if he was trying to give Amarinder a taste of his own medicine, that too with the backing of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Bajwa left the meeting midway, though by then their diatribe had toned down.

Partys Hindus MLAs were also assertive in demanding that the party needs to turn back the tide of erosion of its traditional vote bank  urban voters. Senior party MLA Brahm Mohindra said the party needed to take care of urban voters as its traditional votebank had eroded. Sukhbir Badal (SAD president) fielded 11 Hindus in the last elections and all won. Whereas, the tally of Hindu MLAs had fallen to seven in the 2012 state elections from 23 in 2002 polls. It was eight in 2007, he said. Another Hindu MLA Ashwani Sekhri and former Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari too echoed similar views.

Some leaders also opposed last weeks induction of former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur into the party, saying he was interrogated by the enforcement directorate (ED) in the Bhola drug case and the party stands to lose its own credibility in fight against drugs by taking the tainted.

The meeting ended with Amarinder announcing that all 34 members of the committee had been provided dockets with names of all the prospective candidates for each of the 117 assembly constituencies in the state. The committee members, he said, have also been asked to check out the report cards of the ticket seekers in the docket and come out with their suggestions, if any, by 11am on Monday, after which the list, with suggestions, will be sent to the Congress screening committee slated to meet in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Ashok Gehlot on November 23 and 24.

He said winnability and merit will be the key criteria in the selection of candidates and the first list of candidates for polls is expected to be released in December first week. The panel then passed a one-line resolution authorising Sonia to take the final decision.
Eleven Congress workers, including city unit chief Pardeep Chhabra, were injured after the Chandigarh Police resorted to lathicharge and water cannons to disperse them during their demonstration near Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shahs rally venue here on Sunday.

Protesting against the BJP government for demonetisation, which they said has caused hardship to citizens, hundreds of party workers took out a rally from Sector 19 towards the Ramlila Ground, Sector 27, to oppose Shahs visit, but were stopped at the Sector 19/27 roundabout.

Carrying black flags and shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, the protestors tried to jump over the barricades near the rally venue, leading to the police action.

Also read| Amit Shah rolls up sleeves for Chandigarh municipal corporation poll

Several workers were also detained and were taken to the Manimajra police station. Senior party leaders, including Ambika Soni, Asha Kumari, Harish Chaudhary, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Ravneet Bittu, Vijay Inder Singla and Amarjit Lali, reached the police station to meet the injured leaders and workers. Chhabra said the Modi government had failed to bring back the black money from Swiss banks but has harassed the common man, housewives and innocent poor people. He accused the government of creating economic instability, financial chaos and anarchy-like situation in the country.
Teachers recruited under education guarantee scheme (EGS), alternative innovative education (AIE) and as special trainers (STR) on Sunday announced to stage a protest on November 25, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bathinda to lay the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The decision was taken at a meeting held near the district administrative complex, Bathinda on Sunday.

Union leader Gagan Abohar said that since the state government wasnt listening to their demand of regularising their services, they have decided to stage a protest during Modis visit. Meanwhile, another group of teachers also staged a protest near Hanuman Chowk to press their demands.

These teachers were recruited following a protest by the union in February 2014, just before the Lok Sabha elections, during which a 14-month-old girl, Eknoor Kaur Rooth, died after authorities allegedly snatched the protesters quilts despite the biting cold.
Demonetisation has come as a double whammy for drug peddlers in Himachal Pradesh as they are finding it difficult to sell their stock in the absence of higher-value currency.

Earlier, the government had destroyed over 3.5 crore psychoactive plants on more than 30,000 bighas of land during a three-month long campaign, which has caused major loss to the drug cartels operating in the state.

While demonetisation has had an impact on every business, it has certainly dealt a severe blow to narcotics trade. But it is difficult to assess how much trade has been impacted since its all illegal, said Padam Chand, Kullu superintendent of police.

Post demonetisation, the quantity of drugs recovered during seizure has certainly come down, he added.

BJP legislator Maheshwar Singh, who is also the scion of the erstwhile Kullu dynasty, said, Demonetisation has had its impact on the prices of locally produced charas. Peddlers are finding it difficult to sell their stocks as the new currency is limited. I have told the people of Malana village to deposit their savings in the bank.

Malana is an ancient village in Kullu which is famous for its high-quality charas produceMala Creamthat has won the world has his title twice.

Whatever money we have is being deposited in the bank, says Malana Panchyat head Bhagi Ram. He refuses to admit that the savings with the villagers is drug money. Since, the nearest bank from the village is 35 kilometres away, people usually keep money with themselves, he says.

The verdant valleys of Kullu, which are famous for its natural splendour, are also notorious for cannabis cultivation. With more rural populace indulging in drug trade, the economy of the remote region has transformed completely. Kullu and Manali towns have virtually become a harbour for drug peddlers, who are backed by international drug cartels. The villages in its surrounding are becoming new centres for narco-tourism.

Locals cultivate hybrid seeds of marijuana brought by foreigners. The high hybrid varieties are sold under different brands such as skunk, red hair, turbo diesel, early girl, white widow, flower power, morning California, haze skunks, AK-47. Besides the marginal villages of Kullu, the menace has spread to others parts of the state including the Chuhar valley of Mandi district, Tissa in Chamba and Bara Bhangal area of Kangra, where people have abandoned cultivation of other crops.

The cost of cannabis, which is produced locally, is anywhere between Rs 50, 000 andRs 60,000, depending upon quality of the charas extracted from plants.

This year alone, as many as 102 cases were registered under the NDPS act in Kullu district and 9 kg of charas were seized.

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A 52-year-old labourer died because of not getting timely treatment as the private hospitals denied accepting scrapped banknotes on Sunday. The deceased, Balbir Singh, was suffering from heart disease.

The family also alleged that they faced problems in paying for his last rites as the clerics at cremation ground did not accept scrapped currency.

Pawan of New Kuldeep Nagar said his father was suffering from heart disease. They took him to Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for treatment, but the hospital refused to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes. However, he managed to get some money in new banknotes and got them deposited after which the hospital administrated treatment.

I went to bank to exchange currency, but failed due to long queues following which I got my father discharged from the hospital and took him home,said Pawan.

On Sunday, I rushed my father to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital

(DMCH) when he fainted again, but the hospital refused to accept scrapped currency. After repeated requests the doctors gave a prescription, but we failed to buy any medicine after drug stores refused to accept scrapped currency and my father died because of not getting treatment,he added.

Inspector Gurbinder Singh, station house officer at Basti Jodhewal police station, said the police did not get any information about it.
Stressing the need to transform higher education in India, President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday urged educational institutes to provide opportunities to the young population.

Speaking at the Indian School of Business (ISB), SAS Nagar, the President said all efforts should be made to ensure the demographic dividend being witnesses by India does not convert into a demographic disaster.

Demographic dividend refers to a period when fall in fertility rates accompanied by an extension in life expectancy increases the proportion of working-age population, spurring economic growth.

India is going to be the nation of youngsters. By 2030, India will have the largest young generation... of people below the age of 25. It can prove to be an asset and generate wealth for the country, provided they are trained, educated and skilled, and they become competitive in the job market all over the world, said the President, while addressing the faculty and students on the ISBs 15th anniversary celebrations.

If we fail to do so, the consequences will not be good, and we will face a demographic disaster. Unemployed, without anything to do, those restless minds will naturally resort to violence... They all can innovate, provided they are provided a conducive atmosphere, said Mukherjee.

The President, however, expressed concern over the mushrooming of substandard institutes, which are not providing quality education.

There are 753 universities and 36,000 colleges in the country. The quality of most of these institutes is not up to the standards. I am talking from the point of view of competitiveness in global job market.

The President urged the youth to take risks and become job-givers instead of just being job-seekers. Be risk-taking entrepreneurs. Your intellect will help you find solutions to problems. Do not be afraid of taking challenges. You are not carrying any baggage. You have a free mind, said Mukherjee, addressing the students.

Innovate and be original: Javadekar

Union human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar, who was accompanying the President, told the students to strive towards quality, innovate and create.

Google Ma and Wikipedia... moh hai, inse bachna hai, he said, while motivating students to come up with original ideas, instead of just depending on readily available information on the internet.

The ISB is the only institute that has recognition without being recognised (affiliation to a government body). You have earned the recognition, said the Union minister, while talking about the new education policy, which plans to give greater autonomy to universities.
In continuance of the ongoing blame-game over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case, Punjab revenue and public relation minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Sunday asked Punjab Pradesh Congress committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh to check historical facts on the issue before blaming chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal.

Majithia was touring his constituency to lay foundation stones of various developmental projects. Interacting with the media, he said, The clarification being given by the former Punjab CM on his participation in the ground-breaking ceremony of the SYL canal in 1982 is futile, because we all know the reality which is now a part of history.

Majithia claimed that captain is nervous because of the popular response that SAD-BJP government has received for its historical decisions taken in the interest of Punjab to ensure its development.

In his nervousness, Amarinder is making such statements against the chief minister, he added.

All those who deceived the state and played role of a traitor have been exposed and lost their popularity too. SAD has fulfilled its responsibility by returning the land acquired for the SYL canal to the farmers, said Majithia.

The revenue minister also said that by claiming royalty on river-water which is supplied to neighbouring states, SAD has taken a historic decision which has forced Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to think over their political future in the state.

Replying to a query, the minister said, Kejriwals silence over the SYL issue is enough to expose his approach on Punjab. People like him have no concern for the state.
Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Sunday appreciated the commitment of state revenue officials in implementing the cabinet to return the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal land to its original owners. Majithia said Punjabis owed a debt of gratitude to the revenue officials of Mohali, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahab and Rupnagar districts for the commitment.

Also read | AAP, Congress are playing with interests of Punjabis, says Majithia

As of today all land acquired for construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal that was denotified has been transferred in the name of the original owners free of cost through mutations, he said.

Majithia said 4,261 acres of land in 202 villages in the four districts had been given to 21,511 farmers.
The police arrested an army jawan, along with a dismissed soldier, on Monday for looting Rs 7 lakh in scrapped currency from a hosiery owner.

The police recovered Rs 6.30 lakh from the possession of the accused, besides an air gun and scooter used in the crime committed on Saturday.

The accused told the police that they planned to exchange the scrapped currency with new notes after depositing it in their saving accounts.

The accused were identified as jawan Ramesh Kumar and Vikas Kumar, a dismissed jawan, both residents of Hisar district in Haryana. Vikas was dismissed from the army for being absent from duty without information. Their third accomplice, said to be a cop, was yet to be arrested.

The accused were produced in a local court and were remanded in police custody for two days.

SHO Beant Juneja of Division-5 police station said the accused stopped hosiery owner Manpreet Singh of New Shivaji Nagar, who was going to Model Gram to deposit Rs 7 lakh in a bank on Saturday afternoon near Government Senior Secondary School, Jagraon bridge, and robbed him at gun point.

The victim also alleged that a cop in a Swift car also reached the spot and threatened him. As the accused left the place, he immediately informed the police.

The SHO said the police would inform the income tax department for relevant investigations.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP-west) Surinder Lamba said the police arrested the accused when they were planning to commit another crime. He said the police were questioning the accused about the cop involved in the crime.
Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that although there was a favourable government in the country, the Sangh workers should not become complacent and work with larger force to achieve their aim of unifying the world. We cannot leave things to the government, he said.

We have experimented it in the past. If we want to fulfil our aim, we will have to strive and not leave the work to a regime, ideology or great men, he said. You cannot outsource your work, he told Sangh workers.

Speaking at DAV School grounds, he said Indias diversity ought to be respected and celebrated. Without alluding to any religion or community, he said the entire human force had one ancestor and later branched out into different races. There is no need of uniformity, rather we should respect the diversity, he said.

He said that no other outfit in the world had to face such a long and bitter opposition as the Sangh faced in its own country, but now it has found acceptance and draws respect worldwide. The RSS has made big strides and its workers are more confident than they ever were, he claimed.
Diverting countrys attention towards limited water resources, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said India needed to learn a lot from Israel, particularly in the field of agriculture about optimum use of resources.

Addressing the inaugural session of Agro Techa four-day fair with focus on agriculture and allied sectors, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industriesthe President said Israel managed to yield more harvest per drop of water, and has optimised its agricultural productions.

The nation (Israel) has turned its disadvantages into advantages; it is water and food surplus country now. Its water management is the best...agriculture and allied sectors are driven by innovation and technology, said Mukherjee.

Praising Punjab and Haryana for making country food-sufficient and calling the two states mother of green revolution, the President said as the country was looking for a second agricultural revolution, the two states will inspire.

During his address, he reminded that immediately after independence, Indias population was 350 million and food grain production was 50 million tonne.

The country was dependent on imports then. The farmers of two states worked hard to say goodbye to ship to kitchen phenomenon. We have become food sufficient because of the spirit of farmers of this region and the hard work of researchers, said the President.

According to Mukherjee, India had a long association with Israel and it was one of the biggest defence equipment suppliers to India.

Governors of Punjab and Haryana, VP Singh Badnore and Kaptan Singh Solanki, respectively, president CII Naushad Forbes and director general CII Chandrajit Banerjee were also present on the occasion.

MSP no solution to increase farmers income: Minister

Union minister for agriculture Radha Mohan Singh on Sunday said increasing minimum support price (MSP) on crops was no solution to push up farmers income. The challenge is to increase the production, he said.

Touching the issue of paddy stubble, he asked the farmers to desist from the practice and use machinery to manage crop residue. According to the minister, the Centre was giving 40% subsidy on tools and implements to manage stubble.

Referring to tug-of-war between Punjab and Haryana over river water-sharing, the minister said his government was giving funds for completion and rejuvenation of Kandi canal, Kotla and Patiala feeders in Punjab.He said the Centre was giving special focus on making the country self sufficient in pulses.
Actor and ex Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested on November 19 for reportedly sending obscene pictures and messages to hairstylist Aishwarya Chaubey. He was later released on a bail of Rs10,000 by a Borivali court. According to the case registered at the Malvani police station on November 15, Ajaz had sent objectionable photos to her on WhatsApp.

Ajaz denies that he was arrested for sending obscene pictures and objectionable messages. This is harassment. She has done this earlier with Salman Khan as well. But she didnt get attention as it was Salman bhai, he says.

Aishwarya told Hindustan Times in June that she met Ajaz, who was seen in the seventh season of Bigg Boss, in April this year.

I know Ajaz is not a star but neither am I a big name. When I came to Mumbai, a friend told me that he (Ajaz) is a good person and advised me to stay in touch as he could suggest some work for me. I would have never stayed in touch had I not thought we were friends, she had said.

She alleged that things took a different turn soon after their first meeting and she received vulgar pictures just 10-15 days later.

Screenshots of Aishwaryas conversations with Ajaz that she released in June this year.

Ask him about the lewd photos that he allegedly sent to her and Ajaz says, If I was wrong, I wouldnt have got bail. I submitted my phone as proof, but she didnt submit hers as it had a morphed photo. My lawyer had kept the paperwork ready. I gave proof of my innocence. I got bail instantly.

Ajaz claims he was friendly with her and they would chat normally. What shes claiming is not true. Women misuse their power to make complaints against men of such (sexual) nature. Once a girl makes a complaint against a man, he has to prove his innocence.

Aziz is also unhappy that the media didnt check the facts with him. The media should have called me, but no one bothered. They put out breaking news saying that I was arrested. I was not arrested. I havent done anything, so why will I hide? I would like to sue her for defamation. I also dont want to give her so much importance or make her famous.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Bigg Boss contestants make news long after theyre out of the reality show. TV actor Ajaz Khan, who got noticed in the seventh season of the show with his catch-phrase Ek number, was reportedly arrested on Saturday for sending obscene pictures and messages to a hairstylist. He was later released on a bail of Rs 10,000 by a Borivli court.

According to the case registered at Mumbais Malvani police station on November 15, Ajaz sent objectionable photos to the 36-year-old woman on WhatsApp. She was looking for an investor for her business, and Khan allegedly showed interest in the business idea.

A report in Deccan Chronicle suggests that Ajaz and the woman became friends on Facebook last month. In her allegation, she said that they met at Filmistan studio to discuss the project. Though nothing came out of it, she alleged that when she praised Ajazs display picture to strike a conversation about his investment plans, the actor started sending photos of his private parts.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday sought to calm business nerves over Britains impending exit from the European Union by hinting at a possible transitional Brexit deal.

Speaking at a Confederation of British Industry CBI conference, May tried to reassure delegates that her government would avoid uncertainties after Article 50 is invoked to trigger the formal two-year period for negotiations with the 28-member economic bloc.

People dont want a cliff-edge; they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go. That will be part of the work that we do in terms of the negotiation that we are undertaking with the European Union, she said.

Obviously, as we look at the negotiation we want to get the arrangement that is going to work best for the UK and the arrangement that is going to work best for business in the UK. And Im conscious that there will be issues that will need to be looked at, she added.

Several business lobby groups in the UK have been pushing for an interim deal to let them trade in the same way post-Brexit.

Asked later to clarify Mays comment, her official Downing Street spokesperson said: She was reflecting the views we have expressed already about how we secure the best deal for the UK and how we seek to provide certainty where we can to businesses and people across the UK of the steps moving forward.

There are a whole range of issues that are being worked through as we prepare for the negotiations.

The two-year negotiation period after Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered will be focused on the task of leaving the EU, with new trade arrangements unlikely to have been put in place.

There is a fear that with UKs official exit from the 28-member economic bloc complete, UK businesses will be faced with unfavourable WTO terms.

The hope is that ministers will either extend the period before Britain officially exits, which would need the agreement of all the other 27 member states, or that a temporary deal will be agreed. PTI AK ABH
While Canada has been the largest source country for the import of the humble dal into India, there may be much on the plate for consumers with a taste for the staple over the winter and that too at palatable prices.

Prices of these items peaked in April, but the industry in Canada anticipates a softening. Carl Potts, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, said: We are seeing prices coming down, lowering a bit. What will happen into the new year remains to be seen.

Canada, surprisingly enough, puts a lot of dal on Indian plates. And within this North American nation, Saskatchewan province is the major production base. In 2015-2016, India imported dal worth $1.519 billion from Canada. India brought in 20% of its total requirement for this commodity and Canada accounted for about 43% of the imports. In the same period, more than 60% of pea imports and 90% of lentil imports were from Canada.

They didnt come cheap. Potts pointed out that prices of pulses in India had risen sharply over the last couple of years, in large part due to weaker than average monsoons and reduced output in the country, creating a larger than normal need for imports. Canada upped its production and export, as farmers increased planted area for lentils by more than 45% in 2016, after a rise of more than 25% the year before.

Read more: Modi govt hasnt got the pulses math right. Five reasons why

But the high prices commanded earlier in the year have eased. Imports of Canadian pulses have helped to ensure a steady supply of staple foods during a time when Indias production was reduced, Potts said.

With the 2016 Indian crop rebounding significantly from the drought-reduced output in the past couple of years, prices in India and Canada have softened from the highs in 2015 and early 2016.

However, due to strong and growing demand, we expect strong pulse imports from India again this year, although lower than in the last year, Potts said.

The Canadian publication Financial Post quoted a market analyst as saying that prices of top quality laird lentils, for instance, had tumbled 34% in Saskatchewan last month.

This trend could make Indian meals that much more affordable as the chill sets in.

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French anti-terrorism police have arrested seven people in Strasbourg and Marseille and thwarted what the interior minister called a new potential attack.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, announcing the arrests Monday, said six of the suspects arrested hadnt been known to intelligence services. Cazeneuve said that Sundays arrests prevented a terrorist act that had been envisaged for a long time.

Cazeneuve didnt identify the target of the planned attack.

The arrests came five days before the opening of the famed Christmas market in Strasbourg, which attracts tourists from across Europe and was the target of a failed extremist plot in 2000.

Cazeneuve said 43 people have been arrested in November alone as part of anti-terror operations following deadly Islamic State attacks on France over the past two years.
Green Day led a furious chant against President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday at the American Music Awards, where Ariana Grande proved her superstar status by taking the top prize.

On a stage full of pyrotechnics, Green Day turned the punk rockers recent song Bang Bang into an anti-Trump anthem at the awards ceremony broadcast live on US television.

No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA! Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shouted repeatedly, to smiles from the star-studded audience in Los Angeles and quick commentary on social media.

No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA! Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shouted repeatedly, to smiles from the star-studded audience in Los Angeles and quick commentary on social media. (AFP)

Green Day, who led a revival of punk rock in the early 1990s, repeatedly denounced Trump during the election campaign in which the Republican ran on staunch criticism of immigrants.

Well before the election, Trump wrote on Twitter in 2010 that he saw Green Days Broadway musical American Idiot with his wife Melania and found it excellent.

The American Music Awards are based on voting by fans, unlike the more prestigious Grammys, which will take place on February 12 and are determined by a poll of music industry figures.

Ariana Grande, the former child actress who has become one of pop musics leading stars with the success of her latest album Dangerous Woman, won the top award of Artist of the Year.

The 23-year-old teamed up with rapper Nicki Minaj for the steamiest moment of the evening.

They performed their collaboration Side to Side on a jungle-themed stage as topless male dancers rubbed against them, with Minaj opening her own legs and sliding a finger in between.

Chart-topping rapper Drake was up for a record 13 awards on Sunday. He wound up winning four, dominating the rap categories.

Sting, presented with a lifetime achievement award, performed a medley from Police classics Message in a Bottle and Every Breath You Take to a song off his new album.

The Englishman in New York made what may have been a veiled reference to the political climate as he described rock n roll as perhaps Americas greatest and most influential export.

Rock music has been always open to all colors in the spirit of welcome and inclusion, Sting said.

A mixing of culture, of rhythm and passion is what made this country the greatest country in the world.

John Legend and Lady Gaga, two US artists outspoken in the denunciations of Trump, steered clear of politics as they performed new singles.

But award co-hosts Jay Pharoah -- a comedian from Saturday Night Live, the television comedy show that has upset Trump -- and model Gigi Hadid made multiple cracks on the president-elect.

Pharoah said Trump must have enjoyed performer Bruno Mars, the Hawaiian-born star whose heritage includes Puerto Rican and Filipino roots.

I love Bruno Mars. I dont know what color he is, so I cant deport him, Pharoah said, imitating Trumps booming voice.

Musicians Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tre Cool of Green Day attends the 2016 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

One of the most heartfelt speeches came from Selena Gomez, who won Favorite Female Artist.

Her appearance marked her public return after halting her tour in August, saying she needed to care for depression and anxiety that were side effects of lupus.

I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside, Gomez said as she fought back tears.

I dont want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see whats in here, she said with her hand on her heart.

Princes sister Tyka Nelson also became emotional as she accepted the soundtrack award for the pop icons landmark 1984 album Purple Rain -- which was again eligible as it returned to the charts following his death in April.

Prince defied the odds. A black teen from Minneapolis with a goal to electrify the world, he had the courage to be different, she said.

Best New Artist went to Zayn Malik, whose former group One Direction won Artist of the Year for the last two years -- and whose onetime bandmate Niall Horan performed separately.

Wow, this one just has my name on it, right? Malik quipped as he inspected the award.
Indian army chief Gen Dalbir Singh will hold talks with Chinas military leadership during his four-day visit, which began on Monday, in a bid to convey the message that lines of communications remained open despite differences between the two countries.

Singh will visit the PLAs eastern theatre command in Nanjing and hold talks with senior officers, including one of the vice-chairpersons of Chinas powerful Central Military Commission (CMC).

The trip is not expected to result in any major upswing in military ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

However, the visit, which will follow standard protocol laid down for a visiting army chief, has been drawn up to convey a positive message  despite differences between the two countries on multiple issues, lines of communications were open at the top.

On Monday, Singh called on Gen Xu Qiliang, vice-chairperson of the CMC. During the call on, both of them reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful, said a statement from the Indian embassy.

Earlier in the day, Singh met the PLA Army Commander, Gen Li Zuocheng, and held talks of mutual interest.

A number of issues, including incursions by PLA personnel along the disputed border and Chinas  including possibly its militarys  close involvement in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor running through PoK are likely to have figured in these meetings.

Read | Indian, Chinese troops in standoff at Ladakh over canal construction

Singh, who is heading a delegation of senior officers, is the highest ranking Indian military official to travel to China on a goodwill visit after reforms of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) were initiated by President Xi Jinping earlier this year.

The changes saw the restructuring of seven former military region commands into five new battle zone commands for the north, south, east, west and central regions.

Singh will visit the prestigious Army Command College and tour the headquarters of the eastern theatre command in Nanjing and interact with its commander, Gen Liu Yuejun. He will also visit key military installations in Xian

Military ties have been tenuous at the best of times, especially against the backdrop of the border dispute and a lack of mutual trust in political relations. The Chinese militarys strong ties with its Pakistani counterpart have not helped either.

Smooth communication between officers of the two armies is key to resolving flare-ups along the border, especially because the frontier is not formally mapped at many places.

Read | Army chief visits Northern, Western Command post surgical strikes

The visit aims at engaging China on subjects of mutual concern and shared interest, which include terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping training, an earlier statement from the Indian embassy had said.

The visit also coincides with a joint military exercise (Exercise Hand-in-Hand), between the two armies which is underway in Pune and will be followed by a visit of General Zhao Zongqi, Commander, Western Theatre Command of PLA, in the second week of December 2016, it said.

The statement added that Singhs visit is an opportunity to re-engage PLA in field of defence cooperation and build upon existing mutual cooperation and trust between the two nations.

Gen Bikram Singh was the last Indian Army chief to visit China in 2014. His trip came nine years after a visit by Gen NC Vij in 2005. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had visited China in April.

It was only in 2013 that a bilateral military exercise, an anti-terrorism engagement called Hand-in-Hand, was revived years after it was suspended because of differences over the border issue.
Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighbourhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians.

The biggest hindrance to us is the civilians, whose presence is slowing us down, Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the special forces told The Associated Press. We are soldiers who are not trained to carry out humanitarian tasks.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighbourhoods on Sunday. They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than 1 million people.

Also read | Iraqi forces attack Islamic State in east Mosul neighbourhood

The government sent half-dozen trucks loaded with food aid into the recently liberated areas. Chaos broke out in one neighbourhood, where residents climbed on top of the trucks and began helping themselves. Women extended their hands in desperation, trying to get a share of the aid. Young boys chased the trucks and jostled and pleaded for food packages.

Its hunger that makes people behave like this, said Mohammed Farouq, a 27-year-old resident. Some families took many boxes, while others did not take any. This is unfair.

Fethi Mahmud Abdulla, another resident, pleaded for people to keep the lines. People are tired, so tired. Some of them take aid five or seven times, he said.

Al-Aridi said his men were searching homes in areas retaken from IS, looking for militants and vehicles rigged with explosives. Troops in those areas continue to be hit by mortar rounds, sniper fire and suicide bombers, he said.

In the newly liberated areas, roads are blocked by car wrecks and sandbags, and tanks are deployed on wider streets. Snipers on high buildings watch for suicide bombers or other intruders. Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said four civilians were killed and another four wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded before it could reach the troops it was targeting late Saturday.

The troops laid siege Sunday to the Al-Zohour neighborhood, about eight kilometers (five miles) from the city center. The arrival of the troops at the neighbourhood's fringes prompted hundreds of civilians to emerge from their homes waving white flags. The special forces later drove IS from two other neighbourhoods.

The Iraqi military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and the extremist groups last major urban bastion in the country. Most gains have been made by the special forces operating in the section of Mosul east of the Tigris river. Other forces are advancing on the city from different directions, and the U.S.-led coalition is providing airstrikes and other support.

Also read | Iraqi troops face stiff resistance from Islamic State in eastern Mosul

IS captured Mosul in the summer of 2014 as part of a blitz that placed nearly a third of Iraq under their control. Iraqi troops, federal police and allied Shiite and Sunni militias have over the past year pushed IS militants from most of the vast Sunni province of Anbar, west of Baghdad, and areas to the north and east of the Iraqi capital.

Army troops arrived on the outskirts of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, to reinforce state-sanctioned Shiite militias, who have captured the towns airport and are preparing to retake the town, according to two senior militia officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Prior to its capture by IS, Shiites constituted the majority of Tal Afars estimated 200,000 residents.

Human Rights Watch said in a report Sunday that Sunni militiamen fighting alongside the Iraqi military detained and beat 22 men from villages near Mosul and recruited 10 children from displaced camps in the area to join the fight against IS.

The Iraqi authorities should investigate any alleged acts of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment in custody and charge those responsible for war crimes, including anyone with command responsibility who should have known about the crimes and failed to take all reasonable measures to prevent them, said the New York-based advocacy group.

The U.S. should press the Iraqi government to ensure that the troops they are supporting dont have fighters under 18 in their ranks, said Lama Fakih, HRWs deputy Middle East director.

In Baghdad, four separate bomb attacks targeted commercial areas on Sunday, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding 34, according to police and health officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Baghdad has for more than a decade been the scene of near daily bomb attacks blamed on IS and other Sunni militants. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for any of Sundays attacks.

Read more | We were driven like sheep: Mosul escapees tell of human shield ordeal
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday that chaos in Syria could persist for quite some time and that Russian and Iranian support for President Bashar al-Assads air campaign had emboldened the Syrian leaders crackdown on rebels.

I am not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria, Obama said at a news conference in Lima at the conclusion of a summit with leaders of Pacific Rim countries.

Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back Assad and a brutal air campaign and essentially a pacification of Aleppo regardless of civilian casualties, children being killed or wounded, schools or hospitals being destroyed, then it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time, he said.

Obama, a Democrat who will be succeeded on Jan. 20 by Republican President-elect Donald Trump, said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima that he was deeply concerned about the bloodshed in Syria and that a ceasefire was needed.

At this stage, were going to need a change in how all parties think about this in order for us to end the situation there, Obama said, adding: Theres no doubt that there will continue to be extremist forces in and around Syria because its still going to be in chaos for quite some time.

Under Obama, the military aid program overseen by the CIA has given arms and training to moderate rebels in coordination with countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan.

Trump has signaled opposition to U.S. support for the rebels, saying he wants to focus on fighting Islamic State. He has said he might even cooperate on fighting the militant group with Russia, Assads most powerful ally, which has been bombing the rebels for over a year in western Syria.

Obamas trip to Peru was the last stop on an international farewell tour that included visits to Greece and Germany and was often overshadowed by questions about Trumps election.

Obama said he had wrestled with the question of U.S. involvement in Syria for five years.

He said he concluded the United States did not have a legal basis for military involvement in Syria and that doing so would have been a strategic mistake given the effort to stabilize Afghanistan and Iraq and the need to fight Islamic State.
One policeman was shot dead and three others shot and wounded in four US cities on Sunday, coinciding with an epidemic of racially-tinged gun violence involving law enforcement.

Police were shot in San Antonio, Texas, Sanibel, Florida, and in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and Gladstone, local police departments said.

There was no known connection between the shootings.

In San Antonio, authorities were hunting for a suspect who fatally shot 20-year service veteran Detective Benjamin Marconi twice in the head after being pulled over in traffic in front of police department headquarters.

Police, who are receiving support from federal and state law enforcement, offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, describing the unnamed suspect as a black male wearing a hoodie and baggie pants.

A police officer in Sanibel, on the picturesque island of the same name off the Florida coast, was shot and wounded during a routine traffic stop, officials said.

The suspect, who has been arrested, drove by and shot the officer after he had stopped another driver, Sanibel Police Chief Bill Tomlinson was quoted as saying.

In St. Louis, a suspect shot a police sergeant through his rolled up window as he sat in a marked police car in slow traffic.

It was not a traffic stop. The officer was not trying to detain that person. That individual pulled up next to the officer and started shooting at him, Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters.

Dotson said the suspect, a black man believed to have been responsible for a series of crimes in recent days in the area, including robberies and possibly a carjacking and a homicide, was later shot dead by police after he exchanged fire with other officers.

In western Missouri, another police officer was shot in Gladstone but was expected to live, the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police said on Twitter. The condition of the suspect was unknown.

Sundays shootings occurred less than five months after a gunman killed five police officers in Dallas, Texas who were monitoring a protest against high-profile police shootings of black men.

Just 10 days after the Dallas attack, a man ambushed and killed three law enforcement officers and wounded as many others in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

And two officers from the Des Moines, Iowa area were shot and killed early this month in a pair of similar attacks while they sat in their patrol cars.
Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Monday began his farewell visits to military units ahead of the end of his tenure on November 29 even as the defence minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would select the next chief.

The development squelched speculation that Gen Sharif could be given an extension in the face of heightened tensions with India and differences between the civil and military leadership over issues such as countering terrorism.

The army chief will send a list of the senior-most generals to Prime Minister Sharif for selecting the next army chief, defence minister Khawaja Asif said. The prime minister will decide on a name after first consulting the chief of army staff, colleagues and cabinet members, Asif was quoted as saying by Geo News.

Gen Raheel Sharif had several successes during his tenure. No other army in the world has achieved such success against terrorism. I think that Gen Raheel Sharif is leaving a legacy which he and the armed forces can be proud of, Asif said.

As far back as January, Gen Sharif had made it clear he would not seek an extension. However, recent differences between the civil and military leadership had sparked speculation that he would be given an extension.

Gen Sharif started his farewell visits to army units from Lahore, the militarys media arm said in a statement. He addressed a large gathering of soldiers at Lahore Garrison and said the accomplishment of peace and stability was no ordinary task.

#COAS kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lhr today.Meets,addresses,thanks huge gathering of soldiers of Army&Rangers at Garrison-1  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 21, 2016

Accomplishment of peace&stability no ordinary task.Our sacrifices&joint national resolve helped us in off setting all odds against country-2 pic.twitter.com/yYak27TU98  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 21, 2016

Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the armys campaign against militant groups, had resulted in a more secure and stable Pakistan with a sense of greater hope and direction the army chief said.

It was our sacrifices and joint national resolve that helped us in offsetting all odds against our country. We are fully prepared to respond to any challenge and no one could dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan, he said.

The tensions between the civil and military leadership could still play a role in the choice of the next army chief, with the race having narrowed down to four generals.

The four generals whose names are doing the rounds for the most powerful position in Pakistan are Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday, commander of Bahawalpur-based XXXI Corps, Lt Gen Zubair Hayat, Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad, commander of the Multan-based II Corps, and Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who heads the armys training and evaluation wing.
Pakistan on Monday apprised China about the grave humanitarian situation in Kashmir and hoped the global community will play its role in calling on India to put an end to the blatant rights violations in the valley.

The issue was discussed between foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and chinese assistant foreign minister Kong Xuanyou, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.

During the bilateral meeting, the $ 46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional and global issues of mutual concern were discussed, the foreign office said.

Chaudhry apprised Kong of the grave humanitarian situation in Kashmir. He expressed the hope that the international community would play its role in calling on India to put an end to blatant human rights violations in the valley, it said.

The two sides agreed to remain engaged and strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Chaudhry also briefed Kong on the latest situation in Afghanistan. He underscored the imperatives of reaching a sustainable and lasting peace in Afghanistan through reconciliation and dialogue, it said.

The two sides agreed that the international community should remain engaged with Afghanistan, especially through the Quadrilateral Consultative Group (QCG) in support of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political reconciliation.

Kong briefed Chaudhry noted that timely completion of CPECs early-harvest projects would significantly uplift of the region and improve regional connectivity.

The Chinese official also called on Pakistan Prime Ministers adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz.

Aziz underscored the importance that Pakistan attaches to its ties with China and called for regular high-level exchanges.

Kong thanked Pakistan for its consistent and strong support on issues of vital interest to China. He also reaffirmed Chinas continued support to Pakistans sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Acknowledging the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in fighting terrorism and extremism, he assured Chinas full support against these menaces.
The rise of nationalism in rich countries poses a worrying challenge to the tide of migrants fleeing wars, the U.N. refugee chief said on Sunday, urging international cooperation to manage the flows pragmatically rather than building walls.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he was talking to northern countries about how to rebuild respect for the principle of asylum, put under pressure by politicians misleading portrayal of refugees as a threat.

Asked how concerned he was about the apparent collision between increased refugee flows and growing populism and nationalism in the West, he told Reuters in an interview:

I am very worried because I think that collision somehow has already happened. You have rich countries that are becoming inward-looking.

Weve seen it in the United States and Europe, and we have seen also unfortunately some exploitation of these fears or this malaise, and linking it to the presence of foreigners. I think this is misleading in a way. Refugees flee because they are afraid.

Last year, vast flows of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa stretched authorities around Europe as they struggled to deal with Europes largest migrant flows since World War Two.

Over the summer months, many migrants attempted the sea crossing from North Africa to countries such as Italy, with hundreds drowning during the perilous journey.

Rising populism

The migration crisis has fuelled support for anti-immigration and anti-EU populists in many countries.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to build a wall along the Mexican border, deport millions of undocumented immigrants and ban immigration from countries that have been compromised by terrorism.

Grandi said people would find a way to move whatever obstacles they faced: Rather than building walls we should address in the proper manner these movements and manage them in a principled and pragmatic way so we can diminish the tensions.

Global movements by definition cannot be handled by countries individually -- which is what these (nationalist) trends are pointing to -- so its much better to cooperate internationally.

Asked if helping the refugees was a vote-losing strategy in the West, Grandi replied: Unfortunately. But its something that politicians have brought upon themselves.

Instead of explaining to people that refugees need help, instead of multiplying efforts to help people in their countries or trying to solve conflicts, address poverty, they have ... presented these people as people that come to rich countries, abuse the values or steal the wealth or take jobs away.

He said despite these trends, the impulse to help refugees remained strong in the West, especially the United States, which had a proud tradition of welcoming refugees and migrants.
The withdrawal of Indias Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has led to Indian currency being illegally exchanged at a premium in towns and markets in the border areas of Nepal.

Nepalese citizens, who have been facing problems in exchanging the withdrawn notes held by them, are now grappling with the problem. A report from Bhairawa, a city close to Indias Uttar Pradesh state, said the activity was rampant and Indian nationals were allegedly involved in it.

Though Indian currency has been exchanged at a rate of Nepali Rs 160 for Indian Rs 100 for decades, people now have to pay an additional Nepali Rs 30 for every Indian Rs 100 while exchanging currency at market towns such as Sunuwal and Nautwana, a media report said.

The illegal exchange of Indian currency is becoming rampant in border districts such as Parsa, Banke, Nawalparasi, Kanchanpur and Rupandehi, according to reports.

Since Indian currency is widely accepted in Nepal, the country has been hit hard by the Indian governments demonetisation drive. Among the worst affected areas are the southern plains bordering India.

No agreement has been reached so far by the central banks of Nepal and India for the exchange of the withdrawn Indian notes.

Nepalese citizens have been paying higher exchange rates as they fear they may not be able to exchange their Indian Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes through normal banking channels. They also fear the authorities may set a ceiling for such exchanges and their Indian currency could turn into useless paper.

Some are even willing to exchange their Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes at lower rates. People have also received messages on Viber and WhatsApp with offers to exchange Indian currency. One such message received by a businessman in Kathmandu read, Anyone want to change Indian banned 500 or 1,000 currency notes? Will give Rs 500 NC for IRs 500.

According to Nepals central bank, nearly Indian Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes worth Rs 33.6 million are in the banking channels. There are no official figures for notes in the possession of traders, families of migrant workers and the general public.

The Indian government has formed a committee to look into the issue of demonetised currency notes held by people in Nepal and Bhutan. Nepals central bank also formed a panel to look into the issue and prepare guidelines on easing the process. Indian and Nepali officials will meet soon and resolve the issue affecting millions of Nepalese, officials said.
High-definition satellite images show 820 newly identified structures destroyed this month in five Rohingya Muslim villages in Myanmars troubled Rakhine state where the military is carrying out counter-insurgency operations, a human rights group said Monday.

US-based Human Rights Watch urged the government to invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation.

These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted, said Brad Adams, the Asia director for the group.

The presidents spokesman, Zaw Htay, last week accused Human Rights Watch of exaggeration after the release of an initial set of satellite imagery that showed 430 destroyed buildings in three villages.

He accused the international media of misreporting the situation in Rakhine, where the government has mounted a massive security operation since nine police officers were killed by unidentified assailants who attacked guard posts in Maungdaw village bordering Bangladesh last month.

The government has acknowledged using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops in the operations.

It has implied that the attacks were carried out by sympathizers of the minority Rohingya, who face intense discrimination, repression and violence in Rakhine state.

They have frequently been targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine majority, who view them as illegal migrants. The state denies them citizenship even though they have lived in the region for generations. More than 100,000 Rohingya still live in camps after being driven from their homes following clashes with the Rakhine people in 2012.

Human Rights Watch said the new satellite imagery  recorded on November 10 and November 17-18  brings to 1,250 the number of destroyed buildings documented by it.

Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity, Adams said. Myanmar is also known as Burma.

Ko Ko Linn, an activist of Arakan Rohingya National Organization, said more than 100 people have been killed, at least 1,000 houses in Maungdaw have been burned and hundreds have been arrested.

The claims are impossible to verify, as are the government allegations because of access restrictions on journalists and aid workers.

Rohingya villager says the government is trying to systematically to drive Muslims minority from their villages.

On Friday, the United Nations warned of a worsening rights situation in Rakhine state. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes amid the security operation. Humanitarian assistance has been suspended and civilians are reported to be caught up in military action, and there are reports of human rights abuses, including the alleged rape and sexual assault of women and girls.

The government blames the unidentified attackers of the border posts for burning homes but rights groups say the army is responsible for those and other abuses.

After six weeks of violence with virtually no aid reaching tens of thousands of highly vulnerable people, the government needs to act decisively to assist them, Adams said. A government with nothing to hide should have no problem granting access to journalists and human rights investigators.
The Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat said on Monday it fired its Baghdad correspondent, a day after printing controversial accusations wrongly attributed to a UN spokesman.

The report drew condemnation from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shia figures and bodies demanding an apology. The sacking of the journalist, who was not named, came after the paper ran an article on Saturday accusing Iranian pilgrims taking part in the Shia Muslim commemoration of Arbaeen of sexually harassing women.

The article quoted a World Health Organisation spokesman as saying that after last years pilgrimage, more than 169 Iraqi women became pregnant out of wedlock.

The UNs health agency said the claim that this information was released by a WHO headquarters communications officer is completely erroneous.

Shia Muslim pilgrims gather as they commemorate the Arbaeen, in Kerbala, Iraq, on Monday. (REUTERS)

The London-based daily paper published the WHO statement on Monday in what it said was evidence of its commitment towards the truth...and to correct the erroneous information contained in (Sundays) report.

We also announce that we have stopped cooperating with the newspapers correspondent in Baghdad responsible for the report because he did not respect professional and ethical norms, it said.

A correspondent for Asharq al-Awsat in Iraq, Hamza Mustafa, meanwhile said he was resigning from the paper, although he stressed he did not write the article.

I announce my resignation...after having asked them to identify the correspondent responsible for the false report, Mustafa said on his Facebook page.

Another journalist working for the newspaper in Baghdad, Maad Fayyad, in a statement obtained by AFP, said he had nothing to do with the controversial article.

I am innocent...and those who know me...know it would be impossible for me to resort to such things, said Fayyad.

Arbaeen, one of the worlds largest religious events, commemorates the death in 680 of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Arbaeen, one of the worlds largest religious events, commemorates the death in 680 of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. (REUTERS)

Millions of Shiites from around the world take part each year in the massive processions to the shrine city of Karbala.

This years edition culminated today, with officials expecting the number of visitors to total 17 to 20 million, including around three million Iranians.
The main US visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled worker program.

H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year, including many from India. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.

Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticising the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.

Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to US companies looking to slash information technology costs.

Thousands of US workers are being replaced by foreign labour, Sessions said at a February hearing.

A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.

Read | Under Trump, H-1B visa issue may affect India-US ties: Expert

The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.

Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the US permanently.

By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.

Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.

Labour lottery

H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in US law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.

Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.

Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.

Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.

The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.

Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to US officials about the cities where they would work.

In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the US

Calls for change

Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industrys largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favour of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.

That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labour. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.

Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.

Read | What Trump presidency would mean for India, the world: Shashi Tharoor explains

Were going to advocate for expanding the program, but were also going to advocate for reforming the program, FWD.us president Todd Shulte said in an interview.

The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both US and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco.

H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less.

The current system is not working for Americans, and its not working for immigrants, he said.

Amazing people

Some Trump allies expect him to keep the program mostly intact, including Shalabh Shalli Kumar - an Indian-born Chicago businessman who donated $900,000 to his campaign.

He has said to us that these are amazing people and it would be crazy to let them go, Kumar said in an interview.

But Kumar has urged Trump to eliminate country-by-country quotas that create long waits for Indian and Chinese nationals to get green cards.

John Miano, an attorney with the Immigration Reform Law Institute -- a conservative group that has been aligned with Trump -- also supports prioritising H-1B applications from companies offering higher pay.

Such a change would hit the outsourcing firms hard. The top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2015 were all outsourcing firms, according to government data compiled by the IEEE. Tata Consultancy Services topped the list by securing 8,333 H-1B visas.

Amazon, by contrast, ranked number 12 and was awarded just 826 H-1B visas. Google and Microsoft ranked No. 14 and 15, with Facebook at No. 24 and Apple at No. 34.

Some H-1B visa holders arent waiting. Sofie Graham - a marketer at the San Francisco startup BuildZoom.com and a dual Irish and British citizen - secured her H-1B visa last year. Although she could have worked for six years on the visa, she and the company decided to apply for a green card.

Everywhere I looked, people were saying we should have fewer H-1Bs, she said. I just wanted to get a green card as soon as possible.

Read | Is Trump win an unwelcome message for Indian students?
Captain Radhika Menon, the master of an oil tanker who led a dramatic rescue of seven fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in the Bay of Bengal, was awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea on Monday.

This is the first time a woman has been awarded the top prize by the London-based International Maritime Organisation (IMO)  the UNs specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Also awarded at the IMO headquarters was BM Das, winch operator and diver of a rescue helicopter at the Indian Coast Guard air station Daman, for rescuing all 14 crew members of the merchant ship Coastal Pride, which capsized and eventually sank.

Menon was the master of the oil tanker Sampurna Swarajya when she led the rescue of the crew of the fishing boat Durgamma, which was adrift following engine failure and loss of anchor in severe weather in June last year.

The boat had lost power and was sinking, in fierce rain, wind speeds of 60 to 70 knots and 27-foot high waves. The fishermen were surviving on ice from cold storage after food and water had been washed away.

Through wave heights of more than 25 feet, winds of more than 60 knots and heavy rain, the second officer on Sampurna Swarajya spotted the fishing boat 2.5 kilometres away, off the coast of Gopalpur, Odisha, on June 22 last year.

Menon ordered a rescue operation, using the pilot ladder and with life jackets and buoys on standby. It took three arduous attempts in the lashing wind and rain before all seven weak and starving fishermen, aged between 15 and 50 years, were brought to safety on board the tanker.

Their families had considered them lost at sea, but they were reunited with their kin a few days later.

The annual Exceptional Bravery Award at Sea was established by IMO to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery and display outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.

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The United States on Monday named a dozen Syrian generals and officers accused of leading attacks on civilian targets in the five-year war and warned they would one day face justice.

US ambassador Samantha Power said the military commanders were involved in killing and injuring civilians with assaults on schools, hospitals and homes since the outbreak of the war in 2011.

The United States will not let those who have commanded units involved in these actions hide anonymously behind the facade of the Assad regime, Power told the Security Council.

Among those named were five major generals -- Adib Salameh, Jawdat Salbi Mawas, Tahir Hamid Khalil, Jamil Hassan and Rafiq Shihadeh -- along with five brigadier generals and two colonels.

The council met as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded rebel-held parts of northern Syria including Aleppo, where food rations were running out in the besieged eastern part of the city.

Those behind such attacks must know that we in the international community are watching their actions, documenting their abuses and one day they will be held accountable, said Power.

These individuals feel impunity, she said, warning that so did former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic and Liberian warlord Charles Taylor who faced trial for war crimes.

Todays atrocities are well-documented and the civilized worlds memories are long, she said.

UN aid chief Stephen OBrien told the council that nearly one million people were living under siege in Syria, revising figures from six months ago that showed nearly half a million Syrians were cut off.

More than 300,000 people have died in the war that began with anti-government protests, and millions have been driven from their homes.
Practical bee-keeping in this country is in a very depressed conditionand success is becoming more and more precarious, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth wrote at the start of his 1853 book, The Hive and the Honeybee: A Beekeepers Manual. In his 500-plus-page handbook the Yale alumnus described the handful of hurdles then facing beekeepers, a sharp contrast with todays storm of threats to bees. But Langstroth, a Congregationalist minister turned apiarist, went beyond advice and theory. No matter what threatens their bees, beekeepers need to be able to see what is going on inside a hive in order to inspect and manage it well. A hive design that Langstroth created in 1852 made such monitoring possible and remains the basis for the design of todays most commonly used hives.

Insects so fascinated Langstroth as a child that he is said to have worn holes in his pants kneeling to observe them. But he was 27 before he purchased his first beehive. Hives then were inscrutable, with bee colonies housed in wooden boxes or containers of straw known as skeps. To remove the honeycombin the mid-19th century the form in which honey was consumedan apiarist had to wreck the skep or break the comb free from the sides of the box, angering the bees and jeopardizing the beekeeper.

Langstroth, who tended toward disabling melancholy, spent a dozen years watching and tinkering. The process seemed to focus his mind and helped stave off the mysterious mood disorder that would eventually end his career in the ministry. He built observation hives with glass components that rendered the internal action visible. His most crucial discovery was that if he left 3/8 of an inch between frame and hive wall, bees would not build comb in that space but use it to move about. Langstroth called this gap bee space and wrote that his observation of bee space led him to invent a method by which the combs were attached to movable frames, so suspended in the hives as to touch neither the top, bottom, nor sides. By this device the combs could be removed at pleasure, without any cutting, and speedily transferred to another hive. In a Langstroth hive, a beekeeper could remove and inspect frames as easily as papers in a filing cabinet.

At the time, apiarists relied for guidance on a handbook in German by Polish priest and apiarist Jan Dzierzon. Beekeeper Samuel Wagner, then translating Dzierzons work into English, was so impressed upon seeing Langstroths design at the innovators home in Philadelphia that he abandoned his translation and urged Langstroth to write a manual of his own. A year later, Langstroth had completed The Hive and the Honeybee. In 1863, Wagner founded the American Bee Journal, the oldest English-language bee journal still in existence, and hired Langstroth as a contributor.

Before Langstroth reimagined beekeeping, hives were a household phenomenon, not a business. North America is home to bees, but few such species produce honey. Honey-making European bees arrived with English colonists at Jamestown, Virginia. Households commonly tended hives to get honeycomb as a sweetener and beeswax for candles. Native Americans came to call the honeybee the white mans fly, and by 1793 the species was encountered as far west as the Mississippi River.

The Langstroth hive made beekeeping a profitable trade, first in honey and wax and then in bees themselves. Langstroths stackable, easy-to-inspect hivewith moveable frames and a top openinghelped recast bees as pollinators of commercial crops, a mainstay of todays commercial beekeeping. But commercial pollination has emerged as a threat to bees. When bees pollinate, say, almond trees in California, then move, often by the hundreds of hives, to apple orchards in Michigan, nutrient deficits due to feeding on only one type of plant at a timeas well as exposure to pesticide-contaminated pollencan weaken them. Massed hives coping with the stress of intermittent movement are more vulnerable to mites and viruses. In recent years, beekeeperscommercial and hobbyist alikehave lost as many as 40 percent of their hives.

It would sadden Langstroth to learn that beekeeping is now in greater jeopardy than in 1853. He made educating beekeepers his lifes work, and he drew from a deep well: His library contained 61 books on beekeeping, including one dating to 1579. He learned through every sense, even noting in his manual the taste of what queen bee larvae ate.

The young queens are much more largely supplied with food than the other larvae; so that they seem to lie in a thick bed of jelly, a portion of which may usually be found at the base of their cells, soon after they have hatched, Langstroth wrote. Unlike the food of the other larvae, it has a slightly acid taste; and when fresh, resembles starch; when old,

a light quince jelly.

This story was originally published in the July/August 2016 issue of American History magazine. Subscribe here.
If some alien hunters are to be believed, we might all be witness to the greatest hoax of the century despite the fact that we are only 16 years into the hundred years beginning of 2000.

In a report published by UFOsightingsdaily, editor Scot C Waring, the alien hunter living in Taiwan, was ambivalent about the claims made by a number of alien hunters that the Curiosity rover has never been on Mars.

His first reaction was, "I have to admit that we have seen a lot of evidence that intelligent life was in those Mars photos, but in truth, I see that there is so much in most of those photos that it couldn't possibly be a place on Earth. How could such unusual artifacts exist on Earth and were never discovered by anyone?"

Subsequently, based on reporting by a number of alien hunters, he expressed doubts on the rover being really on Mars. The general consensus is that all activity on Mars is being recorded in Devon Island, which is situated in Canada.

The topography of Devon Island resembles that of Mars. The island is being used by NASA to test rovers before being sent on their space journey.

According to the report published by UFOsightingsdaily, some of the evidence presented by alien hunters to support their claims that the rover is not on Mars includes:

In the original NASA photos the sky is blue and clouds are white, which apparently is not possible. A red filter is used in the NASA photos released to the public to depict the red planet.

Apparently, other countries' Mars missions are sabotaged on return to Earth ostensibly to protect its secret.

The sighting of a number of animals such as monkey, squirrel, lizard, rat, rabbit, bison and gorilla on Mars seems unreal.

Google Earth photos of Devon Island shows rover being driven by NASA scientists in suits, apparently recording what is purported to be happening on Mars.

This Youtube video graphically presents the evidence leading to the question whether the Mars mission is a hoax.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA scientists want to visit the "metal world" which is produced by a massive planetary hit and run, according to recent reports.

The massive asteroid, known as 16 Psyche, is thought to be molten core of a planet once the size of Mars, but was stripped of its rocky mantle by a series of massive collisions and slowly cooled into a solid mass of iron and nickel.

The asteroid is so unusual that the NASA is considering sending a separate spaceship to study it.

"Psyche is by far the largest metal object in the whole solar system," said Benjamin Weiss, professor of Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The asteroid is thought to be the exposed iron core of a battered and stripped protoplanet.

"Psyche would be the first and only metal world to be visited by humanity. This is true exploration," he added.

Psyche lies between Jupiter and Mars, orbiting around 280 miles and is regarded as one of the largest known asteroid, about 125 miles in diameter.

The property that makes it unique is that it is among the densest bodies ever found in the solar system.

"All the physical measurements - from radio telescopes bouncing waves off the body - indicate that it consists largely of iron and nickel," said Linda Elkins-Tanton, a geologist and the director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.

"Psyche looks like it is a stripped-naked planetary core, a remnant of the hit-and-run collisions that disrupted the early solar system."

The process began 4.6 billion years ago, as a cloud of dust and gas left behind when earlier stars reached the end of their lives and exploded began to fuse.

If selected, the Psyche mission could be ready to launch relatively quickly because it requires no new technology development, Elkins-Tanton said. The spacecraft would be based to a large degree on NASA's Dawn probe, which is currently on its way to the dwarf planet Ceres after wrapping up a 14-month campaign at another giant body in the asteroid belt, the protoplanet Vesta.

According to Mirror reports, NASA's final decision on sending a probe to the asteroid will be made in the next few weeks - it could be launched within two to three years, arriving in 2021.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The latest reports and transfer rumors once again brings Manchester City and Lionel Messi together as it is suggested that City is pretty confident of signing the world's best player. Moreover, in its efforts to make the deal a success, it is putting together a world record transfer-breaking deal for Barcelona's Leo Messi.

It is true that the transfer window is closed right now, but that surely does not limit the dealings of the clubs and it can well be said that City is making the right moves to have Leo Messi on board.

The Blues Chiefs are now making all the efforts to give life to Pep Guardiola's dream of signing Messi and for this they are ready to pay more than 100m as a transfer fee along with a 500,000-a-week in wages as well as a package of bonuses, which is nothing short of a record-breaking deal, reports Manchester Evening News.

What further strengthens Manchester City's confidence was the presence of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad. It is also speculated that Barca may not be able to recover the player's reported 215m buy-out clause once the contract is over in 2018, reports Mirror.

It is worth mentioning here that according to earlier reports, Messi has refused to sign another contract with Barcelona. A Spanish newspaper stated that after the tax-fraud case against Messi for which he had to face a 21-month suspension, he is not ready to go ahead with a contract renewal and seeking a switch.

And, with only eighteen months for his Barca contract to end, Manchester City is making all the efforts to entice the star striker, Messi to accept the contract from Manchester City. But, it is surely not good news for Barca if Messi accepts Manchester City's deal.

It must be mentioned that apart from Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Chinese Super League clubs are also interested in signing Leo Messi in their club.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Prince William made a revelation on how he deals with fatherhood and parenting with Kate Middleton. And like what he shared, he struggled in these duties which make people think that the Duke of Cambridge is hinting at a divorce soon.

The Duke of Cambridge attended the third International Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Vietnam. From that occasion, William candidly shared his experiences as a father, husband and what he learned in raising children with wife Kate Middleton, as reported on vanityfair.com.

He said that in parenting, there are wonderful highs as well as wonderful lows. He admitted that he is not used to it that's why he learned a lot of things. Despite this challenge, he openly acknowledged his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, for the support she is giving him. According to him, Kate is such a fantastic wife and an amazing mother.

Then Prince William shared that he struggled at times such as the shift from being an independent and single man to a husband and father. It was hard for him at the start but he added that going into the marriage and having two kids is life-changing.

So with this remarks from the Duke of Cambridge, is he hinting at a royal divorce in the near future? Would he eventually give up come the right timing?

Moreover, he also went on sharing that he adored his children so much. He really learned a lot about family just by simply having his own children and he appreciated how he learned a lot of things through them.

He also quipped that raising a daughter is different since he doesn't have a sister. He added that having a daughter, Princess Charlotte, is very dynamic since she is not used to having a girl in the family. While for Prince George, he considered him a bit rascal but a sweet boy.

And now that he has kids, Prince William started to worry about the future because according to him, his mind is focused on what he will be giving them.

With Prince William's latest remarks about his family with Kate Middleton and how he struggles with fatherhood, is there a possibility that a royal divorce will take place soon?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


The tri-nation crew space crew composed of cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and astronauts Peggy Whitson (US) and Thomas Pesquet (France) arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month stay to conduct a series of far-reaching experiments.

According to a report in the Headlines-news, the three-member crew flew on a Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft, which arrived at the space station at 4:58 p.m. EST (2158 GMT), docking their spacecraft to the orbiting laboratory's Rassvet module.

In a report published by Space.com, Whitson of NASA, Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) and Novitskiy of Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days ago.

This tri-nation crew joined three other crew members already aboard the ISS - Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA, flight engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrei Borisenko of Roscosmos.

The six-member crew will work through February of next year conducting a series of experiments and studies in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science.

Some of the studies to be undertaken include recording the impact of lighting on the overall health and well-being of station crew members, the effect of microgravity environment in orbit on tissue regeneration in humans and the genetic properties of space-grown plants.

Dubbed as Expedition 50, this mission will be memorable for a number of reasons. Among the star performers in this crew is astronaut Whitson.

Whitson will be celebrating her 57th birthday aboard the ISS in February 2017. On completion of her 179-day stint aboard the ISS, she will rewrite several space record books.

She is already the oldest woman to orbit the earth. She will hold the record as the woman with the most time in space. She will also become the American astronaut with the most time in space, 556 days, beating the existing record, 534 days, of astronaut Jeff Williams.

Among the other crew members, the 45-year-old Novitskiy is on his second flight into space, having already spent 144 days on an earlier mission. Pesquet is a 38-year-old rookie on his first spaceflight and the 10thFrenchman to be on a space mission.

The Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft that brought the tri-nation crew is the 49th Soyuz to dock to the ISS.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Life is too short to explore the whole world (barring a few adventure junkies), so the trend of living in mobile homes is socialized widely by people to get support, as well as encourage the community. Inspired by the instict for travel, a US couple also left their apartment in Portland to travel and explore North America. They did an affordable DIY conversion of an old Ford E-350 El Dorado Encore camper van into a cozy livable vehicle to calm their wanderlust and desire to experience different cultures, cuisines and lifestyle.

Journalist Corbin Adam Scott and artist Kelsey Emily Scott researched a lot for the appropriate vehicle that could be transformed into a cozy home-on-wheels, which they call Wander Wagon. They post regular posts about their journey in blog Steps to Wander as well as update videos to their YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives.

As per their video they bought it for $3,800 and it seems a great price for such a spacious thing. They spent almost $7,000 to decorate interiors with tiny finishing touches, but retouching messy interiors and fixing all leakages took five months of time. This van was mechanically sound and already had many lovable features such as multiple skylight windows that bring in plenty natural light. Its raised middle roof allows Corbin to stand up straight inside without any problem.

From flooring to ceiling and carpeting all was completed by the couple and some helper. Moreover, furniture used in the van conversion is also customized by them. They used many innovative and cosmetic space saving techniques to make dual use of furniture such as the dinette chair for storage. The bed has slides out to expand into a nearly queen-sized bed, and it also opens for storage. The van home also includes a big stovetop and a cool oven.

Wander Wagon has solar panels on the roof, although a powerful generator is also integrated at the back for dealing with energy requirements. They mounted their favourite gas scooter on the back to safely cope with breakdowns. A small area is also reserved through a baby gate to house the little dog Paris comfortably and safely.

Their epic adventure started in Boise, Idaho and their journey covered the entire Pacific wanderland. This off-grid traveling home is more than jusr useful for them, as it allows them to travel in any direction. They have travelled up to 13,000 miles in their home-on-wheels, and now they are searching a nice place to start a family.

Via: TreeHugger
F EAST LIKE PICASSO WITH ARTY COOKBOOK

For those who want to hunker down at home and hygge  the Danish word for the latest cocooning lifestyle trend  weve found The Modern Art Cookbook, with recipes inspired by great artists and in some cases rustled up by them.

Illustrations range from Manets Asparagus to Warhols Five Views of an Onion, while recipes include Alice B Toklass sea bass prepared for Picasso and Lee Millers sesame chicken made for Miro.

If you cant paint like an artist, at least you can eat like one. Available from the Royal Academy bookshop, 25.



ICONS ARE UP FOR ADOPTION

As if moving from Shad Thames to the site of the former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington wasnt enough, the Design Museum, set to reopen on November 24, has created a new way to engage with its audience.

Adopt an Object, with donations from 5, is a great way to get children involved with the museum. Donors receive a film of the object being moved from the old building at SE1 to the west London site, plus a credit on the website and a chance to help build something new.

Among the 12 objects to be adopted are Richard Sappers 9091 kettle for Alessi, the 1946 Vespa Clubman (pictured top) and My First Sony tapedeck (above), all iconic design items from the modern age.

The good-looking new museum restaurant, overlooking Holland Park, is being launched by London chef-restaurateur Rowley Leigh of Le Cafe Anglais fame, and there will later be a series of guest chefs including Jeremy Lee, Valentine Warner and MasterChef finalist Marianne Lumb.



FIFTY SHADES OF BLUE

A new show at photographer Andrea Hamiltons private studio features nine female artists exploring aspects of the colour blue  from its connection to sea and sky, through to our increasing dependence on the blue of the computer screen.

The shade has inspired artists down the centuries and this new show, The Blue Edition, curated by Nico Kos Earle, provides a modern take on an ancient obsession.

Hamiltons Blue Lagoon (detail), Iceland 2013

Viewing is by appointment only, but theres a private view for Homes & Property readers on Wednesday December 7  email nkos@artbastion.com for info.

Nov 23-Dec 12, Andrea Hamilton Studio, 68 Kinnerton Street, SW1



THE MAGIC OF MAPPLETHORPE

Juergen Teller, like the late Robert Mapplethorpe, has worked both as an artist and in commercial fashion photography  one of the few.

According to gallerist Alison Jacques, that makes Teller the only one to curate a new show re-working some of Mapplethorpes best-known images.

With the permission of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Teller has enlarged two images, each over 13ft in scale. Pasted directly on to the walls of Alison Jacques Gallery, they will provide a backdrop to the whole space.

As well as the sexually explicit images Mapplethorpe was best known for, expect to see a more romantic side to his oeuvre, including flowers and still-life fruit.

The show will include 58 images that were shot throughout his career.

Nov 18-Jan 7 at Alison Jacques Gallery, 16-18 Berners Street, W1



THINK BIG. MAJESTY MEETS MYTHOLOGY WITH KIEFERS WALHALLA AT WHITE CUBE

There are many ways to display art, from graffiti to open days at artists studios. In fact, the white cube gallery space is a fairly new phenomenon.

From the 18th century onwards paintings for display were crammed on to the walls of smaller rooms in museums and stately homes.

The change came in the Nineties with the arrival of uber-dealers such as Jay Jopling, who brought us Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. Now Jopling is changing the landscape again. Hes making great use of the White Cube gallery at 144-152 Bermondsey Street in SE1 with an exhibition dedicated to the work of German artist Anselm Kiefer.

Theres a majesty and drama to Kiefers work  the show includes vast canvases and, at the entrance, a 30ft sculpture.

The exhibition is called Walhalla, a homage to the paradise in Norse mythology for those slain in battle. No wonder Kiefer is called a colossus of the contemporary art world.

Nov 23-Feb 12 at White Cube
T his season, hygge, a Danish concept for a happy life at home, tops the interiors trends list with an overkill of books, magazine articles and PR promotions.

But Britons argue about what Hygge  pronounced hoo-guh  really means. They think of blankets, candles and cinnamon buns. Some say the English word cosy just doesnt do the idea justice.

Hygge is emotional: getting together with friends and family, enjoying a simpler, less-stressed life and eating well, some fans say. But one writer dismisses it as a smug Scandi lifestyle trend to keep you indoors under a pile of blankets, and a waste of London.

Bronte Aurell, Danish co-owner and founder of ScandiKitchen cafe, grocers and online store in the West End, says: People are missing the point. Hygge is a state of mind, she asserts. Its simply relaxing, wherever and however you live.

Warm light: hand-blown recycled glass hurricane lanterns, small 22, large 42; white pillar candles, 4 and 7, from Rowan and Wren

Aurells home in Queens Park is all white, in true Danish style. She says Brits are good at hygge and do it all the time, in the pub, at the cafe and at home, whether shared flat or mansion.

We know happiness lies not in a cushion, candles and a throw, but in the atmosphere we create. We love being cosy, especially at this bleak time of year. Heres how UK designers do it.

NICKY HASLAM

Heave out the Hygge, says the London interiors king. Individuality counts, he insists: Banish the bland, dare to be different.

Cosy: Orchard Fruits round floor cushion, 142; large ottoman, 510; wool throw, 91; cushions, 45, and footstool, from 242. All at Great British Ottoman

Use colour and pattern, the bigger in scale the better, to make brave statements. Add thick rugs to floorboards and choose wallpaper with dark backgrounds  Haslam loves House of Hackney. Lose ceiling spots and let light fall upwards or sideways.

MARTIN WALLER

Director of the Andrew Martin brand, with a shop in Walton Street, Chelsea, Waller favours dark colours to create cosiness. He suggests walls of deep library red, or rich grey with metallic glints of gold, copper or bronze. Memories make us happy, he adds. So have things at home from your travels, childhood and your journey through life.

Mood boost: A cosy room boosts your mood so you feel comfortable and content, says Malcolm Walker of Furniture Village. New England Windham leather chair, 1,095; Eco lamp table, 219; Slate Highland cushion, 25; dynamo floor lamp, 129; Ombre onion vase, 59

MARIANNE SHILLINGFORD

Dulux designer/consultant Shillingford calls rich colour visual comfort food, listing paint shades to prove it  Crispy Crumble, Walnut Cake, Mellow Mocha, Roasted Pumpkin, Rich Praline, Treacle Tart and Rum Caramel come in a paint tin. Go the darkest you dare  like new Wild Blackberry and Cherry Truffle.

Layer up textures, with wool, velvet, cashmere cushions, throws and blankets. Mix heavy cable-knits with lambswool, and finer embroideries with faux fur. Tartan and/or tweed give a heritage vibe, or go for slub silks soft glow.

REBECCA CRAIG

The Sanderson studio head of design says: Heavyweight curtains, a log-burning stove and classic furniture gems make up my snug aesthetic, plus earthy shades and patterns with a rural feel.

Mix and match: Comfort is subjective, so we offer a huge choice of styles, fabrics and fillings that you can mix and match, adjusting sizes as you go, says Megan Holloway at Sofa Workshop. This Lady May three-seater sofa costs from 1,744. In velvet as shown, its 1,944.

JOANNE CASSABOIS

From soft furnishings specialist Pret A Vivre, Cassabois says ordinary curtains wont cut it with big glass windows in modern conversions and new builds. She fits heavyweight textured sheers on narrow ceiling tracks to stack back neatly, letting in lots of daylight.

COSY QUICK FIXES

Light corners with table or floor lamps for instant ambience. A parchment or cream silk lamp shade flatters rooms  and faces. Gold shade linings spill out warm light. Vintage-style filament light bulbs make most colours cosy.

Fill an unused fireplace with candles. Better still, burn a real fire or install a stove from a specialist, like Chesneys. If you have no chimney, a Chesneys electric stove has realistic flames and steam posing as smoke. In the bedroom, up your duvet tog rating, buy a high, padded headboard in soft creamy suede and throw down a thick bedside rug.
A total of eight students from Hope attended this years Annual Meeting and National Student Conference of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, with several making presentations on their research and senior Rylan Prafke receiving a first-place award. They also had an opportunity to connect with Howard Dobbs 13, who had participated in the event while a Hope student and made a presentation this year in conjunction with his graduate work. Pictured from left to right are Sean Gitter, Shannon Urbanik, Eric Weeda, Nicholas Olen, Howard Dobbs, Rylan Prafke, Jacob Pledger, Emma Donahoe and Chan Hwang.

A total of seven Hope College students who participated in research this past summer had their work selected for presentation during the recent Annual Meeting and National Student Conference of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), with one of them receiving an award.

The seven presentations represented more than half of the 12 undergraduate research presentations from colleges and universities in Michigan, and exceeded the total submitted by all institutions statewide from 18 U.S. states. In the past eight years, a total of 49 Hope students have participated in the undergraduate research session of this national conference, a number exceeded by only seven other colleges or universities nationally.

Senior Rylan Prafke of Ada won first place in the Materials Engineering and Sciences 8 category.

At least one student who participated in Hopes summer research program has received an award in this national competition in seven of the last nine years. Through the years those award-winning students included 2013 Hope graduate Howard Dobbs, who is now a graduate student in chemical engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara and was also among this years presenters.

The National Student Conference ran Friday-Monday, Nov. 11-14, and the Annual Meeting ran Sunday-Friday, Nov. 13-18, in San Francisco, California. The undergraduate poster session took place on Monday, Nov. 14, and featured work grouped within a variety of categories within the field of chemical engineering.

The preliminary program for the student poster session listed 386 posters. The primary presenters represented institutions in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 12 other countries. Of the 118 colleges, universities and laboratories listed as affiliation of the primary presenter, only 13 institutions had more posters listed in the event than Hope College.

All of the participating Hope students are engineering majors -- three in the chemical engineering emphasis option, three in the biochemical engineering emphasis option, and one in the mechanical engineering emphasis option. One has a second major in chemistry. Mentors for the projects included Hope faculty in engineering, chemistry, and physics.

In addition to Prafke, the students attending the conference to present their posters were junior Sean Gitter of Shelby Township; junior Chan Hwang of Lansing; junior Nicholas Olen of Midland; junior Jacob Pledger of Lehigh Acres, Florida; junior Shannon Urbanik of Troy; and junior Eric Weeda of Grandville. Senior Emma Donahoe of Milford, Indiana, also attended the conference, using travel funds awarded to her as a recipient of a 2016 SCI Scholars industrial internship sponsored by The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), AIChE, and the American Chemical Society. (Information on the SCI Scholars program is available.)

Prafke won his award for the presentation Response of Surface Bound Hexacyanoferrate Films to Binary & Tertiary Metal Alloy Compositions, which he co-authored with Dr. Jennifer Hampton, associate professor of physics.

Gitters presentation, Long Wavelength Azo Dye Monomers for Photomechanical Applications, was co-authored with sophomore Brandon C. Derstine of Beaverton; Dr. Matthew L. Smith, assistant professor of engineering; and Dr. Jason G. Gillmore, professor of chemistry. It appeared in the Materials Engineering and Sciences 9 category.

Hwangs presentation, A New Approach to PVT Properties and Vapor Pressure Estimation from the SRK Equation of State, was co-authored with Dr. Michael J. Misovich, associate professor of engineering. It appeared in the General Engineering and Engineering Education category.

Olens presentation, Development and Study of Printable Stimuli-Responsive Model Polymer Systems, was also co-authored with Smith. It appeared in the Materials Engineering and Sciences 7 category.

Pledgers presentation, Crystalline Channeling of MeV Ion Beams, was co-authored with Dr. Stephen Remillard, associate professor of physics; and Dr. Paul A. DeYoung, who is the Kenneth G. Herrick Professor of Physics. It also appeared in the Materials Engineering and Sciences 8 category.

Urbaniks presentation, Particle-Induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE) as a Novel Detection Method for PFAS in Personal Care Products, was co-authored with senior Megan E. Czmer of West Bloomfield; sophomore Brieana K. Linton of Bristol, Indiana; senior John P. Harron of Okemos; Jane A. Sedlak, who is an Oberlin College student; Dr. Paul A. DeYoung, who is the Kenneth G. Herrick Professor of Physics; and Dr. Graham F. Peaslee, who is an adjunct professor of chemistry and geological/environmental science at Hope and a professor of experimental nuclear physics at the University of Notre Dame. It appeared in the Environmental Science and Engineering 3 category.

Weedas presentation, Exchange Kinetics of Quinolinyl Ketones with Boronic Acids Via Rhodium Catalyzed C-C Bond Activation, was co-authored with senior Stanna K. Dorn of Lewiston; and Dr. Jeffrey B. Johnson, associate professor of chemistry. It appeared in the Catalysis and Reaction Engineering 1 category.

Dobbs, who met with the Hope contingent during this years event, won second-place awards at the National Student Conference while a Hope student in 2010, 2011 and 2012 for research he conducted either with faculty at the college or at Argonne National Laboratory. He was presenting this year on the basis of his graduate work at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and was the lead author of Characterizing the Electrochemically Enhanced Dissolution of Silica and Alumina in Alkaline Environments and among the authors of Electrostatic Origin of Enhanced Rate of Silica Surface Dissolution.

The abstracts for the presentations are available by locating the authors name using the page here.

AIChE is the world's leading organization for chemical engineering professionals, with more than 50,000 members from more than 100 countries.

Information on the AIChE annual meeting and on the AIChE annual student conference is available.
Student choreographers and dancers of Hope College present their work in the Fall Student Dance Showcase on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

The showcase features both hip-hop and modern/contemporary, along with works addressing social issues of recent times and of the past. Multiple students will present nine pieces in total from the colleges Department of Dance, including students in Professor Steven Iannacones Composition I and Composition II classes, and the Hip Hop Anonymous club.

All of the student works were evaluated by professional choreographer, performer and educator Holly Jaycox of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Student choreographers had the opportunity to present their dances and then workshop new ideas and address choreographic challenges with Jaycox, receiving her feedback to guide them with further development.

Jaycox is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and improviser with a passion for collaboration and alternative spaces. She is a founding member of GLACIER, the Mid-Wests community for Contact Improvisation; TransSonic Music, a group of multi-disciplinary improvisational performance artists; and PUBLIC DANCE, her on-again off-again group which performs improvisational scores in the community. Jaycox teaches in the Dance Division at Purdue University, teaching and choreographing for the resident contemporary dance company. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of New Mexico. She is currently working on a Graduate Certificate from the Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 E. Eighth St., between College and Columbia avenues.
Korea is a popular tourist destination for Japanese and Chinese visitors, which both combined account for almost 60% of total international visitors in 2015. The geographic proximity and attractive tourism offerings cater to short getaway visits, particularly the capital city Seoul.

The Korean tourism industry is driven by the cultural trend called 'Hallyu' or Korean wave. Starting from popular media including performing K-Pop artists and TV dramas gradually spread to industries such as cosmetics, food, electronics, etc. According to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE), the Korean wave effect on production inducement was estimated to be approximately, KRW 15.6 trillion (USD 14bn) in 2015.

Among the numerous regional tourism destinations, Korea consistently ranks within top 5 destinations for Chinese travelers for the last 3 years.

Gwanghamun Palace Photo by HVS

The Korean peninsula protrudes into the sea between China and Japan. The west coast of the Korean Peninsula is bound by the Korea Bay to the north and the Yellow Sea to the south; the east coast is bounded by the East Sea. Two hundred kilometres of open water separate the peninsula from eastern China. The Japanese islands of Honshu and Kyushu are located 206 km to the southeast.

The total area, including the surrounding islands, measures 99,720 km2, of which about 99% (96,920 km2) constitute the land area of the Republic of Korea. There are about 3,000 islands belonging to the Republic of Korea. Jeju Island, which lies off the southwestern corner of the peninsula, is the country's largest island.

The majority of the Korean population of about 50 million does not practice any religion (43.3%), followed by Christian (31.6%) and Buddhist (24.2%).

Visitor Arrivals

Figure 1: Visitor Arrivals 2005-2015 Photo by Korea Tourism Organization, 2016

In 2005, South Korea recorded total international visitors of 6.0 million. The majority of international visitors were Japanese at 2.4 million which accounts approximately 40% of the total international visitor arrivals, followed by China and the US at 11% and 9%. While total international visitor arrivals increased in subsequent years, Japanese visitation levels decreased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% between 2012 and 2015 due to an unfavourable exchange rate between the Korean Won and Japanese Yen. However, following the easing of visa restrictions for mainland Chinese, the Chinese market registered very strong growth, more than compensating for the decline in Japanese visitors further boosting the local tourism industry.

Figure 2: Currency and Japanese Visitors to Korea Photo by HVS

Figure 2 illustrates the correlation between Japanese Yen over Korean Won and Japanese visitors to Korea. Since Shinzo Abe was elected as the prime minister of Japan in 2012, the government implemented the policy called "Abenomics" to boost the domestic demand and gross domestic product by monetary easing and structural reform. The policy resulted in an unfavourable exchange rate for Japanese visitor to Korea, limiting the number of tourist arrivals.

MERS Outbreak in 2015

In May 2015, Korea experienced the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which led to the death of 38 people and negatively impacted the Korean tourism industry. During the MERS outbreak, from June to August, South Korea recorded a significant YoY drop in foreign visitors of 40%, compared to a 12.4% YoY increase for the same period in 2014. July 2015, the worst of the three months, registered a 53.5% YoY drop.

Recovery from MERS

Figure 3: Visitor Arrivals 2005-2016 YTD August Photo by Korea Tourism Organization, 2016

Due to the government support and promotion such as President Park visiting China for military parade commemorating the defeat of Japan after World World II and advancing the dates for the Korea Grand Sale, to October 2015, the decline in inbound tourism was reversed, reaching 3.65 Million visitors for the last quarter of 2015. From January to May 2016, Korea recorded a YoY increase of 10.6%, while June to August registered an increase of 100.9% over 2015 and 20.6% over 2014, showing a healthy growth and full recovery.

Other risks in Korea (Political)

South Korea Tourism Overview | By Jae Hyun YOO and Daniel Voellm Photo by HVS

The Korean peninsula is politically divided into two nations, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). 63 years after the hostilities of the Korean war ended, no peace agreement has been reached and both countries are only in a ceasefire, leading to military and political risks between the two and neighbouring countries. Following a series of nuclear weapons test and missile launches, South Korea together with its US allies agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ('THAAD') Missile system in 2016. The deployment was strongly objected to by the Chinese government as THAAD's radar called TPY-2 has a range of 2,000 km, posing a threat to Chinese national security.

What does it mean to Tourism Industry?

Figure 4: Visitor Breakdown 2015 Photo by Korea Tourism Organization, 2016

The South Korean tourism industry depends heavily on Chinese tourists. In 2015, approximately 6 million Chinese visitors visited Korea which accounts roughly 45% out of all international arrivals. Considering China's track record for economic retaliation to Korea during the 'Garlic War' in 2000, there is a downside risk in the exercise of soft power. At the time the Chinese government banned importing polyethylene and mobile phones from South Korea as and act of economic retaliation when South Korea increased the tariff on imported Garlic from China to safeguard the Korean agriculture.

Similar to the Garlic incident, the THAAD crisis is expected to have a negative effect on the Korea tourism industry. Subsequent to the THAAD deployment decision, China started strengthening regulation about Korean media content in China and applied more strict standards toward Korean cosmetics. Decreased access to the Chinese market can negatively impact visitor arrivals. More imminent, accroding to the local press1, the China central government inofficially gave instructions to major provinces such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and others for travel agencies to reduce the number of group tourists by 20% by restricting travel package sales.

Focus Market: Seoul, Capital of Korea

Han River, Seoul Photo by HVS

Seoul is the capital and largest city of South Korea. At a population of more than 10 million, the city is home to over one-fifth of the South Korean population. Seoul is the heart of the country's economy, politics and culture with a rich history spanning 600 years.

Due to the convenient air access and competitiveness of Korean air carriers, Seoul has been the main benefactor of the 'Korean wave' phenomenon, welcoming the majority of tourists to the country.

The city is served by two main airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport. Incheon International Airport opened in early 2001, replacing the international function of the old Gimpo Airport. The Incheon International Airport serves as the national hub for international arrivals, currently serviced by 69 airlines, offering connectivity to more than 160 destinations worldwide with annual capacity of 44 million passengers. Incheon airport is also directly connected to the domestic High Speed Rail System KTX, providing access to all major cities in the country. Gimpo Airport connects the city to mostly domestic destinations and five major cities in East Asia that are located within a range of 2,000 kilometres - Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Osaka and Tokyo. The airport is currently served by five domestic airlines and six international airlines, namely All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Eva Air with an annual capacity of 34.7 million passengers.

Hotel Performance in Seoul

Figure 5: Overall Seoul Hotel Performance 2013-2016F Photo by HVS

Despite increasing visitor arrivals, occupancy and average rates slightly decreased since 2013 due to the decline in the high-spending Japanese source market and increase in supply around Seoul. Although the number of Chinese visitors increased rapidly, the majority are tour groups, opting to stay in more affordable accommodations in the outskirts of Seoul. Thus, both occupancy and average rate were negatively impacted in 2014 and 2015. Moreover, in 2015, the MERS outbreak had a major negative impact on both occupancy and average rate for a three-month period. For 2016, we forecast a recovery in occupancy levels as the market normalizes during the summer months affected by MERS in 2015. However, average rate remains under pressure, as operators applied value-based pricing policies to stimulate demand on the back of MERS and facing new supply entering the market.

Figure 6: Seoul Hotel Performance by Segments 2013-2016F Photo by HVS Research

Comparing performance across the segments, the Super Deluxe segment continuously decreased average rate from KRW 222,400 to KRW 196,500 while maintaining the occupancy at average of 70.5% from 2013 to 2015, reflective of the decline in the Japanese visitor arrivals. The Deluxe segment showed a similar pattern but with more fluctuation in occupancy, relying more heavily on leisure travellers. Deluxe hotels' average rates declined from KRW 118,400 to KRW 108,200 and occupancy declined from 80% in 2013 to 70% in 2015. The First Class hotels' average rate remained relatively stable compared to the other two segments however, the occupancy level showed a different trend with a peak at 70% in 2014 and 2013 and 2015 closer to the 60%-mark. All segments are showing a recovery in occupancy levels in 2016, however rebuilding average rate will take a longer time, challenged by the change in visitor arrival mix.

Conclusion

South Korea is one of popular tourist destinations for regional travellers in Asia and Seoul is the pulse of the Korean tourism industry. However, due to the consecutive decrease in high spending Japanese source market since 2012 combined with unfavourable event such as MERS, Seoul was unable to push the overall average room rate upwards.

Despite the historical performance shown in Figure 6, the hotel performance in Seoul is projected to gradually improve as the Japanese Yen slowly strengthens compared to the Korean Won bringing Japanese tourists back to Seoul in the medium-to-long term, which will also be a positive sign for new hotel development opportunities in the Deluxe segments. On the other hand, although the Chinese visitor arrivals show healthy growth, the growth does not directly benefit the Seoul hotel market performance as the Chinese tourists are price oriented and together with the political tension between South Korea and China, a careful observation in the Chinese tourism market is needed.

Ultimately, the locational focus of the tourism traveller and high attraction value of the Myeongdong area concentrates leisure demand to a relatively small area of Seoul. Opportunities for developments in other parts of the city remain, yet those require tailored positioning strategies and business models to cater to local demand.

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According to Google, the travel planning journey is influenced by over 19 different touchpoints. While we have big-picture insight and data points that reveal the extensiveness of the travel planning journey, the path to a booking and the micro-moments along the way vary and key customer segments need to be reached through multichannel marketing campaign efforts.

Multichannel campaigns are one of the most effective ways to boost direct bookings, build one-to-one relationships with current and future guests, and ultimately, encourage repeat guests throughout the customer lifecycle.

According to Google, the travel planning journey is influenced by over 19 different touchpoints. While we have big-picture insight and data points that reveal the extensiveness of the travel planning journey, the path to a booking and the micro-moments along the way vary and key customer segments need to be reached through multichannel marketing campaign efforts.

Why are multichannel campaigns so powerful? By effectively reaching potential guests in intent-rich micro-moments across channels and devices with one cohesive brand message, multichannel campaigns are a great strategy to shift distribution from the OTAs, drive ADR, increase length of stay, capture a new segment, and achieve returns as high as 2,500%.

If you are ready to get started and increase direct bookings, you can begin building your multichannel campaign by answering the 5 Ws of any great narrative and any successful multichannel campaign: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

Who: Use customer data, campaign insights, website analytics, and customer research to build a customer persona of your campaigns target audience. Its important to uncover both the emotional benefit and the functional benefit the target audience associates with your hotel brand and make sure this resonates in your marketing message.

What: Based on customer insights, craft the campaign message and brand narrative to reach the target segment with one cohesive message across channels and devices in key micro-moments.

When: Determine the best timing and campaign flight to effectively reach your target segment in the appropriate booking window.

Where: Map the path to purchase and determine the right marketing mix to reach the target segment throughout every touch point of the travel planning journey.

Why: Clearly determine the goals the campaign is trying to achieve in both performance metrics and positioning in the mind of the consumer.

Now that weve covered the basic infrastructure of multichannel campaigns, read on to learn the top 10 best practices to jumpstart direct bookings through multichannel campaigns.

1. Ensure you have an adequate, flexible budget to launch multichannel campaigns.

Every year hotel marketers face a number of business needs such as seasonality and occupancy needs, revenue management needs such as increasing length of stay and driving ADR, as well as general business objectives such as increasing group business, targeting a new customer segment, and lessening the dependency on the OTAs.

In order to successfully accomplish these goals and answer key business needs, it is important to reserve 15-25% of the overall digital marketing budget for multichannel campaigns. This portion of the budget should remain dynamic and flexible as the year progresses.

Be sure to properly allocate your budget to each campaign, mapping out seasonality, business needs, top target segments, and any other big-picture business goals that a multichannel campaign can achieve. When allocating budget across campaigns, we recommend a budget of at least $10,000 dollars with a two month minimum flight to ensure success.

2. Clearly establish business needs, campaign goals, and key performance indicators before you begin planning your multichannel campaign.

To build a successful multichannel campaign, you must establish an overarching business need your multichannel campaign is trying to solve, determine clear campaign goals you wish to accomplish, and set relevant key performance indicators to gauge success.

Really getting to the core of your hotel brands business needs when building a multichannel campaign will help you choose the most effective marketing initiatives and provide the blueprint for setting the right campaign goals and KPIs.

3. Utilize your CRM data to build target customer personas tapping into the demographics, psychographics, and online behaviors of your target segment.

Capitalizing on CRM data to fuel your digital marketing campaigns is one of the best ways to ensure you are targeting the right audience and reaching your best guest. CRM data provides insight into your past guests and can help strategically shape and develop the profile of future guests you wish to reach with your campaign.

To build the target customer persona, pay close attention to top demographic trends, trends in online behavior and travel planning, as well as research psychographics and more in-depth online behaviors once youve established the general profile of your target segment.

The process of building customer personas helps hotel marketers tap into the passion-points, interests, and online behaviors of the target segment to further ensure the campaign message will resonate with the target audience.

4. Map the path to purchase and key micro-moments to ensure you are reaching your target segment throughout the travel planning journey at the right place, the right time, and with the right initiative.

Understanding the target segment is just one piece of the multichannel campaign puzzle. Once youve established your target audience, you then need to map the path to purchase to ensure you are reaching potential guests with the right marketing initiatives throughout each touchpoint of the travel planning journey.

For instance, a mom planning travel for her family may start with a high-level Google search for family beach destinations before even deciding on a destination. To help aid her in deciding on a destination, she then may turn to social media and ask her peers for family beach destination recommendations.

On the other hand, a solo traveler planning business travel already knows their travel destination and the area within the city they will be meeting. Therefore, they may start their travel planning journey with a direct visit to a hotel website where they have loyalty points, or they may start with a destination specific search on Google thats not only city specific but neighborhood specific such as Hotel in Downtown Denver.

This is just one quick example of how the travel planning journey can vary from segment to segment. In light of this, it is extremely important to go through the exercise of mapping the path to purchase for each segment. These travel planning touch points will help determine marketing initiatives such as mobile SEM, intent-driven Dynamic Rate Marketing across travel planning websites, TripAdvisor display, and more.

5. Ensure you have the right marketing mix to effectively reach your audience and ensure high campaign return on investment.

To set your campaign up for success, its best to start with your revenue goals and work backward to determine the appropriate marketing mix.

Based on your number of rooms, ADR, and occupancy during the need period you wish to address, determine your revenue goal for the campaign. Once you determine your goal revenue, work backward to determine the minimum budget you would need to spend to achieve the desired revenue with an ROI goal of at least 600% - 1,200% ROAS. The smaller the budget you have to work with, the larger share of funds you will need to invest in high ROAS campaign initiatives to achieve your revenue goal, while minimizing your investment in lower-yielding initiatives such as social media or creative content distribution.

A general rule of thumb for a successful multichannel campaign marketing mix is 30-40% investment in core revenue drivers such as SEM, GDN, Email, etc., 20-30% in display and social media advertising initiatives, 10% in organic campaign content, and 20-30% in campaign creative.

6. Plan a multichannel campaign that is cross-device ready.

A successful multichannel campaign doesnt just reach key customer segments throughout the path to purchase, it reaches potential guests in key micro-moments seamlessly across devices.

According to Google, 90% of travel planners use multiple devices sequentially when booking a trip, making it extremely important for your multichannel campaign content to be cross-device ready.

For instance, the target segment of the mom planning travel doesnt just start with a Google search for top family beach destinations, she may start that search on her mobile device while waiting with her children at the doctors office. So in this example, desktop SEM campaigns wouldnt effectively reach our target mom. Our multichannel campaign would need to include Mobile SEM and GDN to effectively reach her at the first touchpoint of the travel planning journey.

Just this one small example reveals how extremely important it is to launch fully-responsive campaign creative and marketing initiatives that are tailored to the three screens to ensure success.

7. Ensure your campaign utilizes a cohesive message across channels and devices that resonates with your customer segments and their passion-points.

If you reach the right customer with the wrong marketing message that doesnt resonate, you are not only wasting potential guests time, you are wasting your hard-earned marketing dollars.

For a multichannel campaign to inspire a booking, it must tap into both the functional and emotional benefits the target segment associates with your property or brand, or the functional and emotional benefit they associate with the ideal hotel for their upcoming stay.

As Aristotle once said, The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and this really rings true in building effective multichannel campaigns. Once you determine the right campaign messaging, its extremely important to embrace Aristotles philosophy and ensure that your campaign message is cohesive across channels and devices to amplify the power of your marketing message, build traction, and effectively drive bookings.

8. Utilize powerful and engaging technology that assists in lead generation, relationship building, and driving direct bookings.

Aside from the right message and marketing mix, planning a powerful multichannel campaign requires rich, engaging technology to convert potential guests once they reach the campaign landing page or application. A highly successful multichannel campaign must have a destination mini-site or application that includes rich images, share functionalities, and dynamic content personalization that will interest and engage users enough to encourage repeat visits, increase time spent, and ultimately drive bookings.

An Interactive Limited-Time Offer Application is one example of such digital technology applications capable of maximizing revenue. Serving as the central hub for the campaign, this highly-visual, fully-responsive application features a prominently displayed countdown clock, booking functionality with embedded promo code, large, rich images of the hotel, social and viral sharing features, an Email sign up widget, and key information about the sale, benefits, and rules.

Example Limited-Time Offer Application:





Another great example of an engaging application is an Interactive Promotion Application with a robust automated backend and algorithm offering daily and grand prizes. This application also features a prominently-displayed countdown clock, large, rich imagery of the hotel, social and viral sharing features, Email sign up widget, and engaging add-ons such as photo sharing.

Example Interactive Promotion Application:





9. Utilize your CRM data to launch data-driven marketing initiatives that utilize the power of intent to reach your best guest on a more cost-effective budget.

To launch smarter multichannel campaigns, fuel your campaign with the balanced utilization of CRM data and intent data to increase incremental bookings and ensure you are reaching your best guest at the right place, at the right time, and on the right device during the travel planning process to your hotels destination. Not only does this allow you to reach the right potential guest who is most-likely to book your hotel on an extremely cost-efficient budget, it will also provide rich data and insight to replenish your CRM data and utilize for future campaigns.

10. Ensure you have the right analytics to effectively track and optimize conversions.

Without proper tracking, the perfect strategy can fall flat as you try to navigate campaign success. Its important to use state-of-the-art tracking applications such as Adobe Analytics, Adobe Media Optimizer, and DoubleClicks DART for Advertisers (DFA), which are the industrys standard solutions. With the right tracking capabilities, it will be easy to optimize campaign performance, measure KPIs, and adjust the marketing mix as needed to achieve desired goals and ROI.

Its also important to remember that a successful campaign requires consistent, ongoing optimization based on the KPIs of your campaign. Campaign metrics such as share of voice, impression pacing, and engagement are important criteria to monitor and adjust in real-time to ensure success.

Lastly, A/B testing of campaign messaging and/or one isolated campaign variable such as colors and images is another great way to optimize throughout the campaign and ensure optimal results.

About the Author and HeBS Digital

Margaret Mastrogiacomo is Senior Director, Creative Strategy at HeBS Digital. Founded in 2001, HeBS Digital helps hoteliers drastically increase direct bookings and lower overall distribution costs by deploying industry best-of-breed digital technology, consulting and marketing (www.hebsdigital.com).

The firm has won more than 400 prestigious industry awards for its digital technology, website design and marketing services, including numerous Adrian Awards, Stevie Award in the American Business Awards, W3 Awards, WebAwards, Magellan Awards, Summit International Awards, Interactive Media Awards, and IAC Awards.

A diverse client portfolio of top-tier major luxury and boutique hotel chains, independent hotels, resorts and casinos, franchised properties and hotel management companies, convention centers, spas, restaurants and bars, DMO and CVBs are all benefiting from HeBS Digitals direct online channel strategy and digital marketing expertise. Contact HeBS Digitals consultants at (212) 752-8186 or success@hebsdigital.com.

This article originally appeared on HeBS digital.
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Jim Sacher, the regional attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Houston, is retiring this month. In 28 years leading the legal department for the Houston office, Sacher, 70, estimates that he's filed hundreds of lawsuits and handled more than 1,000 charges of discrimination, including many that settled without ever going to court.

Before he joined the EEOC, Sacher worked as a public defender and general counsel for a civil rights group that handled fair housing complaints in New Jersey. In the 1980s, he moved to Louisiana to run legal aid offices that helped low-income residents with landlord, merchant and health care disputes.

At the heart of his work, Sacher said, is trying to assure a level playing field for employees. He recently spoke in his corner office cluttered with files at the Mickey Leland federal building.

Q: What case stands out the most in your 28-year career?

A: We had a lawsuit against the Randalls supermarket chain quite a long time ago that resulted in a very expansive settlement. The claim was that Randalls was not hiring black, Hispanic and female teenagers for entry-level, part-time employment. Among the people rejected was a black teenager who was holding an admission to Harvard College. He is now a professor at one of the medical schools here.

Another one of the applicants was an Hispanic young woman who was among the top 10 students in her high school class. She, along with a young black female applicant who was also rejected, are now practicing lawyers.

We ended up settling the case, which included an aggressive hiring goal. One of the reasons the case was so important is that studies at the time showed it took black teenagers longer to get their first jobs. Too often, they would have to settle for less than they deserved. There were lots of cases, but that one was important to me because it required the government's commitment to a level playing field that starts when teenagers are seeking their first jobs.

Q: Do you typically keep up with the people you represented after a complaint has been settled?

A: Some of the time. One of the benefits of an investigation is that both the employee and company can learn through the process to be more effective. Companies often don't value candor in their relationships with employees and often times an employee learns a supervisor was unhappy with his or her work when an investigator here shares information we gathered.

The level playing field implies people should have equal access to information to help their careers develop, but unfortunately a lot of supervisors aren't straightforward with their subordinates who, as a result, can't grow as much at work.

Q: Have we made progress in the past four decades?

A: The short answer is yes. The first employment case I worked was in 1972, my second year of law school. A young Mexican-American couple came in to the law school clinic and they were having trouble explaining why they were here. Their priest had sent them. The woman finally took my hand and put it on top of her husband's head, where there was a large bump. Her husband was trying to get a job with the fire department but he needed to be 5-foot, 7-inches tall, but he was only 5-feet-6. She was hitting him on top of his head to raise his height.

The height requirement had an adverse impact on women and Hispanics and we filed a lawsuit. This was just a year after a key Supreme Court decision known as Griggs v. Duke Power that established the disparate impact argument that a job requirement that appears neutral on its face can have adverse impact on a potential class of employees. The case had such a significant impact on me that people who are so desperate to get good jobs with good pay are willing to literally get themselves hit on the head.

Q: You seem to file a lot of pregnancy discrimination cases. Is pregnancy discrimination that pervasive?

A: There seems to be lot of factors. Mostly shortsightedness, but sometimes it's a hard-edge, tough-nose boss who decides it will be cheaper to not hire someone who may become pregnant because of the health care costs. Fortunately with the arrival of the disability act, more protections are available to women who are experiencing disability related to their pregnancies. But in the 28 years I've been here, it is not clear whether the degree of pregnancy discrimination has decreased.

Q: Do you still get surprised when complaints come in?

A: We get a troubling number of charges filed by young women who say they're being harassed by older male supervisors. It's a continuing theme.
More Information

'Black Mirror'

Available for streaming on Netflix

Shifting the zeitgeist

Everyone's buzzing about "Black Mirror" right now, and the show's "Twilight Zone"-esque twists. But while it's easy to get lost in the glory of the show, it's also worth noting that this is just the latest Netflix series that has captivated audiences and hijacked social media this year. A quick recap of the streaming platform's highlights:

"Stranger Things": It's hard to imagine a world without this series mixing kids and monsters and Steven Spielberg-styled storytelling. That's how essential this show became after debuting in July. Yes, it's only been four months.

"The Get Down": Baz Luhrmann wasn't the first guy anyone imagined as the creator of a definitive hip-hop show, but the director who re-imagined "Romeo and Juliet" as angsty '90s kids also re-imagined the early moments of New York's hip-hop scene as a mythological epic. Thank Grandmaster Flash he did.

"Lady Dynamite": How good has Netflix's year been? This quirky show about a comedian's life with mental illness almost feels forgotten, despite the fact it was one of the most lauded series of the first half of 2016.

"Beat Bugs": Attach the Beatles' music to anything and it's going to do well. Attach those songs to an animated, musical children's show about bugs and you have a hit that parents might prompt their kids to watch.

"Luke Cage": After another summer of reminders why #BlackLivesMatter has to be more than a hashtag, this show about a black superhero got everyone excited when it showed the titular, black character standing there, with bullets literally bouncing off him.

"The Crown": We're all still searching for a "Downton Abbey" replacement and this series about the early days of Queen Elizabeth II might be it. If nothing else, it reminds how heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Coming up: Netflix's year isn't over yet. Next week, it releases the return of the popular, almost cult-like series "Gilmore Girls." The show, about a the bond between a mom and daughter, might be an examination on classism in America, but all anyone seems to care about is how Houston native Alexis Bledel's Rory character is going to appear as an adult.

'Black Mirror' Network: Available for streaming on Netflix.

Shifting the zeitgeist

Everyone's buzzing about "Black Mirror" right now, and the show's "Twilight Zone"-esque twists. But while it's easy to get lost in the glory of the show, it's also worth noting that this is just the latest Netflix series that has captivated audiences and hijacked social media this year. A quick recap of the streaming platform's highlights:

"Stranger Things": It's hard to imagine a world without this series mixing kids and monsters and Steven Spielberg-styled storytelling. That's how essential this show became after debuting in July. Yes, it's only been four months.

"The Get Down": Baz Luhrmann wasn't the first guy anyone imagined as the creator of a definitive hip-hop show, but the director who re-imagined "Romeo and Juliet" as angsty '90s kids also re-imagined the early moments of New York's hip-hop scene as a mythological epic. Thank Grandmaster Flash he did.

"Lady Dynamite": How good has Netflix's year been? This quirky show about a comedian's life with mental illness almost feels forgotten, despite the fact it was one of the most lauded series of the first half of 2016.

"Beat Bugs": Attach the Beatles' music to anything and it's going to do well. Attach those songs to an animated, musical children's show about bugs and you have a hit that parents might prompt their kids to watch.

"Luke Cage": After another summer of reminders why #BlackLivesMatter has to be more than a hashtag, this show about a black superhero got everyone excited when it showed the titular, black character standing there, with bullets literally bouncing off him.

"The Crown": We're all still searching for a "Downton Abbey" replacement and this series about the early days of Queen Elizabeth II might be it. If nothing else, it reminds how heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Coming up: Netflix's year isn't over yet. Next week, it releases the return of the popular, almost cult-like series "Gilmore Girls." The show, about a the bond between a mom and daughter, might be an examination on classism in America, but all anyone seems to care about is how Houston native Alexis Bledel's Rory character is going to appear as an adult.
Fort Bend ISD

The board of the Fort Bend ISD has named its newest agriculture facility after a teacher and appointed a first-time principal to Lake Olympia Middle School.

The new agriculture center, located next to Travis High School, will be named the Bonnie Beard Agriculture Center in honor of a current Dulles High School teacher who has spent 39 years at the school. The center is scheduled to open in April 2017.
Problems related to construction of a new $2.5 million animal adoption center have created months of delays and increased costs, city officials told members of the Pasadena City Council at a Nov. 15 meeting.

Mayor Johnny Isbell said the problems were so extensive they had considered firing the contractor at one point.

"We were seriously thinking about jerking away the contract," Isbell told the council. "We had serious concerns because the plumbing was sticking up everywhere and we had to get that straightened out before they could pour the slab."

In May, the council awarded a $2.5 million construction contract via competitive bidding to Houston-based IKLO Construction for the new animal adoption facility. Attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful by presstime.

Isbell said officials were able to get the project back on track with help from the project's architectural firm, Civil Concepts Inc. The city now proposes paying the firm up to $50,000 to help oversee the construction process on an "as-needed" basis. Robin Green, Public Works Director for the city of Pasadena, told the council the project was behind schedule by several months because of bad weather, but he expected construction to be complete by next March.

The measure was unanimously approved on the first reading. The council is expected to grant final approval on Nov. 29.
More than 50 chanting, sign-waving protesters gathered near the Galleria Sunday to voice their opposition for Donald Trump and to trade barbs with a pair of counter-protesters egging them on across the street.

Dozens of police clustered around the edges of the rally as protesters chanted "stand up, fight back" and held up a Black Lives Matter banner by the corner of Post Oak and Westheimer.

The event - put together by Black Lives Matter, Students for a Democratic Society, the Houston Socialist Movement and other local groups - kicked off with a series of fiery speakers at 2 p.m. before turning into a slow-moving march with bilingual chants along the streets outside the mall.

By the time the throng of Trump opponents arrived back at their starting point, two counter-protesters had set up shop on the opposite corner.

MOCK ASSASSINATION: Skit gone wrong at Texas school draws ire

"We're basically out here saying that we oppose globalism and support a democratically elected official," said 27-year-old counter-protester Tyce Andrews. He specified that he was not with White Lives Matter, a group that has protested opposite local Trump opponents and Black Lives Matter supporters in the past.

Andrews and his fellow Trump fan, 23-year-old Sam Hyde, waved a Latinos Para Trump sign as they hurled insults and personally mocked individual protesters.

Hyde, wearing a Make America Great Again hat, said he found Trump more centrist than Hillary Clinton, adding that she never managed to galvanize certain voting demographics.

"She failed to get the taco bowl demographic like she wanted to," he said.

Across the street, protesters shouted, "When brown lives are under attack, what do we do?"

"Start World War III," Andrews and Hyde responded.

The march and rally were more subdued than some of the other post-election demonstrations, which have included obscene chants and tense stand-offs with police.

But Sunday, some of the protest staples were missing from the action - and Students for a Democratic Society member Fabian Sneevliet, 29, hinted that police might be the cause.

"In the last week of protests there were nine arrests, which is not normal in Houston. It's clear that the police are becoming more oppressive. You can even see that here," he said, gesturing to the crowd.

One of the protesters arrested earlier this month, Black Lives Matter activist Sheree Dore, did show up to address the crowd.

"This has been a tough week for a lot of activists in the Houston area," she said.

"Thank you so much for the love, thank you so much for the support. Because without that we'd be running on fumes right now."

Dore was charged with a felony after police accused her of punching a police horse during a rowdy Nov. 10 protest downtown.

Lawyer Brian Harrison - a Socialist Alternative member who is representing at least five of the protesters who've been arrested - told the crowd to "form a party of the 99 percent" and stand against "the bigoted bully that is Donald Trump."

One passerby in a car angrily shouted, "Go get a job!" A protester responded by reminding him, "It's Sunday!"

Other drivers honked in agreement or shouted out chant suggestions for the protesters to pick up.

As the rally began to disperse after about two hours, a cluster of cigar-smoking men down the street declared the protest was "not like it was in the 70s."
This week's investigative reporting includes another installment in the Chronicle's ongoing special education series Denied, as well as a verdict in a civil lawsuit that accused a former HISD president of participating in a kickback scheme.

Mentally ill lose out as special ed declines By Brian M. Rosenthal @brianmrosenthal

The Texas Education Agency's decision to let an 8.5 percent target for special education enrollment has led schools to cut services for children with all disabilities, but students struggling with mental illness, like Alston Kliebert, were disproportionately affected, the Houston Chronicle has found.

Desperate families fight schools for services By St. John Barned-Smith @stjbs

This story chronicles how three families fought to get services for children struggling with mental illness in San Antonio, Houston, Georgetown.

Read more about Texas special ed cap in the investigative series Denied.

Trump plan to deport criminals complicated, Texas leaders say By Mike Ward @ChronicleMike

Donald Trump's plan to start deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records could cover more than 6,700 convicts in Texas prisons, more than any other state, and could save taxpayers millions each year. But some top Texas leaders oppose releasing convicts before they finish their sentences - especially since speedier deportations might allow some to return illegally and commit new crimes.

Former HISD president participated in bribery scheme, jury finds By Ericka Mellon @e_mellon



A civil lawsuit that kept a cloud of suspicion over the Houston school district for six years ended Wednesday with a jury finding that former board president Larry Marshall participated in a kickback scheme that caused millions of dollars in damages to a local construction contractor. Marshall has not been charged with any crime. But the civil jury found in favor of the Gil Ramirez Group, an upstart firm that alleged it lost lucrative school district contracts because it did not offer payments to Marshall through his political campaign treasurer and longtime friend, Joyce Moss-Clay.

Mom struggles as son's troubled life ends at Ben Taub by Keri Blakinger @keribla

Ricky Hall's family clustered together in Ben Taub Hospital, discussing in hushed tones whether he should live or die. Admitted to Ben Taub with seizures, the 46-year-old with mental health issues was shot by a deputy sheriff in the hospital after taking a medical student hostage. The shooting left Hall unconscious with major brain damage and with little chance of recovery. Hall's family was left with a heartbreaking decision - and a slew of unanswered questions.

Houston Fire Department: Cause of massive Spring Branch warehouse fire undetermined

By Mark Collette and Matt Dempsey @ChronMC and @mizzousundevil

It's unclear what started a fire that destroyed a chemical warehouse in Spring Branch, prompting explosions, fumes and deadly runoff, the Houston fire chief said. The May blaze epitomized the broader findings of a Houston Chronicle investigation that showed hazardous chemical stockpiles peppered all across Houston and located near homes and schools are poorly understood, even by officials charged with protecting the public.
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The walls are charred and trails of soot stretch upward from the doors and windows at the once-cheery Eastwind Asian Antiques.

Plywood has gone up outside as workers try to salvage the smoke-stained goods inside.

The Old Town Spring antique shop was one of three stores damaged during an Oct. 26 arson - one of five blazes that have swept through the area in less than two years.

And even though fire investigators say they have no indication that the fires are related, the blazes have left some local business people worried just as the popular shopping season approaches.

"It's kind of shocking to have any kind of circumstance like that," said Amy Beatty, who worked at the antique store.

The fire at 209 Midway started just after 4 a.m. on a Sunday when someone tossed a Molotov cocktail into the L-shaped building that houses Eastwind, The Coin Shop and Chloe's.

Police initially responded to The Coin Shop just after 2 a.m., when the owner was drawn to the scene after an alarm went off. Once he got there, he realized there had been a break-in.

Nothing was stolen, but the intruders smashed a glass countertop. Sheriff deputies finished investigating and left about an hour later, according to a department spokesman.

But around 4 a.m., they got another 911 call - and this time the place was on fire.

Five incidents

The first of the suspicious fires came in March 2015, when the historic Wunsche Bros. Cafe & Saloon went up in flames.

No one was in the building when the fire started before 4 a.m. on a Sunday. A year and a half later, the cause of the blaze is still undetermined, according to Harris County Fire Marshal Office spokeswoman Rachel Moreno.

Founded in 1902 by Dell and Charlie Wunsche, the hamburger joint had long been a cornerstone of the historic shopping district in Spring.

When it shut down after the fire, the loss of the local tourist magnet was a tough blow for some of the surrounding stores.

In June 2015, just a few months after the Wunsche Bros. fire, Cross Track Ice House burned as well.

In that case, the cause of the blaze was clear: Video footage shows an arsonist dousing the back porch with some type of accelerant and setting the building ablaze late on a Thursday afternoon.

The crime is still under investigation, but Moreno said authorities never got any tips, even after releasing surveillance video.

The next fire was just outside of Old Town Spring, at the Amegy Bank about three miles away. In July 2015, a two-alarm fire erupted around 1 a.m.

Arson was ruled out, however; investigators determined the accidental blaze was sparked by a space heater.

Then in October, the Midway fire knocked out three businesses in one swoop. That fire, too, remains under investigation.

Three days later, on Oct. 29, another arsonist torched a car in the area in the 4400 block of West Cypress Villas.

The crime was caught on camera and within days, authorities collared Cristian Sanchez, thanks to Crime Stoppers tips.

Sanchez confessed and was charged with felony criminal mischief, according to court records.

Currently, he's not a suspect in any of the other fires.

However, no footage from the 209 Midway fire has been released and authorities have not confirmed whether any exists.

'A lot of people nervous'

Officials said they don't believe a firebug is at work.

Four structure fires in the area over the course of nearly two years is not an abnormal concentration, Moreno stressed.

"We don't feel like there's a serial arsonist in this area," she said.

Currently the blazes are not being investigated as connected incidents.

"These are all separate individual investigations going on," Moreno said. "At this time we don't have any reason to believe that any of them are related."

Even so, some businesses are still on edge.

Gina Dillon, who works at Y'alls Texas Store across the street from Eastwind, sees the impact.

"It makes a lot of people nervous around here," she said.

Part of the concern is that many of the historic structures in Old Town Spring are wood-frame buildings.

"They are all like tinderboxes," said Beatty.

Some have responded by taking measures to protect themselves.

"We're smart about it," said The Loose Caboose owner Dannette Mostyn. "It does concern me, but we just take extra precautions - with insurance and security systems."

But others seemed less concerned.

"It does not make me nervous - it just makes me sad for the people doing it," said HollyBelle owner Holly Evans.

The fires have prompted the new store owner to contemplate getting cameras, but in the meantime she's not worried about the effect on business.

"I don't feel like it will slow things down especially before the holidays," she said.

Impact on district

But the fires could slow down the area's improvement district.

The businesses hit by the fires may not be fully up and running again for another year, according to Old Town Spring attorney Clarence Williams, who represents the local improvement district.

"That hurts our overall community, and the lack of sales from those businesses will have an impact on the Old Town Spring Improvement District because that receives a percentage of the sales tax," he said.

"They were all very good shops. They all had good sales. They all had a following and each and every one of them will be missed."

But Beatty is optimistic that Eastwind won't be gone for too long. After the fire, nearby businesses helped board up the building and clean up the mess, and it's that sense of neighborly camaraderie that gives her faith.

"We are a community, and it's worth rebuilding in this location because of that sense of community," she said.

"We will be back. Eastwind will be back."
Hours after a fatal shooting outside a west Houston nightclub, police identified the victim and said the suspect remains at large.

Houston police say the man killed late Sunday outside a nightclub at Richmond and Fondren was 18-year-old Juan Carranza.
An Austin-area man with eight outstanding warrants, ranging from assault to burglary, was recently arrested after a two-day man hunt following his attempted arrest for illegal fishing.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced the filing of felony charges for 36-year-old Jake Russell Childers of Bastrop County who assaulted a state game warden.
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GALVESTON - It was only a traffic ticket, but it plunged Dee Arellano into a five-year cycle of seemingly endless debt.

Fees were tacked onto fees, and the courts never exercised the power to lower them for her or offer available alternatives, such as community service or an indigent waiver program.

"There is no out, honestly, there is no way out," the 36-year-old single mother from Houston said. "Even if you want to do the right thing, you want to pay your citation, you get caught up in this spider web of citations that are tangled up with late fees and surcharges and there is no transparency or an institutional way out."

Arelleno is among thousands of Texans living in poverty who have found themselves ensnared in a legal system that brings increasing debt and often lands them in jail because they are unable to pay traffic fines, according to a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU is working nationwide to end the jailing of poor individuals for unpaid fines, said Nusrat Choudhury, senior staff attorney at the civil rights group's Washington office.

"In 2015 alone, the ACLU brought lawsuits to challenge debtors' prisons in four states and exposed the practice in three others," said Choudhury, adding that they are "spanning the country."

'Criminalizing poverty'

The Texas report found "a pattern of local courts criminalizing poverty, and perpetuating racial injustice, through unconstitutional enforcement of low-level offenses."

Arellano, for example, was moving from one low-paying job to another in 2011, often leaving them when work conflicted with care for her son. Forced to chose between buying groceries and making auto insurance payments, she chose the former and was ticketed for lacking insurance. She paid the $250 fine, not realizing that her traffic debts would multiply. She eventually paid $1,200 in surcharges to the Department of Public Safety.

Although one in seven Texans live below the poverty line - that's $12,000 a year for an individual, $19,000 for a couple with a child - they face excessive court fines and often are thrown into jail without notice or a chance to argue their case, the report says.

The practice is unconstitutional and amounts to a debtors' prison, the report alleges.

Courts also tack dozens of fees onto tickets, turning traffic enforcement into a revenue source that victimizes the poor in order to fill city coffers, according to the report.

Remedies for Texas offered by the report include judges asking about the ability to pay before sentencing; an end to financing public services with fees tacked onto traffic fines, which are assessed disproportionately against the poor; less reliance on traffic fees for city budgets; and a notice to defendants about their rights and sentencing alternatives,

The report also recommends hearings before an arrest warrant is issued; ending the suspension of drivers' licenses and of registration renewal for failure to pay; expanding programs for waiving surcharges; and legislation to tighten the existing ban on jailing people for inability to pay a traffic fine.

The report covers every municipal court in Texas disposing of more than 100 cases per year and focuses on the Houston area because it has been a source of so many complaints, said Tirisha Trigilio, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Texas. "We took a really deep dive into a lot of courts in the Houston area," Trigilio said.

After analyzing statistics from the Texas Office of Court Administration on 766 municipal courts in Texas, the report singled out those in Houston, Galveston, Texas City, League City, Conroe and Stafford, among others.

Justices of the peace are engaging in the same questionable practices, Trigilio said, but they could not be included in the report because they do not offer data to the state agency.

Santa Fe sued

Although it was not included in the report, the city of Santa Fe in Galveston County was found to be the worst offender in the Houston area when it comes to jailing the poor for traffic debt, Trigilio said.

The ACLU filed suit this month against Santa Fe on behalf of three men, accusing the city of "running a modern-day debtors' prison, prioritizing raising revenue for the city over administering justice fairly." The lawsuit names the city, Municipal Judge Carlton Getty and Police Chief Jeffrey Powell.

William Helfand, an attorney representing Santa Fe, declined to comment on specific allegations in the lawsuit. "People can put all kinds of accusations into a lawsuit, many of which do not bear out," Helfand said. "Most of the time in a lawsuit, many allegations turn out to be completely false."

Trigilio declined to make available for comment the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, But the lawsuit offered the following account of the alleged treatment of one plaintiff, 28-year-old Brady Fuller of Santa Fe.

Fuller, who supports a wife and three daughters, lives near the poverty line of $28,440 a year for a family of five. He was jailed twice for unpaid traffic fines even though he informed officials about his inability to pay. He voluntarily entered jail the first time after being told he had to pay or go to jail. The second time, a state trooper allegedly yanked him from a company vehicle he was driving, with his boss sitting in the passenger's seat, and turned him over to a city marshal, who took him to jail.

Fuller was never advised of his right to counsel and the city marshal threatened to revoke a security permit necessary for his job, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit accuses police of starving Fuller by serving a pop tart for breakfast and lunch and a frozen dinner in the evening, a 720-calorie daily intake that is less than the 1,000 calories needed by a 1-year-old child.

The report says that judges are forbidden from jailing anyone for a criminal conviction unless they are represented by an attorney. "But our local courts simply don't follow the law," the report says. "People who are jailed for failure to pay their fines are almost universally too poor to pay."

The report singles out Houston, Texas City and League City as running debtors' prisons. Houston is accused of jailing people on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for failing to pay traffic fines.

In an emailed response to questions, Houston Municipal Courts spokeswoman Gwendolyn Goins did not challenge any of the ACLU's specific allegations. "The City of Houston Municipal Courts have been operating under a collection of rules and practices promulgated by the Texas State Office of Court Administration and state law," Goins said.

Texas City was accused of racial disparity, with blacks making up 59 percent of those jailed for debt in a city with a 29 percent black population. Texas City municipal court officials did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

Questions of accuracy

League City issued a statement: "We're concerned there are some inaccuracies with the data ACLU listed in their recent report. Our municipal court complies with all laws relating to criminal prosecution, and our judges regularly work with indigent defendants to resolve their fines and court costs without jail commitment." The statement did not detail the alleged inaccuracies.

Poor defendants get thrown into debt the moment they enter the courthouse, the report alleges. Judges routinely ignore the ability to pay a traffic fine, according to the report, imposing penalties from a list of 25 authorized fees that go as high as $750. Additional fees vary from a $3 court charge to a $40 penalty that goes to 14 state funds.

Judges can reduce fines to as low as $1 but cannot waive court costs and fees until after a failure to pay puts the violator in danger of jail, the report says.

Caught in 'bureaucratic maze'

"A person who cannot afford her traffic-ticket debt is put into a bureaucratic maze that virtually guarantees that she will receive even more tickets," the report says. If they are late on their payments, they can be prohibited from renewing their car registration. The fines also make it impossible to pay for insurance, causing the loss of coverage. Needing to drive to get to work or take their children to school or to the doctor, they get more tickets and the debt piles higher.

If they are late on a payment, the state Department of Public Safety automatically adds a $250 surcharge.

"Because of these offenses resulting from poverty, it is not uncommon for someone with a low income to accrue $1,000 or more in traffic tickets in a short period of time," the report says.

Many cities view traffic citations as a source of revenue, with some assigning operation of the municipal court to the finance department.

The report alleges that the "reliance distorts the legitimate purpose of local courts - administering justice - and encourages court officials to view their mission as maximizing collection of revenue."

The ACLU took the Galveston municipal court to task for calling its report to City Council a "production report." Galveston Municipal Court officials did not respond to requests for comment.

States and cities nationwide are recognizing the problem and taking action, ACLU attorney Choudhury said. Ohio and Michigan have taken measures to ensure that judges check for the ability to pay before issuing arrest warrants, and the city of Biloxi, Miss., has created a public defender's office to represent the poor when they are faced with an arrest warrant.

No such office exists in Waller County, where a 28-year-old African-American woman, Sandra Bland, committed suicide in the county jail in 2015 after she was unable to post the $500 needed for bail. She was jailed after a routine traffic stop escalated into a heated exchange with a state trooper, who has since been indicted for perjury. Waller County commissioners did not act on requests that the county establish a public defender office, with the county judge there saying recently that the county was "nowhere close to being large enough to justify that type of expense."
It's a fact that people of color are worse off than white Americans in all kinds of ways, but there is little agreement on why. Some see those disparities as a consequence of racial discrimination in schools, the courts and the workplace, both in the past and present. Others argue that economic inequalities are really the cause, and that public policy should help the poor no matter their race or ethnicity. When it comes to affirmative action in college admissions, for example, many say that children from poor, white families should receive preferential treatment, as well.

In some ways, though, discrimination against people of color is more complicated and fundamental than economic inequality. A stark new finding epitomizes that reality: In recent decades, rich black kids have been more likely to go to prison than poor white kids.

"Race trumps class, at least when it comes to incarceration," said Darrick Hamilton of the New School, one of the researchers who produced the study.

He and his colleagues, Khaing Zaw and William Darity of Duke University, examined data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a national study that began in 1979 and followed a group of young people into adulthood and middle age. The participants were asked about their assets and debts, and interviewers also noted their type of residence, including whether they were in a jail or prison.

The researchers grouped participants in the survey by their race and their household wealth as of 1985 and then looked back through the data to see how many people in each group ultimately went to prison. Participants who were briefly locked up between interviews might not be included in their calculations of the share who were eventually incarcerated.

About 2.7 percent of the poorest white young people -- those whose household wealth was in the poorest 10th of the distribution in 1985, when they were between 20 and 28 years old -- ultimately went to prison. In the next 10th, 3.1 percent ultimately went to prison.

The households of young people in both of these groups had more debts than assets. In other words, their wealth was negative. All the same, their chances of being imprisoned were far less than those of black youth from much more affluent circumstances.

About 10 percent of affluent black youth in 1985 would eventually go to prison. Only the very wealthiest black youth -- those whose household wealth in 1985 exceeded $69,000 in 2012 dollars -- had a better chance of avoiding prison than the poorest white youth. Among black young people in this group, 2.4 percent were incarcerated.

Hispanic participants who were less affluent in 1985 were more likely to be eventually incarcerated than their white peers with similar wealth, but less likely than black participants.

What's more, even young black people who follow the rules and are never incarcerated are less likely than similar white people to accumulate wealth as they get older. As of 2012, the median household wealth of black participants in the study who had never been incarcerated at some point in their lives was $16,200. Those who had been incarcerated had zero wealth at the median.

Among white participants who had never been incarcerated, however, median household wealth was $192,000 by 2012. The median white participant who had been incarcerated reported wealth of $5,000.

It could be that the white participants in the study still had other advantages over their black peers, even if they had been incarcerated. Perhaps they went to better schools, or lived in areas where it was easier to find work. At the same time, another reason for the disparity between black and white wealth could be that employers make negative inferences about black workers' pasts, even those who have never been to prison.

In 2001, for example, economist Harry Holzer and his colleagues found that employers who actually checked applicants' criminal histories were much more likely to hire black men. Similarly, recent research shows that employers who are barred from checking credit histories are less likely to take on black workers.

In a way, untangling economic and racial inequalities is a chicken-and-egg problem. In criminal justice, though, you can't just explain away the disproportionate rates at which black and Hispanic youths end up in prison by pointing out that many people of color did not grow up with the same economic advantages as their white peers.
MEXICO CITY - Mexico is starting to seriously contemplate the possibility that millions of its migrants could be deported, and the picture is not pretty.

Under proposals put forward by President-elect Donald Trump, Mexico could see millions of people streaming back with no jobs available; the country might lose some of the billions of dollars in remittances sent home annually; and some jobless deportees could swell the ranks of drug cartels.

Gov. Hector Astudillo of the southern state of Guerrero considered the possible scenario over the weekend. At least a million Guerrero residents live in the United States, many without proper documents.

"Of course Guerrero is not in any condition to receive the million or more than one million migrants" in the U.S., Astudillo said. "On the contrary, they have been an important mainstay in supporting the economy of Guerrero."

$25 billion sent home

Migrants sent home almost $25 billion in remittances to Mexico in 2015, and experts say most of that went to support the most basic needs of the poorest Mexicans. Trump has suggested he might somehow seize the funds of those immigrants who are not deported to pay for a border wall.

Mexico already has a shortfall of 800,000 new jobs for youths who join the labor force each year, let alone returning migrants, said Alejandra Barrales, head of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party. "We need to close ranks and create (job) opportunities, not just for people who might be deported, but for the 1.2 million young people who join the labor market each year."

The federal government announced an emergency program this week aimed at encouraging business to hire returning migrants, but Mexico City teacher Armando Osorio doubted that would be enough, given the government's poor track record on job creation. "These people have no moral authority to say they will receive their countrymen with open arms," he said. "They are the ones who are mainly responsible for the forced exodus of millions of Mexicans who don't have enough to eat."

Even if Trump seems to be walking back the idea of mass deportations, the prospect still remains frightening for people in Mexico.

On Sunday, Trump said in an interview on the news program "60 Minutes" that "what we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, a lot of these people - probably two million, it could be three million - and getting them out of our country."

Deportees could join cartels

Central America's violent gangs, known as "maras," emerged in the 1980s when migrants who had fled El Salvador's civil war were deported by the U.S. after committing street crimes in Los Angeles.

The U.S. government in 2012 estimated about 1.9 million immigrants were criminals and could face deportation. The Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, estimated 820,000 of those are in the United States illegally.

Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said at least some deportees will likely embrace drug trafficking, using already established U.S. connections to increase the amount of heroin and other drugs sent across the border. Even deporting only the felons would backfire by causing more violence in Mexico and Central America, he said.

"What's going to happen is that these individuals are going to return back to Mexico and they have no jobs, so they are going to feed the ranks of the cartels there," said Vigil, author of the book "Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel."

There are cases of deported migrants assuming leadership positions in the region's gangs, such as Martin Estrada Luna, a high school dropout from Washington state with a rap sheet of petty crimes such as burglary. Two years after he was sent back to Mexico in 2009, he had transformed himself into a drug baron known as "El Kilo," leader of a ruthless cell of the Zetas gang who masterminded the mass killings of more than 250 people.

Even in Mexico, many believe Trump will have to moderate his plans.
Creative tension

Regarding "Top Aides: President-elect taps RNC chief, right-wing provocateur" (Page A1, Nov. 14), what's disturbing about the appointment of Steve Bannon to senior counselor and chief strategist is the naming of Reince Priebus as chief of staff at the same time.

One man espouses an anti-government, anti-establishment populism, while the other is a stalwart of that same establishment. It may be that Donald Trump is using Priebus as a conciliatory nod to the D.C. Republicans, while giving Bannon the power to help steer the administration to the far right.

I hope that this is an example of using differing views to get opposing arguments when weighing presidential decisions, but it also might be Trump's way of placating the establishment, while circumventing it.

Bob Gayle, Houston

Science policy

Regarding "2016 likely to top 2015 as hottest year, scientists announce" (Page A6,Tuesday) one of the many disturbing issues with Donald Trump is his lack of knowledge or concern for science in general and climate change specifically. He recently announced the appointment of Myron Ebell to lead his EPA "transition" team. Ebell is a well-known climate-change skeptic. This coincides with Trump's threat to cancel the Paris Accord signed by Barack Obama and endorsed by more than 1,500 scientists from 195 countries.

The lack of science knowledge by the public is partly our inability to effectively relate headline scientific news to subsequent benefits to society. Our famous Houston media friend, Dan Rather, suggested in a recent Scientific American guest blog that Trump should gather a group of Nobel scientists and National Academy of Science members to advise him and present their priorities with climate change issues at the top of the list.

Science is historically a bipartisan topic and should continue so. If Trump is going to "drain the swamp," then he needs to find some custodians who are not political hacks but concerned Democratic and Republican representatives to change the swamp into a science education center.

Thomas Whelan III, Richmond

Take a breath

Regarding "Trump empire a "tangled web' (Page A1, Thursday), America has just struggled through a traumatic election year and maybe your candidate did not win, but it is time for the press to give the American people a rest.

Choosing a Cabinet is not easy, and it will take time. Donald Trump cannot wave a magic wand and have everything fall into place in the first two weeks of being elected.

Our country needs to slow down, realize what just happened and work together to restore this Great Lady.

Linda Anderson, The Woodlands

Electoral College

Regarding "Blame the British Empire for the Electoral College" (Page Z4, Extra, Friday), there is a significant question concerning the fairness of the electoral vote. At one extreme, Wyoming has around 600,000 people and gets three electoral votes. That is one electoral vote per 192,000 people.

On the other hand, in Texas, with a population of 27 million and 38 electoral votes, each vote represents 710,000 Texans. The electoral vote value per Texan is about one-fourth that of people from Wyoming. That is hardly fair.

Robert White, Houston
The majority of Child Protective Services workers are not social workers. Instead, Texas employs people with degrees in math, history, science, art and music to make life-altering decisions about vulnerable families and children. You don't even need a bachelor's degree. You can get hired without one.

As our state grapples with workforce issues in Child Protective Services (CPS), it's time to address the workplace environment that has discouraged social workers from applying and working there.

Social workers are licensed professionals who have received specific education from accredited schools. These professionals spend years learning and developing their understanding of children and families within the context of their environment. Students learn the fundamentals of what drives human behavior and how to approach complex social issues from multiple perspectives.

Despite some misconceptions, students are not encouraged to remove children from their homes.

They are trained to work with families to heal the whole family and strengthen communities. This perspective is better for families and taxpayers.

Unlike students in other majors who work at CPS, social work students complete supervised field placements where they receive support and intense feedback about their performance. Each year, social work programs across Texas recruit students to complete field placements at CPS. Social work programs receive a small amount of federal funds to pay students' tuition as long as they commit to working for CPS after they graduate.

But sadly, many schools struggle to find students interested because of the reputation of CPS. Why? Because Child Protective Services is not a place where social workers want to work.

CPS workers make less than the underpaid teachers in our state. They frequently work without taking time off for vacations or family emergencies because they fear no one will work their cases if they are gone. They take their work home with them daily and finish paperwork at night, so they can make contact with kids on their case-loads after school hours. They take money out of their own pockets to buy a child a meal or some other essential. They miss spending time with their own children to take care of Texas' children.

But what crushes good workers is the unsupportive and often hostile work environment. Many students have described a culture of fear where numbers are valued more than quality outcomes.

Social workers are professionally trained to effectively deal with child maltreatment, substance use, mental health and family violence, and are committed to addressing the impact of trauma on children. Social workers can handle the day-to-day work of Child Protective Services better than any other profession, but social workers at CPS are underpaid and devalued, and they have left the agency. Social workers have been told they think and care too much, spending too much time with the families and not closing enough cases.

CPS' parent agency, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, has suggested a substantial pay increase for CPS workers. The agency has also taken strong steps to remove hostility in the work environment. We all should support these efforts and ask the Legislature to allocate funds for salary increases. Policymakers should also require an overhaul of training content, supervision models within offices, and caseloads that align with national recommendations of 12 to 15 cases per worker.

The best step in improving the child protective workforce is to recruit and retain social workers. The social work profession began within the child welfare movement, and social workers are the most qualified for this challenging work. Make CPS a place social workers want to work, and the entire state will benefit.

Faulkner is director of the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing, where she co-leads the Child Welfare Education Collaboration in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Francis is government relations director at the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and a former Child Protective Services worker.
A Cabool man faces a felony sexual abuse charge after an incident Oct. 30 in which he allegedly brandished a knife and made inappropriate contact with a female victim.

According to a probable cause statement submitted to the county prosecutor by a Cabool Police Department officer, he responded to a call regarding a man brandishing a knife at housing on Apartment Drive. The caller reportedly named the knife-wielding suspect and said he left the scene heading east on Business U.S. 60.

After searching the area, the officer was unable to locate the suspect, but made contact with the female victim who described a scenario in which the two were in a car and he had tried to steal her wallet and touched her inappropriately. During the scuffle in the car, the womans two children reportedly were caused to be upset and began crying.

The victim told the officer the suspect got out of the car at the apartment, and she told him she was going to the police station to report the incident. She stated he then pulled out a knife, opened the blade, pointed it at a person at the scene and stated he wasnt afraid.

Texas County prosecuting attorney Parke Stevens Jr. on Nov. 1 filed a first-degree sexual abuse charge against the suspect, Wesley E. Sartor III, 25, of 4 Cabool Apartment Drive in Cabool. Sartor was arrested Thursday (Nov. 17) at the private probation and parole office in Houston by a local police officer who had been advised he was there.

Sartor also had a second Texas County felony warrant for driving while intoxicated  persistent offender, driving while suspended and no seatbelt. He was taken to the Texas County Jail. The sex abuse charge carried a $250,000 bond and the DWI charge had no bond.
The Texas County Genealogical and Historical Society has a library open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Grand Avenue building. Its meetings are on the first []
A Licking woman was seriously injured in a rollover accident Monday morning near Success.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, said Nichole L. Bretz, 35, was flown to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis following the 8:05 a.m. accident two miles east of Success on Highway 32. Bretz was not wearing a seat belt.

The patrol said the accident occurred when the eastbound 2004 Mitsubishi Motero that Bretz was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. The vehicle was totaled.
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ative emotions in the workplace can cause staff morale to plummet but researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) sought to find out how anger and guilt particularly led to unethical behaviour.



According to the researchers, unethical behaviour can cause businesses billions of dollars a year and angry employees are the most common culprits.



Unethical workplace behaviour, ranging from tardiness to theft, costs businesses billions of dollars a year, so its important for managers to recognize how emotions may drive on-the-job behaviour, explained Daphna Motro, lead study author and doctoral student in management and organizations at UAs Eller College of Management.



In her research, Motro contended that not all negative emotions work the same way. She said that anger and guilt are both negative emotions but have different effects on behaviour because the two emotions impact information processing differently.



"We found that anger was associated with more impulsive processing, which led to deviant behaviour, since deviant behaviour is often impulsive and not very carefully planned out," she told Science Daily.



"Guilt, on the other hand, is associated with more careful, deliberate processing  trying to think about what you've done wrong, how to fix it  and so it leads to less deviance."



Motro and her fellow researchers used writing prompts to induce the desired emotions in the participants. They asked one group to write about a time they felt angry at work, another group to write about a time when they were most guilty, while a third group (the control) was simply asked to describe a classroom.



"Research has shown that writing about that time, remembering that time, actually brings those feelings back up to the present," she explained.



They then asked participants to do simple math problems and to reward themselves with a quarter for every correct answer they make. Angry participants awarded themselves significantly more undeserved quarters than the control group while the guilty ones awarded themselves fewer than both.



In the second study, participants were asked to play a computerised card game where they started off with US$100. They were asked to report every joker card they see but were told that each card would mean losing US$4.



They were then told that two random participants can take home whatever money is left from the pot.



Angry participants cheated more by not reporting jokers, and thereby claimed significantly more undeserved money, while guilty individuals claimed less undeserved money than the neutral group, they said.



Motro said that the consequences of unethical behaviour caused by anger are more than just financial; it also leads to less work engagement, less job satisfaction, and more turnover.



But managers should not go the guilt-trip route, either, she warned.



"Too much guilt can be associated with shame, which is not a pleasant or positive emotional state," she said.



Instead, she said bosses should be more intuitive about their employees negative emotions.



An employee might be angry, and they might not be angry at you or anything that you've done specifically, but just pay careful attention," she said.



"Maybe tell them to take a short break and wait for them to cool down."








Let's take this last long look at The Bromance.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit this weekend. The conference in Peru was dominated by talk about global trade in the wake of the upcoming Presidency of Donald Trump.

The two leaders met in person and Trudeau tweeted a picture of himself and Obama.

It's been a great pleasure to work with @POTUS - thank you Barack, for working to renew & strengthen the bonds between our countries. pic.twitter.com/zVCVoxZlRc  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 20, 2016

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It's been a great pleasure to work with @POTUS - thank you Barack, for working to renew & strengthen the bonds between our countries," the Prime Minister tweeted.

The quick bond between the two leaders was apparent from the start. Obama got a rousing ovation of "four more years" when he addressed Canada's Parliament in June. "The world needs more Canada, NATO needs more Canada. We need you," Obama said at the time.

On Sunday Obama said Trudeau had a "common vision and talent."

Looking forward to his continued leadership in the years to come, Obama said, adding that he plans to visit Canada as a private citizen and may "stop in" to see Trudeau and his "beautiful family."

"Looking forward to his continued leadership in the years to come."

Obama said no matter what governments were in power, the relationship between the two countries was "one of the most important constants in the world.

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Trudeau said hell miss having Barack around but said hed hope Trump would visit Canada after the inauguration.

On Obama post Presidency, Trudeau said the former president would be a valuable and important voice on the world stage."

Obama will hand over the office to Trump in January.

For now, we can say goodbye to The Bromance.

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Prince William's solo trip to Vietnam is mostly focused on raising awareness about the illegal wildlife trade. However, the royal was refreshingly candid in an interview about the struggles he's had in parenting his two children, George and Charlotte.

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Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte watch as a man inflates balloons at a children's party at Government House in Victoria, on Sept. 29, 2016.

The Duke of Cambridge appeared on "Talk Vietnam" and admitted he's "struggled at times" with parenting, even though he has an incredibly supportive wife in Catherine.

"The alteration from being a single, independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing," he said.

"George is a right little rascal sometimes, he keeps me on my toes, but he's a sweet boy. And Charlotte, bearing in mind I haven't had a sister, so having a daughter is a very different dynamic. I adore my children very much and I've learnt a lot about myself and about family just from having my own children."

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William said he worries most about the future. "When you have something or someone in your life to give the future to I think it focuses the mind more about what youre giving them and are you happy that youve done all you can to leave it in a good state."

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Experts have been warning for years that Canadas trade deal with the European Union would add billions to the cost of pharmaceuticals in Canada, but the government itself apparently did not study the issue.

Thats according to the chief Canadian negotiator for CETA, Canadas recently-signed deal with the EU.

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The main reason is [that] its very difficult to conduct that kind of analysis, were finding, Steve Verheul told a parliamentary international trade committee on Nov. 15.

But others have estimated the cost. According to a study carried out at York University in 2012, changes to drug patents would increase drug costs in Canada by up to $1.65 billion annually.

Thats because CETA extends patent protection on drugs by up to two years, bringing Canadian patent rules more in line with EU rules. The deal was largely negotiated by the previous Conservative government, but has been loudly championed by the Liberal government, especially following Britain's vote to leave the EU.

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But Verheul told the committee that estimates today cant take into account changes in the pharma business over the coming years. He said the patent rules are not likely to kick in until about eight years after the trade deal comes into force.

These comments from Canadas lead CETA [negotiator] are simply bewildering.  Michael Geist, University of Ottawa

Verheul also suggested that a study of this isnt necessarily relevant since drug prices are already higher in Canada, on average, than they are in Europe.

But Michael Geist, the Canada research chair in Internet and e-commerce law at the University of Ottawa, says thats a complete misunderstanding of how the trade deal will affect drug prices.

The large pharmaceutical companies lobbied for these changes specifically because it would extend the term of protection and keep cheaper generic alternatives off the market for an extended period of time, Geist wrote in a blog Monday.

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These comments from Canadas lead CETA [negotiator] are simply bewildering.

Geist pointed out that Health Canada told Parliament this spring that trade deals like CETA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership will raise drug costs.

Parliament was scheduled to give second reading on Monday to the CETA implementation bill, which would make the trade deal law under Canadian federal statutes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the agreement in Brussels on Oct. 30, after the Belgian region of Wallonia relented in its opposition and agreed to sign the deal, with some conditions.
Students in a remote area of China now have a steel ladder to help with their death-defying commute to school.

Good news for the children who have to climb a steep cliff to get to schoolhttps://t.co/hNzegTBEOn  BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 21, 2016

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The children live in Dawushi Village in Sichuan province and they are part of the Yi ethnic group. To get to school, they have to climb a 2,600-foot cliff.





Back in May, images of the treacherous school commute went viral on social media. The children are seen making their way up the cliff in single-file, using wooden ladders to get to the top.

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The school children had to make this climb at the beginning and end of school holidays, since they boarded at the school. At least seven people are reported to have died trying to make the commute.

Every single climb felt like rubbing shoulders with death, said photographer Chen Jie, who accompanied the children to take the photos that were shared many times over again.

BBC reports that the new ladder was built in early November and the villagers say it has made the trek a lot faster.

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16 School Photo Fails Too Good For Retakes See Gallery
Let it be known theres no fun allergy at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

In an effort to bring some comedic relief to an awkward photo-op situation, Justin Trudeau stepped on his tiptoes to block New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys view during the APEC family picture.

At one point, Key even put his hands on Trudeaus hips to move him out of the way.

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Key said he and Trudeau shared a laugh over their playful squabble.

I just said to him, typical, you are trying to block me out, Key told Newshub.

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World leaders representing the 21 members of APEC met in Lima, Peru to discuss economic inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change risks.

Trudeau and Obama also peeled away from the group for a private meeting to talk about the obviously unparalleled bond between the U.S. and Canada.

In a statement issued by the White House, Obama praised Trudeau as a rare leader who can combine vision and talent and values."

Obama even alluded to a possible visit to Canada after hes out of office.

And I am very much looking forward to his continued leadership in the years to come. And I look forward to visiting Canada often as a private citizen, and may stop in and check in with his beautiful family when I get the opportunity, he said.

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Trudeau echoed the presidents sentiments in a tweet.

It's been a great pleasure to work with @POTUS - thank you Barack, for working to renew & strengthen the bonds between our countries. pic.twitter.com/zVCVoxZlRc  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 20, 2016

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The coffee wars have reached new heights.

McDonald's Canada announced on Monday it has inked a deal with WestJet to serve coffee on the Calgary-based airline's flights.

"The collaboration between our two caring brands is a perfect pairing, as McCafe's values are reflected in WestJet's commitment to offer an unmatched guest experience," said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet's CEO, in a press release.

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WestJet's regional airline, Encore, will also carry the fast food giant's McCafe brand.

The deal will see around 30,000 cups of McDonald's coffee served on more than 140 flights every day. The java will come in "unique" WestJet and McDonald's cups.

Saretsky told The Canadian Press the airline's McCafe coffee will be slightly different than the coffee served in McDonald's restaurants because people's taste buds aren't as sensitive at flying altitude.

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The WestJet announcement, which the airline described as an "unprecedented" step, sees the coffee competition take to the skies.

Air Canada currently serves Second Cup coffee on its flights, while smaller player Porter Airlines has partnered up with Starbucks.

"We've always believed that the sky is the limit for McCafe  and today this officially rings true," McDonald's Canada President John Betts said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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As Donald Trump prepares to move into the White House, a quote from a former Canadian prime minister advocating for diversity has found renewed relevance.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau championed his immigration policy in a 1971 speech to the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, pointing out that there's "no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian."

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He warned his Winnipeg audience that the "absurd" concept of an "all-Canadian' boy or girl" is nothing more than a disastrous ideological pursuit.

Some academics called Trudeaus progressive immigration policy one designed to both pacify the growth of Quebec nationalism and inject the countrys economy with fresh ambition and business opportunities.

The senior Trudeau carried a similar theme from a 1969 speech he delivered in Washington, D.C. when he famously likened living next to the U.S. to sleeping with an elephant.

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No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt, he said.

Trudeau added: It should not therefore be expected that this kind of nation, this Canada, should project itself as a mirror image of the United States."

Columnist Stephen Marche recently wrote in The Walrus that Canada is finding itself increasingly alone" after populist anti-immigration movements gave way to the United Kingdoms Brexit and Americas election of Trump.

Marche wrote: The irony of our situation is obvious: We are most open to the world at the exact moment the world has closed.

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Ryan Reynolds has learned a thing or two about being in the delivery room after having two kids with wife Blake Lively. These include how not to piss off your partner while theyre in labour and about knowing your place.

You really want to realize that youre the least important thing in the room, Reynolds hilariously explains in an interview with GQ magazine. Its gonna go your wife, the baby, the doctor, the nurse, a doula if you have one the air.

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Watch the video above for more of Reynolds hilarious tips for dads in the delivery room.

The 40-year-old actor and his wife have two children. Their eldest, James, turns two next month, and their youngest was born in September.

While the couple didnt reveal the name or sex of their newest addition, Reynolds accidentally let it slip earlier this month that they have two daughters.

Two under two is tough! Lot of estrogen, the Vancouver-born star said on Conan.

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Insurer Sun Life announced Monday it will begin offering life insurance to HIV-positive individuals, another milestone in a major turnaround for the industry.

The Toronto-based company said it would start offering coverage of up to $3 million for people living with HIV, and will start doing the same in its divisions outside Canada.

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An estimated 75,500 people were living with HIV in Canada as of the end of 2014.

Less than a year ago, there were no major insurers in Canada offering life plans for the HIV-positive. But that changed with Manulifes announcement this spring that it would become the countrys first insurer to do so.

Sun Life made it clear it intends to compete for this new market.

The new plans for HIV patients offer the most coverage for the broadest range of ages in the Canadian industry, the company boasted in a press release.

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Sun Life also announced its significantly streamlining its life insurance applications.

Medical procedures like blood tests and urinalysis will no longer be routinely required for life insurance, though there are some exceptions: Older Canadians who want to expand their coverage may need to take some tests.

The life insurance industrys attitude towards HIV is changing.

A revolution in drug treatments in recent years has changed an HIV-positive diagnosis from one of a quick death sentence to a chronic disease that can be managed with proper medication.

A report last year by the Canadian Observational Cohort Collaboration said the overall life expectancy of Canadians undergoing antiretroviral treatment for the AIDS-causing virus had climbed to 65 years.

 With earlier reporting from The Canadian Press

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Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef is misleading you.

She is misleading your elected representatives.

And she is casting doubt on the sincerity of the Liberal government's pledge to change the way Canadians elect their MPs.

For several months now, the minister has been an invited guest at town halls across the country. She has held her own consultations from coast to coast to coast. She has followed -- I assume -- the work of the all-party committee that she struck with a mandate to study, consult and recommend a new voting system.

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Overwhelmingly, the Canadians who showed up at these town halls and at the committee hearings (and I'm not suggesting that these individuals are necessarily representative of the country as a whole) mostly said one thing: they want MPs to be elected by a proportional system.

That is, they believe that if a political party obtains 40 per cent of the popular vote, that party's members of Parliament should have 40 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons.

Everybody -- the NDP, the Conservatives, the Green Party leader, Monsef's own advisers -- agrees that this is what the people who showed up said.

Everybody, that is, except the minister.

Monsef wrote to the committee last week telling them: "Canadians have not expressed a consensus on a particular electoral system to replace the one we have now."

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Monsef stated that while she had heard "the most passion" from advocates of proportional representation and first-past-the-post (the current system), she said: "I have not yet heard a consensus around one particular system over another."

This is untrue.

What may be worse is that it comes from a minister who last month told a Victoria town hall that the prime minister has a preference for a new electoral system and that she too has a preference.

But she refused to say what is favoured -- under the bizarre reasoning that it would interfere in the independence of the committee's work.

Unusual step

Yet, Monsef has no problem interfering now in the committee's work. She has essentially instructed the Liberal MPs who sit on that committee -- and who continue discussions this week with opposition colleagues on their upcoming report's recommendations -- that she wishes to see no consensus in their report. (The Grits, of course, do not need to listen to her).

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This, after Monsef repeatedly said she respects the committee's work, suggested that she would like to see the all-party committee come to a consensus, and stated that if there were a unanimous report, it would be hard to ignore.

One cannot help but wonder why the minister decided to take this unusual step.

Was it because the NDP last week, emboldened by the recent result of a referendum in Prince Edward Island that called for new proportional system, agreed to the Conservatives' longstanding call for a referendum on any new voting method?

Was it because a consensus appears actually to be forming at the all-party committee?

Was it because a consensus is forming not around a ranked ballot -- which is what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously said he preferred -- but rather around the NDP and Green Party's preferred option of a proportional system as long as Canadians, in a referendum, say they want it?

In June, the minister gave the committee the task of recommending to the government the "best method of ensuring that any proposal has the full or broad support of Canadians."

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"The government will not proceed without the broad support of Canadians," she said at the time and continues to repeat now.

Not liking the broad agreement that has emerged, Monsef, it seems, has now decided to consult a possibly wider spectrum of Canadians. Reports suggest that the Liberal government plans to send postcards to each household across the country asking people to engage online on the "values" they want to see reflected in their democracy.

Monsef provided very little detail of this plan in her letter to the committee. She confirmed reports already in the news media and stated that "this project has been planned for some time."

"The minister is giving herself a very long leash to propose a voting system that few may desire."

It is unclear whether Monsef will actually ask Canadians what new system they prefer or if they favour the status quo. (In fact, something quite different -- relating more to Canadians' values -- looks likely).

It is also unclear how transparent the result of this new consultation will be.

By focusing on the values Monsef says Canadians want, such as accountable local representation and greater voter participation, the minister is giving herself a very long leash to propose a voting system that few may desire.

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Note how she doesn't suggest that one value Canadians want is for their vote to be better reflected in the overall composition of the House? That was a value Trudeau appeared to promise during the election campaign when he said: "We will make every vote count."

Last month, the prime minister hinted that he may have had a change of heart regarding reforms to the voting system. Canadians' desire for a new electoral system has waned since the Liberals are in power, he told Le Devoir.

Monsef has been saying since September that a consensus hasn't formed. One cannot help but wonder if she has been listening at all.

Will she listen now?

Replay electoral town hall with Maryam Monsef:

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Yuji Sakai via Getty Images Image of world map

Thick fog covered many parts of Quebec on Friday morning, as a firestorm of mistrust and contempt festered in the shadows. Quebecers have long had a deep-seated mistrust with the police in my view, and things are only getting worse as new information trickles in every week.

It's been nearly 13 months since Radio Canada's investigative program Enquete uncovered a startling pattern of abuse. The program was initially in the northern city of Val-d'Or -- some 600 kilometers north of Montreal -- to investigate the disappearance of an indigenous woman named Cindy Ruperthouse.

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When Enquete interviewed several indigenous women regarding Ruperthouse's disappearance, they discovered provincial police officers were allegedly picking up these women and demanding for sexual favors. The officers would allegedly drive women to the outskirts of the city, and drop them off in the middle of nowhere -- sometimes even in the dead of winter.

When the news broke, the Surete du Quebec handed the investigation over to the SPVM -- Montreal's police force -- who compiled a comprehensive report and submitted it to the Crown prosecutor. There were 38 initial files compiled in this report, and on Friday we discovered The Crown was only pursuing two cases due to "lack of evidence," according to CBC News.

The six officers who are at the center of this debacle were also suspended with pay, and will not be prosecuted. Also, in a bizarre twist of events, 41 officers from the Surete du Quebec have launched a $2.3 million lawsuit against Radio-Canada claiming their journalism was flawed, biased and incomplete amongst a bevy of other accusations.

This is absolutely ridiculous to say the least; the justice system failed these women and the indigenous community in Val-d'Or. The authorities were meant to protect citizens, but instead the officers abused their power and positions, and got away with their crimes.

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The justice system is clearly flawed, and it proves that police officers can get away with virtually anything. Instead of serving justice to the survivors, the system is openly protecting the perpetrators. It's also troublesome to see officers from the provincial police force launch a large lawsuit against Radio-Canada. Since when is it acceptable to go after journalists for uncovering the truths that plague our society?

The lawsuit is draconian and unacceptable, and symbolizes how the police are willing to go to great lengths in order to silence and prosecute media corporations and journalists for essentially doing their jobs.

This isn't the first time police officers in Quebec have tried to interfere with journalists. Earlier this month, information came to light revealing the SPVM spied on Patrick Lagace, a prominent columnist for La Presse. They were monitoring Lagace's iPhone for several months, tracking his calls, texts and location in order to determine his sources.

This all stems from Project Escouade, an internal investigation launched by the SPVM to probe five police officers in the street gang and drug trafficking division, and how they allegedly fabricated evidence, according to the Montreal Gazette.

One of the five officers, named Faycal Djelidi, reportedly had contact with Patrick Legace, which led the SPVM to obtain 24 warrants to spy on the journalist for an extended period of time.

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These actions are so disturbing and startling to say the least. It makes Quebec look more like a Soviet satellite state, set on intimidating and silencing the free press into submission. This signals to journalists across the province they should be afraid of the state, and how the authorities can unethically interfere with the journalistic process on a judicial level.

How are we supposed to have faith in the police and the justice system when allegations of misconduct are constantly surfacing? Whether it's in the Montreal region, or in Val-d'Or, there's a clear pattern of serious wrongdoing.

Quebec premier Philippe Couillard announced in August the provincial government would not be launching an investigation, but a national inquiry would be held as a part of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, according to CBC News.

It's clear the government in Quebec City needs to do more to protect citizen's rights, instead of idling in the National Assembly and watching our society morph into some post-WWII dystopia.

We need to wake up and smell the coffee, because something is clearly wrong. There needs to be a modus operandi in place to ensure the justice system serves and protects the general interest of Quebecers, and not the criminals who hide behind this facade.

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"If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing." -Napoleon Bonaparte

A Muslim registry. A border wall paid for by Mexico. Repealing Obamacare. These are just three campaign promises made by president-elect Donald Trump while he was on the campaign trail, and they are causing liberal Americans to collectively lose their shit.

#NotMyPresident is trending, protests are still happening across the country, and George Takei is posting about his time spent at actual internment camps, framing his message as a dire warning in case President Donald Trump starts rounding up Muslims.

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As much as I love George Takei, I find his cautionary message to be a tad irresponsible. Here's why.

There is a monstrous contradiction in the hearts and minds of progressives that has yet to be reconciled; that Trump, universally heralded as the most dishonest politician in American history, is apparently the world's most unabashed truth-teller when his words are the most outlandish, the most insane. He has attacked the predispositions of progressives with inflammatory rhetoric and predictable results, culminating a wave of promised activism by those he has offended.

But now that Trump has won, now that he has peeked behind the curtain of power, perhaps a different nightmare scenario will be on the horizon for American liberals.

What if President Donald Trump abandons the most unsavory promises he made, realizing that true power could only be sustained by trotting through the middle as a centrist, rather than on the fringe like an ideologue? Already he has walked back several of his most tasteless proclamations, even as he stacks his cabinet with social zealots and war hawks. Obamacare, which he promised to repeal, is now legislation he will amend. No longer will an ominous wall be built along the entire southern border either. Instead, part of it will only require fencing, a reality likely realized months ago, assuming the wall was ever a serious proposal to begin with.

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Marriage equality is settled law, according to Trump. I've personally spoken with several people who hail from the LGBTQ community who tell me they're frightened for their actual lives now that Trump has been elected. After all, they say, he is anti-gay marriage. When I remind them that Barack Obama was also against gay marriage when he took office they stammer, then pivot to the next horrible idea they remember reading in Vox, or Slate, or the New York Times.

But many readers have just reflexively rolled their eyes at their screens after reading a Huffington Post blogger, me, defend Donald Trump, which I didn't. The tricky backstory of the election is the victimization of truth itself.

It now feels like they want Trump to fail, a nihilistic philosophy mirroring the kind of anti-patriotism shown by the GOP when Obama was first elected.

And none of this is meant to absolve Trump of any of the statements he made that were racially charged. Rather, it is to underline the megalomaniacal rants from his detractors who managed to insert a faux conventional wisdom about the candidate they loathed at the expense of the candidate they revered.

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So bad is the reflexive hatred and finger-wagging towards the next president that it now feels like they want Trump to fail, a nihilistic philosophy mirroring the kind of anti-patriotism shown by the GOP when Obama was first elected.

Indeed, many liberals seem downright masochistic about Trump, signalling they would rather he follow through on internment camps and other zany policies just so they can bask in their own "I told you so" posturing. Even on foreign policy, where Trump is more of an isolationist than war hawk, a stance that caused millions of left-leaning Americans to praise Ron Paul in 2012, liberals are certain he will drop nukes and slaughter Middle Eastern civilians. But this goes against what Trump has been saying for over a decade, until one day when someone pointed out one interview on the Howard Stern Show, and the public either blocked out or was shielded from the hundreds of statements he made against the Iraq war.

Yes, he flip-flopped, but he flip flopped in a direction most progressives should be satisfied with. But Trump being crass and rude and unpolished wasn't enough, he had to be a boogeyman to boot, a boogeyman who only told the unfiltered truth when it was something we did not like, something that offended us.

I was going to disclaim this piece by opening with a laundry list of reasons why Trump is a horrible, putrid man. But I'm tired of having to appease the most stubborn ideologues in our society. It's exhausting having to bend to the whims of the outrage industry every time you want to make a point that counters the claims embedded inside the fabric of progressive America. It's even more exhausting trying to explain to those who champion identity politics that a person can be progressive without having to burn Trump in effigy.

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Before the election I would muse with friends that a Trump presidency would be short-lived, that he would command a general to commit a war crime and be arrested, impeached or become the recipient of the world's easiest coup. Hell, that still is a possibility.

Today the reality of this man leading the free world forces the conversation towards a more pragmatic context; it is far more palatable to have a president who will moderate his positions, soften his stances and realize the office is bigger than him. Plus there is something lurking in the back of the minds of measured, reasonable people who did not support Donald Trump.

Hope.

Hope isn't supposed to expire when we do not like the leader tasked with manifesting the hope his predecessor attempted to instill in us.

We learned from Obama's presidency that hope was audacious, a sometimes fleeting-yet-necessary facet of civilization itself. But hope isn't supposed to expire when we do not like the leader tasked with manifesting the hope his predecessor attempted to instill in us. Society does not have the luxury to remain indignant, or stiffen in a state of perpetual protest, or claim indifference to the successes of a president.

Activism should be thriving right now, ready to hold accountable our leaders should they balk at justice or follow through on divisive policies. Instead, many are replacing the hope for a better future with a wish for a disastrous presidency. Let that marinate for a moment.

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It is the "I told you so" posture that defines the depletion of hope; that you never really get what you wished for. Life under Obama did not improve the middle class, the black communities, civilian life in the Middle East or the blue-collar workforce at home. But perhaps hope under the aspirational president is not as meaningful as it is under a putrid one. And maybe, just maybe, the apocalyptic predictions of a Trump administration will only work to hasten the arrival of disaster.

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Eight hundred kilometres due east of Prince George sits Onion Lake Cree Nation, a small Saskatchewan First Nation reserve. What's happening there will have major ramifications for aboriginal people across the entire country, including B.C.'s 200,000 First Nations people.

Earlier this month, Onion Lake member Charmaine Stick filed a SaskatchewanSupremeCourt action demanding her band disclose the compensation of her chief, Wallace Fox, and council and other basic financial documents as required by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA). The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) are co-applicants and are helping Stick with her legal expenses.

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The FNFTA was adopted in 2013 after grassroots aboriginals asked for more transparency from their elected officials. But Onion Lake's Fox has refused to follow the law, which requires all First Nations bands to post politician salaries and band revenue, expense and asset statements to a federal government website.

"What is Chief Fox hiding?" asked Stick, who in 2014 went on a hunger strike in an unsuccessful effort to get this information. "Why won't he show his own people and everyone else what he's doing with our money?"

Like most politicians, First Nations chiefs don't want embarrassingly high salaries splashed across news media.

As of this writing, 163 of 186 B.C. First Nations bands have filed their 2015-16 disclosures, despite the Trudeau Liberals abandoning enforcement of the law. Three of those bands -- Popkum, Semiahmoo and Skatin Nations -- are now two years behind in their filings.

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B.C.'s experience with the FNFTA is instructive. Semiahmoo quit filing after its 2013-14 filing showed its chief, Willard Cook, made $267,309 tax-free to govern its 98 members. This shocked band members, two of whom said they asked for that information "hundreds of times" over 18 years and didn't get it until the FNFTA forced it to come out.

In its first year, Kwikwetlem's filing revealed that its chief, Ron Giesbrecht, was paid $914,219 tax-free by his 81-member band. As a former chief said, "if it wasn't for this new transparency act, I don't think we ever would have known." In the twoyears since, Giesbrecht has collected another $235,589.

The FNFTA also helped Shuswap band members see what the Sam family was doing with their community's finances. The 263-person Shuswap band paid three members of that family $4.2 million over three-and-a-half years -- plus tens of thousands more in dubious expense claims. After a scathing forensic audit, the RCMP is now investigating.

This is basic transparency that every citizen deserves.

This year, four members of the 412-person Shxwha:y Village First Nation council reported incomes of more than $100,000 -- something their citizens may want to look into. But at least they have the information.

Now in its third year, the FNFTA has generally helped control chief and council salaries -- this year's filings show B.C.'s highest-paid chief, Moricetown's Desmond McKinnon, made $161,588. That's a lot less than the top salary of $211,090 last year or Giesbrecht's $914,219 the year before. Like most politicians, First Nations chiefs don't want embarrassingly high salaries splashed across news media.

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But the FNFTA has also provided insight into successful band management practices. The Osoyoos First Nation, called "the most business-minded in Canada," has virtually no unemployment. Its chief, Clarence Louie, has had his salary frozen at $143,659 for two years. Thanks to FNFTA, other bands can look at Osoyoos's financial statements to see how they are structured and adopt some of their best practices.

Despite all the good the FNFTA has done in B.C., members of 23 bands are still waiting to see this year's disclosures, and three are missing two full years. This is basic transparency that every citizen deserves -- how does government spend their money, and how much do politicians spend on themselves?

Those waiting for their band to file should root for Stick in her court battle with Onion Lake. Her success could blaze a legal trail for others to get this basic information from their First Nation governments.

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Creatas via Getty Images Woman getting pedicure

What do manis and pedis have to do with reproductive health? And how does this work affect the women who do your nails?

If you've ever entered or even passed by a nail salon, you probably noticed a smell that blasts your nostrils. If you stay for a treatment, the smell slowly dissipates while you pamper your fingers and toes.

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What you are smelling is toxins. Nail salon technicians also get used to the smell -- olfactory blindness -- as they handle cosmetic products that are harmful to their skin, their respiratory systems and their reproductive health.

I recently trained a group of nail salon technicians as peer educators. They will teach other workers about the reproductive health effects of the toxic products they use.

The Toronto Healthy Nail Salon Network, an association of nail salon technicians and health advocates, invited me to continue the peer education work they started last year. Taking the lead from advocates in the U.S., they invited a trainer to arm nail salon workers with information, gloves and cream, and to go forth into nail salons across the city and teach their sister workers about the effects on their skin of the chemicals they use.

Now skin is one thing; reproductive health is another. It is easy enough to see reddened, cracked fingers and hands. It is another to make the connection between these products and adverse effects on pregnancies, fetal and children's health.

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I began preparing my workshops nearly a year ago. As time went on, I realized that not only did I have to learn about these chemicals and their effects, I also had to raise workers' comfort level talking about sexuality (easy enough), explain birth control methods available in Canada (no problem), walk them through the available research on the potential effects on their reproductive systems (a challenging slog) and teach them how to pass on all of the above to their peers.

One of the main challenges is to offer information which is not yet definitive. In other words, the research is clear about the potential effects of these toxins, but little research has been done on nail salon technicians themselves.

The only possible message: there is a problem; and workers need to try to reduce their risks in the workplace.

The "toxic trio"

The nail polishes you -- and they -- use may contain solvents including the "toxic trio" (formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate).

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, associated with low birth weight in several studies and reduced fertility.

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Many workers in nail salons have heard stories about friends who had trouble getting pregnant or who had multiple miscarriages.

Toluene is an endocrine disruptor.

We pored over an illustration of the endocrine system and learned that breathing in high levels in pregnancy can cause birth defects, slow growth and retard mental abilities of offspring. There is also an increased risk of reduced fertility and spontaneous abortion.

Dibutyl phthalate is also an endocrine disruptor. Research on mice has shown female reproductive toxicity (birth defects and reduced birth weight), problems in male genital development and potential permanent effects on development of the central nervous system.

You can read more here.

Many workers in nail salons have heard stories about friends who had trouble getting pregnant or who had multiple miscarriages. Ideally, nail salon technicians should be able to plan their pregnancies for times when they are not working. But one of the reasons they work in these risky entry level jobs is because they have to. New immigrants often have few choices. They need the money.

There are other issues. One peer educator asked, "How do I know how long these toxins stay in my body?"

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I explained the precautionary principle. If the women they see want to plan their pregnancies, these peers can now knowledgeably discuss all the birth control methods available, as well as access to abortion. I suggested that if it was at all possible, they might encourage these women to consider planning a pregnancy for a time when they were not working in a nail salon.

I enjoyed asking the peers about the birth control methods they had used in their home countries of Vietnam and China. Of course, it was especially interesting to hear about the one child policy in China as well as attitudes towards abortion.

In their anonymous written questions, like most women, they wanted to know about the safety of birth control pills and which was the best method (one that works and suits you best). They also wanted to know about the availability and cost of abortion. The most difficult question was how to demonstrate the effects of toxins on women's reproductive systems. Again, all they can really offer is risk reduction.

Reduce the risk

When they go out to speak with nail technicians in salons across the city, they will have brochures in Vietnamese and Chinese which suggest the following:

Don't use products with formaldehyde.

Don't use nail polish removers with acetone.

Don't use nail polish thinners with toluene.

They will further recommend to nail salon technicians:

close bottles when you are not using them

put garbage with chemicals in a closed bag

throw the bag in a garbage with a lid

close the lid and keep it closed

try to take work breaks away from your work station

go outside for fresh air if you can

open doors and windows and use fans to increase air circulation

do not eat at your work station or near chemicals

do not wear jewelry where chemicals and water can stay

wash your clothes when you get home

And what about you? If you love your fingernail and toenail polish, or your artificial nails, you have two options: do it at home with less toxic products, keeping your windows open; or encourage your local nail salon to adopt the risk reduction strategies above. If more patrons insist on safer working conditions, it will increase the safety for all.

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As long as children are victims of war, poverty, exploitation and injustice, the world needs a Universal Children's Day. Photo by World Vision

Each year around this time, I find myself frustrated that the world still needs to observe Universal Children's Day on November 20th. Don't get me wrong, kids are worth celebrating. As someone who has dedicated my life to serving children, I believe that at my core.

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But I wish jobs like mine didn't have to exist. I wish there was no need for organizations like World Vision or for days like Universal Children's Day to highlight the plight of children around the world.

Even after more than 25 years serving with World Vision, I still catch myself thinking, what could have gone so wrong? With all of humankind's incredible advancements, how have we not figured out how to care for the world's most precious resource?

It's difficult not to feel depressed -- just turn on the TV. Right now in Mosul, Iraq, children who fled the ISIL-controlled city are arriving at displacement camps too traumatized to even speak after what they've been through. In sweatshops in Dhaka, Bangladesh, children are bent over sewing machines for 12 hours a day so that we can buy cheap clothing. Today I am in El Salvador, where I am meeting with youth who are desperate for family and belonging, and are turning to street gangs in an effort to find their place in the world.

When I look back at what I have witnessed this past year, the necessity of a day like Universal Children's Day becomes clear. And I have hope that perhaps for one day, Canadians might stand together and realize the power we have in making a difference to children around the world.

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Twenty-seven years ago yesterday, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified in New York. It noted that while all people have human rights, "childhood is entitled to special care and assistance." All childhood. All children.

The Convention was the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Apart from two nations, every country in the world promised to put children first. As a nation, Canada joined other countries in this agreement.

"The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them," our commitments read. We've had 27 years to get that right, and yet still, children need a special day to remind us of these promises.

It's not that aid doesn't work. Since 1990 deaths of children under the age of five have been cut in half, and since 2000 48 million child deaths have been prevented. Canadian funding makes a difference. And when it comes to the all-important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Canada has made some strong commitments.

However, the duty to uphold those commitments belongs not only to our government but to all of us. We often describe our country as "open" and "generous" -- that's something to take hold of on a day like today. It will be what unifies us into combining our personal efforts to reach those sustainable development goals.

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Some of those personal efforts could include sponsoring a child, or buying a goat from our gift catalogue for communities in Africa. It could mean pledging to our Raw Hope initiative that drives change in the world's most fragile regions, like South Sudan and Syria. Or, it could simply mean passing on Canada's spirit of generosity to your own children, so that they may continue to carry the baton as humanitarian leaders.

The global deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals is 2030. We have fourteen years to change the lives of millions of children for good. Impossible? I don't think so. In fact I believe that with a concerted effort by every Canadian, children around the world won't even have to wait that long.

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CharlieAJA via Getty Images European flag jigsaw piece with British flag missing piece

There is rise of right-wing politics in several countries of the world. Brexit in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in the US demonstrate the popularity of right-wing politics in various parts of the world. Also, right-wing politics is gaining traction in countries like France and Germany. Backed by populism, right-wing politics is becoming more and more popular and widespread in several countries.

The rise and popularity of right-wing politics can be categorized into economic and non-economic factors. Immigration and the movement of refugees into Europe played a role. While xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia and other kinds of discrimination play roles in the rise and popularity of right-wing politics in various countries, there are economic factors at play as well. This article focuses on the economic factors that are contributing to the rise and popularity of right-wing politics.

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Many Western countries have followed a policy of neoliberalism for the last few decades. A combination of privatization, deregulation including financial deregulation, free trade and globalization characterize neoliberalism. Neoliberalism has been a boon for global economic growth; both developed and developing countries have benefited from neoliberalism in terms of high economic growth.

Globalization and outsourcing have allowed countries like China to rapidly develop while developed countries have benefited from cheaper goods and services produced in low-wage countries. At the same time, technological improvement has allowed to automate manufacturing processes, lowering manufacturing costs by using fewer number of workers. Automation has benefited companies as fewer number of workers mean lower costs and, consequently, higher profits and efficient production processes.

Therefore, outsourcing, globalization and automation led to higher economic growth in both developed and developing countries, benefited companies producing in low-wage countries in terms of lower production costs and higher profits, and consumers in developed countries by having access to cheaper goods and services made in low-wage countries.

However, the benefits of globalization, outsourcing and automation came at a high cost. Companies in developed countries moved their production processes to low-wage countries or outsourced parts of their production processes to low-wage countries. Workers in developed countries who were employed in these manufacturing and service industries have become unemployed with neoliberal policies adopted by the developed countries. Combined with automation, it has been putting significant pressure on the employment situation of the working class and middle-class in developed countries.

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Globalization, outsourcing and automation have led to dissipation of the manufacturing sector in developed countries that employed the working class in these countries. This led to increased unemployment among the working class and a shrinking middle class. While manufacturing flourished in low-wage countries, developed countries started to experience industrial rust belts which led to unemployment of factory workers.

With increased globalization, outsourcing and automation, the adverse effects on the working class and middle-class have only increased over time. However, the unemployed did not find alternative employment which forced them to fall into difficult financial circumstances or even poverty. At the same time, the beneficiaries of globalization, outsourcing and automation included the multi-national companies and large corporations. The people who have benefited from this continuous change have become incredibly wealthy while the working class and middle class have suffered financially. This has led to higher income inequality among the population of developed countries.

The suffering of the working class and middle-class have led to rise of angst and anger among this segment of the population, which is a majority in many developed countries. They are disillusioned with globalization and free trade, and the way it has wreaked havoc to their livelihood. Also, the social programs in the developed countries have been inadequate to help these disenfranchised people.

This led to these people rallying against the establishment in these countries contributing to the rise of anti-establishment popularity among the masses and support of right-wing politics, including far-right politics, in these countries. The disillusionment and resentment with neoliberalism, globalization and insufficient social programs have contributed to Brexit in the UK, Donald Trump being elected in the US and the rise of right-wing parties in France, Germany, etc.

Globalization, outsourcing and automation have taken a toll on the working class and middle-class of developed countries. The governments of these countries can introduce social programs that will help the adversely affected population. Health care is a considerable cost to people, especially the working class and middle-class segments of the population. Sometimes, health care costs can push someone into poverty. The introduction of more affordable health care or universal health care could help the low-income and middle-income people in having access to health care services.

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Also, while some of the unemployed workers found alternative employment, others have fallen into financial difficulty or poverty. In order to help them have a decent living that will contribute to social stability, guaranteed minimum income may be introduced. Guaranteed minimum income ensures that all citizens have a minimum income that they can live on. The introduction of guaranteed minimum income will allow the adversely affected segments of the population to have a decent living. This will alleviate their suffering and lead to social stability and harmony.

The introduction of affordable post-secondary education will help the low income and middle-class to access post-secondary education for themselves and their children. Rising costs of tuition particularly at the post-secondary level have made it increasingly difficult for the low-income and middle-class to afford post-secondary education.

Also, increased access and affordability to trade schools and retraining opportunities will help the unwitting victims of global economic and technological changes as well as the low-income and middle-class. This will improve the standard of living of the low-income and middle-class of the developed countries as well as stem the rising income inequality that plagues these countries.

The income tax system can be made more progressive so that it taxes high-income earners more to finance social programs targeting the low-income and middle-class sections of the society. This will reduce income inequality while helping the low-income and middle-class. Also, changes can be made in the corporate tax system so that it benefits domestic producers and companies that choose not to offshore production in low-wage countries.

The introduction of subsidies and lower corporate taxes can encourage companies to produce domestically and even reshore, which is bringing back jobs to their home countries. This may improve employment in some types of manufacturing and service sectors in the developed countries.

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Again, incentives in terms of lower tax rates can be offered to corporations to bring their overseas profits to their home countries. When they bring back overseas profits and invest in domestic economies of the developed countries, it will boost their respective economies and employment scenarios.

A combination of these economic and public policies accompanied by social policies like increased awareness among the population of the benefits of immigration will definitely reduce the anger and disillusionment among the adversely affected sections of the population in developed countries. Policies that benefit all sections of the population so that they enjoy the benefits of globalization, outsourcing and automation will reap rich rewards in terms of higher economic, social and political stability and harmony. This will make right-wing politics less appealing to the population of developed countries.
Occasionally a Private Members' Bill is introduced that is so immaterial, so irrelevant and inconsequential that it defies explanation or public interest. Bill S-208, An Act Respecting National Seal Products Day, appears to be such a bill.

Originally introduced by Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette, the self-proclaimed "godmother" of the sealing industry, the bill would designate May 20 as "National Seal Products Day" in Canada. The date was deliberately selected to coincide with Maritime Day in the European Union, with the intention of sending a political message to the EU which, in 2009, banned the import and trade of seal products other than those hunted by indigenous peoples.

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But if the creators and supporters of this bill were doing this to get a reaction -- from the EU or elsewhere -- they appear to have failed miserably. No animal protection groups have made a peep about National Seal Products Day, though all are undoubtedly well aware of it. And while almost 2,000 people have signed a petition -- started in Newfoundland -- rejecting National Seal Products Day, Bill S-208 has passed from the Senate to House Committee with little attention.

National Seal Products Day will most likely be considered - should anyone outside of Ottawa actually pay attention to it - as an embarrassing joke.

Designating a national day to celebrate a product -- as opposed to recognizing an individual, group or cultural occasion -- seems strange. It is difficult to see how the East Coast seal "fishery" warrants a special day of its own when we already have National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day. If Parliamentarians wish to recognize the important role of seals in Inuit culture, designating a day to recognize Inuit culture and traditions would be far more appropriate.

Conflating the Inuit and East Coast seal hunt because they are both "sealing" is a mistake, akin to saying that angling and commercial trawling are both "fishing." They are two distinct types of hunts, conducted for different purposes, at different times of year, in different parts of Canada and for different species. While there is a commercial component to Inuit seal hunting (which no animal organization has ever campaigned against), the primary purpose of the Inuit hunt is for food.

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The same cannot be said for the East Coast commercial hunt: a market-driven, mass slaughter of wildlife solely for their skins to make luxury products, with government statistics suggesting that 92 per cent of the potentially usable meat is wasted.

Bill sponsor MP Scott Simms claims that National Seal Products Day would help reinvigorate the sealing industry. But let's be realistic: hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for market research and development over the past 30 years has not resulted in a sustainable sealing industry.

The multimillion-dollar bailout loans to seal processors in Newfoundland have succeeded only in creating stockpiles of seal pelts that cannot be sold. The designation of a Fisheries Ambassador to travel the world and fight against seal products bans was an expensive failure. Events such as Seal Day on the Hill -- complete with fancy canapes and MPs tweeting selfies in a borrowed seal fur jackets -- have done nothing to help Inuit, who continue to rely on seal as a source of food and who now have exclusive access to many of the world's commercial markets for their products.

Should National Seal Products Day pass -- as it seems likely to do -- there is no doubt that animal protection organizations will take full advantage of the occasion to showcase video footage from recent commercial seal hunts, the one that occurs off the East Coast and is conducted primarily by non-aboriginal fishermen.

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Images of seal pups barely three weeks of age crying and barking as they are hooked, alive and conscious, through the face with a steel boat hook and hauled onto a boat deck. Seals sliced open, breathing, waving their paw in agony from the bottom of a skiff. Not to mention the countless animals shot and left to suffer, only to slip away to their slow lingering deaths from their injuries beneath the ice.

Inuit seal hunters and East Coast fishermen do not need statements or symbolism; they need action and alternatives.

Aside from politicians who will undoubtedly come to question the wisdom behind a day that requires a symbolic donning of heavy seal fur garments on a warm day in late May, Canadians are no more likely to support the seal hunt on National Seal Products Day than they are to give away their money on National Philanthropy Day (November 15).

Maritime Day in the EU appears to be a professional, sophisticated occasion, with analyses and discussions on maritime policy, fostering innovation, and sustainability. That Canada's proposed equivalent focuses on clubbing the skulls of baby seals is absurd and will only reinforce the image of Atlantic Canada as a backwater. Indeed, National Seal Products Day will most likely be considered -- should anyone outside of Ottawa actually pay attention to it -- as an embarrassing joke, complete with tired quips about a baby harp seal walking into a bar and asking for "anything but a Canadian Club."

The comment was made several times during debate that National Seal Products Day "makes a statement, not a holiday." But statements will do precious little to benefit Inuit sealers who could use real and tangible assistance in accessing the markets for products from their full-use seal hunt. They also fail to provide viable alternatives for fishermen in Atlantic Canada, for whom the sealing industry is a dangerous, short-term, seasonal activity that continues to rely on government financial support.

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Inuit seal hunters and East Coast fishermen do not need statements or symbolism; they need action and alternatives.

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Twelve sick babies are fighting for their lives in a cramped hospital room in Jeremie, in the south of Haiti. Five nights ago, heavy rains flooded the pediatric department. The nurse had just enough time to take the babies out of their incubators and transfer them, through the rain, to the hallway of an adjoining building. UNICEF will work with Medecins du Monde to make urgent renovations to the pediatric department.

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Haiti is a structurally vulnerable country where a crisis is never far away, often sweeping in with rain, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and cholera to wreak havoc on the nation's priorities. When I arrived in Haiti in 2007, the 2004 disaster in Gonaives was still fresh in everyone's minds. A year later, the same city was once again flooded. When I came back in 2012, the earthquake had left thousands of people in Port au Prince homeless and cholera was rapidly spreading.

Today, more than one month after Hurricane Matthew hit, our attention is turned toward the south of the country, where suspected cases of cholera and acute diarrhea are on the rise. We must also avoid an outbreak in Port au Prince, which would in turn spread to the rest of the country, as it did two years ago.

In Les Cayes, I am with a rapid response team for water and sanitation in an alley in a popular neighbourhood. We enter the house of a child who has acute diarrhea and perhaps also cholera. The team gathers data, sprays, educates on handwashing and distributes water purification tablets, bars of soap and pails to neighbourhood residents. As for the child, now that he is being looked after, he will heal. Throughout the area, UNICEF is increasing this type of water and sanitation activity in communities in addition to supporting vaccination campaigns against cholera.

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Hurricane Matthew brings us up close to the type of safety issues plaguing Haiti. It has halted the return of children placed in residential centres to their families and increased the risk of abandonment. The storm has disrupted the education of more than 150,000 children, in a country known for its thirst for knowledge. Renovating more than 100 schools is once again a priority, without letting up on the struggle against exclusion from school.

To make matters worse, three years of drought have endangered crops, the price of food has shot up and the local currency has dropped in value, making families' daily reality even more difficult. More than 112,000 children are at risk of suffering from acute malnutrition. Nutritional screening through mobile clinics supported by UNICEF is more vital than ever. Fortunately, a few days before the hurricane hit the island, UNICEF had already set up nutritional products.

We now turn toward Jeremie, in the Grand'Anse department, where power has been out since Matthew struck more than one month ago. The palm trees left standing no longer have any leaves. In the chaos of roads muddied or flooded by the heavy rains of the night before, young transporters struggle to push their loads of sheet metal meant for repairs to missing roofs. Last weekend, eight UNICEF trucks brought emergency aid to Jeremie. Along the roadside, tension is growing among people who have yet to receive anything. To the priorities in disarray, the difficult access as well as the escalating tension and politicization a few days before the elections, the issue of safety is also rearing its head.

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Child indicators in Haiti are among the lowest in the region, but between 2006 and 2012, they had gone up, giving hope. Infant mortality was down, acute malnutrition was halved, children had greater access to education and the legal framework to protect them was better. Slowly but surely, the lives of Haitian children were improving.

Nowadays, on the scale of international attention, Haiti frequently lags behind Mosul, Aleppo and Lampedusa. Yet, what this country needs is sustained attention and support--during, but also after, the crisis. This is support that UNICEF and its partners, who have pledged their assistance to the most vulnerable Haitians, are key in providing daily.

Thank you, or mesi ampil, for your continued support.

By Christophe Boulierac, UNICEF
The five things you need to know on Monday, November 21

1) JAS HANDS

Top marks to the CBI for lining up Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at their conference, just days before the Autumn Statement. The PM has a big speech setting out what looks like a grand bargain with business: you tackle corporate excess on pay and work practices, Ill give you infrastructure cash and other help youve long wanted.

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May has an FT piece in which she talks of the small minority of businesses who try to game the system, and the overnight No10 brief focused on a new 2bn for research and development. Downing St held back for the morning papers a separate line of May committing to Osbornes pledge to give the UK the lowest corporation tax in the world.

Jeremy Corbyn will give his first speech as Labour leader to the CBI too. He will roll out a new soundbite to counter Mays just about managing classes. Because wages are low, hours are insecure and rents are too high. Theyre not just about managing. Many are just about surviving. After the PMs JAMs, we now have Jezs JASs. The Guardian splash on a consultants report stating those on low incomes are set to lose more than 2,500 a year by 2020.

Mays approach certainly sounds more interventionist than anything Cameron managed. Note that Philip Hammond on Marr yesterday sounded like he was backing off workers on boards, something business felt was clumsily announced by May, and Greg Clark said on Today there were 'different ways' of doing that. He also hinted that shareholder rights would be bolstered to curb excess pay.

Theres a lot of talk that under the collaborative new Government, individual Cabinet ministers will now be left to make announcements that Chancellors previously grabbed for themselves. But I cant help thinking that No.10 is the one hogging the announcements (May nicking bits of Clarks industrial strategy, for example) in a way that reminds me of the Gordon Brown premiership. No.10 certainly has had much more of a hand in this Autumn Statement than Blair or Cameron did in their day.

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And in many ways the May way looks like the Brown way. Lots of this Autumn Statements plans look like the kind of thing Brown could have unveiled (infrastructure boosts, nice to business, prudence with a purpose, micro-tweaks on fuel duty etc). Does it matter that he too hadnt won a general election in his own name either?

2) NO MANS PLANNED

The CBIs new president Paul Drechsler will use his own speech today to warn May that business wants "clarity and - above all - a plan on Brexit. Firms are inevitably considering the cliff-edge scenario of being stranded in a regulatory no man's land outside the EU customs union and single market.

And while Mays Great Repeal Bill aims to reduce the cliff-edge by simply writing many current EU laws into British law, the UK cannot replicate the customs union or single market without EU agreement. Which is precisely why 60 MPs yesterday informed the Sunday Telegraph they wanted out of both. Michael Gove was on of the signatories and you can imagine Boris would have signed if he could.

As for Gove-Bozza relations, some will have missed it but Saturdays Week in Westminster had the former Justice Sec kinda admit for the first time his knifing of Boris had been a big mistake and if hed been Theresa May Id have sacked me too.

The Sunday Times had a story trying to flesh out what Tony Blairs mysterious return to public life would look like, suggesting his 140 staff will campaign for a soft Brexit, because Corbyn was a nutter and May was ineffective (his office deny the quote). One Blair-era politician not making a comeback is Nicolas Sarkozy. I remember when Sarko once tried some sexist ridicule of Angela Merkel at a summit. How she must be smiling this morning, having announced her own bid for a 4th term as Chancellor.

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3) CRABBYS GRAND RATIONAL

Just what, if anything, Hammond will do about welfare cuts this week is a pressing issue. On Radio 4s Westminster Hour last night, former Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb pointed out the Chancellor will already have to explain where hes going to find the 4bn lost (but not forgotten) in his own personal independence payment reforms axed after IDSs departure.

On the vexed topic of Universal Credit cuts - cuts that critics say will hit many just managing people in low-income work - Crabb said I think that offends everyones sense of justice. But he suggested Hammond would address it with broader help for people on low incomes rather than by reversing another welfare cut.

Continuing his rational approach to policy, Crabb also became the latest senior Tory politician to suggest that the state pension triple lock could end after the next election. It has served its purpose and there will be a case after 2020 to look again at that. Damian Green has Work and Pensions Questions today - will he offer up similar thoughts?

One Tory MP leading calls for welfare cuts to be eased is Heidi Allen. But on Pienaars Politics she went perhaps a step too far for her colleagues. Asked if shed snog, marry or avoid Ed Balls, she replied Maybe snogI like a man who can move to music. Viewers votes meant the former Shadow Chancellor survived again on Strictly last night despite the judges disdain. Popular with the people, unsupported by the expertshow very 2016.

BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR

Watch this hedgehog transform itself into a monster.

4) ST STEVENS ENTRANCE

The NHS may or may not get an emergency cash injection this week, but the political pressure on the issue of health and social care grows every week. Today, the BMA have an analysis of the coming Sustainability and Transformation Plans (get used to the acronym STPs) being drafted to across the NHS, claiming they will be used as a cover for 22bn in cuts. The Mirror has splashed its front page with their verdict.

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NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh hit back, saying the plans were about incremental improvement not a big bang. As for NHS England chief Simon Stevens (seen as Saint Stevens by many Labour MPs, after the way he garnered more cash ahead of the election), he wider issue is the scale of the financial challenge.

There was an intriguing exclusive in the Mail on Sunday yesterday (curiously un-bylined) that Downing St was gunning for Stevens, after he contradicted Mays claim that 10bn was going into the NHS. One of May's aides is said to have warned that they intended to 'fix' the NHS chief..

The Lib Dems have actually come up with a cash figure, saying Hammond should offer 4bn extra on Wednesday, to fund winter A&E, mental health and ring-fenced social care help for councils. Speaking of which, former pensions minister Ros Altmann told the BBC today that she sent a memo round Whitehall in 2015 warning of the care crisis. She wants tax breaks to help people save for care in later life.

5) DE-SELECT FEW?

Amid claims that its members are merely clicktivists, Momentum has launched a Grassroots Now campaign to turn its energy into campaigning. The phone canvassing website it used to striking effect in the leadership race will be deployed instead to mobilise on-the-ground support for Labours NHS national campaign day next Saturday.

But suspicions continue in the PLP that Momentum is a vehicle for deselections of MPs and John McDonnells remarks yesterday on Pienaars Politics wont have reassured many. Asked about a Sunday Times story that Hilary Benn was facing a deselection after key posts were taken in his Leeds Central constituency by Corbyn supporters, the Shadow Chancellor was non-committal.

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He stressed that Benn was a friend of mine and had a fantastic role to play, but there was a but coming. But we cant interfere in local democracy in our party. Although senior party figures have no role in local CLP issues, its hard to think of Gordon Brown or Ed Balls saying such a thing when they were Shadow Chancellor. Which is kinda the point, I suppose. Still, Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow City Minister in McDonnells team, told Radio 4's Westminster Hour last night that ex-Militant members of Momentum were frankly unwelcome. Theres a lot going on within that brand, he added.

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Forget Trump, forget Brexit, forget it all!

I have a new story to tell you today - and that's about the way in which young people are taking matters into their own hands and shaping the future of the world they'd like to see.

2016 has certainly been a bumper year for the markets, the economy, politics and for the global stage in general. Shock results from elections and referendums, two major outcomes in particular, have made for a rocky time and much uncertainty. But for me, one thing does remain certain, and that is the power the now generation have to not let external factors derail them from their journeys to success and social change.

I spoke to Mx Jacob Thomas, LGBTQIA+ human rights advocate and Queen's Young Leader of Australia. These words really sum up what I want to say: "It's easy for young people to be disillusioned, to feel worthless and hopeless, to have that pit of grief sit deep and heavy in our stomachs. We know that feeling of despair, the one that makes us feel overwhelmed and empty, all at once with no recourse for cure or relief. There are many of us who are feeling this in multiple, knowing that there are people who are voting on issues of global magnitude to silence and hurt us because of who we are. It's easy to want to run, to hide, to bury our heads in the blissful sand of ignorance and hope it's only a bad dream which we will wake from; sweaty and gasping. We need to mourn these times so we can feel after we have been struck by petrifying numbness. We need to breathe deep and call on our courage to accept that generations before us may not have voted with us in mind - perhaps with purposeful arrogance that we, supposedly, don't know enough. But we do know. Young people are the catalyst that a pained world needs to start becoming stronger, unified, and persistent so that we may once again fight the injustices that we have been brought into and are frankly sick of. To the young people of the world, know that you are powerful and important. You can do this."

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said this week that we need to build bridges, not walls, and he is right. The more we focus on the differences and issues in our society, the less time we spend on actually making a difference to build connections and make the world better.

Why waste our time slinging mud across television networks just to win votes?

Why spend time criticising the government and ripping apart policies you don't agree with?

Why not spend time taking positive action to secure your position in the world and bring others with you?

The journey of change is one of both peaks and troughs, but whether you stay in those troughs and dwell on outcomes sometimes which are bigger than your direct control, is really up to you.

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This week the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) declared 'post-truth' as its word of the year. The OED defines 'post-truth' as 'relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.' Importantly, the impact of the word post-truth on the English language has been laid bare by OED's Oxford English Corpus, which analyses millions of words from the world wide web, academic journals and other forms of printed text. The Corpus found that the word's use has grown by an estimated 2000% since last year. Moreover, the analysis pointed to the UK's Brexit vote and the US elections as reasons for its surge in use.

Interestingly, the news media reacted excitedly to the OED's choice for 2016 and it was widely reported on the radio, TV, in newspapers and across the internet. The inevitable punditry followed with broadcasters, journalists and other commentators from all sides of the political spectrum reporting on the phenomenon of 'post-truth politics' in particular. However, as any student of A Level Sociology should know, the idea that we now inhabit a post-truth society where empirical facts, well researched evidence and established norms and values fall by the wayside as people's 'emotion and personal belief' become more important in uncovering the truth, or reality, is not particularly new.

The idea that we live in a media saturated world of differing choices and that our understanding of the world often reflects our own perceptions, views and opinions, has been well established by the philosophers, cultural critics and social scientists often referred to as 'postmodernists'. In social theory, for example, postmodernists often approach society with a cynical distrust or scepticism towards the big ideas of the last few 'modern' centuries, especially those political ideologies and social theories, such as Marxism and structural functionalism, that emerged from Enlightenment rationality. Essentially, postmodernism questions our own and others' claims to an objective reality and rules out the existence of absolute truths.

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Consequently, the postmodern world, or condition, is often summed up us as an era of incessant choice, alternative lifestyles and the ability to live in a fragmented society of diverse and often a estranged groupings. Thus, when media commentators point to increasing political polarisation where people are only exposed to the facts they find palatable and live in ideological bubbles where they only hear and see what they want to, we can see the world many postmodernists foretold - and were often mocked for theorising about - becoming ever more present; even if the word post-truth is used instead of postmodern.

If we consider the similarities between the ideas behind post-truth and postmodernism, it could be argued that post-truth is simply echoing the ideas that have been developed by postmodernists. Although the word post-truth had been used before, the OED suggests that post-truth was more than likely coined in 1992 by the Serbian-American playwright Steve Tesich in an article for The Nation magazine. In this article, Tesich, whilst focusing on the Persian Gulf War and the Iran-Contra affair, stated that 'we, as a free people, have freely decided that we want to live in some post-truth world'. In contrast, the word postmodern was first used by the art critic John Watkins Chapman when describing a style of painting that deviated from the popular and established styles of the time. In the 1920s people used postmodern to describe new styles of music and in the 1940s the word was used to characterise certain types of architecture. In philosophy, many point to Martin Heidegger, Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault as influential postmodernists, although it is debatable as to whether they would have considered themselves as postmodernists. However, it is in the work of these philosophers that we see questions emerging around the nature of reality, our claims to understand it and how power influences it in a society that has changed beyond anything that the classical philosophers could have imagined or comprehended.

Nevertheless, perhaps the current use of the word post-truth is best reflected by the more overt postmodernist theories of Jean Baudrillard, whose book Simulacra and Simulation argued that advances in communication technology have left us with a confused understanding of what is real. This is hyper-reality or, in other words, 'a real without origin or reality', as we are unable to distinguish between the real and the false, especially if two things lay claim to the same truth or origin. Furthermore, Jean Francois Lyotard wrote in his bookIn Human that the grand metanarratives, or ideologies of the Enlightenment, have become less meaningful to us and this has resulted in our general distrust of scientific and social scientific claims to truth. Here, both Baudrillard, writing in the late 1970s and 80s, and Lyotard, writing in the late 1970s, were articulating the view of the world that has suddenly been popularised by the word post-truth.

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"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

Uplifting words, undoubtedly, but uncomfortably jarring when you know they were written by Anne Frank, a fifteen-year-old child who less than a month later was dragged from her hiding place, deported to a concentration camp, and murdered, along with most of her family and six million other Jews.

Anne Frank died, as millions if not billions other victims of prejudice have died, because most people are not good at heart. They died because many people are susceptible to bigotry, and because many more people are susceptible to silence in the face of bigotry.

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Of course millions also voted against them. But many of these defeated, decent people now stand cowed. They weakly reason that "democracy" forbids further protest, they call out for understanding and validate the grievances of their opponents. They upbraid doomsday prophesiers for unhelpful scaremongering, and they insist that all will be fine because the compromises of political office mean that bigoted rhetoric will always end up watered down.

Pick up a history book. Pick up a newspaper.

Are we really so arrogant, so conceited, that we think those foibles of human nature which lead our ancestors and our contemporaries into bloodied warfare have somehow passed us by? Angry nativism is sweeping our lands. Foreigners, Muslims, feminism, globalisation, the environment... all are becoming fair game for attack. We must do something about it. We must stand up, we must fight. Or else we'll become another generation of blindsided bystanders, who turn away as the Anne Franks of our time are marched to their death.

There has been just one bright spot in the aftermath of the Brexit/Trump result: if only millennials had voted, liberalism would have resoundingly won the day. Most of us, it seems, want to live in a world that is fair and free. As older voters die off and the liberal-leaning Generation Z swell our voting ranks, there is hope that when we control the world we will make it into a better place. But we must not be complacent. We must not wait until we dominate the political spectrum. Because it is the world that is currently being crafted, the one which we will inherit, which will fully and irrevocably shape the rest of our lives.

We must act now.

Our liberal counterparts in the older generations must join us. This is a revolution for everyone who believes in tolerance and progressiveness. We must challenge every instance of bigotry we encounter. We must never stay silent when prejudice is voiced. We must put pressure on our politicians, our corporations, and our acquaintances to endorse liberal values. Arguments now are better than wars later.

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I'll admit my optimism is not strong. History shows us how few and how futile are those who stand against the tide. Too many people find the prospect of atrocity so incredible that they will not bother to act. Too many people say "it will be okay", when they really mean "I'm rich enough that it will be okay for me", "I'm white enough that it will be okay for me", "I'm male/straight/local/Christian enough that it will okay... for me".

Still, I implore you. If we are to distinguish ourselves from animals, there must be such things as universal human values, and they must surely be that race, gender, sexuality, nationality and class are not acceptable reasons to treat people badly. We could stop this, if only enough of us stood up and said "enough".
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has, since its creation in 2003, been the subject of much criticism. The axe that its critics grind the most is that, despite being set up as a permanent court to end impunity for atrocities globally, it seems to be focusing its efforts solely on the African continent. Critics decry bias and racism, and argue that insufficient attention has been paid to the war crimes that have been committed by the US. After all, it seems unfair that the global superpower should be immune from global justice. But might all of that be about to change?

There are reasons to think so. In a report published by the Chief Prosecutor's Office this week, entitled 'Report on Preliminary Examination Activities', the Court seemed to suggest that US servicemen and women could for the first time be investigated for violations of the laws of war. The following excerpt from the report hints at this:

"Members of US armed forces appear to have subjected at least 61 detained persons to torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity on the territory of Afghanistan between 1 May 2003 and 31 December 2014"

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Even more boldly, the report states:

"[T]he Office has determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that, at a minimum, the following crimes within the Court's jurisdiction have occurred:

c. War crimes of torture and related ill-treatment, by US military forces deployed to Afghanistan"

In effect, the Prosecutor has argued outright that war crimes were committed by US forces and that the ICC is in a position to investigate and perhaps even prosecute them on that basis. If true, this could be huge.

Recognition of the US's culpability for atrocities committed in Afghanistan, issued by the world's authority on international crimes, would act as the strongest rebuke to date, sending out a powerful message to survivors everywhere that war crimes, no matter who commits them, are unacceptable. This opens up opportunities for survivors and their families to finally obtain justice and reparations, affording them a sense of closure, dignity and respect. For those communities affected- who are, after all, the most important stakeholders in international justice- the benefits would be indescribable.

There is an additional fringe benefit to such an investigation: namely, it becomes a lot more difficult for certain critics to dismiss the ICC's mission as "racially biased" at the point where it pursues the most important player in foreign policy. I have written elsewhere about how these accusations are often employed by states with dubious human rights records in order to discredit the ICC's rightful criticism of their actions. Providing an effective response to these claims will allow the ICC to rebuild and improve its relationships with the communities affected by war crimes.

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But there is an obvious and possibly insurmountable barrier to achieving all of this: enforceability. All investigations and trials require some degree of state co-operation in order to succeed. Whilst an impressive body of evidence has already been produced, the only way to ensure that any servicemen or senior personnel are actually brought before the Court is through enforcing arrest warrants. But this is easier said than done.

The ICC has a fraught relationship with the US, to put it mildly. Although President Clinton did give the executive's signature to the Rome Statute (on his last day in office), his successor, George W. Bush, proclaimed in no uncertain terms that the US would not be signing up to the Court under his watch. So strong was his rejection of the Court that Congress was prompted to pass the American Service-Members' Protection Act, a law which gives authorisation to the president to invade The Hague should the ICC attempt to indict a serviceman. Whilst the relationship was somewhat repaired during the Obama administration, all prospects for this have disappeared since Trump's election. Although co-operation with the Court was hardly a pillar of his campaign, there is ample evidence to suggest he is not a fan. Sources have suggested that he is primed to nominate John Bolton for the position of Secretary of State, a man who famously claimed that the decision of the Bush administration to unsign the Rome Statute was the "happiest moment" of his political career. All in all, prospects are grim.

But even if an indictment against a US serviceman doesn't reach fruition (barring the possible invasion of The Hague), the investigation could still be incredibly important. In the first place, it could increase pressure on the US to prove that the court martial system currently in place is effectively delivering justice to survivors. There are already important civil society and NGO initiatives underway to increase transparency in the way the US justice system deals with claims of war crimes being committed. The ICC could join activists in playing a crucial role in this process.
Two weeks ago, I was turned away from a Toni and Guy hair salon.

'None of our hair stylists are trained to do Afro hair,' I was told.

A month ago, at a panel discussion on the lack of quality cosmetic products for black women, four out of seven ladies said they had had the same experience. There are very few quality hair salons who can look after Afro hair and turn out a decent style.

Like many women with Afro hair, I used to find it difficult to manage, even when it was permed. In between salon visits for braids or weaves, I was torn in two: if I washed the extensions, the texture would become flimsy and if I waited for the next appointment, my scalp would grow itchy and flaky. I dreaded loosening my plaits because I didn't want to deal with my hair. This led to knots too difficult to untangle so that I would yank my hair and lose far more than was necessary. Also, I was afraid to let my own hair out at work; there would be questions,

'Oh, what have you done to your hair? It's much smaller.'

I wanted to avoid the shame of admitting I didn't know what to do with my hair.

We black women equate our hair with pain and discomfort; long hours at the salon, the tugging at our scalp while the hair is being braided or relaxed and the loss of the delicate hairs at the edges from heavy-handed stylists.

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Contrary to the current belief that braids and weaves are protective styles, we could be damaging our hair and scalp. The braids are often too tight, too heavy and of a rough scratchy texture. And some of us have been known to leave our braids in for more than two weeks. Once, on a Victoria Line train, one of my braids fell onto the train floor. I stood still in shock. A lady passenger burst out laughing, pointing at the lone braid on the floor. I snatched up the offending braid and leapt out of the carriage as soon as the doors opened - even though it wasn't my stop. At the end of the braid, my own hair strands were stuck, the tip of the follicles visible.

Another time, I had the most glorious weave done by a professional hair stylist. On loosening it after about a month, the weave had been sewn too tightly so that my hair went along with the weave, leaving the scalp on my crown bald.

Those traumatic experiences started my seven year search into how to reclaim dignity in my hair. I had become so used to hiding its natural beauty. I wasn't alone. Over dinner, a friend told me she would not walk out of her house with her hair as it was only about two inches long and her edges had disappeared. 'It would not be a good look', she said. She needed a wig. Positive role models like the actress Lupita Nyong'o show that natural black hair - short or long - can be stunning, so why are some black women afraid to rock their natural hair?

Historically, slave owners cut black women's hair. Imported products from outside Africa leaned towards straightening, braiding and weaves - anything but the strands that grew out of our heads. So we lost our hair care expertise and the hair itself became despised.

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We all want to feel beautiful in our skin and our own hair. I'm imagining a world where we could walk into any salon and get our hair well looked after? We would no longer need to say 'natural' hair because it would be the new normal. We can overcome our vulnerability, celebrate our big curls and be inspired to take back our freedom. We don't have to wait for the world to tell us it's time to accept our hair. As someone once rightly said, 'a queen doesn't need permission to wear her crown.'
While many aspects of the relationship between the incoming Trump administration and Russia are murky, one at least is clear: Donald Trump admires - perhaps even hero-worships - Vladimir Putin. Trump has described Putin as a strong and powerful leader and spoken in approving terms of Putin's ability to outsmart the United States. Trump's fascination with Putin dates back to at least 2008, when he compared then-President George W. Bush unfavourably to the Russian leader. In 2013 Trump tweeted that he hoped to meet Putin at the upcoming Miss Universe beauty competition in Moscow and become his new best friend. But the image of Putin the strong leader is just that: an image. If we look more closely, we can see that Putin's appearance of strength is an illusion that conceals a great deal of weakness.

What might make Trump (or anyone else) think that Putin is such a strong leader? To a large extent this comes from the impression that there are few, if any, constraints on Putin's actions. He has shown that he can take decisions quickly and act on them almost immediately. We saw this with Russia's annexation of Crimea and its decision to intervene in Syria. Putin is willing to use military force to pursue political aims and to flex his nuclear muscles. Opinion polls tell us that Putin enjoys very high levels of popularity in Russia, where he has no real rivals or challengers for political power and is rarely criticised by the media. Putin also underlines his strong leader credentials by regularly engaging in public demonstrations of manly behaviour.

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But it isn't a sign of strength that a leader is free from challenge at home because he presides over a regime that systematically marginalizes political opposition. I always ask the students who take my Russian politics course to consider the routes that a future opposition leader might take to build a power base and a following in order to become a serious contender for the presidency. The students quickly realise that all such routes have dead ends. Political parties, the legislative and judicial branches, regional government, business and industry have all been co-opted. What this means in practice is that Putin's only rivals for power come from within an elite where the range of alternative views is narrow indeed. The rare outsider who tries to mount a challenge faces enormous obstacles. We see this in the case of Alexei Navalny, a lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner whose involvement in opposition politics means that he is frequently arrested on spurious charges. During one of his trials (at which he was found guilty), even witnesses for the prosecution testified that there was no evidence against him.

It isn't a sign of strength that a leader is rarely criticised by the media because nearly all of that media is either owned by the state or by individuals or organisations that have close ties to the regime. As a direct result, the Russian media does not hold the state and its leaders to account in any meaningful sense. This is not to belittle the efforts of the many Russian journalists who struggle daily to strike a balance between maintaining their professional standards and protecting their jobs, and even their lives. Russia is a dangerous place for investigative journalists, as we can see by its ranking in the World Press Freedom Index.

It isn't a sign of strength when the leader of a nuclear weapons state finds it necessary to keep telling the world that it does, in fact, still have nuclear weapons and might choose to use them. The frequency - and inappropriateness - of Putin's references to Russia's nuclear weapons suggests a lack, not an excess, of confidence. It also indicates that Russia has few other assets Putin feels he can use in public diplomacy.

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Finally, it isn't a sign of strength when a leader feels the need to engage in public displays of hyper masculine behaviour to get across the message that he is capable of running the country. Putin is often shown playing sports, riding horses, fishing or swimming in icy rivers. The dissemination of these images is part of a carefully-calculated strategy to create a personal connection to ordinary Russians, whose continued support for the regime - especially in difficult economic times - depends in large part on their faith in the physical and mental toughness of the president.
Carl Court via Getty Images

Peter suffered from mental ill health for many years. He approached me to help him secure a move from his accommodation, which was having an adverse impact on his mental health. He also felt he was not receiving the access to treatment he needed. As any hardworking MP would do, I and my office immediately spoke to the local health Trust over access to treatment and the relevant local housing bodies to help him with his accommodation needs. Later Peter contacted us when he wanted to be admitted to hospital as he felt suicidal. Again we stepped in to help Peter. Days later we heard the devastating news that Peter had took his own life.

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Peter's story isn't unique. This tragic event is one of many with suicide the UK's biggest killer of men under the age of 45 and the rate has increased in recent years.

Since my election as an MP for Leicester South I've been passionate about fighting for a better deal for mental health provision. This has to be about improving the services available to those suffering from mental health issues and their carers. Early on as an MP I quickly realised that if we are to improve services then we absolutely have to listen to those who use those services. That's why four years ago I organised a major summit in Leicester which for the first time brought people together to talk about their experiences of the services provided and what needs to be done to genuinely provide parity.

It was through those discussions that I quickly agreed and pledged to become a 'Local Champion for Mental Health' in Leicester and to raise issues or concerns with the Government, the City Council, the Clinical Commissioning Group and the local Partnership Trust on behalf of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Leicester and those suffering from mental health issues and their carers. Seven further pledges were made at this summit to improve service delivery.

Since that first summit I have organised and hosted further summits, and I am pleased that a Mental Health Summit is now held every year in Leicester bringing together key statutory and voluntary agencies in the City and County.

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These summits have no doubt helped to raise the profile of mental health locally but also crucially led to improvements in local services too. However the need for more resources is sadly still on the agenda. A year ago 'Equality 4 Mental Health' brought together 250 leaders from business, trade unions, the arts, music, sport, education, health and politics to demand equality for those who suffer from mental ill health, particularly in terms of timely access to good, effective treatment. I was one of the more 20,000 plus who signed up in support of this demand

Despite the warm words of the then Prime Minister David Cameron and the announcement of extra funds for mental health by the then Chancellor George Osborne, as stated by Equality 4 Mental Health "one year on, we see the same enduring injustice, the massive economic cost of neglect of mental ill health - estimated to be 105bn a year - and the distress suffered by countless families across the country because of failures of the system adequately to support people in need."

As a 'Local Champion for Mental Health' my office holds regular advice sessions at a local Resource Centre run by a mental health charity. This excellent voluntary organisation (which because of government cuts is facing imminent closure) assists more men than women, reduces social isolation for men and decreases the numbers that have to be admitted to hospital or call on statutory services. Yet despite voluntary initiatives such as this we are all too aware the overall landscape for mental health services remains challenging. Despite promised increases in funding, mental health trusts in England are still suffering cuts to their budgets. According to analysis by the King's Fund two in every five trusts saw their budgets cut in 2015-16.

But the story does not end with resources. We also need effective joint commissioning of services between Health and Social Care and a delivery of service that is accessible to all those who require assistance, regardless of gender, socio economic and ethnic background.

Representing one of the most diverse cities in Europe I see every day the inequalities that effect BAME communities. According to the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in 2014 people who were white British, female, or in mid-life (especially aged 35 to 54) were more likely to receive treatment. What's more not only do men face greater difficulties than women in accessing treatment, people especially men from black and minority ethnic communities have particularly low treatment rates.

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The NHS is going through its biggest financial squeeze in its history with spending per head set to fall in 2018. This week Philip Hammond has an opportunity to change that funding trajectory and start giving the NHS the funding it really needs. There is widespread speculation that the Chancellor may find a small amount of extra funding for adult social care. However as welcome as that would be, the real test for his Autumn Statement will be whether it delivers the investment promised to fully fund the NHS. Under the Tories our NHS is underfunded and overstretched. It's time to give the NHS the money it needs including finally ensuring parity of esteem for mental health services.

Jon Ashworth is the MP for Leicester South and shadow Secretary of State for Health

HuffPost UK is running a month-long focus around men to highlight the pressures they face around identity and to raise awareness of the epidemic of suicide. To address some of the issues at hand, Building Modern Men presents a snapshot of life for men, the difficulty in expressing emotion, the challenges of speaking out, as well as kick starting conversations around male body image, LGBT identity, male friendship and mental health.
Yoga has been practiced for centuries, maybe even millenniums. There is no general agreement about how and when yoga originated other than the consensus that yoga originated in Ancient India. The Indus Valley during 3300-1900 BCE and pre Vedic Indian States are the suggested origins for Yoga. However, it was not introduced and adopted by the Western educated public until the mid-19th Century. Now-a-days yoga is being practiced and taught in many institutes all over the world in extravagant or simple yoga-

meditation retreat venues.

The main goal of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body. Yoga also helps with chronic back pain, arthritis, headaches, reduces insomnia and lowers blood pressure. There are many benefits of yoga aside from the physical ones. One of the best benefits of yoga is that it helps a person manage stress. Because stress can take physical forms like headaches, back pains, neck pains, sleeping disorders and the inability to concentrate. Yoga's embodiment of breathing and meditation can help improve a person's overall well-being.

Pranayama (ancient yogic breathing techniques) and meditation are very useful in getting rid of stress that accumulates on a daily basis. The practice helps to let go of attachment. After a long and tiring day, a few minutes of yoga every day provides the secret to feeling fresh and energetic as it's a great way to download and get rid of all the emotional contents we carry. On a physical level, Yoga helps improve flexibility, strength, balance. In fact, balance is key, the rest is secondary. Every time I receive an email from a prospective student who'd like to attend one of my yoga classes in Ealing, I always smile to myself when they mention how inflexible they are. I've even had conversations when people say they'd like to try out a yoga class when they feel more flexible. That's almost like telling a personal trainer you'll come to see them when you're feeling fit. The place to start is by being flexible in your mind and hopefully this translates into your body.

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The main idea of yoga is to explore your physical, and most importantly, your mental abilities and test your limits. It is the ideal way of getting in tune with your body and inner-self. Yoga can also help you with early detection for physical problems and allow you to take preventive action.

Yoga can improve your relationships

Yoga can help you in improving your relationships with your spouse, parents, friends or loved ones, more importantly the relationship you have with yourself. A healthy and relaxed mind, a mind that is happy and contented is better at dealing with sensitive relationship matters. Our system is a unified mixture of the body, mind and spirit. Any irregularity that stirs up in the body can affect your mind and a distastefulness or restlessness in the mind can manifest an infirmity in the body.

To benefit from a body that is strong, supple and flexible you only need to include yoga in your daily routine. Practicing yoga regularly makes the body muscles and strong as well as stretching them and toning them. Meditation and yoga have the power and ability to improve or enhance your intuitive ability so that you can effortlessly realise and understand how to meet your needs. It helps you to connect to yourself, to others and your surroundings. Yoga works! You only need to experience it for yourself.

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The most important lesson to learn is yoga's a continuous process, a journey of personal discovery. The deeper you move into your yoga, the more insightful are its results.

My two favourite words I like to incorporate into my classes are 'playfulness' and 'introspection'. It has to have that element of fun to it so it can nourish the soul.

Ladan Soltani- 'A dedicated yogi and author of fabulous fitness at 40'
If you don't like barking it is probably best not to have four dogs. My dogs are from a couple of vocal breeds: two shelties and two German Spitz. A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about their explosive bursts of barking, their frantic response to the doorbell and the possibility that they are barking a perfectly normal amount of time and that the real problem is me. I may have unrealistic expectations of this troop of benevolent noise-makers.

I study pet behaviour but I make a living as a writer. I write mornings in a quiet kitchen, the only noises being the hum of the fridge or the slow, hypnotic rhythm of the washing machine. The dogs lie in great clumps of fur at my feet, resting.

Everything is still and peaceful as I tap the keyboard until--oh heavens!-- a car outside crunches over the pebbled driveway. Suddenly, an explosive bark from Winston and a shuddering stream of yaps from Tessa (who looks genuinely distressed). George thinks he might bark once and then go to sleep again. Pookey, aged thirteen and a half, throws in a couple barks to make sure we know she is still alive.

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I say, "Shh" and they go silent. This looks so impressive--instant silence at a command. Except it isn't clever at all. The same repeated blast of barking can occur four times an hour or more.

The dog that always parks herself by the front door is probably anticipating the postman. Should I make sure they are never home when the postman arrives? Is that even possible?

Turid Rugaas, an internationally renowned dog trainer and behaviourist, has a short book on barking in which she advises me to keep a record of my dogs barking. I've made a few casual notes since keeping this record and think it is correct to say the following:

Two of my dogs almost never bark outside the home. One of my dogs will bark in excitement outside the home if we are playing. One of my dogs barks in the car, though she can trigger the others to bark for a second before giving up. My dogs bark far more often in the mornings than in the afternoons. They do not bark at night. I can control their barking very easily if I am paying attention. For example, on Halloween night, groups of trick-or-treaters rang the doorbell, received sweets and left without hearing a dog bark even once. Why? Because my son gave them the sweets while I gave my dogs their own sweets.

Turid categorises barking into six types:

excitement barking

warning barking

fear barking

guarding barking

frustration barking

learned barking

I'll return to this list in a future blog, but for now I want to look at excitement and guarding as an explanation for my dogs' noise levels.

It is possible my dogs feel stress and therefore are barking in excitement. Admittedly, there isn't much to stress about in my home. The dogs get walked at least an hour a day off the property and a can follow me down to the barn and fields anytime they wish. They have free access to the house, a great deal of attention from me, plenty of chews and play time--it appears to be a great life.

But maybe they'd tell a doggy shrink a different story. Maybe they are secretly stressed little dogs who need a way of calming down.

I seriously doubted they were stressed, but I increased their "hedonic budget", a term used at COAPE to mean all the stuff dogs love to do: run, dig, chase, explore, play, eat. I also bought a thing called Adaptil, a device that plugs into the wall and emits comforting dog pheromones into the air. It's a synthetic version of the smell of their puppyhood when they cozied up to their mother and felt safe. Would these measures make a difference?

Not. One. Bit.

Time to examine whether I am actually rewarding my dogs for barking--not that barking isn't fun on its own. Barking can be a self-rewarding behaviour, a little like sniffing for rabbits. Even when no rabbit is caught, dogs feel good looking for one.

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Turid makes the very good point that talking to, looking at, or touching the dog when it is barking can cause an increase in barking behaviour. I think I may be guilty on that score. When I say "shh", they go quiet. But the point is, first I said shh.

Would ignoring the barking altogether be better?

Perhaps. But sometimes my dogs give a "warning bark" in which ignoring is the last thing I should do, according to Turid. The warning bark is a short sharp bark. My ten-year old sheltie is usually the one who give this singular, very loud bark. The book recommends that in these cases I stand up casually, get myself between the barking dog and the scary object (usually at the front door or windows), and give a casual hand signal to indicate that I'm dealing with the situation so there is no need to continue barking.

I got this, I say in body language. No need for you to defend us.

Turid lives in Norway and she tells a wonderful story about her own dogs troublesome barking.

Some time ago, her forest home was being visited nightly by a neighbouring moose. Several times a night she was woken by her dogs issuing warning barks as the moose got closer. Finally, she decided to get up and show them she was dealing with the problem. She stood in front of the dogs, facing the place they were indicating was a moose, and gave a casual hand signal to show she was aware of the situation.

She did this for three nights and they stopped barking at the moose. Peace was restored, though her apple tree suffered accordingly. The moose had denuded it of its fruit. The dogs must have come to the conclusion that their eccentric owner did not mind such thievery.

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A moose sounds so much more fun than the mundane outdoor sounds that trigger my dogs. It doesn't make such a great story to say I got up three times a morning to put myself between my dogs and an out-of-sight car door slamming, but let's hope the technique works anyway.

Meanwhile, back to my barking chart...
The series of events in Post-referendum Britain will be shifting at a radical pace, once Article 50 is invoked. Britain will be set to negotiate a new deal with the EU, in which it must complete the official terms of its divorce and attain a new agreement with the European Union. Evidently now, with the two sides taking polarized propositions for the deal, complex negotiations could be treated acrimoniously and perilously.

With regards to the British side, which is on the forefront, I find the bespoke deal its leadership wants to achieve being arguably erroneous on two levels. Firstly, the decadence found in their conception that it is fair and moral to propose access on the tariff free-single market while simultaneously taking a hard line on immigration, but also their reasoning behind the stipulation for immigration control.

The contemplation of this proposition is immoral and illegitimate, as it comes to a direct opposition with the very heartbeat of the EU. The Maltese PM Joseph Muscat, chairing the EU's rotating presidency next year, feels that this proposal "is unacceptable to most member states. They want the single market and freedom of movement to be tackled together." And indeed, European Commission public opinion shows "The free movement of people, goods and services within the EU" is the most positive result according to Europeans, still holding a clear lead since 2011.

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Indeed, the basis of the Union is rooted on its four fundamental freedoms, contracts between member states shall be entrenched on mutual reciprocity. I trust that under common logic, one cannot simply enjoy the privileges -British access in the single market- without accepting his responsibilities - free movement of people inside Britain- in order to stabilize the equilibrium. These four principles go beyond their direct ambit of operation and color and infiltrate a plethora of EU aspects, deeming their constant application necessary for the preservation of the Union of altruism, firm relationships, common institutions and democracy.

Francois Hollande noted "We need to remain strong. If not, we will threaten the very principles of the European Union." and I indeed stand by his view, and comprehend his reasoning, as a European myself. The latest Eurobarometer detected that two in three Europeans strongly feel as citizens of the EU, a surprising 66% under the current circumstances. As I have previously argued, one can be born Greek, French, German, but still raised European. These two traits are, as the poll indicates, the two most valuable parts of one's identity and augment the feeling of protection under the auspices of the European Union. Just like the British leaders feel the duty to restore faith in politics and follow public wishes by demanding exceptions, the EU leaders shall hold the ship steady, ensuring EU stability.

With regards to the disturbingly strong enthusiasm on restricting immigration, the reasoning behind border control and EU immigration constraint appears to be the fact that EU migrants enjoy welfare benefits and fruits of the system at the expense of UK-born citizens.

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The explicit comments of pro-Brexit Boris Johnson and Michael Gove in a joint statement, a quest for the replacement of free movement with a system "fair and humane" determining entrance according to skills and prospects, highlights the overall conception that EU immigrants arriving in Britain do not possess the necessary skills and prospects to secure British jobs. But according to a recent study by UCL, 43% of highly educated immigrants were from the EEA, as opposed to just 24% natives, successfully devaluing their argument and emphasizing EU labor potential.

Furthering to this, PM Theresa May stated at the Conservative Party conference: "when immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it's impossible to build a cohesive society. It's difficult for schools and hospitals and core infrastructure like housing and transport to cope."

It certainly holds that population increase leads to an increase in the demand for public services. The alleged benefits of restricting EU immigration would be that reduction of immigrants organically decreases demand for public services and benefits, but also equivalently reduces tax receipts. Whether this ultimately leads to an economic gain or loss for Britain depends on the net fiscal contribution of the EU immigrants.

Although Treasury Minister, when asked to reveal this information, simply said that "The information is not available", according to a research by the Centre for Research & Analysis of Migration, the fiscal contribution of recent EU immigrants to Britain has been "consistently positive and remarkably strong".

The authors found that between 2001 and 2011, EEA immigrants contributed to the fiscal system 34% more than they took out, with a net fiscal contribution of 22.1 billion GBP. In contrast, over the same period, the natives' contribution was a net negative of 624.1 billion GBP. This highlights that the fiscal contribution of EU immigrants is far higher than the costs they induce by demanding public services, showing that these alleged "concessions" are actually exceedingly advantageous for the British economy.

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Stepping off the plane in Warsaw and entering the airport terminal was just like any other airport. People were collecting their bags from the luggage carousels and standing in groups chatting and laughing. Heading towards the exit I realised that the group of people by the door was so big because it was locked. Having extremely limited knowledge of the Polish language I couldn't understand the voice on the speaker system who was clearly explaining the reasons for the delay. Luckily, my friend had already landed in Warsaw on another flight and text me to let me know what was going on. It turned out there was a suspicious package left in one of the other terminals and as a result, everyone currently in the building was being kept in isolation until the bomb squad had arrived.

Start as they mean to go on they say - but after a short wait of about 15 minutes we were all allowed to leave the baggage collection area and I began my Warsaw city centre. Coming from Scotland the cold climate of Poland should have been a familiar setting, but I was surprised to find that I found it quite an unfamiliar and strange country. The old towns of Warsaw and Krakow are beautiful and ornate with towering churches and castles. Stepping out of the tourist traps however, is a whole different story with long straight stretches of road lined with grey looking buildings. The following tips should help anyone to prepare for their own trip to Poland.

1. Life is so much easier if you prepare - If you don't speak Polish keep in mind that getting around is going to be difficult. It's all well and good in the busy city restaurants and cafes but if you're fending for yourself out in the street you won't know the train station from the dentist. Don't rely on any locals helping you either, the expression 'giving you the cold shoulder' is all too real in the middle of Polish winter. Before you go, brush up on some basic Polish, it might well come in handy. Also, make sure you know where the nearest British Embassy or Consulate is - if you're having problems, they will be more than able to help you out.

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2. Don't be fooled by the currency- with burgers costing around 40 Zloty (working out at about 8 pounds) you feel like you're handing over a small fortune for a quarter pounder. The good thing is that hostels are super cheap and also relatively cheerful, trust comparison websites on this one as they do tend to give you the best quality and price. Do remember to take out Travel Insurance before you go, although the hostels are well furnished and reasonably cheap there are mostly shared dormitories. Try to keep your valuables locked away but just to be safe Travel Insurance is vital.

3. Be respectful of local history - Poland is a country which was very dramatically affected by the second world war. Look into the history of Poland before you go, it could be helpful in understanding important cultural traits. Be respectful of your surroundings. Our trip to Auschwitz revealed way too many people taking selfies and pictures in a place where being respectful is absolutely paramount. Make sure to listen to tour guides in these cases as they'll tell you when you can and can't take pictures.

4. It's not all castles and cathedrals - the Polish for old town is 'Stare Miasto' so if you're looking for grand old castles, bridges and cathedrals follow these signs. But don't be put off by the greyness of industrial and residential parts of the cities. In amongst some of the most industrial looking buildings you'll find a tiny part of old Poland left undamaged by the years. Researching the most interesting areas of a City before you go is handy but make sure where you're heading is safe for tourists beforehand.

5. Try as much of the local food as possible - it's the cheapest you'll find and also the best. Polish potato pancakes (placki) are a must as well as dumplings (pierogis), very tasty. Before going, make sure to look up some of the main delicacies so the Polish menus aren't too daunting and if you have allergies, ensure you're able to tell a waiter in Polish so you can avoid any unfortunate trips to the hospital and reasons to use your EHIC card.

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Credit: Guen Murroni (London, Waterloo Bridge)

Domestic violence services are bridges to safety for survivors forced to live in a world of isolation and fear. These services provide a lifeline for non-binary people and women who would otherwise be trapped in violent relationships, or left to swim alone in dangerous waters to try to reach safety.

Yesterday, non-binary people and women in London, Bristol, Newcastle and Glasgow blocked bridges to symbolise exactly what the government is doing to survivors of domestic violence.

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Our domestic violence services are in crisis. Huge cuts to the funding that central government gives to local authorities has resulted in councils trying to save money wherever they can: life saving support services have been put on the line to save money. Many specialist services have closed. Phones are not being answered, waiting lists are long and survivors at the point of leaving - when we know they are at the highest risk of being murdered - are being turned away from refuges because there is simply no space for them. Women's Aid statistics show that 2 in 3 women who approach refuges for help are now being turned away. For Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women, that figure rises to 4 in 5.

Black, brown and migrant women face a higher risk of domestic homicide. Hostile immigration control measures directly contribute to this by blocking all bridges to safety for migrant survivors fleeing violence. One example is the Immigration Bill 2014, which forces private landlords to run immigration checks on tenants, leaving undocumented migrants unable to access safe housing. Refuge spaces are funded through housing benefit, so migrant non-binary people and women with 'no recourse to public funds' - a common restriction placed on migrants - have no access to refuges. They also have no access to much of the other vital state support that can provide a bridge to safety, like social housing, benefits and healthcare.

Specialist services that support BME survivors have been hardest hit by cuts and closures. This is despite evidence that survivors need specialist services that understand their lived experience of abuse: a 2015 report by Imkaan showed that 9 in 10 BME survivors prefer to receive support from a specialist BME organisation. With little money to go around, councils are increasingly favouring a "one size fits all" approach - but whilst this might save money, it doesn't meet survivors' needs. When 4 out of 5 BME survivors who seek support from a refuge are being turned away, it's clear that cuts, closures and hostile immigration measures are blocking black, brown and migrant survivors' bridges to safety.

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Theresa May recently announced 20 million in funding for domestic violence refuges - but in the current climate, this is nothing more than a sticking plaster over a haemorrhage. Support services have been destroyed by austerity, and this comparatively tiny pot of money is too small to make a difference. This is the latest in a series of chaotic, short term funding announcements (this one covering just 2017-18), when what we need is a long term plan for how the government is going to support survivors. A stark example of the chaotic nature of this kind of funding is Northamptonshire, where all of the life saving refuges are currently facing closure, despite being saved at the last moment last year by temporary government funding. How can services be expected to save lives when they are forced to constantly fight for their own survival?

Sisters Uncut are saying enough is enough. We demand a secure, long term plan to support all domestic violence survivors, regardless of immigration status, with specialist services for black and brown, disabled and LGBT+ survivors.

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Michael Sick via Getty Images

Does talking about emotion make you more of a man? Well, the simple answer is yes. At least in my case. Talking and reflecting on my own experiences is exactly what has shaped me as a man today. I'm 22 years old, I don't have a beard, don't go to the gym and if I'm honest, beer isn't all that. But there is more to being a man than meets the eye. Movember has given me the perfect opportunity to voice my experiences in mental health and masculinity.

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In the summer of 2013, I went through a life-changing moment. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, HLH (google it) and experienced glandular fever levels through the roof. Glandular fever is normal if not strenuous, lymphoma is cancer, but HLH is usually fatal. Scene set. It's not coming through those experiences that makes the man, but the way in which it is dealt with.

I'm hugely fortunate to be able to tell my story and I know that. What I did not foresee was the difficulties lying ahead. Surely nothing can compare to the 108 days in hospital, the torturous day-to-day life of a hospitals, the brain surgery... the sheer feeling of desperation. But it did. Mental health is something I was typically negligent to, but there I was struggling with the trauma.

Returning to University was a massive obstacle and life choice. I had returned home sick from Cardiff University after 6 months of drinking, socialising and going out every week. When I returned in my second year, time hadn't stopped for anyone else. They were still lively, busy and full of energy but I was on the other end of chemotherapy... this felt like a premature return.

A man coping with a traumatic experience does not seamlessly fit into University culture. This is nothing against the typical guy at University, but there a lot of students who will do anything if the name of manhood. That was not me anymore.

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Luckily, I had some very close friends both at home and University that were very incredibly understanding. That makes them fine men. I owe them so much for landing me at where I am now; completely able to talk about experiences.

While there is no single definition of masculinity, I firmly believe it takes different forms in each man. Experience, perspective and the way in which we lead our lives individually moulds a different view and there is absolutely nothing mistaken about that. The more we start to understand that, the better. I think the majority of my mental health issues came from a core related to masculinity. I believed that if I could not keep up with the requirements of being a 'lad', then I had no chance.

THAT was my exact problem. A lad does not make a man. In fact, I hate the word. My naivety had led me to think that people at University downing drinks and going out every night were proper men living life to the fullest. I had lost confidence in myself and my abilities as a man.

When I started to become aware of clear overriding problems, I started to panic. That's when I knew I had a problem. I panicked over my dissertation, at my best friend's house and on holiday in Barcelona with my closest friends. What hope does a man have if he is panicking in some of his most comfortable surroundings? That's when I decided to tackle my panics face to face.

Talking about my problems has boosted my confidence to a level I never thought possible. While I could freely talk about my experiences with my family and girlfriend, talking to the boys is a different phenomenon. You start to fear social exclusion but I couldn't have been more wrong. In fact, they weren't at all concerned. If understanding my mental health wasn't manly enough, my close friends had upped their manliness through pure disregard.

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This hasn't been all about me at all. I hope it is a reminder that masculinity is not what it appears on the surface. I hope that men who, like my friends, are able to come together in the face of hardship to overcome illness, mental health and trauma. University was a struggle, but only because I was too naive to understand what it took to be a man. Now I understand, I feel a lot more chilled.

HuffPost UK is running a month-long focus around men to highlight the pressures they face around identity and to raise awareness of the epidemic of suicide. To address some of the issues at hand, Building Modern Men presents a snapshot of life for men, the difficulty in expressing emotion, the challenges of speaking out, as well as kick starting conversations around male body image, LGBT identity, male friendship and mental health.
Pierre Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada, is credited with the quote: "The essential ingredient of Politics is timing". This is perhaps a development of the well-known maxim that 'Timing is Everything'.

Arguably, never a truer word has been spoken when one considers both of these quotes with the backdrop of the recently announced investigation into Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's newly appointed Ameer, Maqbul Ahmed.

The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has, since its inception, been accused of being politically motivated and showing a significant degree of bias against certain elements of the political landscape, namely opposition parties, and specifically Jamaat-e-Islami.

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The Government of Bangladesh continues to deny the accusation, and point to the fact that one Awami League member was also prosecuted by the Tribunal and on that basis, suggest that it is evidently non-partisan. It has also issued statements to the effect that it is the most transparent of all war crimes tribunals and applies a higher standard of justice than any international judicial mechanism.

Just this past week, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Muhammad Shahriar Alam, at the 15th Assembly of States Parties to the ICC spoke about Bangladesh's ongoing efforts "to bring to justice those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during our War of Liberation in 1971 to end the culture of impunity." He suggested that this effort had created "a new paradigm" in international criminal justice by allowing purely domestic courts the mandate to hold trials for internationally defined crimes. This was a bold statement to make, particularly when measured his remark that the trials were "...in full conformity with the 'complementarity' principle of the Rome Statute".

Regrettably, the statement demonstrates a delusion that knows no bounds. The Tribunal has been roundly criticised by a host of highly credible international groups from the United Nations to respectable human rights groups including HRW and Amnesty International. Recently, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Government of Bangladesh to stay an execution and order a retrial due to numerous procedural defects in the trial and appeal process. The Government disregarded this plea and proceeded to execute the defendant in flagrant breach of international human rights standards and flagrant denial of its international treaty obligations.

Is this a 'new paradigm' in international criminal justice, as the State Minister proudly declared. Is this a process that a State Party to an exclusive club of nations built on fundamental principles of justice and accountability should display. Or is this a practice that should be condemned by a State that should be thrown out of an exclusive club built on pillars of justice.

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The Government of Bangladesh has presided over a system that cannot properly be characterised as a system of justice. It has been properly characterised by numerous respected legal commentators as a flagrant denial of justice and the level of interference by the executive constitutes a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The numerous, well-founded allegations of political bias in the process is best exemplified by the recent announcement of an investigation into the newly appointed Ameer, Maqbul Ahmeed.

Ahmeed has been 'acting' Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for the past 6 years and yet there has been no suggestion that he is to be the subject of a formal investigation and potential prosecution before the Tribunal, not to mention at any time in the past forty-five years since the end of the Liberation War.

Is it therefore incredulous to suggest that there has been a sudden development that has given rise to a justifiable basis for launching a formal investigation shortly just six hours after his formal appointment. No, the investigation has been announced now so as to seek to damage Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party, and maintain the momentum of the message of hate and vitriol developed by the Awami League against its political opponents.

Of course, it must be accepted that there will be those that reject this position as being somewhat conspiracy theorist, or even paranoid. To counter this position, allow us to consider the article of 20 October 2016 in the Dhaka Tribune, entitled "Jamaat chief Maqbul's 1971 role under scanner".

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The author of that article notes "The agency has not got any evidence against Maqbuk". One must question therefore upon what basis it is deemed appropriate to announce that an investigation has begun, when it is accepted that there is no evidence.

The Coordinator of the Tribunal's Investigative Agency, Abdul Hannan, is quoted in the article as stating "...but we have received some specific information from the media...". The media, let us remember, has been at the forefront of demands for the execution of those charged with war-crimes, and further, adopted a stance that if replicated in a country that actually had any respect for the Rule of Law, it would have almost certainly resulted in 'Contempt' charges being brought, and further, potentially resulted in the collapse of trials for infringing an accused's 'Right to a Fair Trial.

Given the above, are we really to accept that "...some information from the media...", is a legitimate basis upon which to commence any criminal investigation, not least one of such gravity that could result in the ultimate penalty of a death sentence, and further, that we can accept that whatever that information might be, is credible.

It is to be accepted, as quite natural, that the usual criticism will follow should anyone seek to criticise the decision, and the allegations of 'war crime apologist' that have become de rigour over recent years are likely to come to the fore once more.

However, much as it is no coincidence that Ahmeed has been made subject to an investigation now, it is no coincidence that anyone who seeks to raise a legitimate criticism of the Tribunal or any of its processes is branded anti-Liberation, and thus a parallel with other dictatorial regimes across the globe can be drawn.

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Bangladesh will not tolerate dissent, much as states such as Egypt have sought to oppress the voice of its citizens.

The judicial system, or at least the facade of the justice system, is in Bangladesh, much as it is in Egypt, and other such states, being used as a weapon of the State in an effort to give legitimacy to its unlawful actions of oppression.

In announcing the investigation against Ahmeed, an investigation in which it is accepted that the relevant authority "...has not got any evidence...", Bangladesh has not taken a further step to bring about an end to impunity, it has taken a further step towards a repressive autocratic State.

These actions must be addressed by the international community, it can no longer afford to watch on in silence and ignorance.
When Artistic Director of the English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo, asked the leading talent in contemporary choreography, Akram Khan, to work with her in reimagining Giselle, did she imagine that they would create a work this radical, this exceptional? Because if she did, well, what vision. For what Akram Khan's Giselle shows us is that we should not fear tackling the classics because, if done well, there is the possibility of changing everything.

This Giselle casts such a powerful, dark, gothic spell. It's utterly revolutionary and completely spellbinding. Never my favourite classical ballet, yet here this story is infused with such darkness, and richly layered with profound political themes, that it is both brilliant and intense.

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Our Giselle (played by Alina Cojocaru on the night I visited) is one of a vast throng of maltreated migrant workers. A vast foreboding wall hems them in (somewhat appropriate given current events) and when they're not working factory lines, the sound of waves on a beach brings back echoes of the deaths of Chinese migrant workers in the UK as they were picking cockles on a beach.

Yet Giselle catches the eye of Albrecht (Isaac Hernandez), one of the ruling clique that governs this mass of workers. Giselle is smitten too, yet their love is dashed on the rocks. The Landlords are appalled at Albrecht's choice of lover and Giselle winds up dead by murky means.

This was all by the interval and, even by then, you know you are watching a masterpiece. The choreography from Khan... I mean, it's something else, it really is. Powerfully emotive and brilliantly innovative, the broken spirit of the hordes emanates from the Artists of the Company as they move and flow like a surge. And Alina Cojocaru, faultless as ever, captures the tortured spirit in Giselle perfectly.

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I had fears that the second half could not live up to such standards. I was wrong.

I don't think I've ever witnessed anything in contemporary dance as extraordinary as the spirit world of the Wilis - and I saw ENB's Lest We Forget. The stage is smothered in darkness, the ghosts like gothic heroines with tangled masses of long hair shrouding their faces, come forth like an army of furies.

The rage of the Wilis is intoxicating. The ferocious stamping of their sticks in hypnotic rhythm, their wrath, their malevolence... There is black magic in the air. The audience as one were forward in their seats, completely hypnotised, utterly immersed in this dark sea of revenge and anger.

Never did I ever think I would be so absorbed by Giselle, for there has always been a hurdle for me when it comes to this ballet, and that is largely due to the woman herself. Usually a rather pathetic creature; a woman who loved too much, for sure. Spurned by her rich lover, she usually either gives herself a heart attack or commits suicide, only to look out for her lover in death far more than he ever looked out for her in life.

Hardly a sympathetic character. Yet here too, this radical reworking has challenged itself to find Giselle a better narrative. Working around the obscurity in Giselle's death, here there is the shadow of a murder. The rich Landlords, concerned that one of their own could be seen with someone of such social status, seem to have Giselle knocked off on the sly whilst her lover's attention is diverted.

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Well, well, well... Now we have not just a character who has been wronged in a far more meaningful way, we also have the political subtext of the unchecked power of the elites.

And it is a more spirited Giselle we see amongst the ghosts. Here, she is clearly a light to their darkness, Alina Cojacaru portraying Giselle as tangle of fear and confusion, and defiance and strength. And her battle with Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis (the sublime Stina Quagebeur) climaxes with one of the finest pas-de-deux you could imagine in contemporary ballet as Alina Cojocaru and Isaac Hernandez have their final dance together - Giselle and Albrecht reunited one last time before she must return to her grave, and he to the world of the living. Passion, tenderness and agile acrobatics blend together in a superb finale.

Plaudits will go to Akram Khan for this production - and rightly so as, what vision, what talent - but there must also be a special mention for Vincenzo Lamanga for Music, and Marcus Hyde for Sound. The soundtrack is pulsating - deep and, at times, unrelenting. Yet there are sudden breaks... periods of silence, static noise, or just the rolling sound of waves. It is superb and a key factor in the fully-formed creation of this new world for Giselle.

This is ground-breaking work from Akram Khan, Tamara Rojo and the English National Ballet. Such massive risk taken, and what a payoff. A marker for what is possible. How others can respond to this game-changer, I don't know. Utterly phenomenal.

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Sadler's Wells, London, to November 19, 2016. (Returning September 2017)

Image Credits:

1. Akram Khan's Giselle for English National Ballet. Dancer; Tamara Rojo  Jason Bell

2. Alina Cojocaru in Akram Khan's Giselle  Laurent Liotardo

3. English National Ballet in Akram Khan's Giselle  Laurent Liotardo
WordPress is by far the most popular content management system (CMS) on the market. Even though there is no precise number of the websites that depend on WordPress, it is estimated that more than 76 million sites use WordPress.

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In addition, all these updates help with getting the most from responsive designs, enhancing user experiences, analyzing and monitoring SEO, maintaining security on a high level and few other things.

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SEO or search engine optimization is a group of activities and techniques that help websites rank higher in search engine results.

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SEO is crucial these days because it helps businesses get organic traffic.

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When they are installed and enabled on your website, website owners can track visitors, practice certain SEO activities, use ecommerce applications, simplify blogging and design specific elements.

However, these plugins are created by different people. So, many of them are updated on a regular basis. There are plugins that are incompatible with each other. Some of them don't work on certain themes. Finally, there are plugins that are very complex and require special preparation.

Regular WordPress maintenance includes activities related to these plugins too. If the website is maintained well, these plugins will work properly allowing better user experience and easy customization of your website.

Without maintaining your WordPress website, you can expect many conflicts between different plugins and between some plugins and the website itself.

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The average Internet user has a very short attention span and if the website is loading too slowly there is a great chance that they will leave your website and look for an alternative.

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Unfortunately, there are many website owners that are frustrated by the bad performance of their WordPress website. However, regular maintenance will help you figure out what's wrong with your website.
Radical Islam and Trump's Islamophobia make urgent the construction of a liberal Islam.

The major world's religions are products of the ancient times and, thus, do not and cannot represent liberal ideologies, as liberalism was developed in modern times. It is not difficult to identify verses in the Torah, the Bible or the Quran that are in complete conflict with liberalism.

But, given all the debates and negative propaganda about Islam's nature, a fundamental question that is worth studying is: Can we construct a liberal Islam? As I explain below, I believe we can because I believe Islam is a reformable religion, and completely compatible with secularism, i.e., separation of mosque from governance, and respect for human rights. In a previous article I explained why inventing a democratic Islam is an urgent issue. The reasons for inventing a democratic Islam also make it imperative to invent a liberal Islam.

Some people believe that the problem of "radical Islamic terrorism" has a military solution. But, this is false, because "Islamic terrorism" is only one interpretation of the Islamic teachings that several governments in the Middle East, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, support directly or indirectly by providing the terrorists with arms of funds, believing that it serves their national interests. The Sunni Muftis, particularly among the Salafi/Wahhabi sect, together with some Shiite Ayatollahs, advocate a harsh and violent interpretation of the Quranic teachings. Over the course of their presidential campaigns, Donald Trump and Ben Carson illustrated Muslims as dangerous animals. The promises and slogans against "the radical Islam" and Muslims made by Trump throughout his campaign, if realized, could lead to the growth of radicalization among Muslims. The true solution is in demonstrating to the vast majority of Muslims who are moderate that there are also secular and liberal interpretations of the Islamic teachings that, in fact, are more compatible with the true spirit of the Quran. This is vital to worldwide peace, as well as the national interests of the nations that are hurt by Islamic terrorism.

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Conceptual Illustration

Let us first illustrate the possibility of constructing a liberal Islam through some simple concepts. The facts are,

One, there is no unique Islam; rather there are multiple versions of Islam, such as Shiite Islam, Sunni Islam, philosophical Islam, fundamentalist Islam, modern Islam, post-modern Islam, and mystical Islam. Why, then, can we not have a liberal Islam?

Two, there is also no unique liberalism; rather there are many versions of it. Examples include Joel Feinberg's liberalism based on opposition to legal paternalism, Joseph Raz's perfectionist liberalism, and political liberalism of John Rawls that I discuss in detail in this article.

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When there are so many interpretations of Islam, one can also think of socialist, nationalist, liberal, and communitarianism interpretations of the religion, and in fact they do exist. For example, to invent a "nationalist Islam" one can claim that Arabic is not only the Quran's language, but also its culture. Thus, a religion that was constructed by the people of the Arabian Peninsula cannot be non-Arab. And, if we are a bit careless, we can even consider Mohammed Abed al-Jabri, a university lecturer of philosophy and Islamic thought at the University of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco as the defender of a "nationalist Islam."

Constructing a liberal Islam can be accomplished at two different levels. One is a liberal Islam that is compatible with Rawls' political liberalism. The second one is an Islamic form of what Rawls called comprehensive liberalism. In what follows I first explain briefly Rawls' political liberalism. I then describe his views about Islam. Finally, I discuss the evidence in the Quran and the Sunnah [the life and tradition of Prophet Muhammad] that supports constructing a liberal Islam based on Rawls' views.

Rawls' political liberalism

Rawls' political liberalism is based on three fundamental pillars:

First, the movement for reforming religions and its consequences are the historical source (p. xxiv) of political liberalism, and more generally liberalism itself.

Second, political liberalism includes a political conception of justice and, contrary to the comprehensive liberalism, can be presented independently from any comprehensive religious or philosophical doctrine. It is an independent and freestanding concept, which draws on "mass culture" of democratic systems and their "implicitly-accepted joint ideas and fundamental principles," and limits itself to the fundamental thoughts in the political culture of democratic societies. In such societies people consider others and themselves as free and equal citizens. Rawls believes that even human rights are independent of the comprehensive moral, religious, and philosophical teachings. According to him (p. 68),



"These rights do not depend on any particular comprehensive religious doctrine or philosophical doctrine of human nature. The Law of Peoples does not say, for example, that human beings are moral persons and have equal worth in the eyes of God; or that they have certain moral and intellectual powers that entitle them to these rights. To argue in these ways would involve religious or philosophical doctrines that many decent hierarchical peoples might reject as liberal or democratic, or as in some way distinctive of Western political tradition and prejudicial to other cultures."

Third, for a liberal society to be stable for the right reasons, political liberalism must be supported and confirmed by the comprehensive moral, religious, and philosophical doctrines that wins adherents in a liberal society. Justice is the first virtue of a social structure and a subject of a basic structure. Rawls says (ibid. p. 11) the following about the basic structure:

"It applies to what I shall call the 'basic structure' of society, which for our present purposes I take to be a modern constitutional democracy."

Freedom and equality are among the central ideas in liberal political conception of justice, about which he says, Although there are liberal interpretations of justice other than what Rawls advocated, we restrict ourselves to his interpretations.

First principle (ibid. p. 5): "Each person has an equal claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic rights and liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme for all, and in this scheme the equal political liberties, and only those liberties, are to be guaranteed their fair value."

Second principle (ibid. p. 6): "Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions: first, they are to be attached to positions and offices open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity, and second, they are to be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members."

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Thus, Rawls' political liberalism is based on four pillars:

The fact of reasonable pluralism: There is plurality of comprehensive moral, philosophical, and religious doctrines and teachings in human societies that are irreconcilable, but also reasonable and rational (ibid. p. 37).

The burdens of judgment: There is no method for unifying the various comprehensive doctrines of societies. This is because the evidence for arriving at the judgement is complex and contradictory; the weight and the credibility given to various evidence is subject to debate; our concepts are vague and cannot be easily clarified; and the way our judgements is influenced by our moral and ethical experiences is infinitely different from those of others. Rawls believes (ibid. p. 62) that "everyone is exposed to the same difficulties for reaching the judgement."

The reality of repression: Rawls believes that broad social consensus about an ethical, philosophical, or religious teaching or doctrine is possible only through governmental repression of the people (ibid. p. 37). Thus, accepting freedom is tantamount to accepting "comprehensive, diverse, and irreconcilable doctrines" and teachings (ibid. p. 36). Therefore, in political liberalism use of political power for imposing our own comprehensive doctrine, even we consider it as fact, is irrational (ibid. p. 138).

Overlapping consensus: How can such a pluralistic society survive? Rawls does not base the stability of a liberal democratic society on compromise and balance of power, but thinks it can be achieved through as an overlapping consensus. This means that citizens affirm political justice based on their own various comprehensive doctrines. The political conception of justice is a module and an essential part of the constituent structure:



"The political conception is a module, an essential constituent part that fits into and can be supported by various reasonable comprehensive doctrines that endure in the society regulated by it" (ibid. p. 12).

Thus, not only the seculars, but also the religious citizens can identify good reasons in their comprehensive doctrines to affirm political liberalism. As Rawls puts it,

"All those who affirm the political conception start from within their own comprehensive view and draw on the religious, philosophical, and moral grounds it provides"(ibid. p 147).

Affirming political liberalism based on one's own comprehensive doctrine can be the basis for stable democratic societies. As Rawls explains it, the consensus "rests on the totality of reasons specified within the comprehensive doctrine affirmed by each citizen" (ibid. p. 170).

There are two other plausible interpretations of Rawls' view about overlapping consensus. Sometimes it appears as if a consensus can emerge between followers of distinct comprehensive views, but not because those who hold such views have made an effort to reach the consensus. By the overlap Rawls also meant that the followers of different and incompatible comprehensive views endorse the same conception of justice and thus recognize the same rights for the followers of a competing comprehensive view.

Rawls' understanding of Islam

As pointed out earlier, Rawls believes that even the religious citizens can endorse political liberalism based on their own comprehensive doctrine. In particular, Rawls believes that the Islamic teachings can endorse political liberalism. To support his view, Rawls begins from the position that the three great historical religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, constitute comprehensive rational doctrines. As he puts it,

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"Here, I shall suppose - perhaps too optimistically - that, except for certain kinds of fundamentalism, all the main historical religions admit of such an account and thus may be seen as reasonable comprehensive doctrines" (ibid. p. 170).

In "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited" Rawls clarifies what he believes about the relation between religion and political liberalism, particularly Islam. He asks, how can those who believe in religious doctrines also believe reasonable political ideas that are the basis for a democratic political system based on a constitution? Can comprehensive religious and secular teachings and doctrines be compatible with political liberalism? As he puts it in his book, The Laws of Peoples (p. 151), Rawls believes that religions must understand that,

"Except by endorsing a reasonable constitutional democracy, there is no other way fairly to ensure the liberty of its adherents consistent with the equal liberties of other reasonable free and equal citizens."

Rawls discusses an Islamic example of the aforementioned overlapping consensus, and refers to the views of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha [who was executed by former Sudanese President Jaafar Nemeiri on the charge of apostasy] and his student Abdullahi Ahmed an-Naim in the book, Toward An Islamic Reformation: Civil Liberties, Human Rights, and International Law. In their book they interpreted the Meccan Quranic verses (revealed to Prophet Muhammad during the time that he was in Mecca) as the symbol of idealistic Islam, whereas the Medinan verses (those revealed to the Prophet in Medina) were a function of the era's constraints. The former abrogates the latter and, thus, the Meccan Islam that is supportive of freedom and equality must be put into effect in our era. Rawls points out that the two types of verses "is a perfect example of overlapping consensus" (ibid. p. 151).

Mahmoud Mohamed Taha and Abdullahi Ahmed an-Naim presented a new reading of the Quran. Using reverse abrogation, they declared that Muslims must consider the Meccan verses as the Quran's true gem and the basis for the Prophet to invite people to convert to the new religion. Their work is an example of the Muslims' efforts in modern times to reconcile Islam with the modern era.

Rawls emphasized that "the roots of democratic citizen allegiance to their political conceptions lie in their respective comprehensive doctrines, both religious and nonreligious" (ibid. p 153).



Islam and political liberalism

Rawls has also emphasized that there are different interpretations of the same teaching or idea "since its concepts and values may be taken in different ways..... A conception greatly limits its possible interpretations; otherwise discussion and argument could not proceed" (ibid. p. 145).

One might argue that through overlapping consensus one can construct an interpretation of Islam that endorses political liberalism, but not a liberal Islam. But the descriptive way that Rawls prescribes goes beyond the former.

First, description: In his book, Justice as Fairness (p. 190), Rawls emphasizes that history of religion and philosophy demonstrates how, using many reasonable ways, not only the two have re-interpreted their values in a way that they would not be in conflict with the values in the political arena, but also be reconcilable. Thus, presenting new interpretation of comprehensive doctrines is an experience that has been repeated throughout history.

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Second, prescription: Rawls differentiates between "political conception and comprehensive doctrine," believing that, "Should an incompatibility later be recognized between the political conceptions and their comprehensive doctrines, then they might very well adjust or revise the latter rather than reject the political conception. Note that here we distinguish between the initial allegiance to, or appreciation of, the political conception and the later adjustment or revision of comprehensive doctrines to which that allegiance or appreciation leads when inconsistencies arise" (ibid. p. 193).

Thus, Rawls suggests to the adherents of comprehensive doctrines to re-interpret and revise their teachings in a way that would not be in conflict with a political conception of justice. Rawls believes that religious and secular people can do the revision in two ways. One is declaration, in which one declares that "each of us shows how, from our own doctrines, we can and do endorse a reasonable public political conception of justice with its principles and ideals" ( ibid. p. 155).

The second method is reasoning based on conjectures to show that others can endorse political justice based on their comprehensive religious or secular doctrines. Rawls emphasizes that attributing endorsement of political liberalism to religious and philosophical teachings, i.e. conjecture, must be sincere and free of manipulation; "It is important that this be honest, not for the purpose of deceiving," as he put it in his book, The Laws of Peoples (p. 156).

Our job is to develop an interpretation of Islam that can embrace political liberalism. If we assume that political liberalism is honest, it would then be natural to identify the Quranic verses that are more compatible with it, select them as the verses that represent the true spirit of the Quran, and interpret the rest of the holly book based on those verses. As I understand it, our liberal interpretation of the Quran is justified. It is not for the sake of the expediency of our era Thus, if we are Muslim, we believe that such verses represent the Quran's spirit, and by identifying them we declare our position regarding Islam and political liberalism, and if we are not Muslim, we conjecture what form a liberal Islam may have.

Constructing liberal Islam is not evidence of anachronistic time because we ask ourselves, how can we be a true Muslim and liberal? We are not asking whether at its inception Islam was a liberal ideology - a claim that was rejected at the beginning of this article - so that we can be accused of anachronism. Rather, we ask whether a Muslim can be a liberal while truly believing in the spirit and gem of Islam. The Quranic verses are re-interpreted in order not to have any conflict with liberalism.

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The Quranic verses that endorse liberal values

I now describe the sources in the Quran and the Sunnah [The Prophet's traditions] that can be used as the pillar of a liberal Islam. How the theological details of such a reading of the Quran and the Sunnah are or must be is beyond the scope of this article. But, the Islamic sources that I describe support liberal values, such as pluralism, justice, freedom, tolerance, the inherent dignity of human beings, respect for pacts, and commitment to the wisdom of each era's elite.

We now show through much evidence that the Quran accepts the Rawlsian concept of "equal and free citizens." But, before doing so, one important point must be emphasized. The Quran has differentiated between two types of freedom: freedom of the people relatice to other people, and their freedom with regards to God. The Quran does not consider people to be free when it comes to God, because it considers them to be God's servants. But, this does not contradict Rawls' political freedom because it defends people's freedom relative to other people. In his political will, Ali ibn abi Talib, the 4th Caliph after the Prophet (and his cousin and son-in-law) and Shiites' first Imam, told his children and all the people, "Do not be servant to anyone, because God created you free."

In every single case in which the Quran speaks about inequality, it is either about inequality of people with respect to God (due to their deeds), or their inequality after their death and in the hereafter. The pious and apostate are not morally equal to God, and will receive different rewards after their death. Consider the following two examples from the Quranic verses:



"Verily, in Allah's Sight the most honorable of you is the most pious of your" (Al-Hujurat, 13).

"Verily, the worst of moving creatures in the Sight of Allah are those who are deaf and dumb [from hearing and telling the truth] and do not use their reason" (Al-Anfal, 22).

Thus, although people may not be morally equal to God and not receive equal treatment in the hereafter, they are equal in this world. In other worlds, one cannot extract inequality of people in this world based on their moral inequality in God's sight. Thus, the concept of "equal and free citizens" is completely compatible with the Quran.

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The reality of pluralism

According to the Quran, pluralism is the pillar of creations by God. Consider the following verses:

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted" (Al-Hujurat, 13).

According to this verse no person is superior to another person except for moral superiority that is a product of piousness, not any particular religion. Thus, no religion is superior over others, and a sort of pluralism has been accepted.

At the beginning of creation there were very few people in a unique group. But, as their numbers grew, differences developed between them, and the masses were divided into various groups.

"And mankind was not but one community [united in religion], but [then] they differed. And if not for a word that proceeded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them [immediately] concerning that over which they differ" (Yunus, 19).

This verse implies that the differences between people cannot be reconciled. Not only is an end to the differences not possible, it is also not desirable, because this is God's wish. Thus, it is not clear which person or group of people is righteous, and which is not. In other words, pluralism is a required ingredient for this world.

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God sent Prophets with [holly] books [Scriptures] to the people, but they could also not end the intellectual and practical differences between them.

"Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path" (Al-Baqara, 21

3).

This verse states explicitly that being guided to the righteous path is unconditional. Thus, no group of people can claim that because they believe in a particular religion, they are righteous.

The Prophets and their holly texts transformed people into adherents of various incongruent religions. The Quran has emphasized numerous times that pluralism is natural, and God does not want the people to consist of only one group.

"And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ" (Hud, 118

).

This is the most explicit statement by the Quran that it is not desirable for all the people to believe in the same religion. The following two verses also lend support to this:



"And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion" (An-Nahl , 93).

"And if Allah willed, He could have made them [of] one religion" (Ash-Shura, 8

).

The difference between the Quran's view of accepting pluralism in the comprehensive and reasonable doctrines and John Rawls' view is that Rawls believes that pluralism is the result of developed cultures of free societies, whereas the Quran considers it as part of God's creation of mankind, and appropriate for human societies, the evidence for which is the Prophets and religions.



"To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you" (Al-Ma'ida, 48).

This verse emphasizes again that it is not desirable for all the people to believe in the same religion because, one, God has selected different ways for different groups of people and, two, the differences and arguments will continue until the Judgement Day. Thus, so long as people live in this world, they will have differences. In fact, right after thye above verse the Quran says, "Hurry to do good deeds. You will all return to God, and then He will make you aware of the [truth] about your differences."

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The intellectual and practical differences never end, the people will never reach complete consensus. The Quran describes monopolism and how adherents of any religion consider their beliefs as the absolute truth and those of others as void, and how they consider themselves as blessed and saved, going to heaven [after death], and others as damned. But, the Quran makes it clear that it will be God who will decide this on the Resurrection/Judgement Day:



"But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ" (Al-Baqara, 113).

Thus, pluralism is a fact of this world. This reality implies nothing but peaceful co-existence of the adherents of various religions. It is for this reason that the Quran tells the Jews and Christian,

"Say, 'O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.' But if they turn away, then say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]'" (Al-i-Imran, 64).

Thus, monotheism is the only basis for peaceful co-existence of adherents of all the religions. Similarly, in the international arena, one must be at peace with all the people - Muslim or not, as well as those that are not people of the "book," such as Hindus, and adherents of Confucianism, and secular comprehensive doctrines - except against an aggressor enemy.

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"Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly" (Al-Mumtahina, 8).



One may ask why the Quran did not mention non-Abrahamic religions. The reason is that those who were originally addressed by the Quran did not know about non-Abrahamic religions and their adherents. They did not even know Sabians and Zoroastrians. When they became familiar with such religions, the Quranic jurisprudence became applicable to their adherents. When the original Muslims were introduced to Sabians, the following verse was revealed:

"Verily, those who believe [in the Quran] or those who are the Jews, the Christians and thye SAbians, and those who believe in Allah and the Day of Judgement and do righteous deeds shall have their rewards with their creator and nurturer, and there shall be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (Al-Baqarah, 62).

And, when the original Muslims learned about Zoroastrians, the following verse was revealed:

"Those who believe in Islam, and those who follow the Jewish Law and the Sabians, and the Christians and the Magians [Zoroastrians] and the polytheists, they all will be judged and decided for by Allah on the Day of Judgement. Verily, Allah is the Supreme Witness over all things" (al-Hajj, 17).

This verse indicates that the pluralism accepted by the Quran has gone even further as even polytheists will treated the same way as the adherents of various religions. The differences between the adherents of various religions and non-believers will persist. In other words, even nullity of atheism, which has been rejected by the Quran, will not be demonstrated definitively in this world, and the Quran has included it in its acceptance of pluralism.

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Not only does the Quran recognize true diversity and pluralism, it also accepts, with one condition, diversity of religions. Consider the followings:

One, the Quran does not restrict salvation to Muslims only, but states that all adherents of various religions that believe in God, the Judgement day, and do good deeds, will be blessed (Al-Baqarah, 62, 112; Al-Ma'idah, 69; Al-An'am, 48; Al-A'raf, 53; and most explicitly, An-Nissaa, 124). The only unforgiveable sin is polytheism (An-Nissaa, 31, 48, 116), and even that can ultimately be forgiven if the sinner truly repents. But, even polytheism does not take away one's fundamental rights, as the aforementioned verse from Al-Hajj, verse 17, demonstrated.

Two, the Quran has repeatedly recognized Judaism and Christianity as divine religions. In at least five verses, the Quran has emphasized that God made Jews superior (Al-Baqarah, 47, 122; Al-Jathiyah, 16; Al-Ma'idah, 20; Al-Dukhan, 32).

Three, Islam considers itself as the ultimate evolution of all religions. Hence, it considers itself as the truth. But, Islam is also religiously inclusive in that, it also recognizes the previous religions, which do not more or less have conflict with it, as the truth.

Four, regarding the truth, the Quran points out an important point, which is that the differences and conflicts between the people regarding what constitutes the truth are themselves symbol of the truth that will never end, and that God will judge them in hereafter and reveal the truth to them (Al-Hajj, 17).

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Five, critics may point to the verse, "And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers" (Al-i-Imran, 85), as the evidence against our argument. But, we should remember that in Islam's logic, religion is unique and is called Islam, because all divine religions have the same roots: "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam" (Al-i-Imran, 19). The Quran explicitly states that all the prophets had the same religion (Ash-Shura, 13), and that they were all supposed to confirm to each other (Al-i-Imran, 81). Abraham and Jacob were Muslim and invited people to Islam (Al-Baqarah, 128, 132, 133; Al-i-Imran, 67). God asked Prophet Muhammad explicitly to declare that he was not a new phenomenon among the prophets (Al-Ahqaf, 9). The Quran considers all adherents of other divine religions as Muslim (Al-Baqarah, 136; Al-i-Imran, 84). In the Quran's view all divine religions are one and the same, but depending on their era had different approaches and laws (Al-Ma'idah, 45-49). It also states that (Al-Hajj, 34, 67) God gave different rites for different religions.

Six, the Quran emphasizes that conversations with other religions must take place under the best conditions: "And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one, and we are [all] Muslims [in submission] to Him'" (Al-Ankabut, 46), and, "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best" (An-Nahl, 125).

Most interestingly, even those who believe in no religion, i.e. the atheists, will not be harmed in this world, and only will experience losses in the hereafter. They are still included in the Quranic pluralism in this world, and it is only after they pass away that they will be judged by God.

Thus, the difference between Rawls and the Quran is that the former views pluralism as a result of judgement beliefs, whereas the latter considers it a result of lack of commitment to ethics of belief.

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The inherent dignity of human beings

The Quran has spoken about the dignity of mankind: "And We have certainly honored the children of Adam" (Al-Isra, 70). Based on this verse, some Muslim commentators have discussed the inherent dignity of human beings. On the other hand, the Quran considers God as the best creator because His creation, human beings, has inherent dignity (Al-Mu'minun, 14).

Respecting the inherent dignity, i.e. human being dignity is unconditional. Thus, being a human being is enough for being respected, and because this is so, all human beings, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, race, and ideology possess inherent dignity.

There is an important issue that deserves separate discussion. To my knowledge, Muslim and non-Muslim scholars of Islam have never debated whether dignity is a factual or evaluative concept. In other world, is dignity a fact that only human beings deserve and have, similar to wisdom, free will, search for morality, etc., or is it an evaluative concept, implying that God likes human beings more than other creatures? It appears that Muslim and non-Muslim scholars of Islam view dignity as evaluative.



Justice and equality

The Quran's God is a just one and does not do injustice to anyone: "And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants" (Fussilat, 46); "And your Lord does injustice to no one" (Al-Kahf, 49), and, "Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight" (An-Nisa, 40). God's goal in sending the Prophet has been spreading justice: "We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice" (Al-Hadid, 25).

Prophet Muhammad also limited his mission to spreading justice, and said, "I have been commanded to do justice among you" (Ash-Shura, 15); "My Lord has ordered justice" (Al-A'raf, 29); "Indeed, Allah orders justice" (An-Nahl, 90); "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth" (Sad, 26), and, "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice" (An-Nisa, 135).

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The Quran has expanded the concept of justice in many ways: Witnesses (in a trial) must be fair (Al-Baqarah, 182; Al-Ma'ida, 95). There should be justice in trials (Al-An'am, 152; Al-Nissaa, 58), and people should speak justly and neutrally (Al-An'am, 152), and the entire life must be devoted to justice (Al-Ma'ida, 8). Even enemies must be treated fairly: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness" (Al-Ma'ida, 8).

Economically, the Quran is against poverty. It is said that there is a link between poverty and infidelity. Ali, the first Imam of the Shiites and the 4th Caliph wrote in Nahj al-Balagha [the Peak of Eloquence], a collection of his sermons, letters, exegesis, and narrations that "poverty is a worse death [than the physical death] (Hekmat, 163). The Quran says, "Satan threatens you with poverty" (Al-Baqarah, 268), and has many verses regarding helping the impoverished, such as, "Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you" (At-Takathur, 1), and, "And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment" (At-Tawba, 34).

Naturally, the people and intellectual elites of any era did not have the same understanding and interpretation of justice as the contemporary one, but there is nothing that prohibits them from doing so in our era. For example, Muslims can easily interpret the Quranic justice in terms of the capabilities theory of the Indian economist Amartya Sen and the American philosopher Martha Nussbaum.

Freedom and Tolerance

According to the Quranic teachings no one should be forced to believe in Islam: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion" (Al-Baqara, 256). Rawls considers acceptance of burdens of judgment and liberty of conscience as the two criteria for reasonableness of a comprehensive doctrine ( Justice as Fairness, p. 191). The following verse from the Quran and several after it recognize liberty of conscience: "And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?" (Yunus, 99).

The Quran allows people to freely choose between guidance and straying: "And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve'" ( Al-Kahf, 29).

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The Prophet is not the attorney for or guardian of the people to pressure them to the righteous path (Yunus, 99; Az-Zumar, 41); he does not control them: "So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a controller" (Al-Ghashiya, 21-22). The Prophet does not have the right to bully people and do injustice to them (Qaf, 45). His mission is to show them the righteous paths, not compelling a specific path. After this is done, people can choose their own path:

"Say, "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion" (Al-Kafirun, 1-6).

Rawls spoke about political and comprehensive tolerance. The Quran's comprehensive religious tolerance - including all of its constraints - endorses of Rawls' political tolerance. Rawls refers to this as the reasoning from conjecture.

The Prophet's first treaty: a path to just cooperation

Two-third of the Quran's verses was revealed during the time Prophet Muhammad was living in Mecca. This type of verses expressed ethical ideals and was in search of justice. They lacked religious jurisprudence that, according to the human rights of our era, can be considered as violent and against liberalism.

After Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina, the Prophet signed off on a treaty that governed peaceful co-existence of the immigrants, his supporters, and the Jews. According to Muslim historian Muhammad ibn Ishaq the Prophet "signed a treaty with the Jews, recognizing their religion and ownership of their properties, setting some conditions for them, but also accepting some conditions [in return]" ( Al-Nabawiyya Al-sira, volume I, p. 501). The treaty stated the following about the Jews:

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"Every Jewish person who follows us will be assisted, and will be equal to other Muslims. No injustice will be done to him and no help will be given to his enemy. . . All Jewish tribes will form a common front with Muslims in warfare. Also, the Jewish tribe of Bani Ouf constitutes the same community with Muslims. Jews and Muslims each have their own religion. They each have their own friends, allies, and slaves. Unless someone engages in inflicting injustice and committing sin, in which case he will have done injury to himself and his lineage alone. The same regulations that have been specified for Bani Ouf will apply to the Jews of Bani Najjar; and the same will be applicable to all Jewish tribes. No Jew will leave their assembly except by the permission of Muhammad; nobody's blood shall be spilled and trampled upon. He whoever kills another is alone responsible [for the deed] as are his family; except in cases in which he [the perpetrator] is himself a victim of injustice and that God is satisfied with the deed. Muslims and Jews will have their own shares of expenses during times of war. Jews and Muslims will assist each other against the aggressors and their relationships are based upon good will and compassion; they are set apart from sin. Nobody is to harm an ally; all will rise together to help the oppressed."

The treaty was against Mecca's non-believers, which explains why it contained so much about union for war and peace: Everyone was supposed to help everyone else against the invaders of Medina; Muslims and Jews had the right to call on people to make peace with the enemy, unless the war was over religion, and Jews were not allowed to shelter the non-believers of Mecca, who were the Muslims' enemy. According to the treaty, the Prophet was the arbiter of disputes between Muslims, and between them and the Jews.

Although the treaty had many clauses about justice, but social justice in that era did not mean equality of all, particularly men and women. In fact, we cannot even call communities of that era a society in the modern sense. There was tribal authority, but it was due to patronage and family relations, not the existence of a government which, as we understand it today, did not exist. Thus, "equal and free citizens," a product of the modern era, was meaningless. Thus, Rawlsian concepts of fairness and free and equal citizens could not exist in that era. Thus, the treaty between the Prophet and the Jews was one of tribal communities, and possibly a good example of what Rawls names as decency (The Law of Peoples, p. 67).

Commitment to the elite's rationality of the era

The Quran calls on everyone to follow wisdom and science. In 49 verses wisdom-related words have been used. For example, "Then will you not reason? Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge?" (Al-i-Imran, 65-66), and, "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge" (Al-Isra, 36). Interpreting the latter verse, the medieval Muslim scholar, Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Umar al-Zamakhshari, who was of Iranian origin, wrote in al-Kashshaaf [revealer], his book of interpreting the Quran, "The meaning of this expression is to warn the addressee against saying what one does not fully know, and doing that which is unknown. This clear principle includes all forms of imitation, because imitation entails unknowing following of edicts about the truth and falsity of which the imitator has no knowledge."

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On many occasions, the Quran has demanded reasoning for those who claim to be truthful: "Say, 'Produce your proof, if you should be truthful'" (Al-Baqara, 111), and, "Say, 'Produce your proof, if you should be truthful'" (An-Naml, 64). Interpreting the latter verse, Zamakhshari states, "This Quranic expression, more than any other reason, vitiates the position of the advocates of imitation, and establishes that any statement for the truth of which we lack reasonable support, is false and unjustified" (ibid.).

A path for constructing a liberal Islam

In this article first I explained my reading of Rawls' political liberalism. Then I described Rawls' views about Islam as presented in his "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited" article, where in a famous footnote he conjectures that Taha and An-Naim's idea of Sharia reformation is a perfect example of endorsing the political conception of justice from a comprehensive Islamic perspective. Finally, I discussed the evidence in the Quran and the Sunnah that supports constructing a liberal Islam based on Rawls' views as plausible. There I showed that Quranic verses endorse the reality of pluralism, the inherent dignity of human beings, equality and justice, and finally tolerance and freedom. I also elaborated upon The Prophet's first treaty as an example of decent social cooperation and co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims in early Islamic era.

To the extent that I understand Islam, there is a simple way of removing violence from contemporary Islam and making it compatible with political liberalism: The vast majority of non-worshiping Islamic laws are of ratifying type, i.e. they are the product of the culture and lore of the people of the Arabian Peninsula before the Prophet. The mission of the Prophet was not to destroy the infrastructure of the society, including its culture. He modified many of the existing laws and then ratified them.

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As the Quran puts it, the Prophet is a model for all Muslims. He ratified the customs of the elites of his own era. Many Muslim scholars have misunderstood what the Quran says about this issue, interpreting it as meaning that Muslims must do what the Prophet did in his life in his own era. In fact, the Prophet taught the people to ratify the customs of the elites of their own era, not the era of the Prophet.

Rawlsian political liberalism is not the sole liberalism of our era, nor is it the custom of all the thinkers. But, it has been accepted by a large number of thinkers. At the same time, liberal interpretation of the Quran is more compatible with its spirit than any other. Thus, I believe that ratifying Rawlsian political liberalism is exactly tantamount to acting according to the Prophet's teachings. The Prophet is a model for the Muslims by ratifying the reasonable customs of his own era. He is not a model for terrifying people and spreading Islamophobia, which brings nothing for Muslims but losses and harms. As discussed, there are many verses in the Quran that, subject to new and modern interpretations, are completely compatible with John Rawls' liberalism. This means that there are secular and liberal interpretations of the Islamic teachings that are more compatible with the true spirit of the, as compared to the Islam of fundamentalists.
A painting after The Underground Railroad by Charles T. Webber shows Levi Coffin, his wife Catherine, and Hannah Haydock assisting a group of fugitive slaves.

The election of Donald Trump and celebration by racist and anti-immigrant alt-right groups has sent waves of fear through many American communities. Jose Antonio Vargas, an immigrant's rights activist and an openly undocumented immigrant to the United States, writing in the New York Times Sunday Review, demanded to know "What will you do when they start rounding us up?"

This is my response to Jose's challenge.

Americans who oppose racial, ethnic, religious, homophobic, and gender bias, bigotry, and hate should take a lesson from the country's past. From the 1830s through the Civil War, Black and White abolitionists formed a network of "vigilance committees" in northern communities to stop slavecatchers from dragging south into slavery kidnapped free Blacks and freedom-seekers who had earlier escaped from bondage. Vigilance Committees mobilized to ensure legal procedures were followed and at times actively intervened to help imprisoned Blacks escape. The vigilance committees also provided freedom-seekers and their families with food, clothing, shelter, money, and work.

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It is time for progressive Americans to help the newest generation of freedom-seekers, whether they are immigrants, Muslims, gays, or anyone else exposed to bias and hate. Vigilance Committees must protest, organize, report, demand, intervene, observe, provide legal aid, create sanctuaries, and when necessary, engage in passive resistance. Protest marches and vigils are powerful tools for rallying support, but they are insufficient unless they translate into permanent organization to challenge injustice. Bernie Sanders supporters are now in a battle to take control of the Democratic Party away from Wall Street brokers and technocrats who lose election after election because they are not interested in building a mass progressive movement. Vigilance Committees can be part of the organizational structure of that movement.

Vigilance Committees would report incidences of injustice to school and local authorities and demand that they respond. Student committees can be a presence in schools by wearing "I support human rights" t-shirts and "safe space" safety pins, by reporting incidents to school officials, and by shouting "STOP" when they see acts of bullying and injustice.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has documented more than 700 incidents of active bigotry since Donald Trump's election; 40 percent of all the incidents occurred in schools. Of these documented incidents, 206 were anti-immigrant, 151 were anti-Black, 80 were anti-gay, 60 were vandalism that involved swastikas, 51 were anti-Muslim, and 36 were attacks on women. SPLC is also keeping track of intolerance directed against Trump supporters; 27 since Election Day or about 4% of the cases. You can report bias incidents on the SPLC website.

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There have already been several positive steps to protest injustice and hate. Since the election of Donald Trump there have been waves of protest marches and vigils across the nation.

Over one hundred college and university presidents issued a joint letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to forcefully "condemn and work to prevent the harassment, hate and acts of violence that are being perpetrated across our nation, sometimes in your name, which is now synonymous with our nation's highest office."

New York State has a hotline for reporting bias, discrimination, and hate crimes. According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, "We cherish our diversity . . . Whether you are gay or straight, Muslim or Christian or Jewish or Buddhist, rich or poor, black or white or Latino or Asian, man or woman, cisgender or transgender, we respect all people in the State of New York." To report an incident, call (888) 392-3644 from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday - Friday.

The ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project fights to expand and enforce the civil liberties and civil rights of immigrants and combats public and private discrimination. It has been instrumental in insisting on full legal rights for immigrants regardless of their status. MALDEF is the leading Latino legal civil rights organization. It was instrumental in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Plyler v. Doe that struck down a Texas law allowing school districts to charge tuition to children of undocumented immigrants.

In an August campaign speech, Trump promised to "end" sanctuary cities by blocking federal funding. But elected officials in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Providence, Santa Fe, Denver, and Washington, D.C., say they will maintain sanctuary status. Churches and schools have historically been sanctuaries providing safe-haven and refusing to surrender political and religious dissidents and refugees to police authorities. Newly appointed Newark, New Jersey Archbishop Joseph Tobin openly defied Vice-President-Elect Michael Pence when as Governor of Indiana Pence attempted to prevent the settlement of Syrian refugees in the state.

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Documenting, reporting, and protesting will almost certainly not be enough to defend undocumented immigrants and other people victimized by forces unleashed by the election of Donald Trump. Abolitionist vigilance committees were prepared for passive and active resistance. They surrounded courts and jails so that people could not be led into slavery and at times helped them to escape.

In 1860, Harriet Tubman of Underground railroad fame was instrumental in helping Charles Nalle escape from authorities in Troy, New York. In April 1860 Nalle was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law. Tubman was in Troy visiting a relative when she heard about Nalle's arrest. Ultimately Nalle escaped from custody. There is a marker in Troy at the scene of his rescue.

Tubman's role in securing freedom for Nalle was described in a local newspaper account. According to a local newspaper:

"An excited crowd of some one thousand persons had gathered about the Commissioner's office threatening a rescue. When the fugitive was brought down to be taken before [the judge], the crowd surrounded the office and endeavored to take him from them . . . Harriet, who had kept her position at the door of the commissioner's office, shouted: 'Here he comes! Take him!' and led the assault . . . A policeman hit her on the head with his club and freeing one hand she knocked him back into the crowd. Another jumped for her, but she caught him about the neck, throttled him and threw him over her shoulder. She was dragged down but kept her hold on the slave. Aroused to fighting pitch by her splendid courage, the crowd massed around her and dragged her and the slave to the river."

If progressive Americans are going to respond to Jose Vargas' challenge, we need to be prepared and organized.

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When Ayatollah Rohollah Khomeini passed away on June 3, 1989, only few thought his successor would be Iran's then president Ali Khamenei. Most of the media's speculations said the Khomeini's successor would be his son, Ahmed, who was thought to be the most favored candidate. The second option suggested by reporters and observers was a power struggle that might have ultimately led to the collapse of the post-revolution state. The second day the country's assembly of experts chose Khamenei as the country's new supreme leader, unfolding a new chapter in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The man who stepped into Khomeini's shoes almost three decades ago turned 77 on July 16th. Things have changed a lot since that first day when a man from outside the Grand Ayatollahs' club became Iran's leader. Back then, Khamenei was a Mujtahid, a level within the seminary that's equivalent to a PhD degree in the world of academics, while an Ayatollah is similar to a professor with a Post-Doctoral degree, and a Grand Ayatollah, as Khomeini was and few others are, is the level in which a cleric becomes a doctrinaire. Khamenei has now evolved into a Grand Ayatollah along with being a leader with a legacy that many are speculating over who will inherit it when the time comes. Medically, according to a source close to Khamenei's medical team whom I spoke to recently, the Iranian leader is "very sharp, healthy, and practices walking and hiking weekly." Khamenei underwent in September 2014 a successful prostate surgery in one of Tehran's governmental hospitals and has since then returned to his daily schedule that starts every day at 5 AM and ends at 10:30 PM. A source close to Khamenei's office revealed in a conversation with me. This contradicts with several reports that have been published inside and outside Iran during the past few years suggesting that Khamenei's situation was critical and that the search for a replacement was underway.

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Indeed the question of succession does exist in Iran on different levels. Even Khamenei himself tackled this issue on several occasions; the most famous one was when he spoke to the newly elected members of the assembly of experts in March this year on the characteristics of his successor. He underlined the importance of the successor being a "revolutionary" and advised the 82 members not to "be bashful" in selecting the next Supreme Leader. It's believed that the Iranian leader does have in mind a bunch of candidates that meet his criteria for a new leader. Some of those already occupy senior positions in the establishment, are under 70 years old, and, most importantly, are not controversial. Khamenei's recommendations could help in narrowing down the number of candidates, but this doesn't mean it'll be the only element in the process.

When he was elected, Khamenei was aware that the charisma of his mentor and predecessor was unbeatable. Khomeini was the founder of the republic, the father of the revolution, and the only man whose notions only few would dare to oppose. The new leader went directly towards building a different model from the essence of the same regime using his eight-year experience as President, and his fondness of planning ahead. He decided to institutionalize the establishment, mainly the leadership. The first thing he did was replacing the famous and popular Jamaran residence of Imam Khomeini with what is now called "Beite Rahbari" or the Leader's House. Situated in the center of the capital, the new address was designated as the supreme leader's official residence and workplace, and whoever becomes the leader of Iran in the future will have to live and work there. Alongside this move, Khamenei handpicked his assistants and advisers, and appointed his representatives throughout the country and in main official institutions.

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Iran is one of a few countries in the Middle East where politics is renowned for its complexity. Things may seem obvious and clear to those who are looking from the outside, but on the inside, everything is subject to compromises and deals. The assembly of experts is the body that votes to choose the new leader, but those expected to influence the vote are individuals from the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the seminary in Qum, add to that the role both the conservative and the reformist camps take in the process. Any attempt by any side to monopolize the decision would have dire consequences on the whole establishment, and this is what all the above understand very well.

Ayatollahs Sadek Larijani and Mahmoud Shahroudi are among the strong candidates. Both have a record of serving in official positions that goes back a long way, and are already members of the assembly of experts. Today, Larijani is the head of the judicial authority succeeding Shahroudi, who's the head of the arbitration council that mediates disputes between the three branches of the state. Shahroudi was once described by Khamenei as a Godsend. President Hasan Rouhani, a Mujtahid himself, is one of those who could be considered fit for the position. He was with Khomeini in Paris before the revolution. Later on, he went from being a Member of Parliament to Iran's main negotiator and secretary of national security. After that, he became a member of the assembly of experts, and finally a president. Hojatolislam Ibrahim Raisolsadat (Raisi), another Mujtahid and head of "Astan Quds Razavi" that embraces the tomb of Imam Reza, Shia's 8th Imam, and one of Iran's wealthiest charitable foundation, is believed to be on the candidates' list too. Raisi was born in 1960 and took on several positions within the judiciary. Hasan Khomeini, the grandson of Imam Khomeini, is also on the list. The 44-year-old Mujtahid has a strong popular base, but still needs to overcome the main obstacle that previously prevented him from running for the assembly of experts, i.e. "the lack of adequate clerical knowledge", as decided by the guardian council that determines who can run for any elections in the country.
U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) force commander Lt. Gen. Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki of Kenya (R) stands next to Ellen Loj (C), Special Representative of the U.N. secretary-general. Photo Credit: AP

The dismissal of Lt-Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki as commander of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) comes off as a knee-jerk reaction that fails to address structural limitations of the UN peacekeeping operations.

Even more worrying for Kenya is that the action practically eviscerates the country's unrivaled contribution to peace and stability in Sudan.

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The reason given for the action was that the commander had failed to protect civilians during the violence in Juba last July. He arrived in Juba on 10 June 2016 and officially took over on 17 June 2016. The violence in Juba took place from 08 July to 12 July 2016. The tragic attack on the Terrain Hotel happened on 11 July 2016. The ex parte decision was arrived at against an individual who had arrived at the workplace just three weeks earlier, raising reasonable doubts about his culpability. This was clearly a scapegoating verdict rather than an honest intent to troubleshoot.

Kenya has taken part in peace keeping operations in more than 40 countries, sending out over 30,000 soldiers in the process. However, its military involvement was not the first contribution to peace in Sudan.

Kenya provided a huge logistics and operations hub for Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), way back in 1989, following a devastating famine and the civil war between the then Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Army. Kenya supported the first humanitarian programme that sought to assist internally displaced and war-affected civilians during an ongoing conflict which helped save millions of lives. It was by far the largest humanitarian assistance programme.

Kenya also took the lead in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 2005, by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government to end the civil war. It also set a timetable for a Southern Sudanese independence referendum. A top Kenyan soldier, General Lazaro Sumbeiywo, led in mediating the negotiations.

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The two processes were quite long-drawn and laden with disappointments as would be expected of any belligerent setting, and Kenya bore the brunt squarely. This is why the latest decision to, as it were, blame the country's military leadership on peacekeeping's structural weakness did not go down well in Nairobi.

The government of Kenya has already protested the lack of formal consultation prior to the dismissal of Lt-Gen Ondieki, terming it a demonstration of disregard of Kenya's key role in South Sudan.

What's more, one discerns a whiff of jury inconsistency; in August last year following allegations of multiple sex abuse allegations against peacekeeping troops in Central African Republic, it was the UN peacekeeping envoy Babacar Gaye who was fired. Inexplicably, in South Sudan case the axe fell on the newly-arrived military commander.

Kenya's ire is quite expected, given that the international community was already getting exasperated with the situation in South Sudan. Just a few months before the incident in Juba, the United Nations Security Council had authorised an increase in troops and the use of lethal force to protect civilians.

At the time, we in the region were acutely aware that something was amiss and the ability of UNMISS to operate was so crippled that it required urgent attention if its mandate was to be achieved. That was also precisely why most of South Sudan's neighbours offered to contribute to the protection force and started working on making it operational.

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It was also critical that the peace process in South Sudan be continuously encouraged along and any challenges that arise be quickly addressed, if justice was to become the cornerstone of the governance architecture in South Sudan. It had become abundantly apparent to many of us that in fact the situation in South Sudan required more sustained political negotiation and support than military presence.

A report by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services released recently acknowledged that operational and political constraints within missions were at odds with their legal authority and mandate to act and that some missions felt outnumbered and stretched "making the use of force only a paper option".

As was the case in many conflict areas, military action without commensurate effort in political negotiations sets any mission up for only limited impact. Tough questions must then be asked not only regarding the success rate of UN peacekeeping missions, but also how to deal with the center when it is reluctant or too slow to respond to the needs of the field. Perhaps we have not learnt from Srebrenica, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Security Council should much more actively support regional efforts by ensuring that the forces on the ground have the enablers and multipliers needed to ensure successful missions. History shows that missions with adequate resources and attention are more often than not successful.

Unless the international community goes back to the drawing board, well-intentioned efforts by countries who contribute troops such as Kenya will appear unappreciated, and the civilians in South Sudan will continue to shed blood needlessly. Member states will not want to participate in missions set for failure ab initio and where the speed to condemn is disproportionate to the urgency in supporting the mission.

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Firing one of our generals for the systemic weaknesses of UN peacekeeping and without prior consultation is not only disrespectful, but dishonors Kenya's contribution to peace in South Sudan.

Ambassador Amina Mohamed is Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya.
My mom once shared with my sister and me a harrowing experience she endured right after Trump clinched the GOP nomination. She was in the waiting room of a car repair shop when another customer, watching a Fox News story about ISIS, loudly talked about banning Iraqis and Muslims-while side-eying her the entire time.

Nobody in the store said or did anything. She forced herself to calm both during and after the entire episode. She was scared of saying anything, or reporting him to either the management or the police afterwards. Why? Because she was afraid this "patriot" would follow her back to her car afterwards.

My mom does not even wear a hijab-she could have been Latina and Catholic for all that guy knew. Not even to mention the fact that she loved this country so much that she and my dad were willing to leave everything behind to come here, have been for 22 years, and have been American citizens for over a decade. But none of that mattered-she simply committed the crime of having a different skin pigmentation than his own.

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When I think about how that man-and many who are far worse-now have a champion in the White House, it kills me. I desperately wonder whether my non-Christian, immigrant, black, Latino, and LGBT sisters and brothers will feel safe, especially if they live in the Deep South as most of my family do. I worry about women, and what the election of a sexual predator to the highest office in the world will mean for the already-pervasive rape culture in our country and around the world. I agonize about the kids who will go to school in the coming days, weeks, months, and years who will face unprecedented levels of racial abuse and bullying-even by their own teachers.

A Shared Experience and Global Struggle

In the midst of my disgust and despair, the response from the people of London has been incredible. I've been getting the full "Adopt and Hug an American Week" treatment. People have treating me and other Americans like adopted family fleeing an unimaginable tragedy. And they haven't even been condescending or arrogant about it either, despite the fact that our choice directly impacts the lives of everyone around the planet. Instead, it's been variations of "Mate we've been there. You'll endure, because we have."

While eternally grateful for all of this solidarity, I almost have a sense of "survivor's guilt"-that I can be thousands of miles away from dealing with the aftermath of all that my family, friends, and millions of my fellow countrymen will have to endure. Yet by recognizing my privileged position, I can at least try to use it for a productive purpose. By taking advantage one the most vibrantly diverse metropolises on Earth, I can share the experiences and counsel of my classmates and friends from all over the world to the shocked majority of the American populace-okay maybe not all of us were "shocked."

John Oliver, comedian-journalist and Last Week Tonight host, offered:

"Well I figured I should visit my family while I still can go back and forth freely before White Mugabe takes the rein. So you're Muslim-Are you enjoying the UK? Fantastic-you might have an unexpected extended stay here. People better be buying you pints and tea ."

Okay you got me-that's not actually John Oliver and that entire quote is fictitious. John Oliver's actual epic reaction is now world-famous. Yet this gracious gentleman is Richard Wilsom from the visionary Stop Funding Hate campaign, who have developed an innovative approach to dis-incentivizing xenophobia and bigotry in the media which can and should urgently be adapted in the US as well. Mr. Wilson not only has an uncanny resemblance to him, but the quote is totally something John Oliver would say if I met him at a conference for woke legal professionals #HireMeLastWeekTonight.

Anyway, here are some actual reactions from people around the world in London:

Harjeet Sahota, who worked closely with London Mayor Sadiq Khan's historic campaign, relates:

"This is exactly how I felt post-Brexit, but what you unfortunately have to do is look at the positives: Not every American is a racist or sexist. Have faith in your processes of checks and balances and have patience with the people who voted Trump. Understanding is key to become united, and these negative and divisive campaigns have allowed for xenophobic rhetoric to fester. Yet getting frustrated and creating that "otherness" is counterproductive."

With regards to the role of the media, Harjeet passionately advocates for accountability:

"They play such an unbelievably influential role in elections and campaigns, but they remain completely unregulated and disgustingly bias in favor of those who have money."

Nefeli Douma, a LLM student at Queen Mary, related her own challenges in her native Greece

"I actually come from Greece and last summer we faced a huge disaster in my little country. Our PM, Alexis Tsipras, held a referendum calling the Greek people to vote against austerity policies imposed on us by the EU; he won, but in approx. two-months' time he signed the 3rd memorandum of understanding with the EU "Troika". In the meantime we were the first western country to go bankrupt before IMF. Tsipras actually reversed everything he had promised and as a result we are now encountering the deepest recession in the last 40 years (that will last for at least another 3-5 years), unless the conservative party takes the lead Our present left government espouses the worst form of populism, they shouldn't have put an issue of such great perplexity to public judgment. Brexit actually reminded me of our adventure but the main discrepancy between the 2 examples of populism is that the UK will indeed abide by the outcome one way or another (either through a soft or a hard Brexit) and not deny responsibility for the promise made to the British population"

With regards to her advice for the American public, Nefeli focuses on the diffusion of power in our government:

"What I would say in the first place is that fortunately there are solid and rather comforting constitutional safeguards in the United States; even if the Congress and the House of Representatives are both controlled by Republicans at the moment, they are of primordial significance to your federal government. So there are still solid checks and balances."

Analogies to Brexit was a common theme, and one of my classmates showed me "the seven stages of Brexit." Fearing the distinct possibility of a Trumpistan for quite some time now, I've been on "testing" ever since I arrived here (e.g. "What is the immigration process for the UK?" and "Am I eligible for refugee asylum status if Muslim ban becomes a thing?")

Azzah Ahmed, a Masters student at SOAS and fellow -Muslim American, commiserated with me by offering her immediate reaction to the results:

"I was talking to my cousin and he was like hopefully we all get deported on the same plane. And I was saying hopefully there will be Wi-Fi in the camps."

I second that sentiment Azzah-amen. No word on the Wi-Fi, but at least we will probably have legalized marijuana.

Yahya Abu Seido, medical student at University College London, offers his solidarity and challenges the American public:

"To all my friends in the US, do not despair. Every rise of fascism is faced with a political backlash in the future. This may in fact be the stepping stone for the US to actually elect someone like Bernie Sanders in the coming future. It's time for us to stand united and strong in the face of the struggles ahead. Nothing worth having comes easy, and with every hardship comes ease.

Speaking with so many classmates and friends from all backgrounds and walks of life has been a deeply humbling rejuvenating experience. As much as I worry and despair for the state of my country right now, they remind me that people all over the world have endured and even overcame so many greater challenges. They have endured unflinchingly fascist governments, revolutions, coups, devastating wars, and failed peace accords to stop those wars. They have lost family members and loved ones to the most vicious regimes in the world, and still summon the conscientious courage to devote their talents and energies to oppose those regimes.

If all our fellow sisters and brothers in humanity can endure and overcome all of these challenges, we can absolutely handle this Fascist Frat Brah-in-Chief.

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Louise Frechette, a Canadian, was the first United Nations deputy secretary-general. Appointed by Kofi Annan, she took office in March 1998, bringing to the job qualifications that exceeded those of most UN secretaries-general. She had spent a quarter-century in the Canadian foreign service, including as ambassador to several Latin American counties and to the UN; was associate deputy minister of finance in Canada, specializing in international finance; and later, deputy minister of national defense, where the budget dwarfs that of the UN. She moves flawlessly between English and French and also speaks Spanish.

"So you put them all together and it was a very good preparation for the DSG job," Frechette said in an interview from Montreal, where she lives. "There's hardly any subject I hadn't some familiarity with -- and I had the management side."

Her advice to a new deputy secretary-general is to be "extremely professional" while politically astute, and to cultivate good relations with diplomats in their UN missions but never wade into the domestic politics of member nations. To her, that seems very important now regarding the United States, as UN officials have been outspoken in their criticisms of president-elect Donald Trump, who will lead the nation that contributes most to the organization.

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When Frechette became the first UN deputy secretary-general, she capped an era of strong women in top UN positions, including the heads of Unicef, the World Health Organization, the World Food Program and the Population Fund.

Her experiences in essentially inventing a new high-level UN position with scant details in the General Assembly resolution that created it, are instructive as a new secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, chooses his person for the job.

"The DSG job has almost no function," she said, allowing a secretary-general and his deputy, along with his chief of staff, to agree on a workable arrangement. "The General Assembly . . . wanted the DSG to pay particular attention to economic and social issues, which makes sense since the secretary-general is so tied up with political crises," Frechette said, "and there was the notion of supervising reform, which at the time meant, essentially, administrative reform. Everything else that was built around the job was the result of my initiatives and Kofi's expectations."

Frechette arrived with strong instincts. "In my case, I was not inclined to play a public role," she said. "I think he [Annan] would have been comfortable if I had played a somewhat more public role, but I didn't think that that was required. Either you're the secretary-general or you're an undersecretary with a detailed knowledge of an area." She did not want to encroach on either, particularly not in the direction of powerful and politically sensitive departments, such as peacekeeping or political affairs.

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"I saw much merit in being turned toward the inside of the system, and I saw myself as someone not at a new level of authority -- because there are enough chiefs in the system, enough bureaucratic layers -- but as someone who would be the chief problem-solver, the chief coordinator, the chief prodder of change and improvement in behavior and performance. That's the way I would describe how I functioned."

Frechette served as deputy secretary-general for eight years, returning to Canada in 2006 to become a distinguished fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Ontario. She led a Canadian project on nuclear energy and the challenges of global governance, which concluded with a 2010 report. In 2012, she published a study titled "UN Peacekeeping: 20 Years of Reform."

She currently serves on or chairs numerous boards. including at CARE Canada and CARE International. She is also a member of the board of Essilor International, a French company working on eye-related solutions in a hundred countries, and chairs its committee on corporate social responsibilities.

At the top of the UN, Frechette said, she and Annan, a Ghanaian, and his chef de cabinet, or chief of staff, then Iqbal Riza from Pakistan, formed a close working threesome. "In fact, if my tenure was reasonably effective, it's in part because of the chef de cabinet, Iqbal. He was tremendously helpful in establishing the position. He made it known inside the Secretariat that Kofi and I and he were a triumvirate. Iqbal used to have a daily meeting with Kofi at the end of the day. He suggested that I should be part of that, and when Kofi was not in town he and I met."

She emphasized that the key to being an effective deputy was knowing the boss's mind. The atmosphere at the top during her years in the UN was aided by a "very, very fluid, very transparent sharing of information; I knew what was on Kofi's mind and he always knew what I was up to."

It was not always an easy time for Annan, who opposed the United States-led war in Iraq and was buffeted, mostly unfairly, by accusations of involvement in irregularities in the oil-for-food program, devised by the Security Council to ease the lives of Iraqis living under tough sanctions. It later was determined that most of the violators of sanctions were companies in the US and Europe or government officials and agencies, including in Australia, France and India.

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The role that Frechette established for herself and played during her years on the 38th floor of the UN was often that of a neutral person to go to for resolving differences among parties within the system or with the diplomatic corps, which is large in New York.

"I was not standing in the way of the USGs," she said, referring to under secretaries-general. "They all continued to report to Kofi. I wasn't there to do their jobs. I was just here to be helpful -- to be helpful to them, to be helpful to the ambassadors, [to] just keep the machine functioning as well as it could.

"In a sense that reflects my own background, because I was a deputy minister, not a minister, in Canada," Frechette added. "A deputy minister's job in Canada is to make sure that what the government wants to see happen will happen. And that was my attitude vis-a-vis Kofi. I wasn't there to pursue my own goals. I was there to make sure that what he wanted done happened, and it happened in the best way possible."

She had to work in a fairly rigid Secretariat environment, very different from the more kinetic, peer-friendly Canadian government. "This is quite a hierarchical Secretariat, which reflects the tradition in most countries, where leadership from the peer is not easy to accept," she said.

"Because I was half a step above everybody, it was much easier to turn to me when there were conflicts or differences of opinion between departments. On more than one occasion, a USG would say, Can you call us all together? I wasn't Solomon, but I could tease out a consensus that I thought could be acceptable to everybody. And the fact that I was the person offering the solution made it easier for everybody to accept it."

There were frustrations. Ironically, one of them was the ability of the General Assembly to get in the way of change, which Ban Ki-moon, the current secretary-general, said in a recent interview with me was perhaps his greatest obstacle while in office. Frechette singled out the Assembly's Fifth Committee, which sets the organization's budget priorities. Its members, diplomats assigned by their governments, "are not very senior people, who are not people who have had a great deal of management experience themselves but are good diplomats who understand the politics of everything.

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"So when we judge the performance of the UN in the management or administrative sense," she said, "it's always important to distinguish between what is within the authority of the secretary-general -- and if he's not using his authority fully, why not -- and what is really the responsibility of member states who have enacted the conditions and demands that result in the kinds of inefficiencies that you observe. I've never met a journalist who really showed much of an interest in these issues. It's easier to just judge the performance than try to understand who bears what responsibility."

In her years as deputy secretary-general, where she said that hiring good people was always a challenge, Frechette tried to recruit more women for good UN jobs, urging governments to appoint truly qualified women when positions opened.

"It wasn't always successful," she said. She had told me in an interview while she was still in office that her pleas to governments often went unanswered or not even acknowledged. In this interview with her, on Nov. 9, she said that "Kofi was quite committed to attracting women. The UN was doing not very well, but probably better than most of its member states."

When developing countries complained about the predominance of Western women in high positions, it was often, if not always, because many women around the world never had the opportunities Frechette had as a Canadian. Rising through the foreign service in any country is not enough, she said in the recent interview, since diplomats rarely have management experience and financial expertise. "Foreign ministries are not great places to train managers," she said

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In this year of major change at the UN, Frechette said, "I would have been very happy to see a woman as secretary-general, but I really thought that you should get the best secretary-general you could get -- man or woman."
"What do you have to lose"?

As a person who has lived most of my life ostensibly as a cisgender white male, I readily admit that upon transition I was hit with blunt force the realization that as a transgender female I had suddenly lost not only my civil rights, my societal status, but suddenly earned a societal stigma. It was a shock to have things, respect, take them for granted and then suddenly lose them! What did I do, other than be honest with myself and express that honesty?

I've spent the bulk of the last 15 years working to gain back all those rights , that societal respect I had as a human being, not only for myself, but for all for whom I am classified, transgender people. Transgender people are a subset of the larger LGBTQ group and since the majority of T's also fall into the LGBQ category we have all the same challenges plus a lot more!

The 2016 election results with a Trump-Pence Administration were crushing and threaten to set the LGBT movement back not only the amazing 8 years of the Obama Administration, but with a reactionary Supreme Court take us back the middle of the last Century.

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Vice-President Elect Mike Pence, a born again Christian, is perhaps one of the most anti-LGBTQ political crusaders to serve in Congress and as governor of a state. Perhaps best known for signing the draconian anti-LGBTQ "religious liberty" law in Indiana last year, "he supported "conversion therapy" as a member of Congress, and later, as a columnist and radio host, he gave a speech in which he said that marriage equality would lead to "societal collapse," and called homosexuality "a choice. " Stopping gays from marrying wasn't biased, he said, but was rather about compelling "God's idea.""

Since Trump is not known for his knowledge or any kind of depth on policy issues one can reasonably suggest that Pence would have tremendous influence on social policies. Even before the election there had been speculation suggesting that Pence could be "the most powerful vice ever." With Friday's announcement (Nov 11) that he is replacing Chris Christie as chairman of Trump's transition team, filling all the major positions in the incoming Trump administration, his power and status has increased geometrically! (I have few good things to say about Chris Christie, but I can say that he is not a religious ideologue)

So, who else is taking a lead on Trumps Transition Team?

Vice-Chairman Ben Carson who has compared homosexuality to pedophilia and incest.

Vice-Chairman Newt Gingrich who has consistently attacked LGBTQ rights as "gay fascism" and "the new fascism."

Perhaps the most onerous person in Trumps leadership is Ken Blackwell who had already been appointed to lead domestic policy on the transition team. The former Ohio secretary of state, Blackwell has compared homosexuality to arson and kleptomania, which he called "compulsions."

Ken Blackwell, now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council (FRC), who will be handling domestic issues as the team discusses the administration's priorities for its first hundred days. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled as an anti-gay hate group thanks to its promotion of "discredited research and junk science" meant to "denigrate LGBT people."

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It was reported that Trump was hands-off on LGBTQ issues at the Republican National Convention, resulting in the most anti-LGBTQ platform ever, a platform that affirmed their support for discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ bills in North Carolina and Mississippi targeting the transgender community. The platform in two separate amendments calls for legislation to prevent transgender people from "using public restrooms that align with their gender identity," arguing speciously that it is "illegal and dangerous" and "alien to America's history and traditions."

Based on the RNCC Platform, Statements for Trump, Pence and those leaders on his transition team, here is what we can expect from Trump's first 100 days in office.

President-elect Donald Trump released his "Contract With the American Voter" in October, his "100-day action plan to Make America Great Again," is an overview of what the administration will begin to implement in his first months in office. This "contract", for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans signals a complete reversal of eight years of progress for the LGBTQ community under President Obama.

Overturning Marriage Equality

While nothing in Trump's 100-day plan explicitly states he'll try to roll back same-sex marriage rights, it does state he will "begin the process of selecting a replacement for [Supreme Court] Justice Scalia ... who will uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution." In the past, Trump has also said he would "strongly consider" appointing Supreme Court justices committed to overturning the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

Mike Pence as noted has a long and clear track record of anti-same-sex-marriage views. From declaring that that same-sex marriage would bring upon "societal collapse," speaking out against the 2013 repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and trying (unsuccessfully) in 2014 to block a same-sex marriage court ruling in his home state of Indiana, Pence also tried -- and again failed -- to amend the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

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So, would a Trump Supreme Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide?

Despite Trump telling Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes that marriage equality is settled law, he has consistently promised to pick judges in the mold of Scalia and Alito ...Beware!

Cancellation of Obama's Executive Actions

Of all the bullet points in Trump's "Contract With the American Voter," the most worrisome for the LGBTQ community may be his stated plan to "cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama."

At risk is the very real possibility that Trump would rescind President Obama's executive order banning federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT discrimination. This was very near and dear to me personally as I watched President Obama sign Executive Order 13672 on July 21, 2014, that also added "gender identity" to memorialize the transgender nondiscrimination policy throughout the civilian federal workforce.

Some of the Obama administration's major protections for the LGBTQ community have taken the form of memorandums and final rules -- "such as this spring's double whammy memos for the Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which clarified that gender identity is a protected class in terms of health care coverage and equal access to education facilities."

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Could Trump undo those rulings, causing insurance companies to drop transgender patients and forcing trans students to use bathrooms and showers based on their assigned sex at birth?

"NBC OUT spoke with Lambda Legal Law & Policy Director Jennifer Pizer, who focused on the use of the word "unconstitutional" in Trump's plan.

"There have been wild claims by some critics of the Obama administration that many policies and actions taken by agencies and the White House have been unconstitutional. That's simply not true," Pizer said. "In the 'contract,' this stated promise is only to cancel 'unconstitutional' actions. If that promise is kept, the Trump administration will not be withdrawing much at all."

That doesn't necessarily mean that Trump and Pence won't try to re-clarify the HHS and DOE rulings anyway. But if they do, Pizer added, "It will not be because they were unconstitutional. It will be because the new administration disagrees."

"Regardless of whether Trump tries to reconfigure the federal policies on transgender equality, there will always be legal recourse to challenge the new policies."

"Keep in mind that much of the Obama Administration's activity was interpretation and enforcement of federal statutes based on court decisions," Pizer told NBC OUT. "Those decisions will remain in place whether the new administration changes those regulations and 'guidance' or not."

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Repeal of Affordable Care Act

Trump states he will "repeal and replace Obamacare" in his 100 Day Plan. He plans to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Obamacare, with "Health Savings Accounts" and "the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines." This particular provision is poised to impact millions of Americans, not just the LGBTQ community.

"But for LGBTQ people specifically, the repeal of the ACA, ... has caused fear around coverage for gender-reaffirming care, spending caps on coverage for HIV-related treatment and the impact on Medicaid and Medicare for low-income segments of the community."

"They can do it, and they intend to do it," HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy said, "But if you're in an ACA health care plan right now on the exchange, or you're in a Medicaid program, you're not going to have your health care cut off in the immediate term. If they are successful in repealing it, there's going to be some sort of transition period."

It is very clear that if and when Trump does repeal the ACA, the harshest impact will be felt on LGBTQ people with lower incomes as well as those with pre-existing conditions. Although Trump has said that he wants to keep the ban on pre-existing conditions, I would be wary.



"Repeal of this law very likely means a return to the bad old days of pre-existing condition exclusions from health insurance and denials of insurance outright," Pizer of Lambda Legal said. "Repeal also very likely would mean an end to the important federal subsidies for people of limited means. Leaving Medicaid to states likely would mean a dramatic change in that program and deeply problematic decreases in care for those who are most vulnerable."

"And as one HIV-positive man told NBC OUT on Wednesday at an anti-Trump protest in New York, losing the ACA could mean a return to insurance spending caps -- a dangerous prospect for people living with the virus or people living with chronic conditions that result in high health-care costs."

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"If they roll back the spending caps, I can never have a lapse in employment. My pills cost over $3,000 a month," Christen Madsen II said, while standing outside Trump Tower. "And they used to be able to put a cap on the amount insurance would cover for prescriptions, so that could come back."

Other Rights We've Gained under President Obama not listed in Trumps 100 day plan

Military Service

David Stacy, of HRC, said the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is "exceedingly unlikely."

"One of the reasons is, openly LGB service in the military has been phenomenally successful ... The military leadership of our country feels good about it," he explained.

"Transgender military service has just begun, and I think that is a little more at risk ... But once the military starts to implement something, it takes a lot of energy to change course," Stacy added. I do admit that I was encouraged this summer at an Army base talking to the commanding General and some of his staff. (He had met and seemed impressed with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Amanda Simpson)

Hate Crimes

As for criminal justice, it is unlikely that even this Congress would overturn the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, but the new Department of Justice leadership probably would not pursue hate crime investigations as fiercely as the Obama administration has. DOJ efforts to reach out to LGBT communities would likely no longer continue and I doubt if my local FBI office would continue to to have internal Pride celebrations and invite transgender and LGB people to speak and address the staff.

Discrimination

"Vice President-elect Mike Pence told evangelical radio host Dr. James Dobson on Wednesday that "The Trump-Pence administration will be dedicated to preserving ... the freedom of religion that's enshrined in our Bill of Rights." Pence issued the phrase in response to questions about whether his administration would work to make sure religious businesses don't have to cover birth control for employees, but critics note "religious freedom" bills can result in discrimination against LGBTQ people."

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There are still no federal anti-discrimination clause protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in public facilities. But many states, counties and cities do have anti-discrimination laws in place that specify sexual orientation and gender identity -- those will most likely not be affected by the new administration.

However, existing routes for gaining recourse when employment and housing discrimination occur may be altered.

"What will likely happen with this new administration is that they will not enforce those laws in the same way as President Obama's administration," Warbelow explained. "The Department of Justice, the EEOC, the Department of Labor will not as robustly enforce and they will unfortunately turn their back on the LGBT community -- but people still can have legal recourse and file those complaints."

Legal recourse, but with Scalia inspired judges, new EEOC commissioners, that may be a pipe dream!

Going Forward

While LGBTQ Americans wait for more of President-elect Trump's policy plans to be revealed, the hope is that he will make good on his victory speech promise to be "president for all Americans" -- includes LGBTQ Americans. I don't think that we should wait, we need to be prepared to fight to expose the transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, the racism that permeates Trump.
We reject the president elect!

Since last Tuesday, November 8, 2016, a day that the world will always remember, there has been a growing movement of people, who refuse to accept the outcome of the election. This is largely due to the fact that it's currently projected that Hillary Clinton will have won the popular vote by more than 1.7 million votes, which says something very important. Donald Trump isn't a lot of peoples' president.

Yes, we have the Electoral College for a reason, but here is the thing, it's an old system in a new world.

Let me make it abundantly clear, I'm not being a sore loser. I'm fine being called a loser. For about 24 years, I was bullied every day of my life, and I was called far worse things than loser because I was, and am, a gay, jewish, nonconforming male. However, I refuse to sit idly by while other children, and now grown adults, will be subjected to, and already have been tormented for being the "other," aka not a heterosexual-white-male.

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Sorry, been there, done that, and I refuse to let that happen to anyone else.

This isn't the America I want to live in, and this certainly isn't the America that our forefathers fought to create.

Thus, I present to you 10 reasons why I refuse to accept Donald Trump as my president, and even more so, why a growing number of us are making this choice.

1. Our democracy is already broken.

When having conversations with intelligent people, they challenge my desire to have the Electoral College cast their votes differently than how their states voted, by stating that this goes against our democracy.

Well, here's the thing, our democracy in the US is already broken. When a system can elect a president, and his cabinet, into a position of power that doesn't stand to protect the rights of all the country's citizens, we no longer live in a progressive democracy, and that is what the United States has always been, a progressive democracy.

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As if it couldn't be even clearer, I will once again state this, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.

Things are breaking daily, and in my opinion, we shouldn't stop until we've hit out lowest point, which we haven't hit yet. We need to hit rock bottom, so we can actually start building something new, rather than rebuilding on a permanently damaged foundation.

You wouldn't build a brand new house, on an old, out-dated, cracked foundation with a sleazy contractor, who's probably just in it for the money, and going to do a patch job, would you? So why rebuild America that way?

2. The United States will see a divide regardless.

Continuing the conversation from the previous point, a lot of smart people highlight that by the Electoral College going against the way the states voted, an even bigger divide in the country will happen.

Wake up!

We're already divided in a big way, the election has shown us that. This isn't something new, and having Trump as our President will not change this because his presidency is set to marginalize a huge number of people. We're fighting to have someone in office, who won't halt progress, and who will champion for ALL people, which brings me to point number 3.

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3. We want EVERYONE'S lives to be better.

Dear straight-white-dudes, we don't want to take your guns away, (I mean if I could, I would), or make you gay, or make you even like us, but if you get to keep your guns than I should 100% be allowed to marry the love of my life, women should be able to make decisions that affect their own bodies, and black people should feel as safe as you. The things that we're asking for, the things you had immediately guaranteed to you at birth, are simply the things we want too.

Furthermore, if we're able to take this election back, we'll still be kind to you, and make sure you have healthcare, are safe, and can marry your lady friends.

P.S. Your guns do have the potential to affect me in a big way, and to claim that my lifestyle affects yours in anyway, is like blaming me for why the sky is blue. It just doesn't connect.

4. I refuse to let my life be dictated by FEAR.

A lot of people are scared. You know what I have to say about that, "Good!"

This means you care.

The media, and a lot of people, want to play on this tactic of fear, when arguing about what could happen if we're to actually get Hillary into office instead of Trump. The initial response to this idea is that many Trump supporters would go crazy, and I think we can all say that based off of the Trump rallies, this is a very educated hypothesis.

But what so many people don't seem to realize, is that for millions of Americans there's already a huge fear of living authentically as themselves, in their own country, state, city, etc because we've already felt fear coming from the other side, and a lot of the time, it's in the form of hate.

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Fear is what stops us from trying something new, which is what this country needs.

Hate won't make anything, but more hate. However, I refuse to sit with the bully, till he has at least proven himself changed, and taken accountability for what he has sparked. Trump hasn't told his supporters to be accepting, to be gracious, and to stop promoting the hate he influenced. Instead he's tweeted, "This isn't fair."

Please.

We all know that if Hillary had won, Trump would've been condoning the type of protests that are currently happening in favor of Hillary, but the difference is, the protests would've probably looked a lot more like Trump's violent and scary rallies.

Yes, we're out in the streets being loud, but we're also being peaceful because our voices have to be heard.

And to be quite frank, it already feels like violence, hate, and anger are going to drive our future government based off of the people Trump and Pence are bringing into their circle, which brings me to my next point.

5. If something happens to Donald Trump then Mike Pence is our President.

Nothing scares me more than Donald being impeached, which is highly likely, or him deciding this wasn't as fun as he thought it was going to be, which is also highly likely, because then Pence becomes the President of the United States.

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Pence is far more dangerous because he is a real politician, he has his own greedy wants and desires that stem from Evangelicalism crazy town. I'm not claiming all Evangelicals are nuts, but Pence is.

He doesn't believe in climate change, he does believe in electro shock therapy to "get the gay away," and he has proven to not champion anyone that doesn't look like him.

To make matters worse, even if Donald doesn't get axed or runaway, he's already said that he wants Pence to be his "CEO/COO," which in Donald terms, means he'd be the most involved and powerful VP in history. This statement alone exemplifies how little Donald knows, wants to learn, or cares when it comes to the gravity of this entire ordeal.

6. This isn't about politics, this is about humanity.

I've seen a number of discussions centered around this idea, and this is something that speaks to me so personally.

I've always said in relationships, which is what this is, a relationship between the government and the people, there's either two winners, or two losers, and right now we are about to have two losers.

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Many of the people, who voted for Trump will without a doubt, in time, see that he lied. Donald is a showman, he will do whatever he has to get where he wants to get, so he said what many of you wanted to hear.

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but he isn't going to bring factories and jobs back from foreign countries. He isn't going to protect your medicare, and he sure as hell isn't going to protect your money. Donald and his constituents will not deliver to anyone, except a very small number of people.

I want to live in a world where we all win, and as idealistic as that sounds, it's possible.

Yes, we need to unite, but we need to unite under a government that will fight for humanity, not big business, greed, and money.

Say what you want about Hillary, but if somehow this does all turn around, you know she would have to honor everything she's ever said because of what it took to get her into that position.

7. We need to focus on the present.

Too many people want to say we should've worked harder to get Bernie in, or that we need to just follow suit with whats always happened, accept this, and look to the future, or blame X, Y, and Z.

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Why?

This is unproductive, and what this really says is, "Give up."

Giving into something that you know morally to be completely wrong, is just as bad as acting like all the racists, bigots, and misogynists that are excited to watch many peoples' lives change for the worse.

Additionally, what if that future doesn't ever come because we allowed this to actually go through without even trying to fight it.

By using the argument that nothing has happened yet, is like saying, "well we aren't morbidly obese yet, so let's not exercise and eat poorly."

We know that this type of behavior doesn't work, and that to wait for a problem to get worse before dealing with it, is insane. We need to consistently be looking to solve problems before this specific problem gets worse, and that's what this movement is all about.

Unfortunately this notion originally stems from the tobacco industry when they were looking to keep cigarettes legal as a way to make money because thats what our America is all about, making money while destroying everything.

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What the present is currently showing us, is that nothing is being done in terms of building unity, and creating a safe environment for all the citizens of the United States. Donald's lack of action, unpredictability, and egoic ways display all I need to see, to know that our present is suffering.

We need to act now, while we still can, so that we don't allow things to become even worse, which brings me to my final point.

8. The world is watching.

As I have engaged with numerous people from abroad, it's beyond clear that everyone has been watching our election. The hate, fear, and disregard for the "other" that filled this election has been seen, and it's setting the stage for many other countries to act similarly. Many people from all different countries have voiced their concerns that something similar is going to happen in their home countries, and it's scary because these type of hateful movements are gaining steam all over.

If the US and Great Britain can have such upsets happen then it would be incredibly easy for something far worse to happen in smaller countries, or other large "superpowers."

The Business Insider has already began reporting that Asia could be soon to follow our bad examples.

This isn't good.

9. Trump is simply unfit.

Sure, we could give the guy some time to prove us wrong. Trust me, I would love to be wrong in this scenario, but President Obama said it himself, Trump was unaware of exactly how much responsibility and work comes with being the president.

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He spewed whatever he had to, to get this far, and now he's the most clueless elected president EVER. To add insult to a very serious injury, we're now watching racists, xenophobic, and anit-LGBT people being appointed to some of the most serious positions in the government. This does scare me, and if it doesn't bother you than I question your beliefs.

And to really put the cherry on top of this disastrous mess, Trump is now requesting the highest level of clearance for his children, who have never served in politics, and will be running his companies.

Don't let him fool you. He's not taking a salary because he knows that he will make a tremendous amount of money by screwing with our system. He has said the Supreme Court has spoken on gay marriage, but has said he will most likely overturn Roe V Wade, which the Supreme Court also already decided. Thus, his arguments are made irrelevant. The list truly goes on and on in ways that he doesn't make sense, negates himself, or just doesn't seem to care.

10. Love

You bet your ass that when I hear about another hate crime happening to someone I personally know, or to a stranger, that I get angry. I get really angry because this type of behavior, which is now considered appropriate by many, is beyond dangerous. Yes, these attitudes sat just below the surface of our country for a long time, but it's very different to think something then it is to act upon it.

However, after I comprehend what's going on, I try my damnedest to shift my anger to love. Love, or rather the acknowledgement that love exists, is what gets so many people through so many difficult times, and this is an extremely difficult time. Love is what is at the core of all religious teachings, what drives humans to look for a partner, and what makes you feel better no matter what.

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Love has been lacking from a collective perspective for a long time, and now it's beyond imperative that we fight to bring the love back.

Truly it boils down to this, if you aren't spreading love then you are spreading hate. There is no in-between when it comes to love, and to say that there is, means you have not fully embraced love.

Sure, you can argue that you aren't spreading fear, hate, negativity, or whatever word you chose, but if it isn't love then it is one of those things. It's a hard pill to swallow, but we need to be conscious of what it is that we are putting out into the universe.

Love is truly the one thing that can change the world. It's compassion, it's empathy, it's kindness, it's connection to each other's cores. It's what says, "We are one."

Yes, love is hard to feel in it's completeness when we feel so much of the opposite radiating against us, but like Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., the Buddah, the Dalai Lama, and so many other mindful and peaceful leaders before us facilitated, we too can use love to create the change we not only want, but need to see in our world..

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Ultimately, I want to know I at least tried.

If nothing comes of this Electoral College thing, and we do end up with Donald Trump or Mike Pence as our president down the road, I want to be able to at least look back, and say, "I tried!"

I've been told many times by mentors and people I look up to that we regret the things we don't do, not the things we do, so how will you feel if the worse does happen? Will you be ok with your current actions, or lack there of?

I don't say this to scare you, I am honestly asking, so that you can reach into the deepest part of your core to answer these questions.

Yes, this is a huge learning lesson, and yes, it's going to take nothing short of a miracle to get Hillary Clinton into the Oval Office, but what I've learned is never say never. Especially when you have some of the brightest, most cunning, and creative people on your side. Sure, things could get really ugly for a while, but things are already really ugly, a lot of us just forget because we live in our own little bubbles with like-minded people all around us.

Furthermore, don't think Hillary isn't up for it, she hasn't said anything about this entire situation because she can't. She conceded because she had to. She called Donald out for saying he wouldn't concede, and if she hadn't, she would've gotten even more shit from so many people because she would've looked like a hypocrite.

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We all know she's secretly loving the fact that we're still fighting for her because this was this woman's dream. She didn't just wake up one day, and go, "I'm board being on reality TV, and want more power." She has fought her whole life to make it this close.

Whether you love her, or hate her, is beyond irrelevant because she isn't looking to hang out with you anyways. What she's looking to do, is make our country the best it can be.

We've seen the danger, we've even allowed it into our system, but we the people aren't popularly for it, which is why it doesn't end here.

It gives me such hope to know that the popular Millennial vote, across almost every state, was for Hillary Clinton. Majority of my generation sees that we need to keep making progress. This is our world, and we're going to have to keep cleaning it up because the previous generations didn't think long term, and fight like hell when they knew things were wrong, which has brought us to a very scary reality.

Right now the world is watching us. It's time we showed the world what real super powers look like as we unite to fix the giant mess our system has allowed for.

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Remember you must be the change you wish to see in the world, and you only get one shot at it.

We can do this, but now isn't the time to get lazy. Join the movement, organize your own protest, get creative, and never lose sight what this is all for; an awakening of the human consciousness that speaks to the fact that we want something better than what we've known.
Gaziantep, Turkey: Syria's largest city Aleppo now joins Rwanda and Srebrenica on a list to haunt the international community, whatever meaning the phrase "international community" holds anymore.

The United Nations has failed to stop the slaughter, as have the world's major powers. One of them, Russia, is directly involved in the crime, firing missiles into Aleppo from an aircraft carrier.

A generation ago, during the Balkans War and the Rwanda genocide, some of us gradually realized that even when the world knows that people are being and are about to be slaughtered, it won't necessarily act to stop it.

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And there's no claiming that the world doesn't know what's happening in Aleppo. Traditional and social media have been generating text and images for years now about the aerial bombardment of hospitals, schools and other civilian centers in the city.

Eastern Aleppo has been under siege for months -- an outline of a ceasefire in September raised hopes that humanitarian aid might reach the city, but without credible enforcement mechanisms the proposed cessation of hostilities brokered by Russia and the United States never took hold.

Aleppo is about 70 miles from here, just across the border, and various medical and humanitarian organizations based in southern Turkey have been desperately trying to get supplies into the city for months. Even before the bombardment of recent days crippling fuel shortages and a desperate lack of medical equipment have choked the city's hospitals.

"There have been no real supplies for months. Priorities include medical consumables like trauma medicine and anesthesia drugs," Omar Safadi of the Independent Doctors Association (IDA) told me.

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Then Friday morning, around 9.40am local time, the last children's hospital operating in besieged eastern Aleppo was targeted by two missiles from the Russian-backed Syrian regime, which "caused massive destruction at a time when the medical staff in the hospital were busy treating dozens of victims of showing symptoms of a chlorine attack," said the IDA. Two days before, reported the medic organization, the hospital had been targeted in an attack in which 20 barrel bombs hit the area.

Three pediatricians were still working in the hospital Friday morning. One of them, Dr. Ghaith, explained: "Whilst we were treating patients the hospital was targeted by two parachute guided missiles. The strikes caused massive destruction of the hospital, injuries to the staff and the power to cut. With the power cut the staff risked their lives rushing to save those [babies] in the incubators."

After years of working against impossible odds in unimaginable danger, the remaining doctors have now decided not to reopen the hospital. By the early hours of Saturday morning, all of east Aleppo's operating hospitals were closed because of the intense shelling.

There's no pretending the world hasn't known what's been happening to Syrian medical facilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported attacks on five hospitals in Syria "on 13-15 November 2016, including three hospitals in Western Rural Aleppo...throughout 2016, WHO and partners have documented 126 such attacks across the country".

Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrian activists forced into Turkey by the war, and many here are understandably cynical about the international community's will to prevent the slaughter. "We can keep documenting and publicizing these war crimes, but who's going to make them stop?" asked one.

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"Nothing at all is to be expected from America in this transition period," said Maya Hautefeuille of IDA. "So we're appealing to the major European powers to try to make this stop."
So far as the United States Constitution is concerned, the presidential election occurs next month, when the members of the electoral college cast their votes. As those individuals ponder their vote, there are a few things that they, particularly the conservatives among them, should bear in mind about the powers and duties the United States Constitution has assigned them.

The framers rejected direct popular election of presidents, fearing that it would attract demagogues. They also refused to let other governmental bodies or officials choose the president, fearing that it would invite corruption and foreign interference. And so they erected a buffer institution, strikingly similar to a jury: a body of citizens assembled for the occasion, called upon to exercise their independent judgment, composed as a bulwark against demagoguery, official intrigue, and foreign meddling.

"Each State shall appoint," provides article two of the Constitution, "a number of electors" equal to its congressional delegation, who "shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons"; because a given state's electors might not be unanimous, "they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and the number of votes for each," which is then transmitted under seal to Congress. Subject to a majority requirement, the "person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President."

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Alexander Hamilton, whose prominence this year has turned out to be unexpectedly timely, explained this system in one of his contributions to the Federalist Papers. The purpose of the electoral college, he wrote in Federalist 68, was to ensure that "the sense of the people should operate in the choice" of the president. "This end will be answered," he said, "by committing the right of making it, not to any pre-established body, but to men chosen by the people for the special purpose, and at the particular juncture."

The composition of the electors, Hamilton wrote, would make them "most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station" of president. "Acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation," and subject to "a judicious combination of all reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice," they would "be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations."

The electors could therefore be expected to appoint to the presidency "characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue."

They would make sure "that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications," turning away anyone whose only qualifications were "talents for low intrigue" or "the little arts of popularity."

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They would also keep out the stooges of hostile governments, being the best "practicable obstacle" to "the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils" by "raising a creature of their own to the chief magistracy of the Union."

The key to all of this was the independence of the electors. The framers, Hamilton explained, "have not made the appointment of the President depend on any preexisting bodies of men, who might be tampered with beforehand to prostitute their votes." Instead, "the people of America" would be represented by a group of individuals assembled "for the temporary and sole purpose of making the appointment."

They must vote separately, in their own states. This "detached and divided situation," Hamilton wrote, "will expose them much less to heats and ferments, which might be communicated from them to the people, than if they were all to be convened at one time, in one place." Though quaint in the electronic age, the precaution highlights the importance attached to their personal judgment.

Like jurors, they would be chosen under rules set by the state legislatures, but they would not be directly controlled by the legislatures, or by anyone else. They would be "free from any sinister bias" that might "mislead them from their duty."

This year's panel of 538 electors will vote on December 19. They are not bound to vote for the candidate of their party. If a small number of electors vote for neither of the leading candidates, then the election would go to the House of Representatives, which could choose any of the top five vote-earners in the electoral college.

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As they commence what Hamilton called their "deliberations" and "investigations," let them recall the framers' expectation that they would reflect the sense of the people, that they would not choose a person lacking the requisite qualifications. And as they decide what weight to give the November 8 results, let them recall the dangers the electoral college was designed to prevent.

Mindful of demagoguery, let them consider a certain candidate's appeals to the population's worst instincts with hateful, inflammatory words.

Mindful of governmental intrigue, let them consider a certain chief law enforcement officer's abuse of his authority to influence the outcome.

Mindful of foreign tampering, let them consider a certain country's hacking of our computer systems, its avowed connections to one of the campaigns, the celebrations in the Kremlin of its candidate's success.

The members of the electoral college are not only free to use their independent judgment; they are required to, if they wish to remain faithful to the framers' design. In rendering their "verdict," let them recall that responsibility for this life-or-death decision lies with them alone.
Michael Moore recently came up with a surefire way to win back the White House in 2020 for the Democrats. His plan: to nominate Oprah Winfrey - or Tom Hanks. OK, laugh. But muffle the yuks for a sec as we review what just happened.

We elected a celebrity for our highest office (admittedly, next to towering Oprah and Tom, a "tiny" fake celebrity, a crass swaggering reality show pomp-meister) but nonetheless a famous personage.

As a feminist, Democrat, shattered supporter of Hillary, I share in the nationwide disbelief at what went shockingly wrong for Dems in this election. The massive fake-out of Big Data and its poll-swami, Nate Silver - caused by (you pick!) millennials not voting (or not voting blue), whites and others (including white women) voting red in large numbers, third party spoilers, stay-homes, a disenfranchised working class, J. Edgar meddler James Comey (coming and going), voter suppression, xenophobia, nativism - the funhouse mirror of the Electoral College, all spiked with red-hot misogyny, dropkicking the Dems to the foot of Trump Tower. (Despite the news flash that Hillary is winning the popular vote by over a million, by recent count.)

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All the obvious reasons why Trump should not have been elected president (racism, sexism, climate change denial, anti-immigration, staggering ignorance, world's ugliest hairstyle) have managed to pump up that policy-less politics embraced by fans of his faux-wealth and faux promises: his "brand."

Not hard to see that a major factor in the election of Trump was Kardashian-ism: the rise of the American brainless-energy fame bot. In a country vastly more entertained than informed, the absence of thought or reflection seems innocuous enough in Kim or Khloe, but dangerous in the combover crowning of a Donald. Both The D and the K's come up empty intellectually, but one of them is now the leader of the free world - yet remains as vacant as a ventriloquist's dummy mouthing the projected voices of the Alt-Right, of fundamentalism, of fascist demagoguery -applauded by roaring crowds in a bitterly-divided country.

It's possible to imagine that if Oprah were elected, the executive branch would morph into the figurehead corner of government - where the President might provide America with (say) several "ah ha!" moments - but real governance would fall to either a qualified V.P. - or entirely to the legislative branch. A version of what we're looking at now with Trump?

So Michael Moore is not kidding. Why not campaign early and often for a "good" celeb next in line for the White House - one who funds girls' schools in Africa instead of thundering on about building a border wall and deporting people; who encourages and rewards the reading of books instead of relying (with a guppy-like attention span) on "shows" and "talk" for political instruction and never opens a book - a celeb who supports the rights of women and stands against sexual assault as opposed to someone who stands "for" sexual bullying and treats women as prey or discards.

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In present-day America, it is not considered "elitist" to offer celebs the reins of government. Neither is it considered elitist to cruise the clouds in a big gold monogrammed jet or to refuse to pay any taxes or to rip off laborers hired then stiffed after they've fulfilled their contracts in good faith. Rather it's somehow considered elitist to support education. Or to say that "information" is not knowledge. It is considered elitist not to feel "mea culpa" sympathy for the "white" working class, and its manipulated angers, when people of color, particularly women of color, are the majority of the working class.

When Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousefzai was shot (a teen on a school bus) by an Isis operative bent on killing young girls who sought an education, she considered fighting back violently, but decided (if she lived) to resist ignorance and hate "with books," with knowledge. She did not talk about using social media to "terror-shame" her attackers - or promote herself as a heroine.

Neither did my mother, who died recently, at ninety-nine - born on a farm in North Dakota in 1916 (before women could vote) ever believe anything but that America was a true democratic republic. She grew up in an America when poor people, who knew nothing of brands (except maybe in the cattle barn) were assured that anyone could enter a new promising world through reading. Education was available to all, not priced out of touch except for the few who could afford it - and eloquence, mastery of thought and empathy were the goals of learning. Each American had the opportunity to join a public well-educated "elite" supported by an egalitarian ideal that was real.

If both public and private education have failed America in many ways, yet still remain our best chance to keep democracy alive; if social media both binds and blinds us, with its hopeful group solipsism on one hand and attack trolls on the other -- it may somehow still be possible to rescue an informed future for all, both from and by our national obsession with celebrity.



So set the clock. Seriously. If we're still here. Which depends, perhaps, on that other sinister, shirtless "celebrity", (who used hacking and social media to go after Hillary against his BFF, Trump) - Vladimir. In this age of hidden agendas and deep web promotion - the voice of Vladimir the Ventriloquist comes out of Trump's mouth. Which maybe makes the Russian our "real" President? If we can forget that Hillary won that silly tradition called the "voice of the people", the popular vote?


Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

There is still much left to play out in the upcoming weeks when it comes to President-elect Donald Trump's foreign aid and global development policies but it is clear that soon the development community will be grappling with new policies, funding priorities (or lack thereof), and a new order that will change the way we all do the business of 'doing good' abroad. Trump has been clear in letting the world know that his "America first" policies also mean that he would rather focus U.S. foreign aid on projects directly associated with what he perceives to be critically threatening to the United States, mainly terrorism and immigration. So that leaves us with a development agenda that is radically different than our current one. As we've witnessed through experience, foreign aid and global development policies have the potential to be more successful in addressing issues like terrorism when we take a multi-pronged approach that also addresses issues like global poverty and human rights at their root levels.

On the development hit list: Our support of the United Nations, World Bank, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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As this stage, we could bet that development assistance will likely be positioned early on in the Trump administration as wasteful and corruption-ridden. USAID, long been considered by many conservatives, as an agency that should be eliminated, will likely take a hit in funding and staffing. Also, the question remains on whether the new administration will have the State Department absorb USAID or if it will remain an independent agency. The United Nations and the World Bank may be characterized as bureaucratically broken and ineffective, therefore less worthy of time and financial investments.

While it has been made abundantly clear that climate change initiatives will not be a focus, as Trump has told us he'll cancel U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement, there are other areas that will likely take a hit. Current priority areas like global poverty alleviation, open society projects, women and girls empowerment projects, human rights initiatives, and our overall commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will likely be limited on a light development agenda. Strategy will likely be more focused on continued but reduced emergency humanitarian response, violent extremism and terrorism, and potentially, the encouragement of private-sector investments in developing countries. Feed the Future, President Obama's foreign food security initiative and Power Africa, an energy access project, are examples of how private investment in foreign aid programs can work, and they are both backed by Congress. It will be tremendously important for the Trump administration (and a Republican-controlled Congress), to thoroughly review their unfolding development agenda and see how this wide range of current policies and priorities can positively contribute to a multi-pronged approach to foreign policy goals versus just cherry-picked conservative development priorities. It will be also critical to take a long, hard look into what recent development and foreign aid practices have shown real impact and sustainability and to follow through on the commitments that are really moving the needle. To be clear, U.S. foreign aid spending is less than one percent of the U.S. federal budget.

On a hopeful note, there is still a likelihood that many important programs will remain in place. We must remember that some of the larger development initiatives like Millennium Challenge Corp., and the President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief were established under a Republican presidency. Also, the policy landscape and a President's stance on it, can quickly shift once a President is actually in office; once meetings are set with other heads of state, the positive realities and pressures of collaboration come to light.

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The election of Donald Trump to the US presidency makes about as much sense to the majority of Americans as the Heptapod language in the movie Arrival.

In fact, my first thought sitting in the theater watching the end credits roll was, "How is it possible that a message this advanced, this numinous, this open-minded, exists in the same universe as a Donald Trump presidency?"

And then I realized the movie itself provides the answer.

Like most first contact films, the tension in Arrival is an equal mix watching human terror facing the unknown "other" in the shape of an alien life form and terror that the trigger-happy military will do something stupid and get us into a show-down with space-faring beings who will whip the crap out of us--destroying forever the opportunity to be friends with a species way smarter (and likely more benevolent) than us.

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Arrival pits curiosity against fear, intelligence against violence, and possibilities against endings. Linguistics professor, Louise Banks, called in to decipher the aliens' language, wants to reach out and discover what the other has to say and offer. Colonel Weber, who is there to preserve and protect America, would rather "shoot first, ask questions later."

The major subtext of Arrival is about human conflict. When will Earth humans finally learn to talk and get along? When are we going to resolve the struggle between love (exemplified by the open mind and open hand) versus fear (the closed-mind/closed fist)? Where do these opposing human viewpoints come from? What can we do to resolve them?

Governments don't ask these kinds of questions. They should. But they don't. Political leaders and the military are not interested in understanding the root of our ills. Doing so would put them out of business.

Movie-makers, artists, philosophers, writers, humanitarians, and psychologists--thoughtful people--ask these questions. I have asked these questions. And this is what I've come up with:

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The open mind (open hand) reflects an ego that has begun the journey of self-reflection and inquiry. This kind of person questions themselves and their learned opinions, adopts other viewpoints and learns their validity (or lack thereof). As they explore, their ego structure becomes more flexible and permeable.

The more secure the ego the less fearful it is, the fewer boundaries and walls it hides behind and erects.

The more insecure the ego, the more it needs structure and walls (physical and mental) to feel safe. It clings to and reacts from automatic programs learned in infancy and childhood.

And what is the first major program we unconsciously learn as infants?

There is self and there is other.

It's totally unconscious--but the first moment we reach out for the breast or bottle we crave, our body's senses tell us we are isolated stand-lone units that must struggle in a physical world to get what we need. Our eyes and ears, skin and brain inform us we're separate from others. Experience then confirms it.

The foundational program of the human ego is the unconscious belief in separation. When we cling to the unconscious belief that nothing connects us with life and others, we become more isolated. The more isolated we become the scarier the world gets, the more convinced we are that we must defend ourselves and fight for survival.

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Trump's election, the UK June vote on Brexit, and France's upcoming elections where far right National Front Party leader Marine Le Pen is proving a serious contender, are all examples of the closed-mind/closed fist approach to life and governance that insecure egos mired in infantile unconscious fears of separation create.

Decades of progressive thinking and legislation are going up in smoke. Why? Because progressives forgot about the existence of the others--the hundreds of millions of people seething in pain, fear and suspicion as doors were opened, information flowed, cooperation was reached, and borders were dissolved.

The structure their egos depended on--order, authoritarian righteousness, absolute answers, the comfort of the closed fist, the perceived strength of inflexibility, the rigidity of boundaries against outside influences--had to be restored.

Donald Trump is their perfect answer. He is one of them.

In our progressive pride we also forgot we still don't have a clue about who we really are, how the ego is developed and programmed, and why humans are still at each other's throats in the first place.

Self-inquiry is the key. Humanity is doomed without self-knowledge. We have to work to get information about the nature of the human ego into school curriculums; have to work with Congressmen like Tim Ryan and initiate programs in mindfulness and meditation. We have to encourage the exploration of consciousness and the human mind.

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"The unexamined life is not worth living," said Socrates.
Pope Francis celebrates a Jubilee mass for homeless people in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 13, 2016. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

"When I grow up, I want to have an abortion."

No little girl has ever wished that. Abortion generally is the "break glass" move when things go wrong. Contrary to the views of some anti-abortion advocates, nobody profits from abortion. And I doubt that anybody does a little dance of triumph when an abortion is performed.

A lot of Catholic reformers were relieved when Pope Francis seemed to be calling for a shift in focus away from speaking against abortion and contraception and towards promoting social justice and environmental stewardship. So it is disappointing when he seems driven to play to his base and single out abortion as a "very grave sin." (In fairness, the Pope also made clear that abortion is a sin that can be forgiven like any other sin, through confession.)



But even if you agree with him, there are a lot of sins the Catholic Church has never asked governments to outlaw. There are no laws banning infidelity or premarital sex or greed or pride, which some theologians believe is the most serious sin of all. Indeed, the institutional church in the U.S. has worked hard to block lawmakers from strengthening statutes that would make it easier to prosecute priests who turn out to be sexual predators.

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As a Catholic woman, I don't believe I would be comfortable undergoing an abortion, but I am not sure about that. When I was pregnant, I decided not to be tested for Down syndrome, because I didn't want to have to make that choice. Blessedly, I had a healthy, beautiful baby girl.

But feeling that "other" life growing inside my body, I realized that I could never dictate how another woman decided the fate of her fetus. It was too personal, too intimate to be a decision that government made by either banning abortions, or even imposing extreme limits on them.

That said, there should be a space for people of good will to work to reduce the need for abortions -- not by banning them or imposing draconian limits on women faced with impossible choices -- but by increasing other options.

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If we really want to reduce the number of abortions, we should be doing everything we can to help women -- and men -- plan their families. That means financial support for struggling households, and much greater access to birth control. It means making sure we offer young women options such as access to affordable higher education, so they have a reason to avoid getting pregnant. It means supporting a living wage and attacking income inequality.

Consider this: An estimated three-quarters of all women in the U.S. who underwent abortions in 2014 were either living in poverty or low-income, with household incomes for a family of one roughly between $11,000 and $22,000 annually. Nearly a quarter of women who had this procedure identified themselves as Catholic.

My beef with Catholic bishops is that they have rejected efforts to help avoid the need for abortions. In doing so, they have sent the message that the abortion war really is a war on women. I fear that the bishops believe pregnancy is the appropriate punishment for a woman who is sexually active.

The true motive of U.S. bishops became clear when they, and a number of Catholic institutions, opposed the Obama administration over the birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act, a costly act of folly that revealed the clear misogyny that has driven their positions for years. Obamacare helped poor families gain access to healthcare. Family planning rightly should have been included in those services.

If Catholic bishops had invested a tenth of the money they've spent on their 40-year misguided push to overturn Roe v. Wade on providing women more options and resources to plan their families, we could have sharply reduced the number of abortions by now.

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The other problem, of course, is that the institutional church, in going full-tilt to fight a legal battle on abortion, has stopped a nuanced discussion of the morality of abortion dead in its tracks. As Frances Kissling, the former head of Catholics for a Free Choice, now Catholics for Choice, has observed, the church's ban on even examining the ethics of abortion has put Catholic hospitals in a terrible bind.

In situations when an abortion must be performed to save a mother's life, Catholic hospitals have to find ways to argue that the procedure wasn't intended to harm the fetus, and so morally defensible. "I understand that these people (Catholic healthcare providers) are trying their best to figure out ways to stay within" what they consider to be a value or a tradition, while also aiming to "help the woman," Kissling said, but these moral gymnastics don't always work.

When that happens, the mother dies or the health care provider who opts to perform an abortion is punished. Sister Margaret McBride, a Catholic hospital administrator in Phoenix, Arizona, faced with the prospect of both a gravely ill mother of four and her fetus dying, opted for the sane choice, and permitted an abortion to save the mother.

Her bishop preferred that both the woman and her fetus die, and excommunicated the nun.

Sister Margaret's excommunication was reversed only after she went to confession, and agreed to resign from her administrator position at the hospital.

We can and should do all we can to reduce the need for abortions. But making abortion illegal won't do that. It will only drive thousands of poor women into the arms of shady and unsafe abortion providers.

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All those bishops and Catholic anti-abortion activists should consider the real-life effects of their drive to criminalize abortion: not fewer deaths of fetuses but many more deaths of women seeking a way out of untenable situations.
By Javier H. Valdes and Daniel Altschuler

Progressives across the United States are confronting a terrifying reality this week: Donald Trump has won the presidency, and he will lead this country with a majority in the House and the Senate. The next four years will force progressives into an intensely defensive posture from which millions of people will be fighting for their families, and, for many, their lives.

The attacks from Washington and Trump's alt-right supporters across the country will be dramatic and swift. They will include attacks on the rights of immigrants and Muslims to remain in this country, efforts to destroy labor unions and undo economic justice victories like the expansion of overtime pay to working-class people, attempts to defund public schools, an onslaught against women's reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights, further criminalization of and violence against black bodies, campaigns to undo the modest progress we have made to mitigate climate change, and much more.

It is hard to over-state the danger we are confronting: whole communities will be faced with imminent threats to their safety, and virtually every national public policy that progressives care about will be threatened. This includes matters of economic justice--as a President who rose to power through inchoate economic populist appeals will move quickly to transform the economy by taking rights and power away from workers and serving his wealthy cronies.

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How, then, should progressives conceive of the path forward? And, more specifically, how can we wage a strategic movement of resistance to block President-elect Trump's agenda while also building momentum towards a more promising post-Trump America. The latter piece is critical. Now is surely a moment for intense resistance. But this resistance must build momentum and power to wrest back control of our democracy.

Here are five key elements of the concerted effort we must undertake to stop President-elect Trump from wreaking havoc on our communities, while building the alternative economic vision and power we need to win in the future.

First, we must wage sustained collective action. Within 24 hours of Trump's victory, thousands of protestors had taken to the streets. Their statement was powerful and immediate. And it should be clear to every progressive that the next four years will require sustained collective action--and, often, action that means putting our bodies on the line to defend ourselves and others. Social movements from the abolitionists to the suffragettes to the civil rights movement to the immigrant rights movement have time and again changed the course of American history. Now we are called to come together again to demonstrate the moral dimension of the imminent attacks on immigrants, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people, indigenous people, and more.

This collective action will, and should, be led primarily by those who are directly affected by the dangerous rhetoric and proposals of Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell. But it will also require solidarity and engagement from all progressives--when called upon to stand with, and sometimes get arrested with, our brothers and sisters, those with privileges like whiteness, US citizenship, maleness, and economic security must be willing to put ourselves on the line. Hashtag solidarity will not suffice--nor will simply coming to a protest every few months after a particularly horrific event. Progressives need to show up--in person, and with regularity.

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Those with financial resources will also need to open their wallets to help support grassroots efforts--whether it be philanthropists writing checks or middle- and working-class people giving monthly contributions to organizations that are building strong memberships to wage strategic campaigns.

Mass action should also be channeled out of, and into, existing social movement organizations as much as possible. Spontaneous "movement moments" like this week are inspiring and important. But to be effective in the medium and long term, they must build engagement and membership in grassroots organizations that can sustain mass action.

Second, we will need expert legislative maneuvering. The scariest ideas of Donald Trump and his alt-right idea factory will quickly become legislative proposals. Progressives will need to ensure that their champions, as well as courageous moderates, are prepared to use every tool at their disposal to prevent these reckless bills from becoming law. Many are rightly pointing to the tool of the filibuster in the Senate, which will be a critical tool for blocking legislation that will put communities in danger. And surely, there is no Democratic figure more critical than Charles Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democrats, right now. But there are myriad other parliamentary procedures at legislators' disposal to slow down the legislative process--both to provide more time for public scrutiny and debate and to simply block dangerous ideas.

And progressive legislators and progressive organizations must use whatever openings they have to invite our communities into the process. This will, no doubt, include efforts to have constituents make phone calls and send emails to their legislators. But it needs to go further. Resistance on Capitol Hill must be rooted in the lived experiences of the people who Mr. Trump and his acolytes will attack. Progressive organizations and legislators must invite these people to be at the forefront of hearings and targeted actions.

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And, where Republicans try to prevent these fora from emerging within the halls of Congress, progressives must create alternative fora outside formal committee hearings to elevate people's stories. To re-frame the debate on issues like immigration from the toxic terms that Mr. Trump will seek to deploy, progressives must elevate the moving stories of our communities--and let our resistance emanate from there. Similarly, in response to the anti-worker agenda that is surely coming, progressives must put working-class and low-income people's faces and experiences at the forefront of legislative resistance.

Third, progressives will need to flex our legal muscles and undertake aggressive litigation. The next four years will bring a torrent of attacks on civil liberties and basic rights that progressives hold dear. While mass action will be critical for changing the public conversation on policy debates and confronting lawmakers with the consequences of their votes, and legislative maneuvers (particularly in the Senate) will be critical for blocking the worst of Trump's agenda, it will not be sufficient to prevent all of his bad ideas from becoming law.

Here, legal tools will be critical. Progressives must use all the tools at our disposal to challenge the legality of clearly unconstitutional proposals that will emerge from President-elect Trump's White House, including the expansion of the surveillance and national security state that he will seek to deploy. Already, Anthony Romero of the American Civil Liberties Union has made this strategy clear, posting a statement titled, "If Donald Trump Implements His Proposed Policies, We'll See Him in Court." Other prominent progressive legal organizations are similarly girding themselves up for the fights ahead.

The legal path will, of course, be made more difficult by a Supreme Court that will almost certainly tilt conservative next year. But that does not make litigation less important. In recent years, progressives fought back successfully against the worst attempts by legislatures across the country to attack immigrants, women, and labor unions. Our side has some of the best legal minds in the country, and we need them now more than ever.

Fourth, progressives must play offense at the state and local level. We must avoid being on permanent defense. Particularly in states, cities, and counties controlled by Democrats, progressives must assert ourselves and show the promise of our ideals and the policies that stem from them. Part one of this strategy must be to protect those who are most vulnerable to the effects of Trump's domestic policy agenda--immigrants, Muslims, women, and the poor. The litmus test of a truly progressive city, county, or state will be whether it develops a comprehensive strategy for protecting its people from an out-of-control immigration and law enforcement infrastructure and attacks on the social safety net that keeps millions of Americans alive.

But, to win the next decade, progressives must also articulate an alternative vision for our country. While we hold the line against an agenda framed as economic populism. This cannot be a Clintonian pitch to the "middle class," which embraced much of neoliberal ideology and trusted technocrats to solve our economic problems. Instead, it must be rooted in a radical critique of power, a commitment to working-class and low-income people, and the dedication to use government as a vehicle for grassroots democracy.

In practice, that means policies that, for instance, rein in corporate power and the stranglehold of large corporations and the wealthy on our politics while empowering workers to assert their rights and police and criminal justice reform that protects the constitutional rights of all people while dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. And it also means bold policy experimentation that deepens democracy by inviting residents into new participatory spaces with real decision-making that incentivize engagement. In the next four years, our municipalities and states must be vibrant laboratories for democracy and spaces from which we can begin to imagine a more inclusive economy--one that prioritizes the rights and needs of working-class people and offers a strengthened safety net that protects us all.

Fifth, we must build grassroots political power. As we take to the streets and organize, progressives must also plot a path forward to channel all of the incredible grassroots spirit of resistance into actual political power building. Part of that will be achieved through the work of building larger bases of membership in grassroots organizations across the country--particularly those with political arms that can endorse and support candidates who share our values. But it must also include a concerted effort to build the ranks of truly progressive candidates and elected officials--and more progressive party institutions.

Some have reflected in recent days about the need for the Democratic Party to reinvent itself. Surely, the Democrats must learn that part of the enthusiasm gap that plagued the Clinton candidacy stemmed from the failure to articulate a vision that highlighted how our system has failed working people, how we must take on the role of big money, how we must invite people back to democracy at every level instead of relying on a neoliberal technocracy, and how black lives must be at the center of our politics.

Others are reflecting on the need to challenge the two-party system in this country. On this front, the best source of hope is the Working Families Party (WFP), which now operates across ten states and the District of Columbia and lent considerable grassroots muscle to the remarkable candidacy of Bernie Sanders. In states like New York, the WFP has identified, cultivated, and bolstered progressive stars running for office at every level of government--from town councilmembers to county legislators to the Mayor of our nation's largest city. Growth in the geographic reach, membership, and resources of the WFP will be critical for continuing to build this leadership pipeline and holding Democrats accountable to the truly progressive vision that we need to win the next decade.

One key battleground for this political fight will be the issue of voting rights. On the national level and in red states, we will see concerted efforts to restrict access to the ballot for communities of color, immigrants, and low-income people. We must defend against this wherever it occurs--through all of the tactics mentioned above. But progressives must also go on offense where we can to expand suffrage and make registering to vote and casting a ballot as easy as possible. This is intrinsically the right thing to do. It will also prove instrumentally valuable, as we seek to build progressive political power.

Finally, it bears mention that some of these tactics may bear a resemblance to those that conservatives have deployed over the past decade--after all, litigation and legislative obstructionism have been the hallmark of efforts to block President Obama's agenda since 2009. But there is a key difference: our way forward will, and must, be rooted in radical empathy--that is, a commitment to try to put ourselves in the shoes of others who are under attack. Put differently, radical empathy in this context means that we understand attacks on the lives and livelihoods of others as attacks on ourselves. It means that we will put our bodies and our professional lives on the line to protect our neighbors and their families.

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Such empathy also means listening to and understanding the pain and alienation in communities across the country that tilted towards Donald Trump--especially white working-class people who voted for him because they have seen their livelihoods crumble and come to conclude that the system is rigged against them. Progressives must, of course, forcefully call out hatred and the attacks on our communities that will become a fixture of the next four years, and there is a moral imperative to prioritize the safety and well-being of those communities under imminent threat of attack. But we must also seek to understand those whose votes have endangered us--and, where possible, both listen actively to, and articulate a vision that can build bridges to them.

There are no shortcuts to diffusing the worst of what a Trump presidency could become. The next four years will undoubtedly bring intense fear and pain for people around this country. Many progressives feel right now like they are in the wilderness, and that we may be there for some time. But if we can respond strategically to this moment--and harness our capacity for collective action, legislative maneuvering, and aggressive litigation to block as much of the Trump agenda possible, while identifying opportunities to make local and state progress and building our political muscle--then we can still win the next decade.
By Christopher Zoukis

In what the American Civil Liberties Union hailed as a groundbreaking step, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced with great fanfare in August that it planned to stop using private prisons. The announcement followed the release a week earlier of a report by DOJ's inspector general finding private prisons generally have higher assault and use of force rates, more disciplinary actions, and more contraband seizures than facilities run by its Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

In a memo explaining the DOJ's action, the agency's deputy attorney general assessed private prisons as not offering substantial cost savings or providing the same level of services, safety or security as government-run facilities. DOJ set the five-year goal of phasing out contracts with 12 privately owned facilities in seven states (CA, GA, MS, NC, OK, PA and TX) where nearly 22,000 Federal Bureau of Prisons inmates are currently housed. A 13th privately-owned facility in New Mexico, closed earlier this year, seems about ready to reopen as a detention center for the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, to house persons who have illegally entered this country from Mexico, Central America and Haiti.

During the recent presidential campaign, the Democratic Party platform Hillary Clinton ran on pledged to end private prison use. Later, after revelations last year that lobbyists for the two biggest private-prison companies, the Geo Group and Corrections Corporation of America, had been serving as major "bundler" fundraisers for her campaign, Clinton also declared she would return those funds and not accept further donations from private prison companies or their lobbyists. Clinton's rival for the nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has sponsored bills to abolish private prisons, calling for an end to what he termed the "private prison racket."

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While also doing business with state and local governments, private-prison companies derive significant revenues from federal institutions (42 percent for the Geo Group in 2014, and over half for Corrections Corp of America in 2015). Besides BOP, the companies' federal revenues also come from detention facilities provided for ICE.

But the ultimate fate of DOJ's plan remains very much in doubt, following the election of Republican Donald Trump. How the Trump administration will staff DOJ and other related agencies, and what -- if any -- priority it will place on the issue of private prisons remains to be determined, but it seems unlikely the Trump team will defer to the position staked out by the Obama administration.

Positioning himself since the Republican convention as a "law and order" candidate seeking to "make America safe again," Trump has said relatively little about the issue of private prisons, but what little he has said has been positive, not critical. In an MSNBC-televised March 30 town hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Trump was asked a question about drug legalization and prison reform.

He replied by calling the nation's prison system a "complete disaster," then volunteered the thought that the nation could "do a lot of privatizations and private prisons," which in his view "seems to work a lot better." On this score, Trump echoed Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, who in August told a press forum that he supported using private prisons for federal inmates.

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Donald Trump is officially President-elect Trump. We could see it coming and I wrote about it in couple of posts. Time is not turning back and citizen's choices are a subject of respect in democratic societies.

The global community is in shock. Markets are sinking. The American people are ashamed. The intellectual and artistic community is frozen. The world is watching in agony. These are few of hundreds of similar things we've heard the first days after Trump won the election. Despite this mood, I would like to focus on the benefits of this election--or at least what I see as the silver lining.

But before analysing those benefits, I would like to linger a little more on the factors that made people feel this result was a big surprise, contrary to the few people who believed it was totally expected. What made them feel there was no chance Donald Trump would be elected the 45th President of the United States? I believe that we have to focus on two of those factors.

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The feeling created by the vast majority of the American media of a de facto Hillary Clinton victory was communicated also to the rest of the world. The headquarters of those media--and their management--have obviously lost touch with the lower economic layers of American society and were projecting on their media their own expectations and ideological/political beliefs. Or they are just lobbyists serving specific economic interests. The latter option is also the most plausible explanation for the poll companies that took a heavy hit on their credibility as they totally failed to predict the final result. Nevertheless, I have to say that a lot of people have grown suspicious of a possible manipulation of those companies by certain interests.

Another important factor was Americans' perceptions of their country. The vast majority of those living in urban coastal areas (NYC, LA, Boston etc.) have never travelled to most of the other states or have lost the contact with the reality in those states. In times of recession, or times leading into a recession, the people in these areas are less determined to fight than their fellow-citizens in middle America. The USA is a unique mosaic of different demographics, political ideologies, and religious beliefs and contrary to what most people believe cannot be understood under a common prism.

Despite the consensus of international and American opinion to the opposite, I believe that Trump's election has a lot of--mainly longterm--benefits that in due time will prove particularly valuable for future generations.

HILLARY CLINTON



Thanks to Donald Trump, we're permanently rid of Hillary Clinton. Yes, that's right. The American people may made the wrong choice in electing Trump, but they did the right thing by rejecting a politician who is more than suspect. Suspect for relations with financial lobbies for her own benefit. Suspect for mishandling the power she was given as U. S. Seceretary of State. And, ultimately, suspect with her regards to her integrity and political dignity. She is a blurry figure. And, of course, a politician like that could be as dangerous a choice as Trump.

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I've written in past columns that Trump would not have had a chance if he were runnig against Bernie Sanders. Unfortunately, Hillary beat Sanders and became the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. After November 8, she won't stand anymore as an obstacle to future candidates for the Democratic leadership, candidates of better integrity and dignity than her. If Clinton had been elected, she would be the de facto presidential candidate for the 2020 elections. Hopefully Trump did the American people the favor of eliminating her.

CRITICAL PERCEPTION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION



From now on, it's obvious that the polls are fake, failed, and manipulated. So are a lot of news articles about one candidate or another. Each citizen must seek for himself the sign of times and make sure he is well informed on the current political and social situation of his country. It's a fact that hundreds of thousands of citizens were complacent because of polls projecting an easy victory for Clinton. And they comfortably assumed anything else impossible. That it was impossible for a candidate like Trump to be elected the next U.S. president. But it proved not to be at all impossible. The U.S. is a vast and complicated country so each citizen must realize this from now and try not to live in the narrow perspective of personal beliefs and expectations. That's the ostrich phenomenon and the payout was Trump's victory.

FIGHTING SPIRIT



It is obvious also, especially for young Americans, that nothing can be conquered without a fight. Without fight and without being constantly vigilant. It's already clear that a lot of people have realized this as we've seen mass demonstrations in major American cities following Trump's' election. And this is a first sign that four interesting years have just begun.

2020

2020 will be the year that will get rid of Trump once and for all. Not earlier, like Michael Moore believes, because Trump wants the job. He wants the office. But the next four years will be a disaster. It's not only the economic crisis that is hatching--and which, for some people, will be much bigger than the one in 2008. Combined with Trump's inexperience, it will be catastrophic for American economy. It will also deal a blow on America's image globally--a blow already dealt by Trump's election as a president. And this wounded image will not help American interests at all.

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"We found motile sperm in Harapan's samples, which confirms that he should now be fertile and ready to breed," said Dr. Terri Roth, Director of Cincinnati Zoo's Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) and the person who led the team that unraveled the mysteries of Sumatran rhino reproduction and, in 2001, produced Andalas, the first calf bred and born in captivity in 112 years. "This species is on the brink of extinction, but we believe there is still time to save it. We rejoiced when Andalas produced a male calf in 2012 and again this year when his second baby, Delilah, was born. Our greatest hope is that Harapan will have the same success. We now know that it's possible." Photo: Roth seeing Andalas' baby Delilah for the first time.

Harapan has some options. There are three eligible adult females at SRS. They are Rosa, Bina and Ratu, who is the mother of four-year-old Andatu and six-month-old Delilah. Keepers perform regular ultrasounds on the girls that help them know when to put males and females together to breed. They are kept close but apart, each in his/her own 25-acre forest plot, until the time is right.

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Every Rhino Counts

With fewer than 100 left in the world, every Sumatran rhino birth is significant. The wild population is split among Way Kambas and two other parks on the island of Sumatra, which is about 1,000 miles long, and it's possible that the shy and solitary individuals are not encountering each other. (There is also a small pocket, 3-10 individuals, in Borneo.) To make things more complicated, females need to be around a male in order to ovulate and can develop reproductive issues if they don't mate and get pregnant. These and other Sumatran rhino reproduction secrets discovered by CREW, including how to use supplemental hormones to keep a pregnancy, finally resulted in the birth of three rhino calves (Andalas, Harapan and Suci) at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Lessons learned by CREW have been transferred to the staff at SRS along with the last of its Sumatran rhinos. The departure of Harapan last year ended the Zoo's breeding program but Roth and team remain committed to the survival of this species. Photo below: SRS keeper feeding Harapan after collection procedure

"The success of the breeding program at SRS is the last, best hope for these unique creatures," said Roth. "The keepers and vets at the sanctuary are taking great care of the rhinos and we are happy to collaborate and share techniques that could result in more births."

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Global Collaboration

That's why Roth and post-doctoral scientist Dr. Jessye Wojtusik made the recent trip to SRS. Veterinarian Dr. Zulfi Arsan got hands-on (and hands in) experience using the semen collection equipment that the CREW duo brought along and demonstrated. In between collections, slides were examined under the microscope that Wojtusik handled with care during the 24-plus hour journey to SRS.

Right: Dr. Zulfi and Dr. Wojtusik examine samples

Below: Dr. Roth and Dr. Zulfi discuss technique



Dr. Benn Bryant, veterinarian from Taronga Western Plains Zoo who also assisted with an eye surgery for Andalas in 2014, came from Australia to administer anesthesia and share best practices with the SRS vets.

L to R: Dr. Zulfi Arsan (SRS vet), Widodo Ramono executive director of Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI - the Indonesia Rhino Foundation), Dr. Benn Bryant (vet from Taronga), Dr. Terri Roth (CREW), Dr. Jessye Wojtusik (CREW), Dr. Sugeng Dwi Hastono (vet - consultant to SRS) and Sumadi Hasmaran (SRS director of operations)
Business technology is always changing, and if you don't do your best to stay ahead of the curve you could find yourself playing a very dangerous game of catch-up. Automating business processes and incorporating new methods of payment and customer service are integral to staying competitive as a retailer and employer. Clients want to purchase from businesses that can respond to their needs quickly, and employees want to work in an environment that is efficient and secure.

To continue to attract talented workers and retain tech-savvy clients, your business should incorporate these 5 business technologies as soon as possible.

Digital Payment Forms

According to a recent study from Statista, in-person mobile payments are projected to reach $23.47 billion by 2018. If you are not yet accepting Apple Pay and Google Wallet, this should be at the top of your list of priorities if you want your business to continue to grow.

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Accepting digital payments allows for a more streamlined, speedy checkout process. While you may experience some hiccups when first adopting new payment forms, it projects the image of your business being forward-thinking and modern.

Information Security

Approximately 15 million people are victims of identity theft each year, many of whom have been hacked through online purchase forms or point-of-sale security breaches. Identity theft and cybercrime are undoubtedly on the rise, and the problem will continue to compound. From increasing the security of your online payment form, to updating to new card readers that use the more secure credit card chip, it's your business's responsibility to make sure your customers' sensitive data and payment information is kept safe.

Consider hiring a data security consultant to review your website for possible security breaches, and pay specific attention to the security of your online payment form and any customer databases you might host in the cloud.

Remote Workers

More and more millennials are full-time freelancing or working remote jobs that allow them to fulfill their roles from home. This is great both for workers, who desire to have a more flexible schedule, and employers, who can use remote employees to solve problems like increasing overhead for office space and a lack of qualified job applicants.

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Businesses that want to recruit the best talent should be setting up the infrastructure they need to hire remote workers and freelancers. While managing remote employees can seem intimidating, keeping in touch and monitoring progress is now easier than ever, thanks to online meeting platforms and project management software.

Appointment Scheduling Software

Businesses that provide appointment-reliant services, like dentists offices, lawn care professionals, or salons, are increasingly seeking automated appointment scheduling software that allows customers to schedule their own appointments without assistance from an employee.

Adding this software to your website is easy, and will streamline the scheduling process, free up time for administrative employees, and empower customers to schedule without getting on the phone.

Live Chat Customer Service

Providing fast and effective customer service is important for the success of your business, and technology makes it possible for you to provide top-notch support via live chat. Many companies are incorporating live chat, using remote employees to take some of the load off of traditional over-the-phone agents.

To add live chat customer support to your website, you'll need to install live chat software. There are a few free options, as well as plenty of paid services available. Do your research and find the solution that's right for your business.

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Traveling from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, one week after " What happened, if it happened," I find my reality becoming increasingly surreal due to distance. That's rather surprising to me, what with Facebook and digital newspapers and the like telescoping distance, but having not yet grieved it's been a bit of a relief. Visiting Israel and Palestine has been instructive as a moral tale of what's in store for what used to be America.

Israel has a fascist government today, ruled by a prime minister enmeshed in a cult of personality (he's fancied himself "king of the Jews"), driven by an extreme emphasis on security and a sense of humiliation ("everybody hates us, so let's make them hate us more!"), with an increasing attack on "treasonous leftists" while simultaneously demanding group hugs from them.

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Yet through it all life goes on. The Israeli public is indifferent, and leftist politicians are silent. No one talks about peace. That over 200 retired military officers and all the retired intelligence service chiefs have called for an end to the Occupation is ignored. The public treats their rational elites with the same disdain as the rural and suburban white voters in the States, or the English in the UK.

It's agreed, by both Israelis and Palestinians, that it is not possible to get to a solution, even though a large majority would support an agreement similar to the ones that have already been negotiated, both officially and privately. American Jews either support the status quo or view Israel as a moral Jewish Disneyland, exhorting moral behavior to save the soul of the nation, a nation of many who no longer have a soul.

In the meantime, most tolerate the abuse inflicted on the occupied and, hence, upon themselves. People put their heads down, explain they're busy with their families, and even after venting, they simply get back to business. Palestinians and Jews, both.

Young Israelis are disgusted with politics because it never seems to work, and their economic situation is never considered. Palestinian youth, other than Gazans -- who make up the large majority of their population (only 4 percent of the population is over 60, so they clearly don't have a Medicare funding problem) -- just want to go to school and get on with their lives, caring little for political liberty or national aspirations. Just remove the checkpoints, please, because we're really tired of being hassled.

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What scares me most is the rapid descent into normalcy. Germans, Poles and Ukrainians who were not part of the machinery of genocide went about their lives even while they themselves suffered under a brutal occupation. The French, Dutch, Romanians and Norwegians, among others, collaborated or averted their eyes as well.

Given that history, it's likely, even with the salutary statements from California and Massachusetts, that the same will happen in the 50 states, in spite of the fact that less than 25% voted for fascism. Any groups who are hoping for a mass uprising should not lose themselves in fantasy come the beginning of the Occupation next January.

The capitulation of the American Jewish leadership, once again, to the forces of darkness, presages a collapse of a 150 year history of Jewish communal involvement. The willingness to go along, in the hope of mitigating or averting the evil decree, is a fool's errand. That the minions of this kakistocracy are named Sessions and Bannon and Pence and not Himmler, Heydrich and Goebbels is just a matter of geography. When the Minister of Propaganda publicly welcomes the coming 500 years of darkness, it's prudent to be prepared. If there was ever a time for individual persons to adhere to the Precautionary Principle, it is now.

Mark Lilla, writing in The New York Times, blames what he calls "identity liberalism," or what I've referred to as the elevation of identity politics above all else in the progressive community. I agree that we must have a return to basics, to civics and history, which have been muted in our recent embrace of STEM subjects. An ability to code and hack, however, will do the children of liberals little good once liberal society is ended, except as a tool of the Resistance.

But blaming progressives for the rage of the white supremacists and nationalists is specious. A community (which includes some liberals, by the way) so enraged at a handful of little trans kids wanting to use the bathroom because they literally believe these children are sexual predators, or are the tip of the spear to destroy gender, but who will willingly and gleefully vote for an admitted sexual predator, is a terminally sick community.

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Let's talk about pet portraiture, a memorial in paint or metal of that other member of the family. The most common subject is a horse, followed closely by dogs and far behind is a wide range of creatures - cats, canaries, snakes, fish and whatever else people want in their homes. "Someone once painted a lizard, and we had a painting with a frog in it," said Jaynie Spector, owner of the Charleston, South Carolina-based Dog and Horse Fine Art & Portraiture gallery, which represents "more than 30 artists across the United States and Europe" who specialize in animal art and take commissions for pet portraits. Most of those artists are painters, but some are sculptors who are asked to create a bronze of some animal that has passed away.

"Their animals are their children, and there are millions of people who feel that way," said Ellen Silverberg, an East Hampton, New York transplant to Oakland Park, Florida who has been painting dogs ("I've also done guinea pigs, birds, cats, I did one horse") for decades. "I never treat with people who wonder why spend so much on a pet. It just seems so obvious and natural to the people I deal with."

Pet portraiture is subset of the larger portraiture industry. We more quickly associate portraiture with humans, mostly older males dressed in dark suits painted with dark backgrounds. Those men tend to be university presidents, corporation founders and presidents, U.S. presidents and state governors, federal agency secretaries, law firm senior partners, Supreme Court judges and hospital benefactors - people dripping with success - whose retirements are celebrated by stately dinners and the commissioning of a portrait, which will hang next to those of their predecessors. Take a walk down the long Cross Hall in the White House to see portraits of all the presidents before Barack Obama (his will be painted after he leaves office) or to the Senate Office Building where one sees sculpted busts of every U.S. vice-president (Richard Cheney's was unveiled earlier this year).

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Perhaps closest to the stately pose of the university president are portraits of horses, which generally depict these animals standing tall and majestic. For dogs and other pets, however, the look tends to be more informal - a dog laying down with one ear cocked, for instance, or a child petting a cat on her lap. Babette Bloch, a sculptor in Redding, Connecticut, was once commissioned to create a (larger-than-life) stainless steel pregnant male seahorse. "They can carry up to 1,500 eggs in their pouches, that's a lot," she said. She did her research, though, and came through with an anatomically correct portrait. Research is an important part of the job, she claimed. A veterinarian commissioned her to create stainless steel portraits of his three dogs, all of which were different breeds. "The fact that this was a veterinarian put extra pressure on me," but she looked through a breeder's guide ("to get a sense of the perfect proportions") and an animal anatomy book, as well as studied each dog individually to see what was characteristic or less than ideal with each. "I'd go back and forth to the anatomy book and the breeder book and the dogs themselves so I understood that this dog has a little arthritis, that dog's left leg is a little shorter than others, how the fur lies on the body. It's all about seeing."

While some pet portraitists work through a gallery such as Dog & Horse Fine Art or the Birmingham, Alabama-based Portraits, Inc., Bloch relies for her commissions - humans, mostly, with the occasional pet - through word-of-mouth and Web site searches. A friend of Kate Hyland of Windsor, Illinois "knew I liked to draw, and she asked me to do a drawing of her horse. I did, and everyone went crazy over it. Then, someone who had a dog asked me to draw his dog, and people liked that, too. Then, everyone who had a dog asked me to draw it." Hyland had studied art a little bit in college but, at the time, was working at a factory. "My husband and I sat down one day and realized I could make money from this." And so she quit the factory and began her career as a pet portraitist, busiest just before Christmas but with work to do throughout the year.

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Not all of those who commission animal portraits are private pet owners. Many of the commissions for dog portraits that come to Lena Toritch, a sculptor in Salt Lake City, Utah, are from police and fire departments or military regiments with canine units. For instance, outside the Canton, Ohio police station is her lifesize bronze of "Jethro," and the federal Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive has her bronze of "Nash," who was shot to death while pursuing armed robbery suspects. The Marine Corps' Camp Lejune in Jacksonville, North Carolina and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina also have her work sited on their grounds. However, most of her clients are homeowners who just want to remember their pets fondly. "People call me the dog queen," she said.
The recent US election deeply concerns many of us who care about the urgent issue of climate change. The incoming Administration may try to repeal new laws to control climate pollution from power plants, but it can't repeal the laws of nature and physics. Those point towards severe stress on people and the planet from the ever-increasing flow of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from burning coal, gas and oil.

The good news is states can act even if the federal government doesn't, and they can make some big moves. New York did just that this past August. With support from Governor Cuomo, the state's Public Service Commission required the state's utilities to obtain 50% of their electricity from zero-carbon energy by 2030. In doing so, New York joins California as having the most ambitious low carbon electricity goals in the nation and the world.

The Commission also ensured that, during the transition to 2030, New York does not go backward on carbon dioxide emissions and add further warming to the atmosphere. To build that firewall, the Commission created a mechanism to ensure that New York's four upstate nuclear energy plants operate during this period rather than be shut down and replaced by cheap and polluting fossil-fueled power. (The downstate Indian Point plants were not included because they were deemed competitive in that part of the state).

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Some environmental groups have challenged the decision to ensure continued nuclear operations during the transition. In most cases, their arguments come from the 1970s and fail to appreciate the amazing strides in nuclear operations and waste management. Today, nuclear energy provides nearly a third of New York's power, and 56% of its carbon-free power; most of the other climate-friendly power comes from hydroelectric dams. The four upstate nuclear plants alone provide a third of the total carbon free nuclear power in the state. Given that the wind and solar sectors are still nascent at this point, nuclear represents ten times as much as the state's wind energy and thirty times its solar energy.

Shutting down the state's carbon free nuclear energy early would likely lead to much more natural gas consumption -- an odd choice for a state that has banned fracking. A decision to shut down nuclear energy would also raise New York utility carbon dioxide emissions by about 15%. This will create an even deeper carbon hole that we'll need to dig out of while wind and solar energy take their time to scale up. Saving the nuclear power plants, while scaling up wind and solar, could lead to much deeper cuts in emissions. Shutting down the plants could easily mean the loss of a decade or two of climate progress, just when the planet needs it most.

The Commission's support of the upstate nuclear plants extends to only 2030. But the decision raises an even larger question: in states across the country, could we make faster progress on emissions reductions if renewable energy advocates and the nuclear energy industry work together? We believe they not only can, they must.

First, there just isn't much time to prevent climate change. The best science says we need to be at a zero-carbon power grid by 2050 or soon after. Wind and solar are growing at extraordinary growth rates, but no credible model shows they can make it to 100% alone. For example, to replace New York's nuclear units and fossil energy plants with onshore and off shore wind power would require that New York site more than 30 of the world's largest wind farms. That might be possible, but since New York State has a few onshore wind farms, and only one small offshore wind farm in the planning stages, we are talking many, many decades.

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Second, even if we could build it all that fast, wind and solar today won't completely replace steady grid power from nuclear. The wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Batteries and demand response will certainly help the grid operate more efficiently, but the rules aren't yet in place to fully compensate these technologies and we will likely still need on-demand power to balance the grid on the days and weeks when there is little sun or wind to store.

These are just a couple of reasons why nuclear and renewables need to join together in the climate fight, not compete. That's been the conclusion of nearly every study of this subject -- from the UN's panel on climate change, to the best work of our national laboratories. The case for nuclear energy is strengthened by an emerging generation of nuclear plants that are likely to be much less expensive and safe, with lower waste.
If you have any doubt that women are concerned about regularly being ranked from 1 to 10 on a scale of 10, if you have any doubt that women are concerned about regularly being judged from myriad unnecessary angles, you better mosey around to Kingdom Come, at the Roundabout Underground, and Ultimate Beauty Bible, the Page 73 production at The New Ohio. They're two works that tackle these issues head-on.

Jenny Rachel Weiner wrote the former, and Caroline V. McGraw wrote the latter. In Kingdom Come, Samantha Carlin (Carmen M. Herlihy) and Layne Falcone (Crystal Finn) are women in despair over their looks who communicate deceptively in cyberspace. In Ultimate Beauty Bible, Danielle (Eboni Booth), Tiffany (Ariel Woodiwiss) and Autumn (Molly Griggs) are colleagues at a women's magazine whose lives don't exactly mirror the messages their publication sends editorially (see title).

(Curiously, both plays are well directed by men--Kip Fagan for Kingdom Come and Stephen Brackett for Ultimate Beauty Bible.)

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I won't hold out for either play being entirely persuasive, but they add substantially to the national discussion of revelations about skewed attitudes towards women as magnified during President-elect Donald J. Trump's campaign.

In Kingdom Come, Samantha, or Sammy, is an obese young Carson City, Nevada woman for whom it's painful even to get out of bed. (Think of a female counterpart to the protagonist in Samuel D. Hunter's The Whale.) To amuse herself between shifts filled by kindly carer Delores Aquendo (Socorro Santiago) she pretends online to be Delores's hunky son Dominick (Alex Hernandez), a former classmate of hers.

She even sends Layne pictures of Dominick she's taken during visits to her bedside the extremely pleasant fellow, now an aspiring Hollywood actor, has made. The beefcake shots help her lure across-town Layne into a cyberspace affair. It's the two women's body-image despair that entangles them and worsens when Layne, thinking to confront the person she assumes is her true inamorata drives to California, confronts the perplexed Dominick and actually wins his love.

Whereupon--this is when Kingdom Come does some mighty heavy credulity stretching--Dominick brings Layne to meet Sammy. Before too long the two women realize who they are to each other, and, as the play ends, the sham leaves them flummoxed.

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If you're thinking that Sammy's online love letters, which are supposed to be from one person but are actually written by another, are reminiscent of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, you've got it right. Probably, Weiner also knows on what classic she's spinning. She's done a good job, if not a completely convincing one.

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Playwright McGraw is somewhat less blatant about body image in Ultimate Beauty Bible, although Danielle does announce early that she's been given an ovarian cancer diagnosis, and her checkered progress is followed throughout the caustic, intermissionless piece.

At the same time as she's been told her condition, she begins a romance with the appealing Kit (Alex Breaux), who in due time is exposed to Danielle's cynical roommate Lee (Nadine Malouf). Though Kit and Lee take an instant dislike to one another, it isn't that long before dislike thaws into like and then even more than that, leaving Danielle to look on disparagingly.

Throughout, editor Tiffany behaves dictatorially to everyone, not unlike women bosses are often shown to be these chilly days. (This isn't new, of course. Joan Crawford was the same hard-nosed figure in the 1959 movie adaptation of Rona Jaffe's The Best of Everything, which also poked into the lives of Manhattan working girls in publishing.) Griggs, playing an ambitious intern, arrives intermittently to vouchsafe her philosophical thoughts in a spotlight.

Whether what Autumn has to say adds up to anything meaningful is questionable. She does confront Tiffany about moving up the editorial ladder. Largely due to McGraw's singeing dialogue, the tete-a-tete makes for a juicy scene. Other plot developments might strike patrons as familiar. Surely, a woman stealing a roommate's boyfriend has been spotted before.

Pointedly, though, McGraw has her way with dialogue throughout, which the cast--including Sathya Sridharan as another sympathetic, sympathizing male--delivers forcibly. If there's a first among troupe equals, it's Malouf, who has a memorably biting approach to the maledictions.

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It so happened I saw the plays on successive nights. Consequently, it was hard not to be moved by the similar themes so relevant to contemporary women's compromised circumstances. It's no wonder women playwrights nowadays--surely advised as all writers traditionally are to write about what they know--are writing about what they know of being treated as second-class citizens.
President-elect Donald J. Trump believes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." He suggests the United States cooperate with Syria and Russia to destroy the Islamic State. Aligning with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Russia's Vladimir Putin would have the exact opposite effect. It would entrench Assad's opponents and radicalize Syria's Sunni majority. The Islamic State would intensify its worldwide recruitment, making the US more vulnerable.

Two wars are simultaneously underway in Syria. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDS) are taking territory previously held by the Islamic State (ISIS). The SDS includes 50,000 Kurdish fighters, People's Protection Units (YPG). The SDS and YPG are engaged in fierce fighting as they advance on Raqqa, the de facto ISIS capitol.

The other is between Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Sunni rebels, which the US has supported with training and weapons. Assad is winning this war. Moderate rebels are desperately defending their families and homes in Aleppo from the Syria-Russia onslaught. Under siege, they are finding common cause with more radical Sunni groups such as Al-Sham.

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Abandoning moderate Syrian rebels would be a strategic blunder. If the US suspends assistance, other regional powers will fill the gap. Salafism will prevail. US leverage will be diminished both on the battlefield and when the parties move to negotiations.

The US should not be on the wrong side of history. Assad is responsible for killing approximately 450,000 Syrians and driving at least 11 million from their homes. Russia has targeted civilians, schools, and hospitals in Aleppo.

Despite Russia's war crimes, the US and Russia can cooperate by more effectively sharing information on target selection that actually degrades ISIS, sparing civilians and moderate opposition.

Guiding principles should govern Washington's engagement with groups on the ground. The US could deepen cooperation with Syrians who:

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Share our commitment to fighting terrorism, including the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Believe that the only solution to Syria's civil war is through a political settlement.

Commit to respect the territorial integrity of Syria.

Demonstrate respect for human rights, pluralism, and inclusivity.

Adhere to humanitarian principles, including international humanitarian law.

These principles would be the basis for peace talks to achieve a negotiated settlement. To create conditions for talks, the Trump administration should:

Intensify pressure on the Islamic State, expanding assistance to Syrian Kurdish fighters and other Syrian Democratic Forces.

Leverage relations with Putin, encouraging Russia to focus on jihadists rather than Syrian Democratic Forces.

Broker a deal with Putin for a ceasefire in Aleppo, humanitarian access, and corridors for rebels to leave the city.

To kick-start negotiations, President-elect Trump should outline the scope of a deal ending Syria's civil war that envisions an end-state. Local authorities would be responsible for local security. Politics, economy, and control of resources would be decentralized.

Russia can be invited to join the United States and the United Nations as co-chair of political talks in Geneva. However, the US should be wary of more malevolent regional powers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia who support proxies to advance their narrow national and sectarian interests.

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Solving Syria's civil war will be the first order of business for the incoming Trump administration. The US should set a date for talks to start - and a deadline for a full and final agreement.

Ending Syria's long national nightmare would set a positive precedent for US global leadership.
Ever wonder what makes people in a remote European country actively engage in the US elections? Dozens of young entrepreneurs in Macedonia are promoting Donald Trump's candidacy on the internet - for a solid profit.

Donald Trump might be one of the most criticized and controversial politicians on the planet, but the profit he brings makes him very appealing to dozens of young entrepreneurs in Macedonia. The phenomenon of pro-Trump click-bait political news websites is flourishing in the Balkan country, bringing earnings of up to 30,000 euros ($33,273) per month.

Veles, a town of 40,000 in central Macedonia, is the home of the first internet entrepreneurs that capitalized on this phenomenon as early as the Republican primaries this year.

The phenomenon quickly caught the attention of the media. In August 2016, The Guardian identified more than 150 domains registered to people claiming addresses in Veles. Although not all of them were associated with active websites, most were actively supporting Trump's presidential campaign.

DW talked with the creator of one of the pro-Trump websites, who agreed to speak with us on condition of anonymity. The man, who wished to be called DD, said that he works with another associate and at the end of the month, they share the website's profits which range from 600 to

1,000 euros ($665 -$1109) - a solid income in a country where the average salary is around 300 euros ($332) per month. "1 percent of the websites in Macedonia earn up to 30,000 euros, ten percent from 1,000 to 2,000 ($1109- $2,218) and the rest up to 500 euros ($554) per month," he told DW.

"I needed something that is viral, that people like to read, that they are following. Something for which there is big interest in America. Now, the elections are a popular theme in USA. So I told myself, what else if not politics? I've been following the political scene for six years and I saw a possibility for profit," he explained.

The entrepreneur doesn't deny that part of the articles that are published contain untruthful information and that the bombastic headlines serve to attract visitors.

"In the last three months, 80-90 percent of the articles we published were original. Before that, we copied and combined content from other news websites such as Business Insider and CNN. The ones we publish right now are partly satire, around 5 percent. Those are not entirely true, but the most popular. They have unconfirmed information, something that is not true, speculations," DD added.

Pro-Hillary articles are not popular.

Political websites are not the only source of profit for internet entrepreneurs from Macedonia. "There are around 1,000 websites that are produced for the American public. Some of them are about politics and the rest are is lifestyle, fashion etc," DD explained. But it's not the interest in US politics that drives young entrepreneurs. According to official statistics, thousands of Macedonians leave their country every year in search for a better life in Western Europe or North America. The unemployment rate among the youth is over 50 percent. But why pro-Trump?

"95 percent of the websites produced in Macedonia are pro-Trump and with a good reason. At the beginning, I tried to produce pro-Hillary articles, but no one would read them - and actually I support Hillary's policies," he told DW.

"Hillary for prison 2016- a Facebook page under this name is liked by over 750,000 people. It brings daily "news" on the latest developments in the US presidential race from various sources like viralliberty.com. One of its most viral posts from November 1, claiming Hillary Clinton is implicated in the murder of a whistleblower, gathered more than 7,700 reactions and 16,000 shares. Considering the ferocity and the level of misinformation in the US presidential campaign, there is nothing unusual in this post, apart from the fact that its origins have nothing to do with the US or either of the presidential candidates. Search for usanewsflash.com, americarightnow.com, 365usanews.com, worldpoliticus.com and the narrative is the same, as is their origin: Macedonia. Besides Veles which is home to most internet entrepreneurs, click-bait websites are produced in other cities such as Kumanovo, Skopje and Stip.

"I know people from Kumanovo who are in the website business for 4-5 years and have registered up to 15 domains. Many of them hide the domain and website information because competitors from Macedonia are reporting their accounts as fraudulent - which might lead to suspension from the advertising system."

It's not hard to imagine that an American voter can be manipulated to click on a headline such as, "THIS IS THE END FOR HILLARY: FBI got a court order to investigate the new emails from Clinton." Such captions draw attention and clicks bring profit.

The owners make money from the advertisements that are shown on the websites and the tabloid-like titles help them spread fast on social media, which is the main channel of distribution. The easiest way to achieve that is through AdSense- a program that allows website owners to make money by displaying Google ads. It depends on the number of impressions and clicks that the story can generate. Parallely, by posting sensationalist stories on big social networks like Facebook, Macedonian entrepreneurs can reach much larger public and generate a lot of traffic.

But internet entrepreneurs are concerned that the end of the presidential race could mean the end of their profit run. DD is being careful: "I'm waiting to see what happens after the US elections. I will continue with my business if it still has an effect."


"Intersectionality" is not just a buzzword. I often think to myself how much it would mean if, when folks talked about marginalized and oppressed people, they didn't list last, leave out, or forget about People with Disabilities / Disabled People.

Regarding that slash (/), above, you're going to use person-first language if that's your identity or preference, or just, as some have recommended (and others demanded), to be "on the safe side," if you are an outsider to disability experience. And, some folks should certainly not refrain from using disability-first language, if that is one's orientation, and the person using that language self-identifies as an insider.

There is no one answer to respond to the question of this disability linguistics matter. But, there are many disability "language etiquette" guides -- with various degrees of and commitments to risk, nuance, and alleged controversy -- designed to assist the non-disabled and others. Most emphasize person-first language; some even go so far as to dismiss if not abhor disability-first language. In contrast, a few of these guides articulate greater variety, like the one shared publicly by the Disability Cultural Center at Syracuse University.

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My main concern here, however, is not terminology. I will continue with some examples of intersectionality that include graphic imagery and expression.

Black folks and other People of Color who have been killed by the police have often "also" been People with Disabilities. They didn't have "special needs." They were not pity parties. Or differently abled.

DISabled. (Dis)abled. Say it. Sign it. Type it. Some of these slain people's experiences of disability would have been visible to you -- if you are sighted. Some of these folks' disabilities were largely invisible and might not have been perceived by you, whether you're sighted or not.

Trans* disabled immigrants and Disabled Refugees of Color wind up in jail, deported, endangered, or in far worse circumstances (including dead), more often than lots of other folks.

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In a recent Huffington Post piece, I addressed my disinterest in Oppression Olympics.

Many people are afraid, right now. We deserve to feel how we do. Folks who want us to "come together" have a nice idea. But, not everyone is "ready, yet" -- and, vitally (not a euphemism), some will never be interested, for understandable reasons.

An alternate title for this discussion could have been, "Accessible Intersectionality: The Rubber Meets the Road." Sometimes, that rubber is on someone's motorized wheelchair. Thanks for everything, Ed Roberts. I wonder what you would have thought of November, 2016. I have a pretty good idea.

Not everyone wants to join in, or can, without legitimate fears of compromising or possibly losing safety or wellness. Not everyone would be truly welcomed, or really included, or would have access to the "Solidarity Forever" sing along.

[Beware or take heed of the upcoming, strategic, run-on sentence.]

Because some folks are nonverbal, and type to communicate, and their assistant isn't free that night, and you're meeting in that building that has only steps, with overstimulating and non-adjustable lighting, with no furniture that's not painful, no nearby bus with an accessible route or other modes of accessible transportation or accessible parking (if you can drive at all) or information on an accessible ride share (if it's even available), and there are no American Sign Language interpreters, no image descriptions, no film captions, no way to even request accommodations in the first place, no pause time consideration, no vegetarian or gluten-free or Kosher or Halal food (if there's any food at all, and someone might also need that -- maybe they have diabetes or hypoglycemia -- and, no, it's not just "on them" to feed themselves when you are hosting a long meeting and you expect full participation from an array of folks...you could have folks pitch in, after all!), little to no imagination (but possibly plenty of waste-of-time guilt) with respect to expecting folks to show up who may have allergies or fragrance sensitivity, plus there is no noise level awareness, or a commitment to transparent and accessible language choices, or an understanding that emotional landscapes can be variant without being a dilemma, and there are no gender-neutral or accessible bathrooms etc., etc...

That sentence paragraph might have produced some stress for some readers. It has been my experience that stress, frequently followed by defensiveness, and then sometimes followed by inertia, are often the responses to the word "accommodations," because of ableism in our society.

I want you to believe and to know that you can and should aim to accommodate people and scenarios. Space sharing both physical and virtual and life-in-realtime are not really (and need not really to be only) about presumably stressful accommodations planning, if you: consider possibilities in the first place; design and create as you go along, in collaboration with others (always including Disabled People / People with Disabilities: "Nothing About Us Without Us"); and provide information in advance regarding how folks can request accommodations, in any case, for that "Solidarity Forever" meeting.

And, yes, situations that you may encounter in your intersectional political world are at times still going to be about someone's ethical and legal right to accommodations. (Deal with it. Please.)

Lots of Crip folks and our allies (who, by having proven themselves, already, have earned the right to use the word "ally") have great recommendations for what happens or could occur when there are "competing" needs between and among different Crip folks.

We are not being "politically correct" (please, yuck), demanding, aggressive, impossibly unrealistic, too expensive, a burden, a cause to sigh behind my back / our backs (those of us who have backs) in the *back*ground, in your way, or an inconvenience of any kind that is presumably creating a messy nuisance for your "social justice" movement of diversity and inclusion. Don't throw up your hands (yes, not everyone has hands).

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Stand as you're able. I am here. We are here.

#CriptheVote -- post-election. Let's get busy. As I said above, involved we will be, if "we" want to -- and can. Don't push.

Activism isn't accessible to everyone. Activism also has many ways of being.

You don't get to tell everyone to take to the streets, without parking, curb cuts, or elevators; if someone's body, intellectual and communicative approaches, and/or emotional differences may lead them to feel overwhelmed or imperiled because of ableism and other forms of oppression; or if by showing up they may find themselves facing situations that could potentially or likely result in being ignored, disrespected, bullied, humiliated, attacked, deported, or eliminated.

Some folks just can't get there. Maybe they're at home writing an online manifesto, and you better realize that they are no less powerful than you. They might be blinking for each letter, as Jean-Dominique Bauby did, in order to compose his memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

I'm not just talking to non-Crips and Normals. I'm talking to everybody. You can be annoyed. My intentions are loving and assertive, not patronizing.

For example, it would be great if some of the chair users who are making videos always made sure that the awesome movies about Crip Pride had captions, and/or a transcript, with image or audio descriptions if needed and appropriate. It would be great if sighted Crip folks knew that not all Blind folks use Braille, but some do, obviously. Many Blind folks use other approaches to access content, including apps and screen readers. Not everyone has the money or resources to get this tech, though.

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Your image-rich PDF document with pictures of the words that you have used or possibly even your website may not be accessible to screen readers. The reader then says: Blank. Blank. Blank. It is easy enough to include accompanying text, or you can commit to sharing text-only electronic flyer content. If you feel that you must have images, you could provide image tags in the e-flyers and put alt-text on your website. Unless you already have the necessary skill sets, or are willing to learn and apply them to create accessible, pretty PDFs, I recommend saving the pretty PDFs for printing for the sighted. (FYI, JPEGs are also not accessible if they are pure images. Facebook memes are often not accessible, either.)
Stephen Bannon, President-elect Donald Trump's chief adviser and strategist-in-waiting, has received much scrutiny for his blatant trafficking in racism, xenophobia, sexism and extreme hostility towards Muslims. His alleged populist economic ideology, by contrast, has not been examined nearly as closely. In recent days, however, Bannon's remarks at a 2014 conference of right-wing Catholics held in the Vatican have become available and are revelatory when it comes to his thoughts regarding contemporary capitalism.

Bannon thinks capitalism as an economic system is magnificant, but, like the real Adam Smith, not the caricature of him embraced by laissez-faire advocates, he believes it needs to be softened by "moral sentiments": values not intrinsic to its modus vivendi. To Bannon, this means drawing less upon Smith's belief in innate human generosity, but rather the "Judeo-Christian" tradition, which, in his view, has the capability to restrain the two evil variants of capitalism: kleptocratic (Vladimir Putin's Russia) and laissez-faire (unrestrained economic self-interest as a moral value, embraced by Ayn Rand devotee, Paul Ryan, most of the GOP, and its billionaire donors). Bannon decries secularism, because he believes the evils of capitalism emerge when religious beliefs are no longer a brake on rapacity. He might even applaud Pope Francis' condemnation of capitalism, echoed, as well, by his more conservative papal predecessors.

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And so, it appears ironic that Bannon now serves Donald Trump, a Putin admirer and con man, seemingly opposed to all governmental restraints on capitalism, and devoid of any religious inclinations, except when courting the votes of evangelicals and fundamentalists.

Of course, Bannon must invent an entirely fictitious view of world history to believe the Judeo-Christian heritage, even when at its most influential, ever had a profound restraining influence on capitalism. Judaism, unlike Christianity, never became a significant cultural force in an influential and powerful capitalist state and society, and thus had no potential to alter economic history via its tenets.

As for Christianity, Christ himself might have appeared to be a proto-socialist in his attacks on money-lenders, his claim that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to go to Heaven, and his personal disinterest in world goods. Some influential later Christian thinkers have certainly opposed usury, the unbridled pursuit of wealth and conspicuous consumption. But, pious Christian capitalists, like those of other faiths, typically have compartmentalized: their religious values were rarely expressed in their businesses; often in places of worship and the dinner table. Christianity, in its institutional form, the church, has largely been a bystander as capitalism emerged, burgeoned, and triumphed over all competing economic systems. Modern capitalism is even less likely to be "soulful" (to use John Kenneth Galbraith's 1960s naive belief in a coming era of corporate social responsibility), than the proverbial Main Street mom and pop store.

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Historically, the only militant opponents of kleptocracy and laissez-faire, the two forms of capitalism Bannon condemns, have been those most adversely affected by them: peasants, driven from their small land holdings and forced to become agricultural laborers or chronic migrants in search of work; those forcibly imported from non-capitalist societies and condemned to slavery on plantations; indigenous peoples forced, as in the Belgian Congo, to provide labor for colonial state capitalism; urban craftsmen whose economic independence was destroyed by the advent of industrial capitalism; unskilled workers required to sell their labor at market rates which left them economically insecure.

It should be noted that while many of the struggles of workers to improve their lives under capitalism were inspired by secular ideologies, there have also been movements inspired by the Judeo-Christian tradition. One path Bannon might consider, as a devout Catholic who professes to be concerned about the plight of workers, is associated with the inspirational radical Catholic, Dorothy Day: the Catholic Worker's Movement. Day is being considered for canonization as a saint.

The forms of resistance utilized by these groups have included escape; sabotage; violent revolts; organizing unions and engaging in strikes and other methods to negotiate with capitalists for higher wages and better working conditions; forming mass political parties representing the interests of workers. In the U.S., unionization drives, strikes, and voting for Democrats, produced what the religious values of capitalists did not: greater equality of opportunity; less inequality in wealth and income distribution; a minimal welfare state.

If Bannon was serious about helping workers, not simply trying to get them to vote to help institutionalize xenophobia, racism, and sexism in a Trump Administration, the most effective thing he could do is urge his patron to facilitate more union power, through Trump's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) appointments and legislative initiatives, and fight against the GOP's desire to de-regulate industry and weaken the already feeble social safety-net. Of course, he might then hear Trump uttering those famous two words: "You're fired!"
In the early 1950s our record of the month club--started by my late husband, Sam Josefowitz--was expanding into other countries. Concert Hall Society, Handel Society, Opera Society, and Jazztone Society were the first clubs to provide members with a record every month. They were made of red vinyl--78s with artistically designed covers. One day unexpectedly, we received an invitation from King Bhumibol to visit him in his palace. The king was an aficionado and wanted to meet us and talk music, particularly about jazz. He was one of the descendants to the King of Siam made famous by the movie The King and I.

And so we took off for Thailand. We were met at the Bangkok Airport by a royal limousine. When we asked to be taken to our hotel, we were told the king was expecting us immediately. So we went in our rumpled clothes from a long night on the plane and were ushered into an ornate room. The king was sitting on a settee, not a throne; we were seated opposite him in white and gold Louis XV chairs. Servants were scurrying about on their knees as a sign of homage. We were offered orange juice and spent a lively few hours discussing music--the various bands that David Josefowitz, Sam's brother, had recorded and the means of advertising, packaging and mailing the records (which was Sam's department). The king was interested in every facet of our club. We had brought him one of our records, for which he thanked us profusely. When it was time to go, we had to walk backwards because no one could turn their backs on the king.

King Bhumibol was a short, rather unassuming man; were he not king, I would not have guessed at his royal heritage. On the other hand, what was I expecting? A red velvet cloak, a scepter, and a crown? He was very personable and quickly put us at ease. We were the same age, in our late twenties; it felt like we could easily have been friends. He was knowledgeable about music and played the saxophone and the clarinet himself. He asked many questions as to our choice of artists, and even offered some suggestions of his own.

We spoke French; he had gone to school in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was a few years behind my husband at L'Ecole Nouvelle. Classmates of Sam's in that same school were the Shah of Iran and his brother. Lausanne was rife with current and deposed nobility--kings and queens from around the world, sheiks from Arab countries.

Looking back on that visit, what seemed unremarkable then, amazes me today, chatting happily with King Bhumibol just as if he had been any other music-loving friend. We were all so young then. When I read that the King died at 88 (a year younger than I), memories of that day came flooding back as a shining moment of innocence and sheer pleasure. The king remained a member of our record-club until the company was sold many years later.
Behavioral finance represents the marriage of traditional financial theory and psychological principles. Traditional financial theory posits that economic actors are fully rational, making unbiased, wealth-maximizing decisions after considering all available information. Of course, we all know that the economic world does not operate in that antiseptic fashion. Too often, investors are their own worst enemies because they let their feelings get in the way. Many make wealth-destroying decisions that, after the fact, are all too predictable.

Warren Buffett counsels investors to "be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy." The irony is that many investors do exactly the opposite. In bull markets, ebullient investors convince themselves that rising prices imply that it is a good time to invest. Likewise, frightened investors conclude that the appropriate time to flee financial markets is when prices are falling. When you step back, that kind of thinking makes little sense. What other goods do we buy when prices rise and sell when prices fall?

Some insight into this phenomenon is provided by the field of behavioral finance. Confirmation bias occurs when investors look for information or opinion sources that confirm their beliefs and discount sources that are contrary to their beliefs. Nervous investors will give credence to pundits who suggest markets and individual investments are overvalued, ignoring those who view the world differently. Of course, investors who have a positive view of the markets will do exactly the opposite.

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Some pundits make a consistent market in positive or negative opinion. For example, Abby Joseph Cohen of Goldman Sachs is generally bullish on markets while Marc Faber (aka Dr. Doom) is consistently bearish. Investors who look at the markets positively gravitate toward Ms. Cohen, while fearful investors are fans of Mr. Faber.

Many years ago when I was at Creighton University, I taught a class in which students managed real money. When a student presented a buy recommendation on a stock, I would assign another student to present the rationale for selling the stock. Bringing diverse opinions to the table allowed the group to make better decisions and see what could potentially go both right and wrong with certain investment scenarios. When we take a step back, most people recognize that it is instructive to consider diverse opinions when making investment decisions. Singular points of view and following the herd are, after all, is hazardous to one's wealth.

While not in the field of finance, the latest election provides a cautionary tale to the dangers of confirmation bias. Both sides of the political aisle are guilty of accessing news sources that simply confirmed their opinions without considering opposing views. People take great comfort in opinions that support their political worldview and have difficulty considering new information or opinions contrary to that view. In Anchorman 2, the buffoonish Ron Burgundy said, "I just don't know why we have to tell the people what they need to hear. Why can't we just tell them what they want to hear?"
Saroo Brierley, a five-year old boy from a small town in India, got lost on a train ride, wound up at the massive Howrah Junction railway station in Calcutta and became an orphaned street kid. An Australian couple adopted him, but years later at age 25, his yearning for his birth family took him on a journey back to India. His story became the #1 international best seller A Long Way From Home, which is the basis of this extraordinary and very emotional film.



(Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company)

Dev Patel stars in the drama Lion.

This tale almost sells itself. Once the footage rolls of a five-year-old kid, Saroo (Sunny Pawar), roaming the streets of Calcutta, 930 miles away from home, you're hooked. So tiny, so courageous, how can anyone not love him? Watching him evade the police, pedophiles and other dangers, will make your heart go out to him and it won't come back until the end of the movie.

Saroo's isolation in a busy city is intensified because the locals speak Bengali and the little boy only knows Hindi. By the time he is adopted from an orphanage in Tasmania, you're ready for him to experience good fortune. That starts when he meets his adopted Australian parents Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham).

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Most of Saroo's childhood in Melbourne is far better than his life as a vagabond. The one area of friction surrounds his fellow adopted Indian brother Mantosh (Divian Ladwa), who has severe emotional/psychological problems and a negative energy that wears on his parents unmercifully.

Life looks up when the twentysomething Saroo (Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire) finds a girlfriend, Lucy (Rooney Mara). They seem happy together, but something bothers him. He yearns to find the brother and mother who once loved him. But he can't remember the name of his hometown (Khandwa) correctly. Enter Google maps. Where there's a will there's a high-tech way.

The premise is enough to make any viewer run through a box of Kleenex. Garth Davis' sensitive direction makes you feel for the orphan the entire movie. Davis is particularly successful with the earlier chapters, making the streets look perilous, adults suspicious and the future exceedingly grim.

Luke Davies' screenplay fleshes out the book with vivid characterizations and memorable dialogue that conveys insight in surprising ways. One of the best scenes is when Saroo confronts Sue about why she adopted children. He assumes she was barren, instead she tells him that John and she made a conscious decision to find children who could use their help and not have kids of their own.

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The pacing in Act II, when Saroo is older, lags. This is when you might get restless and contemplate the film's 120-minute length with some trepidation. Also, though on paper Lucy and Saroo are madly in love, something about Rooney Mara's cool performance and Patel's distracted character makes their relationship seem hollow. As the final act kicks in, and Saroo plans his mission, the film regains its footing. Saroo: "I have to find home. They need to know I'm alive." The one hitch in these final scenes is you are never aware of how a 25-year-old with no visible means of support can afford such a journey.

Dev Patel has come a long way since Slumdog Millionaire. He played a very beguiling supporting role in the Exotic Marigold Hotel series. He was stoic as the pioneer Indian mathematician in The Man Who Knew Infinity. And now his stirring portrayal of Saroo, a young man destined to find his home, carries this bio film over the finish line.

Kidman brings a sweetness to the adopted mom role that resonates in all her scenes. It's as if she is floating on a cloud all her own. Wenham also exhibits a positive serenity that would make him "Father of the Year" in anyone's book. Divian Ladwa's interpretation of the disturbed brother adds sympathy to a part that could have been dismissed as a pure annoyance.

The entire cast in India gives the most natural performances, particularly Priyanka Bose as the incandescent mother and Abhishek Bharate as Saroo's brother who loses him on the train.

The camerawork by Greig Fraser (Zero Dark Thirty), of shanty interiors and overhead shots of India through a Google lens, will keep your visual attention. Minus the slow mid section, editor Alexandre de Franceschi (We Don't Live Here Anymore) runs a tight ship.

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A strong and emotionally fulfilling interpretation of a true event that seems stranger than fiction.

A memorable journey.
I'm Fred Raillard, Creative CEO, Co-founder and Creative Chief Officer with Farid Mokart of FRED & FARID, a social, content, tech solutions for brands company based in New York, Paris and Shanghai. #FredinChina is an essential social media podcast to know and understand the world's largest economy.

I fell in love with China, and live in Shanghai with my wife and three sons since September 2012. With my teams at the FRED & FARID Shanghai agency we monitor, analyze and decrypt this ultra-connected China with nearly 800 million netizens by sharing what we see, hear and read on Weibo, WeChat, Huaban, Youku. I prepare this column with Zhuomin Qin from FRED & FARID Shanghai.

Thanks to Zhuomin Qin, Feng Huang, Jalila Levesque, Jules Chaffiotte, Radouane Guissi, Yi Zhang, Ying Zhang, Aliou Maro, Tina Liu, Louis Caudevilla, Dushan Karageorgevitch, Jing Qian, Jonathan Roy, Maxime Aubanel and Antoine Robin for their participation to this chronic.

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Click here to listen to all the podcasts.

Chinese e-shoppers spend billions on Alibaba Single's Day

The HotBrand this week is Tmall, with the 11/11 (November 11). This used to be the celebration of single people (the Single's Day), and has become since a few years now a huge celebration of e-commerce in China. Similar to the Black Friday in the USA, just bigger.

This subject generated 2.1 billion media impressions and 7.5 million discussions! The numbers just get crazier every year. Now as an agency, we produced a spot that was available on all platforms composed solely with the most famous taglines, in which about 30 brands participated.

To give you some numbers, in 6 minutes, sales reached 10 billion RMB, and by midday sales reached 80.7 billion, and at midnight they reached 120 billion RMB, from 235 countries!

Another very interesting number is that 81% of the sales came from mobile rather than desktop / laptop. Also, the first delivery happened only 13 minutes after the order! This just shows how serious China is taking delivery time.

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Horrific crash kills Yu Xu, first Chinese female J-10 fighter pilot

The HotTopic this week is the death of a Chinese female pilot. She was a brilliant and beautiful lady. China was deeply saddened by this news, with 120 million media impressions and 62 thousand discussions. She was performing an acrobatic exercise, when two planes collided forcing her to eject from her aircraft, whereupon the wing of a third aircraft hit her.

Many Chinese were familiar with Yu Xu since she was the team leader of China's Air Force Performance team, and even had a nickname on social media - the golden peacock. Finally, she was very symbolic, as she created a lot of pride.

We looked at the various comments in the Internet, which were categorized by sadness but also by stupid and sexist comments about women pilots. Now the good news in all this is that the young millennials reacted really fast and were very angry against those sexist comments, defending her and women in general with jokes and facts. For example, the abilities women have to stay calmer more than men in dangerous situations.

Tremendous Chinese Pride after rescued Chinese tourists by government support

The HotPost this week is the New Zealand earthquake that took place on November 13. Right after the event, the Chinese Consulate in Christchurch immediately sent two helicopters to evacuate 41 Chinese tourists. Then on Tuesday, they sent three more helicopters to evacuate 85 Chinese tourists, including people from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

This was really well received by Chinese people on social media, as thousands of other tourists had to stay in New Zealand and were blocked from evacuating. No one took care of them. This action by the Chinese generated a lot of pride for the Government taking care of Chinese citizens. This is not the first time that we have witnessed this, since China takes the security of its citizens outside China extremely seriously.

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We read a lot of comments on the Internet like this being the best campaign for China outside of China, and also for the Chinese Government inside China, since the feeling of security in China is very important.
Cinzia Bianco is the co-author of this article.*

In light of the uncertainty surrounding U.S. foreign policy in the Donald Trump era, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members will likely further hedge their bets and invest in deeper strategic partnerships with other world powers. Due to a host of security and geopolitical factors, Italy will play an increasingly important role in the GCC's long-term planning.

Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Italy has one key partner--the United Arab Emirates (UAE); two economic partners--Kuwait and Qatar; and three third-party partners--Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. As Italy grapples with an ongoing financial crisis, officials in Rome view the GCC's interest in diversifying its web of security partnerships as an opportunity to take advantage of a lucrative defense market and to boost national exports.

Military bonds between Italy and the GCC are taking shape within the context of a Gulf-Mediterranean security nexus. Southern European and Arab Gulf states are forging stronger ties to fortress themselves against the security threats posed not only by militant Islamist extremists, but also by the flood of refugees and migrants caused by the raging conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Although Italy is not mainland Europe's top arms dealer (France holds that title), the escalating geopolitical instability across the MENA region will likely give rise to stronger cooperation in the defense sector between Rome and the Gulf states. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's government has provided an unprecedented level of support for Italy's military industry, which has scored significant achievements in three GCC countries this year.

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United Arab Emirates

In March, the UAE--the GCC's longest-standing purchaser of Italian weapons and the Arab Gulf state with closest ties to Rome--agreed to a $355 million deal to buy eight drones from Piaggio Aerospace. Since 2015, Mubadala, a public joint stock company and an investment vehicle of Abu Dhabi's government, has acquired 100% of Piaggio Aerospace. This is one of the most strategic among GCC-owned Italian assets, particularly due to Piaggio Aerospace's plans to develop a line of drones. This deal means that, for the first time ever, a technologically advanced combat item would be GCC-owned since its inception.

The UAE is also an important political and strategic ally of Italy. Rome frequently reaches out to Abu Dhabi for support--first and foremost pertaining to the Libya dossier and, to a lesser extent, to Egypt's. Indeed, the frequency of high-level bilateral political visits has increased significantly over the past few turbulent years. Convergence, however, on specific regional crises, especially Libya, comes with limits. Although the UAE unequivocally supports the Tobruk-based government and General Khalifa Haftar's anti-Islamist forces in the Libyan National Army (LNA), Italy has been pushing for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), brokered by the United Nations in December 2015, and views General Haftar as an important security interlocutor, but not a political one.

Qatar and Kuwait

Officials in Rome, however, usually set aside these sensitive dossiers with the other GCC members, although several are important economic and defense partners of Italy. In June, for example, Italy's state-owned Fincantieri secured a $4.5 billion contract with Qatar to supply Doha with five warships which, according to Il Sole 24 Ore, will come with missiles and radar. This landmark deal followed years of conversation between Rome and Doha. The visit of Emir Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani to the Italian capital in January laid the groundwork for the contract, which includes the training of Qatari personnel by Italy's navy.

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In April, Kuwait signed a $9.1 billion deal to purchase 28 Eurofighter jets from the EuroRADAR consortium, led by Finmeccanica, marking the largest contract ever secured by the Italian defense giant. The deal includes logistical and operational support, as well as the training of both aircrews and ground personnel, to be carried out in cooperation with the Italian Air Force.

Italy, Qatar and Kuwait finalized these two contracts only as a result of government-to-government agreements signed between the defense ministries of Rome, Doha and Kuwait City. They represent a significant upgrade in what were already important economic relations. Whether they will lead to stronger political and strategic cooperation remains questionable.

Saudi Arabia

Finally, there are those relations that are strictly linked to third parties--in this case to Italy's most important ally, the United States. Italy's ties with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, with whom bilateral relations never truly took off, strengthened only after Washington reached out to its European Union (EU) allies to share security responsibilities in the Persian Gulf.

Since the beginning of the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, Italians exported approximately $62 million in arms, ammunition and spare parts to the Saudis, who fly the Eurofighters jets in their war against the Houthi rebel movement and forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Italian-Saudi relations, however, are complicated. On one hand, Prime Minister Renzi's government has tried to reach out to the Saudis with two high-level visits to Saudi Arabia in two years. (Renzi visited Riyadh in November, and in June Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni visited Jeddah.) Indeed, there are a host of Italian firms with a strong presence in the Saudi market; they collaborate extensively with local companies to build infrastructure and petrochemical factories in cities across the kingdom. For instance, Salini Impregilo, a leading constructor, built Riyadh's Kingdom Tower and is currently working on Riyadh's subway project.

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Yet the numbers are quite small given the country's size. This is partly because the level of mutual contacts and familiarity between Italy and Saudi Arabia--just as with Bahrain and Oman--has been historically low, and these countries have been traditionally treated as friends of friends, rather than as full partners. In addition, Italy's geopolitical alignments have often been at odds with Saudi Arabia's.

Italy's historically strong connection to Iran represents the major obstacle in Rome-Riyadh relations. Partners since the 1950s and up until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Italy is a trusted interlocutor for the Iranians, who pushed strongly for Italy to be included in the P5+1 group negotiating on the nuclear file in 2004. In 2013, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Emma Bonino was the first European foreign minister to visit the Islamic Republic following the end of President Mahmood Khatami's tenure in 2005. At that time, the Italian diplomat was already pushing to include Iran at the negotiating table at the Geneva II conference on Syria.

Since the signing of the nuclear agreement, Italy has been quick to arrange an exchange of high-level political visits with Tehran and to ink significant deals in sectors such as petrochemicals, heavy industry, infrastructure, finance and defense. In September, Iran even negotiated a naval exchange deal with Italy for its warships to be berthed in Italian ports and vice versa. This agreement, in particular, as well as the general political vicinity of the two countries, represents a red flag for the Saudis, especially in an increasingly polarized region.

A grave concern in Riyadh and other GCC capitals is that Iran's reintegration within the global economy, as well as Tehran's improved relations with Italy and other Western states, is paving the way for more states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to begin viewing Iran as a useful partner, if not a tacit ally, in the struggle against Sunni Islamist extremism and terrorism.

Indeed, when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made his watershed visit to Italy in January, Renzi called on Rome and Tehran to cooperate jointly in an effort to defeat the "evil" Daesh (Islamic State). In 2015, EU Foreign Policy Chief and Member of the Italian Parliament Federica Mogherini hailed the nuclear deal's passage. She wrote that the watershed agreement could "open unprecedented possibilities of peace for the region, starting from Syria, Yemen, and Iraq." These statements were poorly received in Arab Gulf states such as the UAE, where officials, certainly encouraged by Riyadh, accused Mogherini of failing to understand their perception of Tehran's foreign policy in the Arab world as aggressive.

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Oman

Yet not all members of the GCC are likely to have a negative attitude toward deeper Italian-Iranian ties. The Sultanate of Oman, which is the council's most independent state and maintains a cordial relationship with Tehran, shares Italy's view of Iran as a nation with an important and legitimate role to play in resolving international security crises. Although Oman's relationship with Italy has been so far unsteady--with limited cooperation in fields such as tourism, oil, gas and construction--Rome is increasingly viewing Muscat as a valuable diplomatic interlocutor. Often dubbed "The Switzerland of the Middle East" and rightfully credited with promoting peaceful solutions to regional conflicts, the Omani perspective can be increasingly valuable at a time when Italian officials grapple with refugee crises stemming from conflicts for which the only solutions are political.

At the same time, there may been reason to expect that Italy and Oman are also exploring a defense partnership. In September, Rome and Muscat's defense ministers, Omani military officials and the Italian ambassador to the sultanate attended an Omani-Italian joint military exercise in Jebel al-Akhdar. As Oman struggles to achieve its aim of economic diversification, Muscat officials view the sultanate's ports such as Duqm as crucial trade hubs with great potential for growth in the shipping and logistics sectors. This would, in turn, offer more Italian firms a stable corner of the MENA region for trade and investment. By aiding the Omani military with joint drills, Italy is perhaps suggesting that it is a stakeholder in the long-term security of the country--as well as of the region.

Italy in the Middle East

A final consideration emerges from this analysis. As Italy begins to define its presence in the Gulf region, it must achieve a delicate balance between its relations with Riyadh, Tehran and the other Arab Gulf capitals.

As the GCC nations respond to escalating geopolitical instability and rising sectarian temperatures by asserting a more muscular foreign policy, while becoming less confident in their most important defense partner, the US, they are turning to other NATO members to counterbalance their dependence on Washington for weapons deals. They might be exploring the Italian option not only as the world's eighth largest international arms exporter, but also, potentially, as a country that perhaps could still be persuaded to align with the GCC states on a host of global security issues, especially in the Mediterranean. Then, perhaps, Italy could sway other European countries to follow.

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For these reasons, this Mediterranean country, until now essentially a stranger in the neighborhood, is likely to play an increasingly important role in the Arab Gulf states' long-term strategic planning.

Gulf State Analytics originally published this article on November 15, 2016.

Giorgio Cafiero is the CEO and Founder of Gulf State Analytics (@GulfStateAnalyt), a Washington, DC-based geopolitical risk consultancy.
Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton was one of the biggest upsets in presidential history, leaving some feeling triumphant and others totally defeated. On election day, I was in Honduras on a mission trip, doing construction work at a Christian camp. I watched the results from afar, but was as stunned as anyone by the outcome. I sensed the tremendous grief being felt by all who supported Clinton.

The day after the election, our group of ten men had a Bible study which included the parable of the yeast, in which Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman takes and mixes in with flour until all of it is leavened (Luke 13:20-21). I said to the group that one of the problems with politics is that we expect a powerful leader to come in from on high and solve all of our problems. This is true whether we are liberals or conservatives. But our challenge as Christians is to act like yeast, to change things from the inside, to work for transformation like yeast in a loaf of bread.

Even in a time of grief, we can inspire people by what we say and what we do. This is true no matter who is in the White House.

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The crucifixion of Jesus caused grief, but even as he was dying Jesus acted like yeast. Instead of being angry at the people who put him on the cross, he forgave them. Rather than saving himself, he saved the criminal next to him (Luke 23:33-43). Instead of being overcome by evil, Jesus turned evil into good.

The execution of 21 Coptic Christians by Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists caused grief. But on the day of their deaths these faithful Christians acted like yeast. They were in Libya, working on a construction job. All were Egyptians except for one. He appears to have been a young African man, perhaps from Chad or Ghana. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, a Greek Orthodox bishop named Demetrios said that the executioners demanded that each hostage identify his religion. Under threat of death, they could have denied that they were Christians. But each of the Christians declared their trust in Jesus. Maintaining their faith in the face of evil, each man was beheaded.

The bishop describes this crime as "a grotesque example of the violence Christians face daily in Libya, Iraq, Syria and anywhere that ISIS prosecutes its murderous campaign." But as horrible as these executions were, the story has an unexpected and inspirational ending.

The young African man who was with the Egyptians was not a Christian when he was captured. But when the ISIS terrorists challenged him to declare his faith, he replied: "Their God is my God." After hearing those words, the terrorists killed him. But in that moment, the young man became a Christian. The Christians around him acted like yeast and brought good out of evil.

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Such stories are transformational. They certainly inspire me. But they also leave me with a question: Are we living in such a way that people will look to us and say, "Their God is my God"? Our challenge is to speak in ways that reveal authentic faith, and act in ways that show real courage and devotion.

Rodger Nishioka is a Christian educator who is convinced that actions speak louder than words. "Words are lovely," he says, "but in the 21st century, when we have rhetoric everywhere, maybe people are paying attention to how you and I live, to what we do."

He tells the story of a young couple who moved from New Jersey to Iowa to start their careers. They visited a couple of churches but didn't join a congregation. Then the wife discovered that she had stage-four breast cancer, and she was terrified. She entered the hospital for surgery, and was visited by the pastor of one of the churches they had attended.

Once she got home, the young wife received a visit from one of the women of the church. She brought a casserole and said that she and her fellow church members had been praying for the woman and her husband. Next day, there was another knock on the door. This time it was a man from the church, bringing another dinner. The congregation brought a meal to this couple every day for six months. The two had so much in their freezer that they invited young adults from their workplaces to a meal at their house. Their colleagues asked, "Where did you get this food?" They replied, "It comes from our church." Note the pronoun: Our church.

What made the difference was actions, not words. In this Iowa community, young adults were seeing people acting like yeast and working for transformation.

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At Fairfax Presbyterian, where I serve as pastor, we act like yeast by hosting the homeless on cold winter nights, so that they will not die on the streets. We mentor teenagers who are trying to figure out who they are and what they are supposed to do with their lives. We teach children the stories of Jesus and show them the love of Jesus. We fight the cancers of racism and prejudice in our adult Christian Formation classes. And we take medications to clinics in Honduras, so that lives will not be lost to diseases that are easily treatable. On our recent mission trip, we delivered seven large suitcases full of medicine, including over-the-counter medications donated by members of the church.
As with the majority of young people and other Democrats across America, the US Presidential Election yielded highly disappointing and distressing results, with the imminent rise of a shameless demagogue. Those like me expected the election to result in a logical conclusion (of course, logical to me and the majority of Americans), although logic was not a theme or priority for nearly half of Americans. Rather, people were victim to Trump's bait and were fed what they wanted to hear.

For millennials who voted for the first time, or for those who would experience an America under Republican leadership for the first time, this will be a new and an uncomfortable experience. My close friends who are immigrants, LGBTQ, women, and black have already experienced stress and anxiety, and are genuinely afraid for their future livelihoods. But above all, they are looking for guidance on how to move forward.

To expand on Hillary Clinton's call to "never stop believing that fighting got what's right is worth it", here are some thoughts about how to move forward:

Mourn and/or be angry! Your emotions reveal a truth that you need to embrace and come to terms with--being angry or sad means that something is wrong, and it is clear that something is wrong given the result of this election. Reflect on the election results and recognize the severity of our American crises. We have to understand that race does not entirely explain the outcome of the election; after all, President Obama won twice. This was about the vast number of Americans who are disenchanted, disillusioned and distrustful of the political institution. This was an anti-vote. Lend a helping hand to your those in your family, your neighbor, and your friends who may need your contemplative ear. Organize dialogues with those in your networks, formally or informally online, to learn, share knowledge, and sympathize. Protest! Exercise your freedom to voice your dissent and never remain hopeless in face of power. Our historical social movements did not succeed because people remained complacent. Join networks, such as ACLU, to support efforts that will protect the rights of all Americans.

President Obama recently called for a peaceful transition of power, which makes sense given his position. However, is this also a call for complacency and idleness as millions of Americans fear for their lives and as the global community are concerned with the fate of the Paris Climate Agreement? As Americans are raising their voices around the United States, I offer a historical narrative that can inform their actions: the defiant nature of the Boston Tea Party. How can we ever hope to bring change without disrupting the oppressive forces that chain us? Such forces of neoliberalism and globalization resulted in the economic and political conditions that mobilized Trump voters, not just unfounded and misguided racism and sexism. So if there can be unity in beliefs between the Democrats and Republicans, it would be our rejection of these two forces. President Obama's urge for unity seems like a tall order for marginalized communities, who continue to be victim to the oppressive rhetoric that has been a hallmark of Trump's campaign and his supporters. It is also difficult to do when millions of Americans are fearful of losing health insurance and as Native Americans are fighting their battle against corporate elites to protect their land.

Instead, let's continue to voice our dissent and exhaust all possible solutions, including signing this quickly growing petition to have the Electoral College reconsider its loyalty to Trump. Those who are on the ground rallying against Trump: Remember that as agents of change, we have an entire history and tradition of social movements to draw from. In times like this, we should hold onto the belief that when there's a will, there's a way.

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Most Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, but Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. It's the second time in the last 16 years, in a country purporting to be the world's greatest democracy, that a significant oddity has occurred: the triumph of a majority for one candidate in the obsolete electoral college vote over a majority for different one in the popular vote. Before President-elect Trump starts in on his policy agenda, he should push for an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the electoral college and choose the president based on the national popular vote. Since he and his party derived advantage from the existing system, such a proposal could be powerful as a means to reform the unfair electoral process.

Despite learning in school about the electoral college vote, most Americans are still uncertain about what it is and how it relates to the popular vote. Nowadays, however, intuitively the overwhelming majority does believe that the person who wins the most votes from voters should win the election and that no person's vote should count more than another's. Thus, Americans were perplexed in the 2000 and 2016 elections why this didn't happen, but most passively accept the system as it is.

In the wake of the 2016 election, the American media has open distain for the "usual" proposals to eliminate the electoral college--perhaps because the U.S. Constitution is so hard to amend. Yet because America is so evenly divided politically now, such majority electoral college/majority popular vote splits are likely to occur more frequently; we have already had two in this young century, equaling the total for the entire 19th century (we had none in the 20th century).

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The problem is that in 1787, when the U.S. Constitution's framers created the document, they had a low opinion of popular democracy, fearing that it would become impassioned "mob rule." To guard against this threat, they allowed the public some participation in the new system but felt that the country was too vast, and communication and transportation means too slow and unreliable, for the people to be sufficiently informed to elect a president for the entire country. They thus created an electoral college of "experts" who would elect the president instead of the people.

In fact, so the states would have a role in the election of the nation's president, the framers allowed them to choose the electors in any manner that they desired. Originally, in most cases, the "experts" in the state legislatures picked the "experts" in the electoral college. Each state got to choose a number of electors equal to the number of its delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives (based on a state's population relative to other states) plus two (the number of senators from each state). Since the framers did not foresee the creation of political parties that could mobilize voters nationally, they believed that regional candidates would not be able to get a majority in the electoral college--thus requiring yet another group of "experts" in the U.S. House of Representatives to choose the president. They believed that this latter method would be the most typical way of choosing the chief executive, but it happened that way only two times at the beginning of the nation's history.

By the mid-1800s, the people began demanding more voice in their government, turning the connotation of "democracy" from bad to good. Transportation and communication also began to get better, thus increasing the chances that a candidate could get a majority nationally in the popular vote or electoral college. More and more states began allowing voters to directly elect the electors from x or y political party, which is really what the voters, unbeknownst to them, are doing today when they step into the voting booth today. State legislatures bowed out of the selection process for electors.

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Proponents of retaining the electoral college talk about preserving the republic (representative government) enshrined in the Constitution, as opposed to popular democracy, or giving the states a role in the presidential election. Yet the 18th century electoral college concept no longer works as the framers had envisioned it--as a back-up for the House of Representatives electing the president, with electors chosen by state legislatures--and now merely distorts the national popular vote. Forty-eight out of the fifty states plus the District of Columbia allow the winner of the popular vote in their jurisdiction to take all the state's electoral votes. Also, smaller, rural states are excessively represented in the electoral college at the expense of more populous states with big urban areas. For example, much like the electoral college expanded the political power of smaller rural slave states before the Civil War, in the 2016 election, each voter in Wyoming (the least populous state) had more than double the voting power in the electoral college as a voter in California (the most populous state). This violates the principle of "one person, one vote."

Proponents of retaining the electoral college want the states to have a role in the presidential election, but nowadays states--instead of letting their "experts" pick the president-- automatically take their popular vote and feed it through the distorting electoral college filter, which merely perverts the national popular vote.



Even Republicans, who won the election fair and square under the current system but nevertheless benefited from such distortions in this election cycle, had appropriately trashed the electoral college in prior times. In 2012, President-elect Donald Trump had said that the "phoney [sic] electoral college" was "a disaster for a democracy." Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Ben Carson, both Trump supporters, have also questioned the need for an electoral college.

Because tricks like getting the most populous states to assign all of their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote are politically fragile, even before President-elect Trump starts in on his policy agenda, he should propose a constitutional amendment that eliminates the electoral college and chooses the president based on the national popular vote. Because he and his party benefited from the existing system in 2016, such a long-overdue proposal would likely make a powerful impact.
The 2016 elections are now behind us, but what remains is a divided country. Some people are very happy feeling that their voices finally were heard. Others are depressed believing that prejudice and divisiveness won.

These strongly held opinions will not fade soon. Thus, next year many issues will be decided in an atmosphere echoing the campaign's sharp disagreements. Education will likely be one of those topics.



President-elect Donald Trump says that education will improve by attracting more students into charter and private schools. Charter schools are public, semi-independent institutions with a mixed record of success. Also showing mixed results are government-subsidized tuition vouchers for private schools.



Trump would provide $20 billion of federal funds for these dubious schemes. Since he does not want any new money for education, that $20 billion would come from funds local school districts now use for the education of children with disabilities and of children from low income families. The sparks will fly as Congress debates that proposal and its funding source.

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Before battling begins, Trump and Congress should take a reality check by looking at what state legislators are saying is needed to improve American schools. No Time to Lose (August 2016) from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) contains conclusions from an 18-month-study by these state officials of the educational systems of high performing countries. http://www.ncsl.org/documents/educ/EDU_International_final_v3.pdf

Their first conclusion is that "most (American) state education systems are falling dangerously behind the world ... leaving the United States overwhelmingly unprepared to succeed in the 21st century economy." They explain that "recent reforms have under-performed because of silver bullet strategies and piecemeal approaches" (emphasis added).

"In an effort to boost achievement for all students," they add, "policymakers have tried a number of approaches and passed a number of state and federal laws. These have included increasing funding, reducing class size, enhancing school choice, improving school technology and teacher quality, more testing and tougher test-based accountability. While some policies have had marginal success in some states or districts, success has not been as widespread as policymakers had hoped."

As American leaders were implementing these "silver bullets," high-performing countries were building "comprehensive systems that look drastically different from ours, leading them to the success that has eluded our states." Common elements seen by these state legislators in nearly every world-class education system included a strong early education system, a re-imagined and professionalized teacher workforce, robust career and technical education programs, and a comprehensive, aligned system of education. These elements are not found as consistently or as well-developed in the U.S. as they are in other countries.

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These state leaders did not shy away from describing the difficult steps other nations took to have good schools, such as setting higher standards for new teachers while providing higher compensation and allocating the best teachers to the most challenged schools. They note: "Inversely, American students from the wealthiest communities are most likely to get the best teachers and the finest facilities." Simplistic remedies are nowhere to be found in this report.

No Time to Lose makes a lot of sense. Do we have the wisdom and courage to follow its recommendations? Will these state legislators maintain their interest, especially on a bi-partisan basis, in designing and implementing these elements to create a comprehensive system in their states?

If the new president declares that the latest silver bullet is to vastly expand charter and private schools, isn't he making the same mistake as others preceding him? Wouldn't it be better to have states re-invent themselves with comprehensive systems of improvement, rather than to force them to march to the beat of the same old song about how "only one change" will magically raise the quality of the schools?

Earlier this year in passing a new national education bill, the Republican Congress told President Obama that the federal government must get out of the way of the states. When they consider Trump's proposal, will they follow their own advice?
COLUMBUS  A 20-year-old Columbus woman is scheduled to go to trial the first week in December on charges she stabbed her 33-year-old brother multiple times during an attack in July.

Platte County District Court Judge Robert Steinke reduced Alicia Martinezs bond to $100,000, 10 percent allowed for release, during a brief bond review hearing. The defendants bond had been $150,000.

Martinez, who has been in custody at the county jail since her July 20 arrest, is set for a Dec. 5 jury trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony stemming from the July 11 stabbing of Rogelio Barrios in the bedroom of his Eighth Street residence.

Law enforcement authorities were notified of the stabbing when Barrios sought medical treatment at Columbus Community Hospital shortly after the incident. Martinez does not live at the Eighth Street residence.

Court documents describe an incident in which the victim  stabbed six times in the chest, arms and hand  found his sister standing at the side of his bed while holding an 8-inch boning knife.

The victim reported his mother warned him that his sister said she was going to hurt him.

Columbus Police Investigator Gregory Sealock said the victim reported Martinez dropped the knife and fled the house when another woman entered the bedroom.

A blood-covered boning knife was recovered on the floor of the victims bedroom, Sealock said.
One of the (very!) few pollsters who got the presidential election right, Patick Caddell, had this to say the day before the election: "The political battleground is no longer over ideology but instead is all about insurgency."

Caddell points to his polling in early October, which asked for reaction to the following statement: "The real struggle for America is not between Democrats and Republicans but between mainstream America and the ruling political elites." 67 percent agreed, 24 percent disagreed.

On Election Day, the next wave of America's anti-elite political revolt rose up. It repudiated the liberal status quo coalition of Hillary Clinton, dispatched the politically incorrect outsider Donald Trump to the White House, and confirmed that the new divide in U.S. politics is vertical, not horizontal. President-elect Trump and the Republican Party have a narrow mandate but a broad set of challenges, not least of which are reconciling the economic "deliverables" of his campaign, i.e., his promises of shared prosperity and growth, with a globalized economy that creates and distributes wealth in dramatically uneven ways.

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This revolt, merely the latest world event shattering the worldview of so many, had many moving parts. Here are several that I see.

The Formula

Since 2008 and the election of Barack Obama, a new formula for winning national elections has been in play. The formula is Movement + Party Infrastructure = Victory. The Democratic Party, its "demographics are destiny" arrogance notwithstanding, did not win the 2008 presidential. It was forced by a black-led progressive insurgency, powered by independent voters and African Americans, to mobilize its vast infrastructure on behalf of Obama. That combustible combination won the election. While his re-election campaign in 2012 was a far cry from his 2008 movement/campaign, there was enough of an "echo" to power him to a second term. America did not want to expel our first black President from the White House.

Coming into the 2016 presidential cycle, the Democratic Party was shockingly blind to the historical reasons for its prior success. Instead it believed that the winning formula was Party Infrastructure + Identity Politics. But that coalition failed to hit its marks, and a depressed turnout among African Americans, a disappointing level of participation from Latinos, and the continued flight of independents away from the elitist Democrats to the anti-establishment Trump sealed their fate.

In contrast, Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee had their eyes wide open. Armed with their own insights into the winning playbook, their formula rested on the Movement + Party Infrastructure = Victory equation. The populist outcry against the elites and the collateral damage they inflicted on working class Americans, made visible by Trump and Bernie Sanders, was harnessed by Trump in the general election. Combining that with an upgraded RNC infrastructure with the power to mobilize traditional GOP voters, they redrew the electoral map. Crucial to that redrawing were independent voters.

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What Did Independent Voters Do on Election Day?

Independent voters made up 31 percent of Tuesday's electorate, the highest proportion since the advent of polling, or roughly 39.4 million voters. 48 percent of them supported Trump, 42 percent backed Clinton and 10 percent supported a third party or independent candidate or did not answer the exit poll question. The independent vote, only eight years earlier a vital component of the Obama coalition, was allowed by Democrats to drift away. More to the point, the partisanship of the Democrats drove them away, to great consequence. In the swing states of Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin, independents provided Trump with his margin of victory over Clinton.

Independents--now 43 percent of the country-- have been, and continue to be, a restless engine for political and economic renewal. In the Perot era, they were written off by the Liberal/Left as fascists, though the progressive wing of the independent movement--including yours truly--fought hard to build an independent left/right coalition with the Perot movement that lasted until 2000. In the Obama era, independents powered his overthrow of Clinton in the Democratic primaries and sought a place at the Democrats' table but were turned away. Years of partisanship over country, privilege over sharing the wealth, and bureaucracy over democracy sent them looking elsewhere.

Bernie Sanders Could Have Been Elected President

Donald Trump, riding the wave of the populist revolt during the primary season, and benefiting from a fragmented field, captured the Republican nomination. Though his incendiary campaign rhetoric forced his fellow Republicans through a revolving door of denunciation and embrace, that populist appeal anchored and, ultimately, grew his campaign. In contrast, Sanders' political revolution--made all the more difficult by having to go head-to-head with Clinton from the start--was halted by an anti-populist manipulation by the DNC, a super-delegate system that stacked the deck against him, and closed primaries in key states like New York, Pennsylvania and Arizona that locked out independents, including the so-called millennials, sympathetic to his cause. Nonetheless, Sanders came perilously close to a win. His "revolution" in the primaries was propelled by huge margins among independents in Wisconsin (72 percent) and Michigan (71 percent), two states where independents later broke for Trump. Though Sanders lost Ohio and Pennsylvania to Clinton, his margins there among independents were also huge--66 percent in Ohio and 72 percent in Pennsylvania. It is not unreasonable to conclude that if Sanders and Trump had faced each other in the general election, Sanders' deep support among independents would have carried over and could have put the volatile Rust Belt--Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan--in the Democrat camp.

Political Revolts and Political Reform

A clarion call of the Trump and Sanders political revolts was "the system is rigged." Of course, it is. In fact, it's so rigged that it has even distorted how the political class--which does the rigging--sees reality! "De-rigging" the system is a long and hard road, mainly because the rules have been written to benefit those who make the rules. Perhaps the results of this election will finally propel a serious move to abolish the electoral college, a reform independents have championed for decades.

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Still, some significant breakthroughs in the battle for systemic reform took place on Election Day. Here's a quick review. With 63.7 percent of the vote, Colorado passed Proposition 107 to create an open presidential primary system that allows all voters to participate, including the 36 percent who are registered independent. With 52.5 percent of the vote, Colorado leveled the playing field for independents to cast ballots in state and local primaries.

With 52.1 percent of the vote, Maine became the first state in the nation to enact a Ranked Choice Voting system for all elections, a reform designed to mitigate the spoiler taboo of voting for independent candidates. Campaign finance reform initiatives passed in two states.

But the most cutting-edge breakthrough came in South Dakota where Amendment V, an initiative to adopt a statewide nonpartisan elections system, polled 44.5 percent. Though this initiative campaign--led by a rowdy cross-partisan group of local leaders--did not pass in this round, it broke this issue through to a new threshold and created a new roadmap for winning in the future. Previously, initiative campaigns for nonpartisan elections--from New York City in 2003 to Oregon in 2008 and 2014, to Arizona in 2012--had been stuck in the low 30's, bombarded by negatives from party poobahs and "good government" types on both sides of the aisle. In South Dakota, with significant "matching grant" and political support from the premiere support organization for this reform--Open Primaries--an unprecedented local coalition travelled the rural and urban byways of this redder than red state. Their message was one of fairness, inclusion and accountability, and they nearly made it over the finish line. Amendment V polled 39,000 more votes than Hillary Clinton.

The Black Vote Shrinks, the Black and Independent Alliance Stalls

Key to a Clinton victory strategy was high turnout among African American voters, a mainstay of the Democratic Party coalition. However, not unlike what white blue collar Americans face in the dislocations caused by globalization, the poverty and unemployment in inner city communities have become more harsh and relentless. Political loyalty to the Democratic Party has become more strained, a third of younger black voters identify as independents, and, in plain English, Hillary Clinton is not Barack Obama. Exit polls appear to indicate that 1.3 million fewer black voters cast ballots this year, as compared to 2012 and 2008. While Clinton polled 88 percent of those voters (Obama polled 93 percent in 2012 and 95 percent in 2008), that over a million fewer African Americans came out to the polls was part of the death blow to the Clinton coalition. It's worth noting that the volatile coalition of blacks and independents (we sometimes call it the Black and Independent Alliance) which raised up Obama in 2008 deserted the Democratic Party in 2016. Whether and how it regroups and re-emerges is a poignant question for both communities and a challenge for their leaders as well.

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The Minor Party Vote

While the combined vote for the top three independent candidates--Gary Johnson (Libertarian), Jill Stein (Green), and Evan McMullin (Independent) was showing at 15 percent a month ago, the vote for minor party candidacies collapsed. Johnson is at 3.2 percent (over 4 million votes), Stein at 1 percent (over 1 million votes) and McMullin--only on the ballot in 11 states--had hoped to win Utah outright but managed 21 percent of the vote there. The Johnson vote is the third highest minor party/independent presidential vote since 1992. Ross Perot polled 19.8 million votes that year and 8.1 million in 1996, followed by Ralph Nader's 2000 run which polled 2.9 million votes.

While this kind of collapse is not atypical for minor party campaigns, it has a different feel and meaning today. Largely, it would seem to signal that while America's mass populist revolt is searching for a home, moving from platform to platform, the minor parties have not found a way to connect to it. No small part of this disconnect is the fact that the minor parties continue to sell an ideology, at a moment when the populist revolt is largely a rejection of ideology and partisanship. It is less about issues than it is about power. Pat Caddell's findings at the top of this report underscore that trend.

Still, the venomous antipathy towards voting for independents within the mainstream media continues to amaze. On Election night, Chris Matthews told viewers on MSNBC that voting for a minor party candidate in this election was equivalent to supporting the Vichy government in France during World War II which, nominally neutral, was actually allied with the Nazis. He quickly withdrew the remark, but his co-panelist Joy Reid offered a friendly amendment, saying that her voting age children had a circle of friends who thought it was "chic" to vote for an independent. Fascist or fashionable, take your pick. Both Matthews and Reid believe that political correctness and voting for the establishment are the inviolable building blocks of an enlightened America. No wonder they never saw the revolt coming.

The Latino Vote

The Democrats believed that Clinton could muster a broad and deep majority among Latinos. 65 percent of Latinos nationally supported Clinton, while 29 percent cast their votes for Trump. In 2012, Obama won 71 percent of the Hispanic vote, while Romney secured 27 percent. The hoped for "demographics are destiny" Latino tide did not occur. And, interestingly, in New Mexico, 12 percent of Latinos voted for an independent candidate. In Arizona, where 41 percent of Latinos are registered as independents, 9 percent of the Hispanic vote went to independent candidates. The Latino vote is very much in play in this era of realignment, potentially a force for nonpartisan structural reform that will increase its political power in more fluid coalitions.

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Contradictions and the Divide

If the voter revolt was both luminous and conflicted, it also revealed a country filled with contradictions. Donald Trump opposed any mandated increases in the minimum wage, but two of the five states that passed an increase in the minimum wage went for Trump. Even though Trump campaigned against undocumented immigrants and for building a wall at the border with Mexico, exit polling showed that 70 percent of voters want a pathway to legalization for undocumenteds. Consistency and certainty, hallmarks of more stable times, are rapidly disappearing.
MIAMI, FL - MAY 10: In this photo illustration, capsules of the drug Kratom are seen on May 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida. The herbal supplement is a psychoactive drug derived from the leaves of the kratom plant and it's been reported that people are using the supplement to get high and some states are banning the supplement. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

This summer, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced its intent to ban kratom, a medicinal plant used for millennia in Southeast Asia and currently used by millions in the United States. After DPA members and activists sent over 70,000 messages to Congress, 51 U.S. Representatives and almost a dozen Senators asked the DEA to postpone their ban.

In October, the DEA took the unprecedented step of delaying the ban - and is now soliciting public comments until December 1.

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With an incoming presidential administration that's looking more hostile to equitable drug policies by the day, it's imperative for us to make the most of this opportunity to stop the senseless criminalization of millions more people. Ominously, drug war extremist and professional racist Jeff Sessions has been tapped to lead the Justice Department, which oversees the DEA, making it hard to imagine them showing restraint on kratom prohibition post-inauguration. (You can ask your Senator to oppose Sessions' nomination here.)

Please consider submitting a comment to the DEA explaining why kratom should not be banned.Here are some useful talking points:

Banning kratom expands the war on drugs, while the public overwhelmingly supports ending it.

If kratom is added to any one of the five drug schedules, people who use it will be criminalized and locked up behind bars.

Kratom has been used safely by millions of people in the U.S. and evidence supports kratom's potential as a pain reliever and opioid replacement.

Many people struggling with opioid addiction have turned to kratom to help them cut back or quit, but now all promising scientific studies on kratom's role in opioid treatment could be immediately shut down.

Side effects of kratom are minimal, and its withdrawal symptoms are weak and nearly inconsequential compared to the suffering of people trying to quit opioids.

Prohibiting kratom will worsen the country's problems of opioid addiction and overdose.

(Be respectful in your comments and mindful that everything you submit is a matter of public record.)

In the long run, what we really need is a new, post-prohibition drug classification system that's based on science and best public health practices. Kratom is suffering the same fate as countless other medicinal plants that have been used by our ancestors for millennia -- there's no profit incentive for pharmaceutical companies to do years of clinical research to gain FDA approval for a plant that they can't patent for prescription use, which leaves it in a regulatory gray area.

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It makes no sense for the DEA to be in charge of federal decisions involving scientific research and medical practice, especially when its successive directors have systematically abused their discretionary powers in this area. Responsibility for deciding drug classifications and public health policies should be completely removed from the DEA and transferred to a health or science agency. (Check out DPA's "Fire the DEA" campaign to learn more about how the DEA has fueled mass incarceration, wasted taxpayer money, and blocked scientific research.)

In the meantime, it's crucial for us to accelerate a new vision for ethical drug policies before the next misguided "drug scare" inevitably rears its head. Now's the time to strike while the iron's hot and we still have a fighting chance to stop the madness of kratom prohibition.
Dear Future Madame President,

Selfishly, for the sake of my eighty-year-old mother who was emotionally invested in this past election for reasons that are obvious, I hope this finds you occupying a seat in a college classroom, a non-profit, the senate, or some other adult occupation at which you excel--and not a bouncy seat at a pre-school.

If you're currently a millennial well, I suppose that's okay seeing that makes you tech savvy enough to never get yourself caught up in any kind of email kerfuffle.

By the way, watch those selfies and delete your Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat accounts--they may come to haunt you.



That being said, a long and arduous path was cleared for you this year with the nomination of a woman by a major political party, so you can cross that milestone off your list. But don't worry, many more lay ahead.

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It will be my great honor to call you Madame President. You are clearly a badass and I am humbled after witnessing the journey it took to get you here.

Just know, you have some pretty big heels to fill young lady. My wish is that you have the intellect of Hillary, the sass of Elizabeth Warren and the authenticity and oratory chops of Michelle Obama. I know this is a tall order but I think you're up to the task.

A few more things: Be unapologetically smart. Go ahead. We can take it.

But practice humility and for god sakes learn how to say "I f*ed up, I'm sorry, I was wrong." It forgives a myriad of sins and is even more rare than hearing the truth in Washington.

Please. Remain a student of history so you can learn from our mistakes.

We got so close this year and the loss still stings. Maybe we were overconfident. Maybe it just wasn't the right women. Maybe we underestimated the level of misogyny in our country. Perhaps we dropped the ball... Bigly.

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You will bridge the divide. Without being perceived as harpy, bitchy or scary. YOU will be the "better angel of our nature."

Most importantly, what history and the next four years will come to show is that you can't keep women down. Numerous indignities have been heaped upon us over time and what did we do?

We got stronger. And we came back. With a vengeance.

Madame President, I trust you have had enough setbacks in your life to smooth out any rough edges--but not enough to put out the fire in your belly.

In closing, I wish you the winning trifecta of wisdom, intellect and wit--and the confidence to display them all in equal measure.

Most of all, and I'm sure I speak for women all over our great nation--I wish you grace.

May grace be your superpower and your co-pilot as you take on the Herculean task of being the most powerful woman on Earth.

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Rest assured you have my unapologetic admiration and support until the day we finally meet.
When I was canvassing for Hillary Clinton in Pittsburgh, PA the weekend before the election, I met a lovely woman who was planning to vote for Donald Trump. Two things happened when Virginia and I started talking: We agreed on a lot. And we liked each other. She said she was distrustful of Clinton and that she didn't believe Trump really wanted to ban Muslims or build a wall or deport immigrants. Despite my efforts to sway her opinion of my candidate, I took Virginia at her word; she had simply been let down by "the establishment" and felt that only Trump spoke to her frustrations. Virginia's father had immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s and lost everything in the Great Depression. She said that Trump, as a businessman, understood money and jobs and that's why she would vote for him. After twenty minutes of talking, we both felt that we, a 94-year-old Italian-American woman and a 35-year-old Egyptian-American woman, had a lot more in common than not, and we parted ways with a smile and a promise to stay in touch. Now, almost two weeks after the election, I find myself wondering: Can we do that on a larger scale? Can we give one another the benefit of the doubt regarding our choices and seek a common vision for our country? I don't have the answers, but despite my many questions since that night, here is what I do know: First, as citizens we must stay (or get) involved; second, we have to start listening, not just talking.

In his election-night speech, Trump declared that he would be a President for all Americans. But how do we reconcile that with everything he said during his campaign? With his recent personnel choices? We can interpret all we want, but in the end, the President-elect himself has to explain to us how his campaign rhetoric will not automatically translate into oppressive policies and assure us that he will immediately and consistently address the alarming rise in hate crimes since his election.

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However, while working towards a common vision starts at the top, it certainly does not end there. While any country or organization benefits from good leadership, bad leadership can also be countered by resilient communities. We can hope for the former while actively working for the latter.

And so here is my pledge to my fellow Americans: I pledge to get out of my comfort zone and listen to those whose lives are different from my own. I pledge to respect different political views while still articulating my concerns. I pledge to reach out to my neighbors through community events, interfaith gatherings and town halls. I pledge to remain vigilant against policies and actions that would strip American citizens or residents of their rights or place their personal safety at risk--but without stretching the facts or unwittingly creating the very environment of fear I am guarding against.

I pledge not to allow my cautiousness to slide into apathy. I pledge to stand with you if you are struggling, as many of my friends and colleagues have pledged to me. I pledge to speak out against hatred and racism and injustice and, whenever I can, put my time and money where my mouth is.

I don't know what the road looks like from here. But if there is one thing I still believe after this ugly election cycle, it is this: America is good. America is resilient. And Americans can still provide an example to be followed. It will take every one of us doing their part but I believe in our power to work together towards a better, stronger, safer, and more inclusive country. We owe it to ourselves, to our children, and to every person who came before us and fought for a more perfect union.

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Republican leaders in Colorado did their part in spreading fake news and/or falsehoods on Facebook during the election, as Charles Buchanan has been pointing out on the Colorado Times Recorder.

Below, I've pulled together a few examples from Buchanan's posts (See more here.), and they raise the question of whether public officials, as well as partisan entities, will be more careful, going forward, about fact checking information before they post it on Facebook.

Before and after the election, reporters have been spotlighting fake news and its possible impact on Clinton. Fake news appears to be especially popular among conservative audiences.

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In the coming months, I'll check in with public officials, Republican or Democrat, if they've posted or shared fake news or falsehoods on Facebook.

We'll see if they have sufficient respect for public discourse to remove their inaccurate information, once it's been proven false.

Here are recent examples, from Buchanan's work:

In August, Colorado State Sen. Laura Woods (R-Arvada), who lost her seat to Democrat Rachel Zenzinger, shared a false meme that vaccines causes autism.

In August, the Gunnison County Republican Party apparenlty shared a meme quoting that Diane Feinstein as saying, "When the gunman realizes that nobody else is armed, he will lay down his weapons and turn himself in...that's just human nature." Feinstein did not say that.

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Failed GOP state house candidate Raymond Garcia, who seemed outright averse to fact checking his Facebook posts during the campaign, shared a meme stating that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle was hanged for horse stealing. This isn't true.



GOP Vice Chair Derrick Wilburn shared a meme claiming that Obama's Department of Justice would no longer use the word "felon," so as not to hurt the feelings of criminals. In fact, this was not a department-wide policy but would only apply to those who'd served time and were released, in an effort to help them succeed.

In July, Saguache GOP Chair Richard Drake shared a meme with an alleged quote from Jimmy Carter stating, "The novelty of electing 'the First Woman President of the United States' should not outweigh our duty in electing an honest and ethical president." Carter didn't say this.

GOP U.S. House candidate Casper Stockham shared a meme falsely claiming that purple lights decorated the Obama White House when Prince died but was unchanged when "5 Dallas cops died." In fact, the purple lighting never occurred.

Failed state house candidate Garcia also shared a meme on Facebook falsely claiming to picture a topless Hillary Clinton as a lesbian. It's not Clinton.

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Former vice chair of the Adams County Republican Party, John Sampson, shared a meme claiming to show Michelle Obama texting during the plede of allegiance. It's not Obama.
Rep. Peter King told CNN's Chris Cuomo this morning that he would "support" bringing back waterboarding because he doesn't "consider it to be torture at all."

On Sunday morning's ABC's This Week, former CIA chief Gen. Michael Hayden said that waterboarding "produced good intelligence for America."

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Another day and another torture supporter is brought on our airwaves.

As I said yesterday, it's sad that we have to litigate this illegal and destructive idea of torture all over again, with people who are misrepresenting the facts and successes behind that depraved practice.

CNN's New Day brought on Rep. King to discuss Trump's national security team, which included a lengthy chat about Rep. Mike Pompeo being named the new Director of the CIA.

Cuomo asked, "Mike Pompeo, you can talk about his pluses all day long. The concerns are basically that he could be a return to a more invasive past that wiretapping is good, different torture techniques and waterboarding are good and effective. Do you believe he embraces these types of behaviors?"

Rep. King spouted off nonsense that President Obama was too politically correct in dealing with terrorism and said, "I believe that Mike Pompeo represents more realistic approaches...but waterboarding was used against three people and it was very effective. I supported waterboarding. I would support it today. it's not torture. It was used in three cases and it was very effective."

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Again, this is not true.

Read Ali Soufan's interview in The New Yorker, in which he disputes King's contentions for some clarity.

The claim about waterboarding leading to unmasking of K.S.M. as the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks is similarly false. We got that information in April, 2002, before the contractors hired by the C.I.A. Counterterrorism Center even arrived at the site. One by one, the successes claimed by E.I.T. proponents have been shown to be false.

Cuomo correctly states, "But the finding was that it is torture and a lot of the Intel people said it wasn't effective. It was only effective as a recruiting tool for your enemies because they were telling people you were doing it. Why make this part of his ---?

Rep. King replied, "I would disagree with that. I would disagree with that. You have people like Michael Hayden -- who supported it."

Notice how Gen. Michael Hayden's dishonest answers on ABC's THIS WEEK on Sunday, were then repeated as fact by Rep. King.

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That's the Dick Cheney method of passing on misinformation in the media.

Maybe we should ask someone who felt that waterboarding wasn't torture and tried it.

It's not a shock to see that he changed his mind in six seconds.



"Conservative radio talk show host Erich "Mancow" Muller decided to try waterboarding Friday to prove it is not torture. Problem: After being waterboarded for about six seconds, he declared the technique "absolute torture."

Mr. MULLER: Look, all that's been done to this country, and I heard about water being dropped on someone's face, and I never considered it torture. Even when I was laying there, I thought this is going to be no big deal. I go swimming. It's going to be like being in the tub. I do now want to say this: absolutely torture. Absolutely. I mean, that's drowning."

Apparently the five year, 528 page Senate Report on Torture isn't good enough for Rep. King as well.

As the Washington Post writes:

"An exhaustive five-year Senate investigation of the CIA's secret interrogations of terrorism suspects renders a strikingly bleak verdict on a program launched in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, describing levels of brutality, dishonesty and seemingly arbitrary violence that at times brought even agency employees to moments of anguish.

A prominent section of the Senate report is devoted to high-profile claims that the interrogation program produced 'unique' and otherwise unobtainable intelligence that helped thwart plots or led to the capture of senior al-Qaeda operatives.

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Senate investigators said none of the claims held up under scrutiny, with some unraveling because information was erroneously attributed to detainees subjected to harsh interrogations, others because the CIA already had information from other sources. In some cases, according to the panel, there was no viable terrorist plot to disrupt."

The NY Times editorial board writes:

"But 'at no time' did the C.I.A.'s torture program produce intelligence that averted a terrorism threat, the report said. All of the information that the C.I.A. attributed to its 'enhanced interrogation techniques' was obtained before the brutal interrogations took place, actually came from another source, or was a lie invented by the torture victims -- a prospect that the C.I.A. had determined long ago was the likely result of torture."

As Sen. John McCain described in this video at the Halifax International Security Forum, interrogations are guided by the Army Field Manual, which lists the specific techniques that are allowed to be used. Waterboarding is not on the list and it has been outlawed by U.S. law.

We are signatories on the Geneva Conventions and it is outlawed there as well.

All the evidence that has been presented to Congress and the American people says that torture did not work.

Since it can't be the facts, the only reason I can think of why Rep. King doesn't agree that waterboarding is torture is because -- freedom!

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On November 8, 2013, typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, resulting in unprecedented devastation in the country's history. As the strongest storm on record to make landfall, its impacts went beyond the 6300 confirmed deaths and more than USD 2 billion worth of destroyed properties it caused.

Never before has an entire nation witnessed winds, rainfall, and storm surges as extreme as seen with Haiyan. Reports of typhoon victims resorting to looting and other violent acts unveiled the desperation people will resort to for their survival in a chaotic, post-disaster environment. It also revealed the lack of a coordinated, efficient response from the national and local governments, which further slowed down the recovery process that still continues to this day.

This disaster occurred at a time when global temperatures has increased by 0.78C relative to pre-industrial levels, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With the currently implemented climate mitigation mechanisms to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations still decades from now, global warming is projected to worsen in the near future.

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According to a study published in the journal Earth System Dynamics, a temperature rise of 1.5 or 2 degree Celsius will install a more extreme, unpredictable climate system. Regional dry spells will increase by 7 and 11 percent in warming scenarios of 1.5 and 2 degree Celsius, respectively. It also revealed that tropical regions such as Western Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America will face significant reductions in local crop yields, specifically for maize and wheat. Marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs, are at risk of severe degradation by 2050, posing major consequences on natural processes and the global economy.

Such a troubling situation lead to the eventual adoption and ratification of the Paris Agreement last December in Paris. This international agreement commits to controlling the global mean temperature increase to well below 2 degree Celsius, specifically to "pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius" by 2100. Specifically, it provides a minimum climate aid of USD 100 billion for developing nations, especially those frequently hit hard by extreme weather events such as the Philippines. As it has entered into force on November 4, the urgency for realizing its progressive terms is one of the main focal points of the UNFCCC COP22 currently taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco.

For the Philippines, the implications of the ongoing climate negotiations are far-reaching to its development. For instance, the creation of a strong process to address the losses and damages from unavoidable climate impacts, as specified under the Paris Agreement, should be closely looked into by vulnerable nations in COP22. Discussions between developed countries, which refuse to be considered legally liable for climate-related damages, and poorer developing nations regarding disaster management are crucial to making progress in solving the climate crisis.

Encouraging more investments in clean energy creates an interesting dilemma for the Philippines, whose national administration is also supporting the installation of more coal-fired power plants in the next few decades. The implementation of mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is another urgent step for all nations to take, regardless of their contributions to the global economy or the atmospheric carbon budget. However, the limitations of the country to install more renewable energy facilities due to an unfavorable socioeconomic environment presents challenges that may be solved with policy changes and immediate development through financial aid from developed countries.

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Nearly three years has passed since Haiyan, and the Philippines has experienced numerous strong typhoons and other extreme weather events. Yet none of them came close to causing as many casualties or as severe of destruction to property. While it has shown remarkable improvements in its disaster risk reduction and management, the country needs to continue its commitment to becoming more climate-resilient, especially with the projected occurrence of stronger typhoons and warmer droughts in the future.
At what point can an emergent movement look back and claim a history? And what is that history if, over the course of the time chronicled, separate strands have knit together into a whole that was unimagined at the outset? Do the lineages of each become the shared ancestry of what is emerging?

These are the opening lines of what is effectively the first written "history" of the movement for integrative health and medicine. I put "history" in quotation marks because what is presented in "Rise," the 68-page e-book freely available via FON Consulting - through an investment from XYMOGEN - is a series of 125 stepping stones. Each is a paragraph or two of text together with a portrait or logo, marking the achievement of the institution, organization or individual called out, and links to more details.

These milestones provide readers a guided walk from the origins of the movement in the "cultural amniotic stew" of the 1960s. The tour passes through decades of steady formative work amidst disdain and restraint of trade from regular medicine. We move through a phase of "non-integrated integration" and into multiple emerging collaborations. Today we see evidence of leadership by the movement amidst an incipient convergence with the nascent efforts of progressive leaders of the dominant school of medicine to shift the reactive medical industry toward a focus on creating health.

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The book is the brainchild of well-known integrative clinic and integrative oncology consultant, author and marketer Glenn Sabin, FON's founder and author of the book N of 1 about his own cancer journey. The book was principally written by Taylor Walsh, a long-time writer and consultant in the field. The milestones themselves are significantly based on content documented in my own Integrator Blog News & Reports and a presentation I gave on the history of the field at the October 2015 People, Planet Purpose conference of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM). Sabin asked me to write the introduction to "Rise." The lines at the top of this column are the way I chose to open.

The Five Eras for Integrative Health and Medicine

Since the 2015 AIHM conference I have had a chance to refine my thinking on the history through presentations before multiple audiences. These include the Leadership in Integrative Healthcare Program at Duke University, the CAM Masters at Georgetown University, the Integrative Medicine Scholars Program of the American Medical Students Association, and as an in-service for a major foundation in the field. I worked on it further via an invited chapter for a new edition of Len Wisneski, MD asked me to write for the upcoming edition of his pioneering textbook on the field..

In the revisions, I have come to view the movement in "5 Eras." This may be a grandiose framing for a 50 year movement that wasn't even named until 20 years ago. Yet I think the framing can be useful sense-making of the 125 milestones. Here they are, briefly.

Era #1: Formation From the "amniotic stew" of the 1960s to the remarkable era of organizational creation from 1977-1979 that created engines of action to advance the proliferation of new whole-person ideas. American Holistic Medicine Association. The first new naturopathic colleges for the modern era. American Holistic Nurses Association. The predecessor to the American Herbal Products Association. The patient-centered care movement. The first acupuncture school and a national professional association within two years. And the first publications from mind-body research giants Herbert Benson and Jon Kabat-Zinn. See Milestones 1-9.

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Era #2: Advancing in Silos While each may be seen as being born of the same turbulent Mother, each was seemingly adopted out into separate homes. The holistic nurses and doctors created separate communities through their conferences and periodicals. They made rare forays into protective policy activities. The acupuncturists and naturopathic doctors, and later massage therapists and midwives, busied themselves with the multiple tasks of professional formation. They created schools, accrediting bodies, national certification, state licensing, and the state and national professional organizations to drive such activity. The chiropractors, in what proved to be a benefit for all, stared down the AMA in the movement's decade-long, freeing, "Big Honking Lawsuit," Wilk Versus the AMA, that found that the AMA was engaging in restraint of trade in its suppressing the profession. The first crumb-track of what has become the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health appeared in the National Institutes of Health. Milestones 10-24

Era #3: Non-Integrated Integration A January 1993 publication in the New England Journal of Medicine led by Harvard's David Eisenberg, MD, reported that a third of adults in the USA were using "unconventional medicine" and over $3.7-billion/year was being spent out of pocket. Phoenix rising! This was a wake up slap in the face to mainstream stakeholders. They wanted access to that cash and to the individual users so they began developing nominally "integrative programs." But the didn't really want to require their chief medical officers and deans to actually value these new products, practices and practitioners as potentially tools to better the high-tech and pharma-based medical treatments they offered. This was the era of insurance "carve-outs" and hospital-sponsored stand-alone clinics, of utter misalignment of integrative health's patient-focused, time-intensive, potentially cost-saving methods with the ravaging expansion of the nominally not-for-profit, capitalistic medical industry. Milestones 25-44

Era #4: Advancing in Collaboration Even as 1977-1979 showed a remarkable flurry of activity in response to the combustive, the emergent interest of mainstream stakeholders in accessing the consumers and their billions kicked off a period of movement-wide collaborations between 2000-2003 to stimulate greater impact. The theory was that together might propel greater advances. We see the first Integrative Medicine Industry Leadership Summits and National Policy Dialogue to the formation of the Bravewell Collaborative of philanthropists, the Integrative Health Policy Consortium, the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health and the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health. A consensus had arrived that working in ever larger consortia would be key to making transformative impact. Milestones 45-79

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Era #5: Convergence in Health Creation The hatchling movement in regular medicine, stimulated by aspects of the Affordable Care Act, to move "from volume to value" - from an industry that thrives off of disease to one that might be an agent of health creation in communities - offered a first chance for real integrative alignment. Integrative medicine leader Tracy Gaudet, MD is named as a key transformational officer at the VA. Donald Berwick, MD, co-founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and past administrator of CMS urges hospitals into a 30 year movement toward "salutogenesis" - and named integrative health leaders as his mentors. Integrative strategies are embedded in major systems like Allina, the VA, and the DoD. National strategies for pain, for prevention and health promotion, highlight the value of integrative approaches. Milestones 80-125

The day of the publication of "Rise" I attended the biannual conference of the Harvard Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. The center is led by world re-known connective tissue scientist Helene Langevin, MD. I shared with her that my first talk on the history I called "Connective Tissue: A Winner's History of the Movement for Integrative Health and Medicine." The presentation leads with magnified picture of connective tissue side-by-side with an image of multiple interconnected cells representing distinctive integrative health organizations.
It has been two weeks. And damn it, I'm not feeling much better.



I went to bed just past midnight on election night having watched and listened in disbelief. It was a familiar kind of disbelief, connected in some way to many years of watching the Minnesota Vikings snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But it was entirely unexpected on this night, in this place, under these circumstances, and with these stakes.

Without question the hardest part of the evening was watching my three daughters - - ages 16, 13, and 10 - - watch the returns, and seeing their hope turn to anxiety, then desperation, then sadness. I wanted the world to change for them on election night, even more than it already has. Instead it lurched in a different direction and called for a different conversation than the "have faith in your fellow citizens" line that I had been crafting since the noir pageant that was the Republican convention.

Having failed at sleep as completely as I failed at election prognostication, I got out of bed at 5:30 the next morning and decided to go for a swim. I believe in the power of ritual, of familiar activity, especially when the world seems unfamiliar or broken. And so I had half an hour in the water to think about what to say to my daughters - - these amazing and brilliant young women - - now that the grown ups in their world had looked past ignorance, insensitivity, abusiveness, and deceit, and seen hope, or vengeance, or something.

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On the topic of talking about the election with our children, Seth Meyer's post-election monologue was, no surprise, spot on. Regardless of party affiliation, parents of girls and young women face a particular moral challenge in the coming months, and the stakes are not minor. Chances are that our daughters will never be seated next to Donald Trump on an airplane or endure one of his reported surprise visits to a dressing room. But his sins against women are common, and are an ugly reminder that we live in a society that requires women to be on their guard, and that does not see violations of their bodies as incompatible with the presidency.

We have a short drive to school every morning and it was on the post-election day drive, forty-minutes removed from the pool, that I told my girls what I had been thinking: that losing an election does not change what is good and right and true; that there are valuable lessons to be learned in defeat and that wise people look for those lessons and grow from them. And as they probably already knew, that there are men in the world - - powerful, successful men - - who believe that they are entitled to women's bodies and that our president-elect appears to be one of those men. Which shows us once again that status and decency are not related in any consistent way. So in place of "Come on girls, say it with me: Madame President!" we talked about sexual harassment and objectification. Exhilarating stuff.

We are only now starting to talk about perhaps the most important thing for them to know. The men and women who supported Donald Trump for president are not all, or even mostly, amoral ruffians who embrace simple answers, pine for dictatorship, or would ever say or do the things that he has said and done. In fact, I know many who are undeniably decent and relentlessly generous. They are some of the women and men who came in a steady stream to sit with my father while he was dying, who drove hundreds of miles in the four months of his illness to be with him and my mom, who brought food for our family, who said prayers and held us when he was gone. They are among the people who still show their love for my mother every day. And they have been this way for as long as I have known them, which is my entire life - - feeding the hungry, sheltering and adopting refugees, traveling to bring aid to those who are suffering. They are, in almost every way, moral Olympians - - more decent by light years than the man for whom they voted.

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I shouldn't have to debate the value of my humanity with anyone.

By: Mungi Ngomane

I thought I knew heartbreak before but November 9th showed me I was utterly wrong. As it became more and more obvious that the position I thought was meant for Hillary Clinton was going to be handed to a bigot, a charlatan and a fear monger, I lost my mind. Losing my mind is the only way I can describe spending a day doing something I absolutely despise doing -- crying. And sitting on the phone with friends listening to them crying because there isn't anything else I can do to help but just be there makes one feel useless. Yesterday we proved that it's okay to sexually assault women, belittle minorities, the disabled and veterans, defraud millions, withhold tax returns and still hold the highest office in our land... just so long as you don't hide 30,000 emails about nothing.

For those of you who said you did not like Hillary because she is a "liar," please explain to me what Donald Trump did at every turn when what he previously said no longer fit his trajectory. He lied. And continues to lie. It is a slap in the face to us to suddenly proclaim that he "will be a President for all Americans" when he spent the last 18 months making it glaringly clear what he wanted his America to look like and we were not a welcome part of that.

There's a culture in the United States of America of telling people how to react to pain we see as unjustified -- telling blacks to deal with their rampant murder by police peacefully, and when they do protest peacefully to "maybe do it on a different platform". We can all show the utmost outrage at people burning the flag but we have no outrage for a man who spits on ideals and values this country was built on?

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It is not your pain to mandate; I am not one for burning the flag, but I can see the pain and frustration that has pushed Americans to it. This isn't about making and keeping you comfortable; we should all be very very uncomfortable.

For those of you who chalk it up to people in economic distress voting for Trump: His voters are better off economically compared with most Americans. Minorities and people of color have far and wide dealt with more economic distress in this country; do not attempt to educate them on their history. The problem is Trump used these same people as the solution to the economic distress of his supporters. If we get rid of the Mexicans, deal with the Blacks and keep out the Muslims, then suddenly your economic distress will be no more? Well that's what you just tried to argue. Sit down.

This isn't a matter of differing political opinions; Donald Trump is legitimately the ANTITHESIS to me as a black woman of African descent. And frankly, I do want to go back to Africa. Many of us who were the target of his vitriol want to go anywhere and I don't think that's cowardly; it's not cowardly to spend almost your entire life in a country and to grasp at the possibility of leaving when that country votes against who you are as a human, votes against those traits and characteristics that you are unable to change, against the fibre of your being. But with our track record around the world right now, who knows what countries want to accept us, we are the very people who help create and also seem to hate refugees.

For those of you calling for unity now that he has won, give us a minute. We are not sore-losers, we are not sad because our candidate lost a competition, we are sad because of what went along with that loss.

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And before you decide to troll a Facebook page or tell a Hillary supporter to smile and show unity; DO NOT forget that during the election Donald Trump first said he would keep us in suspense about accepting the election result until later changing his tune when again he realized it did not bode well. Stop complaining about how you have been forgotten for so many years as justification for literally EVERY minority in your country to feel threatened by their President. Even typing President so near to his name puts a bad taste in my mouth. And in case you forget how some of you disrespected President Obama the last 8 years, I am here to remind you that you did -- so your hypocrisy is not appreciated today.

As we grow and change, our circles grow and change. Donald Trump has expedited this for me and for so many of my friends who are sitting wondering how they can be so close to someone that doesn't see how he wasn't a president fighting for our diverse America. Can you really look me in the eye and tell me you don't find it at all disturbing that our first black President has to hand over the White House to not just someone who clung to the "birther" movement, but was also endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan?

Let me say it again, THE KU KLUX KLAN. Take a minute for that please.

We don't really need you to explain to us why we don't matter to you. You got what you want, and now you must accept how we react. It's fine to disagree and still love each other but your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.

For those of you who spent yesterday and will likely spend a while feeling a spectrum of emotion -- namely fear, anger, sadness and emptiness -- my mother reminded me of a few things: We have been enslaved, we have been colonized, we have been raped and beaten, we have been lynched and imprisoned but most importantly we have survived. The saddest thing of all is November 9th meant this treatment likely isn't over yet and still our grievances don't match up to those of "disenfranchised Trump supporters." But while right now it's difficult to see what is next, we all know deep down inside it will be OK.

There are so many more things I can address and it would be never ending but I am tired. Tired of having to educate when it all seems so clear to me and those near me. My tattoo of "Ubuntu" on my wrist has never meant more to me than it does today, our humanity is bound up in one another and we would do good to remember that. My grandfather said two things over the years and what sticks out to me today is: "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness," and, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." So let us have hope and never be neutral in situations of injustice because history does repeat itself folks and we do not want that to happen.

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--

Nompumelelo (Mungi) Ngomane is currently undertaking a Master's in International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. She recently completed her BA in International Studies, with a focus on Peace, Global Security and Conflict Resolution in the Middle East from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. She served a term as the alumnae relations chair of the Chi Omega women's fraternity from January 2013 to January 2014 and is a member of the Tau Sigma Honor Society. In the fall of 2013, she completed an internship in the office of her Congressman, Jim Cooper. Mungi spent the summer of 2013 interning for the Girls and Women team at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), where she helped with commitments and later volunteered at the CGI Annual Meeting in September. She has interned at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Washington, D.C. where she focused on how to make the mission and message of NDI more accessible to high school and college students. She also spent some time at the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town, South Africa aiding them with their outreach to the youth. Her professional and personal interests are the advancement of women and girls around the world but specifically the Middle East and conflict resolution in the region as well. In addition to acting as a youth patron for the Tutu Foundation UK (TFUK), and recently taking on the role of patron she just completed service on the board of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.

A girl that just wants to have fun-damental human rights.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 18: Vice President-elect Mike Pence stops and speaks briefly to reporters at Trump Tower, November 18, 2016 in New York City. Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Dear Vice President-Elect Pence,

First, you may have noticed that

have been donating to Planned Parenthood in your name. Last time I checked, it was over

.

One little thing I'd like to clear up: The idea originally came from Stephanie Dominguez Walton of The Lady Brain Show. You see, Mike, I was a guest on the show last October, and just before my appearance, Stephanie emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in partnering with her on this Planned Parenthood donating idea. I loved it so much I had a meme made, and we spread it all over Facebook. After the election, we decided to share it once more and that resulted in someone from Instagram also posting about it. A few celebrities saw the post and that led to major media outlets reporting on it. The person who came up with the brilliant idea deserves proper credit.

Second, and most importantly, I am well aware of your anti-abortion position. You've declared the Trump administration will work to overturn Roe v. Wade with the ultimate goal of banning abortion nationwide. You and I disagree on the subject of reproductive freedom, and that's okay. I understand that your religion dictates your position, but your obsession to impose your personal religious morality onto those who do not share your beliefs is not okay. You might want to refer to the First Amendment (emphasis mine):

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"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

If and when you're made aware of a new Planned Parenthood donation in your name, I'm guessing that several of your orifices will tighten, and your gut reaction will be to punish those nasty sluts by removing their ability to choose whether or not they want to become parents. I could be wrong, but I'll just go with this hypothetical for the sake of argument.

There's something you really need to consider. American women have enjoyed reproductive freedom for decades and it's much easier for (wannabe) dictatorships to deny rights to people who've never had them than to repeal rights that have been afforded to millions for more than 40 years.

No one with a working brain cell actually believes the once "very pro-choice" Trump is now anti-choice. We all know he was and is just singing the Christian morality song in an effort to deceive voters, and he doesn't really care if someone chooses abortion. But you do, Mike. You've been obsessed with banning abortion for quite some time.

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I have a sneaking suspicion you want Donald's job. You may inherit the presidency because your boss's lawlessness may come back and bite him on the ass in the next four years -- but either way, you'll be eyeing that White House prize every day. I know you've envisioned yourself sitting in the Oval Office. If you really want to be POTUS, you'll need women voters.

In fact, you'll need Christian women voters, specifically. Guess what, Mike? Christian women have the most abortions - and it's not because they're nasty sluts. It's because they're being responsible and recognizing that parenthood may not be the answer for that person or couple. These Christian women facing unwanted pregnancies consult with their Christian husbands as well as their doctors before they decide how to proceed. In case you're not clear about what I'm saying: Christian men are in favor of abortion when they either don't want another kid or can't afford another kid. So aside from enraging all the pro-choice voters, you'll also be forcing Christian families to have children THEY DON'T WANT or can't afford.

And that can only mean one thing for you, Mike: no big desk in the Oval Office after Donald departs, unless he's impeached and voted out by Congress and, in that case, an inherited presidential position would only last until the next general election. We're not rewinding to the era of back-alley abortions. The proverbial cat has been let out of the bag and there's no putting it back. That cat has long, sharp nails and it's already pissed, Mike.

A woman's March on Washington is scheduled for January 21, and organizers are planning more marches across the country as I write this. I'll admit that too many American women haven't paid enough attention to the Republican War On Women because they haven't been personally affected -- in other words, they're still comfortable. If the right to abortion is removed, you can bet every white hair on your misogynist head that you'll be dealing with a very angry group of uncomfortable women. I don't mean we'll just be pissed -- like when you leave the toilet seat up -- we'll be fucking furious and we'll fight like hell to take our country back. Mark my words, Mike. If you allow your religious hubris to screw women in this country, you'll bear witness to a collective anger you can't possibly imagine. And it won't only be women.

Obviously, abortion won't be the singular issue that keeps you from being president; and I'll bet you a dollar that you'll find other ways to enrage the American electorate -- but remember this: If you mess with reproductive rights and you successfully remove the ability for women to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, you can kiss your White House dreams goodbye. You'll be nothing more than an out-of-touch nasty footnote in American history.
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei said that the result of the US election made "no difference" to the Islamic republic despite president-elect Donald Trump's aggressive stance.

"We have no judgement on this election because America is the same America...We have no concerns. Thank God, we are prepared to confront any possible incident." he told people during a public speech, broadcast on state television.

Iran is trying to play good cop-bad cop with Trump; the same game they played with Obama. The moderates, such as Rouhani, Zarif and Sadegh Kharrazi who spoke to the Financial Times recently, are offering a Persian carpet or an olive branch, which is "strategic cooperation" with the US in the Middle East. Sadegh Kharrazi is a relative of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatllah Ali Khamenei, and is the leader of the moderate political party, Neday-e Azadi. But will Iran succeed at its deception?

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Iran's tactical shift is aimed at:

1.Preventing the US under a Trump presidency to tilt towards Israel rather than Tehran.2.Fending off any hurdles that might affect Iranian leaders' rising revenues and trade with West3.Making Washington turn a blind eye to IRGC military activities, and financial and military supports for Shia proxies in several countries.4.Finally tipping the regional balance of power in favor of Iran and continuing to suppress domestic opposition and violations of human rights without any criticisms from Washington.

Iran is playing its hand well. But what is critical for Washington to realize is that the words of the so-called "moderates" in Iran, are simply empty words because they do not enjoy the final say in Iran's politics.

More fundamentally, Iran can never become a strategic ally of the US. Over three decades, Iran has invested billions of dollars and resources in nurturing proxies and military institutions which aim at damaging US national security, scuttling US and its allies' foreign policy objectives.

Finally, Iranian leaders' political establishment survive on having America as an enemy and on keeping the US the "Great Satan". Iran needs to have a "Great Satan" in order to suppress domestic opposition and blame the US for all its problems.

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_____________________

For more details and nuances you can read full versionon Here.

You can sign up for Dr. Rafizadeh's newsletter for the latest news and analyses on HERE.

Harvard-educated, Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is an American political scientist, president of the International American Council on the Middle East, business advisor, and best-selling author. He serves on the advisory board of Harvard International Review.

Dr. Rafizadeh is frequently invited to brief governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as speak, as a featured speaker, at security, business, diplomatic, and social events. He has been recipient of several fellowships and scholarships including from Oxford University, Annenberg, University of California Santa Barbara, Fulbright program, to name few He is regularly quoted and invited to speak on national and international outlets including CNN, BBC World TV and Radio, ABC, Aljazeera English, Fox News, CTV, RT, CCTV America, Skynews, CTV, and France 24 International, to name a few. . He analyses have appeared on academic and non-academic publications including New York Times International, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Farred zakaria GPS, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, The Nation, The National. Aljazeera, The Daily Beast, The Nation, Jerusalem Post, The Economic Times, USA Today Yale Journal of International Affairs, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and Harvard International Review. He is a board member of several significant and influential international and governmental institutions, and he is native speaker of couple of languages including Persian, English, and Arabic. He also speaks Dari, and can converse in French, Hebrew. More at Harvard.

You can also order his books on HERE.

You can learn more about Dr. Rafizadeh on HERE.
"My dad say that Hillary got more of the, what, the, the paper things, the things where you say who you want to be president," she announced, launching into her already indignant tirade without even a, "Hi Teacher, I have a question."

"Votes. Yes, Hillary got more votes," I replied to the Taiwanese ten-year-old bouncing with unrestrained frustration, confusion, and a heaping of youthful energy in front of me.

This is my second year teaching English in Taiwan, and the sweet spot in a dismal two weeks has been my students' reactions to the U.S. election. As we munched on cream-filled "car wheel cakes" during snack time at school, the students wanted to know what the heck was going on in America.

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"But why she not president?!" the student screeched at my unsatisfactory answer. I wanted to scream with her, but instead I switched my mind to the daunting task of explaining the Electoral College at an adolescent level in what is her second language to an attention span that was already rapidly dissolving.

"America doesn't vote as a country," I began. "We vote as states, and Trump won more states." While that explanation clearly has some gaping holes, I was proud of myself for distilling the simplicity and clarity of a decidedly not simple or clear topic.

At her confused look, I continued. "It's the math," (as an English teacher who majored in the fine arts, I can always blame things on math). "It's possible to win more votes but not more states."

"But that is not fair!"

While my students' fixation on fairness sometimes borders on the obsessive, in this case, I nodded my agreement.

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"Why can't Obama change it?"

Given the overwhelming fascination and frustration my students of all ages have with the results of the election, I decided to devote an hour with the oldest class (including the young girl and her righteous indignation) to the election itself. I've never stood in front of such an engaged and focused group of children, and in the whole hour, we barely covered a fraction of the material I'd prepared, so consistent, and insistent, were their questions.

They ranged from disbelieving ("But Teacher, why is he so mean?" "Why did anyone vote for him?" "If he's mean to everyone, who does he like?"), to borderline accusatory ("Did you vote?"), to naively optimistic ("Will Hillary be president next time?" "If he decides not to be president, will Hillary be president?"), to childishly impertinent ("What's wrong with his hair?"), to innocently heartbreaking ("Will I be able to go to America?"). And over and over again, "If Hillary got more votes, why she not win?" "Can Obama make Hillary president?"

Although their reactions are of course cushioned by virtue of their age and geography, they followed the path of many Americans in their transition to their current frustration from initial shock and sadness. The election results came in on Wednesday afternoon in Taiwan, smack in the middle of class.

"My mom say if she can vote, she vote for Hillary," said an eight-year-old. "My dad too," added another. "He wants Hillary to be president." Other students chimed in, presenting their parents' opinions as their own currency in the discussion.

I took heart from the fact that not a single one mentioned Hillary's gender. Of course, having a woman president is nothing new to these children; earlier this year, Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen to the presidency, by popular vote, no less.

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As I sat at a table in shock after the race was called, a student walked over and put her hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Teacher," she said. "I'll vote in eight years." As a holder of an American passport, she can, and if my students' reactions have shown me anything, it's that Donald Trump's election has lit a spark not only in America, but also around the world, sizzling all the way to the youth of Taiwan.
Amidst the darkness of post-election despair, my husband and I celebrated our 35th anniversary.

When we first got together, we had one friend who told one of us, "You can do better." And one of us had a godfather who said, "It'll never last, Ducky."

The idea of a husband and a 35th anniversary nearly defied comprehension when we first got together as students in Boston in 1981.

My husband and I were born into a country where sodomy was a felony in every state. It was an era when the witch hunt of homosexuals in the United States government contended that gay men and lesbians were security risks and communist sympathizers, thereby removing them from employment. As for suspected gay people in the military, it was court-martial and dishonorable discharge.

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We came of age in a country that would incarcerate us for what we did in bed. Well, actually, it was either imprisonment or hard labor. Throughout our years in secondary school, the American Psychiatric Association maintained that homosexuality was a mental disorder.



We endured Anita Bryant's virulent campaign against gay rights only to wake up to a disease that was originally termed G.R.I.D. (for Gay-related immune deficiency) before its designation as AIDS, which became an epidemic that our (Republican) President refused to name, let alone address.

And the year that we left the country to live in the South of France was the same year that our (Republican) First Lady refused to assist her erstwhile best friend actor Rock Hudson who needed treatment for AIDS, thereby leaving him to die in Paris.

Returning to the States, we survived the Supreme Court Decision Bowers v. Hardwick which included the Chief Justice's opinion stating that homosexual sex was a "crime not fit to be named," thereby ensuring that we had no constitutional rights in the bedroom for the next 17 years. On the up side, it was around this time that the American Medical Association decided that homosexuality was no longer an illness. (Wasn't that nice?) And somewhere in there, we managed through eight years of W. amidst an ongoing war on equality and his desire to amend the U.S. Constitution with a ban on same-sex marriage.

Nonetheless, in spite of our lifelong checkered history as gay men in the United States, we might have been feeling somewhat upbeat on November 8, 2016. But guess what, one more appointed homophobic administration (that didn't win the popular vote) isn't enough to break us.

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In hindsight, there were signs we overlooked. A twenty-something Florida girl, asking at dinner why we were so concerned. "It's only four years," she said with a shrug. How could we explain to her the lifelong impact of Supreme Court appointments and decisions?

How would she comprehend that we were born in a country where interracial marriage had been outlawed by the Supreme Court for 84 years before it was overturned in Loving v. Virginia in 1967?

Here in Manhattan, we live on Frederick Douglass Circle, our windows overlooking an eight-foot high bronze statue of the African-American abolitionist and statesman. People from around the world make pilgrimages to this statue in the circle and nearly every day, we catch couples and families and students taking photographs with Frederick Douglass. It was Douglass who wrote so eloquently of his escape to freedom: "The flight was a bold and perilous one; but here I am, in the great city of New York, safe and sound, without the loss of blood or bone."

Thirty-five years ago, when my husband and I first got together, the idea of same-sex marriage in the United States was nearly incomprehensible--at least to us.

Amidst the post-election despair, we keep reminding ourselves of another of Mr. Douglass' quotations, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress [for] power concedes nothing without a demand." If Mr. Douglass could go on, so can we.

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Thirty-five years on, we're still here together, fighting for our rights--because love trumps hate.
It "means nothing to me," said former University of Cincinnati policeman Ray Tensing of the Confederate flag tee shirt he wore on the day he shot Samuel DuBose, an unarmed African-American man whom he'd stopped for a missing front license plate. If we take him at his word, Tensing's donning of the shirt reflects not even a misguided Southern nostalgia, but a myopic self-absorption, one that ignores American history and chooses, instead, nonchalance.

Put more simply: if the flag of a rebel slave state means "nothing" to you, then you're not taking humanity seriously enough. And if you don't take humanity seriously enough, it gets easier to shoot someone without justification.

Tensing is affected, as we all are, by a political culture that supports this kind of self-absorption. I do not want to demonize him; to do so would be a failure to indict that culture. His tee shirt, which he says is a tourist souvenir his relative bought in the Great Smoky Mountains, was made to gain profit from a casual symbol of historical violence. That's not Tensing's fault. But what's profitable becomes prevalent. What's prevalent becomes normal. That a country's most visited national park would be represented by the symbol of rebellion against that country, a symbol of the enslavement of its citizens and the assassination of one of its most venerated presidents, is preposterous. But "it meant nothing" to Tensing, because he was surrounded by a culture that told him it meant nothing. Like the life of Samuel DuBose, of which Tensing disposed in less than a second. A Black man dead: What is prevalent becomes normal.

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As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to unfold, America hears the phrase "implicit bias" more. Hillary Clinton mentioned it in the first presidential debate as a "problem for everyone, not just police." It is, among other things, a form of self-absorption, an obsession with your own perception, an indifference to education about the perceptions of others. We can all be guilty of it. It results in stereotype, and generates fear, especially in emergencies. We think of it as hateful, but it can be cool, casual, and unintentional, like nonchalance. Still, it can have, in Clinton's words, "fatal consequences."

We must battle the self-absorption of implicit bias, and indifference, by seeking three-dimensional reality. A single point of view gives no depth perception. We may see things, but we don't see them; we don't assign them their real value and meaning. As Terrina Allen, Samuel DuBose's sister, put it: "I think that Tensing thought as little of my brother as he said he thought about that Confederate flag T-shirt that he put on that morning. Nothing at all. He thought nothing at all about [DuBose's] life."

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Here are two certain outcomes of the Presidential election: Even with subsidies, health care in America is becoming more and more unaffordable, and in the first 100 days in office the winning candidate will have to propose significant changes to reverse this situation.



Rather than totally obliterating the Affordable Care Act, as Donald Trump has vowed to do immediately upon being sworn in as President, or expanding on it by offering such options as tax credits to offset out-of-pocket expenses, allowing people to buy into Medicare at age 55, and establishing federal oversight for prescription drug increases, as Hillary Clinton has proposed, I would argue that what really needs to be remedied is the vast amount of inefficiencies in the health care delivery system.

Indeed, it is estimated by a number of economists that one-third of our health care dollars - over $900 billion of the $3 trillion in health care expenditures - are wasted because of inefficiencies in the system. While some of this is attributed to over-treatment - unnecessary tests and procedures - as well as a completely archaic reimbursement system between insurers and health care providers, a more significant percentage of the inefficiency is due to the lack of adoption of technological innovations in the industry.

Is it any wonder that a recent Congressional Budget Office analysis forecasts the overwhelming majority of acute care hospitals in the U.S. will have negative profit margins in 2025 unless they improve productivity or otherwise reduce cost growth. The report attributes the problem to the effects that scheduled cuts to Medicare payments, the Affordable Care Act's insurance expansions, and the aging of the population would have on hospitals' bottom lines.

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But while these reasons may very well have merit, it would also be true that health care systems should be investing much more in innovative technologies in order to reduce costs while maintaining the highest quality of care. For example, hospitals can implement standardized practices across all divisions and programs in such areas as purchasing and other backroom operations. They can adapt best "customer service" practices from other industries. They can partner with companies such as Pager, Castlight Health, and Hometeam that are maximizing the use of technology to connect consumers with professionals to help determine the appropriate type and delivery of their care. And they can improve communication between primary care providers and specialists as patients transition from the hospital to home care or long-term care facilities to reduce errors and unnecessary costs.

Equally, if not more importantly, hospitals need to address what has become a revolving door of care providers. Workforce instability, in the form of high rates of staff turnover and lingering vacancy rates, continues to be a major challenge for health care organizations. The average hospital faces employee turnover rates of about 17 percent according to a 2016 Nursing Solutions, Inc. report, and that number can range from five to almost 30 percent. In post-acute care and skilled nursing, those numbers can be meaningfully higher.

High caregiver turnover can result in inefficiencies and less productivity, delays and mistakes in delivering patient care, reduced quality of care, longer patient stays, and higher complication and infection rates, to name a few. All of these factors have profound effects on patient safety, and can severely impact an institution's HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scores, thereby effecting its bottom line. Indeed, hospitals can be financially penalized for low HCAHPS scores -- which, in turn, can translate into higher health care costs.

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Already, people costs consume the largest chunk of the typical hospital's operating revenue. Since 2006, Fitch Rating has reported that personnel costs have absorbed 50 percent of revenue on average, and in 2012 they comprised 54.2 percent of hospital operating revenue, one of the highest figures of the past several years.

That's why hiring the right talent is so important. Arena , the company I founded, collects, analyzes and incorporates substantial volumes of data and employs predictive analytics to match an institution's needs and desired culture with large amounts of information on applicants. By relying on data from a range of sources to analyze candidates, we are dramatically reducing bias from the hiring process, thereby eliminating one of the costliest mistakes a healthcare institution can make. In fact, we've helped over 400 healthcare organizations achieve a median decrease in turnover of 38 percent, and we have a 100 percent success rate across every job, department, and facility at reducing turnover.

Of course, ours is not the only way to reduce high turnover, avoid hiring the wrong people, improve patient satisfaction, and enhance productivity and efficiency. But at a time when premiums are soaring, when high costs seem to have become part of the fabric of receiving medical care; when many hospitals are hemorrhaging money or even closing; and when there is a bleak outlook for health care institutions, ensuring patients are getting the best care delivered by the best people and best teams is a financially - and medically - sound investment. I know if it were on the Presidential ballot, it would definitely get my vote.
Social Security card and Medicare enrollment form

This Thanksgiving, while I give thanks for my Medicare, Speaker Paul Ryan and his Republican Congress are actively plotting to dismantle it.

Medicare is government-provided health insurance for those aged 65 and over, as well as for those with disabilities so serious and permanent that they cannot earn enough to support themselves. Those two groups total more than 55 million of us. Poll after poll shows that those of us who are covered by Medicare love it.

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Other industrialized countries have what amounts to Medicare-For-All. Residents of those countries enjoy health care as a matter of right, from cradle to grave. But not here. And those of us who do have Medicare may not have it for long if the Republicans just swept into power have their way.

President Franklin Roosevelt supported universal, government-provided health insurance -- in essence, Medicare-For-All. He established an interagency working group to develop a universal health insurance proposal as part of his Social Security Act of 1935. In the end, though, he feared that those who saw the world the way today's Republicans do, and hated the idea of government providing health insurance, would use the proposal to bring down the entire Social Security bill. So, he did not push it. President Harry S. Truman also supported the idea. He pushed hard for what would have been Medicare-For-All, but never succeeded

Learning from those earlier struggles, the pragmatic President Lyndon Johnson, perhaps the most effective lawmaker of all time, decided to take an incremental approach. His advisers debated whether to start with children, but chose seniors instead. Not only do seniors vote, there was already Social Security, a program designed to provide economic security in old age. Everyone recognized that true economic security did not exist, if retirees were one illness or accident away from bankruptcy. And that concern of bankruptcy was real. Before Medicare, most seniors could not afford health insurance. Those who could, paid three times more than younger people, despite having, on average, half as much income.

So LBJ started with Medicare, expecting Medikids to follow shortly. After that, it would be simply a matter of closing the gap in ages. The initial age of eligibility for Medicare could be gradually lowered from age 65. And the age at which children no longer were covered by Medikids could be gradually increased. And voila! Meet in the middle and we have Medicare-For-All.

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But that is not what happened. Just a few years later, President Richard Nixon did expand Medicare to cover people with disabilities. But President Jimmy Carter, who ran as an outsider to Washington, failed to build on the legacy of the New Deal and the Great Society, so no further progress towards Medicare-For-All was made. President Bill Clinton could have proposed building on Medicare's success, but he didn't.

Clinton fought to expand health insurance coverage, but, styling himself a New Dem, implicitly rejected expanding Medicare and instead embraced the Republican ideology of private markets. His proposal mandated that people obtain private health insurance, with the government providing subsidies for those who couldn't afford the costs. Throwing people into the arms of the private health insurance market, no matter how regulated, is at base a Republican idea -- though not one they chose to support. Instead, they united against so-called Hillarycare and helped hand the newly elected President his first major defeat. Complicated to explain and understand, Hillarycare never received the support that expanding Medicare undoubtedly would have. An inferior idea, proposed as a third way, was soundly defeated.

The Affordable Care Act embraced the same basic approach as Hillarycare. Like Hillarycare, Obamacare relies on private markets and competition. Unlike the expansion of Medicare, relying on for-profit health insurers is a flawed, Republican idea. Among its flaws, Obamacare is difficult to explain and understand -- and Republican opponents have taken full advantage of that flaw. Republicans have used opposition to Obamacare to win election after election. Having now won control of both Congress and the White House, Republicans have announced their intention to repeal it.

But today's Republicans are not just threatening to end Obamacare. Ironically, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is threatening to convert Medicare into Obamacare. He is plotting to end government-provided health insurance and force those with Medicare to buy insurance on the private market, with only subsidies to offset the cost of what the private sector wants to charge. If the Republicans succeed, I and my fellow Medicare policy holders will be on our own, forced to negotiate on our own with for-profit companies, rather than enjoy the protections of our government. Thanks, but no thanks.

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Donald Trump ran on a promise NOT to cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.

How ironic! After railing against Obamacare for years, Ryan and his fellow Republicans want to turn Medicare into Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act was better than nothing but far inferior to Medicare. Medicare-For-All is easy to explain, easy to understand, and far superior, in virtually every way, to Obamacare. Despite the fact that Medicare covers those with the greatest health needs -- old people and people with disabilities -- it has lower administrative costs, per capita, than private insurance. We could cover everyone and save money, as a society!

Like Social Security, Medicare is an earned benefit. Everyone -- seniors and people with disabilities who are currently covered by Medicare and workers who are earning that coverage with every paycheck -- must mobilize. This is a real threat. And it is coming now.

This is classic bait-and-switch. Republicans ran on repealing Obamacare. Now they have their crosshairs aimed directly at Medicare. Donald Trump ran on a promise NOT to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

No one who won in 2016 (or for that matter, in any prior election in the nation's history) ran on a platform to dismantle Medicare -- but that is what we are likely to get by Thanksgiving of next year. Indeed, Ryan is threatening action perhaps as soon as January.

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Democrats should propose Medicare-For-All as a substitute for Republican plans to repeal Obamacare and destroy Medicare. And all of us should call our members daily to protest Ryan's proposed gutting of our successful and popular Medicare. I urge everyone -- Trump supporters, Clinton supporters, and everyone else -- to join the fight. The message is simple: Keep your hands off our Medicare!
The big news from the United Nations climate meeting that concluded in Marrakech on November 18 is that more than 190 nations, with or without the U.S., are united in their determination to push forward with the Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and keep climate warming to well below 2 degrees C. The Paris Agreement came into force on November 4th, long before most observers anticipated as more than the required 55 nations accounting for more than 55 percent of global emissions moved quickly to ratify the historic agreement. By the end of the two-week climate conference in Marrakech, the number of ratifying nations stood at 111, with the U.S. included among them.

Whether or not the U.S. will keep to its commitment and remain in the Paris Agreement is a looming question, which I have written about elsewhere. Here I lay out reasons why the incoming administration should reevaluate its position on the Paris Agreement and choose to stay. As the president-elect and relevant members of his transition team have made statements dismissing the mounting evidence of human-caused climate change, I focus, for now, on arguments for advancing U.S. interests that are distinct from the urgent need to slow and ultimately halt human-caused global climate change.

Contrary to candidate-Trump's assertion that the Paris Agreement "gives foreign bureaucrats control over how much energy we use right here in America," the U.S. and every other party to the agreement has complete control over its own energy use - both the quantity and type. Each party set its own targets, and decided for itself how it would reach its self-determined targets. All are expected to make good faith efforts, but there are no legal sanctions for failing to reach stated targets. Instead, the agreement relies on transparent reporting and review of what nations do and the progress they make as the means by which nations encourage and challenge each other to meet and even exceed their commitments. Each of these elements is included in the agreement because the U.S. wanted it and negotiated for it, seeking to avoid problems that plagued the Kyoto Protocol and hoping to curry at least some bi-partisan support at home.

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Within this structure, the U.S. has little if anything to lose from staying in the Paris Agreement, and much to gain. But we have a great deal to lose if we walk away.

All other parties to the agreement have affirmed that they will act to fulfill their commitments, which will bring a wave of transformative changes and innovations in energy, transportation, manufacturing and other systems. These transformations will squeeze out inefficiencies in energy and other resource use, lower costs for renewable energies and reduce negative health and environmental impacts of economic activity, all while enabling people to attain higher living standards and supporting job growth. We've already seen and benefitted from falling costs of renewable energy in recent years. For example, the global average cost per kWh of solar photovoltaic electricity fell 60 percent over the period 2009 through 2015, from over $0.30/kWh to $0.12/kWh, with much lower costs of less than $0.07/kWh in some places. Paris will help drive these costs down farther as the industry and users gain experience and increase scale.

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The U.S. can share in these benefits if we participate in the Paris Agreement. But if we sit on the sidelines, these transformations will happen everywhere - except here - as we continue to rely heavily on dirtier and less efficient energy of a past century. US businesses will lag in competitiveness as we miss out on this wave of innovation that will determine which businesses and economies will lead in the 21st century.

U.S. businesses could find themselves at a disadvantage in foreign markets if other countries take actions to balance the scales of trading with businesses based in countries that do not regulate carbon. Representatives of Canada, our largest trading partner, France and Mexico suggested in Marrakech that some nations might respond to a U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement with carbon pollution taxes on American-made goods. Whether or not they would follow through, and how the World Trade Organization might rule on carbon tariffs or other actions taken against countries that do not regulate carbon, are only speculations at present. But this would be a significant misstep for an administration that has promised to increase competitiveness and to grow jobs at home.

It is important to note that many businesses support the Paris Agreement, seeing profitable opportunities. More than 365 businesses signed a letter to president-elect Trump calling for the U.S. to reaffirm its commitment to address climate change and implement the Paris Agreement. Among the signatories are Dupont, General Mills, The Hartford, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Intel, Kellogg Company, Levi Straus, NIKE, Mars Incorporated, Monsanto and Unilever. Other statements of support for the Paris Agreement have been signed by BNY Mellon, Calpine, Colgate Palmolive, Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Nestle, Pacific Gas & Electric, Rio Tinto, Shell, Sprint and Volvo.

"We want the US economy to be energy efficient and powered by low-carbon energy. Cost-effective and innovative solutions can help us achieve these objectives. Failure to build a low-carbon economy puts American prosperity at risk. But the right action now will create jobs and boost US competitiveness. We pledge to do our part, in our own operations and beyond, to realize the Paris Agreement's commitment of a global economy that limits global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius." Letter to Trump, Business Backs Low Carbon USA

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U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could cause a diplomatic backlash that would have negative impacts on American foreign policy across a broad range of issues. Todd Stern, former special envoy on climate change, in an interview with Robinson Meyer of The Atlantic said that withdrawing from the treaty "would be a huge mistake, even forgetting about climate change" and that it would have "radiating bad impacts with respect to U.S. standing" on all other international issues.

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China made clear at the Marrakech meeting that it is committed to the Paris Agreement and stands behind its pledges to cut carbon emissions per unit of GDP 60 to 65 percent, get 20 percent of its energy from non-fossil sources, and peak its emissions, all by 2030. China has also reaffirmed its intention to set up a fund to finance South-South cooperation on climate change. Stanford professor Michael Wara told Meyer "My impression from afar is that President Xi, and China more generally, see this as a strategic issue that they are investing more heavily in. It's not even a matter of investing in climate. It's that policies they are committing to are consistent with overall economic strategy."

Comments by Chinese delegates suggest that China is ready, perhaps eager, to fill any void in international climate policy that might be left by an absent or inactive U.S. An expanded leadership role for China over the next two years would shape the future international climate policy regime in important ways as parties write the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement. Success of the agreement depends on rigorous and transparent rules for reporting and review of parties' actions and performance. This was a priority of the U.S. in negotiating the Paris Agreement, but it was not a priority for China. That is problematic as China is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the quality of China's emission and energy use data may fall short of the needed standard. Will China have a free-hand in writing the Paris Agreement rules, or will the U.S. be present to balance China's influence?
COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, was a COP of action, or as Rachel Kyte, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All put it: "COP22 is the kind of COP where people need to leave with action-points and to-do's."

The Marrakech Action Proclamation is an important signal, as the global community reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. Now we must accelerate the work of cities, regions, businesses and investors, which is already ongoing, to drive the implementation of concrete climate solutions, which are ever more important.

While the seemingly endless talks in Paris a year ago resulted in handshakes, tears of joy and an overall historic agreement, moving from talk to action was top of the agenda for this year's COP in Marrakesh. And with 112 countries having ratified the Paris agreement, ambitious commitments have already been made. This indicates a promising start to the post-COP21 era, but how do we maintain momentum and secure a successful transition to a low-carbon economy in as fast, smooth, and cost-efficient a way as possible?

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We need to accelerate. The backbone for a low-carbon energy system in cities is based on surplus energy. Surplus energy in itself is a huge renewable energy source - and by starting to circulate the energy we already have, we can do far more with way less and help countries step up their pathways to decarbonisation.

At the COP of action, The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) presented its action initiative - the District Energy in Cities initiative, which was first set in motion a year prior to the Paris Agreement. This initiative is now working harder than ever to unlock the huge potential of smart district energy systems in cities. Smart energy systems are the key to integrating surplus energy and enabling a stable transition towards clean, renewable energy. Treating our current resources in a much more efficient way by putting them into circulation, means first and foremost that we can cut our total energy spending - the best and most sustainable type of energy, after all, is the one we have saved.

One example highlighting this potential is the case of twenty Danish supermarkets, which already send their surplus heat into the local district heating networks. One of those supermarkets, located close to Danfoss' headquarters in the south of Denmark, now saves more than 31,000 USD annually on gas for heating. CO2 emissions are reduced by 34 per cent by using the surplus heat from the refrigeration system to heat the supermarket and neighbouring buildings.

At national level, stories of countries running strictly on renewable energy for hours, days or months are becoming more and more frequent nowadays. Being better at utilizing the current level of energy from renewables would mean even faster and greater progress in many of those countries, as well as in the ones not far behind.

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You might be surprised to hear that Costa Rica currently holds the record for the most time passed without burning any fossil fuels; in September, it was announced that the Central American nation had been powering its grid entirely with renewable sources for more than 150 days, with 76 of those days consecutively carbon-free.

And Costa Rica is not alone on this. In May, Portugal succeeded in running for four days straight on sustainable electricity alone. On August 7, Scotland produced more than 100 percent of the total amount of electricity powering all homes and businesses entirely from wind turbines. Germany has been close to achieving the same result as Scotland several times, the latest case being in May 2016 when the total power demand was nearly covered by solar and wind power alone. In Denmark, we have had days where wind power supplied up to 140 percent of our total electricity demand - allowing us to export 80% of our surplus energy to Sweden, Germany and Norway. While things are progressing well, we still have great potential left.

In Morocco, the world's largest solar plant will be in operation from 2016, providing more than 1.1 million people with clean electricity. This will help the country to achieve its plan of running on 40 percent renewables by 2020. It will be interesting to see if the recent COP of action could encourage Morocco to follow an even more ambitious plan for renewables in the future.

Last, but not least: today, thanks to thoughtful and ambitious targets, China is the world's absolute biggest investor in renewable energy with its spending on sustainable energy initiatives making up 36 percent of the global total. Equally important to note is the fact that China has also been successful in decoupling an increase in energy consumption from economic growth by effectively circulating renewable surplus energy. One example of this is the city of Benxi where the local steel production plant supplies the heat for the city's district energy system.


Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is in the running to be secretary of agriculture. (Facebook)

BY: JACK NOLAND

Agriculture Department chiefs tend to come from the Midwest, the conservative-leaning region where much of the nation's food is produced. Just two of the past eight secretaries have come from outside the area. Using the Census Bureau's regional designations, 75 percent of agriculture secretaries have come from the Midwest since the department joined the Cabinet in 1889.

The current secretary, Tom Vilsack, and his two immediate predecessors, Ed Schafer and Mike Johanns, all had been governors of Midwestern states before taking office in Washington. That's a pedigree that bodes well for several -- though not all -- of Trump's potential picks.

All five of the frontrunners were members of the Trump campaign's agricultural advisory committee, a 64-person list that included 10 current or former Midwestern or Southern governors and the "Official Cowboy Poet of Texas."

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Sam Brownback

Kansas' governor since 2011, Brownback has had a long history in politics. He was a U.S. senator (1996-2011) and House member (1995-1996), and in 2008 he briefly sought the Republican presidential nomination.

In his time in federal politics, the Kansas Republican collected a total of more than $13.3 million. Only about $513,000 of that came from individuals and PACs in the agribusiness sector, however. Koch Industries came in as Brownback's top contributor, with its employees and PAC donating $127,050 to his campaigns. For his gubernatorial races, Brownback took just $248,979 of his almost $7.9 million total from agriculture, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

For his own part, Brownback and his wife, Mary, personally contributed $10,970 to Republicans from 1997 to 2007 -- though most of that was in the form of donations from Mary to Sam's campaigns. To date, neither Brownback has made a trackable donation to Trump.

Chuck Conner

Conner has an advantage none of the others can claim: He's already held the post, albeit in an acting capacity. Conner, who grew up on a farm in Indiana, filled in as secretary from 2007 to 2008.

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He's been involved with federal agricultural policy for years, though. From 2005 to 2009, he was the deputy secretary, having worked previously for the Bush-era National Economic Council and for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry from 1985 to 1997.

In between stints in government service, Conner was also on the advocacy side, first as president of the Corn Refiners Association and currently as a registered lobbyist for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), the trade association he leads. In that capacity, he lobbied Congress on agriculture and food issues last year, supporting the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, a bill that would restrict states' ability to pass GMO food labeling laws that are stricter than the federal mandates. The NCFC's PAC contributed at least $152,500 to federal congressional candidates in the 2016 cycle -- more of which went to Republicans than Democrats -- and the group has spent $975,966 on lobbying through the third quarter of 2016, after laying out more than $1.4 million last year.

The down side: Conner would seemingly contravene Trump's pledge to avoid filling his bench with insiders and lobbyists. And while he hasn't given money to Trump, Conner and his wife have contributed $18,550 over the years to candidates, parties and his current organization. He's even given to Democrats: In 1998 and 2001, he donated to Senate Democrats Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin.

Sid Miller

Miller may be the most controversial candidate Trump appears to be considering for this slot. The Texas agriculture commissioner landed himself in hot water recently, when he called Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton a "c***" in a tweet. He later apologized, blaming the tweet on a third-party contractor.

His also is one of the lower-profile names on the list, having been a state representative from 2001 to 2013 before winning election to his current position in 2015. He has not made much of splash in the campaign finance world, either, having donated $3,300 to federal candidates and party committees. This presidential cycle, Miller gave $500 to fellow Texan and Trump rival Ted Cruz, but has made no trackable contributions to the president-elect.

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In his campaigns for elected office in Texas, Miller has raised more than $2.7 million, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. Of that total, $250,631 has come from employees and PACs in the agriculture sector.

Sonny Perdue

The other governor on the list, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, would be the first non-Midwesterner appointed to lead the Agriculture Department since California's Ann Veneman, who left office in 2005, and the first from a Southern state since Mississippi's Mike Espy, who helmed the department from 1993 to 1994.

According to CRP data, Perdue and his wife, Mary, have not made any contributions to Trump, either. Over the years, the Perdues have contributed $10,240, primarily to Georgia Republican parties and candidates, including Perdue's cousin, Sen. David Perdue.

In his own fundraising efforts, Perdue collected almost $20 million in the 20 years he was in office, first as a Georgia state senator and then as governor from 2003 to 2011. Perdue found little financial support in the agriculture sector for his campaigns, though, taking in $855,001 - or just 4.3 percent of his total haul - from employees and PACs in the field over the years, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

Charles Herbster

If there's a wildcard on Trump's list of potential Agriculture secretaries, it's Herbster. The Nebraska businessman, who owns two agricultural companies and his family's farm, chaired the Trump campaign's aforementioned agriculture and rural advisory committee, having been a longtime personal friend.

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Herbster's history in politics and policy is relatively meager. He considered a run in the 2014 Nebraska governor's race before dropping out and giving fellow Republican Beau McCoy more than $1.8 million for his own ill-fated gubernatorial campaign.

And Herbster is the only man on the shortlist -- and one of the few potential nominees to head any Cabinet-level department -- to have donated to Trump, contributing the maximum $5,400 allowable to his campaign. He and his wife, Judy, have been generous at the federal level, too, donating $716,650 since 1996. This is a total that includes $90,000 given to land lender AG America's PAC, which has not reported any independent expenditures through Sept. 30, $20,400 to Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), the chair of the House agriculture subcommittee and $394,800 to the Republican National Committee.
BELLEVUE -- Senators jumped into the heavy topics of taxing and spending, prison reform, climate change, mental health treatment and the cycle of poverty in a session preview Thursday and Friday at Offutt Air Force Base.

Seventeen senators-elect -- a turnover of a third of the Nebraska Legislature -- capped a week of induction into the community of state lawmakers, by diving into the issues that will face them in January.

It was a time to ask questions and prepare, and those fresh off the campaign trail, door-to-door visits with constituents and other roles in government or business wasted no time in opining on the issues, including spending, property taxes, poverty and unfunded mandates.

The tendency to blame high property taxes on counties and school districts is bogus, said Sen.-elect Steve Erdman of Bayard, a former county commissioner, in a discussion Friday.

The county commissioners in this state are very conservative for the most part, he said. If the state had managed their budget like the counties have managed theirs over the last 15 years, the state budget would have grown at half the rate the state budget did grow.

Part of the problem, he said, are the unfunded mandates handed down by the state, those things the state demands of local governments but doesnt reimburse for.

Outgoing Speaker Galen Hadley cautioned senators that electioneering is easy. Governing is hard.

I think that is something that you will find as you go through this. Its the compromises. Its the working together to find solutions to these problems, Hadley said.

Sen. Bob Krist, the Legislatures Executive Board chairman, said the questions and conversations from the newly elected senators were encouraging.

I think that their life experiences are so different, I think even more so than the last two years, he said, referring to the crop of 18 new senators elected in 2014.

They have government experience on city councils, county boards, and schools boards. They are lawyers, Realtors, and small business owners.

The Thursday and Friday retreat at Offutt gave new and returning senators a view of the projected budget shortfall, estimated at about $900 million.

I think most of them realize that theres not going to be a whole lot of surplus, so what we do spend is going to have to be very focused. And that picture has now been painted, Krist said.

The two senators who have announced they will vie for the important job of speaker, the person who schedules daily debates and keeps bills moving through the process, will face a strenuous 2017 session.

Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk, elected in 2012, or Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, elected in 2014, will have to oversee a tough budget year and manage a Legislature that has seen increasing filibusters over the past several years and a possible clash on what to do about a state senator whose cybersex scandal came to light over the interim.

I suspect were going to have some fairly contentious discussions over the next two years, Scheer said, and rightfully so. Thats what were elected to do.

That contentiousness, a milder version than may be yet to come, started early and was already evident at the retreat.

They are more confident, better prepared individuals, Scheer said of the new senators.

Williams cautioned against putting labels on new senators, as people tried to do with his class two years ago. Still, he said, he sees them as hard working, excited to learn and not bashful.

And some have been very open in asking questions, which I think is very important, he said.

Controversy could escalate as the session begins, with the potential for a rule change on the first day, or at the least the first week, on electing the speaker and committee chairs by a public vote, rather than the usual secret ballot.

Scheer said one of his plans as speaker would be to get more difficult bills to the floor earlier in the session, rather than let them pile up at the end as they have in more recent years.

Three of the past four years have seen the Legislature dealing with overrides of governors vetoes on the last day, leaving a bad taste as the session ends, he said.

Thats just not a way to build relationships, it really isnt, Scheer said.

The session should end with people feeling good about what has been accomplished, he said.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers has also promised to make life difficult for Sen. Bill Kintner, if he doesnt resign. Kintner has admitted to a cybersex incident on his state-owned computer. He apologized but refused to resign.

Chambers has continued to write about the senators deeds in the form of Kintner-grams, and has said the Legislature should discuss impeachment or expulsion. Censure is also an option.

Williams said leadership matters, especially a leader who can bring people together on difficult issues, which the Legislature is clearly facing, and make and enforce tough decisions.

The Legislature has some unique challenges coming up, he said.

Every member of our body deserves to have their opportunity to, under the rules, bring up issues and discuss them fully, Williams said. Communication solves so many problems.

Scheer said he would expect and demand that senators treat each other in public discourse with the respect due the position. It may be a struggle at first, but there is some pain in every change, he said.
There are various views about public school choice coming out of the 2016 election. Some choice advocates view the Trump administration as more committed to school choice in all its forms than the Obama administration's "pro-charter, anti-voucher" posture.

A less sunny view is based on elections results in "blue" Massachusetts and "red" Georgia, where voters in both states soundly rejected pro-school choice ballot initiatives. National surveys showing strong support for choice may be masking ambivalence or outright hostility at the state or local level.

As always, the trends are mixed. Pro-school choice candidates did well in the New Orleans, Oakland and Indianapolis school board races, but not so well in Minneapolis and, earlier this year, in Nashville. But, three pro-school choice Democrats were just elected to Congress and several pro-charter Democrats won legislative races in California.

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In addition, amidst much hostile posturing about expanding choice in Los Angeles, the local school board just renewed nine public charter schools without a lot of drama or debate. Chicago, on the other hand, approved a new labor contract limiting charter growth.

'Charter Schools at the Crossroads'

Either way, the choice movement is at a crossroads, which is the title of a new book by choice advocates Checker Finn and Brandon Wright of the Fordham Institute and Bruno Manno of the Walton Family Foundation. The book highlights successes and struggles of the charter movement after 25 years, backs it up with mountains of data, and offers a number of policy recommendations going forward.

It's required reading for those in the field, but for those with less time or appetite for policy-heavy books, National Affairs published the short version (5000 words). For people who take their education policy in very small bites, the essential message of the book can be summed up in two words: quality counts.

The charter sector's shortcomings, which the authors openly acknowledge, are more than outweighed by the extraordinary results of the best-performing charters and we simply need more of the good ones and less of the bad ones. We also need to do a better job communicating the benefits of choice in an increasingly contentious political climate.

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A War on Charters

That begins by recognizing there is a war on charters underway, driven by a system under threat of losing jobs. Setting aside New Orleans, where more than 90 percent of the students attend public charter schools, charters now serve between 10 and 50 percent of the students in dozens of big-city districts across America. What began as a collaborative experiment supported by unions and reformers is now an existential threat to the status quo as public dollars follow children from traditional public schools to public charters.

In response, anti-charter advocates have been hammering home a set of negative messages about charters--over-disciplining, test-obsessed, creaming, push-outs, mismanagement, and low performance. Unfortunately, the sector provides just enough evidence to justify some of these criticisms, even if they are wildly exaggerated. The charter sector's strategy of letting a thousand flowers bloom is leading to the death of a thousand cuts.

Because the charter sector is decentralized, the response is often uncoordinated and tepid at best. The better charter organizations simply keep their heads down while the worst ones put their heads in the sand and hope the spotlight will shine elsewhere.

How the Charter Sector Can Change the Narrative

Ultimately, charter schools will succeed where they are both wanted and needed. Parent demand for better options must be the driving force and quality must be the standard. With that in mind, the charter sector can strengthen its narrative in a number of ways.

Charters should start by clearing up misinformation about charters and reintroducing them to under-served communities through paid media featuring credible charter teachers, parents and students. Charters should highlight diverse leadership. Parents of color are a majority in charters and need to see more educators of color. The charter sector can show how underserved communities are taking control of their children's education through expanded choice. The charter sector also has a good story of holding itself accountable, closing some 200 schools per year or about 3 percent of the nation's charter schools. A good national goal would be to quickly get the percentage of good or great charters from about 30 percent, according to a 2013 analysis, to 50 percent by closing the worst and replicating the best. Lastly, charter schools must respond to their critics more rapidly and robustly. Every criticism must be promptly challenged if it is not true and addressed if it is. Denial is the surest way to keep bad news alive.

It's also worth pointing out that many criticisms of charter schools are equally if not more true in traditional public schools. Magnet schools cream the best students. Zero-tolerance discipline was established by teachers demanding more authority to manage classrooms. Over-testing is prevalent in many traditional public schools. And "alternative" schools exist to house students that traditional schools have pushed out.

One of the silliest critiques of charter schools is that they promote segregation, which is absurd since charters intentionally serve segregated communities. The real driver of segregation in American education is the neighborhood school attendance boundary, which is tied to segregated housing patterns. In fact, charters allow for more economic and racial integration precisely because they don't have school boundaries.

School Choice Isn't Going Away

Today, nearly 10 million parents have opted out of traditional public schools for private schools and charter schools or homeschooling. Millions more "choose" schools by choosing where they live. Finding the school that best meets your child's unique educational needs is a natural right of every parent and for poor, urban parents, that right is provided by public charter schools.

Charter advocates should remember that parents don't care much about issues like governance or whether a school employs union teachers. Parents care about safety and stability and about a learning environment that is well-rounded, warm and welcoming for them and their children.

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And they care about one other thing: results.

This post originally appeared on Education Post
For those of us who are adherents of liberal religion in America, this is our moment.

Liberal churches and synagogues -- and all other religious institutions that share our ideals -- must step up at this time of crisis for our country. America is in peril, and we must take the lead in saving it, preaching a message of justice and compassion. But we must do more than preach. We must offer an action agenda that is also a moral agenda, rooted in Biblical teachings and religious precepts -- an agenda that will lift our nation's sights and challenge our nation's conscience.



There is no one else to play this role. If we fail to rise to the challenge, the result will be catastrophic. American values will be undermined in a profound way. And not only that; the religious congregations that we serve will be seen by our members and by all Americans as irrelevant at precisely the time when they are needed most.

Religious congregations are essential right now because the problems that America faces are without precedent in our country's history. Following the election, Americans looked around and what they saw everywhere was incivility, division, and bigotry. The campaign of President-elect Trump incited people to hate, and hate they did. Hatred is infectious, and the result is that the fires of intolerance are roaring unconstrained.

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All Americans are worried, and some are terrified. Working Americans fear that their paychecks, which have been shrinking in real dollars for a quarter century, will continue their downward spiral. Muslim Americans wonder if they will be required to register with the government. Hispanic Americans wonder if members of their family will be swept up in midnight raids and banished from our country. African-Americans fear that police violence directed at their children will increase. Those things that unite us all as Americans -- our common culture, shared ideals, commitment to diversity, and fierce patriotism -- have been pushed aside and forgotten.

These problems cannot be solved by individuals. There has been much talk about the need for concerned Americans to sign petitions of protest and contribute money to advocacy and social service organizations. Such steps are worthwhile, but nowhere near enough. The sad truth is that we can no longer count on our national government to do its job and solve our problems. America's agenda is being driven not by the values of the Constitution but by the politics of prejudice, posturing, and posing.

With our federal government in disarray and American politics fundamentally broken, we must turn to institutions closer to home to sustain our values. This means state and local governments. But it also means our churches synagogues, and mosques.

For most of us, after all, religion remains the primary source from which our values derive. At a time when technology and frequent job moves have left us bereft of community, it is our congregations that fill the gap. Other clubs and civic associations have faltered, but churches and synagogues remain strong and robust. They are the places that extend a loving hand to every embattled soul -- the one place that cares about you as an individual. They are the places where Americans turn for help in raising their children and in connecting with the sacred. They are the places where no one suffers alone or grieves alone.

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And liberal congregations are especially important at this moment because of their belief that religion always involves concern for the poor and needy, and giving a fair shake to all. Liberal churches and synagogues say that yes, we must pray with fervor and read the Bible with diligence. But without concern for justice, they remind us, there can be no authentic spirituality or wisdom. To talk about God and ignore justice is wrong, and to cloak yourself in religion and forget mercy is blasphemous.

This does not mean that liberal religion should be engaging in partisan politics. There is no such thing as Democratic religion or Republican religion. Churches and synagogues do not endorse candidates or political parties. But it does mean that religious leaders should speak to values and issues of consequence. It does mean that our congregations should remind us to challenge the entrenched and work for a better day. It does mean that if this great country is to choose healing and hope over hurt and hostility, the faith traditions that have guided us since our founding must continue to guide us still.

This is the time, then, for the voices of religious moderation, religious liberalism, and religious reason to come forward and help fill the moral void of our land. This is the time when liberal religion, and maybe liberal religion alone, can rally America to protect the weak, the vulnerable, the struggling worker, the immigrant, and the children of poverty.

And I am not talking now of one religion but of a grand coalition of religions. And I am not talking of spouting cliches and slogans, but of serious action and advocacy. There are many possible agendas for such a coalition, but the following 4 items are for religious leaders to consider.

First: Take on those politicians who have found it politically opportune to peddle divisive anti-Muslim bigotry.

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Inspired by President Obama and President Bush, most Americans still see this country as a secure sanctuary that safeguards our right to be different, to be who we are, and to follow our own religious path. In fact, America has done a better job than most of the world, including Christian Europe, of embracing its Muslim citizens and welcoming its Muslim immigrants. Americans respect religion and believe in God, and if liberal churches and synagogues fight hard and do their part, there is no reason that Americans should not continue to respect religions different than their own, Islam included.



Second: Insist on access to healthcare for all, and be ready to advocate on both the state and federal level.

Before Obamacare, Massachusetts, prodded by a broad religious coalition, passed a law providing health coverage for almost all of its citizens. In the likely event that Obamacare is repealed, other states will consider taking similar steps, and religious voices will be critically important. As religious people we know that something is profoundly wrong if somebody else's medical crisis is no longer our problem, and if we are unwilling to come to each other's aid. If we take access to health insurance away from millions of Americans, we will lose our humanity, and we will have failed as a nation. Only by assuring such access can we honor the image of God in every human being.

Third: Provide moral and legal support to immigrants entitled to be here and demand compassionate treatment of those here without sanction of law.



Anti-immigrant rancor is not new in American history. A populist backlash has accompanied every wave of large-scale immigration. But what we are seeing now is not simply another round of immigrant bashing. It is strident xenophobia that has made the obscene routine and depleted us as a nation. And it has made hatred respectable, even though it masquerades under the guise of patriotism. Especially distressing is the fact that conservative religious people are joining in this chorus, ready and willing to deface the promise on the Statue of Liberty. What Bible are these people reading? Have they not at least glanced at Lev. 19:34, Numbers 15:16, and Mathew 25:38?

Fourth: Strengthen the ritual and liturgical elements of your congregation's religious life.

Congregants will best be able to deal with difficult public issues if they are fortified by their faith. Liberal congregations that are most effective in public advocacy are those that do not ignore liturgy, hymns, holidays, and festivals. The best way to counter the cheap platitudes of our political season is to begin by strengthening your religious community with prayer, study, and the rituals of your tradition.



This is only a partial agenda. There is, in fact, much more for liberal religion to do.

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The election of Donald Trump was the greatest political surprise in American history. Everything that once was certain about American politics is now very much in doubt. The children of America recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day, but we no longer know if we can pledge to them a future that includes the decency, fairness, and compassion that have always been at the heart of the American experiment.
When the world realized Donald Trump would be the winner of the US presidential elections on November 8, world leaders and American allies were left wondering where his administration's policies would take them and, more importantly, whether Trump would adhere to the numerous US security commitments that have defined the global order for decades. The first foreign leader (and American partner) to try and get a read on President-elect Trump was Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe in New York this past Thursday. Although Abe came away from the meeting insisting Trump "can be trusted," he and other Asian leaders are going to have plenty of questions for the new administration come January.

Considering Trump will be the first president without any previous military or government experience, much of his foreign and domestic policy is going to depend on who he chooses for his cabinet. Considering that Trump's inchoate views on Asian affairs sound more like his famous "locker room banter" than actual policy prescriptions, his personnel choices will have a fair bit of latitude to direct how his administration approaches the Asia-Pacific. For Secretary of State, the shortlist of top contenders includes John Bolton, former US Representative to the UN and well-known enforcer of the Bush era's hawkish foreign policy and aggressive worldview, but also Rudy Giuliani, whose official foreign policy credentials don't go far beyond delivering paid speeches and lobbying for foreign governments and political groups.

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Regardless of who takes over as Secretary of State, Trump's presidency is already bad news for the "Pivot to Asia". The revolutionary spirit that infused and informed the incoming president's campaign, coupled with his continuous vitriol of how America was being "raped" by China and freeloading allies, is the polar opposite of the Obama administration's delicate attempts at striking a regional balance among competing world powers.

A major reason why Trump has Japanese and South Korean lawmakers so worried are his repeated calls for the US to withdraw the 80,000 troops stationed in East Asia and his questioning of the longstanding US-Japan and US-South Korea security frameworks. According to the Donald, the two Asian powers do not contribute enough to their own defense and rely disproportionally on US capabilities and bases in their countries. True to his Pants on Fire PolitiFact rating, Trump ignores the fact that Japan pays nearly 200 billion yen ($1.95 billion) every year to host US forces and agreed just last April to raise its contributions over the coming five-year period.

Obviously, Trump's bluster set off plenty of alarm bells on both sides of the Pacific. Without the US nuclear umbrella, both Tokyo and Seoul could feel compelled to develop their own nuclear weapons to shield against threats from North Korea, spelling the end of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Trump's ambiguous stance on the North Korean regime has done nothing to reassure US allies in the region. While calling Kim Jong-un a "maniac," he also very clearly stated that if Kim wanted to come to the US to negotiate, he would welcome him. Trump also expressed thinly veiled admiration for the dictator, saying that he deserved credit for eliminating his political opponents and running the country at such a young age. Kim returned the favor when North Korea backed Trump for president, although the Republican avoided bringing up that particular endorsement during the debates.

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Even if Trump has walked back on previous comments regarding the South Korea security commitment, doubts persist. His dismissive attitude toward the Korean nuclear issue doesn't bode well for America's role in Japan-South Korea relations, ties that have improved markedly thanks to a landmark deal between the two countries that covers the Japanese army's use of so-called "comfort women" during the Second World War. The Obama administration helped broker that agreement, and it is very much in America's interest that South Korea-Japan relations be as harmonious as possible in the face of a rising threat from North Korea. For that same reason, North Korea has attempted to discredit it and called the deal a "humiliating agreement." Moreover, Pyongyang wields significant influence over Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, a group of surviving victims that is fighting hard to tear up the agreement. In the face of a rising China and North Korean threat, President-elect Trump will want to keep the U.S. - Japan - South Korea alliance strong. By rejecting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) because it allegedly destroys American jobs, President-elect Trump has not helped strengthen U.S. alliances in Asia in the face of a rising communist threat. Prime Minister Abe's government passed the TTP legislation in Tokyo's Lower House just after Trump's election, braving the headwinds coming from the US.

Kim Jong Un's endorsement of Trump might have been a joke, but there was no question that Trump was the preferred candidate of autocrats the world over. With Trump moving into the White House, Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte suddenly decided to rekindle ties with the US, saying some joint-military exercises would be re-launched because he and Trump share the same tendency to "curse right away, we're the same." In reality, Duterte might be thankful that Trump's rhetoric legitimizes his cavalier treatment of the UNCLOS arbitration ruling in the South China Sea and undermines Obama's emphasis on a rules based order. Yao Yunzhu of the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences put it this way: "For China, territory is the vital national interest, and for the US, the credibility of its defense commitment to allies is key to its regional security architecture."
The future of the relationship between the incoming Trump administration with Russia and Iran has become a major issue for the mandarins of the Republican Party, which had nominated the tycoon for the presidency; and for the leaders of the US' European allies. The main concern is the apparent bond emerging between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump, and the implications for Syria and Ukraine but also what it entails in terms of the lack of balance between Putin's experience and shrewdness, and Trump's inexperience and foreign policy illiteracy. The controversy regarding the future of the nuclear deal with Iran follows two different directions between the European leaders keen to maintain the agreement, and leaders of the Republican Party who want to tighten the conditions of the deal's implementation and monitoring mechanisms in parallel with preparations for snapping back sanctions on Tehran and returning the military option to the table in the event of Iranian breaches. Some are even calling for preparatory steps, through key appointments in the Trump administration, ahead of the date of expiry of the deal in nine years to preempt any bid by Iran to develop and acquire nuclear weapons. Currently, everyone is holding their breaths in anticipation of the formation of the next US cabinet, especially with regard to posts such as the secretary of state, defense secretary, attorney general, national security advisor, and homeland security. The lineup contains many names but a few know the identity of the pillars of the incoming Trump administration, which will most likely include a blend of traditional figures of the establishment and right-wing extremists to appease Trump's support base. What is clear, however, is that Donald Trump has started acclimatizing himself to the post and its requirements, but at the same time, he has not divorced himself from the campaign version of the Donald, the unilateral and stubborn businessman who overcame all obstacles on his path to the White House. This is precisely why some are worried about the baggage this unconventional personality could be bringing to the US presidency and the crucial decisions entrusted upon it. Some are calling for giving Trump time to get to know his policies before rushing to judgment, at least until his inauguration in mid-January. However, every step made from now until then will be closely watched, whether it comes from Russia in Syria or Iran in Iraq, because in one way or another, the coming administration will chart a different course from its predecessors'. In truth, President Barack Obama had already delivered some of the promises Trump subsequently made in his campaign, during his two terms, especially with regard to deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Obama thus earned for himself the reputation of being "deporter-in-chief", for having forced more than 2.5 million people out of the country between 2009 and 2015. Trump has begun climbing down from his position, saying the first batch of deportations would affect 2 million immigrants who broke the law and not all 11 million of them. Similarly with the issue of Trump's proposed wall between the US and Mexico, a third of it has already been built. Now, Trump is saying parts of his wall will be fences, and insists he is a construction expert who will know where walls or fences would work best. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump spoke in a threatening and hostile manner about China. Now, this rhetoric has given way to a more pragmatic discourse towards the Chinese leadership. Trump met with Obama at the White House for nearly an hour, although the scheduled time was only 15 minutes. Afterwards, Obama said Trump was not ideological but was pragmatic, and must be given a chance to lead the country. Donald Trump also after the meeting praised the man with whom he had exchanged the bitterest of insults. When he was asked about what they spoke about, he first mentioned the Middle East - the region he had placed at the bottom of his priorities and reduced to the issue of the war on terror. Even his rhetoric on Saudi Arabia has changed since his election. His positions regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict indicate that he will not fulfill the traditional promise all presidential candidates make regarding moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. They also suggest he won't be "neutral", in the sense of avoiding the issue, and could work for a political settlement by reviving talks. If he decides to become a more neutral mediator, this could mark a qualitative shift, though this is unlikely to happen of someone like Rudy Giuliani or John Bolton becomes secretary of state. Giuliani, a former mayor of New York City, has his eyes trained on the post. However, he would be one of the worst picks. John Bolton is more experienced in foreign affairs, but he is a neocon and supports military interventions, in contradiction of Trump's campaign promises regarding remaining out of others' wars and rejecting US interventionism. What is completely unlikely is for Trump to pick a Democrat for the post. However, this does not mean he may not pick a figure who would pursue Barack Obama's line of appeasement with Russia or even Iran, to a lesser degree. With regards to Iran, Trump will not be a carbon copy of Obama. He will neither appease Tehran at the same level nor be willing to hold up the nuclear deal as the key benchmark for US-Iranian engagement. Tehran will therefore be likely to come under more scrutiny with respect to its nuclear program. The Trump administration will be more willing to place sanctions back in the event of any Iranian attempt to circumvent the restrictions under the deal. The administration will likely query the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the tiniest detail, and could bring back all options to the table, including the military option.Still, this will not mean the Trump administration will be biased against Iran's regional forays, or ally itself to the Gulf nations against Iran. At most, the Trump administration could re-examine relations with Iran in terms of the latter's regional expansionism, if developments in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon require it rather than because of calculations related to the Arab Gulf powers. Indeed, Iran remains a de-facto partner in the US priority-war on ISIS and so-called Sunni terrorism, continuing into Trump's administration. The attacks of 9/11 remain a key factor in US relations with the Sunni Arabs, which benefits Iran's position in the relationship with the US, especially given that Tehran leads the Shia world and claims to be the spearhead of the war on Sunni terror. However, if key posts in the US government come to be occupied by figures that link the nuclear deal opposed by Trump to Iran's regional dominance schemes, things and policies could evolve differently. Russia is another matter. The European nations are aware of the repercussions of the personal rapprochement between Trump and Putin for the main US policies vis-a-vis the EU and NATO. Britain is the leading power taking strict positions against Russian policy in Syria and Ukraine, and pushing for accountability for war crimes and the use of chemical weapons. In anticipation of a potential Trump-Putin detente, the EU is drafting plans to confront Russia, not militarily but strategically by stepping up pressure on the Russian and Syrian governments. This includes sanctions and diplomatic isolation as well as legal action for war crimes committed by Russia or Syria. Russia is however not complacent and is not assuming it will have special relations with the US when Trump takes the helm. Some in Moscow may believe Trump owes them something because of Russian covert actions against his opponent Hillary Clinton. However, some measure of realism also forces the Russians to think what it means for the Republicans to control Congress and assist Donald Trump in affirming US leadership in the international arena. Russia is in permanent need for an enemy in the West, especially the US. It is also not yet ready to abandon its bid to settle the battle in Aleppo, and this will not affect its ambition to begin a truce with the US under Trump. There is extra time from now until 20 January during which new facts could be imposed on Trump's vision for US-Russian relations. It is still too early to predict what Trump's presidency will do in foreign policy. The man is still adjusting to the post, and the post could condition the man. What is constant always is that there is a long-term US foreign policy that goes beyond personal considerations. Translated by Karim Traboulsihttp://www.alhayat.com/Opinion/Raghida-Dergham/18586421/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%84-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A 1
What is fashion? Why is fashion important? It is a very simple question. Many fashion designers face the same question. What kind of design fits for us please advise me. Fashion is all about styles in life and presentation about one's self.

Charles Frederick Worth initiated fashion design in the 19th century. It became more popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Even in Nepal, due to Prabal Gurung's success in the world fashion industry, many youths are impressed and attracted to the fashion industry. It has become more and more popular.

Fashion Designer Mr. Bishwo Gautam says "Fashion is an art, as well as a living standard; it's a lifestyle." Personally, I consider fashion to be everything because I love fashion. In simple words, fashion is an art. Without art, our lifestyle is incomplete. Nowadays, fashion has become a great business. If you present yourself differently, that is considered fashion.

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We feel proud to be Nepali because Nepal is the country of Buddha and Mount Everest. People used to judge fashion by means of glamor, but nowadays through fashion, we can even promote multiple things and products. We can show our own identity to the world. Bishwo Gautam is a professional Nepali fashion designer. He has his own brand which is called BG. He is a brilliant and one of the most remarkable fashion designers from Nepal. During his tenure in college in 2003, he also participated in the fashion industry and obtained a side job in 2004. He then established himself in 2006 as a fashion designer. Bishwo Gautam registered his own company in 2008. Even his friends were interns in another company. Gautam states that "fashion is not only clothing." Fashion is a lifestyle...in other words, fashion is a personality.

Fashion is how one presents themselves in society. He says you can be fashionable even 14568939_1354488301262382_31873109_nwith little money to buy fit clothes for your body. People always ask him, what kinds of clothes fit for us? Many individuals on Facebook question Bishwo Gautam and obtains the same reply..."it depends on the skin tone of the person, height and body figure." He is inspired from design themes and new scenes. Gautam wants to establish his own BG brand internationally. Bishwo is a hardworking individual who spends most of his time occupied in work. Today, he lives in America. His ambition is to change Nepali design and American design and establish his own brand.

Today, Bishwo is working in many Nepali movies and working with many celebrities. Everyone seems to love his brand. We all are different, different people have different perceptions about fashion.

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Miss Nepal 2002 Malvika Subba stated, "Fashion for me is an epitome of one's personality. It can take you to any era that you want. I can be in the 60's 70's or the 80's in a jiffy. It gives you confidence and has the ability to take you anywhere in the world."

Nepali movie Actress Nisha Adhikari stated, "Fashion for me is an artistic representation of my inner self, my emotions, my energy, a non verbal communication to the nature and the people around." Today, fashion is the center of attraction in Nepali Films. The makers and artists are more aware of the storytelling via fashion which portrays a particular way. This awareness has helped in the overall growth of the movie market in Nepal.

Actress Pooja Sharma describes "Fashion is a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people especially in clothing. Footwear, accessories, and makeup in fashion is a distinctive and often constant trend in style in which individuals express fashion which is not portrayed while wearing dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, and all around us. Fashion has to do with various ideas, the way we live, and what is happening."
"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good." Maya Angelou

So, like many others, I am 'woke'. Woke at 3 in the morning with nightmares. Woke to seeing that the hatred of women is far stronger than I realized. That people, men and women, will wear signs & sweatshirts of the greatest disrespect. That fear-mongering towards the 'other' has never stopped. That though we are a nation of immigrants, we still want to step down on the most recent who've come to America, despite that most of us are here because our forebears traveled from far away, usually running from evil or hardship.

Woke to knowing that we, a country founded (we learned in grade school) on religious freedom, have neighbors considering limiting that basic right. That we've followed the glory of President Obama with an outpouring of hatred towards black lives mattering and women's rights being human rights.

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And now I find white people lecturing other white people on how to be correct--a white man wagging his finger at me via the Huffington Post and saying "We don't get to make ourselves feel better by putting on safety pins and self-designating ourselves as allies."



Here's what I think: there is no bad or good way to show respect, to offer support or to show your pain together with the rest of the nation of people who cares. Consider this: I am not wearing a pin to "assuage my guilt", but I wear it thinking of my long-ago family left behind in Germany who were made to wear yellow stars, and how their lives would have been . . . lives . . . if all had resisted and put on yellow stars.

I can wear a safety pin even as I do a host of other things to guarantee this country stays as much on course as possible. I don't need to be white-mansplained at the moment (or ever). If my wearing a pin helps one person feel safer, or one person feel that they are not alone, then I don't care if it embarrasses that man or that he considers me embarrassing.

The outcome of this election has thrown our country into great danger in ways I do not need to enumerate. I am now doing whatever I can to help the country from tipping towards hate, including pinning a symbol on my shirt. Safety pinning is one small act--and perhaps, if someone needs to know who to sit next to on the train, than it is one large meaningful act. The last thing we need is to judge each other's acts of kindness, things that hurt nobody, at a time when there is evil to fight.
What can we expect from President-elect Trump when it comes to criminal justice reform? Even though overall crime rates are at historic lows, throughout Trump's campaign he sounded reminiscent of Richard Nixon - emphasizing the problem of crime and the need for law and order. Because of this rhetoric, many criminal justice reformers are preparing for an uphill battle.

As is often the case with Trump, it is difficult to know exactly what he will support when it comes down to actual policy but there are some clues.

First, the bad -- Trump has referred to nonviolent offenders who benefited from recent sentencing reforms as "dangerous drug-trafficking felons and gang members who prey on civilians." He has also said he wants to pass new federal mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenders in his first 100 days in office.

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Another area many people are deeply concerned about is clemency. Obama has set records for sentence commutations, but there are thousands more clemency applicants waiting in line. For example, Amy Ralston Povah, who is featured in the documentary film Incarcerating US, is working tirelessly in an effort to get applications approved and she worries the clemency window will be slammed shut when Obama leaves office.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence represents a mixed bag on this issue. On the campaign trail he said he is proud of criminal justice reforms passed in Indiana during his tenure as governor. For example, he signed a bill that gives some offenders the ability to expunge their records. However, ahead of his reelection campaign in 2016, he reinstated mandatory minimum prison terms for some drug crimes.

Some good news is that prominent Republicans, including those who may have Trump's ear, support criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing incarceration. For example, this Reuter's article points out that,

former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have advocated for reforms such as lowering sentences for some nonviolent crimes, improving prison conditions and helping former prisoners find jobs and housing.

That article continues,

In a meeting a few weeks ago, Trump's staff was "very receptive" to arguments that crime rates have dropped in states that have reduced prison populations through sentencing reform, said Holly Harris, executive director of the U.S. Justice Action Network, a bipartisan coalition that spearheads legislative efforts to lower sentences for nonviolent offenders.

On the other hand, Trump has allies like Senators Jeff Sessions and Tom Cotton -- two of the most strident opponents of sentencing reform. You might recall that Senator Cotton claimed, "If anything, we have an under-incarceration problem."

When thinking about these issues, an important point to keep in mind is that the president has limited influence on criminal justice policy. Only about 12 percent of prisoners are in the federal prison system. The vast majority of prisoners are at the state and local level where state legislatures and district attorneys have more influence. On this front, there were several promising victories on election night. And in the past few years we have seen many reforms at the state level that have helped reduce incarceration rates without a subsequent rise in crime -- proving the argument that criminal justice reform is somehow "soft on crime" or will lead to higher crime rates is without merit.

While there are many real concerns, Trump's election does not sound the death knell for criminal justice reform.

There is a growing number of people who understand the futility of the war on drugs and the disastrous effects of rigid sentencing policies like mandatory minimums. By continuing to spread this message across the country we can keep pressure on lawmakers and ensure the criminal justice reform movement does not stall when Trump becomes president.

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While driving in my car recently, I heard a commentator say that he speculated that China was not unhappy with a new Trump Administration, because they would not have to put up with a President Hillary Clinton who would "nag" them about human rights. Wow, just slip the sexist reference into a sentence dismissing human rights as a serious or relevant issue!

There it was. The first confirmation that part of the reason for Hillary's defeat is embedded in this commitment of hers. There were many complicated reasons for her "defeat." (She did win the popular vote). We live in a globalized world, whether we want to or not, and the only choice is what global forces will we encourage and abet. This was an underlying force in the election; what is at stake in our worldview.

Our apparent retro nationalist choice is really a choice to be able to align ourselves with nations and forces that will enrich some people in our country, without the bother, without the "nagging" about human rights. Male leaders of countries still plagued by human rights abuses can wink and nod with a man they know could care less. They will not have to deal with a "nagging b****" but with a with a white guy who gets them.

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Hillary Clinton's most powerful contributions, to me, have been her unrelenting, unwavering voice for women - "women's rights are human rights" - said in China decades ago; and her voice for LGBT people, "gay rights are human rights," said as Secretary of State. Secretary Clinton put the good offices of the State Department and the White House behind fighting for human rights. This is now up for grabs.

All global human rights organizations know that. I only hope, like the ACLU, they will be able to raise funds on the heels of this election, but it will be more difficult.

Elections have consequences, and those of us who have spent our lives working for human rights, know this painfully today.

The fate of millions of refugees will be negatively impacted by our politics. The progress in human rights in Africa, in so many places, will be impacted. Our own Justice Department will likely turn away from the focus on criminal justice reform, community policing, and holding municipalities accountable for policing practices instead of being a champion of human rights in our own country.

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The State Department, which has not yet been contacted by the President-elect's transition team, must feel like "persona non grata" right now. That was Hillary's recent domain, and the President-elect does not think he needs them.



Several years ago, the U.S. Romanian Ambassador marched with LGBT people in the streets of Bucharest and invited the marchers to his home afterwards for a reception, letting the Romanian government know how committed we are to human rights. Will that be possible in a Trump State Department?

Climate change is, at its heart, a human rights issue. The poor are the most vulnerable in the devastating climate events to come. Even China is saying that if the U.S. withdraws from the Paris agreement, it will stay the course. But we are in for a Battle Royale about carbon, oil, and whether we can survive a setback in progress on climate change. And, the lives of all of us are at state. Even the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, say that dealing with climate change is critical for peace and security. Will that be of any consequence in a Trump Administration?

I have friends and family who I dearly love who voted for Trump, most of whom would never mention it to me, but I know. They did not think about any of this or the implications for members of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in countries around the world whose lives just became less safe.

They did not think about how it would impact MCC churches in the United States, who have already experienced vandalism and harassment, swastikas and feces, with "MAGA" ("Make America Great Again") tagged onto the defacement.

These stories are just the beginning, the pre-cursors.

I trust that Democrats are right by hoping to play Republicans against each other and get an infrastructure bill passed so that rural, barely-middle class, and urban poor folks will have jobs. I also hope they are not being totally naive about what will be cut in Speaker Paul Ryan's new budget to pay for it. I am not confident that they will be able to exploit that in a way that does not hurt more than it helps.

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I lived in California for years and am angry that the individual votes of Californians in the electoral college are worth a fraction of the individual votes of folks in Wyoming or the Rust Belt. Never mind Texas, maybe California, whose economy is healthy, who is progressive on so many issues, should seceded. It would be easier than moving to Canada.



So, please, Hillary, you who won the popular vote by a now widening margin, do not give up. Do not stop being a nagging voice, the conscience of our nation on the topic of global human rights. We need you more than ever.
As I wrote this late last night, it was not yet clear who would be the next president of the United States, and it didn't matter in terms of what we need to understand today. The actual results only make this clearer. Huge underlying cleavages exist within the nation, and they do not have to do so much with partisan polarization as they are about a large swath of the nation feeling forgotten, no longer seen and heard, left out and left behind.

I encountered these deep-seated sentiments in my travels across the country when I listened to Americans in places like Mississippi, where I was last week, or eastern Kentucky, or the interior of Washington State, or even Hawaii, and many other places along the way.

Too many kids feel they do not have a shot at the American Dream and feel abandoned by adults, their schools and even their own families. Too many adults have fallen victim to an opioid and heroin crisis and have lost hope and that has left their families in disarray. Too many people are working two or three jobs and are still unable to make ends meet.

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And make no mistake - too many false promises have been made to too many people, leaving in their midst growing cynicism and disaffection.

Meanwhile, there are those who live in more vibrant areas of the nation who too often turn their noses up at those who feel left behind, wondering aloud how people can be so "stupid" to support one candidate or another; who sneer at the anger; who dismiss people's concerns about the changing nature of communities.

Our task is not so much to somehow bridge partisan polarization as some would have us believe. It is more basic than that; something more humane. It is to see and hear one another. To seek to understand how people can feel their lives are spinning out of control. To find ways to re-invigorate and support families. To bring some modicum of hope back to struggling and dying towns.

As I have travelled the nation, the number one issue I hear consistently is people's yearning to restore a sense of belief that we can get things done together and a "can-do" spirit. Yes, this requires that we learn to "talk" with one another. Even more, it demands that we find ways to build a common future together--to do things together. Talk is not enough and it is not the magic elixir so many think it is.

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I watched in horror as this presidential campaign unfolded and our now president-elect attacked women, people of color, the disabled and many others. I condemn those statements and beliefs.

But, I also know that so many Americans who cast their votes yesterday did so with pain in their hearts about where their lives stand and with utter disdain for a politics that does not heed their calls for help and hope.
I didn't vote for you, Mr. Trump. You see, I was born with a brain injury. Doctors at Childrens Hospital in Boston told my parents I'd never be able to walk normally.

Young children are mean. My early childhood was filled with insults and laughs. When I walked into a classroom, a restaurant, or down a street, people didn't look into my eyes. They always looked down as I limped awkwardly along.

But I overcame and became a varsity athlete at a prep school outside of Boston. As a teenager, I grew strong and anybody that made fun of my limp or my awkward gate became irrelevant.

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Frankly, Mr. Trump, the day you mocked a disabled reporter should have been the end of your presidential candidacy.

That said, I for one am all for giving you a chance to "make America great again." Sure, your past is strewn with well-documented mistakes, but as a recovering heroin addict, who the hell am I to say you can't change?

Mr. President-Elect, I implore you to focus your efforts on the heroin epidemic that is running rampant and crushing the American dream in every state in the Union.

I understand that the stigma and moral issues of heroin addiction run deep. Today's heroin epidemic parallels the AIDS epidemic of the 70s. The old school philosophy back then was, "Men having sex with men. It's not natural. That's God's punishment."

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Although the diction has changed, the sentiment remains constant today. "I didn't force them to stick a needle of heroin into their arm. Why should I be forced to pay for their rehabilitation?"

But you see, we are not junkies, Mr. President-Elect. I am almost three decades clean, have won the du-Pont Columbia as a journalist, written two books, became a WGA screenwriter and worked on The Fighter, a feature film that won two Academy Awards.

I have spoken to organizations and recovery centers all across America. And what amazed me the most were the rooms were filled with middle class kids whose fathers were chief's of police, firefighters, teachers, lawyers and doctors.

Heroin addiction is insidious: in several states across this country, young women are selling themselves as sex-slaves in order to maintain their daily heroin habit.

Just recently, NPR did a radio program about heroin addicts that are purposely committing crimes so they'll be arrested and locked up to get the treatment they need.

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Treatment is just not available on the streets because there aren't any beds available in recovery centers. The medical community could never have prepared for the onslaught of heroin in their neighborhoods.

But make no mistake about it, Mr. President-Elect, this epidemic was given birth by Purdue Pharma and corporate greed. In fact, the Sacklers, the Godfathers of OxyContin, rang in at number 19 on last year's Forbes annual list of America's richest families.

It's time to call a spade a spade: the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma acquired a fortune with the blood of young Americans. They were convicted in Federal Court of knowingly and willfully misleading consumers. By the way, it was your friend Rudy Guliani's law firm that got them off with a sweetheart deal.

When you become President of the United States, you will have an opportunity to change all this. Not by appointing a "political hack," but rather a person in the trenches who has overcome addiction and isn't concerned about who is on first base, who is on second base and who is pitching.

There is a solution. Create a "sin tax" similar to the cigarette and alcohol tax levied by several states. If big Pharma wants to do business on the backs of the American consumers suffering from chronic pain, make them pay a "recovery tax."

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Create a work program for heroin addicts that want help. A simple, we'll pay for your thirty day recovery hospital and continued care, and you'll work cleaning up roads or run down areas of your community to pay for it.

Designate a line on the IRS tax forms for people to donate a dollar or more to help put an end to the suffering brought on by the countless deaths of promising young men and woman.

Mr. President-Elect, you have a daunting task in front of you. But you can't make America great again by sitting back and watching 3,999 American children die every month from an accidental overdose of heroin. That's right, 129 people a day die from an overdose.

I have an 11-year-old son that is on the brink of growing up in a society that will be the most dangerous environment in America's history. You see, Mr. Trump, not since your predecessor, Lydon Johnson, has the youth of America been more in jeopardy.

Think about it; not since the Vietnam War has a generation been at greater risk to die between the ages of 18 to 25. Please help them.

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I finally had the privilege to see "Hamilton" on Broadway a couple of weeks ago. With all the hype and trophy's collected, it was hard to collate what my expectations were. That said, it was a fantastic performance, exceptionally written and relevant to me, quite historically accurate. Inspired by Ron Chernow's beyond brilliant Hamilton biography, writer, creator, and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda miraculously retrieved, in my opinion, one of our top five most relevant founding fathers from the obscurity to most of the American population.

Even some of significant prominence seem nescient to the enduring influence Alexander Hamilton has had on the structure of our banking and financial system in general, and particularly, through his authorship of at least 51 of 84 of the Federalist Papers, the ratification of the Constitution itself. Much earlier in 2016, Secretary of Treasury, Jacob Lew had, in the interest of fairness, political correctness, and more fairness, slated for the dustbin, the visage of Mr. Hamilton on our ten dollar bill. As the power of success engenders friends in high places, Secretary Lew hosted Mr. Miranda in Washington, who acted as a mouthpiece to elucidate and forward to Mr. Lew many of the salient Hamilton ingredients chronicled by biographer Ron Chernow. Whether through duress of public opinion or a genuine change of heart from his recent schooling, Mr. Lew granted to Mr. Hamilton, an indefinite stay from the executioner's sword. (FYI; the latest, is former white slave-owning former President Andrew Jackson has been banished from center stage on the twenty dollar bill, to be supplanted with black civil war underground railroad hero Harriet Tubman).

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Unbeknownst to me at the time, simmering underneath all the jolliness of my recent theater experience, within the cast of the play, there exists a cauldron of bitterness, a unanimous fraternal anger at our president-elect, Mr. Donald Trump. After suffering the indignity of a chorus of boos (concurrent with some cheers) upon entering the theater Friday night, vice-president elect, Mike Pence was treated to an unexpected encore performance. With the entire troupe in standing behind in stoical support, lead actor (Aaron Burr) Brandon Victor Dixon proclaimed:

"We, sir -- we -- are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights," he said. "We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us."

Let's set aside the egregious inappropriateness of using a venue, where in many cases the audience has paid more than $1,000 to relax and enjoy a theatrical event, for any stripe of political discourse.

It is a beautiful oxymoron that this divisive speech emphasized diversity as a holy grail when the original casting call sought "non-white" performers only. I could care less, but aspiring producers are warned of advertising for "white only" actors.

Miranda had the brilliant idea of recounting a critical slice of America's history which included only white men by using alternative races. This device combined with his unique talent to use the genre of rap perfectly captures the zeitgeist in America. Multiculturalism is promulgated throughout the media and academia as some postmodern solution to expiate the imperialist sins of America's past.

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Miranda drills in the assumption of America as a place built by immigrants; 100% correct. His next step is a subtle jab, an innuendo, that today's America has evolved to be an uninviting bigoted section of our planet. Being an immigrant or person of color is an end, in and of itself, deserving of some amorphous specialness.

The lacuna in the thesis is that Alexander Hamilton wasn't an immigrant in the way Miranda portrays him. Hamilton, fresh off a boat from Nevis, the bastard son of a whore, worked overtime to fit in the new America, to succeed, and not wear a button on his shirt, "I am an immigrant...I have my unique culture and customs, and you better respect them....I am a protected species because of my minority status". When the inevitable slurs regarding his background surfaced, there was no whining or cries of foul; he soldiered on and perhaps used the painful invectives to spur himself to even greater heights.

Soon enough, Alexander Hamilton was no longer an immigrant. He was simply an American. His assimilation transcended his past. Many, by no means all, of today's new arrivals, people of color, and other minorities, religious or otherwise, appear bent on keeping their status as "other" as a sort of sword in a scabbard, ready for use at the slightest perception of slight.

At what point do disparate groups integrate as Americans first and drop all the adjectives they use to separate themselves? Or does our country remain a fragmented cracked portrait of many small groups who never come together?

When does petty political correctness that invents racial slur, injustice, and prejudice behind every innocuous remark, yield to a more common sense approach? Axiom: The harder our country clings to jargon like "safe spaces," "micro-aggressions", "triggering," and "cultural appropriation" is in direct proportion to the difficulty being cured of this chronic illness. Corollary: Only when shoulder chips fall off hardened shoulders and all people become the color of water can our nation once again become the melting pot which is the source of our power.

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The election results continue not to be fully processed by significant swaths of our populace. Actually, who knows what the real numbers are; the media, continuing the pre-election Trump vendetta, glorifies and persists in over publicizing any anti-Trump news.
If "All the world's a stage," we should give Donald Trump a standing ovation for his compelling personification of a demagogue.

Mr. Trump has writ large the premise that undergirds a predatory world. The American election of 2016 can be seen as a contest over whether to affirm the primal survival strategy--no holds barred, every man for himself--that he embodies, or to build dignitarian institutions that reflect the emerging consensus that human beings are mutually dependent co-creators, interconnected and inseparable, and no one should be left out.

It's not just the targets of Trump's racism, misogyny, and xenophobia who seek dignity; it's his supporters as well. Like all demagogues, Trump is not a creator but an orchestrator of popular resentment. We focus on the histrionics of the band leader, raising his arms in victory and captivating the crowd. But what we should pay attention to is the embittered alienation that Trump channels. If the inequities and shame that buoy his demagoguery go unaddressed, don't be surprised if the music turns martial.

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Trump supporters are not all of one stripe. Among them are casualties of a variety of novel forces including globalization, automation, and modernization. But his fans do have one thing in common. They suffer from a dignity deficiency. Like a vitamin deficiency, a dignity deficiency can be lethal. Symptoms range from taking a chance on a charismatic strongman to joining a gang or signing up for jihad. Though he has orchestrated their discontent, Trump is hardly responsible for all the real and imagined indignities that enrage his devotees.

Trump prescribes a dose of national pride: "I will make America great again," he intones, assuming that a profusion of tribal pride will trickle down and dissolve the frustration that fuels their anger.

False pride is the drug offered by all demagogues. The only antidote to their quack remedy is the dignity everyone requires--that of a respected, secure, and fairly compensated place in society.

In practical terms, this means sharing the costs of modernization, disposing of no one, and dismantling impediments to social mobility. Absent inclusion and dignity, indignation only grows.
It's time to admit we don't know. The way to know isn't ideology. It's relationships. Trevor Ruddock Black

Fight hard, win the election, overstate your mandate, overreach - rinse and repeat. It happened with President Bush after his 3.5 million-vote second-term victory, "I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it." Similarly, with President Obama after winning a second term, his comments were summarized by the Washington Post: "I won. Deal with it." Invasion of Iraq, ramming through ObamaCare absent bi-partisan support, numerous executive orders - too often our leaders have translated election wins into ideological agendas that exceed their mandate. The result: pushback by the electorate, transactional change that does not stick and more partisan divide.



Overreach is a real risk for President-elect Trump. In 2016 Hillary won the popular vote by an estimated one million votes. Trump won the electoral college vote by an estimated 74 votes. We continue to be an evenly divided nation.

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Overreach is the living, breathing political product of confirmation bias - conforming and even distorting the data to confirm our opinions. What our leaders call a "movement" is usually a correction and even a repudiation of the previous leader's overreach. It is what happens when ideology and ego trump serving - not just our tribe - but all the people. It is time for President Outreach not President Overreach.



The Old 'War-based' Model Just Keeps Driving Us Apart

Elections are about winning the war by defeating the enemy. Governing is about winning the peace by transforming enemies into productive co-creators - it does not eliminate conflict and partisanship, but rather seeks to re-cast them in more constructive and sustainable ways. Unfortunately, we are a culture more skilled and entertained in political warfare and increasingly inept at, and bored in, peace-making and relationship rebuilding. Over-investing in political warfare empties us of financial and relational resources needed for constructive endeavors; and, like all wars, is eventually unaffordable and unsustainable.

History predicts what happens next. The winners attempt to assert their will on everyone because, after all, they won and elections matter. Today's social media - a new weapon of mass relational destruction - combined with our old adversarial model of leadership, leaves us not just divided but hostile to our fellow citizens, unwilling to compromise and unable to enlist the best of both sides.

ObamaCare provides an example. Obama attempted to extend medical coverage for millions of people. But between his leadership approach and Republican resistance, it was passed by one vote, along party lines. There was no consensus, collaboration, co-creation and thus no trust or buy-in. Now President-elect Trump who promised "repeal and replace" signals hesitation for an all-out repeal. Perhaps the "art-of-the-deal" guy sees the body-rejects-the-organ risk in the old-style cram-down leadership model. It produces too many oppositional groups invested in making "change" fail. Overreach puts the change partisans seek more at-risk. To quote marketing guru Ted Rubin: "Indifference is expensive, hostility unaffordable, and trust is priceless."

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This was an election less about Democrat vs. Republican. It was more personal than that - more about the ruling class vs. the ruining class. The former are elites who "know best;" the latter those who feel ruined by those who know best. Each election cycle seems to present a temporary new group of entitled persecutors and a different group of entitled victims - each unaccountable for the carnage they cause.

A New Relational Leadership Model for Merging Us

So where is a more productive model for moving forward? First I think we look at the changing demands of leadership in other sectors - business, non-profits, churches - especially in response to generational change. Millennials are now our largest workforce segment. They are asking and sometimes demanding more purposeful, team-oriented, participative, collaborative, co-creation leadership models - where diverse input translates into more effective, innovative and sustainable solutions. Strong leadership is getting a make-over: from a focus on the "strength" of the leader, to the strength the leader imparts into those led. Sixty-four percent of employers report adjusting their management style in the past five years to adapt to a younger workforce.



This new model is actually very old. Our democracy was founded on the relational balance of majority rule and minority protection. Time to extend that model.

Relational Leadership - my name for this new "old" model - puts building productive, engaged, sustainable relationships above everything else - including ideology and policy. Better, more sustainable ideology and policy will come from better, stronger, sustainable relationships. Conversely, ideology and policies that come from broken and dysfunctional relationships creates persecutors, victims and unsustainable transactional change. President Lincoln described democracy as "of the people, by the people, for the people" - Relational Leadership focuses on engaging those relationships - including those tempted to drop out. In this last election, an estimated 57 percent of those eligible voted, down from 58.6 in 2012 and 61.6 in 2008, leaving a smaller, more polarized group making a very large decision for all. Disengagement is the enemy of sustainable democracy; engagement is its best friend.

We don't need to ditch our ideology; we need to infuse it with a more relational ideology as a means toward our highest aim - strong, productive relationships. We need leadership that connects conservative-and-progressive, intellectual-and-worker, black-brown-white-yellow, young-and-old, urban-suburban-rural and all-genders. Our differences are inevitable and healthy, one of our greatest sources of innovation and variety. What a waste: leadership that squelches differences rather than levering, navigating and inviting them to yield the wonderful bounty they possess. Our big question is not: What legislative changes can we pass. Rather: What change can we sustain?

So, what is the first mission of Relational Leadership in facing this 50-50 divided nation? It is to affect a merger - to integrate the disintegrated. It is what President Lincoln did with his Team of Rivals - recruiting four rivals who ran against him for President to his cabinet as they faced the Civil War. It is what President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill did in merging our Allied Forces to combat Hitler and the Nazis. It is what Nelson Mandela did in the great reconciliation after apartheid in South Africa. They did what great leaders do; they bind us together.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., October 26 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

After not quite two weeks, this is what we know about President-elect Donald Trump. He is treating the American presidency as an opportunity both for nepotism and for personal enrichment. His first appointments signal that the far right tenor of his campaign will continue into his presidency, as well as the fact that he is way out of his depth.

Against this background, some Democrats are hoping that at least there are a few points of convergence. This is a huge mistake.

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President Obama seems to be in what some have called "horse-whisperer" mode, hoping that he may yet tutor Trump on the realities of the presidency. This will be the final episode of the most disappointing aspect of Obama's administration and of this otherwise admirable man--putting hopes for common ground over ugly realities that above all require toughness.

Obama is still at it, and Trump will play along only to the extent that he finds Obama a useful prop for "normalizing" this transition. He will not be much of a pupil.

Some Congressional Democrats, likewise, seem to think there may be areas of common ground, especially in the areas of trade policy and infrastructure. This is also mostly delusional.

The New York Times' Jennifer Steinauer wrote a misleading piece last week, apparently prompted by a conversation with Chuck Schumer, now the Democrats' senate leader. To hear Steinauer tell it, Democrats are fairly lined up looking for opportunities to work with Trump and somehow split him from the Republicans.

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Dream on. It's one thing to ritually declare that if Trump truly supports policies that help working Americans, Democrats will work with him. It's another thing to believe that he will.

Take the case of trade. There are three areas where the Trump program bears some superficial resemblance to what progressive Democrats have long been criticizing about the bipartisan, pro-corporate trade agenda.

Camp Trump has signaled that the new administration will make three early key initiatives. First, they will suspend negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the latest case of a trade deal that serves mainly corporate interests and has minor window dressing on labor and the environment.

Second, they will brand China a currency manipulator.

Third, they will advise Mexico and Canada of their intent to revise NAFTA.

So what's not to like? Plenty, it turns out.

For starters, there will be huge pushback from corporate elites and from the Congressional Republican leadership. A revised TPP, could be a Frankenstein, with just enough economic nationalism to annoy allies but plenty of corporate giveaways hidden in the fine print, and nothing for U.S. workers. Likewise a revised NAFTA.

On China, the time is long overdue for a harder U.S. policy on China's mercantilist policies that subsidize domestic production and bribes or coerces U.S. manufacturers to relocate to China. But pressing China to actually change its policies is very tricky business. It's work for knowledgeable grown-ups, not for ignorant manipulators of symbols.

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Trump has also been cavalier about threatening retaliatory tariffs, and not just against China. If Trump messes this up, we could end up with Mutually Assured Destruction of economic growth and no gain for U.S. manufacturing and workers.

We do need a very different world trade regime - one that allows nations to protect labor and environmental standards, police corporate misbehavior, and have industrial policies without being branded a free-trade violator. But that progressive vision of trade is diametrically the opposite of what Trump is actually likely to carry out.



It's one thing to ritually declare that if Trump truly supports policies that help working Americans, Democrats will work with him. It's another thing to believe that he will.



We don't really know yet, because Trump's people are still learning the ropes.

The risk is that Trump's first steps--announcing the renegotiation of NAFTA, suspending TPP, and branding China a currency manipulator--will produce grudging applause from Democrats, because at first blush they alter business as usual.

Trump style economic nationalism is likely to be other than free trade--but a form of nationalism that serves corporations, not workers. Expect Trump to call in a few IOUs with corporate CEOs and bring back a few high-profile, photo-op manufacturing jobs--the equivalent of George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" stunt on Iraq.

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In the short run, he could look good but the actual policies will turn out the bait and switch that is Donald Trump's trademark. Democrats would be wise to stay away until we see what the policies actually turn out to be.

Then there is the case of infrastructure, long a cause of progressive Democrats. Here again, Trump's version of an infrastructure program will not be genuine public investments. It will be mostly tax credits for businesses to invest in infrastructure projects, combined with accelerated privatization that gives away public assets.

Short run, this could produce some political gains for Trump. It could even produce some jobs, but nothing like those produced by true public investments. Here again, despite some superficial resemblance to the real thing, Democrats would be wise to stay away.

President Obama spent eight painful years seeking common ground with Republicans who spurned every effort in favor of working to destroy Obama. And these were actually normal if rightwing politicians, not neo-fascists. If there was no common ground to be had with Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, there is surely none with Donald Trump.

Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect and professor at Brandeis University's Heller School. In his spare time, he writes musicals. www.drumpfmusical.com His latest book is Debtors' Prison: The Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility.



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U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump smiles after making what he said was a major announcement, that he'd abide by the election results if he won, to supporters at a campaign rally in Delaware, Ohio, U.S. October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

President-Elect Trump is on track to enter office with the most blatant and potentially corrupting conflicts of interest in the history of American politics.

His Trump Organization companies span the globe and a vast array of business lines. Rather than separate himself fully from the corporation, however, he proposes to transfer control to a misnamed "blind trust" under the direction of his children. More of an all-seeing trust, this arrangement would do nothing to eliminate the staggering conflicts posed by ongoing connection to the Trump Organization.

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So long as Trump maintains his ownership stake, the conflicts are pervasive and inescapable, no matter his intentions -- although there is no reason to assume President Trump would try to diminish conflicts. During the election campaign, he showed no compunction about mixing business and politics - remember his hotel promotion disguised as a news conference or, more perniciously, his racist intimidation of a federal judge overseeing litigation involving Trump University. Astoundingly, the president-elect just took a meeting with Indian businessmen who are building a Trump-branded luxury apartment complex in Mumbai. Making matters still worse is his reliance on his children as political advisors at the same time they are charged with running the Trump Organization businesses; and the children themselves seem inclined to mix business and politics.

This is not an esoteric issue. Unless eliminated through a plan for Trump to divest his ownership of the businesses, those conflicts of interest will materially affect national policy-making across a broad range of areas.

The conflicts go on and on. The newly opened Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., located in the Old Post Office Building, just blocks away from the White House, will require the Trump organization to engage in frequent negotiation and dispute resolution with the government that Donald J. Trump himself heads. Foreign diplomats have already told The Washington Post they plan to stay at the hotel as a way to curry favor with the new president. "Why wouldn't I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, 'I love your new hotel!' Isn't it rude to come to his city and say, 'I am staying at your competitor?'" said one Asian diplomat.

Given the global scope of the Trump business complex, the possibility for foreign entanglements are especially great. How is the public to determine whether a foreign government or government-controlled enterprise negotiating with a Trump Organization business decided to go easy in a deal, or throw in a little extraneous sweetener? There's no way. Even if they are negotiating in good faith, it will be impossible for the Trump Organization representatives - who may well be the Trump children - to know.

These conflicts will be pervasive, unavoidable and consequential. The only way to avoid them is for Donald Trump to divest himself of his holdings in the business, which is what leading democracy advocates, including Public Citizen, and ethics attorneys are urging him to do. This would mean selling off his shares, not transferring them to his children. His children should separate themselves completely from the business, as well; at minimum, if they stay involved, they must be completely walled off from any policy discussions at the White House.

There are difficult ethical problems in life. This is not one of those. You can add your voice to those calling for President-Elect Donald Trump to divest his business holdings here.



Donald Trump was elected to the presidency with a promise to eliminate improper business influence in Washington, to break the stranglehold that commercial interests impose on government. There is no way to square that campaign commitment - and the even higher, ethical duties of the president - with the rampant, inescapable conflicts that will engulf the presidency if Trump maintains connections with the Trump Organization, including by maintaining ownership with control transferred to his children.

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A general who doesn't believe in North Korea's threat. A Federal Reserve chairman who doesn't believe in recessions. A surgeon general who doesn't believe in germs. Those are almost as bad as an Environmental Protection Agency transition head who doesn't believe in science. Meet Myron Ebell.

In the midst of a tumultuous start to Donald Trump's presidential administration, you may have missed the stories about him. Let me recap. Ebell is a renowned climate denier, lobbyist, long-time D.C. talking head and, sadly, a supporter of many polluting energy companies.

He's also heading up Trump's Environmental Protection Agency transition team.

That's right. President-elect Trump chose a science skeptic and ally to companies with long histories of pollution to start his EPA.

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The Environmental Protection Agency plays a vital role in protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate on which we rely. Ebell, however, denies the science of climate change. He opposes policies to protect clean air and water. He has a history of supporting policies that protect polluter profits over public health. In fact, he directs the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which received donations from polluters like Exxon and Murray Energy.

Now more than ever, we need a strong EPA. As 97 percent of scientists agree, climate change is real. It's here and it's doing damage. It's expected that 2016 will be the hottest year on record. Sea levels continue to rise as coastal towns flood on sunny days. Extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy and the Ellicot City floods happen not once-in-a-thousand years but seemingly every other. Asthma rates climb, especially in communities of color, as climate change degrades air quality. Mosquito borne illnesses grow as warmer weather lingers longer into fall.

Even the water in our homes and our schools isn't safe. Just ask the people of Flint. Incredibly resilient people who I have had to chance to meet on many occasions.

The American people need a strong EPA. We especially need strong climate champions. Myron Ebell is the exact opposite.

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But Ebell is only the head of the transition team, right, and not the actual EPA administrator who sets policies? First, he could still be administrator. He's on President-elect Trump's short list. But for now, yes, he's hiring the staff -- Myron supporters everywhere. He's setting the early priorities too -- and those won't include cutting carbon pollution for the 68 percent of African-Americans who live within 30 miles of a polluting coal-fired power plant.

Finally, and most importantly, I think of the old line: actions speak louder than words. President-elect Trump picked a climate denier and science skeptic to set up his EPA. He is favoring a system that could hurt the American people and make lots of money for the polluters. So while with his words, Donald Trump promises to be a president for all, his actions make clear he'll only be a president for the powerful and the polluters.

That's what's concerning. That's not what Americans want.

Donald Trump won the presidency (although not the popular vote) on his personality and his promises to change Washington. The American people didn't send him to the White House to roll back pollution limits or public health protections. Actually, a vast majority of Americans support action to address climate change. A majority of Republicans do too.

So if Donald Trump truly wants to be a president for the people, he should empower the EPA, not eviscerate it. President Trump should maintain the EPA's Clean Power Plan: established in 2015 to combat climate change, cut carbon pollution by nearly a third and boost clean energy. He should examine government subsidies to the meat industry, an industry which is inhumane and which also contributes more to climate change than most people understand. And importantly, he should end Myron Ebell's tenure atop EPA during the transition, not extend it into his administration.

In an open letter earlier in November, I urged President-elect Trump to break from the traditional molds of party politics and do right by the American people. He did the opposite. Donald Trump must not allow the special interests he promised to combat during his presidency instead control his administration. Appointing a polluter-friendly, D.C. insider is not what the American people want. Protecting polluter profits over public health isn't either.

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In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election, I struggled with how to address my school community. As Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, I am part of a school that cares deeply about the social, economic, and environmental conditions that shape the health of populations; conditions that are closely tied to the state of our politics. As an immigrant to this country, the election took on an even more personal relevance. Informed by both perspectives, the following is a version of a note I sent to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Like me, it is sad, but hopeful.

The results of the 2016 election are historic, and largely unexpected. The negative tenor of the political cycle we have just witnessed, the nature of Donald Trump's candidacy and his troubling statements about a range of issues and groups have left many of us anxious about what his victory could mean for the country and the world. My own reaction has been deeply informed by my experience as an immigrant to the United States, and as a father trying to explain an often distressing world to his children.

I was born in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean. As a teenager I immigrated to Canada before coming to the US in 1999 to pursue my Master's training. Like many immigrants, I came to this country because I saw it as a beacon, a place for pursuing dreams, and, eventually, living them. To me, and to others like me, the US represented an opportunity to do this on a scale unparalleled anywhere in the world.

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That is why it was such an extraordinary shock to the system to wake up to a country that has, seemingly, embraced the very opposite of these aspirations. In electing Donald Trump, we have chosen a leader who launched his campaign for higher office with an explicitly anti-immigrant appeal, an appeal that was quite clearly tinged with racism. This campaign was punctuated by moments demonizing "the other." This theme emerged time and again, from Trump's initial branding of Mexicans as "rapists," to his calls to ban all Muslims from entering the country. I will not even speak to his unacceptable comments about women. Trump's success, despite his innumerable remarks demeaning large segments of the population, is a sad commentary on how far we as a society still have to go towards achieving equity and respect for all.

In light of his victory, I find myself asking: do I and other "others" belong in a country that has just elected an anti-other candidate? I can only imagine how other immigrants and other too-often marginalized groups feel now.

Fear of "the other" is particularly familiar to us in public health. During outbreaks of disease, we have seen how certain groups can be unjustly blamed for spreading contagion. In the 14th century, Jews were blamed for the Black Death; more recently, Africans faced travel difficulties because of fears that they might spread Ebola. By playing to this anxiety, Trump made it clear that we have not yet moved beyond the temptation to scapegoat groups when times are hard.

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I think about this, and I wonder how to explain the election to my children. The only explanation that makes sense to me is that those who would demonize immigrants are not the majority in this country. They are, one hopes, a very small minority, who succeeded in influencing a much larger national phenomenon. This is, after all, a nation built by immigrants, one that has historically celebrated their diversity of experience.

I have to believe that we are better than this. I have to believe that, despite what has happened, we are still moving towards being a country that is ever-more inclusive, more accepting of the other. I am encouraged in this belief by the many examples of tolerance and respect I see around me every day, among the academic community of which I am a part.

The campaign of the last year has exposed hatred in our society, making it unignorable. Now that these forces have been so thoroughly brought to light, we must hope that we will be able to truly reckon with them, to build a better society. The election has made us acknowledge fear of the other and shown us just how widespread it is. May we hope, going forward, to move towards a country that does not reject the other.

I realize that I am in many ways fortunate. I have the extraordinary privilege of serving as the dean of a prominent school of public health. I have resources that allow me to push for positive change, and to add my voice to the public debate. Recently, I have found myself wondering how others feel, those who do not have such advantages, who are more economically and socially vulnerable, lacking a voice in the broader conversation around the issues that affect them most. My hope is that they know that there are millions of people who support them, respect them, and value them. It is incumbent on us, in the months and years ahead, to express this support in ways big and small. This means continuing, through our scholarship and our advocacy, to serve the disadvantaged; it also means reaching out, with empathy, on a person-by-person basis, never losing sight of the power of individual kindness in the face of hatred and intolerance.
I refused to support Donald Trump in the primaries and in the general election. I was sure he was the wrong person for the job. (For clarification: I was equally certain that Hillary Clinton was the wrong person.) So what should I do now that Mr. Trump is President-elect Trump? I should support him.

Don't get me wrong. The election did nothing to change my mind. I still think he is the wrong person to sit in the oval office. The support I am ready to offer is not contingent upon any change of mind Mr. Trump might make or change of policy he might institute. It is based on my responsibilities both as a citizen of this country and as a disciple of Jesus. Had Mrs. Clinton been elected instead of Mr. Trump, I would do the same thing.

The fact is, I did the same thing when Mr. Obama was elected in 2008. Though I was impressed with the man, I was not impressed with some of his policies, and voted for his opponent. But when he was elected, I gave him my support and publicly encouraged others to do the same.

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It would be a mistake, however, to confuse giving support with giving approval. Over the last eight years, I have both supported the president and objected to his policies. Support does not imply turning a blind eye to wrongs and injustices. That is not support at all; it is partisanship.

I intend to show Mr. Trump the same support I've shown President Obama, and would have shown Secretary Clinton, had she been elected. Furthermore, I think it is incumbent upon every Christian to do the same. In fact, I think it is a rejection of biblical teaching to do otherwise.

St. Paul ministered and wrote during the reigns of at least two Roman emperors, Claudius and Nero. It was during the reign of the latter, who was infamous for his hostility to Christians, that the apostle wrote, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority,.." Paul urged Christians to pray for the very emperor who provoked anti-Christian sentiment, sanctioned persecution and eventually (either directly or indirectly) ordered the apostle's execution.

Prayer is a big part of the support Christians are required to give their nation's leaders, but it is not all. St. Peter, who may also have been martyred during Nero's reign, told his fellow Christians to submit themselves "for the Lord's sake ... to the king, as the supreme authority." Likewise, St. Paul wrote, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities..."

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This submission is not docility or mindless obedience. It helps where it can, by prayer and by compliance and, sometimes, even by prophetic rebuke. It is possible to submit and speak one's mind at the same time, for submission is not silence. There is a long history in the biblical faiths of speaking inconvenient truths to national leaders in the name of God and for the sake of people.

Biblical submission is thorough-going but it is not unconditional. It is conceivable that situations could arise in which Christians must respectfully refuse to comply with governmental rulings. When the authorities arrested the apostles Peter and John and placed them under a gag order, the apostles refused to obey. They said, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." When obedience to the civil authorities requires disobedience to God, civil disobedience is not only permitted, it is required.
After the election, I have been accused of being intolerant. Text messages have poured in and conversations have ensued about my vehement reaction to the results and implications of a Donald Trump presidency. To be completely candid, my comments cost me my job at an evangelical church. Several "worried" family members have accused me of pouting and being a sore loser.

Please allow me to clear to the air.

No, I am not being a sore loser because Hillary Clinton lost the election. Yes, however, I am lamenting that Trump will be the next president of the United States. This is because the inflammatory rhetoric that Trump has peddled and openly courted has and will continue to divide this nation and cause us to harm ourselves.

Consider the consequences of Trump's language and, now, of his victory. Just one day after his victory, racists across the country, such as the KKK, now further emboldened, have uninhibitedly appeared into the public. Muslims and immigrants alike have been harassed. Stories have flooded social media of Muslim women's hijabs being pulled off of their heads, black people assaulted or having their property vandalized, hispanic children harassed by their classmates (told that they are being kicked out of the country etc.), LGBTQ people insulted and shamed, and young girls grabbed by their genitals. Read some of the reports for yourself.

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The irony is, whether it was the issue of abortion, an insatiable hunger for power and desire for control, or something else altogether, 81% of evangelicals voted for a candidate that violates the core tenets of the Christian faith. Another way to look at it, 19% of evangelicals refused to vote for someone that contaminates what is considered sacred to so many.

Whereas Jesus calls us to love our enemies, Trump is for killing the entire families of terrorists (regardless of the accused's guilt or innocence).

Jesus implores us to love all of our neighbors (not conditional), while Trump wants to profile some of them based on their religion and expel others from the country.

Jesus calls the merciful blessed, but Trump is for brutal torture such as waterboarding, establishing "law and order" (which is dog-whistle language for squelching protestors and harshly treating people of color), and the death penalty, which reveals that he does not value all lives in his pro-life platform.

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The list could go on, including his stances on healthcare, taxes, etc. Instead of lingering on all the various ways that Trump is un-Christlike (perhaps even anti-), remember that the well-known "Fruits of the Spirit" passage in Galatians 5 is a litmus test of what Christians' lives should look like: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." (NRSV) Measured by these characteristics, Trump is the very opposite of these marks of spirit-filled or spirited Christianity.

So let me be perfectly clear: I am intolerant. I refuse to tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and sexism. If I hear it, I will call it out. If I see it, I will report it. If I hear about it, I will make it known. I say all of this unapologetically. In the same way that Jesus intolerably wrecked the Temple and drove out those that were causing others harm and taking advantage them, I am prepared to resist - by any means necessary - such treatment of the people of this nation.

This is my pledge of allegiance.

Now the time has come for me to walk away from the evangelical church. It is not an act of malice, but one of love. It is not disrespect, but it is an intolerance to that which distorts and perverts Christianity in America. To be clear: while I believe in some of the Christian church's "mission," I cringe at the thought of what evangelical Christianity will look like after four years of courting their messianic candidate, Donald J. Trump. The next four years will be trying, for people of faith and those that are not religious.

In my intolerance, I am committed to fight and pray for love, for hope, for justice, for peace, for equality, for education, for inclusion, and for the restoration of the evangelical church with Jesus' instructions and invitation.

I long for the day when all evangelicals fully embrace God's diverse love and purpose for all of creation. Until then, good riddance.

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"The region is superlative in its scenic beauty and measures up fully and beyond the requirements for its establishment as National Monument and later a National Park. It is my personal view that from the standpoint of scenic beauty, it is the finest region in Alaska. I have traveled through Switzerland extensively, have flown over the Andes, and am familiar with the Valley of Mexico and with other parts of Alaska. It is my unqualified view that this is the finest scenery that I have ever been privileged to see."

-- Ernest Gruening, Director of U.S. Territories/Governor of Alaska/United States Senator



Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska from the air, shows the variety of distinct geological features that comprise this amazing region in southeast Alaska--glaciers, ice fields, alpine mountains, moraine, tundra...and that's just what you can see in this photo! Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Everything about the terrain of Wrangell St. Elias National Park is menacing, from the drive in on McCarthy or Nebesna roads, to the rocky moraine, glaciers, and dense tundra that covers the landscape--you won't have a flat foot for the whole of your stay, if you do it right. It's not easy to explore a park as large as Wrangell St. Elias. It is the largest national park in the entire system--more than 13 million acres--larger than each of the nine smallest states combined and the size of six Yellowstones. It contains nine of the 16 highest peaks in the United States and is home to 60% of the glacier ice in all of America. Fewer than 250 visitors visit the park on average per day (for context, Grand Canyon National Park might have one million visitors at any given time.) It's the remotest of the remote. We could probably write this entire article using superlatives, but we'll stop there and venture off instead into the topic of how much there is to do in this wild mountain utopia.

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The rugged high-country is covered year round with snow, a most enticing feature to mountaineers, glacier explorers, ice climbers, and skiers. Where glaciers meet land, the water flows into braided rivers that weave throughout a tundra for people to paddle on and where backpacking is king. Trails are few, allowing experienced hikers freedom to blaze their own trails in backcountry. The diverse range of environments that trickle down from the high mountains opens up a world of hunting, fishing, and paddling opportunities for land-and-water loving adventurers. Cultural explorers get their fill in the historic town of Kennecott, the most accessible area in the park, where a turn-of-the-century copper mine that was all but abandoned in 1938 provides a glimpse into the history of the area and how communities of people came to live there. And to see a vast wilderness that is guaranteed to take your breath away, there are experienced bush pilots operating in the region to soar with you above it all.



Breathing in the morning air in the Donaho Basin. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

For this article, we wanted to outline three awesome adventures in a park that gave us one of our favorite experiences of the year and our lives. We've also included some general info including how to get there. Support in Wrangell, as it is causally called, is days away once you are in the backcountry so it is vital to map a solid plan in advance of your visit. Park rangers and local guide outfits are on location to help you craft a great adventure. Because of its remoteness and challenging terrain, we recommend a guided adventure--which is what we did--to get the most out of your experience in Wrangell St. Elias National Park (check out McCarthy-based St. Elias Guides, the leaders of guided exploration in the area.) With that, a closer look at three awesome adventures!

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Ice climbing

It is estimated that there are more than 150 glaciers in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, so it is not surprising that glacier exploration is a huge draw to the area. Some like to repel downward into crevasses and moulins, others like to get vertical height by scaling walls made of ice--we opted to do the latter. Ice climbing is very similar to rock climbing but it is done on a glacial ice face. Wearing crampons, a helmet, and armed with an ice axe, you will start from the foot of a wall and work your way upward with the support of a guide or a climbing partner who will handle the belay from below (a belay is a term for a rope support; belaying the act of operating it--a safety net if you fall while climbing the ice.) The nature of this sport is such that it is of moderate difficulty as you will be pulling the whole of your body weight on a vertical wall. We are a testament that with the help of knowledgeable climbing guides, anyone can learn and practice the basics of ice climbing in only one day, which by the end of you will be waving to your posse down below with a huge sense of accomplishment (while cashing in on some killer photo ops for Instagram!)



Stef learns to ice climb with her belay support standing below, a technical guide from St. Elias Guides named Kelly, an all-star climber and our backpacking guide through the park. Photo credit Jonathan Irish



Jonathan's view from the top of a 70-foot glacier wall he just climbed. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Backpacking

There are no developed campgrounds in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, so if you want to camp, you'll be heading into backcountry--a most remarkable way to dive headfirst into a remote wilderness experience in this region. Depending on how your backpacking trip is designed, you will face a whole set of different kinds of terrain--thrashing through dense alder brush, challenging rocky moraines for traction, and walking on crispy glacial ice--it's like walking on a different planet. Our 5-day glacier/tundra backpacking adventure unexpectedly turned into a technical backpack as we had to incorporate ice-climbing techniques using crampons, an ice axe, and climbing rope to bypass unexpected obstacles (vertical glacier walls) while route finding our way across the Kennicott Glacier. It's a good thing we learned some ice-climbing basics on day one. Yeehaw Alaska! There was no shortage of spills, cuts, bruises, blisters, headaches, lost and broken gear, lessons learned, and friendships formed along our journey--it was a most glorious foray into the Wrangell backcountry, a place that rightfully draws outdoorsman from all over the world.



Traveling on foot toward the Kennicott Glacier. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish



All set up to camp atop a glacier in Wrangell high country. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Flightseeing

A flightseeing tour over Wrangell St. Elias will immediately open your eyes to how rough, wild, and vast America's largest national park really is (and how tiny you are in comparison.) From this aerial vantage point you will see glacier after glacier, sharp mountain peaks, braided rivers, tundra landscape, and wildlife peaking out from its depths. One great reason to hop on a bush flight is to see the Bagley Ice Field, the largest sub-polar glacier in North America. It is among the most impressive features in the park, geographically speaking, one that you otherwise probably wouldn't see unless viewing it from the air. Talk about lending context to the experience of exploring the park on foot.



Flightseeing in Wrangell St. Elias National Park with Wrangell Mountain Air. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne



From the vantage point of the air, you start to get a sense of the massive scale, and just how rugged and remote this area of the Alaskan wilderness really is. Pictured here, the Bagley Ice Field. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

How to get there: Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve is one of only three national parks in Alaska (there are eight in total) that is accessible by private vehicle, though it is not always an easy road to get there. The central landing spot in the park is in the town of Kennecott, where you will find the park visitor center that resides in the relics of more than 40 restored abandoned mine sites (where the National Park Service offices are also located.) Kennecott is located just a couple of miles from the start of the Root Glacier and will be the jumping off point for most of your backcountry- and glacier-based adventures. To get there, you will need to either fly in from adjacent towns or drive in on one of two primitive roads--Nebesna and McCarthy roads. Both are rough and tumble, both are an experience in and of themselves, and both are managed by the state of Alaska rather than the park service--though do check in with the park service in advance to get a status of driving conditions, recommendations for RV's and travel trailers, and always carry a spare! Nebesna Road is 41 miles of gravel road starting in northern town of Slana. McCarthy Road is 61-miles long starting in the western town of Chitina. It is potholed, pockmarked, washboard, and is not regularly maintained. We took a leap of faith and drove the road with Wally the Airstream in tow--it is where he endured his first flat tire of the year!



Starting the long, brain-shaking drive down McCarthy Road into the heart of Wrangell St. Elias National Park with Wally the Airstream in tow. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne


Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve as seen from from the air on our way into the Noatak Wilderness Preserve. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Have you ever felt that you just wanted to be somewhere completely wild? Away from services, from roads, from people, from all signs of humanity? If that sounds enchanting, you might consider planning an escape to one of Earth's last true wilderness places: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. There are no roads into or inside of the park. There are no designated campgrounds. There are no established trails. On average, there are fewer than 50 visitors on any given day. Most landmarks found on topographic maps don't even have names. It's a land of extreme solitude--just you and and the central Brooks Range in the Arctic north.

Because of its hard-to-get-to location and all that entails, we have known throughout the duration of our project this year that exploring Gates would be one of the most difficult national parks of them all. In some ways it was, and in some ways it wasn't. It was for sure the most expensive, and it was by far the most remote, but it was certainly not the most challenging--thanks in large part to the local guide company who helped to light our way into backcountry.

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This is not a place where travelers venture unless skilled backcountry outdoorsman with exceptional survival skills. With that in mind, we signed on for a five-day backpacking and float trip down the Noatak River. Once the trip began, it took two experienced guides five days to lead ten guests down 82 miles of one mighty river in a quest to explore one of the very most remote parks in the system. Everything about it was epic.



Floating down one of six of Alaska's designated 'Wild and Scenic Rivers': the mighty Noatak! Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

For this article we wanted to break down the specifics of how a guided trip like this works. Taking a closer look at the mechanics of it might help you decide how to design your own trip, and/or whether or not an ultimate backcountry experience is something you even want to take on--it is really rugged out there. Even accompanied by some of the best guides in Alaska working for a company that is as experienced as anyone operating in the area, there are natural aspects of a trip like this that aren't suited for everyone. However, if you are keen to get deep into the Alaskan bush, love all-terrain camping and Mother Nature's extreme attitude shifts, can adjust to unforeseen circumstances and can live without connectivity for some time while traveling with others whom you don't know all that well close by your side--THIS TRIP. Seriously, this adventure remains one of the great experiences of our entire year.



A grizzly catches his dinner on the shores of the Noatak. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish



Up close and personal with a fox in Gates of the Arctic. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Onward with a look at the mechanics of a guided trip in Gates of the Arctic. This is a general idea of what-to-expect based on our experience this year--itineraries often change as do logistics.

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Selecting and booking the trip - We knew we wanted to spend many days in the national park so that we could see as much of it as possible. We spent a little time researching the different experiences available in the area, and ultimately, we chose to travel with Alaska Alpine Adventures (AAA) because they have a very good reputation in the travel industry and were operating a trip that looked immersive and awesome. So we gave them a call to discuss options. Confirming that there was space enough for us (we nabbed the last two spots) we booked it then and there and they planned the majority of the rest.



Our fearless guides from Alaska Alpine Adventures, Nick and Sean, shuffle gear from the float plane to our first camp on the Noatak River. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Cost - This is the kind of guided trip that you save up for, and/or splurge on. It is a difficult undertaking to bring a group of travelers with various levels of outdoor skills safely into the Alaskan backcountry for an extended period of time. It is such a unique challenge, in fact, that there are very few companies running trips in Gates. Those companies who are operating there send their best guides, their best gear, and the area's best pilots to ensure your safety. It's pretty remarkable how much behind-the-scenes planning and coordination is constantly going on that you are free from worrying about as a guest. And having the peace of mind that your safety is their number one priority? Priceless. It is for all of those reasons that trips like the one we took aren't seen on your budget travel pages. It's also important to factor gear cost into a trip like this. There are a variety of things you will need, and because of the unpredictable weather systems found in the Alaskan Arctic, you will want high quality equipment. Is all of that cost worth it? If you can swing it without going bankrupt, we think so, absolutely.



Inflatable Sea Tiger kayaks--our ride down the river. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Gearing up - When you book your trip, you will receive a gear list. Most of what you will need is available at REI, Bass Pro Shop, and on Amazon.com. If you are an adventurer, (and if you are heading off on a trip like this one you probably are) you probably have a lot of the gear you will need already. The company you travel with will most likely provide tents, boat gear, personal flotation devices (PFDs), paddles, etc.

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Heading out - Once your trip is arranged and the date of departure arrives, you'll fly into Fairbanks for a one-night stay at a local hotel where you will meet the group and work with the guides to flesh out your gear and make sure you have the necessary items and that everything is waterproofed. The next morning you will fly in two bush flights on float planes (seaplanes)--one to Bettles where you will rendezvous with the National Park Visitor Center and receive a briefing about park safety; then another to a remote area near the Noatak River, your water-based highway through Gates. After setting up camp, evening activities usually consist of getting to know your traveling companions over a meal and hot drinks and learning about the area and what to expect in the coming days from your guides.

The daily grind - After waking up early, eating breakfast, and gearing up, you'll hit the river in inflatable Sea Tiger kayaks and begin your multi-day voyage. Full days on the water will consist almost entirely of paddling, with stops throughout the day to stretch, eat lunch, and to watch grizzly bears in their natural habitat--awesome. During our 5-day float trip down the Noatak, we crossed 82 miles (about 16-miles per day on average) paddling from about 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.



Stopping at lunch doubles as a chance to cast a line into the Noatak River. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

The extraction - On this particular trip, our exit from the Noatak was a short bush flight to Kobuk Valley National Park situated nearby. Because they are near Arctic neighbors, it made sense logistically for our project to combine the two park experiences, though we'll write about them separately (Kobuk is teed up next.) If not continuing on as we did, you will fly back to Fairbanks then on to wherever your travels might take you.

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The expected - There are no showers on a trip like this. The entire group will start to smell in unity. There are no toilets. You will dig "cat holes" (6-inch holes in the ground dug by small shovel) to do your daily deed in. Everything must be bear-proofed. Eating becomes sport. And you will experience group dynamics in a whole new way... not everybody has a good day everyday for various reasons--cameras break, gear gets damaged, people get sick, uncontrollable expectations are unmet, comfort zones reside thousands of miles away--and how individuals deal with such situations will absolutely impact everyone. It's not always pretty. That is just the nature of group travel. In the end though, and we've seen so many times while traveling on guided trips, strife eventually fades away and you will form lasting and unique bonds with the other travelers and guides because you have all experienced something amazing together.



Such a happy bunch! Fellow travelers, we will cherish our time spent with you all in Gates always! Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

The unexpected - Maybe your waders aren't fully waterproofed and your feet are freezing every day while on the water. Maybe a magneto blows in your bush plane while in flight and your expert pilot lays you down on a remote lake. Maybe at that lake you meet a video crew who is creating a documentary film about stopping construction of a road through the park that will damage migratory patterns of birds, salmon and big game--and maybe amidst all of that you find yourself networking while tempering anxiety from your near-death experience... not exactly the kind of adventure you had in mind. Plainly, shit happens. It happens all the time on trips like this. Being adaptable and looking to the bright side is key to powering through unexpected situations and enjoying yourself. Once you are out there, there is no turning back, so you might as well make the best of it.

That's the basic flow of a guided backpacking and float trip down the Noatak River in Alaska's Brooks Range. All in all, we had no proper showers, zero broken bones, hiked 20-something miles, flew four bush flights, had 23 bear encounters, spotted 12 bird species (thanks to our new friends, the bird ninjas!); consumed about 1 zillion calories, and endured 10 days of non-stop laughter--people can be very funny when you take away all of the typical distractions of life and plop them down into the wilderness together somewhere. Epic trip, and an experience we'll cherish forever.

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Sutton Foster and ensemble in Sweet Charity

Photo: Monique Carboni

Sweet Charity--that big, brassy "Big Spender" musical created by Bob Fosse as he was leaving the world of standard musical comedy for something dark and macabre (i.e. Pippin and Chicago)--is back, in a pint-sized off-Broadway production which necessarily cuts down on brass (orchestral), neon and girls. Not, seemingly, a recipe for success; but this new Charity is built around an irrepressibly delectable Sutton Foster, who--with significant assistance from director Leigh Silverman (Violet)--gives the show a refreshingly different flavor and thoroughly wins the day.

Fosse's Sweet Charity has had a checkered life since it opened on Broadway in January 1966. We call it Fosse's Charity because while he is not the author, he is imprinted all over the material. And not only in dance language. He selected the property as a vehicle for his wife, Gwen Verdon; he selected the songwriters and producers; oversaw the adaptation; and he himself wrote the book, initially, using the pseudonym Bert Lewis (as in Robert Louis Fosse). Fosse then saw the wisdom of firing the librettist and placing the thing in the hands of Neil Simon, which made a significant difference. (Fosse, Simon and composer Cy Coleman had earlier collaborated on the 1962 musical, Little Me; Fosse and lyricist Dorothy Fields had a major 1959 hit with the flimsy Verdon-vehicle, Redhead.)

The original production did well enough, though overshadowed by that season's Man of La Mancha and Mame. But the not-infrequent revivals--including one staged by Fosse himself--have demonstrated the show's main problem. The incomparable Verdon was the dance hall hostess with a heart of gold; her character name is Charity Hope Valentine, and not accidentally. But while Charity is 'of the streets'--in the source material (Fellini's "Nights of Cabiria"), she is indeed a streetwalker rather than a somewhat ambiguous dance hall hostess--Verdon had a special, comical magic. This filtered the harshness, almost as if to say: Charity isn't really unsavory, that's Gwen up there. Later Charitys (including Debbie Allen, Ann Reinking, Donna McKechnie and Christina Applegate) have accentuated the toughness. If this hapless dance hall hostess isn't lovable and hopeful and as heartwarming as a valentine, the show can leave a grimy aftertaste.

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It is unclear, at first, what to make of this new revival from the provocative off-Broadway company which calls itself The New Group. The opening is severely altered; instead of Charity singing a self-deprecating number ("You Should See Herself") to her boyfriend, who immediately thereafter steals her money and pushes her into the Central Park lake, this Charity sings it to four different boyfriends before being dunked. Things pick up--as they always do--with "Big Spender." But instead of it being a dance spectacular for the hostesses, it's more integrated here: Charity herself takes part in the number, and they incorporate male dance-hall patrons determinedly groping and clutching the girls. Rather than falling into the natural trap of trying to pay homage to Fosse, choreographer Joshua Bergasse (On the Town)--here and elsewhere--contributes dances that are more humorous than graphic.



Sutton Foster and Shuler Hensley in Sweet Charity

Photo: Monique Carboni

Then comes the next set piece, the 60's nightclub number which goes under the name "Rich Man's Frug." None of Fosse's grand, vulgar variations; rather, Bergasse gives us his rather small ensemble garbed in white, a clutch of snooty, dancing rich people (with little frug). Once Charity slips into the nightclub, we see what Foster, Silverman and Bergasse have in store for us. Foster joins the dance, yes; but unlike the justly celebrated Verdon, Foster's Charity does not dance. Rather, she tries to dance, with missed beats and knees akimbo; so instead of getting Fosse's sex-on-the-dance-floor showstopper, we have this ugly duckling foundering amidst a circle of haughtily towering dancers. As a result of which, "Rich Man's Frug" is not a production number for the preening ensemble; it's a comic number built around the social and physical awkwardness of our heroine.

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We then move into the scene between Charity and the second-rate Italian movie star, Vittorio Vidale. Let us add that Joel Perez--the 'other man' in Fun Home--gives a bright and altogether delightful performance, playing four supporting male roles. When we get into his sleek penthouse with (as the artful Dorothy Fields put it) "a bedspread made from three kinds of fur," it suddenly hits us: this production of Charity has been conceived and staged not as a grand Fosse musical, but as a Neil Simon comedy. Which, in retrospect, it is. (When Fosse begged Simon to take over the show, Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple were Broadway's reigning comedy hits.)

Simon writes funny, as we know or at least those of us who have been around long enough know. Foster's varied talents include comedy, and she proves to be perfectly in tune with the material. The focus in this production becomes even clearer when Shuler Hensley comes on at the end of the first act as the shy and insecure accountant Oscar. One of the book's brightest ideas was to put the mismatched pair in a stuck elevator for a scene and song ("I'm the Bravest Individual"). With Foster and Hensley--who were previously paired in Young Frankenstein--this plays like gangbusters, or like a stretch of The Odd Couple, and the theatre patrons go out for intermission on a comic high.

And there you have it: this reconfigured Charity is a Neil Simon comedy with tunefully rhythmic songs, with a leading lady who sings her heart out--but who, unlike Fosse's muse Gwen Verdon--dances on the wrong beat with knees a-knockin'. So we not only have a likable and lovable heroine; the whole show is happier.

Foster is altogether superb; it almost feels like she's jumped back to Thoroughly Modern Millie, when she not only enchanted us but surprised us. Hensley is wonderful as the shy and neurotic actuary who falls in love with Charity's virginal (!) qualities, easily an equal to the understated John McMartin who was so very droll in the role. Watching Foster and Hensley playing the elevator scene and the second act coffee shop scene, one muses that they could indeed, maybe, play The Odd Couple.

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Perez adds robust humor, a strong voice, and a welcoming presence as Charity's no-good beau Charlie (whose name is tattooed on her arm), the sweet-singing Italian movie star, "The Rhythm of Life"-spouting Daddy Brubeck and the hard-boiled dance hall owner Herman with that high, ringing tenor voice. It seems that whenever the pace lags or Foster is merely catching a breath, Perez is there to amuse us. (These roles were intended for--and to our knowledge--have always been played by four different actors.) Asmeret Ghebremichael and Emily Padgett make a happy pair as Charity's dance-hall friends Nickie and Helene (who, despite their cynicism, picture a rosy future in "Baby, Dream Your Dream"); and seven well-selected dancers keep the show breezing along.



Emily Padgett, Sutton Foster and Asmeret Ghebremichael in Sweet Charity

Photo: Monique Carboni

Derek McLane's scenery is minimal; the space is configured with risered seats surrounding a rectangular dance floor, and if you're lucky you'll get a spot--like this viewer did--where Foster is practically reclining in your very own lap. That said, McLane makes the most of the resources and contributes mightily to the proceedings, while costume designer Clint Ramos offers some perfectly suitable and perfectly ghastly '60s styles.

Some Broadway musical fans are likely to grumble about the reduction of Ralph Burns' vigorous orchestrations--in which you can almost smell the dance-hall sweat--to five measly players; and further complain that the big second act production number "I'm a Brass Band" feels denuded without a single trumpet or trombone growling away. On the contrary; if you must do Charity with five pieces, orchestrator Mary-Mitchell Campbell has found a most satisfactory way. It turns out that the primary orchestral flavor needed here is not a trumpet, but a growlingly-dirty saxophone. Georgia Stitt leads a ferocious all-girl ensemble placed on a platform above the action, and they truly rock.
I've championed long walks for leaders for years, have taken them myself and received glowing reports from those who did the same. This one, the one I just survived - yes, survived - was different. I kept thinking of the Sesame Street song: One of these things is not like the others.

Taking long walks is good for you, no question. They can be inspiring, invigorating and useful because in most cases, on day three, my life automatically properly reprioritizes itself. It was time for another physical, mental and spiritual re-boot. My friend, Jan, wanted to go with me.

The Cotswold Way seemed a good choice. A website describes it thus:



Almost the entire trail runs through the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and passes through a succession of enchanting English villages, featuring traditional Cotswold cottages and welcoming country pubs. Cross fields bounded by hedges and stone walls as the trail twists and turns through undulating and stunning landscapes. You will enjoy expansive views, stumble across Neolithic sites and be surprised by elegant village churches.



What's not to like? A company specializing in self-guided walking holidays promised handpicked accommodations and baggage transfers, so all Jan and I had to carry each day were our lunches, which would be provided each morning, our hiking poles, and a detailed guidebook. Signposts with acorns would point the way. We chose the 10-day version, which would have us walking between 8-13 miles a day.



I broke in my new boots by walking two miles on my treadmill each morning. When Jan and I met at the Seattle airport, we were ready, excited.

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I've been home for a week now and during my recovery, it occurred to me that our journey seems a useful analogy between what a leader's expectations are and what he/she may encounter. The fantasy versus the reality, if you will.

CW Fantasy: After a good night's sleep in a cozy B&B, we would study our route for the day over coffee and breakfast, be handed our lunches, put on our boots, grab our sticks and set off.

CW Reality: When there is a prevalent smell of mildew in a stately but ancient home and your host's Jack Russell has regularly peed on a corner of your bed for the last eight years, it is hard to get a good night's sleep. These would have been tolerable if I could have had my morning coffee with cream. I don't smoke, rarely drink and don't do drugs, not even those that are legal in Washington. I do require coffee with cream. The English drink tea with milk, not cream. At a B&B, if you ask for cream for your coffee, your host will appear stunned, as if you'd requested a bit of roasted badger with your eggs. One rather severe host replied, "Cream is not allowed in this house!" But you're good with clotted cream on your scones and butter on your sandwiches, I wanted to point out. And didn't.

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CW Fantasy: We would step out of the B&B onto a well-marked path each morning and spend the day enjoying "expansive" views, fill our lungs with sweet-smelling air, and stop on a peak for lunch. And of course, there would be signposts.

CW Reality: There weren't always signposts. Some had fallen to the ground and pointed nowhere. Some were confusing, like this one.





Some posts were absent altogether, and when two roads diverged in a yellow wood, we sometimes made the wrong choice, which made all the difference. On day three we walked 15 1/2 miles, as opposed to the 11 we were supposed to walk. Another wrong choice put us on this path.

That is mud and cow dung. I slipped and fell in it. When Jan tried to help me up, she fell on top of me. We should have taken a selfie.

CW Fantasy: I would make myself available to any messages the universe might send me. I'd listen to birds and bleating sheep and anticipated the green growth my mind would take from hills and pastures. I hoped the sun and wind would tell me what to do.

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CW Reality: Pheasant shooting season began on day four and the playlist for the next few days was gunshot, which drowned out bleating sheep and the wind. You engage different muscles when you flinch and duck. My thoughts were not lofty. No insights, no clarity about my life. My thoughts were more along the lines of - How come my phone says we've walked five miles when it feels like 10? How many poor pheasants are being slaughtered? Why would anybody put butter on a ham and cheese sandwich? And arriving at another incredibly steep path - You've got to be kidding! Haven't the English heard of switchbacks? On day 4 my priorities did shift. Making it to a pub became #1. Speaking of pubs...

CW - Fantasy: Our daily reward would be arriving in a picturesque village each afternoon, in time for a wander, a meal in a pub called The Red Lion, The White Hart, The Black Swan, The Drunken Duck, or The Cat & the Custard Pot, then stroll to our nearby, cozy B&B.

CW - Reality: While a few of our B&B's were in picturesque villages with at least one excellent pub, most were near the path, quite a distance from a village or a pub. To get to a pub, we'd need to call a taxi. And another to return us to our B&B. On two nights, we were too tired to go anywhere.

CW Fantasy: The views will be worth it.

CW Reality: To get to "expansive views", we had to climb. Yes, "the trail twists and turns through undulating and stunning landscapes" but two miles on a slightly elevated treadmill at home did not even begin to prepare me for 10-13 miles ascending and descending seriously steep paths that required planting my hiking pole at every step. I recalled the last lines of Beckett's novel, The Unnamable, in which a character says.

I can't go on.

I'll go on.

It became our joke, our mantra.

Me: "I can't go on."

Jan: "I'll go on."

CW - Fantasy: I'd lose a few pounds.

CW - Reality: I didn't. Seriously unfair and how is that even possible?!

Let's consider leading, the fantasy and the reality of leadership.

Leadership - Fantasy: When you launch a company or take on a leadership role it's essential to have a clear and compelling picture of where you want to go. Robust work, global clients eager to provide case studies proving the value of what it is that you do, happy employees who demonstrate high levels of collaboration, accountability and a bias toward action. You will, of course, give others the credit for success, while savoring the satisfaction that your work, your ideas, your vision have come so fully to life. And you will be well compensated.

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Leading - Reality: In reality, leadership demands everything you've got and a whole lot that you don't "got", so you have to go out and find it. Leading doesn't always show immediate signs of success. It's only when you make the effort each day, when you're tired and frustrated and somewhat lost in the complexity of your role, that good may later come of it

In my second book, Fierce Leadership, a memo to leaders begins:

"Congratulations. You are a leader. It's a heavy load but someone has to do it. The primary focus of your organization is growth. To help in this regard, it is your duty to lead change, manage and motivate a multi-generational workforce and execute initiatives that impact the top line and the bottom line while delivering short-term results. You must demonstrate agility, speed, inclusiveness, strategic acumen and innovation, manage uncertainty and risk and mitigate the impacts of globalization, off-shoring, a recession, global warming and the price of oil, etc., etc., etc.



Some time ago, the beloved founders who kept balance between order and chaos cashed out, either by dying or cashing in their chips. Since then, Forces of Darkness have been vying for the top spot. You are all that stands between them and the destruction of the collective organizational soul. If you fail, Darkness will cover the earth, the stock value will plummet and Chaos will reign."



Leadership - Reality:

You won't always get a good night's sleep.

You will encounter mud and worse.

There aren't always signposts.

You will take wrong turns.

You will have to climb many steep hills.

You won't always get a good night's sleep.

Even one toxic employee can soil your culture.

Some will take pot shots at you.

And as Simon Sinek points out, leaders eat last. Unless you're the CEO of a bank, golden parachute in hand, those who choose leadership sometimes find that they make less money than they did as an individual contributor.

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But at times, the view will be glorious, worth every bad night of sleep or extra, unexpected effort to get there.

In spite of the challenges, I wouldn't take anything for my 10 days on the Cotswold Way and for the privilege of leadership. Leadership is not meant to be a straight path with few or no obstacles.

Perhaps leadership is a long walk, an extended conversation with yourself, your employees, your customers and the unknown future unfolding around you, not knowing what's over the next hill or what you will encounter each day, an exercise in orienteering, moving from point to point in diverse and unfamiliar terrain, often at speed and at times, sans map and compass.


As the US withdraws, it's time for China to shine. Reuters

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States is bad news for the global environment. He has made it clear that he will not implement the steps required to meet the pledges to reduce emissions as part of the agreement reached in Paris at the end of 2015.

Paul Krugman reflects the mood among Americans who favour climate action in a recent editorial:

"I particularly worry about climate change. We were at a crucial point, having just reached a global agreement on emissions and having a clear policy path toward moving America to a much greater reliance on renewable energy. Now it will probably fall apart, and the damage may well be irreversible."

But, bad news is not the same as fatal news. And, it is less likely that global efforts to reduce emissions will "fall apart" than many believe. Here are some reasons why.

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China stays the course

Let us begin with the world's largest emitter, China, and consider China's motivations for continuing with emissions reductions.

China has powerful incentives to reduce coal use due to local air pollution. As anyone who has recently visited almost any large city in China will tell you, the air quality is frequently abysmal and constitutes a serious health, economic, and political threat. Because of the congruence between reducing coal use and greenhouse gas emissions, China would be likely to make substantial efforts to shift to lower emissions technologies over the next decade whether they cared about global emissions or not.

And the Chinese do care about emissions. Unlike the incoming American leadership, the Chinese leadership knows that global warming is not a concept created by their predecessors, as Donald Trump famously tweeted, and they have said as much.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

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Rather, with nearly 1.4 billion people crammed into a relatively small area, the Chinese leadership correctly views global warming as a real threat.

The Chinese have already invested heavily in low emissions technologies including solar, wind, and nuclear power generation. Another motivation for undertaking these investments is a desire to be global leaders in the production and servicing of low emissions energy technologies, which are highly likely to be very important parts of the global energy mix by the middle of this century.

Finally, China aspires to be a global power. By reneging on US commitments made in Paris, a Trump administration will be handing China the opportunity to assume the mantle of global leadership on the defining issue for the 21st century.

A strategically wise China will accept the offer. While doing so, the leadership is likely to make comments about the fickle nature of democracies in general and the unreliability of the world's second-largest emitter, the United States, in solving long-run structural problems.

America can still act

Let's also not forget that American democracy has been rather robust for more than 200 years. While the federal government under a Trump administration should be expected to be at best unhelpful in reducing emissions, there remains a great deal that America and Americans can do to reduce emissions based on actions by states, counties, cities, companies, families and individuals, particularly in coalition.

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The West coast and New England, along with a broad swathe of mid-Atlantic states have already been active in taking steps to reduce emissions. These efforts frequently spill over to other states or even to the nation due to the economic weight that these areas represent.

The potential role of cities, epicenters of power consumption and home to a citizenry that takes climate change seriously, should not be underestimated. I write this from Fort Collins Colorado, which has a very ambitious climate action plan. The plan calls for emissions to fall to 80% below 2005 levels by about 2030 and carbon neutrality by about 2050. Until 2030, about half the planned reductions are expected to come from low emissions electricity supply and delivery.

Rapid advances

The chances that ambitious plans will succeed have increased substantially due to very rapid technical advance in clean energy generation technologies, notably solar but also wind, combined with rapid advances in systems integration approaches for coping with the inherent variability in renewable energy supplies.

Clean energy systems now regularly outperform fossil fuels in open, large-scale energy supply auctions. As my coauthors and I point out in a forthcoming book, this competitiveness substantially eases the political economy of clean energy transitions.

And, investors are responding. More renewable energy generation capacity was added than fossil fuel generation capacity in 2014 for the first time. In 2015, global investment in renewable power capacity was US$265.8 billion, a bit more than double dollar allocations to new coal and gas generation, which were estimated at US$130 billion.

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With these investment volumes, the private sector has ample incentive to pursue innovations in the clean energy space.

This means that expected budget cuts to publicly funded centres of energy innovation, such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will be much more likely to set back the long-run ambitions of American companies seeking to secure a position in an enormous global market than substantially slow the pace of innovation globally.

Private investment will continue. And, public investments in innovation undertaken abroad is likely to rebound first to the benefit of companies located outside the United States.

The world can keep the ball rolling

The incoming Trump administration's stated intentions on global warming are terrible. But, they are not necessarily fatal, at least not yet. And China has far greater incentives to stay the course on its emissions commitments than is often recognised.

While avenues to emissions reductions based on federal policies of the United States are likely to be foreclosed for the next four years or more, avenues at other levels remain open.

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And, the very favourable technology dynamics that have been in place over the past decade look likely to continue.

These factors, combined with solid commitments to emissions reductions from other major economies such as the European Union and Japan imply that the global movement to limit emissions might not fall apart. Instead, the world may demonstrate just how alone the Trump administration is in refusing to confront the climate threat.

Channing Arndt, Senior Research Fellow, World Institute for Development Economics Research, United Nations University
The general election ads from the 2016 presidential campaign represented a referendum on each candidate's character. And in this ad race, there were no winners.

Both the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaigns featured the takeaway message that their opponent is not fit to lead. Even though Trump won the election, he will face significant obstacles in reestablishing the credibility he needs to lead a very divided electorate. Fear and anger were the key emotions of TV ads from both campaigns and two Super PACS. Trump must now find a way to mitigate national anxieties in the wake of a polarizing election.

Ad research

Our research team with the Political Advertising Research Center at the University of Maryland studied the political advertisements produced during the general election - from July through the end of October. Our team studied ads produced by the Clinton campaign and the Trump campaign. We also studied ads from two Super PACs: one Clinton-leaning (Priorities USA Action) and the other pro-Trump (Rebuilding America Now).

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In order to gain a comprehensive picture of the ads, our team examined the ad spending and ad strategies of the general election and produced A Report on Presidential Advertising and the 2016 General Election.

Our team coded the content of each ad using four tenets: 1) whether content was positive, negative or comparative, 2) whether ads focused on issues, character or a combination of character and issue, 3) the emotional appeals used based on six primary emotions: anger, fear, sadness, joy, love and surprise, and 4) the subject matter. Together, these tenets helped reveal the broader strategy of each campaign - a strategy that focused more on the weaknesses of the opponent rather than the strengths of the candidate.

We also studied where the money was spent during the ad cycle of the general election.

Ad spending

The Clinton campaign vastly outspent the Trump campaign in terms of TV ad buys. As of Oct. 25, 2016, Clinton's campaign had spent between US$142 and $172 million on TV and radio during the general election. In addition to Hillary for America's spending, Super PACs and other outside support groups spent $103 million.

Although the Trump campaign increased its ad spending in the final weeks of the campaign, it didn't top the Clinton budget in terms of overall spending. As of Nov. 2, 2016, Clinton had spent $211.4 million in TV ads, while Trump had spent only $74 million.

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The Clinton campaign spent three times more money on TV and radio advertising than the Trump campaign, yet Clinton's final total was still far less than we have seen in the last two elections. Clinton's spending seems almost modest when compared to Obama's $404 million budget in 2012.

One reason for the general drop in spending is that the 2016 candidates focused more energy on electronic ads and social media than television spot ads. According to Borrell Associates, a market research firm, digital spending for 2016 was estimated at $1.6 billion - a 576 percent increase since 2012.

Despite an increase in ad spending on social media, which caters to younger voters, TV remains the most dominant platform for political ads with a 70 percent share of ad revenue. The target audience for political ads is not clear-cut. TV ads often target older voters, yet most TV ads are also uploaded to YouTube and other social networks that are predominantly used by younger audiences.

"President Trump" is a dangerous proposition.



Mitt Romney, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio agree.https://t.co/fUkISvgaXC  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 4, 2016

While Clinton launched her first general election ad in July 2016, Trump's first general election ad came out in the third week of August. Both campaigns heavily targeted battleground states: Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Clinton campaign also focused on Arizona, Nevada, Nebraska and Texas while Trump invested much of his resources in Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, California and Colorado.

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Clinton's ad strategies

Clinton's campaign organization, Hillary for America, produced 38 televised ads between July 7 and Oct. 25. Over half of Clinton's ads overtly attacked Trump, frequently using the words and images of Trump as ammunition.

An additional 24 percent of the ads represented an implicit attack on Trump, juxtaposing him as the negative counterpart to Clinton's positive character. Ads such as "Myself," "Families First" and "General Allen" serve as part of a series of comparative attack ads questioning Trump's fitness.

In another ad, titled "America's Bully," Clinton tells a young girl, "We shouldn't let anybody bully his way into the presidency." The ads addressed Trump's temperament and intelligence, contrasting him with Clinton's moral character, government experience and steady nature. In attacking Trump, the ads primarily appealed to emotions of fear, sadness and anger.

Trump's ad strategy

Trump relied on character attacks as the subject matter for approximately 35 percent of the TV ads he released. Of the 17 ads released by his campaign from August through late October, six were categorized as character attacks. In "Immigration," "Economy," "Dangerous" and "Change," the Trump campaign contrasted the character of the candidates. But by the end of October, Trump released three positive character ads in a row that featured more "campaign biographies" of the candidate. In these commercials, Trump showboated his success and promised to bring the same leadership of success to the presidency. These ads were aimed at both overcoming his negative image among American voters and demonstrating his ability to govern successfully.

Overall, Trump's campaign strategy focused on building a more positive image of himself while denigrating Clinton's character. For instance, in his ad "Deplorable," the narrator queried: "You know what's deplorable?" The answer: "Hillary Clinton viciously demonizing hard-working people like you." The incendiary language that Clinton used ("deplorable") and Trump applied to Clinton ("demonizing") exacerbated the anger and fear animating the campaign ads of 2016.

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Super PAC ad strategy

The Super PACs echoed the strategies of the candidates' official campaigns. In fact, for most of the ads produced by Priorities USA Action, the message was that Trump is "dangerous" and "unfit" to be the president. Many of the ads featured the mothers of children who have been hurt, killed or emotionally affected by the types of "hate," "bullying" or "disrespect" that Trump exhibited during this campaign. The audience was invited to empathize with the grieving mothers and to consider the futures of their own children.

Trump-leaning ads from Rebuilding America Now predominately traded on voter anger and contempt for Clinton. Nine of the 11 "negative" ads attacked Clinton's character in some way, frequently using Bill Clinton's indiscretions as an index of her own immorality.

The 2016 takeaway

While character attacks have always been a feature of campaign advertising, during the 2016 election, these formed the mainstay strategy for both the campaigns.

Between 1952 and 2008, 31 percent of the general election ads were character-based. In 2016, character ads made up 76 percent of the television campaign ads from the general election. The Clinton and Trump campaigns, as well as the Super PACs, attacked the opposition through appeals to fear and anger over positive emotions like joy and love.

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Our analysis suggests these negative appeals helped deepen the anxiety and cynicism that dominated the campaign climate in ways unmatched in recent memory. The consequence is an electorate openly expressing fear of the other side. As the Pew Center reports, "[m]ore than half of Democrats (55 percent) say the Republican Party makes them 'afraid,' while 49 percent of Republicans say the same about the Democratic Party."

If the campaign of 2008 was known as one of "hope" and "change," the campaign of 2016 may well go down in history as one of "fear" and "anger."


By Robert Carpenter, Harvard Business School, Class of '18 & Harbus Contributing Writer

A pickup truck rolled through Harvard Square on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9. A man in the truck bed waved a "Make America Great Again!" banner and the passengers yelled at anyone within earshot.

Even if you couldn't make out words, the tone - somewhere between energized and vindictive - was enough. They were the newly triumphant, claiming their spoils.

That this group chose to celebrate in Cambridge made explicit something that, for me at least, had largely gone unsaid. Many who turned out in droves to vote against the "elites" this fall didn't just vote against the Clintons and Bushes and Obamas. They voted against us - against our university, which trained the politicians and media personalities and CEOs that they scorn, and against its students, the heirs apparent to this legacy.

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Supporters at Trump rallies often chanted "Drain the swamp!", a reference to unseating the political establishment from Washington, D.C. In a figurative sense, the men in the truck were chanting, "Dam the Charles!" If I'm honest with myself, I find it hard to blame them.

In 2012, the Harvard Business School student body polled 65-32 in favor of Obama over Romney. We skewed liberal, but you could presumably be a Romney supporter in public on campus.

In 2016, with just 3 percent of students favoring Trump, classmates openly assumed everyone within earshot was a Clinton supporter, and celebrated it. The absence of Trump supporters was a sign that HBS is training students who are multicultural and principled, who don't tolerate misogyny, bullying, or targeting of minorities. These are values we all want in future business leaders, right?

But maybe what we missed is that Harvard isn't training the kind of person who empathizes with the working class.

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Analysis of exit polls indicates that the deciding factor in this election was less ideological than cultural, particularly based on education and values.

Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight observed that in counties with low densities of college graduates, Trump outperformed Romney by 14 percentage points. "[N]o demographic variable reflects Trump's electoral success better than education," he wrote.

JD Vance, in his celebrated memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, chronicles a mid-20th-century "massive migration from the poorer regions of Appalachia [Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia] to places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Illinois," and that through this diaspora, "hillbilly values spread widely along with hillbilly people."

Replace "Illinois" with "Wisconsin" and you have the swath of contested states that carried Trump to the White House. I'm no demographer, but that feels important.

How many of us identify with, or even understand, "hillbilly values?" More broadly, how is it that only three in an HBS classroom of 94 are in a position to authentically represent 47% of the voting American public?

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Students were genuinely shocked at Trump's victory, not having considered it to be even a remote possibility, let alone a viable outcome. A number of classmates have casually observed over the last few weeks that they don't know a single Trump supporter ("Who are these people?").

In that light, isn't it understandable that Americans would vote against an educational class that didn't know them - or even care to know them - but still assumed the right to govern?

To be fair, maybe these voters don't care to know us, either. The campaign season certainly featured a healthy amount of contempt - bordering on hostility - toward intellectuals. The difference historically, until Nov 8., is that our educational class was largely unaffected by the working class' decisions or opinions. What they did or said or thought didn't reach us. The same couldn't be said for them.

So now, if our community holds that nativism, isolationism and authoritarianism are poor beacons for public policy, what steps are within our power to prevent further movement in this direction?

I think we start with a healthy dose of humility - acknowledging that it's easy to accuse Trump supporters of being bigoted and hateful, and more difficult to admit that maybe we don't understand the world they live in. That maybe - just maybe - they voted for Trump in spite of his flaws, rather than because of them.

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I think we also acknowledge that Trump isn't the end of populist sentiment in the US. The American (and likely global) public will continue to grapple with similar questions as those faced this year - where, as President Obama characterized it, "our values, our ideals" are on the ballot.

We can't individually right this ship. But maybe, collectively, we can chip away at the country's need to turn inward. By being faithful stewards of our opportunities, by running our businesses in a way that directly considers the interests of employees and communities, maybe we can begin to build trust where today there is none.

More importantly, maybe we can better understand, and thereby improve, the lives of those who have to care what we think and do.

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(L-R: Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) & U.S. Navy veteran, Sean Sala (Photo: Big Mike Phillips)

This year's induction ceremony at the Benjamin Dillingham III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor will be a more--maybe the word is "authentic"--experience for one of the wall's new inductees compared to an event he attended last year.

"Being placed on a wall along with history-making veterans like Harvey Milk is truly one of the greatest honors of my life," said Sean Sala. "I am grateful for those who believed in me through hard times. Everything I accomplished could have never happened without the pioneers who came before me. I am humbled."

At a Veterans Day event in Denton, Texas last year, the former San Diegan and veteran of the United States Navy shared a stage with a contingent of local leaders and dignitaries. He listened as the congressional district's representative to Washington D.C., Rep. Michael Burgess, a Republican with a deplorable voting record regarding LGBT equality and military service, addressed the crowd about the importance of supporting active-duty service members and veterans.

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(L-R, Sean Sala and Morgan Hurley (Photo: Big Mike Phillips)

"I had no idea that Congressman Burgess was even going to be speaking that day, truth be told," Sala told LGBT Weekly. "I also didn't know what his legislative record or stance was on LGBT issues until after I personally researched it myself."

In fact, says Sala, the congressman's knowledge about, and apparently genuine concern for, veterans and military families impressed him greatly that day.

"He and I had a personal conversation on problems with the Department of Veteran's Affairs about which he echoed my concern as well," Sala said. "There was no 'gotcha' moment planned. I truly do mean this; his speech on his concern for veterans was moving and I still don't harbor any ill will toward him personally."

Currently studying law in Denton, Sala was at the event in his capacity as campus president of the Texas Woman's University's chapter of a non LGBT-specific veterans organization. His role was to introduce the university's president at the Veterans Day event.

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As an aside, TWU is the Western Hemisphere's largest institution of higher education. It was originally established as a campus exclusively for women.

Sean Sala was especially moved when Congressman Burgess shook his hand and while doing so proffered a small, but meaningful gift:

"He had a challenge coin for me in his hand," Sala said. "It was completely unexpected, and I was moved."

According to an article at the official U.S. Air Force Web site, challenge coins "are a form of recognition of the hard work and excellence an individual has displayed. From coins presented by the president, a chief master sergeant or a first sergeant, their value is determined by each individual, but the true history of the challenge coin dates back to World War I, when an American pilot was shot down and captured in Germany."



(The "challenge coin" medallion with which Congressman Burgess honored Sala at a ceremony in Denton, Texas on Veterans Day, 2015)

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Sala doesn't think the congressman would have held back from honoring him for his service had he realized he was gay. However, because the interaction was unplanned it's likely Rep. Burgess was unaware that Sean Sala is a gay veteran and an activist with a long history of leading LGBT veterans-rights and equality efforts.

Among some of Sala's activism work is that which he performed while a member of the National Leadership Committee of Servicemembers United prior to its merger with American Military Partners Association.

Sala also organized the first contingent of active-duty members of the U.S. armed services march in an LGBT Pride parade. It was an act of defiance that happened before the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the law that made it unlawful to serve openly as anything other than heterosexual in the U.S. Military.

"I established this wall to honor our great LGBT veterans who have been serving our great nation since the Revolutionary War," said San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, who will be inducting Sala and 11 other LGBT veterans from across the U.S. this week. "Just as we are proud of Harvey Milk, who was stationed here during his time in the Navy, we are also proud of Sean Sala, who was also stationed in San Diego."



(Nicole Murray Ramirez kicks off the 2016 induction ceremony at the Benjamin F. Dillingham and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor in San Diego late last week (Photo: Big Mike Phillips)

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For nearly a year, Sala has ruminated about the uncomfortable way he felt after Congressman Burgess laid words of heavy praise upon him on stage and one-on-one in 2015. During the past 12 months, he has thought about how the Republican legislator was a supporter of anti-equality laws that hurt LGBT people, and how his votes forced lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members into the darkness.

Sala has also thought about how suicide among active-duty service members and veterans is far higher than it is among the general population and how the rate of deaths by suicide is even higher for LGBT members of the military.

In fact, a 2016 study found that an average of 20 veterans die by suicide every day, a rate that is at least 21 percent higher than the general population. Meanwhile, another study found that across their lifetimes, lesbian, gay and bisexual veterans were three times more likely to die by suicide than were their straight counterparts.

For more than 11 months, Sala, a recipient of the Iraqi Campaign Medal, who only learned about Rep. Michael Burgess's stridently anti-LGBT voting record after accepting the congressman's gift of a challenge coin and his kind words of praise, has lamented a lost opportunity to try to persuade one influential anti-equality American to rethink his position.Sala has wondered if there might have been a way to persuade Burgess to change his mind about LGBT Americans.

"That's when I got the idea about an publishing an open letter to the congressman," Sala told LGBT Weekly.

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In a spirit of fairness, Sala sent Congressman Burgess an advance copy of the letter.

Sala wrote his letter in the weeks before the fervently anti-LGBT Trump-Pence ticket seemd highly unlikely to win the White House. While campaigning, the GOP nominees promised to roll back most, if not all of the gains the LGBT community made during the Obama years.

Without further ado, here are one brave former sailor's words to a powerful elected official from Texas, imploring him to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans to serve their country in our nation's armed forces...

AN OPEN LETTER TO HON. REP. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D.C.

November, 2016

To the Honorable Congressman Burgess:

Another Veterans day is soon to be upon us: another day to reflect and remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform who so selflessly serve our nation and heed the call to protect freedom and democracy around the world.

I had the honor of meeting you last year at the Veterans Day celebration in Denton, Texas at Denton Square. You and I shared the stage, sir. I was moved by your speech and by the memories you shared about touring Iraq and meeting our men and women in uniform serving in combat zones.

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I listened with interest as you stressed to the hundreds of veterans, service members and their families that we need to support and defend our veterans now more than ever before. I am not embarrassed to admit that your speech moved me to tears. Sir, your message on that Veterans Day filled my heart with pride and with gratitude. I knew, with soul-deep certainty that your passion for Americans who serve--for all who have ever served, no matter where we come from, no matter who we are and no matter what our creed--is real and heartfelt.

After the ceremony ended and the crowds had scattered, you and I enjoyed a private conversation. I was impressed that you took time out to speak with me, not caring whether or not there was an audience or media there to give you credit for doing so.

We talked about where I had served. We talked about the challenges ahead and obstacles that must be

overcome in order to properly provide services to veterans. Then when you shook my hand, Congressman Burgess, I felt the cool metal of a challenge coin bearing your name to honor me for my service. I was truly honored, Congressman. I walked away from that ceremony feeling that you, to the best of your ability, are fighting for me and for all of the other folks who, like me, fight for freedom and for our unmatchable American way of life.

Yet there are service members and veterans who for decades have been left in the shadows. Even with the great strides that have been made recently for these women and men in uniform, all of whom are veterans who once risked it all in defense of freedom, there is still a great distance to go before we are equal in the eyes of the government. Stubborn bulwarks still block our way forward to actual equality in the ranks.

Congressman Burgess, I hope knowing that you gave your valuable time, your inspiration, your support and your encouragement to this gay American veteran won't cause you any regret about how you spent Veterans Day at Denton Square in 2015.

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I've looked at your Congressional record. When it comes to LGBT issues, I am disheartened. Time and time again, whether it was voting against marriage equality, or workplace protections, or the very law that was the most profane of all, at least from a gay service member's or family member's perspective, legislation repealing the policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," you have voted to uphold laws that marginalize LGBT people...that marginalize me...at every opportunity.

You called the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a "social experiment." Fifteen-thousand to 17,000 service members representing tens of millions of dollars in tax payer's investment, who raised their hands just like everyone else and laid down their lives, liberties and fortunes to you were no more than a "social experiment?" Congressman Burgess, that is not the gentlemen I got to know for brief and shining moment in Denton Square, sir!

I cannot stress to you how injurious such a statement is. May I ask with all the humility I can muster, honorable sir, please hear these words with new ears: Calling our military service "a social experiment" as we give it all to defend your freedom and your equality back home is...I don't have a word for it, sir.

The Stars and Stripes lists total gay discharges at 114,000 in our military's history. Many service members were treated like felons and given discharge status' that ruined their lives. Some were greeted with dishonorable discharges simply for being gay only after returning from war with injuries, illnesses and lost limbs, having discovered that the decision to discharge them had been made prior to their being sent to battlefields.

To force these service members to remain silent, legislators and presidents--you are not the only one to blame, Congressman Burgess--have belittled the service of thousands upon thousands of Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, hospital corpsmen, coastguardsmen and women across the decades.

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Sir, I do not believe based that you have such dark intentions in your heart. Nevertheless, the effect of your votes are real and have done damage in the fast. We now have thirty-two states in which LGBT people, many of whom are veterans, can be fired from a job for being LGBT. I must ask you simply, how is this fair?

How can we live in a country that takes men and women who are the very best and treat them as if they are the very worst? How can you meet me as a former sailor and praise my sacrifice, while your voting record robs me of my dignity?

I am asking you respectfully by penning this letter, that you embrace the goodness of our country, the goodness of America, the promise of our Constitution and the righteousness of your God-given soul. I fought for you and would do so again without pause. Will you fight for me now, sir?

Respectfully,

Sean Sala


Retiring U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) filed legislation proposing an amendment to the Constitution abolishing the electoral college. She and many across the United States believe the president should be chosen by direct popular vote. This would be a huge mistake. The electoral college is vital to freedom in a republic the size of the United States.

Lest this be taken as a partisan argument for Donald Trump, let me clear the air. I did not vote for Mr. Trump. I understand the aversion many in both parties have for his style and even the substance of some of his policies. I understand the disappointment of Clinton supporters. I'm a libertarian from Buffalo, NY. My team never wins, neither in politics nor anywhere else - believe me, I understand!

But regardless of my reservations about Trump, the manner in which he was elected must be preserved as the only way to preserve a nation this large and culturally diverse.

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Michael Moore recently called the system antiquated only created to protect the dubious "rights" of slave states. Not so. In fact, it was created to protect smaller states from domination by the largest, including slave state Virginia. Let's remember, the people of the original thirteen states did not have to accept the Constitution. Rhode Island, which passed laws to gradually emancipate its slaves in 1784-87, didn't ratify it until 1790.

It's primary reason for holding out was the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution, measures which clarified the restrictions on the power of the federal government, but did not protect slavery. What it did ensure was that larger states like Virginia and Pennsylvania were not able to dictate how Rhode Island governed its internal affairs. The very first clause of the First Amendment, properly understood, prohibited the federal government from establishing a national religion, like the Church of England. Rhode Island, founded in the name of freedom of religion by a man kicked out of Massachusetts because of his religious beliefs, was especially concerned about this.

While some of the particulars are different, the underlying principle remains the same. The United States is a diverse federation of drastically different cultures. Anyone who believes New York City, Atlanta, GA, Boise, ID and Los Angeles, CA aren't different cultures just aren't being honest with themselves. As President Obama is so fond of saying, E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one).

There are some laws the federal government enforces within the states, based on its power to regulate interstate commerce. But the executive who enforces those laws must represent the people of every state, especially given how culturally diverse they are. That's why we have an electoral college. That is why the people of Idaho, many of whom may find the societal values in places like New York or California abhorrent, agree to abide a chief executive who most likely comes from a place like that - because they and their culture have an equal say in electing him, even if they're outnumbered.

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If the shoe were on the other foot and Midwestern evangelical states had a population advantage, you can bet New Yorkers and Californians would be defending the electoral college to the death.

The beauty of our system is that it allows people with vastly different beliefs and values to live together in one federal republic dedicated to protecting their freedom to hold those beliefs, right or wrong, so long as they do not infringe the rights of others. To transform the republic to a pure democracy and allow a few, cosmopolitan states to rule over people who don't share their beliefs would truly be tyranny and a threat to domestic peace.

The Constitution guarantees "to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government," not a democratic one. The founders were wise in this respect. In the name of diversity, freedom and peace, we should keep the electoral college.


Mutiara Laut in Raja Ampat at the edge of the rainforest. Image  Indo Yachts

Indonesia's breathtaking archipelago spans over 5,000km from Sumatra to Papua, boasting incomparable biodiversity ranging from the best diving in the world to rainforest habitats to rival the Amazon. One could spend a lifetime exploring the 18,000 plus islands, which is exactly what Nikko Karki, founder of Indo Yachts, has been doing over the last seven years. And he's just getting started.

As with most adventures in life, behind every story there's a girl.

"The first trip we took together was to Komodo National Park and it changed our lives forever. We'd dive in heavy currents then hike to the tops of hills and survey the landscape. Amidst the natural beauty we felt like we were the first to discover a prehistoric paradise. Experiencing this as a couple laid the foundation for the life we wanted here in Indonesia."



Hiking in Komodo National Park. Image  Indo Yachts.

Little did Nikko know that this trip to the Komodo islands with his now wife was just the beginning of many more adventures that would change the course of his life and career.

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"Shortly after our trip to Komodo, we came across a cruise itinerary put together by a Belgian explorer to some rarely visited islands. It was a total DIY trip in terms of renting our own dive compressor, bringing our own gear, provisions and not knowing what to expect. We tried Googling the islands, but only about one in ten showed up. That's what got us hooked - the sensation of discovering new lands."

This expedition inspired Nikko to start thinking of how he could share the life-changing experience of exploring Indonesia's islands by boat with others.

"I felt like I had discovered a way of travel that wasn't even a consideration for most people I knew but it was just so much better than a traditional vacation. It was a real life adventure."



Crystal clear turquoise waters off Pulau Kalao, Indonesia. Image  Indo Yachts

Over the subsequent years, Nikko and his wife continued to explore the remote regions of Indonesia by boat. Even their newborn daughter is an experienced charter client in Komodo, from when she was just six weeks old.

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The idea for what was to become Indo Yachts slowly took shape and eventually led to founding a new Indonesian company.

Nikko draws on his experience from a lifetime on boats in the Finnish lake regions, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and now Indonesia. He wrote his Master's thesis on building and selling cruise ships and continued to work in real estate development. After nearly seven years in Indonesia Nikko founded Indo Yachts to merge ultimate travel experiences with unparalleled customer service.

"Indo Yachts is based on our expertise traveling the remote islands and choosing the right boats for our clients based on our personal experiences onboard. We can't represent a boat until we know the vessel and crew inside out and feel 100% confident that it's up to the task of taking our clients on a journey of their lifetime."

Throughout the process of gaining in-depth knowledge of prospective boats to work with, Nikko began to unearth stories of how building each custom yacht was an adventure in its own right.



Dunia Baru's ironwood hull takes shape. Image  Dunia Baru

Indonesia's boatbuilding epicenter is in south Sulawesi, about a 12-hour drive from the nearest airport. Each yacht is hand built at the edge of the rainforest by master shipwrights from ironwood, an impermeable and rare natural material.

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Nikko's excitement is apparent when he talks about the process of building the yachts, "The wooden yachts we work with are true labors of love. They start out as massive hulls in the jungle, formed from thick, heavy pieces of timber that are selected individually by master builders. Upon these hulls, the yachts take shape, outfitted with every conceivable amenity to rival the world's top superyachts."

The Indo Yachts fleet is a collection of breathtaking wooden sailing yachts that follow classic design but are outfitted with modern technologies. Each yacht is a seamless fusion of old and new, defining the meaning of an adventure superyacht custom built for sailing Indonesia's expansive archipelago.

The difference between Indo Yachts and traditional superyachts is that there is no room for pretension onboard a wooden sailing yacht.

"You can still feel like an adventurer and rough it a bit on shore, if you want, then have this immaculate yacht as your launching pad complete with every creature comfort. Pairing the amenities onboard a sophisticated yacht with nature's pristine backdrop is unlike any other experience on Earth."

Nikko continues, "The engineering systems provide the capacities and redundancies to cruise uninterrupted to as far as one's heart desires. The classic styling evokes the feeling that we're sailing back in time. These yachts are essentially the ultimate tools for experiencing adventures in the most remote regions in total comfort."

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Magnificent Dunia Baru at anchor in Indonesia. Image  Dunia Baru

"Each yacht we work with represents the best in its category. We only want to work with a select handful of yachts that we know very well. It's a unique approach in the market and for us it's the only way we can recommend the yachts to our clients with full confidence. We've put together a fleet where the yachts complement each other. Each one has specific traits that will be right for a certain type of group or trip."

Indeed each of the yachts has its own charm and story behind it. But what stands out the most is that they are built around facilitating the kinds of special experiences that define an adventure.

"Dunia Baru is the crown jewel of Indonesia's superyachts. Anyone who loves boats is not going to believe their eyes when they step aboard. On a world-class scale, she's brought wooden boat building to new levels, innovating along the way of her eight-year build. The best way I can describe her is for you to imagine a treasure chest where every carving and detail is immaculate. Except inside the treasure chest is not jewels, but cutting edge technology supported by best in class engineering. The lighting, the sound system, the fresh air systems, everything is an iteration upon an iteration of seeking the very best quality and execution."

Now imagine having such a tool as means to venture to the edge of the world. In fact, in Indonesian "Dunia Baru" means "New World" which is what she was built for - family vacations to the edge of the world and back in total comfort.



Dunia Baru's fullbeam master suite is incomparable. Image  Dunia Baru

Indo Yachts bring the elite tier of vessels together with people looking for unique experiences in the most remote and naturally beautiful places on Earth. For Nikko, it's all about the adventure to find beauty in what naturally exists.

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Kids bid us farewell from Pulau Kalao, Indonesia. Image  Indo Yachts

"No matter who you are, when you're on one of these small islands, you meet the kids, the people are so friendly and welcoming and you just forget the rest of the world and feel what it must have been like in simpler times. Nature is perfect when left alone, and the yachts are the ideal means for reaching these regions that are out of the reach of traditional travel."

If you've never been to Indonesia or you want to try something new, there's nothing like experiencing Indonesia's best through Indo Yachts. And as for Nikko, he's living the life of his dreams in the paradise he created for himself, which he openly shares with others.

"You know, taking the boats out to the outer island you have endless clear water, fishing, diving. It's just absolute freedom. I like the idea of raising my family out here and making our own life in nature. That's always been my dream and when I met my wife here and we shared this vision, well, it all just fell into place."

_ _

Indonesia's vast archipelago spans over 5,000km (around 3,200 miles) from Sumatra to Papua. The islands boast incomparable diversity ranging from Caribbean-like white sandy beaches to rainforest ecosystems to rival the Amazon. Under the surface, the scuba diving in areas such as Komodo and Raja Ampat is widely regarded as the best in the world.

For more information on how to begin your own adventure story in beautiful Indonesia, visit www.indoyachts.com

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Indo Yachts founder and Director, Nikko Karki in Dunia Baru's open galley. Image  Indo Yachts



Picturesque Raja Ampat. Image  Indo Yachts



A map of some of the destinations Indo Yachts sails to spanning the length of the vast archipelago. Image  Indo Yachts



A remote island in Indonesia. Image  Indo Yachts



Indo Yachts traditional bonfire to end a cruise. Image  Indo Yachts



Lamima at sail. Image  Lamima



Dewi Nusantara under sail. Image  Dewi Nustantara



A deserted pink sand beach in Indonesia. Image  Indo Yachts
Contrary to conventional wisdom, Africa has a corporate sector. A new report by McKinsey counts 400 companies on the continent with annual revenue of more than $1 billion, and notes they are growing faster, and are more profitable, than their global peers. Half of these companies are African-owned, 40% are publicly-traded, and between 10% and 20% are family-owned.

As the CEO of a firm based in Africa, I can speak from experience that African chief executives face a variety of challenges. But in my view, a set of challenges also presents a host of opportunities. Here are three challenges most African executives will face along with some thoughts on solutions.

Lack of a skilled workforce. By 2034, Africa will have the world's largest labor force, surpassing that of India and China. Yet Africa tends to experience a "brain drain," with the best and brightest young people leaving for schools abroad. African education needs more of everything -more schools, more trained teachers, more investment. For example, the Africa-America Institute notes there are 50% more students per professor at African universities compared to the global average.

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In my experience, African workers are dedicated and hardworking. To build the workforce of tomorrow, there is a clear opportunity for African companies to partner with local schools and universities. African CEOs can take the lead by offering talent and collaborating on curricula, courses and training that will develop needed skills.

Infrastructure. The lack of reliable energy, roads and railroads can cut productivity by African companies by as much as 40%, according to the World Bank as referenced by the site African Renewal. To meet this challenge, African CEOs can look for and support "disruptive" technologies to enhance or potentially serve as an alternative to existing resources.

For example, Deloitte says the growth of mobile technology has allowed Africans to "leapfrog" poor landline infrastructure. Uber has delivered a million rides on the continent, with growth potential prompted by minimal public transportation and the difficulties of car ownership and financing. The gaps in traditional infrastructure provide real opportunities for African chief executives to support innovation in multiple sectors, including energy, transportation and technology, as well as agriculture, healthcare and finance.

Impact of the oil and commodity economy. When you look at the continent as whole, the economic picture is multi-faceted. While growth has slowed among oil exporters, the rest of Africa has posted accelerating growth. In terms of natural resources, Africa exports 10% of the world's oil and gas, 9% of copper and 5% of iron ore. Even with today's low commodity prices, much of Africa's production continues to be cost-competitive, so the resources sector is positioned strongly for when demand recovers.

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Yet there is no doubt that Africa needs better insulation to absorb oil and commodity price shocks. The answer lies in diversification. Agriculture, tourism, healthcare, all of the myriad sectors previously mentioned offer opportunities for Africa's chief executives of tomorrow.

They say when one door closes, another one opens. As an African CEO, every day of doing business means a multitude of open doors. These vast opportunities present African companies and chief executives with unlimited potential to build Africa's future.
Here's when Dunkin' and Atwoods plan to open in Hutchinson

Developers of two business blame shipment delays of equipment and materials in pushing back openings for new Hutchinson retail locations.
Music Industry Seeks To Ban Concert Ticket Buying Bots

Having choice seats snatched out from under them by the ticket bots of a third party ticket broker is an all-to-common occurrence for a lot of ticket buyers, and while it's been an annoyance for some time, it looks as though something may finally get done about it, at least in Britain.

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Guest Post by Bobby Owsinski on Music 3.0

Has this happened to you? Youre one of the first in line to buy a ticket to a concert by your favorite artist only to find that all the choice seats are already gone, or you go online at the exact second that the sale for the concert opens up only to find that all the good seats are nowhere to be found. Yeah, thats a drag, and the reason is that the third party ticket brokers are using an automated system of bots to get the best seats before the rest of us have a chance. Theres been lots of talk about doing something about this in the U.S., but not much has come of it, but things might be different in Britain, as the music industry is making an uproar.

Members of Parliament have recently been brief by a wide array of music industry representatives on how harmful the practice is considered to be, with the primary concern being that the price for good tickets is artificially inflated thanks to the use of the bots. Both artists and managers testified against the practice and voiced their frustration at not being able to do much to stop it unless there was some sort of government intervention.

Wile consumers frequently rail against the huge Ticketmaster as the main offender, the fact of the matter is that the service is a primary ticket-selling website, getting the tickets directly from the promoter and venue. The real culprits are the secondary services that bid up the price for the best seats after their bots buy them at face value.

While artists are said to be implicit in the price add-ons like service charges from Ticketmaster (which enables them to artificially keep the face value of the ticket low while charging more), fans probably wouldnt mind so much if at least they had a chance at buying a good seat in the first place. The fact of the matter is that once the secondary ticketing agency gets involved, pricing is completely out of the hands of the artist and venue, with the agency charging what the market will bare. Of course, the prices can really skyrocket at that point, and neither the artist nor the venue or promoter is able to benefit, and of course the fan is left paying far more than what he believes to be fair.

Similar hearings have been held in the past with no movement towards a resolution. Perhaps this time things will change, and cause some change in the U.S. as a result as well.

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Our research seeks to provide better accounts of human flourishing under the conditions of late Western modernity: how it has been and is being undermined, on the one hand, and how it has been and is being sustained and enhanced, on the other.
As it bids to free up capital for shareholder buybacks, American International Group ( AIG ) is willing to take the odd loss  and now its preparing for one worth $430 million.Thats how much AIG expects to be out of pocket as a result of its plans to sell Fuji Life Insurance Company in Japan (as we originally reported here ). However, the blow wont be too hard to take  because the company should recoup some $300 million thanks to its deal to sell International Finance Centre Seoul in Korea, which was finalized on Thursday.Speaking to Bloomberg, chief executive officer Peter Hancock outlined that the company is on track to fulfil its plan of returning $25 billion to shareholders by the end of 2017. The company outlined that the figure stands at $11.6 billion as of Thursday last week, with another $3.6 billion available as part of a buyback authorization. Various asset sales should see the company add another $4 billion to the total before the end of next year as a minimum.In an interview, Hancock outlined that selling major life insurance companies across Asia had been a common trend in recent years and that the sale of the Fuji operation would give it extra focus.The latest deal follows on from its $1.1 billion deal to offload Ascot Underwriting Holding to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board back in September  with AIG expecting to gain around $120 million from the deal.Speaking to investors, Hancock outlined that there is significant growth potential in AIGs main portfolio and that the operating return on equity should be about 10% on those businesses next year.
The historic Brexit vote, legal challenge and key issues such as immigration and security

This podcast examines the factors that led to the UK voting to leave the European Union, and some of the potential implications. It also analyses the subsequent legal challenge, the High Court ruling that Parliament must vote to start a formal exit, and the Governments appeal to the Supreme Court against this ruling.

Exploring the key themes are: former British Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw; constitutional expert, Tony Travers from the London School of Economics and Political Science; and Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Mayor Richard Alcombright and his administrative assistant, Rosemari Dickinson, carry in boxes of food collected by city employees. The Friendship Center's Richard Davis looks over boxes of food with the mayor. PreviousNext

North Adams Food Drive Donates 960 Pounds

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  This year's city and school food drive raised nearly 960 pounds of food to donate to the Friendship Center.

City workers gathered the donation boxes on Friday morning to deliver to the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's food pantry on Eagle Street.

"It is awesome that we are able to do this and the city of North Adams employees are just a great bunch of folks," Mayor Richard Alcombright said. "People really do chip in this time of year and they realize the needs of our community."

Donation boxes were left in City Hall, the police and fire stations, the public schools, the Spitzer Center and the library.

"This is a wonderful thing, and it shows how much this community really cares," longtime Friendship Center volunteer Richard Davis said.

The program, largely organized by Ellen Sutherland, assistant to the school superintendent, and Rosemari Dickinson, administrative assistant to the mayor, is in its fourth year. The collections has been around 800 pounds of nonperishable food annually, said Sutherland, but this year the amount increased by well over 100 pounds.

The mayor said it is a humbling experience to donate and that he is proud of the city for really stepping up to the opportunity.

"I have been blessed my entire life in this community. I grew up in a family that wasn't rich but that never really went without," he said. "You really don't internalize that until you do something like this because it makes you think about who you are helping and why and I think that is incredibly important."

Alcombright also thanked the volunteers at the Friendship Center who serve an average of 150 families a week.
The Administrative Review Subcommittee meets with district counsel Fred Dupere, second from the right, on Friday at Mount Greylock

Lanesborough-Williamstown Committee Aims for Interim Superintendent

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The committee that coordinates the hiring of shared personnel in the Lanesborough-Williamstown Tri-District decided Friday to try to have an interim school superintendent on board by Jan. 1.

The four-person Administrative Review Subcommittee, comprised of the chairs of the Williamstown and Lanesborough elementary sc hool committees and the Mount Greylock School Committee and an additional Mount Greylock committee member, met for about two hours on Friday afternoon at the junior-senior high school.

The ARS decided to ask the Tri-District's two hiring authorities, the Mount Greylock School Committee and Superintendency Union 71, to concur with an aggressive plan to screen applicants, conduct interviews and hire an interim during the month of December.

"I doubt you will have someone on board by Jan. 1, but you've surprised me before," said Tri-District counsel Fred Dupere, who advised the ARS at Friday's meeting.

The transition is necessitated by the abrupt departure of former Superintendent Douglas Dias, who left at the start of his second year at the helm of the three school districts.

The first order of business on Friday was to decide whether to hire an interim superintendent, like the Tri-District did in December 2014 to replace long-time Superintendent Rose Ellis.

Assistant Superintendent Kim Grady is serving as the acting superintendent since Dias' departure.

"My two cents is we should look to hire a longer term superintendent  like a year and a half to two years kind of thing," Mount Greylock School Committee member Carolyn Greene said. "Maybe 18 months is a good target so we could get through the building project, from a Mount Greylock perspective, and take on the issue of regionalization.

"We could decide what we're going to do with [regionalization]  so we're not doing a full search while we're doing what we realize is not very sustainable."

The "unsustainable" Tri-District model was raised as an issue by Dias during in his response to written complaints that led to his departure earlier this month.

Mount Greylock formed a committee in 2012 to look at the expanding the current 7-12 district to a full K-12 district that encompasses its two "feeder" elementaries in Lanesborough and Williamstown. The regionalization effort was put on the back burner in 2013 when Mount Greylock was invited to enter the Massachusetts School Building Authority's building process.

Even before Dias' letter referencing the challenges for a superintendent serving three different school committees, members of the Mount Greylock committee had in recent months mentioned the possibility of reviving the RDAC.

In the near term, the Mount Greylock School Committee will be called to its second special meeting of the fall to consider the ARS plan for replacing Dias.

Dupree on Friday advised the group that the districts do not need to advertise for the interim position and can instead rely on the Massachusetts Association of School Committee's list of potential interim superintendents (often, like former interim Gordon Noseworthy, retired administrators) and any qualified candidates who are known to school committee members already.

The ARS decided to ask the Mount Greylock and SU-71 (a combination of LES and WES Committee members) to meet either Nov. 23, 29 or 30 or Dec. 2 to consider the succession plan.

Assuming the two hiring authorities agree on the 18-month interim approach, the ARS Committee then will ask for their colleagues' permission to let the ARS quartet screen potential candidates and report back up to three finalists who would be interviewed by the SU-71 and Mount Greylock School Committee members.

In anticipation that the plan conceived on Friday may be approved by the two committees, the ARS decided to post a meeting immediately following the SU-71/Mount Greylock joint session with an executive session of the subcommittee to begin reviewing resumes.

"In doing that, our intent isn't to presuppose that the committees will approve the recommendation but rather to give ourselves maximum flexibility to move expeditiously if that's what the committees direct us to do," ARS Chairman Dan Caplinger said.

In other business on Friday, the ARS reviewed the shared services agreement that unites the three districts for administrative purposes and reviewed the organizational structure of the central office.
The office furniture company held its grand opening 1595 East St. with a reception and tours. Owner Robert Proskin, center, with visitors to the new location. The showroom offers a wide range of office furniture and accessories. If BBE doesn't have it, it can find it in this wall of furniture choices. An ergonomic computer platform that raises and lowers as needed. Mazzeo's did the catering, Juice N' Java and Kelly's Package Store provided desserts and refreshments. PreviousNext

BBE Office Interiors Shows Off New East Street Digs

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  BBE Office Interiors celebrated its new showroom and office space with a grand opening on Friday.



After 65 years downtown, the company expanded its potential by switching its 28,000 square-foot North Street building for  28,000 square feet at 1595 East St.



It's all about how that space is used that is helping BBE prepare for the "21st-century office."



"The stars had to align so to speak," said owner Robert Proskin. "Barrington Stage bought our building. We were lucky that they needed a nice home, that we needed a nice home ... it's a win-win."



The multi-floor location at 122 North St. wasn't conducive for office mockups and the warehouse was out on Dalton Avenue. The new location, most recently occupied by Old Saddleback Brewing Co., brings everything together on a single floor under one roof. That includes an 11,000 square-foot warehouse for storage and assembly of larger pieces and all 19 employees  eight in office and sales, 11 in assembly and warehouse.



"The opportunity came up for us to move to this location, which enabled our company to have our corporate offices, our showrooms and our warehouses all under one roof," said Vice President Daniel Proskin, who with his brother, Ryan, is on the "front 9" in running the business, said his father. "It makes business a lot smoother."



The company closed on the East Street location in July and spent the last couple months transforming the factory into a showroom and office space. The lobby opens onto the main show floor where dozens of suites, chairs and desks are displayed for customers to view and try out.



"Most people don't do what we do. We can't ask a customer to drive to Boston, to New York to see furniture," said Rob Proskin. "If they want to see furniture, we have it here. ... We have a wonderful design department that you wouldn't find it in most small communities, but you're going to find it here."


Cook Safely This Holiday Season

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  As Thanksgiving approaches, Chief Charles Burger and the Great Barrington Fire Department remind residents to use caution as they cook over the holidays.



"Kitchens can be chaotic - especially when full of people or family members who are not familiar with where everything is or where everything goes," Burger said. "Please pay attention to the small things, like what's in the oven and what kinds of oil you're using at certain temperatures. These details are crucial in preventing fires."



Great Barrington Fire has responded to multiple fires caused by holiday cooking over the past several years.



According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, cooking was the leading cause of residential fire injuries in 2015, resulting in four civilian deaths, 80 civilian injuries, 30 firefighter injuries and an estimated $10 million in property damage.



To avoid tragedy this season, Chief Burger recommends residents follow several safety tips outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:



 Stay in the kitchen when boiling, frying, or broiling food.



 Use a timer when baking or roasting and never leave the house while the oven is on.



 Move anything that can catch fire  pot holders, towels, paper or plastic bags  away from your stove top.




Haiti - Technology : CONATEL in Bangkok





Engineer Jean Marie Altema, Director General of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL), took part in the ITU Telecom World (14-17 November) in Bangkok (Thailand), the world's largest innovation event in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The main focus of this event was to promote collaboration in the digital economy, the key role played by technological SMEs in our digital ecosystem and the innovative investment in global connectivity. The objective being to present and discover the latest innovations, but also to bring together actors from around the world, to discuss and explore the prospects for the evolution of ICT.



Jean Marie Altema met with Houlin Zhao, Secretary General and Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. Discussions focused on projects related to technical assistance on emergency telecommunications, training, youth entrepreneurship in the digital economy and financial inclusion, women in technology, broadband services development in a competitive market, capacity building and other regulatory issues.



IH/ S/ iciHaiti


















On the Cessation of Hostilities in Yemen

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "I welcome public announcements by all sides to commit to a renewable Cessation of Hostilities that began on Saturday for an initial period of 48 hours. I call on all sides to adhere to these commitments, which would allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and could help create the conditions for advancing the peace talks.

"As before, the United States stands ready to assist the Yemeni people and strongly supports the continuing efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to restart by the end of this month negotiations towards a comprehensive agreement, using the UN Roadmap as a basis for talks between the parties.

"We are mindful that reaching a durable and lasting settlement to this conflict requires compromise and concessions, and we encourage all parties to seek that compromise with a focus on the good of their country and a better future for the Yemeni people."
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On Transgender Day of Remembrance, the United States solemnly honors the memory of the many transgender individuals who lost their lives to senseless acts of violence.

"Transgender persons around the world are targeted by rising levels of violence fueled by hatred and bigotry. This is a global challenge and we all must do more to protect transgender persons on the basis of equality and dignity.

"In the United States, our Constitution enshrines freedoms of peaceful assembly, speech and association, and it affirms that everyone has equal protection under the law. Around the world human rights and fundamental freedoms are recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that every person is born free and equal in dignity and rights. Every person includes transgender women, transgender men, and other individuals who face marginalization on account of their gender expression or gender identity.

"Today we stand in solidarity with the incredible resilience and leadership of the transgender community in responding to stigma and marginalization. Transgender persons deepen our diversity, broaden our communities, and strengthen the values we cherish. When all persons reach their full human potential, free from fear, intimidation, and violence, nations become more just, secure and prosperous.

"The United States remains committed to advance the human rights of all persons, including transgender persons. On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we reaffirm equality for all as part of our core constitutional principles and as a human rights priority of U.S. diplomacy."
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With Emma Watson starring as Belle in Disneys latest live-action adaptation of a classic animated film, the moral ambiguity of Beauty and the Beast is once again being widely discussed.

One teacher has attempted to bring the discussion into schools, causing outrage after producing a lesson plan that tells pupils the story promotes domestic violence.

Now widely available online to thousands of teachers, the plan details how Belle is in an abusive relationship with Beast where "her only asset is her sexuality.

"The Beast does not attack Belle but the threat of physical violence is present, the lesson plan reads, as detailed by Metro. "The movie says if a woman is pretty and sweet natured she can change an abusive man into a kind and gentle man.

"In other words, it is the woman's fault if her man abuses her. And of course, the beast turns into a handsome prince because ugly people cannot be happy.

 Beauty and the Beast trailer

Other Disney characters are also used to illustrate the point, including The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin's Princess Jasmine, and Snow White.

The plan - titled Racism/Sexism in Disney - was uploaded by an unknown teacher to the Times Educational Supplement website, targeted at RE classes. It has been viewed more than 11,000 times and downloaded over 600.

Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, Chris McGovern, was highly critical of the plan, saying in a statement how the lesson plan represents "an ignorant, insidious and covert attack on family value."

He continued: "They are part of a deliberate strategy to pull apart the ties that bind our society together. Fairytales, including the Disney versions, allow children to make sense of the world whilst alerting them to its dangers.

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First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake Show all 5 1 /5 First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake Emma Watson as Belle Laurie Sparham First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake Emma Watson stars as Belle and Kevin Kline is Maurice, Belle's father. Laurie Sparham First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake The Beast (Dan Stevens) and Belle (Emma Watson) in the castle library Disney First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake The mantel clock Cogsworth, the teapot Mrs. Potts, Lumiere the candelabra and the feather duster Plumette Disney First Look at Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake L-R: Josh Gad as Le Fou and Luke Evans as Gaston. Laurie Sparham

Tory MP for Shipley, West Yorkshire, Phil Davies echoed concerns over the plan, telling Metro: Parents will be horrified to think that their children are being brainwashed with this politically correct claptrap.

Most parents send their kids to school to learn about maths, science and history  not to be brainwashed with garbage like this. The Government should stop this idiocy and ensure schools teach things that parents expect.

Following the dismissive tone of Davies and McGovern, The Department for Education issued a neutral statement, reading: "Schools are best placed to decide what resources are most appropriate for their children, in consultation with parents.

"There are a range of resources available online but we trust teachers to decide on the best ones to use when developing lessons which are age-appropriate."

A Disney spokesperson said in a statement: For more than 90 years, Disneys timeless stories and beloved characters, including Disney Princesses, have been universal, relatable and relevant for everyone.

They are loved by millions of children and adults across gender because it is their inner qualities such as determination, kindness, loyalty, humour, courage and wit that shine through and define them.
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Five years on from part two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the rip-roaring spin-off Fantastic Beasts is finally in cinemas around the world.

As expected, Newt Scamanders adventure through New York is filled with wonderful creatures, big and small, causing havoc among the No-Maj.

Before the films release, JK Rowling revealed there would be four more films in the series centering, not only on Eddie Redmaynes character but also Dumbledore.

However, producer David Heyman has since revealed some highly antigun details regarding a seemingly finished plot-line that will continue in future films. Spoilers for Fantastic Beasts ahead.

 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them IMAX Premiere Featurette

Still here? As you likely know, Ezra Millers character Credence Barebone seemingly died. However, Heymen has since revealed to CinemaBlend that the character lives on in a deleted scene, meaning he will be in future films.

We actually had a scene, which we cut, which was Credence going to a boat, to get on a boat somewhere else, he told the publication. But we cut that because we didn't want to have it be such an 'Ahhh, here we go.

Where the boat was going, Heymen left a mystery. With the second Fantastic Beasts film reportedly set in Paris, that leaves a great deal of questions to how exactly Credence will feature.

JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Show all 7 1 /7 JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Harry and the Dursleys, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Quidditch, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Peeves, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Snape, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Outside Privet Drive, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches MIrror of Erised, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches The Weasleys, by J.K. Rowling

The producer said of the sequels: I don't think [Newt will be at] the heart of all of them. I think he'll be part -- so will Tina, Queenie and Jacob -- will be part of the next one. Dumbledore and Credence and Grindelwald. I think they will be the main players.

Fantastic Beasts has been a hit with cinema-goers - grossing $218.3 in its first weekend in cinemas - despite the reveal being a Harry Potter cliche.
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Allied (12A)

Dir: Robert Zemeckis, 124 mins, starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Lizzy Caplan, Jared Harris, Simon McBurney

What kind of film does Allied want to be, exactly? The glamorous, titillating thriller in which spies-in-love trade secrets and promises? Or something entirely more sober?

The opening to Robert Zemeckis latest would certainly suggest the former in its fantastical, exotic vision of Casablanca, 1942; Bogie and Bergman may be hiding in the shadows, but spy Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) arrives in the conquered city to meet his sham wife, Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard).

She's deep undercover; her effusive charm makes her a favourite among the local Nazi authorities, as she welcomes her supposedly long-absent husband into the crowd. In reality, the pair have never met: theyre merely the front line in a months-long assassination plot set to take place at the ambassadorial reception held in a few days.

And, as always happens in the movies, their pretend affair soon turns into a real one, though in Allied the turning tides of emotion seem startlingly sudden. With the Casablanca scenes more of a prologue to the main action, we get minimal time to see these two actually fall in love; a couple of furtive glances later, and suddenly theyre making love in a car trapped in the middle of a sandstorm.

But if this is intended as a breezy, period affair, how do we explain what happens next? A shift in tone from thrilling, glamorous exoticism to Londons home front; the fires of the Blitz engulfing a maternity ward, and a grim moment in which Max launches a grenade into a German tank, before taking a gun to each of its mortally wounded occupants.

Allied undercuts whats come before in its attempts to veer its narrative into the world of tense suspicion, to see the veracity of the lovers grand affair come under question and put loyalties under threat. Yet, theres an insincerity to the plotting here, which concerns itself primarily with establishing a series of high-stake set pieces; including introducing the idea it may all be a mere test of loyalty, which seems largely improbable considering the severity of the accusations.

 Allied - Trailer

Indeed, this is the kind of film that puts intended tone above all else: above logic, above dramatic commitment. Its as if Zemeckis and screenwriter Steven Knight (Locke, Eastern Promises) mapped out a certain path of emotions the audience is intended to feel  thrill, arousal, stress, sadness  but hadnt thought through how authentically to link these moments together, relying instead on mere calling cards as opposed to real narrative work.

Pitt and Cotillard both do a fine job with what theyre given; the latter, in particular, delivering the fluidity and adaptability of Mariannes character with a real spark. But its not enough; with even the cinematography seeming to bow to such non-committal tone. Theres an odd, stark sheen to it all; betraying neither nostalgic romanticism nor muted weight, making its lead actors look like mannequins posed in the actions of wartime romance.

Perhaps its unsurprising at this point, but the whole thing ends rather simplistically; wasting time on establishing a moral conundrum of duty versus love that it never really has the guts to explore, at the sacrifice of continuing the glamorous thill ride it so eagerly promised in its opening scenes.

I keep the emotions real, thats why it works, Marianne coyly utters. Its a piece of advice this film would have been better off taking heed of.

Allied hits UK cinemas 25 November.
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London nightclub Fabric will reopen following its controversial closure earlier this year by Islington Council.

Judge Robin McPhee made the final decision after Fabric's management agreed with the council on a set of conditions under which the premises must run.

Those conditions  drawn from a 155-page gold standard for security put forward by Fabric this month  include clubbers under 19 not being allowed onto the premises, CCTV monitoring, ID scanners and a lifetime ban for anyone caught dealing or in possession of drugs.

The appeal was heard at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, where a judge passed the appeal. It is unclear when exactly the Charterhouse Street venue will open its doors.

A history of clubbing and clobber Show all 7 1 /7 A history of clubbing and clobber A history of clubbing and clobber Debauched disco Dancers in matching pink and white costumes play with beach balls on the mezzanine of Studio 54, a nightclub in New York City, in 1981 A history of clubbing and clobber Bright young things New Romantics at The Blitz club in London's Covent Garden in 1980 A history of clubbing and clobber Spiritual home of acid house Clubbers on the main stage at The Hacienda in Manchester in 1989 A history of clubbing and clobber High fashion meets trash culture Nu Rave clubbers outside Boombox in Shoreditch, London in 2007 A history of clubbing and clobber Posing and posturing DJ Princess Julia and fashion designer Stephen Linard at The Blitz club in 1981 A history of clubbing and clobber Celebrating the ridiculous Scottee (on the right) clubbing in the Noughties Rex Features A history of clubbing and clobber Part of a secret society Mike Pickering at The Hacienda in 1988

Ranjit Bhose said on behalf of the council, according to the Islington Gazette: What the council has been concerned with is whether Fabric can operate with a true zero-tolerance towards drugs.

We are now satisfied revocation of the licence is not necessary. Fabric has accepted procedure for searching and drug dealing within the club were not sufficient. It has now accepted 38 new conditions as well as its 155-page operating manual. The authority is satisfied Fabric understands what has to be done.

Judge McPhee said of the decision: I am satisfied that the council and Fabric pulled together to get a set of workable conditions to prevent drug use and supply.

Following the verdict, Fabric issued a statement thanking all those who supported the club.

Fabric's statement in full We are hugely thankful to be able to confirm the news that we have won our licence back. We owe everything to our supporters. We really would not be here today without your unparalleled support and generosity. So many different people stepped up to put their voices to our cause, artists from all corners of the music community, fellow promoters who have put on huge events from us and clubbers from around the world who all united behind us. Weve even seen people sporting their #savefabric T Shirts on the other side of this planet showing just how big this thing is. So, thank you to all of you. Without the strength of your backing this would not have happened. You saved Fabric. Well be back with some news about #saveourculture and our next steps when we can.

Metropolitan police have also offered a statement on Fabric's reopening, with Superintendent Nick Davies, from Islington police, saying: I fully welcome Fabric's offer to have additional conditions placed on their licence to address these issues and their new zero-tolerance approach to drugs.

He continued: Police will continue to robustly enforce the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and maintaining public safety. We will be monitoring the ongoing conduct of Fabric and the activities that take place within it. If there are further breaches of the licence, Fabric should be in no doubt that they will be challenged by Islington police and action taken.

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I know Fabric is a venue that holds a great deal of affection in people's hearts. We had no choice but to take action to safeguard clubbers and now Fabric has agreed to considerable changes I hope the venue can continue to operate for many years to come within the boundaries of the new licensing conditions.

The nightspot, based in Farringdon, had initially closed temporarily following the deaths of two teenagers from suspected drug overdoses earlier in the year. Its licence was revoked ahead of Islington Councils final ruling in September that saw the popular spot closed for good.

Following the councils decision to close Fabric, thousands signed a petition to save the nightclub with a campaign named #saveourculture funding Fabrics legal battle.

Shortly after the news was announced, documents released by the council suggested that the closure was a pre-planned event orchestrated by a cash-strapped council.

 Chairman of the Night Time Industries Association speaking after the closing of Fabric

Earlier this month, London mayor Sadiq Khan, who previously urged the two parties to reach an agreement, appointed broadcaster Amy Lame as the citys first ever Night Czar, a popular choice considering her stripes as an LGBT event-runner since the mid-Nineties.

Khan said of the decision to reopen Fabric: Fantastic news. Confirmed that Fabric has reached a new agreement with Islington Council and will reopen. Thank you, Islington.

Fabric re-opening shows we can find common-sense solutions that protect both the future of clubs and the safety of all clubbers.

Night Czar Amy Lame has already held conversations with all parties in the Fabric case as part of her role supporting Londons nightlife.
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After giving over more and more of his shows to rants the past week and facing considerable backlash over his admiration of Donald Trumps presidential campaign, Kanye West has decided to simply cancel his latest concert.

Ticketmaster confirmed that Sunday nights The Forum show in Los Angeles was called off at 5pm - three hours before it was due to start. The ticket provider also offered refunds for customers who attended Wests Sacramento show on Saturday at which he performed only four songs (the LA concert was supposed to be making up for this).

Kanye didnt address the cancellation on any of his social media channels, but did fill his Instagram feed with a ton of photos of low-res photos of vintage clothing.

The barrage of Maison Margiela fashion is the only thing he has posted since admitting on stage that he would have voted for Trump, which has led to fans burning their Yeezys in the streets.

Update

A representative for Kanye West has confirmed that entirety of the rest of his Saint Pablo Tour, 21 shows in total, has been cancelled.

A reason was not given, but the rep told Pitchfork that "tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase."

It was apparently the work of Kanyes Fade director and creative assistant Eli Russell Linnetz, who wrote on his own Instagram: new installation on @kanyewest.

West arrived on stage 90 minutes late in Sacramento on Saturday night, critising Jay Z, Beyonce, Hillary Clinton and Mark Zuckerberg in between the four songs he played and asking Jay not to send assassins after him.

At the previous show in San Jose, he said of Trumps election: There are methods, non-political methods to speaking that I like, that I feel were very futuristic.

That style, and that method of communication has proven that it can beat a politically correct way of communication, and I fuck with that.
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Its a big night for metal in London. Just down the road, Metallica are playing a one-off intimate gig to 900 fans and industry types at House of Vans underneath Waterloo station. However, for 5,000-ish fans of the heavier things in life, theyre at an even more important event in Brixton.

Tonight is a hugely significant gig for Brighton metalcore outfit Architects. After 12 years on the scene and seven albums, its their biggest ever UK headline show and its sold out. Vocalist Sam Carter is clearly ecstatic to be there. Three songs in he moves away from the mic stand and proudly postures at the front of the stage, one foot propped on the speakers, breathing it all in as the crowd chant in unison AR-CHI-TECTS, AR-CHI-TECTS, before yelling: Ive waited for this moment for a long time so Im going to make it good BRIXTONNNNN!.

Carters screamed vocals are the foundations of Architects sound, combined with the down-tuned guitars and blistering double-bass beats that assault beneath. The onslaught breaks only occasionally for brief flashes of melody. Its brutal and intense but Architects pull it off with equal parts precision and heart that its an absolute pleasure to watch live. To the untrained ear, these heavy songs may sound gloomy, but Carters politicised lyrics in the likes of These Colours Dont Run and Naysayer are delivered as calls to arms, and the raised-fisted response of the crowd brings to life their life-affirming quality.

Lasers and flashing strobes give the tracks another dimension, and theres something incredibly satisfying about watching four jets of smoke shoot upwards across the stage in perfect synchronisity with a bowel-trembling guitar breakdown and guttural URGH from Carter. From a band raised in the tiny toilet touring circuit, theyre finally giving their sound the atmospheric treatment it deserves in the big arena.

While the usual four-piece play as five tonight, there is one person missing on the stage. Indeed, its not just the scale of tonights performance that makes it such a special one. Three months ago, Architects guitarist, primary songwriter and founding member Tom Searle died after living with cancer for three years. Twin brother to drummer Dan, Tom had kept his illness from fans, making his death at the age of 28 all the more of a shock. While notable for his physical absence, Toms presence lays thick in the air. In his frequent inter-song spiel, Carter responds to chants of his former bandmates name with: Tonight we stand with you in celebration of our brothers life. Tonight we open Tom's diary and sing some of the greatest metal songs ever written.

Recommended How Bring Me The Horizon accidentally became rockstars

Hyperbole aside and while they are not everyones cup of tea, to the metal ear they are indeed great. Colony Collapse has a deep groove while the breakdown in Phantom Fear shakes the foundations of the building.

Returning to the stage for their encore, Dan Searle comes out from behind the drum kit to take the mic and pay tribute to his brother.

This probably sounds strange to some of you but we always thought if he wanted it enough he'd be here tonight, but it didn't happen, he says. Its an emotionally-charged moment and Searle isnt the only one in the venue struggling to hold back tears.

Turning it around, he ends on a positive note: We've spent some time being close to dealing with death and you realise how fragile life is. It's very easy to sleepwalk through life. Don't sell yourself short. Find what you love and embrace it. Don't settle for mediocracy.

Make the most of this life, you never know when it might end.

Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures

Returning to behind the kit, Architects finish with Gone with the Wind. Sparks rain from the ceiling as the audience joins Carter at his most melodic for the poignant refrain: A sickness with no remedy, except the ones inside of me. In retrospect, its clear how much Toms illness must have influenced the writing of the bands latest record All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, released just three months before he died.

While it's not clear what the future holds for Architects as a recording band, tonights gig is a testament to how much they still have to offer live. They have overcome great tragedy, showing resilience and professionalism beyond their years, and the finesse with which they pull off such a momentous performance is a fitting tribute to their fallen comrade.
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David Bowies last handful of stardust fell on Donny McCaslin, who seems transfigured by it. The New York saxophonist was Bowies right-hand man on Blackstar, and on Beyond Now, the new album comprising his writing and Bowies, the pairs DNA has become entwined. Only bassist Tim Lefebvre is missing from the quartet that made both records for their gig at the Rich Mix club. The packed crowd press forward, thrilled by the music, but surely also aware this is as close as they will get to the Starmans final transmission.

Blackstars key track, 'Lazarus', gets a transcendent jazz translation, Jason Lindners keyboards gently sinuous and glistening in a song thats part requiem and part resurrection. McCaslin looks lit up with benign soulfulness, gratitude at Bowies intervention, and a sense of mission to do it justice. Being here  its hard to talk about, he says, moved perhaps to tears, before closing with Lows 'Warszawa'. The originals melancholy, electronic Cold War winds now swirl redemptively as McCaslin, eyes squeezed shut, blows his heart out. The audience gets everything hes giving. This hasnt been a tribute to Bowie, but a personally delivered, last letter home.

Elsewhere in the London Jazz Festivals first days, you can almost see the latter-day barriers between jazz and a broad public breaking down, a process which has accelerated this year. The Robert Glasper Experiment have been crucial to this. Glasper likened the jazz reaction to his leap into hip-hop and R&B with 2012s Grammy-winning Black Radio to that of a jealous ex, but his filling of Camdens Koko with a youthful mix of men and women, black and white, show the divorce wasnt final, and any settlement was in jazzs favour.

Glaspers penchant for languidly unfocused gigs is kept in check, and his own keyboard playing is sharp and thoughtful, quick phrases becoming claustrophobically trapped then making spidery runs. Lianne La Havas guests on a meditative cover of Little Dragons Twice, while on Day to Day, Casey Benjamins 10-minute soprano sax solos relentless, building intensity is recognised and roared on by a crowd unlikely to have crossed the road to hear anything like it at Ronnie Scotts.

German pianist Michael Wollny, though 38 and a mainstream star back home, still seems a lanky, floppy-haired wunderkind on his trios belated London debut. Der Wanderers inclusion of a wistful piano prelude and bull-snorting drum solo, and its long and jagged, deconstructed path back to the initial tunes pensive acceptance, is as typical as the unlikely, breakneck funk climax to Paul Hindemiths 1919 composition In einer nacht.

Among other early highlights, Phillip Johnstons Silent Six provided dissonant marching music and ribald city symphonies for cartoonist Art Spiegelmans meditation on wordless novels, and James Blood Ulmer, the 76-year-old blues-jazz guitar colossus, revisited his 1980 album Are You Glad To Be In America? with gliding sighs and chopping force. The titles irony never needed less emphasis.
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Incoming vice president Mike Pence has broken with Donald Trump in his view of what happened at the Hamilton broadway musical, where the cast told him in front of the audience they were worried about a president Trump.

While Mr Trump demanded an apology from the cast and called the show "overrated", Mr Pence told Fox News that he, his daughter and cousins "really enjoyed the show".

"Hamilton is just an incredible production, incredibly talented people and it was a real joy to be there," he said.

He acknowledged that he heard "a few boos" and "some cheers".

"I nudged my kids and reminded them thats what freedom sounds like," he said.

"But at the end I did hear what was said from the stage. I can tell you I wasnt offended by what was said - Ill leave it to others as to whether it was the appropriate venue to say it."

 Mike Pence is told We are the diverse Americans anxious you will not protect us

The ethnically diverse cast of the popular and sold-out musical, which tells the story of Americas Founding Fathers, asked Mr Pence not to leave the venue before he listened to what they wanted to say.

Actor Brandon Victor Dixon said that people were worried that Mr Trump would "not protect them".

Mr Trump demanded an apology for the cast's "terrible behaviour" several times on twitter.

When asked on Fox News if Mr Pence expected an apology, he again questioned the choice of venue for the speech but encouraged people to go see the show, and he was a real history buff and really enjoyed it.

Mr Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, also agreed with Mr Pence when she went to see the show in March.

Mr Pence said he wanted to reassure people who were disappointed and anxious that Mr Trump meant from the bottom of his heart that he was prepared to lead for all Americans.

"I just want to reassure every American that in the days ahead I am confident that theyre going to see president-elect Donald Trump be a president for all the people," he said.

Mr Dixon responded to Mr Trump's demand on twitter, saying that "conversation" was not "harassment".
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British children are among the least active in the world, an international study has warned.

Research comparing the activity levels of children in 38 countries across the world put England, Wales and Scotland behind countries like Ireland, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates.

England and Wales were given a D minus rating in the survey which was presented to the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health in Toronto, Canada while Scotland received an F, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Although the UK government recommends children should do at least an hour of moderate intensity physical activity just 15 per cent of girls and 22 per cent of boys aged 11 to 15 in England managed this.

The report showed the situation had declined since a similar survey was published two years ago despite a pledge by the Government to tackle child obesity.

In 2014, England was given an overall grade of C-D in the first Global Matrix of Grades examining fitness which used nine different measures to rank activity levels and government strategies, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Of these nine measures, four had got worse while the rest had stayed the same.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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

Meanwhile north of the border Scotland retained its place at the join bottom of the table with countries such as China, Qatar and Chile as researchers found it had the highest levels of sedentary behaviour and lowest levels of overall physical activity.

Wales was not included in the 2014 but scored the same as England among 11-15 years according to the new research.

In Slovenia, which scored most As and Bs across all nine categories, researchers found that 80 per cent of boys and 70 per cent of girls aged between six and 18 took part in some form of physical activity every day.

The research comes just months after Theresa Mays ministers secretly abandoned a plan to stop 800,000 children becoming obese in the next 10 years.

In a watered down childhood obesity strategy published in August, the Government only pledged to have fewer obese children by 2026.

It also abandoned proposals to restrict advertising and promotional deals on junk food and abandoned the sugar tax announced in former Chancellor George Osbornes final Budget in March.

Instead, it proposed a voluntary system where food companies would be asked to reduce the amount of sugar in their products by 20 per cent.
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Facebook plans to create an extra 500 jobs in the UK when it opens a new headquarters in London next year, the US social media giant has announced.

The move means the technology company will employ 1,500 people in the capital in 2017, an increase of 50 per cent.

Facebook's European head Nicola Mendelsohn, who is to announce the plan at the CBI conference on Monday, said many of the jobs will be high-skilled engineering positions.

She said: "The UK remains one of the best places to be a tech company and is an important part of Facebook's story.

"We came to London in 2007 with just a handful of people; by the end of next year we will have opened a new HQ and plan to employ 1,500 people."

The new office is currently under construction in Fitzrovia, central London, a Facebook spokeswoman added.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the move.

He said: "Facebook's decision to expand in London is further evidence that London's strength as a tech hub keeps on growing.

"The capital's vibrant tech scene is the envy of Europe and Facebook's continuing commitment is another sign that London is open to talent, innovation and entrepreneurship from all four corners of the world."
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Theresa May has reportedly raised the prospect of the UK entering a transitional Brexit arrangement with the rest of the European Union in 2019 rather than going through a total rupture.

She told the CBI today that UK businesses wanted to avoid a cliff edge in two years time.

A Downing Street spokesman later said that a range of issues are being explored by officials - although they later tried to dampen speculation about what these were.

But what would a transitional deal with the EU look like and what would it mean in practical terms?

What is a transitional deal?

We dont know for sure since the Prime Minister is still playing her cards extremely close to her chest, giving zero detail away.

But such a deal is widely presumed to involve Britain leaving the EU, as planned, in 2019 but immediately entering a close trading relationship with the rest of the bloc, such as Norway has as part of the European Economic Area [EEA].

This should be reasonably straightforward since the institution of the EEA already exists and the UK would not have to invent it from scratch.

This arrangement might last for a set period of time, perhaps a couple of years.

Such a transition plan was recommended by the think tank Open Europe in August.

Raoul Ruparel, the former head of Open Europe, is, perhaps significantly, now an adviser to the Brexit Secretary, David Davis.

What would be the point?

It would mean Britain would remain part of the single market.

So goods could be sold tariff free to the Continent.

And, importantly, services could also continue to be sold unimpeded to Europe.

Banks based in the UK would retain their passport, meaning they would not have to move large numbers of staff out of London to ensure the continuity of their Continental operations.

The UK would also be able to sign free trade deals with other countries around the world - and it would regain full control on fisheries and agriculture.

But what about free movement of people?

That would continue.

Norway allows free movement with the EU, as do other EEA members.

There would also probably have to be annual payments to the EU Budget from Britain.

But that sounds a lot like being in the EU...

Its actually more restrictive.

On top of the free movement and budget payments the UK would have to accept and implement the single market rules without having any influence over how they are formulated since we would no longer be in the European Council, or the European Parliament and we would have no European Commissioner.

Wouldnt that be political suicide for Theresa May?

The way she and her ministers might try to frame it is that we would be, technically, out of the institution of the EU.

And she might emphasise the temporary nature of the transition.

And the practical advantages are clear.

Many trade experts are highly doubtful of the feasibility of the UK negotiating not only the terms of the Brexit divorce with the EU by 2019, but also a comprehensive new trade deal with the bloc by then.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

And if the clock runs down without a successful agreement the UK will face having to trade with the rest of the UK on World Trade Organisation terms, meaning our goods exporters would face damaging tariffs.

And then there are 50 plus EU trade deals with countries around the world, from South Korea to Mexico.

The UK would need to negotiate its own pacts with each of these by 2019.

It's a hell of a lot of work for just two years.

Ms May might argue this is all simply impossible and that the only way to take Britain out of the EU by 2019 and to avoid a cliff edge for British exporters is to go for the transitional deal.

Sounds reasonable

Except the pro-Brexit media, hardline Conservatives and UKIP would probably sense a betrayal if this deal was seriously on the table.

They will fear a transitional deal becoming permanent  or maybe even a prelude to the UK returning to the EU in due course if public opinion on Brexit changes.

That is why they are already lobbying for a hard Brexit without any delay - and why Ms May is so reticient about laying out a transition deal even as a possibility.

She may want to keep the transition plan in reserve; to be deployed if the negotiations appear to be going badly or too slowly once Article 50 has been triggered.
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Many of Americas conservative, evangelical community were distrustful of the religious bona fides of the thrice-married former casino magnate when he asked them to vote for him.

One of Donald Trumps strongest supporters on the religious right, however, was Jerry Falwell, the President of Liberty University and the son of Jerry Falwell, a celebrated Southern Baptist pastor.

Now Mr Trump is reportedly considering appointing Mr Falwell to head the Department of Education, or at least offer him a position within the department, despite his teaching of so-called creationism to his students.

Mr Falwell, an early supporter of the billionaire businessman who declared his backing prior to the Iowa caucus, met with Mr Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence last week at Trump Tower in New York

I let them know one of my passions is reforming higher education and education in general, Mr Falwell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

I told them Id be willing - I have a lot of responsibilities here - but Id be willing to serve in some capacity that sort of brings education back to some form of sanity.

Liberty, in Lynchburg, is the largest Christian school in the country. It has spent $900m on improvements over the past 10 years.

Mr Falwell has said higher education has to get back to the basics of teaching and eschew the ivory tower mentality that has led to salaries that are out of this world.

 'Alt-right' movement founder urges Trump to freeze immigration for 50 years

He added: I just want to do whatever I can to get the overbearing bureaucracy of the Department of Education off the backs of colleges and universities.

"I do have a lot of concerns about the way the Department of Education is operating.

Mr Trump received the backing of Jerry Falwell Jr (AP)

The Washington Post reported that in Libertys science hall, which is stocked with the latest laboratory equipment, including a gene sequencer and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, faculty members teach evolution alongside biblical creationism.

David DeWitt, who holds a doctorate in neurosciences from Case Western Reserve University, chairs Libertys biology and chemistry department. He is also director of its Centre for Creation Studies.

The overwhelming majority of the scientific community accepts evolution as the basis for modern biology, according to the National Academy of Sciences, among others.

Earlier this year, Mr Trump spoke to students Liberty University in Virginia, where he fluffed a Bible reference. We're going to protect Christianity. I can say that. I dont have to be politically correct, said Mr Trump.
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Donald Trump has been meeting with all kinds of people as he remains holed-up in Trump Tower, looking to put together a new administration.

Among those he found time to see last week, were three businessmen from India with whom he is involved in a large development project. They posed for photographs that were posted to Twitter, in which they smiled and grinned.

The businessmen told Indian media that their conversation with Mr Trump and his children, included a desire to expand their efforts in India. The revelation has sparked concern in the US about whether Mr Trump will enact the kind of legal firewalls to ensure his businesses do not benefit from his presidency, or create an appearance that they do.

Mr Trump met with three Indian executives - Sagar Chordia, Atul Chordia, and Kalpesh Mehta. The three are involved in developing a Trump-branded luxury apartment complex in the city of Pune, south of Mumbai.

Mr Trump currently is involved in five luxury projects in India, including a Trump Tower, a 46-apartment block with Panchshil Realty in Pune, and an under-construction 300-apartment project in Mumbais Lower Parel with the Lodha Group.

The New York Times reported that one of the businessmen, Sagar Chordia, posted photographs on Facebook on Wednesday showing that he also met with Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. Mr Trumps children are involved in both running the family businesses, and helping with the transition process.

Mr Chordia, the director of Panchshil Realty, told Indias Economic Times: [Mr Trump] was praising [Indian prime minister Narendra] Modi as always, and added that he is doing a great job.

Mr Mehta told the paper: Donald Trump Jr expressed satisfaction with the pace of Trump Organisations India business and showed interest in expanding it further.

We didnt get a chance to talk about currency demonetisation with Mr Trump. But, his kids knew about it and they termed it as an incredibly bold move.

 'Alt-right' movement founder urges Trump to freeze immigration for 50 years

The visit of the Indian visitors had led to demands for Mr Trump to establish a blind trust or some other mechanism to protect against a suggestions of improprierty, or that his he or his businesses are benefitting from his postpone as president. Observers pointed out that Mr Trumps daughter, Ivanka, had sat in on a meeting to Trump Tower with the Japanese prime minister, even though she is a member of the family business and has no security clearance.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board, considered a bastion of conservative thinking, said last week: One reason 60m voters elected Donald Trump is because he promised to change Washington's culture of self-dealing, and if he wants to succeed he's going to have to make a sacrifice and lead by example.

It added: If Mr. Trump doesn't liquidate, he will be accused of a pecuniary motive any time he takes a policy position. Mixing money and politics could undermine his pledge to drain the swamp In Washington.

Senior members of the Trump transition team have insisted over the weekend there will be no conflict of interest.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence said: Im very confident that the President-elect and his extraordinary talented family are going to work with the best legal minds in this country and create the proper separation from their business enterprise during his duties as President of the United States.

Mr Trumps soon-to-be Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, said the incoming White House counsel will be tasked with making sure that there were no conflicts of interest with the real estate moguls business empire.

Weve been at this for a few days, he said. I mean, this is ridiculous. Lets just kind of take a deep breath.
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Gigi Hadid has stirred criticism for her impression of the President-elects wife Melania Trump at the American Music Awards.

The 21-year-old fashion model, who was hosting the ceremony, adopted a Slovenian accent and referenced the accusations of plagiarism directed at Ms Trump. The First Lady in waiting, who was born in Slovenia when it was part of Yugoslavia, was accused of plagiarising some of Michelle Obamas Democratic convention speech from eight years ago at the Republican National Convention in July.

This is my Melania Trump impression. I got to get the face right, Hadid said on stage. I love my husband, President Barack Obama, and our children, Sasha and Malia.

Some Twitter users condemned her impression of Mr Trumps third wife on Twitter and argued Hadid was being "disrespectful" and "tasteless", with some saying impressions like hers were the reason Mr Trump won the election.

"You were pathetic and unfunny. You are the reason why Trump won, the public is fed up with narcissistic liberal haters," said one.

"Very rude and disrespectful performance slandering Melania Trump - she has way more class than you two!" added another.

President Donald Trump life in pictures Show all 16 1 /16 President Donald Trump life in pictures President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump poses in a rocking chair once used by President John F. Kennedy at his New York City residence Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump with his new bride Marla Maples after their wedding at the Plaza hotel in New York Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Celina Midelfart watch the match between Conchita Martinez and Amanda Coetzer during U.S. Open. She was the date whom Donald Trump was with when he met his current wife Melania at a party in 1996 Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500, speaks to Donald Trump and Melania Knauss on the starting grid at the Daytona International Speedwa Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump talks with his former wife Ivana Trump during the men's final at the U.S. Open Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and his friend Melania Knauss pose for photographers as they arrive at the New York premiere of Star Wars Episode : 'The Phantom Menace,' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump talks with host Larry King. Trump told King that he was moving toward a possible bid for the United States presidency with the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump answers questions as Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura looks on in Brooklyn Park. Trump said on Friday he 'very well might' make a run for president under the Reform Party banner but had not made a final decision Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump makes a face at a friend as he sits next to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso before the start of the 2003 Miss Universe pageant in Panama City Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Entrepreneur Donald Trump is greeted by a Marilyn Monroe character look-a-alike, as he arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood to attend the an open casting call for his NBC television network reality series 'The Apprentice.' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Simon Cowell present an Emmy during the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Megan Mullally perform at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump, poses with his children, son Donald Trump, Jr., and daughters Tiffany and Ivanka Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump told Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner on Tuesday she would be given a second chance after reported misbehavior Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump holds a replica of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as his wife Melania holds their son Barron in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. property mogul Donald Trump stands next to a bagpiper during a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland Reuters

Others accused her of "racism" and argued she would not have impersonated a black person.

Hey Hadid girl if Melania Trump was a black lady you would not racist jokes about her. Stupid liberal double standard.

One person suggested that the President-elect would tweet demanding an apology from Hadid for the impression.

But others expressed their support for Hadid and said they thought her parody was hilarious. Thank you Gigi Hadid for this impression of Melania! We all needed that laugh!

Another suggested it was ironic some Trump supporters were accusing her of racism: "Funny how racist Trump supporters are calling racist @GigiHadid".

Jay Pharoah, who co-hosted the 44th annual ceremony alongside Hadid, commended her impression, saying it was spot on. He then did his own impression of Mr Trump. I love Bruno Mars, Pharoahs Trump said. I dont know what colour he is, so I cant deport him.

References to the billionaire property mogul dominated the night. With Green Day singing No war, no KKK, no fascist USA and Chrissy Teigen making a bleeped-out reference to the really interesting, fucked-up, fucking election.

A representative for Hadid did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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A Strictly Come Dancing dancer has been attacked hours after he took part in the show's Blackpool special.

Gorka Marquez had two of his teeth knocked out when he was set upon in the street.

It is believed he was attacked as he walked to a nightclub in the town.

He took part in Saturday's live show after being knocked out in the second round of the series.

Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Ore Oduba puts his claim in for the Glitterball with Joanne Clifton BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Judge Robert Rinder dancing the cha cha with Oksana Platero BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Lesley Joseph dancing with Anton Du Beke to 'What'll I Do' by Alison Krauss BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Greg Rutherford dancing with Natalie Lowe on Strictly Come Dancing BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Greg Rutherford hit the dancefloor like a maniac BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Laura Whitmore cha chas with Giovanni Pernice to the tune of 'Venus' BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Pasha Kovalev dances with BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Ore threw some energetic jumps into the mix BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice opened the series with a cha cha BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Judge Robert Rinder played on his legal prowess for his first dance BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures Lesley Joseph was waltzed around the ballroom by Strictly legend Anton Du Beke BBC/Guy Levy Strictly Come Dancing 2016 in pictures You go Greg! BBC/Guy Levy

The Spanish dancer had partnered EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, and is due to undergo dental surgery on Monday.

However, he is expected to rejoin rehearsals later in the week.

A BBC spokesman said: "Gorka was sadly the victim of an unprovoked incident in Blackpool on Saturday night, but he will be back in training this week and is looking forward to the group routine next weekend."
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The UK should follow in Californias footsteps and legalise cannabis, according to a new report into domestic drugs policy.

If cannabis were made legal and regulated by the Government, taxation from sales and savings on criminal justice costs could net the Treasury up to 1bn, claimed the report, which has been backed by MPs from all the major political parties.

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK, with 6.7 per cent of adults aged between 16 to 59 using it in the past year, according to the Home Office.

The report from liberal think-tank the Adam Smith Institute and Volteface accused the Government of failing in its current cannabis policies, which it called an embarrassment.

The Government strategy is based around three main pillars: reducing demand, restricting supply and building recovery. All three are failing, it said.

Instead, it proposes a regulated form of legalisation which it claims would ensure quality and purity and reduce crime.

Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry Show all 8 1 /8 Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591453.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591446.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591448.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591452.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591449.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591450.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591451.jpg Sam Adams Mile high city: Inside Denver's billion-dollar marijuana industry 5591454.jpg Sam Adams

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and former health minister Norman Lamb joined Labour and Tory figures to argue that the UK should follow the lead of the United States, where recreational cannabis use is already legal in a number of states including Washington and Colorado.

Four further states, including California, voted to legalise marijuana in this month's elections, while Germany is preparing to legalise cannabis for medical purposes and Canada makes plans for all-out decriminalisation.

The Netherlands effectively decriminalised cannabis decades ago while Portugal legalised it in 2001.

Mr Clegg said UK ministers should start planning for the possibility of a legal market for the drug so as not to fall behind other nations.

British politicians need to open their eyes to what is happening in the rest of the world, he said. Cannabis prohibition is being swept away on a tide of popular opinion and replaced with responsible legal regulation.

Now is the time for ministers to start writing the rules for this legal market, including age limits and health warnings, so that we can finally take back control from the criminal gangs.

Mr Clegg also wrote a letter to the British Medical Journal last week in which he claimed cannabis is much safer than many other medicines in use and said continuing to criminalise it was absurd.

The new report referred to the last major campaign to legalise cannabis in this country over six months by the Independent on Sunday in 1997, which culminated in a protest in central London attended by tens of thousands.

However, it said the march organised by the newspaper was a high-water mark of the campaign rather than a stepping stone in the stream of progress towards regulation.

The report argued that Britain's dark ages drugs policy has failed to stop drugs being manufactured and used, and to stop associated crime, corruption and killing.

It called for root and branch reform to legalise and regulate cannabis to ensure it meets acceptable standards, and to remove the market for criminal gangs.

Recommended Cannabis production legalised in Turkey

A legal cannabis market could be worth 6.8bn to the economy annually, potentially netting between 750m and 1.05bn in tax revenues and reduced criminal justice costs, it said.

The report claimed the number of offenders in prison for cannabis-related offences in England and Wales would also probably drop from the current 1,363, who cost taxpayers 50m a year.

Mr Lamb said: Prohibition is harmful and counter-productive, helping neither to reduce drug use nor the risks to public health.

While other countries and US states are increasingly coming to adopt a more enlightened approach to drug policy, we are stuck in the dark ages, filling the pockets of criminals and perpetuating the stigma which prevents so many drug users from seeking help.

 Weed-Growing 'Nuns' Hope to Heal the World with Cannabis

Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley, Labour MP Paul Flynn and co-leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas also backed the report.

The UK's 45 years of harsh prohibition has multiplied use and harm, said Mr Flynn.

A legal market would destroy the drug's attraction as forbidden fruit and encourage users to ingest cannabis, of known strength and quality, in ways that will the avoid deadly dangers of smoking.
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Support for the European Union in Britain has risen considerably since the EU referendum, a study has revealed, prompting suggestions that if another referendum were held now the Remain camp would win.

The survey, conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation, shows approval of EU membership among Britons increased by seven per cent in the five months up to August, while popularity for the Union across Europe has risen by five per cent.

It found that while less than half (49 per cent) of British people were in favour of the bloc in March, 56 per cent of British people expressed approval of the Union when asked two months after the Brexit vote, indicating that many people changed their minds about the EU following the referendum.

The survey, which had a sample of 14,936 respondents from the six largest member states, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain and Poland, was conducted just months after the UK referendum on 23 June, in which 52 per cent of voters opted to leave while 48 per cent supported remain.

Meanwhile the study found that approval ratings across the EU rose from 57 per cent to 62 per cent between March 2016 and August 2016, prompting suggestions the Brexit vote caused people across the continent to recognise the advantages of a united Europe.

Other European countries followed a similar pattern, with Germanys approval ratings having risen from 61 per cent to 69 per cent, and Poland  where EU popularity is highest  increasing by nine percentage points to 77 per cent.

Only Spain bucked the trend, with approval ratings falling from 71 per cent to 69 per cent, although the country still represents the third highest approval rating among the countries included in the survey.

As popularity for the EU rose, negative opinions for the Union fell across Europe, with just over a quarter of Europeans (26 per cent) feeling that their respective countries should leave.

In light of the findings, Aart De Geus, chairman and CEO of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation, suggested Brexit had succeeded where many Eu politicians had failed - by improving the Union's popularity. She said: The looming Brexit seems to have been the best advertisement for the EU.

"Unfortunately many Britons are only now coming to recognize the advantages of a united Europe. Now both sides must agree on clear rules for the future, because there won't be an 'a la carte' Europe.

The findings come amid ongoing uncertainty over what form Brexit will take, with Theresa Mays government yet to clarify their plan on whether the UK should remain in the single market of customs union.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

The Prime Minister risked angering Tory Brexiteers on Monday after signalling the UK could stay in the European Union beyond 2019 as part of a transitional deal that might not see it fully depart until years later, telling business leaders she wanted to avoid a "cliff edge" that would see the country suddenly drop out of the bloc.

Asked later if this meant Ms May was considering a transitional deal, a Downing Street spokesman confirmed that a "range of issues" were being explored by officials and then failed to rule out that it could mean the country remaining in the Union after 2019.

Ms May has previously said she will invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in March 2017, triggering Brexit talks, which according to EU rules should be completed in two years.
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The Duke of Cambridge has told Independent readers they have the chance to save young lives as he issued a special message to mark the start of this websites Christmas Appeal to combat youth homelessness in the UK.

For the appeal, The Independent is partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to help launch a helpline for 16- to 25-year-olds who find themselves either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Ending youth homelessness is not just about putting a roof over someones head, the Duke told The Independent. Its about teaching a young person to read and write. Its about helping them to live with the consequences of abuse and neglect. Its about stopping people becoming homeless in the first place.

As a society, we will have a duty to help our most vulnerable young people.

Recommended How Centrepoint provides a safe haven for homeless young people

By supporting the helpline, he added, You have the chance to save young lives.

Over the past decade, he said, I have met hundreds of courageous and inspiring young people trying to escape homelessness. Unfortunately, their courage alone is not enough.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

The money raised in the appeal will help launch the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, which will be the first such service to deliver vital information to some of the most vulnerable young people in the country.

It will also help finance urgently needed hostel places and will go towards giving young people in desperate straits the skills they need to find work and a place to live.

The appeal, which launches today, is also backed by our appeal partners the London Evening Standard and the i newspaper.

The Duke said: When a young persons world falls apart, they have nowhere to go. This is why we are launching the Centrepoint Helpline in 2017. Centrepoint Helpline will provide the information and support that vulnerable young people need before they become homeless.

This Christmas, Centrepoint warns that some 25,000 young people could be at risk of homelessness. The charity has been giving the young and homeless help through its hostels since 1969.

Now, new research by the charity has found that one in three young people seeking help from English local councils because they are homeless or about to become homeless are being turned away unaided.

The new helpline will include a Freephone number for young people with nowhere else to turn. By phoning the number, they will be able to reach a trained advisor who will make sure they receive the help they need immediately.

How to donate to The Independents Christmas Appeal

The Independents Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate you can:

Call

0300 330 2731

Text

HOME66 5 to 70070

Post

Freepost RTKC-JRGU-ZYGT

Centrepoint

40-42 Phoenix Court

Hawkins Road

Colchester

CO2 8JY

Go online: http://ind.pn/donate

www.independent.co.uk/homelesshelpline
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Up to one in three young people seeking help from their local council because they are homeless or about to become homeless are being turned away unaided, new research has found.

Freedom of information requests completed by 260 English councils and returned to Centrepoint, the charity for homeless young people, found that only 67 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds seeking help were recorded as getting some sort of assistance from their local authority.

That left 33 per cent  one in three  who simply disappeared from the records, with every chance that they had been turned away unaided.

And this Christmas, Centrepoint warns, some 25,000 young people could be at risk of homelessness.

Now, to fight what the charitys patron the Duke of Cambridge has already called the shameful scale of the problem, The Independent has joined forces with Centrepoint in a Christmas appeal for funds to launch the countrys first nationwide helpline for young people facing homelessness.

The Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline appeal comes as:

More than 150,000 16 to 24-year-olds are approaching local councils in the UK every year to seek help because they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Front-line Centrepoint workers say a helpline is urgently needed to help plug gaps in services left by central Government austerity cuts.

Polling has found that more than half of young people admit they wouldnt know what help they were entitled to if they were facing homelessness.

New research by Centrepoint suggests that for the past three years the true scale of youth homelessness in England has consistently been more than five times greater than that suggested by official Government statutory homelessness figures.

Young homeless people are turning to increasingly desperate measures  12 per cent of them have gone as far as committing a crime so they could be taken into a police cell for the night.

Centrepoint says the helpline will help it to build on its record of saving the taxpayer 2.40 for every 1 the charity spends.

As well as funding the helpline, the money raised by the appeal will also help pay for the kind of work that allows Centrepoint to achieve positive outcomes with 90 per cent of the young people it assists.

Seyi Obakin, chief executive of Centrepoint (PA)

The charity aims not just to put a roof over young heads but also to deal with underlying problems  to rebuild shattered confidence, to teach life skills and, eventually, to turn lives around.

And for many young people, the helpline will be the first step in that process, their first point of contact.

The country's first helpline for young people facing homelessness The Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline will consist of a phone line, offering a sympathetic human voice for young people in dire need, and with additional funding will also reach out via social media, web chats, text messaging and mobile-friendly website apps. It will provide the right advice and information needed to help young people find safe housing in their local area. And it will enable those aged between 16 and 25 to secure the support they are entitled to at the earliest opportunity, reducing the risk of harm and increasing the potential for positive outcomes. The platform will help young people negotiate the welfare system and also support those who are not entitled to any state-led support, but nonetheless need help because they are homeless. It will be the first service of its kind in the country for young people who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness.

Paul Noblet, Centrepoints head of public affairs, said the charitys new research showed how badly a nationwide helpline was needed.

Speaking of the one in three who fail to appear in council records as fitting the statutory homeless criteria  where the council has a legal duty to accommodate them  or having received other support such as help to stay in their current home, he said: We just dont know what happens to them. These young people are turning up to their local authorities and in data terms, they are just disappearing. They might be receiving some kind of [undocumented] support  we just dont know.

The 33 per cent figure for those who were potentially turned away in the financial year 2015-16 was, he added, a marked increase on 2014-15, when up to 18 per cent were left unaided by their council.

There is a fear that young people are not being helped, he said. Thats the worst case scenario and it is totally plausible. Because we know local authorities are really struggling themselves because of cuts.

I dont think there is a housing officer in any council who wants to turn people away, he added. They will always try to make the most generous decision possible. But they are under such pressure because there simply isnt the money.

Homelessness had the potential to blight the life of any young person

His sentiments were echoed by front-line Centrepoint workers across the country who have told The Independent that the helpline is needed now more than ever.

Due to go live in February, it will, they say, be launched against a backdrop of austerity cuts imposed by central Government on councils that are often the main source of funding  either directly or through grants  for local efforts to help young people.

In Bradford, West Yorkshire, where the city council has warned of a 125m to 130m funding gap by 2020, Centrepoint manager Freda Dyson admitted: I breathed a sigh of relief when I discovered Centrepoint was going to develop the helpline. It hasnt come a moment too soon.

In the past 12 months alone, she explained, she had seen other charities forced to close three of the advice centres that were once dotted around the city and able to help young people in crisis.

This helpline, said Ms Dyson, will be an absolute lifeline for young people.

Especially so, she added, because in her experience, many young people trying to deal with imminent homelessness havent the foggiest idea where to go for help.

Newly released YouGov polling data analysed by Centrepoint suggests that nationally, 56 per cent of young people  more than half  wouldnt know what help they were entitled to if they were facing homelessness.

More than a million young people said they had at some point stayed in an insecure or unsafe place (Centrepoint)

When it came to seeking help and support with imminent homelessness, 41 per cent of young people admitted they wouldnt know where to go.

And yet the same polling data showed that an estimated 1.1 million (17 per cent) of young people said they had at some point stayed in an insecure or unsafe place, because they had nowhere safe to call home.

Homelessness can happen to anyone Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin told The Independent homelessness had the potential to blight the life of any young person. Those who sought to stigmatise the young homeless as just alcohol- or drug-addicted youth were, he said, sorely mistaken. They dont know how easily one can slip into homelessness, he said. In fact, he added, the biggest single cause of youth homelessness was family breakdown. It is estimated that 59 per cent of the young people that Centrepoint helps into employment and housing every year have had to leave home because of some sort of family breakdown. And, Centrepoint has revealed, the problem of youth homelessness is far more extensive than some official figures might suggest. In 2015, Centrepoint estimated that 150,000 16 to 24-year-olds were approaching local councils in the UK every year to seek help because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness. Centrepoint has now found that for the past three years, the numbers seeking help in England have been five times higher than the numbers appearing in official statutory homeless totals.

Centrepoints helpline is intended to give vulnerable young people advice and support

Centrepoint research also shows how young people are turning to desperate measures when facing homelessness.

The charity found that 12 per cent of young homeless people have gone as far as committing a crime so they could be taken into a police cell. Nine per cent have tried to get themselves admitted to hospital casualty units to get themselves a bed for the night.

When it came to homeless children under the age of 18, 61 per cent admitted to feeling unsafe.

A councils duties Under the statutory homeless regulations, councils have a legal duty to house young people if their immigration status is such that they are eligible for public funds, if they have a local connection to the area, are unintentionally homeless, and classed as in priority need. To be classed as priority need in England, young people need to show they tick at least one of a number of boxes, including: fleeing domestic violence, leaving prison, being pregnant or having a disability or a mental illness. Under-21s who were in care between the ages of 16 and 18 are also considered priority need. Outside this framework, councils can also provide those who are vulnerable but dont fit the statutory homeless criteria with prevention and relief support. This could include finding them temporary accommodation or arranging mediation to heal rifts with parents so young people can stay in the family home. According to Centrepoint, however, sometimes high demand combines with a shortage of housing supply and of financial resources to make it difficult for councils to help everyone

The helpline will be a key intervention, said Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin. The critical thing is to give young people information, so they make the right decisions, and dont start on the downward spiral into things like drugs, alcohol and gangs that is the killer for young homeless people.

He was backed by Mr Noblet, who said that if it worked, the helpline will add to Centrepoints record of actually saving the taxpayer money.

The charity, he said, is diverting young people away from crime and expensive prison stays. It is preventing them from suffering the ruinously unhealthy lifestyle associated with homelessness, while teaching them life skills that include instruction in cheap, healthy cooking  and by so doing, it is stopping them from being a drain on NHS budgets.

And thanks to Centrepoint, young people are being turned from potential benefits claimants into hard-working taxpayers. Which means, said Mr Noblet, that Centrepoint estimates that for every 1 the charity spends, the taxpayer saves 2.40.

Centrepoint has helped to turn around the lives of many at-risk young people

The helpline, he said, might aim to save some of the most vulnerable young people in the country, but the side effect was a saving for the taxpayer:

Wouldnt you be livid if as a taxpayer you found out that a little up-front investment in a young person could have stopped them from becoming a repeat offender or a repeat homeless benefits claimant?

The helpline is the right thing to do for young people, for the taxpayer, for everyone."

Sade Banks-Brown says a helpline could help prevent more young people going through the painful experiences that she did (Lucy Young)

'They want you to be on the point of being on the streets begging' When she was 16, Sade Banks-Brown sought help from her west London council after her own depression and her mothers bipolar disorder caused a breakdown in the family relationship, which led to her being asked to leave home. Ms Banks-Brown, now 24, said that when she first approached the council: The woman behind the counter at the housing office said Theres a long waiting list. I was sat with my friend who was six months pregnant, with all she had in two black bin bags. They were telling her the same thing. Essentially, she added, They want you to be on the point of being on the streets begging, which is one version of homelessness  but there is also the version where your mum doesnt want you in the house, and youre vulnerable. But you have to sit there until they close the doors and kick you out, and then come back the next morning at 9am when the security guard opens up again. She added that many young people, especially when at a low ebb because of imminent homelessness, would lack the wherewithal to keep persisting. They would, she said, resort to other means. I knew girls who would find a boy, for a house to stay in. In their minds it wasnt prostitution, it was I kind of like him You spiral downwards. Ms Banks-Brown said she eventually received help from the council, but only after she kept turning up at the housing office nearly every day, for two or three weeks. Ms Banks-Brown, who later turned her life around with the help of Centrepoint, said the helpline could be a lifeline for young people facing such problems.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: Homelessness amongst those aged 16-24 has fallen by 17 per cent since 2010. While this is good progress, one person without a home is still one person too many.

This Government wants to build a country that works for everyone and thats why weve invested 500m to tackle homelessness  including prevention funding and 40m for councils to help rough sleepers.

Just last month we announced that we would be backing [MP] Bob Blackmans Homelessness Reduction Bill, which will also provide vital support for many more people.

How to donate to The Independents Christmas Appeal

The Independents Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate you can:

Call

0300 330 2731

Text

HOME66 5 to 70070

Post

Freepost RTKC-JRGU-ZYGT

Centrepoint

40-42 Phoenix Court

Hawkins Road

Colchester

CO2 8JY
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The Rev Simon Sayers has been banned from being a minister for five years by the Bishop of London after admitting to initiating and engaging in two sexual acts with the teenager 20 years ago.

He has resigned his position of Rector of Warblington with Emsworth, Hampshire.

A Metropolitan police investigation into the incidents was carried out in 2015, after allegations of indecent assault had been reported to them. The sexual acts took place in the Islington area where Mr Sayers had been in a parish ministry in 1995.

Recommended Gay vicar vows to fight on after being sacked over his marriage

A police investigation was carried out but no action was taken against Mr Sayers.

A Diocese of Portsmouth spokesman said: "The Rev Simon Sayers has admitted two sexual incidents with a 16-year-old schoolgirl, and his part in initiating that sexual contact.

"The Bishop of London - in whose diocese the incidents happened - has found that the Rev Simon Sayers abused his position of trust by engaging in sexual acts with the girl.

"He engaged in conduct unbecoming a clergy person and inappropriate for a married man.

"The bishop's penalty reflects both the seriousness of the Rev Simon Sayers's behaviour on those occasions and of breaching the trust of a young person who had been in his pastoral care for some years."

Mr Sayers said the allegations of indecent assault had been made 20 years after what he called a brief above the waist incident of a sexual nature (with someone over the age of consent) and a brief kiss two days later, in March 1995.

He said in a statement: I always believed by behaviour in 1995 was wrong and fell below the high standards required of a Christian leader, and I am deeply sorry for the sadness the incident and its investigation has caused.

Members of Mr Sayers current congregation and choir reportedly walked out of church on Sunday following the news of his resignation, and several local residents have publicly supported the vicar.

Norman Peers, a parishioner in Emsworth, told the BBC: Yes, the Church has standards but the Church also preaches a message of grace, forgiveness and pastoral care, claiming that the hierarchy has turned its back on a much-loved man after years if sacrificial service.

Additional reporting by PA
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Brexit campaigner Arron Banks has revealed further details of his plans to drain the swamp and radically overhaul Westminster politics.

The millionaire businessman said more than half the seats in the House of Commons should be scrapped and the Lords replaced with an elected senate.

Stealing the language of Donald Trump, who he visited with Nigel Farage after the US election, he said he wanted to overturn the apple cart by standing independent candidates against bad MPs from all parties who would then force through his reforms.

Mr Banks told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour: One of the ideas weve kicked around is this idea of draining the swamp.

What you would do is you would stick up independent candidates that were there for one term only, to change the system.

The ex-Ukip donor explained that the proposed movements candidates would sign up to a programme including reducing the number of MPs to 300 and abolishing the House of Lords  replacing it with a 100-member senate.

He said candidates could come from all walks of life such as army officers, doctors, dentists and business people.

He added: The definition would be that they would go into Parliament for one specific job, basically drain the swamp, get rid of the bad MPs and overturn the apple cart."

The insurance tycoon has previously talked about establishing a right wing Momentum to maintain pressure on the Government to deliver Brexit.

The phrase drain the swamp was one of the key slogans of the Trump campaign and was chanted at the Republican candidates rallies.

Mr Banks visited the President-elect shortly after he won the US election, with Mr Farage and other Ukip figures.
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A former Conservative cabinet minister has said a plan to slash welfare offends everyones sense of social justice and called on the Government to help those affected.

Stephen Crabb said Chancellor Philip Hammond should introduce measures to soften the blow of cuts to Universal Credit, when he makes his Autumn Statement speech this week.

The former Work and Pensions Secretary also said the Government will have to review the pensions triple lock introduced by David Cameron, which guarantees payments rise each year, if it wants to do more to help working families.

Mr Crabb, who himself presided over cuts to some benefits while pensions secretary, told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour there was a problem with plans to reduce the Universal Credit.

He said: When you look at the distributional impact for the changes from the Budget in March, there is an S-curve on the graph which basically shows that people on the lowest incomes effectively lose money from the changes, people on the highest incomes effectively gain. I think the Chancellor is going to have to have something to say about that.

I think looking at that graph to see that people on lower incomes will be losing money offends everyones sense of social justice. But it doesnt mean he needs to reverse ferret on those proposed cuts. There are other things he can do to soften the impact of that.

Mr Cameron had said his pensions triple lock would remain until 2020, guaranteeing pensions rise by the same as average earnings, the consumer price index, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.

 Corbyn tells Theresa May to watch I, Daniel Blake to understand benefits system

It was a key pillar of his election pitch to older voters in 2015, but it has already been questioned by a cross-party committee of MPs who branded it unsustainable and unfair on younger families suffering cuts to their welfare.

Mr Crabb said ministers should now reconsider the triple lock, arguing that it had served its purpose.

He added: I think there will be a case after 2020 to look again at that, to see if we cant rebalance our welfare spending to ensure that more goes to working families.
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The European Court of Justice is likely to end up ruling on Brexit, its President has predicted  creating a further potential headache for Theresa May.

Koen Lenaerts, Europes most senior judge, said there are many, many ways Britains departure from the EU could end up before the EUs highest court.

I cant even start, intellectually, imagining how and where and from which angle it might come, Mr Lenaerts told the Financial Times.

 Landmark Brexit Ruling: What happened and what happens next?

Recommended Theresa May risks row after suggesting UK may still be in EU post 2019

The intervention comes amid suggestions that the ECJ - hated by Conservative Brexit supporters  could be asked to rule on whether the Article 50 notice can be halted.

Nicola Sturgeon, the SNPs first minister, has been urged to explode the cosy consensus" that the two-year process cannot be stopped once it has been started, by seeking a reference from the ECJ.

In the interview, Mr Lenaerts declined to comment on the specifics of Brexit or speculate how exactly Britains withdrawal could end up before the ECJ.

However, he suggested there were numerous unforeseen legal consequences of the exit process that the EUs top court may yet be called on to resolve.

They included the treatment of Article 50, which can be interpreted by our court like any other provision of union law, Mr Lenaerts said.

There could also be possible constraints on the sort of post-Brexit agreement that the EUs other countries might seek to reach with Britain.

Any involvement of the ECJ would be certain to inflame hardline Brexit supporters, after the Prime Minister vowed to end its jurisdiction in the UK, as part of the exit deal.

Steve Peers, a professor of EU law at Essex University, wrote: Its probably only a matter of time before some aspect of the Brexit issue gets decided by the EU courts - and theres no small irony in that prospect.

The governments Supreme Court appeal against the High Court ruling that MPs must give their consent to the invoking of Article 50 will be heard, over four days, from December 5.

The decision is expected at the start of January, after which  if it loses  the government will introduce a short three-line Bill to try to keep Brexit on track.

Ms May has said she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March, beginning two years of formal exit talks expected to conclude with Britain leaving the EU in spring 2019.

Although both sides in the High Court case agreed that Article 50 could not be reversed, the crucial issue is likely to be looked at afresh during the appeal.

At the weekend, Jolyon Maugham, a QC who helped bring the first case, urged Ms Sturgeon to take the issue to the ECJ, to allow Scotland to wrest back control of its future.

It would enable MPs to withdraw the Article 50 notification at a later date if they rejected the Brexit deal that emerges  perhaps in worsening economic conditions.

However, it is understood that the SNP First Minister is not currently considering going to the ECJ.
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Richard Bransons Virgin Group is to help bankroll a campaign set up in secret by Blairite former ministers and advisers to derail Brexit, The Independent can reveal.

An email seen by The Independent highlights the scale of backing the group has already secured. It shows the campaign has been months in the planning and claims substantial progress has already been made, including the identification of an excellent potential CEO. The memo was written by Alan Milburn, who was one of Tony Blairs closest cabinet allies.

It reveals the group has heavy financial, political and corporate backing and is receiving advice and support from a host of high-level business and communications organisations.

 Richard Branson would like another referendum

High-profile MPs including former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour MP Chuka Umunna are believed to have had contact with the group, as have celebrities such as Bob Geldof.

Freuds, a leading public relations agency that was founded by Matthew Freud, a close friend of both Mr Blair and David Cameron, is understood to have been commissioned to manage the strategy and marketing of the campaign.

The email says: We have been beavering away over the last few months to get a Europe campaign up and running. Im pleased to say that substantial progress has been made.

I have met the Freuds team several times and we are making good progress.

I have been in discussions with an excellent potential CEO to lead the campaign.

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

Virgin  are keen to help ... Since we last spoke [they] have offered a further 25k, plus bigger office space, help with legal advice and a possible secondment.

I have held discussions with Stronger In, Chuka Umunna, a new organisation called Common Ground, Bob Geldof and a number of senior politicians across the party spectrum. Mr Milburn declined to comment.

Bob Geldof at a March for Europe rally in July (Getty)

Backers of the new group hope that public support for a rethink will grow if the economy deteriorates and the EU negotiations point to a bad deal for Britain.

The Independent understands that 1m in funding has already been pledged to the campaign, which could eventually focus on securing a second referendum on the exit terms that emerge after two years of UK-EU negotiations due to start next year.

Chuka Umunna is thought to have had talks with the group (PA)

One source involved in the campaign said: A number of people from across the political spectrum, business community and voluntary sector have been talking about what can be done about the Brexit mess. Discussions continue.

The group also includes two other New Labour cabinet ministers, John Hutton and Douglas Alexander, as well as three Downing Street advisers to Mr Blair  Sally Morgan, Peter Hyman and Kate Garvey. It is backed by Sir Clive Cowdery, an insurance millionaire who founded and now funds the Resolution Foundation think tank.

Also involved in the cross-party campaign are Stephen Dorrell, a former Conservative Health Secretary who was an MP for 36 years before he stepped down last year, and Labour MP and former minister David Lammy, who is working closely with anti-Brexit MPs and peers.

The group is understood to have held several meetings in recent months, although one source said progress so far had been slow.

According to the email, Virgin, the company founded and run by Sir Richard Branson, has pledged at least 25,000 towards the costs of the campaign. Other businessman, financial investors and campaign specialists are also involved.

One source said the aim of the campaign, which will launch formally in the new year, is to secure a second referendum on Brexit. The group is likely to work alongside Open Britain, the successor to the Stronger In official Remain campaign in the referendum, which now aims to ensure a soft Brexit in which Britain would remain in the European single market.

Despite the role played by several close Blair allies, the former Prime Minister is not directly involved in the new organisation. It is not linked to a not-for-profit institute Mr Blair plans to launch in the new year as he tries to return to domestic politics in order to influence the Brexit debate. He has argued that the public should be given a chance to change their mind on leaving the EU once the Brexit terms become known, possibly in a second referendum.

Pro-Brexit campaigners welcomed the involvement of Mr Blair, because they claim he is seen as toxic by many voters, and suggested it would undermine anti-Brexit efforts.

The apparent attempts to slow down the process of Britain leaving the EU comes after polls suggested some former Leave supporters had changed their mind and would now back a vote for Britain to remain in the EU. A BMG Research survey earlier this month found a small majority (51 per cent) backed Britain staying in the EU while 49 per cent still support Brexit.

A Virgin spokesperson said: Since the EU referendum, Virgin has not made any payments to any Brexit campaign or organisation. It is well known that Richard supported the Remain campaign before the referendum, and as a result people involved in all sides of the debate are interested in Virgins views on Brexit and its impact on business. Virgin is interested in engaging with different organisations to understand the impact Brexit will have on the UK.

Mr Umunna decided not to join the new campaign. Instead he set up Vote Leave Watch, a grassroots campaign to hold Brexit supporters to account for the claims they made in the referendum. He does not support a second referendum.
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Theresa May has risked angering Tory Brexiteers after indicating that the UK may not have a clean break from the European Union, even after her planned 2019 target departure date.

The Prime Minister signalled that officials are exploring a potential transitional deal which could see the UK retain elements of its current relations with the EU after Brexit, while a new trade agreement is hammered out.

Ms May first hinted at a transitional deal after addressing business groups today, who have raised concerns about the uncertainty brought about by a sudden change in the UKs relationship with Europe.

 May: People don't want a 'cliff edge'

She told the audience at the Confederation of British Industry: "People do not want a cliff edge."

Questioned over whether Ms Mays comments to the CBI meant a transitional deal, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "There are a whole range of issues that are being worked through as we prepare for negotiations, with a focus on how we get the best deal for the UK."

Asked specifically if one of the issues is a transitional deal, the spokesperson said: "Theres a whole range of work going on."

After initially highlighting that it is possible for Brexit to be delayed beyond 2019, the spokesperson said the Government would "not be seeking to extend the Article 50 process".

None-the-less, a post-Brexit transitional deal that may see some single market access retained while trade negotiations continue, could anger Conservative eurosceptics gunning for the cleanest possible break from the EU in 2019.

Richard Tice, co-chair of pro-Brexit pressure group Leave Means Leave, said: "A transitional deal will fuel more uncertainty and leave Britain in limbo.

"British voters have made it clear that they want to leave the EU and the Government must deliver on this in full and at the soonest opportunity  two years after triggering Article 50, or sooner if the EU fails to negotiate."

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

But talk of a transitional deal was welcomed by Pat McFadden MP, leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign.

He said: "It is good that the Prime Minister understands the dangers of a cliff edge for the economy during the Brexit negotiations.

"Some within her party seem to be pushing for a hard Brexit whatever the economic consequences. However, without a transitional agreement between leaving and agreeing the future arrangements, the danger is that the UK would fall out of the single market and customs union, incurring tariffs for our manufacturing industry, losing passporting rights for our financial services, and posing threats to our agriculture. None of that is good for jobs or living standards."
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Theresa Mays pledge to follow Donald Trumps policy of slashing corporate taxes to new lows is reckless, short-term grandstanding, Jeremy Corbyn has said.

The Prime Minister pledged on Monday to keep the UKs corporation tax rate the lowest in the G20  despite a pledge by Donald Trump he would slash the USs rate from 40 per cent to 15 per cent.

Former chancellor George Osborne had said he would cut the rate to 15 per cent, having already cut it to 17 per cent down from 28 per cent when he took office. The Treasury had since however indicated that the rate was unlikely to fall further past 17 per cent.

Today, in a bid to win over businesses, Ms May however told the Confederation of British Industrys (CBIs) annual conference that she would best any other G20 nation on corporate taxes  prompting renewed speculation that Ms May would get into a race to the bottom with Mr Trump.

Also speaking at the CBI, Mr Corbyn said: The Prime Minister's suggestion that Britain should chase after Donald Trump in a race to the bottom on corporation tax - to 15% or below - I think is reckless and short-term grandstanding.

The UKs rate is dramatically lower than its other competitor countries. The United States has a rate of 40 per cent, while Germanys is 29.9 per cent, Japans tax rate is 32.3 per cent, and Frances is 33.3 per cent.

It also comes after calls from business not to cut the tax any further because further cuts have diminishing returns.

A survey by financial services firm PwC published earlier this month found that the majority of businesses they surveyed  71 per cent- believe the rate should either stay at 20 per cent or not go below the 17 per cent penciled in for April 2020.

There comes a point when rate cuts have diminishing impact and can send unhelpful messages about business contribution, even though corporation tax is just one of the taxes business bears, Kevin Nicholson, head of tax at PwC, said at the time.

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

Ms May also today dropped her policy of putting workers on company boards, which she used to justify the claim the Tories were the party of the workers. Mr Corbyn said Labour would however implement the policy.

We need to see genuine employee representation at board level, which the Prime Minister promised but I see she is apparently already backing away from it, he said
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David Davis met with the European Commissions chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday morning, it has been confirmed.

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union is said to have wanted to reestablish his relationship with Mr Barnier, who will be in charge of the Commissions side of talks.

The pair met before decades ago, having both been European affairs ministers during the 1990s at the same time.

The meeting lasted around 30 minutes and was at the request as Mr Davis, a source close to Mr Barnier said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the European Union said the pair had agreed to work towards an orderly withdrawal for Britain from the bloc.

The Secretary of State had a meeting with Michel Barnier to re-establish their relationship, she said.

They agreed that they would work towards an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU once the UK has notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw.

Michael Barnier, the European Commission's chief negotiator (AFP)

Mr Barnier said on Twitter: This morning courtesy visit from David Davis at his request. No negotiation without notification. My work is now focused on EU27.

The French politician previously served as a French government minister and a European Commissioner for International Market and Services.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Jean-Claude Juncker said Mr Barnier was an experienced politician for this difficult job when this appointment was confirmed in late July of this year.

He is seen as a nemesis of the City of London, having backed new financial regulations against the UKs will while he was market Commissioner
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Former leader Diane James has left Ukip, saying her relationship with the party had become "increasingly difficult".

Ms James said she would now sit in the European Parliament as an independent candidate, but interim leader Nigel Farage called on her to stand down as an MEP, denouncing her exit from the party as "yet another act of irrational selfishness".

Ms James resigned as leader in October  only 18 days after being elected  claiming she did not "have sufficient authority, nor the full support" of the party to continue.

Infighting has plagued Ukip since Mr Farage stood down, with one high-profile dispute involving leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe culminating in him leaving the party and claiming it was in a "death spiral"

In a statement, Ms James said the president of the European parliament, Martin Shultz, had accepted her request to stand as an independent.

"At a high profile public event in Cambridge last week, I was asked why I had not completed the process to become leader of Ukip," she said.

"I had little option, but to give the truthful response that, although nominated leader by popular vote in the membership, I found that I had no support within the executive and thus no ability to carry forward the policies on which I had campaigned.

"My decision to retire from the election process and not complete it was very difficult personally and professionally, given that Ukip has dominated my life and all my efforts for over five years.

"In recent weeks, my relationship with the party has been increasingly difficult and I feel it is now time to move on."

She vowed to continue to serve her constituents "effectively and diligently" as an independent for the remainder of her five-year term.

Yet, Mr Farage said: "This is yet another act of irrational selfishness from Diane James.

"This pattern of behaviour says that is she unfit to continue as an MEP. She should do the honourable thing and resign."

Ms James was considered one of Ukip's more reliable media speakers and was elected leader with more than 50 per cent of the membership vote.

Her departure means the contingent of 24 Ukip MEPs elected in 2014 are now reduced to 20, after Amjad Bashir, Janice Atkinson and Mr Woolfe all left the party.

Mr Farage's call for Ms James's resignation was echoed by Suzanne Evans, who said all four of the former members should stand down.

I am very sorry to hear Diane James has decided to leave Ukip, Ms Evans told Press Association.

I am sure she has her own personal reasons and I do not question those.

However she, like Steven Woolfe, were both elected as MEPs on a Ukip ticket, not as individuals. If they have any honour or integrity, both should now stand down as MEPs and vacate their seats.

"I reiterate my call for defectors Amjad Bashir and Janice Atkinson to do the same, for the same reasons.

Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn said: Sorry to lose a colleague but glad of my judgment that neither she nor Mr Woolfe were suitable candidates for leader.

Ukip is currently undergoing its second leadership contest in a matter of months, with Ms Evans, Paul Nuttall and John Rees-Evans competing for votes of party members, with the successor to Mr Farage due to be announced on November 28.

Last week Ukip was found to have misspend almost 400,000 of EU money on campaigning for Brexit and the general election.

Mr Farage denied Ukip missued the funds, claiming the party was suffering "pure victimisation".

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Downing Street has confirmed the Government is considering a state visit for Donald Trump after he is sworn in as the new US President.

A spokesperson from No 10 said officials are looking at a potential trip, which could mean a banquet is held in Mr Trumps honour and that he stays at Buckingham Palace as the Queens guest.

Reports over the weekend suggested Mr Trump was being lined up for an invitation to meet the Queen next year, as ministers ponder how to cement the special relationship and strike a free trade deal with the United States.

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Ms Mays official spokesperson said: An invitation for a state visit is one of the things that is under consideration following the election of the new US President.

The spokeswoman said that about two state visits are normally arranged each year, and that Mr Trump is under consideration as a potential guest during 2017.

She confirmed that any such visit would have to come after the new President is inaugurated on 20 January.

No details of the proposed itinerary have yet been revealed, but an event of this kind normally involves a ceremonial welcome and a banquet hosted by the Queen in honour of the visitor, who is often invited to stay at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

Barack Obama made a state visit to the UK in April having been accorded the same honour in 2011.

An early visit to the UK from Mr Trump would also allow Theresa May to quash claims that Nigel Farage has closer links to the controversial tycoon, and that he should be used as a go-between by the Government.
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Anger over a new bedroom tax to hit thousands of poorer pensioners  revealed by The Independent  has forced a partial government climbdown.

Ministers have backtracked on a controversial plan to swipe at least 300 a year from older people because their homes will be deemed to be underoccupied.

The proposal sparked a furore because the Government had promised to protect the elderly from the bedroom tax, which has slashed housing benefit for social housing tenants with spare rooms.

Pensioners were faced with being forcing them to move away from family and friends, or to flats that are unsuitable for older people, the charity Age UK and other critics said.

In some cases, the financial pain would be far greater  one housing association identified pensioners in part of the North who are set to lose a staggering 1,700 a year.

Now the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that the measure will be shelved for one year and only introduced in April 2019.

Frank Field, the senior Labour MP who chairs the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, said: Although pensioners cannot yet breathe a sigh of relief, todays move does at least create some breathing space.

The governments next move should involve thinking through how many vulnerable pensioners will be worse off, and by how much, if it does proceed with this proposed cut.

Mr Field added: I very much hope that the government will realise that, if it is to meet Theresa Mays pledge of protecting people at the bottom of the pile, it should ditch the proposal altogether.

The original bedroom tax saw hundreds of thousands of poorer people lose huge sums because they had no smaller homes to move to and, therefore, suffered steep benefit cuts.

The same harsh impact is feared from the new measure, which will cap housing benefit in social housing at the level of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), used in the private rented sector.

Crucially, the LHA is calculated  like the removal of the so-called spare-room subsidy  on the basis of household size, rather than the size of the property.

That means a single pensioner, or a couple, living in a two-bedroom home will have their housing benefit capped at the one-bedroom LHA rate.

Housing associations say that, in London and the South-East, the impact may not be severe, because the one-bedroom LHA rate is likely to be higher than the existing social housing rent charge.

But across the rest of the country  where private rents are cheaper  the LHA cap is set much lower, in line with private rents, threatening tenants with big benefit cuts.

New tenancies starting after April this year will be affected  but now from April 2019, not April 2018  which means that, over time, hundreds of thousands of pensioners will be drawn in.

In a statement, the DWP described the rethink as a simplification and alignment of the application of the Local Housing Allowance policy for general needs accommodation.

But the National Housing Federation (NHF) said it feared the policy could end up being more draconian, because it would now affect the existing tenancies of people receiving Universal Credit.

Gill Payne, the NHFs director of policy and external affairs, said: Todays changes will impact more people than announced previously, although it will start one year later in 2019.
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The Government will establish a new investment fund to help support new technologies such as robotics and biotechnology, Theresa May will announce today.

Speaking at the Confederation of British Industrys (CBIs) annual conference the Prime Minister will pledge to create an Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, and pledge substantial real terms increases in Government R&D investment.

Ms May, who said the active state-led approach would help new technologies emerge, will also pledge to review tax breaks to encourage private sector research and development.

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It is not about propping up failing industries or picking winners, but creating the conditions where winners can emerge and grow, she said.

It is about backing those winners all the way, to encourage them to invest in the long-term future of Britain. And about delivering jobs and economic growth to every community and corner of the country.

She added that the new approach was about Government stepping up, not stepping back, building on our strengths, and helping Britain overcome the long-standing challenges in our economy that have held us back for too long.

The fund will be controlled by UK Research Innovation and would take control of some of the UKs government investment, set to be worth about 2bn a year by 2020.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also speak at the same conference, where he will pledge to use public intervention to unleash the creativity and potential of entrepreneurial Britain.

The pairs speeches effectively welcome in a new orthodoxy in British economic policy  an explicit acceptance by both parties that state intervention can bear results.

On ITV1s Peston on Sunday programme yesterday morning, shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis welcomed the Conservativesnew conversion to some aspects of what had previously been mostly a Labour policy.

We welcome them coming onto our territory; I mean, for the last 30 or 40 years its been very much on their territory, the kind of terms of discussion on the economy and so on has been very much set from Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, he said.
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Jeremy Corbyn will make his pitch to business leaders today, arguing that an economic interventionist approach can benefit industry as well as ordinary people.

The Labour leader will lament six wasted years of state low investment under the Tories, and argue that only the state could help raise productivity by boosting infrastructure and long-term research  unleashing the creativity and potential of entrepreneurial Britain.

The speech comes ahead of the Governments Autumn Statement on Wednesday, with the Chancellor expected to change tack and emphasise investment in infrastructure  an approach initially championed by Labour.

Mr Corbyn will note in his address to businesses that UK productivity lags far behind that of France, Germany and the US  and argue that changing fiscal rules and establishing a series of local state-backed investment banks could help pick up ground.

Labour will be on the side of the innovators, entrepreneurs and investors that our economy and our workforce need, he will tell the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference.

We will use public intervention to unleash the creativity and potential of entrepreneurial Britain. Labour is setting out the path to a better alternative thats about good intervention. In fact, its intervention for the common good.

UK productivity finally recovered to its pre-crash level in October of this year, but Britain is still lagging behind its competitors in the G7 group of industrialised nations when it comes to the all-important indicator. The latest rise leaves UK productivity between a quarter and a third lower than it is in France, the US and Germany.

Though Mr Corbyn is not usally seen as the natural ally of businesses, some could be surprisingly receptive to his economic policies. The CBI has repeatedly called for higher investment, particularly in infrastructure.

A recent survey of businesses by the financial services firm PwC also found that most businesses no longer wanted further cuts in corporation tax  a policy that characterised George Osbornes time as Chancellor and which Mr Corbyn and shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have opposed as badly targeted.

Mr Corbyn is expected to say: After six wasted years, the Governments failure to invest in infrastructure and scientific research has put at risk our future prosperity.

British employees are now a third less productive than American, German and French workers  not because they dont have the drive, talent and spirit to succeed, but because this Government prioritised ideological cuts over investing in Britains prosperity.

Their absurd fiscal rule meant they treated capital investment like resource spending  like treating credit card debt the same as investing in a mortgage.

Prime Minister Theresa May will also address the gathering (PA)

He will, however, not neglect his trademark themes of social justice in the speech, telling delegates that there are far, far too many people struggling to make ends meet.

Because wages are low, hours are insecure and rents are too high. Theyre not just about managing. Many are just about surviving, he will say.

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Theresa May will also address the annual gathering of industrialists. She argued in her Conservative Party Conference speech earlier this year that economic intervention could be good  apparently adopting ground from Labours economic approach.

On ITV1s Peston on Sunday programme yesterday morning, shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis welcomed the Conservatives new conversion to some aspects of Labour policy.

We welcome them coming onto our territory, I mean for the last 30 or 40 years it's been very much on their territory, the kind of terms of discussion on the economy and so on has been very much set from Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, he said.
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John McDonnell has refused to interfere to ensure Hilary Benn remains a Labour MP amid reports that he is facing deselection after left-wing activists took over his local party.

Mr Benn has been disliked by many supporters of Jeremy Corbyn since arguing against the Labour leader and in favour of air strikes against Islamic State in Syria from the Opposition frontbench in the Commons.

He was then sacked from his role as shadow foreign secretary amid claims he was encouraging colleagues to resign as part of an eventually botched attempt to replace Mr Corbyn as leader.

The Sunday Times has now claimed that positions in Mr Benn's Leeds Central constituency party have been taken over by Corbyn supporters and he is facing the threat of deselection in the seat.

Asked whether he would discourage a challenge against Mr Benn, Mr McDonnell said the leadership would not interfere in local party affairs.

The shadow chancellor told BBC Radio Five Live's Pienaar's Politics: "Labour leadership doesn't involve itself in local selections to the local party. That's democracy.

"I think Hilary Benn's got a fantastic role to play.

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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 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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

"He's a friend of mine and I hope he continues to play a role in our party at whatever level.

"But we can't interfere in local democracy in our party. We're a democratic party."

Mr McDonnell also said reselection battles were inevitable in constituencies facing boundary changes.

Press Association
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The Government has scrapped its plans to raise rents for council tenants with higher incomes.

Housing minister Gavin Barwell announced that the so-called Pay to stay policy had been reviewed over the summer and would not be compulsory.

Since the summer, the Government has been reviewing this policy, he said in a written statement.

Recommended Government defeated over Pay To Stay council house plan

We have listened carefully to the views of tenants, local authorities and others and as a result, we have decided not to proceed with a compulsory approach.

Mr Barwell said local councils would be allowed to impose the policy voluntarily. Local councils have however been among those calling for the policy to be scrapped or rethought.

Additionally, local councils already have the power to implement pay-to-stay voluntarily and none have yet done so.

Labour's shadow housing minister John Healey welcomed the U-turn and said the Government should now rethink the rest of its housing policies.

Under the policy tenant households with an income higher than 31,000 or 40,000 in London would be forced to pay rents that were close to the market rent.

This means a working couple on 15,500 each outside of London would be defined as high-income.

About 70,000 social tenants were set to lose about 1,000 a year from the policy.

The policy was expected to raise just 75m annually, according to the latest estimates by Whitehall officials.

Mr Barwell continued: The Government remains committed to delivering its objective of ensuring social housing is occupied by those who need it most.

But we need to do so in a way that supports those ordinary working class families who can struggle to get by, and in a way which delivers real savings to the taxpayer.

The policy as previously envisaged did not meet those aims.

The Government also today confirmed it would press ahead with plans to force councils to give their tenants fixed-term tenancy agreements.

The shadow minister Mr Healey said: This welcome U-turn is a victory for Labours year-long campaign against the tenant tax which was set to hike rents for thousands of middle income households.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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

Having recognised this move was a big mistake, ministers must now rethink the rest of their failed housing decisions over the last six years.

After disastrous figures last week showing that the number of new affordable homes for social rent has fallen to the lowest level since records began, top of the list must be reversing the forced sale of vital council homes and the huge cuts to investment in new genuinely affordable homes.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: Its encouraging that the government has responded to concerns and decided to scrap compulsory pay to stay.

Rather than implement a costly policy that would have tied councils up in piles of expensive and bureaucratic red tape, the government is now able to focus on what really matters: building homes that ordinary people can actually afford to rent and buy.
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Britains most senior judge has announced he will retire from his role, just days after his wife became embroiled in a spat over the critical Supreme Court Brexit case.

Lord Neuberger, the courts president since 2012, will step down next year as he approaches statutory retirement age.

While there is no suggestion his retirement is linked to the Brexit row involving Lady Neuberger, the judge did face criticism after it broke out, including calls for him to excuse himself from hearings related to the case.

The 68-year-old will depart alongside Lord Clarke, another of the court's justices, at the end of the summer next year.

The Supreme Court will come under huge scrutiny next month when it considers the Government's appeal against a High Court ruling that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union.

In an unprecedented move, it is expected that all 11 of the Supreme Court's current justices, including Lord Neuberger, will examine the case.

But with the hearing pending, Lady Neuberger sparked a row last week by denouncing the UKs referendum on its EU membership as "mad and bad" and said that votes for Ukip and Brexit were just "protest votes".

 Landmark Brexit Ruling: What happened and what happens next?

She also retweeted, under her maiden name Angela Holdsworth, a Remain campaign article which said it seemed "unlikely that a PM could trigger Article 50 without Parliaments approval".

Afterwards, Tory MP Andrew Rosindell claimed her intervention had been "embarrassing" for the Supreme Court and that her husbands position had been compromised.

Delivering the Bar Council Law Reform Lecture, Lord Neuberger said that over the next two-and-a-half years there is a "significant opportunity" to recruit new members of the court.

He said: "The higher echelons of the judiciary in the United Kingdom suffer from a marked lack of diversity and here I must admit the Supreme Court does not score at all well.

"We have one white woman and 10 white men, and, although two of the 11 were not privately educated, none of us come from disadvantaged backgrounds."
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Theresa May will suggest she will match Donald Trump's expected cuts to corporation tax as she attempts to hold out an olive branch to business leaders.

In her first speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference, the Prime Minister will stress her aim for the UK to maintain its status as having the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20 group of countries.

The British rate of tax on company profits currently stands at 20 per cent and is due to fall to 17 per cent by 2020.

The United States' President-elect has pledged to cut the federal business tax rate from 35 per cent to 15 per cent, raising the prospect of a further slashing of corporation tax in the UK.

Ms May will also say the Brexit vote presents an once-in-a-generation opportunity not just to leave the European Union but to change the country to make it fairer forever.

The PM's goal to ensure prosperity is shared more widely has been interpreted by some as anti-business, and her speech will seek to rebuild links with industry figures.

She will also announce plans to give science and research a funding boost worth 2 billion a year by 2020.

 Brexit: Corbyn accuses May of having 'no plan'

Ms May will tell the CBI: In the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, we will commit to substantial real terms increases in Government investment in R&D (research and development) - investing an extra 2 billion a year by the end of this Parliament to help put post-Brexit Britain at the cutting edge of science and tech.

And we will also review the support we give innovative firms through the tax system ... because my aim is not simply for the UK to have the lowest corporate tax rate in the G20, but also one that is profoundly pro-innovation.

The Prime Minister will insist she will always believe in business and the benefits it brings.

But she will stress firms need to do more to spread those benefits around the country, playing by the same rules as everyone else when it comes to tax and behaviour, and investing in Britain for the long-term.

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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. 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Ms May will say: We believe in free markets. They are the means by which we spread opportunity and lift people out of poverty.

We believe in capitalism - the means by which we drive economic growth, putting people into work to provide for their families.

And we believe in business - the entrepreneurs and the innovators who employ millions of people up and down this country - the basis for our prosperity.

The Conservative Party - and the Government I lead - will always believe in these things.

But I am here today not just to reaffirm these core beliefs, but to say that - if this is what we value - we need to be prepared to adapt and change.

For if we support free markets, value capitalism and back business - and we do - we must do everything we can to keep faith with them.
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Theresa May has backed away from plans set out in her Tory leadership campaign to put workers on company boards.

The Prime Minister had promised the radical overhaul to give staff more influence over firms run by over-paid executives, but today she confirmed the measure would not be compulsory.

Speaking to the Confederation of British Industrys annual conference, Ms May said she would bring out a policy paper later this year addressing executive pay and accountability to shareholders.

Recommended This week we find out what kind of Chancellor Philip Hammond really is

Telling business leaders she would consult with them, she said: Let me be clear about some important points.

First, while it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on boards.

Some companies may find that these models work best for them  but there are other routes that use existing board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented. It will be a question of finding the model that works.

Ms May said in July that if she became Prime Minister she would have not just consumers represented on company boards, but employees as well.

Her confirmation that the plan would be watered down comes after Business Secretary Greg Clark also signalled weaker proposals by suggesting this morning that there were different ways of giving workers a voice.

The Prime Minister has been under pressure from the business community after giving a conference speech which signalled a potentially disruptive hard Brexit and focused on migration and tackling poor corporate governance.

But after backing away from her workers-on-boards proposal, the Prime Minister faced immediate criticism from Frances OGrady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, who tweeted: If Mrs May says Brexit means Brexit, surely workers on boards means workers on boards?
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President Barack Obama has said he does not intend to become his successor's constant critic  but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain values or ideals.

Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Mr Obama suggested once he was out of office he would try and uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern. He heaped praise on former President George W Bush, saying he could not have been more gracious to me when I came in and said he wanted to give Mr Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda without somebody popping off at every turn.

But Mr Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.

As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes, Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own. Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Mr Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president who holds antithetical views on issue after issue.

The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Mr Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the US illegally, repealing Obamacare, and cancelling the Paris climate deal, to name a few. Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Mr Trump and are hoping vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Mr Trump from implementing them.

Though Mr Obama did not specify what might trigger him to break silence, he left himself a broad window of possibilities. His comments suggested he'd be most inclined to weigh in if Mr Trump violated basic principles Mr Obama has tried to uphold, such as minority rights, equal protection and respect for civilian life. Mr Obama has long warned that Mr Trump might impulsively use nuclear weapons, and has cast a dim view on ideas like a Muslim registry, which Trump's incoming chief of staff declined on Sunday to rule out.

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Yet Mr Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging his replacement.

My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job, Mr Obama said. And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking.

Mr Bush, like many ex-presidents in something that has become a tradition, strictly avoided opining on politics during Mr Obama's eight years. Former President Bill Clinton, after leaving office, focused his attention on global humanitarian issues, especially as his wife entered politics. Former President Jimmy Carter was more vocal in his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel.

 Obama: We have to stop rise in 'crude nationalism'

Mr Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years. Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Mr Obama said they should not.

You give them a hearing, said Mr Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered. Mr Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games, Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. On his final day in Peru, Mr Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis, though Mr Obama said the US accusation that Moscow tried to influence the US election didn't come up. The four-minute conversation, likely their last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory approach to Russia

Mr Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Mr Obama had a difficult working relationship but always respected each other's positions  and each other. He said he'd thanked Mr Obama and told him he'd be welcome in Russia at any time.

Questions about Mr Trump trailed Mr Obama throughout his final overseas trip, as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Mr Trump's stances on trade, foreign policy and the Nato alliance. Mr Obama sought to reassure the leaders of Australia, Canada and other US allies their longstanding ties with America wouldn't falter under Mr Trump.
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Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin have been caught in a frosty exchange as they coldly shook hands at an economic summit in what is likely to be their last face-to-face interaction.

The US and Russian presidents were seen speaking briefly as the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperations summit in Lima, Peru got underway on Sunday.

Both leaders stood off to the side together with aides close by and spoke for four minutes, according to the White House.

US President Barack Obama, behind left, shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (AP)

The interaction was not heard by reporters, but the White House said Mr Obama called on Mr Putin to uphold his country's commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict and addressed the crisis in Syria.

The conversation comes amid intense speculation that Mr Trump's shock election victory may pave the way for a more conciliatory US approach to Russia when the billionaire and business mogul takes office in January.

Mr Obama and Mr Putin have long-shared a strained relationship. Under the Obama administration the US has passed stringent sanctions on Russia over its behaviour in Ukraine and has unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Moscow to stop aiding Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syrias civil war.

In the run-up to the US election, the US also accused Russia of trying to interfere in the election, including by hacking Democratic Party email systems.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin have suggested they may seek a less hostile relationship in the future.

Speaking about the interaction in a press conference in Peru, Mr Obama said he told Mr Putin he wants to reach a settlement that solves the Ukraine crisis before he leaves office in January.

"I talked to him about Ukraine and the need for us to get things done," he said.

US President Barack Obama (L) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2R) walk from each other after speaking and shaking hands before an economic leaders meeting (AFP/ Getty Images)

"I urged him to instruct his negotiators to work with ourselves, with France, with Germany, with Ukraine to see if we can get that done before my term is up."

Russia, which annexed Crimea from pro-Western Ukraine in 2014, backs a separatist, pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine. It denies sending troops or weapons across its border to fuel the conflict, despite eyewitness testimony to the contrary.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande attempted in October to revive a stalled peace process during talks with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko in Berlin.

Attempts are also being made to draw up plan for applying the frayed 2015 Minsk peace accords following months of deadlock.

The White House said Mr Obama also called called for Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to keep working on initiatives with other countries to attempt to quell the violence in Syria.

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. 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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

Speaking of the their interaction later in Lima, Mr Putin said he and Mr Obama noted that while their working relationship had been difficult, they had "always respected each other's positions - and each other".

"I thanked him for the years of joint work, and said that at any time, if he considers it possible and will have the need and desire, we will be happy to see him in Russia," said Mr Putin.

Mr Putin also spoke of a recent phone call with the President Elect saying Mr Trump "reaffirmed his intent to normalise relations with Russia" and "naturally I said the same".

Mr Putin and Mr Obama are not expected to have any formal meetings while they are in Peru.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
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The temperature had fallen to below freezing, but that did not stop police firing water cannons at protesters trying to block an oil pipeline that Native Americans fear could pollute their water supply.

Reports said at least 17 people had to be taken to hospital on Sunday evening, a number of them for treatment for hypothermia, after police in North Dakota used the cannons, along with tear gas and rubber bullets, to disperse the protesters.

This is an ongoing escalation of state violence, Dallas Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network, told The Independent. Am I disappointed, yes. Am I surprised, no.

The 1,200-mile, four-state pipeline is being built to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois.

Yet the Associated Press said construction of the $3.8bn pipeline has been protested for months by the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation lies near the pipeline route, and the tribes allies, who fear a leak could contaminate drinking water.

They also worry that construction could threaten sacred sites.

Linda Black Elk, a member of the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council of the Catawba tribe, said she treated protesters for injuries and hypothermia and they were soaked by water in temperatures as low as 23 degrees.

Last night was a really critical life or death situation, she told NBC News. There were hundreds of people out on the frontlines. People were first soaked down with tear gas and then sprayed with a bunch of water.

Protestors say that the clashes began when they tried to remove a roadblock on a bridge north of their Oceti Sakowin Water Protector Camp. The roadblock, composed in part of burned-out trucks, has blocked the main route to the city of Bismarck since late October.

On Monday, the authorities sought to defend their decision to douse protesters with water during a skirmish in subfreezing weather near the oil pipeline.

 Hollywood Stars Join Standing Rock Sioux Members to Protest North Dakota Pipeline

Morton County Sheriff's spokesman Rob Keller denied that water cannons had been used on protesters. Mr Keller said a tactical vehicle spraying tear gas has been mistaken by some people as a water cannon.

However, he did tell the AP that water hoses owned by the Mandan Rural Fire Department were used to put out fires set by protesters and to turn back protesters during a violent clash that was rapidly unfolding.

Water hoses were used to keep distance between officers and criminal agitators and also to put out fires set by those agitators, he said.

Mr Goldtooth said the fires were set to warm people soaked with water. He criticised authorities' use of water on a frigid night.

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued a statement calling the use of water an act of brutality and nothing short of life-threatening and inhumane.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Mary Sweeters called it nothing short of horrific and said it put people's lives in danger.

The sheriff's department said in a statement that law enforcement officers had rocks thrown at them, burning logs and rocks shot from slingshots, and that one officer had been hit on the head by a thrown rock. One person was arrested.

Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners has said no sites have been disturbed and that the pipeline will have safeguards against leaks, and is a safer method of transport for oil than rail or truck. The company has said the pipeline is largely complete except for the section under Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir in southern North Dakota.
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The office of Argentinian President Mauricio Macri has denied that Donald Trump used his first conversation as US President-elect with Mr Macri to ask for help with a construction project in Buenos Aires.

One of the country's leading journalists had claimed that when President Macri called Mr Trump to congratulate him on his shock election victory, Mr Trump had asked Mr Macri for assistance with permitting problems that have held up construction of a 35-storey office building in the heart of the Argentinian capital.

Recommended Donald Trump urged to sell off business interests

But Ivan Pavlovsky, a spokesman for Mr Macri, told Buzzfeed News that the two men only spoke about maintaining the institutional relationship between the two countries. They then recalled their personal relationship. They never spoke of the tower.

Jorge Lanata, who hosts the weekly investigative journalism programme Periodismo para todos (Journalism for everybody) revealed the alleged details of the call to his television audience on Sunday. The Argentinian newspaper La Nacion quoted Mr Lanata as saying, Macri called [Mr Trump]. This still hasnt emerged but Trump asked for them to authorise a building hes constructing in Buenos Aires. It wasnt just a geopolitical chat.

As Talking Points Memo noted, Mr Trump and his Argentinian business partners have faced several issues with permitting, financing and importing building materials as they prepare to begin construction on the $100m project in Buenos Aires, which is due to be built by 2020.

The claims came amid series of glaring conflicts of interest thrown up by Mr Trumps election and his continued business activities with the Trump Organisation, whose day-to-day administration is set to fall to his children during his presidency. The Trump Organisation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Washington Post reported last week that Mr Trumps new hotel in DC was soliciting foreign diplomats to send their delegations there when visiting the US capital. Why wouldnt I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new President, I love your new hotel! one Asian diplomat told the newspaper. Isnt it rude to come to his city and say, I am staying at your competitor?

While in the throes of the White House transition, the President-elect also met with three of his Indian partners at Trump Tower, to discuss expanding his business on the subcontinent. Mr Trumps Argentinian business partner, Felipe Yaryura, was among the guests at the Republicans election night victory party in New York City.
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Donald Trump has been accused of launching an online attack on the cast of Hamilton as a way to distract the media and the public from other scandals during the appointment of his transition team.

Several White House veterans said the President-elects widely-covered Twitter tirade against the Broadway production over the weekend was a deliberate attempt to distract from his $25 million (20 million) fraud settlement and his at times contentious transition team appointments.

Mr Trump lashed out at the Hamilton cast on Saturday after one of the actors read an open letter following a production to vice president-elect Mike Pence, who was in the audience, pleading with him to represent diverse America.

In a series of tweets the billionaire businessman claimed Mr Pence was harassed by the very rude cast, before calling on the actors to apologise, adding that he had heard Hamilton was highly overrated.

He also mocked the actor who made the statement, Brandon Dixon, for reading it from a prepared card, saying: Couldnt even memorize lines! - before subsequently deleting the tweet.

The incident was widely covered by the American media over the weekend, prompting a number of former White House aides to accuse the President-elect of playing a game in a bid to distract from more serious issues surrounding his imminent presidency.

David Frum, a former speechwriter to George W Bush, warned on Twitter: The controversies will divert you from the scandals, while Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior aide to Barack Obama, tweeted: If your media outlet is focused on Trump v Hamilton instead of Trumps $25m fraud settlement, you are a sad pawn in Trumps game.

Other Twitter users warned others not to let the Hamilton debacle distract from Mr Trumps shortcomings, with one writing: Trump is making noise about Hamilton to distract y'all from the fact that his brand scammed over 5,000 hopeful students. Do not forget, and another tweeting: Don't let Hamilton distract from Trump's $25M fraud lawsuit (or Bannon's appointment/Muslim surveillance/etc.) That's exactly what he wants.

On Saturday it emerged Mr Trump had agreed to a $25 million (20 million) settlement to resolve three lawsuits over Trump University, his former school for real estate investors, that alleged it had lured students to pay up to $35,000 (28,331) to learn business and real estate tips from handpicked instructors, and called itself a university when it wasnt an accredited school.

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

Over the weekend Mr Trump was also urged by top law professors to divest from his new hotel in Washington DC after it was used to entertain and give a sales pitch to foreign diplomats, meaning he risks breaching the US constitution the moment he enters office.

In recent days the President-elect has also made several controversial appointments to his transition team. On Friday he offered the job of Attroney General to Senator Jeff Sessions, who has been criticised for his litany of past racist comments and Mr Flynn has called Islam a cancer, and today (Monday) Mr Trump suggested retired general James Mattis, who has previously said Its fun to shoot some people, was a likely pick for the top job of secretary of defence.

Despite the wide specualtion that the Hamilton saga was a clever "game" by the President-elect, others have disagreed, saying he is simply thin-skinned, with one Twitter user claiming: Donald Trump is not a brilliant strategist using Hamilton to distract us from his other debacles: he's congenitally thin-skinned.
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Vladimir Putin has said he will meet Donald Trump to discuss normalising Russian-American relations after speaking with him over the phone.

The Russian President has opened his relationship with the President-elect on warm terms after they shared mutual praise during the election campaign, with Mr Trumps shock victory sparking spontaneous applause in the State Duma.

The President-elect confirmed he is willing to normalise Russian-American relations, Mr Putin told a news conference in Peru.

 Putin: Russia ready to restore US relations after Trump win

I told him the same. We did not discuss where and when we would meet."

He was speaking in Lima following the APEC economic summit, saying he also thanked Barack Obama for the years of joint work and offered an open invite to Russia.

The pair talked for four minutes about Ukraine and Syria crisis, the White House said, with footage showing the two leaders stepping aside ahead of a meeting with close aides before shaking hands and taking their seats.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated rapidly in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and annexation of Crimea, encounters between Russian and Nato military assets, sanctions and the Syrian civil war.

Russia is backing President Bashar al-Assads regime, while the US supports anti-government rebels fighting Isis  although that position could change under the Trump administration.

World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty

The President-elects overtures have sounded alarm bells in Baltic states fearing new expansionist attempts by Russia, as well as those hoping for increased pressure from the US over reports of civilian deaths in the Kremlins campaign of Syrian air strikes.

Mr Obama said reserved the right to speak out if Mr Trump or his policies breach certain values or ideals on Sunday.

As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes, the outgoing President told reporters.

He spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Mr Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the US illegally, repealing Obamacare, and cancelling the Paris climate deal, among other issues.#

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Donald Trumps German grandfather was ordered by royal decree to leave the country and never return, according to recently unearthed documents.

Historian Roland Paul unearthed a nondescript letter, sent to Mr Trumps German-born grandfather Friedrich Trump in 1904, that ordered him to leave the kingdom of Bavaria within eight weeks.

He was told to leave as punishment for failing to do mandatory military service and for not telling authorities when he first emigrated to the US.

 Donald Trump outlines plans for first 100 days in office

Mr Paul, who found the document in local archives in the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, told German tabloid Bild: Friedrich Trump emigrated from Germany to the US in 1885.

But he did so without formally deregistering and before doing his military service. That's why the authorities denied him repatriation in 1905.

Mr Trump left Germany at the age of 16, with few possessions, to find prosperity in the gold rush.

Recommended Donald Trump urged to sell off business interests

He started working as a barber in the US, before going on to run a restaurant, bar and allegedly even a brothel  enterprises that made him wealthy.

He returned to the vilage of Kallstadt with his fortune in 1901 and met his future wife Elisabeth Christ. The two married and moved to New York, but returned to Kallstadt two years later, after Elisabeth said she was homesick.

The decree orders American citizen and pensioner Friedrich Trump to leave the area at the very latest on 1 May [...] or else expect to be deported.

World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty

Mr Trump wrote to the Bavarian Prince Luitpold begging the well-loved, noble, wise and just leader not to deport him.

Yet Luitpold rejected the most subservient request" and the couple left Germany for New York with their daughter.

Elizabeth was three months pregnant with the future President's father, Fred.

The royal order telling Mr Trump's grandfather to leave was written on an unspectacular piece of paper, Bild reported, but it changed world history.
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Bookmaker Ladbrokes has cut the odds on Donald Trump leaving office early due to impeachment or resignation amid mounting controversy about how he will manage his business interests after becoming Americas 45th President.

Ladbrokes opened the market at 3-1, cutting it to 5-2, and again to 9-4 in the wake of a flurry of bets on the back of a growing consensus among law professors that the controversial Republican is heading for trouble.

George Bushs former ethics lawyer Richard Painter, now a University of Minnesota law professor, told Think Progress that the President-elect could have been in breach of the Emoluments Clause that prohibits presidents from buying influence with federal officials or receiving special treatment over an event held at his Washington DC Hotel were he in office. He was backed by Laurence Tribe, professor of law at Harvard University. The hotel was used to entertain and give a sales pitch to foreign diplomats.

 Obama: I'll weigh in on Trump's presidency if necessary

Law professor Christopher Peterson, from the University of Utah, has said he believes there is ample evidence to impeach the President-elect over the Trump University scandal. Trump recently settled a lawsuit brought by former students for $25m.

While many critics of the incoming President have been hoping that they may be able to remove him by legal means, the history books dont favour them, and the hurdles such a legal challenge would have to clear to succeed are daunting. This partly explains why bookies are still very keen on taking bets.

The only previous president to leave office early was Mr Trumps fellow Republican Richard Nixon, who resigned the presidency on August 9, 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

Two previous presidents have been impeached, both of them Democrats. Andrew Johnson entered the White House in 1865 following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. While he was a Democrat he had joined the Lincoln ticket on a national unity platform. He was impeached amid a fierce battle with Republicans over the reconstruction in the wake of the Union victory in the American Civil War, but was acquitted by a wafer thin margin of one vote in 1868. The US Senate had backed conviction by 35-19 but that was one vote shy of the required two thirds majority.

President Bill Clinton was in 1998 impeached on allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. Again, the charges went to the Senate, where Clinton survived rather more easily than his predecessor, the vote going 55/45 against on the perjury charge with a 50/50 split on the perjury charge.

President Donald Trump life in pictures Show all 16 1 /16 President Donald Trump life in pictures President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump poses in a rocking chair once used by President John F. Kennedy at his New York City residence Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump with his new bride Marla Maples after their wedding at the Plaza hotel in New York Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Celina Midelfart watch the match between Conchita Martinez and Amanda Coetzer during U.S. Open. She was the date whom Donald Trump was with when he met his current wife Melania at a party in 1996 Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500, speaks to Donald Trump and Melania Knauss on the starting grid at the Daytona International Speedwa Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump talks with his former wife Ivana Trump during the men's final at the U.S. Open Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and his friend Melania Knauss pose for photographers as they arrive at the New York premiere of Star Wars Episode : 'The Phantom Menace,' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump talks with host Larry King. Trump told King that he was moving toward a possible bid for the United States presidency with the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump answers questions as Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura looks on in Brooklyn Park. Trump said on Friday he 'very well might' make a run for president under the Reform Party banner but had not made a final decision Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump makes a face at a friend as he sits next to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso before the start of the 2003 Miss Universe pageant in Panama City Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Entrepreneur Donald Trump is greeted by a Marilyn Monroe character look-a-alike, as he arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood to attend the an open casting call for his NBC television network reality series 'The Apprentice.' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Simon Cowell present an Emmy during the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Megan Mullally perform at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump, poses with his children, son Donald Trump, Jr., and daughters Tiffany and Ivanka Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump told Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner on Tuesday she would be given a second chance after reported misbehavior Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump holds a replica of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as his wife Melania holds their son Barron in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. property mogul Donald Trump stands next to a bagpiper during a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland Reuters

Amid a bitterly divided and partisan Senate, it is hard to see even a president as divisive and controversial as Trump losing notwithstanding the misgivings of some Republicans about him. The size of the majority required to convict is just too high.

Ladbrokes head of political betting Matt Shaddick said: Punters seem to think theres a good chance he will leave office before the end of his first term. Given the history, were happy to take their money.

If Trump was to make history by leaving office early his replacement would be Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a man once tried to pass a law forcing women to pay for fetal funerals as part of a bigger anti abortion law while governor of Indiana. The statute would have applied to those who suffered miscarriages.
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A St Louis police sergeant has been hospitalised after being shot in what the police chief described as an "ambush".

Police Chief Sam Dotson said the 46-year-old officer was shot twice in the face. The suspect got away and a massive search is underway.

Hours earlier, another police officer was shot dead in his squad car as he was writing out a traffic ticket in San Antonio, Texas.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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The officer in St Louis, Missouri, was not involved in a call or traffic stop but was sitting in traffic when another car pulled up alongside his squad car around 7.30pm on Sunday.

He told police he heard at least two shots.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Police Chief Sam Dotson said.

He declined to name the officer but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

He is expected to survive.

Mayor Francis Slay said the officer did nothing to provoke an attack.

"He didn't deserve this," he said. "It looks like he's going to survive. He's going to be OK.

He added: "But this is traumatic. It's traumatic for him, his family. It's traumatic for the city of St. Louis. He was just doing his job."

Helicopters, SWAT teams and scores of officers searched the south St Louis neighborhood where the shooting occurred for a silver car.

Police were also looking for any surveillance video that may have captured the shooting.

San Antonio police investigate the scene where Detective Benjamin Marconi was shot (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Meanwhile, the search continues for the suspect who shot and killed San Antonio police officer Detective Benjamin Michael, 50.

The 20-year veteran of the force had pulled over a vehicle and while he was inside his squad car writing a ticket, a car pulled up behind him.

The driver of the car got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot Mr Marconi twice in the head, then walked back to his car and drove away.

Hours earlier, another police officer was shot dead in his squad car as he was writing out a traffic ticket in San Antonio, Texas.

We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public, said San Antonio police Chief William McManus.

He said after the shooting officers had been instructed not to make traffic stops alone.

In July, a gunman in Dallas killed five officers who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days later, a man killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

Additional reporting by agencies
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A San Antonio police officer writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist was shot to death in his squad car Sunday outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, authorities said.

San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the officer as Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

Mr McManus said the suspect had not been apprehended on Sunday night. He said he doesn't believe the man has any relationship to the original motorist who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified.

We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous and a clear threat to law enforcement officers and the public, said McManus, who added that after the shooting officers had been instructed to not make traffic stops alone.

Mr McManus said Mr Marconi had pulled over a vehicle and while he was inside his squad car writing a ticket, a car pulled up behind him. The driver of that car got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot Mr Marconi twice in the head, then walked back to his car and drove away.

Mr Marconi was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Mr McManus said investigators are looking into all leads and motives, including whether it could be related to an officer-involved shooting earlier Sunday in the city. In that incident, Mr McManus said, police fatally shot a man who pointed a gun at officers outside an apartment following a seven-hour standoff.

Hopefully, we'll solve this one real quick, Mr McManus said.

The police department posted a photo of a man on its Facebook page Sunday evening, saying he might have information on the murder of Mr Marconi. Police are asking for assistance in identifying the man, who is shown wearing a hat and walking in the photo.

Some streets downtown were blocked off with police tape as officials investigated the slaying.

The shooting came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

It's always difficult, especially in this this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country, Mr McManus said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the slaying a horrific act of violence. Mr Abbott said in a statement that attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice.

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor extended condolences to the family of the slain officer and the entire police force.

Associated Press
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Hillary Clintons lead in the US presidential election popular vote now stands at more than 1.7 million  despite the Democrat losing the overall election to Donald Trump.

With the last remaining ballots being counted, Mrs Clinton so far has 63.6 million votes compared to 61.9 million for her Republican rival  meaning she has received more votes than any other US presidential candidate in history except Barack Obama.

The Democrat has received 48 per cent of votes counted so far compared to Mr Trumps 46.7 per cent, according to figures compiled by the Cook Political Report.

 President Obama suggests Hillary Clinton didn't work as hard on campaign trail as he did

However, Mrs Clinton's sizeable lead in the public vote has little bearing on the result of the election because she lost the Electoral College tally that ultimately determines who becomes President.

This system sees each state assigned a number of college votes that go to whichever candidate wins the public vote in that state. Mr Trump has currently banked 290 electoral college votes compared to Mrs Clintons 232. More than 270 are needed to win the presidency.

The Republican won the Electoral College after taking the battleground states of Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and unexpectedly snatching victory in states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that had previously been part of the Democrats firewall of safe states.

Mr Trump looks set to extend his lead further, with Michigan soon to declare its final result. The businessman is currently ahead in the previously-Democrat state, albeit only by a narrow margin of around 11,000 votes.



The other candidates in the election, Jill Stein of the Green Party and the Libertarian's Gary Johnson, picked up more than 7 million votes between them. Had those votes instead gone to Hillary Clinton, she would likely have won the presidency.

The votes still being counted almost two weeks after polling day are a combination of postal votes and ballots cast by people whose voting eligibility could not be verified on election day.

Mr Trump appeared to have been angered by people pointing out he had lost the public vote - and suggested he could have won it had he wanted to.

He tweeted: If the election were based on total popular vote I would have campaigned in N.Y. Florida and California and won even bigger and more easily.

The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!

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The victory for a candidate who received fewer votes than his rival has led 4.5 million people to sign a petition calling on the delegates that each state sends to vote in the Electoral College to defy the instructions given to them by the electorate in their state.

There have been 157 of these so-called faithless electors throughout history but they have never overturned an election result and it is unlikely to happen this year.

The petition states: Secretary Clinton won the popular vote and should be President. The only reason Trump won is because of the Electoral College.

But the Electoral College can actually give the White House to either candidate. So why not use this most undemocratic of our institutions to ensure a democratic result?

The result has also fuelled calls for the Electoral College system to be abolished and replaced with a entirely first-past-the-post system. Mrs Clinton is the fourth presidential candidate in history to lose the presidency despite winning the popular vote.

Mr Trump himself had previously called the electoral college a disaster for democracy after mistakenly thinking that Barack Obama had lost the public vote in 2012 but retained the presidency.

One reason the Electoral College was created was to ensure no single region of the US could dominate the election, such as the North out-voting the South along old Civil War lines.
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Nicolas Sarkozy has launched an impassioned appeal to French voters not to take the path of extremes as far-right leader Marine Le Pen leads polls heading into the countrys presidential election.

Mr Sarkozy, who served as President from 2007 to 2012, ran to represent the centre-right Les Republicains party but was beaten into third place in the first round of primaries.

I respect and understand voters wish to choose other political leaders than myself for the future, he said following his defeat on Sunday.

Nicolas Sarkozy speaking after his defeat in the French conservative presidential primary in Paris, France, on 20 November (Reuters)

However, I would ask them never to take the path of extremes. France deserves so much better than the worst possible choice.

His remarks were widely taken as an attack on Frances far-right Front National, which has been rapidly gaining popularity under Ms Le Pens leadership.

The anti-immigration group, which hailed the collapse of Europes political order following Donald Trumps victory, has sparked controversy over its positions on Islam and founder Jean-Marie Le Pens convictions for inciting racial hatred and statements on the Holocaust.

His daughter came third in the first round of Frances last presidential election in 2012, when Mr Sarkozy ran unsuccessfully against Francois Hollande.

She now hopes to do much better, with the latest poll by Ipsos giving Ms Le Pen head with 29 per cent of the vote when pitted against Mr Sarkozy and the left-wing Parti de Gauches Jean-Luc Melenchon, among other potential candidates.

Les Republicains remaining runners are Alain Juppe and former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who was backed by Mr Sarkozy as he hinted at a permanent withdrawal from politics.

France's far-right National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen poses in front of a poster for her 2017 French presidential election campaign (REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

Good luck to France, he said. I wish the very best for my country, for you my dear fellow citizens, and for the one who will lead this country that I love so much.

I was happy to have participated in this battle. Goodbye to all.

Mr Fillon is in a commanding position for next Sunday's second round of a contest that is widely expected to decide France's next leader, with the winner tipped to beat Ms Le Pen in the decisive presidential run-off next May.

He and Mr Juppe have broadly similar programmes, underpinned by pledges to reinforce domestic security in a country still under a state of emergency following Isis terror attacks have that killed more than 230 people.

They also share a desire to reinforce European borders and reduce immigration, while tax cuts also loom large, seeking to prevent a shift in voters to the more right-wing Front National.

I am a patriotic candidate, Ms Pen tweeted on Sunday. With Trump, with Theresa May, with Putin, with the Visegrad [Central European] group, I dont feel at all isolated!
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Never one to miss a bandwagon when it passes, Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right Front National, was one of the first European politicians to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory. For the demagogic populist Le Pen, Trumps win, like the Brexit vote, is the victory of the people against the elites.

Setting aside the ludicrous nature of anyone claiming the victory of a billionaire who inherited his riches as a blow against the established order, Le Pens intervention is important. France is facing its own presidential election in April and May of 2017 and Le Pen aims to win it.

On the face of it, her chances would appear slim. Unlike in the US, the French electoral system is designed to only deliver a president who is endorsed by an absolute majority of the electorate. But Le Pens rival parties are in disarray, which could ease her path, unless the electorate can pull together.

The system

There are two rounds of voting in the French presidential election  set two weeks apart. In 2017, the first round will be on Sunday 23 April, the second on Sunday 7 May.

An unlimited number of candidates can stand in the first round, providing they gather a certain amount of support from local parliamentarians. If one of them achieves an absolute majority in the first round (50 per cent plus one vote), then they are pronounced president. The fragmented nature of French politics means, however, that this has never happened since the system was set up in 1965. Even then, when the early opinion polls a month before the vote had Charles de Gaulle re-elected with 60 per cent of the vote, he was forced into a second ballot.

Le Pen appeared on the Andrew Marr Show earlier this month to talk about her ambitions

Only the first two placed candidates go into the second ballot. This run-off is to ensure precisely that the winner has the endorsement of the majority of voters who turn out. The French could not find themselves being governed by someone who did not obtain a majority.

There is every possibility that Le Pen will be ahead after the first round in April 2017 so the question is how much chance she has in the second round.

In the past, voters have united to prevent the far-right from winning the run-off, but Frances other main parties are failing to offer new faces for voters  and recently we have seen all too well what can happen when the establishment fails to address the discontent of the people. They are also consumed by their own problems.

The left appears to have collapsed, while right-wing voters are deeply divided about who their candidate should be. The Republican party and some of its centre-right allies are about to hold their first ever primary election to make this decision, with former president Nicolas Sarkozy and former prime minister, the septuagenarian Alain Juppe, the current front runners.

Le Pens discourse of the same old faces and the same old promises has found some traction against this backdrop. With seven more-or-less familiar figures fighting it out, the contest hardly has the look of new blood about it. It doesnt help that Sarkozy has various investigations hanging over his head and that Juppe was stripped of the right to stand for election or hold office for two years in 2004.

United against the front?

Voters on the left could probably see themselves voting for Juppe if he ended up in the second round with Le Pen but the same is not necessarily true in a Sarkozy/Le Pen contest. They would find it much more difficult to rally to his cause to keep out the Front National than they did in 2002, when they flocked en masse to Jacques Chirac. For all his faults, Chirac never adopted the sort of hardline rhetoric Sarkozy later took up, nor did he share the latters neoliberal economic agenda. In the second round in 2012, Sarkozy drifted so far to the right that even some politicians in the centre today would have problems voting for him if he wins the primary.

Juppes challenge, on the other hand, will be to convince voters on the right that he is their candidate, and not one of some soft centre.

Alain Juppe will need to embrace front voters if he is to beat Le Pen (Reuters)

This, then, is one scenario Le Pen will be hoping for. But there is another. If, by some miracle, she finds herself in a run-off against the left, then we really will be in uncharted waters.

Frances left-wing voters have, on many occasions, shown themselves willing to vote for the right to prevent the Front National taking power  most recently in the second round of Frances regional elections in December 2015, when they blocked Le Pen and her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen from taking control of two regional assemblies. But there is no proof that voters on the right would do the same thing.

So can Le Pen win the French presidential election? Yes, she can.

This article was originally published on The Conversation (www.conversation.com). Paul Smith is an associate professor in French and Francophone studies at the University of Nottingham
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Nicolas Sarkozy has been knocked out of the French presidential race after finishing third in the primary to pick the centre-right's candidate .

With more than 90 per cent of votes counted, former French prime minister, Francois Fillon, topped the poll with 44.2 per cent of the vote while another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, was in second place with 28.4 per cent and Mr Sarkozy had taken 20.7 per cent.

Mr Fillon and Mr Juppe qualified for the second round run-off to decide who should be France's conservative presidential candidate, dashing ex-president Mr Sarkozy's hopes for re-election. Mr Sarkozy conceded defeat and the run-off vote will be held on 27 November.

The winner is expected to have a strong chance of victory in next year's presidential election, because traditional rivals on the left have been weakened by Socialist Francois Hollande's troubled presidency. Partly due to those troubles, polls have consistently shown that the leader of the far-right Front National (FN), Marine Le Pen, will make it to the final round of presidential voting and will likely be the opponent for either Mr Fillon or Mr Juppe.

Mr Juppe was quick to cast himself as the best candidate to stop the far-right party and win the presidential election in the wake of the first primary result.

Mr Fillon told his ecstatic camp that his programme was one of hope. He said he had a special thought for Mr Sarkozy, whom he served as prime minister from 2007 to 2012.

As for Mr Sarkozy, he announced he intended to withdraw from public life after the result and endorsed Mr Fillon.

He said: "I failed to convince a majority of voters.

"I hold Alain Juppe in high esteem, but I feel closer to Francois Fillon's political choices".

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Fillion's victory will come as a surprise to many as he was widely regarded as a political "has-been" and had bee trailing behind Mr Sarkozy and Mr Juppe, in most polls.

An admirer of late British prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he is a rare economic liberal in largely statist France - he is also the most pro-Russian of the three candidates.

As well as Mr Sarkozy, Mr Fillon also received the support of Bruno Le Maire, seen as having come fourth or fifth in the vote.

The most centrist of the seven contenders in the primaries, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, who was fighting Mr Le Maire for the fourth spot, threw her weight behind the 71-year-old Mr Juppe.

Socialist President Francois Hollande, who is deeply unpopular, has yet to announce whether he himself will stand again.

With the Left very divided and a majority of voters seen in opinion polls to be opposed to seeing the far-right National Front in power, the chosen centre-right nominee is likely to defeat party leader Ms Le Pen in an expected election run-off next May.

But while polls have consistently shown Mr Juppe would easily beat Le Pen, there have been no recent surveys on how Mr Fillon would fare in such a match, in further evidence of how unexpected his top spot on Sunday was.

Polls have shown that Mr Fillon, who had received backing by opponents of France's gay marriage laws, is much less popular than Mr Juppe amid left-wing voters, which could make it harder for him to get their vote versus Ms Le Pen.

A BVA poll in September did however show him beating Ms Le Pen with 61 per ent of votes compared with 39 per cent for Ms Le Pen were they to fight off in the presidentials' runoff, while Mr Juppe would score 66 per cent vs the far-right leader.

Until a week ago, Mr Fillon, a social conservative with economically liberal ideas, trailed Mr Juppe and Mr Sarkozy badly in polls and had not been expected to go through to round two of the primaries.

Mr Juppe, a moderate conservative campaigning on an inclusive, happy identity platform, had for months been ahead in polls. But over the past week the contest has been transformed into a tight race between the three men.

This is the first time any French party has held a US style presidential primary where any French citizen willing to pay 2 and sign a form saying they are committed to the values of the "centre and the right" could vote in the election.

Mr Sarkozy had attempted to court disenchanted voters who could opt for Ms Le Pen but this strategy seems to have backfired as many are said to have voted in the primary to keep him off the ballot.

Many leftwing voters are thought to have participated in the election - with a significan number voting against Mr Sarkozy.

Turnout was high with around four million people casting ballots, according to a preliminary count.

One voter, Emeline, said: I am not at all on the Right, I'm very much on the Left and I really want to block Sarkozy and I know that the Left won't get to the second round (of the presidential election) so I just want to stop Sarkozy and Marine Le Pen.
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Pope Francis has said all priests will be able to forgive abortion, extending indefinitely a temporary measure he had put in place for the Vaticans jubilee year.

I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion, the Pope wrote in a letter marking the end of the Holy Year of Mercy.

The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, he wrote.

 The Pope says its wrong to equate Islam with violence

The 79-year-old Argentine said he wanted to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life, but there is no sin that Gods mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with [God].

Pope Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving Roman Catholic Church a characteristic of his papacy, made the announcement in a document known as an apostolic letter after the churchs Holy Year of Mercy concluded on Sunday.

The measure represents a significant softening of the churchs stance on the issue of abortion.

The Catholic Church historically deemed abortion so great a sin that those who undertook them or carried them out were automatically excommunicated.

In the past, only a bishop or a special confessor could grant absolution for an abortion in most parts of the world.

However, as Pope Francis brought the jubilee year to an end by closing the bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peters Square on Sunday, he gave an interview in which he criticised abortion as a horrendous crime.

Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Live and let live.' GETTY IMAGES Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Proceed calmly" in life' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Be giving of yourself to others' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Even though many parents work long hours, they must set aside time to play with their children' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Sunday is for family' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Respect and take care of nature' OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Stop being negative' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: Respect others' beliefs' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive' FP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness AFP/Getty Images

In a document last year, Pope Francis described the existential and moral ordeal faced by women who have terminated pregnancies and said he had met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonising and painful decision.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country will move missiles closer to Europe over "concern" about Nato expansion.

Moscow will deploy S-400 surface-to-air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in the exclave of Kaliningrad, a pro-Kremlin lawmaker told the state-owned RIA news agency.

"Why are we reacting to Nato expansion so emotionally? We are concerned by Nato's decision making," Mr Putin said in an interview due to be broadcast later on Monday.

"What should we do? We have, therefore, to take countermeasures, which means to target with our missile systems the facilities, that, in our opinion, start posing a threat to us," he added.

 Russia conducts military drill

Speaking to a Nato parliamentary meeting in Istanbul, Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "Everything Nato does is defensive, proportionate and fully in line with our international commitments.

"Before Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, Nato had no plans to send troops to the Eastern part of our alliance."

He added: "Nato's aim is to prevent a conflict, not to provoke a conflict. Moreover, we firmly believe and we are firmly committed to a two-track approach to Russia; strong defense, coupled with meaningful dialogue."

Russia has previously said it periodically sends Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, but until now it has said these were routine drills.

Moscow has not linked the moves explicitly with what it says is a Nato military build-up on Russia's western borders.

Up to 300,000 Nato troops were put on alert earlier this month, amid rising tensions between Russia and the Baltic states.

In October, Nato was preparing to station 4,000 troops on the Russian border with the Baltic states in its biggest military build-up since the Cold War.

Some analysts predict an emboldened Moscow could become more assertive in eastern Europe after the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Mr Trump has said he wants closer ties with the Kremlin and has questioned the cost of protecting Nato allies.

Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said Russia was forced to react to the planned US missile shield in eastern Europe.

"As response measures to such threats we will have... to deploy additional forces... This reinforcement includes deployment of S-400 and Iskander systems in Kaliningrad," the RIA news agency quoted Mr Ozerov as saying.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Turkeys government has asked its critics to formulate a new proposal for a controversial child abuse bill and threatened to continue with the current draft if they do not.

Under the present version, those who rape children could have their convictions quashed or avoid prosecution if they marry their victims.

Yet opposition parties have refused to redevelop the proposals, which have sparked uproar and protests across the country, saying they do not want to be part of a "mistake".

The draft law stipulates that men who sexually abuse girls under 18 without force, threat or any restriction on consent and who marry their victim could go free.

If the opposition parties have a suggestion for an amendment, we are waiting for it, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy parliament group chair Mustafa Elitas told Hurriyet Daily News on Monday, adding that the AKP is not considering withdrawing the proposal.

But when Mr Elitas called the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), Deputy Chair Levent Gok, and asked if the CHP would make alterations, Mr Gok said his party would not amend the bill, since it did not want to be part of a mistake.

Mr Elitas also reportedly called Erkan Akcay from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to ask for a proposal, but was told the party would not make any suggestions until the AKP withdrew the draft law.

First withdraw the bill, then we can discuss, the MHP deputy chair told Mr Elitas, the Turkish daily reported.

 Protests in Turkey over child rape law

Opposition parties reacted to the bill with alarm to the AKP's bill when it was first before parliament on Thursday, but it was still approved in a vote.

The countrys government insists the law would help resolve legal challenges caused by widespread child marriage in the country, yet critics argue the bill forgives and even encourages rape.

Thousands took to the streets of Istanbul to protest the bill (AFP)

In a joint statement, Unicef, UNEFPA, UN Women and UNDP said they were "deeply concerned" about the bill.

"If adopted in its current form, the draft Bill would weaken Turkeys ability to combat sexual abuse and child marriage," they said.

"It would create a perception of impunity in favour of perpetrators of such child rights violations.

"In addition it would increase the risk for further victimization of the child if she marries the perpetrator of the sexual abuse."

They added: "Any forms of sexual violence against children are crimes which should be punished as such. In all cases the best interest of the child should prevail."

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 bill is to be voted on in parliament again on Tuesday, and further protests against the law have been scheduled.

The government has rejected claims the law amounts to an amnesty for rape.
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At least 27 people have been killed in a suspected suicide attack at a mosque in the Afghan capital, according to officials in Kabul.

An estimated 35 people were also injured but survived after the blast during the Baqirul Olum mosque ceremony in the west of the city on Monday.

Worshippers were marking the Shia ceremony of Arbaeen, which commemorates the assassinated grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and which comes 40 days after the major Ashura festival.

Recommended A fresh humanitarian crisis approaches in Afghanistan

Senior police official Fridon Obaidi said: "It was a suicide bomber who blew himself up among worshippers inside the mosque, killing 27 and wounding 35."

Earlier this year, a powerful blast targeting Shia muslims during Ashura killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan.

Witness Ali Jan said: "I was in the mosque, the people were offering prayers.

"Suddenly I heard a bang and windows broke. I had no idea what had happened. I rushed out screaming."

No invidual or organisation has yet claimed responsibility for Monday's attack.

The Taliban, seeking to reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster, denied they were responsible.

"We have never attacked mosques as it's not our agenda," said the movement's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

Bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shia Muslims has been relatively rare in Afghanistan, which is a majority Sunni country.

Government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack as a sign of barbarism but said Afghanistan should not fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".

"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place. It is a war crime & an act against Islam & humanity," he said in a message on his Twitter account.

Shia muslims make up around 15 per cent of the population in Afghanistan. An attack in July, claimed by Daesh, killed 80 people at a Shia protest march in Kabul.

More than 100 people were injured and at least 25 killed in twin Isis-claimed blasts using ambulances in Samarra and Tikrit in Iraq.
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Bashar al-Assads forces are advancing on rebel-held Aleppo in a brutal campaign in which schools, homes and hospitals have been bombarded as battles rage in the divided citys streets.

The United Nations has condemned the Syrian regimes horrific assault but the government and its Russian and Iranian backers have intensified operations that resumed in besieged areas last week.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Lebanese Hezbollah fighters were part of units that captured the eastern part of the Masakan Hanano neighbourhood on Monday.

A Syrian rescuer carries a woman who was rescued the rubble of a building following reported air strikes on Aleppos rebel-held district of al-Hamra on Sunday (AFP/Getty)

It is the most important advance inside the eastern neighbourhoods that the regime has made so far, said director Rami Abdul Rahman.

If they take control of Masakan Hanano, the regime will have line-of-fire control over several rebel-held neighbourhoods and will be able to cut off the northern parts of rebel-held Aleppo from the rest of the opposition-held districts.

It was the first district to fall under rebel control as Aleppo fractured in 2012, adding extra symbolism in the battle for what was Syrias most populous city.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, described the neighbourhood as the biggest and most important stronghold of the gunmen holding out against the regime.

Battles raged after President Assads government turned down a planned UN truce that would have seen eastern Aleppo temporarily administered by the opposition on the condition that militants left, claiming it would reward terrorists.

The UNs Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, left Damascus on Monday with a warning that time was running out amid intensifying military operations.

The aftermath of bombing in east Aleppo's Al-Shaar neighbourhood on Wednesday

By Christmas...due to military intensification, you will have the virtual collapse of what is left in eastern Aleppo; you may have 200,000 people moving towards Turkey  that would be a humanitarian catastrophe, he said.

Government forces have pounded opposition districts with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire since Tuesday last week, killing more than 100 people in recent days according to the observatorys count.

No aid has entered eastern Aleppo since it came under government siege in July, after a brief incursion by jihadi-led rebels, prompting critical shortages of food, sanitation, fuel and medicine.

On Sunday, Barack Obama said he was not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria amid concerns his successor will cut support for the opposition.

Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back Assad in a brutal air campaign...it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time, he said.

All makeshift hospitals were put out of service by air strikes overnight on Friday, including eastern Aleppos largest remaining childrens hospital, which was treating victims of a suspected government chlorine attack when it was hit.

Babies taken out of incubators after a eastern Aleppo's children's hospital was bombed on 18 November (Yasser Al-Rahil)

An Al Jazeera camera crew was filming the aftermath of the chemical barrel bombing at the time, showing distressing images of children being given oxygen as they suffocated, before the bombs hit and the power cut.

Screaming families ran for cover as nurses plucked newborn babies from incubators amid the dust and rubble to take them to safety.

Dr Hatem, the director of the childrens hospital, said Syria and its allies were taking advantage of the worlds distraction.

The Friends of Syria countries must take urgent action to use their influence to stop these bombs, he added. We cannot believe that the worlds most powerful countries can't stop childrens hospitals being bombed and hundreds of thousands facing starvation.

Global outrage over civilian deaths in the bloody campaign has done little to halt the advance, with opposition forces losing ground since Vladimir Putin launched Russias air campaign in support of the regime last year.

Geert Cappelaere, Unicefs Middle East and North Africa media director, said at least nine children had been killed in attacks on schools in Aleppo and Ghouta, outside Damascus.

There are no more working hospitals in eastern Aleppo, where more than 100,000 children are trapped under siege and heavy bombardment with dwindling access to food and medicine, he said on Monday.

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

They need these hospitals to stay alive. Children should not be dying in hospitals because of bombs and they should not be dying in schools.

Unicef said eight children were killed and many more injured in rebel shelling that hit two schools in regime-controlled western Aleppo, including one where a mortar fell into a playground as a year-four class were practising a dance routine.

At al-Qarma primary school in eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, a girl was reportedly killed and at least 15 injured in a maths class when the building took a direct hit. In Idlib, an additional two schools were hit with three children injured.

The UN has documented 84 attacks on schools across Syria so far in 2016, with at least 69 children losing their lives and many others injured in possible war crimes.

Elsewhere in Syria, conflict continues between Turkey-backed rebels and Kurdish groups supported by the US-led coalition in the fight against Isis.

Adnan Abu Amjad, commander of the Kurdish-aligned Manbij Military Council, said Turkish jets struck his group near the former Isis stronghold of Manbij late on Sunday, killing one fighter and wounding others.

The Turkish state is a terrorist state that is attacking positions of the military council that is fighting Daesh [Isis], he said, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to resist a proposed no-fly zone in the region.

Additional reporting by agencies
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From January, Eurostar will cut 20 trains each week between the British and Belgian capitals. On weekdays, there will be only seven daily departures in each direction, rather than the current nine.

Last month The Independent revealed that Eurostar planned to axe one departure in 12 because of falling demand between London, Paris and Brussels.

It now appears that the Belgian capital will take the brunt of the cuts.

Services from London St Pancras will still begin at 6.50am, but the 8.04am departure will be axed from January. The cancellation results in a gap of over two hours between Brussels-bound trains during the morning rush hour. Business passengers from outside London who are unable to reach the St Pancras terminus in time for the first departure will now not arrive in Brussels until the afternoon.

The evening rush hour has an even longer gap. Travellers who miss the 5.04pm train face a wait of two-and-a-half hours before the last service of the day, at 7.34pm.

Connection opportunities deeper into Belgium, and to Germany and the Netherlands, have also been reduced. London-Brussels trains also call at the city of Lille, with onward connections deeper into France.

Although 22 per cent of Anglo-Belgian services will be withdrawn, the total number of seats will not fall so sharply because of the introduction of higher-capacity trains.

The e320 trains hold 902 passengers, compared with 750 for the original rolling stock.

For the first time since the full Eurostar service began running, there will be more flights from Heathrow to Brussels than there are trains from London to the Belgian capital. British Airways operates five flights a day on the route, and Brussels Airlines has a further three.

Demand for travel to both Paris and Brussels has fallen sharply since the terrorist attacks in November and March respectively. In addition, the expected Brexit boost to inbound tourism to London because of the slump in sterling has not materialised. Last month hotels in the capital saw occupancy rates and revenue fall compared with October 2015.

The fall in demand is likely to be reflected in Eurostars earnings from passengers originating in Brussels and Paris.

One return trip to Paris is to be cut each working day: an afternoon departure from London, returning early evening from the French capital.

Eighty Eurostar posts are expected to be lost as a result of the cuts, though with no compulsory redundancies; staff are being offered voluntary redundancy or the chance to take a sabbatical.

The train operator is offering its lowest-ever fare, 19 one-way from London, for passengers who book through Facebook and are prepared to leave the departure time to Eurostar. Buyers of the Snap brand of tickets are told the specific train they must travel on 48 hours before they leave.

A spokesperson for Eurostar said: "We always monitor and adapt our timetable to reflect the time of year and customer demand. January and early February are traditionally a quieter time of year for us so over the past few years, we have reduced the number of services on our routes.

"We have worked hard to ensure the most popular trains continue to run."

Click here to view Eurostar trips, with Independent Holidays.
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More than a year after British flights to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh were grounded, the transport secretary has dashed hopes of an imminent end to the ban.

Flights were stopped shortly after a Metrojet Airbus A321 crashed in the Sinai Desert on 31 October 2015. It is believed that Russias worst aviation disaster, in which 224 passengers and crew died, was caused by a bomb placed on board at Sharm el Sheikh airport. Five days later, the British Government banned UK airlines from flying to and from Sharm el Sheikh  with the exception of rescue flights to bring holidaymakers home.

Since then the Egyptian government has spent over 20m on improving airport security standards. In the past few weeks the Egyptian authorities and tourism industry figures have expressed increasing exasperation about the UK ban. The Independent estimates that the flight prohibition has deterred 500,000 British people from taking holidays to the Red Sea resort in the past year.

The president of the Sharm el Sheikh Tourism Investors Association, Hisham Aly, called the ban catastrophic for Egypt and warned that it is creating exactly the kind of poverty and alienation that fosters extremism.

Mr Aly said: Families are being forced into poverty because of the procrastination of the British Prime Minister, despite, as we understand, advice from all relevant UK Government departments that the ban can be lifted.

But the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has given no sign of an imminent change to the Governments view.

Speaking at the Airport Operators Association annual conference in London, he said: This is something we keep constantly under review. Neither we nor the Russians have gone back in to Sharm el Sheikh.

Airlines from Germany, Belgium and Turkey are once again flying to Egypts premier resort.

Mr Grayling said: We are working closely with the Egyptians. We will take a decision as soon as we are confident.

Thomson is selling holidays to the resort from 7 February onwards, while Thomas Cook has a summer programme starting on 1 May 2017. However, such trips have been subject to rolling cancellations, with departure dates cancelled and refunds issued two or three months ahead.

British Airways and Monarch have cancelled their entire programmes to Sharm el Sheikh.
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I was 15 when my mum passed away, 17-year-old Kumba Kpakima says, as she shows me around the Centrepoint hostel in south London where she has been living for the past six months. It was unexpected: she had a problem with her heart. Before that, my life was pretty normal.

Her father, who had been living in Sierra Leone, came over to look after the children. But, for a family in shock who had never known him, the situation was impossible. I was the youngest of my brothers and sisters, and my dad and I never saw eye to eye, she says. We were all grieving.

What little relationship they had quickly disintegrated. Living under one roof with this man she had never known became untenable. Kumba had no choice but to set out, aged 15, to find her own way. But it was difficult, because you dont really hear about youth homelessness or the companies that can help you, she says. When it first happened I was confused, I didnt know where to go. I searched online but there wasnt much information.

In the end she went to the local town hall, but there was a delay of months before she was settled. She spent some time in temporary rooms in houses, which was very difficult, and at other times she was forced back into the nightmare her home had become.

At last she was found a room in the hostel. Once I got help there was lots of it available, she says. It was just difficult finding out about it.

For many Londoners, the word homelessness conjures familiar images: sleeping bags in shop doorways, Big Issue sellers approaching smokers outside the pub, a handwritten sign by a cash machine.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

But homelessness has a thousand faces. It is not just about rough sleeping. It could be the friend who falls into debt, the husband kicked out of the family home or the colleague sleeping on a different sofa each week  victims of any one of 100 different forms of bad luck.

It is at its most destructive in young people. On the cusp of adulthood, starting to find their own way in the world, adolescents need all the support they can get. They need hot meals, clean sheets and a quiet room to study in. Those who come into difficulties can fall between the cracks, too old to be taken into full-time care and too young to be treated as adults.

Even if help is out there, if young people have never been in the situation before they often dont know where to find it. With homelessness comes a host of other risks: violence, drugs, emotional abuse, sickness. Young lives can spiral out of control when they have barely started. Articulate, confident Kumba is proof: one unexpected tragedy can turn a happy home into a nightmare.

Recommended How the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline will work

Thats why, for this years Christmas Campaign, The Independent is partnering with Centrepoint. At the heart of the campaign will be fundraising to create a national helpline ensuring at-risk young people can get all the information they need in one place, free of charge. It will also raise money for the countless services Centrepoint provides to help young people out of crisis and teach them to stand on their own two feet, from fire safety to household budgeting.

At the hostel, Kumbas room is clean, spacious and comfortable, with a desk bearing a dog-eared copy of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. There is a recently refurbished communal kitchen, wi-fi, and computers for those who do not have their own. Imagine a first-year university hall, with fewer kebab wrappers and empty beer cans.

For Kumba this is hopefully good practice. With the help of a bursary, she is studying for A-levels in English literature and English language, media and sociology. Next year shell be applying for university. When I arrived I was nervous about how Id be treated but everyone was really friendly, she says. Were all in the same boat, so its best just to get on with each other.

The original Centrepoint hostel, set up at St Ann's Church in Soho in 1969 (File)

Seven young people live in the hostel currently, a mix of men and women, and staff are on hand to help. This is a low-support hostel, but Centrepoint also runs high-support hostels for those with more acute needs.

The difference between Centrepoint and other similar charities is that it spends about twice as much, on average, on each young person. It recognises that when you are a teenager you do not have six months to sit around waiting for NHS help. If a young person needs psychotherapy, for example, Centrepoint will endeavour to ensure they get it within a fortnight. Research has shown that every pound Centrepoint spends brings far more in savings to the taxpayer. More than that, though, it saves lives.

My dad and I are on good terms now, says Kumba. I think there were just too many emotions around after my mum died. But hes proud of me and the progress Im making. I think Im doing all right.

After university she wants to become a journalist. Centrepoint provided this brilliant young woman with the support she needed, at just the right time. I am only too happy to help her realise her ambitions.

But Kumba could have struggled had she not been so tenacious. The energy and initiative that will surely make her a brilliant reporter one day were also essential to her finding out what support was available. What of the thousands of homeless young people we dont hear about? The ones who arent on our streets, but whose lives are just as perilous?

Those are the young people The Independent is asking you to help this Christmas, as its raises money to support the essential services Centrepoint provides, as well as a new helpline. Information is power; in this case, the information can help the capitals most vulnerable young people when they need it most.

How to donate to the Independents Christmas Appeal

The Independents Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate you can:

Call

0300 330 2731

Text

HOME66 5 to 70070

Post

Freepost RTKC-JRGU-ZYGT

Centrepoint

40-42 Phoenix Court

Hawkins Road

Colchester

CO2 8JY

Go online: http://ind.pn/donate
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It is good news for this country that Francois Fillon has succeeded in positioning himself as the likely candidate for the Republican Party in Frances presidential election, due to be held next April. In fact a recent poll showed Fillon beating the National Fronts Marine Le Pen, who is second favourite. He would obtain 61 per cent of the votes were the two to meet in a second and final round. So Fillon will very likely displace the hapless Francois Hollande from the Elysee in 2017 just when our Brexit negotiations are reaching a crucial stage.

So we should look carefully at Fillon, who on Sunday decisively won the first round of the Republican Partys primary elections, forcing former president Nicholas Sarkozy into unwanted retirement on the way. And while there are lots of interesting aspects to Fillons domestic policy plans, note first where he stands on Europe.

He believes in a Europe of Nations that would be respectful of the sovereignty of France  and no doubt of Britain, too. In his policy statement, Fillon argues that Europe must be a means of achieving certain ends and not a religion. In particular he would make the Schengen area  26 European states, not including Britain, that have officially abolished passport control at their mutual borders  a Schengen of Justice, meaning that anyone found guilty of a crime anywhere in the area would automatically be sent back to their own country. With these opinions, Fillon sounds very much like somebody with whom Theresa May could do business.

More than that, there are other points of similarity between the two politicians. He represents the traditional right wing of politics in France, which is, to quote Le Monde, quite liberal, often Catholic and concerned with questions of identity. In fact, Fillon is as much a traditional Catholic as May is a traditional Anglican.

 Marine Le Pen reacts to Trump victory

It is interesting, too, to analyse why in the opinion polling before Sunday, Alain Juppe suddenly appeared to fall back while Fillon forged ahead. The turning point seems to have Juppes courting of MoDem, a centrist political party founded by Francois Bayrou. It seems that Fillons supporters have as little enthusiasm for centre-ground politics as Mays Conservatives would have for another coalition with the Lib Dems.

Another plus for Fillon in Mays estimation is likely to be that he is an admirer of Margaret Thatcher. He showed a Thatcher-like frankness in expression and a deploring of excessive debt when, soon after becoming Prime Minister in 2007, he told an audience in Corsica that he was at the head of a bankrupt state. His President, Sarkozy, was not amused. Now in his plans for his own presidency, he proclaims bravely that he would cut 500,000 public sector jobs in five years. He would also ditch the controversial 35-hour week legislation. Companies would be able to negotiate whatever length of working week they preferred up to a limit of 48 hours.

Finally, there is an upright way of handling themselves in private as well as in public that unites Fillon and May. For instance, Sarkozys numerous brushes with the law over party funding have genuinely shocked Fillon. When he began his campaign he exclaimed: Can you imagine De Gaulle having to deal with criminal charges?

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

Nor could he be further from the bling-bling for which Sarkozy was famous. No doubt he has similar concerns about President Hollandes comportment in office. As Valerie Trierweiller, Hollandes official partner living at Elysee, asked when she discovered he was playing loose: Where is the exemplary President? A President does not conduct two wars and at the same time dash off to meet an actress in a side street when the opportunity presents itself.

Nonetheless, there is one big difference between Fillon and May that may surprise  their attitude to President Putin. Fillon seems to take President-elect Trumps line. Fillon and Vladimir Putin have met numerous times since 2012. Fillon thinks it wrong to make Russia the sole cause of trouble in Ukraine. And he would like to see a coalition between Russia and Iran to defeat Isis in Syria.

Would that mean having to ally France with the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad? Yes, if necessary. That is a difference with Britains policy. Nonetheless, Theresa May could well think, bring on Fillon.
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The problem with modern feminisms need to present all women as irreproachable little snowdrops is that when Ivanka Trumps daddy brings her along to his first meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, its easier to look the other way. Or perhaps even to clap like seals at her girl power prowess: you go, Ivanka! Its a woman at the table!

Sure, shes received no accountable briefing in Japanese business affairs or diplomacy. And yes, she did celebrate her first 60 Minutes Lesley Stahl interview by group emailing journalists informing them that the $10,000 bracelet on her arm was her favourite bangle, available from her Metropolis collection, clearly not understanding the term conflict of interests.

But its a woman sitting with the big boys, so we shouldnt say too much. Just like she said literally nothing at all last week when her father promised to help overturn abortion legislation, meaning states such as Mississippi could close their one remaining clinic.

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Ill guess that Ivankas usefulness as a pseudo-feminist fig-leaf over her fathers regressive policies will become more apparent as months roll by. Right now, we can cut her some slack on her initial diplomatic faux pas  the meeting intrusions, the flogging of jewelled trinkets during White House press calls  because, if Ivanka is taking her fathers lead on the protocol required of the First Family, then heaven help her.

Ivankas father has spent his first weeks as President-elect behaving on social media like an evicted Celebrity Big Brother Z-lister, run ragged by unfair editing and haterzz. This schtick is excruciating enough to observe when its from the keyboard of Lee Ryan from Blue.

As we become used to the United States being in the charge of a veritable king of midnight, scattergun Twitter bantz, we shall also become used to Ivanka. Bearing in mind she felt adequately primed, within two weeks of her fathers election, to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for what the leader described as very candid discussions, imagine how useful shell be by 2017 on her specialist subjects of being a modern woman.

Ivanka is a mother of three, dont you know, so will be rolled into the spotlight to emote powerfully as a mother on all types of womanly issues. She also (with the aid of nannies) very impressively went back to work (at her fathers company) after each birth. Hrrrrrrnk, sound the mumpreneur klaxon.

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Pre-warnings of Ivanka Trumps attempts to connect with everyday women can be found on the "Women Who Work" pages tagged to the back of her luxury lifestyle website. I want to inspire and empower women to architect lives that they love, Ivanka burbles on, and on, in the manner of a sub-Carrie Bradshaw performing Vogon poetry. Lives that are uniquely their own and not based on the expectations of anyone other than themselves.

The site hits all the key words that advertising copywriters use when trying to hoover up the white, affluent wannabe feminist dollar, stopping just short of advising me to buy rollerblades and try backwards loops during my heaviest days.

Ivankas site is festooned with pictures of size 0 Caucasian Manhattan women, holding signs that say Women Who Worknever give up! and Women who work Multitask!. There are, obviously, no signs by women with size 16 hips, living in remote Louisiana saying Women who work need abortion! or Women who work need to be not threatened with deportation.

The Ivanka Trump "Women Who Work" initiative is possibly the most risible heap of non-inclusive, beyond parody, wimmin-helping-wimmin, bum-chunder since Gwyneth Paltows Goop newsletter  and I laugh up a kidney at that once a week. And Ivankas only just getting started. Daddy is giving her access to all of the worlds leaders, willy-nilly, for candid discussions. Why does this not make me feel more empowered?
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Before he left the hearing, the little tyke made a joke in front of the house intelligence committee about his long career.

"I have 64 days left and I would have a hard time with my wife for anything past that, he said.

That ole ball and chain, eh? I feel you, brother. Your wife has been that pesky, nagging woman who has begged you to stop serving your country for decades and just wants you around the house a bit more. She knows the interiors of her kitchen cupboards as well as you know the sub-factions of terrorist networks, so hell, why not make a joke at her expense. It made your government colleagues, chuckle, no doubt. You forgot to say she worked for the NSA.

The wife joke - or the wife plea, if you want to blame someone else for your retirement - is a long, sad story, and it didnt start with Clapper.

When Donald Trump stood up at the iconic Al Smith dinner - a chance for presidential candidates to make funny, gentle jibes at each other - his biggest laugh was about Melania Trump and the fact she plagiarised Michelle Obama during her first keynote speech. A woman staffer took the blame for that one. Just FYI.

When New Hampshire governor John Sununu giggled at a Trump rally the other week about Monica Lewinsky, asking whether Bill Clinton was referring to his wife when he said I did not have sexual relations with that woman, there was a nervous titter around the room. An arguably mild reaction from a group that normally calls for Hillary's death or imprisonment, but whatever. Sununu, the moral of the story here is to never speak your demeaning little thoughts out loud.

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My comfort is that these - mostly - men are on the wrong side of history and like the dinosaurs, they will shuffle off this mortal coil. Other days, when Im in a worse mood, I remember that by the time they are gone, I will be halfway there too.

The jokes and pointed barbs dont seem to happen the other way round. Can you imagine Angela Merkel or Christine Lagarde leaving office with desperate pleas that their inconsolable husbands were fed up with cooking for one? When Hillary Clinton conceded the presidency, did she talk about womens need to crack the glass ceiling, or did she focus on Bill's rambling club?

If anything, Id imagine Clappers wife would find him really annoying around the house. He has spent 50 years protecting the country, and now he expects a foot rub. I dont think so.

What I really want to say is, thank you sir for your dedicated service. But next time you, as the director of national intelligence, want to make a joke, maybe you can repeat your own recent admission that the US is facing its highest terror threat since 9/11 - just as youre about to leave your job - instead of blaming your wife for wanting to take a break.
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President Donald Trump will be without precedent for a host of reasons: for his outspoken style and his lack of political experience, but also for the size and global span of his business interests  and the alarming potential they bring for conflicts of interest between those of America the country, and those of Donald Trump the entrepreneur.

Mr Trump is not the first businessman to enter the White House. Both Bushes made big money during their business careers. But modern presidents have placed such interests in blind trusts, run by absolutely independent outsiders. Less rich presidents have also taken steps to insulate their more modest holdings  in the case of Barack Obama by switching the familys assets into that most neutral investment imaginable, US Treasury bonds.

Not so, or at least not yet, Mr Trump. The early signs are that he means to keep his business growing  and if that process happens to be facilitated by his being President, then whats the problem? A couple of events last week pointed in that direction: his meeting with an Indian businessmen involved in a Trump venture in Mumbai; and the attendance of his daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner at his first meeting with a foreign leader, Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The trust Mr Trump places in his immediate family as advisers is no secret. Nor is there anything wrong with the arrangment in itself. The problem is the plan for his children, Ivanka, Donald Jr, and Eric to take over the running of the Trump business empire while their father attends to other matters in Washington. By no stretch of the imagination is that a blind trust, given the ties that bind the Trump clan.

The 45th presidents interests stretch across the world, from Britain to Turkey, from Indonesia to Azerbaijan to India, South Korea and the Philippines. According to The Washington Post, at least 111 Trump-related companies have done business in 18 countries. Only a few of these interests seem to be in the original Trump field of real estate. Most are branding deals. But the potential complication are no less.

Take Trump Towers Istanbul, from which Mr Trump has been paid $10m in name rights since 2014 by the projects developers, who happen to be loud public backers of the increasingly repressive Erdogan regime. As the Post writes, this means the Trump-branded venture is both a personal channel for dealmakers seeking to curry favour with the White House, and a potential target for attacks and security risks overseas.

With its concern for the bottom line, business tends not to over-discriminate between friend and foe. The Trump empires tentacles range from countries that are the solidest of US allies, such as Britain or South Korea, to places like Azerbaijan, with autocratic regimes and dubious human rights records.

At home too, problems arise. Among the biggest lenders to the Trump group are the Bank of China, owned by the government of an arch-rival of the US, and Germanys Deutsche Bank.

Again, there is nothing objectionable per se: property development involves big loans. Except that Deutsche Bank is currently seeking to agree a multibillion dollar fine by the US federal authorities for malpractice connected with the 2007-2008 housing crash here. If a settlement is not reached by January 20, it will be a Trump Justice Department that has the final say.

 Alec Baldwin appears as Trump for first time since election win

Nor is there any law forcing Mr Trump to change course. Some experts believe he might unwittingly fall foul of the emoluments clause of the US constitution, that bars any US office holder from accepting any present, emolument, office or title, from a foreign power. What, for example, to make of foreign diplomats, who make a point of staying in a Trump hotel (and thus pouring money into the Trump business coffers)? Is that not a present?

But the standard ethics and conflict of interest laws for top appointees like Cabinet officers do not apply to the president. No need for concern, insists Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman who will be Mr Trumps White House chief of staff. The White House ethics counsel, assures Mr Priebus, will make sure everything is squeaky clean.

But that raises a further problem, the opaque nature of the Trump Organisation, the umbrella group of the Trump empire. The company is not publicly listed, and the financial filings Trump operations are required to make tell but a fraction of the story. Meanwhile Mr Trump, unlike every president or presidential candidate dating back to Richard Nixon, still refuses to publish his tax returns. These would shed real light on his financial and business dealings, and their international dimensions.

It is, even as some natural Trump supporters admit, a highly unsatisfactory situation. One solution would be a genuine blind trust, run by someone who has no contact with Mr Trump or his family. Bettter still, Mr Trump would simply sell off his business entirely.

As even the arch-conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal put it last week, liquidation is the only real solution to the conflicts of interests tangle. Millions of Americans have put their trust in Mr Trump to succeed as President and improve their lives, it wrote, not treat this as a four-year hiatus from his business.
Garda forensic officers at the scene of Neil Fitzgerald's fatal shooting in Hills Lane, Tallaght, south Dublin

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man found shot in a lane way in south Dublin.

Two men, aged 29 and 52, were detained by gardai in connection with the murder of Neil Fitzgerald.

Mr Fitzgerald, who was in his 30s, was shot multiple times.

His body was discovered by a passing member of the public at Hills Lane, Crooksling in Tallaght on June 5.

The suspects were arrested on Monday morning in Dublin city centre and County Louth.

Six people have now been arrested in connection with the investigation.
Social media giant Facebook on Friday set a $6bn buyback program for its Class A shares, beginning in the first quarter of 2017.

Facebook's shares were up 1.1pc at $118.24 in after-hours trading. The company had a market value of about $337bn at close.

The company also said chief accounting officer Jas Athwal had resigned, effective February 17.

Athwal has spent nearly nine years at the company and was formerly the director of revenue at Yahoo.

The company said it planned to launch a search for a replacement.
The Minister for Agriculture has been called on to take action following the decision by Cork Marts to pull out of the live export of calves.

The issue was discussed in the Seanad this week with Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard stating that the decision means one third of the live export calves that leave Ireland at the moment will now go to different markets.

Cork Marts exported a third of all Friesian calves last year, mainly Holstein Friesian bull calves which are important to get out of the system.

They went to markets like Holland and Spain and the decision will have a major effect not only on the dairy industry, and those who produce dairy calves, but the beef industry where we will have the possibility of a major flood of undesirable animals into the market.

These animals are more important for the veal trade than the beef trade itself.

How we deal with the surplus is a major question for the industry and it is important that the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine comes to the Chamber within the next two weeks to discuss the issue as a matter of urgency.

If we do not take action between now and next February it will be too late, as the knock-on effect in two years' time will leave us with a beef market flooded with underweight carcasses which will be hard to sell, he said.

Decision irreversible says Cork Marts

The decision of Cork Marts to discontinue the live export of dairy calves is 'irreversible' despite strong criticism of the move from farmers dependent on the trade.

"We will not be reversing the decision. It was a hard decision to take but we could not continue losing money, in a situation which got worse during the past year, we had to take action in the interest of the shareholders and the society", Sean O'Sullivan, CEO, Cork Marts Group said recently. Alarmed farming leaders described the decision as "inconceivable".

However, the board of Cork Marts Group is to meet this week to consider a reduction of commission charges on calf sales for both sellers and buyers to "incentivise" the continuation of the trade.

Cork Marts entered the direct export of calves in 2009 and have been exporting 15,000-20,000 calves per annum, mainly to Holland and Spain.

Bandon continues to be the largest calf mart in the country with weekly throughput of up to 1,800 calves at peak.

"It has always been a very tight margin business and we have always struggled to make it profitable while also supporting our calf sellers.

"The past season was very difficult with further downward pressure on margin and operating costs on an upward curve," O'Sullivan said.
Irish beef exports to the UK slumped in September as an unfavourable exchange rate continues to make Irish beef less attractive to UK buyers.

According to figures from the UKs Revenue and Customs service during September 2016 a total of 14,356t of beef were imported by the UK from Ireland, a 13pc reduction from the corresponding month in 2015 when 16,499t of beef were imported.

Despite this Ireland continues to be the biggest source of beef imports for the UK with 129,739t imported during the 2016 period.

Imports from Ireland accounted for 75pc of total beef imports from EU countries during the first nine months of 2016.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board in the UK says the fall in Irish imports comes despite lower domestic prices in Ireland on the back of higher production.

While it says average unit prices were still up over 1pc in Sterling it also adds that increased domestic supplies in the UK will have been strong contributor to the decline in trade levels.

IFA President Joe Healy has urged a strong commitment on both sides to achieve a positive trading relationship in exit negotiations between the EU and the UK.

On the beef situation, Joe Healy said that with over 50pc of our beef exports go to the UK market, the weakness of Sterling does provide a major challenge.

However, the IFA says that exchange rate volatility is not the only determinant of price returns and higher prices are justified and necessary.

Demand for beef in the UK remains very strong. We are in the high demand Christmas procurement period, and trade has picked up. It is simply not acceptable for processors to return an unviable price to our farmers at this time.

Prices must be restored to viable levels; factories must demand significantly higher prices from their British retailer customers and pass these increases directly back to farmers.
A disease affecting ash trees is continuing to spread across the country, despite control efforts by landowners and the Department of Agriculture.

Chalara or Ash Dieback disease is a disease of ash trees caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and it has spread rapidly across Europe in recent years.

And the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture show that year on year that there is a continuing rise in the number and geographic distribution of confirmed findings nationally and is present in every county.

The origins of the disease are still unknown, but scientists have suggested the disease may have been introduced to Europe from eastern Asia.

Ash trees affected by the disease suffer wilting foliage, crown dieback and bark lesions.

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The disease can kill an infected tree directly as over time necrotic lesions gradually encircle and permanently damage the phloem: (the innermost layer of bark) which is the layer of living tissue that carries organic nutrients to the others parts of the plant, or indirectly by weakening the tree to the point where it becomes more susceptible, and succumbs more readily, to attacks by other pests or pathogens, especially Armillaria fungi or honey fungus.

Minister Creed recently said the spread come despite the positive effects at local level of the eradication actions undertaken to date, both by affected landowners supported by the Reconstitution Scheme or directly by the Department itself.

By June of this year, at a time when the targeted and systematic summer surveys were still underway, the initial results were already such as to confirm the presence to a greater or lesser extent of the disease in all 26 counties.

Another factor is that initially the findings were in imported ash trees. Later the disease was found in native hedgerows beside infected imported ash trees.

However, now the Department is now finding the disease in native hedgerows where there is no obvious introduced source of infection nearby.

Over half the recent findings in forest plantations are in ash trees of native Irish origin.

The Department of Agriculture is actively supporting a number of research projects into disease, in particular projects with a key long-term focus of developing an ash tree breeding programme to identify trees that show strong tolerance and or resistance to the disease and the genetic basis for tolerance.

Minister Creed says that it is through such programmes that a long-term strategy for ash can be identified and supported.
Almost three quarters of international investors say that Ireland is now a less attractive place to invest in than before.

The poll of 224 venture capitalists, bankers and other investors shows that 72pc now view Ireland less favourably as a location for multinationals after the European Commissions 13bn tax ruling against Apple and Ireland.

And just over three in five of the investors asked said that Ireland is no longer the most attractive country in Europe to invest in.

Meanwhile, two thirds also squarely describe Ireland as a tax haven, rejecting the Irish governments claim that Ireland is simply a low tax jurisdiction.

The poll, which was taken at the Web Summits Venture event for investors, comes amid speculation that the UK is to lower its corporate tax rates to compete with Irelands 12.5pc rate.

The international investors also said that regulation and labour laws were the biggest threat to the tech industry, while also citing the collapse of free trade agreements and a global recession as other threats.

However, over two thirds of the investors said that access to talent remained the most important factor when choosing where to locate in Europe.
Dunnes Stores is now Irelands biggest grocery retailer, dramatically snatching the title from SuperValu, according to new data published this morning.

Its the first time in at least a decade that Dunnes Stores  which is headed by siblings Margaret Heffernan and Frank Dunne  has led the multi-billion euro market.

Figures from research group Kantar Worldpanel show that Dunnes Stores had a 22.6pc share of the market during the 12 weeks ended November 6. It pushed SuperValu, the chain controlled by Cork-based retail group Musgrave, into second place, with a 22.4pc share.

Dunnes re-emergence as the countrys top grocery retailer has come at significant expense. The chain has spent tens of millions of euros on its Shop and Save campaign which gives customers 10 off for every 50 they spend.

Growth across a wide range of categories has contributed to the retailers overall sales increase of 6.7pc year-on-year, with toiletries, alcohol, frozen food and confectionery performing particularly well, according to Kantar Worldpanel director David Berry.

Dunnes Stores has been buying food and beverage suppliers, including Cafe Sol and Whelan Food and Meat Processors, to create more upmarket offerings for customers.

Tesco, which was Irelands biggest grocery retailer for years before relinquishing the title to SuperValu in 2015, is now the third-biggest grocery retailer here, with a 21.4pc share.
Independent News & Media (INM) Commercial Director Geoff Lyons has been named in the top 25 of the CMO (chief marketing officer) 100 list.

The list, published in the latest issue of 'Business and Finance' magazine, celebrates the leading industry experts in marketing in Ireland. Mr Lyons places 21st on the list for his work at INM.

The magazine praises the "vast and ever-changing skill set" of those on the list and commends them as being "crucial figures in steering their companies and their communications".
Getting restored to a tracker rate will see repayments coming down by around 330 a month typically. Getty Images

Thousands of homeowners who had their tracker mortgages taken off them by their bank are due to get a Christmas present by being restored to the lower rates.

Central Bank regulators ordered an industry-wide probe of a suspected 10,000 cases across all banks where people lost trackers during the downturn.

Now the first batch of 2,000 Ulster Bank customers is to be written to from next month telling them they are being put back on trackers - and that they are due refunds in the new year.

AIB is also restoring 3,300 customers to tracker rates, and is due to outline details to them in the coming weeks about refunds and compensation.

Refunds of around 20,000 are set to be paid out by AIB, experts said. Compensation amounts of around 3,000 are likely in typical cases.

Bank of Ireland and KBC are also understood to be close to putting people who lost trackers back on the low rates.

Getting restored to a tracker rate will see repayments for those affected coming down by around 330 a month for a typical borrower.

People on tracker rates pay on average 4,000 less a year on a 200,000 mortgage than those on a variable rates.

Many who lost trackers are boom-time borrowers with even bigger mortgages, so the savings will be likely to be 500 a month.

The industry probe came about after Permanent TSB admitted it had unfairly taken away 1,400 of the low-cost mortgages in the summer of 2015.

Ulster Bank is understood to have more than 2,000 customers due to get lower tracker rates.

Some of these took out mortgages with First Active, which has since been integrated into Ulster Bank.

All of those affected will be initially restored to tracker rates.

Early next year Ulster Bank will again write to these customers outlining how much they are due for years of being overcharged on their mortgages, it is understood.

Compensation payments will also be outlined. This is likely to amount to around 15pc of the interest that was overpaid when customers were denied their tracker rate.

The Ulster Bank variable rate is 4.3pc. Most tracker rates at set at around 1pc over the European Central Bank rate - which means an effective rate of 1pc as the ECB rate is 0pc.

Compensation

AIB is also close to writing to some 3,300 homeowners it is restoring to trackers with details of refunds they are due for overpaying, and outlining compensation amounts.

These letters are due to start going out in the next two to three weeks, and include EBS customers.

The bank is set to offer refunds for interest overpayments, compensation of 15pc of the refund, and up to 600 to pay for independent financial advice.

All the banks also have to set up an independent appeals system.

Bank of Ireland is understood to have around 1,800 cases, while KBC has around 1,000 tracker cases, according to Padraic Kissane, who specialises in tracker restoration cases.

AIB, Ulster Bank, KBC and Bank of Ireland would only say they were engaged with the Central Bank on the tracker restoration issue.
There has been a near 50pc increase in the number of cyber attacks reported by Irish law firms in the past year, according to research published today.

Three firms out of every ten have been subject to a cyber attack in the past 12 months, while 38pc of the countrys top 20 firms have been the target of an attack.

However, the scale of the problem may be even worse as it is thought many attacks go unreported.

The data was drawn from a survey of 107 practices in September and October, conducted by Amarach Research for an annual survey of law firms published by accountancy and consulting firm Smith & Williamson.

The names of the firms who took part in the research have not been disclosed, but researches said they included 13 of the top 20 firms in the country, 17 mid-tier firms and 77 small firms.

Over half of the security breaches reported were caused by malware, while 35pc involved ransomware, where hackers block access to computer systems until a sum of money is paid.

The report said cybercrime was on the rise and one of the biggest emerging threats facing the legal profession.

It described cybercrime as a clear and present threat to legal practices in Ireland, warning attacks will occur more frequently.

While data on losses by Irish firms has not been disclosed, the report said British professional indemnity insurer QBE had reported around Stg85m (99m) was stolen from client accounts in the previous 18 months in the UK.

Four out of ten Irish firms who were subjected to a cyber attack suffered down time as a result.

Smaller firms appeared to be more vulnerable to a attacks than larger ones.

Among the top 20 firms, they reported that despite being more likely to be attacked, they had invested in cyber security to the extent where to date such attacks were having little or no impact on their operations.

The Smith & Williamson report said firms needed to be cognisant of the risks of having lax security controls or untrained staff.

It said analysing risks requires a review of outsourcings and contractors as well as evaluating the benefits of a cyber insurance policy.

Law firms present a particularly attractive target for cyber criminals. Firms hold sensitive and potentially valuable data about individuals and corporates and may have significant client account balances on hand, the report said.

Losing client data or funds or having sensitive and confidential information exposed may be the most frightening outcome for a law firm resulting from a cyber attack.

Earlier this year it was reported that law firms were the targets of espionage by hackers who tried to obtain merger and acquisition details in order to facilitate insider trading.

Firms acting in this area are likely to remain at risk from both cybercriminals and nation state attacks.
China's President Xi Jinping waves as he prepares to speak during a session of the APEC CEO Summit. Photo: Getty

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to open the country's economy further as leaders of Asia-Pacific countries sought new free-trade options following Donald Trump's election as US president on promises to scrap or renegotiate trade deals.

All eyes were on China at this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru just over a week after Mr Trump's surprise victory in the United States dashed hopes of the largest-ever US-proposed trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), coming to fruition.

US President Barack Obama has championed the TPP as a way to counter China's rise, but he has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, excluding China. Without US approval, the current agreement cannot be implemented.

Following a meeting with Mr Obama, Mr Xi said Beijing's relationship with Washington was at a "hinge moment" and called for a smooth transition. Mr Xi has been selling an alternate vision for regional trade by promoting the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which as it stands excludes the Americas.

"China will not shut its door to the outside world but open more," Mr Xi said. "We're going to...make sure the fruits of development are shared."

Chinese attendance at the APEC meeting was its largest ever and regional delegates said China would take the lead on trade if the US turned toward protectionism.

The Obama administration has warned that the RCEP would not include strong protections for workers, the environment or intellectual property. (Reuters)
It may be old hack to say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but this is certainly the case with Silent Scream, the debut novel from British crime author Angela Marsons.

The uninspiring jacket and the formulaic plot description on the back were not overly enticing, but two chapters in and I couldn't get enough of this brilliant plot-twisting whodunnit story.

The story kicks off when a headmistress is found strangled in her home in the Black Country area of the English West Midlands.

Detective Inspector Kim Stone, a ballsy copper who won't take no for an answer, is brought in to hunt down the killer and figure out how her death is connected to the discovery of human remains at a former children's home in the area.

When two more equally grisly murders occur, Stone knows she has a serial killer on her hands and that a fire at the children's home 10 years previously holds the answer to the case.

Supported by a number of strong sub-plots - including Stone's gripping personal back story - this tale takes you by the scruff of the neck and doesn't let go until the very last full stop.

While some of the content can be difficult reading, due to the fact that minors are involved, Marsons balances it with well-timed lighter moments.

Marsons's publishers know a good thing when they see it and three more DI Kim Stone novels are already in the pipeline. Hopefully they choose better front covers for these books, as this author absolutely deserves to be read.

Your blood pressure, on the other hand, may not thank you for it.
Last week at the Dublin Book Festival, we launched Orange Horses by Maeve Kelly as part of our Recovered Voices series. Broadcaster and writer Sinead Gleeson spoke about the collection to the assembled crowd of Maeve's family, friends, supporters and interested new readers.

In his introduction to the new edition, Simon Workman had described how, in the book's reviews first time around, critics had waived away Kelly's nuanced treatment of marginalised women, by saying she 'does pile it on'.

To further underscore Simon's point that this was reductive and plain wrong, Sinead read the opening lines from the title story:

Elsie Martin's husband beat her unconscious because she called him twice for dinner while he was talking to his brother. To be fair, she did not simply call him. She blew the horn of the Hiace van to summon him.

Later in the pub, a friend said to me: ''Raymond Carver would kill for an opening line like that.''

That's more like it. Why isn't that the received wisdom around this exceptional writer? It's hard to know for sure, but could dismissive reviews like the ones mentioned in Simon's introduction have undermined the ability of this book to reach a wider readership?

Certainly at a time when Kelly's contemporaries were almost all male, and she was writing about challenging topics, the book needed more than polite, dismissive readings, but deserved to be celebrated as an important point in Irish literature.

Every year, Tramp Press chooses one title to republish as part of our Recovered Voices series and asks similar questions. We believe in finding great books that for one reason or another have fallen from public awareness and deserve to be revisited, presented again to a new generation of readers.

Previous titles have been Charlotte Riddell's A Struggle for Fame and Dorothy Macardle's The Uninvited, titles that readers have found funny, surprising, relevant and important.

We're especially excited to publish Kelly's Orange Horses with an introduction contextualising her writing and activism for a new generation of readers.

This is an exciting collection of stories by an author who just this year had her collected poems published by Arlen House. Kelly is a dynamic and vital author, and it's astonishing that she's not a household name.

Orange Horses is a brilliant collection of stories that should be taught on any Irish writing course as a counterpart to James Joyce's Dubliners. They're by turns funny, sad, angry, challenging, experimental and traditional. For instance, the title story is a devastating account of domestic abuse in Ireland, told from the perspective of Elsie in ostensibly traditional narrative (but check out that ending).

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Kelly goes after pillars of the community, suffocating propriety, and hypocrisy in a way that is still razor-sharp. The multitude of voices in Orange Horses represent a complex and brilliant weaving of a secret history of Irish women from an author capable of profound empathy and scathing imagination. There is no 'piling on', only brave and beautiful craftsmanship.
"Waterford's favourite broadcaster" Billy McCarthy has died aged 62 after a short illness.

Mr McCarthy died following a "short illness," local station WLR FM announced on Sunday.

He first presented The Good News Programme on Saturday mornings when WLR was a pirate station from 1983 to 1988, and went on to be the programme director of the station from 1989 to 2014.

In 2003 Mr McCarthy won a PPI Radio Award for Best Current Affairs Programme. His Deise AM programme has been the most listened to radio show in Waterford for the last 27 years.

Managing director Des Whelan said: "Billy was a much loved friend and colleague of all of us here at WLR FM. His untimely death is a huge loss not just to our listeners but to all of us who had the fortune to work with him for many years."

"Billy and I first met when we were teenagers, even at that young age he was always listening to music and practising how to be a radio presenter.

"He was very proud to have the opportunity to be a part of RTEs schedule when the national stations community service first started broadcasting in Waterford in the 1970s."

"Billys friends and colleagues at WLR FM and everyone at the Broadcast Centre are all shocked & deeply saddened by his passing and extend their sincere sympathies to his partner Des OKeeffe, his mother Kay, his sister Celine, brothers Declan and Ronan and his extended family, relatives and many friends.

"To his listenership, for whom to many, Billy was an integral part of their daily lives."

RTE presenter Will Leahy paid tribute to Mr McCarthy on Twitter: "Great sympathies to the listeners and staff of WLR FM on the loss of Billy McCarthy. Every morning since 1989 - few have such an achievement."

RTE producer Alan Swan also paid tribute, saying: "Local radio loses one of the greats."

Journalist Zara King said on Twitter that she was "heartbroken" by the news.

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"The on-air light goes out for a final time. Billy McCarthy has died. A dear friend of mine, heartbroken. Waterford is a much quieter place."
The portraits, painted in oils, feature revolutionaries such as James Connolly, the Countess Markievicz and Thomas MacDonagh

They were specially commissioned by the Irish Independent to commemorate the 1916 Rising. Now, a series of portraits of revolutionaries will go on display in a striking exhibition.

The portraits, painted by Jon Berkeley, were designed as cover images for the Irish Independent 1916 Collection, a 10-part supplement series published in partnership with UCD and Ireland 2016.

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Mr Berkeley, who has been featured in publications such as the 'Washington Post', 'Time' and 'The Economist', says he was excited to get involved with the project.

"I jumped at the chance because I know there was a bit of hoopla about the centenary in Ireland, and living in Spain, this was a chance for me to plug in to it," he said. "For me, the whole thing surrounding the centenary was fascinating."

Mr Berkeley said the portraits received a positive reaction in Spain as well. "I exhibited some of them here in Spain while I was working on them, and there was a surprising amount of interest from people who didn't really know much about the history," he said.

"It was part of an Irish festival that goes on here every year, the Irish Catalan festival, and it got quite a bit of interest."

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The portraits, painted in oils, feature revolutionaries such as James Connolly, the Countess Markievicz and Thomas MacDonagh.

The exhibition at the Lexicon library in Dun Laoghaire will be opened tomorrow by Laureate na nOg PJ Lynch and will run until January.

"The collection itself will be available for sale and we're waiting to see whether it'll find a permanent home," Mr Berkeley said.
A Garda at the scene of the killing in Tipperary. Photo: Frank McGrath

A woman is being questioned by gardai after a Lithuanian national was stabbed to death in Tipperary.

The man, in his early 40s, was discovered with knife wounds at a flat in The Maltings complex in Roscrea.

The grim discovery was made shortly after 2.30am yesterday when the alarm was raised and Roscrea gardai attended the scene.

A woman in her mid-40s, who is understood to be originally from Latvia, was arrested at the scene at 2.30am.

She is currently being questioned at Nenagh garda station.

The woman, who was known to the deceased, can be questioned for an initial period of 12 hours.

Gardai said that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing, at this stage.

All six apartments at The Maltings are built around a central courtyard just metres from the town centre.

Desperate efforts by paramedics and a local GP to help the man, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body remained at the scene until a preliminary examination was carried out by an official from the State Pathologist's Office.

The remains were then removed to University Hospital Limerick where a full post-mortem examination was scheduled to be carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.

The area was sealed off pending a full examination by experts from the Garda Technical Bureau.

Gardai carried out door-to-door inquiries and were last night searching for the weapon used in the stabbing.

The man is understood to have been in Ireland for the past eight years.

However, while he had a Roscrea address, he is understood to have been living and working in Dublin.

He was socialising at The Maltings complex on Saturday night.

Councillor Michael Smith said the area was stunned.

"It is a very quiet place just a few metres from the church," he said.

"There is sheltered housing there and it probably ranks as the quietest part of the town."
A murder accused who stabbed a man four times during a row outside a chip shop said he only wanted to frighten the deceased who he claimed had attacked him first.

Donal Colgan (65), of Killarney Court, Killarney St, Dublin 1 has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Sheridan (45), outside Luigi's chip shop on the Capital's North Strand Road on August 17, 2014.

The accused today gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court, telling defence counsel Patrick Marrinan SC that he "lost it" after being attacked by Mr Sheridan and another man Gary Kinlan. He said he wanted to frighten them and picked up the first weapon he could find.

Going into his background, he said he had a difficult childhood. He disliked school after being beaten by the Christian Brothers and his father was a heavy drinker.

He left Ireland aged 15 to live in London, but could not find work and ended up on the streets. Some older men found him and brought him to a British Army barracks.

He enlisted and ended up doing tours of Northern Ireland and Libya, where he was injured in an explosion. He returned to Ireland, got married and had four children, one of whom has since died. His marriage broke up and he has been taking pills for depression ever since. He said he regularly suffers panic attacks.

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On August 17, 2014, the self-described loner said he was on his way home after drinking about ten pints of cider in the Sunset House when he decided to go to Luigi's for a bag of chips.

Inside the chip shop he said there were "angry words" between some of the younger customers and he told one of them to go home because he had drunk too much. He said Mr Sheridan, who was with another man named Gary Kinlan, then said something so he turned and said: "Leave it out you lads, there is after being enough trouble today."

He said he thought that was the end of it but as he walked out of the shop minutes later, bag of chips in hand, Mr Kinlan said to him: "Who are you looking at?" He replied: "What's your problem?" or "What's up with you?"

Mr Colgan said Mr Kinlan then punched him five or six times in the face before David Sheridan emerged from the chip shop and kicked him a number of times. He said he fell to the ground when Mr Kinlan hit him with a bag of cans.

When Mr Colgan got away he said he was "raging". "I lost everything and I felt humiliated," he said. "Here I am, 60 odd years of age, getting attacked by two fellas." He said he had tried to defend himself but his attackers were too young and fast for him. "I couldn't even beat one of them, never mind two," he said.

He went home, thinking about what had happened, and when he got home he looked for a weapon. "If there had been a hurley stick there I would have picked it up," he said. Instead, he saw a knife and picked that up.

He told Mr Marrinan that he wanted to send a message that "you won't do this to me. I live here and I have to walk these streets." He said he wanted to frighten them.

As he approached the chip shop he said he began to calm down and asked himself "what am I doing?" But when he arrived at Luigi's he said Mr Sheridan attacked him again and he hit out with the knife.

"I don't remember much of what happened after that," he said. Mr Colgan agreed that he returned home, went to bed and got up the next morning at 6am to go to work.

He next heard about the stabbing on the one o'clock news and that evening he went back to the Sunset House, where people were talking about the stabbing. "I did not think I was after doing much damage," he said, but as the day went on "slowly it came back to me about the fight and the argument at Luigi's."

He was arrested the following morning on his way to work. He said he is "disgusted" with what happened. "That was never my intention to do that," he said, adding that he has thought of the stabbing every day.

Speaking to prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC, he agreed that he had lied to gardai when they arrested him, telling them he had nothing to do with the stabbing and that he had not gone to Luigi's.

He also agreed that CCTV footage from inside Luigi's appeared to show Mr Sheridan backing away moments before the knife attack. "It looks like that alright," he replied.

Mr Burns said that the accused is seen following Mr Sheridan, chasing him around a car parked in front of the chipper. Mr Colgan replied: "It looks like that."

He said that he never intended to use the knife, adding: "All I knew was I just wanted to frighten him off."

The trial continues tomorrow in front of Justice Carmel Stewart at and a jury of nine men and three women.
Three people have pleaded guilty to possession of a deadly synthetic drug, nicknamed 'N Bomb', following a Garda investigation into the tragic death of a Cork teen.

Alex Ryan (18) of Liscahane, Millstreet, Co Cork, got sick at a house party at St Patricks Terrace, Green Street, Cork, on January 19 last.

He was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) but died four days later on January 23.

Three people have now pleaded guilty to drugs offences before Cork Circuit Criminal in relation to the Garda investigation launched following Mr Ryan's death.

Harry Clifton (29) of St Finbarr's Place, Proby's Quay, Cork pleaded guilty to four charges.

These included having drugs in his possession for sale or supply on January 18 last.

The charges, all brought contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act, involve drugs including N Bomb, DMT, MDMA and cannabis.

Jessica O'Connor (20) of Rosebank House, Ballyhar, Killarney, Co Kerry pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiring with another to possess a controlled drug, namely N Bomb, for sale or supply in Cork city on January 18 last.

Ruairi Maher (22) of Ballycurrane, Thurles, Co Tipperary previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with another to handle drugs, namely N Bomb, for sale or supply.

Last June, a Cork Coroners Court inquest into the death of Mr Ryan heard from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster that he died from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to cardiac arrest after ingesting a psychedelic drug.

Judge Sean O'Donnabhain remanded on three on continuing bail for sentencing on Wednesday (November 23).
The trial of two sons of the late billionaire hotel boss Jim Mansfield who are facing ammunition charges has been delayed because of the unavailability of witnesses.

Jim Mansfield Jnr and Patrick James Mansfield, both accused of possession of ammunition at their homes, had their cases put back until tomorrow when they appeared in Dublin District Court.

Judge Ann Ryan granted the adjournment after the accuseds lawyer said witnesses were unable to attend, while search photographs and a garda interview video also needed to be examined before the case could begin.

The judge said the trial would be ready to roll tomorrow morning.

Jim Mansfield Jr (49) was charged with having 180 rounds of .22 Walther ammunition without a firearms licence at his home at Tassagart House in Saggart on January 29, 2015.

His brother PJ Mansfield (38) is accused of possession of 1,252 rounds of Walther ammunition without a firearms licence at his former home at Coldwater Lakes in Saggart.

They are both pleading not guilty to the charges.

The accused - who wore dark suits and did not address the court - are sons of Jim Mansfield Snr, who passed away in January 2014.

He was the businessman behind the Citywest Hotel, Weston Airport and a number of other high-profile ventures. Several of these other businesses collapsed in the recession.

Tony McGillicuddy BL, for the prosecution, said the cases were due to take two days but a number of matters had arisen which prevented them beginning today.

He said the good news was that certain witnesses and matters had been agreed between the prosecution and the defence.

However, there were prosecution witnesses who would be unavailable until this later today, when two defence witnesses would be absent.

Mr McGillicuddy said he also wanted to see all photographs taken by the gardai in the course of the searches of the two addresses.

In addition, he said he had not been able to deal with the video of Patrick Mansfields garda interview.

Garrett McCormack BL, for the prosecution, said his concern was that the trial would not finish in one day even if the number of witnesses was whittled down.

Mr McCormack said he could not guarantee both defendants cases would be finished in one day but he believed that one case would be.

Judge Ryan said if there was a spill over of the trial into a second day, it would probably be Christmas before she would be able to hear it.

She adjourned the trial to tomorrow.

Previously, defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury said her clients would say they both had a firearms licence and the licences were cancelled by gardai without notifying them.
A woman, who claimed she had been accused of stealing money dropped by another customer in a Co Dublin filling station, claimed damages for defamation and negligence totalling 88,000, the Circuit Civil Court heard today.

Silifat Gbolahan sued Topaz Energy Limited, which runs the Swords Petrol Filling Station and Shop alleging that an accusation had been levelled at her when she dropped two 20 notes at the check-out till in the store.

Gbolahan, of Lioscian, Swords, told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that when she went to pay for petrol a member of staff shouted: Dont take her money. Its not hers. It belongs to the man who has just left.

She told her barrister Joseph OConnor that she had gone to an ATM in the store and had taken out money to pay for a purchase of petrol. At the counter she dropped her money and bent down to lift it, offering it to the sales assistant.

Ms Gbolahan said that when she presented the money for payment a member of staff shouted the defamatory words to a colleague at the till.

The member of staff involved told Mr OConnor, who appeared with Sean Costello Solicitors for Ms Gbolahan, that there had been a conflict in the shop over whose money it was after Ms Gbolahan had lifted it off the floor. She had genuinely thought it was the mans money.

Ms Gbolahan told barrister Andrew Walker, counsel for Topaz Energy, that she had walked outside and phoned her husband who was in Nigeria. Her husband had spoken to the shop manager on Ms Gbolahans phone and told her his wife would be going to see her solicitor.

Mr Groarke, said the issue in the case was whether or not the words allegedly spoken about Ms Gbolahan were in fact spoken in public.

He said he accepted Ms Gbolahans account that the words: Dont take her money. Its not hers. It belongs to the man who has just left, had been spoken in a loud voice.

He awarded Ms Gbolahan 5,000 damages.
John Gilligan cutting trees at his home on the Jessbrook Complex. Photo: Sunday World

Convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan is hiding out in the house that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) soon hopes to take from him.

The man whose gang killed journalist Veronica Guerin 20 years ago has been spotted at the bungalow beside the former Jessbrook equestrian centre, which CAB has already seized and sold.

Gilligan is now on the run from assassins who have twice tried to kill him since his release from jail in October 2013 after serving 17 years for drug trafficking.

On December 5 that year, Gilligan was targeted by a man who ran into the Halfway House pub on the Navan Road, Dublin, with a gun, intent on killing him.

But Gilligan was not in the pub when the would-be assassin struck.

Then on March 1, 2014, a gunman who burst through the front door of a relative's house at Greenfort Crescent in Clondalkin, Dublin, shot him several times as he tried to escape.

He suffered a broken hip, abdominal injuries, a shot to the leg and a graze to the head in the attack, but survived.

Gilligan fled to the UK weeks later after discharging himself from hospital, but now he has been spotted cutting back trees and shrubs at the Kildare bungalow where he and his wife Geraldine based themselves before planning their equestrian empire.

Along with his son Darren, Gilligan tore down trees and shrubbery and used a chainsaw to cut back branches covering the view over the rolling fields from the back of his family home in the townland of Mucklon in Enfield.

Wearing an old tracksuit and a tattered brown leather jacket, Gilligan seemed at ease despite the threats to his life.

The Supreme Court decision on the last of Gilligan's assets could see the family out of Jessbrook within weeks.

CAB officers remain confident that the court will rule in their favour.

If they are successful the court will remove the final obstacle to selling the criminal's three remaining properties - the bungalow at Jessbrook, the Gilligans' former home at Corduff Avenue in Blanchardstown in Dublin, and a house at Willsbrook View in Lucan in Dublin - leaving them homeless in Ireland.

The Gilligans have spent 20 years challenging the sale of their properties, and were granted free legal to do so.

During one High Court hearing, Gilligan said that his wealth was as a result of the luck he had as a professional gambler and doing odd jobs.
'You cant build your way out of the problem. Theres no area with a congestion problem that doesnt need a public transport solution'. Photo: Collins

Traffic volumes on main roads into our major towns and cities have risen by more than 10pc in some areas in just one year.

The number of cars, trucks, buses and motorcyclists using routes into built-up areas is up more than 15,500 year-on-year, or 3.4pc, fuelling concerns about a return to boom-time congestion levels.

The figures, which were compiled by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) which operates the national road network, show that traffic volumes heading into Galway city are up by almost 2,000 vehicles a day, up 10.4pc.

Since 2013, numbers are up more than 26pc - adding an additional 4,500 vehicles to roads.

The data is based on volumes recorded on the first Wednesday of October for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

It shows that in 2013, just over 403,000 vehicles were recorded using routes into Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the towns of Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Sligo and Letterkenny.

On the same day in 2016, the number had swelled by almost 58,000 - up 14.3pc.

Figures for 2015 and 2016 show that volumes increased from 445,500 to 461,000, a rise of 15,595.

The figures will put pressure on the Government to begin tackling traffic volumes on our main roads. They come after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned in recent weeks that traffic causes air pollution issues in built-up areas, with pollution responsible for as many as 1,200 premature deaths every year.

Ireland is required to reduce transport emissions, which account for 21pc of our national total, to meet international obligations to tackle climate change.

Read more: Calls to treble road investment as M50 traffic problems now at 'breaking point'

Read more: Monday interview: We are under-investing in our roads by 120m a year - TII chief

However, the EPA has warned that increased traffic volumes which arise as economic growth resumes will make achieving these targets difficult.

We are expected to miss EU 2020 targets, which could result in fines being imposed.

Chief executive of TII, Michael Nolan, told the Irish Independent that provision of a good public transport system was required to tackle congestion levels and that new roads weren't the solution.

However, he said that parts of the national network needed upgrading, and some works were being completed in Cork, Dublin and other areas to improve traffic flows.

"The population is growing, and the economy is growing. We haven't finished the job we set out to do," he said.

"There's gaps in the network. There's bottlenecks on the network, and congestion in urban areas. You can't build your way out of the problem.

"In Cork, we will solve some of the congestion with the Dunkettle interchange but you need other roads around Cork and you need public transport.

"There's no area with a congestion problem that doesn't need a public transport solution," he said.

The congestion levels are so bad in Dublin and Cork that the morning peak now begins an hour earlier, at 7am, as motorists leave home earlier in a bid to beat the traffic.

The figures show that the sharpest rise in traffic volumes year-on-year in our cities is on the main road into Galway, where numbers are up 10.4pc.

It is followed by Limerick, up 5.6pc, Dublin (up 4.2pc), Cork (up 3.6pc) and Waterford (up 3.5pc).

In the towns, growth is more modest and volumes actually fell year-on-year in Mullingar and Sligo.

The sharpest rise in towns was in Athlone, up 5.5pc, followed by Portlaoise (up 4.9pc) with only modest increases in Letterkenny, up by 159 vehicles a day to 20,362, an increase of less than 1pc.
Transport Minister Shane Ross has been slapped down by the country's leading judge in the row over reform of judicial appointments.

Chief Justice Susan Denham said the attitude of the judiciary to reform how they are appointed has been misrepresented.

The comments are believed to be a reference to remarks by Mr Ross, who said last week he believed there would be resistance from judges to a bill that would radically reform the appointments process.

Speaking at the National Judges Conference at the weekend, Ms Justice Denham said it was a fundamental principle that each of the "great organs of State owes respect to the other".

"Inaccurate discussion and misrepresentation of the position of the judiciary has been a feature of recent public discourse," she said.

"Amongst other factors, it is surprising that it has been stated that the judiciary are fighting change, when the opposite is the case.

"The judiciary have been advocating change, but it has not yet been advanced."

Ms Justice Denham said the judiciary had been asking for change for years and in 2014 made a submission to the Justice Department seeking a "merit-based" appointments process.

She said representatives of the judiciary met Mr Ross and Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald last week.

The delegation was led by Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell of the Supreme Court.

"At this meeting minsters and officials were reminded of the long and ongoing efforts of the judiciary on the need for reform in the areas of judicial appointments and a judicial council," said Ms Justice Denham.

Ms Justice Denham also said Irish judges had backed a Europe-wide judicial network declaration in 2012, which stated the recruitment system should be independent of political influence, fair, and transparent in its selection procedure.
The Policing Authority is set to quiz Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan over her alleged use of a private email account for work purposes.

The authority, which is due to meet with Ms OSullivan on Thursday, has said it is aware of media reports about the Commissioners email usage.

The use of a private account is prohibited for gardai due to security fears.

It has been reported that a cloud storage account connected to her private email address had been attacked by hackers four years ago.

However, An Garda Siochana has insisted that her account was not compromised.

A spokesperson for the Policing Authority told independent.ie they are not in position to comment as they have not yet received any information on the issue from Gardai.

But they added: We will follow this up with the Garda Siochana and brief ourselves during the course of the week.
The ferry docking after being stranded for more than 24 hours

Bleary-eyed passengers from the Stena Europe arrived at Fishguard Harbour just before 11am on Tuesday morning following a 27.5 hour sea crossing in storm-lashed seas.

Mountainous waves meant that the ferry, which had left Rosslare at 9am the previous morning with 87 passengers and 59 crew aboard was unable to dock in Fishguard and was instead forced to take a northerly route to ride out the storm.

Ship tarcking website @MarineTraffic shows Rosslare-Fishguard ferry Stena Europe off the Gwynedd coast rather than in port Stormy weather!! pic.twitter.com/NA8T7oROxb  Eryl Crump (@DP_eryl) November 21, 2016

And passengers disembarking at Fishguard spoke of their relief that their rough passage was finally over.

I was told this was only the third time the ferry has been unable to dock in twenty years, Andrew Neads, a 52-year-old sheet metal worker returning home to Caerphilly, told the County Echo.

I'm not a good traveller anyway so I took a bunk over and a bunk back  it was just a case of getting my head down and making the best of it.

We were offered a free breakfast and free evening meal and the Stena crew looked after us very well.

Passengers stuck on Stena ferry overnight due to bad weather. Can't dock. Was due at Fishguard from Rosslare at 12:30. Photo - Lesley Hughes pic.twitter.com/3gFYbD2L93  Barra Best (@barrabest) November 21, 2016

Yes, it was quite rough and people were getting frustrated but I think that was more through worrying about taking another day off work.

Anne Tomlinson, of Romford, who had travelled over to Ireland for a family party with her husband, Mike, questioned the decision to sail from Rosslare.

When we arrived at Rosslare the sea looked pretty rough and we expected the crossing to be called off, she said.

Instead I think the captain must have decided there was a window of opportunity  he went for it and we ended up being stuck out at sea for 27 bloody hours.

The crew were great, though, even though the crossing was awful. Although some people got a bit angry most of us seemed to accept everyone was in the same boat  if you'll pardon the pun.

We were so close to docking in Fishguard on Monday afternoon we could actually see the white buildings in the port, but then the captain announced he was going to have to abort because of the conditions.

It was a case of so near and yet so far.

Anne Burke (59) of New Ross, had been travelling to see her two-week-old grandson in Bridgend.

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I'd rung Rosslare the night before and was told the crossing would be fine, she said. As it turned out, the weather was horrendous.

Her views were echoed by Catrina O'Regan, a 25-year-old student from Cork City who was travelling back to her digs in Gorslas, near Swansea.

It was horrific, she said. I've been travelling since 4am on Sunday and I'm totally exhausted having not slept for 27 hours.

This was my first time aboard a ferry and I'll certainly not be doing it again in a hurry.

But the crew were amazing  they did everything they could for us, to be honest.

Michael Lawrence, a 45-year-old crane driver originally from Co Mayo who was returning to his home in Bristol, said the Stena crew made one big mistake.

They closed the bar at 9pm, he complained. If someone is suffering from nerves they obviously need a drink or two.

Yes, there was plenty of tea and coffee on offer but an Irishman such as myself needs something a bit stronger than that.

I rang the wife back home to tell there was a huge party on board - sadly that wasn't the case.

His eleven-year-old son John-Boy said: I was pretty sick out there and my tummy still doesn't feel right now, I don't know when I'll feel like food again.

However, while some passengers admitted to being somewhat shaken, Giles Fitzherbert, a retired diplomat from Co Wexford, was unstirred.

Mr Fitzherbert (81) who reckoned he was the oldest passenger on board, said he made light of the conditions as he looked forward to visiting family in Oxford.

I have been travelling for a very long time and  compared with some of my experiences  this crossing was quite smooth, believe me, he insisted.

I just wish my grandchildren had been with me because they'd have enjoyed the excitement. It wasn't traumatic  we were actually quite comfortable.

Arriving a day late is just a little inconvenience  having said that, I now need a train to Oxford and there's currently absolutely no sign of it.

A statement from Stena Line says:"The health and safety of passengers and crew is of paramount importance to Stena Line, therefore we spent a comfortable night onboard sheltering at Cardigan Bay. We are sailing south now and as soon as berthing parameters are safe we aim to have our passengers on their way by 11:00hrs this morning."

The Stena Line service left Wexford at 9am on Monday and was due to arrive in the Welsh port at 12.30pm.

It failed to reach the port and another attempt to dock at 3.30pm was also unsuccessful.

Diane Poole, Head of PR and Communications for Stena Line praised the passengers for remaining in high spirts while on board.

"They are actually in great spirits, considering they have spent almost 24 hours on board. They are very relaxed but obviously anxious to get home or get to the destination they are going to."

The ferry spent the night at sea, about six kilometres off-shore and had 87 passengers and 59 crew on board.

A spokesperson from Stena Line said "extreme weather conditions" meant they were unable to dock.

"The health and safety of passengers and crew is of paramount importance to Stena Line, therefore the passengers will remain onboard overnight and a second attempt at docking will take place at midday tomorrow (Tuesday)."

Dublin to Holyhead crossings are running as normal today.

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow warning for all Irish coastal waters, with strong gales expected on the Irish Sea.

The cold and windy weather looks set to continue throughout the morning but soon clearing to give a bright day.

Meanwhile, in the UK, more than 75 flood warnings were put in place across the South West, the Midlands, North East, North West, Wales and the East of England on Monday evening, with a further 207 flood alerts issued across England and Wales.

Storm Angus wreaked havoc across the country, with schools and roads across being forced to close and a number of homes and cars submerged in water.
The daughter of a woman murdered 11 years ago has issued an emotional appeal for help finding her mothers killer.

Irene White (43) was stabbed to death at her home Dundalk, Co Louth on April 6, 2005.

Nobody has been charged in connection with the brutal murder and now her daughter Jennifer, who was just 17 at the time, has spoken about life without her beloved mother.

Speaking to Keelin Shanley on tonight's edition of Crimecall, Jennifer describes Irene as a devoted mother, who lived for her lived for her kids.

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Her kids were everything , so she devoted all her time and energy to all of us.

Jennifer recalls the day she found out about Irenes death and how she was told in her school principals office by Gardai.

At that stage it didnt sink in. We had to drive passed my house and thats when I saw the tape and all the Gardai. But it wasnt until I saw my nanny. She was in an awful state. And thats when I knew, that it was real.

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Asked what she misses most about her mother Jennifer responds: I miss everything.. there is a big hole in my heart and nothing will ever fill it. There is a piece of me died that day.

Irene lived in a house known as Ice House which was situated right beside a local park called Ice House Hill Park.

The morning of her murder Irene left her home shortly before 9am and dropped her three children off to school. She then returned to her home where she began washing up after the breakfast.

Her mother, who lived at the back of the property called into Irene around the same time every day. This day she called to the house at 12.30pm where she found Irene laying dead in the kitchen.

Jennifer makes an emotional plea for help solving the nightmare case

If anyone knows anything, no matter how big or small, please come forward. Any little thing could make all the difference, so please just come forward with information you have.

I just want her to rest in peace. Some closure, some answers, thats all I want, thats all anyone wants.

I want her life to have meant something, I want her to rest in peace..some closure, thats all I want.. its all anyone wants.

Detective Bobby Ogle from Dundalk recounts witness reports of a man seen running across Ice House Hill Park near Irenes home at around 9.20am morning.

Crimecall, presented by Keelin Shanley, at 9.35pm on RTE One on Monday, November 21
The Irish Coast Guard has issued a warning to all members of the public to be careful this evening as storms batter the eastern coast.

Current stormy conditions are causing very strong north and north easterly winds.

In a video, released by the Howth Coast Guard this evening, waves can be seen battering against the North Dublin beach.

On Monday at 2pm, three hours before high tide, the Coast Guard unit was requested to assist on the East Pier in Howth.

Members of the public were advised to avoid walking the pier as waves were crashing over the pier presenting the risk of washing someone off the pier.

Members kept watch until 7pm this evening and are monitoring the storm's development.

A spokesperson said: "We advise people to monitor Met Eireann's website www.met.ie."

A status yellow weather warning is currently in place across the country while a status orange warning is in effect in marine areas.
Independent Alliance TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran has broken ranks to become the first Government TD to call for early talks on public sector pay.

The Longford/Westmeath TD, who will become a minister next year, has told the Irish Independent: "The cards have to be put on the table. For eight long years people have suffered. This is not going to go away and the only way this can work is dialogue."

The move is likely to heighten pressure on Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and cause tension within the Alliance, which collectively agreed to stick with the official Government line that the timelines attached to the Lansdowne Road Agreement cannot be changed.

"I believe myself it'll have to take place early next year," Mr Moran said.

"If we're honest with ourselves as politicians and look at all the unrest that's out there we have to start."

He criticised union leaders for "threatening" industrial action unless a start-date for pay talks are announced because "they understand that the money is not there".

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"But likewise we can't have members of Government throwing back threats to them such as if we give in, other services will suffer," he said.

Mr Moran said the public know that negotiations will have to take place so "there's no use going to wire and then starting".

"I'm talking about private sector pay as well and community-voluntary.

"It's not just one sector we have to look at. We have to bring everybody together and the only way to do that is dialogue," he said.

However, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar insisted that the Government must remain firm in their stance that the Lansdowne Road Agreement on pay restoration is sacrosanct.

Read more: There isnt new money magically available to spend  Simon Harris on public sector pay

Read more: Fine Gael's clash with the 'beards' in the public sector

"I don't think doctors or nurses want pay increases at the expense of services. I think the first thing they want us to do is not repeat the mistakes of the past.

"We don't want to lose control of public spending again."

Mr Varadkar added that tax reductions were the best way to share out the proceeds of the economic recovery to everybody.
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar would welcome the United States vice president-elect Mike Pence to Ireland so he could tell him his story of coming out as a gay man.

Mr Pence, who will be Donald Trump's number two in the White House, has said he would support the use of federal money to treat gay people "seeking to change their sexual behaviour".

Taoiseach Enda Kenny faced heavy criticism in recent days for inviting Mr Pence to Ireland, during a 15-minute phonecall.

The incoming vice-president's grandfather Richard Cawley left Ireland in 1923 for Chicago, where he became a bus driver.

But Mr Varadkar has defended the Government's friendly approach to the controversial new American administration.

"The right approach, I think, with anyone is to respect their religion, respect their values and engage with them. That's how you win over minds and soften hearts," he said.

"When it comes to Mike Pence, I'd like him to come to Ireland. I'd personally like to meet him. I'd love to tell him my story, but more importantly I'd love to tell him the story of our country," he told RTE radio.
A businessman who died in a farming accident has been remembered as someone who was "always smiling".

The victim of Ireland's latest farm death was named locally as Mick Lambert, from Ardnaboy, Co Carlow.

Gardai attended the scene at his home at Ardnaboy, Hacketstown, just after 4pm on Saturday following the incident.

Mr Lambert is believed to have been injured working in a trench on his land when the sides caved in on top of him.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

He is survived by his wife Catherine, with whom he ran Lambert's Hardware shop in Hacketstown, as well as five brothers and five sisters. He was also pre-deceased by one brother and two sisters.

The popular store owner received tributes online from family members and a number of local groups.

His nephew Eoin Brady described him as "a man that was always smiling, laughing or joking" who will be "sadly missed".

Mick was well known in local GAA circles, his club Kiltegan GAA Club posted a tribute on their Facebook page.

It read: "Every tradesman, farmer and person who has done DIY across most of Carlow and Wicklow will have come across Mick.

"He was a true gentleman and always enjoyed the haggle. He'll be missed."

Rathdangan Community Council said: "He certainly will always be remembered as a thorough gentleman and we would like to express our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this time on their very sad loss."

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on his body and the Health and Safety Authority and gardai are investigating. His wife Catherine is being comforted by family and friends. Funeral arrangements had not been finalised last night.
Gardai have arrested two men in connection with the murder of Neil Fitzgerald in Tallaght in June 5.

The two men aged 29 and 52 were arrested on Monday.

They are currently detained at Tallaght Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 as amended.

Six people have now been arrested in connection with this investigation.

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Neil Fitzgerald (36), who was a key lieutenant in the Rattigan gang, was shot dead in a remote location in Tallaght.

His body was found by a passer-by in the Hills Lane area of the Dublin suburb.
In many ways St John "Singe" Greene has led a charmed life. At 19 he met and fell in love with his future wife Kate, who was then 14. The couple spent 10 years together travelling the globe and having adventures before getting married and settling down with their two sons.

Skip forward another 10 years and Singe "an unknown, from a little tiny town in North Somerset", as he describes himself is the best-selling author of Mum's List, which came out in 2012.

The film adaptation, starring Rafe Spall and Emilia Fox, opens this week in cinemas.

Singe, as he prefers to be called, is still trying to take it all in. "I was rubbish at English in school," the author tells me. "I was told I should stick to maths and now I have a book that's been translated into 22 different languages!" Singe laughs before continuing: "Mum's List is a phenomenon that took everyone by surprise."

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Both the book and the film detail the time in Singe's life when his luck ran out. When his eldest son Reef (so named because he was conceived in Tenerife) was 18 months old he was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer and given only a 6pc chance of surviving. His wife Kate was so shocked when hearing this awful news that she gave birth to their second son Finn seven weeks early. For a few weeks after Finn's birth the couple had two babies in two different hospitals at either ends of Bristol. (There's a scene in the film where Singe talks about his eldest son's cancer and for those of us lucky enough to have no experience of paediatric cancer it's shocking.)

Singe is a lively and funny storyteller but when he recalls watching the New Year fireworks from the stairwell of Reef's hospital, he becomes audibly sad.

Finn had been released from hospital and the four of them were in the stairwell welcoming in the New Year. "Kate and I looked at each other," Singe tells me, "and said if only we could swap places. We didn't realise someone was listening". In less than a year Kate was diagnosed with breast cancer.

While Reef beat the odds and survived, Kate was not so lucky and died in 2010. When she realised she wasn't going to be around for her small sons she compiled a list of 100 things for the family to do so she could continue to be a part of their lives after she had gone. The list was published as part as Kate's obituary in the family's local paper, and from there Singe was contacted to ask if he would think about turning their story into a book.

Initially, Singe was driven by the fact that his boys were so young (five and six) when their mother died. "Kate was an amazing woman, an amazing partner and an amazing mum and they wouldn't remember that," he tells me. "That was really sad and also my history with Kate was a lot older than theirs and if anything happened to me then they'd have lost all of that as well."

Working with writer Rachel Murphy, Mum's List took a year to write. Singe was happy that he had done what he'd set out to achieve. "I thought," he tells me in his distinctive West Country accent, "that's really cool. The boys will have a book to remind them of their mum".

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What happened next took both Singe and Murphy by surprise. There was so much interest in the book that it was eventually sold to a publisher after a hotly-contested auction.

As Singe tells me how the book rapidly climbed the best-seller list you can hear the incredulity in his voice. "It went to number one," he says, before adding, "when I say that, even now, I have a giggle, I can't believe it."

During our conversation the writer uses the word "surreal" a lot. Seeing his life on screen was "surreal", going to New York to give a talk to a room of 400 people and get a standing ovation "surreal", having Rafe Spall ("I mean he's Rafe Spall!) call him at home on a Sunday afternoon is "surreal". He cannot get over the fact that Jamie Dornan ("the 50 Shades guy!") is tweeting about the film and has said he's going to buy the book.

Both Spall and Fox give extraordinary performances as the couple. This isn't just a weepie it's a full two-packet of tissues tsunami of tears. I blubbed from the start and didn't stop (and, honestly, I don't blub easily) and tell Singe that I can't imagine how he felt watching this very painful part of his life on screen in front of him. He tells me that he did cry seeing the film for the first time but praises both leads for their interpretation of him and his late wife. Then he goes on to tell me about meeting Emilia Fox in his local to give her information about Kate. "It was an emotional chat," he tells me. "One of my mates was at the bar and I'm sitting with Emilia and one minute we're bawling, then we're laughing, we're trying to eat but can't. After a couple of hours, she gives me a big hug and disappears out the door. My mate comes over from the bar and says 'you breaking up with her?'" We both roar laughing.

One of the items on Kate's list was that Singe should find love again, and the final scene in the film shows him setting out on a date. So, has he? "I'm completely in love again," he tells me happily. His girlfriend, Lindsay, actually went to see the film with him. I remark that surely it must be intimidating for her watching what is essentially a love letter to his late wife. "She is so supportive of everything," he replies. "I am very lucky in love. I've always punched way above my weight," he continues laughing. "Lindsay knows how much I love Kate but I've moved on because I had to."

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s will enjoy the flashbacks to Singe and Kate's courtship. They met at a roller-disco where he was the supervisor. He laughingly tells me that at that time in his life he was a "nightmare". "I had a big leather jacket, a big motorbike and a big attitude." I suspect he was also extremely charming because he certainly is now.

"I've always been Mr Positive," he tells me before adding "it got worse before it got better. The book helped."

His two boys have yet to see the film. "They're the most grounded kids ever," Singe says, "but we don't need to rush everything."

As our conversation ends he's still marvelling over how his wife's list became a bestseller and a film. What would she think, I ask? "She might be a bit embarrassed," he confesses, "but she'd be so proud."

Mum's List is in cinemas from Friday.
Soprano Cara O'Sullivan is an instinctive performer with a remarkably full voice, exciting and dramatic, but she performs with great sensitivity. She was born and raised in Cork and although her career takes her all over the world, Cork is home. She also loves to spend time in Ardmore in Co Waterford and has one grown-up daughter. She will perform at the National Concert Hall with the Vanburgh String Quartet today; at the Messiah Curraheen Church, with the East Cork Choral Society on November 27; at the National Concert Hall with the Culwick Choral Society on December 5, and in Wicklow on December 11 with the Wicklow Male Voice Choir.

Film: The Shawshank Redemption

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My favourite Movie is The Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. I have seen the film many times but I will never forget hearing Mozart's Letter Duet from The Marriage of Figaro and the context of Tim Robbins playing the Duet, it was electrifying the first time and still has a big effect on me.

Design: Waterford Wood

I have a lovely table and four chairs designed and made by Waterford Wood in Ardmore Co. Waterford. I have them in my home for 12 years and they are functional yet lovely to look at in their simplicity. Despite the fact that the table only seats four people I can't move it, it weighs a ton!

TV: The West Wing

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I confess I get bored watching the telly at times! One of my all-time favourite series was The West Wing. The episode that stands out in my mind is called Isaac and Ishmael. It was created a few weeks after the 9/11 attack in America - and Allison Janney and Martin Sheen addressed issues facing us all as a result of terrorism. They were very uncertain times and the producers created a riveting episode that spoke volumes about the vulnerability of us all. My other favourite tv is anything with Billy Connolly. I just hope he decides to keep his clothes on when he is touring around on his motorbike. I catch a cold looking at him in the nip!!!

Composer: Richard Strauss

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My favourite piece of music is Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs. I thoroughly enjoyed singing them for the first time with The Hibernian Orchestra in 2015. Believe it or not, I have the score since 1989, but my voice wasn't ready for them at that time! I have also enjoyed collaborating with Michael Joyce on piano and he told me about a song, Malven, which is in fact a fifth Last Song but Strauss passed away and it was completed posthumously.

Book: Good Morning Mr Mandela

I purchased a book in O.R. Tambo International Airport on my way home from South Africa, it's called Good Morning, Mr Mandela, written by Zelda la Grange. It's a fascinating read and very insightful. Ms la Grange started out as a clerk typist and in time became the personal assistant and most trusted aide of Nelson Mandela. She devoted her life to him.

Cara will perform on Thursday January 26 in the National Concert Hall: An Evening with Cara O'Sullivan. nch.ie
Birthday girl Fiona Gratzer and her mother Agnes McCourt with Rod Stewart at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin last week

Seagreen owner Sarah Gill has been dressing the South Dublin fashionistas for a decade now. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Someone stop me before I turn into Grace Coddington. (With these Titian tresses of mine, I could well be the ginge-deity of US Vogue, in a certain light.)

Join me in raising a glass of something bubbly to Seagreen, one of Ireland's great independent fashion establishments, which is celebrating a decade in business. Owner Sarah Gill and her team at Seagreen have inspired - and dressed - the fashionistas through the boom and out the other side of the recession.

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The ultra-luxury ladies clothing and lifestyle boutique in Monkstown is a second home to the likes of Alison Doody, Claire Byrne, above, Lorraine Keane, who shop there regularly. Amy Huberman, below, Angela Scanlon and Holly Carpenter are also regulars in Seagreen at Ranelagh.The brains - to say nothing of the beauty - behind Seagreen - Co Clare dynamo Sarah told me that the past 10 years have been "a whirlwind."

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"I couldn't be more excited about celebrating 10 years in business," Sarah added of her company's incredible success story. "We are fortunate to have built up a wonderful customer base, many of whom have been there from the start! We are always taking on new labels and discovering the 'next big thing'.

"As a bona-fide shopper myself, I know the importance and urgency fashion has to those who love it. When I see a new trend emerging or an amazing designer making the headlines in New York, I don't want to have to wait until the following season to be able to make that addition to my wardrobe. At Seagreen, we act fast and get those pieces in immediately.

''As an independent retailer, there's more flexibility in that way, I guess it's part of what sets us apart."

Sarah can remember the day that they got JBrand into the store. ''We were the first retailer in Ireland to stock the brand, and our customers felt just as I did - I just had to have those jeans. It's tough to compete with international stores and online; my team and I have to be really on the top of our game to make sure we continue to thrive. Personally, I much prefer shopping in smaller independent stores.'' Clearly, her loyal customers over the last decade at Seagreen agree.

Join me in raising another glass of something bubbly to their next decade - and to Sarah keeping her competitors green around the gills with envy.

Guggi takes Manhattan but avoids Trump in his Tower

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New York feels like a second home to Guggi

'Every child is an artist," Picasso once said. "The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Well, I've always thought that Guggi - with his long hair and his long school coat - looks like a big kid, don't you think?

He unveiled his latest exhibition last Friday night in New York. His third exhibition no less in the Big Apple. Well, I suppose if he can make it there he can make it anywhere. The great and the good of the city were expected at the Yoshii Gallery on Madison Avenue for the Irish artist's latest opus entitled This Is Not a Hotel.

I was going to jet over for the opening night but then your man got elected and I decided to go for a pint in the local instead. I asked Guggi if he was going to use his time in Manhattan productively and visit the President-elect in his Tower on Fifth Avenue.

"He is not on my Christmas card list, let's just say," he replied on the phone.

The exhibition's title was inspired by what Guggi's late father Robert used to say to him at the dinner table at home on North Dublin's Cedarwood Road.

"I would put too much butter on the bread at tea time and he would give me a clip around the ear and say 'This is not a hotel!'"

"So it was one of my dad's old phrases," Guggi told me, adding that Jim Sheridan wrote the foreword to the booklet for the exhibition.

Guggi added that New York holds a special place in his maverick heart.

"I have felt like it was a second home for me ever since I played there for the first time with the Virgin Prunes in 1982.

"We played the Danceteria and I heard - though I didn't see him with my own eyes - a rumour that Jean-Michel Basquiat was in the audience that night," Guggi says referring to the legendary artist who died before his time in 1988.

There was a rumour that half of Dublin's more exalted characters were expected to pitch up at the Yoshii Gallery last Friday.

I'd tell you now but Guggi would probably give me a clip around the ear like his da used to give him.

You'll have to wait until next week's column.

Fiona's birthday bash with rock legend Rod

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Birthday girl Fiona Gratzer and her mother Agnes McCourt with Rod Stewart at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin last week

She wears it well. Fiona Gratzer wore an Alaia black dress when she met Rod Stewart last Wednesday night in Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud on Upper Merrion Street, Dublin. It wasn't a dinner a deux, of course.

Rod - playing two nights at the 3Arena in Dublin - was having dinner with his daughters.

Fiona was celebrating her birthday in her favourite restaurant with her two grown-up children, Luca and Mila, her mother Agnes, and sister Emer (who travelled from London), and her brother Ciaran, who flew in specially from Florida.

"It was a family affair," Fiona told me. "It was just fab."

But back to Rod. The Scottish superstar heard that it was Princess Fiona's birthday and went over and sang Happy Birthday to her in front of the entire restaurant.

He then gave Fiona's mother Agnes a big hug, wished the beautiful birthday girl many happy returns, and posed for a picture for this column with the two of them.

"What a great start to this new chapter," Fiona told me. Fiona is the managing director of Unislim (a company founded by Fiona's mother, Agnes, in 1972) and she deserves all the happiness in the world - and indeed in the new chapter of her life.

Lest we forget - and Fiona and her two children never will - Fiona's husband Uwe was cruelly taken from her in a motorbike accident in June, 2015.

Christmas in Dubai for Pippa

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It was a case of Happy Mondays. Everyone from Nadia Forde, Cassie Stokes to Diana Bunici pitched up in all of their finery for the launch of the debut collection, denim POCO by Pippa has at the RHA Gallery in Dublin last Monday.

Though, I'm sure, every Monday is happy Monday for the designer-of-the-moment, Pippa O'Connor.

My Deep Throat in her camp tells me that the star and her husband, Brian, are planning on jetting to Dubai over the Christmas for a well-deserved Yuletide break.

The reason I say that this scheduled sojourn in the United Arab Emirates is well earned is because Pippa O'Connor has had a great year by anyone's standards. Everything she touches seems to turn to gold.

Which used to be said of Christian Stokes, back in the days when he was running Residence in the boom with his brother Simon... This was before it all went sour - and he and his bro were not returning PAYE and PRSI for employees on their wages. But I digress.

Last weekend the party is doubtless back on because, Christian, and his wife Louise were at dinner in Wilde in the Westbury with stylist Ingrid Hoey and her husband Neil. Louise looked fab in a patterned sleeveless top.

Isn't life grand?

Alison - is she the new African Queen?

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The African Queen returns? My moles inform me that Alison Doody - the Grace Kelly lookalike who used to be married to Gavin O'Reilly - has just returned from Kenya.

She was spotted in The Green Hen restaurant on Exchequer Street last month looking - as she always does - alluring.

Another Irish beauty, jeweller Danielle Hayes, has just returned from the big rugby game in Chicago.

While another Irish girl who is always returning from somewhere or other - Blaise O'Donnell, was in Zozimus Bar off South Anne Street last weekend with some pals.

Meanwhile the Irish Hospice held a soiree at the Seafood Bar by Wrights of Howth on Dawson Street on Wednesday night. Martina Fox, who runs the extremely hip restaurant, welcomed everyone, from Liam Cunningham to Gillian Ronan and many more.

The restaurant is so hip that it also had the speakers from the Dublin InfoSec conference (also incredibly hip) dine there on Tuesday night. A great night was had by all. And a great meal.

Michael Colgan begins his long goodbye to the Gate with The Heiress

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It will be an emotional night at The Gate next Wednesday for the opening night of The Heiress. The extra frisson is because artistic director Michael Colgan, above, will be departing his post soon.

"We last did The Heiress in 1997 and it was a great success then," he told me when we met for lunch. "All my children are coming - rare enough given that Richard works in Zurich, but he's flying in for it specially."

Others attending on the evening include Mary Finan, Aoibhin Garrihy, Gay Byrne and wife Kathleen, Rhona Blake and husband Charlie, to watch Karen McCartney play heiress Catherine Sloper.

"It's a huge break for Karen. She has just come out of drama school and went through intensive auditions to get the part. I'm convinced this is the beginning of a successful career.

"Besides her new beginning as an heiress, the other 'heiress' at the Gate opening will be Selina Cartmell who takes over from yours truly on April Fool's Day," Colgan told me.

"This will be my third last show and it will be followed in January with the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Then my last show in March is an homage or salute to my three heroes - Beckett, Friel and Pinter.

"A farewell festival known as BFP. Besides standing for Beckett, Friel Pinter," Colgan added, "it also stands for Big Farewell Party."
Paradise found: Central America has thousands of 'away from it all' beaches like this one in Honduras

Having emerged from the cloud forest at Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve, our Nicaraguan guide Eric disappears with a promise to return soon with something worth seeing.

After a few minutes rustling among dense foliage, he does, carrying a long green leaf. Perched on the end of it, eyes bulging, is a startled-looking red-eyed tree frog.

The sticky orange pads on his webbed feet are spread wide. He sits still as a mouse trap for a moment, allowing us to marvel at the flashes of electric blue and yellow along his kermit green body, before springing from the leaf. He travels through the air stretched like a hand giving a high five, before disappearing back into the forest.

That brief encounter, and walking around the crater of the extinct volcano gave us a good idea of Nicaragua's incredible and diverse ecosystem. Almost 1,400m above sea level, the national park is home to 50 species of mammals, 174 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians and 750 species of flora.

There is no getting away from nature here - from the amazing views of the famous Lake Nicaragua (at 65km long and 25km wide it's the biggest in Central America) to its islands and lagoons, rainforests and wildlife.

It's up to you how you want to see it, but if you have a head for heights zip-lining is one option. Near the small coastal town of San Juan del Sur is Da' Flying Frog Canopy Tour.

Here they will put you in a very unflattering harness and take you deep into the forest to zip through the tree tops at speed along a distance of 2.5km and about 50m above the ground. The longest line is 328m. By the time you have progressed to this you may have stopped screaming for long enough to enjoy the stunning views below.

A boat is a more relaxing option, and a good way to explore Las Isletas de Granada on Lake Nicaragua. The abundance of secluded small islands were formed when Mombacho Volcano erupted thousands of years ago. Today, they are home to cormorants, herons, parrots, hawks, vultures, and the filthy rich.

Probably the most spectacular site to see near Lake Nicaragua is Masaya Volcano. It's as awe inspiring as nature gets. Leaning over its vast smouldering crater is like looking into a witch's cauldron. Nothing can really prepare you for the sight of the fiery lava churning below. No wonder the Spaniards who invaded Nicaragua nicknamed it "the mouth of hell".

Nicaragua's cities are interesting too. It's a country with a hairy history - as recently as 1979 the left-wing Sandinista party overthrew the president, putting an end to decades of dictatorship. In the capital Managua, the Palacio Nacional was one of the buildings taken by the Sandinistas, and Tiscapa National Park is home to a famous statue of Sandino, the guerilla leader who gave the party its name.

Granada and Leon (Nicaragua's second city) are both preserved in colonial times, with their crumbling but charming buildings and cobbled streets. But for all the interest its cities offer, nothing can compete with Nicaragua's natural wonders.

As wild as Nicaragua is, it started to feel like a Disneyland once we arrived in Honduras. Honduras is a rough diamond and, not quite everywhere is ready for the tourism its economy so desperately needs.

Its tropical climate means it has two distinct seasons, dry from November to April and rainy from May through October. "Rainy" is a euphemism here. The skies often turn from blue and cloudless to a menacing bruised grey in a matter of minutes, and when the heavens open you think you might get washed away. We arrive in a rainstorm, but the terrible visibility didn't seem to bother our driver Alexis, who frequently overtook up to six cars and motorbikes at once while rounding a corner. When the rain stopped and the clouds cleared, I got my first glimpse of Honduras's majestic mountains, covered with a thick fur of green trees and topped with a ring of fluffy white clouds.

We headed for the northern coast, which borders the Caribbean Sea. Using Tela as a base we explored the Laguna de los Micos, famous for wildlife and birdwatching, and then headed way off the beaten track to the home of the Garifuna people in the small village of Miami. The Garifuna maintain a traditional way of life, living in simple huts on the beach, catching their food and occasionally allowing voyeuristic tourists to visit and nose around. They'll cook you a simple meal of fish, plantain and rice and beans, take you on a trip into the mangroves to spot monkeys and birds, but mainly ignore you. The beach they live on is beautiful, but slightly spoilt by litter. A building that used to be a visitor centre is dilapidated and deserted.

On a small fishing boat heading towards the jaw-dropping Parque Nacional Jeanette Kawas, you see what a paradise-in-parts Honduras really is.

The park, only accessible by sea, is surrounded by crystal waters. We land on a soft sandy white beach and take a short hike through the dense rainforest, where not-too-far-in-the-distance is one of the spots where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed.

Our last days in Honduras were spent around La Ceiba - the main launching point to reach The Bay Islands and Pico Bonito National Parks. The area is surrounded by lush jungle, mountains and sandy white beaches.

At dusk, we kayaked on a lagoon, paddling past mangroves and watching for low-flying bats.

Our last excursion was by open air train to Refugio de vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado, the battered tram built illegally by the US back when Honduras was a banana republic. Today, it mainly transports people and occasionally some heavily armed guards.

It would be remiss to talk about Honduras's natural beauty and not mention one thing that is painfully obvious almost everywhere you go - poverty. It might be less apparent in the more tourist-trodden parts, but in many places seeing barefoot children, piles of litter, kids selling fruit at petrol stations when they should be at school, old men in fields drenched with sweat and people living in shacks reminds us that Hondurans live hard lives and reap little reward for their labour.

Yet whilst it is true that many areas of Honduras suffer from poverty and underdevelopment, many of them are completely reliant on tourism and the funds brought in by international travellers. It's why it is crucial for Honduras that we keep supporting tourism in the country and encourage people to travel there.

We never felt unsafe, and weeks after returning home, Honduras was the one place that kept coming back to my mind.

The affluence of (parts of) Panama City felt strange after Honduras. Downtown Panama has all the traffic, fancy hotels and shiny skyscrapers you'd expect from an international centre of commerce, but there's a lot more to it than its big banks. Take a 30 minute walk from downtown along the water and you get to the old city - rundown, ramshackle, romantic and well worth exploring. The Casco Viejo (also called Casco Antigo) is lined with apartments with colourful wooden shutters, flower boxes and washing hanging from their windows.

Relaxed by day, it comes alive at night. The best thing to do is find a restaurant or bar (try Tantalo) with a good rooftop terrace and take in the amazing twinkly view over the water. But don't be distracted by Panama city, as a country Panama has as many natural gems as its Central American neighbours. A very short flight away is the Chiriqui Highlands and the beautiful town of Boquete, with both rainforest and coffee plantations to explore. Finca Lerida is a stunning coffee plantation where you can take a guided tour to see how the plants are grown and then taste the beans. You can stay on the plantation overnight, but whatever you do don't leave without getting a slice of passion fruit cake from the cafe. It's one of the best things I've ever eaten.

Among Panama's many greatest hits is the Boquete Tree Trek, a hike into the rainforest which leads to a series of long hanging bridges. Walking along them, high off the ground, you get up close and personal with the trees and a breathtaking aerial view.

At Gamboa rainforest they've gone one step further and built an aerial tram tour. It takes you (slowly) about 280ft from the forest floor through dense undergrowth up into the canopy giving you the opportunity to spot birds, butterflies, sloths and white-faced capuchin monkeys on the way.

The next, and the last of a 12-day trip across three countries, began with a short journey on the Gatun river in a dugout canoe. Our driver is one of the Embera Quera Community. His skin is the colour of mahogany, his hair jet black and he is wearing nothing but a very short beaded wrap. His friend, who sits silently at the back of the boat, is almost completely covered in temporary tattoos, painted on with ink made from a tree.

We arrive at their small hillside home and are greeted by a line of women, old and young, all wrapped in bright fabric and with flowers in their hair and all singing. The men stand opposite them playing instruments and when they are finished they approach us in single file and shake our hands one by one. Over the course of the day the leader of the tribe patiently answers our questions and guides us along a trail to show us the plants they use for medicine. They dance and cook for us, and offer us tattoos which fade after two weeks.

Luckily the memories don't.

Getting there

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Katy at the Embera Quera Community on the Gatun river in Panama

Katy flew from London Heathrow to Miami International with American Airlines, and from Miami International onwards to Managua airport, Nicaragua; San Pedro Sula airport, Honduras; and Panama City airport, Panama. Return flights with American Airlines via Tocumen International airport, Panama, and Miami International.

For more information on multi-destination travel in Central America visit www.visitcentroamerica.com/

Take three: Top attractions

Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas

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Located outside Tela on the Caribbean coast, this jaw-dropping natural paradise is only accessible by boat. Surrounded by sparkling blue water, its made up of sandy beaches, tropical forest, lagoons and rivers. Its named after Honduran environmental activist Jeannette Kawas. Her attempts to preserve the flora and fauna from being destroyed by money-making palm plantations is probably what led to her murder in 1995.

Masaya Volcano

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Nothing can quite prepare you for the sights at Masaya in Nicaragua. After a steep uphill drive, you disembark on the edge of an enormous smouldering crater, and peer over to see lava boiling right below you. Its like looking into a giant witchs cauldron. The Masaya Volcano has erupted several times, with the Spanish invaders aptly naming it La Boca del Infierno, meaning the mouth of hell.

Casco Viejo

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This romantically ramshackle district is the historic centre of Panama City and far more interesting than the downtown area with all its high rise skyscrapers inhabited by bankers. Quiet during the day, Cascos narrow streets come alive when the sun goes down. Head to one of the many bars and restaurants with roof terraces and balconies for a seriously impressive view of the city lit up at night.
Zadie Smith, who has won numerous literary awards, is the author of the ambitious and exuberant new novel 'Swing Time'. Photo: David Conachy

Zadie. In literary and media circles, no surname required. White Teeth, written while Zadie Smith was a Cambridge undergraduate, earned her a six-figure advance.

Published in 2000, when she was 24, it saw in the millennium. The paperback, reprinted 78 times, is now read in 20 languages. Today, Smith, a formidable literary presence, teaches at NYU, has won numerous awards including the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Whitbread First Novel Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and was twice named among Granta's Best of Young British Novelists.

Talent is one thing, her good looks another. Smith has condemned the media's "ridiculous" obsession with her looks, that "sinister sexist, misogynistic attitude" but last May, wearing Delpozo and Miu Miu shoes, Smith mingled with Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell at the invitation-only Met Gala in New York.

She's on the cover of the current The Gentlewoman and inside the profile on Zadie is accompanied by an elegantly styled spread. She claims she spent her 20s and 30s in "a dark writing room". Time to party.

Dismissing her acclaimed novels, White Teeth, The Autograph Man and On Beauty, Smith says that NW, published when she was 36, was "the first book that I've really written as an adult."

Textured writing, rather than plot-driven story is her thing, though On Beauty piggy-backed on Forster's Howards End for its updated storyline.

Her latest novel, Swing Time, has a plot of sorts but it really is more a themed sequence of events and dazzling, different scenes.

Beginning in October 2008, it jumps back to 1982 when two working-class girls, "both the same shade of brown", meet at a dance class in North London. Autobiographical details, Smith's council-estate background, Jamaican mother, English father, a half-sister and half-brother, her love of musical theatre and jazz, colour this long, expansive novel set in London, New York and the Gambia.

In Smith's first novel to use a first-person narrative, she has deliberately chosen a dull, insipid, irritatingly unnamed narrative voice - how difficult is a "Call me Ishmael" opening? Overshadowed in childhood by "electric, charismatic, outrageously sexual" Tracey, in adulthood by mega-celebrity Aimee, "a person for whom I scheduled abortions, hired dog walkers, ordered flowers, wrote Mother's Day cards, applied creams, administered injections, squeezed spots, wiped very occasional break-up tears".

From a "horse-faced seven-year-old" we follow her through her global Lear-jet life as a PA to savvy, driven Aimee, a stand-in for Madonna, until everything collapses. Lamin, a young handsome African, temporarily seduced by bling, becomes Aimee's lover, only to be taken from her in a complex move by our narrator. Shame and humiliation the result. When Aimee's manager tells her she's "delusional", it sums her up.

Believing that we are "defined by colour, class, money, postcode, nation, music, drugs, politics, sports, aspirations, languages, sexualities", this narrator discovers that in this "huge game of musical chairs I turned round one day and found I had no place to sit".

She needs shaking but there's no doubting Zadie's brilliance: a Willesden sunset is "of petroleum colours and quick-shunting clouds"; Nina Simone's music is superbly captured; a Nanny bathing an adopted African three-week-old baby in "a 7,000 hunk of Victorian porcelain" sink needs no further comment.

Aimee funds a girls' African school, foolishly thinking laptops are the answer, but the complex relationship between the Developed and Developing World is contextualised by an African Chief, "small, ashy, wrinkled and toothless, in a threadbare Man U T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and plastic Nike house slippers" and Hawa, an idealistic trainee teacher, who abandons a career for marriage to a Muslim preacher. Western values have shortcomings: "a piece of my heart closed against her."

Swing Time tackles relationships, power, racial awareness in a novel preoccupied with tribalism, be it a Silicon Valley nerdy subset or a group of ethnic dancers. Dance and the tribe are the two dominant motifs but the novel, like the Ali Baba movie Tracey and her friend watched as kids, seems to swing time itself and this is one of the best things about it.

Circling back, a storyline emerges that vividly paints celebrity excess, political activism, male initiation rites, a visit to Kenwood House, a nine-year-old's birthday party at the Rockefeller Centre, Islam, a West End show, poverty tourism, and a hospice death.

It's done so well that Swing Time becomes a restless, global novel, a rewarding immersive read. Scenes that might seem superfluous make perfect sense by the end and the final image returns us to a disappointed Tracey who still has "the gift of being interesting".

Asked what to expect from Swing Time, Smith said "tap dancing, black women, money, poverty, sadness and joy!" Muted joy. Interviewed, Zadie advises: "Tell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand - but tell it. Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never being satisfied".

The epigraph to Changing Minds, her book of essays, goes, "The time to make your mind up about people is never!" Swing Time embodies both ideas.
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Mary Kenny Opinion If men want to yammer on about sport, then let them  it helps them connect emotionally

I was travelling on a train from Dublin to Cork, and near me sat two Dublin men. Throughout the entire journey they managed to keep up a fluent dialogue about English football teams. From Aston Villa to Sheffield Wednesday, from Crystal Palace to Manchester City the conversation flowed eloquently. I was in awe at the minutiae of their knowledge and expertise. And if the topic of their discourse lacked a certain variety, it was nonetheless better than sitting in sullen silence, or glued to their phones.
Her generous response to Europes refugee crisis, at some cost to her own popularity, is in marked contrast with the threshing Mr Trump gave the worlds dispossessed and disadvantaged. Picture: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

The renowned Oxford historian Timothy Garton Ash did not meet with universal approval when he wrote: "I'm tempted to say that the leader of the free world is now Angela Merkel."

But that comment, in the wake of the German chancellor's conditional congratulation of the newly-elected US president Donald Trump, gained further currency yesterday when she announced she is bidding for a fourth consecutive federal government term next year. Ms Merkel's assertion that support for Mr Trump was conditional on him accepting "democracy, freedom and respect for the law and the dignity of man" was indeed impressive.

Her generous response to Europe's refugee crisis, at some cost to her own popularity, is in marked contrast with the threshing Mr Trump gave the world's dispossessed and disadvantaged during a most shameful election campaign.

There are good grounds for hoping that her leadership of the EU's biggest economy can continue for the good of Ireland and other smaller member states.

But there are dangers in taking an overly optimistic view of Ms Merkel's potential global impact, much less dubbing her "leader of the free world".

The fact is that Ms Merkel's response to issues like the eurozone crisis was lumbering and unduly cautious. There is also the reality that Germany's defence spending is a fraction of the USA's. It is hard to see Germany suddenly taking over the US role in that realm.

Similarly, we must recall that Germany operating effectively in the EU requires a partnership with France. That has been deficient under French President Francois Hollande.

The outcome of French presidential elections next May is crucial. If the far-right Front National wins, we could face very uncertain times.
A suicide bomber has struck at a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing 32 people, the UN office said.

The bomber walked into the Shiite mosque in western Kabul where he detonated his explosives among the crowd of worshippers, Afghan police said.

It is the second large-scale attack targeting minority Shiites in Kabul in just over a month.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Sunni extremists such as the Taliban and Islamic State militants, who view Shiites as heretics and apostates, frequently target Shiite mosques and public gatherings.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the explosion also wounded more than 50 people, many of them children.

Earlier in the day, Afghan authorities said at least 28 people were killed and 48 wounded.

"This appalling attack on worshippers is an atrocity," a statement from Pernille Kardel, the secretary-general's deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said.

"UNAMA expresses its revulsion at this latest effort by extremists to stoke sectarian violence in Afghanistan."

Monday's bombing hit during a prayers ceremony commemorating 40 days since the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

The ceremony is known as Arbaeen, meaning 40 in Arabic. Hussein is a revered Shiite martyr who was killed in 680 AD in the city of Karbala in present-day Iraq.

In early October, militants attacked another Shiite ceremony at a shrine in Kabul, commemorating the anniversary of Hussein's actual death.

That attack killed 17 people, mostly worshippers but also several policemen.

A day later, a similar attack struck Shiites in the city of Mazer-e Sharif in northern Balkh province, killing at least 14 people.

The IS affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for one of those two attacks, the UN statement said.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the criminal investigation department for the Kabul police, said the attacker in Monday's bombing walked into the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque during prayers.

He mingled among the crowd on the first floor of the two-storey building where he detonated his explosives, Mr Obiadi said.

"Suddenly, a huge explosion happened, then everything went dark," said Ewaz Ali, 50, who was inside the mosque but suffered only minor wounds.

Ms Kardel, from the UNAMA, added in her statement that "religious and ethnic tolerance are values the Afghan people hold strong".

"I urge the Afghan authorities to do everything possible to defend Afghans of all faiths," she added.

US General John W Nicholson, commander of the US-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, condemned the bombing.

"On behalf of the men and women of Resolute Support, we offer our condolences to the families of the innocent men, women and children killed and wounded in today's attack," Gen Nicholson said.

"We will continue to stand with our Afghan partners and do everything possible to secure a peaceful, stable Afghanistan."

Shiites in Afghanistan make up an estimated 15% of the country's population of around 30 million.

Their public celebrations and commemorations were largely banned during the five years when the Taliban controlled the country.

But Afghanistan's Shiites have become more public since the extremists were overthrown in the US invasion of 2001.

In July this year, a suicide bomber targeted ethic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite, as they marched through central Kabul to protest against discrimination.

At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded in that attack, which was claimed by IS.

In 2011, at least 54 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a Shiite shrine in Kabul where hundreds of people had gathered to mark the Ashoura.

AP
German chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a press conference at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters in Berlin last night. Photo: Tobias Schwartz/Getty

Angela Merkel said that in "distinctly difficult, even insecure times", it was her "duty" to stand again as she said she would seek a fourth term as German chancellor in 2017.

Ms Merkel, who has presided over Europe's strongest economy since 2005, said last night that she wanted to "fight for our values and our way of life".

She admitted that Germany had become "polarised".

The country is struggling with a surge in far-right extremism, domestic terror attacks and an influx of around one million migrants.

"I thought about this for an endlessly long time. The decision (to run) for a fourth term is - after 11 years in office - anything but trivial," Ms Merkel told a news conference after a meeting of senior members of her conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) party convened to prepare for the election.

Ms Merkel's announcement came after a draft manifesto outlining her key pledges was widely leaked to German newspapers over the weekend.

The memo, entitled 'Orientation in difficult times - for a successful Europe', included several proposals which have been viewed as a shift to the right in a bid to win back support from alienated voters.

They include a ban on wearing the full veil in public court hearings, benefit cuts to migrants who "refuse to integrate" and barring teenage marriages.

"Anyone who refuses to integrate and disregards our rule of law and values must face sanctions, down to benefit cuts and deportation," one extract reads.

The draft adds that Ms Merkel's CDU would reach out to those "who see themselves as losers of modernisation and seek shelter in populist parties on both the right and the left."

Ms Merkel (62), who is widely regarded as the most powerful woman in the world, had presided over Europe's strongest economy since 2005.

A recent poll found that nearly 60pc of Germans were in favour of her being re-elected, while according to the 'Suddeutsche Zeitung', she currently enjoys an approval rating of more than 70pc.

Should she win a fourth term, Ms Merkel would match the post-war record of her mentor, Helmut Kohl, who presided over the country during the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Supporters say she would offer much-needed stability to European politics, which has already been rocked by the UK's decision to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's shock US election victory.

However, she has also come under intense criticism for her "open door" refugee policy, which saw hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers enter the country in 2015.

Julia Kloeckner, the CDU's deputy leader, said Ms Merkel represented "stability and reliability in turbulent times because she holds society together and stands up to over-simplification [from populists]".

"She stands for moderation and centrism instead of cheap headlines," Ms Klockner told 'Welt am Sonntag'.

A date is yet to be set for the election but it is expected to take place between August and October.

Stumbling

One major stumbling block for Ms Merkel's campaign is likely to be the ultra-nationalist Alternative fur Deutschland (Afd) party.

It has seen its popularity rise steadily in Germany and, according to a recent study, is now the country's third-largest party.

The anti-Islam group, which is represented in 10 state parliaments, has aggressively campaigned against Ms Merkel's refugee policy, which it says allowed terrorists to slip into the country posing as asylum seekers.

Ms Merkel has steered Europe's biggest economy through the financial crisis and eurozone debt crisis and has won respect internationally, for example with her efforts to help solve the conflict in Ukraine.

US President Barack Obama last week described her as an "outstanding" ally. ( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Pope Francis on Monday extended indefinitely to all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a right previously reserved for bishops or special confessors in most parts of the world.

Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving Roman Catholic Church a characteristic of his papacy, made the announcement in a document known as an "apostolic letter" after Sunday's close of the Church's "Holy Year of Mercy".

He said he wanted to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life" but "there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with (God)".

Francis had already temporarily granted the power to all priests to give what is known as "sacramental absolution" for abortion during the Holy Year, from December 8 to November 20, but the solemn tone of his words in Monday's letter suggested that change would last for at least the rest of his papacy.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended ...," he said.

In Roman Catholic teaching, abortion is such a serious sin that those who procure or perform it bring automatic excommunication on themselves as they are knowingly committing a sin the Church considers grave.

In the past, only a bishop or a designated special confessor of a diocese could grant absolution for an abortion and lift excommunication.

Although bishops in some dioceses in developed countries such as the United States and Britain had already delegated this authority to parish priests, the old practice was still in effect in most of the world.

At a news conference, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who oversaw Holy Year activities, said the new norms applied to all Roman Catholics involved in an abortion, including the woman and medical staff.

He said that the absolution granted by any priest would also trigger the simultaneous lifting of excommunication. Previously in many places in the world, even if the absolution was granted by a priest, it was the bishop's task to lift that.

Fisichella said canon (Church) law would now have to be changed to reflect the pope's letter. Papal pronouncements of a pastoral or administrative nature and which do not touch basic Church doctrine are included automatically canon law updates.

Fisichella rejected suggestions that some people could see the move as putting abortion on the same level as lesser sins.

"There is no type of laxness here," he said, repeating the pope's words that while abortion was very grave, there was no sin that could not be touched by God's mercy.

In a document last year, Francis described the "existential and moral ordeal" faced by women who have terminated pregnancies and said he had "met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonising and painful decision".

In the letter, the pope, the first from Latin America, also said the Church would hold a yearly "World Day of the Poor" on a Sunday in November to bring more attention to the world's neediest.
France said it had foiled a militant plot and arrested seven people in the southern port city of Marseille and the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the seven people of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin, aged 29 to 37, had been detained on Sunday.

Two were arrested in Marseille. Most of the others, he said on Monday, were arrested in Strasbourg - a city where one of oldest and largest Christmas markets is set to open this week.

"An attack has been foiled ... The scale of the terrorist threat is enormous and it is not possible to ensure zero risk despite everything we are doing," he added.

He gave no information on the target of the planned attack. But a source close to the inquiry told Reuters that Strasbourg had not been targetted.

The mayor of Strasbourg said it appeared that the plot had focused on "the Paris region".

Islamist militants killed 17 people in Paris in January 2015 in an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Another 130 people were killed when gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the capital in November 2015, and 86 more were killed when a man drove a truck into crowds in the city of Nice on July 14.

Islamic State, whose strongholds in Syria and Iraq are being bombed by French jets, has urged followers to continue attacking France.
A woman who was nine-months pregnant and was shot three times in a suspected 'honour killing', has given birth to a baby boy, with three bullets still inside her.

Susheela Kumar, along with his husband Pradip were attacked while they slept in their home in northern India, according to The Sun.

Pradip and his parents Suresh and Sunita were killed on the scene, while Susheela was rushed to hospital.

She was hit by three bullets: one in her arm, the other passed through her mouth and the third bullet pierced through her pancreas.

At hospital Susheela underwent a C-section and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

According to The Sun, Susheela, an upper cast Jat, had married Pradip from a scheduled cast four years ago, against wishes of her parents.

The couple had left their village, but returned to Pradip's parents when they learned they were expecting a baby.

Authorities suspect the shooting is an honour killing.

Police are investigating whether Susheela's brother was involved in the attack.
A photograph was released of the premature babies in a civilian home after they had been evacuated from the hospital in eastern Aleppo, Syria.

Premature babies in Aleppo have been removed from their incubators after air strikes destroyed hospitals across the city, prompting condemnation of the Syrian government and Russia by the US and the UN.

Harrowing video footage shows tiny babies being removed from their incubators in a smoke-filled ward, with nurses reduced to tears as they detach the tubing providing support and wrap the babies in blankets.

A photograph provided by a Syrian journalist shows premature babies later lying under a blanket on the floor - apparently in a civilian house - with medical tubes around them as a nurse tries to provide them with some form of support in a bid to keep them alive.

The children's hospital was destroyed on Thursday on the third day of a renewed assault by the Syrian regime and Russia against opposition-held districts in Aleppo.

Four other hospitals in the east of the city and the surrounding rebel-held countryside have also been hit and damaged since the offensive began on Tuesday, with Syria's health directorate and the World Health Organisation reporting that all hospitals in the besieged part of the city are now out of service.

The death toll has reached at least 92 people since the start of the offensive, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. At least 27 people, including children, were killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday alone in intense air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery rounds, it said. The death toll is expected to rise due to the number of wounded.

Expand Close Children are evacuated after their school was hit by shelling by rebels in government-held western Aleppo. Photo: SANA/Handout via Reuters / Facebook

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Whatsapp Children are evacuated after their school was hit by shelling by rebels in government-held western Aleppo. Photo: SANA/Handout via Reuters

Saturday's bombardment destroyed rescue and medical facilities in eastern Aleppo, while schools in the area, many of which operate from basements due to frequent attacks, announced they would be closed on Saturday and yesterday "for the safety of students and teachers, after the barbarous aerial strikes".

"People went to sleep to the sound of bombardment and awoke to the sound of bombardment," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of The Observatory told AFP. "There's barely a neighbourhood that has been spared."

Yasser Al-rahil, journalist and member of the Revolutionary Forces of Syria media office, who provided the photograph of the babies, said the bombardment of hospitals was resulting in high numbers of injured people dying in the hours after they are hurt. He said: "We have counted more than 2,000 artillery shells and nearly 250 air strikes since midnight on Friday, which have left 28 dead and 150 wounded.

"The number of people dead is increasing due to the fact that many of the wounded are in a serious condition and there is no adequate treatment. All hospitals in the liberated areas are out of service as a result of systematic shelling over the past two days, so the wounded are being treated anywhere available away from the bombing." Following the latest assaults by the regime the US National Security Advisor Susan Rice condemned "heinous" bombings of hospitals, warning the regime and its Russian backers they are responsible for long-term consequences.

Ms Rice said: "The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions.

"The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long-term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond."

In response to the statement, Mr Al-rahil said: "Civilians in eastern Aleppo are tired of words from the international community. They want Russia and the Assad regime to stop bombing them."

Two top UN officials said they were "extremely saddened and appalled by the recent escalation in fighting".

Humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria Ali al-Za'atari and regional humanitarian co-ordinator Kevin Kennedy also said they had shared a plan to deliver aid, and evacuate the sick and wounded from east Aleppo. "It is imperative all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need," they said.

Both Russia and Assad's government have denied deliberately targeting hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the war, which began in 2011 and was joined by Russia's air force in September 2015.

The charity Doctors Without Borders said there had been more than 30 hits on hospitals in eastern Aleppo since early July and that medical supplies had been "depleted" with "no possibility of sending more supplies in". ( Independent.co.uk)
Iraqi troops fortified their positions yesterday in areas of Mosul retaken from Isil as their advance towards the city centre was slowed by sniper fire, suicide bombings and concerns over civilians.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn areas yesterday. They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than a million people.

"The biggest hindrance to us is the civilians, whose presence is slowing us down," said Major General Sami al-Aridi of the special forces. "We are soldiers who are not trained to carry out humanitarian tasks."

The government sent six trucks loaded with food aid into the recently liberated areas. Chaos broke out in one area when residents climbed on top of the trucks and began helping themselves.

"It's hunger that makes people behave like this," said Mohammed Farouq, a 27-year-old resident. "Some families took many boxes, while others did not take any. This is unfair."

Mr Al-Aridi said his men were searching homes in areas retaken from Isil, looking for militants and vehicles rigged with explosives. Troops in those areas continue to be hit by mortar rounds, sniper fire and suicide bombers, he said.

In the newly liberated areas, roads are blocked by car wreckages and sandbags, while tanks are deployed on wider streets. Snipers on high buildings watch for suicide bombers or other intruders.

Brigadier General Haider Fadhil said four civilians were killed and another four wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded before it could reach the troops it was targeting late on Saturday.

The troops laid siege yesterday to the Al-Zohour area, about 8km from the city centre. The arrival of the troops at the area's fringes prompted hundreds of civilians to emerge from their homes waving white flags. The Iraqi military launched a campaign on October 17 to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and the extremist group's last major urban bastion in the country.

Most gains have been made by the special forces operating in the section of Mosul east of the Tigris river.

Other forces are advancing on the city from different directions and the US-led coalition is providing airstrikes and other support.

Human Rights Watch said in a report yesterday that Sunni militiamen fighting alongside the Iraqi military detained and beat 22 men from villages near Mosul and recruited 10 children from displaced camps in the area to join the fight against Isil.
An American judge has been filmed telling new US citizens they "should go to another country" if they do not like President-elect Donald Trump.

Judge John Primomo, a federal magistrate judge in San Antonio, Texas, made the comments while presiding over a naturalisation ceremony at the Institute of Texan Cultures on Thursday.

At the event those seeking naturalisation took an oath of allegiance to officially complete the process of becoming a US citizen.

In footage obtained by KENS 5 News, Judge Primomo can be heard telling the new citizens: "I can assure you that whether you voted for him or you did not vote for him, if you are a citizen of the United States, he is your President.

"He will be your President and if you do not like that, you need to go to another country."

Mr Trump made hard line immigration policies a central part of his presidential campaign, including a proposal to build a wall along the US and Mexican border and calling for a total and complete shutdown of the entry of Muslims to the United States until out countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

In an interview with CBS Mr Trump said he would deport two to three million undocumented immigrants immediately on taking office.

Millions of protesters took to the streets in major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, after election night to protest over Mr Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton and dissenters used the protests to rebuke the controversial proposals surrounding immigration promoted by the Trump campaign.

Mr Trump's victory galvanized white supremacists across the country, as a wave of reported hate crimes took place across the country following his victory. Neo-Nazi and Daily Stormer founder Andrew Anglin exalted Mr Trump as a "God Emperor" following the election results. The Ku Klux Klan also announced a victory parade for the beginning of December in North Carolina.

Judge Primomo told KENS 5 News that his comments were intended to be unifying and not political, adding that he did not vote for Mr Trump.

Those taking part in the ceremony had a more optimistic outlook. Mohammed Al Farradh, originally from Iraq, said: It is exciting to be an American. I believe that America is bigger than whoever is in office.
The retired four-star general would need a waiver to be eligible as he has not been out of uniform for seven years Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump has signalled that retired general James Mattis is a likely pick for the top job of defence secretary.

Mr Trump called him "James Mad Dog Mattis" and told reporters he was "the real deal", tweeting praise about the retired general after an hour-long meeting on Saturday.

Mr Mattis served 44 years, rising through the ranks of Marine Corps, and led a task force into southern Afghanistan in 2001 as well as a Marine division during the Iraq invasion in 2003.

The four-star general was praised for leading Marines in the 2004 battle of Falluja in Iraq, described as one of the bloodiest of the war.

The following year, however, he was condemned for saying "its fun to shoot some people" while talking to service members in San Diego.

"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot," he said during the panel discussion. "It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling.

"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

He was promoted to run the US Central Command in 2010, responsible for all US forces in the Middle East. Like Mr Trump, he is a critic of president Obamas nuclear deal with Iran.

He would need a waiver from congress to be eligible for the top job, however, as he would normally be required to be out of uniform for at least seven years before taking on the Pentagon responsibility.

Vice president-elect Mike Pence told Fox News that Mr Mattis had a "legendary military career".

Mr Trump has now selected Alabama senator Jeff Sessions to run the justice department, retired army lieutenant general Michael Flynn as national security adviser and US representative Mike Pompeo as CIA chief.

Mr Sessions has been criticised for his litany of past racist comments and Mr Flynn has called Islam a "cancer".

Mr Trump is also considering former opponent Mitt Romney as secretary of state.
An actor from the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" who angered Donald Trump when he appealed on-stage for Vice President-elect Mike Pence to ensure the incoming administration respected all Americans said on Monday he would not apologise for the remarks.

President-elect Trump has complained several times about the comments delivered on behalf of the cast by actor Brandon Victor Dixon when Pence attended the show on Friday evening. In a series of weekend Twitter messages, Trump accused the cast of "terrible behavior," said they had "harassed" Pence and demanded that they apologize.

Pence himself said on Sunday he was not offended, and declined to ask for an apology.

Dixon, who played America's third vice president, Aaron Burr, in the show, told CBS's "This Morning" program there was no need for the cast to apologise.

Expand Close THE MESSAGE: Brandon Victor Dixon and the cast of 'Hamilton' address US VP-elect Mike Pence from the stage on Friday / Facebook

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Whatsapp THE MESSAGE: Brandon Victor Dixon and the cast of 'Hamilton' address US VP-elect Mike Pence from the stage on Friday

Standing in front of the cast, who are of diverse race and ethnicity although they play historical figures who were white, Dixon told Pence after Friday night's performance in New York: "We, sir - we - are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights."

Dixon defended the cast statement on Monday, saying the actors wanted "to stand up and spread a message of love and unity" following the bitterly divisive election campaign that culminated in Trump's surprise win on November 8.

"There's nothing to apologize for," Dixon told CBS. "Conversation is not harassment."

He said Trump was welcome to see the show as well, adding that he appreciated that Pence listened and that "it was the beginning of a conversation that I hope we can continue to have."

"Art is meant to bring people together, it's meant to raise consciousness," Dixon said.

On Sunday, Pence acknowledged that many people were disappointed and anxious after the election, but he sought to reassure Americans that Trump would be a president "for all Americans" when he takes office on January 20.

The victory by the Republican Trump, a New York businessman who has never held public office, has prompted a rash of protests nationwide by people concerned that his tough campaign rhetoric about immigrants and Muslims could translate into abuse of civil rights.

"Hamilton" recounts the story of Alexander Hamilton, a poor immigrant who rose to become the right-hand man of General George Washington and a key figure in the creation of the U.S. financial system, as well as founding the U.S. Coast Guard. Hamilton was killed in an 1804 duel with Burr.

The hip-hop-infused musical, which a New York Times review described last year as a "show about young rebels grabbing and shaping the future of an unformed country," opened on Broadway in 2015 and has generated more than $1.4 billion in sales and garnered 11 Tony Awards. It has also expanded to other cities.

Following the statement to Pence on Broadway, local media reports said an allegedly intoxicated man attending a performance of "Hamilton" in Chicago on Saturday was charged with a misdemeanor for disturbing the show and refusing to leave after reportedly yelling about Trump
Barack Obama gestures as he answers questions during his final news conference on foreign soil as US president, in Lima, Peru (AP)

US president Barack Obama has said he does not intend to become his successor's constant critic - but reserved the right to speak out if Donald Trump or his policies breach certain "values or ideals".

Mr Obama suggested that once he is out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern.

He heaped praise on former president George W Bush, saying he "could not have been more gracious to me when I came in" and said he wanted to give Mr Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda "without somebody popping off" at every turn.

But Mr Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.

He said: "As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes."

The president spoke out throughout the election campaign against Mr Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the US illegally, reinstituting waterboarding, repealing "Obamacare" and cancelling the Paris climate deal.

Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fears for many Americans who oppose Mr Trump and are hoping that vehement opposition from Barack Obama and other Democrats might prevent the president-elect from implementing them.

Yet Mr Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal was not to spend his time publicly disparaging the next president.

"My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job," Mr Obama said.

"And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking."

His remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years.

Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Mr Obama said they should not.

"You give them a hearing," said Mr Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the Republicans' insistence that no Obama nominee should be considered.

Mr Obama said he certainly did not want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games," the president said.

Mr Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president, marking the last time he would take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press.

Mr Obama said he had avoided ethical scandals by trying to follow the spirit, not just the letter, of the law, and suggested Mr Trump would be wise to follow his example about conflicts of interest.

Though he declined to explicitly offer advice, Mr Obama said he had been served well by selling his assets and investing them in Treasury bills.

"It simplified my life," Mr Obama said.

"I did not have to worry about the complexities of whether a decision that I made might even inadvertently benefit me."

Some critics have criticised Mr Trump's decision not to liquidate his sprawling business interests, but put them in a blind trust entrusted to his children, who are playing major roles in helping him form his administration and are expected to remain involved in one capacity or another.

On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian president Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis. The four-minute conversation, likely the leaders' last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation and concern about whether Mr Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory US approach to Russia

Mr Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Mr Obama had noted that while their working relationship had been difficult, they'd "always respected each other's positions - and each other".

"I thanked him for the years of joint work, and said that at any time, if he considers it possible and will have the need and desire, we will be happy to see him in Russia," Mr Putin said later.

AP
Police and protesters clash near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline. (Morton County Sheriffs' Department via AP)

Police and protesters have clashed near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline, with at least one person arrested.

Fresh tensions flared as protesters tried to push past a long-blocked bridge on a state highway, only to be turned back by a line of law enforcement officers using water cannon and what appeared to be tear gas.

Sunday's skirmishes began at around 6pm after protesters removed a burned-out truck on what is known as the Backwater Bridge, not far from the site where they have been camped out for weeks as they demonstrate against the pipeline.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department estimated that 400 protesters sought to cross the bridge on state Highway 1806.

A live stream early on Monday showed a continuing stand-off, with large lights illuminating smoke wafting across the scene.

The sheriff's department said in a statement at around 1am on Monday that approximately 100 to 200 protesters were on the bridge or in the vicinity.

It said law enforcement officers "had rocks thrown at them, burning logs and rocks shot from slingshots", and that one officer had been hit on the head by a thrown rock.

At least one person was arrested.

Protesters said a gym in Cannon Ball was opened to aid demonstrators who were soaked on a night during which the temperature dipped into the low 20s, or were hit with tear gas.

Rema Loeb told the Associated Press that he was forced to retreat from the bridge because he feared being doused with water on the freezing night. Others, he said, needed medical treatment after being sprayed with tear gas.

"It's been just horrible," said the 83-year-old, who travelled from Massachusetts about two weeks ago to join the protests.

The 1,200-mile (1,931km), four-state pipeline is being built to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois. But construction of the 3.8 billion US dollars (3.1 billion) pipeline has been the subject of months of protest by the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation lies near the pipeline route, and the tribe's allies, who fear a leak could contaminate their drinking water. They are also concerned that construction could threaten sacred sites.

Energy Transfer Partners has said no sites have been disturbed and that the pipeline will have safeguards against leaks, and is a safer method of transport for oil than rail or truck. The company has said the pipeline is largely complete except for the section under Lake Oahe.

The bridge lies near where protesters had set up camp on private property owned by the pipeline developer, Energy Transfer Partners, before they were forcibly removed by law enforcement officers on October 27. It is also about a mile from an uncompleted section under Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir, where work has been on hold by order of federal agencies.

Tara Houska, an organiser with Honor The Earth, told the Bismarck Tribune that the Cannon Ball gym was opened to aid people who had been doused with water or tear gas.

The sheriff's department was not available for comment.

On Friday, Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, said the company is unwilling to reroute the pipeline.

AP
French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said six of the suspects arrested had not been known to intelligence services

French anti-terrorism police have arrested seven men in Strasbourg and Marseille who had links to Syria and had been plotting an attack on France for several months, the interior minister said.

A series of arrests in June and on Sunday put an end to the plot and "allowed us to thwart a terrorist act that had been envisaged for a long time on our soil", Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters in Paris.

France remains under a state of emergency imposed after deadly Islamic State attacks on Paris last year.

The suspects are believed to have initially wanted to target the Euro 2016 football tournament earlier this year but later focused on another target, possibly in Paris or Marseille, according to a security official.

The June arrests involved people behind financing the alleged attack plot, while the Sunday arrests targeted the operational team - and both groups were under orders from unidentified commanders in Syria, the official said.

Weapons were also seized in Sunday's arrests, the official said.

Mr Cazeneuve said investigators are studying whether the thwarted attack was part of a larger plot to attack multiple sites simultaneously.

Five of the suspects are French, one is Moroccan and the other Afghan, and they are aged between 29 and 37, the security official said.

Mr Cazeneuve said six of them had not been known to intelligence services.

The Moroccan had apparently been living in Portugal.

Portuguese police said that they had flagged a 26-year-old Moroccan residing in Aveiro in northern Portugal to other European authorities, warning that he was part of a terrorist group.

In a statement, the police said they had been watching him since 2015, and he was arrested by French police over the weekend.

One of the suspects worked for the Strasbourg city government on special events, Strasbourg metropolitan area president Robert Hermann said, according to his office.

The arrests rattled nerves in Strasbourg because they came just five days before the opening of the city's famed Christmas market, which attracts tourists from across Europe and was the target of a failed extremist plot in 2000 by Algerian and French militants who had trained in Afghanistan.

However, mayor Roland Ries said the case had no direct link to the market, so the event will open as usual on Friday - under heavy security.

The raids in Strasbourg took place in the Neuhof and Meinau neighbourhoods, where authorities dismantled a jihadi network in 2014 that included the brother of an IS bomber who attacked the Bataclan concert hall in Paris last year.

French police have detained 418 people this year in terrorism investigations, Mr Cazeneuve said.

"In the face of a threat that remains very high in France, everything is being done, at every moment, to protect the French," President Francois Hollande said in a statement about the new arrests.

AP
Police investigate the scene where a St Louis police officer was shot (David Carson/St Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

A manhunt is under way in Texas for a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a veteran police detective in what authorities say was one of several attacks targeting law enforcement in multiple states.

The San Antonio detective as well as officers in Missouri and Florida were conducting routine tasks on Sunday when they become the targets of violence.

The detective was writing a traffic ticket when he was shot to death in his squad car outside police headquarters.

In St Louis, Missouri, a police sergeant was shot twice in the face on Sunday evening while he sat in traffic in a marked police vehicle. The man has since been released from hospital.

Police officers were also shot and injured during traffic stops in Sanibel, Florida, and Gladstone, Missouri, on Sunday night, but authorities have not suggested these were targeted attacks.

The shootings come less than five months after a black military veteran Micah Johnson killed five white officers at a protest in Dallas - the deadliest day for American law enforcement since September 11, 2001.

Race was a factor in the Dallas attack but police have not said if race played a part in any of the attacks on Sunday.

In San Antonio, police say the suspect is black and the officer was white. In St Louis, the suspect was black. Police have not released the race of the officer he shot.

San Antonio police chief William McManus identified the officer killed on Sunday as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

Mr McManus added: "I think the uniform was the target and the first person that happened along was the first person that (the suspect) targeted."

Police said the search for a male suspect was still under way on Monday and that no arrest has been made.

Surveillance video shows the suspect at San Antonio police headquarters about four hours before Mr Marconi was shot.

The suspect asked a desk clerk a question but left before receiving an answer, said Mr McManus, who declined to say what the man asked.

St Louis police chief Sam Dotson declined to name the 46-year-old officer on his force who was shot in the face, but said he is a married father-of-three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

The suspect was wanted for questioning in recent violent crimes that included several robberies, a carjacking and perhaps a killing, Mr Dotson said.

"We believe he knew he was good for those crimes and that we were looking for him," Mr Dotson said. "That's why he aggressively attacked a police officer."

Police said the suspect was later killed in a shootout with police. The suspect's name was not released but Mr Dotson said he was black and born in 1997.

An officer with the Gladstone police department near Kansas City was shot while the suspect was shot and killed. The officer is out of surgery and expected to recover.

A Sanibel officer was shot in the shoulder during a traffic stop and was treated for his injuries and released.

AP

Sanibel City manager Judie Zimomra says officer Jarred Ciccone was filling out paperwork during a routine traffic stop when Jon Webster Hay, 49, drove by and shot at the officer, hitting him in the shoulder.

The city manager says a pursuit ensued and Hay was wounded during a stand-off and shootout with police.

Hay was arrested about 90 minutes after the initial shooting. He was released from the hospital Monday and booked into jail on an attempted murder charge.

AP
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Even though professional rivalry has always kept Salman Khan and Irrfan Khan away from each other, there is a big news that will make fans of both the stars super happy. According to reports, Irrfan Khan and Salman Khan have joined hands for the first time for a mega-budget film project.

YouTube Screengrab

Based on the life of Sikh lawyer Gurdit Singh who battled for the rights of Kamagata Maru passengers to enter Canada. While Salman will be co-producing the film along with Toronto-based Indian tycoon Ajay Virmani, Irrfan Khan will be seen in the lead role. Here are all the major details about the film that looks like a promising deal in every possible way.

1. The super-expensive film will star Irrfan Khan in the lead role and will be produced by Salman Khan and Toronto-based Indian tycoon

Amar Butala, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Salman Khan Films was quoted as saying, Its a powerful human story of struggle and triumph in which Irrfan will play a Sikh named Gurdit Singh. The story of those Sardars, Muslims and Hindus is relevant even today as we hear and read about the refugee crisis and racial profiling constantly. We have begun work on the pre-production and will announce the director and the rest of the cast in the next few days.

2. The film has been tentatively titled Lions of the Sea.

Sikh-history

The film will impart a strong religious message and will go on the floors in 2017.

3. Irrfan will reprise the role of a real-life Sikh businessman Gurdit Singh, who in 1914 chartered the Japanese ship Komagata Maru to carry 376 south Asian passengers to Canada to challenge the anti-immigration policies.

Based on a true-life drama about 376 South Asian ocean passengers who were denied entry to Canada in 1914, this incident involved the Japanese steamship of the same name that consisted 24 Muslims, 340 Sikhs and 12 Hindus, escaping from the harrowing British Raj. It was their bold attempt to immigrate from the country and flee to Canada via Shanghai, Hong Kong, Yokohama and Vancouver.
8 Indian Air Force fighter jets will touch down on Agra-Lucknow expressway on its grand opening today .

TOI

A dream project of UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, the 302-km expressway, which has been completed in a record time of 22 months and has cost Rs 13,200 crore, will get operational by December.

Unnao (UP): UP CM Akhilesh Yadav speaking at inauguration of Agra-Lucknow Expressway. pic.twitter.com/Z4Qq4DFrNZ  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2016

Though IAF official source on anonymity said, "To conduct safe landings of eight fighter jets, necessary safety requirements such as bird clearance, safety services, rescue vehicles and temporary air traffic control need to be set up."

TOI

According to a UPEIDA source, "A dedicated 2 km stretch has been built for war-like emergencies on the expressway, though we have also ensured that eco-system on the stretch is not disturbed."

The exercise will test the expressway's build quality, and aid the the Defence Ministry's plan to use highways and expressways as possible landing and take-off strips. The jets will land and take off in sequence, releasing tri-coloured smoke. The stretch for this will fall between Bangarmau and Ganj-Moradabad.

PTI

The jets include 4 Sukhois from Bareilly and 4 Mirage 2000s from Gwalior. The expressway can reduce travel time between Delhi and the Uttar Pradesh capital to 5 hours.
A 53-year-old man died of brain hemorrhage on Friday, four days after he was punched by a man who had been stalking his daughter, an 18-year-old student of Panvel college, for over a year.

mumbaimirror

Sadashiv Kanchan collapsed after being hit by Avishek Bhattacharya on a busy road in Poynad town of Raigad district on November 14, when he confronted him for harassing his daughter. Kanchan never regained consciousness and was declared dead on Friday at Apollo Hospital in Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

Avishek, 25, who was employed as a mechanical engineer in Libya till two months ago, stalked Kanchan's daughter for a year-and-half online when he was in Libya. Though she asked him to lay off and changed her phone number, he continued stalking her, often tapping her friends for her whereabouts.

When Avishek, who was the Kanchans' neighbour in Poynad, returned from Libya he began following her to college and back home every day.

He did not relent even after her father took up the matter with his parents.

The girl's father had decided to approach the police when he spotted Avishek in the town on the evening of November 14 and decided to warn him one last time. Avishek, however, attacked him viciously, punching him repeatedly in the head. A neighbour, who was witness to the attack, called the girl and her mother and helped them carry Kanchan to a primary health centre. As his condition worsened, Kanchan was moved to the Alibaug Government Hospital and later to Apollo hospital in Nerul.

The girl, her parents' only child, on Saturday said she is doing everything to pursue the case despite her mom being in shock. "I am torn between the need to stay home with my mom and the desire to make sure that Avishek is arrested and punished. We were a happy family. He has destroyed everything," she told this correspondent over the phone from her home.

mumbaimirror

She had celebrated her 18th birthday just a day before her father was declared dead.

"I was a minor when he started stalking me. My father did everything he could to protect me and eventually gave up his life," she said. "Do carry my father's picture alongside Avishek's with your report. I want the world to know what he has done. He must face the consequences of his actions," she said.

Avishek was detained by the Poynad police on Saturday and booked for and will be produced in a local court on Monday. "We are recording his statement. We have booked him for causing grevious injury. We will also book him for culpable homicide," said Assistant Police Inspector Dharmaraj Sonke.
Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trump's reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.

National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program which required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation.

AFP

"Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights. Our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits," Senator Dick Durbin said.

"Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns," Durbin said.

Reuters

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry.

"These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy," Honda said.

"Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration.

"The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted," Ellison said.

Reuters

Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately.

"Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn," Chu said.

"I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my family's experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do," said Takano.
In a serious attempt to state facts, recently, PM Modi addressed the much hyped Global Citizen Festival, and the media couldn't keep its eyes off him. All of this happened in the midst of the currency-ban-crisis. When a nation of 1.2 billion suffered and mourned, here was our PM, addressing a rock concert.

The problems being faced by the people after demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can only be known to those who are going through it. So far, 55 people have died and many are hapless since they do not have a single penny.

But this is not about addressing the concert - rather the time it happened. The PM was present at the Global Citizen Festival video conference, while he evaded the Parliament where the opposition had been waiting for his response.

As a result, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter

The cold play while the poor suffer!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 19, 2016

What in hell must a man do to be taken seriously around here?

RG wasn't alone in this though. In a series of tweets, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala explained why this is not the right thing to do.

#1

55 dead. Millions in queues. Crores suffering. ModiJi has no time for Parliament but has time to address rock concert instead.  Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 19, 2016

#2

#DeMonetisation Tragic indeed Modiji! As India suffers,bleeds and several die,your self-promotion in a rock concert is almost cold-blooded.  Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 19, 2016

#3

#DeMonetisation India stands in lines,poor languish in queues for withdrawing their own money. Modiji addressing Coldplay rock concert.  Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 19, 2016

#4

Self-styled 'Rock Star' rocks India's poor to misery, evades the Parliament & addresses Rock Concert via video. Way to fight black money.  Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 19, 2016

Modi had addressed thousands of Coldplay fans who were at the concert in an exclusive video.

"India stands in lines, poor languish in queues for withdrawing their own money." he said.

In the end, he said "You bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled," he said, adding, "you can be the change you want".

Ever since the announcement for demonetization was made, Modi has been absconding from the Parliament, trying to avoid all questions and confrontations.
Sergio Canavero prepares himself to do what no one has ever imagined doing before. The 51-year-old Italian neurosurgeon, who announced plans for the world's first human head transplant is now banking on Virtual Reality to make the transition to a new body a success.

kotaku

"We are combining the latest advancements in virtual reality to develop the world's first protocol for preparing the patient for bodily freedom after the transplantation procedure," Alexander Pavlovcik, chief executive of Inventum Bioengineering Technologies, the firm backing the project said.

VR may be the final piece of the puzzle, to ease the "unexpected psychological reactions", as it can acclimate the patient to be inside a new body and being able to walk. It will allow for the patient to be 'trained' for this change.

What's the concept?

aqu52

Canavero explains the process would be a two-part procedure. The first part he terms as HEAVEN - a head anastomosis venture. The second, Gemini - a spinal cord fusion

He already has a volunteer.

Canavero already has a volunteer willing to risk his life in return of a better one. A 31-year-old program manager in software development, Valery Spiridonov suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a terrible muscle-wasting condition that degenerates voluntary muscle movements and respiratory disorders. Apart from the movement being restricted, a patient suffering from this also has severe difficulty in chewing, swallowing and breathing. Spiridonov found out about what Canavero is proposing and has volunteered to be his first patient, in the hope that his life improves manifold. Canavero considers his move to be a bold one.

The procedure will be a daunting one, no doubt

losandes.com

In a paper submitted, Canavero explains the whole procedure at length. It will apparently be a 36-hour-long surgery involving, at the very least, 150 people, including doctors, nurses, technicians, psychologists and virtual reality engineers. The whole process will cost a whopping $20 million or Rs 133 crores approximately.

Also read: Italian Surgeon Set To Perform The World's First Human Head Transplant
It is not often that we see the power of compassion and empathy. Every day we see bad things happening around the world and we wish for all evils to come to an end, but what have we done to get rid of them? Nothing.

But there are people around us, who live among us, and do more than just wishing.

A couple of months ago, 6-year-old Alex wrote a sincere letter to Obama, asking him to bring Omran Daqneesh to the US.

BBC

Omran Daqneesh's case came to everyone's notice when a CNN reporter broke down while sharing his video. In the video, Daqneesh was covered with blood and his entire body was covered with dust.

Getty

After a series of attacks, Daqneesh was rescued from the rubble, while his family was being pulled from the debris that was once his house. So when Alex noticed the gory situation, he wrote a heartfelt letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to bring Dagneesh to the US so he can take care of him.

Watch the full video here:

Alex's gesture was appreciated by everyone around the world, and it set a much-needed example.

As a result, President Obama invited him to the White House, thanking him for showing kindness towards refugees and victims of war.

Remember Alex, the 6-year-old who wanted to help refugees? Last week, @POTUS invited him to the White House: https://t.co/6BCDGROi0w  The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 18, 2016

"You being so nice and kind, hopefully, makes other people think the same way."said Obama.

There's so much awesomeness in one frame! Kudos to Alex!
Syrian forces pounded eastern Aleppo with a series of strikes, and it is the deadliest so far. In a war which is now in its 6th year, killing more than 300,000 people may not be a huge toll, but it's a grave and late reminder to stop.

reuters

According to rescuers, this was the most violent airstrike, bringing the death toll to almost 300.

Rebel shelling killed eight children at a school in the government-held part of Aleppo on Sunday and a barrel bomb killed a family of six in the rebel-held area.

Also read: Eastern Aleppo's Only Children Hospital Destroyed, Babies Taken Off Life Support

reuters

After a three-week lull, the forces resumed heavy bombardment, and it was nothing like what they saw before. Families, including young children, were lying dead on the streets.

"This is the heaviest bombardment I have seen in the past five years," said Ismail Abdallah from the White Helmets.

reuters

White Helmets is a Syrian Civil Defense organisation.

Adding more to the existing crisis, not a single hospital in the region is fully functional.

Here's a video of what's happening inside Syria

Authorities said that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

They also said that whoever they are must be brought to account.

Aleppo has become the focal point of all such intense bombardment and danger to lives.

Let's pray for all those who are suffering there.
Renowned international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has warned that the US stands to "lose some of the moral standing that it has internationally" if some campaign proposals of US President-elect Donald Trump actually see the light of day.

AFP

"(Trump's comments) that there should be a religious test imposed on entering the US or the fact that there should be state-sponsored torture or that families of suspected terrorists should all be killed - all of those things are violations of international human rights law and the values that underlie that," Clooney said at a women's conference in Texas last week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

America's reputation is at risk, she said, as "there's some concern from abroad as to are these things actually going to happen" she said about Trump's campaign proposals.

The high-profile lawyer - who has represented ISIS survivors and Julian Assange of Wikileaks , and who happens to be wife of activist-actor George Clooney - said that she is already hearing fear in the voices of her friends and contacts overseas, The Hollywood Reporter said.

ALSO READ: Trump May Hate China, But His Granddaughter Is Winning Hearts By Reciting Chinese Poems

Reuters

Clooney and her husband, like much of left-leaning Hollywood, supported Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

At the women's conference in Texas, Clooney even quoted Clinton.

"Women's rights," she said, "are human rights. Holding back women is holding back half of every country in the world." Clinton famously said these words in Beijing in 1995, while she was US First Lady.

Clooney, who has represented women who have been enslaved and trafficked by the Islamic State (ISIS) as part of the ongoing Yazidi genocide, did say she hopes for the best in so far as Trump's commitment to fight ISIS.

"The president-elect has said that fighting ISIS is actually a priority ... so it may be that there can be progress, and obviously everyone has to respect the outcome of the democratic process here, and we have to hope for the best," Clooney added.

ALSO READ: Team Trump Begins Work On Registering Muslim Immigrants On A Database
Argentine cooks prepared a 500-metre-long pizza in order to raise public awareness for Down Syndrome. Sunday morning saw hundreds of cooks, assistants , volunteers and onlookers assemble in Buenos Aires for the glorious occasion.

The event, organised on Sunday by the Association of Pizzeria and Empanada House Owners, aimed to promote the employment of people with the genetic disorder so as to help them tackle resulting challenges in daily life, Xinhua news agency reported.

Proceso de Armado y coccion de la Pizza mas grande de Buenos Aires, Argentina 500 metros pic.twitter.com/Wb5WVv2ygV  JorgeDante (@jorgedante) November 20, 2016

Hundreds of residents lined up along the capital city's central avenue Avenida de Mayo for a total of 20,000 slices of the pizza priced at 30 pesos ($2) for two slices and a beverage. Some 750 kg of flour, 450 litres of water, 750 kg of mozzarella cheese, 300 kg of ham, 300 litres of tomato sauce and 25,000 olives were used in the pizza.

"I came in the past two years. It is for solidarity, and I would like to help, and the pizza is delicious," resident Catalina Deit told Xinhua.



Supported by the Union of Workers of Buenos Aires Confectioners, professional schools and the government of Argentina's capital.

The event sought to encourage the integration of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Proceeds from the sales were contributed to ADRA (Asociacion Sindrome de Down de la Republica Argentina), which raises awareness about labour and educational inclusion of people with Down syndrome. "It is a charity event in which I like to help. Also, the pizza is very rich, Deit Catalina told Xinhua

"Many people with Down syndrome are working on the street with people APPYCE and that gives them great visibility because you are showing society that can do a job like any other person who has a disability," he added.
The Islamic State group has taken credit for killing of four members of Pakistani security forces, who were shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle in the southwestern city of Quetta.

The IS affiliate in Pakistan has grown in recent months by attracting disgruntled Taliban militants and by partnering with a violent sectarian group that targets the country's Shiite minority. IS claimed an attack on a Sufi shrine earlier this month that killed more than 50 people.

Pakistan has stepped up security ahead of Shiite processions on Sunday and Monday to mourn Imam Hussein, the slain grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

ISIS also took credit for an attack on Shah Noorani, a Sufi shrine which killed over 50 people, and a an October attack on a police training center in southwestern Pakistan that left 61 dead.

The ISIS group is increasing its presence in Pakistan, recruiting Uzbek terrorists, attracting disgruntled Taliban fighters and partnering with one of Pakistan's most violent sectarian groups, according to police officers, Taliban officials and analysts.

AP

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the extremist group has adopted the name the Islamic State in Khorasan - a reference to an ancient geographical region that encompassed a vast swath of territory stretching from Turkmenistan through Iran and Afghanistan.

Islamic State in Khorasan has set up its base in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, and while it has pledged allegiance to the ISIS, it remains unclear whether there are direct operational or financial links between the two. According to police, Afghan officials and ISIS media outlets, the majority of ISIS fighters in Afghanistan are Pakistani nationals, mostly from the tribal regions.

Counterterrorism officials in Pakistan say that ISIS has begun reaching out to local militants through its rich social media presence. "They are inspiring the like-minded youth in Pakistan through their strong social media propaganda," said Junaid Sheikh, a senior counterterrorism commander in the southern city of Karachi.

A senior police official in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, where several militant groups are headquartered, said the IS group is firmly entrenched in Pakistan and its roots are growing stronger as it aligns with Pakistan's Sunni Muslim extremist groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The police official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The official also said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had largely relocated from Punjab to Baluchistan province in the face of a major military campaign.
The antagonism created by US president-elect Donald Trump's China bashing is being smothered by no one else but his 5-year-old granddaughter, Arabella. She has stolen millions of Chinese hearts by reciting Chinese poems, which was first posted by her mother, Ivanka, on Instagram during the Chinese New Year last February.

Reuters

The video of Arabella's recitation has gone viral on the Chinese social media. A social media platform, which is run by Tencent, reported that the video has been downloaded more than one million times. Surprised web users are happily commenting on the little girl's Chinese learning ability. She is seen reciting a nursery rhyme, "The little rabbit is so white" and a poem, "Sympathy for peasants".

Despite Trump's criticism of China, including his accusation that the country was "stealing American jobs", many Chinese are hoping that the little girl would play a role in softening her grandfather's attitude towards China. Comments like "super adorable" describing her are filling up the social media space.

Instagram

"After viewing this you will understand why Chinese people support Trump," a post in Weibo, a micro blogging site, said. "Just imagine yourself in Trump's place. Would you let your offspring learn a language of the nation you dislike much?"

Michael Huang, a Taiwanese pop star sent her a message through the social media, "Speak Mandarin, enjoy the future" he added. His post has garnered more than 1,700 likes.

You can watch the video here:
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.
At least 25 people were killed on Saturday night when gunmen stormed three Zamfara State communities, an official said.

The lawmaker representing Zurmi West in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Yusuf Moriki, told the reporters that the incident occurred at Dole, Tudun Bugaje and Kwangwami communities in Zurmi Local Government Area.

Mr. Moriki said 25 were killed, while many others were injured during the attack.

So far, we have the record of 25 people who were killed during the attack, while many others injured have been taken to hospital for treatment, he said.

The bandits attacked the villages on Saturday night after carrying out similar attacks in some communities at neighbouring Shinkafi Local Government Area, the previous day.

Saturdays attack occurred about two weeks after gunmen killed over 40 people in another attack in Zamfara.

Recall how the gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers stormed a mining site in Gidan Ardo Village of Bindin district of Maru Local Government Area.

Witnesses in the area said the gunmen, numbering over 70, rode into the mining site at around 3 p.m.on November 7 and shot anyone on sight, killing over 40 persons and injuring several others.

Another 40 people were kidnapped by gunmen in Maru Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

Speaking on Saturdays attack, the police spokesperson, Dan Awunah, said seven of the victims were members of the communities where the hoodlums attacked. He told the News Agency of Nigeria that two others were policemen.

He said the Police Mobile Force and the Counter-terrorism Unit had been deployed to the area to restore law and order.

While speaking further on the killings, Mr. Moriki commended security agencies in the state for measures so far taken to restore peace and stability in the area, but urged them to do more.

He appealed to the people of the area to remain calm as the state government in collaboration with security agencies, was making efforts to restore peace and stability in the area.

He also urged them to continue to pray and seek Gods intervention in the insecurity challenges facing the state and the country.
A Turkish man has been arrested after he stole a horse because he had been told it would aid in the passing of his kidney stone.

The man living in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri was arrested on November 21, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.

In his testimony, the man simply identified as M.G. reportedly said he stole the animal upon doctors advice to ride a horse in order to pass his kidney stone.

During the investigation, police determined that the horse had been seen in a field in the Melikgazi district.

M.G. left the horse in the field fearing that he would be apprehended after the incident began circulating in the media.

A local court later ordered the arrest of M.G.

The horse, Hazal, has previously been enlisted to help treat children for autism. Efforts to locate Hazal are ongoing.
It appears that last week Microsoft added a new and largely unheralded capability to the Office 365 checker tool.

A change to Microsofts main troubleshooting article for OneDrive for Business, KB 3125202, added a reference to an option in the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 tool that can be used to scan for files that are too big, file and folder names that have invalid characters, for path names that exceed the length limit, and several other headache-inducing problems. This appears to be a new capability for the Office 365 checker tool.

The KB article was changed last week (Google cache here), to add the reference, @teroalhonen tweeted this morning.

Heres what the new information says:

Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 is a tool that can diagnose and fix many common Office 365 problems. The OneDrive for Business option Im having a problem with OneDrive for Business now scans for the following issues: Checks the option to manually or automatically update the NGSC+B to its latest version.

Reports all files that have sizes exceeding the limit.

Reports all files that have invalid characters in the names.

Reports all folders that have invalid characters or strings in the names.

Reports all paths exceeding the limit and provides a link to this KB article. The tool is available from http://diagnostics.outlook.com. When you run this tool, the initial page will display several options, including the new option for OneDrive for Business: Im having a problem with OneDrive for Business.

This looks like an excellent tool for anyone troubleshooting OneDrive for Business problems.
A surprising new voice has joined the growing chorus of those worried about a retirement crisis in the U.S. Over the years weve heard plenty from policymakers, think-tank denizens, and academics. So Hamilton (Tony) James, president and COO of $311 billion Blackstone Group, is a welcome addition to the debate over how to ensure that millions dont retire in poverty.

James entered the fray in September with the publication of Rescuing Retirement: A Plan to Guarantee Retirement Security for All Americans. He co-wrote the book with veteran labor economist and retirement security expert Teresa Ghilarducci, the Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz professor of economics at the New School for Social Research and director of the New Schools Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) and its Retirement Equity Lab (ReLab).

Its a huge issue for America, and we need to focus on it, says James, whom Blackstone co-founder Stephen Schwarzman recruited from Credit Suisse First Boston in 2002 to help grow the private equity and asset management giant. I wanted to start a national dialogue.

James had been studying the issues around retirement security in the U.S. for about two years when he reached out to Ghilarducci to see how they might work together to create a new retirement savings structure for the many people who are saving nothing or too little.

As a first step, the pair wrote their book to present the facts and a clear outline of how to solve the problem on a national level. Ghilarducci and James point out that the average retirement savings balance of an American between the ages of 40 and 55 is $14,500, and the median savings in a 401(k) account is $18,433; but to retire comfortably, the average American needs about $375,000. Also, 68 percent of working people (those aged 25 to 64) dont have a retirement plan because their employer doesnt offer one, they dont participate in their workplace plan, or theyre not working.

Ghilarducci and James call for restructuring the 401(k) and IRA system, making the new program mandatory for employers and employees, and including the use of annuities. Anybody who is not in a defined benefit plan is exposed to a failed system, Ghilarducci tells Institutional Investor. The proposed system aims to get participants as close as possible to the key benefits of a traditional pension.

Support from the retirement security sector has been encouraging. Its a very important contribution to the dialogue, says Karen Friedman, policy director of the Pension Rights Center, a consumer advocacy group. It is very well-written, very creative, and a solid solution.

Friedman cites key ideas such as mandating a retirement savings plan on top of Social Security, having all employers and employees contribute unless theyre already sponsoring or in a plan, and providing a system of adequacy not offered by 401(k) plans.

When it comes to ensuring that a large portion of the 50 million full-time U.S. workers who lack access to a retirement plan or choose not to contribute to one will start saving, not everybody agrees that a new national program is necessary. Josh McGee, a policy expert and economist with the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, which focuses on public pensions, education, and criminal justice, believes the current system of defined contribution plans is working adequately.

The book dramatically overstates the problem, says McGee, who is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Its not clear we need a federally mandated system.

In McGees view, it is a little foolhardy to propose that all we have to do is invest in these pooled funds when so many [retirement] assets are already in target date funds. However, he does agree that annuitization of defined contribution plan assets has room for improvement.

James and Ghilarducci recently visited members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including Democratic senators Cory Booker and Ronald Wyden and their Republican counterpart Robert Corker, to introduce the national savings program. In the government there is recognition we need a federal plan and everybody needs to be in a plan, Ghilarducci says.

One of the co-authors visits was with Representative Joseph Crowley, who has sponsored legislation to create USAccounts, which would give every child an individualized savings vehicle at birth. Crowley also has promoted the creation of workplace savings accounts, based on the federal Thrift Savings Plan, that every employer with more than ten staff would sponsor.

Were seeing a new generation of Americans growing up with little or no savings to help them climb the economic ladder, weather a difficult time, or create a comfortable nest egg for their family, the New York Democrat says. And that has to change.

James, a noted philanthropist who serves on the boards of the Center for American Progress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mount Sinai Health System, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, says he has spoken with labor leaders and the CEOs of major U.S. corporations, finding them unanimous in their praise for his proposed retirement program.

There used to be a coming together of issues of national importance, he observes. We havent done this in 50 years. James believes the time to act is now.
This content is from: Portfolio

Dont give up on small funds. Theyve still outperformed in 20 of the last 25 years.
Lloyds of London has started talks with Irans insurance industry for a potential expansion into the Middle Eastern country.Inga Beale, the specialist insurance markets CEO, met last Friday with Abdolnaser Hemmati, president and head of the High Council of Insurance of Bimeh Markazi Iran, state-run Mehr News Agency reported.According to the report, Beale stressed that Lloyds insurance syndicates are willing to establish their presence in Iran.Beale also drew attention to Lloyds previous activities in the Iranian market and emphasised the need to thresh out issues related to money transfers in its insurance industry.For his part, Hemmati said that Lloyds presence in Iran will hold great significance, according to Mehr News Agency. He also proposed the creation of a committee to provide grounds for the activity of Lloyds insurance syndicates in Irans free zones.In response, Beale urged two international directors of Lloyds to visit Irans capital, Tehran, and conduct negotiations with senior officials of the High Council of Insurance of Bimeh Markazi Iran.The US and United Nations lifted economic sanctions on Iran in January this year. However, international brokers and reinsurers are still hesitant to enter the market, according to the Axco Insurance Information Services.Axco said in its latest country report that Iran is the largest non-life insurance market in the Middle East and the 29th largest market globally as of 2014.The report said Irans non-life market premium income, excluding its health business, grew 22.6% from 2014 to 2015.Despite all the challenges Iran has faced over the past few decades, Iran offers huge opportunities, which we see only growing as there is more foreign investment, said Tim Yeates, managing director at Axco.However, its important to understand the risks and challenges that the Iranian market offers.
The impending sale of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)s life insurance business has attracted the attention of Asian insurers Meiji Yasuda of Japan and AIA Group of Hong Kong. ANZ values its life unit at AU$4.5 billion.Meiji Yasuda, the third-largest private insurer by assets in Japan, is reportedly interested in ANZs wealth business, in addition to the life insurance division. The wealth business has a relatively low-risk, fee-based superannuation business which is attractive to the Japanese insurer.Meanwhile, if AIA is able to buy ANZs life business, then it would greatly boost the pan-Asian insurers Australian footprint. Currently, AIAs presence in Australia is quite small compared to its operations in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.ANZs life insurance division, called OnePath , has a 10% share of the life insurance market and is the sixth-largest life insurer in Australia. Its insurance and wealth businesses reported a profit of AU$327 million (US$ 241.3 million) for the year ended September 30, down 24% from the previous year. The decrease was partly attributed to significant changes in company structure and software migration.Recently, another Australian bank, NAB, sold its 80% stake in its life insurance arm to Nippon Life of Japan. The deal, worth AU$2.4 billion (US$1.84 billion), was finalised last month.According to analysts, Australian banks are exiting the life insurance sector due to lower returns on equity and new regulations requiring them to hold more capital against their higher-returning mortgage books.The landscape is changing, PwC partner Scott Fergusson told Reuters. Organisations are going to focus on their strengths. The divestment is about (banks) choosing to no longer be the manufacturer (of life insurance). It recognizes they still want to sell life insurance to their customers but the underwriter will be someone else.
The head of a leading financial product comparison website has called on the government to arm thousands of Australian consumers against extremely powerful insurers and banks, it has been reported.Amidst the clamour for a comprehensive, independent comparison website that would help Aussies find good-value cover, Elisabeth Realfsen, editor of the Norwegian government-backed Finansportalen, said that only political measures could address the lack of information equilibrium between consumers and providers, news.com.au reported.Realfsen said she recognised the arguments made by financial services providers against simplistic comparison sites for having too much focus on price and too little focus on quality.In a report, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority said the questions asked to consumers on Finansportalen were developed with insurers and their trade organisation.The dialogue is based on the questions all the companies separately ask their customers, to be able to calculate prices for insurance, it said.Ms Realfsen said: Finansportalen encourages consumers to compare both quality and price of insurance products before making their choice.The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ( ASIC ) recognised the sites potential to enhance consumer outcomes and drive competition in its Productivity Commission Inquiry into Data Availability and Use submission three months ago.The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), on the other hand, opposes such a move, saying that it rejects calls for a government-run insurance aggregator website and any compulsion to participate, news.com.au reported.
Manufacturing businesses are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks owing to their focus on innovation and increasing reliance on connected products, a multinational professional services firm said in a recent study. Deloitte s study, titled Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), revealed that 40% of manufacturing companies were impacted by cyber incidents in the past 12 months, and 38% of those affected suffered over $1 million in damages, BetaNews reported.Study findings also showed that four of the top 10 cyber threats confronting manufacturing companies involve internal employees  phishing/pharming, direct abuse of IT systems, errors/omissions, and use of mobile devices.The study also listed the top data concerns among manufacturers. Topping the list is intellectual property, at 36%; followed by consumer data (32%), unauthorized/accidental disclosure of personal information (29%), web-enabled systems and services (26%), and managing third-party information sharing (25%) completing the top five.Deloitte also found that while 87% of manufacturing companies have an incident response plan in place, only 36% have it documented and tested. Furthermore, 37% of respondents were found to not include connected products in their incident response plans, which signals the need for a more holistic approach to cyber risk, Deloitte said.Brian Clark, partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, and co-author of the study, told BetaNews: The pace and impact of innovation, coupled with cyber security risk, creates a risk environment that must be carefully managed.Product innovation can rapidly make existing products obsolete, potentially delivering considerable value to the innovator while leaving the unprepared facing competitive disadvantages.Further, technological innovation enables the manufacturing business model more, but can present a strategic risk as well. For manufacturers to thrive amid the ever-changing risk landscape, a companys risk assessment practices should align with those changes.The study listed six key areas of risk for manufacturing businesses. These are: executive and board engagement, talent and human capital, intellectual property, industrial control systems, connected products and the industrial ecosystem.Les Miller, internal audit council director and deputy general counsel of MAPI, told BetaNews: Organizations should establish a risk assessment program that fits into its unique culture and risks. Since change is constant and can occur suddenly, ongoing efforts to enhance the sophistication and variety of risk assessment techniques are needed.Access the Deloitte study here
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, was narrowly defeated Nov. 8 by his Republican opponent Mike Causey. Goodwin has served as North Carolina Insurance Commissioner since 2009.

Causey, an insurance agency owner, won by nearly 39,000 votes, according to state news sites.

He ran on a platform of modernizing what he calls on his website an outdated insurance department.

Its time that North Carolina had an insurance commissioner that doesnt play politics and reflects the conservative values and principles of most North Carolinians, his website says.

Causey lists his experience in the insurance industry as spanning 25 years, which has included as an agent and insurance agency owner.

Causey and Goodwin battled it out for the post once before in 2012, with Goodwin winning then by 4 percentage points, according to Ballotpedia.

My message of More Choices, Better Service and Lower Rates resonated with the voters, Causey said in a statement to Insurance Journal. A special thanks to Commissioner Goodwin for his years of service in state government.

Goodwin touted the departments efforts in fighting insurance fraud, lowering insurance rates and working to get better training and equipment for volunteer fire departments.

But he is currently embroiled in a battle with state homeowner insurers over a 24.9 percent rate increase denial in 2014.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau has asked the State Supreme Court to review after an appeals court sided with Goodwin.

Causey says on his website one of his tasks as commissioner will include reforming the North Carolina Rate Bureau.
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that the Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund is authorized to recover certain amounts paid by the Fund in workers compensation benefits on behalf of Berkshire Bank.

The lawsuit, Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund v. Berkshire Bank, was originally brought against Berkshire in 2014 by the Fund, a nonprofit, unincorporated legal entity established in 1970 to provide a limited form of protection from insurer insolvencies.

In its decision, the court cited a section of Massachusetts General Law that identifies Berkshire as a high net worth insured. Under section 17 of Massachusetts General Law chapter 175D, the Fund has the right to recover from a high net worth insured amounts paid by the Fund to or on behalf of the insured.

Section 17 was added in 2006 to address the issue of high net worth insureds. It defines a high net worth insured as any insured whose net worth exceeds $25 million on December 31 of the year before the year in which the insurer becomes an insolvent insurer.

Section 17 contains no language carving out any exceptions for any particular types of insurance otherwise covered by the Fund, and Berkshire indisputably qualifies as a high net worth insured under the definition of the term, the court outlined in its ruling.

The 2014 lawsuit came after a series of incidents involving workers compensation benefits over the previous decade.

In May 2003, Donna Poli, an assistant branch manager for Woronoco Savings Bank of Westfield, Mass., injured her back while lifting coin-filled bags. Woronoco was then named the insured under a workers compensation/employers liability policy issued by New York-based Centennial Insurance Company, according to the court decision. Centennial began paying Poli weekly workers compensation benefits, providing total incapacity benefits for up to three years.

On June 16, 2005, Woronoco merged with Berkshire. Poli exhausted her entitlement to benefits in August 2006, and Centennial voluntarily began payments providing partial incapacity benefits for four years. In August 2010, Poli exhausted her entitlement to those benefits, and Centennial ceased making payments.

In April 2011, the New York Supreme Court placed Centennial into liquidation. The Fund assumed administration of Polis claim and entered into a lump sum agreement with her in which it agreed to pay $85,000 and to pay all future medical expenses arising from the injury. Berkshire was not consulted by the Fund about the agreement, which was approved by the DIA, according to the court decision.

In January 2012, the Fund sought to recoup the amounts paid to Poli from Berkshire, who refused to pay, prompting the July 2014 lawsuit.

Berkshire argued that the Funds payments were not made on its behalf because under Commonwealth of Massachusetts workers compensation law, once the employer purchases workers compensation, the liability to pay compensation benefits is the insurers and the employer retains no further responsibility, according to the decision document.

The court ruled, however, that the employers obligation to provide coverage is a statutory one that exists independently of the insurer, the decision document stated.

Berkshire is correct that the insurer is directly liable for paying workers compensation benefits, the decision said. Berkshire concedes, as it must, that employers are required to provide their employees with workers compensation benefits or face severe penalties and common-law tort liability.
An Ohio-based property/casualty insurer experimenting with gamification to educate agents on its specialized products and services is finding that it is learning a lot about its agent force in the process.

American Modern Insurance Group, in the final stages of its Most Confident Agent campaign, is discovering not only what agents are knowledgeable about but also what they dont know in terms of what the Cincinnati area-based company offers consumers. For American Modern marketing executives Tammy Nelson, chief experience officer, and Brent Floyd, director of Creative Services, that information has given them insight into where the company needs to do a better job of educating its agents.

American Moderns Most Confident Agent campaign began in October and wraps up on Nov. 21, when the results of the strategy will be announced. To encourage participation, the initiative uses videos and quizzes to engage and inform agents, as well as incentives such as cash prizes  including a grand prize of $5,000  and the chance knock the fictional Most Confident Agent, Mike Noble, off his pedestal and take his place.

Agents are urged to follow Noble on Facebook, to watch the videos and take the tests.

One of the questions, or the question that is most often answered incorrectly gives us great insight into what we need to do as marketers to help better educate them, Nelson said.

Its pretty cool to see the agents are learning, but were learning as well at the same time, she added.

Nelson and Floyd said while the program is still in progress, it appears to be a success in terms of agent participation.

With this particular campaign weve set levels, points and benchmarks, so that people can reach them and really feel like theyve accomplished something, Floyd said.

He said the goal of the current campaign is to educate our agents about our residential line of products, our specialty line of products. That includes our vacant, seasonal, rental, owner-occupied and even manufactured homes product lines or solutions. It is built upon a test run that the company conducted with its agents in February. The engagement rate in the test was huge, Floyd said.

In a six-week window, we saw more than 8,000 downloads of product-based PDFs and videos. That window almost exceeded an entire year  the entire 2015 year for downloads. In a six-week window, we were able to engage and deliver almost as much content as wed delivered in an entire year, he said.

Nelson added that agents are actively involved in the process. Its not just us pushing it into their inbox, but theyre clicking through, and then they are actively seeking out that content.

While the primary aim of the gamification strategy is to empower agents with information about American Moderns products and services, a secondary goal is to drive premium growth, Nelson said.

We know that the more familiar the agent is with our product, the more they know about it, the more likely they are to quote it when that risk comes across their desks, Floyd added.

Wed love to drive quotes and premium from those agents as they become more educated, but obviously, it takes time and steps to get to those deeper benefits of the campaign. Definitely, education is first and foremost, and we hope that quotes and premium are driven out of that as well. Nelson said.

Topics Agencies
Just how legalized weed in California will impact workers compensation is still uncertain, but what is certain is that the insurance industry can soon expect to be grappling with issues around paying for marijuana for injured workers.

The California Workers Compensation Institute issued a white paper this month that examines the implications of the passage of Proposition 64 by voters.

The paper, Working Through the Haze: Implications of Legalized Marijuana for California Workers Compensation System, examines the potential impact of the legalized recreational use of marijuana in California on employers, workers comp insurers and the workforce.

With recreational marijuana now legal in California, employers and insurers are well-advised to monitor this developing area of the law and its practical impact on claims processing requirements, the paper states.

Because the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, its use is prohibited by federal law, and under current California law insurers cannot be required to pay for it even if it has been recommended for medical purposes, the paper notes.

But that doesnt mean there wont be pressure on insurers to pay for pot, according to the author of the paper, CWCI General Counsel Ellen Sims Langille.

The legalization of marijuana may have removed the stigma from it being used only for treating serious diseases, potentially opening the floodgates for injured workers who may now see it as an option, she said.

I think theres going to be a greater pressure on workers comp doctors to recommend marijuana as a treatment, Langille said.

Its that pressure that may lead to more new laws, forcing the issue on the insurance industry, she added.

Somebody somewhere in California is shortly going to start saying Yes this is treatment for an industrial injury, this does cure or reduce the effects of an industrial injury,' Langille said, adding that the conflict between federal and state law and the demand for pot can combine into pressure to change the law.

The CWCI paper examines the intersection of workers comp with medical and recreational marijuana laws in California, in other states, and at the federal level.

Among the issues discussed in the paper are a developing trend toward compelled compensation in various jurisdictions.

The paper also discusses the compensability of work-related injuries suffered by medicinal and recreational marijuana users, the enforcement of drug-free workplace policies and the potential for retaliation and discrimination claims.

The medical efficacy of marijuana and its use as an alternative to more opioids, and a lack of uniform dosage levels and delivery methods, are other questions the paper examines.

The paper also advises the insurance industry to start thinking ahead.

Claims administrators should work to establish standards of review for requested marijuana treatment and payment, the paper states. Any policies that are developed should also consider the impact of Californias board medical privacy laws and the potential conflicts under the Employers Bill of Rights as codified in the Labor Code.

Topics California Trends Workers' Compensation Cannabis Market
A woman who spent more than seven years in prison for a $7 million insurance fraud and the unrelated death of a patient at her now-defunct Pennsylvania nursing home is in trouble with the law again.

This time, the Allegheny County district attorneys office says Martha Bell, 70, has swindled an 89-year-old man out of $322,000 by falsely telling him he could invest in Medicare bed licenses that she allegedly claimed to still control.

A criminal complaint Thursday alleges Bell spent the money at The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino south of the city, on furniture, purchases from Victorias Secret, restitution payments from her previous court cases and tax bills.

The West Mifflin womans attorney, James Paulick, didnt immediately return a call for comment after Bell surrendered. Shes free on bond pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 1.

District attorneys Detective Jackelyn Weibel alleged Bell contacted the man, whom she knew through a mutual friend, shortly after she was released from prison in early 2013.

Bell allegedly told the man she needed money to place liens against five nursing homes and another property she once controlled before her incarceration. The man told investigators Bells claims of how much money she needed kept increasing and she eventually told him if he loaned her money, shed make him half owner of $3 million worth of Medicare bed licenses she claimed to still control.

Investigators determined that Bell no longer controls the licenses  theyre defunct, along with her former nursing home  and that the investment story was a ruse. The man allegedly wrote 33 checks totaling $332,000 to Bell.

Bell spent more than two years in state prison for the October 2001 death of an 88-year-old woman who wandered outside the now-shuttered Ronald Reagan Atrium I Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Robinson Township. That woman, Mabel Taylor, died after she was locked outside for hours on a 40-degree night.

The death investigation led regulators to scrutinize the home and its parent company, the Alzheimers Disease Alliance of Western Pennsylvania, and led to federal Medicare and Medicaid fraud charges, which cost Bell an additional five more years in federal prison for collecting insurance money for services not rendered.

Bell was also convicted in 2008 in state court of stealing $51,500 in payroll money from the same nursing home, but her six- to 12-month jail sentence was imposed concurrently to the others so didnt extend her incarceration.

At one point, while free on bond during the federal prosecution, Bell received permission from a judge to visit an Atlantic City casino for what her attorney called rest and relaxation over the objection of federal prosecutors.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Pennsylvania
A federal judge in Texas is giving Exxon Mobil Corp. an unprecedented chance to question a state law-enforcement officer who is investigating whether the energy company hid damaging data about climate change from investors.

U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in Dallas on Thursday ordered Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to appear in the city on Dec. 13 to face questions from Exxon lawyers. The company claims her probe into the companys public statements about global warming is politically motivated.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is running a parallel investigation into Exxon, was added to the companys lawsuit last week. Hes fighting to avoid being deposed, but was advised by the judge to appear in Dallas on the same date.

Douglas Gansler, the attorney general of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, said hes never heard of an instance where a company under investigation by a state sues and wins permission to question law-enforcement officers.

Not only is it unusual, its unprecedented, Gansler, a Democrat who isnt involved in the litigation, said in an interview. Its completely inconsistent with the law and the functioning of our government.

Company Information

Massachusetts, New York and other states are investigating whether Irving, Texas-based Exxon violated securities laws and consumer-protection rules by withholding from investors information allegedly obtained as early as the 1970s that man-made emissions were changing the climate and may impact its businesses. The states are also looking into whether Exxon has properly accounted for its oil-and-gas reserves following a global drop in prices.

Exxon has denied the allegations, saying the valuation of its assets meets all legal standards. The company has denied wrongdoing in the case.

We have no choice but to defend ourselves against politically motivated investigations that are biased, in bad faith and without legal merit. said Alan Jeffers, an Exxons spokesman. We did not start this, but we will see it through and will vigorously defend ourselves against false allegations and mischaracterizations of our climate research and investor communications.

Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, called the ruling a windfall to lawbreakers.

Drug Lords, Mobsters

For the first and only time, a federal judge is forcing the chief law enforcement official of a state to disclose sensitive sources and methods before even being allowed to gather evidence, Campbell said in an e-mailed statement. Drug lords and mobsters will use this ruling as a new shield against investigation and prosecution.

Schneiderman filed his own lawsuit against Exxon in state court in New York, saying the company has failed to comply with a demand for records about the impact of climate change on the valuation of its assets. The states top cop claims Exxon is likely delaying in the hope that itll succeed in the Texas case before the company is forced to hand over the documents.

We will respond appropriately, Schneiderman spokesman Eric Soufer said without elaborating.

Healey has argued that Texas doesnt have jurisdiction in the matter and is awaiting a ruling on a request to dismiss Exxons suit.

We continue to litigate against Exxon in Massachusetts state court, where this dispute properly belongs, and will fight aggressively to investigate whether Exxon Mobil deceived consumers and investors about the impact of fossil fuels, Healeys spokeswoman, Chloe Gotsis, said in a statement.

The case is Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Healey, 16-cv-00469, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation Texas New York Massachusetts
Fosun International Ltd. agreed to pay 174.6 million euros ($185 million) for a stake in Banco Comercial Portugues SA, Portugals biggest publicly traded lender by assets.

A unit of Fosun will subscribe to about 157.4 million Banco Comercial shares at 1.1089 euros each through a private placement, equivalent to about 16.67 percent of the expanded share capital, according to a statement from Fosun on Sunday to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The investment will help the Chinese group extend its business in Europe and Africa, it said.

Fosun aims to increase the stake to about 30 percent in the future and additional directors will be nominated on the board of Banco Comercial by Fosuns unit, according to the statement. Fosuns proposal to invest in Banco Comercial was initially disclosed in July 2016

Fosun has been one of the most acquisitive Chinese firms in the past three years  buying foreign assets such as French resort chain Club Mediterranee SA and Canadian circus operator Cirque du Soleil  as part of plans to focus its businesses on tourism, healthcare and wealth. Fosun shares were down 7.3 percent this year in Hong Kong, compared with a 2 percent gain in the Hang Seng Index.

Portuguese banks including Banco Comercial and state-owned Caixa Geral de Depositos SA have been trying to boost capital as they address regulators requests and the burden of non-performing loans.

With assistance from Joao Lima.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions China
A tropical moisture system resulting from Hurricane Matthew swept through Atlantic Canada last month, resulting in more than $100 million in insured damage, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), which quoted a report from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).

A cold front interacting with Matthews tropical moisture resulted in a low-pressure system that quickly intensified and brought hurricane strength winds and intense rainfall to parts of Atlantic Canada, said IBC.

The storm stalled as it passed over Nova Scotia and caused significant flooding on Cape Breton Island. Sydney, NS received close to 225mm (8.9 inches) of rain in one day, which shattered the citys previous single day record of 129mm (5.1 inches).

This storm was one of the most devastating we have seen in recent memory, said Amanda Dean, vice president, Atlantic, IBC. The flooding caused by this system was a sobering reminder of the power of Mother Nature and the impacts that severe weather can have on our communities. All residents in Atlantic Canada should take this opportunity to review their insurance policies, talk to their insurance representatives to see what products are available, and make sure theyre adequately covered for when bad weather strikes.

Flooding and related sewer backup damage is costly for homeowners, businesses, municipalities and insurance companies, the IBC said. From ensuring that important documents are not stored in your basement to installing a sump pump, the IBC recommended proactive steps to take such as:

Keep a current and detailed home inventory.

If your neighborhood is prone to flooding, take precautions throughout your house and property.

Assemble a disaster safety kit.

Create an emergency preparedness plan for your family, covering at least 72 hours.

Canada is the only G7 country without a national strategy to deal with overland flooding, added Dean. The Atlantic floods demonstrated that, despite new overland flood insurance coverage being increasingly available to homeowners, there is a need for coordinated action. More remains to be done and all stakeholders have a role to play.

About IBC and CatIQ

IBC is the national industry association representing Canadas private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90 percent of the property and casualty insurance market in Canada. CatIQ delivers analytical and meteorological information on Canadian natural and man-made catastrophes.

Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada

Topics Flood Canada
North Dakota ranks 47th in the country in being equipped to fight fires and its not helping that fewer people are signing up to be volunteer firefighters.

Most fire departments in North Dakota are made up of volunteers but now the number of volunteers is waning.

Fire departments in the state are made up of 96 percent volunteers, WDAY-TV reported.

Mayville fire chief Lee Brenna said he was on a wait list to join the fire department in 1988. Mayville had 50 firefighters at the time. Today, there are only 28 firefighters in the department.

Theres always that fear, you get here first, you get the truck running and youre hoping there will be enough guys to come, said Brenna.

As volunteers decline, departments have assisted other towns in emergencies. However, that leaves the town thats providing assistance more vulnerable.

Due to the decline becoming more severe the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given North Dakota $2.1 million, to benefit the state for the next four years.

Officials have said the funding will be put toward an ad campaign aimed at recruitment and retention of firefighters and will also be used to enhance firefighter education.

Lavon Nelson, who lost his home to a fire in June, said he believes its important to have enough manpower to fight fires.

Mayville Fire Department was assisted by the Portland Fire Department, by Hatton and by Hillsboro, said Nelson. They all came and brought 15,000 pounds of water and did what they could.

With lack of staff in fire departments and longer response times, home insurance costs also increase.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
President-elect Donald Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle claims that his defunct Trump University cheated more than 6,000 students with false promises of teaching them his real estate secrets.

The accord, announced Friday minutes before the start of a court hearing in San Diego, resolves two class-action lawsuits in California by former students, as well as a fraud case filed in 2013 by New Yorks attorney general.

In cutting the deal after years of fighting the allegations, Trump avoids a potentially distracting trial that was set to start in 10 days as hes consumed by his transition, including selecting appointees for his administration.

The judge, whom Trump attacked during the campaign as being biased against him because of his Mexican heritage, had urged Trump and the former students to settle the case to avert what would have been the first trial in U.S. history to feature testimony from a president-elect.

While we have no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed at trial based on the merits of this case, resolution of these matters allows President-elect Trump to devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation, Alan Garten, general counsel of the Trump Organization, said in a statement.

Trump, 70, was accused of conning thousands of students, including many senior citizens, into paying as much as $35,000 for real-estate seminars by falsely telling them theyd be taught by his handpicked instructors at an accredited university.

Students Approved

Trump has repeatedly denied the fraud allegations and has cited Trump Universitys 98 percent approval rating as evidence the program was providing valuable instruction.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel in San Diego was set to consider Trumps request to postpone the Nov. 28 trial until after his inauguration. After confirming the settlement, the judge said a schedule needed to be set to allow former students to review and accept, reject or drop out of the agreement. He ordered the settlement to be filed by Dec. 19. Ex-students who dont participate in the settlement could still bring individual claims.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of former students from California, Florida and New York. A separate case in which a nationwide group of ex-students accuse Trump of racketeering, also before Curiel, hadnt been scheduled for trial.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, claimed students lost as much as $40 million and that Trump may have personally made as much as $5 million from the school. The Republican Trump responded at one point by calling Schneiderman a hack.

Phony University

Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university, Schneiderman said in a statement. Today, that all changes. Todays $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.

Attorneys in the case said the settlement allocates $21 million for ex-students nationwide and $4 million for New York victims who werent part of the class-action cases. It wasnt disclosed how the money would be divided among the former students, who paid from $1,500 for a three-day seminar to as much as $35,000 for the Trump Gold Program.

Since the proposed settlement is on behalf of former Trump University students who arent individually represented in the case, Curiel will have to make sure its fair to them and negotiated in good faith. In most class-action settlements, the judge weighs objections from members of the class before giving final approval.

Lawyers for the students agreed to forgo legal fees as part of the settlement.

Real Money

This allows us to maximize the recovery for the victims, Jason Forge, one of the attorneys representing the victims, told the judge. Both sides spent a lot of effort to ensure that the victims get real money back.

Daniel Petrocelli, a lawyer for Trump, told the judge that Trump and the other defendants arent acknowledging any wrongdoing by settling. He also praised Curiel.

We really appreciated your hard work in working through this case and this litigation, Petrocelli said. This is a big part in allowing president-elect Trump to move forward as president.

Earlier this week, Trump dropped his lawsuit against Palm Beach County in which he objected to commercial air traffic over his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump has sued Palm Beach County and its airport three times claiming that flights over the resort, his part-time home, were unnecessarily noisy. In the two prior suits, he has dropped the claims before they went to trial.

Enormous Result

In the Trump University case, Douglas F. Gansler, a Democrat and Marylands former attorney general, called $25 million an enormous result.

Trump University can jump up and down all they want and say they did nothing wrong, but companies dont give $25 million in a settlement if they havent done something, said Gansler, who isnt involved in the case. New York should be happy with the result.

The New York case is The People of the State of New York v. Trump Entrepreneur Initiative LLC, 451463/2013, New York State Supreme Court (Manhattan). The California case is Low v. Trump University LLC, 10-00940, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California (San Diego).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits California USA Claims Fraud New York Education Universities
American International Group Inc., the insurer thats shrinking to free up capital for shareholder buybacks, said it expects to book a loss of about $430 million on the previously disclosed deal to sell Fuji Life Insurance Co. in Japan.

That loss will be partly cushioned by a gain of $300 million on the deal completed Thursday to sell the International Finance Centre Seoul in Korea, the New York-based company said Friday in a regulatory filing. AIG hasnt disclosed sale prices for either transaction.

Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock is on track for its plan to return $25 billion to shareholders in the two years through the end of 2017, according to the document. The figure is $11.6 billion for this year through Thursday, and AIG has another $3.6 billion remaining on a buyback authorization. Beyond that, the insurer could free up at least $4 billion by the end of next year through asset sales and additional funds through life reinsurance transactions and intra-company payments.

Weve sold major life insurance companies in Asia over the last few years, Hancock said in an interview Monday, after announcing that an arm of Richard Lis Pacific Century Group agreed to buy the Fuji operation. It really allows us to focus on segments like property-casualty coverage.

Also part of the plan was the agreement in September to sell Ascot Underwriting Holdings Ltd. to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as part of a $1.1 billion deal. AIG said Friday that it will book a gain of about $120 million on that transaction.

Hancock is seeking to highlight the growth potential of the main portfolio of units that he sees as the core of the company. AIG said Friday that the operating return on equity for those businesses will be about 10 percent next year. That compares with a projection of 10.3 percent to 10.7 percent in January.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Residents of a town hit by Oklahomas strongest earthquake have filed a class-action lawsuit against dozens of energy companies, accusing them of triggering destructive temblors by injecting wastewater from oil and natural gas production underground.

Pawnee residents filed the suit in district court against 27 companies, saying they operate wastewater injection wells even though they know the method causes earthquakes. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount for property damage and reduced value, plus emotional distress.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the town of about 2,200 in September and the lawsuit claims 52 more have hit the area since. On Nov. 6, a magnitude 5.0 quake damaged dozens of buildings in nearby Cushing, a town that is home to one of the worlds largest oil hubs.

Oklahoma has had thousands of earthquakes in recent years, with nearly all traced to underground wastewater disposal. Some scientists say that the high-pressure injection of massive amounts of chemical-laced wastewater deep in the earth induces the quakes. Regulators have asked oil and gas producers to either close injection wells or reduce the volume of fluids they inject.

Residents and environmental groups in neighboring states have sued energy companies curb or stop similar operations. Quakes in north central Arkansas all but stopped after the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to ban wells for the disposal of natural gas drilling fluids in July 2011. In 2014, a Prague, Oklahoma, resident sued two companies on the same grounds after a magnitude 5.6 temblor rattled her town in 2011.

Two of the companies identified in the Pawnee lawsuit, Eagle Road Oil, LLC and Cummings Oil Company, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The other 25 companies were not identified in the suit.

The lawsuit claims that companies are showing reckless disregard for public or private safety, by continuing to operate the injection wells in the area.

We have clients who dont allow their children to go upstairs because theyre afraid the roof will fall in on them, said Curt Marshall, an attorney for the residents. Theres a lot of fear; when is the next big one?

Marshall estimated that hundreds of homes in Pawnee have been affected by the quakes, sustaining damage ranging from cracks in walls, foundations and storm shelters to short-circuited electrical outlets.

A 2015 study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggested that Oklahomas industrial activities, such as natural gas and oil production, have caused the sharp rise in earthquakes in the past 100 years.

Despite the criticism of wastewater disposal, Oklahoma oil and gas producers said Friday they are enthusiastic about new drilling opportunities in two recently discovered oil-and-gas rich sites in south-central Oklahoma that dont produce large amounts of wastewater.

The South Central Oklahoma Oil Province, centered in three counties southwest of Oklahoma City, and the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties west of Oklahoma City, are among the nations largest oil and gas fields.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Energy Oil Gas Oklahoma Earthquake
XL Catlin has enhanced its Platinum Property insurance program with a new terrorism and political violence insurance option.

XL Catlins Platinum Property program allows businesses to address 100 percent of their commercial property risks under one policy form, with one carrier. The new terrorism and political violence endorsements enhance XL Catlins property clients protection; helping address gaps in insurance coverage provided by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization

With liability limits up to $100 million, XL Catlins Terrorism and political violence endorsement:

Includes a broad definition of terrorism including coverage for acts perpetrated for political, religious and/or ideological purposes;

Provides an option for political violence peril coverage  addressing the perils of war, civil war, coup detat, insurrection, revolution, rebellion, and mutiny.

Provides insurance coverage often limited or excluded by other property markets.

Coverage is provided by endorsement to the Property Platinum policy to provide a seamless solution addressing these additional perils under one policy.

XL Catlins property coverage is delivered by a team of underwriters, risk engineers and property claims managers who specialize in addressing large, complex property risks.

XL Catlin insurance companies offer property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty insurance products globally.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Property AXA XL
Twenty-three students were hospitalized after a Tennessee school bus crashed and rolled over on an interstate off-ramp Friday, but authorities said none suffered life-threatening injuries.

The bus was one of three headed from Chester County in western Tennessee to an academic and community service convention in Nashville when it crashed as it left Interstate 65 northbound.

A 17-year-old student had a broken collarbone and two other students had arm injuries, Metro Nashville Fire Department spokesman Brian Haas said.

Especially when children are involved in a crash, we err on the side of caution, Haas said. We get them to the hospital, make sure everything is OK.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said 43 students were on the bus, along with two chaperones and the driver. The bus was on its way to a Beta Club convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Aaron said the bus has been in service for a year. The driver told police she had trouble steering and felt wind on the bus when she drove off the interstate.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Tennessee
(Bloomberg) -- Anthem Inc.s proposed merger with Cigna Corp. would reduce health-care competition and raise costs for consumers, U.S. antitrust lawyers will argue Monday when the government goes to court to block the transaction.

Their $48 billion merger -- the biggest in the history of the American health-insurance industry -- would likely give the enlarged company the power to raise prices for insurance, cut payments to doctors and reduce the quality of service, the Justice Department has said in court papers.

Anthem counters that by buying Cigna it would be able to lower reimbursement rates to health-care providers. Those savings would be passed on to employers and policyholders, the Indianapolis-based company says.

The Justice Departments lawsuit opposing the Anthem-Cigna merger is one of two health-care antitrust cases going to trial in the waning days of the Obama administration as it tries to prevent that industry from shrinking to three national carriers from five. The second case, against the $38 billion tie-up of Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc., opens before another judge in Washington on Dec. 5.

By challenging the deals earlier this year, President Barack Obamas administration seized an opportunity to further shape the future of health care after passage of the Affordable Care Act.

New Administration

President-elect Donald Trump has said his administration will be more pro-business than his predecessors, but he has also said he would block AT&T Inc.s plan to buy Time Warner Inc. Trump, who is to take office on Jan. 20, said Friday that he would nominate Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. The Alabama Republican doesnt have a clear track record on antitrust issues, leaving his approach to competition preservation unclear.

The government said in its complaint that Anthems deal for Cigna would hurt competition for millions of consumers who receive commercial insurance from national employers as well as large-group employers in at least 35 metropolitan areas, including New York.

The run-up to the Anthem-Cigna trial was marked by acrimony between the companies, with each accusing the other of breaching terms of their deal. Cigna stands to collect a $1.85 billion break up fee if the merger is blocked. Last month, the U.S. won an order compelling the companies to turn over written correspondence between the two, which the government argued was relevant to combating the carriers claims that their combination would create a more efficient company. The U.S. could use those letters as evidence during the trial.

Governance disputes between defendants have escalated, and the firms are now accusing each other of breaching the merger agreement, the U.S. said in court papers. Because the breach letters reveal the current state of hostility between defendants, the letters evince barriers to integrating these firms and are relevant to the defenses raised by the companies.

Two Phases

The trial is scheduled to last more than a month, in two phases. In the first, the U.S. will attempt to prove that the combined company would hurt large national employers. The second phase, set to start Dec. 12, will focus on the proposed tie-ups effect on local markets.

Backing the Justice Department are 11 states, including New York, California and Connecticut, plus the District of Columbia.

Anthem had pushed the judge for a trial scheduled to finish by the end of the year so it has time to get state regulatory approvals by the merger deadline of April 30.

The case is U.S. v. Anthem Inc., 16-cv-1493, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).
Hammond is about to deliver his first budget statement at a time when tax uncertainty looms on every business as a result of the Brexit vote, but what could his budget look like?

Some analysts have described the Autumn Statement as a golden ticket opportunity to overhaul the UKs complex tax system, reset a number of tax policies and reinvent the wheel.

An overhaul of the tax system must be high on the Chancellors agenda, said Stacy Eden, head of property and construction at Crowe Clark Whitehill. We have a real opportunity at the moment, added Anita Monteith, tax manager at the ICAEW, during a recent Women in Tax conference. This is a moment for the government to act decisively to make it easier for firms to expand and find more opportunities, said Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD).

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think tank, has suggested radical change, calling for 20 taxes to be abolished in a recent report, including corporation tax, national insurance, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, council tax and business rates, among others. In addition, it suggests cutting the VAT rate from 20% to 12.5% and removing most exemptions.

No matter what policies Hammond announces on November 23, Kevin Nicholson, head of tax at PwC said that this is going to be a landmark Autumn Statement.

Regardless of whether the Chancellor resets policy, or plays it steady, the Autumn Statement will indicate the UK's fiscal stance for the years to come, Nicholson said.

A budget of hints and winks?

However, some tax practitioners believe Hammond will not make any striking changes or deliver on the long wish list of tax changes.

The Autumn Statement will see neither major tax reductions nor spending increases, according to Bill Dodwell, head of tax policy at Deloitte.

As Philip Hammond has suggested that he wants to move away from the Autumn Statement being a kind of second budget, it may be that we will not get a significant number of new announcements, said Catherine Robins, partner at Pinsent Masons. At this point we think small changes are more likely and that anything more substantial will come (if at all) in the Spring Budget.

Chris Sanger, head of tax policy at EY, added that following the Brexit vote, Hammond may look to ready many of the measures used during past times of economic shock but may opt to defer unleashing them until the 2017 Budget. This points to an Autumn Statement of hints, winks and suggestions, but with the real action to follow in the spring.

Id expect this Autumn Statement to be short on the eye-catching surprises beloved of Mr Hammonds predecessor, with the watchwords of dependability and consistency in times of uncertainty, said Ian Stewart, chief UK economist at Deloitte. This will set the theme for the long haul of Brexit that lies ahead.

A spring clean on tax incentives

An area that several practitioners and organisations are keen to see change is on tax incentives, with many needing to be removed or revised

There are currently around 1,000 tax reliefs in the system. Some are antiquated, others are not fit for purpose and some, in the Chancellors view, are too expensive, noted David Kilshaw, private client services partner at EY. The Chancellor could start this term with a spring clean that would enable him to make many reliefs less generous while improving others.

Dame Margaret Hodge, an MP who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary group on responsible tax, said she would like to see all tax reliefs have a sunset clause so that the government can come back to it at a future time to review it.

Corporation tax

In recent months, comments from Prime Minister Theresa May and the former chancellor George Osborne have suggested that a cut in the corporate tax rate could be announced when Hammond delivers his Autumn Statement.

After the Brexit referendum vote on June 23, Osborne suggested reducing the 20% rate to below 15%, while May has reportedly said that corporation tax could fall to as low as 10%, but Hammond has not given many clues about what he is likely to announce.

Some practitioners expect Hammond to continue with plans to cut the corporation tax rate to 17% by 2020, but not reduce it further as suggested by Osborne or May.

The Chancellor seems ready to step away from the deficit reduction targets of his predecessor, which may give some wiggle room to cut the corporation tax rate further. But the rate is unlikely to be cut below the 17% target already set out, said Mike Cooper, international tax partner at PwC. While going further would send a signal to the outside world that the UK is well and truly open for business, it would not play well with the public. For this reason, our research suggests businesses are apathetic about further cuts to corporation tax, despite the benefit it could have for inward investment.

Like other NGOs, the IoD has suggested that the government needs to consider replacing corporation tax, which it said is becoming increasingly poorly-suited to taxing global businesses.

Speaking to International Tax Review, practitioners have also provided some insight into what additional business tax measures they expect from Hammonds speech, or which may be announced later during his term as Chancellor, including:

Looking into various tax measures to boost infrastructure investment, such as increasing investment allowances and undertaking a comprehensive review of incentives to create more investment;

Announcing the final shape of the new regime on restrictions on the deductibility of corporate interest expense, or announcing a delay in introducing the measure;

Announcing the final shape of new corporate loss relief rules;

Increasing funding for HMRC so that it can increase its tax administration resources for dealing with large taxpayers and strengthening the Customer Relationship Manager programme;

Reducing the employment tax burden by reducing the rate of employer National Insurance contributions to offset the increase in the apprenticeship levy; and

Redesigning the business investment relief to encourage more UK residents living abroad to bring money into the UK without an immediate tax charge if it is invested in a trading company.

BEPS Action 4

Some announcements are expected on a number of consultations that were held over the summer. One of these were rules based on OECD BEPS Action 4 to introduce restrictions on interest deductibility in April 2017.

A key focus for business will be whether and in what form the government proposes to introduce restrictions on interest deductibility, which are scheduled to be introduced in April 2017, said Dominic Stuttaford, head of tax for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Brazil, at Norton Rose Fulbright.

However, Robins from Pinsent Masons said she would like to see the proposals postponed. We do not think this is the right time economically to introduce such a major change and because there are still areas on which the OECD has not made final recommendations, such as how the rules should apply to banks and insurance companies. We think a postponement is unlikely, but we hope for some tweaks to the rules.

According to Richard Milnes, financial services tax partner at EY, some of the governments possible implementation methods suggested in the earlier consultation document could hit both banks and insurance companies hard. It is, therefore, important that the government recognises that existing regulation of the banking and insurance sectors means that, in practice, they cannot use interest deductions to shift profits in any case. Time is now very short to finalise the rules and a definitive announcement is long overdue.

VAT

VAT is an area where Hammond may change the rate to help the economic climate in the UK.

The IEA is calling for a VAT rate of 12.5%, with most exemptions abolished. Although this may seem like a radical suggestion, a cut in the rate could be possible.

A temporary cut in the rate of VAT to boost growth and spending could prevent prices rising due to higher import costs caused by the weakening of the pound, EY said in a statement emailed to International Tax Review. This would repeat the temporary reduction at the height of the financial crisis. However, consumer confidence appears to be solid so the Chancellor may choose to keep this up his sleeve for a later date.

However, PwC said that even a two percentage point reduction in the VAT rate was highly unlikely as consumer spending has not fallen since the Brexit referendum in June. The firm pointed out that a 2% cut would cost the Exchequer close to 11.4 million ($14.3 million) in 2017/18.

Even if no change to the VAT rate is announced, other VAT changes that may be included in Hammonds speech include:

Extending the VAT grouping eligibility provisions to include, for example, partnerships;

Changing the rules on VAT recovery by holding companies that are members of VAT groups; and

Amending the UK rules on the place of supply for services relating to immovable property to align with EU rules that will enter into force on January 1 2017, which will be based on where the property is situated.

Tax avoidance and evasion

Measures against tax avoidance and evasion will continue to be a theme that runs through Hammonds term as Chancellor.

While we have not had any clues as to what the Chancellor plans for his Autumn Statement, we continue to see reoccurring themes from the new government around addressing aggressive tax planning by multinationals and other businesses, according to Stuttaford.

EYs Sanger said the government will likely reaffirm its pledge to tackle tax avoidance. An update on this summers proposals to impose penalties on advisors is possible after the consultation on the plans recently closed. We can expect the Chancellor to reiterate the Prime Ministers pledge that everyone must pay their fair share of tax. Individuals rather than businesses are likely to be the focus.

On VAT avoidance, RSM said that following the consultation on strengthening the tax avoidance disclosure regimes for indirect taxes and inheritance tax, the VAT disclosure regime (VADR) is likely to be completely redrafted to more closely align the VADR with the direct tax disclosure of tax avoidance schemes (DOTAS) rules for direct taxes.

In addition, RSM said that a new penalty regime for participating in VAT fraud will be introduced that will enable HMRC to issue a penalty at the same time that its principle decision has been made (rather than awaiting the findings of a tribunal) and will not distinguish between whether a business or individual knew, or should have known, of the connection with VAT fraud. A consultation on the measure ended on November 11.

Other predictions

Other possible changes that could be announced in the Autumn Statement include:

Some stability for financial services that have been subject to increasing taxes in past budgets;

Incentives to boost the infrastructure investment;

Measures to encourage growth and stability in the oil and gas sector;

Some announcements around the governments Making Tax Digital initiative; and

Possible changes to the national insurance contributions and personal tax regimes following the recent court case concerning self-employment and Uber.

Whatever is announced in the Autumn Statement, Hammonds first budget as Chancellor is likely to make a firm mark on the governments fiscal intentions as the country moves forward with Brexit.

Commentators and the markets alike are waiting with bated breath for the Chancellor to spell out the direction of the countrys fiscal policy and put in place measures that will help the UK economy to seize the opportunities and cope with the turbulence of Brexit said Michelle Quest, head of tax at KPMG in the UK.
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A record entry of 2,091 innovative project ideas have been submitted by secondary students from 375 schools across the island of Ireland for the 2017 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

Some 550 projects have been shortlisted to compete at the exhibition, which is due to take place at the RDS on January 11-14.

The showcase has attracted individual and group entries from 4,591 students, an increase of over 3% on last year.

These hail from 31 counties, and girls again out-numbered the boys with a gender split of 61% female to 39% male entrants.

Cork schools submitted the highest number of entries (353), followed by Dublin (338), Limerick (194), and Tipperary (119).

Social and Behavioural Sciences was the most popular category (41% of entries), followed by Biological and Ecological Sciences (29%), Technology (16%) and Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (14%).

There are more than 140 teacher and pupil awards to be won, including cash prizes, international trips and the overall title of BT Young Scientist and Technologist(s) of the Year.

Students submitted ideas and innovations on subjects ranging from migration to climate change to concussion injuries.

Projects dealing with farming, food, and rural environment issues figure prominently among the entries. Some of these topics also featured during Science Week, which ended yesterday, having highlighted some interesting statistics.

A cow, for instance, gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime. Over 65% of Irelands land area is used for agriculture. Roughly 80% of human genes are the same as those found in cows.

Science Foundation Ireland director general Professor Mark Ferguson, chief scientific adviser to the Government, said Irish researchers are developing innovative ways to improve farming.

As the global population grows these agricultural chievements will be increasingly important, he said.

The challenge to produce enough food for the growing global population and whether manure and brown bin waste can be used to create organic fertilisers and energy were among the issues examined.

Similar themes run through some of the entrants for the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, providing an insight into the mindsets of the countrys budding young scientists.

A group of students from Bailieborough Community School in Cavan examined the reasons why the colour red is believed to irritate bulls.

Pupils at Mary Immaculate Seconday School in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, investigated the possibility of rushes being used for fuel.

Students at Scoil Mhuire gan Smal in Blarney, Co Cork, conducted a comparative study of willow and other woods to ascertain the best properties for making cricket bats.

The health benefits of iodine found in seaweed was the subject of an entry from a group of students in Meanscoil Na Mbraithre, Ennistymon, Co Clare.

Growing plants for nutrition in space was examined by a group from Moate Community School in Westmeath, while students at Roscommon CBS probed the effects of recent flooding in the south of their county.

BYTSTE exhibition head Mari Cahalane said the event is not just a school science fair. It is a unique event that provides an opportunity for students to dream and to push their imaginations as far as they can.

Each year we see young people take the first step towards becoming entrepreneurs, scientists and technologists, starting out with a simple idea that can blossom into a formal research concept or even a profitable business, she said.

Research released by BT Ireland earlier this year revealed that 81% of secondary school students believe that technology has advanced their education and made information and learning more accessible, while 68% believed teachers should use more technology in the classroom.

Education and Skills Minister Richard Bruton said the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a fantastic platform for many students.

It is a testament to all involved, that in its 53rd year, the event still continues to grow in such strength and numbers.

I have been to the exhibition on numerous occasions and it is extremely inspiring and encouraging to see the talent that is being nurtured as students develop their ideas and bring them to life on a national stage, he said.

The idea for the exhibition arose in 1963 when two UCD physics researchers, Rev Dr Tom Burke and Dr Tony Scott, came across the concept of Science Fairs in New Mexico. These events then culminated in State Fairs and ultimately a national competition.

The pair decided that this type of hands-on science could benefit Irish students by taking the subject outside the four walls of the classroom.

And so the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition was born. The first competition was held in 1965 in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin and attracted some 230 entries.

The success of the first year was such that the exhibition moved to the much larger venue of the RDS in year two and it has remained there ever since. In recent years the number of entries has increased dramatically.

Over 40,000 people attend the exhibition each year, making it one of the largest events of its kind in Europe, if not the world.

There have been a great array of winners over the years BT Ireland managing director Shay Walsh said the companys involvement with the event over the past 17 years represents an investment in all young people and the ideas that they have for improving the world we live in.

These students continue to amaze us, and we are delighted that they have entered the upcoming exhibition in record numbers, he said.

Mr Walsh said the exhibition is making a difference. It is launching an increasing number of start-ups, and it is highlighting our talented youth on an international stage.

We are excited to see what the 2017 entrants have to show us in January, he said.

www.btyoungscientist.com
Copa & Cogeca, the umbrella body for the main national farmer unions in EU member states, welcomed the proposal to introduce framework laws to curb unfair retail practices.

However, the ICMSA says an EU move to impose a mandatory minimum price for milk, beef and other commodities would be a more effective way to support suppliers.

European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, set up the Agricultural Markets Task Force (AMTF) in response to claims that Europes farmers are struggling due to prolonged periods of low prices.

Chaired by former Dutch Minister for Agriculture and university professor Cees Veerman, the AMTF calls for new rules at EU level to cover certain unfair trading practices, and the implementation of effective enforcement regimes in member states using an adjudicator.

The AMTF recommends increasing market transparency, enhancing co-operation among farmers, facilitating farmers access to finance and improving the take-up of risk management tools.

Mr Hogan said: The report is a very welcome addition to the debate on how to achieve this. We will now prioritise our consideration of the report and its recommendations and deliver the appropriate policy response.

However, ICMSA president John Comer said the EU needs to go beyond simply bemoaning the unfairness and deficiencies in the food supply chain. He said that suppliers need hard, concrete steps to reverse the dominance of corporate retailers.

Mr Comer said urgent action is needed to prevent the inexorable, year-on-year, relentless, margin-grabbing that had seen farmer share of final retail beef price fall by 8% in just the last year and by 10% since 2013.

He said the AMTFs report seems to absolve the EU from taking any action to protect farmers, placing the onus on the marketplace and futures markets to address any imbalance between farmers and retailers.

This will not work, said Mr Comer.

The commission is always going to struggle to contain the retail corporations if they approach the question along the line of unfair trading practices. Its effectively impossible to prove that a normal question of one party agreeing to sell at a given price and another party agreeing to buy at a given price represents an unfair trading practices.

A much more effective way has to be a mandatory minimum price per litre that identifies the cost of production in each member state and then sets out a price on the basis of costs/ plus where the plus elements recognises and protects an income commensurate with the work, investment and skill levels required.

Copa & Cogeca secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said: For us, an EU framework law is vital to curb unfair trading practices so that operators are sanctioned when they break EU law. An independent third party ombudsman must impose sanctions whenever there is non-compliance.

We also support the initiative to increase market transparency by creating market observatories in the milk, beef and pork sectors but they need to be extended to include other sectors like sheep meat, sugar, wine, cereals and potatoes.
It has come time for a serious national debate on the role of the public service in Irish life.

At a time when the country is facing into a period of intense economic uncertainty, when the foreign investment economic model, that has served us well for decades, is under attack, the response of the leadership of the countrys largest trade union Siptu, with backing from some other unions, has been to press for a rapid acceleration in a process of public pay restoration already underway as part of the Lansdowne Road agreement.

Siptu general president, Jack O Connor, appears to suggest that as the economy is thriving, the Government can well afford to stump up now. As he put it, last week, Why cant we afford to go back to the pay levels of 2008? ... It wasnt unsustainable then.

In fact, the pay rates of that time could never have been sustained even if we had enjoyed the soft landing promised us by the political and business establishment.

Irish public servants are, with certain exceptions, pretty well paid by European standards.

Secondary teachers at the top of their pay scale, for example, are paid around 10,000 a year above the OECD average. Mr OConnor should carefully review the situation that pertained at the time the economy went into freefall.

The dogs in the street could tell that the economy had become completely uncompetitive, driven by a mix of high wages and high prices. While pay agreements offered the appearance of restraint, there was a fair bit of window dressing in place.

Extensive promotions, allowances, performance pay for practically all among the higher ranks of the civil service. Mr OConnor is right when he says that the trigger for the crisis was a banker-driven lending bubble, but that very same bubble meant that public spending could be maintained at unrealistic levels.

A much more realistic steer, with regard to our current situation, has been provided by the former secretary general at the Department of Finance, John Moran, a man with extensive experience of the private sector.

Mr Moran spent a number of years in the Merrion Street engine room at the height of the crisis. He knows how close we came to permanently losing our freedom of action as a country.

Along with the NUI Galway economist and ministerial adviser, Alan Ahearne, he was one of a small group of publicly spirited experts who came on board a badly listing ship of state. As he makes clear, what we have is a fragile economy where there is, in reality, little in the way of fiscal space.

Over the past three years, union bosses have been coming under growing pressure from members to secure rapid restoration of their pay and perks to pre-crash levels. The deal with the gardai has served as a catalyst.

But the seeds of the current phase of industrial strife were sown a long time ago. Public servants have been encouraged to believe that they are somehow special and that moreover, they have been targeted by a cynical political class.

Many of the public, angry with their political leaders, have bought the line. But while we have many fine public servants, showing extraordinary levels of commitment, there are also the usual time servers and duffers, and the regular absentees. Public servants are human, after all.

Nurses, gardai, fire service personnel, bus and train drivers, care workers, all help greatly to keep the show on the road, but lets not forget all those in the private sector who do likewise  the lorry drivers who transport our goods, often through the night, not to mention the shop owners who stay open in sometimes dangerous localities, the executives rising early to take dawn flights, helping to keep our export success story going, the farmers and fishermen out in all weather, pursuing an exceptionally dangerous occupation.

Public servants have been forced to take cuts to their pay and pension under financial emergency legislation. Well over 200,000 people in the private sector lost their jobs, some lost their businesses and then found that they could not access the social welfare service. The 3bn public service pension bill was trimmed somewhat.

Yet by 2018, 65,000 lower paid public pensioners will be removed from the scope of the public service pension reduction scheme. Restoration for this group is well under way, a message you dont tend to hear these days from union leaders.

Contrast this with the position in the private sector where defined benefit schemes face closure on a daily basis.

As we lumber in the direction of accelerated restoration, lets not forget just how fragile our current situation is. Lets just remember Ireland has the second largest level of debt, household, corporate and Government, of any advanced economy in the world.

In recent years, we have benefited from bargain basement borrowing rates, but every indication points to rising rates. Once this happens, the squeeze will be on borrowers.

It is indeed time for a deep discussion. It is time for consumers of public services to make their voices heard.

Are we getting value for money? Are our senior government departments providing real leadership? Is local government providing value for money? Is the correct split in resources between public pay and vital services being maintained?

If the Government does agree to demands for accelerated restoration, should there not be a quid pro quo? An acceleration in public service reform. Speedy implementation of findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General, along with greater resources for his office.

The Croke Park and successor agreements preserved job security and headed off outsourcing plans in what was a big win for the trade union pragmatists at a time of great vulnerability.

Is it not time to rationalise the number of managerial positions in the public service, particularly health? Is it not time to start discussing the looming iceberg that is the rising cost of public service pension provision.

Private pensions take account of rising life expectancy. Public service pensions do not. As a result, the public-private gap is growing.

Some still believe that there is a fat business goose out there to be plucked, that there is plenty of wealth to be tapped. For too long the debate on public pay has been dominated by people with loud voices and simplistic solutions.

A broader, more nuanced discussion is required and it is one in which all citizens should be permitted to participate.
The latest annual report of the Office of the Disability Appeals Officer shows cases involving children from Cork accounted for 80% of complaints in 2015.

Under the Disability Act 2005, any parent of guardian of a child born on or after June 1, 2002, who feels their child may have a disability, can apply for an assessment of their health and education needs.

The assessment must start within three months of when the HSE receives a completed application form and must be completed within a further three months.

Parents or guardians who are unhappy with the outcome of the assessment or any part of the process can make a formal complaint to a HSEs disability complaints officer whose decision can be appealed to the Disability Appeals Officer.

Disability Appeals Officer Robbie Breen, who is independent of the HSE, said 32 out of 40 cases handled last year came from people living in Cork with 20 from the HSEs South Lee administrative area.

Significant delays are being experienced by some parents in having the assessment of need process completed, Mr Breen observed.

The number of challenges to assessments on children conducted by the HSE has increased dramatically in the past two years.

Mr Breen said the number of complaints received this year was already way ahead of last years total which in turn was almost double 2014 figures.

A total of 36 appeals were made last year which represented an 80% increase on 2014 figures, while four cases were carried over from 2014.

Mr Breen said the upward trend in appeal applications had continued further this year with 66 complaints having been received by the end of August.

The number of complaints to the HSE rose by 41% last year  up from 399 in 2014 to 564.

Mr Breen claimed the vast majority of new cases related to complaints over delays in the completion of the assessment of need process.

Half of the 36 new appeals lodged last year were upheld. One case was not upheld and two were withdrawn.
The assessment team for the award referenced the quality of the town centre and its location close to the sea and beautiful beaches which, they said, make it an attractive place to live, do business and visit.

Clonakilty is a good example of those three elements coming together in a sustainable way that celebrates local distinctiveness, tradition, entrepreneurialism and a strong sense of local pride, the assessors said.
Mr Kelly was forced to step down from the charity in June after the Revenue Commissioners, Office of Corporate Enforcement, and other bodies opened investigations into lavish spending of funds. A decision was also taken to wind down Console, with Pieta House taking over on its services.

Sanctuary Consultants was registered with the Companies Office on September 27 and Mr Kelly is listed as the owner. A website set up describing the company is no longer available online.

Sanctuary Consultants, with a registered address in Clane, Co Kildare, is described as a specialist medical practice. Among the services listed on the website are programmes to help employees facing difficult and challenging times in their personal life and those with work concerns.

Our services are delivered by highly experienced practitioners who have expertise in a range of people management issues, the website claimed.

When asked whether he should be getting involved in the field of mental illness, Mr Kelly said he was looking at ways to become employed again.

In an interview published in the Sunday World, Mr Kelly denied claims he spent hundreds of thousands of euro of Consoles money to fund a lavish lifestyle for him and his family.

He claimed he was now completely broke and utterly reliant on State handouts. Calls to Mr Kelly yesterday went unanswered.

Mr Kelly has also criticised the HSE for not providing more money to Console and said he was proud of all that the charity achieved.

Mr Kelly said it was true that he had posed as a doctor and worked in a hospital for two weeks when he was younger and said it was a stupid thing to do.

He was not afraid that a Garda investigation of his time as head of Console could result in charges being made against him.

I believe I worked very hard for the organisation and I deserve a bit of credit for that. Im saying I did not misspend any money belonging to the organisation. And Im very proud of what we achieved.
The 82-year-old told listeners to his RTE Lyric FM show yesterday evening that he will not be with listeners next week as he undergoes further tests in hospital.

He also said that doctors fear the suspected cancer may have spread from his prostate into his lower back.

We are going into hospital because they think they may have discovered a bit of cancer in the prostate and they are afraid it might have moved up into the small of the back so I am into hospital for all sorts of tests, he said.

Mr Byrne did not go into further detail about the tests but thanked listeners for their good wishes.

Ive had the most wonderful, fantastic, robust, good health all my broadcasting life. Its my turn now. Many, many people much worse off. Thank you for your good wishes, he said.

Mr Byrne is an icon of Irish broadcasting having hosted The Late Late Show from 1962 until 1999.

Since his retirement, however, he has continued to work and currently hosts a two-hour show of music and musings, called Sunday with Gay Byrne on RTE Lyric FM.

He has also presented his Meaning of Life series in which he interviews a series of celebrities and public figures about their beliefs.

Mr Byrne suffered a heart attack last Christmas and it had been speculated that he might retire completely. He previously had a health scare in 2011 when he was admitted to St Vincents Hospital in Dublin suffering from a shortness of breath.

A spokesperson at RTE said the entire staff hoped to see Mr Byrne back in the studio in the coming weeks.

All Gays friends and colleagues in RTE wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back in the coming weeks, said the spokesperson.
As part of the international campaign, 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, the centre will be handing out transfers of the Gaga tattoo to students at third-level campuses around Cork city.

Lady Gagas rendition of Til It Happens to You with 50 abuse survivors at the Academy Awards brought tears to the eyes of many of Hollywoods biggest names. A survivor of sexual assault herself, she wrote the song for the The Hunting Ground, an acclaimed documentary about campus rape.

In a show of solidarity, Gaga and the male and female survivors all got matching tattoos in Hollywood after one of the rehearsals.

Mary Crilly, director of the Cork centre, said they got the green light to use the design from Jacqueline Lin, one of the survivors who shared the stage with the singer.

According to Lin, the tattoo is made for and dedicated to survivors and incorporates the infinity sign and a white rose, Gagas favourite flower.

The transfers will be distributed to up to 3,000 students at UCC, CIT, St Johns College, the College of Commerce, and Colaiste Stiofain Naofa.

Ms Crilly said: We want to raise awareness about sexual assault and the message we want to get out to survivors is, Dont feel isolated, there is help out there.

Despite rape and sexual assault being more openly discussed in recent years, M Crilly said the it couldnt happen to me belief still prevails among young women and many still dont realise that 80% of rapes are carried out by somebody known by them.

Millennials grapple with reporting sexual assault if they had been drinking at the time of the attack, she said, with many feeling they cant due to poor memory recall.

One in 12 female students are raped, according to research published this year by the Union of Students in Ireland. The survey also showed that 16% of students in Irish colleges have had an unwanted sexual experience in their current place of education.

Of these, 38% of students reported that these unwanted sexual experiences occurred on more than one occasion and 36% noted that these incidents occurred either several times or many times.

The union surveyed 2,752 students for the research in 2013  2,590 Irish students and 162 international students.
The Minister for Social Protection said he would confront Mr Trump on his views on immigration, women, and climate change.

However, he disagreed with Minister John Halligan who dubbed Mr Trump a head-banger and claimed he should not be welcomed here.
The Garda-organised awards, first established in West Cork 22 years ago, have since been replicated in a number of Garda divisions.

Award winner David ONeill, 19, from Timoleague, was walking across the bridge in Bandon on St Stephens Night last year when he became aware of a distressed young girl. She had climbed up onto the wall of the bridge and the river below was flooded.

He managed to bring the girl back down from the wall on two separate occasions, but she climbed the wall a third time and she jumped into the river. Without a moments thought for his own personal safety, David jumped into the river, battled the strong flow of water, and somehow managed to pull the girl safely out of the river and onto the riverbank.

Meanwhile, another recipient, Wiktoria Karczs father passed away last year after suffering cardiac arrest. Since then, the 16-year-old from Ballineen has been taking care of her mother who suffers from poor health and is confined to a wheelchair.

The Clonakilty schoolgirl has the responsibility of looking after her mothers daily needs. This requires carrying out all the household duties, and Wiktoria is also the main translator in the household.

Ballinhassig brothers Arron, 13, and Cian OLeary, 15, were also honoured.

When Arron was born, he was diagnosed with a twisted bowel, and underwent lifesaving surgery in Crumlin Hospital. Then came news that he had Cystic Fibrosis. Cian was also diagnosed with the illness and over the years the brothers have undergone countless hospital admissions.

Arron underwent a double lung transplant in Newcastle last December and has shown remarkable courage. Cian remains a tremendous support for his younger brother, as well as to his parents, despite his own illness.

And, among the 21 individual winners and two group winners totalling 36, this years Outstanding Contribution to Youth award went to Anne ODriscoll of the West Cork Traveller Centre, Clonakilty. She has been involved with the group since 1979.

Since then, she has served as a volunteer, an advocate, and a member of Traveller womens groups.

In 2010, she began work as a Traveller Community Health Worker. Her role is to assist Travellers through health services to improve the health of Travellers in West Cork  including physical, mental, and social wellbeing as part of the Primary Health Care Programme in West Cork Travellers.

She has focused significantly on young Travellers and has supported many to maintain positive mental health. In times of stress they feel safe in talking to Anne, because she provides a listening ear and assists them in accessing appropriate services to meet their individual needs.

This year, 128 young people were nominated for the West Cork Garda Youth Awards. Inspector Pat Meany from Bandon Garda Station acknowledged the high standard of nominees from across the entire spread of West Cork and thanked those who forwarded nominations.
The woman, in her early 20s, died after falling from a van when the back doors of the vehicle opened as it was turning at a junction near Moycullen, about 10km west of Galway City.

It is understood there were seven people in the van at the time of the incident, which happened at 2.20am at the junction with the Barna road on the N59 between Galway and Moycullen.
Between 1960 and 2015, almost 4,000 dead birds were brought to a Danish taxidermist to be stuffed. The law there requires that details of such victims be logged and the causes of death, if known, recorded. About 300 of the birds, of 197 species, had been shot.

Biologist Anders Mller and taxidermist Johannes Erritze, examined the carcasses. The shooting victims, they found, were larger on average than those dying from other causes. Bigger birds, presumably, are easier targets for hunters. Brightly coloured males, not surprisingly, were more frequently shot than duller females.

When the birds internal organs were examined, something unusual emerged; gun victims tended to have smaller brains, in relation to body size, than average. Taking account of age, sex, and physical condition, their brains were about 5% smaller than others. Measurements of the hearts lungs and livers, however, showed that the sizes of these organs were unrelated to cause of death.

Mller and Erritze concluded that a bigger brain provides superior escape ability. Birds with large brains, they estimate, were up to 30 times less likely to be shot than those with smaller ones and this was true across all species examined, whether they were traditional game-birds or not. Writing in the journal Biology Letters, they say that bigger-brained birds are better able to distinguish between dangerous humans and other human beings.

This is not the first study to come up with curious findings regarding bird brains. In a Behavioural Ecology paper last year, Markus Ost and Kim Jaatinen of Helsinki University reported that larger-headed eider ducks bred more successfully than others; they are faster, the authors concluded, to form defensive coalitions and better able to assess the risks to their ducklings. A study, published in 2013, found that birds with larger brains had lower levels of stress hormones.

Hunting with shotguns began in the 17th Century but birds have been killed for food and feathers since prehistoric times. Ancient cave paintings attest to this. If a large brain helps a bird avoid being shot, having one would have been equally effective against the spears bows-and-arrows and traps used long ago. The selective development of brain size, therefore, has an ancient lineage. With hundreds of millions of birds shot worldwide annually, and smaller-brained individuals being selectively eliminated, bird-brains must have become progressively larger. Crows, for example, have big brains. Persecuted as pests for damaging crops over the last few millennia, their brains probably evolved to help them avoid trouble.

Is the same process at work among the mammals and fish we harvest? If so, relentless hunting may lead to the gradual development of bigger-brained quarry species generally. Hunting and fishing, through un-natural selection, could be influencing the course of evolution.

But are the Danish researchers leaping to conclusions? Wildfowlers tend to select the largest, most impressive, specimens for taxidermy, so the birds examined in Denmark were unlikely to be representative of the population as a whole. The evolution of brain size must surely depend on many influences and we should beware of one-factor theories. Flying creatures must remain as light as possible; carrying a heavy brain about comes at a price. Crows, with their exceptional problem-solving abilities, are able to shape and use tools. It seems unlikely that such skills evolved just to facilitate increased vigilance against hunters. Pigeons, not renowned for their intelligence, are just as wary of being shot as crows are.

If shooting is leading to bigger brains, then its absence should produce smaller ones. Five years ago, the hunting of curlew and snipe was banned in Europe. Mller wants the brain sizes of those dying recently to be compared with ones killed before the ban, to see if theres a size difference.
Episode VIII will be along in late 2017 and before that we have the first ever Star Wars Story. These are spin off tales which will include a look at the early life of Han Solo in the future.

Up first is Rogue One, which is all about filling in the details of how the Death Star plans were stolen before the events of 1977's A New Hope. It's an entirely new direction for Star Wars and it's all very exciting.
THERE was a time in the recent past when it was open season on whistleblowers. This was known only too well by the woman who relentlessly attempted to highlight the Grace foster abuse scandal in the South East.

Speaking under the privilege of the Dail on November 2, Fine Gaels John Deasy said he had information that there were attempts to sack the whistleblower in that case in 2011. Deasy said that evidence against her was fabricated and the attempt died in the end.

The claims have not been tested, but are likely to feature in the inquiry that will now be conducted into the scandal.

Others who have blown the whistle on malpractice or criminality have lived with the fear of similar consequences. In 2013, this newspaper revealed the attempts to discipline garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe for the loss of a computer seized from a priest who was convicted of child abuse.

The OHiggins Report detailed how Sergeant McCabe was entirely innocent and that it was understandable that he felt he was being targeted because of his revelations about garda malpractice.

Whistleblower reprisal as it is known is a common occurrence whenever somebody breaks ranks to highlight abuse or malpractice of one sort or another. It was with that in mind that this country finally brought in a law to protect whistleblowers. The Protected Disclosure Act 2014 is the first time that any such law was enacted in this country.

The law brought Ireland into line with many other western jurisdictions which have long recognised the requirement to protect those who blow the whistle.

As with much else in public life, this country was slow in getting off the mark. By the late 1990s, the political and business world had been hit by a series of scandals over the previous decade. From banking to the semi state sector, and in the late 90s, revelations of corruption in the political system, it became obvious that the legislative framework to tackle these areas was woefully inadequate.

The importance of the whistleblower who feels compelled to point out wrongdoing was recognised. In the Dail, Pat Rabbitte, then an opposition Labour party TD, tabled a private members bill entitled the Whistleblowers Protection Bill.

He told the Dail that legislation, if enacted, would radically challenge the culture of secrecy that surrounds Irish business and public life and that employees, who make disclosures in good faith, will be protected by the law from civil liability and discrimination in their employment, up to and including dismissal.

The government, through its junior minister Tom Kitt, indicated that it would not oppose the bill. Kitt did warn that caution would have to be applied to ensure any such law did not become a cranks charter.

So everybody was agreed on the urgent need to protect whistleblowers highlighting wrongdoing. And then nothing happened. Despite its stated willingness to co-operate, the Fianna Fail-led government kept finding reasons not to proceed with the legislation.

This went on for seven years until 2006 when the same government  re-elected four years previously  finally admitted it was not going ahead with it.

Then Enterprise Minster Micheal Martin said that, instead, the government would favour a sectoral approach to legislation for highlighting wrongdoing. He said there were exceptional legal difficulties with the bill. These difficulties were never revealed. The major difficulty was the political will was not present in the government to go ahead with it. When the time eventually came, the legal hurdles were cleared with ease.

Rabbitte, still toiling on the opposition benches, described the withdrawal of the bill as shameful though not unexpected. He suggested that the real reason the government reversed engines and decided not to proceed with important legislation was that it had come under pressure from multi- nationals, who had had a taste of having to comply with similar, or even stronger, legislation in the USA.

If they can persuade the government to impose much poorer standards of corporate governance than they are used to elsewhere, they would be foolish not to throw their weight around, Rabbitte said.

Whether or not the Labour TDs allegation was accurate, the following year an example was provided of how Irish companies regarded the imposition of whistleblowing legislation.

The Company Law Reform Group was, at the time, charged with reforming company law to bring it up to date. Submissions from the trade union movement and the office of the director of Corporate Enforcement to the group pointed out the importance of, including in its review, proposals to include protection for whistleblowers. One reason forwarded for the requirement for legislation was that it would enhance corporate governance, particularly in the eyes of investors. The group, which was dominated by corporate interests, simply couldnt see why any such legislation might be required.

One cannot say that there is any evidence of endemic failure in relation to corporate governance, or its enforcement in Ireland, that negatively affects the investment climate and which requires enhanced whistleblowing provisions.

Within a year, the whole world could see that such a statement was a candidate for bad joke of the decade. Corporate governance, particularly in banking, was shown to be nothing short of appalling. One might well speculate that had proper whistleblowing legislation been in place during the years of bubble and bust, more individuals may have been emboldened to come forward and reveal what exactly had been going on.

While overarching legislation was sadly missing, the decision to leave such matters to sectoral interests provided some interesting results. There was provision and protection for whistleblowers in areas like social services and even the wider public service. The gardai were covered through the Garda Siochana Act 2005, which was supported by regulations two years later.

This was as a direct result of the Morris Tribunal reports into garda malpractice in Donegal. Former judge Frederick Morris found that had some members of the force been confident enough to speak up about wrongdoing early on, much of the problems could have been avoided.

The result was a system of whistleblowing within the force in which a member could go to an outside agent, the confidential recipient who would then bring the concerns anonymously to the commisssioners office to be addressed.

In theory, the system looked good, but it didnt work properly in practice. Coincidentally, the Protected Disclosure Act (PDA) was going through the Dail when the controversy surrounding Maurice McCabes revelations were rocking the gardai and the whole political system in 2014.

Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe, who found himself ostracised once he tried to reveal some of the practices in the force.

So how good is Irish legislation in protecting whistleblowers? One of the advantages of coming late to the table with legislation was that the Irish lawmakers could pick and choose the best aspects in law in other countries.

Thus the PDA here is regarded as being one of the strongest in western Europe. It has drawn from the better features of laws in the UK, New Zealand and South Africa, providing protection for workers across the public, private and voluntary sectors. (Interestingly, the term whistleblower is not used in the legislation, with the emphasis being on the information rather than the individual divulging it).

The main point of the PDA is to provide protection against formal or informal sanctions against the whistleblower.

For instance, if there is an attempt to sack a whistlebower, he or she can fast-track reinstatement without having to wait for up to two years for a hearing in the Employment Appeals Tribunal or the High Court.

The whistleblower also has recourse to the Work Relations Commission if he or she believes that they have been sanctioned as a result of divulging wrongdoing.

A worker who makes a disclosure does not have to be an employee. For instance, most employees dont enjoy protection from dismissal until they have worked for 12 months with a company. The worker who makes a disclosure is covered in that regard from day one of their employment.

Additional protection is provided under section 13 of the act for persons who suffer as a result of a protected disclosure, even though they themselves were not responsible for the disclosure. This could occur, for example, if the spouse, partner or close friend of a whistleblower working for the same or a related organisation is targeted because of the disclosure.

The act states that that the kind of detriment alleged in this regard includes coercion, intimidation or harassment; discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment in relation to employment (or prospective employment); injury, damage or loss and threat of reprisal.

According to John Devitt, chief executive of Transparency International Ireland, the act has many strengths that do not feature in corresponding legislation in other countries.

It does provide some assurance or safety net for the first time for workers across the public and private who disclose wrongdoing, he says.

This is not the case in many countries where whistleblowing legislation is confined to various sectors.

As of yet, it is probably too easy to say how successful the PDA is as it has not been tested in the courts because so few cases have been brought.

The nature of whistleblowing is such that instances that actually go as far as the courts are rare, and it could be many years before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

However, there are still weaknesses in the Irish legislation, according to Devitt.

One of the issues weve highlighted in the past was the need to protect people who report wrongdoing that doesnt necessarily amount to criminal offence or other catagories laid out in the legislation, he says.

A lot of employees are subjected to a code of conduct, they dont have recourse to the law if they report a breach of professional code because professional or corporate codes of conduct dont have the same standing in legislation.

We have encountered cases where people sought to bring attention to a code of conduct or a conflict of interest, but might not be protected.

One other feature of the legislation is that it does not cover volunteers in the same manner as it does people with employment contracts.

John Deasy of Fine Gael, who has been at the forefront of highlighting the efforts of a whistleblower in the Grace foster abuse case.

How other countries respond to disclosures of wrongdoing

Michael Clifford reveals how whistleblowers are treated in other jurisdictions

UK

The law in the UK dates from 1998 with the enactment of the Public Interest Disclosures Act.

Similar to this country, the legislation was brought in following a series of scandals. These incidents were in the financial services sector, primarily, but also included a number of cases in construction, where health and safety breaches were uncovered.

A theme running through all these instances at the time was that the worst could have been avoided if somebody junior had blown the whistle early on.

The Public Disclosure Act is primarily concerned with protection for the individual who highlights the wrongdoing.

Prior to 1998, anybody doing so could be fired without any recourse apart from an application to the UK employment appeal tribunal. The new act ensured that the whistleblower would be protected from that fate, or from suffering any career impact such as a reduction of wages or salaries, or a block on promotion.

The disclosure being made must be one in which the individual reasonably believes that a criminal offence, a failure to comply with legal obligations, a miscarriage of justice, danger to the health and safety of an employee, or damage to the environment has occurred.

If that bar is crossed, then the individual can make the disclosure to their employer or a prescribed person. The latter includes the Health And Safety Executive, the Data Protection Registrar, the Certification offices and the Environmental Agency.

Disclosures can also be made directly to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

So far, the law has appeared to have worked reasonably well. One thing it did prompt employers to do was to set up their own internal mechanisms to deal with whistleblower complaints in a proper manner.

However, surveys suggest that less than 40% of companies have such a system in place.

Critics say that provision for setting up internal systems should be included in the legislation.

One other criticism of the Public Disclosures Act is that it does not protect against blacklisting. If an individual has made a disclosure he can still be blacklisted if applying for another job. Attacking this problem would create some difficulties as to the capacity to prove that blacklisting is occurring.

USA

While whistleblowers are often subjected to some form of reprisal, the USA has long recognised that in order to balance the risks of doing so, a reward system should be in place.

The first time this was tried was under the False Claims Act in 1986. This law was designed to detect and prevent false claims against the federal government, particularly in relation to defence contracts and healthcare programmes.

The act made allowance for non discretionary awards to qualified whistleblowers. The provision appears to have been a success, as the law is credicted with ensuring that more than $50 billion in civil settlements and criminal fines has been recouped in cases involving fraud against the federal government.

This was foremost in the minds of lawmakers when it came to introducing strict consumer protection following the financial meltdown in 2008.

The Dodd Frank Act was proposed by congressman Barney Frank and former senator Chris Dodd, who had been chair of the Senate Banking Committee in response to the financial crisis.

President Obama credited the act with effecting a sweeping overhaul of the United States regulatory system, a transformation on a scale not seen since the reform that followed the Great Depression.

In terms of whistleblowing Dodd-Frank made provision that anybody blowing the whistle on financial malpractice was entitled to between 10% and 30% of any monies recovered in excess of $1 million.

The criteria applied to examine whether any individual would qualify for a pay-out includes: the significance of the information; the degree of assistance provided by the whistleblower; and the extent to which the government wants to deter the violations in question.

Even at the lowest end of the scale, this system ensures that a whistleblower whose information results in a recovery of $1 million for the federal government will receive a reward of not less than $100,000.

That money, however, is small potatoes compared to some of the awards that have been made. In September 2014, the Security and Exchange Commission awarded a whistleblower $30 million in one case.

At the time, the chief of the SECs Office of the Whistleblower, Sean McKessy, said that the award showed that his employer meant business.

This award of more than $30 million shows the international breadth of our whistleblower programme as we effectively utilise valuable tips from anyone, anywhere to bring wrongdoers to justice, he said.

Whistleblowers from all over the world should feel similarly incentivised to come forward with credible information about potential violations of the US securities law.

The mammoth award was not an isolated case. In 2015, the same programme awarded $14 million to a whistleblower in October 2013 and $17 million in another case last August.

Another aspect to legislation in the USA is the obligation of corporations to establish procedures to permit anonymous reporting by employees. The Sarvanes-Oxley Act provides for this measure specifying that the audit committee of companies should ensure that such procedures are in place.

AUSTRALIA

There are federal laws such as the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, but that only covers public officials, Commonwealth contractors and their employees reporting a broad range of conduct.

Most of the laws cover the disclosure of matters of public interest, but the same protection is not present for those in the private sector making disclosures. The other outstanding feature is the patchwork of laws that apply to the different states in the country.

For instance, New South Wales whistleblower protection is governed by the Protected Disclosures Act 1994 and covers only public officers disclosing public sector wrongdoing. The same category of potential whistleblowers is included in the law governing the Northern Territory, even though the specific legislation in that state is the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2008.

The other states are governed by a whole series of other laws dating between 1993 and 2013. All of these concern disclosures of public interest matters.

The private sector is governed by legislation dating from 2001, the Corporations Act. This makes provision for whistleblowers to be drawn from company officers, employees or contractors disclosing company contravention of the Corporations legislation.

In a report compiled by Transparency International in 2014, it was pointed out that there are many inconsistencies between the various protected disclosures laws.

There remains significant dufferences between jurisdictions. For example, while the definitions of reportable wrongdoing and who may be covered, are very comprehensive under the federal Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, whistleblower reports about wrongdoing by members of parliament, ministerial staff or the judiciary are not protected.

By contrast, under Australian state whistleblowering legislation, reporting of wrongdoing committed by all public officials (including politicians and judicial members) is typically protected.

Major struggle to change the culture of whistleblowing

Al Pacino as New York police whistleblower Frank Serpico.

ON April 24, 1970, Frank Serpico gave evidence to the Knapp Commission, an inquiry set up to investigate widespread police corruption in New York. Serpico had been dogged and persistent in exposing the corruption that saw numerous officers taking bribes and pay-offs in the course of their work.

Speaking at the commission, Serpico said that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which honest police officers can act without fear of ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers.

Some saw Serpicos role in exposing the corruption  later immortalised in the eponymous movie starring Al Pacino  as heralding a breakthrough in the treatment of whistleblowers. Unfortunately, that was to prove not to be the case.

Down through the decades since then, whistleblowers have been subject to reprisal of one sort or another once they decided to stick their heads above the parapet.

There have been numerous examples. Tom Clonan, the former army officer who spoke out about sexism and bullying in the forces, has written extensively about the reprisal he faced. In the world of business, a number of people in financial services who spoke out were subjected to isolation culminating in departure from the sector. A similar scenario exists in areas of the public service, recently illustrated by the allegations surrounding the public servant who highlighted the Grace case.

Down through the years individual sectors attempted, to a greater or lesser degree, to set up systems to allow for whistleblowing. Much of it was window dressing.

An Garda Siochana, for example, purported to set up a charter for whistleblowers in the wake of the findings of the Morris Tribunal which examined malpractice in the Donegal area.

Out of that came the charter that was published internally in 2009. It stated: The aim of this charter is to create an environment in which sworn members and civilian employees are encouraged to report incidents of corruption or malpractice.

The aim, while laudable, is all very well, but subsequent events in the force have shown that it can be a cold house for anybody who highlights malpractice. The best known example of a garda who stuck his head about the parapet in recent times was Sgt Maurice McCabe. He was subjected to being ridiculed as a rat, having intimidating slogans painted on garda property and believes he was targeted with a disciplinary inquiry, which ultimately found him innocent, but dragged on through two stress-filled years.

The Protected Disclosure Act was designed to ensure that any such whistleblower will be protected from that kind of reprisal. However, there is only so far the law can go. Changing the law is a cakewalk compared to attempting to change a culture.

To that end, Transparency International recently published the results of a survey into how the law has been operating since it was brought in two years ago. The survey found most employees were in favour of the law, but that most employers have no procedures in place to channel reports of wrongdoing from staff or protect those who speak out. More than nine out of 10 employers said it was in the interests of their organisation or industry sector for people to speak out. However, only 79% said they would consider hiring somebody who had blown the whistle in a previous job.

A certain section of employers believe that speaking out is good when it occurs elsewhere. And only 64% said they would encourage an employee to report wrongdoing when the disclosure might harm the company or organisation. Again, it would seem, a minority of employers believe wrongdoing is something that happens elsewhere and if it rears its head on their patch its a minor matter.

In terms of awareness of the PDA, only 68% of employers are aware of it, and the vast majority of them are not aware of specific provisions. Fifty five per cent of respondents did not know that the law allows a worker to seek financial compensation if they have been penalised for speaking out. Only half were aware that an employee who speaks out can now seek a court order to prevent their dismissal if they believe it is being done on foot of speaking out.

At the publication of the survey in September, the minister for public expenditure, Pascal Donohoe said it was encouraging that employers had a generally positive outlook on whistleblowing. Nevertheless, these results suggest that much more needs to be done to raise awareness of the Protected Disclosures Act and to ensure that organisations have measures in place to act on reports from their staff and make sure that whistleblowers dont suffer as a result of their disclosures.

Of course he is correct. The government can only do so much by bringing in legislation, which, while displaying some flaws, can stand beside most similar laws in the western world.

However the government can also set the tone of ensuring that anybody who does speak out will be protected and encouraged. There is little sign yet that such an attitude is widespread in the upper echelons of government or the wider employment sectors.
Burma Artists to Campaign Against Surge in Child Rape Cases in Rangoon

A Facebook advertisement promotes the Nov. 27 campaign against child rape, with an awareness event to be held at Kandawgyi Myaw Sin Island.

RANGOON  Burmese artists and celebrities will speak out against sexual violence and child rape at an event on Rangoons Kandawgyi Myaw Sin Island on Nov. 27.

The artists event comes in response to a recent surge in reports of child rape across Burma and especially in Rangoon. It will call for harsh penalties against sex offenders and raise public awareness about sexual violence against children.

We have invited as many artists as we can, said Ko Maung Maung Aye, an event organizer, And they have promised to go.

Organizers have created a Facebook page to promote the anti-rape campaign among netizens.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is designing a new law against gender-based violence. The ministry will soon launch a one-stop service for women dealing with sexual assaults at the Womens Vocational Training School on Natmauk Street in Rangoon, deputy director-general of the social welfare department Dr San San Aye told The Irrawaddy.

Normally, when women or girls file complaints of sexual assault, they have to report the incident three timesto the police, to the social welfare department, and to doctors who perform medical checks, she said.

No victim wants to talk about a painful experience three or four times. Therefore, we have organized a one-stop service where social welfare department personnel, police, health staff, and lawyers will all be present 24 hours a day. Eventually, we hope to expand this service throughout the country, said Dr San San Aye.

Under the previous government, lawmaker U Thein Nyunt urged the Parliament to impose the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls under 16. But the parliament rejected his proposal.

In a recent case in Rangoon, a 5-year-old girl was raped by her 18-year-old stepbrother, sparking public outrage.

Through the end of September, the Burma Police Force has counted a total of 761 rape cases this calendar year, of which 461 were committed against minors under 16. These numbers reflect a substantial jump in reported rapes over previous years682 cases in 2015, 756 cases in 2014, and 734 cases in 2013.

According to police records, most child rape victims are under 10 years old. Most are sexually abused by close relatives, by friends of their parents, by uncles, or in some cases by their own fathers.

If we reopen the gallows in our prisons, then rape casesincluding child rapewill decline. Therefore, I would like to urge the president and authorities to reopen the gallows, said lawyer Daw Soe Sandar Linn.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
Burma China Places Army on High Alert after Shan State Clashes

The Taang National Liberation Army, an ethnic Palaung armed group, attacks a trading zone in Muse Township in northern Shan State. / Myo Naing / The Irrawaddy

SHANGHAI, China  China has said its army is on high alert after armed groups in Burma attacked military and police posts close to their shared border at the weekend and that it is providing shelter for a number of people who fled the fighting.

The official Xinhua news agency said in a report late on Sunday three armed groups simultaneously attacked security posts in the border towns of Muse and Kutkai in Burmas northeastern Shan state earlier in the day.

Xinhua, citing unidentified sources, said there were military and civilian casualties but gave no other details.

Chinas defense ministry said in a statement on its website it hoped that calmness and restraint would be exercised to prevent further escalation.

The Chinese army is on high alert and will take the necessary measures to safeguard the countrys sovereignty and safety, as well as protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens living along the border, the ministry statement said.

The Chinese Embassy in Burma urged an immediate ceasefire on Sunday and for stability to be returned to the border region, according to a statement on its website.

The Chinese government was temporarily housing an undisclosed number of Burma citizens who crossed the border into China to avoid the fighting, the statement said.

Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups in Shan state, which is home to several large groups operating close to the borders with China and Thailand.

China was infuriated last year when five Chinese people were killed when the fighting spilled over into Chinese territory.
Burma Committee to Assess Governments Budget Request

Burmas Union Parliament reconvenes for its third session on Nov. 16, 2016. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

The parliamentary public accounts committee will review and pass comment on the governments supplementary budget requestwhich was submitted to the Union Parliament last Wednesdaybefore the end of November.

Lawmakers will decide whether to approve the request after receiving reports from the public accounts committee and the joint bill committee on the budget amendment bill.

The requested supplementary budget allocation for 16 ministries and Union-level organizationsincluding the Central Bankis 1.35 trillion kyats (US$1 billion) until March 2017.

The national budget estimate approved for the 2016-2017 fiscal year in March 2016 was 20.3 trillion kyats.

Sai Thiha Kyaw, a lower house Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party lawmaker representing Shan States Mongyai Township, told The Irrawaddy that they would try to compile the budget assessment reports on time, as directed by Upper House speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than.

The supplementary grant request for the remaining five months of the 2016-2017 fiscal year is less than the previous year, said Sai Thiha Kyaw, who has been a member of the parliamentary public accounts committee for two consecutive parliamentary terms. He was reelected in the November 2015 election.

In line with the budget procedure law, Sai Thiha Kyaw said the parliamentary committees would review whether it is compulsory to approve the budget for salary payments, taxation and interest on loans, or repairs after natural disasters.

The defense ministrys budget request was the third highest at 100 billion kyats.

Thirty-eight per cent of the supplementary military budget is allocated to buy necessary machinery, mainly for the air force, explained deputy defense minister Rear Admiral Myint Swe in Parliament.

The Burma Army has been fighting ethnic armed groups in northern Shan and Kachin states, where they have used fighter jets and heavy artillery.

The rest of the supplementary military budget covers salaries and transport and is to supplement loss of income from Burma Army-owned businesses.

Other budget requests are mostly to pay salaries for new civil servants, to pay for renovations of government housing, to renovate school buildings, roads, and bridges, and for land compensation.

The Ministry of National Planning and Finance requested the most money (310 billion kyats) while the Ministry of Energy and Electricity requested 189.6 billion kyatsthe second highest amount.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Sport requested 99.4 billion kyats and 30.4 billon kyats respectively, while the Ministry of Transport and Communications requested 35.9 billion kyats and the Ministry of Industry asked for 27.8 billion kyats.

The supplementary budget requests of the Ministry of Border Affairs and the Ministry of Border Affairstwo of the three ministries controlled by the Burma Armywere 9.2 billion kyats and 50 billion kyats respectively.

Home affairs deputy minister Maj-Gen Aung Soe said the money is for police and firefighters salaries, the renovation of prison buildings, border fencing and the repair of police security posts on the Burma-Bangladesh border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested 2 billion kyats for the support of 44 Burmese embassies abroad, according to its deputy minister U Kyaw Tin.

In addition to the ministries, the Central Bank also asked for 130.6 billion kyats while the combined total of other Union-level organizations stood at less than 19 billion kyats.
Burma Deputy Ministers Dismissal Sends Waves through Political Circles

Deputy Minister Dr. Tun Win. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYIDAW  The purge of Dr. Tun Win, the deputy minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, has caused a sensation in Burmas political circles.

In a statement released on Friday, the Presidents Office announced that the deputy minister was dismissed from his duties, but it gave no reasons for the firing.

U Zaw Htay, the deputy director-general of the Presidents Office, refused to comment on the matter.

The ex-deputy minister met the press at his residence in Naypyidaw on Saturday. He said he was dismissed not because of corruption or incompetence, but because of a disagreement with Dr. Aung Thu, the minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, and with U Win Htein, the National League for Democracys (NLD) central executive committee member.

According to Dr. Tun Win, he had a quarrel with the minister and the directors-general of his ministry in a monthly meeting over his proposals for the countrys agricultural sector.

He also argued with U Win Htein over a privatized seed nursery in Heho, Shan State. Dr. Tun Win tried to take back the nursery from its operator after he discovered the nursery had been inactive for four years. It is unclear what connection U Win Htein has with the nursery.

He said U Win Htein had then summoned him and told him in person to resign from his post, but refused to give a reason.

I asked why, and [U Win Htein] said he had no reason, and he just told me to resign, the deputy minister told The Irrawaddy.

U Win Htein refused to comment on the situation when asked by The Irrawaddy.

Dr. Tun Win said a Presidents Office representative then came to him on Thursday with two optionsto fill out a resignation form or to be dismissed for weakness in coordination and administration. He was told that he would receive compensation if he signed the resignation letter, but otherwise no compensation would be given. He opted for the latter.

I replied that I would listen to the decision of the President. To my dismay, I found the announcement [of my dismissal] in Saturdays newspapers, said Dr. Tun Win.

Dr. Tun Win is a respected agriculturalist in the countrys industry, and was appointed by the NLD-led government to the position of deputy minister after the party came to power in April. He is the first high-ranking official to be dismissed under the new government.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
Burma Locals in Northern Shan State Warned to Take Precautions As Fighting Escalates

A man who was injured during fighting between ethnic armed groups and the Burma Army over the weekend in northern Shan State is treated at a local hospital. / State Counsellors Office

A joint force of four ethnic armed groups have warned local residents in conflict-torn northern Shan State to limit movement in the region as battles escalate against the Burma Army.

Our ethnic peoples are requested to halt travels in northern Shan State in order to avoid battles during this period of military activity, read the statement released by the armed organizations. We appeal to local people to take precautions, and to support this inevitable joint military exercise for the protection of all ethnic people.

The four groups include the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA), none of whom are signatories to the countrys controversial 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

They released the statement on Monday after launching three attacks on Burma Army and police posts in northern Shan States Muse Township early Sunday morning, leaving five policemen injured. The groups said they launched the joint military operation because they are under pressure from government forces.

Despite the fact that our alliance of the Northern Brotherhoods truly wants a genuine peace and wishes to solve political problems through political means, we have inevitably launched such a joint military operation after constant military pressure from the Burma Army, read the joint statement.

The Burma Army has actively engaged in military offensives using heavy artillery and airstrikes against the four groups in Kachin and Shan states, where they are based.

In their statement, they said that the Tatmadaw had recently launched offensives in territories belonging to the Kachin, Kokang, Taang, Arakanese and Shan ethnic groups, which have intensified with the arrest, torture, and killing of local civilians.

The Burma Army offensivescarried out while peace talks are ongoingcould lead to a breakdown of internal peace and stability, warned the four ethnic armed groups.

Sundays attacks against Burma Army posts occurred in Muse Townships 105th Mile, as well as in the townships of Mong Ko, Pang Sai, Namkham and Kutkai, all in northern Shan State.
Monday, November 21st, 2016 (1:37 am) - Score 3,741

The Managing Director and Founder of broadband ISP Call Flow Solutions, Andy Conibere, has told ISPreview.co.uk that the future could be very bright, provided regulation is introduced to protect alternative networks from being unfairly squeezed out by the dominant suppliers (BT, Virgin Media etc.).

Call Flow probably isnt as much of a household name as similar AltNet ISPs, such as Hyperoptic or Gigaclear, but they should be. The ISP started life in 2002 by serving customers in Kent and over the past fifteen years theyve expanded to reach homes and businesses in parts of East Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire (Southern England).

On top of that theyve also taken part in one of the Governments rural broadband pilots for Hampshire (here) and have won part of a Broadband Delivery UK contract for Berkshire (here). As an ISP they claim to build cost effective superfast and ultrafast broadband networks in areas that the Big 2 (BTOpenreach and Virgin Media) deem commercially unviable (i.e. the final 5%), yet it is important to note that this includes both rural and urban networks (their latest roll-out was in central Windsor).

In keeping with that Call Flow operates a hybrid engineering model, which applies to both their core/backhaul side as well as the distribution (last mile) part of the network. In other words they deploy the best option for the job, which could involve Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) and / or Sub Loop Unbundling (SLU) based Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2).

Call Flow are also one the few ISPs to have made extensive use of the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product (i.e. sharing BTs cable ducts and poles) and theyre already hopeful that Ofcoms new Strategic Review improvements (e.g. Cable Duct and Pole Access and Dark Fibre) will help to foster their plans for a rapid network expansion.

[We are] planning to deploy proportionally more FTTP in the future, said Andy Conibere in our exclusive interview. However Andy cautions that this will only happen if Ofcoms changes are implemented quickly and efficiently  [but] I remain to be convinced that this will be achieved in the near term based on current experience.

Andy, who use to work for BT, has also called for new regulation around dominant providers that could prevent big operators (e.g. Openreach) from overbuilding ultrafast networks, such as those being built by smaller AltNets like Call Flow. But applying this to purely commercial deployments (e.g. Virgin), as well as those that use state aid, could present some competition issues.

The Interview

1. Can you tell us a bit about the history of Call Flow, such as how you came into existence and what you do differently from the rest of the market?

ANSWER: I established Call Flow about fifteen years ago, after spending the first 18 years of my working life in BT. Starting from an apprentice, most of my time at BT was spent in senior management positions building and maintaining networks. Obviously this is where I gained most of my network knowledge, which is proving invaluable now  especially when it comes to Sub Loop Unbundling (SLU aka FTTC), PIA (sharing BTs ducts and poles) and deploying new underground and overhead infrastructure. We have been deploying alt-net broadband networks for over 13 years, initially starting as a WISP. Recognising the limits of FWA radio, we initially started deploying wired networks (copper and fibre) as expensive in-fill to radio. However, as our expertise has grown, we have completely swapped this around and now view radio as an in-fill to wired networks. This has been largely market lead, where there is a general preference for wired over wireless. This is mainly due to certainty of supply, connection speed and confidence in upgrade paths. As a rule of thumb we aim to keep radio to less than 20% of any network deployment, and being reserved for just the sparsest and most expensive to reach premises. There is still a lot of BTO network that we can unbundle cost effectively and deliver FTTC to where BTO have not. As these opportunities are forecast to decrease, we are planning to deploy proportionally more FTTP in the future. For any given area, be it urban or rural, we will usually deploy a mixture of FTTC, FTTP and radio (FWA) solutions. The mix varies depending on local topography, but the network leverages a common backhaul. This means we can achieve the highest possible coverage rate, with the majority being wired, at a cost that is much lower than most other single technology methods i.e. for that high coverage rate. We build our core connecting network in a given area using a combination of PIA, digging in our own fibre as new-build, deploying new telegraph poles and where appropriate radio links to multi gigabit capacity. Call Flow were involved in the initial trials and deployment of PIA since its first introduction around five years ago. Since then we have been actively taking advantage of this product, in isolation, until the last year or so. We view PIA as being an essential part of our toolkit to rapidly build cost effective networks in both rural and urban areas.

2. We note that Call Flow has deployed a number of its own hybrid-fibre and wireless broadband networks, not least with its win of a state aid supported contract in rural Berkshire and your Broadband Delivery UK pilot scheme in rural Hampshire (England).

Can you tell us a bit about the technology that youve deployed in Berkshire and Hampshire and what those projects have achieved?
The reality in Silicon Valley is that when a man applies for a senior-level position, hes considered a qualified candidate based solely on potential. But if the applicant is a woman, she has to demonstrate that she has already accomplished something in the course of holding a similar position.

Thats the assessment of Syamla Bandla, vice president of global cloud operations at Qualys, a cloud platform service provider in Redwood City, California. Bandla joined Qualys just a couple of months ago, following a four-year stint at RMS, a catastrophe risk management services provider in Newark, California. In a recent interview, Bandla, who is from India, spoke about her experience as a female tech executive in Silicon Valley, beginning with her recent move from RMS:

I was definitely looking for opportunities where I was given the responsibility of transforming an organization  a company that was going through another growth spurt. I wanted to work on a large scale to apply my experience and background, not just from a technology perspective, but in terms of transforming processes. I did feel, in talking to the folks at Qualys, that I was going to be given that opportunity. When I joined RMS, I had the same passion  it was an opportunity to transform a large-scale, high-performing organization.

I found it interesting that Bandlas title at Qualys is almost identical to the title she held at RMS, which was vice president of global cloud platform services. That suggests that her move might have been a lateral one, which made me wonder if theres some sort of glass ceiling for women at that level. I mentioned to Bandla my own observation over the years that often, when men in the technology industry change companies, they move into a higher-level position, whereas when women change companies, its often more of a lateral move. I asked Bandla for her thoughts on that, and she indicated that she was an exception:

You might be right with that observation  yes, I have observed that. I dont feel my move is a lateral move, just because of the sheer complexity and scale involved, and the need to ensure that the organization can execute a multi-cloud strategy. I think the Qualys opportunity definitely puts me in a different bracket  I see it as a stepping stone in my career growth.  But I have repeatedly seen that for women to progress in their careers, they have to really have accomplished something, or proven themselves, whereas thats not necessarily the case with their male counterparts. You talked about lateral moves  when going for interviews for the next level, men are more easily given that position, based on their potential. But what Ive observed, and heard from my peers, women have to either be in that role, or have been in that role. Thats the reality in Silicon Valley.

As for how her Indian heritage has affected her career and the opportunities shes had, Bandla said shes really never thought about it:

I feel Ive been blessed to have really good colleagues, and really good management, to support me. I dont know that my Indian heritage had anything to do with either hindering my career path, or actually helping me. I think its all about the work, and all about the impact I was trying to make. You just need to be consistent in what you are doing.

On the other hand, Bandla said obstacles confront women from other countries that dont stand in the way of women from this country:

For me, the U.S. was the first experience I had in a foreign country. The biggest challenge is the balance between work life and commitment on the personal front. Women coming from a foreign background arent as exposed to the way the corporate world works here. For me that was foreign, and learning that on my own initially was a challenge. But once I started making an impact, and chose my career moves cautiously, I felt like Ive had a fantastic ride with my career.

I pointed out that a lot of women in the tech industry end up starting their own companies because theyve found that their opportunities are otherwise limited due to the male dominance of the industry. Bandla said she hasnt considered that path:

I have a very clear vision of where I see myself in three to five years  a CIO or CTO role is my passion. Again, its all about the impact, and its all about the responsibility and my ability to help organizations transform both IT and cloud operations. Ive done that naturally, whether it was at Dell, where I helped five acquisitions integrate into the company, or at RMS, where it was basically transforming the entire business model, which had never done hosting or cloud. In a CIO or CTO role, I think I would have an even bigger impact in making that transformation for the organization.

Bandla was recently honored by CloudNOW, an organization for women in cloud computing, as a Top Woman in Cloud Innovations. That reminded me of my recent interview with Anna Schlegel, a senior globalization executive at NetApp, who co-founded the organization, Women in Localization. There are, of course, a number of industry-wide organizations for women in technology, including the Anita Borg Institute, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and Women in Technology International. So I wrapped up the conversation by asking Bandla for her views on the importance of having distinct womens organizations in the various disciplines within the technology industry, and whether that should be weighed against any concern that the sheer number of womens organizations might be diluting the effectiveness of what these organizations aspire to achieve. Her response:

I think until we start seeing equality in the senior posts, which is still far away, what these organizations are trying to do is bring diversity and equality, especially in the top positions. Throughout my journey, at Dell, Fidelity, RMS and now here [at Qualys], its been very much male-dominated. I think equality will come when women are recognized in their own sub-groups, through organizations that are helping to build that confidence, and build the brand for women and what they are trying to achieve in their careers. I would say it will take at least a decade  thats my personal opinion  for these organizations to converge and determine that they have achieved the equality they were trying to bring about at the senior levels. Im not talking about the mid-manager tier  Im talking about SVPs and the C-level. I think there is still a long way to go.

A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant.
As Wisconsin's gun deer hunting season kicks off last Saturday, growing concerns about the spread of a deadly disease through Wisconsin's deer herd has also been reported. Despite this, hunters were found to remain unfazed about eating the contaminated venison. The start of the hunting season has also reportedly triggered a fresh debate in Michigan over the wisdom of allowing hunters to buy and use bait to attract deer.

The Chronic Wasting Disease And Its Impacts

According to reports released by Channel3000, it was found that the chronic wasting disease (CWD) is known to cause neurological issues, wasting and, eventually, death. Experts have recently revealed that there is no known risk to humans, but the possibility is still being studied by state and federal health officials. CWD's discovery is allegedly considered to elevate the growing concerns that the widespread use of bait will bring too many deer into close quarters and accelerate the spread of the disease.

Currently, as The Journal Times have reported, experts were said to be wailing to the fact that they only have less data than ever about CWD considering that its prevalence has already been put into new heights in the core outbreaks in southern Wisconsin and appears in more and more counties miles away.

Chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Larry Bonde, which advises the state Department of Natural Resources has revealed that he is actually considering the idea of testing whether he has hunted to places where CWD had been found. However, current findings have suggested that it hasn't been detected in the wild near his usual spots in Manitowoc County and Calumet County.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources area wildlife supervisor Andy Paulios has also revealed that more hunters getting their deer tested would allow officials to know more about the disease and its spread. Furthermore, Paulios suggests that CWD symptoms doesn't necessarily show at the onset, however, he believes that if you're in the CWD zone and you're concerned, then most definitely, you should get yourself tested.
Abortion is legal in the United States, but individual states can regulate or limit the use of abortion. There is said to be three main types of abortion: chemical, medical and surgical. Medical abortion is preferred by women who would like to do the process in the privacy of their homes, making them feel like they are more in control. "Some women prefer medication abortion because it can be more private, since the abortion occurs at home," Caitlin Weber, M.D., a family physician specializing in family medicine said.

The Abortion Pill Has Two Medicines, And It Could Be Costly

If a woman decides to terminate her pregnancy through medication abortion, she has to take two separate medications. The first is mifepristone, also known as the pill RU-486, which starts the process of safely terminating a pregnancy. The second is misoprostol taken at home 24 to 48 hours later.

"Mifepristone blocks the receptors for progesterone, which is the principal hormone in pregnancy. Since progesterone can't do its job to continue the pregnancy, essentially, the pregnancy stops growing. Like in a miscarriage that happens without the aid of medication, the body will start to cramp and push out a pregnancy that has stopped growing. To ensure it's done safely, we add misoprostol so the risks of heavy bleeding and infection are reduced," Leah Torres, M.D., an ob/gyn practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah, explained.

The abortion pills can cost up to $800, depending on where you are and where you're getting them, but different clinics may have funds to help you out.

Huge Blood Clots And Other Unpleasant Side Effects

It usually takes up to six hours for the abortion to be completed after taking the second pill. The whole process should be completed about a few days, during which time you may expel big blood clots or tissue as the pregnancy aborts, so it's good to rest while this is happening. Patients may also experience nausea and cramping. "We provide medications to help control cramping, like Ibuprofen, Motrin, or Advil to help with cramping," Weber says.

Do NOT Get Abortion Pills Online Without Input From A Medical Practitioner

"Obtaining the abortion pill without the guidance of a medical practitioner is dangerous, just as I would say obtaining depression medication without the guidance of a medical practitioner is dangerous," Torres says. "You could do yourself a lot of harm by not having a proper evaluation."

"It's always best to know what your options and resources are before you have an emergency," Torres added. "I would highly recommend people at least contact Planned Parenthood or a health care professional to ask questions and have a plan in place, because birth control can fail. You want to know as quickly as possible which options and resources are available to you."
Supercars have always found its way to almost every boy's bedroom through huge colorful posters. Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and Bugatti's have helped each boy's imagination to be fast and free. A new player might make their dreams much wilder, as Rezvani shows off its new supercar, the Beast Alpha.

It has just been almost two years since American company, Rezvani, debuted their self-funded car, the Beast. A 315-horse power car made out of a 2.4-liter Honda engine and a chassis that is built from an Ariel Atom. This car features a sleek body that is made out of 100 percent carbon fiber that also makes it super light at only 1500 pounds. It is a two-seat car that can reach zero to 60 miles in just 2.9 seconds. Another variant comes with both a supercharger and a turbocharger that can reach zero to sixty in just 2.7 seconds, a time that puts it on par with other supercars, or probably even better.

The Beast Alpha Introduces New SideWinder Doors

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Rezvani just revealed the Beast Alpha. It is equipped with a Honda K24 engine that puts out 500 horsepower. Zero to 60 miles can be achieved in just 3.2 seconds with the sequential automatic transmission. This supercar has a top speed of 175 miles per hour. However, the powerful Honda engine will not be the real reason why this supercar deserves to be put on a poster to be hanged in a boy's room wall, but the doors. People have always been amazed at Lamborghini doors that swing up when opened or with Tesla's "gull wing" door that borrows the same style as the famous DeLorean DMC-12 of the 80s. The unusual door designs give the cars so much more character than it already is and has been a big part in the world of supercars. Rezvani introduces the first ever "sidewinder" doors that open out and toward the front of the car, something that the world has not seen before. Bystanders will surely be stuck in fascination whenever they see you get out or in of the car.

A powerful engine, sleek, lightweight carbon fiber body and unusual sidewinder doors, are characteristics that clearly gives the car the status of a supercar. However, it may still no be enough as the car is going to be competing with other known brands that have already proven themselves over and over again. 500-horse power is more than enough but supercars like the Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren 650s, and the Porsche 918 Spyder are all packing more than 600horse power. These cars are also capable of going more than 200 miles per hour top speed.

Rezvani Is Just Borrowing Technology From Other Auto Makers

Almost all other supercars have also their own engines they boast of, unlike Rezvani that is just borrowing Honda's engine technology and aggressively tuning it. The company also does not have their own chassis and is only using a chassis from an either an Ariel Atom or a Lotus. The company also may be suffering from a slight personality disorder, as it is an American car that has Japanese written all over it once you pop the hood to see the engine. Nonetheless, the 2018 Rezvani Beast Alpha is still a remarkable machine capable of high and super fast speeds. It is still a sight to behold and will surely be fun to drive around town on a weekend or on the tracks.
Going for prostate cancer surgery may not be an easy decision because of the side-effects that concern patients and their families. There are debates in favor of going for radiation rather than removing it altogether. Let's find out which one is more suitable.

According to The American Urologic Association, there is no difference between going for surgery and going for treatment, in terms of possibilities of a cure. If there was a clear distinction between the two types of curing prostate cancer, it would have been much easier for everyone. But, both radiation and surgery are equally effective or ineffective, depending on the case itself.

Cure rates for radiation and surgery are the same. The decision to choose one particular option depends on people's preference. Mostly, it depends on which option they want to avoid and they go for the other option. Nevertheless, people should keep a few things in mind while making a decision.

Not Everyone Gets Cured

One should keep in mind that neither prostate cancer surgery nor radiation is capable of treating every patient. It is important to have constant active surveillance for a short-time or even long-time recovery. Many urologists tell their patients that they have a choice of having radiation after going for surgery. But, it cannot be done the other way. While this is true, there is one interesting aspect about it.

Surgery After Radiation Unlikely

It is quite rare to go for surgery after having radiation therapy. Most patients do not have a recurrence in the prostate gland after not having been cured. They eventually develop a subclinical disease instead. These cancer cells grow and elevate the PSA, even though the prostate does not produce any PSA.

Salvage prostatectomy

A urologist may decide to go for salvage prostatectomy after a patient goes through radiation, even though it is difficult process. The radiation therapy causes less blood supply and intense fibrosis around the prostate. Both make the surgery a complicated one, according to Gary Larson.

"Even in the best of hands, there is a high risk of incontinence following a prostatectomy performed after radiation therapy," the medical director of the Procure Proton Therapy Center said on Quora.

It should not be a hurried decision, no matter if you decide to go for prostate cancer surgery of radiation. You should be aware of the pros and cons prostatectomy, if you go for it. You should not regret your decision afterward.
If anyone has any doubt if global warming is real or not, this must convince them. According to climate scientists at NASA, sea ice levels have hit record lows in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. This may have left the global warming hoax debunked for people like Donald Trump who does not believe in climate change.

An alarming trend has been the water temperate in the Arctic Ocean. It has been several degrees higher than the average. That is why a low level of sea ice is expected in the region. The Arctic record has been consistently declining over the past few years. So, this does not come unexpected.

What surprises scientists is the Antarctic records. According to the most recent findings, the sea ice at the Antarctic has been expanding.

Global warming skeptics have also used the Southern Hemisphere as an argument to prove that climate change is not real. Between 2012 and 2014, the ice gain in the region has hit record high. But, that seems to be a thing of the past. It leaves global warming hoax debunked as climate change is apparently affecting the Antarctic as well.

So far, scientists have had the belief that the reason behind the Antarctic ice gain is natural fluctuation in the atmosphere. It is still early to come to conclusion. But, if the low ice gain continues in the Antarctic, it may become a trend and cause the region to melt significantly.

In the Arctic, the sun is heating up the deeper water more in summer due to the lack of ice. When ice is present, the heat gets deflected back into space. However, this causes a feedback loop, and scientists have been warning about it for a while now.

"The interaction between Arctic ocean temperatures and the loss of ice formation leading to continuing record minimums is clearly a climate change signal," CNN quoted Thomas Mote, a geography research professor at the University of Georgia, as saying.

US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that climate change is a hoax. He is likely to pull Washington out of the Paris Climate Agreement and stop paying the UN for its climate change projects, the BBC reported. It will be interesting to see ff the recent finding leaves global warming hoax debunked for Trump.
Carbon dioxide has been seen as one of the causes of global warming. There is need to control its output in order to lessen the effects of global warming and climate change. A new method might limit carbon dioxide as carbon dioxide can be stored by turning it to rock.

There is an effort being made now to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Currently carbon emissions are very high. One of the solutions that could be done is to store carbon dioxide. A study has found that if carbon dioxide is injected into basalt, within two years it could turn into rock.

Basalt can be useful in many ways. One of those ways is that it turns carbonate materials into rock. In this way carbon dioxide can be safely stored without causing harm to the environment. The study has also shown that once carbon dioxide has been turned into rock, it won't be able to escape into the atmosphere.

A few examples of carbon dioxide being stored into basalt can be seen. One example has been in a field project in Iceland, according to Science Daily. In that project carbon dioxide dissolved into water was injected into basalt. Another example in a project by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership. In that project made in Washington state around 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide has been injected into a basalt formation.

The team of Pete McGrail and colleagues drilled a well into the Columbia River basalt formation in 2013. The team then injected carbon dioxide into it. After extracting core samples from it in 2015, the team found carbon dioxide has turned into carbon mineral ankerite. McGrail's team has said that this could be the start of putting carbon dioxide into basalt formations.

Lab studies have confirmed that carbon dioxide injected into basalt can turn into rock, as Phys Org notes. This shows that carbon dioxide can be stored by turning it to rock, which could become part of an effort to reduce carbon dioxide. Scientists have also been developing an enzyme that can fight carbon dioxide.
Earlier this year, Sony introduced earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona a new product called the Xperia Ear. Now the company has announced that the gadget will start shipping in the U.S. by December 2016.

Sony Xperia Ear

According to Ubergizmo, Sony explained that the new gadget is a "smart ear" accessory able of doing much more than an ordinary Bluetooth earpiece. Sony has now confirmed the release date and pricing for the Xperia Ear in the United States, after the Xperia Ear has only just been released in Japan.

The Xperia Ear is a smart gadget that provides you Sony's own version of an AI personal assistant right in your ear. The device can be controlled via voice commands and it can perform various tasks, including navigation, dictation, and internet searches. The Xperia ear can also provide time and location-based alerts, news, prompts for missed calls and general notifications.

According to Sony, on a single charge the Xperia Ear wearable device will be able to provide up to 3.5 hours of battery life. The smart gadget will be released in black color for a price tag of $199.99. In the U.S., the device is expected to start shipping on Dec. 13.

Xperia Ear's Functionality

According to Tech Times, the tiny, voice-activated earpiece that is somehow similar to Apple's Siri-enabled earbuds called the AirPods and to Google Assistant. The Xperia Ear can be controlled using a custom Android app and can be paired to the user's smartphone through NFC and Bluetooth.

The smart gadget offers hands-free voice commands once integrated, so the user can tack it onto their ear perform various tasks. The device can also be set up to perform specific commands at the nod or tilt of the wearer's head. However, the Xperia Ear is still far from a fully voice-enabled and motion controlled gadget.
When Google announced the Daydream View VR, the growing world of virtual reality was pleased. The search engine giant was offering a new means to experience mobile VR, which worked when paired with either the Google Pixel or Google Pixel XL handset. And while there was plenty of hype surrounding the same, the new product has only met each and every expectation.

As The Verge notes, the Daydream View has two particular hurdles to overcome. The firsts of these are consumers still deciding whether or not to dive into the trend of virtual reality, which has been gaining a steady following. The other are third-party providers who are on the brink of investing in the platform, but have not taken the dive just yet.

The publication goes on to say that Google answers these by obstacles by making some of the most interesting choices in terms of hardware. Likewise, its choice in software is so much more than just potential for something in the far off future. More than that - more than its competitors - it presents a potential that is well within reach.

The design of the Daydream View is simple and aesthetically like its competitors, which includes the Samsung Gear VR. It is, essentially, a headset that hosts a mobile phone with a one-handed control scheme. However, the only mobile phone that it is currently compatible with is the Pixel and Pixel XL. And while it does not have the fanciful features of the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift - no eye tracking or inside-out cameras or real-world motion - it does do what it promises well.

C|Net calls it the easiest VR to use in the market thus far. The steps to boot up the Daydream View are simple. First, open the headset's front door, remove the remote control and place the phone inside. Afterwhich, place the headset on and adjust until the image becomes clear. Adjust the straps, hold down a button on the controller to calibrate and begin.

The image quality provided is stellar - but it in no way can it be mistaken for actual reality. So in terms of comparison, the Daydream View definitely reigns more than most, but it still leaves a little to the imagination. VR as whole still has some steps to overcome, but Google's offering is arguably the closest there. Besides, there is hardly any motion sickness experienced with the it.

The appeal of mobile VR is more widespread that direct VR headsets, mainly because of its appeal to third party-servicers. Despite their limited capabilities, there is a relatively wide range of videos and games to explore. Google's first foray into the platform, the Cardboard, even supports YouTube videos.

The Google Daydream View is only the first of what Google says will be an entire line for Daydream, a VR Platform that was introduced in Android 7.1 Nougat. While the available device is already stellar in current standards, there is definite room for improvement. Perhaps Google can expand the range of the same to include handsets outside of its own production line, for example.
Amazon.com and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) have entered into a partnership that allows the commerce and cloud computing company to offer Fiat cars.

The offer is only available for buyers in Italy. The retail company will only have three models from the Italian car company at their disposal - 500, the 500L, and the Panda.

The Panda is the best selling Fiat car in Italy which explains why it was among the models made available online. The 500 and 500L models will target the young professional demography which is mostly reliant on the internet.

Gianluca Italia, Head of Fleet and Business Sales for FCA in Italy, said that, "The time has arrived to give consumers a new, more efficient and transparent way to choose a new vehicle."

The partnership allows consumers to shop for a new car while at the comfort of their own homes. Aside from this, buyers will receive additional discounts upon completion of a transaction.

Once the client is done with all the clicking, Amazon will contact them to agree on a specific dealer and to finalize the transaction. The buyer can then pick up the car after two weeks.

Fox Business considers this move as a step towards disrupting car dealers. Instead of prospective buyers getting their cars from dealers, they would just log in to a computer and click buttons. It will definitely be easier and more practical than going to a car dealer.

These dealers will probably bank on the experience of seeing and 'feeling' a car that many car owners went through before purchasing their new rides.

Fortunately for car dealers, the Amazon and Fiat partnership is relegated to the two companies. Other car manufacturers will still sell their wares the old-fashioned way. But if this move proves successful, only time will tell if others follow their lead.
"Game Of Thrones" Season 7 star Emilia Clarke is about to swap dragons for intergalactic space travel after it was announced that she is set to join the cast of the upcoming "Star Wars" Han Solo spin-off.

Clarke, who impressively portrays the role of warrior queen Daenerys Targaryen in the hit HBO series "Game Of Thrones," has been confirmed to be included in the cast of the still-untitled Han Solo film set for release in 2018.

Clarke will star alongside Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover, who have already been confirmed to play as Han and Lando Calrissian in the upcoming film. According to reports, the Han Solo spin-off is to take place before "Star Wars: A New Hope" and will feature the decisive years as Solo and Calrissian became space smugglers and "scoundrels on the rise."

So far, no word yet on who the "Game Of Thrones" Season 7star will be portraying but fans are expecting to see Clarke's outstanding performance given her utmost experience in the fantasy realm.

Meanwhile, StarWars.com, the franchise's official website, hinted on the actress' upcoming role in the Han Solo spin-off. In a statement, the site revealed, "Clarke's role will round out a dynamic cast of characters that Han and Chewie will encounter on their adventures."

The "Game Of Thrones" Season 7 actress' confirmation as the female lead in the upcoming film comes after rumors that Tessa Thompson, Naomi Scott and Zoe Kravitz were considered for the role. Other possible choices were Kiersey Clemons and Clarke's "Game Of Thrones" co-star Jessica Henwick.

The impending "Star Wars" Han Solo spin-off film will be co-produced by Lucasfilm boss and Hollywood veteran Kathleen Kennedy. According to reports, the movie is scheduled to start filming in January and is expected to premiere in May 2018.

Fans of the franchise have high hopes with the "Star Wars" Han Solo spin-off especially with the addition of "Game Of Thrones" Season 7 star Emilia Clarke.
Fans have long been waiting for solid updates about "House of Cards" season 5. While announcements have been slow to come by for the fifth installment, Netflix's mega-hit political drama has been more hyped since president-elect Donald Trump took over the United States. With recent rumors claiming Frank Underwood's persona is close to President Trump's, latest talks are now suggesting for a new character to actually be based on Trump.

The already popular series became more hyped because of the recently concluded U.S. presidential elections. As fans well know, "House of Cards" takes the story of a politician who took all means to secure his future as a president, and it has been critically acclaimed since day one because of this. It is attested by some that the events in "HOC" actually symbolize real life events, and this is believed to be the main reason for fans to patronize it. With a new president in position, many are now expecting to see how the show will tackle the current situation of the country under President Trump's reign.

A New Character To Portray Donald Trump

While the theme of "House of Cards" is based on a novel of the same title, it was previously reported that the show still makes effort to be original with its plot. Following this, creator Beau Willimon has revealed that every season's synopsis is decided based on how the previous one ended, not taking for granted the current events happening in the United States.

According to reports, Willimon is one of those who were unhappy with President Trump's victory. New theories then have it that season 5 might feature a new character that is based on the billionaire and will serve as Frank's new competition.

Season 4 ended with Frank expressing his intention to run for another term. Following this and the new character theory, fans are expecting to see an election that is close to the Clinton-Trump presidential seat race. As exciting as this plot may sound, Netflix will still have to confirm and fans will have to wait for announcements.

A New Character To Challenge Claire Underwood

As for Claire, the addition of actress Patricia Clarkson is now speculated to make things difficult for the first lady. Frank has asked Claire to consider a vice-president position as seen in season 4. With rumors claiming Claire would steal the presidential seat from her husband, the yet unrevealed character of Clarkson is said to serve as the new antagonist that will take down the former.

"House Of Cards" Season 5 Air Date

There is no concrete information on the premiere date of "House of Cards" season 5, yet, but it is speculated to take a March 2017 release. Netflix has been mum about this update, but fans are completely convinced that the show should take an early release next year to take advantage of the current political status of the U.S.


Today

A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny skies. High 68F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Are you stuck in your current day job or are thinking of trying out a different career? Why not give a freelancing a try?

Nerdy Turtlez reports that there are a lot of opportunities in doing freelance work. There are, however, challenges as well and one must take time and a lot of consideration before choosing to do freelance work.

Hongkiat says freelancing is not for everyone, but there are a lot of benefits to it. And here are five reasons on why you should give freelancing a try:

To open up career options - Freelancing opens up a lot of options for a professional career ahead of you. Especially, if you just lost your day job, or are having a difficult time to get a new job. It's important though that you be open to the constantly changing and evolving landscape of freelancing, especially if it's going to be an online gig. If you're someone who's open to learning new skills and can easily adapt, then freelancing might be for you.

The flexibility of working from home - One of the most talked about advantages of freelancing is the ability to be able to work from home. A lot of freelancing jobs nowadays just require a fast internet connection and a computer or laptop. No need to experience anymore the hassle of waking up early to beat the morning rush or leaving your office early or really late to avoid the evening rush. Freelancing gives you the flexibility of working in the comfort of your own home.

No need to deal with bosses - Another talked about advantage of freelancing is that you don't have to answer to any boss. Sure, you may consider your clients your bosses. But at the end of the day, you don't need to ask their permission to take a holiday off. You can finish a project ahead of time, or don't take up projects that could eat up several dates that you're scheduling for vacations. In case you really need to work, you can always just bring a laptop and a portable WiFi device and you can still do your work while you're enjoying a vacation on the beach.

Satisfy your creative impulse or passion - The beauty of freelancing is that you can take up work or projects that are catered more to your passion or creative impulse. Are you a good writer? Then take up projects that involve writing. Are you good at drawing and creating visual arts? Then take up graphic designing projects. If you have a creative skill that you're talented at, you can turn that into freelancing gig. You get to do what you're passionate about and get paid for it.

Extra income - Lastly, freelancing provides you with a way to earn extra income. A lot of times, what you make in your regular job may not be enough to cover all your monthly expenses. Freelancing offers you an opportunity to earn extra on the side while still enjoying your regular income. Just take up projects that you can work on during your free time so your freelancing gig won't cause any conflict with your day job.

As good as all these reasons sounds, the most important aspect that you will need if you want to be a full-time freelancer is self-discipline. Since there won't be any boss to monitor you and that you can work at the comforts of your own home, it's easy to become distracted and lazy.

So it's important that you have good self-discipline and self-control. So that you can ensure the success of your freelancing gig.
With good stable careers often equated to landing a job in Google, Microsoft, Apple Inc, only very few would pay attention to decent blue collar opportunities. But just because manual labor is not popular or fashionable does not mean that fulfilling careers in this category do not exist.

Blue collar jobs still could not compete with tech-oriented careers for now. Nonetheless, a recent report published by Bloomberg LP discussed for categories of blue collar jobs that not only offer great pay but also will potentially continue hiring more staff for the next several generations. These are the following jobs highlighted.

No. 1: Automotive Services (technicians and mechanics)

Annual salary: $40,070

Demand: 587,320 to 692,570 employees from 1997 to 2015

No. 2: Electricians

Annual salary: $55,590

Demand: 512,290 to 640,260 employees from 1997 to 2015

No 3: Plumbing (plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters)

Annual salary: $55,100

Demand: 340,370 to 437,140 employees from 1997 to 2015

No. 4: Construction (welders, cutters, solders, and brazers)

Annual salary: $40,970

Demand: 336,810 to 438,560 employees from 1997 to 2015

These blue collar careers are more likely to continue for the next few decades. Why? Curiously, an article featured in Public Broadcast Service emphasizes the economic plan of President-elect Donald Trump to prioritize blue collar jobs that will boost America's manufacturing and infrastructure.

This nationalist economic policy bears an extremely positive forecast for these blue collar jobs. However, these projections do not alter the fact that most manual labor careers also have its own share of dangers. In fact, an article published by Jobs & Hire highlights one of these four careers as the most dangerous profession in America.

Nonetheless, skilled laborers with the relatively subpar educational background can still make a decent living with their noble yet unpopular calling. Despite the dangers that most of these jobs entail, it does not also change the fact that these four blue-collar careers carry the brightest torch for the future proletarian revolution.
Hillary Clinton was the former and 67th United States Secretary of State, wife of former US President Bill Clinton. In this year's 2016 election, she tried her luck again to be the next and America's first lady President. But to her dismay, Republican rival Donald Trump won the presidential election. Yet even if she already lost the battle, the Democratic candidate is still winning the popular vote against the new president of United States of America.

According to ABC News, the popular vote gap between the two candidates is still increasing. As of Saturday, Hillary Clinton's popular vote count was at 63,390,669 while Donald Trump stands at 61,820,845. The gap between the two is approximately 1.5 million, in which Hillary Clinton got 48% of the votes while Trump got 47%. These figures are from a report by the Associated Press.

In another report from CNN, Clinton is one of the presidential candidates who won the popular vote but lost the election. Along with her is Al Gore (rival of former President George W. Bush) who also lost the presidential election but won the popular vote, and other presidential candidates from the 19th century.

The Electoral College is one of the main reasons why Clinton did not win the election. Trump won in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, as well as Southern and Midwestern states, and these places are enough for him to win the election.

Hillary Clinton concedes from the election and admits her defeat. She even called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him in a polite and humble manner. But Clinton's supporters were still in shock about her unexpected defeat. However, many people still admire and believe in her; it was very clear that she was loved by many. One of the proof is the popular vote, as mentioned, which is still increasing and the gap continues to expand.
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EDEN  Rockingham County Sheriffs detectives are investigating a homicide at the Eden city limits.

Shortly after 1 a.m., someone called 911 to report a wreck on Harrington Highway at N.C. 14, according to a news release.

Upon arrival, deputies and first responders found a silver Mercury Monterrey van in the brush off the roadway.

A short distance away, they found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. He was taken to Morehead Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the news release. The mans name has not yet been released.

The investigation is ongoing, with Eden Police and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisting the sheriffs office.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9863.
You might have seen the bright yellow yard signs as you drove through Guilford or Randolph counties.

Or to the beach.

The message is simple: Thank You Jesus.

An Asheboro teen's Easter idea has really taken off  growing from a few hundred hand-assembled signs to an online enterprise, with more than 22,000 signs sold across the United States.

We wanted something someone could honestly read going down the road without having to think about it," said Lucas Hunt, a 16-year old home-schooled student. "'Thank You Jesus' was three simple words that covered everything.

Hunt said he hopes the signs are helping to spread Gods message and promote Christianity. He said one woman who became a Christian after having a conversation about the signs meaning.

Hunt said the idea came after he had worked with younger kids at a summer camp the year before.

I took my Bible and talked to them (the kids) about Jesus, and they wouldnt get bored, he said. It inspired me to do more, I wanted to do more.

The sign idea took off when a member of his church set him up with a printer. Hunt and his parents got shipments of printed signs, which they assembled,.

We would just sit and put signs together for what felt like hours, his mom, Carla Hunt, said.

Those signs  envisioned for Easter season  were sold out through the Hunts' church, Hopewell Friends Church near Asheboro.

Easter came and went, but people still wanted the signs.

The Hunts decided to meet the growing demand.

As the movement has expanded, they mostly have stopped selling signs out of their church, instead selling them online or from Carla Hunts van.

She will meet people in the Asheboro area to deliver signs, often selling more than she had planned.

So far, all the reactions have been positive. The signs became so popular that said he Lucas Hunt believes that in some places they may have out-populated campaign signs from the recent election.

It was nice  you would see a bunch of political signs lined up and then a 'Thank You Jesus' sign at the end. It was refreshing, he said.

His mom says that the determination he has displayed in selling the signs leaves her excited to see what he will accomplish in the future. She attributes his success to God.

I thank Jesus for Lucas, I thank Jesus for the signs, and I thank Jesus for all he has done for me, she said.

Hunt said the signs are not about him, a particular denomination or making money. It's all about the simple message on the sign.

A sign sells for $8, and proceeds go to programs such as church leadership training and homeless shelters. Hunt has filed for a 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

Although, he receives many requests for stickers or T-shirts, Hunt said he's sticking with the signs.

Hunt attended Fayetteville Street Christian School part time last year, but otherwise has been home-schooled his whole life. He is a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol and wants to enlist in the Air Force after graduation.

The signs are in 22 states, and about 1,000 new signs planted every 10 days, according to Jacob Lewis with the Thank You Jesus Movement.

Hunt sees signs all over the area, and during a recent vacation he saw one at Oak Island on the coast.

It instantly made me have a connection with that person, he said. My family instantly knew that they were another family of believers.

Hunt said his favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

After these signs  wherever I go  I see one of the signs, and it is pretty neat to see that (verse) come to life, he said.
NEW YORK  Anxiety is high among many transgender Americans after the sweeping Republican election victory. They fear stronger resistance to their push for civil-rights protections, including broader access to public restrooms, and wonder if their newly won right to serve openly in the military is in jeopardy.

Transgender people are concerned for their safety, survival and legal rights in the coming years, said Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who often works on transgender issues.

Among the specific concerns:

Many transgender people expect that Republican President-elect Donald Trumps administration will abandon or weaken the efforts by President Barack Obamas administration to enable transgender students to use the restrooms of their choice at public schools. Republican officials in numerous states have opposed that campaign, saying schools should not be required to let such students use restrooms or locker rooms based on their gender identity.

There are fears that more GOP-governed states will approve legislation limiting transgender rights and will reject proposals to expand such rights.

Theres uncertainty about the Pentagons recently adopted policy of allowing transgender people to serve openly in the military. Some conservative groups, including the Family Research Council and the Center for Military Readiness, have suggested a reversal of the policy. So has GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee.

The question needs to be asked: Does this make our military more effective and more lethal? said Hunters chief of staff, Joe Kasper. Its hard to see how.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, was cautiously optimistic that the militarys new policy would survive.

I dont know if anything will happen, but were certainly alert and ready to fight, she said. Hopefully, good, smart people will prevail.

More broadly, transgender-rights advocates have been dealing with an outpouring of dismay and apprehension in their community.

Keislings organization, for example, held a call-in session Friday to provide advice to transgender people worried that changing their gender designation on federal and state identity documents might become more difficult in the new political environment.

Since his election, Trump has not publicly addressed transgender issues, though he did ease some concerns among gays and lesbians by saying that he considered same-sex marriage to be settled law. Transgender-rights activists remain wary, depicting Vice President-elect Mike Pence and some members of Trumps transition team as hostile to their causes.

Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender author who teaches at Barnard College in New York, said in an email that she fears conservatives will now seek to isolate and marginalize transgender people and make them feel separated from the broader gay rights movement.

On the state level, transgender activists have taken heart that Republican North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who incurred sharp criticism for signing a bill limiting transgender peoples restroom access, is trailing slightly in still-incomplete returns. Prospects for repealing the bill are uncertain, however, given continued GOP control of the legislature, and a similar bill already has been introduced in Texas.

Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is president of the state Senate, listed what he called a Womens Privacy Act as one of his top 10 priorities when the legislature reconvenes in January.

A majority of Texans in both political parties and in every ethnic and demographic group believe that women and girls should have privacy and safety in their restrooms, showers and locker rooms, Patrick said. Unfortunately, legislation is necessary to assure that they do.

Another proposed Texas bill would overturn nondiscrimination ordinances protecting LGBT people at the local level. Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth are among the cities with such protections.

Shannon Minter, a transgender man who is legal director of the San Francisco-based National Center for Lesbian Rights, said many transgender civil-rights gains of recent years are based on federal statutes and court precedents that cannot be quickly undone.

Like others in our country, transgender people want to be able to live safely, to be able to work and have access to decent health care, and to be able to live with dignity, Minter said in an email. We dont want to be in the crosshairs of a trumped-up culture war.
Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine, the highest-ranking openly transgender public official in the United States, participated in two candlelight vigils in observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The first was at Unitarian Universalist Church in Lancaster. The second was outside of the Capitol. Both events included a candlelight vigil in memory of every transgender person murdered in the previous year, and a reading of each of the victims names.

It could be my name someones reading next year, said Cassidy Frazee, who is transgender and attended the vigil.

Members of the LGBT and transgender community said they just want to tell their stories.

It makes a difference. you know its awfully easy to hate somebody whose story you dont know, but if you know that story you can somewhat empathize with that and I think that changes the whole complexion of things, said Joanne Carroll, the president of TransCentral PA.

But they said change is still far away.

I think tolerance is the only way its going to happen, Carroll added. People have to realize that bigotry and hatred are no good no matter who its against.

To anyone struggling, this community has a message.

Find a way to be honest and true with yourself and realize that being who you are meant to be, not who youre pretending to be is the best thing to do, Frazee said.

We are strong, and we are resilient together. Our community has grit, and we will persevere, Levine said.

Levine said for more change to happen, more comprehensive non-discrimination legislation that includes LGBT individuals is needed in Pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump has said he wants to bind the wounds of division. He will prove that he can be president for all Americans, not just those who voted for him.

Lets say we take the president-elect at his word, though his decision to make alt-right leader Stephen Bannon a senior strategist does not bode well. If he wants to bring the nation together, theres an easy, relatively painless, puzzlingly overlooked strategy for doing so: Reorder his policy priorities and begin with the things that are most appealing to liberals. (Yes, there are a few.)

Prioritizing promises with bipartisan appeal, rather than base-pleasing red meat such as mass deportation, would allow Trump to defang Democratic opposition; make inroads with many of the demographic groups he has alienated (including women); and demonstrate his independence from the standard Republican establishment agenda.

Take, for example, what might be called the Ivanka plank of the Trump platform.

With his daughter Ivankas influence, Trump has pledged to finally remove the United States from the two-member club of countries that do not guarantee paid maternity leave. (Right now its us and Papua New Guinea.) His plan would require six weeks of paid leave to new mothers.

Trump also promised to make child care and elder care more affordable, through tax breaks.

His plans promoting equal pay for equal work have not yet been fleshed out. But his daughter and trusted adviser has repeatedly assured voters that he is committed to this as well.

These policy positions were initially greeted with cynicism and surprise. They are, after all, traditionally the purview of Democratic candidates, not Republicans. But their seepage into a Republican candidates agenda seemed inevitable, given how popular they are.

Poll after poll after poll after poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly favor paid parental leave. A Public Religion Research Institute survey from last fall found that 82 percent of Americans believe companies should grant full-time employees paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. This includes 89 percent of Democrats and an astonishing 75 percent of Republicans.

For comparison, another recent PRRI poll found that only 29 percent of Republicans want to identify and deport immigrants living in the United States illegally. Yet Trump has declared mass deportation to be among his first orders of business when he gets to the White House, while he has said nothing recently about paid family leave.

To be sure, there is disagreement about the best way to implement these ideas, and many of Trumps policy details fall short. Trump appears to offer paid leave to birth mothers only, ignoring fathers, adoptive parents and those caring for elderly relatives; among other problems, this risks making women of fertility age disproportionately expensive (and thus less attractive) to hire. His child care tax breaks, as currently construed, would primarily benefit the wealthy.

He has also punted on questions of how hed pay for either plan, instead citing unrealistic economic growth projections and elimination of improper payments in the unemployment insurance system.

So there are some splinters in the Ivanka plank. But Trumps interest in these issues is a good start.

During the unusually divisive campaign, Trump pledged support for several other policies that could rally Democrats.

Consider his promise to end the carried interest loophole, which allows a small share of ultrawealthy individuals (including managers at private equity and venture capital funds) to pay lower taxes on the fruits of their labor. This feature of the tax code affects few people, but it is widely reviled, and both Democrats and Republicans support its elimination.

Infrastructure investment  featured prominently in Trumps campaign, and then again in his victory speech  also has potential to unite his supporters and opponents.

Putting these types of goals at the top of the pile would have enormous upside, and little downside, for the new president. They do not require Trump to cede any ground, because they are policies he has pushed all along. They are unlikely to annoy his most committed fans. Setting America on the path toward paid family leave would also make it increasingly awkward for Democrats to continue demonizing him.

To be sure, none of the policies Ive mentioned are priorities for Republican congressional leaders. Given the blowback Trump faces for relying on so many establishment types to run his transition team, though, this may be a feature, not a bug.

As an added bonus, this plan would allow Trump to claim one of the greatest presidential achievements possible: proving that sometimes good policy can also be good politics.
WASHINGTON  The Republican Party is fractured by ideological divisions, led by an inexperienced and unpredictable president-elect, and quite possibly headed for a fratricidal civil war. The Democratic Party should be so lucky.

There is much unpleasant reality for Democrats to deal with right now, starting with this: The GOP controls virtually everything. The two-party system is, at best, one and a half.

Republicans won the presidency. They retained control of both houses of Congress. Soon, when Donald Trump appoints a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, they will re-establish a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. As far as the federal government is concerned, thats the whole trifecta.

But theres much more: After making significant gains two weeks ago, Republicans control both legislative chambers in 32 states  and hold the governorships in 33. Some of the nations most diverse and populous states, including Texas and Florida, are living under one-party Republican rule.

Democrats should reject the urge to take comfort in favorable demographic trends. It is true that within a generation, minorities will be in the majority  and that minorities tend to vote for Democrats. But what would the country be like after 20 or 30 years of near-total Republican control? Im sure most progressives would join me in not wanting to run that dangerous experiment.

Did Democrats lose the White House because their presidential candidate had baggage and was not perfect in every way? Come on, the Republicans nominated Trump, for heavens sake, a man who bragged about grabbing women by the genitals. I dont have nearly enough space to list all the ways in which he disqualified himself. Yet he won.

The Republican Party is so splintered  the establishment, the tea-party wing, the fiscal tightwads, the defense hawks, the social conservatives, the libertarians and now the Trumpistas  that sometimes I think of it as Afghanistan: with each faction having its own warlords and grievances and goals. Many of the demands they make upon Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be uncompromisingly extreme and mutually exclusive. There will be blood (metaphorically, of course).

Yet if Democrats expect to sit back and watch the GOP self-destruct, I fear they will be disappointed. Consider this fact: The Republican Party not only survived the Trump candidacy, but prospered. Why would the same not be true of a Trump presidency?

One of the biggest lessons I draw from the election is that the GOP basically came together behind its candidate. Despite all the Never Trump noise, most prominent Republican officials eventually fell in line. Some voiced strong reservations but said they would vote for him anyway, which amounted to an endorsement. Others, such as the Bush family, declined to publicly proclaim their opposition in a way that perhaps might have made a difference. Maybe they thought he was bound to lose anyway; if so, they miscalculated.

Another lesson, perhaps the most important one, is that the Democratic Party cannot hope to succeed by relying solely on its ability to win the popular vote in presidential elections.

Democrats have won the popular vote in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012 and now 2016. Thats six out of the last seven presidential contests. Yet the Republican Party is running the country, or at least most of it.

The Democratic Party cannot just wait for the next Barack Obama to come along. The president is a unique political talent of the kind that appears only once in a great while, when the stars magically align. Instead, Democrats need to do what Republicans did, which is to build from the ground up and start winning state and local elections.

A Democratic rebound has to begin with the basics: Getting people who agree with you to vote. Less than 60 percent of those eligible to cast ballots in last weeks election bothered to do so. Conservatives who say this is a center-right nation may be right in terms of who votes, but theyre wrong in terms of who could vote. Polls show that the country favors Democratic over Republican positions on most issues.

The Democratic Party should put its energy and money into connecting with potential voters at the grass-roots level. Trump made a bunch of pie-in-the-sky promises he can never keep. Democrats need a hopeful but realistic message recognizing that while most big cities prosper in todays globalized economy, much of the rest of the country suffers.

Democrats will win when theirs is the big tent party. Right now, though, the GOP circus is in town.
Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car

I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ...
A Texas man is being held in Cumberland County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail after police say he crashed his truck in Middlesex Township and fled the scene.

Carlos Evaristo Rodriguez, 53, of Alton, Texas, has been charged with misdemeanor accidents involving attended vehicles or property, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and numerous summary traffic violations.

Around 7 p.m. Sunday, Middlesex Township Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Harrisburg Pike near the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

When police arrived they found Rodriguezs silver Chevrolet truck, which sustained significant damage and was disabled after it struck a concrete barrier in a construction zone, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Middlesex Township Police.

The bumper of the truck was hanging off the vehicle, the passenger side front wheel was broken, and there was visible damage done to the concrete barrier, police said.

There was no operator inside the truck, but police found numerous cans of Bud Lite and a white hard hat with Carlos R on it, according to police.

While waiting for a tow truck, a woman reported that a man who was walking toward the truck kicked the back of her vehicle as she slowed to inspect the damaged truck, police said.

Police made contact with a woman who knew Rodriguez. She informed them that Rodriguez was staying at the Knights Inn and was in the area for work, according to police.

Rodriguez was found in his hotel room, and police said that lodged in his face was a small piece of glass that matched the glass in the truck.

Rodriguez was arrested and taken to Cumberland County Prison.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in front of Magisterial District Judge Paul Fegley.
JURIST Guest Columnist John H. Blume of Cornell Law School discusses the current state of the death penalty in the United States

On November 8th, voters in three states endorsed pro-death penalty measures. In Nebraska, an initiative asking voters to reinstate capital punishment following a 2015 legislative death penalty repeal (over the Governors veto no less) passed by a 60-40 margin. In California, a capital punishment repeal measure was rejected by 54% of those who voted. And, in Oklahoma, voters strongly supported a largely symbolic ballot initiative declaring that the death penalty was not cruel and unusual punishment. These developments seem to indicate that Americans (at least in three states) strongly support capital punishment. Butwhen the obituary of the American death penalty is finally writtenthe November 8th ballot initiatives will almost certainly be seen as a minor bump near the end of the road to abolition.

For more than a decade, support for capital punishment has steadily declined using all relevant criteria including the number of: states that retain the death penalty; executions, new death sentences imposed, as well as the results of public opinion polls. Despite the initiatives in California, Oklahoma and Nebraska, that did not change in 2016, and it is not going to change significantly in the short or long run. The death penalty in America is dying; it might be a (relatively) slow death, but the numbers dont lie.

This year, Delaware joined the growing number of states without a death penalty statute in place when its highest court ruled that the state statutory complex was unconstitutional. While there are still thirty-one states that retain capital punishment, in four of those, there are official gubernatorial moratoriums in place. In most of the remaining states, the death penalty ranges from moribund to non-existent as reflected by persons sentenced to death and executed. For example, there will be less than 20 executions nationwide this year, a 75% reduction from the 98 executions carried out in 1999, which was the high water mark for state sanctioned killing in the United States in the modern (post-1976) era of capital punishment. And the execution drop in 2016 follows declines in each of the last three years with 35 executions in 2015 and 39 executions in 2013. Public opinion polls show that less than half of Americans support the death penalty when given the option of life without parole, down from 80% who said they did so fifteen years ago. Perhaps most importantly, this deep ambivalence about and skepticism of the death penalty can be seen in the fact that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in fewer cases andwhen they dojurors are reluctant to impose it. There were 49 new death sentences imposed nationwide in 2015, down from 315 that were imposed twenty years ago. There will be even fewer in 2016. This is true even in deep south conservative bastion states like South Carolina and Georgia, which have historically been high volume death penalty jurisdictions. Not a single person was sentenced to death in 2016 in either state.

So, where the death penalty rubber hits the road, support for capital punishment continues to decline. And, given that death penalty politics is so localized, nothing in the recent ballot initiatives is going to affect the slow death of capital punishment. The reality is that even in California, Oklahoma and Nebraska, the number of new death sentences imposed will be negligible. Californias death sentences come out of a few jurisdictions; the reality is most of the state is a death free zone. Nebraska will remain, as it always has been, a state where the death penalty is rarely imposed and executions range from infrequent to non-existent, and Oklahomas referendum saying that a currently legal punishment is still legal will have no effect on sentencing and execution practices in the Sooner state.

The perceived pro-capital punishment legislative successes also need to be viewed against other voter decisions that tell a more nuanced story. In Hillsborough County (Florida), Harris County (Texas) and Jefferson County (Alabama), three very pro-death penalty prosecutors were upset by reform candidates who ran on criminal justice reform platforms that included seeking the death penalty less frequently (if at all). Governors in Washington and Oregon who supported and vowed to keep in place moratoriums on capital punishment were easily re-elected. And in Kansas, four members of the state supreme court were retained by voters despite a well-funded attempt by conservative groups to unseat them based on their decisions to invalidate the death sentence in several high profile capital cases.

Taking the long view, the death penalty is dying for three primary reasons. First, it is unreliable. We know that innocent people are sentenced to death and innocent people are executed. As of today, 156 death row inmates have been exonerated and released from prison. Countless others have been released from death row (and in many cases from prison) due to their likely innocence but have not, because of the lack of irrefutable proof of innocence, technically been exonerated. And some former death row inmates, persons such as Cameron Todd Willingham, Carlos DeLuna and Richard Charles Johnson were tragically executed despite very strong evidence of their actual innocence. Nothing in any of November 8ths ballot measures does anything to fix the death penaltys wrongful conviction problem. Another reason for the death penaltys demise is its cost. All studies in all states have shown that it costs millions of dollars, and in some states tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, to execute someone. This exceeds by factors of 10 to 100 what it costs to incarcerate someone for the remainder of their life. Thus, retaining the death penalty diverts a disproportionate share of scarce criminal justice resources to the execution of a small (and dwindling) number of persons at a time when the widespread need for broad criminal justice reform is recognized across party lines. In theory, the death penalty might be worth retainingdespite its staggering costif it were a deterrent, but all reliable studies have revealed that the existence of the death penalty in a particular state has no deterrent effect. Again, nothing that happened on election day does anything to minimize capital punishments runaway costs. Third, what fuels the death penalty is race. Over 80% of death row inmates are there for killing someone who is white. And the chances of being sentenced to death when the defendant is black and the victim is white are greatest, even when factors such as the heinousness of the crime and the defendants prior record are taken into account. When the victim is a white female, the odds go up even more that a death sentence will be imposed and that the person will eventually be executed. This basic pattern has not changed since the Civil War, nor has the fact that the states where the death penalty still (primarily) thrives are the former states of the Confederacy. Again, there is nothing that voters approved on election day that will, or can, rectify the death penaltys pre-occupation with race.

Due to these intractable problems with capital punishment, which a growing number of Americans find unacceptable, the death penalty is on the way out the door. Abolition will not, however, be a straight line. Inevitability does not mean immediacy and working towards the correct answer to many important social issues rarely is anything but messy in a democracy. Will more people be executed before the American death penalty is officially assigned to the history books? Yes, of course. Might there might even be an uptick in executions in some states, e.g., California, before capital punishment breathes it last gasp? Yes, that is also possible. Nevertheless, Americans experiment with the death penalty is on its last legs. We may, to quote Justice Blackmun, continue to tinker with death for the foreseeable future, but nothing that happened on November 8th changes the inexorable march towards the end of the death penalty in this country.

John H. Blume is the Director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project. He teaches Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Federal Appellate Practice, and supervises the Capital Punishment and Juvenile Justice Clinics at Cornell Law School. Professor Blume has published numerous book chapters and law review articles in the fields of capital punishment, habeas corpus, criminal procedure and evidence.

Suggested citation: John H. Blume, Putting the 2016 Capital Punishment Ballot Initiatives in Perspective, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Nov. 17, 2016, http://jurist.org/forum/2016/11/John-Blume-death-penalty.php
Two organizations Bahrain established in 2011 to protect human rights, the Ombudsman of the Ministry of the Interior and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), have not adequately protected its citizens from allegations of torture, Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] reported [materials] Monday. The organizations were established in response to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquirys investigation into unlawful killings, torture and human rights violations by Bahrain security forces. The Ombudsmans responsibilities include reviewing complaints about alleged abuses at the hands of police or other officials and to refer them to authorities such as SIU to further investigate or take action. The SIU is responsible for investigating illegal acts of killing, torture or abuses by state officials. AI reports [press release] that although the establishment of these organizations were an improvement to Bahrains handling of human rights violations, they have so far failed to significantly curb human rights violations in the country. Since 2011, the SIU has referred 44 cases for criminal trial, which involved 93 members of the security forces. However, the SIU has also reviewed 150 other cases in which no criminal charges were filed. Only a few of those who went to trial were convicted, and a majority of those convicted were low-ranking members of the security force. So far, there have been no prosecutions of senior officials or officers. The SIU has also been criticized for not investigating reported abuses until years later, after some of the evidence is no longer obtainable. AI believes the Ombudsman is generally effective at reporting human rights complaints. However, the organization is also criticized for failing to keep families informed of the status of investigations, which has caused some distrust from its citizens. It is believed torture may continue to occur within the country, despite the existence of these organizations.

There has been ongoing criticism of Bahrains human rights since the 2011 uprising. In September 2015, the UN Human Rights Council released a report [JURIST report] on Bahrains human rights record. AI released a previous report [JURIST report] in April 2015 declaring that reforms had failed to end human rights violations. In February 2015 a Bahraini court found [JURIST report] 11 Shiites guilty of an attack carried out against police in 2013, and three Shiites were sentenced to death. The other eight defendants were sentenced to life in prison, and their citizenship was stripped. Also in February 2015, Bahrains Ministry of Interior initiated a criminal investigation into alleged criminal content [JURIST report] posted by the countrys main opposition group, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Friday that congress will debate the proposed peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) before it becomes law. The announcement was made during a broadcast of the Organization of American States as they voted to support the Colombian presidents push to bring peace to the country by passing a resolution [press release]. Santos reiterated the promise on his Twitter feed, stating the debate in congress would occur [Tweet] on Wednesday. He later linked to an op-ed [El Espectador report, in Spanish], which argued the congressional debate is the best way to implement the peace deal, even though it not was not the way originally planned. The debate was spurred to action due the ceasefire between the parties being contingent on the peace deal, which has been called into question after two FARC rebels were recently killed.

The Colombian government and the FARC reached a peace agreement[JURIST report] last Saturday to end the guerrilla warfare that has been plaguing the country for more than five decades. Colombian voters in October narrowly rejected [JURIST report] the previous peace deal negotiated between Santos and Timoleon Jimenez, the leader of the FARC. The Colombian government and the FARC signed a ceasefire [JURIST report] in June, marking an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict between the two groups.
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Friday that individual counties in Hawaii may not ban genetically engineered crops and pesticides [JURIST backgrounder]. At issue for the court in this multi-year battle was whether there was legal authority to allow Kauai Countys Ordinance 960 [official summary] to require notification of pesticide use as well as mandate buffer zones for individuals and corporations. The ordinance was a result of residents claiming to suffer various symptoms due to the pesticides as well a finding of pesticides detected at low levels in the air at a local middle school. The court held that the Hawaii Pesticides Law [official summary] was intended by the legislature to create a uniform and exclusive pesticide bill that preempts the county code.

In sum, we find that the Hawaii Pesticides Law comprehensively regulates pesticides and creates a clear inference of legislative intent to preempt local regulations of pesticides. Accordingly, applying Hawaiis comprehensive statutory scheme test, we hold that Ordinance 960s pesticide provisions are impliedly preempted by Hawaii law and beyond the Countys power.

The court noted the county may work with the legislature and others government bodies to address their concerns.

The debate centered on genetic modifications continues. US President Barack Obama signed Senate Bill No. 764 into law in July, which requires labeling [JURIST report] of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products under a single national standard. Environmental groups filed [JURIST report] a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March challenging the FDAs authority to approve genetically modified animals for use as food. In September of last year the Lyon Appeals Court in France upheld [JURIST report] a 2012 ruling in which the agricultural company Monsanto was found guilty of chemical poisoning of French farmer Paul Francois. The European Parliament last year approved legislation [JURIST report] that gives governments increased power in deciding whether to restrict or ban the cultivation of GMOs.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashi Al Maktoum [official website], Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, issued a law [Khaleej Times report] Sunday that seeks to create full independence of the judiciary while ensuring fair litigation for everyone. Law No. 13 of 2016 has dual purposes, the first being to allow for a fully independent judicial body. As a means to achieve this goal, the law provides that members of the judiciary performing judicial actions within their jurisdiction are immune to lawsuits and various legal actions. The law also sets out that petitionary actions against any decision by the Dubai Judicial Council or Dubai Judicial Authority may only be brought about through specified appeal procedures. The second purpose of the law, creating an equal and efficient means of litigation for everyone, is sought to be achieved through assigning the Dubai Judicial Council to oversee the Dubai Courts, Public Prosecution and their subsidiaries, and allowing the Council to review view reports on members of the judiciary and take any measures as are necessary. More generally, the law also outlines the hierarchy, functions and objectives of the Dubai Judicial Council, establishes the procedures for proposing and drafting bills and bylaws, and defines levels of litigation and specializations for Dubais Supreme Court, Appeal Court, and First Instances Court. The newly issues laws will replace several laws enacted in 1992 in relation to judicial inspection, formation of the courts, creation of the Judiciary Council, and procedures and of the Public Prosecution.

The newly instituted law, which many hope will create a more transparent and fair judiciary in the UAE city. The UAE, at times, has been criticized for its unfair justice system policies. Most recently, the international community has raised issue [CNN report] with the Dubai justice system following the arrest of a UK woman for extramarital affairs after she had reported that she had been raped to Dubai authorities. In 2013 a coalition of international human rights groups criticized [JURIST report] the trial of more than 60 activists in the UAE who had attempted to overthrow the current government.
Human Rights activists Saturnino Ocampo and Bonifacio Ilagan, among others, filed a petition in the Supreme Court of the Philippines [official website] Monday to exhume the body of Ferdinand Marcos from the Heroes Cemetery, usually reserved for public servants and national artists. The former dictator was buried in a secret ceremony [AP report] last Friday after the Supreme Court ruled [JURIST report], amid public outcry, that such burial was permissible. The petition has been brought on behalf of multiple groups of victims who suffered human rights violations during his rule and who claim that final appeals on the Supreme Court decision allowing the burial had not been heard.

The effects of Marcos regime have been felt throughout the Philippines [BBC Backgrounder] for years. His burial in the celebrated Heroes Cemetery has been contested for months, even though President Rodrigo Duterte approved the controversial burial, recognizing Marcos as a commendable leader entitled to honor. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court justices honored Dutertes approval by a vote of 9-5 [AP report] with one abstention, acknowledging that the controversial figure was nevertheless a former legislator, defense secretary and soldier deserving of merit. In August human rights victims had filed a petition with the Supreme Court to halt the burial of Marcos [JURIST report]. Petitioners pointed to a 1993 agreement stating that Marcos would be buried in his hometown in northern Ilocos Norte province.
South Korean prosecutors said Sunday that President Park Geun-hye [Britannica profile] will be investigated as a suspect in a political corruption scandal, after three individuals with ties to Park were indicted on corruption charges. The three individuals were Choi Soon-sil, a friend of Parks, and two of Parks former aides, An Chong-bum and Chung Ho-sung. Choi and An are being charged with abuse of power, fraud, and coercion, while Chung is charged with having leaked classified documents to Choi. Though Park may be implicated in this corruption scandal, she, as the sitting president, is unable to be formally charged [CNN report] under the South Korean constitution. One spokesperson for the Blue House said the investigation is riddled with ignored fairness and that any chance of Parks right of getting a fair chance of due legal process [have] been taken away. News of the investigation into Parks potential involvement with the current corruption scandal is no surprise, as the Parliament of South Korea [official website] approved a measure on Thursday to appoint a special investigator to investigate the South Korean president.

The investigation into the president is the latest controversy affecting South Korean government officials. In October Park proposed [JURIST report] to amend the countrys constitutional provision that limits presidents to one term in office. Currently, South Korean presidents can only have a single five-year term, and Park finishes her term in office in February 2018. The Korea Fair Trade Commission, South Koreas antitrust regulator, confirmed [JURIST report] in August that the country is investigating whether Google violated the countrys antitrust laws. In Kyung-joon, a senior prosecutor in South Korea was indicted [JURIST report] in July on charges of bribery by accepting more than USD $11 million from an executive at the online-game company Nexon during collusive stock transactions over a nine-year period.
[JURIST] A proposed Israeli law legalizing more than 100 outposts in the occupied West Bank would violate Israeli and international law, stated [statement] a UN Special Rapporteur on Monday. Michael Lynk [official profile], Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, warned that the legalization of the outposts could spell the demise of the two-state solution. Lynk further said that the:

outposts undermine the Palestinian right to self-determination, violate their rights to property, freedom of movement and development, and continue to confine the Palestinians into smaller and smaller cantons of non-contiguous lands within their own territory.

Lynk noted that the bill is in violation of the Geneva Conventions [materials], which prohibit an occupying power from confiscating private poverty and in violation of the Israeli Supreme Court [TOI report], which has ruled many times that the confiscation of private Palestinian lands is illegal. Lynk called on the international community to make it clear to the Israeli Government that the annexation of occupied territory is a breach of international law and that if Israel proceeds with the confiscation, to be prepared to condemn the actions and reverse the violations.

Recent conflicts between Israel and Palestine [HRW backgrounder] over settlements in the occupied West Bank have raised concerns over possible human rights violations. In March the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said [JURIST report] that the office is concerned about the apparent extra-judicial execution of a Palestinian man in the West Bank. In January Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] businesses to cease operations in Israel settlements. In August 2015 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged both sides of the conflict [JURIST report] to reconcile and move towards peace after an attack occurred in the West Bank village of Duma, where Jewish extremists allegedly set fire to a Palestinian home while the family slept. Last year HRW alleged [HRW report] that Israeli settlement farmers in the occupied West Bank are using Palestinian child laborers in dangerous conditions in violation of international laws.
[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Committee [official website] has ordered [decision, PDF] the Sri Lankan government to provide Canadian Roy Samathanam with adequate compensation for his unlawful detention and torture. The committee determined [National Post report] that Sri Lanka needed to locate and prosecute those responsible for Samathanams torture. Samathanam called the finding a measure of justice.

A UN human rights experts said in May that detainees in Sri Lanka are still experiencing torture [JURIST report] as a tactic used by criminal and terrorism investigators seven years after the countrys civil war ended. The observations echoed those of Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website], which reported [press release] last year that police forces in Sri Lanka regularly torture [JURIST report] and mistreat criminal suspects in custody. HRW Asia director Brad Adams said, [t]he Sri Lankan police treat the use of torture as an ordinary way of obtaining confessions. HRW compiled allegations [report] of police torture which took place in Sri Lanka between 2014-15 and included beatings, electric shocks, use of stress positions, and failure to provide needed medical treatment among others. The rights group called on the Sri Lankan government to create an independent oversight authority to monitor the police actions and bring an end to the police abuse.
HARRISBURG  At 10 a.m. on Friday in the Labor & Industry building, the clock struck midnight.

There were a lot of tears, a lot of worrying because Christmas is coming, said Brad Mengel, who was told Friday that come Dec. 19, he no longer has a job.

L&I announced it is closing three unemployment compensation service centers in Allentown, Altoona and Lancaster. About 450 workers, who mostly process unemployment claims, got furlough notices Friday. Another 150 could soon follow.

We dont have the funding. We dont have the money to pay staff, L&I spokeswoman Sara Goulet said.

The money, $57.5 million, was in House Bill 2375. The state Senate was expected to pass it on its final day, Wednesday. The House had previously passed it and Gov. Tom Wolf was poised to sign it, but it never came up for a vote.

Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York, said he was a vocal opponent in caucus and convinced his colleagues to stall. Wagner says hes not sure its money well spent.

We have zero accountability for $57 million and, oh, by the way, its $5 million more than we spent last year on the program, Senate GOP spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher said.

Senate Republicans say the governor is manufacturing a crisis by laying off workers. They say he couldve found money to pay them until the legislature returns in January and figures out a fix.

Certainly during the budget impasse, and other times, he found all kinds of money to fund all kinds of things that were his priorities, Kocher said, so I think the message to these employees is you are not the priority.

Wolf spokesman Mark Nicastre calls that untrue and insists that when theres a finished budget, the governor does not have flexibility to move money around and fund favored projects.

This is an outrage. Its an insult to the citizens of Pennsylvania, said Tom Herman, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 668.

Herman says 300 of his union workers will be laid off and he blames grandstanding by gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner.

We believe that Scott Wagner is using our system and Pennsylvania citizens who are eligible for unemployment in a political game to make the governor look bad, Herman said. This is playing politics at its lowest.

Anyone trying to make an unemployment claim after the layoffs take effect will need to be patient, according to Goulet. Labor & Industry had improved its customer service and response times in recent years.

But what happens come December when three service centers are shuttered?

The remaining five centers are gonna get a lot busier and its gonna be harder to get through on the phone, Goulet said.

And in a cruel and ironic twist, employees who help shepherd others through the unemployment compensation system will now need the service.

Mengel let out a long and audible sigh. Six days before Christmas. I feel pretty bad about it.
Following the reviews of Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and SEAT, the fifth of a six-part series concerning the Volkswagen Groups brands examines Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Porsche will be the final chapter.

Bentley

Saloons

The Mulsanne has been around since 2009 and uses an old platform. It is powered by the engine from the 1998-2008 Bentley Arnage (Bentley calls it a 6-litre V8) but updated with cylinder deactivation. The turbocharged petrol engine originally produced 377kW (505bhp) with torque of 1,020Nm, Bentley claimed at the time of the cars release, and the gearbox is an eight-speed automatic.

An updated Mulsanne was a world premiere at April 2015s Shanghai motor show. While there were no increases in the 512 PS (505bhp / 377kW) of power and 1,020 Nm (752 lb.ft) of torque, the 6-litre twin turbo V8 engine is now claimed to be 13% more efficient. Changes were made to the gearbox calibration. In North America, the update applied for the 2016 model year.

Even though the car is more or less a totally re-engineered 1998-2008 Arnage, it is fair to say the Mulsanne uses a bespoke platform, so much was changed. It had its world premiere at Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in August 2009 and then again a month later at the Frankfurt motor show, where specs were released.

The Bentley Hybrid Concept premiered at the Beijing motor show in April 2014. It was based upon the Mulsanne but no production model has resulted.

The Mulsanne Speed was revealed at the Paris motor show in October 2014. This additional derivative has 1,100Nm of torque and 395kW (537PS) of power.

A facelifted range entered showrooms during the third quarter of 2016. In addition to the Mulsanne and Mulsanne Speed, there is now a stretched derivative, the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. The three cars had their world premieres at the Geneva motor show in March 2016. North Americas 2017 model year Mulsanne has the facelift. The stretched Mulliner Limousine was also a world premiere at the same Geneva show. It is a metre longer and 79mm taller than the standard Mulsanne.

BY841, the MSB-based Mulsanne replacement, is expected in 2019. It will be offered as a plug-in hybrid in many markets. There may also be a limited number of cars; perhaps 50-100 in the style of Aston Martins Lagonda Taraf sedan.

The Flying Spur (BY621), which sits above the Mulsanne in the Bentley range, had its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March 2013. It is more or less a new body and upgraded engine on the previous cars platform, though the model name was shortened from the former Continental Flying Spur.

The Spur was launched with a standard 616bhp 6.0-litre biturbo W12 engine, linked to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Torque was quoted as being 800Nm.

Even though the car tips the scales just short of 2.5 tonnes, efforts at weight reduction were made: the bonnet and front wings are aluminium, while a polymer composite material is used for the bootlid. Cleverly, this also integrates the main antennae for the vehicles electronic systems. The car went on sale across European markets from May 2013 and in the US from the following month for the latters 2014 model year.

An additional variant, the Spur V8, had its world premiere at the 2014 Geneva show. This one is powered by a 507PS (373kW) biturbo 4.0-litre V8. Torque is claimed to be 660Nm. An eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox is standard, as is all-wheel drive. The following differences distinguish the V8 from the W12 Flying Spur: figure of eight chromed exhaust finishers signify the alternative powertrain, the Bentley winged badge has a red centre to denote the V8 engine, and the front bumper grilles are finished in black, with a black wing insert.

A revised Flying Spur premiered at the Geneva motor show in March 2015. There were some changes for the interior, new wheels and a lower CO2 average for the W12 engine.

The Spur V8 S was a new variant which premiered at the Geneva motor show in March 2016. Its power is 388kW (528PS), while torque is 680Nm. The Spur V12 S followed six months later at the Paris show. This, the first four-door Bentley to have a top speed in excess of 200mph, has power of 635PS (626bhp) and 820Nm (605 lb. ft.) of torque. Claimed top speed is 202mph (325km/h).

A facelifted range should appear in 2018 with the next generation Spur arriving in 2021. This seems most likely to be based on MSB, the Volkswagen Groups latest RWD-AWD architecture.

Coupes & Cabriolets

The current generation Continental GT, a rebodying of the previous car, went on sale across Europe in March 2011. Its world premiere was at the Paris motor show in September 2010. The Continental GTC (convertible) had its global debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2011 and was in dealers from late 2011. The GT and GTC were launched with a standard 6.0-litre W12 engine. This was an update of the first generation cars engine but power rose to a claimed 423kW.

An additional engine had its global debut in the GT and GTC at the Detroit motor show in January 2012. Bentley says its engineers designed the smaller unit, which it builds at Crewe, though this turbocharged 373kW 4.0-litre V8 is a version of an Audi unit of the same capacity. The engine is tuned to run as a V4 on a light throttle opening, while the transmission is an eight-speed automatic.

The GT Speed had its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England in June 2012. The additional variant was at that time Bentleys fastest car: the top speed being a claimed 205mph. It was originally powered by a 460kW (616bhp) version of the 6.0-litre biturbo W12 which produced 800Nm of torque. It went on sale in the UK and elsewhere from October 2012.

The GT Speed Convertible was revealed at the Detroit motor show in January 2013. It had the same engine and eight-speed gearbox as the GT Speed. More powerful versions of the GT Speed and GT Speed Convertible were launched at the Geneva motor show in March 2014. These cars engines produce a claimed 635PS (467kW) and 850Nm. The updated cars can be told from the former ones by body colouring for the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser, as well as a dark finish for the 21 wheels, headlamps and tail lamps.

Two additional variants, the Continental V8 S coupe and convertible, were launched at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2013. They feature lowered suspension and are powered by a 521bhp version of the 4.0-litre turbo V8 engine. There are also bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, a rear wing, side skirts, a front air dam and red brake calipers. As with other V8-engined Continentals, the Bentley wings badges have a red centre and the exhaust finishers are shaped like a figure of eight.

A detuned version of Bentleys GT3 racing car was announced in June 2014 and reached dealerships from late 2014. This was the GT3-R, of which 300 units were built. This car had shorter gearing and just two seats, while its biturbo 4.0-litre V8 produced 426kW (580PS) and 700Nm of torque, while it was claimed to be 100kg lighter than the GT V8 S.

A facelift for the GT and a more powerful W12 engine premiered at the Geneva motor show in March 2015. The twelve-cylinder engines outputs rose to 590PS and 720Nm (formerly 575PS and 700Nm). North Americas 2016MY GT was the facelifted car.

The successors to the Continental GT and GTC are expected to be based upon the Porsche-developed MSB platform. The GT should enter production first (Q1, 2018), to be followed by the GTC.

BY835 is the development code for a big convertible which would be priced above the Conti GTC. This may be called Azure. Such a model had been expected to be launched as long ago as late 2013 as the effective replacement for the long-discontinued Azure.

The Mulsanne Convertible Concept was shown to selected potential buyers as well as some journalists at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in August 2012. The VW Group division did not, however, issue images of the car to the media, only sketches. The project was axed in 2013, only to be revived a year later when the Bentley Grand Convertible, a concept, appeared at the LA auto show in November 2014. A production model is expected to appear in 2018 or 2019 with build limited to low volumes.

SUVs

The BY716 Bentayga is of course Bentleys first SUV, going on sale worldwide from the start of this year. Production commenced in November 2015. A facelift is expected in the first quarter of 2020 and a replacement model three to four years after this.

This big 44 uses the same basic architecture as the second generation Audi Q7. A preview, in the form of the EXP 9 F concept, was revealed at the Geneva show in March 2012 and it had strong styling which split opinions.

In July 2013, Bentley stated that an SUV would be built at its Crewe plant in 2016. In April 2015, the Volkswagen Group announced that bodies for the Bentayga would be made alongside its other big SUVs at the Bratislava plant in Slovakia. Final assembly would, and does indeed, take place in Crewe.

In February 2014, the divisions then CEO Wolfgang Schreiber told the media that the US market was expected to account for 30% of a planned 3,000 units per annum. Pricing would start at US$190,000 in 2014 terms, and the hybrid would follow in 2017.

The Bentayga model name was announced at the Detroit motor show in January 2015: the vehicle is named after a rock formation on Gran Canaria. It would be revealed later in 2015, Bentley said at that time. The cars public debut took place at the Frankfurt IAA in September 2015 though it had been shown to some journalists and potential buyers several weeks beforehand.

Bentley told the media in March 2014 that it would be building W12 engines for the Volkswagen Group at its powertrain plant from the end of 2014, with annual production of up to 9,000 units possible. Some of these are expected to go into the next A8.

Volkswagen claims its latest W12 TSI is the most economical twelve-cylinder engine in the luxury car segment with CO2 emissions of less than 250g/km in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The W12-engined Bentayga was announced just ahead of the Frankfurt motor show in September 2015. This 6.0-litre engine produces a claimed 608PS (447kW) and 900Nm. Top speed said to be 301km/h (187mph).

This first diesel Bentley was announced in September. This uses the Volkswagen Groups new triple-turbocharged 4.0-litre engine, which is the same basic unit as in the Audi SQ7 TDI. There is an electric supercharger fed by a 48V electrical system as well as two turbochargers. Drive to both axles is via a ZF eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Power is 320kW (435PS) with torque of 900Nm (664 lb.ft.) torque. Zero to 100km/h is claimed to take 4.8 seconds and the top speed is said to be 270km/h (168mph). The CO2 average for this big SUV is 210g/km, which is the lowest for any Bentley.

A Bentayga Coupe is said to have been recently approved by Volkswagen. This would have four doors but a lower roof line. It should be in showrooms by mid-2019. That would be six months before the Bentayga reaches mid-life so the extra fastback bodystyle should in theory keep the model series selling well.

The Coupe should have an eight-year production run with a facelift after four, and be assembled on the same line as the Bentayga at Crewe. Bodies would be transported to England from Bratislava.

BY635 is the project code for a future 4.8m long SUV. This would make it about half way between the Porsche Macan and Cayenne but obviously a lot more expensive than the latter. The architecture is most likely to be MLB Evo. Bentley suspects there is a sweet spot in the market for an SUV which is smaller than the Bentayga and which neither Rolls-Royce nor Mercedes-Maybach nor Aston Martin has exploited.

If given the go-ahead, the additional model would enter production in early 2020 and have an eight-year lifecycle with a facelift at the half way point. It is almost guaranteed to offer a petrol-electric PHEV powertrain, even though this strategy was linked to the former chairman and CEO Wolfgang Schreiber who left Bentley in mid-2014.

In April 2014, Schreiber told the media: There is no doubt that plug-in hybrid technology is true to Bentleys values of outstanding luxury and effortless performance. Combining our renowned engines with electric power reinforces and enhances both principles, and so we will gradually introduce this powertrain across our model range. By the end of the decade, at least 90% of our production will be available as a plug-in hybrid.

Under the current boss, Wolfgang Durheimer, Bentley is tasked with lifting sales towards and beyond 20,000 vehicles per annum by 2020. Global deliveries might even reach 25,000 that year, depending on how well received BY635 is, and the state of the worlds main super luxury vehicle markets. An interim target is 15,000 in 2018.

Lamborghini

Coupes & roadsters

The Aventador is the more expensive and oldest of Lamborghinis two models. The car had its global premiere at the Geneva motor show in March 2011 as the Aventador LP700-4. Production started at Lamborghinis SantAgata Bolognese manufacturing base three months later. Four-wheel drive is standard and the suffix is explained by the 700hp (525kW) 6.5-litre V12.

The Aventador J, a roadster version of the coupe, had its world premiere at the Geneva show in March 2012. The company built only one unit of this car. The LP700-4 Roadster was then announced by Lamborghini in November 2012.

The Veneno, a derivative of the Aventador, was revealed at the Geneva motor show in March 2013. Only three examples were made. The Veneno was powered by a 552kW (750hp) 6.5-litre V12 and was distinguished by its a Le Mans racer-style raised spine.

A Veneno Roadster was announced in October 2013. The company stated that it would build not more than nine units of this convertible during 2014, each priced at 3.3 million euro. The roadster had the same engine as the coupe. It made its public debut in spectacular style on board the Italian naval aircraft carrier Nave Cavour on 1 December 2013.

Lamborghini has continued to add new variants, with the Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce having its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva motor show. It has a 550kW V12 and lost 50kg of kerb weight. The company told the media at the following months Shanghai motor show that 600 units of the car would be built. An Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce Roadster debuted at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in September 2015, and 500 units of this car will be made.

Most recently, at this years Geneva motor show, the cover was pulled off an effective successor to the Veneno. Called Centenario, the car commemorates 100 years since founder Feruccio Lamborghini was born (April 28, 1916). Power is 566kW (770PS). The company will build 20 coupes and 20 roadsters. The Centenario Roadster was not shown at Geneva; instead, it showed up five months later at the Pebble Beach Concours.

There is speculation that a model based on the Egoista concept from 2013 might be built, and based upon the Aventador: Lamborghini has trademarked the name. There again, this might turn out to be the name of the Aventador replacement.

A facelifted Aventador is due in the second quarter of 2017, to be followed by a new model in 2020. This may use either a version of the Audi R8s architecture or else an evolution of the 992 Porsche 911s platform. The Aventador is based on the same LA2 architecture as two now out of production models, the first Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo.

The Volkswagen Groups MMS platform is the basis of Lamborghinis second supercar, the Huracan, which entered production in March 2014. Like the more expensive Aventador, it is built in SantAgata Bolognese. The mid-engine matrix of this replacement for the Gallardo is also used by the Audi R8.

The Huracan LP610-4 is powered by a 448kW (610PS) 5,204cc naturally aspirated V10, with drive sent to all wheels. A stop-start system is standard, as is a seven-speed dual clutch transmission named LDF (Lamborghini Doppia Frizione) and carbon-ceramic brakes.

The firm describes the chassis as an integrated structure of carbon and aluminium, and the car has a dry weight of 1,422kg. The Gallardo had an aluminium space frame consisting of cast nodes and extruded profile with permanently integrated aluminium panels. Its successors platform instead combines aluminium components with large elements made from carbonfibre reinforced polymer (CFRP).

The hybrid chassis consists partly of aluminium; the front and rear sections of the car with the axle mounts are made almost entirely from this alloy, and carbonfibre parts produced using the RTM process (Resin Transfer Moulding).

The carbon components are concentrated around the occupant cell, where they form part of the floor and sills, the centre tunnel, the rear bulkhead and the B-pillars. The x-shaped brace in the engine bay is also made from CFRP. Stainless steel fasteners connect the aluminium and carbonfibre components. The chassis of the Huracan LP 610-4 weighs less than 200 kilograms, according to Lamborghini.

The Spyder had its debut at the Frankfurt IAA in September 2015. A lower-power and rear-wheel drive variant of the coupe, the LP 580-2, then premiered at November 2015s LA auto show, with the LP 580-2 Spyder following at the 2016 LA show. Lamborghini also calls this car the rear-wheel drive Spyder.

The Huracan should have a facelift in about two and a half years time, production of these cars commencing in May 2019. The next generation model should then enter production in the second quarter of 2024. It may use a version of the Audi R8s architecture or an evolution of the 992 Porsche 911s platform. It might, however, be the first Volkswagen Group model for a fresh mid-engined matrix to succeed MSS.

The future SUV

LB716 is the project code for what will likely become the Urus. The name comes from a concept (pictured above) which had its global debut at the Beijing motor show in April 2012. Some sources believe that an alternate badge, Deimos, might be used.

This big SUV will share much with the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, as will the next editions of the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne. The first vehicle is due to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018 so the development programme is now approaching some crucial stages. A facelift would follow in 2022 or 2023 and the second generation model should then appear in 2026.

A plug-in hybrid variant will supposedly be part of the range, though the first versions should be powered by a biturbo 4.0-litre (petrol) V8. China, Germany, Russia, the US, the UK and the Middle East will be the main markets, according to Lamborghini.

The Urus will be based on a bespoke version of the Audi-developed Modularer Langsbaukasten Evolution (MLB Evo) platform. This specially developed architecture is said to contain aluminium in cast, extruded and pressed forms, as well as steel pressings. The two materials will reportedly be bonded and riveted in a similar fashion to how Jaguar creates the XJs platform. Carbonfibre is also expected to feature for multiple components.

Production will not be on a conventional assembly line but shall instead take place via what Audi, the parent company, says will be a modular system. If successful, this experiment at the SantAgata Bolognese factory will be adapted to far higher volumes for Audis own plants.

Speaking at the Frankfurt IAA in September 2015, then company CEO Stephan Winkelmann told the media that he saw potential build of 3,000 SUVs per annum. His successor, Stefano Domenicali, spoke of 3,500 a year in an interview in August 2016. Lamborghinis current CEO also stated that combined annual production of the companys supercars would be around the 3,500 mark by 2019.

In 2015, Lamborghini delivered a record 3,245 vehicles, with the US accounting for just under a third of that total. Getting to 7,000 shouldnt be a problem as long as the companys major markets dont enter a deep recession in the coming few years.

Bugatti

Production of the Chiron, the successor to the EB 16.4 Veyron, commenced in April 2016. In June 2015, the Volkswagen Groups then CEO Martin Winterkorn stated that the model would have a hybrid powertrain but curiously, this proved to be untrue. The car had its public debut just nine months later at the Geneva motor show.

Bugatti plans to build 500 cars in all, each priced from EUR2.4m in European markets (450 Veyrons were delivered between 2005 and 2014). The final vehicles will likely be manufactured in 2025. No mid-cycle facelift is scheduled though a targa body will be added in 2018 or 2019.

The Chiron, which was developed with the BG834 project code, uses a unique architecture. The 8.0-litre W16 engine, which has four turbochargers, has an output of 1,103kW/1500PS and torque of 1,600Nm. Top speed is claimed to 261mph/420km/h.

From time to time, reports crop up claiming that a super saloon in the style of the 16C Galibier concept from 2009 might be built. It is believed that with Volkswagens current cost cutting regime and forthcoming dismissal of 30,000 workers, plans to spend money on another Bugatti project have been cancelled.

Future model plan reports for other manufacturers can be viewed in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.

Future product program intelligence

More data on vehicle lifetime and future product plans is available in PLDB from QUBE.
The Kabul Grand Hotel  it sounds like the setting of a movie, the backdrop for international intrigue and failed ambitions.

But the hotel is not a Hollywood fabrication. It exists, although isnt open for business. Its a shell, an abandoned, half-built 209-room monstrosity perilously close to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, making it a huge security risk.

So the mothballed structure must be heavily guarded, courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.

It was supposed to be a Marriott, but the hotel giant cut ties to the project, citing security concerns. And now a U.S. government oversight agency has issued a report on the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan accusing the projects minders of allowing a default on $85 million in loans, possibly owing to fraud.

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) functions like an auditing agency for what could be considered the Marshall Plan of Afghanistan. SIGAR provides a constant drip of reports chronicling the struggles, few successes and abject failures, such as the hotel and the luxury apartments that were supposed to be built next to it. The loans were made by Overseas Private Investment Corp or OPIC, a government financing agency that uses private funds to finance development abroad. OPIC has stated that it continues to seek a resolution on the loans.

The hotel and the apartment complex were intended to provide Afghans jobs, and to house diplomats, investors and others who would be part of strengthening Afghanistan after our troops and coalition forces pulled out.

The SIGAR report showed pictures of the properties, missing walls and windows, along with furnished model rooms, covered in dust and lacking electricity, water or other utilities. The promised August 2013 opening of the apartment building was terms blatantly false and unrealistic. Like so many projects SIGAR investigated, this one was plagued by waste and fraud, compounded by lack of oversight.

More than year ago, SIGAR Special Inspector General John F. Sopko warned, Afghanistans problems extend far beyond its borders and we ignore them at our peril.

Afghans were one-quarter of the million migrants and refugees moving across Europe in 2015, leaving due to the lack of jobs and insecurity in their homeland. That ought to remind us how important it is to get these national reconstruction projects right, and what happens when they fail.

This latest SIGAR report comes at a crucial time. As Donald Trump prepares to take over the presidency, it remains to be seen whether he will take interest in such rebuilding efforts. His isolationist campaign rhetoric suggests that he will not.

The same day that the SIGAR report was released, outgoing President Barack Obama was meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

In a press conference after the meeting, Obama explained Americas ongoing mission in places around the world like Afghanistan. The United States is the voice that insists on rules and norms governing international affairs, the voice that helps to steer the world away from war wherever possible; thats our voice more often than not, Obama said. And were not always successful, but if that voice is absent or divided, we will live in a meaner, harsher and more troubled world.

There is a moral lesson that accompanies Afghanistan. And it should be heeded by those who would prefer the U.S. wash its hands of such complicated efforts in lieu of an America-first or -only premise. Consider how our military landed back in Afghanistan. And that more than 2,300 U.S. soldiers died there, with an additional 20,000 wounded.

For nearly 10 years in the 1980s, the U.S. backed Afghanistan as it fought the Soviet Union. But when the Soviets pulled out, the U.S. lost interest in the country and did not take as active role a role as it should have in reconstructing the war-torn country. The vacuum proved to be fertile ground for the Taliban.

We know what happened next: It sheltered the terrorists who masterminded the attacks in the U.S. that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. Three more U.S. military were killed in combat operations in Afghanistan so far this year.

The role of the U.S. as a force to help stabilize nations is central to battling global terrorism. It needs to continue, in concert with other allies. A lesson of the Kabul Grand Hotel is that we dont pay enough attention to what were doing in these state-building efforts. We must not give in to those who say we should just close up shop and leave Afghanistan to its own devices. Rather, we have to make all our efforts and resources count.

Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Readers may email her at msanchez@kcstar.com.
Lactalis has launched Swedish quark brand Lindahls in the UK with a roll-out from today (21 November) in the countrys Waitrose stores.

Lactalis said the UK debut of Lindahls, a natural, high-in-protein, fat-free and healthy product, should chime with consumers who want to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

Mike Chatters, sales director at Lactalis McLelland, the UK arm of Lactalis, said: Lindahls is a proven success in Sweden where is it the number one quark brand. Our UK research has shown that consumers love the range and find it very differentiated due to the range of flavours and highly relevant due to its focus on health. The launch of Lindahls in the UK as a healthy dairy lifestyle brand demonstrates Lactalis commitment to innovation.

Lindahls UK quark range comes in three flavours including Natural, which is available in 500g pots, to use as a high-in-protein, fat-free alternative to natural yogurt, creme fraiche or sour cream. Lactalis said the Raspberry and Vanilla varieties, both available in 150g pots, are perfect for a breakfast on-the-go, as a filling snack or as a fat-free dessert.

Lindahls UK introductory price is GBP1.75 (US$2.18) for 500g, GBP0.70 for 150g and the RSP is GBP2.25 for 500g and GBP0.95 for 150g.

Last month, Arla Foods extended its dairy brand line-up in the UK with the launch of Arla Quark, to cater for what the co-op called the relatively unknown but fastest-growing cheese category in the UK.

Earlier this month, UK business Grahams The Family Dairy announced an expansion of its line-up of quark products with the introduction of Protein 22g  which the company said would be the highest protein content product in its range.
Chinese infant formula maker Synutra has confirmed it has entered into a definitive merger agreement for a going private transaction.

Under the terms of the proposed deal, Synutra will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beams Power Investment Limited (BPIL), which holds a 63.5% stake in the business and is owned by Xiuqing Meng  the wife of Synutras chairman and CEO Liang Zhang.

Synutra said it has entered into an agreement and plan of merger with BPIL, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, and Beams Power Merger Sub Limited (BPMSL), which is a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of BPIL. Under the terms of the deal, BPMSL will merge with Synutra which in turn will become BPILs subsidiary.

Synutra said each share of the companys common stock will be automatically cancelled and converted into right to receive US$6.05 in cash without interest.

The deal follows a preliminary proposal at the start of the year from chairman and CEO Zhang to take the company private by acquiring all outstanding stock.

Synutra said BPIL has secured a committed loan facility from Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd. to finance the proposed transactions.

The board of Synutra has recommended that shareholders back the deal. Synutra said in a statement that the board was acting on the unanimous recommendation of a special committee set up by the board to negotiate the deal. Synutra said the committee, which comprised only independent directors of Synutra, who were unaffiliated with BPIL, BPMSL and Synutras management, exclusively negotiated the terms of the merger agreement with the buyer group comprising Liang Zhang, Xiuqing Meng, representatives of BPIL and BPMSL and their respective independent financial and legal advisors.
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PV Sindhu wins 2016 China Open Super Series Premier title

Published: November 21, 2016

Indias ace shuttler and Olympic silver medalist PV Sindhu has won the $700,000 2016 China Open Super Series title in womens category. It was her maiden Super Series Premier title and first post 2016 Rio Olympics title.

In the summit clash held in Fuzhao, Sindhu (World No 11) defeated Chinas Sun Yu (World No 9) by 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 score.

Other Category winners

Mens Singles

Jan . Jrgensen (Denmark) won the title in mens single category by defeating I Z Zainuddin (Malaysia) by 22-20,22-20, 7-21 score.

Mens Doubles

Chinese pair of Chai B and Hong W won the title by defeating Indonesian pair of M F Gideon and K S Sukamuljo by 21-16, 24-26 and 19-21 score.

Mixed Doubles

Indonesian paor Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir won the title by defeating South Korean pair of Choi S-g and Chae Y-j by 21-17 and 25-23 score.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2016

Topics: Badminton  China  Persons in News  PV Sindhu  Sports

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The 11th Annual Help the Hungry Bake Sale held at the St. Joseph Catholic School gymnasium Saturday was a success once again this year raising roughly $66,000 to benefit two local food pantries, the Farmington Ministerial Alliance and St. Vincent DePaul food distribution services.

Help the Hungry Event Coordinator Chris Landrum said they raised $40,000 just at the bake sale, but with all of their other events - the barbecue, cook book sales and sponsorships - they should reach or exceed the goal of $66,000.

It is more than last year and we seem to grow each year, said Landrum. I have a group of women on my committee and most of them represent a different church. So each booth here is represented by a church.

"The Presbyterians offered to put up the pie booth, so they decorated it and anybody who bakes a pie puts their pie in that booth. Just because a church is responsible for a booth, they arent responsible for (all of its contents). The Ministerial Alliance also has a thrift store booth.

In 2015, the final total reached $62,000  with the proceeds divided between the two pantries. In the 11 years the annual bake sale began it has raised nearly $400,000 to help feed the needy of the community.

As the morning began people filed in to enjoy a prepared breakfast while they waited for the bake sale to formally start at 9 a.m. Everyone scurried around putting the final touches on their booths or adding baked goods as volunteers brought them in for the sale.

Once the doors were opened one volunteer yelled across the floor that the bake sale was open and people filed through the door anxious to get their hands on one of the sweet treats or fresh baked breads. Soon the room was filled with people, boxes in hand with baked good piled in them.

Landrun said the cafe was really busy and people were pretty much eating the whole time. For the auction every chair was filled and people were standing and they were really pleased with the bids being offered on the items.

The sale offered fresh breads, cookies, cakes, pies, candy and much more. Also featured was a raffle for holiday decorating items, a Thrift Store Treasures booth, a themed basket silent auction, and the popular Cookin Clergy contest where local clergy compete for the top dessert award through a fierce bidding process.

(The Catholic church clergy) won the over all prize for most money being spent (on his cake), said Landrum. Rocky Good (New Heights Baptist Church) won the award for' best appearance' and Kevin Davis (Farmington Assembly of God) had the 'best tasting' cake.

"We couldnt do what we do without the involvement of everybody. I would like to thank my committee because they put in a lot of hard work over several months to make this work.

Landrum said she always likes to thank her sponsors and those who donate anonymously. Those donations provide a big cushion that allows them to pay their expenses.

We want to thank everybody, the whole community, whoever was involved in any way, stressed Landrum.  ... whether they baked and donated an item or they came in and shopped. We just love it that people from all different parts of our community come together to support this one event.

Ministerial Alliance Thrift Store Director Nancy Faulkner said they are extremely blessed to have this event.

This event is so important to us, said Faulkner. We get a lot of donations but there are a lot of things we buy every day that are not donated, the perishable stuff. So the money that comes from this helps us purchase those perishable items ... eggs, cheese, chicken and stuff we feel is important for people to build a meal from.

"Its really important we get this money and we are extremely blessed that the Help the Hungry (group) does this event for us every year.

Faulkner said the ministerial alliance food pantry serves about 350 families, which comes out to about 800 people. A lot of their people are on fixed incomes.

We have families who have eight people in their household, but about 50 percent of ours is one or two person households and they are seniors or people on disability, said Faulkner. This is a great group of ladies and this is a wonderful event. If you have not been here before you just need to come out and see it all. Its just so wonderful and to see the fellowship everybody has who does this ... its amazing.

Sponsors for this year's sale include: Platinum Level: Farmington Press/Daily Journal, New Era Bank, Joe and Jacquie Goff, First Bank, and Mark and Pam Heisel. Gold Level: First State Community Bank, US Tool Group, Chris Auffenberg Chevrolet/Buick/GMC, Ozarks Federal Savings and Loan, Show-Me Rent-to-Own, MitWare, Grand Rental Station, J98/KREI/KJFF, Belgrade State Bank, Ozark Steel Fabricators, Inc., Thurman, Shinn & Company, Mineral Area Office Supply, and Mineral Area College. Bronze level: City of Farmington.
DEAR ABBY: The holidays are coming, and this year it's my turn to host Thanksgiving. I'm a full-time working mom with two active children, and I also volunteer. No matter how hard I will work at cleaning my house before the relatives come, I know there'll be areas that aren't spotless. There's just not enough time in the schedule.

I have relatives who will make sure to point out what needs to be done, or critique how I have arranged my furniture, or what I did or didn't prepare for the meal. How do I graciously handle these comments? I want to be an example to my children on how to be a gracious hostess, even when dealing with critical or rude comments. -- UNDER PRESSURE IN OHIO

DEAR UNDER PRESSURE: You would be amazed what a person can get away with if it's said with a warm smile. If someone criticizes your housekeeping, smile and say, "Oh, really? I must have missed it. The vacuum cleaner is in the closet. Be an angel and take care of it for me, will you?" The same goes for where you keep your duster.

If your relatives don't like what's on your menu, suggest sweetly that next time they come they bring something they will enjoy. It would be a lot more gracious than showing the person the door.

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man for more than a year. He has sole custody of his 10-year-old son, "Jordan." Because of our financial circumstances at the time, we moved in with each other right away. Jordan's mother is not in the picture and, unfortunately, I inherited her parenting responsibilities because of it.

Jordan is a sweet boy, but I have no emotional attachment to him. To be honest, I'm disappointed every time he walks in the door after school and I'm forced to stop what I am doing in order to care for him.

Abby, I thought I would become more attached to Jordan as time went on, but instead, I'm feeling resentful. I'm embarrassed to have made a commitment to this man and his son and to have ended up in this situation. I don't want to break up with the love of my life, but I don't want to sacrifice the next eight years of my life raising a child who isn't mine. Do you have any advice for me? -- CONFLICTED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF.

DEAR CONFLICTED: Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. If Jordan's father is really "the love of your life," you had better accept that he and his son are a package deal and treat the child with love. If you can't manage that, then do them both a favor and bow out of the picture NOW.

P.S. And because none of this is Jordan's fault, while you're packing, assure him that your leaving has nothing to do with him, only with you. It's the truth, and that way, he won't blame himself for something that's not his fault.

DEAR ABBY: My son was married twice to different women. I had two daughters-in-law. He is now married to a man. Is his spouse my son-in-law? -- MOM IN MAINE

DEAR MOM: Yes. Refer to him as your son-in-law and, if your son is finally happy with his spouse, your "son-in-love."

DEAR ABBY: My parents have been divorced for 17 years, but my father appears to have trouble letting go. Some examples: Although he never wore a wedding ring, he does wear a widower's band, and he tells people he "lost" his wife. Recently, he talked to my brother about getting a tattoo of my mother's name. Suffice it to say, my brother told him it was inappropriate.

My general policy has been to let Dad cope however he likes. I live 400 miles away and my brother still lives physically close to him. I understand that divorce can be traumatic, having lived through theirs as a child as well as my own. Is there any way I can help Dad cope with this?

He is having health problems now. I think they are forcing him to confront his own death, but this has been going on for more than a decade. Lately, I find myself rolling my eyes and laughing it off. But privately, I worry this could be a sign of something worse because it appears to be escalating.

Are there resources for coping with divorce? He won't consider therapy -- I've tried. -- WORRIED DAUGHTER IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR WORRIED DAUGHTER: While I have heard of widowed individuals switching their wedding band to the right hand, the concept of a "widower's band" is new to me. Your father may be ashamed that he is divorced, which is why he prefers to imply that he's widowed.

I agree with you and your brother that the idea of him tattooing your mother's name on his body would have been inappropriate. I do think that you should discuss your concerns about your dad's mental health with your brother because you say his peculiarities seem to be increasing, and he may need a physical and neurological evaluation.

DEAR ABBY: My husband was recently offered a new job that carries with it a significant increase in salary as well as upward mobility. He was offered the job by a woman he used to work with years ago. She will be his new boss.

It was recently brought to my attention that not only were they co-workers, they also used to sleep together. He tells me there's absolutely nothing there, and that I don't need to be worried. However, I can't help but wonder why they have maintained contact for all these years, and why she sought him out to work for her.

She is also married, and I wonder if her husband knows their history, and if he would be OK with his wife's request to work with a former lover.

Am I overreacting? Or should people cut off contact with their exes once they are married? Should I be worried about a physical or emotional affair? I just don't have a good feeling about this. Thank you for your help. -- NEEDS AN OBJECTIVE OPINION

DEAR NEEDS: In a situation like this, much depends upon the individuals involved and the circumstances of the breakup. Not all romances end acrimoniously. Sometimes they gradually diminish and the people involved move on.

It would be interesting to know who told you your husband and this woman were once lovers. If it was your husband, I think you have less to be concerned about than if it was someone "trying to be helpful." It is possible that the woman contacted your husband because she is familiar with his work ethic and his abilities and thinks he would be the best person for the job.

That said, however, there are four people involved in this situation. And your question about whether her husband is aware of their history is a good one, because he should be.

DEAR ABBY: I have a suggestion for your readers who take prescription medication. When they are finished with it, they should peel the label off the bottle, stick it to a piece of paper and send it through a shredder.

These labels contain a lot of personal information. If they fall into the wrong hands, they could become shopping lists for drug addicts and our landfills could become their next source. Better to be safe than sorry, if for no other reason than privacy. -- CHET IN KENTUCKY

DEAR CHET: I agree!

DEAR ABBY: Is it wrong to drop off a 1- and a 5-year-old at a senior assisted-living center for their great-grandmother to baby-sit in her room? My niece does this weekly, claiming she's giving my mother "quality time" with her great-grandchildren.

My mother is in the assisted-living center due to issues my dad is encountering. She's very independent and, of course, wants to help any of her family whenever she can. But Mom has an autoimmune disease that flares up with stress or when she gets tired. I'm concerned about her health and feel my niece is taking advantage of her. Of course, my sister sides with her daughter. They have told me to butt out.

I don't want to confront the management of the facility because I want Mom to feel as independent as possible there. I don't want them to not allow her to do something she really wants to do. I have safety concerns, though, and feel this is not right. What do you think? -- TORN IN TEXAS

DEAR TORN: I'm not sure what your safety concerns are, but if you think the assisted-living center could be legally liable, you should address them to the manager.

As to the baby-sitting being too stressful or tiring for your mother, leave it up to her to decide if it's too much. Some seniors find that feeling needed keeps them young. The way to gauge any negative impact on your mother's health would be if it causes a flare-up of her condition -- at which point her doctor should be notified so he/she can put a stop to it.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
This story originally ran on May 2, 2001

KEARNEY  The most serious charges Anthony Zappa faces are linked to Anne Slutis kidnapping, but there are law enforcement officers in several states who also would like to see Zappa in their courtrooms.

Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa authorities say Zappa is behind a string of crimes in their states.

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Tom Monaghan of Omaha filed federal kidnapping charges against Zappa. He could face life in prison and fines up to $250,000. Zappa appeared in a Missoula, Mont., federal court Thursday.

Zappa also was charged Thursday in Buffalo County Court with kidnapping, a Class IA felony punishable by life in prison.

We know law enforcement has to prioritize and we know kidnapping is far above what we have, said Sheriff Rick Lynch of Floyd County, Iowa, where Zappa is charged with second-degree theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Anoka, Minn., County Sheriffs Investigator Scott Bechthold also knows wed be on the low end of the list, with charges of probation violation and possession of stolen property.

The officers also have another thing in common. Theyre relieved that Zappa is in custody and that Anne Sluti is safe.

The officers in all the counties with pending charges were called early Thursday morning by officials in Lake County, Mont., where Zappa was arrested and Sluti was freed.

My first questions were was she there? Is she safe? And was there an incident (in arresting Zappa), said Lynch, whose Iowa officers were involved in an unsuccessful 13-hour chase with Zappa in March.  ... For the last 12 years, this guy has proved he cant live within societys rules.

Lynch said his officers had continued to work their case in Floyd County even before Zappa made bigger headlines with the Kearney kidnapping and drew multi-state attention from a March 20 escape from Minnesota authorities that had briefly forced the evacuation of the Mall of America.

We were always on it, always there and working with the media to get the word out, he said. Its too bad a 17-year-old girl was taken, but thank God shes safe.

There is a big sigh of relief, Bechthold said from Minnesota, adding that the ending was great, considering the circumstances.

Following are summaries from some places where there are charges against Zappa:

Iowa

Floyd County (in northeast Iowa, southeast of Mason City)

The theft and felon in possession of a firearm charges stem from March 14 incidents that started when five Minneapolis bounty hunters attempted to capture Zappa at farmhouse near Charles, City, Iowa.

Sheriff Lynch said there was an altercation when Zappa came to the door with a rifle and the bounty hunters fired two taser darts (copper fibers shaped like a fish hook). One struck a bounty hunter, but he said it was believed the second one missed Zappa.

However, Zappas mother told the Hub she had seen wounds her son said came from being struck by a taser fired by the bounty hunters.

Zappa left the Charles City farmstead in a borrowed car, Lynch said, with the bounty hunters in pursuit and firing guns at the car. Meanwhile, a reserve sheriffs officer living nearby reported the disturbance and began following at a distance.

The incident started at 6 p.m. on a Thursday and by 7 a.m. Friday, Zappa had stolen a car and a pickup; gotten rides from strangers or acquaintances to Colwell, Charles City and Mason City; and escaped out a bathroom window from a Mason City motel. Lynch said its believed Zappa had made it to the home of family members in Minneapolis by Friday night.

It wasnt Zappas first legal problems in Floyd County. He had been convicted of second- and third-degree burglaries in 1995 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He was paroled from an Iowa prison in September 1999. Lynch said Zappa could face the other 11 years of his prison sentence for violating terms of his parole.

Wisconsin

Polk County (in northwest Wisconsin along the St. Croix River separating Minnesota and Wisconsin)

Sheriff Ann Hraychuck said her departments main contact with Zappa was in October 1999. While driving, Zappa allegedly assaulted his wife and then a passerby who had stopped to assist the woman.

His wife drove to the local hospital, Hraychuck said, and Zappa fled officers there. In trying to get away, he swam across the St. Croix river twice, but finally succumbed to hypothermia and was arrested.

Polk County is Zappas home county, she said. Zappas mother and sisters still live in Frederic, Wis.

The sheriff said a charge of battery remains against Zappa for the domestic abuse incident. Last November, he also was charged with fleeing officers and being a felon in possession of a firearm, related to a hunting incident.

Hraychuck said Polk County officials have been working with the FBI Fugitive Task Force in trying to apprehend Zappa to face those charges, after warrants were issued for failure to appear at court hearings. She expects the county to get on the list of places interested in extraditing Zappa.

In our county, he had a history of domestic abuse, a violent history of not only battery against his significant other but to the general population (the passerby who tried to help), Hraychuck said.

Her department has been assisting with this weeks investigation of the Sluti kidnapping. Im so glad your girl is OK, she said.

Barron County, Wis., (just east of Polk County)

Chief Deputy Sheriff Al Lentz said Zappa is charged with one count of burglary stemming from break-ins at a number of residences. He left before we really had a chance to put the case all together, Lentz said.

A search warrant was served at the trailer home Zappa shared with his wife, Sara, but they were gone. Property removed from the trailer was identified by homeowners reporting burglaries, Lentz said, and Sara has made a court appearance on receiving stolen property charges.

Zappa failed to appear.

He was arrested in St. Paul, Minn., in November on an Anoka County, Minn., warrant for being a fugitive from the charges in Barron and Polk counties in Wisconsin. After he refused extradition to Wisconsin, he posted 10 percent of the $15,000 bail set by the Minnesota judge and was released.

Lentz said he never had any personal contact with Zappa, but law enforcement officers have told him that he just seems to skate away from them.

Minnesota

Anoka (north of the Twin Cities)

Zappa is charged with probation violation, stemming from an October 1993 burglary and possession of stolen property, a vehicle, in September 1999.

Inspector Bechthold said that after Zappa was arrested in last November on the Wisconsin warrants and posted bail, he missed some December court dates. His bail was forfeited and warrants for his arrest were reissued.

The FBIs Minnesota Fugitive Task Force has since been in charge of searching for Zappa to serve the warrants. Zappa had escaped capture March 18 in St. Paul after a short car chase, and he was the target of the March 20 search that closed the Mall of America.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.  Bobbie Ann Cooper hadnt seen her granddaughter, Gracie Toelle, in eight months. On Friday, she finally received an answer to a question that so many people had been asking: Where is Gracie?

Gracie was alive. She had been dropped off at a shelter in San Francisco. And she was safe.

On March 16, Gracie headed out the door of Coopers home in North Platte to take out the garbage. Her Yorkie, Little Ricky, was by her side. They never come back.

The family immediately launched a search for the then-14-year-old and filed a missing persons report.

The North Platte Police Department reviewed tips and leads. Leticia Montoya-Bonifas with Central Nebraska Human Trafficking began looking into the case. Soon the Center for Search and Investigations was involved.

Gracies parents, Cassie and Mickey Gill, began fundraising efforts to hire a private investigator.

Months went by, Gracies 15th birthday passed and her missing persons poster was recirculated several times, racking up more than 24,000 shares on social media through pages such as Locate the Missing. But there was still no sign of her.

On Friday, Coopers phone rang. An investigator for the North Platte Police Department was on the other end.

Investigator Jim Ady called me to tell me he had a tip she was at a shelter in San Francisco, Cooper said.

Cooper said Ady told her that Gracie had been dropped off at the shelter on Friday and the shelter contacted police.

Cooper said Child Protective Services is working with law enforcement and the family to get her home.

She said the family is grateful for the efforts by people across the country trying to locate Gracie.

Family members have no idea what Gracies been through or how she got to San Francisco. But those details dont matter right now because, for the first time in eight months, they know their little girl is alive and coming home.

Cooper had an opportunity to talk to Gracie, who told her that Little Ricky, the Yorkie, had died.

Gracie told Cooper something else: She said she loves us and wants to come home.
OMAHA -- An SUV crashed into the Eppley Airfield terminal on Monday afternoon, injuring three people.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed into a revolving door and windows near the United Airlines area at the north end of the terminal at 1:35 p.m.

The driver had just flown into Eppley from California, said Tim Conahan, chief of the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department. The man's brother, who had driven to the airport to pick him up, said he needed to use the restroom, so he asked him to drive around and come back to pick him up, Conahan said.

The man who had flown in from California shifted the Jeep into reverse and started backing up, which startled him, Conahan said. He then shifted into drive and the SUV jumped the curb, hitting his brother and a woman in a wheelchair getting into her car, Conahan said.

The brother was knocked through the glass and ended up inside the terminal, Conahan said. He was taken in critical condition to Creighton University Medical Center. The woman was taken in serious condition to the Nebraska Medical Center. The Jeep driver also was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of some cuts, Conahan said.

The Omaha police department accident unit was investigating.

The names of the injured people were not immediately released.

People couldn't use the doors on the north end of the terminal because of the crash, Conahan said.

World-Herald staff writer Alia Conley contributed to this report.
RAVENNA  Nancy (Bernet) Jackson, 66, of Ravenna died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna with the Rev. Micah Gaunt officiating. Burial will be at Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.

Rasmussen Funeral Home in Ravenna is in charge of arrangements.



She went home to be with her Lord and Savior.

Nancy Darlene Bernet was born March 9, 1950, in Kearney, the middle daughter of Gordon and Marguerite (Wedemeyer) Bernet. She was baptized on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950, and was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on March 22, 1964. She attended country school south of Ravenna through eighth grade at Union Ridge District 62 and was a 1968 graduate of Ravenna High School. She then graduated from Grand Island School of Business with a secretarial degree.

Nancy married Mike Jackson on April 12, 1970. To this union, two daughters were born. The couple later divorced.

She was a devoted and loving mother and stayed home with her daughters until they were out of elementary school. She began working part time at The Ravenna News in the 1980s as a typesetter. With dedication, she worked her way up to office manager and later to editor and part owner. She won many Nebraska Press Association awards through the years. As the captain of the Ravenna News Team, she built close-knit relationships with her employees, past and present.

Nancy was very devoted to her church and community. She loved the town of Ravenna and was a well-respected member of the community. She could always be found at the monthly school board and City Council meetings, covering everything she could in a fair and accurate way for her newspaper. She would often be seen at sporting events, school functions, various benefits and fundraisers. Walking up and down the streets of Ravenna, she visited businesses to help promote the town she loved.

Over the years, she was a member of many community organizations, including the Ravenna Community Foundation, Ravenna Economic Development Corp. and Ravenna Chamber of Commerce.

She is survived by her parents of Ravenna; two daughters and sons-in-law, Andrea and Arnulfo Casarez of Katy, Texas, and Erin and Travis Nye of Ravenna; five grandchildren, who were the lights of her life, Brandon, Sophia and Jackson Casarez of Katy and Avery and Taytem Nye of Ravenna; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Bev Larson of Ravenna and Pat and Nick Lammers of Wood River; aunt, Jackie Wedemeyer of Scottsbluff; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who will all miss her quiet, loving, faithful presence.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; brother-in-law, Larry Larson; and a nephew.

The family requests memorials to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or to the family to be used for a Ravenna High School Scholarship Fund in her name.
OMAHA  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to rename two areas at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in honor of a longtime professor who made extraordinary contributions to the institution.

The Center for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research, established in 2003, was renamed by the board to the Dr. James O. Armitage Center for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research in honor of his internationally recognized expertise in the treatment of lymphoma.

In 1982, Armitage, a Kearney native, launched one of the most successful bone marrow transplant programs in the world for the treatment of blood cancers at UNMC. The medical centers first bone marrow transplant was performed on April 1, 1983.

Since that time, Armitage, the Joe Shapiro Professor of Medicine, has seen it grow into a world-renowned program that has performed 5,000 transplants in patients from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries  4,530 transplants in adults and 470 in children. Most adults have sought the treatment for cancers of the blood; in particular, lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Pediatric transplants are normally performed for patients with more aggressive diseases such as acute leukemias and neuroblastoma as well as non-malignant diseases such as aplastic anemia and severe combined immunodeficiency.

Armitage, a 1973 UNMC graduate, has served UNMC in various capacities, including chairman of internal medicine and dean of the College of Medicine. In January, Armitage was named deputy editor of the Journal of Oncology Practice that is published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Morning fog surrounds Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, B.C., Tuesday, November 9, 2016. The castle was built as a home and completed in 1890 for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. Tragically Robert passed away before its completion so his wife Joan, three daughters and two orphaned children lived on the 28-acre estate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
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Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
FILE - In this July 20, 2016 file photo, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The nation's Republican governors are meeting in battleground Florida with an unexpected opportunity: a president-elect of their own party with political IOUs to pay, perhaps the projects the party's heads of the states prefer. Donald Trump owes no governor more than Walker, the onetime rival for the GOP presidential nomination who ended up endorsing the billionaire and whose state had been thought to be a Democratic firewall. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Comfort Agboloshie, 38, has set her husband and her brother-in-law on fire in Accra. Police say she set fire to items of clothing soaked in kerosene, threw them into a room where her husband, Lawrence Nkem, 45 and her brother-in-law, Benjamin Oyem, 42, were sleeping and locked the door.



Nkem survived and is being treated for severe injuries at the hospital, but Oyem died. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Agboloshie, who before carrying out the act, took her three children out of the room, has been arrested.
I was at work a few nights ago. We had had a patient death early in the morning before I got there, and the body was still in the room awaiting the JPs arrival. The family was en route back with the children (he was only 57) and the body was not presentable. Blood, saliva, a gaping mouth and lividity with rigor were a bad combination for the kids to see. I and a tech got him cleaned, covered, and propped the head into a bit of flexion to relatively close the mouth (a trick hed learned in EMS days). The family returned soon and the cries and calls for Daddy were heartbreaking.

Later that night the riots and protests were in the news, and I was thinking how sad it is weve come to this point of division over politics and not unity as Americans. I wrote the following on my Facebook page:

Im at work tonight, and Ive seen  people. Not liberals, conservatives, Democrats or Republicans, but simply people. Black people, Mexican people, Pakistani people, young people, old people, sad people and angry people. Its pretty damned amazing what a handshake and legitimate concern for their condition mean to folks. We are people, nothing more.

And we will all die, trust me. You should watch someone do it sometime. Or better yet, pronounce someone dead and then look the family in the eye and tell them their loved one wont be going home tonight. Stand in the room and listen to the wails pierce your eardrums and heart. Let a devastated mother pound your chest and say, No!, a few hundred times. Do all that enough, and youll be punched by every color, creed, sex, and religion imaginable and youll realize that it all feels the same no matter the source.

For about ten years, I was terrified of this situation, but slowly I found that in that moment, there is a wonderful colorblindness and singular minded purpose that affirms the common denominator of love and the sanctity of life that we so wantonly toss about on a daily basis.

So why are we wasting our precious time above ground trying to drive each other into it? Do you really want to be a label? Are you that desperate for meaning that you cling to some nebulous one size fits all value set? Who in their right mind wants to be externally defined? Why do we teach our children free thinking and foster creativity if we cannot exemplify it? Are you better than your neighbor because of your color, god (or lack thereof), political party, sexual orientation, favorite color, how much you make  you see how petty it is by now?

If so, youre the problem and pretending the world is or should be homogeneous is a very dangerous path thats easy to find because its the one with all the morons in white hoods walking it with you. Arent you proud now? Jesus, just enough of the hate and gloating. One day you may be working beside the same guy youre screaming at right now and wont that be awkward? The sun came up 11/10, we kissed someone goodbye and went to work or school. It will come up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I will be working with my colleagues that include black men, women, Latinos and even this old white guy who will take care of any and all like they are family because in the end, they, and we, are.
In this Wednesday, Nov. 16, photo, walkers crossed the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge as smoke from wildfires fill downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., and the Tennessee Valley with a pungent haze as seen from the North Shore area of Chattanooga.

(Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP)
A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship
HANOI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0122 GMT.

Nov 21 Nov 18 USD/VND mid-point 22,124 22,112

USD/VND interbank 22,500/22,520 22,450/22,540 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.68/35.88 35.62/35.84

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)
HANOI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Following is a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0443 GMT.

Nov 21 Nov 18 USD/VND mid-point 22,124 22,112 USD/VND interbank 22,500/22,590 22,450/22,540 USD/VND unofficial 22,630/22,700 22,600/22,650 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.62/35.82 35.62/35.84

Interbank offered rates Overnight 1.4-1.8 1.7-2.3

1 week 1.5-1.9 1.8-2.4

1 month 2.4-2.8 2.4-3.0

3 months 4.2-4.8 4.2-4.8

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; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)
* Oct exports -10.3 pct yr/yr vs forecast -8.6 pct

* Imports -16.5 pct yr/yr vs forecast -16.3 pct

* Trade balance 496.2 bln yen vs forecast 615.4 bln yen

(Adds detail, context)

By Minami Funakoshi

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Japan's exports fell more than expected in October for a 13th consecutive month, Ministry of Finance data showed on Monday, in a sign of sluggish foreign demand.

Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Monday that exports fell 10.3 percent in the year to October. That compares with the 8.6 percent drop expected by economists in a Reuters poll, and follows a 6.9 percent decline in September.

The trade results came on the heels of recent data showing Japan's economy expanded for a third quarter in July-September as exports recovered and imports fell, highlighting a potentially fragile, export-reliant recovery. Imports fell 16.5 percent versus the median estimate of a 16.3 percent fall.

The trade balance came to a surplus of 496.2 billion yen ($4.47 billion), versus the median estimate for a 615.4 billion yen surplus.

(Reporting by Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Eric Meijer)
Importer demand for dollars weighs on Ugandan shilling



KAMPALA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The Ugandan shilling weakened on Monday mainly due to demand for dollars by importers of fuel and other commodities. At 0956 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,615/3,625, weaker than Friday's close of 3,600/3,610. UGX Spot Rate..... Ugandan Shilling Money Guide.... Calculated Cross Rates.......... Deposits..................... Deposits & Forwards............. Uganda Equities Guide....... Uganda All Share Index........ Shilling background ..... Ugandan Debt Guide............ All Uganda Bonds............. Uganda T-Bills.............. Uganda Benchmark............. Central Bank ................ Ugandan Contributor Index.... Uganda Coffee Prices....... (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Duncan Miriri)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

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OSLO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Norway's Opera Software no longer plans to buy or sell companies and will instead stay focused on developing its mobile advertising units after the recent divestment of a key business, chief executive Lars Boilesen told Reuters on Monday.

In charge since 2010, Boilesen initially expanded Opera's business through a string of acquisitions before putting the whole company up for sale in mid-2015, though in the end only parts of the firm, the internet browser business and related units, were sold.

The close to $600 million proceeds from divesting Opera's consumer business, a transaction that was finalised in early November, will not be used to buy more companies, Boilesen said.

The company is expected to use several hundred million dollars on an extraordinary dividend and share buybacks.

"New acquisitions from our side are highly unlikely," Boilesen told Reuters. He also dismissed suggestions by some analysts and investors that the mobile advertising business could be sold shortly.

"We have just been through a very long and demanding strategic process and I'm certain we won't launch another one now. It is way too time consuming and disruptive... We are left with a very exciting company I think a lot of things will happen for us in 2017."

Skyfire, an online cloud-based service for operators of mobile phone networks, one of Opera's last acquisitions, will probably turn profitable in 2017, Boilesen added.

"I think it will happen pretty fast I am sure it will make money already next year," he said.

(Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg, editing by Terje Solsvik)
* Deutsche Boerse CEO says SME capital needs have grown

* New market category to launch on March 1, 2017

* Says companies must undergo due diligence to qualify

* German minister says move to contribute to more IPOs

(Adds CEO comment, details on admission requirements)

FRANKFURT, Nov 21 (Reuters) - German stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse plans to create a new market for small companies and startups, 14 years after the crash of the Neuer Markt tech market.

"The need for capital amongst small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany and Europe has grown significantly," Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter said in a statement on Monday.

The German government has for several years been pushing for the creation of a technology market that would make it easier for startups to obtain capital.

But Deutsche Boerse had so far merely created an online platform to connect growing startups with international investors, citing concern there was not enough demand for a separate tech market similar to the Neuer Markt of the 1990s.

The new market announced on Monday targets small and medium-sized companies in general, rather than just tech-related firms.

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel welcomed the move.

"I am confident that the new segment will make a crucial contribution to there being more stock market listings of young innovative growth firms in Germany again," he said in a statement.

At the height of the dotcom boom, companies lined up to list on Germany's Neuer Markt, attracting huge interest from small investors, many of whom were later burned when tech stocks crashed. The market was also tarnished by scandals, becoming a symbol of corporate mismanagement and investor greed.

Deutsche Boerse said there would be legal and financial due diligence before any company was admitted to the new market, including research reports commissioned by the stock exchange operator.

The new market, which is yet to be named, is to launch on March 1, 2017, and will eventually have its own index.

(Reporting by Kathrin Jones; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Christoph Steitz and Mark Potter)
* Oct crude steel output climbs 0.6 pct to 9.06 mln tonnes

* Higher output reflects firmer auto, construction demand in Japan

* Output of steel bars rises for first time in 26 months

(Adds details and researcher's comments)

By Yuka Obayashi

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Japan's crude steel output rose 0.6 percent in October from a year earlier, recovering from the previous month's decline, to hit over 9 million tonnes for the first time in a year, helped by firmer local demand in automobile and construction sectors.

Crude steel output in October climbed to 9.06 million tonnes, marking the highest monthly level since October last year, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said. It slid in September for the first time in six months.

Output, which is not adjusted seasonally, increased 7.2 percent from September.

The rise comes as a bright spot to Japan, where there have been signs of a fragile economic recovery, though the outlook for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to reinstate the economy remains cloudy.

Earlier this month, Japan's economic growth beat expectations in the July-September period, expanding for a third straight quarter as exports recovered, but weak domestic activity cast doubt on hopes for a sustainable economic recovery. "Increased steel output reflected healthy demand from automakers and higher demand from constructors for commercial buildings including warehouses," a researcher at the federation said, pointing to the output of steel bars - used in construction - which rose for the first time in 26 months.

Steel output by electric-arc furnaces also rose in October for the first time in 23 months, underlining a recovery in construction demand at home, he said.

The higher monthly output of crude steel comes in line with a 0.9 percent year-on-year increase projected for the October-December quarter by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). "We believe the course of things has changed for the better," the researcher said.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
* TransAsia seeks flight suspension without warning

* TransAsia to hold unscheduled board meeting on Tuesday

* TransAsia shares suspended pending announcement

(Adds comments, details)

By Faith Hung

TAIPEI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Taiwan's third-largest airline, TransAsia Airways Corp. , has applied to suspend flights on Tuesday and the stock exchange halted trading in its shares pending an important announcement.

The news came as a shock to the island's airlines, tourism industries and the government.

"They informed us suddenly they will suspend flights tomorrow," Fang Chih-wen, deputy director general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, told Reuters by telephone on Monday. "We will continue to watch further developments."

Officials at TransAsia, which said in a statement it would be holding an unscheduled board meeting on Tuesday, could not be reached for immediate comment.

"There is still an important announcement to be made by the company," the Taiwan Stock Exchange said on Monday. "It can apply for trading again after an announcement is made."

TransAsia stocks ended down 7 percent at multi-year lows on Monday, trailing the broader market's 0.36 percent gain.

The struggling airline expressed its deepest apology to customers and said it would fully compensate them for any losses.

TransAsia has reported losses in each of the previous six quarters up to the end of September.

Early this year, Taiwan's aviation safety agency urged TransAsia to review its safety protocols, pilot training programme and hiring practices so as to cut "imminent risks".

Those recommendations were among 10 made by the Aviation Safety Council (ASC) following its investigation into the June 2014 crash of TransAsia's flight GE222 which killed 48 of the 58 passengers and crew. Less than a year later, another flight crashed into a river shortly after taking off from Taipei's Songshan airport.

(Reporting by Faith Hung; editing by David Clarke)
(Adds quotes, comments throughout)

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer warned on Monday that the national debt could swell to the size of the country's gross domestic product within eight years should public spending not be brought under control and fiscal reforms not enacted.

Speaking to an advisory council of business leaders, Temer vowed to send a proposal to Congress next month to reform the pension system once lawmakers pass a spending cap. He asked the council to back the cap to revive confidence in the economy.

A 20-year-long ceiling on federal spending cap should pass Congress without changes in a few weeks, he added. The measure has cleared the lower house and is expected to win approval by the Senate by Dec. 13.

"The nature of Brazil's crisis is fiscal. For too long, governments have spent more than they earned," said Temer, who replaced leftist Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached and ousted earlier this year from breaching budgetary laws.

In consolidated terms, the budget deficit is expected to close 2016 at around 10 percent of GDP for a second year, and the public sector debt currently stands at 71 percent of GDP.

It is expected to balloon to about 80 percent of GDP in a few years and could exceed 100 percent of GDP if spending is not curbed, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles told the council.

Consolidated public sector data encompasses the pension system, the central bank as well as federal, state and municipal governments.

Temer's pension reform plan is expected to face fierce opposition from leftist parties and labor unions when it is debated in Congress next year. Most state governments in Brazil are "practically bankrupt" due to a heavy pension burden, Temer said.

Billionaire Abilio Diniz urged Temer to accelerate plans to proceed with auctions to build and operate infrastructure projects and licenses, so foreign investment would flow back to Brazil.

Diniz, the chairman of BRF Brasil Foods SA , the world's largest poultry exporter, said Brazilian companies and households are steeped in debt.

Brazil's economy has shrunk 10 percent in two years of recession, incomes have suffered and weak consumer demand has delayed recovery, according to Luiz Carlos Trabuco, chief executive officer of Banco Bradesco , Brazil's No. 2 private-sector bank.

The so-called Economic and Social Development Council, which convened to advise Temer, includes top businessmen. Among them are Jorge Paulo Lemann, Brazil's richest person with a fortune estimated at around $28 billion, and Roberto Setubal, the outgoing CEO of Itau Unibanco Holding SA , the nation's largest bank by market value.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Additional reporting by Silvio Cascione and Alonso Soto in Brasilia; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Guillermo Parra-Bernal and W Simon)
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Union petition calls for St. Michael leadership's ouster

A union leader said of the hospital's short staffing in the ER that the crisis was 'extraordinary.'
Stuff reports:

Prime Minister John Key has announced talks will begin on upgrading the free trade deal with China.

The announcement came after Trade Minister Todd McClay met Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru.

Key said it had been eight years since the FTA with China came into force, and it had an enviable record. It showcased to the world the importance of trade liberalisation.

The first round of negotiation would start in the first half of 2017.

Since the FTA was signed, trade had quadrupled to reach $9.2 billion.
Shalom Kiwi blogs:

A shocking video has surfaced containing excerpts of a number of Auckland sermons and lectures given by Shaykh Dr Mohammad Anwar Sahib between April 2014 and November 2016 in which he repeatedly uses appalling anti-Semitic slanders and libels and denigrates women. In one sermon, he calmly calls Jews the enemy of Muslims and claims that: Jews are using everybody because their protocol is to rule the entire world

No woman can dare step out of her house without the permission of her husband

Read history and you will understand that the Jews of yesterday are the evil fathers of the Jews of today, who are evil offspring, infidels the scum of the human race whom Allah cursed and turned into apes and pigs These are the Jews, an ongoing continuum of deceit, obstinacy, licentiousness, evil, and corruption

You can see extracts of his speeches in this clip below:

This is shocking stuff. The Islamic community in New Zealand has generally been very moderate and well integrated. We have avoided most of the problems that Europe and Australia has. But there are real questions to be answered about how such hate speech was allowed to be preached in Auckland and by a senior cleric.

Susan Devoy has said:

The Human Rights Commission says an Auckland mans speeches condemning Jewish people are appalling and have no place in New Zealand. We live in one of the most ethnically diverse nations on earth as well as one of the most peaceful: this is because we are a tolerant nation, said Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy. This kind of intolerance is not welcome here in any form: Prejudice against Jewish people has no place in New Zealand.  We urge Kiwis to recognise that these are the views of a single person and are not held by every single Muslim New Zealander, however questions need to be answered, said Dame Susan. Weve been in touch with the leaders of the NZ Jewish Council as well as the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), both of whom are deeply concerned about the speeches. We have asked for an urgent response from FIANZ.

FIANZ does need to respond. This is not some lone radical but senior cleric who preaches in mosques to others.

Stuff reports:

Ethnic Communities Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga called Sahibs speech offensive and insulting and said his comments are way out of step with New Zealands egalitarian values. I have spoken to FIANZ President Hazim Arafeh and he assures me Dr Sahibs views do not represent the beliefs of that organisation or most Muslim New Zealanders, he said.

Most, no. But why was he allowed to preach for so long and why did no one report his hate speech? In fact they proudly displayed it on You Tube.

It disgusts me that anti-Semitic views are being recorded and posted online. It harms New Zealanders reputation as a tolerant and welcoming people. It also concerns me that New Zealanders could be influenced by this, Lotu-Iiga said.

It would be good to have this condemned by all political parties.

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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

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A mix of clouds and sun, with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 76F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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A GS Caltex oil tanker unloads U.S. crude oil at a port in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Sunday. Korea's second-largest refiner by revenue imported crude oil from the U.S. mainland for the first time since the country lifted a crude export ban last December. / Courtesy of GS Caltex



By Lee Hyo-sik

GS Caltex has imported crude oil from the U.S. mainland, as part of efforts to diversify its import sources, for the first time since Washington lifted an export ban last December. Korea's second-largest refiner by revenue plans to bring in more U.S. oil if it continues to remain price-competitive.

The company said Monday that a very large crude carrier (VLCC) has been unloading 1 million barrels of Eagle Ford Crude at a port in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, where it operates its main refinery.

The unloading began Sunday and will last through Tuesday, GS Caltex said, adding that it will bring in another 1 million barrels of oil produced in the U.S. state of Texas in December.

Eagle Ford Crude is a type of superlight shale oil discovered in an area called Eagle Ford. It is low in sulfur and has an American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity of between 45 and 56. If the API gravity is greater than 10, it is lighter and floats on water. If it is less than 10, it is heavier and sinks.

GS Caltex and other local refiners have so far been importing condensate oil, a type of ultra-light oil that flows out of shale plays, or crude oil produced in the U.S. state of Alaska. In 2015, the company imported 300,000 barrels of condensate oil and 900,000 barrels of Alaska crude. Last March, it also brought in 400,000 barrels of condensate oil.

"GS Caltex is the first domestic refiner importing crude from the U.S. mainland since the nation lifted its long-standing export ban," a company spokesman said. "It has become more price-competitive to purchase crude oil from the United States because of low West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices and falling shipping charges. We will continue to explore opportunities to import more from the United States and further diversify our import countries."

Its local rivals will follow suit, the official said, adding that refiners in China and other Asian nations will sign supply deals with U.S. shale oil producers.

Since 1975 after the first oil shock, the United States banned the export of crude oil by naming it as a strategic natural resource, and instead increased imports from the Middle East. But following the discovery of abundant shale gas and oil, the world's largest economy changed its energy policy.
Assembly passage hinges on Choi Soon-sil gate



By Nam Hyun-woo



Revisions to a banking act allowing IT firms to have controlling stakes in internet-only banks will be reviewed at the National Assembly this week, coming as a watershed for Kakao Bank and K-Bank which have been held back by regulations.



The National Assembly's National Policy Committee will hold a four-day subcommittee to review two revisions to the Banking Act and two special case acts concerning the law.



The current Banking Act separates banking from commerce, restricting commercial capital from holding more than 4 percent of common shares (shares with voting rights) in a bank. This hampers IT companies Kakao, which leads Kakao Bank, and KT, which leads K-Bank, from taking a leading role in operating their own internet-only banks.



The revisions include plans by ruling Saenuri Party Reps. Kang Seok-jin and Kim Yong-tae, which allow commercial capital to hold stakes up to 50 percent in internet-only banks.



One of the special case acts, tabled by opposition lawmakers Jung Jae-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Kwan-young of the People's Party, contains details on allowing commercial capital to have stakes up to 34 percent in internet-only banks by receiving regulatory approval every five years.



Should the bills pass the subcommittee, the National Policy Committee will review them, followed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. After the process, the assembly will vote for the bills.



Currently, Kakao holds a 10 percent stake in Kakao Bank and KT has 8 percent in K-Bank. The companies' shares with voting rights in each bank remain at 4 percent, respectively.



As of early November, Korea Investment Holdings has a 54 percent stake in Kakao Bank, followed by KB Kookmin Bank with 10 percent and Korea Post with 4 percent. K-Bank's major shareholders are Woori Bank, Hanwha Life Insurance, GS Retail and Danal, a mobile payment company, all with 10 percent.



Under the current structures, Korea Investment Holdings' sway in both internet banks is substantial. The holding company will acquire a 4 percent stake in Woori Bank, gaining the right to appoint an outside board member.



The remaining question is whether lawmakers can consent to the revision in the face of an allegation that the regulatory approvals for the banks may have been affected by Choi Soon-sil, the core figure in the ongoing influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.



Last week, Rep. Sim Sang-jeung hinted market expectation was that the only internet-only banks the government would approve were Kakao Bank and Interpark's I-Bank. She said KT was the latest of the competitors to apply for approval and the financial authority service changed its review schedule, suspecting the government did a favor for KT, at which a high-ranking official is known to be close with Cha Eun-taek, a close friend of Choi.



Though Financial Services Commission Chairman Yim Jong-yong said influence-peddling was "structurally impossible" in approving K-Bank, but pundits say opposition lawmakers may not let the bills pass.






By Park Si-soo



The opposition Justice Party on Monday declared President Park Geun-hye's impeachment as its top priority and is seeking the cooperation of other opposition parties to unseat the scandal-plagued head of state.

The third biggest party in the National Assembly has pressed the prosecution to impose an overseas travel ban on the President and take legal action to take her to the prosecution office for questioning.

The move came one day after the prosecution identified Park as an accomplice and a "criminal suspect" while indicting her long-time friend, Choi Soon-sil, on criminal charges including extortion and abuse of official power.

In angry reaction, the presidential office called the investigation result a "house of cards" built without concrete evidence. Park's defense lawyer said the President would not cooperate with the prosecution's request to question her, an embarrassing turnabout from her earlier cooperative attitude.

It is unclear whether the prosecution will seek an overseas travel ban on the President and other forcible measures to question her, because the prosecution is under Park's control and, above all, doing so could political risks.

But it is clear that few are supporting Park's idea of flying to Tokyo next month to attend a trilateral summit with her Chinese and Japanese counterparts.
From left, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won



The ruling and opposition parties agreed Monday to summon the leaders of the nation's seven largest conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics Co. and Hyundai Motor Group, as witnesses for their parliamentary probe in a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye's confidante.

The ruling Saenuri Party, the main opposition Democratic Party and the minor People's Party reached agreement over the list of witnesses for the probe into the scandal that has rocked the nation over the past several weeks.

The list includes Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik.

The special committee for the probe will hold a plenary session later in the day to confirm the list. (Yonhap)
A signboard image of President Park Geun-hye at her birthplace in Dongseongno Street, Jung-gu district in Daegu, is covered in red paint top to bottom. / Yonhap

By Hong Dam-young

Police have arrested a man who sprayed red paint on a signboard image of President Park Geun-hye out of rage against the scandal-ridden president.

The man, surnamed Baek, 50, was arrested at his home in Samdeok-dong, Jung-gu district in Daegu, on Saturday at around 5:40 p.m., according to Daegu Jungbu Police Station.

Baek is accused of property damage by spray-painting the sign at the President's birthplace in the middle of the city's busy Dongseongno Street at around 2:03 a.m. Friday.

The sign  70 centimeters wide and 240 centimeters long  which originally showed Park smiling and waving while holding a flower, was covered in crimson red from top to bottom.

The district erected the sign on Feb. 25, 2013, to celebrate Park's inauguration in February the same year.

The destroyed sign was reported to police a few hours after the incident, and officials removed the sign immediately.

"Baek confessed that he sprayed the sign in a fit of anger about Park's political crimes while he was drunk," a police official said, after viewing CCTV footage.

"But he does not belong to any political party or organization."

District officials said they did not plan to re-erect the sign.

The former president Park Chung-hee, the incumbent president's father, and his late wife Yuk Young-soo spent their early married years in the area, where Park Geun-hye was born in February 1952.
Chinese tourists buy cosmetic products at Lotte Duty Free Shop in Jung-gu, central Seoul. / Korea Times file



By Lee Jin-a

The number of foreigners who visited Korea surpassed 14.5 million as of October, breaking the previous record high in 2014, government data showed Monday.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 14.59 million foreigners visited the country from January to October this year, up 33 percent from the annual record of 14.2 million.

The number of Chinese tourists rose 40 percent on-year due to a growing number of individual tourists. Japanese tourists increased by 26 percent from last year, after the shock of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak had waned.

American and European travelers increased by 14.2 percent and 17.2 percent respectively.

The tourism agency said the number of foreign visitors reached 15 million as of mid-November and that it expected the number would top 17 million at the end of this year.

Considering the high percentage of Chinese tourists  48 percent  the organization said it would make more efforts to diversify the tourism market with customized programs.

The agency plans to develop a program that helps Muslim tourists find halal restaurants more easily across the country.

"We will expand the inbound travel market by developing customized programs for travelers from the Middle East and the Americas to continue this year's growth next year," said a KTO policy director, Ahn Deok-soo.
By Kim Hyo-jin



Former opposition leader Moon Jae-in is taking flak from some liberal politicians after indicating, Sunday, that he may help President Park Geun-hye seek an "honorable exit" if she decides to step down.



Critics say Moon remains out of touch with reality while the scandal-ridden Park is taking steps to remain in power in defiance of public calls for her immediate resignation.



Moon said he is willing to cooperate with Park to help her find an honorable way out if she decides to leave, and help her "keep her dignity" afterwards.



Some liberal politicians have claimed Moon is taking a dubious stance over how to deal with Park when the opposition bloc needs a united voice because of his position as a leading presidential hopeful.



Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, another liberal presidential hopeful, criticized Moon, saying, "Park should not be guaranteed a way-out."



"Persecutor Syngman Rhee, human rights abuser Park Chung-hee, and slaughterer in the Gwangju Democratization movement Chun Doo-hwan were not held accountable. This is why the Park administration was able to boldly conduct illegal activities," Lee wrote in a Facebook post. "We need to prove that the law is equal to everyone by putting her into prison."



Rep. Park Jie-won, interim leader of the People's Party, said Moon was making a careless and unilateral approach to the situation.



"Moon sounded like he had already been elected President," he said during a party meeting. "Worse, he did not reflect the view of the public at all."



Echoing his view, Rep. Lee Yong-ju of the People's Party noted that it was a "regrettable attitude as a responsible politician" because seeking Park's safe exit requires the agreement of the three opposition parties and the public.



Liberal voters have criticized Moon and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea for taking a cautious stance amid the fallout of the corruption scandal involving the President. He joined the opposition's campaign to oust Park last week, comparatively later than his opposition counterparts.



Pundits say the backlash against Moon's recent remark reflects building discontent with him and his party's lack of momentum in the anti-Park movement.




Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam enters the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Monday. Kim said last week that face-to-face questioning of President Park Geun-hye about the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil was inevitable. The prosecution has shown a firm stance from its earlier lukewarm attitude, in line with growing public calls for her resignation at weekend rallies in the past weeks. / Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min

The prosecution has been taking a tough stance against President Park Geun-hye in its investigation into the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil, contrary to initial expectations that it may curry favor with the President and those in power.

Experts say the prosecution may have concluded that they cannot disobey a greater power: the ever rising public outcry shown over the past month in street rallies. They say the peaceful yet powerful collective action made the prosecution name the President a suspect, a drastic change in its stance compared to a month ago.

On Oct. 26, Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong said during a National Assembly session that under the Constitution, a sitting President is immune from criminal prosecution, signaling his intention not to investigate Park. Lee Young-ryeol, the leader of the prosecution's probe team on the Choi scandal, echoed Kim's view.

The President also carried out a vice-ministerial reshuffle days later, showing that she has the sole authority in a personnel reshuffle including prosecutors.

However, the scope of the investigation gradually expanded in accordance with the increase in the number of participants at the weekend rallies in Gwanghwamun, near the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae. Prosecutors also faced harsh criticism and distrust when former presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo, a former prosecutor, showed a haughty attitude during questioning over his alleged corruption.

Last Tuesday, Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam said that direct questioning of the President was inevitable, adding that he would try his best to speed up the procedure. The prosecution may also feel pressured by any possible criticism about incompetence if the results of their probe are unconvincing while an independent counsel, which will take over the probe, uncovers what it was unable to do.

"Prosecutors took a hard stance to secure justification against criticism in case they fail, and because they realized that it has reached a point where they can no longer ignore public sentiment," said Korea University Law School Professor Chang Young-soo.

"Also, political parties, which are keen to accurately guage public sentiment, have agreed on an independent counsel-led investigation after concluding that the public has completely turned against the President."

A prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also said, "We had controversy over whether questioning the President would be possible. But thanks to public opinion, that majority is calling for a stern attitude toward her; we prosecutors now have no objection."

Chang also said the Constitutional Court may rule in favor of the impeachment of the President if the National Assembly passes the motion, adding the court may also take public sentiment into consideration when deciding how grave her wrongdoing is.

"The court will determine whether the degree of Park's suspected criminal offenses is grave enough for her to resign. When there is need for legal interpretation due to ambiguous clauses, the decision can be influenced by outside factors such as public sentiment and the justices' political inclination."
Assembly probe will start on Dec. 5



By Kim Hyo-jin

Rival parties may summon President Park Geun-hye as a witness in a parliamentary investigation into a corruption scandal involving her and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, according to party officials, Monday.

Opposition parties have called for Park's appearance for the probe, which is scheduled to start Dec. 5, saying Park is a central figure in the scandal.

The calls are gaining momentum after the prosecution branded Park as an "accomplice" to Choi and former presidential aides An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong who were indicted Sunday on various charges including abuse of authority, coercion, and mishandlig of confidential documents.

The Assembly panel tasked with the probe decided on the first list of 21 witnesses, earlier in the day, including those indicted; former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon; ex-presidential secretaries Woo Byung-woo and Cho Won-dong; those who worked for Mir and K-sports foundations controlled by Choi; and leaders of the nation's eight largest conglomerates.

They are Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Hanhwa Chairman Kim Seung-youn, Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho and Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin.












By Kang Seung-woo

The prosecution's interim investigation results, unveiled Sunday, show President Park Geun-hye has consistently lied about the corruption scandal involving her and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

To cover up the scandal and ease ensuing public outcry, Park stuck to false statements, using every means from daily briefings through her spokesman to a meeting with her senior secretaries and even two nationally televised apologies.

However, she has found herself an accomplice in the country's biggest political scandal in the end after the prosecution indicted Choi and Park's two former senior aides Jeong Ho-seong and An Chong-bum on criminal charges including extortion and abuse of official power.

In the wake of the JTBC news report, Oct. 24, that Choi had prior access to presidential speech drafts and edited them, Park issued the first public apology, the next day, apologizing for giving Choi the documents and explaining that she sought Choi's advice merely on the speeches and public relations issues.

However, the investigation showed that she lied in the national address.

According to the results, she shared a total of 180 presidential documents, including 47 classified ones, such as those concerning the appointment of ministers and vice-ministers.

While delivering the apology, Park also said she had asked for Choi's opinion in the early years of her presidency and stopped after the presidential office completed relevant systems  although she did not specify when this came to an end.












By Kim Bo-eun

The prosecution is facing a challenge in questioning President Park Geun-hye over her alleged involvement in the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil, after Park's lawyer said Sunday the President will not comply with its demands.

Cheong Wa Dae's abrupt change of stance came after the prosecution announced the interim results of its investigation into the expanding scandal, in which it stated Park was an accomplice of Choi and her former aides An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong in extorting funds from conglomerates for Choi's benefit, and providing her confidant with classified state files.

This was the first time for the prosecution to call an incumbent president a criminal suspect. Choi, An and Jeong were indicted Sunday.

Park's legal representative Yoo Yeong-ha had initially said the President would be questioned this week, but after the prosecution's announcement, he said, "We cannot accept the slightest part of the statement and will not cooperate with the prosecution over questioning."

However, the prosecution said there was no change in its stance that the President must be questioned.

"We will once again request her cooperation for face-to-face questioning," a prosecutor on the special investigation team said Monday. But he acknowledged the challenges, saying, "In reality, it is difficult to forcibly question the President if she refuses."












Experts on North Korea-related issues participate in a forum hosted by North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, a defector-led civic group, at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul, Nov. 15. / Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



With the number of North Korean defectors surpassing 30,000, South Korea is stepping up efforts to better integrate them into the society.

The Ministry of Unification, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, has been pushing to introduce measures aimed at helping defectors break social barriers that prevent them from mingling with South Koreans.

It said the possible measures could be expanding job and education opportunities, bolstering community activities and starting a public awareness campaign on television with support from the central and local governments and well as from the private sector.

The move comes amid a steady increase in the number of defectors and growing calls to take measures accordingly.

The cumulative number of defectors exceeded 10,000 in February and 20,000 in November 2010. It hit 29,830 in September before marking 30,005, according to data released by the unification ministry on Nov. 13.

Women accounted for 71 percent of the defectors and this is expected to rise to 80 percent by the end of this year, the data indicate.

By age, people in their 20s and 30s at the time of defection accounted for 58 percent of the total.

The government mainly focused on offering financial assistance. For instance, defectors receive 7 million won ($5,900) as a "settlement fund" and an apartment is offered for low-income households, after a 12-week orientation at Hanawon, a government-run settlement center.

"The new goal will be to reduce prejudice and stereotypes toward the defectors while helping them become self-reliant and independent in their living," a unification ministry official said.





Passersby take a look at photos showing Pyongyang's dire human rights record during an exhibition run by North Korean defectors in Europe at Trocadero Square in Paris, Nov. 16. / Yonhap

Analysts said the government's new approach to defector-related policies was "on the right track." They pointed out that the government has been encouraging more North Koreans to come to the South recently.

The experts also noted that more North Koreans from various social backgrounds have been fleeing amid leader Kim Jong-un's reign of terror. Among them are several high-profile people, such as senior diplomats and intelligence officials who were in charge of monitoring citizens on behalf of the tyrannical regime.

"The more defectors come to the South, the higher possibility for the people here to encounter them," said Paik Hak-soon, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute. "In that sense, it will be important to form a favorable environment for the defectors to get along with the South Koreans."

A defector said the government's efforts to better embrace defectors would "open doors for North Koreans to enter and live here without discrimination and prejudice."

"I'd say it is a gesture to greet people in the North at any time," said Choi Dong-uck, a North Korean restaurant owner who also leads a defectors' social club in Seoul.

Park Sang-hak, who leads an anti-Pyongyang campaign group in Seoul, speculated that Seoul's steps, and its encouragement of more people to escape, could ultimately contribute to the North Koreans' well-being.

According to Park, North Koreans relied on family members who escaped to South Korea to learn about the outside world.

"There will be a higher chance for the reclusive state to collapse and let the North Koreans become free if more people defect to the South," he said.

Some defectors said they are stepping up their own efforts to make their voices heard concerning the government's policies, including foreign affairs and issues related to North Korean human rights.

On Nov. 15, the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, a civic group founded by defector-turned-scholar Kim Heung-kwang, held a forum to discuss how South Korea should cope with a Donald Trump presidency and its North Korea-related policies.

On Nov. 16, a group of North Korean defectors in Europe exhibited photos showing Pyongyang's dire human rights record. The display was at Trocadero Square in Paris.

The defectors said they appreciated the government's establishment of a research center on North Korean human rights on Sept. 28.

"The center will help the South Koreans get a better understanding of Pyongyang, and consequently, the defectors," a defector said.

The center, under the wing of the unification ministry, focuses on the repressive state's human rights conditions based on defectors' testimonies. It also oversees and supports projects against Pyongyang's state-perpetrated crimes against humanity.

The research center gathers data for an archive set up under the Ministry of Justice.

The data will be used to study the state's human rights conditions based on North Korean defectors' testimonies.

The justice ministry may use the data to refer the North Korean leader and his aides to the International Criminal Court or file an independent suit against them if the two Koreas are united, according to government sources.
University students hold a rally to protest the Ministry of Defense's plan to formally sign a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan near Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. The students will stage a protest until today in an attempt to prevent a Cabinet meeting, where the deal is expected to win endorsement.

/ Korea Times photo by Hong In-kie



By Yi Whan-woo

The governments of South Korea and Japan will formally sign a disputed deal on sharing military intelligence tomorrow despite public opposition, according to the Ministry of Defense, Monday.

Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine will meet at the military headquarters in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, to sign the deal, the ministry said.

The Cabinet is expected to endorse the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) at a meeting today, where President Park Geun-hye will be absent. Strategy and Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho, who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, will preside over the meeting on behalf of the President.

The formal agreement will come after the two sides held three rounds of working-level discussions starting Nov. 1 and tentatively signed the deal Nov. 14 in Tokyo.

The government sought for the deal to directly exchange military intelligence with Japan to better cope with North Korea's growing threats.

South Korea has been receiving classified information that Japan collects concerning the North's nuclear, ballistic missile and other military activities via the United States.

Seoul pushed to sign the bilateral pact in 2012 during the Lee Myung-bak administration but failed due to severe objections from opposition lawmakers, who cited Tokyo's unrepentant stance over its wartime atrocities before and during World War II.

The GSOMIA will include clauses concerning Seoul's top military secrets classified as I, II and III and also what are defined as "specific secrets" from Tokyo, according to the defense ministry.

The term, "specific secrets," refers to not only classified military intelligence but also classified diplomatic, counter-intelligence and internal security information. Those who leak this information are subject to up to five years in prison under a Japanese law on the protection of state secrets, a government official said.

Protest

Meanwhile, the formal agreement over the GSOMIA is likely to add fuel to calls for the President to step down immediately for her alleged involvement in an influence-peddling scandal surrounding her friend Choi Soon-sil.

Park's opponents have claimed that the embattled President is ignoring public sentiment and is still trying to keep control over state affairs. They said Park's unilateral governing style is likely to increase the risks in security and foreign affairs amid growing uncertainties over security on the Korean Peninsula after Donald Trump was elected as the next U.S. president.

"I personally think the deal is needed for the country's national security but the way her administration struck the deal may upset the people and bring misunderstanding and distrust toward the bilateral pact," said Lee Kang-yun, a journalist-turned-political commentator.

He pointed out that the defense ministry rushed to strike the deal without making sufficient efforts to raise public awareness on the need for the GSOMIA.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the minor opposition parties  the People's Party and Justice Party  will submit a joint motion, Nov. 30, calling on the President to sack Han for striking the deal.

"It was right for Park to ask for parliamentary understanding although she may have judged that such an attempt would not succeed," Lee said.

Some other analysts said that it was "diplomatically discourteous" for Japan to send Nagamine to sign the GSOMIA with Han.

"I doubt many countries will trust Park and her administration considering she and many of her aides are embroiled in the scandal," said Shin Yul, a political professor at Myongji University. "Sending Nagamine as a representative for the formal signing may reflect such distrust from Japan."

The defense ministry said an ambassador has the rights to sign a bilateral deal involving the country in which they serve, rejecting claims that Nagamine was not an appropriate delegate to sign the GSOMIA.
By Rahul Raj





South Korea and India have one thing in common.



Since both countries were tragically separated, they have faced ongoing hostilities with their former countrymen in North Korea and Pakistan.



The dynamics of these relationships are challenging but also present opportunities for security and cooperation between two nations that offer stability and progress and two countries that threaten regional as well as global destabilization.



South Korea has come a long way from a war-ravaged country to become a powerhouse of modernization and industrialization in Asia.



North Korea, on the other hand, remains a troublesome nation whose nuclear ambitions pose a threat not only to South Korea but to the region as a whole.



Likewise, India has become a beacon of economic development and an emerging power, while Pakistan teeters on becoming a failed state and an epicenter of terrorism, having secretly aided the Taliban as well as hosting Osama bin Laden for several years before his assassination by the United States in 2011.



However, in an increasingly interconnected world, the security threats emanating from North Korea and Pakistan are no longer confined to Asia but have consequences for the entire world.

The bigger problem for both South Korea and India is that their adversaries have aided and abetted each other, and their cooperation in proliferating nuclear and missile technologies have made them serious threats to global security.



The groundwork for cooperation between Pyongyang and Islamabad began when Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto first visited North Korea in 1976, but their relationship took a decisive turn after the end of the Cold War when both countries decided to share their technological expertise.



Pakistan was eager to advance its missile and nuclear programs in the early 1990s in order to check India's sophisticated arms and weapons capabilities.



Meanwhile, North Korea wanted to expand its weapons programs after both of its closest allies, Russia and China, established diplomatic relationships with South Korea.



In 1993, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto visited North Korea and secretly facilitated a deal to buy Rodong-1 missile technology in exchange for nuclear enrichment technology.



In 1998, Pakistan tested its Ghauri missile system, a version similar to the North Korean Rodong missile.



The secret weapons exchange programs between the two countries was later exposed by Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan, who confessed to handing over nuclear technology to North Korea including centrifuges to enrich uranium.



The program was also confirmed by Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf in 2005.

Today North Korea, because of its unpredictable behavior amalgamated with its perennial ultimatums and war rhetoric, has become a nuclear threat to South Korea, to the region and possibly to other countries including the United States.



Similarly, Pakistan's nuclear arsenal as well as its covert support for terrorist organizations has become a threat to regional stability and world peace.



Indeed, the presence of terrorist groups which has been nurtured by Pakistan over the years also poses a threat to the security of nuclear material.



The proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies between North Korea and Pakistan has increased the chances of catastrophic terrorism on a global scale.



Both North Korea and Pakistan have tried to sell nuclear weapons technology to several countries including Libya, Syria and Iran. Moreover, neither Islamabad nor Pyongyang has abjured the idea of using nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict. In the aftermath of recent skirmishes in the Kashmir region of India, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif threatened to destroy India with nuclear weapons, just as North Korea has repeatedly threatened to turn South Korea into a "sea of fire."



This type of war rhetoric is indicative of the fact that both South Korea and India live under the constant threat of aggression from their respective neighbors.

Looking at all these prevailing situations and the nature of their foes, Seoul and New Delhi cannot afford to appraise their security concerns separately since the secret cooperation carried out between Pakistan and North Korea now pose a grave danger to both nations.



Although the leaders of South Korea and India have often expressed support for each other in the event of terrorist attacks or nuclear threats emanating from North Korea and Pakistan, much more needs to be done if they accept that the national security issues they both face are no longer in isolation.

Both India and South Korea, for example, could use their diplomatic channels with North Korea and Pakistan to address their respective security issues.



Since India is providing humanitarian aid to North Korea, it might consider how to convey to North Korea that its war rhetoric and nuclear and ballistic missiles threats do more harm than good to bilateral relations.



Similarly, South Korea could use economic as well as diplomatic means to persuade Pakistan to behave as a responsible state actor and eschew its nuclear proliferation activities and support for groups linked to terrorism.



Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option in the face of the dangers posed by unstable countries armed to the teeth.



South Korea and India must come to terms with the fact that threats from their respective foes threaten not only themselves, but the peace and prosperity of all of Asia as well as of the entire world.





Rahul Raj is assistant professor in the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Sejong University and adjunct professor in the Department of Korean Studies, Hanyang University.
What's urgent is to pick new prime minister



Cheong Wa Dae has rejected the prosecution's accusations regarding the Choi Soon-sil scandal, describing them as unfair political attacks based on ''imagination and guesswork.'' A presidential spokesman said the prosecution's investigation so far has not been fair and politically neutral, noting that President Park Geun-hye will prove her innocence through an independent counsel's probe.



The public is at a loss for words, given the gravity of the criminal charges leveled against Park. In its announcement Sunday, the top law enforcement agency concluded that the embattled President had colluded with her close friend Choi in the unprecedented corruption and influence-peddling scandal.



Park's lawyer said the nation's first female head of state wouldn't cooperate with the prosecution's investigation, questioning the political neutrality of the prosecutors. Park may have lost her temper and people cannot help but feel heavy-hearted by her trademark imprudence, self-righteousness and obstinacy.



Now it has become almost apparent that she is not qualified to serve out her five-year tenure. So Park's voluntary resignation might be the best way to lead the country out of the current political quagmire. But this possibility seems elusive, given Park's angry reactions to the interim results of the prosecution's probe.



Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central Seoul, Saturday, urging Park to step down. The people's aspiration for getting the dishonest President to go is understandable, but it's questionable if she will resign no matter how long the candlelit protests continue.



As things stand now, it's difficult to expect the ongoing political crisis to end early. After all, there is no other way but to push for impeaching Park, although such an option is full of uncertainties and risks. It's encouraging in this regard that the presidential hopefuls of the opposition bloc called for beginning discussions on Park's impeachment in a rare meeting Sunday.



What is needed first to bring the chaos under control is for the opposition to recommend a new prime minister to oversee state affairs during the impeachment process. If the National Assembly passes a motion to impeach the President, Park's power will be suspended immediately and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will serve as acting president.



But he is not fit to lead a nonpartisan cabinet, especially given that it is a continuation of the malfunctioning Park administration. So it's urgent that a new prime minister is elected to replace Hwang. But it's unclear whether President Park will accept the new premier recommended by the legislature, as she promised earlier during her visit to the Assembly. In fact, Cheong Wa Dae indicated Monday that it wouldn't accept the Assembly-proposed premier as long as it presupposes Park's resignation.



The three opposition parties deserve criticism for fueling political confusion by engaging in a hegemonic war so far, although the Choi scandal has been crippling state affairs. The impeachment process is a long and winding road but it's long overdue for them to join forces to end the current crisis.




High school students call for resignation of President Park Geun-hye over the influence-peddling scandal involving her close confidant and aides during a rally in central Seoul, Saturday, in the left photo. In the right photo, a participant of a pro-Park rally nearby holds a banner that reads, "Opposition to forcible resignation." / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young





President Park Geun-hye's supporters flocked to downtown Seoul to advocate the scandal-ridden leader, Saturday. Despite the unprecedented influence-meddling scandal involving her aides, they cried out from their loyalty for Park.



After interviewing the pro-Park rally participants, mainly members of Park's longtime fan club "Park Sa Mo," this reporter walked to Gwanghwamun Square to cover the anti-Park rally, where participants were including students, relatively young.



Surprisingly, comments from the ultra-right protesters and young people in the two separate rallies were the same: "I couldn't help coming here as the country is on the verge of collapse," and "I decided to come here for future generations."



Asking about the meaning of their words such as "national crisis" and "task for future generations," this reporter found the common denominator was survival.



Many of the pro-Park senior citizens believe North Korea's threats are palpable. Lots of them were born in 1940s to 50s. They highlighted their experiences of the Korean War and starvation, and the aftermath of the war.



It felt like they were still living in the postwar era. Conservative TV programs, ultra-right wing websites, and anticommunists' YouTube channels reproduce their fears.



Many of them actively expressed their views. They never stopped speaking, as if it was the first time a young person had listened to their opinion carefully. They said their children ignore them.



For them, Park's bloodline symbolizes national security against communism. It was something like discussing if god exists or not. And they didn't answer questions like, "You are protesting but opposing the freedom of assembly. What do you think about that?" However, they never shied away from their antidemocratic ideas.



The young, on the other hand, advocated social justice. They were angry about the privileges of college entrance and grading that Choi Soon-sil's daughter Chung Yoo-ra received. Inequality is what's threatening the young generation's survival, amid harsh competition during university admission and in seeking jobs.



Wearing a yellow ribbon, some participants called for the truth about the Sewol ferry disaster. At a rally two weeks ago, this reporter met a high school student who suddenly burst into tears when asked about the disaster. For her peer group, it may be as traumatic as the war.



When seeking an answer about the gap between the generations and ideology, a 75-year-old man who participated in the anti-Park candlelit rally gave a hint: "The old people over there (in the pro-Park rally) are not our enemy. They are all victims of indoctrination, while struggling to survive."
Models demonstrate LG Uplus' narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) products in the NB-IoT Open Lab at the telecom company's office in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, Monday. LG Uplus and Huawei have jointly opened the lab to support smaller partners here in developing and testing NB-IoT devices and services. / Courtesy of LG Uplus



By Yoon Sung-won



Huawei, the world's largest network equipment provider, is solidifying its long-term partnership with LG Uplus to jointly push for the narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) business, the two companies said Monday.



The Chinese network business giant pledged to give some 100,000 NB-IoT chipsets and modules to small- and medium-sized enterprises that are willing to participate in their joint NB-IoT business platform, aiming to boost its presence in the rapidly growing business-to-business (B2B) IoT service market at home and abroad.



Though Huawei has already established partnerships with other global telecom companies for the NB-IoT business, it has specifically chosen Korea and LG Uplus to offer the free chipsets and modules. Huawei's cellular IoT product line head Zhu Cheng underlined that this is because the company has high hopes for the potential of Korea's IoT market.



"We are providing the free chipsets and modules only to LG Uplus because we believe Korea has the greatest influence around the globe in the area of IoT," Cheng said during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. "We will be able to succeed anywhere in the world if we successfully establish an ecosystem for IoT here. If we do, we can also reach out to global markets alongside our partners in the Korean IoT industry."



On Monday, Huawei and LG Uplus jointly opened the NB-IoT Open Lab at the telecom company's office in Sangam-dong, western Seoul. At the laboratory, partners of companies in the mobile device, services and system integration industries will be able to develop and test their products and services.



Huawei opened the first NB-IoT Open Lab in Newbury, Britain, under cooperation with Vodafone earlier in April. Since then, the company has established six more labs around the globe and is working with more than 30 partners.



"We will continue to support LG Uplus to help them become the leader in the IoT market," Cheng said.



Earlier this month, LG Uplus said it will team up with KT to jointly push for the NB-IoT network service business, against SK Telecom which has adopted the LoRa technology for the same business category.



The nation's third-largest telecom company said it will start establishing its NB-IoT network in the Seoul area in January next year, aiming at launching the service in the first quarter. It plans to complete a nationwide network, based on its existing long-term evolution network and a roaming network chain with KT, within the next year.



Thanks to its wide network coverage, long battery life and low battery consumption, the NB-IoT is expected to be one of the most widely adopted technology standards for the Internet of Small Things (IoST) services, according to the telecom company.



LG Uplus said it will foster an NB-IoT industry ecosystem in Korea by supporting smaller partners to join in the business.



"As we believe that the NB-IoT is the most economic, efficient and universal technology for the IoST industry, we will provide all the support through the open lab with Huawei to speed up commercialization of actual services," LG Uplus Technology Development Division head Lee Sang-min said.



LG Uplus also said it will actively back up its smaller partners in entering global business through the NB-IoT Open Lab.



"Our partners that are providing devices to the Home IoT platform are already drawing great attention from telecom companies in China and Japan and some of them are under detailed discussions," LG Uplus' converged home business senior vice president Ahn Sung-jun said. "This means that Korea's small- and medium-sized enterprises will start supplying products directly to foreign telecom companies. We will support all our partners in the NB-IoT sector the same."
Models pose with Sony's new Alpha series lineups  the A99 II full-frame camera, left, and the A6500 mirrorless  at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Sony Korea



By Lee Min-hyung

Sony has unveiled new Alpha cameras, marking the 10-year anniversary of the flagship lineup.

The company launched the A99 II full-frame camera for professional photographers and A6500 mirrorless camera for daily users, Monday.

"We have brought a paradigm shift in the interchangeable camera lens market in Korea since the launch of the Alpha brand in 2006," Sony Korea CEO Osamu Morimoto said in a press conference. "We will continue to challenge ourselves to bring more innovations in the camera industry."

The local subsidiary of the Tokyo-based electronics giant has been the market leader in the local mirrorless camera industry since it tapped into the market in 2010. The company has a 56 percent market share as of August, up from the 37 percent monthly average for 2012.

When the firm started its Alpha brand in 2006, it had only one entry-level product and 10 lenses. But as of this November, its mirrorless lineup has 13 cameras, with 70 lenses, according to the company.

The A99 II camera features a 42.24-megapixel sensor and five-axis image stabilization system, and comes with a price tag of 3.499 million won ($2,950).

The A6500 mirrorless boasts a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS imaging sensor, allowing users to shoot 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus. The camera costs at 1.698 million won and will be available for Korean users in early December.
Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal unveils a plan for synergy with Samsung Electronics, at Samsung headquarters in southern Seoul, Monday. The Seoul-based firm acquired the U.S.-based auto-systems manufacturer for $8 billion last week.

/ Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Lee Min-hyung

Samsung Electronics has reaffirmed it has "no plans" to become an automaker, dispelling rumors that the Seoul-based technology giant may pose a potential threat to global automobile manufacturers following its high-profile takeover of Harman International.

"We made it very clear (to our automaker clients) that Samsung Electronics, by acquiring Harman, wants to become a primary smart mobility systems provider, rather than a carmaker," Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal told reporters in a press conference, Monday.

"Harman has a very similar future plan with Samsung," he added. "Harman brings a very strong automotive portfolio, whereas Samsung offers expertise in such areas as sensors, displays, fifth-generation (5G) connectivity and mobility. The latest deal comes as we hope to combine these two elements from both firms and make smarter automotive systems."

Young Sohn, president and chief strategy officer at the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center, also denied the reports, adding the company hopes to generate broader synergy both in the business-to-business (B2B) and the business-to-consumer (B2C) sectors following the deal.

"We believe Samsung's expertise in displays and video will help create much better products in collaboration with Harman's audio expertise," he said.

"User experience is getting more important for the future autonomous vehicles industry," he said, adding that both firms expect new products, converged from their respective expertise, will be unveiled in 2018 at the earliest.

"Convergence of technologies is not an overnight thing, so we believe the latest deal should be considered from a long-term viewpoint," he said. "For example, Harman's unique sound systems may contribute to our mobile business."

Last week, Samsung Electronics bought the U.S. auto-systems manufacturer for $8 billion (9.47 trillion won), as part of a group-wide strategy to boost its presence in next-generation growth areas.

The move came about a year after the company established the auto-parts division in December last year, in a bid to take advantage of the infant connected vehicles industry identified as a forthcoming growth engine for global IT firms here and abroad  including Samsung, LG and Google.

"We have searched for a variety of options to boost our presence in the auto-parts industry since establishing the unit late last year," he added. "We then reached an internal consensus that Harman  which has a strong relationship with both consumers and corporate clients  was the partner for us to speed up our plan to tap deeper into the promising industry."

Harman generates more than 65 percent of its revenue from the connected vehicles business. The firm is the market leader in the global auto-systems industry, with most of the global automobile giants as its clients, including BMW, GM, Lexus, Ford and Toyota, according to Harman.

Harman is also famous for its massive research and development in software sector, rather than sticking to being a manufacturing industry player.

The company has some 30,000 employees across the globe, with half of them being engineers. In particular, more than 80 percent of its engineers are working on developing software, according to the company.
Christmas is still a few weeks away but tvN is already in the spirit of giving. After releasing a series of stills for the upcoming series "The Lonely Shining Goblin", tvN has released a new batch of stills, which are sure to captivate all the ladies out there. So get ready because it's time to meet the handsome men of "Goblin."

There is only about 2 weeks left before Goblin starts airing and now, tvN has released more stills for the show and this time, they feature the series' leading men in all their glory, Soompi reports. So ladies, feast your eyes on the stunning Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook and Yook Sungjae.

KIM SHIN

Played by Gong Yoo, Kim Shin is the eponymous goblin and the main protagonist of the series. In his past, he seemed to be quite a formidable warrior but now, he is an immortal goblin tasked with guiding the souls of the recently departed to their rightful destinations. Gong Yoo might look like a cheerful guy in real life but his character in the series is filled with loneliness and mystery. As the goblin, Kim Shin wishes to end his immortal existence and the only way to do that is to find a mortal bride. And as it so happens, Kim Shin is about to meet the said bride. This will be Gong Yoo's return to the small screen after starring in the hit film "Train to Busan."

WANG YEO

Played by Lee Dong Wook (Scent of a Woman, My Girl), Wang Yeo is a grim reaper suffering from amnesia. Looking for answers, he comes across the goblin and the two become unlikely roommates.

YOO DEOK HWA

Played by Yook Sungjae, Yoo Deok Hwa is the chaebol heir who comes from a family that has taken care of the goblin for generations.

According to Allkpop, the staff for the upcoming series had revealed that the three male leads have exhibited great chemistry together just from the rehearsals alone and that the men always had a great time together and had become the center of laughter even with the staff.

In the still cuts, fans could definitely see how gorgeous the men are and each of them presented charm in their own unique ways.
The death of a 12-year-old autistic boy who wandered away from his China Spring area home and was later found facedown in a neighbors backyard pool left residents shaken.

Friends and neighbors identified the boy Monday as Christopher Gardner.

He was reported missing Sunday afternoon from his home in the 1300 block of Bend of the Bosque Road.

Neighbors began to search for him, using four wheelers and golf carts to scour the sparsely populated area.

The McLennan County Sheriffs Office sent its helicopter to assist in the effort to find the boy, whom a 17-year-old girl later found floating in the pool behind her familys home, about three-tenths of a mile from where he lived.

To have something like this happen it's just so sad such a tragedy, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said Monday.

Neighbors performed CPR and Gardner was taken to a Waco hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No autopsy was ordered.

Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home in Mexia is handling arrangements.
This is live and its presently on-going on channels Television. Its the Ondo State Governorship election on the 26th of November, 2016 and the four candidates representing PDP. APC, SDP and AD are meant to be present at a televised debate tonight on Channels Tv, but the candidate for APC, Akeredolu is absent. The debate has however continued with other candidates who honoured the invitation.

Olu Agunloye of SDP says he was the Minister of Power that has produced the largest amount of power (4,539Megawatts) for Nigeria and he is ready to do more in Ondo.

Olusola Oke of AD says Bola Tinubu is not the one sponsoring his campaign

Jimoh Ibrahim says he wants to set up things like Ondo State Food and Coco Processing. He went on to say he is a successfully business man and that will help Ondo State. Please continue



Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Parents of three-year-old Valerie Oruade, in the company of some sympathisers, on Monday staged a protest over an alleged defilement of their daughter.

The protest was carried out at the gates of University of Benin consultancy Nursery and Primary School Ekenwan campus in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.

The aggrieved family members called on the management to produce the staff who allegedly defiled their daughter in school on November 8.

Expressing her grievance, the mother said: My child could not talk because she was so tensed.



She explained that after telling the school authorities, rather than taking immediate action, they told me to protect my childs image and shouldnt allow anybody to know.

A child rights protection activist, Jennifer Ero, who attributed the case to sheer negligence said: We are saying that we send our children to school not to be defiled. If the schools can no longer protect our children it means our children are not safe.

In reaction to the allegations, the spokesperson for the University of Benin, Michael Osasuyi, said the institution was aware of the incident and that the matter was being investigated by the police.

When things like this happen, constituted authorities saddled with the responsibilities of taking charge of all of this, swing into action and that is exactly what the police is doing, he stated.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Sri Lanka has been admitted to the Foundation Council, the Governing Body of the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP). Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha represented Sri Lanka for the first time at the Foundation Council Meeting held last week (15th November 2016) in Geneva. Welcoming Sri Lanka, Professor Francois Heisbourg Chairman of the GCSP Foundation Council expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would actively contribute towards the work of the Council.

Addressing the Foundation Council, Ambassador Aryasinha recalled the long relationship between the GCSP and Sri Lanka and expressed hope that Sri Lankas membership in the Foundation Council would contribute to further enhance such engagement in the future. While thanking the GCSP for the opportunities it has provided for Sri Lankan participants including members of the Mission in Geneva to attend GCSP programmes, Ambassador Aryasinha noted that Sri Lanka is committed to contribute to the furtherance of GCSPs reach, by providing a platform in Colombo for hosting programmes in cooperation with the Government, with a view to reaching out to the Asian region. In this regard he referred to the upcoming International Defence Attache Seminar to be organized by the GCSP in December 2016, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Kotelawala Defence University in Colombo.

Ambassador Christian Dussey, the Director of the GCSP noted that in 2016 the GCSP conducted 40 courses, which involved 720 participants belonging to 109 nationalities, an increase by 15% from last year. This included 15 new courses in 2016. He further noted that the Defence Attache Programme to be held shortly in Colombo is part of the GCSPs outreach programme, and that the Seminar in Colombo would be the first to be held by the GCSP in the South and East Asia region.



The GCSP is an international foundation established in 1995, which focuses on promoting peace, security and stability through education, research and dialogue. The institute offers training courses throughout the year, to government officials, diplomats, military officers, international civil servants and NGO staff in the field of international peace and security. Sri Lanka joins 48 other Member States and the Canton of Geneva in overseeing the work and guiding the strategy of the GCSP.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Geneva

21st November 2016
The price of LITRO gas cylinders would be further reduced in the first week of November in accordance with the

Read more
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

Read more
PRESS RELEASE

APEC Summit: Face the Reality that the Global Center of Gravity Has Fully Shifted to China and Russia

Nov. 20, 2016 (EIRNS)The 21-nation Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, being held in Lima, Peru on Nov. 19-20, is turning into the official international burial of Obamas hated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which was also handed a death sentence inside the U.S. with the election of Donald Trump. In its stead, Chinas Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which China first proposed at the 2014 APEC Summit in Beijing, is likely to be approved at this APEC summit, as a new institution to help bring about a global change in economic paradigm.

Both Chinese and Russian officials have made it quite clear that the FTAAP is not meant to exclude the United States, or anyone else. Obamas TPP, on the other hand, emphatically excluded China, which Xi Jinping blasted in a speech he delivered Nov. 18 to APEC business leaders:

"We need a framework of regional cooperation of equality, joint participation and shared benefits. Arrangements that are closed and exclusive are not the correct option."

In his keynote address to the APEC CEO Summit on Nov. 19, Xi stated that the FTAAP "is a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific." He emphasized that it was directly associated with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative:

"Three years ago, I put forward the Belt and Road initiative. It aims to strengthen connectivity to facilitate free flow of factors of production and create a platform of win-win cooperation and shared benefits for all. Over 100 countries and international organizations have joined or expressed support for the initiative, forming a strong circle of friends brought together by the common vision, mutual trust and friendship. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is up and running. The Silk Road Fund is in place. A number of major projects have been launched, generating huge economic and social benefit."

Xi also stressed the crucial role of science and innovation in solving the global economic crisis, as he had done at the G20 summit earlier this year:

"Second, we will promote innovation-driven development and replace old growth drivers with new ones. We will continue to pursue the strategy of innovation-driven development and deepen R&D structural reform to change outdated mindset and remove institutional obstacles, fully leverage the role of science and technology in economic and social development, and tap into all sources of innovation. We will further pool the efforts of businesses, universities and research institutes to energize business organizations, people, the market and capital to drive innovation-based development. We will encourage new technologies, new industries and new businesses so that progress in innovation will be applied in economic operations and turned into new forces driving growth. Third, we will promote high-standard, two-way opening-up to deliver win-win outcomes."

It is noteworthy that, over recent years, Xi has used the annual APEC summits to launch major global initiatives. In 2014 in Beijing, where he first proposed the FTAAP, he also announced the New Silk Road initiative and urged the U.S. and other nations to join in. He did so at a joint press conference with a hapless U.S. President Barack Obama at his side; Xis offer of course fell on deaf ears. In 2015 in Manila, Xi announced the formation of the AIIB, again announcing that it was open to the entire world. And now in 2016, he is doing the same with the FTAAP.

Indicating clearly which way the wind is blowing, the APEC affairs director at the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, Raul Salazar, announced that Peru, as the host of this years summit, thinks that the FTAAP is necessary.
PRESS RELEASE

Lyndon LaRouche Radio Interview with Roger Stone

Nov. 20, 2016 (EIRNS)Lyndon LaRouche was interviewed on Saturday afternoon by Republican Party strategist Roger Stone on his Stone Cold Truth radio show. Stone began the interview with a long introduction of Mr. LaRouche, noting his presidential campaigns from 1976-2004, and his close relationship with President Ronald Reagan. Stone was the Northeast Coordinator for Ronald Reagans 1980 presidential campaign, and he explained to his listeners that he knew personally that Reagan and LaRouche developed a friendship during that campaign. He quoted Reagan in a personal conversation that, while he did not agree with everything that LaRouche said, he did agree with much of LaRouches policies, and considered him to be a friend.

During the back and forth, LaRouche made clear that the election of Donald Trump was a defeat for those, like President Obama, who were seeking to provoke a world war against Russia. In one exchange about the Bill Clinton presidency, LaRouche made clear that Clinton was targeted by the British Queen and was under major attack when he capitulated to the repeal of Glass-Steagall, and that Hillary Clinton contributed to the demise of the Clinton presidency. Stone agreed with that assessment.

Stone showed tremendous respect for Mr. LaRouche throughout the interview, and delighted in the fact that some people on Wall Street will go berserk over the fact that LaRouche appeared on Stones radio show. He asked, towards the end of the interview, for Mr. LaRouche to say something about the political frame up to silence him, and LaRouche pinned the railroad prosecutions on President George H.W. Bush, to which Stone, the author of a recent book on the Bush crime family, fully agreed.

LaRouche repeated that the Trump victory represented a global defeat for those provoking war against Russia, and that, while it is not yet known what Trump will accomplish in office, the halt of the war drive is a major contribution in itself. Stone made clear that one of the issues that he is certain that Trump will pursue is the reinstatement of Glass-Steagall, a policy that Stone noted has been promoted by Lyndon LaRouche for a long time.

At one point, Stone noted that he has been a close friend and collaborator of Donald Trump since the 1980 Reagan campaign, when Trump and his father, Fred Trump, were early strong political and financial backers of Reagan.
Bodies in Motion  A Review of George Simians Photography Workshop featuring dancers from the San Pedro City Ballet School

Last December I wrote an Article for LA Splash Magazine about Misty Copeland teaching a Master Ballet Class in San Pedro, California, featuring students from the San Pedro Ballet School. That is where I met Cindy Bradley who, along with her husband Patrick, owns the San Pedro Ballet School.

Shooting Misty was one of the highlights of 2015, and garnered many wonderful responses to the photos I shot that day. Most treasured is a voice mail I received from Irvin Vodovoz, Cindy Bradleys father, whom I met and talked with about Misty on the day of the Master Class. Upon seeing the photos of Misty in my Article Mr. Vodovoz called me and left a voice mail which I have saved, and treasure to this day.

Meeting Cindy Bradley, and shooting Misty Copeland, along with all of the Ballet students taking Mistys class prompted me to tell Cindy about my friend George Simian, an amazing photographer, who also teaches and host workshops. I asked Cindy if she would be interested in having George do a workshop at the San Pedro Ballet School, with the students and dancers from the school. Cindy was agreeable and I put her in touch with George. It took almost a year, to get compatible schedules and work out the details, and finally the first Bodies in Motion, Ballet Workshop was held on November 13, 2016, at the San Pedro Ballet School, in San Pedro, California. I wanted to be a part of this historic first time event.

Ive been a photographer a long time and have been fortunate to have worked and studied with some of the greats. Men like Peter Gowland, Mario Casilli, Laszlo Willinger, and Ken Churnish. I consider George Simian to be a friend, and my modern day mentor. Whether it be painting, writing, or photography I always enjoy taking workshops and classes from pros whose work I admire. In todays world of digital photography things change every day. I met George Simian years ago, when I signed up for my first digital class at Samys Camera in Los Angeles. Ive been buying my cameras and gear at Samys Camera, quite literally for decades.

George Simian is recognized as one of the best photo instructors in the United States. Thats based on a survey by Photo District News, which rated George in the top 13! What I find so valuable is Georges tireless energy. The `Ballet Workshop at the San Pedro Ballet School, is actually the first workshop Ive taken with George in a few years. Nevertheless, George is always very generous with his knowledge and responds promptly, kindly, and in detail whenever I sent his an email asking any sort of question. George's boundless knowledge is quite amazing.

George is one of those rare people who excels in his craft professionally, and who has a special ability to translate his knowledge and communicate it effectively to students of every level of experience. George is a regular instructor at Samys Education, where he teaches a continuing range of workshops including Bodies in Motion workshops where students will learn to capture the action at great locations like the Santa Monica Trapeze School, and now the San Pedro Ballet School. Some of Georges other workshops include; `Pro Lighting Fundamentals, `Location Lighting, along with classes about `Photographing Your Children.

George Simian is a Los Angeles based Commercial Photographer with over 25 years experience. George is an educator who additionally teaches ongoing classes at UCLA Extension, as well as for the MAC Group, Phase One, and several others. When you take a George Simian workshop, be prepared for non-stop learning. There is a lot packed into a day where George always encourages questions and interaction. Students need to know the basics, for these are not beginning classes. Nevertheless George will politely answer all the `basic' questions from students who do not know how to operate their cameras or equipment.

I arrived at the class early and watched along the sidelines, as George and his assistants unpacked, and set up all the gear for the workshop that day. Four sets of strobe packs, heads, and all the accessories needed. A large Black background and Soft Boxes were erected. It is an incredible amount of work to do Lighting and Set-up for a whole group of photographers.

The Bodies in Motion classes are usually set up to shoot in groups consisting of three or four photographers in each group. Typically there are three different setups so that each group is constantly shooting a new setup with a new subject. Within each group, one person will shoot, while the others assist the photographer with varying task.

The Ballet Workshop was a little different and more complex. With One setup, four photographers shooting with strobes, and another group shooting unconnected to learn `Strobe-O-Scopic effects.

Students are constantly shooting, working, and learning every minute there. A great camaraderie develops because everyone is working towards the same goal of learning to capture and how to create better quality images. Its great fun, and George keeps the classes well on- Pointe. Critique of your work, methods, and results occur all through the day. I value Georges critique because it is always intended to make the work better, to teach how to get better results. Georges feedback is honest, spot on, and comes from years of successfully navigating this ever changing field as a professional.

There is homework, as Students must provide RAW or retouched images to George within a week after the class so that George can supply the dancers (in this case) with professionally edited and retouched images for their time during the class.

The wonderful dancers from the San Pedro Ballet School, who participated in this first Bodies in Motion Ballet Workshop were; Amie Kilgore (blue dress), Tracy Jones (partnered Juan), Enrique Anaya (Orange), Juan Wing, Helena Ghekiere (hair in bun black leo), Lauren Ortega (second girl in blue dress), Danielle Ciaramitaro (black tutu).

San Pedro City Ballet (SPCB) was established in 1994 by nationally recognized dancers and teachers, Cynthia and Patrick David Bradley, as a not-for-profit dance company serving greater Los Angeles. It is home to American Ballet Theatre superstar Misty Copeland, who was discovered by the Bradleys at age 13. The company performs The Nutcracker annually at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, as well as produces original modern works for a variety of venues throughout Southern California. In addition, San Pedro City Ballet, through its outreach programs, holds performance workshops throughout the city of Los Angeles. Thousands of residents see the company perform each year.

The Mission of the San Pedro City Ballet is to bring Ballet to the entire Los Angeles Community. The Bradleys work tirelessly towards this end. Cindy, an accomplished Ballerina herself, began her studies at the school of the Atlanta Ballet Company. Later she studied with New York City Ballets School of American Ballet. She joined the Virginia Ballet Company, under the direction of Oleg Tupine; the Louisville Ballet Company, under the direction of Richard Munro; the San Diego Ballet Company, under the direction of Keith Martin; and the North San Diego County Ballet, under the direction of Victor Moreno. As well as choreographing many original works, she has staged The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Swan Lake. Cindy Bradley co-founded Jetsetter Productions in 2005 and created Shag With a Twist with world-renowned artist Josh Agle, aka Shag. The dance musical premiered at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and won an ovation award for best costume design, was nominated for eight Lester Horton Awards and had an extended run in Las Vegas in 2007.

San Pedro Ballet School offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and gymnastics for dancers of all ages (3 yrs.-adult). In addition, exercise classes such as yoga and Zumba are offered for adults.

Students age three and up are invited to participate in the San Pedro City Ballets annual production of The Nutcracker. All students have the opportunity to perform in the schools annual summer recital every June. This exciting production features costumes, music, and professional lighting, and is held at the historic Warner Grande Theater in San Pedro. Most rehearsals are held during regular classes (starting at the intermediate level, dancers may need to attend additional rehearsals).

The Bodies in Motion Ballet Workshop was inspired with energetic creativity by George Simian, Cindy Bradley, and all of the superb dancers from the San Pedro Ballet School. It was a great event to participate in and Im proud to have been a small part of. Thanks George and Cindy.  Lets do it again ! If you have a desire to create as a photographer, or as a dancer, you can do no better than to learn from George Simian and Cindy Bradley. Tell them Greg Autry sent you.

Watch for my upcoming Articles here in LA Splash Magazine, next, about the Dickens Fair. The Dickens Fair is a Holiday tradition in San Francisco, beginning November 19th, and not to be missed.

* All Images Copyrighted with ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Photography by Greg Autry*

Additional photos by George Simian and Beata Bernina*
Most of the press was preoccupied last week with a New York theater audiences spontaneous decision to tell Vice President-elect Mike Pence what it thought of his record as a crusader against womens reproductive and LGBT rights. But the real news about the incoming administration was being made in court.

Thats where lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump reached a $25-million settlement of three lawsuits over Trump University. Trump depicted the settlement on Twitter as a victory.

I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country, he wrote Saturday morning.

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More than 5,000 people across the country who paid Donald Trump $40 million to teach them his hard sell tactics got a hard lesson in bait-and-switch.  New York Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman

New York Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman, who brought one of the lawsuits, would disagree that the settlement is a small fraction of the potential award. New York estimated that Trump University defrauded thousands of customers of an estimated total $40 million, and that Trump may personally have pocketed $5 million in profit. So the settlement comes to 62.5% of the total collected in the alleged scam and five times Trumps own alleged take. Nuisance lawsuits typically are settled for small potatoes, but a settlement of nearly two-thirds of the claim doesnt fit into that category. Its a sign that Trump faced genuine liability in these cases.

Schneiderman, in a statement announcing the deal, called it a stunning reversal by Trump, who had fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Phony is right; one pillar of Schneidermans lawsuit was that Trump had not even bothered to get his university licensed by New York state as a bona fide educational institution. More than 5,000 people across the country who paid Donald Trump $40 million to teach them his hard sell tactics got a hard lesson in bait-and-switch, Schneiderman said when he filed his lawsuit in August 2013.

It is true, as Trump asserts, that the settlement was designed to put the Trump University case behind him. The settlement doesnt include an admission of guilt. But the evidence assembled by Schneiderman and plaintiffs who brought two class-action lawsuits in California federal court painted a compelling picture.

Before it all vanishes into our collective memory hole, we should take note of how the Trump University affair reflects on how Trump conducted his presidential campaign and what it tells us about whether to believe anything he says going forward.

Its also proper to note, as does legal scholar Christopher Peterson of the University of Utah, that a finding against Trump on fraud or racketeering charges at trial might very well expose him to the risk of impeachment.

Trump University, it will be recalled, was pitched to the unwary as an opportunity to learn the Trump process for investing in todays once-in-a-lifetime real estate market from a cadre of Trumps hand-picked instructors. Schneiderman alleged that this was false. Of the instructors, not a single one was handpicked by Donald Trump. Some had little real-estate experience at all, and some actually had gone bankrupt in the business.

What they had been trained to do was sell, sell, sell, according to a Trump University playbook made public via court proceedings. What they were selling was an array of increasingly expensive generic seminars  topping out at $35,000  developed not by Trump but by a company specializing in motivational speakers and seminars and timeshare rental companies.

The playbook was heavily devoted to marketing the program, not teaching the particulars of the Trump Way. Employees were instructed in hard-sell methods and equipped with pre-masticated rebuttals of their potential customers objections. Let one say, I need to think about it, and the answer would be, Youve already been thinking about this too long Its time to commit to yourself and learn the TRUMP way to invest.

A former sales manager testified that he was reprimanded for advising a prospect couple against signing up for the $35,000 elite program, because they would have to use the husbands disability income and drain equity in their apartment. Another salesman completed the sale instead.

Trump himself testified that he reviewed all the marketing materials  indeed, that was the basis of a ruling in August by San Diego Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel rejecting Trumps motion for summary judgment against the class-action plaintiffs. There was enough evidence that Trump personally participated in the operation or management of the enterprise, Curiel ruled, to bring a racketeering charge against him before a jury.

As a candidate, Trump made Curiel, an Indiana-born jurist of Mexican descent, into a punching bag for his anti-immigrant campaign plank, claiming the judge had been unfair to him even though Curiel had been sedulously fair. As the Nov. 28 trial date for one of the lawsuits drew near, his lawyers asked the judge to exclude all of his intemperate comments about the case and the judge from the trial, on grounds that they were merely irrelevant campaign persiflage. He also pledged not to settle.

Much more was at stake in the Trump University lawsuits than inconvenience. Utahs Peterson observes that offenses as serious as fraud and racketeering, even if committed before a presidents assumption of office and aired in civil, not criminal, court, might qualify among the high crimes and misdemeanors for which the Constitution reserves impeachment.

The most plain reading of the phrase, he concludes, is simply that impeachable behavior is only that which would subject an ordinary person to criminal indictment and prosecution. But theres no clear legal hurdle that would bar impeachment of Trump simply because the cases arose in civil court.

So this was no trivial threat, and the settlement not an effort merely to dodge a nuisance. The Trump University cases cast a major shadow over his presidency. Now that theyre settled, however, theres no reason to forget them. Theyve already told us much about Trump that we should remember, every time he makes us another promise.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.
As the recovery from the Great Recession continues, job growth is solid and the labor force is growing at close to its fastest pace since 2000 because more unemployed workers are coming off the sidelines.

Still, the percentage of working-age Americans in the labor force remains stuck near its lowest level since the late 1970s. Although retiring baby boomers are the main reason, theres another troubling factor that experts predict wont be solved by stronger economic growth.

Too many men in their prime dont have a job and arent even looking for one. Experts trying to figure out the reasons are probing the roles of criminal background checks, painkillers and even video games.

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In all, about 7 million men ages 25 to 54 are neither employed nor available for work, putting them outside the labor force. Their growing numbers worry and puzzle economists.

A little more than half of the men reported they were ill or disabled, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 14% are going to school. And about 20% said they were either retired or handling home responsibilities.

Economists said increased globalization and the decline in factory jobs has played a major role in pushing prime-aged men, particularly those with less education, out of the workforce. But that doesnt explain why the problem is worse in the U.S. than in most other economically advanced nations.

Researchers have pointed to some other potential explanations. Prime-age American men outside the labor force are spending more time playing video games, making leisure time more enjoyable. About half are in so much pain from physical maladies that they take daily medication for it, making holding a job difficult.

And in a problem drawing more attention from economists, the nations high incarceration rate has left many men with felony convictions that raise red flags during employer background checks.

While the reasons may be up for debate, having so many men failing to contribute has troubling implications for the economy.

Its terrible. Theres absolutely nothing good that comes out of it, said Nicholas Eberstadt, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute think tank. It is certainly near the center of so much that is sad and wrong about the way our society and our economy are performing today.

The problem has been building for a long time.

The percentage of prime-aged men in the U.S. workforce  those either with a job or actively looking for one  peaked at 97.9% in 1954. But since the mid-1960s, the labor force participation rate for those men has steadily declined. The rate has varied during economic booms and busts, but generally has been on a downward trend.

The rate bottomed out at 88% in 2014 and has been hovering near there ever since. The figure was 88.6% in October.

The labor force participation rate for women rose sharply from the mid-1960s through the 1980s as it became more socially acceptable for them to work. But the rate for women has fallen off in recent years, too, to 56.8% in October. The overall participation rate for men and women over 16 years old was 62.8% last month.

The Obama administration was concerned enough about the trend and its implications that the White House Council of Economic Advisors issued a 47-page report this summer examining the reasons for the decline and policies that could help address it. Eberstadt wrote a book on the subject, Men Without Work, Americas Invisible Crisis, that was published in September. And economists have been studying the phenomenon.

Alan Krueger, a Princeton economist, published a paper last month titled Where Have All the Workers Gone? that said addressing the decades-long slide in labor force participation by prime age men should be a national priority.

Were not fully utilizing the human resources we have and that means the economy is not performing as well as it could be, Krueger said in an interview. That means our overall standard of living is lower because output is lower than it can be.

Krueger, who chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisors from 2011 to 2013, added to the debate over the issue by conducting a survey that found that 47% of prime-aged men who are out of the workforce said they took pain medication the previous day. Nearly two-thirds of those reported that they took prescription painkillers.

When asked if pain prevented them from working at a full-time job, 40% of prime-aged men out of the workforce said yes, Krueger found.

He said he hasnt been able to determine if the pain problems are a cause or an effect for the men being out of the workforce.

I suspect the arrows go in both directions, Krueger said. Some had severe disabilities that caused them to withdraw [from the workforce] and others became despondent and perhaps obese from their lifestyles which caused disability problems.

Research this year by Kruegers Princeton colleague, economist Mark Aguiar, pointed to another potential reason  the lure of video games.

Video games have become more elaborate and sophisticated, while online gaming has expanded the universe of people to play against.

The life of these nonworking, lower-skilled young men looks like what my son wishes his life was like now: not in school, not at work, and lots of video games.  Erik Hurst, University of Chicago economist

Men ages 21-30 who were not in the workforce reported spending an average of 6.7 hours a week playing video games from 2012 to 2015, compared with just 3.6 hours from 2000 to 2007.

The figures are higher for men in that age group with less than a college education. Erik Hurst, an economist at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business, found that those men spent an average of two hours a day on video games in 2014, with 10% of them reporting playing for six hours a day.

About seven in 10 lower-skilled men in their 20s without a job lived with a parent or close relative, according to his research. But despite that, they reported being happier on average than they were in the early 2000s.

The life of these nonworking, lower-skilled young men looks like what my son wishes his life was like now: not in school, not at work, and lots of video games, Hurst wrote recently.

Eberstadt said the most scandalously ignored reason why so many prime-aged men are not in the workforce is the nations high incarceration rate. As many as 20 million Americans, most of them men, have a felony record. That could help explain why the labor force problem is worse here than in other advanced economies, he said.

The U.S. has the worlds second-highest prison population rate  698 prisoners for every 100,000 people, according to the Institute for Criminal Policy Research. People in prison are not counted in any way in U.S. labor statistics, which look only at the civilian non-institutionalized population.

Is there discrimination against felons and ex-cons? Do they lose their skills in jail? Eberstadt said. This is a huge missing piece of the puzzle.

Joel Valdez, 32, of Los Angeles, was paroled in June from Californias Chuckawalla Valley State Prison after more than 15 years behind bars for his conviction on two counts of assault with a firearm. Hes been working at a voter-engagement phone bank that employs mostly former inmates and is operated by LA Voice, a faith-based community organization. But its been difficult to find work with a felony record and, even though he earned a high-school equivalency degree in prison, he didnt get much training.

I know that, more often than not, if Im not working in a warehouse or getting my foot in the door through labor jobs or having family friends, that it would be super hard to get a job because of my background, Valdez said. Some people are sketchy about hiring people with that background. Its tough.

A Los Angeles City Council committee approved an ordinance in September that would prevent most employers from asking about a job applicants criminal history until after a conditional offer has been made.

Reforming the criminal justice system, including improving reentry into the workforce for the formerly incarcerated, is among the ways to get more prime-aged men back into the workforce, according to the White House report.

Its other recommendations included changing the tax code to expand work incentives and creating more demand for workers through funding for infrastructure upgrades.

Eberstadt said that overhauling disability programs also could help push more prime-aged men back into the workforce by removing a key source of income. Expanding health insurance coverage also could address the problem of out-of-work men taking painkillers.

If men have preventative care and treat problems earlier on it could prevent them from causing the kinds of chronic pain that seems to be a barrier to work for so many people, Krueger said.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter

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UPDATES:

11:50 a.m.: This article was updated to note that Erik Hurst is an economist at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

This article originally was published at 5 a.m.
The first of the Audigier collection, a number of homes owned by late fashion designer and marketer Christian Audigier, who died last year at 57, has sold for $1.657 million.

The Spanish-style house, built in 1924, is full of character and thoughtful details such as slightly rolled ceilings, contemporary fixtures and walls of built-ins. A front gate has decorative wrought ironwork displaying Audigiers initials.

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Within more than 2,100 square feet of white-walled space is a formal living room, a dining room and an updated kitchen. The master suite  one of four bedrooms and 3.75 bathrooms  has French doors that open to the swimming pool.

Outside, a patio area and a cabana with a changing room sit adjacent to the pool. Mature landscaping and palms fill out the backyard.

Audigier bought the house six years ago for $1.35 million, records show. It was previously offered for lease at $7,550 a month.

Rory Posin and Kristian Bonk of Results Real Estate Group, an affiliate of Re/Max Estate Properties, were the listing agents. Nancy Osborne of Halton Pardee and Partners represented the buyer.

Audigier used his connections with celebrities to help popularize brands such as Von Dutch and Ed Hardy. In 2011, he sold the Ed Hardy label for $62 million.

neal.leitereg@latimes.com

Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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It all began a little more than 10 years ago in a basement in Westwood: a small army of young employees in T-shirts and shorts huddled over their laptops, determined to launch a news site that would shake up the world of conservative media.

At first, the site started by Andrew Breitbart was a simple news aggregation service. But in a few short years it evolved into an idiosyncratic voice combining original reporting, incendiary commentary and outright trolling, in keeping with the rambunctious spirit of its founder, who died in 2012.

As its popularity grew, many condemned its rhetoric as extremist, xenophobic, sexist and a platform for hate speech  accusations its leaders have denied. Others laughed it off as a journalistic lightweight catering to a far-right fringe known as the alt-right.

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No ones laughing anymore. As Donald Trump prepares to take office as president, the Breitbart News Network stands poised to become one of the most influential conservative media companies in the country. Stephen K. Bannon, the sites controversial executive chairman, was a key figure in Trumps campaign and has been named chief White House strategist.

For Breitbart, this could mean a direct line to the West Wing, a level of media access unprecedented in modern times, according to experts. While some believe this will turn the outlet into an extension of the Trump administration, leaders at Breitbart see it as an opportunity that will allow them to compete not only with conservative rivals like Fox News, but the entire media firmament, which it sees as dishonest about its left-leaning bias.

As a matter of policy, Breitbart doesnt discuss its inner workings and finances. It doesnt have digital subscriptions and makes most of its money selling advertising. Now that it has become a household name and a political lightning rod, mostly for its pro-Trump coverage leading up to the election, there is intense curiosity about who exactly these bad boys (and girls) of the right are: How does Breitbart make money? What is its media strategy? And will the firestorm over Bannon hinder its business ambitions?

In a series of interviews, leaders sounded a confident and defiantly unapologetic note. As a company, it is aiming for no less than the world.

The goal is to become a global news network, said Larry Solov, the companys president and chief executive officer.

L.A. might seem to be an unlikely home to such an outspokenly conservative publication, given the citys heavily liberal leanings. But both the founder and CEO of Breitbart grew up together in Brentwood (they were both adopted). Solov was persuaded to join the company during a trip to Israel they took together as adults.

He said Breitbart is looking to expand into TV, though not necessarily its own cable network, and will ramp up its far-flung editorial team, which consists of about 100 people.

They will focus heavily on covering the new administration.

We think we are going to be the best place for coverage of Trump, said Solov, who earned a law degree from UCLA.

The company has dismissed criticism that it is too closely aligned with the president-elect, arguing that Trumps platform fits with its core beliefs  nationalism (but not white nationalism), strong borders and jobs  and that it has never tried to hide its biases.

We dont believe theres such a thing as an unbiased media source, Solov said. We think people who read us should know what our viewpoint is and values are and can judge us accordingly. You dont have to like it or agree with it.

He described Breitbart News as an anti-establishment outlet for our anti-establishment times, delivered in a signature style that is a little swagger, a little take-no-prisoners, a little Fight Club. It can be biting at times. And it can be fun and funny.

Breitbart News staff members congregate in the conference room of the companys L.A. office. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

But many consider the sites trollish style to be downright offensive. Stories that have generated heat include an opinion piece about the Confederate flag titled Hoist it High and Proud; one about the European refugee crisis titled Political Correctness Protects Muslim Rape Culture; and numerous articles on crimes committed by immigrants in the country illegally.

Theyre a really well-funded blog that seems to favor conspiracy theories, said Lee Wilkins, a professor who teaches media ethics at Wayne State University and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I dont condemn them because they do bad journalism. I dont think they do journalism at all.

Breitbart has defended its more fiery articles as constitutionally protected polemics designed to trigger overly sensitive liberals  or snowflakes in Breitbart parlance. They point out that they have also produced real reported pieces  with a conservative world view  including stories on the California drought and border security from its Texas bureau.

The company operates out of a nondescript office building on the Westside. To avoid unwanted public attention, it keeps a low physical profile: There is no name or sign on the door to indicate that Breitbart is a tenant. A giant photographic portrait of Andrew Breitbart greets visitors at the entrance.

A recent visit showed that Breitbart retains its startup flavor, with mostly young reporters typing away on laptops. The door to the main conference room is emblazoned with the hashtag #War  a mantra Breitbart instilled in his team. The company even has a mascot: the honey badger, the carnivore and YouTube star known for its tenacious attitude and thick skin  qualities that the newsroom has adopted as its own.

Most of its staff is spread around the country, as well as in London and Jerusalem. Among Breitbarts immediate goals is to expand into France and Germany to capitalize on growing nationalist sentiments stemming from Europes immigration crisis and growing doubts about the European Union.

Im already interviewing people there, said Alexander Marlow, the sites editor in chief. Both of them have big elections that are looking similar to Brexit and the rise of Trump in the U.S., in which you have a populist nationalist movement gaining credibility.

France will hold its presidential elections next year, with Marine Le Pen, the controversial head of the countrys far-right National Front party, having already declared her candidacy. Germany will hold national elections next year.

Marlow was a 21-year-old student at UC Berkeley when Andrew Breitbart hired him as his first employee. Now 30, the L.A. native, who attended Harvard Westlake, became editor in chief in 2013 and is now based mostly out of Washington, D.C.

He said one of Breitbarts objectives is to court millennial conservatives, a demographic that he feels Fox News and other conservative outlets overlook.

I think the conservative media has been derelict, he said. Im not trying to trash talk them when I say this, but they have done nothing to cultivate young people.

Marlow sees an opportunity to lure Trump supporters put off by Fox News ambivalent take on the Republican candidate, since so much of their audience feels betrayed by how they covered this presidential race.

As a result, he said, Breitbart is experiencing a surge in readership. The site drew 19.2 million unique visitors in October, up nearly 50% from 12.9 million visitors in the same month last year, according to data from ComScore.

Breitbart easily beat other conservative news sites The Daily Caller and The Blaze, whose October unique visitors were 10.2 million and 5.8 million, respectively.

Breitbarts own metrics paint an even more robust picture. It estimates it has 1.8 billion page views so far this year, an increase from about 1 billion views for all of 2015.

Those figures still pale in comparison to mainstream sites like CNN and Fox News, which see unique visitor traffic that is triple that amount or more. But Breitbart said it is confident it will continue to grow its readership even after the election bump.

Traffic is vital to Breitbart because like many news sites, it supports itself mostly with advertising revenue, said Solov. He said Breitbart works with a number of networks to produce ads on its articles and video clips. He said the company employs a sales manager who oversees a staff of three.

Breitbart also generates revenue from its online store  you can buy a tank top with the logo Border Wall Construction Co.  but it declined to elaborate.

It is rumored that hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer has been a major backer of Breitbart. Mercer, who couldnt be reached for comment, was a major supporter of Trumps campaign, and his daughter, Rebekah, has been a part of the president-elects transition team.

Experts say there is an increasing opacity in media ownership and funding as private equity buys up more news organizations.

If the ownership is concealed, thats a legitimate area of concern, said Edward Wasserman, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley.

At the same time, the mainstream Washington media are hardly a paragon of virtue.

Its an elite closed loop, said Tom Bivins, a professor who teaches media ethics at the University of Oregon. Reporters are often fed information anonymously from the White House and politicians.

Breitbarts closeness to Trump caused a major schism at Breitbart this year, when editor at large Ben Shapiro resigned, claiming that Bannon had betrayed Andrew Breitbarts legacy by cozying up to the Republican candidate.

Bannons appointment to the White House has been harshly criticized by members of both parties who have latched on to some of Breitbart News more outlandish headlines to denounce him as an anti-Semite and the site itself as white nationalist.

Bannon, who is on a leave of absence from the company, wasnt available for comment; but Breitbart leaders have gone on the counteroffensive, calling the attacks false and threatening a lawsuit against a major media company, which it has not identified.

We think we were influential in the election and people are resentful of it, said Solov, noting that he is Jewish, as was Breitbart.

We are a nationalist website. How the word white got tacked on is part of a coordinated media smear campaign, said Marlow. We like that we have a border  we dont want to cede our country to unelected global bureaucrats. It has nothing to do with skin tone.

Breitbart employs a number of minorities and women in prominent editorial positions. In a recent article, its London editor in chief Raheem Kassam praised Bannon for hiring a brown guy from a Muslim family to run his London operation.

The company has also been accused of being part of the alt-right  the informal political cohort often described as militantly conservative  after Bannon was quoted in Mother Jones saying Breitbart was a platform for the movement.

But company leaders deny they are actually part of the alt-right. We have done a number of articles on the alt-right, but that doesnt make us alt-right, Solov said.

Breitbart News said that while it maintains a pro-Trump stance, it wont shy away from criticizing the future president if he deviates from his platform.

Our readers expect us to be tough on him and honor his commitments to voters, said Joel Pollak, senior editor at large and in-house counsel at Breitbart.If were not tough on Trump on living up to his promises, then our readership will be tough on us.

david.ng@latimes.com

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT
It isnt easy being the greatest orchestra in the world. Whether or not the Berlin Philharmonic really is that is not the issue so much as the expectation that it be the best.

The arguments are endless about the orchestras sound, refinement, depth and so on. For my part, I would have been made distinctly uncomfortable by playing any better than what I heard from the Berlin Philharmonic in programs at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday night and at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Sunday afternoon. This was part of the last North American tour that conductor Simon Rattle will make with the orchestra. His contract expires in 2018, 16 years after becoming music director. (Next fall he returns to his native Britain to take over the London Symphony Orchestra.)

Rattle got everything he asked for in these performances, and he asked for a lot, from the extremes of ferocity to those of finesse. The orchestra is renowned for its discipline. Rattle also expects the opposite  a display of spontaneity and personality from his players that can bring with it a harshness of attack and climaxes that become overwhelming. Rattle is exuberantly in your face, and his players faces, in ways his most recent Berlin predecessors, the imperial Herbert von Karajan (who conducted with his eyes closed) and the more analytical Claudio Abbado, never were.

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Rattle did not exactly stretch the repertory, here as he periodically has in Berlin. (This year his artist in residence is the American composer John Adams.) But the weekend programs remained relatively unconventional. At Disney, in a concert sponsored by the Los Angeles Philharmonic (of which Rattle was once principal guest conductor), Rattle paid tribute to Pierre Boulez, the groundbreaking French composer and conductor who died this year.

Boulez had a long association with the Berlin Philharmonic, first conducting the orchestra in 1961, and with the city. In March, Berlin will open the Pierre Boulez Saal, a concert hall designed by Frank Gehry with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota as part of Daniel Barenboims program for training Israeli and Arab musicians together.

In Gehry and Toyotas Disney Hall (which so happens to have been inspired by the Berlin Philharmonics vineyard-shaped Philharmonie), Rattle began with a fluid performance of Boulezs Eclat. The 10-minute piece for 15 musicians was commissioned by the Monday Evening Concerts in Los Angeles for the opening of LACMA, and the 1965 premiere was led by the composer on his 40th birthday. Boulez also conducted it several times with members of the L.A. Phil.

Rattles crew was starry. The orchestras principal flutist, Emmanuel Pahud, is a well-known soloist. The pianist was Majella Stockhausen, the daughter of composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Eclat is a study in bright sonorities, generated principally by the piano and seconded by other plucked or struck instruments, while the winds, brass and strings concern themselves with the logic of these sonorities. Boulezs score is also an exercise in freedom and rigidity, with some passages left to the conductor to instigate on the spot, and that served as an excellent example of how Rattle has pressed this methodical orchestra outside its comfort zone.

Mahlers Seventh Symphony, a work close to Boulezs heart with an eerie sound world connected to Boulezs, followed immediately on the heels of Eclat. But Rattle is a conductor nothing like the more emotionally spartan Boulez, and this Mahler Seventh was effusive in the extreme.

The first movement had an epic somberness. The two Night Music movements were delicate and suave in ways that may be unique to the Berliners. Rattle emphasized the bizarre in the central Scherzo, pulling the strings and brass as though they were sonic taffy. All stops came out for the Finales, the Berliners becoming like a band of exhilarated revolutionaries cutting loose. The brass, which could be lyrically mellow earlier on (especially the creamy tenor horn solos), went wild.

For the orchestras first appearance in Segerstrom, Rattle put together Schoenbergs Five Pieces for Orchestra, Weberns Six Pieces for Orchestra and Bergs Three Pieces for Orchestra into what he called a snack shop of Vienna before the First World War. All these pieces are reactions in one way or another to Mahler, each composer taking something different from Mahlers harmonic language, use of instrumental colors or mix of Modernism and nostalgia. Each is meant to advance music into the representative art form for the most intellectually and artistically progressive, yet simultaneously tradition-bound, capital of its time.

Played together as a kind of 14-part suite, the various aspects of Schoenberg experimenting with form, Webern with succinctness and Berg with fractured grandeur (Rattle described this to the audience as Mahlers Sixth put through a trash compactor) could be a bit much. But the gorgeousness of Schoenbergs Farben, a study in instrumental colors that presaged a later avant-garde, will not be forgotten.

Nor will the merciless savagery of Bergs March, with its giant hammer hitting a wood resonator and shaking the rafters. In the early 1990s, Segerstroms acoustician, the late Russell Johnson, worked on a new hall in Birmingham, England, for Rattle when he was music director of the citys orchestra. This understanding of the space may have given Rattle permission to daringly push the sound to just this side of the threshold of pain, a visceral evocation of the Austrian Empire at the end of its tether.

Brahms Second Symphony in the second half put the extreme anxieties of these Second Viennese School composers in striking perspective. Schoenberg called Brahms a progressive, and Rattle sought out underlying implications in overly familiar music of impulsive rebellion. The last movement created an astonishingly similar strength as the end of Mahlers Seventh.

As a custodian of the Berlin character and quality, Rattle has done the essential job. As mover and shaker, Rattle has made what is probably still the worlds greatest orchestra also the Old Worlds most important one. But will it last? It remains an open question what will happen with Rattles enigmatic successor, the reclusive Kirill Petrenko.

mark.swed@latimes.com

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Donald Trump demanded an apology from the Hamilton cast, but hes going to have to wait for it  indefinitely.

On Monday, Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon took to CBS This Morning to discuss the events that occurred Friday night at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, which the president-elect called rude and terrible behavior toward Mike Pence.

Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr in the Broadway production, called out to the vice-president elect at curtain call, imploring him to stop before reading a prepared speech by the Hamilton creatives including Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail and producer Jeffrey Seller.

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While Pence said he was not offended by the remarks, Trump has called on the cast to apologize for this harassment.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

But according to Dixon, theres nothing to apologize for.

Conversation is not harassment, said Dixon. I know some people have said that a one-sided conversation, or a lecture, is not conversation, but it was the beginnings of a conversation I hope that we can continue to have.

Dixon said Seller asked him to speak on behalf of the Hamilton team about an hour and a half before curtain. He was happy to do so, noting that the words were a message of love and unity.

Art is meant to bring people together. Its meant to raise consciousness, said Dixon.

Dixon said he appreciated that Pence stayed to listen to their message and invited Pence to continue the conversation with the Hamilton crew. He also said Trump was welcome to see the Broadway hit.

I think its important for everybody to see a show like ours, Dixon said.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown

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There is a whole lot of ruminating going on about art in the age of Donald Trump. Plus, weve got art and Leonard Cohen, art and Alec Baldwin, a hot pink pigment and Anish Kapoor and how Germany is saving a culturally significant piece of architecture for Los Angeles. Heres the Roundup:

 The day Donald Trump won, as seen by Magnum photographers. Magnum Photos

 The American Institute of Architects found itself embroiled in controversy over a conciliatory open letter (for which it later apologized) about the president-elect. Kriston Capps examines the controversy, while Brentin Mock looks at the reaction of black architects. Citylab, Citylab

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 The Red Dot Art Fair in Miami has rescinded an invite to T.Rutt, a collective who created an anti-Trump art project made out of an old campaign bus. Hyperallergic, The Stranger

 Contending with the era of Trump: Literary critic David Ulin turns to Vaclav Havel, while novelist and photography critic Teju Cole goes with Eugene Ionesco. LitHub, New York Times

 In related news: Critic Jorg Colberg writes about photography  and its institutions in the age of Trump, while Christian Viveros-Faune looks at the culture wars that may be about to descend on us. Conscientious, Artnet

 And, more concretely, the possible effects of Trumps tax plan on arts workers. Art F City

 An ancient ziggurat at Nimrud, in Iraq, has reportedly been bulldozed by Islamic State militants. The Art Newspaper, Hyperallergic

A picture taken last week shows destruction in the ancient ruins of Nimrud, in Iraq. (Safin Hamed / AFP/Getty Images )

 President Obama names the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Freedom. Among the recipients: Architect Frank Gehry and artist Maya Lin join a group that includes Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks and Vin Scully. The White House

 Blouin Art Info seems to have vaporized writer William Poundstones excellent SoCal arts blog with no explanation. Thankfully, Poundstone has rematerialized on Blogspot. Los Angeles County Museum on Fire

 Albanias prime minister is an artist  and he has a show on view at Marian Goodman in New York. Worth reading. The Guardian, Marian Goodman

 Speaking of New York, Alec Baldwin is sounding positively Trumpian in his lawsuit against gallerist Mary Boone. Artnet

 The art that connects with aspects of Leonard Cohens most famous song. Posztukiwania

 Forget land art, the dude-iest art to make now is ocean art. New York Times

 The pink pigment that is available to everyone  except Anish Kapoor. Creators Project

 A lost Frida Kahlo painting emerges after six decades. And its about to go up for auction at Sothebys in New York. BBC

 A female Cool School? Arts writer Catherine Wagley looks at the work and philosophies of painters Sarah Cain, Allison Miller, Laura Owens, Rebecca Morris and Dianna Molzan  female L.A. painters [who] have self-possessed, un-heroic approaches to mark making, mixed with quiet rebelliousness and full-on dedication. Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles

 Collecting the black female figure in Western art. New Yorker

 A couple of stories about housing in San Francisco: One on how an affluent neighborhood is fighting low-income housing, and another about how a development in the Mission has been shot down because planners failed to take into account issues of displacement. San Francisco Chronicle, SFGate

 Germany saves Thomas Manns L.A. house from a possible fate as a tear-down. Curbed

 And last but not least, from the Department of So Much Gilding, So Little Time: Which is Saddam Husseins house? And which is Trumps? @JohnDeVore

Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter 

Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.
Hiroshi Horiike decided to buy the Malibu home the day he saw it.

The wealthy, Hong Kong businessman paid $12.25 million in cash for the Tuscan-style mansion with four bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and an infinity pool that looked out over the ocean.

Two years later, Horiike learned the house he thought was 15,000 square feet was actually recorded as having less than 10,000. He sued the sellers agent and the brokerage firm, Coldwell Banker.

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On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously for Horiike, saying the sellers agent had a duty to disclose relevant information about the house because both the buyers and sellers agents worked for the same firm.

The case has been closely watched in the real estate industry, and some experts predicted that a ruling for Horiike would cause havoc. The industry feared the court might establish requirements that would force real estate agents to make disclosures that would hurt the clients who hired them.

But brokers and real estate experts said Monday the decision was relatively narrow, and they did not expect any upheaval. They noted that disputes over square footage are common.

USC law professor George Lefcoe said the decision will require agents to be more careful and may create more paperwork, but the industry will continue to allow such arrangements because a brokerage can collect a commission from both parties.

Its too lucrative, he said.

It has long been recognized that real estate agents who represent both the seller and the buyer in a transaction owe a duty to both clients.

The court said agents who work for the same company also have dual obligations, even if they are representing different clients.

The California Assn. of Realtors had urged the court to reject Horiikes arguments, saying the agent for the seller had a special duty only to the seller.

If the court found otherwise, the loyalty of agents would be torn, lawyers argued.

The court, in a ruling written by Justice Leondra Kruger, acknowledged the potential pitfalls and said the industry could ask the Legislature to change the law.

But the court stressed that the issues raised by Horiike did not involve confidential information the seller gave to his agent.

The sellers agent had the same duty as the brokerage company that employed both agents  to learn and disclose all facts materially affecting the value or desirability of the property, Kruger wrote.

Frederic D. Cohen, who represented Horiike in the case, said the ruling would help ensure that brokerage companies actually take their responsibility to represent both sides more seriously.

Horiike, born poor in China and educated in Japan, earned his fortune manufacturing electronics and now makes documentaries and heads efforts to end the consumption of dog meat in Asia, a spokeswoman said.

He speaks only Chinese and Japanese, and the agent he selected out of Coldwell Bankers Beverly Hills office communicated with him in Japanese.

Chris Cortazzo, a top-performing Coldwell agent who works out of Malibu, represented the seller. On his website, Cortazzo says he is a Malibu native who has represented some of the biggest names in entertainment and business with more than $1.9 billion in closings since 2000.

Horiike charged that Cortazzo and Coldwell Banker breached their fiduciary duty by failing to warn him that he should investigate the actual square footage of the property.

Cortazzo had produced a flier saying the Malibu house had about 15,000 square feet of livable space. That square footage included two garages, a habitable basement and patios and balconies, according to written arguments in the case.

Before dealing with Horiike, Cortazzo had advised another potential buyer to investigate the square footage.

Cortazzo eventually sent Horiikes agent a copy of the original building permit, which said the house was less than 10,000 square feet.

Horiikes agent forwarded the permit to him, but Horiike said he never read it.

A trial judge ruled that Cortazzo, as the sellers agent, owed no specific duty to the buyer, and a jury found for Cortazzo and Coldwell Banker.

Horiike appealed, and a court of appeal decided unanimously that Cortazzo had been obligated to ensure Horiikes interests were protected.

In upholding that decision, the California Supreme Court revived Horiikes lawsuit, which can now go to trial again with jury instructions more favorable for Horiike.

Nick Segal, chief executive of luxury real estate brokerage Partners Trust, said the kind of relationships covered by the ruling are extremely common.

We do that fairly often, he said.

But he doubted the case would have far-reaching consequences, in part because agents already represent both buyer and seller in many cases and the ruling would simply expand that relationship to others.

Instead, he said the case serves as a notice to real estate agents that they will be held accountable for things they should have been doing anyway.

Loyola Law School professor Dan Schechter said agents wont be required to disclose potential offers or a sellers urgency to sell  though they must now work in the interest of both parties.

If a seller has an unpermitted kitchen, for instance, the sellers agent would be required to disclose that to the buyer. But if the seller was simply unhappy with the quality of a contractors work on a kitchen, the sellers agent probably could withhold that information if they were only working in the best interest of the seller, Schechter said.

If an agent has a fiduciary duty to both sides, he or she should tell the buyer about lingering doubts over quality, Schechter said.

The right thing to do is just disclose and lay it all out, Schechter said.

June Barlow, vice president and general counsel of the California Assn. of Realtors, said the group was heartened that the court ruled narrowly and did not bar agents or brokerage firms from representing both a buyer and a seller.

Horiike said through a spokeswoman that the house had caused him much suffering and he has considered selling it.

But he described his court victory as inspiring.

While this house brings back a lot of unpleasant memories, now that I have won the lawsuit against Coldwell Banker, the house becomes a landmark for the victory of consumer rights, Horiike said.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan

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UPDATES:

5:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction and details.

12:15 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction and additional details from the decision.

This article was originally published at 11:40 a.m.
A man suspected of breaking into a Maywood womans home and raping her was arrested and is being investigated for similar attacks throughout the community, officials said Monday.

Salvador Martinez was arrested by a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force near Fresno on Friday afternoon, just days after Los Angeles County sheriffs officials released his photograph to the public and named him a suspect in the Nov. 13 rape in Maywood, authorities said in a news release.

Martinez, 28, was booked on suspicion of rape and is due in court Tuesday, said Sheriffs Lt. Todd Deeds.

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Authorities say that a week ago, Martinez broke into a womans home near Slauson and Maywood avenues between midnight and 4 a.m. and raped her. They believe he may be linked to a series of other break-ins last month in Maywood, where two women and a 13-year-old girl were assaulted, Deeds said.

The attacks, which occurred over two weeks in October, have raised fears among residents and prompted city officials to offer a $5,000 reward for the suspects arrest.

There is a predator who is accosting a number of females in our community that must be stopped before he attacks another victim, Maywood City Councilman Thomas Martin said in a statement this month.

If you ever find yourself with a burglar breaking into your home, stay calm and quiet but act quickly, deputies have advised. If you can safely escape, do so immediately. If you cant, then hide and lock yourself in a room. Call 911 as quickly as possible, and stay by the phone. If you are attacked, fight back.

In each of the break-ins, the attacker snuck into the home in the early morning hours by removing screens from unsecured windows, authorities said.

The first assault occurred about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 at a home in the 6100 block of King Avenue, where a woman was sitting in her living room, authorities said. The man walked out of her bathroom and grabbed her breasts, the Sheriffs Department said.

As the unwanted sexual touching continued, the victim fought against the suspect, pushing him away and forcing him out of the house, deputies said in a statement.

The next break-in occurred 13 days later, about a mile from the first.

Authorities said the suspect entered an apartment in the 4300 block of 53rd Street at about 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 18 as the residents slept. One of the residents woke up after hearing a door open and saw a dark silhouette and light from a cellphone.

The resident yelled at the suspect, who jumped out a window and ran, authorities said.

About an hour and a half later, a suspect entered a home in the 4100 block of 53rd Street as a woman slept in her bed. She reported that she felt someone touching an intimate body part and woke up to find the intruder inside her bedroom.

The woman got up and ran into another room, where she locked the door and called 911. Deputies searched for a suspect, but couldnt find him.

The next day, a man entered a home in the 3600 block of 53rd Street through the kitchen window and walked into a 13-year-old girls room, authorities said. The suspect covered the girls mouth, but she awoke and was able to yell for help, deputies said.

The girls father heard the scream and confronted the suspect. He punched the man, but then fell to the floor; the suspect was able to escape through the front door, deputies said.

The suspect in those attacks was described as 5 feet 2 to 5 feet 5 tall, 18 to 20 years old, with a very thin build. He wore dark clothing and did not appear to be armed during any of the break-ins, authorities said.

Joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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Few people were more vocally opposed to a new transportation tax in Los Angeles County than Carson Mayor Albert Robles.

For months, Robles warned that Measure M gave the South Bay short shrift on transit and highway spending. He even backed a lawsuit over the ballot language.

For the record: An earlier version of this article described Glendora Mayor Gene Murabito as chairman of the Gold Lines construction authority. He is vice-chairman of a board of elected officials that advises the agency building the light-rail line.

But his constituents werent convinced.

On election day, three out of four Carson voters supported the half-cent sales tax increase, despite the fact that the city will not receive any rail investment and will wait more than two decades for highway projects.

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A Times analysis of precinct data found a surge of voter support for transit spending across the county, even in areas far from the urban core where transit service is less frequent and more residents drive, and in communities that are not slated to receive highway or rail projects.

The taxs decisive victory of nearly 70% shows that voters are weary of Southern Californias traffic and are hungry for change, however imperfect or slow the solutions may be, experts say.

Its a statement of how frustrated and tired L.A. County voters are with the increasingly gridlocked lives they lead, said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a professor of the practice of public policy communication at USC.

Measure M will raise the countys base sales tax rate by a half-cent and is expected to generate $120 billion over the first four decades of assessment. The revenue will fund a range of transportation investments, including highway upgrades, local street repairs and a dramatic expansion of the regions passenger rail network.

Four years ago, some of the countys largest cities  Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale  rejected Measure J, a proposed transit tax extension that would have raised $90 billion over three decades to accelerate construction on a half-dozen rail lines. The proposal fell about 16,000 votes shy of the two-thirds threshold.

This time around, voters in all three cities approved Metros ballot measure. Voter support jumped by 7 percentage points, to 72%, in Pasadena, where the decade-old Gold Line has been a boon, resident Cybele Garcia Kohel said.

Garcia Kohel, who has lived in Pasadena since 2003, voted for Measure M because shes observed an influx of jobs and housing near Metro stations. The Gold Line there has helped commuters to get to work without driving, she said, helping the citys culture shift toward sustainable methods of commuting.

Support wavered farther east, along a planned extension of the Gold Line to Claremont. That project is slated to open between 2025 and 2028, with three other routes scheduled to open in the five years after that.

Of the five cities set to receive stations on the planned extension, Claremont and Pomona hit the two-thirds threshold. But voters in the bedroom communities of Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne rejected the measure by more than 10 percentage points.

A lot of people in San Dimas think the train is, at best, a mixed bag, Mayor Curt Morris said. Frankly, I have doubts in my own mind whether its even worthwhile to have a station here, for all the expense and disruption well see.

He worries that the rail line will cause traffic backups in downtown, and that a proposed overpass west of the city center will be ugly  although the City Council probably wont spend extra to beautify it because, he said, when you put lipstick on a pig, youve wasted the lipstick.

But Glendora Mayor Gene Murabito, vice-chairman of a board of elected officials that advises the agency building the Gold Line, said even receiving a majority vote in the more conservative bedroom communities is a very good sign that our residents are excited.

A handful of cities whose elected officials vocally opposed the measure also saw two-thirds voter support. Representatives from Carson, Signal Hill, Norwalk, Pico Rivera and Beverly Hills warned voters that a tax with no end date would be a blank check for an agency that has struggled with cost overruns.

Robles, the Carson mayor, did not respond to requests for comment.

Cities in the southeast county, including Huntington Park and Commerce, also saw margins higher than 80%, despite protests from their elected leaders. That region is scheduled to receive one of the biggest projects on the expenditure list: a 20-mile light-rail line between Union Station and Artesia.

If these guys were visible and loud in their opposition, and they were perceived as part of the establishment, that could have worked against them, Bebitch Jeffe said. Distrust of legacy government figures can filter into local elections, she said, even when the alternative to the establishment is also a government agency.

Some conservative enclaves in the South Bay saw modest increases in voter support compared with the 2012 measure, though still well below the two-thirds threshold.

The coastal communities have a higher percentage of registered Republicans than the rest of the county and tend to be more fiscally conservative, said Heidi Ashcraft, a councilwoman in Torrance, where 55% of voters supported the tax increase.

Voters in Torrance are well-informed and they pay attention, Ashcraft said. We as a city know its not going to be distributed fairly.

A southern extension of the Green Line from the current terminus in Redondo Beach is slated to open in Torrance between 2030 and 2033. But, Ashcraft said, shes skeptical that shell see the project in my lifetime.

More than three dozen neighborhoods in Los Angeles saw voter approval rates over 80%. Upticks in voter support in many areas mirrored Sherman Oaks, where the share of yes votes increased 3 percentage points to 74%.

Many commuters there will live less than a mile from a station along the rail tunnel through the Sepulveda Pass to connect the San Fernando Valley to the Westside, scheduled to open in 2033 to 2035.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter 

The largest percentile swings in voter support came from South Los Angeles, where voters will see investments in a new rapid bus line, but not rail.

Nearly a dozen areas, including Manchester Square and West Adams, saw double-digit swings in voter support. And nearly 83% of Inglewood voters supported the measure, a nine-point jump from 2012.

Poor communities rely more on public transit, Bebitch Jeffe said. It doesnt surprise me at all that they would vote for something that would improve the system they use.

laura.nelson@latimes.com

ben.poston@latimes.com

Follow @laura_nelson and @bposton on Twitter.

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This is exactly what I mean about you lefties....you make baseless characterizations on me without a shred of proof..All based on a pack of assumptions..And then accuse me of doing exactly what you are doing... You can not prove that I did not give Obama the benefit of the doubt. .....Sure there were a handful of people who attacked Obama for his race and/or his political views, before he had a chance to demonstrate his extreme leftist leanings...I am not responsible for the assorted nuts that both sides attract..



Where in the hell do you get "We" were blaming Obama for the Great Recession.?? Most Conservatives knew that the crash would be blamed on Bush and the Republicans would pay for it no matter what caused it....So when we tried to clarify the record now you turn that into blaming Obama??



Then you are condemning Conservatives for their obligation to be the opposition to what a lot of people consider to be radical Socialist ideas.... That is their ******' purpose in a political system!! And I expect the Democrats to oppose Trump, in a civil manner also..



An incoming President deserves the chance to prove himself... .PERIOD !!....To do otherwise is to throw the finger to the tradition of a peaceful turn-over of leadership...Which the left has demonstrated it is hell-bent on doing, in spades!!!....The behavior of some of these cretins is why people like me have such disdain for the left.. You reap what you sow..
A chaotic scene erupted at a Corona pistol and rifle range early Monday when a massive blaze caused ammunition to explode and forced firefighters to take cover.

The blaze was reported about 3:50 a.m. at the Mike Raahauge shooting range in the 15000 block of River Road, said Jody Hagemann, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department.

Flames swept through multiple buildings and vehicles and toppled several power lines within the facility.

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As firefighters tackled flames, rounds of ammunition began to cook off and fire.

Thats one of the scary ones, Hagemann said of the fire scene.

Fire crews, as well as Riverside County sheriffs deputies, were forced to back down.

Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze, but remained at the facility for several hours for cleanup.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The blaze caused $2.5 million in damage and has forced the facility to close several days.

In a statement, the shooting range said it will reopen Friday.

As of right now we have no power, phones or the internet, the range said. Please be patient with the entire Raahauge staff as they are working hard to get Raahauges back up and running by Friday.

Tucked among four major highways, the secluded range offers gun rentals and has hunting courses, a sporting clay course and pistol and rifle shooting stations.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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A weekend rainstorm that drenched Southern California and triggered hundreds of freeway crashes will disappear by the afternoon and make way for cool, autumn weather on Thanksgiving, the National Weather Service said Monday.

Over Sunday and Monday, the storm dumped more than two inches of rain in San Luis Obispo County and more than an inch at Brentwoods Getty Center in Los Angeles County, where a surge in car crashes left freeways intermittently jammed, authorities said.

According to statistics from the California Highway Patrol, between 9 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday there were 201 reported crashes on L.A. Countys freeways  a 570% increase from the same period last week when the CHP counted 30 crashes.

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Runoff also swelled the Los Angeles River and prompted the rescue of four people who were stranded on a small island near Atwater Village early Monday morning, officials said.

About 100 Los Angeles city firefighters worked to rescue the two men and two women who had climbed into trees as rising water swept past at 35 mph. The city had activated two rescue crews the night before, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott.

Another Los Angeles River rescue occurred in South Gate, where Los Angeles County firefighters rescued a man who tried to walk through the fast-moving water Sunday night, officials said.

By Monday afternoon, the storm should make way for patchy clouds and temperatures in the mid-60s, said National Weather Service meteorologist David Sweet.

A morning commuter waits in the rain at the Irvine Transportation Center. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times )

I think our rain is pretty much over for the rest of the week, he said.

Inland valleys could reach the mid-70s by Thursday, but the rest of Southern Californias beach and mountain communities and downtown L.A. should be a few degrees cooler through the rest of the week, Sweet said.

Northern California is also being hit by rain this week, which is producing much-needed snow in the parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a key source of water for California as the state deals with a fifth year of drought.

People exercise under clearing skies after the evening rain at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Park. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times )

Joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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Germany has purchased the Pacific Palisades residence once owned by Thomas Mann, averting demolition of the home where the Nobel Prize-winning novelist lived for a decade after fleeing Adolf Hitler.

The home, built in 1941 and designed by modernist architect J.R. Davidson, had been listed this summer for just under $15 million. Sitting on a flat lot measuring almost one acre, it had been labeled a tear-down.

But the prospect of the secluded five-bedroom home in the 1500 block of San Remo Drive being bulldozed generated protest. An online petition called on the German government to save the home, describing it as a monument to German exiles in California and resistance to the Nazi regime.

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The mansion ultimately was purchased for $13.25 million, according to the listing page.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the residence symbolized a home for many Germans who worked toward a better future for their country, paved the way for an open society and laid the foundations for common transatlantic values, according to a statement posted by the German consulate in Los Angeles.

Mann fled Germany in 1933 and lived in Switzerland before immigrating to the U.S. After a stint in New Jersey, he purchased the plot in Pacific Palisades and the residence was built in 1941.

His wife, Katia Mann, told The Times in 1948 that she and her husband had originally sought a Colonial-style home, but the architect, Davidson, protested that Southern California called for a more modern approach.

He was a man of strong will, Katia Mann said of Davidson, so we have a modern house. We like it, though.

Mann, then 73, said the homes view of the Pacific Ocean, including Santa Catalina Island, had pleased him during his self-imposed exile.

Here, you find everything  the perfect climate, the hills, the sea, the strong contrasting colors of sky, earth and water.

While living at the home, Mann wrote Doctor Faustus and The Holy Sinner.

The authors stay in Los Angeles lasted about a decade. He and his wife returned to Europe in 1952, distressed by the ascendance of McCarthyism.

Upon his departure from Southern California, he told The Times that he longed for his homeland.

I just felt that I had never uprooted myself completely and that I was still a European at heart, Mann said.

Three years later, he died in Switzerland at age 80.

German officials said the Mann residence will be renovated and eventually used as an artists residency.

The day-to-day operations will be handed over to the staff at Villa Aurora, a government-subsidized cultural program and residency for artists and writers, which had been the home of German novelist and playwright Lion Feuchtwanger and his wife.

Villa Aurora, also in Pacific Palisades, was bequeathed to USC by Feuchtwangers widow and sold to a German foundation in 1990.

This is a major vote of confidence for the work we do in Los Angeles, Markus Klimmer, the chairman of the board overseeing Villa Aurora, said in a statement. We are overjoyed.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno

UPDATES:

Nov. 21, 8 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background.

This article was originally published at 11:15 p.m. on Nov. 20.
A semi-conscious woman was rescued Sunday night after tumbling 70 feet down a rain-soaked slope and nearly falling into a swollen river, authorities said.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters received a report of an overdose at a home in the Sacramento County community of Fair Oaks.

When firefighters and Sacramento County sheriffs deputies went to the home, they couldnt find the woman, said Capt. Michelle Eidam, a spokeswoman for Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

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They searched the neighborhood until they finally got a clue. It came from the womans cellphone.

Her cellphone pinged off a cell tower on the north side of the American River, near Hazel Avenue.

Deputies requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, which sent a helicopter to conduct an aerial search.

Using infrared equipment, the air crew spotted the woman lying on a ledge just a few feet above the river, Eidam said. The ground was slick after several days of rain, she said.

It appeared the woman rolled 70 feet and somehow stopped before falling off the ledge and into the river.

The woman was not able to talk to authorities and had a decreased level of consciousness, Eidam said.

Using a rope system, two rescuers were lowered to the ledge and placed the woman in a stretcher. She was hauled up the slope and taken to an area trauma center.

Sheriffs officers went above and beyond, CHP jumped in to help find the patient, and firefighters from multiple agencies rescued, treated and transported her, fire Battalion Chief Mark Repetto said in a statement. Without this collaboration, its not likely this woman would have survived through the night.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Irish novelist and playwright William Trevor, a master of short stories that often explored lifes disappointments, has died at the age of 88 in his adopted English home, his publisher announced Monday.

Trevor set his tales mainly in his native Ireland or in England, where he had lived since graduating from Trinity College Dublin in 1952. He won one of Britains top literary prizes, the Whitbread, three times; was short-listed four times for the Booker Prize, most recently in 2002 for The Story of Lucy Gault; and was a perennial object of speculation as a potential Nobel literature laureate.

But Trevor studiously avoided the spotlight, even in his own works, where his voice melted away into the inner worlds of his often scarred, socially isolated protagonists.

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My fiction may, now and again, illuminate aspects of the human condition, but I do not consciously set out to do so, Trevor told one interviewer. I am a storyteller.

Graham Greene praised Trevors 1973 collection Angels at the Ritz as the best set of short stories since Dubliners, James Joyces 1914 collection. While preferring the short story form, Trevor also was a novelist, playwright and TV dramatist.

He told the Guardian newspaper in 2009 that he considered short stories the best vehicle for studying character.

You can take a relationship and almost photograph it. And there it is, he said.

Often that relationship can get lost in the bigger shape of the novel. I like to isolate it and really look at the characters.

Born William Trevor Cox on May 24, 1928, in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Trevors themes often seemed to reflect the difficulties of his early years, growing up with parents stuck in an unhappy marriage.

It wasnt so much that they quarreled; I never heard my father shouting or anything like that. They just simply didnt get on. There was no respect, nothing, he told the Guardian.

Ive always thought that something actually happened, the way that quite often in a marriage or a relationship something happens, and nobody knows because its kept away from the rest of the world, because theres shame or something. Theres a big question mark.

His family was Protestant in a newly independent nation dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, a minority regarded as strangers and visitors as he put it in the short story The News From Ireland.

Trevors own marriage to his Trinity College sweetheart Jane Ryan in 1952 was happy and endured, but the gloominess of his childhood stuck to him. His characters tended not to triumph over their problems.

If you take away the sadness from life itself, he told the Guardian, then you are taking away a big and a good thing, because to be sad is rather like to be guilty. They both have a very bad press, but in point of fact, guilt is not as terrible a position as it is made out to be. People should feel guilty sometimes. Ive written a lot about guilt. I think that it can be something that really renews people.

Irelands depressed economy drove Trevor to move to England in 1952, where initially he taught art and produced sculptures. His first novel published in 1958, A Standard of Behaviour, won little attention and was later disowned by the author.

Moving to London in 1960 to work in an advertising agency gave him enough free time to produce a second novel, The Old Boys, which won the Hawthornden Prize, honoring the best work of imaginative literature. He adapted it for television and the stage, a success that inspired him to move his family to rural Devon in southwest England.

Trevor flourished in the theater and television, and in 1973 he had three plays staged in London.

He produced all of his stories on blue paper  a habit from his ad agency days  on a manual typewriter, followed by much revision.

Its like cutting a film, he said in a BBC interview.

Daniel Murtagh, reviewing Trevors short story collection The Hill Bachelors in Commonweal magazine, said the editing paid off.

One can open this book, pick a paragraph at random, and imagine dozens of ways Trevor could have written it less effectively and did not, ways he could have added, or failed to excise, a word or phrase that would have made it easier, more explicit, but less focused in its power to disturb or to force recognition, Murtagh wrote.

Trevor won many honors, including the Benson Medal of the Royal Society of Literature for Angels at the Ritz and Other Stories; the Allied Irish Bank Prize for literature and the Heinemann Award for fiction in 1976; and the Whitbread Prize three times: in 1978 for The Children of Dynmouth, in 1983 for Fools of Fortune and in 1994 for Felicias Journey. The latter was made into a 1999 film starring Bob Hoskins.

Although he remained an Irish citizen, he won three honorary titles in Britain: Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, Companion of Literature in 1994 and a knighthood in 2002.

He is survived by his wife and two sons. Funeral arrangements were not announced.

Barr writes for the Associated Press.
In February 2015, three years into the supply-side economics experiment that would upend a once steady Midwestern economy, a hole appeared in Kansas finances.

To fill it, Gov. Sam Brownback took $45 million in public education funding. By April of this year, with the hole at $290 million, Brownback took highway money to plug it. A month later, state money for Medicaid coverage went into the hole, but the gap continued to grow.

Today, the states budget hole is $345 million and threatens the foundation of this state, which was supposed to be the setting for a grand economic expansion but now more closely resembles a battleground, with accusations and lawsuits flying over how to get the states finances in order.

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The yawning deficits were caused by huge tax cuts, championed by Brownback and the Republican-dominated Legislature, that were supposed set the economy roaring. They didnt.

The budget shortfalls have been felt across the state, particularly by public schools, and have embroiled the Kansas Supreme Court along with state lawmakers and the governor.

Through it all, Brownback has repeatedly pledged his faith in the free market.

Were going to continue to grow the economy, Brownback has said in response to questions about each new revenue shortfall.

His opponents in the Legislature say Brownbacks mantra has failed the state and carries a stern lesson in theory versus reality to other states contemplating the same free-market ideas.

Its estimate and pray on the income taxes, said state Sen. Laura Kelly, ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee. Even with significant changes, we wont see personal income receipts [increase] until 2019.

An ideological war over the way Kansas collects and spends money has erupted in the capital of Topeka and spilled into every corner of the state. After five years of an economic crusade that has left its originator, Brownback, as the least popular governor in the nation, Kansas has been forced to use the settlement from a national tobacco lawsuit to cover the hole in its general fund budget  money that was supposed to go to an early childhood education endowment.

It was a risk Brownback ran when he overhauled the state budget based on an interpretation of fiscal conservatism that dramatically cut personal income taxes.

The state would thrive, he pledged, because the tax cuts would help keep businesses and smart, young Kansans in the state, not fleeing to Houston, or Dallas, or Chicago or somewhere else.

It will pave the way to the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs, bring tens of thousands of people to Kansas, and help make our state the best place in America to start and grow a small business, Brownback wrote in 2012. It will leave more than a billion dollars in the hands of Kansans. An expanding economy and growing population will directly benefit our schools and local governments.

It hasnt worked out that way.

Revenue from income tax collections plummeted 22%. A separate repeal of taxes on partnerships and limited liability companies meant the surrender of 30% of state revenue.

Its been disastrous.  Burdett Loomis, political science professor, on Kansas tax cuts

A projection issued Nov. 11 puts Kansas in a bind next fiscal year, when state revenue estimators project receipts to amount to $5.5 billion, down 7.4% from this years estimate.

Unwilling to scale back the income tax cuts, the state did increase the sales tax. Now Kansas has the second-highest sales tax in the nation, and such reliance on sales taxes has saddled the state with additional problems: Deflation is dropping the prices of goods and the taxes the state collects on them.

Tired of the bleating horn of bad news, in September Brownback silenced a quarterly economic evaluation of the state that counted employment, unemployment, personal income and energy production, and consistently illustrated the states plunging revenues. He had done so before, in August 2015, when he ordered a halt to a semiannual economic report.

A lot of people were confused by the reports, said Nicole Randall, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Brownbacks ultraconservative allies in the Legislature paid the price for their loyalty in the August primaries  when moderate Republicans won while running against Brownback and for increases in school funding  and again on election day, when Democrats picked up 12 seats in the House.

Its been disastrous, said Burdett Loomis, professor of political science at the University of Kansas. Brownback has said he will work with [new, moderate] legislators, but I dont know if anyone believes him.

The budget battles have also brought in the state Supreme Court. In 2014 the court ruled that disparities in public funding of education violated the state constitution and ordered a lower court to evaluate how much the state should invest in public schools.

Conservative groups supporting Brownback responded by pushing five Supreme Court justices into brutal, expensive retention races to keep their seats. The targeted justices were retained by voters and are expected to rule this month on the adequacy and fairness of the public education system in a landmark case, Gannon vs. Kansas, filed by four of the states poorest school districts.

Should the Supreme Court rule against the state and the adequacy of its $6-billion yearly expenditures on education, it will force Kansas to pay $500 million or more for school upgrades across the state, including in economically depressed areas.

Places like Columbus.

Here in the states southeast corner, the poorest area in Kansas, coal mines died and gave way to paper mills, which shuttered as American business went paperless. Today, nearly 30% of families with children in the region receive food stamps. In Pittsburg, the largest city in the area, with about 20,000 residents, the downtown is pocked by shuttered storefronts.

Park Elementary School Principal Steve Jameson in his office in Columbus, Kan. (Nigel Duara / Los Angeles Times )

In Columbus, population 3,300, clean, manicured lawns front one-story ranch houses built when the area was still prosperous, or at least on its feet. Red-and-yellow flags of Pittsburg State University, located in the nearby town, dot the one-street downtown. Greenery abounds.

Were a little bit  whats the word I want to use  Im a little bit backwoods. Were a little rough around the edges, said Steve Jameson in his seat in the principals office at Columbus Park Elementary. Were hard workers, and its high poverty. Sometimes, in poverty, you have that sense of helplessness.

Jameson believes wholeheartedly in the importance of pre-K education, especially for the summer before kindergarten. His pre-K funding is frozen at 2013 levels because of the cuts, meaning he can enroll 30 children in summer pre-K. He has a waiting list every year.

He has been told that next year summers pre-K program will be cut. Jameson knows what to expect next fall.

It means kindergarteners from at-risk backgrounds never before introduced to a school environment, or children with behavioral issues that have not yet been modified in a classroom setting  all of those issues and inexperience exploding in a class of 12 to 15 other children.

But such a disruption is just the beginning, experts say, because it slows down the rest of the class, which drags down their development entering school.

Jameson has tried to keep the cuts away from the classroom. He let one teachers assistant go, and has been unable to send his teachers to professional development conferences  admittedly smaller cuts, but ones he said would compound over time.

In the long run, teachers wont have that energy if you dont provide professional development, and theyll go elsewhere, Jameson said.

Public education in Kansas is coming apart at the seams, and Jameson can no longer recommend to others what is his familys vocation.

So it was with a wavering voice that he told one of his favorite onetime high school students, now a college graduate, that she should seek work as a teacher 12 miles east, in rival Missouri, because cutbacks to the education system in Kansas leave him unable to promise the future of his investment to her.

It was hard. I wanted her to make the best choice for her, Jameson said. I was always proud of Kansas education. I cant be as strong about that conviction anymore.

The finances are making it hard to meet the needs of our kids, he said. The climate makes it hard to recruit good teachers. If you hear the legislators bashing you all the time, the governor bashing you all the time, you can choose to go to another state.

Changes to the Legislature could reverse course, but the process will not be easy, Loomis said. Even with repeals of the tax exemptions of LLCs and partnerships, which could amount to several hundred million dollars, the changes will be a drop in the bucket.

Other than sunny repetitions of Brownbacks mantra that the economy will indeed reverse course once his economic experiment has a chance to work, there are no short-term plans to save the state.

Even if the Legislature raises personal income taxes and repeals the exemption on business taxes, the state will not see its first receipts until 2018.

In the meantime, the hole grows and grows.

It demonstrates the pickle that Brownback and the Legislature have gotten this state in, Loomis said. Theres no easy way out.

Twitter: @nigelduara

nigel.duara@latimes.com

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More than 400 demonstrators clashed with police on a bridge north of a protest encampment near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota on Sunday night. Protesters said they were trying to access what they described as sacred tribal lands, which are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The protesters were stopped by a line of police officers, requested by the Corps to keep protesters off the land.

Deputies deployed tear gas and fired on protesters with a water cannon on the Backwater Bridge, according to a news release from the Morton County, N.D., Sheriffs Department on Sunday night.

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The temperature dipped to 27 degrees in Cannon Ball, with a wind chill that hit 18 degrees.

The Sheriffs Department described the situation as a riot, and said protesters had attempted to outflank officers and set multiple fires on the bridge.

Protesters began camping on land sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in April. Protesters argue the land would be threatened by the 1,170-mile, four-state Dakota Access pipeline when it crosses a section of the Missouri River next to the reservation. The tribe has argued in court filings opposing the pipeline that its construction will damage sacred sites and put the tribes water supply at risk.

Video livestreamed by protesters on Sunday showed large plumes of tear gas on the bridge, the same one where protesters burned two trucks on Oct. 27.

According to the Sheriffs Department, the clashes began about 6 p.m. when protesters attempted to move one of the burned trucks.

Protesters and police have engaged in direct standoffs multiple times in the last three months, most recently 10 days ago when 33 people were arrested after refusing to remove a roadblock from Highway 6, a major thoroughfare.

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Activists said a Dakota Access pipeline protester could have her arm amputated after suffering an injury from a small explosion Sunday night, and protesters and law enforcement officials accused each other of being responsible.

Images shared by activists on Facebook showed a young woman sitting in a vehicle with a gory arm injury. A bone was visible.

The woman was one of 26 people that activists said Monday had been taken to the hospital for their injuries after a clash between protesters and police Sunday night. Police had doused protesters with a low-pressure water cannon as temperatures dipped below freezing.

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One of the pipeline protest leaders, Dallas Goldtooth, said on Facebook on Monday that a young woman named Sophia Wilansky was struck directly by a concussion grenade last night on the front lines of a protest on a bridge near Cannon Ball, N.D.

But a Morton County, N.D., Sheriffs Department spokeswoman said police had not used any concussion grenades during a clash with pipeline protesters on Sunday, contradicting several reports from activists.

It wasnt from our law enforcement, because we didnt deploy anything that should have caused that type of damage to her arm, said sheriffs spokeswoman Maxine Herr, who said medical officials first encountered the injured woman away from the action, at a nearby casino. Were not sure how her injury was sustained.

Herr suggested that the woman may have been injured while protesters were rigging up their own explosives  propane bottles to be thrown at police. None of those propane bottles exploded, and the only explosion the officers heard was on the protesters side, Herr said.

No one was arrested for making or throwing explosives, she said.

Sunday nights clash was the latest in a months-long confrontation between protesters and police over an oil pipeline being built near tribal lands, where hundreds of Native Americans and others have gathered to protest.

The showdown centered at Backwater Bridge, which has been blocked by burned-out vehicles from a previous protest. Police have said the vehicles are not safe to move until the bridge is examined for damage, and activists have complained that the lack of bridge access is blocking travel for local residents.

Activists said more than 200 protesters had to be treated for hypothermia after the Sheriffs Department doused them with a low-pressure water cannon as temperatures hovered in the 20s.

Footage of the protest from the independent news outlet Unicorn Riot showed officials specifically targeting protesters with the water cannon, though the water pressure was not turned up high enough to knock anyone down.

Aside from a couple water protectors throwing water bottles and live tear gas canisters back at the police, almost everything I saw was peaceful, Rafe Scobey-Thal, an independent filmmaker and photographer who has been documenting the protests, said in an email. It was freezing and the escalation from the police was completely out of proportion.

Water cannons have not often been used for crowd control in the U.S. in recent years.

Its a fairly nonstandard application, said Richard Odenthal, a former L.A. Sheriffs Department captain who helped develop some of the departments crowd-control policies before retiring 16 years ago and who still consults police on crisis situations.

Odenthal said the L.A. Sheriffs Department had once discussed whether to adopt a water cannon for crowd control, but decided against it, citing famous footage from the 1960s of Southern police officials turning high-powered fire hoses on black protesters. We decided that wasnt an image we wanted to portray, Odenthal said.

Herr, the Morton County sheriffs spokeswoman, said that a fire department had brought a water hose to help put out a brush fire and that officials at the scene decided to repurpose it against the protesters, citing aggression from the agitators in the camp [who] continued to raise their level of resistance against law enforcement.

It was used to keep distance between the officers and the criminal agitators and to put out the fire, Herr said.

Angela Bibens, a coordinator with the Water Protector Legal Collective, which monitors the group, said activists were appalled.

Heres why this is so particularly egregious, Bibens said. I am Dakota. Water is my first medicine. We believe it to be our first medicine. They used our medicine as a weapon. The temperature here last night was 23 degrees. They knew what they were doing. They used it to inflict pain and suffering on the water protectors.

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The story was originally published at 8:15 a.m.
A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a veteran Texas police detective ended Monday evening with an arrest in the slaying, which was one of several weekend attacks that authorities say targeted law enforcement in multiple states.

The San Antonio detective as well as officers in Missouri and Florida were conducting routine tasks Sunday when they became the targets of violence.

The detective was writing a traffic ticket when he was shot to death in his squad car late Sunday morning outside police headquarters.

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I think the uniform was the target and the first person that happened along was the first person that (the suspect) targeted, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Monday.

In Missouri, a St. Louis police sergeant was shot twice in the face Sunday evening while he sat in traffic in a marked police vehicle. The sergeant was released from the hospital Monday.

The shootings were the latest in what law enforcement officials say is an alarming rise in ambush-style attacks. Sixty officers were shot to death on the job this year, compared with 41 in2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Of the 60 killed, 20 were purposely targeted by their assailant compared with eight last year, the group said.

Police officers also were shot and injured during traffic stops in Sanibel, Fla., and Gladstone, Mo., on Sunday night, but authorities have not suggested these were targeted attacks.

The shootings come less than five months after a black military veteran killed five white officers at a protest in Dallas  the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Race was a factor in the Dallas attack, but police have not said whether race played a part in Sundays attacks. In San Antonio, police say the suspect is black and the officer was white. In St. Louis, the suspect was black. Police have not released the race of the officer shot.

Most police slayings are carried out by white men, and most people shot and killed by police are white, said Craig W. Floyd, president of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

McManus identified the San Antonio detective killed Sunday as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force. At a news conference Monday evening, McManus said Otis Tyrone McKane, 31, was arrested without incident after the car he was driving was stopped Monday afternoon on an interstate.

McManus said earlier that he doesnt believe the suspect has any relationship to the motorist who was pulled over initially.

Surveillance video shows the suspect at San Antonio police headquarters about four hours before Marconi was shot. The suspect asked a desk clerk a question but left before receiving an answer, said McManus, who declined to say what the man asked.

I dont know why he was in headquarters. We have some ideas, he said.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson declined to name the 46-year-old officer on his force who was shot in the face Sunday evening, but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officers window, Dotson said.

The suspect, George P. Bush III, was wanted for questioning in recent violent crimes that included several robberies, a carjacking and perhaps a killing, Dotson said. He didnt elaborate.

We believe he knew he was good for those crimes and that we were looking for him, Dotson said. Thats why he aggressively attacked a police officer.

Police said Bush, 19, was later killed in a shootout with officers.

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UPDATES:

4:55 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about the suspects in the San Antonio and St. Louis shootings with additional editing for clarity.

3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with news that a suspect had been arrested in the death of a San Antonio police detective.

This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
Holding open Justice Antonin Scalias vacancy on the Supreme Court was a stated goal of Senate Republicans throughout the protracted, divisive federal elections. But it wasnt only the high court that senators neglected. There are now 94 unfilled openings on federal circuit and district courts  a vacancy rate that is impeding the delivery of justice.

Senators lengthy absence during the election season  which followed a prolonged summer recess and a truncated September session  means that no judge has been confirmed since July 6. The election results likely will prompt yet more judges to retire or assume senior status (in which they manage reduced caseloads), which means this number could easily swell to 110 openings. Fully 13% of seats on the federal bench could be vacant by inauguration day.

With just a modicum of cooperation, Republican and Democratic senators could restore some of the judicial resources courts desperately need. There are, most notably, 20 well-qualified, mainstream district court nominees whom the Judiciary Committee approved by voice vote without dissent. A majority of them were recommended for the bench by their Republican home-state senators. They should get a final confirmation vote during the lame-duck session that began last week.

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The major bottleneck was the Senate floor, because GOP leaders rarely scheduled final debates and votes.

A failure to consider these nominees during the lame-duck session means that whole process will have to start over  a waste of effort exactly when the new Trump administration needs to fill a Supreme Court vacancy and create a new government. Vacancies will continue to pile up before the administration can focus on filling them; many will still be empty in 2018.

Throughout the first six years of the Obama administration, with a dearth of cooperation in the Senate, the number of judicial vacancies hovered around 90  the highest number of vacancies ever allowed to remain unfilled for so long. After Republicans captured the Senate majority two years ago, the GOP leadership pledged that it would restore regular order to the upper chamber. Instead, despite many promises, there were few expeditious candidate recommendations or swiftly planned nominee hearings and committee votes. The major bottleneck was the Senate floor, because GOP leaders rarely scheduled final debates and votes.

So in 2015, the Senate confirmed just one circuit and 10 district judges; in 2016, it approved only one circuit and eight district jurists before departing to campaign in late September. During the entire 114th Congress, the Senate averaged fewer than one confirmation per month.

A clear example of the difficulties such obstruction creates is the Idaho District Court, where caseloads are now 20% higher than the national average. The court has one active judge and an 82-year-old second judge, who assumed senior status in July 2015. The nominee to fill this post has languished 11 months.

Another salient illustration is Texas, which confronts 13 vacancies (eight of which dont even have nominees). The U.S. Courts declared all 13 judicial emergencies because of the protracted length of the vacancy or the substantial caseload. For instance, judges in the Eastern District of Texas manage caseloads that are triple the national average.

Stalled confirmations obviously undermine the swift, economical and fair handling of cases, which erodes public respect for the confirmation system and the coequal branches of government. Drawing out the appointment process also forces talented, mainstream nominees to put their robust careers on hold  a situation that dissuades many strong candidates from contemplating the bench.

Some Republicans may assert that 2016 is a presidential election year, when the Thurmond Rule holds  that is, confirmations slow and halt, especially after a new president from the opposite party captures the election. But this rule is an unwritten custom, not a legal mandate  and one both parties have applied inconsistently at best. Moreover, the federal courts dire straits show the Senate should look to other relevant traditions.

Most pertinent is that modern Senates and presidents conventionally have accorded competent, moderate nominees a final vote. A compelling example: the Senate confirmation of Stephen Breyer to the 1st Circuit after Ronald Reagan had defeated Jimmy Carter in 1980. Republicans at least should permit confirmation votes on the 20 highly qualified, moderate district nominees who have waited months.

The courts desperately need these openings filled, and most of the nominees are capable and uncontroversial. Moreover, by the time President Trump has his administration running and confirms a replacement for Scalia, there could be 135 vacancies. This could even precipitate third-branch dysfunction at a crucial time in the nascent Trump administration. All that can easily be avoided by confirming many judges now in the lame-duck session. Both parties should work together in these final weeks of 2016 to cut down this backlog of vacancies for the good of the courts, the Senate and the country.

Carl Tobias is a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
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California Democrats ask Obama to pardon nearly 750,000 Dreamers, but White House says it wouldnt work

The members of Congress who persuaded President Obama to grant temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children are now asking him to use a pardon to prevent those immigrants from being deported by President-elect Donald Trump.

The White House, however, promptly batted down the idea.

Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Obama on Thursday asking him to use his pardon authority to forgive the past and future civil immigration offenses of the nearly 750,000 people granted deportation deferrals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

They believe that would keep those people from being deported, and even though it would leave them in legal limbo without work permits or visas, they could more easily apply for legal status from within the U.S. without immigration offenses on their records.

They wouldnt have a piece of paper, they wouldnt have work authorization, but they wouldnt have to be living in fear every moment of their lives about deportation, Lofgren said after a news conference Thursday.

Lofgren, a former immigration attorney, said the pardons would probably be applied to the civil offenses related to entering and remaining in the country without authorization.

But whether a pardon would actually be applicable in the so-called Dreamers situation is unclear. Lawyers disagree over whether the immigrants could be pardoned for civil crimes they havent been formally accused of, and whether such a pardon would actually prevent them from being deported while they seek legal status.

A White House official signaled late Thursday that the administration was not considering a pardon for those registered under DACA because it believes a pardon would not allow them legal status.

We note that the clemency power could not give legal status to any undocumented individual. As we have repeatedly said for years, only Congress can create legal status for undocumented individuals, an administration official said.

After immigration reform efforts stalled in Congress during Obamas first term, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus pressured Obama to act independently to protect from deportation certain immigrants brought into the country illegally when they were children. He then used an executive order to create the DACA program in 2012.

The Dreamers, one in three of whom are estimated to live in California, gave the Department of Homeland Security their fingerprints, home addresses and other information to undergo background checks that allowed them to defer deportation under DACA.

At the time, advocates and the administration emphasized that providing the information would protect the Dreamers and was worth the risk. But with Trump vowing to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally and many fearing he may let the DACA program expire, Dreamers are worried the information they provided will be used to deport them.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), whose husband is an immigration attorney, said at the news conference she has been getting a flood of messages from frightened Dreamers. On Tuesday she sent a letter to Obama asking him to keep their information from the Trump administration.

We promised these recipients security, and now they are facing a nightmare, she said.

Roybal-Allard said those who pushed Obama to create the program and persuaded people to come out of the shadows to register with the government have an obligation to protect them.

These are kids. We feel a sense of responsibility. We went out into our districts and we talked to the Dreamers, and they asked us, Is it really OK for us to do this? Roybal-Allard said. And we said, No, dont worry, you need to come forward. Now we are in a situation where all that we said, in fact, could possibly be reversed.

Although the presidents pardon power is normally used for individual cases, there is some precedent for the chief executive to pardon a large group of people.

President Jimmy Carter pardoned half a million Vietnam War draft evaders in 1977, and at least seven other presidents have issued broad pardons.

Congress and the Supreme Court cannot undo a presidential pardon, nor can a new president.

Lofgren said if Obama doesnt pardon the Dreamers, she hopes he responds with his own idea to help them.

These young people are not alone, they are not going to be abandoned by us, she said.

UPDATES

4:59 p.m. This post was updated with additional details throughout.

2:15 p.m. This post was updated with the White Houses response to the proposal.

This post was originally published at 11:30 a.m.
In a brief, presumably final, face-to-face encounter, President Obama on Sunday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to fulfill agreements to scale back incursions into eastern Ukraine and work with the U.S. to bring order to chaos in Syria.

The night before, Obama sat with his Chinese counterpart to note important cooperation on climate change and regional security issues, particularly with regard to North Korea, before President Xi Jinping warned that relations with the U.S. were at a hinge moment.

Left unsaid in the diplomatic readouts by American officials was the specter of President-elect Donald Trump and the likelihood that he would take a far different approach in managing the most complex U.S. relationships abroad.

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Under different electoral circumstances, Obamas trip this week  his last, scheduled presidential tour overseas  could have been something of a valedictory march: a sweeping speech on democracy in its birthplace, Greece; a final fond farewell and early endorsement in Berlin for his most important partner, German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and an economic summit in Peru of Asian and Pacific leaders.

White House officials had even envisioned a chance of putting a bow on Obamas strategy of reorienting U.S. attention to Asia by persuading a lame-duck session of Congress to consider the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal.

Trumps election put an end to all that.

Instead, Obama was warning about the threats to democracy in an era of active disinformation that left the public struggling to separate fact from fiction. He and Merkel sternly lectured Trump from a distance about the obligations of leadership and the need to abide by international norms of behavior.

In a Sunday night news conference before leaving Peru, Obama said he thinks  though he cant guarantee  that Trump may govern more moderately than the way he campaigned.

I cant be sure of anything, Obama said of Trumps approach. But the presidency, he said, has a way of shaping your thinking and in some cases modifying your thinking because you recognize the solemn responsibility not only to the American people but the solemn responsibility America has as the most powerful country in the world.

Obama had thought he would be handing off leadership of the Western powers to Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of State who ran a campaign largely on a platform of continuing Obamas policies. Instead he appeared ready to pass that mantle off to another leader, Merkel, who now plans to seek a fourth term as chancellor.

I do believe that Chancellor Merkel and Germany are a linchpin in protecting the basic tenets of a liberal, market-based democratic order that has created unprecedented prosperity and security for Europe, but also for the world, Obama said in a joint interview with German television and print reporters.

In his news conference, however, he cautioned against any U.S. withdrawal from leadership of global institutions, warning that for all the worlds problems, the globe is far safer, more secure and prosperous than it was when the current international system was put into place.

The United States really is an indispensable nation in our world order, he said.

Before that order was imposed, we had two world wars in the span of 30 years, he noted. In the second one, 60 million people were killed, he added, entire continents in rubble.

In Asia, you routinely saw famines of millions of people, he said.

America cant carry the sole burden of sustaining the modern global system, but other countries cant replace U.S. leadership. If the U.S. shuns the role of heading the global order, then it collapses  theres nobody to fill the void, he said.

Thats a burden we should carry proudly, Obama added, an extraordinary privilege.

As he concluded his trip, Obama also made it clear that he plans to govern through to the final day of his term, without regard for what Trump may have in the works. In his brief conversation with Putin, for example, he said he held fast to his position that Russia should respect the sovereignty of Ukraine and work for a peaceful resolution in Syria.

He also made it clear that his administration will move ahead with new environmental rules, even though Trump and the Republicans may not like them. The proposals are well-considered rules that have been under scrutiny and public discussion for a long time, he said, and they shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone.

I feel strongly these are the right things to do, he said, and Im going to do them.

Still, though, a postelection funk continued among the White House staff, defying Obamas best efforts to shake them out of it and his frequent pleas to just about everyone to give the new president-elect time to prove skeptics wrong.

Those traveling with the president could not help but monitor the president-elects appointments to key positions. Many of Obamas aides considered the choices curious, in some cases troubling and in almost all cases a signal of Trumps intention for a clean break with the policies of the last eight years.

They also digested the feedback of foreign leaders who had manage to speak with Trump directly after the election, hopeful to put concerns to ease but not always finding reason to.

Obama spent his two terms working to strengthen global institutions, both out of his conviction that collective action is the best way to achieve success, but also to reduce the burden on the United States to singularly solve the worlds problems.

The president now has little choice but to put his faith in those institutions to bring along, or ultimately stand up to, a successor who appears to have very a different vision for U.S. leadership in the world.

The task before Obama over the last few days  to try to explain how his successor might act  seemed nearly impossible, given the adversarial history between the two men and the uncertainty caused by Trumps contradictory pronouncements on foreign policy throughout the campaign.

Based on a single face-to-face meeting in the Oval Office days after the election, Obama felt assured enough to make one commitment to the international community: that Trump understood and would remain committed to the NATO alliance.

When it comes to the more thorny issues of confronting Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, addressing the humanitarian crisis in Syria and keeping up the campaign against Islamic State, Obama locked arms with key partners to send a different message to Trump: color within the lines.

What I can guarantee is that reality will force him to adjust how he approaches many of these issues, Obama said Sunday night. Thats just the way this office works.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter

christi.parsons@latimes.com

On Twitter @cparsons

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A 25-year-old man died Friday morning a few hours after he ingested an unknown narcotic at a Newport Beach bar, authorities said.

Orange County coroners officials identified the man as Ahmed Said of Santa Ana, who died after being taken from American Junkie in Newport Beach to a Huntington Beach hospital early Friday.

Paramedics were called to American Junkie, at 2406 Newport Blvd., about 1 a.m. Friday after four men lost consciousness inside the Balboa Peninsula bar. The men, who authorities think had overdosed on an unknown narcotic, were taken to local hospitals.

An investigation led police to arrest Sean Robert McLaughlin, 42, who works at the bar and who police suspect provided the drug to the men, authorities said.

McLaughlin was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter at 8:45 p.m. Friday at his home in Aliso Viejo, police said.

The investigation is continuing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797 or rhenry@nbpd.org.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Question: Can you give me any tips on how to find opportunities to sail from Southern California to Hawaii? A few years ago, I sailed from the Caribbean to Portugal on a small sailboat. I was taken on as crew. There was just the captain, myself and one other crewman. How can I find a situation similar to this, leaving SoCal and ending in Hawaii?

Travis Toon

Mount Vernon, Ind.

Answer: Youve heard of EHarmony, which matches singles (or so they say) with other singles (ditto)? Welcome to what Im calling Sea Harmony, a whole world that endeavors to match would-be crew with need-some-crew boats.

Youll find such sites as FindACrew (www.findacrew.net), whose website says it matches and connects boat owners and representatives directly online with crew from anywhere to anywhere in the world; CruisersForum.com, which offers, besides its matchmaking service, encyclopedic information about boats and the business of boats; and Crewbay.com, a site that was born so Ollie Wells, its founder, could share his love of sailing and help link those in need of jobs with those who have them.

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Wells gave me a look inside this world, foreign to me but a kind of home to him. He knows this universe because he lived in it for a time.

There are a couple of kinds of match-ups that can happen, he said: A crew member might catch on, as he once did, to a gig on a vessel, paying a bit of money each day for the privilege of being on a boat that visits some cool places.

On the cusp of becoming a responsible adult, he parlayed sailing skills learned from his father into working parts of three summers on a yacht in the Mediterranean.

Instead of being paid for his work (which sometimes involved cooking, making the punch each night, a bit of vessel upkeep and the occasional watch) he was paid about 10 euros a day (about $11 U.S.) to be part of a life he remembers as magical and a dream.

He recalled one night when he was on the tiller and all of a sudden, these torpedoes were coming toward the boat. He realized they were dolphins aglow, thanks to bio-luminescence.

I was gobsmacked, said Wells, who lives in Devon, England.

From that stint, he graduated to professional crewing, which wasnt quite as enchanting. He worked on super yachts in the south of France, he said, where he spent a lot of time polishing the boat in the sun all day, which gets pretty boring.

These experiences led to the creation of Crewbay while Wells was still at university, where he was studying graphic design.

Letting the wind push you from anchorage to anchorage leaves you with a sense of absolute freedom, he said in an email. Right now, Crewbay is a labor of love. The service is free, and theres little advertising.

Knowing that I am replicating this experience for others is by far payment enough, he said. We hope to continue our free service no matter how busy we get, so people can essentially hitchhike their way around the world.

His life now is more settled (wife, Anita; son, Axer; dog, Archie; plus a job as an IT engineer for a bank), but he draws satisfaction from helping others.

One recent email from a Crewbay user said, I am now on a 42-foot sailboat because of your site, and my life is way much better and Im way happier now.

Another way to get your foot in the door may be offshore racing, said Andy Turpin, managing editor of Latitude 38, a Northern California sailing publication he described as a regional magazine that has outgrown its regionality.

It too offers avenues to catching on with a crew, but Turpin also suggests that more experienced sailors might be able to find work with racers in the Pacific Cup, from San Francisco to Oahu; the Trans Pacific Yacht Race, from Los Angeles to Oahu; or the Vic-Maui Yacht Race, from Victoria, Canada, to the 727-square-mile isle.

Turpin suggested attending prerace events and displaying an enthusiasm and a willingness to work hard. That may be your ticket.

As with any matchmaking, whether in person or online, and whether its romantic love or the romance of the seas, always proceed with caution. You are your own best safeguard, and if something seems off, dont be afraid to back off.

And remember, you can get to Hawaii on a ship without signing on as crew. Several cruise lines sail from Southern California to the islands (usually stopping at a foreign port to satisfy maritime law). It is all very civil, if civil means that someone else does all the work, you get to direct your own activities and no one will ever ask you to polish the vessel.

You wont get tossed around in a storm  at least, not the way you would on a yacht thats dwarfed by todays behemoth cruise ships.

But theres little adventure on board those behemoths, which is OK unless you harbor a fantasy about running away to sea. And then, Crewbay and its ilk begin to promise a different take on travel that just might change the way you see the world.

Have a travel dilemma? Write to travel@latimes.com. We regret we cannot answer every inquiry.

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Efren Forones jumped from his chair when he saw the news report on TV.

Boats were coming back from Scarborough Shoal. Fishermen were wading through shallow waters carrying buckets spilling over with fish.

It is true! It is open! the 55-year-old fisherman yelled to his bewildered family.

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It had just been a little over a week since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came back from a state visit to China, and already his realignment from Washington to Beijing appeared to be bearing fruit. Chinese vessels had stopped their blockade of a vital Philippine fishing ground, bringing the hope of renewed prosperity to a western coastal swath of Luzon island.

Seeing the fishermen on TV with their catch fired up Forones old memories of his days in the fertile fishing grounds.

It had been three years since he had last been to Scarborough Shoal.

But the joy that the announcement brought to fishermen like Forones was soon tempered by a realization: Nothing that the Chinese and Filipino presidents had discussed about the shoal was binding. The blockade could be reimposed at any time. And no one was compensating the fishermen for all that they had lost.

Forones grew up a fisherman like his father before him. He started sailing the sea when he was 12, finding in it a source of adventure, food and good money. There was no need for school, nor was there time. He was always out fishing and the sea provided everything he needed  until it didnt.

In 2012, the Chinese Coast Guard seized control of Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks surrounding a lagoon in a disputed portion of the South China Sea.

Efren Forones has been a fisherman all his life. At sea, he found adventure, food and a good income. (Ana Santos / For The Times )

A fertile fishing ground used by the Filipinos, the area is a crucial shipping access strip where an estimated $5 trillion worth of trade passes through every year.

The blockade escalated to intimidation and then aggression, with fishermen reporting that the Chinese Coast Guard had turned its water cannons on them to drive them away.

With access to the shoal uncertain, the financial costs of sailing out to Scarborough, about 150 miles from the coastline of Zambales province, became a losing proposition.

In response to the blockade, Manila filed a case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. In July, the court ruled in favor of Manila. It found that Chinas maritime claim was excessive and encroached on the Philippines 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, where the Scarborough Shoal lies.

China disregarded the ruling and continued barring Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal.

During his presidential bid, Duterte promised to assert the Philippiness claims. If necessary, he joked, he would take a jet ski to the South China Sea and plant a Philippine flag there.

But after his election, Duterte refocused his vitriol from China to his countrys ally (and onetime colonial ruler), the United States. Smarting from President Obamas criticism of his brutal drug war, he called the president a son of a whore and announced an economic and military separation from the United States. In Beijing, he told Chinese leaders that he had realigned myself in your ideological flow and would be dependent on you for all time.

He returned to Manila with $24 billion worth of funding and investment commitments from China along with an announcement. Let us wait for a few more days, he said. We might be able to go back to Scarborough Shoal.

The water at Masinloc, in the western Philippines. (Ana Santos / For The Times )

The blockade of the shoal had set off a chain reaction of devastating consequences for people in the coastal village of Masinloc.

Seasonal fishing expeditions to Scarborough Shoal had meant as much as $250 per person, per trip, said Willy Cruz, regional director of the governments Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The fishermen could maybe make about $10 a day if they dont go to Scarborough. And thats being optimistic.

Without trips to the shoal, the men were forced to fish in nearby waters and compete with other fishermen for a smaller catch.

A rapidly growing population and destructive fishing methods such as dynamite and cyanide fishing had led to serious environmental degradation and a dwindling fish catch, the fisheries bureau said.

Even before the issues with China, dwindling fish catch was a problem. The closure of Scarborough just made it worse, said Leonardo Cuaresma, chairman of the Federated Assn. of Fisherfolk in Masinloc.

Various government programs were put in place to promote safer fishing practices as an alternative to dynamite and cyanide fishing. Fishing gear and motorized boats were given to qualified fishermen to make fishing in local waters more efficient.

Meanwhile, the fishing federation has been working with government agencies to train the fishermen in alternative skills.

When Forones couldnt fish anymore, he started driving a motorized rickshaw commonly used as a neighborhood taxi. Still, he found it difficult to make ends meet for his wife and six children.

Efren Forones with his family. Left to right: A neighbors unidentified child; Leah, 25, with her son Jaren, 2, in her lap; Emmanuel, 10; Emmaglyn, 5, on Forones knee; Sheila, 22, with her daughter, 1-year-old Villagail, in her lap. (Ana Santos / For The Times )

For many of the displaced men, their wives took up the role of the breadwinner and left to work overseas, often in the Middle East, as domestic helpers.

Forones wife, Gemma, left to work in Saudi Arabia in 2015. Soon after, her sister, Melinda, left for Dubai, and last February, their youngest sister Elvira also left for Saudi Arabia.

Viany Mula, 45, lives next door to the Forones family in a wooden hut on stilts. His wife also left when he couldnt fish anymore.

Viany Mula, 45, hopes to return to fishing at Scarborough Shoal soon. (Ana Santos / For The Times )

Like Forones, Mula wants to go back to Scarborough. I saw the reports on TV, he said. Im thankful and hope we can go back soon. We made big money there.

The local fishermens associations share his anticipation. They want to freely fish in what they believe to rightfully be Philippine territory, but they are skeptical and anxious  and a bit confused.

China is very clear about stating their claim. Our president hasnt said anything except that we can now fish there. What does that mean? said Laureno Artagame, chairman of the provincial group of fishermen associations.

Its as if we were given permission to enter what is ours, and thats it, he added. Like a crying child is given candy to make him stop crying. Is that acceptable?

When asked if the government could give the fishermen the assurance they need, Charles Jose, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, released this statement: The dispute in the South China Sea is not the sum total of the Philippines bilateral relations with China. The government works to ensure that Filipino fishermen will have unimpeded access to Bajo de Masinloc (or Scarborough Shoal).

Cuaresma and Artagames organizations are planning a protest of some sort to express their disappointment.

Both admit that they might have a problem getting support from the fishermen who have for the moment been pacified, overjoyed at the prospect of being able to fish in Scarborough Shoal again.

At least one Masinloc fisherman doesnt want to go back to Scarborough Shoal  ever.

Junick Josol is Forones brother-in-law. His wife, Melinda, went to the Middle East. He is angry now at Duterte for failing to assert the Philippines claim on the disputed territory, even if China is now allowing fishing there.

Its like he sided with China, Josol said. We cannot forget Chinas aggression towards us. They bumped our boats, they fired their water cannons on us.

Our wives felt sorry for us when we could no longer fish and make money. They wanted to help us. Our income from Scarborough was for our families. When that was gone, it was as if they had killed our families, too.

Santos is a special correspondent.

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No, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is NOT dead. But it is in trouble.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing Monday in a Shiite Muslim mosque in Afghanistans capital that officials said killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens.

The bomber was reportedly on foot when he detonated an explosives-laden vest in the Baqir-ul Uloom mosque in western Kabul, where members of Afghanistans Shiite minority worship.

At least 35 people were injured, Kabul police officials said.

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Islamic State, the Iraq- and Syria-based militant group that has claimed a series of deadly attacks in South Asia, issued a statement via its Amaq news agency saying it was responsible for the bombing, the SITE Intelligence Group reported. The radical Sunni group views Shiites as apostates.

Sulaiman Ferozi, 22, who was inside the mosque, said a religious scholar was concluding an address when the blast shook the building.

I was sitting behind a column and when I opened my eyes a few seconds later there was dust everywhere, Ferozi said. People were dying.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the enemies of Afghanistan [who] are trying to divide people by attacking holy and religious targets.

Amnesty International called on the Afghan government to investigate the attack and do more to safeguard religious minorities.

They have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shia Muslims from attacks and end impunity for previous abuses against the Shia community, the groups South Asia director, Champa Patel, said in a statement.

Shiites make up approximately 15% of Afghanistans 30 million people. They suffered grave discrimination during Taliban rule in the late 1990s but have enjoyed greater rights and visibility since the U.S.-led military invasion in 2001.

Over the last year, Islamic State has established a network of loyalists in Afghanistan who have opened a new challenge for the U.S.-backed government, which is already struggling to hold onto territory against the Taliban insurgency.

Last week, Islamic State in Khorasan  as the groups South Asia branch is known  said it was behind an attack on an Afghan security team that killed seven people in Kabul. In October, the group claimed to have kidnapped and killed 26 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan.

Faizy is a special correspondent. Staff writer Shashank Bengali contributed to this report from Mumbai, India.

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UPDATES:

10:45 a.m.: This article has been updated to indicate the bomber was in the mosque.

7 a.m. This article was updated throughout with Times reporting.

3:30 a.m.: This article was updated with new death and injury tolls and additional background.

This article was originally published at 1:10 a.m.
Pope Francis is allowing all priests to absolve women of the grave sin of abortion, extending indefinitely special permission he had granted for the duration of the just-ended Holy Year of Mercy.

Francis wrote in the Apostolic Letter made public by the Vatican on Monday that there is no sin that Gods mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with God.

But he also wrote: I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life.

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Because the Roman Catholic Church holds abortion to be such a serious sin, it had long put the matter of granting forgiveness for it in the hands of a bishop, who could either hear the womans confession himself or delegate that to a priest who was expert in such situations.

But in 2015, Francis had said he was allowing all rank-and-file priests to grant absolution for an abortion for the duration of the Holy Year, which ran from Dec. 8, 2015, through Nov. 20, 2016.

By now letting all priests absolve the sin of abortion on a permanent basis following the end of the Holy Year, Francis is further applying his vision of a merciful church to those women who, as he has written in the past, felt they had no choice but to make this agonizing and painful decision.

May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation for faithful who had abortions, Francis wrote.

A top Holy See official, Monsignor Rino Fisichella, told a news conference at the Vatican on Monday that the popes words applied also to those who were involved in an abortion.

The sin of abortion is technically an expression that includes all the people who are involved in an abortion, Fisichella said in response to a question from the Associated Press. Thus from the women to the nurse to the doctor and whoever supports this procedure.

Fisichella added: The sin of abortion is inclusive. Thus forgiveness for the sin of abortion is all-inclusive and extends to all those who are participants in this sin.

In his Apostolic Letter, Francis explained his rationale: Lest any obstacle arise between the request for reconciliation and Gods forgiveness, I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion.

During the recent U.S. presidential election campaign, some pastors urged their congregations to keep the sacredness in life  seen as a reference to abortion  in mind when deciding which candidate would get their vote. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump voiced his opposition to abortion; his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, supported a womans right to have an abortion.

Four cardinals, including archconservative U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke, recently criticized Francis for what they indicated was ambiguity in past statements on whether divorced Catholics who remarry can receive Communion. Burke and the others expressed fear that Francis was causing confusion by saying the matter could be left to the discernment of local priests. Church teaching holds such Catholics are adulterers living in sin and thus shouldnt receive Communion.

In the letter on abortion, Francis made plain that there can be no ambiguity in laying out moral principles, even while stressing the churchs merciful side.

Addressing priests in part of the 10-page letter, Francis said: I ask you to be welcoming to all, witnesses of fatherly love whatever the gravity of the sin involved, attentive in helping penitents to reflect on the evil they have done, clear in presenting moral principles, willing to walk patiently beside the faithful on their penitential journey, farsighted in discerning individual cases and generous in dispensing Gods forgiveness.

Mercy cannot become a mere parenthesis in the life of the church; it constitutes her very existence, Francis wrote.

Although the popes approach to forgiveness for abortion could distress those Catholics holding a more rigid application of church teaching, he reached out to traditionalists too in his letter.

He declared that faithful attending churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X, an ultra-conservative breakaway group, can validly and licitly receive the sacramental absolution of their sins. Francis had previously limited that permission only for the period of the Holy Year.

Francis also expressed hope that these breakaway priests are striving to work for full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

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8:35 a.m.: This story has been updated with additional details about Pope Francis Apostolic Letter.
A pharmacist, woken by the sound of explosions, rushed out to help the wounded  only to be blocked by his wife and children, who feared he would die in another wave of attacks. A pediatrician worried about how he would reach the clinic in the morning. A doctor wondered if he would see a family member lying in an ambulance.

This is how medical professionals in the divided city of Aleppo said their day began on Sunday. They say the violence there, even by the brutal standards of the Syrian civil war, has reached an unprecedented level.

At the same time, government troops, who launched an all-out Russian-backed offensive last week to rout the opposition from the eastern districts of the city, seized a rebel neighborhood. Damascus also rebuffed initiatives by U.N. officials to stop the carnage.

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A helicopter comes and drops two barrel bombs ... then a warplane comes and hits the same place with parachute bombs, Dr. Ghaith Suleiman, a 33-year-old pediatrician at the Childrens Hospital in the rebel-held Al-Shaar neighborhood, said in a WhatsApp message, describing the intensity of the assault. Then you have artillery, then rockets  and the helicopter comes back again.

Before we had one or two neighborhoods attacked several times a day, he said. Now almost all [opposition] neighborhoods are bombed in one go.

On Saturday, the attacks temporarily knocked out most major hospitals in eastern Aleppo, said Suleiman, sending doctors scrambling to move patients to other clinics. Others restarted work hours later.

A day later, almost all facilities were back online, but medical crews could barely keep up.

You cant imagine the situation of the corridors on all the floors full of wounded and martyrs, said Radhwan Al-Kurdi, deputy of the oppositions Aleppo medical administration.

Even before some of the hospitals were hit, they couldnt offer help due to the large number of patients.

At least 29 civilians were killed in the city Sunday, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition watchdog with a network of activists on the ground.

Among them were eight children killed when the rebels struck Al-Furqan school in government-held western Aleppo, according to Syrian state news operator SANA.

Some of children arrived in pieces, said Dr. Mazen Rahmoun, the deputy head of the state health directorate in Aleppo.

They were taken directly to the morgue in body bags.

Yet it was the rebel enclave in eastern Aleppo, blockaded by government troops since July, that sustained the bulk of the damage. Since the beginning of the governments offensive Tuesday, almost 200 people  more than half of them civilians  have been killed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Others, like Suleiman, put the number of dead at nearly twice that.

Earlier in the day, pro-government outlets reported that the Syrian army advanced into Masaken Hanano, a rebel-held neighborhood on the outskirts of the citys eastern flank. The move, if sustained, is a severe blow to the rebels, said Rami Abdul Rahman, the head of the observatory.

The progress that the regime achieved today was the most significant one since 2013. This is the first real advance into major rebel-held territories in the city, he said.

With the death toll climbing, and fears of food supplies running out in eastern Aleppo, the U.N.s special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, arrived in the capital, Damascus, hoping to stop the government from pursuing what he described as a pyrrhic victory in Aleppo.

The timing of the offensive, launched by Damascus and Moscow in the last weeks of the Obama administration, is seen as a way to establish a fait accompli before the end of the year and the inauguration of Donald Trump, widely thought to be less sympathetic to the rebels. The government wants to take Aleppo, Syrias largest city and a real as well as a symbolic prize, as proof it can reestablish control over all parts of the country.

Mistura, in a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, proposed placing eastern Aleppo under the autonomous rule of opposition administrators once fighters affiliated with hard-line Islamist factions had withdrawn from the city and given safe passage to the neighboring rebel-held province of Idlib.

The rebel enclave has maintained its own city council since 2012.

But Moallem seemed in no mood for compromise. He issued a total rejection of the proposal, saying it affected Syrias national sovereignty.

Is it possible that the U.N. comes to reward those terrorists who are still launching indiscriminate shells on western Aleppo? asked Moallem in a televised news conference after the meeting, employing the Syrian governments routine description for the rebels.

It is absolutely unacceptable that 275,000 of our people remain as hostages to the five, six or seven thousand gunmen, he said. East Aleppo cannot be an exception among the rest of the areas that have undergone reconciliations.

The government has offered rebels who lay down their arms an amnesty, allowing those who reconcile to return to government areas while offering safe passage for those who refuse to submit.

Critics, however, say the policy is part of the governments starve-or-surrender tactic, in which it chokes off supplies from opposition areas it has besieged before forcibly evacuating the population.

Moallem also expressed hope that the incoming U.S. administration would revise Obamas stance toward Syria. The U.S. has given limited assistance to a number of rebel groups fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, opposition groups that purport to espouse a secular outlook.

Both the CIA and the Pentagon have offered training, logistical support and antitank missiles; the latter have been crucial to previous opposition victories.

Did this strategy achieve any goals for the American people when they spent millions of dollars to train and arm what they called the moderate opposition? continued Moallem. Any sane person would say this policy is wrong and must be corrected.

Bulos is a special correspondent.
Laws of Bangladesh are derived from English Law. Like in India, Bangladesh has hierarchy of courts High Court being the highest court in a state and Supreme Court being the Apex Court of the Country.

Further, like in India, all the statutes are enacted by the Parliament and courts interpretations and verdicts contributes towards development of law.

Foreign Litigants:

If the defendant resides and carries his business in Bangladesh, foreign litigants can file a suit in Bangladesh. Also, If the cause of action arouse within the jurisdiction of the courts of Bangladesh, foreign litigants can move the courts of Bangladesh. Suits for specific performance of contract to sell a property in Bangladesh against a non-residential foreigner can me moved in Bangladesh. It does not matter where the contract was signed.

Enforcement of foreign judgments:

Bangladesh courts allows enforcement of foreign decrees, if the foreign country and Bangladesh has reciprocity in the matter. Under the supervision of the District Judge the foreign decree is executed. The decree should have been passed by superior court in the foreign country.

The District Court may execute a foreign judgment, if

It has been passed by a court of competent jurisdiction

It should have been passed on the merits of the case

It is founded on a correct view of international law

It has not been obtained by fraud, and

It should not uphold a claim against any law of Bangladesh

ARBITRATION:

Arbitration is governed by The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

The CPC provides for mediation in suits at an early stage of hearing. However, debt recovery suits by financial institutions cannot be settled by arbitration.

In the contract arbitration clause should be there in writing. The Arbitration Act 2001 is applicable for all arbitrations. The dispute has to be referred to Bangladesh Council of Arbitration, a body of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

The award must be in writing and signed by the arbitrators. The award can be executed like any normal decree after 60 days from the date of the award, since, a party may approach the court to set aside the award within 60 days.

Cost of litigation:

The courts rarely award costs. It may do so favouring the winner.

Common forms of relief are Injunction, Specific performance of contract, confiscating property and handing over to the petitioner, determining rights of litigants without compensation and appointing a receiver.

Time taken by courts:

There is no specific limitation period within which a suit to be disposed off. A case may take even 12 years for disposal.

Default Judgment and Summary Judgment:

Civil courts may pass judgments without trail in the matters of non appearance of defendant after release of summons an ex parte judgment, if the defendant fails to submit defence, if the defendant admits the claim.

Class Actions:

If there is a common question of law or fact and the right to relief arises out of the same set of acts or circumstances, the plaintiffs can join together to move the court as a class suit. Similarly, if there is a common question of law or fact and if the relief sought against defendants arise out of the same acts or transactions, the court may allow for joinder of defendants.

The author can also be reached at drgubbilegal@gmail.com

Tags : Civil Law
Allentown police are investigating a pair of armed robberies Sunday night in the city.

At 10:34 p.m., two men with guns tried to rob a person delivering Chinese food in the 700 block of North Plum Street, police Capt. Steve Vangelo said.

The delivery person dropped the food and ran, and wasn't able to provide police with more of a description of the robbers, Vangelo said. The robbers took the food, Vangelo added.

It remains under investigation if the robbers called in the order, Vangelo said.

At 11:40 p.m., two men wearing black hoodies, black masks and blue jeans robbed two people in the 1300 block of Allen Street, Vangelo said. One of the robbers displayed a firearm, Vangelo said.

The robbers got away with jewelry, cash and a cellphone, Vangelo said.

No one was injured in either incident.

If you have information on either crime, call police at 610-437-7721.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Two Bethlehem residents are charged with insurance fraud as part of a Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office sweep in November that involved 50 suspects and more than $1.1 million in fraudulent actions.

Raymond Barbosa, 50, of the 200 block of West Lehigh Street, and Stacey McClure, 46, of the 1400 block of High Street, were arraigned Nov. 7 before District Judge Roy Manwaring on two counts each of insurance fraud and single counts of theft by deception and criminal use of a communications device, according to the attorney general's office and court records.

Barbosa was involved in a single-vehicle crash in March 2015 but did not have auto insurance, the attorney general's office said. He got insurance with Progressive after the crash and four days later filed a claim, saying the accident happened after he got the policy, authorities said.

McClure provided a statement to the insurance company backing up Barbosa's claim, officials said.

"In both of their statements, Barbosa and McClure allegedly misled the insurance company when they said they did not know each other prior to the accident," the attorney general's office said.

Online databases showed McClure also has used the last name Barbosa.

Both were freed on $5,000 unsecured bail. Neither could immediately be reached for comment.

The investigations were done by the attorney general's office Insurance Fraud Section.

"Insurance fraud results in billions of dollars of losses each year," Attorney General Bruce Beemer said in a news release. "This type of fraud also leads to higher insurance rates for everyone, which is why it is important for our office to be diligent in investigating and prosecuting these crimes."

Preliminary hearings for Barbosa and McClure are tentatively scheduled 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Manwaring's Bethlehem court.

The fraud charges and the communication device charge are third-degree felonies that carry a maximum sentence per count of seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Dan David Hernandez

A Bethlehem man was sentenced Monday to 18 to 36 years in prison for a shooting near an auto repair shop.

Dan David Hernandez was convicted in July for shooting Kinte King near King's repair shop on Aug. 22, 2013. King was shot six times. He nearly died and lost his spleen as a result of the incident.

Jurors deliberated over two days before finding the 32-year-old Hernandez guilty of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment.

He was sentenced Monday by Northampton County Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden.

"I'm pleased with the sentence," said Assistant District Attorney Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen. "I think it's an appropriate sentence given the facts of the case."

Mulqueen said Hernandez was upset because of a fight earlier that day that stemmed from an auto repair bill Hernandez had not paid to King. She said Hernandez was looking for revenge at King's shop in the 1400 block of Marvine Street in Bethlehem.

Hernandez testified that he shot King in self-defense.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Laois TD and Sinn Fein spokesperson on Communications Brian Stanley has called for the protection of Ireland's Post Office Network.

Deputy Stanley made the call in the Dail.

Rural post offices across Ireland must be protected and their services enhanced. As with Garda Stations and small rural schools, post offices have also come under attack from government measures and hundreds of post offices across rural Ireland have been threatened with closure.

Many people living in rural Ireland have heard from their public representatives that they support local post office services. But liberalisation directives from the EU which are now threatening post office network were supported by many of these same representatives.

He said keeping An Post in public ownership can ensure adequate funding to the Universal Service Obligation to avoid any potential threat to pay and conditions of staff, which have already been tested by full competition.

There is broad agreement on the need to expand the services provided by An Post which is the main recommendation of the Kerr report.However, there has been a distinct lack of progress on implementing these recommendations.

Last week John Daly, the Director of Retail Operations at An Post warned the Committee on Arts, Heritage and Rural Affairs that 700 Post Offices in the state are not sustainable. If the government does not act quickly then the closure of these branches will result in many of the communities in which they are based becoming unsustainable.

Rural communities have taken about as much as they can manage. We cannot allow the vital services provided by post offices to be stripped from rural Ireland," he said.
In the third half hour episode in the new series of UTV Irelands Lesser Spotted Journeys on this Sunday, November 27 at 5pm, Joe Mahon explores Drumshanbo where he finds out why the town is well-known in Saudi Arabia for its jam, gets a crash course in beekeeping and visits the former island home of a 19th-century sea captain.

In this episode, Joe visits the town of Drumshanbo on the shores of Lough Allen. Joe takes to the water first of all, heading out on the lough with Sean Wynne from the Lough Allen Adventure Centre. Sean takes Joe on a boat trip to an island with three names, stopping to investigate some drowned trees on the way. Joe finds out about the origins of the three names of the now-overgrown and abandoned island, and learns about the previous occupant, a 19th century sea captain who loved boats and rare trees. Joe also hears about the islands connection to the family of famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton, and how we owe our knowledge of the Captain OConnors elaborate boat-house to them.

Back on dry land, Joe peruses the permanent exhibition of Drumshanbo history in the Credit Union building, courtesy of three generations of the McPartland family. Noel McPartland chats to Joe about his time working for one of the biggest employers of the 20th century in Drumshanbo, the jam factory of the Laird family. Noel tells Joe about the entrepreneurship of Caleb Laird, who brought electricity to the town long before it reached other rural areas of Ireland, and discusses how Drumshanbo jam was a brand leader in Saudi Arabia for many years.

Finally, Joe pays a visit to beekeepers Mary McNutt and Mary Hyland, who are on a mission to promote our fragile honeybee population. Mary McNutt demonstrates for Joe the polystyrene hive starter kits she supplies to beginner bee-keepers, and gives him a crash course in the rudiments of bee-keeping and the dynamics of a mating hive. Botanist Mary Hyland takes Joe on a tour of the hedgerows near their home, pointing out the flowers which are best for honeybees. Mary reveals which common plant makes the champagne of honey, and why, despite its ubiquity, its honey is so rare. She also makes a plea for a much-maligned weed that is vital for our bee population.
So what have the following years got in common? 2007, 2005, 1999, 1935 and 1937. It might seem a bit unlikely, but they are the year of birth of five of our activists who came out, fed and watered activists, wrote envelopes, stuffed and folded and delivered in Sleaford and North Hykeham.

Yes, this is a snapshot insight into the most unlikely and optimistic by-election campaigns that Lincolnshire and, indeed I would venture, the East Midlands has ever seen.

On paper the odds and the basis for such optimism is very very low, but lets go through a few elements. We have two county councillors in the constituency and those seats successfully defended in 2017 should see us elect up to 7 councillors on North Kesteven District in 2019. So that would be progress. But its not enough. So we are also working very hard in Sleaford Town. That campaign, translated up in 2019, would elect a further 6 district councillors. So that too would be progress. But its not enough. So we are working to activate our traditional Lincolnshire support base in some of the larger villages. This is being done through contacting, motivating and empowering our members and critically our new members.

The means of doing this is very intensive, but the by-election is a great trigger and excuse so we are starting it all now.

Now sending in a team from London would be the traditional solution because that is where Party HQ is located, but because of Richmond Park, those staff members are not available. So instead there is full-time staff team here lead by Ian Horner and myself: a Yorkshire man who knows the rural communities of the East Of England and a yellowbelly (myself) who has transferred himself from Spalding to Sleaford to help this campaign.

Now this is just a set of ambitions and we are working hard to realise them. But I am delighted to say that this campaign also is headed up by a candidate who is leading from the front: Ross Pepper. Ross was born in Lincolnshire and knows the local issues across the constituency very well. He shops in the shops local people shop in, he walks and drives down the same roads as them, he sees the problems and opportunities other local people see. And most of all he is genuine, fun and positive.

Now this all sounds quite good, but it gets better. The membership of the Local Party has leapt since the referendum and is young and vibrant. This is a constituency where, despite the urging of most of the key opinion formers, nearly 40% voted Remain in the recent referendum. And further many of those who voted Leave feel let down and worried about what might happen next, as the Tory Government stumbles.

So the opportunities are huge and we are doing our very best. Our ambition is to build on the stunning result in Witney, to surf the outcome of the Richmond Park by-election. If we manage that, then who knows what we can do.

Our immediate plan to to light a beacon so big and so large in a Sleaford and North Hykeham on 8th December that the warm glow of liberal democracy will be felt across Lincolnshire and indeed across the East Midlands.

So if you havent already, go to Richmond Park and if you live in Lincolnshire then just jump in your car or or a train and come over and help. For reference (and this is an article for Liberal Democrats, after all) we have a host of railway stations within the constituency: Sleaford, Ruskington, Rauceby, Metheringham, Hykeham and Swinderby.

See you soon if you live locally, and for the rest of you, see you on Friday 2nd December after Richmond Park. And a huge and gushing thank-you to all those who have been and helped to date.

* Ed Fordham is a councillor on Chesterfield Borough Council and runs Brockwell Books of Chesterfield, selling many thanks, not least ephemera he bought from Liber Books over the last 25 years.
LIMERICK Chamber CEO Dr James Ring has urged the local business community to take off the county colours and start working with neighbouring areas.

Calling for an end to parish pump politics, he said this new approach will make the Mid-West a real alternative to Dublin.

Addressing more than 400 local business leaders at the annual Chamber Business Awards on Friday night in the Strand Hotel, Dr Ring warned that Limerick will struggle to compete on its own, as will Clare and Tipperary.

We can no longer afford to waste time competing with each other. However, if we start meaningfully working together to attract investment and jobs into the Mid-West region, we will have a real chance, he told the audience of 450 guests.

So I say enough of the parish pump politics, enough fighting for the scraps off Dublins table. Lets stand together with one voice and I would include Galway in this conversation, and we will make the Mid-West a real alternative to Dublin, Dr Ring added.

In her address, president Catherine Duffy said the outlay for the Limerick/Cork motorway would be returned by two to one in terms of economic benefits.

Balanced regional development means developing the full potential of each area to contribute to the optimal performance of the state as a whole. Economically, socially and environmentally.

"If the proposed Cork-Limerick M20 motorway is given the green light, the government's original research show the benefit of this motorway would outweigh its cost by two to one, as well as delivering significant advantages and increased safety to road users, she said.

Nine companies in all claimed the 2016 Regional Business Awards, with the top award, Overall Business of the Year award going to Dell EMC.

The Presidents Award, for an individual or organisation who made a significant business economic contribution at local or national level, went to John Moran, former Secretary General at the Department of Finance.
THE MANAGER of the project to supply water from Parteen to Dublin says there will be no impact on flow to lower River Shannon.

Gerry Geoghegan was speaking after Irish Water published its final options appraisal report which identifies the preferred scheme for a new source of water supply for the Eastern and Midlands region.

The project comprises the sustainable abstraction of water on the eastern shore of Parteen basin, with water treatment nearby at Birdhill. Treated water would then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in South County Dublin. Supplies of treated water would be made available to Midland communities along the route from Parteen basin to Dublin.

When complete, the project will be capable of supplying the additional 330 million litres of water per day which will be required by the Eastern and Midlands region by 2050.

The proposed abstraction at Parteen Basin, downstream of Lough Derg, will not take more than 2% of the average flow at Parteen basin. The proposed abstraction is not from inflow into Parteen basin, but from the water that is managed there for power generation. The proposed abstraction will be accommodated within the existing operating water level band, with no change to its upper or lower level and with no reduction in minimum flow to the lower Shannon, said Mr Geoghegan.

No change is being sought to the operating conditions which underpin angling, navigation, or the lake environment and tourism.

Comprehensive studies including analysis of over 80 years of records showed that the proposed abstraction at Parteen, downstream of the lake, would not impact the flow to the lower Shannon.

The Ardnacrusha hydro-power plant already regulates the lake levels and river flow. The proposed abstraction of water is, in essence, an abstraction from the hydro-power plant, using existing water level controls, rather than building new ones.

The statutory compensation water of 10 cubic metres per second spilled from Parteen Weir into the Old River Shannon will remain unchanged and undiminished under this proposal, he said.

A number of farmers who will be affected by the 170km pipeline have expressed their concerns with the IFAs Thomas Cooney saying, Theyre talking about a 50 metre working width, thats about the width of OConnell Street [in Dublin].
AN elderly Limerick bus driver who has admitted he does not hold a PSV licence has been disqualified for two years.

Thomas Murphy, aged 76, of Lyradane Avenue, Woodview Park pleaded guilty, at Limerick District Court, to several charges relating to an incident on April 19, last.

Garda Brian Duddy of the divisional traffic corps told Limerick District Court he observed the defendant dropping off students outside Mary Immaculate College at around 2.40pm.

He said when he approached Mr Murphy he informed him he did not have a PSV licence.

It was subsequently established that the defendant was not insured to carry passengers in his minibus because he did not have the appropriate licence.

Judge Marian OLeary was told the bus, which was seized by Garda Duddy had a capacity of 16 passengers. It was not taxed on the date of the offence.

Solicitor Kate Fanning said her client, who is unemployed, applied for a PSV licence in the past but failed the test as he found it very difficult.

She said while the vehicle was insured, the pensioner now accepts it did not cover the transporting of passengers.

Judge OLeary reacted with shock when informed the defendant had been driving passengers in his minibus for up to three years prior to the date of the offence.

Its just too dangerous what he did, she commented.

The judge fined Mr Murphy 250 and she disqualified him from driving for two years.

She fined him 150 for not having a PSV licence and a further 150 for not having Motor Tax on the vehicle.
ONE HUNDRED students protested against annual third level fees as An Taoiseach Enda Kenny arrived via garda escort at University of Limerick.

Students representing a number of campus societies, including youth wing political parties, grouped together, chanting and raising their placards, while eagerly awaiting An Taoiseachs arrival.

The protest, according to UL Students Unions academic officer Donal Foley, was in response to the Governments recent Cassells report, which outlines potential options for student fees in the future.

Mr Foley was joined by ULSU welfare officer, Caolan ODonnell, Castletroy, at the protest and both waited for Mr Kennys exit to present him with a letter, containing proposals to fully-publicly fund annual fees.

While Mr Kenny dodged being questioned by the media, he spoke with the two young graduates after launching the Bernal Institute to discuss their proposals.

They both challenged Mr Kenny on the issue, and told him that the option of an income-based loan, where graduates would pay their 22,000-24,000 through their wages, would be unsustainable. The third option is to not change the current system of 3,000 in fees a year.

An attentive Kenny let the two elected officials express their opinions, and asked them to elaborate on what they thought the most suitable option was.

I have no problem paying an income tax to pay for public education, Mr Foley said, because I will paying into the cycle. If you go through a free education system, you are going to understand that Okay, my taxes are going towards an education system.

I understand that there are going to be generations that didnt get free education and they may be a bit sour, but the cycle has to start somewhere, he told An Taoiseach.

He told Mr Kenny that the United States has 1.3tn in student loans, while Australias loan-based system has been described as a ticking time bomb.

So, you would like it completely publicly-funded? An Taoiseach then asked.

Yes, he replied.

And thats your option from the Cassells report?

Yes. And I will have no problem in paying a higher income tax.

Mr Kenny said that the Government is working on a strategy to fund third level funding, saying its not just a case of making a decision and saying its going to be all publically funded. He concluded the discussion by commending the two on outlining their proposals.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader afterwards, Mr Foley said that he was glad to meet with An Taoiseach to air their views. Commenting on the interaction, he said: He was tough but fair. He was able to give us information on what he is going to do. He said he was going to read the letter and consider what the contents of it were. The balls in Endas corner now.

In their letter, they propose that corporation tax and income tax be raised to assist the State in paying for fees fully.

There are going to be other ways to fund fees. But we shouldnt be letting big multinational corporations take advantage of our country, he said.

He said that if the Government decides to go with the option of an income-based loan for student fees, it could potentially face debt, as a result of graduates emigrating and those who do not meet the income levels to pay the fees.

I will pay my income tax to pay for my childrens education, he said.

During his address at the Bernal Institute launch, An Taoiseach told the audience: I am well aware of the challenges that are in the third level sector.

He added that Minister for Education, Richard Bruton is working hard to try to deliver a sustainable income-generating financial strategy for the third level sector by mid next year. I think we need to engage with all people in the third level sector, looking at what it is that needs to be done, in taking the Cassells report and others into account as we try to project a way forward.
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A new gaming bar has opened in Lincoln that's giving enthusiasts a state of the art experience with virtual reality headsets while offering a nostalgic trip back to the heyday of arcade games.

Players can enjoy retro games from the last four decades at Akedo gaming bar on Corporation Street in the city centre.

Gamers have a choice of 1,799 games from 21 different consoles including Atari, Gameboy colour, Nintendo and Playstation all uploaded onto an arcade machine.

Owner Toby Roveizzano, 32, has lived in Lincoln all of his life but spent eight years backpacking across the globe.

He said: "I went to Japan and South Korea. I got the idea from being out there. Korea has a big gaming culture.

"I'm not even a huge gamer myself but I've always dabbled.

"I was walking around Lincoln one day and I was bored and I thought Lincoln could do with something like that."

Akedo has an open plan bar on ground level offering up craft beers, ciders, hot drinks and soft drinks.

Head down to the basement and gamers are immediately greeted with an arcade machine with 1,799 games available to play including Pacman, Mario and Street Fighter.

Turn left and enter a room illuminated with multi-colour LED lights complete with four flat screen TVs hooked up to two Play Station 4s and two Wii Us.

There's also a seating area complete with gaming cushions and stools to play card games on.

To the right there is a further seating area, two more arcade units and a special booth complete with Playstation VR.

Toby says the aim of the Akedo is to create a space that appeals to everybody whether they're into video games or not.

"We had steam punks in the other night. They were old chaps and they loved it here.

"They were playing Cards Against Humanity all night, and I could hear them laughing from up here.

"When they left they said they enjoyed it and would come back and that makes me happy.

"It makes it worth it definitely."

Toby designed the decor of Askedo himself and it's a perfect blend of vintage and modern.

In the upstairs bars, an entire wall is covered in gaming culture posters from Street fighter, Animal Crossing, Pokemon and Mario Kart to name a few.

The walls are covered in twinkly lights and spray paintings of classic game characters from Street fighters and Zelda's Link.

For some gamers, they have already made Akedo their new home.

"There's Pokesocial TV. They go around and record stuff, they used to go round the Brayford and hang out, they like it here and it's warm.

"They come in here and play cards. They're coming on Wednesday because the new Pokemon game is released.

"They're setting up market stalls because they all do crafts."

Anyone who would like to book the use of a games console should message Akedo on the link here.

Consoles are available for 10 an hour, arcade games cost 2 per person per hour and the PlayStation Virtual reality costs 10 for 30 minutes.

Akedo is open seven days a week from 11am to 11pm.
Apr 29, 2021, 3 AM

APS Executive Director Scott English during the return of the Position 76 Jenny Invert to the APRL. The library owns another Jenny Invert, and plans to auction the recently returned stamp.

Trustees of the American Philatelic Research Library have authorized an effort to find a suitable auction firm to offer the Position 76 Jenny Invert (United States Scott C3a) that was missing for more than 60 years, and which was recovered by the library

By Michael Baadke

The trustees of the American Philatelic Research Library have decided that owning one Jenny Invert stamp is enough, and they are now taking steps to sell the long-missing stolen airmail error stamp that was returned to the APRL earlier this year.

The Position 76 stamp was returned to its rightful owner, the library, on June 2 of this year, after it was found in Northern Ireland and delivered to the United States.

That means the library now owns two examples of the world famous 1918 24 airmail error stamp that shows the blue Jenny biplane in the vignette flying upside down (United States Scott C3a).

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APRL administrator and American Philatelic Society Executive Director Scott English proposed the sale of the valuable stamp in a presentation to the joint meeting of the APS board and the APRL trustees held Oct. 28 at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pa. The proposal was made by English and APRL board of trustees president Roger Brody.

The recommendation made to the APRL trustees was to authorize English and Brody to explore the sale of the stamp with an auction house to obtain the best possible return, with proceeds from the sale of the stamp, plus the sale of additional philatelic materials from supporters of the APRL to be included in the auction, to be used to reduce the $600,000 loan that was taken out to complete construction of the new library building at the American Philatelic Center.

The 24 Jenny Invert is listed with a value of $450,000 in the 2017 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. The Position 76 stamp that the library plans to sell was altered sometime during the six decades after it was stolen and before it was recovered, and that damage to the stamp could impact its potential value at auction.

On the other hand, its unusual provenance and the cachet of being part of the famous McCoy block might add appeal for potential buyers.

The proposal to sell the newly found stamp mirrors actions taken in 1981, when another stolen Jenny Invert stamp was returned to the library and then sold at public auction very soon thereafter.

The motion at the October board meeting passed without dissent.

The librarys other Jenny Invert is from position 65 on the only known sheet of 100 error stamps. It was recovered in November 1982.

Both stamps are part of the McCoy block, a block of four attached stamps that was removed intact from the sheet of 100 long ago. The block was still intact when it was stolen in 1955 from an exhibit at the annual APS stamp show and convention taking place that year in Norfolk, Va.

The stamps belonged at that time to Ethel B. Stewart McCoy, a prominent and respected collector of airmail stamps. Almost 25 years after the theft, Mrs. McCoy donated her ownership rights to the still-missing stamp quartet to the APRL.

She died in 1980, but one of the four stamps from the missing block, Position 75, had already been found by that time, and wound up in the librarys possession after all legal concerns were resolved.

The library sold that stamp in the Sept. 25-26, 1981, John W. Kaufmann auction at the APS convention in Atlanta, Ga.

The next year, a second stamp from the block was recovered: the upper left stamp, Position 65, which is still owned and frequently displayed by the APS and the APRL. It is considered one of the most publicly viewed versions of the Inverted Jenny, according to details released in October by English and Brody.

After the two stamps on the left side of the block were recovered, some 35 years passed before another one of the missing stamps turned up, in a most unlikely place: Northern Ireland.

The single stamp was found by a noncollector named Keelin ONeill among items left to him by his late grandfather, in a box that included old records and an antique clock.

ONeill could only speculate that his grandfather, who was not a stamp collector, might have obtained the items in the box at a car boot sale, a type of local flea market or informal swap meet that both ONeill and his grandfather would frequent from time to time.

For a while ONeill didnt do anything with the items in the box; he just held on to them as something to remember his grandfather by.

One day he was thinking about his grandfather, started looking through the box, and decided to check out the odd stamp.

On a trip to the United States, he took the stamp to Spink USA, an auction firm in New York City.

Once I was told that it was stolen, ONeill said, I wanted to give it back to the rightful owner.

The stamp was returned to the APRL on June 2, during World Stamp Show-NY 2016 in New York City.

The story behind the Jenny Invert from McCoy block recovered in New York: One of the two missing 1918 United States Jenny Invert airmail error stamps from the famed McCoy block of four that was stolen in 1955 was recovered in early April.

ONeill was present for the stamp handover, and received a $50,000 reward from Mystic Stamp Co. president Donald Sundman, who had announced in 2014 he would give a reward if either of the librarys two missing Jenny Invert stamps were returned.

At that stamp show, Sundman further extended his offer of a $50,000 reward for the return of the last missing stamp from the McCoy block, the Position 66 Jenny Invert. That extension continues to the end of 2016.

At the library grand opening banquet on Oct. 28, English said there is still more to the story of Sundmans reward offer.

Dons sending the check to the APRL, and he said, Listen, if the stamp shows up before the end of the year, please keep my commitment. If on January first the APRL decides theres a better use for the $50,000  you got it.

An additional $10,000 reward authorized by the APRL trustees for information leading to the recovery of the missing invert went to Spink USA, and was presented to George Eveleth, the head of the firms philatelic department, during the library banquet.

Spink USA, in turn, donated $7,000 to the APS Expertizing Service, with the remaining amount to be used to cover the auction firms own legal expenses in association with the finding of the stamp.
Tungsten is known as one of the toughest things found in nature. It is super dense and almost impossible to melt. Pure tungsten is a silver-white metal and when made into a fine powder can be combustible and can spontaneously ignite. Natural tungsten contains five stable isotopes and 21 other unstable isotopes.

Tungsten is used in many different ways because it is very strong and durable. It is very resistant to corrosion and has the highest melting point and highest tensile strength of any element. Its strength comes when it is made into compounds, though. Pure tungsten is very soft.

Just the facts

Here are the properties of tungsten, according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory:

Atomic number: 74

Atomic symbol: W

Atomic weight: 183.84

Melting point: 6,192 F (3,422 C)

Boiling point: 10,030 F (5,555 C)

History

The first use of tungsten was more than 350 years ago. Chinese porcelain makers used a tungsten pigment that was a unique peach color, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Much later, in 1779, Peter Woulfe examined a mineral from Sweden and realized it contained a new type of metal, but thats about as far as the research went. In 1781, Wilhelm Scheele continued the research on this new metal and isolated an acidic white oxide. Neither one of these men are credited with the elements discovery, though.

Juan and Fausto Elhuyar get that honor. At the Seminary at Vergara in Spain, they researched this mysterious metal. In 1783 they isolated the metal oxide from wolframite and then, unlike the others, reduced it to tungsten metal by heating it with carbon.

Sources

Most tungsten resources are found in China, South Korea, Bolivia, Great Britain, Russia and Portugal, as well as in California and Colorado. Though it is found in these many places, 80 percent of worlds supply is controlled by China, according to the BBC.

The element naturally occurs in the minerals scheelite, wolframite, huebnertie and ferberite. It is harvested from the minerals by reducing tungsten oxide with hydrogen or carbon.

Once it is sourced, tungsten is often mixed into alloys. The hardest alloys are shaped using diamonds. Diamonds are the only things harder than some tungsten alloys.

Uses

One of the most common, and hardest, tungsten compounds is tungsten carbide. Because of its strength when made into compounds, tungsten is used to harden saw blades and make drill bits. It can take around 10 minutes to cut just one drill bit from tungsten using a diamond cutting system, according to the BBC. Some jewelers also use tungsten carbide to make wedding bands and other rings.

Another tungsten compound that is particularly useful is tungsten disulfide. It is used as a dry lubricant in temperatures as high as 932 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius), according to the Jefferson Lab.

Some other uses of tungsten include metal evaporation work, the manufacturing of paints, making glass-to-metal seals and creating electron and television tubes.

The military uses tungsten to make bullets and missiles used in kinetic bombardment. This type of attack uses a super dense material to breach armor instead of explosives.

Its resistance to heat is helpful when using it in the heating elements for electrical furnaces, spacecraft applications, welding and other high-temperature applications. It was also used in making different types of lighting for this reason. The hotter a filament can get without melting, the brighter the bulb. In 1908 inventor William D. Coolidge discovered that tungsten was an ideal filament material. Today, though, most bulbs use more energy efficient materials. It is still used in X-ray filaments and in electrical contacts of various electronics, however.

Biologically, some bacteria use tungsten to reduce carboxylic acids to aldehydes.

Who knew?

This element is used for trickery. Tungsten may not have golds luster, but it does have its density (within 0.36 percent) which means that if you cover a brick of tungsten with a coating of gold  and you test the brick to see if it weighs as much as gold  it will be almost correct, Amanda Simson, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of New Haven, told Live Science. Thus, tungsten has been found in counterfeit gold bricks.

Tungsten comes from a Swedish term, tung sten, that means "heavy stone.

Tungsten's chemical symbol is a W, which may seem weird since there isnt a W in the word. The W actually comes from the elements other name, wolfram. The name wolfram comes from the mineral the element was discovered in, wolframite. Wolframite means "the devourer of tin," which is appropriate since the mineral interferes with the smelting of tin.

Additional resources

This article was updated on Feb. 3, 2020 to correct the boiling point of tungsten.
The Great Salt Lake. This photograph was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in the summer of 2001.

Great Salt Lake, in northern Utah, is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River and the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. Sometimes referred to as Americas Dead Sea, it is nevertheless a critically important habitat for millions of native and migratory birds and is a federally managed bird refuge. It is also home to several types of algae, brine shrimp and brine flies.

Great Salt Lake contains several islands, causeways, a railroad, three state parks and an earthwork sculpture called the Spiral Jetty. The lake is a popular recreation area, with hiking, sailing and swimming available.

Dimensions

Great Salt Lake is typically bigger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The size changes, however, as water levels rise and fall. The lake is only 14 feet (4 meters) deep on average so a foot of water loss can make a big difference in its total size.

These are the average dimensions of Great Salt Lake, according to USGS, Friends of Great Salt Lake, and the University of Utah.

Surface area : 1,700 square miles (4,402 square kilometers) on an average year

: 1,700 square miles (4,402 square kilometers) on an average year Length : 75 miles (120 km)

: 75 miles (120 km) Width : 28 miles (45 km)

: 28 miles (45 km) Average altitude of the water surface : 4,200 feet (1,280 meters)

: 4,200 feet (1,280 meters) Maximum depth : 33 feet (10 m)

: 33 feet (10 m) Average depth : 14 feet (4 m)

: 14 feet (4 m) Total watershed area : 21,000 square miles (54389.75 square km), encompassing most of northern Utah and parts of Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming.

: 21,000 square miles (54389.75 square km), encompassing most of northern Utah and parts of Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming. Record high water level : In 1986, the altitude at the water surface was 4,212 feet (1,283 m) and the lakes total surface area was 2,300 square miles (5,956 square km).

: In 1986, the altitude at the water surface was 4,212 feet (1,283 m) and the lakes total surface area was 2,300 square miles (5,956 square km). Record low water level: In 1963, the altitude at the water surface was 4,191 feet (1,277 m) and the lakes total surface area was 937 square miles (2,426 square km).

History

Great Salt Lake lies in a region of the Western United States called the Great Basin. The Wasatch Range rises to the east of the lake, with several 11,000-foot mountains. The Great Salt Lake Desert is west of the lake. It features a flat expanse of salt crust called the Bonneville Salt Flats, which has ideal conditions for attempts to break land-speed records.

The lake is a remnant of Lake Bonneville, an ancient, freshwater lake from the last Ice Age, said Bonnie Baxter, director of the Great Salt Lake Institute and a professor of biology at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Lake Bonneville was 325 miles (523 km) long and 135 miles (217 km) wide and 1,000 feet (308 m) deep.

Lake Bonneville formed about 30,000 years ago from a small saline lake. Nearly 17,000 years ago, Lake Bonneville overflowed at Red Rock Pass in Idaho and a yearlong flood ensued. The lake lost about 375 feet (114 m) of water, according to the USGS. Lake Bonneville underwent several periods of shrinking and stabilizing. These changes were due to increased evaporation and a warming climate. There are four different shorelines visible as ridges on Utahs Wasatch Mountains. The Bonneville Salt Flats in western Utah are a remnant of Lake Bonneville.

The modern Great Salt Lake emerged about 10,000 years ago. Local Native American tribes knew about Great Salt Lake, of course. The first non-native person to see the lake is said to be explorer Jim Bridger in 1824, according to the Utah Geological Survey. The first thorough exploration of the lake was by a party led by John C. Fremont in 1843. On that expedition, Kit Carson visited one of the lake's islands and carved a cross near the summit of an island that is now called Fremont Island. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons) arrived in the area in 1847 and used the islands for grazing cattle and also enjoyed swimming in the lake and holding picnics on its shores.

On May 10, 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed on the Promontory Peninsula on the north end of Great Salt Lake. Though momentous, this wedding of the rails was not efficient; Great Salt Lake had caused the engineers to build a detour onto the rugged mountains of the peninsula. In 1902, the Southern Pacific built an east-west wooden railroad trestle across Great Salt Lake called the Lucien Cutoff, which bypassed Promontory Peninsula completely, according to American Rails. In 1959 the wooden trestle was replaced with a rock-fill causeway that is still in use today.

Salinity

As Lake Bonneville shrank, all of the minerals in it  including salt  concentrated into steadily less water. Every year, 2.2 million tons (1,814, 369 metric tons) of salt flows into Great Salt Lake from tributary rivers, according to USGS. This accumulation of minerals and no outlet to the ocean results in a salt lake, said Baxter.

Terminal lakes are often salty, she told Live Science. Water evaporates, but salt stays behind and accumulates. A terminal lake holds everything that has ever entered the lake except water, which can leave by evaporation.

Great Salt Lake is a sodium chloride lake, said Baxter. The hypersaline northern arm (also called Gunnison Bay) is about 30 percent salt. The southern portion of the lake (also called Gilbert Bay) fluctuates between 6 and 27 percent salinity. About 4.3 billion tons (3,628,738,960 metric tons) of salt are in Great Salt Lake.

As with many other saline lakes, including the Dead Sea, it is possible to float in Great Salt Lake.

An aerial shot shows the causeway that divides the northern and southern parts of the Great Salt Lake. The rosy color of the northern waters is the result of the pigmented, salt-loving microbes. (Image credit: Courtesy of Great Salt Lake Institute)

Features

Great Salt Lake has three feeders: the Bear, Weber and Jordan rivers, according to Great Salt Lake Information System at Utah State University. These rivers carry fresh water from melted snow in the Wasatch Mountains into the eastern area of the lake. Sixty-six percent of fresh water entering the lake comes from these rivers. Additional fresh water comes from rainfall, groundwater and springs, according to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program. No feeders reach Gunnison Bay in the northwestern part of the lake. The western part of the Great Salt Lake watershed is desert and does not bring water into the lake except in very wet years.

There are 11 islands in Great Salt Lake, including the 28,800-acre (116 square km) Antelope Island, which is home to a state park and one of Americas largest free-roaming herds of bison, according to the Utah State Parks. Gunnison Island is home to a large population of pelicans. Several of the larger islands in the southern part of Great Salt Lake, including Antelope Island, become peninsulas when the water level is low. The Promontory Peninsula, home to the Golden Spike National Historic Site, divides Gunnison Bay from the rest of the northern area of the lake (also called Bear River Bay).

Willard Bay is a human-made freshwater reservoir on the northeastern flood plains of Great Salt Lake, according to Utah State Parks. The area was separated from Great Salt Lake in 1964 and is now a state park.

The Spiral Jetty is a massive earthwork sculpture on the northern shore of Great Salt Lake. Earthwork artist Robert Smithson built it in 1970. Smithson used more than 6,000 tons (5,443 metric tons) of black basalt rocks and earth dug up from the site to create a 1,500-foot-long (457 m) spiral that extends into the water, according to Dia Art. It is visible when the water level is below 4,197 feet (1,279 m) altitude.

The Union Pacific Railroad Northern Causeway is 21 miles (33 km) long and was built as a railroad shortcut. It divides Gunnison Bay, the northern arm of the lake, from Gilbert Bay in the south, according to Friends of Great Salt Lake. Human-built features like causeways and dykes impede water flow, which creates microenvironments, said Jaimi Butler, coordinator of the Great Salt Lake Institute. The clearest example of this is in the far north of the lake, where the Union Pacific Railroad Northern Causeway blocks freshwater flow and has created a super-saturation of salt and an extreme environment.

Not many things live up there, and the microbes that do are pink or red, said Butler. Their red pigments help them deal with the harsh environment. As a result, the water is often pink colored.

Mineral extractionis a major economic feature of Great Salt Lake, said Butler. According to USGS, five businesses extract salt and other minerals from the lake through solar evaporation ponds. No food-grade salt comes from the lake; Great Salt Lake salt is used for deicers, road salt, water softeners and salt licks for livestock. Additionally, said Butler, a massive brine shrimp harvest occurs every fall. The brine shrimp are primarily sent to Asia and South America where they are used as feeders for commercially grown prawn and fish.

Among Utah residents, Great Salt Lake is famous for occasionally emitting a stench like rotten eggs. It is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which certain species of bacteria in the lakebed breath out into the air. Though the smell annoys humans, Butler emphasized that it is just microbes doing their job. They are transforming energy into some other form that is useful to the birds and the bugs.

Oolitic sand is pill-shaped sand prevalent on the bottom of Great Salt Lake and several beaches. It is soft, smooth and round unlike regular sand that is jagged-edged, according to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program. A grain of oolitic sand begins as a brine shrimp fecal pellet or other small bit of debris. Calcium and magnesium carbonate particles build up around it, creating oolitic sand and separating brine shrimp waste from the rest of the water. In this way, oolitic sand functions as a filter for Great Salt Lake.

Ecosystem

Great Salt Lake has a vibrant and unique ecosystem. It is most famous as an important refuge for migrating birds. Great Salt Lake is the largest inland body of water on the Pacific flyway, explained Baxter. This is a critical habitat for migrating birds to feed and grow in before they move on. There are only two invertebrates in the lake, brine shrimp and brine flies, but the numbers of these species provide an amazing amount of food for these birds.

The size of its wetlands and the diversity of it aquatic environments also make Great Salt Lake appealing to many different bird species. Some are the American avocet, phalarope, bald eagle, barn owl, earned grebe, golden eagle, northern harrier and snowy plover, according to Great Salt Lake Marina.

We have one of Americas largest pelican populations, added Butler. Pelicans eat fish but they nest in Gunnison Island, in the northern arm of the lake that has 10 times the amount of salt as the ocean. They nest there because its remote and there are no predators on the island.

According to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program, more than 7.5 million birds in 257 species either stop at Great Salt Lake on their migrations of live at it, including one-third of the worlds population of phalaropes (500,000 birds).

Brine shrimp are the most populous animal in Great Salt Lake. These tiny crustaceans live in salt water around the world, but only one species, Artemia franciscana, lives in Great Salt Lake. They measure up to 0.5 inches (1.37 centimeters) long and can live in water with up to 33 percent salinity, according to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program. They can control how much salt gets into their body tissues better than any other organism on Earth due to skin lining their stomachs and gills. Scientists suspect that they originally came to Great Salt Lake as embryos in protective shells on the feet of migrating birds.

There are at least three species of brine flies that thrive at Great Salt Lake. Scientists estimate that there may be billions of brine flies swarming around the lake during the summer, according to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program. They are visible as swarms of tiny brown insects, but they do not bite. In their larval state, theyeat algae blooms in the water.

Threats

There are many threats to Great Salt Lake, said Butler, but by far the most pressing is water loss. Since 2011, Great Salt Lake has shrunk by almost 40 percent. In November 2016, NASA released satellite images demonstrating the decline. Approximately 50 percent of the lake bed is now exposed.

The West is in a drought cycle that, compounded by warming temperatures in Utah and surrounding states, results in less snowpack and precipitation, and, consequently less water entering Great Salt Lake through rivers, snowfall and rainfall, said Butler.

But local human activity plays a much bigger role in Great Salt Lake water loss. A 2016 white paper co-authored by Wayne Wurtsbaugh and published by the Utah State University describes how water flowing into the lake from rivers has been reduced by 39 percent in the last 150 years. Currently, about 40 percent of the river water is diverted and used for farming, industry and other forms of human consumption. According to Wurtsbaugh, human water use has lowered the lake level 11 feet (3.3 meters) in the last 10 years.

Water loss affects the entire ecosystem of Great Salt Lake. It increases salinity, which could impact brine shrimp and birds. Migrating fowl have fewer places to stay, as wetlands are desiccated. Butler noted the pelican population: Pelicans nest on Gunnison Island because it has no predators, but when the water levels are too low, predators can walk out to the island.

Additionally, said Butler, water loss impacts the salt and brine shrimp harvest economy. The tools arent built for low water levels. Lower lake levels also increase wind-blown dust, make the lake less accessible via boat and could have unforeseen effects on the Utah climate.

Humans also impact the lake through pollution. Great Salt Lake is unique among saline lakes in that it is next to a major metropolitan area, said Butler, and the Salt Lake City area is expected to double to 4 million people over the next 30 years. That proximity can cause problems, which are exacerbated by Great Salt Lakes lack of outlet. Everything that happens in the watershed and airshed [including pollution] can be seen in the lake, said Butler. Rivers carry not only trash but toxins and other chemicals into Great Salt Lake. Polluted air brings in additional toxins.

But toxin problems dont only come from local sources. According to the University of Utah Genetic Learning Science Center, Great Salt Lake has the highest levels of mercury of anywhere in the United States. Industry around the world emits mercury toxins, but they are benign in the atmosphere. Bacteria in Great Salt Lake turn it into toxic mercury.

Butler emphasized that the mercury exists primarily in a deep brine layer (about 19 feet or 6 meters down), which the regular water and brine does not penetrate. Therefore, it is safe for humans to swim in Great Salt Lake. Advisories have been issued for humans to avoid eating common goldeneye, cinnamon teal and northern shoveler duck caught around Great Salt Lake because of their mercury levels.

Additional resources
Thousands of inscriptions and petroglyphs dating back around 2,000 years have been discovered in the Jebel Qurma region of Jordan's Black Desert. They tell of a time when the now-desolate landscape was teeming with life.

"Nowadays, the Jebel Qurma area, and the Black Desert in general, is a highly inhospitable area, very arid and difficult to cross," said Peter Akkermans, a professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands who leads the Jebel Qurma Archaeological Landscape Project. Photos the team took of the modern-day landscape show little water, vegetation or wildlife.

The inscriptions are written in Safaitic, an alphabetic script used by people who lived in parts of Syria, Jordan and Arabia in ancient times. Research is ongoing, but the archaeologists say their finds indicate that around 2,000 years ago, Jebel Qurma had trees, wildlife and a sizable human population. [See Images of the Petroglyphs in the Black Desert]

When life flourished

"There are literally many thousands of Safaitic inscriptions and petroglyphs in the Jebel Qurma region, which suggests that people intensively used the area," Akkermans said.

The petroglyphs, or rock art, show images of lions, gazelles, horses and large birds that may be ostriches. The inscriptions found near these petroglyphs tend to be very short. "Most of the texts are simply names, like 'so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,'" Akkermans said.

Some texts contain information on what people were doing, with a few hinting that the people who inhabited Jebel Qurma had conflicts with the Nabataeans, a people who built the ancient city of Petra. "I am on the lookout for the Nabataeans," one inscription reads.

Other inscriptions tell of the challenges and setbacks encountered by the people who lived at Jebel Qurma. "May there be strength against hunger," one inscription reads, while another was written by a man who said he was "distraught over his beloved."

Specialists are currently analyzing the texts and petroglyphs to gain a better understanding of what they mean and why they were created. "The precise reason for producing rock art  inscriptions and/or representations  is still unclear and open to discussion. What was the message which the producers of the rock art tried to convey?" Akkermans said.

How a lush land became desolate

In addition to the inscriptions and petroglyphs, archaeologists found the remains of camps, shelters and tombs used by the people of Jebel Qurma. Archaeologists believe that around 2,000 years ago, the people who lived in the region were nomadic.

The team is looking for more evidence of what the environment was like in ancient times and how the landscape became the desolate place it is today.

"Our excavation at one site revealed masses of charcoal from the third century A.D., which appeared to represent several taxa [groups] of trees, which needed water year-round," Akkermans said. "Hence, the conditions in at least the third century A.D. may have been quite different from today. This is certainly something I wish to explore in the next field seasons, by coring for pollen."

A report describing the finds was published recently in the American Journal of Archaeology.

Original article on Live Science.
The American population is getting older, but the percentage of U.S. seniors with dementia is actually declining, a new study found.

In the study, the researchers analyzed information from a nationally representative sample of about 21,000 U.S. adults ages 65 and older who were tested for dementia from 2000 to 2012. (About 10,500 people were tested in 2000, and 10,500 were tested in 2012; about 4,000 of the participants were tested in both of those years.)

In 2000, 11.6 percent of older adults had dementia, but that number dropped to 8.8 percent by 2012, the researchers found.

Although some previous U.S. studies had suggested the prevalence of dementia in the U.S. was declining in recent years, those studies were not representative of the entire U.S. population, the researchers in the new study said.

The new findings "add to a growing body of evidence that this decline in dementia risk is a real phenomenon, and that the expected future growth in the burden of dementia may not be as extensive as once thought," Dr. Kenneth Langa, the lead author of the study and a professor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and School of Public Health, said in a statement.

Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms, which can include problems with thinking and solving problems, as well as personality changes, according to the National Institutes of Health. [6 Big Mysteries of Alzheimer's Disease]

The risk of developing these symptoms has also been linked toother factors, like education, the new study suggested. Researchers found that the people in the study who had more years of education had a lower risk of dementia. Those with 16 years or more of education were about 70 percent less likely to have dementia, compared with those who had less than 12 years of education. During the study period, the average number of years of education among participants increased from 12 to 13 years.

More years of education may help protect against dementia in a number of ways, the researchers said. Spending more years in school may help the brain's "cognitive reserve," meaning the brain may be better able to compensate for abnormalities that occur in older age.

Having more years of education can also allow people to obtain more cognitively challenging jobs, which could also help protect the brain, the researchers said. And people who have more years of education may also be more likely to exercise and eat healthy, and less likely to smoke, which are all behaviors that are linked with better brain health.

Interestingly, the researchers noted that the drop in dementia prevalence occurred despite increases in the rates of certain conditions that can increase the risk of dementia: diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. The researchers said they suspect that better treatment of cardiovascular disease and diabetes may have also contributed to the decline in dementia.

Still, more research is needed to identify all the factors contributing to the decline in dementia prevalence, the investigators said.

The researchers noted that, despite the decline seen in the study, dementia will still be a very important health issue in years to come.

"It does nothing to lessen the impact that each case has on patients and caregivers. This is still going to be a top-priority issue for families, and for health policy, now and in the coming decades," Langa said.

Original article on Live Science.
In 1919, a collapsed molasses tank sent a towering wave of the sticky mess through the streets, ensnaring everything from humans to horses to homes. The wreckage of the tank can be seen in the upper-right of the image.

A bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of Boston in 1919, catching everything from horses to humans in its sticky grasp, killing 21 people, injuring 150 more and flattening buildings in its wake. Now, scientists have figured out why the deluge of viscous sweetener was so deadly.

Cool temperatures may have caused the spilled molasses to flow more slowly, complicating attempts to rescue victims and to begin recovery and cleanup, researchers report in a new study.

On Jan. 15, 1919, shortly after 12:40 p.m. local time, a giant storage tank 50 feet (15 meters) tall and 90 feet (27 m) wide on Boston's waterfront at the Purity Distilling Co. collapsed in the city's crowded North End, according to newspapers at the time. It released more than 2.3 million gallons (8.7 million liters) of molasses. [The 10 Weirdest Spills in Nature]

The wave from the flood, which reached about 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, oozed at more than 50 feet per second (15 m/sec), the researchers of the new study said. It took just moments for the molasses  a standard sweetener at the time  to engulf Boston's Commercial Street area.

According to a report from The Boston Post from 1919, "Molasses, waist deep, covered the street and swirled and bubbled about the wreckage ... Here and there struggled a form  whether it was animal or human being was impossible to tell. Only an upheaval, a thrashing about in the sticky mass, showed where any life was ... Horses died like so many flies on sticky fly-paper. The more they struggled, the deeper in the mess they were ensnared. Human beings  men and women  suffered likewise."

How molasses flows

Scientists began investigating the science of this disaster this year, after undergraduate students produced a video about the flood in May. "To gather relevant details about the flood and its aftermath, I've read hundreds of pages of historical accounts and contemporary newspaper articles, studied century-old maps of buildings in the area, and even called the National Weather Service to request historic meteorological data," lead study author Nicole Sharp, a Denver-based aerospace engineer and fluid dynamicist, said in a statement.

The scientists also investigated the properties of blackstrap molasses, focusing on how temperature affected its rate of flow. "The goal is to take our knowledge and understanding of highly viscous spreading flows and apply that to the Boston Molasses Flood," Sharp said in the statement. [The Mysterious Physics of 7 Everyday Things]

The researchers found that at the time of the collapse, the air temperature would have been around 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). The molasses, however, had arrived from the Caribbean to top off the tank only two days before the flood, and was likely a balmy 50 to 68 degrees F (10 to 20 degrees C) when it was first delivered. Boston winter temperatures would have cooled the molasses down, but it would still likely have been a few degrees warmer than the surrounding air, Sharp said.

Once the tank collapsed, the molasses started flowing quickly over the waterfront. The scientists found that temperature could greatly influence molasses's viscosity, or the degree to which it resists flowing.

"Temperatures dipped just below freezing the night following the accident," Sharp told Live Science. "Based on our data, it's possible the viscosity of the molasses increased by a factor of four or more due to that drop in temperature. That does not sound like such a big difference, but the high viscosity of the molasses was a major factor for rescue work."

For example, "a group of men were trapped in a nearby firehouse when the molasses knocked the building off its foundation and caused the upper floor to collapse atop them," Sharp said. "Reaching them took hours, and one of the men, George Layhe, grew so exhausted fighting against the molasses hour after hour that he ultimately drowned when he could no longer hold his head up."

Tank failure

The tank had its share of issues even before the disaster.

"The molasses tank was originally built in December 1915 under the direction of a manager, Arthur Jell, with no technical background," Sharp said. "The tank leaked throughout its short lifetime, and the response of United States Industrial Alcohol's management to the comments and complaints about the leakage was to paint the tank brown so that the leaks were less noticeable." (United States Industrial Alcohol was the parent company ofthe Purity Distilling Co.)

"As an engineer, one of the things that struck me about the whole affair was the lack of professional ethics involved," Sharp said. "We engineers have a professional and a moral obligation to ensure that what we design and build is safe. People's lives and livelihoods are at risk if we fail. The Boston Molasses Flood is a reminder of what can happen when corners are cut and when warnings about a structure's failing integrity are ignored."

Sharp hopes to figure out what was going on in the tank prior to its collapse. "Two days before the rupture, warm molasses was pumped into the bottom of a tank of cold molasses," she said. "Historical accounts say that the tank walls 'groaned' after such deliveries, presumably due to the mixing between the warm and cold molasses. That's a problem I'd like to simulate using computational fluid dynamics, both to try and address the rumbling described by accounts and to have a clearer idea of what temperature the molasses might have been at the time of the disaster."

The physics of the Boston Molasses Flood are relevant to other accidents that affect the public, including industrial spills or breaking levees. However, the main goal of this work is education.

"Ultimately, I hope that by shedding some light on the physics of a fascinating and surreal historical event, our work can inspire a greater appreciation for fluid dynamics among our students and the public," Sharp said.

Sharp and her colleagues Jordan Kennedy and Shmuel Rubinstein, both at Harvard University, detailed their findings today (Nov. 21) at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics in Portland, Oregon.

Editor's Note: This article was updated to correct the temperature of the molasses when the disaster happened.

Original article on Live Science.
Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conceptionon at Spanish Steps on Dec. 8, 2013, in Rome, Italy.

The pope has extended the Catholic Church's forgiveness for abortion indefinitely.

In an apostolic letter dated Nov. 20, Pope Francis officially changed the church practice so that it now allows any parish priest to hear confessions from those who have obtained or performed an abortion, and to offer absolution.

The move comes as the Year of Mercy, or the Extraordinary Jubilee, comes to a close. With roots in the Old Testament, every 50 years, a jubilee year was designated as a time of forgiveness, as a reminder of God's mercy, according to Jewish tradition. The Catholic Church calls one every 25 years, and Pope Francis designated Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016, as the Extraordinary Jubilee. During this time, the pope hoped followers would direct their attention "on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father's action in our lives. For this reason I have proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a special time for the Church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective," he said in a Vatican statement.

In the new letter, Pope Francis restates Catholic doctrine that abortion is a grave sin that ends an innocent life.

"However, I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," Pope Francis wrote in the letter. [The Most Notorious Catholic Saints]

The move is largely symbolic. According to previous church rules, because abortion was considered both a grave sin and a crime (in the church's eyes), only a bishop or someone he assigned to the task could hear the confession of someone who wanted absolution for having an abortion. In practice, however, parish priests were already offering absolution in the United States for years, according to Crux.

However, as part of the Year of Mercy, which began in December of last year and ended Nov. 20, women who'd had an abortion could gain absolution, or forgiveness of their sin, by confessing to any priest. The extension of forgiveness also applies to anyone who is involved in abortion work, such as doctors or nurses who perform the procedure.

Original article on Live Science.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers a keynote conference on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 22, 2016.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a comment to his home page last night that finally addresses the problem of fake news on his social media site. "Normally we wouldn't share specifics about our work in progress, but given the importance of these issues and the amount of interest in this topic, I want to outline some of the projects we already have underway," he wrote.

The importance of and interest in the topic arose shortly after the election when journalists like New York Magazine's Max Read began faulting social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit for Donald Trump's unexpected win. "The most obvious way in which Facebook enabled a Trump victory has been its inability (or refusal) to address the problem of hoax or fake news," Read wrote.

"Fake news is not a problem unique to Facebook, but Facebook's enormous audience, and the mechanisms of distribution on which the site relies  i.e., the emotionally charged activity of sharing, and the show-me-more-like-this feedback loop of the news feed algorithm  makes it the only site to support a genuinely lucrative market in which shady publishers arbitrage traffic by enticing people off of Facebook and onto ad-festooned websites, using stories that are alternately made up, incorrect, exaggerated beyond all relationship to truth, or all three," Read wrote.

In just the last year, nearly 140 new hoax news sites arose, reported Buzzfeed, including WorldPoliticus.com, TrumpVision365.com, USConservativeToday.com, DonaldTrumpNews.co and USADailyPolitics.com  all, oddly enough, originating from a Macedonian town of Veles. They're not the only websites of their kind.

RELATED: Is Hypnosis A Complete Hoax?

On Nov. 12 Zuckerberg acknowledged the presence of these and other hoax news sites on Facebook, but downplayed their influence, saying "...more than 99% of what people see on Facebook is authentic."

But what people see may not influence them as much as what they share. And therein lies the problem of fakery. It likes to go viral, more so than real news.

Analysis from BuzzFeed founding editor, Craig Silverman, revealed that the "... 20 top-performing false election stories from hoax sites and hyperpartisan blogs generated 8,711,000 shares, reactions and comments on Facebook." In the same time period real stories from 19 actual news sources generated a 7,367,000 shares, reactions and comments.

Dozens of other sites have continued to write about the fake new problem, picking away at this post-election wound. Even President Obama called attention to it this past Thursday while visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. He said, "Because in an age where there's so much active misinformation, and it's packaged very well, and it looks the same when you see it on a Facebook page or you turn on your television, where some overzealousness on the part of a U.S. official is equated with constant and severe repression elsewhere, if everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won't know what to protect. We won't know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we've gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we've come to take for granted."

Finally last night at 9:30 pm, after Zuckerberg landed in Lima for the APEC Summit, he posted a response that seemed to take a different tone. "We've been working on this problem a long time and take this responsibility seriously," Zuckerberg wrote.

He outlined at least seven areas the company is working on in order to reduce fake news. They are:

Stronger detection

Make it easier for people to report that a story is fake

Third party verification

Flagging stories as false

Raising the bar for stories that appear in the News Feed

Disrupting the economics of fake news with better ad policies (one announced earlier in the week)

Getting input form journalists

He concluded with, "Some of these ideas will work well, and some will not. But I want you to know that we have always taken this seriously, we understand how important the issue is for our community and we are committed to getting this right."

Here's the note in full:

(Image credit: Mark Zuckerberg/Facebook)

In the meantime, don't be fooled by fake news. Always check Snopes.com to confirm that a story is true. And for tips on spotting hoaxes in your feed, check out this public Google Doc from Melissa Zimdars, an associate professor of communication and media at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass.

If it sounds too outrageous to be true, it's probably not.

Originally published on Seeker.
Bourbon's fine with the Trump Justice Dept... marijuana, we'll have to wait and see



Yesterday, Ethan Andersen surveyed the new state laws decriminalizing marijuana . At the same time, news was breaking that Trump had offered the Attorney General job to Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, who once famously said that he had never had a problem with KKK members until he found out they weren't just burning crosses on the lawns of African-Americans, but also smoking prodigious amounts of marijuana. We asked Ethan to get back with his cannabis industry sources to see how they felt about Trump's latest appointment and what they feel it might mean for their industry. His report:





Sessions, Trump and Marijuana

-by Ethan Andersen





Donald Trumps appointment of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be the next U.S. Attorney General is suggestive of several things-- one, that Donald Trump is attempting to legitimize his presidency through the appointment of staunch, consistently immoderate conservatives to his cabinet, and two, that hes not passionate about cannabis law reform (which should be a surprise to no one).





While some are optimistic as the continued ability of states to regulate cannabis in-line with their constituents feelings on the plant and their respective cultures, cannabis industry leaders seem concerned with the appointment of a consistently anti-marijuana legislator such as Jeff Sessions to a role that will undoubtedly affect the U.S. cannabis industry to a major extent. Here are their thoughts:





Serge Chistov, Business Advisor to Honest Marijuana , a Colorado-based organic cannabis company:





"While I'm cautious to endorse anyone that's failed to take a proactive and progressive stance towards cannabis law reform, I'm hopeful that Sessions will adopt a stance in-line with his libertarian values, allowing individual states to develop their own laws regarding cannabis cultivation and use. Anyone that's spent a modicum of time researching the cannabis industry can attest to the tremendous amount of good that's resulted from legalization, and it would be a terrible mistake for Sessions or any other member of the Trump administration to bring about a reduction in its effectiveness or scope."





Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech , the first publicly traded cannabis company in the U.S.:





"I believe that President-elect Trump is someone who has a high regard for the 10th Amendment and states' rights. This last election cycle was a huge step forward for the industry and a significant proclamation of what constituents want, which is the regulated and legalized sale of cannabis in the U.S. We would think that all appointments he makes would respect that same stance.





"We now have quantifiable data points coming out of the industry and we know some of the social concerns of the past are not coming to fruition-- in fact, we're seeing positive benefits from legalization, both economic and social. Significant taxes are being collected, thousands of jobs are being created, and we are experiencing less opiate abuse in states with regulated cannabis, these being just a handful of the numerous positive benefits we are experiencing around the country as a result of regulation and legalization."





Aaron Herzberg, Partner & General Counsel at CalCann Holdings , a California-based marijuana real estate/holdings company:





"Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions is the worst pick that Trump could have made for attorney general as it comes to marijuana issues, and this selection bodes very poorly for the Trump administration to adopt a marijuana-friendly policy. It appears that he is intent on rolling back policy to the 1980's Nancy Reagan's 'just say no on drugs' days. He has displayed open hostility to efforts to legalize marijuana, recently stating, earlier this year, that 'good people don't smoke marijuana.' He has been extremely hostile to efforts to legalize both medical and adult use marijuana.





"'You can't have the President of the United States of America talking about marijuana,' Sessions said during a Senate meeting last March. 'You are sending a message to young people that there is no danger in this process. It is false that marijuana use doesn't lead people to more drug use. It is already causing a disturbance in the States that have made it legal.' With the selection of Sessions as Attorney General, the legalization of marijuana both for medical marijuana in 28 states and recreational marijuana in 8 states may be in serious jeopardy."





Jeffrey Zucker, President of Green Lion Partners , a Denver-based cannabis business strategy firm:





"Senator Sessions has been an opponent of the cannabis in the industry in the past, and generally a proponent of the failed 'war on drugs.' However, should the Senate confirm his position, we're hopeful that the industry's advancement, especially in the most recent election, will lead to his being open minded as to the incredible benefits cannabis is already having on the country and could eventually have on a federal level. Should he ignore the clear will of U.S. citizens, the industry is prepared to fight for patients and citizens' rights to this incredible plant that has improved so many lives."
With freezing temperatures, snow and fog being experienced over the past week, Longford motorists are advised to prepare their car for the winter conditions that lie ahead.

Against the backdrop of survey results conducted by tyre manufacturer Michelin showing that sixty per cent of motorists drive with tyres that are underinflated, it is noted that, with normal tyres, low temperatures can harden the tread, reducing grip on slippery surfaces.

In winter, when temperatures can drop below 7C, the advice is that motorists would fit tyres designed specifically for winter conditions with compounds that remain flexible to improve grip and braking.

In this respect, the launch recently of their Michelin CrossClimate has put the French tyre maker ahead of the curve.

Made to perform equally well on sun-baked roads in Summer and on snow-covered roads in Winter, the new CrossClimate tyre is billed as the first Summer tyre to be independently certified for Winter use.

Available in 30 different sizes for 14 to 18-inch wheels, the CrossClimate tyre is the fruit of three technologies - an innovative compound that grips the road in all conditions; an energy-efficient, under-tread layer with low heat build-up properties; and a unique V- pattern tread with varying vee angles and self-locking, variable-width sipes that act like claws in snow to enhance traction.

A study conducted by Michelin during the course of its development revealed that 65 percent of European motorists use summer tyres all year round. In Germany - where regulations require winter tyres - the figure was 20 percent while in France, where no regulations apply, the figure was 76 percent.

Out of every 10 European motorists, four considered it a constraint to change tyres in summer and winter, while three percent of drivers in Germany and seven percent in France use winter tyres all year round.
A new edition of Teathbha, the journal of County Longford Historical Society, now on the newsstands, was launched by Mary Carleton Reynolds in the County Library recently.

This year there is a particular emphasis on the Remembrance of the 1916 Rising and the participation of Longford people in that major event in our national history. The Great War and especially the Battle of the Somme in 1916 is also covered.

There are also two articles on the 1917/18 elections which saw the demise of John Redmonds party and the rise of Arthur Griffiths Sinn Fein. Dr Mel Farrells account of the 1917 South Longford election is of particular significance as that election involved complete political upheaval in this county.

Dr Fergus OFerrall, a regular contributor to Teathbha for many years and a native of Kenagh, has succeeded in what newspapers might term a scoop. He gained access to a powerful document never before seen outside the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. It is a personal account of an insiders view of the workings of politics in the South Longford election of 1917, written by a nationalist lady from Belfast.

A young girl from Ardagh, Niamh OMeara, writes on her participation in a project in which she adopted a Longford soldier of World War 1, John Mallon, who was killed at the Somme. She is pictured visiting his grave and placing soil from his native Kilcoursey on the grave.

Bishop Emeritus Colm OReilly has contributed two articles, one a very personal account of a family member who served in the RIC and who cheated death through the good offices of a Protestant minister.

The editor of Teathbha, James MacNerney, follows the story of another RIC policeman who served in many stations around the county and who kept a diary of his daily routine and the constant danger from the Molly Maguires or the Whiteboys or other such organisations.

John J McNamee, a native of Corglass, Moyne, now living in America, has been a prolific contributor to the journal over the years. He gives his personal reaction to 1916 and also provides us with a detailed look at old farming practices and a sometimes nostalgic view of his local rural parish as he remembers it. The local poet and writer, Padraic Colum, whose father was born in Colmcille parish and who himself was born in Longford workhouse, features in one of Aidan OHaras three essays, while the current chair of the society, Hugh Farrell, who has a very keen interest in WWI and other interests, writes on a famous grave in Dromards Toberpatrick cemetery where Gen George Blake of 1798 is buried. Hugh points out that Blake was grand-uncle of Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula.

These are just a small sample of the wonderful and entertaining contents of Teathbha. The journal is extremely well produced and attractively arranged by Keith Millar.

As you would expect, it is being snapped up for Christmas presents at a mere 12 and for many pleasant hours of satisfying reading. It is available throughout the county in the usual shops  Aughnacliffe Post Office and Smear Stores; Moyne Stores and Corrigans Legga; Drumlish Kiernans Supermarket; Granard Mackens Petrol Station; Edgeworthstown, Ardagh PO, Legan, Ballymahon, Longford Baxters Chemist, Newsround, Mollaghans Dublin Street. A beautiful present, a rewarding reading experience!
Center Parcs may still be exploring their options for bringing gas to the Center Parcs Longford Forest site, but for Longford County Council, there is only one option.

Calling on the Government and Gas Networks Ireland to ensure that the correct route and pipe size is selected when bringing natural gas to Center Parcs in order to benefit the entire County, County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mick Cahill referred to proposals to extend the pipeline from Mullingar to Ballymahon.

If this happens, it will have serious consequences for us because if it comes that way, its only going to come to Center Parcs on its own.

Its an opportunity we have now to try and do something about it, so I put down the notice of motion.

Cllr Cahills call was seconded by Cllr Peggy Nolan, who added; We cannot be as competitive as other areas if we dont have the same facilities to offer.

Urging her fellow councillors to put pressure on Government Ministers in respect of the matter, Cllr Nolan claimed; We needed it years ago but we definitely need it now.

Praising Cllr Cahills motion, Cllr Colm Murray continued; The wording that it has to come by the correct route and correct pipe size is essential in this one.

There is a proposal on the table that it would be brought to Mullingar as we said and it wont be adequate really to expand it to the rest of the county from Ballymahon which from an infrastructural point of view would leave us with a huge deficit going forward.

A small pipe coming down from Mullingar is grand for a while for Center Parcs but really we want to be looking at the bigger picture, Cllr Gerald Farrell weighed in. Weve had a bit of disappointment in recent times with job losses and stuff but the potential is there for Longford.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, revealed that a meeting had been held in August with Gas Networks Ireland. He added that under their rules and policies, they have to deliver the gas to the customer in what they deem to be the most economic way.

That appears to be by coming to Mullingar, he said, pointing out that for Longford to benefit, the pipeline must come from Athlone and must be sized to meet existing and future demands.

Its definitely something we shouldnt allow slip by this time, Mr Mahon added.

Weighing up his colleagues words, Cllr Cahill concluded the matter by saying; I appreciate that were all singing from the one hymn sheet and hopefully well be able to do whats good for Longford.
Former Longford-Westmeath TD James Bannon is exploring possible family ties to the controversial chief strategist who masterminded US president elect Donald Trump's sensational electoral victory earlier this month.

Mr Bannon says he is currently looking into the prospect of determining family connections to Stephen Bannon - the right-wing commentator who steered Mr Trump to victory.

The former Longford-Westmeath politician believes his namesake could be a descendant of his great uncle who emigrated to the United States in the last century.

Mr Bannon, who lost his Dail seat at the beginning of March, is however staying tight-lipped as to whether there are links to Mr Trump's key adviser.

The Leader has attempted to make contact with the former Fine Gael TD and messages have so far gone unreturned.

However, in an interview with a media outlet over the weekend, Mr Bannon stopped short of dismissing any potential ties to the outspoken US commentator.

Instead, Mr Bannon said he would be keeping his counsel until all genealogy work has been completed.

But, he said there are a "lot of good Irish Catholic Bannons in America" and there is "a lot of Bannons in Longford and they are all related".

Should those studies throw up any family lineage to the Virginian born businessman, it's likely to generate plenty of interest this side of the Atlantic, particularly in Mr Bannon's home village of Legan.

Since his elevation to become Mr Trump's chief strategist, Mr Bannon has continued to court controversy.

The 62-year-old has, until recently, been the focal point behind the far-right Breitbart News website, a vehicle widely considered to be the mainstream online home of modern white nationalism.

He has previously faced accusations of domestic violence, racism and anti-Semitism while also comparing himself to the devil and Star Wars character Darth Vader.

Darkness is good, the former Goldman Sachs investment banker told the Hollywood Reporter in an interview. Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. Thats power, he said.

Mr Bannon has also taken issue with the wider media and many commentators who failed to predict the outcome of the US election.

On his more recent promotion to become the man to sit at the right hand of the incoming US president, Mr Bannon likened his new position to Thomas Cromwell in the court of the Tudors".

That stereotype has likewise come in for much discussion in light of the Machiavellian minister's infamous purge of the 16th Century English establishment on behalf of the vengeful, red-headed King Henry VIII. Henry later had Cromwell executed.
Local Cystic Fibrosis (CF) campaigner, Jillian McNulty is spearheading a campaign to get Orkambi funded by the Irish Government.

On Wednesday, December 7 at 1:30pm a protest will take place outside Dail Eireann where it is expected that close to 300 CF sufferers and their families will descend on the streets in an effort to highlight to the powers that be, the importance of funding Orkambi here in Ireland.

Speaking to the leader this week Ms McNulty said that CF sufferers had now been waiting nearly five months for negotiations between Government and agencies to conclude in respect of Orkambi and making it available to Irish CF sufferers.

We are waiting too long, she fumed this week.

This protest is to highlight how important this drug is and how much we need it.

Ms McNulty has made contact with all TDs and senators in the Dail over the past few weeks and has received support from many including Michael Martin, Ruth Coppinger, James Brown and the Healy-Rae brothers.

Last week, however, Ms McNulty was shocked to receive an email from Deputy Eoin O Broin who was addressing his secretary but inadvertently sent the mail back to the Longford woman.

Her request to Mr O Broin was met with the following email response: Give them a general response and say I will do my best to get to it.

The shocked Longford woman posted the response on Facebook, saying: That moment when a TD sends THIS to me instead of their secretary.

She followed up with Mr O Broin, sending another email saying, Many thanks for your email which I assume was meant for your secretary.

She pointed out it was a personal invite from her so saying give them a response was quite patronising. Do you not realise this is actually a matter of life and death? Myself and approximately 550 cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland are waiting on Orkambi to be made available. People have lost their lives waiting, more people WILL lose their lives waiting.

She added: I find it quite disheartening that while you made time to send your secretary a quick mail to send me a general response thinking it will keep me happy, you couldnt find the time to send me an actual genuine response.

Speaking to the Leader on Monday, Ms McNulty pointed out that Deputy OBroin later rang her and apologised for the misunderstanding.

To be honest everyone is very supportive and we would be asking people with CF to wear masks on the day because of the risk of cross infection, she added.

On the day, the protest will begin with a minutes silence for all those who have lost their lives to CF in Ireland.

Purple roses will then be pinned to the railings outside the Dail and protesters will then release a number of balloons to mark the occasion.
Local News, Business & Finance, National & World News, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 21 2016

Do you or someone you know have what it takes to win one of the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) National Small Business Awards? If so, SBA wants to hear from you, Long Island.

Long Island, NY - November 18, 2016 - Do you or someone you know have what it takes to win one of the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) National Small Business Awards? If so, SBA wants to hear from you, Long Island.



The SBAs New York District Office is proud to announce that its accepting nominations for the 2017 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year award, Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year and Women Small Business Champion of the Year.



Every day, the New York District Office works with small businesses to strengthen the overall economy, said New York SBA Deputy District Director, John Mallano. These categories highlight the work of small businesses that innovate and lead in their respective industries. Exporter of the Year, Family-Owned Business of the Year, Home-Based Business of the Yearthese entrepreneurs create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase Americas competitiveness.



The District office is accepting award nominations for the following categories:

SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year

Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year

Women Small Business Champion of the Year

Financial Services Champion of the Year

Home-Based Business Champion of the Year

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Small Business of the Year Award

Small Business Exporter of the Year Award

Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award

Womens Business Center of Excellence Award

Additional awards will be awarded at the national level. Find a complete list here. Access a list of National Small Business Week FAQs here.



National Small Business Week celebrates entrepreneurs and small business innovators within the New York District Office and across America, said SBA New York District Director Beth Goldberg. Winners will be invited to attend the SBAs Small Business Week Awards Reception held May 2, 2017, at 26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan. National award winners will be invited to Washington, D.C. to celebrate during National Small Business Week.



The Small Business Person of the year must meet criteria which include staying power, growth in employment, increase in sales/unit volume, innovation, response to adversity, and evidence of contributions to his/her community. Nominations in the Small Business Person of the Year, Champions of the Year and special Small Business Week award categories can be made by any individual or organizations such as professional and trade associations, business organizations, chambers of commerce, banks, through self-nomination or by a small business employees.



All New York District Office awards and guidelines for entry can be found online. Nominations must be received by the New York District Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on January 10, 2017. To obtain information, receive a copy of the National/New York District guidelines or for any questions regarding the awards, please contact Bailey Wolff email, or by phone at (212) 264-1489.



*The New York District Office delivers its programs and services throughout New York City, Long Island and the downstate counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Our Long Island Branch Office Services Long Island.



About the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov
Local News, Crime, National & World News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 21 2016

Police Officer Benjamin Marconi of the San Antonio Police Department was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, November 20, 2016 in Texas.

Nassau County / Suffolk County, NY - November 21, 2016 - NCPD & SCPD extends deep condolences to San Antonio Police Department and the family of Police Officer Benjamin Marconi of the San Antonio Police Department.

Below are statements issued:

NCPD - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter express their heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family of Police Officer Benjamin Marconi of the San Antonio Police Department who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, November 20, 2016 in Texas. They would also like to send prayers for a speedy recovery to three additional officers shot and wounded in similar ambushed style attacks in Missouri and Florida on the same day.

The Nassau County Police Department is taking all steps necessary to ensure the safety of the public and its Police Officers. There will be intensified patrols in areas of public gatherings and near critical infrastructure. Social Media outlets will be monitored and we request the publics assistance in any way possible to stop threats to public safety.

The NCPD is coordinating with federal and local authorities and are assessing national and local threat levels.

If you see something, say something. If you hear something, say something.

Immediate threats should be called into 911 and tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

SCPD - During the past 24 hours, one police officer was killed and three other officers were wounded in a horrific string of shootings across our country. The Suffolk County Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the San Antonio Police Department and the friends and family of Detective Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the department, who was killed in an ambush-style attack in his patrol car Sunday morning.

We also pray for the swift recovery of the officers from the St. Louis Police Department and Gladstone Police Department in Missouri and the Sanibel Police Department in Florida who were wounded in these senseless acts of violence against law enforcement.

"We stand with our brothers and sisters in law enforcement throughout the nation in condemning these horrific acts. Police officers across the country risk their lives each and every day to protect the residents of the communities they serve. It takes an incredibly depraved individual to carry out a cowardly, deplorable attack on the very people who unselfishly choose a career to keep us safe. I pray for the safety of our brave, hard-working officers here in Suffolk County and all law enforcement officers across the country." - Police Commissioner Timothy D. Sini
Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 21 2016

The Wantagh School District will adhere to the advice of the police and will implement the protocol in our district safety plans.

Perimeters and all spaces within the schools have been searched and nothing unusual has been found.

Update - November 21, 2016 - Good Morning Wantagh Community, This message is a follow up to my email communication earlier today. Please know that for the past number of hours the buildings have all been checked. Perimeters and all spaces within the schools have been searched and nothing unusual has been found.

During the weekend no intrusion alarms went off and the video available showed nothing unusual. Although the Nassau County Police have described this threat as "unrealistic" and "unreliable", they nevertheless will increase their presence on school grounds today. We appreciate the assistance of the 7th precinct and also thank our custodial staff for their help in searching the schools during the early morning hours. Should I hear anything further, I will contact you again.

The original Important Notice issued is below.

Wantagh, NY - November 21, 2016 - The Nassau County Police Department sent out the following rinformation to the media and Nassau county school superintendents:

"NCPD received notification late on 11/20 from an individual who claims he heard an unidentified male say he 'put bombs in every school in Nassau and set them to go off tomorrow.' This information is unconfirmed and seems unrealistic, however all schools are advised to be alert to suspicious packages and/or persons. Any suspicious packages and/or persons should be reported via 911 immediately."

The Wantagh School District will adhere to the advice of the police and will implement the protocol in our district safety plans.

As always, the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance. Please know we will keep you apprised of any additional information.
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

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This World Politics in a Time of Populist Nationalism (WPTPN) guest post is written by Phil Arena, a Lecturer at the University of Essex. He has previously held positions at the University of Rochester and the University at Buffalo. His primary interests are interstate conflict and the links between domestic and international politics. His research has appeared in International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Political Science Research and Methods, International Theory, Journal of Theoretical Politics, and elsewhere. He used to maintain a blog at fparena.blogspot.com, which he hopes to revive someday, and has previously contributed to The Duck of Minerva.

I am not an alarmist by nature. I have offended people in the past by not being visibly concerned about matters they thought should trouble me. Yet I am deeply worried that the next world war will break out in the next few years. I admit that I could be wrong, and very much hope that I am, but all the conditions seem to be in place for a tragedy of epic proportion.

Wars are less common than many people appreciate. From a humanitarian perspective, they are not rare enough, yet the forces pushing towards peace are more effective than we often give them credit for. One way to think about this is with birthdays. On any given day, if youre like most people, your social media accounts inform you that at least one of your friends is celebrating a birthday. That doesnt change the fact that most of us experience 364 un-birthdays for every birthday. At any given point in time, there is likely at least one war taking place somewhere in the world. That doesnt change the fact that most countries, most of the time, are at peace. The Militarized Interstate Dispute data record all incidents where one country threatened to use force against another, engaged in a hostile display of force, or actually did use force. Roughly 94% of all MIDs end short of war. Even when countries disagree with each other strongly enough that they threaten to attack one another, or go as far as to call up the reservists or violate one anothers air space, peace almost always prevails. If we are to understand why wars occur, then, it is not enough to ask what the two sides disagree over. We must ask why they were unable to resolve their disagreement peacefully, as the vast majority of disagreements have been resolved throughout history.

One of the best explanations that scholars of international relations have come up with is that it is often impossible to know what terms the other side will accept to maintain the peace. This uncertainty can create incentives to gamble. When countries dispute the location of a border, even those who do not desire war for its own sake might accept some risk of accidentally provoking one in hopes of acquiring desired territory. According to this argument, most wars occur not because of greed or intolerance (factors that were surely present to one degree or another in the 94% of disputes that didnt become wars), but because one side rolled the dice and they came up snake eyes.

This problem is particularly acute when states signal that they are unwilling to defend that which they ultimately decide is worth defending. This is roughly the story of the Korean War and the Persian Gulf War. As David Halberstam reveals in The Coldest Winter, from 1945 on Kim Il-sung sought Soviet Premier Joseph Stalins permission to unite the Korean peninsula by force. Every time he brought the matter up, Stalin ordered him to sit tight because he feared a war with the United States. In 1949, however, Secretary of State Dean Acheson gave a commencement speech at the US Military Academy at West Point in which he outlined a defence perimeter or areas of the globe that were vital to US interests. The Korean peninsula lay conspicuously outside this perimeter. When Kim next asked Stalin to green-light an offensive, Stalin relented (though he told Kim that if he got into trouble, hed have to ask Mao for help). Unfortunately for Kim, it turned out that the United States was willing to go to war to defend South Korea. Had the Secretary of State communicated this clearly in 1949, there might never have been a war from 1950 to 1953.

Similarly, just three days before the invasion of Kuwait, Ambassador April Glaspie told Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, We have no opinion on your Arab  Arab conflicts, such as your dispute with Kuwait. Secretary [of State James] Baker has directed me to emphasize the instruction, first given to Iraq in the 1960s, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America (source). It is little wonder, then, that Hussein did not back down when the US threatened to go to war if he did not withdraw his forces from Kuwait. Unfortunately for him, President H.W. Bush decided  after the Joint Chiefs of Staff assured him that it would be possible to win the war without suffering a level of fatalities that Bush feared would ruin his prospects for re-election  that he was willing to go to war after all. Similar uncertainties also contributed significantly to the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

It is for these reasons that Trumps electoral victory is so alarming. Trump has famously questioned what the US is getting out of its military presence in South Korea and Japan and indicated that the US should no longer serve as the worlds policeman (source). He has expressed admiration for Putin and indicated that Russias actions in Ukraine are legitimate  when hes acknowledged that theyre even occurring (source). One could hardly blame Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong-un for thinking that the United States would not respond if they chose to attack traditional US allies in the Baltics or South Korea.

What if, like Kims grandfather and Iraqs Saddam Hussein, they learn that the US was in fact committed to defending its allies? What if those we might otherwise see as optimists are right to believe that Trumps bluster on the campaign trail wont actually predict how he behaves in office? Should his advisers impress upon him the importance of NATO and partnerships with key allies in East Asia, he will likely have to prove what has gone without saying in the past  and the result may be tens or even hundreds of thousands of fatalities. Any war between NATO and Russia is likely to resemble WWII more than the Kosovo conflict. A war on the Korean peninsula also has the potential to escalate into an extremely bloody conflict. China might not want a war, and would prefer to see less provocation from Kim as it is, but the PRC would hardly welcome US military bases less than a mile from their border. Yet if Kims regime was overthrown, that would surely be the result. We should also note that the last time the US went to war on the Korean peninsula, its initial goal was to repel an invasion from the north, yet once the tide turned, the US sought to unify the peninsula under the rule of a US ally, nearly reaching the Yalu River.

When it is so easy to see why Putin or Kim might believe that they could get away with things they currently do not dare to attempt, and to imagine what might drag China into a war it does not want, we must ask ourselves which would be worse: if Trump meant the things he said on the campaign trail or if he didnt?

I dont even mean to suggest an answer to that question. As horrifying as the prospect of a return to warfare on a scale not seen in decades is, I cannot hope for the abandonment of key allies. That is why I am so troubled; if Putin and Kim respond to Trumps comments the way leaders have often responded when the US signaled that it was unwilling to check aggression, there is no best case scenario.

The Duck of Minervas WPTPN group is still seeking guest contributions. If you are interested in writing a post and have research expertise in international relations, international political economy, foreign policy, comparative politics, or cognate fields please see this post for more information.
A woman packs rice into bags at a factory in Tri Thuy village, outside Hanoi. Photo by Reuters

The countrys rice exports could plummet by 27 percent this year.

The Vietnam Food Association has revised down its full-year forecast for rice exports twice this year, attributing the downturn to a lack of demand from key markets and Thailands sales of its massive stockpiles.

Export volume, including sales across the border to top buyer China, is projected to fall by more than 2 million tons from last years 6.56 million tons, the Saigon Times cited industry experts as saying.

Meanwhile, India and Thailand, which are Vietnams main competitors in the global market, have performed well so far this year. Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.

India, which overtook Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015, shipped about 8.1 million tons in the first 10 months of the year, down 9.9 from the same period last year. Thailand exported 6.9 million ton of rice, up 3.7 percent on-year.

According to industry experts, after Thailand announced plans to clear its state stockpiles, estimated at around 9 million tons in August, Vietnamese rice has become less competitive in major markets across Asia.

Customs data shows that from JanuaryOctober, Vietnams rice exports to the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, which account for 40 percent of its total annual volume, slumped 42.2 percent to 940,000 tons.

Another key factor is that Vietnam has long been focused on quantity rather than quality, which has actually backfired on the countrys rice exports.

Vietnamese rice exporters are also faced with the risk of being banned from the United State after a series of pesticide residue scandals.

Between January 2012 and August 2016, 412 containers or 10,000 tons of rice shipped from Vietnam to the U.S. were returned due to hygiene and safety issues, statistics from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show.

The FDA said it found eight active chemicals in the Vietnamese rice shipments above the permissible limits set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Nguyen Thi Huong at an appeal court in HCMC on Monday for heroin smuggling attempt. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Duyen

The appeal court reduced the 73-year-old's sentence to life in jail, saying she cooperated during the investigation.

A Vietnamese-Australian woman convicted of attempting to smuggle 1.6 kilograms of heroin from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney had her death sentence commuted to life at an appeal trial on Monday.

The appeal court in Ho Chi Minh City said Nguyen Thi Huong, 73, earned the commutation for being honest and showing remorse during the investigation. The fact that she is old may have also been taken into consideration.

Huong was arrested at Tan Son Nhat Airport with the heroin hidden in soap bars in December 2014. She was checking in for a flight to Sydney.

She said she had visited Vietnam a month earlier and a Thai woman from HCMCs neighboring province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau gave her the soap to carry to Australia.

She said she did not know anything about the drugs, which were worth around VND10 billion ($443,200).

In June, the HCMC Peoples Court decided to hold her fully responsible.

Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.

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The Islamic States Khorasan province claimed credit for the deadly suicide attack at a Shiite mosque in Kabul that killed more than 30 people and wounded scores more. The attack is the second of its kind in the Afghan capital by the Islamic State in the past six weeks.

The claim for the so-called martyrdom attack was made through the Amaq News Agency, an official propaganda arm of the Islamic State. According to Amaq, the attack was executed by fighters of the Islamic State who were targeting a Shiite shrine in Kabul.

Afghan officials reported that 32 people, including a large number of women and children, were killed and 85 more were wounded in the blast at the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque, Khaama Press reported. A single suicide bomber is believed to have detonated his vest as Shiite worshipers congregated inside the mosque.

The Taliban denied any involvement in todays suicide attack in Kabul.

The attack in #Kabul today has nothing to do with the Mujahidin of Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, one of the official spokesmen of the Taliban tweeted earlier today. The Taliban has attempted to distance itself from attacks on civilian targets in an effort to improve its image among the Afghan population.

The Islamic State has a history of attacking Shia minorities in Afghanistan, and todays attack is the second in Kabul in six weeks. On Oct. 11, a Khorasan province suicide bomber killed at least 18 people in an attack on another Shiite mosque in the capital.

In its most deadly attack to date, the group killed more than 60 people and wounded at least 200 in a coordinated suicide attack while Hazaras, a Shiite minority, were protesting in Kabul in July.

Khorasan province is carrying out the orders of Abu Muhammad al Adnani, the spokesman and senior leader of the Islamic State who was recently killed by the US. Adnani routinely called on his followers to ruthlessly target Shiites, as they are not to be considered as true Muslims. From a speech by Adnani in February 2012 (translated by the SITE Intelligence Group):

Stop the black extension that is coming towards you. Cut off the head of the [Shiite] snake, the tail of which is amongst you. Know that the coming stage is a stage of real confrontation and war against the despicable [Shiites], whether you like it or not, and that the war of the Sunnis with the [Shiites] is not a sectarian war, like people are braying about. A sect is part of something, and the [Shiites] dont have anything to do with Islam; they have their own religion and we have our own. The war of the Sunnis with the [Shiites] is a religious war, a holy war of faith, a war of faith and unbelief, a war of idolatry and monotheism. There is no way out of it and there is no swerving from it. The [Shiites] know this well.

Additionally, yesterdays attack highlights the difference in tactics in Kabul between the Islamic State and the rival Taliban. The Islamic State has hit soft targets in the capital while the Taliban has targeted Afghan security forces and foreign forces and workers, which are better protected.

While the Islamic State has experienced difficulty establishing a significant presence in Afghanistan  and has lost ground in areas such as Helmand, Zabul, and Farah  it still has a foothold in the eastern province of Nangarhar, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan forces. The Islamic State likely is using this position of strength in Nangarhar to launch attacks into the capital. Additionally, the group may be leveraging legacy networks from the greatly weakened Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a portion of which defected to the Islamic State.

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.
The Taliban claimed to seize control of Ghorak district in Kandahar province on Nov. 19. The claim cannot be independently verified in the Afghan press or FDDs Long War Journal, but the district has been hotly contested and overrun by the Taliban in the past.

From the Taliban statement released on Voice of Jihad:

A recent report arriving from Ghorak district of southern Kandahar province say that, enemy troops of the said district administration center and a military base were force to flee this noon with the help of a large military convoy and helicopters towards Maiwand district, giving the district center completely to Mujahideen. According to details, the said district center was under tight besiege of Mujahideen for the past some time. Mujahideen are chasing the enemy in the area, a reinforcement truck has been destroyed while an APC was shred into pieces by an IED attack, inflecting heavy casualties on enemy. It must be mentioned that at least 55 gunmen were killed and a sizeable amount of weapons were sized when 2 enemy bases and 2 posts were overrun in the said district some time ago.

The Taliban previously claimed to have taken control of Ghorak in mid-October 2015. Based on press reports, FDDs Long War Journal had previously assessed Ghorak to be contested. As recently as Nov. 18, a report in Xinhua said that security forces presence is slim in the district. On Nov. 15, Afghan officials said that all schools in Ghorak were closed due to security problems, Zee News reported.

The security situation in Kandahar province has been difficult to assess. FDDs Long War Journal estimated that three of Kandahars 16 districts are under Taliban control (Ghorak, Registan, Shorabak). Anecdotal press reports indicate that the districts of Arghistan, Khakrez, Maiwand, Shah Wali Kot, and Zhari are contested, but this cannot be confirmed.

Ghorak is situated along a belt of Taliban-controlled or contested districts in southern Afghanistan that spans the provinces of Farah, Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar. Ghorak borders Helmand province, where the Taliban controls six and contests seven of the 14 districts. Ghorak also borders Uruzgan, where the Taliban controls one and contests five of the six districts.

The Taliban has used this southern safe haven to directly threaten the capitals of Farah, Helmand, and Uruzgan. Afghan forces, backed by US advisers and airstrikes, have struggled to stave off Taliban offensives against the capitals of these three provinces.

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.
US doctor to perform series of free tumor surgeries in Hanoi, Saigon

Doctor McKay McKinnon checks a woman with facial tumor during his visit to Ho Chi Minh City in 2014. Photo by VnExpress/Thien Chuong

The hospitals are trying to raise funds so the patients can stay for free.

An American plastic surgeon who has already saved many Vietnamese lives by removing giant tumors including a 90-kilogram case that made global headlines in 2012 is returning to Vietnam next week.

Dr. McKay McKinnon will arrive in Hanoi on November 26 and treat patients at Vinmec International Hospital and the leading public hospital Viet-Duc. He will move to Ho Chi Minh City on December 4 for one week to treat patients at the University Medical Center, and possibly those at Cho Ray, Childrens Hospital No.2 and the France-Vietnam Hospital.

It will be McKinnons eighth visit to Vietnam, and once again he will be offering his services for free.

The Chicago-based doctor started coming to Vietnam to remove giant, life-threatening tumors in 2012. Many of his patients have been in their 20s and 30s, while one was as young as four and suffering from multiple tumors that made him unable to lie down normally.

In January 2012, he and colleagues at the FV Hospital in HCMC performed a 10-hour surgery to remove a 90-kilogram tumor from the leg of a 32-year-old man, a case that made headlines worldwide.

Nguyen Duy Hai had developed the tumor at the age of four and it just kept growing. He got to live tumor-free for nearly two years before dying in late 2013 due to respiratory failure.

McKinnons visits have been arranged and sponsored by Canadian charity Virtual Medical Miracle Network, the Vovicare charity run by ethnic Vietnamese living in Australia, American non-profit VinaCapital Foundation that runs health and education projects for Vietnamese children and youth, and the Detech science and technology development company.

VinaCapital has withdrawn from the project this year to focus more on congenital heart cases in Vietnam.

Although the Vietnamese doctors attending the project also work for free, the hospitals have been working hard to raise funds to cover the facilities.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Department at the University Medical Center in HCMC, said it has a list of more than 20 patients, most of whom are under 18 and suffering facial tumors.

Tuan said each case will have a hospital fee of around $2,000, and the hospital will not be able to cover the entire cost.

We can only provide certain support, he said.

He said the hospital had not managed to raise much money for the upcoming surgeries.

The patients have been asking me a lot but I cannot say if we can do the operation this time or not.

He said the patients public health insurance may only cover a third of the fee.

If you want to contribute, call University Medical Center (+84) 8 3855 4269 or Tuan directly at (+84) 913 910 789.

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> Vietnamese doctor turns "medical waste" into skin to cure wounds
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Stand-up comedian Nish Kumar brings his new show about history, democracy and capitalism to South Street.

Kumar addresses talking points including gentrification and colonisation and wonders whether hipsters really are to blame for bad legislation.

He also tackles the alarming creep of overt racism since the British public decided to leave the European Union back in June, and questions why the nation is still proud, rather than ashamed, of The British Empire.

Kumar himself was heckled on the day of the EU referendum announcement when a member of the crowd told him to go home despite living across the road.

The 31-year-old is a familiar voice on the radio and has hosted the topical comedy show Newsjack for Radio 4 Extra.

He has also appeared on the likes of Have I Got News For You, The John Bishop Show and Russell Howards Stand-Up for Central.

Last year Kumar received a Fosters Comedy Edinburgh Award nomination and had the best reviewed show with the critically acclaimed Long Word... Long Word... Blah Blah Blah... Im So Clever.
The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Is Partition and Pakistan a Hindu Gift to Jinnah?

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Kuldip Nayars column captioned, The Partition (Mainstream, August 27, 2016), merits our observation. Our leaders, who donned the patriotic kurta, were power hungry. Tired of long struggles and expectation for the bliss of power, they instantaneously accepted the offer of partition which installed them straight in the seat of authority. Any discourse on politics of the partition of India in 1947 sans demography, which occupies the central position in the plot, mocks its intellectual contents. Charging Winston Churchill with a pathological hatred for Hindus is indeed a protective armour for the other native players who facilitated partition. Before we denounce Churchill, we better take a look at some of the bare facts concerning partition at least in the case of Bengal.

Grossest dehumanisation of the untouchables, let us not hesitate to underscore, invited the partition of Bengal in 1947. The truth docu-mented by the census report in 1901 merits our attention. Then the Namasudra aggregated at 18,61,000 and the Pods nearly half-a-million; but the full strength of the two castes was concealed by the fact that large numbers were converted to Islam. There were ten-and-a-half million Muslims in the Dacca and Chittagong Divisions and the great majority of these were the descendants of converts from the rank of these two (Namasudras and Pods) castes. There must have been many converts of the same origin in the northern districts of the Presidency Division. It would probably be safe to say that at least nine millions of the Muhammadans of Bengal Proper belong to this stock.1 This in itself may not satisfy many of the inquisitive or cynical minds. Table-1 helps us appreciate the demographic perspective that provoked the demand for Muslim homeland and partition on the ground of Muslim majority.

Bengali Muslims grew by 87.4 per cent whereas Hindus by 38.4 per cent in seven decades (1872-1941). In other words, Muslims increased more than twice over the Hindus in seventy years. But in four decades between 1901 and 1941 while the Hindus recorded a rise of 24.3 per cent, the Bengali Muslim scored 13.2 per cent increase. With 13.2 per cent increase, the descendants of the converts of Namasudras and Pods to Islam in those four decades would have yielded 11,88,000 souls to Bengali Muslims. So, in 1941 their descendants totalled at 90,00,000+11,88,000=1,01,88,000. The Muslims were in excess of the Hindus by 79,48,410 souls in 1941. If the descendants of converted Namasudras and Pods numbering 1,01,88,000 in 1941 were subtracted from the Bengali Muslim population, their number in East Bengal would have dwindled to 2,28,17,434. The conversion of Namasudras and Pods in East Bengal were responsible for the Muslim majority. Jinnah, without numerical superiority, would, therefore, have no ground for demanding a Muslim homeland in Bengal. Malicious treatment of the untouchables and under-privileged by its powerful section invited curse for India as a whole, a lesson Bengali bhadralok did not learn even in an era euphorically described as renaissance! They blame others for something they are responsible for!

Indias First General Strike against Caste Discrimination and Inequality

A little known fact of historical significance may be abutted here. The Chandals, officially rechristened as Namasudras in 1911, had observed an indefinite strikespanning over four monthsin Faridpur, Barisal and Jessore districts in 1873. The colonial bureaucracy termed it as general strike,3 though India is yet to acknowledge this landmark in the socio-economic life of Bengal. The Faridpur Police Superintendent who investigated the reasons and factors of the strike reported that the Chandals are not only agriculturists, but they were also boatmen, porters, carpenters, iron-smiths, potters and fishermen. He added that they have been despised by Hindus of the higher caste, who consider them only little better than beasts, the touch of a Chandal being defilement....4 The Faridpur District Magistrate, W.S. Wells, who too was required by the Commissioner, Dacca Division, to conduct a personal inquiry, noted that a large body of Hindus and Mahomedans came up to complain to me of the ruinous effects to them arising out of the action of the Chandals.5 The Chandals strike resulted in a total collapse of the rural economy. The District Police chief, however, stated that the strike has no political signifi-cance at present, but is an effort made by them to raise themselves in the social scale among the Hindus.

The striking Chandals objective was dignity and equality of treatment in the eyes of the law and dignity. In January-February 1872, a rich and influential Chandal, Choron Sapah of village Amgram in Barisal, had invited 10,000 guests including Brahmans, Baidyas, Kayasthas and Sudras to a feast to mark the shraddha ceremonies of his father. The Kayasthas, according to the police chief, refused to accept the invitation, couching their refusal with taunts and reproaches reflecting on the Chandal, the words being to this effectEat with men who permit their women to go to the market and who are employed as mehtars in jails for removing filth and everything unclean? What next!6 The District Magistrate, on the other hand, noted that though the unfortunate race, generally despised, a hard working, patient, was an uncomplaining people. His compliment was heartwarming: The Chandals, as I have before stated in several reports, are an industrious and honest class and are very seldom in the criminal courts; they are doubtless an oppressed and ill-used people. In three districts the Brahman, Baidya and Kayastha aggregated at 4,31,628 as against Chandals who numbered 7,54,323.7

This was the first non-violent, peaceful, non-political mass movement in India. (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as the apostle of non-violence and who later came to be revered as the Father of the Indian Nation, was then barely three years old.) The Chandals had refused to render any services to the upper-caste Hindus and Muslims. The total affected people aggre-gated at 54,65,043Muslims 32,80,230 and Hindus 21,63,598 and others 20,245.

Seven years later Captain Charles Cunnin-gham Boycott of the British Army made himself notorious by his atrocious actions against tenants in County Mayo, Ireland and thrust himself into the English vocabulary. Over two decades later in 1896, Leo Tolstoy enunciated his concept of non-violence which Gandhiji emulated and practised. Chandals, who were the pioneers of non-violence, are yet to receive attention for their unique movement.

Blaming Mohammad Ali Jinnah for intran-sigence in his demand is a convenient ploy to deflect attention from the atrocious role the Hindus played against the untouchables. In fact, Jinnah (born in 1875) alone could not have accomplished the gigantic task of creating a homeland for the Muslims in Bengal, had he not had on his side skilled and adorable bhadralok accompanists in the mission. Hatred against the Muslims in Bengal was no less blighting and virulent than what the Chandals endured. Jinnahs subterraneous gratitude for the Hindus perhaps knew no bounds. Ultimately their oppression of the untouchables made Pakistan a reality!

Insatiable Greed of Upper Caste at the Root of Partition

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar pointed out: The Bengali Hindu had the whole of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam and even UP for his pasture. He had captured the civil services in all these Provinces. The partition of Bengal meant a diminution in the area of his pasture. It meant that the Bengali Hindu was to be ousted from Eastern Bengal to make room for the Bengali Mussalman...8 The Englishman of Calcutta, long before Ambedkar had exposed the Bengali upper caste invasion of neighbours, wrote: ...In Bihar, Bengalis hold nearly every office worth holding, and have the lions share of even the less lucrative posts... The daily had honestly admitted that they (Bengali bhadralok) are almost as foreigner and intruders as ourselves.9 The boiling bad blood against the Bengalis in the neighbouring provinces was due solely to the unquenchable avarice of this class of people.

Nayar cannot be faulted for charging Chur-chill for his pathological hatred against the Hindus. Can we have a similar assessment of the hatred the upper castes nurse against the underprivileged and underdogs? Any casual visit to the Dandakaranya project areas, Chilka (Odisha) and Champaran (Bihar), where the erstwhile unfortunate East Pakistani Bengali refugees were rehabilitated, will expose the heartlessness of the upper-caste rulers and bureaucrats in dealing with them. One and all, barring a handful of exceptions, they are from the lowest caste strata. The ruling elite mindlessly drove the refugees out of West Bengal where they first took shelter. The upper castes needed the partition of Bengal to rule and enjoy the loaves and fishes of power in truncated West Bengal. So they nipped in the bud the potential of opposition and challenge from any quarter.

September 4, 2016

Dr A.K. Biswas

137 VIP Road, Calcutta

Footnotes

1. Census of India 1901, vol. VI, p. 396.

2. Report on the Census of Bengal 1872, pp. xxxii-xxxiii; Census of India 1931,vol. V, Report Part I, p. 387; V. B. Kulkarni, Is Pakistan Necessary?, Hind Kitabs, Bombay, 1944, p. 67.

3. Hunter, W.W., Statistical Account of Bengal, vol. VI, London, 1876.

4. Government of West Bengal, W.L. Owen, Superinten-dent of Police, Faridpur, letter no 66 dated March 18, 1873 to District Magistrate, Faridpur, The 1873 Movement for Dignity and Equality, 2015.

5. Ibid., W.S. Wells, District Magistrates letter no. 340 dated April 8, 1873 to Commissioner., Dacca Division.

6. Letter no. 66 dated Bhanga, March 18, 1873, Superintendent of Police, Faridpur to the District Magistrate, Faridpur.

7. Report on The Census of Bengal 1872 by H. Beverley, Bengal Secretariat Press,, Calcutta, pp. Cxvi-xxix.

8. Ambedkar, B.R., Thoughts on Pakistan (1941).

9. The Englishman, November 27, 1879.
Many patients now only respond to the strongest, most expensive antibiotics available.

It is almost as easy to buy antibiotics in Vietnam as it is to buy a candy at a convenience store, and doctors warn that this trend is putting the entire healthcare system at risk.

Dr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University, said at a conference last week that the antibiotics trade in Vietnam is in extreme disarray.

Drug resistance has become more commonplace and some drugs have been rendered useless by superbugs just a month after being made available, he said.

No prescriptions are issued for 88 percent of antibiotics sales in cities and 91 percent in rural areas, according to a survey released by the ministry. Many pharmacies also ignore a regulation that says they should not sell prescription drugs without a prescription.

Health experts said that sometimes its the doctors who are at fault for prescribing antibiotics when they're not needed, for example, the common cold.

Nam said some doctors, especially those running private clinics, prescribe unnecessarily strong antibiotics to impress patients with the speed in which they can cure them.

They try to win fame and customers, but ignore safety issues, he said, as cited by local newspaper Thanh Nien.

Pham Khanh Phong Lan, deputy director of HCMCs Health Department, said antibiotics now account for 17 percent of medical expenses in Vietnam, which now has to resort to third and fourth generations of antibiotics while many developed countries are still using the first generation.

The World Health Organization has listed Vietnam among the countries with the highest rate of antibiotic-resistant infections, standing at 33 percent of patients.

Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, director of HCMC Tropical Diseases Hospital, said many patients under emergency treatment at the hospital are infected with bacteria that resist multiple kinds of drugs.

They can only be cured with the latest, most expensive antibiotics, Chau said in the Thanh Nien report. There are bacteria in Vietnam that resist all kinds of antibiotics available.

Lan from the HCMC health department said that if the problem persists, it wont be long until Vietnam has no weapons left to deal with bacteria.

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United States attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. Heres hoping that it is the pleasure of President-elect Donald J. Trump to keep junkyard-dog federal prosecutor Preet Bharara on the job long enough to finish the extraordinary work he has undertaken in New York.

Bhararas singular service to date has been to impose a measure of restraint on business as usual.

Custom has it that US attorneys stand ready to depart when a new president is inaugurated. Bill Clinton, taking office in 1993, demanded  and received  resignation letters from all 93 federal prosecutors. New brooms, as they say, sweep clean. Bharara, if not a new broom, is certainly a big one, and hes been sweeping clean since President Obama  on the recommendation of Sen. Charles Schumer  appointed him US Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2009. Thats one of the most challenging prosecutorial posts in the federal government, albeit one that has generally focused on Wall Street and the financial markets. Bharara widened the brief to include New York government at the state and local level  scoring spectacular, if substantially incomplete, results.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and one-time state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos are on their way to federal prison; former key aides to Gov. Cuomo await formal indictment in separate scandals; and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios administration has been hamstrung by at least five investigations  most of them conducted, initiated, or materially aided by Bharara.

Not since Manhattan District Attorney Thomas Dewey went after Tammany Hall to splendid effect some 80 years ago has a single prosecutor had the effect on political corruption in New York that Bharara has already achieved. Yet for all of that, much remains to be done, with not much time to do it if standard succession conventions are observed.

New York will never be free of corruption. Greed, stupidity, and arrogance are part of the human condition  arguably nowhere more acutely than in the Empire State. Bhararas singular service to date has been to impose a measure of restraint on business as usual.

Going forward, rare will be the gathering of politicians and other players where the folks at the table wont wonder who among them is wearing a wire. And that is all to the good in a state known for its political culture of corruption.

De Blasio is heading into his re-election year, with Cuomo presumably to follow in 2018. For better or worse, each deserves unequivocal conclusions to the investigations and related activities that Bharara has initiated.

The prosecutor needs to drop the hammer or lift the cloud, to be blunt. And New Yorkers need a clean resolution also, for otherwise, a restoration of confidence in their government is impossible.

For any of that to happen, Bharara needs time and support. Questions loom, not least among them this: Will the new US attorney general  whoever that might be  provide Bharara that time and support? Any president-elect has a lot on his plate. Given the circumstances, President-elect Trump likely has more distractions than most.

But he is a New Yorker; he cant help but understand whats at stake. He can do his hometown  and the rule of law  a substantial favor by extending Preet Bhararas tenure.

This piece originally appeared in the New York Post

______________________

This piece was adapted from City Journal Online

Bob McManus is a contributing editor of City Journal. He retired as editorial page editor of the New York Post in 2013 and has since worked as a freelance editor, columnist, and writer.
About West Texas

Far from the glitz of Dallas and the live music festivals of Austin lies the forlorn yet lovely landscape of West Texas. The rugged region is synonymous with sprawling ranch-lands, outdoor adventure, stunning terrain, and local Texan lore. From jagged rock bluffs and just about all the prickly plants and weeds one can think of, to the wide open stretches under blue skies and country roads which seem to go on forever, West Texas catches the fancy of every traveler. So saddle up in West Texas and let the magnificence of mother nature sink in.

The term Far West Texas refers to the region that lies within the Chihuahuan Desert and west of the Pecos River. It is the most arid portion in the Lone Star State. The Trans-Pecos is renowned for the natural wealth of the Big Bend, the dramatic gorge of the Rio Grande, and plenty of privately owned ranch-lands.

Llano Estacado, commonly known as the Staked Plain, in West Texas extends into the Texas Panhandle region and eastern New Mexico. To the east of the Llano Estacado is vast rolling plains and to the south lies the Edwards Plateau; both of these regions act as a natural boundary between East and West Texas.

The region has lower population density than the state average. Major cities in West Texas are: El Paso, Lubbock, Abilene, Odessa, and San Angelo. While El Paso is famous for Amigo Airsho and Fiesta de las Flores celebrations, Lubbock  the birthplace of music legend Buddy Holly  is famous for typical roadside attractions such as Silent Wings Museum and National Ranching Heritage Center.

An iconic landmark in this region, the Big Bend National Park is an expanse of limestone cliffs and is rife with desert fauna. The Big Bend Ranch State Park offers a wide range of recreational dwellings like backpacking, hiking, and fishing. One of the best way to experience the region is by paddling into the tall canyons on the Rio Grande.

Other popular things to do in West Texas include swimming in San Solomon Springs, driving down Pinto Canyon Road to Chinati Mountain, watching bird-life and mountain lions in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and attending the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, which is held annually around mid-September, in Abilene.

Cities and towns of West Texas
Silver Is Not Real Money

Is silver real money? I dont think so. But I know that my proclamation will likely draw vociferous contradictions from others who consider themselves hard-money advocates.

Thats okay. Lets look at the facts. And in order to be consistent with the introduction of my companion article GOLD IS REAL MONEY, lets start similarly here. In this case though, I will list what silver is rather than what it is not. Silver is:

an industrial commodity

a semi-precious metal

a possible investment

Gold is MONEY. Silver is an industrial COMMODITY which has been used at times as money.

Silver is used in batteries, dentistry, photography, medicine, semiconductors, nuclear reactors, etc. Also, it is highly malleable (as is gold) but it has several characteristics which detract from and limit its use as money:

it tarnishes easily and its use in coinage results in a higher amount of visible/actual wear

it is in reasonably plentiful supply (not nearly as scarce as gold, nor as beautiful)

its value is subject to wide (sometimes ridiculously so) changes based on economic conditions and speculation.

The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States was established in 1913. At that time the US dollar was fully convertible into gold at a rate of (roughly) $20.00 to the ounce. You could exchange paper currency of twenty dollars for on ounce of gold in coin form whose dollar value was stamped on the coin. And the paper dollars had a statement printed on them which stated that they were convertible/exchangeable into equivalent amounts of gold.

At that same time the US dollar was also exchangeable and convertible into silver at $1.29 to the ounce. The seemingly odd number was based on the silver content of .77 ounces in a US silver dollar ($1.29 x .77 ounces = $1.00).

In the intervening one hundred years, golds value as measured in continually depreciating US paper dollars is up sixty times ($1210/oz divided by $20/oz = 60). Silvers value, however, as measured in the same depreciating US paper dollars is up only fourteen times ($17/oz divided by $1.29/oz = 13).

The US dollar has lost ninety-eight percent of its purchasing power since 1913. In other words, it takes (generally speaking) FIFTY times as many paper dollars today to purchase comparable amounts of similar goods and services you could have purchased in 1913. The sixty fold increase in golds US dollar price compensates quite well for the decline in US dollar purchasing power. The thirteen fold increase in silvers US dollar price clearly does not.

For silver (or anything else) to be considered real money, it must be a store of value. According to Investopedia, a store of value is a form of wealth that maintains its value without depreciating. In this case, being a store of value means it must at least match inversely the decline in purchasing power of the US dollar. For this to be so, silvers current value needs to be at least US$64.00/oz. It isnt even reasonably close to that benchmark.

It is true that there have been a couple of times (1980, 2011) when silver reached a price level of approximately $US50.00/oz. But both of these occasions were the result of speculative excess and were short-lived.

The Gold/Silver Ratio

As far back as the early 1970s, when I purchased my first gold and silver coins, people were talking about the gold/silver ratio. Of course, just as today, there were expectations that the ratio was destined to return to the level of 16 to 1 ($20.67 divided by $1.29) which existed one hundred years ago.

There is no fundamental reason which justifies any particular ratio between gold and silver. The gold/silver ratio that existed a century ago was more the result of political influence regarding the specific fixed price of silver per ounce.

The origins of the political persuasion involved came from the western mining states. And that fixed price was higher than the actual market price. Thus, in actual effect, silver was one of the first commodities to benefit from government price support. This was in the early 1900s, before the depression, and before New Deal.

Whatever the reasoning or justification behind the specific fixed price, all we need to know is what has happened since. Meaning, what has happened to the purchasing power of silver, gold, and the US dollar.

In my article A Loaf Of Bread, A Gallon Of Gas, An Ounce Of Gold , I discussed the price history of the three items listed compared to the US dollar. Gold over the past century has maintained its value/purchasing power and the US dollar has not. If we do a similar price comparison of silver, we find that it does not maintain its purchasing power over time. Hence, it is not a store of value. Since it is not a store of value, it cannot be real money.

Does that mean silver cant or shouldnt be used as money? No, of course not. For one thing it is certainly a better choice than paper currency. And its use as money is evident throughout history. Two of the most recent examples are US silver coinage and British Pound Sterling. Nevertheless, silvers role as money will likely (and should) be secondary to gold. In any case, it will not change what history has shown to be true. Silver is a commodity  with industrial uses primarily and a sometimes secondary role as money.

By Kelsey Williams

http://www.kelseywilliamsgold.com

Kelsey Williams is a retired financial professional living in Southern Utah. His website, Kelseys Gold Facts, contains self-authored articles written for the purpose of educating others about Gold within an historical context.

 2016 Copyright Kelsey Williams - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Trump Negotiating NAFTA's Future, Mexico Economic Uncertainty

In Mexico, uncertainty abounds over U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and, in particular, his promises to change NAFTA. Although the next president will have the power to unilaterally pull out of the trade bloc, as he has threatened to do, congressional opposition and legal challenges from private companies may discourage him from doing so. Aside from the political and legal battles that would doubtless ensue, withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement would be economically painful, disrupting business continuity for companies around the world  including those in the United States. Still, Trump has a few options with regard to NAFTA. Instead of suddenly withdrawing from the deal, he could try to renegotiate certain aspects of it. He may even decide to leave NAFTA alone (although that seems unlikely given the emphasis he placed on the agreement during his campaign). Regardless of which path he takes, Trump will not be acting in a vacuum. His decision will likely depend on the cooperation of the U.S. Congress and of the trade agreement's other signatories, Canada and Mexico.

Analysis

On the campaign trail, Trump made NAFTA a central focus of his platform, frequently vowing to renegotiate or pull out of the deal for the United States' benefit. Despite the repercussions that would entail, his threat of withdrawal was not necessarily an empty one. As president, Trump will have wide-ranging powers over U.S. foreign policy. NAFTA's terms, moreover, allow for a country to unilaterally withdraw from the treaty. Nevertheless, withdrawing would be easier said than done. The U.S. and Mexican economies have become so integrated that the tariffs imposed in the wake of a withdrawal would probably raise prices for consumers in both countries and reduce cross-border trade.

Declining trade would have dire effects on U.S. states such as Texas and Arizona that do considerable business with Mexico  and, by extension, on their representatives in Congress (most of whom are members of Trump's Republican Party). The sheer level of business disruption that a hasty unilateral withdrawal would cause in those states may deter lawmakers from backing such an initiative and could alienate their support on future policy proposals, as well. This is something Trump will likely take into account as he crafts his trade policy toward Mexico.

A Less Disruptive Way

At the same time, Trump has his support base to consider. The president-elect's victory relied heavily on voters in states that have lost the manufacturing jobs that once underpinned their prosperity, such as Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. If he hopes to maintain their support in the 2020 presidential election, Trump may have to make good on at least some aspect of his promise to overhaul NAFTA. To that end, his administration could opt for a partial renegotiation of NAFTA as a way to appease his supporters while minimizing business disruptions and congressional resistance. The new president could try to engage Mexico in a discussion aimed at amending or further enforcing NAFTA's regional value content stipulations, which dictate the amount of content from member countries that goods traded under the agreement must contain. If all parties agreed to raise the regional value content requirement on certain high-value products such as automobiles, the United States, as the bloc's largest manufacturer, could benefit in the long run. A renegotiation of this sort would also be less disruptive, sparing U.S. companies with operations in Mexico the sudden negative consequences that a withdrawal from NAFTA would bring.

Whether Mexico or Canada would accept those terms, however, depends on what the United States proposes to address in the renegotiations. Canada has already indicated that it is open to discussing NAFTA's terms again, and in the wake of Trump's election, Mexico appears hesitant to challenge the United States. Even so, there may be limits to their cooperation. If Mexico sees an increase in regional value content as a threat to its automobile industry  currently the country's main source of export revenue  Mexican politicians and businesses on both sides of the border would likely object.

From Washington to Mexico City

Along with the economic fallout, Trump's policy decisions on NAFTA and other thorny issues, including immigration reform and border security, could have a profound effect on politics in Mexico. As that country's 2018 elections approach, opposition candidates such as Morena's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador could capitalize on public resentment toward the United States' policies. If negotiations over NAFTA or moves to tighten the U.S.-Mexico border coincide with Mexico's presidential and legislative campaigns, voters may eventually channel their dissatisfaction through their ballots.

Over the next year, Mexico, the United States and Canada will probably work together to come up with a mutually agreeable strategy for dealing with NAFTA. To a great extent, the solution they reach will depend on policies that are still taking shape. As the Trump administration crafts its stance toward NAFTA, Mexico and Canada will likewise define their positions. The most likely  and least disruptive  option for all parties involved is to meet in the middle at the negotiating table.

"Negotiating NAFTA's Future is republished with permission of Stratfor."

This analysis was just a fraction of what our Members enjoy, Click Here to start your Free Membership Trial Today! "This report is republished with permission of STRATFOR"

 Copyright 2016 Stratfor. All rights reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Soldiers from the Shan State Army-South march in formation during a military parade celebrating the 69th Shan State National Day at Loi Tai Leng, the group's headquarters, on the Thai-Myanmar border February 7, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

Three armed groups simultaneously attacked security posts in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state.

China has said its army is on high alert after armed groups in Myanmar attacked military and police posts close to their shared border at the weekend and that it would act to protect its citizens and their property in the area.

The official Xinhua news agency said in a report late on Sunday three armed groups simultaneously attacked security posts in the border towns of Muse and Kutkai in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state earlier in the day.

Xinhua, citing unidentified sources, said there were military and civilian casualties but gave no other details.

China's defense ministry said in a statement on its website it hoped that calmness and restraint would be exercised to prevent further escalation.

"The Chinese army is on high alert and will take the necessary measures to safeguard the country's sovereignty and safety, as well as protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens living along the border," the ministry statement said.

Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups in Shan state, which is home to several large groups operating close to the borders with China and Thailand.

Related news:

>'We were family': Myanmar attacks shatter rare ethnic harmony
Obama says world leaders want to move forward with TPP

Heads of state pose for a family photo during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in Lima, Peru, November 20, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

'Our partners made clear they want to move forward with TPP,' said U.S. President Obama.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday that leaders from across the Asia-Pacific have decided to move ahead with a trade deal opposed by his successor Donald Trump.

"They would like to move forward with the United States."

It is unclear whether there is any future for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a vast, arduously negotiated agreement between 12 countries that are currently at different stages of ratifying it. It does not include China.

Trump campaigned against the proposal as a "terrible deal" that would "rape" the United States by sending American jobs to countries with cheaper labor.

The agreement must by ratified in the U.S. Congress, which will remain in the hands of Trump's Republican allies when the billionaire mogul takes office on January 20.

Without the United States, it cannot be implemented in its current form.

However, some have suggested Trump could negotiate a number of changes and then claim credit for turning the deal around.

Obama defended the increasing integration of the global economy at the close of his final foreign visit as president, a trade summit held against the backdrop of rising protectionist sentiment in the United States and Europe, seen in both Trump's win and Britain's "Brexit" vote.

He said that "historic gains in prosperity" thanks to globalization had been muddied by a growing gap "between the rich and everyone else."

"That can reverberate through our politics," he said.

"That's why I firmly believe one of our greatest challenges in the years ahead across our nations and within them will be to make sure that the benefits of the global economy are shared by more people."

And he sent a message to a world that is growingly wary of globalization.

"The answer is to do trade right," he said.

Related news:

> Pacific leaders urged to defend free trade after Trump win

> Kerry hopes to revive TPP trade deal

> Vietnam says economy will still thrive even if TPP tanks
COLLINSVILLEFirst and second graders at Collinsville Elementary got a surprise Thursday, through a special visitor. They received some extra books and got to listen to a story told by Appalachian Power employee Ryan Forestier.

Forestier, who works as a line mechanic, was part of the companys "Read to Me Day," an event where Appalachian employees go and read to local students. When theyre finished, the employees bring along some books to donate to the schools library. According to information provided by the company, a total of 314 employees read to students in 418 schools in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. The project was started in 2001 and is now in its 16th year, with company officials estimating that more than 250,000 students have been reached and about 6,000 books donated.

"Being read aloud to can be such a magical experience for kids. Its so rewarding for our readers to witness that," said Charles Patton, Appalachian Power president in a statement. He volunteered to read to kids in a Charleston, West Virginia elementary school. "Our reason for devoting so much effort to Read to Me Day is to reach as many children as possible with the magic of a good story. Children who enjoy books will read more. Ultimately, theyll be better readers and do better in school."

This year, all of the employees read and donated the book "The Gingerbread Man: Loose in the School," by Laura Murray, a Virginia author.

"Its always exciting to have a visitor in school," said Jeri Matheney, Appalachian Power communications director. "When that visitor brings a book to read, its even more special. And its certainly a big change from an ordinary day for our line mechanics, meter readers and call center representatives who volunteer to read. It makes for a memorable day for both the kids and the employees."
TODAYS WORD is conniption (Kuh-hip-shuh n). Example: She started going into a conniption once she realized the family was coming on Wednesday and the house wasnt clean.

SUNDAYS WORD was Puritan. It means a member of a group of English Protestants in the 17th century who sought to "purify" or simplify worship. Example: The Puritans fled persecution in England, making their way to America.

Christmas Cheer deadline

Tomorrow is the final day to apply for some Christmas Cheer. The group is accepting applications through Tuesday at their office, over at 4 Liberty Street in Martinsville. Thats to the right hand side of Lester Building Supply near Taco Bell. The office is open the next two days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and people can apply at any time during those hours. To apply, a person first has to have a photo ID, Social Security numbers for all household members and proof of where they live. Now that can come in the form of a Virginia drivers license, or a city or county utility bill. Only Martinsville and Henry County residents can apply. Christmas Cheers been around for a while, helping families since 1951. The group provides toys to small children and food boxes for families.

Holiday Closings

The Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services will be shutting down this week, in honor of Thanksgiving. Itll close at noon on Wednesday and remain closed until next Monday. Itll reopen Nov. 28 at 8 a.m. Its not the only place closing for the holiday. Piedmont Community Services will be closed on Thanksgiving and then again on Friday. In case of an emergency, PCS officials ask that you call 1-877-934-3576.

Carver dinner

The George Washington Carver Class of 1965 will get together again on Dec. 3 for their annual Christmas Dinner. Itll be held at the American Legion Homer Dillard Post 78, over at 139 Creekside Drive in Fieldale. Now the thing is they need to know how many are coming, so they can prepare enough food. Please give either Sandra Woodward at (276)-957-3243 or Betty Turner a call at (276)-629-5244.

Bingo at Rangeley

The Fieldale Recreation Center and Pools will sponsor a Thirty-one Bingo at the Rangeley Ruritan Building Dec. 3. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games begin at 6 p.m. There will be prizes and a dessert auction, with concessions available.

Holiday concert

If youre anything like some members of the Bulletin staff, you cant wait until Christmas. One of the best ways to get in the spirit is Piedmont Arts annual Holiday Pops Concert. This year, the show will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Broadway star Joy Lynn Jacobs will again perform with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in the auditorium at Martinsville High School. Tickets cost $25 for reserved seats, $15 for adults and $5 for students; they may be purchased at Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave., Martinsville, by calling (276) 632-3221, or online at piedmontarts.org.

TRIVIA QUESTION: As we count down to Thanksgiving, the Stroller has another holiday-focused bit of trivia for you to guess at. Thanksgiving became an official holiday in 1863, but long before that, in 1817, one state made it a recognized holiday. Which state was the first to recognize Thanksgiving?

TRIVIA ANSWER: Thanksgiving is celebrated always on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. Why is that? The answer has to do with money. Several retailers wanted to make the Christmas season longer and so they came to President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939 and asked that he make Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of the month, to give people more time to shop for Christmas. Roosevelt agreed, facing backlash from residents who felt he was only helping corporations make more money.
Harvest Foundation should help

In response to recent articles concerning the extreme financial constraints the City of Martinsville is facing and the effect they may have on senior citizen programs: It seems this would be a great opportunity for The Harvest Foundation to step up to the plate. Years ago, when plans were being made to build Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, it was these same senior citizens, and the businesses they worked for, like Pannill Knitting, Tultex, Bassett/Walker, Dupont, Fieldcrest Mills, Hooker/American/Bassett/Morris Novelty/Furniture manufacturers and many others who dug into their pockets and donated the money to make the dream a reality. I believe, it was a great financial decision to sell the hospital and create The Harvest Foundation. I further believe, the citizens of our community have benefited from this strategic move. Would it not make sense to find a way to repay these senior citizens for the financial contributions they made years ago? If it made sense to build a stage for Rooster Walk (and obviously it did, because of the economic impact it has on our community), then surely it would be fitting to find a way to support our senior citizens. A recent article indicated over 60 percent of our population fall into that category. I would hate to see Martinsville have to make cuts in 2017 to any other services to keep these senior programs in place, especially to the fire department. How many lost lives would it take to regret that decision?

George Collins

Martinsville

Theres no "confusion"

In regard to Betsy Ashbrooks letter "clearing up confusion," I would like to make some comments. First, Hillary Clinton does not believe it is okay to kill babies in the uterus. She believes in a womans right to make decisions about her own body, especially if the pregnancy is endangering her own life. She has been a strong advocate for children everywhere and continues to be. Secondly, Hillary has won the popular vote of the people by over a half a million votes. People are demonstrating against the electoral college. How unfair this system is when more people voted for Hillary than for Trump. Maybe Donald was right when he said the voting system is rigged.

Thirdly, Donald Trump has used foul language on national television more times than I care to watch. And as far as Trump being for the working class, he is a billionaire whose father let him "borrow" $14 million. How in the world can he be considered to be in touch with the working class? It seems it would be enough for you to have your candidate win. Its not necessary to hurt more innocent people by your comments. Lets pray our new president with his racism, disrespect for women and insensititivity for the handicapped does not set up back 50 years in history.

Judy Rhoday

Collinsville

Equal pay for equal work

Dear Bulletin readers, I love envisioning the New Virginia Economy that enables Virginians to have equitable opportunities for a quality education, quality healthcare, quality jobs and equal pay for equal work. According to the U.S. Labor Force, women make up nearly half of the work force. They are significantly contributing to our workplaces and our economy, yet collectively they are not earning equitable salaries. In 2014 U.S. women working full-time jobs earned only 79 percent of what men made in the same positions. African-American women earned 64 cents and Latina women earned 56 cents for every dollar earned by Caucasian men in the same positions.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 requires that men and women in the workplace be given equal pay for equal work. And the Virginia Equal Pay Act "prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on sex when paying for work that requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility and that is performed under similar working conditions."

In Virginia, we must proactively address the gender "pay gap" because it creates a critical deficiency within our economy. It is not fair, and it is not a good business practice. However, if we work on solutions, together we can ensure that the New Virginia Economy is a reality and that Virginia is effectively positioned for the future. The sooner we can close the gap, the sooner we will see the realization of the New Virginia Economy that attracts and sustains an effective, diverse workforce.

Michael Hamlar

Roanoke
Noah Smith on the Islamic Civil War By: David Henderson

Noah Smith has a beautifully numerate discussion of wars being fought by radical Muslims. He does it in the context of analyzing Trump advisor Steve Bannon, and that analysis is not bad.

But what really struck me was his response to this claim of Bannon:

[I]ts a very unpleasant topic, but we are in an outright war against jihadist Islamic fascism. And this war is, I think, metastasizing far quicker than governments can handle it

. . . I believe you should take a very, very, very aggressive stance against radical IslamIf you look back at the long history of the Judeo-Christian West struggle against Islam, I believe that our forefathers kept their stance, and I think they did the right thing. I think they kept it out of the world, whether it was at Vienna, or Tours, or other places It bequeathed to use [sic] the great institution that is the church of the West.

Smith then reports on the numbers on deaths from some Islamic groups fighting others. H writes:

Lets look at the main wars currently being fought by radical Islamic forces. These are: Syrian Civil War (~470,000 dead)

2nd Iraqi Civil War (~56,000 dead)

Boko Haram Insurgency (~28,000 dead)

War in Afghanistan (126,000 dead)

Somali Civil War (~500,000 dead)

War in Northwest Pakistan (~60,000 dead)

Libyan Civil War (~14,000 dead)

Yemeni Civil War (~11,000 dead)

Sinai Insurgency (~4,500 dead)

Smith adds:

This is a lot of dead people  maybe about 2 million in all, counting all the smaller conflicts I didnt list. But almost all of these dead people are Muslims  either radical Islamists, or their moderate Muslim opponents. Compare these death tolls to the radical Islamist terror attacks in the West. 9/11 killed about 3,000. The ISIS attack in Paris killed 130. The death tolls in the West from radical Islam have been three orders of magnitude smaller than the deaths in the Muslim world. Three orders of magnitude is an almost inconceivable difference in size. What it means is that only a tiny, tiny part of the wars of radical Islam is bleeding over into the West. What were seeing is not a clash of civilizations, its a global Islamic civil war. The enemy isnt at the gates of Vienna  its at the gates of Mosul, Raqqa, and Kabul. And radical Islam is losing the global Islamic civil war. In Syria and Iraq, ISIS is losing. In Nigeria, Boko Haram is losing. In all of these wars except for possibly Afghanistan, radical Islamic forces have been defeated by moderate Islamic forces. Sometimes thats because of Western aid to the moderates. But much of it is just because a medievalist regime holds very, very little appeal for the average Muslim in any country. Practically no one wants to live under the sadist, totalitarian control of groups like ISIS. These groups are fierce, but their manpower is small and their popular support is not very large anywhere.

How tragic it would be if Steve Bannons innumeracy helped cause the U.S. government to embroil itself in the Middle East even more than Bush and Obama did.
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn.-- Officials with Bradley International Airport warn travelers during this Thanksgiving week to expect delays and congestion.

"The key during this busy travel week is to give yourself extra time and to plan ahead," said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority in a news release. "Our team will do everything we can to make your travel through the airport as carefree as possible."

Dillon tells domestic passengers to arrive as much as 90 minutes before a scheduled flight. Those traveling internationally should give themselves three hours.

In Rhode Island, T.F. Green Airport advises that all passengers arrive a full two hours early to get checked in and clear security.

#Airports are busiest before and after #Thanksgiving. Arrive 2 hours before your departure time to accommodate increased passenger traffic!  T.F. Green Airport (@tfgreenairport) November 20, 2016

Boston's Logan International Airport, a much larger and busier facility, wants passengers to arrive 21/2 hours before domestic flights and three hours before an international departure.

Dillon offers the following tips for Bradley travelers:

Confirm:

Parking:

Learn the TSA rules

AAA predicts that 48.7 million Americans will travel over Thanksgiving. That represents about a million more travelers and a 1.9 percent increase over 2015. It's the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007.

Of those travelers, 3.69 million Americans pan to fly to their holiday destinations while 43.5 million plan to drive. The remainder will take ferries, trains and other modes of transportation.
chandler riggs.jpg

Chandler Riggs portrays Carl Grimes on "The Walking Dead."

(AMC photo)

Speculation is rife that Chandler Riggs, who plays Carl Grimes on "The Walking Dead," will be the next series regular to leave the hit AMC series.

The 17-year-old actor's father, William Riggs, posted on Facebook that his son had fulfilled his seven-year contract at the expense of his education and personal life.

"7 year contract completed! Grateful to AMC, Cast & Crew, TWD fan base and especially Chandler for always being 100% dedicated," William Riggs posted. "Whether it was getting up at 4AM, working in the freezing cold past 2AM, leaving his friends and carefree kiddom behind, scrambling to make up missed schoolwork, he has done it without complaint and always made me proud & amazed to be his dad!"

Production on Season 7 wrapped up on Friday.

Earlier this month, Chandler Riggs revealed on Twitter that he had been accepted at Auburn University in Alabama. ("The Walking Dead" is filmed in neighboring Georgia.)

The actor reportedly has a major role in the Dec. 4 episode called "Sing Me a Song," according to Hall of Fame magazine.

There is speculation that his character may be going to the Sanctuary to confront Negan as he does in the comic books the AMC series is based upon.

In the comic book, Carl kills several members of Negan's Saviors gang with an assault rifle before he is captured. Negan takes a liking to Carl, spares his life and returns him to his father in Alexandria.

Carl plays a key role in the comic books, but the series has not religiously followed the source material.

Series stars Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) and Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) have each signed on for Season 8.

Lincoln and Reedus, who each make $550,000 per episode this season, will be paid $650,000 in Season 8, according to ComicBook.com
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(Rob Young, Flickr (Creative Commons))

BOSTON -- Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Attorney General Maura Healey and protesters from 30 different groups are planning to hold a massive rally in front of the Massachusetts State House in order to protest the rise of hate crimes across the country.

The rally is scheduled for 11 a.m. today.

Nearly 3,000 people have indicated interest for the rally, and about 400 people have confirmed they are attending.

The rally is a protest against a string of hate-fueled acts that have been increasing in frequency around the country.

Boston police have dealt numerous hate-crime related incidents locally, including charging three teenage girls with harassing a woman they thought was an immigrant and investigating a man who said he was assaulted because he supported President Donald Trump.

Earlier in the months, groups held anti-Trump protests in Springfield, Worcester and Boston, as some people have correlated the victory of the Republican president with the recent wave of hate crimes.

Organizers said on their page that the event's message is to make clear that regardless of who is the president, hate crimes are not acceptable and the individuals who commit them do not represent their city, state or country.

Groups taking part in the rally include the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.
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In this 2014 file photo, Karen Lee, left, helps Alanis Torres, 9, as part of Homework House, an after-school tutoring program in Holyoke, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. The program was one of several to again receiving funds from the Annual Catholic Appeal of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

(The Republican file/Michael Gordon)

SPRINGFIELD - The Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, has announced close to $300,000 in allocations from the diocese's Annual Catholic Appeal to nearly two dozen non-diocesan programs and institutions that meet a variety of needs in the community, from pregnancy services to housing for low-income men in recovery from alcoholism.

The allocations are from money raised from the 2016 appeal, which at $2.7 million has raised more from donors than the 2015 appeal, but whose final count will not conclude until year's end. Money from the appeal is also used to fund diocesan-run programs and services, but those allocations were not announced today. Diocesan spokesperson Mark Dupon said a full allocation will be published in early 2017 both online and in the appeal's print brochure.

Some of the non-diocesan programs received increased funds of $1,000 for the 2016-2017 funding cycle, while others remained level funded.

Homework House, an after-school tutoring program in Holyoke, and Gray House, a neighborhood center in the North End, both founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, saw an increase in funding, as did Providence Ministries Service Network, whose programs include McCleary Manor. The manor is a permanent congregate sober living facility for low-income men, in Holyoke, named after Sister of Providence Mary McCleary.

Homework House received $19,000; Gray House, $21,000 and Providence Ministries, $26,000.

Bishop Mitchell Rozanski

Angels Take Flight, which assists children in transition with supplies like luggage, got increased funding to $4,000 for the cost of a part-time administrator; Alternatives: Crisis Pregnancy Center got increased funding to $6,000 to help defray the cost of a mobile ultrasound unit; and New Spirit, which does youth ministry, also got a $1,000 increase in funding to $21,000.

Other programs funded include Lorraine's Soup Kitchen, which provides emergency food supplies to qualifying Chicopee residents, as well as an evening meal to anyone in need of one, Monday through Friday; Rick's Place, in Wilbraham, which offers support to children and their families grieving a loss; and Take and Eat, which provides weekend meals on three holidays to home-bound elderly.

Level-funded allocations of $30,000 went to Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, and Montague Catholic Social Ministries, and $25,000 each to Bethlehem House, a pregnancy care center, in Easthampton, and Jericho, the Bureau for Exceptional for Children and Adults in Holyoke.

Last year's appeal (pdf) raised $2.4 million for allocation. The largest share generally is allocated to pastoral and spiritual support services operated by the diocese; followed by community-based as well as diocesan services to young people, including Catholic school education; community-based as well as diocesan services to those in need; and community-based as well as diocesan services to the family and elderly.

The non-diocesan programs and institutions receiving Annual Catholic Appeal funds for the 2016-17 funding cycle and their allocations are:
BOSTON - More than a month after he was shot while responding to a domestic disturbance, Boston police officer Matt Morris has been released from a rehabilitation facility.

The 12-year veteran's release comes just in time to spend Thanksgiving with his family.

Morris and a fellow officer, Richard Cintolo, were shot at a home in East Boston on Oct. 12 by Kirk Figueroa, who was armed with a tactical shotgun and wearing body armor. Both were critically wounded and Figueroa, 33, was killed by other responding officers

Prior to his release from Spaulding Rehab in Charlestown over the weekend, Morris thanked the team of doctors, nurses and therapists who helped him recover.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody who made it possible for me to return home to my family," said Morris.

Commissioner William Evans said Morris' release "gives us all extra reason to be thankful."

Officer Cintolo was released from Massachusetts General Hospital a week after the shooting.
Chicopee police car

(REPUBLICAN FILE)

CHICOPEE - The Police Department is holding a Coffee with a Cop to informally meet with residents from 8 a.m. to noon at the Chick-fil-A on 501 Memorial Drive.

This month police are inviting Chicopee City Councilors to join them to ask questions or discuss any problems or issues with the public, Michael Wilk, Chicopee Police public information officer, said.

The Coffee with a Cop is held regularly as a part of the Police Department's community outreach efforts. All are invited to come and meet police officers to ask questions, air concerns, share ideas or just informally chat with public safety officials.
ELKO  A candlelight vigil begins at 7:30 p.m. today in Angel Park for the victims of Friday night's American Medflight plane crash.

The Air Medical Memorial will honor pilot Yuji Irie, paramedic Jake Shepherd, nurse Tiffany Urresti and patient Edward Clohesey.

Clohesey was a miner who was planning to retire soon, and Urresti was an Elko woman who got her dream job with American Medflight just a few weeks ago and was engaged to be married to the assistant director of Elkos airport.

The four were killed when an American Medflight plane crashed into the Barrick Gold Corp. parking lot around 7:30 p.m., setting off a series of explosions and destroying vehicles but harming no one on the ground.

Edward Clohesey

Clohesey, 67, was a Spring Creek resident and a heavy equipment operator at Bald Mountain, which was sold by Barrick to Kinross Gold Corp. last year.

We are greatly saddened by the loss of Ed Clohesey, said Randy Burggraff, general manager of Kinross Bald Mountain. He was an employee at the Bald Mountain mine for over 11 years and was a dedicated and kind equipment operator in our Mine Operations Department. Ed was known for sharing his positive and happy attitude with anyone he encountered. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the others who died in this tragic accident.

Clohesey was born in Seattle. According to his family, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and served in Germany guarding Pershing missiles. He worked in mobile home manufacturing in Yelm, Washington, and later as a maintenance and construction supervisor on Afognak Island, Alaska.

His family described him as an accomplished hunter, who enjoyed riding his motorcycle and being a member of the Wild Bunch motorcycle club.

Clohesey had suffered a heart attack in July and was being treated by Dr. Rodney Badger at Northeastern Nevada Cardiology.

Badger said Clohesey was experiencing chest pains and rapid heartbeat around 5:30 p.m. Friday, after which the decision was made to transport him to a hospital in Utah for open heart surgery.

"He was really looking forward to retirement," Badger told the Deseret News. "My heart goes out to his family and friends."

Clohesey is survived by his two sons, Lance and Andy, and his granddaughter Aurora.

Tiffany Urresti

Tiffany Urresti, 29, was a flight nurse who had been with American Medflight for about a month, according to her parents Debbi and Jim Urresti. They said she had worked as an emergency room nurse at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital before that.

Urresti also was a former firefighter.

Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego talked about Urrestis involvement with the volunteer fire department and said her father has been with the department 30 years.

It hits home. The crew is coping as well as they can, Griego said.

He said Urresti was known statewide for her service and there has been an outpouring from all over the state.

She had recently become engaged, according to Griego. He mentioned her fiance, Elko Regional Airport Assistant Director Jim Foster. They were to be married in May.

Her parents said Tiffany had dreamed for years of working as a flight nurse.

A memorial service for Urresti is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Elko Convention Center. In lieu of flowers the family suggested donating to a Legacy Scholarship that has been set up in her name at Elko High School.

Jake Shepherd

Jake Shepherd was a paramedic for Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele County, Utah.

Lt. Ray Clinton with the Tooele County Sheriff's Office told Fox13 News that Shepherd lived in Logan and commuted to work. He leaves behind a wife and three children, according to KUTV News in Salt Lake City.

His friend Travis Allred said Shepherd died "doing what he loved, being a flight paramedic for American Medflight."

Allred set up a GoFundMe page to help Shepherds family.

Yuji Irie

Yuji Irie, 63, was a Japanese immigrant to the United States, according to American Medflight. A statement from the company said:

He wanted to fly his entire life, and never stopped in pursuit of his passion. Indeed, he became a skilled aviator and had saved hundreds of lives over a long career at American Medflight. He was based in Ely, Nevada, the toughest base for inclement weather in the American Medflight system. Despite the fact that Ely often experiences some of the most challenging weather conditions in the lower 48 states, Captain Irie was always ready to fly patients to urban medical centers where they could receive life saving care. His skill as a pilot far exceeded even the best of aviators.

Yuji's family was involved in travel and tourism. As a young man, he worked so hard that he often had little time to pursue his passion as an aviator. As soon as he had the chance in middle age, Yuji learned to fly and quickly built up his talent for aviation. He even bought a small airliner as a younger man in hopes of providing air tours for his travel and tourism business.

Having realized the huge financial obligations of owning an air carrier, Yuji eventually sold his airplane and went to work flying for others. He worked for several aircraft charter companies from Las Vegas all the way to the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific.

Captain Irie found his true life calling at American Medflight. He always was ready to go save a life and always found a way to safely transport his patients and medical crew regardless of the challenges he faced. He often noted that he wanted to finish his entire professional career as a pilot at American Medflight.

John Burruel, American Medflight's President and CEO, remembered Yuji as someone who was unstoppable.

"I've always said that if I had 50 Yuji's, this company would be unstoppable and we'd achieve anything we set out to do. He had the best work ethic I've ever seen and he cared for people with endless energy and compassion.

Capt. Irie held an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and a First Class Medical Certificate, making him the most highly qualified pilot from both an airman certification and medical evaluation standpoint. He dreamed of building his own aircraft and someday flying it back to Japan. He began on this journey years ago, and his dream aircraft still sits in the garage of his son's home in Las Vegas ... waiting for that incredible flight across the Pacific to Japan.
ELKO  Longtime public servant and former Assemblyman John C. Carpenter Jr. died Saturday night at his Dotta Drive home at age 86.

He served in local and state government for more than 50 years, including 12 terms representing District 33 in the Legislature.

Assemblyman John Ellison said Carpenter had heart disease and cancer. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Elko Convention Center.

Ellison, who was endorsed by Carpenter to take over the seat, considered Carpenter a mentor and was saddened by his death.

John Carpenter brought so much to this community, not only as a businessman, but mostly as a family man, Ellison said. His legacy will go on for years and years, forever.

He said if it wasnt for Carpenters foresight, Elko wouldnt have had a convention center nor would it have had Great Basin College. He said Carpenter fought for land rights and federal payments to counties in lieu of taxes.

I could go on and on, Ellison said. John Carpenter has done so much for the community. He is going to be missed forever.

His contributions to Elko County are why the commissioners named the sheriffs office and jail facility after Carpenter, Ellison said.

Youve never seen a bigger guy with a bigger heart, he added.

Ellison said Carpenter not only made an impact in Elko but the state as a whole.

When we brought John to the hall of fame to the Legislature, it was amazing the amount of both sides that came together to help make that happen, he said. I was glad to be a part of that.

Ellison also posted about Carpenter on his Assemblyman Facebook page.

Our hearts are heavy and filled with great sadness that we had to tell an amazing man, leader, and friend good bye yesterday. Past Assemblyman John Carpenter has always been someone I looked up to. He was a great friend of mine. Nevada has lost a true leader. He was a true champion to rural Nevada and worked with many states to better our state and all rural communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn his passing, Ellison stated on his page.

County Commissioner Demar Dahl said Carpenter had a keen sense of right and wrong.

He was willing to throw himself into the battle, Dahl said.

Carpenter led the charge on the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade, which was Elko Countys fight against the federal governments closing of a road near the small town in northern Elko County.

He was the one who said were going to open the road at Jarbidge when the Forest Service closed it, Dahl said.

County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi said Carpenter was a super strong advocate for rural Nevada and particularly Elko and Elko County, and was also very, very involved with St. Josephs Catholic Church for many, many, many years.

Andreozzi said Carpenter and his entire family were active and donated time and resources to the church.

Theres a big, giant crucifix thats hanging over the tabernacle in St. Josephs Catholic Church and he was part of even that, Andreozzi said. Hes been very active in the community and certainly will be missed.

Regent-elect Cathy McAdoo said she has been friends with Carpenter and his family for years. She said she was grateful that she went to their home Wednesday and visited with him and his wife, Roseann. She said Carpenter was in the midst of physical therapy and when she walked in the room, Roseann was sitting right next to him and they were holding hands.

We had a good personal friendship, he and I did, and Im certain thats true of many, many people, she said.

McAdoo said Carpenters fingerprint was everywhere in Nevada, across the state, but most definitely in the Legislature and represented Elko County so, so well. He would go to battle for Elko County against all other legislators. We owe a lot to him.

After visiting with Carpenter and his wife, McAdoo said she gave both of them a hug.

He looked at me and he said, there are wonderful people that live in Elko, McAdoo said. I knew he was getting ready to say something about me, and I said, yeah I know and youre one of them. That was my last word to him.

Carpenter was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Fallon. He graduated from White Pine High School in Ely and later married Roseann Slater. He purchased a sheep ranch and moved his family to Elko in 1957.

He and Roseann raised their seven children in Elko.

Carpenter entered public service in the 1960s as president of the Nevada Woolgrowers Association. He and others called for a school bond issue and this developed into the pay as you go tax.

Carpenter served 14 years on the Elko County Commission.

He and fellow County Commissioner Eyer Boies worked to create the PILT law which was brought before the U.S. Senate by Sen. Alan Bible.

In 1986, Carpenter was elected to the Nevada Assembly. He worked with state Sen. Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora to find funding for Great Basin Colleges building expansion to increase classrooms and degree programs.

They introduced bills that financed projects and expansions to the Elko Convention Center, Elko Senior Citizens Center, Northeastern Nevada Museum, the Peace Park, South Fork Reservoir, and other entities in the county.

A firm advocate for ranchers, Carpenter became involved with many federal land disputes, including the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade in 2000. Remaining an activist, he recently voiced support for ranchers along the Argenta allotment.

In addition to politics, John and Roseann owned several businesses including Cimarron West Family Restaurant, Ranchers Realty, Cimarron RV park, a convenience store, hair salon, and gas station. Together, they supported many local events including the Elko County Fair, the Ruby Mountain Symphony, and Fourth of July Fireworks celebration.

In 2010, Carpenter served his final term in the Legislature, concluding 24 years as Assemblyman.

Carpenter served on the ECVA Marketing Committee, the California Trail Center Board and remained active in the Elko County Republican Party.

U.S. Senator-elect Catherine Cortez Masto stated she was saddened to learn about the passing of Carpenter.

John was the definition of a public servant, someone who dedicated his entire life to serving Elko and helping his community grow and thrive, she said. From Great Basin College and the Elko Convention Center to the creation of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes law, John is leaving behind a tangible legacy and Elko is a better place because of his single-minded devotion spanning so many decades. John will be sorely missed, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.

Attorney General Adam Laxalt issued a statement Monday.

With the passing of longtime Assemblyman John Carpenter, Nevada lost a true public servant in every sense of the word, said Laxalt. Whether he was serving in Elkos county commission or in the Nevada Legislature, John consistently gave his all to the people of Nevada. I know the residents of Elko will forever be touched by all of the wonderful contributions he made to the community, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones in this difficult time.

Director Jim Barbee, of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, released the following statement Monday.

Our thoughts are with Johns friends and family during this time, Barbee said. In his years of service, John was always an advocate for agriculture and the rural communities of Nevada. He will be profoundly missed by many, including those of us at the Department.

Free Press Correspondent Toni Milano contributed to this article.
Density becomes a marker for politics.

Author Bill Bishop, who has spent years studying Americas political segregation, discusses what it means for politics and progress.

You have increasing populations where people talk to those who agree with them politically. They hear stories and facts and figures that support their beliefs.

by Alan Greenblatt

Full Story: http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-bill-bishop-interview.html
Heather White knows one thing will be critically important to Yellowstone National Park and the nonprofit she runs that is meant to support it  ensuring the next generation of people care about their national parks.

"We need this digital generation to have the opportunity to connect with the natural world," White said.

White is the executive director of Yellowstone Forever http://www.yellowstone.org/ , the nonprofit that formed after the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Yellowstone Association combined earlier this year. White was announced as the head of the organization in July. The organization formally launched this week. Their website http://www.yellowstone.org went live and they also released a video.

Michael Wright Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/new-yellowstone-nonprofit-launches/article_9d558a23-8496-59c9-a0ce-9924d407eaad.html
As an Air Force Academy graduate early in her career, 1st Lt. Ariel Saltin, 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron, looks for every possible opportunity to provide her skills to enhance her surroundings. Her determination extends from a great deal of success in her logistics job, which has her currently stationed on Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Time, knowledge, strength, and many other sacrifices have been made of the young lieutenant, yet she actively seeks additional opportunities to enhance airpower, and another of those opportunities lies within her French language capabilities. Because of her gusto and knowledge, she took these French skills to new distances, not on some European air base, but through a unique language training opportunity with the U.S. Marine Corps in Cameroon.

In 2014, Saltin gained a great deal of traction in putting her collegiate minor in French to good use when she was selected to the Language Enabled Airman Program.

I studied abroad and took every upper level [French] class available, so LEAP was a no-brainer for me to continue perfecting my skills when my professor told me about the program once I commissioned, she said.

As a new LEAP participant, she quickly jumped into language training through LEAPs eMentor program, taking a 48-hour synchronous online course during her off-duty hours. This helped her improve her French scores to a 3/3, a very high score on the Defense Language Proficiency Test.

After this marked improvement, Saltin became eligible for one of LEAPs advanced Language Intensive Training Events.

Chris Chesser, the LEAP offices LITE program manager, explained, A LITE is a temporary duty assignment, averaging 30 days, that places Airmen in linguistically, regionally, and culturally complex settings. LEAP participants most commonly attend a four-week language school, while some LITEs are more exercise or security cooperation focused, with or without a classroom component.

For Saltin, her LITE came in the form of blended approachclassroom education followed by hands-on practice through facilitating U.S. Marine Corps training of the Cameroon military on countering Boko-Haram and offshore piracy.

I knew that I would do in-country immersion training, but had no idea that the program would give me the opportunity to support real-world missions.  It was a really great surprise, she said.

She spent the first two weeks of her LITE in Rockville, Maryland, at the Multi-Lingual Solutions Headquarters taking intensive French classes.

It was honestly the best preparation I couldve asked for, she said. My confidence was so high that I dont think I wouldve done near as good of a job without [it].

From there, it was off to the second leg of her LITE, the intelligence security cooperation event between the U.S. and Cameroonian Navy and Marine Corps.

We [the U.S. Sailors, Marines and Saltin] would spend a large portion of our evenings planning out the next days lessons. We would work on timing, adjust phrasing for clarity, and consider possible culture barriers, she remarked.

The classes provided to the Cameroonians spanned about eight hours a day, only stopping for lunch and a (local customary) mandatory coffee break. The rest of the time was spent speaking directly between U.S. instructors and Cameroonian students.

There was a ton of lingo and dialect that I did not understand, but picked up on very quickly, she said The operation was fast-paced, and there wasnt much time to stumble over my own words, so there was a huge amount of value for my own language growth as well as assisting with the joint instruction sessions.

Back at Joint Base Charleston, Saltin has resumed her normal duties as a logistics officer, but with a new wealth of knowledge, as well as proving herself to be an asset to Air Force interoperability.

I cant say enough about LEAP, she concluded. Where else can you get language training on your own time, travel to other countries, and get paid to operate in a joint capacity like this?

Her sentiments are exactly what LEAP is aimed at doing for each of its more than 2,100 willing and able participants.

Saltin summed up her experiences perfectly, saying, Any time you can go to another country and meet new people, it gives you new perspective. Anytime you can travel to that country with LEAP training, you know you are going to be able to apply that perspective [throughout your] career.
ELKO  The patient killed in Friday nights fiery medical plane crash was a miner who was planning to retire soon, and the nurse was an Elko woman who got her dream job with American Medflight just a few weeks ago and was recently engaged to be married.

They were two of four victims killed when an American Medflight plane crashed into the Barrick Gold Corp. parking lot around 7:20 p.m., setting off a series of explosions and destroying vehicles but harming no one on the ground.

Also killed were the pilot, Japanese immigrant Yuji Irie; and paramedic Jake Shepherd of Utah.

Edward Clohesey

Clohesey, 67, was a Spring Creek resident and a heavy equipment operator at Bald Mountain, which was sold by Barrick to Kinross Gold Corp. last year.

We are greatly saddened by the loss of Ed Clohesey, said Randy Burggraff, general manager of Kinross Bald Mountain. He was an employee at the Bald Mountain mine for over 11 years and was a dedicated and kind equipment operator in our Mine Operations Department. Ed was known for sharing his positive and happy attitude with anyone he encountered. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the others who died in this tragic accident.

Clohesey was born in Seattle. According to his family, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and served in Germany guarding Pershing missiles. He worked in mobile home manufacturing in Yelm, Washington, and later as a maintenance and construction supervisor on Afognak Island, Alaska.

His family described him as an accomplished hunter, who enjoyed riding his motorcycle and being a member of the Wild Bunch motorcycle club.

Clohesey had suffered a heart attack in July and was being treated by Dr. Rodney Badger at Northeastern Nevada Cardiology.

Badger said Clohesey was experiencing chest pains and rapid heartbeat around 5:30 p.m. Friday, after which the decision was made to transport him to a hospital in Utah for open heart surgery.

He was really looking forward to retirement, Badger told the Deseret News. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Clohesey is survived by his two sons, Lance and Andy, and his granddaughter Aurora.

Tiffany Urresti

Tiffany Urresti, 29, was a flight nurse who had been with American Medflight for about a month, according to her parents Debbi and Jim Urresti. They said she had worked as an emergency room nurse at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital before that.

Urresti also was a former firefighter.

Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego talked about Urrestis involvement with the volunteer fire department and said her father has been with the department 30 years.

It hits home. The crew is coping as well as they can, Griego said.

He said Urresti was known statewide for her service and there has been an outpouring from all over the state.

She had recently become engaged, according to Griego. He mentioned her fiance, Elko Regional Airport Assistant Director Jim Foster. They were to be married in May.

Her parents said Tiffany had dreamed for years of working as a flight nurse.

Nevada Regent-elect Cathy McAdoo, a longtime friend of the Urresti family, called Tiffany a dynamic woman who did a lot.

She cited Urrestis long commitment to fire service and the goals she met in becoming a registered nurse, gaining her bachelor of science degree in nursing and becoming a flight nurse.

A memorial service for Urresti is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Elko Convention Center. In lieu of flowers the family suggested donating to a Legacy Scholarship that has been set up in her name at Elko High School.

Jake Shepherd

Jake Shepherd was a paramedic for Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele County, Utah.

Lt. Ray Clinton with the Tooele County Sheriffs Office told Fox13 News that Shepherd lived in Logan and commuted to work. He leaves behind a wife and three children, according to KUTV News in Salt Lake City.

His friend Travis Allred said Shepherd died doing what he loved, being a flight paramedic for American Medflight.

Allred set up a GoFundMe page to help Shepherds family.

Yuji Irie

Yuji Irie, 63, was a Japanese immigrant to the United States, according to American Medflight. A statement from the company said He wanted to fly his entire life, and never stopped in pursuit of his passion. Indeed, he became a skilled aviator and had saved hundreds of lives over a long career at American Medflight. He was based in Ely, Nevada, the toughest base for inclement weather in the American Medflight system. Despite the fact that Ely often experiences some of the most challenging weather conditions in the lower 48 states, Captain Irie was always ready to fly patients to urban medical centers where they could receive life saving care. His skill as a pilot far exceeded even the best of aviators.

John Burruel, American Medflights president and CEO, remembered Irie as someone who was unstoppable:

Ive always said that if I had 50 Yujis, this company would be unstoppable and wed achieve anything we set out to do. He had the best work ethic Ive ever seen and he cared for people with endless energy and compassion.

Capt. Irie held an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and a First Class Medical Certificate. He dreamed of building his own aircraft and someday flying it back to Japan.
Dear Mr. President:

As the end of your presidential term approaches, I strongly urge you not to designate any new national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906 that would affect Nevadans. Many of my constituents have expressed strong concerns to me about two monument proposals that some advocates have been lobbying your Administration to designate  roughly 350,000 acres of federal land located in northeast Clark County, Nevada, known as Gold Butte and roughly 2.1 million acres of federal land in southeastern Oregon, much of which borders Nevada, known as the Owyhee Canyonlands. Despite what some advocates may portray, there is widespread local disagreement regarding these proposals.

The only way to approach multiple use of our public lands is through a transparent and collaborative effort that includes input from state and local governments, as well as stakeholders. Any action that vastly changes the management of hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land, including the establishment of any new national monuments, ought to be considered through the public Congressional process. The Nevada Congressional Delegation takes pride in its long history of success implementing conservation initiatives in this manner. In fact, you have signed into law multiple bipartisan bills over the course of your Administration, including the Las Vegas Valley Public Land and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Act (P.L.113-291) in 2014.

In this Congress alone, our delegation has introduced three Nevada-specific public lands bills that improve the management and conservation of public lands in Nevada: the Douglas County Conservation Act, the Eastern Nevada Land Implementation Improvement Act, and the Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act. Each of those bills were written in an open and transparent process and accordingly have garnered near-unanimous support within the affected communities and have unanimous support from our Congressional Delegation. It is my hope that these proposals reach your desk for signature before the end of your term.

Again, I urge you to abandon any plans to unilaterally designate a national monument that affects Nevadans before the end of your term. I remain committed to the Nevada model of advancing conservation priorities legislatively as I assume the role as Nevadas senior Senator in the 115th Congress. That process guarantees that all Nevadans have an equal opportunity to provide constructive comments and shape proposals that change the management of our public lands for years to come.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with questions.

Dean Heller

United States Senator
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, November 17, 2016

Is the Electoral College required to elect Donald Trump when the 538 Electors cast their ballots on December 19 for president of the United States?

Apparently not. A Change.org petition was started last week to urge Electors to do just that: prevent Donald Trump from taking office.

Started by a North Carolina resident, the petition titled Electoral College: Make Hillary Clinton President on December 19 has now taken hold, garnering over 4.3 million signatures as of Nov. 17.

The petition is now the largest-ever started on Change.org in the United States.

It reads: If [the Electors] all vote the way their states voted, Donald Trump will win. However, they can vote for Hillary Clinton, if they choose. Even in states where that is not allowed, their vote would still be counted, they would simply pay a small fine --- which we can be sure Clinton supporters will be glad to pay!

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We are calling on the Electors to ignore their states votes and cast their ballots for Secretary Clinton. Mr. Trump is unfit to serve. His scapegoating of so many Americans, and his impulsivity, bullying, lying, admitted history of sexual assault and utter lack of experience makes him a danger to the Republic.

According to FactCheck.org, there is no constitutional provision or Federal law that requires Electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their states. States can ask Electors to pledge to support their states eventual choice, with some prescribing fines between $500-$1,000 to the so-called faithless electors.

In essence, the Electoral College was created to add an extra step between a fully popular election and the actual choice of who will run the country for the next four years. In the opinion of many, it was created to avoid an unprepared populist like Trump from taking over.

In Federalist No. 68, Alexander Hamilton opined that the choice of several, to form an intermediate body of electors, will be much less apt to convulse the community with any extraordinary or violent movements, than the choice of one who was himself to be the final object of the public wishes.

Adding with prescient accuracy, the process of election affords a moral certainty, that the office of the President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.

Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to the first honors in a single State; but it will require other talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union.

In a pre-social-media era, a Donald Trump presidency may have been impossible. Today, the intricacies of the Electoral College have elevated Donald Trump to the highest office in the land.

The Electoral College process failed in 2016 to prevent the rise of a woefully under-prepared demagogue, which is exactly what it was intended to do. Now, the unbound nature of Electors has given rise to the final opportunity to block a Trump presidency.

Two Democratic Electors have already called for their Republican colleagues to block Trump. According to a Politico report, Democratic Electors Bret Chiafolo (Wash.) and Michael Baca (Colo.) are campaigning for Republicans to change their votes.

This is a long shot, Chiafolo told Politico. However, I do see situations where -- when weve already had two or three [Republican] electors state publicly they didnt want to vote for Trump, how many of them have real issues with Donald Trump in private?

Note: A new Web site for the Change.org petition has been unreachable due to excessive traffic.
by Jess Nelson , November 21, 2016

ProtonMail, an end-to-end encrypted email startup, has seen its customer base soar after the results of the Presidential election in the United States.



The volume of new ProtonMail account registrations more than doubled from November 8 to November 9, according to the company.

In a blog post, the company revealed that user sign-ups began ticking upwards as soon as the election results began streaming in. ProtonMail credits this to a concerned public investigating privacy-focused services after the President-elects victory.

ProtonMail was originally founded to create a secure email server in light of the Edward Snowden revelations about NSA surveillance in 2013. The company first launched in 2014 with invite-only sign-ups, gaining more than one million active users before opening its service to the general public this past March.

ProtonMail also released two mobile applications -- one for iOS and one for Android -- at the same time.

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Based in Geneva, ProtonMail is empowered by strict Swiss privacy laws that are outside the jurisdiction of the United States and European Union. ProtonMail safeguards its users from the type of large-scale government surveillance that Yahoo recently admitted to.

Given Trumps campaign rhetoric against journalists, political enemies, immigrants, and Muslims, there is concern that Trump could use the new tools at his disposal to target certain groups, states the ProtonMail team in its blog post. As the NSA currently operates completely out of the public eye with very little legal oversight, all of this could be done in secret.

Both sides of the political spectrum are representing in ProtonMails client list, and the company makes a point to remain unbiased in political affairs.

ProtonMail users have always come from both the left and right side of the political spectrum, writes the companys founders . Today, we are seeing an influx of liberal users, but ProtonMail has also long been popular with the political right, who were truly worried about big government spying, and the Obama administration having access to their communications. Now the tables have turned.

Potential users can sign up for the encrypted email service online. ProtonMail offers one free email address, and then an increasing pricing structure for more domains, addresses, storage and messages sent per day.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, November 21, 2016

Vladimir Putin may be celebrating these days  but Vladimir Lenins corpse is crying, thanks to a vodka made in Detroit.



The latter is the premise of the first TV spot (below) from craft spirits maker Valentine Distillery, based in Detroit suburb Ferndale, Michigan.

The 30-second commercial imagines that the preserved body of the Soviet Unions founding father shed a tear when he learned that Valentine Vodka had been chosen as the Worlds Best Vodka during TheDrinksReport.coms The Worlds Best Spirits awards in London earlier this year.

Founded in 2007 by Rifino Valentine, the distillery makes small-batch, handcrafted vodka, gin and bourbon, as well as vodka. The products are sold in the U.S. and six other countries.

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The vodka spot is airing in the Michigan market on networks including Spike, AMC, TBS and USA Network.

In addition to YouTube, it is also featured on the distillerys site and Facebook page. Its being supported with paid Facebook advertising in the local market.

The ad was created by local talent, including writer Jon Stewart (not the former talk show host), art director Bill Whitney and director Thomas Drew.

Lenin is played by Jeremy Verdusco  a local who just happened to bike down Stewarts street when the team was in search of someone resembling the dead (but still on public view) revolutionary. He was an innocent pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time, says Stewart. The shoot required him to spend 10 hours in facial prosthetics and makeup.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 21, 2016

Siding with Twitter, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing the company of enabling the growth of the terrorist group ISIS.



The lawsuit was brought by family members of Lloyd Carl Fields, Jr. and James Damon Creach, who were killed last year in Amman, Jordan. The shooter reportedly was a member of the terrorist group ISIS.

Fields' widow, along with Creach's widow and children. alleged that Twitter provided support to ISIS by allowing members to create accounts on the service.

Twitter countered that it wasn't responsible for crimes committed by users of the service. The company drew on the federal Communications Decency Act, a 1996 law that broadly immunizes Web services providers from liability for users' crimes.

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Backpage, Facebook, Craigslist and numerous other companies have relied on the Communications Decency Act to defeat separate lawsuits that sought to hold them responsible for activity by users.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick in the Northern District of California agreed with Twitter's arguments. "In substance, plaintiffs aim to hold Twitter liable as a publisher or speaker of ISISs hateful rhetoric," Orrick wrote Friday in a 19-page decision dismissing the case. "Such liability is barred by the CDA."

Orrick also rejected arguments by the victims' families that Congress did not intend to promote online speech that could assist terrorists. Orrick noted in his opinion that requiring Twitter to ban ISIS supporters would obligate the company to revamp its operations.

"A policy holding Twitter liable for allowing ISIS to use its services would require it to institute new procedures and policies for screening and vetting accounts before they are opened; identify and suspend the accounts of users posting pro-ISIS content; and even identify and suspend the accounts of users promoting terrorism through the direct messaging feature," Orrick wrote. "These are not minor obligations, as they would require Twitter to fundamentally change certain aspects of its services."

Orrick's dismissal is "with prejudice," meaning that the families can't beef up their allegations and try again.

Although Twitter fought the lawsuit, the company has taken steps to attempt to combat terrorism. In August, Twitter said it had suspended more than 360,000 accounts for violating policies against promoting terrorism. "There is no one 'magic algorithm' for identifying terrorist content on the Internet," Twitter said in a blog post. "But we continue to utilize other forms of technology ... to supplement reports from our users and help identify repeat account abuse."

Twitter, Google and Facebook still face a separate lawsuit over allegations that they assist ISIS. That matter was brought by California resident Reynaldo Gonzalez, whose daughter, Nohemi Gonzalez, was killed in terrorist attacks last year in Paris. That case, which was filed in June, is pending in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu in Oakland, California.
Flagellar motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main factor required to induce the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Balazs Rada from The University of Georgia, Athens, and colleagues.

Neutrophils are phagocytic blood cells found in the body's circulatory system and tissues, and provide the first line of defense against bacteria like the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa. Neutrophils utilize numerous strategies to eliminate bacteria, most notably the formation of DNA-based scaffolds called "NETs". NETs, which have attached antimicrobial proteins, provide one of the most efficient methods of trapping and neutralizing invaders like P. aeruginosa, yet the mechanism that triggers their formation was previously unknown.

Scientists monitored P. aeruginosa at various phases of growth and discovered that NET release was maximal at the early exponential stage when its flagellum-promoted swimming motility was present. Researchers used various strains of P. aeruginosa to measure the production of NETs and developed their own protein-based assay in order to quantitate the levels of P. aeruginosa flagellin, the major constituent of flagella. They found that neutrophils did not produce NETs in response to the presence of P. aeruginosa flagellin alone but required actual flagellar motility, since immotile bacterial strains expressing paralyzed flagellum failed to stimulate NET formation.

For immunocompromised patients, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), HIV, non-CF bronchiectasis, or hospital-acquired pneumonia, P. aeruginosa poses a serious clinical problem as it can cause severe lung infections and quickly adapts to diverse environments. This study not only sheds light on what causes neutrophils to form NETs but also suggests that flagellar motility genes could serve as targets for future pharmaceutical intervention.

This work was supported by the 1) startup fund of BR provided by the Office of Vice President for Research at the University of Georgia, 2) University of Georgia Faculty Research Grant (grant ID: 2507, 2013) to BR, and 3) the NIH grant 1R56HL131466-01 to BR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Article: Swimming Motility Mediates the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Induced by Flagellated Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Floyd M, Winn M, Cullen C, Sil P, Chassaing B, Yoo D-g, et al., PLOS Pathogens, doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005987, published 17 November 2016.
Proactive outreach to cirrhosis patients in a safety net health system successfully doubled their screening rates for liver cancer, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found.

Cirrhosis (liver disease) patients are at high risk to develop liver cancer, which is increasing in frequency an average of 3 percent annually and has a five-year overall survival rate of just 17.5 percent.

"Finding ways to reach patients at high risk of liver cancer is critical. Liver cancer has the fastest increasing mortality rate among solid tumors in the U.S.," said first author Dr. Amit G. Singal, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences, and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This high mortality is primarily due to low rates of liver cancer screening and high rates of late-stage diagnosis." The study randomly divided 1,800 cirrhosis patients at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas into three groups. The first group received mailed outreach invitations for screening ultrasound. The second group received similar outreach plus patient navigation, and the third received their usual care. Researchers learned that the group receiving mailed outreach invitations were most likely to schedule an ultrasound, which doubled the overall rate of screening.

The study appears in the journal Gastroenterology.

"Our study is one of the first interventions to improve liver cancer screening and early detection among at-risk patients. The vulnerable patient population we studied in our safety net health system are those who are at highest risk of dying from liver cancer, so this intervention helped those who might benefit the most," said Dr. Singal.

Only one-fourth of patients with cirrhosis in routine care are currently screened every six months for liver cancer with an ultrasound as recommended by national guidelines. Symptoms are not usually present when the cancer is in its early stages.

"Our research previously demonstrated that liver cancer screening is underused in clinical practice, with lower rates of screening among racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients," said senior author Dr. Ethan Halm, Director of the Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Chief of the William T. and Gay F. Solomon Division of General Internal Medicine, and Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences. "Our new study presents a model of a proactive, population health outreach strategy that can improve liver cancer screening and early detection among those at highest risk of adverse outcomes." Dr. Halm holds the Walter Family Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine in Honor of Albert D. Roberts, M.D.

According to the National Cancer Institute, liver cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 39,230 people annually. In 2013, there were an estimated 54,954 people living with this cancer in the U.S. Risk factors include a diagnosis of fatty liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, or a combination of these diseases.

Additional UT Southwestern faculty who contributed to the study include: Dr. Jasmin A. Tiro, Associate Professor of Clinical Science and member of the Simmons Cancer Center; and Dr. Jorge A. Marrero, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Associate Vice President, Clinical Transformation Officer, and Professor of Internal Medicine. Dr. Tiro, Dr. Marrero, Dr. Halm, and Dr. Singal are all members of the Simmons Cancer Center. Dr. Noel O. Santini from Parkland Health & Hospital System also contributed to the study.

This study was conducted as part of UT Southwestern's Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Singal reported being on the speaker bureau for Bayer Pharmaceutical and receiving grant funding from Gilead Pharmaceuticals.

The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas and one of just 47 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation. Simmons Cancer Center includes 13 major cancer care programs. In addition, the Center's education and training programs support and develop the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians. Simmons Cancer Center is among only 30 U.S. cancer research centers to be designated by the NCI as a National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating Site.

Article: Mailed Outreach Program Increases Ultrasound Screening of Patients with Cirrhosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Amit G. Singal, MD, Jasmin A. Tiro, PhD, Jorge A. Marrero, MD, Katharine McCallister, BS, Caroline Mejias, BS, Brian Adamson, MS, Wendy Pechero Bishop, BS, Noel O. Santini, MD, Ethan A. Halm, MD, Gastroenterology, doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.10.042, published online 5 November 2016.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically appears during the first two years of life. It affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills.

This article focuses on autistic disorder or classic autism.

Autism results due to a neurological disorder that affects the normal brain function. There is no single cause known for autism.

As compared to a normal child, autistic children do not reach the developmental milestones like crawling, walking or saying the first word on time. Autistic children are not slow learners or of a lesser intelligence quotient (IQ).

Instead, they are very special children who have difficulty in communication and social interaction. They often come across as those who remain engrossed with restricted and repetitive behavior patterns. No two people with autism will have exactly the same symptoms. Therefore, health care providers think of autism as a spectrum disorder.

Autism lasts a lifetime. It begins in childhood and persists into adolescence and adulthood. Some may be able to live independent and productive lives while others might have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.

There is no cure, but there are quite a few treatment options available for autistic children. Psychosocial interventions include behavior and communication therapies and medicines to control symptoms. Early treatment can be beneficial to autistic children and can make their life much easier and help them become self-reliant.

Children with mild autism may be integrated into the general society with treatment and guidance. But most people with autism are often subjected to stigma, discrimination and human rights violation. Globally they lack adequate services and support systems. Thus interventions have to be combined with broader actions that would include them in mainstream society.

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurs in 1 in 160 children worldwide.

This estimate is an average and is on the lower side. Some controlled studies predict higher numbers.

Prevalence in many low-and middle-countries is still unknown.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 1 in 68 children in the United States to have autism-related disorders. This has increased compared to a number of 1 in 88 kids in 2012.

It is estimated that prevalence is increasing globally due to awareness, better diagnostic tools and criteria and better reporting.

There is no single cause for autism. Most cases involve a complex and variable combination of genetic risks and environmental factors that influence early child development.

Genetics: That autism disorder has a genetic basis is evident due to a pattern of autism in many families.

Around 100 genes have been identified that are related to autism and around 60 genes have more than a 90% chance of contributing to autism.

A number of rare gene changes or mutations have also been associated with autism. These gene changes termed de novo mutations or new mutations appear spontaneously in sporadic cases where there is no family history of autism. They contribute to the risk of the disease.

According to a study conducted in California and published in the journal Cell, de novo mutations mostly thought of as spelling mistakes that change a single letter of the DNA code are now believed to be actually structural variants where there are insertions or deletions of entire words or sequences of the DNA code. The rate at which these mutations occur is at a surprisingly high level of 20%.

The study says that autistic children do not seem to have more mutations compared to neurotypical children but the mutations present in them are more likely to disrupt genes that are involved in brain development.

Epigenetic Factors: In the presence of a genetic predisposition to autism, influences by epigenetic factors (non-genetic or environmental in nature) can increase a childs risk to autism. Nutrition, drugs and mental stress are some of the epigenetic factors.

Epigenetic changes occur when the bases in the DNA are modified rather than its sequence.

Research is still going on to find out more about the risk factors that can increase the chance of a baby being born with autistic disorder.

Some of these factors include -

Diet

Exposure to pesticides and phthalates

Drugs like terbutaline to stop premature birth

Valproic acid used to control seizures

Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers

Mercury poisoning

Inability of the body to make proper use of vitamins and minerals

Vaccine sensitivity owing to thimerosal that is a common preservative in multi-dose vaccines.

According to a research report in American Journal of Epidemiology, some possible causes of autism are related to the process of birth and related environment such as:

Breech position of the baby or difficulties in delivery that might reduce oxygen supply to babys brain

Low Apgar score (Apgar score is the index used to assess the condition of a newborn at birth and at five minutes after birth.)

Parental history of schizophrenia or similar forms of psychosis, depression, and bipolar disorder

Advanced parental age at the time of conception

Maternal illness during pregnancy

Children suffering from autism are affected in three ways -

1. Communication problem with their parents and people around them

Problems in communication are one of the key symptoms of autistic children.

They talk very less. The level of communication varies with each child. Some children remain mute for life.

They are slow in picking up language skills. It may be as late as 5 or 6 years of age.

Autistic children may speak using only a word or two to form a sentence, or be monosyllabic. At times, they may simply repeat the words that are being said to them.

They find it difficult to understand the cues of conversation and the nuances of how communication bounces back to and fro from a set of participants.

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2. Problems with Social Interaction

Autistic children have problems with social interactions.

They cannot make new friends.

The children remain withdrawn and do not play interactive games.

They avoid eye contact or may not respond to eye contact or smiles.

They prefer to spend time alone.

They exhibit lack of empathy.

3. Repetitive Behavior

Repetitive behavior is also an integral part of the world of autistic children.

They get stuck at a single play or topic. Autistic children can spend hours lining up cars or objects, or get engrossed in a particular type of behavior involving any object.

Autistic children get upset if anyone disturbs their work, accidentally or otherwise. Their world moves in a set pattern and anything that disturbs the pattern upsets them. Even their daily routines need to be followed in exactly the same manner.

They exhibit repetitive body movements.

Diagnosis is important for autistic children, because the earlier they are diagnosed, their chances of improvement and blending into the general society remain higher.

Early treatment can bring enormous beneficial effect on autistic children. Yet only about 50% of the autistic children in the preschool age are diagnosed on time.

Early Diagnosis: Autism is evaluated by the behavioral characteristics of the children. Children below the age of three may be diagnosed as autistic if they have one or more impairments in the area of communication, socialization, or restricted behavior. This is diagnosed during the baby checkups in the first two years of life. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a screening test also if the child has siblings or other family members with autism or are born preterm or with a low birth weight.

Some possible ways to identify autism is if the child does not -

Babble or baby talk by 12 months

Point out things by the end of first year.

Utter a word by the middle of the second year.

Speak two-word sentences by the end of two years

Respond to their own name

Make eye contact

Interact socially

Play with toys

Laugh or smile

Once diagnosed with autism, additional evaluation has to be done by health specialists as there is no biological test for diagnosing autism. Specialists like a developmental pediatrician, a child psychologist or psychiatrist or a speech-language pathologist can assess cognitive and language abilities and age appropriate skills needed to perform daily self chores.

Late Diagnosis: Sometimes signs of autism are missed when younger. They may be diagnosed later when

Older children have difficulties in subtle communication and have trouble understanding sarcastic tones or humor.

Adults realize they are socially withdrawn and verbally challenged.

Autism cannot be treated by drugs but a combination of various interventions may be used to get the maximum benefit for an autistic child.

Interventions commonly practiced are the following:

1. Behavioral programs address social skills, attention, sleep, play, anxiety, parent interaction and challenging behaviors. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is the basis of behavioral therapy that tracks a childs progress in improving his skill.

Lovaas Method

The Lovaas method was developed by Ivar Lovaas, Ph.D., at the UCLA Clinic for the Behavioral Treatment of Children. This is a behavior modification therapy which works with some children. This takes one-to-one interactions for about 40 hours a week. It is also known as Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) and teaches skills in a controlled step-by-step way.

2. Education and Learning Programs:

TEACCH: Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children

TEACCH is not a learning aid, rather it is a behavior management program designed to integrate predictable behavior for an appropriate social situation in an autistic child. This helps the child learn the skills necessary for self-care. The program uses structured learning methods to teach behavior modifications. This increases the child's affinity for routines and rituals that keeps them happy, but leaves little scope for the child to accept transitions and changes. The method works quite well with low functioning autistic children.

3. Medications:

Medications to a certain extent will be able to help relieve the symptoms of the autistic child in controlling behavior and other expressions of the disorder but not the cause. With medications, the parents may find it easier to handle their autistic children.

Antipsychotics like risperidone and aripiprazole should be used only in children with severe symptoms as they have intense side effects. They help reduce emotional distress, aggression, hyperactivity and self-injury.

like risperidone should be used only in children with severe symptoms as they have intense side effects. They help reduce emotional distress, aggression, hyperactivity and self-injury. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or antidepressants like fluoxetine and citalopram.

or like fluoxetine and citalopram. Stimulants and other hyperactivity drugs like methylphenidate , guanfacine and a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

like methylphenidate and a combination of Chelation therapy that uses substances to remove heavy metals from the body when they are considered to be the cause.

4. Other Treatments and Therapies:

Sensory Integration Therapy

In this process, children are made aware of their senses like rolling, swinging, jumping and spinning by physically experiencing them. This is done by special therapists who are trained to use such methods.

Play Therapy

The therapist plays with the child and lets the child guide the sessions. The aim is to help the child communicate and learn the everyday functions of daily life.

Music Therapy

This therapy uses music, including singing to music, playing instruments, and movements with music. This helps the children with developmental disabilities as it uses nonverbal interactions and facilitates play to encourage the children to socialize with others.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

This method is designed to increase communication skills. The training manual written by Lori Frost, MS and Dr. Andrew Bondy provides all the necessary information to implement PECS effectively.

Auditory Integration Training (AIT)

Originally meant as an intervention to cure deafness, this therapy tries to increase a person's sensitivity to distinguish sounds at different frequencies. For certain kinds of autism this therapy gives result especially in making such children lose some of their aversions to certain sounds.

Autism is a unique disorder that differs from child to child whose prognosis is influenced by the cause of the disease and the presence of any other condition present in the child.

While speech problems and other symptoms might reduce when older, the core problems like social interactions remain.

Some experts suggest that factors like

An intelligent quotient (IQ) above 50

Ability to speak before age six

Having a useful skill

can help in a better outcome.

The prognosis for autistic individuals has vastly improved compared to 30 years ago due to the timing and the level of interventions. Some adults with autism work in mainstream jobs while others work in special environments supervised by managers trained to work with people with learning disabilities.

Communication and social interactions are the main difficulties they face all the way from home, to school and later at work. Hence they continuously need encouragement and moral support to help them lead independent lives.
Film and television have distorted young peoples ideas about history, which is why it is important to periodically revisit the major events of the past in a simple and well-structured way, says British historian Antony Beevor, who has just helped tell the story of the Spanish Civil War to younger generations. And if history can be brought alive by the use of color film, as it was in this case, so much the better, he adds

A colorized image of Franco from the documentary. DMAX

Beevor is the historical advisor to a new three-part series called Espana dividida. La Guerra Civil en color (Spain divided. The Spanish Civil War in color) the first episode of which aired on Thursday night in Spain on the DMAX channel.

The way in which it is written and structured is completely logical. As an advisor I can help avoid errors. I have always been struck by how the Spanish Civil War produces more argument than the whole of World War II, given the passionate viewpoints of both sides. This documentary has produced a version that is rigorous and balanced. It will have been worth the effort if the younger generations learn something more about this subject, says Beevor.

In the Spanish Civil War everything was reduced to Fascism or Bolshevism

Antony Beevor

The three-hour documentary, produced by DMAX and Minoria Absoluta, also has bonus features showing interviews with historians (including Beevor), and the making of the series, which shows how the original footage was digitalized and then subjected to a color treatment process.

Most of the material used in the documentary comes from Spains national film archive, the Filmoteca Espanola. These are propaganda films and photographs from both sides, because there was no reporting during the war, says Francesc Escibano, who co-directed the project with Luis Carrizo. More than 400 films were used, from some 1,000 tins of 35-millimeter footage.

DMAX had originally intended to work with the team that produced World War II in Color, but decided to keep the project local. They looked for teams, brought a special scanner in from Britain, and set about doing something that had never been done in Spain before, a fact we hadnt realized until it was almost finished, says Escribano.

More than 150,000 frames were colorized digitally. DMAX

Its hard for younger people to understand how this hatred reached the point of ripping a country in two, or how families were broken up, with brothers fighting on one side or the other, says Beevor. Documentaries like this can give an idea of how that happened. Whats more, it should be a lesson for the future: democracy can only survive on the basis of mutual trust and tolerance, he adds.

Beevor did not write for the series, although he says he has long been fascinated by the conflict in the context of a dress rehearsal for World War II. He published a slim volume on the Spanish Civil War in 1982, which he later updated using archive material that became available after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The digital colorizing process was carried out by Spanish technicians

The author of several best-selling books about World War II, Beevor says he retains a keen interest in Spain. It would be irresponsible and incorrect to say that Spain is in danger of having another civil war. There are certain signs that remind one of the past, such as the dehumanization of those you hate or fear. It is a signal, it hasnt gone away, but it is something that needs to be watched.

Eighty years from the start of the Spanish Civil War, Beevor says it is vital to provide a rigorous and balanced account of the conflict, and also praises the documentarys technical achievements: The quality of the film and the colorized images have made something sophisticated for a lot of young people who have never seen black and white films. One of the reasons for colorizing pictures is to make them more recognizable for the younger generation. I can't see any other reason for it, but it is an important reason, he says.

The important lesson of the Spanish Civil War is how artificial alternatives were manipulated, reducing everything to either Fascism or Bolshevism, with the center ground torn apart. You cannot have a democracy or stable form of government if you have extremes that are constantly attacking each other and forcing other everybody else into extreme positions, he concludes.

English version by Nick Lyne.
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Russia This Week is a weekly review by the MEMRI Russian Media Studies Project, surveying developing stories in Russian domestic affairs as presented in the Russian media.

This issue concentrates on the reaction to the arrest of Russia's Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukaev for alleged extortion and bribe taking. The arrest sent shock waves through the Russian elite.

Putin Mania



Putin's image appears on Russian chocolate bars (Argumentua.com)

In The News:

The Arrest Of Minister Of Economic Development Ulyukaev 'Is A Tectonic Convulsion For The Authorities'

On November 14, the Federal Security Service arrested the Russian Minister for Economic Development, Alexey Ulyukaev, suspected of extorting a two billion dollar bribery payment from the Rosneft state oil company. According to the Central Investigative Committee, Ulyukaev sought to extort the bribe in exchange for issuing a positive assessment on a deal between Rosneft and Bashneft (72% state-owned), which enabled Rosneft to purchase a 50-percent stake in its former rival Bashneft]

(M.sledcom.ru, November 15)



Alexey Ulyukaev (Rt.com)

On November 15, Putin's press spokesman Dimitry Peskov announced that the Russian president had relieved Ulyukaev of office due to "lack of confidence".

(Vedomosti.ru, November 15)

According to various Russian media outlets, Ulyukaev, along with other governmental officials publicly expressed his opposition prior to the deal, while the final decision was taken by the prime-minister and the president. It should be noted that Medvedev's government official position was also hostile towards the deal, and the same was true for Putin who subse, who changed his mind later. Ulyukaev also opposed additional governmental funding for Rosneft company in 2014.

(Novayagazeta.ru, November 16)

Rosneft is run by Igor Sechin, Putin's personal friend and ally. Thus, according to Novaya Gazeta columnist Julia Latynina, it defies belief that the minister would attempt to extort a bribe from such a figure "that is akin to a sparrow extorting a lion". According to Latynina, Rosneft the merger and acquisitions king has its sights on other oil and gas companies and perhaps the next target will be Lukoil. The Ulyukaev affair will chasten those who attempt to stand in its way..

(Novayagazeta.ru, November 15)

Experts believe that Ulyukaev's arrest may impede the privatization of the government's 19.5% share in Rosneft (announced in August 2014) and will allow the company to buy back its own stocks.

(Ria.ru, November 15)

According to the Kremlin's spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, Putin was from the very beginning informed of the covert surveillance and investigation against Ulyukaev, which started over a year ago.

(Ria.ru, November 15)

Moreover, deputy -PM Arkady Dvorkovich, and Putin's personal economic aide Andrey Belousov, who both publically opposed the Bashneft sale were targets of FSB covert surveillance and investigation.

(Vedomosti.ru, November 16)

In an article published by the English-language newspaper The Moscow Times, journalist Boris Grozovsky wrote: "When the economy is in bad shape, it's always a good idea to go after those who are responsible for it. But today's news that Russia's top economic official was detained is unprecedented: no incumbent Russian government minister has been arrested since 1991... Law enforcement has leveled the most serious possible corruption charges against Ulyukaev. If found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison or, at a minimum, a fine equaling 3-5 years of his salary.

"Ulyukaev is traditionally considered a representative of the liberal and reformist wing of the government. He got his start reforming the government in 1991, while working as an assistant to former prime minister Yegor Gaidar. But that was 25 years ago.

"Today, Ulyukaev is one of the wealthiest officials in charge of the Russian economy. According to his income declaration, he owns 16 hectares of land, three homes, and three apartments. His salary for 3-5 years could be as much as $3 to $5 million.

"The Investigative Committee stated that the case against Ulyukaev stems from extensive FSB operations: intelligence agencies had the minister under surveillance for more than a year, and sources in state information agencies say that phone taps were used on him and his associates to produce the weighty evidence of the bribe.

Last month, Rosneft paid 329.7 billion rubles for a controlling stake in Bashneft. If we are to believe the investigators, Ulyukaev's 'commission' on the deal amounted to 0.04 percent of that total. At the same time, the authorities have no complaint against Rosneft: in their view, the company acquired Bashneft legally. This might indicate that Rosneft has been cooperating with the investigation from the beginning.

"However, it is more likely that this was a special op by the security forces, overseen by the FSB and coordinated and sanctioned from the top. A Kremlin spokesman said President Vladimir Putin was aware of events from the beginning, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made a carefully worded statement calling for a thorough investigation.

"The minister's arrest is a tectonic convulsion for the authorities. Criminal case details are always important in the arrests of senior officials. Unlike most high-profile arrests of allegedly corrupt officials, the security services did not offer any incriminating videos when the news came out on the morning of Nov. 15. It remains unknown where the supposed bribe took place, who gave it, and how it was given. Was the bribe fabricated? According to information about the arrest leaked from the Investigative Committee, Ulyukaev initially thought the whole thing was a joke or a mistake and kept asking everyone, 'What in the hell is going on here?' Maybe he had no idea that someone was planning to give him a bribe.

"Of course, it is easy to believe that a Russian official could extort a bribe from a business. But it is equally easy to believe that the investigative authorities could fabricate groundless charges against an official.

The privatization of Bashneft had been the subject of heated debate in the government ever since this summer. Rosneft wanted access to the deal, but all of the economic officials, including Ulyukaev, opposed the idea. However, Igor Sechin - operating as only he can - convinced Putin that it would benefit the state if Rosneft was able to offer the highest bid for Bashneft. The result: the government let one state-owned company purchase another.

"A similar debate arose three years ago when economic ministers opposed Sechin's plan for Russian Railways to purchase the Novorossiysk Commercial Seaport. That time, the ministers prevailed. The Economic Development Ministry has resisted Rosneft more than other ministries. For example, Ulyukaev's ministry did not fulfill several of Rosneft's financial requests in 2015. If Ulyukaev was the primary opponent of Rosneft purchasing Bashneft, could his arrest be a recrimination for that stance? Is it a warning to others not to argue with Rosneft?

"Actually, Rosneft had no need to make a point by frightening its opponents. The Economic Development Ministry has raised significantly fewer objections to Rosneft as of late. The controversial question of regulating the way state-owned companies make procurements or disclose financial information, among other issues, has increasingly been resolved in the interests of the companies themselves. If the charges against Ulyukaev are entirely trumped up, the criminal proceedings against him should prove interesting.

Bashneft's privatization was unprecedented. The VTB Capital investment bank organized the sale, and, when the bank announced the tender in July, nine companies - including Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil company - expressed an interest. However, in the end, Rosneft emerged as the main contender, even finding a way to cancel the public auction and proceed without any competitors.

Did Ulyukayev oppose it? On October 12, President Putin said that he was "surprised" by the position of the financial and economic bloc of the government that, he said, insisted the state sell Bashneft to Rosneft. How could the economic bloc of the government have reversed the position it held just one month earlier, in late August and early September?

In fact, the case against Ulyukaev looks quite absurd. Rosneft is a gigantic state-owned company, and is, thanks to its director, Igor Sechin - a close friend of Vladimir Putin - the most influential company in the country. Who is Ulyukaev, therefore, to demand a bribe from Sechin, let alone to accompany that demand with threats? This story stretches the imagination. Any official taking such an action would be committing professional suicide - hardly worth the risk for just $2 million.

The Russian economy is stagnating. Federal coffers don't fill nearly as easily as they used to. State-owned companies need money, discounts, loans, government contracts and guarantees, etc. The government finds it increasingly difficult to hand out favors to its "captains of industry."

The government's share of the economy is increasing, even as the overall size of the pie is shrinking - and officials, security service strongmen, and state-owned businesses are not accustomed to tightening their belts. They are still learning that trick, and so the battle for diminishing resources is heating up. In all likelihood, Ulyukayev is far from the last senior official who will fall victim to that struggle."

(Themoscowtimes.com, November 19)

The public reactions varied over the first 48 hours. Many of those concerned (including those serving in the government or state corporations) defined the arrest as a shock, which raises many questions. To quote just a few examples:

 Sergey Shvezov, first deputy chair Central Bank of Russia: "I treat Ulyukaev with great respect. Ulyukaev was the last person to be suspected of something like that. Everything is unclear right now"

 Aleksandr Shokhin, chair, Russian Union of manufacturers and entrepreneurs: "This is (the indictment) , to put it mildly, non-convincing. That (the bribery extortion) could have been done at the minute of temporal insanity, but definitely that could not been done in a sober mind".

 Igor Lebedev, the Duma's vice-speaker and Liberal Democratic Party member: "One can only rejoice that the real fight against corruption has started in Russia. We see that there are no untouchables anymore: mayors, governors and government ministers are getting arrested"

 Boris Titov, state business ombudsman: "In our view Ulyukaev does not correlate with corruption or bribery. His view was more economic development oriented, we attached certain hopes regarding his views".

 Aleksey Kudrin, deputy chairman of the presidential economic council, in the matter of Rosneft-Ukulayev too many questions still remain. An objective investigation is imperative.

 Mikhail Emelyanov, first deputy chair of Duma's state building and law committee: "This makes the changes in the government - at least in the financial-economic bloc - closer. Other liberal oriented ministers may be next in the line. It might happen less savagely than in Ulukaev's case, but there is no doubt there will be further changes in the cabinet".

 Anatoly Chubais, CEO of Rosnano state corporation: "For us, who know Ulukaev personally for more than 30 years, it's about a total shock. If the try to disregard emotions and a human compassion towards a friend who got into a bad situation... we should recall the golden rule -listen to both sides. One side tells that Ulukaev threatened Rosneft and extorted a bribe ( Apparently, I don't understand this world anymore). Thy did not yet hear the other side"

 Evgeny Yasin, scientific director of the Higher School of Economics national research center": "I think it's about "hunting" the liberals. Are you convinced by the explanation of fighting corruption by means of Ulukaev?"

(Rbc.ru, November 15)

 Mikhail Vinogradov, political science expert: "The Siloviki ( those representing the security and defense blocin the government and around Putin) have a growing appetite and elite circles are trying to prove that theyare well positioned after 2018 ( the presidential election year) even though president Putin has clearly started to change the team structure. The civilian ministries are being weakened."

(Vedomosti.ru, November 16)

Fedor Krasheninnikov, president of the Institute for the Development and Modernization of Social Relations sees a throwback to the Stalinist purges where serious accusations angainst ranking officials became a trump card for the authorities in resolving problems: "As the economic situation deteriorates, we can assume that the pinpoint repressions will continue and will even accelerate . By trying to force the apparatus to work more effectively and disinterestedly for the homeland's sake via such methods, the supreme authorities demonstrate their hopelessness and lack of perspective to the society: (it means) the notorious [power] vertical is riddled with thieves and corrupted personalities. Every new federal official or silovik arrested (for bribery) will drive society closer to the inevitable conclusion that they are all that way and the system should be completely changed ."

(Vedomosti.ru, November 16)

According to an editorial in Vedomosti, Ulyukaev's arrest means that intra-elite conflict is escalating due to the "shrinking economic pie." This episode dovetails with the trend of strengthening the repressive apparatus. The rising role of the security forces in Russia following the 2011-2012 protests caused the threats' map to expand. "Producing" the threats and fighting them is the most profitable undertaking for various figures since it allows solving political problems on the one hand, and redistributing assets and financial flows on the other. According to the editorial, repression signifies an unbalanced political system. By resorting to repression the system is destabilizing itself still further..

(Vedomosti.ru, November 16)

Russia Bans LinkedIn:

Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzor) announced it banned LinkedIn ."Based on the court's ruling that entered into force, the LinkedIn social network has been included in the registry of those violating the rights of personal data owners and is to be blocked by telecommunications operators," Roskomnadzor said in a statement. The Moscow City Court rejected LinkedIn's appeal against its blocking in Russia for violating the law on personal data localization. Under the law, the personal data of Russians can be processed and stored only in Russia.

(Tass.com, November 16)

Strange But True

On November 16, during the final ceremony of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev praised his Belorussian counterpart Andrei Kobyakov for his effective work. The Belorussian PM answered that the eastern coffee helped him a lot. Medvedev replied that the last time they met the Belorussian PM asked for an Americano coffee. "That's not politically correct. Let's rename Americano into Russiano ...," said Medvedev jokingly.

In 2014, after Crimea's annexations to Russia, several coffee shops in Crimea changed the name Americano into Crimeiano.

The bar Ogonek in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg has already changed its entire list of Western brands into Russian ones. For example: Jack Daniel's whiskey is now "Zhora Denisov", American Honey whiskey became "Sweet Russia", New-York stake - "Voronezh-city stake", cocktail B-52 - cocktail Su-34 (referring to a Russian heavy bomber).

(Ria.ru, November 17)
In an article in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Hayat, Dr. Salman Masalha, a Druze Israeli-Arab intellectual, discussed an Israeli bill seeking to ban the use of loudspeakers by houses of worship, which would prevent mosques from using them to broadcast the call of the muezzin (i.e., the call for prayer). In contrast to the prevailing response to this bill in the Arab and Muslim world, that this is a declaration of war against Islam, Masalha noted that the mosque loudspeakers disturb many people, both Jews and Arabs. Moreover, he said, even in Arab countries there have been calls to ban the use of loudspeakers, and fatwas have been issued justifying such a ban. He called not to consider the bill from the populist perspective of the Arab-Israeli conflict, but to consider it objectively from the perspective of the public good.

The following are excerpts from the article:[1]



D r. Salman Masalha (image: Ahewar.org)

"Since the situation that exists between the Jews and the Arabs, between Israel and Palestine, is unnatural, any demand by one side [automatically] causes much doubt and apprehension in the other. This has been evident recently following efforts by the Israeli government to promote a bill that limits the volume of the loudspeakers of mosques on the grounds that they disturb people living nearby. Since the character of this Israeli government - with its right-wing coalition and the racist behavior [it has exhibited] in many cases - is clear and known to all, this bill... has caused apprehension in the other side, namely the Muslim residents. Many of them say it is a racist bill, but none of them undertake to consider it from an objective perspective and to examine the [impact] of the loudspeakers not only on the Jewish sector but especially on Arab cities and villages.

"Arab cities and villages in Israel suffer from the phenomenon of loudspeakers, not only those of the mosques but also the loudspeakers that incessantly broadcast loud commercials, from those [used by] grocers to [those used by] shoe and clog sellers. The truth is that we do not know what cultural tradition these annoying people, who fill their surroundings with a deafening racket night and day, are relying on. In doing so they harm the sick and the elderly, as well as children and other people, who have a need for peace and quiet in their homes and their neighborhoods.

"Against the background of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, it is very easy to label as racist every action of the Israeli rival, which is represented by this hated government. However, the issue of noise in public spaces and the prevention of noise pollution has nothing to do with the struggle over this land. The mosque loudspeakers and the [noise] they make is an issue that all Arab societies struggle with, including those in Arab countries far away from Israel and Palestine and the conflict there.

"As evidence for my claims, let me present several statements about this issue from Arab countries, whose residents are no doubt loyal to Islam and its heritage. In fact, this problematic issue has been addressed by many religious scholars. In the 1970s, renowned [Muslim] preacher Muhammad Metwali Al-Sha'rawi declared: 'If it were up to me, I would ban mosques from using loudspeakers to announce the dawn prayer.' The reason for this is obvious: these early morning hours are the quietest hours, when people are sound asleep and have not yet woken up to go to work and make a living...

"People in the Arab world suffer greatly from this worrying phenomenon and are seeking a solution to it, and Muslim clerics are likewise working to resolve it. That is why there are debates about it and fatwas issued about it. [The website] Islamweb.net has posted fatwas by [Saudi Arabia'] Standing Committee [for Scholarly Research and Issuing Fatwas] stating that 'it is forbidden to use radios and similar devices to broadcast Koran [verses] at high volume in the mosque on Friday before the arrival of the imam,' and it is likewise forbidden 'to use loudspeakers that disturb people, especially sick people and their families.' [The fatwas state further that] loudspeakers and microphones 'must be used only inside the mosque so as not to disturb people outside. [Moreover,] if the imam's voice is loud enough for worshipers to hear him, there is no reason to use loudspeakers [at all]'...

"We see, then, that this issue is a matter of controversy in the Arab and Muslim world [itself], owing to the problems it creates, which have begun harming people's [quality of] life in this [modern] age. So when the Arab Knesset members of the Joint List address this matter, they should avoid chanting populist slogans in favor of the loudspeakers and consider the issue separately from the sensitivities of the struggle over this homeland. The call to maintain [quiet in public] places is in the interest of all residents, regardless of political affiliation and political controversies. It is no coincidence that, in opposing the bill, the populist Arab Knesset members gained the support of the ultra-religious Orthodox Jewish parties, since they too worry that limitations will be placed [on the Jews' right to perform] Jewish rituals that disturb [the public]. However, as I said earlier, since the national situation in our region isn't normal, everyone is inclined towards populism, even in matters where there should have been a consensus for the good of the public. However, let us stress that the optimal position on these matters should seek to end [all] disturbances, regardless of their source and the affiliation of the people responsible for them, be they Jewish, Muslim, Christian or members of any other group..."

Endnotes:
Ever since the government imposed the demonetization of 1000 and 500 rupee notes, banks and ATMs have been facing a cash crunch that is infuriating the public. Apparently, only about 22,500 i.e. a tenth of the countrys 202,000 ATM machines have been tweaked to accept new notes. Bank officials are working really hard to help people with their money, but they too cant really do anything about the slow pace of work, all thanks to the machines that need new parts but are running short in supply. However, a senior official said, These are being purchased from China.

Stating that not all machines need these parts, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman of State Bank of India, said Adequate supplies have been lined up and are now getting continuously received. This will not pose a problem.

 Twitter

It was also reported that, the magnetic component and the hardware, also known as a magnetic spacer and wedge, are not in stock.Once the supplies are there, it shouldnt take more than a week to get the ATMs running. Whats more, a senior finance ministry official said some banks have told the government that the situation is manageable. It is not a big problem and banks are sourcing the supplies, he said.

After the discontinuation of old notes, ATMs that havent been reprogrammed are still dispensing 100 or 50 rupees notes, resulting in the machines rapidly running out of cash. However, fixing this issue and making changes will take time. Our aim is to get at least 50,000 machines running in the next one week. If they work 247, we will able to manage this problem, a banker told ET. The official also explained that the mechanism should be able to weigh the currency notes since the money is dispensed from the machines according to weight and if they cant weigh then they wont work.

 Twitter

In fact, some bankers were concerned about remote areas, where it will take time to update the machines, and why the ATM calibration needs to speed up to ease the tension among the public. An official from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said, We have got 35 lakh transactions, of which 25 lakh has been done on ATMs and around six lakh on various point of sales machines. It was further added that the indigenous RuPay cards payment getaways have been functioning smoothly.

So, while ATMs are gearing up to be reprogrammed and the new parts are set to be imported, we really hope that the process is over quickly and we can take out more cash.

Source: The Economic Times
A big gem has been added to Indias Naval security as the Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer the India Naval Ship (INS) `Chennai` has been commissioned into the Indian Navy on Monday, 21st Nov. A glorious function was held in Mumbai where Defence Minister Manohar Parikar officially inducted the Made in India ship into the naval fleet.

Manufactured by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, INS Chennai is among the largest destroyers to have been constructed in India. It is 164 meters in length and a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes. The ship boasts of stupendous dexterity in missile technology and is armed with supersonic surface to surface `BrahMos` missiles and `Barak-8` long range surface to air missile. It even possesses anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar `HUMSA-NG`, Heavyweight Torpedo Tube Launchers, Rocket Launchers and Towed Arrau sonar capability.

 Twitter

The powerful vessel is propelled by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion plant, consisting of four reversible gas turbines, which enables it to achieve a top speed of over 30 knots (approximately 55 km per hour). The ship is fitted with `Kavach` chaff decoy system for defence against enemy missiles and for defence against enemy torpedoes, it is fitted with the `Mareech` torpedo decoy system, both of which have been developed indigenously in India.

 Twitter

 Twitter

The ship has even been dispensed with very high levels of automation with revolutionary digital networks such as ATM-based integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), Combat Management System (CMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Auxilliary Control System (ACS).

After completion of some additional sea trials, it will eventually be assigned to the Western Fleet and will be based at Mumbai.

 Twitter
Australia just made history by becoming the first continent in the world to legalize marijuana, following a vote that was taken by their Parliament this Wednesday. The new amendments were made to their Narcotic Drugs Act, which makes cannabis farms and distribution of marijuana based products completely legal.

Sussan Ley, the Minister of Health, said in a statement, This is a historic day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis products so genuine patients are no longer treated as criminals, she went on to proclaim, This is the missing piece in a patients treatment journey, and [we] will now see seamless access to locally produced medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.

The details and technicalities still have to be finalized, but it is believed that within the next few months, patients with a medical marijuana prescription will be allowed to grow their own crops as well.

India, take notes.
An army officer from Odisha was among 133 people killed in the fateful Indore-Patna Express train accident that occurred at Pukhrayan in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday morning. The officer, identified as Captain Suvendu Kumar Mishra, 23, of Indian Army, belongs to Sarankul of Nayagarh district. His family members are staying at Acharya Vihar in the city.

 TOI

According to his uncle, Sisir Kumar Mohapatra, Suvendu was travelling in the train from Indore to Kanpur for treatment of his dislocated right shoulder. He was undergoing training in an army academy at Indore. He got injured during the training, so he was referred to Command Hospital at Lucknow. He had planned to take another train from Kanpur to visit the hospital, but he died before reaching Kanpur, he added.

Mohapatra said his nephew was a bright and brave student. After completion of studies from RIMC (Rashtriya Indian Military College), Dehradun, a feeder institution to NDA, he had passed National Defence Academy (NDA) examinations to serve the army in 2014. He was taking a tough commando training course for special operations. But, unfortunately, he passed away in the accident.

 BCCL

He said the accident occurred at around 3.30 am, but the railway officials informed them at 9.30 pm on Sunday about the death. "My younger brother staying in Delhi had immediately gone to Kanpur to find my nephew. He finally found Suvendu's body in a hospital," he lamented.

Mohapatra said Suvendu had wanted to donate his organs after death, but it could not happen as Railway delayed in rescuing his body.

Suvendu's father Himanshu Sekhar Mishra, a senior general manager in a steel company, and mother Binati Mishra are staying in Angul. Suvendu's mother said, "It gives me so much pain that my son faced a premature death before serving the nation. He had a great passion to work for Indian Army. It pained me that he couldn't serve the army he wanted."

(This article was originally published in the Times Of India.)
Fall will make its presence well and truly felt across much of Spain on Monday, with 36 provinces on alert because of possible strong wind gusts, high seas or heavy rainfall. Most of the alerts put in place by Spanish meteorological agency Aemet are mid-level yellow warnings, meaning there is no risk to the general population, but parts of Galicia and Catalonia are on alert level orange (significant risk).

Heavy seas are expected off the Galician coast on Monday. Cabalar (EFE)

The northwestern region of Galicia has been put on orange alert because of heavy seas, while very strong winds are forecast for the northeastern area of Catalonias Aran valley.

The worst of the rain will fall in the southern half of the Spanish mainland and in the Pyrenees. Parts of Andalusia and the western region of Extremadura, as well as the south of Castilla-La Mancha and the north of Aragon and Catalonia could experience heavy or persistent downpours, while rainfall will be lighter in the Balearic Islands.

With plenty of rain also expected in Madrid, the Spanish capital will be boosting road traffic controls and making more tow trucks available in case of breakdowns or accidents on major arterial roads.

A calmer day can be expected on the Canary Islands. Cloud cover is forecast, and there could be some light rain in the west of the Atlantic archipelago.

The level at which snow will fall will drop during the day to between 1,000 and 1,200 meters above sea level in the Cantabrian Mountains and northeastern Spain, and to somewhere between 1,400 and 1,600 meters in the Central and Iberian systems. In the Pyrenees, snow is expected above 1,800 meters.

Orange areas are high risk, while areas in yellow have a 'mid-level' risk.

Temperatures will rise slightly in the southwest of the peninsula and in the Balearic Islands, while northeastern Spain will experience a slight dip.

Strong winds can be expected in the south and southwest of mainland Spain, with very strong gusts possible at high altitudes and in the Balearic Islands. In the Canary Islands, the winds will be westerly.

English version by George Mills.
A new poll confirms that since Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy first took office in 2011, concern over political corruption has ballooned to record levels, becoming Spaniards second biggest worry after unemployment. The latest Center for Sociology Studies (CIS) poll, conducted in October, shows that 37.6% of respondents feel corruption and fraud is one of Spains top three problems.

For many people the ruling Popular Party is still associated with graft. Julian Rojas

This is a significant drop from the historical high of 63.8% in November 2014, when the first Rajoy administration had passed the mid-term mark. But it is still a spectacular increase from the 5.4% of respondents who gave a similar answer during the last month of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapateros Socialist administration, in late 2011.

Even the Spanish king mentioned corruption last week, when he officially inaugurated the new political term with a special address in Congress: Corruption, which has incensed public opinion across our country and which needs to keep being firmly fought, should become a sad memory of a scourge that we need to conquer and overcome.

Theres been a few small steps forward, but excessively modest given the scope of the problem

Fernando Jimenez Sanchez, Murcia University

Experts say that attitudes about corruption are linked to the economy.

This increase [in peoples concern about corruption] is due mostly to two things, says Fernando Jimenez Sanchez, a political science lecturer at Murcia University and member of the Council of Europes Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO).

First, the greater visibility of corruption after the almost endless waves of scandals and news coverage of related inquiries or trials. And second and most importantly, because of the crisis. People, whether here or anywhere else, tend to be less lenient with such behavior in times of hardship and adjustment than in boom times.

Felipe VI mentioned corruption in his address to Congress last week. EL PAIS

The Popular Party (PP) administration has been tainted by a raft of scandals affecting the Spanish conservatives, including the Gurtel, Punica, Barcenas and Taula cases. Dozens of elected officials are being investigated or tried for crimes ranging from graft and patronage to illegal party financing.

While these scandals were breaking, Spaniards were also laboring under a 25% jobless rate, a soaring premium rate on sovereign debt, a 10% loss on wage purchasing power, thousands of home evictions, soup kitchens filled to capacity, and a record number of households with every member out of a job.

Still a winner

Yet the PP still managed to garner the most votes at the last two national elections despite losing its absolute majority.

The Center for Sociology Studies (CIS) has an explanation for this paradox: PP voters are less concerned about corruption than people who vote for other parties.

Juan Jesus Gonzalez, who teaches sociology at the university for distance learning UNED, adds that PP voters vote with a focus on the economy; corruption is not part of their calculations. He also underscores the tolerance for corruption as a hallmark of political culture in Spain.

Polls seem to confirm this assertion. A recent survey showed that 28.2% of PP voters named corruption as one of Spains top-three problems, compared with 44.9% of voters for the anti-austerity party Podemos, 41.1% of voters for emerging center-right party Ciudadanos and 39.6% of PSOE voters.

Corruption should become a sad memory of a scourge that we need to conquer and overcome

Felipe VI of Spain

Ultimately, experts say that voters tend to put the economy ahead of corruption on their list of priorities.

Voters have come to identify corruption with the political class in general, independent of this party or that party, says Jesus Lizcano, a spokesman for Transparency International in Spain. They think they [politicians] are all the same, which is why they dont really discriminate at the polls based on this variable. In many cases, people base their voting decisions on some other variable that could be ideological, social or economic.

Elusive trust

And now that the PP is back in power thanks to a Socialist abstention at a congressional vote in late October, little progress is expected.

There have been a few small steps forward, but they are excessively modest given the scope of the problem, says Jimenez Sanchez. With whats been done, its impossible to recover citizens trust in their political institutions.

This expert has a set of recommendations to improve the quality of politics. First, end the sense of impunity around corruption, which entails reinforcing the system of checks and balances of the political system. Second, reduce the possibilities for corruption by reducing the number of regulations and laws and making these better, depoliticizing and professionalizing the upper echelons of public service, extending transparency in the public sector, evaluating the real impact of public policy, and affording effective protection to corruption whistleblowers.

Not enough

Ciudadanos has made Rajoy sign an anti-corruption declaration. Efe

People blame politicians for the current state of affairs: 80% feel that the government is doing a poor job fighting corruption, according to a survey by Transparency International. No other EU state has such high disapproval ratings.

Whats more, 55% of respondents said they believe that most of Spains Cabinet is involved in illegal activities. This was part of the reason why the PP had so much trouble finding allies to form a government. In the end, the protest party Ciudadanos agreed to a deal on one condition: getting Rajoy to sign a six-point anti-corruption declaration.

But will it be enough? It doesnt get to the heart of the problem, says Sanchez Jimenez.

English version by Susana Urra.
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Moises Mansur Cysneiros, the Mexican businessman accused of acting as a frontman for Javier Duarte, the disgraced former governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz who is now on the run, managed an extensive business portfolio worth at least $7.2 million that included properties in Mexico, Spain and the United States, EL PAIS has learned.

Javier Duarte, former governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz.

More information El testaferro del exgobernador de Veracruz manejo un patrimonio de 7 millones de dolares

The Mexican authorities allege Mansur is part of a complex network of more than 30 companies and proxies set up by Duarte, who disappeared on October 15 after being accused of embezzling some $26 million during his tenure as the ruling Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) governor of Veracruz, where he left a public debt of $837 million.

Mansur arrived in Spain in 2010, introducing himself as a wealthy Mexican businessman in search of a suitable home. Duarte, for his part, was familiar with Madrid from his student days, when he took a graduate course at the Ortega y Gasset Foundation.

The first accusations against Duarte were made in 2013

Prosecutors have built a case that links Mansur and Duarte: the former named the latter as the principle beneficiary of his will and also gave a credit card to Duartes wife, Karime Macias, who studied at Madrids Complutense University.

In 2014, Cysneiros purchased a luxury home in one of Madrids most desirable neighborhoods. The 403-square-meter apartment was bought for 4.2 million through a holding company called Worfolk Solutions, an EL PAIS investigation has discovered.

Mansur is alleged to have spent a total of $5.5 million on properties between 2006 and 2014, including homes in Houston and Miami.

Furthermore, he managed at least five companies between 2001 and 2010, among them Ideas Corporativas, which between 2011 and 2013 paid around $500,000 in taxes in Mexico after declaring profits of some $1.6 million. He is also believed to have run a company that managed hotels and bars.

Moises Mansur Cysneiros 2011 tax return. EL PAIS

Mansur paid $412,000 in taxes in Mexico in 2014, corresponding to declared income of $1.4 million.

In 2010 he ran an accounting firm called Asamblea Logistica, as well as an engineering firm, the latter with another man accused of acting as a front man for Duarte, Jose Juan Janeiro Rodriguez. The two also managed another company together, Corporativo Sosose.

Mansurs wife, Ana Gabriela Peralta Villareal, was also a shareholder in Asamblea Logistica in 2010.

On July 29, Mexican prosecutors sent the Spanish Justice Ministry a request for assistance, asking authorities here to investigate a complaint filed by a Mexican politician regarding Duartes alleged use of frontmen to acquire property in Spain.

The complaint, to which EL PAIS has had access, was filed by Miguel Angel Yunes, a deputy for Mexicos National Action Party (PAN) who names 36 individuals he suspects could be acting as go-betweens for Duarte. The Mexican authorities are offering a reward of $700,000 for any leads as to Duartes whereabouts.

Mansur is accused of being part of a network of companies and proxies set up by Duarte

The Duarte scandal is another blow to the credibility of the PRI and President Enrique Pena Nieto. The former governor took over running Veracruz, a traditional PRI stronghold, in 2010. The state soon subsided into violence, with widespread disappearances, murders of women, and harassment and killings of journalists. For the first time in some 80 years, the PRI lost control of Veracruz in elections earlier this year.

Pena Nieto returned the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, to the presidency in 2012 partly on an anti-corruption platform. Pena Nieto hailed Duarte as a representative of the new generation of PRI leaders, suggesting he was even presidential material. The PRI has responded to Duartes alleged crimes by stripping him of his membership.

The first accusations against Duarte were made a year later, when the PAN brought a criminal complaint against Duarte, accusing him and other officials of unlawful use of public funds.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Acapulco, once Mexicos top tourism resort, is now the countrys murder capital and one of the worlds most violent cities , illustrated all too gruesomely by an eruption of violence that left 10 people dead in less than 24 hours over the weekend. The violence in Acapulco is reflected throughout Guerrero state, in the countrys southwest, where official statistics put the number of deaths this year at 1,832, most of them due to an ongoing battle for control of the drugs trade.

The state of Guerrero has been dubbed Mexico's Iraq. EFE

More information Diez personas han sido asesinadas en Acapulco en menos de 24 horas

These numbers are down from violent peaks reached in 2012  the city had about 100 homicides a month that year. But the intensity of the bloodshed stands out, and appears to be closely linked to the fragmentation of Mexicos criminal organizations.

As for the crimes registered at the weekend, on Saturday two men were shot dead near the port. Later that same day, armed men were involved in a shooting, which left two dead and two injured. In the afternoon, close to the central food market, another two people were shot dead. On Sunday, at 2pm, in the northern area of the municipality, a woman and an adolescent were shot inside their home. The ninth victim was killed near a taxi rank, while the 10th was a woman allegedly attacked by her husband.

The violence in the state, which is a top producer of opium and methamphetamine and an important transit point for South American cocaine, is suffocating the tourist sector in Acapulco: the average hotel occupancy rate for the year is down to 40%; a recent survey by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness ranked Acapulco last out of 78 tourist destinations in Mexico.

Guerrero is a top producer of opium and methamphetamine

In response to the violence, heavily armed soldiers and police now patrol the beaches of Acapulco.

Criminal groups in the state have turned to more localized crimes such as kidnapping and extortion to create revenue: on Friday, local media reported that a group of some 30 armed men had taken hostage 14 residents of a small rural community in the state, among them minors.

Local media said a gang known as Los Tequileros was behind the kidnapping. The group is reportedly in dispute with another criminal organization, known as La Familia, which is supported by the Jalisco Nueva Generacion drugs cartel. The mass kidnapping is the third attributed to Los Tequileros this year. In January, the gang took 22 people away from a wedding; a few days later, it abducted five teachers from a school, killing two of them.

In January, Los Tequileros took 22 people away from a wedding; a few days later, it abducted five teachers

Efforts to halt the violence date back to 2006, when former president Felipe Calderon rolled out a nationwide plan, which did nothing to slow down the death rate. President Enrique Pena Nieto also promised to stop the killings in Mexicos 50 most-violent towns and cities, three of them in Guerrero: Acapulco, Chilpancingo and Iguala. The central government called on local and regional governments to assume their obligations and responsibilities.

Guerreros governor, Hector Astudillo, took office in October 2015. Instability caused by criminal groups jockeying to make deals or gain influence with the new government has likely added to the bloodshed: in the first 100 days of Astudillos term, there were more than 700 murders.

English version by Nick Lyne.
On Monday, 21 November 2016, Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos will address a conference being held by the magazine Social Review  A Symposium of Ideas on the subject of Dialogue with Professional & Social Organizations on Development and Employment.



The event, which is taking place at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), 7 Akadimias St., starts at 18:00, with the Ministers speech scheduled for 19:00.
Greece mourns the passing of former President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Kostis Stephanopoulos was a noble politician who throughout his life embodied political ethos and seriousness, serving Greece with modesty and responsibility, always setting the national interest and faith in the strengths of the homeland as a point of reference.

From the countrys highest state office, he was a democratic voice of Greece internationally. A voice of dignity and responsibility that spoke for and unified all Greek citizens.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and the whole of the political and civil leadership of the Ministry express their grief and their sincere condolences to his loved ones.
The waters near the British overseas territory of Gibraltar have once again become the scene of conflict between Spanish vessels and the Royal Navy . At the weekend, a British navy speedboat tried to stop researchers from the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO) from deploying a sonar buoy in the waters in the Bay of Gibraltar.

A file photo of a British submarine in the Straits of Gibraltar. AFP

The scientists were on board the vessel Angeles Alvarino, in an area that is disputed by Spain and the United Kingdom, according to Spanish news website Europa Sur. The tensions were sparked on Friday, when the Royal Navy gave the ship a warning over the radio. The dispute deepened, according to British news agency the Press Association (PA), when the HMS Sabre then fired warning flares toward the Spanish scientific mission.

The ships presence in the disputed area was due to the need to take samples with concrete parameters, that can only be done in that area

The IEO confirmed that the incident had taken place, but played down its importance, explaining that these kinds of confrontation are usual in the area. For years now this kind of conflict is common, explained sources from the institute. The patrols usually approach our ships to warn us that we are invading their waters. We inform them that we are carrying out a scientific investigation. On this occasion, the same thing happened. The Royal Navy fired the flares into the air, the IEO explained, despite the researchers not showing any kind of conflictive attitude.

The research ship was in the area to study the morphology and sedimentary dynamic of the Algeciras canyon to be able to evaluate the geological risks associated with this structure, the IEO stated. The project began last Friday and will finish on November 25, and will count on IEO researchers from Cadiz, Malaga and Madrid, as well as other research institutions in Spain.

The ships presence in the disputed area was due, according to the institution, to the need to take samples with concrete parameters, that can only be done in that area. As such, the IEO said it tried to collect the samples as quickly as possible. In fact, the ship is currently being escorted by the Royal Navy to a new area in waters that are not an area of conflict.

While the IEO has tried to play down the incident, there has been a range of reactions from both sides. Gibraltars chief minister, Fabian Picardo, yesterday told the Gibraltar Chronicle that he had been in contact with the commander of the British forces on The Rock, Mike Walliker, due to the presence of the Angeles Alvarino in waters considered to be under British sovereignty.

In Spain, the government has announced that it will lodge a formal protest for the interference of the Royal Navy

I congratulate the Royal Navy for the work they have undertaken so far in very challenging circumstances in light of the reckless disregard for safety displayed by the official Spanish vessels involved, Picardo told the newspaper. The British defense minister added that the presence of the ship in waters that London claims as its own constitutes an illegal incursion into the British territorial waters in Gibraltar, and announced that a formal protest would be lodged with the Spanish government.

Meanwhile in Spain, the government has announced that it in turn will lodge a formal protest with the United Kingdom for the interference of the Royal Navy with the vessels scientific research. But the Foreign Ministry is yet to specify how this protest will take shape, being able to opt for a verbal note or by recalling the British ambassador in Madrid.

This is not the first time that both states have faced off over the waters that surround The Rock. Spain argues that the waters where this new incident took place are Spanish given that, in the 1713 Utrecht Treaty, the city and Gibraltar castle (together with its port, defense and fortress) were ceded to the British crown. That did not include the isthmus that joins Gibraltar with the peninsula, nor the surrounding waters. As such, Spain only recognizes British sovereignty over the waters on the inside of the port. For years now, London has been claiming as its own up to three nautical miles of waters, based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came after the Utrecht agreement and awards any territory the adjacent waters.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Facebook, the platform with 1.8 billion users worldwide, is changing communications everywhere, but particularly in Latin America. This is one of the regions of the world that took longest to achieve internet connectivity, and which still has large pockets in rural and poor areas that are cut off from the online world. But Latin America has embraced the digital era enthusiastically, to the point that it has become a key region for Facebook. Around 215 million people go online monthly from six countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

Diego Dzodan at the closing ceremony of the APEC summit. Ernesto Arias (EFE)

Diego Dzodan, Facebooks vice-president for Latin America, participated at the 2016 APEC Economic Leaders Week, where Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was a leading speaker.

Dzodan said that the company is particularly interested in the potential of Brazil and Mexico.

We have two Latin American nations in the top five of people who access the platform monthly: Brazil is number three and Mexico is number five in the world, he noted. In Brazil, that is 108 million people accessing the platform every month. Historically its been a very important region for Facebook, its very strategic. Latin Americans use Facebook a lot to get informed and connect with friends.

We are undertaking the mission of making the world more open and connected with great energy and responsibility Diego Dzodan, Facebook vice-president for Latin America

The company has regional offices in Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Bogota.

Speaking at the summit in Lima, Zuckerberg asked leaders to invest in greater connectivity, rather than close up to investment. Facebook has conducted pilot projects to bring the internet to remote areas in Latin America.

In Peru, for instance, there are 30 million people. And 17 million of them access Facebook monthly. We are interested in getting internet access to those other 13 million, he said, going on to discuss Aquila, a drone that offers internet access in remote areas. Its wings, said Zuckerberg, are the size of a Boeing 757 yet it weighs less than a car and runs on solar energy, which enables it to remain in the air for months.

Imagine what could be achieved with that drone in the Amazon area, he mused.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at the APEC summit. Reuters

Meanwhile, Dzodan  who is himself from Argentina  offered clues to the way in which Facebook is influencing the daily lives of Latin Americans, to the point of displacing the traditional media.

The key to it all lies in cellphones, he explained. With cellphones we have such an ability to process data and access information right in our hand, and this has increased the time we spend on the platform. Many studies tell us that we look at our phone 100 times a day. Surveys tell us that people spend one out of every five cellphone minutes checking out Facebook or Instagram; because they spend so much time with their cellphones, they stop consuming other traditional media.

Dzodan would rather let Zuckerberg himself reply to the criticism over Facebooks growing role and power. But he will admit that the company is aware of the enormity of having 108 million pairs of Brazilian eyes turn to Facebook for their view of the world.

We are undertaking the mission of making the world more open and connected with great energy and responsibility, said Dzodan. That is our mission. And that trend is very strong in Latin America.

English version by Susana Urra.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

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

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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
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New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for New York Community Bank. New York Community Bank is the nations 47th-largest financial institution and its largest thrift. As a thrift, the bank specializes in real estate and consumer accounts specifically real estate loans and savings accounts and has limited exposure to other forms of business banking. Among the benefits to consumers are interest-bearing checking and saving accounts that come with higher-than-average interest rates.

New York Community Bank was founded in 1859 to serve Queens County, New York. It operated under that name, growing all the while, until 2000 when it changed its name to better reflect the business. The company IPOd in 1993 and has made multiple acquisitions in the time since. As of 6/30/2022, the bank had $63.1 billion in assets and $41.2 billion in deposits.

New York Community Bank operates in greater New York City, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. The company provides deposit products ranging from interest-bearing checking and money market accounts to savings accounts, IRAs, and CDs. Brands under the companys umbrella include AmTrust in Florida and Arizona, Ohio Savings Bank, Garden State Savings Bank, and Atlantic Bank.

The bank offers a wide range of real-estate-related loans including but not limited to multi-family loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and consumer loans and mortgages. Investment products include annuities, mutual funds, and life insurance. Customers include individuals, small businesses, and organizations and are served through a network of more than 230 branches, and 300 ATMs, online, mobile, and by phone. Many of the locations are open 24 hours and 6 days a week although those hours are not available at all branches. Clients can access their accounts digitally 24/7.

New York Community Bancorp and its underlying business carry investment-grade credit ratings from all the major rating agencies. The credit outlook in the 4th quarter of 2022 was stable as it had been for some time. In New York, it is a leader in the multi-family market specializing in lower-cost housing in rent-controlled areas. As of June 30, 2022, the multi-family loan portfolio accounted for more than 75% of all investments. The company has a stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan that help to sustain a high level of ownership.






That monster, alas, captured people (video)

One of the inventors of TV technology, American Philo Farnsworth considered watching TV a useless occupation and used to say that he didnt want to include it in his mental world, but Semyon Kataev stated that that monster, alas, captured people, and, which is the worst, children. Maybe today he would say that humanity creates technical development, which has both positive and negative influence on people and controls their souls. General Assembly of the UNO in 1988 declared November 21 as World Television Day on the occasion of holding the first World Television Conference in 1996. The states were proposed to celebrate this day, exchanging TV programs, which will be dedicated to peace, security, economic and social development and cultural issues. There are names of a number of inventors in the history of invention of modern television, thanks to whom that device became an irreplaceable part of peoples life. The base of mechanical TV was established still in 1884, when Paul Nipkow invented disc mechanism. Hovhannes Adamyan, inventor of colorful television, assembled the first equipment in Russia, which was able to display black and white images. And the further inventions by Seymon Kataev and Vladimir Zvorikin became the base of electronic television, which was followed by mass production of TV sets. Future belongs to television. In 20 years there will be no newspapers, cinema, books and theatre. Instead, there will be only television, says the hero of Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears movie. He was a bit mistaken. In the 1990s Internet appeared, and now future belongs not even to the digital television, but to Internet, and the World Web has seized the world.
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 Pentagon recently released detailed guidance that allows U.S. military personnel to carry privately owned, concealed firearms on base, a move that the Army's service chief argued against publicly.

"Arming and the Use of Force," a Nov. 18 Defense Department directive approved by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work, lays out the policy and standards that allow DoD personnel to carry firearms and employ deadly force while performing official duties.

But the lengthy document also provides detailed guidance to the services for permitting soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard personnel to carry privately owned firearms on DoD property, according to the document.

Commanders, O-5 and above, "may grant permission to DoD personnel requesting to carry a privately owned firearm (concealed or open carry) on DoD property for a personal protection purpose not related to performance of an official duty or status," the document states.

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, the age many states require an individual to be to own a firearm, according to the document. Proof of compliance may include a concealed handgun license that is valid under federal, state, local or host-nation law where the DoD property is located.

"Written permission will be valid for 90 days or as long as the DoD Component deems appropriate and will include information necessary to facilitate the carrying of the firearm on DoD property consistent with safety and security, such as the individual's name, duration of the permission to carry, type of firearm, etc.," according to the document.

Until now, DoD personnel have not been authorized to carry personal firearms on military installations, a policy that has come under scrutiny in the wake of "active-shooter" attacks at U.S. military bases resulting in the deaths of service members.

Lawmakers have questioned military leaders about the policy, arguing that allowing service members to be armed might have prevented attacks such as the July 16, 2015, shootings at two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in which four Marines and a sailor were shot and killed. The gunman, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was killed by police in a gunfight.

But Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has argued against reversing the DoD policy that prohibits service members from carrying concealed weapons on post.

Testifying at an April 14 congressional hearing, Milley cited the Nov. 5, 2009, mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in which 13 people were killed and 42 others were injured. The day of the shooting, Nidal Hasan, then an Army major and psychiatrist, entered the Fort Hood deployment center carrying two pistols, jumped on a desk and shouted "Allahu Akbar!" -- Arabic for "God is great" -- then opened fire.

Milley defended the short time it took for law enforcement to secure the scene and said he is not convinced that allowing soldiers to carry privately owned weapons would have stopped Hasan.

The directive states that personnel authorized to carry privately owned firearms must "acknowledge they may be personally liable for the injuries, death, and property damage proximately caused by negligence in connection with the possession or use of privately owned firearms that are not within the scope of their federal employment."

The eligibility requirements also state that applicants should not be subject to past or pending disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or in any civilian criminal cases.

Personnel carrying firearms "will not be under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance that would cause drowsiness or impair their judgment while carrying a firearm," the document states.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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"I don't give a damn" what President-elect Donald Trump may want on lifting the ban against waterboarding and torture, Sen. John McCain said, adding he'll fight to keep the policy in place.

In the latest sign that the new president will have a hard time dealing with the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain said over the weekend, "I don't give a damn what the president of the United States wants to do or anybody else wants to do. We will not waterboard. We will not do it."

McCain, who was subjected to torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, made the remarks to applause during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

McCain said waterboarding, which was sanctioned under the administration of President George W. Bush as an "enhanced interrogation technique," doesn't work and is banned under U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions. He added, "My God, what does it say about America if we're going to inflict torture on people?"

McCain gave a lukewarm endorsement to Trump after he won the Republican presidential nomination. He later withdrew the endorsement and said he would not vote for Trump when the former reality TV star's comments about women surfaced.

During the campaign, Trump said he was in favor of bringing back waterboarding "and a lot worse."

Beyond Waterboarding

In a campaign appearance in South Carolina last February, Trump said, "Don't tell me it doesn't work -- torture works. OK, folks? Torture -- you know, half these guys [say], 'Torture doesn't work.' Believe me, it works. OK?"

In an interview on ABC's "This Week" program earlier this year, when asked if he would authorize torture, Trump said, "I would absolutely authorize something beyond waterboarding."

In response to McCain's remarks, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said on CBS' "Face The Nation" program Sunday that a Trump administration would not rule out a return to waterboarding.

Pence said that "a President Donald Trump is going to focus on confronting and defeating radical Islamic terrorism as a threat to this country. We're going to have a president again who will never say what we'll never do."

Trump already signaled that he might favor bringing back waterboarding in the interrogation of terror suspects with his nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Kansas Republican who graduated first in his class at West Point, as CIA director.

Two years ago, when the Senate Intelligence Committee released its damning report on torture and waterboarding, Pompeo said that members of the military and the CIA who used enhanced interrogation techniques "are not torturers, they are patriots."

Military Opposition

Any move to return to waterboarding would likely face opposition from the uniformed military leadership. Methods defined as enhanced interrogation techniques could subject service members to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Last March, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford indirectly but strongly rejected Trump's "torture works" campaign statements.

Dunford said he could not comment on politics but gave a general answer to questions in which he suggested that torture and waterboarding went against the "values" cherished by the American military.

"One of the things that makes me proud to represent this uniform is that we represent the values of the American people," he said. "When our young men and women go to war, they go with our values."

"When we find exceptions," and U.S. troops abuse prisoners, "you can see how aggressively we address those exceptions" under the UCMJ, Dunford said. "We should never apologize for going to war with the values of the American people. That's what we have done historically; that's what we expect to do in the future. And again, that's what makes me proud to wear this uniform."

In addition to the legal bans, President Barack Obama in January 2009 signed three executive orders reversing Bush administration policies on the detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists. One of the orders banned the use of waterboarding and other methods Obama called torture.

Field Manual on Counterinsurgency

The Army and Marine Corps field manual on counterinsurgency -- FM 3-24, which was co-authored by then-Gen. David Petraeus -- also warns against prisoner abuse and harsh interrogation techniques under the section on "Ethics."

"Article VI of the U.S. Constitution and the Army Values, Soldier's Creed, and Core Values of U.S. Marines all require obedience to the law of armed conflict. They hold Soldiers and Marines to the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct," the manual states.

"No person in the custody or under the control of DOD, regardless of nationality or physical location, shall be subject to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, in accordance with, and as defined in, U.S. law," the manual states.

In June 2015, the Senate voted 78-21 to adopt an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act reaffirming the ban on torture and stating that interrogation techniques should be guided by the principles laid down in the Army and Marine Corps field manual.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef

One of the immediate challenges facing President-elect Donald Trump and his national security team will be to redefine U.S. policy in the Middle East. Eight years of Obama foreign policy has proven to be incoherent and disjointed and has left the region in disarray, with Russian power and influence ascendant.

There is no shortage of issues destabilizing the Middle East, but addressing seven macro issues will form the core of any new U.S. policy in the region. These seven issues are: the Iranian/Shia challenge, economic instability from low oil prices, the political stability of Egypt and its role in the larger Middle East, especially in North Africa, Russia's current role in the region, the emergence of Turkey as a rogue actor, the civil/proxy wars in Syria and Yemen and, finally, the ongoing battle against jihadism in general and the Islamic State (IS) in particular.

Iran has emerged as a regional power in the Middle East. It has used its location on the Persian Gulf and the Strait to Hormuz to leverage its position by demonstrating its ability to disrupt oil tanker traffic moving through the Gulf. Such actions would bring it into conflict with U.S. naval forces in the area. While Tehran does not have comparable naval power, it has tried to demonstrate that the use of large numbers of lightly armed small craft, some of which would be maritime IEDs, in swarm tactics, could disable larger ships.

In addition, Iran has positioned itself as the defender of Shia minorities throughout the Middle East, especially in the Gulf, and has tried to mobilize those minorities as a means of expanding its influence in the region. That policy has led Tehran to get much further involved in both the Syrian and Yemenite civil wars.

The challenge for the United States is to find a way of containing Iranian ambitions. The partial dismantling of the sanctions against Iran has enhanced Tehran's ability to project its power and influence in the region and to gain access to essential technology to upgrade its industry, especially its petroleum sector. The much-vaunted opening to Iran by the Obama administration has so far proven to be a disaster. Tehran has shown little interest in engaging with Washington.

At best, President Obama's policy toward Iran may have deferred Tehran's ability to field nuclear weapons. Even that accomplishment is suspect, however, and assumes that Iran was relatively close to developing a nuclear capability. There is considerable evidence that Tehran was nowhere close to having such a potential. In which case, the Obama led P5+1 agreement to regulate Iran's attempt to develop nuclear weapons means that Tehran gave up something it didn't have in return for the lifting of the sanctions and access to Western markets and technology.

What Washington wants is a regional, secular, Sunni coalition that can counterbalance Tehran's Shia arc of influence that currently stretches across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. To date, however, no such alliance has emerged and there is little prospect of one. The previous player to fill this roll, Saddam Hussein's Iraq, disappeared when U.S. forces overthrew Hussein and Iraq's Shia majority took control of the country.

The U.S. has supplied advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, but those countries lack the population and armed forces to present a sufficient counter to Iranian power. The two countries that do have the military strength to present a sufficient counter to Tehran have very different agendas. Cairo is reluctant to get involved in the Gulf. Foreign deployments of its military have proven disastrous in the past and are highly unpopular with Egyptians. Turkey, under its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has broader ambitions to expand Turkish influence and to lead the Sunnis in the region. But many Sunni Arabs are reluctant to follow Turkish leadership.

The danger from the U.S. standpoint is that the Saudis and their allies resort to organizing and funding various jihadist groups to counter Tehran's ambitions in much the same way that Pakistan has resorted to such groups in Kashmir in its struggle with India, and as happened in Syria in the early stages of the civil war. While this strategy may be successful in countering Iranian ambitions in the short-term, it does so at the risk of expanding jihadist influence in the region and risks spilling over into anti-Western violence in Europe and North America.

The price of oil has become a major source of financial instability in the Sunni led petro-states along the Gulf. At current prices, all the major oil producers are unable to balance their governmental budgets and have been forced to dip into their reserves. In Saudi Arabia's case, the government's current deficit amounts to 16 percent of GNP, and Riyadh is moving aggressively to cut expenses and intends to reduce the deficit to 11 percent of GNP in 2017.

The risk is that these governments will drastically scale back the financial largess that has ensured domestic peace and stability. Short-term, three to five years, these countries have the financial resources to weather the storm. Long-term, however, they will need oil prices, at a minimum, to be $100 per barrel to cover their deficits and stabilize their economies. Low oil prices will become a major source of instability in the Sunni petro-states, one that Tehran will be quick to exploit.

Egypt could play a critical role in the Middle East, should it choose to do so. Short-term, Cairo needs to stabilize the Egyptian economy. Tourism, Egypt's third largest economic sector is down by around 40 percent. The slowdown in the Gulf has also impacted remittances from Egyptians working there while also decreasing demand in a key Egyptian export market. The strained relations between Cairo and Washington have not gone unnoticed by either Tehran or Moscow, and both have been quick to try to exploit it. Moreover, the Muslim Brotherhood has also tried to exploit Egypt's current economic weakness to expand its political influence there.

Egypt has a key role in stabilizing North Africa and countering the spread of jihadist influence there. Washington needs to move quickly to repair its relationship with Cairo, help Egypt stabilize its economy, and to support Cairo's role in counter-jihadist activity, both domestically and across north and central Africa.

The Kremlin has taken advantage of the incoherence and indecision of Obama's Mideast policy to expand its role and influence there. To be clear, despite its pretentions Russia is not a superpower and never again will be, its nuclear arsenal notwithstanding. It is however a super problem. Its success in expanding its Middle East role is more illusion than substance. Its ability to project power across the Middle East is limited, nor is it able to challenge the United States in the region. It can however complicate the conduct of US policy in the Mideast and play the role of a spoiler.

By concentrating its efforts on ensuring the survival of the Assad regime, however, and leveraging Iranian power and influence toward the same goal, the Kremlin has made it clear that it will stand by its Mideast clients. That position is in sharp contrast to the ambivalence the Obama White House has shown in standing by America's Mideast allies.

Russia is now a player in the Middle East. While it's not as influential as it suggests, its interests in the region cannot be ignored. Moreover, it will continue to exploit U.S. mistakes to expand its influence and possibly flip or at least Finlandize long-standing American allies like Egypt and possibly even Turkey.

The best way to counter Russian influence in the Mideast is to have a clear and consistent U.S. policy that makes our continued support of our allies there unequivocal. Russia will succeed in stabilizing the Assad regime, and it can engage to a limited extent with Saudi Arabia and its allies to try to stabilize and raise oil prices. Beyond that, a skillful American policy will likely preempt any future expansion of Russian influence. The Kremlin can leverage Tehran's power and influence for its own ends, like supporting Assad in Syria, but long-term a powerful Iran is not in Russia's strategic interest. On at least this point there is possible common ground between Washington and Moscow.

Turkey, a long-standing American ally, has under its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan increasingly behaved as a rogue actor in the region. Erdogan is attempting to build a broad Sunni coalition to counter Iran but is couching it in the context of a restoration of Turkish influence in the lands of the former Ottoman Empire. Moreover, he is defining that coalition in Islamist and anti-Western terms. Erdogan's assertion that Turkey has a "responsibility to its brothers in the former Ottoman empire" is popular among his constituents, but has gotten little traction among Arabs in the region.

Moreover, Ankara's willingness to support radical jihadist groups including, for a brief time the Islamic State, and turning a blind eye to the role of Turkish companies in facilitating the smuggling and sale of contraband oil and stolen antiquities from IS, puts it at sharp odds with U.S. policy in the region and has led to a sharp deterioration in Ankara's relations with Washington and the European Union. This is particularly true of Erdogan's attempts to use the Syrian refugees to leverage more favorable terms from the EU for Turkey and its citizens.

Erdogan's arrest or dismissal of individuals that he claims were supporters of the failed coup now exceeds 110,000 Turkish citizens. He has used the coup attempt to purge the government, courts and military of any potential opposition and to close media outlets that criticized him. If Erdogan continues along his current track, his actions will amount to a counterrevolution of the Ataturk led revolution that established the modern secular Turkish state.

Turkey has two significant vulnerabilities however. First the Turkish economy is dependent on access to European markets and capital. Secondly, its flirtations with Moscow notwithstanding, long-term Russian and Turkish interests are divergent. Russia is still the principal security threat to Turkey and, despite the Turkish military; Ankara will need allies if it finds itself confronting Russia. Erdogan's foreign policy is largely failing and is doing so at a time when Turkey's economic weakness makes it dangerous to alienate the EU or the United States.

The civil wars in Syria and Yemen have become Shia-Sunni proxy wars, ones in which the success of neither side is in Washington's interest. In Yemen, the U.S. is providing intelligence and logistical support to the largely Saudi led effort, while Iran is supplying the Shia related Houthis. The U.S. has wisely avoided further entanglements in Yemen. Houthi elements have attacked, no doubt under Iranian instruction, U.S. warships in the region to either force a U.S. withdrawal or an escalated U.S. involvement, either one of which would be in Tehran's interest. Washington does not want to see a pro-Iranian regime in the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula on the flank of the Red Sea but it has little to gain from an expanded American role there.

American involvement in the Syrian Civil War was initially prompted to contain the expansion of the Islamic State and then, in a typical example of mission creep, grew into a half-hearted effort to support the Syrian rebels and overthrow the Assad regime. The premise was that the U.S. would arm and train "moderate" elements within the anti-Assad opposition while supporting their campaign with airpower.

The idea that there were "moderate elements" within the Syrian opposition or that these could be identified and organized into a coherent group proved to be illusory. Likewise, the role of U.S. air power was so constrained by restrictive rules of engagement that only a quarter of the missions delivered their payloads. Notwithstanding a haphazard policy, the U.S. and its allies have succeeded in rolling back the Islamic State in both Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, the largely Kurdish led and staffed Syrian Democratic Forces has emerged as an American proxy ground force. Supported by U.S. airpower and Special Forces, the SDF has succeeded in expelling IS from large areas of Syria. Turkish opposition to the role of Syrian Kurds in the SDF and to a separate Syrian-Kurdish state, the so called Rojava, however, has led the U.S. to forego supplying heavy weapons to the SDF and to constrain the areas where the SDF operates.

In Iraq, U.S. supported Iraqi Army units and Peshmerga forces, in collaboration with regional Sunni militias and the Iranian sponsored Shia militias, have also successively rolled back the Islamic State and are now converging on Mosul  IS's last major urban center there. The battle for Mosul will be bitterly fought street-by-street. Mosul is a city roughly the size of Houston, Texas. Its prewar population was approximately two million people. Its current population is unclear and has been estimated at anywhere from 400,000 to one million inhabitants. The Battle for Mosul will be the biggest urban battle since Stalingrad, a city that was only one-fifth of Mosul's size.

While the United States has made notable progress against the Islamic State, it is losing the war against jihadism. Both al-Qaida and Islamic State have successfully expanded their franchises to some 50 countries around the world. The al-Qaida sponsored Jabhat al-Sham (Conquest of Syria Front), the former al-Nusra Front, is well positioned to inherit IS's jihadist mantle.

Moreover, even stripped of its territorial domain, Islamic State will continue. Its foreign franchises will survive, and in Syria and Iraq it will simply revert to its earlier role as a jihadist insurgency. The problem with combatting jihadism is that it has become a seductive, emotionally charged, powerful idea and it's impossible to defeat an idea with military force. You can only defeat an idea with a better idea, an effort that Washington has failed to pursue.

You cannot separate jihadism from its Islamic roots, even if most Muslims reject the jihadist interpretation of Islam. A better idea also must have Islamic foundations, a concept that the Obama administration has been unwilling to address on the premise that linking jihadists and Islam is inherently racist. Ultimately jihadism must be defeated both intellectually and physically. It needs to be defeated in cyberspace and social media just as surely as it needs to be defeated on the battlefield.

These seven topics are only some of the issues that currently divide the Middle East. Space limitations prevent a more in depth analysis. They are, however, the most important and must form the core of any new strategy. They need to be addressed in a systematic and comprehensive fashion if we want a coherent policy in the Middle East.

-- If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
PAT Youth Wings cycle caravan kicks off from Karachi

A cycle rally was launched yesterday under the banner of PAT Youth Wing. The purpose behind organizing the rally is to spread the message of peace and change of system. The people belonging to various walks of gathered at the Mazar-e-Quaid Karachi and saw off the rally with Dua. The chief guest on the occasion was PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the youth will play their role ridding the country of terrorists, extremists, corrupt elements and those indulging in bribery. He said that they are promoting Dr Tahir-ul-Qadris message of a peaceful Pakistan which is free of corruption. He said that it has happened for the first time in history of the country that the youths belonging to an organization are going on a countrywide tour of the country for a month to express their love of the motherland. He said that the message of the caravan is love, promotion of inter-provincial and intersect harmony.

The PAT General said that it is due to corruption that Pakistans image as Islamic, welfare and democracy polity has suffered a great deal. He warned that if corrupt politicians were not got rid of, the future of the succeeding generations will become bleak as well. He said that the living nations do not put up with the corrupt and compromised leaders for such a long period of time as is being done here in Pakistan.

The PAT leader said that whether it is Panama leaks or the news leak, the history is being written as to which personalities and institutions played their legal and moral responsibility and which characters gave legal, political and social protection to the corrupt characters. He said that both of such people will become part of the history.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Mazhar Alvi, central leader of PAT Youth League, said that the cycle caravan will reach APS Peshawar after a journey of 30 days where tributes will be paid to the martyred children. He said that in addition to the Youth workers, ten professional cyclists are part of the caravan. He said that the caravan will pass through several cities such as Hyderabad, Ghotki, Rohri, Nawab Shah, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Bahawalpur to Multan to Lahore on December 5. He said that MQI President Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri will be the chief guest at the ceremony to be held on December 5, adding that the caravan will reach Peshawar on December 16 after passing through different cities.

MQI and PAT Karachi leaders such as Qazi Zahid Hussain, Mirza Junaid Ali, Mansoor Qasim, Fahim Ahmad and others also spoke at the ceremony. The MQI office bearers attended the ceremony and saw off the caravan of cycle from Karachi.
CAB_012316_0128_xmas2016 (1).jpg

William Saputo (onshore) of Rochester, and his fly-fishing mentor, Donn Vidosh of Petoskey, pulling Saputo's Au Sable River guide boat out of the river near Grayling. (Courtesy photo, Cabela's)

By Bob Campbell | Bridge Magazine

As much as John Paul Jr. loves fly fishing the bug hatches on northern Michigan's famed trout streams, standing in thigh-deep water in the Au Sable River with a fly rod in his hand and a Santa Claus hat on his head on a frigid day last January wasn't his first choice for fun.

But when a friend came calling and asked Paul to do exactly that, the retired Traverse City bank executive couldn't wait.

Paul, his wife, Sue, and seven other Michigan residents are promoting the state's northern beauty by helping Cabela's -- the iconic retailer to generations of hunters, anglers, campers, hikers and those who just like to look outdoorsy -- get the right photos and videos for the company's 2016 holiday catalog and other promotions.

They lent Cabela's photo crew two hungry bull elk near Ludington, a privately- owned covered wooden bridge in Benzie County, a log cabin on the Au Sable River, a weathered barn door in Suttons Bay, as well as themselves as real-life, if unlikely, models for the holiday shoot.

"It was almost like the Holy Grail of cool," said Mark Gabrick, who built and owns the covered bridge, which also is featured in Pure Michigan promotions. "I told everybody I know" about becoming a Cabela's model.

Mark Gabrick and his friend Sara Streeter pose near Gabrick's wooden covered bridge in Benzie County as if returning from a hunt. (Courtesy photo, Cabela's)



A year before Cabela's announced this October its sale to Bass Pro Shops for $5.5 billion, its staff was planning photos for the 2016 holiday catalog, weekly holiday season flyers, postcards, digital page banners and other marketing materials. Snow was the critical element for every scene.

Now, with the fate of the Cabela's brand less than certain, it's unclear if this year's Michigan-themed images represent the retail brand's swansong.

Curt Door, a Cabela's brand marketing team member, said he knew the company could find inviting imagery in northern Michigan. He grew up in Jackson and worked after college in Grand Rapids before taking a job with Cabela's at the company's headquarters in Sidney, Neb.

Door's friend Paul, whom he'd met 40 years earlier on a Nordic ski team in Grand Rapids, had over the years jokingly teased that Cabela's should use average-looking people -- like him -- in its advertising.

"Actually, we use a lot of people who aren't models for our shoots," Door countered.

Not surprisingly, Door asked Paul to pose for the Cabela's crew in Michigan. Cabela's also is using a photo the crew took of John and Sue Paul pulling a gift-laden sled through a snowy pine forest.

"It wasn't anything I ever thought would happen," Paul said. "I had no idea how much goes into a shoot for a simple catalogue photo."

John and Sue Paul of Traverse City pulling a sled filled with gifts through a pine forest near Grayling. (Courtesy photo, Cabela's)

Cabela's staff meteorologists had a big hand in helping the camera crew know when to head to northern Michigan. They accurately predicted a heavy lake effect snowfall the third week last January followed by another week of cold weather to keep the snow in place.

"We ended up with five incredible days in Michigan," Door said.

When Door began his search for Michigan scenes, his first priority was finding an idyllic covered wooden bridge with a solid dusting of snow. His scouting led him to Gabrick, a wood mill owner in Benzie County's Lake Ann. Gabrick, a longtime Cabela's customer, not only said sure, he volunteered to model as well.

"I'm a hunter and I'm not too bad-looking," he recalled telling Door.

Cabela's photographed Gabrick and his friend Sara Streeter, with their hunting guns in hand, near the covered bridge.

Cabela's next chapter

Like the other Michigan models, Gabrick said he is concerned what will happen to Cabela's brand once the sale to Bass Pro is completed next year.

Cabela's carries an almost cult-like status among its customers, who are known to use the company's catalogs as substitutes for coffee table books and often drive hundreds of miles to the company's megastores, such as the 225,000-square-foot behemoth that opened in late 2000 in Dundee. In 2013, Cabela's opened smaller stores in Saginaw and Grandville. A fourth Michigan store is scheduled to open in northern Macomb County's Chesterfield Township in 2017.

The company was founded in 1961 when Dick Cabela started selling handmade fishing flies he bought at a furniture show in Chicago. Until the acquisition by Bass is finalized in early 2017, details on what will happen to Cabela's stores and brand is unclear, said Cabela's communications specialist Nathan Borowski. Bass Pro Shops has only one Michigan store -- at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills -- but has two stores located just outside Michigan, south of Toledo, Ohio and in Portage, Indiana.

In an open letter to employees and customers in October, Bass Pro Shop Founder and CEO Johnny Morris said Bass "has every intention of celebrating and growing the Cabela's brand. We will work hard to foster the qualities that customers love most about both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's. The spirit of this agreement is about adding to our great brands and creating increased stability and opportunities for our team members."

Elk meet Christmas tree

The Cabela's marketing crew also landed in Ludington. Door and the photo editors wanted an image of two heavy-antlered bull elk standing next to a lit Christmas tree. Door found what he wanted at the Amber Elk Ranch, in Ludington, where owner Bob Northrup hosts wagon rides to see his critters.

At Bob Northrup's Amber Elk Ranch near Ludington, two bulls pose next to a Christmas tree. Northrup lured them to the spot by placing feed by the tree. (Courtesy photo, Cabela's)

Northrup, who feeds his elk a grain mixture, knew he could lure the two bulls into position for the photo shoot by only feeding them near the lighted Christmas tree. "It took about a month, maybe six weeks," he said.

The hungry elk magically appeared from the woods the day of the shoot, unconcerned about the bright lights of the Christmas tree or the nearby photo team. For his help, Northrup was happy to get a Cabela's gift certificate.

Door found 2016 Cabela's Christmas catalog cover shot while driving along M-204 in Leelanau County on his way to Suttons Bay. He spotted a simple, weathered barn door that would be adorned with a Christmas wreath and a little snow. The owner was George LaCross.

"George's barn had beautiful weathered wood, unlike any I had seen. He was very agreeable to us using it," Door said.

George LaCross's weathered barn door near Suttons Bay is the cover of Cabela's holiday gift catalog. (Courtesy photo, Cabela's)

Au Sable River Cabin

The crew's final stop was an Au Sable River cabin Door found on Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO). The listing was called "Uncle Tom's Cabin" -- a classic, old log cabin that had been disassembled in the Upper Peninsula and moved to its current location about a dozen miles east of Grayling.

One requirement was a low riverbank that would permit a photo to show the river in the foreground and cabin in the background. Once again, the cabin's owners, William and Krystin Saputo, of Rochester, were Cabela's customers and eager to help.

"We just felt honored to be chosen," said Saputo. "We never thought that everyday people who drive the Cabela's brand would get a chance to promote the business."

Saputo told Door about his two Au Sable River guide boats, classics among the anglers who fly fish in Michigan's best known trout stream. Door incorporated one of the boats -- its gunwale lit by Christmas lights -- for the shoot with Saputo and his fly fishing mentor Donn Vidosh, of Petoskey. The shot shows them pulling the boat from the river with the cabin in the background. Cabela's also has used an image of the Saputos dragging a Christmas tree through the woods in a postcard to customers.

Krystin Saputo said she was five months pregnant at the time, and the Cabela's crew brought several larger sizes of the company's clothing.

"It was kind of like playing dress-up," she said of the shoot.

William Saputo, who owns restaurants in suburban Detroit, said he was envious of an uncle who spent enough money with Cabela's each year to get a hardcover catalog. Almost wistful, he said working with Cabela's was "an honor and a privilege." Besides that, he got photography tips from the crew that "really helped me step up my Instagram game."



Since retiring as the politics editor of the Detroit Free Press in 2012, Bob Campbell has done some writing, editing, fishing and hunting - not necessarily in that order - from or near his northern Michigan home where a Cabela's catalog is always within arm's reach.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A new $20 million high school will anchor a Spanish/English dual immersion program in "Plaza Roosevelt," a new redevelopment program that was announced for a 5-acre block the city's Southwest Side on Monday, Nov. 21.

The high school will draw students from the Roosevelt Park neighborhood that currently attend Union High School and Lee High School in the neighboring Godfrey-Lee School District, according to John Helmholdt, spokesman for the Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Union High School, located on the city's Northwest Side, is "bursting at the seams," Helmholdt said after a news conference that announced plans to redevelop a 5-acre site along Grandville Avenue that has been used as an ArtPrize venue for the past two years.

The high school, new pre-school classes and expanded after-school programming - part of the school district's Southwest Community Campus -- will be funded by $20 million from a bond program was approved by voters in 2015, Grand Rapids Public School Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal said.

The Grand Rapids Board of Education is expected to formally approve the expenditure of the bond proceeds at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 21, Helmholdt said.

The new school will become part of a neighborhood redevelopment project aimed at transforming a 5-acre site that includes several abandoned homes, church and commercial buildings that were acquired by Habitat for Humanity of Kent County over the past several years.

For the past two years, SiTE:Lab, a non-profit artists group has used the block to host large-scale art exhibits during ArtPrize, an international arts competition. The houses and buildings used for ArtPrize are currently vacant, bearing the scars of two years of creative activity.

BriAnne McKee, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, said they are now seeking "requests for proposals" from designers to draw up a redevelopment plan for the block. She said they hope to have a site plan recommendation in hand by the end of April 2017.

Since acquiring the land, Habitat for Humanity has been lining up partnerships with community groups, including the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association and Ferris State University, which may bring services and educational programs to the project.

Until the site plan is complete, McKee said no decision has been made on which of the existing buildings will be retained, renovated or demolished. The block also includes Mercy Health's Saint Mary's Clinica Santa Maria and Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities, a neighborhood arts center.

Besides the new school facilities, the redevelopment plan also will include new owner-occupied housing by Habitat for Humanity, about 60 units of affordable rental housing, expanded healthcare services at Mercy Health Saint Mary's Clinica Santa Maria and shared community spaces.

Besides the school district's $20 million commitment for a high school, other groups have not decided how much they will spend, McKee said. Each of the participating groups will establish their own budgets and timetables for their part of the project, she said.

Dennis Sturtevant, CEO of Dwelling Place, said they probably will build about 60 units of affordable rental housing as their part of the project. Dwelling Place is a non-profit housing developer that has been active in the neighborhood for 20 years.
Leslie Sutton

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - A group of family and friends was celebrating on the Fourth of July outside their home when tragedy struck.

Three-year-old Mia Lamb was playing on the sidewalk near the gathering on Carol Ann Avenue in Ypsilanti Township's West Willow neighborhood. As her aunt crossed the street to get a new diaper from a vehicle, Mia followed her into the road, according to a police report.

The aunt turned and yelled for Mia to stop, but an approaching van passed by and suddenly, she could no longer see her niece.

The van had struck and killed Mia.

The vehicle's driver, identified as 54-year-old Leslie Davis Sutton of Ypsilanti, stopped at the scene. Distraught, he told police the girl "jumped out in front of him," according to the police report.

Police speaking with Sutton at the scene said they smelled alcohol and marijuana on him, the police report states. They gave Sutton a field sobriety test, where they said he lost his balance and took missteps. Police also said they found an open container of beer in the console of the 2001 Honda Odyssey. Sutton admitted to drinking half a beer and using marijuana and cocaine earlier that day, police said.

Sutton had seven outstanding arrest warrants out for him at the time of the accident and has numerous past drug convictions and driving infractions.

Today, Sutton awaits a day in court in connection with Mia's death. He was arraigned Oct. 14 on charges of operating a vehicle with the presence of a controlled substance, operating with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle without security and having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.

All are misdemeanor charges carry penalties of 90 days to 1-year imprisonment.

Prosecutors say there isn't enough evidence to support more serious charges against Sutton.

Mia Lamb's family could not be reached for comment. Shortly after her death, though, Mia's grandfather, Pastor Alex Easley of City of Hope Ministries, said the death of Mia was a tragedy.

"I've lost a loved one, and my whole family's been affected," he said. "But we are a family, and we're going to stand together in the midst of this. We'll grow, develop, and mature in the midst of this."

Determining charges

Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said Sutton isn't charged with operating while intoxicated causing death because there isn't enough evidence to support a criminal prosecution that Sutton's actions were the "proximate cause" of Mia's death, Hiller said.

Operating while intoxicated causing death is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

"The charges that were made against the defendant were those that, based on our knowledge and experience, were supported by the evidence and justified under the existing law. The death of a child is terrible, and this office is mindful of the seriousness of this case," Hiller said. "However, we must apply the law to the facts as the evidence shows them to be. The tragedy of Mia Lamb's loss will undoubtedly be weighed by the court when it considers the appropriate sentence for the defendant should he be convicted."

The police report from the incident shows Sutton's blood-alcohol content registered 0.055 on a preliminary breath test and a subsequent blood draw at a hospital showed a level of 0.03. Under state law, people are charged with drunken driving when their blood-alcohol level is 0.08 or higher.

It is illegal under Michigan law to drive with any amount of cocaine or Schedule 1 controlled substance in your body, according to the Michigan Secretary of State website.

Hiller said Michigan law is clear that proving proximate cause requires more than simply proving that a driver was operating a motor vehicle under the influence or with a controlled substance in his or her bloodstream.

Proximate cause is a legal construct that prevents criminal liability when a defendant's conduct is not linked strongly enough to an incident, according to a 2010 Michigan Supreme Court decision.

"This creates the burden on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt not only the original negligence, but also the absence of some intervening event that is not so foreseeable that it would sever the causal chain between the defendant's negligent action and the injurious event," he added.

In this case, police investigators concluded Sutton may not have had time to see Mia enter the roadway. She passed in front of a parked vehicle as Sutton's van was driving down the street at about 25 mph, the police report said.

"Due to multiple vehicles that were lining the roadway and the gaps that existed between them, it is difficult and speculative to say whether Sutton could have or should have seen Lamb prior to her entering the roadway immediately in front of his vehicle," the report states.

Mark Hamilton, Sutton's attorney, said the prosecution could present a plea deal at Sutton's next court appearance, which hasn't been scheduled.

Hamilton declined to comment further on the case.

Outstanding warrants

The police report, which The Ann Arbor News obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, also said Sutton had ethanol, cannabis and cocaine in his system at the time of the incident.

Sutton was taken into custody at the scene. He had seven outstanding arrest warrants in Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor and Belleville. Among them were two traffic offenses, one for possession of liquor and another for open intoxication in a vehicle.

Further investigation showed the brakes on Sutton's van were not properly adjusted, which would cause longer stopping distances. The vehicle's anti-lock brakes were not functional, according to the police report.

Sutton was scheduled for a pretrial conference for the misdemeanor driving charges related to Mia's death Thursday, Nov. 17, but he failed to appear. Judge Charles Pope issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Sutton has a criminal history dating to 1988 in Washtenaw County. He pleaded guilty to using cocaine in 1988, delivering less than 50 grams of a controlled substance in 1991, attempted possession of counterfeit currency in 2003, possession of controlled analogue drugs in 2005 and possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance in 2007.

Sutton has past vehicle and driving infractions, including no proof of insurance or registration and no vehicle plate in February 2015 and driving with a suspended license in June 2015, for which he served 10 days in jail.

After being arrested in July, he pleaded guilty to an outstanding charge of driving with a suspended license from December, and was also cited for disobeying a stop sign the same day in December.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan has agreed to partner with the city of Ann Arbor on efforts to reduce and control the local deer population.

That includes allowing sharpshooters hired by the city to kill deer on university property in four general areas: in Nichols Arboretum; between the Huron River and the railroad tracks south of Fuller-Mitchell fields; south of Glazier Way and east of Fuller Road; and south of Hubbard and west of Huron Parkway.

A map showing where 202 deer were spotted in Ann Arbor during a helicopter flyover conducted by the city on Feb. 18, 2016. The city emphasizes the count is not intended to be a comprehensive census of the deer population, but rather a number that gives some insight into the minimum number of deer in certain areas of the city at one point in time.

The university also will consider allowing non-lethal deer management activities on other parts of North Campus during the university's mid-winter break from Feb. 25 through March 5, Kevin Hegarty, U-M's executive vice president and chief financial officer, wrote in a Nov. 16 letter to City Administrator Howard Lazarus.

Hegarty said the university is willing to cover 15 percent of the city's costs for lethal and non-lethal deer management efforts, up to a total of $25,000.

Tom Crawford, the city's chief financial officer, informed City Council members of the university's offer in an email on Friday, Nov. 18.

The City Council voted 9-2 last week to approve a $153,940 contract with White Buffalo Inc. to kill up to 100 deer in parks and nature areas and to dart and sterilize up to 60 female deer in neighborhoods where sharpshooting cannot occur.

Overall, the city expects to spend more than $250,000 on activities related to deer management in 2017. It will be the city's second-annual deer cull.

Sharpshooters hired by the city killed 63 deer in 14 city parks and nature areas during the city's first annual cull in January and February. The cull proved to be hugely controversial, prompting several protests and lawsuits against the city, and the Humane Society of Huron Valley launched a "Stop the Shoot" campaign visible in the form of yard signs dotting lawns around the city.

Crawford said the city's staff will be working with White Buffalo over the next few weeks to determine how to incorporate U'M's offer into the winter 2017 plan.

Deer in a neighborhood near Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor on Nov. 18, 2016.

City officials have been hoping to get cooperation from the university since deer are abundant on some U-M properties such as the Arb.

Hegarty said the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security needs to authorize the possession, use and discharge of firearms on U-M property, and the university must have indemnification protection. The university intends to waive a 450-foot safety zone restriction to allow deer management activities near the caretaker cottage and maintenance building in the Arb, and near the North Campus auxiliary support building and grounds services buildings.

U-M is stipulating that any university properties where shooting will occur must be identified as closed to the public from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday afternoon through Friday morning for no more than one week at a time.

"The university should be provided sufficient signage to properly post and provide notice of anticipated activities," Hegarty wrote

"We would, of course, expect to work closely with city communications personnel to properly advise university constituents of anticipated deer management activities."

The city still needs to get approval from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before implementing the plan in early 2017. Specific details about city park closures and where shooting will occur haven't been released yet.
ANN ARBOR, MI - What do you do after you mistakenly assume Hillary Clinton is going to defeat Donald Trump and you have 1,000 commemorative boxes of "Nasty Woman" and "Sad Hombre" soap pre-made and ready to sell?

If you're Katy Lind and Nate Stevens, a couple of young entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor who recently started the Nasty Soap Company, you own it.

"We got it wrong," they acknowledge on their website, NastySoap.com, where they're now selling limited-edition soap boxes they created that erroneously celebrate a Clinton victory while mocking a defeated Trump.

Much to their surprise, they're finding people actually like the ironic nature of it, and they've already sold dozens of sets.

It's sort of a modern version of "Dewey defeats Truman," says Stevens, referring to the infamous headline on the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune the day after Harry Truman won the 1948 presidential election.

A few weeks before the Nov. 8 election, Lind and Stevens decided to work with a friend and professional illustrator, Jason Stafne, to create a celebratory memento for what they thought was an inevitable Clinton victory.

They dedicated long hours to bringing the idea to fruition, dealing with people from here to Hong Kong, ultimately ending up with 1,000 custom-designed soap boxes -- 500 that feature a smiling Clinton and 500 that feature a pouting Trump.

The "Nasty Woman Soap" box shows Clinton flexing like Rosie the Riveter, with "nasty" tattooed on her bicep. On the back, it proclaims, "Hooray! America has our first female President...and she's a Nasty Woman!"

The box for "Donald's Sad Hombre Soap" promises a "Swamp Fresh Scent." The text on the back claims Trump's "mudslinging" brought "Nasty Americans" together to elect the nation's first female president.

Of course, Trump ended up winning.

Speaking inside their downtown Ann Arbor apartment on a recent afternoon, Lind and Stevens said they, like many others, were shocked Clinton lost.

Though they're not happy with the outcome of the election, they're able to laugh about their own entrepreneurial faux pas.

"We're laughing at maybe just our personal arrogance," Lind said of their assumption of a Clinton victory.

They're finding some solace in the fact that many pundits and pollsters predicted the election wrong, so they weren't alone, and Clinton won the popular vote.

The couple was inspired to start the Nasty Soap Company after hearing the story of how Airbnb started with the company's founders selling "Obama O's" cereal for $40 a box in 2008 to raise their first $30,000.

Lind and Stevens initially were going to sell their soap boxes for $45 per set, but they've since lowered the price to $25.

They're planning to use the money they make from selling the soaps to finance a couple of ideas they have for new startups. One is a paid subscription service that would allow members to have rotating artworks from all over the world come through their homes for a couple months at a time, an idea inspired by the art prints available for checkout at the Ann Arbor District Library.

"This would be a subscription model, kind of like Netflix used to be with the DVDs," Stevens said.

They've already started buying original artworks to get it started, and they're now looking for people who want to join.

"We've known a lot of people, including ourselves, who have had lots of ideas and wanted to do things but never could take that last step," Stevens said of their decision to take a leap of faith and start the Nasty Soap Company.

"We both had career availability to do this," Lind said, noting she left her job at a downtown Ann Arbor tech firm in early October.

Both Lind and Stevens are in their early 30s and have backgrounds in business and marketing.

"We've wanted to create our own jobs for a long time," Stevens said. "The goal is to create something we can control."

"It's obviously gone way different than anticipated, but it was not a big financial risk," Lind said of making the soap boxes. "And it's just fun. And we created a brand together, and I think it looks really awesome."

Stevens is happy with it, too.

"People all along the way have really liked the idea and they like the design, and it came through better than I could have imagined," he said.

"I mean, the way the packaging printed and everything, it looks so good. I'm so proud of how they look."

They said they've seen a lot of "nasty woman" novelty products, including soaps, since Trump made the remark about Clinton at an Oct. 19 debate, but they weren't necessarily well designed. They're feeling confident they've created a good brand, and they're already talking about doing more soaps, possibly some featuring the likes of Michelle Obama or Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

"Now we have a packaging company we can work with, designers -- we have everything set up," Stevens said.

Lind said they learned a lot in a short period of time. At one point, they were working around the clock to get the packaging out, dealing with people both in the United States and in China.

"I just thought it was funny that we didn't sleep for two days -- all in the name of soap," Lind said.
BAY CITY, MI -- A 20-year-old Bay City man accused of having sex with a minor will not face a jury after accepting a plea offer.

Cory A. Meldrum on Monday, Nov. 21, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charge is a five-year felony.

In exchange for his plea, the prosecution agreed to dismiss two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person between the ages of 13 and 15, including penetration. That charge is a 15-year felony.

As part of his plea, Meldrum had to agree not to seek sentencing under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act. The act allows a judge to place a defendant between the ages of 17 and 24 in jail or on probation without a conviction. If the defendant successfully completes the terms of the judge's sentence, he or she avoids having a criminal record.

Meldrum's case was originally set to proceed to trial on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

According to an affidavit contained in court records, a girl told authorities that she had sex with Meldrum on two occasions between Jan. 15, 2015, and March 15 of the same year. The incidents happened at residences in Bangor Township and Bay City, the affidavit states.

The girl was between the ages of 13 and 15 at the time, while Meldrum was 18. Meldrum was interviewed by police and admitted to the sexual activity, the affidavit states.

In Michigan, the age of consent for sexual activity is 16.

Authorities issued a warrant for Meldrum's arrest April 15. He was arraigned on April 22 and three days later, he was injured in a traffic crash.

Meldrum on the evening of April 25 had been driving a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer south on M-13/Huron Road near Old Kawkawlin Road in Kawkawlin Township. He was struck by a 2000 Ford F-150 driven by a 27-year-old Bay City woman heading west on Old Kawkawlin Road, according to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

The driver of the F-150 ran a red stop light before hitting the Blazer, the release states. Deputies cited the driver for speeding and driving on a suspended license.

Meldrum was transported by ambulance to McLaren Bay Region hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Judge Sheeran is to sentence Meldrum at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Bay City Western High School

Bay City Western High School

(Gavin McIntyre | MLive.com)

AUBURN, MI -- Administrators at Bay City Western Middle and High School told parents of students last week that they initially didn't have "any inclination" a gun had been fired after a Bay County Sheriff's deputy discharged his weapon, striking a teacher in a neighboring classroom.

The incident happened at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at the school in Auburn, 500 W. Midland St. Michigan State Police officials have said Deputy Adam J. Brown was in a classroom by himself when he "negligently discharged" a gun in the building. The bullet passed through at least one wall and struck a teacher in the neck area. The projectile did not break the teacher's skin and she was uninjured, police said.

Police wrapped up their investigation Friday, Nov. 18. Their report was sent to Bay County Prosecutor Kurt Asbury's office that day.

Parents of students on Friday received an automated phone message from the district's School Messenger system. Western Middle School Principal Amy Bailey provided an update to parent's in the phone message, which was obtained by The Bay City Times.

The message in its entirety is transcribed below:

"Good evening, this is Mrs. Bailey with an update regarding the incident on Nov. 11. We will continue to communicate the facts with our Western families through SchoolMessenger, and not through the media. As you are aware, we are working closely with the Michigan State Police as this is a criminal -- and I have to stress, criminal -- investigation.

"There are a few details that we would like to share. You all should know that at no point was it reported that a gun was shot in the school. The initial call was a report from a teacher that she was struck by a small object that seemed to come from within the wall. Administration immediately reported to the classroom to evaluate the situation. The sound reported to administration was a hissing sound, not a loud boom, as reported in the media. Being that this classroom is by the robotics room and the maintenance garage, mechanical-type sounds are not unusual. Initially, it was believed it could possibly be a pipe burst or some problem within the wall.

"The school resource officer, along with other administrators, were called to help evaluate the situation. At no time did we believe or have any inclination that a firearm had been discharged. The building was put into secure mode to eliminate movement from classrooms as administration took on different roles reviewing cameras, working with custodians, talking with teachers and students, all while communicating with one another and the school resource officer. When it was determined that the school police resource officer had discharged his firearm unintentionally while alone in a classroom, authorities were called and the investigation began.

"It was not until later Friday that interviews were completed and we were given the OK by the Michigan State Police to communicate with our families. Administrators called every family of the students that were in the classroom where the bullet entered and also sent out a SchoolMessenger to all families in the Western complex. We want to thank everyone once again for your patience in this process. This is a terrible situation and we are grateful that no staff or students were seriously injured. We continue to make students' safety our top priority. Please call us if you'd like to discuss this further. Thank you, and have a wonderful evening."

Bailey confirmed to The Times that she sent the message to parents on Friday, but declined to comment on the incident.

It's unclear who reported the sound, referenced in the message, to school administration. The message also doesn't specify whether the officer had "any inclination" that a firearm had been discharged.

Bay County Undersheriff Troy Cunningham said Brown, the deputy in question, has been put on paid administrative leave.

Bay County Sheriff's Deputy Adam J. Brown

The gun Brown fired was a Sig Sauer .380-caliber pistol. It is Brown's backup pistol, which is OK for him to carry according to departmental policy, Sheriff John E. Miller has said. Police have not disclosed what prompted Brown to fire the gun, apart from saying it was a "negligent discharge."

"The only way those guns go off is if you squeeze the trigger," said 1st Lt. David Kaiser, with the Michigan State Police.

Kaiser said Brown, who has been on the force since 1996, spending the last 17 years as Western's school resource officer, was well loved by everyone at the school.

"He's been around for a while," Kaiser said. "The teachers love him, the students love him... but the fact of the matter is, the weapon was mishandled and it discharged. It's very fortunate that no one was seriously hurt."

In May 2012, CrimeStoppers of Bay County named Brown its Police Officer of the Year Award. Brown started his own program training officers how to handle calls involving children with autism and other special needs. In 2015, he led an active school-shooter training scenario at the Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District education facility.
BEVERLY HILLS, MI - Police are investigating what appears to be a murder-attempted suicide Sunday morning at a home Beverly Hills, an affluent "bedroom community" in southeastern Oakland County.

Authorities, responding to a report of a double shooting, found a woman dead about 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20 on Riverside Drive in the village south of Birmingham. Her husband had a single gunshot to the wound to the head, Beverly Hills public safety Sgt. Peter Barch said.

The man went to a hospital and was in critical condition. Both he and his wife were in their 50s.

An investigation is ongoing, but at this time, police believe the man shot the woman and then fired at himself.

The two did not live at the residence; the woman worked there as a caregiver for a resident, Barch said.

There were no other involved parties and the sergeant was not sure if any others were present at the time of the shooting.
Royal Oak Middle School Noose.jpeg

Royal Oak police photo of noose found in Royal Oak Middle School bathroom, Nov. 18.

Royal Oak police confirm they're investigating a possible hate crime involving a middle school student accused of placing a noose in his school's bathroom Friday.

While the incident comes a week after video emerged of Royal Oak Middle School students -- apparently inspired by the election of future President Donald Trump -- chanting "build the wall" to torment at a minority student, police say the placement of the noose has no clear link to the election.

The noose, a symbol sometimes associated with Jim Crow-era lynchings, was found hanging from a boys' bathroom stall.

The case remains under investigation and as of Monday hadn't been submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges, Royal Oak police said.

The student, a juvenile, wasn't in custody Monday.

Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin, through the district's public relations firm, Byrum & Fisk Communications, said in a statement Sunday the student had been identified and "removed" from school until "further notice."

It's unclear whether he'll face expulsion.

Emails sent to elected members of the school board requesting comment remained unanswered as of 4 p.m. Monday.

"At Royal Oak Schools, we will not tolerate intimidation, threats, harassment or bullying," Lewis-Larkin said in Sunday's statement.

"... The middle school principal and I will conduct meetings with each grade at the middle school to reiterate and reinforce our school's strict policies on intimidation, threats, harassment and bullying.

"We will remind our students that inappropriate words or actions will be taken seriously and carry serious consequences."

Trump appears to have inspired a spike in openly racist rhetoric since promoting a registry for Muslim Americans, implementation of a ban on Muslim immigrants and construction of a wall along the Mexico border while on the campaign trail.

The president-elect in a "60 Minutes" interview last week told supporters who have engaged in acts of hate to "stop it."

"I am so saddened to hear that," he said. "And I say, 'Stop it.' If it-- if it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it.

"Stop it" Donald Trump says to any of his supporters who may be involved in threatening behavior https://t.co/PGBVkXyvcE pic.twitter.com/MjFz4ntzk7  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 14, 2016

Following the "build-the-wall" chant at Royal Oak Middle School last week, Alicia Ramone, the mother of the 12-year-old girl who recorded the chants on her cellphone, spoke publicly urging unity and civility.

"We can change this if we stand united and work with the people around us," she told a gathering of about 70 at Central United Methodist Church in Downtown Detroit Nov. 14.

"I don't believe this incident speaks for the community at large, but last week during lunch, my daughter witnessed something that I never thought my daughter would see," said Ramone, whose Hispanic family has lived in Royal Oak since 1994. "It's an injustice that I dedicated a big part of my life to try to make it a better place and here, 47 years later, she's encountering the same."
ROYAL OAK, MI - Police have identified the Royal Oak Middle School student who admitted to placing a noose Friday inside a school bathroom, according to a statement from schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin.

Effective immediately, the student has been removed from the school "until further notice," Lewis-Lakin said in the statement, released Sunday night by a communications representative.

The apparent noose was found hanging from a boys' bathroom stall when school staff investigated a commotion, numerous media outlets and the Detroit Free Press reported. The discovery came about a week after students were recorded yelling "build the wall" in the school cafeteria. They were echoing a catch-phrase of President-elect Donald Trump, who advocates constructing a barrier between the United States and Mexico.

A police investigation concerning the noose, often associated with the lynchings of black Americans, is continuing.

Lewis-Lakin said he and the school principal are to conduct meetings Monday with each grade to reiterate and reinforce the school's "strict policies on intimidation, threats, harassment and bullying." These sorts of actions will not be tolerated, he said.

"We will remind our students that inappropriate words or actions will be taken seriously and carry serious consequences."

There will be additional counselors and social workers to support students affected by the incident and an extra school safety officer will be deployed to the middle school.

He is encouraging the staff, students and families to join him in wearing spirit wear and school colors on Tuesday to demonstrate "our continued commitment to working together as one community to ensure a positive, inclusive learning environment for all students."

Since the election and the divisive campaigns that preceded it, reports of bigotry, racially charged vandalism, and harassment targeting minorities have seemingly spiked. They have appeared frequently in the news.

"Stop it," Trump said when asked about harassment of Latinos and Muslims on CBS "60 Minutes." He said he was "saddened" by the reports.
you are here:
business Canara Bank hopes Rs 32k cr deposits will help in NPA recovery Bankers have maintained a positive stance after the roll-out of the demonetisation scheme. Rakesh Sharma, MD & CEO of Canara Bank concurs with the optimism and says that the bank is not facing issues since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) formed the task force to manage the chaotic situation.
business Black money antidote can be found in 3 strict norms:Rakesh Mohan Rakesh Mohan, Former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, expects RBI to undertake liquidity management actively and the country to see large changes in terms of currency outstanding in the economy on account of the demonetisation drive.
Have you ever surfed the net and ended up on a page you had no intention of finding? You might have been jumping from link to link. First you started reading about Donald Trumps election victory. Then you ended up reading about health tips and morning routines.

Ill admit it. I find myself reading articles and wonder how I ended up there more often than Id like. Sometimes thats nothing but a waste of my time. But sometimes I happen across something useful. Like yesterday, when I came across a story which screamed invest in Aussie small-caps!

The Australia Financial Review article highlighted former Trade Minister Andrew Robbs thoughts on Aussie investment into China. He believes Australian businesses arent investing enough into China.

Yet theres a reason behind their lax Chinese ventures.

China punishes big business

According to the AFR:

He [Andrew Robb] said Australias biggest companies had become fat and lazy, were often uncompetitive oligopolies and that our investment levels in the region were embarrassing.

Its not that Aussie businesses arent involved with China. Around 32% of Australian exports were shipped to China in 2015. Yet Robbs point is that we dont engage within the region.

There is evidence backing up his claims. Australian businesses invested $2.1 trillion overseas last year. How much did China see? Around $70.2 billion, or only 3.4% of this total. That puts China in 5th place, behind the US, the UK, New Zealand and Japan.

But isnt it supposed to be Asian Century, with China at the forefront? Im sure youve heard all about Australia riding on the back of Asias growth. Shouldnt China be the number one country Aussie businesses invest in?

Well, its not that our big businesses dont want to invest in China. Most would love to. But China imposes restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI). These restrictions make it less attractive for bigger companies to invest in China.

1421 Consulting Group explains there are three types of categories for foreign businesses in China: encouraged, restricted and prohibited industries.

Encouraged industries generally receive favourable tax treatment. As youd imagine, China limits FDI with restricted industries, including that foreign businesses/investors are only able to have limited/minority ownership or shareholdings. Prohibited industries cannot have any form of FDI into China at all. An example is the antique or cultural relics industry.

A lot of foreign investors run into the impediment of restricted industries. They are only able to hold a 50% (or less) stake in the business. To do business at all, foreign companies end up forming joint ventures (JVs) with a Chinese company. The JV, at best, is split 50/50 in 15 Chinese industries. More often than not, youd expect to see the Chinese partner holding a controlling interest.

As the AFR explains:

The big corporations generally dont have the patience, skill or necessary risk appetite for operating across the region Both ANZ and the Commonwealth Bank were quick to jump on the opportunities presented by Chinas partial privatisation of its banking sector a decade back. But then both found themselves blocked from buying more than 20 per cent of any one bank.

This is why Australias biggest companies were never going to lead the way in China.

So Robb is right. Big Australian businesses arent investing into China as much as they could. But there are good reasons for it. There are still 14 restricted industries in China. And big Aussie companies dont want to have little to no control over their business or be diluted when investing in China.

However, the story is a little different for smaller Australian companies. They are still exposed to restrictive Chinese policy. But they have unique advantages when venturing into China.

Small-caps playing big

Forbes contributor Helen Wang believes the first thing businesses should know about the Chinese market is that its fragmented. And it will probably remain so in the foreseeable future, Wang wrote, adding:

This causes a big headache for large companies rolling out their distribution channels nationwide. But it also creates opportunities for smaller brands to establish themselves as market leaders in their region.

The fragmented Chinese market allows smaller companies to play big. They can become a market leader in a niche market. Being a market leader in one geographical area gives smaller companies significant advantages in terms of charging premium prices and winning customer loyalty, Wang said.

Its no secret that smaller companies are nimbler than their larger cousins. They can trash and reinvent products more easily. They can also generally bring products to market quicker because of fewer people involved in the creation process. And their structure is usually lean.

The take-away? If youre looking for potentially lucrative exposure to Chinas massive consumer market, think small.

And if you want to know how our small-cap guru, Sam Volkering, has managed an average return of 66.5% with his 2016 stock recommendations for Australian Small-Cap Investigator, you can find out more here.

Regards,

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
Friends In Pink is still on the radar and growing every year
VALDESE - One man was injured after a two-vehicle collision on Main Street in Valdese on Monday afternoon.

Wanda Pendergrass, 58, of 528 Oakland Ave Ext. in Morganton, was pulling out of Alray Tire Center in Valdese in a white SUV around 2:30 p.m. when she failed to yield the right-of-way and struck a Dodge truck and then drove off into the embankment, according to Sgt. Chad Wyke with Valdese Police.

The White car was pulling out from Whisnant Street in front of Alray Tire to make a left-hand turn and didnt look before she pulled out and (the truck) hit her in the (driver) side, Wyke said.

Donald Greene, 55, of Lenoir, the owner of the red Dodge truck, was sent to Carolinas HealthCare System BlueRidge  Valdese Campus with unknown injuries, Wyke said.

There were two other occupants with Pendergrass, including Ashley Yount, 30, and a 3-year-old child. The appeared uninjured and were not transported by Burke County EMS to the hospital, but went on their own accord just to get checked out, he said.

There were no other occupants other than Greene in the truck.

Pendergrass was charged with failure to yield the right of way, Wyke said.

I think both cars will be a total loss, Wyke said.

Responding agencies were Valdese Fire Department, Burke County EMS, Burke County REACT and Triple Community Fire Department.

Staff Writer Jonelle Bobak can be reached at jbobak@morganton.com or 828-432-8907.
Japan has more to gain or lose from changes to US economic and foreign policy under a Trump presidency than most.

As its largest trading partner, the US accounts for around one-fifth of all Japanese exports. As such, the fortunes of the Japanese equity markets, which are packed with exporters like Sony and Toyota, will be closely linked to the decisions made within the incoming Trump administration.

Despite the country being the subject of much accusatory finger pointing during Mr Trumps campaign speeches, there are reasons for Japanese equity investors to remain positive.

Expectations of rising rates in the US have already seen a strengthening of the US dollar against the Yen. This, coupled with the expected large-scale fiscal stimulus in the US, could both lower the cost and increase demand for Japanese goods and services, boosting the exported-orientated Japanese equity markets.

On the other hand, Trumps protectionist rhetoric has left the fate of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, which includes Japan, hanging in the balance. The introduction of additional trade restrictions or tariffs would portend bad news for Japanese exporters.

Following an initial sell-off, Japanese equity markets have responded positively to the electoral shock.

Which are the Best Japanese Equity Funds?

Morningstar recently launched Analyst Ratings for a broad range of equity and fixed-income ETFs. The Morningstar Analyst Rating is a forward-looking qualitative assessment of a funds ability to offer superior returns relative to its peers  whether active or passive - over the long-term.

Amongst the European-domiciled ETFs assigned an Analyst Rating, the following three are some of the highest rated funds offering exposure to Japanese Equity markets.

iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI ETF (IJPA)

We have awarded our highest rating of Gold to this ETF, which is one of our favourite passive offerings in a market in which active managers have struggled to demonstrate their worth.

The MSCI Japan IMI Index it tracks offers one of the most representative cap-weighted exposures to Japanese large-cap equities. Covering around 1,200 Japanese companies, including large-, mid-, and small-caps, the index represents around 99% of the free-float-adjusted market.

With an ongoing charge of just 0.20%, the fund is one of cheapest Japan ETFs available. The yawning fee gap between this fund and the average fund in the Morningstar category of 1.64% has proved to be a formidable hurdle for active managers.

The low fee, coupled with an underperformance of active managers, has seen the fund outshine its surviving category peers over three and five years on a risk-adjusted basis.

Vanguard FTSE Japan ETF (VDJP)

One of only two Gold-rated ETFs offering exposure to broad Japanese equities, this fund exhibits all the hallmarks of a top-notch tracker. With around 480 constituents, including a number of mid- and small-caps, the FTSE Japan Index is narrower than either the TOPIX or MSCI Japan IMI indices but still stands as an excellent proxy for the Japanese equity markets.

With an ongoing charge of only 0.19%, the fund holds a fee advantage over both passive and active funds peers. This has helped the fund clearly outshine its surviving category peers over three years when ranked on a risk-adjusted basis. This strong performance can be extended out to 10 years if we include the returns of older funds tracking the same index.

In addition to its low fee and strong performance, what sets this fund apart from the other trackers is our positive view of Vanguard. The source of Vanguard's competitive advantage and the foundation of its culture is its mutual ownership structure. Fund shareholders own Vanguard through their funds, which compels the firm to operate at cost rather than for profit and to put investors' interests first.

Lyxor Japan TOPIX DR ETF D-EUR A/I (JPNL)

We have awarded this ETF a Silver rating. Due to its sprawling coverage, the TOPIX Index offers the broadest and most representative cap-weighted exposure to Japanese large-cap equities. Including almost 2,000 Japanese companies, it approximates the total market exposure.

It has performed well, out-performing its surviving category peers over three, five, and 10 years on a risk-adjusted basis. The fund has also been the best-performing ETF tracking the TOPIX Index over the trailing five-years period.

With an ongoing charge of 0.45%, this fund isnt the cheapest available, and for this reason we cannot give the fund our highest rating.
Anna Sobrevinas



The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) revealed more than half of B.C. real estate companies at significant or very significant levels of anti-money laundering non-compliance.



According to records obtained by the Vancouver Sun, about 220 B.C. real estate companies were examined between 2012 and mid-2016, with 112 companies in significant levels of non-compliance while five were very significant.



FINTRAC spokeswoman Renee Bercier said to the Vancouver Sun that the agency increased its real estate examinations by 33% across the country in 2015-2016.



In B.C., however, the agency increased its examinations by four more times, resulting in more than thrice the number of significant cases compared with last years, said Bercier.



Due to Canadas Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorism Financing Act, the anti-money laundering watchdog was not able to release the five B.C. real estate companies with very significant ratings of non-compliance.



Records indicate B.C. in second place with the highest number of significant, non-compliant real estate firms. Ontario, with a population triple to that of B.C., was found to have 210 significant and very significant non-compliant companies.



The Real Estate Council of B.C., in response to the findings, said As part of our focus on public protection, we are committed to supporting FINTRAC in its efforts to educate licensees and brokerages in B.C. about their reporting obligations, and we support FINTRAC taking action against brokerages that do not comply with the federally legislated requirements under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.


Wandering Griffin Brewery & Pub, the first independently owned microbrewery restaurant in Beavercreek, announced it will have a soft opening on Wednesday, November 23 starting at 6 am followed by its grand opening on Friday, December 2 at 6 am. During the grand opening, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. The Mayor of Beavercreek will be in attendance.

Wandering Griffin, managed by principle owners Brian Young and Tony Griffin in conjunction with a number of investors, offers patrons a unique dining experience with its 1930s art deco dining room and bar, 1860s reclaimed wood taproom and coffee bar. It has extensive lunch and dinner menus and full bar service.



Chefs Kenneth Mangus and Jason Breitenstien, formerly of Cocos Bistro and Winds Cafe respectively, head up the kitchen and have created lunch and dinner menus that feature locally-sourced and housemade appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees, including tater tots, beef on weck, pork belly grilled cheese, gourmet pizza and pan seared salmon. The bar includes handcrafted beers, an array of wine and signature cocktails. The brewery and pub also offers a large partially covered patio with a bar and outdoor televisions.

The full-service coffee bar, aptly named Wanderlust, is located in the heart of the brewery and pub. The coffee bar is open daily 6:30 am  3 pm and will offer drive-through service from 6 am  10 am on weekdays and 7 am  10 am on weekends.

Wandering Griffin isnt offering its own craft beer yet, but expects to start brewing mid to late 2017. Brian Young states that, This is a very exciting time for the beer scene in the greater Dayton region, and we are happy to be a part of it. Our aim is to provide a variety of locally-brewed craft beers and guest taps until were brewing our own. When we do brew our own, we plan to offer a variety of styles, including lagers.

Wandering Griffin is located at 3725 Presidential Drive, Beavercreek, Ohio 45324. Its open 11 am  11 pm Monday  Thursday, 11 am  midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 am  10 pm Sunday. Wanderlust coffee bar service begins daily at 6:30 am. Food service begins daily at 11 am.

For more information, visit wanderinggriffin.com or call 937-956-5216.
Welcome to Week 41 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 40s Mystery Photo is: The Sinclair Conference Center at Sinclair Community Colleges David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center (Building 12).

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Carley of Dayton. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below. Well do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

Well post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Heres our Mystery Photo for Week 41:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau isnt taking its recent court defeat lying down.The US District Court of Appeals recently reversed a multimillion-dollar fine the CFPB levied against PHH  and deemed the agencys structure unconstitutional.Now the CFPB has responded by filing for an en banc review with the court, according to a HousingWire report. That means the agency is asking that the case be heard by the entire court, rather than the three judges who handed down the initial ruling last month.The case began when CFPB Director Richard Cordray increased an initial fine of $6 million against the mortgage company by $103 million. PHH challenged Cordrays authority to add to the fine.The court agreed, ruling that the CFPBs structure was unconstitutional because Cordray was not sufficiently answerable to the president.Because the director alone heads the agency without presidential supervision, and in light of the CFPBs broad authority over the US economy, the director enjoys significantly more unilateral power than any single member of any other independent agency, the court ruled.But the CFPB is fighting that ruling, according to HousingWire. In its petition to have the case reheard, the agency said the original decision sets up what may be the most important separation-of-powers case in a generation.The CFPB also held that the three-judge panel that rendered the decision misinterpreted the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act in a manner that so fundamentally defeats the statutory purpose as to warrant rehearing en banc.The panel held that RESPA permitted referrals in exchange for mortgage reinsurance business  a practice that the CFPB claims is clearly a form of kickback.If the ruling stands, it will become easy for lenders and others who make referrals of real estate settlement service business to disguise kickbacks and evade RESPAs prohibition, the agency said.
AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed a local real estate broker to the Real Estate Research Advisory Committee, which reviews and approves proposals submitted to the board of directors of the Texas A&M University System relating to staffing and general policies of the Real Estate Center and decides the priority ranking of research studies the center conducts.

Alvin Collins, of Andrews and Midland, is a broker associate at Legacy Real Estate Brokerage, director at Cendera Funding and Cendera Bank and president and owner of Sunray Energy Inc.

His memberships include Permian Basin Board of Realtors, Issues Mobilization Committee of the Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Mortgage Industry Advisory Committee and National Association of Realtors.

Abbott also appointed Doug Jennings of Fort Worth, who is one of the principals at William C. Jennings Co.

The mens terms are set to expire Jan. 31, 2021.
New members inducted into Institute of ...
President Joe Biden View Photos

Vice President Joe Biden delivered this weeks address while President Obama traveled in Europe.

Biden was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Hi folks, this is Joe Biden.

Over the last eight years, weve created more jobs than all the advanced economies in the world combined. Unemployment has been cut in half. Wages are finally on the rise. Weve gone from economic crisis to recovery to the cusp of genuine resurgenceand were better positioned to own the 21st Centuryeconomically and otherwisethan any other nation in the world.

But we know theres more we can do and more than needs to be done to make this resurgence permanent. And it begins and ends with what the President and I have believed since day onewe have to give the American workers a fighting chance. We have to build the middle class. Restore the basic bargain, which wasif workers contribute to the success of an enterprise, then they should share in the gains. We have to make sure that everyone whos worked hard and played by the rules has a real shot at getting into the middle-class and staying there.

Over the last eight years, weve worked with Congress to try to do all those things.

Every worker in Americamore than 160 milliongot an average payroll tax cut of $1,000 per year;

Better unemployment benefits for 18 million job-seekers during the recession;

Trillions of dollars in tax cuts for low-and middle-income families.

And when Republicans in Congress didnt act, we used our executive authority to extend overtime coverage for over 4 million workersboosting their wages by $12 billion over the next decade.

Weve given additional paid sick leave to more than 1.1 million workers employed by federal contractorsand were requiring that those workers earn at least $10.10 per hour. Help to close the pay gap by fighting back against pay discrimination; making salaries more transparentso employees know what others are making doing the same job. Weve closed the pay gap between men and women by 10 percent. Not nearly enoughbut its a start.

And we also called on cities and states to act across the country, and mayors and governors are leading the way to raise the minimum wage. Since the Presidents call to action to increase the nations minimum wage back in 2013, every state from my state of Delaware and 18 othersand 55 citieshave raised their own minimum wage. From Alaska to California, Nebraska to Floridaworkers now have a shot at a paycheck they can actually live on. Seven million workers have seen their wages rise. Earlier this month, four statesArizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington, in this last general election, overwhelmingly passed minimum wage increases.

It matters. It really mattersbecause no one in America should work 40 hours a week and still live in poverty. Additionally, California, Rhode Island, Washington State and New Jersey and more than two-dozen cities like Minneapolis and Spokanehave extended access to paid leaveexpanded it.

You all know why that matters. In the neighborhoods where you and I grew upif you miss a paycheck because youre sick, or have to take care of a loved oneyou could be in trouble for that months mortgage payment, the car paymentjust paying the heating bill. Paid leave makes a real difference in ordinary peoples lives. We have to preserve the progress we made over the past eight years and continue to support states and cities in their fight for worker protections.

Its not just for the workers who benefittheyre not the only ones. The economy benefitsthe overall economy. Companies benefit from higher productivity and less turnover. Communities benefit when people have more money to spend at local stores, the diner, the movie theater. The entire economy grows.

Folks, there is so much more to be done to seize the immense possibilities within our reach. We are better positioned than any country in the world to own the 21st century. But we have to address the economic anxieties brought on by globalization. Theyre real. The increasingly rapid movement of people, money, goods and ideas around the worldwe can do that.

But we need to recognize that globalization hasnt been an un-alloyed goodand we need to empower those who have paid the price of that globalization. Theres many things we can do to level this playing field. Because given a chanceAmerican workers never, ever let their country down. But they need a chance.

And I just want to thank you all. Thank you all for the faith you have in this great country because, as I said, we are better positioned than any nation in the world to own the 21st century. We know how to do it. Insist that we do it.

And have not only a great weekend, but have a great Thanksgiving weekendbecause we have much to be thankful for.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Calaveras County Seal View Photos

San Andreas, CA  The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors will vote whether to appoint an interim County Administrative Officer at Tuesdays meeting.

We reported this past September that CAO Shirley Ryan will be retiring at the end of the year. On the agenda is a potential contract with Manuel Lopez to serve in the role effective January 3rd. He would receive a salary of $14,930 per month, and could serve in the role for up to six months while the recruitment process takes place. Lopez, prior to retiring, spent 28 years working for San Joaquin County, serving the final 12 years as CAO. He also spent time as Public Works Director.

Also on Tuesday, the Board will vote whether to appoint Kristin Brinks to be Calaveras Countys new Health and Human Services Agency Director. She previously served as the Deputy Director of Community Services in El Dorado County and as the Bureau Chief of the California Department of Social Services. The contract would pay a rate of $148,720 annually. Tuesdays meeting starts at 9am in the Supervisors meeting room in San Andreas.
For some shoppers Thanksgiving Day is the new Black Friday. But some retailers arent necessarily jumping on board with the new trend, and others are trying to reverse it after backlash from shoppers who think its too much.

Many big stores, malls open Thanksgiving evening

Most of Oviedo Mall will be closed on Thanksgiving

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Black Friday store hours, resources

Luanne Parker always dreamed of having her own business.

This was like, someday when I retire I would like to have my own store, said Parker, owner of Rustic Journeys Furniture and Decor in Oviedo Mall. Its like a dream come true.

Parker relied on help from her family and friends to get her store open a few months ago.

Were family owned, family operated, said Parker.

Parker is looking forward to cashing in on her stores first holiday shopping season. But her store wont be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Being closed on a day that we could potentially bring a lot of money in -- this is our income - so you would think we would want to be open, said Parker. But at some point, as Covey [Dr. Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People] says you have to sharpen the saw, and you have to enjoy time with family and relax.

Parker is following Oviedo Malls lead in remaining closed on Thanksgiving. Macy's and the movie theater are the only businesses that will be open. After a backlash from shoppers nationwide, some stores like Office Depot are staying closed this year until Black Friday.

Unlike Oviedo Mall, most other shopping malls in the area will be open on Thanksgiving, although most dont open up until Thursday evening.

Why should you guys have to work, especially on Thanksgiving Day? And you dont want to be here at the mall when everybodys going crazy shopping, said Monica Fehlberg, a shopper.

We should all be home eating turkey.

For Luanne Parker, no amount of money made is worth sacrificing family time at home.

So this really gives me time to spend with my boys, theyre teenagers, and my husband, said Parker. Granted they help out at the store but its a different family dynamic. So were able to have fun together, outside of the store setting.

Major stores closed on Thanksgiving

Many major non-food stores will open on Thanksgiving night. These major stores in the Central Florida and Tampa areas will remain closed on Thanksgiving.

Find more Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours on the Black Friday page.


AMARILLO  Dr. Sarah Capik has started in her new position as an assistant professor in ruminant animal health with Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Amarillo and the department of veterinary pathobiology at Texas A&M University in College Station.

We are very excited that Dr. Capik has joined our research faculty here at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo, right in the heart of the cattle feedlot industry, said Dr. John Sweeten, AgriLife Research resident director in Amarillo. She brings a wealth of knowledge and research skills that will contribute to the scientific impact on the regions cattle industry.

Dr. Capiks position represents a joint investment of talent and commitment on the part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&Ms College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sweeten said.

He said her work will be at the nexus of ongoing team research that also includes West Texas A&M University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

The Texas Panhandle with the surrounding cattle feeding industry is the perfect place for Capik to begin her career, she said.

My passion is working with feedlot cattle and improving their health, welfare and productivity, she said.

Capik said her family was not involved in agriculture growing up in Florida, but she started riding horses early and that led to her involvement with FFA. The combination led to her pursuing an animal science degree with minors in management and sales in agriculture and agriculture law at the University of Florida.

It was during an undergraduate ruminant nutrition course that she first became interested in cattle and the beef industry, she said.

Then during veterinary school, also at the University of Florida, Capik said she was lucky enough to participate in the Beef-Production Immersive Knowledge Experience, or B-PIKE, program hosted by Iowa State University, which took her to Nebraska where she spent a summer working in several feedlots.

That is when I really fell in love with beef cattle and the feedlot industry, and where I learned just how important bovine respiratory disease, or BRD, is to the industry, she said.

I then geared all my spare time during the rest of vet school to learning as much as I could about cattle and was fortunate to spend additional time doing externships with practitioners who worked with feedlots in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

After obtaining her doctor of veterinary medicine degree, her interest in feedlot cattle, BRD, research and epidemiology led her to Kansas State University to get her doctorate. While there, she focused on providing answers about some of the risk factors and bacteria involved in BRD through several applied research projects.

Bovine respiratory disease is a complex disease process in cattle involving host and environmental factors along with multiple bacteria and viruses, Capik explained. It can cause cattle to be sick or in some cases die and has a large impact on the beef cattle industry in terms of both animal welfare and economics.

I want to continue to explore respiratory disease, as it is one of the most significant diseases the industry faces, Capik said.

Even though BRD has been researched for a long time, there are still many unanswered questions and room for improved understanding, she said.

A lot of my research will be aimed at understanding the disease better and investigating current and potential diagnostic methods, Capik said. We still struggle, in both research and production settings, with accurately identifying sick cattle early on in the disease process.

She said the hope is that in working to understand the relationship between the various factors involved in the disease complex and in improving our diagnostic ability, appropriate interventions can be identified that could mitigate BRD risk.

The ultimate goal is to use my veterinary and epidemiological knowledge to help industry stakeholders navigate current and future animal and public health challenges, Capik said.
HART -- The new elementary principal in Hart is Krista Gregory, who comes there from Tulia ISD where she worked for four years. She lives in a teacher house with her two children, who attend Hart school. Her children are Payton, a freshman, and Tye, a sixth-grader.

At Tulia, she was a Reading Intervention teacher and also had taught third through fifth grade reading. In her first job as a principal, Gregory and her staff are working to improve state accountability test scores with a Turnaround plan. The Turnaround for Hart ISD is the result of two consecutive years of having unacceptable scores from the accountability testing. Gregory said that the Elementary Turnaround plan is different and separate from the secondarys plan.
No one knows how pervasive President-elect Donald Trump's business interests actually are. Well, no one outside the Trump Organization and the Trump family, that is. For the first time in 40 years, Americans elected a president who didn't provide detailed tax records; for the first time in history, we elected a president whose only experience is rooted in those businesses we don't really know anything about.

The Washington Post's Drew Harwell and Anu Narayanswamy took a look at where and how Trump's business empire might conflict with the business of government. Trump has stated that he will hand over management of the Trump Organization to his children, but it's not clear how that will prevent conflicts. At the same time, Trump's decision to skip the traditional traveling press pool as president-elect means that there's less transparency about who he's meeting with and when.

Since the election, there have already been a number of alleged or demonstrated instances in which Trump's new position as president-elect has overlapped with his promotion of or involvement with his business interests.

---

Trump met with developers from a project in India after winning the election. The weekend after Trump won the presidential election, a group of Indian businessmen arrived at Trump Tower and met with Trump and his children. (The group posed for photos with the Trumps that were published on Facebook.)

One of the businessmen told the New York Times that the discussion was simply meant to offer congratulations. Another, though, admitted that the meeting included "discussions with the Trump family about possible additional real estate deals." One consultant who'd worked with Trump, Pranav Bhakta, explained the benefit to the Times: "To say, 'I have a Trump flat or residence' - it's president-elect branded. It's that recall value. If they didn't know Trump before, they definitely know him now."

This story was first reported by foreign media outlets, not by American reporters tracking Trump's transition effort.

---

Trump's family met with the prime minister of Japan. When Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe came to Trump Tower to meet Trump, his daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner were included in part of the conversation. Ivanka, again, is supposed to be running Trump's business interests over the next four years, meaning, in essence, that Trump is providing access to resources he's gained from his public position to the person in charge of his personal interests.

Photos of the event were made available by the Japanese prime minister's office, as American press was not allowed access to the meeting.

---

Trump allegedly asked the president of Argentina to approve permits for a Trump development. Talking Points Memo noted a detail in a report from the Argentinian newspaper La Nacion where, according to journalist Jorge Lanata, Argentinan president Mauricio Macri phoned Trump to offer his congratulations on the election outcome. Trump allegedly used the opportunity to ask Macri to facilitate permitting for a project he's working on in Buenos Aires.

The only source we have for this claim is a third-party report from a foreign media outlet. The Trump campaign has not responded to a request for comment, but a reporter from Public Radio International spoke with the office of the Argentinian president who denied the report. Grains of salt very much apply.

But the Argentinian president is no doubt aware of Trump's investments in his country. The president-elect's corporate website pitches a residential tower in Buenos Aires (Trump Tower, Punta del Este) as "the only property in all South America to bear the Trump name." Another report indicates that the Trump Organization and the same developers are working on an office building in the city. The developer proudly touts its association with Trump on its own website.

Talking Points Memo also notes that the developer was at Trump's celebration on election night and was photographed with Eric Trump. Earlier this year, Eric Trump told a newspaper in Uruguay that he saw Macri as a model for the sort of president his father might be.

---

Foreign diplomats see the Trump Hotel as an opportunity to curry favor with the president-elect. Earlier this year, Trump triumphantly opened a new Trump-branded hotel down the street from the White House. As The Post reported over the weekend, foreign diplomats have been courted as a likely clientele for the project.

From that report:

About 100 foreign diplomats, from Brazil to Turkey, gathered at the Trump International Hotel this week to sip Trump-branded champagne, dine on sliders and hear a sales pitch about the U.S. president-elect's newest hotel.

One Asian diplomat put the issue bluntly to our Jonathan O'Connell and Mary Jordan: "Why wouldn't I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, 'I love your new hotel!' Isn't it rude to come to his city and say, 'I am staying at your competitor?'"

The only sure way to guarantee that Trump isn't confronted with conflicts of interest as president, experts suggest, is to liquidate his properties and re-invest the money in ways that Trump isn't aware of. That's trickier than it might seem, given how much of Trump's stated net worth is tied up in projects that leverage his name (as opposed to his owning properties, for example). Many of Trump's projects are licensing deals in which he allows the use of his name to a developer in exchange for a fee or part of the profits. Deals based on his name would be harder to extricate his interests from; his business partners seem to have gotten very lucky thanks to the American electoral college system.

It's already clear, though, that -- even without detailed information about Trump's business interests -- there are significant reasons to be concerned about how and where Trump's personal interests overlap with the power that he'll inherit on January 20.
Politics is packed with irony.

Over the last 40 years, conservatives claimed the mantle of free enterprise and states rights. The solution to stagnant wages and ho-hum economic growth was simple, they said: restrain the federal government to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit. As businesses flourish locally, the economy grows nationally, and with them rising wages.

That may sound jim-dandy, unless so-called sanctuary cities are involved. Then conservatives end up sounding not-so-conservative. If you look closely, the push to end sanctuary cities is contrary to any understanding of states rights and to the right of a free people to pursue free enterprise.

Ill explain. But first, what is a sanctuary city?

There are many kinds of sanctuary cities, as many as there are cities. It is a highly decentralized practice. But there is a common constitutional thread binding them. From the view of cities and states, immigration is a federal matter.

Local governments have formal policies barring local police from notifying federal authorities when an undocumented immigrant is detained. There are a wide variety of reasons, but many are related to budgets and public safety.

There are only so many dollars to go around, and cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency charged with immigration control, can turn a entire community against local police, hampering criminal investigations and seriously jeopardizing public safety.

Its plainly impractical. Thats why big cities around the country announced last week their intention to refuse to cooperate with the incoming administration. President-elect Donald Trump promised to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. He has since backed away from that number, saying his administration would focus mostly on criminals. He has not clarified what that means.

Meanwhile, officials in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York have said they wont cooperate. In Connecticut, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp ordered her top attorney to prepare for a legal battle. Hartford is also a sanctuary city. Connecticut cities that had already felt pressure to adopt such policies, like Bridgeport, will likely feel more. As one activist put it: There is probably not a single person in Fairfield County who doesnt know an undocumented immigrant. ... These people work, and thats just a fact of life.

The point of democracy is self-government. We, the people, shape our destinies. Conservatives used to say that we have a right to shape that destiny without a burdensome federal government. Never in my life did I think Id be nostalgic for conservative talking points. Life, like politics, is ironic.

You may be thinking these municipalities are terribly enlightened. And maybe they are. But there are two not-so-noble reasons to protect their immigrant communities.

One is political. Most American cities are run by Democrats. Democrats have historically been the party of immigrants. The more the party protects immigrant interests, the more immigrants, over time, will support the Democratic Party.

The other is about money.

Consider what would happen if municipalities cooperated fully with ICE, notifying the agency every time police detained an undocumented immigrant. Those cities, in helping ICE remove their residents, would be removing mountains of revenue. Immigrants, contrary to popular belief, are the hardest-working people youll ever meet. Documented or not, they own property and pay taxes. In Connecticut, immigrants account for more than 18 percent of small businesses, generating more than $2 billion in income.

Given all that, its really little wonder sanctuary cities are saying to the feds: Immigration is your problem, not ours.

If I were to guess, Id say were going to see more cities adopt sanctuary policies. New York and Los Angeles are big enough to withstand shifting economic winds.

Midsized and Rust Belt cities have not fared as well as companies moved operations overseas, automated production and shed work forces.

These cities have seen their tax bases shrivel as the children of laid-off factory workers move away.

We are now seeing a trend in which municipalities aggressively pursue policies to entice immigrants. According to a May study by Governing magazine, cities of 100,000 or more saw foreign-born populations grow, but smaller cities, like Dayton, Ohio, saw that population grow at a faster rate.

Connecticut, you could say, is like a Rust Belt city. Its economy has seen better times when it manufactured anything you could imagine. In protecting its immigrants, its not only doing the right thing. Its protecting its interests.

Yesterdays conservatives would have respected that.

John Stoehr is a lecturer in political science at Yale and the 2016 Koeppel Journalism Fellow at Wesleyan. He is a contributing writer to Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. He can be reached at johnastoehr@gmail.com.
SAN ANTONIO -- And so the Yeezus fans wept. According to Pitchfork, an online music news site, Kanye West has cancelled the remainder of his Saint Pablo tour, which included a Dec. 1 show in San Antonio at the AT&T Center.

The Pitchfork report notes that "tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase."
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After 20 years as a fixture in the King William areas restaurant and bar district, La Focaccia Italian Grill is for sale.

Luigi Domenic Ciccarelli, the son of La Focaccias late founder Luigi Ciccarelli, characterized the sale as an all-or-nothing deal: land, building and business. He said the deal would give the buyer the option of carrying on the La Focaccia name or starting from scratch in a neighborhood thats become a bar and restaurant magnet since the restaurant opened in 1996.

There is no timeline for the sale, Ciccarelli said. La Focaccia will operate as usual until it happens. And if it doesnt sell? Well keep it going, he said. Im looking to retire, not find another job. Ciccarelli wouldnt say the asking price.

La Focaccia, at 800 S. Alamo St., is one of two iconic Italian restaurants associated with the Ciccarellis in San Antonio. The family also ran Luigis on San Pedro Avenue from 1972 to 2006.

Based in part on the popularity of its congenial founder, who died in August at age 79, La Focaccia has made its name with pizza and bread from a wood-burning oven, traditional red-sauce pasta dishes and family recipes like Chicken La Focaccia with white wine sauce. The restaurant was among the neighborhoods first to offer cooking classes and wine dinners drawn from its pioneering wine list.

Domenic Ciccarelli said business is still strong, even as the industry fights to attract and keep qualified cooks and waiters.

We have our generations of family and friends, he said. Their kids have brought their children. Its a family tradition.

Even so, Ciccarelli said he and his family, including brother Raymond, who also works at the restaurant, are ready to take a rest. Even their mother, Dolores Ciccarelli, supports the sale, Domenic Ciccarelli said, telling the family, Weve paid our dues.

On a recent Friday afternoon, it was business as usual, even as the restaurant entered its second month on the market. A 20-person office group walked in for lunch, the kitchen brought out a pork-and-shrimp kebab to consider for the nights special and Ciccarelli himself tossed fresh focaccia into the brick oven.

We still cut our own steaks, clean our own fish, bake our own bread, Ciccarelli said. Its Old World-style Italian cooking.

msutter@express-news.net
A taste of social media: Kanye West: First Kanye West had two concert meltdowns in less than a week, the latter with him ranting about Beyonce to a Sacramento crowd Saturday before cutting short his show after only about 30 minutes. Now the hip-hop star has canceled the rest of his tour, which included a Dec. 1 stop in San Antonio.

As if Queen B fans didnt already lash out at West on social media, now hes getting another earful at 140 characters a pop on Twitter. Here are some of the more printable tweets from the San Antonio area.

it's official... i am no longer a fan of Kanye! (waving hand emoji)  riss, @iris_comolaflor

Kanye broke my heart fr  mamacita, @mannnnndddyyyy

I've been adamantly defending Kanye's actions for the last few years. I don't think I can do it anymore. The dude is going insane.  Tim Hillyer, @Tim_Hillyer

Honestly if Kanye is experiencing a mental breakdown then I understand. I'm disappointed, but I understand.  John Guzman, @TLOJ1524_

Have a Coke and a selfie: Selfie duck face, meet selfie swig face. Coca-Cola Israel recently uncapped the worlds first selfie bottle, which snaps a shot of you while you drink, BeverageDaily.com reported.

Marketing agency Gefen Team in Tel Aviv came up with the concept, which fits a 0.5L Coke bottle with a camera at its base. The camera takes a picture when it senses a 70-degree tilt, and can upload those fish-lipped gulp pics to your Snapchat as well as Coca-Cola Israels Facebook page and the brands Instagram page, the agency said in the report.

The tech was used as part of the Coca-Cola Summer Love campaign, the biggest brand outdoor event in Israel, BeverageDaily.com reported. Its unclear if the selfie bottle will wash up on United States shores.

Dominos delivers via drone in New Zealand: Want more technological quirk from abroad? As MyKotori reported, Dominos made the worlds first commercial delivery by drone in New Zealand, flying out a peri-peri chicken pizza and a chicken and cranberry pizza to a couple in Whangaparaoa, about 15.5 miles north of Auckland in New Zealand. And they got it within 2 minutes, too!

The drone used a GPS navigation system controlled by a team of experts, including a certified drone pilot, the report said, which noted Dominos has been working with drone orders for select New Zealand customers in partnership with delivery startup Flirtey. The company didnt announce plans to bring drone delivery to the U.S. but Flirtey is working on it, the report said.

Focus on private browsing with Firefox Focus: Want to keep your iPhone Web action away from prying eyes online and off, as in Web trackers and curious significant others? Try Firefox Focus, a free new browser app that keeps it secret and simple while covering your tracks. Firefox Focus is free for iOS from the App Store.

Focus gives you bare-bones browsing without the tabs or menus, and you just tap Erase to make your browsing history go bye-bye. Focus blocks many online trackers on mobile Web pages by default, which may speed up performance on sites that typically track your behavior, according to the Mozilla Blog. You do have the option to open a site in Firefox or Safari, especially if it requires tracking to work.

Focus also works as a Safari extension to block trackers for better privacy and block Web fonts to reduce page size.

Rene A. Guzman
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Troy

One of four men who face murder charges in a Rensselaer County double homicide appeared in court Monday to enter a not-guilty plea.

Magdalono Perez-Calixto, 28, of Latham was arraigned in Rensselaer County Courthouse before state Supreme Court Judge Patrick McGrath.

Four suspects have been indicted in the alleged conspiracy that led to the slaying of Troy roommates Javier Gomez and Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez.

Perez-Calixto entered not-guilty pleas on all 10 counts. He was returned to county jail without bail.

He was driven Thursday from Virginia to Troy by sheriff's deputies after he waived his right to an extradition hearing. He had been held without bail as a fugitive from justice since his arrest a month earlier by Virginia State Police.

Virginia state troopers arrested Perez-Calixto; Luis A. Monge Guevara, 20, of Clifton Park; and Solomon Najera-Hernandez, 21, of Mexico on Oct. 21 in the killings of the Troy roommates.

The suspects fled the Capital Region by car, officials said. A mobile phone used by one of the men helped police track them down in Virginia, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the case. All three men signed paperwork stating they would not fight extradition.

U.S. Marshals arrested a fourth man, Cresencio "Chuco" Salazar, 26, days later in New York City.

A Rensselaer County grand jury indicted all four in the deaths of Gomez and Gonzalez Hernandez.

Gomez, 23, died Oct. 17 in his second-floor apartment on East Glen Avenue. He was beaten and stabbed to death during a burglary, according to Troy detectives and arrest warrants filed in City Court.

Gomez's death in his North Central home is tied to the kidnapping and killing of Gonzalez Hernandez, 24, whose body was found the next night in the Blue Factory Hill Road Creek in Cropseyville.

The four suspects are each charged with one count of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree kidnapping and two counts of conspiracy as well as burglary.

In addition, Salazar, Monge Guevara and Perez-Calixto were indicted for allegedly concealing a corpse for hiding Gonzalez Hernandez's body in the creek.

Salazar pleaded not guilty at his Oct. 25 arraignment. He was brought to court by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.

During the investigation immediately following the killings, police said their suspects and victims were undocumented Mexican immigrants with multiple identities.

All four had various nicknames. Monge Guevara was known as "Alfredo" and "El Gordo." Perez-Calixto also was known as "George" and Hernandez as "Sado," "The Player" or "Tocador."

emasters@timesunion.com  518-454-5467  @emilysmasters
Capital Region

More Capital Region school districts received water test results over the past two weeks showing elevated lead levels in their water fountains, sinks, showers and other places, according to notices published on district websites.

At one Rensselaer County district, lead levels were as high as 198 parts per billion  more than 13 times the acceptable limit.

Results will continue to pour in this year as schools across the state work to comply with a new state law requiring the testing. The Times Union is posting results daily on its Schools Blog, http://blog.timesunion.com/schools/.

The new law requires all public schools in New York to test water for lead at any outlet that is currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking. If a source shows lead levels above 15 parts per billion, a district is required to shut it off, and develop and implement a remediation plan  whether that be replacing pipes, faucets and other parts, or making bottled water available to students.

The latest districts to post results include Albany, Averill Park, Cohoes, Hoosic Valley, Hoosick Falls, Lansingburgh, North Colonie, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Rensselaer, Saratoga Springs, Schodack, Shenendehowa, South Glens Falls, Troy and Watervliet.

Most contaminated water came from classroom and bathroom sinks meant for hand washing or lab experiments. The following schools, however, had contaminated drinking or cooking water:

Albany, Giffen Memorial Elementary: room 100 drinking fountain (35.1 ppb), room 102 drinking fountain (27.7 ppb), first-floor hallway drinking fountain near room 102 (16.6 ppb), room 104 drinking fountain (16.2 ppb)

Albany, Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology: room 101 drinking fountain (27.8 ppb), room 105 drinking fountain (23.8 ppb)

Averill Park, Poestenkill Elementary: room 17 (art room) water fountain (15.7 ppb)

Hoosic Valley Elementary School: room 61 faculty room bubbler (56.3 ppb)

Hoosick Falls Elementary School: computer lab drinking fountain (17.5 ppb)

Lansingburgh, Rensselaer Park Elementary: cafeteria water fountain (46 ppb), room 220 water fountain (24 ppb). room 230 water fountain (23 ppb)

Lansingburgh, Turnpike Elementary: room 220 water fountain (21 ppb), room 223 water fountain (21 ppb), room 230 water fountain (17 ppb), room 227 water fountain (17 ppb)

North Colonie, Southgate Elementary: room 28 bubbler (120 ppb)

Shenendehowa, Karigon Elementary: room 25 drinking fountain (24 ppb), room 3 drinking fountain (17 ppb), room 15 drinking fountain (17 ppb), room 18 drinking fountain (16 ppb), room 11 drinking fountain (16 ppb)

Shenendehowa, Skano Elementary: room 20 drinking fountain (23 ppb), room 1 drinking fountain (17 ppb), room 14 drinking fountain (16 ppb)

Saratoga Springs, Caroline Street Elementary: hallway drinking fountain near main office (17.1 ppb)

South Glens Falls, Moreau Elementary School: music room 9 sink fountain (39.4 ppb), room 22 sink fountain (22.2 ppb), room 15 sink fountain (17 ppb), room 21 sink fountain (16.8 ppb), room 17 sink fountain (16.3 ppb), kitchen kettle (15.9 ppb)

South Glens Falls High School: kitchen square kettle (49.1 ppb)

Troy Middle School: auditorium vestibule water fountain (22 ppb)

New York became the first state in the nation to require comprehensive water testing in schools when the law was passed on Sept. 6. Districts had until Sept. 30 to test elementary schools, and must post the results within 10 days of receiving them. They had until Oct. 31 to test all other schools.

Lead exposure is particularly harmful to young children, even at low levels. Prolonged exposure can result in lower IQ, behavioral problems and brain damage. The toxic material enters drinking water when pipes containing lead corrode, especially if the water running through them has high acidity or low mineral content. Human skin does not absorb lead in water, so sinks that are used for washing are not cause for worry.

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
A Bridgeport man won a judgment of $722,290 when a Superior Court judge ruled last week that an ambulance crew botched the insertion of an IV line, causing him pain and emergency surgery.

American Medical Response Inc. had argued that the company and its employees should be protected from liability under the states Good Samaritan Act, the Connecticut Law Tribune reports.
Saratoga Springs

The son of an 86-year-old Wesley Health Care Center resident who contracted Legionnaire's disease plans to bring a lawsuit for negligence in his mother's death, according to his attorney, Michael Conway of Albany.

There are many unknowns about the suit that James Earl Johnson of Gansevoort said he would file on behalf of Alice F. Johnson, including who he would sue  the Wesley nursing home, the state Health Department and/or other parties.

Conway said he is awaiting information from the Health Department before he makes that determination.

Asked why he released information about his client's intentions now, Conway wrote in an email, "We sent it out now because my client is angry. He would like to raise awareness and he would like to bring this to an end.

"We also brought it to the media because the increased attention can be of assistance with our investigation," he wrote. "We hope that people with information will come forward and contact us to discuss what they know."

Alice Johnson is one of two patients with connections to Wesley known to have died after testing positive for Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaire's disease. As of earlier this month, 13 patients in the Saratoga Springs area had contracted the illness.

The source of contamination was initially unknown, but Wesley has since found five water sources with the bacteria, the health care center said in a Nov. 3 release. As of Nov. 1, seven of the 13 patients who contracted Legionnaire's disease had spent time at Wesley.

The Wesley Community, which includes the nursing home, said in a statement that it has been "transparent and diligent" in informing residents, family members, staff and volunteers about the potential presence of Legionella bacteria since the first patients were identified and then later when sources of contamination were identified. The nursing home put a water restriction plan in place and later retained a water treatment company to install a monochloramine system to eliminate bacteria from the water supply.

Legionnaire's disease, a pneumonia-like illness, does not spread from person to person. The bacteria is generally breathed in through droplets of water, as in a mist.

chughes@timesunion.com  518-454-5417  @hughesclaire
RIDGEFIELD  A proposal to turn one of the towns most lavish estates into a substance abuse rehabilitation center has met stout opposition.

Mountainside, a private alcohol and drug addiction treatment center with headquarters in Canaan, has proposed creating a 17-bed rehabilitation facility on property that includes the historic and sprawling Sunset Hall on Old West Mountain Road. The property, which includes a 15,000 square-foot mansion, is listed for sale at $4.75 million, according to Sothebys International Realty.

Mountainside has filed an application with the towns planning department to amend the zoning regulations and for a special permit to allow for the rehabilitation center. But dozens of town residents protested the plan at the last planning and zoning meeting, and more than 320 people have signed an online petition against it.

Mountainside representatives appeared at a planning and zoning meeting in September to outline the plan and filed a formal application Oct. 31. Planning and Zoning accepted the application at its Nov. 15 meeting and scheduled a public hearing first for Nov. 29, but that hearing has been postponed to Jan. 3.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi, who has been a strong proponent of expanded addiction treatment services, said Monday he opposes the rehabilitation center because of its proposed location.

Its not the use, its the where, said Marconi, adding that that he would be open to this type of facility elsewhere in town.

He said he met with Mountainside officials in August to discuss an unrelated issue, but their coming proposal for a rehab facility was never brought up.

It blindsided everyone, he said.

Marconi said hes concerned about the potential size of the facility, which would allow for three beds per acre, according to Mountainsides application.

The project proposes merging three parcels of land  the Sunset Hall property of nearly six acres and two adjacent parcels at 150 Old West Mountain Road  to create a 14-acre site for the facility. Marconi said this could allow for more than 40 beds.

But Matthew Eakin, the executive vice president of Mountainside, said Monday the company has no intention of going beyond the 17 proposed beds. He described the Ridgefield project as a small and intimate program.

Eakin said all those entering the Ridgefield program would first go to Mountainsides Canaan campus to undergo detoxification. Clients would then transfer to Ridgefield for up to 28 days.

The facility would be staffed 24 hours per day, seven days a week  with an average of nine employees working on the first shift, three on the second shift and one overnight. No medical, detox or walk-in services would be provided at the Ridgefield facility and auto traffic generated by the center would be very low, according to Mountainsides application.

The application calls for a 15-space parking lot, which would not be visible from Old West Mountain Road or any neighboring property. It also states that Mountainside has no plans to change the residential character of any of the structures on the property.

In response to the opposition, Eakin said, This is something that unfortunately happens in our business  and were working to try to help the neighbors understand the scope of this project.

On Sunday, Mountainside officials held what they are calling the first of several informational meetings about the project. About 15 people attended the session at the Sunset Hall property.

Eakin said Monday that in the last two years, Mountainside has addressed the medical needs of individuals who can best be described as high-functioning, successful, and high net worth.

He added that the average age of those clients are mid-40s; most are college-educated and about 40 percent have masters-level education.

A primary need for these individuals is absolute discretion and privacy, he said. After a thorough search, we learned of Sunset Hall. Its seclusion and grandeur made clear that it was an ideal location for our clientele.
BRIDGEPORT  A pursuit by city and State Police Monday morning of a vehicle that refused to stop ended with the woman crashing her car into a troopers.

Bridgeport police had begun the chase shortly before 8 a.m. when an officer saw the female driver commit a motor vehicle violation on a city street and then enter I-95 at Wordin Avenue, according to dispatch reports.
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Washington

Forget about a ringside seat for the expected battle royal over President-elect Donald Trump's likely nomination of a hardline conservative to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

As the incoming Senate minority leader, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., will be in the ring itself, punching away and taking a few punches himself.

The nomination, and the likelihood of one or two more vacancies while Trump is in office, present the very real possibility the nation's highest court will shift dramatically to the right  imperiling landmark precedents such as the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the underpinning of abortion rights in America.

Simply replacing Scalia, the court's leading conservative intellectual, puts the court back to the ideological balance at the time of his abrupt death in February: Four consistent conservatives and four liberals, with Justice Anthony Kennedy and on rare occasions Chief Justice John Roberts as swing votes.

But one of the liberals, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is 83 and in ill health. And Kennedy, 80, is rumored to be contemplating retirement soon.

"Regardless of the identity of this nominee, it's the future nominees that will determine where the court goes and it's not going to go left, that's for sure," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "The question is does it go right or far right?"

Trump has made no secret of his desire to nominate someone just like Scalia, who long urged fidelity to the original intent of the Constitution's framers  a view that had no room for protections of abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

During the campaign, Trump issued a list of 21 potential nominees, many of them judges or justices on state supreme courts. One thing they had in common: All are known hardcore conservatives. Among them is U.S. Court of Appeals Judge William Pryor, who once called Roe v. Wade an "abomination."

Trump's winning coalition included evangelical voters, for whom the prospect of overturning Roe v. Wade was a major incentive to vote for the thrice-married New York real estate developer with a history of infidelity and crude behavior toward women.

Judicial conservatives want an unquestionable conservative to avoid what they term "another Souter," a reference to former Justice David Souter who was nominated as a sure-fire conservative by President George H.W. Bush but morphed over time into a reliable liberal.

"I hope that President Trump picks a mainstream candidate,'" Schumer said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press., defining "mainstream" as "somebody you may not agree with on every issue, but basically believes in precedent."

Schumer said if Trump fails to pick a nominee from the mainstream, "we're going to go at him with everything we have, or her," Schumer said. Democrats will "go at the candidate with everything we've got because this is so, so important."

For Schumer and Senate Democrats including New York's other senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, the sting of Republicans side-stepping President Obama's nominee still lingers.

"We are deeply disappointed in the way our colleagues treated Merrick Garland," Schumer said Wednesday after Senate Democrats elected him minority leader.

Obama nominated Garland in the wake of Scalia's death, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, refused confirmation hearings and a vote, saying the next president should appoint the nominee.

Although payback does not appear to be in the offing, Schumer, Gillibrand and other Democrats promise a deep probe of any nominee's legal views, as well as vigilance in the face of the inevitable "confirmation conversion"  backpedaling by nominees on past controversial writings and opinions.

But unabashed defense of a conservative record might be worse in terms of swaying Democratic votes.

"I will look at every nominee fairly," Gillibrand said. "But if there's someone who is going to undermine women's rights, gay rights, clean air, clean water, I'm going to fight hard."

The looming battle promises to be an early test of Schumer's strengths and liabilities as minority leader.

"Schumer is exactly what the Democrats need right now," said Sabato. "He is one shrewd, clever legislator and a real tactician and strategist. They're going to need that kind of leadership to kill the nomination of anyone too far right."

A strategic quandary facing Democrats is that the Republican majority may extend the "nuclear option" promulgated by then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2013, to cover Supreme Court nominations, which would mean GOP Senate leaders need 51 votes  not the customary 60  to win confirmation.

Reid forged the so-called "nuclear option" as an end run around Republicans blocking Democratic lower court nominees. But Reid specifically excluded the Supreme Court. So as things stand today, a Supreme Court nominee needs 60 votes to win confirmation.

With a slim 52-48 majority in the upcoming 115th Congress, Republicans are threatening to change the rules yet again to require a simple majority for all judicial nominations including Supreme Court. The Senate's senior Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, opposes it, but Democrats still worry.

"We did not change the rules (regarding) the Supreme Court because we thought on something as important as this there should be some degree of bipartisan agreement," Schumer said.

Dan@hearstdc.com
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo used a Sunday-morning address at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem to deliver his most full-throated response to episodes of hate speech and other forms on intolerance that have occurred in the wake of the election almost two weeks ago.

"I come here today with a heavy heart," he said from the pulpit. "The ugly political discourse of the election did not end on Election Day. In many ways, it's gotten worse  it's deepened into a social crisis that challenges our very identity as a state and as a nation and as a people."

Without mentioning President-elect Donald Trump or any other politician, Cuomo listed several of the incidents in New York and around the nation, and said he, like many others was "soul-sick for the America that I know and I love."

"The fact is this: If you sow fear, you reap hysteria; if you sow divisiveness, you reap anarchy," he said. "... We have seen this act before: the race massacre in Tulsa in 1921; the Palmer raids and the mass deportations of immigrants in the '20s; the internment of Japanese citizens in World War II; the Red Scare of the '50s."

Cuomo said that while this election season "vented and fostered" righteous public anger about income inequality, technological and economic displacement, and the lack of sufficient response by a political elite, that emotion must not be "misdirected" at the false target of "people who one sees as different from one's self."

"Demonizing our differences injects a social poison into the fabric of this country," Cuomo said.

The governor said his administration would propose a "public-private legal defense fund" for immigrants who cannot afford lawyers. A Cuomo spokesman said the funds for the legal defense project would be included in Cuomo's executive budget proposal, which is due in January. That makes it subject to possible opposition to the state Senate's Republicans, who in the past have been reluctant to support initiatives such as the DREAM Act, which would make education funds more available to undocumented immigrants and their children.

He told the congregation he would order the State Police and the Division of Human Rights to form a special unit to investigate the most recent acts of intolerance. Looking to the legislative session set to begin in January, the governor said he would seek to amend state law to make such episodes committed on public school property subject to action under Human Rights Law.

A 2012 decision by the state Court of Appeals ruled that public school districts fell outside the law's scope.

New York state, he added, has a special responsibility to set an example for the rest of the nation due to its historical role as a way station for new Americans.

"If there is a move to deport immigrants, I say then start with me  because I am the son of Mario Cuomo, the son of Andrea Cuomo, a poor Italian immigrant who came to this country without a job, without money, without resources, and he was here only for the promise of America," he said.

Also Sunday, Cuomo sent an open letter to New York's students, reiterating that schools should be safe and welcoming spaces.

"For centuries, our state has thrived on the energy and ambition of the young people seeking to build their lives here. Your intelligence, your creativity, your idealism enriches us all," he said. "You are welcome here."
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State Police arrested a 26-year-old man wanted in Orange County after posting his mug shot and physical description on social media Wednesday.

Paul Fisher of the nine people listed in a Wednesday round-up of State Police warrants, a weekly fixture of the agency's Facebook page.

Fisher was wanted in Deerpark for felony grand larceny and burglary charges. Fisher allegedly broke into a hunting camp and stole a 2015 Polaris all terrain vehicle and a utility trailer, State Police said. He failed to return to court after his original arrest, prompting the warrant.

In recent months, state troopers have used their Facebook page to post details about suspects wanted for a variety of crimes in the state.

Warrant Wednesday: State Police seek Valley Falls man

State Police on the lookout for woman wanted in Granville

Troopers on the hunt for man in Albany traffic stop
AUSTIN -- A growing coalition of 18 Texas-based organizations, leading the Texans for Property Rights grassroots initiative, will host a meeting at the National Ranching Heritage Center (Anderson Room) in Lubbock on Wednesday Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. There will be discussion of eminent domain issues along with ideas to safeguard Texans private property rights.

Property owners who attend will learn about upcoming legislative efforts to achieve fairness in the laws that govern the use of eminent domain in Texas. A legal expert will be present for an overview of current laws and discuss possible improvements.




The event will be attended by more than 160 exhibitors from 14 countries and territories with numerous booths displaying sustainably developed products and technology, with automation and energy saving features.

Major exhibited products are glass production, glass processing and products; door manufacturing, door products, partition and front, materials and spare parts.

On the sidelines, the organizers will host two workshops with subjects about architectural glass application in Vietnam and improving efficiency and productivity at working places.

GlassTech Asia 2016 is co-organized by the Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd, Singapore Glass Association and Vietnam Glass Association./.
President Tran Dai Quang and Russian President Vladimir Putin in their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2016 in Lima, Peru. (Source: VNA)



In the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders agreed that the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the past years has maintained positive progress.

They held that increasing political trust and promoting deep and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States are in line with the basic interests of the Vietnamese and Chinese people.

The leaders shared the view that in the context of sophisticated developments of the world and region situation, the two sides need to frequently carry out strategic exchanges, satisfactorily resolve disputes and promote cooperation for the common interest of the two countries peoples as well as for peace, stability and development in the region.

President Quang expressed his wish that the two countries would continue to maintain the exchange of high-ranking delegations and meetings as well as boost practical cooperation between ministries, localities as well as exchanges of people and youths.

He recommended China to coordinate with Vietnam to ensure balanced and sustainable bilateral trade, and improve the quality and effectiveness of Chinese-invested projects in Vietnam and resolve difficulties in cooperation fields.

Sharing the opinions with President Tran Dai Quang, Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to boost political grounds for the bilateral relationship and wished the two countries to make the best use of the steering committee for Vietnam-China bilateral cooperation to further promote win-win cooperative ties in different fields, including infrastructure.

At the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders expressed their pleasure at the rapid development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

They wished Vietnam and Russia would join hands to lay a solid foundation for bilateral relationship in all fields from economic, trade, investment to education and security-defence.

President Quang recommended the two countries to maintain the exchange of delegations and meetings at all levels and closely coordinate in implementing the Vietnam-Eurasia free trade agreement.

He requested the Russian side to create favourable conditions for Vietnam to export consumer commodities, seafood and aquatic products to Russia and have measures to protect legal rights and interests of Vietnamese who are living and working in Russia.

President Putin affirmed Russia treasures the traditional friendship relationship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam and is willing to boost bilateral relations, especially in such fields as economy, trade, education-training, and science-technology.

Stressing the landmark of the Vietnam-Eurasia free trade agreement in the bilateral relationship, President Putin believed that the good implementation of the agreement will open up opportunities to expand the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.

During their meeting, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and President Tran Dai Quang are pleased at the development of the Vietnam-Chile comprehensive partnership in many fields.

As the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1971-2016), President Quang recommended the two sides to promote the signing of cooperation agreements to further facilitate the bilateral relationship.

The Vietnamese leader wished Chile to closely cooperate and effectively support the APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam and affirmed Vietnam endorses Chiles hosting of the APEC Year in 2019.

For her part, President Bachelet affirmed Chile treasures and is willing to further boost the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam. Chile supports and is ready to closely coordinate for the success of the APEC Year Vietnam 2017 and APEC Chile 2019, she added.

In his reception for Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, President Quang appreciated the importance of cooperation in education and training between the two countries and recommended Canada to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese to study and research in Canada, maintaining Vietnams position as the Southeast Asian country with most students in Canada.

PM Trudeau expressed his willingness to boost economic and trade relationship with Vietnam and appreciated Vietnams role in the region and affirmed to continue closely coordinate with Vietnam in regional and international forums and organisations.

On the same day, President Tran Dai Quang also received Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill. In the meeting, President Quang affirmed Vietnam always wants to boost relationship with Papua New Guinea and other island countries in the South Pacific Ocean.

PM ONeill appreciated Vietnams important socio-economic achievements as well as its increasing role in ASEAN, the region and the world and affirmed Papua New Guinea will continue closely coordinate with Vietnam in the APEC Year Vietnam 2017 and APEC Year Papua New Guinea 2018.

The two sides agreed to make the relationship more practical and boost the exchange of all-level delegations and soon hold talks and sign cooperation agreements in fields like trade, investment, agriculture, mining, fishery.

In the meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, President Quang said the two countries need to increase the exchange of delegations and recommended Australia to create more favourable conditions for Vietnam to export agricultural products to the Australian market.

President Quang also met with US President Barrack Obama, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei King Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

In these meetings, President Quang invited the leaders to attend the High-level APEC Week 2017 in Vietnam./.
WESTPORTTown Operations Director Dewey Loselle abruptly resigned from his post Nov. 18.

Appointed by First Selectman Jim Marpe in June of 2014, Loselle played a prominent role in securing $440,000 for transit-oriented development in Saugatuck and laying out an $8 million energy-conservation initiative for several town buildingsmany of which are schools.

In the towns statement Marpe said he plans to fill Loselles vacancy as soon as possible and will use a bi-partisan search committee to find a replacement. No reason was given for Loselles departure and Marpe has yet to respond to a request for comment.

I wish Dewey well as he pursues other interests. His input, determination, work ethic and expertise have been invaluable to the Town employees, department heads and, most importantly to the residents of this community, Marpe said.

The position of town operations director, which neither Marpes successors used, drew criticism after Marpe was elected in 2013. Many questioned the need for a $90,000 town job added to the payroll.

Loselle, who chaired the downtown steering committee, has over 30 years of experience working in both local and state government: He was a division chief for the New York City Comptroller, an assistant commissioner for budget and finance in New York City, worked as a consultant for Greenwich and Stamford and spent time under Gov. William ONeil working on government efficiencies.

A resident of Westport for over 20 years, Loselle served on the RTM.

@chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com
In partnership with IME  Institut Mediterraneen de lEau

Financial backers will be able to obtain information they need from the commission to assess financing requests. "Thus, the commission will be able not only to supply and share any progress data but also to enable the monitoring and evaluation of project results and the impact these may have on the environmental, economic and social levels," explains the IME in its presentation document on the commission."The commission will be a very lightweight structure with a dedicated website for our members. The IME has experts who can monitor these types of key infrastructure projects. We will be looking at both the success stories and the failures," points out Kennou. "We will be starting with the theme of desalination and re-use of treated waste water, both major issues in the Mediterranean. We will be announcing the official launch of the commission next June. The inclusion of a project will of course depend on prior agreement from the country concerned."
The Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center is located in the heart of campus behind the bell tower. No major changes have been made to the building since 2008. This is a relevant issue because it currently fails to meet the standard of student needs and the overall level of excellence the college demands.

The library needs to extend its hours to accommodate students with diverse schedules and the amount of routers throughout the facility. The problem is that the current facility is not being utilized to its full potential to adequately ensure the current students achieve a higher level of academic achievement.

Others may argue that there werent enough faculty or staff members to work on weekends and extended library hours may not be worth the effort. Even LRC Director John Deets said, not enough students come in during the current library hours.

The inference is that if extended library hours were provided, not enough students would take advantage of this opportunity in order to effectively balance the costs it takes to run the facility for longer hours. Research indicates that 87 percent of Midland College students do not consider having extended library hours as their main concern. We believe current tuition and fees are more than capable of covering the costs needed to provide the necessary resources and accommodations to ensure our academic success.

An opportunity for work-study students is present here. The projected costs for implementing this would be to increase salaries for those employees who are willing to work extended hours.

We want students on our campus to feel at ease and know that our library resources are available to help them at a wide variety of times and not undermined by its existing resources.

Second, we must ask our administration to allow maintenance to solve this issue by adding more outlets to the existing tables and walls. The cost of this, according to MC Executive Vice President Richard Jolly, is estimated to be around $15,000 for electrical needs. The kinds of materials needed to make it work would be electrical plus and outlets.

The labor needed to make it work would be implemented by our administration allowed maintenance officials to purchase the necessary materials needed and install them at an efficient rate. This addresses the issue of students and faculty members not having enough places to plug in their computers or electronic devises when needed.

Our library, the LRC, fails to meet students academic needs. Students hold our college in high esteem. We feel the benefits of our solution outweigh the costs because our students will improve in their academic achievement. It will create an academic boost in Midland Colleges prestige and increase future enrollment.

The administration will highly appreciate this because they agree with the value that our library is able to deliver.

Our current facility needs to be updated because it fails to adequately meet the changing needs of the student body though implementation of extended library hours and updated technology to accommodate the needs of the current students.

Note: Published with permission of Midland College.
A man was arrested and charged with capital murder Monday after a near 30-hour manhunt for the suspect who fatally shot SAPD Det. Benjamin Marconi during a traffic stop Sunday.

Otis Tyrone McKane, 31, was arrested Monday and told reporters he had "lashed out at somebody who didn't deserve it" due to an ongoing custody battle for his son. McKane was charged with capital murder.
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As the manhunt for the suspect involved in killing San Antonio Det. Benjamin Marconi continued Monday, dozens gathered outside police headquarters, leaving notes and gifts in honor of the slain officer.

Marconi, 50, was shot and killed Sunday while issuing a traffic citation outside of the departments downtown headquarters, 315 South Santa Rosa. During the stop, a person in a black vehicle parked behind Marconis patrol car. The suspect proceeded to ambush the detective, firing two shots through the passenger window of Marconis cruiser.

RELATED: SAPD: Suspect entered police HQ hours before ambush killing of officer, 'uniform was the target'

Marconi was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he later died.

Marconi's family released a statement Monday asking for privacy.

"At this time, the Marconi family would like to give thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support, prayers and love we have received. At this time, we would appreciate privacy to mourn the loss of a wonderful father, brother, grandfather, friend and last, but not least, a peace officer," the family said, thanking the San Antonio community and the support they received from the country.

The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the detective's memorial fund or any of the following organizations:

Community members honored the detective's memory leaving candles, balloons, and thank you notes outside of police headquarters Monday.

RELATED: 13 things to know about the fatal shooting of SAPD Det. Benjamin Marconi

SAPD Chief William McManus told reporters Monday that the uniform was the target in Marconis death.

The suspect is thought to be a dark-skinned male, 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall, who was seen pacing outside of police headquarters early Sunday morning, McManus said. He said the suspect entered police headquarters around 7:45 a.m. and briefly spoke to a clerk inside.

RELATED: SAPD officer shot, killed near police HQ downtown

We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous to the police and the public, McManus said Monday.

Staff writers Tyler White, Emilie Eaton, Chirs Quinn, Kolten Parker, Silvia Foster-Frau and news researched Mike Knoop contributed to this report.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
The family of slain SAPD Det. Benjamin Marconi thanked the community Monday for "the outpouring of support, prayers and love" they have received since Sunday.

Marconi was shot and killed while issuing a traffic citation Sunday. He was ambushed by a suspect who shot him through the passenger window of his patrol car, striking him in the head, police said.
Texas remains the deadliest state for law enforcement, with 18 officers killed in the line of duty so far this year, after a San Antonio detective was slain in an ambush Sunday, records show.

The Officer Down Memorial Page, which is updated in real time, shows Texas had the most police deaths in 2015 and so far in 2016. Eight of this year's deaths were due to gunfire, according to the memorial page.

California is the second-deadliest state for law enforcement this year, with 11 recorded deaths. According to the memorial page, gunfire deaths are up by 71 percent, and 127 officers have died in the line of duty this year.

RELATED: SAPD: Suspect entered police HQ hours before ambush killing of officer, 'uniform was the target'

The high number for Texas was bolstered by the death of SAPD Det. Bejamin Marconi. Marconi, 50, was shot and killed in downtown San Antonio Sunday. He was issuing a traffic citation when a man shot him twice through the passenger window of the his patrol car.

Gov. Greg Abbott denounced the shooting of the detective, a 20-year SAPD veteran, Sunday saying his death was a horrific act of violence. Abbott vowed to sign his Police Protection Act, which would make extend hate crime protections to law enforcement.

RELATED: 53 members of the San Antonio Police Department have died in the line of duty since 1857

In July, Abbott announced the act days after five police officers were shot and killed during an ambush in downtown Dallas.

Online records show no bills for the next legislative session have been filed regarding penalties for crimes against police.

RELATED: Slain officer was a 20-year veteran of the force

"More law enforcement officers have been lost in Texas than in any other state," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a news release Sunday. "We cannot tolerate our police officers becoming targets on our streets when they are doing their job, which is why protecting law enforcement must remain a top priority for Texas."

Speaking to reporters Monday, SAPD Chief William McManus said he believes "the uniform was the target" in Marconi's death.

Marconi is the first San Antonio officer to die in the line of duty in two years, records show. SAPD officer Robert Deckard Jr., 32, was shot while pursuing two robbery suspects in December 2013. He died after 13 days in intensive care.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
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SAN ANTONIO -- Texas officials are sending their condolences to fallen San Antonio Det. Benjamin Marconi, who was gunned down during a routine traffic stop Sunday.

Gov. Greg Abbott called for additional protections for police officers in a statement.

"Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family and harshly condemn this horrific act of violence," Abbott said. "We ask that all Texans join us in praying for the officer's loved ones as they deal with the aftermath of this unimaginable tragedy. Attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice, which is why I look forward to signing my Police Protection Act into law - making targeted attacks against law enforcement a hate crime. "

RELATED: SAPD officer shot, killed near police HQ downtown

Abbott introduced the Police Protection Act in July after five Dallas officers were killed in a shooting at a Black Lives Matter protest. The proposal calls for extending hate crime protections to law enforcement officers.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also released a statement Sunday.

"To the San Antonio Police Department and law enforcement officers all across the State of Texas, our message is clear: we stand unequivocally with you, and we will not tolerate those who viciously and deliberately target law enforcement."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton decried the murder, noting previous instances of violence against officers in the state.

"Texans grieve today, yet again, as a courageous police officer was senselessly murdered in the line of duty in San Antonio. My office will support the San Antonio Police Department however we can now and in the days ahead. Angela and I extend our prayers and deepest sympathy to this officer's family and to his colleagues in San Antonio and around Texas."

The New York Police Department Special Operations team tweeted out their support for Marconi and SAPD.

"Our prayers are with the family & friends of @SATXPolice Detective Benjamin Marconi who was shot & killed in the line of duty #RIP"

RELATED: Hours-long standoff on Northwest Side with SAPD ends in gunfire, one dead

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement:

"It appears the officer may have been murdered simply because he was an officer," Patrick said. "More law enforcement officers have been lost in Texas than in any other state. We cannot tolerate our police officers becoming targets on our streets when they are doing their job, which is why protecting law enforcement must remain a top priority for Texas."
SAN ANTONIO  A man was shot and killed Monday morning in an alley on the East Side, according to police.

Officers were dispatched at 9:26 a.m. Monday to the 600 block of Green Valley Drive, where police found a person with several gunshot wounds to the back after responding to a call for an assault in progress. They found the body in the 600 block of Knotty Knoll Street in an alley, according to a preliminary police report.
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SAN ANTONIO  The man police believe fatally ambushed an officer Sunday morning entered SAPDs downtown headquarters hours before shooting Det. Benjamin Marconi in his patrol car nearby, officials said at a press conference Monday morning.

SAPD Chief William McManus said the suspect, now the target of a massive manhunt, entered the downtown headquarters at 315 S. Santa Rosa around 7:45 a.m.

About four hours later, police say, the suspect approached the 20-year SAPD veteran's car on the south side of the building as he carried out a traffic stop on another driver and shot him twice through the passenger window of Marconi's patrol cruiser.

"I think the uniform was the target," McManus said. ...We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous to the police and the public."

RELATED: 13 things to know about the fatal shooting of SAPD Det. Benjamin Marconi

Surveillance footage released by police Monday morning shows a dark-skinned man, who police have described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall, pacing out front of police headquarters before entering the building.

McManus said the suspect spoke to a clerk for around 20 seconds before leaving. McManus said no officers were in the building at the time, but refused to elaborate on the interaction, citing an ongoing investigation.

Officials released few other details on the suspect, saying they're not sure whether he is from the area and warning people to report any sightings to police.

The suspect was driving a black Mitsubishi Galant with chrome wheels when he pulled up behind Marconi before opening fire, police said.

Local police, in coordination with federal agencies, have questioned a number of individuals, including the driver who was being pulled over by Marconi, since the incident, but all of have been released, McManus said.

McManus said the department is encouraging officers to pair up when they patrol neighborhoods and respond to 911 calls, although its not required.

MORE: SAPD officers who have died in the line of duty

The San Antonio Police Department headquarters is a multi-story building located on the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and Nueva Street. The building has two sets of glass doors that lead to a spacious lobby with couches, an information center and a security check, which leads to the rest of the building. The information center, where the suspect is seen in video surveillance talking to a clerk, is enclosed in glass.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the capital murder, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday morning his office is offering an additional $15,000 for that information.

McManus described the situation as everyones "worst nightmare."

"It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country," McManus said.

RELATED: SAPD officer shot, killed near police HQ downtown

Marconi on Sunday was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Marconi's family released a statement Monday asking for privacy.

"At this time, the Marconi family would like to give thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support, prayers and love we have received. At this time, we would appreciate privacy to mourn the loss of a wonderful father, brother, grandfather, friend and last, but not least, a peace officer," the family said, thanking the San Antonio community and the support they received from the country.

The last San Antonio police officer killed was Robert Deckard Jr., who died in December 2013.

Deckard, 32, was a seven-year veteran at SAPD who was shot Dec. 8, 2013 as he pursued two robbery suspects. The chase reached speeds of 115 mph, police said. Deckard died after 13 days in intensive care.

Staff writers Chris Quinn, Silvia Foster-Frau and news researcher Mike Knoop contributed to this report.

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Twitter: @KoltenParker
AUSTIN  The Texas Veterans Commission and Texas.gov have announced the launch of the redesigned Texas Veterans Portal, an important website that connects veterans and their families to the benefits and assistance they have earned as a result of their military service.

As the home to nearly 2 million veterans, Texas must be at the forefront of ensuring our military members receive the care and benefits they have earned in service to our great nation, said Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas Veterans Portal will help veterans more easily connect with the services they need. I am proud of the Lone Star States commitment to our servicemen and women and look forward to continuing our efforts to improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans and their families.
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Recently released photos taken on the U.S.-Mexico border show the operations behind volunteer-based organizations committed to responding to the immigration uptick that some attribute to Donald Trump's presidential win.

Arizona Border Recon, comprised mostly of former U.S. military servicemen and women, is the subject of the Getty Images collection released last week. The armed reconnaissance group working out of Arivaca vehemently denies online that it is a militia.

RELATED: Report: Militias on the U.S.-Mexico border waterboard each other for training

"We value human life, and to that extent we will do what we can to help anyone we encounter. Any individuals we come across are treated humanely: food, water, and medical aid are given" the group explained on its website.

Over the past three months, U.S. Border Patrol agents have caught more migrants than they have in the same period in the last five years, according to the Washington Post.

In October alone, 46,195 migrants were arrested  an almost 11,000 increase from the same period during the immigration crisis in 2014, according to the report.

RELATED: Anti-government citizen militia groups want to 'secure the border' in Texas

Migrants and officials in both United States and Mexico have attributed Donald Trump's presidential win as the reasoning for the uptick.

"His plans have become a selling point for the smugglers urging people to cross the border before a wall goes up," the report said.

Hector Garza, a Laredo-area border patrol agent and union representative, told The Washington Post "action" needs to be taken.

"Right now it's out of control," he said.

Some militias have attempted to assert their control via violent rhetoric on social media and YouTube videos.

"You see an illegal. You point your gun dead at him, right between his eyes, and you say, 'Get back across the border or you will be shot," said Chris Davis, who told the Express-News he was the "commander" of the operation in Laredo, on a since-deleted YouTube video.

But, the 200-volunteer Arizona Border Recon, which formed in 2011 and has been a "mainstay" in the area, promises they "take the law very seriously."

RELATED: Photos show border militias moving across Texas

"We ensure our members are knowledgeable in the applicable areas of law that govern civil rights, use of force, citizens arrest and many more," the organization explained on the website. "This ensures our members are acting appropriately, are safe, and provides for the individuals we come into contact with by affording them the same humane and civil treatment."

The gallery above provides a glimpse into the volunteer Arizona border patrol operations.

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Twitter: @MaddySkye
For the fourth time, Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, has filed a much-needed distracted driving bill that would address the plague of smartphone usage while behind the wheel. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has also filed a bill to ban texting while driving.

We strongly encourage state lawmakers to back Craddicks effort. Not only does it have the potential to save lives, but it would bring regulatory clarity to the state. Distracted driving led to nearly 500 deaths on Texas roads last year, Craddick has said.
Any shooting death is a tragedy, but when the victim is a police officer it is that and more. One individual has assaulted us all and ripped at the community fabric.

Police are searching for a shooter and a motive.

But, let us be clear. There can be no motive that justifies what amounts to an assassination of a police officer. That is precisely what appears to have happened. Detective Benjamin Marconi of the San Antonio Police Departments Special Victims Unit was shot and killed during a traffic stop Sunday. Another vehicle came up behind, a person exited and shot Marconi, 50, while he was in his car writing a ticket

And all of San Antonio and Bexar County mourns, joined by an outpouring of sympathy from the rest of the state and nation.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the killing a horrific act of violence. It is indeed that.

How is a community to respond?

With resolve that whatever differences that exist between police and the community be settled with open civil dialogue  and with resolve that neither the community nor the citys officers will cast blame recklessly wide.

Whatever this shooters motives, his actions are an aberration that dont say anything meaningful about community attitudes about the police. Until we are shown otherwise, this is the act of a lone person who speaks and acts only for himself, a seriously misguided self.

Mayor Ivy Taylor had already launched a Council on Police Community Relations, which just completed its third meeting.

Police work is inherently perilous. And the community owes a debt to the men and women who take on the job  and the danger.

The murder of Detective Marconi illustrates just how dangerous the work can be. But this is a bit different. This was not a case of an officer shot and killed while trying to make an arrest of an armed suspect. This has all the earmarks of purposeful targeting. And this speaks to issues with which this city, other cities and the nation have been grappling. The response should be to keep that dialogue going.

But, first we should pledge support for Marconi, his family and friends and his law enforcement colleagues everywhere. It is a dark day for San Antonio.
By Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Originally published at Project Syndicate

Are economists partly responsible for Donald Trumps shocking victory in the US presidential election? Even if they may not have stopped Trump, economists would have had a greater impact on the public debate had they stuck closer to their disciplines teaching, instead of siding with globalizations cheerleaders.

As my book Has Globalization Gone Too Far? went to press nearly two decades ago, I approached a well-known economist to ask him if he would provide an endorsement for the back cover. I claimed in the book that, in the absence of a more concerted government response, too much globalization would deepen societal cleavages, exacerbate distributional problems, and undermine domestic social bargains  arguments that have become conventional wisdom since.

The economist demurred. He said he didnt really disagree with any of the analysis, but worried that my book would provide ammunition for the barbarians. Protectionists would latch on to the books arguments about the downsides of globalization to provide cover for their narrow, selfish agenda.

Its a reaction I still get from my fellow economists. One of them will hesitantly raise his hand following a talk and ask: Dont you worry that your arguments will be abused and serve the demagogues and populists you are decrying?

There is always a risk that our arguments will be hijacked in the public debate by those with whom we disagree. But I have never understood why many economists believe this implies we should skew our argument about trade in one particular direction. The implicit premise seems to be that there are barbarians on only one side of the trade debate. Apparently, those who complain about World Trade Organization rules or trade agreements are awful protectionists, while those who support them are always on the side of the angels.

In truth, many trade enthusiasts are no less motivated by their own narrow, selfish agendas. The pharmaceutical firms pursuing tougher patent rules, the banks pushing for unfettered access to foreign markets, or the multinationals seeking special arbitration tribunals have no greater regard for the public interest than the protectionists do. So when economists shade their arguments, they effectively favor one set of barbarians over another.

It has long been an unspoken rule of public engagement for economists that they should champion trade and not dwell too much on the fine print. This has produced a curious situation. The standard models of trade with which economists work typically yield sharp distributional effects: income losses by certain groups of producers or worker categories are the flip side of the gains from trade. And economists have long known that market failures  including poorly functioning labor markets, credit market imperfections, knowledge or environmental externalities, and monopolies  can interfere with reaping those gains.

They have also known that the economic benefits of trade agreements that reach beyond borders to shape domestic regulations  as with the tightening of patent rules or the harmonization of health and safety requirements  are fundamentally ambiguous.

Nonetheless, economists can be counted on to parrot the wonders of comparative advantage and free trade whenever trade agreements come up. They have consistently minimized distributional concerns, even though it is now clear that the distributional impact of, say, the North American Free Trade Agreement or Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization were significant for the most directly affected communities in the United States. They have overstated the magnitude of aggregate gains from trade deals, though such gains have been relatively small since at least the 1990s. They have endorsed the propaganda portraying todays trade deals as free trade agreements, even though Adam Smith and David Ricardo would turn over in their graves if they read the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

This reluctance to be honest about trade has cost economists their credibility with the public. Worse still, it has fed their opponents narrative. Economists failure to provide the full picture on trade, with all of the necessary distinctions and caveats, has made it easier to tar trade, often wrongly, with all sorts of ill effects.

For example, as much as trade may have contributed to rising inequality, it is only one factor contributing to that broad trend  and in all likelihood a relatively minor one, compared to technology. Had economists been more upfront about the downside of trade, they may have had greater credibility as honest brokers in this debate.

Similarly, we might have had a more informed public discussion about social dumping if economists had been willing to recognize that imports from countries where labor rights are not protected do raise serious questions about distributive justice. It may have been possible then to distinguish cases where low wages in poor countries reflect low productivity from cases of genuine rights violations. And the bulk of trade that does not raise such concerns may have been better insulated from charges of unfair trade.

Likewise, if economists had listened to their critics who warned about currency manipulation, trade imbalances, and job losses, instead of sticking to models that assumed away such problems, they might have been in a better position to counter excessive claims about the adverse impact of trade deals on employment.

In short, had economists gone public with the caveats, uncertainties, and skepticism of the seminar room, they might have become better defenders of the world economy. Unfortunately, their zeal to defend trade from its enemies has backfired. If the demagogues making nonsensical claims about trade are now getting a hearing  and, in the US and elsewhere, actually winning power  it is trades academic boosters who deserve at least part of the blame.
Hopefully, French readers will chime in to add to English language media reports of the stunning win by former French prime minister Francois Fillon, who mere weeks ago had been the number three candidate in the Conservative party runoff for President. But a sparkling debate performance, unforced errors by his opponents, and a distinctive message delivered a fatal blow to former President Nicholas Sarkozy, who said he is retiring from public life. Fillon received 44.1% of the vote in the open runoff election, versus 28.6% for former prime minister Alain Juppe, who had been leading in polls, and 20.6% for Sarkozy.

The election battle in France expected to be right versus further right. President Francois Hollande is scoring abysmally in polls, and so the election in 2017 is expected to pit the Conservative winner against Le Front Nationales Marine Le Pen.

Even though pundits expect the Conservatives to beat Le Pen, one wonders why voters would back failed neoliberal policies. For instance, Fillion is running on neo-Thatchertie positions that he calls pro-business, such as increasing the work week from 35 to 39 hours and weakening labor rights. He also favors curbing the parental rights of gay couples, cracking down on political Islam, and improving relations with Russia. As the Financial Times blandly noted:

The unexpected outcome of the primaries has reinforced the sense of upheaval in the French political mainstream  shaken by the anti-elite uprising behind Donald Trumps election as US president and the UKs vote to leave the EU as well as the electoral gains of Ms Le Pens National Front.

Among other things, this upset shows yet again that pundits and pollsters are no longer able to read the publics mood. And next May is a long way away. Admittedly, events in the interim could work against Le Pen just as readily as they could favor her. However, the sunny elite belief that her threat will be beaten back is starting to look like overconfidence.
A phone that charges in seconds? Scientists bring it closer to reality (Nanowerk News) A team of University of Central Florida (UCF) scientists has developed a new process for creating flexible supercapacitors that can store more energy and be recharged more than 30,000 times without degrading.

The novel method from the University of Central Florida's NanoScience Technology Center could eventually revolutionize technology as varied as mobile phones and electric vehicles.

"If they were to replace the batteries with these supercapacitors, you could charge your mobile phone in a few seconds and you wouldn't need to charge it again for over a week," said Nitin Choudhary, a postdoctoral associate who conducted much of the research published recently in the academic journal ACS Nano ("High-Performance One-Body Core/Shell Nanowire Supercapacitor Enabled by Conformal Growth of Capacitive 2D WS2 Layers").

Illustration represents the novel design of the supercapacitor developed at the University of Central Florida. (Image: UCF)

Anyone with a smartphone knows the problem: After 18 months or so, it holds a charge for less and less time as the battery begins to degrade.

Scientists have been studying the use of nanomaterials to improve supercapacitors that could enhance or even replace batteries in electronic devices. It's a stubborn problem, because a supercapacitor that held as much energy as a lithium-ion battery would have to be much, much larger.

The team at UCF has experimented with applying newly discovered two-dimensional materials only a few atoms thick to supercapacitors. Other researchers have also tried formulations with graphene and other two-dimensional materials, but with limited success.

"There have been problems in the way people incorporate these two-dimensional materials into the existing systems - that's been a bottleneck in the field. We developed a simple chemical synthesis approach so we can very nicely integrate the existing materials with the two-dimensional materials," said principal investigator Yeonwoong "Eric" Jung, an assistant professor with joint appointments to the NanoScience Technology Center and the Materials Science & Engineering Department.

Jung's team has developed supercapacitors composed of millions of nanometer-thick wires coated with shells of two-dimensional materials. A highly conductive core facilitates fast electron transfer for fast charging and discharging. And uniformly coated shells of two-dimensional materials yield high energy and power densities.

Scientists already knew two-dimensional materials held great promise for energy storage applications. But until the UCF-developed process for integrating those materials, there was no way to realize that potential, Jung said.

"For small electronic devices, our materials are surpassing the conventional ones worldwide in terms of energy density, power density and cyclic stability," Choudhary said.

Cyclic stability defines how many times it can be charged, drained and recharged before beginning to degrade. For example, a lithium-ion battery can be recharged fewer than 1,500 times without significant failure. Recent formulations of supercapacitors with two-dimensional materials can be recharged a few thousand times.

By comparison, the new process created at UCF yields a supercapacitor that doesn't degrade even after it's been recharged 30,000 times.

Jung is working with UCF's Office of Technology Transfer to patent the new process.

Supercapacitors that use the new materials could be used in phones and other electronic gadgets, and electric vehicles that could benefit from sudden bursts of power and speed. And because they're flexible, it could mean a significant advancement in wearable tech, as well.
The end of biotechnology as we know it

(Nanowerk News) If there were no biotechnology, the world would stand still. "Biotechnologically derived drugs dominate therapy with eight of the top ten best-selling drugs are produced using biotech methods," says Prof. Nigel Titchener-Hooker from the University College London.

The European Union is funding research projects in bio-economy with 3.8 Bio Euro in the Horizon2020 program. Additionally, 3.7 Bio Euro are mobilized to drive the biobased value chain through funding public-private-partnerships within the European Bioconsortium between 2014 and 2020, states Dirk Carrez, director of the European Bioconsortium.

Based on huge funding and investments, the world of biotechnology moves quickly forward. New technologies help the industry saving production costs and shorten development times. Using ultra scale-down technologies like tangential flow microfiltration and tangential flow chromatography, process times could be decreased from five hours to minutes. Perfusion systems reduce costs of goods for about 20 % compared to traditional (but still more stable) fed-batch systems, so Hooker-Titchener who believes that personalized medicine will be available by 2025 despite problems with clinical studies and approvals.

As most highly valuable therapeutics are manufactured using CHO cells (Chinese hamster ovary cells), improving these systems is a top priority of the pharmaceutical industry. According to Helene Faustrup Kildegaard from Novo Nordisk, traditional technologies like random integration, down-regulation using RNAs, or knockout via mutagenesis are currently replaced by the CRISPR/CAS approach that helps shorten the cell line development from one year to three months.

"We need more than CRISPR like genome stability or an optimization of genome editing," says Faustrup Kildegaard.

Rainer Schneider, a key researcher of the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, presented more solutions in another way. He talked about his in-vivo evolution and selection system for E. coli with an "extremely large mutation spectrum" that allows selection overnight with only variants with god stability surviving. Scheider pointed out that even a microbial antibody production would be possible.

However, severe challenges are appearing on the scientific horizon. Prof. Huimin Zhao from the University of Illinois showed a fully automatized and dehumanized laboratory where a robot is transferring probes from one machine to the other.

"In the future, we will see fast, automated systems for a fast discovery of new products from known or new sequence information. We want to move quickly from a sequence to a product," says Zhao.
Ukraine is interested in the construction of an LNG terminal in Croatia, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said after a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Kyiv.

According to him, cooperation with Croatia in the energy sector is important for Ukraine.

"The fact that Croatia plans the construction of a new LNG terminal is fully in line with our priority, and we are ready to join the project with the partners, and we are interested to diversify gas supplies to Ukraine. We want this project to be successfully implemented," Groysman said.

As reported, Croatia plans to build an LNG terminal on the Krka Island in the Adriatic Sea.
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
The festive season will take full flight at Limerick Institute of Technology on Wednesday 30th November as the MarketLink Entrepreneur Programme hits the Clonmel campus.

First and third year Bachelor of Business students along with first year Bachelor of Science in Creative Multimedia students will host the fun filled day to raise vital funds for local charities St. Vincent de Paul and Deise Animal Sanctuary.

The Christmas themed market will be open to the public, with plenty on offer from the ten different stalls present on the day.

Marketing and Entrepreneurship lecturer Fiona Browne says: "The MarketLink Entrepreneur Programme facilitates the application to theory learned in the classroom setting. As part of continuous assessment, students research and plan a market stall business which they will then manage on a group basis for a day. The exercise sharpens business acumen as students are exposed to issues faced by start-up and small businesses. The assignment instills confidence and professionalism in students, while enhancing both hard and soft skills.

The market is open to the public from 10am  2pm with all proceeds going to the worthy local charities.

Check out the LIT Facebook page to keep up to date with this and many other events throughout the year at www.facebook.com/LimerickIT.
WASHINGTON  A shortage of appraisers in rural areas is sparking concerns among key lawmakers that might lead to legislative changes to the Dodd-Frank Act next year.

Several lawmakers flagged the issue during a House subcommittee hearing last week, arguing that government regulations have cut down on the number of appraisers.

"In rural Missouri we have a real problem with appraisers," said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., the chairman of the housing subcommittee. "We have no appraisers in my county. We have a county of 20,000 to 30,000 people and no appraisers."

Conducting appraisals in rural areas can be more complex than in suburban and urban areas because there are fewer sales and comparable properties. In addition, rural appraisers face the same regulatory restrictions and requirements as other appraisers.

"We increased the requirements for appraisals," said Joan Trice, chief executive and founder of Clearbox, which provides services to appraisers, real estate agents and lenders, during the hearing. "But they make about half what they use to make. So no one wants to enter the profession with that kind of economic environment."

Critics blame Dodd-Frank for making the situation worse because it emphasized appraiser independence and the importance of keeping arm's-length relationships between appraisers and lenders. Under the law, almost any effort to influence an appraiser's judgment can be considered a violation of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Yet any person with an interest in a real estate transaction can ask the appraiser to consider additional property information or additional comparable properties. They can also ask to correct errors in the appraisal report.

Sources say the new regulations have created a "stone wall" that make it difficult for appraisals to happen.

"Appraisal independence is a great thing," said David Bunton, president of the Appraisal Foundation. "Unfortunately, it has caused appraisers to be radioactive. The real estate agents don't want to talk with them because they are afraid they will get into trouble and lenders won't talk to them."

Critical information is not being shared between the parties, he said.

"Talking to an appraiser is not coercion. It is communication giving information," Bunton said.

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, stressed that he wants to work on developing an appeals process to resolve disagreements between sellers and appraisers on the value of a house.

"We are concluding we need a balance and there seems to be a pervasive belief that a balance has not been achieved," Green said.

The average age of an appraiser is 55 and the main barrier to entry into the profession is employment, according to Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.

An appraiser trainee must work under a certified appraiser for 2,000 hours to become certified and conduct single-family appraisals. That makes it hard for a trainee to make any money.

Industry representatives said that issue has to be addressed.

"The core of the problem is it takes a lot of time and a lot of money to become a certified appraiser. At the end of that process, you don't get paid very much," said Joseph Pigg, executive vice president of the American Bankers Association, in an interview.

During the hearing, Trice said: "We have set the bar too high. You can become an airline pilot with less experience."

Exactly what Congress will do next is unclear. A spokeswoman for Luetkemeyer said he would hold more hearings and work toward ways to "modernize appraisals."

The housing crisis exposed "problems in the appraisal industry," Luetkemeyer said at the hearing, and Dodd- Frank attempted to fix it.

"I am sure there are tweaks that need to be done," he said. "At the end of the day, appraisers need to maintain their independence but they need some flexibility."
Do these disconnected liberals really have no idea how utterly intolerant, racist and hateful they are?

This is why America just rejected the total lunacy and bigotry of the intolerant left

(NaturalNews) By now, you've probably heard about the cast of the Broadway theatrical production "Hamilton" singling out audience member Mike Pence and lecturing him on "inclusiveness" and "tolerance." The "Broadway bullying" violated a pillar of the arts, which is that, not your whipping boys or political targets. In lecturing Mike Pence from the stage, in front of all the audience members, the cast ofwhere the audience members exist only to be targeted for humiliation or condemnation by the "superiorist" cast, full of arrogance and self-congratulation.This is the same racist theatrical production that announced Whites need not apply for casting calls, because only "colored people" were going to be given the roles anyway.The hypocrisy of all this, coming from the same delusional liberals who demand "safe spaces" for their fragile minds, is too juicy to ignore. Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro nailed it with this response , condemning the Hamilton production of "reverse racism" rooted in intolerance and hatred. Watch it here:As you might expect, the backlash against the racist, intolerant and "crybully" Hamilton production just keeps growing. Even E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt called for the Hamilton cast to apologize to Mike Pence for violating the safe space of being a theater guest and targeting him from the stage for public condemnation and ridicule.The Hamilton production just demonstrated how crybullies operate: They condemn everyone who disagrees with their delusional political views as "bigoted" while calling themselves "inclusive." Then, from the bully pulpit of "inclusiveness," they target guests who hold political views they don't like, singling them out for public humiliation, all while smugly claiming they alone have a monopoly on "tolerance."The insanity of it all is only making conservatives more steadfast in their opposition to liberal lunacy, by the way, as it's driving home the obvious fact that. Yes, the cast of Hamilton is made up of a bunch of racist, intolerant bigots who are so closed-minded, they can't even stand to see a political opponent take a seat and attempt to politely enjoy the arts. No enjoyment of the theater is allowed for you, Vice President Pence, because liberals are too angry to read their lines without flinging some condemnation in your direction just because they lost an election.Note to the left:. Your behavior is so delusional and self-contradictory that it borders on mental illness. If you really want to see a racist, intolerant bigot, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.Stop wagging your finger at everyone else when it's YOU who can't tolerate any real diversity at all.Even the New York Post took aim at the lunacy of the Hamilton fiasco , saying:
Benefits of GMOs? What benefits?

No 'education' campaign should be permitted by Bio-Ag because the science doesn't support the claims

(NaturalNews) In recent days, published a story about how the biotech industry has thus far failed to deliver on its many promises regarding GMO crops. The article was published less than one month after the industry petitioned congressional leaders for $3 million in taxpayer money to "educate" the general public about how biotechnology of the sort practiced by Monsanto, Syngenta and others is supposed to benefit humankind immensely.But, as noted by , there are a couple of reasons why lawmakers should turn down this request, in addition to the fact that the federal government is tens of trillions of dollars in debt First off,pointed out, the biotech and bio-agricultural industries don't need to tap the federal Treasury for "education" funds just to market their products and attempt to make their case to the people. Secondly, Congress should not be using taxpayer funds to promote what international organizations and scientists have, for years, said is a technology that is not living up to the hype and promises and, indeed, "is counterproductive to resolving the critical issues of global food sovereignty and global warming," the site reported.While the so-called "global warming" issue isn't real , the lack of food sovereignty certainly is, as is the fact that GMO foods are not delivering as Bio-Ag has promised.Farm Futures reports that 56 groups, including biotech and food industry lobbying organizations, have penned a letter asking four members of the House Appropriations Committee to add $3 million to the 2017 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, to "ensure key federal agencies responsible for the safety of our nation's food supply  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  are able to more easily convey to the public science- and fact-based information about food."The dozens of groups are attempting to justify their outlandish request to have taxpayers foot the bill for an industry marketing campaign, by claiming that the "benefits" of GMO foods and the knowledge thereof will be passed along to consumers, who will experience lower food prices, greater nutritional access, strengthened rural economies and greater "food security" at home and abroad.The groups also claim that the funding and resultant campaign are necessary due to a large amount of "misinformation about agricultural biotechnology" in the public sector.But opponents of the appropriations request would argue whatinvestigation confirmed: Most of the "misinformation" about GMOs and other crop biotech is due to the fact that the technology has not been built on honesty.In particular, asnoted, GMO crops have not produced higher yields, and have led to greater, not reduced, use of pesticides.In its investigation,noted that two decades ago Europe was largely rejecting GMO crops just as the United States and Canada were embracing them. Using independent academic and industry research data supplied by the United Nations,compared results on both continents. The data analysis is clear: The technology has not delivered as promised.There was no discernible advantage in crop yields when measured against Western Europe, a part of the continent with comparably modernized agricultural operations like France and Germany. Other data showed that there was little evidence to suggest that introducing GM crops in the U.S. has produced gains beyond those in conventional crops.What's more, herbicide use has also increased in the U.S.,reported, even as major crops including corn, soybeans and cotton are all now pretty much genetically modified. The U.S. has fallen behind Europe's largest grower, France, in cutting back on the overall use of pesticides , which includes both insecticides and herbicides.As such, there is no reason why taxpayers ought to be funding a campaign that would be built entirely on falsehoods. For that matter, the Bio-Ag industry shouldn't be allowed to launch a campaign at all, even with its own funds, since the science doesn't support its claims.
Blowing the whistle

Private investigators, legal intimidation, threats

(NaturalNews) The grandson of a former top Nixon and Reagan official was threatened and coerced for exposing the massive scientific corruption at Theranos, a consumer healthcare technology company founded by Elizabeth Holmes at age 19.As reported by, Tyler Shultz  grandson of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who was the director of Theranos until 2012  quit the company in April 2014, after complaining to executives that the company was doctoring research and failing quality-control checks.After laying out his observations and complaints in an email to Holmes, the younger Shultz  who has a degree in biology  received a withering reply from the company's president, Sunny Balwani, who belittled his basic understanding of mathematics and laboratory science, and even took a swipe at the elder Shultz."The only reason I have taken so much time away from work to address this personally is because you are Mr. Shultz's grandson," Balwani wrote in an email, a copy of which was examined by theThat same day, Tyler Shultz quit, and as he was leaving the Theranos HQ in Palo Alto, Calif., he told the paper that he received a frantic phone call from his mother, who told him Holmes had just called the elder Shultz to warn him his grandson would "lose" if he tried to blow the whistle on the blood-testing startup company.Now 26, the younger Shultz was one of many employees who attempted to express their concerns about what they viewed as troubling, dishonest practices within the firm. However, according to Shultz, he was the first to contact a state regulator and actually blow the whistle. He told the paper he wanted to expose the scientific fraud taking place at the company to protect patients' health and his grandfather's reputation.The elder Schutz, now 95, was Treasury and Labor secretary under President Nixon. He was also the first Office of Management and Budget director and secretary of state for President Ronald Reagan, with whom he shared a close relationship. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honor, by Reagan in 1989.Tyler Shultz used an alias when he contacted New York state's public-health lab, alleging that Theranos manipulated a process that is known as proficiency testing, which federal and state regulators rely upon to ensure and monitor lab test accuracy. Thesaid that this was the first known complaint about Theranos' lab practices. In early 2015, Shultz began speaking to areporter as a confidential source.He says he met Holmes at his grandfather's home in 2011, when he was a junior at Stanford University. He says he "fell in love" with Holmes' vision of virtual pain-free blood testing using a proprietary machine called Edison, which Shultz says frequently failed quality control tests and had widely varying results, an allegation that was corroborated in March , when federal regulators banned Holmes from blood-testing for at least two years.In one instance, Shultz said that a validation report about an Edison test to detect a sexually-transmitted infectious disease claimed that the test was sensitive enough to detect the disease 95 percent of the time. But when Tyler Shultz examined two sets of experiments from which the report was compiled, they only showed sensitivities of 65 percent and 80 percent, meaning that of 100 people tested, as many as 35 of them could be led to mistakenly believe they were disease-free.When Tyler told his grandfather about what was going on, he seemed to dismiss him, telling him only that the younger Shultz should probably just move on with his life  which he did. Several months later, he and his parents went to Thanksgiving Dinner at his grandfather's house, and Holmes was there, along with her parents. Small talk ensued, but nothing was discussed about what had transpired.Over the course of months, he was threatened with legal action, and was tipped off that private investigators were watching him. His relationship with his grandfather has been permanently damaged.But he refused to give in to the intimidation, and is now working with a team of researchers to build a portable device capable of diagnosing a dozen diseases using a person's saliva, blood and vital signs.As for Holmes, besides her blood-testing ban, the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign distanced itself from her, and she lost her net worth of $4.5 billion
Actual truth is rejected by the hypnotized minds that have been manipulated by the lying mainstream media

The left-wing media lies by default because every "news" story is actually just propaganda pretending to be news

Why the "fake news" mainstream media is such a danger to America

(NaturalNews) With everybody suddenly talking about "fake news" vs. real news, it's notable to point out that. That wild, loony tunes conspiracy theory was backed by absolutely nothing. Not a single shred of evidence... yet it was bandied about by the mainstream media as if it were irrefutable fact. Hillary Clinton even claimed, during a presidential debate, that Donald Trump was working with Putin!The problem, you see, is that The New York Times has openly admitted it is willing to lie to make sure conservative candidates are defeated in elections . So the Times, then publishes them as if they were true. From there, the rest of the obedient left-wing media repeats the lies, citing the NYT as their source.And that's how total fabrications become "facts" in the minds of the delusional left. Once the lie is in the NYT, all the obedient "fact checker" websites declare the lie to be true as well, and from there it finds its way into late night TV, comedy shows, local newspapers and social media.It is this "echo chamber" of opinionated lies that the left absurdly sees as objective truth. And because the psychological impact of all these lies is so deeply embedded in the minds of the masses -- achieving a kind of hypnosis hallucination -- these very same people see factual, objective reporting as " fake news " because it contradicts the lies they hold in their heads.So any website that reports obvious, factual truths -- such as the fact that Obama's birth certificate document really was faked (using multiple layers of Photoshop that the fakers forgot to collapse into a single final layer) -- that true facts appear to the hypnotized masses as " fake ." Meanwhile, these same delusional people will readily believe almost any conspiracy theory about the Russians as long as it originates with the left-wing media. So the NYT, WashPost, USA Today, NPR and CNN can all fabricate almost anything they want -- even if it's completely loony tunes -- and their readers will dutifully believe it because that's the way they've been programmed.Remember "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor?" Every media organization that reported the lie is also in the business of fake news . Obamacare was a deception from the very start. Even its own architect Jonathan Gruber has openly admitted that the whole thing was sold to the "stupid voters" by deceiving them from day one.And yet every single mainstream media website gleefully reported all the lies about Obamacare, including absurd claims that the government-run medical system would reduce average health insurance costs by $2500 while providing improved care, increased doctor choices and greater job security. In reality, as I had warned year after year, Obamacare has caused massive job losses, huge increases in health insurance costs for tens of millions of Americans, and it has forced people into limited choices for doctors and medical procedures. Yet when I was warning America about all those things years ago, I would be accused of being a "liar" who contradicted the "truth" of the New York Times (which is a dishonest, pro-Obama propaganda machine).The biggest realization of all is that. By default, every story they run is a propaganda piece, and they hold back all the stories they don't want you to see.The left-wing media is, by any reasonable definition, apretending to be engaged in journalism. Almost everything they report is false or distorted, from their pro-vaccine, pro-GMO, pro-pharma propaganda parade to their hit pieces on truth-tellers like Donald Trump. The very people running the mainstream media at the highest levels arewho, as I've said many times, need to be arrested, indicted and prosecuted for sedition.The left-wing media is not just fake, it'sto this nation. By pursuing a coordinated campaign of lies, collusion and misinformation, they managed to hypnotize nearly half the country into voting for Hillary Clinton, a murderous war criminal and sellout who would have likely thrust America into a nuclear war with Russia (even according to Russia's own political leaders).The danger of the left-wing fake news system is thatin the minds of the populace, and those fake beliefs turn into REAL action such as Black Lives Matter protests, racial animosity, death threats against Donald Trump and the beatings of innocent white people simply because their skin is white. It is the fake news "mainstream media" system in America today that has given rise to division, disunity, violence and distrust.The fake news institutions of America, in other words -- CNN, NYT, WashPost, etc. -- areWould you be surprised if I told you that was their mission from the very start? It's all by design, my friends, because the real war being waged right now isWatch my mini-documentary to understand more: The War on Reality, shown below. And if you're ready to be awakened with REAL news, read NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com.that TRIES to tell the truth in every story. While we aren't perfect in our accuracy, we never deliberately lie to our readers like the mainstream media does every day, on purpose.
Ukraine's Antonov Airlines, a leading operator of An-124-100 transport aircraft, is opening a new representative office in the United Kingdom from January 1, 2017, Dreamlifts Ltd.

The new company will represent the Ukrainian airlines' interests instead of Ruslan International (RI), which was formed in 2006 together with Russia's VolgaDnepr Airlines and which will cease operations on December 31, 2016, the press service of Antonov Airlines said.

Antonov Airlines is to introduce its team in the UK which will take the lead in the global sales and operations of this unique cargo aircraft. Dreamlifts Ltd (trading as Antonov Airlines) is managed by an international group of wellknown experts from the outsize and heavyweight cargo industry, the press service said.

"With decades of experience between them, Antonov Company expects a seamless transition for its customers in the global supply chain and a continuation of its flexible and highly personal service," the company said in an official statement.

"Antonov Airlines' activities are supported by Antonov Company's inhouse design and development capabilities providing unrivalled expertise for the most challenging logistic projects. As the maintenance authority and life extension authority, we will continue to offer these proven and reliable airframes to the market for many years to come. We look forward to working with the experienced and exciting team in the UK, and can see a bright future going forward with our customers," the press service quotes President of Antonov Company Oleksandr Kotsiuba as saying.

Antonov currently operates a fleet of seven An124s including the AN124100M150 with a payload of up to 150 tonnes. It also operates the unique capability An225 Mriya with a 250 tonne payload and the worlds largest turboprop, the An22 Antei.

Since 2006, Antonov Airlines jointly with VolgaDnepr have implemented a contract under NATO's Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) program in the interests of the Alliance and the European Union. In December 2014, the contract was extended until the end of 2016.

Antonov Airlines hopes to continue cooperation under SALIS after it ceases cooperation with the Russian airlines.

As part of the new format of partnership with NATO, the Ukrainian company does not rule out that Leipzig will remain the base for the Ukrainian Ruslan planes.

As was reported, Ukraine in 2014 stopped shipments of military and dual-use commodities to Russia in connection with the annexation of Crimea and occupation of Donbas.

Ukraine's government in May 2015 undid an intergovernmental agreement on military and technical cooperation with Russia, which had been in effect since 1993.
Fukushima Daiichi #3 reactor cooling system has failed

(NaturalNews) BREAKING NEWS: A massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck near Fukushima, Japan, and Japan has issued a tsunami warning. NHK World TV Live is issuing a warning that says "we expect a tsunami wave 3 meters high" ... "the tsunami will come through the inland... we are expecting it to come." Warnings are issued to Northeastern and Eastern Japan.The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power facility has remained extremely vulnerable to a collapse of its remaining nuclear fuel rod pools, which were damaged in the 2011 tsunami that led to a nuclear facility meltdown.Since that time, the nuclear fuel rod pools have still not been repaired. The fuel rods remain a grave risk to humanity, as a "criticality event" could release enormous clouds of radioactive material that circle the Northern Hemisphere, dropping radioactive elements such as Cesium-137 onto North America.Our website FukushimaWatch.com will be closely monitoring these developments. Natural News will also provide breaking coverage as events unfold.From the NHK World TV Live broadcast: "The estimated tsunami height is three meters, but it could be higher... A tsunami has already been observed offshore... evacuate and stay away from the shorelines.""The spent fuel pools at Fukushima have not been affected by the earthquake, but they are being observed carefully.""Please evacuate right now..."From NHK: "TEPCO says the Fukushima nuclear power plant, #3 reactor, the water cooling system seems to have stopped. Technical officials are trying to confirm the situation. More than 2500 spent fuel rods are being kept at the pool at Fukushima. 2544 fuel rods are being kept at the spent fuel pool at the third reactor.""TEPCO observed the tsunami at 6:40 am. No details of damage available yet."Right now, we are monitoring Japanese news websites and radiation monitoring sites. We encourage all Natural News to be fully prepared.Our Health Ranger Store offers potassium iodide pills , which will quickly be depleted everywhere as citizens purchase KI to protect their thyroid from radiation damage.Unlike profiteering opportunists,, even if they become scarce, because we recognize the need to serve our readers and customers with protective nutritional solutions that can help protect against radiation damage.We also have this nascent iodine pack available , which provides your body with elemental iodine that will displace receptor sites from absorbing radioactive iodine-131.I am also prepared to conductof my patented Cesium Eliminator formula where needed, should cesium-137 become a common radioactive contaminant following another Fukushima catastrophe. I have stockpiled 10,000 kg of manufacturing material for this purpose, in anticipation of a nuclear / radiological event that would threaten many lives.Whatever you do, stay informed and be prepared. I pray for all our safety.
Researchers in the field of artificial intelligence may pave way to AI that can create new drugs by learning how to mix and match molecules in effective patterns. This project may hold new applications for deep learning models as this may prove just how well they work in identifying patterns in complex natural structures.

Harvard chemistry professor Alan Aspuru-Guzik said humans could be better chemists if they have AI assistants. The system aims to allow a deep neural network to "explore intuitively" using chemical knowledge, like how chemists would. The system has a database with thousands of drug molecules and, using deep learning, will try to work out and see what fits with patterns.

This is called a generative model and is already used in autocomplete features. He said this is similar to an image recognition database, where if used with records from the American Chemical Society, could use about 100 million chemical structures to find potential new drugs.

According to the MIT Technology Review, the software will exhaust giant pools of candidate molecules using rules from chemists. The simulations will try and identify useful structures. This can generate plausible structures by combining properties of existing compounds and can be asked to suggest molecules that strongly displays certain properties. A new drug from an AI may not be too far off.

This project is the latest in a line of AI automating jobs that hopes to not replace chemists. In the field, AI can help professionals spend more time focusing on human-oriented jobs. This means there is a need for human oversight for less of the workload.

A good example of this is Luminance's "robot lawyer AI" which, as Inverse reported, focuses on mergers and acquisitions. It checks through documents and flags potential clashes. In the same regard, IntelligentX helps brewers collate beer feedback and even suggest new recipes.
In the fight against armed drones that could possibly be used in a terrorist attack, the French Air Force has turned to a new and unique type of special force: eagles.

Drones can become a significant threat for a terrorist type of action in France, said the French Air Force team. Even though the present weapons to combat drones include emerging technologies like "jammers," the air force thinks that eagles can be the most economic and effective to defunct the devices.

L'Express Newspaper quoted an air force spokesperson stating that the eagles could come in handy in important events like major international conferences and the July 14 G20 meetings. In some situations, it's impossible to shoot down the drones since debris could fall onto people walking on the streets. The eagle can be used in such a case to arrest the device without causing any additional harm.

The birds underwent exhaustive training in the summer and have been taught that the drones contain food. As a result, when they see the devices, they seize them. The air force is training the birds not only to attack the drones but to identify them too. They will be used in real-life situations from the summer of next year. The Netherlands police has already used the tactic of using eagles to combat drones.

France has been plagued by the potential threat of drones in recent years. Authorities were surprised when they saw a series of strange drones flying over important landmarks in Paris last year. The decision to use eagles was taken when a spate of drones was observed in 2014 at major nuclear power stations in the country.

The birds were presented to the public by French Air Force last week. Authorities are concerned that terrorists are planning to place explosives on the more robust models and set them off remotely.
The International Space Station (ISS) has received three new residents aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy from the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos, and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully arrived at the ISS on Nov. 19 at 4:58 p.m. (9:58 GMT), docking the Soyuz spacecraft to the station's Rassvet module.

"Capture confirmed," a NASA commentator announced during a live broadcast aired on the agency's television and website.

The new crewmembers arrived two days after they launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, Nov. 17. They will be joining the Expedition 50 crew, which is composed of NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrei Borisenko, who arrived at the orbiting lab in October. Together, the six crew members will contribute to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, NASA said.

One of the experiments to be conducted would be recording how lighting could impact the overall health and well-being of ISS crew and how the microgravity environment could affect tissue regeneration in humans and the genetic properties of plants grown in space, Space.com reports.

During the mission, 56-year-old Whiston will be breaking a number of records. She is currently the oldest female astronaut to reach the space station. At the start of Expedition 51 in February, Whitson will also become the first woman to lead the ISS twice throughout its 16 years in orbit. In 2007, she served as commander of Expedition 16 and had been the first woman to hold the post.

Whitson's journey to the ISS and back to Earth will also extend her existing record as the first woman to have the longest time in space. With the additional 179 days for Expedition 50/51, she will also hold the record for the most time in space by an American, surpassing current holder Jeff Williams of NASA.

Apart from science experiments, the crew members will also receive three cargo deliveries consisting of food, fuel and supplies. The crew will also receive new lithium batteries as replacement for the nickel-hydrogen batteries currently used in storing energy generated by the station's solar arrays.

The new batteries will be installed in January, where the world will witness another series of spacewalks. The crew will return to Earth in May 2017.
Scientists are a step closer to making another scientific breakthrough: creating a functional bioartificial kidney.

Researchers from the Netherlands said that they have made an important advance towards creating the organ. They have managed to form a "living membrane," the key requirement for the synthetic organ, consisting of a tight kidney cell layer on artificial membrane surfaces that can transport molecules from one side to another.

"This study shows the successful development of a living membrane consisting of a reproducible ciPTEC monolayer on hollow fiber membranes, an important step towards the development of a bioartificial kidney device," Dr. Dimitrios Stamatialis from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and one of the researchers, said in a statement.

"The strategies and methods of this work could be relevant to the development of other bioartificial organs, such as a bioartificial liver or bioartificial pancreas, and organs on chips-such as a kidney on chip, a lung on chip, or a liver on chip."

In the paper, which was presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, the researchers reported that the living membrane was achieved using conditionally immortalized human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (ciPTEC's) on polyethersulfone-based hollow fiber membranes.

According to the scientists, the bioartificial kidney will benefit the millions of patients suffering from kidney failure, as it would replace the need for dialysis or transplantation. In the United States alone, 26 million American adults have kidney disease - and most are unaware of it. Two of the leading causes of kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes, the National Kidney Foundation reports.

Medical researchers are making progress in engineering synthetic organs to aid treatments. Groundbreaking developments include an artificial liver, 3-D printed kidneys and bones, synthetic blood vessels, and artificial skin from umbilical cord stem cells, among others.
Texas Heart Institute founder and iconic heart surgeon, Dr. Denton A. Cooley has passed away at the age of 96. In an article by Reuters, the spokeswoman for Texas Children's Hospital said he died in his Houston home on Friday morning, surrounded by his four daughters.

Dr. Cooley, who at the age of 50 had performed over 5,000 cardiac operations, including 17 heart transplants, was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1998 by former President Bill Clinton for his notable pioneering efforts in heart surgery, which has helped tens of thousands of patients.

In 1968, Dr. Cooley made history when he performed the first artificial heart transplant in the United States at Texas Heart Institute for patient, Haskell Karp, 47, from Skokie, Illinois. (The first in the world was done by Dr. Christiaan Barnard from South Africa a year earlier).

Karp was fitted with a mechanical heart, which to everyone's surprise worked for 64 hours, longer than its results in animal testing, while on the lookout for a heart donor. Once they have a heart for Karp, Dr. Cooley transplanted the new heart on him, which unfortunately, only kept him alive for 32 hours. Karp died after due to pneumonia.

This groundbreaking procedure by Dr. Cooley did not sit well with his mentor, Dr. Michael DeBakey, the developer of the artificial heart. According to reports, Dr. DeBakey felt betrayed as the procedure used an artificial heart developed in DeBakey's lab without his knowledge, calling it an unethical and childish act just to snatch a medical first.

Dr. Cooley had long defended his action, citing that it was his duty as a doctor to do whatever he deems as necessary to save a patient's life. "If you are a ship out in the ocean and someone throws you a life preserver, you don't look at it to see if it has been approved by the federal government," he said in an interview.

After 40 years of being archrivals, the two highly regarded heart surgeons ended their four-decade-old medical feud in 2007.

The incident also led to an investigation by the US government, where Dr. Cooley was censured by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Cooley, in an interview with the New York Times, shared that a lawyer once asked him during a trial if he thought of himself as the world's best heart surgeon, to which he said, "Yes." "Don't you think that's being rather immodest?" the lawyer asked. "Perhaps," Cooley said. "But remember I'm under oath."
US President-elect Donald J. Trump has always been outspoken in expressing his skepticism when it comes to climate change, dubbing it as a hoax from China to cripple the economy of the country. A stark contrast from the former administration's call to address the burgeoning global environmental issue.

Just weeks after his unexpected win, Trump has made the climate research community anxious, thanks to his consistent rhetoric of intending to shift the focus and the funding away from government efforts that delve on climate change. These include NASA's earth sciences program, and his move to appoint notorious climate change denier Myron Ebell to head the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) transition team.

Admitting the fact that they rely heavily on the US federal government for funding and grants, most climate scientists in the country have mixed feelings.

"It's nerve-wracking. I think this election eliminates the possibility of me working at agencies like NASA, NOAA, or EPA anytime soon," Anna Scott, a PhD student at Johns Hopkins focusing on climate and urban issues told Scientific American.

While uncertainty and discouragement are a common theme, there are also some who remain optimistic and even feel emboldened by the threatening future for climate change under the Trump administration.

Daniel Rothenberg, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said, "People want to keep pushing forward. I haven't heard of any colleagues trying to shelve products or research. If anything, people are working harder before funding changes."

On the other hand, Yale faculty and chemistry professor Anna Marie Pyle, on the subject of possible decline in federal funding for the academic field, offered an encouraging statement and a probable solution, saying, "If the new administration combines tax cuts with increased investment in infrastructure and defense, the money will need to come from somewhere.

"To reduce the impact on research and education budgets, it is vital for students and faculty to participate actively in lobbying efforts with congressional leaders throughout the country. Promoting the benefits of science and engineering through public outreach is also very important," Pyle said in an article by the Yale Daily News.
A new study from the University Oregon reveals that soil on Earth is older than scientists previously thought. In fact, it existed long before trees or lichens evolved on the planet, and is even similar to the soil that NASA's Curiosity rover found on Mars.

According to the study published in the journal Gondwana Research, the team of scientists closely examined the rocks at Karijini National Park in Australia's Pilbara region. The scientists discovered that the rocks in the area were not of marine origin but have evaporated on land. This breaks previous assumptions that the Earth's soil was completely barren during the time that the oceans were populated with life.

"Life was not only present but thriving in soils of the early Earth about two thirds of the way back to its formation from the solar nebula," said Retallack via Science Daily.

The team lead by paleontologist Gregory Retallack also found out that the mineral and chemical tracers in the rock show that they had experienced weathering in a "distant geological past." Using advanced imaging and analyses technique, the group closely observed at least five different kinds of microfossils from the ancient Australian landscape, which have distinct sizes, shapes and isotopic compositions. These microfossils include a spindle-shaped hollow structure of actinobacteria, which is responsible for the earthy smell of soil after decomposition.

Another interesting microfossil is a sphere-shaped structure. The said microfossil is similar to the purple sulfur bacteria, which can photosynthesize organic compound even without oxygen.

"With cell densities of over 1,000 per square millimeter and a diversity of producers and consumers, these microfossils represent a functioning terrestrial ecosystem, not just a few stray cells," Retallack said. He further explained that the existence of these microfossils in the soil plays an important part in Earth's ancient history as they are responsible for the carbon, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen cycles.

What's more interesting is that the soil samples found in Karijini National Park are "superficially similar" to what the Mars Curiosity rover uncovered from the red planet. The scientists said that this discovery could help humankind in learning and discovering life on Mars and other planets.
While the incidents of hate and harassment are being reported on a daily basis across the country as concern grows over the rise of white nationalism, there are small acts of kindness occurring, too.

One such act occurred this Saturday when Zoe Sokatch, 11, of San Francisco, and her dad, Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund, delivered Hershey kisses to the San Francisco Muslim Community Center on Mission Street.

Only one man was there, Sokoatch recalled, when he and Zoe dropped off the treats on Saturday during a downpour. They also left a handmade card with hearts that said, "Sending Love, from your Jewish neighbors." He and his daughter envisioned more people entering the Islamic place of worship at some point during the week and feeling warmed that strangers, and from a different faith, had wished them well.

Courtesy Sokatch Family

This surprise visit came after Sokatch had been feeling a "deep gloom" after Donald Trump was elected president. He, a liberal for both U.S. and Israeli politics, said he feels both countries are growing more conservative and more filled with fear of the "other." Trumps incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that he wouldnt rule out mandating a Muslim registry, which the Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said hed sign as a Jew so that Muslims wouldnt be alone.

With the backdrop of both countries behind him, on the Thursday after the election, inspired by a friend in the Boston area, Sokatch decided to do something, albeit small and symbolic, as well.

After work, he hopped into a CVS and bought a bag of chocolates, which he left at the Masjid Al Tawheed on Sutter Street. One man was there, and he looked "warily" at Sokatch until he saw the candy. Sokatch said to him: "I know this sounds crazy but there are San Franciscans who stand with you and have your back. Please share these sweets with your brothers and sisters. He broke into a super sweet smile when I said 'We have your back.'"

Neither mosque had anyone answering the phones on Monday, so how the Hershey kiss surprise played out wasn't immediately known.

But the Sokatch family knows how they feel. Father and daughter plan to visit two more mosques on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

"We feel it's about doing the right thing for people feeling scared and alone," Sokatch said.
China's GCL, CCEC plan to build solar plant of over 1 GW in Chornobyl zone

Chinese companies GCL System Integration Technology (a GCL subsidiary) and China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CCEC) intend to build a solar power plant in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, according to a report by GCL.

According to GCL's calculations, construction should begin in 2017. The plant capacity will exceed 1 GW.

At the same time, CCEC is entrusted with the functions of general contractor and project manager. GCL will provide consulting services and organize supply of equipment for the project.

Earlier China's CNBM declared it owns ten largest solar stations in Ukraine.
A Los Altos native is among three people with California ties and 32 nationally to be awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and with it the chance to study at Oxford University for a few years.

St. Francis High School graduate Alexis Doyle was among the winners announced early Sunday from a pool of 882 applicants who had been nominated by their universities.

Doyle is a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in biological sciences and minoring in international peace studies, according to Notre Dame News.

Doyle is a research assistant for a project designing low and no-cost interventions that promote better food choices in school cafeteria environments through the Architecture, Health, and Sustainability Research Group, the university news site says. She also is a resident assistant in Ryan Hall and a teaching assistant for honors mathematics and served as co-president of the Compassionate Care in Medicine Club.

The 2013 graduate of St. Francis was a member of the Teen Awareness Program, the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation as well as numerous other clubs, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also was a varsity field hockey and track and field athlete at the Mountain View school.

The Rhodes scholarships cover all expenses for post-graduate studies at Oxford starting next October.

The other California winners were Nicole A. Mihelson of Fullerton, who plans to graduate from Johns Hopkins University in December, and Oscar De Los Santos, who graduated from USC last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
People carried pictures of loved ones and shared stories about what happened to them as dozens gathered Sunday in San Francisco to mark World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims in the city.

The march and vigil also served as reminders to residents and city officials that there is an alarming need to make the streets of San Francisco safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The group rallied in front of City Hall, which was lit up yellow to honor the vicitims.

One event organizer said while improvements are happening on city streets, theyre still not safe enough.

"Were here to get changes made," said Julie Mitchell, whose 21-year-old son Dylan was riding his bike to work on 16th Street when he was hit and killed by a truck.

Victims' family members and survivors marched from the Mission district, part of a new group called San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets. They advocated for Vision Zero, a collaborative program to end traffic deaths in the city by 2024.

"Unfortunately, we havent seen a decline in serious or fatal crashes," said Nicole Ferrara of Walk SF. "What we need is more robust and gutsy policies and street design changes."

The group also pushed for automated speed enforcement or speed safety cameras, which are currently not allowed in California.

"Were all pedestrians at some point," said Alvin Lester, who attended on behalf of his late son Arman.

"As he was leaving the skateboard park and he was about walk to a relatives house, he was struck from behind and killed," Lester said, decribing his son's tragic death. "This could happen to anyone, any family member."

The group is not only working with officials in San Francsico; they also are making an effort to work with lawmakers in Sacramento.
Five Chicago Fire Department firefighters were rushed to area hospitals early Monday when they reported feeling ill after battling an earlier blaze.

About 3:20 a.m., the firefighters were all taken from the Engine 26 Firehouse, 10 N. Leavitt St., according to Fire Media Affairs Chief Juan Hernandez.

Three firefighters were taken to Stroger Hospital, one was taken to Rush University Medical Center and a fifth firefighter was transported to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, Hernandez said. They were all listed in fair-to-serious condition.

The nature of their illness and which fire may have caused it or contributed to it remains under investigation early Monday.
A man was arrested after disrupting a performance of the musical "Hamilton" in Chicago on Saturday night, reportedly screaming obscenities in support of President-elect Donald Trump.

John Palmer, 56, was taken into custody around 9:30 p.m. at the PrivateBank Theatre, located at 18 W. Monroe St. in the city's Loop, according to police.

Palmer, of the 100 block of E. Illinois St. in Chicago, began "causing a disturbance" and was asked to leave by the theatre's staff, authorities said. He refused and was detained by security until officers arrived and placed him under arrest.

Palmer was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land, Chicago police said.

According to multiple reports, Palmer appeared intoxicated and began screaming things like, "Our side won! You lost! Get over it!" as well as several profanities.

The incident was reportedly sparked by cheers at the line "Immigrants - we get the job done" in the song "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)."

Audience members left the auditorium to ask staff to remove Palmer, according to BroadwayWorld.com, who then struggled with security for "at least two numbers."

Several audience members took to social media to describe the outburst, adding that Palmer was also threatening those around him. [[402182665, C]]

"This is why we train," actress Karen Olivo, who plays Angelica in the production, tweeted Sunday. "So when the obstacles come we conquer them with skill and precision."

Broadway in Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident came just one day after controversy surrounded Vice President-elect Mike Pence's attendance of "Hamilton" in New York City.

Pence drew boos and some support from the audience as he walked to his seat before the show on Friday night. Following the performance, the cast addressed Pence directly in a statement for which Trump demanded an apology. [[401994775, C]]

"We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our unalienable rights, sir," actor Brandon Victor Dixon said, adding, "But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.

Trump took issue with the speech on Twitter, claiming Pence was "harassed" and calling for the cast and producers to apologize "for their terrible behavior."

Pence, however, said Sunday that he wasn't offended by the cast's speech, and said he would "leave it to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it" when asked if he thought an apology was necessary.
NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago announced Monday that three Chicago-area nonprofit organizations will receive thousands of dollars in grants as part of the fifth annual 21st Century Solutions Grant Challenge program.

North Lawndale Employment Network, Enlace Chicago and Chicago Youth Centers were each selected for their dedication to improving their communities.

We are thrilled to partner with the NBCUniversal Foundation to support local organizations that are leading innovative programs to help prepare our communities for the future, David Doebler, president and general manager of NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago, said in a statement. Were also proud to be part of a company that is dedicated to investing in organizations that are challenging conventional thinking to help improve the communities we all call home.

The 21st Century Solutions grant challenge awarded a total of $1.2 million to 30 nonprofits in 10 cities across the country served by NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. A community panel by each station reviewed and selected the final grant recipients.

In Chicago, the North Lawndale Employment Network, whose Pathways for Women program serves extremely low-income women with felony convictions on the city's West Side by equipping them for self-employment, was granted $50,000.

Enlace Chicago was given $25,000 for its Little Village Community Portal, an online public domain for community resources, events, and information to connect residents and community organizations.

Chicago Youth Centers was granted $25,000 for the CYC Maker Lab, which is expanding its facilities to expose children to professional-grade technology and equipment. The facilities will include a music and video recording studio and a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics education program that will teach students about technology, engineering, IT and the arts through "making."

The grant challenge is part of NBC 5's "Making a Difference" initiative, which highlights positive and inspiring stories about people and communities across the Chicago area.
Police are looking for the driver of a Jeep who fatally struck a 23-year-old man early Sunday as he was crossing the street on the Near North Side.

About 4 a.m., Phillip Levato was in a crosswalk at the intersection of West Chicago Avenue and North LaSalle Street when he was struck by the white Jeep, which was speeding south on LaSalle at the time, according to Chicago Police.

Levato was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:35 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office. He lived in the 1300 block of West 32nd Place.

The SUV, described as a white 2016 Jeep Compass with Indiana license plate BU3440, was last seen heading south on LaSalle, police said.

The police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is investigating. Anyone with information about the crash or the Jeep is asked to call (312) 745-4521.

Levatos father, 48-year-old Phillip M. Levato, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in September for the death of 45-year-old Kristopher Weiss in the South Side Bridgeport neighborhood.

Weiss had been in a fight with Levato and another man, who was not charged, on the night of July 22 in the 3000 block of South Normal. One of the men punched Weiss in the face, causing him to fall backward and hit his head, authorities said.

Weiss died at Stroger Hospital two days later on July 24, authorities said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide by blunt force head injuries.

Levato, of the 2500 block of West 36th Street, turned himself in to police and was charged.

Police said there is no reason to believe that Levato was intentionally struck, and it is being treated as a traffic-related death.
Following the fatal shooting of his 14-year-old grandson, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis said he hopes to work with President-elect Donald Trump to address Chicagos violence.

In an exclusive interview with Ward Room on Monday, Davis said he was encouraged to hear Trump cite Chicago as an example of need throughout the campaign. He also lauded former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrichs response to his grandson's killing. Gingrich, one of Trumps top advisors, pushed for a federal strategy to save lives in Chicago on Twitter Saturday.

For me, those are heartwarming comments, Davis said, while acknowledging that other cities like Milwaukee are also in need of additional resources to fight crime. Especially given the fact that both of them seem to recognize that Chicago does have some special needs and that communities throughout America, such as the inner-city areas that were talking about, have special needs. And I hope that means that there will be some special focus put on those areas and the needs that they have.

Davis also expressed concerns about some of Trumps proposals, particularly the president-elects push to implement controversial police tactics to restore a sense of law and order.

In the lead-up to the election, Trump repeatedly bemoaned Chicagos growing violence and championed the use of "stop-and-frisk" in the city, backing off his original plan to implement the method nationwide. Stop-and-frisk, which was ruled unconstitutional in New York in 2013, allows police officers to detain and search individuals for weapons or contraband without a warrant.

I have a great deal of concern because laws and techniques and practices, such as 'stop-and-frisk,' have stripped away the rights of law-abiding decent, hardworking, god-fearing citizens in so many instances until its just not funny, Davis said. You cant discriminate. You cant just determine who people are if they are driving down the street, or down the highway or down the road.

Davis warned against the use of such practices, explaining that he has been the victim of undue police attention throughout his life.

I must confess that during my lifetime, I have been stopped any number of times unnecessarily and Ive never been anything except a hardworking individual who believes in upholding law and order and believes in protecting the rights of each and every person in the environment, Davis said. And so I do have some fear that people with those kinds of thoughts, stop-and-frisk, are talking about the creation of an environment that I dont want to see happen.

In a Sunday interview with Politico, Davis urged every unit of government to issue a "state of emergency" for Chicago communities affected by pervasive violence. Davis explained that he wasn't calling for an official paramilitary state, but rather a formal declaration that allows resources to be sent to problem areas in an expedited manner.

When I say 'state of emergency,' I mean that resources need to be found quickly, Davis said. You know, we come up with budgets and we do planning and you might make a budget this month, but the impact of that budget may not occur for another five months or another six months or it might be a certain period of time before the result of whatever has been decided ever reach the places where its designed to go.

The congressman, who also stressed the importance of community organizations and jobs programs, claimed that all units of government should figure out and participate in some way that helps to bring some relief to challenged communities.

"What Im suggesting is, that if determinations are made and some addressment of issues and problems and needs takes place right now, next week, next month, that youre not restricted and constricted to waiting for another six months before some activity emerges, before a program is decided, before some resource will reach certain areas, Davis said. "That it can happen more quickly."

"And that becomes emergency to me, he added.

Two teenagers were charged with murder in the shooting death of Davis' grandson Javon Wilson, who was one of more than 700 homicide victims in Chicago this year alone.
Police in multiple towns are investigating a slew of vehicles hit by pellet guns.

On Monday, Clinton police said they are investigating at least six vehicles damaged by a BB gun Sunday.

Police said the cars were parked in parking lots at Shop Rite, Stop and Shop, and Clinton Crossing. The windows were shot out with what appears to be a BB gun, police said. The crime occurred sometime in the early evening.

Waterford police are investigating a similar incident in their town.

Police in Waterford said it appeared that the windows of six vehicles were shot out by a BB gun. The cars were parked at the Crystal Mall, Dicks Sporting Goods, Home Depot, and Lowes.

On Monday night, Old Saybrook police responded to the Cornfield Point Area where, they said, BB gun pellets had been fired at homes and cars from a moving vehicle.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents are asked to call police:

Old Saybrook - (860) 395-3142

Waterford - (860) 442-9451

Clinton - (860) 669-0451
The Kyiv District Administrative Court has dismissed the claim of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA, Kyiv) on recognition illegal the action of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine on charging fees from UIA to the state specialized fund for financing national expenditure on aviation activities in the period from September 2013 to May 2014 inclusive.

The court made the relevant ruling on November 9 and posted it on the website of the unified State Court Rulings Register.

The service said the outstanding debt of Ukraine International Airlines on state aviation fees as of November 21, 2016 stood at UAH 240.298 million.

As reported, on November 11 the main unit of investigators of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau prepared and submitted for approval to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office a statement of suspicion against ex-head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine [Denys Antoniuk], as well as UIA president [Yuriy Miroshnykov] and the chief accountant of committing a criminal offense under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code (appropriation, embezzlement of property or taking it through abuse of office).
A Connecticut State Trooper was taken to the hospital for minor injuries after his cruiser was hit during a traffic stop on Route 8 South in Seymour Sunday night.

Police were stopping a car on Route 8 Northbound before the exit 24 on-ramp.

The officer involved, identified as Troy Biigs, 42, was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for evaluation, Trooper Kelly Grant said.

The driver of the car involved in the traffic stop was uninvolved and uninjured.

Police identified the driver who hit the trooper as Jeffrey Stella, 52, of Southbury, was taken into custody.

Stella was charged with DUI, operating under suspension, failure to move over/yield to emergency lights, traveling too fast for conditions, and traveling an unreasonable distance apart. He was issued a $1,000 bond and scheduled in court on Dec. 2.

The incident was reported at 6:22 p.m. and the highway was reopened around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Hartford police arrested a previously convicted felon on gun charges Saturday.

Officers responded to a call about a person with a gun on Franklin Avenue around 1:24 a.m. The suspect, later identified as Arcenio Dunker, 27, of Bloomfield, tried to flee the officers when they arrived.

Police said the officers gave verbal commands to stop but that Dunker ran off. When police pursued, Dunker eventually threw the gun to the ground and approached officers with his hands up.

A search of the area turned up a 9mm TGI pistol with four live rounds inside.

Dunker was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, possession of a pistol without a permit, and criminal possession of a firearm.
Connecticut state police have taken a man into custody who is accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old child in Florida.

The Altamonte Springs Police Department in Florida reached out to state police on Saturday because they were looking for 28-year-old Blair Thompson and believed he was staying in Mansfield.

Troopers spent the weekend following various leads and conducting surveillance and took Thompson into custody, according to state police.

He was transported to Troop C and is being held on $500,000 bond.

State police said they are coordinating extradition with authorities in Florida.
Waterford police are investigating after several vehicles were reported vandalized Sunday.

Police said it appeared that the windows of six vehicles were shot out by a BB gun. The cars were parked at the Crystal Mall, Dicks Sporting Goods, Home Depot, and Lowes.

No witnesses have come forward and nothing was reported stolen from any of the vehicles.

Police believe the vandalism happened in the late afternoon or early evening.

Anyone with information on the case or who saw something suspicious in the area in that timeframe is asked to contact Waterford police at 860-442-9451.
What to Know Hundreds of New Yorkers protested hate speech and offensive symbols in Adam Yauch Park on Sunday afternoon

Among those in attendance were actor Ben Stiller, Beastie Boys member Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Comptroller Scott Stringer

The Brooklyn Heights park was defaced with two swastikas and a 'Go Trump' message on Friday afternoon

Hundreds of New Yorkers came together to protest hate messages and offensive symbols Sunday at a Brooklyn Heights park that is named after a late Beastie Boys star.

Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York Sen. Daniel Squadron and Beastie Boys member Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz were among the large crowd who flooded Adam Yauch Park to spread messages of love and unity days after playground equipment was defaced with two swastikas and a pro-Trump message.

"Offensive symbols and discrimination have no place in our city," Stringer said. "Especially in our playgrounds and in front of our kids."

Adam "MCA" Yauch was Jewish. The Beastie Boys star died from cancer in 2012.

Public Advocate Letitia James joined protesters in a rendition of "This Land is Your Land" as others carried signs with slogans like "We Gotta Fight for Our Rights" and "Love Wins." Two men played snare drums to the tune of the song.

Visitors laid flowers near the park entrance as a peace offering in an effort to put messages of hate to rest. The metal locomotive jungle gym showed no trace of the offensive graffiti as kids played on the park's recreational equipment.

Horovitz was upset that someone defaced the playground dedicated to his late friend, but was glad to see so many come together to protest against the disrespectful actions.

"Everybody that heard about this came out," he said, smiling. "We got old friends and new friends."

Among those old friends was actor Ben Stiller, who said the singular event is representative of a larger wave of hate crimes that have taken place in recent times.

"It's important for us to stand up and say it's not all right," he said. "It's important for the president-elect to say it's not okay, too."

Stiller called on President-elect Donald Trump to take a stand against the acts of intimidation happening across the country.

Amid reports of a spike in acts of hate or intimidation, Trump said in a Nov. 13 interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" that he did not hear about the violence and harassment in his name or in some cases directed at his supporters, other than "one or two instances."

He added: "I am so saddened to hear that. And I say, 'Stop it.' If it -- if it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: 'Stop it.'"

The Southern Poverty Law Center said that there were 701 hateful incidents of harassment reported around the country in the week since the presidential election, though not all reports have been verified. About 65 percent of the incidents were from the first three days following the election, and there has been a steady drop-off since, the hate-tracking group said.

The Sunday afternoon rally in Brooklyn Heights is one of several that have taken place throughout the city protesting hate speech and offensive symbols. According to the NYPD, police are investigating 31 percent more hate crimes this year compared to 2015.

In midtown Sunday, protesters gathered at the Grand Hyatt hotel to await President-elect Donald Trumps newly appointed Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, who was expected to attend a gala there. Some of those rallying said Bannon is an anti-Semite.
It happens all the time.

At the taco truck, Raul Orlando Edwards placed his fajita order: "Senorita por favor, pongale la cebolla bien cocida" ("I'd like the onions well-done.")

"Man," said the African-American behind him in line, "how did you learn to do that?" Meaning: Why, for a black man, is your Spanish so good?

"I'm Latino," Edwards answered. The director of the Strictly Street Salsa Studio and founder of the Afro-Latino Festival of Houston, he's a Panamanian-Jamaican immigrant.

The guy stated the obvious: "I thought you were black!"

"I'm blacker than you are!" replied Edwards. And, he says, they laughed.

The Houston Chronicle reports these days, in both Texas and the U.S. at large, skin color is an ever less reliable indicator of identity. According to a 2015 Pew survey, about a quarter of U.S. Hispanics identify themselves as Afro-Latino. Like Edwards, the vast majority (70 percent) are foreign-born.

Afro-Latinos are generally descendants of African slaves brought to Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most are biracial or multiracial. Being Afro-Latino, says Alain Lawo-Sukam, professor of Hispanic and Africana Studies at Texas A&M University, is less about skin color than about identity and a sense of belonging.

By their very existence, Afro-Latinos challenge the traditional "one-drop" view of race in the United States: the idea that one drop of African blood makes a person black. Afro-Latinos like Edwards aren't simply black, white or Hispanic. They're a combination -- and as such, a vision of the United States' racially and ethnically complex future. They're a minority inside a minority; a melting pot within the melting pot.

"Our identity," says Edwards, "is like the drop that is spilling the glass of the black-and-white system."

"Here is a group that we don't think of much, but that's an expression of the new America in the 21st century," says Stephen Klineberg of the Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban studies.

In Texas, says Jasminne Mendez, "people always ask me, `What are you?', `How did you get here?' -- as opposed to in New York or Florida, where they are more familiar with Afro-Latinos." A poet and teacher, Mendez was born in the U.S. to Dominican parents.

"For African-Americans, whites, and even some Latino people, I am just another black girl until they hear me speaking in Spanish, and then they don't know what to make out of me," she says.

Often, Afro-Latinos' English attracts attention as well. Whites, Edwards says, sometimes tell him, "Oh, you speak so well." They do not say "for being black," but he feels sure that's what they mean.

"I learned English from books and don't speak with the slang they associate with wrong stereotypes of a black person," he says.

"I don't understand the slang yet," he laughs. "I am barely Googling the meaning of LOL."

"I had never thought of myself as belonging to a specific community based on racial factors," says Heydel Cepero, a video producer from Cuba who now lives in Houston. On the island, he notes, as well as in many Latin American countries, it's common to see a wide range of skin colors.

Spanish speakers use many matter-of-fact descriptors for mestizos, or mixed-race people -- words commonly considered no more insulting than "blue-eyed" or "dark-haired." "Mulatos" have black and white parents or grandparents, sometimes with Asians in the mix. "Jabaos" have light skin, and often blue or green eyes, but African features. "Morenos" describe dark skin and dark eyes in some countries or a brunette, a la Eva Longoria, in others.

And in Latin America, different attitudes go along with the different language. Though skin-tone words exist, the question "what are you?" is almost always answered not with one of them, but with a reference to geography. A person from Monterrey would tell another Mexican that he's a "regiomontano"; a woman from Havana would tell another Cuban she's a "habanera."

But here in Texas, Cepero says, Americans seem unsatisfied with the answer that he's Cuban, or Caribbean, or Latino, or American. "I am a product of la mezcla (the mixture)," he says. "I have never thought in terms of racial percentages, but here I would have to explain that I have an unknown percentage of black with 40 percent Spanish, 10 percent Asian."

It's difficult to know how many Afro-Latinos are in the U.S. and Houston. As Lawo-Sukam explains, the concept "Afro-Latino" has only recently begun to gain traction as a recognized American identity.

The U.S. Census doesn't track Afro-Latinos. In part, that's because the census doesn't count "Hispanic" as a racial category, but as a separate ethnic category -- which, everyone seems to agree, leads to confusion. (For 2020, the Census plans a revamp of its racial categories.)

Asked to name their race, many Afro-Latinos chose to check "white alone." In the U.S., says professor Lawo-Sukam, Afro-Latinos often wish to avoid negative stereotypes that they don't believe fit them.

But there's another factor at play as well. In Spanish-speaking countries, being white doesn't necessarily mean being Caucasian. Whiteness, there, is considered not an absolute matter, but one of degrees. The difference in attitude is rooted in history. Though both British and Spanish colonizers brutally exploited African slaves and indigenous populations, the British had a more segregated model than the Spaniards; in Spanish and Portuguese colonies, the races were more prone to mix. When mestizo families began to ascend the social ladder in many Latin American countries, "white" evolved as a term more related to class.

In the Pew survey, more Afro-Latinos identify themselves as white (39 percent) than black (18 percent). A majority say their racial background is Hispanic (67 percent).

Still, in the city of Houston, a sizable number of Hispanics do not declare themselves to be white: 27 percent of Hispanics identified themselves as "black alone," "some other race alone," or "two or more races" combined.

Afro-Latinos are an example of the richer identities that are molding the new America.

"We are falling in love with each other's and making multiracial babies in a way that has never seen before," says professor Klineberg.

Between 1990 and 2010, black-white intermarriage in the U.S. has increased 600 percent, says Klineberg. Among U.S.-born Latinos, 28 percent of marriages are with non-Latinos.

Houston reflects that trend. Asians, for example, are also intermarrying. In the last three years in this city, a third have been tying the knot with non-Asians, he says.

While racism is a great social concern in the current America, "We are moving to what some people are calling a transracial world," Klineberg says. "We are going beyond race because ethnicity and race (identities) become less and less important (as we mix), and the great challenge in Houston and America is not going to be an ethnic divide. It's a class divide."

Afro-Latinos, says Lawo-Sukam, are uniquely able to bridge the gaps between the United States' largest racial groups. They can connect blacks and whites, Latinos and African-Americans.

Mendez agrees -- particularly in light of racial tensions unleashed in the presidential election. "We could be a nightmare for some politicians if we forge a unity among races by using our natural affinity with all of them," Mendez says. "I feel that I can speak for the experiences of many people."
Neighbors in the town of Westlake came together to turn one North Texas familys front yard into a winter wonderland, all for a very deserving little boy.

Sawyer Davidson, 8-years-old on Monday, has been battling a rare form of brain cancer called medulloblastoma for the last 16 months. Recently, doctors told his parents Kim and John Davidson that Sawyer likely has weeks, maybe days to live.

Through all of the chemotherapy and radiation, Kim Davidson said Sawyer has never once complained.



Not one complaint, she said. His only comment to me was last week, Why do I have to have cancer? Im just a kid.

A kid who loves Christmas lights.

The Davidsons had bought lights to put up, but between hospitals and treatments, they just didnt have the time. So neighbors on their street decided to do the decorating for them.

The neighbors pooled their money together and called a Plano-based company named Year-Round Christmas Lights to see what possibly could be done.

Stefanie Wacker, who works at the business that is in the middle of its busiest time of the year, happened to answer the phone.

You get so caught up in your 12-hour days and getting stuff done, and then you get a call like that and you stop in your tracks and you realize whats important, Wacker said.

So Wacker rallied the troops on Sunday, their only day off  even getting one of the bosses to dress up like Santa Claus  to come and deck out the Davidsons front yard full of twinkling Christmas lights for Sawyer.

The gesture brought tears to mom Kims eyes  and put a smile on Sawyers face.



We spend our time in the house now, hes on hospice care, Kim Davidson said. So were going to look out every night and see the beautiful lights.

Ten thousand lights are strung on more than 30 trees, bringing a little light to the familys darkest hours.
After several shootings targeting police across the country this weekend, Fort Worth police are being required to have backup on every call.

The policy is effective immediately. Police said it includes "all traffic stops and self-initiated officer investigations."

Along with police, the policy will extend to the Traffic Division and Special Response Team who will be subject to answering patrol calls if necessary.

"They have to watch out for things and people that they didn't have to in the past," said Fort Worth Police spokesman Sgt. Marc Povero.

"Someone in the shadows may be coming to harm us or may shoot at us from behind," Povero said. "It's just a different mindset now, it's kind of the new reality now in policing."

Three Fort Worth police officers continue to recover after being shot and wounded this year.

"My concern is we might someone out there that might have some mental health issues or just angry," said Fort Worth Police Sgt. Jeff Brady. "And they may take this as an opportunity to just go, 'Well, I'll just go shoot a police officer.'"

Now, even if they ride alone, Fort Worth police will always have backup, calling in extra cars if needed.

"Any calls we go to we have to have at least two officers," Brady said. "On traffic stops you're going to have two police cars."

"It does make you feel safer," Brady added. "I'm all for it."

For about three weeks after five police officers were killed in Dallas this summer, Fort Worth police doubled up, riding two to a car, and many still do.

NBC 5's Kristen Weaver contributed to this report.
The mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth are fresh off of a whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia that had a simple goal: bring business back to North Texas.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price traveled to Japan, China and Taiwan for four days early this month along with representatives from each citys Convention and Visitors Bureau and members of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport board.

This is the fifth trip of this nature for Rawlings and Price.

We live in a very global world, and you have to sell the product you have. And the product we have is the City of Fort Worth and the City of Dallas, Price said.

The relationships that are developed during these international trips have proven to be successful, according to both mayors.

For example, more than 160 Japanese-owned businesses have a headquarters or a presence in Dallas-Fort Worth, 20 more than at the beginning of 2016.

Momentum creates more momentum, Rawlings said. Its a great story. People did not realize so many Japanese businesses were moving. So theyre saying, I want to be on that.

According to Price, there was one name consistently on the lips of the foreign dignitaries with whom they met: Donald Trump.

We were able to explain to them that this was an odd election and that President-elect Trump will be a good President, Price said. There were lots of questions about TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and where will it go. And we just had to honestly say, We dont know, but we do know youll still have the ability to trade with us and do business with us.
A woman was seriously injured after being dragged by her neck through the German town of Hamelin Sunday, NBC News reported.

A 38-year-old suspect turned himself in at a police station around the same time the woman, 28, was found on a sidewalk, according to a police statement issued Monday.

The woman was airlifted to a medical center near the northwest German town, according to the police. She had been tied by the neck to the trailer-hook of the car.

The suspect allegedly admitted to the crime, but didn't give a motive.
The largest Ukrainian private energy holding DTEK Energo has asked all holders of its eurobonds to back the key conditions of restructuring of the securities earlier agreed with the committee of eurobond holders.

The company said last week that the proposed coupon rate is 10.75% per annum. The issuer will pay the coupon in 2017 and 2018 in money terms at 5.5% per annum, at 6.5% per annum in 2019, 7.5% in 2020, 8.5% in 2021, 9.5% in 2022-2023 and 10.75% per annum in 2024.

The rest of the coupon not paid in the money terms will be capitalized and added to the principal of the eurobonds on a quarterly basis: it will be a liability of DTEK Energo to repay in the next periods.

The whole portfolio of the securities could be merged in one issue matured on December 31, 2024. It is planned that they will be repaid in two equal parts: 50% in December 2023 and 50% when the eurobonds mature.

In addition, the company intends to pay 1% of the fee of the sum of restructured eurobonds for backing the proposal, including 0.25% for early approval of the conditions.

DTEK Energo also asked the Royal Courts of Justice to receive a permit to summon a meeting of bondholders where the approval of the restructuring is proposed. The court hearing is scheduled for December 2, 2016. The bondholders would be also proposed to extend the term of a moratorium until the moment when all documents on the new eurobonds are signed.

The company said that 33% of bondholders have backed its proposal to restructure the eurobonds.
A couple hundred people turned out at Berkeley's Civic Center Park early Friday to create a giant human peace sign by standing in formation.

The event was organized by Mayor-elect Jesse Arreguin who wanted the event to symbolize the city's "deeply held values of inclusiveness, diversity, human rights, equity, and environmental action."

He invited Berkeley residents to represent themselves and their determination to stand up to the proposals and policies of President-elect Donald Trump.

Drone operator Kevin Kunze shot video of the human peace sign from the air.
A San Diego family knows first-hand the effects of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads, a condition now in the spotlight due to the Zika virus.

Microcephaly stunts brain development in fetuses, but the condition is not just caused by the Zika infection. One local family, the Handy family, says their daughter, Scarlett, has microcephaly, and say the birth defect has been around long before the Zika virus started gaining attention.

Parents Russ and Rhonda Handy hope that by sharing 6-year-old Scarletts story, they can educate the public about what it means to live with microcephaly.

Scarlett is Russ and Rhondas adopted daughter. She was born with microcephaly and, when she was an infant, a doctor told her parents Scarlett might not survive.

When that doctor told me she wasn't going to live past four months old, I left that doctor's office thinking, No, she's going to live a full life and whatever her capacity is she's going to live it to the fullest. And I've made sure every day she's going to be on this planet, and I'm here, she's going to live it, Rhonda told NBC 7.

Rhonda said that when Scarlett was born, her head circumference was nine inches. An average, healthy newborn's head circumference is between 14 to 16 inches.

I'll say, Oh, she has microcephaly and people will go, Oh, from the Zika virus? And you can see the horror in their eyes, and it's like, No, no, no, said Rhonda.

Microcephaly isn't just caused by Zika.

There are a lot of things that can cause a brain not to fully develop and be smaller at birth, said Russ.

In Scarletts case, it's genetic.

Right now Scarlett's head circumference is the size of a normal newborn's and it is not expected to grow anymore. She struggles with almost constant low-grade seizures and cerebral palsy and takes a list of medications.

Developmentally, she is challenged -- at age six she has the cognitive ability of a 2 or 3-year-old. Her parents consider her higher-functioning. Some children with this condition spend most of their lives on a feeding tube and ventilator.

"The textbook really hasn't been written on microcephaly, said Russ. We work with one of the top guys in the world on this and he says we're still collecting data, we really don't know what her potential is.

The Handys have dedicated themselves to learning as much as they can, and connecting with other families facing similar challenges. They've found a community of support with the help of social media.

We've seen very high functioning kids with microcephaly at some of the conventions we've been to who are doing karate, participating in pageants there's even one kid we've heard about who's grown up and gotten married, said Russ.

The Handys said they want to encourage others facing a similar diagnosis for their baby not to give up hope.

If your child does have microcephaly, you're not alone, said Rhonda.

Even through the struggles, they say their life is sweeter because of this little girl, and they're determined to help Scarlett enjoy it.

"No matter what challenges she may have, no matter how many times she has to be in the hospital, she's going to live life to the fullest, Rhonda added.

Russ said Scarlett enjoys water activities, including canoeing and kayaking. The 6-year-old also keeps busy riding horses. She has a lot of support from her family.

We're fortunate, because we have a big family, we have 10 children, and we're really big on family so all of our children love her and they all have her own relationship with her so she has so much stimulus and so much interaction," he added.

The Handys say one of the positive things to come from the Zika virus has been the additional focus and research money devoted to microcephaly. For more information on microcephaly and how to help this family, see this post below.
Holiday season is upon us, and the spirit of giving is in the air. To help you spread a bit of holiday cheer, here is a brief list of some of the ways you can give this season.

The Wishing Tree

For the second year, NBC4 is helping make SoCal families' dreams come true, and you can help. NBC4's The Wishing Tree offers a way to express goodwill and warm wishes for someone in your life that is in great need and always helping others. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 15, people can make a wish for someone they know who is in need.

Every night from Dec. 12 to Dec. 16 starting on the NBC4 News at 4 p.m., NBC4 will grant wishes live on TV starting at 4 p.m. with Weathercaster Fritz Coleman. Submit your compelling wish for someone deserving here.

Holidays From the Heart

The Holidays From the Heart Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) helps support the hospitals most financially challenged families, and there are several ways to give. You can donate money which will go toward buying necessities and gifts for families, or you can donate several items directly. If you want to get more involved, you can sponsor an entire family during the holiday season. There are also several volunteer opportunities available. For more information on how to help, visit CHLA's website.

Flair Cleaner's 14th Annual Clothing and Shoe Drive

Flair Cleaners, a family-owned laundry and dry cleaning service, wants to help clean out closets this season. Starting Nov. 25, they ask that people drop off gently used or new clothing, shoes and accessories in clothing bins located at the entrance of all five locations. Flair Cleaners has locations in Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Valencia, Burbank and Studio City. This drive will benefit local charities in Los Angeles like MEND, the Los Angeles Mission and Helping Hands for the Blind. For more information on these organizations and the Clothing Drive, visit Flair Cleaner's website. The drive will run until Dec. 31.

One Voice Holiday Food Program

The Holiday Food Program provides Christmas food baskets, toys and books to more than 2,000 families living in poverty in Los Angeles. Children receive toys and books and families take home Christmas baskets stocked with the makings of a holiday meal, including turkey, fruit and vegetables, and apple pie. One Voice also has gift cards that you can give to friends and family. For each card, one low income family receives a Christmas food basket. The best way to help out is to volunteer your time. The program is looking for volunteers between Dec. 15 and Dec. 18 to help sort, package and distribute the food. For more information on volunteering, visit their website.
Four people trapped on a small island were rescued early Monday from the rising Los Angeles River.

Firefighters battled a heavy downpour and strong river current, moving at an estimated 35 mph, as they tried to reach the island in Atwater Village near the 5 Freeway and Los Feliz Boulevard. The four people were stuck on the piece of land surrounded by water that rose around them during a night of steady rain.

Fire-rescue personnel used an inflatable boat tethered to the opposite shore to reach the two men and two women, who had climbed a tree to avoid the floodwaters. An airlift was not an option due to powerlines in the area.

The four individuals were hospitalized with moderate injuries.

About an inch of rain fell across much of the Los Angeles area beginning Sunday. The rain was much heavier to the north, with 2.2 inches reported at a mountain weather station in San Luis Obispo County between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

It was the first significant rainfall for parched Los Angeles since mid-October. Before the latest storm, rainfall totals for 2016 were about half the historical average, with the region remains locked in drought.
Hillsborough County is banning employees from participating in certain biker gangs and other criminal groups after a firefighter associated with the Outlaws motorcycle gang was accused of taking part in a bar fight in Key West.

The Tampa Bay Times reports in a memo Friday, County Administrator Mike Merrill outlined a new policy effective immediately barring membership in groups or gangs considered criminal organizations by the state or federal government.

Involvement in these organizations ``will not be tolerated as these affiliations are contrary to the mission of public service,'' Merrill wrote. ``This directive is a reminder of our continuing obligation to represent all the citizens of Hillsborough County.''

The list of banned organizations is guided by the 2015 FBI National Gang Report and it includes the Outlaws, as well as Crips, Bloods, Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the Pagans.

Violating the rule can result in termination of employment.

The announcement comes after an arrest warrant was issued in Key West for Clinton Neal Walker, a Hillsborough County firefighter and suspected member of the Outlaws motorcycle gang. He is accused of taking part in a September bar fight involving as many as 15 Outlaws members.

Walker, 33, of Bradenton, is wanted on a misdemeanor battery charge. According to an arrest warrant, Walker and other Outlaws members beat up the manager and an employee at a downtown Key West bar.

Walker was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

According to the warrant, Walker is a ``confirmed active member'' of the Outlaws, considered by authorities to be the state's dominant motorcycle gang. It is strongest in South Florida but has chapters in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

According to the FBI, the Outlaws use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for crime, including trafficking in weapons and drugs.

Walker's attorney told Fox 13 news that Walker left the area before learning of the charges against him, but together they have made arrangements with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for Walker to turn himself in in nearly a month.

``On December 5, when he returns, he will be processed through the jail, as far as turning himself in,'' said Attorney Jerry Theophilopoulos, who added they have also made plans with a bail bondsmen to expedite the process.

He denied Walker's current involvement with the Outlaws.

``He's not involved with a gang. He was at one time a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. He has not been a member for some time now.''
Gail Kalen is holding onto the blueprints for a project that was supposed to save her money, but instead cost her thousands of dollars.

Id like to know if theres a way to get this money back, Kalen said.

Her story started two years ago, when she decided she wanted to help the environment and lower her power bill.

I always considered I live in Florida, why cant I get solar panels? she asked.

So in August of 2014, the retiree signed a contract with Mr-Solar LLC to have the company install solar panels and a solar water heater at her home. She gave the company a deposit of $13,300  half the cost of the job. When her HOA finally approved the project months later, Kalen called the company.

I was told that my job was next in the queue and it would be completed by the end of June 2015, Kalen said. That was the last I heard of them. Ive called them, sent letters. No response at all and now when I went by their facility, no logos, nothing. Theyre basically gone.

State records show the company voluntarily relinquished its business license on August 31, 2014. The company cashed Kalens check on September 9, 2014  more than a week later.

If the person relinquishes his license and is not licensed at the time, he knows hes not licensed and he knows hes not supposed to be continuing on this contract path, said Daniel Vuelta, a supervisor for the Contractor Investigation Section of Miami-Dade Countys Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources.

Vueltas team of eight investigators looks into contractor complaints in Miami-Dade county. His department took on Kalens case, after she filed a complaint against the contractor in September 2016. Their investigation found that Mr-Solars owner, Brian Gillis, had deposited Kalens check into his personal bank account.

Thats important because it shows that there was no corporate account anymore, Vuelta said. The monies are now going into a personal account and it leads the question that perhaps theyre just going to use it for themselves.

We caught up with Gillis at his home in Southwest Miami-Dade and asked him about Kalens money. He had no comment for us, but Kalen says Gillis recently called her and offered to return the money.

He would pay me over a three month period starting in December with $5,000, $5,000 in January and $3,300 in February, Kalen said.

The county told us the case could lead to criminal charges. Kalen hopes Gillis keeps his word so they can both move on. Shes cautiously optimistic.

I had no hope, Kalen said. But you all gave me a lot of hope and  hopefully have solved this problem.

Vuelta says if youre hiring a contractor, make sure you take the time to verify his license. You can do it online here.

He adds that you should never pay in cash  always use a check or credit card.

If you have a complaint against a contractor in Miami-Dade youd like Vueltas team to investigate, you can dial 311 and ask to be connected to the countys contractor investigation unit. You can also go here for more information on filing contractor complaints.
Hollywood Police are searching for a man caught on camera viciously beating a store clerk with a pipe during a robbery last month.

The incident took place on October 14th at the Shamrock Gas Station at 5600 Washington Street. Video captured the suspect following the clerk, Mohammed Shahadat, to a secure office before striking him repeatedly with the pipe and his fists.

"I thought he was a customer so i just tried to come inside the register and he just hit me in the back and he don't say nothing," said Shahadat.

The clerk was able to get ahold of the pipe, after which the suspect fled. Shahadat believes his faith gave him strength and saved him during the ordeal.

"I don't know God gave me power to do that. So, I was like everything good, you know," said Shahadat.

The crook could be seen on camera wearing an Atlanta Braves hat with a full beard and sunglasses. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hollywood Police Department at 954-967-4411.
An early morning shooting outside a Northwest Miami-Dade gas station left one man dead and police searching for the shooter.

Around 3:30 AM, police say the victim and at least two others were involved in an argument when one of the other men pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the head near the Exxon station off NW 79th Street and 12th Avenue.

The victim, described as a black man in his 50s, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center, where he passed away.

Police are continuing to search for those involved, saying they fled in a dark color vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Police or Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers.
A police officer in Sanibel is recovering after being shot in the shoulder during an incident Sunday evening.

According to police information provided to NBC affiliate WBBH-TV, Officer Jarred Ciccone was conducting a traffic stop around 8 PM when another car drove by and opened fire. The suspect fled the scene and was found at his home, where he got involved in a shootout with police.

That suspect was hit in the shoulder and back and eventually taken into custody.

Ciccone, who was named Officer of the Year by the Lee County Bar Association in 2015 after saving a womans life by using a defibrillator, was treated and released.

Police continue to investigate the shooting and have not released further information.
President Barack Obama said Sunday he doesn't intend to become his successor's constant critic  but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain "values or ideals."

Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Obama suggested once he was out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern. He heaped praise on former President George W. Bush, saying he "could not have been more gracious to me when I came in" and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda "without somebody popping off" at every turn.

But Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.

"As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes," Obama told reporters.

Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own. Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president who holds antithetical views on issue after issue.

The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally, repealing "Obamacare" and canceling the Paris climate deal, to name a few. Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Trump and are hoping vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Trump from implementing them.

Though Obama didn't specify what might trigger him to break silence, he left himself a broad window of possibilities. His comments suggested he'd be most inclined to weigh in if Trump violated basic principles Obama has tried to uphold, such as minority rights, equal protection and respect for civilian life. Obama has long warned that Trump might impulsively use nuclear weapons, and has cast a dim view on ideas like a Muslim registry, which Trump's incoming chief of staff declined on Sunday to rule out.

Yet Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging his replacement.

"My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job," Obama said. "And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking."

Bush, like many ex-presidents, strictly avoided opining on politics during Obama's eight years. Former President Bill Clinton, after leaving office, focused his attention on global humanitarian issues, especially as his wife entered politics. Former President Jimmy Carter was more vocal in his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel.

Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years. Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Obama said they should not.

"You give them a hearing," said Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered. Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games," Obama said.

He declined to weigh in explicitly on whether House Democrats should stick with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader, arguing it was improper to meddle in the vote. But he said of the California Democrat, who faces a challenge for the leadership post: "I cannot speak highly enough of Nancy Pelosi."

Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. For Obama, it was the last time he'd take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press.

On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis, though Obama said the U.S. accusation that Moscow tried to influence the U.S. election didn't come up. The four-minute conversation, likely their last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory approach to Russia.

Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had a difficult working relationship but "always respected each other's positions  and each other." He said he'd thanked Obama and told him he'd be welcome in Russia "at any time."

Questions about Trump trailed Obama throughout his final overseas trip, as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Trump's stances on trade, foreign policy and the NATO alliance. Obama sought to reassure the leaders of Australia, Canada and other U.S. allies their longstanding ties with America wouldn't falter under Trump.
Businessman, famous developer and founder of K.Fund Vasyl Khmelnytsky intends to start implementing projects in the "green" energy sphere in the near term, believing this segment is promising in Ukraine.

"We are mulling projects in the 'green' energy now. Today it is profit-making and right  the country is to have 10% of 'green' power capacity before 2020, and today it has only 1%," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Khmelnytsky said that the projects concern power generation at the feed-in tariff. He also is studying the solar and biogas power plant projects.

"This is a separate new direction. We are looking for them [directions]. We want to get rid of less effective and find more effective. We think that this one is more effective, while building shopping centers is less effective," he said.

He said that in the conditions of low buying power the commercial and housing real estate market in 2017 could face serious difficulties.

Among other promising directions to invest money in Ukraine is processing of agricultural products, he said. Khmelnytsky took the project of an industrial park in Bila Tsekva and the project of an innovation park on the territory of Kyiv Motorcycle Plant as examples.

The businessman said that he is ready to take loans to realize projects in the "green" energy sphere, while he decreases his credit portfolio in all his businesses.

"We have loans in the U.S. dollars at 12% per annum and in hryvnias at 25% per annum. We almost do not take [new loans]," the businessman said.

Commenting on other sources of financing, he said that Novopecherski Lypki and Boulevard of Fountains in Kyiv are profit-making projects.

He said that the situation at the Kyiv airport is bad due to a sharp decline in public income, but it starts improving.

"I think that we have passed the bottom. The situation is slowly improving now, but it is far from that we had five years ago," Khmelnytsky said.

He said that the airport would try to invite new low-cost airlines. The airport is ready to participate in the programs to attract foreign tourists.

Commenting on other businesses from his portfolio, the businessman said that they are hostages of the difficult economic situation in the country and low income of the public.

"I think that we will start growing. There will be more money and it would be profit-making again. Now when many businesses are working with losses now and I do not have losses, I think that this is good. This is my approach," he said, asked about the outdoor advertisement operator PTM-Ukraine and the movie producer and distributor Star Media.

He said that one more asset from his portfolio  Biopharma  also suffered from crisis, as 30% of the market was lost: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk and a large part of Donbas.

"Local pharmaceutical companies had competitive advantage  the devaluation has passed and we managed to use it: here with local staff and materials we were more flexible than importers," he said.

In general, Khmelnytsky, being First Vice President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE), said that the main task for Ukraine is the acceleration of economic growth as quickly as possible thanks to creation of new production facilities. This would quickly help to restore public income growth.

"I am interested in economic growth. People should earn more and then they would spend more. My businesses would sell something to them. I do not have any thought that one can survive in this stagnation as we have today. We should unite to accelerate economic growth," he said.

Khmelnytsky is a majority shareholder in UDP, which is engaged in implementing large-scale infrastructure projects. Kyiv International Airport, Ocean Plaza shopping mall, Novopecherski Lypki residential complex, Boulevard of Fountains, RiverStone and Parkove Misto are among them.

K.Fund was founded in 2015 to support projects related to education and the economy.
Fans of Han Solo and Princess Leia had certainly glamorized the idea of Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford being an item in real life, as avid co-star shippers have continued to do for the past 40 years (and probably did since the dawn of cinema).

But there was no proof that the then-19-year-old Fisher and 34-year-old Ford, who was married when "Star Wars" was shot, had ever gotten romantic during the making of the 1977 classic.

And there still isn't any proof, technically  NBC is reaching out to Ford's representatives  but Fisher is saying it happened, and that's about as close to a photograph as you're gonna get.

Movie's Most Frequent Co-Stars

So, this other woman aside (other, as in Ford's first wife, Mary Marquardt, from whom he could have been estranged in 1977, two years before they divorced in 1979), Han and Leia were gloriously hooking up in real life.

It sounds so romantic, the co-stars' love-hate passion onscreen translating behind the scenes, not to mention it being the culmination of the dreams of so many Star Wars fans--especially the way Fisher describes it. But on the flip side...

Even if the unfaithful go on to wed each other, boosting the "we're sorry it happened this way, it was just meant to be" argument, there's at least one person on the other side of that triangle, if not two as in the case of the dual spurned exes of LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Rimes, who met while making the Lifetime movie "Northern Lights."

Not that Rimes and Rimes, who've now been married for five and a half years, broke any sort of mold when they embarked on an affair (Rimes confirmed as much in 2010, a year after her and Cibrian's respective divorces, telling People, "I take responsibility for everything I've done. I hate that people got hurt, but I don't regret the outcome.")

Nor did Ford and Fisher for that matter. Actors who showed up on set one day only to find themselves drawn to their co-stars and unable to deny their feelings (or the consummation) is a tale as old as Hollywood.

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall may have been a couple for the ages (whether she liked it or not later in life), but Bogie had to divorce his third wife before he could marry Bacall, who was barely 20 when she met the 45-year-old actor on the set of 1944's "To Have and Have Not."

And Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn may or may not have already been seeing each other when they made their first of nine films together, the 1942 comedy "Woman of the Year," but either way, Tracy was married. And not believing in divorce, he stayed married throughout his storied partnership with Hepburn that lasted until his death in 1967.

While you may need to look up the names of Bogart and Tracy's unlucky spouses, Debbie Reynolds (Carrie Fisher's mother) was a huge star when Eddie Fisher (Carrie's father) left her for Elizabeth Taylor  not after he met her on set, however, but after her husband Michael Todd was killed in a plane crash and Fisher swooped in to console her, the lot of them having been friends beforehand.

So Reynolds had a particularly interesting vantage point when Taylor went off to shoot "Cleopatra" and fell right smack in love with her married co-star Richard Burton, a legendary affair that would result in two rocky marriages and an Oscar for Taylor when she and Burton starred as a most unhappily married couple in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

They didn't have children together, but Burton adopted Taylor's daughter, Liza Todd, as well as a child she had been in the process of adopting before they met, their daughter Maria Burton.

The illicit start of Burton and Taylor's romance also made them tabloid darlings, with a paparazzi photo of the two on a yacht "confirming" in the first place that they were having an affair.

While Debbie Reynolds went on to marry two more times and continued to have a perfectly glorious career, she never quite shook being the good girl whose husband abandoned her for the sultry, tempestuous, violet-eyed Liz Taylor.

Even Reynolds compared herself to Jennifer Aniston!

"I stood no chance against her," Reynolds recalled to the U.K.'s Sun in 2013. "I was just like Jennifer Aniston with Brad Pitt when he fell in love with Angelina Jolie.

"If Angelina wants someone, then that is that. Certain women have that power. What chance did I have against Elizabeth, a woman of great womanly experience, when I had no experience at all?"

Brad Pitt &Angelina Jolie's Famous Exes

Moreover, it's the way in which Brangelina began  facts remain sparse but Jolie has since acknowledged falling on love during the making of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"  that had some so ready to believe that Pitt had just done the same thing with his "Allied" co-star Marion Cotillard.

But Cotillard, pregnant with her second child and wanting to remove herself from the conversation, spoke out fairly quickly, insisting she was very happy with her longtime partner and wishing Jolie and Pitt "peace in this very tumultuous moment."

Yet obviously stranger things have happened than two co-stars, particularly two halves of a steamy onscreen couple, taking their chemistry off-camera, even while involved with other people in real life.

Billy Crudup took up with "Stage Beauty" co-star Claire Danes in 2003, leaving a 7-months-pregnant Mary-Louise Parker in the process. Asked in 2015 about making the questionable choice to embark on that relationship, a now happily married (to Hugh Dancy) Danes told Howard Stern, "That was a scary thing. That was really hard. I didn't know how to not do that."

"I was just in love with him," the "Homeland" star added. "And needed to explore that and I was 24... I didn't quite know what those consequences would be."

For Danes, the consequences were few, the scandal having occurred years before Parker had the option to rip her apart on Twitter.

And yet rom-com sweetheart Meg Ryan, who did the least romantic thing by leaving husband Dennis Quaid for her "Proof of Life" co-star Russell Crowe in 2000, did suffer career-wise. She made "Kate &Leopold" after that, but the cinematic spell may have been broken when she proved all too human in real life.

Like Pitt, who would later clarify that he hadn't been that happy in his personal life when he met Angelina Jolie in 2004, Ryan may have been looking for a way out of her marriage to Quaid. But it was a crushing blow to the then seemingly solid ranks of devoted Hollywood couples at the time.

Billy Bob Thornton Says He'd Love to Make a Movie With Angelina Jolie's Ex Brad Pitt

And speaking of celebrities who had to face Twitter's wrath after straying, Ryan played Kristen Stewart's mother in the 2007 dramedy "In the Land of Women"  five years before Stewart would crush hearts when she was caught stepping out on Robert Pattinson with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders, whose marriage to Liberty Ross subsequently ended.

Fashion Police: Robert Pattinson's Post-Kristen Stewart Looks

But yes, it isn't just the co-star who might prove a draw, but the director, too. Peter Bogdanovich divorced his wife, Polly Platt, after falling for 21-year-old Cybill Shepherd while directing her in his 1971 drama "The Last Picture Show"  and he and Shepherd stayed together for six years and remained friends for years after that.

Ingrid Bergman was married to Peter Lindstrm when she had an affair with Gregory Peck during the making of 1945's "Spellbound," and still was when she had an affair with her "Strombolli" director Roberto Rossellini and got pregnant with the first of their three children together. Like Taylor and Burton, the couple were denounced by entire governments for their scandalous ways, and it did cost Bergman a few roles, but she won her second Best Actress Oscar for her big Hollywood comeback, 1956's "Anastasia." She and Rossellini married in 1950 and divorced in 1957.

Helena Bonham Carter had an affair with Emma Thompson's then-husband Kenneth Branagh when he directed and co-starred with her in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." When asked about it years later, Thompson acknowledged to the U.K.'s Telegraph that she and Bonham Carter, who dated Branagh for five years (and later fell madly in love with director Tim Burton), could be considered similar.

"Being slightly mad and a bit fashion-challenged. Perhaps that's why Ken loved us both... Helena and I made our peace years and years ago," Thompson said.

Celebrity Couples Caught Up in Cheating Scandals: Where Are They Now?
Sutton Fosterwith her innocent smile and bewildered eyesmay well have been born to play Charity Hope Valentine, the naive dance hall hostess of Sweet Charity, the Cy Coleman-Dorothy Fields musical with a seriocomic book by Neil Simon.

Is there an actress more adept at toggling between hopefulness and heartbreak with just the bat of an eyelash?

The New Groups Sweet Charity is a bittersweet, but sublime revival that begins with Fosterin a blonde wig likely to be the only controversial element of this productionbeing robbed and pushed into a fountain. Let that ruin her day? Not this taxi dancer, whos used to being kept off kilter by the fickle finger of fate.

Leigh Silverman, who directed Foster in Violet, takes us through all the steps of the classic musical, which is marking its 50th anniversary.

Big Spender, with its sequin-bedecked quintet of hoofers, would look at home on the larger stage of Studio 54. A jubilant take on If My Friends Could See Me Now has us cheering for Foster as she gallivants through a wealthy suitors apartment.

Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma! etc.) is very good as Oscar, the sad and awkward neurotic who befriends Charity when theyre stuck in an elevator. She calms him down, and he returns the favor a few scenes later, when theyre trapped on the Parachute Jump at Coney Island.

Could he be the man Charity is waiting for? If you know Sweet Charity, you know the answer, so lets just allow that somehow, Hensley makes it still come out of the blue.

Joel Perez gets to show more range here than in the recent Fun Home, portraying a quartet of characters, among them narcissistic movie star Vittorio Vidal, and Herman, the hard-bitten owner of The Fandango Club, where Charity has toiled for 8 years.

Asmeret Ghebremichael and Emily Padgett play off each other famously as dancers in the wistful Baby, Dream Your Dream. Where Am I Going? closes Sweet Charity on a tender note that brought Foster and the company an ovation, and makes for a gut-wrenching reminder that this is no happy-go-lucky tuner.

Joshua Bergasse (On the Town) has choreography dutiesthis work is new, but he has talked about purposeful homages to original choreographer Bob Fosse. Perched above the audience is a six-woman orchestra on guitar, bass, cello and so on. The setting is intimate and minimalist.

The last time Sweet Charity had a major run in New York was in 2005, starring Christina Applegate, who broke her foot during out-of-town tryouts but rallied to a Tony nomination. Producers are said to be mulling a Broadway transfer for Foster, if it can be worked around her shooting schedule on TVs Younger.

Sweet Charity, through Jan. 8 at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd St. Tickets: $95-$175. Call 212-279-4200.

Follow Robert Kahn on Twitter@RobertKahn
What to Know Mohamed Rafik Naji, 37, faces charges of providing material support for terrorism

He allegedly traveled to Yemen in 2015 in an attempt to join ISIS, but returned after several months when he was unable to join

The Yemen-born Brooklyn resident was arrested in his home borough

A permanent U.S. citizen who drove for a car service in New York City has been accused of traveling to the Middle East to join ISIS and talked about wanting to carry out an attack in Times Square.

Mohamed Rafik Naji, 37, faces charges of providing material support for terrorism, according to court documents and law enforcement officials. The Yemen-born Brooklyn resident was arrested in his home borough.

"As alleged, the defendant was persistent in his efforts to join ISIL and support its terrorist objectives, said U.S. Attorney Robert Capers. We will continue to identify and prosecute individuals like Naji who seek to empower our nations enemies and endanger our citizens and partners around the world.

Authorities said that the man allegedly traveled to Yemen in 2015 in an attempt to join ISIS, but returned after several months when he was unable to join the terrorist organization.

The documents said he made it as far as Turkey, but never was able to cross the border to Syria. He allegedly asked relatives for money on more than one occasion and had said he tried to cross the border 5 times but there was too much security. He also allegedly sent an associate files with sounds of gunfire and claimed to have lamost been killed by the "army."

He later expressed support for ISIS after an attack in the French city of Nice killed 86 people and injured more than 400 others.

The documents allege that he "expressed support for staging an attack in Times Square" during a conversation with an undercover FBI operative on July 19, four days after the attack in Nice. There was no indication that he ever did anything to carry out such an attack.

Authorities also said that he expressed support for ISIS in posts on a Facebook account, making the page's profile picture an image of men with guns walking toward the visage of the terror group's flag. The cover photo of the page also featured images of ISIS symbols.

Officials in court said that Naji drove cars for Uber, but the company denied that he worked for the service.

His attorney, Susan Kellman, said that Naji had "a legitimate purpose" for being in Yemen.

"I have no idea what my client said and what the confidential source said," she said."He had a legitimate purpose for being in Yemen. He has family there."

He's being held without bail.

Naji is the latest area resident to be arrested on charges related to supporting terror groups. At least a half-dozen other have been accused of supporting ISIS or attempting to join the group since mid-2015.
What to Know An attorney for the town of Ramapo said it wouldn't give a permit to schools that didn't meet safety standards

Residents say in some spots, almost all the single-family homes on a block have been converted into religious schools

Members of the local fire department say they're concerned about overcrowding

Residents in the Rockland County town of Ramapo claim town officials are allowing single-family homes on small residential lots to be turned into religious schools with little or no public notice.

Suffern resident Annette Doerr said she has been battling the conversion of a home next door into an ultra-Orthodox school for several years. Doerr told the I-Team she believes there are more than 200 students in the four-bedroom house but has been unable to get specific information.

Its six days a week," she said. Whenever theyre on recess, we cant be outside.

Its too dangerous, its too dense, she added. The home was meant for a family.

The property manager declined to tell the I-Team how many students attend the school.

Minna Greenbaum, another Suffern resident, said there are areas where almost every property on a block is a school or religious institution.



"The town turns a blind eye," she said. "Everything is allowed.

Residents said they are not opposed to schools if there is sufficient property to accommodate the students and buses safely.

Resident Peter Katz recently filed a lawsuit over a school thats being developed on a nearby lot.

A friend of mine owned this house, sold it to someone, and the very next thing, I discovered by accident its being converted to a school," Katz said. "There was no public notice.

Members of the Spring Valley Fire Department, which responds to emergency calls in the town of Ramapo, said they are especially concerned about modular trailers being moved onto residential lots as classrooms to accommodate students.

We dont even get the fire plans, and thats the biggest thing, said Captain Justin Schwartz. It gets approved without us saying so. Its a crime."

The town of Ramapo passed a law limiting the use of temporary trailers to a maximum of two years. Democratic Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski said town officials have allowed the proliferation of permanent trailers to be used without proper enforcement.

He said he believes the New York Department of State should take over Ramapos building department.

This is a willful, systemic ignoring of the law by those that are in charge, and when you have that, the State needs to step in, he said.

Michael Klein, attorney for the town of Ramapo, told the I-Team that schools with permits are safe.

The town of Ramapo will not issue a permission of occupancy permitting property to be used as a school unless it meets all fire and building codes, he said.

Whether people like the growing size of the community and the need to address the growing population, thats a quality of life issue and people have different views of that, he added.

Census figures for 2015 to 2016 showed there are 24,000 non-public school students in the East Ramapo school district and 8,500 public school students.
What to Know Hate crimes have risen across the city and tri-state in recent weeks, many of them targeting Jewish and Muslim people

The NYPD said that hate crimes have spiked 31 percent this year compared to last year and that it is investigating dozens of such crimes

On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered at a Brooklyn Heights park to denounce swastikas that were painted there

Mayor de Blasio called for New York to be "an example" for the rest of the nation at an anti-hate rally in Manhattan on Monday.

The 11 a.m. rally at Cooper Unions Great Hall in the East Village was called as the NYPD reported the number of hate crimes in the city was on the rise.

"We've seen a nation which is meant to be inclusionary becoming exclusionary," he said.

"We have a special obligation to be an example," he said. "A single office-holder doesn't change who we are."

De Blasio's message aimed to unify the city and calm fears following a number of hate-inspired incidents across the boroughs and tri-state.

He directly referred to the fears of many Americans stemming from the election of Donald Trump.

I dont want to sugarcoat the situation, he said.

Its important to say out loud - theres a lot of fear out there. People are desperately worried about what this will mean for them and their families.

He spoke directly to black residents, women, Muslims, members of the Jewish community and the LGBT community when he said "we will protect you".

De Blasio declared that the city would not comply if asked to resume "stop and frisk" policies, and it would ensure funding to women's healthcare despite threats to the federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

He also said those committing hate crimes would be found, arrested and prosecuted.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill said that hate crimes are up 31 percent this year from last year, a trend he called disturbing.

Police have been investigating more than two dozen hate crimes. Many of those crimes were against Jewish and Muslim people.

On Sunday, hundreds of New Yorkers came together to protest hate messages and offensive symbols at a Brooklyn Heights park that is named after a late Beastie Boys star. The playground was defaced with two swastikas and a pro-Trump message last week.

Gov. Cuomo said Sunday that he has directed state police to create a special unit to investigate reports of hate crimes in New York.

Cuomo, a Democrat, announced the initiative at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Manhattan as part of a plan to combat hate crimes in the aftermath of the divisive presidential election.

I wish I could say that our beautiful State of New York was immune from this poison. But it's not. Fliers promoting the KKK were found on parked cars in Patchogue, Long Island. A swastika was discovered on the B train in Manhattan," Cuomo said.

It seeks a target and the target has become people that one sees as different from oneself. Its the different people  different skin color, different religion, different sexuality. And they have become a target for this anger, Cuomo said.

The governor told the Harlem church's congregation that he'll also push for legislation that expands protections under the state's human rights law to all students statewide. The other aspect of the three-part plan will create the nation's first emergency legal defense fund to ensure all immigrants have access to representation.

Cuomo's plan is a response to what he called the "ugly political discourse" that didn't end with Republican Donald Trump's win over Democrat Hillary Clinton in last week's election.

On Tuesday, Cuomo announced a hotline for reporting bias and discrimination amid an apparent uptick in reports of racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, racially based bullying in schools and hate crimes in the Empire State following the election.

Swastikas, "No Jews" and other anti-Semitic and racist messages have been spray-painted on streets, buildings and sidewalks across the tri-state in recent days, authorities said.

Last week a man punched another man in the face following an argument over religion on a subway in Manhattan.

And the MTA says it is looking into a report of a swastika apparently scrawled in black marker on a New York City subway, an incident Cuomo mentioned in his address in Harlem.

In a video message Friday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch responded to a spike in hate crimes that the federal government found in 2015, saying the increase should be "deeply sobering" to Americans.

The FBI reported a six-percent increase in hate crimes nationally in 2015, with anti-Muslim crimes increasing by a staggering 67 percent, Lynch said on the video.

"These numbers should be deeply sobering for all Americans," Lynch said.
A police officer injured in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Brooklyn man during a scuffle with police officers has been discharged from the hospital.

Officer Andris Bisogno smiled and waved to police officers as he left Jamaica Hospital at about 4 p.m. Sunday, The Daily News reported.

The officer and his partner had encountered 21-year-old Erickson Brito Saturday afternoon in the Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville while responding to a report of a suspicious person.

When they asked for ID, a scuffle ensued, and police say the man grabbed one officer's metal baton and struck both in the head. They then fired.

Bisogno suffered a gash to his head. The second officer suffered contusions.

Brito's family has denounced the shooting, saying deadly force wasn't necessary.
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
A week after Philadelphia Police asked for the publics help to track down a robber caught on camera taking an hour to break into a cash machine, they identified a man facing charges.

Following an anonymous tip, police arrested and charged Donald Smack on French Street on Nov. 17, said police.

Surveillance cameras captured a man using various tools to eventually gain access to the cash drawer of an ATM located outside a meat store along Wadsworth Avenue in the citys Cedarbrook neighborhood around 2:30 a.m. on Election Day, said Philadelphia Police. [[238427591, C]]

The suspect grabbed an undetermined amount of cash before fleeing, said police.

A judge arraigned Smack on theft and related charges Friday and sent him to county jail, said court records. He is due back in court next month. [[400846781, C]]
A Bucks County man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager whose parents allegedly "gifted" her to him when she was 14 faced more sex abuse charges in the case where 12 girls were found living in the man's home in Feasterville, Pennsylvania and maintained his innocence while trying to protect the victims.

Lee Kaplan waived a preliminary hearing in court Monday morning.

"He didn't want to put the girls through any more trauma then they've been put through by the Commonwealth," said defense attorney Ryan Hyde.

Hyde said that the girls' stories have changed and that Kaplan maintains his innocence.

"He took these people in, he educated them, he helped support them financially, he didn't have a sexual relationship with the minor children, he had what he believed to be a family relationship with them."

Kaplan didn't want to make the girls to testify during the holiday season.

"He views these as his children, his family... he feels somewhat protective of them," said Hyde.

Kaplan, who District Attorney Matthew Weintraub called a "cult-like figure," sexually assaulted five of the teen's younger sisters, said investigators.

No court date was immediately set for when Kaplan will face charges in the assault of the six sisters.

The victims include a girl authorities said was sexually assaulted from ages 14 to 17, a girl raped from ages 11 to 15, a girl raped between ages 10 to 13, a girl indecently assaulted between ages 6 to 10, and one sexually abused at 8 years old, prosecutors said.

The teen, who is now 18, told police Kaplan considered her and her sisters to be his wives, and he told them it was what God wanted, said Weintraub.

"He groomed them to make them believe he was a religious cult-like figure to whom they should submit their will," Weintraub said.

Hyde said Kaplan maintains the mother of his children is his wife and that he didn't touch the others.

Weintraub said they had "credible evidence" to prove the new charges.

Kaplan, 52, has remained behind bars on $2 million bail awaiting trial on statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors charges since his June arrest.

Officials in Bucks County acting on a neighbor's tip on June 20 found Kaplan at his Feasterville home, along with the 12 girls, authorities have said. It was at that time the initial victim told police she and Kaplan had two children, according to investigators.

"He raped (a girl) who gave birth to two of his children as a result," Weintraub said.

Authorities also charged a man and woman who told police they are the parents of 10 children found in the house, including the teenager who gave birth to Kaplan's two daughters.

The parents are charged with child endangerment. Police said they "gave" their 14-year-old daughter to Kaplan several years ago after he helped the couple, financially.

Kaplan grew up in Cheltenham, graduating from the township's high school in 1982. He also owned a few properties in the area in the 1990s, including a large house in the Melrose Park neighborhood that he rented to college students.

A FedEx deliveryman told NBC10.com that he often made dropoffs and pickups at Kaplan's Feasterville home. Kaplan operated a model train business out of his home, according to corporate records. The deliveryman said he had no idea 12 children lived with Kaplan, but said the house "stunk" and that the homeowner often answered the door shirtless.

Weintraub said that they hoped to eventually sell the house  which remained part of the investigation  and use the money for victim services.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that the 18th EU-Ukraine summit, which is to be held in Brussels on November 24, will consider the following issues: a visa free regime for Ukrainians, the extension of sanctions against the Russian Federation, the ratification of the Association Agreement and the signing of a memorandum of cooperation in the energy area.

"I believe that the key focus should be set on the situation in Donbas, the Russian aggression, the extension of sanctions ... and on the issues that are related to the occupied Crimea," Klimkin said on the Inter TV channel on Sunday night.

Klimkin said that a memorandum of cooperation in the energy sector is planned to be signed between Ukraine and the European Union at the summit, as well as the extension of the financial assistance from the EU to maintain reforms in Ukraine.

The minister informed that along with the issue of liberalizing the visa regime between the EU and Ukraine, the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU will be raised.

"We are conducting very close negotiations now ... We hope the talks will soon reach a positive decision on this issue," he said.
Police are investigating a report of a possible burglary inside Philadelphia's City Hall.

Officials said a maintenance worker reported shortly after noon Sunday that he saw two men enter the building by climbing through a window.

The worker said he yelled at them and ran to get security, but the two men were gone by the time a guard arrived.

Police are trying to determine whether anything was taken. Police K-9 units are searching the building.
Fire burned out of control for hours Monday morning, destroying nine homes in New Jersey's capital city and leaving at least three people hurt.

The fire broke out in a home on Weinberg Place in Trenton just after 3 a.m. Monday and wind-whipped flames quickly spread to neighboring homes. [[402249485, C]]



Trenton's fire chief said two civilians were injured. The extent is not known. A firefighter was also hospitalized as a precaution.



Seven people were displaced and crews evacuated the entire block. [[402230656, C]]

The fire spread to six alarms as crews continued to battle the blaze Monday morning. Wires fell down early in the fire fight, causing crews to have to wait to get the fire under control.

Firefighters announced they had the blaze under control around 7:30 a.m. [[402260756, C]]

The blaze left of block of homes destroyed and wrecked at least three cars parked nearby.

"It's difficult for us to go back home and there's nothing to go back home to," said victim Angelika, who didn't know how she would explain what happened to her 4-year-old son.

Utility services in the area would likely remain shut off through the day, said firefighters.
The mayor of Upland Borough, Pennsylvania was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crash, according to a spokesperson for Chester City.

Upland Mayor Michael Ciach was allegedly driving under the influence on E. 22nd Street and Edgemont Avenue in Chester City early Friday morning when he rear ended a car that then struck two other vehicles. Officials say Ciach then fled from the car on foot and was arrested around 4 a.m. by responding officers while wandering the streets of Chester City.

Ciach was released on his own recognizance and will be mailed a summons for his arraignment date, according to the Chester City spokesperson.

NBC10 reached out to Mayor Ciach for comment. We have not yet heard back from him.
A suspect has been arrested in the fatal weekend shooting of a San Antonio police detective.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Monday evening that 31-year-old Otis Tyrone McCain was arrested without incident in the Sunday night killing of Detective Benjamin Marconi. He was arrested around 4:30 p.m. Monday after the car he was driving was stopped on Interstate 10.

McManus had said previously that dashcam video from Marconi's patrol vehicle provided "a lot of information" for investigators about his death.

The driver pulled up from behind the officer before killing him, authorities said. Police on Monday released video showing the suspect and said he is believed to be driving a black Mitsubishi Galant.

"We consider this suspect to be extremely dangerous both to the police and to the public," San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a news conference, adding that he thinks "the uniform was the target."

McManus said that Marconi had pulled over a vehicle and while he was inside his squad car writing a ticket, a vehicle pulled up behind him. He said the driver of that vehicle got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot the officer in the head. The man fired a second time, then walked back to his vehicle and drove away, McManus said.

Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Our prayers go out to the family of Detective Benjamin Marconi, who was shot and killed today during a routine traffic stop outside of the San Antonio police headquarters," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said in a statement. "To the San Antonio Police Department and law enforcement officers all across the State of Texas, our message is clear: we stand unequivocally with you, and we will not tolerate those who viciously and deliberately target law enforcement."

In St. Louis, another officer was shot in the face but is expected to survive.

The St. Louis police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot twice as he sat in traffic in a marked police vehicle about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

"This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officer's window," Police Chief Sam Dotson said during a news conference.

Dotson declined to name the 46-year-old officer, but said he is a married father of three who has been with the department for about 20 years.

"Fortunately, for the blessing of God, the officer's going to survive," Dotson said.

Police reported early Monday that the suspect, who was wanted for other violent crimes, was later killed in a shootout with police.

At least two other police officers were also shot in other cities Sunday night, but it wasn't clear whether the incidents were targeted attacks.

The shootings came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And earlier this month, two Des Moines, Iowa-area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

"It's always difficult, especially in this this day and age, when police are being targeted across the country," McManus said.
A 46-year-old man was found shot to death inside a Laurel, Maryland, home Sunday night, and now police are looking for his killer.

Officers were called to the 13200 block of Deerfield Road at 9 p.m. Sunday for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found 46-year-old Gregory Myles of Capitol Heights suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No arrests have been made, but investigators do not believe this was a random crime.

Anyone with information that can help police is asked to call 1-866-411-TIPS.
A Maryland state trooper was struck Sunday evening on I-495 by a suspected impaired driver.

Trooper Dennis Moguche was in his marked patrol car monitoring traffic from the center median crossover north of Route 5 when a Buick LeSabre driven by 43-year-old Christopher Howard of Indian Head, Maryland, left the road and struck him just after 7 p.m., state police said.

Howard was charged with driving while impaired, driving under the influence, reckless driving, negligent driving and failure to control speed to avoid a collision.

Moguche was taken to Fort Washington Hospital where he was treated for injuries and released.

Howard reported no injuries and was released after appearing before a court commissioner and posting a $3,500 bond.

Moguche was the second trooper hit this month on the Capital Beltway and the 15th hit this year, according to Maryland State Police Capt. Dan Pickett.

Police urge drivers to be alert for police and other personnel who may be on the shoulders of Maryland roads.
A Virginia man, his wife and their two daughters died from gunshot wounds to the head in what has been described as a murder-suicide, the medical examiner's office said.

Lance Buckley, 35, called 911 Thursday morning and said he wanted to report three murders and a suicide, according to the sheriff.

Deputies who went to their Stafford County home found Buckley, 30-year-old Amy Buckley, 5-year-old Claire Buckley and 17-month-old Abigail Buckley dead in the lower level of the home.

Investigations are still ongoing.
What to Know Seth Rich was shot to death in northwest D.C. July 10.

Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Police said last month they have no evidence the slaying was connected to Rich's work at the DNC.

The parents of a Democratic National Committee staffer who was gunned down in Northwest Washington say they will never stop looking for their son's killer.

Seth Conrad Rich, 27, was shot multiple times in the 2100 block of Flagler Place July 10. No arrests have been made in the four months since his death.

On Monday, his parents pleaded for any clues that may help police.

"You have two people who shot my son twice in the back," said Rich's mother, Mary Rich. "We're not going to stop until we find my son's murderer. We will find his murderer, but we need all of you."

An $125,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest, including $100,000 offered by Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman.

Burkman, who is representing the Rich family, said he will stage a reenactment of the crime.

"As a lawyer, I believe in reenactments and I think they're a very strong way not just to engage the community but to really bring forth and attract new information," he said.

D.C. police did not participate in the news conference Monday and said there was no new information and that the investigation was ongoing.

Investigators have said they don't have any evidence suggesting the slaying is connected to the victim's work at the DNC. Attempted robbery has been cited as a possible motive.

On Monday, police say there were no additional updates in Rich's case.

WikiLeaks previously offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in Rich's death.

Rich, a Nebraska native, was a rising star in the DNC, colleagues said.

Mary Rich said she misses her son's smile the most.

"That smile. That smile, because I know that smile comes the arms hugging me too," she said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or send a text message to 50411.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that an alternative to the Minsk Agreements could be destabilizing of Ukraine by Russia and 'freezing' the conflict in Donbas.

"We all know that the Minsk Agreements are commitments, including political commitments on the part of Russia ... We must make Russia to fulfill at least basic fundamental steps. An alternative to 'Minsk' is 'freezing' and further destabilization of Ukraine by Russia," he said on the Inter TV channel on Sunday night.

Klimkin also said that a system of international sanctions against the Russian Federation is based on the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements by the country.
A Minnesota man who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling 27 years ago apologized in court Monday for his "evil acts" as he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a child pornography count that let authorities close the books on a mystery that had haunted the state for nearly three decades.

Danny Heinrich, 53, led authorities this summer to the field where he buried Jacob's remains. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to charge Heinrich with murder.

"I am truly sorry for my evil acts," Heinrich said as he stood before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, Jacob's parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, and the boy's siblings.

Heinrich told them that his actions were "heinous" and "unforgivable," and apologized for what he took away from them. He said he kept silent for nearly three decades because of his fear. But he offered no explanation for why he killed Jacob.

When he confessed in court in September, Heinrich quoted a handcuffed Jacob as saying, "What did I do wrong?"

Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling said Heinrich deliberately set out to hurt a child the night he abducted Jacob on Oct. 22, 1989, while her boy was biking with his brother and a friend near their home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph. She pointed out that by Heinrich's own admission, he put two bullets into his gun and shot Jacob with them.

"You didn't need to hurt him. He did nothing wrong. He just wanted to go home," Patty Wetterling said.

Patty Wetterling also told her son's killer she won't "waste a minute of time" thinking about him "from this day forward."

The sentence was the maximum the law allowed, and Heinrich technically could complete it in 17 years with good behavior, but the plea deal allows state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator at the end of his federal prison term, which could prevent him from ever going free. Tunheim said he "won't pretend" that the sentence is only about child pornography.

"What you've done is so heinous, so brutal and so awful that I don't believe society will let you go free," Tunheim said.

While some of Jacob's siblings said they want Heinrich to spend the rest of his life in prison, the family agreed with prosecutors and investigators that the plea deal was their best hope of learning Jacob's fate.

Early during the investigation, authorities questioned Heinrich, who maintained his innocence. But he came under renewed scrutiny when authorities decided to take a fresh look at the case around the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping.

As part of that effort, investigators used new technology to go back to a sex assault cause of a 12-year-old Cold Spring boy that happened nine months before Jacob's disappearance. They found Heinrich's DNA on that boy's sweatshirt, and used that evidence to get a search warrant for Heinrich's home in Annandale, where they found his child pornography collection last year.

After months of denials, Heinrich agreed in late August to confess to killing Jacob and the Cold Spring sex assault.

Heinrich detailed his crimes in chilling detail in court in September, recounting how he drove the boy to a gravel pit near Paynesville and molested him. After a patrol car with siren and lights passed nearby, he fired two shots at Jacob's head, killing him.

Patty Wetterling became a national advocate for missing children after Jacob's disappearance. A 1994 federal law named for Jacob requires states to establish sex offender registries.
A 6-year-old boy is under investigation for allegedly molesting other children on a school bus.

Boston Police said they aren't able to say much about the investigation because of the children's ages. They said they were notified of the incident on Nov. 3 by Boston Renaissance Charter School in Hyde Park. They referred the matter to the Children's Advocacy Center because of the ages of the students involved.

Parents told necn that they were only notified of the incident by the school on Monday after some of the details were shared by a parent on Facebook over the weekend.

necn spoke with the mother of one alleged victim who says her son was molested a number of times.

"He said it happened more than 10 times," said the mother who does not want to be named. "As a mom, I lost it. My son was being touched on the bus by another child, that's 6-years-old. The kid wanted my son to play with his genitals and he wanted my son to play with his genitals also. He mentioned a lot of grabbing of the buttocks."

The mother said the boy, who is now under investigation, also made threats against her son.

"He made mention that there were guns at his house and if he was going to say anything that he was going to kill me."

Boston Renaissance Charter School issued a statement Monday saying that it is taking the matter "very seriously" and has taken steps to ensure student safety and to protect the privacy of the students involved.

"We are aware of the Facebook post that has been circulating regarding an alleged incident on a school bus earlier this month," the school said. "We can assure all Boston Renaissance families that the school leadership team took immediate action and followed appropriate legal protocols, contacting law enforcement immediately upon learning of the issue.

"This is a highly sensitive matter," the school added. "We ask our school community to respect the privacy of our students and families, and allow the school to handle this appropriately."
More than 30 groups are rallying at the Massachusetts Statehouse to denounce hate incidents reported around the country after the election.

About 200 people gathered outside the State House around 11 a.m. Monday. Attorney General Maura Healey talked to the crowd about alarming reports she has heard about "bias-motivated conduct." She mentioned disturbing incidents on racism that have occurred in Massachusetts including the one at Attleboro High School.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that while he is still speaking as a Democrat, the city needs to move forward together as one.

Organizers Anti-Defamation Leauge say the event's message is that no matter who people supported in the presidential election, hate crimes are not acceptable and do not represent the whole city, state or country.

There have been reports of racist and anti-religious incidents around the country since the Nov. 8 election. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center on Friday, there have been 701 hateful incidents of harassment reported in the U.S. in the week since the presidential election, although not all reports have been verified. In addition, about 65 percent of the incidents were from the first three days following the election, and there has been a steady drop-off since, according to the hate-tracking group.
The Massachusetts Middlesex District Attorneys Office and Lowell Police are investigating the death of a 44-year-old woman as a homicide.

Upon receiving reports of an injured woman on Saturday, police arrived to a residence on Pawtucket Boulevard at 11:12 p.m. where they found the victim suffering from serious injuries.

The woman, who was identified as Gloribel Orengo, was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation conducted by Lowell Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, indicated that Orengo was one of several people involved in a physical altercation outside of the residence after being asked to leave a party.

According to Orengo's finance, Miguel Morales, her 27-year-old son, who has Down Syndrome, held her body as she was dying in a parking lot.

"He was holding her, telling her to wake up. That he loved her," Morales recalled.

Morales said he and Orengo were together for 24 years.

"I've had family members passed away. Not long ago, I had my mother, my father, but it doesn't compare to this because she's my soulmate," Morales said.

Area residents say the area where the fight broke out is getting worse.

"It's terrible. I don't understand it," said Joe Fitzpatrick of Lowell. "Someone getting beat up like that. It's uncalled for."

The exact cause of Orengo's death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Orengo leaves behind a total of four children and three grandchildren.

"She loved to cook for everyone," said Morales. "If you needed something and she had it, it was yours. She was just the best."

The district attorney's office is investigating the incident as a homicide and have not made any arrests at this time.
A driver who police say hit a 72-year-old woman and fled in Chelsea, Massachusetts is being charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and driving without a license.

His bail is set at $2-thousand dollars.

The crash took place at Broadway and Fourth Street Friday morning. Surveillance footage lead investigators to believe it was 25-year-old Arnold Hernandez who was seen taking off from the scene.

Jocelyn Hernandez, the wide of the suspect says this isn't like her husband at all.

The victim suffered injuries, but is expected to recover.
One of the last vestiges of the old MS-DOS days, the Command Prompt, is looking like an endangered species. The latest Windows 10 preview build puts the Windows PowerShell, first introduced on Windows Server, front and center.

Build 14791, believed to be the basis for the Redstone 2 upgrade coming early next year, replaces the Command Prompt window in many key areas of the operating system. Command Prompt is still there, just not as accessible. Microsoft is putting the emphasis on PowerShell as the main command shell going forward.

Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider Program, mentioned this change in her blog post discussing Build 14791. She notes that it is still possible to stick with Command Prompt if you wish:

For those who prefer to use Command Prompt, you can opt out of the WIN + X change by opening Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, and turning Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Windows key+X to Off.

PowerShell replaces Command Prompt (aka, cmd.exe) in the WIN + X menu, in File Explorers File menu, and in the context menu that appears when you shift-right-click the whitespace in File Explorer. Typing cmd or powershell in File Explorers address bar is still the quick way to launch the command shell at that location.

Overall, the changes in Build 14791 are pretty modest: reading EPUB books in Edge, a preview of the 3D version of the Pain app, improved input for Chinese and Japanese characters, and an update to the Get Office app. Redstone 2 is rumored to ship around April of next year.

This continues a pattern we've been seeing in Windows 10 where old features are diminished in prominence but not necessarily removed. Internet Explorer 11 remains, but you have to run it manually. The IE icon on the Task Bar launches the new Edge browser.

Likewise, Microsoft is changing the Control Panel. A few builds back, it changed what you got when using the Power Menu. Instead of the Control Panel shortcut, there is now a full menu of options that match the Control Panel's set of applets.
Some have begun referring to this month as Black November since pre-Black Friday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales have all blended together. Not all the supposed deals are actually deals at all  in many cases, the retailers are just trying to offload stuff  but there are plenty of bargains to be had on the hottest smartphones, tablets, PCs and gaming systems. Heres a look at some of the best deals.

Websites such as BFads.net, BlackFriday.com and BestBlackFriday.com have all been helpful in collecting this information.

MORE: Best Black Friday Apple Watch deals

Computers

Best Buy: MacBook Air 13.3 laptop

This model of the Apple MacBook Air is powered with an Intel i5 processor, has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of flash storage. Best Buy is cutting $200 off the regular price to sell it for $800.

BJs Wholesale Club: HP 15.6-inch laptop computer with Microsoft Office 365 Personal

Lop $220 off the price of this bundle to come in at $500 for the package. The machine boasts 1TB of storage, 8GB of memory and an Intel Core i7 processor.

Dell: Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1

Dell is marking down this flexible laptop/tablet from $350 to $200 online for Black Friday. The machine, which weighs in at just over 3 pounds, boasts Windows 10 Home, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Dell: Inspiron Micro Desktop

This compact desktop will run you just $100 (!), half off of Dells usual price (though weve seen it listed for as much as $350 too). The machine runs Windows 10 Home, has 4GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive. Its powered by a 6th generation Intel Core i36100 processor.

Office Depot/Office Max: HP 15-inch Windows 10 laptop

This system boasts an Intel i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and comes in at $450, or $400 off the usual price. Note that other HP systems from Office Depot/Office Max can also be had for $270 and $330 with less powerful processors.

Walmart: Samsung 11.6-inch Chromebook laptop

Youll be able to get this Celeron dual-core processor-powered laptop with 16GB of storage (expandable to 2TB!?)

HP: Envy 15t laptop

This 15-inch touch-optional Windows 10 laptop is powered by an Intel i7 processor, has 6GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Regularly priced at $830, HP is selling it for $600 starting on Thanksgiving Day.

HP: Omen Desktop 870-120st

This Windows 10 Home 64 gaming system, marked down from $1,800 to $1,300, cranks via an Intel Core i7-6700 CPU (four cores), an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, 8MB shared cache, 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage.

HP: Elite X2 1012 G1 2-in-1

This 12-inch touch display tablet/laptop combo usually starts at more than $2,000, but the price has been slashed nearly in half for HPs Black Friday sale. The system runs Windows 10 Pro 64 and boasts a 6th generation Intel Core m processor and Intel HD Graphics 515 processor. It has 4GB of memory and 180GB of storage.

Meijer: Samsung 11.6-inch Chromebook

This model with 4GB of storage costs just $150, which is $80 off the regular price.

Newegg: HP ProLiant ML 10 v2 Tower Server

This system is marked down from $250 to $175. Features an Intel i3-4150 3.5 GHz processor, 8GB of RAM of 500GB SATA.

Tablets

Best Buy: Amazon Fire tablets

Best Buy is cutting $30 off the price of the Amazon Fire 8-inch tablet with 16GB of storage to $60, and is shaving about $17 off the price of a 7-inch Amazon Fire tablet with 8GB of storage for a final price of $33.33 (will be interesting to see how Amazon marks these tablets down itself).

Best Buy: Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet

You can get this Windows tablet with a 12.3-inch screen, signature type cover and Intel Core m3 processor for $600 ($400 off). Note that the pen is sold separately.

Surface Pro 4 tablet

Walmart: iPad mini 2 tablet

Walmart is making the price on this pretty mini, by cutting $70 off the usual $270 price for this 32GB model.

Shopko: Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite tablet

Shopkos Black Friday sales start online the day before Thanksgiving and online at
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy during a meeting with President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Michael Turner has said that Ukraine aims to become a NATO member and has to see and understand the specific requirements and timelines for obtaining membership in the Alliance.

As the press service of the Ukrainian parliament reported on Sunday evening, the meeting was held within the framework of the participation of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine's delegation in the NATO PA in Istanbul.

"The decision of the Bucharest NATO summit is to be put into practice - Ukraine will join NATO," Parubiy said during the meeting.

He also said that Ukraine has approved a program to bring the Armed Forces to NATO standards by 2020. "The president of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada are actively engaged in it. This is an ambitious goal, but I am convinced that the Armed Forces will realize it," Parubiy said.

Verkhovna Rada speaker expressed conviction that the experience that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have, can be interesting and useful for NATO armies. "We are convinced that the Ukrainian army, that is waging the war, has an experience that will be of some interest to NATO countries. Now it is undergoing war trials - it is being tempered," Parubiy said.

He also thanked Turner for his support to Ukraine, which the NATO PA demonstrates, in particular, in its decisions on the aid to Ukrainian Armed Forces, treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian military - members of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in the joint military drills of NATO countries and Ukraine.

The meeting was also attended by an MP, Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada in NATO PA Iryna Friz and Ukrainian MP, Ukrainian President's Envoy for the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev.
Meeting with hero British astronaut

A FALKLAND Primary School pupil had an out-of-this-world experience recently when he met a British astronaut.

Cameron Tiley, aged 10, met his hero, British astronaut Major Tim Peake, at Portsmouth University, at the Principia Schools Conference, run by the UK and European Space Agencies.

Using Major Peakes mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as inspiration, children and schools were able to apply for an opportunity to display a poster or give a presentation at the event.

Camerons school research project about Major Peake and life on the ISS was selected out of the hundreds of entries and presented by Cameron to 70 other schoolchildren, teachers and scientists at the conference.

This is a daunting task for anyone, but more so for Cameron since he has the autistic spectrum disorder Aspergers syndrome as well as dyslexia, dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder, said his mother, Kimberley Tiley.

Everyday life can be a huge challenge for Cameron, but he presented with great confidence and knowledge, earning compliments from the scientists present on the breadth of his research and his enjoyable presentation.

Each child had the opportunity to meet the famous astronaut and have a photograph taken with him.

Cameron said: I did feel a bit nervous giving my presentation, but I think it went well.

Tim Peake was really nice and he talked to me about the special tea pot he designed.

Major Peake said during his closing comments at the conference that he hoped his six-month space mission would inspire a new generation of space explorers.

For one boy from Newbury this is certainly the case, said Mrs Tiley.

PHOTOGRAPH: CHRISTOPHER ISON
Funds needed for new renal dialysis unit and cancer care unit

THE quest to build two new units at the West Berkshire Community Hospital has been boosted by Thatcham Rotary Club.

As reported in the Newbury Weekly News, the Newbury and Thatcham Hospital Building Trust needs to raise 4.5m for a new renal dialysis unit and cancer care unit.

Thatcham Rotary Club donated a cheque for 500 shortly after the launch.

Club president Kamal Bahia and president-elect Ray Stowell presented the cheque to the trusts secretary, Dr Rob Tayton, with their good wishes for a successful appeal.

Mrs Bahia explained that the donation was a direct result of The Great Thatcham Duck Race held this summer.

Dr Tayton thanked the club for its speedy response and added that the presentation was a great example of the clubs involvement in the community.

The clubs next fundraising event for the hospital is the Great Thatcham Santa Run on Sunday, December 18.
Four-year-old Chieveley boy hoping to win competiton

A FOUR-year-old from Chieveley has secured a place in the finals of a national Christmas art competition.

Jack Hartley, who attends Chieveley Pre-school, has created a footprint snowman that has made it through to the www.minimecardco.com National Christmas 2016 art competition finals.

Chieveley Pre-school manager Sarah King said: We think creativity is vital for helping children develop.

Our aim is to develop great life skills for all our children for use in later life.

We really enjoyed making our art, which was made into free greetings cards, but had no idea we would get into the finals.

There are some great prizes so we are keeping our fingers crossed!

A professional artist will now judge the overall winners from across the UK.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: THE Commerce and Industry Ministry will press for an increase in cash withdrawal limits for exporters, said Commerce and Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday. Some exporters have either shut shop or scaled down production because of cash shortages following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Sitharaman, who was speaking post a meeting with the export promotion councils said that the Ministry will take up the issue with the Finance Ministry.

They voiced short term difficulties that they are facing. A majority of them felt they still had a segment of their activities (in cash), she said, adding that because of a contraction in liquidity post the announcement they do not have the cash. So some of them prefer closing down the units and telling their workers to come back after a week, or some of them reducing the capacity of production from 100 to 30-40 per cent.

The request for a relaxation has come from exporters in very labour intensive segments like carpets, handicraft and handloom etc, who buy raw material and pay wages in cash to migrant workers.

Sitharaman pointed out that the limit on withdrawals of Rs 50,000 per week for businesses was not enough to make all the necessary payments. Carpet exporters clearly say that migrant and transient workers constitute a big chunk. So they felt paying these workers are still not happening through bank accounts, so cash payments are important.

During the meeting, exporters had also demanded that the limit be increased to three lakh and above. We assured that, we will take a quick and well compiled report back to the finance ministry so that quick remedial solutions are offered. We will pitch for them and I am sure that the Finance Ministry will give us a sympathetic hearing, she said.

Sitharaman also said that there was no quantification of output loss due to short term closure of units.

NEW DELHI: THE Commerce and Industry Ministry will press for an increase in cash withdrawal limits for exporters, said Commerce and Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday. Some exporters have either shut shop or scaled down production because of cash shortages following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Sitharaman, who was speaking post a meeting with the export promotion councils said that the Ministry will take up the issue with the Finance Ministry. They voiced short term difficulties that they are facing. A majority of them felt they still had a segment of their activities (in cash), she said, adding that because of a contraction in liquidity post the announcement they do not have the cash. So some of them prefer closing down the units and telling their workers to come back after a week, or some of them reducing the capacity of production from 100 to 30-40 per cent. The request for a relaxation has come from exporters in very labour intensive segments like carpets, handicraft and handloom etc, who buy raw material and pay wages in cash to migrant workers. Sitharaman pointed out that the limit on withdrawals of Rs 50,000 per week for businesses was not enough to make all the necessary payments. Carpet exporters clearly say that migrant and transient workers constitute a big chunk. So they felt paying these workers are still not happening through bank accounts, so cash payments are important. During the meeting, exporters had also demanded that the limit be increased to three lakh and above. We assured that, we will take a quick and well compiled report back to the finance ministry so that quick remedial solutions are offered. We will pitch for them and I am sure that the Finance Ministry will give us a sympathetic hearing, she said. Sitharaman also said that there was no quantification of output loss due to short term closure of units.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Twelve days after the announcement of demonetisation of old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, the bank officials got a much-needed break from work on Sunday. Bank premises wore a deserted look while many ATMs kiosks remained dry. The ATMs that were loaded with cash went dry within a few minutes at most of the places as working professionals desperately waited to get the cash on a weekend.

Technicians calibrating the ATM machines for the new

D500 and D2,000 currency notes at an SBI

ATM kiosk in Wilson Garden on Sunday

| NAGARAJA GADEKAL

As the banks were closed, people were found trying other means to exchange the D500 and D1,000 denomination notes. In many parts, the recalibration of the ATM kiosks for the new currencies was being done in city. Micro ATMs too were seen in many parts of the city.

People complained that there is a huge difference in value between the D100 and D2,000 denominations, which is leading to problems.

Residents feel that the Reserve Bank of India should release new D500 currency to solve the crisis-like situation.

I recently shopped for D700 worth products. But when the shopkeeper realised I was carrying D2,000 note, I was asked to either shop for minimum D1,600 or return the stuff I had already picked, said homemaker Rajeshwari.

There is still very less awareness about the features of new D2,000 notes to judge whether the currency is real or fake. Recent incidents of photocopied notes being seized in many parts of the state have only added to the apprehension among people.

BENGALURU: Twelve days after the announcement of demonetisation of old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, the bank officials got a much-needed break from work on Sunday. Bank premises wore a deserted look while many ATMs kiosks remained dry. The ATMs that were loaded with cash went dry within a few minutes at most of the places as working professionals desperately waited to get the cash on a weekend. Technicians calibrating the ATM machines for the new D500 and D2,000 currency notes at an SBI ATM kiosk in Wilson Garden on Sunday | NAGARAJA GADEKALAs the banks were closed, people were found trying other means to exchange the D500 and D1,000 denomination notes. In many parts, the recalibration of the ATM kiosks for the new currencies was being done in city. Micro ATMs too were seen in many parts of the city. People complained that there is a huge difference in value between the D100 and D2,000 denominations, which is leading to problems. Residents feel that the Reserve Bank of India should release new D500 currency to solve the crisis-like situation. I recently shopped for D700 worth products. But when the shopkeeper realised I was carrying D2,000 note, I was asked to either shop for minimum D1,600 or return the stuff I had already picked, said homemaker Rajeshwari. There is still very less awareness about the features of new D2,000 notes to judge whether the currency is real or fake. Recent incidents of photocopied notes being seized in many parts of the state have only added to the apprehension among people.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Film producer S Madhan, whose mysterious disappearance for last several months landed the SRM group chairman Pachamuthu in prison, was finally caught by the Chennai police at Tirupur in western part of Tamil Nadu, police sources said on Monday.

However, the officials have not yet divulged the circumstances under which Madhan was arrested. The senior officers of the Chennai police are expected to hold a press conference on the case which had many times forced the city police lose its repute in the Madras high court.

The court had repeatedly pulled up the city police for not tracing Madhan, who is believed to have had collected crores of money promising MBBS seats in different private colleges before vanishing on May 27.

Though he became popular after his entry into film distribution and production business, Madhan had started his career as an agent who secured seats for his clients at renowned colleges Chennai. He suddenly disappeared on May 27 leaving a note that he is headed to Varanasi to attain Samadhi, not wanting to be reborn again.

Nearly 120 parents filed cheating complaints against Madhan in the subsequent weeks and the case ultimately led to arrest of the famed SRM education group chairman Pachanuthu, since he was also named as an accused by the parents. It is said that Madhan had collected about Rs 80 crores from the parents.

According to senior police officials, Madhan had set up a 'secret room' in the house of an acquaintance at Tiruppur and had been living there. He is expected to be produced before a court around 5 pm today.

CHENNAI: Film producer S Madhan, whose mysterious disappearance for last several months landed the SRM group chairman Pachamuthu in prison, was finally caught by the Chennai police at Tirupur in western part of Tamil Nadu, police sources said on Monday. However, the officials have not yet divulged the circumstances under which Madhan was arrested. The senior officers of the Chennai police are expected to hold a press conference on the case which had many times forced the city police lose its repute in the Madras high court. The court had repeatedly pulled up the city police for not tracing Madhan, who is believed to have had collected crores of money promising MBBS seats in different private colleges before vanishing on May 27. Though he became popular after his entry into film distribution and production business, Madhan had started his career as an agent who secured seats for his clients at renowned colleges Chennai. He suddenly disappeared on May 27 leaving a note that he is headed to Varanasi to attain Samadhi, not wanting to be reborn again. Nearly 120 parents filed cheating complaints against Madhan in the subsequent weeks and the case ultimately led to arrest of the famed SRM education group chairman Pachanuthu, since he was also named as an accused by the parents. It is said that Madhan had collected about Rs 80 crores from the parents. According to senior police officials, Madhan had set up a 'secret room' in the house of an acquaintance at Tiruppur and had been living there. He is expected to be produced before a court around 5 pm today.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he hopes that G7 and European Union member states will remain united on maintaining sanctions against the Russian Federation.

"Since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in Crimea and then in Donbas, our government has felt the united support of the democratic world, first and foremost, by the Group of Seven countries and the European Union. I am sincerely grateful to the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain for the decision recently taken to maintain sanctions against Russia until it ceases aggression against Ukraine," he said during events in Kyiv on Monday on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity.

"I hope this approach will lay the basis of the next decision by the Council of the European Union to extend the sectoral and economic sanctions against Russia," he said.
Sanjana Chakraborty By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The breezy weather resonated with the soul-stirring rhythm of their guitar, interplaying a bit of jazz and the cool air around. Fingers in cue on the right strings, City Express catches up with musician Tam de Villiers who is in the city for a workshop at Alliance Francais, and also for a concert (part of his Indian tour), along with members of his jazz quartet.

Influenced by the idea of improvisation and interplay of music in the surroundings, Tam moved out of the UK and went to France in a bid to pursue music. After I got my degree in music at Leeds University, I decided to move away and discover different kinds of music within the continent. I couldve gone to London but I chose France thanks to a few friends who suggested it, he says.

Eventually, he ended up staying in Paris and put together a band after three years of living there. I attended a concert and met Karl at a performance, our drummer there. Back then I was into writing music, he recalls. He listened to some of my work and soon enough, we reached here.

Interestingly, Tams sojourn with music began at a young age. He played the violin when he was five, followed by the piano, and then the guitar at 15. Its a funny story really. My friend in school came up to me and said that he wanted to start a band and asked me if Id be interested in being the guitarist. I readily agreed without knowing how to play! I had two weeks to prepare and my father and I found an old acoustic guitar in the attic. Within two weeks, I got the hang of the basics and realised that this instrument is for me, he chuckles.

Influenced by pop, classic, and rock, Tam used to think Jazz belonged to a bygone era. My rock teacher showed me how jazz worked on a guitar. I was amazed at how you could create and improvise music for contemporary times, he says. Composing too is an invigorating experiencemore like a slow down form of improvisation. Its like a painting which you can keep fine-tuning it here and there, where it basically relies on how you structure things. Its like how in a conversation or a standup comedy performance, you draw upon what you have in mind and its simultaneous, he adds.

While there are quite a number of takers for jazz music now, Tam feels there are fewer opportunities. Jazz hasnt been marketed too well. People always want something fresh and new. You could get that if you keep improvising on your old work. I can do that with my quartet because weve been together for a while. When we perform together, its like going back to an old story and retelling it in a better manner. Theres a deeper level of interplay with newer developments, he says.

So far, the quartet, who are visiting India for the first time, have found a little bit to learn every place theyve visited. Such tours are also an exchange of knowledge for us. You have a lot of things to reflect on and learn from.

Hailing from different backgrounds and countries, (Tam from the UK, Karl from Canada, Frederic and David from France) the quartet, however, are in sync with each other in music. They have three albums, in addition to a heavy tour schedule in the country. Yeah, Ive hardly slept but I keep wanting to learn and create more, inspired by music around me, he smiles.

CHENNAI: The breezy weather resonated with the soul-stirring rhythm of their guitar, interplaying a bit of jazz and the cool air around. Fingers in cue on the right strings, City Express catches up with musician Tam de Villiers who is in the city for a workshop at Alliance Francais, and also for a concert (part of his Indian tour), along with members of his jazz quartet. Influenced by the idea of improvisation and interplay of music in the surroundings, Tam moved out of the UK and went to France in a bid to pursue music. After I got my degree in music at Leeds University, I decided to move away and discover different kinds of music within the continent. I couldve gone to London but I chose France thanks to a few friends who suggested it, he says. Eventually, he ended up staying in Paris and put together a band after three years of living there. I attended a concert and met Karl at a performance, our drummer there. Back then I was into writing music, he recalls. He listened to some of my work and soon enough, we reached here. Interestingly, Tams sojourn with music began at a young age. He played the violin when he was five, followed by the piano, and then the guitar at 15. Its a funny story really. My friend in school came up to me and said that he wanted to start a band and asked me if Id be interested in being the guitarist. I readily agreed without knowing how to play! I had two weeks to prepare and my father and I found an old acoustic guitar in the attic. Within two weeks, I got the hang of the basics and realised that this instrument is for me, he chuckles. Influenced by pop, classic, and rock, Tam used to think Jazz belonged to a bygone era. My rock teacher showed me how jazz worked on a guitar. I was amazed at how you could create and improvise music for contemporary times, he says. Composing too is an invigorating experiencemore like a slow down form of improvisation. Its like a painting which you can keep fine-tuning it here and there, where it basically relies on how you structure things. Its like how in a conversation or a standup comedy performance, you draw upon what you have in mind and its simultaneous, he adds. While there are quite a number of takers for jazz music now, Tam feels there are fewer opportunities. Jazz hasnt been marketed too well. People always want something fresh and new. You could get that if you keep improvising on your old work. I can do that with my quartet because weve been together for a while. When we perform together, its like going back to an old story and retelling it in a better manner. Theres a deeper level of interplay with newer developments, he says. So far, the quartet, who are visiting India for the first time, have found a little bit to learn every place theyve visited. Such tours are also an exchange of knowledge for us. You have a lot of things to reflect on and learn from. Hailing from different backgrounds and countries, (Tam from the UK, Karl from Canada, Frederic and David from France) the quartet, however, are in sync with each other in music. They have three albums, in addition to a heavy tour schedule in the country. Yeah, Ive hardly slept but I keep wanting to learn and create more, inspired by music around me, he smiles.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Students of schools in the capital now have a chance to win a study trip to a leading Australian university. They can participate in A2Oz India Schools Video Competition 2016, organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE).



The competition is open to students from grades IX to XII from schools across India. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is an in-depth, high-level qualification offered by Cambridge English Language Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge.



The third edition of the annual A2Oz India Schools Video Competition allows students to explore next generation fields of study in areas of growing career opportunity. The competition involves production of short films by students around the themes of aerospace, nanotechnology, earth sciences, story-telling through dance and construction management.



The winning teams for all the five themes will have the opportunity to participate in a study programme in University of Sydney, RMIT, Australian National University, Macquarie University and University of Southern Queensland. This would also include return flight tickets from India to Australia, for two students and an accompanying teacher, accommodation, and other travel and living expenses in Australia for the study programme.



The students will be provided background information on the themes by the participating Australian universities and schools can nominate a team for each of the five themes and each team can have minimum of two students and one teacher. Registration for the competition commences on November 9 and the submission of competition video entries is between February 15 to 25, 2017.



Technical sessions on video production will be conducted for schools and students across India participating at the competition in December 2016. The sessions will feature Australian experts who will train the participants on film-making and production.



For more information on participating in the competition, students can visit www.a2oz.org or contact the Australian Trade and Investment Commission at 011-45756213 or e-mail to neha.grover@austrade.gov.au

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Students of schools in the capital now have a chance to win a study trip to a leading Australian university. They can participate in A2Oz India Schools Video Competition 2016, organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE). The competition is open to students from grades IX to XII from schools across India. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is an in-depth, high-level qualification offered by Cambridge English Language Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge. The third edition of the annual A2Oz India Schools Video Competition allows students to explore next generation fields of study in areas of growing career opportunity. The competition involves production of short films by students around the themes of aerospace, nanotechnology, earth sciences, story-telling through dance and construction management. The winning teams for all the five themes will have the opportunity to participate in a study programme in University of Sydney, RMIT, Australian National University, Macquarie University and University of Southern Queensland. This would also include return flight tickets from India to Australia, for two students and an accompanying teacher, accommodation, and other travel and living expenses in Australia for the study programme. The students will be provided background information on the themes by the participating Australian universities and schools can nominate a team for each of the five themes and each team can have minimum of two students and one teacher. Registration for the competition commences on November 9 and the submission of competition video entries is between February 15 to 25, 2017. Technical sessions on video production will be conducted for schools and students across India participating at the competition in December 2016. The sessions will feature Australian experts who will train the participants on film-making and production. For more information on participating in the competition, students can visit www.a2oz.org or contact the Australian Trade and Investment Commission at 011-45756213 or e-mail to neha.grover@austrade.gov.au
Blessy Mathew Prasad By

Express News Service

Oxford University graduate, TEDx speaker, Goldman Sachs Global Leadership Award winner, author, and analyst for the United Nations. All at just 28. Nabila Jamshed is a dreamer, and when she puts her mind to something, she makes sure she gets it done.

Growing up in different cities across India, Nabila didnt really know what to call home. Her childhood was spent among books  first came Shakespeare and Ayn Rand, and then the history of the World Wars. Its not a stretch that an interest in wars could have led to a a fascination for diplomacy. Very early on, I was certain that I would spend a great deal of my adult life fascinated with global social contracts  how we make and break peace, the rise and fall of empires, and how cooperation across borders can reveal more about our common humanity than the artifice of isolationism, she says.

It was her stint at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi that was the turning point in her life. Later, she went on to do her masters at Oxford on Global Governance. Oxford is a formative experience. Its an old fashioned academic candy store, abundant with the wealth of ages, and authors, teachers, institutions youve only read about, brought to life. I particularly cherish my time with the Oxford Union, which Harold Macmillan called the last bastion of free speech in the Western World. Confrontations at the Union between student debaters and the worlds leading thinkers, represents what the University of Oxford itself represents  the idea that a great future is built on speaking on equal terms, she adds.

In 2013, she joined the UN first with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons during its work on crisis in Syria  a big part of her task there was speech writing. She then joined UNESCO as an analyst, and worked with the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, when conflict broke out in its capital city earlier this year.

While in South Sudan, we witnessed endangered peace when conflict erupted. I worked on security and conflict issues with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Juba, during the ongoing conflict, in which my base was hit by guns and mortar, and we worked under fire, she recalls those horrific moments, and adds, This tragic episode in the history of a proud and resilient country was emblematic of how complex the challenge of security can be, and renews ones resolve to assist in the rebuilding of lives and societies where one can. The challenge of working in that environment is unique and absorbing  peace is a seemingly Sisyphean task, but it demands our constant effort nonetheless.

Nabila is currently with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India, and her work touches on the implementation of sustainable development goals, like ending poverty, eliminating hunger, sustainable energy, economic growth, industry, infrastructure, and peace and justice in the next fifteen years.



Reach Out: linkedin.com/in/nabila-jamshed-22738b40

Oxford University graduate, TEDx speaker, Goldman Sachs Global Leadership Award winner, author, and analyst for the United Nations. All at just 28. Nabila Jamshed is a dreamer, and when she puts her mind to something, she makes sure she gets it done. Growing up in different cities across India, Nabila didnt really know what to call home. Her childhood was spent among books  first came Shakespeare and Ayn Rand, and then the history of the World Wars. Its not a stretch that an interest in wars could have led to a a fascination for diplomacy. Very early on, I was certain that I would spend a great deal of my adult life fascinated with global social contracts  how we make and break peace, the rise and fall of empires, and how cooperation across borders can reveal more about our common humanity than the artifice of isolationism, she says. It was her stint at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi that was the turning point in her life. Later, she went on to do her masters at Oxford on Global Governance. Oxford is a formative experience. Its an old fashioned academic candy store, abundant with the wealth of ages, and authors, teachers, institutions youve only read about, brought to life. I particularly cherish my time with the Oxford Union, which Harold Macmillan called the last bastion of free speech in the Western World. Confrontations at the Union between student debaters and the worlds leading thinkers, represents what the University of Oxford itself represents  the idea that a great future is built on speaking on equal terms, she adds. In 2013, she joined the UN first with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons during its work on crisis in Syria  a big part of her task there was speech writing. She then joined UNESCO as an analyst, and worked with the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, when conflict broke out in its capital city earlier this year. While in South Sudan, we witnessed endangered peace when conflict erupted. I worked on security and conflict issues with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Juba, during the ongoing conflict, in which my base was hit by guns and mortar, and we worked under fire, she recalls those horrific moments, and adds, This tragic episode in the history of a proud and resilient country was emblematic of how complex the challenge of security can be, and renews ones resolve to assist in the rebuilding of lives and societies where one can. The challenge of working in that environment is unique and absorbing  peace is a seemingly Sisyphean task, but it demands our constant effort nonetheless. Nabila is currently with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India, and her work touches on the implementation of sustainable development goals, like ending poverty, eliminating hunger, sustainable energy, economic growth, industry, infrastructure, and peace and justice in the next fifteen years. Reach Out: linkedin.com/in/nabila-jamshed-22738b40
Rajitha S By

Express News Service

Ittira Joseph is a 25-year-old Mumbaikar who landed in Ireland in 2015 after graduating from St Xaviers College, Mumbai. Currently an Assistant Accounting Manager in the European headquarters of LinkedIn, Ittira talks about shares tips for aspiring youngsters.

Choosing a masters in Digital Marketing

After working for three years at Media.net, a popular tech company in India, Ittiras fascination with all things digital went to the next level. It also showed me the scope and potential of working in the digital market.

Once I decided that I wanted to build a career in the industry, I chose to do a masters degree. One of the few colleges that offered this specific course was University College, Dublins Smurfit School of Business, shares Ittira. The same course offered by a few universities in the United States cost him five times more. The cost can be recovered as you will most definitely end up with a job, but I didnt want to risk it, adds Ittira.

Settling into Europes digital hub

Some well-funded startups to the best tech companies, they are all headquartered in Dublin, Irelands capital city. For someone like Ittira who didnt want to return home right after the course, it was well suited. Job prospects for my industry looked promising. Ireland allows you to stay back in the country for a year post-graduation, which is ample time to look for a job. Also, employers seem to be more open here compared to UK to employ Non-EU nationals, says Ittira.

Though the pay varies from industry to industry, it is a good deal. A graduate programme in finance will pay around 25k euros per annum. Tech companies may pay, 35-50k euros. If youve got vast amount of experience and acquire a senior level role, it could go up to 100k. There is no limit as such, he informs.

Living in Ireland

Two years in the country and Ittira shares that for someone like him, who is keen on learning from different cultures it is the place to be.

It is politically stable with a beautiful countryside and friendly people.

Ittira Joseph is a 25-year-old Mumbaikar who landed in Ireland in 2015 after graduating from St Xaviers College, Mumbai. Currently an Assistant Accounting Manager in the European headquarters of LinkedIn, Ittira talks about shares tips for aspiring youngsters. Choosing a masters in Digital Marketing After working for three years at Media.net, a popular tech company in India, Ittiras fascination with all things digital went to the next level. It also showed me the scope and potential of working in the digital market. Once I decided that I wanted to build a career in the industry, I chose to do a masters degree. One of the few colleges that offered this specific course was University College, Dublins Smurfit School of Business, shares Ittira. The same course offered by a few universities in the United States cost him five times more. The cost can be recovered as you will most definitely end up with a job, but I didnt want to risk it, adds Ittira. Settling into Europes digital hub Some well-funded startups to the best tech companies, they are all headquartered in Dublin, Irelands capital city. For someone like Ittira who didnt want to return home right after the course, it was well suited. Job prospects for my industry looked promising. Ireland allows you to stay back in the country for a year post-graduation, which is ample time to look for a job. Also, employers seem to be more open here compared to UK to employ Non-EU nationals, says Ittira. Though the pay varies from industry to industry, it is a good deal. A graduate programme in finance will pay around 25k euros per annum. Tech companies may pay, 35-50k euros. If youve got vast amount of experience and acquire a senior level role, it could go up to 100k. There is no limit as such, he informs. Living in Ireland Two years in the country and Ittira shares that for someone like him, who is keen on learning from different cultures it is the place to be. It is politically stable with a beautiful countryside and friendly people.
By BNS

Prachi Desai after receiving accolades for her work in TV and films has now decided to give up television for good...

Prachi Desai

Prachis debut in Kasamh Se made her the favourite for TV audiences since 2006. 8 years back and since then she has never looked back at TV again. When asked about would she like to work in TV again she laughs and says, No, that is something I have bid goodbye to; when I did my first film (Rock On!!).

But there are lots of interesting things happening in TV nowmay be judging a reality show or being a part of something interesting that I have never done before.

Prachi Desai after receiving accolades for her work in TV and films has now decided to give up television for good... Prachi DesaiPrachis debut in Kasamh Se made her the favourite for TV audiences since 2006. 8 years back and since then she has never looked back at TV again. When asked about would she like to work in TV again she laughs and says, No, that is something I have bid goodbye to; when I did my first film (Rock On!!). But there are lots of interesting things happening in TV nowmay be judging a reality show or being a part of something interesting that I have never done before.
A Sharadhaa By

Express News Service

While experimenting isnt new to Sandalwood filmmakers, this time director Imran Sardhariya has taken it a step further with letting the audience view beyond the usual angular shots.

City Express recently reported how director Tarun Sudhir captured a mega-fight sequence on a times slice effect shot for his film Chowka. Now choreographer-turned-director Imran is introducing a 360 degree Virtual Reality camera to Kannada industry through his film Uppu Huli Khara.

He has recently shot a promotional song gal gal gal enuthide..., the video of which will be out today. Expressing his excitement, Imran says the results are fabulous and anyone who watches the video on his or her smartphone will feel as if they are witnessing it live. This technology shows a video in 360 degree. Today, every industry is dependent on social media and I want to follow the trend through this promotional song, he explains.

The camera brought in from Mumbai is a rig, which carries 10 to 12 cameras placed in all possible angles and shot at one time. And according to Imran, the post-production work gets more interesting when one stitches the shots together. It is not the regular editing like one does, but requires a software called Skydrop. One can watch it on YouTube, he says.

Imran got to learn about this camera one-and-a-half years ago through cinematographer Venky who had

associated with the director for his debut project Endendigu. Today as a filmmaker, we need to think of

different ways to promote our film. I thought the best way way is to bring in a new technology to attract the audience. The director, who has conceptualised, choreographed and executed the video will also be featured in the song along with the cast that includes Malashree, Anushree, Jayashree, Masha, Dhananjay, Sashi and Sharath. The six young artistes had seven-day rehearsal schedule before the shoot.

If anyone missed out even a single detail, the scene had to be shot again. So the artistes had to be perfect with their moves, he says.

While experimenting isnt new to Sandalwood filmmakers, this time director Imran Sardhariya has taken it a step further with letting the audience view beyond the usual angular shots. City Express recently reported how director Tarun Sudhir captured a mega-fight sequence on a times slice effect shot for his film Chowka. Now choreographer-turned-director Imran is introducing a 360 degree Virtual Reality camera to Kannada industry through his film Uppu Huli Khara. He has recently shot a promotional song gal gal gal enuthide..., the video of which will be out today. Expressing his excitement, Imran says the results are fabulous and anyone who watches the video on his or her smartphone will feel as if they are witnessing it live. This technology shows a video in 360 degree. Today, every industry is dependent on social media and I want to follow the trend through this promotional song, he explains. The camera brought in from Mumbai is a rig, which carries 10 to 12 cameras placed in all possible angles and shot at one time. And according to Imran, the post-production work gets more interesting when one stitches the shots together. It is not the regular editing like one does, but requires a software called Skydrop. One can watch it on YouTube, he says. Imran got to learn about this camera one-and-a-half years ago through cinematographer Venky who had associated with the director for his debut project Endendigu. Today as a filmmaker, we need to think of different ways to promote our film. I thought the best way way is to bring in a new technology to attract the audience. The director, who has conceptualised, choreographed and executed the video will also be featured in the song along with the cast that includes Malashree, Anushree, Jayashree, Masha, Dhananjay, Sashi and Sharath. The six young artistes had seven-day rehearsal schedule before the shoot. If anyone missed out even a single detail, the scene had to be shot again. So the artistes had to be perfect with their moves, he says.
A Sharadhaa By

Express News Service

Manoranjan has just finished shooting for his first film Saheba and without taking a break has now hopped onto his next project.

The yet-to-be-titled movie begins its shooting schedule today and is being directed by Nanda Kishore and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. It is a remake of Dhanushs Velaiyilla Pattathari (VIP).

So how is Manoranjan preparing for a role played by Dhanush previously? The actor has been attending workshops for a while now, rehearsing and learning about the character. He tells City Express, all that Nanda Kishore expects from him is to be himself in the film.

The director also understands that VIP was Dhanushs 25th film and I am still a newcomer. He is an actor, who already has an image and I am yet to get established in front of the audience. Though it might be challenging to get into Dhanushs shoes, I am not going to copy him. Instead I will create my own individuality by playing a role and I am working on it, he says.

The actor says he picked up the subject only after getting his fathers (Ravichandran) approval.

My father, who watched VIP, told me the character will suit me and I should go ahead. Thats when I signed on the project.

Manoranjan is also on the verge of toning his body on the directors instruction, for a climax fight that

requires him to go bare chest in

a scene. I have to look fit and lean. I am not into any six pack craze, just working out for a lean body, he says.

Nanda Kishore has roped in Sitara, who will play mother to

Manoranjan in the film. Technically, V Harikrishna is the music director and will see Sathya Hegdes cinematography.

With just patch work left for Saheba, Manoranjan hopes to see its release as early as possible.

India is going through cash crunch, and it is the same situation with our industry too. The film probably might realease early next year. By then, I will complete shoot of my second film too, says the actor, who adds that Saheba will be the favourite subject of his career.

It is a lovely movie. Emotions play a very big part in Saheba and I have personally liked the second half. It is now up to the audience to decide, he says.

The film made under Jayanna Combines and also features Shanvi Srivastava in the female lead.

Manoranjan has just finished shooting for his first film Saheba and without taking a break has now hopped onto his next project. The yet-to-be-titled movie begins its shooting schedule today and is being directed by Nanda Kishore and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. It is a remake of Dhanushs Velaiyilla Pattathari (VIP). So how is Manoranjan preparing for a role played by Dhanush previously? The actor has been attending workshops for a while now, rehearsing and learning about the character. He tells City Express, all that Nanda Kishore expects from him is to be himself in the film. The director also understands that VIP was Dhanushs 25th film and I am still a newcomer. He is an actor, who already has an image and I am yet to get established in front of the audience. Though it might be challenging to get into Dhanushs shoes, I am not going to copy him. Instead I will create my own individuality by playing a role and I am working on it, he says. The actor says he picked up the subject only after getting his fathers (Ravichandran) approval. My father, who watched VIP, told me the character will suit me and I should go ahead. Thats when I signed on the project. Manoranjan is also on the verge of toning his body on the directors instruction, for a climax fight that requires him to go bare chest in a scene. I have to look fit and lean. I am not into any six pack craze, just working out for a lean body, he says. Nanda Kishore has roped in Sitara, who will play mother to Manoranjan in the film. Technically, V Harikrishna is the music director and will see Sathya Hegdes cinematography. With just patch work left for Saheba, Manoranjan hopes to see its release as early as possible. India is going through cash crunch, and it is the same situation with our industry too. The film probably might realease early next year. By then, I will complete shoot of my second film too, says the actor, who adds that Saheba will be the favourite subject of his career. It is a lovely movie. Emotions play a very big part in Saheba and I have personally liked the second half. It is now up to the audience to decide, he says. The film made under Jayanna Combines and also features Shanvi Srivastava in the female lead.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Oscar winner composer A R Rahman says his upcoming project "2.0," starring superstar Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, is a tough film to work on.

"It is the toughest film I am doing. Shankar (director) is not happy with anything I am doing. I am trying to create something unique for India and the world," Rahman said.

The composer had collaborated with S Shankar for the 2010 science fiction drama "Enthiran" ('Robot' in Hindi) with Rajinikanth, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa in the lead roles.

Even the southern superstar feels it is a tough job to please Shankar.

"To work with Shankar is difficult. He is a perfectionist.

That is why he is one of the biggest directors. This picture as 3D is a different experience," the 65-year-old actor said.

Amy Jackson, who is working with Rajinikanth for the first time was euphoric for being a part of the project.

"I had no idea that I would be a part of this film with these legends. I was intimidated initially but on sets, everyone was like my family," she said.

MUMBAI: Oscar winner composer A R Rahman says his upcoming project "2.0," starring superstar Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, is a tough film to work on. "It is the toughest film I am doing. Shankar (director) is not happy with anything I am doing. I am trying to create something unique for India and the world," Rahman said. The composer had collaborated with S Shankar for the 2010 science fiction drama "Enthiran" ('Robot' in Hindi) with Rajinikanth, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa in the lead roles. Even the southern superstar feels it is a tough job to please Shankar. "To work with Shankar is difficult. He is a perfectionist. That is why he is one of the biggest directors. This picture as 3D is a different experience," the 65-year-old actor said. Amy Jackson, who is working with Rajinikanth for the first time was euphoric for being a part of the project. "I had no idea that I would be a part of this film with these legends. I was intimidated initially but on sets, everyone was like my family," she said.
Anushree Madhavan By

Express News Service

Filmmakers Gautham Vasudev Menon and Venkat Prabhu were the first set of people to feature in the Celebrity Chat Series of Art Bistro at GRT Hotels. The glitzy event had directors Dharani and Karthik Subburaj, actor Ganesh Venkatraman, musician Devan and others socialites enjoying a fun evening listening to the witty banter of these two directors.

When Devasena, the moderator of the event, pointed out that both the directors garner a lot of female attention, they blushed and Gautham said, I call it appreciation. But during the conversation, usually they end up asking for a role in the movie. Both admitted that they are celebrities only in the home turf. But I have been successful in flirting with women in the UK, quipped Venkat.

Is there any film they would like to remake? I think I will remake Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, because I feel it would have been better if Simbu had been around for the climax shoot, said a candid Gautham. Venkat said he would like to remake some of Suriyas films his way.

Ask them what keeps them from losing their cool on sets and Gautham said, Usually, I am calm and not irritable. But in my 15 films, I have asked people to leave my setstwice.

As a producer I get tensed and I dont know how to get out of that, said Venkat, and Gautham offered a simple solution: You take care of the film, the film takes care of you.

Venkat spoke about Ajith, the first star he directed. He trusted me and never interfered in my craft but gave inputs. I respect him for that, he said. The floor was open to questions, which are as follows:

Would you make a film on defence personnel?

Gautham Vasudev Menon: I have a lot of material from my research for Vaaranam Aayiram (2008). I will make a full-fledged film on it sometime.

Is there one value you wont compromise on in your films?

GVM: The portrayal of women, and you can thank my mother for that! I love that she works even now and dresses up so well.

How was it working with Kamal as opposed to other actors?

GVM: After Kaaka Kaaka (2003), he called me for a chat. I knew I had to have a solid script to share with him. Then Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (2006) happened. On sets, when I wanted another take, I would be apprehensive. He would ask Why? Wasnt it good? Would you like to enact once? How can someone act in front of Kamal! But it opened my mind.

Would you like to direct Kamal?

Venkat Prabhu: We share our birthdays. I guess thats enough for now (laughs). Yes, I wish to direct him some day; but after listening to Gautham, Im scared of approaching him.

What films would you recommend to film lovers?

GVM: My favourites are Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Godfather (1972) and Dead Poets Society (1989).

Any of your films would you recommend?

GVM: I havent made such a film yet!

Wh at quality should a film essentially have?

VP: The ability to entertain.

Filmmakers Gautham Vasudev Menon and Venkat Prabhu were the first set of people to feature in the Celebrity Chat Series of Art Bistro at GRT Hotels. The glitzy event had directors Dharani and Karthik Subburaj, actor Ganesh Venkatraman, musician Devan and others socialites enjoying a fun evening listening to the witty banter of these two directors. When Devasena, the moderator of the event, pointed out that both the directors garner a lot of female attention, they blushed and Gautham said, I call it appreciation. But during the conversation, usually they end up asking for a role in the movie. Both admitted that they are celebrities only in the home turf. But I have been successful in flirting with women in the UK, quipped Venkat. Is there any film they would like to remake? I think I will remake Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, because I feel it would have been better if Simbu had been around for the climax shoot, said a candid Gautham. Venkat said he would like to remake some of Suriyas films his way. Ask them what keeps them from losing their cool on sets and Gautham said, Usually, I am calm and not irritable. But in my 15 films, I have asked people to leave my setstwice. As a producer I get tensed and I dont know how to get out of that, said Venkat, and Gautham offered a simple solution: You take care of the film, the film takes care of you. Venkat spoke about Ajith, the first star he directed. He trusted me and never interfered in my craft but gave inputs. I respect him for that, he said. The floor was open to questions, which are as follows: Would you make a film on defence personnel? Gautham Vasudev Menon: I have a lot of material from my research for Vaaranam Aayiram (2008). I will make a full-fledged film on it sometime. Is there one value you wont compromise on in your films? GVM: The portrayal of women, and you can thank my mother for that! I love that she works even now and dresses up so well. How was it working with Kamal as opposed to other actors? GVM: After Kaaka Kaaka (2003), he called me for a chat. I knew I had to have a solid script to share with him. Then Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (2006) happened. On sets, when I wanted another take, I would be apprehensive. He would ask Why? Wasnt it good? Would you like to enact once? How can someone act in front of Kamal! But it opened my mind. Would you like to direct Kamal? Venkat Prabhu: We share our birthdays. I guess thats enough for now (laughs). Yes, I wish to direct him some day; but after listening to Gautham, Im scared of approaching him. What films would you recommend to film lovers? GVM: My favourites are Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Godfather (1972) and Dead Poets Society (1989). Any of your films would you recommend? GVM: I havent made such a film yet! Wh at quality should a film essentially have? VP: The ability to entertain.
By Express News Service

Following the footsteps of Ilaiyaraaja, Ghibran is all set to go international. The music director, who has a slew of projects, including Aan Dhevathai, Magalir Mattum, Oodi Oodi Uzhaikanum, Adhe Kangal, besides a few in his kitty, has been roped in to compose music for a Hollywood film.

We hear he has given a nod, but is yet to sign the dotted line. On the other hand, rumour mills suggest that the makers were in talks with Arnold Schwarzenegger to play a pivotal role in this venture, but nothing materialised.

City Express also learnt that 103-year-old Anthony Mithradass, who penned the famous Malayalam film Harishchandra (1955), has written the script for this film.

The story will be based on an incident that happened in Belgium during World War I, and the team is currently in talks with a few leading Hollywood technicians and actors. A top director from Ktown has been approached to direct the film. The other details will be sorted soon, sources said.

Following the footsteps of Ilaiyaraaja, Ghibran is all set to go international. The music director, who has a slew of projects, including Aan Dhevathai, Magalir Mattum, Oodi Oodi Uzhaikanum, Adhe Kangal, besides a few in his kitty, has been roped in to compose music for a Hollywood film. We hear he has given a nod, but is yet to sign the dotted line. On the other hand, rumour mills suggest that the makers were in talks with Arnold Schwarzenegger to play a pivotal role in this venture, but nothing materialised. City Express also learnt that 103-year-old Anthony Mithradass, who penned the famous Malayalam film Harishchandra (1955), has written the script for this film. The story will be based on an incident that happened in Belgium during World War I, and the team is currently in talks with a few leading Hollywood technicians and actors. A top director from Ktown has been approached to direct the film. The other details will be sorted soon, sources said.
The suspected Ukrainian saboteurs apprehended in Crimea bear no relation to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Donbas Andriy Lysenko has said.

"Those people were discharged from military service a long time ago. They had a business, they lived there with their families," Lysenko said on the 112.Ukraine TV channel on Monday, speaking of the Russian media reports on the detention of Oleksiy Stohniy and Hleb Shabliy in Crimea.

Lysenko said those were reserve officers and that Russian security services "did not have to search for them anywhere."

"The Federal Security Service simply comes to military registration and enlistment offices where personal files of reserve officers are stored, retrieve those files and publicly designate their owners as Ukrainian saboteurs. Clearly, such people have certain training but they are not active servicemen, including those of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the ministry spokesman said.

According to him, the reserve officers had been on the peninsula before its occupation by the Russian Federation.

"These are people who finished military service long ago, ran business, lived there and had families there," Lysenko said.

He called this a regular situation, "of false series under the authorship of the Russian FSB called "everywhere you look - they are everywhere."

On Monday, the Russian Federation reported that the alleged Ukrainian saboteurs Oleksiy Stohniy and Hleb Shabliy were detained in Crimea.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

HOW BHARAT COPES: By dipping into the store of stoicism

GASPARA: Ashia Khatuns tears wont hold now.

Please don't say that. I have to arrange the challisha (funeral rites) of my father. I need all the money in my account. Please be kind," she pleads with the operator of SCIs customer service point (CSP) at Gaspara even as he parks his scooter.

Handcart puller Bindeswar Yadavs daily

earnings are down to Rs 50 from the usual

Rs 300 | Prasanta Mazumdar

Ashia's hamlet, Dalimbari, is 130 km from Guwahati, and 30 km from the nearest bank  an autorickshaw ride and a 5 km walk away. CSP operator Hiren Medhi has just returned from the lone SBI branch at Raha in Assams Nagaon district with Rs 50,000 in cash to dispense at the Gaspara CSP. The CSP is on the other side of the Kopili river from Ashias hamlet. For Ashia, crossing the river to draw money  her own money  for her fathers challisha has become a daily affair since November 8.

An elderly gentleman in the queue requests the operator to see if he could help her, but hes silenced by the others. Ashia's father, Abdul Gafur, died of old age last month, and the challisha is due Monday. The ritual entails an expenditure of Rs 50,000, but all that she has in hand is a few hundred rupees.

This is the cashless economy of Gaspara.

Ashia's hamlet is on the Meghalaya border. She has a savings account with the SBI branch at Raha. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, she went there, waking up before dawn and hoping to be at the front of the queue. She walked 5 km and took an hour-long autorickshaw ride to the river. A country boat ferried her to the other side. Then she walked about a kilometre to catch another autorickshaw, which dropped her near the SBI branch. Hundreds of others had had the same idea as her and there was already a long queue when she reached. She returned empty-handed on both days. She tried the five ATMs in the town with the same result.

Brajabasi & his wife Suchitra managed to

draw Rs 1,000 | Prasanta Mazumdar

The SBI CSP at Gaspara caters to a dozen villages on the Kopili's south bank and has around 4,000 customers, most of them daily wage earners. Post-demonetisation, they have been hit hard.

Unlike Ashia, Brajabasi Das, 48, and his wife Suchitra Das are all smiles as they were third time lucky and managed to draw Rs 1,000. Das had pedaled to Gaspara from his village Baburaati on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the CSP window shut before they got to it. Today they made it. This money will help me run my family for 10 days. We will eat less. Earlier, we would spend it in five days, chuckles Brajabasi, a farm hand who earns Rs 250 a day. But he hasnt had work since November 12. The farmers have no cash, he says.

Its not just the villages. Business in Raha is down by around 50 per cent. Eatery owner Jayanta Nath says he used to make Rs. 9,000 daily. Its down to Rs 4,000 now.

Handcart puller Bindeswar Yadavs earnings are down to Rs 50 per day, compared to the Rs 300 he would earn earlier. People have stopped going anywhere. This is going to make us poorer, at least for now, he says.

HOW BHARAT COPES: By dipping into the store of stoicism GASPARA: Ashia Khatuns tears wont hold now. Please don't say that. I have to arrange the challisha (funeral rites) of my father. I need all the money in my account. Please be kind," she pleads with the operator of SCIs customer service point (CSP) at Gaspara even as he parks his scooter. Handcart puller Bindeswar Yadavs daily earnings are down to Rs 50 from the usual Rs 300 | Prasanta MazumdarAshia's hamlet, Dalimbari, is 130 km from Guwahati, and 30 km from the nearest bank  an autorickshaw ride and a 5 km walk away. CSP operator Hiren Medhi has just returned from the lone SBI branch at Raha in Assams Nagaon district with Rs 50,000 in cash to dispense at the Gaspara CSP. The CSP is on the other side of the Kopili river from Ashias hamlet. For Ashia, crossing the river to draw money  her own money  for her fathers challisha has become a daily affair since November 8. An elderly gentleman in the queue requests the operator to see if he could help her, but hes silenced by the others. Ashia's father, Abdul Gafur, died of old age last month, and the challisha is due Monday. The ritual entails an expenditure of Rs 50,000, but all that she has in hand is a few hundred rupees. This is the cashless economy of Gaspara. Ashia's hamlet is on the Meghalaya border. She has a savings account with the SBI branch at Raha. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, she went there, waking up before dawn and hoping to be at the front of the queue. She walked 5 km and took an hour-long autorickshaw ride to the river. A country boat ferried her to the other side. Then she walked about a kilometre to catch another autorickshaw, which dropped her near the SBI branch. Hundreds of others had had the same idea as her and there was already a long queue when she reached. She returned empty-handed on both days. She tried the five ATMs in the town with the same result. Brajabasi & his wife Suchitra managed to draw Rs 1,000 | Prasanta MazumdarThe SBI CSP at Gaspara caters to a dozen villages on the Kopili's south bank and has around 4,000 customers, most of them daily wage earners. Post-demonetisation, they have been hit hard. Unlike Ashia, Brajabasi Das, 48, and his wife Suchitra Das are all smiles as they were third time lucky and managed to draw Rs 1,000. Das had pedaled to Gaspara from his village Baburaati on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the CSP window shut before they got to it. Today they made it. This money will help me run my family for 10 days. We will eat less. Earlier, we would spend it in five days, chuckles Brajabasi, a farm hand who earns Rs 250 a day. But he hasnt had work since November 12. The farmers have no cash, he says. Its not just the villages. Business in Raha is down by around 50 per cent. Eatery owner Jayanta Nath says he used to make Rs. 9,000 daily. Its down to Rs 4,000 now. Handcart puller Bindeswar Yadavs earnings are down to Rs 50 per day, compared to the Rs 300 he would earn earlier. People have stopped going anywhere. This is going to make us poorer, at least for now, he says.
Namita bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav along with his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will inaugurate countrys longest 6-lane Greenfield Agra-Lucknow Expressway at Bangarmau in Unnao district on Monday.



Spelling out the details of the project to the media persons, the state government spokesman said that 302-km six-lane Expressway expandable to 8-lane would start from Agra to reach Lucknow via Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Oraia, Kannauj, Hardoi,Kanpur Nagar and Unnao. It would reduce the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to three and half hours and further between Lucknow and Delhi to 5-6 hours, less than half the time it takes now and would also save the fuel consumption considerably, he added.



Constructed in a record time of 23 months, this prestigious world class Rs 13,200-crore project would become operational for the public in the month of December. According to the state government spokesman , a three-km strip was built on the expressway to be used by Indian Air Force fighter planes for emergency landing during the war time.



The land for this expansive 3,500-hectare project of Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), spread over 232 villages of 10 districts, was acquired amicably by the state government with mutual consent of over 30,000 farmers, said the spokesman.

Apart from extra special farm mandis in Mainpuri and Kannuaj, smart city, logistic park and a film city are also proposed along the Expressway. Moreover, after being operational, this project will give a fillip to industries like agriculture, handicrafts, tourism and milk thereby, increasing the job prospects for the youth immensely.

To create a green belt on both the sides of the expressway, over three lakh plants were being planted, said state government spokesman.



Meanwhile, on Friday, Principal Secretary and UPEIDA CEO Navneet Sehgal, the man behind its timely completion, got critically injured in a head-on-collision on Agra-Lucknow Expressway near Hasanganj of Unnao district on Friday. The IAS officer was returning to the state capital in his official white ambassador after attending the trial of India Air Force fighter jets fly-by low altitude manoeuver on the expressway, when his car met with an accident.

LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav along with his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will inaugurate countrys longest 6-lane Greenfield Agra-Lucknow Expressway at Bangarmau in Unnao district on Monday. Spelling out the details of the project to the media persons, the state government spokesman said that 302-km six-lane Expressway expandable to 8-lane would start from Agra to reach Lucknow via Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Oraia, Kannauj, Hardoi,Kanpur Nagar and Unnao. It would reduce the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to three and half hours and further between Lucknow and Delhi to 5-6 hours, less than half the time it takes now and would also save the fuel consumption considerably, he added. Constructed in a record time of 23 months, this prestigious world class Rs 13,200-crore project would become operational for the public in the month of December. According to the state government spokesman , a three-km strip was built on the expressway to be used by Indian Air Force fighter planes for emergency landing during the war time. The land for this expansive 3,500-hectare project of Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), spread over 232 villages of 10 districts, was acquired amicably by the state government with mutual consent of over 30,000 farmers, said the spokesman. Apart from extra special farm mandis in Mainpuri and Kannuaj, smart city, logistic park and a film city are also proposed along the Expressway. Moreover, after being operational, this project will give a fillip to industries like agriculture, handicrafts, tourism and milk thereby, increasing the job prospects for the youth immensely. To create a green belt on both the sides of the expressway, over three lakh plants were being planted, said state government spokesman. Meanwhile, on Friday, Principal Secretary and UPEIDA CEO Navneet Sehgal, the man behind its timely completion, got critically injured in a head-on-collision on Agra-Lucknow Expressway near Hasanganj of Unnao district on Friday. The IAS officer was returning to the state capital in his official white ambassador after attending the trial of India Air Force fighter jets fly-by low altitude manoeuver on the expressway, when his car met with an accident.
Namita bajpai By

Express News Service

HOW BHARAT COPES: By raiding the piggy bank

SUBANIKHERA: Early morning, November 9. All preparations were done. Cards had been distributed, and the guests were arriving. Tara Devi (64) was busy supervising last-minute arrangements for the wedding of her only daughter the next day. The pre-wedding rituals had already started at her residence in Subanikhera village on the outskirts of Lucknow. The ladies were singing marriage ditties as the bride was getting dressed. No one had watched TV the night before when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 500 and 1000 rupee bills would be history from midnight. When the news finally dawned, there was a frenzied scramble as Tara Devi and her relatives rushed to the bank to exchange their money, which had turned illegal overnight.

However, the rush at the bank and the restrictions on withdrawals ensured Tara Devi returned empty-handed. Postponement was the only option. The next day at the bank was no different; she waited for hours in queue and came back no richer.

Given the confusion, she could not fix a new date for the wedding. Imagine how difficult it was for me. I had made all the arrangements but now nothing is certain. I am all alone. How will I do it again? Tears well up in Tara Devis eyes.

The cash crunch in causing havoc in rural UP. With solitary banks catering to clusters of up to 12 villages, the villagers are finding it hard to cope. Queues, protests and disappointments have become routine as banks run out of cash in a few hours.

On a normal day, people throng the bank in our village to withdraw their pensions and other benefits from the state government. Now, people are streaming in from the surrounding villages to exchange their notes, said Nandu Sharma of Paharpur village in Lucknow district. Bank officials blame it on the government for failing to strengthen the banking network in rural areas.

Narrating the plight of small farmers, Mohan Yadav says the government should not have embarked on this adventure during the sowing season. We do not have money to buy seeds, fertilisers, etc. Our rabi crop is yet to take off, he says.

University student Santosh Kumar has a different tale of woe. Since this currency thing, I leave home in the morning to go to my ATM, stand in the queue for a few hours and return home empty-handed. I am missing classes daily, he says.

The problem is compounded in rural areas as cooperative banks, the lifeline of villagers, are not authorised by RBI to disburse cash or even exchange old notes for new. In some pockets, the udhaar and barter economy is back in vogue with people bailing each other out in this hour of crisis. Marriages are being solemnised, houses are being built, all on good faith and trust. With little cash in circulation, vegetable vendors, fruit sellers, and grocery merchants have started selling on credit, based on nothing but trust.

Fifteen days ago, Surya Prakash, an accountant, took Rs 60,000 to start the construction of his new home, and deposited it in the bank. Now he does not have cash in hand to buy materials. But he has found a way out by opting for udhaar purchase. Now everything is based on udhaar, says Prakash, a resident of Itaunja. I have some Rs 100 and 50 bills, which I pay to labourers and masons. The rest of the things will be paid for later.

The age-old barter system has made a comeback. In most villages, grains are being exchanged for vegetables, says Saroj of Haasemau village.

Because come what may, the show must go on.

HOW BHARAT COPES: By raiding the piggy bank SUBANIKHERA: Early morning, November 9. All preparations were done. Cards had been distributed, and the guests were arriving. Tara Devi (64) was busy supervising last-minute arrangements for the wedding of her only daughter the next day. The pre-wedding rituals had already started at her residence in Subanikhera village on the outskirts of Lucknow. The ladies were singing marriage ditties as the bride was getting dressed. No one had watched TV the night before when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 500 and 1000 rupee bills would be history from midnight. When the news finally dawned, there was a frenzied scramble as Tara Devi and her relatives rushed to the bank to exchange their money, which had turned illegal overnight. However, the rush at the bank and the restrictions on withdrawals ensured Tara Devi returned empty-handed. Postponement was the only option. The next day at the bank was no different; she waited for hours in queue and came back no richer. Given the confusion, she could not fix a new date for the wedding. Imagine how difficult it was for me. I had made all the arrangements but now nothing is certain. I am all alone. How will I do it again? Tears well up in Tara Devis eyes. The cash crunch in causing havoc in rural UP. With solitary banks catering to clusters of up to 12 villages, the villagers are finding it hard to cope. Queues, protests and disappointments have become routine as banks run out of cash in a few hours. On a normal day, people throng the bank in our village to withdraw their pensions and other benefits from the state government. Now, people are streaming in from the surrounding villages to exchange their notes, said Nandu Sharma of Paharpur village in Lucknow district. Bank officials blame it on the government for failing to strengthen the banking network in rural areas. Narrating the plight of small farmers, Mohan Yadav says the government should not have embarked on this adventure during the sowing season. We do not have money to buy seeds, fertilisers, etc. Our rabi crop is yet to take off, he says. University student Santosh Kumar has a different tale of woe. Since this currency thing, I leave home in the morning to go to my ATM, stand in the queue for a few hours and return home empty-handed. I am missing classes daily, he says. The problem is compounded in rural areas as cooperative banks, the lifeline of villagers, are not authorised by RBI to disburse cash or even exchange old notes for new. In some pockets, the udhaar and barter economy is back in vogue with people bailing each other out in this hour of crisis. Marriages are being solemnised, houses are being built, all on good faith and trust. With little cash in circulation, vegetable vendors, fruit sellers, and grocery merchants have started selling on credit, based on nothing but trust. Fifteen days ago, Surya Prakash, an accountant, took Rs 60,000 to start the construction of his new home, and deposited it in the bank. Now he does not have cash in hand to buy materials. But he has found a way out by opting for udhaar purchase. Now everything is based on udhaar, says Prakash, a resident of Itaunja. I have some Rs 100 and 50 bills, which I pay to labourers and masons. The rest of the things will be paid for later. The age-old barter system has made a comeback. In most villages, grains are being exchanged for vegetables, says Saroj of Haasemau village. Because come what may, the show must go on.
By PTI

JAMMU: JAMMU: Pakistan Army today targeted Indian posts in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir even as a BSF head constable injured in cross-border firing succumbed to injuries.



The army and the BSF responded to Pakistan's ceasefire violation and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in.



"Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation from 0830 hours by targeting Indian Army posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector. The Indian Army posts are responding strongly and the firing is presently on", a defense spokesman said.



In the past 12 hours, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts for the third time.



A BSF head constable identified as Rai Singh, 40, who was injured in last night's shelling from the Pakistani side along the LoC in Rajouri sector succumbed to injuries.The condition of another BSF personnel, who was injured in the firing, is critical.



"Last night in heavy shelling from Pakistan side along LoC in Rajouri area, four BSF personnel sustained splinter injuries. Head Constable Rai Singh, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of another personnel was serious," a BSF officer said.



Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by wife, three sons and mother, he said.



Sunday night's violation of the ceasefire came a day after a BSF jawan and a woman were injured when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortars and small arms fire.

JAMMU: JAMMU: Pakistan Army today targeted Indian posts in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir even as a BSF head constable injured in cross-border firing succumbed to injuries. The army and the BSF responded to Pakistan's ceasefire violation and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in. "Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation from 0830 hours by targeting Indian Army posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector. The Indian Army posts are responding strongly and the firing is presently on", a defense spokesman said. In the past 12 hours, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts for the third time. A BSF head constable identified as Rai Singh, 40, who was injured in last night's shelling from the Pakistani side along the LoC in Rajouri sector succumbed to injuries.The condition of another BSF personnel, who was injured in the firing, is critical. "Last night in heavy shelling from Pakistan side along LoC in Rajouri area, four BSF personnel sustained splinter injuries. Head Constable Rai Singh, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of another personnel was serious," a BSF officer said. Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by wife, three sons and mother, he said. Sunday night's violation of the ceasefire came a day after a BSF jawan and a woman were injured when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortars and small arms fire.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The CBI is all set to initiate extradition proceedings against bank defaulter and liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom after the agency secured a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him from a Mumbai court.



A request for Mallyas extradition will soon be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs that will in turn approach its counterparts in the UK for further action, agency sources said.



The sources claimed that the CBI has gathered sufficient evidence against Mallya and despite several notices being issued against him, he is yet to join the investigations. This helped the agency in securing the NBW against him from a designated court in Mumbai. The NBW will be helpful in pursuing the extradition proceedings in the UK.



Mallya had left the country in March despite a Look Out Circular issued against him by the CBI. He was not stopped by the immigration officials at the airport because of change in the nature of the Look Out Circular by the agency by the agency a few days before Mallya fled from the country.



The agency had registered a case against Mallya, the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and other unknown officers of IDBI Bank for a loan default to the tune of Rs 900 crore.

NEW DELHI: The CBI is all set to initiate extradition proceedings against bank defaulter and liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom after the agency secured a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him from a Mumbai court. A request for Mallyas extradition will soon be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs that will in turn approach its counterparts in the UK for further action, agency sources said. The sources claimed that the CBI has gathered sufficient evidence against Mallya and despite several notices being issued against him, he is yet to join the investigations. This helped the agency in securing the NBW against him from a designated court in Mumbai. The NBW will be helpful in pursuing the extradition proceedings in the UK. Mallya had left the country in March despite a Look Out Circular issued against him by the CBI. He was not stopped by the immigration officials at the airport because of change in the nature of the Look Out Circular by the agency by the agency a few days before Mallya fled from the country. The agency had registered a case against Mallya, the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and other unknown officers of IDBI Bank for a loan default to the tune of Rs 900 crore.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not following the law in the issuance of Rs 2,000 currency notes and vowed to raise the matter inside and outside Parliament.



Claiming that the PM had plunged the country into "financial anarchy", senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the introduction of Rs 2,000 denomination notes is an "illegal act" as the notification required to be issued under the RBI Act for printing new currency has not been issued, ignoring what is mandatory under the law.



He also hit out at the Government's move to put indelible ink on the fingers of those exchanging notes.



A united opposition will raise this issue vociferously in Parliament besides making it a subject for a mass movement, the Congress said.



The Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha alleged that the Prime Minister is consciously deflecting attention from key issues and "fooling poor masses by masquerading as a crusader against black money under the garb of nationalism" and said those supporting PM "and his apologists are illiterate in Constitution and in law."



"The Prime Minister is squarely responsible for plunging the country into financial anarchy. There is an undeclared financial emergency without invoking the provisions of Article 360 of the Constitution.



"The Prime Minister's sensational and theatrical announcement of November 8 on demonetization had no legal sanctity as the monetary policy is the domain of the Reserve Bank of India," Sharma said.



The introduction of Rs 2,000 currency denomination is an illegal act, since under the RBI Act no notification has been issued, and such issuance is mandatory before the introduction of a new currency note, he said.



"Circulation of this illegal new currency of Rs 2000 denomination contradicts government's move to control black money circulation and is a continued illegality," Sharma told PTI.



The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of making misleading statements and violating the law and the Constitution multiple times.



In a scathing attack on the government for its move to put ink on fingers of common people exchanging notes, he said, "Even dictators have not done what this government has done.



"Only the Nazis branded people. Our citizens and foreign guests are also being branded for withdrawing money. It is a matter of shame and concern.Incredible India has been overnight converted into Indelible India," he alleged.



Sharma said the replacements of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination are not yet ready and this scarcity has put people to inconvenience.



"It is inflicting great suffering on the people, especially the poor, the farmers and the total workforce of 33 crore Indians in the unorganised sector and the farm labour," he said.



He accused the Prime Minister of having besmirched the image of India internationally as a rules based country.



Major opposition parties have already come together in Parliament to take on the Government on the demonetization decision and its implementation.

Sharma said neither the PM nor the Finance Minister has any legal sanction or authority to prevent and deny people access to their own bank accounts and impose limits on the withdrawal from savings accounts of households, citizens and salaried employees.



"The opposition is justified and firm in its demand for a JPC probe on the selective leakage of government's move. This leakage is a violation of the secrecy and directly helped hoarders of black money, aided the laundering of money abroad and also diversion of investments through bullion, stocks, bonds and securities."



"We are firm and determined to take this to a logical conclusion and to expose the intent and actions of this government," Sharma said.



The former Union minister said the demonetization move had affected employment in a big way.



"This money belongs to the people and you are now making them beg for their own money. This has never happened in any country," he said.

NEW DELHI: The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not following the law in the issuance of Rs 2,000 currency notes and vowed to raise the matter inside and outside Parliament. Claiming that the PM had plunged the country into "financial anarchy", senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the introduction of Rs 2,000 denomination notes is an "illegal act" as the notification required to be issued under the RBI Act for printing new currency has not been issued, ignoring what is mandatory under the law. He also hit out at the Government's move to put indelible ink on the fingers of those exchanging notes. A united opposition will raise this issue vociferously in Parliament besides making it a subject for a mass movement, the Congress said. The Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha alleged that the Prime Minister is consciously deflecting attention from key issues and "fooling poor masses by masquerading as a crusader against black money under the garb of nationalism" and said those supporting PM "and his apologists are illiterate in Constitution and in law." "The Prime Minister is squarely responsible for plunging the country into financial anarchy. There is an undeclared financial emergency without invoking the provisions of Article 360 of the Constitution. "The Prime Minister's sensational and theatrical announcement of November 8 on demonetization had no legal sanctity as the monetary policy is the domain of the Reserve Bank of India," Sharma said. The introduction of Rs 2,000 currency denomination is an illegal act, since under the RBI Act no notification has been issued, and such issuance is mandatory before the introduction of a new currency note, he said. "Circulation of this illegal new currency of Rs 2000 denomination contradicts government's move to control black money circulation and is a continued illegality," Sharma told PTI. The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of making misleading statements and violating the law and the Constitution multiple times. In a scathing attack on the government for its move to put ink on fingers of common people exchanging notes, he said, "Even dictators have not done what this government has done. "Only the Nazis branded people. Our citizens and foreign guests are also being branded for withdrawing money. It is a matter of shame and concern.Incredible India has been overnight converted into Indelible India," he alleged. Sharma said the replacements of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination are not yet ready and this scarcity has put people to inconvenience. "It is inflicting great suffering on the people, especially the poor, the farmers and the total workforce of 33 crore Indians in the unorganised sector and the farm labour," he said. He accused the Prime Minister of having besmirched the image of India internationally as a rules based country. Major opposition parties have already come together in Parliament to take on the Government on the demonetization decision and its implementation. Sharma said neither the PM nor the Finance Minister has any legal sanction or authority to prevent and deny people access to their own bank accounts and impose limits on the withdrawal from savings accounts of households, citizens and salaried employees. "The opposition is justified and firm in its demand for a JPC probe on the selective leakage of government's move. This leakage is a violation of the secrecy and directly helped hoarders of black money, aided the laundering of money abroad and also diversion of investments through bullion, stocks, bonds and securities." "We are firm and determined to take this to a logical conclusion and to expose the intent and actions of this government," Sharma said. The former Union minister said the demonetization move had affected employment in a big way. "This money belongs to the people and you are now making them beg for their own money. This has never happened in any country," he said.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: As speculated, activist and worlds longest hunger striker Irom Sharmila will contest from two seats in next years Manipur elections.

Confirming this to Express on Monday, Sharmila said she had hit the campaign trail on Sunday in the Khurai constituency as part of her preparations for the polls.

Ive already started my preparations. I will contest from Khurai and Thoubal seats, she said. Incidentally, Thoubal is the constituency of Congress veteran and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

Addressing people at Lamlong in Khurai constituency on Sunday, she said her main focus was on removing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Manipur, rid the state of corruption and uphold the rights of people.

The activist had launched her party People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) in Imphal last month to take her fight against AFSPA forward. She had ended her 16-year long hunger strike in August

and later, announced that she would contest the polls and try and become the states chief minister.

Im soon organizing a big programme of my party. You just wait and watch, she told Express. When asked about the kind of support she was getting, she did not respond.

Given the mood of people in Manipur, she is unlikely to get the support of many. Sections of the people are angry with her for spoiling the movement by abruptly ending her fast. Sharmila was the face of the movement against AFSPA and as such, people thought her ending the epic fast was the virtual end to the movement in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the Congress, which has been in power for three terms, is faced with a strong anti-incumbency wave. The party has also been hit by defection. Three MLAs of the ruling party have defected to the BJP. The BJP is growing by leaps and bounds in the state and expected to give the Congress a run for their money this election.

GUWAHATI: As speculated, activist and worlds longest hunger striker Irom Sharmila will contest from two seats in next years Manipur elections. Confirming this to Express on Monday, Sharmila said she had hit the campaign trail on Sunday in the Khurai constituency as part of her preparations for the polls. Ive already started my preparations. I will contest from Khurai and Thoubal seats, she said. Incidentally, Thoubal is the constituency of Congress veteran and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Addressing people at Lamlong in Khurai constituency on Sunday, she said her main focus was on removing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Manipur, rid the state of corruption and uphold the rights of people. The activist had launched her party People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) in Imphal last month to take her fight against AFSPA forward. She had ended her 16-year long hunger strike in August and later, announced that she would contest the polls and try and become the states chief minister. Im soon organizing a big programme of my party. You just wait and watch, she told Express. When asked about the kind of support she was getting, she did not respond. Given the mood of people in Manipur, she is unlikely to get the support of many. Sections of the people are angry with her for spoiling the movement by abruptly ending her fast. Sharmila was the face of the movement against AFSPA and as such, people thought her ending the epic fast was the virtual end to the movement in Manipur. Meanwhile, the Congress, which has been in power for three terms, is faced with a strong anti-incumbency wave. The party has also been hit by defection. Three MLAs of the ruling party have defected to the BJP. The BJP is growing by leaps and bounds in the state and expected to give the Congress a run for their money this election.
In Karnataka, one of the few states still in the Congress clutch, the road to 2018 is paved with multiple hazards.

Lurching from one crisis to another, the Congress has been in perpetual firefighting mode this year in Karnataka. Its latest tribulation has come in two forms.

One, the partys government is facing heat over the attacks and murders of right-wing activists. The BJP says more than ten of its workers have been murdered in the last three years, including one in the heart of Bengaluru. Even before that furore died down, minister Tanvir Sait was filmed by a TV channel watching porn on his phone during the controversial Tipu Jayanti celebrations. The winter session of the state legislature beginning in Belagavi on November 21 is likely to be stalled over the two issues.

And then, chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister G Parameshwara, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, are at odds. Though Parameshwara has completed six years as KPCC president, the Congress high command has shown no signs of replacing him and the party seems destined to go to the 2018 polls with this dichotomy.

The last few months have been spent in pacifying dropped ministers from the minority and Dalit sections and senior leaders who have not been given cabinet berths and unhappy partymen vying for plum posts. Even to this day, partymen are still being appointed for various bodies.

Dalit leader Srinivas Prasad quit his Assembly seat after a bitter falling out with Siddaramaiah after being dropped from the ministry. A one-time close friend who was instrumental in bringing Siddaramaiah to the Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for the coalition of backward classes, dalits and minorities) platform, Srinivas Prasad has a considerable hold on the Dalit vote of Mysuru and Nanjangud and the impact of this will be felt in the 2018 elections.

As things stand, the BJP is expected to pick up most of the seats in Mysuru, while the JD(S) has grown strong in Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur. In three byelections held in February 2016, the Congress managed to win just one.

And in the Bengaluru city corporation elections held in 2015, Congress managed to win only 76 seats, while the BJP took 100 seats. It was only through some quick clever thinking that the Congress tied up with JD(S) and took control of the civic authority.

Lastly, BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa is raring to go after being cleared of corruption charges by the courts.

In Karnataka, one of the few states still in the Congress clutch, the road to 2018 is paved with multiple hazards. Lurching from one crisis to another, the Congress has been in perpetual firefighting mode this year in Karnataka. Its latest tribulation has come in two forms. One, the partys government is facing heat over the attacks and murders of right-wing activists. The BJP says more than ten of its workers have been murdered in the last three years, including one in the heart of Bengaluru. Even before that furore died down, minister Tanvir Sait was filmed by a TV channel watching porn on his phone during the controversial Tipu Jayanti celebrations. The winter session of the state legislature beginning in Belagavi on November 21 is likely to be stalled over the two issues. And then, chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister G Parameshwara, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, are at odds. Though Parameshwara has completed six years as KPCC president, the Congress high command has shown no signs of replacing him and the party seems destined to go to the 2018 polls with this dichotomy. The last few months have been spent in pacifying dropped ministers from the minority and Dalit sections and senior leaders who have not been given cabinet berths and unhappy partymen vying for plum posts. Even to this day, partymen are still being appointed for various bodies. Dalit leader Srinivas Prasad quit his Assembly seat after a bitter falling out with Siddaramaiah after being dropped from the ministry. A one-time close friend who was instrumental in bringing Siddaramaiah to the Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for the coalition of backward classes, dalits and minorities) platform, Srinivas Prasad has a considerable hold on the Dalit vote of Mysuru and Nanjangud and the impact of this will be felt in the 2018 elections. As things stand, the BJP is expected to pick up most of the seats in Mysuru, while the JD(S) has grown strong in Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur. In three byelections held in February 2016, the Congress managed to win just one. And in the Bengaluru city corporation elections held in 2015, Congress managed to win only 76 seats, while the BJP took 100 seats. It was only through some quick clever thinking that the Congress tied up with JD(S) and took control of the civic authority. Lastly, BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa is raring to go after being cleared of corruption charges by the courts.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The NIA on Monday started removing the online contents of banned Islamic Research Foundation, including hate speeches by its founder Zakir Naik as part of its ongoing investigation against the proscribed outfit.



The move comes three days after the agency registered an FIR against IRF, Naik and others on Friday and conducted searches the next day at the office premises of IRF and residential premises of its founder. The searches that began on Saturday morning continued till Monday, official sources said.



All requisite actions that are required to be taken against a proscribed organisation like banning the online activities are being undertaken against IRF," a senior NIA official said.



Soon after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to ban the controversial outfit, security agencies had blocked its website to check radicalisation.



As a follow up to the blocking of the IRF website, the NIA has now began removing the contents of the radical outfit available online, the official added.



Searches are continuing at the premises of IRF as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the contents for Peace TV were being programmed, the official further said, adding the seized hard discs and other electronic storage devices have been sent for forensic analysis.



The agency had on Saturday conducted searches at 12 locations relating to Naik and IRF in Mumbai, a day after registering a case against IRF, Naik and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code.



The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises of Nail and IRF.



The seized documents relate to various activities including financial transactions and property details of Naik and IRF. A team of Income Tax officials is also assisting the NIA in ascertaining the misuse of the Income Tax Act and other deviations relating to taxation, agency sources added.

NEW DELHI: The NIA on Monday started removing the online contents of banned Islamic Research Foundation, including hate speeches by its founder Zakir Naik as part of its ongoing investigation against the proscribed outfit. The move comes three days after the agency registered an FIR against IRF, Naik and others on Friday and conducted searches the next day at the office premises of IRF and residential premises of its founder. The searches that began on Saturday morning continued till Monday, official sources said. All requisite actions that are required to be taken against a proscribed organisation like banning the online activities are being undertaken against IRF," a senior NIA official said. Soon after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to ban the controversial outfit, security agencies had blocked its website to check radicalisation. As a follow up to the blocking of the IRF website, the NIA has now began removing the contents of the radical outfit available online, the official added. Searches are continuing at the premises of IRF as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the contents for Peace TV were being programmed, the official further said, adding the seized hard discs and other electronic storage devices have been sent for forensic analysis. The agency had on Saturday conducted searches at 12 locations relating to Naik and IRF in Mumbai, a day after registering a case against IRF, Naik and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises of Nail and IRF. The seized documents relate to various activities including financial transactions and property details of Naik and IRF. A team of Income Tax officials is also assisting the NIA in ascertaining the misuse of the Income Tax Act and other deviations relating to taxation, agency sources added.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Indian on Monday lashed out at Pakistan for continuing to impede initiatives in the South Asian region under the ambit of the SAARC grouping. In an oblique reference to Islamabad Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that owing to these obstructions, other regional countries have started finding value in other options like BIMSTEC.

Most of the member countries of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) minus Pakistan and Afghanistan are part of the BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). The Foreign Secretary was referring to Pakistans intransigent position on issues like regional connectivity that has made it a sort of a spoilsport in the regional bloc.

Calling it a damaging approach, Jaishankar said: Problem with SAARC is that some basic sort of standards of regional cooperation has to apply. If you say that I will be a regional member but I will not allow regional trade, I will not allow regional connectivity, will not allow regional motorways, I will not allow regional railways, then what is it about? Jaishankar was referring to the Motor Vehicle Agreement between SAARC nations that would have given cargo and other vehicle hassle free access to the region. The proposal mooted at SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2014 was opposed solely by Pakistan.

"You cannot be a member of a region and block every possible regional initiative and still say I am a good member. That sort of approach has to change," Jaishankar said. To counter the obstructionist approach of Islamabad, New Delhi decided to take the issues bilaterally with the member countries.

"If SAARC does not provide them (member countries) an answer, they will settle for sub-regional initiatives and will look at other initiatives like BIMSTEC, Jaishankar added while delivering a talk on 'India and the Great Powers: Continuity and Change' at the Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

NEW DELHI: Indian on Monday lashed out at Pakistan for continuing to impede initiatives in the South Asian region under the ambit of the SAARC grouping. In an oblique reference to Islamabad Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that owing to these obstructions, other regional countries have started finding value in other options like BIMSTEC. Most of the member countries of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) minus Pakistan and Afghanistan are part of the BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). The Foreign Secretary was referring to Pakistans intransigent position on issues like regional connectivity that has made it a sort of a spoilsport in the regional bloc. Calling it a damaging approach, Jaishankar said: Problem with SAARC is that some basic sort of standards of regional cooperation has to apply. If you say that I will be a regional member but I will not allow regional trade, I will not allow regional connectivity, will not allow regional motorways, I will not allow regional railways, then what is it about? Jaishankar was referring to the Motor Vehicle Agreement between SAARC nations that would have given cargo and other vehicle hassle free access to the region. The proposal mooted at SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2014 was opposed solely by Pakistan. "You cannot be a member of a region and block every possible regional initiative and still say I am a good member. That sort of approach has to change," Jaishankar said. To counter the obstructionist approach of Islamabad, New Delhi decided to take the issues bilaterally with the member countries. "If SAARC does not provide them (member countries) an answer, they will settle for sub-regional initiatives and will look at other initiatives like BIMSTEC, Jaishankar added while delivering a talk on 'India and the Great Powers: Continuity and Change' at the Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA).
Two Ukrainian servicemen were injured in the anti-terrorist operation zone (ATO) in Donbas in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Andriy Lysenko has said.

"No Ukrainian servicemen died but two suffered injuries during attacks in Luhanske and Avdiyivka over the past day," he told a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

In a state that swings every five years, Congress is pinning its hopes on strong leadership and voter disenchantment with long reign of the Akali Dal.

Out of power for ten years in Punjab, the Congress waits in hope that voters have tired of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP regime, which has been ruling the border state since 2007. In 2012, the state belied its reputation of delivering oscillating mandates by returning the Parkash Singh Badal government. Surely the pendulum will swing this time?

Elections are due early next year, and if the Congress has a reasonable chance at the hustings, it is largely because it has a viable state leadership, a factor missing in all the states it has let slip since the Indira Gandhi days: Bihar, UP, Andhra, Telangana, etc. While allowing Capt Amarinder Singh to helm the party in the state, the high command has had to overcome its old reservation about trusting strong leadership locally, a legacy of the former Prime Minister.

Amarinder fell out of favour after the party lost two consecutive Assembly elections in 2007 and 2012 to the SAD-BJP alliance. He was removed as the state party chief and Partap Singh Bajwa was appointed in his place. But the move failed to energise the party, and there was rebellion in the ranks. The party could win only three seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and then lost the municipal and panchayat elections.

Vice-president Rahul Gandhi pays tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi recently | Shekhar Yadav

The problem with the Congress in Punjab is that minus Amarinder Singh the party does not have any prominent face with whom voters can identify. Amarinder has declared that this will be his last election. The party has been unable to develop a second line of leadership in the state despite the fact that it has some young faces like the Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh, grandson of the late Beant Singh and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the MLA from Gidderbaha.

However, it remains a fact that the high commands trust in state satraps tends to be tenuous, now as in Indira Gandhis time. Amarinder had in fact threatened to quit the party and float his own party, which could cut into the Congress traditional vote. As could upstart parties like the Aam Aadmi Party, mirroring the trends we have seen in several sta tes across the country.

Among states going to the polls early next year, Punjab remains the Congress best bet. However, its success in this bread basket state will depend on how it can compete with the Akali-BJP alliance in owning the SYL canal issue. It was the Congress government of Amarinder Singh which abrogated in 2004 all previous agreements on river water sharing with neighbouring states. The Supreme Court has held that action unconstitutional, thereby giving both parties an opportunity to indulge in some grandstanding as protectors of farmer interests. Success will hinge on how well the party can connect with the people on such issues.

READ MORE: In Uttar Pradesh, reduced to a remembered party

In a state that swings every five years, Congress is pinning its hopes on strong leadership and voter disenchantment with long reign of the Akali Dal. Out of power for ten years in Punjab, the Congress waits in hope that voters have tired of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP regime, which has been ruling the border state since 2007. In 2012, the state belied its reputation of delivering oscillating mandates by returning the Parkash Singh Badal government. Surely the pendulum will swing this time? Elections are due early next year, and if the Congress has a reasonable chance at the hustings, it is largely because it has a viable state leadership, a factor missing in all the states it has let slip since the Indira Gandhi days: Bihar, UP, Andhra, Telangana, etc. While allowing Capt Amarinder Singh to helm the party in the state, the high command has had to overcome its old reservation about trusting strong leadership locally, a legacy of the former Prime Minister. Amarinder fell out of favour after the party lost two consecutive Assembly elections in 2007 and 2012 to the SAD-BJP alliance. He was removed as the state party chief and Partap Singh Bajwa was appointed in his place. But the move failed to energise the party, and there was rebellion in the ranks. The party could win only three seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and then lost the municipal and panchayat elections. Vice-president Rahul Gandhi pays tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi recently | Shekhar YadavThe problem with the Congress in Punjab is that minus Amarinder Singh the party does not have any prominent face with whom voters can identify. Amarinder has declared that this will be his last election. The party has been unable to develop a second line of leadership in the state despite the fact that it has some young faces like the Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh, grandson of the late Beant Singh and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the MLA from Gidderbaha. However, it remains a fact that the high commands trust in state satraps tends to be tenuous, now as in Indira Gandhis time. Amarinder had in fact threatened to quit the party and float his own party, which could cut into the Congress traditional vote. As could upstart parties like the Aam Aadmi Party, mirroring the trends we have seen in several states across the country. Among states going to the polls early next year, Punjab remains the Congress best bet. However, its success in this bread basket state will depend on how it can compete with the Akali-BJP alliance in owning the SYL canal issue. It was the Congress government of Amarinder Singh which abrogated in 2004 all previous agreements on river water sharing with neighbouring states. The Supreme Court has held that action unconstitutional, thereby giving both parties an opportunity to indulge in some grandstanding as protectors of farmer interests. Success will hinge on how well the party can connect with the people on such issues. READ MORE: In Uttar Pradesh, reduced to a remembered party
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: With an aim to minimise BJPs chances of coming to power in the state, Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal, JD(U) and BS-4 have decided to contest the upcoming UP elections in alliance. The announcement to this effect was made by the leaders of the three parties jointly here on Monday.

The alliance was firmed up by RLD chief Ajit Singh, JD(U)s Sharad Yadav and BS-4s Bachan Singh Yadav after Samajawadi Party refused to be a part of it. Instead SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had been harping on the merger of smaller players like JD(U) and RLD into it ahead of state elections-2017.

We will contest on all 403 Assembly seats in UP. Talks are going on with other like-minded smaller parties in the state, said the three alliance partners while addressing a joint press conference here.

Launching a broadside on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for allegedly walking back on the tie-up, RLD supremo Ajit Singh accused him of having lost the path shown by Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Wondering why the SP chief did not want an alliance against the communal forces in the state, Ajit Singh said: In Bihar also, when we, all Lohia wadi and Ch Charan Singh wadi parties, decided to join hands under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav but he took a step back. This time also he wants merger rather than alliance.

Speaking on the issue, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav expressed his helplessness saying that Mulayam Singh wanted us to merge with SP. We are ready for the merger but now the time for it is too short, he added.

The SP supremo had recently ruled out any alliance for the UP Assembly polls, but had said mergers with his party could be considered.

On the possibility of Congress joining the alliance, Ajit Singh said, "No talks have been initiated with Congress in this regard."

Meanwhile, reacting to the charge of upsetting Grand Alliance prospects, levelled by these leaders on Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP vice-president Kironmoy Nanda exuded confidence that Samajwadis would form a majority government in the state again with Akhilesh as the party face in the fray.

Nanda said that the alliance would in no way affect SP prospects in the upcoming state elections and the charge on Netaji of walking back on his words was baseless.

LUCKNOW: With an aim to minimise BJPs chances of coming to power in the state, Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal, JD(U) and BS-4 have decided to contest the upcoming UP elections in alliance. The announcement to this effect was made by the leaders of the three parties jointly here on Monday. The alliance was firmed up by RLD chief Ajit Singh, JD(U)s Sharad Yadav and BS-4s Bachan Singh Yadav after Samajawadi Party refused to be a part of it. Instead SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had been harping on the merger of smaller players like JD(U) and RLD into it ahead of state elections-2017. We will contest on all 403 Assembly seats in UP. Talks are going on with other like-minded smaller parties in the state, said the three alliance partners while addressing a joint press conference here. Launching a broadside on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for allegedly walking back on the tie-up, RLD supremo Ajit Singh accused him of having lost the path shown by Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh. Wondering why the SP chief did not want an alliance against the communal forces in the state, Ajit Singh said: In Bihar also, when we, all Lohia wadi and Ch Charan Singh wadi parties, decided to join hands under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav but he took a step back. This time also he wants merger rather than alliance. Speaking on the issue, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav expressed his helplessness saying that Mulayam Singh wanted us to merge with SP. We are ready for the merger but now the time for it is too short, he added. The SP supremo had recently ruled out any alliance for the UP Assembly polls, but had said mergers with his party could be considered. On the possibility of Congress joining the alliance, Ajit Singh said, "No talks have been initiated with Congress in this regard." Meanwhile, reacting to the charge of upsetting Grand Alliance prospects, levelled by these leaders on Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP vice-president Kironmoy Nanda exuded confidence that Samajwadis would form a majority government in the state again with Akhilesh as the party face in the fray. Nanda said that the alliance would in no way affect SP prospects in the upcoming state elections and the charge on Netaji of walking back on his words was baseless.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Decimated by the BJP in this years Assembly elections, the Congress in Assam is trying to replicate something that did miracles for the saffron party. It is trying to whip up sentiment about the Assamese identity.

In the wake of the rise in the number of immigrants from Bangladesh, and the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the BJP had reached out to the voters with a call to protect the Assamese identity, culture, and language. And it did wonders  the party took its 2011 tally of five seats to 60 in this years polls.

As a joint committee of parliamentarians looks into the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the passage of which will allow lakhs of non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to stay on in the country, the Congress in Assam is siding with the Assamese by opposing the Centres move tooth and nail.

The BJP views non-Muslim immigrants (read Hindus) from Bangladesh as refugees, who, it argues, fled the neighbouring country in the face of torture and religious persecution. Ironically, the Congress maintained a similar stand and promised asylum to them. But as protests by Assamese organisations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill gather momentum, the Congress seems to have read the writing on the wall and sided with the people in opposing it.

Corruption was one of the key reasons for the Congress downfall. The Tarun Gogoi government did very little to punish the corrupt. With not much funds flowing into the states coffers from the Centre for development and a perceived public mood against it over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the BJP is trying to keep people in good humour by going hard at corrupt government officials. Over the past three months, at least a dozen senior officials, including the chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, have been arrested.

They were allegedly shielded by the previous government and their arrests have only pushed the Congress farther from the people.

The November 19 byelections to two seats  one parliamentary and another Assembly  were an opportunity for the Congress to be back in the reckoning. But, surprisingly, it fielded a little-known candidate in the parliamentary seat. The states finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, an acclaimed poll strategist who spent 25 years in the Congress but is now with the BJP, said even he had not heard the name of the Congress candidate.

The Congress lacks popular and charismatic leaders and as such is heavily reliant on the old war horse Tarun Gogoi. At 82, Gogoi is leading the partys charge on issues concerning people. He has been vitriolic in his attack, of the Sonowal government, particularly on issues including the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and price rise.

Decimated by the BJP in this years Assembly elections, the Congress in Assam is trying to replicate something that did miracles for the saffron party. It is trying to whip up sentiment about the Assamese identity. In the wake of the rise in the number of immigrants from Bangladesh, and the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the BJP had reached out to the voters with a call to protect the Assamese identity, culture, and language. And it did wonders  the party took its 2011 tally of five seats to 60 in this years polls. As a joint committee of parliamentarians looks into the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the passage of which will allow lakhs of non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to stay on in the country, the Congress in Assam is siding with the Assamese by opposing the Centres move tooth and nail. The BJP views non-Muslim immigrants (read Hindus) from Bangladesh as refugees, who, it argues, fled the neighbouring country in the face of torture and religious persecution. Ironically, the Congress maintained a similar stand and promised asylum to them. But as protests by Assamese organisations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill gather momentum, the Congress seems to have read the writing on the wall and sided with the people in opposing it. Corruption was one of the key reasons for the Congress downfall. The Tarun Gogoi government did very little to punish the corrupt. With not much funds flowing into the states coffers from the Centre for development and a perceived public mood against it over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the BJP is trying to keep people in good humour by going hard at corrupt government officials. Over the past three months, at least a dozen senior officials, including the chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, have been arrested. They were allegedly shielded by the previous government and their arrests have only pushed the Congress farther from the people. The November 19 byelections to two seats  one parliamentary and another Assembly  were an opportunity for the Congress to be back in the reckoning. But, surprisingly, it fielded a little-known candidate in the parliamentary seat. The states finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, an acclaimed poll strategist who spent 25 years in the Congress but is now with the BJP, said even he had not heard the name of the Congress candidate. The Congress lacks popular and charismatic leaders and as such is heavily reliant on the old war horse Tarun Gogoi. At 82, Gogoi is leading the partys charge on issues concerning people. He has been vitriolic in his attack, of the Sonowal government, particularly on issues including the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and price rise.
Mathew A Thomas By

Express News Service

If there is one state in the south where the Congress can nurse hopes of reviving its fortunes, it would be Kerala. But with its organizational strength drained, the party has a lot to do to regain lost ground.

After the rout of the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by it in the 2016 Assembly polls, the Congress is yet to bounce back in Kerala. The party leadership is often criticized for pampering some communities and antagonizing all of them in the end despite the favours showered upon such sections when in power. Still, the democratic ethos of the party gives the Congress an advantage.

Well-entrenched factionalism and the central leaderships reluctance to deal with it make things complicated for the Congress in Kerala. The much talked about party re-organisation has almost faded from public memory, while the induction of new DCC presidents, which too is delayed, is not arousing any interest either.

The penchant of many leaders including KPCC president V M Sudheeran to make brave statements or stage peripheral agitations still continues. The party still pivots on the Oommen Chandy-Ramesh Chennithala axis, while A K Antony calls the shots on behalf of the party high command -- despite his disclaimers.

The majority of the top leaders have a huge trust deficit among the public when it comes to professing secular ideals and matching it with deeds. It is clear that the party is fighting a losing battle when it comes to regaining the trust of the majority and minority communities. Strengthening the ideological foundations is rarely given serious thought although it is a proven fact the people plumped for committed Congress nominees with true secular credentials. A few of them were re-elected to the Assembly with handsomely higher victory margins, when many of their colleagues were felled by the electorate in adjacent constituencies.

The main reason for the reverses in the last general election, apart from the flurry of corruption charges against the Oommen Chandy government was the distancing of the Muslim community from the party. While the CPM won the trust of the minority community by changing its stand on the Uniform Civil Code, the Congress is yet to voice it assertively enough, though it has placed its opposition on record. The party is not even looking at the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest constituent in the UDF, for lessons. The IUML has taken a strong position against the civil code and is also campaigning against terrorism, which is earning it rich dividends in the Muslim community. While the UDF tally fell steeply to 47 seats in the last election, IUML lost only two sitting seats and won 18 out of the 24 seats it contested.

Adding to the woes of the Congress, Kerala Congress (M), with a band of six MLAs, has parted ways from the UDF. Though there are a few who are enthusiastic that Congress would only emerge stronger from this, the fact remains that the two parties may spoil their own broth while going their separate ways in Central Travancore, covering 3-4 districts with a large Christian presence. In the last Lok Sabha elections, Kerala was the saving grace for the Congress at the national level, as the UDF stood its ground and picked up 12 seats out of a total of 20, including one won by KC(M).

The anxiety of the minorities, particularly Muslims, over the decisions of the BJP-led government at the Centre is resulting in the strengthening of the Left. However, the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan has stumbled administratively and politically within a few months of coming to power. Unless the Congress is bestowed with a strong leadership down to the district level and the party is restructured organizationally, the Congress base in Kerala will only become more vulnerable and the party can expect worse debacles.

If there is one state in the south where the Congress can nurse hopes of reviving its fortunes, it would be Kerala. But with its organizational strength drained, the party has a lot to do to regain lost ground. After the rout of the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by it in the 2016 Assembly polls, the Congress is yet to bounce back in Kerala. The party leadership is often criticized for pampering some communities and antagonizing all of them in the end despite the favours showered upon such sections when in power. Still, the democratic ethos of the party gives the Congress an advantage. Well-entrenched factionalism and the central leaderships reluctance to deal with it make things complicated for the Congress in Kerala. The much talked about party re-organisation has almost faded from public memory, while the induction of new DCC presidents, which too is delayed, is not arousing any interest either. The penchant of many leaders including KPCC president V M Sudheeran to make brave statements or stage peripheral agitations still continues. The party still pivots on the Oommen Chandy-Ramesh Chennithala axis, while A K Antony calls the shots on behalf of the party high command -- despite his disclaimers. The majority of the top leaders have a huge trust deficit among the public when it comes to professing secular ideals and matching it with deeds. It is clear that the party is fighting a losing battle when it comes to regaining the trust of the majority and minority communities. Strengthening the ideological foundations is rarely given serious thought although it is a proven fact the people plumped for committed Congress nominees with true secular credentials. A few of them were re-elected to the Assembly with handsomely higher victory margins, when many of their colleagues were felled by the electorate in adjacent constituencies. The main reason for the reverses in the last general election, apart from the flurry of corruption charges against the Oommen Chandy government was the distancing of the Muslim community from the party. While the CPM won the trust of the minority community by changing its stand on the Uniform Civil Code, the Congress is yet to voice it assertively enough, though it has placed its opposition on record. The party is not even looking at the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest constituent in the UDF, for lessons. The IUML has taken a strong position against the civil code and is also campaigning against terrorism, which is earning it rich dividends in the Muslim community. While the UDF tally fell steeply to 47 seats in the last election, IUML lost only two sitting seats and won 18 out of the 24 seats it contested. Adding to the woes of the Congress, Kerala Congress (M), with a band of six MLAs, has parted ways from the UDF. Though there are a few who are enthusiastic that Congress would only emerge stronger from this, the fact remains that the two parties may spoil their own broth while going their separate ways in Central Travancore, covering 3-4 districts with a large Christian presence. In the last Lok Sabha elections, Kerala was the saving grace for the Congress at the national level, as the UDF stood its ground and picked up 12 seats out of a total of 20, including one won by KC(M). The anxiety of the minorities, particularly Muslims, over the decisions of the BJP-led government at the Centre is resulting in the strengthening of the Left. However, the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan has stumbled administratively and politically within a few months of coming to power. Unless the Congress is bestowed with a strong leadership down to the district level and the party is restructured organizationally, the Congress base in Kerala will only become more vulnerable and the party can expect worse debacles.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: While millions are struggling to deposit or exchange the demonetised currency and withdraw money from banks, it is the staff of nationalised and private banks who are facing the brunt of the government move to spike the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

In bank branches across the country, officers and staff, many of them women, are working extra hours, at times extending beyond midnight, and managing frayed tempers as they try to ensure that the most number of people queuing up are facilitated -- even as the flow of the new currency notes from their head offices has been inadequate.

"People have to understand that we came to know of the demonetisation like everyone else. The banks were hardly prepared to cater to the huge demand for exchange of notes, currency deposits and withdrawals," the Cluster Head of a leading private bank in Chandigarh told IANS even as he requested agitated people to show patience.

"There is a lot of logistics involved in this exercise. Banking staff have worked through the weekend holiday. As we are catering to the rush of people throughout the day, the entries are made only after normal banking hours end. At times, the entries and matching of accounts goes on beyond midnight. It is not easy but the staff are doing a great job despite the pressure from all sides," he pointed out.

In the country's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, bank staff are a harried lot. Kavya, an official with a private bank in Lucknow, told IANS: "It has been a tough week for me and my family. I had to skip a visit to Varanasi to be with my parents." She is not the only one.

More than a week after the demonetisation was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, bankers are putting in long hours, without even their weekly holidays.

A senior official with Axis Bank in Lucknow is cut up with the long working hours. "At times, it is scary to deal with the people. Normal banking has gone for a toss," he pointed out.

While the manpower at banks is ready to deliver, the technology and other logistics fail at times, putting the bankers in a nightmare situation vis-a-vis the public.

"At times the Internet and servers are down due to the heavy load. ATMs run out of cash very fast as lower denomination notes of Rs 100 are being loaded. Though there is enough currency available, it is a logistical nightmare to get it delivered to all branches several times a day," said bank officer Charanjit Singh in Jalandhar city in Punjab.

"I have never seen such a situation in my entire service of over two decades," an officer of the country's biggest public sector bank, State Bank of India, told IANS in Thiruvananthapuram.

"This was something out of the blue and I don't think my colleagues at the branch and I have ever come under such pressure," said the officer who did not wish to be identified.

Bank officials also fear that with an unusally large amount of cash coming in every day, if the entries do not match, they will be in trouble later when the immediate crisis is behind them.

Be it Chandigarh or Chennai, or Maharashtra or Manipur, the problems and plight of the bank staff is the same.

"We are experiencing several inconveniences. We leave office around 7 p.m. after tallying the accounts," said a Chennai-based employee of State Bank of Mysore. Another staffer chipped in: "We don't know if there will be a weekly off this Sunday. We worked last Sunday as well."

Bank officers say it is not only the public dealing which is testing them -- it is also the lack of information about the ever-changing rules for disbursal and clear instructions from the top.

"Instructions from the government and seniors come by the hour and have to be implemented. At times there is confusion on what is allowed and how much. Seeking clarification takes time. We also have pressure from our own families, friends and acquaintances to get money withdrawn or deposited. It will take time for things to settle down," Sunil Sharma, a bank officer with a private bank in Gurgaon, pointed out.

Thousands of bankers across Karnataka have been working 12-14 hours daily since the demonetisation.

"Though Kanaka Jayanthi was a holiday, the state government cancelled it and told us to work full day to help the public," state-run Karnataka Bank branch manager Sadananda Kumar told IANS in Bengaluru.

"Working daily non-stop under pressure has taken a toll of our health, especially of women employees, as they have been reporting to office at 9 a.m. and slogging without a break till 9-10 p.m.," said Kumar.

In the absence of the new Rs 500 notes, which the Reserve Bank of India has not supplied to any bank in Bengaluru, customers have been squabbling for any lower notes, especially Rs 100 and Rs 50.

With the queues long and tempers running high, bankers have been at the receiving end of tired and impatient customers.

"The treasury chest has been giving only Rs 2,000 notes and few bundles of Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes. With not many depositing lower currency notes and reluctant to take the Rs 2,000 notes, our tellers are stressed out due to friction and heated exchanges with the customers," said one officer.

NEW DELHI: While millions are struggling to deposit or exchange the demonetised currency and withdraw money from banks, it is the staff of nationalised and private banks who are facing the brunt of the government move to spike the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. In bank branches across the country, officers and staff, many of them women, are working extra hours, at times extending beyond midnight, and managing frayed tempers as they try to ensure that the most number of people queuing up are facilitated -- even as the flow of the new currency notes from their head offices has been inadequate. "People have to understand that we came to know of the demonetisation like everyone else. The banks were hardly prepared to cater to the huge demand for exchange of notes, currency deposits and withdrawals," the Cluster Head of a leading private bank in Chandigarh told IANS even as he requested agitated people to show patience. "There is a lot of logistics involved in this exercise. Banking staff have worked through the weekend holiday. As we are catering to the rush of people throughout the day, the entries are made only after normal banking hours end. At times, the entries and matching of accounts goes on beyond midnight. It is not easy but the staff are doing a great job despite the pressure from all sides," he pointed out. In the country's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, bank staff are a harried lot. Kavya, an official with a private bank in Lucknow, told IANS: "It has been a tough week for me and my family. I had to skip a visit to Varanasi to be with my parents." She is not the only one. More than a week after the demonetisation was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, bankers are putting in long hours, without even their weekly holidays. A senior official with Axis Bank in Lucknow is cut up with the long working hours. "At times, it is scary to deal with the people. Normal banking has gone for a toss," he pointed out. While the manpower at banks is ready to deliver, the technology and other logistics fail at times, putting the bankers in a nightmare situation vis-a-vis the public. "At times the Internet and servers are down due to the heavy load. ATMs run out of cash very fast as lower denomination notes of Rs 100 are being loaded. Though there is enough currency available, it is a logistical nightmare to get it delivered to all branches several times a day," said bank officer Charanjit Singh in Jalandhar city in Punjab. "I have never seen such a situation in my entire service of over two decades," an officer of the country's biggest public sector bank, State Bank of India, told IANS in Thiruvananthapuram. "This was something out of the blue and I don't think my colleagues at the branch and I have ever come under such pressure," said the officer who did not wish to be identified. Bank officials also fear that with an unusally large amount of cash coming in every day, if the entries do not match, they will be in trouble later when the immediate crisis is behind them. Be it Chandigarh or Chennai, or Maharashtra or Manipur, the problems and plight of the bank staff is the same. "We are experiencing several inconveniences. We leave office around 7 p.m. after tallying the accounts," said a Chennai-based employee of State Bank of Mysore. Another staffer chipped in: "We don't know if there will be a weekly off this Sunday. We worked last Sunday as well." Bank officers say it is not only the public dealing which is testing them -- it is also the lack of information about the ever-changing rules for disbursal and clear instructions from the top. "Instructions from the government and seniors come by the hour and have to be implemented. At times there is confusion on what is allowed and how much. Seeking clarification takes time. We also have pressure from our own families, friends and acquaintances to get money withdrawn or deposited. It will take time for things to settle down," Sunil Sharma, a bank officer with a private bank in Gurgaon, pointed out. Thousands of bankers across Karnataka have been working 12-14 hours daily since the demonetisation. "Though Kanaka Jayanthi was a holiday, the state government cancelled it and told us to work full day to help the public," state-run Karnataka Bank branch manager Sadananda Kumar told IANS in Bengaluru. "Working daily non-stop under pressure has taken a toll of our health, especially of women employees, as they have been reporting to office at 9 a.m. and slogging without a break till 9-10 p.m.," said Kumar. In the absence of the new Rs 500 notes, which the Reserve Bank of India has not supplied to any bank in Bengaluru, customers have been squabbling for any lower notes, especially Rs 100 and Rs 50. With the queues long and tempers running high, bankers have been at the receiving end of tired and impatient customers. "The treasury chest has been giving only Rs 2,000 notes and few bundles of Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes. With not many depositing lower currency notes and reluctant to take the Rs 2,000 notes, our tellers are stressed out due to friction and heated exchanges with the customers," said one officer.
Kiran Prakash M S By

What all can you do with Rs 500 crore? A lot, if you are willing to spend it in a way thats useful to people. Or just conduct a wedding, if you are Gali Janardhana Reddy. Though there is no way to tell how much money the politician-mining baron spent on his daughters gala wedding last week, media reports put the cost between Rs 100 crore and Rs 500 crore. Reddy, on his part, has promised to file details with the income tax department, but no one expects the truth.

A wedding invite that came with an LCD screen, expansive movie-like sets that recreated the ancient temples of Vijayanagara empire at Bengalurus Palace Grounds, more than 50,000 guests who were treated to a sumptuous lunch spread of more than 100 dishes, heaps of diamond-studded jewellery and thousands of security personnel  the wedding certainly was a lavish affair, probably the biggest that Karnataka has ever seen. The cost may be a subject of speculation but not the fact that money flowed freely at the ceremony.

Five hundred crore rupees is the kind of money thatll be enough to serve three meals a day to the entire population of Ballari district for half a month at Rs 50 a meal. Ballari, Reddys home district that he plundered to build his iron ore-enriched business-cum-political empire, is one of the most backward in Karnataka. While how he pulled off such a flamboyant show in the middle of a crippling cash crunch and the Modi governments war on ill-gotten wealth has remained a mystery, the wedding underlined one factor  that Reddy is back in Karnataka politics.

In fact, the wedding was not about the big money that he spent, neither was it about the 21-year-old bride and her 25-year-old groom. It was about Reddy  only about him. After being away from political limelight for about five years, he needed something like this to mark his presence on the states political stage. The presence of political bigwigs at the wedding, despite Reddys tainted past, is a testimony to the fact that he still has a few tricks up his political sleeve.

BJP state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa, Union minister Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, who also heads the Congress in the state, and Power Minister D K Shivakumar were among the prominent politicians who chose to attend the wedding. That Yeddyurappa attended both the pre-wedding reception and the wedding next day shows how the BJP led by him is ready to embrace Reddy again. That two senior Congress ministers were present reveals how Reddys clout runs beyond political boundaries.



But with Reddy returns the spectre of corrupt-manipulative politics that ruled the first half of the 2008-13 BJP regime. Reddy, who was said to have bankrolled many BJP candidates in the 2008 elections, started calling the shots as soon as the party formed the government. He, his brother Karunakara Reddy and close aide Sriramulu became ministers, and with a group of faithful MLAs, he arm-twisted the Yeddyurappa government into granting many concessions in his favour. It was during this period that he was alleged to have made crores of rupees through illegal mining. The government shut its eyes to his activities in Ballari.

Yeddyurappa, who till then had a relatively clean image, was sucked into a web of corruption that finally cost him his job, and reputation. This continued till Reddys ouster from the Cabinet and later arrest in the illegal mining case in 2011. Reddy spent 40 months in jail. Yeddyurappa too was arrested and jailed in corruption cases. While the former chief minister has managed to shake off most of the cases against him, those against Reddy are yet to reach closure.

Yeddyurappa is back at the helm of the BJP in the state. His taking over of the party reins in April this year also marked the return of his brand of politics in the BJP. He runs the party with the help of a trusted few, and there are already rumblings in the state unit. But the central leadership backs him to put the BJP on the path to recovery in Karnataka, the only southern state where it can be the ruling party.

Reddys possible return to active politics is relevant in this context. With the Congress slowly losing its grip over the state and the JD(S) being reduced to a party with limited presence, the BJPs fortunes are on the rise. Reddy knows this. The support of the Reddy-Sriramulu team and a potent mix of caste politics and money power could tilt the balance in favour of the BJP in a contest with the Congress. A BJP win in the 2018 Assembly elections could mean the return of the Yeddyurappa-Reddy combination. Will it be 2008 again?

kiranprakash@newindianexpress.com

What all can you do with Rs 500 crore? A lot, if you are willing to spend it in a way thats useful to people. Or just conduct a wedding, if you are Gali Janardhana Reddy. Though there is no way to tell how much money the politician-mining baron spent on his daughters gala wedding last week, media reports put the cost between Rs 100 crore and Rs 500 crore. Reddy, on his part, has promised to file details with the income tax department, but no one expects the truth. A wedding invite that came with an LCD screen, expansive movie-like sets that recreated the ancient temples of Vijayanagara empire at Bengalurus Palace Grounds, more than 50,000 guests who were treated to a sumptuous lunch spread of more than 100 dishes, heaps of diamond-studded jewellery and thousands of security personnel  the wedding certainly was a lavish affair, probably the biggest that Karnataka has ever seen. The cost may be a subject of speculation but not the fact that money flowed freely at the ceremony. Five hundred crore rupees is the kind of money thatll be enough to serve three meals a day to the entire population of Ballari district for half a month at Rs 50 a meal. Ballari, Reddys home district that he plundered to build his iron ore-enriched business-cum-political empire, is one of the most backward in Karnataka. While how he pulled off such a flamboyant show in the middle of a crippling cash crunch and the Modi governments war on ill-gotten wealth has remained a mystery, the wedding underlined one factor  that Reddy is back in Karnataka politics. In fact, the wedding was not about the big money that he spent, neither was it about the 21-year-old bride and her 25-year-old groom. It was about Reddy  only about him. After being away from political limelight for about five years, he needed something like this to mark his presence on the states political stage. The presence of political bigwigs at the wedding, despite Reddys tainted past, is a testimony to the fact that he still has a few tricks up his political sleeve. BJP state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa, Union minister Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, who also heads the Congress in the state, and Power Minister D K Shivakumar were among the prominent politicians who chose to attend the wedding. That Yeddyurappa attended both the pre-wedding reception and the wedding next day shows how the BJP led by him is ready to embrace Reddy again. That two senior Congress ministers were present reveals how Reddys clout runs beyond political boundaries. But with Reddy returns the spectre of corrupt-manipulative politics that ruled the first half of the 2008-13 BJP regime. Reddy, who was said to have bankrolled many BJP candidates in the 2008 elections, started calling the shots as soon as the party formed the government. He, his brother Karunakara Reddy and close aide Sriramulu became ministers, and with a group of faithful MLAs, he arm-twisted the Yeddyurappa government into granting many concessions in his favour. It was during this period that he was alleged to have made crores of rupees through illegal mining. The government shut its eyes to his activities in Ballari. Yeddyurappa, who till then had a relatively clean image, was sucked into a web of corruption that finally cost him his job, and reputation. This continued till Reddys ouster from the Cabinet and later arrest in the illegal mining case in 2011. Reddy spent 40 months in jail. Yeddyurappa too was arrested and jailed in corruption cases. While the former chief minister has managed to shake off most of the cases against him, those against Reddy are yet to reach closure. Yeddyurappa is back at the helm of the BJP in the state. His taking over of the party reins in April this year also marked the return of his brand of politics in the BJP. He runs the party with the help of a trusted few, and there are already rumblings in the state unit. But the central leadership backs him to put the BJP on the path to recovery in Karnataka, the only southern state where it can be the ruling party. Reddys possible return to active politics is relevant in this context. With the Congress slowly losing its grip over the state and the JD(S) being reduced to a party with limited presence, the BJPs fortunes are on the rise. Reddy knows this. The support of the Reddy-Sriramulu team and a potent mix of caste politics and money power could tilt the balance in favour of the BJP in a contest with the Congress. A BJP win in the 2018 Assembly elections could mean the return of the Yeddyurappa-Reddy combination. Will it be 2008 again? kiranprakash@newindianexpress.com
Khaled Almaeena By

Khaled Almaeena, a managing partner of Quartz, is a veteran Saudi journalist, commentator and businessman specialising in Saudi Arabia, Indo-Arab relations and U.S.-Arab relations. He currently serves as editor-at-large of the Saudi Gazette, and is a co-founder and board member of NAAM Association, which promotes cultural dialogue and supports civil-society organisations. He has held a broad range of positions in Saudi media for over thirty years. A frequent traveller to India, Almaeena broke new ground by establishing South Asian pages in Saudi newspapers. He discussed the prospects for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in India and the Middle East with John C. Bersia, Co-Chair of The India Center at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

Q: What possibilities do you see for Trumps administration in South Asia and the Middle East?

A: There are many possibilities, from the economic arena to peacemaking. In addition, opportunities beckon from the triangular relationship among India, the United States and Saudi Arabia. You dont usually see these three countries in the same conversation, but it makes a lot of sense. Overall, my hope is that Trump will focus on cooperation and help initiate economic recovery among countries of the regions. He should also be an honest broker of peace.

Q: How was the U.S. presidential election viewed in Saudi Arabia and India?

A: In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. presidential campaign was viewed as a domestic issue, and most of the debates and presentations by candidates were about domestic matters. But thats no reason to pay insufficient attention to American presidential elections. Lets remember that what happens in America is of consequence worldwide. To paraphrase an old expression, when the United States sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. With the race over and Trump selected, its time to focus on what he brings to the discussion. Hes a known quantity and has been involved in the Middle East as a businessman. At the same time, hes outspoken and will not mince words with the leadership in the area, which I welcome.

Q: And in India?

A: There is a perception among some Indians that he will be good for Indo-U.S. relations. In India, U.S. Democrats traditionally have been seen as favouring New Delhi, while U.S. Republicans have been seen as favouring Pakistan. Even though Trump is a Republican, he has an understanding of India, engages in business affairs there, and has made a concerted effort during the campaign to focus on that country and Indian-Americans.

Q: In the regions where Saudi Arabia and India are located  the Middle East and South Asia  what are the major challenges and opportunities for the incoming Trump administration?

A: Starting in the Middle East, Trump should reactivate the peace process  not to impose a solution but to encourage a settlement, including a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. The other subject on which Trump should focus is a continuation of the rapprochement with Iran. Although he has been critical of U.S. efforts to reach out to Iran, its important to emphasise how good that is for the region and the world. By engaging Iran, you reduce the influence of hardliners. In addition, lets stop using the Middle East as a market for arms. By and large, people are tired of fighting. Nobody wants war. They would welcome Americas acting as a force for peace.

Q: And in South Asia?

A: America can and should play a more-forceful role in easing the tensions between India and Pakistan, especially regarding Kashmir. The upheaval in Kashmir is not about Hindus and Muslims. Its about the desire of the population to live in dignity and peace, which requires removing the military forces that are there. It is very important to convince both India and Pakistan  despite a long history of mutual antagonism  that they need to talk and seek enduring solutions. Otherwise, they will never be able to deal with one of their worst problems, the grinding poverty that you see in so many places. I speak Hindi, so I move easily among the people in India. At times, I introduce myself as being from across the border to try to elicit heartfelt responses about India and Pakistan. I talked to an Indian farmer recently, and he said that tensions simply mean that foot soldiers die while the politicians children are safe in their respective counrties capitals. But, he said, theyre ignoring the real problem, the biggest problem, which is that the poor people are hungry. Thats the issue.

Q: What would you propose to help address peace-and-conflict issues in the Middle East and South Asia?

A: One idea that I would pitch to Trump is an international conference convened by the United States, along with other sponsors. Now, I understand that many Indians are suspicious of Saudi Arabia. They think we look at India through the Pakistan prism. Thats not really the case. Historically, there was a convenient closeness with Pakistan because we were both allies of the United States in dealing with challenges such as Afghanistan. And, yes, Saudi Arabia has welcomed military trainers from Pakistan, but its largely because they dont speak Arabic. Saudi Arabia went to Pakistan because it wanted trainers who would not taint Saudi military personnel with disruptive ideas such as Baathism. Today, much has changed.

Q: Please elaborate.

A: The relationship between Saudi Arabia and India is mostly economic and healthy. There is great respect for India in Saudi Arabia, and its one of the top choices for Saudis considering foreign investments. Let me be very clear: We are not against India. Quite the opposite. We need to sit at the same table and have a dialogue, one encouraged  but not railroaded  by the United States.

Q: Weve had some productive international gatherings of states in the past, such as the Madrid Conference in 1991. Partnerships were crucial to its success. Is a similar approach needed now?

A: Yes. The Madrid Conference, which was co-sponsored by the United States and the former Soviet Union, was a stepping stone to solutions. Nations came together and agreed to work toward collective remedies. They took action, and peace accords resulted. Even Syria was close to a settlement with Israel. For a conference now on the Middle East and South Asia, one might see the Chinese as a logical partner, even though China-India relations have always been topsy-turvy. Other countries would need to be brought in, as well. Japan would be an option, especially if its participation involved an aid package.

Q: What should be the overarching goals?

A: There can be no peace in the Middle East without an end to occupation and  as I said earlier  the establishment of a two-state solution. The United States should push for the enforcement of U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. Another alternative is the King Abdullah Arab peace plan of 2002. As for South Asia, the first area of emphasis should be Kashmir, with the aim of reducing the military presence and creating peace and security with dignity for the people there. Trump would make a big contribution to world affairs  and specifically to South Asia and the Middle East  by proposing and organising, with partners, such a conference as one of his early initiatives.

Khaled Almaeena, a managing partner of Quartz, is a veteran Saudi journalist, commentator and businessman specialising in Saudi Arabia, Indo-Arab relations and U.S.-Arab relations. He currently serves as editor-at-large of the Saudi Gazette, and is a co-founder and board member of NAAM Association, which promotes cultural dialogue and supports civil-society organisations. He has held a broad range of positions in Saudi media for over thirty years. A frequent traveller to India, Almaeena broke new ground by establishing South Asian pages in Saudi newspapers. He discussed the prospects for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in India and the Middle East with John C. Bersia, Co-Chair of The India Center at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Q: What possibilities do you see for Trumps administration in South Asia and the Middle East? A: There are many possibilities, from the economic arena to peacemaking. In addition, opportunities beckon from the triangular relationship among India, the United States and Saudi Arabia. You dont usually see these three countries in the same conversation, but it makes a lot of sense. Overall, my hope is that Trump will focus on cooperation and help initiate economic recovery among countries of the regions. He should also be an honest broker of peace. Q: How was the U.S. presidential election viewed in Saudi Arabia and India? A: In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. presidential campaign was viewed as a domestic issue, and most of the debates and presentations by candidates were about domestic matters. But thats no reason to pay insufficient attention to American presidential elections. Lets remember that what happens in America is of consequence worldwide. To paraphrase an old expression, when the United States sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. With the race over and Trump selected, its time to focus on what he brings to the discussion. Hes a known quantity and has been involved in the Middle East as a businessman. At the same time, hes outspoken and will not mince words with the leadership in the area, which I welcome. Q: And in India? A: There is a perception among some Indians that he will be good for Indo-U.S. relations. In India, U.S. Democrats traditionally have been seen as favouring New Delhi, while U.S. Republicans have been seen as favouring Pakistan. Even though Trump is a Republican, he has an understanding of India, engages in business affairs there, and has made a concerted effort during the campaign to focus on that country and Indian-Americans. Q: In the regions where Saudi Arabia and India are located  the Middle East and South Asia  what are the major challenges and opportunities for the incoming Trump administration? A: Starting in the Middle East, Trump should reactivate the peace process  not to impose a solution but to encourage a settlement, including a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. The other subject on which Trump should focus is a continuation of the rapprochement with Iran. Although he has been critical of U.S. efforts to reach out to Iran, its important to emphasise how good that is for the region and the world. By engaging Iran, you reduce the influence of hardliners. In addition, lets stop using the Middle East as a market for arms. By and large, people are tired of fighting. Nobody wants war. They would welcome Americas acting as a force for peace. Q: And in South Asia? A: America can and should play a more-forceful role in easing the tensions between India and Pakistan, especially regarding Kashmir. The upheaval in Kashmir is not about Hindus and Muslims. Its about the desire of the population to live in dignity and peace, which requires removing the military forces that are there. It is very important to convince both India and Pakistan  despite a long history of mutual antagonism  that they need to talk and seek enduring solutions. Otherwise, they will never be able to deal with one of their worst problems, the grinding poverty that you see in so many places. I speak Hindi, so I move easily among the people in India. At times, I introduce myself as being from across the border to try to elicit heartfelt responses about India and Pakistan. I talked to an Indian farmer recently, and he said that tensions simply mean that foot soldiers die while the politicians children are safe in their respective counrties capitals. But, he said, theyre ignoring the real problem, the biggest problem, which is that the poor people are hungry. Thats the issue. Q: What would you propose to help address peace-and-conflict issues in the Middle East and South Asia? A: One idea that I would pitch to Trump is an international conference convened by the United States, along with other sponsors. Now, I understand that many Indians are suspicious of Saudi Arabia. They think we look at India through the Pakistan prism. Thats not really the case. Historically, there was a convenient closeness with Pakistan because we were both allies of the United States in dealing with challenges such as Afghanistan. And, yes, Saudi Arabia has welcomed military trainers from Pakistan, but its largely because they dont speak Arabic. Saudi Arabia went to Pakistan because it wanted trainers who would not taint Saudi military personnel with disruptive ideas such as Baathism. Today, much has changed. Q: Please elaborate. A: The relationship between Saudi Arabia and India is mostly economic and healthy. There is great respect for India in Saudi Arabia, and its one of the top choices for Saudis considering foreign investments. Let me be very clear: We are not against India. Quite the opposite. We need to sit at the same table and have a dialogue, one encouraged  but not railroaded  by the United States. Q: Weve had some productive international gatherings of states in the past, such as the Madrid Conference in 1991. Partnerships were crucial to its success. Is a similar approach needed now? A: Yes. The Madrid Conference, which was co-sponsored by the United States and the former Soviet Union, was a stepping stone to solutions. Nations came together and agreed to work toward collective remedies. They took action, and peace accords resulted. Even Syria was close to a settlement with Israel. For a conference now on the Middle East and South Asia, one might see the Chinese as a logical partner, even though China-India relations have always been topsy-turvy. Other countries would need to be brought in, as well. Japan would be an option, especially if its participation involved an aid package. Q: What should be the overarching goals? A: There can be no peace in the Middle East without an end to occupation and  as I said earlier  the establishment of a two-state solution. The United States should push for the enforcement of U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. Another alternative is the King Abdullah Arab peace plan of 2002. As for South Asia, the first area of emphasis should be Kashmir, with the aim of reducing the military presence and creating peace and security with dignity for the people there. Trump would make a big contribution to world affairs  and specifically to South Asia and the Middle East  by proposing and organising, with partners, such a conference as one of his early initiatives.
Early this month, despite international outcry, Pakistan deported a woman who appeared on a 1985 National Geographic cover. Sharbat Gulas striking green eyes were captured by photographer Steve McCurry in a refugee camp. A look at the story behind the iconic image

Homeland burns

Gula was 12 when she was photographed in 1984. A Pashtun orphan living in Nasir Bagh, a still standing refugee camp on the Afghan-Pakistan border, she was perhaps six when a Soviet bombing killed her parents. We left Afghanistan because of the fighting, said her brother, Kashar Khan, to National Geographic

When McCurry was documenting the ordeal of Afghanistans refugees, he noticed Gula inside a school tent in the camp and took her picture after she permitted him. When I developed the picture, I knew it was special. I showed it to the editor of the National Geographic, and he leaped to his feet and shouted, thats our next cover, McCurry was quoted as saying by CNN. The picture influenced people to work in refugee camps and led the National Geographic to set up the Afghan Childrens Fund

Red-carpet welcome

Gulas was deported amid Pakistani pressure to send the undocumented Afghan refugees back home. She was arrested for living with fraudulent id papers. In Afghanistan, the president and first lady honoured Gula in Kabul. President Ghani has promised to provide Gula, who is now 45, with a furnished apartment to ensure she lives with dignity and security in Afghanistan. In fact, Gula will travel soon to India for a medical treatment offered free-of-cost.

Early this month, despite international outcry, Pakistan deported a woman who appeared on a 1985 National Geographic cover. Sharbat Gulas striking green eyes were captured by photographer Steve McCurry in a refugee camp. A look at the story behind the iconic image Homeland burns Gula was 12 when she was photographed in 1984. A Pashtun orphan living in Nasir Bagh, a still standing refugee camp on the Afghan-Pakistan border, she was perhaps six when a Soviet bombing killed her parents. We left Afghanistan because of the fighting, said her brother, Kashar Khan, to National Geographic When McCurry was documenting the ordeal of Afghanistans refugees, he noticed Gula inside a school tent in the camp and took her picture after she permitted him. When I developed the picture, I knew it was special. I showed it to the editor of the National Geographic, and he leaped to his feet and shouted, thats our next cover, McCurry was quoted as saying by CNN. The picture influenced people to work in refugee camps and led the National Geographic to set up the Afghan Childrens Fund Red-carpet welcome Gulas was deported amid Pakistani pressure to send the undocumented Afghan refugees back home. She was arrested for living with fraudulent id papers. In Afghanistan, the president and first lady honoured Gula in Kabul. President Ghani has promised to provide Gula, who is now 45, with a furnished apartment to ensure she lives with dignity and security in Afghanistan. In fact, Gula will travel soon to India for a medical treatment offered free-of-cost.
Islamic Banking (IB) is back in the news. Former RBI governor Dr Raghuram Rajan first suggested it in 2008 as part of Financial Sector Reforms. Soon, Kerala government came up with a proposal, but it was shot down as the RBI Act was (still is) Sharia non-compliant. Just days before his departure from the RBI in September, Rajan reiterated the need for IBs. His point: paying interest is against the belief of certain faiths and this was restricting banking access.

According to IMF, Islamic finance levies zero interest, finances only harmless projects, and operates on risk-sharing as against risk-transfer. Thats why IB was gaining popularity. But before exploring its socioeconomic impact, it is pertinent to note that the move militates against Indias secular principles. IB is widespread in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and is prevalent even in Japan, UK and France with global players like Standard Chartered operating IB divisions. Among its star products is Sukuk, the Islamic equivalent of bonds. With enterprises courting economic volatility, such interest-free alternatives are a hit. Perhaps for this reason, even the Narendra Modi-led government, opened doors to Saudi Arabias Islamic Development Bank last year, though nothing materialised. If history is any precedent, IBs core functions get watered down soon.

For instance, Sudans largest lender, Faisal Islamic Bank, now favours low-risk, shortterm loans and quick returns. IMF also warned of risks relating to business mode, liquidity, and complexity of transactions. At a peripheral level, profit-sharing is appealing. But here, the lender decides how to run the business, (taking away free enterprise), claims a lions share of profits and still collects its loan. Simply put, its an interest, premium at that, in disguise. Those who consider it novel should know that the concept isnt an Islamic monopoly. It can be replicated by any financial institution that so desires, without religious connotation.

Islamic Banking (IB) is back in the news. Former RBI governor Dr Raghuram Rajan first suggested it in 2008 as part of Financial Sector Reforms. Soon, Kerala government came up with a proposal, but it was shot down as the RBI Act was (still is) Sharia non-compliant. Just days before his departure from the RBI in September, Rajan reiterated the need for IBs. His point: paying interest is against the belief of certain faiths and this was restricting banking access. According to IMF, Islamic finance levies zero interest, finances only harmless projects, and operates on risk-sharing as against risk-transfer. Thats why IB was gaining popularity. But before exploring its socioeconomic impact, it is pertinent to note that the move militates against Indias secular principles. IB is widespread in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and is prevalent even in Japan, UK and France with global players like Standard Chartered operating IB divisions. Among its star products is Sukuk, the Islamic equivalent of bonds. With enterprises courting economic volatility, such interest-free alternatives are a hit. Perhaps for this reason, even the Narendra Modi-led government, opened doors to Saudi Arabias Islamic Development Bank last year, though nothing materialised. If history is any precedent, IBs core functions get watered down soon. For instance, Sudans largest lender, Faisal Islamic Bank, now favours low-risk, shortterm loans and quick returns. IMF also warned of risks relating to business mode, liquidity, and complexity of transactions. At a peripheral level, profit-sharing is appealing. But here, the lender decides how to run the business, (taking away free enterprise), claims a lions share of profits and still collects its loan. Simply put, its an interest, premium at that, in disguise. Those who consider it novel should know that the concept isnt an Islamic monopoly. It can be replicated by any financial institution that so desires, without religious connotation.
Amit S Upadhye By

Express News Service

HOW BHARAT COPES: By keeping it simple

HALIYAL: Its harvest time in Hosur, a tiny village 10 km from Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. For most part of the day, the villagers are busy in the sugarcane and paddy fields. They have little time to worry about the cash crisis that is bothering the rest of the country. Nor do they need to. Here, a family can manage with Rs 500 for two weeks. For now, they are making do with the small change they have.

The village has no buses. People have to walk to Tatwanagi village, 2 km away, to catch a bus. There is no ATM either. The population of 1,000 consists mostly of farm labourers. Their meagre existence means the villagers are yet to feel the pinch of the prevailing cash crunch. But they have heard about it.

The villagers leave their homes by 8 am after packing their lunch and return only by evening. They earn about Rs 150 for a days work in the fields. The contractors are still paying them in old notes or asking them to defer their wages. Many have not been paid for a week now. Those who dont have any money are managing by buying groceries on credit from one of the two petty shops in the village. One of the shops is run by Jannat Nayak, a Siddi. She is one of the few graduates in the village. People like her are finding themselves in great demand.

Most of the villagers do not have bank accounts. We are unaware of the ways of banks and are dependent on some educated villagers, says Juben, a villager. Many of the elderly people keep their savings in the discontinued denominations. They have to now exchange their money. He said he found one elderly couple sitting at a bus stop in Tatwanagi village for more than half a day without catching any bus. When he asked them why, they reluctantly revealed that they were carrying Rs 3,000 with them and did not know where to go to exchange the old notes.

Mallesh, a tractor driver, says he has been helping people in his village to get their notes exchanged. Most of the people have money ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Banks in Haliyal are helping them with quick exchange, he says. Miladri Doddamani, a former panchayat member, says villagers have learnt to live within means. During the mango season we make lot of pickle which can be consumed with rice for many months. We also get mushrooms and tubers from the forest, he says.

HOW BHARAT COPES: By keeping it simple HALIYAL: Its harvest time in Hosur, a tiny village 10 km from Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. For most part of the day, the villagers are busy in the sugarcane and paddy fields. They have little time to worry about the cash crisis that is bothering the rest of the country. Nor do they need to. Here, a family can manage with Rs 500 for two weeks. For now, they are making do with the small change they have. The village has no buses. People have to walk to Tatwanagi village, 2 km away, to catch a bus. There is no ATM either. The population of 1,000 consists mostly of farm labourers. Their meagre existence means the villagers are yet to feel the pinch of the prevailing cash crunch. But they have heard about it. The villagers leave their homes by 8 am after packing their lunch and return only by evening. They earn about Rs 150 for a days work in the fields. The contractors are still paying them in old notes or asking them to defer their wages. Many have not been paid for a week now. Those who dont have any money are managing by buying groceries on credit from one of the two petty shops in the village. One of the shops is run by Jannat Nayak, a Siddi. She is one of the few graduates in the village. People like her are finding themselves in great demand. Most of the villagers do not have bank accounts. We are unaware of the ways of banks and are dependent on some educated villagers, says Juben, a villager. Many of the elderly people keep their savings in the discontinued denominations. They have to now exchange their money. He said he found one elderly couple sitting at a bus stop in Tatwanagi village for more than half a day without catching any bus. When he asked them why, they reluctantly revealed that they were carrying Rs 3,000 with them and did not know where to go to exchange the old notes. Mallesh, a tractor driver, says he has been helping people in his village to get their notes exchanged. Most of the people have money ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Banks in Haliyal are helping them with quick exchange, he says. Miladri Doddamani, a former panchayat member, says villagers have learnt to live within means. During the mango season we make lot of pickle which can be consumed with rice for many months. We also get mushrooms and tubers from the forest, he says.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic supports the early adoption of the European Unions decision on visa free regime for Ukraine and the decision on the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

"Croatia helps greatly in the process of a visa free travel for Ukrainian citizens. In my opinion, the decision on the level of the European Union should be taken as soon as possible," Plenkovic said at a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in Kyiv on Monday.

The prime minister of Croatia said Ukraine has fulfilled all the conditions set before it.

"I'm also going to help in every way so that, despite the decision of the Dutch referendum, the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU will come into force," the prime minister of Croatia said.
K Shiva Kumar By

Express News Service

BELAGAVI: The winter session at Survana Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, starting from today, to debate and discuss issues related to North Karnataka is likely to be stormy as minister Tanveer Saits sleazegate, Janardhana Reddys daughters big fat wedding, demonetisation of currency notes and RSS workers murders across the state are likely to hijack it.

The ruling party and the opposition are likely to debate an array of issues including the drought situation, farmer suicides, sugarcane issue, Mahadayi row and the controversial steel flyover that has been strongly opposed by several citizens groups of Bengaluru.

The MES workers observing black day on Kannada Rajostava, the demand to supersede Belagavi City Corporation, attack on Kannadigas in Goa may also come up in the House.

Though a probe into Saits alleged sleazegate is on, the BJP and JD(S) leaders are demanding the education ministers resignation. Opposition leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa and Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar have threatened to disrupt the House if Sait doesnt step down from ministry.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is now keen on expanding his partys base in North Karnataka and is likely to raise major issues of North Karnataka region including Mahadayi row, plight of sugarcane growers and also about the prevailing drought that has resulted in farmer suicides.

Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has visited the drought-affected districts, nothing concrete has been done to waive farm loans. No initiative has been taken to boost the morale of the farming community.

Also, the opposition is not happy with the governments decision of fixing `2,300 for per tonne sugar cane as they had pressed for `3,000 per tonne. The sugarcane growers have also planned to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to bring pressure on the government.

The BJP, that has strongly opposed Tipu jayanti celebrations, has given an indication that it will corner the government on RSS workers murders in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other places and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They will also put up a united show against the proposed steel flyover in Bengaluru.

However, if the opposition BJP raises the sleazegate issue, the government may take them on by citing Halappas case, then minister Renukacharyas issue and also about the three ministers who were caught watching porn in the Assembly.

The ruling Congress could also target BJP over Janardhana Reddys daughters big fat wedding, which is supposed to have cost around `250 crore, in the light of Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation of high-value currency to nail those with black money.

When contacted, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government wants to give time to debate problems related to North Karnataka region and will also move a few important Bills.

However, the government is fully prepared to take on the opposition parties, particularly BJP, which has planned to blow up a few issues for political gains, he said. The Congress may turn the tables on BJP for failure of the Mahadayi talks as the Goa Chief Minister, who is from BJP, has not given Karnataka time for talks to resolve the issue.

BELAGAVI: The winter session at Survana Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, starting from today, to debate and discuss issues related to North Karnataka is likely to be stormy as minister Tanveer Saits sleazegate, Janardhana Reddys daughters big fat wedding, demonetisation of currency notes and RSS workers murders across the state are likely to hijack it. The ruling party and the opposition are likely to debate an array of issues including the drought situation, farmer suicides, sugarcane issue, Mahadayi row and the controversial steel flyover that has been strongly opposed by several citizens groups of Bengaluru. The MES workers observing black day on Kannada Rajostava, the demand to supersede Belagavi City Corporation, attack on Kannadigas in Goa may also come up in the House. Though a probe into Saits alleged sleazegate is on, the BJP and JD(S) leaders are demanding the education ministers resignation. Opposition leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa and Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar have threatened to disrupt the House if Sait doesnt step down from ministry. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is now keen on expanding his partys base in North Karnataka and is likely to raise major issues of North Karnataka region including Mahadayi row, plight of sugarcane growers and also about the prevailing drought that has resulted in farmer suicides. Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has visited the drought-affected districts, nothing concrete has been done to waive farm loans. No initiative has been taken to boost the morale of the farming community. Also, the opposition is not happy with the governments decision of fixing `2,300 for per tonne sugar cane as they had pressed for `3,000 per tonne. The sugarcane growers have also planned to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to bring pressure on the government. The BJP, that has strongly opposed Tipu jayanti celebrations, has given an indication that it will corner the government on RSS workers murders in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other places and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They will also put up a united show against the proposed steel flyover in Bengaluru. However, if the opposition BJP raises the sleazegate issue, the government may take them on by citing Halappas case, then minister Renukacharyas issue and also about the three ministers who were caught watching porn in the Assembly. The ruling Congress could also target BJP over Janardhana Reddys daughters big fat wedding, which is supposed to have cost around `250 crore, in the light of Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation of high-value currency to nail those with black money. When contacted, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government wants to give time to debate problems related to North Karnataka region and will also move a few important Bills. However, the government is fully prepared to take on the opposition parties, particularly BJP, which has planned to blow up a few issues for political gains, he said. The Congress may turn the tables on BJP for failure of the Mahadayi talks as the Goa Chief Minister, who is from BJP, has not given Karnataka time for talks to resolve the issue.
By Express News Service

BELAGAVI: Maharashtras Kolhapur district Shiv Sena president Vijay Devane has warned the Karnataka government that Kannadigas in Maharashtra will face the heat, if Karnataka government continues its step-motherly act with pro-Maharashtrians living in Karnataka.

Devane was addressing the Maha Melava (convention) organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to protest against Karnataka government for conducting Legislative sessions in Belagavi. He claimed that he had taken the initiative to stop Karnataka buses in Maharashtra after Karnataka police allegedly assaulted Marathi youths and filed fake cases against them. If Karnataka continues with the same attitude, each and every hotel of Kannadiga in Maharashtra will be closed, he threatened.

Devane said: "We will break into every house of Kannadiga from Gadingalaj to Chandagad in Maharashtra and show Karnataka what we can do with Kannadigas there."

Former minister of Maharashtra N D Patil presided over the convention. MLAs including Sambhajirao Patil , Arvind Patil spoke at the convention which was attended by hundreds of pro- Maharashtrian's amidst extensive police bandobast.

BELAGAVI: Maharashtras Kolhapur district Shiv Sena president Vijay Devane has warned the Karnataka government that Kannadigas in Maharashtra will face the heat, if Karnataka government continues its step-motherly act with pro-Maharashtrians living in Karnataka. Devane was addressing the Maha Melava (convention) organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to protest against Karnataka government for conducting Legislative sessions in Belagavi. He claimed that he had taken the initiative to stop Karnataka buses in Maharashtra after Karnataka police allegedly assaulted Marathi youths and filed fake cases against them. If Karnataka continues with the same attitude, each and every hotel of Kannadiga in Maharashtra will be closed, he threatened. Devane said: "We will break into every house of Kannadiga from Gadingalaj to Chandagad in Maharashtra and show Karnataka what we can do with Kannadigas there." Former minister of Maharashtra N D Patil presided over the convention. MLAs including Sambhajirao Patil , Arvind Patil spoke at the convention which was attended by hundreds of pro- Maharashtrian's amidst extensive police bandobast.
Anilkumar T By

Express News Service

HOW BHARAT COPES: Falling back on the forest economy

KUTTAMPUZHA: More than 10 days after the government scrapped the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, ration shop dealer Natarajan of Kallelimedu, a remote forest area in Ernakulam district of Kerala, is still accepting the old notes from the Adivasis of Kunjippara, Variyam, Thalavachapra and Thera tribal colonies in Kuttampuzha panchayat.

Natarajan said this is part of his symbiotic relationship with the tribals. Most of these people have only old notes. To reach the bank at Kuttampuzha they have to shell out Rs 2,000 for the jeep trip. So I accept the old denominations," he says.

Most of the people here keep an account with Natarajan. If they don't have the money, I give them credit. They repay me whenever they get the money, he says.

Kallelimedu has two groceries, one tea shop and a ration shop and serves as the shopping centre for 265 tribal families in the area. Demonetization hasnt affected them at all. "Only if the crisis affects Kallelimedu do we need to worry.

We don't have big savings like city people. What we get from the forest is enough for us," said Alli, the Kaanikkaran (tribal leader), who came to know about demonetization from local jeep drivers on Nov. 9.

While the men in these tribal colonies earn their living as labourers, the women are engaged in MNREGS work and bamboo weaving. "We all have bank accounts. MNREGS credits our payment in the bank. We go to the bank once in two or three months to take out our money. We don't need large amounts to run the household here," said Anumol, a tribal woman.

But though demonetization hasnt impacted these families, the state government's policy of categorizing ration cards as Priority and Non-priority has. As part of the Priority and Non-priority system, the government has taken our ration cards.

So we cannot collect rice from the ration shops at the moment. We are now forced to buy rice for a higher price.

Though demonetization has not affected us, the state government's policy has hit us badly," said Kanji, an Adivasi woman and a member of the Kuttampuzha gram panchayat.

HOW BHARAT COPES: Falling back on the forest economy KUTTAMPUZHA: More than 10 days after the government scrapped the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, ration shop dealer Natarajan of Kallelimedu, a remote forest area in Ernakulam district of Kerala, is still accepting the old notes from the Adivasis of Kunjippara, Variyam, Thalavachapra and Thera tribal colonies in Kuttampuzha panchayat. Natarajan said this is part of his symbiotic relationship with the tribals. Most of these people have only old notes. To reach the bank at Kuttampuzha they have to shell out Rs 2,000 for the jeep trip. So I accept the old denominations," he says. Most of the people here keep an account with Natarajan. If they don't have the money, I give them credit. They repay me whenever they get the money, he says. Kallelimedu has two groceries, one tea shop and a ration shop and serves as the shopping centre for 265 tribal families in the area. Demonetization hasnt affected them at all. "Only if the crisis affects Kallelimedu do we need to worry. We don't have big savings like city people. What we get from the forest is enough for us," said Alli, the Kaanikkaran (tribal leader), who came to know about demonetization from local jeep drivers on Nov. 9. While the men in these tribal colonies earn their living as labourers, the women are engaged in MNREGS work and bamboo weaving. "We all have bank accounts. MNREGS credits our payment in the bank. We go to the bank once in two or three months to take out our money. We don't need large amounts to run the household here," said Anumol, a tribal woman. But though demonetization hasnt impacted these families, the state government's policy of categorizing ration cards as Priority and Non-priority has. As part of the Priority and Non-priority system, the government has taken our ration cards. So we cannot collect rice from the ration shops at the moment. We are now forced to buy rice for a higher price. Though demonetization has not affected us, the state government's policy has hit us badly," said Kanji, an Adivasi woman and a member of the Kuttampuzha gram panchayat.
Anil S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to hand over the states power portfolio to CPM state secretariat member M M Mani, while surprising, was not wholly unexpected, given Manis seniority in the party.

In fact, his cabinet rank may be seen as Manis reward for his steadfast loyalty to the partys top brass. However, his past track record, which many may term controversial, and his acerbic tongue could impact the LDF.

One of the longest-serving CPM district secretaries, Mani helmed the party in Idukki eight times and was always loyal, be it to the V S Achuthanandan-faction earlier or to Pinarayi Vijayan at present. It was the Munnar eviction drive that saw him switch his loyalties to Vijayan. He also sported a regional tag until the T P Chandrasekharan murder, which, as a senior CPM leader put it, pushed Mani into the limelight.

He was among the very few leaders entrusted by the CPM to defend the party, something, which he did with panache by visiting umpteen places, including Vadakara, the leader added.

But, the axe fell on him when he made his shocking and infamous 1...2...3... We finished each of them in the backdrop of the Ancherry Baby murder in 2012. The words invited flak and, under tremendous pressure, the party was forced to initiate token action against Mani, stripping him of his post. But, he was elevated to the state secretariat last year.

Be it his inclusion in the state secretariat in 2015 or his present cabinet entry, Mani is very fortunate. Pinarayi has picked people loyal to him, said a CPM leader from Idukki.However, at a time when the CPM harps on RSS political violence to get mileage, the party will find it difficult to explain Manis induction into the cabinet, felt the leader.

With MM Manis track record in Idukki, the decision to elevate him may not go down well with CPMs allies.

Manis induction can widen the ideological rift between CPMs Left allies, mostly pertaining to policy issues. Only time will tell whether it would give way to further rumblings within the Left front, opined Left thinker Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to hand over the states power portfolio to CPM state secretariat member M M Mani, while surprising, was not wholly unexpected, given Manis seniority in the party. In fact, his cabinet rank may be seen as Manis reward for his steadfast loyalty to the partys top brass. However, his past track record, which many may term controversial, and his acerbic tongue could impact the LDF. One of the longest-serving CPM district secretaries, Mani helmed the party in Idukki eight times and was always loyal, be it to the V S Achuthanandan-faction earlier or to Pinarayi Vijayan at present. It was the Munnar eviction drive that saw him switch his loyalties to Vijayan. He also sported a regional tag until the T P Chandrasekharan murder, which, as a senior CPM leader put it, pushed Mani into the limelight. He was among the very few leaders entrusted by the CPM to defend the party, something, which he did with panache by visiting umpteen places, including Vadakara, the leader added. But, the axe fell on him when he made his shocking and infamous 1...2...3... We finished each of them in the backdrop of the Ancherry Baby murder in 2012. The words invited flak and, under tremendous pressure, the party was forced to initiate token action against Mani, stripping him of his post. But, he was elevated to the state secretariat last year. Be it his inclusion in the state secretariat in 2015 or his present cabinet entry, Mani is very fortunate. Pinarayi has picked people loyal to him, said a CPM leader from Idukki.However, at a time when the CPM harps on RSS political violence to get mileage, the party will find it difficult to explain Manis induction into the cabinet, felt the leader. With MM Manis track record in Idukki, the decision to elevate him may not go down well with CPMs allies. Manis induction can widen the ideological rift between CPMs Left allies, mostly pertaining to policy issues. Only time will tell whether it would give way to further rumblings within the Left front, opined Left thinker Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu.
By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in its interim order has banned two soft drinks majors, Pepsi and Coca Cola, from drawing water from the Thamirabarani River for the purpose of producing commercial products like soft drinks or packaged drinking water.

In his public interest litigation (PIL), D A Prabakar of Tirunelveli said the Thamirabarani River, originating from the western ghats and flowing through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, supported the drinking water projects and irrigation schemes of the two districts.

Apart from implementing about 20 integrated drinking water projects, for which 12.5 crore litres of water was being tapped every day in Tirunelveli district, the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage TWAD) Board has been managing various other drinking water schemes for Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts. About 10 crore litres of water was taken daily for drinking, in only Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram.

Against this background, about 5 crore litres of water was taken from the river for industrial purposes in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

More than 27 industrial establishments have been functioning at SIPCOT in Gangaikondan near Tirunelveli while in the SIPCOT complex in Thoothukudi, 73 industries are being run. As many as 1,84,0871 litres and 15,89,769 liters of water are being supplied to the industries in the respective SIPCOT complexes, said the petitioner.

Prathishta Business Solution, co-packer of Pepsi Cola Company and South India Bottling company, the co-packer of Coca Cola Company, are being operated on about 30 acres each in Gangaikondan SIPCOT.

They were given contract for a period of 99 years. The state government has agreed to supply 9 lakh litres and 15 lakh litres of water daily to those two companies respectively.

It is given at the rate of `37.50 per 1000 litres, said the petitioner, adding that it is sorry state of affair that the same multinational companies were allowed to sell their soft drinks and drinking water at enormous rates.

Moreover, Gangaikondan was declared as spotted deer national sanctuary. There was an exclusive park for the animal. These two companies were located within 4 km radius of the spotted deer park and if they were supplied huge amounts of water from the Thamirbarani, it may affect the deer population too.

So the court should restrain the SIPCOT from supplying water to the companies, he prayed.

When the petition was heard on Monday, a division bench of Justices S Nagamuthu and M V Muralidaran has banned the two soft drinks firms from drawing water from the river for producing soft drinks or any beverages or packaged drinking water, saying that it is important to protect the interests of farmers and common man.

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in its interim order has banned two soft drinks majors, Pepsi and Coca Cola, from drawing water from the Thamirabarani River for the purpose of producing commercial products like soft drinks or packaged drinking water. In his public interest litigation (PIL), D A Prabakar of Tirunelveli said the Thamirabarani River, originating from the western ghats and flowing through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, supported the drinking water projects and irrigation schemes of the two districts. Apart from implementing about 20 integrated drinking water projects, for which 12.5 crore litres of water was being tapped every day in Tirunelveli district, the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage TWAD) Board has been managing various other drinking water schemes for Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts. About 10 crore litres of water was taken daily for drinking, in only Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram. Against this background, about 5 crore litres of water was taken from the river for industrial purposes in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. More than 27 industrial establishments have been functioning at SIPCOT in Gangaikondan near Tirunelveli while in the SIPCOT complex in Thoothukudi, 73 industries are being run. As many as 1,84,0871 litres and 15,89,769 liters of water are being supplied to the industries in the respective SIPCOT complexes, said the petitioner. Prathishta Business Solution, co-packer of Pepsi Cola Company and South India Bottling company, the co-packer of Coca Cola Company, are being operated on about 30 acres each in Gangaikondan SIPCOT. They were given contract for a period of 99 years. The state government has agreed to supply 9 lakh litres and 15 lakh litres of water daily to those two companies respectively. It is given at the rate of `37.50 per 1000 litres, said the petitioner, adding that it is sorry state of affair that the same multinational companies were allowed to sell their soft drinks and drinking water at enormous rates. Moreover, Gangaikondan was declared as spotted deer national sanctuary. There was an exclusive park for the animal. These two companies were located within 4 km radius of the spotted deer park and if they were supplied huge amounts of water from the Thamirbarani, it may affect the deer population too. So the court should restrain the SIPCOT from supplying water to the companies, he prayed. When the petition was heard on Monday, a division bench of Justices S Nagamuthu and M V Muralidaran has banned the two soft drinks firms from drawing water from the river for producing soft drinks or any beverages or packaged drinking water, saying that it is important to protect the interests of farmers and common man.
P K Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: India will not tolerate a military takeover in Sri Lanka and will fully support President Maithripala Sirisena to foil any attempts at it, the Minister of Social Services, S.B.Dissanayake, told the media here.

He was reacting to an assertion by the Joint Opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardena in parliament last week that there could a military coup if the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government continued to suppress the opposition and democratic movements both within and outside parliament.

Gunawardena had mentioned a police baton charge on a demonstration by retired disabled soldiers in Colombo recently.

Dissanayake said that President Sirisena enjoys good relations with India and could trust Indian support to foil any military coup attempt in Sri Lanka.

India will send two ships [to support Sri Lankan government], he told Neth FM radio.

Dissanayake also pointed out that Sri Lankas military has always been loyal to the government of the day.

However, in 1962, some top-level rightist army, navy and police officers, both from the regular and volunteer forces, had tried to stage a coup against the government of the leftist Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The attempt failed because one of the conspirators, a police officer, informed the government at the last moment.

The conspirators were tried, and varying punishments were given. Navy chief Adm.Royce de Mel was sacked.

COLOMBO: India will not tolerate a military takeover in Sri Lanka and will fully support President Maithripala Sirisena to foil any attempts at it, the Minister of Social Services, S.B.Dissanayake, told the media here. He was reacting to an assertion by the Joint Opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardena in parliament last week that there could a military coup if the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government continued to suppress the opposition and democratic movements both within and outside parliament. Gunawardena had mentioned a police baton charge on a demonstration by retired disabled soldiers in Colombo recently. Dissanayake said that President Sirisena enjoys good relations with India and could trust Indian support to foil any military coup attempt in Sri Lanka. India will send two ships [to support Sri Lankan government], he told Neth FM radio. Dissanayake also pointed out that Sri Lankas military has always been loyal to the government of the day. However, in 1962, some top-level rightist army, navy and police officers, both from the regular and volunteer forces, had tried to stage a coup against the government of the leftist Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The attempt failed because one of the conspirators, a police officer, informed the government at the last moment. The conspirators were tried, and varying punishments were given. Navy chief Adm.Royce de Mel was sacked.
By Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR: The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane.

Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Voice 370, a family association, says the debris collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast, but there has been no systematic, organized search by investigators.

It said Monday that next-of-kin believe the search will provide find answers and closure. An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon.

KUALA LUMPUR: The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane. Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. Voice 370, a family association, says the debris collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast, but there has been no systematic, organized search by investigators. It said Monday that next-of-kin believe the search will provide find answers and closure. An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon.
By AFP

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she would seek a fourth term in elections next year to defend democratic principles in the face of looming threats at home and abroad.

Predicting her toughest campaign to date, Merkel said the forces of populism as well as the uncertainty created by poll triumphs for Brexit and Donald Trump meant she had a "duty to serve my country".

"We are facing struggles in Europe and internationally for our values and our interests and, simply put, for our way of life," Merkel, 62, told reporters at the headquarters of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"This election will be more difficult than any before it, at least not since national reunification" in 1990, she added, citing a strong "polarisation of our society".

Merkel, the EU's longest serving leader, said she had "endlessly" weighed her choice and knew that in "distinctly difficult, even insecure times", many leaders were looking to her as a source of stability.

"I am indeed honoured but I also find it grotesque and even absurd" that some commentators have suggested she should be considered the new "leader of the free world", she said.

Speaking to German television channel ARD, she vowed to seek a "strong Europe" after Britain voted to leave the bloc.

Merkel ended months of feverish speculation earlier by telling CDU leaders that she would stand again, a decision they welcomed with "thunderous applause", party sources told AFP.

She has governed Europe's top economic power, which does not have term limits, since 2005.

Another full four-year mandate, which pollsters say she is likely to win, would tie the post-war record set by her mentor Helmut Kohl, who presided over the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

Merkel is the first woman, the youngest person and the only candidate who grew up in communist East Germany to lead the reunited country.

A pastor's daughter and trained physicist, Merkel is popular among Germans who see her as a straight-shooter and a safe pair of hands in a crisis.

However her decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers over the last two years dented her support.

It also revived the fortunes of the rightwing populist Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which has harnessed widespread anxiety about migration.

Nevertheless, observers said the recent seismic shifts in global politics were likely to drive traditionally risk-averse German voters back into her arms.

"Merkel is the answer to the populism of our time," said Saxony state premier Stanislaw Tillich of the CDU, welcoming her candidacy.

"She is basically the anti-Trump," he told the newspaper group Redaktionsnetzwerk.

More than half of the electorate -- 55 percent -- want Merkel to stay in office, up from 42 percent in August, a poll for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed.

While the globe braces for potentially radical changes in US leadership under Trump, Britain is wrestling with the fallout from the Brexit vote, and France is facing a presidential poll in May that could see far-right candidate Marine Le Pen snatch victory.

Underlining her relative strength, Merkel gathered outgoing US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Italy at her chancellery Friday for talks on the fight against terrorism, climate change and the strategic threat posed by Russia.

Obama praised Merkel as an "outstanding partner", adding that if "I were German and I had a vote, I might support her."

Misgivings about Merkel's refugee policy were blamed for a string of CDU state election defeats, and sparked an open revolt by its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, which demanded a strict upper limit on incoming asylum seekers.

A survey Sunday showed that 33 percent of German voters backed Merkel's conservatives, down nine points from the last national election in 2013.

The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Merkel's "grand" coalition, were a distant second with 24 percent.

The AfD and the opposition Greens were neck-and-neck with 13 percent and 12 percent respectively, according to independent opinion research institute Emnid.

It is still unclear who will carry the SPD's banner into the race, with party leader Sigmar Gabriel potentially facing a challenge from European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

News website Spiegel Online said the CDU would have to "motivate and mobilise" supporters who might be suffering from "Merkel fatigue".

"Even though there is no Trump in sight in Germany, the US showed that the unimaginable can become real," it said.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she would seek a fourth term in elections next year to defend democratic principles in the face of looming threats at home and abroad. Predicting her toughest campaign to date, Merkel said the forces of populism as well as the uncertainty created by poll triumphs for Brexit and Donald Trump meant she had a "duty to serve my country". "We are facing struggles in Europe and internationally for our values and our interests and, simply put, for our way of life," Merkel, 62, told reporters at the headquarters of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. "This election will be more difficult than any before it, at least not since national reunification" in 1990, she added, citing a strong "polarisation of our society". Merkel, the EU's longest serving leader, said she had "endlessly" weighed her choice and knew that in "distinctly difficult, even insecure times", many leaders were looking to her as a source of stability. "I am indeed honoured but I also find it grotesque and even absurd" that some commentators have suggested she should be considered the new "leader of the free world", she said. Speaking to German television channel ARD, she vowed to seek a "strong Europe" after Britain voted to leave the bloc. Merkel ended months of feverish speculation earlier by telling CDU leaders that she would stand again, a decision they welcomed with "thunderous applause", party sources told AFP. She has governed Europe's top economic power, which does not have term limits, since 2005. Another full four-year mandate, which pollsters say she is likely to win, would tie the post-war record set by her mentor Helmut Kohl, who presided over the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Merkel is the first woman, the youngest person and the only candidate who grew up in communist East Germany to lead the reunited country. A pastor's daughter and trained physicist, Merkel is popular among Germans who see her as a straight-shooter and a safe pair of hands in a crisis. However her decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers over the last two years dented her support. It also revived the fortunes of the rightwing populist Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which has harnessed widespread anxiety about migration. Nevertheless, observers said the recent seismic shifts in global politics were likely to drive traditionally risk-averse German voters back into her arms. "Merkel is the answer to the populism of our time," said Saxony state premier Stanislaw Tillich of the CDU, welcoming her candidacy. "She is basically the anti-Trump," he told the newspaper group Redaktionsnetzwerk. More than half of the electorate -- 55 percent -- want Merkel to stay in office, up from 42 percent in August, a poll for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed. While the globe braces for potentially radical changes in US leadership under Trump, Britain is wrestling with the fallout from the Brexit vote, and France is facing a presidential poll in May that could see far-right candidate Marine Le Pen snatch victory. Underlining her relative strength, Merkel gathered outgoing US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Italy at her chancellery Friday for talks on the fight against terrorism, climate change and the strategic threat posed by Russia. Obama praised Merkel as an "outstanding partner", adding that if "I were German and I had a vote, I might support her." Misgivings about Merkel's refugee policy were blamed for a string of CDU state election defeats, and sparked an open revolt by its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, which demanded a strict upper limit on incoming asylum seekers. A survey Sunday showed that 33 percent of German voters backed Merkel's conservatives, down nine points from the last national election in 2013. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in Merkel's "grand" coalition, were a distant second with 24 percent. The AfD and the opposition Greens were neck-and-neck with 13 percent and 12 percent respectively, according to independent opinion research institute Emnid. It is still unclear who will carry the SPD's banner into the race, with party leader Sigmar Gabriel potentially facing a challenge from European Parliament President Martin Schulz. News website Spiegel Online said the CDU would have to "motivate and mobilise" supporters who might be suffering from "Merkel fatigue". "Even though there is no Trump in sight in Germany, the US showed that the unimaginable can become real," it said.
By AFP

UNITED NATIONS: Nearly one million people are living under siege in Syria, the UN aid chief said Monday, announcing revised figures.

The new figure of 974,080 people marks a dramatic increase from 486,700 Syrians living in besieged areas just six months ago, Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council.

"Nearly one million Syrians are living tonight under siege," O'Brien said.

"Civilians are being isolated, starved, bombed, denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee."

Some of the areas added to the UN's siege list are located in the Eastern Ghouta region of rural Damascus.

Condemning this "deliberate tactic of cruelty," O'Brien said the sieges were mostly perpetrated by Syrian government forces against civilians.

O'Brien, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, renewed his call for an end to besiegement.

The council was meeting to discuss the crisis in Syria as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded rebel-held parts of northern Syria including Aleppo, where food rations were running out.

"The situation is horrific, catastrophic," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre who accused the Damascus government of waging a "total-war strategy to take back Aleppo, no matter the price."

Delattre said the strategy would fail, pushing more Syrians to join the Islamic State group and fueling the terrorism that the Damascus government maintains it is combating.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the Russian-backed Syrian bombing of Aleppo was "barbaric" and called on Moscow and Damascus to stop.

UNITED NATIONS: Nearly one million people are living under siege in Syria, the UN aid chief said Monday, announcing revised figures. The new figure of 974,080 people marks a dramatic increase from 486,700 Syrians living in besieged areas just six months ago, Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council. "Nearly one million Syrians are living tonight under siege," O'Brien said. "Civilians are being isolated, starved, bombed, denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee." Some of the areas added to the UN's siege list are located in the Eastern Ghouta region of rural Damascus. Condemning this "deliberate tactic of cruelty," O'Brien said the sieges were mostly perpetrated by Syrian government forces against civilians. O'Brien, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, renewed his call for an end to besiegement. The council was meeting to discuss the crisis in Syria as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded rebel-held parts of northern Syria including Aleppo, where food rations were running out. "The situation is horrific, catastrophic," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre who accused the Damascus government of waging a "total-war strategy to take back Aleppo, no matter the price." Delattre said the strategy would fail, pushing more Syrians to join the Islamic State group and fueling the terrorism that the Damascus government maintains it is combating. British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the Russian-backed Syrian bombing of Aleppo was "barbaric" and called on Moscow and Damascus to stop.
By Associated Press

LIMA: President Barack Obama said Sunday he doesn't intend to become his successor's constant critic  but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain "values or ideals."

Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Obama suggested once he was out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern. He heaped praise on former President George W. Bush, saying he "could not have been more gracious to me when I came in" and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda "without somebody popping off" at every turn.

But Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence.

"As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes," Obama told reporters.

Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own. Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president who holds antithetical views on issue after issue.

The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally, repealing "Obamacare," and canceling the Paris climate deal, to name a few. Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Trump and are hoping vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Trump from implementing them.

Though Obama didn't specify what might trigger him to break silence, he left himself a broad window of possibilities. His comments suggested he'd be most inclined to weigh in if Trump violated basic principles Obama has tried to uphold, such as minority rights, equal protection and respect for civilian life. Obama has long warned that Trump might impulsively use nuclear weapons, and has cast a dim view on ideas like a Muslim registry, which Trump's incoming chief of staff declined on Sunday to rule out.

Yet Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging his replacement.

"My intention is to, certainly for the next 2 months, just finish my job," Obama said. "And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking."

Bush, like many ex-presidents, strictly avoided opining on politics during Obama's eight years. Former President Bill Clinton, after leaving office, focused his attention on global humanitarian issues, especially as his wife entered politics. Former President Jimmy Carter was more vocal in his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel.

Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years. Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Obama said they should not.

"You give them a hearing," said Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered. Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games," Obama said.

He declined to weigh in explicitly on whether House Democrats should stick with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader, arguing it was improper to meddle in the vote. But he said of the California Democrat, who faces a challenge for the leadership post: "I cannot speak highly enough of Nancy Pelosi."

Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. For Obama, it was the last time he'd take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press.

On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis, though Obama said the U.S. accusation that Moscow tried to influence the U.S. election didn't come up. The four-minute conversation, likely their last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory approach to Russia

Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had a difficult working relationship but "always respected each other's positions  and each other." He said he'd thanked Obama and told him he'd be welcome in Russia "at any time."

Questions about Trump trailed Obama throughout his final overseas trip, as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Trump's stances on trade, foreign policy and the NATO alliance. Obama sought to reassure the leaders of Australia, Canada and other U.S. allies their longstanding ties with America wouldn't falter under Trump.

LIMA: President Barack Obama said Sunday he doesn't intend to become his successor's constant critic  but reserved the right to speak out if President-elect Donald Trump or his policies breach certain "values or ideals." Offering a rare glimpse into his thoughts on his post-presidency, Obama suggested once he was out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern. He heaped praise on former President George W. Bush, saying he "could not have been more gracious to me when I came in" and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda "without somebody popping off" at every turn. But Obama suggested there may be limits to his silence. "As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, I'll examine it when it comes," Obama told reporters. Obama, who has consistently praised Bush for the way he's handled his ex-presidency, faces a conundrum about how to handle his own. Though he's vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power, Obama is keenly aware he's being replaced by a new president who holds antithetical views on issue after issue. The president spoke out vigorously throughout the campaign against Trump's calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally, repealing "Obamacare," and canceling the Paris climate deal, to name a few. Those policy proposals and others like them have stoked fear for many Americans who oppose Trump and are hoping vehement opposition from Obama and other Democrats might prevent Trump from implementing them. Though Obama didn't specify what might trigger him to break silence, he left himself a broad window of possibilities. His comments suggested he'd be most inclined to weigh in if Trump violated basic principles Obama has tried to uphold, such as minority rights, equal protection and respect for civilian life. Obama has long warned that Trump might impulsively use nuclear weapons, and has cast a dim view on ideas like a Muslim registry, which Trump's incoming chief of staff declined on Sunday to rule out. Yet Obama suggested that while he might not always hold his tongue, his goal wasn't to spend his time publicly disparaging his replacement. "My intention is to, certainly for the next 2 months, just finish my job," Obama said. "And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking." Bush, like many ex-presidents, strictly avoided opining on politics during Obama's eight years. Former President Bill Clinton, after leaving office, focused his attention on global humanitarian issues, especially as his wife entered politics. Former President Jimmy Carter was more vocal in his views in his post-White House years, occasionally stirring up controversy with comments critical of Israel. Obama's remarks at a news conference in Lima offered some of his most specific indications to date of how he feels Democrats and Trump opponents should handle the next four years. Asked whether Democrats in the Senate should follow Republicans' example of refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee, Obama said they should not. "You give them a hearing," said Obama, whose own Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, has lingered for more than half a year due to the GOP's insistence that no Obama nominee be considered. Obama said he certainly didn't want Democrats to adopt that tactic spearheaded this year by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "That's not why the American people send us to Washington, to play those games," Obama said. He declined to weigh in explicitly on whether House Democrats should stick with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader, arguing it was improper to meddle in the vote. But he said of the California Democrat, who faces a challenge for the leadership post: "I cannot speak highly enough of Nancy Pelosi." Obama's remarks came as he concluded his final world tour as president. For Obama, it was the last time he'd take questions on foreign soil, a staple of his overseas trips that his administration has seen as an important symbol of America's commitment to a rigorous free press. On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis, though Obama said the U.S. accusation that Moscow tried to influence the U.S. election didn't come up. The four-minute conversation, likely their last face-to-face interaction, came amid intense speculation about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory approach to Russia Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had a difficult working relationship but "always respected each other's positions  and each other." He said he'd thanked Obama and told him he'd be welcome in Russia "at any time." Questions about Trump trailed Obama throughout his final overseas trip, as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Trump's stances on trade, foreign policy and the NATO alliance. Obama sought to reassure the leaders of Australia, Canada and other U.S. allies their longstanding ties with America wouldn't falter under Trump.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said once again on Monday that the Alliance will not stop supporting Ukraine.

"NATO offers the strong political and practical support to Ukraine," he said, speaking at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in Istanbul.

"We will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, and we continue supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the secretary general said.

"We provide political support for Ukraine, in regard to the Minsk process, and the only way for a peaceful and lasting settlement is a full implementation of the Minsk Agreements," Stoltenberg said.

NATO secretary general once again called on Russia "to stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine."

Stoltenberg said that NATO "is constantly looking to see what else can be done for Ukraine."
By IANS

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa has proposed a national minimum wage of 3,500 rands ($250) per month as the national minimum wage, officials said.



On Sunday, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said a government advisory panel was mandated to advise on an appropriate national minimum wage, Xinhua news agency reported.



"The panel is proposing that the national minimum wage in South Africa, which will have national coverage with the few exceptions that they will deal with, should start off at 3,500 rands ($250) per month which amounts to 20 rands ($1) per hour," he told reporters.



The panel also discussed how to deal with labour instability, the deputy president said, calling on South Africans to contribute to the debate about the proposed figure.



Imraan Valodia, professor of the University of Witwatersrand and chair of the advisory panel, believed that the proposed minimum wage would address inequality and boost economic growth.



"It is quite striking that around 47 per cent of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below 3,500 rands. We think as well from this evidence, that this policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," he said.



Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa, said, "We look forward (to it) and when we receive the report we will go back to our members so we can brief them on the developments and to get a mandate from them, so that we can try to introduce a minimum wage in South Africa as an important instrument to deal with inequality."

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa has proposed a national minimum wage of 3,500 rands ($250) per month as the national minimum wage, officials said. On Sunday, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said a government advisory panel was mandated to advise on an appropriate national minimum wage, Xinhua news agency reported. "The panel is proposing that the national minimum wage in South Africa, which will have national coverage with the few exceptions that they will deal with, should start off at 3,500 rands ($250) per month which amounts to 20 rands ($1) per hour," he told reporters. The panel also discussed how to deal with labour instability, the deputy president said, calling on South Africans to contribute to the debate about the proposed figure. Imraan Valodia, professor of the University of Witwatersrand and chair of the advisory panel, believed that the proposed minimum wage would address inequality and boost economic growth. "It is quite striking that around 47 per cent of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below 3,500 rands. We think as well from this evidence, that this policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," he said. Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa, said, "We look forward (to it) and when we receive the report we will go back to our members so we can brief them on the developments and to get a mandate from them, so that we can try to introduce a minimum wage in South Africa as an important instrument to deal with inequality."
PK Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Fundamental Rights has recommended that within three months of the enactment of the new constitution, the President should appoint a five member commission to go into the constitutional validity of the existing written and unwritten laws (including personal laws) and submit a report to him within a year.

The President shall table the report in the parliament at the earliest thereafter, the panel said.

The sub-committee recommended that the proposed commission should have representatives from various communities and people who have distinguished themselves in the field of human rights.

Until a decision is taken to amend any of the existing written or unwritten laws or personal laws, the existing laws will remain.

This recommendation helps postpone the task of amending the controversial Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951.

While many Muslim womens groups have been seeking an amendment of the MMDA to ensure Muslim womens rights as guaranteed by the countrys constitution, Muslim men, Muslim political parties and the Ulemas have been opposing any amendments under external pressure or duress.

They maintain that some of the amendments sought could go against the Madhabs (religious orders) practiced by Sri Lankan Muslims and would therefore have to have the explicit sanction of the Ulemas.

Issues on which Muslim womens groups are agitating are: the age of marriage of girls; the girls consent to marriage; and the gender-bias in the Quazi court system.

The agitators say that the MMDAs silence on the age of marriage results in girls of 14 or 15 being married off. Technically, even a 12-year-old could be married off, though such cases are rare. At any rate, a good number of marriages take place before the bride reaches 18 which is the statutory threshold for adulthood in Sri Lanka. As regards the Quazi courts, the grievance is that they are all-male and therefore biased against females.

These issues had been taken up from time to time in the past, but always inconclusively. The last attempt was made in 2009 when the Rajapaksa government set up the Justice Saleem Marsoof commission. But that panel is yet to submit its report obviously because of the sensitivity of the issues involved.

However, the Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Fundamental Rights has recommended provisions to ensure that women enjoy rights equal to men in all spheres including the family. It has also said that no girl should be married off without her consent.

But even as regards these recommendations the Sri Lanka Muslim Congresss representative, MHM.Salman, had sought clarifications on how they will affect Muslim Personal Law.

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Fundamental Rights has recommended that within three months of the enactment of the new constitution, the President should appoint a five member commission to go into the constitutional validity of the existing written and unwritten laws (including personal laws) and submit a report to him within a year. The President shall table the report in the parliament at the earliest thereafter, the panel said. The sub-committee recommended that the proposed commission should have representatives from various communities and people who have distinguished themselves in the field of human rights. Until a decision is taken to amend any of the existing written or unwritten laws or personal laws, the existing laws will remain. This recommendation helps postpone the task of amending the controversial Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951. While many Muslim womens groups have been seeking an amendment of the MMDA to ensure Muslim womens rights as guaranteed by the countrys constitution, Muslim men, Muslim political parties and the Ulemas have been opposing any amendments under external pressure or duress. They maintain that some of the amendments sought could go against the Madhabs (religious orders) practiced by Sri Lankan Muslims and would therefore have to have the explicit sanction of the Ulemas. Issues on which Muslim womens groups are agitating are: the age of marriage of girls; the girls consent to marriage; and the gender-bias in the Quazi court system. The agitators say that the MMDAs silence on the age of marriage results in girls of 14 or 15 being married off. Technically, even a 12-year-old could be married off, though such cases are rare. At any rate, a good number of marriages take place before the bride reaches 18 which is the statutory threshold for adulthood in Sri Lanka. As regards the Quazi courts, the grievance is that they are all-male and therefore biased against females. These issues had been taken up from time to time in the past, but always inconclusively. The last attempt was made in 2009 when the Rajapaksa government set up the Justice Saleem Marsoof commission. But that panel is yet to submit its report obviously because of the sensitivity of the issues involved. However, the Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Fundamental Rights has recommended provisions to ensure that women enjoy rights equal to men in all spheres including the family. It has also said that no girl should be married off without her consent. But even as regards these recommendations the Sri Lanka Muslim Congresss representative, MHM.Salman, had sought clarifications on how they will affect Muslim Personal Law.
By IANS

ANKARA: Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation.

Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack, Xinhua quoted Anadolu Agency as saying.

Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day.

The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey's border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources.

On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.



ANKARA: Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation. Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack, Xinhua quoted Anadolu Agency as saying. Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day. The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located. The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey's border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources. On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.
By AFP

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis declared Monday that all priests would have the right permanently to forgive abortion, seen as a significant outreach by the Catholic Church to women.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter marking the end of the "Year of Mercy", which wound up Sunday.

"The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended," he wrote, making permanent a temporary measure put in place for the Vatican's jubilee year.

The 79-year-old Argentine pontiff said he had to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life".

On Sunday, as he brought the jubilee to an end by closing the bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peter's Square, Francis gave an interview in which he called abortion "a horrendous crime".

But he said Monday that the end of the special year did not mean the end of mercy itself, and so-called sinners must be given a chance to repent. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a sin.

"I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," Francis said in the letter.

"May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation."

The forgiveness stretches not only to women who have abortions but also to those who carry them out or are involved in any way.

'A powerful gesture'

The watchword of mercy has meant helping the unfortunate, and welcoming outcasts back into the fold.

Francis hopes greater compassion from a more open-minded Church will not only counter xenophobia but also draw more people to the pews.

"The concession on abortion has had little practical effect in places such as the United States, where many bishops had already delegated permission to priests to forgive the sin," wrote Vatican expert John Allen on the Catholic Cruxnow.com website.

"But symbolically it's been interpreted as a major gesture of outreach to women," he said.

Church leaders in Brazil, which has the worlds biggest Roman Catholic population, welcomed the development.

"With this initiative, Pope Francis recalls the seriousness of abortion and the extraordinary strength of divine mercy to cure all human wounds," said Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, secretary general of the national conference of bishops.

The pope's order amounts to a "powerful and significant gesture," he said in a statement.

'Handcrafted' mercy

The letter, entitled Misericordia et Misera ("Mercy and Misery"), was signed by Francis at the end of a mass closing the jubilee.

Critics have said his emphasis on mercy reduces the gravity of perceived sins, but the pope said rigidly sticking to "the level of the law is equivalent to thwarting faith and divine mercy".

He also stressed that priests had to help members of their flock on a case by case basis, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach to "sinners", saying: "The works of mercy are 'handcrafted', in the sense that none of them is alike".

Francis has been challenged by traditionalists over his "flexible" attitude to Church teachings, particularly regarding the hot-button issue of whether divorced and remarried couples should be able to receive communion.

The pontiff, who has repeatedly called for "a poor Church for the poor", also said in the letter that he wants the Church to celebrate a World Day of the Poor in November each year.

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis declared Monday that all priests would have the right permanently to forgive abortion, seen as a significant outreach by the Catholic Church to women. "I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter marking the end of the "Year of Mercy", which wound up Sunday. "The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended," he wrote, making permanent a temporary measure put in place for the Vatican's jubilee year. The 79-year-old Argentine pontiff said he had to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life". On Sunday, as he brought the jubilee to an end by closing the bronze-panelled Holy Door in Saint Peter's Square, Francis gave an interview in which he called abortion "a horrendous crime". But he said Monday that the end of the special year did not mean the end of mercy itself, and so-called sinners must be given a chance to repent. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a sin. "I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," Francis said in the letter. "May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation." The forgiveness stretches not only to women who have abortions but also to those who carry them out or are involved in any way. 'A powerful gesture' The watchword of mercy has meant helping the unfortunate, and welcoming outcasts back into the fold. Francis hopes greater compassion from a more open-minded Church will not only counter xenophobia but also draw more people to the pews. "The concession on abortion has had little practical effect in places such as the United States, where many bishops had already delegated permission to priests to forgive the sin," wrote Vatican expert John Allen on the Catholic Cruxnow.com website. "But symbolically it's been interpreted as a major gesture of outreach to women," he said. Church leaders in Brazil, which has the worlds biggest Roman Catholic population, welcomed the development. "With this initiative, Pope Francis recalls the seriousness of abortion and the extraordinary strength of divine mercy to cure all human wounds," said Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, secretary general of the national conference of bishops. The pope's order amounts to a "powerful and significant gesture," he said in a statement. 'Handcrafted' mercy The letter, entitled Misericordia et Misera ("Mercy and Misery"), was signed by Francis at the end of a mass closing the jubilee. Critics have said his emphasis on mercy reduces the gravity of perceived sins, but the pope said rigidly sticking to "the level of the law is equivalent to thwarting faith and divine mercy". He also stressed that priests had to help members of their flock on a case by case basis, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach to "sinners", saying: "The works of mercy are 'handcrafted', in the sense that none of them is alike". Francis has been challenged by traditionalists over his "flexible" attitude to Church teachings, particularly regarding the hot-button issue of whether divorced and remarried couples should be able to receive communion. The pontiff, who has repeatedly called for "a poor Church for the poor", also said in the letter that he wants the Church to celebrate a World Day of the Poor in November each year.
PK Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Center-Provincial relations has recommended that the provinces be granted powers over land and police; that the powers of the provincial Governor be drastically pruned, and that there be a fair allocation of financial resources to the provinces along with powers to decide how to spend the money.

As a matter of fact, the 13 th.Amendment of the constitution carried out in 1987 following the India-Sri Lanka Accord, had devolved powers over land and police to the provinces. But this was not implemented.

The constitution sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, D.Siddharthan, has now recommended that all State Land (or government lands) in a province should come under the purview of the provincial administration though the Central government may requisition land for the propose of executing projects on matters under the Central List.

Likewise, the police in a province should come under the Provincial Administration and they should be regulated by a Provincial Police Commission (again as stipulated under the unimplemented 13 th Amendment).

The sub-committee said that the Concurrent List should be abolished and that there should only be a Provincial List and a Reserved (Central) List to avoid confusion and arrogation of powers by the Center.

The panel wants the provincial Governor to go entirely by the advice of the Chief Minister and his Board of Ministers and not be an agent of the Center which, he or she is, now. The power to control the provincial officers and determine what statutes should be passed by the Provincial Council should be taken away from the Governor.

Since only one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka (namely the Western Province) is financially sound, the Center should not only give adequate funds to the provinces but also leave it to the provinces to decide how the funds should be spent. At present, the Center not only allocates the funds, but also specifies in detail how they should be spent. Though there is a Finance Commission to determine allocations to the provinces, the President often over-rules its recommendations. The panel has sought an independent Finance Commission with representatives of the provinces in it.

At present there is a stipulation that provincial schemes should conform to the relevant National Policy. The sub-committee has recommended that the provinces should be given the right to participate in the formulation of a National Policy.

The sub-committee has skirted the controversial issue as to whether Center-Provincial relations should be based on the federal or the unitary model. While the minority Tamils have been agitating for a federal constitution, the majority Sinhalese want the present unitary system to continue. The sub-committees recommendations envisage devolution of power but without labeling the overall scheme as either federal or unitary.

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Constitutional Assemblys sub-committee on Center-Provincial relations has recommended that the provinces be granted powers over land and police; that the powers of the provincial Governor be drastically pruned, and that there be a fair allocation of financial resources to the provinces along with powers to decide how to spend the money. As a matter of fact, the 13 th.Amendment of the constitution carried out in 1987 following the India-Sri Lanka Accord, had devolved powers over land and police to the provinces. But this was not implemented. The constitution sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, D.Siddharthan, has now recommended that all State Land (or government lands) in a province should come under the purview of the provincial administration though the Central government may requisition land for the propose of executing projects on matters under the Central List. Likewise, the police in a province should come under the Provincial Administration and they should be regulated by a Provincial Police Commission (again as stipulated under the unimplemented 13 th Amendment). The sub-committee said that the Concurrent List should be abolished and that there should only be a Provincial List and a Reserved (Central) List to avoid confusion and arrogation of powers by the Center. The panel wants the provincial Governor to go entirely by the advice of the Chief Minister and his Board of Ministers and not be an agent of the Center which, he or she is, now. The power to control the provincial officers and determine what statutes should be passed by the Provincial Council should be taken away from the Governor. Since only one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka (namely the Western Province) is financially sound, the Center should not only give adequate funds to the provinces but also leave it to the provinces to decide how the funds should be spent. At present, the Center not only allocates the funds, but also specifies in detail how they should be spent. Though there is a Finance Commission to determine allocations to the provinces, the President often over-rules its recommendations. The panel has sought an independent Finance Commission with representatives of the provinces in it. At present there is a stipulation that provincial schemes should conform to the relevant National Policy. The sub-committee has recommended that the provinces should be given the right to participate in the formulation of a National Policy. The sub-committee has skirted the controversial issue as to whether Center-Provincial relations should be based on the federal or the unitary model. While the minority Tamils have been agitating for a federal constitution, the majority Sinhalese want the present unitary system to continue. The sub-committees recommendations envisage devolution of power but without labeling the overall scheme as either federal or unitary.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, today met president-elect Donald Trump amidst speculation that she is being considered to be made the American Ambassador to the United Nations.

Gabbard, 35, who was re-elected for her third consecutive term on November 8, was among the first politicians to meet Trump in New York. She has been a vocal critic of President Barack Obama on confronting radical Islamic terrorism.

There was no official word after the meeting, even though the presidential transition team confirmed the meeting.

But it did not respond to questions on her being a potential senior position in the incoming administration.

"Wouldn't want to qualify specifically any potential administration positions, other than this is an opportunity for the president- and vice president-elect to get together with the congresswoman and receive her input on several different ideas," Jason Miller, communication director for Trump transition team told reporters during a conference call.

"She obviously has a very distinguished track record. But it would be a little premature to start putting out specific potential administration positions," Miller said.

Gabbard, a Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, had support Senator Bernie Sanders during the presidential nominaton race.

WASHINGTON: Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, today met president-elect Donald Trump amidst speculation that she is being considered to be made the American Ambassador to the United Nations. Gabbard, 35, who was re-elected for her third consecutive term on November 8, was among the first politicians to meet Trump in New York. She has been a vocal critic of President Barack Obama on confronting radical Islamic terrorism. There was no official word after the meeting, even though the presidential transition team confirmed the meeting. But it did not respond to questions on her being a potential senior position in the incoming administration. "Wouldn't want to qualify specifically any potential administration positions, other than this is an opportunity for the president- and vice president-elect to get together with the congresswoman and receive her input on several different ideas," Jason Miller, communication director for Trump transition team told reporters during a conference call. "She obviously has a very distinguished track record. But it would be a little premature to start putting out specific potential administration positions," Miller said. Gabbard, a Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, had support Senator Bernie Sanders during the presidential nominaton race.
The contact group on Ukraine cannot approve seven new security zones on the contact line in Donbas until the full disengagement of forces and hardware at pilot sites, a source in the negotiations told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The negotiation participants in the meeting on November 23 will continue discussing the parameters of the new security zones. However, the process on pilot sites has still not been completed. The approval of seven additional zones cannot be discussed until that happens," the source said.

"There is still no headway on the issue of disengagement at the last of the three pilot sites, Stanytsia Luhanska," the source said.

"Ukraine has still not given a signal of its readiness for disengagement. There are no preconditions for receipt of such a signal in the next few days," the source said.

The contact group will also address humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchange, he said.

The negotiation participants will also discuss a number of traditional issues on the agenda, including the parameters of the regulations governing the work of the contact group, the modality of local elections and issues relating to economic regulation.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed the law on the ratification of a memorandum of understanding between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the United Kingdom on cooperation in the defense sector (bill No.0110).

The president signed this law on Monday, November 21, the press service of the Ukrainian parliament reported.

The document stipulates that cooperation between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom is carried out through consultations, meetings between the leadership and exchange of experience. The forms of cooperation envisaged by the document include the exchange of visits by naval ships, aircraft of the air forces and units of the armed forces, invitations to attend exercises in the respective countries, talks, conferences, seminars, workshops, and training of military personnel.

The document stipulates that the military exercises between the armed forces of the two countries will be regulated by a separate memorandum of understanding between the Defense Ministries of Ukraine and the UK as regards the use of the training grounds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the British military as of July 18, 1996.

The memorandum of understanding between the governments of Ukraine and the UK on cooperation in the defense sector was signed in Kyiv on March 17, 2016, and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on November 2, 2016.
Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have discussed the situation around Crimea at a meeting in Istanbul.

"Held a constructive and strategic meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul today. We discussed issues of economic and military-defense cooperation between our states. I stressed the need to maintain the blockade of Crimea as one of the important stages in international support for Ukraine and de-occupation of the peninsula," Parubiy wrote on Facebook on Monday.

He added that the parties discussed the situation of Crimean Tatars and the importance of supporting them internationally.

"Turkey is Ukraine's strategic partner," the Ukrainian speaker said.
Head of the NATO Liaison Office (NLO) in Ukraine Oleksandr Vinnikov has said that fight against corruption implies reporting relations.

He said at a press conference on the occasion of the start of the second anti-corruption week that at present NATO support to Ukraine today is as never before.

"The Warsaw Summit confirmed it. Alliance partners made a comprehensive response to the difficult situation in Ukraine. One of the programs was a package of measures aimed at developing fairness. It includes three principles: fairness, fight against corruption and accountability. Fighting corruption means to act and report on what you do," he said.

In turn, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Ihor Dolhov said that the ministry understands responsibility to the people and the Verkhovna Rada and people support the Armed Forces and do everything possible to support them.

"The fight against corruption will not be easy and simple. Our measures are of top priority. They require the legislative base. The second important element is people. We must form a system of intolerance to signs of corruption. The third one is punishment so that criminals know that punishment is inevitable," Dolhov said.

He also thanked the Alliance, the British and Norwegian governments for help in reforming the anti-corruption sector.
Poroshenko, Merkel agree on meeting of foreign ministers of Normandy Four in late Nov

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a telephone conversation agreed to hold a meeting of the Normandy Four foreign ministers in late November.

"The two sides discussed the preparation of the draft roadmap on the implementation of the Minsk agreements according to the results of the Berlin summit of Normandy format. They agreed to hold a meeting of foreign ministers of Normandy Four in late November," the Ukrainian president's press service reported.
An autistic boy stands with his back to the camera at a recovery center for children diagnosed with autism in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province in July. Photo: IC

A Chinese airline recently sparked controversy after it refused to let a 13-year-old autistic boy who they say "behaved abnormally" board his flight in an airport in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan Province.

The boy's father, surnamed Cui, came into a conflict with Yangtze River Airlines (YRA) check-in staff in Xinzheng International Airport on Tuesday when they refused to let him and his son board a flight to Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, local newspaper the Dahe Daily reported Wednesday.

Cui claims that the airline was discriminated against his son.

"They refused to take us just because my son was speaking too loudly. But my son is not mentally ill and he was not offensive ," said Cui.

According to a statement released by YRA on its Sina Weibo account on Thursday, check-in staff asked Cui to postpone boarding and wait for his son to calm down after they saw him "behave abnormally" - walking around and loudly shouting.

But the boy did not stop his "abnormal" behavior, and his father could not provide documentary evidence of his diagnosis which YRA could have used to decide whether to let them board or not, according to the YRA statement. People who register as disabled in China are given a certificate by which they can prove their diagnosis, however it is not clear if Cui's son is registered as autistic.

"Given the situation and taking other passengers' safety into account, we refused to take the two passengers in accordance with the China Civil Aviation Rules on Domestic Carriage of Passengers and Baggage," read the statement.

These rules say that carriers can refuse to take patients with infectious or mental diseases, those in very poor health and people who might pose a threat to the safety of other passengers.

Mixed feelings

Many Weibo users expressed support for the airline company saying that even though the boy did not hurt others, his behavior may disturb other passengers or even cause panic.

However, Wang Jun, a Beijing-based lawyer who is also the mother of a four-year-old autistic boy, told the Global Times on Saturday that YRA cannot refuse to take autistic passengers just out of concerns their involuntary behavior might disturb others.

According to Wang, autism was classified as a mental disability by the China Disabled Person's Federation in 2006 and autistic people are entitled to an equal right to travel under the Measures for the Administration of Air Transport for the Disabled issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

"The YRA was not only discriminating against autistic people but also violated related rules by refusing Cui and his son if the boy hadn't hurt anyone and would not have affected the safety of the flight," Wang said.

Cheng Shuoming, a staff member of Beijing Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism, a non-governmental educational organization serving children with autism, told the Global Times on Friday that Cui should have informed YRA about his son's illness in advance and asked the company for help when the boy became agitated.

"Autistic children can get really agitated if things do not progress in accordance with a set plan, for example if a flight is delayed," said Cheng.

Cheng noted that "'abnormal behavior' like screaming is how autistic children express their feelings and ask for attention."

Scale unknown

The number of children diagnosed as autistic has increased by over 100 times in the past two decades in China and reached over 1.6 million in 2014, china.com reported.

Though many Chinese first heard the term autism in the 1988 Oscar-winning US film Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman, who portrays the autistic savant Raymond Babbit who has amazing arithmetic abilities, experts noted that in real life, most autistic people are simply normal and in urgent need of our tolerance, understanding and help.

"Many people have confused autism with depression and other personality problems, thinking it can be cured by communicating more with others. But autism is a life-long condition and its cause still remains unknown," said Wang.

"As my son grows up, he will enter schools and face more difficulties. What I can do is teach him basic life skills, school regulations and pay more attention to his feelings in order to avoid him hurting himself or others," Wang said.

In addition, experts also pointed out that as people with mental diseases face challenges in finding a partner or accessing education, many parents choose not to register their autistic children as disabled with the local authorities.

"The result is, on one hand, the family cannot receive social security services and, on the other, the government cannot grasp the real situation of autistic people and provide appropriate services," Cheng said.
CHENGDU - The ashes of pilot Yu Xu have been returned to her hometown of Chongzhou in the southwestern province of Sichuan and placed in a cemetery for revolutionary martyrs on Sunday.

Yu, who was among the first Chinese women to fly a J-10 fighter jet, died in an accident during a routine training operation on Nov 12.

Read more:

Black box of plane that crashed and killed female fighter pilot found

One of Chinas first female J-10 fighter jet pilots died during training
Discussions were running high on global governance among Western public opinion on the eve of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in Lima, Peru. Some Western media outlets hold the US is giving up its global leadership following Donald Trump's election as US president on promises to abolish the Trans-Pacific Partnership and withdraw from the Paris climate deal. They believe a rising superpower, China, will replace the US to lead the world.

Trump's campaign remarks do reveal his intention to retract US global strategy. He seemingly wants to focus more energy and resources on reviving the US economy and social development. But as the US has been central to globalization, Trump is unlikely to take on the traditional isolationist road.

The West likes to use "leadership" to define the function of a major power. Admittedly, different countries have different powers and obligations due to varied national strength. The world after the Cold War was dominated by US leadership. Washington designed and maintained a string of systems, including the world trade system, the financial system, the Internet system, the security pattern and so on.

The US has invested much into maintaining this leadership and also gained considerable benefits. In the foreseeable future, it's impossible for the US to abandon its global leadership.

The US sought supremacy over everything in the past few years. However, it didn't have enough national strength to bolster this unrealistic goal. Trump appears to be redesigning the US leadership, withdrawing the country from fields in which he thinks resources are being wasted. China thus will gain some room to exert its influence, but is China ready?

China still cannot match the US in terms of comprehensive strength. It has no ability to lead the world in an overall way, plus, neither the world nor China is psychologically ready for it. It's beyond imagination to think that China could replace the US to lead the world.

But as China is rapidly developing, bringing about changes to the global power structure, its participation in global governance will be a natural and gradual process, which Beijing cannot rush or escape.

If Washington withdraws from the Paris climate deal, China can stick to its commitment, yet it won't be able to make up for the loss caused by the US. Or if the US takes on an anti-free trade path, the messy consequences will be beyond China's ability to repair.

But on the other hand, the US, under the leadership of Trump, cannot rope in China's neighboring countries to contain China or isolate China from the world trade system. Obama's administration had worked to undermine China-initiated projects, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the "One Belt and One Road" initiative, but to no avail.

So Sino-US cooperation is the only choice for future global governance. For a long time to come, the leadership of the US will be irreplaceable, meanwhile, China's further rise is inevitable.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

A keynote speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Peru indicated China's firm stand on free trade even as some major economies such as the US are leaning toward protectionism, experts said.

President Xi delivered his speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima on Saturday, in which he said that making exclusive regional trade arrangements is "not the right choice" while the region faces the challenge of protectionism, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"The Asia-Pacific should boost economic integration and build an open economy, as openness is the lifeline of the regional economy," said Xi, adding that any regional trade arrangement, in order to earn broad support, must be open, inclusive and win-win.

Many countries have raised their expectations of China, the world's second-largest economy and biggest trading partner with almost every major economy, to focus more on free trade as protectionism is rampant, especially after Donald Trump won the US presidential election, Chu Yin, associate professor at the University of International Relations, told the Global Times.

Before Trump, the US didn't want China to be the rule maker for free trade, which is why they led the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Chu said. "But now Trump and Congress have said no to TPP and claimed that they will raise tariffs against other countries' products, which makes many worry about rising protectionism in the US."

China is a victim since US protectionist policies always target Chinese companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, according to news portal ifeng.com.

President-elect Trump has said that he will label China a "currency manipulator," and threatened to cancel US free trade agreements and impose punitive tariffs of up to 45 percent against China and Mexico, the Daily Mail reported.

Common cause

While the mood for protectionism is rising in the US, China has got a good chance to share its successful ideas and experience with the world on free trade, said Chu. However, Chu also noted that the US market is still irreplaceable as far as world trade is concerned.

During his speech, Xi reinforced global confidence in free trade, saying that, in the next five years, China will import $8 trillion of goods, introduce $600 billion of foreign investment and invest $750 billion overseas, while Chinese tourists will make over 700 million outbound visits.

"All this means a bigger market, more capital, a greater variety of products and more valuable cooperation opportunities for countries around the world," Xi said.

"APEC will have to find an updated common basis for cooperation as it moves forward," Zha Daojiong, a professor of International Political Economy at the School of International Studies of Peking University, told the Global Times, otherwise "member countries could start putting their country first."

Xi also called for pushing forward the construction of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) since it is "a strategic choice concerning the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific" and could "provide institutional guarantees for fostering an open regional economy."

During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lima, Xi called for joint efforts by China and Russia to push forward the process of establishing FTAAP. Echoing Xi's remarks, Putin said Russia and China should strengthen coordination and collaboration in APEC and other multilateral mechanisms, Xinhua reported.

"China's supply-side structural reform and the 'Belt and Road' initiative will release China's productive capacity and domestic purchasing power, which could fill the blanks of the global market if the US embraces protectionism to some extent," Chu said.

But he also warned that, once China helps India and Southeast Asian countries with an advanced infrastructure, they will become competitors.
Who are Newport's top taxpayers? Take a look at the top 50.

Hotels generate plenty of discussion in the City-by-the-Sea, but there's no doubt of the significance their tax payments have on the city's coffers.
Reporter

Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6).
Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 49F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.

(tie-SA-bree) Natalizumab (nat-ah-li-zoo-mab) Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about TYSABRI Concentrated Injection Solution for infusion or Injection Solution in prefilled syringes for subcutaneous injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the benefits TYSABRI is expected to have for you against the risks of using it. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of using TYSABRI with you before you start treatment. If you do not understand something your doctor has told you, please ask your doctor again. When you understand the benefits and risks, your doctor will ask you to sign a consent form. They will give you an Patient Alert Card to keep with you, which summarises the most important information from this leaflet. If you have any questions about using this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet and the Patient Alert Card with you during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose, as side effects can occur after you have stopped treatment.

What TYSABRI is used for TYSABRI is used to treat relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The cause of MS is not yet known. MS affects the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the body's immune system reacts against its own myelin (the 'insulation' surrounding nerve fibres). In relapsing remitting MS, people have 'exacerbations' from time to time (e.g. blurred vision, weakness

in the legs or arms, or loss of control of bowel or bladder function).

These are followed by periods of recovery. Recovery may be complete or incomplete. If it is incomplete there is 'progression of disability'. TYSABRI has not been tested in clinical trials in people with MS who are 65 years and over. TYSABRI has not been studied in patients with chronic progressive MS.

How it works TYSABRI slows down the progression of physical disability in people with relapsing remitting MS and decreases the number of flare-ups (relapses). Some people feel better when they start to take TYSABRI. However, TYSABRI cannot repair damage that has already been caused by MS. When you start on TYSABRI you might not notice any improvement, but TYSABRI may be working to help prevent your MS from becoming worse. TYSABRI contains the active ingredient natalizumab (rmc). Natalizumab is a type of protein. It decreases the inflammation in your brain that is caused by MS and thereby reduces nerve damage. TYSABRI works by binding to white blood cells and preventing them from moving into the brain and spinal cord where they cause inflammation, an important part of the MS disease process. Your doctor, however, may prescribe TYSABRI for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you. This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription. There is not enough information to recommend this medicine for children or adolescents under 18 years of age or elderly 65 years and over.

Before you are given TYSABRI You will need a recent brain scan (MRI) (within 3 months) before you start treatment with TYSABRI.

When you must not be given it Do not use TYSABRI if you have had an allergic reaction to: natalizumab or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet any other proteins that are of mouse origin. Symptoms of allergic reactions may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin. Do not use TYSABRI if you: 1. Have or have had PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). PML is a rare viral infection of the brain. 2. Have suppressed immune function, e.g. due to: a medical condition, such as HIV-AIDS, organ transplant or cancer medicines that affect the immune system. Do not use TYSABRI at the same time as medicines that modify the activity of the immune system e.g. an interferon or glatiramer acetate. TYSABRI must not be used after the expiry date, if there are particles in the solution, or if it is discoloured or cloudy. If you are not sure whether you should use this medicine, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Before you are given it Tell your doctor if you have or have had: allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes an infusion or injection reaction with any other medicine liver problems previous treatment with TYSABRI. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using TYSABRI if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. TYSABRI passes into the breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using it if you are you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.. If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you use TYSABRI.

Taking other medicines Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any prescribed by other doctors or that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. In particular, tell your doctor if you are being treated or have previously been treated with any medicine that affects immune function. Examples of such medicines may include: medicines used for autoimmune diseases or after organ transplant, e.g. azathioprine cancer drugs, such as mitoxantrone steroids, e.g. for asthma, arthritis or skin disease. You may not be able to take some medicines that affect your immune system at the same time as having treatment with TYSABRI. There are many medicines that can affect immune function. It is a good idea to keep a list of your medicines and take it with you when you go to your doctor or treatment centre. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any questions about medicines to be careful with or avoid while using TYSABRI.

How TYSABRI is given Follow all directions given to you by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

How much to use The recommended dose of TYSABRI is 300 mg given once every 4 weeks.

How to use it TYSABRI will be prepared and given to you by a doctor or nurse. TYSABRI for infusion will be diluted before it is given to you. It is given as a drip through a needle placed into a vein (IV infusion), usually in your arm. This takes about 1 hour. TYSABRI injection in prefilled syringes requires no preparation. It is given as two injections just under the skin of your thigh, abdomen or upper arm. A few patients have had an allergic reaction to TYSABRI. Your doctor or nurse will check for allergic reactions during the infusion or injection and for 1 hour afterwards. Infusion with TYSABRI should start as soon as possible after the medicine has been diluted. If not used immediately, the solution must be stored at 2C to 8C and infused within 8 hours of dilution. The prefilled syringes can be kept in their original packaging for up to 24 hours at room temperature. The prefilled syringe should not be returned to refrigeration. Do not use external heat sources, such as hot water, to warm the prefilled syringe.

When it is given TYSABRI is given once every 4 weeks.

How long to use it The positive effects of TYSABRI may not be seen immediately.

They occur with long-term treatment. It is important to continue treatment with TYSABRI unless your doctor tells you to stop. Do not interrupt your treatment , especially during the first few months. Patients who received up to 3 doses of TYSABRI followed by a gap in treatment of 3 months or more, were more likely to have an allergic reaction when restarting treatment. Your doctor will discuss with you

the benefits and risks of continuing treatment after 2 years.

If you forget to use it If you miss one of your treatments, you should have it as soon as possible, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Then resume your regular monthly schedule.

If you take too much (overdose) As TYSABRI is given to you under the supervision of a doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will receive too much. Nevertheless, immediately tell your doctor or nurse, or ring the Australian Poisons Information Centre (telephone 131 126), or the New Zealand National Poisons Information Centre (telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766),

if you think you or anyone else has been given too much TYSABRI. Do this even if there are no signs

of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are being given TYSABRI

Things you must do Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any new or worsening medical problems

(fever or infection, new or sudden change in your thinking, eyesight, balance or strength) that have lasted several days. Tell your partner or caregiver about your treatment. Ask them to tell your doctor immediately if they notice any changes in you, such as a new

or sudden change in your personality, thinking abilities or any unusual behaviour. When possible, encourage your partner or caregiver to go with you

to see your doctor and to the centre for your treatments. PML and TYSABRI TYSABRI increases your chance of getting a rare viral brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that can cause severe disability or be life-threatening. Your chance of getting PML increases if you have been exposed to John Cunningham Virus (JCV). Approximately half of all people have been exposed to JCV. JCV is a common virus that is harmless in most people but can cause PML in people who have weakened immune systems, such as people taking TYSABRI. Most people have been exposed to JCV without knowing it or having any symptoms. This exposure usually happens in childhood. Your doctor should test your blood to check if you have antibodies to the JC virus before treatment and periodically during treatment. The risk of developing PML whilst on TYSABRI is higher: If you have antibodies to the JC virus in your blood. These antibodies are a sign that you have been infected by JC virus. The longer you are on treatment, especially if you have been on treatment for more than two years. If you have previously taken

a medicine called an immunosuppressant. These medicines reduce the activity of your body's immune system. Your risk of getting PML is greatest if you have all 3 risk factors listed above. If you have not previously been treated with an immunosuppressant and you have received TYSABRI for two years or longer, the level of your anti-JC virus antibody test results may help your doctor assess your risk of getting PML. Your doctor may repeat the test regularly to check if anything has changed: if you do not have antibodies

to the JC virus in your blood OR if you have been treated for more than 2 years and you have a lower level of JCV antibodies in your blood. You should discuss with your doctor if TYSABRI is the most suitable treatment for you before you start treatment and when you have been taking TYSABRI for more than two years if you have antibodies to the JC virus in your blood. Some of the symptoms of PML are similar to MS. If you believe your MS is getting worse or if you notice new symptoms while you are on TYSABRI treatment or for up to 6 months after stopping TYSABRI,

it is important to speak to your doctor as soon as possible. If you have new symptoms, or an infection, that last or worsen over several days, contact your doctor before you go for your next treatment. In some cases, you may not be able to have your treatment without first seeing your doctor. They will be able to tell you if this is necessary. If your doctor suspects PML, they will want you to stop treatment with TYSABRI either permanently or until they can confirm it is not PML. Management of patients with PML may require removal of TYSABRI from the blood, usually by plasma exchange. This may lead to further serious complications, including worsening of brain (neurological) function. Your doctor will monitor you for this. Keep all your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor will need to see you

3 months after your first treatment,

6 months after your first treatment and every 6 months after that. They may also need to see you between routine check-ups if you have had liver problems or in the case of some side effects. Your doctor may also perform regular brain scans (MRI)

to check the progress of your MS

and if you have a higher chance of getting PML. If you become pregnant while on treatment with TYSABRI, immediately tell your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of being given TYSABRI

if you become pregnant. Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are using this medicine. If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are using or have used TYSABRI. Tell your doctor if you are going to be vaccinated. TYSABRI may have effects for about 12 weeks after the last dose. Any new medicine you start during this time might be affected by your previous treatment with TYSABRI. If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are using or have used TYSABRI. It may interfere with the results of some tests.

Things you must not do Do not stop using TYSABRI without checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of There are no studies of the effect of TYSABRI on your ability to drive or to operate machinery but TYSABRI may cause dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to TYSABRI before you do anything that could be dangerous if you are dizzy.

Side effects Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while using TYSABRI. TYSABRI helps most people with MS but it may have unwanted effects in a few people. All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you: pain or stinging when passing urine sore throat, runny or blocked up nose shivering itchy rash (hives) headache dizziness feeling sick (nausea) being sick (vomiting) joint pain fever tiredness. The above list includes the more common side effects of TYSABRI. If any of these persist or worsen, talk to your doctor as they may also be due to an infection or allergic reaction. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: signs of an infection, e.g. unexplained fever, severe diarrhoea, prolonged dizziness, headache or stiff neck, weight loss, listlessness, impaired vision, pain or redness of the eye(s) yellowing of the skin or eyes (also called jaundice), signs of a possible liver problem tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath when exercising, dizziness, or looking pale, which may be signs of severe anaemia due to a decrease in red blood cells. The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. Speak to your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following during or after your treatment: itchy rash or hives swelling of your face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain or discomfort. These can be signs of very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious allergic reaction to TYSABRI. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Serious side effects are rare. Speak to your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following: symptoms caused by a serious infection of the brain that may include psychological or intellectual changes such as changes in personality and behaviour, difficulty performing mental tasks, confusion, delirium or loss of consciousness, seizures (fits), headache, nausea / vomiting, stiff neck, extreme sensitivity to bright light, fever, rash. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are uncommon. There have been reports of a rare brain infection called PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) occurring in patients who have been given TYSABRI. PML is a serious condition and can cause severe disability or be life-threatening. Some of the symptoms of PML are similar to MS, so it is important that you speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any new symptoms, or if your MS gets worse (see the 'PML and TYSABRI' section of this CMI). Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects, which are not listed, may occur in some patients. Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.

After receiving TYSABRI

Storage Keep TYSABRI in the pack until it is time to use it. This medicine will not keep as well if taken out of the packaging. Keep TYSABRI in the refrigerator at 2C to 8C. Do not store TYSABRI or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a windowsill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. TYSABRI must not be frozen. Do not place in the freezer or freezing compartment of a refrigerator. Keep TYSABRI where children cannot reach it.

Disposal Each vial or prefilled syringe of TYSABRI should be used once only. The doctor or nurse will discard any unused portion.

Product description

What it looks like Each pack of TYSABRI for infusion contains one vial of TYSABRI. TYSABRI for infusion is a colourless, clear to slightly opalescent, concentrated solution for infusion. Each pack of TYSABRI for subcutaneous injection contains two prefilled syringes of TYSABRI. TYSABRI for subcutaneous injection is a colourless to slightly yellow, slightly opalescent to opalescent solution for injection.* Australian Register Number: AUST R 112372 (concentrated solution for infusion) AUST R 353845 (solution for subcutaneous injection)*

Ingredients Each vial of TYSABRI for infusion contains 300 mg natalizumab in 15 mL of solution. Each prefilled syringe of TYSABRI for subcutaneous injection contains 150 mg natalizumab in 1 mL of solution. TYSABRI also contains: sodium chloride monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate polysorbate 80 water for injections. TYSABRI does not contain any preservative.
Lead is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in the Earths crust, but its use in activities such as mining, smelting and the burning of fossil fuels has contaminated the environment, leading to human exposure and public health problems in various parts of the world. Lead is also a key component in paint, pigments, gasoline, ammunition, batteries, stained glass, solder, roofing materials and some cosmetics and medicines.

Lead poisoning refers to when lead accumulates in the body and causes severe health problems. The accumulating lead is distributed to and stored in the brain, kidneys, liver, bones and teeth. Even very small amounts can lead to problems and at very high amounts, it can cause death. Lead exposure is determined by measuring the amount of lead in the blood and no known level of lead exposure is regarded as safe.

Children under 6 years of age are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead poisoning, which causes profound and permanent problems, particularly ones that affect brain development and the nervous system. Children of this age are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning because they absorb up to five times more lead when exposed than adults do. Hand-to-mouth behaviors among this age group also increase the risk of objects containing or coated in lead being swallowed. In adults, lead poisoning can also lead to long-term health issues, including hypertension and kidney damage.

During pregnancy, lead is released from bone into the blood, which is a source of exposure to the fetus. Pregnant woman who are exposed to high lead levels are at an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

Lead Paint

The use of lead paints in homes or in the manufacture of childrens toys or home furniture has not been allowed in the US since 1978. However, the lead paint that is still found in the walls and wood of old buildings is a source of exposure. In children, lead poisoning mainly occurs as a result of eating chips of paint that contain lead.

Two house painters in hazmat suits removing lead paint from an old house. Image Copyright: Jamie Hooper / Shutterstock

Water Pipes and Lead-Soldered Cans

Related Stories Will the future of global health rely upon addressing air pollution?

Tap water that has passed through lead-based pipes or pipes soldered with lead may contain lead . Food cans soldered with lead have been banned in the US, but are still used in certain countries and lead may therefore be found in some imported canned goods.

Traditional Medicines

Certain traditional medicines may contain lead:

A peach-colored powder called litargirio, which is used as a deodorant, particularly in the Dominican Republic. The Hispanic remedy greta or azarcon. This is an orange powder, also known as sea coral, that people take to treat abdominal problems such as diarrhea and stomach upset. A brown powder called ghasard, used in India as a tonic. A Chinese remedy called ba-baw-san, used to treat the pain babies experience when they have colic. Daw tway, which is used in Thailand to aid digestion.

Other Sources

Other substances that may contain lead include soil on which lead particles from paint or gasoline may have settled; the glazes used for certain ceramics and porcelain and household dust that may contain lead from contaminated soil or chips of lead paint.

Sources Mayo Clinic, Lead Poisoning, www.mayoclinic.org/.../con-20035487

WorldHealth Organization, LeadPoisoningandHealth, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/

Further Reading
Shanghai (People's Daily Online) -- The 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion has begun in Shanghai on Nov. 21, 2016.

With the goal of highlighting critical links between health initiatives and the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference will provide an unprecedented opportunity to reassert the significance of health and health promotion at the historical moment of the Ottawa Charters 30-year anniversary, as well as in the first year of implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will direct and guide member states on the practical application of evidence-based health promotion concepts and techniques for achieving SDGs.

Participants include those working on health initiatives from WHO member states, representatives of UN agencies, several countries' health and social affairs ministers, Healthy City mayors and experts in international health and sustainable development.

The conference, led by WHO, rotates host cities every three to four years. This years conference is the first one held in China, the country with the worlds biggest population and thus the toughest challenge when it comes to health.

The 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion began on Nov. 21 and will last for three and a half days.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) will honor Amit X. Garg, MD, PhD by presenting him with the ASN-AHA Young Investigator Award during the society's annual meeting, ASN Kidney Week 2016, held November 15-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

The Young Investigator Award is presented annually to an individual 45 years of age or younger with an outstanding record of achievement and creativity in basic or patient-oriented research related to the functions and diseases of the kidney.

Dr. Garg is a professor of medicine, epidemiology, and biostatistics in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada; site director of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) Western Facility; provincial leader of the ICES kidney, dialysis, and transplantation program, and a scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute. He practices general nephrology and is director of living kidney donation at the London Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Garg is active in clinical, health services, and population-health kidney research, with more than 370 peer-reviewed publications. Some examples of the impact of his research include the introduction of new information for living kidney donor candidates as part of the informed consent process; an improved understanding of the long-term outcomes of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning that has been cited in litigation to compensate victims of food or water mishandling; and findings about unsafe drug prescribing causing acute kidney injury that led to label changes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Garg currently serves as President of the Canadian Society of Nephrology, which he previously served as Secretary-Treasurer. He recently co-chaired the international Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes clinical practice guidelines in living kidney donation committee. He serves on the living kidney donor advisory committee of Canadian Blood Services. He is also the medical lead for the Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, working for greater access to kidney transplantation and living kidney donation. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Kidney International, and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. He previously has received a National Kidney Foundation distinguished medal for his research contributions to renal medicine, a premier of Ontario research excellence award, and a Clinician Scientist Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He currently holds the Dr. Adam Linton Chair in Kidney Health Analytics at Western University.
Patients with diabetes and suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria and uncontrolled blood sugar experience a sharp reduction in the number of years they have healthy renal function before being forced onto dialysis, according to researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

The UC research team looked at 3,679 individuals with type 2 diabetes from a de-identified cohort of patients at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and who were followed for a 10-year period, explains Charuhas Thakar, MD, professor and director of the UC Division of Nephrology, Kidney CARE Program.

The three risk factors--AKI, proteinuria (leakage of protein into the urine) and poor blood sugar control--were used to classify patients into three groups, he says. Patients with diabetes who had none of these risk factors were compared against a group that had all three risk factors (severe risk) and another group that had only one or two of the risk factors (medium risk).

"There are established risk factors in the diabetes literature," says Thakar. "One of them is the level of sugar control; if you don't control your sugar well your kidney disease progresses faster or if you leak protein in the urine and you have proteinuria, it tends to be an independent predictor of kidney disease in diabetics."

Typically, a 50-year-old person with type 2 diabetes without any of the risk factors has kidney function of about 60 percent and is likely to lose renal function at around 1.9 to 2 percent annually, says Thakar. That means this individual would have 25 to 30 years before kidney failure forces the need for dialysis allowing the patient to have normal renal function up to age 80.

But if the same individual with diabetes suffered from all three risk factors the loss of renal function would accelerate to nearly 5 percent annually, says Thakar. This means the patient would need dialysis within 12 years at age 62. For a patient with two of the three risk factors, there is still a medium risk of accelerated loss of renal function, he explains.

"This is a big impact for a patient," says Thakar, who is corresponding author for the research. "You are talking about pruning 18 to 20 years off of when you will have to go on dialysis. It's very important information for a patient and clinician to know. The study is among the first to examine the interrelationship between these traditional risk factors for its effect on kidney disease progression."

The research will be presented orally and as a poster at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week, on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, in Chicago, by Mollie Sands, a fourth-year medical student in the UC College of Medicine. She is first author of the research, while Anthony Leonard, PhD, UC assistant professor of family medicine, is also a co-author.

Thakar says 29 million Americans have diabetes and one in three will have chronic kidney disease. He says patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease are among the most vulnerable to sustain acute kidney injury when hospitalized.

Physicians need to consider looking at patients with diabetes who have different risk factors separately and design tailored strategies to both monitor and treat them, says Thakar.

"We have the same tools in our arsenal to help these patients in terms of their progression of kidney disease; so our research raises questions and challenges the field of physicians," says Thakar. "We should find ways to monitor these three groups of patients differently and target our therapies. Future studies need to evaluate how we are going to change the trajectory of loss of renal function in these patients who may suffer a faster decline by either modifying existing treatment or discovering new therapies."
Experts at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (ESCMID) are joining colleagues across the globe this week to promote prudent use of antibiotics. They show their support for the European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) on 18 November, which was inaugurated in 2006 to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance. EAAD forms part of World Antibiotic Awareness week from 14  20 November, which reflects the fact that the war against antimicrobial resistance must be a global effort. Some of the societys activities throughout this week and since its foundation more than 30 years ago are highlighted on its dedicated Fighting Resistance webpage.

On 18 November ESCMID is organizing a number of activities to promote prudent use of antibiotics in Europe. These include events at healthcare institutions and public campaigns on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), surveillance and antibiotic stewardship programmes in Moldova, Turkey, Spain, Cyprus and the Netherlands.

Prof. Jesus Rodriguez-Bano, ESCMID President-elect and Secretary General:

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that has been at the core of ESCMIDs activities  at our study groups, committees, courses and conferences over the past years. Our experts have been committed to developing hands-on solutions by supporting and promoting research and training to tackle the problem around the world. The society offers professional training and programmes on antimicrobial stewardship, infection control and surveillance resistance. It develops medical guidelines, policies for antimicrobial use, and initiatives to promote novel diagnostics, vaccines and therapies.

The society has undertaken a number of initiatives to effectively fight the growing problem. Only in September ESCMID together with the American Society for Microbiology organized an international conference on drug development to meet the AMR challenge. Drawing from the outcomes of the conference ESCMID plans to publish a position paper on its strategy and role in the fight against AMR.

AMR will once again be one of the main topics at ECCMID, the worlds largest congress in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology usually gathering some 12,000 specialists, from 22  25 April 2017 in Vienna. A book on antimicrobial stewardship produced by ESCMID and ESCMID Study Group for Antibiotic Policies (ESGAP) is due for publication in April 2017. The book has been developed by key experts in the field as a practical hands-on book to help antimicrobial stewardship team members design and implement their programme, in all healthcare settings. It can also be used as an undergraduate and postgraduate training tool for infectious diseases specialists, microbiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and any other professionals involved in antimicrobial stewardship.

ESCMID has been supporting governments and international organizations to develop and implement policies on evidence-based prevention, infection control, surveillance of resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and sanitation to guarantee an optimal use of antimicrobial medicines. The society welcomes the fact that the topic moved to the top of the global agenda in September when the United Nations General Assembly called a high-level meeting to address a problem that is projected to cause up to 10 million annual deaths by 2050.

Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

Concrete efforts of ESCMID over the past years include the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), jointly organized by ESCMID and the ECDC, which defines so-called breakpoints required to define optimal dosing of antibiotics and thus distinguish between therapeutic success and failure. Recently EUCAST completed a review of breakpoints or fluoroquinolone and carbapenem, two of the most important groups of antibiotics, and defined breakpoints and susceptibility methods for new agents and additional bacterial species. Its experts also conducted a study that showed that phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (PAST) is a better predictor of susceptibility, while whole genome sequencing (WGS) is more useful for characterizing resistance genes and mechanisms.

One of the more recent initiatives include European Committee on Infection Control (EUCIC), which was created in 2014 to support the implementation of infection control and preventive (ICPM) measures to reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections. Among many on going projects, EUCIC is currently involved in the PERCEPT-R project, which aims to investigate the perceptions of infection control specialists regarding AMR and infection prevention and control in different countries, and the role played by the cultural, contextual and behavioural aspect on the prevention of AMR. In order to contribute to the harmonisation of ICPM and standardisation of procedures, EUCIC is working on developing new educational tools that could provide a new generation of infection control specialists with a global European perspective and competence. Increasing burden of infectious diseases, epidemiology as well as demographic changes and mass migration are overwhelming facts that no nation alone will be able to overcome.

EUCIC together with major stakeholders and the national representatives in the EUCIC advisory board is currently developing a European training programme for infection control in healthcare settings.

AMR will continue to be a focus for ESCMID education

ESCMID has offered courses relevant to antimicrobial stewardship and drug-resistant infections this year, including:

18-19 January (Cape Town, South Africa): Diagnosis and management of drug-resistant TB.

7-8 April (Ijmuiden Aan Zee, Netherlands): Antimicrobial stewardship.

29 May - 1 June 2016 (Groningen, Netherlands): Infection Prevention and Control: Let's Get Practical!, ESCMID Postgraduate Technical Workshop.

20-23 September (Bochum, Germany): Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and surveillance from laboratory to clinic.

Further courses are planned for the coming 12 months, including:

Hospital-Acquired Infections: Understanding the Magnitude and Needed Interventions, 23  24 March in Muscat, Oman

Antimicrobial Resistance Across Europe and the Far East: Issues and Solutions, 26 -27 May 2017, Taipei, Taiwan

Advanced Technical Workshop: Infection and Resistance Prevention in the Regional Healthcare Network, 31 May  1 June 2017, Groningen, Netherlands

Emerging Antibiotic Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria: Problems and Solutions, 14 - 15 September 2017, Fribourg, Switzerland

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Principles and Practice, 4 - 6 October 2017, Istanbul, Turkey

Source: https://www.escmid.org/
A new analysis points to surprisingly low rates of serious impacts from medication errors affecting nursing home residents, despite the fact that these errors remain fairly common. The investigators noted that it's unclear whether medication errors resulting in serious outcomes are truly infrequent or are under-reported due to the difficulty in ascertaining them. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Medication errors can cause considerable harm, and older adults in nursing homes may be especially vulnerable. To assess the prevalence of medication errors leading to hospitalizations and deaths in nursing home residents, and to determine the factors associated with these errors, Joseph Ibrahim, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, an academic physician in geriatric medicine at Monash University in Australia, and his colleagues conducted a literature search of relevant studies published between 2000 and 2015. After identifying 11 studies, the researchers examined three types of medication errors: all medication errors, transfer-related medication errors, and potentially inappropriate medications.

Medication errors were common, involving 16 percent to 27 percent of residents in studies examining all types of medication errors. Transfer-related medication errors occurred in 13 percent to 31 percent of residents, while 75 percent of residents were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication.

The team found that serious impacts of medication errors were surprisingly low, however, and they were reported in only zero to one percent of medication errors, with death being a rare event.

"This is an important step to addressing the global issue for improving the quality and safety of medications for older people," said Prof. Ibrahim. "Nursing homes should review their systems of care from prescribing to administration. Good practice requires using a team-based approach involving the resident, care and nursing staff, pharmacists, and medical practitioners."
Dr. Kevin Monahan THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES ...insight from the worlds leading experts

What is Lynch syndrome and why have fewer than 5% of people with the condition been identified?

Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition which causes about 1,100 cases of bowel cancer and 1,000 other cancers annually in the UK. It is caused by a fault in the mismatch repair gene (MMR) which usually works to prevent cancer.

Lynch syndrome is the most common cause of hereditary bowel cancer but carriers are also placed at a higher risk of developing a number of cancers including stomach, ovarian, urological (bladder and kidney) and skin.

People with Lynch syndrome are often are diagnosed with bowel cancer at a young age, and have a lifetime risk of bowel and/or endometrial (womb) cancer of 60-70 per cent, ovarian cancer of 10-12 per cent.

Fewer than five per cent of people with Lynch syndrome have been identified because there is no systematic testing for Lynch syndrome currently in place in the UK. This has caused variation in clinical practice leading to some people not being offered the test and placed in surveillance.

However the new NICE guidelines which I have developed with others, and are now publically available in draft form, recommend universal testing of all new bowel cancer patients at diagnosis. With this new strategy over 300 bowel cancers are expected to be prevented each year in the UK.

How is Lynch syndrome typically identified? What tests are available?

Clinicians have traditionally used selective criteria to assess and identify individuals who they suspect of having Lynch syndrome. These patients generally have a strong family history of bowel, womb or ovarian cancer that over several generations. Lynch syndrome may be suspected by clinicians if:

At least two relatives on the same side of the family have had bowel cancer

A family member developed bowel cancer at a young age (under 50)

There are cases of bowel and womb cancer on the same side of the family

Three or more relatives on the same side of the family have had one Lynch syndrome-type cancer

With the new NICE guidelines this process of identification will be simplified by simply testing everyone who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer (at any age, and immediately at the time of their diagnosis). Hopefully we should identify a lot more people who are at risk in this way.

Once Lynch syndrome is suspected testing for Lynch syndrome usually involves a two-step process:

Molecular screening test - a simple screening test (also known as a molecular test) can be carried out on the patients tumor tissue to identify if they are likely to have Lynch syndrome. This test looks for changes in the mismatch repair genes. Genetic testing - if changes to the genes are detected in the provisional screening test, patients will be referred for full genetic testing to have their diagnosis settled. This involves a simple blood test and confirms that a change in the gene is present. Usually this takes around 6-8 weeks but in some cases it can take up to a year because of the difficulty in finding the faulty gene.

How is Lynch syndrome inherited and what is the percentage chance that a family member might also have the condition and be at risk for bowel cancer?

Lynch syndrome is caused by a fault in a MMR gene which everyone has two copies of  one from each parent.

If someone has Lynch syndrome it means they have inherited one healthy gene but also one thats faulty. If that person was then to have a child there would be a 5050 chance that they will pass on the faulty gene which could then place the child at greater risk of bowel cancer. This is why generations of families can be affected by Lynch syndrome.

Who should be tested for Lynch syndrome?

All people diagnosed with bowel cancer at any age should have the molecular screening test, and the gene test would probably be offered to about 5% of people when they have had this initial test on their tumor biopsies.

If Lynch syndrome is identified, what options are available to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer?

While there is no known cure for Lynch syndrome the risk of developing bowel cancer can be reduced by managing the effects of the condition throughout a patients lifetime. The risk of bowel cancer can be reduced by:

Regular colonoscopy

Aspirin

Preventative surgery

Placing people with Lynch syndrome in a surveillance program to receive regular colonoscopy is an effective way of preventing bowel cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.

Clinical guidelines by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) recommend that a colonoscopy should take place every 1 to 2 years. Its important that everyone with Lynch syndrome is placed in a surveillance program to receive regular colonoscopy as this can reduce mortality from bowel cancer by as much as 72%.

Clinical trials have also shown that taking regular aspirin from the age of 45 can significantly reduce the risk of bowel and other cancers in Lynch syndrome carriers by over 50%.

How many hospitals in the UK are testing those under 50 diagnosed with bowel cancer for Lynch syndrome?

In a Freedom of Information request conducted earlier this year by Bowel Cancer UK and the Royal College of Pathologists, it was found that 29% of hospitals across the UK do not routinely test patients under 50 diagnosed with bowel cancer for Lynch syndrome.

Even those hospitals that do carry out the test, just over half (56 per cent) perform the test automatically as a reflex test as stated in the RCPath guidelines. In many cases, hospitals are even delaying the test until after treatment for bowel cancer with only one in 10 (11 per cent) testing at diagnosis.

Testing at diagnosis is vital as we know Lynch syndrome can affect treatment options for bowel cancer. There needs to be in place a consistent approach for hospitals that enables this testing to take place automatically, as a reflex test, at diagnosis of bowel cancer, particularly with the new universal testing strategy. This will help reduce variation in clinical practice.

What challenges do hospitals face when implementing the Royal College of Pathologists clinical guidelines and how can these barriers be overcome?

The FOI found that the main obstacles to implementing the guidance for testing of Lynch syndrome are financial, resource and capacity barriers. A lack of NICE clinical guidance for testing was also listed as a barrier by a number of hospitals.

Other factors could be a lack of awareness of the requirement to test or the absence of a specialist gastrointestinal pathologist in some smaller units.

However, we know from formal studies that molecular testing for Lynch syndrome is a cost-effective use of resources. Knowing that a person has Lynch syndrome means that they can be placed in a surveillance program to receive regular colonoscopy. This can help improve patient outcomes by detecting bowel cancer at an earlier stage when it is less costly to treat and has a better prognosis.

What impact could increased testing for Lynch syndrome have?

Increasing testing for Lynch syndrome can help detect more people at greater risk of recurrence, informs treatment options and help to identify family members who may also have the condition and be at risk of bowel cancer themselves.

As Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition knowing if someone does have the condition means that the patient and their family can be offered a surveillance program to receive regular colonoscopy, which can reduce their chance of dying from bowel cancer by as much as 72 per cent.

Where can readers find more information?

About Kevin Monahan

Dr Kevin Monahan (Service lead) spent 3 years working at Cancer Research UK where he completed his PhD in cancer genetics with funding from the Bobby Moore Fund for Bowel Cancer Research, working also at the Family Cancer Clinic at St Mark's Hospital in Harrow.

Currently he leads a familial cancer service called the 'family history of bowel cancer clinic', working closely with colleagues at West Middlesex University Hospital, part of Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS Trust.

Dr Monahan is on the medical advisory board of Bowel Cancer UK, and Lynch Syndrome UK. He is currently continuing his research interests in clinical and molecular aspects of gastrointestinal disease, particularly in the field of endoscopy, colorectal, pancreatic and other GI cancers, GI polyps and other neoplasia.
The worlds first malaria vaccine will be rolled out in pilot projects in sub-Saharan Africa, WHO confirmed today. Funding is now secured for the initial phase of the programme and vaccinations are due to begin in 2018.

The vaccine, known as RTS,S, acts against P. falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa. Advanced clinical trials have shown RTS,S to provide partial protection against malaria in young children.

The pilot deployment of this first-generation vaccine marks a milestone in the fight against malaria, said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. These pilot projects will provide the evidence we need from real-life settings to make informed decisions on whether to deploy the vaccine on a wide scale.

Vaccine financing and development

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today approved US $15 million for the malaria vaccine pilots, assuring full funding for the first phase of the programme. Earlier this year, the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNITAID announced commitments of up to US $27.5 million and US $9.6 million, respectively, for the first four years of the vaccine programme.

RTS,S was developed through a partnership between GlaxoSmithKline and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and from a network of African research centres.

WHO recognizes and commends the leadership and support of all funding agencies and partners who have made this achievement possible, said Dr Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, Director of the WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.

Vaccine programme recommended by two WHO advisory bodies

In October 2015, two independent WHO advisory groups comprised of the worlds foremost experts on vaccines and malaria  the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization and the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC)  recommended pilot implementation of the RTS,S vaccine in 3 to 5 settings in sub-Saharan Africa. These recommendations followed a July 2015 announcement that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had issued a positive scientific opinion of the RTS,S vaccine.

WHO officially adopted the SAGE-MPAC recommendations in January 2016 and has since worked to mobilize financial support for the pilots and to finalize the programme design. The pilot programme will evaluate the feasibility of delivering the required 4 doses of RTS,S; the impact of RTS,S on lives saved; and the safety of the vaccine in the context of routine use.* It will also assess the extent to which the vaccines protective effect demonstrated in children aged 517 months old in the Phase 3 trial can be replicated in real-life settings.

Country selection

RTS,S is the first malaria vaccine to successfully complete pivotal Phase 3 testing. The Phase 3 trial enrolled more than 15,000 infants and young children in 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries that participated in the Phase 3 clinical trials will be prioritized for inclusion in the WHO pilot programme. Consultations are ongoing and the names of the three selected countries will be announced in the coming weeks.

A complementary control tool

The RTS,S vaccine is proposed as a tool to complement the existing package of WHO-recommended malaria preventive, diagnostic and treatment measures and will be used in combination with the current interventions. Other tools include: long-lasting insecticidal bed-nets; spraying inside walls of dwellings with insecticides; preventive treatment for infants and during pregnancy; prompt diagnostic testing; and treatment of confirmed cases with effective anti-malarial medicines.

Deployment of these tools has already dramatically lowered malaria disease burden in many African settings. Between 2000 and 2015, the rate of new malaria cases in sub-Saharan Africa fell by 42% and malaria mortality rates fell by 66%. However, this region continues to account for approximately 90% of global malaria cases and deaths.

As RTS,S is only partially effective, it will be essential that any vaccinated patients with a fever be tested for malaria, and that all those with a confirmed malaria diagnosis are treated with high quality, effective anti-malarial medicines.

Partner quotes:

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance:

These pilots are critical to determine whether this vaccine can be rolled out more broadly, adding an important new tool to the proven interventions we already have in the fight against malaria. The Global Fund's commitment marks the beginning of a historic partnership between Gavi, the Global Fund and UNITAID, bringing together three of the world's biggest health financing institutions to tackle one of the leading killers of children.

Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund:

The new vaccine is a potentially valuable new tool in the fight against malaria. With the pilots funded, we are eager to see how this vaccine works in combination with insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying.

Lelio Marmora, Executive Director of UNITAID:
Remember six-year-old Alex Myteberi, who offered shelter to Omran Daqdeesh, the five-year-old boy in the ambulance? Daqneesh had become an iconic image of the horrors that unfolded in Syria after he was pictured covered in dust and blood in Aleppo.Well, Myteberi recently met outgoing-President Barack Obama at the White House.Myteberi and his family, including his younger sister, were visiting the White House when Obama thanked him for being nice and kind."You being so nice, and kind, hopefully makes other people think the same way. So, I was very proud of you," Obama told Myteberi.The meeting between Obama and the six-year-old was recorded and a short clip was posted on the verified Facebook page of the White House.Earlier this year, Myteberi wrote to outgoing-President Barack Obama, urging him to bring Daqdeesh to his house so that they could stay and play together."Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" Alex asked in the video. "Can you please pick him up and bring him to our home?"Alex said he has a friend at school from Syria, and "we can all play together".Obama spoke about Myteberi's during his speech at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations in September."The humanity that a young child can display who hasn't learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of how they look or where they're from or how they pray," said Obama, adding "We can all learn from Alex."
Hindi word 'jugaad' has clearly resonated with the visiting Israel President Reuven Rivlin who on Sunday sought to connect the colloquial term to the Jewish state of Israel and its style of inventing and working.



India's President Pranab Mukherjee, on his part, lauded Israel's conviction in making a mark in agriculture through innovation and technology solutions.



The term 'jugaad' -- used by or known to many Indians -- means an ingenious way of getting around a problem or a bottleneck.



"Jugaad is the way we think, the way we invent, the way we work," Rivlin said while evoking images, memories, and emotions among the audience as it burst into peels of laughter.



He was speaking after inaugurating the 12th edition of Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) biennial agro-technology and business fair, Agro Tech 2016, here along with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.



"During my visit to India, I learned a new word called 'jugaad'. Jugaad means -- a clever solution born out of trouble. If you know Israel and Israelis, you can guess how quickly I fell in love with this word," Rivlin said as the audience broke into laughter.



"Just imagine a small nation, suffering for being different. The State of Israel is Jugaad! Jugaad is the way we think, the way we invent, the way we work," he added.



The Israeli President said people in his country had worked hard to make technological innovations and advancements.



"We in Israel were concerned about homeland security, but India taught us to think about food security. And this is why we are all here today. India and Israel are both old-new nations," he said.



Rivlin said food security is not only about surviving -- it's about thriving.



After inaugurating the event, Mukherjee said: "There is much to learn from Israel, a country which has converted its disadvantages to advantages with courage, conviction and fortitude. I am happy to share the platform with the President of Israel, a country that has made a mark in agriculture through innovation, technology solutions and converting its knowledge into value additions."



He said Israel had created water and food surplus by successfully using technology.



Talking about his experiences during his ongoing visit to India, Revlin said he visited Karnal in Haryana, where Indians and Israelis are developing new varieties of cherry tomatoes, which are an Israeli invention.



"When Indian and Israeli experts place solar panels on truck roofs to use solar energy to keep food inside fresh and prevent food waste, they are doing magic together. When Israeli companies and Indian farmers create professional and financial networks to help farmers keep growing crops, they are doing magic together."



Mukherjee and Revlin went around a section of the fair, which showcases technological innovations potentially beneficial for the agriculture sector at the Parade Ground here.



Israel is the partner country while 12 other countries are participating. Ninety-two domestic and 47 exhibitors are among the participants, including from Canada, Germany, Britain, China, Denmark, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey and the US.



Punjab and Haryana are the host states for the four-day expo while Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are the partner states.


I am very happy that the Agra-Lucknow expressway is now open, soon we will also be inaugurating the Lucknow metro: CM Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/feBlz4ICdm

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) 21 November 2016

In a first of its kind, Indian Air Force fighter jets touched down on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Monday in Uttar Pradesh as part of the grand opening of India's longest expressway.The six-lane 302-km long expressway connecting the city of Taj Mahal with state capital Lucknow was inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.Four Sukhoi jets from Bareilly and four Mirage 2000s from Gwalior performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe.A pet project of the Chief Minister, the Expressway has been constructed by theUttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh thanked the IAF for the grand show and said the expressway will be opened for public soon.According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the expressway will help cut down the time between Agra and Lucknow to just 3.5 hours, from the current seven hours.The expressway is also expected the reduce the road travel time between Delhi and Lucknow to between 5 to 6 hours.An official connected with the project said the Expressway is fully equipped with advanced traffic management systems that take care of foggy conditions too.The state government claimed the Expressway had created a national record of laying a 302 greenfield expressway in just 23 months. The six lanes can be later expanded to eight.Eight bridges on Ganges and Yamuna, four railway overbridges and provision of 3.3 km runway for landing of Indian Air Force fighter planes are unique features of the project.The journey time between Agra and Lucknow has been reduced from 8 to 9 hours to just 4 to 5 hours now. The road joins the Yamuna Expressway in Agra.Agra citizens rejoiced on the opening of the six-lane Expressway, that the state government has claimed will bring Taj Ganj nearer to Hazrat Ganj.A few stretches of the mega project are still to be completed but the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was keen to present a birthday gift to his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose birthday is being celebrated by party workers on Monday.The formal opening ceremony was held at Khamboli, near RS Chauraha Bangarmau in Unnao district.A few days ago the CEO of the project Navneet Sehgal was seriously injured alongwith a journalist and some staffers, when he visited the site. Sehgal is in Medanta Hospital presently.The new expressway did not face many legal hassles like the Mayawati project, Yamuna Expressway, as land was purchased from 30,000 farmers under amicable agreements and market terms, an official said.
Bengaluru: The Income Tax department officials visited the offices of mining baron and former Karnataka minister Janardhan Reddy on Monday, days after the extravagant wedding of his daughter grabbed headlines.



Reddy, a former BJP lawmaker, is on bail after languishing 40 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore mining scam that rocked Karnataka in 2010-11.



Though Reddy was maintaining low profile after his release in January 2015 on conditional bail by the Supreme Court, an expensive marriage invitation sent out with a LCD screen playing a pre-wedding video raised eyebrows and brought him back into limelight.







Over 50,000 people attended the wedding of his daughter Brahmani at the Bangalore Palace.



Billed as one of the most expensive marriages in the sub-continent, the five-day grand event drew all-round flak at a time when lakhs were queueing up outside banks and ATMs for cash.



Ahead of the fat wedding, Reddy told reporters on November 10 at his home town, Ballari, that he would give marriage expenditure account to the income tax department in a month. However, he had declined to share its estimate with the local media.



"You (journalists) can also obtain information under the Right to Information Act and make an interesting report," Reddy said on the occasion.



Except for a local news channel, funded by Reddy, media was barred from covering the wedding, as it was a family event and also due to security concerns.



T. Narasimha Murthy, 52, a Bengaluru-based legal activist, alleged that Reddy was splurging a whopping Rs 500 crore on his daughter's wedding at a time when people were struggling daily to get their money from banks and post offices.



"Reddy had hired about 3,000 bouncers and security guards to prevent media and activists, like me, from barging into the venue and asking him on the vulgar display of his ill-gotten wealth he amassed through illegal mining," said Murthy.




Japan's Commission on the Constitution under the House of Councillors restarted its substantive discussion on a constitutional amendment on November 16 after a nine-month hiatus. It is the first formal multi-party discussion of its kind after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies secured a supermajority in the election of the House of Councillors this July.

Despite the disagreement of opposition parties, the ambitious LDP, whose members dominate the current government, have maintained their efforts to amend Japans pacifist constitution.

Shinzo Abes government has further stoked the flames by pushing new security laws that have been accused of violating the countrys constitution. In a "Keen Sword" military drill staged this month by Japanese and US forces, the two countries have for the first time put on joint exercises related to the new security laws.

In addition, the Japanese government also approved a plan for its troops to conduct rescue missions in South Sudan on UN peacekeeping operations. Such actions have aroused strong opposition across the country, while the new security laws have been characterized as paving the way to war.

"Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." This historic renunciation of war in the pacifist constitution is what the Abe government has long been trying to abolish since he took office.

If constitutional change is a move taken by Abe in the public sphere, then the attempts to enact the new security laws are brazen violations of Japans pacifist pledge. Since the laws allow the country to fully exercise its right to collective defense, it's just a matter of time before Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) engage in aggressive military action, which directly violates its pacifist constitution.

However, the Japanese government, infamous for saying one thing and doing another, holds greater ambitions. The true intention of the conservative Abe government is to legalize its engagement in wars.

To advance its underhanded agenda, it has carried out a series of actions both domestically and internationally. It rejected and amended the domestic and diplomatic policies adopted by successive cabinets, overturned its introspection and repentance over aggression in World War II, fomented tensions over the Diaoyu Islands and South China Sea, made new allies and drove a wedge between China and its neighbors.

The world has expressed severe concerns over these actions that may lead Japan off the path of peaceful development.

Since Japan passed the new security bills last September, more than 300 protests have taken place across the country, calling for the government to abolish the new laws. In addition, many Japanese citizens have filed lawsuits against the Japanese government for its violation of the constitution and the mental torment caused by the possibility of future wars or terrorist attacks.

These voices have criticized the endorsement of the new security bills as a savage act, described the amendment of the constitution as a regression of history, and voiced their opposition to sending their children to battle.

Just recently, US magazine Foreign Policy remarked, Abe did pass the legislation but never managed to dispel public concerns  that sometime, somewhere at Washingtons behest, Tokyo will get dragged into a conflict that has nothing to do with the defense of Japan.

The debate over the constitutional amendment will surely bring chaos to Japanese society, but the victims will not be limited to the Japanese people. The new security laws allow Japanese troops to operate across the world, provide military support to its allies, and strike first in a military capacity, thus further destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan is trying to shake off the final restraint on its diplomatic, military and overseas actions through its constitutional amendment, new security laws and abolishment of its renunciation of war, so as to escape its post-war pacifist system. The international community should stay alert to such actions.

Hitoshi Ashida, former chairman of Japan's Committee on the Bill for Revision of the Imperial Constitution, said 70 years ago that the renunciation of war is the common desire of the people who suffered from the war that caused hundreds of thousands of casualties, comparing it to a broad path to world peace.

Though seven decades have passed, the significance of the pacifist constitution should not be undermined or forgotten. It serves as an assurance of peace to the Japanese people and the countries once invaded by Japan, as well as a crucial step to eliminating a potential threat to the peace of East Asia.

It is the responsibility and mission of every member of the international community to safeguard and play a constructive role in regional and world peace. Only by drawing lessons from history, adhering to a peaceful development trajectory, treading cautiously when it comes to military action and boosting mutual trust with neighbors, can Japan return to the right path.

Though Japanese citizens know this well, a handful of extreme and stubborn right-wing politicians are leading Japan astray by walking down the old path of expansionism.
New Delhi: India is among the lowest four countries in terms of number of rapes but almost every incident is reported by the media, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said on Monday.



She also said that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards rape.



However, her statement drew flak from lawyer Vrinda Grover who asked if she is "denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India".



Addressing a gathering of women journalists, the Women and Child Development Minister said, "I went to Sweden two years ago when because of Nirbhaya incident, cases were being reported everyday.



Someone said to me that no one wanted to travel to India.



"I actually took a look at a table. In the world, we are among the lowest four countries in the area of rape. Sweden is number one.



I said in your country it is not reported in the newspapers. Whereas we have zero tolerance (towards rape) and our newspapers will write about it everyday," she said.



"In fact, according to data collated by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Sweden recorded second highest number of sexual crimes - 63.5 per 100,000 inhabitants  in 2010.



This is the highest for any European country. "Botswana was the worst at 92.9 rapes per 1,00,000 people.



The figure for Sweden is also more than 30 times the number in India, which recorded 1.8 offences per 1,00,000 people," Maneka said.



Grover argued that comparing crime statistics across countries can be "fraught with problems".

"I find it very unfortunate that a minister might try and tell women of this country that you can be in a worse situation instead of saying that she is working to make things better.



Is she denying sexual violence is pervasive and widespread in India?" she asked.



"I would look at whether definition of rape is the same in Sweden as in India. Secondly, there may be a much higher rate of reporting in Sweden," Grover added.




Mumbai: India on Monday became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory.



The agreement was signed on Monday by Sekhar Basu, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and CERN Director General Dr Fabiola Gianotti at the DAE's office here.



Last year, the Union Cabinet green-lit the proposal for India officially entering the Geneva-based body, following which the CERN Council accepted India as an associate member.



India had 'observer' status till September this year, when the CERN Council adopted a resolution upgrading its position.



"There are three major activities going on in our laboratory-- accelerators, detectors and computing. Indian scientist fraternity is good at all the three areas; hence we have taken decision to upgrade the status," Gianotti told reporters here.



Becoming associate member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects.



It will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects, Gianotti said.



The industries now can directly bag contracts for specified requirements of CERN. Earlier, the supply of required material, components and services was in the form of kind (without any charge).



Now, the companies can directly bag the order and provide the services, she added.



After becoming a associate member, India also has to contribute a certain amount of money for research activities.



"This would involve annual contribution of 11.5 million swiss frank from Indian government to CERN," Gianotti said.



The membership comes at a time when there was criticism within the scientific community over the delay in India

accepting the membership. Pakistan became an associate member of the body in 2014.



The organisation is the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems.



Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to four states and three International Organisations.



"We already have met some industries in Bengaluru and talks were more related to computing. We will explore more in India and what can be contributing to CERN," said Gianotti.
Ahmedabad: An Israeli youth was killed and his woman friend injured when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by a mini-truck on National Highway-8 near Vapi GIDC area of Valsad district, police said on Monday.



24-year-old Yotam Zafrani was killed in the mishap last evening while his friend Mayan, also a Israel national, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Vapi industrial area, Vapi GIDC police inspector H B Patel said.



"We have learnt that Yotam and Mayan were on India tour and headed to Mumbai from Valsad on their rented bike.



Yotam was riding the bike while his friend was riding pillion.



They were hit from behind by a mini-truck near Karambeli village on NH-8 last evening," he said.



Both the tourists were rushed to a private hospital in the GIDC area through the '108' ambulance service.



After the accident, the truck driver fled from the spot, Patel said. "Yotam died shortly after being brought to the hospital, while Mayan, who received minor injuries, is currently undergoing treatment," he said.



"Though the truck driver drove away, a bystander noted its registration number and gave it to us. We have lodged a case against the unidentified driver," Patel said, adding that the Israeli Embassy has been informed about the death of their citizen.




New Delhi: A 35-year-old man on Sunday allegedly lifted a bag containing gold jewellery worth over Rs 1 lakh from a scanning machine at the Karol Bagh metro station, even as the bag's owner dubbed it as a misunderstanding, police said.



Ganesh allegedly lifted the bag from the X-ray machine around 7 PM yesterday at the Karol Bagh metro station and tried to run away with it, a senior police officer said.



He was caught by CISF security personnel who handed him over to police.



The bag belonged to Gulshan, a resident of Azadpur, who said it contained jewellery worth Rs 1.2 lakh. Gulshan and Ganesh were taken to police station.



Ganesh in his statement said it was a misunderstanding.



No case was registered, the officer said.


New Delhi: About 78 passengers onboard the Indore-Patna Express, which derailed on Sunday were identified to be beneficiaries under a new IRCTC optional insurance cover. But if insurance service providers are to be believed then disbursal of payments could take infinite time.



So far, 145 people have been killed in the accident which has left 200 more injured.



Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) introduced the travel insurance scheme on September 1, 2016, which makes the Indore-Patna Express tragedy the first accident that will put the scheme to test. Commuters can avail insurance after paying a premium of 92 paise to the railways while booking the ticket. IRCTC has partnered with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd and Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd for the scheme.



Jaganathan Annamalai, Head of Commercial Lines, Shriram General insurance Co Ltd, told News18 that most of the beneficiaries would face a lot of difficulty to claim their insurance amount. Passengers dont take a train journeys security seriously. After a passenger books their ticket, we send emails and reminders but in spite of this, they do not appoint a nominee whom we can disburse the amount in case of a death, Annamalai said.



He also said that when the insurance company does not have a nominees name, they usually have to wait for a legal heir certificate to be issued by the local government.



It is just 92 paise and hence no one bothers to appoint a nominee. Without a legal heir name, we cannot proceed with settling the claims. This travel insurance scheme should be made mandatory and not optional, and then people should be compelled to follow these regulations to avoid future hassle, he said.





According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Indian Railways, Anil Saxena, the derailed Indore-Patna Express had on board 695 passengers who were travelling on reserved seats. Out of them, 128 had opted for the insurance and paid for it at the time of booking. Out of the 128 passengers, 78 were in the train during the accident, whereas the remaining was to board later. Even if the insurance claim takes time to settle, the bereaved families have been provided an ex-gratia of Rs 3. 5 lakh already which is in addition to the insurance amount payable (sic), he said.



However, the chief of IRCTC told News18 that companies would not be allowed to get away with the nominee excuse. A K Manocha, Chairman and Managing Director of IRCTC said that there were several issues which might lead to very few claims out of the official figure of 78.



The data we have received from Shriram General Insurance Co and Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co., shows that many people had given wrong numbers while booking tickets either themselves or through an agent, and this makes tracing them very difficult. Almost 51 out of 128 insured had their tickets automatically cancelled due to wait-list or detained due to non-confirmation of the tickets, Manocha said.



He said that insurance companies will not leave the cases if nominees cannot be located and the state would also intervene to get the affected their insurance amount. But there should be requests from the family of the deceased or injured as well. My estimate is not more 10 to 15 claims will be there out of the total 78 because many were called up and they said that they were safe or were not in the affected bogies, Manocha said.



Sanjay Dutta, Chief of Underwriting and Claims, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, told News18 that more than sorting nominees, the problem is to identify the passengers actually travelling in the train. As of now we have not received any claims, but at this juncture we are trying to find who were actually travelling in the affected bogies while the accident took place and finding the nominee will only take place after that, he said.



Masood Wahab, Chief Manage, Oriental Insurance Company, maintained that disbursal of payments could be painstakingly long if correct nominees are not stated. He told News18 that identification of the correct nominee was very important and it may cause inordinate delay.



When a beneficiary does not appoint a nominee then their natural nominee has to come forward and prove by certificates to the effect of law that they are entitled, and only then disbursals can be made, he said.



However, Wahab said that it is strange that companies like ICICI Lombard and others did not have a strong procedure to have the names of the nominees in place before giving insurance. Premium is not important, expediting the claims is what one looks for in these cases, said Wahab.



Manocha told News18 that IRCTC has written to the Railway Ministry to make this insurance scheme mandatory with other features such as making it applicable to unreserved tickets, linking the insurance to Aadhar numbers, insuring valuables of commuters and paying a lump sum amount to insure all their local and short distance train journeys throughout the year.



The claims under the new scheme is Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 10 lakh in case of Permanent Total Disability, Rs 7.5 lakh in case of permanent partial disability, Rs 2 lakh for hospitalization expenses for injury and Rs 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains.




The NIA carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day on Monday, even as it blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.



The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name cropped up after the Dhaka terror attack on July 1 when one of the terrorists involved posted on social media that they had been inspired by the former's speeches.



Search operations were carried out by the National Investigation Agency at the offices of IRF, premises of Naik as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naik's Peace TV.



The NIA also blocked the website of IRF, which was allegedly promoting "hate speeches" of Naik.



"As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken," an NIA spokesperson told PTI.



Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.



If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.



The NIA is still trying to block Naik's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged "objectionable" material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials.



The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naik's sermons.



Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.



The NIA had on November 19 carried out searches on 10 premises of the IRF in Mumbai after registering a case against Naik and others under the anti-terror law.



The agency had seized Rs 12 lakh cash and incriminating documents, files as well as electronic storage devices, during searches on various premises, including IRF's head office.



IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.



Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.



Justifying the ban imposed on IRF, the government said Naik has been extolling Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted 80 per cent of Indians would not have remained Hindus.



In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the IRF and its members, particularly, founder Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities.



"The central government has received information that the statements and speeches made by Zakir Naik, the president of IRF are objectionable and subversive in nature as he has been extolling the known terrorists like Osama bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted, 80 per cent of Indian population would not have remained Hindus as they could have been converted 'if we wanted' by sword, justifying the suicide bombings, posting objectionable comments against Hindu Gods, claiming that Golden Temple may not be as sacred as Mecca and Medina and making other statements which are derogatory to other religions," the notification said.
New Delhi: Russia and France have condoled the loss of lives in the Indore-Patna Express train tragedy on Sunday with French government expressing solidarity with India in this terrible ordeal.



In his message to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Kindly accept profound condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the train crash in the state of Uttar Pradesh.



"I request you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased and wishes of speedy recovery to all injured people."



The French Foreign Ministry said France offers its condolences to the near and dear ones of the victims of this tragedy and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.



"It assures India of its solidarity in this terrible ordeal," the Spokesperson in the French Foreign Ministry said.



Over 140 people have died after the Indore-Patna Express derailed in Kanpur's Pukhrayan area yesterday. More than 200 passengers were also injured in the accident.
New Delhi: Taxi-hailing app Uber has partnered WedMeGood, a wedding planning website, to offer mobility solutions for wedding-related travel in 12 Indian cities.



UberWEDDINGS will be live till February 2017 and will provide convenient, hassle-free and cashless mobility solution to users in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Pune, Udaipur and Lucknow, Uber India said in a statement.



Apart from India, Uber offers UberWEDDINGS in Washington DC, San Francisco, New York, Boston and LA as well.



"Weddings in India are typically an elaborate affair, often spanning month-long planning and week-long celebrations involving family and friends. While we all enjoy the fun and celebration, they also bring in the logistical challenge of a coordination and managing the commuting needs," Uber India General Manager (Delhi and NCR) Prabhjeet Singh said.



According to estimates, weddings in India form a whopping USD 40 billion industry.



Prior to the wedding, hosts can buy a specific number of Uber rides of set denominations (promo code based) on a specifically dedicated page on the WedMeGood website.



They can then, share them with their guests as an extension to their invitations or give them to their family members to ride for free during preparation, the statement said.



This will enable the host to keep a track of their travel expenses without worrying about coordinating pick-ups and drops, parking, waiting charges.



The promo codes can also be customised with host's name or their wedding hashtag which will be printed by Uber and made available within three working days of the purchase request.


Pune girl Varsha Rajkhowa has been crowned the new Miss Scuba International 2016  a one-of-a-kind global beauty pageant held with the purpose of spreading awareness about ocean protection and marine life. Twenty-five-year-old Varsha was adjudged the winner from among 16 other participants after a glitzy grand finale at the gorgeous Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on November 20, 2016.



What makes it an even more proud moment for the country is that this is the first time ever an Indian has represented at the pageant and won it, too. Varsha impressed with her maturity and intellect during the entire event but her reply in the final question-answer round wowed all judges. On being asked, What is the most important lesson youve learned during the competition? She said, The most important thing we learn is that united we stand and divided we fall. We must come together to save our oceans and to [preserve] beautiful marine life. This is because what we love is what we save, and what we fear to lose is what we have to work for.



The answer earned Varsha the coveted title while Meryl Angeline King, 27, from Philippines became the first runner-up and Sun Zitong, 24 from China grabbed the second runner-up titles.



Born in Assam and brought up in different parts of the country, Varsha hails from a defence background. She is an environmentalist by profession and wears multiple hats of a model, international-grade dancer, choreographer, national level swimmer and a certified scuba diver.



Varshas mother has been instrumental in her becoming a model. While in college, my mother encouraged me to take part in the RSI May Queen pageant in Pune where I was one of the finalists. I won the title of best smile and talent, and the whole experience made me realise my hidden love for walking the ramp, says Varsha.



But achieving success at such a young age didnt come easy. She faced many challenges and had to face a lot of criticism for her looks and language during her school and college days as she belongs to the Northeast. But she overcame every hurdle with her grit and hard work. She has always dreamt of becoming Miss India one day and represent her country on an international platform. Winning the title of Miss Scuba International 2016 is a dream come true for me. This is my first international pageant and I am extremely glad that I made my country and parents proud, says an elated Varsha.



The Miss Scuba International pageant has been on since 2011 and is aimed at protecting oceans, something that has always been very close to Varshas heart. With this glorious win, Varsha has great plans as the ambassador to promote the diving industry and marine conservation globally. Once back, I want to work closely with the Indian government and NGOs to stop shark finning in the country, Varsha adds.




Mumbai: Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday said he was quite tempted to play Akshay Kumar's role in his upcoming Tamil science-fiction actioner "2.0". He said Akshay is the real hero of the film.



"If given a chance, I would have played Akshay's character. He is the real hero of the film," Rajinikanth said.



Akshay Kumar plays the prime antagonist in the film, which will hit the screens worldwide during Diwali 2017.



Talking at the event, Akshay said: "Director Shankar said my role will be difficult but I enjoyed it. The subject is very unique. I'm sure this film will reach the standards of Hollywood."



Rajinikanth believes his upcoming Tamil science-fiction actioner 2.0 is not a prestigious film just for its makers but for the entire Indian cinema.



"I enjoyed working on this film. This subject is very unique. This is not just a prestigious picture for the producers, director Shankar or the unit but it's one for the whole Indian cinema," Rajinikanth said here at the first look launch event.



He's confident the Rs.350 crore mega budget film will match Hollywood standards.



"Despite our (Indian cinema's) technical excellence and the financial strength, we could not reach Hollywood standard yet. But I'm confident this film will reach Hollywood level. It'll be a film our entire Indian film fraternity will be proud of," he said.



Rajinikanth plays doctor-scientist Vaseegaran in the film, which is a sequel to his own 2010 blockbuster, Enthiran.



Akshay Kumar plays a scientist called Richard, who turns into a Crow Man after an experiment goes wrong.



Also starring Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey and Adil Hussain, the film is being completely shot in 3D, and is slated for Diwali 2017 release.




LIMA, Nov. 20 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the central government fully acknowledges the work of the chief executive and government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Xi made the remarks when meeting with HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

After hearing the report made by Leung on the recent situation in Hong Kong and the work done by the HKSAR government, Xi expressed the central government's acknowledgement of the work of the HKSAR chief executive and government.

The president asked Leung to lead the HKSAR government to build broad social consensus and focus on boosting economic development and improving people's well-being.

He also urged Leung to lead the HKSAR government to resolutely safeguard national unity and maintain social and political stability.
Thx @Hughcevans and @glblctznIN for bringing issues of Gender Equality Quality Education,Water & Sanitation to the fore.Thx for including me  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 20, 2016

Congratulations @Hughcevans on an incredible event & on the social impact it's already created .. privilege to be part of it. https://t.co/QDPSqvdxy1  Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) November 20, 2016

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has thanked Global Citizen Festival India (GCFI) and the festival's CEO Hugh Evans for bringing forward important issues like gender equality, water and sanitation."Thanks Hugh Evans and Global Citizen Festival India for bringing issues of gender equality, quality education, water and sanitation to the fore. Thanks for including me," Shah Rukh tweeted on Sunday.Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who was seen performing the song Atrangi Yaari with megastar Amitabh Bachchan from their film Wazir, also congratulated Evans for the "incredible event"."Congratulations Hugh Evans on an incredible event and on the social impact it's already created," Farhan tweeted.The Rock On 2 actor added that it was a "privilege to be part of it."The event which took place on Saturday night here, saw international artistes like Jay Z, Demi Lovato, British band Coldplay and The Vamps performing at the event.
New Delhi: Upping the ante against demonetisation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday exhorted people to "change" the Prime Minister instead of defunct notes, saying those supporting the exercise were against the country, even as AAP announced a march to Parliament on Tuesday.



Countering his Mahasrastra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis' contention that opposing the decision was "anti-national", Kejriwal said it was those who were in support of the drive that were against the country and the citizens.



Kejriwal also continued to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, asking the latter to come clear on his "relations" with a mobile wallet company, claiming its business has seen an "upswing" since demonetisation.



"Note nahi, PM Badlo (Change PM, not note)...Fadnavis ji, fire is raging across the country following the decision of

the Prime Minister. The person who is standing with the PM on this would be against the country and the citizens," the Chief

Minister, who is touring poll-bound Punjab, tweeted.



In another tweet, he urged Modi to either "waive off" farmers' loans or deposit Rs 10,000 in each Jan Dhan account using the money deposited by people in banks since November 10, the day banking opened post demonetisation.



Kerjriwal had earlier set a three-day deadline to the Centre demanding that demonetisation, "a massive scam", be rolled back. He will also address rallies in Varanasi, Meerut and Lucknow next month to corner the government on the issue.



The deadline expired on Sunday and AAP said Tuesday's march to Parliament was part of its plan to sustain the momentum of its pitched battle against the exercise.



Several ministers of the Delhi cabinet, led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, will take part in the march.



Alleging that the drive by the Modi government was a "scam", senior AAP leader Ashish Khetan said common people were suffering while the loans of big industrialists were being waived off.



"We will be a undertaking Sansad March tomorrow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Demonetisation was aimed at giving BJP the advantage of being the only one with the largest amount of black money in new currency which they can use in the elections," Khetan told a press conference.



Apart from party leaders, Delhi ministers will also join the march, which will start from Jantar Mantar around 11.30 am.


New Delhi: The Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the site of a major rail accident near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, which left over 140 people dead.



It also slammed the government for not spending enough on the safety and security of the railways, while spending huge amounts for Bullet Trains.



The deaths rose to 146 in one of the worst rail accidents in the country when the Indore-Patna Express rolled off the tracks near Kanpur early on Sunday, officials said.



"We are shocked that the prime minister didn't even visit the site of the accident, despite being in the state for a rally," Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said here.



"We have seen this before... The PM did very little when farmers were committing suicide due to acute rural distress," he added.



Scindia said: "Instead of spending so much of money on Bullet Trains, the government could have invested the same amount in safety and security of the railways."



The Congress also accused the government of creating an economic logjam in the entire country by demonetising old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.



"Today farmers are being forced to run from pillar to post because they have no money to buy seeds or fertilisers. They are being forced to walk 10 km to the nearest bank to get some cash," Scindia said.



"The government has created an economic logjam in the country through this step (demonetisation)," he added.



He said the daily wage labourers were not being paid "because there is no money" to make payments.



"The common people in rural as well as urban areas are bearing the brunt of the government's decision," Scindia said.






Thane: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Sunday demanded a definite policy to fight "Islamic terrorism" which, he said, was responsible for polarising communities and creating chaos in country.



"Islamic terrorism is making every attempt to create chaos and anarchy in the country and bring about differences among communities. We had successfully fought LTTE, Tamil Tigers, Bodo, Naxals...and in the same manner we should fight and root out Islamic terrorism from country," he said.



He was delivering the last lecture in the VD Sawarkar Lecture Series on the topic "Terrorism in the Country".



He claimed that the Islamic State is now active in southern states of country "which needs to be tackled with definite policy".



Swamy claimed that he had pushed for Bharat Ratna award for 'Sardar' Vallabhbhai Patel in 1991 when Chandra Shekhar was the Prime Minister. "Congress had not done anything in this regard in their tenure," he said.



Welcoming the demonetisation decision, Swamy said the results of the exercise would be visible after some time.



"One of the major achievements of the move is that the counterfeit notes which were in circulation in Kashmir have vanished and life has come to normal in that state," he said.



He said demonetisation was overall a good move even as he conceded that Finance Ministry was "not prepared" for such a big exercise and ATMs were not calibrated for the new Rs 2000 notes.
Mumbai: Rejecting reports that normalcy is returning to strife-hit Valley, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said dialogue with all stakeholders including Hurriyat is the only way to resolve the impasse.



He also dismissed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that the incidents of stone-pelting on security forces are on the decline post demonetisation of high-value currencies.



"The incumbent coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir is not working on the lines of its joint working manifesto which talks about holding talks with the Hurriyat. I am of the firm view that if Kashmir (issue) has to resolved forever, then we would have to talk to all stake-holders including Hurriyat," Abdullah said on the sidelines of an event.



He was here to attend the 'Mother Teresa Memorial International award for Social Justice 2016' function in suburban Andheri, organised by Harmony Foundation.



"Latching onto few long-pending issues in Valley, a Kashmiri youth Burhan Wani was made from zero to hero," the former J&K Chief Minister told reporters.



The Valley has been on boil since the encounter killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani by security forces in July.



Responding to a query on Parrikar's statement that stone-pelting incidents dipped in the wake of demonetisation decision, Abdullah said there was no truth in this claim.



He also dismissed media reports that normalcy was being restored in the Valley.



"Who is saying so?...The reports are devoid of truth. How many of you have been in Valley and seen the ground reality. If there is (indeed) something like that (normalcy), it would be very short lived.



"Perpetually peaceful environment in the Valley would be restored when the local people would have the chance of employability. But unfortunately, nothing seems viable at this stage," Abdullah said.



On scrapping of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 banknotes, the NC chief said the decision was good but "badly implemented".



"Government should have made sufficient arrangement for flow of currency before going ahead with this (demonetisation). Had it been implemented properly, nobody would have died in queue for getting cash," Abdullah said.



He said people of Jammu and Kashmir are worst hit due to demonetisation as there are few banks and ATMs in Valley.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, not happy with the demonetisation move, urged the people to change the Prime Minister, not notes.

Kejriwal also wanted to know the connection between Paytm and the prime minister as the latter was seen advertising for it.

Parliament witnessed uproarious scenes on Monday as Opposition protests against demonetisation led to repeated disruptions and adjournments in both Houses.

In the Rajya Sabha, CPM leader Sitaram Yechurys demand to hold official condolence for those who died in bank and ATM queues met with strong opposition from BJP members, leading to a showdown in the Well of the Upper House.

Both Houses were adjourned for the day by afternoon.

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Allahabad: Concentration of power in the hands of one individual is dangerous for the country and chaos due to demonetisation is a direct result of this, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said in a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



Flagging the inconveniences people are facing due to "poor implementation" of the demonetisation decision, he said the move has "dented" the Indian economy hugely and caused tremendous hardship to fishermen, farmers, labourers and daily wage earners.



The Congress vice president added that the entire Opposition was one on this matter and would jointly take on the government in Parliament.



"Concentration of power in the hands of one individual is not good but dangerous for the country. The chaos due to the prime minister's decision of demonetisation is a direct result of this concentration of power," he said.



"The demonetisation decision has hurt the economy in unimaginable ways and has severely dented it besides hitting the fishermen in coastal areas, farmers in northern India, labourers, artisans and daily wage earners," he said.



"The prime minister took this decision without thinking of the consequences. The entire Opposition is together on this issue and will jointly take on the government in Parliament," said Rahul, who was with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra at the historic Anand Bhavan here for the inauguration of a photo exhibition on the life of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.



Interacting with the leaders of Uttar Pradesh Congress on the lawns of Swaraj Bhavan, the house where his grandmother Indira was born, Rahul asked them about the preparations for the Uttar Pradesh elections.



He categorically asked them to take the message of implications of demonetisation among the people.



The Congress plans to mount a nationwide campaign against demonetisation to corner the government and Modi on the issue.
Symantec Corp said it would acquire U.S. identity theft protection services company LifeLock Inc for $2.3 billion, in a deal that it hopes will prop up sales at its Norton cybersecurity unit.



Symantec's security software often comes bundled with personal computers. As a result, the company has suffered as consumers use mobile devices more than traditional computers. While Norton remains profitable, its sales have been falling.



"(Norton) had been declining with the declines in PC market share. This acquisition brings $660 million in revenue to the consumer business and returns it to longer sustainable growth," Symantec Chief Executive Greg Clark said in an interview.



Symantec's purchase of LifeLock is in line with its efforts to diversify its offerings. In August, it bought Blue Coat Inc, which helps firms maintain security over the internet, in a $4.65 billion deal. Clark previously held the top job at Blue Coat, and made the switch after the deal closed.



Based in Tempe, Arizona, LifeLock offers services such as monitoring new account openings and credit-related applications in order to alert consumers about unauthorised use of their identity.



It also works with government agencies, merchants and creditors to remediate the impact of identity theft.



Fran Rosch, executive vice president of Norton Business Unit, said that Symantec had dabbled in identity security but had nowhere near Lifelock's 4.4 million members.



"We had to extend our value proposition. It was a no brainer for us to get back to growth," Rosch said.



Symantec expects to finance the transaction with cash on balance sheet and $750 million of new debt.



Symantec was advised by Citigroup and JP Morgan, along with Bank of America, Barclays Plc, and Wells Fargo. LifeLock was advised by Goldman Sachs.




The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program.



H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.



Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticising the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.



Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs.



Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labour, Sessions said at a February hearing.



The H-1B visa is intended for speciality occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.



Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently.



By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.



LABOR LOTTERY



H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.



Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.



Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter that was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.



Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.



The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.



Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work.



In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S.



CALLS FOR CHANGE



Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favour of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.



That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labour. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.


The main U.S. visa program for technology workers could face renewed scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump and his proposed Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions, a long-time critic of the skilled-worker program.



H-1B visas admit 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers each year. The tech industry, which has lobbied to expand the program, may now have to fight a rear-guard action to protect it, immigration attorneys and lobbyists said.



Trump sent mixed signals on the campaign trail, sometimes criticizing the visas but other times calling them an important way to retain foreign talent.



Sessions, however, has long sought to curtail the program and introduced legislation last year aiming to make the visas less available to large outsourcing companies such as Infosys. Such firms, by far the largest users of H-1B visas, provide foreign contractors to U.S. companies looking to slash information technology costs.



Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor, Sessions said at a February hearing.



A spokesperson for Sessions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump transition team spokesperson declined to comment.



The H-1B visa is intended for specialty occupations that typically require a college education. Companies use them in two main ways to hire technology workers.



Tech firms such as Microsoft and Google typically hire highly skilled, well-paid foreign workers that are in short supply. They help many of them secure so-called green cards that allow them to work in the U.S. permanently.



By contrast, firms such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services, both based in India, use the visas to deploy lower-paid contractors that critics say rarely end up with green cards.



Infosys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tata spokesman declined to comment.



H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This year, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas, a cap set in U.S. law. They are awarded to employers - not employees - and tied to specific positions.



Both Democratic and Republican critics have argued that companies such as Walt Disney Co and Southern California Edison Co, a utility, have used the program to terminate in-house IT employees and replace them with cheaper contractors.



Sessions last year urged then-Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate Southern California Edisons use of H-1B visas in a letter than was also signed by Democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown.



Disney and Edison did not immediately respond to requests for comment but have said previously that they paid foreign contractors comparably with local staffers.



The Justice Department in 2013 settled a visa fraud case with Infosys for $34 million.



Federal investigators accused Infosys of using easier-to-obtain business travel visas to import foreign workers who were required to have H-1B visas. Investigators also alleged that Infosys told foreign workers to lie to U.S. officials about the cities where they would work.



In the settlement, Infosys denied the allegations but agreed to retain a third-party auditor for two years and to provide the government with detailed descriptions of what its visa holders were supposed to be doing in the U.S.



Several constituencies have called for program reforms, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, that industry's largest trade group. It wants the lottery ditched in favor of a system that would award visas to companies offering the highest-paying jobs, said Russ Harrison, director of government relations.



That could potentially shut out employers looking to mine the program for cheap foreign labor. Sessions included a similar measure in his 2015 bill.



Tech industry groups also want changes. FWD.us - the immigration lobbying group backed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg - supports setting higher minimum wages and giving priority to companies that sponsor H-1B workers for green cards.



Were going to advocate for expanding the program, but were also going to advocate for reforming the program, FWD.us President Todd Shulte said in an interview.



The current program mainly benefits big companies at the expense of both U.S. and immigrant workers, said Gaurav Mehta, a 32-year-old H-1B holder from New Delhi who works for a cybersecurity firm in San Francisco.



H-1B workers struggle to switch jobs without risking deportation, he said, which allows employers to pay them less.


Defense ministry: Chinas army on high alert in wake of armed conflicts in northern Myanmar

Chinese armed forces are on high alert after armed groups in Myanmar attacked military and law enforcement posts close to the country's border on Nov. 20, according to a statement from China's defense ministry.

"The Chinese army is on high alert and will take necessary measures to safeguard the country's sovereignty and safety, as well as to protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens living along the border," the statement read.

The ministry hopes that both sides in the conflict will stay calm to avoid further escalation.

According to a Xinhua report on Nov. 20, three armed groups simultaneously attacked security posts in the border towns of Muse and Kutkai in Myanmar's northeastern state of Shan.

Read more:

China calls for restraint from all sides in Myanmar
Islamabad: Pakistan Army on Monday claimed that at least four more civilians have been killed in cross-LoC firing by Indian forces.



The deaths occurred as Pakistan summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh today to lodge a protest over the death of four children over the weekend.



Army confirmed that four civilians in the border villages were killed.



It also claimed that "six Indian army soldiers were killed by retaliatory fire by Pakistan army."



The cross LoC skirmishes have been going on for weeks in which several civilians and soldiers on both the sides have been killed.
Islamabad: Pakistan is gearing up for its new Army chief with the highly popular current Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif embarking on his farewell visits nearly a week before he is expected to retire.



According to top Pakistan government sources, Lt Gen Ashfaq Nadeem and Let Gen Zuber Hayat are in contention for the top post. Hayat is the senior most officer after Gen Sharif and is the Chief of General Staff while Lt Gen Zubair is the Multan Corps Commander. Also in the running are Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.



A final decision will be taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who will be guided by personal choices, political considerations, and, in a couple of cases, his own experience of working with the candidates.







Meanwhile, Gen Sharif began his visits on Monday at the Lahore Garrison where he addressed and thanked a huge gathering of soldiers of Pakistan Army and Rangers, according to Dawn.

Addressing the soldiers, Gen Sharif said accomplishment of peace and stability in the insurgency-torn country was no ordinary task.



The army spokesman had in January rubbished rumours regarding an extension in Gen Sharif's tenure as Chief of Army Staff, quoting the army chief as saying he will retire on the due date in November this year.



Dawn said speculation had been rife regarding an extension to Gen Sharif after former military ruler Musharraf called for an extension in his tenure, warning against a change in the military leadership.



Unlike in other democratic nations, the army chief in Pakistan is a crucial post because of the countrys history of military coups. Sharif would be the first army chief to retire on time in two decades. His predecessors Gen Kayani and Gen Pervez Musharraf got extensions, while Gen Jehangir Karamat was sent home prematurely.




Saturday mornings are made for sleeping in, especially for high school students.

But a group of seven students from various high schools around the Lynchburg area found themselves at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College Saturday morning discussing the special exhibition, Threatening Beauty.

The exhibit explored the photographs of David Maisel, who focuses on issues in the environment such as degradation and change, along with similar artists.

Curator of education Laura McManus walked the students through a slideshow displaying the various works and asked them to discuss what they saw.

Maisels photographers offered a birds-eye view or close-up of landscapes, trees and water that had been contaminated by human pollution. Students also were introduced to similar artists, such as Pam Longobardi and Kim MacConnel.

The two-hour free workshop was part of the colleges Science + Art Saturdays. Taught by faculty, Saturday marked the tenth free workshop since September.

Its set up so that students get to experience what Randolph has to offer, McManus said.

Topics have included the number pi, how clouds form and what kind of chemicals can be found in sunscreen. However, McManus said they expanded the workshops to encompass not just science, but art as well, to bring more attention to what the Maier Museum has to offer.

Science Saturday has been happening for a few years now, McManus said. Ive been trying to start a robust education program [at the museum].

McManus said adding art to the weekend sessions allows people to become more familiar with the museum and its exhibits.

This session had a personal connection for McManus. After living in New York City for seven years, she said it gave her a perspective on how much pollution there really is. She described to students how it was common to see cheap, broken umbrellas stuffed in garbage cans. If you got stuck somewhere, youd have to buy one of those cheap umbrellas, she said to the students. Those umbrellas arent made to withstand the wind.

City life and useless umbrellas in the trash helped her to understand humans arent always good stewards of the things they discard.

We all accumulate things, she said. Were not vigilant or responsible with how we dispose of [stuff]. I think what these artists are doing is trying to shed a light on what we can do.

Alex Richardson, a junior at Amherst County High School, said he enjoys art because its a chance to see the world from a different perspective. When Alex saw a close-up picture of a polluted river, he was shocked to find out exactly what it was.

I really thought it was blood, he said. When we zoomed out, I thought, that cant be right. I still dont believe [a river] was what [I was] looking at.

Heritage High School junior Iris Williams said she always has been aware of how people tend to treat the environment, but seeing pollution displayed in artwork gave her mixed feelings.

Its ironic because theres beauty in it and it creates something, Iris said of pollution.

The next session, Cell Phones Permitted: Portraiture in American Art will be held on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon.
UPDATE: The U.S. Forest Service said Tuesday morning the forest fire in the Mount Pleasant area has grown to approximately 2,700 acres.

The fire, first reported around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, is not contained. About 70 firefighters and support staff are battling the blaze, the Forest Service said.

The fire is in the George Washington and Jefferson national forests about 12 miles northwest of the town of Amherst.

"Winds have challenged firefighting efforts the past two days. Todays weather should be more favorable to firefighting efforts. However, there is still no rain is forecasted in the next few days," the Forest Service said Tuesday morning.

Officials have scheduled a public meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Central Baptist Church at 103 Central Church Lane.

EARLIER: AMHERST  Smoke blanketed the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area in Amherst County on Monday as multiple crews continued fighting a fire that's burned around 2,000 acres of national forest and private land since Saturday.

About 80 responders under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service fought the blaze from the air as well as the ground on Monday as high winds and low relative humidity continued to fuel the fire. By Monday night, officials maintained that about 2,000 acres were affected.

Two contracted helicopters with U.S. Forest Service firefighters attacked the blaze, one carrying more than 2,000-gallon loads of water from nearby Thrashers Lake. The other helicopter carried hundreds of gallons of water in a suspended bucket; on the ground, about seven engines worked to keep fires from burning close to houses. Several farms and scattered homes dot the unmarked roads leading into the mountains and national forest lands.

Jon Agner, forest fire management officer for Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, flew from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to serve as incident commander at the fire. Responders from around the country were called in to lend their assistance.

Agner said the fire encompassed around 1,400 acres Sunday night and estimated that the wind has spread it to affect 2,000 acres or more on Monday.

We just dont have enough resources to flank and basically confine this fire like wed like to, he said. Weve got enough resources to protect the structures, and thats our priority.

Agner said hes ordered in additional resources like another helicopter and more vehicles, as he said Monday was a critical day to fight the blaze.

Gary Roakes, the countys director of public safety, said the countys 911 center began receiving several reports of smoke rising from the Mount Pleasant area at around 4:15 p.m. Saturday. The Amherst Fire Department loaned its resources to the U.S. Forest Service, and local crews worked Sunday night into Monday morning.

From a locality standpoint, were here to support them, said Roakes.

The fire likely began on a stretch of private property and spread to national forest land, Agner said. Law enforcement with the U.S. Forest Service will continue to investigate the cause.

While crews have worked to keep the flames at bay all the way up to some residents front porches, Agner said no structures had caught fire. No mandatory evacuation had been issued as of Monday afternoon, but he said hes encouraged some people who are directly threatened to leave.

Weve probably got ... 20 homes directly threatened at this time  which were putting our focus on right now  and probably another 50 homes, outbuildings and cabins indirectly threatened, he said.

Officials at the scene on Monday said the fire was spreading eastward, but moving slowly. National Weather Service observations in Amherst recorded wind gusts up to 17 mph on Monday; forecasts for today call for 3 to 6 mph winds becoming calm by nighttime. Once winds die down, Agner said crews can start working to contain the fire.

Don Pyrah is a public information officer with the Montana Type 3 Incident Management Team, which responds to complex wildfire incidents. He said changing weather conditions will work in favor of response teams that are coming in to monitor the fire overnight into today.

Recent dry conditions have led to a number of open -bans around the state, especially in the southwestern region. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests last week put a burn ban in effect through Feb. 1.

A fire near Lovingston that spread to around 200 acres on Monday led to Nelson County announcing a state of emergency and ban open-air burning. The ban went into effect at 2 p.m. Monday and will remain in effect until the area receives a significant rainfall that decreases fire risk.

Reports of the Lovingston fire came in at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. Nelson County Emergency Services Coordinator Jaime Miller estimated that Virginia Department of Forestry personnel have been on the scene since around 6 a.m. Monday.

The fire has been contained but its cause has not been released. No one was ordered to evacuate.

Emily Brown contributed.
The Republican chairman of the House of Delegates elections committee has introduced a bill to tighten rules governing voter registration drives after multiple cases of potential fraud leading up to the presidential election.

Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania, prefiled a bill that would add stricter paperwork and reporting requirements for nongovernmental groups that canvass neighborhoods and events to register Virginians to vote.

Coles legislation, which will be considered when the legislature reconvenes in January, would require every individual employee or volunteer working with outside groups to register with the state and submit logs of their activity.

The state would assign each worker a unique identifying number and keep a record of each persons name and contact information. The bill would prevent voter registration groups from paying employees on a per-application basis, which some have speculated could create a financial incentive for phony applications.

Del. Hyland F. Buddy Fowler Jr., R-Hanover, prefiled the same bill.

The legislative proposals come as lawmakers continue to debate how to strike a balance between election integrity and an easy process for democratic participation. The policy battle has played out over the states voter ID law and Gov. Terry McAuliffes push to soften the states policy of felon disenfranchisement.

Several states have laws in place for certifying third-party volunteers and workers before allowing them to register others to vote, a process typically handled by local registrars offices.

Under existing Virginia law, groups are required to register only if collecting 25 or more voter registration applications, a provision the General Assembly passed in 2013. There is no registration requirement for individuals, but all representatives of a group must undergo training and sign a form swearing to follow the law.

The proposals come after people working with third-party groups in Alexandria and Harrisonburg submitted allegedly fraudulent voter applications using false identities, including some applications that used names of dead people.

Both cases involved employees of third-party groups. Charges have been filed in the Alexandria case. The other is under investigation.

In an email, Cole said the Alexandria and Harrisonburg cases brought the issue to light.

There have been concerns and complaints about third-party registration groups before, including the failure to properly complete forms and the failure to turn in forms, Cole said. This can cause people to think they have registered to vote when they may not be.

In 2012, a Republican operative was arrested for allegedly dumping completed voter registration applications in a trash bin behind a Harrisonburg store, but the charges were dropped.

At a pre-election committee hearing at the Capitol, several registrars raised concerns about third-party groups turning in applications after the states legal deadlines. After a would-be voter fills out and signs an application with a third-party group, the organization has 10 days to deliver the form to an official election office.

Some local election officials suggested at the hearing that the state should stop allowing third-party registration altogether.

Cole said he wants to see if problems can be fixed before considering a ban. He said some of these groups do perform a worthy public service.

Like anything else, there are just some bad apples that need to be addressed, he said.

Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of Alexandria-based voter outreach group New Virginia Majority, said her organization already has a tracking system in place. From a practical standpoint, Nguyen said, the legislation would not change much for her groups work.

I think at the end of the day, most organizations that do this want to get as many eligible citizens on the rolls as possible, Nguyen said.

With the focus on voter registration, Nguyen said she hopes lawmakers will consider a system to automatically register voters who conduct business at the Department of Motor Vehicles or other agencies, unless they opt out.

The man charged with fraud in the Alexandria case was working for New Virginia Majority, but the group said it severed ties with him after learning of the issue. Nguyen said New Virginia Majority pays its employees by the hour, not per application.

The General Assembly convenes for the 2017 session on Jan. 11.
Mary Barber just wanted to see a photograph of the father she never knew. What she got was a whole new family.

Still spry at age 89, Barber recently found out about siblings she had never met. She had been raised by a single mother in Newport News during the Depression. Her parents had married too young, divorced not long after and went on with their separate lives.

Still, after all those years and with her 90th birthday coming up next spring, Barber told her sons and daughters-in-law that she would have loved to have known what her father looked like. Her daughter-in-law Kathy Barber embarked upon a genealogical quest online, which eventually found that Mary had three half-brothers  Keith Hall, who lived in Roanoke, and twins Jerry and Terry Hall of Clifton Forge.

Mary met the men at a hastily arranged family reunion in Roanoke back in early September. They gathered at a nursing facility where Keith, who was 80, was fighting terminal cancer. He died earlier this month, about two months after meeting the half-sister he had never known.

I knew the day I walked into the nursing home that I was finally meeting my family, Barber said. I was so full of love. I was emotional, because I never had a sibling.

Barber, three of her four sons, a couple of daughters-in-law and a few grandchildren returned to Roanoke on Nov. 6 to meet more of the Hall family. Jerry introduced his wife, Kathy, and their daughters to Mary in the hotels grand lobby. Kathy Hall hugged the small, curly-haired lady and told her that shed already heard lots of sweet things about her. A group of 17 Barbers and Halls sat down for lunch in the Regency Room. Mary wrote down every name, birthday and address of her new family members.

The poor woman  she only had her mother and grandmother growing up, and now shes got instant brothers, nieces and nephews and sister-in-laws, said Kathy Barber, who is married to Marys youngest son, Paul.

As it turned out, the Hall brothers had been looking for Mary, too.

Close kin

Jerry and Terry were teenagers when one of them found divorce papers from their fathers first marriage, a union that no one in their family had ever discussed. A little girl was mentioned in the documents.

Over the years, the Hall brothers wondered about this possible half-sister. A few years ago, they did a little digging, but could only find an old census record that didnt have Marys married name. They also knew that Mary was quite a bit older than they were, so they wondered if she was still alive.

Wed done give up, Jerry Hall, 67, said. We thought she might have passed.

This summer, Kathy Barber picked up the search on the other side of the state. The only clue she had was that Mary knew at one time her father had settled in Clifton Forge. Using Facebook, she found some Halls in Clifton Forge, including a woman who had a Facebook friend that Kathy knew from Radford University, where she and Paul attended college.

That friend put the Barbers in touch with folks in Roanoke, which led to another Radford link and incredible family coincidence. Long story short, Marys son Paul had a college roommate, Travis Chattin, who mowed the grass for Keith Hall, the oldest of Mary Barbers newfound half-brothers.

To top it off, Keith had a husband named Wayne Slusher who had been the sponsor of Pauls Radford fraternity in the 1980s. All that time, the families were within just a degree of separation, but never knew it.

Separate ways

Evelyn Sutton was just 15 years old when she got pregnant in 1926. James Edward Hall Jr. was five years older. The two married hastily but didnt stay together long.

Neither side of the family approved of the young couples relationship. After the divorce, Evelyns own father, a traveling preacher, spurned her. She moved from Bartow, West Virginia, to Newport News to live with her mother, who had left her preacher husband years earlier. Little Mary was 3 years old at the time.

Mary spent much of her early childhood in the care of her grandmother, who ran a beauty shop. Her mother remarried when Mary was 12. Mary kept her last name of Hall until she married George Barber in 1944 when she was 17. They were married 66 years until Georges death in 2010.

The only child of a single mother had a big family. Mary Barber has four sons, 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, not to mention the newfound siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews. The Hall brothers have a sister whom Mary has not yet met.

James Edward Hall Jr. married Eva Coyner in 1934, and the couple raised four children and stayed married for 60 years until his death in 1995. Hall, who was known as Ed, was a longtime railroad man who worked as supervisor of diesel operations for the C&O Railways Virginia division. He also made custom-built furniture that was in such demand it was exhibited at the old history museum in Center in the Square in 1994. A description of the exhibit said that Hall worked with no patterns or blueprints as he handcrafted furniture in the style of master cabinet makers.

He was a fine man, Jerry Hall said. He was smart. He could tear down a diesel locomotive and put it back together like you wouldnt believe.

Jerry said he was happy to finally meet his long-lost half-sister.

I was anxious to see what she looked like, if she looked like us, he said, before adding: I thought she was cute as a button.

Mary has that picture of her father now. Several, in fact. Meeting her family has helped her put the past behind.

Theres nothing we can do about it, she said. Its nice to know Ive got some extra family somewhere.
(Xinhua) 13:19, November 21, 2016

Mexican experts on Sunday hailed China's initiatives to spur global growth that were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the CEO summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The message delivered in Xi's keynote speech at the meeting on Saturday in Lima, Peru, calling for more open and inclusive free trade arrangements to bolster growth, was "intelligent and very significant," said political analyst Ignacio Martinez.

China has forged a viable plan for itself, which inspires confidence in its larger message for world growth, said the expert on Asia and China affairs at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

"Without a doubt, it serves to follow the new project China ... based on domestic-driven growth ... (and) built around a green economy," said Martinez.

Xi's speech also "provides the opportunity to advance towards a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) region," at a time when leaders elsewhere are turning to outdated protectionist policies to solve the world economic difficulties, he said.

In his opinion, Xi underscored the fact that any regional trade arrangement must be open and inclusive and beneficial to all parties to gain popular support.

Jose Luis Leon-Manriquez, an Asia expert and professor at the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico City, said Xi's speech "shows China's global leadership."

"It was a very encouraging speech that dismisses protectionism and emphasizes opening-up," he said.

"Xi made a clear call for proceeding towards trade integration in the Asia-Pacific region to allow free trade," said Leon-Manriquez.

As Xi said, while driving global development, globalization has also created new problems and challenges, "that is why the president has often said that nations must spread the fruits (of growth) in a more balanced way to benefit the people," said Leon-Manriquez.

Martinez shared his views, saying: "President Xi is promoting balanced growth, and strengthening friendship and cooperation with Latin America to spur development."

Xi underscored cooperation, development and dialogue without risking economic stability, said Martinez.

Pursuing the "great project" of FTAAP is an essential part of Xi's strategy of bolstering trade to reactivate the global economy, he noted.

"President Xi's leadership gives us a glimpse of a promising and encouraging future for the Asia-Pacific," said the research professor at the UNAM center for international relations.
If youd never heard of Steve Bannon before Tuesday, you have now.

All the world is suddenly abuzz with news that President-elect Donald Trump has named Bannon, formerly executive chairman at the right-wing website Breitbart News, as his chief White House strategist and senior counselor.

Alt-right conservatives and white supremacists are jubilant; the rest of the world, including many Republicans, is nearly apoplectic. Even Glenn Beck, who seems finally to have found the right meds, says Bannon is a nightmare and once compared him to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. Suffice it to say, theres no love lost between Beck and the Breitbart Boys.

Between such virulent reactions and selective quotes from Bannons body of work, including a Sirius XM radio show that immediately preceded Becks, a Bannon narrative has emerged: Hes a racist, xenophobic, misogynist, anti-Semitic nationalist  very much, in other words, like his boss, the soon-to-be president of the United States.

If true.

Already, some reporters seem to be backing away from such specific and explicit characterizations, noting that its unclear whether Bannon himself is all of these things or whether his association with those who are via Breitbart postings inferentially makes him so.

Its an interesting difference with a possible distinction.

Ive never met Bannon. If hes charming, his apparent efforts to conceal it are effective. Photos of him show a disheveled, shaggy-haired man in need of a shave who appears to have slept in his clothes, possibly on a sidewalk grate.

Not that we should judge people by their looks, but we do  until theres reason not to. Thus far, except for a few narrative-affirming anecdotes by people who claim bad experiences with him  and resume items that provoke cognitive dissonance  Bannon is inscrutable.

The operative question for any thinking person is: If Bannon is any of those things mentioned above, what would it mean for the country, our policies, the nations temperament and that most sacred of American pursuits  unity?

As children walk out of schools and protesters stage daily rallies, while women plot to march on Washington the day after Inauguration Day, unity seems an improbable goal.

But what if Bannon isnt all those things? Are we even allowed to wonder? Once a narrative is launched, its nearly heretical to question it.

Im not defending; Im just asking. Is it possible to allow white supremacists and woman-haters to traffic on your website and still be considered something less awful? I asked a few people who have known him well for some time if theres more to Bannon than meets the eye. There usually is, isnt there?

A few words used to describe him, irrespective of his websites fan club or the virtual company he keeps, include: gentleman, strategist, always polite, brilliant, fighter, activist, articulate, as well as I dont trust him.

One person who has known and worked with him the past 15 years said that when she reads about Bannon in the newspaper, she thinks she must be reading about someone else. He was never like that with me. I only knew him to be a passionate fighter. Hes all about freedom. Constitutionally speaking, according to original intent, she clarified.

In the resume column, Bannon is a former Goldman Sachs banker who holds an MBA from Harvard. Hes also a documentarian with eight films  some would say right-wing propaganda movies  to his credit, including one about Ronald Reagan confronting communism, In the Face of Evil, that highlights the markers of totalitarian states, chiefly the repression of free speech (he should know?) and religion. Another was produced in partnership with its subject, Sarah Palin, to rebrand her following her tragic experience in the national spotlight.

Bannon, who is Catholic, is ardent about religious liberty, as Trump has promised to be. But Trump has also promised to clamp down on the media, which would have to include Breitbart, which invites the worst sorts of expression. One recent headline that has women ripping their hair out: Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy. They should probably have read the story, which was a cheeky dissertation by British journalist Milo Yiannopoulos, a self-proclaimed dangerous faggot, who, among other things, is never to be taken seriously.

Bannon may or may not be like Breitbart people, but he has been willing to strategically encourage peoples hate as a way of inciting them to action. How these methods will manifest themselves in the White House remains to be seen. But we can uncomfortably imagine that Trump under Bannons direction will do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

Good luck, everybody.

Parker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post. Email her at kathleenparker@washpost.com.
First National Banks parent declares dividend

Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation, the one-bank holding company for Altavista-based First National Bank, declared on Nov. 8 a cash dividend of 10 cents per share.

The dividend will be paid out on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 18.

At a stock price of $22.90 a share, Pinnacle Bankshares has a dividend yield of 1.75 percent.

Founded in 1908, First National Bank operates eight branches in Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania, including two in the town of Altavista.

Margaret Carmel

Pop-Up pays off for Altavista businesses

Four Altavista businesses were awarded $38,000 at the Nov. 16 conclusion of the towns nine-week entrepreneurship program, Pop-Up Altavista.

Blum Esthetics, a day spa specializing in skin care treatments was awarded $5,000. Adalyns, a boutique offering primitive and rustic hoem decor and custom wooden furniture was awarded $8,000. Pretty Please On Broad Boutique was awarded $10,000 and C&C Piping and Fabrication as given $15,000.

Part of Altavista On Track, the towns downtown revitalization program, Pop-Up was designed to help residents start their own businesses or expand a current one.

Program participants went through a business basics course, competed for funding and concluded by making a pitch for funding.

Margaret Carmel

Virginia opens new marketing office in South Korea

Virginia economic development officials have opened a new marketing office in South Korea.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the opening of the new Seoul office during his more than weeklong marketing mission to Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia.

The office will be staffed by Julie Kim, the Virginia Economic Development Partnerships director of Korea. Virginia used to have a presence in South Korea but budget cuts forced it to close the office several years ago.

Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore says South Korean companies invested more than $90 million to start or expand businesses in Virginia between 2011 and 2015.

VEDP also has offices in China, Germany, Japan, India and the United Kingdom.

McAuliffe is expected to return from his trade mission Tuesday.

Associated Press

LC starting workshops for execs, aspiring leaders

Lynchburg Colleges School of Business and Economics is launching a series of interactive workshops to help executives and aspiring business leaders to cultivate the mindset and skills necessary to lead their organizations through rapid changes in the global digital marketplace.

Called the Transformative Leaders Lab, the program will provide six monthly three-hour sessions on subjects related to adopting a digital mindset, transforming company culture, attracting young talent, cultivating ongoing innovation, digital marketing campaigns and preparing for a global economy.

Businesses must embrace the changes that digital technologies have brought to the marketplace, Ira Kaufman, director of the Institute for Transformative Leadership, said in a press release. Successful leaders need to leverage the transparent global digital culture, own disruption, foster continuous innovation, and attract employees who can thrive in this fast-changing environment. The Transformative Leaders Lab delivers timely value for executives looking to compete successfully in the NEXT Economy.

The introductory session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6 is free. Enrolling in the program costs $2,000 per participant. After the introductory session, regular sessions will resume Jan. 10 and will will be held the first Tuesday of each month from February through June. To receive a 10 percent discount, register before Dec. 15. Lynchburg College alumni receive a 25 percent discount.

To register, contact Joseph Turek, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at turek@lynchburg.edu or Ira Kaufman at ira9201@gmail.com.

Margaret Carmel

Governor announces new grants for entrepreneurs

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has announced new grants for eight projects around the state aimed at promoting local entrepreneurs.

McAuliffe announced last week the state was giving more than $200,000 in grants to local governments, schools and nonprofits that have entrepreneurship programs.

They include the Page County Youth Entrepreneur Program and The Next Entrepreneur Hub in Wise County.

The state received 14 applications for grant money.

Associated Press
Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai, Nov. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Nuo)

Shanghai (People's Daily Online) -- "Tobacco use kills around 6 million people each year. Thats a fact. Health literacy must extend from the personal to the political and policy levels," said Margaret Chan, the director-general of WHO, in her keynote address at the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion.

From Nov. 21 to 24, World Health Organization officials, health ministers and health city mayors, totaling more than 1,180 health sector personnel from 126 countries and regions, will gather in Shanghai to discuss global health promotion and equity.

The conference, led by WHO, rotates host cities every three to four years. This years event is the first one to be held in China, the country with the worlds biggest population and thus the toughest challenge when it comes to health.

Describing the combination of legislative and fiscal measures as "among the most effective interventions," Chan called for intersectional efforts at both the national and municipal levels to reshape peoples environments and lifestyle choices.

"Todays complex health challenges can no longer be addressed by the health sector acting alone. Curbing the rise of antimicrobial resistance requires policy support from agriculture. Access to clean energy fuels economic growth, but it also reduces millions of deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular disease associated with air pollution," Chan said.

Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai, Nov. 21, 2016. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Citing success in Australia, the U.K. and France, the director-general called on more countries to carry out Plain Packaging, a tobacco control measure headed by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

"In October, WHO urged governments to introduce taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce their significant contribution to obesity, diabetes and dental decay," she added.

Chan also urged governments to accept responsibility for protecting children from obesity, and for assisting the poor in accessing healthy foods.
Honorary Georgian

I want to belong to an existing productive high school, he said of why he decided to become a Georgian although he did not attend the school located on Tenth Street and Sixth Avenue.

Foster attended Osmond High School, or Murray School, a once privately-run school which was located on Tenth Avenue, Barataria.

One to which he owes his success. It is Fosters intent to pay tribute to these types of schools.

Schools often forgotten but which were responsible for moulding a lot of TTs professionals today.

In an interview with Newsday he said, It is historical in a sense because I was born in 1946. That college was built in 1953 (St Georges College). As a youngster.

I saw that college built.

When I took College Exhibition in 1959, the Peoples National Movement Government (PNM) platform was free education.

But free was subjective, it was not free for everyone. They increased the number of scholarships for poor folks like myself. Foster said in the year he sat the exam the number of scholarships awarded was increased to 250. However, when the results were released Foster missed the scholarship mark by two. He was number 252 in the list of people who sat the exam.

He remembered at the time, a student could have paid and attended St Georges but his parents did not have the finances. It was painful for me seeing my peers go to college and I was not going to college, he said.

He was then sent to Barataria EC where he sat the School Leaving Exam and, I did well there too. His grandmother then returned to Trinidad and enrolled him in Osmond High School.

Osmond High School was one of many privately-owned secondary schools, designed to fill the gap that was left by the exhibition examination. Arthur Murray had several schools, about seven started in Port-of- Spain. Foster noted that he did well there and was skipped from forms two to four. I took the exam with my peers and did well in the GCE exam. I only got four subjects and by some accident I got a nine in English. But got distinctions in French and Spanish. He re-sat the English exam in 1965 and got a distinction. In retrospect I have no regrets about not going to St Georges because I think I am a better person. However, with the closure of Osmond High School and wanting to give back, Foster wrote St Georges principal James Sammy earlier this year seeking to become an honorary Georgian.

Sammy said in a phone interview that the request was unusual but growing up close to that era he also understood. The two first met when Foster came to TT in June
Paradise lost

ON November 18, 1978 a thriving community carved in the wilderness of the South American country of Guyana suddenly became extinct, devoured in an orgy of self-destruction. Some 914 residents took their lives at the command of a messianic narcissist named Jim Jones. The act was incomprehensible and never fully understood, if anyone cared to understand.

Never were the complexities of Jonestown explained; never were the social and political forces that gave rise to this movement explored; and never was the paradox that was Jim Jones examined objectively.

Until now.

Laurie Efrein Khalas Snake Dance: Unraveling the mysteries of Jonestown is a dizzying expose of the Peoples Temple, a movement that was birthed in the 1950s in Indiana and later morphed into an influential social force in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Jones delivered an eclectic blend of Marxist-Leninism and apostolic mysticism that attracted people from every strata of society.

Snake Dance is subtle and suggestive, but equally loud and unapologetically raw. Kahalas is an insider but is deft at impartially dissecting Jonestown. The result is an intimate account of one of the most tragic episodes in history.

At the outset Kahalas describes her uneventful life before joining the Peoples Temple. A feeling of drifting into irrelevance could hardly prepare her to serve alongside the magnetic personality of Jones. You belong here, he tells her. And like so many others her life suddenly takes on new meaning.

Academically sound with a penchant for writing and research, she lands an enviable position in the prestigious Planning Commission.

It is there that she experiences the foibles of the movements unique leader.

With metaphorical precision Kahalas details Jones unchecked hubris. His growing list of titles is telling  pastor, father, prophet, saviour, and even God. She writes, It evolved in increments, as if to gradually immerse the receiver into baptismal waters, a toe here first, then a dunk, fully immersion only later on. Jim had laid it out as if to calibrate the listeners to their limits. Jones slowly emerges as the redeemer of his followers having worked tirelessly to gain their trust. His sincerity is indisputable.

And to the disaffected he asks the most searching of questions: Why would Jesus come two thousand years ago and not come for you? Jones unorthodox style resonates with black activists, leftist politicians and radical theologians.

Snake Dance nudges critics to interpret the socio-political culture impacting minorities during that period. It offers clues to their willingness to emigrate. Throughout, Jones inimitable passion for social justice is well documented.

Kahalas describes a scene that immediately holds court. One night I remember poignantly, because it was the only time that I had ever seen [Jim] cry. There was a skit, depicting black children being dragged away by cruel white overseers at some unspecified future time. Jim began to cry. He put his hand over his forehead as his body rolled involuntarily forwards and I saw that he was beginning to weep She later adds, He spoke the language of Baptists and Pentecostals and Methodists. He was credibly, wholly, of the church.

Yet, he tore into the institution of the church mercilessly. Never did a service pass without passionate sermons on social issues and current event affairsnever did a service pass without vehement pleas for social change, and heart-rending defence of the downtrodden and oppressed  Native American woes, South African woes and Chilean woes... And the constant drumbeat: racial and economic equality, preached practised, lived. By 1971 Kahalas is a committed but unassuming member although she craved and feared contact with Jones. Then, the Achilles Heels of most cult leaders begin to surface. Jones relentless work to advance social causes is shadowed by sexual orbs that blur the inner circle.

Jim, she says, was a being totally and incontrovertibly oriented to the necessities of others. His gradual encroachment upon the very privacy of the flock troubles Kahalas. She recalls, I do remember the evening he told us all to write him every sexual contact we ever had By then Kahalas realises that dedication to the work is being smothered in an avalanche of sexual liaisons.

In discussing the hierarchical dynamics of the Planning Commission Kahalas proves remarkably astute. Even the abuse of power is not necessarily simple; or its adherents the monolithic underlings the public seems to crave... She elaborates, Honestly, it seemed at the time that [Jones] paid, and copiously, for whatever power he had in our lives. [A] powerfully benevolent soul became progressively snared into his own sacrifices and, once the dam burst, could never stay the flood released in its wake. In 1973 eight members defect sending shock waves through the movement. Jones is devastated.

And for the first time suicide is mentioned. How would you all feel about us jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge? Jones asks.

Not waiting for a reply he answers, Because [the defectors] wont just let us live in peace and build an interracial society. Kahalas then recalls Jones prophetic words: Someday, we might all be translated together. Despite Jones necromania members of his inner circle do not budge. We are befuddled but we are not all psychologists. As paranoia seeps in a new environment is sought. Guyana welcomes Jones.

Jonestown is founded but not before Kahalas, artistic and sensitive, channels an inexorable epic she calls Allegory. Her muse foretells the tragedy about to unfold.

Images arose washing through me like a kind of existential dyslexia, she writes. Having this scenario close in on me was terror enough. What if it were true? If I were truly seeing the leader dying, and I voiced this, I myself could have been accused of wanting the leader dead. I could be labelled traitorous. Jones response to Allegory is seismic. The psychological assault, humiliation and emotional emasculation of Kahalas are unleashed as if in slow motion.

The episode marks her break from Jones suffocating spell, although she remains steadfast to the cause..

As my heart was felled, my brain must assume its function.

Jim Jones had much of what evangelists would call The Christ Spirit working through him with healings, comfortings, unceasing devotion and love. But then there was the human soul  driven, impassioned, ambitious, fanatical  which sported a far more political version of God  more like Caesar, or the Pharaohs, or Alexander, the GreatThe God of Politics. The God of the World. By 1973 the seeds of Jonestown begin to blossom. A void is filled for so many.

Jonestown is a Herculean accomplishment  their paradise on earth - economically independent with an accredited school system and medical clinic.

Kahalas describes a proud, classless, colourless, effervescent and self-sufficient community. But something went terribly wrong? While she does not deny that Jonestown was sometimes weighed down by internal strife, she posits that it was a community under political siege, one that was targeted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Jones eyed Russia.

Plans were under way to resettle.

Who assassinated Congressman Leo Ryan shortly after visiting Jonestown? This was the act, the tipping point that triggered the mass suicide/murder.

It was the act that convinced an unhinged and gravely ill Jim Jones that his community faced imminent retribution and annihilation.

Suicide, he reasoned was far better than dying at the hands of the enemy.

Snake Dance is at its riveting best as Kahalas argues her case. Forget all that we have been fed. It was a frame masterfully orchestrated by the US intelligence agency to implicate Jones. But why? Kahalas is brutally forthcoming, answering every conceivable question surrounding the catastrophe. She is persuasive and presents substantive and voluminous evidence to corroborate her case.

Naysayers are ill-advised to dismiss Kahalas work as apologetic.

What a missed opportunity if we fail to go beyond insensitive bantering. We are asked to shun the cold jocularity that dismisses the humanity of the Peoples Temple and explore its creative potential. Regrettably, we must also grapple with its irreversible and indefensible decision to wreak unspeakable destruction.

Snake Dance: Unraveling the mysteries of Jonestown by Laurie Efrein Kahalas Publisher: Trafford Publishing Available at Amazon Ratings: Essential Feedback: glenvilleashby@ gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@ glenvilleashby LOST from Page 3B
Man escapes fire but killed by car

According to reports Horsely Antoine was at his wooden home in company with Radica Alexander, 68, when they both observed smoke and fire coming from the house at about 8.45 pm. Alexander and Antoine managed to escape the burning house. In pain from burns to his hands, Antoine sat at the back of a Nissan B12 car which was parked near the burning building, trying to catch his breath,

Owner of the vehicle Anthony Williams, 57, who noticed flames from the burning house very close to the front of his car, got into the vehicle and reversed, unknowingly driving over Antoine. On realising that he had driven over something, Williams got out of the car and saw Antoine unconscious on the ground. The elderly man was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Fire officers from the Wrightson Road Fire Department who responded to the blaze was able to control the fire from spreading to other homes in the area. Fire prevention officers are expected to return to the scene of the fire today to ascertain its cause. Alexander was inconsolable yesterday struggling to come to terms with the loss of her companion and their home. Neighbours, friends and relative were yesterday as trying to assist the elderly woman and attempts were being made to contact the MP for the area for further assistance. An autopsy will be done today on Antoine to ascertain cause of death. Police sources said that no foul play is suspected in what was a tragic freak accident,

Investigations are continuing,
Bro Resistance retains TUCO presidency

Shortly after the proceedings were called to order by Lutalo Masimba (Bro Resistance), he handed over control to the presiding officer Robert Giuseppi who told members that their organisation was one of the most important groups in the county, and urged them to honour and respect their organisation for its betterment. Voting began at 11 am with a long line of members waiting patiently to cast their votes.

At the 2 pm cut off time for voting quite a large number of people were yet to go through the process.

Some peeved members complained that it was simply taking too long. Morel Peters (Luta) and Winston Peters (Gypsy) challenged Lutalo Masimba (Bro Resistance) for the leadership role of President, while the General Secretary post was contested by Wayne Mc Donald (Cassman) and Eric Taylor (Panther).

Up to press time last night, even as results for the various posts were still being counted, news coming to hand was that Masimba had retained his post as president of the organisation.

Contesting the post of Treasurer were Dennis Cox and Robert Elias (D Mighty Trini) and for Assistant Treasurer, there were Anthony Johnson and Wendell Moreau. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) post that was left vacant by the outgoing Karega Mandela had the most amount of challengers. They were Duane OConnor, Steve Pascall (Ras Kommanda), Miguella Simon, Abbi Blackman and Winston Henry (Explainer).

The Education and Research Officer position was a three-way contest among Franz Lambkin (Delamo), Melissa Williams and Maegan Sylvester, while Welfare Officer was a two-way fight between Carlston Kerr (Calypso Kerr) and Joseph Thompson. Dr Rudy Ottley was challenged by Lennox London for the post of Marketing Manager and vying for only two available Trustee positions were Annmarie Parks-Kojo (Twiggy), Joseph Adams, Ainsley Mayers, Ingrid Matthew and Michael Mc Intyre.

Three members of the executive went up unopposed and therefore retained their positions. They are Ainsley King (Vice-president), Shirlane Hendrickson (Assistant Secretary) and Devon Seale (Assistant PRO). The new executive will serve for a three-year period. Up to press time, the results of the election were not known.
Montrose Vedic protests on hold

We are giving the Ministry some breathing room before we protest again, said Larry Dilchan, President of the schools Parent Teacher Association who has been leading the charge to have the school relocated to the National Enrichment Centre in Carlsen Field while the Ministry sought a solution to the infestation of insects and vermin at the school. The Ministry and EFCL (Education Facilities Company Limited visited the Enrichment Centre on Wednesday and they said that it is a suitable location. However, before granting approval for the relocation, permission will have to be given by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services which controls the building and a certificate of completion for the building needs to be sourced. According to Dilchan, the Ministry also wants to assess the state of the sewerage system and conduct repairs on the air-condition units, but these problems are nothing that cannot be easily rectified. The parents began their protest outside the school compound last Tuesday following months of inaction by the Ministry of Education to alleviate the problem of microscopic insects in their school. The insect bites students and teachers alike, many of whom have developed skin rashes and fallen ill with headaches and nausea.

The protest escalated last Friday when parents and students gathered outside the Parliament.

While school remains suspended, arrangements are being made for the Standard Five students to still be taught by well-meaning teachers. However, most teachers refused to teach students at any location not approved by the Ministry of Education.
Ethiopia wants stronger ties with TT

Presenting his credentials to President Anthony Carmona on Thursday last at the Office of the President, St Annes, Kedir said Ethiopia, one of Africas fastest growing economies, is eager to strengthen ties in terms of trade, mining, energy and culture.

Carmona and Kedir shared with students of Roxborough and Diego Martin Secondary schools some of the history of Ethiopia, modern- day Ethiopia, Ethiopias role in the African Union and its linkages to the Caribbean through activists such as Marcus Mosiah Garvey and the Rastafarian movement. Known as the cradle of civilisation with archaeological finds that date back to over three million years ago, Kedir said that as one of the founding members of the United Nations and the League of Nations of nations that preceded it, Ethiopia continues to play a peace-keeping role in the Sub-Saharan region that has been a zone of conflict.

Though based in Havana, Cuba, Kedir said that many opportunities exist for furthering relationships across the Atlantic. He noted that Africa views the Caribbean as an extension of the continent and both the Caribbean and Africa support each other in international forums on many pertinent global affairs including climate change. Noting that Ethiopia has a population of 100 million people with over 80 languages, he said, that the country was ready to showcase its diverse cultures in the Caribbean region.

Noting also that Addis Ababa, the countrys capital, was seen as the political capital of Africa, he urged TT to reopen a diplomatic mission there. His country, he said, was experiencing a wave of investments, particularly from Asia, because of the opportunities available. On the cultural front, he noted that Trinidad was the regional headquarters of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the patriarch of the church who is now in TT for over 45 years has almost become a citizen.

In his remarks, Carmona said that many the world over, do not appreciate the role Ethiopia has played in world history from biblical times to the present.

History has not been kind to Ethiopia, he said noting that it was the first and only country in the world that created the philosophy of repatriation and encouraged descendant of slaves to go back to Africa.

Ethiopia had also set aside 500 hectares of land for repatriation in an area called Sheshamane, and some 3,000 Caribbean nationals including Jamaicans and over 400 Trinidadians took up the offer.
[File photo]

Chinas search engine giant Baidu has once again invited public concern about the credibility of its medical advertisements after a medical facility that was previously at the center of a scandal was promoted in Baidu's search results.

A search for orthopedic hospital on Baidu.com yields more than 8 million results, with Beijing Mylike Aesthetic Plastic hospital appearing in the top position. The hospital is run by entrepreneurs from Putian County in eastern Chinas Fujian province. Putianese-owned hospitals now shoulder a notorious reputation for selling folk remedies and providing false medical information, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Nov. 21.

According to the report, Baidu and the hospital have jointly launched a loan-for-surgery project, allowing patients to pay for plastic surgery using Baidus financial services.

The advertisements for the hospital had been removed from Baidu's top position as of press time, but both the advertisement and other information about the hospital could still be found on Baidu.com.

This is not the first time Baidu has been criticized for its cooperation with unethical hospitals. In May, Baidu was probed by Chinese authorities after a 21-year-old student died undergoing dubious treatment for a rare cancer, which the student received from a Putianese-owned hospital that had come up in a Baidu search.

The expansion of Putianese-owned medical facilities has led to booming ad revenue at Baidu. In 2013, Liang Jianyong, the former Communist Party chief of Putian, said that Putianese-owned private hospitals contributed 12 billion RMB to Baidu's 26 billion RMB of online ad revenue in 2013, media reported.

The newest advertising gaffe has received a mixed reaction from netizens on Chinese social media, with many condemning Baidu for promoting such blatantly profit-driven medical facilities. At the same time, others argue that there is nothing wrong with promoting Putianese-owned hospitals, as long as the quality of their medical services meets national standards.
No One Has

Done This Before

in Billboard's History
[File photo]

A housing loan application submitted by a man in Zhengzhou, Henan province was recently rejected - a not altogether unusual occurence. However, what sets this man's case apart is the reason his loan was denied: because Wu Jianping has no arms, creditors claimed they could not give him a loan since he was unable to be fingerprinted.

The 25-year-old Wu lost both his arms after receiving a severe electric shock at the age of 5. He manages to write his signature by holding a pen in his mouth. However, he was rejected by several banks when applying for a loan in Zhengzhou on Nov. 14 because he could not provide fingerprints.

Bank employees argued that without fingerprint, a mere signature would not be legally binding.

[Fingerprinting is a common practice because signatures can be imitated, but there is no way to copy a fingerprint, one employee was quoted as saying by local media.

The incident has triggered widespread criticism online, with many netizens pointing out that it is unreasonable to demand fingerprints given the circumstances. In response, several banks to which Wu applied reversed their previous decisions. At the same time, Zhengzhou's housing management bureau  which also often requires fingerprints  stated that a special path for those with special needs is available to help people like Wu, Thepaper.cn reported.
(Newser)  Spanish police had not yet identified the date a 20-year-old woman had been murdered in her apartment in Freyung, Germanyuntil they noticed her boyfriend had tattooed a date of death on his arm, along with the woman's name, reports the BBC. Thanks to that apparent clue, authorities now say Dominik Riedl slit his girlfriend's throat on Oct. 27 and stuffed her body in trash bags before fleeing with their 18-month-old son and the woman's cellphone, which he used to update her social media accounts, reports AFP. The woman's mother found her daughter's dead body about three weeks later.

By that time, Riedl had fled the country, according to police, which sparked a Europe-wide manhunt after a selfie of Riedl at the Eiffel Tower appeared on his girlfriend's Facebook page, reports the Mirror. Police eventually tracked Riedl to a hotel in Lloret de Mar, Spain, which police say was a pit stop, as Riedl had planned to reach North Africa. On his arm, authorities found a "macabre" tattoo of his girlfriend's birth and death dates, along with the Spanish phrase "Gracias por todo," which translates to "Thanks for everything." Riedl is awaiting extradition to Germany, while his son will be placed with social services. (This man also had a tattoo of his alleged murder victim's name.)
(Newser)  When he's not selling padlocks at Home Depot in Hoover, Ala., 60-year-old Gustavo Diaz is heading what Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro calls an "economic war" against his country, laid out in full by the Wall Street Journal. Diaz's instrument: his DolarToday.com website, which Venezuela insists posts fake black-market exchange rates to manipulate the country's currency. The site has already courted two failed lawsuits by Venezuela's central bank, and the government has also unleashed hackers on it. "DolarToday is the Empire's strategy to push down the currency and overthrow Maduro. DolarToday is the enemy of the people," VP Aristobulo Isturiz said in early 2016 (the Journal notes "Empire" refers to the US).

Not that Diaz is simply a bored Alabama guy with a penchant for numbers: He's actually a retired Venezuelan army colonel who assisted in a two-day 2002 coup against then President Hugo Chavez. Diaz is also now a US citizen after seeking asylum in 2005 in Alabama, where his siblings lived. He runs his sitewhich mixes daily exchange rates with unflattering news about the government, with rates calculated by scanning social media for transaction requests, then comparing that average rate with that seen in underground Venezuelan exchange institutionswith two other Venezuelan expats. "It's ironic that with DolarToday in Alabama, I do more damage to the government than I did as a military man in Venezuela," he notes. (A reporter's struggle to find food in Venezuela.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump promises to be an unconventional presidentand President Obama might break with convention by speaking out against him. At a press conference in Peru on Sunday, Obama, describing himself as an "American citizen who cares deeply about our country," refused to rule out publicly criticizing his successor, the BBC reports. "I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off," he said. But if an issue "goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I'll examine it when it comes," he added.

Obama, on the last day of what is expected to be his final overseas trip as president, also said that "people should take a wait-and-see approach" to the new administration and that Democrats should "fight for their principles," but also find a way to work with the opposition where they are doing "something that's good for the American people," Politico reports. The New York Times reports that Obama made similar remarks about speaking out against Trump in a speech last week to Organizing for Action, the nonprofit group focused on supporting his agenda. "I'm going to be constrained in what I do with all of you until I am again a private citizen, he told activists. "But that's not so far off." (Read more President Obama stories.)
(Newser)  New photos have emerged of a tribe deep in the Amazon that shuns contact with the modern world, and the photos bring a mix of good and bad news. On the hopeful side, the aerial images show that the small Yanomami community near the border of Brazil and Venezuela seems to be growing: A member of the advocate group Survival International tells the Guardian that the tribe's large communal structure has two more thatched panels than in previous years, suggesting additional families. But the bad news is that illegal gold miners are creeping closer to the community, a development that threatens its very existence given the risk of clashes or the spread of disease. One miners' camp is now only about 20 miles away, and activists are calling on the Brazilian government to crack down before it's too late, reports Fusion.

"The place where the uncontacted Indians live, fish, hunt, and plant must be protected, says Davi Kopenawa, an activist who belongs to another Yanomami group. Some of the Yanomami groups have contact with outsiders, but a handful don't, including the one in the new images, which has about 100 people. All the tribes live in the Yanomami indigenous territory, which is protected land, but activists say budget cuts in Brazil have allowed miners to encroach unimpeded. "They are like termites," says Kopenawa, per Survival International. "They keep coming back." The newly photographed community, called the Yanomami-Moxihatetema, has a large hunting range, making a potentially dangerous encounter with miners increasingly likely, says another Survival International researcher. (This American tracked down his mother living among a similar Amazon tribe.)
(Newser)  Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Turkey over the weekend to protest what they described as a law that allows child rape. The proposed law pardons men convicted of statutory rape if there was no "force, threat, or any other restriction on consent" and they married the victim, reports the BBC. "A rape can't be justified," said a protester in Istanbul, adding: "What does it mean to ask a child if they're OK? Until they're 18, a child remains a child, that is why this has to be condemned. We are here so that this law can't pass."

The ruling Justice and Development Party says the law, which will affect around 3,000 families from between 2005 and this year, is an effort to deal with the problem of child marriage, the AP reports. "In the past there were people who were not aware of the law," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "The fathers have ended up in prison. This is a one-time measure to correct an unjust situation. It is an important problem." But criticsincluding the United Nations' Children's Fundbelieve it will only worsen the problems of child sexual abuse and underage marriage. (Virginia finally banned child marriage this year.)
(Newser)  Tension flared anew on the Dakota Access pipeline as protesters in North Dakota tried to push past a long-blocked bridge on a state highway, only to be turned back by a line of law enforcement using a water cannon and what appeared to be tear gas, the AP reports. Sunday's skirmishes began around 6pm after protesters removed a burned-out truck on what's known as the Backwater Bridge, not far from the encampment where they've been for weeks as they demonstrate against the pipeline. Police estimated 400 protesters sought to cross the bridge on state Highway 1806. A live-stream early Monday showed a continued standoff, with large lights illuminating smoke wafting across the scene.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that law enforcement officers "had rocks thrown at them, burning logs and rocks shot from slingshots," and that one officer had been hit on the head by a thrown rock. At least one person was arrested. Protesters said a gym in Cannon Ball was opened to aid demonstrators who were soaked on a night the temperature dipped into the low 20s or were hit with tear gas. Rema Loeb, an 83-year-old protester from Massachusetts, says he was forced to retreat from the bridge because he feared being doused with water on the freezing night. Others, he said, needed medical treatment after being hit with tear gas. "It's been just horrible," he said. (Read more Dakota Access Pipeline stories.)
(Newser)  Nicolas Sarkozy isn't going to get a second shot at the French presidency: The former president was unexpectedly defeated in a primary for the center-right Republican party, reports Reuters. After his defeat, Sarkozy endorsed former prime minister Francois Fillon, who will face Alain Juppe, another former PM, in a runoff vote next month. "It's time for me to try a life with more private passions than public ones," Sarkozy told reporters. The winner of the runoff vote will compete in next year's presidential election and, according to the BBC, will probably compete against far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the final round of voting because the ruling Socialist Party is deeply unpopular and divided. (Read more Nicolas Sarkozy stories.)
(Newser)  Three young men turned a pet monkey loose on a schoolgirl, they were then killed in revenge, and now, after four days of violence, nearly two dozen are dead (numbers cited are between 16 and 20 so far) and 50 wounded in a conflict-ridden Libyan city, health officials and activists tell Reuters and the AP. "There was an escalation on the second and third days with the use of tanks, mortars, and other heavy weapons," one local tells Reuters. Residents say the incident in Sabha kicked off when the monkey, belonging to a shopkeeper with the Gadhadhfa tribe, was set upon a group of schoolgirls walking past, per Al Jazeera. The monkey is said to have torn off a high school girl's headscarf and scratched and bit herwhich reportedly led to the girl's family, members of the Awlad Suleiman tribe, killing the three men, as well as the monkey.

"There are women and children among the wounded and some foreigners from sub-Saharan African countries among those killed due to indiscriminate shelling," a Sabha Medical Center spokesman tells Reuters of the fighting that broke out after the initial incident. The Awlad Suleiman and Gadhadhfa tribes (the latter of which the late Moammar Gadhafi belonged to, per the BBC) are the two main armed factions in Sabha and have long had strained relationsnot atypical throughout Libya, which fell into "chaos" after Gadhafi was killed in 2011, the AP reports. The strife in Sabha doesn't appear to be over yet, either, says the anonymous local who spoke to Reuters, noting, "There are still sporadic clashes and life is completely shut down in the areas where there has been fighting." (More tragedy off the coast of Libya has led to hundreds dead in two shipwrecks.)
(Newser)  Pope Francis temporarily gave Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion during the Church's "Holy Year of Mercy," which ended Sunday. In a letter released Monday, however, the pope "extended" the right to priests, suggesting it would last at least until the end of his papacy, reports Reuters. While "abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life  there is no sin that Gods mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father," the pope wrote, per the Catholic News Agency.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," he continued. "May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation." Anyone who has or performs an abortion is to be automatically excommunicated from the Church until they confess. American priests had already been given the right to absolve abortion, but in many parts of the world, only bishops or a chief confessor of a diocese were able to forgive such a "sin." (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
(Newser)  The oldest remaining member of the Tuskegee Airmen has died. Willie Rogers of St. Petersburg, Fla., died Friday from complications of a stroke. He was 101. Rogers served in logistics and administration as part of the US Armed Forces' first all-black aviation squadron during World War II, but only revealed that fact to family members in 2012, reports the Tampa Bay Times. He received a Congressional Gold Medal a year later, some six years after the Tuskegee Airmen were initially honored at the White House. Though Rogers was shot by German soldiers during a military mission in 1943, "he would always say there were many who deserved attention more, but were not here to receive it," says daughter Veronica Williams.

Drafted in 1942, per BayNews9, Rogers "didn't like to give specifics about what occurred to him. He saw things that were bad," including the Dachau concentration camp after Germanys surrender, Williams says. "And he experienced treatment because he was African-American that wasn't fair." After the war, Rogers started a business repairing radios and "lived by the greatest commandmentto love one another," Williams says. His motto was "treat everyone with dignity, pride and integrity," she adds. "He recognized that we as people and he as a black man have come a long way but that there is still more to go. But in God's eyes there is no color, he'd say." (Two Tuskegee Airmen and lifelong friends died on the same day.)
A foreign doctor named Diarra Boubacar has studied and practiced Chinese medicine for 30 years in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Diarra is fluent in many languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese and even Sichuan dialect, the cover.cn reported.

Diarra grew up in Mali, where many of his relatives also practiced medicine. He came to China for the first time in 1984 to participate in a one-year Chinese language program in Beijing. After the program ended, he went to Guangzhou, Guangdong province to study Chinese medicine.

After a great deal of hard work, Diarra was finally capable of reading and even reciting some of the classics of ancient Chinese prose. He then earned his bachelors and masters degrees in Chengdu, concluding with a medical degree after three more years of study.

Alhough Diarra encountered doubts from many of his patients at the beginning, he gradually won their trust with his exceptional skills. Now he is married to a local woman, with whom he has two children. He enjoys eating hotpot, drinking tea and even haggling with vendors in Sichuan dialect, living in almost every way like other Sichuan citizens.
(Newser)  On Friday, airstrikes led by Russia and the Syrian government, ostensibly meant to target rebel-held areas in Aleppo, caused enough damage to force four hospitals in the city to close, the Guardian reports. And then the final blow: The Omar bin Abdul Aziz facility, the last remaining hospital in East Aleppo, was also put out of commission from the bombings, leaving up to 250,000 residents in dire straits. "This is a dark day for East Aleppo," an emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (aka Medecins Sans Frontieres) says, with other rescue workers calling the attacks "catastrophic," per Sky News. "You can't imagine what it's like living in Aleppo right now," the city's last neurosurgeon told the New York Times on Friday. "It feels like we are living in hell."

"The Aleppo hospitals have been reopened so many times, underground or in new locations, but between the bombing and the siege I don't know if it will be possible to resurrect them this time," a war-zone-savvy surgeon who's been helping Aleppo's doctors tells the Guardian. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 27 people were killed in the city just on Saturday (the White Helmets group says the total death toll is closer to 40), and there's now a new problem they have to deal with. "We have no more [body] bags," a rescue worker said in a White Helmets video, per Sky. The World Health Organization says limited medical care may be found in smaller clinics scattered around the city, per ABC News. (The Guardian hosts a CCTV video that shows the exact moment a children's hospital in Aleppo got bombed.)
(Newser)  Isaiah Wall's phone kept ringing. The 19-year-old eventually picked up, and found the Idaho State Police on the other end. Best friend Chris Anderson recounts what happened next to the Pacific Northwest Inlander: The caller said police knew Wall's green Mustang had been in a hit-and run; Wall had no idea what they were talking about, and he verifies the car is unscathed. But the caller insisted Wall go to department headquarters in Coeur d'Alene, and so on May 18 he did, accompanied by Anderson. Then things got weird, before getting weirder: Anderson says two officers arrested Wall not for the hit-and-run, which really never did happen, but for being a drug dealer (no charges were ever filed), and allegedly told Wall he could act as an informant or face a potential 10-year sentence. By May 29, Wall was dead.

The Inlander traces the murky case: The first big question mark surrounds what exactly Wall did with the ISP, who thus far will not confirm whether Wall was actually an informant. That Wall dealt drugs is not in dispute; he began doing so at age 17. In the aftermath of Wall's deathby a gunshot wound to the head, ostensibly from the handgun he had on himmom Courtney McKinnie dug into his iPhone, and uncovered a series of texts between Wall and "Josh" referencing drug deals. Josh typically tells Wall what to buy; Wall often pushes back about the approach not looking natural. The Inlander suspects Josh is actually ISP Detective Josh Clark. And while it's possible Wall committed suicide out of depression, that the police report suggests he shot himself with his left hand raises a red flag for McKinnie. Read the full story here. (Read more Longform stories.)
(Newser)  It's being called a document that "changed world history," at least as of Nov. 8. Germany's Bild reports historian Roland Paul has uncovered the 1905 decree that banished Donald Trump's grandfather from Germany. The Guardian has the timeline: In 1885, a then 16-year-old Friedrich Trump left Germany for the US and ended up finding a fortune among the Alaska gold rush (as Bloomberg explains, it wasn't gold, but a restaurant/brothel that brought him riches). He returned to his hometown of Kallstadt in 1901, where he a year later married Elisabeth Christ. The couple's subsequent time in New York City was short-lived: Elisabeth pined for Germany, but Trump found himself unable to return permanently, done in by his having not performed mandatory military service or alerted officials to his 1885 emigration.

The February 1905 decree gave Trump eight weeks to leave the Kingdom of Bavaria or else face deportation. On the 27th of that month, Trump appealed to Prince Regent Luitpold, sending the "much-loved, noble, wise and righteous sovereign and sublime ruler" a "most modest plea," reports Deutsche Welle, to no avail. In the letter, Trump explained he originally left for America after being unable to find work as a barber in his homeland. The Wall Street Journal, which obtained a copy of the letter, reports that Trump should have in 1885 left a security deposit behind; such deposits were meant to ensure people would return for their mandatory military service, and he would have had it returned upon doing his military duty. On July 1, 1905, a three-months-pregnant Elisabeth, Trump, and their daughter sailed for New York. That unborn child would be Fred, Donald Trump's father. (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  The hundreds of Chicago O'Hare International Airport workers planning a work stoppage want the public on their sideso they'll wait until Tuesday, Nov. 29, to strike, CNN reports. The janitors, baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants are striking to draw attention to their desire to be paid $15 per hour and the right to unionize. They are supported by the Service Employees International Union. Disruptions at O'Hare, the nation's second-busiest airport and a hub for American and United, can have a ripple effect across the country, but the strike will not include security screeners or air traffic controllers. It's not clear how long the work stoppage will last. (Read more O'Hare International Airport stories.)
(Newser)  It was a tense, emotional courtroom scene in Minneapolis Monday morning as one chapter in the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling came to a close. At a US District Court hearing for 53-year-old Danny Heinrich, who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on one count of child porn (a plea deal), Heinrich apologized to Jacob's family for the "evil acts" that led to Jacob's death in 1989, telling Jacob's parents specifically that "the heinous acts of selfishness are unforgivable  I'm so sorry," the Star Tribune reports. The AP notes that 20 years is the max that can be given on a single child-porn count, and Heinrich is technically eligible for release after 17 years, though Judge John Tunheim said during the hearing that it's "unlikely that society will let you go free." The Chicago Tribune notes the law permits the state to have Heinrich civilly committed as a sex predator when his federal sentence ends.

In handing down Heinrich's sentence, Tunheim noted, "No one is ever going to forget October 22 of 1989. But we will move forward." Before he spoke, however, it was Jacob's family who addressed Heinrich, with mom Patty Wetterling saying he "broke my heart, my soul, and every fiber of my being when he murdered our Jacob," per NBC News. She added directly to Heinrich: "You didn't need to kill him. He did nothing wrong. He just wanted to go home." And as Jerry Wetterling, Jacob's dad, actually thanked Heinrich for leading authorities to Jacob's body this summer, Heinrich himself appeared to tear up, per the Star Tribune. Jacob's brother and sister also spokethey expressed love for Jacob and insecurity should Heinrich ever be releasedas did a man who was abducted and molested by Heinrich as a 12-year-old less than a year before Jacob's abduction. (Read more Jacob Wetterling stories.)
President-Elect Donald J. Trump has not taken oath as US President or even confirmed by the process of Electoral College but his prediction is troubling. Will America see another Impeachment Trial for the fourth time?

On CNN News, "There's a very good chance that Donald Trump could face impeachment," Allan Lichtman said on "Erin Burnett OutFront." Lichtman is a "Prediction" Professor and has been accurate in every presidential election since 1984. He predicted Trump's victory.

He further said that a number of alleged impeachable offenses Trump will raise because of previous cases. Burnett pushed back by saying that those allegations remained vague and impeachment is far from possible. Lichtman just said that Republican will choose a conservative of their kind and would no longer support Trump in the years to come.

On About News, it says among those Presidents who went to trial was Presidents Andrew Johnson in 1868 for defying the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 when he removed Edwin M. Stanton then Secretary of War. His acquittal was one short vote of the Senate to obtain two-thirds of their member.

President Richard Nixon 1974 there were three articles of impeachment charge against him. This was due to his cover-up of burglary and other behavior that breached the trust of the people. This was the popular "Watergate Scandal". Nixon resigned before reading of the verdict.

One of perjury and one of obstruction of justice cited to the Bill Clinton's Impeachment on 1998. There were also leading facts of his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky that he confirmed later August of 1998.

In counting, the United States already had 44 President and only three of them went on a trial for impeachment. "The President, Vice-President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors" in Article 2 Section 4 is the grounds of Impeachment based on the US Constitution.

InfoPlease explained that impeaching a public official might need a formal impeachment or accusation from the US House of Representative that only requires majority votes. A trial in the US Senate will start and must require two-thirds of its members to vote.
Lanzhou is shrouded in smog on Nov. 10.

The municipal government of Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu province, has issued a letter of apology to residents after restricting the use of private vehicles.

Explaining that car emissions are the biggest factor behind air pollution, the municipal government announced that it will restrict the use of private vehicles through a system of even- and odd-numbered license plates as of Nov. 20. The government also promised that these restrictions will be lifted as soon as the orange alert for air pollution is removed. However, according to meteorologial departments, air quality will likely require some time yet before it improves.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 19, the city of Lanzhou witnessed the worst and longest-lasting bout of air pollution since 2013. As a result, the municipal government launched a number of measures, which include halting the use of half of all government vehicles. However, the air quality has not improved. In fact, a strong sandstorm that hit the city on the afternoon of Nov. 18 has made the situation even worse.

The city will provide citizens with free bus rides as long as the restriction is in place to minimize its impact.
Police killed two wild pigs that entered a residential community and bit two elderly people in the Jiangbei district of Chongqing on Nov. 19. The bodies of the animals were sent to a slaughterhouse for inspection and quarantine. If declared healthy, the pigs will likely be slaughtered and their meat distributed to the injured and poor families as compensation.

Community workers said the wild pigs probably came down from the surrounding hills, and slipped into the community via holes in the wall. It is common to see wild pigs in downtown Chongqing, as well as in the mountain ranges surrounding the city.

A Jiangbei district forestry employee said the pigs were 3 years old, and that each of them weighs 150 kilograms. A professor of animal medicine explained that wild pigs usually don't bite unless they are frightened. However, if bitten, it is important to promptly seek medical treatment. The professor emphasized that wild pigs are a beneficial species with economic and scientific research value. Slaughtering wild pigs is generally prohibited.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Overcast. High 21F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially overnight. Low 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
New Delhi:

One BSF personal was martyred on Sunday night as the Pakistan opened fire in the Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector.



The ceasefire violation initiated by Pak troops in midst of the night also resulted in injuries to 3 other BSF jawans, the officials said.

One of the injured soldiers has sustained splinter injuries, reports said.



The name of the martyred Jawan is HC Rai Singh and he hailed from Haryana's Jhajhar district.

Earlier, a woman was injured and two houses damaged when Pakistani troops on Saturday targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district with mortar bombs and small arms fire.



In pic: BSF head constable Rai Singh who lost his life in heavy shelling by Pakistan in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. (Source: ANI) pic.twitter.com/7P3S5xbbWH  News Nation (@NewsNationTV) November 21, 2016



Also read:

J&K: Four soldiers injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Rajouri sector

Pak ceasefire violations affecting mental health of Kashmiri civilians



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New Delhi:

Special train carrying passengers of the ill-fated Indore-Patna Express which derailed in Kanpur rural area on Sunday morning arrived in Patna at around 4am on Monday.



Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had informed on Sunday that the special train had all possible support for the passengers, including 4000 food packets, 2000 water bottles, 1500 cups of tea to be supplied free of cost.



The train reportedly also carried injured people who has families in Bihar. A team of 20 doctors were waiting for the victims at the Patna station.

Special train reached #Patna with rest of the passengers including injured.for detailinformation may please use Help-line numbers pic.twitter.com/NWuBJT14tO  Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 21, 2016



A tragic train accident killed at least 130 people while injuring another 90 on Sunday morning when the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Kanpur Dehat at around 3:10 am on Sunday morning.

Special train with survivors of #KanpurTrainTragedy reached Patna in early morning hours. pic.twitter.com/wOlhZQK9SI  ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

The rescue operations, which took all day, were personally overseen by all senior authorities, including UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Ex-gratia amounts have also been announced for deceaseds kin and injured persons by Railway Ministry, Prime Minister, and UP and Madhya Pradesh governments, while, Bihar government has announced a compensation amount for victims from hailing from the state.

Also read:

Watch | Patna-Indore Express Kanpur Tragedy: Death toll rises to 122 over 100 injured

Patna-Indore Express Tragedy: Helpline numbers issued by Railway Ministry

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A farmer named Li Wenhua from Pujiang County in southwestern China's Sichuan province recently found a rare spider while doing farm work at home. Only six such spiders, whose scientific name is Cyclocosmia ricketti, have been spotted in China since 2000.

The spider resembles other ordinary varieties, but its rear end is large and round. Li therefore captured the animal in a plastic bottle and took it home. According to insect expert Zhao Li, the Cyclocosmia ricketti is a very rare species. Zhao said the spiders mainly live in the caves of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

"The spider is of extreme scientific value, and it is definitely a rare species in Sichuan province," Zhao stated, adding that he had failed many times to find it. The spider can survive in temperatures as low as 13 degrees Celsius. However, winter temperatures in Sichuan are often much lower than this, which suggests that its true ability to resist cold may not be in line with previous research. Zhao told Chengdu Economic Daily that the discovery of the Cyclocosmia ricketti in Pujiang might be the northermost discovery site ever recorded.

Because of rare spider's mild temperament, many people keep them as pets. They can sell for as much as 12,000 RMB online. Upon learning this, Li has decided to sell the spider.
New Delhi:

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday took stock of banking and ATM services in Delhi post Centre's demonetisation move on Monday. Rahul visited city's Jahangirpuri, Inderlok and Zakira areas and interacted with the people standing in queues outside ATM machines.

It has been 13 days since the Narendra Modi government banned high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to tame the black money menace and to fight corruption.

The move led to chaos across the country as people queued up for hours to get valid currency notes to meet their daily expenses.

It is the second time in the week when the Congress leader met people in the Capital in this regard.

On November 17, Rahul visited Sarojini Nagar market and met a group of street vendors to enquire how Modi government's currency ban move has affected their business.

However, the Congress leader was left red-faced after he was greeted with pro-Modi chants by the BJP workers.

A united Opposition is all set to corner the government in Parliament on Monday on the demonetisation issue with the Congress issuing a whip to its MPs and leaders of opposition parties slated to meet to chalk out a joint strategy.

Opposition leaders will meet at around 9.30am and are likely to raise the demand of a joint parliamentary committee probe into the alleged selective leakage of demonetisation information to the ruling BJP.

Sources in the opposition camp said there is unanimity among all parties on the need for a comprehensive investigation into prior intimation of the decision to some people.

Here are the live updates:

# Wherever I went today I saw people were troubled, they said we are standing in queue and bank is giving money to few from backdoor



# Whatever the Prime Minister does is to benefit his own people



# PM Modi is filling coffers of 15-20 selected people, while poor people are standing in queues



# Why does PM need to appear in Parliament, he is on another level these days



# PM Modi talks to his cabinet and does whatever he feels like

# Rahul Gandhi interacts with people outside ATM in Delhi's Anand Parbat area

# Rahul visits Zakira area, meets people affected due to demonetisation move

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

A combined Opposition on Monday disrupted the proceedings of Parliament for the fourth consecutive day demanding discussion on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting, leading to adjournment of the both the Houses for the day.



Also read full coverage of: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Here are the live updates:

#Rajya sabha adjourned for the day (3:05pm)

#Lok Sabha adjourned for the day (2:10pm); Rajya Sabha till 3:00pm

#Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:00pm (12:35pm)

#Lok Saha adjourned till 2:00pm

#Rail Min Suresh Prabhu addressing the House on Kanpur Train Tragedy (12:05pm)

- Train accident is very unfortunate

- Forensic probe ordered

-Culprits will be punished strictly

Mayawati:

#SP govt knows that they will not come back in power

#We did not want to play with people's life, we don't mind that SP got credit

#During my regime we built Noida Expressway but it was incomplete before elections and we did not inuagrate it

#PM must speak in the House

#Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1200hrs, Mayawati demands PM to speak in House

#Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1200hrs (11:36am)

#Lok Sabha session continues amid ruckus (11:18 am)

#Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 11:30am (11:15)

#Debate in RS: Opposition demands for PM Modi's presence in House

#Opposition comes to den in Rajya sabha, shouts 'Shame Shame Narendra Modi'

#Debate later, but first accept our tributes for people who have died standing in queues, and other bank officials: Sitaram Yechury in RS

#Opposition not ready for debate, trying new tactics everyday to disrupt the Parliament proceedings: FM Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha

#Kanpur train tragedy victims paid homage; Opposition demands homage to currency ban victims (11:10 am)

#Rajya Sabha passes resolution to pay homage to Kanpur tragedy victims

#Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks on demonetisation, Kanpur tragedy

#Mayawati speaking Rajya Sabha

#Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha session begins

#Opposition parties post meet decide to stage a protest at Gandhi statue in Parliament on November 23 (Wednesday), against demonetisation

#Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to make statement today in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Kanpur train tragedy

#We are ready to discuss & are open to suggestions from opposition but demonetisation will not be rolled back: Arjun Ram Meghwal,MoS Finance

#Congress strategy meeting begins

#Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament

#Delhi: Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to meet, Congress VP Rahul Gandhi arrives at the Parliament

#Will insist for PM Modi's presence as the debate on demonetisation starts in the Parliament: Mallikarjun Kharge,Congress

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Lima:

President Barack Obama spoke briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday as an economic summit got under way in Peru, in their first known conversation since Donald Trump was elected the next US president.

The two leaders were seen chatting as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima. They stood off to the side together momentarily with aides close by before shaking hands and then taking their seats around a table.

It was unclear what the two were discussing, and their words werent audible to journalists present. The White House did not immediately provide details about the content of their conversation.

The short interaction came amid intense speculation and concern about whether Trumps election might herald a more conciliatory US approach to Russia. Under Obama, the US has enacted severe sanctions on Russia over its aggressive behaviour in Ukraine and has sought unsuccessfully to persuade Moscow to stop intervening in Syrias civil war to help prop up Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Trump and Putin have already signalled they may pursue a less antagonistic relationship after Trump takes office in January. In a phone call shortly after Trump was elected, Putin congratulated him and expressed readiness for a partner-like dialogue, the Kremlin said.

In the run-up to the election, the US also accused Russia of trying to interfere in the election, including by hacking into Democratic Party email systems. Obama has raised concerns directly to Putin ahead of the election about Russian hacking, and the US also registered complaints through a hotline set up to avert accidental nuclear war.

Throughout the campaign, the Kremlin insisted that it had no favourites and rejected the claims of interference in the US election.

The meeting came as Obama prepared for planned separate talks with the leaders of Australia and Canada before wrapping up the final foreign trip of his presidency.

Both countries helped negotiate a multinational trade agreement with the US and nine other Pacific Rim countries.

But Congress is unlikely to ratify the deal, dealing a blow to Obamas once high hopes of having the agreement become part of his presidential legacy.

Trump says trade deals can hurt US workers, and he opposes the sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership

agreement.

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New Delhi:

Banks across India opened on Monday after two days of restrictive entry, and heavy rush is expected for cash operations. On Saturday, banks were open only for senior citizens and own-customers but other-bank-customers were not allowed to exchange old notes. Sunday was a usual off-day.

Monday is the 13th day post demonetisation. Since morning, people made a beeline at the banks and outside ATMs to wait for the banks to reopen and cash-dispensing van to arrive at ATMs respectively.

As banks opened after a day's break on Monday, people rushed to exchange old defunct bills or withdraw cash. On the 13thday of demonetisation, people still have to stand in queues for hours at ATMs as most of the cash vending machines are either dysfunctional or running out of cash due to huge rush.

There have been reports coming from different parts of the country about people being frustrated with shortage of cash at branches, leading to scuffle with bank staff and rioting at some branches. Besides, those having wedding in their families are still not able to withdraw Rs 2.5 lakh from their accounts, even after the relaxation announced by the Centre five days ago.

Banks said they have not yet received operational guidelines from the RBI in this regard. People are visiting their branches with gazette notification that talks of relaxation being provided tofarmers and for marriage, but to no avail.

"Withdrawal for marriage purpose can be availed onlyafter RBI's notification, which will have clear direction about the various formalities needed to be furnished by the customers for withdrawal," said a senior public sector bank official. To screen repeat customers, banks at many places have started using ink mark on fingers of people who are exchanging old notes. Besides, the government last week also reduced the exchange limit of old defunct notes to Rs 2,000 from the earlier Rs 4,500.

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New Delhi:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Monday, wherein fighter planes touched down to mark its grand opening ceremony. Agra-Lucknow Expressway, which stretch 302-km, is the most ambitious project of Akhilesh Yadav.



It has been completed in a record time of 22 month and has cost of Rs 13,200 crore. A It will be open for public in December this year.



Fighter jets touched Agra-Lucknow expressway on its inauguration on Monday, a day chosen to commemorate the birthday of ruling Samajwadi Party patriarchas 78th birthday on Tuesday.A

Watch:Air Force jets touch down on Lucknow-Agra Expressway A A

#WATCH Unnao: IAF Mirage 2000 jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow expressway pic.twitter.com/xiZtjzZzHy a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 21, 2016



Generally a grand fiesta for party workers, Mulayam Singh Yadav has cancelled all other birthday celebrations in view of the Kanpur train tragedy which claimed at least 133 lives on Sunday.A



According to reports, 11 Indian Air Force (IAF) jets will land and take-off from the expressway to test the quality of build. These jet fighters will release tri-coloured smoke.



The government is looking to build highways across the country that can also serve as landing strips or runways for aircraft, both civil and military. Road and Transport minister Nitin Gadkari has spoken of the governmentas plan to come up with an aairporta, in which the highway can be used both by vehicles and airplanes. The aairporta is reportedly being built in Rajasthan. A A



The Agra-Lucknow expressway will pass through Unnao, Kannauj, Etawah, Mainpuri and Firozabad. It will also shrink the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to just four hours.

Akhilesh Yadav speech during inauguration:A

#Request people to stay within safe limits and not go beyond 100kmphA

#The expressway has become reality only with the blessings of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav)

#Ballia-Ghazipur expressway now on cards

#This is first expressway where airplanes can do landing and takeoff during emergency too

#People will remember Samajwadi Party for its work

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Balasore:

India on Tuesday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile twice in quick succession as part of a user trial by the army from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha.



In salvo mode, the two surface-to-surface missiles which have a strike range of 350 km and are capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads were successfully test-fired in quick succession from mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at around 9.35 AM, defence sources said.



A similar twin trial had been conducted on October 12, 2009 from the same base where both tests were successful.



The missile is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target, they said.



The missiles were randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially formed strategic force command (SFC) and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise, a defence scientist said.



The missile trajectory was tracked by the DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha, sources said. The downrange teams on board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown.



Inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003, the nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II is the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, defence sources said.

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Melbourne:

Scientist has developed a new approach to help the immune system to fight actively against HIV virus in the body.

In a significant progress towards the development of a vaccine , researchers for the first time has showed that a combined approach using a common cold virus to introduce a vaccine into the body, as well as an injection of a DNA-based vaccine may help protect against HIV in the gut and bodily cavities.

With sexual activity being one of the primary methods of HIV transmission, it is necessary to try to protect those parts of the body that are most likely to encounter the virus first, said Branka Grubor-Bauk, from the University of Adelaide in Australia.

A possible reason why previous HIV vaccine trials have not been successful is because of this lack of a frontline protection, Grubor-Bauk said.

The laboratory studies, conducted so far in mice represent an important step forward in attempts to introduce a first line of defence against HIV at the site of infection.

In mice, we delivered a rhinovirus (or common cold virus) inside the nose, and this virus had been altered to include HIV proteins, Grubor-Bauk said.

At the same time, the mice also received an injection into the skin containing a DNA-based vaccine. This approach resulted in very specific responses in the immune system, she said.

This vaccine approach encompasses two different arms of the immune system: white blood cells that attack the HIV virus, and specific antibodies that recognise and shut down HIV-positive cells, she added.

There is an element of HIV known as Tat that helps the virus to replicate quite rapidly, said Eric Gowans, professor at University of Adelaide.

The antibodies inhibit the Tat effect, preventing HIV from replicating itself, Gowans added.

Overall, we found that infection was considerably reduced in the mice we studied, he said.

The study appears in the journal Scientific Reports. PTI
New Delhi:

Out of the total 695 passengers travelling on reserved seats in the ill-fated Indore-Patna Express train, only 128 had opted for the insurance plan the railway ministry had launched in September this year.

However, the scheme is just an optional arrangement under which a person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website is able to opt for travel insurance cover for a premium of 92 paise only.

The scheme provides a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or total disability, Rs 7.5 lakh for partial disability, upto Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses in the event of a rail accident.

The facility is available to all passengers, excluding those travelling by suburban trains while booking online irrespective of the class.

According to a report published in The Indian Express, the families of the insured deceased will receive Rs 10 lakh as compensation from the railway ministry over and above the other compensation.

Here is all you need to know about the optional travel insurance:

# The premium is Re. 92 paise per passenger inclusive of all taxes



# The scheme offers travelers/nominees/legal heirs a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or total disability, Rs 7.5 lakh for partial disability, upto Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses and Rs 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains from the place of a train accident or where an untoward incident occurs.



# Customer shall receive the policy information through SMS and on their registered email IDs directly from insurance companies along with the link for filling nomination details. However, policy number can be viewed from ticket booked history at IRCTC Page

# The coverage for the policy shall be for each passenger under the PNR in case of death, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability and hospitalisation expenses for injury and transportation of mortal remains following the rail accident or untoward incident.

# The optional travel insurance will not be provided for the children below 5 years of age and foreign citizens.

# The insurance cover is for passengers holding tickets such as confirmed, RAC and wait-listed ones

# The scheme is optional, however if the option is exercised it will be compulsory for all passengers booked under one PNR number.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Bengaluru:

The Income Tax department on Monday conducted raids in the offices of mining baron G Janardhan Reddy in Karnatakas Bellary city following the lavish wedding of his daughter earlier this month. The wedding is said to have cost Rs 500 crore.

The raids were conducted at the offices of Obulapuram Mining Company and Associated Mining Company, Reddys iron ore mining businesses.

Reddy faces charges of corruption over alleged illegal iron ore mining in the district.

On Monday, the Income Tax department also conducted surveys on at least ten locations of high-end event management firms, catering and multi-media service providers who were engaged for the extravagant wedding of daughter of Karnatakas former BJP minister G Janardhan Reddy.



Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations here and three in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week here. Reddy is also a mining baron.



They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.



The firms include those providing special Swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.



Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.



Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be undertaken.



The multi-crore wedding was in the spotlight recently for its sheer opulence and extravagance at a time when numerous people were facing a cash crunch and had to queue up outside banks and ATMs to withdraw their hard-earned money in the wake of the demonetisation of the two large currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.



The five-day extravaganza was held at the Palace grounds here with ceremonies held against the backdrop of lavish settings.



The mining barons event presented almost a surreal picture as Bramhani entered into wedlock with Rajeev Reddy, a leading businessmans son from Andhra Pradesh, with rituals conducted by a battery of priests from the famous Tirumala temple.

The grandeur of the wedding was such that huge sets replicating Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and Tirumala Tirupati temple were erected at the venue, along with the replica of the homes of both of bride and the groom.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Mumbai:

The NIA carried out searches at the premises of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, his NGO and a few associates for the third consecutive day on Monday. It also blocked the website of outlawed Islamic Research Foundation founded by him.



The anti-terror investigation agency is also set to summon Naik, who is abroad ever since his name crop up linking terror activities following the Dhaka terror attack on July 1.



Search operations were carried out by the National Investigation Agency at the offices of IRF, premises of Naik as well as that of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, from where the programmes were being aired on Naiks Peace TV.



The NIA also blocked the website of IRF, which was allegedly promoting hate speeches of Naik.



As part of investigation, all actions that need to be taken against a proscribed organisation, including banning of its online activities, are being undertaken, an NIA spokesperson told PTI.



Last week, the central government banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years.



If the Islamic preacher fails to respond to the NIA summon, a red corner notice will be issued against Naik through Interpol by it.



The NIA is still trying to block Naiks Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube videos that contain alleged objectionable material and may seek help from authorities in the US where the servers of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo are located, officials.



The agency is expected to examine cases relating to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to extremism after listening to Naiks sermons.



Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Its official! India has now become an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), which is the largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory in the world.

Sekhar Basu, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and CERN Director General Dr Fabiola Gianotti signed the agreement at the DAEs office in Mumbai on Monday.

The Union Cabinet had last year green-lit the proposal for the official entry of India into the Geneva-based body. Following this, the CERN Council accepted India as an associate member. A resolution was adopted by the CERN Council to this effect in September this year.

There are three major activities going on in our laboratoryaccelerators, detectors and computing. Indian scientist fraternity is good at all the three areas; hence we have taken decision to upgrade the status, Gianotti said.

Participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects will now be enhanced. Becoming Associate Member of CERN will will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects, Gianotti said.

For specified requirements of CERN, the industries will now be able to directly bag contracts. Earlier, the supply of required material, components and services was in the form of kind (without any charge). Now, the companies can directly bag the order and provide the services, she added.

India will now also require to contribute a certain amount of money for research activities.



This would involve annual contribution of 11.5 million swiss frank from Indian government to CERN, Gianotti said.

There had been criticism within the scientific community over the delay in India accepting the membership.

Pakistan is already an associate member of CERN.



Scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems at CERN.



Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to four states and three International Organisations.



A number of national institutes and universities from India have worked together in forming an active collaboration with CERN.Participation of Indian scientists in CERN dates back to the early 1960s. In 1991, the DAE had signed a formal agreement with CERN, which continues till today.



In 2003, India was awarded the Observer status of CERN, and subsequently invited to join CERN as an associate member.



In recent years, Indian scientists have been involved in several pioneering activities at CERN. India has made significant contributions to the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), in the areas of design, development and supply of hardware accelerator components.



Indian scientists have also played a significant role in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiments, which is one of the two large experiments that have led to the discovery of the Higgs Boson and have been named a part of the historic discovery.



(With inputs from PTI)

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Austria, as a future co-chair of the OSCE, stands ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan in their search for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said in an interview with Armenpress Armenian news agency published on its website Nov. 21.

Austria will take over the OSCE chairmanship in January 2017.

It is probably too early to speak about concrete initiatives [for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]  a lot will depend on the developments in the region, Kurz said.  Vienna was the venue for the Presidential summit [the meeting of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev] in May this year, and we are always happy to host negotiations again if there is a wish. We are not members of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, but we will do our best to support the Minsk Process.

Answering the question what prospects he sees for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as acting chairman of the OSCE, Kurz said that there exists no military solution to this conflict, and all parties involved should do their utmost to cooperate, establish trust and dialogue, and to focus on diplomacy rather than military action.

Another outbreak of violence would be fatal and the international community is not in favor of that, everyone  from Moscow to Washington  is clear on this issue, he added. A number of proposals to help establish peace have been on the table for some time already, and a few ideas for confidence-building measures have been established more recently that are awaiting their implementation.

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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

If the Turkic-Islamic world has the same support to Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev supports Ankara, the Armenian occupation will end, Yalcin Topcu, Turkish presidential adviser, told reporters Nov. 21.

Topcu, who is on a visit in Baku, noted that other countries should have the same attitude that Ankara demonstrates on this issue.

Countries of the Turkic-Islamic world should search for ways to strengthen and support one another, he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
10 of the best kept health secrets  from the happiest region in the world

The happiest country in the world is determined by a World Happiness Report, a yearly survey commissioned in 2012 by UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon as part of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Using factors such as the economy, lifestyle, public policy, health and environment, this group looks at 156 nations and then calculates which ones are the happiest. Telegraph.co.uk reports that the 2016 winner was Denmark. Also included in the 2016 top ten list are four other Scandinavian nations including Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland.

Besthealthmag.ca decided to take a look at this region to see what makes them so happy. They found ten secrets that promote a smiling and healthy population.

1. They love to sweat

Saunas are big business in Finland. There are 2 million saunas for five million people. The Finnish people use saunas regularly to detox bodily toxins and burn calories, while letting go of their stress and mental fatigue.

2. They enjoy bike riding

50% of Denmarks population ride their bikes to school or work. Biking develops cardio strength and lessens anxiety. And its great for the environment.

3. They eat Nordic foods

Rye bread is a staple in Norway. Theres no sugar or oils. The waters are less tainted, so fresh salmon is available. Grass fed organic lamb is also a staple as is a creamy, thick Norwegian-Icelandic dairy product called Skyr.

4. They put down their smart phones

Swedes call it Fika. It means going out for coffee. They spend their time socializing and talking to one another, not on their technological devices.

5. They own less

Scandinavian furniture design is known for being streamlined functional furniture. Less clutter in the room, less worry in the mind.

6. They breath in fewer gas fumes

Denmark has implemented a plan to produce 100 percent green energy by 2050. This means less pollution and smog and translates into fewer lung problems, strokes and heart disease.

7. They soak in thermal pools

Iceland has a vast array of geothermal pools and natural hot springs, like the Blue Lagoon. Soaking in a sea of natural minerals, algae and silica is good for pain, blood circulation and stress relief.

8. They relax at home

Winters can be long and cold in Northern Scandinavia. Theyve learned to snuggle.

9. They go outside

Fresh air is important to Scandinavians. They love to frolic in national parks, forests, mountains and fjords.

10. They eat locally and ethically

Norway has a national policy which partners the government, restaurants and organic farmers to provide some of the best, wholesome food available.

Sources:

WorldHappiness.Report

Telegraph.co.uk

BestHealthMag.ca

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George Soros becomes a wanted man in Russia as Putin issues international arrest warrant

George Soros is an enemy of freedom and conservative ideals. The man is single-handedly responsible for funding many of the most twisted liberal endeavors and has been fighting against things like freedom of speech and the Second Amendment for decades because he knows how valuable they are. If the American people have the right to fight back against the powers that be  physically or verbally  then people like Soros stand no chance and he knows it.

For the longest time, Soros has been pulling the strings of many members of the federal government. He was telling Hillary Clinton every move she should make long before she made it, as revealed by the Wikileaks DNC email hacks. Soros is the worst kind of political influence imaginable, because he has managed to get his way for so long that it has become common. He is far too used to it. It makes a lot of sense that he wanted Hillary Clinton to be victorious over Donald Trump.

Without Clinton in office, Soros loses much of his power and Donald Trump isnt going to cower to financial bribery the way that Clinton did for so many years. Ray Starmann of US Defense Watch reports, Obviously Soros wants to be like Goldman Sachs  One can say that Soros and Goldman Sachs are ideologically part of the same brotherhood. Their strategy is a little different, but the end result is the destruction of lives via the economic system (be it capitalism or socialism) and political manipulation.

While the United States federal government put up with Soros corruption for a long, long time, Russia doesnt appear to be so kind to the man. Vladimir Putin has reportedly issued an international arrest warrant for Soros as he believes the man to be extremely dangerous. It goes to show just how awful Soros is that Putin of all people finds him to be corrupt and twisted.

We are currently in the midst of a very serious cultural war that spreads all over the world. People like George Soros have been the metaphorical puppet masters behind many of the problems we have all been facing, so for him to be viewed as a globalist threat is a good thing. We need to stop pretending these people have the best interests of our country in mind. They only care about generating more power and money for themselves. They need to be treated like the criminals that they are.

Sources:

USDefenseWatch.com

MorningNewsUSA.com

Business2Community.com

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Heres proof that Vladimir Putin has never respected President Obama

(NationalSecurity.news) They say if looks could kill

As reported by the New York Post this morning, President Obama  on his final taxpayer-supported close-out tour of the world before leaving office  met up with some world leaders in Peru over the weekend. One of them was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In describing the encounter between Obama and Putin, the Post took the long way around to avoid the obvious: Putin has zero respect for Obama and never has had any.

To wit:

This greeting was as warm as winter in Siberia.

President Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, could barely stand to look at each other in Peru on Sunday as they shared a brief and chilly handshake.

Both men have good reason to be icy with each other.

Obama is likely still smarting from the humiliating ballot-box defeat his party suffered two weeks ago in the presidential election, when Donald Trump  an open admirer of Putin  pulled off a stunning upset.

Obama might also could be miffed that suspected Russian hackers exposed embarrassing confidential e-mails between Democratic bigwigs, which political observers say helped Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

Russia also has angered the Obama administration by taking sides in the Syrian civil war, aiding despot President Bashar al-Assad.

Meanwhile, Putin must still be stewing over the continued US sanctions against his country, which were payback for Moscows incursion into Ukraine and have crippled his nations economy.

There is likely some truth to most of this  the Russians didnt hack the Democratic Party or the Hillary Clinton campaign  but the most obvious answer to Putins behavior is simply that he doesnt respect Obama.

Oh, the Russian leader has to respect the military and economic power of the United States. And what world leader wouldnt want the kind of power projection our nation possesses?

But in terms of whether or not he believes Obama personally to be a worthy adversary, its crystal clear to any honest observer that Putin doesnt.

And he very likely would have had even less respect for Clinton, had she won the election. Worse for America, Putin would have had her over a barrel from the outset because while Russia wasnt the source of the political hacks, even the FBI believes that her home-brew email server was hacked multiple times by foreign powers (which would include the Kremlin).

As for his current mutual admiration and respect for Trump, that could vanish in an instant, depending on what foreign policies he will pursue. But already Trump starts on a better footing than Clinton would have, and in a better place than the Obama administration ever had. (Remember the famous Clinton-Russia reset button moment? What great power foreign leader wouldnt have found that stunt juvenile and laughable? They couldnt even get the word right.)

In what is likely the last Obama-Putin meeting of the formers presidency, its quite clear what the Russian leader really thinks of Obama  not much.

More:

(c) 2016 USA Features Media.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

Azerbaijan prevented another event in Brussels aimed at propaganda of the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Hikmet Hajiyev, a spokesman for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, told Trend Nov. 21.

A concert aimed at propaganda of the illegal regime, which was to be held in Brussels Palais des Beaux Arts, was called off following the proactive measures of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belgium and the Azerbaijani Parliament.

A visit of the regimes head Bako Sahakyan has also been cancelled, according to Hajiyev.

Armenias propaganda machine is currently trying to justify this failure through lies and different arguments, he said.

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.
Ron Paul reveals hit list of alleged fake news journalists

This list contains the culprits who told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and lied us into multiple bogus wars.

Article by RT

Former congressman Ron Paul revealed a list of fake news journalists he claims are responsible for bogus wars and lies about Hillary Clintons chances of winning the election. Journalists from CNN, the New York Times, and the Guardian are included.



This list contains the culprits who told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and lied us into multiple bogus wars,according to a report on his website, Ron Paul Liberty Report. Paul claims the list is sourced and holds a lot more waterthan a list previously released by Melissa Zimdars, who is described on Pauls website as a leftist feminist professor.

These are the news sources that told us if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, he said. They told us that Hillary Clinton had a 98% of winning the election. They tell us in a never-ending loop that The economy is in great shape! Pauls list includes the full names of the fake news journalists as well as the publications they write for, with what appears to be hyperlinks to where the allegations are sourced from. In most cases, this is WikiLeaks, but none of the hyperlinks are working at present, leaving the exact sources of the list unknown. CNN is Pauls biggest alleged culprit, with nine entries, followed by the NY Times and MSNBC, with six each. The NY Times has recently come under fire from President-elect Donald Trump, who accuses them of being totally wrong on news regarding his transition team, while describing them as failing.

The failing @nytimes story is so totally wrong on transition. It is going so smoothly. Also, I have spoken to many foreign leaders.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016

I have recieved and taken calls from many foreign leaders despite what the failing @nytimes said. Russia, U.K., China, Saudi Arabia, Japan,  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016

The publication hit back, however, saying their business has increased since his election, with a surge in new subscriptions.

@realDonaldTrump@nytimes fact: surge in new subscriptions, print & digital, with trends, stops & starts, 4 X better than normal.  NYTCo Communications (@NYTimesComm) November 13, 2016

CNNs Wolf Blitzer is also amongst those named on the list. In an email from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released by WikiLeaks, the DNC staff discusses sending questions to CNN for an interview with Donald Trump.

#DNCLeak2 emails: Cozy with CNN, silencing journalists & pinning it on Putin https://t.co/NcBuc00TvO  RT (@RT_com) November 8, 2016

Also listed is NY Times journalist Maggie Haberman, whom leaked emails showed working closely with Clintons campaign to present the Democratic candidate in a favorable light.So-called fake news has been recently attacked by US President Barack Obama, who claimed that false news shared online may have played a role in Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election.Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg has now said that the social media site may begin entrusting third parties with filtering the news.

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Sweden paid the equivalent of more than 4,300 in welfare to an Islamic State terrorist as he fought with the Jihadist group in their Syrian stronghold of Aleppo.

Article by Liam Deacon

Swedish Muslim convert Michael Skramo left for Syria with his wife and four small children in August 2014, and now goes by the name Abdul Samad al Swedi.

Since then, he has appeared in a series of propaganda videos, sometimes alongside his children, brandishing a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

It is claimed the family had been living off handouts of 627 (5,814 Kroner) a month.

However, according to Swedens Goteborgs Tidning (GT), it took more than a year for Swedens welfare agency, Forsakringskassan, to suspend his generous welfare handouts after he became a terrorist.

The agency recently sent a letter to Mr. Skramos Gothenburg address, informing him that his child and housing benefit had been discontinued.

Forsakringskassan has stopped payments of child benefits and housing benefits for your children, read the letter, which has been passed to the newspaper.

Magnus Ranstorp, a terrorism researcher at Swedens National Defence University, told the paper: It exposes how weak the system seems to be in its control mechanisms.

Michael Skramo has been one of the most well-known IS sympathisers for quite some time.

Adding: Police should be able to somehow sound the alarm and inform all the authorities when someone has journeyed down there.

Furthermore, Mr. Skramo reportedly owes his landlord 6,671 (61,842 Kroner) in unpaid rent.

In April, his wife sent a sarcastic email to Gothenburgs court, telling debt collectors to abandon the cases against them, as they were planning to never return to Sweden.

To make it simple for you, you dont need to send more papers to me, she wrote in the email.

I am not in Sweden and am probably never in my life going to come back so for your own sake, can you just drop it all ;).

Read more at: breitbart.com
The critical health damages of Agent Orange did not end with the Vietnam War

Agent Orange is a toxic herbicide combination of two very destructive chemicals  2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. This deadly poison was used to destroy trees and ground cover during the Vietnam war between 1961 and 1972. The devastating effects of Agent Orange are still lingering in the skins and bodies of the military men and women who served, as well as the land and the people of Vietnam.

Twelve million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed over Vietnam, as reported by Naturalsociety.com. This was enough toxic herbicide to cover 18,000 acres, which is one forth of the countrys land mass. Two thirds of the Agent Orange utilized in the war was also contaminated with TCDD, a form of dioxin, another killer Monsanto chemical. Dioxin alone is associated with at least 15 classes of cancer . . . and several birth defects.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed the Agent Orange Act, which included a mandate to conduct on-going independent scientific investigations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) about Agent Orange and any medical conditions caused by its exposure. The final IOM report was written between 2012 and 2014. Bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson  like symptoms were added to a long list of Agent Orange linked diseases, which already included Chronic B-Cell Leukemias, Hodgkins Disease, Parkinsons Disease, Prostrate and Respiratory Cancers, Ischemic Heart Disease and multiple myeloma, among others. Its difficult to imagine the suffering that continues.

The Vietnamese people still call it The American War. In the 1960s and 1970s, thousands of people in America were protesting what our leaders called the Vietnamese War. More than 58,000 names of veterans who died there are engraved on the Vietnam memorial wall in Washington, D.C., a stunning piece of work by Maya Lin that was fraught with its own controversy.

Have we remembered the thousands that have died, or those who are still suffering, as a result of Agent Orange? Apparently not. One half of the deadly Agent Orange concoction, 2,4-D, is now touted as a new ingredient in genetically modified corn and soy and cotton, courtesy of Dow Crop Sciences. To give this new GMO crop an extra death punch, they combine 2,4-D with glyphosate. Whats even more troubling, is the name of this product. They call it Enlist.

Sources:

NationalAcademies.org

NaturalSociety.com

Science.NaturalNews.com

YouTube.com

Presidency.ucsb.edu

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

(Photo credit: Institute for Southern Studies)

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Eversource Energy is one step closer to building a controversial power line that would pass through Bethel, Brookfield and Danbury.

The Connecticut Siting Council approved Eversources proposal in principle earlier this month and requested a more detailed construction plan for further review.

The 3.4-mile, 115-kilovolt power line would run beside an existing line within Eversources right-of-way from the Plumtrees substation in Bethel to Brookfield Junction. Eversource also wants to reconfigure two existing 115-kilovolt double-circuit lines at its Stony Hill substation in Brookfield and the Plumtrees substation in Bethel.

Eversource spokesperson Frank Poirot said the power line would improve service throughout the three towns and the region.

This provides another path for electricity to flow into these areas, he said. It's an integrated grid so it provides benefits to all of our customers in southwest Connecticut.

But several Brookfield and Bethel residents, as well as some town officials, said they opposed the plan at a public hearing in September.

Among their concerns was a planned access road off Deer Trail Drive in Brookfield, which would have provided Eversource an alternative route to its Stony Hill substation. Residents had contended that an access road would destroy their cul-de-sac and put their children in danger as trucks drove down the road during construction.

But Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said the access road is no longer part of the plan. After conversations with the town and residents, Eversource decided to use an existing access road off of Stony Hill Road instead.

Dunn said he now supports the power line.

I think the residents and the town were both in favor of the improvements they were going to make, but not [in favor of] putting an access road off of Deer Trail, he said. Once they took the Deer Trail access road off the table, everyone was very happy with the plan.

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said the project is good as a whole, although he is concerned that Eversource will have to cut down hundreds of trees near Berkshire Corporate Park, Hearthstone Drive and Chimney Drive. He had hoped the line could be moved to the west or built on top of the existing towers in these spots so that the trees could remain.

I am disappointed they couldnt do more to lessen the impact on some of our residential areas, he said. In general, the second line will not be very disruptive, but it does have a profound impact on a few residential properties.

Melanie Bachman, acting executive director of the Connecticut Siting Council, said Knickerbockers suggestion is not feasible, because the existing right-of-way is not wide enough. If Eversource were to reconfigure the line, it would encroach on private property and cost an additional $7.5 million, she said.

Still, Knickerbocker said he recognizes the need for the line. The town has talked to Eversource in the past about improving service to areas including the school complex on Whittlesey Drive and a nearby senior housing facility that suffer from frequent outages, he said.

This reliability project...should give Eversource the ability to improve reliability in some of those neighborhoods that are prone to failures, he said.

If the Connecticut Siting Council approves Eversources construction plan, the company aims to start construction later in 2017.
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NEW MILFORD  For nearly two decades, former reporter Susan Tuz did what she loved best: write about the area she called home.

A native of Gaylordsville, Tuz died Saturday after a short but hard-fought battle with cancer, just months after retiring from her position as a reporter with The News-Times and The Greater New Milford Spectrum. She was 67.

Sue was one of the hardest-working and most conscientious reporters I ever knew, a great person to have as a colleague and friend, said Jean Dubail, managing editor of The News-Times. We are going to miss her very much.

During her tenure as a local reporter, Mayor David Gronbach said she became an integral part of the community, with the knowledge and experience to put any story in the right perspective.

She played a very important role in the New Milford community for so many years, he said. Not only did she have her finger on the pulse of what was going on in New Milford, but she was also an advocate for the town. This is a very sad time and she is going to be missed by many.

Tuz began working with the New Milford Times in 1998, then took a position with The News-Times and the Spectrum two years later.

Tuz grew up in Gaylordsville, but moved to California in the 1970s and stayed for more than two decades.

She just decided one day that she wanted to move to the West Coast, so she packed up her car and headed to California, said her sister, Pat Monaco. That was just her nature. She really enjoyed her time on the West Coast. She always loved being near the water.

Tuz had developed a love of writing at an early age, said Monaco. She was a fan of classic literature and often enjoyed curling up with a good book. She also wrote poetry and was one of the founding members of Voices of Poetry, a group that holds poetry readings in the New Milford area.

She always loved writing and had a great talent for it, Monaco said. She always had an inquisitive nature and wanted to get to the truth, to the heart of the matter and share it with people in the community.

While Tuz retired from The News-Times in April, she continued her work as a freelance reporter.

Monaco said Tuz also was very involved in the struggle for womens rights and also advocated for those with mental disabilities. She also was a backer of the Loaves and Fishes Hospitality House, a soup kitchen in New Milford.

Susan was such an avid supporter and we are so very sad to hear about her loss, said Lisa Martins, director of the organization. Between her reporting and her attendance at our poetry nights, we are going to miss her a lot.

Former News-Times reporter Nanci Hutson said she developed a close friendship with Tuz over the years. Hutson said Tuz approached her four-month battle with cancer the same way she approached life  with courage, strength and humor.

She had a great laugh, loved to go out for lunch and looked for the best in people and situations, Hutson said. She donated her time to worthy causes and people others might forget. She was humble, kind and loyal. I will miss her, and am so grateful for her friendship in my life. Bless you Susan Tuz.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
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STAMFORD  A suspect in the brutal murder of Stamford native Joey Comunale was indicted by grand jury in Manhattan on Monday, just a day after proclaiming his innocence in an interview with the New York Daily News.

James Rackover, 25, has been formally charged with concealing a human corpse, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in last weeks stabbing death of 26-year-old Comunale, a popular and athletic member of the Stamford community.

The other suspect, Lawrence Dilione, 28, waived a court appearance and is expected to return Tuesday for a bail-related hearing, according to the New York Districts Attorneys office.

No new charges have been filed and both men are still being held on $3 million bond.

The suspects were initially brought up on additional charges of second-degree murder, but that was dropped at the arraignment pending further investigation of who used the knife in the stabbing.

Authorities said Comunale was killed Nov. 13 after a night of partying at Rackovers luxury apartment at the Grand Sutton tower in Manhattans East Side. The Westhill High School graduate was stabbed 15 times in the chest before his corpse was burned and buried in a shallow makeshift grave in a New Jersey shore town, police said.

Rackover, who will return to court on Dec. 5, told the Daily News he had nothing to do with the crime.

I have no reason to hurt this kid, Rackover said Sunday from a New York City jailhouse. Ive never hurt anyone. Ive never killed anyone. I didnt do any of this.

In the interview, Rackover did not deny having Comunale in his apartment, but he said he had never laid eyes on him and doesnt know how he died.

This is complete bull----, he told the Daily News. Ive never seen this kid. I dont even know who he is.

Sleep as an alibi

Comunale went with friends to New York City for a night out last Saturday. After his friends left, Comunale, who met Dilione and three women in a bar that night, accompanied them to a party at Rackovers apartment early Sunday morning, police said.

The Stamford man was seen on surveillance footage leaving Rackovers building early that Sunday with Dilione and three women, according to the criminal complaint. The victim and Dilione were spotted returning around 7 a.m.  the last time the Stamford man was seen alive.

Rackover told the Daily News that Dilione brought a group of people to his apartment in the middle of the night and stayed there until about 7 a.m., drinking and hanging out. After they all left, Rackover said, he went to sleep.

Later that day, Rackover was seen placing a large duffel bag into the trunk of a black Mercedes that was parked outside of the building, authorities said.

According to the complaint, Dilione on Wednesday led police to Comunales body in Oceanport, N.J.

During the early investigation, police collected more than 30 samples of evidence from Rackovers apartment.

Cut short too soon

Rackover was born James Arthur Beaudoin and was arrested several times in Florida on charges of burglary, armed robbery and drug possession, Broward County authorities said. Prominent jeweler Jeffrey Rackover, a longtime friend of President-elect Donald Trump, became a father figure to James after they met several years ago and allowed him to legally take his last name.

In an obituary prepared by Lacerenza Funeral Home, Comunales family said his life was cut short too soon.

Joey was very active in Stamford where he touched hundreds of individuals whether at the hockey rink, softball field or socializing with too many of his friends to mention, the obituary reads. The world was a better place because of him.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Leos Church on Roxbury Road in Stamford. Calling hours are from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Ave. He will be buried at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.

In lieu of flowers, Comunales family asks that donations be sent to Hofstra University in his memory.

noliveira@hearstmediact.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson
The Connecticut Office of Tourism is promoting a Gilmore Girls themed getaway that would allow fans of the show to see the places that influenced the creator, including sites in Washington and New Milford.

Gilmore Girls followed the mother-daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore in a fictional small Connecticut town called Stars Hollow. It ran for seven seasons and aired on the WB, turned CW from 2000 to 2007. It returns on Nov. 25 with a four-episode revival on Netflix.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry has commented on the resign of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) US co-chair James Warlick.

We wish success to the US Co-Chair James Warlick in his future activity. In general, our expectations from the OSCE MG co-chairs are not individual, but rather institutional, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend Nov. 21.

Therefore, in general, co-chairs of the OSCE MG, in accordance with its mandate, should ensure the conflicts settlement in line with the norms and principles of international law, the UN Security Council resolutions and the Helsinki Final Act, added Hajiyev.

Eventually, the status quo, which is considered unacceptable and unsustainable by heads of states chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, must be changed, said the spokesperson.

He noted that the change of the status quo requires the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Unfortunately, over the past 20 years, the Azerbaijani territories havent been liberated from occupation and sustainable peace and security in the region havent been ensured, he added.

James Warlick, who has been the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement since September 2013, tweeted on Nov. 21 that he will step down as Minsk Group co-chair on December 31.

It has been an honor to serve in the US Department of State for more than 30 years, tweeted Warlick.

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.
South Africa proposes $250 as national minimum wage

South Africa,Business/Economy, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Johannesburg, Nov 21 (IANS) South Africa has proposed a national minimum wage of 3,500 rands ($250) per month as the national minimum wage, officials said.

On Sunday, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said a government advisory panel was mandated to advise on an appropriate national minimum wage, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The panel is proposing that the national minimum wage in South Africa, which will have national coverage with the few exceptions that they will deal with, should start off at 3,500 rands ($250) per month which amounts to 20 rands ($1) per hour," he told reporters.

The panel also discussed how to deal with labour instability, the deputy president said, calling on South Africans to contribute to the debate about the proposed figure.

Imraan Valodia, professor of the University of Witwatersrand and chair of the advisory panel, believed that the proposed minimum wage would address inequality and boost economic growth.

"It is quite striking that around 47 per cent of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below 3,500 rands. We think as well from this evidence, that this policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," he said.

Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa, said, "We look forward (to it) and when we receive the report we will go back to our members so we can brief them on the developments and to get a mandate from them, so that we can try to introduce a minimum wage in South Africa as an important instrument to deal with inequality."

--IANS

ksk
South Korea's Park stays low after suspected for graft

South Korea,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Mon, 21 Nov 2016 IANS

Seoul, Nov 21 (IANS) South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has been staying low-key after prosecutors listed her as a suspect in a high-profile corruption case involving her confidante, a source said on Monday.

Park has said that she will not attend a Cabinet meeting this week, indicating to stay low-key following the case, Yonhap news agency quoted an official at the presidential office -- Cheong Wa Dae -- as saying.

Since last week, Park had been considering presiding over the weekly meeting of the Cabinet ministers.

She has decided not to attend the meeting as the prosecution on Sunday booked her as an "accomplice" in the criminal case surrounding her friend Choi Soon-sil and key former aides.

Tuesday's Cabinet meeting will be presided over by Yoo Il-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, who is also the Finance Minister, the source said.

Sunday's announcement on the interim results of the prosecutorial probe in the case has further infuriated citizens, who have been calling for Park's resignation through street rallies across the nation, and spurred political discussions for her impeachment.

During this week's meeting, Cabinet ministers plan to endorse a motion to promulgate an act on an independent counsel probe into the corruption scandal involving Park's friend Choi Soon-sil. After the endorsement process, the President plans to sign it into law.

The probe team, which consists of 105 staffers, including 20 prosecutors, has a mandate to investigate the scandal for up to four months.

--IANS

py/vm
OTTAWA, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - At the conclusion of their "Hospice Palliative Care FIRST: A Month of Action" campaign, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)'s Champion's Council is pleased to announce that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is the first company to receive the Canadian Compassionate Companies (CCC) designation.

Over 260,000 Canadians die each year which can include being supported by as many as five caregivers in the last year or two of life. Supporting these caregivers or "carers" is important for the patient, their family, friends, and community - and for Canada in general. Canadian Compassionate Companies (CCC) is a designation for Canadian employers who support their employees who have taken on this vital role for a loved one. Employers have an important role to play in supporting their employees who have taken on this role, and the Champion's Council is delighted that GSK is the first official Canadian Compassionate Company.

"I am pleased to launch the Canadian Compassionate Companies designation," said Russell Williams, longtime member and Chair of CHPCA's Champion's Council. "As a strong supporter of hospice palliative care nationally, it is quite fitting that GSK be the first company to achieve this designation."

"Our mission is to help people to do more, feel better, live longer," said Tracy Lapointe, VP of Human Resources for GSK. "And this extends to our own family of employees. We can support our own people in their most challenging hours while they take on caring for a loved one suffering from a critical illness."

More information on the Canadian Compassionate Company (CCC) designation is available on CHPCA's website at chpca.net in the CCC Backgrounder.

Formed in 2010, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)'s Champion's Council is comprised of a group of key leaders in Canada who have offered to advance the profile of hospice palliative care across the country.

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. They research and develop a broad range of innovative products in three primary areas of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. In Canada GSK has long been a long-standing supporter of hospice palliative care.

BACKGROUNDER: Canadian Compassionate Companies (CCC)

Introduction  Accommodating caregivers in the workplace:

Over 260,000 Canadians die each year which can include being supported by as many as five caregivers in the last year or two of life. Supporting these caregivers or "carers" is important for the patient, their family, friends, and community - and for Canada in general. Employers have an important role to play in supporting these caregivers.

A caregiver is an individual who provides ongoing care and assistance, without pay, for family members and friends in need of support due to physical, cognitive, or mental health conditions. According to the 10th Annual Health Care in Canada Survey: A national survey of health care providers, managers, and the public, 2007, 23% of Canadians said that they had cared for a family member or close friend with a serious health problem in the last 12 months. As well, adverse effects on the well-being of carers include: using personal savings to survive (41%) and missing one or more month of work (22%).

There is strong and growing evidence that access to a palliative approach to care, combined with treatment, leads to better outcomes for persons and their family caregivers, including: improvement in symptoms, quality of life and patient satisfaction; less burden on caregivers; more appropriate referral to and use of hospice; and less use of intensive care.

What can you do?

Companies need to recognize that employees may occasionally require more time off from work than is strictly accommodated by their regular leave policies in order to provide care or support to specified family members who are gravely ill and terminally ill with a significant certainty of death within twenty-six (26) weeks.

The average number of hours per week that Canadians expect needs to be provided to ensure proper care for a dying family member is 54.4. In 2013, expectations of commitment have increased. More Canadians in this year expected that proper care will require two or more days of commitment each week (73%) compared to 10 years ago (59%). An Ontario study determined that a majority of palliative care clients were cared for primarily by a spouse or their children/children-in-law.

Why are Human Resource (HR) policies important? About the Compassionate Care Benefit (CCB)

According to the Government of Canada, compassionate care benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks (six months). A maximum of 26 weeks of compassionate care benefits may be paid to eligible people.

It is a very stressful and difficult time when a loved one is dying and/or near death. The financial security of an employee's family may be jeopardized while caring for a gravely ill family member.

The Government of Canada has extended the current CCB from 6 weeks to 26 weeks so that employees do not have to choose between keeping their job and caring for their family. It is important to note that provincial labour laws still need updating.

What makes a Canadian Compassionate Company (CCC)?

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and its Champion's Council will award the designation of a CCC if your company meets at least three out of five of the following criteria:

Your company has a HR policy that lays out a Companionate Care Leave Benefit (CCLB) endorsing the job protected family medical Employment Insurance benefit currently at 26 weeks. Your employees' jobs are protected while they are off on the CCLB program. Compassionate Care leave could provide employees with income top-up of benefits over and above the job protected family medical EI benefits leave offered through the provinces and the Federal EI program. Your company has a caregiver accommodation policy that allows for support and flexibility within economic reason. Your company will promote Advance Care Planning (ACP) using resources and tools at www.advancecareplanning.ca or create their own materials.

A CCC designation enables you to advertise yourself as a CCC including use of the Canadian Compassionate Company logo.

Companies can apply on CHPCA's website: http://www.chpca.net/projects-and-advocacy/canadian-compassionate-companies.aspx

SOURCE Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

Image with caption: "Bilingual Canadian Compassionate Company Logo (CNW Group/Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161121_C5275_PHOTO_EN_823426.jpg

For further information: For Media enquiries: Sarah Levesque, Communications Officer, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), T: (613) 241-3663 ext. 229, [email protected]
CALGARY, Nov. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Ironhorse Oil & Gas Inc. ("Ironhorse" or the "Company") (TSX-V: IOG) announces its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Financial and Operation Summary

The Company's reported production has increased 1620% to 172 boe/d in the third quarter of 2016 from 10 boe/d produced in the second quarter of 2016. The increase in production is attributed to the Pembina L2L Pool production being brought back on stream by the operator on July 19, 2016 and producing 65 days during the quarter.

The Company realized a net loss of $123,000 for the third quarter, a $54,000 increase from Q2 2016 that totalled $69,000. The increased loss is primarily a result of higher depletion costs which were partially reduced by higher operating netbacks reported during the quarter as compared to Q2 2016.

Quarterly funds from operations returned to being positive for the first time since Q3 2015, increasing 156% to $53,000 from negative $94,000 reported in Q2 2016 and were triggered by the resumption of Pembina production during the quarter. Realized oil prices averaged $50/bbl during the current quarter, representing a significant increase compared to December 2015 and January 2016 that averaged $42/bbl and $37/bbl respectively during the last two reported production months prior to the Pembina area shut-in.

Combined production from the Pool averaged 1446 boe/d gross (226 boe/d net) during October 2016. Q4 2016 net production is projected to average in the range of 175 boe/d to 195 boe/d, as the Pool operator manages the reservoir performance and optimizes the Pool production and water injection requirements. No third party facility downtime or pipeline restrictions are currently anticipated for Q4.

The Company continues to be well positioned financially with a positive working capital position of $2.7 million at September 30, 2016.







SELECTED INFORMATION

For three months ended



September 30, June 30, September 30, ($ thousands except per share & unit amounts)

2016 2016 2015 Financial







Petroleum and natural gas revenues (1)

669 16 941 Funds from operations (2)

53 (94) 39

Per share  basic and diluted

- - - Net loss

(123) (69) (2,850)

Per share  basic and diluted

- - (0.10) Capital expenditures (3)

- - 21 Operation







Production









Light Oil & NGL (bbl/d)

145 1 189

Gas (mcf/d)

162 56 162

Total (boe/d)

172 10 216 Petroleum and natural gas revenues ($/boe)

42.38 16.91 47.37 Royalties ($/boe)

(17.16) (57.30) (20.34) Operating expenses ($/boe)

(16.56) 71.51 (20.99) Operating netback ($/boe)

8.66 2.70 6.04



(1) Petroleum and natural gas revenues are before royalty expense. (2) Funds from operations and net debt are non-GAAP measures as defined in the Advisory section of the MD&A. (3) Capital expenditures are before acquisitions and dispositions.

Additional Information

Ironhorse's complete results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, including unaudited condensed financial statements and the management's discussion and analysis are available on SEDAR and the Company's web site at www.ihorse.ca.

About Ironhorse:

Ironhorse Oil & Gas Inc. is a Calgary-based junior oil and natural gas production company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "IOG."

Forward-looking statements:

Statements throughout this release that are not historical facts may be considered to be "forward looking statements." These forward looking statements sometimes include words to the effect that management believes or expects a stated condition or result. All estimates and statements that describe the Company's objectives, goals, or future plans, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, drilling plans and timing thereof, expected production rates and additions and the expected levels of activities may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve risks including, without limitation, risks associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation, production, marketing and transportation, volatility of commodity prices, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other producers, incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions, failure to complete and/or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in the regulatory and taxation environment. As a consequence, the Company's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company 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 the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this document, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the ability of the Company to obtain equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects which the Company has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manor; pipeline restrictions; and field production rates and decline rates. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included elsewhere herein and in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as at the date of this release and Ironhorse assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by applicable laws.

Boe Conversion  Certain natural gas volumes have been converted to barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") whereby six thousand cubic feet (mcf) of natural gas is equal to one barrel (bbl) of oil. This conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

SOURCE Ironhorse Oil & Gas Inc.

For further information: please contact: Larry J. Parks, President & Chief Executive Officer, (403) 237.9600; Karen Hutson, VP Finance & Chief Financial Officer, (403) 237.9600, www.ihorse.ca
MONTREAL, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Mayor of Montreal and President of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, Denis Coderre, drew up a positive statement of his economic mission to Israel and the West Bank with the Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, which took place November 13 to 18. This mission, organized by the two cities together with the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Montreal International and the Toronto Region Board of Trade, has direct spinoffs for Montreal.

Thirteen strategic partnership agreements were signed by companies and university institutions in key areas including cyber-security, clean technologies, the digital sector, research and higher education.

"This mission helped to strengthen ties with Israel and the West Bank, with whom we already have productive relationships, thanks to the vitality of the Montreal community. All of the activities and agreements resulting from this mission to strengthen Montreal's position as an innovative city and a centre of excellence in advanced fields, with a view to supporting our economic and urban development objectives, including electrification of transportation. This mission paves the way for future partnerships that could be developed through our newly-built relationships," said the Mayor of Montreal.

"Mission participants established contacts with key partners and gained valuable visibility on the Israeli and West Bank markets. Concrete results include the signing of strategic agreements between city businesses and institutions. In addition to accelerating our trade exchanges, this mission will concretely strengthen cooperation between our research and higher education centres. The internationalisation of businesses is a priority issue for the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and we plan to continue our efforts to increase competitiveness of businesses and steer them toward foreign markets," added Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan.

Profitable agreements for Montreal

The following commercial agreements were signed: Agreement to transfer to Montreal the North American headquarters of Israeli company Tefron; Distribution agreement between the Quebec firm Mirades and Israeli technology company GamaSec for the protection of cyber-security solutions throughout Quebec and Canada; Agreement between the Quebec firm PM SCADA Cybersecurity and Israeli SCADAfence to expand the SCADAfence laboratory in Montreal, and a Partnership between the Quebec firm Renewz and Israeli firm Inbar Solar Energy to distribute and install solar shelter products in Israel. Renewz also publicly launched its new iSun platform in Israel and signed a cooperation agreement with Israeli company Driivz on energy management platforms involving electric vehicle rates. Following a meeting with Mayor Coderre, Phinergy announced a pilot-projet aimed at testing its aluminum-air technology for electric vehicles and stationary applications in Montreal.

Montreal university institutions also signed academic cooperation agreements to promote research, innovation, economic development as well as the mobility and exchange of students and researchers. HEC Montreal and COMAS Israel jointly launched the IQBator virtual incubator, which will help three Montreal institutions (Universite de Montreal, HEC Montreal, Polytechnique Montreal) and COMAS to transform their ideas into concrete business projects. Concordia University signed three agreements with four Israeli universities: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University. The Universite de Montreal signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Tel Aviv.

Tourism Montreal, the Israel Government Tourist Office and Jerusalem Convention & Visitors Bureau signed two protocols to promote exchanges and joint initiatives in the field of tourism.

Productive activities and meetings for the promotion of Montreal and the advancement of a new urban diplomacy

With "Montreal and Toronto, your business partners" as a theme, mayors Coderre and Tory addressed an audience of 200 Israeli business leaders brought together by the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce to promote Canada's two largest cities as well as business opportunities. The two mayors repeated their message of business cooperation at a business luncheon in Ramallah attended by members of the Ramallah and West Bank business communities.

The mayors of Montreal and Toronto met officially with their counterparts from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva (Israel) and Ramallah (West Bank).

Given the bonds of friendship that have brought our two cities together since the signing of the Declaration of Intent in 1996, the Mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre, and the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel, Ron Huldai, signed a friendship and cooperation agreement to build close relationships in the fields of economic development, Living Together, culture, transportation and urban planning.

The Azrieli Foundation announced, in the presence of the mayors of Montreal and Tel Aviv, an international conference and exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and Montreal's 375th anniversary, jointly with Concordia University and Tel Aviv University, to be held next year in Montreal.

Following the mayors' meeting, it was agreed that a first cooperation agreement between Montreal and Ramallah will be signed, as bonds are strengthened towards becoming twin cities.

The cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva joined the International Observatory of Mayors on Living Together. The Observatory, which is a Montreal initiative, is a platform for sharing experiences, pioneering initiatives and knowledge on cohesion, inclusion and urban safety. It has brought together 35 international cities since its creation.

Mayor Coderre delivered a keynote speech at the 31st International Mayors' Conference hosted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and held discussions with other senior political and government representatives, including Tzipi Hotovely, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Michael Oren, Deputy Minister for Diplomacy in the Prime Minister's Office, and the Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament), Yuli Edelstein. Topics of discussion were the role of cities and urban diplomacy, the new urban agenda, Living Together and the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.

Cultural industries: An important Montreal export

On their arrival in Tel Aviv, mayors Coderre and Tory attended a performance by Montreal's Cirque Eloize, currently on tour in Tel Aviv. The mayors met with the Cirque's President, Jeannot Painchaud, as well as with performers.

"I would like to thank the Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, as well as the delegates from Montreal and Toronto, who through dedication and quality, innovative products and projects, contributed to the success of this mission which will have concrete economic, academic, social, tourism and cultural spinoffs for our two cities. By joining forces, we have successfully improved competitiveness on the international scene," said Mayor Denis Coderre.

Photos can be downloaded here.

Other press releases for reference purposes:

Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal

11 strategic agreements for Montreal

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/mission-commerciale-en-israel-et-en-cisjordanie--11-ententes-strategiques-pour-la-metropole-601508505.html

Phinergy

A partneship to test aluminum-air technology for electric vehicles and stationary uses

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/economic-mission-to-israel-and-the-west-bank---montreal-and-phinergy-to-establish-a-partneship-to-test-aluminum-air-technology-for-electric-vehicles-and-stationary-uses-601000875.html



HEC Montreal

HEC Montreal and COMAS (Israel) launch a virtual incubator

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/mission-economique-du-maire-de-montreal-en-israel---hec-montreal-et-comas-disrael-lancent-un-incubateur-virtuel-601480855.html

Tourism Montreal

Tourism Montreal and the Jerusalem Convention and Visitors Bureau sign a memorandum of understanding for cooperation

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/tourisme-montreal-et-loffice-du-tourisme-de-jerusalem-signent-un-protocole-dentente-de-collaboration-601500575.html

Renewz

Renewz of Montreal and Driivz of Tel Aviv sign a cooperation agreement on charging management platforms for electric vehicles

http://www.renewz.com/renewz-de-montreal-et-driivz-de-tel-aviv-signent-un-accord-de-collaboration-sur-les-plates-formes-de-gestion-de-lalimentation-lies-a-la-recharge-des-vehicules-electriques/?lang=fr

Renewz

Renewz launches the iSun solar shelter platform on the Israeli market

http://www.renewz.com/renewz-lance-sa-plate-forme-dabri-solaire-isun-vers-le-marche-israelien/?lang=fr

For more information on the International Observatory of Mayors on Living Together: observatoirevivreensemble.org/en

SOURCE Ville de Montreal - Cabinet du maire et du comite executif

For further information: Source: Marc-Andre Gosselin, Press Attache, Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee, Ville de Montreal, 514 290-1194; Information: Francois Goneau, Public Relations Officer, Communications, 514 868-5859
SUZHOU, China, Nov. 20, 2016 /CNW/ -- GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd. (GCL-SI) , (Shenzhen: 002506), a subsidiary of the world's leading energy group GCL, recently announced the cooperation with China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CCEC) in the Chernobyl PV plant project. To help rebuild the "exclusion zone" with solar power thirty years after the Chernobyl accident marks another important move of GCL-SI toward global market.

The 1986 explosion and meltdown in Chernobyl released vast quantities of radiation, contaminating approximately 30 km2 of land with fallout. The Ukrainian government now aims to give a new renewable life to the exclusion zone. In October, the country's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources claimed the plan to build a PV plant at Chernobyl. "Its cheap land and abundant sunlight constitute a solid foundation for the project. In addition, the remaining electric transmission facilities are ready for reuse," said Ostap Semerak, Ukraine's minister of environment and natural resources.

Two Chinese companies will play significant parts in Chernobyl's revival. Whereas CCEC as the general contractor manages the overall project, GCL-SI offers consultancy and planning service as well as PV facilities to the project. According to GCL-SI, construction of the over 1 GW PV plant is expected to initiate in 2017. Once completed, Chernobyl will re-catch the global attention as a revived site of solar energy.

"There will be remarkable social benefits and economical ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy. We are glad that we are making joint efforts with Ukraine to rebuild the community for the local people," said Mr. Shu Hua, Chairman of GCL-SI.

Regarding GCL-SI's overseas strategy, Mr. Shu further commented, "We have been dedicated to providing integrated solar services and will take diverse approaches this year to drive penetration and achieve global presence. The Chernobyl project is also one of our key steps to approach abroad."

About GCL-SI

GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen: 002506) (GCL-SI), is part of the GOLDEN CONCORD Group (GCL), an international energy company specializing in clean and sustainable power production, founded in 1990. With global assets worth nearly USD16 billion, GCL achieved module shipment output of over 2GW in 2015, and supplies 29% of the total wafer capacity yield worldwide, representing a 22.2% silicon market share.

About China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CCEC)

CCEC is a subsidiary of the National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), which is affiliated by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

SOURCE GCL System

For further information: Joyce Gu, +86-138-1202-0516, [email protected]
Details added (first version posted on 15:02)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

The US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, James Warlick has tweeted that he will step down as Minsk Group co-chair on December 31.

It has been an honor to serve in the US Department of State for more than 30 years, Warlick tweeted Nov. 21.

I will be a partner in Russia's largest and most prestigious law firm, Warlick said in another tweet including a link to the website of the Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners.

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.
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Good news for those still out hunting for the best vacation deal, as Sunwing has just announced the return of its immensely popular Orange is the New Black Friday sale with savings of up to 50% on all-inclusive packages to some of the tour operator's 800+ top-rated resorts.

In addition, Canada's #1 to the sun has so many value-added packages and discounted deals available, that the tour operator has decided to re-introduce the popular sale a week early; letting shoppers select the winter getaway that's right for them ahead of the Black Friday crowds. Launching November 19 and available until midnight November 27, 2016, or while the deals last, customers can secure their perfect winter getaway and save up to 50% if they book now.

With numerous dates available throughout the winter, these savings will provide couples, families, and groups access to some of the most popular vacation hotspots across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

In addition if they choose to book with Sunwing, shoppers can look forward to their budget going even further. As Canada's #1 provider of adult, luxury, and family vacations, Sunwing offers customers a host of exclusive added benefits. With the tour operator's adults only Relax Resorts, couples can enjoy generous perks such as a welcome bottle of spirits upon arrival, unlimited a la carte dining and spa discounts at no extra charge. For families, Sunwing's Smile Resorts offer plenty of value-added benefits to ensure endless fun in the sun; including Kids Stay, Play, and Eat FREE deals all year round. With flights from 34 Canadian airports coast to coast to over 40 of the most popular vacation destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America; it's never been easier to get on board with Canada's #1 to the sun and save.

All Sunwing packages available in the sale also include return flights on Sunwing Airlines where passengers can sit back and relax while on board, with award-winning Champagne Service that includes a sparkling wine toast, complimentary non-alcoholic beverage service and buy on board selection of light meals and snacks with choices inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Passengers also benefit from a generous complimentary 23kg checked luggage allowance.

To book your next all-inclusive vacation visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent.

Suggested Tweet: Save up to 50% off your next vacation with @sunwingvacay Orange is the New Black Friday Sale! #1tothesun #sunwingmode

About Sunwing

As Canada's #1 to the sun and North America's largest vertically integrated travel company, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 34 airports across Canada to over 50 popular sun destinations. This scale enables Sunwing to negotiate the best deals and exclusive offers at all of the top-rated resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Renowned for its award-winning service, Sunwing is consistently voted the #1 leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with Champagne Service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, tea and coffee and non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks (including kids' choices) inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the company's own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey.

SOURCE Sunwing Vacations

Image with caption: "Sunwing Vacations (CNW Group/Sunwing Vacations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161118_C1060_PHOTO_EN_822343.jpg

Image with caption: "Orange is the New Black Friday (CNW Group/Sunwing Vacations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161118_C1060_PHOTO_EN_822348.jpg

For further information: For all media enquiries, please contact: Kim Banjac, PR Specialist, Signature Vacations, 1-800-387-5602, [email protected]
Establishes best practices for TV service providers to follow

OTTAWA - GATINEAU, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today set out best practices for TV service providers to ensure Canadians are offered real choice regarding their services and have information about their options.

To follow these best practices, providers should, among other things: provide information about the new choices that will be available as of December 1, 2016; keep their offers simple and transparent; offer deals and discounts regardless of the entry-level package selected; provide online tools allowing subscribers to easily add or remove channels; and offer different options to obtain a set-top box.

The CRTC is also renewing the licences of most TV service providers for one year, rather than the usual seven-year term. This will enable the CRTC to closely monitor the TV providers' practices as they implement the new TV choices.

These new options will enable Canadians to create their own package for TV services. Canadians are encouraged to shop around to ensure they are aware of what is available in the market if their service provider's offers don't meet the needs or the budget of their household. There are many online tools on the CRTC's website to help Canadians find the best services and negotiate with their provider.

Quick Facts

Since March 1, 2016 , all licensed television service providers must offer a basic package priced at no more than $25 a month (not including equipment).

, all licensed television service providers must offer a basic package priced at no more than a month (not including equipment). Some smaller providers like Access, Zazeen, Rangtel and Beanfield have been offering the small basic package at less than $25 a month without having to subscribe to other services.

a month without having to subscribe to other services. Since March 1, 2016 , Canadians also have more options to add to that basic service, as TV service providers must offer channels either individually or in packages of up to 10 channels.

, Canadians also have more options to add to that basic service, as TV service providers must offer channels either individually in packages of up to 10 channels. Starting on December 1 , television service providers will have to offer both pick-and-pay and small packages.

, television service providers will have to offer pick-and-pay and small packages. The service providers' actions regarding these new TV choices will be closely monitored in the year to come to ensure that they respect the best practices highlighted by the CRTC.

As a result of the CRTC proceeding, some providers announced plans to change practices that were not consumer friendly.

Canadians have multiple options to watch TV programming, which can include a combination of the new basic package, individual channels, small packages, free over-the-air stations and Internet streaming services.

Canadians are encouraged to use the new CRTC online tools to help them identify their needs and budget, shop around and negotiate for TV services.

Quote

"Starting on December 1, Canadians will have greater flexibility in choosing how they subscribe to TV services. We have set out best practices for television service providers and created online tools to help Canadians navigate this new world. We encourage Canadians to shop around, as some providers are offering consumer-friendly options that include a basic TV package at less than $25 per month."

- Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman and CEO, CRTC

Additional links

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-458  Review of practices relating to the small basic service and flexible packaging options and other matters related to the licence renewal of broadcasting distribution undertakings

CRTC continuing to monitor implementation of new basic television package and pick-and-pay

CRTC welcomes new era of choice for TV viewers

You Have Choices

Additional information on the basic TV package

In March 2015, the CRTC announced changes to the way TV services are offered following the Let's Talk TV conversation. During this extensive process, Canadians told the CRTC they wanted more choice, flexibility and affordability in TV services. These changes ensure Canadians have the ability to choose the television services that meets their unique needs, budgets and realities.

Since March 1, 2016, Canadians can subscribe to an affordable basic TV package that costs no more than $25 per month (excluding equipment). According to information filed with the CRTC, the following television service providers are offering the small basic package at less than $25 per month:

Provider Rate* Region 2251723 Ontario Inc. (VMedia) $17.95 Barrie, Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge), Hamilton-Niagara, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Oshawa, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Windsor and their surrounding areas, Ontario Access Communications Co-operative Limited $19.95

($9.95 with Internet) Regina (including White City), Saskatchewan AEBC Internet Corp. $17.95 Vancouver and Lower Mainland, British Columbia Atop Broadband Corp. $19.99 Greater Toronto Area (majority of), Ontario Beanfield Technologies Inc. $20 Toronto (East Bayfront and West Don Lands), Ontario Rangtel Inc. $19.95 Greater Toronto Area, including Ajax, Aurora, Brampton, Brock, Burlington, Caledon, Clarington, Halton Hills, King, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, Vaughan, Whitby and WhitchurchStouffville, Ontario TELUS Communications Inc., and 1219723 Alberta ULC and Emergis Inc. in partnership with TELUS Communications Inc. in TELE-MOBILE Company, partners in a general partnership carrying on business as TELUS Communications Company $25

($20 with other services) Calgary, Edmonton (including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain), Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer, Alberta $25

($20 with other services) Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George, Terrace, Vancouver (including Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley), Vernon and Victoria, British Columbia $23.95 Baie-Comeau, Gaspe, Montmagny, MontTremblant, Rimouski, SainteMarie, Saint-Georges, Sept-Iles and surrounding areas, Quebec Shaw Cablesystems Limited $25 ($10 for 12 months with Internet 150[1]) Coquitlam, Duncan, Kelowna, Langford, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Vancouver (North and West), Vancouver (Richmond), Victoria, White Rock, British Colombia Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Alberta



Saskatoon, Saskatchewan



Winnipeg, Manitoba Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Ontario Shaw Cablesystems (VCI) Limited $25 ($10 for 12 months with Internet 150[2]) Edmonton, Alberta Winnipeg, Manitoba Zazeen Inc. $19.95

($9.95 with

12 months prepaid[3]) Toronto, Hamilton/Niagara, Oshawa, Kitchener, Ottawa, London and Windsor, and their surrounding areas, Ontario $19.95

($9.95 with

12 months prepaid) Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec and Sherbrooke, and their surrounding areas, Quebec

*Some rate information was provided by the television service providers in the context of their renewal applications on May 5, 2016, while some were taken from current offers on providers' websites. In a competitive market, these rates are subject to constant changes. Therefore, Canadians are encouraged to shop around to ensure they are aware of what current offers are in the market.

________________________________

1 According to Shaw's website, Limited TV is $10 for 12 months when bundled with Internet 150. The website was consulted on 15 November 2016.

2 According to Shaw's website, Limited TV is $10 for 12 months when bundled with Internet 150. The website was consulted on 15 November 2016.

3 According to Zazeen's website, the promotional price is now $14.95 with a 12 month prepaid subscription.

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SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

For further information: Media Relations, (819) 997-9403; General Inquiries, (819) 997-0313, Toll-free 1 (877) 249-CRTC (2782), TTY (819) 994-0423
Space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow said Nov. 17 that he believes that the Trump administration should as much as double NASAs budget in the coming years and make plans for a human return to the moon.

The Obama administration, in its fiscal year 2017 budget proposal, requested $19 billion for NASA, less than half a percent of the overall request of more than $4 trillion.

The increase would also be used to support more ambitious space exploration efforts by NASA, such as lunar exploration. The new White House needs to make a real commitment to this nations space future, he said, specifically citing lunar bases and industrial activity. The reason Im focusing on the moon is because the business case for the moon is potentially substantial compared to the business case for Mars, and the financial requirements are of no comparison.

Bigelow said he believed the nation could afford that jump in NASAs budget because he expects economic growth in the country overall to increase significantly after Trump takes office, although he did not elaborate on how he reached that conclusion. With this increase, the United States can easily afford NASAs one percent, and even more, he said.
The Turkish munitions developer TUBITAK-SAGE showcased its progress in developing a prototype electromagnetic railgun to the Turkish government at the end of October.

Designated Sapan, TUBITAK-SAGEs research and development program aims to provide the Turkish arms industry with the groundwork to develop one day develop applications using this technology.

Electromagnetic (EM) rail guns are long-range weapons capable of propelling projectiles using electricity instead of explosive propellants. The objective behind this developing this technology is to enable armed forces users to propel projectiles significantly further and at much higher speeds (up to 7,242 km/h).

Currently, only the U.S. and U.K. have made substantive strides in EM railgun technology, though several other major powers, such as China, are at work to develop analogous counterparts.

The SAPAN is an electromagnetic projectile launcher based on similar principles to the homopolar motor. A railgun uses a pair of parallel conductors, or rails, along which a sliding armature is accelerated by the electromagnetic effects of a current that flows down one rail, into the armature and then back along the other rail.

The US has installed a railgun on an expeditionary fast transport ship. Single shot tests are being performed this year and an autoloader is being developed for 2018.

Most current destroyers can spare only nine megawatts of additional electricity, while it would require 25 megawatts to propel a projectile to the desired maximum range (i.e., to launch 32MJ projectiles at a rate of 10 shots per minute). Even if current ships, such as the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, can be upgraded with enough electrical power to operate a railgun, the space taken up on the ships by the integration of an additional weapon system may force the removal of existing weapon systems to make room available. The first shipboard tests will be from a railgun installed on an Expeditionary Fast Transport. Though ships of that class are non-combatants, they were chosen for their available cargo and topside space and schedule flexibility. They will not be permanently installed on the EFT, and the Navy has yet to decide which ship classes will receive a fully operational railgun.

The railgun will be part of a Navy fleet that envisions future offensive and defensive capabilities being provided in layers: lasers to provide close range defense, railguns to provide medium range attack and defense, and cruise missiles to provide long-range attack; though railguns will cover targets up to 100 miles away that previously needed a missile.

The Navy may eventually enhance railgun technology to enable it to fire at a range of 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) and impact with 64 megajoules of energy. One shot would require 6 million amps of current, so it will take a long time to develop capacitors that can generate enough energy and strong enough gun materials
By GMM 21 November 2016 - 09:47





Singapore has become the latest grand prix with a cloud over its future.

Three races have provisional status on the 2017 schedule, others are in doubt for the future and now F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Singapore could be the next to go.

The night race has quickly become one of the most popular and spectacular on the calendar, and Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport: "Yes, it cost them a lot of money, but we also gave them a lot of money.

"Singapore was suddenly more than just an airport to fly to or from somewhere. Now they believe they have reached their goal and they do not want a grand prix anymore," he added.

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for race organiser Singapore GP told Channel Newsasia: "We dont comment on ongoing commercial negotiations."

Not just that, Ecclestone hinted that even some of F1s biggest team names might pull out.

"It could happen to us that Mercedes and Ferrari run away," said the Briton. "But honestly, if the races get better, this may not be such a terrible vision."

Indeed, it is a period of looming change for the sport, with new regulations, new owners and new bosses all arriving.

And Ecclestone told the Sunday Times that F1 needs to keep evolving, such as by splitting the current long-form grand prix format into two separate races.

"I dont know if we have the courage to change," said the 86-year-old. "Times change though and it is something we must look at."

As for F1s new owner Liberty, Ecclestone said the Americans are still getting their head around what they have bought, and need to clear European anti-competition approval.

"Lets wait," he said. "Its like a wedding  you need to be married for a little while before you know if it works."

And he played down claims Ross Brawn is being lined up for a top job.

"He never spoke to me about it," he said. "But Ross has never done what I do. He has never negotiated with organisers and TV stations.

"Hes been out of the business for a while  I dont know what he could give to the sport."

Finally, when asked if he will be in Melbourne 2017, Ecclestone answered: "Did you see me in Melbourne 2016?"
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

Turkey has occasionally attempted to become an EU member, but never needed that, while the EU needs Turkey, Yalcin Topcu, chief advisor to the Turkish president, told reporters in Baku Nov. 21.

Europe needs Turkeys strength, its resources on and under ground, as well as human resources, according to him.

Topcu noted that Turkey is the only way for the EU to have strong trade and political ties with the Eastern, Caucasian, Arab, Central Asia and Balkan countries.

But Europe obviously does not seek to strengthen ties with Turkey, he added.

The countries that allege having strategic ties with Turkey stand behind such terrorist groups as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Fethullah Gulen movement, Topcu said.

Turkey has seen this in the weaponry of terrorist groups. There are 4,500 terrorists in Germany who are on our wanted list, he added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Despite the physical presence of President Muhammadu Buhari at Saturdays mega rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akure, the ...

Despite the physical presence of President Muhammadu Buhari at Saturdays mega rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in the state has described the event as an ignominious failure, adding that the intractable crisis within the APC was noticeable during the governorship rally.Recall that a national leader of the APC, Tinubu was noticeably absent at the partys governorship campaign rally in Akure, which was also not attended by three APC governors in the South-West, namely: Mr. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Mr. Rauf Aregbosola of Osun State.Reacting to this in a statement, the state secretary of AD, Dr Sola Agboola, asserted that the failure of Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Vice President Yemi Osibajo, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, and three out of the four APC governors in the South-West at the grand finale of the APC campaign indicated that there was division in the party.While claiming that the APC supporters and crowd at the rally were imported from the neighbouring South-West and Edo states, he said it will make APC lose by a wide margin in the election to AD candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.The statement reads, When they held their mega rally in Akure last week, it was obvious that the party was in tatters as virtually all its leaders stayed away from the event.Because they were afraid of our own rally which witnessed an unprecedented crowd in the annals of politics in Ondo State, they decided to have a second bite by holding this rally only for their highly polarised party to be exposed again as party chieftains and public office holders loyal to APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, again shunned the mega rally of the APC candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure.Even the Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Ondo APC chairman, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, who sources said, made up their minds to attend the event at the last minute, looked more of strangers at the event, as the uniformed fabric (aso ebi) for the occasion was missing on them.One would have thought that they would have put their house in order before this event, to at least, save their face. But the reverse is the case; gutter language and arrant display of ignorance by speakers after speakers at the event even made a lot cower in disbelief.For instance, the APC Governors Forum chairman and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, exhibited crass ignorance by telling the gathering that Akeredolu was the most educated among the governorship candidates.This, in his warped reasoning means that with his first degree, Akeredolu is more educated than even a PhD holder like Dr Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)?Even, the Kano State governor, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, also exhibited ignorance when he said Ondo State voted for PDP in the 2012 governorship election. That is the class of people who want to overrun Ondo State.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign in Odo State, Mr. Solomon Lalong, on Monday said the absence of the pa...

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign in Odo State, Mr. Solomon Lalong, on Monday said the absence of the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and some South West governors at the partys rally in Akure on Saturday did not make any difference.He said since President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were present at the rally, there was no cause for alarm.Lalong who is the Plateau State Governor spoke with State House correspondents shortly after he and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, met Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Tinubu and Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) were conspicuously absent at the rally held at the Democracy Park in Akure on Saturday.Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was the only APC state governor in the South West who attended the rally.Tinubu and other governors who did not attended are believed not to be in support of the partys candidate in the Saturday election, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu.But Lalong said their absence was not a problem to the party.He said, That (their absence) was not a problem. We explained their absence. They sent in their apologies. You heard what happened there.As far as we are concerned, the President who is the leader of the party was at the rally. The national chairman was also there. As far as we are concerned, everybody was there.To the party, their absence did not make any difference. If a leader was not there and he has said he was not there because of ill-health, we have prayed that God will heal him.The governor expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the Saturday election.He said he and Fayemi were at the Presidential Villa to thank Buhari for making time out to attend the rally personally.We have finished our campaign. You saw what happened at the grand finale. We are not in doubt that APC will win the election in Ondo.It is other parties that are scared of the APC and not APC being scared of other parties.We have come to thank the President for going to Ondo for the grand finale rally, he said.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has counselled the people of Ghana to be mindful of making the same mistake made by Nigerians in the ...

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has counselled the people of Ghana to be mindful of making the same mistake made by Nigerians in the 2015 presidential election by voting for change.Ghana will be going to the poll for a Presidential election on December 7, 2016.Fayose said the change has brought hunger, sufferings and economic recession to the country, such that even the entire West African sub-region is being affected.The Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday that Governor Fayose made the call while hosting some men of God from Ghana on Saturday.The governor said, Ghanaians should not succumb to the deceit of the opposition party that are calling for a change of government. Rather, they should return the incumbent President, John Mahama, who has no doubt done creditably well to deserve a re-election.Ghanaians should know that the change in Nigeria brought hunger, suffering, disregard for the rule of law as well as arrest and detention of Nigerians without trial and be mindful of those preaching change to them.Most importantly, the situation in Ghana at present is similar to that of Nigeria. Like President Mohammadu Buhari, opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo has contested the presidency two times. This is the third time he is contesting. He is also 74 year-old.In Nigeria, change is synonymous with economic recession that is even getting to the level of depression.Even majority of those who brought the change are now regretting it.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has continued to hit the international headlines, hurling insults at Barack Obama, threatening to e...

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has continued to hit the international headlines, hurling insults at Barack Obama, threatening to end the Philippines-US alliance, and waging a brutal war on drugs that is earning him condemnation from around the world.Now, Rodrigo Duterte: The Presidents Report Card offers a rare glimpse into one of the worlds most controversial leaders. In this revealing documentary, 101 East senior presenter and reporter Steve Chao spends time with the President as he continues his ruthless crackdown on drugs, hunts down Abu Sayaaf militants, and launches an expletive-ridden attack on the Philippines long-time ally, the US.With the type of access not granted to any other media, Chao follows Duterte on his busy Presidential schedule, travels with him on his private jet, visits the Presidential palace and even shares in Dutertes rare moments of relaxation. In a series of explosive interviews, Duterte shows he has no intention of backing down from his uncompromising crackdown on drugs. During the campaign, I said I would stop corruption... I will suppress drugs, I will suppress crime... and I am doing it.The European Union, the US and the United Nations have condemned allegations of extrajudicial killings but Duterte is unrepentant. What is their f****** problem? he asks Al Jazeera. I am not here to serve the UN Rapporteur or the EU. I am here to serve my own countrymen. Who are they to me they are nothing.He admits, I never went to a school called the Academy for a Statesman. I am not a statesman; I do not aspire to be one. I just would like to be an ordinary President who can f*** you  if you f *** with me.If you destroy my country, I will kill you, he warns drug dealers.He also says he wants the US out of the Philippines, signaling an end to their long-standing alliance. I believe they should be out, because of their bullying, he says. Somebody has to stand up against them.Chao gets a brutally close look at the human cost of Dutertes war on drugs, arriving at a bloody crime scene just moments after yet another police shooting. He finds a young man shot dead on the street, still wearing handcuffs.Chao also meets a hitman who claims he was a member of Dutertes personal death squad for more than 20 years and carried out gruesome killings on his behalf. I couldnt do anything without his orders. I received a salary from City Hall, says Edgar Matobato, who now fears for his life after testifying before the Philippines Senate. Matobato says he even witnessed Duterte pulling the trigger himself, a claim Duterte denies.Chao travels to the island of Jolo in the southern Philippines, where Duterte is waging another war. Jolo is the heartland of Abu Sayaaf, a heavily armed group that has pledged allegiance to ISIL. With Duterte sending 10,000 troops to wipe them out, 101 East looks at whether he is likely to succeed.In a surprising move, Duterte also tells 101 East that he will take in all of the worlds refugees. They can always come here, and I will even welcome them. Until we are filled to the brim  I say send them to us.In this extraordinary episode, 101 East goes behind the scenes for an intimate look at one of the most controversial leaders in the world today.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 30 charges against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia; and...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 30 charges against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla.The EFCC said about $793,800 passed through the judges domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015. The judge allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.The two accounts, Access Bank (0002649223) and Diamond Bank (0032091183) have since been frozen by the EFCC.The commission is expected to arraign the two suspects before a Lagos State High Court this week.Five of the charges are centred on an alleged N5m bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate while the remaining 25 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth.The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, unlawful enrichment and other related offences.Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla have been in the custody of the EFCC for about 10 days following revelations that the senior advocate paid N5m into her account in 2015 at a time she was presiding over one of his cases.While Ofili-Ajumogobia claimed the money was a deposit for a N40m property she sold to Obla, the senior advocate said the money was a payment for building materials.Obla also insisted that he did not know that the account belonged to the judge.Some of the charges read in part, That you, Hon. Justice Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, and Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired with each other to pervert the course of justice in charge number FHC/L/C/482C/10 with the sum of N5,000,000.That you, Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, intentionally gave the sum of N5,000,000 to Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court directly from your Obla and Company account (1015319084) domiciled in the United Bank for Africa Plc in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of her official duties.Investigations by the EFCC further revealed that about $793,800 passed through the judges accounts and she allegedly was not able to explain to detectives how she came about the sums.A breakdown of the figures by the EFCC showed that Ofili-Ajumogobia received a deposit of $130,000 through her Diamond Bank account on May 30, 2013. On June 2, 2014, she allegedly received $70,000 through the same account.The anti-graft agency said the judge received $55,000 on March 27, 2014, and another $55,000 on October 14, 2014 while $20,000 was received through the same account on June 19, 2014.The commission alleged in the charge sheet that Ofili-Ajumogobia also received $20,000 on October 13, 2014 while she got an additional $50,000 on December 20, 2014.The judge allegedly received $50,000 on November 21, 2014 and $30,000 between June 17 and June 19, 2015 through the same Diamond Bank account as well as another $10,000 on July 6, 2015.She allegedly received $20,000 on June 11, 2013; $30,000 on February 11, 2014 and $150,000 on March 29, 2014.The EFCC accused the judge of receiving $68, 800 through her Access Bank account between August 11, 2011 and March 27, 2012.She also allegedly received $35,000 through the same account between April 30 and September 3, 2012.The charges were said to be contrary to Section 82 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No 11, 2011.Some of the charges read, That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 11th day of August 2011 and 27th day of March 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $68,000 through your account (0002649223) domiciled in Access Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to your lawful income.That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 10th and 30th day of May 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $130,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 20th day of December 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $50,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.The judge allegedly received over N40m in mysterious deposits made by some companies.The EFCC also accused the judge of telling lies.Specifically, Ofili-Ajumogobia had told detectives around 7.16pm on October 19, 2016 that she would not be able to honour an invitation because she was admitted to Golden Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi.However, the judge was not there when detectives checked the hospital.She was also accused of forging a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Niger & Colive Limited in 2010.UNs ex-prosecutor to lead Justice Ngwutas trial todayA former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr. Segun Jegede, has been engaged by the Federal Government to handle the trial of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).Jegede and another international lawyer, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, have been engaged by the Federal Government to prosecute all the judges it lined up for trial.The two lawyers with decades of international practice are separately leading two teams that have been briefed by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordination Committee.While Jegede is leading the prosecution of Justice Ngwuta, Adeogun-Philips has been briefed to lead the prosecution of some Supreme Court officials who had been charged with diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court.The two lawyers are both on the team of 80 special prosecutors of the Federal Government whose activities are being coordinated by the NPCC.Jegede reportedly worked at the UNICTR for over a decade.Jegedes work at the UNICTR mainly revolved around the investigation and prosecution of some of the known masterminds of crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide.According to online search engine, Wikipedia, the Rwandan genocide, which lasted about 100 days in 1994, was a mass slaughter of the members of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda by the members of the Hutu majority government.Jegede was also said to have had a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice as a state counsel before going into legal practice and establishing his own law firm in 1988Adeogun-Philips, who was born in England 50 years ago, is a former genocide and war crime prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.Already, three cases have been filed with respect to the charges of corruption preferred against some judges and court officials, following the raid on the houses of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8, 2016.The first case involved a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.Another case involved a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was charged with receiving gratifications, along with his wife.The other one involved the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, who was charged along with two other officials of the apex court.The three apex courts officials were jointly charged with alleged diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the court and receiving gratifications from contractors providing services to the court.Also to be later charged is another Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Inyang Okoro.Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering, has been scheduled to appear before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for arraignment today.It was alleged in the 14 counts of money laundering that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m denominated in naira and US dollars to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.The N505m was alleged to be part of proceeds of Ngwutas unlawful activities.He was also accused in the amended charges of retaining N35,358,000; $319,596 and 25,915 during the raid on his house by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8.Apart from the money laundering charges, Ngwuta was accused of passport offences in counts eight to 14 of the amended charges.He was accused of being in possession of two valid diplomatic passports and another two valid Nigerian passports, when his house was raided by DSS operatives on October 8, 2016.
A cleaner, Peter Oko, has narrated how he stole N5.675 million from the New Nyanya branch of Diamond Bank, where he worked.

A cleaner, Peter Oko, has narrated how he stole N5.675 million from the New Nyanya branch of Diamond Bank, where he worked. The 29 year-old stated that he took the keys to the vault, stole the money and hid it in a carton, which he took home after the close of work.The money was however recovered by the police, which said that the suspect had been charged to court.Oko told Northern City News at the Nasarawa State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department in Lafia that he carried out the theft alone, saying, As a cleaner, I knew where all the keys were kept.He added, I single-handedly carried out the operation because I have been working as a cleaner in the bank for the past 10 years and my eyes had been on one of the keys to the vault, where the bank used to keep all its money.As a cleaner, my attention was not only on the keys, but on how I will carry out the operation successfully without being caught by either the security or any staff of the bank.The suspect said he stole the money without the knowledge of the bank workers, adding that he had access to all the foreign currencies in the bank as he knew where they were kept.As a cleaner, I knew where all the secret files were kept and where the bank kept its keys where you can have access to dollars, Nigerian currency and all other currencies.Oko blamed the economic situation for his action, stating that he had never been involved in a criminal act before now.The devil of economy recession pushed me into the crime; I have never committed a criminal act before, luck ran out on me and I was caught in the process, he stated.The state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, said the crime was reported to the police in October, 2016, by the bank, adding that the matter was then transferred from Karu Divisional Police Headquarters to the SCIID for investigations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Jani Babayeva  Trend:

This year marks the 135th birth anniversary of the prominent Hungarian composer, pianist, musicologist and folklorist Bela Bartok (1881-1945).

A wonderful concert of classical music to mark this important anniversary was held in the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society named after Muslim Magomayev in Baku with the support of the Hungarian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijans Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev, Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Imre Laszloczki and other prominent public figures, famous representatives of culture and art, as well as many fans of classical music took part in the event.

Before the concert started, the guests got acquainted with an exposition dedicated to the life and activity of the outstanding composer.

Bartoks compositions are known and loved throughout the world and performed in prestigious concert halls by well-known musicians.

The concert organized in Baku enjoyed great interest among music lovers. The concerts program included the most famous compositions by Bartok such as Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra, Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, and Hungarian songs on poems by Endre Ady.

The event was opened by Graf Murzha, violinist, honored artist of Russia, winner of the Council of Europes award.

The event was a tribute to the talent of the great composer and a declaration of love to his activity.
The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday said despite the controversy surrounding who flies the flag of the Peoples Democra...

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday said despite the controversy surrounding who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state governorship election holding on Saturday, he was not contemplating joining the All Progressives Congress.He said the courtesy he extended to President Muhammadu Buhari when he led party members to a rally in the state on Saturday was done because of his position as the president and had nothing to do with the party he belongs to.Mimiko spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with Buhari for the second time inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, since the crisis over the PDP candidate started.He said the purpose of his two meetings with the President was to brief him on the security situation in his state ahead of the elections.The governor said, This is my second visit to the Villa since this crisis in our party started. Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr. President of what is going on in the state.Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesy of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC (member).I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesy that protocols demand.As a governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, if the President is visiting, no matter the party he belongs to, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesy to him. That was what I did in Akure.And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state.When asked to comment on the ongoing crisis in the PDP, the governor said he was concentrating on the case in court.Mimiko said once his candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, wins at the court, the state would erupt in joy.The whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident, he said.
Counter-insurgency operations are ongoing in the notorious Sambisa Forest in northeast Nigeria, to clear remaining Boko Haram terrorists i...

Counter-insurgency operations are ongoing in the notorious Sambisa Forest in northeast Nigeria, to clear remaining Boko Haram terrorists in the area, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said on Sunday.He says the army is not relenting in its counter-insurgency war.General Olonisakin gave the assurance during an operational visit to the Theatre Command and headquarters of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Borno State.The Chief of Defence Staff told journalists in Maiduguri that even though the Operation Safe Corridor initiative was open for repentant insurgents to surrender, it would not in any way suspend operations.Theres always a room for them to surrender. We put up Operation Safe Corridor initiative to have them surrender. That is the corridor for them to surrender and that corridor is always open.However, we would not wait until they surrender. That is why the Operation Crack Down now leading to rescue finale is in place to ensure that we take over Sambisa, clear the Boko Haram terrorists in those places and make the place safe for development, the Defence Chief stated.
THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action over the alle...

THE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action over the alleged anti-labour practices of International Oil Companies (IOCs).Its President, Comrade Igwe Achese, said the spate of redundancy in the industry was worrisome, as workers were being booted out daily.He pointed out that the actions of the IOCs were contrary to the governments zero/tolerance for job losses, condemnable and unacceptable to the union.He threatened strike if the government failed to call the multinational oil firms which have engaged in anti-labour and union activities to order.Let me use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to intervene in the unresolved labour issues with the following companies so that we do not witness a nationwide industrial action by next week when our 21-day ultimatum expires, he said.He condemned the anti-union posture of the IOCs, noting that the constitution stipulates freedom of association and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 and 98, which Nigeria is a signatory.He said the anti-union posture of the IOCs was brewing tension in the industry.He advised the Federal Government to prevail on the multinationals and service companies to stop the spate of retrenchment.Achese said the union would not support the sale of NNPCs assets without proper consultation with labour unions in the sector.According to him, there is no way the unions would allow these assets to be sold without their input.Achese said: We are opposed to the sale of the nations assets, especially the refineries. We believe that the proposed sale is unnecessary and not in our national interest, as they will be sold to their cronies as scraps. The union will resist any attempt to sell these national assets and advise that government should look at other areas to revamp the economy.NUPENG says no to sale of NNPC assets, we are against any sale of the nations assets because there is no justification for it.They are planning to sell them to their cronies like they did in power sector. We cannot continue to watch until they sell the whole nation. Labour unions cannot wake up and discover that assets are being put up for sale without consulting. The state of our roads is still nothing to write home about as they are all dilapidated. We condemn the slow pace of work by the contractors recently mobilised to site.
The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, is currently in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, is currently in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Todays visit makes it the second the governor would be visiting Buhari since the crisis over who will represent the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Ondo state governorship election on November 26 started.Mimiko had during his previous visit, told the President that the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDPs candidate in the forthcoming governorship election was capable of setting the state on fire.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday travel to Equatorial Guinea for the 4thh Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo.

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday travel to Equatorial Guinea for the 4thh Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo.The summit is jointly organised by the AU Comm & League of Arab States and will be attended by Heads of State and Government from Gulf and African countriesThe summit focuses on promoting development by strengthening trade, investment,transport, communication & energy among Gulf & African states .In Malabo, President Buhari is also expected to hold discussions with Arab leaders, aimed at reviewing agreements to strengthen partnerships that bolster agriculture and infrastructure development in Nigeria through long term concessionary loans and technological skills transfer.
The six governors from the South-West zone of the country will converge on Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday, for an Economic Forum, a...

The six governors from the South-West zone of the country will converge on Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday, for an Economic Forum, aimed principally at discussing and promoting issues of common concern and interest.





A statement, on Sunday, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said that the meeting was called at the instance of the host state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.





The governor explained that the meeting was being called to discuss several issues of common concern to the region in view of the challenging economic circumstances confronting the nation and its constituent parts.





He said, These issues include security of lives and properties of all citizens and our peoples; the economic development of the states by leveraging on common resources and the competitive advantages of the region.





Other issues to be discussed will include the identification and development of critical infrastructure, especially road networks and the need for a regional rail network for transportation of goods and services within the region.





Apart from the host governor, also being expected at the meeting are Governors Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Dr Segun Mimiko of Ondo State; Mr Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State; and Mr. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.




The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack three vice-chancellors over al...

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack three vice-chancellors over alleged abuse of office, gross misconduct and corrupt practices.The vice-chancellors are: Prof Olusola Oyewole of Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Prof Biyi Daramola of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) and Prof. Michael Adikwu of University of Abuja(UNIABUJA).SSANUs national vice-president western zone, Comrade Alfred Jimoh made the call yesterday while addressing reporters at Ibadan.He accused Oyewole of sacking SSANU members when he discovered they exposed his alleged corruption and abuse of office to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Jimoh said: As at the last count, he has sacked 23 members of SSANU in FUNAAB without following due process and he is still threatening to sack more.Yet he has not been able to disprove any of the allegations against him.Also in FUTA, a similar scenario is happening and Prof Daramola has been accused of corrupt practices and should be placed on suspension.At UNIABUJA, Adikwu has suspended the chairman and secretary of SSANU without even half salary for daring to ask questions about ongoing maladministration in the University of Abuja.He alleged SSANU members were being victimised for keying into the anti-corruption crusade of the current administration.The union called for immediate recall and protection of all its members sacked by the rampaging vice chancellors.It also demanded for immediate arraignment of the affected vice chancellors by the EFCC and ICPC.
Nigeria centre-back William Troost-Ekong is delighted to have been recognised for his performances in the Norwegian top flight.Troos-Ekong, 23, is on loan at Haugesund from Belgian club Gent and he was selected in the Team of the Year for the Norwegian top league.The former Tottenham youngster, who has formed a decent central defence partnership with Leon Balogun for the Super Eagles, took to Twitter to celebrate his selection."Honoured to get a NISO Award and be selected in the team of the year 2016," Troost-Ekong wrote while displaying his award.Troost-Ekong has played 28 games and scored four goals for Haugesund in 2016 and won bronze at Rio 2016 with the Nigerian Olympic team.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted bail in the sum of N100m to a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, wh...

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted bail in the sum of N100m to a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was earlier in the day, arraigned on 16 counts, including money laundering and offences relating to obtaining of multiple passport.The bail sum is to be guaranteed by self-recognisance of the defendant in his capacity as a serving Justice of the Supreme Court.It implied that Ngwuta would be released on bail after signing a bail bond worth N100m.Justice Tsoho, in his ruling on the defendants bail application which was argued by defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), and opposed by the Federal Government, noted that the fears expressed by the prosecution about granting bail to the defenant were unfounded.Opposing the bail application made by Justice of the Supreme Court, the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, said Justice Ngwuta should not be granted bail due to justices acts of dishonesty while he was on administrative bail granted him by the Department of State Service.He said the circumstances surrounding Ngwutas cases were peculiar.Adeogun-Philips, was responding to Justice Ngwutas lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who had earlier urged the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, to grant affordable bail in self recognisance to his client due to the defendants status as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has stood down proceedings for two hours to enable the Federal Government respond to the bail application fi...

A Federal High Court in Abuja has stood down proceedings for two hours to enable the Federal Government respond to the bail application filed by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was arraigned on money laundering charges and others earlier today (Monday).The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, told the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, that he prepared to call the first prosecution witness shortly after the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the 16 counts preferred against him on Monday.But the defence led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) later informed the court of his clients bail application.Adeogun-Philips responded by saying that he was just served and so he needed time to read the motion to enable him to take a decision on whether to oppose it or not.He suggested a two-hour stand-down which was agreed to by Agabi and subsequently by the judge.The judge then stood down till 12.30pm.The Federal Government on Monday arraigned Justice Ngwuta, on charges of money laundering and others bordering on breaches relating to obtaining of passports.The justice of the apex court, who was charged following the raid on his house and some other judges by operatives of the Department of State Service, pleaded not guilty to all the 16 counts read to him on Monday.It was alleged in the 16 counts that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m denominated in naira and US dollars to a building contractor, to Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

The governments of Azerbaijan and Moldova are considering the possibility to convene the next intergovernmental commission meeting between the two countries in December 2016, a diplomatic source told Trend.

The meeting of the commission will take place in Baku , according to the source.

The meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation and a business forum to be held in the near future will contribute to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of energy, transport and tourism.

The parties intend to consider aspects of using the trade and economic potential provided by the Association Agreement and the establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Moldova and the EU, as well as the need to resume the full introduction of the provisions of the CIS Free Trade Agreement.

The previous meeting of Azerbaijan-Moldova intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation was held in April 2012 in the city of Chisinau .

First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov, who represents Azerbaijan , and deputy prime minister, minister of economy Octavian Calmic, who represents Moldova , are the co-chairmen of the commission.
Wife of US President-elect, and future First Lady, Ms. Melania Trump will not be moving to the White House after Donald Trumps inaugurati...

Wife of US President-elect, and future First Lady, Ms. Melania Trump will not be moving to the White House after Donald Trumps inauguration in January.The 46-year-old wife and their 10-year-old son, Barron are staying put at the familys Trump Tower penthouse so that Barron can continue attending his Upper West Side private school, according to The New York Times.Melania is extremely close to Barron, and they have become closer during the campaign, said a source close to Trumps transition team. The campaign has been difficult for Barron, and she is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum.Another source said Melania Trump will travel to the White House as needed, but that her primary focus is on Barron.Melania is very supportive of her husband and is fully on board of doing everything thats needed as first lady, said the second source familiar with the Trump transition.That source said also that there is a possibility that Melania and Barron may move to the White House at the end of the school year, but no plans are in place.She is really devoted to Barron, said a source close to the family, adding that Melania has not relied on nannies to raise the child and is frequently seen picking the fourth-grader up from his prep school, where tuition is north of $40,000.
RiverClub_walk.jpg

A $100 million mixed-use development that will also create a river walk by the Hackensack river is planned in Bogota (Rendering courtesy CI design, inc).

BOGOTA -- A $100 million mixed-use development may soon rise into the sky above on an old Hess property in the shadow of the Bergen County courthouse.

The River Club, a 421 unit luxury development complete with a river walk, outdoor plazas and commercial space, is planned on 14 acres on the Hackensack River.

"It's an exciting opportunity to develop an eyesore," Councilman Tom Napolitano said. "The site has been vacant for years and now will generate much-needed revenue for the borough."

River Development LLC purchased the site several years ago and has since removed 17 oil tanks left behind by Hess Corp, said Managing Partner Warren Waters.

Hess unloaded the property in 2014, along with other sites in Edgewater and Secaucus.

Remediation work on the property was completed after the tanks were removed, Waters said.

"There are not a lot of sites like this left in Bergen County," Waters said.

As part of the project, the developer will build a 2,200-foot riverwalk along the Hackensack River, Waters said.

The proposal will go before the borough's Planning and Zoning Board on Nov. 22, and Waters said the plan is expected to pass.

The Hess property as it appeared in 2014.

Waters said construction could begin in early 2017 with the first phase of the project completed within 24 months.

"It meets all the requirements of our redevelopment plan," Napolitano said. "The planning board is thinking very positively of the project."

Napolitano said the project is estimated to bring in over $60 million in revenue to the borough over 30 years.

Due to a lack of facilities at the site, River Development LLC will be adding an entire sewer system along the peninsula to meet the needs of tenants.

The Hess property shown in 2014

The site will also include 800 parking spaces, a retail component on West Fort Lee Road, as well as more than 40 units set aside for affordable housing.

Waters said the remaining units will be available at market rate, to be determined when the project is complete.

"We are looking at empty nesters in their 50's as well as young tenants," said Waters. "Employees from Hackensack Hospital and county employees who can walk to work."

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Glen Rock high school

Glen Rock High School

(Google Maps)

GLEN ROCK -- Students at Glen Rock High School were breathing in higher than normal levels of a gasoline additive at the beginning of the school year, the state's Department of Health confirmed to school officials last week.

Officials with the Department of Health stated in a letter to the school dated Friday that it analyzed levels of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, a compound used primarily as a gasoline additive and a known by-product of combustion, in the high school's media center in August and September.

Officials determined that the concentration exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's reference concentration, which estimates the concentration of a compound that can be in the air without causing longstanding health effects.

They wrote that they didn't expect the concentrations to cause health concerns, given the compound's levels relative to the time spent in the school.

The compound can also be found in paint thinners, cleaners, pesticides, dyes, fragrances, perfumes, printing operations and inks, the department wrote in its letter to the school, which published it on its website.

The data was collected by a consultant for the Glen Rock Board of Education and submitted to the state department in late October for review.

The department issued several recommendations:

Inspect the media center for products containing the compound. If some are present, consider relocating or removing them.

Store any products with the compound at the school in an airtight container or ventilated storage cabinet.

Consider increasing air exchange rates in the media center.

The compound has not been named a carcinogen by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer or by the EPA, according to the Department of Health.

The district took steps ahead of the Department of Health's analysis to improve air quality, Superintendent Paula Valenti told families of high school and middle school students in an email.

Valenti said the school met with representatives from the teachers' union on Monday to discuss the topic. She said she believes students and teachers are safe being in the classrooms, but that the source of the substance had still not been identified.



"We just don't know where this is coming from," Valenti said.



Among the changes made to classrooms were adding charcoal filters and installing a new vent in the media center. Valenti also said that they were doing "common sense things," such as moving books away that were covering up HVAC vents.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health referred questions to the school district. The school has scheduled a meeting for Monday night at 8 p.m. in the high school's media center to discuss the matter.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.
MONTVALE -- It's been more than a year since the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company filed for bankruptcy.

The demise of the supermarket chain in July 2015 dealt a blow to its 7,000 union workers in New Jersey and New York and the landlords of the 90 stores it operated in the state.

But 15 months later, many of the workers have recovered, and a mix of ethnic and independent groceries have filled the vacuum left by A&P.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 464A represented 7,000 A&P workers, said John T. Niccollai, president of the local. Many--about 5,000--found new jobs after Acme purchased about 50 A&P stores in the local's jurisdiction.

Foodtown and Stop & Shop bought a handful of others. Some workers retired, while others got work at other stores Local 464A has contracts with, like ShopRite, Stop & Shop and Foodtown, Niccolai said.

Niccolai believes the workers that found jobs are better off.

"It's always better to be working for a company that's growing and on the upswing," he said.

Local 464A covers service workers from Barnegat up to Kingston, N.Y., from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware River. A&P is still in bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York, where the amount of severance and vacation workers will receive is still being decided, Niccolai said.

The bankruptcy was a big loss for the union, which has about 18,000 members total, but it's working its way back, Niccolai said. Contract negotiations with Acme are on the horizon. The grocer assumed the last year of the union's A&P contract, which expires Dec. 3.

As for the stores, some are still up for grabs. This year, Key Food has been leasing locations that were unclaimed in the first rounds of auctions after the bankruptcy, said Matthey P. Casey, owner of an eponymous Rahway firm that specializes in supermarket research.

In 2016, Key Food took over a Pathmark, which was owned by A&P, in Garwood and reopened it as a Food Emporium; an A&P in Edison and reopened it as SuperFresh; and a Pathmark in Elizabeth and reopened it as Food Bazaar. Key Food purchased the SuperFresh brand from A&P.

The bankruptcy also opened the door to independent and ethnic grocers, said Chuck Lanyard, president of the Goldstein Group, a Paramus real estate firm specializing in retail. Lanyard pointed to Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace, a Long Island, N.Y., grocer that opened its first New Jersey location this month at a former Pathmark in Ramsey.

H Mart, a Lyndhurst-based grocer specializing in Asian foods, and 99 Ranch, another Asian-focused chain, have also taken over a handful of former A&P locations. 99 Ranch this year leased a former Pathmark in Hackensack.

At this point, it's unlikely that many remaining A&P stores will be leased as supermarkets. Some landlords have looked to other options to replace the foot traffic supermarkets bring in--more than 20,000 visits a week in many places, Lanyard said.

Landlords are looking to other retailers and gyms to fill the space. In Woodland Park, a 65,000-square-foot former A&P is being taken over by Bed Bath & Beyond, Lanyard said.

In some cases, the space simply won't work as a supermarket anymore, said Matthew Harding, president of Levin Management, a retail real estate firm based in North Plainfield.

"Market demand may not support another grocer, or perhaps the current configuration or size of the space is not suited to attract a large, modern supermarket," Harding said. "The good news is that demand is growing among non-traditional retail tenants--like gyms and healthcare users--which are logical full or partial replacements for some of the remaining former A&P spaces."

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
GARFIELD -- Wind helped a fire destroy a Garfield home Sunday night, CBS New York reported.

Firefighters said strong winds made it difficult to extinguish the fire on Cambridge Avenue.

No one was hurt. The American Red Cross assisted displaced residents.

New Jersey was under a wind advisory Sunday through Monday. Gusts reached 50 mph in some areas.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
fdu.jpg

The accident occurred about 7 a.m. Monday at 1020 River Road in front of Fairleigh Dickinson University. (Google Maps)

( )

TEANECK - A woman was struck and killed by a car Monday in front of Fairleigh Dickinson University, according to police.

The woman, whose name was not released, was found shortly before 7 a.m. lying in the road near the school, which is located on River Road, said Teaneck Deputy Police Chief Glenn O'Reilly.

"She was taken to a hospital and later passed away," O'Reilly said.

The driver of the car remained at the scene and spoke with investigators from the Bergen County Sheriff's Office and members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, O'Reilly said.

O'Reilly did not know if the woman was a student at the university.

"I have no other information about the victim other than what I've released," O'Reilly said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Details added (first version posted on 14:52)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

The free trade zone (FTZ) in Azerbaijan may start to operate in the first half of 2017, Taleh Ziyadov, director general of the Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC, told reporters Nov. 21 in Baku.

Industrial clusters, in particular, those ones that are specialized in various segments of the light industry, are planned to be created in the port, he said.

Firstly, warehouses and clusters, ensuring the creation of value added products, will be created in the zone. At the next stage, it is envisaged to establish small industrial enterprises in the spheres of pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, light industry, noted Ziyadov. It will help to attract big companies to establish distribution sales network not only in Azerbaijan, but also on regional scale.

The director general noted that currently, a preparation is underway in order to form a legal regime for the FTZs creation.

The zones draft legal regime and a feasibility study on what production will be carried out in its territory will be presented to the countrys government by the end of the year, said Ziyadov. Master plan of the free trade zone will also be finalized in January-February 2017.

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree March 17, 2016, on measures to create a free trade zone type special economic area covering the territory of the Baku International Sea Trade Port in the Alat township of Bakus Garadagh district.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Details added (first version posted at 14:44)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

The first stage of construction of the Baku International Sea Trade Port in Azerbaijans Alat settlement will be completed until late 2017, director general of the port, Taleh Ziyadov told reporters in Baku Nov. 21.

Major work is currently underway at the Ro-Ro and dry cargo transshipment terminals, as well as at the construction of a 650-meter quay, where five ships will be able to moor at the same time, Ziyadov said. When the first stage is completed, the port will handle 1,280 tons of cargo per day.

Once all the three stages of the ports construction are completed, the port will handle 7,660 tons of cargo per day, he added.

Ziyadov also noted that this year the Baku International Sea Trade Port was planning to handle over 4 million tons of cargo.

Considering that this figure for the first three quarters of 2016 was 3.25 million tons, we think that the handling plan has been fulfilled, said Ziyadov.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Establishment of a free trade zone in Azerbaijan will give a significant boost to promotion and development of the Made in Azerbaijan brand, Taleh Ziyadov, director general of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, told reporters in Baku Nov. 21.

As it is known, Azerbaijan exports raw materials, he said. However, we would like to process and pack raw materials in the free trade zone. Afterwards, the products under the Made in Azerbaijan brand will be exported to different countries.

Ziyadov added that launching the free trade zone will also help develop the urban infrastructure.

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree March 17, 2016, on measures to create a free trade zone type special economic area covering the territory of the Baku International Sea Trade Port in the Alat township of Bakus Garadagh district.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to freeze oil output at the current level without hurting its economy, during a press briefing in Lima, Peru on Sunday, Sputnik International reported.

"As for the upcoming OPEC meeting and our stance, it has not changed. We said numerous times we are ready to freeze production at the level it is at right now. We do not expect our energy sector to take any damage from this," Putin told reporters.

"The energy minister maintains contacts with leading [energy] companies and they are ready to work in this direction," he added.

Putin said he could not say for sure if the OPEC cartel of oil producers would finalize the deal on curbing oil output, but added the outlooks were positive.

"There is a big chance that the [agreement] will be reached, because it seems to me that the main differences inside the OPEC can be resolved  if they havent been resolved yet  because there are no acute problems left on the table," he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.21



By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:



This time, OPECs impetus to do a deal on oil output is much stronger, according to Wayne Gordon, commodity and currency strategist at UBS Wealth Management.



Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election and also the fact that there has been quite significant pressure on oil prices over the last couple of weeks will draw OPEC back together, he said on CNBC TV Nov.21.



We think that they will come up with some arrangement. This time, the impetus to do a deal is much stronger, because they see the pressure on oil prices over the last few weeks, added Gordon.



In September, OPEC producers agreed during the informal meeting in Algiers to cut down the oil 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.



Oil prices rose around 1 percent on Nov.21 as OPEC moved closer to an output cut to rein in oversupply that has pressured prices for over two years.



Brent crude futures were trading at $47.31 per barrel at 07:43 GMT, up 65 cents, or 0.96 percent, from their last settlement.



US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 0.9 percent, or 41 cents, at $46.10 a barrel.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all.
Can the Saints rebound vs. the Rams? Listen in to Tuesday's live Dat Chat Podcast
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.

Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.

We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness  so thats what you can expect from our site.

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For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.

We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.

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When compiling non league news, we think with the mind of a fan first and foremost. We cover the angles and stories that we find compelling and that we know our fellow non league enthusiasts also care about. News doesnt have to be dry and formulaic, in our opinion. When its written by people who are genuinely as fascinated by the stories they are reporting on as their readership will be, we believe news can be interesting, compelling, and even have a sense of personality and humour.

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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 21

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Some 90.27 percent of people cast their votes in some constituencies of Turkmenistan during the parliamentary election held Nov. 20 in the country, the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan said in a message Nov. 21.

The parliamentary election was held at the constituencies in Akhal and Mary regions of Turkmenistan.

Several candidates have been registered for one MP seat, the message said. The election was held in accordance with the principles of democracy and transparency.

As many as 75,568 voters were registered to take part in the parliamentary election in three constituencies of Turkmenistan. The Central Commission for Election and Referendums in Turkmenistan reported that the final results of the voting will be released soon.

In accordance with the constitution of Turkmenistan, the countrys parliament adopts laws, makes changes and additions to the basic law, approves the state budget, addresses issues of holding a national referendum, appoints the president election, the parliamentary election, as well as members of representative bodies.

The Turkmen parliament also ratifies and denounces international treaties, decides on changing of the state border and the administrative-territorial division of the country.
Martin Persson (41) is appointed new Head of Wholesale Banking and member of Group Executive Management.

Martin Persson has held the position as Co-Head of Markets Equities since he joined Nordea in 2012.

- I am happy that Martin Persson has accepted the position as Head of Wholesale Banking. He has extensive experience and a strong track record coming from a position as Head of Markets Equities. He is value-driven and known for his team-player skills, says Group CEO Casper von Koskull.

- We are well positioned to meet the challenges from the rapid changes in the financial industry, being the leading wholesale bank in the Nordics. I am confident about our possibilities and future business development in partnership with our customers, says Martin Persson.

The appointment is effective as of 21 November 2016.

As of 21 November 2016, Nordeas Group Executive Management consists of the following persons and roles: Casper von Koskull, President and Group CEO, Torsten Hagen Jrgensen, Group COO and Deputy Group CEO, Erik Ekman, Head of Commercial & Business Banking, Martin A Persson, Head of Wholesale Banking, Heikki Ilkka, Group CFO, Ari Kaperi, Group CRO, Topi Manner, Head of Personal Banking, Snorre Storset, Head of Wealth Management, Karen Tobiasen, Chief HR Officer, Matthew Elderfield, Head of Group Compliance.

For further information:

Ragnar Roos, Acting Head of Group External Communications, +46 76 787 69 84

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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 21







By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:







The next meeting of the ad hoc working group for drafting the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is planned to be held in Ashgabat in the second half of December, the Turkmen government said in a message Nov. 21.



According to the message, the delegations of foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan are expected to participate in the meeting.



The previous meeting was held at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian-littoral countries in Tehran in October, the message said.



According to the message, the water management, navigation, transit, energy

resources were discussed at that meeting.



The Caspian states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran - signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.



Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.



Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively.



Additionally, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) has signed a cooperation document with Brazilian Guarantees and Fund Managements Agency (ABGF), the Iranian economy ministry reported Nov. 21.

ABGF provides services for export credit insurance activities backed by the Export Guarantee Fund (FGE), an official instrument available for export credit guarantees.

Marcelo Pinheiro Franco, chief executive officer of ABGF, and Mehrdad Parsamanesh, information & planning director of the EGFI, signed a memorandum of understanding in Brasilia for cooperation in reinsurance and joint insurance as well as exchange of economic, banking and insurance information.

The EGFI has signed similar documents with Germanys Hermes, which offers export credit guarantee (ECG), and Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) as well as the Hungarian Export Credit Insurance Plc (MEHIB) and Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation (Slecic) last month.

In the post-sanctions period, EGFIs exports and investment credits coverage enjoyed a 42-percent growth. It stood at $265 million during the first four months of the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 20).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iran has criticized a recent UN proposal on ending heavy clashes in Syrias Aleppo, describing the solution as temporary.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi has said that none of similar plans were capable of being realized in Syrias political landscape, IRNA news agency reported Nov. 21.

Under the plan proposed by UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, rebel-held eastern Aleppo would remain under opposition control if rebel fighters withdrew.

Saying that there are various players in the Arab countrys current political arena, Qasemi added that there is a serious objection against territorial separation in Syria.

The Syrian government earlier rejected the UN proposal to end heavy fighting in the city of Aleppo.

At a meeting with Staffan de Mistura Nov 20, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem described the idea as a violation of national sovereignty.
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EAST CHICAGO  Police are seeking a suspect accused of robbing a Dollar General store Sunday.

At about 3:20 p.m. Sunday, police went to the store at 1405 E. Columbus Drive and met with an off-duty cashier.

According to police, the cashier said a black male entered the store and waited in line with an item in his hand.

The suspect reportedly waited until all the other customers exited the store before approaching the cashier and displaying a firearm.

The suspect allegedly advised the cashier not to set off any alarms and reached into the cash register and removed an unknown amount of cash before leaving, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Detective Terrance Fife at (219) 391-8318.
CROWN POINT  John Buncich remained Lake Countys top cop and Democratic party boss Monday as rumors about whether he would resign swirled around his office in the wake of his Friday bribery indictment.

Mark Back, spokesman for the Sheriffs Department, denied a report early Monday that the sheriff was planning a news conference. He stated, There have been no changes to Sheriffs Department administration.

Party officials said Monday Buncich hasnt indicated he would step down as chairman before a previously scheduled caucus in early March to elect the next county chairman.

Buncich didnt return calls seeking comment.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said, Should he step down as sheriff? Yes, but being realistic, this is his job and how he pays his bills. I dont understand why (Buncich) would want to be chairman, anymore.

John has ruined the Lake County Democratic party. We were improving our reputation statewide, and this has set it back a decade. This guy cant do his job as chairman, but will he resign? Im not sure, McDermott said.

Buncich has been the countys highest elected law enforcement official from 1994 to 2002, and again from 2010 to the present. He has been party chairman June 2014.

Buncich, 70, and Timothy Downs, 65, Buncichs handpicked chief of police, are accused of wire fraud. Buncich is additionally charged with receiving bribes.

U.S. Attorney David Capp and federal investigators allege Buncich received more than $30,000 in bribes between February 2014 and last month from towing companies wanting the sheriffs permission to remove cars from public streets. The sheriff receives an annual salary of $143,926.32.

Both were arrested and released on bond Friday after entering not guilty pleas. Their trial is tentatively scheduled to begin Jan. 17 and could last for up to three weeks.

McDermott Jr., who clashed earlier this year with Buncich over party matters, said he has spoken with the Democratic state chairman and local elected officials about handing party affairs over to the partys vice chairwoman, Lake County Treasurer Peggy Katona.

Lake County election officials said that if Buncich resigned as sheriff, state election laws would require a caucus of more than 1,000 Democratic precinct committee members to meet within 30 days to elect the next sheriff to serve the remainder of Buncichs term.

Lake Elections Director Michelle Fajman and Jim Wieser, an attorney for the county elections board, said judicial vacancies are filled by a governors appointment, but sheriff is considered a local office to be filled by the party of the departed officeholder.

Lake Councilman Dan Dernulc, the Lake County Republican chairman, said Monday, We are held to higher standards, and we should be, by people. When that trust is broken, it really puts a taint on all politicians. Im not trying to say the sheriff is guilty. I dont know, but this is another slap in the face for Lake County.

Lake Auditor John Petalas, a longtime supporter of Buncich, said, The vultures started circling the building minutes after that FBI raid (Nov. 10), which came out of left field. John has been a policeman for 45 years and done a lot of good things. Everybody who knows him is holding back to see what has really happened.
Tehran, Iran, Nov. 21

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hopeful that trilateral meetings between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia will extend in the future, IRNA news agency reported November 21.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the remarks speaking about Irans interest in hosting next years trilateral meeting of Iranian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents.

The Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the first meeting of the presidents in August.

Qassemi also raised the possibility that Iran may host the event next year.

The previous meeting was held in Baku. The next meeting can take place in Tehran next year, he said.

It is too early to pass an idea about the exact date and agenda of the meeting. But the trilateral meeting is a continuous convention which we hope turns into an innate arrangement among the three countries and we even hope that it extends under certain circumstances.

In the August meeting, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran said in a declaration that they would pursue a comprehensive development of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.

They also pledged to intensify and expand the political dialogue on various levels and on all issues of mutual interest, and also extend it into the spheres of culture, tourism and business.
CHESTERTON  A green card in her mailbox sent up a red flag for one Chesterton woman who believes someone was trying to divert Christmas gifts to a scammer in Florida.

The 79-year-old woman reported to Chesterton police last week that on Nov. 9 she found a notice in her mailbox that served as a reminder to delivery workers that her address had been changed and not to deliver mail there.

But, she told police, shes lived at her home for 32 years and has no intention of moving.

Police said she was shocked that this happened.

A copy of the Change of Address form, filled out on Nov. 3, showed that the person who filled it directed that mail be delivered to a Tampa, Florida, apartment complex until Dec. 28.

According to Chesterton police, the date, being close to Christmas Day, would seem to indicate someone wanted to intercept any presents ordered online.

But, police said, if someone had planned that, they will be sorely disappointed as (the victim) does not conduct any business on the internet.

The woman told police the lack of a middle initial, which she always uses on documents, was missing.

She told police she does not know anyone in Florida, and she does not know anyone who would do this.

She also filled out a report with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
DYER  Hands primed over each of their instruments, the Kahler Middle School eighth-grade band students' eyes are glued to their music with an ear to what their band teacher is saying.

"Be aware of the phrasing," said band teacher Leta Sena-Lopez. "That's the first phrase. That's where you breathe. Take your pencil and put a mark there."

The students at Kahler Middle School are getting ready for a concert Dec. 2. All the band and concert students will perform.

Lopez takes the students through "Silent Night" and a rendition of "Country Wildflowers." She said the concert will feature a variety of music to challenge the audience.

As the students listen, they don't just have their fingers on their instruments, their feet are also tapping out the beat.

Eighth-graders Nate Sorrentio and Lisa Ham said the band class is one of their favorites.

Sorrentio, who is a percussionist, said he's been taking private band lessons for nine years.

Ham plays the trigger trombone, and has been playing music since fifth grade.

"There are no words to describe how much I love band. I look forward to coming to school every day because of it," she said.

Ham said she wants to become a surgeon but believes that music is a great skill to have and is relaxing. "It takes you to a different world," Ham said.

Lopez said the middle school also has a jazz band that meets before school. She said her students have performed in Chicago and at the South Suburban Jazz Festival. She said students also have won numerous awards at the Indiana State School Music Association over the years.

A 26-year veteran educator, Lopez has been teaching band at Kahler for 22 years.

"As an educator, I think it's important for kids to see that if they want a career in music, they can have that," she said. "I've had former students go on to be band directors and professional musicians, and one former student is a two-time Grammy winner.

"I continue to try and keep the community educated about our music program," she said. "It's great to have the emphasis on science and math, but you can't go through life without the arts, and support music in our schools. My music director inspired me when I was growing up in Chesterton. My kids have grown up and been enrolled in my program, along with the children of many of my friends. It's been a family."

Kahler Principal Ken Newton said the band is definitely one of the points of pride for Kahler. He said Lopez's musical talent and drive for excellence keep the school's award-winning program topnotch.

"I am amazed each year as students enter the band program, many of them playing an instrument for the first time, how Leta is able to work with these students and shape them into musicians so quickly," he said. "In just a few short months, they are able to perform in our winter concert and the music they play is impressive. It is hard to believe you are listening to middle school students.

"Leta enriches the band program by taking several trips each year. The band has been to The Blue Man Group, The Chicago Symphony, The Zhou Art Museum as well as their annual end-of-year trip to Great America. Leta conducts sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade bands and our jazz band. She also teaches fifth-grade general music classes. Since 1995, all of our bands have received a gold rating at their annual ISSMA competitions," he said.
INDIANAPOLIS  The Republican leaders of the Indiana House and Senate declared Monday that banning all abortions in Indiana, as recently proposed by state Rep. Curt Nisly, R-Goshen, is not a priority for the 2017 legislative session.

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, both said they are focused on enacting a long-term infrastructure funding plan, passing a balanced budget and making education improvements.

Theres obviously a bomb tossed out there that was announced by Rep. Nisly, Long said.

People are always going to propose legislation. Whether it has a chance of seeing daylight or not depends on a lot of factors.

As first reported by The Times, Nisly plans to file a Protection at Conception proposal when the Republican-controlled General Assembly convenes in January.

If enacted into law, it would prohibit all abortion in Indiana in all circumstances and authorize the criminal prosecution of any doctor or woman who participates in an abortion.

Supporters of the measure, including Hoosiers for Life, are hoping such a law could lead U.S. Supreme Court justices appointed by GOP President-elect Donald Trump to reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

Bosma said theres little he can do to stop Nislys proposal from being filed.

But he insisted the measure will not take over the four-month legislative session, as social and labor issues sometimes have in the past.

There are some cultural issues for which there is no reasonable political accommodation, Bosma said. We are always going to disagree about issues like abortion, marriage and perhaps even a hate crimes law.

My commitment is not to get distracted on these issues.
INDIANAPOLIS  Newly elected and returning members of the Indiana General Assembly, along with their families and friends, will gather Tuesday at the Statehouse for the ceremonial opening of the 2017 legislative session.

The centerpiece of the Organization Day meeting of the 100-member House and 50-member Senate is the formal swearing-in of lawmakers who won their seats in the elections held two weeks ago.

The Legislature will adjourn Tuesday afternoon and not return to the Statehouse until the first week of January.

In the meantime, representatives and senators will be working with the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency to craft their proposals for new laws that will be debated, amended and possibly enacted during the four-month regular session that runs until April 29.

Loretta Rush, the chief justice of Indiana, who lived in Munster as a child, will administer the oath of office to legislators shortly after noon Region time in the House and 12:30 p.m. in the Senate on Tuesday.

Four individuals from Northwest Indiana will be taking the oath for the first time: state Sen.-elect Eddie Melton, D-Merrillville; state Sen.-elect Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores; state Rep.-elect Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago; and state Rep.-elect Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie.

In addition, state Rep.-elect Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, is set to resume her House service after regaining the seat she held for eight years until losing it in the 2014 election.

After officially taking office, the 70 Republican representatives then are expected to elect state Rep. Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, to a fifth term as House speaker. The 30 Democrats likely will assent to his leadership after he garners a majority.

Bosma will preside over chamber debates, assign members and legislation to committees and negotiate proposals with the Senate and the governor.

The speaker also traditionally outlines his goals for the session on Organization Day.

Bosma is expected to urge action on a long-term infrastructure funding plan, passage of a balanced budget, continued education reforms and possibly changes to Indianas legislative redistricting process.

The lieutenant governor is the Senates presiding officer. Though legislative business is set to be overseen by state Sen. David Long, R-Fort Wayne, who almost assuredly will retain the post of Senate president that hes held since 2007.

Republicans control 41 seats in the Senate; Democrats have just nine senators.

The primary task for the 120th General Assembly will be to approve a two-year state budget for the July 1, 2017-June 30, 2019 period.

Republican Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb is scheduled to present his proposed state spending plan to lawmakers around the time he takes office on Jan. 9.
HAMMOND  A man is expected to plead guilty in U.S. District Court to his role in a 2010 drug deal in East Chicago.

Rogelio Maldonado, formerly of River Grove, Illinois, entered a plea agreement Monday. Under the plea agreement, he would plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The first charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison plus four years supervision.

The second charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison to run consecutively to any other prison term.

Maldonado and two other Illinois residents were initially charged in connection with a meeting that took place with a government informant at an East Chicago restaurant. When the informant insisted on seeing the drugs brought to the meeting, Maldonado allegedly opened a hidden compartment in his red truck to reveal bricks of cocaine wrapped in duct tape.

Charges were eventually dismissed against one of the men arrested in the incident, while another man, Hugo Garcia of Chicago, was sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to his role in the crime.
CROWN POINT  Toy and model train collectors and enthusiasts are invited to a two-day train show at show Saturday and Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Train Clubs of America is hosting the Thanksgiving Model Train Showthe third year its been in the Region.

The show will feature all gauges of model and toy trains, with featured brands including Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, HO and more. More than 1,000 attendees are expected to purchase, learn and enjoy toy and model trains at this years show. Exhibitors will come from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and as far away as California and Florida.

According to organizer Joe Algozzini, the show provides an educational opportunity for train collectors, operators and novices to learn about manufacturing, creating and designing custom pieces, insuring collectibles and adding that special item for their collection or layout.

Algozzini also encourages families to visit, talk with the vendors and enjoy photos with Santa. Santa will be available for photos from noon until 1 p.m. on both days of the show.

The show will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 per person with those under 18 free.

The Lake County Fairgrounds is at 889 S. Court St.
PORTAGE  As each name, age and manner of death was read Sunday night in the small, dimly lit church, a butterfly was hung on a white wreath in remembrance.

The 211 murder victims in the past year from around the world  including 26 in the United States  varied in age and suffered various forms of violent deaths, including being stoned, suffocated, burned, shot, stabbed, beaten and run over by vehicles.

What they had in common is that each was transgender and is no longer forgotten as a result of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance held locally at the Metropolitan Community Church Illiana in Portage.

We were born this way, Portage resident Aleckz Bendt told the group of fellow transgender people and their supporters. Theres nothing wrong with us.

Bendt said he too had been victimized.

In San Francisco, I was beaten to the point that I was bleeding on the ground, he said. Police walked by and didnt do a thing.

Bendt, however, considers himself one of the lucky ones. Not only did he survive his attack, but he also has a job, friends and a fiancee.

This is hard for some to find, he said. Im taking a huge risk being out and loud about being transgender.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999, a year following the yet-unsolved murder of Rita Hester in Boston, said MCC Rev. Michael Cooper.

This years list of names, while not including suicides and considered under reported, is 50 less than last year, Bendt said.

But this years service comes in the wake of 49 people being killed in June by a gunman in an Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub, and it follows a very contentious presidential election, Cooper said.

What are going to be the next steps? Cooper asked. Are we going to be safe in the coming year?

Lake Station resident Dana Rose said she has known she is transgender her entire life, but was only able to make that publicly known this year.

Nobody wants to see violence like this happen, she said. What can we do to make this violence stop?

Marie Siroky, an ordained minister at Trinity United Church of Christ in Gary, was among those referred to Sunday as allies of the transgender community.

No one should be attacked because of who they are, she told the group.

The violence is not the result of who these people are, she said. Ignorance is causing the violence.

I need to learn from you what I can do, she said.

Cooper sent the group away Sunday with words of hope following the candlelight portion of the service.

Take this light with you, he said. Keep it strong and grow it in peace.
EAST CHICAGO  U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, met Sunday with more than a dozen residents living in the USS Lead Superfund site, who said theyre afraid the current cleanup wont fully address contamination and are frustrated by the lack of a cohesive response by various government officials.

Visclosky said he understood their frustrations, asked some of them to document their concerns for his office and planned to contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, he told the group assembled in zone 3 resident Maritza Lopezs back room he couldnt make any promises.

Rosa Maria Rodriguez, a member of We the People of East Chicago, said residents are concerned because Mayor Anthony Copeland is seeking $8 million in funding to demolish the West Calumet Housing Complex when many of the residents health and safety needs have not been met.

That is putting the cart before the horse, she said.

Visclosky said he and several other elected officials are all searching for funding for various purposes and that their efforts are concurrent, not consecutive.

There is no demolition if you are not properly relocated, you dont have proper housing, the congressman said.

Residents circulated a document about how a Montana community received Medicare for life because of an environmental problem and told Visclosky people from all three cleanup zones in East Chicago should receive similar benefits. They described a range of health issues, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental disabilities, cancer, immune disorders, miscarriages, premature births, chronic respiratory, ear and stomach problems and more.

Resident Sara Jimenez and several others said the Calumet neighborhood, which includes three residential cleanup zones, should be declared a disaster area, in part, so more federal resources can be made available to people affected by falling property values.

I really feel this area should be declared a disaster. Because, you know what, the findings are just going to get deeper and deeper, she said. Were involved. Were getting our paperwork. Were looking into everything. We have enough people here to gather all the data that we need, you know, to let them know that we know whats going on, and youre not going to pull the wool over our eyes.

Ray Mosley, a resident of zone 3, asked if Visclosky would help them seek a disaster declaration. The congressman later assured the group that being declared a Superfund site makes many resources available to them.

Mosley said EPA excavated his property several years ago, but now plans to return in the spring. Several residents said they fear the agencys piecemeal approach to excavation will lead to re-contamination.

Michael Jacobi, a zone 3 resident, said EPA didnt plan to excavate his property this year but agreed to do so after he pressured the agency. His wife is pregnant, he said.

The level of contamination in indoor dust samples from his home were higher than levels found in the soil outside, he said. That was the same case for Mary Poe, who didnt attend the meeting but said last week the level of lead in her basement was nearly twice as high as in her soil.

Akeesha Daniels, of the West Calumet Housing Complex, said the EPA cleaned the inside of her home, and she reluctantly moved back in five days afterward because she has not yet found another home.

No one has been back to retest, she said, adding her children began to fall ill shortly after they returned. They should never have let us come back.

Visclosky said several West Calumet Housing Complex residents complaints about a chaotic relocation process were loud and clear. He also said he wants to hear from any homeowner having problems with their mortgage lenders because of the contamination.
Valparaiso  The Valparaiso International Center transformed into a Little Warsaw, of sorts, as VIC founder Duane Davison invited visitors to become armchair travelers at a recent presentation on Poland.

Agnieszka Fezatt, who was born and raised in Poland and came to the United States 18 years ago, discussed the geography, history and customs of her native land. Fezatt has lived in Valparaiso for nine years and teaches English to non-native students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades in Valparaiso Community Schools. Her 19 students are from a variety of countries, including Japan, Vietnam, Mexico and China.

Situated at the center of Europe, Poland is bordered on the north by the Baltic Sea, said Fezatt, while her neighbors include Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Lithuania.

For a small country about the size of Indiana and Illinois together, Poland has great geographical diversity that includes the Tatra Mountains, at least 1,000 lakes, the Baltic Sea and even a small desert, Fezatt said.

Other tourist attractions including the countrys two major cities, Warsaw and Krakow, salt sculptures at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz and the Jasna Gora Sanctuary, home of the Black Madonna.

Fezatt noted that many well-known people were born in Poland or have Polish heritage, including Pope John Paul II, composer Frederic Chopin, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, businesswoman and television personality Martha Stewart, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders; the late actor Paul Newman, Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, and Maria Slodowska-Curie, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist who is known for her research on radioactivity.

We take pride that for such a small country, we birthed so many wonderful people, Fezatt said.

Ten million Polish Americans in the United States constitutes about 3 percent of the population, making it the largest Slavic ethnic group in the country.

Fezatt said Poles show their love through food, and on average, she returns to the U.S. seven pound heavier after her trips.

Thats what I bring back with me, she said.

While Nov. 1  All Saints Day  is a major solemn holiday when people are off work and pay their respects at the cemetery graves of relatives, Christmas is celebrated lavishly.

Poles open gifts on Christmas Eve and attend Midnight Mass. Christmas Day is spent with family, while Dec. 26, the second day of Christmas, is spent with friends.

In a country where men still kiss a womans hand as a sign of respect and pajamas are never worn outside the house, guests and visitors are held in high esteem, Fezatt said.

Our hospitality comes from a strong belief we need to treat our guests with utmost respect, Fezatt said. And we have a soft spot for Americans.

Fezatt, who travels with her family to Poland every three years and spends several weeks there, said she comes back to the United States with a thick accent and forgets some English words.

My Polish brain reverses, Fezatt said.

Fezatts three daughters also speak fluent Polish, as well as English, at home.

We really take pride in it, Fezatt said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

There is enough rationality in the US society to not jeopardize international interests, Bahram Qasemi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said.

Qasemi made the remarks in a press conference on Nov. 21 while commenting on Donald Trump's statements against the nuclear deal during his presidential campaign, Irans state-run IRINN TV reported.

It is too early to judge, Qasemi said, adding that Trump's stance is expected to be modified as he comes closer to beginning of his presidency.

The Islamic Republic will be patient and will monitor the developments inside the US, he added.

We are waiting to see Trump's team and his actions, and then we will make appropriate decisions, Qasemi said.

Trump severely criticized the nuclear deal during his presidential campaign.

He said he would rip up the Iran nuclear deal, which was aimed at curbing the nation's ability to acquire nuclear arms.

"The nuclear deal puts Iran, the number one state sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism, on a path to nuclear weapons," Trump said in one of his convention speeches.

Qasemi further commented on the US House of Representatives move to block commercial aircraft sales to Iran, saying that in last one year, various bills were passed or raised by the US representatives, none of which can be implemented.

The bill will now be headed to the Senate, from where, once passed, it would go to President Barack Obama for signature, which is a lengthy procedure, Qasemi said, adding Iran will wait until that time and if the outcome is contradictory to the nuclear deal or Irans interests, it will be dealt appropriately.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted on Nov. 17 to prohibit the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran.

The US earlier agreed to allow Iran to purchase commercial passenger aircraft to update its ageing fleet under the internationally brokered Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA aka nuclear deal).
A man was shot and killed after police say he attacked two NYPD housing officers in Brooklyn.

Police say 21-year-old Erickson Brito suffered from mental illness and had a history of arrests, including one for criminal trespassing back in March.

It happened at the Van Dyke Housing complex in Brownsville just after 1 p.m. Saturday.

Housing officers were responding to a 911 call of a suspicious man in the hallway.

Officials say when the two officers, Andres Bisono and Jennifer Garcia, asked Brito for ID, a scuffle broke out and the suspect grabbed one of their metal batons and began striking both of them in the head.

Sources say the officers fired seven shots, four of which possibly struck the suspect.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman who says she is Brito's sister wants justice for her brother.

"Everybody has his issues, but why they got to get killed," she said.

"I knew the boy always sat in the exit. He's a little off, he got high, you know, whatever. He didn't bother nobody, nobody," one resident said.

"And he be off in his building all the time, smoking his cigarette outside, listening to his music and not bothering anybody. He was a young man, like a young black man and it's sad," another resident said.

Both officers were rushed to the hospital, with Bisono getting treatment for a two-inch gash on his head.They've since been released.


NEW YORK - A Brooklyn man was charged Monday with supporting the Islamic State terror group and allegedly plotting an attack in Times Square.

Prosecutors say 37-year-old Mohamed Rafik Naji told a confidential informant about plans to use a garbage truck to plow through a crowd.

They say he was inspired by the attack over the summer in Nice, France that left more than 80 people dead.

The FBI says Naji has been posting social media messages supporting the Islamic State group since 2014, and he traveled to Yemen and Turkey last year in efforts to join them.

"He has family in Yemen. I don't think it's illegal to visit your family if you're overseas. And he's not charged with visiting his family overseas," said defense attorney Susan Kellman. "I'm just saying, he had a legitimate purpose to be there."

Naji's attorney says he has a wife and three children in Yemen.

He did not enter a plea at his initial court appearance Monday in Brooklyn federal court and was ordered held without bail.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Department of Homeland Security have announced new regulations to bolster safety protocols at JFK Airport.

The new measures come just months after an active shooter scare caused widespread panic at an airport terminal.

It was all caused by a false report of gunshots that turned out to be cheering at a terminal bar.

Top security officials say poor communication between law enforcement agencies contributed to the mass panic and evacuation.

They recommend the Port Authority establish a central command center to distribute the latest information to all agencies.

Officials will also implement new mandatory training so all airport workers can better assist passengers during emergencies.
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday once again addressed New Yorkers' concerns regarding a Donald Trump administration and says the city will protect its citizens against any federal policies that would threaten New Yorkers' rights. NY1's Josh Robin filed the following report.

It was the same venue where in 1860 Abraham Lincoln argued against slavery. On Monday, Bill de Blasio summoned outrage against key planks of the Trump campaign.

"'Will I be able to stay in this country?' That's whats going through the minds. That's what's being talked about at the kitchen tables, the fear of deportation," the mayor said.

Same for a Muslim registry or federal laws accelerating stop-and-frisk.

De Blasio says if Trump moves ahead on campaign proposals the city finds objectionable, New York will resist.

"We will use all the tools at our disposal to stand up for our people," he said.

Tools like lawsuits, or even noncompliance.

Left unsaid was how the city would defy the federal government or cope with stripped federal aid, which accounts for about one-tenth of the city budget.

At times, de Blasio even sounded like Trump hadn't won.

"The people spoke one way. The electoral college spoke the other way," he said.

Still, the speech aimed to rally, and calm.

"For many people within the American Muslim community, this whole Muslim registry thing has just been very, very terrifying," said Debbie Almontaser of the Muslim Community Network.

Of course, the mayor's political ambitions can't be entirely removed...

During the presidential campaign, the mayor tried, with limited effect, to broaden his influence nationally. Now, with Trump headed to the White House, it sounds like de Blasio is going to try again.

"He's become the poster child for opposing the campaign rhetoric. Absolutely," said political consultant Ezra Friedlander.

An hour-plus meeting with Trump last week also helps.

More immediately, there is de Blasio's re-election. Two potential Democratic rivals attended.

"Hate is not the new normal in our city," said Public Advocate Letitia James. "And what we need to do is stand up together."

"This is a day that the mayor and I stand united on behalf of our city," said City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

While hyperlocal issues sway elections, de Blasio's national cause may neutralize opponents. So, too, may his growing endorsements. Over the weekend, he was endorsed by former Mayor David Dinkins and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Its just not really a French omelet, thats all.

A proper French omelet is all about (you guessed it) technique. He grabbed a selection of backyard eggs provided by a neighbor and cracked three on his cutting board, not against the rim of the mixing bowl. (This, he said, prevents any bacteria on the surface of the shells from getting into the bowl.)

He dropped clumps of salt and pepper and chopped chives and tarragon into the bowl with the three eggs, and then, using a fork, he began to beat the eggs with notable brio. People tend to turn it like a wet mop, he said. You have to break the whites so that there arent long strings of the white showing.

He had agitated the eggs so fiercely that there was now a flotilla of bubbles on their surface.

That mixture went into a buttered nonstick pan; the heat was turned all the way up. What followed was a kind of Tilt-A-Whirl shaking and spinning and scraping of the pan, with Mr. Pepin keeping the eggs constantly in motion. Hed shake the pan like a tambourine, then stop and very quickly scrape off the papery edges of egg that would slosh up the sides, then shake again.

I move this as much as I can, as fast as I can, so its the smallest curd possible, he said. I dont let it brown on the top. Because browning will indicate that it has toughened the albumen.

There was barely a second when the eggs sat idle in the pan, and that was the point. The omelet, when finished, was meant to have a consistent tenderness, inside and out.

He finished with a flourish that involved shifting the eggs to one side of the pan, tilting the pan up and using a fork to roll the still slightly wet mix into an oblong shape. His description of this, in Essential Pepin, sounds much easier than it looks: Roll the omelet by folding over one side and then the opposite side, and invert it onto a plate.

Alas, in the kitchen, theres a lot more nuance to it than that. Even though Id watched the whole thing up close, I knew I could not do what he had just done. But I knew I could master the next step.

What you have to do now, he said, is eat that omelet with some salad.
PARIS  Inspired by the Statue of Liberty, the American contemporary artist Jeff Koons is donating a monumental sculpture of a fistful of tulips to the City of Paris and the people of France to commemorate victims of the recent terrorist attacks here.

One of Mr. Koonss largest sculptures  34 feet high, 27 feet wide and 33 feet deep  Bouquet of Tulips is meant to echo the hand of the Statue of Liberty, a gift to the United States from France. Currently under construction in Germany, the work, made of bronze, stainless steel and aluminum, will be permanently installed next year in the plaza in front of the Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo.

I hope the work is life-changing to people, Mr. Koons said in an interview here on Monday. I hope that the Bouquet of Tulips can communicate a sense of future, of optimism, the joy of offering, to find something greater outside the self.

Inspired by floral paintings by Fragonard, Picasso and others, he said that he had chosen the tulips for their buoyancy, which he hoped would inspire the families of victims of the attacks to carry on.
After two bizarre concerts last week during which Kanye West came out in support of President-elect Donald J. Trump and ended a set early after a fiery but discursive 17-minute monologue, the rapper has canceled the rest of his tour dates for 2016.

Live Nation, the tours promoter, and a representative for Mr. West said that all tickets for the second leg of the Saint Pablo tour, which was to include two nights at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Dec. 30 and 31, would be refunded at the point of purchase.

The tour began in late August and was called one of the years best thanks to its novel, minimalist design, with Mr. West hovering slightly above the crowd on a suspended platform. The New York Times critic Jon Caramanica called the rapper improbably close and tantalizingly out of reach.
Since Mr. Murakami asks most of the questions, which are generally pitched at an elementary level and often repetitive, the musical novice should have no great difficulty with the concepts addressed here. But since various pieces are discussed in considerable detail, anyone not intimately familiar with Beethovens Third Piano Concerto, Berliozs Symphonie Fantastique and Brahmss and Mahlers First Symphonies may want to have recordings at hand.

Mr. Ozawas command of spoken English has always been tenuous, to his regret, as he notes on several occasions. If only, for example, he could have taken in more of the wisdom Leonard Bernstein tried to share during Mr. Ozawas years as an assistant conductor to the New York Philharmonic (1961-63).

But it turns out that some of the quirks of Mr. Ozawas English speech may not have resulted simply from struggles in a foreign tongue. In Japanese, too, Mr. Murakami writes, the maestro does speak his own special brand of Ozawa-ese, which is not always easy to convert to standard written Japanese.

In any case, Mr. Ozawa often speaks eloquently in this translation by Jay Rubin, as in this comment, which grows out of an exchange about the pianist Rudolf Serkin: A musicians special flavor comes out with age. His playing at that stage may have more interesting qualities than at the height of his career.

There is much good, solid musical discussion and information here. But there are also too many muddled volleys off the top of the head, lacking the needed factual follow-up and correction.

In a conversation about the quality of the sound at Carnegie Hall, Mr. Ozawa recalls a live taping there of Brahmss First Symphony with the Saito Kinen Orchestra in 2010: When we recorded this, he said, I hadnt been there for some time, and Im pretty sure it changed in that time. It got a lot better.

Mr. Murakami: I heard it was renovated.

Mr. Ozawa: Oh, really? That makes sense.

Mr. Ozawa led the Vienna Philharmonic in three concerts at Carnegie in 2004. I remember then thinking that the sound had improved, he says. It certainly hadnt when I was there with the Boston Symphony some eight years before.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is a onetime Wall Street darling that has become a punching bag for how pharmaceutical firms drove up drug prices and engaged in questionable sales practices, in the process losing 90 percent of its market value. The first case to emerge from multiple federal and state investigations of its conduct, however, portrays it as a victim, not a perpetrator.

The Justice Department charged a former Valeant executive, Gary Tanner, with taking about $9.7 million in kickbacks from Andrew Davenport, the chief executive of Philidor Rx Services, a specialty mail-order pharmacy, while hiding his true intentions from corporate management. Valeant had a relationship with Philidor and in December 2014 paid $100 million on an option to buy it, but it dropped the association last year. Philidor shut down in January.

The criminal complaint depicts surreptitious payments and a cavalier attitude, highlighted by an email from Mr. Davenport to Mr. Tanner evoking how the two men would be like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and ride into the sunset (or off the cliff as in the flick).

The case appears to be a straightforward tale of avarice, but there may be more to proving the charges than meets the eye, perhaps portending a more difficult prosecution for the Justice Department. Was Valeant really the victim, or was it a willing participant that wanted to build up Philidor so it could increase sales of its products?
Energy Transfer investors are in another tangle. The pipeline partnership Sunoco Logistics Partners wants to buy Energy Transfer Partners for $21 billion, based on Fridays closing prices. Energy Transfer Partners parent, Energy Transfer Equity, tied itself in knots trying to buy rival pipeline operator Williams Companies last year, before walking away on a technicality. The sour reaction to the latest deal suggests E.T.P. may also be headed for trouble.

The companies  both of which are effectively controlled by Energy Transfer Equity  argue that uniting will give them bigger scale and a broader geographical footprint. That could be an advantage considering the recent controversy over Dakota Access Pipeline, which is owned by Energy Transfer Partners and has been the scene of clashes between protesters and the police. The industry as a whole also looks set to benefit from President-elect Donald J. Trumps promises to build infrastructure and cut red tape, especially for traditional energy companies.

If only it were that simple. In classic fashion for master limited partnerships, these two concerns are already heavily intertwined. Energy Transfer Partners owns around a fifth of its would-be acquirers common units  the equivalent of shares. It also exerts control over Sunoco through its 100 percent ownership of the general partner that staffs and runs Sunocos pipelines. Sunoco lists itself as an Energy Transfer Partners subsidiary in its regulatory filings.

Energy Transfer Equity, which had extreme buyers remorse with Williams and was only able to get out of that $33 billion acquisition because of a legal loophole, controls Energy Transfer Partners through ownership of its general partner. Kelcy L. Warren, chief executive of Energy Transfer Equity, runs that company and Energy Transfer Partners. But he needs the approval of other Energy Transfer Partners unit holders for the Sunoco transaction to go through.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

When Armenians begin to pile up ammunition, a blast should be expected somewhere. This is simple logic since not every Georgian region can boast of possessing a rich military arsenal, including explosives and anti-tank shells.

The Georgian media published that several residents of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region handed in 22 bundles of trotyle explosives, nine sporting guns with sawed off barrels and stocks of so-called "sawed-off shotguns" and 93 hand grenades to the countys interior ministry.

In addition, the citizens handed over 33 anti-tank shells, four mines, two anti-tank grenades, 13 detonators, six cartridge clips, nine smoke grenades and 4,521 live cartridges.

Examination revealed that the firearms and ammunition were in working order, as published on the ministrys website.

It is obvious why the weapons have been handed - such an impressive arsenal could not be passed by by Georgian law enforcement officers who probably reminded the citizens of this Georgian region, populated by Armenians, that in Georgia, persons voluntarily handing over weapons, ammunition and explosives are exempt from criminal liability, according to the current legislation.

However, the question is that how much more ammunition and explosives do the citizens of the restless region have, and why did they collect them.

The fact is that the Samtskhe-Javakheti region is far from being a simple and quiet area, around which passions simmer for years. However, someone persistently throws wood on the fire. One day, the situation may jerk, and then the Armenian "liberators and new people of Samtskhe-Javakheti" will need this secret military arsenal, which today has not been passed to Georgias Interior Ministry.

Over the recent years, Armenians have raised the question of granting the status to the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, as well as the return of six churches to the control of the Armenian Diocese that the Armenian side calls its, while Georgia announced disputable.

The "Armenian issue" about the "historic homeland" in different countries arose sharply for all Armenians in Georgia soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

For twenty years, Georgias Samtskhe-Javakheti region, inhabited by Armenians to its misfortune, is haunted by Yerevan and Armenians, who live there.

Yerevan has repeatedly stated that the Armenian population living in the region is oppressed by the Georgian authorities, and urged to give the region maximum independence from the Georgian government.

The omnipresent Armenian diaspora has repeatedly accused the Georgian authorities of all mortal sins against the long-suffering Armenians living in Georgias region, which, in their opinion, is not a Georgian territory.

The fact that there are territories inhabited by Armenians in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Armenia, keeps Yerevan awake all night. Nowadays, the most important thing for Armenia is to maximize the isolation of Samtskhe-Javakheti region from Georgia and the Georgian authorities by any means.

Thus, the latest developments confirm once more that there is a high risk in Georgia that problems may arise in the south of the country, in the region populated by the Armenians.
LONDON  Michael S. Sherwood, a Goldman Sachs vice chairman and co-head of its European division, will retire from the Wall Street firm at the end of the year.

Mr. Sherwood, who is also known as Woody, had previously been seen as a potential successor to Lloyd C. Blankfein, the Goldman Sachs chairman and chief executive. Mr. Blankfein revealed last year that he had what he described as a highly curable form of lymphoma.

Mr. Sherwoods departure came as Goldman tries to navigate the political uncertainty following Britains decision this year to leave the European Union.

The outcome of the British referendum has raised questions about whether Goldman and other American banks may be forced to shift operations out of London to continue to serve some European clients.
Donald J. Trumps charitable foundation will not be paying any of the $25 million settlement to resolve a series of lawsuits concerning Trump University, the president-elects defunct for-profit education venture that drew customer complaints about price gouging.

Representatives for Mr. Trump sent a one-paragraph letter on Friday to Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York State attorney general, stating that no funding for the settlement would come from any charitable foundation or other charitable entity.

A copy of the letter, from Alan Garten, executive vice president and general counsel for the Trump Organization, was reviewed by The New York Times. Mr. Garten did not respond to a request for comment.

In the past, Mr. Trump has used money from his charitable foundation, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, to settle lawsuits arising from his business and personal activities. Last month, in the heat of the presidential campaign, The Washington Post reported that more than a quarter of a million dollars from Mr. Trumps charity had been used to settle legal disputes.
The proposed health insurance mega-merger between Anthem and Cigna heads to court on Monday, as the companies face off against a Justice Department seeking to block their $48 billion deal. It will be followed in just a few weeks by the trial for another proposed insurance mega-merger, between Aetna and Humana.

Together, those two mergers would remake the industry, resulting in the nations five largest health insurers shrinking to just three, including UnitedHealth Group, which remains independent. And the Justice Department is set to argue that the consolidation would be bad for consumers.

If these mergers were to take place, the competition among insurers that has pushed them to provide lower premiums, higher-quality care and better benefits would be eliminated, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said in July when she announced the governments decision to challenge these mergers.

But the election of Donald J. Trump could recalibrate how vigorously the federal government handles these two deals, as well as the many other deals now taking place in health care, according to legal experts. On Friday, Mr. Trump nominated Senator Jeff Sessions, the conservative Republican from Alabama, to replace Ms. Lynch. While it is unclear how Mr. Sessions would have the department handle antitrust cases, Mr. Trump has said that he wants less government regulation of business.
Friday night, the Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg went on his vast social network to convince an expanding chorus of critics  including the departing president of the United States  that he honest-to-goodness wants to combat the fake news that is running wild across his site and others, and turning our politics into a paranoiac fantasy come to life.

Weve been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously, he wrote.

Weve made significant progress, but there is more work to be done, he continued, listing various steps Facebook was taking, like making it easier to report bad information and enlisting fact-checking organizations.

It was heartening to hear, especially after his earlier assertion that it was crazy to believe that misinformation on Facebook had affected the presidential election in any real way  despite copious evidence that it was disturbingly in the mix, whether it directly swung the result or not.
The Overlook Lodge, a bar in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood of Cincinnati, looks cozy enough at first, with wooden rafters and a fireplace big enough to sit inside.

But after a while, unsettling details catch the eye. The inner-lit bar top casts a spectral glow. Why all the axes on the wall? And then there is the illuminated sign outside that bears one repeated mantra: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Yes, the Overlook Lodge takes its style cues from The Shining, the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film of Stephen Kings horror classic. The cocktails have names like Writers Block and the Elevator, and the list of whimsical boilermakers is called Twin Shots, a reference to the films spooky girl ghosts.

Movies have done their bit to glorify bars and drinking over the years: Think of Nick and Nora Charles swilling martinis in The Thin Man, and the Champagne cocktails hoisted in Ricks Cafe Americain.
(Again, Ms. Trump has not been associated with Opening Ceremony or with Kenzo.)

The day after Ms. Theallets letter, Fashionista, a fashion website with more than 2.5 million monthly readers, offered an editorial explaining, How We Plan on Covering (or Not Covering) Melania Trumps Fashion Choices.

We plan on having no part in normalizing the Trump family, particularly when it comes to cataloging the first ladys fashion choices, it wrote. As individuals, we dont want to contribute to humanizing or making light of an administration that poses such serious threats to women, minorities, immigrants and more, and that has so many other troubling implications that we cant ignore  but that we also cant talk about in sufficient depth, because this is first and foremost a site about fashion and beauty. We wont go so far as to say well never write about what Ms. Trump is wearing, but were going to reserve it for strictly newsworthy occasions.

As to what those may be: the Met Gala, state dinners, the usual. What they may not be: stepping off Air Force One.

It will be interesting to see if such public statements of intent continue. More common, so far, has been the reaction of another designer, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not ready to take an official position, but who told me that he had been contacted by a member of the Trump family who wanted to borrow a dress for a public occasion. The designer said that he simply pretended he did not get the message.

In any case, the conversation is heating up and the stakes are rising.

One designer, Tommy Hilfiger, who has an office in Trump Tower, told WWD this week that he would have no problem dressing the new first lady.
To assess dementia, participants were asked, among other things, to recall 10 nouns immediately and after a delay, to serially subtract seven from 100, and to count backward from 20. The test was based on extensive research indicating it was a good measure of memory and thinking skills.

Participants also were asked about their education levels, income and health.

In a way, the dementia decline might seem unexpected. It occurred despite an increase in diabetes  the diabetes prevalence among older Americans surged to 21 percent in 2012 from 9 percent in 1990. It began to fall only very recently. And, the study found, diabetes increased the risk of dementia by 39 percent.

More older people today also have cardiovascular risk factors  high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol  which increase the risk of dementia. But more are taking medications for those conditions, so perhaps better control of those risk factors played a role in the decline.

The findings about obesity were especially puzzling. Compared with people of normal weight, overweight people and obese people had a 30 percent lower risk of dementia, the study found. Underweight people had a risk 2.5 times as great. Yet the obesity picture is muddled because other studies have found that obesity in middle age increases dementia risk in old age.

Then there is the education question. On average, older Americans in 2012 had one more year of schooling than older Americans in 2000. And years of education were associated with decreased dementia risk in this study, as in many others.

It is still not clear exactly why education would reduce the risk of dementia. There is the cognitive reserve hypothesis: that education changes developing brains in a good way, making them more resistant to dementia, and that people with more education have brains that are better able to compensate for dementia damage.

But education also is linked to more wealth. People with more education often live in environments that differ from those of people who have less schooling, and they tend to have better health over all. They also are less likely to smoke.
In todays article, youll read about a turbulent week of tears, fury and demonstrations at an Iowa high school.

What is the general feeling at your school since Election Day?

In At Iowa High School, Election Results Kindle Tensions and Protests, Julie Bosman writes:

Like many other schools around the country since the election, West High has become a microcosm of the United States itself, a place roiled by tension, divisions and mistrust. Students in many schools say supporters of Donald J. Trump have felt empowered to lash out at minorities, while outraged backers of Hillary Clinton have been spurred to organize and demonstrate. And teachers have been struggling to provide guidance even as they themselves are processing the election results.

In Ladue, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, students walked out of a high school twice in a week to protest racist comments made at school after the election of Mr. Trump. Two students were disciplined for telling black students boarding a bus that they should sit in the back.

Swastikas were drawn in a boys bathroom at a middle school in Bethesda, Md., which has many Jewish students. Children all over the country, particularly Latinos and Muslims, have fearfully asked teachers and guidance counselors whether they and their families will be deported.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has been tracking thousands of such episodes since the election, said the most commonly reported locations for harassment were K-12 schools.

Its impossible to wall schools off from the rest of society, said Maureen Costello, the director of Teaching Tolerance, a program of the law center. Its just seeped into the culture. Kids are hearing it at home and theyre amplifying it.

At West High, some teachers and parents have encouraged students to walk out of class to protest racism and sexism and to support a pluralistic society. Others were livid at the protests, saying the teenagers were overreacting. Some emailed administrators to ask why some students were allowed to skip class for protests during a crucial finals week.
The department checked several boxes saying it required a contractor to obtain special expertise not available at the agency, provide services not needed on a long-term basis, accomplish work within a limited amount of time and avoid a conflict of interest. The citys corporation counsel, who oversees the department, waived a requirement for a public hearing on the contract, the documents show, on the ground that a hearing could disclose litigation strategy.

The de Blasio administration, prompted by required budgetary reports, has in recent days offered a limited accounting of its spending on outside lawyers: $6.5 million through the end of the year for overlapping investigations of the mayor, said Eric F. Phillips, Mr. de Blasios spokesman.

That amount includes $400,000 for lawyers at Carter Ledyard & Milburn, who have helped defend the city in state and local inquiries  including one by the comptroller  into the sale in February of Rivington House, a former nursing home in Manhattan whose deed restricted use of the property to nonprofit residential health care. Mr. Phillips declined to comment on whether the firm continued to work for the city on that matter.

Mr. de Blasio, asked at a news conference on Friday about the costs, said: Weve been asked to provide information; weve been very, very cooperative, and as many times as the investigators want to talk to members of the administration, of course they will have that opportunity. But each time requires preparation and representation. Thats why.

A Law Department spokesman declined to reply to a list of questions about the contract.

Dan Levitan, a spokesman for Mr. de Blasios 2013 and 2017 campaigns, said the mayor and his aides acted ethically and appropriately at all times. Mr. Levitan said no public money had been spent to defend the 2013 campaign or the mayors political nonprofit, Campaign for One New York, which is at the center of some of the investigations. He declined to say how much non-city money had been spent to defend them. We hope that the investigations, which have now lasted over seven months, will draw to a close, Mr. Levitan said in an email.
Standing beneath that boats hull, Mr. MacRae joked about New Yorks increasingly crowded waterways, saying, This is the view we dont want any kayakers to have.

In a three-sided shed in Franklin, La., about 100 miles west of New Orleans, another boatbuilder, Metal Shark, has a team of 45 workers building four more ferries to match those produced by Horizon. To the untrained eye, all of the boats under construction look identical  except for three that will have deeper, wider hulls to smooth out the choppy waters between the Rockaways and the Wall Street dock in Manhattan.

When the ferries are finished, commuters will not be able to distinguish between the two companies products, said Josh Stickles, the marketing director for Metal Shark. But we will, he added, gesturing toward welders attaching aluminum plates to the inverted frame of a hull.

Some skeptics have criticized the citys plan to make all of the boats 85 feet long with a capacity of 149 passengers, as opposed to having some larger vessels for the hourlong run to and from Rockaway. Confusingly, theyre building 20 boats the same size, Tom Fox, who once ran New York Water Taxi, said at a ferry conference in Manila last month.

Mr. Fox also questioned the citys decision to charge riders the same fare that subway riders pay, which is $2.75 now but may rise next year. That is significantly less than the $4 it costs to ride the East River Ferry service that the city has been subsidizing for several years. The success of that service prompted the decision to expand it citywide and to eventually bring it to the Bronx and Staten Island.

But for now, city officials are concentrating on proving to skeptics that more than a dozen passenger ferries could be built in a year. Seth Myers, an executive vice president with the citys development corporation, said he was impressed with the collaboration between the shipyards. Weve seen just a very energetic approach to delivering these boats on schedule, Mr. Myers said.

Metal Shark has specialized in building sets of boats for government agencies, both domestic and foreign, Mr. Stickles said. When the company received the ferry contract from Hornblower, its workers were wrapping up a set of 18 sleek patrol boats for the Vietnam Coast Guard.
Japanese authorities consider consultations with Russia on a joint economic activity on the south Kuril islands, if the territorial dispute is resolved, media reported on Monday, siting diplomatic sources, Sputnik reported.

The joint economic activity implies the development of infrastructure including the modernization of roads and harbors, improvement of fishing facilities and fish processing technologies as well as cooperation in the energy sector with the construction of geothermal power plants, Kyodo News Agency said.

Earlier in the day, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga refused to comment on the joint economic activity on Kuril islands at a press conference.

The relations between Japan and Russia are tainted by the lack of the peace treaty after World War II. Japan claims back four Kuril islands Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai and Iturup, which became part of the Soviet Union's territory according to the outcomes of WWII. Moscow maintains that the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty transferring control of the islands to the Soviet Union establishes Russian sovereignty over the Kurils, which Tokyo classifies as its northern territories.
Margo Solomon has health insurance for herself and her four children.

But actually getting treatment is another matter.

Ms. Solomon, a 35-year-old mother from the Bronx, says she has struggled to find a doctor who accepts her insurance. And with three of her children coping with asthma, and one with more complicated medical problems, locating a specialist is even more challenging. And once in the door, she cannot afford the costs, including for deductibles and medications.

I feel like I am all alone out here, Ms. Solomon said.

She is not alone.

A new study to be released on Monday by the Childrens Health Fund, a nonprofit based in New York City that expands access to health care for disadvantaged children, found that one in four children in the United States did not have access to essential health care, though a record number of young people now have health insurance.

The report found that 20.3 million people in the nation under the age of 18 lack access to care that meets modern pediatric standards.
Her oldest children, Matthew Ferrer, 18, and Javon Murphy, 13, do their part to corral and calm their younger siblings. Ms. Ferrer speaks glowingly about Matthew in particular. He is rarely home, often working a food-service job to keep the house afloat. Her pride is coupled with guilt.

Hes young, he doesnt have any children, she said. He shouldnt be having to deal with that.

Ms. Ferrer is responsible for paying the roughly $1,000 monthly rent. She receives $1,486 every month in Social Security disability benefits for her three youngest children, $270 in food stamps and $300 that Matthew pitches in from his job. She does not receive child support from her childrens fathers, and because of her autistic sons care requirements, she has not worked in more than eight years, since shortly before Justin was born.

I never thought Id see myself the way Im seeing myself, struggling so much, she said.

The familys tight finances are a steady source of anxiety for Ms. Ferrer, who worries her family may once again be without a home. As long as she has one, she is meticulous about keeping it pristine. She said she simply cannot tolerate dirty things.

Each morning, she races to get her four school-age children ready. They all attend different schools, riding different buses that arrive at different times. She does it all alone. The childrens fathers cannot be relied on, Ms. Ferrer said, and although she has many family members nearby, they do not help.
This is homegrown terrorism for real, Mr. Horovitz said. He was joined at the podium in the middle of the park by several imams, a rabbi and a half-dozen elected officials, who led the crowd in singing the national anthem, We Shall Overcome and This Land Is Your Land.

Reports of hate crimes in New York City have increased over 30 percent this year, to 328. Anti-Semitic hate crimes rose to 111 from 102. Muslims were the target of 25 reported attacks this year as of Nov. 13, compared with 12 over the same period last year, according to data compiled by the police. (Mr. Yauch was born to a Jewish mother and a Catholic father and converted to Buddhism.)

Speaking at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on Sunday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, announced measures to fight the offenses, including the creation of a State Police unit that would combat what he called the explosion of hate crimes in our state. The new unit would consist of investigators who specialized in bias crimes and who would aid the states district attorneys in prosecuting them, according to the governors office.

Adam Yauch Park, a small triangular space in an upscale neighborhood, was thronged with hundreds of people, some of whom climbed the playground equipment and sat on the monkey bars. They lined State Street when the park became too full, holding children and shaggy dogs. One woman breast-fed an infant while she stood cheering. A few held signs that riffed on lyrics once sung by the artist and activist for whom the park was named. No Sleep Till No Hate in Brooklyn, one placard read, a reference to a Beastie Boys anthem.
PORTAGE, Ind.  I was working the night of the election  helping ship merchandise to convenience stores around Indiana  so I kept up on the news by texting a friend. Should I worry? I asked around 10 p.m. Not yet, he said. An hour later, the response had changed: Pressing the worry button now. I got off work at midnight, and listened to the radio as I drove home. It was by then Nov. 9, and the election was coming to an end. But it didnt hit me until I saw my mom.

When I got home, she was awake and watching the television, her face paralyzed by distress. I realized we were in trouble.

I have lived in the United States as long as I can remember, but I am undocumented, Mexican by birth. My parents came to the United States because my father was in danger. He served in the Mexican military, but was scapegoated for leaked information and could have been killed. My parents decided to leave for California in 1997, and a year later, my sister and I, ages 5 and 2, joined them.

My parents scraped by selling tamales in the streets of Los Angeles, and my sister and I grew up as Californians. But there was always a huge difference between us and many of our classmates. After my sister graduated, she returned to Mexico because she couldnt see a future here, blocked from pursuing higher education and a job. Her absence has been extremely painful for my family. We havent seen her in five years.
Joseph Kabila, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the latest power-hungry leader to try to extend his rule beyond his elected term, which ends next month. His obstinacy is putting an already battered country at risk.

The move could reignite civil war and destabilize the entire region, according to activists and human rights groups. There is an ominous precedent: Millions died in conflicts in Congo between 1998 and 2003 that drew in armies from neighboring countries, and the fear is that a new war will do likewise.

Under the Constitution, Mr. Kabila is supposed to vacate the presidency when his mandate runs out, on Dec. 19. But his ruling coalition and part of the opposition agreed last month to delay a presidential vote until at least April 2018, citing logistical problems in registering millions of voters. Under their plan Mr. Kabila would remain in office until that election. As part of the agreement, the countrys prime minister, Augustin Matata Ponyo, announced his resignation last week, a move that is supposed to pave the way for the appointment of a government of national unity by Mr. Kabila and opposition members who endorsed the election delay.

The main opposition bloc has fought back; more than 40 people died in street protests in September aimed at persuading Mr. Kabila to step down when his term ends. His critics say his real goal is to change the Constitution and guarantee himself a third term.
The limits of President Obamas ability to reassure the world about Americas future role in the international sphere was apparent at the summit meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in Lima, Peru, on Sunday. There is no way to ease the concerns of those leaders about Americas retreat from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, a casualty of anti-globalization fervor, American politics and, in particular, the objections of President-elect Donald Trump, who has called it a disaster.

The presidential campaign focused on whether the deal, which would lower import duties and quotas, would benefit American workers. Mr. Trump said it would not and argued instead for a protectionist approach, including big tariffs that could end up inciting a trade war.

On Sunday, Mr. Obama again made the case that the trade agreement would be a plus for Americas economy, for American jobs, and failure to sign on to it undermines our position across the region. The Pacific Rim leaders urged the signatories to move ahead with the deal.

If done right, the pact could stimulate exports while helping to reduce environmental destruction and improve the lives of workers in countries like Brunei, Peru, Chile and Vietnam, which were part of the negotiation. For example, countries that signed the deal would have to adopt minimum wages, protect endangered species and agree not to discriminate against foreign businesses in the interest of domestic and state-owned firms.
Flint, Mich.  I joined the Flint, Mich., police force nearly 20 years ago because I believed I could make a difference. Police officers are problem solvers. But sometimes it seems as if the problems have no end. How can a city fall so far that we lose sight of the possibility of solutions?

In recent years here in Flint, we have been asked to do more with less. Our wages and benefits have been cut by more than a quarter since 2011. Because of budget issues, many of us have been laid off and rehired multiple times (for me, it was three times in six years). We used to number roughly 300 police officers; now there are only around 100. Nationwide, there is an average of three police officers for every 1,000 citizens; in Flint, its half an officer for every 1,000 citizens.

In one of Americas most dangerous cities, the people who secure the city are less secure than theyve ever been. Yet we continue serving, as we did through the loss of General Motors, through the crack cocaine epidemic and, most recently, through the mass lead poisoning of Flint citizens.

The crisis around Flints poisoned water points to a larger issue of structural racism and poverty in urban society. How can citizens in Flint trust the police to protect them when they cant even trust their government to provide them with clean water? This is the kind of question that has placed police officers and African-Americans on a collision course. Police officers are seen as outsiders in urban America. White officers are seen as racist, while black officers like me are seen as traitors to our race.
In 1986, the Republican-dominated Senate Judiciary Committee torpedoed Ronald Reagans nomination of Jeff Sessions to the federal bench. As sworn testimony there revealed, Mr. Sessions, then the United States attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, had referred to the N.A.A.C.P. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) as un-American and Communist inspired. He had joked that he thought the Ku Klux Klan was O.K. until he discovered some of its members smoked pot, and had accused a white attorney who supported voting rights of being a race traitor.

The details revealed in this hearing, troublesome enough to sink his nomination, are surfacing again, now that President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected him to be his attorney general. But its worth looking beyond those notorious hearings to Mr. Sessionss more recent actions as well.

Eight years after his failed nomination, Mr. Sessions was elected Alabamas attorney general. While he held the position for only two years  using it as a steppingstone for his campaign for the Senate  he left an indelible mark. He used the power of his office to fight to preserve Alabamas long history of separate and unequal education.

Mr. Sessions became attorney general four decades after the Supreme Court struck down segregated schools in its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. In the intervening years, racial segregation diminished somewhat, but separate and unequal continued in another form. In 1956, as a way to sidestep Brown, Alabama voters amended the state Constitution to deprive students of a right to public education. Public support for school funding collapsed in its aftermath.
This may well be the beginning of the end: the early moments of a historical pivot point, when the slide of the republic into something untoward and unrecognizable still feels like a small collection of poor judgments and reversible decisions, rather than the forward edge of an enormous menace inching its way forward and grinding up that which we held dear and foolishly thought, as lovers do, would ever endure.

So many of President-elect Donald Trumps decisions herald a tomorrow that is bleak for anyone who held hope that he could be a different, better man than the one who campaigned (I was not among that cohort), or those who simply assumed that the gravity of the office he is to assume would ground him.

Hard-line Trumpism isnt softening; its being cemented.

Increasingly, as he picks his cabinet from among his fawning loyalists, it is becoming clear that by Make America Great Again, he actually meant some version of Make America a White, Racist, Misogynistic Patriarchy Again. It would be hard to send a clearer message to women and minorities that this administration will be hostile to their interests than the cabinet he is assembling.

He has promoted Stephen Bannon, an alt-right, white nationalist cheerleader and sympathizer, to chief White House strategist.
Our Real-Time Human Fact-Checker is Sean Rameswaram, who produces podcasts for WNYC Studios, including More Perfect, the Supreme Court spinoff of Radiolab.

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Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang shakes hands with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in West Jerusalem in November last year. (Photo : Getty Images)

Starting Nov. 11, citizens of China and Israel can avail of the 10-year visas with multiple entries, as announced by Matan Vilnai, Israel ambassador to China, during the official launch of the program on Nov. 15, the Global Times reported.



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"I believe that this visa agreement will facilitate a greater change and openness between Israel and China," Israel's ambassador said.



The visa agreement will enable Chinese citizens to enter Israel several times over a 10-year period. They can also stay to a maximum of 90 days each time but not more than 180 days within one year.



The 10-year visa program was made possible under the agreement signed by the two countries at the meeting of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation, as witnessed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese Deputy Minister Liu Yandong.



"This agreement symbolizes the beginning of a new era in the relations between Israel and China--a way for Israelis and Chinese people to create new connections between them," the ambassador stressed.



During his four-year stint as ambassador in China, Vilna worked to promote direct flights between China and Israel. Now, there are four direct flights that fly daily between Beijing and Tel Aviv. He also worked to simplify the country's visa policies.



During the launch event, Vilnai gave 10-year multiple-entry visas to the first batch of Chinese citizens who have made contributions to friendly relations between the two countries. The first citizen to receive the said visa was Liu Ye, a Chinese film star and the tourism ambassador of Israel.



After Canada and the U.S., Israel is the third country to grant multiple-entry visas to Chinese citizens. The new visa agreement is seen as a major development in the relations between the two countries, as they both set up mutual visa waivers for diplomatic and official passport-holders on Jan. 17, the report said.


Exxon Mobil, under fire over its past efforts to undercut climate science, is accusing the Rockefeller family of masterminding a conspiracy against it. Yes, that Rockefeller family.

The company, which has been accused of scheming to pay surrogates to deny the threat of climate change, is trying to turn the tables by calling its opponents the real conspirators. It is fighting state attorneys general, journalists and environmental groups in an all-out campaign to defend its image.

But the oil and gas giant has directed some of its fiercest fire at the descendants of John D. Rockefeller, who in 1870 founded Standard Oil, the company that became Exxon Mobil. Rockefeller family charities, longtime backers of environmental causes, have supported much of the research and reporting that has called the company to account for its climate policies, and Exxon Mobil is crying foul.

The pressure on the company is intense. Journalists have published exposes of the companys research into climate change, including actions it took to incorporate climate projections into its exploration plans while playing down the threat. Such reporting projects, financed in part by Rockefeller family charities, included last years work by Inside Climate News and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, which published its results with The Los Angeles Times. The findings have been boiled down to the popular Twitter shorthand #ExxonKnew.
SAN FRANCISCO  Microsoft is putting its considerable financial and engineering muscle into the experimental field of quantum computing as it works to build a machine that could tackle problems beyond the reach of todays digital computers.

There is a growing optimism in the tech world that quantum computers, superpowerful devices that were once the stuff of science fiction, are possible  and may even be practical. If these machines work, they will have an impact on work in areas such as drug design and artificial intelligence, as well as offer a better understanding of the foundations of modern physics.

Microsofts decision to move from pure research to an expensive effort to build a working prototype underscores a global competition among technology companies, including Google and IBM, which are also making significant investments in search of breakthroughs.

In the exotic world of quantum physics, Microsoft has set itself apart from its competitors by choosing a different path. The companys approach is based on braiding particles known as anyons  which physicists describe as existing in just two dimensions  to form the building blocks of a supercomputer that would exploit the unusual physical properties of subatomic particles.
In keeping with the dominant mood of New York City these days, the dance hall hostess known as Charity Hope Valentine has finally shed her middle name. As compellingly portrayed by Sutton Foster, in an archetype-shattering performance, the title character of the 1966 musical Sweet Charity has never before seemed so hopeless.

Oh, sure, shes still smiley and goofy and bouncy in the New Group production that opened on Sunday night at the Pershing Square Signature Center. She sings, she tap dances, she leads a fantasy parade in her own honor.

But from the beginning of this willfully wan, small-scale revival, directed by Leigh Silverman, Charity seems plagued by a vague awareness that becoming a doormat for men was not a good career choice. And that no matter what course her life takes, men arent going to change and neither, God help her, is she.

It feels appropriate that Ms. Foster should have been assigned the task of exposing the dark side of Charity. This two-time Tony Award winner made her name on Broadway playing characters who were pluckiness incarnate (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women). With her megawatt grin and inexhaustible talent, she seemed the essence of the indomitable spirit of old-fashioned American musicals.
WASHINGTON  By the time Richard B. Spencer, the leading ideologue of the alt-right movement and the final speaker of the night, rose to address a gathering of his followers on Saturday, the crowd was restless.

In 11 hours of speeches and panel discussions in a federal building named after Ronald Reagan a few blocks from the White House, a succession of speakers had laid out a harsh vision for the future, but had denounced violence and said that Hispanic citizens and black Americans had nothing to fear. Earlier in the day, Mr. Spencer himself had urged the group to start acting less like an underground organization and more like the establishment.

But now his tone changed as he began to tell the audience of more than 200 people, mostly young men, what they had been waiting to hear. He railed against Jews and, with a smile, quoted Nazi propaganda in the original German. America, he said, belonged to white people, whom he called the children of the sun, a race of conquerors and creators who had been marginalized but now, in the era of President-elect Donald J. Trump, were awakening to their own identity.

As he finished, several audience members had their arms outstretched in a Nazi salute. Mr. Spencer called out: Hail Trump! Hail our people! and then, Hail victory!  the English translation of the Nazi exhortation Sieg Heil! The room shouted back.
As a result, forestry officials have asked for more funding to thwart wildfire risks through prescribed burning and the removal of millions of dead trees. We must fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters in the country, Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, said in a statement.

But some ecologists say the emphasis on fire danger and its attendant demand for increased logging are misplaced.

Do everything necessary to eliminate risks to humans, these experts argue, but otherwise leave dead trees alone to decompose or go up in flames and create new habitats. Far from being disasters, wildfires can be an adrenaline shot for biodiversity, they say.

A lot of the hype seems to me a lack of understanding of the naturalness of disturbance in ecology, said Richard Hutto, an ecologist at the University of Montana.
Tensions continued in North Dakota on Monday afternoon as law enforcement officials arrested 16 people at a demonstration, one day after hundreds clashed with the police over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

During a news conference on Monday, officials also defended their use of fire hoses against protesters the night before, despite the below-freezing weather.

Some of the water was used to repel some of the protest activities that were occurring, and it was used at a time where they were aggressive towards the officers, the Morton County sheriff, Kyle Kirchmeier, said at the news conference.

In a statement late on Sunday, the Morton County Sheriffs Department characterized the demonstration as an ongoing riot, releasing photos that it said showed protesters setting fires and using aggressive tactics while trying to dismantle a police barricade on Backwater Bridge, which has for months been the site of a protest against the pipeline.
A San Antonio police officer writing a traffic ticket to a driver was shot to death in his squad car on Sunday outside Police Headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind, the authorities said.

Chief William McManus of the San Antonio Police Department identified the officer as Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

Image Detective Benjamin Marconi Credit... San Antonio Police Department, via Associated Press

Chief McManus said the gunman had not been apprehended as of Sunday night. He said he did not believe the man had any relationship to the driver who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified.
Aint none of this been working, he said. He did not vote.

Mr. Albrecht, of the election commission, said other factors contributed to the decline in turnout. This was the first general election under new state laws that required voters to produce an approved photo ID card, and that stiffened the requirements for new voters to prove their residence. This was particularly onerous for the poor, who move often.

Mr. Albrecht said he believed this change had cost several thousand people in the city their vote.

To me thats very significant, he said. It takes away from the fairness and integrity of the election.

Although two federal district courts had ruled that the photo ID law discriminated against African-Americans, who disproportionately lack the approved IDs, the law was applied on Election Day after an appeals court stayed one of the decisions. Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican who backed the laws, has said they have no impact on voter participation, and Mr. Albrecht allowed that their effect on Milwaukees turnout would not have erased Mr. Trumps victory in the state.

Perhaps the biggest drags on voter turnout in Milwaukee, as in the rest of the country, were the candidates themselves. To some, it was like having to choose between broccoli and liver.

I felt cornered, said Ian Pfeiffer, 25, who works the grill at Jakes Delicatessen and says he did not vote. We were stuck between Trump and Hillary. They really left us with no choice.

Mr. Pfeiffers grandmother, an avid supporter of Mrs. Clinton, spent months trying to convince him to vote for her. But he could not get over his revulsion at what he saw as trust issues related to the Clinton Foundation. (Mr. Pfeiffers grandfather pushed him toward Mr. Trump, but he found him even less appealing.)

He thought Oprah Winfrey would be a good candidate.

Hey, would you vote for Oprah Winfrey? he said in a loud voice to a line of customers.
A San Antonio police detective who was shot to death while sitting in a squad car was apparently killed just for being on the force, the citys police chief said on Monday, a day after the detective and three officers were shot in separate episodes around the country.

There was no apparent link among the killing of Detective Benjamin Marconi and the three other shootings, in which officers were wounded, and officials cautioned that many questions about the shootings remain unanswered. But they added to the sense of a profession under siege, coming after a series of killings in which officers were singled out.

I feel we were targeted, said the San Antonio police chief, William McManus. I think the uniform was the target, and the first person who happened along was the target.

Late Monday, Chief McManus said that Otis Tyrone McCain, 31, had been arrested without incident after the car he was in was stopped on Interstate 10.
When it comes to predicting how President-elect Donald J. Trumps administration will affect Americas schools and universities, education experts say they are struggling to read the tea leaves.

The fundamental issue is that nobody really knows what the Trump administration is about on education, said Frederick M. Hess, a conservative education policy expert. At a panel discussion in Washington last week, he joked that Mr. Trumps trademark educational achievement thus far, creating the controversial Trump University, placed him in history alongside another president, Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the University of Virginia.

Hes been all over the map on a number of these questions, Mr. Hess, the director of education policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, said during a panel discussion on Wednesday at the Shanker Institute, an education nonprofit.

Mr. Hess is among education experts and policy makers who, since the election, have been trying to figure out what a Trump administration might do for education  starting with whether there will even be a federal Department of Education. Mr. Trump suggested during the campaign that the agency might be on the chopping block, though the statement seemed more like a sound bite than a policy pronouncement.
The new cybersecurity law issued by China seeks to protect online users. (Photo : Getty Images)

In a recent gathering of developers and technology companies, China was asked to tighten security online.



President Xi Jinping opened the World Internet Conference and called for "more fair and equitable" governance of the Internet."



Xi said that China's position is to promote "Internet sovereignty" over its 700 million Internet users. Top leaders declared the country's willingness to work with the global industry for mutual benefit.



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During the conference, a commentary was released by the Communist Party through the People's Daily to break monopolies and break from the technologies of other countries.



China recently issued a broad cybersecurity law that gives law enforcement greater powers to access private data. This law requires data to be stored locally on Chinese servers.



Article 10 of the law states, "companies that build, maintain the Internet or provide service through the Internet shall follow laws and administrative regulations as well as mandatory requirements set by the state's standards."



It also states, "They shall take technical and other necessary measures to ensure the Internet is functioning safely and stably, handle cybersecurity incidents effectively, prevent cyber criminal activities, and maintain the integrity, secrecy, and usability of Internet data."



Foreign trade groups signed a statement in protest of the new law.



Human rights groups reacted against it, saying that the government is breaching privacy. Technology firms from the U.S. firms have lobbied against the measure.



The statement said, "We are concerned that these commitments are undermined by public statements and other forms of high-level guidance that call for indigenous and controllable substitution plans for information technology products and services."



Beijing persists that the new law will break its dependence on the U.S. The Communist Party's commentary said that the law was aimed "particularly by breaking monopolies over core technologies and standards and not allowing other countries to control vital supply chains."


A panel of three federal judges said on Monday that the Wisconsin Legislatures 2011 redrawing of State Assembly districts to favor Republicans was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, the first such ruling in three decades of pitched legal battles over the issue.

Federal courts have struck down gerrymanders on racial grounds, but not on grounds that they unfairly give advantage to a political party  the more common form of gerrymandering. The case could now go directly to the Supreme Court, where its fate may rest with a single justice, Anthony M. Kennedy, who has expressed a willingness to strike down partisan gerrymanders but has yet to accept a rationale for it.

Should the court affirm the ruling, it could upend the next round of state redistricting, in 2021, for congressional and state elections nationwide, most of which is likely to be conducted by Republican-controlled legislatures that have swept into power in recent years.

It is a huge deal, said Heather Gerken, a Yale Law School professor and an expert on election law. For years, everyone has waited for the Supreme Court to do something on this front. Now one of the lower courts has jump-started the debate.
LIMA, Peru  President-elect Donald J. Trump, with his America First campaign slogan, sees an America that has for years been taken for granted by weaker nations and is too quick to intervene in intractable conflicts far away.

But in his final news conference on his last foreign trip as president, President Obama argued on Sunday for a foreign policy in which America continues to take on the biggest global problems of the day, lead where others stand on the sidelines and help the least fortunate.

Mr. Obama pointed out that before the order imposed in large measure by the United States after World War II, war and famine ravaged the globe. He said that while the United States could not maintain global order on its own, it was the linchpin in ensuring that it continued.

China is an important country, he told reporters in Lima, the final stop on his tour, but the Chinese did not organize the Paris climate talks, help write the agreement to reduce global warming or undertake the negotiations ensuring that all parties agreed to it.
TALLINN, Estonia  Juri Ratas, the new leader of a party whose strongest support comes from the countrys ethnic Russians, has been named the next prime minister of Estonia.

Despite having the second-largest number of seats in Estonias Parliament, the Center Party had long been shut out of power for its links to the United Russia party of Vladimir V. Putin.

But the Center Party successfully formed a coalition of sharply contrasting ideologies by teaming up with the left-leaning Social Democrats and the right-wing IRL party.

The new coalition government is expected to be formally approved on Monday.

The ousting of the Center Partys long-serving boss, Edgar Savisaar, is widely seen as having opened the door for the party to come in from the cold of longstanding opposition. With his removal, the party has distanced itself from its connections to United Russia, first brokered by Mr. Savisaar more than 10 years ago, but it has not renounced them entirely.
PARIS  A taciturn, tradition-minded former prime minister, Francois Fillon, emerged as the surprise front-runner in the first round of presidential primary voting among center-right candidates in France on Sunday, advancing to the second round next week against another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, who came in second.

Mr. Fillon delivered an unexpected knockout to a third candidate, former President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose strident appeals to French identity and get-tough approach to immigrants and Islamist terrorism had been thought to guarantee him a place in the second round of voting, on Nov. 27. Mr. Fillon, whom Mr. Sarkozy appointed as prime minister in 2007, co-opted those themes, using less harsh language, and pushed aside his former boss. With the governing Socialists largely discredited, the winner of the second-round contest in the Republicans party primary will be considered the favorite in the presidential election next year.

With most of the votes counted, Mr. Fillon led with 44.1 percent, Mr. Juppe was second with 28.3 percent, and Mr. Sarkozy had 20.9 percent.

Mr. Fillon, who was Mr. Sarkozys prime minister for five years, had languished in polls for months behind him and the more moderate Mr. Juppe. French commentators had largely written off Mr. Fillon, pointing out that Mr. Sarkozy appeared to have seduced the partys hard-right voters, who were worried about immigration and Islam, and that Mr. Juppe seemed to appeal to the partys more centrist voters, seeking a more inclusive approach. A week ago, most were confidently predicting a Juppe-Sarkozy runoff.
VATICAN CITY  The Roman Catholic Church will allow priests throughout the world to grant absolution for abortion, the Vatican said on Monday, making permanent a policy that Pope Francis announced a year ago.

In a document marking the conclusion of the churchs yearlong Jubilee of Mercy, the pope extended a policy of allowing priests  and not only bishops or special confessors  to grant forgiveness for abortion, which the church considers a sin. The announcement was a signal of the popes vision of a more welcoming, merciful and inclusive church.

While firmly restating his opposition to abortion as a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life, the pope affirmed that there is no sin that Gods mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father. The document, an apostolic letter, was signed on Sunday after a Mass denoting the end of the jubilee year. It was made public on Monday.

Pope Francis decision last year, at the start of the jubilee, followed in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, who granted priests the same right during the previous holy year, in 2000.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  The remaining hospitals on the rebel-held side of Aleppo, Syria, have been badly damaged and forced to stop providing care amid an intensifying bombardment, according to the World Health Organization.

Bombs launched by the Syrian government over the past three days seriously damaged two general hospitals that were providing trauma care in the war zone and hit the only childrens hospital, according to doctors, nurses and residents.

The destruction left more than a quarter-million people in eastern Aleppo without hospital care, the W.H.O. said. It is unclear if the hospitals will be able to reopen.

Although some health services are still available through small clinics, residents no longer have access to trauma care, major surgeries, and other consultations for serious health conditions, the health organization said in a statement issued Sunday.
TEHRAN  At first blush, the election of Donald J. Trump would seem to be bad news for Iran. But there is a chance that on balance, things could work out surprisingly well for the clerics.

Publicly, Irans leaders stress that they pay little heed to what happens in the United States, that they pride themselves on their independence. It makes no difference for Iran who the next U.S. president is, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a speech last week.

Yet he could hardly miss Mr. Trumps promises on the campaign trail to tear up the landmark nuclear agreement reached last year, which he frequently described as the worst deal ever. In response, Ayatollah Khamenei said recently that if Mr. Trump tore it up, we will set fire to it.

But Mr. Trump also presents new opportunities for Iran, many analysts say. While he has criticized the nuclear deal, he has also said that the United States should stop backing rebels in Syria and focus on the Islamic State militant group  effectively shifting its support to Irans ally in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad.
The thundering waves of the Pororoca were legendary: Adventurers from the world over flew, drove, trekked, Jet-Skied and canoed to Brazils remote Araguari River to ride the Amazons stunning tidal bore that formed when water flowed in from the Atlantic.

But the exhilarating waves that once reached five feet high are gone now, squelched by man-made factors, such as the large-scale ranching of Asian water buffaloes, an invasive species introduced to the Amazon decades ago, and new hydroelectric dams built along the Araguari.
3. Italys economy cant grow without healthy banks.

Whats the solution?

The countrys banks have muddled through for years, but with the economy so weak, bad loans have festered and good loans have deteriorated. Nearly a fifth of loans in the system  worth nearly $400 billion  are classified as troubled by the International Monetary Fund.

If this also sounds like a familiar theme, thats because its a longstanding problem and one that affects the rest of Europe. Italys troubled loans represent about 40 percent of all the bad loans within the eurozone.

But, banking is a symptom, not the cause, says Ignazio Visco, the governor of the Bank of Italy.

He argues that the bulk of Italys bad debt is backed by collateral and most of the remainder has a solid chance of turning into collectible debt.

Economists, however, are unconvinced.

They say banks prop up zombie companies that will never repay their loans, extending just enough credit to keep them current on their debts.

Change in the Air

This years presidential election could be remembered as a pivotal moment for the markets, which have been given the impetus to solidify deeper trends that were already underway.

A revaluation of a wide range of assets and securities has been taking place.

But traders are making educated guesses and if they turn out to be wrong, the market could turn upside down again.

What does this mean for most long-term investors? Broad diversification, Jeff Sommer writes. Simple balanced portfolios of stocks and bonds have barely moved since the election.
Tarang Arora, president of Amrapali Jewels, described how he pored over a set of charcoal and colored pencil sketches of an anklet and a headpiece for an 11-year-old girl. He said it was late, well past store hours, and his many workers, including 12 designers, had left the 3,500-square-foot showroom for the day.

The clients, a prominent family in Jaipur, wanted a matha patti (an Indian-style headpiece), a paayal (a thin anklet with bells) and a necklace, all to fit the theme of a wedding they were about to attend. The family told me which designer would make the brides clothes, he said, and we started working on the jewelry designs that would match the sensibility of the clothing designer.

The pieces were fashioned from 22-karat gold set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, all high-quality stones cut in a rose style with a flat bottom. That way, he said, they would possess all the sparkle possible without any extra weight, making them comfortable for the child to wear.

The task, as it turned out, took more than three months to complete. The process of finalizing the design itself took about a month and a half, Mr. Arora said.
The Chinese Market Welcomes Ecuadorian Mangoes (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese mango lovers will now be able to purchase Ecuadorian mangoes online. The launch of a campaign for Ecuadorian mangoes signaled the tropical fruits entry into the Chinese market.



The campaign was jointly spearheaded by Pro Ecuador and the Mango Ecuadorian Foundation with Chinese online shopping platforms Yiguo.com and Tmall in Shanghai.



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Pro Ecuador is a government entity within the Ministry of Foreign Trade and is in charge of assisting in the promotion of Ecuadorian exports and investments.



Meanwhile, the Mango Ecuadorian Foundation is an Ecuadorian non-profit organization. It uses research and technology to support local mango producers, exporters, and industry sectors.



"After 13 years of negotiation, mango from Ecuador has finally entered the Chinese market," said Diego Vega, the chief commercial officer of Pro Ecuador during the launch.



"Mango is known as an exotic fruit, and the one from Ecuador is one of the best compared to the other countries," Diego added.



Mango farming began in Ecuador in the 1980s. Today, there are approximately 6,500 hectares of mangoes in Ecuador.



Ecuador is ranked among the top 15 mango producers in the world and 84 percent of the mangoes produced in Ecuador are exported.



The agricultural sector exports an average of 42.48 tons of mango annually. Among the top export destinations of Ecuadorian mangoes are the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Chile and New Zealand.



Mango is known by many North Americans, Europeans, and Japanese as the "tropical apple." In Ecuador, mangoes can be red or yellow depending on the variety.



The varieties of mangoes produced in Ecuador are Tommy Atkins (68 percent), Kent (15 percent), Ataulfo (10 percent), Haden (2.5 percent) and Keitt (2 percent).



The Tommy Atkins mango campaign is in the form of a relay. Tmall officially kicked off the campaign on Nov. 15 and would promote the fruit until Monday, Nov. 21.



Meanwhile, fresh fruit e-commerce platform Yiguo.com commenced its leg of the promotion on Nov. 17 and would highlight the fruit until Nov. 30.


The second half of 2016 has been busy  and especially globe-trotting  for Kavant & Sharart.

The brand, founded about five years ago by the husband and wife team Kenny Yongkiettakul and Shar-Linn Liew, made something of a splash beyond its Bangkok headquarters when it was awarded best debut at the jewelry show Couture Las Vegas in June. This month Saks Fifth Avenue is to begin stocking its highly stylized creations in six stores, including New York, Los Angeles and Washington, while Al Mahmood Pearls is bringing the brand to the Jewelry Arabia fair, which opens Nov. 22 in Bahrain.

November is going to be quite a wild month for us, Ms. Liew said. In some ways, the timing couldnt be better.

The majority of the companys sales have come from Thailand, Mr. Yongkiettakuls home country, and Singapore, Ms. Liews. But political instability has hurt the Thai economy and the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October plunged the country into a yearlong mourning period. Tourism is a major economic contributor to the country, Ms. Liew said. We do feel the pinch.

Manufacturing has also slowed down, Mr. Yongkiettakul added, noting that every aspect of the situation affected every other one. He is a third-generation jeweler; his familys business manufactures jewelry for wholesalers in America, Germany and France.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates  Tassels hung from the disc-like headpiece, called a tassa, tinkling like wind chimes when they touched and looking something like a golden waterfall, interspersed with pearls and flashes of red and green stones. The pearls are real, and important gems, Ayesha Al Khoori, 25, said  but the stones, she added with a smile, dont have to be real, because no one cares about these.

Ms. Al Khoori and her mother, Fatima, 54, were unpacking the 21-karat gold pieces from a number of small boxes, including a circular blue Harrods box no longer full of milk chocolate truffles: five bracelets, a ring for each finger, earrings, a belt, a long necklace accented with gold discs and a large pendant, and a choker.

In all, the collection weighed more than four and a half pounds. You sit like that, Fatima Al Khoori said, laughing as she pulled herself into a rigid pose.

The Emirati jewelry, worn by a bride at her henna party a few days before the wedding, has been regaining favor among young Emirati women, as traditional wedding practices have come back into fashion.
Austin: One way to get from repeal to replace that minimizes immediate political risk is to pass a plan that doesnt call for repeal for several years, at least after the 2018 midterms, though possibly after the 2020 election. Between now and then, there would need to be some kind of transition to whatever replaces Obamacare that didnt just dump people off coverage with no alternative.

But the alternatives could just be not as comprehensive or costly. Absolutely there will be bad stories. But keep in mind, there will be bad stories under Obamacare, too. Rocketing premiums, huge cost sharing and markets with few choices is not a recipe for political success. Republicans now own the task of fixing those things and doing so in a way that does not look as if theyre making Obamacare better.

Theyre actually in a tough policy spot. Theyll get the blame if they dont fix or repeal the A.C.A., and theyll get the blame if they dont replace it with something people like better. Health policy is a very difficult and thankless task. I think theyll opt for something they can call repeal and replace, but they could also just let Obamacare struggle and die. Neither looks good.

One other way to get out from under the issue is to kick it to the states. Do you think a Trump administration, working with a G.O.P. Congress, will offer greater flexibility to states to design their own coverage plans that could diverge from Obamacare? If so, what are some ideas states might try?

Aaron: I think its very likely those in Congress could punt Medicaid to the states. For years, theyve been trying to change Medicaid funding to a block grant that they can then constrain over time. This will be enticing for them because it will allow them to reduce Medicaid spending in the future, while forcing states to make the tough decisions  and take the blame  for cuts in either beneficiaries or services.

Fixing the markets for those who are getting health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges, though, is a different story. Without some sort of market regulation, which theyve generally been opposed to, the same problems that existed pre-A.C.A. with respect to pre-existing conditions and individual ratings will exist. Many people will become uninsured. Annual and lifetime limits could reappear. Lots of people will have problems getting insured.
SANTA ROSA, Calif.  Californias multibillion-dollar marijuana industry, by far the nations largest, is crawling out from the underbrush after voters opted to legalize cannabis in this months election. In Sonoma County alone, an estimated 9,000 marijuana cultivation businesses are operating in a provisional gray market, with few specific regulations, and are now looking to follow the path of the wine industry, which emerged from its own prohibition eight decades ago and rose to the global prominence it enjoys today.

But the bruising ordeals of one of the states largest cannabis companies, CannaCraft, have made many in the marijuana industry fearful, and they suggest a long and bumpy road from marijuanas approval at the ballot box to the same on-the-ground acceptance enjoyed by wine and beer businesses.

CannaCraft produces medical marijuana products, which have been legal in the state for two decades, but operated in a kind of Wild West, unregulated market. In June, the companys newly opened headquarters was raided by federal and local law enforcement officers, who said the process it used to make marijuana products was dangerous and illegal. The agents seized $5 million in equipment, inventory and cash. This year, company drivers have twice been stopped by the California Highway Patrol, and, in one case, 1,600 pounds of marijuana was seized.

The businesss troubles may be a sign of things to come after the drugs broader legalization, as medical cannabis companies like CannaCraft continue to be whipsawed by the lack of clear state regulations and the glaring contradiction between a federal ban on marijuana and still-evolving state laws that should, in theory, shelter the companies from prosecution. Cannabis enterprises deal almost exclusively in cash because banks, fearing federal consequences, will not take their business.
A question has been posed in a puzzled whisper in many of the nations living rooms and newsrooms ever since Donald J. Trumps triumph in this months presidential election: What, exactly, is white nationalism?

Self-proclaimed white nationalists have happily embraced Mr. Trumps victory and, particularly, his choice of Stephen K. Bannon as chief strategist, as a win for their agenda. A barrage of groups that fight discrimination and hate speech have, in turn, criticized Mr. Bannons appointment, warning that his embrace of the alt-right movement was little more than an attempt to rebrand racism and white nationalism into something palatable enough for mass consumption.

And much of the rest of the country has been left to wonder what this unfamiliar term actually means.

While white nationalism certainly overlaps with white supremacy and racism, many political scientists say it is a distinct phenomenon  one that was a powerful but often-unseen force during the presidential election and will most likely remain a potent factor in American and European politics in coming years.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A suicide bomber struck a crowded gathering of Shiite Muslims in the Afghan capital on Monday, officials said, killing at least 30 people in the latest assault against religious minorities here to be claimed by militants loyal to the Islamic State.

The suicide bomber detonated his explosives just as hundreds of worshipers had packed into the Baqir ul-Uloom mosque, in western Kabul. They were commemorating Arbaeen, a Shiite observance of loss and grief that comes 40 days after Ashura, when a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was martyred. The Islamic State had claimed an attack during that holiday as well, bombing another Shiite shrine in Kabul on the eve of Ashura, and killing at least 14.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said that at least 30 people had been killed and at least 40 wounded.

The blast was so powerful that the windows from all three floors of the mosque were blown away. The walls looked as if they had been hosed with blood. Human remains, shoes, bloodied copies of the Quran and broken prayer beads were scattered around the hall.
But the sea is also facing an overfishing crisis, and scientists say that Chinas campaign to turn seven disputed reefs into artificial islands and build military facilities on some of them is damaging crucial spawning grounds. They say the establishment of port facilities at the new islands may also encourage Chinese fishing fleets to travel farther afield from the Chinese mainland, putting even greater pressure on beleaguered fish stocks.

Scientists have long called for the creation of marine conservation areas in disputed parts of the South China Sea, arguing that the areas would help defuse tension over competing territorial claims while protecting ecologically sensitive spawning grounds from commercial fishing fleets.

Leaders from China and Southeast Asian nations have mostly ignored the suggestion.

Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal and in China as Huangyan Island, is at the center of both the ecological and political dramas.

Although Chinese Coast Guard ships have granted Philippine fishermen access to the shoal in recent weeks as part of a reconciliation between the countries, the shoal is still widely seen as a potential target of the island-building campaign. Scientists say that is especially worrying because the shoal plays an important role as a site where countless fish and coral species can breed, helping to maintain the seas extraordinary biodiversity.

Mr. Wu, the Chinese government adviser, said in an interview last month that the Chinese government had decided that no fishermen from the Philippines or China should be allowed into the Scarborough lagoon because both sides had inflicted huge damage on it by fishing with dynamite. He added that a Chinese-administered environmental protection park in the lagoon would represent an effort at bilateral cooperation, but he included an important caveat.

A precondition for that is that the Philippines will respect Chinas sovereignty and jurisdiction in Scarborough Shoal, Mr. Wu said.

Ian J. Storey, a South China Sea expert in Singapore, said that scientists had been seeking multilateral conservation agreements in the sea for decades. Despite that, and a call by Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, for joint management as part of a South China Sea Peace Initiative, Mr. Storey said the idea had so far been a diplomatic nonstarter because there are so many overlapping territorial claims.
LONDON  A recently leaked memo from a consultancy firm has highlighted cabinet divisions over Britains withdrawal from the European Union, while suggesting that the government may need six additional months to settle on a plan and to recruit tens of thousands of extra civil servants.

The document identified tensions between enthusiasts for British withdrawal, including the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, and the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, and those fighting to preserve closer economic ties to the bloc, such as the chancellor, Philip Hammond. The enthusiasts believe Britain has to make a clean break with the European Union, while the more cautious types want to preserve Britains access to the European market by maintaining membership in the customs union or the single market, or perhaps some combination of the two.

As Prime Minister Theresa Mays self-imposed deadline of March for starting negotiations on withdrawal with the European Union draws closer, this clash is emerging as the primary sticking point. But it is proving remarkably difficult to resolve.
This resonated with me: I, too, come from the working class, and from the significant portion of it that is not white. Neither of my parents went to college. Still, they managed to put their children through school and buy a home  a life that, for many in the working class, is impossible now. Nine months after that debate, we have found out exactly how much attention we should have been paying such families. The same white working-class voters who re-elected Obama four years ago did not cast their ballots for Clinton this year. These voters suffer from economic disadvantages even as they enjoy racial advantages. But it is impossible for them to notice these racial advantages if they live in rural areas where everyone around them is white. What they perceive instead is the cruel sense of being forgotten by the political class and condescended to by the cultural one.

While poor white voters are being scrutinized now, less attention has been paid to voters who are white and rich. White voters flocked to Trump by a wide margin, and he won a majority of voters who earn more than $50,000 a year, despite their relative economic safety. A majority of white women chose him, too, even though more than a dozen women have accused him of sexual assault. No, the top issue that drove Trumps voters to the polls was not the economy  more voters concerned about that went to Clinton. It was immigration, an issue on which weve abandoned serious debate and become engulfed in sensational stories about rapists crossing the southern border or the pending imposition of Shariah law in the Midwest.

If whiteness is no longer the default and is to be treated as an identity  even, soon, a minority  then perhaps it is time white people considered the disadvantages of being a race. The next time a white man bombs an abortion clinic or goes on a shooting rampage on a college campus, white people might have to be lectured on religious tolerance and called upon to denounce the violent extremists in their midst. The opioid epidemic in todays white communities could be treated the way we once treated the crack epidemic in black ones  not as a failure of the government to take care of its people but as a failure of the race. The fact that this has not happened, nor is it likely to, only serves as evidence that white Americans can still escape race.

Much has been made about privilege in this election. I will readily admit to many privileges. I have employer-provided health care. I live in a nice suburb. I am not dependent on government benefits. But I am also an immigrant and a person of color and a Muslim. On the night of the election, I was away from my family. Speaking to them on the phone, I could hear the terror in my daughters voice as the returns came in. The next morning, her friends at school, most of them Asian or Jewish or Hispanic, were in tears. My daughter called on the phone. He cant make us leave, right? she asked. Were citizens.

My husband and I did our best to quiet her fears. No, we said. He cannot make us leave. But every time I have thought about this conversation  and I have thought about it dozens of times, in my sleepless nights since the election  I have felt less certain. For all the privileges I can pass on to my daughter, there is one I cannot: whiteness.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, speaks to the IPC Governing Board prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia. (Photo : Getty Images/Ian Walton)

On Nov. 17, Thursday, Russian officials announced that they would block LinkedIn for purportedly violating the country's data laws. The action was going to be carried out by Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor who would order Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to cut access to the site.



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Some ISPs have already blocked the website as at the time of writing this article. Rostelcom and MTC had already cut access to LinkedIn and Vimpelcom and MTS would follow suit.



LinkedIn has just over 6 million users in Russia and is the very first social network to undergo a blockade in the country due to violation of regulations. Russian stringent data storage laws require websites and online networks to store Russian citizens' personal information in Russian servers, which the website has not complied with.



LinkedIn has not yet commented on the blockade although it had earlier warned that a court ruling risked denying Russian users access earlier in the month. In an interview with BBC, the social network said was hoping to meet Roskomnadzor to discuss the issue.



A Russian communications spokesman told Reuters in an interview that it had received a message from LinkedIn management petitioning for a meeting. However, the watchdog would have to seek approval from the Russian foreign ministry for the meeting to take place.



Russia introduced the new data storage laws back in 2014, although they had never been enforced previously. The authorities adopted the current rules on the grounds of "increased instances of personal data leakage" and "overall state security issues."



Apple and Google were among the first companies to comply with the new regulations. Others, nevertheless, including Twitter and Facebook, are believed not to have met the terms.



Russia has been attempting to exercise a higher level of regulation in the way its citizens' personal data gets stored, with fears of surveillance and hacking increasing over the recent months. However, critics are perceiving this as another tactic of imposing control over internet access.



In 2015, several Russian ISPs blocked Reddit over controversial information posted on one of the site's page. The communications regulator had pointed out that the site contained information on drug usage.



The United States government has since expressed concern over LinkedIn's blockade, saying that the country's authorities have created a precedent that could potentially serve as a footing for blocking other sites. Here is a clip of a brief summary on the story:






IN 1999, SAWYER AND another Stern veteran, John Berson, struck out on their own. Today, their Park Avenue firm is known for its soup-to-nuts versatility  juggling styles from contemporary to classic, designing a houses bones, its interiors, even the plants and flowers in the garden. But having such a wide range doesnt mean anything goes. Sawyer sometimes gently pushes back against his clients if he thinks theyre making a mistake. Such was the case with the redesign of Brooke Astors Park Avenue apartment, purchased a few years ago by a younger couple. They wanted to redo the space  which houses Albert Hadleys iconic red lacquer library  in a puffed-up Louis XVI style.



In theory, Sawyer loves this period, and he flew off to Paris to bone up on it, binging on boiserie at Feau and conducting research in the Louvres design library. Of course its all very seductive, he says. But it didnt feel right. I told them, Youre too young, youre too cool, we dont need to build a museum around you. As beautiful as that is, and as fascinating as it can be, I think it should just stay in Paris.  Sawyer decided instead to let Hadleys library set the tone for the rest of the design, which still skewed French but nodded more to Deco elegance than neo-Classical gilt, and felt much more at home in Manhattan.

Sawyer lives on West Ninth Street, near Washington Square Park, on the top floor of a red-brick Queen Anne-style building that dates to 1883. He moved here 13 years ago, after getting a tip from his broker about an apartment in the building that had just been destroyed by fire. They told me it was in terrible shape, and I was like, Oh thats perfect!  he recalls. I go in and its full of water, ripped plaster, hacked-up furniture. Exactly what I wanted: a wreck, a project.
Mr. Trump will be able to use his authority to reverse executive actions taken by President Obama. He will also have significant latitude to carry out new immigration policies, though they would require an ambitious bureaucratic effort.

Mentioned in almost all speeches. Suspend immigration from terror-prone regions Mr. Trump's controversial call to ban all Muslims from the United States seems to have evolved into a promise to bar people from certain regions rather than religions. He will have the power to carry out this plan, but it would make sweeping use of executive authority and require an ambitious bureaucratic effort not likely to move as quickly as he envisions. More 

Mentioned in almost all speeches. End foreign trade abuses Mr. Trump says he will direct his commerce secretary and trade representative on Day 1 to identify and end alleged abuses. The White House has plenty of leeway to penalize other nations it accuses of undercutting American manufacturers.

Mentioned in most speeches. Choose Supreme Court nominee Mr. Trump has released a list of 21 possible candidates vetted by conservative legal groups to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The nominee will then be subject to approval by the Senate. More 

Mentioned in about half of speeches. Leave the Trans-Pacific Partnership Since the deal was never approved by Congress, Mr. Trump will not have to do anything to get out of the pact. More 

Mentioned in about half of speeches. Label China a currency manipulator Mr. Trump has repeatedly accused China of keeping its currency artificially cheap, though many economists believe the renminbi is overvalued, not undervalued.

Mentioned in about half of speeches. Limit federal regulations Mr. Trump promised to eliminate two existing federal regulations for every new one. The executive branch has the power to undo regulations through the same lengthy bureaucratic process that is used when they are created. More 

Mentioned in a few speeches. Roll back environmental regulations Mr. Trump could undo the Obama administration's environmental rules through the same lengthy bureaucratic process that was used when they were created. (In some cases, Congress could also vote to undo them.) He has also vowed to cancel last years Paris climate agreement. The United States remains legally bound to the plan for four years, but there would be no legal consequences or economic sanctions if Mr. Trump does not follow through with the commitment to limit carbon emissions. More 

Mentioned in a few speeches. Rescind Obama's actions on guns Mr. Trump's 100-day plan says he will "cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama." The gun actions are some that he frequently cited. More 

Mentioned in a few speeches. Approve the Keystone XL pipeline Mr. Trump said he will lift Obama-Clinton roadblocks on energy infrastructure projects like the Keystone XL pipeline. He could grant the State Department the permit that the Obama administration has denied for the project.

Mentioned in a few speeches. Tighten lobbying restrictions Mr. Trump said he will issue a five-year lobbying ban on White House officials, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying for a foreign government and a ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for United States elections. His transition team has already asked administration appointees to sign a form agreeing to the policies. More 

Mentioned in a few speeches. Freeze federal hiring Mr. Trump pledged to implement a hiring freeze on the federal workforce. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan put freezes into effect during their presidencies, but a 1982 comptroller general report determined that the freezes have not been an effective means of controlling federal employment.

Mentioned in a few speeches. Overturn protections for certain undocumented immigrants The 100-day plan does not specifically cite the immigration actions, but Mr. Trump has said he will overturn them. One Obama administration program protects immigrants who came to the United States as children. Another program, which was blocked by the courts, offered protection to a broader group.

Mentioned in a few speeches. Cancel payments to U.N. climate programs Mr. Trump seems to be referring to money committed by the Obama administration to the Green Climate Fund, created to help poor countries control their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
Three New York University students representing two countries, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, have been selected as Rhodes Scholars: Dubai Abulhoul (UAE) and Guillaume Sylvain (Canada), seniors at NYU Abu Dhabi, and Melissa Godin (Canada), a senior in NYUs Global Liberal Studies Program.

Abulhoul, from the UAE, is majoring in political science and is currently researching the effect of gender roles and culture on political participation in her home country as part of her senior capstone project. She is a member of the Emirates Youth Council, a government initiative aiming to develop government strategies to keep up with youth trends, identify challenges facing todays youth, and to ensure participation of youth in UAE public affairs.

In 2012, she authored Galagolia: The Hidden Divination, a best-selling Emirati fantasy novel that made her the UAEs youngest published author. Abulhoul, who has interned at the UAE Embassy in Washington D.C., later received the 2014 Arab Woman Award for Young Talent of the Year in recognition of her book.

Godin, who was born in Montreal and was raised in Vancouver, has created a concentration in politics, human rights, and sustainable development. Her thesis examines the value of volunteer tourism, arguing that it needs to be restructured if it is to truly support development. As part of her project, she has researched orphanage tourism in Cambodia.

Godin has also interned at the Canadian embassy in Paris and served as head editor for a report on sex trafficking that was used at the 60th United Nations session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It was during high school at the Mulgrave School in West Vancouver that she first began organizing to raise awareness about human trafficking, creating an educational program and helping organize a benefit concert that brought in $16,000 for the non-profit, Not for Sale.

Sylvain, from Quebec, has become immersed in the Arabic language and the Middle East, majoring in NYU Abu Dhabis interdisciplinary Arab Crossroads program and minoring in Arabic language and political science. His capstone research looks at how secondary school textbooks work to instill a set of shared values and a sense of Emirati historical national consciousness in a young nation where its citizens (UAE nationals) are a distinct minority.

He also serves as the chairperson for the NYU Abu Dhabi student organization AD-vocacy and as an Arabic translator and crewmember with Refugee Rescue UK in its international rescue efforts in Lesbos Island, Greece. Sylvain, who has interned at the Embassy of Canada in the UAE and at Hedayah, an International Center for Countering Violent Extremism based in the UAE, plans to pursue a MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford.


China is using iris recognition tech to help bring missing children back to their parents. (Photo : Twitter)

Chinese authorities have turned to the latest in iris recognition technology to deal with the menace of child trafficking.



The city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, in cooperation with iris recognition technology provider EyeSmart, has recently announced a pilot project to set up around 100 iris data collection sites in various parts of the city where parents can have their children's iris biometric data, China Daily reported.



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According to EyeSmart Wang Xiaopeng, in case a registered child went mission and is found, he can be easily identified by retrieving his iris scan stored in the database. Wang added that the speed of the iris recognition process will help make the registration and identification of lost children and can also lower the cost of the whole work.



He added that new technologies now allow iris scans to be conducted without needed the person to be scanned to stand very close to the machine. He also said that the scans themselves can be done within a second and even from a distance.



The iris is the thin circular structure surrounding the pupil of the eye. Its shape and the pattern found on its surface is unique to an individual and is considered by researchers to be the single most distinct external biometric feature for each person. This allows it to be used for identification purposes much like a fingerprint.



EyeSmart has already conducted a pilot scan of around 1000 children for the program, Wang said.



Meanwhile, a food company in the city of Qingdao in Shandong Province is using a more low-tech approach to help parents find their missing children. The unnamed company prints information about missing children on the bottled water that it sells to the public, the Indian Express reported.



The company has reportedly already released more than 500,000 bottles under its "baby, come home" project. Each bottle contains a photo of the missing child, aside from personal information and the parents' contact details. It has also partnered with the website Baobeihuijia.com to catalog information about missing children.


Ma Huateng, chairman and CEO of Tencent, speaks during the Internet Entrepreneurs Forum of the 3rd World Internet Conference in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 18. (Photo : Getty Images)

China's cybersecurity law has earned the support of the country's two tech giants--Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd.--amid criticisms from rival foreign tech firms, Reuters reported.



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At the third World Internet Conference organized by China's Internet regulator, the two tech giants called on the public and private sector to unite against the rising threats to cybersecurity, which has disrupted the financial systems and spur online terrorism.



China's new law imposes broad restrictions on tech firms doing business in China, which aims to prevent terrorism and foil cybersecurity threats in critical industries. The government, however, clarified that it was not aimed at foreign businesses.



But foreign business and technology groups claimed that they have become targets of strict surveillance measures and local data storage requirements.



According to analysts, the websites and apps of both Alibaba and Tencent have a large user base and the law has minimal effect on the way their data were stored.



"This marks a step forward for China. We are asking Tencent professionals to learn from these regulations," Yang Peng, director of Tencent's Executive Committee for Information Security, said during the conference.



According to critics of the cybersecurity law, China has extended its influence over global technology, with greater power to control and censor online information.



Alibaba has about 3,000 people assigned to monitor online security, and the company is "working with law enforcement" to curb malicious content, Yu Weimin, Alibaba's vice president, said.



"With all this technology together we can win the war on terrorism," Yu added.



Meanwhile, Yang said that Tencent removed about 80,000 video clips from the site this year and it is working within the law to further clean up their content.



Cybersecurity became a major issue with regulators across the world when hackers stashed away $81 million from the Central Bank of Bangladesh via SWIFT, the global financial messaging system.



China's online payment sector is dominated by both Alibaba and Tencent, which offer services from bill payments to money transfers, through their online payment platforms.



"Big Internet companies are the ones with the means to fight cyberterrorism, which is why we need more cooperation between the private and public sector," Alibaba's Yu said.


SANTA ANA  A sex offender accused of killing four prostitutes blamed federal parole agents during his trial on Monday for the death of one of the women, saying the officials didnt do a good enough job tracking his movements.

Steven Gordon, who is representing himself in his murder trial, told a U.S. probation and parole officer that if the agent and his colleagues had been paying closer attention to GPS data from Gordons ankle monitor, 21-year-old Jarrae Estepp would still be alive.

Because of your negligence, she is not, Gordon said in finishing his cross examination.

Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin, last week during the opening of the capital murder trial, told jurors Gordon had told investigators he helped pick up the women and had sex with them, but blamed co-defendant Franc Cano for the killings. Cano is being tried separately.

Both men are registered sex offenders who were under the supervision of federal probation and state parole officials when the women were killed in October 2013 through March 2014.

By comparing GPS data taken from ankle monitors worn by Gordon and Cano to tracking data from the womens cellphones, authorities say they were able to tie the two men to the same area at the same time as Estepp and the other three women, whose bodies have never been found.

On Monday afternoon, Adam Grant, a U.S. probation and parole officer who helped with the electronic monitoring of Gordon, described during his testimony how he and other law enforcement officials were able to continually track Gordons movements.

Grant said because Gordon was homeless, he was registered to live and sleep in an Anaheim industrial park where he also worked at an automotive business. Gordon was required to call or text Grant if he was leaving the area, even for a short time, the officer testified.

Yellin previously described for jurors how the GPS data showed Gordon and Cano cruising along a portion of Beach Boulevard known for prostitution at the same time Estepp was in the area. On Monday, Gordon asked Grant during his cross examination how parole officials didnt notice that activity prior to his arrest.

The fact is, the feds did not do your job, Gordon said to Grant. Had you guys checked my (GPS data), you would have seen all the driving around I was doing.

Gordon didnt specify what exactly authorities could have done if they had realized he was driving in prostitution hubs.

Grant noted that Gordon wasnt barred from being on Beach Boulevard. He testified that Gordon gave him a heads-up when he was planning to travel to that portion of Beach and said Gordon often indicated that he was bringing his dog with him.

To quote you, I need fresh air and my dog needs fresh air, Grant said of the messages Gordon left him.

Earlier in the day, as the second week of testimony in Gordons trial got under way, the court proceedings focused largely on the efforts by Anaheim detectives to learn where Estepp was killed and tie her death to Gordon and Cano.

Anaheim Police Department investigator Bruce Linn previously testified about wading into piles of garbage around the body of Estepp, who in 2014 was found by workers at an Anaheim waste depot. Material around Estepps body led Linn to believe she had been left in a dumpster used to dispose of materials from a remodeling project.

Linn on Monday morning said he and other detectives used a list provided by Republic Waste Services to check out hundreds of dumpster locations. The detective said he personally visited 30 to 40 locations.

We went and drove those routes, looking at the different businesses and trash bins, in an attempt to hopefully find the bin the body went into, Linn said during his testimony.

It turned out the correct dumpster wasnt even on the original list of trash locations, Linn said. Using fingerprints found on a tube of caulk, investigators located a worker who told police that dumpsters between Hardy Windows and neighboring Boss Paint & Body were routinely used to dump construction material.

Linn said within a moment of spotting the bins behind the two businesses, he felt the refuse they contained matched the trash found around Estepps body. Officials with Republic Services later confirmed they had inadvertently left that bin off the list they had provided to police.

Testimony will continue Tuesday in the Santa Ana courtroom of Orange County Superior Court Judge Patrick H. Donahue. If convicted, Gordon and Cano face the death penalty.
MOSUL, Iraq  Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians.

The biggest hindrance to us is the civilians, whose presence is slowing us down, Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the special forces told The Associated Press. We are soldiers who are not trained to carry out humanitarian tasks.

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighborhoods on Sunday. They included women and children, some of them carrying bags, small suitcases or waving white flags. Mosul is still home to more than 1 million people.

The government sent half-dozen trucks loaded with food aid into the recently liberated areas. Chaos broke out in one neighborhood, where residents climbed on top of the trucks and began helping themselves. Women extended their hands in desperation, trying to get a share of the aid. Young boys chased the trucks and jostled and pleaded for food packages.

Its hunger that makes people behave like this, said Mohammed Farouq, a 27-year-old resident. Some families took many boxes, while others did not take any. This is unfair.

Fethi Mahmud Abdulla, another resident, pleaded for people to keep the lines. People are tired, so tired. Some of them take aid five or seven times, he said.

Al-Aridi said his men were searching homes in areas retaken from IS, looking for militants and vehicles rigged with explosives. Troops in those areas continue to be hit by mortar rounds, sniper fire and suicide bombers, he said.

In the newly liberated areas, roads are blocked by car wrecks and sandbags, and tanks are deployed on wider streets. Snipers on high buildings watch for suicide bombers or other intruders. Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said four civilians were killed and another four wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded before it could reach the troops it was targeting late Saturday.

The troops laid siege Sunday to the Al-Zohour neighborhood, about five miles from the city center. The arrival of the troops at the neighborhoods fringes prompted hundreds of civilians to emerge from their homes waving white flags. The special forces later drove IS from two other neighborhoods.

The Iraqi military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and the extremist groups last major urban bastion in the country.

Human Rights Watch said in a report Sunday that Sunni militiamen fighting alongside the Iraqi military detained and beat 22 men from villages near Mosul and recruited 10 children from displaced camps in the area to join the fight against IS.

In Baghdad, four separate bomb attacks targeted commercial areas on Sunday, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding 34, according to police and health officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Meg Roh looked out at the waves Sunday morning at San Onofre State Beach, and watched as fun, peaky 3- to 4-footers rolled toward shore.

The 18-year-olds surfing regimen has become a task as routine as brushing her long sun-kissed locks.

Some days have been sunny with mellow waves and warm water. Others have been stormy and challenging, especially a surf session last month when a lightning storm illuminated the sky as she sat in the water waiting for waves.

On this morning, day 2,000, the waves were firing. It was a perfect day to celebrate her most recent milestone.

It looks so fun, said the Dana Point surfer, wearing her Roxy wetsuit, ready to paddle out.

Roh started the journey when she was 12, with a goal to surf every day for a year. The Register has documented her milestones along the way: when she hit 365 days, then 1,000 days, then three years, 1,500 days and the five-year mark in June.

When she started, Roh had a mouth filled with braces and on most days, her stepfather, Sam Hann, drove her to the beach in his blue VW bus to catch waves. Now, shes an adult, driving herself to the beach for her daily routine, on most days paddling out at San Onofre or Doheny State Beach.

Its been awesome, she said. Im so lucky to have been able to surf every day for this long. It doesnt feel that long.

Was there a day she regretted getting in the water?

Theres a couple rainy days when Im not super motivated to get out there, she said. But once Im out there, its good. Its hard to complain, surfing every day.

A quick calculation  using a minimum of five waves as her benchmark  shows that over the past 2,000 days, Roh has ridden at least 10,000 waves.

The question always comes up: Are you close to being done?

The usual answer: Yes.

Roh generally follows that with a maybe  hinting at her unwillingness to let go of her surf addiction. But this time, she sounds ready.

I really want to travel a bit, go to the snow, and experience life in different places, she said.

Roh doesnt know when that day will be, but she knows its soon. Shes applying for colleges, and even though they are all in surf towns, including San Diego and Santa Cruz, she cant imagine continuing the surf streak.

I want to stay by the beach, so I can surf, she said. Maybe not every day. But a lot.

Rohs surf session Sunday was a perfect way to celebrate her milestone. She gracefully caught wave after wave, even had a party wave with her mother and stepfather, all riding together toward shore. Friends and supporters surrounded her, cheering her on as she surfed.

Monday might have been a good day to call it quits. A storm through the night brought heavy rain, and the county issued an advisory that surfers should stay out of the water for at least 72 hours because of high bacteria levels. Waves were choppy, as a strong wind created sloppy conditions.

It was the kind of day most surfers would shun.

But Roh paddled out at Doheny after school. And as of Wednesday, the streak continues.

Contact the writer: lconnelly@scng.com
ANAHEIM  The California Highway Patrol wants to talk to anyone who knows anything about an incident in which a large metal object struck a teen in the face while he rode in his mothers car Saturday.

The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on the southbound 57, south of Katella Avenue, in Anaheim, said Officer Florentino Olivera.

Kathleen Hawks was driving a Hyundai sedan with her son riding in the front passenger seat when a second vehicle struck the metal object, which was in the roadway, and launched it toward her car, Olivera said.

The metal object smashed through the Hawks windshield and struck the boy in his face  causing injuries that were later treated at UCI Medical Center.

No information about the second vehicle was made available.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact the California Highway Patrols Santa Ana bureau at 714-567-6000.

Contact the writer: 7140796-7802 or jsudock@scng.com
Anyone attempting to make a list of the worlds greatest orchestras (however futile such an exercise might be) would certainly put the Berlin Philharmonic at or near the top of their grouping.

The Berliners validated that lofty standing Sunday afternoon when they came to Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa under the auspices of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. It was the orchestras first Orange County appearance in 15 years and its first in Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Knowing that any program would sell out the house, as it did Sunday, Sir Simon Rattle  who has been the orchestras artistic director and chief conductor since 2002 and will step down from those posts in 2018  brought a challenging first half to Costa Mesa Sunday, followed by the sunny warmth of Brahms Symphony No. 2.

The pre-intermission portion included three famous works by composers nurtured in Vienna just before World War I: Six Pieces for Orchestra by Anton Webern, Arnold Schoenbergs Five Pieces for Orchestra, and Three Pieces for Orchestra by Alban Berg.

In a spoken introduction Rattle characterized the three young composers as having been inspired by and/or traumatized by Gustav Mahler. He asked the audience to consider the three pieces as a unit, either as a 14-movement suite or perhaps as Mahlers Symphony No. 11, and not to applaud until the conclusion of the Berg. The audience complied, giving the riveting performance a generous, albeit seated, ovation.

I confess never to have been bitten by the serialism bug (often called Neo-Viennese, 12-tone or atonality), of which these three pieces are the precursor. However in hearing them as Rattle requested, the approximately 50 minutes of music did provide some welcome context.

Now age 61 with his curly hair turned white, Rattle was fully invested in the three works. Conducting with a score, his beats were incisive and he almost micro-managed the entire proceedings.

The orchestra was superb throughout, particularly the winds in the second movement of the Webern and the percussion in the final sections of the Berg  the work concludes with a percussionist pounding a giant-sized hatchet, providing echoes of Mahlers Symphony No. 6.

Whether heard as an antidote to the first half or as a complement to it, Rattle and the orchestra brought a sense of warm spaciousness to Brahms Symphony No. 2. Now leading without a score, Rattle used both hands (often without a baton) to shape sounds in Segerstrom Halls enveloping acoustics. His tempos varied from gentleness to urgency and the orchestras playing throughout was mesmerizing.

At the conclusion, rather than simply point out notable soloists, Rattle waded into the ensemble to give hugs and handshakes to various members. Then  shades of Gustavo Dudamel  he had the ensemble turn to acknowledge the applause from those seated behind the orchestra. Despite the tumultuous standing ovation, there was no encore.

Contact the writer: BobTatFORE@aol.com; insidesocal.com/classact
The Girls Scouts of Orange County feted businesswomen and role models at its seventh annual Celebrate Leadership event in early November. The celebration also raised more than $225,000 for the nonprofit.

The seven honorees, each of whom are Girl Scout alumnae, were paired with local Girl Scouts, providing an opportunity for each girl to learn and interact with a female role model and leader in her field.

The event was emceed by Girl Scout Senior Khira Mistry, 15, from Placentia and Girl Scout Junior Gracie Finley, 10, from Mission Viejo.

The 2016 leadership honorees:

Ellen S. Bancroft, office managing partner of the Orange County office of global law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Karen Caplan, president and chief executive of Friedas Specialty Produce

Jackie Caplan Wiggins, vice president and chief operating officer of Friedas Specialty Produce

Lucy Dunn, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council

Mary Muff Tennyson, CEO and founder of StashAll LLC

Socorro Vasquez, community volunteer and philanthropist

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, president and CEO of Earth Friendly Products.

ON THE MOVE

Brad Sharp has been appointed president and chief executive of Integrated Endoscopy in Rancho Santa Margarita. The company is preparing to launch its Nuvis single-use arthroscope in early 2017. Other key appointments to the management team include: Rob Cripe, as executive vice president of global marketing and Americas sales; Laxmi Khanolkar, vice president of Asia/Middle East sales; Mike Ameli, vice president of manufacturing; and Tom Colonna, vice president of regulatory affairs/quality assurance. These new senior executives join Lonnie Hoyle, chief technology officer, and Kais Almarzouk, vice president of R&D.

Frank W. Dworak has joined Allen Matkins as tax partner in its Irvine office. Dworak joins the corporate and finance department and tax practice group, where he will advise clients on joint ventures and other tax-oriented entity structures, corporate mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, domestic and international tax planning, and tax controversy matters. Before joining Allen Matkins, he was a partner in the Orange County office of K&L Gates.

New Ventures

SweetWorxx, a car service and repair app created in Irvine, has launched a pilot in Orange County. The app, funded by its parent company, Bosch, works on iOS and Android phones and pairs users with car problems with a repair shop. After a user books an appointment, a Sweetworxx employee picks up and drops off the customers vehicle as scheduled. All costs are provided to the customer upfront; there are no dedicated fees for pickup and drop-off, nor any other service charge, the company said in a statement. The pilot is servicing clients in Irvine, Fountain Valley, Laguna Woods, Orange, Laguna Hills, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. All pickups and drop-offs must take place in these locations to receive service. For more information, go to Sweetworxx.com or download the app.

Bar-B-Clean, a grill-cleaning franchise based in Yorba Linda, is expanding franchise opportunities into Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, Las Vegas and Atlanta. The Bar-B-Clean franchise fee is $19,500, with a total investment to own and operate an exclusive territory (about 100,000 households) of $19,500 to $25,000. The service exists in 23 locations across seven states: Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The company, founded by Bryan Weinstein in 2011, offers a 30 percent discount off the franchise fee for qualified military veterans.

Good Works

Goodwill of Orange County raised nearly $700,000 at its annual Goodwill Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The event was hosted by the actors of Full House  John Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier. The gala was Goodwills most successful fundraising event to date. All funds will benefit three key programs: the Tierney Center for Veteran Services, Rogers A. Severson Fitness & Technology Center and Assistive Technology Exchange Center.

Tillys Life Center raised more than $260,000 at its second annual I Am Giving Gala. The money will benefit TLCs youth-focused programs. The centers mission is to empower teens to overcome adversity and crisis through positive thinking. TLC said in a statement that it has touched the lives of more than 1,600 teens across Southern California over the past few years.

Milestones

The American Institute of Legal Counsel has recognized Irvine-based attorney Kashif Haque as among the 10 best litigation, lawsuits and disputes attorneys for 2016. Haque is a founding partner of Aegis Law Firm in Irvine and is the chairman of the Orange County Bar Associations labor and employment section.

Cal State Fullerton President Mildred Garcia has received the Presidents Award from NASPA-Student Affairs Educators in Higher Education Region VI. The special recognition is given to a college or university president who has, over a sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and programs. The award was presented last week at NASPAs Western regional conference in Seattle.

Coming Up

Starbucks customers in Orange County can help at-risk youth served by Aspiranet, a local human services agency. Today through Dec. 18, gift wishes will be on display at 14 Starbucks stores in the county. Customers who wish to participate can select a gift wish of a child or teen in foster care, then return the unwrapped gift(s) to the store with the original gift tag attached. Last year, customers donated more than 6,000 gifts, bringing the accumulated gift total to more than 32,000 gifts since the gift drive launched eight years ago.
A still-undecided Southern California state Senate race that will determine the balance of power in the California statehouse narrowed considerably over the weekend, bringing Democrats within striking distance of gaining a two-thirds legislative supermajority in Sacramento.

As of Sunday, Fullerton Democrat Josh Newman had pulled within 187 votes of Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, in the race for the 29th state Senate District, which straddles Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Newmans late surge has nearly eliminated the 5,051-vote lead Chang held on Wednesday. And with several thousand votes left to be counted in that contest, the race could swing either direction in the coming weeks.

RELATED: GOP could block Democratic supermajority thanks to an Orange County Senate race  and $5.9 million

Democrats entered Election Day needing to pick up two Assembly seats and one state Senate seat to gain a supermajority, which would allow them to raise taxes and place measures on the statewide ballot without Republican support.

Democrats have already surpassed two-thirds control in the Assembly this election cycle, but they need a win in the 29th  the last undecided state race  to gain a full supermajority.

Since Election Day, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties have been tallying provisional and mail-in ballots while updating the vote count totals. During that time, Orange County  where 73 percent of the 29ths registered voters live  and Los Angeles County have swung in favor of Newman.

But in San Bernardino County, home to just 8 percent of the districts registered voters, a 2,294 vote buffer for Chang has kept her slightly ahead in the race.

Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said Sunday that all of the countys 29th Senate District ballots had been counted. But Los Angeles County still had more than 7,000 ballots to count as of Sunday, and San Bernardino County has just begun tallying provisional ballots from the 29th, Kelley said.

Californias Democratic and Republican parties spent heavily in the race for the 29th with the understanding that the contest to replace termed-out GOP state Sen. Bob Huff could grant or deny a legislative supermajority.

Chang was backed by $5.9 million in campaign spending, including $1.8 million from statewide Republican parties and around $1 million from the oil and energy industries.

Newman received $2.2 million from state Democratic parties and was endorsed by President Barack Obama. It is rare for a sitting president to endorse candidates in state races.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7960 or jgraham@scng.com
Most Advanced Assembly Line: Chinese Manufacturer Has More Than 200 Robots in One Factory

Robotic arms work at a car assembly manufacturing plant in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)

A manufacturer in China has revamped its traditional production line by installing more than 200 robotic devices in one of its factories, making it one of the most advanced machine assembly lines in the world.



China Daily reported that Midea Group, a major home appliance maker based in Guangzhou, has reduced its human labor force and introduced intelligent production line in its factory in Wuhan last year.



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"We have made intelligent production a strategic goal of the group," Yang Hao, general manager of the company's Wuhan factory, said.



From 160, there are now 51 employees working along at the production line. The rate and quality of products free of defects also rose from 97 percent to 99 percent.



"The biggest advantage of intelligent manufacturing is its accuracy," Yang said. "Humans make mistakes because they can get tired. But a machine does not doze off."



The Wuhan factory is Midea's biggest manufacturing base and the number of workers in the factory has been reduced from 11,000 in 2011 with monthly production capacity of 500,000 units to 4,300 with monthly production capacity of 630,000 units in 2015.



This shows that while the number of workers has been reduced by 39 percent, production capacity increased by 26 percent during that period.



In addition, the cost of intelligent production line is 22 percent lower than the conventional production line, the company said.



Yang said that the company hopes to convert all its factories into intelligent ones as it plans to invest 4 billion yuan to 5 billion yuan ($582 million to $728 million) in the next four to five years.



"We need to take a very prudent approach. First build a demonstrative production line, then a workshop and eventually a factory," Yang added.



This year, the company expects 30 percent of its total output to be contributed by air conditioners made on intelligent production line. It plans to increase the number to 50 prercent in 2017 and to more than 70 percent in the coming years.



The company is also striving to increase the percentage of local equipment used in its intelligent production lines.



"Imported equipment has high stability and accuracy but is five to 10 times more expensive than locally manufactured equipment," Yang said.



"We need to work with our local suppliers to help them develop equipment that can compete with those from other countries," he remarked.


Orange resident Katie Wayland crowned years of pageantry over the weekend when she was at last named Miss City of Orange.

This was Waylands fourth attempt at the Miss City of Orange title. She said its been a wondrous journey that has helped make her who she is today.

Wayland made her pageant debut in 2011. Then 18, she was the youngest at the Orange pageant. She caught the eye of Miss City of Orange Executive Director Connie Benson, who encouraged her to try for Miss Orange County the year after. Wayland would go on to win title after title, including Miss Orange County and Miss Anaheim Hills.

As Miss City of Orange 2017, she is qualified to continue on to the Miss California pageant in June  this is her last year of eligibility.

On top of her chance to compete for Miss California, Wayland received a $2,000 scholarship toward her studies in UCLAs extension program, where she is studying music production.

Music has always been a passion for Wayland  she heads up a local acappella troupe, The Grace Notes, which can be found caroling around the city each December. She said she hopes to pursue a career in songwriting and music production.

Wayland has been especially active in the community over the last year. Earlier this year, she held a pageant for dogs to raise funds for Patriots and Paws, a group that benefits veterans by providing furnishings and service animal training. The pageant raised $1,000  Wayland said she hopes to triple that amount with the events return in 2017.

Another recent fundraising effort started by Wayland was last months #sCARE4thekids campaign, a costume campaign that ended up raising more than $2,400 for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals.

Residents can expect Waylands first public appearance as Miss City of Orange at the citys 22nd annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession on Dec. 4 in Old Towne Orange.

We had seven lovely contestants, any one of them could have won last night, Wayland said. It was the greatest group of young women Ive ever competed with.

Contact the writer: jwinslow@scng.com
In the Rev. Mark Whitlocks office, a wood depiction of the Last Supper offers a markedly different perspective than most. Instead of Jesus Christ and his disciples facing out, the table is turned with disciples on both sides, Jesus at the head.

Its as if you have a seat at the table.

Less than two weeks after Donald Trump stunned most people and scared more than a few with his ascendancy to the presidency, Whitlock is leading a call for the religious community to have a seat at Trumps table.

A visible, vocal and permanent seat.

Never mind separation of church and state.

The Earth is the Lords, Whitlock says. And everybody belongs to God, especially  he points out  the weak, the poor, the downtrodden.

Never before in American history, the head of Christ Our Redeemer Church says, has there been such a need for a strong and loud voice calling for equality within the walls of the White House.

Should there be any misunderstanding of the goal, Whitlock says, The church must challenge public policies that oppress the poor.

He drives home his point by paraphrasing a letter the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote while in a Birmingham, Ala., jail fighting for civil rights: It is the responsibility of the church to set a moral tone.

Already, Whitlock, who prays every day for racial reconciliation, is girding for what may be his most important battle in a life of important battles. He is not alone.

ANGER, FEAR

For seven days and seven nights, Whitlock pondered why people voted for Trump, who voted, what they thought of his record.

It wasnt about Republicans or Democrats. It wasnt even about Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump.

It was about the very core of Christianity, religious values, having a faith-based compass.

He asked himself if voters understood the moral implications of Trumps words. He wondered if they considered those same morals against those of their religion.

Whitlocks flock, many African American, came to his church in Irvine confused, fearful, some feeling lost. They couldnt understand how a man with Trumps background could have such a groundswell of support.

Along with the rest of the nation, they watched as demonstrators across the country took to the streets shouting, blocking roads, holding signs, some  such as a crowd in Santa Ana  even smashing police cars.

While he condemns violence, Whitlock understood the frustration, the anger. He was OK with the sit-down protests. Civil disobedience, he says, gets attention.

Still, through it all, Whitlock knew that the election is history. Who voted and why is the past.

He is our president, Whitlock tells me after a prayer on a recent morning. I will support our president.

But he quickly adds, And I will remind him that hes president for all the people.

The reverend, 62 years old and with a masters in business administration from USC, decided it is up to religious leaders to help move America forward. Equality matters.

I point out that Trump is still forming his administration, making Cabinet-level decisions. Should such a push wait until after the inauguration?

Whitlock shakes his head. Again quoting King, Whitlock says, We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.

A constellation of powerful religious leaders ranging from Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren to Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange, Whitlock says, could make a difference in the Trump administration, set a course of brotherhood.

Whitlock, like Trump, believes in the power of the internet. He says the tools for lobbying for racial harmony include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Social media worked for Trump. It should work with Trump.

EVANGELICAL SPLIT

Richard Flory is a senior director at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. He also is an Orange County resident, a very concerned citizen and, mind you, has exceptionally strong opinions. But as a scholar, its worth hearing from him.

Although he no longer considers himself evangelical, Flory grew up evangelical and once worked for an evangelical organization. In short, the religion scholar knows the territory.

Last week, Flory wrote an article for the International Business Times that offers a blunt assessment of evangelical voting patterns in the election.

What happened was, to me, mind-blowing, Flory writes. Despite the fact that Donald Trump holds nothing in common with evangelicals  he has been married three times, has sought out extra-marital affairs, was heard bragging about his ability to grope  has at best, a tenuous grasp of Christianity  yet, more evangelicals voted for Trump than for Mitt Romney, a committed Mormon, or George W. Bush, a committed evangelical.

Flory, in part, dismisses evangelical claims that they supported Trump because of his abortion stance. Instead, the scholar says, Trump has unexpectedly exposed the dark side of evangelicalism that is rooted in racism, sexism, misogyny, and homophobia.

Evangelicalism can only be understood as a white, conservative Protestant political movement.

But the movement, Flory says, has created a chasm.

Many evangelicals  both younger and older  have stopped identifying themselves as evangelicals, Flory says. While this is not an immediate result of the election, the discomfort of many  is certain to accelerate the exodus by those who neither support, nor are interested in being identified with a bigoted, aging and backward-looking religio-political movement.

Flory concludes these former evangelicals are building small churches that embrace the realities of the diverse world.

It is in those small churches, Whitlock says, where momentum can build for a faith-based tolerant administration.

ADMINISTRATION OF EQUALITY

During a wide-ranging discussion with Flory and Whitlock, the reverend adds there also is tension within the wider Christian community.

One of the missions of the African American Methodist Church, Whitlock says, is liberating those who experience injustice. For unity, the Christian community must be on the same page.

In some churches, they already are.

RockHarbor Church members in Mission Viejo have visited Whitlocks church in Irvine. In February, Christ Our Redeemers congregation will visit the RockHarbor campus in Mission Viejo.

Whitlock says he is hopeful that church leaders will join in the symphony that we must take care of those with the least.

For the faith community, Whitlock says, we must push our way to the table because otherwise we are not invited.

I look at the Last Supper hanging above Whitlocks and Florys heads. The place-setting opposite Jesus is open.

Its a table for everyone.

Contact the writer: dwhiting@scng.com
Waterproof smartphones are becoming more common in Western markets, but they are hardly the norm. In Japan however, almost all phones are waterproof, and have been for nearly a decade now. According to statistics, 90% to 95% of phones in Japan are waterproof, because people need to be able to use them while they are showering.

Japanese users are apparently so attached to their phones that they even bring them into the shower. Manufacturers were aware of this unusual habit early on and realized that in order to succeed in japan, they had to make their devices water resistant. The worlds first waterproof mobile phone, the Casio Canu 502S, was release in 2005, and was soon followed by a series of Fujitsu waterproof handhelds. Before long, every company looking to enter Japanese market had to make their devices waterproof.

Photo: video screengrab

Even companies like LG or Samsung, which dont generally make waterproof phones for the global market, had to adapt in order to become competitive in Japan. In Japan, being waterproof is far more important than being able to remove your phones battery, said Ken Hong, LGs global communications director. For a smaller Korean brand like LG, we need to be able to check all the key boxes to be as attractive as possible to Japanese consumers. This is also why LG hasnt even bothered launching its newest flagship, the modular G5 phone in the Asian country  it couldnt make a waterproof phone with removable parts, so why bother.

In Japan, you cant sell a phone if its not waterproof. About 90 to 95 percent of all phones sold now are already waterproof, Panasonic executive Taro Itakura said in 2012. Why? This is very unique  young Japanese women prefer to use their cellphones even when taking their showers, cellphones have become must products.

Photo: video screengrab

The mobile phone is with us 24 hours a day. It accompanies us to the bathroom, to the shower, or under the rain. So it is a necessity for the phone to be robust, Nobuo Ohtani, Fujitsu corporate senior vice president, told AFP.

So rest easy, as long as you dont take your mobile phone in the shower with you, youre not as addicted to technology as you thought.

via Mashable
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21/11/2016 - Mayors and local leaders from around the world launched today a plan of action to help tackle inequality, boost job creation and harness economic development.

At a meeting in Paris of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative, participants reinforced the message that local leaders must play a crucial role in making inclusive growth a reality. Recent work carried out by the OECD with the support of the Ford Foundation, Making Cities Work for All, shows that in 9 out of 10 countries studied, cities had higher levels of household income inequality than their respective national average.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said: High levels of inequality strain the very fabric of our societies. It is more urgent than ever to take action  and cities and their leaders must be at the centre of this fight. He was joined at the meeting by Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris; Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, a key partner for the OECDs work on inclusive growth; Mayor Khalifa Sall of Dakar and mayors from around the world to launch the Local Employment and Economic Development (LEED Programme).

The launch of the Paris Action Plan was supported by the OECDs All on Board for Inclusive Growth initiative which was set up in the wake of the crisis to tackle rising inequalities. The work of the initiative to put mayors at the heart of Inclusive Growth has been supported by a group of ambassadors, led by United States Ambassador to the OECD, Daniel Yohannes.

The 50 mayors participating in the initiative committed to work together across four pillars identified in the Action Plan  education; labour markets; housing and urban environments; and infrastructure and public services  to advance a more comprehensive and inclusive growth agenda.

A new OECD report presented at the meeting shows that in an increasingly globalised labour market, the competition for highly skilled workers and for enterprises creating quality jobs has intensified, both within countries and on a global scale.

Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2016 says the gap between leading and trailing areas has widened, imposing a major constraint on achieving inclusive national growth.

While most OECD countries have enjoyed an increase in educational attainment over the past 15 years, not all local areas have progressed equally. Places that were already leading in terms of education levels have pulled even further ahead. Similar trends have been observed for the distribution of high-skilled jobs in countries such as Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Norway, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

Accompanying the action plan, this report sets out what both national and local leaders can do to boost job creation, economic development, and inclusion.

Some cities, even if they typically outperform other areas in their country, may be losing ground to their peers in international comparisons, the report says. Cities from northern and western Europe, including Stockholm, Paris, London and Brussels, perform strongly in terms of both the supply of skills, and their demand by employers. However, their counterparts in Southern Europe, such as Porto, Rome, Naples, Lisbon, as well as Prague and Warsaw, have comparatively poorer outcomes.

The report provides practical local and national policy advice. It looks at the design and implementation of skills, employment and entrepreneurship policies to ensure that local economies are not trapped in a vicious cycle of poor quality, low productivity jobs. It also provides new local data for 36 OECD and key partner countries related to employment creation, employment rates and skills supply and demand to provide a more nuanced picture of labour market performance across local areas within countries.

Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2016 is available here.

Further information about OECD work on inclusive growth in cities can be found here.

For comment or more information, journalists should contact the OECD Media Division; tel. + 331 4524 9700.

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Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched its Sponsorship Scheme for 2017 which will support angling events and initiatives in Offaly and across the country.

The fund supported 44 events to the tune of 30,000 in 2016 with a particular focus on initiatives which help grow Irelands angling tourism product and support novice anglers.

Inland Fisheries Irelands Sponsorship Scheme aims to support large international competitions held in Ireland which showcase Irelands angling offering and contribute to local economies. The scheme also contributes to novice angler events which increase participation in angling among those who have recently taken up fishing. Finally, it also helps initiatives which disseminate information which promote conservation and protection of the inland fisheries and sea angling resource and can include seminars, workshops and training. Support from the Sponsorship Scheme can be either financial or resource support from Inland Fisheries Ireland staff members.

Angling in Ireland is currently worth 836 million to Irelands economy annually, supporting upwards of 11,000 jobs. The sector offers rural communities the opportunity to increase the number of visitors to the area and in turn, support local business and create jobs by providing a sustainable source of income for both catering and accommodation services. Inland Fisheries Irelands National Strategy for Angling Development aims to increase overseas angling visits from 163,000 in 2015 to 173,000 and increase domestic participation of 273,000 anglers annually by 0.5%. If this is realised, angling could bring in an additional 53 million annually and support 1,800 jobs.

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: We are delighted to launch our Sponsorship Scheme for 2017 which will support angling clubs and groups nationwide in delivering programmes which ultimately drive angling participation rates. There is a huge network of angling communities nationwide and we want to support them in offering local events which engage domestic anglers, overseas anglers and those who are about to cast for the first time.

Ireland has some of the best wild fisheries in Europe and as a destination, we have a unique opportunity to grow our angling tourism product. This Sponsorship Fund is just one element of our National Strategy for Angling Development which aims to develop our angling tourism potential while also managing and conserving our fisheries resource.

Inland Fisheries Irelands National Strategy for Angling Development is the first comprehensive national framework which will deliver a wide-ranging set of investments, innovations and promotions over the coming five years. It aims to make angling accessible and attractive through information, infrastructure and support, to develop tourism through the promotion of the angling resource and to position angling as a key leisure and recreation pursuit. The Strategy will deliver significant economic benefits in rural communities where much of angling takes place, while also ensuring that fish populations and habitats are protected and conserved.

Applications for funding from the Sponsorship Scheme are now invited from angling clubs, associations or any local group organising an angling initiative. The scheme will remain open for applications until Friday, December 9 and all applications can be made online at www.fisheriesireland.ie/funding. Awards will be subject to budget availability and adherence to the scheme requirements.
Fianna Fail TD for Offaly Barry Cowen says farmers will face increased cash flow problems as a result of serious delays in Rural Development Programme payments.

New figures released to Fianna Fail show that only 52% of this years budget allocation has been paid out.

Deputy Cowen said, Many farmers in Offaly rely on funding from the Rural Development Programme to keep their farms profitable. However new figures obtained by Fianna Fail show that only half of this years funding for agri-schemes has been paid to farmers. This will result in serious financial hardship for farmers right across the Midlands.

Its particularly worrying that less than 4% of GLAS payments have been made. The government failed to allocate the level of funding that it originally promised for this scheme, and now its failing to pay out. This is a completely unacceptable situation. How are Offaly farmers meant to plan for the year when the Government fails to pay vital funding on time?"

He stated that payments under TAMS and the Beef Genomics Scheme are also seriously behind schedule adding that these underspends were 'significant by any metric' and would have serious consequences for small family farmers in Offaly.

Many farmers have had to take out loans to keep their businesses going while they wait for their payments to come through, and these delays will exacerbate an already difficult situation," he remarked. "Farmers should not have to rely on banks and other financial institutions to cover the cost of works, which these agri-schemes cover. This is creating a major cash flow crisis, which is completely preventable.

This has been a very difficult year for farmers, and these underspends and delayed payments are making a bad situation worse, concluded Deputy Cowen.
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Chinese gold-plated ornaments become popular amid a gold price hike in Egypt. (Photo : Getty Images)

Truly, not all that glitters is gold. In Egypt, Chinese gold-plated ornaments are currently becoming more popular amid the price hike of real gold.



The gold price hike is said to be the result of the increase of U.S. dollar exchange rates in Egypt. According to Ibrahim Heeba, a manager at the Mahmoud Heeba Jewelry store, one kilo of gold can now cost more than half a million dollars.



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As the price of gold rises, Egyptian women opt to buy cheaper Chinese gold-plated ornaments, known to them as Chinese gold.



Many Egyptian women make their way to the well-known Haret al-Yahud of Old Cairo's Al-Gamaliya district to find Chinese gold-plated ornaments.



The two-storey SSMAGR store in the heart of the alley displayed a variety of Chinese gold-plated ornaments including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets among others.



Heba, one of the stores patron said: "I have been visiting this store for about three years. Chinese gold-plated ornaments grew more popular over the past few years due to their high quality and creative designs."



She added that she visits the store mainly because of the attractive and classy designs of the ornaments, not just for the cheaper price. For her, they look like real gold accessories.



Girgis Shenouda Antonius, the manager of SSMAGR, said that Egypt used to produce gold-plated ornaments. However, the country stopped to develop the industry so now they import from China.



"China created a machine called vacuum plating, which makes the plate layer durable. So, we make very attractive designs here in Egypt and go to China to get their gold-plated copies," said Antonius.



He added that they pay attention to the design so they will have a beautiful final product that can be sold at an affordable price. This is why they have loyal female patrons.



"Women love ornaments. As long as there are women, our accessories have good sales," Antonius said.


Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk speak before the U.S. Senate Finance hearing on the U.S.-China economic trade in June. (Photo : Getty Images)

China has denounced the report released by a United States congressional panel proposing to U.S. solons that China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) should be prevented from acquiring American firms, China Daily reported.



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Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the report is based on "prejudices and stereotypes" as he stressed that "a fair and good environment for Chinese investment" is important for the trade relations of the two countries.



On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released its annual report which suggests that Chinese SOEs should be barred by the U.S. Congress from acquiring or gaining control of companies in the U.S.



"The report has again revealed the commission's prejudices and stereotypes against China," Geng told a daily news conference in Beijing. He did not elaborate on his comments about the report, which he called a "cliche."



Geng also called on other countries to be fair with Chinese companies, which are asked to comply and abide by local laws when they invest in other countries.



According to Geng, the trade and economic cooperation between China and the U.S. is closely intertwined, which makes the relationship important to both of them.



"The healthy, stable development of China-U.S. trade and economic ties is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and their people. I believe that the U.S. side will consider the fundamental interests of its own people and adopt a policy that is conducive to bilateral trade cooperation," he said.



The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment had been asked by 12 senators earlier this month to deny the proposal of a Chinese aluminum company to purchase U.S. aluminum products, on claims that it would jeopardize the U.S. defense industrial base.



The move came as the trade and foreign policy agenda of newly elected Donald Trump is being prepared by its transition team and candidates for key economic and security positions are being selected. China had been frequently attacked by Trump during the campaign, with threats to impose high tariffs.



Experts, however, noted that the advisory panel's report is not legally binding.



Li Haidong, a professor of U.S. studies at China Foreign Affairs University, observed that nearly all of the U.S. commission's reports on China are negative.



"The U.S. should stop treating normal investment as a political and national security issue. Although some U.S. political elites call for imposing restrictions on China's investment, proposals are different from concrete deeds," Li said.



According to Li, it is Trump's top priority to improve the economy and provide jobs and "trade and economic cooperation with China is especially important in this regard."



Meanwhile, Tao Wenzhao, a researcher of Sino-U.S. relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that since "the commission is just a sub-organization of Congress," he does not believe it will affect the U.S. trade policy.



Next week, Vice-Premier Wang Yang is set to attend the 27th China-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in Washington, DC.


'The Legend of the Blue Sea' Lee Min-Ho on working with Jun Ji-Hyun: 'She is just so charming'

Lee Min-Ho and Jun Ji-Hyun star in the SBS drama 'The Legend of the Blue Sea.' (Photo : YouTube/Donkey Movies)

Lee Min-Ho, 29, had the nicest things to say about his "The Legend of the Blue Sea" co-star Jun Ji-Hyun. The former recently shared his honest thoughts about what it is like to work with the latter.



On Nov. 17, Harper's Bazaar Korea released Lee's recent pictorial for its December issue. Displaying a manly aura, the Hallyu star sported a comfortable clothing in knitted sweaters and a pair of pants.



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In the accompanying interview with the magazine, as cited by The Kpop Herald, Lee talked about "The Legend of the Blue Sea" and delightedly shared his experience working with Jun. He said the SBS fantasy drama has a refreshing tone with surprising twists and turns that will surely bring fun and laughter to the viewers.



"The Heirs" actor then praised his co-star's personality, stating Jun is exactly the way she appears and that she does not hide anything. He added, "She is just so charming."



It comes after Lee admitted he was initially intimidated by the "My Sassy Girl" actress, revealing they started off awkwardly. Nonetheless, just like other on-screen couples, Lee and Jun slowly got comfortable with each other.



"After we got comfortable, our reactions toward each other got better and our chemistry became smoother," Antara News Agency quoted Lee as saying at the drama's press conference on Nov. 15, as cited by The Jakarta Post. "I hope this will have a good result."



Directed by Jin Hyuk and Park Seon-Ho, "The Legend of the Blue Sea" recounts the timeless love story between the last mermaid on Earth, Shim Chung (Jun) and Kim Dam-Lim/Heo Joon-Jae (Lee). It is based on a script penned by Park Ji-Eun.



The SBS drama, however, will be the last acting role for Lee before he fulfills his military obligation. The Hallyu star will reportedly fill in as a non-military service worker at some point in 2017 rather than enlisting in the army.



Watch Lee as Kim Dam-Lim/Heo Joon-Jae in SBS' "The Legend of the Blue Sea" here:






SAN JOSE, Calif.  Despite the recent national outcry over the tech industrys lack of diversity, a new LinkedIn study found that most entrepreneurs and investors dont consider the issue a priority.

More than half of investors surveyed said that an entrepreneurs commitment to diversity was the least of their concerns when deciding whether to fund a company, according to the nationwide survey of more than 600 LinkedIn members. And 70 percent of startup founders said their company has no program in place to increase employee diversity.

The results, released earlier this month, show that while the absence of women and minorities in tech is frequently addressed in panel discussions at industry conferences and in media op-ed pieces, for the people with the power to implement change  such as the investors shaping future Facebooks and Googles  the issue remains on the back burner.

LinkedIns data confirms how broken todays venture capital establishment is, Ellen Pao, co-founder of Silicon Valley diversity initiative Project Include, wrote in an online post the same day the LinkedIn study was made public. Many (venture capitalists) dont seem to care about the problems they create, how founders perceive them, and the lack of diversity in funding practices.

Women make up 7 percent of entrepreneurs who receive venture capital funding, according to Bloomberg. And the majority of the worlds top 100 venture capital firms have no female investing partners, a recent CrunchBase study found.

Pao helped catapult that problem into the spotlight last year during a high-profile gender bias trial against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. She lost the case, but the trial highlighted the tech and venture capital industries high concentrations of white men. Now Silicon Valley venture capital firms and tech companies, many of which have started releasing regular diversity reports, face pressure to make their offices more inclusive.

Some investors and tech companies are making strides. Last month Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valleys most prestigious venture capital firms, hired Jess Lee as its first U.S.-based female investing partner. Advocates heralded the hire as a big step toward bringing more funding to women-led companies.

According to LinkedIns study, white, male founders and investors often are unaware of the barriers their more diverse colleagues face.

Committing to building a diverse team is somewhat silly, one white male founder wrote. Another responded that making his company diverse has nothing to do with his business. Several founders and investors dismissed recruiting with an eye toward race and gender as akin to affirmative action.

Karen Bairley Kruger, a San Francisco-based angel investor, called the LinkedIn numbers staggering. Kruger co-founded Wingpact, an initiative dedicated to encouraging women entrepreneurs and investors.

At first I was discouraged, she said of her reaction to the study. And then I was a little bit surprised at seeing some of the numbers. And then it made me angry. I feel like there is a lot of hypocrisy that is jumping right out of these statistics.

There has been progress  more people are aware of the diversity problem and are discussing it in helpful ways, Pao wrote.

Numbers like these, though, she wrote of the LinkedIn study, show how far we still have to go to change attitudes and then practices in venture investing.
A Sarpy County District Court judge said a former employee of Hands of the Heartland violated the trust of one of the organizations clients before sentencing that man to prison on felony charges.

Judge David Arterburn sentenced Adrian D. Galbreath to 10 to 21 years in prison on Monday. With credit for 396 days served, Galbreath, 39, will be eligible for parole in about four years.

Galbreath will also have to register as a sex offender.

Galbreath pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree sexual assault and two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult. All are felonies.

Galbreath knew the male victim through his job at Hands of the Heartland, which provides services in residential and independent living settings to people with developmental disabilities. The man has a low IQ.

Galbreath invited the male to his Bellevue apartment, where alcohol was provided. The man was drinking and went into a bedroom when he started to feel ill. Authorities said Galbreath entered the bedroom, and thats where the assault took place.

Prior to the judges sentencing, Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Phil Kleine said Galbreath was a wolf in sheeps clothing. He was in a position of power and was supposed to take care of the man.

Christopher Lathrop, Galbreaths attorney, asked that his client be given probation and a chance for rehabilitation. He said prison would not help Galbreath.

Galbreath had a position of responsibility and a relationship of trust with the man, Arterburn said. He would have known the man could not consent, especially with alcohol provided.

The judge told Galbreath to take advantage of programs available to him in prison.
BEIJING--Two astronauts who completed China's longest-ever manned space mission returned to Earth safely Friday afternoon.



Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, announced that the Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 manned flight mission, which lasted over a month, was a "complete success."



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Zhang Gaoli, vice premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered a congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission at the command center of China's manned space program in Beijing.



The completion of the Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 mission "marked a major breakthrough" in China's manned space program, according to the congratulatory message.



It said that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, people of China's aerospace industry have implemented the innovation-driven development and civil-military integration strategies.



Their efforts to forge ahead and overcome challenges, as well as their collaboration and sacrifice, demonstrate confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it said.



Shenzhou-11's reentry module separated from the spacecraft's orbiting capsule at 1:11 p.m. Friday Beijing Time, and then separated from the propelling capsule, ending the 33-day mission and embarking on the journey back to Earth.



The reentry module landed safely at the expected site in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 1:59 p.m.



The ground search team reached the landing site immediately, and astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong opened the capsule's hatch by themselves.



The two astronauts were reported by the ground team to be in good condition.



The two astronauts arrived in Beijing Friday evening and will be quarantined and undergo medical check-ups.



The mission of Shenzhou-11 marked China's sixth manned space flight.



After its launch on Oct. 17, the spacecraft docked two days later with China's first space lab, Tiangong-2, where the two astronauts lived for 30 days.



The mission transported personnel and materials between Earth and Tiangong-2, and tested meeting, docking and return processes.



It conducted aerospace medical experiments, space science experiments and in-orbit maintenance.



The two astronauts also conducted three experiments designed by middle school students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including raising silkworms in space.



It was the third space mission for 50-year-old veteran Jing Haipeng, the commander of the crew, who also participated in the Shenzhou-7 and Shenzhou-9 missions.



It was the first space mission for Chen Dong, 38.



The mission is a key step toward China's aim of building a permanent manned space station.



The core module of China's space station is expected to be launched around 2018, and the space station will enter into full service around 2022, with an initial designed life of more than 10 years.



It will accommodate three to six astronauts, who will stay in space up to one year.



Tiangong-2 will remain operative in orbit following Shenzhou-11's return to Earth and will wait to dock with Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft. Tianzhou-1 will be launched in the first half of 2017 to verify refueling technology, a key technology for any space station.



"The success of this mission demonstrates that China has acquired the capability to support long stays in space by astronauts," Huang Weifen, a deputy chief designer with the Astronaut Center of China, announced at a press conference Friday afternoon.



Some new key technologies to support long-term manned space missions were tested in orbit, Huang said.



For instance, a running exercise device -- crucial for long-term space lab missions -- was tested and will help guide future research and development.



Remote medical consultation system linking the space lab and space center on earth, medical ultrasound, and plant cultivation in space were also tested during the mission. Growing plants has proven to be a good and effective means for psychological adjustment, she added.



Moreover, the excellent performance by the astronauts verified the efficacy of China's astronaut recruitment and training systems, said Huang.



Testing of the technology is crucial to supporting the health, life and work of astronauts in future space missions, and will help with the future design of space lab interfaces, astronaut tasks and in-orbit operations, she said.



Credit: Xinhua, China Daily


The Omaha Public Schools board plans to narrow down which search firm will help the district find a new superintendent.

Today the board will interview three search firms that recruit and vet school leaders. Superintendent Mark Evans is stepping down at the end of the school year.

Board members have laid out an aggressive tentative timeline to find and hire Evans replacement by March to ensure a smooth transition.

The board advertised for a search firm through a request for proposals last month and received five complete responses. The boards accountability subcommittee will lead the superintendent search. Its members met Nov. 12 to review and score the search firms submissions.

Board member Matt Scanlan said the group pared the list to three: Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; McPherson & Jacobson of Omaha; and Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates of Schaumburg, Illinois.

Each firm has been used in local school searches.

Ray and Associates was hired for Bellevues recent school superintendent search, and McPherson & Jacobson has been used in executive searches for Westside and the Learning Community. Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates conducted the OPS superintendent search that led to the hiring of Nancy Sebring, who ultimately resigned due to an email scandal.

At the OPS board meeting today, each firm will get about 15 minutes to give a presentation and another 15 minutes to answer questions.

Board members are looking for firms that have successfully placed superintendent candidates in urban, high-poverty districts and can involve parents, staff and community members in the search process, among other qualifications.

Scanlan said the board hasnt set a firm budget for a search firm, but said most companies quoted base prices in the same ballpark.

Three incoming school board members elected this month will have a chance to give input on the three firms.

I think thats important. It helps the transition from board to board, Scanlan said. Finding a superintendent and hiring a superintendent is the most important job a school board does.
An 80-year-old woman was killed and two other women were seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a head-on crash southeast of Council Bluffs.

The Iowa State Patrol said the crash occurred around 4:50 p.m. on U.S. Highway 34 in Mills County just north of Malvern.

Killed in the crash was Alice Campbell of Hastings, Iowa, the patrol said.

Injured were Patti Jipsen, 55, of Elliott, Iowa, and Barbara Irwin, 53, of Charleston, Illinois.

The patrol said Jipsen was driving a 2013 Hyundai Sonata west on Highway 34 with Irwin as her passenger. She was driving in the left passing lane when her car crossed the center line and struck the oncoming Ford Windstar van driven by Campbell.

Jipsen was taken by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center and Irwin was taken by a medical helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center, the patrol said.

Jipsen, who was using a seat belt, was listed in fair condition Monday. Irwin, who was not using a seat belt, according to the patrol, remained in critical condition Monday.

Jipsens Sonata came to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 34, the patrol said. Campbells Ford landed in the south ditch on its top. She had been using her seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation.
A man unfamiliar with his brothers Jeep Cherokee drove the vehicle over the curb at Eppley Airfield, striking his brother and a woman in a wheelchair before ramming into the airport terminal.

Suffering serious injuries were Jerome Merwald of Omaha and Shyrell Windom-Haynes of Kyle, Texas.

Tim Conahan, chief of the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department, provided this account:

Merwald, 72, drove to Eppley at 1:35 p.m. to pick up his 66-year-old brother, Frank Merwald, who was flying in from California. The elder Merwald told his younger brother that he needed to use the restroom and asked him to drive around the terminal while he ran inside. Vehicles arent allowed to idle outside the terminal.

As the younger Merwald prepared to move the 2004 Jeep, it backed up quickly, which startled him. Merwald then shifted into drive and apparently became confused and hit the accelerator. That sent the SUV over the curb, striking his brother and Windom-Haynes, who was being helped from a wheelchair into a waiting vehicle.

The Jeep also pushed into the airports revolving door near the United Airlines area at the north end of the terminal.

Jerome Merwald was knocked through a plate-glass window and into the terminal. He suffered a fractured ankle and a head injury, said Omaha Police Officer Alicia Julian, an accident investigator. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center.

Windom-Haynes, 49, had an injury to her left leg and was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, Julian said.

Frank Merwald suffered a cut to his face and was treated at Creighton and released, Julian said.

Police ticketed him on suspicion of negligent driving.

Steve Coufal, executive director of Eppley Airport Authority, said airport officials would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident to see whether additional protective measures are needed. A damage estimate hadnt been completed as of Monday evening, he said.

Airline passenger travel was not interrupted. The revolving door that was struck was disabled.

Tammy Tyree, who was at the airport, said she was walking toward the Jeep when she saw it crashing over the sidewalk.

I didnt know what to think, she said about safely running out of harms way.

But just to see those two people fly all the way after being hit like that was ... was horrible, Tyree said.

World-Herald staff writers Alia Conley and Megan Smith contributed to this report.
The 66-year-old editor in chief of the weekly Ravenna News was killed last week in a two-vehicle crash north of Kearney, Nebraska.

Authorities said Nancy Jackson died in the crash at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. The crash site was north of Pleasanton on Nebraska Highway 10 at the intersection with 340th Road.

A 51-year-old rural Ord, Nebraska, man, James Psota, was injured in the crash, authorities said.

Jacksons 2007 Mazda SUV was westbound on 340th Road and Psotas 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck was northbound on Highway 10 when the vehicles collided, authorities said.

Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene, the Buffalo County Sheriffs Office said. Psota was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

The intersection was closed for about four hours while authorities investigated the crash, the Sheriffs Office said.

The Ravenna News posted this statement on its Facebook page:

We want to thank you all for your kindness during the heartbreaking loss of our Editor-In-Chief, Nancy Jackson. We ask for your continued patience with us as we fumble our way through the impossible job of trying to fill her shoes. She was the Ravenna News and we truly do not know what we will do without her.

Services for Jackson are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna.
LINCOLN  Hours after protesters and authorities clashed over an oil pipeline in North Dakota, activists on Monday demanded that Nebraskas governor pull state troopers out of a mutual aid deployment.

A reported 29,000 people signed two online petitions calling for the return of 11 Nebraska State Patrol troopers assigned to help quell an organized protest over the Dakota Access pipeline. Gov. Pete Ricketts authorized the mission to assist North Dakota under a multistate emergency management compact.

The governor refused to back away from his commitment Monday, saying Nebraska will continue to support law and order.

I recognize the concerns of the Standing Rock Sioux and environmental activists, but they are trespassing and attempting to forcibly stop construction of a permitted pipeline, Ricketts said Monday in a prepared statement.

The emergency management compact represents a longtime agreement between the nations governors to provide mutual assistance during major emergencies. Typically, requests for help involve natural disasters, said Bryan Tuma, director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

It is not mandatory for one state to provide another with assistance. The state asking for the help pays the salary and benefits of the visiting officers during the two-week deployments, Tuma said.

In response to the North Dakota request, Nebraska officials have so far determined that the state could spare the troopers to help in North Dakota for a pair of two-week deployments. It remains to be seen if Ricketts will respond a third time to North Dakotas standing request for outside manpower.

On Sunday night, with temperatures in the mid-20s, authorities used tear gas, water canons and rubber bullets on hundreds of protesters who were trying to breach a barricade on a closed highway bridge. Officials also said protesters assaulted officers with rocks and burning logs.

Protesters, who refer to themselves as water protectors, have said their effort is peaceful. Dallas Goldtooth with the Indigenous Environmental Network said at least 17 protesters were taken to area hospitals, some with hypothermia.

Meanwhile, one officer was injured and one person arrested.

The clash was at the Backwater Bridge, near where protesters had set up camp on private property owned by the pipeline developer, Energy Transfer Partners, before they were forcibly removed by law enforcement Oct. 27. Its also about a mile from an uncompleted pipeline section under Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir, where work has been on hold by order of federal agencies.

Joseph Hams, a 21-year-old activist and student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, presented the online petitions Monday to a security officer at the Governors Mansion. He said the petitions included signatures from Nebraska, other states and multiple countries.

Bold Nebraska, an environmental group that led the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline, also collected signatures.

Hams called it inappropriate and immoral for the governor to use Nebraska law enforcement resources to guard a private oil transportation project in another state.

Thousands of pipeline opponents, including many Native Americans, have gathered to protest in North Dakota in recent months, prompting Gov. Jack Dalrymple to declare a state of emergency.

Opponents fear that the pipeline will leak oil into the Missouri River, a water supply for an estimated 17 million people downstream. They also say it would disturb tribal cultural sites and represents a major fossil fuel project when the nation should be ramping up investment in renewable energy.

The $3.8 billion underground pipeline would carry crude oil from the Bakken shale region in North Dakota. The project, which is nearly completed, would stretch more than 1,000 miles through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.

Supporters of the project say the pipeline will be a safer and less expensive way to ship an estimated 470,000 barrels of crude daily to an Illinois refinery.

The article includes material from The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON  Its freshman orientation time for Omahas congressman-elect, Don Bacon.

With just a few weeks to learn the ropes before taking the oath of office, Bacon and other legislative newbies descended on Capitol Hill last week.

Briefings covered how to introduce a bill, parliamentary procedure, physical security and cybersecurity, how to set up an office budget and the institutions often complex ethics rules.

The big takeaway is if you have any doubts, ask, Bacon said. Its better to ask before than to find out later that you screwed up.

The retired Air Force brigadier general, a Republican, defeated incumbent Rep. Brad Ashford in Nebraskas 2nd District.

He and other incoming members arrived in Washington with a stack of homework assignments  and a busy social calendar that included plenty of receptions and parties. Republicans in particular are feeling good about keeping a solid majority in the House.

One reception in Bacons honor featured a variety of pork-based dishes riffing off his last name.

At one point in the week Bacon found himself getting turned around in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the Capitol, so he opted to start walking with Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., who has taken his fellow Nebraskan under his wing.

He also received a valuable piece of advice from Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., who told him not to rush into making commitments to support other members initiatives.

I think its good to hold your powder dry a little bit and make sure you get both sides, Bacon said.

Bacon said hes been struck by the unity he sees among House Republicans and their common desire not to go down the same path as the last time their party controlled all the levers of power. He said that time they spent too much money and ran up the national debt.

Theres a sense of urgency to get it right, he said. The voters are going to hold us accountable to get things done.

He enjoyed hearing the impassioned and eloquent oratory as his new colleagues debated whether to bring back earmarks, which are provisions that direct funds to particular projects.

Bacon said he understood the argument that banning them cedes power to the executive branch, but he said that ultimately he agrees with the decision to continue the ban, because earmarks contribute to overspending.

Hes making progress in hiring staff and said hes aiming for a mix of Nebraska roots and Washington experience. His campaign manager, Mark Dreiling, will serve as chief of staff.

Rookie members also have to figure out which committees they would like to join. Bacon is angling for a seat on the Armed Services Committee, which would seem to be a natural fit given his 29 years in uniform.

Hes technically not the highest-ranking officer in Congress; that title belongs to newly elected Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., a retired three-star Marine general.

Bacon said the two have been talking about how to work together on military and veterans issues.

And like other new members, Bacon has been hunting for a place to crash when hes in the nations capital, weighing factors like cost and proximity to the Capitol as he checks out apartments around town.

However, hes sure wont be sleeping in his office  an approach favored by former Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb. Bacon said he just doesnt feel that would be fair to his office staff.

I dont think people want to work in a place that has the man cave smell to it, Bacon said.
Pakistan Army is Ready to Fight a War against India, says its Chief of Staff

Gen. Raheel Sharif. (Photo : Pakistan Army)

General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, said his army is "equally ready" to fight a conventional war after an "unprecedented level of successes" in its war against terror along its dangerous northwestern tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, especially North Waziristan.



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"Taking inspiration from our war heroes and their spirit of sacrifice, Pakistan Army has always measured up to any challenge," he told frontline troops and Pakistan Army veterans at the Sulemanki sector.



Many of the troops in this sector belong to the legendary Frontier Force Regiment that fought gloriously against the Indian Army in all four Kashmir Wars since 1965.



"With an unprecedented level of successes in war against terror, we have become the most battle-hardened Army and are equally ready for conventional war," said Gen. Sharif, who will retire from army service at the end of this month.



He also said the Pakistani military has always measured up to any challenge, and noted the Pakistan Army proudly carries its heritage and tradition of soldiering and chivalry. He praised his men for keeping vigil along the Line of Control.



Gen. Sharif warned India the Pakistan army "will continue to respond effectively, leave no stone unturned to defend motherland."



Gen. Sharif has deep emotional links to the Frontier Force Regiment. After passing-out from the Pakistan Military Academy in October 1976, he was commissioned into the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment, where his elder brother had also served.



The military situation along the now deadly Line of Control in Kashmir is deteriorating rapidly.



Gen. Sharif made these remarks after attending the funerals of seven of his soldiers killed by Indian Army fire on Nov. 14. It was the largest loss suffered in a single day by the Pakistan Army during the current crisis in its almost daily artillery, mortar and small arms fire duels across the LoC.



The Indian Army reported 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan Army troops. Pakistani fire has killed 26 Indian citizens, including 14 Indian security personnel, since the Indian Army's surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Sept. 29.


Hillary Clinton lost the election in the Midwest. Donald Trump won 50 Midwestern electoral votes that went to Barack Obama in 2012  Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio  plus 20 more in Pennsylvania, where the two-thirds of voters beyond metro Philadelphia are Midwestern in culture and concerns. Trump could have lost Florida and still won.

In the popular vote, Clinton came close to equaling Obamas 2012 percentages in the South and West, and her 4 percent drop in the Northeast cost her no electoral votes. But in the Midwest and Pennsylvania, the Democratic presidential percentage dropped from 54 percent in 2008 and 51 percent in 2012 to 45 percent in 2016.

Those drops came mostly outside the Midwests big cities, though black turnout sagged notably in Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee. University towns turned in their typical lopsided majorities  e.g., 68-26 percent in metro Madison, Wisconsin.

But in Midwestern outstates  counties outside metro areas with a million-plus people  the shift away from Clinton looked like the shifts of white Southerners away from Democrats in decades past.

Iowa, the largest state with no metro area of a million-plus people, was typical: 54 percent Democratic in 2008, 52 percent in 2012 and 41 percent in 2016. The drop was similar in Wisconsin outside Milwaukee and Madison (54 to 50 to 41 percent), Michigan outside Detroit and Grand Rapids (55 to 52 to 41 percent), Ohio outside Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati (48 to 47 to 35 percent) and Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (48 to 44 to 36 percent).

Similar outstate drops were not quite enough to carry Minnesota for Trump and were swamped in Illinois by metro Chicago.

These outstate areas arent growing demographically, but theyre not tiny, either. They cast 100 percent of the votes in Iowa, 61 percent in Wisconsin, 47 percent in Michigan and Pennsylvania and 44 percent in Ohio.

What accounts for the abandonment of Clinton in areas hitherto reachable for Democrats?

The outstate Midwest is loaded with non-college-educated whites  62 percent in Iowa, for instance. Nationally, that demographic group moved from favoring Mitt Romney by a 25 percent margin in 2012 to favoring Trump by a 39 percent margin this year. The shift was even more vivid in the Midwestern outstate counties.

Such voters have been bypassed by sluggish economic growth, and many believe that their jobs have been lost by trade agreements and that their wages have been undercut by low-skilled immigrants in other parts of the country. Trump emphasized these issues, and previous Republicans hadnt. Thats part of it.

Theres also the condescension of Clinton and her campaign, headquartered in trendy Brooklyn, New York. Religious beliefs, candidate Clinton said in 2015, have to be changed. She told a Manhattan audience that a portion of Trumps supporters were irredeemable  deplorables characterized by implicit racism.

Outstate people who voted for Obama  or whose neighbors or friends at church did  probably werent attracted by such statements. Decent people dont like to be called racists and told that their religion needs to be changed.

The Clinton campaigns strategy to win over folks beyond Brooklyn and Manhattan was to send West Wing actors into Ohio and hold a concert with Beyonce and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia. Thats going to do it.

One other factor worked against Clinton in the outstate Midwest: the honesty question.

In the 1970s, the outstate Midwest broke against Republicans because of Watergate. Democratic victories in two House special elections in outstate Michigan in 1974 signaled voters displeasure with Richard Nixon, and the Democrats swept in elections that fall. Dozens of Democratic politicians began long, successful outstate careers in the Watergate years.

Hints of Clintons general election weakness came in Democratic primaries, when she lost outstates badly in Wisconsin and Michigan and ran barely even in Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Maybe outstaters were voting not for Bernie Sanders socialism but against Clintons damn emails.

Team Clinton is now saying it was beaten by FBI Director James Comeys intervention. But Comey would not have been heard from if Clinton hadnt broken the law.

Thats a vote-loser in the outstate Midwest  and an election-loser in America.
Livability and liquor dont mix well

The Omaha City Council exhibited reasonable consideration of the neighborhood conditions when voting to deny two liquor license appli-cations in the area between 30th and 40th Streets and Lake Street during its Nov. 8 meeting.

A previous liquor license application in the same neighborhood prompted a change in how we grant those licenses with a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling (Orchard Hill Neighborhood Association v. Nebraska Liquor Control Commission). The ruling meant that consideration must be given to neighborhood challenges when the area suffers from socioeconomic decline.

The World Health Organization reminds us that regulating outlet density by limiting the number of alcohol outlets in an area is one of the most effective ways to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms. And for those businesses that already possess a license, groundbreaking efforts like the citys Good Neighbor Ordinance can be utilized  and even strengthened  to ensure that the health and safety of our neighborhoods remains priority No. 1.

We want to thank the council for voting to keep this community moving in the right direction.

Diane Riibe, Omaha

interim executive director, Project Extra Mile

Parents, beware

Imani Edwards, a defenseless baby girl, lost her life. Authorities allege abuse by her mothers boyfriend, Armond Floyd, who already had child abuse and domestic assault charges against him (Man to face charge of felony child abuse resulting in death, Nov. 17 World-Herald).

Imani was denied the right to have a future. Parents, be careful whom you choose to care for your precious children.

Deb Blaydes, Fremont, Neb.

Stiffer penalties needed

I am pleased to learn that straw buyers are being held accountable for breaking the law (Crackdown targets straw purchases of firearms, Nov. 16 World-Herald). While a 30-month sentence appears to be an appropriate penalty, I would like to see additional charges brought if the gun purchased is used in a crime.

The buyer in this case should be charged as an accessory to the crime and face additional criminal charges.

Brett V. Kettelhut, Omaha

Schools should be safe havens

In a letter to parents regarding an anti-Trump protest that occurred at Millard North High School and retaliatory jeers of Build the wall! Principal Brian Begley described the chants as the other side express(ing) themselves (With protest, students have a voice,  Nov. 12 World-Herald).

I object to this characterization of events. Shouting Build the wall! at a small group of students, mostly comprised of students of color in a school that is overwhelmingly white, is a threat. It is hate speech. It is intolerable.

These events normalized bigotry on Millard Norths campus. Racism flowed freely through its hallways. I have never been so disappointed in my alma mater.

I hope that Millard North will establish itself as a place of refuge where students at the margins can find solidarity and shelter  a place that will not tolerate oppression. The real problem with the scene that unfolded was not that there was a disruption to the learning environment; it was that hatred rose up, and the administration stood on the sidelines and let it unfold freely.

In the aftermath of this election, I implore Begley to make Millard North High School a haven for those whom the political climate endangers and reject any notion that the harassment of people of color and immigrants is acceptable.

Claire Schlessinger, Oakland, Calif.

OPS seems to have its share of protests

It is interesting that Omaha Public Schools students are finding it necessary to walk out of school to demonstrate their refusal to accept Donald Trump as their next president.

Im not sure whether they are really making a statement or simply skipping classes. One has to wonder why students in most schools arent walking out in protest of this election, only OPS schools. I imagine a lot of other students are just as disappointed that Hillary Clinton didnt win.

Perhaps OPS Superintendent Mark Evans could consult with those other school officials to figure out what he should be doing.

Jim Busenbark, Omaha

Resume not that important

Its amazing to me that the factors in filling jobs in the Trump administration seem to be nepotism and cronyism.

Charles Barrett, Omaha

Sasse should have backed Trump earlier

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses Nov. 13 commentary, Everyones duty: Hope for Trump, work for America, was a wordy explanation of why everyone else should support Trump.

But Sasse himself wont say if he will get on the Trump train. He dodges by saying this shouldnt be an either-or question.

It is an either-or question. After his continuous bashing of Trump before and after he became the Republican presidential nominee, Nebraska Republicans have the right to know whether he is actually all-in for the president-elect and the party that sent him to Washington. It is clear from what Sasse said many times during the campaign that he would have preferred a Trump loss (indeed, he did not vote for him).

Nebraska Republicans, who also have respect for the Constitution, which Sasse refers to as his guide, realized that a vote for anyone but Trump was actually a vote for Hillary Clinton. Sasse apparently thought otherwise.

Nebraska Republicans rightly expect a measure of loyalty from Sasse in return for their votes for him in 2014. Since he turned his back on the Republican candidate, he should not now expect complete loyalty from the party.

Perhaps he should consider whether the Republican label is a good fit for him.

Roy Hahn, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Editorial unfair to Clinton

The tone of The World-Heralds Nov. 16 editorial about Hillary Clinton and FBI Director James Comey (Clinton bears responsibility) was impolite and un-Nebraskan.

The announcement by Comey that the FBI had uncovered possibly new emails on a Clinton aides computer was part of a scheme by Republican sympathizers in the FBI to call attention to the controversy days before the race. FBI directors rarely comment on cases that could affect an election, and for him to do so with nothing at all to say was absolutely unprofessional. Apparently several Republicans were informed in advance that the announcement would be made.

Clinton made a mistake about her actions with the emails, but she has answered questions and there was nothing there.

It is amazing that people would get fired up about a mistake with email and consider it worse than not paying workers, not paying taxes, not making public your tax returns, making derogatory remarks about women and minorities, etc.

Donald Trump supporters dont have the right to gloat. Clinton won the popular vote.

Sylvia Wiegand, Lincoln

Democrats fear Trump success

I believe the real reason that Democrats and liberals are so afraid of Donald Trump is not that he is a racist, a bigot or whatever other name they call him. Its because his presidency could be extremely successful.

Imagine if millions of people currently on unemployment, welfare and food stamps all of a sudden were able to return to the workforce with good-paying jobs. There would be more tax revenue coming in and less going out.

Imagine inner cities rebuilt and factories returning.

The Democrats depend on these people for votes to stay in power. If all of a sudden they no longer have to rely on the federal government, the Democrats will lose a large part of their base.

I wish Donald Trump a very successful four years.

Chris Lewis, Omaha

When Nebraskans ran the country

I read in Thursdays World-Herald that Melvin Laird, President Richard Nixons first secretary of defense and a close friend and adviser to President Gerald Ford, had died.

Next month will be the 10th anniversary of the death of President Ford. I recall seeing a very interesting picture with those two, along with Dick Cheney, who served as Fords chief of staff.

Like President Ford, Laird was born in Omaha. Cheney was born in Lincoln.

Politics aside, at least Nebraskans were running things for a while, in a roundabout way.

Rob Butler, Omaha

Good news on gray days

Heres an appreciative shout out to The World-Herald and its stable of columnists for continuing to ferret out good news and report it, especially in these dark times.

Matthew Hansens Nov. 18 story on Litter Warrior Cindy Tefft was especially uplifting, but I also always enjoy the writing of Mike Kelly, Brad Dickson and Erin Grace, as well. My eyes are still happily damp from Graces tribute last month to Thelma Sutcliffe on the occasion of her 110th birthday.

Im not sure if its the editors or the writers who conceptualize, but we readers dont care when the finished product is so upbeat.

Please keep up the good work.

Steve Paschang, Omaha
TRS leader caught kicking, abusing men on camera

Hyderabad

oi-Anusha

A video doing the rounds in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh displaying blatant hooliganism of a TRS leader has now drawn police attention. The video shows an alleged TRS leader, Santosh, kicking and abusing 2 men at his consultancy firm.

Suryapet district police in Telangana have registered a case in this matter after 2 men Hussain and Akhil approached them with a complaint against a TRS leader for cheating, assaulting and abusing them. In their complaint the men have accused Santosh of assaulting them for questioning him on jobs that he had promised to them. The duo claimed that they had paid money to secure jobs but were thrashed and abused by the leader for asking him to return their money.

The video allegedly shows the TRS leader sitting on a chair and the 2 men sitting on the ground pleading with him to return their money. The TRS man is seen ridiculing them and kicking one of the men in the stomach in a fit of rage. The video ends abruptly with the TRS man asking his associate to bring him his firearm.

The video is being viewed and shared on social media widely with public demanding action against the ruling party leader.

Look at behavior of Self claimed TRS leader at Suryapet #Telangana cheated jobless youth by taking money,offering job(sry fr unedited voice) pic.twitter.com/3VWZu1BiWb  kavitha Rao (@iamKavithaRao) November 21, 2016

TRS, however has distanced itself from the incident and has claimed that the man seen in the video isn't their leader.

Firstly, he is not a TRS member. Our local MLA & Energy minister Jagdish Reddy confirmed it



Request @TelanganaDGP to take stern action https://t.co/tRxTDTiODA  KTR (@KTRTRS) November 21, 2016

OneIndia News
Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

New IT rules will make sure no unlawful content is posted online: Minister

'1,500 Bridges to be improved under Setu Bharatam Scheme'

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Nov 21: At least 1,500 bridges will be improved under the central government's Setu Bharatam Scheme, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansuk Mandaviya told Parliament on Monday.

"Improvement of around 1,500 bridges has been planned under the scheme for construction, reconstruction or strengthening, as required," Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha.

According to the Minister, the government has established the Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) for inventorisation and condition survey of all bridges on the National Highways.

IANS
40 down and counting: Forces on the verge of wiping out Pakistani terrorists in Valley

Jammu and Kashmir: 4 army men injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire in Rajouri

India

oi-PTI

Jammu, Nov 21: Four army jawans were injured as Pakistani army resorted to heavy cross-border firing in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night, in third ceasefire violation in less than 24 hours.

"Pakistani army resorted to heavy cross-border firing in the Rajouri sector, in which four of our soldiers have been injured," an army officer said.

He said the army was giving befitting response to the Pakistani fire and the exchange of fire was going on till last reports came in.

Sunday's violation of the ceasefire came a day after a BSF jawan and a woman were injured and two houses damaged when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri with mortar attacks and small arms fire.

On Saturday morning, Pakistani army resorted to violation of the ceasefire in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon, they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas.

On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu district.

Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.

There have been a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29.

PTI
ATMs start dispensing more of Rs 500 instead of Rs 2,000

US places India, 10 other countries under currency practices monitoring list

Cryptocurrency transactions should be recognised as asset class, regulated centrally: RSS body

Budget 2022: Digital Rupee based on blockchain to be introduced this year

Digital Rupee in India: What is blockchain technology and how does it work?

Indias own digital cryptocurrency to soon become reality

Are Rs 10 coins fake? RBI dispels rumours

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, Nov 21: Seeking to dispel rumours making the rounds, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked people to accept Rs 10 coins without any doubt.

The RBI rubbished rumours that Rs 10 coins are fake or duplicate.

There are rumours, especially across Northeast India, that Rs 10 coins are not genuine currency and customers should not accept them.

On people refusing to accept Rs 10 coins, United Bank of India's (UBI) Chief Regional Manager and Deputy General Manager Mahendra Dohare said that people should accept the coins as these are not at all fake or duplicate.

[Also Read: Demonetisation: Finance ministry clueless about exact amount of black money]

"The RBI has also asked the people to accept the coins without any doubt," he added.

It's been 13 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8.

[Also Read: Demonetisation: India is going to face serious recession, predicts economist Prabhat Patnaik]

However, the people in northeast India are still reeling under a cash crunch as banks and ATM kiosks don't have enough cash to dispense.

OneIndia News
Rajasthan: Sec 144 to be imposed in Jodhpur ahead of Asaram case verdict

Raping girls no sin for 'Brahmgyani' like him, believed Asaram

Good days will come, Asaram says in viral audio clip

Asaram's bail plea rejected

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

New Delhi, Nov 21: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to self- styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is facing trial in rape cases.

Asaram had on Thursday moved Supreme Court seeking modification of its order citing that he has to undergo treatment at AIIMS in Jodhpur due to deteorating health condition.

Asaram and his son Narayan Sai also face charges of performing black magic. A PIL filed in the Supreme Court against Godman and his son claims that he saw Narayan Sai doing tantrik practice on the dead body of a child, said reports.

Scores of children had gone missing from Asaram's ashrams in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Jodhpur police arrested Asaram on August 2013 and since then he is in prison. A teenager had accused Asaram of sexually assaulting her during celebration in a village near Jodhpur ashram.

Oneindia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 12:48 [IST]
Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments

PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

Dear PM Narendra Modi, joke on demonetisation not really funny

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, Nov 21: On Saturday, while addressing a crowd of 80,000 via video conference during the Coldplay concert in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked his critics for vocally opposing demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

Although this time, his attack was in the form of a joke, which many said was in bad taste.

The PM poked fun at his own singing abilities. However, he didn't forget to link the joke to demonetisation.

"You have been smart in asking me to only address the gathering, and not sing," he said.

[Also Read: Are Rs 10 coins fake? RBI dispels rumours]

"Else, I am pretty sure your audience would be asking you for their money back. And that too in 100 rupee notes."

Even after 13 days, since Modi in an address to the nation announced the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, people are struggling to withdraw legal tender from banks and ATM kiosks.

In such a scenario, when anger against the "hasty and unplanned" move by the government is quite palpable among the masses, the PM could have easily avoided repeatedly making fun about the whole process, say critics.

[Also Read:Demonetisation: Finance ministry clueless about exact amount of black money]

During his visit to Japan, Modi was seen laughing and telling the audience, mostly Indians diaspora, that in homes that are preparing for wedding ceremonies, there is suddenly a cash crunch after demonetisation.

His critics say Modi should not make light of the inconvenience caused to millions, especially in a foreign shore.

Modi also quoted Nobel laureate Bob Dylan's famous song "The Times They Are A-Changin" to slam his political opponents, while addressing the audience at the rock concert.

Modi said, "Come mothers and fathers, throughout the land, and don't criticise, what you can't understand."

"Your sons and your daughters, are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly agin. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand, for the times they are a-changin," the PM quoted Dylan's lines from the cult song.

This is how PM's opponents reacted to his rock concert address:

The cold play while the poor suffer!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 19, 2016

Since @narendramodi ji is such a fan of quoting Bob Dylan lyrics, here's a Dylan tune specially for him: pic.twitter.com/7jW8iogK7z  Nehr-who? (@threeinchfooll) November 19, 2016

Bob Dylan when he heard Modi has quoted him pic.twitter.com/iNKDVB0v8f  Ajay Singh (@ajaxsingh) November 19, 2016

OneIndia News
A hand-rolled marijuana cigarette with design is being smoked by a cannabis user. (Photo : YouTube/The Young Turks )

Marijuana legalization is a very sensitive and important issue for most US citizens. And with the presidential election being concluded, it seems like a brighter future is ahead the weed industry under the leadership of Donald Trump.



Over the past years, a series of debates and studies were conducted in order to scrutinize the idea of legalizing the recreational use of cannabis from one state to another. As of the moment only a few states have allowed the recreational use of cannabis, while others may soon follow the steps of Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon to name a few.



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A potential industry growth is expected by many now that Donald Trump is in the White House, in contrast with a much stricter view exercised by the previous administration. Although there is no hundred percent assurance that a national legalization may happen in an instant, users and enthusiasts are hoping for the big change to come. This glimpse of hope came to fore, especially after Trump elicited a positive response concerning the legalization issue of weed.



"In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-state...Don't we agree? I think so. And then I really believe we should leave it up to the states," Trump told The Washington Post.



The legalization of recreational marijuana on a national level could usher a "green rush" in the current US economy. The sales value of some marketable cannabis products such as oils, lotions, edibles and other paraphernalia could have a brighter future if such huge and delicate steps are to be made.



Based on the research conducted by ArcView Group, a cannabis-focused investment and research firm, U.S. sales of legal weed skyrocketed to $5.4 billion in 2015. And such market performance is expected to increase if national legalization of cannabis be pushed and approved during Trump's administration.



However, this might still be far from happening, especially that non-cannabis users and advocates may oppose during the casting of votes of its legalization from one state to another. But still with the business-minded and unorthodox approach of the president-elect Donald Trump, one should expect the unexpected.



Watch here below Marijuana Legalization debate:






Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments

PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

Do youve Rs 2,000 note? Sorry, no business without Rs 500, Rs 100 notes

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Guwahati, Nov 21: Yes, this is the story across the northeastern states in India.

The Northeast India has been gripped by a peculiar problem, these days.

The region has enough availability of Rs 2,000 currency notes, but in the absence of Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes, businesses of all kinds have been hit hard.

According to reports, wait for the new Rs 500 note in the Northeast may just get a little longer.

Official sources in the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India in Guwahati told The Telegraph that they were yet to receive any definite communication as to when the "lower-denomination new currency" would be available for circulation in the Northeast.

[Also Read:Demonetisation: Northeast India worst affected; business slumps by 25 per cent, says industry body]

The uncertainty is causing panic-like situation across the region.

Almost a week back, the "higher-denomination new currency", the Rs 2,000 note, has been circulating in the Northeast region.

Initially, post-demonetisation days, the ATMs were dispensing Rs 100 notes.

However, currently ATMs are only dispensing Rs 2,000 notes. Thus there is a severe shortage of Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes which has brought all kinds of businesses to a halt.

[Also Read: Dear PM Narendra Modi, joke on demonetisation not really funny]

Customers are facing great problems in buying their daily essential items as shopkeepers are refusing to accept Rs 2,000 notes.

"The business establishments don't have lower denomination notes to give to customers in return for Rs 2,000 notes. Thus there is no transaction. The RBI should ensure that banks and ATMs across the region have enough lower denomination notes to end the crisis," said a senior official of a private bank on condition of anonymity.

On November 8, Prime Minister Modi announced scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to fight against black money, counterfeit currencies and terror funding.

OneIndia News
Mamata slams Centre's 'lack of decency' in sending invite via undersecy for Netaji Bose statue unveiling

'Is this acceptable?' Mamata Banerjee on Hindu Mahasabha's depiction of Mahatma Gandhi as Asura

Amit Shah to chair two-day 'Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers'; Mamata to skip the meet

Govt confused over demonetisation: Mamata

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Kolkata, Nov 21: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took potshots at the BJP-led Centre over frequently changing the guidlines on the demonetisation issue, saying that it shows that the govenment is confused.

She said that istead of making changes on demonetisation policies on a daily basis, the government should have come up with a comprehensive plan.

"Centre has 'rolled back' about 15 decisions since announcement on 8 Nov. This means they are confused," she told the media here.

Mamata further trained guns at Nitish Kumar, who had lent support to demonetisation, and said the Bihar Chief Minister might have had some "political compulsions".

She vowed to go to the National Capital tomorrow and carry out with her protest against demonetisation along with her supporters.

In a veiled attack on Mamata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier said political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams are attacking him as they have been hit hard by demonetisation.

Banerjee, who led a march led a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan last week to submit memorandum on demonetisation, warned the Centre of intense protests if the problems being faced by people are not resolved in three days' time.

Meanwhile, Modi governments currency demonetisation move has been gaining support from the citizens.

According to the survey by LocalCircles - a citizen engagement platform - 79 per cent of those surveyed citizens fully supported the demonetisation programme while only 3 percent were against it.

Prime Minister Modi, had on November 8, announced that all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee notes would cease to be valid in all forms of transactions in a bid to tackle hoarding of black money, corruption and terror financing.

Oneindia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 15:25 [IST]
Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai joins the Indian Navy

News

oi-Lisa

By Lisa

Mumbai, Nov 21 INS Chennai, a P 15A Guided Missile Destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai today.

Manohar Parrikar, whilst addressing the gathering, termed the commissioning of INS Chennai, last of the Project 15 A class Destroyers, as a historic day for the Indian Navy as it adds another milestone in our relentless journey towards achieving self reliance in battle readiness.

The ship represents a significant 'coming of age' of our warship building capability and defence preparedness, said the Defence minister. He further stated that the Indian Navy, in addition to providing overall maritime security to our country, also plays a crucial role as the 'net security provider' in our adjoining seas.

In this regard, Manohar Parrikar also stressed that the Navy's growth and development must keep pace with the nation's growth and maritime security needs.

Lauding the role played by the naval designers (DGND) and the ship builders MDL Mumbai, Parrikar said "with the induction of INS Chennai, a new benchmark has been achieved for our warship design and construction endeavours, with the sophistication of systems and equipment, and utilisation of advanced ship building techniques".

Following her formal induction, INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. In due course, the ship will be assigned to the Western Fleet and would be base-ported at Mumbai.

About INS Chennai

The ship measures 163m in length, 17.4m in breadth with a displacement of 7500 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.

INS Chennai is packed with contemporary and sophisticated 'state of the art' weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles.

The ship is fitted with a modern Surveillance Radar which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems of the ship.

The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

A unique feature of this ship is the high level of indigenisation incorporated in the production, accentuating our national objective of 'Make in India'.

Named after the iconic port city of Chennai, the ship has a complement of about 45 officers and 395 personnel.

Enhancement of crew comfort has been a significant feature of INS Chennai, which has been ensured through ergonomically designed accommodation based on 'modular' concepts.

The ship will be under the command of Captain CR Praveen Nair, a Communication & Electronic Warfare specialist.

With the changing power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region, INS Chennai will augment the Indian Navy's mobility, reach and flexibility whilst proudly flying the Indian flag.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 20:48 [IST]
Hyderabad: Police arrests two with bags full of hawala cash worth Rs 70 lakhs

TRS, BJP are two sides of same coin: Rahul Gandhi in Telangana

Delhi brokers tried to bribe four TRS MLAs: KCR targets BJP

Hyderabad should remember Sardar Patel the most: Kishan Reddy

Hyderabad twin blasts case verdict deferred to December 13

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Hyderabad, Nov 21: A special court on Monday adjourned to December 13 the verdict in the 2013 twin bomb blasts case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court, which was expected to pronounce its judgement on Monday, deferred it.

The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area in Hyderabad on February 21, 2013, claimed 19 lives and injured over 130 people.

The NIA, which probed the case, concluded that the blasts were engineered by Indian Mujahideen operatives.

Out of six accused in the case, the investigating agency arrested five. Main accused Riyaz Bhatkal alias Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari is absconding.

The five accused against whom charges were framed are Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Yasin Bhatkal alias Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, Pakistan national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, and Ajaz Shaikh.

For the last one year, the trial was conducted by the special court at Cherlapally Central Prison on the city outskirts where the five accused are currently lodged.

Read More: Hyderabad: Labourer killed, 2 injured in blast at chemical unit

The NIA has produced 158 witnesses, seized 201 pieces of material evidence and furnished over 500 documents before the court.

Six months after the blasts, Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar were arrested in Bihar close to the Nepal border. Three other accused were arrested subsequently and the NIA filed two charge sheets against the five accused.

The twin blasts occurred within a distance of 100 metres at crowded places in Dilsukhnagar on the evening of February 21, 2013.

IANS
Russian jet with 14 servicemen aboard vanishes from radar off Syria

This video shows jetpack pilot flying like real-life Iron Man above Dubai skyline at 150mph

IAF jets land on newly inaugurated Agra-Lucknow Greenfield expressway

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Unnao, Nov 21: IAF Mirage 2000 jets touched down at the six lane Agra-Lucknow Greenfield expressway in Unnao, which was inaugurated by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav was also present on the occasion.

#WATCH Unnao: IAF Mirage 2000 jets touch down on Agra-Lucknow expressway pic.twitter.com/xiZtjzZzHy  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) 21 November 2016

The 302 kms expressway, which is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Lucknow by around 5-6 hours, was completed in a record 23 months time.

Starting from Agra the expressway will pass through Ferozabad, Mainpuri, Etawa, Auraiya, Kannauj, Hardoi, Kanpur and Unnao, before reaching Lucknow.

The key feature of the project is that the 3500 hectares of land, which was spread over 232 villages, was aquired for this was done with the consent of farmers.

The government has also given an assurance that 3 lakh trees displaced during the project would be re-planted.

Ironically, chief secretary Navneet Sehgal, who is responsible for the swift completion of the project, met with an accident on Novenber 18 and is undergoing treatment at Gurgaon's Medanta Hospital.

Oneindia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 14:16 [IST]
INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

This indigenously built missile destroyer will add new dimension to our Navy's attack capabilities.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

INS Chennai commissioned by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar today.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

A unique feature of this ship is the high level of indigenisation incorporated in the production, accentuating our national objective of 'Make in India'.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

Named after the iconic port city of Chennai, the ship has a complement of about 45 officers and 395 personnel.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

The ship will be under the command of Captain CR Praveen Nair, a Communication & Electronic Warfare specialist.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

INS Chennai is packed with contemporary and sophisticated 'state of the art' weapons and sensors such as Surface to Surface Missile and Surface to Air Missiles.

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba during the commissioning ceremony of INS Chennai in Mumbai on Monday. PTI

INS Chennai joins Indian Navy

Naval officers hoisting their flag during the commissioning ceremony of naval warship INS Chennai in Mumbai on Monday. PTI
CUET impact? Only 1 from Kerala board in Hindu College's popular course so far

JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list to be released today; how to check

'Kidney has no religious labels' Swaraj tell Muslim man offering his kidney

India

oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes

New Delhi, Nov 21: Ever since External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that she was in AIIMS undergoing dialysis for kidney failure, she has been flooded with messages on Twitter wishing her a speedy recovery.

In the midst of all the messages, there have been several people offering to donate their kidneys to the minister. One such incident came to light where a Muslim man offered to donate his kidney to Swaraj.

Mujib Ansari, through a tweet offered to donate his kidney to the minister while adding that he is a Muslim and a BSP supporter in Uttar Pradesh. Swaraj, who is known for her prompt replies on the micro-blogging site, in a response to the same said: "Thank you very much brothers. I am sure, kidney has no religious labels."

Thank you very much brothers. I am sure, kidney has no religious labels. @Mujibansari6 @vicechairmanmpc @ali57001  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 18, 2016

Apart from Mujib, a few other Muslim men have offered to donate their kidneys to Swaraj. AIIMS, where Swaraj is currently undergoing treatment, has been flooded with calls from across the country enquirying about the procedure for kidney donation to help the minister.

Thanking her friends, Swaraj said: "Some friends have also offered their kidneys for my transplant. I have no words to express my deep sense of gratitude towards them."

Some friends have also offered their kidneys for my transplant. I have no words to express my deep sense of gratitude towards them.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 17, 2016

Also read: Sushma Swaraj under observation at AIIMS

On Nov 16, Swaraj took to Twitter to share news about her medical condition and said: "I am in AIIMS because of kidney failure. Presently, I am on dialysis. I am undergoing tests for a Kidney transplant. Lord Krishna will bless."

I am in AIIMS because of kidney failure. Presently, I am on dialysis. I am undergoing tests for a Kidney transplant. Lord Krishna will bless  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 16, 2016

Since then her party members and others have wished her a speedy recovery.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 12:28 [IST]
INS Chennai commissioned into Navy

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Nov 21: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today commissioned 'INS Chennai', the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, here.

Built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship's construction also marks the end of the Project 15A to build Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, was also present on the occasion.

"This is a historic day for the Indian Navy, commissioning of the INS Chennai commissioned into Navy," Parrikar said on the occasion.

When asked about his upcoming Bangladesh trip, he said, "It is a planned trip.Defence Minister should go to neighbouring nations where he anticipates good friendship."

With an overall length of 164 metres and displacement of over 7,500 tons, 'INS Chennai' is one of the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy's fleet. The ship is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 long range surface-to-air missiles.

The ship is going to be assigned to the western fleet after completion of some additional trials of systems deployed on it. It is the final destroyer ship in this class. The first ship of the class, named 'INS Kolkata', was commissioned on August 16, 2014, followed by 'INS Kochi' which was commissioned on September 30, 2015.

The third destroyer will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.

PTI
Parrikar lifts Defence's morale, asks soldiers to 'shoot enemy, not wait to be martyred'

India

oi-Pallavi Sengupta

Panaji, Nov 21: Lifting the morale of the Defence forces, minister Manohar Parrikar has given a free reign to armed forces to shoot anyone sighted with a gun.

Addressing BJP's election rally at Vasco, he said, "When I took over as the Defence minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyone's hand, don't expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him."

Claiming that the morale of the Army has gone up since Modi has become the PM of India, Parrikar said,"In Kashmir our army was fighting with the terrorists. Congress government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you don't retaliate."

"Our soldiers now don't need to seek permission from the Defence Ministry to fire at the person who fires at them. They have complete power and they are giving apt reply to our enemy. I feel bad that some of our soldiers are martyred."

Mounting sarcasm against the opposition, he said, "I was initially not understanding how Defence ministry works. It took 6-8 months for me after that I understood."

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 13:56 [IST]
CUET impact? Only 1 from Kerala board in Hindu College's popular course so far

JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list to be released today; how to check

Demonetisation: Rahul sharpens attack on Modi, says PM not interested in talking to people

India

oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes

New Delhi, Nov 21: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, hitting out at prime minister Narendra Modi said: "The biggest economic decision in India's history was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi without consulting anybody except for 3-4 people."

Also read: Rahul Gandhi interacts with people outside ATMs in Delhi

Gandhi, who has been critical of the demonetisation move by the government, said that Modi does not consult with his Cabinet and does what he wants to do. "The prime minister doesn't seem to be interested in talking to people," he added.

Gandhi, who interacted with people on Monday when he visited a few ATMs in Delhi, said that the people were facing a lot of problems.

"I visited ATMs in morning and spoke to people who told me people with a lot of money are getting a back door entry to banks." "The goverment is insensitive to people. Instead of focussing on common man, the PM is focussing on bullet trains," he added.

On PM's remark that the country will come out like gold after this exercise, theGandhi asked, "For whom? "and added "I feel the treasuries of the PM's own 15 or 20 people's will be filled up and their loans will be waived. Poor people those who are in the queue will only suffer losses."

Asked why opposition is not ready for discussion, he, said "We are going to discuss. We are ready for discussion."

Gandhi went on to say that the government was indifferent to farmers. Gandhi has been critical of the government after Narendra Modi announced that Rs 500 and 1,000 notes will not be legal tender.

He had said that the demonetisation move will turn out to be a big scam.

(With PTI inputs)

OneIndia News
Although high property prices look impressive on paper, discretionary spending, a vital driver of Chinese economy, suffers. (Photo : Getty Images)

Even as China's economy continues to grow steadily, the country's vigorous real estate market is showing signs of settling down, thanks to a succession of direct measures. According to experts, recent tough moves have been effective in arresting the spiking housing prices, in addition to regulating the market.



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Figures released by China's National Bureau of Statistics showed that home prices in tier-I cities like Beijing plus large tier-II throughout the country edged in 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent respectively in October compared to that in September. At the same time, the growth rates were 2.8 percentage points and 1 percentage point lower respectively compared to that in the previous month.



This trend was reinforced by sales of second-hand residential property, while prices of existing homes in tier-I and tier-II increased 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent respectively during the same period. On the other hand, the growth rates were 2.9 percentage points and 1.1 percentage points lower respectively compared to September.



The bureau released the data soon after the different local governments introduced several initiatives to contain speculative housing purchases, restrain asset bubbles risks as well as stabilize the market. In fact, several Chinese cities have modified market rules, which include higher deposits and additional restrictions, Xinhua reported.



The trends were a result of the milder price gain due to the recent policies introduced by various local governments with a view to control rising property prices, the publication reported quoting NBS senior statistician Liu Jianwei. Meanwhile, a Tsinghua University professor Liu Hongyu told the agency that the long-term policy effects still needs to be observed closely.



As the tightening moves started having the desired results, sales volume for new as well as existing homes maintained a more rapid downward trend during November. According to Cheng Yun, a senior analyst at top Chinese real estate agency Centaline Property, the ripple effects were seen even in cities where they are yet to be implemented.



Xia Dan, a senior researcher at the Bank of Communications, which is among China's five leading lenders, echoed Yun's views. According to the report, Dan had predicted that sale volumes of residential property would decelerate further in November.



Watch China's real estate bubble below:






Reuven Rivlin pays homage to 26/11 terror victims

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Mumbai, Nov 21 Five days before the eighth anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday paid tributes to the victims and martyrs at a memorial meeting here.

Accompanied by his wife and First Lady Nechama Rivlin, President Rivlin wrote his comments in the memorial book kept at the Hotel Taj Mahal.

Later, they exchanged greetings with the staff of the iconic hotel which had borne the brunt of the 60-hour-long terror attack November 26-28, 2008.

Rivlin was accompanied by Maharashtra Governor C. V. Rao, Protocol Minister Ram Shinde, Israel Ambassador to India David Carmon and Consul-General in Mumbai David Akov.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Rao recalled the pain of the victims, the men, women and even children, hotel staff, tourists, etc during the dastardly strikes at multiple attacks which left 166 dead.

"How on earth, a two-year old child can be held hostage for 14 hours and his parents killed brutally? That reaffirs the fact that terrorists are inhuman and have no religion," Rao said, referring to the brutal killing of 29-year-old Israeli Rabbi, Gavriel N. Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, at the Nariman House in Colaba where they ran the Chabad House.

Their two-year old son, Moshe was saved from the terrorists' bullets by their Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel, and later the duo was taken to Israel, where they have settled.

Lauding the contribution of the Jewish community to the progress and development of India which is "disproportionately high" compared to their population, Rao said Maharashtra last year accorded 'Minority Status' to them to help preserve and protect their distinct identity and cultural traditions.

The special memorial meeting was organised by the Israeli Embassy at the hotel where the governor later called on President Rivlin and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

IANS
Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments

SC to hear demonetisation transfer plea on Wednesday

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Nov 21: The Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking transfer of all cases relating to demonetisation on Wednesday.

The centre had moved the Supreme Court serking transfer of all petititons before the various High Courts challenging the decision of the government which declared that Rs 500 and 1,000 will no longer be legal tender.

The centre said since a petition is already being heard by the Supreme Court it would be better that all cases before the high courts be transferred.Today the bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur agreed to hear the plea on transfer on Wednesday.

Illegality in issuance of Rs 2,000 note, alleges Congress

On the last date of hearing the Supreme Court had expressed anguish over the steps taken by the government following demonetisation. The SC had directed the government to effective steps to ease the pain of the people.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 11:37 [IST]
Deprivation point to be brought back for PhD students in JNU

JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list to be released today; how to check

Students Islamic Organisation seeks action against Najeeb's assaulters

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Nov 21 Members of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India held a protest march here on Monday demanding action against those who assaulted JNU scholar Najeeb Ahmed prior to his disappearance in October.

The protestors, who included students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), among others, were accompanied by Ahmed's mother Fateema Nafees.

"We want JNU authorities to punish the three students -- Vikrant, Sunil and Ankit -- for assaulting Ahmed, a fact which has been acknowledged in the Proctorial inquiry as well," Sadat Hussain, an SIO member from JNU told IANS.

The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India is the students' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

"We also condemn the police for still not being able to find Ahmed, who is missing for 36 days now," Hussain added.

Najeeb Ahmed, a first-year MSc student at the School of Biotechnology in JNU, reportedly went missing after allegedly being beaten up by some students comprising ABVP members, who had gone campaigning to his room for hostel elections on the intervening night of October 14-15.

A Proctorial Inquiry formed to identify the assailants had found at least one student named Vikrant to be guilty of assaulting Ahmed. He was served a show cause notice on November 7 and asked to reply within seven days.

Another student told IANS that apart from seeking justice for Najeeb, this protest is also against the changing face of the nation under the current dispensation.

"This protest is against fascist forces, against Una lynching and fake Bhopal encounter," he said.

The protestors marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar where Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, along with several other political leaders and members of civil society, was scheduled to address them.

IANS
Assam govt to shut all govt-run Madrassas and Sanskrit Tols, to be converted to normal schools

Thailand Princess, US professor conferred World Sanskrit Awards

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Nov 21 Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand and George Cardona, Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania, USA, were on Monday presented with the World Sanskrit Award by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) here.

Instituting of an annual 'World Sanskrit Award' was announced by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her inaugural address in the 16th World Sanskrit Conference in Bangkok in June 2015.

On the occasion, Vice President M. Hamid Ansari said that "the case for studying Sanskrit makes itself, and there is no need at all to invoke higher spiritual incentives" in order to justify this.

Linked by an ancient language! VP Hamid Ansari presents the 1st World Sanskrit Award to Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand in Delhi pic.twitter.com/aiJ7Tbmmyo  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) November 21, 2016

He congratulated Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who received the award for 2015, and Prof. George Cardona, an American linguist and Indologist who received the award for 2016, for being the first recipients of ICCR's World Sanskrit Awards. Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar among other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

"Her Highness is an eminent scholar of Sanskrit and Pali, is keenly interested in epigraphy and has been a patron of Sanskrit studies in Thailand and propagation of Sanskrit. Prof. George Cardona, Professor Emeritus of linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania has singularly been responsible for making the University of Pennsylvania a centre of Sanskrit learning in North America," he said.

He further said that Thai and other Southeast Asian languages have strong roots in Sanskrit, which reflects their remote past relationship with Sanskrit. In Europe and in the United States also there has been a long and valuable tradition of scholarship in Sanskrit, he added.

The awards were presented to honour eminent Sanskrit scholars and recognise their outstanding contribution to the study, teaching or research in Sanskrit language and literature.

Addressing the gathering, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said, "It is gracious of Government of India to grant me the first World Sanskrit Award. I feel both humbled and honoured by this gesture. What I have done to promote Sanskrit is just a drop in the vast ocean of what other scholars have done in this field."

Princess Sirindhorn described Sanskrit as "the eternal legacy to mankind" and said that it is through Sanskrit that "Indian values and ethos" have been embeded in Thai culture.

She has been awarded with several Honorary Doctorates and awards, including Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature (Sanskrit) from the University of Delhi in 1987; Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development Award from the Government of India in 2004; and Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1991.

George Cardona also expressed his gratitude on receiving the award. "I am honoured to receive this award and very happy to see Sanskrit being celebrated in this manner. My debt to India is enormous", he said.

Prof. Cardona was earlier awarded President of India's Certificate of Honour in Sanskrit in the year 2012.

The Jury comprised of eminent Sanskrit scholars under the Chairmanship of Professor Lokesh Chandra, President ICCR. Nominations for the award are sought from Indian Missions/Posts abroad as well as from the Jury members.

IANS
The menace of Kashmiris attending militant funerals is back

India

oi-Vicky

Srinagar, Nov 21: The menace of people attending funerals of militants in Jammu and Kashmir continues. On November 20, scores of people attended the funeral of Rayees Ahmed Dar, a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant who was killed in an encounter on Saturday.

Pro-Azadi slogans were heard at the funeral that was held in Kakpora in Jammu and Kashmir. Crowds poured in large numbers as a result of which security had to be stepped up in the area. For the security forces, luckily there were no law and order problems and despite the large numbers, the funeral passed off peacefully.

Disturbing trend

Over the past year, one has witnessed a disturbing trend in Kashmir. It has become a trend to attend funerals of militants that too in large numbers. Dar, who held a diploma in civil engineering, had taken to militancy a few years back.Those backing him felt that he had been targeted by the security forces.

However, security forces say that there were ample chances given to him to surrender, but he failed to do so. "We even put out a notice regarding the same, but he chose not to respond," a senior police official from Jammu and Kashmir informed OneIndia.

Also read: J&K students prove pen is mightier than stone

In South Kashmir where militancy is at its peak, one has got to witness such funerals several times in the past year. Security forces have complained that locals come out and even pelt stones at them during an ongoing encounter.

To make matters worse, there are militants who land up at the encounter spot and give a gun salute thus provoking the people further.

It may be recalled that after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani on July 8, several people had attended his funeral. Following this, the unrest in Kashmir broke out and the same went on for over 100 days.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 9:50 [IST]
The crimes of Zakir Naik: Extolling every Muslim to be a terrorist, paid Rs 50k per Islamic conversion

Prosecutions story may be attractive but should be backed by evidence

Zakir Naik case: The heat has been turned on

India

oi-Vicky

Mumbai, Nov 21: For Zakir Naik, the heat is on. After the government banned his NGO, the Islamic Reserach Foundation (IRF) for five years, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered cases.

On Saturday, a team of the NIA conducted a search and raid at 12 premises connected to the IRF.

The NIA not only seized Rs 12 lakh in cash, but also collected incriminating documents including financial transactions and property details of IRF and Naik.

The NIA has sought the help of IT experts from Delhi to help crack the financial transactions.

Decoding the funding pattern

The NIA says that there is a pattern to the funding. It is an important aspect of the probe, an NIA officer part of the investigations told OneIndia. "A majority of the funding has come from Saudi Arabia. We are investigating the exact reason why this funding has taken place," the officer said.

The Kerala police during its probe had learnt that Naik's foundation had indulged in conversion. "We are seeing if these funds were being pumped into India specifically to convert people," the NIA official said.

Also read: NIA seizes Rs 12 lakh cash in raids on 12 premises of IRF

The probe would not just include the source of the funding but the pattern to it. There have been several complaints that these funds had been misused and the probe will help us understand this better.

In addition to this the NIA is also probing his speeches which many have complained are radical in nature.

Zakir Naik's name had cropped following the recent Dhaka Cafe attack. One of the terrorists had posted that he had been inspired by the speeches made by Naik. These allegations have, however, been denied by Naik.

The NIA says that they will tell Naik to come to India and face a probe. "If he fails to do so then we will file a chargesheet and seek his extradition from Saudi Arabia. Prima facie there is enough material to add to the chargesheet and in the days to come more evidence will crop up," the officer also informed.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, November 21, 2016, 8:50 [IST]
Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary

Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls

Amid turmoil at home, Pakistan PM Sharif to visit China to felicitate Xi for his record win

Shehbaz Sharif arrives in China on maiden visit to felicitate President Xi Jinping on his record win

Asif Ali Zardari vows to return to Pakistan soon

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Islamabad, Nov 21 Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has denied being in exile and said he would return to Pakistan within the next few weeks, the media reported on Monday.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, who has divided his time between London and Dubai since June 2015, said he would return to the country "soon", Geo News reported.

Zardari, who was the President from 2008 to 2013, abruptly left the country last year after giving a hard-hitting speech in which he hit out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain.

IANS
Obama 'not optimistic' about Syria's immediate future

International

oi-PTI

Lima, Nov 21: US President Barack Obama has said he was "not optimistic" about Syria's immediate future as the regime and its Russian backers launch a sustained bombardment of civilians in Aleppo.

"I am not optimistic about the short term prospects in Syria," Obama said at a press conference in Peru yesterday, warning Syria's second city was likely to fall.

"Once Russia and Iran made a decision to back (Bashar al) Assad in a brutal air campaign... it was very hard to see a way in which even a trained and committed moderate opposition could hold its ground for long periods of time."

AFP
Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary

Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls

Amid turmoil at home, Pakistan PM Sharif to visit China to felicitate Xi for his record win

Shehbaz Sharif arrives in China on maiden visit to felicitate President Xi Jinping on his record win

Pak defense exhibition to be attended by over 40 nations

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Nov 21: Around 90 delegations from 43 countries, including Russia and China, will attend a mega defense expo starting tomorrow in Karachi.

Pakistan will be showcasing some of its indigenously-built defense equipment like battle tank Al-Khalid and JF-17 Thunder fighter jet in the expo.

About 418 firms, including 261 from 34 foreign countries and 157 from Pakistan, will showcase their latest defense equipment at the four-day event. The 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) received an overwhelming response from exhibitors as well as delegations from around the globe, said Commodore Tahir Javed, media director of the Defense Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Ministry of Defense Production.

He said 30 high-level teams comprising defense ministers, defense secretaries and services chiefs are attending the biennial event.

"The defense industries of Turkey, China, Russia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia will have a significant presence," he said.

Nine new countries which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Nigeria and Romania are also attending the event. Some of the major indigenously developed products to be showcased at the event include battle tank Al-Khalid, JF-17 Thunder, Super Mushshak and K-8 aircraft, Fast Attack Craft Missile boats, UAVs, armored personnel carriers and premium grade military hardware.

Besides showcasing of products, there will be several high-level meetings among foreign delegates, key government officials and participants on the sidelines for forging alliances in defence production.

PTI
Reince Priebus rubbishes conflicts of interest allegation on Trump

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Nov 21: US President-elect Donald Trump's soon-to-be Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, said the incoming White House counsel will be tasked with making sure that there were no conflicts of interest with the real estate mogul's business empire.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Priebus said Americans should not be concerned with potential pay-to-play schemes in a Trump administration despite reports that Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who helms part of the family's business portfolio, sat in on Trump's meeting last week with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"We've been at this for a few days. I mean, this is ridiculous. Let's just kind of take a deep breath. The point is, what Americans should see from President-elect Trump is someone who, by being in action from the moment he was declared the winner, he was on a mission to bring everyone together," Priebus said.

"That, to me, is what we should be celebrating. I think people should be encouraged by what they see. And I think it's a real positive sign for the future of our country."

However, there were some signs Trump has not completely cut ties with his business -- and that foreign diplomats see Trump's business empire as a way to win his favour, CNN said.

Last week, Trump met three Indian business partners building a property near Mumbai, The New York Times reported.

The three Indian businessmen posted photos of the meeting at Manhattan's Trump Tower on social media.

IANS


A window on the Mozilla Firefox browser shows the browser has blocked the Adobe Flash plugin from activating due to a security issue on July 14, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo : Getty Images/ Sean Gallup)

Terrorism and fake news have given the Chinese authorities' move to tighten the Internet regulations in the country a boost in the arm. Speaking at the recently-concluded third World Internet Conference in Wuzhen several Chinese officials as well as business leaders advocated for tougher cyber security laws.



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Pointing to the slew of false news spread by militants during the U.S. presidential elections through the social media, these Chinese speakers asserted that cyberspace had turned out to be dangerous as well as unmanageable. Hence, there is an urgent need for stricter cyber security laws.



The second in-charge at the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), Ren Xianling, compared the rigid cyber security laws to "brakes on a car," Reuters reported. Ren also suggested the use of identification systems for to "reward and punish" netizens posting fake news and rumors.



Their comments come in the wake of a backlash faced by U.S. social networks Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc face regarding their role in spreading false and malicious information produced by users. A section of people are of the view that such rumors actually facilitated the Republican nominee Donald Trump's victory in the election.



The ceremony was inaugurated with a video message from the Chinese president Xi Jinping. In his message, Jinping said that his country was eager to work with the global community to support the general interests of mankind as the fundamental. He asserted that China will pursue the idea of network sovereignty, encourage global Internet governance towards an unbiased and practical direction, and help nitizens understand the importance of cyberspace, Xinhua reported.



Nevertheless, a series of Internet laws introduced by China have raised apprehensions that the authorities are trying to increase its control on foreign companies as well as opponents. Many, including human rights groups, have condemned China for a contentious cyber security law introduced earlier this month.



According to foreign business groups, the new law may block the entry of overseas companies into the Chinese market. There are others who apprehend that the controls introduced by China may also get in the way of growth and innovation, which have been boosting China's influence in the global technology sector.



Watch proceedings at the third World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China, below:






Kill all Hindu leaders ahead of polls: IB intercept states

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Nov 21: Under the radar of Sikh militants and the Lashkar-e-Taiba are VHP and RSS leaders. A plan has been hatched in Pakistan to target these leaders ahead of the assembly elections.

The intercepts picked up and deciphered by the Multi Agency Centre, the counter terrorism unit suggests that militant forces are being mobilised in large numbers to carry out a spate of attacks on Hindu leaders ahead of the elections.

"The threat is serious and the intercept Grade A," said an Intelligence Bureau official. "The information picked up by us suggests that the Sikh militant groups and the Lashkar-e-Taiba are coming together to carry out a major attack in India. We have warned the respective police forces to be on guard and we suspect that the target states would be Punjab and Uttar Pradesh," the official said.



Two pronged attack

As per the information available, the attacks would be two pronged. While the Sikh militants would target the Hindu leaders, the Lashkar-e-Taiba would carry out a fidayeen strike. Killing of Hindu leaders is bound to cause immense tensions and will lead to communal riots.

"This would shake the security mechanism and that is when the Lashkar-e-Taiba would come in to strike," the officer noted.

Also read: What are Kosher funds and how it can help terrorism during demonetisation

The rise of Sikh militancy is an often spoken about subject in Intelligence circles. The threat is real, but the ISI has been slow in launching these militants into India, the IB officer noted.

These groups will look to hit India at a time when security officials will be busy with election duty. The alert has been issued early so that the moves made by militants can be thwarted at an early stage.

"The Lashkar-e-Taiba would look to carry out attacks outside of Kashmir in the coming months.

We have informed the police officials to begin operations to ensure that no militant is able to slip in. Further, we have also told the police to keep a tab on groups such as the SIMI which act as a proxy to the Lashkar-e-Taiba," the officer said.

Two weeks back, an Intelligence Bureau alert suggested that members of the SIMI will try and avenge the killing of their men. It may be recalled that SIMI operatives had been killed in an encounter after they escaped from a jail in Bhopal.

OneIndia News
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Rahul Gandhi interacts with people outside ATMs in Delhi

New Delhi

oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes

New Delhi, Nov 21: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday met people queuing outside ATMs in several areas of Delhi.

Gandhi took stock of the banking and ATM services in areas like Jahangirpuri, Inderlok and Zakira area. Gandhi was seen interacting with people who had queued up outside the ATMs.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi meets people outside ATM in Delhi's Anand Parbat area, talks to them about problems faced due to #demonetization pic.twitter.com/fFM3wGPcbt  ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi meets people outside ATM in Delhi's Zakira area, talks to them about problems faced due to #demonetization pic.twitter.com/QlpVNRsbcp  ANI (@ANI_news) November 21, 2016

During the interaction, Gandhi asked the people about the difficulties they faced after the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

This is the second time that Gandhi was seen interacting with people after demonetisation. Earlier, he too was seen queuing outside the State Bank ATM on Parliament Street, where he went to exchange old currency.

While waiting for his turn, he was seen talking to people, discussing the problems that they were facing. Gandhi has been critical of government after Narendra Modi announced that Rs 500 and 1,000 notes will not be legal tender.

Gandhi had said that the demonetisation move will turn out to be a big scam.

OneIndia News
The Reserve Bank of India has proposed opening of an IslamicWindow in conventional banks for introduction of Sharia-compliant or interest free banking in the country. The proposal was taken up to ensure financial inclusion for those sections of society which remain excluded due to religious reasons.The RBI said, "In our considered opinion, given the complexities of Islamic finance and various regulatory and supervisory challenges involved in the matter and also due to the fact that Indian banks have no experience in this field, Islamic banking may be introduced in India in a gradual manner."
The menace of people attending funerals of militants in Jammu and Kashmir continues. On November 20, scores of people attended the funeral of Rayees Ahmed Dar, a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant who was killed in an encounter on Saturday. Pro-Azadi slogans were heard at the funeral that was held in Kakpora in Jammu and Kashmir. Crowds poured in large numbers as a result of which security had to be stepped up in the area. For the security forces, luckily there were no law and order problems and despite the large numbers, the funeral passed off peacefully.
Sky News 01 Nov 2022

Boris Johnson has confirmed he will attend COP27 in Egypt next week as question marks remain over whether the UK's new prime..
by  Stephanie Boyd



Businesses concerned that UK lags behind international competition

As the UK develops its economic role in the world outside of the EU, companies are planning to bolster spending on innovation to drive business growth, gain a competitive edge and ultimately, raise productivity.

A CBI survey of over 800 businesses - supported by Deloitte and Hays - shows that 70% of respondents plan to increase or maintain their innovation spending following the vote to leave the EU. Only 7% plan to reduce their investment.

Last year business invested almost 21bn on innovation, allowing British firms to develop cutting-edge products and services, attract global investment and expand internationally. The challenge for businesses is that while the UK innovation system has world-class attributes, it does not currently match their ambitions. Businesses rate the UK as 10th in the world for innovation.

While some firms view the UK as a world-beater in areas such as access to scientific research (35%) and tax incentives to support investment (30%)  the UK lags behind in other critical areas. Businesses rate the UK as a follower in areas such as partnering with external companies (21%) and grant funding (14%). In order to support businesses ambition to make the UK an innovation powerhouse, the CBI is calling on Government to commit to a long term-target of 3% public and private spend on R&D.

Looking ahead to the upcoming EU negotiations, firms have a number of top priorities that will enable them to innovate in the future  access to skills (66%), tariff-free access for goods (41%) and keeping common regulatory standards (38%).

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

The UK will need to work hard to become the front-runner in global innovation, creating a pioneering economic role for itself in the world that drives prosperity in every corner of the UK.

Innovation is the nucleus of future economic and social development, so its encouraging that seven out of ten firms will keep up - or even raise  their spending on new technologies and work practices to grow their business.

As we prepare to depart the EU, this shows that firms are rolling up their sleeves and looking to make the best of Brexit.

Spending on innovation generates jobs and economic growth across the country, offering solutions to the challenges we face today and in the years ahead from improving healthcare and mobile technology to a new generation of autonomous vehicles.

While the UK has many innovation strengths to build on, businesses are worried that the country is too much of a follower in the global economy, with the lack of access to technical skills a grave concern for ambitious firms.

This Autumn Statement comes at a real crunch point to support our inventors, makers and designers, so the Chancellor must make the most of the tools at his disposal. The CBI wants to see a long-term commitment to target 3% of GDP in R&D spending by 2025 and a doubling of Innovate UKs budget.

This needs to be underpinned by a new Industrial Strategy which builds on the UKs sectoral and regional strengths.

Other key findings from the survey, supported by Deloitte and Hays, include:

* Customer service (24%) and product development (30%) are seen as two key areas that would benefit from greater innovation

* For more effective innovation, the top priorities are to increase collaboration and partnership (65%), greater access to technical skills (68%) and increased Government support (56%)

* 44% of firms believe that the main benefits of automation are increased productivity, an improved product or service (24%) and higher customer satisfaction (15%)

* With increased automation expected over the next ten years, companies believe that they will need more highly skilled staff (48%) and that automation may replace some roles (49%), while 20% believe there will be no effect.



David Sproul, chief executive of Deloitte UK, said:

Britain has a real opportunity to be a world leader in innovation and we should be ambitious in our vision for what can be achieved. It is promising that businesses recognise the need to prioritise investing in new technologies.

However, while our country excels in ideas generation, it has a less successful track record to date of businesses adopting innovative approaches to boost productivity. We have an opportunity in the new post Brexit world to change that; Britain has world leading universities, but still has more to do to raise its record on secondary education, strengthening vocational routes to work and increasing the focus on skills for the future.

Alistair Cox, Chief Executive, Hays PLC, said:

Innovation brings us better ways of doing things, new solutions to old problems and whole new industries from which to grow. But in order for businesses to innovate they need the people with the skills to take their strategy forward and it is a great concern that many businesses today feel that they don't have access to the skills they need.

Government and business must work together to realign our education system in order to produce the graduates with the skills that are needed by today's and tomorrow's industries. In the meantime we must not restrict access into the UK for highly-skilled workers from abroad. Only by ensuring that UK businesses can access world-class talent, whether home-grown or from overseas, can we ensure that British business remains competitive and gains a position at the leading edge of innovation globally."

Other findings include:

* There is strong support for innovation at board and management level - 88% agree their board back innovation

* But firms are struggling to find the capacity  35% agree that their staff dont have enough time to innovate

* 44% of respondents believe that their firms are Pioneers in innovation (early adopters and developers), while 42% regards their business as Experimenters (curious about innovation and looking to experiment) and 13% regard themselves as Followers (once innovative practices are already in the mainstream)

The CBIs submission to the Autumn Statement sets out a number of key requests to the Government to lift UK innovation
South Korean actor Lee Joon-Gi plays the lead character of 4th Prince Wang So in SBS drama 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.' (Photo : Instagram/actor_jg)

Just like that, tickets to Lee Joon-Gi's fan meeting event are gone. It is said that the tickets to the highly anticipated Seoul fan meeting went on sale on Nov. 18, Friday and was sold out in less than a minute.



Just 52 seconds after the public sale, it appeared that all 1,400 available seats for the Seoul event had been snapped up, The Kpop Herald reported. The Hallyu star is scheduled to kick off his Asian fan meeting tour at the Gyedang Hall, Sangmyung University on Dec. 3.



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The "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" actor's tremendous fame was further demonstrated when fans urged his agency, Namoo Actors, to hold another fan-meeting. There has yet to be any announcement about another Seoul fan-meeting. Nonetheless, it has already been confirmed Lee will hold a similar meet-and-greet event in Japan and Taiwan, respectively.



Aside from the Asian fan meeting tour, Lee will also make his Hollywood debut in the upcoming "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" film. He plays Umbrella Corporation's Commander Lee who holds a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo.



Though Lee's screen time will only be around five to ten minutes long, he is expected to go head-to-head against the heroine, Alice (Milla Jovovich). In February, he detailed how he landed a special role in the sci-fi film, revealing director Paul W. S. Anderson muted a footage of him acting and examined his faces and emotions before deciding to hire him.



"It's just a special appearance," Lee told Singles magazine, as cited by Han Cinema. "I think of it as a good experience. I have been acting for more than 10 years now, but there's still a lot I want to show everyone. I haven't met my true character yet. I hope to in the future."



Stay tuned for more updates as they arrive. While waiting, check out Lee as 4th Prince Wang So in SBS' "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" here:






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Commencing Today: Brazilian Regulation Inches Forward at BgC

Published November 21, 2016 by Lee R

Government revenues and jobs are at stake.

The main stakeholders in Brazil convened last night in Sao Paulo for three days of today looking to resolve the regulation issues of Latin Americans largest economy once and for all.

Rolling Up Sleeves

Government officials, Brazilian foreign experts, and key representatives of the private sector will be seeking to bring regulation to a massive untapped gaming sector where the Instituto Jogo Legal estimates that about R$ 59 billion circulates annually.

Shifting the Lens

Organized by Clarion Events, the third edition of the Brazilian Gaming Congress (BgC) will continue through November 22 at the Tivoli Mofarrej in Sao Paulo (SP).

Two Goals

Themed "Magnifying Your Vision," the events dual goals consist of perfecting a regulation model that harnesses the large amount of activity that Brazilian players engage in underground or across borders as well as providing jobs and government tax revenues to an economy that is struggling to the public and private sector immensely.

Current Legislative Status

To assess the regulation model, examination of the legislative proceedings for the regulation of Internet gaming, bingo, casinos and lotteries in Brazil will take place: at this juncture, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are considering the federal initiatives embedded in the regulation model drafted within Proposed Laws 442/91 and 186/2014.

Content

The BgC will prepare participants for the impending regulated market through provision of a detailed, evidence-based look at commercial characteristics of each aforementioned gaming segment, as well as updating all product specifications for the industry.

Organiser Clarion Approach

Clarion Events Brazil CEO Sergio Jardim further explained that "The focus of BgC is to...address the positive impact that the definition of a legal framework will provide, such as attracting investment to all regions, generating revenue through taxes and increased employment opportunities in Brazil.

Barriers

Jardim further characterized the business sectors in Brazil as high in reaffirming the BgC commitment to raising the efficiency of the gaming discussion through eliminating prejudice and stereotype Brazilian officials typically raise when discussing gaming.

New Safeguards

Jardim further pointed out that at this point a wealth of monitoring technologies exist and are being used to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities in existing gaming segments worldwide.

Impact

This has the chance to be the final hurdle for long-awaited and much needed Brazilian regulation.
How Will Trump's Nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General Affect Online Gambling?

Published November 21, 2016 by Elana K

Donald Trumps pick for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, is a staunch conservative, and has online gambling supporters worried.

Donald Trumps pick for Attorney General has online gambling supporters worried. Jeff Sessions, currently a senator in Alabama, is a staunch conservative who has recently been outspoken against legalizing marijuana and in the past has voted in favor of bills that would ban online gambling.

Will He Have the Power to Act?

As Attorney General, Sessions would have the power to reverse the 2011 Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel ruling that allowed states to legalize online gambling. If he does this, the three states that currently operate legal online gambling websites - Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey - would undoubtedly file lawsuits to uphold their rights, and an ugly legal battle would ensue. The four states that have legalized online lotteries - Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, and Kentucky - would presumably jump into the fray as well. A legal battle such as this could take years to untangle.

A History of Opposition

In 1997, Sessions backed the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, commenting at the time, I am troubled by how easy it is for children to pick-up their parents credit cards and gamble on the Internet. This legislation is an attempt to keep up with the rapid changes taking place in cyberspace. While Sessions didnt end up being an official sponsor of the bill, the following year he did vote in favor of a bill that would ban online gambling in the US.

Hope For the Future?

Since 1998, Sessions has been quiet about the matter of online gambling, declining to co-sponsor RAWA, the Restoration of Americas Wire Act, the latest piece of legislation that would ban online gambling. Sessions also has a track record of upholding states rights, a fact which might lead him to maintain the current status quo. At the end of the day, while he's not online gambling's biggest opponent, supporters of the enterprise still find it a bit unsettling to have someone so staunchly conservative up for the position of Attorney General.
In the week ending 18 November, 2016, the EY 2016 Global Hedge Fund and Investor survey showed that changing investor preferences is pressuring hedge funds to adapt in order to grow. The 10th annual survey found that hedge fund growth has slowed for a variety of reasons  the abundance of low fee passive investment options, lackluster hedge fund performance and cost concerns. In 2016, the proportion of North American investors that said they were reducing allocations to hedge funds exceeded the proportion that were increasing for the first time since the financial crisis of 2008. Illinois state pension voted to pull $2.4bn from managers that try to handpick winners and place that money with lower-cost funds that track market indexes.

A joint study by AIMA and State Street showed that 48% of asset owners, investment managers and hedge fund managers believe that decreased liquidity will be a long-term issue in securities markets; a joint study by Greenwich Associates and American Century Investments finds rapid growth in impact investing among institutional and individual investors; Bank of America Merrill Lynch report noted that hedge funds moved to establish risk-on positions before the U.......................

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"We might expect that the normal movement of our relationship with God is from being the least of these to being raised up and for God to exalt us, perhaps give us more power, perhaps give us more responsibility, perhaps give us more opportunities. We start life as being the smallest and we grow. We expect that same growth in our faith with our personal Walk with God. But when we have a medical problem, we often move from being in a more exalted position to becoming one of the least of these. We go from being whole to being broken. We go from being healthy to being sick. We go from people who are included to being excluded, either because we're not able to do the activities we did before or because our friends have forgotten about us or because we're not around in the way we used to be. We have doctors' appointments instead of going to a dance. We have therapies to do and can't just gather at any time for discussions far into the evening or for long dinners or for a weekend away.

In the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus told the story to Jews about three people who are the "least of these." The story is about a man who had fallen among thieves, and lay by the side of the road, wounded and near death. All the people who should have helped him -a priest, a Levite - walked by him. A Samaritan - the people hated by Jews, stopped to help him. " Jesus recognized the Samaritan as the good neighbor. He told his listeners to do what the Samaritan did: to care for the hurt, the rejected, the forsaken.

But there is another layer of meaning that is interpreted by the theologian Karl Barth, which I find very meaningful, particularly in the midst of my own physical problems. Barth said, "Go and do likewise and be in need." Barth recognized that all of us are in need much like the man who has fallen among thieves. Yes, all of us--the rich, poor, educated, illiterate, the insiders or outsiders--we all stand in need. We are vulnerable. We are fragile. We are broken and need somebody who can come along and help make us whole. For some, this is hard to swallow--our humanness, our imperfection.

Many people intensely dislike being in need. We're taught to be independent and self-sufficient and to be our own person and not to have to rely on other people who might be unreliable. Yet there is a recognition in this story that the care the Good Samaritan gives, is the care that we all need.

I find it very helpful to recognize my human condition as being one of the least of these in need of being rescued. The man among thieves was probably not capable of reaching out to anyone or even moaning or crying for help. The situation demanded somebody notice him, and do something.

Sometimes when we're the least of these, we recognize we don't have the capability to call for help. Nor do we see anybody around us who would want to give us help. Certainly, if the man among thieves had looked up and been able to choose his savior, he would have chosen the Priest or the Levite and not the Samaritan.

But when we're in need, we might be surprised at the people who become the instruments of God. Perhaps our help comes from the nurse's aide who recently arrived from Honduras who has little education and speaks broken English, and yet she is the one who gives a smile and encouragement and the courage to carry on. Maybe it's your neighbor who you have rarely talked to because you don't think you have anything in common. And yet, this is the person who brings you food and that is better medicine for you than the prescription drugs.

When my sister, who had ALS, was in her final months, a black nurse assistant from Jamaica moved into their home. She became like a sister to my sister despite their different backgrounds. I thought the doctor who was a specialist would have been her great helper. But it was Dawn who was her angel. There was something so beautiful about their relationship and Dawn's devotion to my sister for these last six months. My sister insisted Dawn sit with our family at her funeral and we were all happy to have her as one of us.

We're often surprised by who is not acting as the instrument of God. I have gone to doctors who have nothing to offer me and didn't have a real concern about my condition. I had a doctor walk out of the room when I told him that I didn't want a Botox shot. He was terribly dismissive and even rude.

I have found help and concern and care from people whom ordinarily I would not expect. Many people I've met are wise and insightful, including other patients who might even be more broken than I am. Many of my screenwriting students and clients have had compassion and sometimes have made recommendations. We find when we're one of the least of these, we learn to open our hearts to help from whatever corner our help comes from.

Dr. Linda Seger is a script consultant, and an author of 9 books on screenwriting and 6 on spirituality. She has had dystonia since 2008 and had early stage breast cancer last year. Her two most recent books are related to the personal struggles she's had. These were excerpts from, her book Reflections. The Alphabet Prayer, co-written with her husband Peter Le Var, has also just been released. Both are available on her website here


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Reprinted from us4.campaign-archive2.com Being right never felt so horrid. "This is the story of the theft of the 2016 election.

It's a crime still in progress." So opens my film, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.

And on Election night I waited for the returns to make a fool of me.



Instead, the returns made the fool a President.



And so, my vacation's cancelled. My life's cancelled; that is, a life of anything but sleuthing and exposing the details of the heist of our democracy.



What's at stake?

No way around it, this is one frightening moment.



Decades of progress created with sweat and determination face destruction. Within the next six months, we may see the Voting Rights Act repealed--and civil rights set back 50 years; the entirety of our environmental protection laws burnt in a coal pit; police cruelty made our urban policy; the Education Department closed to give billionaires a tax holiday; and a howling anti-Semite as White House Senior Counselor.







Trump not only lost the popular vote by millions -- he did not legitimately win the swing states of the Electoral College.



Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio: every one was stolen through sophisticated, and sickeningly racist vote suppression tactics.



If you saw my report for Democracy Now! on election morning, it revealed that Ohio GOP officials turned off anti-hacking software on voting machines, forced Black voters to wait hours in line (while whites had no wait).



And, crucially, I confirmed that purged tens of thousands of minority voters on fake accusations they'd voted twice. I first exposed this bogus double-voter blacklist called Crosscheck, in Rolling Stone. It's the sick excrescence crafted by Kris Kobach, the Trump transition team's maven who also created the Muslim-tracker software he's bringing to the Trump administration.



What can we do now?

I have been INUNDATED with requests for my factual reports and findings by media and, most important, the front-line activist groups preparing for the fierce fight to protect our votes. Some examples: Rev. William Barber of the NAACP filed a suit based in North Carolina, hoping to overturn the Trump "victory" -- and protect the tiny margin of the Democrat's win of the Governor's mansion. The NAACP cites my discovery of "Crosscheck" -- in which North Carolina removed upwards of 190,000 voters on false charges they voted twice. They now need my facts. Congressmen Keith Ellison and Alcee Hastings of the Congressional Black Caucus, personally presented Attorney General Loretta Lynch with my investigative reports and demanded investigation -- "and indictments." That investigation must kick off immediately. They now need my facts. The Asian-American civil rights group 18 Million Rising has gathered 50,000 signatures to push the Justice Department to investigate my evidence of a massive attack on the Asian-American vote. They now need my facts. In Michigan, the ACLU is ready to take action on the purge scheme I uncovered, "Crosscheck," that wrongly gave the state to Trump. In Ohio, voting rights attorney Robert Fitrakis is going into court with evidence, much that I uncovered, of racist voting games -- from 5-hour-long lines in Black precincts to shutting off ballot security measures on the voting machines. The team need my facts.



I expect to be in Washington at the Justice Dept and meeting with civil rights groups in December before the Electoral College meets.



Information--plus film, video, investigative reports

And beyond the voluminous files and confidential documents my team has uncovered, we are deluged with requests for our film, videos, writings and more.



And now we have US networks, even major comedy shows, asking for our material and, of course, new investigative findings.



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Greg Palast's investigative reports appear in Rolling Stone, the Guardian and on BBC Television. His latest film, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, on how Donald Trump stole the 2016 election, is available on Amazon. Palast is Patron of the Trinity ( more...

The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.





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Kanas Lake, Xinjiang, China

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There is no shortage of people who would like to topple the oligarchic power that controls their society. The problem is that most of these people do not understand how they are being continuously played and controlled by the oligarchs and how their own fear keeps them vulnerable to this control.

The oligarchs work with three primary concepts in their agenda of complete power acquisition: the nation state, the enemy, and globalization. It is important to recognize these as the operative coercive concepts and to recognize the need to neutralize them as weapons.

The concept of the nation state is so powerful because it ties directly into the cultural sense of identity that people have both collectively and individually. Nieztsche described the state as the coldest of all cold monsters, but this otherwise accurate description does not take into account that the state always becomes identified with the fervent fundamental cultural identity of a people and therefore becomes an even more effective monster. The oligarchs use the glory of the nation state as the cultural-unity identity of a people as a means of controlling the people. The oligarchs have no ultimate loyalty to any particular nation state, but can use the nation state as a primary means of keeping the different nation states in a condition of suspicion and even paranoia in relation to each other. This fear between the nation states can be amplified and exploited to a point that aggression by a nation state against another nation state becomes equal to 'doing the right thing'. What this creation of the enemy does for the oligarchs is to deepen its control over any particular nation state by controlling the emotions and sense of identity of the people within any nation state. Once this happens, it becomes easier for the oligarchs to lead any nation state into its own demise for the purpose of globalization. Globalization for the oligarchs means the creation of one final global NATION STATE that is 'culturally' nihilistic because it has no innate meaning beyond the experience of power over people. This is why I have said in the past that the oligarch agenda is a nihilistic suicide agenda. It is ritualized species suicide. This is a psycho-neural profile of the oligarch and oligarchy.

I said above, "It is important to recognize these as the operative coercive concepts and to recognize the need to neutralize them as weapons." So how do we go about doing this? The first step is to become fully conscious of this as the reality of the situation. The second step is to recognize occasions for reversing the momentum of the oligarchic action so that the energy moves against the oligarch agenda. Use the kinetic energy of the monster against the monster itself. This is a fundamental martial-arts self-defense concept and practice and we are in fact being lethally attacked. We see that the oligarchs manipulate the situation through nation state, enemy, and globalization. So how do we use these three actions against the monster? The principle at work here is that you do not resist the oligarch action, you merely position yourself so that this action leads to a result that the oligarch did not intend or want. So what is to be done?

Do not cling to the nation-state identity, do not see the people of a different nation state as potential enemies but as potential friends, and reverse the meaning of globalization from one of power over people to one of positive relationship between people.

This is easy to say as a concept, but how do I do it? I look for and focus on occasions to do it.

As this point in time we have such an occasion of titanic proportions. I am referring to what is known as the SREB (Silk Road Economic Belt) project that is currently being worked out theoretically and implemented in its initial forms in the East. It is projected to extend from Xinjiang China to Portugal (!)

The SREB focuses on bringing together China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe (to the Baltic Sea); linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia; and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean. The 21st-century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China's coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route, and from China's coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other. On land, the Initiative will focus on jointly building a new Eurasian Land Bridge and developing China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia and China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridors by taking advantage of international transport routes, relying on core cities along the Belt and Road and using key economic industrial parks as platforms for cooperation. At sea, the Initiative will focus on jointly building smooth, secure and efficient transport routes connecting major sea ports along the Belt and Road. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor are closely related to the Belt and Road Initiative. The document also calls on member states to "enhance the role of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, make full use of existing mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), ASEAN Plus China (10+1), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), China-Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic Dialogue, Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Economic Cooperation, and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)" to strengthen communication with relevant countries. It also states that "countries along the Belt and Road... should promote policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds as their five major goals".

The Silk Road Economic Belt, starting in Xinjiang, China, and passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland, would extend to the Baltic Sea and Europe -- or else pass through Kazakhstan (or Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan), the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, the Black Sea, Ukraine and Romania before continuing into Europe -- will form a new Asian-European continental bridge. That bridge would center on Central Asia as a hub for the flow of goods, people, information, capital and technology. It would pass through all EAEU member states and link the Asia-Pacific economic ring -- a modern engine of the world economy -- with the European Union -- the world's largest developed economy. That would lead to the overall socio-economic development of the "Golden Midline," enabling Eurasian countries to overcome their dependence on raw materials and energy exports, resolve their strategic objective of industrialization and re-industrialization, as well as their need for comprehensive modernization. The Silk Road Economic Belt originating in Xinjiang, China, and passing through Kazakhstan (or Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Turkey and across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, or else passing through Iran to the Persian Gulf), forms an economic corridor between China, Central Asia and Western Asia. On one hand, this serves as a corridor for the transit of mostly energy resources from Central and Western Asia to the more rapidly developing Asia-Pacific economic ring, and on the other, for the return exchange of investment, advanced technologies, and high-quality production capacity that should lead to industrial development and innovation, economic diversification, and the modernization of Central and Western Asia. The Silk Road Economic Belt originating in Xinjiang, China, and passing through Pakistan, is the Chinese-Pakistani economic corridor. It could turn northward toward Iran, thus creating an important addition to the economic corridor between China, Central Asia, and Western Asia. It also opens the door to the South -- to the Indian Ocean -- not only for northwest China, but also for the EAEU member states. This region will see the formation of a zone for economic cooperation and strategic security that begins at Kashgar (Xinjiang) and stretches 3,000 km. to Gwadar Port in Pakistan. It unites three major economic regions -- Eastern, Central, and Southern Asia -- with Western Asia through Gwadar Port.

The Silk Road Economic Belt originating in southwestern China and passing through Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India will form an important corridor of economic cooperation that will not only closely link southern Asia with Central and western Asia, but will also make southern Asia -- headed by India -- more economically integrated with southeast Asia. This corridor will lead to the combined development of the economies of central, western, southern, southeastern, and eastern Asia. As a result, an efficient international division of labor will form based on mutual benefit and the complementary contributions that each country will make. That, in turn, will naturally correct any economic irregularities and strengthen the economic might of the region, while also raising the quality of life in each of its constituent states. The Silk Road Economic Belt originating in southwestern China and passing through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia through the Indochinese peninsula extends all the way to Singapore. It forms a transnational economic corridor between China and ASEAN countries, focusing on the central cities between which flow goods, capital, and information along roads, railways, and other forms of transport, thereby facilitating the formation of a regional economy of mutual development. It should be noted that the transport corridors of the Russian Northern Sea Route; the "North-South" stretching from Russia, the Caspian Sea, and Iran to India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore; the TRACECA extending from Europe to the Caucasus and Asia; and even the New Silk Road of the United States linking Central Asia and Afghanistan with Pakistan and India; and other similar projects are cooperative elements of the Silk Road Economic Belt and are distinguished for their openness and tolerance.

This gives you some idea of the scope of the New Silk Road project. What I am proposing is that this Silk Road also extend from Xinjiang, China, east through China to Japan then across the Bering Sea northeast into Alaska, USA, then down through British Columbia, Canada, then south into Washington, USA; continuing south the Silk Road extends to San Francisco, California then turns west through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, then northeast through Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, then across the Atlantic to Portugal where the circle is completed. From the USA the road can extend down through central and South America. From Argentina it crosses the South Atlantic to South Africa and up through Africa to the Mediterranean. From Portugal the road can branch north to England and Scandinavia.

In this projected picture, there are no potential foreign enemies, the nation states have voluntarily open borders with no threat of unemployment stagnation because the thing that opens the borders is itself economically productive, and globalization as tyranny becomes less and less likely because the masses of people have actual relationship rather than fear of strangers, which means they are more likely to stand together against tyranny.

In this picture the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine dwindle into insignificance and peace becomes more motivational than war.

So what I am proposing is that we use self-defense martial art on Trump and exploit his non-military and economic-focused agenda by creating a people's movement that has the goal of creating the American part of the New Silk Road and the world peace economy that is not nihilistic, but built on human development and meaning. Of course Trump and the power-lusting oligarchs will resist this movement, but the movement gives people a rational, effective place to focus on using the oligarchy against the oligarchy.

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Still from Livestream

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At the time of this writing 20,000 people are watching.

Facebook commenters report that the temperature is around 26 degrees and the water protectors are being attacked with water cannons.

Jill Stein posted on her Facebook page: "Water protectors at Standing Rock are blockading a bridge to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. It has been reported by Kevin, the livestreamer, that police are attacking them with tear gas, water cannons, noise cannons and rubber bullets. Please share this livestream to your own feed, and into alternative media FB groups."

Daniel John Worker posted: "If you are watching take action now! Call National Guard 701.333.2000; ND Governor's office 701.328.2200; Army Corp of Engineers 202.761.8700; Amnesty International 212.807.8400"

James Patrick Case posted: CALL the Morton Co. Sheriff right now to stop the attacks against the water protectors. If it's busy, call BACK: 701-667-3330.

Charles Rawson posted a suggestion to call the White House at 202.456.1414/1111.

Gmofree Hippiechick posted: Call and write to these people they are responsible and can stop this. Army Corps of Engineers 202-761-8700, National Guard 701-333-2000, White House 202-456-1414, ND Governor 701-328-2200, Amnesty International 212-807-8400 PLEASE CALL!

WestCoast Pirates posted: Peaceful water protectors are being fired upon by tear gas, mace, rubber bullets, water cannons, concussion grenades. This has been going on for hours in freezing conditions. They are blockaded in.

Karin Beverage posted, "report from Oceti Sakowin is that they have had 4 people shot in the head with rubber bullets. Are treating them now."

Meda DeWitt posted: Hit with a bean bag round, split a guy's head open

Kevin Gilbertt reports use of concussion grenades.

His earlier videos this evening have had millions of views:



Still from Livestream on Kevin Gilbertt's Facebook page

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Still from Livestream on Kevin Gilbertt's Facebook page

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Still from Livestream on Kevin Gilbertt's Facebook page

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Kevin Gilbertt had given permission multiple times to share his videos, and clip them, use his audio, upload to YouTube, and to get the information out.

He has characterized the attackers as militarized police, using water canons, teargas, rubber bullets.

This article is part of the series, "Standing Rock" listed below. Other articles in the series provide more information on the Standing Rock community and the Water Protectors.

ADDED:

Here's how to contact the 17 banks funding the pipeline: click here

And here is a fundraiser for winterizing the camp -- they are also asking for tear gas masks.

See also Stephen Fox's article, Petition asks Department of Justice to Prosecute ND's Governor Dalrymple for Standing Rock Abuses / Tear Gas Video
From Consortium News

In its lead editorial on Sunday, The New York Times decried what it deemed "The Digital Virus Called Fake News" and called for Internet censorship to counter this alleged problem, taking particular aim at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for letting "liars and con artists hijack his platform."

As this mainstream campaign against "fake news" quickly has gained momentum in the past week, two false items get cited repeatedly, a claim that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump and an assertion that Trump was prevailing in the popular vote over Hillary Clinton. I could add another election-related falsehood, a hoax spread by Trump supporters that liberal documentarian Michael Moore was endorsing Trump when he actually was backing Clinton.

The simple reality is that lots of dubious accusations get flung around during the heat of a campaign -- nothing new there -- and it is always a challenge for professional journalists to swat them down the best we can. What's different now is that the Times envisions some structure (or algorithm) for eliminating what it calls "fake news."

But I also know that Clinton supporters were privately pushing some salacious and unsubstantiated charges about Trump's sex life, and Clinton personally charged that Trump was under the control of Russian President Vladimir Putin although there was no evidence presented to support that McCarthyistic accusation.

But, with a stunning lack of self-awareness, the Times fails to acknowledge the many times that it has published "fake news," such as reporting in 2002 that Iraq's purchase of aluminum tubes meant that it was reconstituting its nuclear weapons program; its bogus analysis tracing the firing location of a Syrian sarin-laden rocket in 2013 back to a Syrian military base that turned out to be four times outside the rocket's range; or its publication of photos supposedly showing Russian soldiers inside Russia and then inside Ukraine in 2014 when it turned out that the "inside-Russia" photo was also taken inside Ukraine, destroying the premise of the story.

Who Is the Judge?

These are just three examples among many of the Times publishing "fake news" -- and all three appeared on Page One before being grudgingly or partially retracted, usually far inside the newspaper under opaque headlines so most readers wouldn't notice. Much of the Times' "fake news" continued to reverberate in support of U.S. government propaganda even after the partial retractions.

So, should Zuckerberg prevent Facebook users from circulating New York Times stories? Obviously, the Times would not favor that solution to the problem of "fake news." Instead, the Times expects to be one of the arbiters deciding which Internet outlets get banned and which ones get gold seals of approval.

The Times lead editorial, following a front-page article on the same topic on Friday, leaves little doubt what the newspaper would like to see. It wants major Internet platforms and search engines, such as Facebook and Google, to close off access to sites accused of disseminating "fake news."

"Facebook says it is working on weeding out such fabrications. It said last Monday that it would no longer place Facebook-powered ads on fake news websites, a move that could cost Facebook and those fake news sites a lucrative source of revenue. Earlier on the same day, Google said it would stop letting those sites use its ad placement network. These steps would help, but Facebook, in particular, owes its users, and democracy itself, far more.

The editorial said, "a big part of the responsibility for this scourge rests with internet companies like Facebook and Google, which have made it possible for fake news to be shared nearly instantly with millions of users and have been slow to block it from their sites. ...

"Facebook has demonstrated that it can effectively block content like click-bait articles and spam from its platform by tweaking its algorithms, which determine what links, photos and ads users see in their news feeds. ... Facebook managers are constantly changing and refining the algorithms, which means the system is malleable and subject to human judgment."

The Times editorial continued: "This summer, Facebook decided to show more posts from friends and family members in users' news feeds and reduce stories from news organizations, because that's what it said users wanted. If it can do that, surely its programmers can train the software to spot bogus stories and outwit the people producing this garbage. ...

"Mr. Zuckerberg himself has spoken at length about how social media can help improve society. ... None of that will happen if he continues to let liars and con artists hijack his platform."

Gray Areas

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SEARCHING For SOLIDARITY In TRUMPLAND

by Lydia Howell

Awakening to election results on 11/9 echoed feelings of 9/11: a sickening spasm of fear, that momentarily paralyzed...and, yet, on neither day was I surprised. One immutable universal law is actions have consequences.

First, white people---regardless of party affiliation---have a huge responsibility to face racism and in this moment loudly oppose the hate crimes perpetrated under the banner TRUMP WON.

Second, Face reality. The Clinton campaign and the DNC failed and should be held responsible for Trump's victory.

The Democratic Party and its loyalists are floundering in shock because they refused to recognize that populism defined this election: the progressive populism of Bernie Sanders and the authoritarian populism of Donald Trump--challenging the political establishment. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) selected Hillary Clinton as their preferred candidate in 2015 (and possibly earlier), collaborating with her campaign and Corporate Media to rig primaries against Sanders. The DNC/Clinton machine wanted a "Pied Piper" Republican opponent, (naming Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump) who they thought would insure her victory.

DNC allies in Corporate Media obliged and gave Trump over $2 billion in free air-time during the primaries---and almost totally ignored Bernie Sanders, broadcasting empty stages "waiting for Trump", rather than air Sanders' big rallies happening at the same time.

The Clinton campaign exemplified entitled elites, technocrats and the Corporate Establishment; a multi-cultural patina and a drum-beat of fear (Trump), was supposed to get "the Obama coalition" to the polls. Fear has been the biggest Democratic sales technique for decades and Clinton ads primarily relied on fear. But, when little has changed in people's actual lives (or has gotten worse), fear had less punch than the chance to punch back with the ultimate Screw-You (outsider) candidate.

May 2016 polls showed Bernie Sanders---soundly beating Trump: by 15 per cent or more. I have criticisms of the Sanders' campaign: failure to fully integrate race into his economic inequality arguments and avoidance of foreign policy. But, in this populist upsurge, it was obvious that only another "outsider" candidate (Sanders) could trump Trump.

The DNC/Clinton machine denied voters that choice; some Democratic-leaning voters rebelled by staying home, voting third party or even for Trump.

Was a white backlash part of Trump's victory? Of course, it was, from Trump's political debut of "birtherism" against President Obama to the ongoing demonization of Muslims and Latino immigrates to labeling Black Lives Matter a "terrorist" group. The hate crimes against people of color and Muslims started as soon as election results were known. Part of what's fueling hate is certainly the racism rooted in American history, scapegoating "the Other" for problems created by ruling elites. It's the long-term flimflam in a society that ignores class as much as it denies contemporary racism. Underneath both the American class system and the institutional racism (and sexism) that reinforce it, is the idea of the Zero-Sum Game: a scarcity model of fewer and fewer resources for everyday people----scraps tossed from the banquet table of the 1per cent (and their top 10 per cent allies) that the rest of us fight over.

Racism is the oldest tool used to divide and conquer us. Nothing I want to say here is intended to minimize that reality. My aim is to urge thinking in complexity, to increase the solidarity that's crucial, for building broader movement necessary to address challenges before us.

President-Elect Trump is the result of 35-plus years of escalating economic exclusion, perpetrated by both corporate-sponsored political parties. Michael Moore called Trump "the human Molotov cocktail thrown at the establishment" in his new film "Trumpland" (still worth viewing, in spite of his absurd Pollyanna view of Hillary Clinton). So many of us of all ethnicities are forgotten and Trump was, for the white working-class and falling middle-class, an echo of how Dr, King described riots: "the sound of the unheard."

The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), started in 1985, helped fuel white backlash by abandoning the white, working-class---especially the unionized working-class. The DLC goal was to make the party "more business friendly"-----lessons well learned by Bill and Hillary Clinton in Arkansas. In her years on the Board of Wal-Mart (1985-1991), Hillary Clinton never championed those exploited workers (70% women). That retail behemoth has raced across rural America eating up Main Street businesses. Unions seem to be mostly a source of campaign contributions and GOTV volunteers. From "free trade" NAFTA to dismantling the New Deal social safety net ("welfare reform" collaboration with Newt Gingrich) , de-regulating Big Banks and Wall Street, the Clintons and other Corporate Democrats with Republicans, created the housing crisis and economic melt-down of 2008-9.

The 1990s criminal justice infrastructure of ever-expanding prisons (for "excess labor", largely of color), escalated "war on drugs" created legal templates for the domestic side of "the war on terrorism" with "conspiracy" charges outweighing actual evidence; those labeled felons penalized after release. Too many have inaccurately laid all blame for these bipartisan economic and social disasters on the Republicans.

President Obama continued the protection of Wall Street, Big Banks, Big Pharma, insurance companies and Big Oil. As 12 MILLION families had their homes foreclosed, not one banker was jailed for mortgage fraud and only about 500,000 families were helped to keep their homes. Living-wage jobs continued to be outsourced or automated while Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)---also pushed by Hillary Clinton--promised more of the same. Nothing was done to restore the social safety net or address a deepening "affordable" housing crisis.

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From The Guardian

If the president-elect sabotages last year's agreement, he will own every disaster -- every hurricane a Hurricane Donald, every drought a moment for mockery

It seems likely that the Paris climate accords will offer one of the first real tests of just how nuts Donald Trump actually is. For a waiting world it's a public exam, his chance to demonstrate either that he's been blowing smoke or deeply inhaling.

Think, if you will, of the Paris agreement as a toy painstakingly assembled over 25 years by many of the world's leading lights. It has now been handed, as a gift, to the new child-emperor, and everyone is waiting to see what he'll do.

His buddies -- the far-right, climate-denying, UN-hating renegades who formed his campaign brains trust -- are egging him on to simply break it, to smash it on the floor for a good laugh. In fact, they're doing their best to give him no way out.

"President-elect Trump's oft-repeated promises in the campaign are fairly black-and-white," said Myron Ebell, head of his Environmental Protection Agency transition team, last week. (Ebell believes that the Paris deal is an attempt to "turn the world's economy upside-down and consign poor people to perpetual poverty" -- and that climate science is done by "third-rate, fourth-rate and fifth-rate scientists.")

On the other side are the world's business leaders, 365 of whom just signed a letter asking Trump to keep America engaged in the Paris process to provide "long-term direction." These are not people who have spent their lives in obscure rightwing think tanks. They run stuff -- like DuPont, General Mills, Hewlett-Packard, Hilton, Kellogg, Levi Strauss, Nike and Unilever. And it's hard to run stuff if the rules keep changing.

There's also a gang of Americans who care what the rest of the world thinks. A group of former military leaders this week sent Trump's transition team a briefing book arguing that climate change presents a "significant and direct risk to US military readiness, operations and strategy." Ben Cardin, a Delaware senator and the top Democrat on the Senate foreign affairs committee, said withdrawing from the Paris deal would damage "our credibility on other issues."

And then there's the rest of the world. Other nations can't be "weak" or "naive", said France's former (and perhaps future) president Nicolas Sarkozy. If Trump pulls the US out of Paris, Sarkozy proposes a carbon tariff on US goods. That won't happen, but diplomats at the current climate talks in Marrakech have made it clear that leadership on the 21st century's most important issue would pass from Washington to Beijing.

So Trump faces a dilemma. Does he please his most extreme friends? If so, he will own every climate disaster in the next four years: every hurricane that smashes into the Gulf of Mexico will be Hurricane Donald, every drought that bakes the heartland will be a moment to mock his foolishness. That's how that works.

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Donald Trump VICTORY SPEECH | Full Speech as President Elect of the United States Donald J. Trump Full Victory Speech after becoming the President-elect of the United States. Trump addressed supporters as the newly anointed 45th President ...

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Donald Trump after winning the presidential election

To put it plainly I'm not disgruntled over the outcome of the presidential election. Hillary Clinton isn't going to be president and that's a good thing.

I did not support and vote for Trump but his becoming president is the reality.

Resets-changes in domestic and foreign policy are coming. All the diseased rhetoric of the campaign is over. Good ridden.

Trump working with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Syria appears to be in the works. Trump-according to Pepe Escobar [1] -may be interested in becoming part of the AIIB, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, something that could be a major part in his avowed $trillion dollar 10 year infrastructure plan for America.

The TPP investment scheme appears dead. And Trump may dump NAFTA. Two disastrous trade mechanisms that only benefit the big banks and the mega-corporations exercising hegemony over sovereign countries.

A lot of the demonization of Putin by the corporate MSM, the Obama administration, Clinton saying he's the new "Hitler", Poland, the Baltic countries, the post coup Ukraine regime in Kiev may start to subside as the nonsense that it is.

Provocations against Russia, economic sanctions, the phony condemnation over Russia making Crimea part of the Russian Federation-ignoring the referendum by the Crimean people voting to become part of Russia, Putin's aiding the Russian speaking people in eastern Ukraine-certainly not the bluster he invaded the country, the crazy idea of Russia attacking any NATO country will hopefully be dismissed as nonsensical fantasizing.

Russia and China-as I have written [2] previously- do not want war. But when provoked will do whatever is necessary to defend themselves. I believe a much needed detente will be forthcoming dispelling the neo-con inspired notion of winning a nuclear confrontation, something that could have been in the works if Hillary was elected.

To be sure Trump has made some outrageous statements about women, deporting illegal immigrants, building a wall, preventing Muslims from entering the US and much of the rest that had liberals and many progressives apoplectic and hyper ventilating over the coming of the "Donald".

A suggestion; see what's going to happen.

Sure Trump will nominate a conservative to fill the Scalia vacancy on the Court. So amending the Constitution overturning "Citizens United" presumably won't happen. But that was a long shot to begin with.

Overturning "Roe" isn't going to happen despite the fear of leftists of a Trump nomination to SCOTUS. Legal abortion has been around for 43 years. Trump isn't a fundamentalist Christian so he's not going to nominate somebody that supports banning abortions and a women's right to choose. The same for a same-sex marriage ban. Such "threats" to the family was nonsense, anxiety induced fear that has no basis in fact.

Many-most- people in this country are hurting. Neo-liberal trade agreements, the outsourcing of jobs, austerity measures, demise of domestic manufacturing have taken a toll on the blue collar, formally working middle class in this country. These people-not just the racist bigots, KKK, Christian fundamentalists et al-elected Trump hoping for a change in their economic fortunes.

Again, let's see what actually happens on all the fronts indicated here as well as other issues not mentioned in this short piece.

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At this writing, Hillary Clinton has won the 2016 presidential popular vote by 1.7 million votes (1.3 percent). Unfortunately, she lost the electoral college (232 to 290) because Donald Trump carried the 13 swing states by an aggregate 850,000 votes (1.9 percent). Many Democrats think Hillary was cheated; they believe there were nefarious political tricks that cost her the election. There's not a clear-cut case.

1. Comey's intervention. The Clinton campaign blames her loss on the October 28th intervention by FBI Director James Comey who, in effect, reopened the issue of the Clinton email server. Certainly this was an unprecedented act; one that some Washington observers felt violated the Hatch Act. Coming out of a strong performance in the third presidential debate, Hillary had momentum; some saw her winning by double digits.

Then the Comey memo was issued and the momentum shifted. Writing in The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/15/pollsters-fail-predict-trump-victory-fbi-clinton?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1) veteran pollster Stan Greenberg observed, "The [Clinton] campaign's close was disrupted by a flood of hacked emails, whose release was linked to Russia, intended to show that friends of Bill Clinton were using the Clinton Foundation to enrich the former president, and then by FBI director James Comey's letter to Congress... This allowed Trump to close his campaign with a call to 'drain the swamp' and reject 'the Clintons' big business trade deals that decimated so many communities'."

Did this shift in momentum cost Clinton the electoral college? Writing in Mother Jones (http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/11/why-did-trump-win-roundup-most-popular-theories) Kevin Drum opined, "My guess is that his last minute intervention swayed the vote by about 2 percent." (The 538 website agreed.)

Writing in the Washington Post, Aason Blake (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/17/how-america-decided-at-the-very-last-moment-to-elect-donald-trump/) observed that last-deciding voters broke strongly for Trump: "In Florida and Pennsylvania, late-deciders favored Trump by 17 points. In Michigan, they went for Trump by 11 points. In Wisconsin, they broke for Trump by a whopping 29 points, 59-30."

By the way: Hillary's emails were a big deal to many voters. Writing in the Washington Post, Chris Cillizza (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/10/the-13-most-amazing-things-in-the-2016-exit-poll/) noted: "Almost two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) said that Clinton's 'use of private email' bothered them 'a lot' or 'some.' Among that group, Trump won 70 percent to 24 percent."

2. Clinton's Response: Pollster Stan Greenberg argues that, after the Comey memo, the Clinton had time to fight back but didn't do so effectively: "[The Clinton campaign] used its advertising muscle to shift the spotlight from Clinton to Trump. Its ads running right through the very last weekend showed Trump at his worst. By then, nobody could remember that Hillary Clinton was a candidate with bold economic plans who demanded that government should work for working people and the middle class, not corporations. She was no longer a candidate of change."

Writing in The Nation, Joan Walsh (https://www.thenation.com/article/did-race-or-class-doom-hillary-clinton/) cites Stan Greenberg's study, " The Clinton campaign stopped making a strong case for her populist economic policies in the closing weeks of the campaign, research by Greenberg's Democracy Corps found. A poll of 1,300 voters--including 400 who are considered part of the rising American electorate of black, Latino, and other nonwhite voters plus unmarried white women (also known as the Obama coalition)--found they never heard her strongest economic pitches throughout the long campaign."

3. Disgruntled Bernie voters: Perhaps it is the case that Clinton lost key swing states because of disgruntled Bernie Sanders voters. In Pennsylvania, Clinton lost by 68.000 votes while Gary Johnson and Jill Stein got 190,000 votes. In Wisconsin, Clinton lost by 27,000 votes while Gary Johnson and Jill Stein got 136,000 votes. In Michigan, Clinton lost by 11,000 votes while Gary Johnson and Jill Stein got 223,000 votes.

There are not definitive studies in Michigan and Wisconsin, however in Pennsylvania the prestigious Brookings institute (https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/11/11/why-hillary-clinton-lost-pennsylvania-the-real-story/) felt there was a clear reason for Clinton's loss: "Although Clinton's statewide total in Pennsylvania fell just short of Obama's in 2012, this modest shortfall was not why she lost the state. The real story is that Donald Trump ran up the score in every Republican-leaning rural and small-town county, besting Mitt Romney's statewide total by nearly 300 thousand votes."

4. Stolen votes: Rumors persist that Hillary's stunning losses in supposedly solid swing states was due to various forms of voter suppression. Writing in Alternet, Steven Rosenfeld (http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/fair-election-serious-hard-explain-questions-arise-about-trump-vote-totals-3-key) examined five states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In Pennsylvania and Wisconsin there are questions about results in areas that use electronic voting machines that provide no paper trail. In Michigan, there will be a recount due to the fact that "87,000 ballots did not show a presidential vote," a result that could indicate faulty optical scanners.

Clinton lost Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin by a total of 106,000 votes. An excellent analysis by German Lopez (http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/11/13597452/voter-suppression-clinton-trump-2016) concludes that voter suppression does not explain Clinton's loss in Michigan and Pennsylvania: "In Pennsylvania, Clinton got 2 percent fewer votes than Obama did in 2012, while Trump got 11 percent more than Mitt Romney. In Michigan, Clinton got 11 percent fewer votes than Obama did in 2012, while Trump got 8 percent more than Mitt Romney. Clinton simply got fewer people to turn out for her than the last Democrat who ran, while Trump appeared to get more than the previous Republican."

Conclusion: On October 27th, Hillary Clinton was ahead in the polls but a significant number of voters did not trust her because of her email problem. FBI Director Comey's October 28th memo reminded these voters of their concerns about Hillary and they began to move towards Trump. In the remaining 10 days, Clinton had an opportunity to blunt Trump's new momentum -- with an economic message -- but failed to do this. As a consequence, late-deciding voters went with Trump, seeing him as an agent of change, even though they didn't like him.


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There has been much discussion in the media about Trump's promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which will result in over 20 million people losing health insurance coverage. The implications of a Trump presidency for health care go much further than this. Here is a summary of the probable outcomes.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) not only provides subsidized coverage for 20 million Americans who will no longer be able to afford health insurance. The ACA also requires health insurers to cover people regardless of whether they have pre-existing conditions. Before the ACA, if someone without insurance who had a chronic illness tried to get insurance, they were unable to get coverage. People who lost job based insurance, including those who lost their jobs due to illness rendering them unable to work, were unable to get insurance coverage. Though Trump has recently given lip service to keeping this popular provision of the ACA, he tends to be very big business friendly and insurers don't like covering sick people, because it eats into their profits. So, expect this safeguard to disappear.

Medicare as we know it is in grave danger. Republicans for many years have been advocating to turn Medicare into a voucher system. This means that Medicare beneficiaries, both the elderly and disabled, will, instead of getting guaranteed coverage under a federally controlled system, with a reasonable premium, will be given a voucher for a specific amount of money which they can then use to shop for private health insurance. There is no guarantee that the amount of the voucher will cover the cost of health insurance. Insurers will be able to charge what they please. The elderly and disabled are expensive to insure and most have pre-existing conditions so there is no guarantee under this system that (1) they will be able to afford health insurance and (2) they will be able to buy it at any price. Trump, because of his history of favoring the interests of big business over the interests of the average person, is unlikely to these efforts. His transition team appointments already look ominous on this issue. See economist Paul Krugman's column for more about this: www.nytimes.com

Medical Marijuana laws, which have been gaining in popularity over the years, have been state initiatives. Marijuana in any form remains illegal under federal law. Medical marijuana is very unpopular with pharmaceutical companies because many patients prefer it to pharmaceuticals. Medical marijuana is actually much safer and more effective than prescription drugs for many common medical conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety and seizure disorders, hence its growing popularity among consumers. Until a few years ago, when it was stopped by the Obama administration, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) actively tried to interfere with implementation of state legalization efforts. One favorite tactic was armed raids of medical marijuana dispensaries, seizure of supplies and arrest of proprietors. Landlords who rented to these businesses were also threatened with property seizure and arrest. Although Trump gave lip service early in his campaign to support for medical marijuana, his advisors have publicly expressed opposition. Expect a big business-friendly Trump administration to return to DEA suppression of state efforts. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for Attorney General, is virulently anti-marijuana. See more about this here: www.leafly.com

Access to nutritional supplements and herbal medicine will probably be restricted. The pharmaceutical industry-friendly FDA and many Republican congressmen have been trying for years to label high dose vitamins and herbal supplements as medicines. As increasing numbers of Americans have turned to more natural methods of maintaining health and treating disease, the competition to pharmaceuticals has grown. If supplements are classified as medicine, they must go through an extremely expensive drug approval process that is unaffordable for sellers of natural substances that cannot be patented. These types of limitations on access to natural supplements have already succeeded in the European Union, where many natural products have become illegal and unavailable. Under a Trump presidency, this is very likely to happen here.

We still have a chance to prevent a Trump presidency that poses such a huge hazard to our health. On December 19, the electors will meet to choose our president. Under the electoral college system, each state, based on which presidential candidate won the most votes in their state, appoints electors who actually cast the votes that determine the presidency. Trump did not win the popular vote--Hillary Clinton did. A petition has been started asking the electors to honor the popular vote and cast their votes for Clinton. The petition currently has about 4.5 million signatures. You can sign and share the petition here: www.Change.org.

We need a president that will expand access to health care, including alternative treatments. We all need to do what we can to have a new administration that will do that, not one that favors corporate profits over patients' needs.

Cindy Perlin is the author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free.
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NEW PP PILOT PLANT ENABLES SABIC TO MEET KEY INDUSTRY NEEDS

New PP pilot plant enables SABIC to meet key industry needs

SABIC will have a new pilot plant for development of next-generation polypropylenes on-stream in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands, by the end of March next year. The plant, which will use gas-phase polymerization technology, will support the production at nearby full-scale plants of superior materials that meet the needs of the different industries like automotive, pipe, appliances and advanced packaging.The pilot plant is the latest in a series of investments being made by SABIC at the Brightlands Chemelot R&D and manufacturing campus in Sittard-Geleen. The company opened a new research facility there in May. Lina Prada, Global PP Technology Director, says the pilot plant is a further demonstration of SABICs commitment to invest in innovation. When it starts up next year, we will have considerably more capacity to develop new PP materials for commercialization in our current European assets in Geleen and in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, says Prada.SABIC is taking a fast-track approach to construction and installation of the pilot plant. It has contracted the work to Zeton, a leading designer and builder of innovative pilot and demonstration-scale plants with facilities in Enschede, the Netherlands and Burlington Ontario in Canada. Zeton has developed a skid-mounted system that accelerates implementation times and allows full design flexibility. Installation will begin in December after Zeton has built and tested the plant in Enschede before partially disassembling it into around 15 modules for delivery to Geleen.SABIC is looking in particular to develop grades with improved stiffness/impact, flow properties and other specific secondary properties needed in different industries. SABIC plans to concentrate on development of impact grades of polypropylene, as well as random copolymers and homopolymers. It will also carry out experiments on advanced catalysts. The plant will complement pilot plants used by SABIC at other strategic locations, and would support the strategic innovation initiatives to address continuously evolving market needs.NOTES TO EDITORS SABIC and brands marked with  are trademarks of SABIC or its subsidiaries or affiliates. SABIC is a registered trademark of SABIC Global Technologies B.V. or its affiliates High-resolution photos are available upon request. SABIC should be written in every instance in all uppercase.ABOUT SABICSABIC is a global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We manufacture on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products: Chemicals, Plastics, Agri-Nutrients, Metals, and Specialties.We support our customers in identifying and developing opportunities in key end markets such as Construction, Medical Devices, Packaging, Agri-Nutrients, Electrical and Electronics, Transportation, and Clean Energy.SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 18.77 billion (US$ 5 billion) in 2015. Sales revenues for 2015 totaled SR 148.09 billion (US$ 39.49 billion). Total assets stood at SR 328.22 billion (US$ 87.53 billion) at the end of 2015.SABIC has more than 40,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 50 countries. Fostering innovation and a spirit of ingenuity, we have filed more than 10,960 patents, and have significant research resources with innovation hubs in five key geographies  USA, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia and North East Asia.The Saudi Arabian government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent publicly traded on the Saudi stock exchange.At SABIC, we combine a rich track record of doing what others said couldnt be done, with a deep understanding of our customers. But our true impact is as a partner who can help our customers achieve their ambitions by finding solutions to their challenges. We call this Chemistry that Matters.Marketing SolutionsKevin NoelsBox 62950KapellenBelgium
Egypt's religious institute "Dar El-Eftaa El-Masreya" condemned on Monday the killing of Sufi Sheikh Sulaiman Abou Harraz of El-Sawarka tribe in North Sinai by the Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis terrorist group, calling it a "terrible crime."

The observatory said in a statement that this "terrorist crime against a man who exceeded 100 years of age represents nothing less than the heinous and bloody behavior of a terrorist organisation, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, violating the main principles of Islam."

Harraz, a revered Sufi cleric and Sinai tribal elder, was taken by the Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis group from in front of his house in Arish city under gun threat.

The IS-affiliated Islamist militant group in Egypt released images purporting to show the execution of Harraz on Saturday.

It accused the elderly sheikh of ''practicing witchcraft."

Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks against security personnel and installations in North Sinai since 2013.

The group has carried out dozens of executions against Sinai civilians who it accused of cooperating with security forces.

A decade-long Islamist militant insurgency in the northern part of Sinai peninsula has intensified over the past years, following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Anti-Snoring Devices & Snoring Surgery Market Is Expected To Witness Growth Based On Rising Awareness Levels About The Ill Effects Of Snoring Till 2024: Grand View Research, Inc.

http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/anti-snoring-devices-snoring-surgery-market

Global anti-snoring devices and snoring surgery market() is expected to reach USD 1.84 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The anti-snoring devices and snoring surgery market is anticipated to witness a lucrative growth during the period 2016 to 2024. The factors contributing towards the growth of the market are the growing awareness levels about the ill effects of snoring, rising elderly and obese population, the presence of an unexploited consumer base, and the increasing consumption of alcohol and cigarettes. However, factors such as the cost prohibitive nature of the products, limited efficacy of the presently available treatments, and the presence of an unpropitious reimbursement scenario are likely to hinder the growth of the market.The market is segmented into anti-snoring devices and snoring surgery segments. The anti-snoring devices segment includes oral appliances, nasal devices, position control devices, chin straps, tongue stabilizing devices, and expiratory positive airway pressure therapy devices. The surgery segment includes uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, pillar procedure, and others. North America and Europe are the major shareholders of this industry due mainly to the increasing awareness associated with available treatment options and the eventual rise in popularity and adoption of these products. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness high growth as a consequence of the untapped population base characterized with a snoring condition, higher levels of awareness regarding the effects of snoring, and the presence of well-established players in the sector.Further key findings from the study suggest: North America is estimated to lead the industry with the largest market share in 2015.This growth is attributed to the rapidly increasing popularity and the resultant high market penetration of such treatment devices. Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate owing to the large untreated population and the rising awareness levels with regard to treatment options and the notorious health consequences associated with this condition. In surgery, somnoplasty is estimated to be the fastest growing segment due largely to factors, such as low cost, reduced surgical trauma, less invasive, and chances of fewer complications in comparison to the traditional surgery procedures The anti-snoring devices and snoring surgery market comprises several local as well as global players. Some key market players include Tomed Dr. Toussaint GmbH, Apnea Sciences Corporation, and Meditas Ltd., among others. The companies have adopted several organic and inorganic strategies in order to gain prominence in this sector. A few of these strategies include geographic expansion, new product launches, new product development, partnerships, collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions, among others. For instance, in March 2015, Meditas Ltd. launched nasal dilators for uninterrupted flow of air.Grand View Research has segmented the global anti-snoring devices and snoring surgery market on the basis of type and region:Anti-Snoring Devices Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Oral Nasal Dilator Chin Strap Position Control Tongue Stabilizing Devices Expiratory Positive Airway PressureSnoring Surgical Procedure Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty Radiofrequency Ablation Sclerotherapy Pillar Procedure Septoplasty Palatal Stiffening Procedures Other anti-snoring surgical proceduresAnti-Snoring Devices And Snoring Surgery Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) North Americao U.S.o Canada Europeo Germanyo UK Asia Pacifico Chinao India Latin Americao Brazilo Mexico MEAo South AfricaGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com
Antimicrobial Packaging Market To Be Driven By Rising Demand For Confectionery & Bakery Products Till 2024:Grand View Research, Inc.

http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/antimicrobial-packaging-market

The global antimicrobial packaging market () is expected to reach USD 11.92 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand for confectionery & bakery products is expected to drive the global antimicrobial packaging market. Apart from bakery products, these agents are widely used in meat, poultry, seafood grain seeds, fruits, and vegetables.Antimicrobial packaging releases active agents into food products which help to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and increase the shelf life. These releasing compounds maintain the food quality and reduce the need for preservatives and additives.Antimicrobial active packaging is widely used in healthcare applications. These elements are specifically used to protect the plastic products, tablets and medical equipment against bacteria & fungal growth. Antimicrobial preservatives such as ethanol, phenol, cresol, parabens and bronopol can be added to pharmaceutical products to protect against microbial contamination.However, antimicrobial agents derived from synthetic pathogenic sources are not found to satisfy consumers as they demand products extracted from natural sources. Such a factor is expected to hinder the overall market growth over the next eight years.Further key findings from the report suggest: The global antimicrobial packaging market demand was 6.51 million tons in 2015 and is expected to reach 10.09 million tons by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2016 to 2024 Plastics were the leading base material used for antimicrobial packaging and accounted for 64.8% of total volume in 2015. Biopolymers are expected to witness the highest growth of 6.3% over the forecast period owing to its good physical, mechanical and chemical properties. In addition, they are recognized as an asset to waste processing. Organic acid were the leading antimicrobial agents consumed and accounted for 37.3% of total market volume in 2015. Bacteriocins are expected to witness the highest growth of 5.4% over the forecast period. Pouches emerged as the most dominant pack product and accounted for 39.2% of global volume in 2015. The segment is expected to witness similar trend in the near future due to its usage across different industries. Pouches are also expected to witness the highest growth of 5.5% over the forecast period. Food & beverages were the most dominant application segment and accounted for 44.5% of total market volume in 2015. Stringent regulations regarding food safety across various regional markets have led to the increased penetration in the industry. The segment is also expected to witness the highest growth of 5.3% from 2016 to 2024. Moreover, controlled release packaging technology has been gaining wide importance for food packaging applications due to its impeccable response with respect to time. Asia Pacific was the leading regional market and accounted for 33.3% of global demand in 2015. Busy lifestyle coupled with shifting preferences to consume ready to eat meals particularly in countries such as Japan, India and China has led to growth in the regional market. The region is also expected to witness the highest growth of 6.1% over the forecast period. Key companies operating in the global market include Mondi Plc, BASF SE, Dow Chemicals, Dunmore Corporation, PolyOne Corporation, Linpac Senior Holdings, Bicote Corporation and Microban International. Agion Colorcon, a pharmaceutical company, is using a new antimicrobial product Agion Technologies, in their product line named No-Tox AM.Grand View Research has segmented the global antimicrobial packaging market on the basis of base material, antimicrobial agents, technology, pack type, application and region:Antimicrobial Packaging Base Material Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024) Plastics Biopolymers Paperboard OthersAntimicrobial Packaging Antimicrobial Agents Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024) Organic Acid Bacteriocins OthersAntimicrobial Packaging Technology Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024) Active Controlled releaseAntimicrobial Packaging Pack Type Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024 Carton Packages Pouches OthersAntimicrobial Packaging Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024) Food & Beverage Healthcare Personal Care OthersAntimicrobial Packaging Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024) North Americao U.S. Europeo Germanyo UKo Spain Asia Pacifico Chinao India Central & South Americao Brazil Middle East & AfricaAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com
Elevators and Escalators Market in Japan Will grow at a CAGR of 4.96% over Forecast period 2015-2019

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=326708

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=326708

http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG

Albany, NY, Nov 18: Elevators and escalators are installed in commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings; as well as IT parks, hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets. They help move people and goods easily and efficiently. They are also installed in parking areas to help in optimum utilization of space. The analysts forecast elevator and escalator market in Japan to grow at a CAGR of 4.96% over the period 2014-2019.This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the elevator and escalator market in Japan for the period 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the domestic market, and the export of elevators and escalators manufactured in Japan. The domestic market includes revenue generated through installation, maintenance and repairs, and modernization of elevators and escalators within Japan. However, a similar breakup in terms of exports is not included in the report. The report also presents the vendor landscape, a corresponding detailed analysis of four key vendors, and a brief description about other prominent vendors operating in the market. In addition, the report discusses the major drivers that influence the growth of the market, outlines the challenges faced by vendors and the market at large, as well as key trends emerging in the market.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Key customer segments- Commercial customers- Non-commercial customersKey vendors- Fujitec- Hitachi- Mitsubishi Electric- TELCOther prominent vendors- KONE- Nippon Otis- Schindler- ThyssenKruppMarket driver- Aging population- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Compliance with safety regulations- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Introduction of high-speed elevators- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Elevators and Escalators Market in Brazil is Propelled to grow at a CAGR of 9.15% over Forecast 2015-2019

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Albany, NY, Nov 18: Elevators and escalators help move people and goods easily and efficiently within a building's premises. They are installed in commercial buildings, residential buildings, mixed-used buildings, IT parks, hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets. They are also installed in parking areas to help in optimum utilization of space.The elevator and escalator market in Brazil to grow at a CAGR of 9.15% in terms of newly installed units over the period 2014-2019. This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the elevator and escalator market in Brazil for the period 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from newly installed units of elevators and escalators in Brazil. The report also considered the number of newly installed elevators and escalators in Brazil. In addition, the report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of four key vendors and a brief description about other prominent vendors operating in the market. Further, the report discusses the major drivers that influence the growth of the market, outlines the challenges faced by the vendors and the market at large, as well as the key trends emerging in the market.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Key customer segments- Commercial customers- Non-commercial customersKey vendors- Elevadores Atlas Schindler- Elevadores Otis- Melco Elevadores do Brasil- ThyssenKrupp ElevadoresOther prominent vendors- Hitachi- Kleemann- KONEMarket driver- Upcoming Summer Olympics 2016- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- High cost- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Development of energy efficient elevators and escalators- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Construction Industry in Bahrain to grow at a CAGR of 8.51% during 2015-2019

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Albany, NY, Nov 18: Despite the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the construction market in Bahrain has managed to gain momentum. This can be attributed to the significant investment opportunities in several sectors such as restaurants, manufacturing, transport, construction, wholesale, and healthcare. The construction market in Bahrain can be categorized into four segments: transportation, energy and resources, industrial, and commercial. When the four sectors are evaluated individually, the transportation sector had the highest spending in 2014.The construction market in Bahrain to grow at a CAGR of 8.51% during 2014-2019. The report includes the present scenario and the growth prospects of the construction market in Bahrain for 2015-2019. It provides a detailed segmentation of the market based on construction sectors.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Construction Market in Bahrain 2015-2019, 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 in the coming years. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Ahmed Mansoor Al A'ali- Charilaos Apostolides- Nass Corporation- Poullaides ConstructionOther prominent vendors- Ahmed Mohammed Jassim- Al Basair Construction- Al Ghalia Contracting- Aradous Contracting & Maintenance Volvo- Cebarco Bahrain- Downtown Construction- Projects ConstructionKey market driver- Increased investment in infrastructure- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey market challenge- Shortage of skilled resources in construction sector- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Africa Telecom Industry - Mobile Network Operators and MVNOs

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Albany, NY, Nov 18: Mobile telephony is by far the dominant telecom platform across Africa, accounting for more than 90% of all telephone lines in the region. As a consequence, mobile internet also accounts for a similar proportion of all internet connections. Given the size and range of markets on the continent, market penetration is varied between countries. By the end of 2016 the highest mobile penetration was found in countries including Libya (155%), Botswana (176%) and Gabon (190%), which reflects the popularity of consumers having multiple SIM cards. By contrast, a number of countries have a penetration rate less than half of this level.In many countries the recorded number of subscribers has fallen since 2015 as regulators step up efforts to compel mobile network operators to enforce provisions by which dormant SIM cards are taken off their books, and services are ended for non-registered SIM cards. The latter is intended to address fears that crime and civil disturbances can be facilitated or orchestrated via mobile phones.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:The introduction of prepaid services was a catalyst for strong mobile subscriber growth across Africa. By late 2016 the prepaid sector accounted for up to 99% of the overall subscriber base in many markets. The steady decline in tariffs, encouraged by competitive pressure, has meant that a greater proportion of the continents estimated population of 1.34 billion can afford a mobile phone, and so make use of voice and data services which are in many areas cannot be accessed via fixed-line networks.Mobile services are also increasingly contributing to the growth of national economies, stimulated by productivity and efficiency gained brought about by the increased take-up of a range of services, as also by tax revenue.Although there are a large number of network operators across the continent, as also smaller niche MVNO players, there are also a small number of pan-regional network operators. These include Millicom, Orange Group, Vodacom and Bharti Airtel. Some rationalisation of their operations continues as these players adjust their strategies to fit in with market positions and expectations. Thus Orange Group in late 2015 sold its entire 70% stake in Telkom Kenya, having sold its local Ugandan unit in the previous year, when it became clear that it was unlikely to gain market share and become at least the number two player. Focussing on core markets was also the reason Millicom exited Botswana in mid-2016.Enquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Telecom Market in Turkey: Operator Investments in 4G and Fixed Infrastructure to Drive Future Revenue Growth

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Albany, NY, Nov 18: In 2016, Turkey will be one of the largest markets in the AME region. Going forward, the growth in the telecom market is expected to be driven by increasing adoption of fixed and mobile broadband services, backed by operators investments in 4G and fiber expansion. IoT/M2M and HD video streaming to provide new revenue streams.Key Findings -- The overall telecom service revenue in Turkey is estimated to increase by 3.6% over 2016-2021, to reach $11.6bn in 2021. Mobile data and fixed broadband will drive the growth in overall telecom service revenue over the 2016-2021 period.- Mobile data will be an important driver of revenue growth, owing to an increase in the adoption of 4.5G services along with wider availability of 4G-compatible devices.- Turk Telekom will be the leading operator followed by Turkcell and Vodafone in 2016. Operators will continue to invest in fixed and mobile networks focusing on network expansion to roll out next-generation technologies to stay competitive.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Turkey: Demand for Data, Operator Investments in 4G and Fixed Infrastructure to Drive Future Revenue Growth, a new Country Intelligence Report by Pyramid Research, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Turkey today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile and pay-TV sectors, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Turkey compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Turkey.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony (including VoIP), broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV markets.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed/pay-TV and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Turkeys telecommunications and pay-TV markets.Enquiry at:Reasons To Buy:-- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Turkeys telecommunications and pay-TV markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying Pyramid Researchs Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Turkeys mobile communications, fixed telephony/VoIP, broadband and pay-TV markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Turkeys telecommunications and pay-TV markets.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Turkey.ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Germany Midstream Oil and Gas Market Forecasts for Oil Storage, Pipelines and Underground Gas Storage 2021

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"The Report Germany Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2021: Market Forecasts for Oil Storage, Pipelines and Underground Gas Storage provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""Germany Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2021: Market Forecasts for Oil Storage, Pipelines and Underground Gas Storage" is a comprehensive report on midstream oil and gas industry in Germany. The report provides oil and natural gas production, consumption, exports and imports from 2000 to 2020. It also provides historic oil and gas reserves for the period 2000 to 2015. Further, the report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and underground gas storage facilities in Germany till 2021. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the countrys midstream sector.View Report AtScope- Historic and forecast of oil data related to production, consumption, imports and exports for the period 2000-2020, and reserves for the period 2000-2015- Historic and forecast of natural gas data related to production, consumption, imports and exports for the period 2000-2020, and reserves for the period 2000-2015- Updated information related to all active and planned oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and underground gas storage in the country, including operator and equity details- Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the countrys midstream oil and gas industry, where available- Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to midstream oil and gas industry in the countryReasons to buy- Gain a strong understanding of the countrys energy sector and midstream oil and gas industry- Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of production, reserves and capacity data- Assess your competitors major oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and underground gas storage in the country- Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the countrys midstream oil and gas industry- Understand the countrys financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketDownload Sample copy of this Report at :Table of Contents1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 61.2 List of Figures 82 Introduction 92.1 What is This Report About? 92.2 Market Definition 93 Germany Energy Sector 113.1 Germany Energy Sector, Market Overview 113.2 Germany Energy Sector, Oil 123.2.1 Germany Oil, Overview 123.2.2 Germany Oil, Supply and Demand Balance 123.2.3 Germany Crude Oil, Regulatory Structure 183.3 Germany Energy Sector, Gas 193.3.1 Germany Gas, Overview 193.3.2 Germany Gas, Supply and Demand Balance 193.3.3 Germany Natural Gas, Regulatory Structure 254 Germany Oil Storage Industry 264.1 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Key Data 264.2 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Overview 264.3 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Storage Operations 264.3.1 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Total Storage Capacity 264.4 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity Share by Area 284.5 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Major Companies 294.6 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Terminal 304.7 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Asset Details 364.7.1 Germany Oil Storage Industry, Active Asset Details 365 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 1415.1 Germany Oil Pipelines 1415.1.1 Germany Oil Pipelines, Key Data 1415.1.2 Germany Oil Pipelines, Overview 1415.2 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Crude Oil Pipeline Length by Major Companies 1415.3 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Crude Oil Pipelines 1435.4 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Petroleum Products Pipeline Length by Major Companies 1445.5 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Petroleum Products Pipelines 1455.6 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Oil Pipelines Asset Details 1465.6.1 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Oil Pipelines Active Asset Details 1465.7 Germany Gas Pipelines 1755.7.1 Germany Gas Pipelines, Key Data 1755.7.2 Germany Gas Pipelines, Overview 1755.8 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Natural Gas Pipeline Length by Major Companies 1755.9 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Natural Gas Pipelines 1775.10 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Gas Pipelines Asset Details 1795.10.1 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Gas Pipelines Active Asset Details 1795.10.2 Germany Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry, Gas Pipelines Planned Asset Details 2046 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry 2086.1 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Key Data 2086.2 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Overview 2086.3 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Gas Storage Capacity by Major Companies 2086.4 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Area 2106.5 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Facility 2116.5.1 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Active Facilities 2116.5.2 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Planned Facilities 2146.6 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Asset Details 2156.6.1 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Active Asset Details 2156.6.2 Germany Underground Gas Storage Industry, Planned Asset Details 263MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Market Size, Price Trends and Trade Balance Outlook in Italy to 2020

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Research Report on  Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry Outlook in Italy to 2020 - Market Size, Price Trends and Trade Balance .GlobalDatas new report, "Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry Outlook in Italy to 2020 - Market Size, Price Trends and Trade Balance", provides in-depth coverage of Italys Polyvinyl Chlorideindustry and presents major market trends. The report covers historical and forecast market size, demand and production forecasts, end-use demand details, price trends and trade balance data.View Report AtScope- Polyvinyl Chloride industry market dynamics in Italy from 2006 to 2020, consisting of market size, demand and production outlook, demand by end-use sector, and average prices- Trade balance data from 2006 to 2020, including import and export data and net exports and imports as a percentage of demandReasons to buy- Obtain up-to-date information on Italys Polyvinyl Chlorideindustry- Benefit from GlobalDatas advanced insights and analysis- Identify the macro and microeconomic trends affecting the industry- Understand the market positioning of the countrys Polyvinyl Chlorideproducers- Learn about opportunities in the Polyvinyl Chlorideindustry- Develop market-entry and market-expansion strategies- Benchmark your operations and strategies against those of major companiesDownload Sample copy of this Report at :Table of ContentsTable of Contents 2List of Tables 3List of Figures 3Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Supply Scenario, 2005-2019 4Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Total Plant Capacity, 2005-2019 4Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Market Dynamics, 2006-2020 6Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Industry, Market Size, 2006-2020 6Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand and Production Outlook, 2006-2020 8Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Industry, Demand by End Use Sector, 2015 10Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Price Forecasts, 2006-2020 11Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Trade Balance, 2006-2020 13Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Imports and Exports, 2006-2020 13Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Net Exports, 2006-2020 15Italy Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Imports as Percentage of Demand, 2006-2020 17Appendix 19Definitions 19Installed Plant Capacity 19Abbreviations 19GlobalDatas Methodology 19Coverage 19Secondary Research 19Primary Research 20Expert Panel Validation 20Contact Us 20Disclaimer 20List of TablesItaly, Total Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plant Capacity, MMTPA, 2005-2019 5Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plants Capacity, MMTPA, 2005-2019 5Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand Value, $m, 2006-2020 7Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand and Production, MMTPA, 2006-2020 9Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand by End Use Sector, %, 2015 10Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Price Forecasts, $/Tonne, 2006-2020 12Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Imports and Exports, MMTPA, 2006-2020 14Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Net Exports, MMTPA, 2006-2020 16Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Imports as Percentage of Demand, %, 2006-2020 18List of FiguresItaly, Total Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plant Capacity, MMTPA, 2005-2019 4Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand Value, $m, 2006-2020 6Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand and Production, MMTPA, 2006-2020 8Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Demand by End Use Sector, %, 2015 10Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Price Forecasts, $/Tonne, 2006-2020 11Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Imports and Exports, MMTPA, 2006-2020 13Italy, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Industry, Net Exports, MMTPA, 2006-2020 15MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
PhotoMarks, the Photo Watermarking App for Mac, PC, and iOS

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Bits&Coffee has released PhotoMarks 3, a powerful photo watermarking program for Mac and PC, alongside PhotoMarks for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. PhotoMarks enables photographers, web designers, business people, and families, to protect their copyrighted images quickly and efficiently on any computer or iOS device they own.With PhotoMarks, Bits&Coffee is committed to offering the best possible experience for each platform, be it desktop or mobile. The desktop version has an elegant wizard-like interface with previews available for every step of the process, making it very easy to use even for the novice Mac or PC users. The iPhone/iPad version has a modern flat interface.PhotoMarks for Mac and PC is a fully-featured batch photo watermarking solution. The program can completely customize the appearance of text and logo marks, as well as perform additional edits like resize, rename, auto rotate, or decorate photos with graphical frames, all in the same session. It works by editing photos in batch mode and takes advantage of multi-core processors for speeding up the process. Settings can be saved as profiles to be easily reused later.PhotoMarks for iOS can easily apply multiple layers of text and logos on the image with just a few taps, The marks are completely customizable, and the resulting images can be saved, with no quality loss, to Camera Roll, or shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or sent via Email.Pricing and AvailabilityPhotoMarks for desktop runs on macOS 10.12 (Sierra) down to 10.7 (Lion) as well as Windows 10 down to XP. One license costs $29.95 (US). A free trial version is available for downloaded and the full version can be securely purchased from the product's web page:PhotoMarks for iOS runs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch with iOS version 10 down to 7. More details can be found on the product's web page:Since 2005, Bits&Coffee has been developing and marketing image enhancement productivity software for business and home users. In addition to PhotoMarks the company also offers BatchPhoto, a complete solution for batch photo editing on Mac and PC, as well as Image Espresso, a free online image converter and editor.+40(351)430-046Bits&Coffee SRLstr. Spania, bl. P6-3 CraiovaRomania, zip. 200726European Union
Tantawi, who is of Nubian origin, met with Aswan officials in an attempt to resolve the issue

Egypts former defence minister Hussein Tantawi and parliamentary speaker Ali Abdel-Aal held a meeting on Monday with top Aswan governorate officials to discuss possible solutions to an ongoing sit-in by Nubians protesting the allocation of land in their area to non-Nubians, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Abdel-Aal and Tantawi, who is of Nubian origin, met with Aswans governor and parliamentary member Yasseen Abdel-Sabour as the sit-in, held near Abu Simbel, enters its third day.

Abu Simbel is former general Tantawis birthplace.

On Sunday, around 150 Egyptian Nubians continued their sit-in for the second day on the Abu Simbel-Aswan highway, protesting the allocation of land to non-Nubians.

Security forces refused to allow them entry to Toshka, the area in which the lands have been allocated by the state to be sold to investors.

Three protesters were injured as security forces attempted to disperse dozens of demonstrators who blocked a number of major highways and railways in Aswan.

In August, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree allocating 922 feddans  including land in Toshka  to the new Toshka development project.

In October, the Egyptian government announced that it would sell parts of the new Toshka development project in an auction for investment as part of the "1.5 million feddan" national mega-project.

Saturdays sit-in comes after a long history of grievance by Nubians who have long objected to the selling of their land, citing Article 236 of the constitution, which states that "the state must work on developing and implementing projects to bring the residents of Nubia back to their original areas and develop them within 10 years in the manner organised by law."

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Bavarian Inn Restaurant employees team up to help feed Michigans hungry

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Through its more than 30-year-old Company Giving Program, employees of the Bavarian Inn Restaurant reached out this year to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to assist the agency in its mission to provide nourishment to the hungry in its 22-county service area.Bavarian Inn employees gathered to the food banks Flint, Michigan, headquarters on Nov. 15 to pack 9,000 pounds of food products for distribution to the regions needy. In addition, employees raised approximately $1,000 in cash donations to the food bank at the restaurants recent Holiday Open House.According to Bavarian Inn Marketing Manager Mandy Borsenik, past charities aided by the Company Giving Program include the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, Hospice for Hope, Special Olympics, Special Days Camp and Saginaw Habitat for Humanity."The Bavarian Inn," Borsenik added, "has many caring team members who give so generously each year to help those in need. Were looking forward to an exciting year of giving in 2017."About Bavarian InnCelebrating 125 years of service in 2013, the Bavarian Inn Restaurant has become a Michigan landmark. Generations of diners, lodgers and tourists from around the globe have discovered true Bavarian hospitality thanks to Dorothy and her late husband William "Tiny" Zehnder. Guests experience the old-world European charm of the Bavarian Inn  whether its the famous chicken dinners, fresh baked goods or Michigans greatest selection of German beer. Bavarian Inn also prides itself on being one of the top consumers of Pure Michigan agricultural products. Nestled within a backdrop of authentic German architecture, a variety of shops and other fun activities, a trip to Frankenmuth would not be complete without a visit to the Bavarian Inn. Learn more atBavarian Inn online press room:About the Food Bank of Eastern MichiganThe Food Bank of Eastern Michigan serves as a common solicitor, storehouse and distributor of food to member non-profit and charitable organizations in 22 counties. Once food arrives at the Food Bank, it is sorted, inspected and made available to partner agencies such as churches, soup kitchens, and food pantries to distribute to those in need. Learn more at713 S. Main StreetFrankenmuth, MI
Blue Harbour Property Management Opens New Office in Forest Hills, New York

Blue Harbour Property Management is proud to announce the opening of our Forest Hills, New York office. CEO Jules Doodnath has been directing the property management office in South Ozone Park from its inception in 2013. "The Forest Hills Office has been envisioned for some time for Blue Harbour Property Management as we would like to position ourselves in one of the hubs of commercial activity in Queens, New York" Mr. Doodnath commented. Blue Harbour Property Management will maintain the expertise in small and medium sized rental units but will now be able to accommodate a plethora of bigger multi-family units throughout New York City.Mr. Doodnath also says theres no better time to open a new building management office than now. There are many opportunities that exist in today's market and opportunities will continue as our economy grows and institutional lenders create alternatives for the real estate investor to finance properties. We are proud to service our clients and to continue to serve our community as well."The new office will be located at 118-35 Queens Boulevard in the Forest Hills Tower complex . For more information, contact Blue Harbour Property Management at 718-843-1185 or e-mail at info@blueharbourpropertymanagement.com.With a combined 20 years of experience, Blue Harbour Property Management has excelled in giving our clients value. We are determined to excel in customer service for both our board members, residents and owners. Blue Harbour Property Managment facilitates owners reach their profit goals by using all methods available when overseeing properties. We are a full service property management company serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and the surrounding region.Blue Harbour Property Management is a full service property management company servicing buildings and residences in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and surrounding regions.Blue Harbour Property Management118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400Forest Hills, NY 11375Contact info:Shawn Chandinfo@blueharbourpropertymanagement.com(718) 843-1185
The Indian Pharmaceutical Market - Leading Domestic Companies 2015

Indian Pharmaceutical Market - 2015

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This report discusses the Indian pharmaceutical industry in depth, with specific focus on the ten leading domestic India pharmaceutical companies; their key financials since FY2011; their key global markets; their Merger, Acquisition and Joint Venture activity; their Research & Development spending; as well as Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats that each individual company faces. This report also offers a snapshot of the key financials in the India pharmaceutical sector; import / export values, and where the India based pharmaceutical companies are generating their revenue globally. The report concludes with interviews with directors of Ipca Laboratories, Cadila Healthcare and Cipla.Check Complete Report @The Indian Pharmaceutical Market - Leading Domestic Companies 2015 also highlights what drives, or restrains, the market for these leading companies;Key Drivers US Generics Market JV, Acquisitions & Mergers Patent Cliff Increased Domestic Health Spending Geographic Expansion into Semi-Regulated and Emerging Pharma Markets Economies in Drug Production/Manufacture Governmental SupportGet Sample Brochure of the Report @Key Restraints Industry Inefficiencies Regulatory Non-Compliance Price Ceilings Intellectual Property Rights / Compulsory Licence Inadequate Health Insurance, IndiaThe US generics market has been a massive growth driver for the India pharmaceutical market, with many leading companies in list generating over 50% of their annual revenues from the US generics market. However with access to the US market comes increased scrutiny from the US FDA; nearly all the companies in the top ten have faced warnings from the FDA; ranging from minor procedural infractions to complete manufacturing shutdown.The report contains over 130 tables & figures across 152 pages and concludes with 3 exclusive interviews with managing directors of 3 leading Indian pharmaceutical companies; Cipla Cadila Healthcare IPCA LaboratoriesOrder a copy of Indian Pharmaceutical Market Report now @About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand  Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur SSales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343
Local Business Cleaning Habits in State of Michigan

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http://www.allenmaintenancejanitorial.blogspot.com

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIFluFocus_1_5_06_146893_7.pdf

Michigan businesses need professional cleaning support. Allen Maintenance Corporation, is interested in helping local businesses meet their cleaning needs.After all, today there is a continued threat of influenza spreading throughout the State of Michigan. In fact, reports from the Michigan Department of Community Health, conveys the number of people contracting the flu in the month of October, 2016 are still rising in November, 2016. (Therefore, in an attempt to connect with local businesses to determine their cleaning needs, Allen Maintenance Corporation, has developed a survey, with the sponsorship of Survey Monkey.If you work with a local Michigan business operating in the following counties: Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Livingston, Monroe, or Macomb; please take a few moments to complete this brief survey hosted on the Allen Maintenance Corporation Blog atDoing so can make a huge impact in the way consumers evaluate and do business with your employer.Reference:Michigan.gov. (2016). MI Flu Focus. Retrieved from:Allen Maintenance Inc. is a 25 year old corporation, offering services in Wayne, Oakland, Livingston, Monroe, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. Services provided, includes: desktop sanitation, trash removal, floor cleaning, window cleaning, and more.4224 Dix Toledo Hwy.Lincoln Park, MI 48146
Another Gripping Tale from Author Cheryl Bannerman Words Never Spoken Entices Readers of all Ages

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Cheryl Bannerman, a published author who uses her fictional characters to explore lifes harder, more emotional topics, such as depression, suicide, molestation, and domestic abuse, has officially released her second novel: Words Never Spoken  a book of Spoken Word.Words Never Spoken is a tale of love between a man and a woman, a mother and a child, and a woman and her faith. Its a story of an ordinary woman placed in extraordinary circumstances. Readers will find themselves cheering her on as she pushes harder, fights back, runs away, and lives life to the fullest extent, as each chapter brings her close to the truth.In a recent review, Belwoeth Harbright, author of FULL-TILT EXORCIST says Words Never Spoken is, Absolutely gripping from first page to last  Bannermans words are spoken from the soul: harsh, raw, melodical, lyrical, and oh-so-honest. A must-read for anyone whos been impacted by an abusive relationship, or anyone who is searching for the way out.This is a self-help read with lines for journal entries to encourage readers to reflect and interact with the story, said Bannerman. By journaling ones thoughts through different parts of the plot, readers will be able to delve into their deepest, darkest emotions in an expressive and healthy manner.In addition to the journal entries component of the book, Bannermans blog page on her brand new website, BannermanBooks.com, offers similar topics from the journal entry sections of the book, to allow readers to further share their experiences with other Bannerman Books fans.Author Cheryl Bannerman, a woman who has been writing eye-opening fictional stories since she was a kid, runs a 21-year old virtual B2B Training and Development company based out of her Orlando, Florida home. She is an Instructional Design and e-Learning Specialist with a passion for developing engaging courses for corporate employees, educational and government institutions, and consumers, alike.Recognized for her unique eye and approach to lifes trials and tribulations, Bannerman is now represented by the reputable Garis Agency, a firm known for turning new books into best sellers. The Garis Agency represents an array of celebrities and top national brands as clients.For more information, visit:Turbo Rank is considered as one of the leading digital agencies in North America with 10 offices across the globe, including the head office in Arlington, VA.Turbo Rank LLC2296 Pooz StreetNewark7102, United StatesPhone: 7322006986
Chatbots Market Analysis, Size, share, growth, Global demand & prospect Outlook 2021

chatbots market

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The global Chatbots market was valued at USD 88.5 Million in 2015 and is anticipated to witness a substantial compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the forecast period i.e. 2015-2021. Regionally, the global Chatbots market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Rest of World (Row).North America Chatbots market is likely to escalate owing to adoption of Chatbots by some of the big organizations such as Facebook Inc. In addition to that emergence of new Chatbots providing start-ups in the U.S. is also expected to expand North America Chatbots market in future. Further, Europe is also expected to witness a significant demand of Chatbots from the rapidly growing outsourcing industry in the region. In addition to that, Asia-Pacific Chatbots market is envisioned to witness a robust growth sparked by increasing expansion of messaging applications in countries such as India, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and China.Get Free Sample Report of Chatbots market :Chatbots are an artificial conversational character which interacts with human via both verbal and non-verbal communication gateways. Chatbots can work on phones as well as computers and are mostly accessed through internet. All the functions performed by Chatbots are based on an artificial intelligence system. Chatbots are believed to emerge as major channel for commerce and digital communication over next few years.Demand Analysis & Market SegmentationBy TypeStand AloneWeb BasedBy End UseLarge EnterpriseSmall and Medium Sized EnterpriseGet Full Table Of Content Chatbots Market :Growth Drivers and challengesRising inclination of enterprises towards increasing customer experience along with reducing operational costs and working efficiency is expected to garner the growth of global Chatbots market over the forecast period i.e. 2015-2021.In addition to that increasing digital transformation is also envisioned to bolster the global Chatbots market over next 4-5 years.However, lack of awareness and large dependency on humans for customer interaction are anticipated to restrain the global Chatbots market in future.Key PlayersGlobal Chatbots market includes some of the top players such as Facebook Inc.,, Microsoft, Amazon, Yahoo Inc. etc.Scope and ContextOverview of the Parent MarketAnalyst ViewMarket Size and GrowthNorth America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Rest of Latin America)Western and Eastern Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, U.K, Benelux, Hungary, Rest Of Western Europe, Russia Poland, Rest of Eastern Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Singapore, Japan, Australia & New Zealand & Rest of Asia)Middle East and North Africa (MENA)Rest of WorldResearch Nester is a global market research and consulting firm helping organizations, private entities, governments undertaking, non-legislative associations and non-profit organizations. With our decades of experience in the market research, we help our clients to gain a competitive edge over other players. Thus, helping them making strategic yet dynamic decisions for the future investments.Ajay DanielEmail: ajay.daniel@researchnester.com1820 Avenue M, Suite# 1113,Brooklyn, New York 11230U.S. +1 646 586 9123U.K. +44 203 608 5919
Organ Preservation Solutions Market to Cross US$ 300 Million by 2023

Organ Preservation Solutions Market

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New York, November 21: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Market For Organ Preservation Solutions (By Solutions - Viaspan, Custodiol HTK, Renograf, Hypothermosol, Perfadex, Lifor, HBS Solution, siRNA Transplant Solution and Others, and By Preservation Techniques-Hypothermic Perfusion Preservation, Static Cold Storage and Others) - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2023The global business sector for organ safeguarding arrangements is required to develop at a CAGR of 15.9% from 2016 to 2023 to achieve an expected estimation of USD 0.37 billion in 2023.Download Free Sample Report:Organ preservation solutions are utilized to safeguard organs before transplantation strategy as these organs in outside atmosphere are powerless furthermore ended up broken once taken out from the human body. To save and keep up organs usefulness for their further use, forexample, transplantation and research, organ conservation arrangements areutilized. Expanding interest for organ transplantation strategies over theglobe is relied upon to drive the development of Organ preservation solutions.What's more, maturing populace will likewise push the development of Organpreservation solutions market as the danger of organ disappointment in elderlyindividuals expands that enlarges the interest for organ transplants. In likemanner, improvement of mechanically propelled answers for saving organs willadvance complement the development of Organ preservation solutions market.This report contemplates the global Organpreservation solutions market in view of the different arrangements accessiblein the business sector in which organs are saved. These arrangementsincorporate Viaspan, Custodiol HTK, Renograf, Hypothermosol, Perfadex, Lifor,HBS Solution, siRNA Transplant Solution and others (Ross-Marshall CitrateSolutions, Celsior Solution, Phosphate-Buffered Sucrose Solution, ET-Kyoto,TranSend, HetaFreeze, MaPersol and CryoStor). The business sector for thesearrangements has been widely examined taking into account number of organtransplant, effectiveness and application zone. The business sector estimateand gauge as far as USD million for every item sort has been accommodated theperiod 2016 to 2023, considering 2015 as the base year. The report additionallygives the exacerbated yearly development rate (% CAGR) for the gauge period2016 to 2023 for every portion.In light of the sort of conservationsystems used to protect organs, market has been divided as hypothermicperfusion safeguarding (HPP), static icy stockpiling (SCS) and others (thatincorporate normothermic safeguarding and oxygen insufflation procedures). Thebusiness sector for these advancements has been widely broke down in light ofnumber of organ transplant, similarity with arrangement and organs, and cost.The business sector measure and estimate as far as USD million for every itemsort has been accommodated the period 2016 to 2023, considering 2015 as thebase year. The report additionally gives the exacerbated yearly developmentrate (% CAGR) for the gauge period 2016 to 2023 for every portion.Browse Full Report:Geographically, the report research worldwidebusiness sector as for four primary districts, specifically, North America,Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The business sector measureand conjectures as far as income (USD million) for the period 2016 to 2023,considering 2015 as the base year, have been accommodated this portion. Thereport likewise gives the intensified yearly development rate (% CAGR) for theestimate period 2015 to 2023 for every fragment.The business sector outline area of thereport talks about the business sector progress that incorporate drivers,limitations and opportunities affecting the business sector. Likewise, realoccasions have additionally been talked about in the segment that have helpedthe development of the business sector and anticipated that would facilitatepush the development amid the gauge period. Likewise, this segment coversmarket engaging quality investigation (by topography) for the year 2015 and Porter'sfive strengths study for the global ultrasound gadgets market. Piece of theoverall industry (%) by income for the real players working in this businesssector has additionally been accommodated the year 2015 in the aggressive scenesegment, trailed by a rundown of proposals for the current and new players.What's more, the report likewise profiled key players of the business sector ondifferent parameters, for example, business outline, budgetary diagram, itemportfolio, business procedures and late advancements of the separateorganization. A portion of the unmistakable players in the organ safeguardingarrangements showcase that have been profiled in this report incorporate Dr. FranzKohler Chemie GmbH, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb,BioLife Solutions, Inc., XVIVO Perfusion AB and ToleroTech, Inc.The global organ protection arrangementsmarket has been sectioned as underneath:Organ Preservation Solutions Market, by SolutionViaspanCustodiol HTK(Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate)RenografHypothermosolPerfadexLiforHuman bioSystem (HBS) SolutionsiRNA Transplant SolutionsOthersOrgan Preservation Solutions Market, by Preservation TechniqueHypothermic Perfusion Preservation (HPP)Static Cold Storage (SCS)OthersOrgan Preservation Solutions Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the World (RoW)About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Global Touchless Sensors Market is Considered as One of the Rapidly Growing market by 2021

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Touchless sensing is the next generation evolution in human machine interface (HMI) technology. It is typically used to detect the presence or motion of a person within the coverage area of sensor. Touchless sensing is a technology that combines the advantages of optical sensing with biometric sensing systems. Touchless sensors enable scanning of biometric images or simply the presence of a person without the need for physical contact with the sensors. The optical source in the system illuminates the object and the image is scanned using camera. The optical source used for illumination is highly sophisticated and ensures high quality image for detection. Touchless sensor systems are highly appreciable in areas with hygiene concerns such as washrooms, restaurant kitchens and others. In addition, touchless sensors are increasingly being preferred for automatic entrance/exits in shopping malls, railway stations, airports and other public places.Request for Sample Report:Touchless sensors market is currently in nascent stage and is expected to show strong growth in near future. This is majorly due to several advantages of touchless sensors over conventional touch based sensing systems. Touchless sensors are cost effective as compared to the touch based sensors and require low maintenance cost. In addition, as the system is touch free, wear and tear caused to the sensor system is significantly reduced thereby extending the life of system. Touchless sensors can be easily installed with the existing hardware and do not incur additional installation costs. As the systems are based on touchless sensing technology, touchless sensor systems can also be used for security purposes especially in areas with restricted access. Furthermore, growing demand for sophisticated and contact-free sensing systems is another significant factor boosting the growth of touchless sensors market. Unlike conventional touch based sensors, touchless sensors analyze the biometric image to check if it is unmodified. This significantly increases the security against fake entries at access points.Touchless sensors market is broadly segmented based on type of technology, product, application and geographic regions. Touchless sensors are based on different technologies such as infrared, ultrasonic sound waves, electric/capacitive near field and others. The products in touchless sensors are categorized based on touchless biometrics and sanitary equipment. Some of the products for sanitary equipment are soap dispenser, faucets, trash-can, flushes, paper towel and hand dryer. Touchless biometrics includes products such as iris, fingerprint, face, voice and other object recognition sensors. The touchless sensors find wide applications in healthcare, consumer electronics, retail stores, public places, automobile industry, security, home appliances and other automation systems. Touchless sensors are used for security majorly in government sector and are expected to be the most lucrative application due to growing security concerns in government sector. Furthermore, touchless sensors market based on geographic regions is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). At present, North America is the largest market for touchless sensors owing to the high demand for sophisticated sensing sanitary systems as well as touchless biometrics.Request for Table of content:Some of the leading companies in the touchless sensors market are Cognitec Systems GmbH, Cross Match Technologies, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Pebbles Ltd., Qualcomm, Inc., XYZ Interactive Technologies, Inc., Microchip Technology, Inc., MorphoTrak, LLC (Safran group) and others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Wheel Loaders Market: Set to Grow Exponentially During the Forecast 2016 - 2024

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http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10397

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Loader is a type of wheeled tractor mounted with square bucket on the front, rear or sometimes at both the ends. The buckets attached are used to scoop up lose material from the ground which may include dirt, sand or gravel. Wheel loaders are primarily used to transfer stockpiled materials from one place to another. They are also used to load materials into truck, clearing rubble, placing pipes, digging and other such activities. The front load bucket capacity is much greater than the backhoe loader bucket, as the backhoe loader bucket is majorly used as a digging equipment. The backhoe digging equipment can dig deeper than the machines wheel level. Front loaders are also used to remove snow from parking areas, sidewalks and other areas in snow-prone regions. Unlike bulldozers, wheeled loaders are flexible enough to travel across any part of the roads or construction sites. Wheel loaders steering mechanism is maneuvered by articulate steering system which is hydraulically actuated. This system allows better control over the machine even under greater weight holding operations.Request for Sample Report:Major areas deploying wheel loaders comprise of construction zones, mining vicinities, defense lands and others. Rising urbanization and industrialization has greatly supported the construction activities to grow in the last couple of decades. This has raised the adoption of wheel loaders largely in the construction sector. Deployment of armored wheel loaders in military and defense areas has proved greatly proficient as a part of combat engineering missions under hostile territories. The armored wheel loaders are also used for building bridges and bases, removing road blocks, and other allied activities. This has posed a positive impact on wheel loaders market. Moreover, there are certain activities which cant be carried out by large bulldozers due to their size, such tasks are easily carried out by wheel loaders owing to their flexibility. The Asia pacific and European regions have proven to be the major contributors of heavy duty machineries market. Thus, the market size for wheel loaders in this regions is significantly large.The global wheel loaders market can be segmented on the basis of types of wheel loader, net operating power, types of bucket, end-use application, and geography. The segmentation on the basis of types include front loader, backhoe loader, compact loader and armored wheel loader. On the basis of net operating power, the wheel loader market is segmented into 20  40 hp, 40  80 hp, 80  120 hp, 120  160 hp, and 160 hp and above. The segmentation on the basis of types of bucket equipped in the wheel loaders comprise of wedge bottom bucket, flat bottom bucket, backhoe bucket, demolition bucket, excavating buckets and others. The end-use areas deploying wheel loaders include stone quarries, mining zones, construction sites, military & defense, and public sectors. The global wheel loaders market on the basis of geography includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.Request for Table of content:Some of the key players in the global wheel loader market includes Caterpillar Inc., Hitachi Ltd., Deere & Company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Limited, Komatsu Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Limited, and New Holland Construction.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Intelligent Power Switches market: In-depth market segmentation by 2021

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Intelligent power switches are also called as smart power switches because of its advanced functionality. Intelligent power switches are used for high side and low side configurations and are designed for handling normal overload conditions in addition to several extraordinary conditions. Intelligent power switches finds their application in automotive, industrial and commercial sectors.Request for Sample Report:In Intelligent power switches, control section and power stage is integrated on the same chip. Control section includes drivers, logic interface, protection and diagnostic features. Intelligent Power Switches provides benefits such as cost effectiveness, compactness increased system reliability and over temperature protection.On the basis of type, the intelligent power switches market can be segmented as high side switches and low side switches. High side switches are used to drive capacitive, inductive and resistive loads and provide protection against over temperature, short circuit and overload. High side switches are used in all kinds of industrial as well as automotive applications. Low side switches are used to drive resistive and inductive loads and it provide protection against over current, over/under voltage and over temperature. Low side power switches are used in automotive, industrial and commercial applications.Intelligent power switches market can also be segmented on the basis of application. This includes automotive, industrial, commercial and construction application. Intelligent power switches are used in various automotive electrical system such as solenoid and valve driver, in safety features such as window lifters, windshield wipers and power seats. In Industrial applications, intelligent power switches are used where intelligent protection and gate drivers provides component and space saving such as vending machines and traffic signs. Intelligent power switches also finds their application in hydraulic valve control, safety relay replacement, flap driver of construction, commercial and agriculture vehicles.The global intelligent power switches market is expected to witness robust growth through 2025 due to rising demand of intelligent power switches in automotive and industrial application across globe. Region wise the global intelligent power switches market is classified into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia pacific, Japan, and Middle East and Africa (MEA). China is leading the intelligent power switches market in terms of manufacturing. Increasing use of intelligent power switches into automotive and industrial applications is expected to drive the growth of intelligent power switches market throughout the forecast period. Benefits of intelligent power switches such compactness, high reliability and cost effectiveness further expected to drive the market growth.Request for Table of content:The key international players operating in intelligent power switches market includes RICOH Electronic Devices Co., Ltd., International Rectifier, STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies AG, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated., ROHM Semiconductor, Fuji Electric Co. LTD., and SCHUKAT electronic etc.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Millions of black-clad Shia Muslims, crying and beating their chests in mourning, streamed through a shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala Monday under heavy protection from the security forces.

The processions of faithful walking to Imam Hussein's mausoleum from all over Iraq have been routinely targeted by bombings over the years, but this time the Arbaeen commemoration saw very few attacks.

The Islamic State group is battling tens of thousands of Iraqi forces in and around its last major stronghold of Mosul, and observers had feared it might seek to strike Baghdad or Karbala during Arbaeen.

The authorities in Karbala, which lies about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Baghdad, said at least 24,000 soldiers and police were securing the area.

Some pilgrims came from as far afield as Basra, Iraq's main southern port city some 500 kilometres away by road.

"I came walking from Basra with my wife and three sons... This is the third time," said Jaber Kadhem Khalif.

"We started walking 13 days ago and reached Karbala on Sunday night."

The 40-year-old said his prayers would go to the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which has tens of thousands of men deployed on the front lines to fight IS group.

Umm Ali came without her husband, who is with the security forces on the front lines.

"I came with my son and two daughters. I came from Samawa to Najaf by car, then from Najaf to Karbala on foot, to make a plea for my husband's safety," the 45-year-old said.

"We ask God to support us against Daesh (IS) members, to help us liberate Mosul and urge our politicians to remember the people who have sacrificed so much," she said.

Arbaeen, which means "40" in Arabic, is an observance that peaks on the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's 680 AD death, but the pilgrimage takes place over several days running up to it.

Nusayyef al-Khattabi, who heads the Karbala provincial council, said he expected the total number of visitors over several days to range "between 17 and 20 million".

Among them are an estimated three million foreigners, mostly Iranians who started crossing the border days ago.

The last day of Arbaeen was dominated by a controversy in Iraq over the publication by Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat of an article accusing Iranian pilgrims of sexually harassing women during the commemoration.

The article quoted a spokesman from the UN's health agency, which denied any such comment was ever made.

It drew condemnation from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shia figures and bodies demanding an apology.

It kept Saudi-Iranian tension as a backdrop to the pilgrimage, after the deadly 2015 stampede during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca prompted Tehran to angrily question Saudi custodianship of holy Muslim sites.

"I want to respond to what was published in Asharq al-Awsat. They want to slander the pilgrims and this event," said Magdi al-Muslim, a Shia who is himself from Saudi Arabia.

"Our message to them is that we have Imam Hussein and we won't leave him," he said.

Baghdad and much of the country south of the capital come to a standstill in the days preceding Arbaeen, as several major motorways are reserved for pilgrims on foot on one side and authorised vehicles on the other.

Since the previous Arbaeen in December 2015, IS's "caliphate" has been unravelling and the militants are expected to increasingly turn to spectacular one-off attacks on symbolic targets.

There were some attacks during Arbaeen this year, but with far fewer victims than in previous years.

Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, faces the desert of Anbar, a vast province which was until recently an IS group's bastion and where militants still carry out frequent attacks.

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Emerging Pharmaceutical Market - Czech Republic - Planned Healthcare Reform Plans Forecast To Slow Growth Rates

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GBI Researchs new report, Emerging Pharmaceutical Market - Czech Republic - Planned Healthcare Reform Plans Forecast to Slow Growth Rates provides in-depth analysis of trends, issues and challenges in the pharmaceutical market in the Czech Republic. The report analyzes overall pharmaceutical and outsourcing market structure in the Czech Republic. The report provides competitive benchmarking for the leading companies and analyzes the M&A and strategic partnerships that shape the Czech pharmaceutical market. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GBI Researchs team of industry experts.The Czech Republic pharmaceutical market is one of the most attractive markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The availability of cost effective skilled labour, high quality infrastructure and EU harmonious regulations are the main reasons for the fast growth of the Czech pharmaceutical industry. Most local drug manufacturers and distributors are owned by big international pharmaceutical firms. GBI Research valued the Czech pharmaceutical market at $3.1 billion in 2010, which grew with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% from 2004 to 2010. The Czech healthcare sector will witness many new healthcare reforms in the coming years, with the primary objective of reducing growing drug expenditure. In response to these healthcare policies, the Czech pharmaceutical market is expected to witness a lower growth rate in forecast period.GBI Research has analyzed that in 2011, generics had a share of over 50% of the Czech pharmaceutical market. Czech government reforms encourage the manufacture and use of generic drugs, in an attempt to limit drug expenditure and provide low cost-effective public healthcare. Government healthcare policies, coupled with numerous active generic manufacturing companies in the country, will increase the share of generics in the market during the forecast period.The Czech Republic is showing a moderate recovery from the economic downturn in 2009; increased industrial outputs and government structural reforms in various sectors including healthcare have contributed to the growth. GBI Research analyzed that the new healthcare reform policy which is expect to be implemented from 2012, with elements of standard and above standard care, in which patients pay more for above standard (expensive drugs and services) care and an increase in co-payments from the patients, reduces healthcare affordability for individual patients and will pose a major challenge to the Czech pharmaceutical market.ScopeOverall pharma, biotech and outsourcing market structure in Czech RepublicCzech Republic pharmaceutical market characterization, including market size, major regulatory bodies, pricing and reimbursement issues, major distribution channel and intellectual property rights.Czech Republic CRO market growth.Analysis of the leading segments within the Czech Republic pharmaceutical industry.Key market drivers and restraints that have a significant impact on the Czech Republic pharmaceutical market.Competitive benchmarking of leading companies in pharmaceutical and CRO markets.Key M&A activities and strategic partnership deals that have taken place between 2009 and mid 2011.Download sample Copy of Report atReasons to buyDevelop market entry and market expansion strategies by identifying the leading emerging markets poised for strong growth.Devise a more tailored country strategy through the understanding of key drivers and barriers of the countrys pharmaceutical market.Develop key strategic initiatives by understanding the key focus areas of leading companies.Accelerate and strengthen your market position by identifying key companies for mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships.MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Market Research on Crop Sprayers Market 2015 and Analysis to 2025

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Sprayers are devices that used to apply pesticides, insecticides on plants to control pastes and diseases. Sprayers are also use to apply herbicides to control weeds and micronutrients to promote growth of plants. The sprayers breaks the chemical solution into fine droplets and distribute the insecticides uniformly over the plant. A good sprayer should produce steady stream of liquid in desired droplet size so that plants to be treat get covered uniformly. The sprayer should convey adequate pressure so that sprayer should reach all foliage over the plant. The sprayer are operated manually as well as by power.Crop Sprayers Market: Drivers & RestraintsFood drives the world. In addition to clean water, acquire sufficient food is major concern for majority of peoples in the world which makes the agriculture one of the biggest and important industry in the world. Agricultural productivity is not only the prime factor for countries economy but also for the health and security of its population. So importance of agricultural in countries economy is major driving factor for crop sprayer market.Request Free Report Sample@Population explosion, increasing incomes, declined natural sources and changing climate conditions affected food prices to rise and agricultural productivity once again become a major concern. Strategies to increase food productivity imparts the use of technology in agriculture. Such strategies will helps to drive crop sprayers market.Green revolution have changed the concept of traditional farming. Extensive efforts to modify farming methods assisted to increase the food production in Asia Pacific and Latin America. There are some regions in Middle East and Africa where many effort were taken to apply the green revolution approaches but failed. So there is need to help the farmers to use farming equipment in farming. Farmers in undeveloped countries does not have disposable income to use modern techniques in farming. So there is need of government initiatives to assist the farmers.Crop Sprayers Market: Market SegmentationCrop sprayers market can be segmented on the basis of Capacity of SprayersUltra Low Volume Sprayers (less than 5liters/hectare)Low Volume Sprayers(5 to 400 liters/hectare)Manually OperatedKnapsack SprayersRocker SprayersPedal Operated SprayersStirrup SprayersPower Driven SprayersKnapsack Power SprayersHigh Volume Sprayers(More than 400 liters/ hectare)Self-Propelled SprayersMounted SprayersTrailed SprayersCrop Sprayers Market: Regional-OutlookThe global Crop Sprayers market has been divided into seven key geographical regions which includes, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific will be dominating market for Crop Sprayers. Countries like India, China, and Indonesia are major agricultural promoting countries in Asia Pacific. There will be demand for Low volume sprayers in India as there is farming in small plots. Farming land in India is bisected. China and Indonesia will demand High volume sprayers. Asia Pacific is followed by North America. North America is major producer of wheat, corn and soybean. Latin America is also the lucrative market for crop sprayers market. Green revolution have lead the Latin America as prime agriculture region. Brazil and Mexico will be important countries for Crop sprayers market. Western Europe also contributes for Crop sprayers market. Germany and Netherlands. Netherlands is one of the prominent producer of vegetables and flowers. Eastern Europe also important market for Crop Sprayers. Middle East and Africa is lags behind in Agriculture. But countries like Israel, South Africa, and Nigeria have proved the development in Agriculture. So there is opportunity to expand the crop sprayers market in this region.Visit For TOC@Crop Sprayers Market: Key playersSome of the identified players in the global Crop Sprayers market are,Chafer Machinery GroupHousehamJohn Rhodes AS limitedBoston Crop SprayersCleveland crop sprayers limitedAvison SprayersS & K sprayersFoggers India Pvt ltd.ASPEE IndiaCrystal Crop Protection Pvt LtdTaizhou Sunny Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd.,Zhejiang Ousen Machinery Co., Ltd.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Aerospace Lightweight Materials Market Set to Grow Exponentially During the Forecast , 2016 - 2024

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Aluminum alloys are used for moderate temperature range applications where titanium alloys are used for temperature range up to 500 to 5500 C or may push another 2000 C. Fiber reinforcements are mostly used where high stiffness and wear resistance are required. Super alloys have the ability to withstand temperatures more than 10000 C. Basically, these materials act as an integral part of the complex aerospace systems. The global aerospace lightweight materials market is expected to increase at a significant rate in terms of value over the forecast period.Request for Sample Copy@The global aerospace lightweight materials market is expected to increase at a significant pace due to increasing demand for properties such as high fuel efficiency and high temperature resistance. Moreover, the global aerospace lightweight materials market is anticipated to increase due to the implementation of stringent regulations over carbon emissions across the globe. Easy machining, high strength, low density and high thrust-to-weight ratio in aircraft engines is expected to drive the demand for titanium aluminide (TiAl) and aluminum lithium (Al-Li) over the forecast period.Among all the material types, titanium has relatively high cost, which is expected to be a major reason to hamper the growth of titanium segment over the forecast period.The global aerospace lightweight materials market is segmented on the basis of component type, material type, application and key regions. On the basis of material type, the global aerospace lightweight materials market is segmented into aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steel, and nickel alloys. On the basis of component type, the global aerospace lightweight materials market is classified into interior parts and exterior parts. On the basis of application, the global aerospace lightweight materials market are segmented as business aircraft, commercial aircraft, missiles and munitions, engines, military fixed wing, general aviation and others. On the basis of geography, the global aerospace lightweight materials market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa.Request for Table of Content@North America and Europe are expected to collectively account for major share in the global aerospace lightweight materials market throughout the forecast period. The U.S. is expected to be one of the major consumers of aerospace lightweight materials. High demand for aircrafts from the emerging regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America are expected to augment the demand for aerospace lightweight materials, thus driving the global aerospace lightweight materials market. In the near future, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness high demand for aerospace lightweight materials due to increasing number of aircrafts.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Impact of Existing and Emerging Automotive Seating Systems Market Trends And Forecast 2016-2026

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The design, price, and features of automotives vary from vehicle to vehicle. The seating systems of premium vehicles are more expensive and have advanced features, such as automatic heating. Various manufacturers are designing and developing automotive seating systems integrated with smart technologies and improved safety features to mitigate risks in case of accidents.The new designs of automotive seating system also increases the fuel efficiency of the vehicles with lightweight designing. Moreover, the safety concerns related to driving and increase in demand for premium vehicles and economy cars in the developing regions such as India and Brazil will provide opportunities for the automotive seating systems market globally. The global automotive seating systems market will register a moderate CAGR over the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@Automotive Seating Systems Market: DriversThe global automotive seating systems market is primarily driven by the growth in the automotive industry with new launch of an array of vehicles in the market and the demand for luxurious and comfortable seating among the consumers. The greenhouse gas emission regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency are also driving the demand for lightweight automotive seating systems having a positive impact on the automotive seating systems market globally. The new trends in the automotive seating systems market are integration of smart technologies; for example, Faurecia, one of the leading players in the automotive seating systems market, developed automatic seat positioning system which can be adjusted using a smartphone.Cost reduction challenge associated with the designing and manufacturing of automotive seating systems can pose challenges to the growth of the automotive seating systems market during the forecast period 2016-2026.Automotive Seating Systems Market SegmentationThe global automotive seating systems market is segmented based on vehicle type, seat type, technology, distribution channel, and region.Based on vehicle type, the automotive seating systems market can be segmented into PC (Passenger Cars), LCV (Light Commercial Vehicles) and HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicles).On the basis of seat type, the automotive seating systems market is segmented into split Seat, bench seat and split bench seat.Based on technology, the automotive seating systems market is segmented into heated, powered, powered & heated, and standard type.Based on the distribution channel, automotive seating systems market is segmented into OEM and Aftermarket.Based on the geographic regions, the global automotive seating systems market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, APEJ will dominate the automotive seating systems market over the forecast period 2016-2026. China, India, and South Korea will be key to the growth of the automotive seating systems market during the forecast period.Consistently growing automotive sector in the region will contribute to the expansion of the market in the region. North America and Western Europe are the other key markets in the region. Emerging economies in Latin America will continue to offer growth opportunities to manufacturers, as the automotive sector witnesses steady growth in the region.Visit For TOC@Some of the major players identified in the global automotive seating systems market includes, Johnson Controls Inc., Faurecia SA, Marter Automotive Seating Systems, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Lear Corporation, Magna International Inc, and IFB Automotive among others.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Pharmaceutical Solvents Market Expand Their Businesses With New Investments by 2024

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The pharmaceutical solvents market, in general, rely on demands from pharmaceutical industry and the quantity of drugs to be produced. Research and development activities and government drug regulatory authorities also affect the overall demand of particular solvents in a particular region. It is observed that organic solvents are gaining traction globally due to non-toxic nature as compared to their inorganic counterpart.Request for Sample Copy@Adoption of new methods and manufacturing technologies in pharmaceutical industries is considered as one of the main driving factors of global pharmaceutical solvents market. Also, on political scale, increasing budgets and expenditure for medical and health sectors by various governments is also expected to contribute high demand for solvents in across various pharmaceutical manufacturing firms globally.Whereas, environmental concerns related to toxicity and volatility of some hazardous solvents put the global pharmaceutical solvents market under scrutiny. Some solvents are found hard to condense or precipitate, moreover, they might also form flammable environment in the laboratory or blending area. Various governments or drugs directorates have either banned or limited the use of such solvents which are found either toxic or carcinogenic. For example, carbon tetrachloride is advised to be banned as it is toxic and hazardous for the environment. Whereas, solvents such as chloroform and cumene are advised for their limited use, i.e. 60 and 70 concentrations (ppm) respectively.Developments such as research activities to manufacture new solvents which are easy to prepare and have very rare negative effects on drug conditioning and workers health are expected to create significant growth opportunity over the coming years.Global pharmaceutical solvents market is segmented on the basis of chemical group to which they belong and region. On the basis of chemical group, the market is segmented into esters, ethers, amines, alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, ketones and others. Each of the mentioned category contains several solvents widely used in pharmaceutical manufacturing industries.Request for Table of Content@Depending on geographic regions, the global pharmaceutical solvents market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Due to developed pharmaceutical industries in the region, North America and Western Europe are expected to hold significant market shares by 2016 end, while APEJ is expected to emerge as one of fastest growing region in the global pharmaceutical solvents market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Good Growth Opportunities in Global Smart Pulse Oximeters Market Till 2026

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Smart pulse oximeter is one of the fastest growing product type in the vital sign monitoring devices segment. Smart pulse oximeter is a non-invasive medical device used to measure the oxygen saturation level and heart rate in human. Smart pulse oximeter is a clip like device also known as a probe and is placed on body parts such as fingertip or ear lobe to measure the heart rate and oxygen level. It uses infrared light to measure the oxygen level and heart rate. The measurement of oxygen level and heart rate are very important while performing surgeries and injecting the anaesthesia, because the changes in the oxygen level in such a conditions may cause life threatening effects. Smart pulse oximeter also used to check the human health with a conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anaemia, lung cancer and asthma. However, the readings of smart pulse oximeter may not accurate in peripheral vascular diseases. Smart pulse oximeters products market is segmented into handheld pulse oximeters, finger pulse oximeters, paediatric pulse oximeters and wrist pulse oximeters.. Hand held smart pulse oximeters are useful for pilots to check the oxygen level when they are operating at above 10,000 feet. These devices are also useful to the mountaineers and athletes to check the oxygen level. Paediatric pulse oximeters mainly used in the hospitals and these devices are separately designed to measure the oxygen saturation level and heart rate in the infants.Request Free Report Sample@Smart pulse oximeter market has been segmented on the basis of product type, and end userSmart Pulse Oximeter Market, by Product TypeFinger Pulse OximeterHandheld Pulse OximeterPaediatric Pulse OximeterWrist Pulse OximeterSmart Pulse Oximeter Market, by End UserHospitalAmbulatory surgical centresHome Care SettingThe use of pulse oximeter in the home care settings has expanded over the last few years and is expected to register a healthy growth rate during the forecast periodOver the past few years, leading players in the vital sign monitoring devices segment are manufacturing devices with new technology such as Bluetooth which displays the readings in the smartphone. Moreover, the availability of cost effective smart pulse oximeters are the factors driving growth of overall smart pulse oximeter market., World Health Organization (WHO) started safety pulse oximetry project to improve the health in middle-income countries also expected to boost the smart pulse oximeter market. Increasing incidence rates of trauma conditions and increasing prevalence of heart related diseases are also expected to drive the smart pulse oximeter market. However, availability of high end devices to measure the heart rate is expected to hamper the overall market.Depending on geographic region, Smart Pulse Oximeter Market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is estimated to contribute maximum revenue share in the global market of smart pulse oximeter followed by Europe. Asia Pacific regions are expected to grow at a higher growth rate owing to high occurrence of chronic disease. Middle East & Africa is expected to show a healthy growth rate during forecast period.Visit For TOC@Smart Pulse Oximeters Market: Key PlayersKey players of smart pulse oximeter market are Nonin Medical Inc, Shenzhen Creative Industry Co.,Ltd, iHealth Labs Inc. Indiegogo, Inc., Technocare Medisystems, Contec Medical Systems Co.,Ltd., and MasimoAbout Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Automotive Foams MarketValue Share, Analysis and Segments 2016-2026

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Automotive foams are generally polymer foams and are made up of gas and solid phase mixed together to form a foam which is achieved by combining the two phases too briskly for the system to respond in a smooth fashion. The resulting foam is incorporated with either air bubbles or air tunnels also known as either closed cell structure or open cell structure. Open cell foams are usually flexible, while closed cell foams are generally rigid. The gas involved in the manufacturing of automotive foam can either be chemical or physical and is termed as a blowing agent. Physical blowing agents are those gases which are not involved in direct chemical reaction in the foaming process and thus are inert in nature whereas chemical blowing agents are those gases that take part in the chemical reaction and thus decompose to release chemicals in the foaming process. Polymer foams can be produced through various methods including extrusion, slab-stock by pouring and different types of molding. There are various types of polymer foams including polyurethane, biodegradable foams, starch foams among others. Polymer foams find their applications in various sectors including automotive, packaging, building & construction, furniture & bedding among others. Major methods of manufacturing automotive foams are molding and slabstock.Global Automotive Foams Market: SegmentationThe global automotive foams market can be segmented on the basis of types, application and end-use industry. On the basis of type, the global automotive foams market can be segmented into polyurethane, starch foams, biodegradable foams and others. On the basis of application, the global automotive foams market can be segmented on the basis of instrument panels, seating, door panels, headliners, water shields, gaskets, seals, Noise-Vibration and Harshness (NVH) solutions and others. On the basis of end-use industry, the global automotive foams market can be segmented into passenger cars, light commercial vehicles (LCV), and heavy commercial vehicles (HCV).Request Free Report Sample@Global Automotive Foams Market: DynamicsVarious properties of automotive/ polymer foams including low density, weight reduction characteristics and cost effectiveness are some of the main reasons driving the global automotive foams market. Moreover, automotive foams are optimal insulators with low heat transfer properties, which is a key factor fuelling the demand for automotive foams over other alternatives thus in turn driving the overall global automotive foams market. Flexibility and softness of automotive foams also provide extra comfort to the passengers which is a major factor pumping the growth of the global automotive foams market. Furthermore, growing consumer preference for polymer foams in vehicles and increasing manufacturers inclination towards automotive foam products in commercial vehicle applications is a major factor driving the demand for automotive foams thus fuelling the overall global automotive foams market.The major challenges involved in the global automotive foams market include waste disposal, flammability, recyclability and others. Moreover, adverse effects of blowing agents on the environment is another major challenge hampering the growth of the global automotive foams market. Stringent government regulations on the adverse effects of chloro-fluoro-carbons (CFCs) involved in the manufacture of polymer foams is another key factor restraining the growth of the global automotive foams market.Global Automotive Foams Market: Region-wise OutlookConsidering regions, North America in the global automotive foams market is anticipated to dominate the other regions throughout the forecast period followed by Western Europe. Moreover, APAC is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. The global automotive foams market is divided into seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan.Visit For TOC@Global Automotive Foams Market: Key PlayersThe key players involved in the manufacture of automotive foams include Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Bridgestone Corporation, Johnson Controls, The Dow Chemical Company, BASF Chemical Company, Lear Corporation, Vitafoams, Saint-Gobain, Armacell, Recticel among others.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market size in terms of volume and value 2016-2026

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Cardiac monitoring is continuous monitoring of heart activity using electrocardiography techniques to understand the heart rhythm and find anomalies in the functioning of the heart. Cardiac monitoring is a critical part of healthcare diagnostics as several functions of the body can be understood by carefully analyzing the heart rhythm. Mobile cardiac telemetry is one of the newest technology in the cardiac monitoring which allows remote monitoring of the patients who are situated at far away distance from the physicians. Mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) devices are small portable sensors that are worn by the patient for monitoring cardiac rhythm. In the case when an anomaly is detected in the heart rhythm the sensor records it and sends the data to the transmitter which transmits the data to the manned monitoring center using a mobile network. The data, which is sent to the monitoring center is analyzed by the trained healthcare professionals for reported to the physicians or the patients for further treatment. The real-time data provided by the mobile cardiac telemetry systems provides an edge over the other cardiac monitoring systems like Holter monitoring systems or event monitoring systems.Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe demand for mobile cardiac telemetry systems is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period owing to the technology edge. Mobile cardiac telemetry systems provide mobility to the patient and real time data of the patient to the physicians. Increased diagnostic yield of the MCT devices is over standards cardiac monitoring devices is expected to create high demand from the patients. Moreover the increasing demand for cardiac monitoring in home care settings is increasing owing to rapid expansion in the geriatric population. Increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases is expected to create high growth opportunities for the MCT systems manufacturers over the forecast period. According to the WHO estimates nearly 17.5 million people die from cardiovascular diseases each year worldwide. In past few years several new manufacturers have entered the MCT market owing to which the prices of MCT devices are expected to fall over the forecast period which in turn is expected to increase adoption of the MCT systems over the forecast period. However the stringent regulations and product recalls associated with product failure is expected to hamper revenue growth of the MTC systems market.Request Free Report Sample@Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: SegmentationThe global mobile cardiac telemetry systems market is segmented into two key segments, by revenue channel and by regionSegmentation by revenue channelPatientsPhysiciansPayersMobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: OverviewThe mobile cardiac telemetry systems market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to increasing adoption rate and awareness among the end users. Moreover the technological developments and increasing disease burden of cardiovascular diseases is expected to boost revenue growth of MCT systems market.Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: Region  Wise OutlookRegionally the mobile cardiac telemetry market is segmented into seven key regions, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA)North America and Western Europe are expected to dominate the MCT systems market over the forecast period owing to high adoption rate of the mobile cardiac telemetry devices in these regions. Japan and APEJ region is expected to follow next owing to increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in these regions. According to the World Health Organization more than 75% of the cardiovascular diseases occur in low  middle income countries which in turn APEJ, Latin America and Eastern Europe regions are expected to witness significant growth in the MCT systems market over the forecast period. MEA region is expected to witness growth opportunities depending on the adoption of the cardiac telemetry systems in this region.Visit For TOC@Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: Market ParticipantsSome key participants in the mobile cardiac telemetry systems market are, Medtronic, Digirad Corporation, Kyma, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotelemetry, Inc., The ScottCare Corporation and Spectocor LLC.About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
The US Connected Health M2M Market Size, Shares, Trends, Opportunities, Growth and Forecast 2015-2019

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Albany, NY, Nov 21: Connected health M2M is a remote healthcare service delivery model that functions in an IT ecosystem. It enables the accessing and sharing of healthcare information and the analysis of healthcare data. It provides the management of clinical data, and communication and collaboration among all the stakeholders of the healthcare service ecosystem. Some of its major functions are home monitoring, clinical monitoring, telemedicine, first responder connectivity, connected medical environment, clinical remote monitoring, assisted living and clinical trials, and healthcare asset management.The connected health M2M market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 28.72% over the period 2015-2019. Technavio's report, Connected Health M2M Market in the US 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the landscape of the market and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Key vendors- AeroScout (Stanley Healthcare Solutions)- Allscripts Healthcare- athenahealth- Zebra TechnologiesEmerging vendors- AirStrip Technologies- Alliance Healthcare- Apple- BL Healthcare- GE Healthcare- Honeywell HomeMed- HP Enterprise Services- Qualcomm- VoxivaOther prominent vendors- AT&T- BlueStar- Care360 Quest- Cerner- Cisco- DoApp- Dr.Chrono- eClinicalWorks- Greenway- HealthFusion...........Enquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Turbine Market in Indonesia to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% over Forecast report 2015-2019

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Albany, NY, Nov 21: A turbine is a mechanical device consisting of revolving rotors and blades, which transforms rotational energy into usable energy. The fluid used for the rotation can be steam, gas, or other combustion products such as CO2 and carbon monoxide. There are three types of turbines: steam, gas, and CCGT. Steam turbine extracts thermal energy from steam and converts it into mechanical energy. Gas turbine is generally used in gas-fired power plants where an internal combustion engine is placed, in which the fuel is mixed with air and ignited. Because of the growing awareness about the environmental pollution caused by thermal power plants, most of the newly constructed gas-fired power plants are CCGT plants.The turbine market in Indonesia to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% over the period 2014-2019. The report includes the present scenario and the growth prospects of the turbine market in Indonesia for the period 2015-2019. Based on type, the market can be segmented into three: steam turbines, gas turbines, and CCGT.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Turbine Market in Indonesia 2015-2019, 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 in the coming years. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Vendors- Dongfang Electric- General Electric- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries- Shanghai Electric- SiemensOther Prominent Vendors- Harbin- Nanjing Turbine & Electric Machinery- Shanghai ElectricKey Market Driver- Huge Potential for Coal and Gas Resources- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Challenge- Paucity of Infrastructure- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Trend- Increased Investments in Power Sector- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
The Truth and Dignity Commission found the Ben Ali and Borguiba regimes guilty of 36,000 crimes against citizens

Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission held sessions last week to publicly hear the stories of citizens oppressed and persecuted under the reigns of ex-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Habib Bourguiba, in keeping with the body's mandate to promote transitional justice.

Tunisian state TV provided live coverage of the sessions, in which Tunisian men and women accused state authorities and officials of committing crimes against themselves and/or members of their families.

The crimes heard included murder, torture, rape, forced disappearance and discriminatory firing  experiences which pushed many Tunisians to leave the country.

As the proceedings got underway, one could see tears on the faces of many journalists sitting in press rooms in Sidi Bou Said  located about 20 km from the capital where these sessions are held  and people attending the sessions, or those watching the event in cafes.

The location of the sessions was chosen for its psychological significance to Tunisians. Sidi Bou Said is a city in which Leila Trabelsi Ben Ali's wifeand her family organized many events and celebrations.

A diversity in terms of the time periods in which these crimes were committed and the identities of the victims was also noticeable.

By law, the Truth and Dignity Commissionheaded by human rights activist Sihem Bensedrineis tasked with investigating crimes that date from 1955, a year before Tunisia gained independence from France, to the post-uprising period in 2013.

Even crimes that occurred under the Ennahda-led troika coalition government are included.

The commission, according to the new Tunisian constitution, is responsible for managing all affairs related to the country's transitional justice.

Considered a "historic event," in the North African nation, these sessions represent the outcome of two years of preparations by the commission.

Although representatives from a range of political parties attended the event, members of Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally and Bourguiba's Destourians did not show up.

This is closely related to the fact that many of the complaints heard during the sessions, documents that have been revealed to the commission and secret testimonies hold several political figurescurrently serving in high-level state positionsaccountable.

Perhaps the only exception was Kamal Morgan  Ben Alis ex-foreign minister  who attended Thursdays sessions and sat next to Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi.

Morgan heads the Al-Mobadra party, which has one minister in the cabinet and four members in parliament.

Ahead of the public, televised sessions the commission said it has held 12,000 secret sessions and received 62,000 complaints against the former administrations. It agreed to examine 50,000 of those complaints.

The commission concluded that state authorities were directly responsible for committing 36,000 crimes against citizens, while 6,000 others were excused on the basis of acting on behalf the state or for the sake of protecting it.

The commission has documented 603 cases of murder, 61 cases of execution without trials, 355 cases of sexual abuse and rape, more than 10,000 case of torture, 194 cases of forced disappearance, more than 13,000 cases of unlawful arrest, and more than 15,000 cases of violating the socio-economic rights of individuals.

Most Tunisians know exactly what used to happen, and the first sessions showed only 10 percent of it, said Ramzy Al-Agnaf, a 36-year-old who owns a hardware store in central Tunis.

But what will happen next? This is the important question now. Will justice be achieved? Or will political leaders reach deals from behind the scenes? he added.

One cause for hope, he concluded, is that the sessions may hinder parliament's approval of a recent draft bill that calls for reconciliation with Ben Ali's businessmen.

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Automotive Fuel Delivery and Injection Systems Market - Growing Demand for Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Worldwide

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With Robert Bosch GmbH, Denso Corp., Continental AG, and Delphi Automotive collectively holding a share of 52.3%, the global market for automotive fuel delivery and injection systems demonstrated a moderately concentrated competitive scenario in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research in a recent study. The market trends and prospects do not indicate any significant change in this arrangement over the next few years.Presently, leading participants are aggressively focusing on product innovation and advancements in current offerings to improve their portfolios. However, mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships will be the most preferred business strategy in the years to come as the focus of these players are likely to shift from strengthening their portfolios to expanding their reach internationally.Get More Information:Growing Demand for Vehicles Boosts Sale of Automotive Fuel Delivery and Injection SystemsOf late, a rapid rise in the demand for automobiles has been experienced across the world. With the improving economic conditions and the increasing population base, the demand for passenger as well as commercial vehicles has registered an immense growth over the last few years, states an analysts. Since automotive fuel delivery and injection systems are one of the most important parts of any automobile, their sale is directly influenced by this escalating demand for vehicles.Apart from this, the increasing preference for fuel-efficient vehicles is also adding considerably to the growing demand for these systems, which have gained significant popularity for their efficacy in managing fuel delivery better than carburetors.Complex Design Increases Maintenance Cost, Hampers Application SignificantlyOn account of their complex designs, these systems require professional assistance and tools for their maintenance, owing to which, the overall costs of these devices increase substantially. The application of these systems has been impacted negatively due to this factor in the recent times.In addition to this, the rise in implementation of various rules and regulations by several governments concerning the increase in the environmental pollution by exhaust gas is projected to scale down the sales of standard fuel injection systems over the coming years.Browse The Report:Opportunity in Europe to Reach US$25.1 bn by 2021The opportunity in automotive fuel delivery and injection systems has been growing significantly at the global level, observes TMR. According to its estimations, this global opportunity will expand at a CAGR of 4.90% between 2015 and 2021, rising from US$54.6 bn in 2014 to a value of US$72.7 bn by the end of the forecast period.In 2014, Europe emerged the market leader with and analysts expect the region to continue to lead throughout the forecast period, however with a slight decline in its share. The opportunity for automotive fuel delivery and injection systems in Europe is likely to increase to US$25.1 bn by 2021.Currently, automotive fuel delivery and injection systems report maximum utilization in passenger vehicles. This trend is expected to remain the same in the years to come. By fuel type, gasoline-based systems will continue to experience the most prominent demand in the near future. In terms of product type, port fuel injections will remain the leading segment over the next few years.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Automotive Fuel Delivery and Injection Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
VRF Refrigeration Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2023

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VRF Refrigeration Systems Market: OverviewVariable refrigerant flow (VRF) refrigeration systems provide variable flow of refrigerant into the evaporators with different capacities and configurations. This enables simultaneous heating and cooling and better heat recovery from one zone to another in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This flow of refrigerant is controlled by VRF system.The augmenting demand from commercial and small-medium businesses for flexible design of HVAC systems due to shrinking work-spaces is the key trend driving the demand for VRF refrigeration systems. The compact design and flexible layout in terms of outdoor to indoor units are the added benefits leading to its adoption in commercial as well as residential HVAC systems.PDF Sample For Full Details with Technological breakthroughs is @VRF refrigeration market is segmented on the basis of component type and end-use industry. On the basis of component type, VRF refrigeration market is further segmented into indoor units, outdoor units, controllers and parts & accessories. Most of VRF refrigerant systems consist of indoor units to deliver the processed air. Outdoor units are used for heat recovery and control the flow of refrigerant.VRF Refrigeration Systems Market: SegmentationIn terms of end-use industry, VRF refrigeration market is further classified as healthcare, commercial buildings, education institutes, government and public sector, retail, manufacturing, banking, financial sector and insurance (BFSI) and manufacturing. On a broader scale, VRF systems are deployed in commercial spaces such as small and medium businesses, shopping complexes and large organizations. This is largely due to easy installation, efficient design and high sustainability provide by the VRF systems, making them an effective choice over other HVAC systems.The demand-specific flow of refrigerant makes it energy efficient and rising cognizance of energy efficiency in developed as well as in emerging markets makes this a key factor driving the market growth. Along with this, strict government reforms which encourage the use of energy efficient HVAC systems, especially in commercial spaces, is expected to pave the market growth in near term.VRF Refrigeration Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookLack of awareness, especially in emerging economies in Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America region is expected to restrain its market growth. Furthermore, development of eco-friendly refrigerant for VRF systems and increasing penetration of VRF systems in residential segment can be foreseen as huge market opportunity for development of VRF systems in the future years.On a global perspective, with the earlier adoption of VRF systems in Asia Pacific and Europe regions in comparison with the markets in North America, Middle East & Africa and Latin America regions . These regions are expected to be the market leaders in terms of adoption of VRF systems, in the current scenario. However, North America is expected to surpass these markets in coming years, as a reason of vast adoption of VRF systems in the region. In terms of end-use applications, commercial buildings are expected to dominate of the VRF systems market. However, healthcare sector is expected to grow at a faster rate in comparison to the other industry verticals during the forecast period.VRF Refrigeration Systems Market: Key PlayersSome of the key manufactures in the development and manufacturing of VRF refrigeration systems are Daikin Industries, Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand plc, LG Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc., Blue Star Ltd., Voltas, Ltd., Encore Mechanical, L.L.C., Carrier Corporation, Fujitsu General Ltd., Panasonic Corporation, Lennox Industries, Inc., Haier, Inc. and Gree Electric Appliances, Inc.Market Insight can be Viewed @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Machine Tools Market in China 2015-2019: Current Market Size, Trends, Growth, Survey and Forecast

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Albany, NY, Nov 21: Machine tools are used to cut and shape metals and nonmetallic materials based on the specifications of a product. They enable manufacturing of critical components with utmost ease and accuracy. These tools include metal cutting machine tools, metal forming machine tools, and machine tools accessories. Companies extensively use them across sectors such as automotive, general machinery, precision engineering, transport, aerospace, and dies and molds.The machine tools market in China to grow at a CAGR of 6.50% during 2014-2019. The machine tools market in China can be segmented into four end-user segments: automotive sector, general machinery sector, precision engineering sector, and transport machinery sector.Technavio's report, Machine Tools Market in China 2015-2019, 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 in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Key vendors- Dalian Machine Tool Group (DMTG)- DMG Mori Seiki Aktiengesellschaft- Shenyang Machine Tools (SMTCL)Other prominent vendors- Byjc-okuma (Beijing)- FANUC- Shaanxi Qinchuan Machinery DevelopmentMarket driver- Growing aerospace and aviation industry in China- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Slump in Chinese economy- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Heavy investments in transport infrastructure- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
European Luxury Yacht Market Size, Shares, Trends, Growth, Survey and Forecast 2015-2019

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Albany, NY, Nov 21: Yachts with length greater than 24 feet are known as luxury, super, mega, or large yachts. They are segmented based on size and propulsion and are mainly used for recreational purposes. They include modern convenience features such as ACs, TV, navigation aids, radar, echo-sounding, autopilot, and reliable power generating systems.The luxury yacht market in Europe to decline at a CAGR of 3.45% over 2014-2019. This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the luxury yacht market in Europe for 2015-2019. Forecast and analysis of the market have been done in terms of volume and revenue.The report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the prominent vendors in the market. In addition, it includes the major drivers that are influencing the growth of the market. It also outlines the challenges faced by the vendors and the market at large, as well as the key trends emerging in the market.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Luxury Yacht Market in Europe 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the landscape of the market and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Amels/Damen Group- Azimut|Benetti Group- Feadship- ISA Group- Lurssen- Overmarine Group- Sunseeker International- Heesen Yachts- Perini NaviOther prominent vendors- Abeking & Rasmussen- Admiral- Alalunga- Anastassiades- Arcadia Yachts- Arcon Yachts- Astondoa- Austral Yachts- Baltic Yachts- Bilgin- Bloemsma Van Breemen- Boat Speed- Bolero Yachts- Cammenga- Canados- Cantiere delle Marche...........Enquiry at:Key Questions Answered in this Report- What will the market size be in 2019 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?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Global Pressure Sensors Market - ABB Ltd, Analog Devices Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Emerson Process Management

Global Pressure Sensors Market

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Global Pressure Sensors Market by Technology (Capacitive, Electromagnetic, Optical, Piezoresistive, Resonant Solid-State) for Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Industrial, Medical, Oil & Gas and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020The report covers forecast and analysis for the pressure sensors market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on revenue (USD million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the pressure sensors market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the pressure sensors market on a global level.Try Sample Report atIn order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the pressure sensors market, we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the pressure sensors market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein technology segments and applications segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view on the pressure sensors market by segmenting the market based on applications. All the application segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2014 to 2020. Key technology type segmented market covered under this study includes capacitive, electromagnetic, optical, piezoresistive, resonant solid-state. Key application segments covered under this study includes automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, medical, oil & gas and others. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for Pressure Sensors based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.Browse Full Report atThe report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as ABB Ltd, Analog Devices Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Emerson Process Management, Freescale Semiconductor Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Omron Corporation, Robert Bosch Gmbh, and STMicroelectronics N.V. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments of the company.The report segments the global pressure sensors market as:Pressure Sensors Market: Technology Segment AnalysisCapacitiveElectromagneticOpticalPiezoresistiveResonant Solid-StateRequest For Toc atPressure Sensors Market: Application Segment AnalysisAutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsIndustrialMedicalOil & GasOtherPressure Sensors Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/CanadaToll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
High Pressure Processing (HPP) MarketOverview, Trends and Opportunities, Segmentation 2016-2024

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Global High Pressure Processing Market: OverviewHigh pressure processing (HPP), also known as pascalization, is a technology used in the sterilization of a wide range of food products. HPP is a type of freezing pasteurization in which the products are introduced into a container subjected to close to the maximum level of isostatic pressure exerted by water. The high pressure eliminates the bacteria, yeast, molds, parasites, and viruses present in the food, extending the life of the product and guaranteeing its safety.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :High pressure processing is a natural and environmentally viable process that helps in maintaining the nutrients and flavor of the food being processed. It thus provides the benefits of thermal methods while eliminating their drawbacks, which has driven the demand for HPP. Seafood and meat producers are the key consumers of high pressure processing technology.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market by providing in-depth qualitative and quantitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about the global high pressure processing markets size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using industry-standard research methodologies and assumptions.Global High Pressure Processing Market: Trends and OpportunitiesDue to its comprehensive efficacy in eliminating most pathogens, high pressure processing eliminates the need for chemical additives. This is a crucial driver for the global high pressure processing market due to the growing perception among consumers that chemical additives are inherently unsafe. Food products without any chemical additives are thus becoming popular across the world, leading to a rising demand from the global high pressure processing market.Due to its relatively uncomplicated operation, high pressure processing also requires less energy than most other food processing technologies. This is a key driver for the global HPP market, as processing technologies account for a significant part of the total power expenditure of packaged food producers. Furthermore, high pressure processing also takes less time than most other technologies, which helps increase the total output of the production line, which is a significant factor cumulatively.Browse Full Report With Toc:Another factor benefiting the global HPP market is the fact that high pressure processing can be carried out after the food has been placed in the final package. This eliminates the risk of post-processing contamination and is thus likely to remain a key driver for the market in the coming years.Global High Pressure Processing Market: SegmentationThe global high pressure processing market can be bifurcated on the basis of orientation into horizontal and vertical high pressure processing equipment. On the basis of application, the market can be segmented into meat, fruits and vegetables, juice and beverages, and seafood. Among these, meats and fruits and vegetables are the key segments of the global high pressure processing market due to their highly perishable nature. By vessel size, the high pressure processing market can be segmented into less than 100L, 100L to 250L, 250L to 500L, and more than 500L.Furthermore, the market is segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and RoW. Of these, North America is the leading contributor to the global high pressure processing market due to the presence of a number of leading food industry players in the region.Some of the key players dominating the global high pressure processing market are Avure Technologies Inc., Chic Freshertech, Baotou Kefa High Pressure Technology Co. Ltd., Hiperbaric Espana, Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH, Kobe Steel Ltd., Thyssenkrupp Ag, Stansted Fluid Power Ltd., Beskyd Frycovice A.S., Motivatit Seafoods L.L.C., and Millard Refrigerated Services, among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Belgium, Brazil, US, UK, Norway and more to discuss network protection at European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017

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SMi Reports (2016.21.11, London, UK): European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017 will bring together leading experts from Belgium, Brazil, US, UK, Norway and more to discuss network protection against cyber-attack.SMi Group are delighted to announce that European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017 will play host for international network discussion from Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Italy, Netherland, Norway, UK and USA.Taking place on the 21st-22nd March in London, European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017 is a platform to meet and discuss latest regulatory standards, advances in technological solutions, the latest smart metering programmes, European utility market dynamics, advances in construction and technology, communication and human issues and how to overcome them.Smart grid cyber security is developing at a very rapid rate globally. Following this, European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017 will look into just how some of these markets are growing and what can be learned from them:- Belgium  A data framework for consumer empowerment- Brazil  Overview of smart meters deployment in Brazilian pilot projects- Denmark  Government role in securing smart grid communication- Italy  Security over end-user smart grid application- Norway  A Norwegian study about cyber security culture- Netherlands  Fining the best means to respond to security threats- UK  Smart metering cyber security in Great Britain- USA - ATT&CKing Adversaries in OT NetworksFor further information or to register for this event, visitExpert speakers at this years event include key decision makers from National Grid, Enel SpA, European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS), Energinet DK, ElaadNl & Enexis, Smart Energy Code Company (SECCo), MITRE, CPqD, Toreon CVBA, Norwegian Centre for Information Security (NorSIS) Smart Energy Demand Coalition (SEDC), SecurityMatters, Smart Energy GB,ONRIZ gcv, Smart Homes and Building Associations and much more.Over 16 key presentations featuring latest topics on Smart Grid Cyber Security: Norwegian cyber security culture, current projects and case studies from National Grid and Enel SpA, a data framework for consumer empowerment, detecting all types of cyber incidents, the scope of cyber security threats in the 21st century, engaging consumers with smart meters and much more.Running alongside the conference is an exclusive half-day postconference workshop, taking place on the 23rd March 2017:Setting up defence in-depth. Hosted by Toreon CVBA and ONRIX gvcEarly bird places are strictly limited, those interested are advised to register before the 30th November to secure their place and save 400.European Smart Grid Cyber Security 2017 is proudly supported by IT Governance Ltd, EDSO, ENCS, Energetica 21, Smart Grid Spain, IT GRC Forum, Smart Grid Today and more.Visitto view the complete list of speakers, the two-day event schedule and information on the workshop, delegates, sponsors and supporters.7th Annual European Smart Grid Cyber Security21st  22nd March 2017Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London, UKAbout SMi Group:Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found atSMI Group1 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7XWSponsors/Exhibitors: Contact Sadia Malick on +44(0) 207 827 6168, smalick@smi-online.co.ukDelegates/Groups: Contact Andrew Gibbons on +44 (0) 207 827 6156, agibbons@smi-online.co.ukMedia: Contact Theresa Chung on tchung@smi-online.co.uk
Croatia Power Market Outlook to 2030 - Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape

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"The Report Croatia Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 - Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"This report elaborates Croatia's power market structure and provides historical and forecast numbers for capacity, generation, and consumption up to 2030. Detailed analysis of the Croatia power markets regulatory structure, import and export trends, competitive landscape, and power projects at various stages of the supply chain is provided. The report also gives a snapshot of the power sector in Croatia on broad parameters of macroeconomics, supply security, generation infrastructure, transmission infrastructure, degree of competition, regulatory scenario, and future potential. Financial performance of the leading power companies is also analyzed in the report.View Report AtScope- Snapshot of the countrys power sector across parameters - macro economics, supply security, generation infrastructure, transmission infrastructure, degree of competition, regulatory scenario and future potential of the power sector.- Statistics for installed capacity, power generation and consumption from 2000 to 2015, forecast for the next 15 years to 2030.- Break-up by technology, including thermal, hydro, renewable and nuclear- Data on leading current and upcoming projects.- Information on grid interconnectivity, transmission and distribution infrastructure and power exports and imports.- Policy and regulatory framework governing the market.- Detailed analysis of top market participant, including market share analysis and SWOT analysis.Reasons to buy- Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the countrys power sector- Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the countrys power sector- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential- Identify key partners and business development avenues- Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants- Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.Download Sample copy of this Report at :Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 41.1 List of Tables 71.2 List of Figures 82 Introduction 92.1 GlobalData Report Guidance 103 Croatia Power Market, Snapshot 113.1 Croatia, Power Market, Macroeconomic Factors 113.2 Croatia, Power Market, Supply Security 133.3 Croatia, Power Market, Opportunities 143.4 Croatia, Power Market, Challenges 154 Croatia, Power Market, Market Analysis 164.1 Croatia, Power Market, Market Structure 164.2 Croatia, Power Market, Key Market Players 174.3 Croatia, Power Market, Financial Deals 184.3.1 Deal Value and Volume Analysis, 2004-July 2016 184.3.2 Deals by Type, 2015 194.4 Croatia, Power Market, Demand Structure 204.4.1 Power Consumption by Sector, 2015 225 Croatia, Power Market, Regulatory Scenario 235.1 Croatia, Power Market, Development of Renewable Energy 235.1.1 Feed-in Tariffs 245.1.2 Croatia Renewable Electricity Sales Methodology will Change from January 2017 265.2 Croatia, Power Market, Energy Efficiency 265.2.1 Problems with the Implementation of Renewable Energy Plans 276 Croatia, Power Market, Capacity and Generation Overview 286.1 Croatia, Power Market, Cumulative Installed Capacity, 2000-2030 286.1.1 Installed Capacity, Breakdown by Fuel Type, 2015 286.1.2 Cumulative Installed Capacity and Annual Generation, 2000-2030 296.1.3 Cumulative Installed Thermal Power Capacity and Annual Thermal Power Generation, 2000-2030 326.1.4 Cumulative Installed Hydropower Capacity and Annual Hydropower Generation, 2000-2030 366.1.5 Cumulative Installed Non-hydro Renewable Power Capacity and Annual Non-hydro Renewable Power Generation, 2000-2030 407 Croatia, Power Market, Transmission and Distribution Overview 447.1 Croatia, Power Market, Transmission Network Overview 447.1.1 Transmission Network Development 457.1.2 Transmission Network Unbundling 467.2 Croatia, Power Market, Distribution Network Overview 467.3 Croatia, Power Market, Grid Interconnection 477.3.1 Power Import and Export Trends, 2000-2015 487.4 Croatia, Power Market, Electricity Trading 498 Croatia, Power Market, Competitive Landscape: Snapshot of Leading Power Generating Companies 508.1 Key Company in the Croatian Power Market: Hrvatska Elektroprivreda d.d. 508.1.1 Hrvatska Elektroprivreda d.d., Company Overview 508.1.2 Hrvatska Elektroprivreda d.d., Business Description 508.1.3 Hrvatska Elektroprivreda d.d., SWOT Analysis 519 Appendix 559.1 Market Definitions 559.1.1 Power 55MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
EpiCast Report: Global Major Depressive Disorder - Epidemiology Analysis And Forecast to 2025

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"The Report EpiCast Report: Major Depressive Disorder - Epidemiology Forecast to 2025 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression or major depression, is widely recognized as a mood disorder that may lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. MDD is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, anger, irritability or frustration, loss of interest in activities, and overeating or loss of appetite that can last from days to months, and alternates with episodes of wellness. Little is known about the etiology of MDD; however, research suggests that there may be combinations of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors that potentially increase the risk of MDD.GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that the 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD in the 7MM will increase from 37,157,683 12-month total prevalent cases in 2015 to 38,142,749 12-month total prevalent cases in 2025, at an Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of 0.27%. The US will have the highest number of 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD among the 7MM throughout the forecast period, while Japan will have the least number of 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD. As GlobalData epidemiologists used steady prevalence proportions of MDD over the forecast period, the growth in 12-month total prevalent cases in each market can be attributed to the change in population demographics.GlobalData epidemiologists utilized country-specific and nationally representative peer-reviewed publications to forecast the 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD. The use of consistent methodology across the 7MM allows for a meaningful comparison of the forecast of 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD in these markets. Additionally, the 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD in each of the 7MM are segmented by severity, which can be of importance for predicting the prognosis and course of treatment. Lastly, the 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD in each of the 7MM are further segmented by age and sex in order to provide a more detailed analysis of the patient population.View Report At :Scope- The Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) EpiCast Report provides an overview of the risk factors and global trends of MDD in the 7MM (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan). It includes a 10-year epidemiology forecast of 12-month total prevalent cases of MDD segmented by age (18-19 years, in five-year increments from ages 20-84 years, and ending at ages 85 years and older), sex, and severity in these seven markets.- The MDD epidemiology report is written and developed by Masters- and PhD-level epidemiologists.- The EpiCast Report is in-depth, high quality, transparent and market-driven, providing expert analysis of disease trends in the 7MM.Reasons to buyThe MDD EpiCast report will allow you to -- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the global MDD market.- Quantify patient populations in the global MDD market to improve product design, pricing, and launch plans.- Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the age groups and sex that present the best opportunities for MDD therapeutics in each of the markets covered.- Identify the percentage of MDD 12-month total prevalent cases by age, sex, and severity.Download Sample copy of this Report at :Table of Contents1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 41.1 List of Tables 51.2 List of Figures 62 Epidemiology 72.1 Disease Background 72.2 Risk Factors and Comorbidities 82.3 Global Trends 102.4 Forecast Methodology 132.4.1 Sources Used Tables 132.4.2 Forecast Assumptions and Methods 152.4.3 Sources Not Used 192.5 Epidemiological Forecast for MDD (2015-2025) 212.5.1 12-Month Total Prevalent Cases of MDD 212.5.2 Age-Specific 12-Month Total Prevalent Cases of MDD 232.5.3 Sex-Specific 12-Month Total Prevalent Cases of MDD 242.5.4 Age-Standardized 12-Month Total Prevalence of MDD 262.5.5 12-Month Total Prevalent Cases of MDD by Severity 272.6 Discussion 282.6.1 Epidemiological Forecast Insight 282.6.2 Limitations of the Analysis 292.6.3 Strengths of the Analysis 303 Appendix 313.1 Bibliography 313.2 Physicians and Specialists Included in this Study 353.3 About the Authors 383.3.1 Epidemiologists 383.3.2 Reviewers 383.3.3 Global Director of Therapy Analysis and Epidemiology 393.4 About GlobalData 403.5 About EpiCast 40MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Innovation in Telecoms Lead to Revolutionary Growth for Customer Experience Management

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Albany, New York, November 21, 2016: Telecommunication market and customer experience management is the focus for a recent market intelligence report added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Hub (MRH). The research report is titled as Telcos Customer Experience Management. This report gives comprehensive insights about the present state of this market and contain key factors that provide growth prospects of crucial elements existing in the sector. Customer experience is the most important thing for any type of telcos marketing. To ensure that the customers are satisfied with the services is essential. It is a process which uses a variety of technologies to collect customer feedback, understand their expectations and improve the overall experience through different touch points. The Telco CEM includes customer management across telecommunication networks. In the study, The Telco CEM is segmented into five geographical regions including Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Request For a Free Sample Report:First of all, the report highlights the details of challenges and opportunities for better customer experience that has been enabled by new technologies and marketing techniques. The challenges involve both technical and relation-based strategies which have attracted the customers. Digitization of relationship channels have also boosted the market that includes growing importance of social media in customer relations, developing in line with the digital world, call centers moves upmarket, specialized stores and spreading the range beyond telecoms. CEM is the key for operators as they focus on merging network-level data to deliver a consistent, dynamic and transparent experience. This research believes that the communication service providers will account for the largest market share throughout the forecast period.Enquire For Any Query:Moreover, the opportunities emerging from big data and analytics is also analyzed; some other innovations such as chatbots and blockchain technology are also mentioned in the report. A text analytic and big data solution have great features to quickly analyze text that includes structured and unstructured data. It captures large volumes of information about the customer experience in real time. Additionally, a sentiment analysis solution is also implemented that allows an automated approach to identifying different forms of communication which might need immediate attention.Further in the report, it has been tracked that the telco CEM market has grown since 2008, as the vendor landscape shifted from operational support systems toward the adoption of network-driven insights to improve customer experience. The report also compares the telecom sector with other service providers especially OTT (Over the top) regarding customer loyalty and then focus on sales channels in both digital and physical stores.Read Full Report with TOC:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:
A car bomb attack near a hospital in Libya's second city of Benghazi killed at least four people and wounded 13 others on Monday, a medical source said.

The source, asking not to be named, said the attack took place in front of the coastal city's Al-Jalaa hospital and he warned that the death toll could rise.

It was not immediately clear if the attack was a suicide bombing, said an officer in Libya's special forces, Mohamed al-Jali.

Benghazi, birthplace of Libya's 2011 revolution which toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has been the scene of daily clashes for the past two years between armed forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar and jihadists holding onto pockets of the city.

Five years after the revolution, the country is embroiled in violence and political chaos as militias and two rival administrations vie for power.

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Mr. Ganesh Jivani, CEO, Matrix Comsec Wins the coveted Business Leader of the Year Award by SME Channel Magazine

The coveted SME Channel Magazine has recognized Mr. Ganesh Jivani with the Business Leader of the Year award. This comes as recognition of Jivanis astuteness and strategies that have been the strong pillars of Matrixs success. In two decades of its operations, Matrix has been consistently growing in terms of revenue and market share.It is a great honor to win the Business Leader of the Year Award said Mr. Ganesh Jivani, CEO, Matrix Comsec. At Matrix, we are on a mission to prove Indian engineers and companies can design and build world-class technology products. If necessity is the mother of invention, India offers ample opportunities for innovation and creating technology products. I thank SME Channel Magazine for thinking of such an award and finding me deserving it. The award motivated us to continue challenging status-quo and keep pushing the technology and business boundaries.The award is to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of visionary CEOs who have successfully placed India on the technological advancement map. The award appreciates the efforts of these torch-bearers of developing India as well as motivating others to join the bandwagon and lead Make in India and digital India campaign to a success.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. An innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization; Matrix is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like Video Surveillance solutions, Access Control, Time-Attendance, IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, Terminals, Convergence solution, VoIP Gateways and GSM Gateways. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global foot-prints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 500 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara -390010
Polyurethane Floor Enamel Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014  2020

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Polyurethane floor enamel is manufactured to prolong the life of ceramics tiles. Polyurethane floor enamel is ideal for use on above grade wood and concrete floors & porches. Polyurethane floor enamel performs in a variety of areas, such as porches, stairs and boat decks. Polyurethane floor enamel features excellent resistance to oils, abrasion and washing with superior scuff resistance. Polyurethane enamels have easy application, excellent wetting properties, tenacious adhesion and can be applied over painted surfaces. In addition, polyurethane floor enamels have excellent resistance to yellowing in white and pastel shades combined with superior light fastness and hiding power, making it very economical in general usage. Polyurethane floor enamels are formulated with urethane-modified alkyd resins and can be applied to exterior or interior ferrous or non-ferrous metals. Polyurethane enamel can be applied by brush, spray or roller. Polyurethane floor enamel are designed as a finish coat on flooring systems used in commercial facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, automobile industry, warehouses and aircraft hangars among others.Download Exclusive Sample of This Report :The growth in end user industries is expected to increase consumption of polyurethane floor enamels. The growth in ceramic tile industry is expected to boost demand for polyurethane floor enamels. The demand for ceramic tiles is primarily led by an increase in construction activities due to rapid urbanization and population expansion in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America. However, fluctuating raw material prices, government regulations and availability of substitutes could hamper the growth of this market. Companies manufacturing polyurethane floor enamels have to meet the stringent VOC regulations imposed by countries in North America and Europe.Polyurethane floor enamel has a global demand due to extensive applications in ceramic tile industry. Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest consumer of polyurethane floor enamels followed by North America and Europe. China and India are the largest consumers of polyurethane floor enamels in Asia Pacific due to presence of an established ceramic tile industry. Polyurethane floor enamel manufacturers are shifting their production facilities to emerging economies of Asia Pacific due to availability of raw materials, cheap labor and local government incentives.Macau, Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia are other major consumers of polyurethane floor enamels in Asia Pacific. The demand for polyurethane floor enamels in Latin America is expected to increase substantially due to increase in commercial construction activities and rapid economic development. Brazil, Argentina and Peru are major consumers of polyurethane floor enamels in Latin America. Europe and North America are saturated markets and expected to experience moderate growth rate.Browse The Full Research Report At :The polyurethane floor enamel market is highly competitive and dominated by large and medium chemical companies. Some of the key players in this market are Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Co., Ltd (China), Sherwin-Williams (U.S.), Chemical Strategies Inc (U.S.), Trelleborg AB (Sweden), Shandong Dongda Inov Polyurethane Co., Ltd (China), Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. (Japan), Kumho Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (South Korea), Huntsman Corporation (U.S.), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Foshan Nanhai Huaren Chemical Co., Ltd.(China), Emperol Colours Pvt. Ltd (India), Wintech Paints & Chemicals Ltd (India) and BASF SE (Germany) among others. Companies are investing in research and development to manufacture superior grades of polyurethane floor enamels to remain competitive in the market. In addition, companies are expanding their presence in emerging economies of Asia Pacific to increase their market share.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Energy Harvesting System Industry: rise of wireless technology propelling the demand in future.

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Energy harvesting is a process in which energy is stored from an external action or source such as solar energy, thermal energy or vibration. The devices that are used for energy harvesting are called as energy harvesting system or equipment. There are various types of energy harvesting technologies available in the industry. There is high scope for the Energy Harvesting Market in various industries across the globe in the upcoming years.Scope and Regional Forecast of the Energy Harvesting Market:Piezoelectric generator is one of the highly used systems for power harvesting purposes. Due to the high demand for piezoelectric energy harvesting growth, there is rise in demand for the piezoelectric materials in the Energy Harvesting Market. Vibration energy harvesting and RF energy harvesting are the highly preferred energy harvesting technologies in this industry.North America is the leading region in the Energy Harvesting Market due to the strong industrial presence in this region. There is high use of ambient energy and wireless technology energy such as RF for generating electrical energy for different applications. There is high demand for Europe for energy harvesting IC due to environmental concerns.Asia Pacific is the huge market region with high prospect in the Energy Harvesting Market due to rise of industrialization in this region. China and Japan are the major markets for the growth of this industry with high production of energy harvest devices in the upcoming years.Request sample brochure @Segmentation and Key Players of the Energy Harvesting Market:The Energy Harvesting Market is segmented into various categories by application, by country and by region as follows:By Technology: Light, Vibration, Thermal and ElectromagneticBy Application: Building and Home Automation, Consumer Electronics, Industrial, Transportation and SecurityBy Geography: North America, Europe and Asia Pacific and Rest of the WorldSome of the players in the Energy Harvesting Market are as follows: Texas Instruments Fujitsu STMicroelectronics Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Infinite Power Solution Inc.The Energy Harvesting Market is a rapidly growing industry due to the rising demand for the population for power and communications across the globe. This market is expected to have high demand for piezoelectric materials and piezoelectric generator for power harvesting compared to other techniques. There are many investors for this market with it is expected to witness high growth in the upcoming years.Make an inquiry @About IndustryARC:IndustryARC is a Research and consulting firm that publishes more than 500 Reports Annually in various industries, such as Agriculture, Automotive, Automation & Instrumentation, Chemicals and Materials, Energy and Power, Electronics, Food & Beverages, Information Technology, Life sciences & Healthcare.IndustryARC primarily focuses on Cutting Edge Technologies and Newer Applications of the Market. Our Custom Research Services are designed to provide insights on the constant flux in the global demand-supply gap of markets. Our strong analyst team enables us to meet the client research needs at a very quick speed with a variety of options for your business.We look forward to support the client to be able to better address customer needs; stay ahead in the market; become the top competitor and get real-time recommendations on business strategies and deals. Contact us to find out how we can help you today.Media ContactContact Person: Sanjay MatthewsEmail: sales@industryarc.comPhone: 1-614-588-8538 (Ext: 101)Company Name: IndustryARCTMConnect with us on LinkedIn @Get More Insights on Reports @HEADQUARTERSIndustryARCPlot No. S-1, Serial No. 1043 & 1048,Phase -1 & 2, Opp. BSNL Office,KPHB, Kukatpally,Hyderabad, Telangana 500072Email: sales@industryarc.comTel: (+91) 040-64621234, +1-614-588-8538
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri said on Monday his efforts to form a new government faced "stumbling blocks", casting doubt on hopes for the quick formation of a new administration to steer the country away from political crisis.

Hariri was designated prime minister more than two weeks ago as part of a political deal that saw Michel Aoun, an ally of the powerful Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, fill the presidency that had been vacant for 2 1-/2 years due to political divisions.

Optimistic statements from rival politicians had given rise to hopes the new cabinet would be in office in time for Lebanese independence day, which falls on Tuesday.

But casting doubt on how quickly the government would be formed, Hariri said "there are some stumbling blocks" after meeting Aoun on Monday. "There is someone complicating matters," he said, without saying who.

Tensions have arisen among rival leaders over portfolio distribution, the number of ministries in the new cabinet, and a contentious electoral law which needs to be passed in order for a parliamentary election to happen in 2017.

Lebanon urgently needs effective government to address long-pending economic and development issues such as improving infrastructure, organising refuse disposal, and tapping offshore oil and gas reserves.

Political tensions, exacerbated by war in neighbouring Syria, have paralysed decision-making, and raised fears for Lebanon's stability. The country has had no parliamentary election since 2009.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, a regional rival of Iran, invited Aoun to visit the country.

Saudi's Prince Khaled al-Faisal, governor of Mecca and an adviser to the king, said during an official visit to Lebanon that Aoun had promised to visit as soon as a new Lebanese government was formed.

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Related Over 100 killed as Indian train derails

The death toll from India's rail disaster rose to 142 on Monday after workers toiled through the night removing victims from the wreckage, with grim warnings that more bodies were trapped inside.

There was little hope of finding survivors among the mangled remains of 14 carriages, which came off the tracks on Sunday in a rural district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

"The actual toll will still be higher and it would be a difficult task to identify all the persons, particularly those whose bodies are very badly damaged," a senior local government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"We do not have an exact figure for the injured as of now. Rescue work is still going on," said district police chief Zaki Ahmad as workers cleared the most severely damaged carriages.

More than 2,000 people are believed to have been on the train, though many were travelling without reserved seats -- or without tickets at all -- making a precise estimate impossible.

"It is difficult to say how many people were exactly travelling but it was definitely over 2,000," said a spokesman for the regional railway network.

Emergency workers with sniffer dogs moved from carriage to carriage looking for signs of life as cranes and heavy machinery began moving sections of the wreckage.

A large crowd had gathered at the site, with many combing through the bags and clothes strewn across the area in hopes of finding clues to the fate of their loved ones.

The disaster occurred at the peak of India's marriage season, and at least one wedding party was on board the train.

Local media said wedding clothes, jewellery and invitation cards could be seen spilling from abandoned bags.

Hundreds of injured were being treated in nearby hospitals, including many young children who had become separated from relatives.

Police were reportedly showing the children pictures of the dead in an effort to identify their parents.

A fracture in the track is thought to have caused the Indore-Patna Express to derail at around 3 am (2130 GMT Saturday), sending the carriages crashing into each other and leaving some twisted beyond recognition.

Railways minister Suresh Prabhu addressed a rowdy crowd of lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, promising to a thorough investigation.

"Forensic enquiry has been ordered to look into all possible angles. Guilty will be given strictest possible punishment," he said.

India's railway network, one of the world's largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.

A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India's railways and described the loss of life as an annual "massacre".

The latest accident -- one of India's deadliest -- comes at a time when the government has signed numerous deals with private companies to upgrade the ageing rail network.

Last year Japan agreed to provide $12 billion in soft loans to build India's first bullet train, though plans remain in their infancy.

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Police have broken up a terror ring plotting an attack in France after arresting seven individuals in Strasbourg and Marseille, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Monday.

The weekend arrests of seven suspects -- of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin -- "enabled us to prevent a long-planned terror attack on our soil," Cazeneuve told a televised news conference.

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The states Department of Natural Resources plans to jettison public lands it says are difficult to manage, provide limited public recreation benefit and are isolated from other DNR-managed public land.

Fifty-eight parcels across 15 counties, including Midland, Gladwin, Clare and Arenac, go up for auction starting Dec. 6 to Jan. 10. They range in size from less than an acre to 77 acres.
When the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan went looking for a new director, it searched throughout the nation. But the 12-county agency found its new director, Steven Locke, already in the building, serving as associate director of DNMM.

We conducted a nationwide search with candidates applying from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Nevada, California and Alaska. It was truly interesting to find out that the person who was far and away the best candidate for the position was right under our noses the whole time. We were blown away by his interview and it is evident that he is ready to step up and be our leader for the future. We couldnt be more pleased, DNMM President Norm Donker said in a media release.

The exuberant Locke has embraced the challenge of ascension to the top position.

I want to further promote the vision and our agency. Ive been entrusted to continue leading the charge in our communities to help create communities where people can age in place, said Locke as he sat down with the Daily News. That vision entails promoting and encouraging independence for all people with disabilities.

At the end of the day, its about full inclusion and full accessibility for all people, Locke said. Its about creating communities that people want to live in. That people can live in. That they can assess the necessities that each of us need in life to continue living in that community. Thats the social justice issue at hand.

A huge part of that full inclusion is changing societal attitudes toward disabilities.

Weve made great strides, but have a long ways to go. We provide disability awareness training to community groups where participants can actually experience what it is like to have a disability, said Locke, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree from Saginaw Valley State University.

Through a variety of services including advocacy, skill building, information and referral, and support services, DNMM provides assistance to all people with disabilities, their families and the community.

Anyone that self-identifies as having a disability qualifies for our services. We dont require medical documentation at all, Locke said. People with disabilities is a group that anyone can join at any time. You can be born with a disability, you can acquire one or you can age into one.

Up until now, the focus has been on the counties of Midland, Bay and Saginaw. But come January, those services and awareness will spread into Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Iosco, Isabella, Ogemaw and Roscommon counties.

To expand into nine additional counties means that DNMM would also need to increase its funding, as only 10 percent comes from the federal government.

Weve developed fee for service programs that allow us to build a little bit of a margin to reinvest into our core services to push out into those areas, Locke said.

Partnering with Michigan Rehabilitation Services, area community mental health agencies and the state of Michigan has allowed Locke to hire four new staff members to cover the additional counties.

Former DNMM Director Sara Grivetti, who is now CEO of the Disability Network/Michigan, worked to craft some fee for services programs with the state and that is allowing us for the first time to really push out into our outlying counties, Locke said.

As a center for independent living, the federal government requires DNMM to be consumer controlled with at least 51 percent of its staff and board of directors being people with disabilities. However, DNMM has exceeded that minimum threshold as Locke stated he oversees a staff that consists of 70-75 percent of people with disabilities.

Its really a grass-roots advocacy organization, designed by, run by and governed by people with disabilities. Were really about promoting full inclusion and accessibility to our communities for all people, said Locke.

For more information or to contact DNMM, call (989) 835-4041 or visit dnmm.org
The Bank of England has proposed raising "insurance" on bank account deposits back to 85,000 pounds ($105,000) from Jan. 30, 2017, to reflect the sharp fall in sterling following Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

The level of deposit account protection is set under EU rules at 100,000 euros or its equivalent in member states that do not use the single currency.

It was cut to 75,000 pounds in 2015 following a regular five-year adjustment under the bloc's rules. A weaker euro against the pound was the reason for the cut.

The BoE's Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulates banks in Britain, said a change in the pound's value against the euro after Britain voted in June to leave the EU, means it can be adjusted.

Sterling lost about a fifth of its value against the euro in the aftermath of the June referendum, and the EU rules allow for adjustments due to unforeseen events.

"Restoring the limit to 85,000 pounds  the level in effect for almost five years prior to 3 July 2015  is intended to provide a measure of memorability and consistency," the PRA said in a statement.

Lenders would have until the end of June 2017 to implement the necessary changes to systems.

"The PRA will continue to monitor fluctuations in the exchange rate but, barring unforeseen events, will seek to avoid making further adjustments to the deposit protection limit," the watchdog said.

Andrew Tyrie, chairman of parliament's Treasury Select Committee, described the cut in 2015 as absurd.

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Residents can start their Thanksgiving morning with fresh air, fun and friends at the annual Turkey Trot on the Tridge.

Participants can walk, run or bike for one hour along the Chippewa Trail starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Tridge.

20 years ago, the Fleet Feet Youth Running Club started running each Thanksgiving morning. We are proud that over the past few years, the Mid-Michigan Multisport Club has been able to expand upon this and now both groups are coming together to continue this fun tradition, said Jill Gushow, club member.

The event provides an opportunity for the community to give back during the holiday season.

Were once again partnering with Espresso Milano coffee shop to host a food drive for family centers in Midland County, Gushow said. This is one of our favorite ways that the Multisport Club contributes to the community during the year. We have beautiful trails in our community, so we want to enjoy them on this holiday morning and then give back in some small way.

Espresso Milano, 137 Ashman St. in Midland, began collecting non-perishable food donations on Sunday. On Thanksgiving morning, Espresso Milano will open its doors for those who want to gather for a warm-up beverage and drop off food donations.

Theres no better way to start Thanksgiving morning than to be outside, no matter what the weather, and share some fun with old and new friends. The food bins are always overflowing and we are overwhelmed by the generosity of participants, said Greg Dardas, member of Mid-Michigan Multisport Club.

All food collected will be donated to the food pantries at North Family Center and Coleman Family Center.

As we serve our neighbors and friends during this winter season we are incredibly thankful for this outpouring of support. Every year the contributions these morning walkers, runners and bikers make to our food pantry really make a difference. It helps them put a meal on the table, while they make holiday memories to last a lifetime. Thank you so much, said Kristen McDonald, president and CEO of the Greater Midland.

Turkey Trot participants will gather at 8:15 a.m. and the run/walk will begin at 8:30 a.m., regardless of the weather.
On the Saturday morning after the election, members of my congregation and others joined together to draw chalk love notes on the Jefferson Avenue sidewalk. A small gesture  one unlikely to impact Trump America much  but a meaningful effort for some.

As hundreds of cars and trucks drove by, I knew that people saw us. We made a public statement against the hate this election released. People feeling scared and vulnerable in the wake of hundreds of examples of bigotry and violent intimidation could see that some of us oppose this rhetoric of division.

Amidst the smiles and waves, however, one passing driver shattered the mood of solidarity. One cowardly shout of F*** Black Lives! reminded me that our effort was not an art project; not an insignificant public service message supporting love and acceptance. With three words, a bully thoughtlessly yelling at children drawing with chalk reminded me that our actions were a doorway, an opportunity to walk in anothers shoes.

As a white person, I never feared the police. As a man, I never shook with terror as slavering eyes pawed my body with rage-filled lust. As a cisgender male, I never trembled while walking to my car followed by a gang of overgrown boys looking to prove their manliness. As a U.S. citizen, I never imagined the terror of uniformed men ripping me from the loving arms of my family and casting me into a windowless prison. Even as a non-Christian, I cannot suffer the venomous revulsion others feel toward Muslims and Jews.

I can only imagine, and will never really know how these things feel. I can only know the sorrow, the helpless witness of a growing power structure that supports violence and discrimination against people of color, women, LGTBQ, immigrants and non-Christians in America. I brim with frustration that I cannot fix my country. I bemoan my inability to cure this plague of white, male, straight, U.S. born, Christian privilege in my homeland.

In the wake of the election, incidents of unthinkable cruelty occurred in our schools, our workplaces and our public spaces. Assaults, beatings and people made to feel unspeakable terror at the hands of their neighbors. Even Midland did not escape unscathed from these expressions of intolerance. In response, some allies began wearing safety pins as a sign that they were a safe person, someone who would stand with the victims unleashed by simple-minded demagoguery. We hoped that this small symbol would send a subtle, but powerful signal to our community that we will not tolerate verbal and physical abuse of marginalized peoples.

No sooner had this movement begun, however, when critics expressed doubts about its sincerity, about the true commitment of the pin wearers to commit when needed. After all, white people largely elected Donald Trump as president. Why should non-white people trust them to put themselves at risk?

So, what do I do? Do I wear a safety pin or not? I do not support the racism, misogyny, homophobia and xenophobia acting out on our national stage today. But I am one person. I am afraid, too. I do want to help; I just dont know how.

You ask yourself questions. If I see a man berating a Muslim woman for wearing her hajib, will I stand by her and share the verbal attack? If I see children chanting Build the Wall! will I silence them and scold them for their insensitive attack? If I see a man grab a woman forcibly by her most private area will I speak up and put my body between the two to protect her? I see a gang of homophobes beating a trans-person. Will I shout at them and come to the victims defense?

Until it happens, you cannot know the answers. Until faced with actual physical danger, you cannot know how you will react. There is nothing wrong with that. Self-preservation is a powerful instinct.

Self-preservation is a luxury of privilege.

If you are white, you have the luxury of always trusting the police. If you are a man, you have the luxury of never fearing attacks by rapists. If you are heterosexual, you have the luxury of entering any business and knowing you will receive service. If you are a natural-born citizen, you have the luxury of sleeping each night knowing that you are safe from a government-sponsored home invasion. If you are Christian, you have the luxury of living in a country where your morals go unchallenged and your beliefs earn you protection.

The day following the election, Nov. 9, commemorated the anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. On this day in 1938, Nazi military and paramilitary forces, joined by citizens, destroyed or damaged 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, wrecked 1,000 synagogues and killed hundreds of Jews. With rare exceptions, the German people uttered no protests. Few stood by the Jews and other targets of Nazi rage. The churches and universities stood mute. Judges acquiesced. Doctors and nurses complied. A nation watched as thugs kicked friends and neighbors to the street, rounded them up and shipped them to concentration camps.

Protected status is a luxury of privilege.

One by one, the government singled out groups: Jews; political opponents; gays and lesbians; emigrants; Romani; Jehovahs Witnesses; and other defilers. The people responsible for electing their leader turned their backs, and others hid behind their privileges of religious belief, sexual orientation, ethnicity and racial identification. Facing little opposition, the nations leaders began to change the rules of society. They normalized the abrogation of human rights and welcomed intimidation and violence as tools to enforce the new order.

I pray that history cannot repeat itself in America. But the rhetoric is there; hate groups roam emboldened; and our leadership possesses the raw arrogance to use the enormous power of this nation without concern for the very human consequences.

So what do we do? We refuse to accept these ideas as normal. When someone threatens to hurt a minority group, believe them. Dont rationalize, dont intellectualize. Take them at their word  and resist. The enemy we face is not radical Muslim extremism. The enemy threatening our American way of life is radical American extremism. The precepts of radical American extremism teach that putting more wealth in the hands of the rich will improve the economy for all; that making white people feel more secure will improve everyones safety; that limiting the rights of women and gays reflects the will of God; and that building a wall will preserve the privileged status we earned merely by being born.

The American Dream is a luxury of privilege.

Of course, you worked hard to get to where you are. But have others worked just as hard, even harder, and received fewer rewards? Why? Was your skin color a factor? Your gender identity or sexual orientation? Your citizenship status? Your religious beliefs? There is a reason the lead characters in Horatio Algers stories of the American Dream were all young white boys.

This election unleashed radical American extremism, freeing it from restrictions imposed by civilized behavior. Not surprisingly, white supremacists, Klansmen and other hate mongers now rise and walk without shame, seeking to redefine our national strength as white strength, straight male strength, Christian strength and pure-blooded strength. This election affirmed one modern version of concentration camps  for-profit prisons selectively incarcerating generations of men of color and immigrants who simply followed the footsteps of our own ancestors who built this nation. Groundless fears of voter fraud fueled the passage of laws denying millions of citizens their right to take part in this election. How soon before our government requires that Muslims register and sew the Crescent on their clothes?

Wearing a safety pin sends the message that you considered all of this and still want to help. It means taking the stand we will not recognize discrimination and intolerance as American values. That means confronting bigots  some of whom may be friends or relatives  and making them feel marginalized for behaving in ways that do harm.

Wearing a safety pin shows your willingness to lean into your own discomfort. Read the works of marginalized peoples and explore your own feelings of fragility. Resist the urge to take offense and fight the decades of programming telling us that our way is the only right way.

Wearing a safety pin means putting your privilege of self-preservation, of protected status, and the American Dream on the table and accepting the outcomes. A safety pin is not a passive, colored ribbon of support. A safety pin is a promise  your promise to actively resist racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and religious hatred.

I make that promise gladly and proudly. I invite you to join me.

Rev. Jeff Liebmann serves as minister to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland. The views expressed are his own and are not intended to represent a formal position of the congregation or its members.
Related Bodies of 19 Ethiopians found on lorry in DRCongo

UNESCO's director-general Irina Bokova on Monday urged authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo to bring the murderers of a television journalist to justice.

Marcel Lubala was killed at his home in Mbuji-Mayi, central DR Congo, on the night of November 14-15 by armed men. The 59-year-old had worked for the RTNC MbujiMayi television channel that is part of state broadcaster RTNC.

"I condemn the murder of Marcel Lubala. Journalists must be able to do their work informing citizens without fearing for their lives," said Bokova in a statement published in Paris.

"I trust the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice."

According to local authorities in the Kasai-Oriental province, where Mbuji-Mayi is located, an investigation has been opened into the murder and five people have been arrested.

But various charities and media rights organisations decried the fact the murder took place during a curfew between 10pm and 5am, when local security forces were supposed to be in control of the town.

Following the murder, local activists Journalists in Danger (JED) denounced "the increase in targeted attacks against the press".

Joseph Tshilunde, president of the national union of Congolese media (UNPC), told AFP that Lubala was the "16th journalist killed in DRC in 10 years and too often the perpetrators and organisers are not sanctioned".

DR Congo has been wracked by recent violence sparked by a political crisis brought on by the postponing of a presidential election which had been due to take place before the end of the year.

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 when he succeeded his father Laurent Kabila, who had been assassinated.

Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from standing for re-election having served two terms but his opponents are worried the election postponement is part of a wider bid to hold onto power.

Anti-Kabila protests have been suppressed by police while authorities have used various means to clamp down on the press.

Kabila's government has frequently blocked the signal of foreign media such as Radio France International any time opposition supporters have organised protests.

Ten days ago, the government also issued a decree affecting foreign broadcasters that gave them a month to hand over a majority share of their companies to locals, a move criticised by the United Nations.

DRC was classed 152nd out of 180 countries in 2016 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

Lubala had worked for RTNC for 15 years, presenting a television show about hygiene and the environment.

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Bloomington-Normal

Americana, The Homely Creek and American Evolution; through Nov. 27, Jan Brandt Gallery, 1106 W. Bell St., Bloomington; photography by Ted Diamond, paintings by Ann E. Coulter, colored pencil portraits by Ivonne Bess; viewing by appointment at janbrandtgallery@gmail.com.

Chicken Foot Gourd Bowls; through Dec. 9; Heartland Community College Joe McCauley Gallery, Instructional Commons Building Room 2507, 1500 W. Raab Road, Normal; ceramics by Danell Dvorak and drawings/paintings of them by John Cassidy; free; 309-268-8620.

ISU University Galleries; noon-4 p.m. Mon., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Uptown Station, 11 Uptown Circle, Normal; rotating exhibits in three galleries; free; 309-438-8321.

Strange Oscillations and Vibrations of Sympathy; through Dec. 18, ISU University Galleries, see above; works by contemporary female artists that acknowledge women writers. Related events: screenings of Dawn Roe's "The Sunshine Bores/The Daylights," through Dec. 18, Milner Library.

IWU Merwin and Wakeley Galleries; school hours, noon-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7-9 p.m. Tue.; 302 E. Graham St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits; free; 309-556-3391.

Biosphere; through Dec. 9, IWU Merwin Gallery, see above; prints by by Taryn McMahon.

Hatta-Hatta; through Dec. 9, IWU Wakeley Gallery, see above; paintings and mixed-media works by Gretchen Beck.

McLean County Arts Center; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.; 601 N. East St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits, sales, rentals, art classes and lectures; free; 309-829-0011.

Holiday Treasures Exhibition and Sale; through Dec. 31, McLean County Arts Center, see above; affordable works and seasonal items by more than 60 local and national artists.

McLean County Museum of History; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Tue.), 200 N. Main St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits; adults $5, seniors $4, students, children under 12 and members free; 309-827-0428.

Challenges, Choices and Change: Making a Home; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit exploring experiences of people from around the world who made McLean County their home.

Abraham Lincoln in McLean County; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit on Lincoln's life in Bloomington.

Prairie Aviation Museum; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., 2929 E. Empire St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits and displays with aerial history themes; adults $5, ages 6-11 $3, 5 and under free; 309-663-7632.

Central Illinois

U of I Krannert Art Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Thu. during fall and spring semesters), 2-5 p.m. Sun., 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign; paintings, porcelain, historical artifacts, traveling art exhibits; $3 donation suggested; 217-333-1861.

Zina Saro-Wiwa: Did You Know We Taught Them How to Dance?; through March 25, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; video installations, photographs, more.

Making and Breaking Medieval Manuscripts; through Feb. 11, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; hand-drawn/embellished scrolls, books and maps.

School of Art + Design Faculty Exhibition; through Dec. 22, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; various media.

Borderline Collective: Northern Triangle; through Dec. 22, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; installation featuring art works and historical documents.

Amity Township Museum; 1-3 p.m. first Sun. of month or by appointment, 510 Main St., Cornell; displays and artifacts relating to history of Cornell and Amity Township; free; 815-358-2973.

Eureka College Burgess Hall Art Gallery; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on weekends, third floor of Burgess Hall, Eureka College, Eureka; rotating exhibits; free; 309-467-6866.

Simpkins Military History Museum; 1-5 p.m. Tue., Thu., Sat., or by appointment; 605 E. Cole St., Heyworth; permanent and rotating military history exhibits; free (donations accepted); 309-473-3989.

The Vietnam War 50th Anniversary; through Nov. 30, Simpkins Military History Museum, see above.

Dickson Mounds Museum; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 10956 N. Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown; displays, special exhibits; free; 309-547-3721.

Lincoln Heritage Museum; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., Lincoln Center at Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln; Lincoln-era items, audio-visual displays, tours, exhibits, more; adults $7, children/tours $4; 217-735-7399.

Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., Riverfront Arts Center, 305 S.W. Water, Peoria; rotating exhibits in two galleries; free; 309-674-6822.

Staying the Course; through Dec. 16, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; works by Jenni Bateman, Nicola Blease-Perry, Ande Lister and Patricia Whalen-Keck.

A Small Wonder Gift Shop; through Dec. 16, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; holiday art gift show and sale.

Forest Park Nature Center Nature Art Show & Sale; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., through Dec. 31, Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights; nature and wildlife art by local artists; 309-686-3360.

Peoria Art Guild; Foster Arts Center, Harrison and Washington streets, Peoria; rotating exhibits, gift shop; free; 309-637-2787.

Peoria Riverfront Museum; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sun., downtown riverfront Peoria; permanent and rotating exhibits, planetarium shows, Giant Screen Theater and events; $8-$11; 309-686-7000.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition; through March 12, Peoria Riverfront Museum, see above; touring exhibit with recovered artifacts from Titanic wreck site and room re-creations.

Museum of the Gilding Arts; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., April-Oct., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sun., Nov.-March, 217 N. Mill St., Pontiac; displays, history and hands-on exhibits dedicated to the art of gilding and gold beating; free (donations welcome); 815-842-1848.

Pontiac Community Art Center; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 103 W. Madison St., Pontiac; rotating exhibits; 815-844-5831.

5 by 5; through Nov. 30, Pontiac Community Art Center, see above; art relating to the No. 5 to commemorate center's 5th anniversary.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; Lincoln-themed exhibits, historical displays, special events, more; adults $12, seniors and students $9, ages 5-15 $5, under 5 free; 217-558-8844.

Rare and Rarely Seen; through Jan. 29, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, see above; rarely exhibited items from museum's permanent collection.
The overarching theme emerging from Chinas ongoing Communist Party congress is one of continuity, not change. The weeklong meeting is expected to reappoint Xi Jinping as leader, reaffirm a commitment to his policies for the next five years and possibly elevate his status even further as one of the most powerful leaders in Chinas modern history. For many Chinese, weary of pandemic restrictions, the more immediate question is whether there will be any easing of zero-COVID after the party congress. The answer is probably not immediately, and when changes do come, they will most likely be gradual.
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BLOOMINGTON  A McLean County judge agreed Monday to allow the lawyer for murder suspect Kirk Zimmerman to file two motions under seal until a determination can be made on whether the material should remain secret.

Zimmerman is charged with killing his ex-wife, Pamela Zimmerman, in November 2014 in her office on Bloomington's east side. She was shot multiple times.

Defense lawyer John Rogers is asking that two pretrial motions be kept secret and hearings to argue for the closure be closed to the media and public. Judge Scott Drazewski agreed to review the sealed motions ahead of a Dec. 22 hearing.

The Pantagraph, WGLT-FM and the Illinois Press Association have filed an objection to the defense move to keep the potential evidence under wraps.

According to Rogers, the secrecy is needed to protect Zimmerman's right to a fair trial and the privacy of those who may be referenced in the material. The information is inflammatory and could be damaging to the defendant's case if made public before a ruling on its admissibility, Rogers contends.

First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist said the move to close files and the courtroom may be premature.

"I feel like we're trying to put a campfire out with gasoline," Ghrist said of the remedies outlined sought in the defense motion.

The state and defense had a meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon to discuss the controversial potential evidence, and possibly to reach an agreement on what, if any, of the material the state plans to use in its case against Zimmerman.

Even with such an agreement, the defense would seek a court order that specifically bars any reference to the information, said Rogers. Fears that a witness may allude to the harmful evidence during testimony requires an order, he said.

Media lawyer Don Craven told the judge that Rogers' insistence on an order adds "another level of confidentiality" that goes against a requirement that court orders, like most documents filed in court, are presumed to be publicly available.

Craven also asked that a timeline be set for sealing the two motions that Rogers hopes to remain under wraps until after jury selection.

Drazewski set a 90-day limit on the sealing, noting the date may change based upon his ruling.

Zimmerman's lawyer also asked Drazewski to consider changing the terms of his client's release to allow Zimmerman to look for a job and to be alone with his two minor daughters without supervision.

The $200,000 bond paid by Zimmerman represents "almost 100 percent of his net worth," said Rogers, and has left the suspect without the additional money he needs to fund his defense.

With the need to hire expert witnesses, the bond payment is an economic hardship that "is going to be and has become problematic," said Rogers.

Zimmerman's bond conditions require him to remain on home confinement unless he is going to a medical or legal appointment.

Ghrist objected to any modification that would allow Zimmerman to be free all day for employment purposes, suggesting that the former State Farm systems analyst can look for a home-based position.

Drazewski ruled that Zimmerman can go on job interviews as approved by court services.

Drazewski reserved a ruling on the request to remove a requirement that Zimmerman be supervised at home with his 17-year-old twin daughters. The children have resided with him since their mother's death.

Rogers said the supervision issue was raised by court services after it was learned that the suspect's brother, Craig Zimmerman, has not been living at the home full-time for several months. Craig Zimmerman needed to make intermittent trips to his home in Georgia for work and family matters, said Rogers.

Drazewski said he needs to review orders in a juvenile case related to custody of the Zimmerman children before approving changes in Zimmerman's bond conditions. At a 2015 bond hearing, Craig Zimmerman testified that he was available to live with his brother's family in Bloomington as part of the suspect's release on bond.
Q: I am a 66-year-old veteran and am in relatively good health but I know eventually my spouse and I need to plan for our inevitable demise. We have been considering whether to be interred in one of the national cemeteries, but I know little about how to go about that. I am honorably discharged but was not a combat veteran. Where can I go to get information about eligibility and the application process?

A: The VA manages a large number of national cemeteries in every state and several countries. As an honorably discharged veteran, you are eligible to be buried in almost any of the national cemeteries except the Arlington National Cemetery, which is managed by the Department of the Army, not the VA. The VA provides at no charge, the plot, a non-vault burial container (not a casket), opening and closing of the grave and military honors. In addition, the VA provides a dome-top marble headstone at no charge to the veteran. The spouse of a veteran can be buried in the same plot. Besides the veteran, and the veterans spouse, dependent children and adult handicapped children of the spouse can be buried at a national cemetery. The closest national cemeteries to McLean County are at Camp Butler near Springfield and the Danville VA Cemetery at the VA Medical Center located there. More detailed information is available on the internet at http://www.cem.va.gov/.

Q: I occasionally, ask at restaurants and other retailers, if they provide a discount for veterans. Many are asking for some proof of veteran status before granting the discount. I do not have a VA medical card, which most retailers accept as proof of veteran status, and I do not have a drivers license, to which Illinois recently allowed the word 'veteran' to be added. Is there anything besides a VA medical card or a military retirees card available to make obtaining the discounts easier?

A: The VA has recently announced that they will be issuing veteran ID cards specifically for the purpose of helping the veteran get such discounts. This card does not authorize the card-holder to get ANY other VA-provided benefits. The current timetable for implementation of the card is mid-2017. Availability of the card will be promoted by the VA when implementation plans are complete. However, as it currently stands, the veteran must apply for the card and a small fee will be applied.

Q: I am a combat zone veteran who has had periods of anxiety and depression over the years and probably have some level of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I have never sought VA assistance nor have I sought treatment through my employer-provided health insurance but now realize that I could probably benefit from some help. I do not have a VA medical card. Does the VA provide any services for which I might apply?

A: The VA provides readjustment counseling services (specifically for PTSD) out of its office at the Vet Center on Allen Road in Peoria. This is not located at the Bob Michael VA Clinic, for which you must have a VA medical card. While the Vet Center is located in Peoria, it regularly holds group and individual counseling sessions in Normal at the new Illinois Army National Guard Armory in Ops Room 2200. This Armory is located on the campus of Heartland Community College on Raab Road in Normal. Veterans interested in finding out more about what is offered through the Vet Center program can contact Alan Connolly or C.W. Speight at 309-689-9708. Individual sessions are every Wednesday at the Armory in Normal. The group sessions are the first and third Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Veterans are permitted to make inquiries at the Armory location on days when group Counseling is being held.
DS Smith Officially Opens New Display and Consumer Packaging Plant in Germany Nov. 21, 2016 - DS Smith on Nov. 17 officially opened its newly-built display and consumer packaging plant in Erlensee, Germany. The plant is part of the company's investment program that is designed to help it double in size. Construction of the new facility began in August 2015 and was completed in September this year. DS Smith has invested approximately 50 million Euros in the project  developing the new plant and equipping it with the latest printing and finishing technology. The 45,000 square metre site includes production and logistics facilities plus conference rooms and offices. The new plant replaces the company's previous site ten kilometres away at Hanau, which could no longer meet the requirements of a highly efficient industrial business model. The plant will also consolidate the display and consumer packaging activities of DS Smith in the region, to maximize efficiency. All 250 members of staff from the previous site are taking up their current roles at the new site, ensuring the business maintains all current expertise from within the business. The total number of employees will increase within the next couple of years to enable DS Smith to achieve its display and consumer packaging growth strategy. There is an Impact and PackRight Centre located at the site where customers can experience the entire supply cycle under realistic conditions, and collaborate with DS Smith to produce their picture-perfect pack. The Impact Centre is set up to look like a real supermarket and back-of-store area that allows DS Smith and its customers to look at the effectiveness of packaging in a real-life environment. The PackRight Centre provides a physical space for customers to meet with their packaging strategist and work together to perfect the design and concept. In addition, there will be a Trend & Innovation Area where visitors can get information about new developments in the industry like virtual reality applications, to increase sales at Point of Sale. DS Smith has been investing heavily in the Germany and Switzerland region in recent years. This includes introducing a modern inter alia digital printing machine and equipping two corrugators with a new dry end to produce higher quality products at a faster pace than before. The business has also introduced three new die cutters across the region, plus two new inline machines, to create higher-quality production. It has complemented these developments with investments in logistics, IT and health and safety. DS Smith is part of a multinational group employing over 20,000 people with revenue exceeding GBP 4 billion. It is the largest integrated paper and packaging company in the UK and the second largest packaging company in Europe. To learn more, please visit: www.dssmith.com. SOURCE: DS Smith
Peru Announces Improved Measures to Stop Illegal Timber Trade Nov. 21, 2016 (Press Release) - This month the Peruvian government committed to significantly improve measures to stop illegal logging and associated trade in its timber sector. Key elements of the announced package include: amending export documentation requirements to improve traceability of all timber flows; conducting timely official post-harvest field verifications in order to assess  before any shipment leaves the Peruvian port  that the timber being exported from the country has been legally harvested; and implementation of penalties against those involved in the illegal trade. It is critically important that these commitments to prioritize the real monitoring and tracking of the full supply chain are implemented in the timeframe agreed  many by the end of March 2017. They have already been delayed for years at the expense of the Amazon forest and the people who depend upon it, said Lisa Handy, Forest Campaign Director for the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). We will continue to monitor the implementation of these measures. These and other measures were announced by Peruvian officials in Lima during the first week of November at the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Forest Sector Governance, a body created by the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) and in charge of implementing its Annex on Forest Sector Governance (Forest Annex). Further information can be found in the U.S.Peru joint statement about the meeting, as well as a media statement released November 15 by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which points to some of Peru's progress towards implementing the commitments of the Forest Annex, but stresses that important challenges remain to ensuring timber legality throughout the supply chain. Several of the measures announced coincide with what the Peruvian and international civil society and indigenous organizations have been requesting from the Peruvian government for years in response to well-known issues in the timber sector. These challenges were documented in Peru's response to a February 2016 U.S. request of legal origin verification, regarding a timber shipment that arrived to the U.S. port of Houston, on the Yacu Kallpa vessel, in January 2015. The result of the verification demonstrates that nearly all the timber in the shipment was illegally sourced. In a report released in August by the U.S. Timber Committee, the U.S. government requested a series of actions from the Peruvian government to address the issue. We appreciate the signal being sent by the Kuczynski government, that they will not continue the trend of hiding behind false paperwork and are choosing to deal with the problem instead of trying to eliminate the evidence that documents it, said Julia Urrunaga, EIA's Peru Programs Director. This will help both exporters and importers to have greater certainty about the legality of the products and, therefore, promote the trade. We welcome these announcements and encourage Peru to apply similar standards also for the timber being traded inside the country. Despite high levels of illegality within the Peruvian timber sector, limited action had been taken by Peru or importing countries until September 2015 when the U.S. government, following the lead of Peruvian Customs, seized a shipment of almost 3,600 cubic meters of timber upon its arrival to Houston. The government then began an investigation in the context of the U.S. Lacey Act, a law that prohibits the imports of illegally logged timber. While the World Bank states that the level of illegality for the Peruvian timber sector is around 80%, recent investigations conducted by the Peruvian customs office (SUNAT) into individual shipments, in coordination with the Peruvian body that oversees the forest sector (OSINFOR), have documented illegality rates of over 95%. The main destinations for the Peruvian timber exports are China, Mexico, the United States, the Dominican Republic, Europe, and Australia. As heads of state convene in Lima this week for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit (November 18-20), U.S. President Obama and Peruvian President Kuczynski are scheduled to address shared concerns about this illegal timber trade. In parallel, the USTR, Ambassador Froman, has also identified the same topic as a priority for his bilateral meeting with Peruvian counterparts. The illegal timber trade, especially Peruvian exports of illegally logged timber, were a priority in the discussions of the APEC preparatory meeting held in Lima in August, of the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade, EGILAT. Other APEC country destinations for Peruvian timber include Canada, Korea, Chile, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. It has now been proven that the only effective way to guarantee legal origin for Peruvian timber exports is to compare the point of harvest declared by the timber holder with the data from field verifications produced by OSINFOR. This is the methodology developed by EIA's 2012 investigative report The Laundering Machine to document the Peruvian export of illegally logged CITES species, cedar and mahogany, to the United States between 2008 and 2010. Until now, the exporters have only been required to declare point of harvest for the export of CITES species, which has allowed massive amounts of illegal timber from the Amazon to be exported from Peru, unchecked, in the last few years. Since 2014, Peru's customs office SUNAT  with the support of Interpol and the World Customs Organization  has been implementing a special operation called Operation Amazonas, where exporters are requested to submit documentation of point of harvest and SUNAT cross references it with the field verification reports produced by OSINFOR. For the shipments covered under Operation Amazonas, SUNAT and OSINFOR have documented a consistent illegal origin of over 90% of the timber. The announcement just made by the Peruvian government means that the procedures applied for Operation Amazonas will become the norm, and that the legal origin of the timber must be proven, as opposed to relying on documents that have been plagued with fraudulent data. Illegal logging not only brings environmental destruction, but it also fosters corruption and organized crime that has been responsible for human rights violations and the assassination of local stakeholders, indigenous leaders, and public officers who take a stand against it. SOURCE: Environmental Investigation Agency (https://eia-global.org/)
International Paper Donates $1.25 Million to Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis Nov. 18, 2016 - International Paper is fighting hunger by partnering with Mid-South Food Bank to address the many hunger needs in the greater Memphis area. IP's Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton, presented a $1.25 million dollar check to Mid-South Food Bank on November 16 as part of the company's philanthropy strategy. The spouses of International Paper employees also presented a check for $82,000 that will be used to provide 250,000 meals for families in need. Thanks to the $1.25 million dollar donation, the food bank now plans on opening a facility big enough to handle the growing operation. "We just don't have what we need to be able to get [all the food] processed," said Estella Mayhue-Greer, president for the Mid-South Food Bank, at a news conference during the presentation. "Now we won't lose as much product. It's going to help us have the adequate refrigeration and storage space that we need. "International Paper has the products, the resources and the desire to assist us and we cannot thank them enough," Mayhue-Greer added. Fighting hunger is a signature cause for the Memphis-based company and this gift will allow Mid-South Food Bank to consolidate three separate warehouses into one, creating efficiencies and significant cost savings. Along with the $1.25 million dollars, the company will also donate 250,000 custom corrugated boxes, each capable of carrying 32 pounds of food, or 27 meals. These boxes will assist the Food Bank in delivering 15 million pounds of food annually across 31 counties in the Mid-South. On top of the financial and product donations, IP will also provide safety and equipment experts on-site. These operations experts will help drive greater warehouse efficiencies and ultimately lead to feeding more local citizens in need. "We have selected fighting hunger as one of our signature charitable causes and our work with Mid-South Food Bank will have a profound impact in the greater Memphis area," said Mark Sutton, International Paper Chairman and CEO. "We are also announcing an emerging partnership with Feeding America. This tremendous organization partners with 200 food banks (like the MSFB) and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs across the country providing families and individuals with nutritious food, hope and dignity. International Paper (IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. To learn more, please visit: internationalpaper.com. SOURCE: International Paper and LocalMemphis.com
A migrant was killed and another injured on Monday in a street clash in central Belgrade, Serbia's interior ministry said.

Police "arrested five migrants suspected of participating in the clash and found knives on them," a ministry statement said. The injured person was taken to hospital.

The statement did not give further details but local media reported that the man who died was from Afghanistan.

The incident occurred on a central street near a park where hundreds of migrants gather each day to rest on their journey through the Balkans towards western Europe.

Some 6,300 migrants are currently stuck in Serbia, mostly in reception centres around the country of seven million people, according to the UN refugee agency.

About 1,000 migrants are sleeping rough in the capital, the agency says.

Serbia lies on the so-called Balkan route taken by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa since 2015.

Although the route was effectively shut down in March, migrants have continued to cross the region in smaller numbers, often with the help of traffickers.

According to Serbian authorities, more than 102,000 migrants have been registered in the country since the beginning of this year.

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Qualcomm is set to release its next-generation Snapdragon processor for smartphones. The new CPU, named the 835, is also the first Qualcomm 10nm processor. It will be up to 20% faster to recharge and will be 20% more energy efficient than the current generation of Snapdragon chips.

According to Engadget, the 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for smartphones has 30% more parts, producing 27% better performance while at the same time using up 40% less energy.

The 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for smartphones is part of the processor line resulting from the collaboration between Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics. The 10-year collaboration has been recently extended.

Moreover, the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for smartphones is a direct result of that. It makes use of Samsung's 10nm FinFET technology. The 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for smartphones is already in production, and smartphones based on it will start rolling out in 2017.

BusinessInsider says that an average cell phone with a 2,750mAh battery can have up to five hours of battery life after just 5 minutes of charging. Alternatively, it can be charged at up to 50% with just 15 minutes of charging.

Who says bigger is better? Our #Snapdragon 835 processor is taking powerful processing down to 10nm: https://t.co/31x7z0ZruH pic.twitter.com/NqOeFyOwlX  Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) November 17, 2016

Other improvements which make the 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for smartphones compatible with current smartphone trends include compliance with USB-C charging and USB Power Delivery (SUB-PD) specifications. These cell phone specifications were set by the USB standards body along with Google (for Android). This is a reassuring announcement which comes at the heels of Google warning manufacturers against using proprietary charging specifications for current Quick Charge devices.

Recent events have shown that using these proprietary charging specifications can lead to disastrous results, like those which happened to the Samsung Galaxy Note S7. In the meantime, due to the battery problems on the S7, Samsung is intent on doing a better job of the S8 which is expected to be released in early 2017.
When it came to the question of determining whether Heather Koon is a violent sex predator desperately waiting to strike back again, attorneys were volleying back and forth Thursday afternoon.

Tony Cillo, Assistant County Prosecutor told James Miraldi, the Common Pleas Court Judge that Koon seemed to be fit the profile of the accused. He derived this conclusion on observations that Koon pleaded guilty on sexually assaulting toddlers and snapping pictures while he worked in daycare centers back in 2013, according to the Washington Post.

A final conclusion has yet to be drawn but if Koon is held accountable for the charges she's accused with as a sexual predator, then she might have to stay imprisoned for life without parole. "She is the person who actually performed these acts," Chillo stated during an interview with the Chronicle.

Violating the trust of people who had paid to have their children watched over in a safe environment. What's more important to note is that Koon's fiance, James Osborne had been sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in October because of his crimes of a similar nature. He was allegedly involved in ABC Kidz Child Care in Elyria and Country Day School in Amherst.

Dan Wightman, defense attorney stated that Koon didn't sufficiently pacify the qualifications since she has no past personal criminal record. Also, that she shares an unfortunate history of being sexually violated.

Since she has a history of being a victim of sexual assault, Koon was given several tests by Dr. Askenazi, a neurologist. The results explained that Koon had poor self-esteem as a child. What's surprising is that Koon came under a heavy influence of Mr. Osborne to a tremendous extent which is what the tests Dr. Askenazi gave her found.

According to Daily Mail, Wightman claimed that he felt the emotional weight of Koon's case upon him as he was preparing for the trial. However, he also stated that he hopes that the court will act impartially in the face of emotions so as to make a fair decision.

Wightman stated that undoubtedly Koon is a part of a horrible crime that she herself pled guilty of. However, "the state can't prove she meets these violent predator specifications", he added. It's more about Koon's likelihood whether she'll repeat her criminal actions again.
A group of researchers from the University of Illinois conducted a study that proposed the modification of a plant's non-photochemical quenching process or NPQ to increase plant production. The researchers tested three protein concepts involved in photosynthesis which yielded an increase in plant productivity.

Growing the number of crop yields is believed to be important in fighting hunger. It could help save lives and also improve the economic status of many countries, Stgist reported.

Additionally, agricultural lands nowadays are being turned into industrial and commercial establishments. This may greatly affect the number of crops that could be planted in a year and could lead to insufficient supply of food.

A new study conducted by scientists that can potentially boost crop yields by maximizing photosynthesis could be a step to help fight hunger. The study's lead author Stephen P. Long, a plant biologist and crop sciences professor at the University of Illinois, explained that their objective was to modify three protein levels that are present in nicotine-rich tobacco.

The increase in protein levels is believed to be important to promote photosynthesis when NPQ does not relax quickly during times when the plants are shaded from sunlight. But what is NPQ and how does it affect photosynthesis?

NPQ is a protection mechanism employed by plants to combat the dangers of high light intensity. When plants are exposed to extreme sunlight, they could absorb more than what they need which may cause the leaves to get dry or bleached.

NPQ takes place in situations like these and allows the plants to dissipate the excess energy as heat through molecular vibrations. It also helps regulate photosynthesis by relaxing its process at times when the leaves are covered or when clouds block the sun.

During these times, plants need more light to promote photosynthesis. However, there are situations wherein NPQ still continues its function and causes light to be transformed into heat unnecessarily.

The prolonged NPQ process could be a waste of light and could also limit the process of photosynthesis. Because of this, the researchers looked for interventions to speed up the plant's response time by injecting three proteins involved in NPQ process, Los Angeles Times reported.

The study made use of a fluorescence imaging technique to examine which of the modified plants will recover more quickly after putting them under shade. After several tests, the result showed that it is possible to improve photosynthesis as the modified plants showed 14 to 20 percent higher production.

What can you say about the new method of increasing crop yields? Let us know your thoughts by dropping a comment below.
Instead of all the media speculation and analysis, Donald Trump won the election. Even though some U.S. celebrities and voters were disappointed about the results, democracy has its own way and everyone eventually agrees with it.

Trump has been under so many controversial pressures about racial discrimination and being dramatic, and even after the election, controversies seem to haunt the nation's newest POTUS (President of the United States). According to a report published in Wall Street Journal, Trump's children won't be participating in any White House matters. Instead, they will continue to manage their father's huge business and won't assume any roles in the government.

The declaration came from Trump organization's spokesman Hope Hicks, who further informed that preparations are already in the process to move management authorities to Trump's kids. Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka are going to run the business empire in association with highly skilled executive professionals.

The news, however, met with a mixed response. Analysts claimed that this arrangement will create problems. The reason? They believed that the three children have been part of a committee, which is going to choose administration officials for the government, and this could affect the interests of the company.

Market Watch also reveals that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is going to have an official role in the White House. However, it is still unclear whether the role would be formal or informal but it is speculated that Kushner might serve as an advisor. Analysts and critics regard this arrangement against ethics and suspect that it could create conflicts in terms of interests of the company and the White House.

The latest news regarding Donald Trump's children and in-laws have shown a twist as questions of anti-nepotism raises against Jared Kushner's appointment in the White House. Kushner was an active campaigner for Trump but a role in white house come in conflict with the anti-nepotism law, which was passed in the late '60s and stated that public officials are not allowed to employ their relatives in any government agencies.

With that said, it would be interesting to see how things will turn out in the light of the anti-nepotism statute. So, do you think appointing Donald Trump's children or in-laws for any government position would be a conflict of interest to Trump's business empire?
Antibiotics are commonly used as the treatment of many infections. Children often get sick and doctors will determine the nature of their illness and prescribe different antibiotics to treat them.

According to CBS News, the number of antibiotic-resistant infections is getting higher in the United States. Children are most affected by such illnesses. Studies have revealed that during the past two decades, the percentage of bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics have increased.

Teenage children from the Midwest have shown the most resistance to the most effective antibiotics. Such infections can cause long-term illnesses and more hospital admissions,while more dangerous consequences could occur. The situation has the potential to aggravate to a huge extent such that it can cause millions of death, as per the statement made by the United Nations.

Researchers and doctors have started facing troublesome situations in which they are deemed helpless against these deadly infections that previously used to be treated with simple antibiotics. According to some reports, bacteria, viruses and germs that were previously targeted with antibiotics have now become much more resilient in shrugging off attacks from medical treatments designed to eliminate them.

Experts around the world have given an approximation that around 700,000 people become victims of these drug-resistant superbugs each year. As per another CBS News report, these infections could lead to deaths of children affected by those bacteria.

Health scientists in the New York suggest to create a new medicine to overcome these infections rather than overusing the antibiotics again and again. The drug-resistant infections are found everywhere and sometimes it is due to the fact that the drugs are not properly administered.

In the United States, a certain bacteria named Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in the blood samples of most sick children, the bacteria is resistant even to the last resort antibiotics. More than 50,000 patients are annually affected with P. Aeruginosa and more than ten percent of them show drug resistance while 400 deaths are recorded every year.
"Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 will be saying goodbye to Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Max Bergman, as Masi Oka announced that he will be leaving the CBS drama this season. This led to speculations that Alex O'Loughlin will be the next cast members to leave the show. Will the show continue on air?

This article contains spoilers. Read on if you want to learn more about the details of this story.

"Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 cast news reveals that Masi Oka will be leaving the series as Dr. Max Bergman, reports Cinema Blend. In a recent statement, Oka said that he felt that it was time for his character to go.

Oka also explained that the travel to and from Hawaii was already taking its toll on him. The actor reassured fans and viewers that his character will be given a proper send-off before he leaves "H50" Season 7.

Several fans raised their concerns since Oka has been one of the series regulars since the second season. There have been speculations that Alex O'Loughlin will also be leaving "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7.

The actor previously shared that playing the role of Steve McGarrett in "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 has been quite tiring. With the show slowly (and possibly) losing its characters one after the other, will the show be canceled?

While the answer to that remains to be seen, "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 spoilers from Carter Matt tease that the story will shift to Danny's family. According to the publication, in episode 10 titled "Ka Luhi" aka "The Burden," Danny's sister will be arriving.

Missy Peregrym will be playing the role in "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 episode 10. Spoilers also tease on the team's investigation on a cold case of a missing teen.

Do you think Alex O'Loughlin will be the next actor to leave "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!


School principal Nadia Lopez was aware of the challenges she would face when she set up a school in what has been known as the "murder capital" in New York. The Mott Hall Bridges Academy, established in 2010 in Brownsville, was smack in the middle of one of New York's poorest neighborhoods with the highest murder rate. But Nadia Lopez made the commendable effort to ensure that the children in this community would get the education they deserve.

Nadia Lopez opened Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville not by her own choice. "It was the New York City Department of Education that saw a fit for a school to come into this community," she said, according to Little Things. "A small school that was specialized in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Math]," she added.

It had been a challenge building and developing the school's student body especially with the odds stacked against the school principal. In Brownsville's history, only 61 percent of the students end up graduating from high school because the kids are pushed to get into a life of crime. Many of these students belong to African-American and Latino families and they are learning-challenged.

If you watched @AVAETC 13th, you understand these stats impact mass incarceration. This is why I opened a school to close a prison. pic.twitter.com/Tp1U9E4k13  Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) November 19, 2016

But with Nadia Lopez's push, 100 percent of Mott Hall Bridges Academy's students soon graduated from high school. As principal, Nadia Lopez came up with different programs to help the students realize their potentials for a future career and improve their social well-being. Some of these programs are Digital Day for people of color, I Matter for the male students and She is Me for the female students, according to TES.

At her school, the kids are also taught financial literacy and entrepreneurship, as well as encouraged to join school-sponsored field trips. "Taking children on field trips to visit high schools and colleges plants the seeds of where they can go and where they belong," the school principal said.

One student attested Nadia Lopez's style in educating and molding students via Humans of New York on Facebook. "When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us," the boy said. "She tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built." Nadia Lopez shares her experience in the book "The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World," via Amazon.
A school teacher in the U.K. has released a lesson plan that calls out Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" for promoting domestic violence. The said lesson plan was meant to be taught to school kids from the ages of 11 years old to 16 years old for the topic "Racism/Sexism in Disney."

According to Telegraph, the teacher uploaded the material online for students and other teachers to download. It has already received 11,000 views, as of press time. The public reaction to the lesson plan has caused a controversy in the U.K. that even politicians aired out their sentiments.

In the document, the teacher splices the 1991 Disney animated classic. It stated that while Beast did not attack Belle in "Beauty and the Beast," he sowed threats of violence against her. The teacher also said that the movie's message is that "it is the woman's fault if her man abuses her."

Tory MP Phil Davies, however, said the lesson plan is riddled with "politically correct claptrap." He cited that parents won't likely want these kids be brainwashed by the lesson plan and urged the government to take action. An education advocate, Chris McGovern of Campaign for Real Education, also said that the "Beauty and the Beast" lesson plan is "an ignorant, insidious and covert attack on family values and on the ancient wisdom of fairy tales."

Pupils taught Disney fairy tales promote sexism and domestic violence in lesson planhttps://t.co/fxepM3Ladb  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 20, 2016

The U.K.'s Department of Education, however, stated that they lead it up to the schools and its teachers to decide on the materials they present to students. Sometimes, this necessitates a consultation with parents but ultimately it's the teachers who will decide based on a wealth of materials and resources.

Meanwhile, Disney also responded to the "Beauty and the Beast" controversy with a statement saying that the film has always been a relatable story for all ages. "Beauty and the Beast" live-action star Emma Watson said in a previous interview that they changed Belle's back story for the upcoming film to reflect a feminist character.

In this new version, the princess has a career as an inventor. It was put into the story upon the insistence of the actress, who is a staunch advocate of women's rights and gender equality, to rewrite Belle, L.A. Mag noted.
A pregnant widow of the late Greenville, South Carolina police officer has honored the selfless service of her husband by having maternity photo shoots alongside the police team of her fallen husband. The pregnant widow, Meghan Jacobs, have posed for a series of touching maternity photoshoots together with props like the uniform of her late husband, Allen Jacob, a team of police officers, flag given to her during his spouse's funeral, his late husband's badge and squad car.

Police Officer Allen Jacob from Greenville, South Carolina, was gunshot and killed by a teenage gunman while on duty. The police officer left his pregnant wife, Meghan Jacob, 29. During that devastating tragedy, his other half was five months into her pregnancy with their first daughter, whose due was on July 2016.

To honor and commemorate her fallen husband, Meghan Jacobs decided to do a maternity shoot on 2016 Father's day. Jessi Ellex, who is her friend for a long time, was her photographer. The maternity photo shoot ran for five hours, resulting in over 600 touching pictures.

At first, the maternity photo shoot began with only Meghan and her mom, however, later on, they were joined by her husband's colleagues from Greenville Police Department. Meghan recalled that when the team of police officers met with them around 7:30 p.m. all she could do was fight back her tears. However, they all pushed through the photo shoot.

"Meghan had the idea to include the policeman in her photos since she had to do this without her beloved husband," Heartti quoted Ellex as saying. "They are now her protectors."

Another picture shows Meghan holding a folded American flag presented to her during the funeral of her husband. Other pictures included her husband's badge tied into a blue-colored ribbon which was wrapped all over her baby bump. The maternity shoot also featured her fallen husband's police car and his uniform.

"The tone of the photo shoot was very mixed," Ellex, said to ABC News. "It was, of course, very somber, but bittersweet, knowing Meghan and Lennox have the support of the Greenville Police Department," she added.


The victory of Republican presidential bet, Donald Trump, in the recent presidential elections comes with the soon fulfillment of his promise to resurrect the withered manufacturing sector. Prior to 1980s, the sector is bustling with eight-hour-a-day workers striving with a profitable yet laborious job while possessing only a high school diploma.

But now, times have changed and so are the industry's demands. Unlike in the '80s, most manufacturing jobs now require a higher degree of education. While Donald Trump's aim to revive the industry is a shot to the moon, it can be achieved through apprenticeship programs, which will help workers earn in-demand skills.

Jeffrey Selingo wrote in a Washington Post piece that globalization and advancement of technology make Donald Trump's pre-election promise hard to achieve. Manufacturing houses now require only fewer people to do the production. Machines, if any, now necessitate high-tech skills that some are only able to get a post-high school education.

Citing a mobile technology company as an example, Siemens was said to have a hard time sifting through thousands of applicants for a manufacturing post. Apparently, the applicants, mostly high school graduates, lack the skills fit for the job.

Vast numbers of manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania have moved to Mexico and other countries. That will end when I win!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2016

What the company did was adapt a German model for apprenticeship. Siemens hired high school graduates to work for the company while attending school. As they finish their degree, they get at least $55,000 starting salary and no student debt.

Per Center for American Progress, Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced in August that mid-wage jobs will make a comeback after years of indolence. When the Great Depression hit the United States, highest-earning and lowest-earning workers had a chance to recover for the last 25 years and this left mid-wage workers (like those in the manufacturing sector) behind.

If mid-wage jobs increase in number, it can indicate that the economy strengthens. As the number of mid-range jobs is expected to rise in the coming months, Industry Week sees apprenticeship programs as the answer to the skills gap. More than three million manufacturing jobs are waiting to be filled in the next two decades.

More than half of these jobs are expected to be unoccupied due to skills gap--this lack of capable workforce members can be mended through apprenticeship programs. However, while it can indeed help workers to get in-demand skills, apprenticeship offers from companies are near to defunct.

Do you think apprenticeship programs will be helpful for Donald Trump's plan of boosting the economy through mid-wage jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!
The newly named Egyptian Agricultural Bank will run as a joint-stock entity with state-owned capital

Egypt's President Abdel- Fattah El-Sisi has issued a presidential decree to transfer oversight of the Agricultural Development and Credit Bank from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), renaming it the Egyptian Agricultural Bank.

The new establishment will run as a joint stock entity with state-owned capital.

The presidential decree, published in the state's official gazette on Monday, stipulates that the duty of the bank is to provide funding of various types to agricultural and rural development activities in accordance with the state's goals for agricultural development.

According to the decree, the bank will also provide the necessary funding for agricultural production, including the importing of essential inputs, and provide the full range of banking services.

In November, the Egyptian parliament approved a law to transfer supervision of the Agricultural Development and Credit Bank, placing it under the direct administration of the CBE instead of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Agricultural Development and Credit Bank was formed in 1930, initially under the name of the Agricultural Loaning Bank, to provide loans to Egyptian farmers.

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Even Royals have a difficult time raising their children as Prince William recently revealed during an interview in Vietnam that he at times struggles to be a parent to his two children, George and Charlotte. The interview has shocked a lot since he rarely gives candid talks during interviews.

Prince William was at the English-language talk show called "Talk Vietnam" in the country during his two-day visit. He is in Vietnam regarding illegal wildlife trade and went on the interview on his last days in the country.

The 34-year-old Royal father said during the interview that fatherhood has a lot of wonderful highs and lows. He was talking to the host, Tran Thuy Duong, when he noted that fatherhood changed him personally and that he is very lucky with the support he gets from his wife, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. He went on to praise his wife saying that she is an amazing mother and a fantastic wife.

Prince William then talked about his struggle being a father to Prince George and Princess Charlotte. She shared, "I've struggled at times. The alteration from being a single, independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing." He pointed out that he adores his children very much and he has learned a lot about himself as well as about family life, People reported.

Prince William also said that his son Prince George is both a sweet boy and a little rascal. As for Princess Charlotte, who is now 18 months old, he pointed out that he did not have a sister so having a daughter is a different dynamic for him specifically learning about having a girl in the family aside from his wife, Huffington Post Canada reported.

He was then questioned by a 10-year-old girl from the audience about his advice regarding the protection of wildlife. Prince William said that he worries about the future and that he would like his children to group up with more simple aspirations such as looking after those around them and treating others the way they want to be treated.
An Alabama father believed that the time spent behind bars of the molester of his daughter was not enough so he took matters into his own hands by fatally shooting the latter. Now, after the Alabama father was sentenced to 40 years in prison, more than 1,900 people have signed a petition calling for his release.

The father is identified as Jay Maynor, 43. He pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree murder in the death of Raymond Earl Brooks. Brooks was shot and killed in 2014. Accordingly, Maynor pleaded guilty to the charges against him because he did not want his daughter, Julia, to relive the trauma she went through if she is to be called to testify about the abuse as well as the emotional toll she took during the murder trial.

More on the petition for Maynor, People reported that it is addressed to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and President Barack Obama. The people who have signed the petition via Change.org says that Maynor is not a threat to society, he is a good man and they would like to see him walk free or serve the minimum of a lesser sentence.

Aside from pleading guilty to the death of Brooks, Maynor also pleaded guilty to the second-degree attempted murder charge for the shooting of a different man he believed dated and physically abused Julia. Julia is the stepdaughter of Maynor.

Julia was only four years old when she was first molested by Brooks. Brooks is the grandfather of Julia through adoption. The molestation took place for years and was only discovered when Julia reached eight years old. Brooks pleaded guilty to molestation in 2002 and was sentenced to five years behind bars. However, he only served 27 months and was placed on probation after, Huffington Post reported.

Julia is now 24 years old and is a mother of three. She said that Brooks took her innocence away and she suffers daily the lifelong effect of what he did. She has yet to comment on the imprisonment of Maynor.
A tragic car accident in Draper, Utah took the lives of two teenagers who were inside and SUV with three other teens. The car reportedly turned and tumbled then subsequently caught fire.

The teenagers were identified as Lexi Fenton and Ethan Fraga. All the people inside the vehicle were 16-year-olds. Fenton and Fraga were said to be ejected from the SUV. The other teens, identified as Hayden Gale, Romey Kelly and Lauren Fenton, all 16 years old, suffered from non-life-threatening injuries. They were all taken to Intermountain Medical Center, FOX 13 reported.

One of the three victims was released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon while the two others are expected to be out from the hospital soon. All of the students attend Corner Canyon High School, confirmed Canons School District spokesman Jeff Haney, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

It remains unknown who the driver was at the time of the crash. The SUV was heading north on Highland Drive at around 11 p.m. when the driver reportedly lost control near Ellerbeck Lane.

At the scene of the crash, a vigil is set to take place on Sunday evening. It is still not clear where the teenagers were headed or where they came from.

A makeshift memorial was also placed at the scene of the crash. The parents of the teens who died, their friends, classmates, former teachers and residents in the area have visited the scene of the crash to offer condolences and their prayers as well as bring flowers.

The probe continues as investigators say that they have many unanswered questions. Sgt. Chad Carpenter of the Draper Police Department said in a statement, "We know the driver was traveling northbound on Highland Drive. Right now we're not exactly sure what caused the accident, so the accident team will be working to find out what came into play in that."
A strange incident took place in Dallas on Saturday morning. To the shock of the neighbors Sofia Gonzales, an eight day old baby was found alive by the rescue team in Dallas. It turns out that the baby was abducted and her mother was brutally murdered.

The incident was reported by WFAA News which said that the twenty-seven-year-old mother of the child was brutally murdered in her own house and the baby girl was missing since then. People in the neighborhood were shocked to hear the news and at the same time were happy to have found the newly born baby alive. The whole scenario of the incident was reflecting some scene of a movie.

After the dead body of the mother was recovered, the baby was nowhere to be found. Police had been investigating the case since then and rescue teams were on their mission to recover the child either dead or alive. Since the baby was missing, the police had been suspecting the presence of the child at the crime location.

They were sure of recovering the child and the warrant to investigate the case was issued immediately. It was Saturday morning when the house of the murdered woman was encircled by the wpolice force and the rescue teams were successful in discovering that little baby girl from the house, according to CBS Local. They breathed a sigh of relief. The baby was found safe but the authorities shifted her to a child care center to provide her some aid.

A young couple lived in the house but the baby was never seen before at the house, according to the statement the neighbors gave to the investigation authorities. At the moment two suspected men are facing the charges and being investigated by the police. The neighbors feel sorry for the family.Such incidents are agonizing and grievous.
The modern day society is fighting with a lot of social crimes.Trafficking is one of them. Recently, another trafficking case was brought to the spotlight. Two teenager and three women from suburbs of the town were found to be the victims at the hands of a sixty seven year old man.

As USA TODAY reports, these victims managed to escape the crime scene by running away through the bathroom's window with each other's help. One of the girls was found to have beaten in the face.Such a tragic incident to take place.

The man accused has been arrested and is being investigated. He has an old criminal record,he has been in and out of the jail quite many times for committing crimes of kinds like robbery, assault, trafficking and drug dealing etc.

This man is accused of running a prostitution instituation. Upon investigation it has been found out that he has been forcing women into this business of sex trafficking. He beats the captured women and forces them to walk around the roads acting as prostitutes. Women who try to disagree for being forced into prostitution without their personal choice were locked in a room guarded by a steel gate.

The man's cell phone was taken into custody and it had found to contain text messages discussing various price rates and locations, a typical part of this unethical business. Women recovered were transferred to nearest hospital for medical aid and then their official statement were taken in which they admitted the brutality they were treated with.

Detroit Free Press further says that the man has been facing trials since the day he got arrested at the federal court. The final decision is pending but he'll be punished for this wrong practice for sure..
The conference, organised in partnership with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French embassy in Cairo, will be held from 9am to 5pm at Al-Ahram's headquarters in Downtown Cairo

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, along with French Ambassador to Cairo Andre Parant, will inaugurate on Tuesday an economic conference hosted by Egypt's weekly French newspaper Ahram Hebdo titled French Investments in Egypt: Opportunities and Challenges.

The conference, held in partnership with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French embassy in Cairo, will be held from 9am to 5pm at Al-Ahram's headquarters in Downtown Cairo, with instant translation from French to Arabic to be available via headphones.

France-Egypt economic relationship

"There are 130 French companies working in Egypt, with a total of 33,000 employees," Mahmoud El-Kaissy told Ahram Hebdo ahead of the conference, stressing that "France is one of the most important countries investing in Egypt."

Total French investment in Egypt stands at EUR4 billion, El-Kaissy said, adding that these investments are in the industries of energy, construction materials, electrical supplies, pharmaceuticals and food.

Egyptian exports to France are at around EUR900 million, while French exports to Egypt are worth EUR1.4 Billion, making France the sixth largest exporter to Egypt.

Majidier, also the executive regional director of Carrefour-Majid Al-Futtaim, told Hebdo that Carrefour plans to open 50 new branches in Egypt in the next five years.

Majidier added that international companies, including French companies, are waiting for the Egyptian government to take more reform measures that pertain to facilitating business and investment environments.

Hassan Benham, the director-general of the French Economic and Industrial Chamber in Egypt and one of the speakers at the conference, told Ahram Hebdo that there are currently a variety of investment opportunities in the Egyptian market.

He added that there is a large investment plan that includes a number national projects such as the Suez Canal Investment Zone, the new administrative capital and the new technological city near Ismailia, which confirms that investment is not limited only to Cairo.

The conference will host three sessions on French companies' success stories and challenges in the Egyptian market as well as investment opportunities in Egypt in the wake of Cairo's recent economic reform measures.

It will also include speeches from the deputy finance minister Ahmed Kochok, chairman of the General Authority for Investments and Free Zones Mohamed Khodear, the Chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority Sherif Samy, and Ater Hanoura head of Egypt's 1.5 milliion Feddans project

French development agency Agence francaise de developpement (AFD) and Business France will be represented,

French business representatives will include Schneider Electric, Lafarge, Orange, Credit Agricole, Axa insurance, Sanofi, Gras Savoye, Saint Gobain and Poma.

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A state lawmaker in Indiana has plans to propose a total ban on abortion.

State Rep. Curt Nisly said Wednesday he will file so-called Protection at Conception legislation when the General Assembly convenes in January. Under his proposal, all abortions would be a crime and prosecutors could file charges against those who participate in the procedure.

I assume Nislys goal is to work through the courts and eventually force a Supreme Court rehearing of Roe v. Wade. The odds that this attempt would succeed is very low, but these things take time to make it through the courts, and Nisly may be banking on the makeup of the Supreme Court being different by the time his case reaches it.

Lets pause for a moment, though, because I want to address a specific statement.

You would treat the death of an unborn child like you would any other human being, the Goshen Republican said.

If Nisly actually means to treat the death of an unborn child the way you would any other death, were talking about investigating miscarriages. Years ago, when I was a child, my great-grandmother died during a stay at our home. People were in and out of the house all day, and I distinctly remember that someonea coroner, maybe?asked questions and then ruled the death as natural causes, no foul play. My great-grandmother was well over eighty, and her death was related to a condition she had. This is how it works when a person diesevery death has to be investigated to determine whether it is due to natural causes or foul play.

Ive often said that investigating miscarriages is the natural consequence of banning abortion. Ive had conservatives deny this, but Nislys comment here doesnt leave much room for maneuvering. Every death must be reported to the authorities. If your grandmother dies and you leave her body in her room, and months go by, youre going to get in a lot of trouble. Concealing a dead body is a crime. If we treat the death of an unborn child like you would any other human being were of necessity talking about reporting and investigating miscarriages. Period and full stop.

This all said, let me make a suggestion for Democrats in the Indiana legislature. If this bill is going to pass regardlessand unless Republicans break ranks, it will, because Republicans control every level of Indianas governmentwhy not add some amendments? After all, if women are going to be required to bear children they dont feel theyre prepared to care for, its only fair that we give them the means necessary to ensure that they can care for these children, right? I have some proposals.

Universal Medical Care: Pregnant women need medical care, and childbirth isnt cheap. Children need medical care too. Medicaid covers many low income children and pregnant women below certain income thresholds, but those who dont qualify may still find themselves in a tight spot. Even health insurance that covers pregnancy and birth may come with copays or sizable deductibles. If lawmakers are going to require women who become pregnant to carry to term, its only fair that they cover the expenses. Right?

Paid Maternity Leave: Currently, most employers are required to give women six weeks of medical leave in case of childbirth, but they are not required to pay women during this leave. This places a sizable hardship on new mothers, who must forego the wages they may depend upon. Women who become pregnant unexpectedly will have limited time to prepare for this financial hit. If lawmakers are going to require pregnant women to carry to term, it seems only fair that they help these women cover the lost wages theyll face as a result of childbirth.

Subsidized Childcare: Childcare is prohibitively expensive. Many women cant afford childcare and arent in a position to give up an income to stay home and care for children, especially if theyre single. Costs dont stop when children begin school, eitherbefore and after school care adds up, as does care over the summer. If lawmakers are going to require women to have children they dont feel they can afford, its only fair that they take steps to make sure these women can afford to care for the children theyre required to bear.

Reduced Cost College and/or Job Training: Many women choose to limit the number of children they have in order to ensure that theyre able to successfully launch each into the world. College expenses have grown rapidly in the past few decades, and even community college costs can add up quickly. Ensuring that children can afford to access these resources may cut down on the challenges women face racing children they hadnt intended to haveand it will certainly cut down on the challenges these extra children face upon reaching adulthood.

Of course, theres no need to get bogged down in the specific points of what these policies would have to look like. Your proposals might differ from mine. Regardless of the details, if lawmakers are going to require women to keep pregnancies they would otherwise terminate, its only fair that they take steps to defray the costs of thisboth for them and for them and for the children they will now be required bring into the world. Perhaps this is something Indiana Democrats can hold their colleagues tooat the very least, attempts to amend the bill to add these provisions might bring attention to this point.

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I am raising my voice in opposition to the prospect of the United States Government rounding up and deporting millions of our neighbors because they do not have legal immigration status. Im doing so as a Christian and as a pastor. Because, for the Christian, immigration isnt about politics or economics. Immigration is a matter of hospitality, and a matter of adhering to the teachings of the Bible.

The Christian scriptures insist upon love as a way of life. Hospitality isnt optional, its an essential Christian posture. Our faith hinges on two great commands: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (Mark 12:30-31). The link between the two is telling. One cannot love God and refuse to love a neighbor.

So, who is my neighbor? One of Jesus most famous stories addressed this question. A Jewish man was attacked by robbers and left for dead by the side of the road. Two good Jewish leaders, a priest and a Levite, passed the man without helping. Then the hated foreigner, a Samaritan, stopped and cared for the man, treating his wounds and helping to pay his medical costs, proving himself to be the true neighbor.

Those who first heard the parable got the point: stop considering the Samaritans as unworthy of being your neighbor. If Jesus were telling the story today, I think the Samaritan would be from Mexico or Syria. For contemporary readers the point is equally stark: stop considering immigration status when it comes to deciding who is your neighbor. One could say it more pointedly: you are not a good neighbor when you call for your neighbor to be deported. You are a neighbor when you stand with them and ask that they be included in the community.

When the Christian is faced with the prospect of mass deportations, politics and economics should go out the window. This is a matter of hospitality, and friendship. Its a matter of discipleship and obedience.

Ive heard the objections. The illegal immigrants arent my neighbors. Theyre not even supposed to be here. Again, if we say this we are on tenuous ground, because the Bible contains an explicit command on the matter: When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34).

Theres no wiggle room on this issue. As a Christian, you are required to love the alien (legal or not) as yourself. The alien who resides with you should be treated like a citizen. Why? Because Gods people were aliens at one time. And so were your people. Translation: you are no better than the illegal alien. If you are not a Native American, then your people were aliens in the land of America at one time. Your lack of hospitality for the alien among you is an insult to the memory of your family, and your church heritage. It is offensive to God when his own people, who were once strangers in a strange land, support the politicians plans to deport millions of strangers living among us.

Opposing mass deportation is not only a matter of hospitality, its a matter of faith. Do we not believe that if we show radical hospitality to the strangers among us who do not have legal status, that God will have our backs? Do we think God will not take care of us when we do the right thing? Do we think God is as small and petty as the politicians? Surely we can have enough faith to believe that if we are generous with our immigrant friends, they will be generous toward us as well, and God even all the more generous with us all?

On the other hand, what is the price tag if we get this wrong? Jesus promises to judge the nations one day. You know what the criteria is? For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35)

I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Thats how you know whose future lies with God, and whose isnt. And not for nothing, but if your only excuse is they are illegals, Then read the passage carefully. Because the prisoner is supposed to get the same kind of hospitality.

Who would Jesus deport? Seriously? Can you see Jesus standing with Kris Kobach and Donald Trump on this issue? I dont see it.

Standing with our immigrant neighbors is a matter of faith. Whatever your objections to hospitality toward immigrants (legal or not), the Christian is not motivated by self-interest or fear, nor is the Christian meant to be in league with the government when the government is acting unjustly. The Christian is motivated by hospitality, and a willingness to follow Jesus no matter what.

Immigration reform is long overdue. And there are many complicated issues that need to be discussed and decided. But this one is simple. This one is addressed over and over in the bible. This one is not ambiguous. You shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. And just in case you didnt get how serious God is about this command, God left an official stamp on the end of the passage: I am the Lord your God. It was Gods way of saying, dont mess with me on this one. Just do it.
Kofax Power PDF review TechRadar Pro

Kofax has a handful of multi-platform apps to help you alter and annotate PDFs. Standard is likely the one best suited for most needs, and is the software well be exploring in this review.
A security company's product line should be like a ladder, leading up to ever-greater protection. From the basic antivirus utility, some users climb up to the security suite level. One more rung up typically reaches a feature-laden mega-suite with features above and beyond the suite basics. ESET Internet Security, ESET's first-step suite, includes all the expected components, along with additions such as an unusual anti-theft system; a network security scanner; and protection for macOS, Android, and Linux devices. With a good ladder, the rungs are spaced evenly. That's not the case with ESET Smart Security Premium, which adds only a basic password manager and a file encryption system. You dont get much additional security from stepping up to ESETs top suite, which limits its appeal.

How Much Does ESET Smart Security Premium Cost?

ESETs pricing scheme is as straightforward as it gets. A single license for the basic antivirus costs $39.99 per year, the entry-level suite is $49.99, and the top suite reviewed here costs you $59.99 per year. For each product, additional licenses cost $10 per year apiece. For three ESET Smart Security licenses, youd pay $79.99, the same (or nearly so) as the entry-level suites from Bitdefender Internet Security, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro. Like Kaspersky Security Cloud, ESET costs $149.99 for 10 licenses.

You used to pay $99.99 for unlimited McAfee licenses. That subscription now gets you 10 licenses; unlimited went up to $159.99still reasonable, given that it lets you protect every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household.

It's Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online It's Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online

At $104.99 per year for five licenses, Norton 360 Deluxe is slightly more expensive than ESETs $99.99 fee. However, with Norton you get five cross-platform security suite licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, and 50GB of hosted online storage for your backups. Depending on your needs, Norton could be a good deal, but overall, ESETs pricing is in line with the competition.

Read Me First

On Windows, the base protection you get is identical to that supplied by ESET Internet Security, and the password management and file encryption tools that ESET Smart Security Premium adds aren't strongly coupled to the features shared with the entry-level suite. Rather than repeat my reporting on the many features of ESET Internet Security, I advise you to read that review before proceeding.

The main window, which is almost identical to that of the entry-level suite, boasts three large blue button panels offering access to important features. The Connected Home Monitor occupies one of them; Password Manager and the Secure Data encryption system own the other two. Appearance-wise, the suites only differ in which components show up on those three buttons. ESETs blue-silver cyborg mascot still gazes from the corner of the screen, and a large banner reports overall security statusgreen for fine, red if somethings wrong.

As with the entry-level suite, you can use your licenses to activate ESETs Android security utility or ESET Cyber Security for Mac. By using a suite license, you get the Pro edition of the macOS product, which adds a firewall and parental control to the basic antivirus. However, the firewall does little that isnt already handled by the built-in macOS firewall. As with the Windows product, parental control is just a website content filter. Because the macOS edition cant filter HTTPS sites, its easily defeated. Android protection from ESET, on the other hand, includes the expected antivirus and anti-theft features, along with unusual bonus features such as Payment Protection, Network Inspector, Security Audit, and more.

When the main installation finishes, it invites you to set up additional tools. As with the entry-level suite, anti-theft and parental control are available. Smart Security adds the password manager and secure data features. You may not need or want parental control, and anti-theft is less relevant if youre protecting a desktop. But if you dont install the password manager and encryption system you might as well opt for the less expensive entry-level suite instead.

Theres one more Premium feature, but youll hardly see it. LiveGuard is an additional antivirus component that aims to discover and stop never-before-seen types of threats. If ESET cant identify a file as safe or dangerous, LiveGuard sends the file to the cloud for analysis. By default, it prevents those unknown files from executing pending a verdict from the cloud. Thats a good default. You wont often encounter files unknown to ESET, and when you do, a short wait is worthwhile for your protection.

Basic Password Manager

A few years ago, ESET went through a phase of licensing password management technology from Sticky Password, though the ESET version didnt include all features of that product. With more recent versions the suites password management comes from a different, unspecified third party. Though ESET is enjoined from confirming the fact, the presence of several unique features and attributes has me convinced that ESET licenses the technology from SaferPass.

To get started, you log into your ESET Home account online and create a password store. Note that you can invite other household members to set up their own separate password stores. After creating the password store, you install the password manager on as many devices as you want. There are mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. Sorry, Internet Explorer is on its deathbed and thus isnt supported. This tool can run on any platform that includes one of the four supported browsers.

Your next step is to set up a strong master password. As always, this needs to be something that you can remember but that nobody else would ever guess. Smart Security rates the password as you enter it, and its not just looking at length and complexity. Using dictionary words visibly lowers the rating. Thats nice, considering that at one point in the past ESET accepted Password as a strong password.

Simple Tricks to Remember Insanely Secure Passwords Simple Tricks to Remember Insanely Secure Passwords

At this point, the tool generates a 24-character Recovery Key that you can use in case you forget your master password. You'll want to immediately click the button to save that information as a PDF or copy it to the clipboard and save it. For security reasons, this is the only time the key is displayed. If you miss the opportunity, you can change the master password and take better care with the resulting new Recovery Key. The Tutanota Premium email encryption system uses a similar recovery key system.

Now youre ready to roll! The password manager presents a list of 10 popular sites and invites you to click one and enter your login credentials. The presence of AliExpress in this list was one of the clues that led me to believe SaferPass supplies the underlying technology.

Really, though, you dont want to manually enter all your passwords, and you dont have to. When you log in to a secure site, ESET offers to save your credentials. You can OK the capture, decline it just this once, or permanently suppress the offer for the current site. Clicking the edit pencil icon lets you name the saved entry with a friendly title.

When you return to a site for which you have credentials saved, you just click the ESET icon in the username or password field. If youve got more than one set saved you must choose; otherwise, you simply click to log in. ESET doesn't include the ability to capture data from all fields the way Keeper Password Manager & Digital Vault, Sticky Password, and a few others do, so if you encounter a non-standard login form you may be out of luck.

You can get a running start by importing your passwords from whatever program you were using previously. ESET can import from 19 sources, among them Chrome, Dashlane, 1Password, and SaferPass.

Whether imported, captured, or entered manually, your passwords appear in an account list thats accessed by clicking the toolbar button. By observation, the accounts are sorted by domain, with no option to sort differently or organize items using folders or tags. If you accumulate a lot of saved logins, youll find the search bar at the top to be a necessity.

When youre setting up a new online account, you want to start with a strong password. Why notyou dont have to remember it! ESET can help by generating random passwords. Out of the box, it generates 16-character passwords composed of letters (upper and lowercase), numbers, and special characters. An option titled Easy to type is enabled by default. I recommend choosing All characters instead. ESET can generate passwords with lengths anywhere from four to 32 characters, but I dont recommend choosing anything shorter than the default of 16.

Multi-factor authentication, accessed by choosing My Account from the Settings menu, adds security by requiring both a master password and another factor, in the form of a code generated by Google Authenticator or one of several work-alike authenticator apps. ESET actively supports Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Twilio Authy, and Duo Mobile for this kind of authentication. Previous versions also supported an unusual app called SoundLogin, which authenticates by generating a tone from your smartphone that the computers microphone picks up. That option is no longer present.

ESET extends its password-filling skills to fill in personal details on web forms. Each form-filling identity includes simple name, address, and contact info. You add credit card data separately. When you visit a web form, ESET puts its icon in the fields it recognizes. You click the toolbar button and select an identity to fill details.

In testing, ESET didn't fill every field correctly, but anything it fills automatically is something you don't have to type. RoboForm Everywhere started life as a form-filler utility and then evolved into a password manager. It remains a top form filler, with a huge number of field types. Many password managers let you save multiple instances of credit card data; RoboForm offers multiple instances of any field type.

Top-notch password managers such as Dashlane, LastPass, and Keeper include a full security audit that flags weak and duplicate passwords. Some even help automate the process of updating passwords, replacing bad ones with strong ones, and recording the change.

ESETs Security Report doesnt offer quite that level of helpful detail. It summarizes how many of your passwords are weak, duplicate, or old. Clicking any of those categories simply gets you a list of the problem accounts, but its up to you to replace weak and duplicate passwords. The report also warns if your master password is weak, and it zings you for not using two-factor authentication.

Like many password managers, ESET can check for leaked accounts by consulting the HaveIBeenPwned websites database. If it reports any of your passwords as breached, you should go to the site right away and change to a new, strong password.

You can use the password manager in multiple browsers on multiple desktops, or on multiple mobile devices. Potentially, thats a lot of places where somebody else might get a peek at your passwords. If youre concerned you may have left the door open to password-peepers, just choose Secure Me from the menu. You get a list of all active sessions, and you can lock them all with just a tap. In addition, you can instruct all copies of the browser extension to log out of websites, delete cookies, and delete history. Once youve taken care of the immediate worry, you may want to consider changing your master password, engaging in multi-factor authentication, or both. Note that this unusual feature is also a specialty of SaferPassanother clue!

We dont advise promiscuously sharing your passwords, but sometimes you mustas when you share an account with a spouse or partner. Many password managers, among them Keeper, LogMeOnce, and AgileBits 1Password, let you securely share passwords with other users. The somewhat similar digital legacy feature lets you define an heir to receive your passwords in the unfortunate event of your untimely demise. Neither of these advanced features shows up in ESETs password manager.

The first time you log into ESETs mobile password manager it has you create a four-digit PIN, for quick access. It then offers to enable fingerprint authentication, if available.

Because the browser extension displays in a tall, rectangular window, the mobile app easily takes on almost an identical appearance on a smartphone. Installed on a tablet, it does let you turn the device for a landscape-mode view. It also handles almost all the same features, though a few such as import and export of data must be performed using the extension. On both Android and iOS, you enable it as the Autofill service, which allows it to fill credentials just as it does on desktop devices.

This password manager offers a full cross-platform experience, with mobile apps for Android and iOS and browser extensions for popular browsers. It doesnt have the advanced features of the best standalone password managers, but its a decent, basic tool.

Secure Data Encrypts Files

A laptop thief who guesses your too-simple Windows login password could hoover up all your sensitive data unless youve encrypted all your important files. Even a ransomware attack cant touch your files when theyre sealed in an encrypted vault. Encrypting your most important files just makes good sense.

Smart Security's Secure Data makes encryption simple. As with similar encryption systems from Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and others, you create one or more encrypted virtual drives to store your data. When the drive is unlocked, it behaves like any other drive; when it's locked, nobody can access the files. Trend Micro Maximum Security takes the concept further, with the option to remotely seal the vault, foiling even a thief who stole your laptop and your vault password.

A wizard walks you through creating each new virtual drive. You choose a name and location for the vault file, and select a drive capacity from a list of presets. You can also set a custom size. This step is important, because, as with most such encryption systems, you can't change the vault size after creation. A similar feature in G Data Total Security cleverly offers preset sizes matching the capacity of CD, DVD, and other storage media.

Next, you create a password to lock the drive. Smart Security rates password strength as you type, but it's too lax in its ratings. Ive mentioned this before, but Secure Data still deems "Password" to be a strong password! Note, too, that by default, Smart Security automatically decrypts the drive for the current Windows user account. If you walk away from your desk without logging out, you leave your files unprotected. Unless you've secured your Windows account with a strong password or biometric option and always lock it on stepping away, I suggest you disable this option.

Smart Security doesn't maintain a list of the encrypted drives you've created the way McAfee Total Protection and others do. Rather, you must locate the vault file and launch it to open the encrypted drive. Now you can treat it like any other drive. When youre done working with sensitive files, right-click the drive and choose Eject. Do be sure youve saved any open files residing on the drive.

You wouldn't stash one copy of a sensitive contract in your wall safe while leaving other copies lying around unprotected. Rather, you'd put the extras through the shredder. The same is true for the unencrypted originals of sensitive files, so products that offer encryption often include a secure deletion utility. Kaspersky Total Security even makes deleting the originals part of the vault creation process. Alas, Smart Security lacks a file shredding component. The best you can do is hold down Shift while deleting originals, so they at least don't wind up in the Recycle Bin.

Smart Security also lets you create an encrypted folder on any removable drive. You just supply the password; you don't have to enter a filename or choose the capacity. Here, too, I advise disabling automatic decryption for the current Windows user account. When you mount the drive and enter the password, Smart Security makes the encrypted folder available.

You can also choose to make your portable encrypted files available on any computer. Doing so puts a program called ESET Secure Data on the unencrypted portion of the removable drive. Just run the program and enter your password to access the encrypted folder.

Doesn't Add Enough Value

ESET Smart Security Premium brings all the features you expect in a suite, including cross-platform security, but then, so does ESET Internet Security. The top-tier suite, reviewed here, just adds password management and encryption, and both come up a bit short. The password manager lacks advanced features such as secure password sharing and password inheritance. And there's no secure deletion utility to ensure that forensic investigators cant recover the unencrypted originals of your sensitive files.

In the security mega-suite realm, Bitdefender Total Security is our Editors' Choice winner. It earns great scores from the independent antivirus labs, and its massive feature set includes password management, webcam protection, file encryption, anti-theft, and more, much more. If you're looking for a security suite with all the trimmings, Bitdefender is a great choice.

Given that ESET offers protection for macOS and Android devices, it also qualifies as a cross-platform suite. In that arena, our Editors' Choice products are Norton 360 Deluxe and Kaspersky Security Cloud. Nortons five-device price is a little more than ESETs, but you get five security licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, and 50GB of online storage for your backups. Kasperskys 10-license price is the same as ESETs, and it boasts a vast complement of effective security features.

ESET Smart Security Premium 3.0 (Opens in a new window) See It $59.99 at ESET (Opens in a new window) Per Year, Starts at $59.99 Pros Very good antivirus lab scores

Protection for Windows, macOS, and Android

File encryption system

Cross-platform password manager

LiveGuard component aims to foil zero-day threats View More Cons Password manager lacks advanced features

No secure deletion for originals after encryption

Poor parental control on macOSta The Bottom Line ESET Smart Security Premium enhances the impressive features in ESET's entry-level suite with encryption and a cross-platform password manager, but it just doesn't add enough value to make upgrading worthwhile.
It was only a few minutes after my imaginary Trump supporter Todd White began exploring Facebook that he learned filmmaker Michael Moore was staging a coup detat against president-elect Donald Trump. Todd also learned that Trump won the popular vote. And that there were people paid to protest at Trump rallies.

None of that is true, of course. Thats the sort of fake news that was disseminated by Facebookbogus content that many believe was written by partisan groups to influence the election. That belief was apparently confirmed Thursday, as The Washington Post reported that Facebook had sold ads to Russian troll farms, presumably to influence the election. Previously, Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) had warned that potentially thousands of trolls had published posts to spread disinformation about Hillary Clinton.

But how do Facebook users end up seeing it? During November 2016, we decided to test whos seeing this partisan fake news, whos supplying it, and just how obvious it is.

We began our investigation on Nov. 21, 2016, as the fake-news controversy gained momentumand Facebook and Google began blocking sites that traffic in disinformation from their respective advertising networks. We set up two Facebook accounts, one favoring Hillary Clinton, and the other supporting Trump, then let Facebook recommend a series of news pages. In effect, we were asking Facebook to be our news service.

Then we sat back and watched the news roll in. We looked closely at each post to determine whether it was real news, fake news, or something in between.

Fake news is a real problem

Questions about Facebooks role in spreading fake news were raised almost as soon as Trump shocked the world with his victory. BuzzFeed and other news sites began publishing reports about how a small town in Macedonia turned fake election news into a cottage industry.

It appears the authors behind the fake news reports had no partisan agenda. They were just in it for the money. One creator claimed he could make $10,000 per week in ad revenue from stories that were shared among Trump supporters.

Mark Hachman Fake or just partisan?

The Macedonians may still be at it, because our Republican supporter, Todd White, was flooded with partisan posts. Worse, over a little more than two days, we counted 10 such posts in his feed that were fake, most accusing Democrats or their supporters of illegal activity. In all, White was clearly exposed to more spin than his Democratic counterpart, Chris Smith, who saw exactly zero fake news stories.

But the problem goes beyond fake news. As Facebooks feeds prove, we live in a post-truth world, where the line between partisan spin and outright lies is practically indistinguishable.

What our Democratic persona, Chris Smith, sees when using Facebook.

Letting Facebook choose the news

To conduct our experiment, I opened Google Chrome in Incognito mode, then created two Gmail addresses. I then used both email addresses to register for new Facebook accountsChris Smith for Clinton, and Todd White for Trump. To eliminate hidden biases, I registered them both as white males, each with the same birthday.

For Smith, I then Liked three people: Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and President Barack Obama. For White, I Liked Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Newt Gingrich.

Facebook has a large, visually interesting page suggesting Pages to follow.

I then asked Facebook to recommend Pages to follow. Facebook provides two mechanisms for doing this: a Like Pages page in the left nav bar, which provides a visually compelling tiled layout of suggested Pages, and a similar list of suggested Pages next to the Pokes section. For each of my test profiles, I systematically selected the first, fourth, and seventh from the list of Pages next to Pokes. Then I added the first seven suggestions from Like Pages later that night, for a total of 10 across both avatars.

Note that I deliberately didnt Like pages like alt-right news service Breitbart.com, as I wanted to see if other pages would reference them. (Surprisingly, they often didnt.) I was testing what Facebook offered my avatars, more than what these avatars might actively solicit. I also made no friends on the serviceagain, to test Facebook, not other humans.

Facebook suggests Pages like these to follow. For someone new to the system, this is what they might click upon. Note that some conservative sites snuck in.

Smith ended up with Pages like Exposing Facts to the Misinformed Viewers of Fox News, Hillary Clinton, Democratic News, and Rude and Rotten Republicans. White landed such gems as Hillary for Prison, TRUMP TRAIN, and I hate Hippies and their stupid light bulbs.

I was putting my trust in Facebook. Would Facebook show me Pages that believed in trusted news sources? Or would Facebook toss me into the maelstrom of partisan news, some of it fake?

What do you think?

Into the cesspool

Immediately I saw some clear distinctions between my two Facebook users, Smith and White. For one, Trump fan White saw many, many more posts compared to Smith: 129 versus just 41, over the course of about two and a half days. Granted, this was partially due to the whims of the Pages recommended by Facebook. Its likely (or at least possible) that Whites news sources are more prolific posters. Nonetheless, it appears that conservative Facebook viewers are being flooded with posts.

Another post in the conservative Facebook feed.

Second, rarely did conservative Pages reference so-called mainstream media. Instead, they tended to regurgitate blog posts from other sites, Facebook posts, and right-wing blogssites like AmericasFreedomFighters.com and USASupreme.com. Facebook didnt show my avatar any outright hate sites, though Photoshopped images of a sickly Hillary Clinton certainly wandered into that territory.

Third, although Clinton lost, my pro-Clinton page was bombarded not by anti-Trump messaging, but rather pro-Clinton messaging. The pro-Trump page was split about 50-50, Id say, between pro-Trump posts and insults directed at Clinton and other Democrats and liberals.

The question that we set out to answer, though, was how many partisan fake news stories we saw. In our study, 10and thats 10 too many if you believe that Facebook should be held to accuracy standards.

Fake news and propaganda

As I skimmed through each post on the feeds of Smith and White, I tried to characterize each post: Was it politically neutral? Was it clearly partisan? Fake? Or simply a non-political post that would qualify as none of the above?

One of the posts in the feed of Chris Smith, our Democratic Facebook user.

A significant number of posts on both sides were largely neutral, or slanted so slightly that I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Of those, Smith, the Democrat, saw 12 political posts, 23 slanted posts, and six posts which I characterized as non-political. None were fake.

White, the Republican, saw 33 political posts and 79 slanted postsmany more posts in general, but a higher percentage of slanted posts within his overall News Feed. Facebook also chose to show White the 10 fake posts, as well as seven that werent political.

Weve listed all the fake posts we found at the end of the article. While a couple of them were obviously faked, most were plausiblejust as plausible as stories that I thought were false, and turned out to be completely true. Will carrying a medical marijuana card prevent you from owning a gun? Sounds incredible, but yes, that story is true. Then theres the piece on Paul Schrader, the writer of Taxi Driver, who apparently advocated violence after Trumps election. Thats true as well, and he apologized for it on Nov. 15. Discovering that such outlandish stories are indeed factual helps reinforce the idea that other seemingly dubious articles can be factual, too.

Is this factual? Depends on how you see it.

But its the stories that fall somewhere in between that can be confusing. Is Paul Ryan really trying to get rid of Medicare? He may not have said so explicitly, but if youre a Democrat, you probably believe he is. Picture memes add another element: They may not explicitly tell an untruth, but they can imply as much through innuendo. Most of Facebooks political posts fall somewhere in this middle ground between truth and fiction, and it can be exhausting trying to label them as one or the other.

People Also Shared posts typically either confirm the post above or simply take the topic in new directions. In this case, we werent able to confirm or deny the first story that Clinton was too intoxicated to speak on Election Night, so it went into our slanted category.

One important problem is that Facebook doesnt just show you posts from Pages youve Liked. The site also suggests posts that other users have shared, as well as what it calls Related Articles. In both cases, that means certain posts are reinforced by other similar posts placed directly beneath them, with stories that seemingly back up whats being shared as actual truth. (Occasionally, Facebook also promotes fact-checking sites like Snopes.com to either back up or debunk the story in question, but thats far rarer.) The upshot, though, is that the post in question seems to be true, because of this apparent confirmation by other reports.

Major change is needed at Facebook

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has scoffed at accusations that fake news affected the election. Personally, I think the idea that fake news on Facebook, which is a very small amount of the content, influenced the election in any wayI think is a pretty crazy idea, Zuckerberg said on Nov. 11.

Zuckerbergs numbers may be right. But he seems to be conflating the volume of fake news with the impact of fake news, ignoring the power of half-truths, omissions, and outright lies to spread misinformation and confusion.

Negativityand half-truthsarent just confined to the conservative side.

Even President Barack Obama has voiced his concern about fake news. Speaking at a November 18 press conference in Berlin during a visit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama remarked, If we are not serious about facts and whats true and whats notand particularly in an age of social media where so many people are getting their information in soundbites and snippets off their phonesif we cant discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems.

Facebook has not returned an emailed request for comment. Recent reports indicate the company is aware of the problem, but it may be struggling to address it while also distancing itself from earlier allegations of liberal bias.

Facebook vice president of product management Adam Mosseri has acknowledged that the companys efforts to verify stories dont go far enough. Its important that we keep improving our ability to detect misinformation, he said. Were committed to continuing to work on this issue and improve the experiences on our platform. Most recently, over the weekend, Facebook said it would employ third-party fact-checkers to verify news posted on its site.

This sounds like one of the Big Problems that Silicon Valley companies are forever setting out to solve. And its not going away. The clocks ticking on the midterm elections, meaning Facebook has less than two years to make real changes around fake news.

Fake posts

Heres a list of the fake news that Todd White, our fake GOP supporter, encountered while on Facebook:

Soros Can Face Prison Under U.S. Code  Title 18  Part I  Chapter 115 Is George Soros planning the next American Revolution? Not really.

Putin Soros in a Bind Russian president Vladimir Putin does not have a warrant to arrest Soros.

Woman Investigating Clinton Foundation CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING Just Found DEAD The source for this fake story was a Reddit post from someone with the username billclintonisarap1st.

STILL PENDING! FINAL ELECTION 2016 NUMBERS: TRUMP WON BOTH POPULAR ( 62.9 M -62.2 M ) AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES ( 306-232)HEY CHANGE.ORG, SCRAP YOUR LOONY PETITION NOW! We saw this report twice. There are several sources that show this isnt true; heres one.

Donald Trump Protester Speaks Out: I Was Paid $3,500 To Protest Trumps Rally This isnt true, according to the man who invented the hoax.

Is Elizabeth Warren promoting Hillarys Civil War? She is not, nor is Clinton leading one.

Donald Trump appoints Lord Voldemort as Chief of Staff Cute idea, but not true.

Also, there was this illustration:

We would characterize what this picture implies as totally false.

In this case, the story about Michael Moore seems fairly straightforward. Stating in the post that hes involved in a coup detat, however, is false.

Another slanted, partisan post in the conservative Facebook feed. In this case, whats being communicated crosses the line into falsehood.

Avengers director Joss Whedon suggests coup; Says Trump cannot be allowed a term in office The maker of Hollywood blockbusters is not leading an insurrection, either.

Not totally fake, but almost certainly not trueespecially after you click through to the page and parse what the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Avengers writer actually said.

We didnt receive any fake news on our imaginary Clinton supporters page. These stories do existbut there are far fewer than the fake news from the Trump side. As the Macedonian writers of fake news told BuzzFeed, theres not as much money in it. But heres a smattering of what you can find on the Internet:

Trump supporters call to boycott Pepsi over comments the CEO never made Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi did not tell Trump supporters to take their business elsewhere.

Lie Witness News Asks People About Donald Trumps Fake White House Renovation Plans This is openly fake newsJimmy Kimmels reports about how Trump plans to redesign the White House.

This story was originally published on Nov. 21, 2016, and updated on Sept. 7, 2017 to add details about the Post report.
We dont usually think of drones as operating over open water, but Aerovels Flexrotor drone was designed to do just that.

Flexrotor can land and take off vertically like a helicopter, without the need for any additional infrastructure on the deck of a ship. This gives the vehicle the ability to operate from almost any vessel. Once airborne, Flexrotor transitions to horizontal flight, which allows the vehicle a much longer range of operation.

What they were intended for was to go out and spot tuna or anything that you needed to find in an austere environment where manned aircraft are no longer safe, says Matt Parker, vice president of Precision Integrated Programs, a company signed up to be the launch customer for Flexrotor.

Since its inception, Flexrotor has gone on to hunt for humans as well.

Our first mission we went out for was actually to protect marine protected areas, Parker says. We were out at sea, Cocos Island, 300 nautical miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, to monitor the marine protected areas and make sure there werent illegal poachers and shark finners and such in the area.

More recently, Flexrotor was used to guide a fleet of ships through ice in the Arctic. The drone can carry up to a 4.5-kilogram payload and can be equipped with a number of sensors, including LIDAR, infrared, and multispectral. It also serves useful on land, in places where there isnt much space to land, like small fields in a forest.

Full-scale production of the Flexrotor will begin in the first quarter of 2017, Parker says.
Microsoft is accelerating its efforts to make a quantum computer as it looks to a future of computing beyond todays PCs and servers.

Microsoft has researched quantum computing for more than a decade. Now the companys goal is to put the theory to work and create actual hardware and software.

To that effect, Microsoft has put Todd Holmdahlwho was involved in the development of Kinect, HoloLens, and Xboxto lead the effort to create quantum hardware and software. The company has also hired four prominent university professors to contribute to the companys research.

Quantum computers, in theory, can significantly outperform todays supercomputers. The ultimate goal is to create universal quantum computers that can run all existing programs and conduct a wide range of calculations, much like todays computers. Early quantum computers can be used to run only a limited number of applications.

Companies like IBM, D-Wave, and Google are researching quantum computing. IBM researchers have said a universal quantum computer is still decades out, so their focus is on creating hardware targeted at solving specific problems.

D-Wave and IBM have created quantum computers based on different theories, and the companies have bashed each others designs. D-Wave is trying to get more programmers to test its hardware so it can be used for more applications.

Its not known when Microsofts quantum hardware will come out. Like others, Microsoft will have to make quantum circuits on which it can test applications and tackle issues like error correction, fault tolerance, and gating. Practical hardware will be released only after a number of quantum computing issues are resolved. But Microsoft is already offering a simulation of quantum computers via a software toolkit.

Conventional computers represent data in the forms of 1s and 0s, but quantum computers are far more complex. At the center of quantum computers are qubits, which can harness the laws of quantum mechanics to achieve various states. A qubit can hold a one and zero simultaneously and expand to states beyond that.

Qubits allow quantum computers to calculate in parallel, making them more powerful than todays fastest computers. But qubits can be fragile, and interference from matter or electromagnetic radiation can wreck a calculation.

Researchers at Microsoft are working on an entirely new topological quantum computer, which uses exotic materials to limit errors. There are still questions about the viability of such materials and outcomes, so it could take a long time for Microsoft to make practical quantum circuits.

Interest in quantum computing is growing as it becomes difficult to manufacture smaller chips to speed up PCs and servers. Neuromorphic chips and quantum circuits represent a way to move computing into the future.

Microsofts new hires include Leo Kouwenhoven, a professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands; Charles Marcus, a professor at the University of Copenhagen; Matthias Troyer, a professor at ETH Zurich; and David Reilly, a professor at the University of Sydney in Australia. All of them are retaining their professor titles.
BP and its subsidiary Arco have agreed to a $14 million settlement over allegations that the oil company violated environmental laws in regards to hundreds of underground fuel storage tanks at gas stations across California.

About $2 million of that settlement will go to San Bernardino County, where 67 of the gasoline stations were located. San Bernardino County officials said BP failed to maintain and monitor tanks to ensure they didnt leak fuel into the groundwater.

BP spokesman Geoff Morrell, in a written statement, said the violations did not result in any harm to public health or the environment.

Violations were found in 36 counties; nine of those counties and the state Attorney Generals Office participated in the lawsuit against BP West Coast Products LLC, BP Products North America and Atlantic Richfield Company  Arco.

The only other Southern California county that participated was San Diego County.

We believe settling these claims  is in the best interest of all of our stakeholders, Morrell said. BP is and remains committed to safe and compliant operations.

San Bernardino County Lead Deputy District Attorney Douglas Poston noted in a statement, BP has sold nearly all of their interests in the underground storage tank sites in California. Poston was not available for further comment Monday.

Filed in August 2013, the state lawsuit claims that BP had violated environmental laws since 2006 at gas stations that BP owned or controlled by improperly monitoring, inspecting and maintaining underground storage tanks; tampering with or disabling leak detection devices; and improperly handling and disposing of hazardous wastes and materials, the Attorney Generals Office said in a separate statement.

BP owns or operates 73 facilities in California, says the AGs statement, which emphasizes that the firm owned or operated 780 facilities at the beginning of the investigation.

The other counties participating in the lawsuit include Alameda, Glen, Merced, Nevada, Placer, San Diego, Stanislaus and Yuba.

The agreement is subject to approval by Alameda County Superior Court. Poston, in San Bernardino County, said that approval is anticipated.

Staff writer Ali Tadayon contributed to this report.
Cairo Film Connection, a parallel programme in the ongoing Cairo International Film Festival, awarded seven prizes to in-development and post-production films

Jordanian director Yahya Alabdallahs film Baybona Fawq Sath El-Khazzan (Papillon on the Water Tank) won top prize, while Hala Khalils Shart El-Mahaba (A Condition for Love) won the Best Egyptian Film Project award at the Fourth Cairo Film Connection, one of the Cairo International Film Festival's (CIFF) parallel programmes, running between 18 and 20 November.

Alabdallah was awarded USD 10,000, presented by New Century production company to a film project in development or production.

Khalil received EGP 60,000, presented by Almasa for Art Production.

Other awards in the programme included a USD 5,000 cash prize presented by Global Film Initiative and the Color Correction Services Award for post-production, given by Aroma's Film Factory.

Finally, Paris' Initative Film presented a prize offering project development consulting to a film in production, while the Arab Cinema Center presented a prize inviting a films producer to attend the Producers Lab at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Egyptian director Amir Shenawys film 64 Kilo won the cash prize from Global Film Initiative, and Lebanese director Salah Nas film 5 Ayam Mohla (5 Days Grace) won the consulting services award from Initiative Film in Paris for his film's script development.

The Arab Cinema Centers award went to producer Jana Wehbe for the film Beirut Terminus, directed by Elie Kamal. Beirut Terminus also scooped the Color Correction Services Award.

A participation prize from the Beirut Cinema Platfrom went to Tunisian Mehdi Barsaouis film Ibn (Son).

The CFC's call for projects was open to international features and documentaries that have a connection with the Arab world (Arab director, producer, co-producer, the main actors, filming location, or subject, etc.)

From a pool of 45 submissions, the CFC forum selected a total of 14 projects, 10 projects in the development or production phase, and four projects in post-production phase.

The films were juried by Egyptian director Amir Ramsis, Bianca Taal  programmer of Talent Development at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam  and Jad Abi Khalil from the Beirut Cinema Platform.

A representative of each selected film was invited to Cairo for the three days of CFC to meet and network with local and international industry professionals in all aspects of filmmaking.

Launched in 2013, the goal of CFC is to act as a co-production platform for filmmakers to meet and network with other entities that may be potential project partners or co-producers.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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At first, it was scary, admits Joe Munoz, 19, referring to his experience being admitted into the psychiatric hospitals emergency room. It was overcrowded. You feel you do not belong there. You see others who are much worse off than you, like drug addicts and crazy people.

Having been born with partial facial paralysis and an outer ear deformity, called microtia, Munoz, of Riverside, was bullied by his classmates in high school for being different. They would steal his hearing aids, call him names and make prank calls.

The bullying continued on social media, too. The psychological effects reached the point where he contemplated suicide. Once he put a knife to his throat right in front of his mother, threatening to kill himself.

Police were called, and an officer escorted Munoz to the Riverside County psychiatric departments emergency room.

Researchers have found that Latino youths, like Munoz, face an array of factors that may increase their risk for mental illnesses. Stress can manifest itself through depression and anxiety, which can lead to substance abuse or even suicide.

Many do not seek treatment due to the stigma or fear of being labeled as crazy. Others do not have the means to access the appropriate services to adequately manage their mental health needs.

Among the many obstacles that the Latino community faces, stigma is first, followed by distrust of government and religion, said Alfredo Huerta, a Mexican immigrant with 18 years of experience as a clinical therapist for the Riverside University Health Systems Department of Behavioral Health.

While Huerta, of Beaumont, believes that there is an initial resistance to ask for help, once the family gets involved with the treatment, the stigma is reduced.

Hes not the only one who feels that way. Munozs mother, Sara Munoz, commented that in the Latino community, the tendency is to keep ones personal problems inside.

In our culture, acceptance is the hardest part. I saw it when I would take my son to the clinic and would talk to other parents who did not accept the fact that their son or daughter had a mental health issue even though they were cutting themselves, for example. We all knew we were there for the same reason, she said. That is why I ask, what do we gain for staying silent?

WIDESPREAD PROBLEM

The statistics speak for themselves: 73 percent of Mexican-origin adults with a mental health disorder will not get the needed treatment. The problem of under-utilization is even higher among Mexican immigrants. According to a 2012 report titled Community-Defined Solutions for Latino Mental Health Care Disparities published by the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, 85 percent of Mexican immigrants who needed services remained untreated.

Veronica Kelley, assistant director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, feels that few ask for the help they need due to stigma and fear of government. She also feels that adolescents are especially vulnerable to the effects of acculturation and assimilation on their families.

Adolescents are seeing that the social norms they are being taught at home are not the same among their peers, such as respect for authority. This can cause them a lot of stress and anxiety, she said.

A shortage in bicultural and bilingual therapists was another barrier, she said.

IMMIGRANT PARADOX

In the case of immigrants such as himself, Huerta does not find it strange that they suffer from trauma. Leaving ones country of origin and moving to a new nation is difficult.

Surprisingly, the UC Davis report indicates that newly arrived immigrants tend to be in better mental health than people their same age who were born in the U.S. This has been coined the immigrant paradox.

However, the longer the immigrant stays in the country, the more possibilities that he or she will develop mental health problems. For Mexican immigrants, individuals living in the U.S. longer than 13 years have higher rates of mental illness than those with fewer years residing in the country. This decline is said to be attributed to changes in lifestyle, cultural practices, increased stress and new social norms.

The report also found that Latinos face generalized treatments that will not accommodate their linguistic or cultural needs. And if left untreated, mental illness symptoms tend to get worse with time, which eventually impacts relationships, work and daily life.

There are effective treatments for these illnesses, said Huerta, who personally recommends psychotherapy, medication and support groups.

PROFESSIONAL HELP

Huerta suggests that it might be time to see a mental health professional when someone has a conflict or recurring problem with no apparent solution. Other symptoms could include: difficulty in sleeping, appetite changes, mood swings, negative thoughts and lack of concern for ones personal appearance.

Talking to someone is an important first step, he said. If the person is a believer and goes to church, they could talk to their pastor or priest. If they have access to a primary-care physician, they could make an appointment to see if the problem is physical.

If the doctor does not find anything wrong, then the patient may be referred to a mental health professional, Huerta added.

In Joe Munozs case, a Latino counselor from the Victor Wraparound Program, who came to see him at his home and at school was one of the keys to his recovery. The counselor helped me find the resources I needed, and he also talked to me and my family, which helped improve our communication.

About a year ago, Joe Munoz co-founded an organization called Youth Advocates United to Succeed to help youths like himself who are facing hardships in their lives that are affecting their mental health.

Sometimes life throws us into the ocean and the waves seem to be pushing us further and further away from shore. Our goal is to save lives, like a lifeguard. We are reaching out and bringing back those people who feel alone. he said.

Given his own struggles, Joe Munoz is surprised that he was able to graduate from Riversides La Sierra High School in June. Recently he started classes at Riverside Community College, where he plans to study psychology, American Sign Language and improve his Spanish, which is his immigrant parents native language.

I gave myself a chance, he said. I took a negative and made it into a positive.

 Angela Maria Naso wrote this story while participating in the California Health Journalism Fellowship, a program of the Center for Health Journalism at USCs Annenberg School of Journalism.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9851 or @angelamarianaso on Twitter
For former Marine Darrin Snyder and his family, home used to be the Wal-Mart parking lot, free campsites, cheap motels or anywhere else they could park their minivan and cargo trailer and stay the night.

Snyder, who traveled with his family to San Bernardino County from Virginia Beach in August in search of work as a recreational therapist with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, wanted more for his family, but he never expected what he got Thursday: a spacious, five-bedroom, three-bath house in a quiet Victorville neighborhood, near La Mesa and Topaz roads.

I think this is pretty awesome. Every time I look at all of this, I think its a dream, said Snyder, 49, inside his new home Thursday. He was surrounded by representatives from the San Bernardino nonprofit Knowledge & Education for Your Success, which goes by the acronym KEYS. The nonprofit assists homeless or poverty-stricken families in finding homes.

Related: 34 veterans housed in 30 days in San Bernardino County

Snyder is among the dozens of veterans recently placed in permanent housing by KEYS and its affiliate partners, including San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and the Loma Linda Veterans Affairs hospital. It is part of an ongoing effort to house all the countys homeless veterans and their families.

The Snyder familys new home has a spacious backyard, a fireplace in the upstairs master bedroom and an intercom system that allows family members to communicate with one another from any room in the house.

Snyder, who served in the Marines from 1985 to 1988 and uses a wheelchair because of myriad ailments, including a herniated disk, two blown knees and diabetes, said the VA will be installing a stairlift in his new home so he can have access to the upstairs master bedroom. Until then, he plans to occupy the downstairs bedroom.

Also, the San Bernardino nonprofit Rolling Start, which provides resources and advocacy for disabled people, will have a wheelchair ramp built to access the house, Snyder said.

KEYS program manager Julie Burnette said the Snyder family is on a one-year lease, with an option to renew. KEYS picked up the tab for the security deposit and first months rent of $1,500, and then the need to continue assisting the Snyders financially will be assessed on a monthly basis.

Snyder is in the process of securing a job as a recreational therapist at Corcoran state prisons substance abuse treatment facility. He plans to commute to the prison, camp out in his 6-by-10 cargo trailer during the workweek and spend the weekends at his Victorville residence.

I still get to come back to this place, Snyder said with a grin.

Snyders daughters were just as elated as he was about their new home.

Motel hopping absolutely sucks. I hope to never be in that situation ever again, said his oldest daughter, Carrie Allie Snyder, 22, holding her infant daughter Peyton outside their new home Thursday.

She said living in transition the past four months was an eye-opening experience.

It definitely gives you a whole new perspective and empathy for people living on the streets, Allie said.

Snyders youngest daughter, Katie, said KEYS and its partner agencies went above and beyond what she and her family anticipated.

They went way out of their way, said Katie Snyder, 20, noting that Heroes Warehouse Inc. in Fontana donated a couch, refrigerator, three queen size beds, a desk and three floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

The Snyder family moved into the home just in time to enjoy the holidays. Although the Snyders plan to have Thanksgiving dinner at their church, they intend to enjoy Christmas at home.

Hes excited because he gets to decorate this year, Katie Snyder said of her father.

Darrin Snyder said hes going to use the $500 Visa gift card he just received for participating in the Detroit Marathon last month for Christmas presents. He said he has participated in many marathons, representing the Achilles Freedom Team for Wounded Veterans, which funded his trip to Detroit last month.

Peytons going to have a great Christmas this year, he said of his granddaughter.

His daughter, Katie, added, Theres going to be toys everywhere!

Contact the writer: jnelson@scng.comTwitter: @SBCountyNow
The Bank of Ghana has reduced its policy rate from 26 percent to 25.5 percent.



This was announced on Monday, 21 November. This is the first change in the rate in several months after it was maintained at 26 per cent on four consecutive times.



Meanwhile, the Bank of Ghanas summary of Economic and Financial Data has revealed that the countrys total public debt stock has increased to GHS112.4 billion as of September this year.



This represents 67.4 percent of Ghanas debt-to-GDP ratio. The central bank released the data after its Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Friday.



The meeting reviewed the state of the economy. Per the data, a total of GHS2.6 billion has been added to the public debt since August 2016.



It showed that GHS65 billion, representing 39 percent of debt-to-GDP ratio, came from external borrowing while GHS47.4 billion, 28 per cent of debt-to-GDP ratio, came from domestic borrowing.

Source: Classfmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ecobank Group, Ade Ayeyemi as part of unveiling Ecobanks widespread digital array showcasing its products and services across its unparalleled Pan-African network has revealed the Ecobank Mobile App to Ghanaian audience at World Trade Centre in Accra.



He mentioned that Ecobank Digital leverages the power of technology to deliver instant, convenient and cost-effective solutions to customers around Africa.



He revealed that, Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Xpress Account, internet banking, Pan African Card, Automated teller Machines, Points of Sale terminals, are just some of the digital solutions created to make banking easier, more accessible and affordable than before.



Speaking in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, Mr. Ayeyemi said Ecobank digital platforms offer an opportunity to develop new, previously unimagined services for our customers- to help use money more effectively. The power of digital banking has the potential to unlock enormous lifestyle, business and other financial opportunities across Africa.



Ecobanks digital offerings are opening up financial services to the unbanked, while serving existing customers at a whole new level. This will help transform our continent and leapfrog economic development, he emphasized.



Speaking to the gathering, Ecobank Ghanas Managing Director and Regional Executive Anglophone West Africa, Mr Dan Sackey also added that by leveraging the power of digital, Ecobank is freeing up customers, including merchants, in Ghana and West Africa to grow their businesses and live their lives more easily. Ecobank Ghana- Ghanas biggest bank- is here to support the countrys already strong economy to grow further.



Ecobanks flagship Ecobank Mobile App was first launched in Lagos, Nigeria, on 20th October 2016. Ecobank Mobile App boosts the spread of Ecobank Digital products, allowing wherever, whenever banking, bill payments and receipts, all online.



According to Owureku Asare, the Regional Head, Cards and eBanking, Ecobank Anglophone West Africa, Ecobank Mobile App enables customers to open a free digital account- Ecobank Xpress Account. The beauty of this account is that you can open it instantly with no references or paperwork.



Ecobank Digital means borderless banking. For example, the Ecobank Mobile App enables customers to send and receive money instantly across 32 other African countries, other than Ghana, he reiterated.



Ecobank Ghana has grown over the years to become the biggest bank in Ghana. With the App, Ghanaians now have the opportunity to carry out transactions on their phones no matter where they are in the country, he opined.



Animated films of the Ecobank Mobile App and the banks other digital offerings were shown at the event.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje has warned that the Ghana Armed Forces will deal ruthlessly with persons who foment trouble in the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.



According to him, the security agencies across the country shall preserve the peace of the country at all cost.



Speaking with a joint security task force ahead of the December 7 polls in Accra over the weekend, Air Marshal Samson-Oje said: Let me take a minute to address those who may be inclined to resort to violence in furtherance to their course during the elections with the aim of throwing the country into chaos. The resolve of the Ghana Armed Forces and other sister security agencies to deal with spoilers to ensure peace and security during the elections are not be underestimated.



Let any potential spoiler be warned that the Armed Forces, the Police, the Fire Service, Prisons, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and Immigration are alert and ready to foil any such attempt to disrupt the peace.



We shall preserve the peace at all cost. We are, therefore, ready to deal ruthlessly with anyone who seeks to disturb the peace.

Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Charlotte Osei, has earnestly called on God to let His will in the upcoming general elections prevail.



At the monthly prayer session organised by the Womens Aglow Ministry to seek Gods intervention for peaceful and violence-free election, the EC Chair prayed for the safety of electoral commission officials and electoral materials and prayed against any destructive abuse of social media.



The event was captured by Church of Pentecost's TV channel, Pent TV.



Asking God for divine protection for all politicians, the security agencies and all stakeholders in the December 7 elections, she beseeched; when the enemies rise to destroy the beauty of the electoral process, frustrate their efforts and let us have a nation where the righteous will rule.



Click to watch the video





Hundreds of women gathered at the forecourt of Parliament House in Accra last Saturday to offer special prayers for the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), and five officials of the commission who graced the event.Led by its National Prayer Director, Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, the group offered intercessory prayers for the country and called on God to strengthen all stakeholders in the electoral process to make them act responsibly in the discharge of their duties.The spirit-filled congregants directed their prayer at Mrs Osei, calling on God to give her the courage to be strong in applying the electoral rules in a fair, firm and transparent manner in the interest of national unity.Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie, drawing inspiration from the Bible, urged the EC not to be intimidated by individuals and groups who might want to mar the electoral process.She, however, asked the electoral body to put its house in order to ensure that all temporary staff recruited to assist it at various levels did not corrupt the efficiency of the electoral process.In a charged and electrifying atmosphere, a pot was broken to symbolically signify the divine intervention of God in all matters relating to violence, bloodshed and death that might arise in the course of the elections.Amid the tooting of animal horns, the leadership of the group, joined by the gathering, sprinkled special water on the grounds of the event to indicate that the country would witness peace after the December 7 polls.By breaking this pot and engaging in other spiritual exercises, we disorganise all forms of organised plans to perpetrate mayhem during the elections; we break every yoke of misunderstanding and abort all evil plans against the EC and the sanctity of the electoral process, Mrs Afenyi-Dadzie declared.

Prayer for divine protection



Humbled by the spiritual exercise, a visibly confident Mrs Osei submitted her prayer request to God, calling for renewed strength, co-operation from political parties and the protection of all electoral materials.





She gave a firm indication that the EC was up to the task and that it needed the collaboration of all the security agencies and political actors to ensure that the outcome of the elections would be credible.



The EC Chairperson and other officials of the womens group asked the media to play their gate-keeping role in an objective and balanced manner in order not to inflame passions.



The speakers observed that the crucial nature of the elections required media personnel who would adhere to the principles of cross-checking facts and reporting on issues with a sense of responsibility.



Background



As the December 7 polls draw closer, political parties have intensified their campaigning. However, there are reports of pockets of violence in some parts of the country, including clashes at Odododiodoo in Accra, Wulensi in the Northern Region and other areas.



These violent clashes have left the public wondering about the peace of the country during and after the elections.



It is in the light of the above that the Aglow Womens Ministry set aside the day to pray for the peace of the nation.







Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana with additional files from Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A security analyst with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre (KAIPTC), Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, has said rewarding people who perpetrate political violence has been solidified in the minds of political party supporters to the extent that it has become too late to talk about peace, ahead of the 7 December polls.



Many stakeholders like the National Peace Council, the Ghana Police Service, the Electoral Commission, and others have been preaching peace ahead of the polls following violent clashes between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



But speaking on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Monday, 21 November, Mr Aning bemoaned the culture of rewarding violent supporters.



Because violence now has financial and economic value, there is a certain subconscious acceptance that violence is good and actually does have positive pay off if your party eventually wins. ...But its too late now talking peace and telling people that peace is what should drive our action towards the election. Right now, the position has been taken. It is solidified and if you listen to the language coming from the foot soldiers, there is a certain preparedness that were you to do this, we will retaliate and I think the CDD study shows widespread acceptability and the willingness to use violence in the election, he stated.



Explaining why he postulates that it is too little to preach peace in this years election, Dr Aning said: People are making rational thoughts. If I use violence on behalf of my party and were I even to be arrested, somebody will make a call and get me off the hook. And if my party were to win and Im noticed as one of those who used violence as a tool on their behalf, I will get something because if you look across board, over the last 20 years, there is a direct correlation between those who use political violence or hateful speech and then those who get access to political office, and it is that history and culture of violence in our politics that triggers off or leads to some political appointments. That is why Im saying it is too little too late.

Source: Classfmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has said the social circumstance of the vulnerable population in Ghana has improved positively in the past four years.



She said government had increased the number of people on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) from 71,000, in 2012 to 213,000 households currently and that, life is much easier for the vulnerable now.



The Minister said this at a media engagement during her JM for the People Tour in Ho aimed at canvassing for votes for President John Dramani Mahama in the impending election.



Nana Oye Lithur said 60 per cent of LEAP beneficiaries and 11,000 prisoners across the country were registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme as part of governments social development agenda.



She said about 1.7 million children were also being fed daily at school and urged the electorate to retain the government in power to further enhance the lots of the citizenry.



Nana Oye Lithur said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government was for the ordinary people and that more elderly persons would be given the Urban Welfare Card to enjoy discount in public transport fares and given rebate in selected shopping malls across the country in its next tenure.



She said a comprehensive programme would also be launched for head porters across the country to protect them against gender-based violence and defilement among other vices.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Chiefs and people of the Afife Traditional Area, in the Ketu North constituency, on Sunday, November 20, 2016, conferred the chieftaincy title Torgbui Dunenyo Dzigbodi I on the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



At a short ceremony at Afife, Torgbui Adzaklo V, President of the Afife Traditional Area, stated that the conferment of the chieftaincy title on Nana Akufo-Addo was in recognition of his contribution towards national development, justice and peace over the years.



You have exhibited total commitment to peace, patience, selflessness, transparency, accountability, incorruptibility. In this regard, we confer on you the title Torgbui Dunenyo Dzigbodi I", Torgbui Adzaklo V said.



According to Torgbui Adzaklo V, the decision by Nana Akufo-Addo to put Ghana first by resorting to the use of the courts in the aftermath of the disputed 2012 elections, as well as accepting the split 5-4 verdict of the Court, even though he disagreed with the verdict, was enough proof of the NPP flagbearers love for Ghana.



You have remained patient and bided your time. This time, however, we are sure your patience and your love for Ghana will pay off, the Chief added.



In his brief acceptance speech, Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Chiefs and people of Afife for the honour done him, and reiterated his commitment to helping build a Ghana that is governed by the rule of law.



He assured the Chiefs and people of the Volta region that when given the mandate in this years elections, he will return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity, and do a job for all Ghanaians without discrimination.







Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghanas police chief John Kudalor has told security personnel along Ghanas borders not to frustrate Ghanaians living in Togo from crossing over to vote in the 7 December polls.



Addressing journalists during a days visit to the Volta Region, which is known to be the stronghold of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Inspector General of Police said: I dont think the Togolese have any mandate to come and vote here, but you know the long-standing history between the Volta Region and Togo. All that we are saying is that any Ghanaian is free to stay anywhere and work. So, if you are even living outside the African continent and you are duly registered and your papers are ready, you can fly in, nobody can stop you at the airport. In the same wise, if you find yourself in a country within our borders, I dont think anybody should be prevented.



The security agency would ensure that everybody who is supposed to vote or who is to have easy access to and from the country across the borders [is]  allowed to vote. If you have any problem with anybody, it should be at the polling station; to see that he is not duly registered, he is coming to be an imposter or unlawfully voting.



The IGPs concerns about Ghanaians in Togo taking part in the country come just a day after the presidential candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to Togolese to stay off Ghanas elections.

Speaking to party supporters in Aflao in the Volta Region, which shares borders with Togo, Mr Akufo-Addo, who speaks very fluent French, told citizens of the francophone West African country that they can support Ghanas democratic process by staying away from Ghanas elections.



The NPP has always accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) whose stronghold is the Volta Region, of constantly smuggling Togolese into Ghanas jurisdiction to vote during elections.



The people of the Volta Region share a common language (Ewe) with the Togo while a lot of Ewe-speaking Ghanaians also crisscross the border for daily business activities. Some of them too have families on either side of the border. It is, therefore, difficult to distinguish between a Togolese and a Ghanaian from that part of the country. The situation has, thus, given rise to intense suspicion between the NDC and the NPP, especially in every election year and 2016 has not been any different.



Earlier this year, the vice-presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, said Ghanas electoral roll was contained the names of about 76,000 Togolese smuggled into the country by the NDC to register as Ghanaians so they could take part in the elections. The NDC has constantly demanded evidence from Dr Bawumia in connection with that allegation.



The NPP also recently launched a campaign dubbed operations eagle eye that aims to stop all Togolese from taking part in Ghanas elections.

Source: Classfmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Oscar-winning Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will star in a new film set in Spain by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, Cruz said in an interview published Sunday.



Farhadi, who won the foreign-language Oscar in 2012 for "A Separation" about a middle-class couple's divorce, is currently finishing the original screenplay for the movie, she told Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia.



"The idea is to film in Spain, we still don't know where. It is an intense drama which is a gift for actors. And it is a luxury to work for the director of 'A Separation', which is wonderful," the 42-year-old actress said.



The plot of the movie, which remains mostly under wraps, revolves around a family of winemakers living in rural Spain. Shooting is expected to begin next year.



Cruz and Bardem, who were married in the Bahamas in 2010, are currently working on "Escobar", a movie about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.



Bardem plays Escobar and Cruz plays his lover, journalist Virginia Vallejo, in their first film together since the 2008 Woody Allen romantic comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".



Cruz said it was "incredible" that the couple have the chance to work together once again in Farhadi's new film.



"No one planned it. And we are not going to work together in everything, but if things come up (for both of us) and they make sense, why not?"



Cruz won a supporting-actress Oscar for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Bardem, 47, won a supporting-actor Oscar for the 2007 crime thriller "No Country for Old Men".



The couple first met while filming "Jamon, Jamon" in 1992, one of Cruz's first films.



For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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You couldnt just stop at one near-catastrophical weather event a day, could you Melbourne?

Following news Melbournites would be subjected to our hottest November day in four years, along came todays massive, admittedly very pretty but still extremely unfair thunderstorms, rolling through Victoria like they own the damn place.

And, because this city will never, ever allow you to leave home with less than every variety of clothing you have, the temperature is set to plummet by 20 degrees throughout the night.

Take a gander below for some of the best pics of the windy citys ridiculous, beautiful, and, er, temperamental day, as well as one particularly great jab at this stupid city and the people who love/hate it so.

A Storm front hits Melbourne after a hot spring day shot from Eureka Skydeck. Picture Norm https://t.co/EO6h6LhadL pic.twitter.com/h7m5i9F2Gl  Heraldsunphoto (@heraldsunphoto) November 21, 2016

Here comes the storm after Melbournes hottest November day since 2012!! #melbweather pic.twitter.com/nMna9pzmzC  Matthew Wu ?? (@matthewwu) November 21, 2016

Heavy rain, perfect after a blistering day #melbweather pic.twitter.com/YKD5j5KrTS  Christopher C (@chriscorneschi) November 21, 2016

The people of Melbourne have apparently discovered the power to change the weather via complaining on social media. A miracle. #melbweather  Jess (@justjesscoates) November 21, 2016

Look you are not wrong, Jess Coates.

This wasnt part of the deal, Melbourne! THIS. WASNT. PAARRRRT  Chris WooOOOoods (@tophermwoods) November 21, 2016

Source: Twitter.

Photo: Nick Allinson / Twitter.
Lets be very clear here that Mike Pence is still extremely bad. Hes a staunchly anti-gay politician who supports gay conversion therapy and literally ran for Congress in 2000 on a platform of reversing life-saving funding to stop the spread of AIDS and support HIV-positive people.

But his response to the cast of Hamilton addressing him directly on Saturday night isnt  and I mean this with the lowest possible base line to compare it to (Trump)  the worst.

The Vice President-elect told Fox News on Sunday morning that he wasnt offended by Hamilton star Brandon Victor Dixon urging Pence to consider the diverse America throughout his role as part of the Trump administration.



I nudged my kids and reminded them, Thats what freedom sounds like, he said, a stark contrast to Trumps deranged tweets that the theatre should be a safe space for notable straight white guy Pence.

The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016



Hamilton is just an incredible production and incredibly talented people, Pence continued. It was a real joy to be there.



None of this is unusual. This is just standard, political fluff  get called out for your shitty ethics, pretend everything is fine, say how much you liked the other guy, actually.

This is the not the worst part:

I know this is a very disappointing time for people that did not see their candidate win in this national election, he said. I know that this is a very anxious time for some people. And I just want to reassure people that what President-elect Donald Trump said on election night he absolutely meant from the bottom of his hearthe is preparing to be the president of all of the people of the United States of America.



It says a lot about Trump that the base line for good leadership is not acting like a manbaby, but here we are.

Course, Pence is still a homophobic pro-lifer who shouldnt be in charge of a chicken shop let alone a country, and Trump is basically riding these shockwaves to distract from his US $25 million settlement over the total scam of Trump University.

But progress? Maybe?

Fucking hell, its going to be a long four years.

Photo: Fox News.
One of the biggest supermodels in the world is hosting a music awards night! What? You think that sounds inexplicably boring and probably not the best casting? Uh huh, yeah, same here.

But look  its Gigi Hadid hosting the American Music Awards rn, and shes well-known for being a model with an excellent personality and a decent sense of humour.

Maybe itll be okay? Turns out, nup.

Its on as we speak, and one of Gigis first comedy bits was to parody the soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump.

A few things wrong with this:

 Are there any jokes about the Trump family actually left to write? Theres been so many. All the jokes must be done by now. No jokes left.

 Donald Trump might try to do a murder to you.

Gigi is apparently not scared of bland comedy or getting murder done to her, because she persisted.

Heres the end result:

Gigi Hadid just did her Melania Trump impression #AMAs pic.twitter.com/AYJTMhvCCx  Jessica Goodman (@jessgood) November 21, 2016

CRINGE.

We could try to forgive her on the basis of Look, its her first time doing comedy, and hey, look, at least she did original jokes!

Well, no  shes essentially attempting to copy this exact meme which was probably the most viral, shared-around meme during the last days of the US Election:

Which is kind of ironic, since the entire gag is based around Melania plagiarising.

Everyones confused:

Tomorrow morning @realDonaldTrump will tweet demanding Gigi Hadid to apologize for the Melania Trump impression. #AMAs ??  Hafiz Shariff (@HafizDoc) November 21, 2016

Never knew who Gigi Hadid was before tonight. After 37 minutes of enduring her insufferable personality, I wish I still didnt #AMAs  Noah (@noahh_campbell) November 21, 2016

i dont know what makes me more uncomfortable Gigi Hadids impression of Melania Trump or Melania Trump herself #AMAs  S?AN (@Seanlofficial) November 21, 2016

@PopCrave @GiGiHadid ?????? Wow that sucked!! Stick to modeling you suck at acting ????  Jloza (@JohnLoza07) November 21, 2016

Better luck next time Gigi. Your Melania pout will now haunt our dreams forever.

Source: Twitter.
I have always staunchly warned against watching Q&A  there are a million better things you could be doing with your evening that dont involve watching a lot of belligerent, self-satisfied politicians rolling their eyes at each other as audience members slowly realise that their question will never be answered.

But I was looking forward to this episode, with writer and my future husband (conjecture) Benjamin Law and absolute legend (not conjecture) Nakkiah Lui representing real, actual human beings alongside Labor MP Terri Butler, crazy eyed corpse and Liberal senator Eric Abetz, and human turd and journalist Greg Sheridan.

It was a perfect storm of two incredibly good people and a bunch of wildcards that were absolutely guaranteed to cause some shitty controversy, and it delivered: a lot of very well made points by half the panel and a lot of incoherent shouting from the other  it was a wild time.

As an example of the tone of the episode, heres Greg Sheridan managing to yell at two different panellist within the space of just a minute:

The episode primarily focused on the implications of Trumps win in the US, both in terms of how it will affect foreign policy and whether well see similar populist (*cough* racist *cough*) politics enter Australia, and also on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which has become a point of contention recently thanks to fuckwit, deadshit cartoonist Bill Leak.

While Abetz and Sheridan argued that getting rid of 18C was a critical issue of freedom of speech, Lui and Law both argued that its a rarely used clause that only affects a tiny number of people, and politicians are abusing their position by trying to make their personal crusade their primary focus. From Nakkiah:

What were saying is, were looking at changing an entire law for less than 0.001% [of the population], so to say that this is an issue that affects the majority of Australians, to say that this is something thats on the tips of the tongues of every single Australian  is not correct. What we have is a bunch of elite politicians abusing their power and wasting funds on their personal pursuits and their own agendas, that are not a public matter nor are they in the public interest. Were paying a senator $195,000 a year on an issue that effects 0.001% of Australians.

Law agreed:

The whole discussion and debate around 18C has never been about ordinary Australians access to freedom of speech  its about powerful individuals and powerful organisations having an angry circle jerk about how horrible it is to be called out for being racist in a public forum.

You can and should watch the whole clip here, as Law quite successfully argues as to how 18D nullifies pretty much all of their shitty complaints:

As a bonus, heres a gif of Ben Law saying angry circle jerk, mostly because I wanted one.

God bless.

Source and photo: ABC.
At the risk of sounding like Buzzfeed, you werent an Aussie teen growing up in the late 80s  90s if you didnt turn to Dolly Doctor to answer all your burning questions, from Is throat thrush a thing bc Im worried my bf has given it to me? to Is green discharge normal pls help.

The hours spent poring over the pages of the local magazines medical were well-spent, as it turns out, because new research has find Australian readers looking for health advice are better off buying Dolly than any magazine with health in its title.

The University of Newcastle found only 50% of the advice articles published in magazines like Womens Health, Good Health and Mens Health were based on evidence with any substance, while just over one-third gave clear and meaningful advice.

The study of 163 articles  published over six months in 2011  gave props to Dolly Doctor for presenting information on everything from UTIs and STDs in an accessible, factual way that was overall preferable to other titles.

This magazine (Dolly) provided excellent examples of ethical ways to deliver health advice and also highlighted the need for this type of advice to be provided for this particular age group, says author Dr Amanda Wilson, whose paper was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

Obviously no one should be taking medical advice from a magazine as gospel, but we always had a feeling in our ~waters~ Dolly Doctor knew whats up and the validation is most pleasing.

Source: The University Of Newcastle.

Photo: Vintage Dolly.
The Dubai International Film Festival has revealed the final selection of 18 films to be screened within the Muhr Feature competition. Among the selection, five films are by the Egyptian filmmakers, four of which are world premieres.

Ali, The Goat, And Ibrahim (Ali Mea'za) directed by Sherif Elbendary; Egyptian Jeanne d'Arc by Iman Kamel; Al-Nossour Al-Saghira (The Young Eagles' Association) by Mohamed Rashad; Mawlana (The Preacher by Magdy Ahmed Ali will have world premieres while Mohammed Hammad's Withered Green (Akhdar Yabes) will have their MENA premiere.

The Egyptian films make part of the internationally recognised programme, which, according to the DIFF's press release, "celebrates regional excellence as talented directors reflect their personal experiences of the Arab world through the compelling medium of film."

Among other films participating in Muhr Feature section are Hady Zaccak's Ya Omri (104 wrinkles) from Lebanon; Inhebek Hedi (Hedi), a coproduction of Tunisia, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and France; A Maid for Each (Makhdoumin) directed by Maher Abi Samra, coproduced by Lebanon, France, Norway and the United Arab Emirates; political thriller Off Frame aka Revolution Until Victory (Kharej Al-Itar aw Thawra Hata el Nasser) directed by Mohanad Yaqubi and coproduced by France, Palestine, Lebanon and Qatar.

Antoine Khalife, director of the Arab Programme, added: DIFFs Muhr Feature programme recognises inventive and distinctive work from the Arab filmmaking world. Shining light on the talent originating from the Arab world, this heavily contested selection of films shares stories and diverse perspectives which unite cultures.

It is always a pleasure to work with such a variety of engaging content and this year I've been pleasantly surprised by the variety of films which include a plethora of captivating subjects revolving around identity, memory, power, betrayal, absurdity, frustration, sacrifice and decisions.

The 13th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will take place between 7 December and 14 December.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Cedar Crest High School administrators said the normal schedule remains in place today, but they gave teachers permission to suspend classroom lessons if students need to talk about the Saturday night crash that killed one student and injured three others.



Ian Smith, a senior, died of injuries sustained in the crash that took place around 11:15 p.m. near Kochenderfer Road and Sholly Avenue in North Lebanon Township.



Smith, 17, was the driver of the car that police said went off a wet road and hit a tree. Three other Cedar Crest students were injured and taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.



A notice on the school's website on Monday morning said the conditions of the injured students wasn't known. The school set aside an area where students can meet with trained counselors.
Vatican Pope Holy Year

Pope Francis on Sunday seized the celebration of the end of the Jubilee of Mercy to issue a directive to priests to absolve sinners of the sin of abortion. Francis was photographed Saturday as he celebrated Mass on the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. The Holy Door closing marks the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

(Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis has been outspoken in recent weeks on matters about the worldwide church and even the U.S. presidential election. Here's a rundown on some of the public comments and official directives issued by the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

Abortion

Pope Francis on Monday took what many church observers see as a stunning move in extending indefinitely to priests the ability to absolve the sin of abortion. In the Catholic Church abortion is a grave sin that warrants automatic excommunication.

On Monday, in his Apostolic Letter, entitled Misericordia et misera, ("Mercy and Misery"), Francis reiterated "as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life."

The Argentine-born pontiff added that he wanted to stress "that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart."

Priests, Francis added, should be "a guide, support and comfort" for anyone facing the issues of abortion.

Francis last year ruffled feathers among conservative Catholics when he first revealed his new abortion policy.

Not-so Subtle Political Message

Pope Francis closes the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP)

Pope Francis isn't known for taking or issuing clearly delineated political stances. His style is far more subtle.

On Saturday, for instance, Francis called on the members of his church to reject "the virus of polarization and animosity" and the growing temptation to "demonize" those who are different.

Catholic pundits have interpreted the pontiff's directive "as a powerful, gospel-based indictment of the populist and nationalist anger roiling countries around the world," and playing out in the U.S. in the wake of of Donald Trump's election win of the presidency.

Said Francis:

"In God's heart there are no enemies. God has only sons and daughters. We are the ones who raise walls, build barriers and label people. God has sons and daughters precisely so that no one will be turned away."

Francis said "our instinctive reaction" is to "discredit or curse" those who we view as opponents, "to 'demonize' them so as to have a 'sacred' justification" for dismissing them.

May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!  Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 20, 2016

God's unconditional love, he said, "is the true prerequisite for the conversion of our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn."

Widely view as a stern denouncement of the wave of racial, ethnic and religious intolerance sweeping across the U.S. in the wake of Trump's election, as well as similar sentiments across Europe against immigrants, Francis said:

"We live at a time in which polarization and exclusion are burgeoning and considered the only way to resolve conflicts. We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of a stranger, an immigrant or a refugee become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country or have different customs. An enemy because of the color of their skin, their language or their social class. An enemy because they think differently or even have a different faith."

Animosity gradually turns to outright hostility and violence, Francis added.

Pope Francis prays after he closed the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Pope Francis has pulled shut the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, formally ending the Holy Year of Mercy he declared to highlight that virtue. (Tiziana Fabi/pool photo via AP)

Building Walls

Earlier this year, Francis seemed to excoriate Trump for his campaign promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.

"A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said in February. (Closer to the election, Francis urged U.S. Catholics to "vote their conscience.")

More recently, members of the media who cover the pope noted in one specific instance that while the pontiff did not mentioned Trump by name, his words resonated as a clear message to the president-elect.

A few weeks ago at a Vatican gathering, Francis spoke about the danger of building walls to keep people out and "false prophets that exploit fear and hopelessness to sell magical formulas of hate and cruelty."

Said Francis:

"No tyranny can be sustained without exploiting our fears. This is clear. All tyranny is terrorist. And when that terror, ignited in the peripheries with massacres, looting, oppression and injustice, explodes in the centers in the form of violence, including with hateful and cowardly intent, the citizens who still have some rights are tempted by the false security of walls, physical or social -- walls that close some in and banish others."

In his past responses to the pontiff, Trump has called the pope "disgraceful" and has accused Mexico of using him as a pawn. More recently

The pope has urged president-elect Trump to not forget about the poor and marginalized.

Pope Francis in August had lunch with a group of Syrian refugees who were brought to Italy from the Greek island of Lesbos thanks to the pope's intercession. Francis brought toys and other gifts for the children, who, in turn, gave him a selection of their drawings. Both the adults and children had the chance to speak with the pontiff ''about the beginning of their live in Italy,'' the Vatican said. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Catholics - along with evangelical Christians and Mormons - proved a formidable voting bloc for Trump. White Catholics overwhelmingly favored Trump, 60 percent to 37 percent.

Latino Catholics went for Trump's Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton over him, 67 percent to 26 percent.
A Palmyra Area School Board member under fire for some profanity-laden tweets during the presidential election says he's not going to resign.

Ralph Duquette

Ralph Duquette said he's "seriously mulling" running for re-election next year to a second four-year term, despite parents, students and staff who called on him to resign recently.

A half-dozen parents told the school board Thursday they weren't happy with the language Duquette used on Twitter, while a few defended his First Amendment rights. The previous week, two parents brought concerns to the school board, said Superintendent Lisa Brown.

Among the tweets cited by parents were exchanges Duquette had on election night with various adult followers of his account, snapshots of which were emailed to PennLive.

"I hope the Trumpster bites you in the (expletive)" he tweeted on Nov. 8.

After Dow futures plunged election night, he tweeted, "Thank you, @realdonaldtrump you (expletive) flaming dumpster fire. You just killed America. Well done, you (expletive)."

Duquette said he will "be much more careful in language use on Twitter," and has taken down the Twitter account in question, which he said was not affiliated with Palmyra Area School District.

"Should an elected official drop the F-bomb? ... maybe not," Duquette said when asked about the tweets Monday.

During the election season Duquette said he had received some "really nasty" tweets, such as one that told him to "go hang yourself, you should be executed."

He is a member of the Lebanon County Democratic Committee and sole Democrat on the school board.

In one case, a Palmyra Area High School student, referring to Duquette's tweets with foul language, tweeted "Such a great role model!!! Thank you so much for inspiring kids everywhere."

Duquette said he responded to the student, who he believed had tweeted him during the school day, "It might be to your benefit to put the phone away during school hours and pay attention in your social studies class."

Sandi Brettler, parent of the student, said Monday that he had tweeted to Duquette late election night and before school, not during class time. She said her son had followed Duquette's twitter account for several years, and that he follows other school board members as well.

Among his 900-1,000 followers during the election season, Duquette said he knew of three students who had begun following him.

Brettler said Duquette's language "has been salty but never like that before," she said. "He's very opinionated, but when the foul language came out, that was over the top," she said.

Brettler said she hopes the school board can consider setting a policy regarding social media and tweeting, especially underage students. "We are looking for candidates to run against him, to see if we can get him out of there. He's not a very good representative of our school district," she said.

Duquette said he believes the parent may have "a grudge" against him from an unrelated matter in the past. "I'm not letting a woman with an ax to grind drive me off the board nor will I let her control what I do," Duquette said Monday.

Brettler denied she has held a grudge against Duquette.

Brown said the Pennsylvania School Code does not allow the board or district to remove an elected school board member unless they commit a criminal act or due to repeated absences at meetings.

Christopher Connell, Palmyra Area School Board president, called the matter "an unfortunate event."

"Any comments made by Mr. Duquette are within his rights to do so. The board has no authority over Mr. Duquette and therefore has no power over his position on the board. The board would like to move past this event and focus on other issues and initiatives," Connell said in an emailed statement.

This isn't the first time an elected school board member has come under fire for social media comments.

In Spring Grove School District, school board member Matthew Jansen came under fire last June for criticizing a sign in front of a local church that wished Muslims "a blessed Ramadan."

Jansen refused to step down, but did apologize for his comments.

Duquette claims his tweets came up in part because he has challenged the district on various issues. He said he filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education in September regarding the district's Title IX compliance. He claims the district didn't have a named Title IX coordinator known to students and staff, and that grievance procedures weren't readily available.

Brown said Duquette is not being targeted by the district due to issues he has raised.

Connell said the administration "follows all rules and regulations as required by state and federal laws," and have students' well-being and confidentiality in mind when incidents occur.

In an emailed statement, Connell said, "While I believe that from a process perspective we do everything we are supposed to do, there are some gaps in policies and guidelines, as Mr. Duquette has highlighted. Some of these gaps have been addressed and some will be addressed as part of our initiative to review our policies and bring those up to date. We will also bring in an auditor to determine any other gaps that might exist. As a result, the board and the administration will work to ensure that our Title IX process meets all requirements and will be a model for other school districts to follow."

UPDATE: Comments from Sandi Brettler were added to this story.
Donald Trump

President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign stop in Hershey just before the Nov. 8 election. (PennLive file)

By E. Fletcher McClellan

Donald Trump has been president-elect for not quite two weeks, and political historians are already debating whether he will transform the presidency and the nation.

E. Fletcher McClellan (Elizabethtown College photo)

He has certainly transformed American politics, confounding what political scientists thought they knew about presidential elections.

It turns out that a presidential candidate can win without political experience, policy knowledge, the support of party leaders, fundraising prowess, field organization, or positive media coverage.

All you need, Trump proved, are a powerful message, a powerful messenger to deliver it, and a shrewd political strategy.

White, working class voters, living in Pennsylvania and the Midwest, believed Trump could Make America Great Again.

And so, despite losing the national popular vote by 1.15 million votes as of November 15, Trump is on his way to the White House.

Could President Trump remake history? After what we have seen over the last 18 months, why not?

First of all, we should dispose of the idea that a president needs a popular vote majority to lead. Being a minority president didn't stop George W. Bush from enacting his economic program and No Child Left Behind, or from assuming the role of wartime president after 9/11.

Trump will have more tools to work with than any Republican president has since possibly Lincoln. After 9/11, presidential power to prevent terrorist strikes on the US, including wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria and domestic surveillance on US citizens, has gone virtually unchecked.

Trump will be able to use executive authority to not only step up efforts against ISIS, but also restrict immigration. If he wished, he could declare trade sanctions as necessary to promote national economic security.

Trump can cancel executive agreements, signed by President Obama, to conclude the Iran nuclear covenant and commit the US to the Paris accord on climate change. He could use the same power to reach new understandings with Russia.

In domestic policy, Trump will almost certainly issue executive orders to expand Obama's vigorous deportation policy while, at the same time, override the clean power initiative and Dodd-Frank financial regulations.

On the legislative front, the new president has workable Republican majorities in Congress. On some issues, such as a massive tax cut, Trump and GOP leaders should be able to collaborate. All are on record favoring repeal of Obamacare, but Trump says there are some parts he wants to keep.

Democrats in the Senate will no doubt use the filibuster to block Trump's proposals, but with 25 Senate seats held by Democrats out of 33 up for re-election in 2018, Republicans may be confident enough to do away with the filibuster altogether.

At the very least, the GOP will likely invoke the so-called nuclear option to clear the way for swift confirmation of a Trump-appointed Supreme Court justice to replace the late Antonin Scalia.

There will be some hard bargaining ahead. Trump could clash with Freedom Caucus members on infrastructure spending, which they see as a re-run of the much-maligned Obama stimulus. Speaker Paul Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare appears to conflict with Trump's pledge to keep the program as is.

And, who knows what the size and cost of Trump's border wall will be?

But then, there is the bully pulpit, which may be the most accurate description of how Trump will pressure recalcitrant members of Congress and bureaucrats to do his bidding.

Through social media and conservative outlets, Trump should be able to outflank criticism coming from the mainstream media by reaching his followers directly.

Originated from the Tea Party and alt-right movements, Trump's working class coalition has the makings of a potent political force, ready to "drain the swamp."

So, Trump has the tools to be a transformative leader. The questions are, how will he use them and toward what ends?

How strongly will he pursue a populist, nativist, and nationalist agenda? Is he willing to moderate his positions? Where will he stand up to Beltway leaders and where will he collaborate or defer?

In many respects Trump's situation is similar to other new presidents who came to office with an activist agenda and considerable political resources. Reagan, Clinton, and Obama attempted to move their programs as quickly as possible. After the first year, the window for domestic policy change closed.

Given how provocative Trump's agenda is, and depending on how much brute force he uses to implement it, his window may close much sooner.

Therefore, Trump's biggest enemy is time. The importance of the first 100 days of an administration to establish priorities and set the tone cannot be understated.

It remains to be seen whether the president-elect has the discipline, focus, and political skills to take the reins of government on Day One.

His first two appointments, political insider Reince Priebus as chief of staff and the controversial populist Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, represent the space between pragmatism and outsiderism that Trump will have to navigate.

An early test of the president-elect's seriousness will be if he decides to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton's use of emails. Divisive, vindictive, and distracting, this move would do nothing except consume time and political capital.

Trump's leadership will also be tested by reality. His prescriptions for American greatness resemble Brexit and other populist programs, but their effects upon the social safety net, an increasingly globalized economy, and a multicultural world are unknown.

While Trump has the motive, means, and opportunity to be a political colossus, we only have to remember the Obama presidency to know how ephemeral a legacy can be.

Just last week, Obama was said to have built a monument of policy achievement that a progressive political coalition would sustain through dominance of national elections into the foreseeable future.

So much for that.

President Trump, be warned.

E. Fletcher McClellan is a history professor at Elizabethtown College and an occasional PennLive Opinion contributor.
Crime scene tape - Pixabay.jpg

Gov. Tom Wolf has just vetoed a measure that would have provided for a 30-day "cooling-off period" before the release of the names of police officers involved in deadly force incidents.

Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed a bill that would have tried to stop the quick release of the names of any police officers involved in a shooting or other use of force incident that resulted in death or serious injury.

Rep. Martina White's bill - introduced last year - started as a reaction to former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey's policy of immediately naming cops involved in most police-involved shootings.

The city's Fraternal Order of Police had argued Ramsey's policy put the officers and their families in danger.

White's bill, which in most cases sought to create a cooling off period by delaying the identification of any involved officers for at least 30 days, passed both the state House and Senate in October with big majorities.

Under its terms, the involved officer's name would have to be released at the end of any investigation if they were charged with any criminal offense.

It's a debate that echoed the turmoil in many American cities after highly-publicized, officer-involved shootings and other incidents that left unarmed African-American men dead.

Opposition to White's bill - 9 votes in the state Senate and 32 votes in the House - was concentrated in the chambers' heavily-Democratic Philadelphia and Pittsburgh delegations.

White, who just won re-election to a second term, is one of two House Republicans who hail from Philadelphia.

In Pennsylvania, police chiefs and prosecutors currently use their own discretion in releasing their officers' names.

In Philadelphia, the policy is to release names within 72 hours unless there's a credible threat, an approach backed by the U.S. Department of Justice. In Dauphin County, District Attorney Ed Marsico's office generally releases the names after the investigation is completed.

Supporters say the bill protects officers from reprisal during what is often a chaotic time while opponents argued that it will only increase tensions between communities and law enforcement.

It was the latter groups' concerns that apparently caught Wolf's ear.

In his veto message, he stated in part:

"While I am deeply concerned for the safety of the Commonwealth's police officers, government works best when trust and openness exist between citizens and their government, and as such, I cannot sign into law a policy that will enshrine the withholding of information in the public interest.

"These situations in particular - when law enforcement uses deadly force - demand utmost transparency, otherwise a harmful mistrust will grow between police officers and the communities they protect and serve.

"Further, I cannot allow local police department policies to be superseded and transparency to be criminalized, as local departments are best equipped to decide what information is appropriate to release to the public."
How I went on professional guided tours in every city in Europe for free

Visiting a new city is a great adventure. But also a hassle: you don't know the ins and outs of the city, you don't have a feel for the place yet, maybe you don't even know the language.

What if I told you that you could start your visit with a 2-hour tour with a professional, enthusiastic, witty tour guide, who will happily take you through the history and the main highlights of the city with a big smile on his face and a welcoming attitude... FOR FREE?!

I used this trade secret to explore Paris, Berlin, Prague and a number of European cities in the past couple of years, and now I'm sharing it with you lovely readers. It's called: free walking tours.

What are these?

All around the world, there is that thing called: Free city walking tours.

Usually, a short 2-3 hour walking tour to explore the main highlights of the city. Typically guided by a professional tour guide.

Why free?

There are two types of free guided walking tours. The first is led by a bunch of local travelers and groups who just love their city. They are passionate, friendly, and eager to show you their city. But they are not professional guides.

The other type - the one I tried many times and liked - is the professional tour. Many professional tour guide companies offer these tours to introduce tourists to the city, while at the same time introducing their professional services. The tour is led by a professional guide, and let's say this one more time: it's completely free...

Well, not totally!

Show me the money

What happens is that the guides rely solely on tips.

Just before the tour starts, the guide tells you that this is a "pay as you wish" tour. You will evaluate how much it's worth, and pay whatever you want based on how much you enjoyed it.

You are not obliged to pay anything, but usually through a combination of really enjoying the tour, the sense of humor of the guide, your feeling of guilt for taking something for free (which the guide will keep feeding all the way by telling you over and over that your tips are the only money he gets from this tour :D), and peer pressure when you see other people tipping the guide in the end, you will pay a tip.

From my personal experience, it's between 3-5 euros (when I tried it in Paris and Berlin). So still almost free!

"This is the famous "Pont Neuf," which by the way means "the new bridge" as all the previous ones were made of wood and constantly broke under water pressure, so this was the newest, most stable one. And ironically it's still called that although it's now the oldest standing bridge in Paris.

After finishing the construction, King Henry III invited his nobles to a three day party, with complimentary food and wine . And since drinking is the second-most favorite sport in France right after union strikes, you can imagine how these noblemen looked like by the third day!

So the king brought his personal sculptor and asked him to carve their faces on the sides of the bridge. So here you go, the first Facebook timeline in history."

This was one of the entertaining tales told by "Inga"; Our lovely Bavarian guide on the free walking tour in Paris. And these are the kinds of stories you will hear throughout your tour.

In Paris, the tour was 3 hours long and included the main highlights of central Paris: Notre-Dame cathedral, the Louvre museum, Pont Neuf bridge, the city island, Montmartre and a number of other sites, which you can read about here.

In Berlin, our guide was a short, bald, funny American dude called George. A professional tour guide with a passion for cold war history. Naturally, Berlin was a fantastic place for him to share his knowledge.

The tour with George was very informative; I learned a great deal about the history of Germany, WWII and Hitler. He also pointed us to some of the most famous dishes to try, for those interested in German cuisine, (proceed with caution).

"Before you cross over this line... Please stop for a moment.

This line represents what used to be called "the Berlin wall." Not so long ago, before 1989, passing this line would mean immediate death. 136 people died trying to cross this line between 1961 and 1989. The last one of them, unfortunately, attempted his escape just six months before it was taken down; he was a 16 year old kid. Take a moment to genuinely think about this idea. Pray to whatever god you worship for the souls of those martyrs, and understand the magnitude of their sacrifice so that today you can cross this line back and forth without fear."

The Berlin tour included Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, Hitler's bunker, Checkpoint Charlie, the Gestapo HQ, Topography of Terror museum and a number of fascinating places you can learn more about here.

How to find walking tours and what to choose

It's as simple as googling "free city walking tours" and adding the city name.

But if you want more trusted advice, do that same search in TripAdvisor. You will find tons of users reviews to help you make the right choice.

Check out this fantastic link, which has links to almost every walking tour ever.

Themed walks

There is another option if you want something a bit more focused than the normal highlights tour. These are known as themed walks and are often also available for free.

In Barcelona for example you can join a Gaudis walk: a walk named after the famous architect Antonio Gaudi that follows his footprints on the city, taking in Catalan-style architecture until you reach the masterpiece: the Sagrada Familia. You can learn more about the Gaudi tour on this link.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you cant miss Londonsfree harry potter filming location tour. If your mood is more spooky, you can try theJack the ripper tour.

I think by now you catch the drift. Wherever youre traveling, there is a chance you will find a cool themed walk. Google your interests and find out.

Some tips from personal experience

- In Europe, don't hesitate, go for SANDEMAN, I've tried a bunch of their tours, and they are my favorites.

-I advise you to take the walking tour on your first morning in the new city; it's a great way to make sense of the city and get a quick head-start on the highlights and what would interest you. It's also an opportunity to ask a professional guide for information on sightseeing.

- Consider the paid guided tours. Listen to their offers and think about it. Sometimes it's worth it.

- Make sure to check the website of the company before you go. If you are interested in a guided tour, note its name. Usually, on the free tour, they give you offers and discounts on the paid ones, so come prepared to take advantage.

- Don't be cheap. Tip the guide if you enjoyed it. It's not obligatory, but if he/she did good work, it never hurts to spare a couple of euros. Keep your change ready for that moment.

-After the tour ends, go to TripAdvisor and put in a review. Let your fellow travelers know how it went.

-You usually don't need to book first. But out of courtesy to the guides, I encourage you to do it. This will help them know how many people to expect and allow them to better manage the group. Get there 10 minutes early to make things easier for everyone.

-You will walk for a long time, so wear comfy clothes, comfy shoes and bring a bottle of water with you.

And finally, engage and enjoy the experience. It's worth it!

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The report former Attorney General Kathleen Kane commissioned into lewd and offensive emails will be made public Tuesday after repeated delays over the last year.

Kane's successor, Bruce Beemer, will present the report and various supporting documents at a 10:30 a.m. press conference at the Capitol in Harrisburg.

Chuck Ardo, an office spokesman, said the report itself--prepared by the D.C. law firm BuckleySandler at a cost of more than $385,000--runs about 50 pages. A disk of appendices and emails will also be released.

The office has not, however, confirmed whether the public version of the report will contain any names of participants in the email chain.

"It's up to the attorney general to make the final decision but the recommendation made to him by senior lawyers is not to release names," Ardo said Monday. "It will not be a sure thing until the attorney general makes his declaration."

PennLive is currently in the midst of a Right-to-Know appeal in order to obtain an unredacted version of the report.

Starting in 2014, the office had released the emails in a piecemeal fashion. Those prior releases resulted in the retirement or resignation of two former state Supreme Court justices, a former acting environmental secretary and disciplinary action against dozens of other state employees.

After a Philadelphia prosecutor made public statements that Kane was involved in the offensive emails, her office released emails that involved her sister Ellen Granahan, who worked in the office prior to Kane's 2012 election. Kane herself, who was a private citizen at the time, received at least one of the emails.

Emails released over that period contain images of fully or partially nude men and women, as well as potentially offensive jokes about domestic violence, homosexuals and various ethnic, racial and religious minorities.

Kane, who faced criminal charges that ultimately resulted in a conviction, hired a team of outside attorneys last December to perform an independent review of the emails exchanged over state servers.

Invoices obtained via a Right-to-Know request showed that taxpayers fronted the bill for a D.C. attorney $880 per hour, plus expenses, to attend press conference and that the attorneys began to review sensitive internal emails before signing grand jury secrecy oaths.

Most recently, a federal judge cited the emails in an opinion granting an appeal hearing to a convicted murderer who had received the death penalty.

Here's are some highlights from PennLive's reporting of the unfolding scandal:

'Porngate' emails could impact criminal appeals

$880/hr to attend a Kane press conference?

What kind of email report are you getting for $385,000

Beemer: 'Everyone will have a fair opportunity to ask questions'

Report infected top Kane aide's computer with a virus

Kane aides mull impact of report on Kane criminal trial

Email report brings a myriad of complications

Many ethical questions remain for Pa. judiciary

Justice Eakin's trial for offensive emails could bring scrutiny for other judges

AG's office for return of 'Porngate' investigation emails

Kane shares her sister's 'Porngate' emails, including one the AG got

Gansler: Email investigation much broader than porn

Porn emails raise questions about judicial ethics in Pennsylvania

Ex-judge in porn email scandal gets $11K monthly pension

Kane disciplines 61 in pornographic email case

In exclusive interview, Kane talks recovery after crash, grand jury and porn emails scandal

Porn-laced emails, blackmail threats mark return to bad old days for Pa. Supreme Court

Follow PennLive on Tuesday for complete coverage of the report's release and its potential fallout.
More days of rain, snow predicted for this winter

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently predicted that the Great Lakes region will have more frequent precipitation than usual this winter.
EgyptAir weekly flights to Tokyo and Osaka airports stopped in 2012, following the decline in the number of Japanese tourists visiting Egypt

The first plane in the second phase of a direct charter flights service between Egypt and Japan arrived in Luxor international airport on Sunday evening.

The direct flight from Tokyo airport arrived with 231 Japanese tourists on board.

EgyptAir weekly flights to Tokyo and Osaka airports stopped in 2012, following a decline in the number of Japanese tourists visiting Egypt.

In April, EgyptAir resumed direct charter flights between Osaka and Luxor airports in the first phase of its charter flights service.

The resumption of flights to-and-from Tokyo constitutes the second phase of the service.

In a similar step, Egypt's flagship airline resumed in October trips between Luxor and London, following a one-year suspension of flights between the two destinations.

The company's chairman, Safwat Mosalam, said that the resumption of flights to Upper Egypt's Luxor aims "to revive tourism in the city, which is considered one of the most important touristic destinations in Upper Egypt. This is part of the company's commitment to bringing tourism back to Egypt, which is a crucial source of national income."

Egypt's tourism industry has been hit hard since a Russian airliner crashed in Sinai in 2015, killing all 224 passengers on board.

Luxor was named the 2016 tourism capital of the world by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

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The Ministry of Antiquities has announced that the Kom Al-Shoqafa catacombs in Alexandria are safe and have not been submerged in water, as published in some news reports and on social media.

In the statement, head of the Central Administration for Maintenance and Restoration Gharib Sonbol described the social media accounts as lies and unfounded claims.

Sonbol said that the catacombs are unharmed, and that water machines installed in the surrounding area are working efficiently and reduce the subterranean water level to protect the site from flooding.

He added that nothing has damaged the wall paintings of the main tomb. The only thing to have fallen was some two cm-thick mortar from restoration carried out in the 1980s, which doesn't threaten the catacomb or its walls.

All the wall paintings and reliefs are in very good condition and have not collapsed, as some have claimed, Sonbol told Ahram Online.

The United States Agency for International Development, Sonbol said, has undertaken studies on a comprehensive project to reduce and control the subterranean water level in the area. He said the project will bid for approval in early December.

The Kom Al-Shoqafa catacombs are situated to the west of the Pompy Pillar in Alexandria and are considered the largest and most important burial site dating back to the Graeco-Roman period in Egypt.

Kom Al-Shoqafa, meaning "the hill of treasures" in Arabic, was uncovered accidentally in 1900.

It contains a mixture of Roman, Hellenistic, Pharaonic, and ancient Egyptian decorative elements that were common in different eras in Alexandria.

The catacombs are rock-hewn tombs that date back to the 2nd century AD, consisting of three levels, all located underground. However, due to flooding that occurred in this area in antiquity, the lowest level is now inaccessible.

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Audi vehicles are displayed at the FAW-Volkswagen exhibition booth during the Guangzhou International Motor Show on Wednesday. Photo: IC

(Beijing)  Audi's China dealers have called on German automaker Volkswagen to reveal more details about its new deal with SAIC, fearing the pact could choke their businesses.

SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd., China's largest automaker by sales, announced last week a partnership with Audi's parent, Volkswagen AG, to produce and sell Audi vehicles from SAIC's Shanghai facility, which already makes Volkswagen-brand cars.

The deal upset FAW Group Corp., a rival joint venture partner of Volkswagen and the current exclusive manufacturer of all Audi vehicles sold in China. Management at FAW Volkswagen Automobile Co. Ltd., in the northeastern province of Jilin, were "furious" when they learned about the deal, a source close to FAW told Caixin earlier.

It's not clear which Audi models will be produced at SAIC's Volkswagen plant.

Auto dealers, who have invested millions of yuan to build exclusive dealerships selling models produced by the FAW-affiliated facility, said the new partnership has left them in the lurch.

Car dealers said they will be forced to terminate their agreements with FAW if they want to sell vehicles made by SAIC, but getting a new dealership is expensive.

Dealers said their businesses would suffer if SAIC were to take away some models currently manufactured by the FAW facility or were to set up its own sales channels.

Dealers who want to work with both joint venture partners may have to open up new stores to provide maintenance services and sell parts for different types of Audi models. An industry insider told Caixin that it cost 600 million yuan ($87.1 million) to set up an Audi dealership in the southwestern city of Chengdu a few years ago. Although the cost might not be that high now, opening a new store is still risky, he said.

"In recent years, Audi's sales growth has slowed down and dealers have suffered losses. But instead of looking for a way to solve this problem together, Audi went to find a new partner," one dealer said. "As longtime sales partners for Audi in China, we're all disappointed."

During an annual dealer meeting in Shanghai last week, Michael-Julius Renz, president of Audi's China sales division, did not address the question of how the two joint ventures will split the sales networks. Instead, he tried to comfort dealers by saying SAIC Volkswagen "needs years to catch up."

Upset by Audi's reluctance to give more details, dealers banded together last week and turned in a request urging the company to clarify its plans for the SAIC facility.

China, the world's largest market for Volkswagen, contributed about a third of Audi's global revenue last year. Since entering the mainland in the late 1980s, Audi has become China's leading luxury car brand, outselling rivals such as BMW and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz. But Volkswagen also posted its first drop in sales in China in 2015 amid the economic slowdown and a series of corruption scandals at FAW, prompting Audi to seek new partners.

Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com)
(Beijing)  E-commerce giant Alibaba Inc. said on Monday it will open four new cloud data centers outside its home China market by the end of the year in an aggressive move to compete globally with the likes of Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and IBM Corp.

Alibaba is China's leading e-commerce company, controlling more than half of the country's massive local market. But as growth at home starts to slow, the company has been under mounting pressure to find new opportunities overseas by competing with the big global giants.

Cloud services is one area where the company believes it can compete due to the industry's relative youth compared with more established e-commerce sectors.

Alibaba's four new cloud data centers will be in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; Sydney, Australia; Frankfurt, Germany; and an undisclosed city in Japan, the company said in a statement. The European center will be built in partnership with the German unit of local giant Vodafone Group PLC, while Alibaba will work with longtime partner SoftBank Group for the center in Japan.

The new centers will boost Alibaba's total to 14, or around double the number from a year ago. The company launched its first US data centers last year, adding to the number of centers it already had on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong. Alibaba previously announced plans to establish data centers in Europe and the Middle East as part of a $1 billion expansion for its cloud unit, Alibaba Cloud, formerly known as Aliyun.

"The four new data centers will further expand Alibaba Cloud's global ecosystem and footprint, allowing us to meet the increasing demand for secure and scalable cloud computing services from businesses and industries worldwide," said Alibaba Cloud Global General Manager Ethan Yu.

Amazon, Microsoft and IBM currently lead the global market for cloud services, and all are active in China. By comparison, Alibaba derives the vast majority of its revenue from China, and its limited number of major forays into other countries has mostly had disappointing results.

Contact reporter Doug Young (dougyoung@caixin.com); editor Calum Gordon (calum@caixin.com)
The leaves were on the ground and there was a chill in the air as Highland Mountain Bike Park wrapped up its 2016 season last weekend. Despite the looming change of season, the trails were in perfect condition and a large crowd of riders came out to celebrate the mountain's S'Ender Weekender and Clif Bar Ride with the Pros bash.November weather can be fickle in the northeast, but sun and above normal temperatures had the party trains, including this one led by Lindsey Marie, leaving the station at regular intervals all day on Saturday and Sunday.It goes without saying that Highland's dirt jumps, some of the most beautifully sculpted and maintained anywhere, were also in prime condition.A highlight of the weekend was the Ride with a Pro event sponsored by CLIF Bar. CLIF athlete Eric Porter was on hand Saturday for a day of kids rides, party laps and giveaways from his sponsors Diamondback Bikes and POC Sports. Porter was born in Louisville and now lives in Utah with his wife and son. He has appeared on the covers of Decline Magazine and Bike Magazine in back-to-back months and was featured along with fellow Team CLIF Bar riders Kirt Voreis and Jeff Lenosky on Fuel TV's Built to Shred. Recently he has been producing quality edits at a wide variety of locations, from Alabama to Alaska.The day started off with free coffee from CLIF and a giveaway of POC helmets. The first 20 kids in line received new POC helmets, absolutely free. The early bird gets the worm.Eric Porter's autograph was a prized addition to many of the new lids.Who does't like free stuff?Complimentary CLIF Bar samples kept riders fueled all day.The raffle of two Diamondback Sync'r bikes and the sale of CLIF Bar products raised money for the Ryan St. Lawrence Recovery Fund.After the POC helmet giveaway Porter and the kids headed out to Highland's Central Park progression area.There were some quick studies in the "how to manual" workshop.Porter led a kids party train through Central Park.The fine weather brought out a big crowd of riders for the final weekend.Nothing but smiles at the top of the mountain.Laps on Cats Paw are always a crowd pleaser.Highland Mountain was doing some fundraising of its own on Saturday, raising money for the Wings for Life charity, a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. One of the mountain's fundraisers was a Not So Super D Ride down the new Freedom Trail, with costumes and clunkers encouraged.Much of Porter's afternoon was spent in the dirt jumps of Sherwood Forest and Pirates Cove.Throwing a steezy no-hander in Sherwood.Porter was a magnet for the kids all day.Shoulder buzzing with style.The mountain's biggest Wings for Life fundraiser was the wacky Pixie Bike Race that saw competitors negotiating an obstacle track on tiny bikes. Local ripper Matt Driscoll had the best time for much of the day but wound up in second.Not a pixie bike, but bacon-clad Mark Carboni's fat bike contraption was a hit with the crowd. The trailer didn't weather the obstacles too well, coming apart on the first feature and spilling its occupants to the ground.Miguel Almeida spent much of the afternoon trying to dial in the Pixie bike course and his efforts were rewarded with a win and a Highland season pass for 2017.Last light as the lift came to a halt and the party moved indoors.Popular enduro racer Ryan St. Lawrence came to the big event to hang with his bike crew. St. Lawrence suffered a spinal cord injury at Highland early this summer. Every dollar raised by CLIF Bar went to his recovery effort.CLIF Bar's Richard Patty and Porter pulled the names of the lucky winners in the bike raffle.Twelve-year-old Aidan Lewey, who lives just down the road from Highland, won the Diamondback Sync'r 24 raffle.Trent Sanders took home the adult version of the Diamonback Sync'r Pro.2016 is in the books and we're already looking forward to next season! Have a great winter.
Novartis acquires Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation and SelG1 antibody for reduction of pain crises in sickle cell disease (SCD)

Details Category: More News Published on Monday, 21 November 2016 16:30 Hits: 1881

Deal followed results of Phase II SUSTAIN study of SelG1 in reduction of vaso-occlusive pain crises, a major complication of SCD with limited treatment option

Results of SUSTAIN will be presented in the Plenary Scientific Session at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

Acquisition complements and broadens Novartis' hematology pipeline and underscores commitment to improving care for patients with high unmet need

BASEL, Switzerland I November 21, 2016 I Novartis today announced it has acquired Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a company specializing in development of therapeutics in certain hematologic and inflammatory disorders. Novartis exercised its right to acquire Selexys following receipt of results of the SUSTAIN study, a Phase II trial evaluating the use of SelG1, an anti-P-selectin antibody, in the reduction of vaso-occlusive pain crises in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Results from the study will be presented during the Plenary Scientific Session at the 58thAmerican Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting on December 4, 2016, in San Diego, California.

"Sickle cell disease affects millions of people around the world and there are limited therapies available for treatment of vaso-occlusive pain crises, a very common complication of the disease," said Bruno Strigini, CEO of Novartis Oncology. "With this acquisition, Novartis is able to leverage its leadership in hematology research to advance development of a potential new treatment option for patients living with this debilitating condition."

SCD is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells[1]. It is a life-long disease with many forms that can range in clinical severity from asymptomatic to life-threatening.[1] Vaso-occlusive crises, or pain crises, are the major reason for health care encounters in SCD and occur episodically when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through blood vessels.[2],[3]

"We would like to extend our gratitude to all of the dedicated patients, physicians and nurses who participated in the SUSTAIN study of SelG1 in sickle cell disease," said Dr. Scott Rollins, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Selexys Pharmaceuticals. "Further, the acquisition of Selexys by Novartis represents an important step in the continued development of SelG1, a novel, potential first-in-class therapy for patients with this underserved life-threatening disease."

Novartis obtained the exclusive right to acquire Selexys and SelG1 in 2012. Prior to the acquisition, Selexys Pharmaceutical Corporation was a privately held biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Terms of the deal could total up to $665 million in upfront, acquisition and milestone payments.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

References

[1] National Heart, Lunch and Blood Institute. What Is Sickle Cell Disease? Last updated: August 2, 2016. Available from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca. Accessed on October 13, 2016.

[2] Solomon LR. Treatment and prevention of pain due to vaso-occlusive crises in adults with sickle cell disease: an educational void. Blood. 2008;111(3):997-1003. Published online October 16, 2007. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17940207. Accessed October 13, 2016.

[3] The Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Sickle Cell Anemia. Mayo Clinic Staff. Last updated June 2014. Available from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/basics/symptoms/con-20019348. Accessed October 13, 2016.

SOURCE: Novartis
Reviewed by Robert Hugill on Nov 16 2016

Star rating: 4.5

Franz Tausch in context, illuminating the music and influence of the 18th century clarinettist



Music for a Prussian Salon, is the group's first disc and they perform music by Franz Tausch, Johann Stamitz, Bernhard Henrik Crusell and Heinrich Baerman, names which do not really resonate nowadays but whose music certainly proves worth reviving. Boxwood and Brass is an ensemble which specialises in performing harmoniemusik from late 18th and early 19th century. The players, Emily Worthington (clarinet), Fiona Mitchell (clarinet), Anneke Scott (horn) (see my recent interview with Anneke Scott ), Kate Goldsmith (horn), and Robert Percival (bassoon) all perform on period instruments. This disc on Resonus Classics , is the group's first disc and they perform music by Franz Tausch, Johann Stamitz, Bernhard Henrik Crusell and Heinrich Baerman, names which do not really resonate nowadays but whose music certainly proves worth reviving.

Boxwood and Brass

The key figure in the programme is the clarinettist Franz Tausch (1762-1817) who, by the end of the 18th century, was established in Berlin as an important clarinettist and teacher, as well as being a composer. On the disc we hear hisfor two clarinets, horn and bassoon. Tausch studied with his father, who was a clarinettist in the Mannheim Court Orchestra where the composer Johann Stamitz worked (along with his sons Carl and Anton). Thus Johann Stamitz'srepresent the older generation's influence on Tausch. Whilst Bernard Henrik Crusell'sand thefrom Heinrich Baermann'srepresent Tausch's influence on the subsequent generation, as both Crusell and Baermann were Tausch's pupils.After studies with Tausch, Crusell returned to his native Sweden where hiswas probably written for himself and the other exceptional musicians from his circle. Baerman's playing would go on to inspire Weber'sand thefrom Baermann'shas been arranged for the ensemble by Robert Percival.Tausch'swere published in Paris in 1812, though many movements may have been written earlier. Varied and delightful, these explore all the possibilities of the four instruments (two clarinets, horn and bassoon). Tausch uses a variety of different styles, and many show a not inconsiderable compositional talent. Johann Stamitz's quartet for two clarinets and two horns shows a more classical feel, a with an interesting Mozartian cast to the second movement and a toe-tapping closing. Thefrom Baermann'sis a beautiful, rather Weber-ish movement.Crusell'scertainly pushes the boundaries of the instruments, with three equally virtuosic parts including short cadenzas for each instrument and the texture is definitely Romantic, With such a bravura piece it is worth bearing in mind the relatively primitive technology of the instruments, a hand-stopped horn and clarinet and bassoon with far fewer keys than the modern instrument. but by contrast with the easy fluency of the modern instruments, we get a lovely range of character and colour.Throughout this enjoyable disc I kept coming back to the wide range of colours which the instruments bring to the music and the playing from Boxwood and Brass transcends any technological limitation to make a finely satisfying disc which illuminates a corner of musical history which is sometimes forgotten.Franz Tausch (1762-1817) - XIII Pieces en Quatuor, Op.22Johann Stamitz (1717-1757) - Three Quartets for clarinets and hornsBernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838) - Concert Trio for clarinet, horn and bassoonHeinrich Baermann (1784-1847), arr Robert Percival - Adagio from Quintet, Op.23Boxwood and Brass - Emily Worthington (clarinet), Fiona Mitchell (clarinet), Robert Percival (bassoon), Anneke Scott (horn), Kate Goldsmith (horn)Recorded Manna Oax Studio, Ludlow, 4-7 April 2016RESONUS RES10177 1CD [72.53]Available from Amazon
Residents of Houchangcun village, most of whom are Didi drivers, eat dinner in the night market on Nov.13. The village, in Beijing's Zhongguancun district, is surrounded by giant Internet companies, a famous primary school and luxury residential areas. Photo: Yang Yifan/Caixin

(Beijing)  Winter came early to an urban village on the outskirts of Beijing, whose 5,000 residents have been losing their jobs for months as the city government redefines ride-hailing and the sector's biggest company cuts driver subsidies.

"Look over there  those men are all Didi drivers," said a fruit vendor in Houchangcun village in the northwestern part of Beijing, pointing at a group of men playing poker under a tree during the daytime.

More and more Houchangcun residents, most of whom come from the southwest municipality of Chongqing, have been sitting idle at home in recent months as subsidies gradually dry up and the government tightens regulations on the industry under pressure from state-owned taxi operators.

Nestled in Beijing's buzzing Zhongguancun district  an area for a growing class of tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists  the 15,000-square-meter Houchangcun has become home for migrant workers from Chongqing's Pengshui county who left their hometown in the early 1990s in pursuit of a better life.

Most of the migrant workers built a life in the city by working for moving companies. Years of physical work wore down their bodies. Zuo, a 46-year-old driver for Didi who gave only his family name, rolled up one of his trouser legs to show a bulge on his knee, an injury he suffered from carrying heavy loads.

So when ride-hailing superpowers like Uber Technologies Inc. and Didi Chuxing doled out generous subsidies to drivers in the past few years in an effort to secure a slice of the cutthroat industry, Zhu and his fellow villagers saw an opportunity to improve their quality of life. Since the Beijing government has a strict quota on local license plates, they returned to Chongqing, took out loans, bought cars there and drove back to Beijing, joining the tens of millions of ride-hailing drivers in the country.

However, subsidies ebbed after Uber sold its Chinese operations to Didi in exchange for a 20% share in the merged company. Li, another resident of Houchangcun who goes by his family name, saw his revenue drop from more than 10,000 yuan ($1,450) a month to about 5,000 yuan. He quit earlier this year.

Wang Xudong, a Didi driver in Beijing's Houchangcun village, checks orders on his Didi app on Nov.11. Most Didi drivers in Houchangcun start work at night because they cannot drive into downtown Beijing during the day unless their cars hold local licences. Photo: Yang Yifan/Caixin

He is not alone. Li said more drivers have quit, especially since local governments decided to limit the pool of drivers in the industry, dealing another blow to Houchangcun.

Draft rules issued by scores of cities, including Beijing, in the past month state that only holders of local household registration permits, or hukou, would be able to apply for permits to be drivers for private ride-hailing services. Additionally, cars should be registered in the city in which the drivers are working. Some cities also planned to require ride-hailing vehicles to have a minimum wheelbase, which would rule out some small compact cars.

Zuo said he understood the requirement for locally registered vehicles if the government's intention is to solve traffic congestion in the city, but prohibiting migrant workers from working in the industry would be "too strict."

"If the government must have a requirement for hukou, how many Beijing natives are willing to drive cars for car-hailing companies?" Zuo asked, adding that migrant workers constitute the majority of drivers.

It is unclear how the ride-hailing companies will cope with the new rules. A manager at a ride-hailing company told Caixin that companies are negotiating with Beijing city authorities for a transitional period. But several other industry insiders said there is little hope of persuading regulators to make major changes to the draft rules. The best that ride-hailing companies can do is try for longer transitions and lenient enforcement.

Li, Zuo and their fellow villagers don't know what the future has in store for them. Compared with other Houchangcun residents, Zuo considers himself lucky because he has only four more months of loans to pay for the cars. But some of his friends just took out loans to buy cars at the beginning of this year to work for the industry. "Now the only way they can pay back is to drive 'black taxis,' " Zuo said, referring to unlicensed private taxilike cars that are neither registered nor have insurance.

He considered moving back to Chongqing and continuing driving for Didi, but his hometown seems far away. After living two decades in Beijing, these drivers have perfected their Mandarin and familiarized themselves with every boulevard and alley in the city.

"I'm so used to life here now," Zuo said. "There is no hometown that I can go back to anymore."

Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
Two NYPD officers shot to death a 21-year-old man who attacked them with one of their own collapsible batons during a skirmish in a Brooklyn housing project Saturday, officials said.

Erickson Gomez Brito  who relatives said had struggled with depression and addiction in the past  jumped Officers Jennifer Garcia and Andris Bisogno inside the Van Dyke Houses at 1:30 p.m., police said.

The uniformed officers, members of Public Service Area 2, were investigating a report of a suspicious person in the building when they found Brito on the ninth floor and asked for his identification, according to NYPD Housing Chief James Secreto.

A conversation ensued (with Brito), Secreto said. The next thing you know, a scuffle ensued with this man.

At one point the officer removes his metal baton and the subject gets a hold of it and begins assaulting the two officers, Secreto added.

As both officers were hit in the head they opened fire, striking Brito.

Bisogno suffered a deep, 2-inch gash to his head that required several staples to close, police said.

Garcia suffered bruises on her head and underwent a CAT scan, police sources told the New York Daily News.
A manhunt was underway across Texas on Monday for the unidentified man who fatally shot a San Antonio police officer Sunday, a bloody day for police officers across the nation.

Elsewhere Sunday, three police officers were wounded and two suspects killed in shootings in St. Louis and Gladstone, MO, and Sanibel, FL.

In San Antonio, Police Chief William McManus said the murder of Detective Benjamin Marconi during a traffic stop near the police station was more than a random act.

"I feel we (police) were targeted," McManus said. "I think the uniform was the target."

James Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said four attacks on officers in one day is another alarming sign of the times. In July, five officers were killed in Dallas by a heavily armed sniper who opened fire at a peaceful protest against police-involved shootings. In Baton Rouge less than two weeks later, three officers were killed and three others wounded in an ambush.

Sunday's violence, however, involved four attacks by four attackers scattered across the nation.

Pasco says that, while no direct connection linking Sunday's shootings is apparent, social media spreads information  often incorrect information  quickly and widely and can provoke action. Pasco says a drumbeat of criticism from the media, politicians and activists has eroded the esteem granted to law enforcement from the public.

"Police officers are doing their jobs the best they can, sometimes heroically, but now more than ever this kind of violence is in the back of their minds," Pasco told USA TODAY. "And when cops aren't safe, nobody is safe."
Authorities in France say they arrested seven people Sunday and foiled a terror attack that had been "envisaged for some time."

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Monday that six of those detained were not known to intelligence services. He said the arrests prevented a terrorist act that had been envisaged for a long time," the Associated Press reported.

Cazeneuve said the seven were of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin and were between 29 and 37 years old.

He said two of the suspects were arrested in the southern city of Marseille and most of the others were detained in the northeastern city of Strasbourg, where a famed Christmas market that attracts tourists from across Europe is set to open this week, USA Today reports.
Authorities in Texas are searching for this man, who is a suspect in the ambush slaying of a San Antonio detective. (Photo: San Antonio PD/Facebook)

A manhunt is in progress in Texas for a suspect in the fatal Sunday ambush of a San Antonio detective.

Authorities say Det. Benjamin Marconi was writing a traffic ticket in his car outside of the city's police headquarters when another car pulled up behind him and the driver got out, walked up to the officer's window, and opened fire.

Police posted an update on Facebook with photos of the suspect, seeking information on his whereabouts. They described him as a black male with a goatee, and possibly tattoos on his left arm. The car used in the attack is reportedly a black Mitsubishi Galant.

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest, ABC News reports.
A deadly year for law enforcement just got a lot worse these past few days when five officers were shot, two of them fatally. The shootings occurred in four different states and at least three of the incidents appear to have been cold-blooded ambush-style attacks.

On Friday, November 18, Deputy Commander Patrick Carothers, a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, was shot and killed in Georgia while attempting to arrest a man wanted for attempted murder of police officers, domestic violence and other crimes. The assailant was shot and killed by other officers.

On Sunday, November 20:

* San Antonio Police Detective Benjamin Marconi was shot and killed in an ambush attack as he sat in his patrol vehicle writing a traffic citation. The assailant was seemingly uninvolved in the traffic stop. He pulled his vehicle up behind the officer, got out of his car and shot the officer twice in what appears to be a brutal assassination. The assailant is still at large.

* A 20-year St. Louis police veteran was sitting in his patrol vehicle in traffic when another car pulled up and the occupant opened fire, hitting the officer in the face and critically injuring him. The assailant was later shot and killed by police.

* A Sanibel (FL) police officer was shot while sitting in his marked patrol car during a traffic stop when a drive-by shooter opened fire. The officer was treated and released from a hospital and the suspect was arrested.

* A Gladstone (MO) police officer was shot and wounded during a foot pursuit with a fleeing criminal suspect, who was later shot and killed by police.

These are just the latest incidents involving violent and, in a growing number of cases, targeted attacks against our law enforcement professionals. Already this year, 127 officers have died in the line of duty nationwide based on preliminary information, including 60 killed by gunfire, which is a 67 percent increase over the same time last year. Ten of those officers were fatally shot this month alone. More officers have been shot and killed this year than during any full year since 2011.

The number of officers shot and killed in ambush attacks this year now totals 20, which is the highest total since 1995. This is part of a growing and alarming trend that has seen 44 officers gunned down in fatal ambush shootings since 2014.

Clearly, our officers are facing horrendous and growing risks while serving and protecting our communities. It is time for all elected officials, the media and law abiding citizens everywhere to stand in solidarity with our law enforcement professionals and condemn and confront those who are directing violence and hate toward them.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund built and now operates and maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 20,789 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now building the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.
Officer Jude Williams Lewis

The New Orleans Police Department on Wednesday buried an officer who survived a crash on the job more than 15 years ago.

Officer Jude Williams Lewis, a U.S. Army veteran, was buried with full military and police honors, and his relatives said his death felt like a second loss.

"The day that the crash happened it was devastating for the entire family," Lewis' youngest sister, Denise Lewis-Crawford, told WDSU TV.

She still remembers vividly the night of June 1, 2001, when her brother's police cruiser was wrapped around a tree after he lost control while chasing a suspect. Lewis suffered a traumatic brain injury and fell into a coma for six months.

On November 8, 15 years, five months and seven days after the crash, Lewis slipped away, leaving the family that faithfully cared for him to mourn another loss.

Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after high school and served in Desert Storm. He was stationed in Kitzingen, Germany, and was active duty until 1994. He then enlisted in the Army National Guard Reserve and was stationed in New Orleans until 1999.

In September of 1998, Lewis joined the New Orleans Police Department, or NOPD. Three years later, he was involved in the crash that forever changed his life.
Trooper Eric Ellsworth (Photo: Utah Highway Patrol)

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper was critically injured on Friday night when he was struck by a vehicle while on duty in Box Elder County.

Trooper Eric Ellsworth was stopped near 13600 North on State Road 13 in Garland on Friday at around 9:45 p.m. to assist with a downed power line, UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said Saturday morning.

Ellsworth was trying to alert the driver of a semitrailer truck about the power line so the driver wouldn't snag it, Royce said, when a car heading south struck him. The driver of that car was a teenage girl, Royce said.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, Ellsworth was in "extremely critical" condition, according to UHP. He was flown by helicopter to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, and his family is with him, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
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During an interview on Fox Newss Media Buzz program, Megyn Kelly accused several members of the media of coordinating hits on Trump with his campaign, while secretly being in the bag for the Republican nominee.

Video:

https://youtu.be/OM27OeE21LA?t=19m56s

In her book, Kelly claims that certain television hosts were in the tank for Trump. These hosts would arrange with Trump in advance to ask him critical questions to certain hits on him so that they would appear to have some credibility. Kurtz asked Kelly about this, and she answered, Yes, they were acting. Kurtz added that Kelly claims that this happened at more than one network, but she couldnt tell us who. Kelly continued, No, because these are off the record conversations that I was privy to that Im not at liberty to reveal, so while Id love to tell you who it was, I have this information, and Im not allowed to name the names. But, trust me. This did happen, and it has been confirmed to me by more than one television executive.

[graphiq id=g1Uk6mZtUrj title=Donald Trump Media Mentions width=600 height=502 url=https://w.graphiq.com/w/g1Uk6mZtUrj ]

If what Kelly is saying is true, it is not only a big story, but it would also help to make sense of the lopsided media coverage during the 2016 election. One would suspect that Fox News on-air talent would be pulling for Trump. They are the conservative news network, but the fact that this could have happened at other networks would not be surprising. Anyone who closely watched the 2016 election coverage understood that Hillary Clintons policy proposals were ignored, and the only time she ever got more coverage than Trump was at the Democratic convention, or when the media was talking about her health or emails.

It would not take many members of the press at many networks to create a fake credibility that would allow them to appear to be criticizing the candidate while also helping him win the election. The issue isnt that members of the press would have personal biases. The problem is that the members of the media lied to their viewers to secretly help Donald Trump win the election.

No wonder the mainstream media suddenly worried about Facebook and fake news. If what Megyn Kelly said is true, the corporate press is looking to blame Facebook to cover up their conspiring with Donald Trump to hand him a presidential election.

Confidence in the mainstream media has eroded to new lows, and allegations like those that Megyn Kelly made are one of the biggest reasons why many Americans no longer trust the corporate owned for profit press.

There is something very wrong in our media, and the American people deserve to know the truth about a press that they no longer trust.
Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like networking platform, is leading a $500 million investment in Yixia.com, the parent company of Sina Weibo's live video-streaming service.

A serial investor in Yixia.com, Weibo Corp. led with a $120 million investment in the fifth funding round announced in Beijing on Monday. Also contributing were Radio and Television Shanghai, media conglomerate Shanghai Media Group, and a joint emerging industries fund between Everbright Group and Focus Media.

Yixia.com is the parent company of various video-sharing and streaming apps, including Miaopai, a Vine-like service that allows users to film and edit 10-second videos; Xiaokaxiu, a video-dubbing app; and Yizhibo, Sina Weibo's live streaming service that has secured contracts with celebrities.

This marks the fourth time Weibo has invested in the company, having injected a total of $190 million to support Yixia, which has proved vital in increasing user activity on the platform.

Weibo Corp.'s CEO Cao Guowei attributed second-quarter growth this year to "short video sharing and real-time content consumption, which has maximized the user experience."

"Yixia's products salvaged Weibo's user activity to some extent," said analyst Ding Daoshi of Sootoo Research. Though no valuation was announced following this round of investment, Ding said that Yixia is likely to be valued at between $3 billion and $5 billion.

Contact reporter April Ma (fangjingma@caixin.com); editor Calum Gordon (calum@caixin.com)
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

As this column confesses more than one wants to, it is a travesty that the American people are so woefully ignorant and in many cases just plain stupid. Of course no citizen wants to admit that their fellow citizens are thick, but as a classical Cynic one calls it exactly as they see it. There is a misconception among some of the more cognitively challenged in America, typically on the right, that what made America exceptional was its predilection to interfere around the world and use its military might to impose its will on people and nations; kind of like what the incoming fascist administration promises. However, what really made America exceptional, and helped build America into a great nation, was its policy of accepting any and all people, no matter where they are from, or no matter what color they are, or no matter what religion they observed into the country with a clear path toward citizenship; that exclusively American exceptionalism is about to be eradicated with a decidedly white supremacist administration chosen by a minority of the people.

As a few Americans learned over the past few years, it is not just the idea of foreigners who want to emigrate and live in America that offends those who voted for Trump, they are offended that any non-white and non-Christian person lives in their America. Subsequently, those white supremacists were crucial to electing a swindler and television celebrity who is already building an administration staffed with white supremacists; supremacists that polite company refers to as white nationalists.

What that incoming administration means for a very significant percentage of the American population is that this country is a couple of months away from having a White House administration with a clear agenda of specifically targeting about a third of the population to put them in a place the majority of Trump voters demand; at the mercy of a toxic white supremacist movement. As Ned Resnikoff noted, The doctrine of the Trump administration will be white nationalism [supremacy].

Many readers are already aware that to keep tabs on his administrations progress to racially and religiously cleanse America of undesirables, Trump appointed white supremacist and all-around malcontent Stephen Bannon as most senior adviser and strategist. Some people may have heard that Bannon is being tapped to begin spreading Trumps white supremacy hate throughout the European Union; more on that in another column. But Bannon is just an adviser and strategist for Trump and although he has the happy fascists ear, the real impending damage is going to come from the administrations appointees who will wield a dangerous amount of white power under the guise of governing.

It is difficult to call to mind when in American history an incoming administration not only campaigned on white supremacy, but immediately upon winning began choosing avowed racists and religious bigots to serve and advise; at least a third of the population should be absolutely terrified. As an aside, world leaders should also brace for some of Trumps white supremacy if confirmed Islamophobe Rudy Giuliani, also a blatant racist, eventually becomes Secretary of State. He will be free to spread some Trump and Fox News hatred around the globe through official government and diplomatic channels.

Closer to home, people of color can look forward to institutionalized white supremacy that will erase whatever Civil Rights gains they have made over the decades when the federal criminal justice system is administered by a man that was too racist to serve as a federal judge and rejected by the Senate. If Jeff Sessions (R-AL) does become attorney general, and there is every reason to believe he will, it will signal the end of the Justice Department enforcing Civil Rights laws or holding Republican states to account for voting rights violations. Sessions is notorious for claiming the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an intrusive piece of legislation; with Sessions running the Department of Justice, voting rights violations will be celebrated, not prosecuted and it is hardly an exaggeration based on his past statements.

In testimony before Congress in 1986, a prosecutor, J. Gerald Hebert said that Sessions agreed with another racist and federal judge that a white lawyer was a disgrace to his race because he dared represent African American clients. Mr. Hebert also testified that Sessions referred to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.) as un-American for trying to force civil rights down the throats of people.

Remember, this was in 1986 and over two decades after passage of the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act and 210 years after the all men are created equal in the Declaration of Independence was signed by the Founding Fathers; it was also 118 years after ratification of the 14th Amendment guaranteeing all citizens equal and civil rights. Any hope that any person of color or a person of a non-Christian religion may have had that the Department of Justice in a white nationalist administration will fight for every American citizens constitutionally-protected equal and civil rights likely took a major hit with news that Trump wants Sessions as Attorney General.

Trumps choice for National Security Adviser, Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, will be just as devastating to the Muslim community as Sessions will people of color. According to Flynn, like many Republicans, in his mind there is no distinction whatsoever between terror organizations like ISIS and the Muslim religion. Flynn obviously subscribes to Trumps hateful campaign rhetoric that fearing and hating Muslims, even American Muslims, is only logical since he claims that Muslims are terrorists. He actually used Twitter to declare that fear of Muslims is RATIONAL and only left it to the readers imagination to go to the next step and believe that hatred of Muslims is RATIONAL.

Flynn also supported Trumps big deal during the campaign that to defeat radical Islam that it is vital that all politicians use that pejorative, radical Islam, ad nauseam. Flynn also dared all leaders in the Middle East to renounce their Islamic religion because in his mind that Abrahamic faith is terrorism. Flynn took to Trumps favorite means of communication, Twitter, and wrote:

In next 24 hours, I dare Arab & Persian world leaders to step up to the plate and declare their Islamic ideology sick and must B healed.

One wonders how long it will take a cretin like Flynn to convince Trump to issue an executive order demanding, not daring, all American Muslims to step up and declare their Islamic faith sick, and that it must be eradicated off the face of the planet. It is not out of the realm of possibility either. It is still two months before the fascist administration takes power and already there have been serious discussions on implementing a national registry for Muslims and the precedent of internment camps to make American great again; or some such bovine excrement.

These first set of Trump appointments, or proposed appointments, does not bode well for Americans who are not white and not Christian; the Census Bureau regards people from the Middle East and Northern Africa as part of the white population, but they are predominately Muslims so they have plenty to fear. What is clear is that Donald Trump is following through on his white nationalist (supremacist) rhetoric he promised throughout the campaign.

It is bad enough that a white supremacist (Bannon) and Muslim hater (Flynn) will have Trumps ear and advise him according to their particular hate, but worse that the head of the Justice Department cannot countenance that all Americans are guaranteed equal rights. The combination of two bigots advising an authoritarian with an attorney general unwilling to enforce equal and civil rights laws will not make America great again; it will make America a mirror image of the incoming white supremacist administration and there is precious little anyone can do to stop it.
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Those Americans who are arguing that Donald Trump is not their president got new ammo for their argument from the latest vote count data that shows Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by more than 1.5 million votes.

ABC News reported:

According to new figures released by The Associated Press on Saturday, Clinton received more than 1.5 million votes more than her Republican rival. As of Saturday, Clinton had received 63,390,669 votes, while Trump received 61,820,845 votes  a difference of 1,569,824, according to The AP. Rounded off to whole numbers, that translates to 48 percent vs. 47 percent.

Hillary Clinton has received more votes than any white male presidential candidate in history.

Republicans are trying to claim that Donald Trump has a mandate to govern, but with Clinton receiving millions of more votes, it is a claim that is difficult to take seriously. Popular mandates come from the voters, and by numerical volume, the American did not give President-elect Trump and the Republican Congress a mandate.

What Trump and the Republicans do have is a deeply divided country, which the majority of people did not support the incoming administration. The reason why the Democratic resistance to Trump is not weakening after the election is because the majority of the country also didnt support the incoming president.

This is a country where the majority of the voters are seething and waiting to turn on the Republicans. Instead of worrying about Hamilton and Saturday Night Live, Donald Trump needs to concerned about the fact most voters who went to the polls on election day did not vote for him.

The not my president movement continues to grow because for most voters Trump is not the candidate that they supported.
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A report out of Argentina states that when Argentine President Mauricio Macri called to congratulate the President-elect on his win, Trump responded by asking for help on permitting issues for one of his buildings in Argentina.

Talking Points Memo translated the original Spanish language report:

According to a report out of Argentina, when Argentine President Mauricio Macri called President-Elect Trump to congratulate him on his election, Trump asked Macri to deal with the permitting issues that are currently holding up the project. This comes from one of Argentinas most prominent journalists, Jorge Lanata, in a recent TV appearance. Lanata is quoted here in La Nacion, one of Argentinas most prestigious dailies. Said Lanata: Macri called him. This still hasnt emerged but Trump asked for them to authorize a building hes constructing in Buenos Aires, it wasnt just a geopolitical chat.

If this report is true, it represents a documented case of the type of conflicts of interest that Trump is opening himself off to by not divesting himself of his business interests while serving as president.

This is the sort of corruption that experts are widely concerned will occur in a Trump administration. By refusing to separate himself from his business interests, Donald Trump has opened the door to abusing the power of the presidency for his own personal enrichment.

If the President-elect is engaging in these kinds of practices, there will be more reports of this behavior. Congress should not wait until the country is potentially knee deep in corruption before they act. Congress should immediately pass legislation requiring all presidents to sell off or seal themselves off from personal business holdings before assuming office.

The potential for conflicts of interest can be easily legislated away. It makes no sense for Congress to enable and open the door for corruption by refusing to act. If Donald Trump uses the presidency for personal and family enrichment, because Congress did nothing to stop him, the Republican majority will reveal itself to as corrupt as the man in the White House.

The United States of America is better than this, and if Donald Trump attempts to abuse the powers of the presidency, he and his party will be held accountable.

Update: Nick Miroff suggests, Lanata said Trump Macri story was half-joking, half-serious when he introduced on his program last night.
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It is often said by American conservatives that Europe is riddled with Islamic No-Go Zones, including London. But while these have been repeatedly proven to be a myth, the United Kingdom is seeing a rise in what are claimed to be Nazi-controlled zones according to stickers appearing on lampposts and walls.

In fact, reports The Daily Mirror,

An MP has highlighted the growth in far-right extremism in the UK, saying young neo-Nazis are becoming a bigger problem than Islamist extremists.

You wont hear or see Americas right-wing media warning of right-wing extremism, however. And that is exactly what neo-Nazis are pushing, a form of right-wing extremism that originated in the 1920s as a right-wing nationalist response to Russian Bolshevism.

According to the Mirror,

The worrying figures show almost 300 children being referred to the UK anti-radicalisation Prevent taskforce, which works to de-radicalise youngsters.



And 16 of those 300 referrals were under the age of 10, sparking fears of a rise in a modern day Hitler youth.



[]



The rise in extremism is particularly strong in the Midlands and the North.



A senior fellow in extremism at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue Rashad Ali told The Times that some parts of Wales have seen figures over 50% for far-right referrals to the the Prevent programme.

While most extremists flagged are Muslim, the Mirror reports that Figures from the National Police Chiefs Council show far right referrals went from 323 in 2014-15 to 561 in 2015-2016.

In fact, right-wing extremism is a danger far more real than many people realize, and it is also widespread. As David Clay Large noted at Foreign Policy magazine recently, In the West, the Nazi Fuhrer is thought of as a genocidal maniac  everywhere else, hes considered a political inspiration.

While Hitler might be shocked to learn he is an inspiration to those he thought racial inferiors, the specter of the Third Reich remains. Even Slovakia, a country conquered by the Nazis, is unnerved by the rise of a proudly-neo-Nazi party.

And the stickers are a symptom of a wider problem. As British historian Richard Evans has observed (The Third Reich in History and Memory, 2015),

Over the past decade and a half, Nazi Germany has come to appear to growing numbers of historians as a political system that rested not on police terror and coercion but on popular approval and consent.

The success of right-wing demagogues in Europe and wide appeal of Donald Trumps fascist populism in the United States has taught us how true this is.

Photo: Liverpool Echo

Update: 11.22.16. A previous version of this article omitted reference to the rise of a neo-Nazi party in Slovakia.
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In a series of tweets this morning, Nobel laureate, economist, and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, warned that we are about to enter, or may have already entered, an era of corrupt governance unprecedented in U.S. history.

We're about to enter, or may already have entered, an era of corrupt governance unprecedented in U.S. history. What does it mean? 1/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

Further tweets elaborated on the nature of the threat posed by a Trump administration that we face as a nation:

Important to realize that the money stolen by the first family is a minor issue; $10 billion, say, skimmed off the top is rounding error 2/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

What matters much more is the distortion of policy in directions that can be monetized. Gratuitous private investors in infrastructure 3/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

is just the start. Expect to see lots of privatization and a general shift from transparent to murky so that favors can be traded 4/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

And think about the pro-tyrant bias of foreign policy. Democratic regimes  say, in Europe  are by their own rules unable to offer 5/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

de facto personal bribes to the U.S. president. Putin's Russia or, for that matter, Xi's China, will be fine with sending huge business 6/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

to the profiteer-in-chief. And that will cause a tilt of U.S. policy toward authoritarian regimes. Stay alert 7/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 21, 2016

As Krugman warned Sunday,



It was obvious that Trump would exploit office for personal gain to an unprecedented degree. He has already started.

The president-elects administration is filling with lobbyists, and his infrastructure rhetoric is just a huge tax break for corporations and, Krugman has suggested, a privatization bid.

The mainstream media is again cooperating with Trump, largely ignoring his Trump U. settlement, let alone drawing any reasonable conclusions from it. Media Matters Eric Boehlert, on the other hand, noted that,

[It] turns out crooked Trump Foundation is EXACTLY what DC press fantasized that Clinton Foundation was. press reax to $25M settlement? meh.

Two things are already clear: the evidence is mounting steadily that Trump never meant to make America great but to fill his own pockets, and that the mainstream media, complicit in his election, now intends to normalize (and profit by) the new low in the swamp Trump once promised to drain but is now rapidly filling instead.

Photo: By Bin im Garten (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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Is there any way to stop Donald Trump from plundering the USA? If Congressional Republicans have any integrity at all, now that theyve established themselves as head witch-hunters in charge, they will.

As anyone with one eye half open during the primary campaign could see, President-elect Donald Trumps slogan of draining the swamp was a rather vulgar way of offering his masses cover to support him. No one took that seriously, after all Donald Trump refused to release his tax returns.

Trump was never going to drain the swamp; he was always going to do the opposite. That is why he spent the entire campaign calling his opponent former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton corrupt. Because now when its used accurately used against him, it will have no bite.

The question now is who will save us from the potential sell-off of America to foreign interests. On matters of national security, it seems possible that Republicans Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain could save us. They have both spoken out, Graham about an inquiry into the possible foreign hacking of our election via the emails and McCain against Trumps unwillingness to rule out torture.

But on matters of Trumps corruption for his own financial gain even if it causes a conflict of interest with what is best for the United States, Republicans dont seem likely to do much for us.

Jason Easley of PoliticusUSA suggested in light of Trumps obvious conflicts of interest, Congress should immediately pass legislation requiring all presidents to sell off or seal themselves off from personal business holdings before assuming office If Donald Trump uses the presidency for personal and family enrichment, because Congress did nothing to stop him, the Republican majority will reveal itself to as corrupt as the man in the White House.

The pressure has to come now, or Republicans will play this off as if they had no clue when Trump turns out to be worse than Nixon, and by all indications, that will happen.

Greg Sargent at the Washington Post suggested two things Congressional Republicans could do to show they have some concern for the Trump ethical problems already lining up like sturdy soldiers of war against America.

A realistic (that is, not optimistic) Sargent laid out two specific steps congressional Republicans could take (more details at the link above):

1) Republicans could demand that Trump and his family produce a full and complete accounting of what his business empires interests entail.

2) Codifying the tradition of presidential candidates  and presidents  releasing their tax returns.

As enticement for a transparency reticent Trump, Sargent noted Jeff Hausers, of the Revolving Door Project, suggestion that Senate Republicans could withhold support for Trump nominees until he plays ball.

Of course no one is optimistic that Congressional Republicans will continue their concern about ethics and conflicts of interest now, so long as a Trump presidency is working for the Republican agenda.

This will leave it to the press, which is kind of terrifying. The print and digital press seem very inclined to go searching and press the issue, but it is the networks and cable TV outlets that have thus far seemed a bit too happy to cash in on a Trump presidency, even when his foreign interests are already, before hes even moved into the White House, alarming those who are paying attention.

After the Washington Post revealed that Trump launched deals with foreign entities during his candidacy that are tied to a hotel project in Saudi Arabia, which Trump has vowed to protect militarily.

And Talking Points Memos Josh Marshall flagged a report showing that when the Argentine President called Trump to congratulate him on his win, Trump responded by pressuring him to expedite permits for Trump projects that are currently being delayed.

The conflicts of interest are everywhere for Donald Trump. Republicans just spent years investigating every word written by Hillary Clinton, thanks to their use of many Benghazi investigations to justify an investigation into her emails, and then a big assist from Wikileaks and Russia via the hacking of the DNC.

Those investigations were obviously political, but they did set a standard. If Republicans turn the other way as Trump plunders the USA, they will be tarnished with his stain for a good long time.

Update: Nick Miroff suggests, Lanata said Trump Macri story was half-joking, half-serious when he introduced on his program last night.
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Gasoline prices across South Carolina rose again during the past week. Helped by low gas taxes, the Palmetto State offers the lowest-priced gas in the nation. File/Staff
There are five candidates vying for three open seats on Clemson City Council. We asked the two incumbents and three newcomers what they think is most important for Clemson's residents and council. Read moreMeet the candidates: 5 vying for 3 seats on Clemson City Council
Updated at 2:44 p.m. with an additional email from Wojcik sent Sunday night, tacked on at the end of this post.

The dispute over a proposed skyway extension through the 318 Commons building on First Avenue Southwest has gone from bad to worse -- with perhaps worse to come tonight at the Rochester City Council meeting.

Developer Helen Roland, who heads the trust that owns the property just south of 318 Commons, hopes to have the skyway system extended into a building she's planning at the corner of Fourth Street Southwest and First Avenue, and the city is interested in that happening to allow for further extension across Fourth Street. The University of Minnesota Rochester expects to grow in that area, other projects are already in the pipeline, and that skyway link over Fourth Street is considered vital.

But the owners of 318 Commons, HGA principal Hal Hendersonand Grant Michaletz, have their own concerns about how, where and why that skyway extension would affect their building, though clearly with the skyway system serving their building, they've benefited greatly from previous investments.

The city approved an unrelated skyway link to the east -- a shortie from 318 Commons to provide access across the alley to Henderson and Michaletz's Paine Furniture building -- with the understanding that discussions would continue regarding a skyway to the south. The permit for the Paine link was "revocable," meaning it could be revoked at any time.

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That link went up over the summer and is now being used to access UMR space in the renovated Paine building. It's not a public link -- it's only for UMR and 318-related traffic. The Post Bulletin's Answer Man wrote about this last week.

Well, discussions on the skyway easement seem to have hit an impasse, and at last week's council Committee of the Whole meeting , irritable council members agreed to talk tonight about revoking that permit for the link to the Paine building. Though far-fetched, theoretically that means the link closes or comes down.

In advance of tonight's meeting, a lot of email has been traded between council members and key figures involved in this dispute, copies of which I've obtained. At the risk of using too much of this (and typing more than I like), it's revealing about the issues and personalities involved.

At the center of the dispute: newly re-elected Council Member Michael Wojcik,who has ticked off Henderson to the point where the latter wrote to him last night in an email, "Stop emailing me. When you have time, I look forward to a face to face conversation. Using email and the council platform as shields to spin things is unethical and simply intimidation tactics."

According to the email thread as I received it, things went off the rails Friday afternoon when Wojcik emailed Henderson and copied City Administrator Steve Kvenvold, UMR Chancellor Steve Lehmkuhleand UMR Chief of Staff Jay Hesley.Wojcik wrote, "I am sorry that (Roland) has to deal with such an awful person. Seriously, you want to restrict Helen's uses for your own personal gain? I hope that in the future, UMR finds better partners to work with."

Henderson wrote an email Sunday to Kvenvold and others that says, "Grant and I would like to discuss the status of the 318 Commons skyway connection request with all, or as many as possible, council members on Monday. Unquestionably, there is serious misunderstanding and assumptions that are not correct.

"Additionally, Michael Wojcik sent an email to me and copied Grant Michaletz, Chancellor Lehmkuhle and Jay Hesley indicating that I have a character flaw that is influencing my cooperation in this matter. I have requested a face-to-face conversation with Michael but he has refused to respond. After several attempts to get Michael to respond, he has not. At this point, I'm certain he will not communicate with me face-to-face to discuss his troubling attack on my character...

"My weekend was ruined by Michael's email Friday afternoon so a phone conversation with any one of you today or tomorrow would be welcomed."

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Roland then weighed in late Sunday afternoon with an email that went far and wide to council members, the mayor and UMR officials, and while she seems to apologize on Wojcik's behalf, she also defends him:

"For what it is worth, I would like to say that sticking to the merits is our preference. This matter has and will continue to cause every interested party frustration (and ruined weekends) until a solution to the public easement south to 324 (First Avenue SE) is found. The solution, whatever it is, will lay the groundwork for future extensions of the skyway and future downtown developments...

"I regret that Michael sent the offending email. I also regret that it cannot just be seen as frustration from an impassioned council member. As you all may recall, it was Michael who added the historical preservationists, 324, and other downtown property owners and developers into the discussion when the alley revocable permit was first heard by the Committee of the Whole on Jan. 20...

"On our part, we do not think the impasse is due to a character flaw; we think there are personal and business reasons preventing the parties from a meeting of the minds. We also think those reasons are irreconcilable and a new path to obtaining the extension is necessary."

Roland said she would send "more explanation for our position"in an email today and added, "I know that I am speaking on behalf of many other downtown landowners and developers, and it is important that you understand our thinking."

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, Henderson sent an email to Wojcik that says, "Michael, I'm awaiting your email response or phone call ... can you feel good about yourself treating people this way? Helen is the one seeking personal gain and you are accusing us of seeking personal gain!!!!! I'm simply appalled by your email when we are trying to protect our property rights and our investment in a property that has provided huge benefits to UMR and the city of Rochester.

"You copied a valuable client, tenant and friends with your email.

"I have never been treated this way and I will not tolerate this from you. I have been a long-time contributor to many beneficial endeavors for our community. I will not stand for your bullying tactics."

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Sunday evening, Wojcik responded to Henderson: "Hal, I look forward to voting to revoke your use of the alley skyway. It would appear I was 100 percent correct to not trust you with alley rights ahead of securing an easement. There might be some council members you are fooling, but I am not one of them. I will also call out UMR on Monday for their part in allowing this to happen.

"I feel good about fighting the cronyism that holds our city back. I am ashamed of your inability to work in good faith with others.

"I will meet you when I have time, but I don't expect that will happen until after the 30th. I am busy with a number of higher priority items."

Henderson then responded late last night: "We always said, and it is public record that we said, any skyway connection would require approval by our lender. The process we recommended for lender review has been ignored.

"I guess you have been too busy to understand the necessary steps for the approval. All the other council members understand this. Revoking the alley skyway permit will not accomplish your objective. Possibly pursuing your idea of condemnation would accomplish your objective of using 'leverage.'

"Stop emailing me,"Henderson said, with the other comments I cited at the top.

Tonight's council meeting begins at 7 p.m. and it'll be a lollapalooza . The agenda for both the 3:30 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting and the council meeting itself includes everything from Uber and food trucks to the Chateau Theatre re-use plan and Javon Bea's Miracle Mile project, which has upset Kutzky Park neighborhood leaders.

But the 318 Commons skyway discussion, if it isn't postponed for one reason or another, could be the most revealing of all.

UPDATE:Wojcik sent this email Sunday night, nine minutes after his email to Henderson noted above, to Henderson, Kvenvold, Lehmkuhle and Hesley:

"Here is what Hal is complaining about. Feel free to share the note with the entire council, there by making it public information. At the time we discussed the skyway across the alley I wanted to hold off because I didn't trust Hal to work in good faith. I sure look pretty smart at this point...

"I am disappointed at staff members, council members, and UMR for letting Hal act like this. I have better things to do that waste my time on this. We will see how long it takes Hal to work out an agreement when he is missing a skyway connection. Stephan, Jay, this is on you as well. No excuses...

"Jumping through hoops so Hal can play his petty game is exactly the type of activity that holds Rochester back."
A young Rochester health care firm beat out big Minnesota names like Medtronic and Starkey Hearing this week to win a top state technology award.

Apri Health Inc. , the 3-year-old analytical health care systems firm, won a Tekneaward in the HealthcareEstablished Companies division. The Tekne awards are presented annually by the Minnesota High Tech Associationto companies that have made advancements in technology and science.

Dr. Mark Ereth, Apri co-founder and retired Mayo Clinicphysician, said they had expected to compete in the Applied Analytics division, but the organizers deemed that Apri's scope goes beyond just analytics. That meant that they were placed in the Established company category.

"I said, 'Oh my God, we're going against Medtronic. How are we going to do that?,'" Ereth said.

While he was proud of what his team has accomplished and thought they might have a shot at winning, he didn't really expect to pick up the award over two Minnesota tech giants.

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"I was, in fact, pretty surprised," he said with a chuckle.

Apri was honored for the advancements it has made in the field of studying medical care data to eliminate unnecessary costs. Ereth and Jamison Feramiscofounded the company, then called Transfuse, in 2013 in the Mayo Clinic Business Acceleratorin Rochester's Minnesota BioBusiness Center. They launched it under the name of Transfuse because it used data tools to evaluate the necessity of blood transfusions.

The company expanded its focus beyond just transfusions earlier this year. That shift spurred changing the company's name to Apri.

"We're going far beyond what traditional health care consulting has done," Ereth said. "There's so much unnecessary waste in health care. It's all about bringing value to health care. We think that's our sweet spot."

Apri has 17 employees, five of them based at the headquarters in downtown Rochester. It also has employees in Silicon Valley and Dallas, Texas.

The firm licenses some intellectual property from Mayo Clinic for its educational software, though its core analytical systems were all developed by Apri's team.
Marcus Theatres announced today it has purchased 14 Wehrenberg Theatres locations, including the Rochester theater.

Marcus Theatre, a division of Marcus Corp. based in St. Louis, signed an agreement today to acquire the assets of all Wehrenberg Theatres in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. Once the sale is complete, Marcus Theatres will increase its number of screens by 29 percent, operating 885 screens at 68 locations in eight states, according to a news release.

The sale impacts the Wehrenberg Rochester Galaxy 14 Cine and IMAX at 4340 Maine Ave SE. The sale is expected to be completed in December 2016. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Acquisitions are an important component of our growth strategy, and we are pleased to add the Wehrenberg Theatres locations to our circuit. The acquisition demonstrates our continued confidence in our theater business. It will expand our presence in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota and extends our footprint into Missouri," said Gregory S. Marcus, president and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corp., in statement.

The change in ownership may result in upgrades at the local theater. Rolando B. Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Marcus Theatres, said in a statement that, "Once the transaction is completed, we plan to enhance the moviegoing experience at select theaters with features and amenities including our DreamLounger SM recliner seating, premium large-format screens and signature food and beverage concepts."

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Marcus Theatres currently owns nine theaters in Minnesota, including several in the Twin Cities area. The company is the fifth largest theater circuit in the United States and currently owns or operates 688 screens at 54 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio.
In Friday's masterpiece, which I certainly hope you savored, I perhaps unwisely waded into the issue of whether lutefisk should be baked or boiled.

Some say lutefisk should be baked to firm it up. Others were boiling made and said lutefisk is dry and flavorless when baked and that it's only lutefisk if it jiggles even when undisturbed.

I'm a baked man myself, but this is a welcoming column and I embrace all opinions of lutefisk.

An agitated reader named Marciasent this one -- the Margeshe refers to is the Answer Maniac whose letter triggered this food fight: "Obviously you and Marge are the only two people in Southeast Minnesota who think you're only allowed to bake lutefisk and not boil it. If you know how to do it correctly, it's delicious. All these churches around here wouldn't be serving (thousands) if they weren't doing it right. Maybe you should Google lutefisk.

"My grandma boiled hers in cheesecloth every Christmas Eve and it was delicious as usual."

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What is this Google thing you refer to, Marcia? I use only shoe leather and my own ingenuity to find the truth.

A few others voted for "boiled," and I also learned about one more church-basement lutefisk feed that's coming up. A Rochester reader, Randy Sutter,told me about the dinner on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. "They've been serving for many years on the first Sunday of December. I've been there myself and the meals are really good. And by the way, they boil their fish."

Randy did allow that "I'm sure baked lutefisk would be good also and I think there are some who fix it that way, but I have to question the basis for Marge saying she wants to "enjoy a 'true' lutefisk dinner" by having it baked. Most of the churches around here boil it. My grandma, who was Norwegian, also boiled it for us at wintertime dinners."

Another reader, Eloise, also pitched the Preston lutefisk dinner and said, "Our fish is boiled but it is done right. I can't imagine any church having enough ovens to keep up baking the fish."

She admitted, however, that "I do bake mine at home."

Am I half-baked for liking my lutefisk fully baked? Send me a note and try to change my mind.

Dear Answer Man, did you know there's going to be a Chester's in Minneapolis?

No, but I've heard there'll be a Chester's in Bloomington, near Mall of America.

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Chester's, owned by the Twin Cities-based Nova Restaurant Group but a distinctively Rochester place (has been an anchor of downtown dining for eight years . The group, headed by Scott Fosterand Pat Woodring, then opened Pescara in the Doubletree Hotel in 2009 and Terza and La Vetta in 2015.

According to a story in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal , the new restaurant will be by the MOA, on the Sears side, and will be 7,500 square feet with a 1,300-square-foot patio and a menu that's a lot like the Rochester restaurant. Foster says he hopes to have it open by spring.

He also told the Business Journal that depending on how this one goes, they're thinking about opening others around the metro area.
Increasing costs, lower enrollment and less money from the state has put Minnesota State and its colleges and universities in an "urgent" financial bind.

A plan to address that funding gap was put forward at last week's Board of Trustees meeting, the governing body that oversees the system and its administration. It includes driving enrollment, cutting costs and calling on the state to allocate more money to the system.

"We need to act, and we need to act now to address our financial challenges," Minnesota State Chancellor Steven Rosenstone said in a memo to the Board of Trustees. "Business as usual means the financial challenges will only increase in intensity."

The plan, in addition to boosting enrollment, focuses on student retention and growing the number of students who continue on from a two-year school with their associate of arts degree to a four-year university. On Wednesday, Minnesota State announced it's now guaranteeing a "seamless" transfer for students with their associate of arts degree to one of Minnesota State's universities.

They're also setting an ambitious goal of increasing private giving by 50 percent during the next five years to make up for much of that lost revenue. This will correspond with a reduction in money spent on instruction, facilities and administration.

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Minnesota State is asking for state investment in the system that's on par with the national average, so they can fund the cost of compensation increases. They're also requesting the state provide funds to maintain facilities, remove those that don't meet the needs of campuses and fully fund the cost of the Postsecondary Enrollment Options program, where high school juniors and seniors are allowed to take college courses.

They say that needs to be increased to the national average of state investment in higher ed  that would mean about an additional $184 million for Minnesota State.

But lawmakers aren't sold. They say there's places administration could be cut to save costs, and while the system keeps asserting it needs the money, nothing has been presented to them about the consequences of not getting that money.

Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, who's a member of the House higher education committee, said so far they haven't provided enough evidence to qualify the need.

"One thing they never really answer, and it's a question that they have to answer at some point: If you do not get this budget, what is the harm? Because they frame it as a need. I look at it and frame it as a want, if it is a need, then articulate the harm," Pelowski said. "Exactly what will happen?"

He means he'd like a campus-by-campus breakdown of what's going to happen if they don't get that money, what that means for individual programs and if that will translate to tuition and fee increases.

Sen. Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, said he thinks the state could invest more, but, he said, "we also need to see efficiencies within the office at Minnesota State." He said top-level administration should look at areas where there's duplication between the central office and individual campuses.

"I'd like to see a strong focus on efficiencies and some cost-saving proposals within the system office, and then help pass those savings on to (the campuses)," Miller said "I'd also like to see more local control and decision-making authority provided to the local campuses, and not so much a bureaucracy in the central office."

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Enrollment this fall was projected to be about 20,000 fewer students than when systemwide enrollment peaked in 2011 at 157,900 students.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which tracks high school enrollments and projections, says high school graduates in Minnesota have been decreasing since 2009-10 and aren't projected to see any sort of uptick until next year.

While enrollment staff have said it's down because of the the low unemployment rate in the region , Pelowski doesn't buy it.

Minnesota ranks fifth in the nation for the highest average levels of student debt , and he said he thinks that's something most potential students are considering before enrolling.

"I think the declining enrollment isn't because the job market has improved dramatically or there's a decline in the number of students in high schools  I think there's also an issue that no one can take on that much debt," he said. "The issue is you can get a job, but at what level of payment is the job?"

The schools in Southeast Minnesota

With systemwide reductions planned for facilities, administrative and instructional costs, each school will have to take a look at its own budget.

It will mean something different for each of the colleges and universities in southeastern Minnesota. Minnesota State includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities, with about 400,000 students.

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Schools say they haven't received any hard numbers of figures as far as cuts from top-level administration; those decisions will be made at the state level, but it's still something they're considering.

At RCTC, vice president of finance and facilities Steve Schmall said this is something the college has been preparing for. He said there are specific cuts in mind at this point, but they'll evaluate things "holistically" throughout the college when the time comes.

He said RCTC is hoping to replace its aging HVAC system, which if funded, would save the campus about $70,000 per year. But they still have to convince legislators to make the upfront investment.

Riverland Community College President Adenuga Atewologun said the school has prepared for these financial woes by leaving positions unfilled through attrition, but now he said they can't cut anymore. He said any major systemwide cuts would be passed on to his campus.

"Riverland has been very aggressive in the last two or three years making sure that we plan for emergencies, but my concern is that we cannot continue to do that for a long time, after a while it affects your ability to achieve excellence," he said.

Right now the college is considering leaving four nursing faculty positions unfilled, and he said this also could affect programs such as carpentry. In the next month, Atewologun said the college will be digging in to the budget and programs and figuring out if the campus doesn't get the funding it needs, where cuts will be made.

"If we want to remain competitive and be innovate, be able to have the talented workforce necessary to keep our economy vital, I would implore the Legislature to continue to work with the governor and see what they can do to help us on a long-term basis."
John Marshall High School graduate Ahmed M. Ahmed will take his desire to learn across the Atlantic Ocean next fall. He will attend Oxford University as one of 32 Rhodes Scholars selected by the Rhodes Trust on Sunday.

"I was extremely excited to have been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship," Ahmed said. "I'm excited for all that I will learn, and I know this experience will help me better serve others."

Ahmed, who graduated from John Marshall in 2013, is majoring in biology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. After graduating from high school, he has dedicated his time to study and giving back to his community, volunteering as a tutor in organic and medical chemistry and at Habitat for Humanity. He said the Rhodes Trust is known for bringing together a talented and diverse group of civic-minded leaders, and he was thrilled when the Rhodes Committee informed him of their decision.

He hopes to study organic and medicinal chemistry while at Oxford. "My goal is to be a physician-scientist in translational medicine where I hope to facilitate the transition of therapeutics from bench to bedside," he said.

All this is a long way from where Ahmed started, a refugee from Somalia who arrived in the United States from a camp in Kenya.

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Ahmed was not always a dedicated student. But the death of his father when he was in the seventh grade made Ahmed refocus his life and develop the skills he would need to earn a scholarship to Cornell and excel at the university.

"I never really grasped the concept of just how precious life was until then," Ahmed told the Post Bulletin in 2013. "You never think you're going to lose someone that close. I always wanted to take every opportunity I was given and absolutely do the most I felt I could with it."

That drive was evident to John Marshall calculus teacher Jacob Johnson, who remembers a friendly, outgoing student with an incredible work ethic.

"It was pretty evident he was a special kid when he was here," Johnson said, describing a student who inspired those around him by his hard work. "He showed up for every study group we had. That kind of level of learning is something special."

Johnson said he is happy for Ahmed and believes his former pupil will go far. "He's definitely someone you root for," he said.

According to the Cornell Daily Sun, Ahmed conducts research on producing polyolefins as part of the work being done by Professor Geoff Coates, and has received an award for his work as a teaching assistant n 2015. He also served as an EMT on Cornell's Emergency Management Services.

Coates said he first met Ahmed when he took his sophomore organic chemistry class. In a group of 700 chemistry and pre-med students, he said, Ahmed stood out. "He was one of the most spectacular students I've ever had the pleasure of working with," Coates said.

It was during that semester that Ahmed approached Coates about becoming a research assistant. Adding the student to his research team was "a no-brainer."

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"I'm just thrilled for him," Coates said of the Rhodes Scholar honor for Ahmed. "It couldn't happen to a more qualified or nicer guy."

The 2017 scholars-elect were chosen from 882 applicants who were endorsed by 311 colleges and universities, the AP reported. The scholarships cover all expenses for two or three years of study at Oxford starting next October.
ST. PAUL  The break from politics in Minnesota is over. Let the 2018 race for governor begin.

Democratic Rep. Erin Murphy was the first to announce her gubernatorial bid in a contest that's expected to be a crowded battle as both parties aim to replace Gov. Mark Dayton, who has said he won't seek a third term.

Here are a few more names on what's likely to be a growing list as the months tick by.

The Republicans

Kurt Daudt

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Entering his second term as house speaker, Daudt gets Republican kudos for keeping a diverse caucus together and expanding the chamber's majority in the November election. His fast political ascent, from a freshman lawmaker in 2011 to speaker in 2015, makes him a top-tier candidate for the GOP nomination.

He had been cagey about any goals for higher office. But recently asked about a run for governor, he said: "At some point, I will probably look at that."

Rich Stanek

The Hennepin County sheriff is no stranger to state politics, having served in the House from 1995 until 2003. He's brushed off questions about any gubernatorial ambitions, saying he's focused on serving in the state's largest county. But he gave a speech at the Minnesota Republican Party's convention earlier this year in which he stressed how he'd be appealing to Democrats and Republicans across the state.

Michelle Benson

A health care wonk, the state senator from Ham Lake likely will play a key role in the brewing legislative debate over fixing Minnesota's state-run exchange. She has some experience with the pressures of gubernatorial politics, serving as the running mate for state Sen. Dave Thompson in his bid for the Republican nomination in 2014.

But she won't declare anything about her prospects until at least May. "I'm not going to make any decisions until we get through this session," Benson said. "It is a huge commitment and not something taken lightly."

Keith Downey

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The chairman of Minnesota's Republican Party long has been in the mix as a possible candidate. He served two terms in the state House before eventually making his way to party leadership, where he's tried to chip away at a massive debt built up during the 2010 governor's race.

Downey says he's not ruling anything out but still is weighing whether to run for a third term as party chair.

The Democrats

Tina Smith

Few have had a more visible perch than the lieutenant governor, especially during Dayton's administration. Smith has been the face of a new paid family leave initiative for state employees, led the charge on early education expansion and served as a key business liaison.

A trip to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer convinced some Democrats she's preparing for a bid. Spokesman Linden Zakula says it's on the table, but Smith's focus is on the 2017 session.

Lori Swanson

The attorney general also is in the mix, given her easy victories to three terms, though she hasn't directly addressed the question. But former Democratic Rep. Ryan Winkler said during his AG campaign announcement that he'd aim for the office only if Swanson doesn't run for a fourth term, noting calls for Swanson to "pursue higher office."

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Rebecca Otto

Otto, the state auditor, has been open about weighing a run in 2018 during the legal challenge against a new state law that curbs her office's power to oversee county finances. She'd follow a well-trodden path, as Dayton and former Gov. Arne Carlson did the same after serving as auditor.

"I don't know what tomorrow brings, but I do know right now that I'm putting my heart into this job," she said this fall.

Tom Bakk

The powerful lawmaker has clear gubernatorial ambitions, having run for the party's endorsement in 2010. But the November election may have dampened his political stock, as Democrats lost control of the chamber and Bakk was demoted to Senate minority leader.

A longtime legislator and former union carpenter from Cook, he previously stressed the difficulty of a rural politician getting enough support to get the party's nomination. Asked recently whether he would try again in 2018, Bakk said he still was considering a bid and would make a decision with his wife.

Chris Coleman

St. Paul's popular mayor is in his third term but long has been in the mix, flirting with a gubernatorial run in 2010 before deciding against it. Spokeswoman Tonya Tennessen said Coleman is "strongly considering" a run in 2018 and will make his plans known before the end of the year. The decision is linked with whether he pursues a fourth term in the city's 2017 election.
Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem noted last week the 407 drug crimes his office prosecuted this year through October are a 60 percent increase over last year's count, and he said it doesn't appear to be declining, despite the state raising the threshold for what it considers a drug felony.

"We're not seeing a letdown in the number of cases, even though we've changed the whole scheme," he said, noting the legislative changes began on Aug. 1.

Part of the increase, he said is due to large amounts of drugs being found. Where arrests would reveal amounts ranging from 1 gram to possibly 10 grams in the past, law enforcement officers are finding ounces of drugs on suspects.

"It's a good thing that we're hooking them up," he said, using slang for making an arrest. "But, it's a bad thing that they keep coming."

Ostrem told Olmsted County commissioners the rise in heroin cases continues to be a big issue in the county, and we've heard similar statements from throughout Southeast Minnesota.

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Thankfully, awareness also seems to be increasing, along with programs to counter addiction.

While Ostrem's team and local law enforcement officers work diligently to get the drugs off the street, it's equally important that the community continues to tackle addictions that fuel the market.

As Ostrem noted, they continue to come, and that's likely because a local demand makes the risk worthwhile.

Efforts to provide opportunities to decrease that demand include 74-bed women's facility being constructed by Mn Adult & Teen Challenge and programs like Rochester's new APEX Recovery School. By providing resources for those struggling with addiction and focusing on the specific needs of their clients, such efforts break routines and remove barriers to success, building on existing programs in the community.

In turn, the programs create recovering addicts who are able to share their stories and show others that they are not alone. Such encouragement holds promise to lead others to recovery.

As the recovery community grows, it's also important for others to embrace the successes of former addicts and acknowledge what Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stated in his report this week: "Addiction is not a character flaw."

Addiction must be seen as a chronic illness, and those who overcome it should be embraced. Like any other survivor of an illness, they need community support and to be given the opportunity to thrive.

We're grateful for the increasing number of programs in our region to help people overcome addiction, and we are encouraged by continued awareness.

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Hopefully, they will work hand in hand to help reduce the related pressures on our courts.
Dr. B Speaks!

It always seems impossible until it's done. That is the way Nelson Mandela put it. His quote motivates mission-driven people to accomplish d Read moreTeacher assistants help support teachers and students to learn
This report comes to us via Rockslide. We cannot vouch for its accuracy:

The flood of Trump-fearing American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week. The Republican presidential campaign is prompting an exodus among left-leaning Americans who fear theyll soon be required to hunt, pray, pay taxes, and live according to the Constitution.

Canadian border residents say its not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, liberal arts majors, global-warming activists, and green energy proponents crossing their fields at night.

I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn, said southern Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota. He was cold, exhausted and hungry, and begged me for a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didnt have any, he left before I even got a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. He then installed loudspeakers that blared Rush Limbaugh across the fields, but they just stuck their fingers in their ears and kept coming. Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals just south of the border, pack them into electric cars, and drive them across the border, where they are simply left to fend for themselves after the battery dies.

A lot of these people are not prepared for our rugged conditions, an Alberta border patrolman said. I found one carload without a single bottle of Perrier water, or any gemelli with shrimp and arugula. All they had was a nice little Napa Valley cabernet and some kale chips. When liberals are caught, theyre sent back across the border, often wailing that they fear persecution from Trump high-hairers.

Rumors are circulating about plans being made to build re-education camps where liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer, study the Constitution, and find jobs that actually contribute to the economy.

In recent days, liberals have turned to ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have been disguised as senior citizens taking a bus trip to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans in blue-hair wig disguises, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior citizens about Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney to prove that they were alive in the 50s.

If they cant identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we become very suspicious about their age, an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage, are buying up all the Barbara Streisand CDs, and are overloading the internet while downloading jazzercise apps to their cell phones.

I really feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just cant support them, an Ottawa resident said. After all, how many art-history majors does one country need?
San Antonio police officer Benjamin Marconi was writing a traffic ticket outside police headquarters earlier today when a motorist pulled up behind him, got out of his car, approached Marconi and shot him twice in the head. The murderer got back into his car and drove away.

The perpetrator has not yet been caught, so we dont know whether he was inspired by the Black Lives Matter anti-police movement. What we do know is that there is an epidemic of deliberate, unprovoked murders of police officers. Such incidents have occurred in New York, Dallas, Baton Rouge, Des Moines and now San Antonio.

A law enforcement officer here in Minnesota sent me a link to an article in Police magazine titled Why So Many Police Are Being Murdered. The author, Dr. Ron Martinelli, describes the recent killings of police officers in Lancaster and Palm Springs, California. He recounts the perpetrators lengthy criminal records; as usual, the first question is why these men were not in prison.

The accused murderers of Sgt. Steve Owen and Officers Vega and Zerebny had similar criminal profiles as those of other suspects who have recently murdered law enforcement officers in the growing national virus known as the War on Police. Los Angeles Superior Court records document that the suspected killer of Sgt. Owen, Trenton Trevon Lovell, was an active parolee with an extensive criminal history that extends back to when he was first arrested as a juvenile for sale of marijuana. He then accumulated 11 more arrests including two which resulted in a state prison sentence.

***

John Felix, who police say killed Officers Vega and Zerebny, was also no stranger to a life of violent crime. He was a known gang member who was arrested in a conspiracy to murder plot in 2009. In that year, Felix and another gang member, identified as Antonio Madrigal, shot a man in an attempted gangland assassination; but the victim survived. Following a police investigation, Felix was arrested and charged with attempted murder, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and a felony street gang crime enhancement. Unfortunately, prosecutors allowed him to plead down his charges to simple assault with a firearm and the gang enhancement charge. Felix was then given a four-year prison sentence.

Martinelli identifies broader societal trends that underlie the War On Cops:

There are sociopathic, out of control, predatory, and evil people in this world who we as a society refuse to control through the considered and reasonable application of the rule of law, and our failure to recognize this fact enables and empowers them to kill us. Thats it, but the reasons for the environment they now thrive in is important to understand. The American educational system no longer teaches civics in school. Students no longer learn about our justice system and its components. They know nothing about what their civil rights are and, more importantly, are not. They have no knowledge of the important role of police in our society and therefore have not been taught proper behavior and respect for police authority during police encounters. This allows subversive groups such as Black Lives Matter to spew the false narratives of hate and to perpetuate the lie that police are the bad guys and armed recidivist offenders are somehow the good guys. This circumstance breeds resistance and exacerbates violent, armed and deadly encounters with police.

***

Americans deserve to be led by competent, well-informed elected politicians. For the past few years, we have seen little to no leadership from the president, the U.S. attorney generals office, and from state and municipal leaders. When the president fails to demonstrate knowledge of the law and basic police practices and prematurely and incorrectly criticizes police for acting stupidly and/or tells the American minority community that law enforcement officers are racially biased, he opens the floodgates of non-compliance with and even violent resistance to police authority.

***

I firmly believeas do othersthat the lack of federal, state, and municipal leadership in actively supporting our law enforcement officers has directly led to a significant increase in citizen resistance to police authority, officer injuries, and an almost unprecedented increase in officers being intentionally murdered in the line of duty.

I think that is correct. While a new administration in Washington wont solve the problem overnight, Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions will not contribute to the undermining of law enforcement, as Barack Obama and Eric Holder have done. This may prove to be one of the greatest virtues of the Trump administration.
The Democrats say that they will oppose confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, and will smear him with discredited race allegations from 30 years ago. This is rather pathetic: if they cant come up with anything within the last 30 years, they dont have much of a case, to say the least. So why are they hysterical about Sessions?

Byron York supplies much of the answer:

Sessions is the Senates highest-profile, most determined, and most knowledgeable opponent of comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats are particularly anxious about immigration because of the unusually tenuous nature of President Obamas policies on the issue. Those policies can be undone unilaterally, by the new president in some cases, and by the attorney general and head of homeland security in other cases. Theres no need for congressional action  and no way for House or Senate Democrats to slow or stop it.

That is correct. As Byron points out, all President Trump and Attorney General Sessions need to do is start enforcing the lawdischarging Trumps Constitutional duty, in other words.

The Democrats fanatical commitment to preserving illegal immigration is a big part of the reason why they are demoralized at the thought of Jeff Sessions as AG. I think we can add this, too: Under Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, the Department of Justice became the epicenter of Obama administration corruption. Legions of left-wing ideologues were brought in as DOJ lawyers. The Civil Rights Division became a partisan tool of the Democrats. Holder adopted racist policies, with enforcement of the law depending on the skin color of the victims. Cover-ups abounded, and corruption in other branches of the Obama administration was never prosecuted. Loretta Lynch had her famous tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton.

There are a great many skeletons in Barack Obamas closet, and many of the bodies are buriedto mix a metaphorat the Department of Justice. For eight years, Obama and his Justice Department shamelessly stiff-armed Congressional investigations, FOIA requests and court orders. So it is no wonder that Democrats blanch at the thought of the Department of Justice in the hands of a conservative as able and as incorruptible as Jeff Sessions.

So the Democrats have pulled out their old reliable, the race card. Which causes me to wonder: has the race card ever actually worked? The Democrats obviously think that false accusations of racism are political dynamite, but if that were true, why dont they win more elections?

In the case of Jeff Sessions, we know that the Democrats racism charges are insincere. They dont believe what they are saying about Sessions, they are just trying to smear him in a desperate attempt to deny him confirmation, or else diminish his effectiveness as Attorney General. How do we know that? Because when Sessions ran for re-election to the Senate in 2014, the Democrats didnt run a candidate against him. They let him win, unopposed. Surely if the Democrats actually believed that Sessions was a racist, they would have tried to prevent his re-election to the Senate. Right? At a minimum, they would have run a candidate against him and tried to explain to the people of Alabama that Sessions is a racist and therefore unfit to be a senator. But they didnt do this, because they know their smears are baseless. And, of course, the people of Alabama, whom Sessions has served for so long, wouldnt have been easy to fool.

I dont think the American people will be fooled, either.
For years, Republicans and conservatives have charged that President Obama has shielded embarrassing intelligence and other information regarding Iran in order to limit opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and Obamas conciliatory approach to Tehran. The charge seems well-founded. After all, it took Sens. Tom Cotton and Rep. Mike Pompeo to discover secret side agreements attached to the nuclear deal.

Eli Lake suggests that the Trump administration may well stop covering for the mullahs. Certainly, as Lake argues, Trumps early high level personnel picks suggest so.

Trumps nominee for CIA Director is none other than Mike Pompeo. Not only did he and Sen. Cotton uncover side deals to the nuclear agreement, he also pressed hard for answers about the cash payments the U.S. delivered to the mullahs in exchange for the release of hostages.

Pompeo wrote to Attorney General Lynch asking for answers as to how the cash payments were approved by the Justice Department. Lynch stonewalled him. Perhaps Jeff Sessions will be more cooperative.

Mike Flynn is the other key appointment for purposes of airing Obamas Iran secrets. Lake points out that in 2011 General Flynn ran a team at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that reviewed the troves of material captured in the 2011 Osama bin Laden raid.

Under Obama, only a small fraction of these documents have been declassified and released. After he retired from the military, Flynn charged that the disclosures were selective.

Flynn noted, for example, that some documents captured in the bin Laden raid show a much tighter relationship between Iran and al-Qaeda than previously disclosed. In The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies (written with Micheal Ledeen), Flynn states: One letter to bin Laden reveals that al-Qaeda was working on chemical and biological weapons in Iran.

Given Obamas desire to deal with Iran and, indeed, for a rapprochement, you can see why the administration shielded such intelligence. Given the well-deserved contempt by Pompeo and Flynn for Obamas Iran policy, you can see why they might want relevant facts to come to light. As a general matter, these are facts the public has a right to know.

If such facts are made public, Obama wont have much standing to complain. Lake reminds us:
The Maternal Newborn and Child Health Social Protection Scheme has taken off in Adamawa State.

The programme, supported by the European Union and UNICEF, was flagged off on Monday by wife of the state governor, Maryam Bindow.

At the ceremony in Malabu village of Fufore Local Government Area, Mrs. Bindow urged mothers, who are the major beneficiaries, and health workers involved in the scheme to give the intervention their full support.

This event represents a giant stride in our collective efforts towards checkmating all health challenges affecting mothers and their newborn babies.

It is in this regard that I see this intervention by European Union and UNICEF through collaboration with the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency as not only timely but worthy of commendation, Mrs. Bindow said.

She said the state government was committed to health care of the people of the state, particularly women and children.

Let me reiterate here that Adamawa state under the leadership of my dear husband, Distinguished Senator Muhammadu Umar Jibrilla Bindow, has been at the vanguard of efforts towards transforming the social and psychological lives of people of the state for the better, she said.

Speaking on the occasion, the representative of European Union, Anthony Ejeke, and that of UNICEF, Abdulai Kaikai, lauded the commitment of the Adamawa government to the scheme and other programmes of the international organisations in the state.

The chairman of Fufore Local Government, Aliyu Boya, who listed benefits of the programme to the community, assured of the councils support for its success in the area.

Some of the women beneficiaries lauded the programme, which they said would impact positively on their access to healthcare services.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of delivery kits and transport money by Mrs. Bindow to some pregnant women who registered for the scheme.
Nigerias Army Chief has restated the governments stance that the Boko Haram insurgents have been defeated.

Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, stated this in Maiduguri while addressing journalists on Sunday.

It is very clear that the terrorists have been defeated; there are no doubts about it, he said. What we are doing now is a mop up operations aimed at ensuring that we clear the rest of them. It is one thing to defeat, and it is another issue for the terrorists to surrender.

We are working on their final surrender in the remaining enclaves where they are now. And very soon we will achieve that objective.

Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, said that the military will not persuade Boko Haram insurgents to give up hostilities.

Rather, he said, the troops will continue their offensive against the outlawed group until they are completely decimated.

Mr. Olonisakin, a general, said this in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he is currently staying as part of his operational visit.

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, alongside other top officers of the Nigeria military who had been in the state for about two weeks, received the defence chief at the Nigeria Air Force Base.

Mr. Olonisakin spoke to journalists shortly after a tour of some war equipment recently procured and refurbished at the Maimalari Barracks, headquarters of 7 Division where the Military Command and Control Centre is also located.

There is always room for the Boko Haram to surrender; that was why we put up the Operation Safe Corridor initiative to have them surrender, de-radicalized and rehabilitated, said the defence chief.

That corridor is still open; however, we will not wait until they surrender.

The defence chief said he was impressed with the equipment at the disposal of the troops in Borno.
The Federal Government on Monday arraigned a Supreme Court justice, Sylvester Nguta, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged fraud.

Mr. Nguta was arraigned before Justice John Tsoho.

He is among seven judges arrested by operatives of the State Security Service on October 8, after a midnight raid on their homes.

After pleading not guilty to the 15-count charge, the judges lawyer, Kanu Agabi, prayed the court to admit his client on bail.

The trial judge, Mr. Tsoho, stood down the matter for two hours to allow for arguments on the application for bail.

Details later
The federal government has accused a Supreme Court justice, Sylvester Nguta, of culpability in the destruction of evidence intended to be brought against him.

Mr. Nguta was arraigned before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court on Monday.

He is among seven judges arrested by operatives of the State Security Service on October 8, after a midnight raid on their residences by the SSS on October 7.

After pleading not guilty to the 15-count charge, the judges lawyer, Kanu Agabi, prayed the court to admit his client on bail.

Speaking during a court session to determine Mr. Ngutas application for bail, prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun, said he was objecting to the application because Mr. Nguta was capable of interfering with witnesses and concealing documents that could incriminate him.

Barely 20 minutes after he was granted administrative bail, one of the witnesses received a call from the defendant. During that call a number of instructions were given to the witness: get rid of those cards. Go into my bathroom, in my residence where you will find three bags,. Those bags contained 27 million each; they were moved from the residence and completely concealed.

That same witness came back to the house, removed three luxury cars and concealed them. Days before his residence was raided on October 8, the defendant had four valid passports, added Mr. Adeogun.

He said the allegations of interference were so apparent that they were contained in counts 3,10 to 16 of the charge against the defendant.

Mr. Adeogun therefore submitted that he was cautiously making his objection; considering the status of the defendant, but also taking note of the alleged offences.

My Lord it is in recognition to these offences committed when the administrative bail were granted, that we cautiously object to the application.

Earlier, counsel to the defendant, Kanu Agabi, asked the court to grant his client bail on self recognizance.

He said sections 32, 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as section 35 (4) and 36 of the constitution have made it clear that once a defendant appears in court to attend to his matter, he no longer needs to proof the reason why his bail application should be granted.

Mr. Agabi, therefore, submitted that his client should be granted bail on self recognizance.

He said the law already allows a defendant room for bail and if his clients bail is denied, it will only show that the said provisions are not practicable.

After the submission made by the prosecution, Mr. Agabi said it was dangerous for Mr. Adeogun to conclude on the matter, as he had done.

I was just listening to my learned counsel. But if you have concluded already then we are finished, said Mr. Agabi.

The case was stood down for an hour before the ruling on the application.
The reporter had to be introduced as an NGO worker helping children and women, to get her to agree to a meeting. Even then, she extracted a promise that she would be given something before she settled down for a chat.

She looked cheerful but shy and carried her lean frame gingerly as if afraid she might fall down any minute. Her cheeks were slightly sunken, making her cheekbones prominent. She clutched a fairly weathered handbag. Her open neck Ankara blouse revealed sharp shoulder blades, a sign that she was not feeding well.

Actually I take drugs. In fact Im addicted to drugs, she said without much prodding. I just took some before leaving the house now. I cannot eat food nor do anything without taking the drugs.

Fatima Hassan, a 2010 graduate of the Kaduna Polytechnic, who still lives with her mother, was introduced to drugs when she went for her National Youth Service Corp in Minna, Niger State, when she started dating the son of a wealthy man.

My boyfriend had many friends and all of them were taking drugs like cocaine, wee-wee, syrup and some tablets, and he made me to join them.

She joined the girls in taking bottles of cough mixtures with codeine contents. The ones without codeine do not excite the brain, so they are not useful.

The boys would take hard drugs like cocaine, heroin or wee-wee and get syrup for the girls. There are varieties of them, including CSP, Stopcof, C&C, Cofflin, Totalin, Ezolyn, and the prices ranges from N250 per bottle to N1000 per bottle.

After her NYSC, Fatima came back to Kaduna and started looking for where to get the codeine syrup. Soon, she met other girls who have become addicted like her, and began buying for herself.

According to her, in the last five years, she has met more than 200 girls and women who take codeine in Kaduna.

She said there are countless numbers of women, including married and ordinarily responsible women, in Kaduna who are codeine addicts.

Fatima grew to taking up to eight bottles of codeine in a day and it still will not get her high enough. Then she learnt how to boost the syrup with prescription tablets like Tramadol, Rohypnol and D5.

Whenever she takes the combination, which has been daily since her NYSC ended six years ago, it gives her an uncommon feeling, she said. Wow, I feel cool, I feel like Don Jazzy; I feel like the President and I feel like I own the world. I feel like there is nobody above me, she told the reporter as her face brightened with a smile.

The habit has come with a lot of negative effects for her. Whenever she cannot find anyone to buy drugs for her, she sells some of her jewellery, and even handsets. She sold a plot of land she inherited from her late father and expended it on codeine.

She once owed a codeine supplier N25,000 for accumulated supply.

The habit has affected her relationship with men and she finds it difficult keeping steady relationships.

I cannot stay with a guy who does not use drug or who cannot buy for me. We cannot be compatible, she declared.

She agreed to link the reporter with one of the girls in her codeine-afflicted group who lives with her parent inside Tudunwada, Kaduna. She called the girl on one of her two phones to explain the deal. The girl agreed after Fatima promised to come along with kaya, slang for codeine syrup and complimentary tablets.

On our way to the girls house, she asked that we pass by the Kaduna Central Market. Along the road, a young Hausa boy came to deliver the drugs to her. She gave the boy N2,000 for two bottles of codeine and a sachet of Rohypnol.

At Tudunwada, the car in a street corner, Fatima went to call her friend. The girl, like many of the codeine girls, still lives under her parents. After about 25 minutes, Fatima appeared with a young girl in hijab, a veil traditionally worn by Moslem women to cover parts of their upper body. She entered the car and we chatted.

The new girl, Maimuna Sodangi, 20, was introduced to codeine by friends. She went on a visit and her friend entertained her with a bottle of soft drink mixed with codeine syrup. It was so sweet and I felt so good, she recounted.

That was three years ago and she has been hooked since then, graduating from one bottle to six per day. Since she is jobless and cannot afford the drug, she depends on boyfriends to buy for her.

She takes the codeine home because her illiterate parents do not know what it is. Sometimes her female friends buy and bring for her at home since her boyfriends cannot visit her residence.

After the chat, she collected a bottle of codeine from her friend and tucked it into her bra before covering with the hijab. She strolled back home, looking like any other girl in the neighbourhood.

At Abakpa, a different part of the city, a source introduced the reporter to another codeine girl, Hauwa Mohammed, who hesitated to reveal identity because she would not want to cause any anxiety for her parents with whom still lives. But after brief persuasion and a promise of gift, she admitted taking codeine, rohypnol and other prescription drugs she couldnt name.

She started taking the drugs two years ago after her fiances death a few weeks to their wedding. She was 16 at the time, and was the only one among her four sisters not taking the drugs.

But after the death of her fiance, she fell into depression and kept to herself for weeks. Then her sisters advised her that a sip of codeine syrup would help her forget her sorrow. At the time I almost went mad because of the death of my fiance, she recounted.

She tried it once and got hooked.

She takes up to four or five bottles of codeine mixture in a day, sometimes pouring a bottle or two inside a coke plastic bottle to deceive her parents.

At 18, she only has a secondary school certificate. She hopes to get married and stop taking drugs because she wouldnt want her children to engage in drug abuse like her. But Im hoping I will get a man who will help me to stop, she said, with a flat smile.

The story of Fatima, Maimuna and Hauwa exemplify the serious drug addiction problem facing many young women in many parts of Northern Nigeria and the changing complexion of the war against drug use and addiction in the region.

Our investigations show that a great percentage of young women across northern Nigeria, including students of tertiary institutions, working class ladies, married women and a vast majority of unemployed girls, are hooked on drugs.

However, they have rewritten the drug as the new high lies not in prohibited narcotic substances such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis, but in simple codeine, commonly found in cough syrups.

The rising drug use among young girls and women may be the fallout of increasing drug use among young men. However, the women, finding hard drugs like cocaine too strong and disruptive, have taken to safer softer drug such as codeine, which although is banned but is commonly found in cough syrup. To augment this, the ladies also take a mixture of prescription drugs, which medical experts tell the icirnigeria.org, are counterfeit painkillers.

At the start of our investigation, it was thought that the problem was typical of the North west, but investigations showed that the drug problem could be even worse among women in the North east, which has been ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

In Yola, capital of Adamawa State, some 764 kilometres from Kaduna, Sarah Haruna, a hairdresser does not complete her day without taking codeine.

According to Sarah, she was introduced to drug by the daughter of a former Vice President of Nigeria who used to invite her home. She became a courier for her, sometimes sent to buy cartons of codeine syrup and hiding them under her bed and inside her wardrobes. Sarah got to meet other friends, all children of well  known people in the state, who are equally codeine addicts. She also got to know their boyfriends, most of who she said smoke cannabis and sniff cocaine.

Sarah, 32, is single and always hangs out with friends at Legon Villa or any of the hotels along Barracks Road in Yola.

Northern Women and Drug Abuse

While drug abuse, especially cannabis, has been a long time problem among male youth in the North, codeine cough syrup is the emerging cancer ravaging women and girls in the North from Kaduna to Borno and Yobe to Nasarawa. Codeine syrup has become the favourite drug of abuse by all classes of girls and women in the north, but most especially the daughters and wives of the wealthy.

The smallest bottle of codeine syrup costs up to N600, while some cost as high as N1,000. Some of the girls admit they could take up to eight bottles in a day.

Since many of the girls and women, including housewives, are neither career nor business women, the habit is sustained by a legion of boyfriends who buy for them.

Shuaibu Maituraki, an ex-drug user who now runs an NGO devoted to rehabilitating drug addicts in Kano, is worried that many young girls and even married women are wasting their lives doing drugs. He said married women who do not keep boyfriends use their housekeeping money to buy codeine and that addiction has also led many of the women into debts or vices and crimes such as stealing of jewelleries at social functions.

Mr. Maituraki, whose father is also a wealthy Kano businessman, said he established the Youth Awareness Forum On Drug Abuse, YAFODA, to save Kano youth from destruction from drug addiction

Addiction to codeine syrup is turning the otherwise conservative girls and women of the North into social miscreants and rebellious housewives. It is increasingly becoming common to see Northern girls and women at night clubs and social spots where they have freedom to drink codeine, take their tablets and smoke cigarette, and return home wearing hijab.

More women now are believed to keep late nights since they cannot indulge in addiction freely at home.

It is common in Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Yola and some other cities in the North, to see women check into hotels or guest houses during the day to indulge themselves before going back home at night. It is at these relaxation spots that many of the women rendezvous with boyfriends or men friends or just fellow girls and women.

Our reporter visited one of the notable guesthouses in Sabon Gari, Kano, where some of these girls usually lodge for observation. It was around 2.00 p.m. on a Saturday.

Within an hour, more than 10 girls dressed in hijab had checked in. Some were driven to the place in taxis while some drove themselves. There were a few who came on commercial motorbikes.

The manager of the guesthouse revealed to this website that it was the daily routine for them, adding that the girls could stay up till midnight before leaving.

More women and girls are also getting involved in petty stealing at wedding parties and during social visits when in need of cash for more drugs. Guest and celebrants in the north are now getting more protective of their valuables, especially jewelleries during social occasions. Mohammed Idris, State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Sokoto recounted a recent story of what happened at a wedding party in Sokoto.

Kazeem Abdullahi, an Imam employed by the Kano Emirate Council, told icirnigeria.org that many marriages are breaking up in the city due to drug related issues. He revealed that not less than 100 cases of marital conflicts are brought to the palace of the Emir of Kano for resolution daily, stressing that the situation had become critical.

Wife of Nigerias President, Aisha Buhari, raised an alarm early this year when she visited Kano State. She said Northern youth, including women, were wasting their lives with drug abuse. She urged political and religious leaders in the region to urgently find solution to the menace.

Mr. Maituraki told our reporter that he has counselled many girls and housewives who have become addicted to codeine because of marital problems or influence of friends.

Some of them told us that they became addicted to codeine when their husbands took other wives, for some its because they have been divorced while some women believe it will make them attractive by giving them big eyeballs, Mr. Maituraki stated.

But many parents are either truly unaware of the menace or are living in denial.

Dahiru Musdapha, Secretary, Adamawa Emirate Council, said that he had never heard about the problem of drug among women in the state.

I dont know anything about this, Ive never heard about this type of thing before, he told the reporter.

But his denial is in sharp contrast to what other officials of the palace, and the state NDLEA Commander, Yakubu Kibo, told our reporter.

The latter said records of the command indicate that more women are now involved in use of dangerous drugs, specifically codeine syrup. Officials of the Kano Emirate who also spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed this too.

This drug issue is a very serious problem now, one of them said. We hear a lot of cases about girls and young women, even married women, taking this thing.

Drug abuse, according to medical practitioners, occurs when a person can no longer function normally without taking the drug. According to Taiwo Sheik, a psychiatrist and chief executive of the Federal Neuro-psychiatrist Hospital, Kaduna, anyone suffering from drug abuse is no longer a normal person and is referred to as suffering from significant loss of function which manifests in the persons behaviour.

He has taken the substance to a degree to which he is not able to function well. In medical language we say there is significant impairment-the individual is impaired. So its now a sickness. That is what we mean by abuse, he explained.

And if the statistics reeled out by Mr. Sheik is any indication, many women and girls in the North are very sick. He said unlike 10 years ago when drug abuse and addiction was a male problem, more women and girls are becoming prone to drug and substance abuse.

He said the major drug abused by Northern girls and women is codeine cough syrup, which they take in quantities that would make them tipsy and almost impervious to pain  just as narcotics do.

Ten years ago, for every four or five men, we see one woman. But today, for every four or five men we see four women. That shows a trend that suggests increase in the number of women that come with substance abuse problems. Especially now that the type of substance people abuse is also changing. Twenty years ago, we dont talk about things that people buy from the chemist and take home. Today, that is what were struggling with, cough mixtures. And that is the one that women abuse most.
Nigerian troops fighting the terrorist Boko Haram group in the north-east state of Borno on Sunday intercepted two suspected members of the sect believed to be on a mission to procure drugs for libido enhancement, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and other illnesses.

A military insider told PREMIUM TIMES that the two men were intercepted by men of the 112 Task Force Battalion as they tried to cross from Anadawa village to Minari on motorcycle.

The troops, who mounted a roadblock at Kasasewa village, trailed the suspected terrorists to Anadawa and quickly opened fire on them after realising they were fully armed.

The two suspects, our sources said, died on the spot with troops recovering two FN rifles and 18 rounds of 7.62MM NATO ammunition from them.

Also recovered was a three-page shopping list which suggested the men were travelling to procure massive consignments of drugs, and other medical supplies.

Among the drugs listed for purchase were cartons of Viagra, used for treating erectile dysfunction, and MMC Sex Men, a known libido enhancer.

Also listed for purchase were three cartons of Maxman coffee enhancer for men as well as Viamax power coffee, known for increasing sexual desire in men.

The list also included an order for capsules that could be used to treat gonorrhoea, a venereal disease involving inflammatory discharge from the urethra or vagina.

Going by the list, the men also planned to procured various kinds of injectables ranging from oxytocine to anti-tetanus.

Several kinds of syrups were also listed for purchase.

The Nigerian Army had in September 2015 said it usually find condoms, hard drugs and sex-enhancing drugs in camps captured from Boko Haram insurgents by its troops.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement at the time that the findings underlined the militarys belief that most Boko Haram militants were not grounded in Islam and were not driven by Islamic ideology.

Mr. Usman, a colonel, said a lot of insurgents so far arrested could not even recite the Quran, the holy book of Muslims.

He said those arrested by troops of Nigerian Armys 3rd Division turned out to be suppliers of hard drugs and other stimulants to terrorists.

Mr. Usman said, You will recall that sometimes ago we reported that ironically most of the Boko Haram terrorists captured by Nigerian military cannot read the Holy Quran, some of them cannot even recite the first chapter- Suratuh Al-Fatiha and yet they claimed they wanted to establish an Islamic State.

When the Nigerian military captured their bases and training camps, they never found Quran or other Islamic books. What were mostly found were ammunition, local charms, condoms and all sort of drugs including sex enhancing ones in their enclaves.
The kidnap on Sunday of Nigerias former minister of foreign affairs, Bagudu Hirse, in Kaduna was that of mistaken identity, a witness has said.

The ex-minister, who was in Kaduna on a condolence visit over the death of former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, was kidnapped at the gate of Mamman Daura, a nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, along Inuwa Wada road in Kaduna.

A victim of the attack, who was travelling with the minister, Samuel Pukat, said the abductors actually came for Mr. Daura.

Mr. Pukat, a relation of Mr. Hirse, and some witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident occurred around 9:35 a.m. on Sunday.

Mr. Pukat, in a telephone interview with our reporter, said the kidnappers stormed the residence of Mr. Daura in two Toyota Corolla cars and dispersed all the security details at the house.

He said the kidnappers were eight in number, four in each of the two vehicles with sophisticated guns.

We were right by Baba Mamman Dauras gate on a visit to condole him over the death of former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki.

The ash Corolla car of the kidnappers rushed and blocked our car as the gate to the house was opened for us to enter.

We had already written our condolence note to be handed to Baba (Daura) whom we were told was getting ready to go out for an appointment; before one of his aides identified us and asked that we be allowed in to see Baba(Daura) as soon as he finishes taking his bath.

Then all of a sudden, the kidnappers in an ash colour corolla car rushed and overtook our car, four masked gunmen jumped out of the car and made for the compound.

One of them from the second Corolla car behind us shouted at the other group to come back. He pointed at Baba (Hirse) who was ordered to come down from the car.

They mistook Baba (Mr Hirse) for Baba Mamman Daura because he is putting on the same traditional white native dress Baba(Daura) usually wears, Mr. Pukat said.

Continuing, Mr. Pukat said the kidnappers started shooting sporadically into the air.

They kicked me with their hard boots and I fell inside culvert as they abducted Baba (Mr. Hirse) and his driver.

What surprised all of us was that the security details at Baba(Daura) residence fled the scene scampering for safety with all other people around when the kidnappers pulled over and started shooting sporadically in the air, he said.

Sources, including Mr. Pukat, said Mr. Daura was in the House with the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Baba Gana Kingibe.

They said the three men were visibly disappointed with the action of the security details.

In fact , it is even the ordinary civilian gate man that came and closed the gate after the incident, Mr. Pukat said.

He also disclosed that the abductors were yet to contact the family for any possible ransom demand.

Another witness said the kidnappers asked Mr. Hirse to get into their car. He initially resisted and was trying to seek further explanations from them, the witness said.

At that time, people started approaching the scene, so one of the kidnappers raised the gun he was holding and made to shoot but it did not fire, he tried it the second time and it failed, but the third time, a shot rang and people ran for their lives. The whole thing was like a movie scene, the witness said.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cyril Abeh, and the State Director of the State Security Service arrived the scene after the abduction and were sighted inside Mr. Dauras residence.

Our reporter also observed heavy security around Malali, Ungwan Rimi, and around major roads within the metropolis.

Meanwhile, a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, Monday, said the abductors had made contact with Mr. Hirses family.

Mr. Pukat confirmed the report.

They first reached me; it was Hirses voice that was on the line before the abductors took over, he said.

Mr. Pukat, however, refused to give details of the discussions with the abductors.
The Ebonyi Police Command says it will start impounding and prosecuting drivers of vehicles with factory fitted tinted glasses who have not obtained the newly approved permit.

George Okafor, its Public Relations Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Monday that the new permit, with unique security features, was to prevent hoodlums from using such vehicles for crimes.

According to him, the new permit contains bio data of the car owner which includes the photograph, finger prints, name and date of birth, among others.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on assumption of duty as the new IGP, left no one in doubt on his readiness to fight crime to standstill, hence he came up with the idea of computerised tinted glass permit.

The idea is to enable the police to have vital information about persons being issued with the tinted car permit which will assist in checking usage of such cars for crimes.

Many suspects have been known to hide inside tinted glass cars to commit heinous crimes and this is what the police want to checkmate, Mr. Okafor said.

He said that the command had carried out sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns through radio and television jingles as well as advertisements.

He said that the online registration and issuance of the permit, done at the command headquarters, were free and urged motorists with factory fitted tinted glass to obtain the permit.

Both the online registration and issuance of the permit are done at our headquarters here and I want to use this opportunity to advise people who use tinted car glasses who have not obtained the new one to do so.

We have created enough awareness on the issue and the police want cooperation of the affected people in this regard since security business is everyones business, he said.

The spokesman assured of the commitment of the police in maintaining the peace, law and order during the ember period.

He said that criminals would have no place to operate in the state before and during the Christmas period.

(NAN)
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described social media as a nightmare to image makers because of its disinformation through fake and distorted news.

The minister who stated this on Monday in Lagos at the opening of the 4th Commonwealth Public Relations Congress, noted that image makers in both public and private sectors were victims of the trend.

He, therefore, charged PR practitioners to devise innovative ways to ensure a better, charged-way communication network between their employer and the people.

The event organised by the Management School, London and the Business Education Examinations Council, has the theme Strategic Management of Reputation Risk in an Interdependent World.

Today, anyone with access to a smart phone can put out any information, whether accurate or not, that could go viral in minutes.

No fact-checking, no accuracy, no fairness, no rules. They just spread whatever information catches their fancy, and they have their own public that believes them. he said.

The minister however said that the trend is global, affecting international and local affairs including the recent U.S. elections.

To understand the seriousness of this, there is an on-going debate in the U.S. over the role that disinformation played in the recent presidential election.

Some even accused the social networking site, Facebook, of helping to swing the election in favour of Mr. Donald Trump, through the fake and distorted news spread by websites belonging to those who call themselves Alt-Right, or Alternative Right.

Of course Facebook has denied that. But then Facebook and Google have taken concrete action to check this by seeking to cut off the live wire to these fake news websites, he said.

According to published reports, Google said it will prevent websites that misrepresent content from using its advertising network, while Facebook said its ban on deceptive and misleading content also applies to fake news.

The minister said, locally, the trend has also made the job of government image makers so daunting that it is denying them of sleep.

Government image makers now sleep with one eye opened, thats if we sleep at all, because while we are sleeping, the purveyors of distorted and fake news are busy cooking their stuff.

I cannot count the number of times that I have been removed from the Information and Culture portfolio on the social media in the past year, or that ministers have swapped portfolios, he said.

The minister seized the opportunity to refute the fake report that President Buhari gave $500 million to Hilary Clinton during the U.S. Electioneering Campaign.

Even when the Presidency has denied this outrageous concoction, the so-called analysts and experts have continued to comment on it as if it is true, he said.

In tackling the challenge, the minister said that in addition to radio, television, newspapers and the new media, his ministry revived an age-long practice of Town Hall Meeting to engage people directly and get their feedback on topical issues.

Mike Okereke, a public relations practitioners in a welcome address, said the summit afforded the them (PR practitioners from the Commonwealth) opportunity to exchange ideas on best practices.

He urged participants to adopt positive attitude in the discharge of their duties.

Also speaking, the President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rotimi Oladele, underscored the need for practitioners to build effective policy and implementation of information management.

(NAN)
A former prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Godwin Obla, on Monday asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to declare his continued detention by the commission unlawful.

The EFCC had preferred a 30-count charge of conspiracy to pervert justice for N5 million against Mr. Obla and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court.

The commission had detained the duo in its custody pending the conclusion of its investigations.

On Monday, Mr. Obla through his counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, brought an application, praying the court to declare his continued detention by the commission as unlawful.

In his argument, Mr. Adedipe urged the court to hold that the continued detention of his client and the seizure of his mobile phones constituted an infringement on his rights to liberty and ownership of property.

He said his client, who was once a prosecutor for the EFCC, was invited to the commission on November 8 and was unduly detained till date.

According to him, the phones of the applicant were seized, contrary to constitutional provisions to own property.

The detention of Obla from November 8 till when the EFCC obtained a magisterial order for further detention is a gross violation of his rights to personal liberty, he said.

In his response, the counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the applicants processes for lack of merit.

Mr. Oyedepo argued that the steps taken by the EFCC were allowed by law in the dispensation of its duties.

According to him, intelligence reports showed that the applicant had a company known as Obla & Co Ltd., from which the sum of N5 million was transferred to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia through a company known as Nigel & Colive Ltd.

He said that also following intelligence reports, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia was discovered to be the sole signatory to Nigel & Colive Ltd.

He said the money was transferred to the judge during the hearing of a case before her court with suit numbered as: FHC/L/CS/482/10.

The mere transfer of the money to the judge during the hearing of the case before her clearly showed a mind set to unduly gratify, he said.

He urged the court to hold that there existed a reasonable cause for suspicion by the commission.

The applicant even agreed that there was a communication between him and the judge, he said.

On the issue of undue detention, Mr. Oyedepo argued that on November 8 after the applicant was detained, investigations could not be concluded and so, on November 9, an application was brought before a magistrates court, for a remand order.

He said the court was empowered by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, to grant a remand order for 14 days, adding that the order was given in the presence of the applicant.

He argued that the applicant did not file any application before the magistrates court for a variation of terms, or even an appeal against its ruling, adding that this court could not sit on appeal over the issue.

On the argument of unlawful detention, Mr. Oyedepo submitted that even the constitution allows for the liberty of individuals to be curtailed, adding that the EFCC acted in line with due provisions of the law.

On the seizure of the applicants mobile phones, Mr. Oyedepo argued that Section 44 (k) of the constitution allows for the temporary taking over of a property, for purposes of inquiry, adding that such right was qualified.

He, therefore, urged the court not to allow it to be used as a shield against lawful prosecution.

Justice Mohammed Idris fixed judgment for November 25.

(NAN)
An Abuja high court on Monday fixed November 24 for hearing in a motion on notice filed by former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged violation of his fundamental right.

Mr. Mohammed, former minister under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since October 25 following petitions against him.

The former minister, through his counsel, Chris Uche, brought a motion of violation of fundamental human right against EFCC for detaining him for four weeks.

He also sought the order of the court for EFCC to release him on bail and also to award N100 million damages against EFCC.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, Mr. Uche told the court that his client had been in custody of the EFCC for four weeks now.

Mr. Uche then prayed the court to attend to the matter urgently, noting that motion for the enforcement of his clients fundamental right was filed on November 16.

The prosecuting counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, informed the court that the applicant was in the custody of the EFCC following an order of an FCT high court on November 9.

He said the order would expire on November 23 and that the applicant was detained because he was jeopardising investigation.

Mr. Ezekiel said that the applicant was being investigated on many petitions against him on several financial and fictitious contracts he signed while in office.

After hearing the submissions from the counsel, Mr. Baba-Yusuf adjourned until

November 24 to hear the motion, if the applicant is not released on bail before then.

(NAN)
Nuhu Ibrahim, a Nigerian medical student at the Nims University, India, on Sunday won the Global Youth Awards 2016 at the Third World Youth Conference in India.

Mr. Ibrahim was recognized by the conference for the work of his foundation, Alabura Foundation, in Bauchi State and other parts of north-east Nigeria.

The foundation provided healthcare facilities to lacking communities and persons displaced by violence in north-east Nigeria.

Youth organizations from 97 countries around the globe attended the ceremony this year.



The 22-year-old Mr. Ibrahim is an indigene of Bauchi State and is currently in the Nims Dental College, University of Nims, India.

Appreciating the recognition, Mr. Ibrahim called on youth groups to intensify efforts in helping the less-privileged people living in their communities, especially on health-related issues.

Im glad that most of the youth leaders across the globe present in the conference are inspired with the Alabura Foundation activities. I also encourage those who havent started community work in their various countries to start.

My advice to all is that: Set your mind and start working on any of the sustainable development goals, so that no one should be left behind, Mr. Ibrahim said.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed December 13 for the continuation of trial of a former acting Director General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, alongside others, facing a N304.1 million fraud charge.

Mr. Jauro, who assumed leadership of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in acting capacity in July 2015, is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He is standing trial alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd on 19 counts, bordering on the offences.

They were arraigned on April 12, and had pleaded not guilty to the charge, while the court had admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

The suit, which was scheduled for continuation of trial, was stalled on Monday, following the absence of the trial judge, Mojisola Olatoregun.

No reason was given for her absence.

The prosecution and defence counsels were present in court, and the trial is now fixed for December 13.

At the last adjourned date on October 24, the defence counsel had informed the court of his clients intention to enter into a plea bargain with the EFCC.

This position was also confirmed by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, who told the court that the accused had approached the anti-graft agency to explore a bargain option.

The court had then adjourned the suit for a report on the process.

Mr. Jauro assumed leadership of NIMASA, after an erstwhile Director General of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also being prosecuted alongside others for an alleged multi-billion naira fraud, was removed.

The EFCC accused Mr. Jauro and others of conspiring among themselves to defraud NIMASA to the tune of N304.1 million between January 2014 and September 2015.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused converted the sum to their own use.

The prosecution told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

(NAN)
An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Monday granted bail to Supreme Court Justice Sylvester Nguta, with a bond of N100 million.

Mr. Nguta was arraigned before Justice John Tsoho on Monday for alleged fraud and concealing evidence of corruption.

He is among seven judges arrested by operatives of the State Security Service on October 8, after a midnight raid on their residences by the SSS.

After pleading not guilty to the 15-count charge, the judges lawyer, Kanu Agabi, asked the court to admit his client on bail.

The prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun, objected to the bail application, saying Mr. Nguta was capable of interfering with witnesses and concealing documents that could incriminate him.

The trial judge, John Tsoho, said the application was also allowed based on self recognizance, since the defendant was in court and given his status as a Supreme Court Justice.

Mr. Tsoho said although allegations of culpability in impeding cause of justice have been made against the defendant, his court was not aware of any official document revoking his administrative bail, based on the alleged offences.

He added that it was important for the prosecution to maintain the honour of consistency.

Mr. Tsoho urged the prosecution to give the defendant the benefit of doubt on any material inconsistencies.

The trial judge said although the circumstances alluded to may have made the bail application cumbersome, the essence of justice would be defeated if his court sets aside the presumption of innocence.

It is my view that it will defeat the essence of justice to prevent the accused from attaining to his bail, with regards to the allegations. I hold the respective view that the offences are bailable, Mr. Tsoho said.

The case has been adjourned to December 7 for hearing.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Monday held a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari few days to the governorship election in the state.

Mondays visit is the second in recent weeks by the governor who is the chairman of the governors forum of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mr. Mimiko, who arrived the villa at about noon, went straight into the presidents office for a closed-door meeting.

The meeting lasted for about 30 minutes.

After meeting with Mr. Buhari, the Ondo governor then headed to the office of the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, where he also spent another 30 minutes.

Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after emerging from the meetings, Mr. Mimiko said he was in the Villa because he sensed a security threat in Ondo State.

As the chief security officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to inform Mr. President of what is going on in the state, he said.

The governor, however, refuted the rumour going round that he plans to cross-carpet to the All Progressive Congress, APC, following the Appeal Courts decision which did not favour his faction of the PDP on the rightful candidate for the November 26 poll.

The rumours became rife over the weekend after Mr. Mimiko went to receive Mr. Buhari who visited the state for a campaign rally on Saturday.

According to the governor, protocol demands that he accords Mr. Buhari the normal courtesies as the president of the nation irrespective of his mission there.

Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesies of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC.

I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesies that protocols demand.

And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state.

On whether the PDP is planning to form another party due to its current crisis, he said: I am just concentrating on the case of my party in court.

Mr. Mimikos favoured candidate to succeed him, Eyitayo Jegede, is challenging Jimoh Ibrahim for the PDP ticket.

A high court had declared Mr. Ibrahim, a member of the Ali Sheriff faction of PDP, the authentic candidate.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear on Tuesday if the Appeal Court has the right to continue hearing Mr. Jegedes appeal.

Should the Supreme Court rule in the affirmative, the Appeal Court will then decide on who the right candidate is leaving the PDP with little or no time to convince the electorates.

The PDP has since called for a postponement of the election, a call rejected by INEC and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Asked what would happen if his favoured candidate wins at the Supreme Court, Mr. Mimiko said: the whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident.
The Police Command in Abuja on Monday said it rescued 10 persons kidnapped by a gang of hoodlums in Darka village in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, Abuja.

The victims are Fanus Emmanuel, Babangida Emmanuel, Akimmi Dauda, Japheth Kwasu, Dorcas Shuaibu, Kemuche IK, Hamza Yunusa, Umar Godiri, Ismaila Yusuf and Abubakar Gomo.

A statement issued by the Commands spokesman, Anjugurin Manzah, stated that eight of the victims were rescued on November 19, while the remaining two were rescued on November 20 in Toto and Karu in Nasarawa State.

Mr. Manzah noted that the rescue was made possible by a joint operation by the Police Mobile Force, Operatives of the commands Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, SSS, Nigerian Army, and NSCDC.

The spokesman stated that the stronghold of the assailants who specialised in raiding remote villages at night and robbing the villagers of cash and other valuables and kidnapping was destroyed during the operation.

He added that an operative of the NSCDC, Anumudu Uche, who took ill, died during the operation.

He recalled that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Muhammadu Mustafa, had reassured residents and affected villages of the commands massive deployment to forestall a recurrence.

He said concerted efforts were in place to arrest the dislodged hoodlums.

(NAN)
Voters in Ondo State are going to the polls on Saturday, November 26 to elect a new governor that would take over from Olusegun Mimiko, whose tenure expires in February 2017.

Although 28 political parties are featuring governorship candidates for the coming election, the Ondo State governorship debate holding at the BTO Hall, Ilesa Road Akure, will tonight have in attendance governorship candidates from four political parties.

The candidates are Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy; Jimoh Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party; Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress and Olu Agunloye of of the Social Democratic Party.

The debate is jointly organised by Channels Television, Enough Is Enough (EIE), and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Organisers say candidates are expected to answer questions on the economy, corruption, and a host of other issues agitating the minds of the citizens of the state.

The candidates are also expected to use the platform to sell themselves to the electorate, and educate them on their plans for the development of the state.

For many Ondo citizens, the debate, which would be shown live on Channels TV, might be the only opportunity to know the candidates well enough in making up their minds on whom to vote for on Saturday.

We will be serving you snippets of the debate, which starts at 7 PM.

Debate about to begin.

Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of EiE, explains the rationale for the debate, saying the tradition of debate is gaining ground in Nigeria.

She said her team was disappointed in the Ondo government which refused the use of state assets for the debate.

She accused the government of refusing to allow the debate hold at The Dome while the states broadcast stations also declined to air the debate.

Three of the four candidates invited have been called up to the podium.

They are Olusola Oke of the Alliance For Democracy, Jimoh Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party and Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party.

The fourth candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress is absent.

Organisers hope he will change his mind and attend.

National anthem over, candidates are making introductory remarks.

Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV is moderating the debate.

Olusola Oke: I have been in politics for 31 years. I only changed party last year when the ship of the PDP was nosediving. I left for the APC.

APC promised us transparent primary, but its primary was the most fraudulent and because of what I stand for, I had to move to the Alliance for Democracy.

I believe the Almighty I will win the election. Let the election be free and fair. If the election is conducted fairly and freely, and I lose, I will congratulate the winner. But if its not free and fair, I will challenge it.

Jimoh Ibrahim. I brought live to the PDP. Mimiko recently joined the PDP. Im the oldest papa of PDP in this state.

A vote for me is a vote in hope, a vote in stability, a vote in justice.

Im not a spoiler, Im a developer.

Olu Agunloye: The political situation in this country is in a state of flux. We are yet to reach stability. The President of this republic contested four times on the platform of different political parties.

In my case, I hate injustice, and whenever I see injustice, I fight it.

Olusola Oke: The good people of Ondo State are sponsoring my campaign

Tinubu is not funding my campaign. Our paths dont cross. He is APC, Im in AD. Those saying he is funding my campaign are either ignorant or mischievous.

Jimoh Ibrahim: Im a businessman. I have no business interest in Ondo State and there will be no conflict of interest.

There is a court judgment concerning Newswatch and you cant say Im the owner of that paper and that Im owning salaries.

I have been honoured by this country three times. I buy dead companies and raise them up.

Im employing 31,000 Nigerians, paying their salaries. So Im a very successful businessman.

AGUNLOYE: Chief Falae did not get money from NSA  Agunloye says.

Olu Agunloye defended the national leader of the SDP, Olu Falae, saying he did not collect any money from the NSA as alleged.

He said the money received was for the party which entered into agreememt with the PDP for the 2015 presidential campaign.

Jimoh Ibrahim promises to create companies and provide employment, saying it would take just three days to create a company.

The government has no business privatizing companies in Ondo a State, he said.

Agunloye promises to pay backlog of salaries in the first few months of taking over office. He added that his government would make the welfare of the people a priority.

Olusola Oke says unemployment in the state has assumed an epidemic proportion.

He says he does not know how many unemployed graduates in the state, but said there is a huge number of unemployed graduates in the state.

Jimoh Ibrahim says he will eradicate all forms of taxes in the state. Personal Income Tax, he says, will be eradicated.

He says, We should be talking of innovation in revenue, not federal allocation.

Oke assures that in three months, citizens will begin to see changes in the economy of the state.

He says he will not eradicate personal income tax because it is statutory.

Agunloye says IGR presently means extorting money from citizens in form of taxes without providing services.

He promises to move away from that and ensure the government provides services that will generate revenue.

No more tax in Ondo from the very day Im sworn in as governor  Jimoh Ibrahim

Olu Agunloye: The recession in Ondo State is about corruption. We have no business with recession.

Jimoh Ibrahim insists he will eradicate personal income tax. You dont take money from workers who are owned salaries for several months, he says. We are going to eliminate personal income tax.

On minimum wage:

Issues surrounding minimum wage is fraud, Agunloye says. He said the increments are irregular and fraudulent.

Agunloye says he will ensure pensioners get paid without difficulty. He says corruption is causing poverty in the state.

Jimoh Ibrahim promises to increase minimum wage immediately he is sworn in.

He also says he will increase pension.

He says there will be money to do that.

Olusola Oke says increasing minimum way is not feasible given the huge backlog of salaries owed workers of the state. He says for one year of his administration, increasing minimum wage will not be on his agenda.

Jimoh Ibrahim promises to increase minimum wage from N18,000 to N75,000.

He says with N2billion coming from grants, N2.5billion coming from Ondo Oil, regularly, he will be able to pay the money. You cannot change things with workers who are hungry, he says.

Agunloye promises free education at primary and secondary education.

Olusola Oke promises free education at primary and secondary levels.

Jimoh Ibrahim says free education is a must at all levels. He said 100 schools will be converted to boarding houses.

Agunloye says he will be tough on insecurity and ensure cattle rearing is regulated.

Jimoh Ibrahim says five percent of gross allocation to the state will be given to traditional rulers for local security and ensure development in their areas.

Jimoh Ibrahim says security vote is a fraud, saying he will not spend government funds to protect himself while his people remain vulnerable.

Olusola Oke says security votes will not be abolished.

He says he will retain the fund, but reduce amount. He promises to be transparent and accountable in the administration of the security votes.

There are things the governor does on security that cannot go through the bureaucracy, he said.

On herdsmen, he says he will summon a stakeholders meeting to discuss the matter.

Jimoh Ibrahim knocks federal government over state of economy, says the balance of trade has become negative, as he defends the PDP government of Segun Mimiko.

He says, PDP has not done very bad in the last eight years.

Olusola Oke promises to publish annual budget of the state. He says the budget is a public document accessible to citizens.

He however says he will not publish budget on security.

All aspects of the budget and economy of the state will be made public, says Agunloye. Corruption has been a problem, we will not have a situation where things are hidden.

Olu Agunloye turns down request by Oke to align with him, to become governor, as he responds to a question by Oke. He says there might be need for unity government after the election because Ondo is in crisis.

I am the next governor of Ondo State, Jimoh Ibrahim says.

Debate ends as candidates shake hands and embrace one another.
A civic group has asked the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to protect whistleblowers at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In its petition to the NHRC, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, condemned the decision of the governing council of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, to sack three whistleblowers.

The victims spearheaded a petition to the anti-graft agency, EFCC, against the Vice Chancellor of the university, Olusola Oyewole.

The affected whistleblowers are Lasun Somoye, Abdulsalaam Sobbor and Bimbo Bankole. They accused Mr. Oyewole of misappropriation of funds and abuse of office.

The EFCC is currently investigating the allegations and has questioned some of the accused officials including Mr. Oyewole.

The university council also dismissed another 18 staff of the institution.

While the allegations were still being investigated, the vice-chancellor suspended the three petitioners indefinitely.

Their suspension ignited a strike by the non-teaching staff of the university that has continued since August.

It was after the suspension that the governing council sacked them.

In a petition signed by its national chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC made reference to a November 12, report of PREMIUM TIMES, where the sack of the whistleblowers was revealed.

The group also made reference to a statement by the workers union, SSANU, condemning the sack of the staff.

It urged the NHRC to protect the rights of the whistleblowers.

Meanwhile, the university has also warned the other members of the non-teaching staff to return to work or face sanctions.
A rights group, Muslims Rights Concern, has advised a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, not to destroy his legacies by accepting the N200 million mansion approved for him by the state assembly.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC advised Mr. Oshiomhole to reject the mansion.

The group said, The Edo State House of Assesmbly last week voted a N200 million mansion for the immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

While the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) acknowledges the contributions of former governor Adams Oshiomole, we frown at the sycophant note in the state Assemblys decision to give him a N200 million mansion as a parting gift.

When will Nigerian politicians get it right? Why must the occupation of public office attract the accumulation of wealth? Coming from a labour background, even Comrade Oshiomole himself was never known to be materialistic. Neither did he manifest any love for pomp and pageantry while in office. Must the honourable members coax him into their club of politicians who have arrived?

A nation in recession cannot afford such luxury. Can the Benin lawmakers tell us that the ex-governor has no house of his own? Has he been sleeping on the streets since he left government house? We commend the governor for not owing workers salaries but can the legislators beat their chests and tell us that Edo State is not owing arrears of pensions?

Has Edo State settled the 42 months arrears of pensions? Do the lawmakers know what it means to retire and get nothing at the end of the month for three and a half years? It means many retired civil servants and teachers are dropping dead on the streets of Benin. Must the lawmakers give the former governor a mansion haunted by the ghosts of pensioners?

MURIC advises the honourable members of the Edo State House of Assembly to spend the N200 million earmarked for the former governors house on paying pensioners arrears.

Oshiomole is not a poor man by any standard. Neither can he be homeless at this point in time. The good news is that Abuja is very keen on drafting him into the Federal Executive Council. He has performed well. Let us not smear his good name with wrongful possessions.
Kayode Ibrahim, the engineer supervising section one of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction/rehabilitation contract, by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, said that the project was 32 per cent completed.

Mr. Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday that work had been completed on one section of the Long Bridge and on various critical sections.

NAN reports that section one of the projects is from Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange and is being handled by Julius Berger.

The engineer said more warning signs and crash barriers had been deployed to the highway to ensure free flow of traffic and check accidents.

We will complete the repair of the long bridge by December 15 and we will complete all palliatives to make the road motorable before the Yuletide.

The entire project is 32 per cent completed. We have done earthworks, laid asphalt and base course, done culverts and drains on various changes between Redeemed Camp and the Sagamu Interchange.

We have constructed trapezoidal drains, rectangular drains and retaining walls on various portions and also laid polymer modified asphalt on various shoulders. We are working massively on various portions, he said.

A NAN correspondent on inspection of the highway with the inspection team of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, reports that the highway is free from the usual traffic logjam as at press time.

Tack coat (binding material for asphalt) was being laid on a portion of the outer lane of the popular Long bridge.

Earthworks and laying of asphalt were also ongoing on various points as the committee members made intermittent stops to raise questions.

(NAN)
The Rouge River Gateway Trail extension is now open, following a celebratory Nov. 17 ribbon-cutting,

The trail extension allows walkers, runners and bicyclists to traverse the paved path from Ford Field Park all the way to Hines Park, through natural areas and the campuses of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College.

The extension moves the trailhead to Ford Field Park, where users are strongly encouraged to park. The park provides ample parking and safe, easy access to the trail.

The original trail has been extended about 1/3 of a mile. It now stretches behind the Andiamo restaurant, off Michigan Avenue, on an elevated boardwalk. It continues past the restaurants west parking lot and along the wooded tree line through the Dearborn Historical Museum property.

From there, it connects to the existing sidewalks and bike lanes on Brady Street and ultimately to Ford Field Park.

The enhancement to the trail was made possible by a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, a grant from Michigan Department of Transportation, and city contributions.

Thousands of walkers and bicyclists have used the original 2.16-mile paved trail since it was first created in 2005. It wends through natural areas on the banks of the Rouge River and includes two attractive pedestrian bridges, as well as runs through the campuses of The University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College.

Along the route, visitors pass the Henry Ford Estate, Environmental Interpretive Center and extensive picturesque natural areas, including a 300-acre mixed-habitat Environmental Study Area, habitats that include one of the few remaining climax beech-maple forests in southeastern Michigan and the Rouge River Bird Observatory. More than 250 species of birds have been spotted in this longest-running full-time urban bird research station in North America.

The trail system, open daily dawn to dusk, includes land owned by Wayne County and City of Dearborn parklands. It also connects with the bike path on Edward Hines Park, north of Ford Road, and goes on to Northville for a total of 19 miles.

Source: City of Dearborn
Deadlines for submitting legal briefs and an evidentiary hearing date have been set in the federal lawsuit by five Margate homeowners trying to block a dune-building project near their beachfront homes.

A decision on whether to issue an injunction stopping the dune project may come soon after the hearing Dec. 13, said Jordan M. Rand, of Dilworth Paxson in Philadelphia, attorney for the homeowners.

He said the federal court laid out a schedule Friday morning giving defendants, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection, a deadline of Nov. 28 for submitting briefs.

His clients must have their second brief in by Dec. 2, Rand said.

Then the court will hold the evidentiary hearing Dec. 13, Rand said.

"The court typically acts pretty quickly" on this type of case, he said.

A previously set hearing for the morning of Nov. 30 has been cancelled, said Rand.

State and federal officials had said the project would start this fall and be finished sometime next summer. The project would build new dunes in Longport, Margate and southern Ventnor and replenish other dunes in Ventnor and Atlantic City.

The suit contends the plan to create 12.75-foot elevation dunes about 20 feet out from Margates bulkhead would create drainage problems on the beach block, allowing water to pool behind dunes and in street ends.

The homeowners allege the projects current design for Margate would create health hazards, odors and standing water at their doorsteps.

The low bidder on the entire project from Longport to Atlantic City was Weeks Marine Inc., at $63.1 million for the base and $76.1 for all the options, including additional sand and work on outfall pipe extensions, Army Corps spokesman Stephen Rochette said.

Rochette said Friday no contract has been awarded, but he could not comment further because of the pending litigation.

The homeowners involved in the suit are Steven Erlbaum of South Barclay Avenue, Frank Binswanger Jr. of South Iroquois Avenue, John Turchi of South Sumner Avenue, David Boath of South Fredericksburg Avenue and Ron Cohen of South Argyle Avenue.

The dune construction would be paid for by the federal government, while the replenishment part of the project in Ventnor and Atlantic City will require the typical split of 65 percent from the federal government, about 26 percent from the state and about 9 percent from the local government, Rochette has said.
Egg Harbor Citys Peace Pilgrim, born Mildred Lisette Norman in 1908, is known worldwide for giving up her name and all her possessions to walk the country promoting peace, but hasnt yet been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

A local group that promotes the teachings of Peace Pilgrim is asking South Jerseyans to vote for her at njhalloffame.org by the deadline of Nov. 27.

Competition is stiff for induction, with just 50 people from all historical eras nominated in five categories each year. Most are from North Jersey.

Long the most densely populated state in the nation, sometimes it seems that almost everyone famous lived in New Jersey at one time.

This year Peace Pilgrim is one of 10 notables nominated in the Public Service category, including such major historic figures as Aaron Burr, the third vice president who shot and killed Alexander Hamilton; Molly Pitcher, the Revolutionary War heroine from Trenton; and Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence for whom Stockton University is named.

She is also facing more recent figures such as the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who was born in Trenton; and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who was born in Cape May.

Peace Pilgrim had walked the country for 28 years, starting in 1953. She stopped counting the miles in 1964 after hitting 25,000, she said. She never carried food or money but ate what was freely offered to her as she walked, and slept on the side of the road if a bed was not offered to her.

She was killed in a car crash in Indiana in 1981, while being driven to a speaking engagement just before her 73rd birthday.

Peace Pilgrim was first nominated in 2014, but under her birth name, so was overlooked, said Barbara Reynolds, of Stafford Township, one of the leaders of Peace Pilgrim 100.

The hall did not nominate Peace Pilgrim last year, so this is the first time she is nominated under the name she was known by, Reynolds said.

Inductees will be announced in December.

Its all with the intention of spreading her message of peace, since she cant be here walking the country, said Reynolds.

The other categories include Arts and Letters, Enterprise, Performing Arts, and Sports. Voters can select one candidate in each category.

Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania houses a collection of Peace Pilgrims writings in its Peace Library, and the International Friends of Peace Pilgrim keeps her message alive around the globe. The group distributes her book, Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words, and her pamphlet, Steps Toward Inner Peace, free of charge to anyone who asks.

For more on Peace Pilgrim, visit peacepilgrim.org or PeacePilgrim100.com/.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP  A Beachwood man was identified late Sunday as the person killed in a small plane crash Saturday night in Bass River State Forest.

State Police said William Lindley, 75, was in the plane. Police gave no other details.

Lindley's small plane went missing Saturday night and was found Sunday afternoon by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.

At about 10:55 a.m. Sunday, State Police received calls for the possible downed aircraft, police said in a news release. Troopers from the Tuckerton barracks responded to search.

Lindley's aircraft departed Salisbury, Maryland, on Saturday en route to the Ocean County Airport, police said. It did not arrive as scheduled Saturday night and attempts to communicate with the pilot were unsuccessful, police said. The pilot's cellphone was tracked and police were told the possible location of the plane, police said.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board's Twitter account, the plane was a Ryan Navion A, a single-engine, four-seat plane built by North American Aviation in the 1940s.

State Police spokesman Trooper Alejandro Goez said the plane was located in a heavily wooded area with difficult terrain, requiring the State Police Aviation and Urban Search and Rescue Units to respond.

Goez did not say earlier Sunday evening whether anyone else had been in the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB were on scene investigating.
VINELAND  City officials say they will enforce a notice of unsafe structure that could lead to the demolition of the troubled South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage building.

The building underwent a $500,000 emergency federal project earlier this year to prevent a potential ammonia gas leak, a job that also forced the evacuation of more than 30 nearby residents.

The citys decision to en-force the notice follows its up-holding by the Cumberland County Construction Board of Appeals and despite a Superior Court lawsuit filed by the company in an attempt to have the notice overturned.

We are proceeding, said Michael Benson, the attorney representing the city in the case.

The next step is to reinspect the building in the 500 block of East Pear Street now that tons of ice that covered some walls and ceilings have melted, Benson said. That thaw allows city inspectors to better determine the buildings structural integrity, he said.

The June 7 notice lists the reasons for its issuance as floor, roof, walls not stable.

We dont know what the current condition of the building is since it was thawed out, Benson said.

Benson said the city may seek a Superior Court order to get into the building, charging that company officials are denying the city access.

Company officials couldnt be reached for comment.

The county Construction Appeals Board upheld the notice Nov. 2. Board Chairman William Rafferty said the panel found the city followed the book  the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code  in issuing the notice.

The board also heard testimony from current and former city inspectors who said they found rusted metal stairs, rotted floor planks, corroded steel support beams, main steel support beams being held up by temporary scaffolding and walls left unsupported after being broken through to provide room-to-room access. One witness called the building an accident waiting to happen.

As for the companys lawsuit, Benson said the city considers the legal action to be frivolous.

We feel strongly about that, Benson said.

Problems with South Jersey Ice and Cold Storages building, parts of which are almost 100 years old, were discovered after the company reported possible structural concerns with the building. The company needed to report the problem to the city because the city holds the mortgage on the building through an Urban Enterprise Zone loan.

A subsequent inspection resulted not only in the issuance of the notice but in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency taking action to prevent what it feared could be an ammonia gas leak because of the poor condition of the companys refrigeration system.

The EPA wound up spending about $500,000 on the project, which began July 2 and lasted until late August. The work included removing 9,700 pounds of anhydrous ammonia from the plants refrigeration system. The substance is considered a toxic material that can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts with short-term exposure.

The ice that accumulated inside the building melted during the project.

The EPA said it will recoup the $500,000, which also covered the cost of housing nearby residents who had to be evacuated, from the company.

The unsafe-structure notice gave South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage until July 10 to comply with the demand to vacate or tear down the building, make repairs or provide an engineering report that shows the building is structurally sound.

Benson said the city will still sit down with them and listen to them if they have some plan (about) what theyre willing to do with the building.

Repayment of some of the $550,000 UEZ mortgage loan is also in dispute in Superior Court. The citys UEZ sued the company, owner Mark DiMeo, Hilda M. DeMeo and Crystal Ice-Bridgeton LLC on Sept. 26.

Crystal Ice was a Bridgeton ice house that burned in 2008. Crystal Ice and South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage are part of a company called Hilmark Inc. Hilmarks address is the same as South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage.

According to the UEZ lawsuit, the company failed to make monthly payments of $3,662.75 in April, May, June, August, September and October 2015, and each month through September of this year. Hilmark filed for bankruptcy in 2014, and the defendants were declared in default of that loan in July, the suit states.

The UEZ now seeks payment of the outstanding $464,103.96, along with late fees and interest, according to the lawsuit.
STONE HARBOR  After a month of emergency repairs that diverted traffic through neighboring shore towns, the 86-year-old bridge connecting the borough to the mainland is expected to reopen Tuesday.

Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster estimated the bridge could be open as early as 5 p.m.

A large crack in one of the main girders of the 96th Street bridge was discovered by a county electrical crew Oct. 28, about a week after a state Department of Transportation safety test at the bridge.

Traffic entering and exiting Stone Harbor has been diverted through Avalon and North Wildwood.

At its Nov. 10 meeting, the Cape May County freeholder board approved contracts for emergency repairs to the bridge to Michael Baker International and IEW Construction Group Inc.

Foster said he doesnt expect to know how much the work will cost until next month, as the cost will be based on time and materials.

The repair plan, designed by Baker, included assembling a truss  similar to a Bailey bridge developed by American and British troops during World War II  over the moveable spans. The displaced span was then lifted into place so that the crack could be mended.

Foster said the repairs are complex due to the movable span, which added to the duration of the project. Crews are removing the truss so additional repairs can be made at what is called the toe-end of the movable leaf, Foster said.

The 96th Street bridge was constructed in the 1930s and is one of more than 20 county-owned bridges. It is considered historic because it is the only Rall-type bascule bridge in the state, according to the state DOT.

Foster said the county will explore additional rehabilitation work on the 96th Street bridge.

Were just waiting for the final report from the consultants, he said. This is a permanent repair to the damage that was done at this one girder, but we dont want the same thing to happen at any of the other three girders that make up the movable span.

Previous repairs to the bridge were made in 1983-1985, 1998 and 1999.

In addition to this project, the county is in the midst of a deck rehabilitation on the 34th Street bridge connecting Upper Township and Ocean City. The $6.5 million, two-year project began last month. The first phase is expected to last until May, when the work will halt for the summer and begin again in the fall.

In December, the county hopes to begin the $2.8 million replacement of the 17th Street culvert in Ocean City.

On Tuesday evening, the freeholders are expected to vote on a contract for abutment repairs at the two bridges between Stone Harbor and North Wildwood.

Foster rated the countys bridges overall as in fair or satisfactory condition. He said the biggest problem for the county-owned bridges is they are generally very long and costly to repair.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Pat Morrison walked arm-in-arm with her husband, Bill, into Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation on a recent Wednesday.

Bill may not have remembered why they were there that afternoon, but he got a good idea when he was led to an activities room where he would paint paper leaves and create a Thanksgiving wreath during his participation in the Memories in the Making program.

On the surface, the Alzheimers Associations Memories in the Making may seem like just an art program for people affected by Alzheimers disease and other dementias. But when paired with a concurrent caregivers support group, it becomes a lifeline for families going through a difficult time.

In the art sense, its amazing to see what they are thinking while theyre painting or doing the craft. They can communicate that way, said Diane Conover, Royal Suites marketing director and registered nurse. But with the support group, one person says something that another needs to hear.

Nearly 30,000 people in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties are affected by Alzheimers or a related disorder, according to the Alzheimers Association Delaware Valley Chapter. Alzheimers is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

Bill Morrison, a former employee at Caesars Atlantic City, was diagnosed about five years ago with dementia, which then progressed to Alzheimers disease, Pat Morrison said.

He sat at a table beside others with similar diseases that affect memory and cognition and painted paper leaves brown, green, red and orange with the help of volunteers and program coordinators. The art projects vary during the yearlong program.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Pat Morrison talked with her fellow caregivers, sharing stories about how she was doing, what daily life looked like, what kind of problems she was having with Bill and what kind of successes she was having.

Web-based service helps families locate wandering seniors Being lost in an unfamiliar place can be scary. Getting lost in a place youre supposed to k

We hit a milestone recently. Bill turned 90, and we had a big party with friends. There were decorations and balloons all over the place, said Pat Morrison, of Egg Harbor Township. He had a wonderful time, even when he looked confused and didnt know who was who.

The free Memories in the Making program provides an outlet for people with dementias to express themselves, and it gives the caregivers an hour to unwind and not have to worry about the safety of their wives or husbands.

An hour may not seem long, but for those who hold the 24-hour job of caring for a loved one with Alzheimers or dementia, its a much-needed break.

Marlene McPherson and her husband, Edward Mac McPherson, received the news two years ago that his memory was declining from Alzheimers. A year ago, he forgot how to do some simple daily tasks such as buttoning a shirt or shaving, but he still recognized his wife and was lucid enough to learn about his disease.

Savvy Senior: What's normal, and what's not, with forgetfulness? Question: At age 76, my husband has become forgetful lately and is worried he may have Alzhe

Today, he lives on the third floor of Royal Suites and his disease has progressed. Marlene McPherson, of Atlantic City, still attends the support group, even when Edward doesnt go to the art program, and she always makes sure to spend time with her husband.

Id recommend this program for anyone caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimers disease, she said. I come here, and I can get the support I need while Mac paints about things he loves. I keep everything he makes in a box at home, and Ill always have them now.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




LONDON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Civil Engineering at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has received full accreditation for all its programmes from the Joint Board of Moderators, making it the first Sino-British university in China offering JBM-accredited programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees levels.

All the department's degree programmes, including a newly-launched masters programme, are now accredited until 2018 when reaccreditation will be sought.

The JBM is a formation of the four major UK professional accreditation bodies in the field of civil engineering and is comprised of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Institute of Highway Engineers.

"Accreditation from the JBM is proof that our programmes meet the quality standards established by the civil engineering profession," said Dr Chee Seong Chin, head of the Department of Civil Engineering.

For students who choose to study the department's civil engineering and architectural engineering undergraduate programmes, the accreditations means that by the time they graduate they will have partly or fully completed the academic requirements for becoming chartered and incorporated engineers. They will then have fewer further qualifications to gain before achieving these important professional milestones.

"For students wishing to become engineers, completing a JBM-accredited course provides a fast-track route to professional status and ensures the quality of the education they receive," added Dr Chin.

Upon graduation, all XJTLU undergraduate students, including those studying civil engineering programmes, receive two degree certificates, one awarded by the University of Liverpool and one awarded by XJTLU.

The JBM's accreditations cover both the University of Liverpool and the XJTLU-awarded programmes, under the provisions of the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

Dr Chin said: "No matter which degree, the University of Liverpool or the XJTLU award, students can be confident that our undergraduate programmes are an excellent foundation from which to progress to becoming chartered and incorporated engineers."

At postgraduate level, the department's MSc Sustainable Construction and the newly-launched MSc Civil Engineering programme have been accredited as 'technical' programmes, covering both current and future students' degrees until 2018.

Founded in 2006, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is the largest international joint venture university in China, a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. Our vision is to become a research-led international university in China and a Chinese university recognised internationally for its unique features.

SOURCE Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Over 600 teachers, principals and educational leaders from around the world gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, last week for the International Conference on Changes and Innovations Supporting Education in the region, organised by the Azerbaijan Teacher Development Centre in cooperation with The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).

With its theme "Empowering Learning", the conference came on the heels of the opening of the Azerbaijan Teacher Development Centre (ATDC), which was founded by TEAS.

"We are very pleased that the opening of our centre was followed by this high-level international conference," said TEAS Chairman, Tale Heydarov. "The importance of teachers cannot be overstated. For the development of any nation, the quality of schools and the quality of teachers is most important. The better the teachers, the better the students, the better the future of the country."

The two-day conference brought two leading educators to Baku: Bill Martin from the United States and Deb Masters from New Zealand.

"Azerbaijan as a nation understands that the teacher is the most important part of the system," Martin said. "That if they train regular teachers to become expert teachers, they will be successful."

To do that, willingness to change is key, according to Deb Masters. "If you don't like change, don't be a teacher," she said. "And if we can exhibit to kids that even the teachers are learners, we're actually modelling what we're saying is important."

Azerbaijan is familiar with change. A former Soviet republic, the country is celebrating 25 years of independence this year. Yet some old habits of the Soviet education system have prevailed.

"We're at times still struggling, because some teachers teach the way they did in Soviet times," said Chinara Nur, a teacher trainer at ATDC. "And that's the issue. You are not being operated today anymore by a doctor with 30-year-old knowledge. You want an up-to-date surgeon, you want new equipment. It's the same with teachers and classrooms."

That teaching is life-long learning was pointed out by Parvana Guliyeva, who teaches English at the European Azerbaijan School in Baku. She stressed the dramatic educational changes in her country over the past quarter century. "In my childhood, teachers taught in traditional ways. The classroom was very teacher-oriented," she said. "Today it's very different, because our classrooms are student-centred. Teachers are just an invisible guide in the classroom."

SOURCE Azerbaijan Teachers Development Centre
LONDON, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.

("BCRE" or the "Company")

Transactions under share buyback programme

Following the share buyback programme as announced on 3 June 2016 and extended on 14 September 2016 (http://www.brack-capital.com), the Company announces that it has repurchased 43,750 of its own shares at a price of 1.20 per share on 18 November 2016.

The total number of shares repurchased under the share buyback programme is shown in the table below.

Date Number of shares Total consideration 18 November 2016 43,750 EUR52,500.00 17 November 2016 50,000 EUR62,000.00 26 October 2016 175,000 EUR175,000.00 7 July 2016 11,000 EUR12,100.00 6 July 2016 26,750 EUR29,425.00 15 June 2016 45,000 EUR45,000.00 7 June 2016 1,275,665 EUR1,122,585.20 Total 1,627,165 EUR1,498,610.20

ENQUIRIES:

BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.

Ariel Podrojski, Chief Executive Officer

Nansia Koutsou, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer, +31-20-514-1004

Novella Communications

Tim Robertson

Toby Andrews, +44-203-151-7008

About BCRE

BCRE is an international real estate development and investment group, headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Through its subsidiary and associated undertakings, the Company is interested in, develops and operates an international portfolio of real estate assets, predominantly located in the USA, Germany and Russia.

The Company has established local management team platforms with significant local market expertise in the US, Germany, Russia, India and the UK with exclusive access to over 550 staff. At present, the Company has offices and teams in New York, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Moscow, Kazan, New Delhi, Amsterdam and Limassol.

This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire.

SOURCE BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.
CAIRO, Egypt, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Egypt has long consumed more sugar than it produces, plugging the gap through imports. With nationwide shortages of the country's main staple, white sugar has become somewhat of a must-have luxury item.

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But life in Egypt's sugar industry is soon destined to become much sweeter. Enter Egypt's Al Sharkiya Sugar Manufacturing S.A.E. - "Al Nouran" - and the sector's dynamics are about to change.

True to its characteristic low-key and strategic forward-looking approach, Al Nouran is addressing the country's deficit by building the largest sugar plant in the MENA region, with the objective of filling the country's sugar gap, in various stages.

Al Nouran's USD 360 million sugar plant will begin operating its first of four production lines of 14,000-ton beet per day, by Spring 2017.

Sprawled over an area of 1.8 million square meters in Al Sharkiya governorate, the plant is master-planned to include four production lines, closing the current one million sugar deficit in Egypt, and venturing into exports.

"Al Nouran's plant will reduce Egypt's reliance of imported sugar by up to 25% from the first production line," says M. Ashraf Mahmoud, Chairman and CEO, "and 100% with the completion of our fourth line. This is unprecedented both in Egypt and the region."

The company also plans to expand with sugar integrated industries such as bioethanol from molasses - a byproduct of sugar production which is currently an export product in Egypt - as well as other high value products such as yeast and vinegar.

Al Nouran is staged to be a regional leader in sugar production and trade. True to its low-key and forward-looking approach, the company is redefining investment and stability in a global climate that is in dire need of sweet optimism.

Cairo, Egypt: Randa Edward, REdward@Alnouran.com , +2(0)102-66-66-432

http://www.alnouran.com/en/

SOURCE Al Nouran
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today that the company has taken full ownership of the former joint-venture operations of F&N Agro in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. FMC will now operate as FMC Agro Ceska Republika Spol. S.R.O., based in Prague, and FMC Agro Slovensko spol. s r.o., based in Bratislava.

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The former joint venture companies were founded in 1997 and sold FMC, Nufarm and third party crop protection products in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In April 2015, FMC acquired Cheminova and has now consolidated its commercial operations throughout Europe. FMC has acquired all Nufarm shares in F&N Agro Ceska Republika and F&N Agro Slovensko.

"We have broadened the FMC portfolio of crop protection products through the acquisition of Cheminova while continuing to invest in our robust product development pipeline, both in new synthetic innovative patented active ingredients as well as unique biological products that are well suited for the Czech Republic and Slovakia agricultural markets," said Marc L. Hullebroeck, president, Europe and MEA, FMC Corporation. "This intensive research effort will enable FMC to introduce value-added technologies and solutions to our customers in the years to come."

About FMC

For more than a century, FMC Corporation has served the global agricultural, industrial and consumer markets with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. FMC acquired Cheminova in April 2015. Revenue totaled approximately $3.3 billion in 2015. FMC employs approximately 6,000 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in three segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions, FMC Health and Nutrition and FMC Lithium. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.

Related Links

http://www.fmc.com



SOURCE FMC Corporation
American Well utilizes video, mobile, and web technologies to ensure continuous access to the healthcare network. Its average wait time is less than five minutes, which is much preferable to the time required to schedule and travel to the doctor's clinic. Prior to the Exchange, American Well rolled out AW9, its enterprise software platform that presents enhanced scheduling tools, guidelines to treat entire populations, and the ability to invite more doctors to a visit. Also notable are the Telemed Tablet functionality called the pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera, and an app that permits patients and doctors to take photos and send them to consulting partners.

"The reliability of American Well's solutions can be leveraged to support a wider array of medical providers and their patients, as the solution scales up to support more participants," said Frost & Sullivan Principal Analyst Victor Camlek. "The Exchange combines an outstanding mix of high-quality technology, numerous healthcare providers, and innovative thinking to stoke wider acceptance of telehealth as a mainstream medical service delivery channel."

The company made a strategic decision to emphasize video as the primary technology for most of its services; in fact, it conducts 95 percent of its virtual visits in this format. This enhances the personalization and diagnostic capabilities of a medical evaluation. Its other value-added services include real-time patient data that can be integrated with the electronic medical record (EMR); 'Ask Me', a feature that allows doctors to be potentially available without having to commit to an appointment; mobile pre-visit review and post-visit wrap-up; and mobile secure messaging.

American Well stands out for the quality of service offered by its platform and participating physicians, as well as quality of components, which relates to the caliber of the institutions participating in the Exchange program. Its attractive price/performance value, based on the way the participating institutions approach their business model, has further enhanced its appeal among a new generation of telehealth consumers.

"At the simplest level, the Exchange can be positioned as a new healthcare access alternative to patients who do not want to be confined to a specific provider network. The service may also be positioned as a way to reach experts that were previously unreachable or simply not known to the healthcare consumer," noted Camlek. "Either way, there is little doubt that it is a revolutionary network with tremendous potential to supply extended medical treatment and options that are far more extensive to the ones currently available."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the greater ROI, which, in turn, improves customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: chiara.carella@frost.com



Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Rigorous procedures, deep understanding of client expectations, and a highly responsive company structure help the company outpace competition

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the contact center outsourcing nearshoring services market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Teleperformance with 2016 Latin American Market Leadership Award for excellence in capturing the highest market share in the industry. Leveraging organic growth, selective acquisitions, a diversified portfolio, and customer proximity, Teleperformance has consolidated its footprint in Latin America.

"The regional opportunities for outsourcing companies to capture a large segment of the US bilingual market are unprecedented, and Teleperformance is strongly positioned in Latin America to take optimal advantage of nearshoring needs," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Juan Gonzalez. The operations that began in Latin America in 1998 through the acquisition of companies in Brazil and Argentina have grown over the years to include Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In 2015, Teleperformance added to its integrated network of offshore/nearshore contact centers with Paramaribo, Suriname, to serve the Dutch market and Georgetown, Guyana, to serve the North American market.

Several factors have come together to make Teleperformance a regional and global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management. The company has tremendous brand strength, boasting over 58,000 employees across 11 countries. The talented and stable professional team is bolstered by a highly qualified and seasoned management, robust technology systems, and strategic excellence.

Teleperformance's quality services are the result of internal control systems including TOPS (Teleperformance Operational Processes and Standards) and BEST (Baseline Enterprise Standard for Teleperformance), and compliance with business and management standards such as COPC (Customer Operations Performance Centers) and ISO 9001. Standardization of procedures enable Teleperformance to make its global network internally consistent, while providing greater control over its operations.

"Teleperformance's offering is based on high-performance technology characterized by integrated networks and excellence in terms of HR management and security standards," Gonzalez said. "The company has developed Teleperformance Client, a multichannel platform with the necessary requirements to deliver a seamless experience to customers. All of the channel platforms are integrated with their own workforce management system, guaranteeing high performance and quality."

Security is another strong area for the company. Teleperformance uses best practices to block the introduction of malware, protect personal data, and detect and prevent intrusions. Proprietary tools such as TP SECURITY and TP POLICY allow for close monitoring of agent transactions and ensure regulatory compliance. These are critical service expectation parameters considering Teleperformance has one of the most diversified portfolios in the industry that includes financial services, technology, telecom, Internet and pay TV, healthcare, insurance, energy, and media.

"Teleperformance currently attends to several larger US firms from its delivery centers in Latin America, and its volume of services has significantly increased; in 2015, the company was the nearshoring market leader with a 17 percent share and nearly double the revenues of its closest competitor," Gonzalez said. "The company is expected to maintain its forward momentum, driven by customer loyalty. As of 31 December 2015, the average length of a customer relationship was between 10 and 12 years."

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: chiara.carella@frost.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441222LOGO

Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Company to Increase Focus on Solutions as Regulation Reshapes the FX Market

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GTX, the institutional foreign exchange trading arm of GAIN Capital Holdings Inc., today announces the appointment of Edward Brown as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTX SEF, LLC, a Swap Execution Facility (SEF).

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Mr. Brown joins with over 25 years' experience in the financial services industry. Previously, he headed strategic initiatives at EBS BrokerTec, having also served in a variety of senior roles in ICAP's electronic trading division. While there, Mr. Brown focused on regulatory matters related to OTC derivatives with a particular emphasis on the Dodd Frank Act and served as a Board Member of the Wholesale Market Brokers' Association Americas. Prior to ICAP, Mr. Brown headed new business development at BrokerTec, which was acquired by ICAP in 2003. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mr. Brown served five years in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer.

"We are thrilled to have Ed join our team, especially at this key time when regulation is reshaping the FX markets," said Vincent Sangiovanni, Director, GTX SEF, LLC. "We look forward to supporting clients with the SEF and other solutions to enable them to compete effectively in the new trading paradigm."

GTX launched its SEF in 2013 at the request of clients seeking to trade non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) on a CFTC compliant platform. It was granted full SEF registration in May 2016 after operating under temporary registration status for over two years.

"I am excited to be joining the GTX team and work with both clients and staff to deliver highly innovative and intuitive solutions for the evolving FX trading, clearing and regulatory landscapes," said Mr. Brown. "GTX's unique ecosystem of electronic trading venues and voice agency execution services provides tremendous value to institutional FX traders and I look forward to driving the business forward."

In addition to SEF and ECN electronic venues, GTX provides anonymous, "voice" agency execution services through GAIN GTX LLC, a US CFTC provisionally registered swap dealer.

About GTX

GTX operates electronic trading venues and provides agency execution and clearing services for buy and sell-side institutional FX market participants.

GTX provides an array of electronic and voice trading solutions through its various entities including an ECN, prime services, a Swap Execution Facility for NDF trading, and a Registered Swap Dealer, which facilitates trade executions on an agency basis. Clients include banks, hedge funds, CTAs, fund managers, proprietary traders, brokers, and algorithmic trading firms.

For more company information, visit www.gaingtx.com.

About GAIN Capital

GAIN Capital (NYSE: GCAP) provides market access and trade execution services to a diverse client base of retail and institutional investors across a range of exchange-traded and OTC markets. Founded in 1999, the company today supports customers in over 180 countries via several globally recognized brands, including FOREX.com, City Index and GTX.

GAIN Capital is headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, with a global presence across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.

For more company information, visit www.gaincapital.com.

Related Links

http://www.gaincapital.com



SOURCE GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc.
BERLIN, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

World's best architecture students celebrated at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin

The VELUX Group is proud to announce the two global winners of the International VELUX Award 2016 for Students of Architecture:

Redistribution of Light by Kwang Hoon Lee, Hyuk Sung Kwon and Yu Min Park, Republic of Korea. This project was the winner in the Daylight in Buildings category and looked at the semi-underground spaces in Seoul city which emerged in the 1970s as air-raid shelters. As the population grew, the spaces transformed into illegal housing. They are characterised by small, eye-level windows that admit very little light. The project suggests how daylight to the interior spaces by day, and artificial light to the narrow roads by night, can both be amplified.

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The jury found this project highly viable. It presents a simple solution to a real challenge, making use of a very simple intervention of the cubic, sliding window prism. The project is beautifully illustrated and the presentation of the idea and the use of the sliding prism is convincing.

Light for the Blind by Jiafeng Li, Chenlu Wang, Guiding Yao, Jiebei Yang, Lushan Ao, Xiaoqi Chen and Jiawen Li, China. This project was the winner in the Daylight Investigations category and looked at Synaesthesia - a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second. The idea of the project is to change the way people usually experience light - with their eyes - to 'feeling' it with their hands. It considers how blind people would be able to feel a world with light and enjoy the beauty of light and shadow, legible in surfaces as braille.

The jury found this to be a very intelligent project in the way it develops its idea; from understanding that loss of sight increases the acuity of other senses, to the search for a material that responds to light by expanding and retracting. The proposal offers a clear idea that is beautifully presented.

The International VELUX Award aims to inspire students of architecture to consider daylight as a principle source for the health, well-being and joy.

The global winners were presented together with the overall winners in the professional architects' categories at the World Architecture Festival's (WAF) closing gala in Berlin on 18th November.



About the Award

The overall theme of the International VELUX Award 2016 for Students of Architecture is "Light of Tomorrow." Launched in 2004, this year's award seeks to challenge the future of daylight in the built environment by inspiring creative explorations on the themes of daylight in buildings and daylight investigations from the world's leading future architects.

The distinguished award jury - featuring Omar Gandhi, Christine Murray, Zbigniew Reszka, Francesco Veenstra and Per Arnold Andersen - selected the two global winners after reviewing nearly 600 project submissions from 57 countries earlier this year and ten regional winning projects that were presented at the World Architecture Festival on 18 November.

"The global winners of the International VELUX Award 2016 offer dynamic and creative solutions that embody the "Light of Tomorrow" theme and widen the boundaries of daylight in the built environment. Students of architecture continue to inspire us with their appreciation for daylight and inventive ideas to create better living environments, healthy homes, good learning spaces and inspiring workplaces," says Per Arnold Andersen, head of the International VELUX Award.

Images and Film from the International VELUX Award 2016

Download images and films from the global winners' award ceremony here: press.velux.com

About the VELUX Group

For 75 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights as well as a range of decoration and sun screenings, roller shutters, installation solutions and intelligent home controls. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally - with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 40 countries and around 9,500 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family.

For more information about the VELUX Group visit http://www.velux.com

For more information about International VELUX Award visit iva.velux.com

Contact: Jim Daniell, Media Relations Manager, VELUX Group Mobile: +45-29-38-02-38, jim.daniell@velux.com

SOURCE VELUX Group
LONDON, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Markham Rae is pleased to announce that Peter Davies has joined our Distribution team. During his time at Man Group, Peter was joint head of GLG's investment marketing team. Prior to this he ran discretionary portfolios for Consulta, a London based family office. Peter began his career with Deutsche Bank as a credit trader and is a CFA charter holder.

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Kerry Duffain, Head of Distribution commented - "Peter joins us at an exciting time, when we are expanding into new markets. He brings outstanding technical skills together with a deep knowledge of absolute return strategies and we are delighted to welcome him to the company."

Peter Davies, Business Development Manager - "I am delighted to be joining the Distribution team at such an exciting stage in the company's development. Markham Rae's specialist strategies target returns that are truly market agnostic and have delivered valuable performance. The approach to investing and client engagement sets the firm apart, and I look forward to working towards its continued growth."

About Markham Rae

Markham Rae is an absolute return manager. Our clients are corporate and local authority pension funds, insurance companies and family offices located around the world, currently in the UK, European and Canada. For more information visit our website http://www.markhamrae.com. Markham Rae LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is a signatory of the Hedge Fund Standards Board and the UNPRI.

Contact: kerry.duffain@markhamrae.com

SOURCE Markham Rae (UK) Ltd.
ABI Research Pins LTE as the Fastest Growing Small Cell Type

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ABI Research's latest research on outdoor small cells predicts a healthy 38% CAGR through 2021. As networks grow beyond coverage to addressing capacity through densification, mobile network operators (MNOs) find that deploying small cells is one of the most effective ways to boost network capacity in high traffic urban and suburban areas.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO

"MNOs on every continent, such as China Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone, among others, are now investing in network densification," says Nick Marshall, Research Director at ABI Research. "The results of this can be seen in the ramp of small cells this year."

Last year, the challenges of backhaul, power, permitting and siting, which previously stalled small cell rollout, were overcome with Small Cells as a Service (SCaaS) solutions from vendors and infrastructure owners, including American Tower, Crown Castle, Ericsson, and Nokia. Several of these companies report in 2016 earnings calls that Small Cells-related revenue is now growing strongly quarter-on-quarter.

This year, LTE small cells are the fastest growing small cell type in the market driven by venue and dense urban deployments. ABI Research forecasts the number of LTE small cells shipped to double in 2016 and by a similar factor each year after as MNOs put in place the framework for 5G deployments. In 2021, the value of LTE small cells equipment will represent almost 70% of the small cell equipment market.

The Asia-Pacific regiongiven its large size with 4G deployments in South Korea and Japan, as well as the large LTE and growing networks in China and Indiawill represent almost 50% of the worldwide small cell equipment market by 2021.

These findings are from ABI Research's Outdoor Small Cell Forecast (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/product/1025040-outdoor-small-cell-forecast/) report.

About ABI Research

ABI Research stands at the forefront of technology market research, providing business leaders with comprehensive research and consulting services to help them implement informed, transformative technology decisions. Founded more than 25 years ago, the company's global team of senior and long-tenured analysts delivers deep market data forecasts, analyses, and teardown services. ABI Research is an industry pioneer, proactively uncovering ground-breaking business cycles and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info: Mackenzie Gavel Tel: +1.516.624.2542





pr@abiresearch.com

Related Links

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SOURCE ABI Research
The Proxi-Module platform is the first of its kind - a modular and configurable system enabling customers to adapt and integrate wireless power effortlessly into their products.

It achieves the highest power density of any solution on the market, with a maximum end-to-end efficiency of 91%. Its innovative design and unprecedented performance reduces power and heat losses. It also offers advanced Foreign Object Detection (FOD) for increased safety, Dynamic Pairing for instant and automatic connector mating and Proxi-Com (optional) for all commonly used data communication protocols.

"The Proxi-Module is going to transform the wireless power industry," said Fady Mishriki, CEO of PowerbyProxi. "In the past wireless power solutions were limited by their inflexibility as bespoke products. What worked for one application was seldom a direct fit for another."

"Our goal was to increase the accessibility of wireless power for our customers by delivering a solution with superior adaptability, flexibility and ease of integration. All at a very compelling price. Now, with so many configuration options on offer and many more in the pipeline, customers can easily tailor wireless power for their specific needs," said Mishriki.

The Proxi-Module is CE and RoHS certified and FCC compliant, enabling customers to quickly implement wireless power into their products without any added uncertainty and cost.

"We have already delivered a number of pre-production units to selected customers, across a wide range of applications with different power/size and performance requirements. The feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive," said Mishriki.

The Proxi-Module is initially being released for power transfer up to 100 watts, with future higher power versions and new configuration options already in the pipeline. This solution joins PowerbyProxi's existing portfolio of turnkey products offering safe, reliable power transfer from 1 watt to 1 kilowatt, but at a significantly lower cost.

Technical specifications and information on purchasing the Proxi-Module system are available on the PowerbyProxi website, or by contacting PowerbyProxi directly.

About PowerbyProxi

Building on over a decade of ground breaking research PowerbyProxi was founded in 2007 as a spin-out of the University of Auckland's world leading wireless power center of excellence. We design and develop safe, high efficiency and high density wireless power technology. We take our technology to market through licensing partnerships in consumer electronics markets and direct end product sales in non-consumer electronics markets. We solve mission-critical problems in demanding, hostile industrial environments where the delivery of consistent power is imperative. For more information visit: www.powerbyproxi.com

William Pryde

william.pryde@powerbyproxi.com





Related Links

http://www.powerbyproxi.com



SOURCE PowerbyProxi
DUBLIN, Nov 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Welding Equipment Market (Arc, Laser Beam, Resistance, Oxy-Fuel): Analysis By End-User, By Region, By Country (2016-2021)" report to their offering.

The global Welding Equipment Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 7.21% during 2016-2021.



A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of global welding equipment market on the basis of Technology (Arc welding, Resistant welding, Oxy fuel welding, Laser Beam welding and others), By End-Use Industry (Building & Construction, Automotive & Transportation, Marine sector, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defence and Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World); By Country (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, China, India, South Africa and Brazil).



Rising construction and manufacturing activity worldwide, growth in automobile and construction industry, increasing demand for energy and the emergence of friction stir welding technology are the key factors fuelling the growth of Welding Equipment Market.



But shortage of skilled labour, slow adoption of advanced welding technologies and slow growth in marine and defence industry is one of the biggest restraints faced by this industry. Growing construction and manufacturing activity, changing dynamics of the manufacturer, growth in automobile and construction industry, increasing demand for energy and the emergence of friction stir welding technology has surged the need for more manufacturing activities that is further driving the market for Welding Equipment. With the high demand for energy in the nations across the globe, there has been an increase in exploration activities leading to growth in the market for Welding Equipment Market.



Companies Mentioned:



Daihen Corporation

ESAB

Fronius International GmbH

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.

Obara Corporation

Panasonic Corp.

ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc.

Sonics and Materials, Inc.

voestalpine AG

Report Structure:



1. Research Methodology



2. Executive Summary



3. Strategic Recommendation



4. Global Welding Equipment Market: An Overview



5. Global Welding Equipment Market



6. Global Welding Equipment Market: By Technology (Arc Welding, Oxy-fuel Welding, Resistance Welding, Laser Beam Welding, Others)



7. Global Welding Equipment Market: By End User Industry (Building & Construction, Automotive & Transportation, Marine sector, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defence and Others)



8. Global Welding Equipment Market: By Region



9. North America Welding Equipment Market



10. Europe Welding Equipment Market



11. Asia Pacific Welding Equipment Market



12. RoW Welding Equipment Market



13. Market Dynamics



14. Value Chain Analysis - Welding Equipment Market



15. SWOT Analysis - Welding Equipment Market



16. Porter's Five Forces Analysis - Welding Equipment Market



17. Policy and Regulatory Landscape



18. Company Profiles



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lj9xrk/global_welding

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



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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The continuously increasing importance of denim in the apparel industry in Vietnam brings out another edition of Denimsandjeans shows at HCMC in June 2017. With the first Denim Show in Vietnam launched by the Denimsandjeans.com team from India, the second edition in June 2017 brings some of the leading denim jeans and fabric companies besides chemical, accessory and other suppliers in the denim supply chain. Over 50 companies from Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and some other countries are expected to participate in the show.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/802397 )



Vietnam exported about $27 billion of apparel and textiles in 2015 and is expected to grow to $30 billion in end of 2016. Denim is increasingly taking a share in these exports. "Vietnam is one of the fastest growing denim destinations globally and through our denim shows we enable the International Denim Industry to see the immense potential of this important denim sourcing location," said Mr Sandeep Agarwal , Founder of Denimsandjeans.com.

The first and the maiden international denim show in Vietnam was held in June 2016 by Denimsandjeans and the second edition with the theme Street Style seeks to highlight the importance that denim holds in the realms of street play. The trend area, the booths and the whole look of the show would reflect the importance of denim in Street Styling.

Ever since the Denimsandjeans.com website was setup in the year 2007, there was always an endeavour to bring out knowledge sharing and business developing platforms in some way or the other. Sandeep Agarwal - the founder - was inspired to start this website to share denim knowledge with the world. It further led to launch of the first denim shows in Bangladesh and Vietnam. The company has also launched De-Brands: the first online denim show (http://www.onlineshow.denimsandjeans.com) at their portal and are enabling the buyers and suppliers to interact for business online.

The show is invite only and buyers can register at http://www.vmshow.denimsandjeans.com/invite.php to get their invitations.

About Denimsandjeans.com

Denimsanjdeans.com is a premium fashion website dedicated to the denim industry and has been serving for last nine years. The reports published by the website are considered as on the most credible source of information in the denim industry.

Contact:

Dhairyakant Mishra

info@denimsandjeans.com



SOURCE Denimsandjeans.com
SAN FRANCISCO, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global wind energy foundation market is expected to reach USD 241.14 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing concerns over depleting petroleum resources has resulted in influencing growing demand for renewable energy. Increasing global population and industrialization have become major factors for moving towards non-conventional resources.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 )



Wind energy is gaining momentum over the past few years on account of major capacity additions owing to the declining prices. Recently there have been dramatic reductions in costs on account of increasing research and development. Growing demand for expansion of electricity generation and access is expected to be a major driver for the industry over the forecast period.

Climate change and global warming are major factors responsible for the increasing focus on wind power and harnessing this power for the future generations. The demand for wind energy foundation was USD 73.46 billion in 2015.Approximately 100 countries have managed to build several commercial wind farms.

Strong government initiatives and subsidies for the development of renewable energy is expected to be crucial factor for growth of the industry over the forecast period. The Paris agreement of 2015 was a major step in moving towards harnessing sustainable and clean energy.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Wind Energy Foundation Market Analysis By Location {Offshore By Type (Mono-Pile, Jacket-Pile, Gravity, Suction, And Tripod), Onshore By Type (Raft, Pile, And Well Foundation)}, By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific) And Segment Forecasts From 2013 To 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/wind-energy-foundation-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Offshore wind energy foundation segment is expected to witness revenue growth at a CAGR of 14.9% from 2016 to 2024. Offshore wind turbines have large power capacities and are now being installed even in deep water.

In the offshore category, mono-pile foundation accounted for 35.6% of the global market share in 2015 and it was the largest in offshore category. Increasing need to secure energy security and growing concerns about onshore wind farms is a major factor propelling expansion.

Onshore wind energy foundation market was valued at USD 52.01 billion . The onshore category has dominated the foundation market over the past several decades owing to reasonable cost for installation.

. The onshore category has dominated the foundation market over the past several decades owing to reasonable cost for installation. Asia Pacific market was valued at USD 27.45 billion in 2015 and will witness significant gains over the forecast period on account of continuous increase in installation capacity in countries such as China , India and Japan .

market was valued at in 2015 and will witness significant gains over the forecast period on account of continuous increase in installation capacity in countries such as , and . North America is a major market for foundations owing to the availability of best wind resources coupled with low prices as compared to other countries. Countries such as Brazil will open present new opportunities for propelling growth over the forecast period.

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dye-sensitized-solar-cell-market

Solar District Heating Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/solar-district-heating-market

Nuclear Energy Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/nuclear-energy-market

Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/offshore-support-vessel-osv-market

Grand View Research has segmented the global wind energy foundation market by site location and region:

Site Location outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Onshore Mono-Pile Jacket-Pile Gravity Suction Tripod Offshore Raft Pile Well Foundation Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) North America U.S. Europe Germany UK France Asia Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa (MEA)



Access research insight: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/research-insights/wind-energy-foundation-market-insight

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Read Our Blogs - grandviewresearch.com/blogs/energy-and-power

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 1APP today announced general availability of OneOS, the first cloud-based mobile operating system that enables instant access to native mobile apps without the need to download. By rendering an app as a simple weblink, apps can be instantly accessed, embedded, or shared inside any web-connected environment. Existing apps can be uploaded to the 1APP cloud in a process that takes just a few minutes and makes these apps instantly available on any platform including iOS, Android, Windows and more. In addition to enabling instant access to apps, 1APP allows apps to be discovered and used in context during the natural course of a user's mobile activity, including being delivered and launched inside messaging and social apps, listed in search results or embedded as fully functional apps within other relevant apps.

"We built 1APP to help companies attract more users profitably by opening up new discovery and distribution channels. By deploying apps through OneOS, apps become instantly accessible leading to higher consumption and engagement with audiences. For most apps this may be the only way they will ever get used," said Raheel Hasan, co-founder and CEO of 1APP. "The last ten years have seen tremendous advancements in mobile hardware as well as the breadth and the number of available apps, but how people get and use apps has not seen any innovation. It is still the same old process, you have to go to the store, find the app, decide if it is worth installing and then download it. While the rest of the mobile ecosystem has progressed, the outdated app store paradigm is creating a tremendous amount of friction, thereby limiting app usage and holding back developers and consumers alike. That's why we created OneOS."

Whether it's a messaging app, social network or music streaming service, any mobile app that users spend time in can now embed other relevant apps as a natural part of their users' interaction. For example, embedding apps that sell concert tickets inside streaming music apps. This enables consumers to engage with more content, make transactions, and access and act upon related services. By moving apps to the cloud, 1APP can take over app features and functionalities including payments, notification and social graph, and migrate these elements towards alternative providers. Enabling features such as direct payments grants platforms the flexibility to choose the best providers for their audience and their business models. In addition, 1APP's OneOS approach to apps provides better security, no exposure to malware, and no use of device hard drive storage.

"It's no surprise that China's biggest messaging app WeChat has seen such great success with their app-within-an-app model. It's become a destination for consumers to connect, engage and transact not only with each other, but with products and services as well. Through 1APP, we are enabling any developer or platform with a mobile audience to launch a WeChat-like ecosystem immediately," added Hasan.

The need for the "unstore"

1APP was founded on the premise that instant access to apps, delivered wherever and however users want, is the next manifestation of mobile. According to comScore, nearly half of all smartphone users in the US download zero apps per month. Of the apps they do use, smartphone users spend an astonishing 45 percent of their time in a single app, and nearly 75 percent of their total time is spent on just three apps.

"451 Research believes these constraints, combined with the explosive growth and lack of interoperability between mobile apps, are pushing the limits of the app store distribution model," wrote Raul Castanon-Martinez, Senior Analyst at 451 Research. "These limitations have a major impact on the end-user experience, and have become significant challenges for developers and users. 1APP seeks to improve app discovery and distribution with an approach that works outside the app store model."

"We've seen this nexus point before, when the need for access shifts from transactional in nature to continuous. Netscape brought instant access of information to the Internet, YouTube and Netflix brought instant access of television and movies to consumers and Spotify and Pandora delivered instant access of music. Google also has acknowledged the need for instant access to apps with the announcement of a service for Android devices that it calls "Instant Apps," which will require businesses to update their apps. 1APP is bringing instant access to apps today on all platforms including iOS, Android and Windows," added Hasan.

About 1APP

1APP is completely changing the way mobile apps are discovered and used. Through its proprietary cloud-based mobile operating system OneOS, 1APP makes apps instantly usable on any connected device. Now anyone with an audience has the power to instantly deliver full-featured native apps directly to their customers, leapfrogging the challenges of discovering and downloading from the app store. Through 1APP, apps can be instantly accessed, embedded, or shared anywhere through a simple weblink. Founded in 2012 by veteran cloud developers, 1APP is a privately held company based in Menlo Park, California. For more information about 1APP, please visit https://www.1app.com/

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161109/437578LOGO

SOURCE 1APP

Related Links

http://www.1app.com


ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHA) announced today the release of its 2016 Continua Design Guidelines, including the addition of important new features for consumers, developers and healthcare providers. This latest release features new guidelines for an insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor and pulse oximeter, making the Continua Design Guidelines the only complete solution for connected diabetes management.

New features of the 2016 Continua Design Guidelines include:

simplified access to device data

new services that improve the user experience

an improved framework for remote management

clarifications of terminology to aid in implementation

"We are especially pleased to announce the completion of our diabetes suite of guidelines, making Continua the only advanced, interoperable solution for individuals to effectively manage their diabetes using health technologies," said Patricia Mechael, PhD, Executive Vice President, PCHA. "Publishing and promoting adoption of the Continua Design Guidelines is an important step toward our mission of empowering consumers to take charge of their health and wellness and better communicate with their health providers, caregivers and social networks through the use of wearables, trackers and apps."

2016 marks the ten-year anniversary of the Continua Design Guidelines, which are recognized as an international standard for personal health systems through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the standards-setting body within the United Nations. Published annually by PCHA and available to the public free of charge, the Design Guidelines define an open, flexible framework for simple, end-to-end connectivity (interoperability) of personal connected health devices and systems, enabling the convenient exchange of health data for improved health, wellness and disease management.

"With the additions and enhancements to the 2016 Design Guidelines, we anticipate an improved plug-and-play experience for consumers using Continua certified devices, reduced costs for healthcare providers and developers through the facilitation of new services and, importantly, broader availability of Continua certified products in the marketplace," said Horst Merkle, President and Chairman of Continua; and Director, Information Management Systems, Diabetes Care, Roche Diagnostics. "We are grateful for the dedication of our working groups sponsored by our member companies in meticulously preparing and testing the 2016 Guidelines."

The Continua Design Guidelines are built on the principles of authentic interoperability, open development, flexibility and market consensus to facilitate anytime, anywhere health and wellness. Standards underlying the Continua Design Guidelines include the IEEE 11063 Personal Health Devices family of standards; Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) PCD-01 standards, and HL7 Personal Health Monitoring Report. By certifying products to the Continua Design Guidelines, companies opt in to the personal connected health economy and demonstrate their commitment to customers.

Certification to the 2016 CDGs will become available by the end of 2016 for both the devices and services interfaces.

The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHA) works collaboratively with health, technology and life sciences, public policy, research and advocacy groups to support a new norm of personal health engagement, positive behavior change and improved wellbeing and health outcomes. PCHA is focused on driving the agenda, creating an evidence base and mobilizing collective action to achieve personal connected health for all. PCHA hosts the annual Connected Health Conference, an international forum and expo for networking and showcasing advancements in research, innovations and opportunities in personal connected health. PCHA is a division of HIMSS and home to Continua, which publishes the annual Continua Design Guidelines. Continua is recognized as the international standard for user friendly end-to-end interoperability of personal connected health devices and systems.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161019/430743LOGO

SOURCE Personal Connected Health Alliance

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STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited ("Aircastle" or the "Company") (NYSE: AYR) announced that it closed a $135 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of Asian financial institutions led by DBS Bank Ltd. of Singapore, which served both as the sole transaction arranger and as a lender. The facility has a three-year term and will provide working capital for general corporate purposes, including aircraft acquisitions.

Mike Inglese, Aircastle's CFO, stated, "This facility, which involves eleven financial institutions from four countries across Asia, is another example of Aircastle's success in broadening our funding sources under favorable terms. It will increase Aircastle's available capacity from unsecured credit facilities to more than $800 million, providing us with significant resources to capture attractive investing opportunities as they arise. We welcome the expansion of our global bank group and look forward to building long-term relationships with these institutions."

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of September 30, 2016, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 186 aircraft leased to 65 customers located in 35 countries.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release, other than characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our proposed public offering of notes and our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our historical performance and that of our subsidiaries and on our current plans, estimates and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. These risks or uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described from time to time in Aircastle's filings with the SEC and previously disclosed under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Aircastle's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Aircastle expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

For more information on Aircastle, please visit www.aircastle.com.

Contact:





Aircastle Advisor LLC The IGB Group Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations Leon Berman Tel: +1-203-504-1063 Tel: +1-212-477-8438 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Aircastle Limited

Related Links

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BURLINGTON, Wis., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning alcohol and health writer, Scott Stevens, releases I can't see the forest with all these damn trees in the way: The health consequences of alcohol December 2. The paperback release follows a new report from the U.S. Surgeon General Nov. 17 that, for the first time, took on the health and economic impact of alcohol use. Alcohol use is a cost driver for the health system because more long-term health consequences from drinking are coming to light while more 'benefits' of drinking are being debunked, Stevens says. "I've championed this theme since my first book in 2010 and in each of the two books that followed."

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161120/441415

The Surgeon General's report has been called 'unprecedented' and a 'landmark.' The author's take: "It wasn't a surprise to me as it, too, pointed out the toll of drinking a toxin and known carcinogen  even moderately. It is the first time a government appointee challenged the most readily available but costliest and deadliest drug in America. It legitimately signals the first shift in alcohol policy since Prohibition was repealed. It wasn't an I-Told-You-So moment though. It was a disturbing moment actually: Most summaries of the report sort of neglected to mention the drug 'alcohol' and instead focused on what the publication could mean for the availability/accessibility of drug treatment.

"They're seeing the forest. Not the trees."

The book will be available for $8.99 at Amazon, other online and bricks-and-mortar booksellers, and the author's website www.alcohologist.com. It is the second 2016 release by the author, preceded by an educational DVD series, The A-Files: Alcohol A-Z.

Each of Stevens's three books includes a chapter on the health fallout of drinking alcohol. "It's not about discouraging drinking, except for the alcoholic. It's about making informed decisions about using alcohol based on evidence-based science. Informed decisions don't come from observational studies and wishful thinking."

The noted journalist on alcoholism is a founding influencer of the world's largest medical portal, HealthTap.com. His books on the disease include 2010's What the Early Worm Gets, 2012's Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud, which earned finalist honors in the Indie Book Awards and USA Best Books Awards in 2013, and Adding Fire to the Fuel, a 2015 USA Best Books Awards Finalist and 2016 Book Excellence Award winner. He also created the Alcohology mobile app. For more information, please visit www.alcohologist.com.

Related Links

Company Website

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShcpJPe0AkM

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE alcohologist.com
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 11, California business owners, CPAs and financial advisors gathered for an exclusive Post-Election Economic, Legislative & Policy Update co-hosted by the Ben Franklin Forum and alliantgroup, a leading tax consultancy and the nation's premier provider of government-sponsored tax credits and incentives. The early morning event included presentations from former IRS Commissioner and alliantgroup Vice Chairman Mark W. Everson, former Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and alliantgroup National Managing Director Dean Zerbe, and alliantgroup Executive Vice President Sonny Grover. Held days after the 2016 election, the event covered a number of topics with regards to legislative and tax policy and how the results of the election would impact these specific areas going forward.

After an initial presentation by Grover on a number of under-claimed tax incentivesand how alliantgroup's services can help businesses identify and claim these incentivesEverson and Zerbe followed up with their post-election analysis. Everson began his presentation by discussing the reasons for and implications of the surprising results of the presidential election, highlighting the success of the Trump campaign's populace and anti-establishment message in attracting rural white voters. Noting a difference in the electoral map with regards to the coasts and the rest of the country, Everson alluded to not only the economic struggles of the rural white working class, but of cultural differences among older voters feeling that the country had changed too quickly over time as driving factors in the election. Referencing several personal anecdotes with voters, Everson surmised that economic and cultural anxieties, as well as anger with the status quo and the political establishment, played a large role in determining the final election results.

"It was a vote of desperation," said Everson. "Until both sides of the aisle face that fact and begin to operate differently, we will have this dynamic and it will have very real ramifications."

Moving from election analysis to its ultimate implications, Everson and Zerbe described the results of the election as game-changing in terms of tax policy and in determining the direction of the country over the next few years. With the electorate clearly frustrated with political gridlock in Washington, and with one party in control of the White House as well as having majorities in the House and Senate, the presenters discussed a major opportunity before the GOP to push much of their economic agenda forward. Specifically, Zerbe was optimistic that a bipartisan deal on tax reform could be reached within the next six months due to its strong support among congressional GOP leadership and the willingness of incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to find common ground. According to Zerbe, it was because of Schumer's efforts that the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, a major tax deal passed at the end of last year that extended or made permanent a number of pro-growth initiatives, saw the light of day. Due to the makeup of the incoming Congress, an electorate hungry for bipartisan action and the political capital that comes with a new administration during its first year in office, Zerbe expressed his optimism for a path forward on tax reform.

"Schumer I think will do a lot to change the current climate," said Zerbe. "It won't be at all times or on all issues. There will be areas where people just disagree, but on taxes and other issues, they'll work on a bipartisan basis."

Digging deeper into the details of what tax reform might look like, Zerbe implored the audience to examine closely the ideas put out by the House Ways and Means Committee and the bipartisan plans laid out by the Senate Finance Committee's tax working groups. Among the provisions to potentially be included in broader tax legislation would be a reduction of the ordinary income top rates down to 33 percent, slashing the corporate tax rate down to 28 percent and the removal of the Affordable Care Act's tax raising provisions.

"I would like to thank the Ben Franklin Forum and everyone who took the time to attend this event," said Grover. "Our goal in hosting these conferences is to provide both businesses and our CPA partners with the information they need to stay ahead of emerging economic and policy trends. It is our hope that by doing so, we are offering a path to ensure their continued success."

alliantgroup's mission is one of education and awarenesswe exist to help industry organizations, U.S. businesses and the CPA firms that advise them, take full advantage of all federal and state tax credits, incentives and deductions available to them. Our government has legislated these powerful incentive programs to help businesses grow and successfully compete both in the U.S. and abroad. We are proud to have helped over 20,000 businesses claim more than $5 billion in tax incentives. alliantgroup's headquarters is in Houston, Texas, with offices across the country including New York, Boston, Chicago, Orange County, Sacramento, Orlando, Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.

SOURCE alliantgroup
BOSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Apptopia, the mobile app intelligence provider, today announced its second round of seed funding led by Ashton Kutcher's and Guy Oseary's Sound Ventures. The round of $2.7 million brings Apptopia's total funding to $5 million and included the minds of Mark Cuban, 500 Startups, RTA Ventures, Full Tilt Capital, Telegraph Hill Capital, Expansion VC and more. Several parties, including Mark Cuban, have participated in both rounds.

"We've seen tremendous growth over last year, tripling annual recurring revenue since the beginning of 2016," said CEO Eliran Sapir. "Not only is the sales growth incredible but we're honored that it comes from all-star customers such as Google, Pinterest, Facebook, NBC Universal, Philips, Deloitte, Telerik, Fyber, Airpush, Chartboost, Startapp, SendGrid and many more."

The company has increased its headcount over the last year from 18 to now 42 employees between offices in Boston and Kiev, Ukraine. Sapir says the funds will be invested into making better products with more intelligence to create the next generation platform. "There's so much opportunity in this space still. Our goal is to bring more transparency to the app ecosystem and make it easier for people to both enter and succeed."

"Some things just make sense. In this day in age, companies cannot afford to make decisions without insight and intelligence, especially in ultra-competitive markets like the app economy," said Guy Oseary, Founder of Sound Ventures. "More than the product though, I always say I like to invest in relationships and people. It's so important to have the combination of passion and vision that Eliran and Jon possess."

"I believed in Apptopia and its founders when I initially invested in 2014 and my belief has only strengthened as the company has tripled its revenue just this year," said Mark Cuban. "Having experience with my own app, Dust, I know how important app marketplace intelligence is to big and small developers alike and what that insight can translate into."

Apptopia now has a multi-million dollar annual recurring revenue and recently struck a partnership with CrunchBase.

About Apptopia

Apptopia provides the most accurate app store downloads, revenue, and SDK data for every mobile app and every publisher in the world through intuitive tools. Apptopia was founded by CEO Eliran Sapir and COO Jonathan Kay on the belief that the mobile app community requires transparency to level the playing field and make way for innovation and industry advancements. Mobile publishers and developers, service providers, and investors use Apptopia on a daily basis to understand and monitor competitors, inform business strategies, and identify emerging consumer interests and trends.

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Media Contact:

Adam Blacker

[email protected]

617.963.0965

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SOURCE Apptopia

Related Links

https://www.apptopia.com


"Chris is deeply knowledgeable about every aspect of acoustics and technology systems design," said Arup Principal and Global Team Leader for Acoustics, AV, Theater, and Technology, Raj Patel. "His inventive approach to developing simple, practical, and beautiful designs in a wide range of projects and sectors makes him a highly sought-after consultant. Coupled with the resources of Arup, Chris' wealth of experience and talent will allow him to develop areas of independent research, development, and innovation that will be beneficial to us at both a regional and global level."

Prior to joining Arup, Pollock, who was recognized in Engineering News-Record's "20 Under 40" mid-Atlantic list, was a partner at the acoustical, audiovisual, and technology consulting firm Cerami and Associates, Inc. and an associate principal at Shen Milsom & Wilke, where he established the acoustic and audiovisual design team for the Washington DC office. Working on projects such as the National Public Radio Headquarters, Warner Music Group Headquarters, and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Theatre relocation, where his team worked to bring an acoustical intimacy to the new performance space situated in a lofty, historical building, Pollock's work emphasizes the potential of careful acoustic design. His current interests address the design of acoustic environments with regard to user experience.

"Hearing is such a powerful human sense," said Pollock. "The ability to use acoustics and audio to shape how people feel about and respond to a space is a great opportunitywhether it's in a music or performance space, hospital patient room, spa or relaxation space, or even the home or workplace. Regarding the latter: A few years ago, most of the design discussion was around a top-down desire to enable productivity in the office. Now there is a shift to design that is focused on the needs of the individual to maximize potential. This move toward a more human-centered design approach offers unique opportunities for exploring the intersection of the acoustic environment, technology, ergonomics, and space."

Arup's past work in acoustic design includes Time Inc.'s office design in New York City, Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana, the SFMOMA expansion in San Francisco, and National Sawdust in Brooklyn, New York. Currently the firm is engaged in a number of projects including design work on the American Museum of Natural History, The Alliance of Resident Theaters, Macquarie Bank Fit Out, and Nassau Coliseum, all in the New York City area.

About Arup

The preeminent provider of engineering, consulting, planning, design and technical specialist services in the built environment, Arup aims to do the best quality work across diverse specialties to deliver value to its clients and achieve a positive impact on our world. The firm opened its first US office over 30 years ago and now employs 1,400 people in the Americas. Since its founding in 1946, members of Arup have developed transformative ways of working with its clients. The firm's unique version of employee-ownership promotes long-term thinking and significant investment in research and innovation for the benefit of its clients. For additional information, visit Arup's website at www.arup.com and the online magazine of Arup in the Americas at doggerel.arup.com.

Contact: Tami Hausman

[email protected]

646.742.1700

Contact: Rebecca Maloney

[email protected]

617.412.6632

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SOURCE Arup

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http://www.arup.com


NYSE-MKT: ASM

TSX-V: ASM

FSE: GV6

VANCOUVER, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM: TSX.V, ASM: NYSEMKT: ASM; "Avino" or the "Company") announces it has entered into an underwriting agreement dated November 21, 2016 (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation, as sole bookrunner, and Rodman & Renshaw, a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as lead manager, and certain co-managers (collectively, the "Underwriters"), to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 6,370,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at the price of US$1.57 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$10 million (the "Offering") in Canada and the United States of America. Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share of the Company (the "Common Shares") and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant (the "Warrants"). Each whole Warrant will be exercisable for a period of 36 months after the closing of the Offering and will entitle the holder to purchase one (1) additional Common Share at an exercise price of US$2.00, subject to adjustment.

In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") exercisable, in whole or in part, in the sole discretion of the Underwriters, to purchase up to an additional 955,500 Units at the Issue Price per Unit, for a period of up to 30 days after the closing of the Offering for additional aggregate proceeds to the Company of approximately US$1.5 million. In the event the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company will be approximately US$11.5 million.

The Company has agreed to pay the Underwriters a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including proceeds received from the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on November 28, 2016, subject to obtaining customary TSX.V and NYSE MKT approvals. The Company intends to allocate the net proceeds of the Offering to advance the exploration and development of the Company's Avino Mine and the exploration and development activities on the Bralorne Mine Property in British Columbia, and for general working capital.

The Offering will be made by way of prospectus supplements, dated November 21, 2016, to the Company's existing Canadian short form base shelf prospectus (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") dated November 10, 2016, and U.S. registration statement on Form F-10 dated November 18, 2016 (the "Registration Statement"). The prospectus supplements relating to the Offering (together with the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the "Offering Documents") will be filed with the securities commissions in all of the Provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Offering Documents will contain important detailed information about the securities being offered. Before you invest, you should read the Offering Documents and the other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. Copies of the Underwriting Agreement and the Offering Documents will be available for free by visiting the Company's profiles on the SEDAR website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, as applicable. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement will be available upon request by contacting Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation, attention: Equity Capital Markets, 181 University Avenue, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON, M5H 3M7, email [email protected], or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., 430 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, email: [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Avino:

Avino's mission is to create shareholder value through profitable organic growth at the historic Avino property near Durango, Mexico, and the Bralorne property in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. We are committed to managing all business activities in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate.

On Behalf of the Board

"David Wolfin"

David Wolfin

President & Chief Executive Officer

Safe Harbor Statement - This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our belief as to the expected closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the Offering. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such factors and assumptions include, among others, our ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering and to use the proceeds from the Offering as expected, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers, directors or promoters of with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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 statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors - The information contained herein and incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In particular, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserve". The Securities Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards, unless such information is required to be disclosed by the law of the Company's jurisdiction of incorporation or of a jurisdiction in which its securities are traded. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Disclosure of "contained ounces" is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

Related Links

www.avino.com


MANAMA, Bahrain, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Bahrain launched the fourth phase of its new visa policy, with the announcement of a new single entry visa and one-year multiple reentry e-visa.

The new single entry visa will enable up to two week stay, whilst the one-year reentry visa will allow for a stay period of up to 90 days. A total of 114 countries are eligible for the new visas, including GCC residents.

Also announced was a change to the three month multiple reentry visa, which now allows for a one month stay. Stays were previously restricted to two weeks.

The final announcement saw citizens of the US, Canada, UK and Ireland gain a longer stay period for the five-year multiple reentry visa. Visa holders will now be able to stay for 90, instead of 30, days.

Last year the country recorded 315,943 visitors from the UK & Ireland, as well as 256,439 from the USA and 79,127 from Canada.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry's Undersecretary of Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, said:

"This new round of visa announcements represents another step for Bahrain's commitment to openness. We have taken great strides in recent years in making the country even more accessible, helping both leisure and business tourists.

"These developments further aid Bahrain's standing as a regional hub, which is why so many tourists and businesses are looking to the country as the ideal Middle East destination."

Visas can be applied for online via http://www.evisa.gov.bh, whilst citizens of 66 countries and the GCC can also apply for visas on arrival.

Notes to editors:

Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA) is the authority responsible for managing the entry of people to Bahrain. Part of this responsibility is processing and deciding applications for visas and eVisas for travel to Bahrain. A more detailed description of NPRA's roles and structure can be found on the NPRA web site http://www.npra.gov.bh and evisa website http://www.evisa.gov.bh.

SOURCE Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA)
CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Jay Wireless joined forces with Minnie's Food Pantry in Plano, Texas on November 12th for a huge Thanksgiving event. Minnie's had a special day of giving, as they provided food for Thanksgiving meals to all that showed up on what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday. Blue Jay is no stranger to Minnie's, as they participate in their #giveaday program and volunteer at the food pantry quite often. This day would be a little different, as Blue Jay distributors were on hand to offer free Lifeline service and phones to those that qualified, to add to the Thanksgiving spirit and help out in the community. Minnie's had a huge crowd on hand to take advantage of the goodwill gift provided, and many people were able to sign up for a free cell phone while they were there.

Blue Jay Texas Regional Manager, Mitch Cook was there to coordinate the phone registration and distribution effort. He was overwhelmed by the turnout and stated, "This was my first time to attend an event at Minnie's and the response was amazing. The energy level was exciting, it felt like a block party. The DJ was playing music and keeping the crowd upbeat and entertained, as volunteers and recipients alike were dancing away."

Minnie's provides Thanksgiving meals annually to those in need. It is a special offering, over and above the normal distribution of meals throughout each month. With the holidays approaching, these Thanksgiving boxes of food are very helpful to many people in the community.

Mitch Cook also added, "Hundreds of those in need were served, and the line went all the way around the building. Other vendors were also there to assist. Plus, Blue Jay Wireless was giving away free phones to those in need, who qualified for the Lifeline service. It was an amazing, fun, energetic, and heartfelt event that had an immediate impact on the community. It was an honor to be a part of this!"

Blue Jay is always happy to get involved with Minnie's Food Pantry with their #giveaday volunteer efforts. For more information on Minnie's Food Pantry and their services, or to find out how you can volunteer and be a part of what they do, go to www.minniesfoodpantry.org for details.

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SOURCE Blue Jay Wireless

Related Links

http://www.bluejaywireless.com


PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chef Robert Irvine is helping families eat healthy while saving time and money with his new line of Signature Sidekicks side dishes, exclusively available at Walmart. Signature Sidekicks cook in less than ten minutes and can only be found in Walmart's fresh produce section. There are four varieties available, all for less than $7, including: Garlic Balsamic Broccoli, Sesame Ginger Stir Fry, Provencal Ratatouille and Braised Collard Greens.

"With hectic schedules, I know many families struggle to make healthy and delicious meals, especially at an affordable price," said Chef Irvine. "I created Signature Sidekicks from my own personal recipes to give families across the US the opportunity to easily prepare restaurant-quality side dishes using fresh ingredients right at home."

Each variety of Chef Irvine's Signature Sidekicks feature neatly packaged, quality ingredients that can be prepared with just three simple steps in less than 10 minutes. Helpful videos for cooking these new items at home, pairing suggestions, full ingredients and recipe ideas can be found on Chef Irvine's website, http://robertirvinefoods.com/sidekicks.

Focusing on quality ingredients, Chef Irvine carefully crafted the Sidekicks line to easily pair with other main dishes. To ensure availability across the United States, he exclusively approached Walmart with his line due to the company's strong distribution and trusted name.

"We're proud to be working alongside Chef Robert Irvine to deliver this innovative new offering in our fresh department," said Dan Irwin, Senior Merchant for Walmart Fresh Foods. "We are committed to providing our customers healthier, quality products at an affordable price, helping families save time in the kitchen, so they can spend more time together at the table. Chef Irvine's Signature Sidekicks deliver on that commitment. "

Signature Sidekicks are now available at Walmart stores across the U.S. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Signature Sidekicks will support The Robert Irvine Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to our men and women of the military and their families.

About Robert Irvine Foods  Robert Irvine Foods believes in empowering people through food and fitness. The mission is simple: create healthy, delicious meals that are easy to prepare for the whole family. Robert Irvine Foods was founded in July of 2015 on the idea that you shouldn't have to sacrifice your favorite foods to live a healthier and easier lifestyle. To accomplish this, founder Chef Robert Irvine worked to develop great tasting products that are easy to prepare using top quality ingredients with industry leading partners. Robert Irvine Foods has a range of restaurant-quality products that are created with all natural ingredients, minimizing the use of artificial preservatives, and crafted to be healthier by reducing calories, sodium and fat content without sacrificing the taste.

About Chef Robert Irvine

Chef Irvine has appeared on and hosted a variety of Food Network programs, including: Dinner Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant Impossible, A Hero's Welcome, All-Star Academy, Guy's Grocery Games, Chopped Impossible and Restaurant Express. Chef Irvine recently launched a new talk show series on CW in 2016  "The Robert Irvine Show." The show focuses on dishing up advice and conflict resolution suggestions for everyday people facing a range of problems. Irvine recently established the eponymously named non-profit organization, The Robert Irvine Foundation, in an effort to support military personnel and their families. A portion of the proceeds from the food line will support our men and women of the military and their families. For more about the Robert Irvine Foundation, visit www.RobertIrvineFoundation.org, for information about Robert Irvine Foods, visit www.RobertIrvineFoods.com, and for information on Chef Robert Irvine, visit www.ChefIrvine.com.

SOURCE Robert Irvine Foods

Related Links

http://robertirvinefoods.com


BOSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Celtra, the leading creative technology platform for video and display brand advertising, today announced that the company was named the winner of the Ad or Marketing Tech Platform category in the 2016 Effective Mobile Marketing People's Choice Awards, which garnered over 2,000 votes from industry experts. In addition, Celtra's Chief Revenue Officer, Jonathan Milne, was voted Mobile Marketer of the Year.

"It's a great honor for us to be named winners in the Effective Mobile Marketing People's Choice Awards," said Milne. "We are delighted that our focus on the delivery and scaling of creative excellence has been recognised. We will continue to drive creative innovation in the mobile advertising industry for our partners and clients in 2016 and beyond."

Celtra has been recognized for its continued global success in developing groundbreaking formats with mobile-native features such as vertical video. Milne has been recognized for helping to champion the role of creative in mobile advertising, and for overseeing Celtra's international growth. Celtra believes this accomplishment further illustrates that the company is at the forefront of the mobile marketing industry.

Now in its third year, the Effective Mobile Marketing People's Choice Awards honor excellence in mobile marketing from the best brands and agencies around the world.

About Celtra

Celtra pioneered an integrated SaaS platform for HTML5 authoring, creative serving, analytics and ads optimization that is designed and developed specifically for mobile and cross-screen digital advertising. Since 2010, when Celtra released its first version of AdCreator, it became a global standard in the industry, now powering the ad user experience in 35 markets for more than 2,500 brand advertisers and two-thirds of the fortune 500.



Celtra is headquartered in Boston (MA), with offices in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Ljubljana and Sydney. For more information, visit Celtra at www.celtra.com or @CeltraMobile on Twitter.

Media Contact:

Michael Gallo

For Celtra

212-239-8594

[email protected]

SOURCE Celtra

Related Links

http://www.celtra.com


"'A Billion Lives' is an incredible reminder of the lethal dangers of smoking. Aaron Biebert takes his audience on a journey that will not be forgotten. It is a great honor to join Martin and Cindy Sumichrast of KURE Vaporium in their generosity and support of this important film. Our Co-Chairs for this red carpet event include the Sumichrasts, Rick and Diane Siskey as well as Craig and Anne Brewer," said Kathy Ireland Chair and CEO kathy ireland Worldwide.

"A Billion Lives", directed by Aaron Biebert, has already been awarded Best Film prizes from the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and the Houston International Film Festival, as well as glowing reviews and further acknowledgement from other festivals. It takes a strong look at the prophylactic promise of the new alternative to traditional smoking.

"Every new breakthrough suffers resistance and attack from special interest groups, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma and State and Federal government, whose profitability and tax revenues are threatened by science's march forward," Weston noted, "but we believe that the success stories of vaping's users and emerging research will carry the day. At KURE, we strive to be more than just a 'vape shop'. We share the passion for the art of vaping and choice of an alternative lifestyle. Each KURE Vaporium gives a community the first superb 'total vaping experience'. KURE is dedicated to advancing the vaping revolution without losing sight of their local community origins."

"Being in Charlotte and visiting the cool KURE Vaporium opened me up to vaping. As a Marine, many of my fellow soldiers became addicted to nicotine and while helping our country, hurt their health with one of the few pleasures we had available. KURE puts you in control, from zero nicotine with great flavor to a big blast. I've modeled for many companies, and am proud to endorse KURE," said Tommy Meharey, VP, Board Member of kathy ireland Worldwide and Co-Founder of I'M 1, a new men's collection developed by kathy ireland Worldwide.

This film is an eye opening experience to those who support vaping. To make this new film and its significant message available, the premiere screening in Charlotte is only twelve dollars per ticket. Tickets can be purchased prior to showing by going to www.tugg.com/events/a-billion-lives-special-viewing.

About KURE Corp. (www.KUREsociety.com)

KURE Corp. is a private company based in Charlotte, North Carolina that specializes in the global distribution of vaporizing pens, e-Juices, and related accessories. KURE's primary products are its distinct line of custom blended high end flavored e-Juices, premium KURE brand vaporizers, as well as one of the largest selections of the most recognized third party hardware and eLiquid brands. All KURE products are available throughout its many store locations across the United States. KURE Vaporium, KURE Society, Kuriousity, Kurators are all respective trademarks of KURE Corp. Its e-Juices can be purchased pre-bottled or freshly mixed by its staff of "Kurators", well-trained and experienced mixologists who can "blend" unique flavors from the KURE Juice On Tap bar. These KURE e-Juices are skillfully blended and served while customers shop, lounge and enjoy a selection of coffees, beverages, and snacks or simply vape and mingle with other like-minded enthusiasts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein which do not describe historical facts, including but not limited to, statements regarding: (i) our business; (ii) expectations about our business and future of its market; (iii) expectations regarding future intentions we plan on undertaking as part of our business plan; (vi) beliefs about the consumer adoption of our industry and our goal of bringing new innovative products to consumers, are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE KURE Corp.

Related Links

http://www.kuresociety.com


NEW YORK, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX) ("CIIX" or the "Company"), the premier financial information website for Chinese-speaking investors in both the U.S. and China, announces today that it has appointed Kevin Ge to be its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective December 1st, 2016. Mr. Ge will report directly to CIIX CEO Warren Wang and oversee the Company's IT organization. His first major focus will be the launch and development of a cannabis "Yelp" style mobile application in the Chinese language that will contain a database of marijuana dispensaries and cannabis strains, a platform to review and discuss various cannabis products, and maps showing the locations of medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries.

Warren Wang, founder and CEO of CIIX, commented: "We are excited to officially appoint Kevin Ge as our CTO. Kevin is a technologist at heart and has 18-years of experience in creating and leveraging technology-based solutions that produce business value. California voters recently passed Proposition 64 to legalize recreational cannabis and voters in Massachusetts and Nevada passed similar referendums. Four other states including Florida legalized medical cannabis. We believe that the legal cannabis industry will expand to more than eight times its current size over the next 10 years and we intend to capitalize on this trend and launch the world's first ever cannabis 'Yelp' style social media mobile app in Chinese language."

Mr. Wang further remarked: "The demand for cannabis products in the Chinese population has the potential to be very significant. With the gradual opening up of cannabis industry in the United States, we feel confident that the Chinese community in the U.S. will eventually be persuaded to put aside their bias against the cultivation and sales of cannabis. And for those Chinese who already do accept medical or recreational use of cannabis, they will need help in locating appropriate resources to assist them in learning how to utilize cannabis in an effective way. Our new cannabis 'Yelp' style mobile app will be an indispensible tool for this new broad user base. Kevin has demonstrated a unique blend of strategic and technical ability and he is more than ready to accomplish the task of building platforms for cannabis retailers and local Chinese entrepreneurs that will help them cooperate with each other."

Kevin Ge, joined Chineseinvestors.com, Inc. in 1999 and serves as major programmer and system analyst since December 1999. Mr. Ge has also served as a Senior Programmer for Dynamic Systems, and a Senior Consultant for yDebts Inc. He has over 18 years of experience in the IT industry and has extensive experience in project development and management. He studied at Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles where he received his Masters Degree in Computer Science.

About ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX):

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. ('CIIX'), founded in 1999 endeavors to be an innovative company; providing (a) real-time market commentary, analysis, and educational related services in Chinese language character sets (traditional and simplified), (b) support services to our various partners, (c) consultative services to smaller private companies considering becoming a public company, (d) advertising and public relation related support services, and (e) other services we may identify having the potential to create value or partnership opportunity with our existing services.

Subscribe and watch our video commentaries: https://www.youtube.com/user/Chinesefncom

Follow us on Twitter for real time Company updates: https://twitter.com/ChineseFNEnglsh

Facebook Like us to receive live feeds: https://www.facebook.com/Chinesefncom

Add us on WeChat at: Chinesefn or download iPhone iOS App: Chinesefn.

Chineseinvestors.com Inc.

14 Wall Street 20th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Office Tel: +1-800-958-8561



SOURCE ChineseInvestors.com, Inc
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood (CFTHP) recently formally filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) asserting that imports of hardwood plywood products from China are being sold into the United States at "dumped prices" below cost to gain an unfair competitive advantage. In violation of international trade rules, Chinese producers of hardwood plywood receive illegal government subsidies, such as tax breaks and discounted land and raw materials. All these illegal actions cause material injury to the U.S. hardwood plywood industry.

Illegal Chinese subsidies have enabled China to dump products into the U.S. market at prices that are well below fair market value. These tactics have enabled China to capture an ever-growing share of the U.S. hardwood plywood market.

The import data clearly demonstrates that Chinese hardwood plywood imports have increased significantly from 2013 to 2015, and that Chinese imports have taken market share directly from the U.S. hardwood plywood industry. China's actions present a fundamental obstacle to U.S. manufacturers of hardwood plywood products, and if not remedied, thousands of hard-working Americans will lose their jobs.

It is time for the Administration to stand with American workers and confront China's unfair trade practices. U.S. manufacturing will continue to suffer so long as China remains unaccountable for their actions. China's tactics not only threaten the hardwood plywood industry, but also thousands of indirect jobs in various sectors of the U.S. whose competitive viability is tied to the strength of domestic hardwood plywood producers.

The U.S. hardwood plywood industry and its workers have suffered for years due to dumped and subsidized imports from China, said Timothy Brightbill, counsel to the Petitioners and partner at Wiley Rein LLP. Mr. Brightbill went onto note we urge the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission to thoroughly investigate these unfair trade practices and to apply the trade remedy laws to dumped and subsidized Chinese products. The President of the Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association, Kip Howlett remarked that we cannot allow critical U.S. manufacturing industries  and the communities they support  to be damaged because of China's illegal trade practices. Now is the time for the U.S. government to take decisive action and stand up for thousands of American workers who are employed in the hardwood plywood industry.

BACKGROUND: The U.S. hardwood plywood industry has strong evidence of dumping, subsidies, and material injury caused by Chinese imports. New data demonstrates that Chinese hardwood plywood imports have increased significantly from 2013 to 2015, and these dumped and subsidized Chinese imports have taken market share from the U.S. industry resulting in the loss of thousands of American jobs. China is not playing by the rules and documentary evidence lays out the case why the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission should apply the trade remedy laws to dumped and subsidized Chinese products.

ABOUT US: The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood is committed to standing up for American workers and supporting U.S. manufacturers. The administration must take steps to preserve the U.S. production of hardwood plywood by combating the rising tide of unfairly traded imports into the U.S. from China. For more information on the petition, visit: http://www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.org/contact/

http://www.hpva.org/

Media Contact:

Mark Duffy, Executive Director

+1-202-841-7725

SOURCE Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood (CFTHP)

Related Links

http://www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.org


TACOMA, Wash., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Columbia Bank launches the annual Warm Hearts Winter Drive to benefit homeless shelters in communities across the Northwest. Now through December 31, 2016, Columbia Bank will be accepting cash donations and new winter wear attire as it aims to raise $160,000 for people in the Northwest impacted by homelessness. Donations can be submitted at WarmHeartsWinterDrive.com and both cash and warm winter attire can be donated within all Columbia Bank branch locations across Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Northwest has increased six percent since 2015. As a result there are 34,000 people struggling to receive essential services and stay off the street as they face overcrowded and underfunded shelters during the cold winter months. Columbia Bank established the Warm Hearts Winter Drive in 2015 to help aid nonprofit organizations in providing warmth to individuals, families and children in need.

"Thousands of families in our communities are homeless this winter, and those living on the streets have a much higher risk of exposure when it is cold and wet outside. We are proud to continue the Warm Hearts Winter Drive to help those around us who are truly in need," said Melanie Dressel, President & CEO of Columbia Bank. "The purpose of the Warm Hearts Winter Drive is to continue to raise awareness of this growing issue, and we are hopeful that our customers and employees will join together again to help these deserving organizations and the people they support."

During the inaugural year of the Warm Hearts Winter Drive, Columbia Bank employees and local communities collected nearly 12,000 items of winter wear and raised more than $150,000 to benefit 53 homeless shelters in the Northwest, including the Portland Rescue Mission, Seattle Gospel Union Mission and Tacoma Rescue Mission. Just as during its initial year, one hundred percent of the clothing and funds collected during the 2016 Warm Hearts Winter Drive will be donated directly back to 49 shelters and relief organizations in the communities where the collections originated.

"We are overwhelmed by the support of Columbia bank, their customers and staff," said Mike Johnson, Executive Director of Tacoma Rescue Mission. "Now, more families and children are able to overcome homelessness. The need is real and broad; this help is essential."

"For nearly 70 years Portland Rescue Mission has existed with one specific purpose; to give hope and restore life to men, women and children in our community suffering from hunger, homelessness and addiction. This would not be possible without the compassionate support from community partners like our friends at Columbia Bank," said Mike Deckon, Director of Marketing for Portland Rescue Mission. "Last year alone Columbia Bank's Warm Heart Campaign provided meals, shelter and care for 9,375 people in our community. On behalf of those we serve, we want to say thank you to the entire Columbia Bank family. We're very grateful to be partnering with you once again this year."

"January is often our slowest month for donations, yet it is among the coldest, wettest months for our homeless neighbors," said President of Seattle Union Gospel Mission, Jeff Lilley. "It means the world to us when community members like Columbia Bank proactively reach out and help those in need survive cold nights. We appreciate Columbia Bank and its community members for stepping up and setting an example."

"As the holidays approach our thoughts turn to family, blessings and gratitude. But for many men, women and children in our community that are experiencing homelessness, the holidays can be a time of loneliness and difficulty," said Executive Director, Tri-City Union Gospel Mission, Andrew J. Porter. "But because of the thoughtful donations from community partners we will be able to give hope to countless individuals and families by providing a joyous holiday season."

Philanthropy and community engagement lie at the heart of what it means to be a community bank, and is why Columbia Bank is committed to programs such as the Warm Hearts Winter Drive. After launching the Warm Hearts Winter Drive in 2015, Columbia Bank received various regional and national honors, including the American Bankers Association Foundation's George Bailey Distinguished Service Award and a Community Impact Award from Seattle Business Magazine.

For more information or to make a cash donation, please visit WarmHeartsWinterDrive.com.

Columbia Bank has been serving the Northwest since 1993. For branch locations and more information, visit www.columbiabank.com.

About Columbia Bank

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. For the tenth consecutive year, the bank was named in 2016 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces." Columbia ranked in the top 20 on the 2016 Forbes list of best banks in the country for the fifth year in a row.

Columbia Bank operates more than 140 banking offices and branches throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

Media Contact:

Olivia Gust

503-290-7304

[email protected]

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SOURCE Columbia Bank

Related Links

https://www.columbiabank.com


CALGARY, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Mr. Keith Creel, Canadian Pacific's (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) President and Chief Operating Officer, will address the Credit Suisse 4th Annual Industrials Conference on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. in Palm Beach, Florida.

CP will provide access to a live audio webcast of Mr. Creel's remarks in the Investors' section of its website, www.cpr.ca. A replay will also be available following the conclusion of the event.

About Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.

SOURCE Canadian Pacific

Related Links

http://www.cpr.ca


FALLS CHURCH, Va., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CSRA Inc. (NYSE: CSRA) announced it was awarded a re-competed contract with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C) to provide a broad range of technical services and expertise. The single-award contract is valued at more than $52 million over a four year period.

Under this contract, CSRA will provide technical and programmatic professional support to CS&C to enhance the security, resiliency and reliability of the United States cyber and communications infrastructure. The company will also assist in developing new cybersecurity strategies and policies to help mitigate the risk of cyber incidents.

"Every day DHS makes strides toward a more stable and stronger national cyber and communication infrastructure," said CSRA executive vice president, Sally Sullivan, Homeland Security Group. "As one of DHS's leading IT services providers, we are leveraging the expertise of our outstanding teams who have gained critical insight and experience over the last several years in supporting this challenging mission. We look forward to introducing new guidelines and solutions to further strengthen our customer's cybersecurity posture."

CS&C works with international partners, government agencies, infrastructure asset owners, companies and other citizens to prevent, resolve and investigate cyber incidents.

About CSRA Inc.

Every day CSRA (NYSE: CSRA) makes a difference in how the government serves our country and our citizens. We deliver a broad range of innovative, cloud-enabled, next-generation IT solutions and professional services to help our customers modernize their legacy systems, protect their applications, infrastructure, and assets and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of mission-critical functions for our warfighters and our citizens. Our 18,000 employees understand that success is a matter of perseverance, courage, adaptability and experience. CSRA is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. To learn more about CSRA, visit www.csra.com.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release and in all future press releases that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements represent CSRA's intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, including statements about network and asset protection and improving mission-critical functions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of CSRA. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. For a written description of these factors, see the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in CSRA's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. CSRA disclaims any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements whether as a result of subsequent event or otherwise, except as required by law.

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SOURCE CSRA Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sra.com


SEATTLE, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 16th, Dave's Killer Bread (Flowers Foods) and Cascade Organic Flour teamed up for the Organic Food Donation Partnership to donate approximately 20,000 pounds of organic potatoes and 3,000 loaves of organic bread (Dave's Killer Bread) for Thanksgiving meals to Food Lifeline in Seattle.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441531

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"We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Cascade Organic Flour and Dave's Killer Bread. Their products are high quality, high nutrition items that our food banks ask for every day," said Sarah Benner-Kenagy, Food Procurement Manager of Food Lifeline.

Linda Nageotte, President and CEO of Food Lifeline stated, "The surpluses Cascade Organic Flour and Dave's Killer Bread provide us with are so important. 50% of the food we distribute to food banks helps to feed children and seniors. High nutrition food items like these make a huge difference to families that are struggling."

Food Lifeline (www.foodlifeline.org) is the largest hunger relief organization in Washington State with a unique approach to solving hunger. Every year, nearly 40% of our country's food ends up in landfills, while millions go hungry. Food Lifeline has a solution for both problems. Food Lifeline rescues millions of pounds of this surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, grocery stores, and restaurants. Food Lifeline then delivers this healthy and nutritious food to 275 food banks, shelters and meal programs across Western Washington. Food Lifeline provides 91,000 meals to our hungry neighbors every day. Food Lifeline is also a member of the national organization Feeding America.

Flowers Foods (www.flowersfoods.com), headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, is one of the largest producers of fresh packaged bakery foods in the United States. Flowers operates bakeries across the country that produce a wide range of bakery products, including Dave's Killer Bread (www.daveskillerbread.com/), which is the best-selling organic sliced bread in the U.S. DKB also has a deep commitment to the power of second chances to help transform lives and leading to positive, lasting change for its employees.

Cascade Organic Flour (www.cascadeorganicflour.com) is a family-owned producer of organic wheat & organic flour in Washington State, which grows and mills its wholesome organic wheat near the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River in central Washington, which provides an excellent natural environment for growing some of the highest quality organic wheat in the world.

For more information, please contact Justin Brown of the Organic Food Donation Partnership at [email protected] or 253-470-6584, or Mark Coleman of Food Lifeline at [email protected] or 206-432-3636.

SOURCE Organic Food Donation Partnership
HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to ensure the community is protected, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy today announced the department is offering free tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, or Tdap, vaccines from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, November 22, at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, 511 S. 6th St., Chambersburg, because of a localized outbreak of pertussis.

"Since residents are still testing positive for pertussis, we want to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the vaccine," said Secretary Murphy. "Getting a Tdap vaccine is the most effective and easiest way to prevent pertussis and protect infants who are too young to be vaccinated against this extremely contagious disease. The best way to protect your loved ones this holiday season is to get vaccinated."

To date, 61 cases of pertussis have been confirmed in the Chambersburg/Shippensburg areas of Cumberland and Franklin counties. The Department of Health vaccinated more than 1,100 people at four clinics conducted recently in the affected areas. Tdap vaccines are also available from health care providers and are often covered by insurance.

The pertussis vaccine is recommended for children to enter school. Because immunity from the vaccine fades over time, most adolescents and adults are susceptible to the disease. In addition to the typical childhood series of pertussis immunizations at 2, 4, 6, 15-18 months, and a booster at 4-6 years, the department recommends the adolescent-adult pertussis vaccine, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, or Tdap, booster for:

Individuals 10-64 years of age who are not fully immunized;

Pregnant women during each pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks gestation. Women who have never received Tdap and who do not receive it during pregnancy should receive it immediately postpartum;

People who have contact with pregnant women or infants too young to have received a full series of vaccinations; and

All family members and caregivers of infants who are not old enough to get vaccinated against pertussis.

Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system and is characterized by severe coughing spells that end in a "whooping" sound when the person breathes in. The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold including runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever. After about one to two weeks, the dry, irritating cough evolves into coughing spells that can last for more than one minute and can lead to vomiting.

For more information, visit www.vaccinesforlife.com or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Dexcom One Step Ahead Foundation: A Dexcom Employees Foundation, awarded its first grants to five public charity organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes. Grants were awarded to the following organizations: the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad (AYUDA), College Diabetes Network, DiabetesSisters, Riding On Insulin, and Type-1-Today/Children with Diabetes (CWD). The grants were awarded by the employee-funded philanthropy, launched three months ago by Dexcom employees passionate about doing more for the diabetes community.

Grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 were awarded to projects aimed at producing the most sustained benefits to the health and quality- of-life for people living with diabetes in the United States. Funds to support the grants were generated through Dexcom employee contributions and fundraising efforts, as well as support from others outside of Dexcom. A total of $200,000 was awarded to the five organizations.

"Dexcom employees recognize the need to educate, support and empower those struggling to manage this complex condition, as well as their caregivers," said Claudia Graham, SVP of Global Access at Dexcom who serves as chair of the newly formed foundation, and is living with Type 1 diabetes. "Their commitment goes above and beyond their daily work to have a lasting, positive impact on the diabetes community."

Each program aligns to the Foundation's focus on assisting people living with diabetes, and their caregivers, to better understand their medical condition, manage their diabetes more effectively and to live healthier lifestyles. Grant recipients included the following organizations:

American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad (AYUDA): AYUDA operates under the principle that a lack of education is just as dangerous as a lack of insulin. Since 1997, the organization has trained more than 575 U.S. student volunteers (high school through graduate level) and young professionals to educate on diabetes and its management. Volunteers have served in over 10 countries and will extend programs in the Dominican Republic in 2017. For more information visit: http://volunteers.ayudainc.net/site/PageNavigator/homepage.html

College Diabetes Network (CDN): CDN provides innovative peer based programs that connect and empower students and young professionals to thrive with diabetes. In addition to an active peer-support network, CDN programs include a comprehensive "Off to College" program, a Campus Advisory Committee, a Clinical Advisory Committee, an Annual Student Retreat, and a growing web presence. CDN has more than 80 affiliated chapters across the U.S. For more information visit: https://collegediabetesnetwork.org

DiabetesSisters: DiabetesSisters offers a range of education and support services to help women of all ages, with all types of diabetes, live fuller and healthier lives. It offers peer-support through an award-winning blog, as well as educational and social programs, an annual conference, and monthly "meet-ups" (PODS) in over 30 cities across the U.S. For more information visit: https://diabetessisters.org

Riding On Insulin (ROI): ROI empowers, activates and connects the global diabetes community through shared experience and action sports. Core programs include ski and snowboard programs for children in the U.S., Canada , and New Zealand , and an array of wilderness and endurance training programs for older teens and adults. Participants gain an understanding of how to manage their diabetes while being active. For more information visit: http://www.ridingoninsulin.org

Type-1-Today/Children with Diabetes (CWD): Supporting and educating the families of children with diabetes is a central focus of CWD. The organization's programs offer practical guidance from expert sources, such as endocrinologists, diabetes educators, nurses, researchers, and experienced parents and adults. In addition to an active online community, CWD operates the Quilt for Life diabetes awareness project and hosts Friends for Life conferences throughout the U.S. For more information visit: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com

About The Dexcom One Step Ahead Foundation: A Dexcom Employees Foundation

The Dexcom One Step Ahead Foundation: A Dexcom Employees Foundation works to support the missions and purposes of tax-exempt organizations that provide services and programs to people living with diabetes and their caregivers in the United States. Run by its own Board of Directors, comprising Dexcom employees and external participants, the Foundation will provide monetary grants to organizations designated by the IRS as 501(c)3 Public Charities so that these organizations can assist people living with diabetes  as well as their caregivers  to better understand their medical condition, to manage their diabetes more effectively, and to live healthier lifestyles.

CONSUMER CONTACT:

Caren Begun, 201-396-8551

or

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Steven Pacelli, 858-200-0200

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SOURCE One Step Ahead Foundation
This is according to a new poll released today by The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL ) as part of The Renewal Project , which found that job opportunities (34 percent), a low cost of living (28 percent) and prestigious universities (12 percent) are among the city's biggest draws. But the main reason people are flocking to Phoenix in droves is the unbeatable weather (43 percent) and all that comes with it.

With more than three-quarters (77 percent) saying they would encourage friends or family to move to the area, it's no surprise more than half (53 percent) of residents relocated to the area as adults. And once they arrive, they don't want to leave  whether it's raising a family (71 percent), building a career (74 percent) or living out retirement (77 percent), nearly everyone agrees that Phoenix is the place to be.

"Embracing new ideas, opportunities and innovation is exactly what the spirit of renewal is all about, and Phoenix is leading that charge," said Melinda Wilson, Corporate Relations, Allstate. "This city is showing everyone, here and around the country, what can be accomplished when people of all ages and backgrounds rally together to help each other live a good life every day and make their community better."

Despite the large number of transplants, there's no shortage of local pride.

Diverse (53 percent), entrepreneurial (28 percent) and innovative (26 percent) are the three words Phoenix residents say best describe their city.





residents say best describe their city. Residents are proud of the prestigious institutions in the area, with four-in-five ranking Arizona State University (81 percent) and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (79 percent) as reasons to live in Phoenix .





(81 percent) and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (79 percent) as reasons to live in . The robust local sports scene is something for those in Phoenix to brag about, with residents pointing to the Cactus League (81 percent) and the fact that all four major sports leagues are within driving distance (76 percent) as major highlights.





to brag about, with residents pointing to the Cactus League (81 percent) and the fact that all four major sports leagues are within driving distance (76 percent) as major highlights. The gorgeous landscape and beautiful weather are well-known perks of living in Phoenix , with two-thirds (66 percent) of adults saying they experience nature by hiking through their favorite locales: Desert Botanical Garden (28 percent), South Mountain Park (13 percent), Lake Pleasant Regional Park (12 percent), Echo Canyon Recreation Area and Camelback Mountain (11 percent) and Hole-in-the-Rock at Papago Park (9 percent).



Besides hiking, favorite outdoor activities include biking (23 percent) and water sports (22 percent).

, with two-thirds (66 percent) of adults saying they experience nature by hiking through their favorite locales: Desert Botanical Garden (28 percent), South Mountain Park (13 percent), Lake Pleasant Regional Park (12 percent), Echo Canyon Recreation Area and Camelback Mountain (11 percent) and Hole-in-the-Rock at Papago Park (9 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of Phoenix residents believe their voices are heard and that their ideas, hard work and determination are valued.

Phoenix has multiple active social media channels to engage with residents, with almost half (45 percent) of Phoenix residents saying they are effective.





has multiple active social media channels to engage with residents, with almost half (45 percent) of residents saying they are effective.

One-in-three residents (33 percent) believe local institutions respond to challenges and opportunities with new and forward-thinking ideas and solutions, but roughly two-thirds believe their solutions are either adequate but unremarkable (39 percent) or old and outdated (23 percent).







Half (50 percent) of residents believe Phoenix should adopt and modify ideas that have been tested in other cities with successful results.

The new Allstate Renewal Project Poll captures the views of a Phoenix metro area population largely split down generational lines: Millennials (29 percent), Generation X (25 percent) and Baby Boomers (27 percent). The Silent and Greatest Generation combine to make up the remaining 10 percent.

The poll took an in-depth look at the experiences of Phoenix residents living in and around the city, seeking perceptions of the economy, innovation, renewal and future outlook. The Allstate Renewal Project Poll is a component of The Renewal Project, a social-first website and newsroom launched by Allstate and Atlantic Media Strategies that celebrates those committed to social good and civic innovation in America. Learn more at www.therenewalproject.com or find The Renewal Project on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

To see in-depth poll data from the Allstate Renewal Project Poll, please visit http://www.therenewalproject.com/# .

Survey Methodology

The Allstate Renewal Project Poll investigates the views of Phoenix metro area residents. The poll was conducted by FTI Consulting from October 28-November 1, 2016. The survey included a sample of 400 adults age 18+ living in the greater Phoenix area, 200 reached via cell phone and 200 reached via landline phone. The margin of error for a sample of 400 is +/- 4.9 in 95 out of 100 cases.

About Allstate Corporation

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In the 20 years since Allstate became a fully independent public company, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have donated more than $405 million to support local communities.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,600 employees located in 28 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.78 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2015. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company

Related Links

http://allstate.com


SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nastydress and DressLily are industry leaders in global e-commerce, both sister sites offering their own unique spin on premium fashion. Nastydress caters to shoppers looking for latest in seductive fashion whereas DressLily is more chic and elegant looks. Both sister sites are committed to keeping customers happy and have shoppers return to buy more later. No matter what step the shopping experience, Nastydress and DressLily look to employ the highest level in customer service. Today both sites are proud to announce 24/7 customer support.

DressLily and Nastydress Superb Customer Service DressLily and Nastydress Superb Customer Service

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Shoppers should never have to feel alone at any stage of the shopping experience, no matter what the question or issue a company should be willing to help its customers. Nastydress and DressLily are two companies that firmly believe this and are always looking out for their customers. Both brands look to provide fashion at a global level. With shoppers from around the world both sister sites have started 24/7 customer support. No matter the time of day in any country there will be support staff available to help on Livechat and support center. This will make everything from sizing questions to returns a simple process. Customer service staff constantly are put through workshops and training making sure that evolving company standards are met.

Nastydress and DressLily customer support make it easier than ever to make a return. First, the company will listen to any problem to see if it can be resolved via communication, if not the customer service agent will begin the return process. Customers will have the option to either return the product for a full refund or exchange the product. Products can be returned within 30 days of when they were received.

Taniya Wright ordered a sweater from Nastydress, a hoodie from DressLily. Each item was less than $25 and each shipped from China. When Wright reached out to DressLily and Nastydress about the quality of the clothing, both companies offered either a store credit of a full refund. They told her she didn't need to send products back. Instead, they suggested she donate them to charity  which 2 Works for you had already planned.

Sister sites Nastydress and DressLily continue to provide industry leading customer support, no matter the issue the companies have highly trained staff on hand to assist all customers in need. Shoppers can get in contact with either website by phone, live chat, or submission of a ticket.

http://www.dressLily.com/

http://www.nastydress.com/

Media contact:

Jerry Yang

support(at)nastydress(dot)com

(503)928-7482

SOURCE DressLily; Nastydress

Related Links

http://www.nastydress.com


TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ehave, Inc. (OTCQB: EHVVF), a healthcare company dedicated to empowering the mental health community with next-generation digital solutions, today announced the appointment of Prateek (Teek) Dwivedi as Ehave's President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dwivedi will also serve on Ehave's Board of Directors. Mr. Dwivedi will leverage his 20 years of technology and healthcare leadership experience to accelerate the development of the company's Ehave Connect cloud-based platform, which is intended to provide mental health practitioners with an objective, data-rich network designed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. In addition, Mr. Dwivedi will focus on advancing Ehave's MegaTeam digital assessment and rehabilitation tool, which is currently in clinical development to evaluate its ability to assess, monitor and improve the core symptoms of ADHD.

Ehave Connect is a digital platform that clinicians can access from any computer, tablet or mobile device. It is planned to be launched initially for the assessment, monitoring, management and remediation of ADHD. To develop and grow its platform, Ehave will focus on establishing partnerships with leading mental health assessment providers that can benefit from having their products made available and seamlessly integrated for clinicians as part of Ehave Connect.

"Teek has a proven track record of developing and applying new technologies to solve important healthcare challenges," said Scott Woodrow, Chairman of Ehave's Board of Directors. "His leadership and experience at Princess Margaret Hospital, where he developed a cancer informatics platform that is successfully being used today to improve patient care, brings to Ehave the exact knowledge we need to build out the next version of Ehave Connect, which we believe can integrate objective data from multiple sources to enhance mental healthcare. In addition, Teek's tenure at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, where he directed the technology infrastructure, has been instrumental in helping to refine our product and vision. We're confident that Teek will drive innovation at Ehave, and empower mental healthcare providers with novel tools to improve the lives of patients and their caregivers."

"I am thrilled to join Ehave's team of mental health experts and software developers and together we will bring innovative solutions to the mental healthcare community," said Mr. Dwivedi. "Patients and their caregivers are often hindered by an outdated and inefficient mental healthcare delivery system. With Ehave Connect, and our other solutions now in development, we believe we will enable practitioners to make better treatment decisions across teams and disciplines while keeping patients informed and engaged throughout their mental healthcare journey."

Prior to joining Ehave, Mr. Dwivedi led Cancer Informatics at Princess Margaret Hospital at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. In this position, Mr. Dwivedi was responsible for building a next-generation health and research informatics platform designed to capture and analyze cancer patient data. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Dwivedi was the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, where he led the implementation of a new IT strategy for infrastructure, application, team and vendor management that was directly tied to the hospital's overall strategy to ensure clinical goals were being met promptly, embracing IT as an enabler for clinical transformation. Before his tenure at Mount Sinai, Mr. Dwivedi was the Vice President of Operations at AudienceView Ticketing, where he managed a team of 47 engineers. Mr. Dwivedi has held key strategy and product development positions at Cascada Mobile (exit via acquisition), Casero (exit via acquisition) and Solect Technology group (exit via acquisition). Mr. Dwivedi received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

About Ehave, Inc.

Ehave is empowering the mental healthcare community with next-generation, data-rich patient management, assessment, and remediation tools. With Ehave Connect, Ehave's cloud-based software platform, clinicians can make better-informed, individualized treatment decisions across teams and disciplines while keeping patients informed and engaged throughout their mental healthcare journey. Ehave Connect offers a powerful set of core features that integrate seamlessly with a growing selection of tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. Ehave is launching several digital applications under its MegaTeam brand for the assessment and remediation of ADHD, with pilot studies now underway at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Ehave is headquartered in Toronto's Discovery District, a hub of healthcare, innovation, and technology in Toronto, Canada. For more information, visit https://www.ehave.com/

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company's research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Company's ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Company's products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Company's industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Company's ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov

Contact

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.

Joshua Drumm, Ph.D. (investors)

[email protected]; (212) 375-2664

Claire LaCagnina (media)

[email protected]; (212) 375-2686

SOURCE Ehave, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.ehave.com


CLEVELAND, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- World demand for emulsion polymers in paint and coatings (excluding paper coatings) is forecast to expand a healthy 5.4 percent per year to 5.0 million metric tons in 2020, the fastest growth of any major emulsion market. A continuing shift toward the use of waterborne latex paints -- a trend that is occurring in virtually all parts of the world -- is projected to fuel market gains. Advances are expected to be most pronounced in developing countries, as these markets have the most potential for replacement of solvent-based coatings as well as for more rapid growth in coatings production overall. Healthy growth in building construction activity in North America, combined with a turnaround in Western Europe, will also buoy gains. These and other trends are presented in Global Emulsion Polymers Market, 7th Edition, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

The study is available here

http://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/3461/global-emulsion-polymers-market-by-product-market-and-country-7th-edition.htm

The reformulation of coatings from solvent-based to water-based systems is the primary strategy that paint suppliers employ to meet VOC requirements. The shift in the coatings product mix toward waterborne products has been most prevalent in North America and Western Europe, where emission limits are most stringent. However, waterborne technology is rapidly gaining favor throughout the world due to emissions legislation as well as performance advantages (e.g., durability, low odor, ease of application and cleanup).

In 2015, water-based paints accounted for just over half of total world paint and coatings output, with solvent-based paints, powder coatings, and radiation curables comprising the remainder. Waterborne types predominate in the architectural paint markets of most regions, with lower rates of use among developing countries (e.g., India) that still rely heavily on lower quality products. Output of water-based products in the Asia/Pacific region is also limited by the predominance of industrial over architectural paints in the large Japanese and South Korean coatings industries.

Related studies include:

#3418 World Paint & Coatings (June 2016)

http://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/3418/world-paint-and-coatings.htm

#3377 World Adhesives & Sealants (January 2016)

http://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/3377/world-adhesives-and-sealants.htm

About The Freedonia Group  The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985 we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Each study includes product and market analyses and forecasts, in-depth discussions of important industry trends, market share information and profiles of the leading industry players. Reports can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

Press Contact:

Corinne Gangloff

+1 440.684.9600

[email protected]

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SOURCE The Freedonia Group

Related Links

http://www.freedoniagroup.com


OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Enerlabs, Inc. (OTC pink:ENLB) is pleased to announce that for the first time in its history, Energy and Environmental Services (EES) will employ a manufacturer's representative for Enduro-Bond, EES' corrosion-resistant coating process.

The announcement of the partnership, made today by Senior Vice President of Sales Leon Joyce, comes shortly after news that EES completed a merger with Enerlabs. The surviving entity will shortly file for a change of trading symbol and name (to Energy and Environmental Services, Inc.).

"This is a great opportunity to develop new channels to the marketplace and take Enduro-Bond to the next level," said Joyce. Added Opeco President Richard Dixon: "We've helped increase sales exponentially for several privately held businesses that were acquired by public companies, and we look forward to employing this same rapid-growth strategy with Enduro-Bond."

Opeco's eight locations, spanning the Texas panhandle to Laurel, MS, along with over 15 years of experience in coatings, make it an ideal partner for Enduro-Bond. Opeco will offer Enduro-Bond coating and coated products at all of its locations; alternatively, customers can provide their own products for coating.

Locations include: Oklahoma City, OK (headquarters), Wilson, OK, Wichita, KS, Chanute, KS, Shreveport, LA, Laurel, MS, Kilgore, TX and Perrington, TX.

About EES

EES was incorporated in 1991 by founder and current CEO Melvin B. Smith. Today EES has 28 employees, seven locations, eight trademarks, seven patents pending and has over 30 years of experience blending, manufacturing and packaging custom liquids and solid chemicals for the oil, gas and agricultural industries. In addition to the oilfield and agricultural services provided by EES, Mr. Smith has expanded the company to develop innovative products and applications for enzyme system technologies, livestock feed supplements, solar well treatment systems and specialized anti-corrosive coatings.

EES received the Metro 50 Award for being one of Greater Oklahoma City's fastest growing companies in 2015. In 2016, Melvin Smith received The Journal Record's award for Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs.

Please visit the EES company website at www.eesokc.com.

About Opeco, Inc.

Richard Dixon and Mark Day founded Opeco, Inc. in 1985 with a small warehouse in the midst of a tremendous downturn in the oil and gas industry. But the company persevered, adhering to its motto, "grow or die," and today its team is spread across eight locations in five states. Opeco provides professional sales staff and strategically located stocking sites for major New York Stock Exchange and quality privately held corporations.

Catering to the industrial, mid-stream, pipeline, production and drilling sectors of the energy industry, Opeco's passion for its work and dedication to customer service ensures the success of its business. Says Day, "We're fortunate enough to be a part of building a brighter energy industry in the United States."

Further announcements will be forthcoming.

Contact:

Scott Shaw 800-635-7716

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Enerlabs' actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Enerlabs expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Enerlabs, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO and HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Senior Risk Control Consultant Chuck Simpson will speak at the OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference on Wednesday, November 30th at 2:00 PM at the Hilton Americas in Houston, TX.

The Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference gathers key decision makers within management an executive positions to foster a better understanding of how industry and OSHA can work together to improve safety performance through cooperation, best practices, knowledge sharing and relationship building.

In his presentation "ANSI Z-390 Hydrogen Sulfide Training Requirements Update," Simpson will discuss the latest updates, particularly around Occupational Exposure Level vs. Threshold Limit Value and the new edition's take on the levels of training and instructor qualification.

Click here to download the full agenda.

About Chuck Simpson, Senior Risk Control Consultant, EPIC:

Simpson is a health and safety professional with more than 30 years of experience helping companies develop and implement risk management systems in a variety of industries.

Prior to joining EPIC, Simpson served as president of Work Safe International, LLC where he worked on both on- and off-shore projects in the United States, Mexico, Canada, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Simpson has experience in the sulfur operations, pipeline, fabrication, oil and gas drilling, vessel operations and food processing industries. He is a certified safety professional (CSP) and a widely recognized expert on Contractor Safety Management, OSHA Recordkeeping and Hydrogen Sulfide Safety. He has presented lectures at the ASSE Safety Professional Development Conference and Exposition, OSHA Oil and Gas Safety Conference, the International Conference on Offshore Safety, the Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group, and the Sulphur Institute's Sulphur World Symposium in the United Arab Emirates.

Simpson is an active participant in the American Society of Safety Engineers, Gulf Coast Safety Training Group and serves as Chairman for the ANSI Z390 Hydrogen Sulfide Training Committee. He earned his bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of South Alabama.

About OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference:

OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference is a 2-day event being held from November 29th to 30th, 2016 at the Hilton Americas in Houston, TX. This event showcases products like improving safety in the Oil and Gas Industry through cooperative educational programming provided by DOL OSHA, Oil and Gas Industry and other Government and Regulatory Agencies. Building a productive and collaborative relationship between the Oil and Gas Industry and Regulatory Agencies through the sharing of best practices etc. in the Petroleum, Oil & Gas industry.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $250 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit www.epicbrokers.com.

* PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/15-1027-Chuck-Simpson-300dpi.jpg

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This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Edupoint Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, has been selected by Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) to implement the company's LessonVUE Curriculum Management and Synergy Assessment solutions and the Inspect Item Bank that works seamlessly with Synergy Assessment. Synergy Assessment replaces Galileo by ATI in the northern Arizona district, which serves 10,000 students at 15 schools.

"We needed an easy-to-navigate assessment solution that would allow us to input our own district-created assessments quickly and efficiently, deliver those assessments, and store that data securely so we could access it to see student growth over time," said Dr. Robert Hagstrom, Director of Research and Assessment for FUSD. "We were already using Synergy for our student information system and gradebook, with everything fully integrated. Adding Synergy Assessment meant that tool would just 'be there' for teachers when they logged into their gradebook, and it provided the flexibility for teachers to have assessment results pushed directly to their gradebook. The ability for colleagues to share assessments, to create that collegiality and collaboration, was also attractive.

"Adding LessonVUE completes our learning management system. We can give students that digital experience they're used to, with assignments and resources together on one page that can be shared with all students across a particular grade level. We can have that blended learning model where you do have a face to face teacher, but students help themselves to resources when it's convenient for them. That's a space students are going to thrive in."

FUSD receives Synergy training, customer support, and ongoing assistance directly from Northern Arizona University's Education Technology Consortium (ETC), a cooperative arrangement between the university and nearly 70 public and charter schools.

"We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Flagstaff Unified School District through Northern Arizona University's ETC," said Bob Weathers, Founder & CEO of Edupoint. "With the LessonVUE Curriculum Management and Synergy Assessment solutions, Edupoint is providing Flagstaff the tools it needs to improve student outcomes and achievement, fully integrated with their existing SIS and gradebook. We look forward to supporting Flagstaff students' success through our continuing partnership with ETC."

About Edupoint Educational Systems:

For over thirty years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically-advanced student data management systems that empower all K-12 stakeholders with the tools they need to improve student achievement. The fully-integrated Synergy Education Platform includes Synergy SIS, the most powerful K-12 student information system available today, Synergy LMS, an all-in-one learning and assessment platform, and Synergy SE, a comprehensive special education data management system. Thousands of schools nationwide choose the Synergy Education Platform to support more than 3.5 million students. More information: www.Edupoint.com

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This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE Edupoint Educational Systems

Related Links

http://www.edupoint.com


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the contact center outsourcing nearshoring services market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Teleperformance with 2016 Latin American Market Leadership Award for excellence in capturing the highest market share in the industry. Leveraging organic growth, selective acquisitions, a diversified portfolio, and customer proximity, Teleperformance has consolidated its footprint in Latin America.

"The regional opportunities for outsourcing companies to capture a large segment of the US bilingual market are unprecedented, and Teleperformance is strongly positioned in Latin America to take optimal advantage of nearshoring needs," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Juan Gonzalez. The operations that began in Latin America in 1998 through the acquisition of companies in Brazil and Argentina have grown over the years to include Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In 2015, Teleperformance added to its integrated network of offshore/nearshore contact centers with Paramaribo, Suriname, to serve the Dutch market and Georgetown, Guyana, to serve the North American market.

Several factors have come together to make Teleperformance a regional and global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management. The company has tremendous brand strength, boasting over 58,000 employees across 11 countries. The talented and stable professional team is bolstered by a highly qualified and seasoned management, robust technology systems, and strategic excellence.

Teleperformance's quality services are the result of internal control systems including TOPS (Teleperformance Operational Processes and Standards) and BEST (Baseline Enterprise Standard for Teleperformance), and compliance with business and management standards such as COPC (Customer Operations Performance Centers) and ISO 9001. Standardization of procedures enable Teleperformance to make its global network internally consistent, while providing greater control over its operations.

"Teleperformance's offering is based on high-performance technology characterized by integrated networks and excellence in terms of HR management and security standards," Gonzalez said. "The company has developed Teleperformance Client, a multichannel platform with the necessary requirements to deliver a seamless experience to customers. All of the channel platforms are integrated with their own workforce management system, guaranteeing high performance and quality."

Security is another strong area for the company. Teleperformance uses best practices to block the introduction of malware, protect personal data, and detect and prevent intrusions. Proprietary tools such as TP SECURITY and TP POLICY allow for close monitoring of agent transactions and ensure regulatory compliance. These are critical service expectation parameters considering Teleperformance has one of the most diversified portfolios in the industry that includes financial services, technology, telecom, Internet and pay TV, healthcare, insurance, energy, and media.

"Teleperformance currently attends to several larger US firms from its delivery centers in Latin America, and its volume of services has significantly increased; in 2015, the company was the nearshoring market leader with a 17 percent share and nearly double the revenues of its closest competitor," Gonzalez said. "The company is expected to maintain its forward momentum, driven by customer loyalty. As of 31 December 2015, the average length of a customer relationship was between 10 and 12 years."

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

http://www.frost.com


DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Secure great rates at Des Moines Marriott Downtown during the biggest online shopping weekend of the year.

Making it easy to cut through the clutter of Cyber Weekend hotel deals, the Des Moines hotel is promoting the specifics of its holiday special that will run from November 25 at 12:01 a.m. through November 28 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Providing up to 15 percent off of the hotel's best available rates, the deal applies to stays between December 9 through January 16, 2017.

Save up to 15 percent on room rates with a Cyber Weekend sale from Nov. 25 to Nov. 28, 2016 at Des Moines Marriott Downtown. For information, visit www.marriott.com/DSMIA or call 1-515-245-5500.

With such a quick turnaround, the offer allows travelers to save on last-minute room bookings for a quick getaway or corporate visit to the bustling center of Downtown Des Moines. Located just minutes from Wells Fargo Arena, the hotel is the ideal home base for travelers attending concerts, conferences and competitive sporting events at one of Iowa's best event venues.

Those with some downtime in downtown can enjoy winter fun at Brenton Skating Plaza, a state-of-the-art facility for ice skaters of all skill levels. Positioned on the riverfront, less than a mile from the elegant Marriott accommodations, the open-air rink offers inspiring city views, rental skates and unique meeting spaces for families and colleagues in Des Moines.

From a complimentary shuttle service to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to a skywalk that leads to an array of local businesses, the hotel is unmatched in convenience for corporate guests. All types of travelers can retreat to relaxation in the Great Room, where guests can indulge in an innovative selection of American cuisine at Rock River Grill & Tavern, grab a cocktail or quick bite at City Center Lounge, or fuel up at Starbucks. Following an action-packed day of adventures or meetings right on site, recharge in rooms with plush bedding, flat-panel TVs and high-speed internet access.

To take advantage of the Cyber Weekend Savings, book directly through the hotel's website using promotional code 444.

About Des Moines Marriott Downtown

Des Moines Marriott Downtown at 700 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa is near Blank Park Zoo, Wells Fargo Arena and Des Moines Art Center. The hotel features 33 floors with 411 rooms, 6 suites and 15 meeting rooms, totaling 30,000 square feet of versatile meeting and wedding venues. Guests enjoy access to 4 concierge levels, a complimentary airport shuttle service, high-speed wireless internet access, on-site dining, a well-equipped gym and indoor swimming pool. For information, visit www.marriott.com/DSMIA or call 1-515-245-5500.

Sign up now for Marriott Rewards and get on the fast track to earn points for free hotel stays, room upgrades, flights, credit card purchases and deals with Marriott partners.

Learn more about Marriott International Inc.

PRESS CONTACT

Natalie Marko

1-847-275-9332

[email protected]

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SOURCE Des Moines Marriott Downtown

Related Links

http://www.marriott.com


NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerard Adams, the founder of social impact startup accelerator, FOWNDERS, and the founder of "Voice of Generation Y" publication Elite Daily, will be speaking at Rutgers University School of Business on November 30 at 6:30PM. Adams' talk, at 100 Rockafeller Road Room 2071 in Piscataway Township, New Jersey, is free to attend with registration.

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Attendees may register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gerard-adams-the-millennial-mentor-who-sold-elite-daily-for-50-million-tickets-28922894155

Adams' talk is part of Rutgers' Community Entrepreneurship Series which brings influential members in the tri-state area to Rutgers to inspire and collaborate with the Rutgers business community on startup funding, sales leadership and training and excellence in executing new business ideas. The event is a collaborative meetup being held by Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, the New Jersey Technology Council and Scarlet Startups.

Gerard Adams was recently named to Magic Johnson's coveted 32 Under 32 List and gave his TEDx talk at New Jersey Institute of Technology in September 2016. In 2015 Adams sold the company he cofounded, Elite Daily, to the Daily Mail for $50 million. In 2016 Adams founded FOWNDERS, the social impact startup accelerator based in Newark New Jersey to empower other entrepreneurs from Newark, New Jersey, where Adams was raised. FOWNDERS' mission is to give back to the community by lifting entrepreneurs with resources once thought unimaginable.

Regarding his talk at Rutgers, Adams said "Rutgers' Business School is a pillar of the New Jersey economy and among the best institutions for entrepreneurs globally. That energy--that vibe--that shows young entrepreneurs that they can come from anywhere resonates with me."

"Gerard Adams means it when he says 'Leaders Create Leaders," said Alfred Blake, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs in a nod towards Adams' self-produced television series, Leaders Create Leaders. The Millennial Mentor, from his rise leading up to Elite Daily and then FOWNDERS has proven time and time again his ability to keep an audience on the edge of its seats--wanting more."

ABOUT GERARD ADAMS

Gerard Adams, widely known as the "Millennial Mentor", is a leading thought leader, serial entrepreneur, angel investor and philanthropist. Adams is the co-founder of Elite Daily, the top news platform for Generation Y and the CEO and founder of FOWNDERS, a social entrepreneurship start-up accelerator. He is the winner of Magic Johnson's 32 Under 32 Award and was listed by Business Insider among the top-100 Most Influential People in Silicon Alley. Featured in Success Magazine, Huffington Post, Inc. Magazine, Men's Health and Forbes, Gerard Adams overcame early adversity to become a self-made millionaire by the age of 24. He has built, backed or invested in twelve businesses across multiple industries that have all delivered over seven-figures including the sale of Elite Daily to Daily Mail for $50 million. While he continues his role as an investor and influencer, his mission in life is to mentor and inspire young entrepreneurs to develop what it takes to be successful and to turn dreams into reality.

Adams leverages his expertise in millennial branding across industries from digital media to technology to fashion. He is a go-to investor for New York City and New Jersey real estate and developments. Passionate about giving back to his community, Gerard helped develop affordable housing for communities in Newark, NJ.

ABOUT RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL

Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick (RBS) was founded in 1929 and has been accredited since 1941 by AACSB International. Today it is the hallmark of excellence in business education in a state renowned for its leadership in entrepreneurship and corporate innovation.

Its undisputed leadership in New Jersey puts it in the top three business schools in the New York metropolitan area. The Undergraduate Program in New Brunswick has been ranked #3 by The Wall Street Journal for producing the best graduates according to recruiters. The MBA Program has been ranked #18 by US News & World Report in job placement. The Executive MBA Program has been ranked in the Top 25 EMBA programs in the world by The Wall Street Journal.

Media contact:

Jordan French

[email protected]

Related Links

FOWNDERS Official Website

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE FOWNDERS, Inc.
"We are so excited to welcome the NAR Delegates from the Philippines to the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS," said SCCAOR CEO Neil Collins during a presentation at the event. "SCCAOR is dedicated to working with the international community to better understand trends in the global real estate landscape, and we are proud to be a local resource for our multicultural members."

One the delegates in attendance was Evangeline Yia, the VP for International Affairs at the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders' Associations (CREBA) in the Philippines. As a liaison between the Philippines and NAR, she discussed her positive outlook on the relationship between NAR and REALTORS in the Philippines.

"NAR will really help REALTORS in the Philippines level up their professionalism and code of ethics," Yia said. "With NAR's help, we are lifting the bar of excellence."

The attendees at the event enjoyed traditional cuisine from the Philippines, and many guests wore traditional Filipino clothing.

Jennifer Tasto, a California based REALTOR and currently the NAR President's Liaison to Philippines, informed the crowd that the National Association of REALTORS has over 4,000 International members, and almost 700 of those REALTORS are from the Philippines.

"A lot of this success has come from the support and hard work of Evangeline Yia, CREBA leadership, and the International Real Estate Members of the Philippines," she said.

CREBA is a non-profit that was established in the Philippines in 1973. It is the recognized umbrella organization of some 4,000 firms, individuals and associations directly or indirectly involved in land and housing, construction, allied industries and various professional fields of discipline.

Sharmin Albacete, CREBA's Executive Director, said that his organization was chosen in 2011 as the exclusive cooperating association of NAR in the Philippines.

"As the sole partner of NAR in the Philippines, we are committed to help promote the highest degree of ethics in the real estate profession," said Albacete. "Our partnership with NAR has allowed us to gain insights on how other countries are able to address their own housing issues and explore new ideas."

For more information, visit www.sccaor.com.

Contact: Spencer High

Phone: 408.445.5095

Fax: 408.445.7767

[email protected]

www.sccaor.com

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SOURCE Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS

Related Links

http://www.sccaor.com


LONDON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China's glyphosate market is still in bad shape in July 2016. According to CCM's price monitoring, glyphosate price keeps falling slightly and won't rebound in the short run. However, domestic major manufacturers still maintain relatively high operating rates, mainly because they don't want to lose any market shares in such a depressed market, which poses pressure on large inventory. In the meantime, prices of intermediates keep low and those of some raw materials may further reduce. Therefore, without any supports, glyphosate price is going to remain low.



Although paraquat AS had been banned in the Chinese market, it takes a certain time for glyphosate to completely substitute paraquat AS. Now China's sterilant herbicide market is in short-term disorder. One one hand, some enterprises are still selling paraquat AS illegally. On the other hand, in order to seize market shares, manufacturers will conduct sales promotion for substitutes.

China's glyphosate market is likely to rebound thanks to the implementation of environmental protection inspection, the ban of paraquat AS and enterprises temporarily suspending production for maintenance in summer.



After China's ban on paraquat AS, the sterilant market will be in disorder  price wars in substitute market; difficulty for farmers and distributors in choosing substitutes for paraquat AS; fake and inferior substitutes may come out.



It is known that Malta is going to ban the use of glyphosate. CCM holds the view that it is not likely for other countries to follow this move.



In H1 201 6, Lier Chemical's net profit increased by 1 0.64% YoY, mainly thanks to the rising output and sales volume of some technical products including glufosinate-ammonium. Notably, the company predicted that its net profit will rise by 0%-30% in Q1 -Q3 201 6.



Recently, Hubei Xingfa refuted opinions raised by some securities dealers that the company's performance would greatly improve if the glyphosate market recovers. As the current glyphosate market is in bad shape, whether the company can make profit from glyphosate remains to be seen.



China's glyphosate market was brisk from July 201 2 to June 201 4, a period from which many domestic enterprises gained considerable profits. Yunphos, however, missed this opportunity.



In H1 201 6, although the glyphosate market was depressed in general, there were still 35 new registrations of glyphosatecontaining pesticides in China.



In the first half of July 201 6, the ex-works price of glyphosate 95% TC was USD2,662/t (RMB1 7,775/t), down 0.1 4% MoM, hitting a record low again.



In May 201 6, glyphosate TC showed a MoM rise of 8.72% in export volume but a MoM fall of 1 .07% in export price in China.



In May 201 6, both export volume and export value of glyphosate 41 % IPA reported small MoM rises in China.



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DENVER, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Greystone will use the $2.0M royalty-based growth capital to scale their unique service model to serve more customers and expand into the enterprise market. In addition to investing in core services, Greystone will grow their healthcare IT and digital marketing, security, and compliance practices. Additional investments include building business development and marketing capabilities.

"This investment presents a tremendous opportunity to build on our culture of being a people-first technology company," says Greystone co-founder Peter Melby. "Business leaders across every division from HR to operations are being asked to make critical technology decisions. We can now build on our products and services to better support those leaders as they grow their companies."

Greystone has averaged 40% growth per year for the past 12 years, in part due to a service model unique in the managed service industry. Rather than providing clients with a pool of engineers staffing a help desk, each Greystone client engages with a dedicated team of engineers, consultants and business technology advisors. This model enables Greystone to deliver an excellent user experience and more appropriate, meaningful support driven by each team's knowledge of their client's context.

"The non-equity structure of this investment gives us access to Cypress' deep experience while maintaining the autonomy we need to move fast," said Greystone co-founder Jesse Armstrong. "This is a perfect partnership for building on our core capabilities and accelerating the development and delivery of new products and services that will make an impact on our client's businesses."

About Greystone Technology

Headquartered in Denver, Greystone Technology offers outsourced IT services for small and midsize organizations. Greystone's managed services cover seven key aspects of business technology:

User support

Network and System administration

Security

Digital marketing

Website and application development

Vendor management

Business technology strategy

Greystone was founded in Denver in 2001. Since then, Greystone has expanded to include three offices along Colorado's front range and 70 employees.

About Cypress Growth Capital

Cypress Growth Capital is the largest and most experienced royalty-based growth capital investor in the United States. Formed in 2010, they have completed dozens of multimillion-dollar royalty investments in software and technology-enabled services companies. With more than $100,000,000 of capital under management, Cypress has an established track record of funding emerging companies and helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

Contact: Jeremiah Fellows, 1-303-757-0779, [email protected]

SOURCE Greystone Technology

Related Links

http://www.greystonetech.com


The $12 million project was developed through a public-private partnership (P3). The library was designed, built, and funded by the private sector team and delivered "move-in-ready," equipped and outfitted with County-specified furniture, fixtures and equipment, including public access computers and laptops. The County will lease the facility and has an option to purchase the property at any time during the lease term.

A P3 structure provides several benefits to public sector agencies: reduced upfront capital outlay; shorter delivery timeframes; fixed lease payments; and no lease payments until a facility is occupied. This structure allows public agencies to focus resources on delivering services in their communities, while capitalizing on private sector development expertise.

"It has been a real pleasure working in alignment with all stakeholders in delivering a project that is such a fine addition to the community," says Gary J. Rafferty, P.E., LEED AP, DBIA; President and COO of Swinerton Builders.

The 12,514 square foot library is set on a 1.7 acre campus-like environment and features public gathering spaces; outdoor learning courtyards; adult, teen and children's reading areas; and a 100-seat community meeting room with audio/visual system. The building is designed to achieve a minimum certification of LEED Silver from the United States Green Building Council.

Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB, Chairman and CEO of SVA Architects, states, "A public private partnership brings together the best of both worldsthe expertise of the private sector and the resources of the public sector. It creates a team environment where the developer, contractor, and architect work together from start to finish. We are thrilled to have been a part of this outstanding team, and to deliver this exceptional new civic amenity to the community of Quartz Hill."

Griffin Structures CEO, Roger Torriero, states, "The Quartz Hill Library is a viable example of a successful P3. We did what we do bestplanned, designed, financed and built a state-of-the-art facility; allowing the County to deliver quality library services to the community in a timely and cost-effective manner."

The community had outgrown the previous 3,500 square foot Quartz Hill branch library. The new library also includes an early childhood/family area, a homework center, two group study rooms, express-service checkout machines, informational pods, vending machines, staff areas, and public restrooms. The project has many sustainable features such as rooftop photovoltaic panels, bioswales, drought-tolerant landscaping, maximized controlled daylighting, and controlled interior lighting.

About Griffin Structures, Inc.

Griffin Structures provides program and construction management services, working on behalf of government agencies and the communities they serve. Founded in 1981, Griffin plans, develops and manages projects from "concept to keys," streamlining delivery of high quality, cost-effective, time-efficient projects. Griffin Structures is an industry leader in alternative forms of project delivery with a focus on Public Private Partnerships. Headquartered in Irvine, Griffin Structures also has an office in Santa Clara. For more information on Griffin Structures, visit www.griffinstructures.com, LinkedIn or Facebook.

About Swinerton Builders

Swinerton provides commercial construction and construction management services throughout the United States and is a 100% employee-owned company. Recognized nationally since 1888, Swinerton is the preferred builder and trusted partner in every market it servesproudly leading with integrity, passion, and excellence. For more information on Swinerton, visit its blog, Swinerton Builds Tomorrow, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram,and LinkedIn, or its website (www.swinerton.com).

About SVA Architects, Inc.

Founded in 2003, SVA Architects has become one of the Country's most innovative and respected design and planning organizations. The award-winning firm specializes in planning, architecture, and interior design of public, private, and combination projects. Among the firm's portfolio are civic, educational, residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. SVA Architects values institutional and public environments as the foundation of a community and the backdrop against which we live, learn, work, worship, and play. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana with offices in Oakland, San Diego, and Honolulu. For more information, visit www.sva-architects.com.

Media Contact: Beth Binger

BCI

Mobile: (619) 987-6658

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441827

SOURCE SVA Architects, Inc.; Swinerton Builders; Griffin Structures, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.griffinstructures.com


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson & Weaver, LLP has launched an investigation into whether the board members of Headwaters Incorporated (NYSE: HW) breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company to Boral Limited. Headwaters is a provider of products and services to the building and construction materials sector primarily in the United States and Canada.

On November 20, 2016, Headwaters announced it had signed a definitive merger agreement with Boral. Under the terms of the agreement, Boral will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Headwaters common stock for $24.25 per share in cash.

The investigation concerns whether the Headwaters board failed to satisfy their duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for Headwaters shares of common stock. Nationally recognized Johnson & Weaver is investigating whether the proposed deal price represents adequate consideration.

If you are a shareholder of Headwaters and believe the proposed buyout price is too low and you're interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ([email protected]) at 619-814-4471.

About Johnson & Weaver, LLP:

Johnson & Weaver, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonandweaver.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson & Weaver, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160211/332409LOGO

SOURCE Johnson & Weaver, LLP

Related Links

http://johnsonandweaver.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., (NYSE:HRC) announced today that management will participate in the Citi 2016 Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 in New York. Due to the one-on-one investor meeting format of the event, no webcast will be available.

ABOUT HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.

Hill-Rom is a leading global medical technology company with 10,000 employees worldwide. We partner with health care providers in more than 100 countries by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Patient Monitoring and Diagnostics, Surgical Safety and Efficiency and Respiratory Health. Around the world, Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Every day, around the world, we enhance outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Visit www.hill-rom.com for more information.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130123/DE47178LOGO

SOURCE Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hill-rom.com


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its annual charity program designed to give back to those in need, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the start of the 2016 Mazda Drive for Good event. From November 21, 2016 through January 3, 2017, Mazda customers and potential owners are invited to help give back to those in need by taking a test drive or by buying, or leasing, a new Mazda. For every test drive, Mazda will pledge one volunteer hour to a worthy cause in the community, and when owners buy or lease a new Mazda, Mazda will donate $150 to one of the select national or local charities of their choice.1

Holiday Season Signals Start of 2016 Mazda Drive for Good Event

In its fourth year of the Mazda Drive for Good program, Mazda is again collaborating with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. on a national level. In addition to the four national nonprofit organizations, Mazda Dealer Marketing Groups around the nation also have the opportunity to partner with local nonprofit organizations, which enable new Mazda owners to select an organization closer to home. The complete list of local nonprofits can be found below.

"Our Driving Matters campaign speaks directly to the experience of driving our vehicles, and by allowing Mazda test drives to matter in another way, we are able to highlight an important aspect of Mazda's purpose as an organization within the community," said Robert Davis, senior vice president of U.S. operations at MNAO. "Over the last few years, the Mazda Drive for Good program has provided us with a unique opportunity to allow our customers to direct how we give back to our communities, and we look forward to continuing to give back to those organizations that matter most to them, in 2017."

In order to spread the word about the campaign, Mazda teamed up with NBCUniversal for the 2016 Mazda Drive for Good Contest, where the winner, or the organization's representative, will attend NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" on November 30, and will be recognized for their influence in the community. The winner will receive a $30,000 donationmoney raised as part of the 2016 Mazda Drive for Good program.

Supporting the Mazda Drive for Good event is a multi-faceted campaign across all media channels. Mazda's national media buy features :30 television spots featuring some of Mazda's own, designed to represent all of Mazda's employees that give back year-round. Additionally, there is a 2:00 cinema piece highlighting a Mazda dealer and dedicated Mazda Drive for Good volunteer in Charlotte, NC.

Consumers will also have access to a dedicated Mazda Drive for Good webpage at MazdaUSA.com/drive4good where they can track Mazda's progress and find Mazda Drive for Good content. Owners that purchase or lease a new Mazda during the event period can direct their donations through this page.

Since its launch in 2013, Mazda has donated more than $13 million to charity and has pledged more than 195,000 charitable service hours. Mazda believes that buying a car isn't just an artificial transaction. The time and money donated as part of the community creates a ripple effect across the country and develops a community of its ownleaving a lasting effect on those in need.

Mazda remains committed to helping communities throughout the year, through monetary donations and volunteer service. Follow the conversation at #MazdaDrive4Good or MazdaUSA.com/Drive4Good.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com.

2016 Mazda Drive for Good Winter Event National + Local Charity List (46 Total)

NATIONAL St. Jude Children's Research Hospital American Red Cross American Heart Association Mazda Foundation



GULF REGION

Albuquerque Ronald McDonald House

Dallas & Fort Worth MD Anderson Cancer Center

Denver JDRF

Harlingen Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg RGV

Houston JDRF

Kansas City Children's Mercy Hospital

New Orleans Covenant House New Orleans

Omaha Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation

Austin Austin Humane Society







MIDWEST REGION

Chicago Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana

Cincinnati Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Cleveland Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland

Ronald McDonald House of Akron

Columbus Nationwide Children's Hospital

Detroit Children's Hospital of Michigan

Lexington Kentucky Children's Hospital

Louisville Norton Children's Hospital

Milwaukee Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund

Minneapolis Ronald McDonald House - Upper Midwest



NORTHEAST REGION Baltimore American Cancer Society Boston Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Hartford & New Haven Autism Speaks New York Autism Speaks Philadelphia The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pittsburgh Autism Society of Pittsburgh Washington Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Washington DC (National Capital Area)



SOUTHEAST REGION Atlanta Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Ft. Myers & Naples Golisano Children's Hospital (Lee Memorial Health System Foundation) Central Carolina

(Raleigh) UNC Children's Hospital (The Medical Foundation of NC, Inc) Richmond & Petersburg Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond West Palm Beach Place of Hope Charlotte Charlotte Family Housing



WESTERN REGION Los Angeles Local chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters Phoenix Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation Portland Randall Children's Hospital Foundation Sacramento, Stockton & Modesto Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area San Diego Rady Children's Hospital Foundation San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford Seattle & Tacoma Seattle Children's Hospital Salt Lake City Prevent Child Abuse Utah

1 Open to legal residents of the 50 states (including D.C.), 18+ who purchase or lease a new Mazda vehicle from an authorized Mazda franchise dealer from November 21, 2016 through January 3, 2017. For complete details, visit http://www.mazdausa.com/drive4good.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161120/441436

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131205/MM28870LOGO

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Related Links

http://www.mazdausa.com


According to the recently published TechSci Research report "India Sulphuric Acid Market Study, 2011 - 2025", the sulphuric acid market in India is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.35% during 2016-2025, on account ofincreasing fertilizer productionin the country. Moreover,growing demand and consumption of sulphuric acid can be attributed to rapid growth in population size of India, which is subsequently driving demand for infrastructure, food crops and base metals. Growingapplication of sulphuric acid in processing of fertilizers and other industrial chemicals, coupled with rising initiatives by Government of Indiato collaborate with global manufacturing firms, are furtherexpected to drive India sulphuric acid market during the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Sulphuric acid is tailored for utilization as the most crucial raw material and key ingredient in agriculture sector with applications inproduction of fertilizers and pH adjustment.Moreover, it is alsoan essential part of nearly all manufactured goods, chemical synthesis such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulphate salts, synthetic detergents, dyes and pigments, explosives, and drugs. Sulphuric acid is utilized in carrying out processing of metals by various methods including pickling of iron & steel prior to plating process. Westregion was the major demand generator for sulphuric acid in India over the past few years, owing to presence of major fertilizer and chemical producing companieslocated in this region.Furthermore, leading sulphuric acid manufacturers such as Hindalco Industries Ltd., and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., have an installed production capacities of 1,670 and 660 thousand tons, respectively.

"Fertilizer is the largest consumer of sulphuric acid in India, owing torising urbanizationand growing population in the country, which is furtherincreasing focus on agriculture sector of India to meet growing demand for food. Phosphate fertilizers production in India stood at 4,113.1 thousand metric tons in 2014, which is further projected to increase in the coming years. Thus, growing production of phosphate fertilizerand increasing use of sulphuric acid in metal processingto boost demand for sulphuric acid in Indiaduring the forecast period." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director, with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"India Sulphuric AcidMarket Opportunities, 2011 - 2025" has analyzed the potential of the sulphuric acid market in India and provides statistics and information on market sizes, shares and trends. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by India Sulphuric Acid market.

About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends.

Contact

Mr. Ken Mathews

708 Third Avenue,

Manhattan, NY,

New York - 10017

Tel: +1-646-360-1656

Email: [email protected]



Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch

Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research

SOURCE TechSci Research
SINGAPORE and LONDON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PatSnap, a technology solution provider of innovation intelligence to Fortune 500 R&D teams, today announced it has closed its Series C funding. The round was led by Sequoia Capital and participated by Shunwei Capital and Qualgro. This funding round puts PatSnap amongst an elite group of B2B SaaS companies to close their Series C round this year.

The strength of PatSnap's intelligence platform lies in its ability to comprehend the entire R&D life cycle of a technology company's intangible assets - from idea generation and research, through product development and commercialization. For many of PatSnap's customers, their intangible assets, including intellectual property, could account for up to 80% of the company's value. However, prior to using PatSnap, these companies did not have a strategy to make sense of these assets. With advanced deep learning capabilities applied across globally dispersed datasets such as patent and trademark registrations, PatSnap customers can reach actionable insights without prior knowledge of complex IP data structures, unlocking innovation opportunities faster than ever.

Founded by CEO Jeffrey Tiong, the company spent several years building early versions of the PatSnap platform within an accelerator program at the National University of Singapore. PatSnap now has offices in London, China and Singapore, operating in 40 industries and serving over 3,000 customers worldwide, including NASA, Vodafone, L'Oreal and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. PatSnap has earlier raised a Series A of US$3.6 million in 2014 and a Series B of US$11 million in 2015.

"PatSnap is expected to contribute great efforts to the technology innovation globally. It has rapidly built a global team, and is exceptional in having a strong customer base spanning Asia, America and Europe. Jeffrey and his team have shown an incredible ability to execute on their vision, product, and go-to-market strategy, demonstrating consistent year-on-year revenue growth," said Steven Ji, Partner at Sequoia Capital China.

"We realize that innovation is the lifeblood of the global economy, and intellectual property is an incredibly important asset on a company's balance sheet. At PatSnap, we support innovators across every level of the enterprise, from scientists and engineers, to C level executives and directors, by developing intuitive tools which enable them to make better informed decisions around every aspect of the innovation lifecycle," said PatSnap founder Jeffrey Tiong.

PatSnap will invest the funds raised from this Series C to further its R&D work. It is developing new products that address an evolving market where innovation initiatives are becoming increasingly instrumental for any successful business. PatSnap currently has some 400 employees based in its Singapore, London (UK) and Suzhou (China) offices and will continue to expand the team globally.

In particular, PatSnap is building an R&D centre in Singapore, planning to hire 20 more engineers and data scientists. PatSnap is collaborating with the Economic Development Board to build its R&D presence in Singapore. The company will undertake new projects to drive further innovation to existing products and support the Singapore's government's data-driven Smart Nation vision.

About PatSnap

Founded in 2007, PatSnap focuses on providing a suite of IP analytical and management to help businesses make better decisions. PatSnap has brought together the biggest IP dataset in the world -- over 118 million patents, and makes this data accessible and relevant, through adding licensing and litigation data, economic data, patent valuation, image and chemical formula search and trademark recognition. PatSnap has some 400 employees, and offices in Singapore, London (UK) and Suzhou (China). www.patsnap.com

SOURCE Patsnap

Related Links

http://www.patsnap.com/


The VELUX Group is proud to announce the two global winners of the International VELUX Award 2016 for Students of Architecture:

Redistribution of Light by Kwang Hoon Lee, Hyuk Sung Kwon and Yu Min Park, Republic of Korea. This project was the winner in the Daylight in Buildings category and looked at the semi-underground spaces in Seoul city which emerged in the 1970s as air-raid shelters. As the population grew, the spaces transformed into illegal housing. They are characterised by small, eye-level windows that admit very little light. The project suggests how daylight to the interior spaces by day, and artificial light to the narrow roads by night, can both be amplified.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440046 )



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440047 )



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440048 )



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440049 )

The jury found this project highly viable. It presents a simple solution to a real challenge, making use of a very simple intervention of the cubic, sliding window prism. The project is beautifully illustrated and the presentation of the idea and the use of the sliding prism is convincing.

Light for the Blind by Jiafeng Li, Chenlu Wang, Guiding Yao, Jiebei Yang, Lushan Ao, Xiaoqi Chen and Jiawen Li, China. This project was the winner in the Daylight Investigations category and looked at Synaesthesia - a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second. The idea of the project is to change the way people usually experience light - with their eyes - to 'feeling' it with their hands. It considers how blind people would be able to feel a world with light and enjoy the beauty of light and shadow, legible in surfaces as braille.

The jury found this to be a very intelligent project in the way it develops its idea; from understanding that loss of sight increases the acuity of other senses, to the search for a material that responds to light by expanding and retracting. The proposal offers a clear idea that is beautifully presented.

The International VELUX Award aims to inspire students of architecture to consider daylight as a principle source for the health, well-being and joy.

The global winners were presented together with the overall winners in the professional architects' categories at the World Architecture Festival's (WAF) closing gala in Berlin on 18th November.



About the Award

The overall theme of the International VELUX Award 2016 for Students of Architecture is "Light of Tomorrow." Launched in 2004, this year's award seeks to challenge the future of daylight in the built environment by inspiring creative explorations on the themes of daylight in buildings and daylight investigations from the world's leading future architects.

The distinguished award jury - featuring Omar Gandhi, Christine Murray, Zbigniew Reszka, Francesco Veenstra and Per Arnold Andersen - selected the two global winners after reviewing nearly 600 project submissions from 57 countries earlier this year and ten regional winning projects that were presented at the World Architecture Festival on 18 November.

"The global winners of the International VELUX Award 2016 offer dynamic and creative solutions that embody the "Light of Tomorrow" theme and widen the boundaries of daylight in the built environment. Students of architecture continue to inspire us with their appreciation for daylight and inventive ideas to create better living environments, healthy homes, good learning spaces and inspiring workplaces," says Per Arnold Andersen, head of the International VELUX Award.

Images and Film from the International VELUX Award 2016

Download images and films from the global winners' award ceremony here: press.velux.com

About the VELUX Group

For 75 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights as well as a range of decoration and sun screenings, roller shutters, installation solutions and intelligent home controls. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally - with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 40 countries and around 9,500 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family.

For more information about the VELUX Group visit http://www.velux.com

For more information about International VELUX Award visit iva.velux.com

Contact: Jim Daniell, Media Relations Manager, VELUX Group Mobile: +45-29-38-02-38, [email protected]

SOURCE VELUX Group
PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicare Advantage patients who had tailored post-hospital visits with primary care clinicians, known as POSH visits, were less likely to experience hospital readmission than those who did not have an outpatient visit, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Tailored POSH visits are scheduled for the patient while he or she is still in the hospital and focus on following up on treatment plans after discharge. In comparison, regular primary care clinician outpatient visits may focus on routine care and not cover specific issues related to a patient's recent hospitalization.

Researchers found that Medicare Advantage patients who had one or more outpatient visits with primary care clinicians within seven days of being discharged from the hospital to their homes were 12 to 24 percent less likely to experience hospital readmission than those who did not have an outpatient visit. And patients who had a POSH visit were 28 percent less likely to experience hospital readmission, compared to those completing any other type of outpatient visit.

"While other studies had mixed results regarding the effectiveness of post-hospitalization visits, our study highlights the value of both routine and more tailored POSH visits in ensuring continuity of care once a patient transitions from hospital to home," said Ernest Shen, PhD, research scientist biostatistician at the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. "Although any primary care clinician outpatient visit appeared to reduce readmission risk compared to no outpatient visit, the POSH visit provides the added benefit of the care team being alerted to, and therefore better prepared to address, patients' post-discharge needs."

The study examined the electronic health records of more than 71,000 Medicare Advantage patients who were discharged to home from Kaiser Permanente hospitals between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014. To address the potential bias that patients who had an outpatient visit may have been less sick than those who did not, the researchers accounted for several important factors, including severity of the condition during hospitalization, underlying illnesses and functional status.

Other authors of the study include Brian Mittman, PhD, and Huong Q. Nguyen, PhD, RN, from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation; Sandra Y. Koyama, MD, Dan N. Huynh, MD, Heather L. Watson, MBA, and Michael H. Kanter, MD, from Clinical Operations, Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

This study was partially supported through a collaboration with Project ACHIEVE, a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) awardee (TC-1403-14049), and internal operational funding from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

About the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation

The Department of Research & Evaluation conducts high-quality, innovative research into disease etiology, prevention, treatment and care delivery. Investigators conduct epidemiologic research, health services research, biostatistics research, and behavioral research as well as clinical trials. Major areas of study include chronic disease, infectious disease, cancer, drug safety and effectiveness, and maternal and child health. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, the department focuses on translating research to practice quickly to benefit the health and lives of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members and the general public. Visit kp.org/research.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 10.6 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

For more information, contact:

Heather Platisha, [email protected], 415-262-5992

Sandra Hernandez-Millett, [email protected], 626-405-5384

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130718/SF49717LOGO

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

Related Links

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org


PITTSBURGH, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today they will attend Credit Suisse 4th Annual Industrials Conference on November 30 and December 1, 2016 in Palm Beach, FL. Jan Kees van Gaalen, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and Kelly Boyer, Vice President, Investor Relations will be attending. The presentation slides will be available on the company's website www.kennametal.com, November 30, 2016. Once on the homepage, select "About Us", "Investor Relations" and then "Events".

At the forefront of advanced materials innovation for more than 75 years, Kennametal Inc. is a global industrial technology leader delivering productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 12,000 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated nearly $2.1 billion in revenues in fiscal 2016. Learn more at www.kennametal.com

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.

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"Dave is one of the best engineering leaders in Canada with an impressive track record of success," said Ted Livingston, founder and CEO of Kik. "He is exactly the kind of person we want in place to build a world class engineering organization and to explore new areas in the messaging and chatbot spaces."

Simons joins the Waterloo-based Kik after seven years as CTO of Points International, a global leader in loyalty currency management. At Points International, he helped develop infrastructure to drive ecommerce and technology solutions for global brands such as Chase, Marriott, and United Airlines.

"Three-hundred million registered users create fascinating scale-related engineering and operational challenges" said Simons. "I've been extremely impressed with what this 150-person team has accomplished, and any engineer coming to Kik will have a material impact on the company becoming one of the dominant chat platforms in North America."

Before joining Points International, Simons co-founded NeoEdge Networks and held various positions at AOL Time Warner and Citibank, where he built and scaled large consumer-facing deployments, advertising infrastructure, peer-to-peer networks, and more. He is also a University of Waterloo alumna.

About Kik Interactive

Kik Interactive, Inc., connects the world through chat. The company is the maker of Kik, a chat platform with more than 300 million registered users where people can chat with friends and connect with chat-based experiences. Founded in 2009, Kik Interactive, Inc. is headquartered in Waterloo, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Toronto. For more information, please visit:kik.com.

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SOURCE Kik Interactive, Inc.

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NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Columbus Citizens Foundation announced today that award-winning journalist Maria Bartiromo will be joining their Board of Governors, effective immediately. Bartiromo has been a member of the Foundation since 2001. She is strongly associated with the Foundation's Columbus Day Parade  both as a regular host of the televised broadcast, and for having served as the Parade's Grand Marshal in 2010.

Maria Bartiromo is extremely well-known to television viewers as the anchor of Mornings with Maria on Fox Business Network and Sunday Morning Futures on FOX News Channel. Sunday Morning Futures is the most watched Sunday morning program on cable.

A best-selling author and a winner of multiple awards for excellence in journalism, Bartiromo is also a dedicated philanthropist, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of New York University, the Board of Directors of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York and the Board of Directors of The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

"Maria is a valued member of the Foundation, and of course she is our master of ceremonies during the broadcast of our annual Columbus Day Parade," said Angelo Vivolo, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, "We are thrilled to have this incredible force of energy join us on the board level, and look forward to the insight she will bring with her."

The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans and creating opportunities for the next generation through the provision of scholarship and grants at all levels of education.

"As a proud Italian American who understands the value of a good education and hard work, I'm thrilled to join the board of the Columbus Citizens Foundation," Ms. Bartiromo said, "The work the Foundation does is so important and I'm honored to play an active role in their evolution."

Ms. Bartiromo hosted the 72nd Annual Columbus Day Parade for the Columbus Citizens Foundation on October 10, which was number one in its timeslot on WABC-7 and saw crowds of over 1 million spectators line Fifth Avenue to celebrate Italian culture and tradition.

For More Information, Contact:

Jefferson Wilson

[email protected]

(212) 249 9923, ext 242

MORE ABOUT THE COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION

The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York's Fifth Avenue since 1929. For more information, contact [email protected]

SOURCE Columbus Citizens Foundation

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http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org


YVERDON LES BAINS, Switzerland and HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leclanche SA (www.leclanche.com), the leading vertically integrated energy storage solution company, and Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co Ltd, the leading global battery manufacturer, announced today a strategic partnership for the manufacturing and development of lithium-ion battery technology for the Chinese and global markets.

Leclanche will support Narada with technology transfer to achieve low-cost, scale manufacturing of Leclanche's proprietary high-cycling and fast-charging lithium titanate (LTO) and high energy density graphite nickel manganese cobalt (G-NMC) battery storage technologies.

Narada will manufacture both G-NMC and LTO at its facilities in Hangzhou, China , including the opening of its new 2.5 GWh fabrication facility in 2017. This will complement manufacturing at Leclanche's Willstatt, Germany and Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland sites, providing scale and more competitive costings to achieve best-in-class global pricing to meet the needs of multiple end-markets  including stationary, microgrid, commercial and industrial and electric vehicle applications.

, including the opening of its new 2.5 GWh fabrication facility in 2017. This will complement manufacturing at Leclanche's Willstatt, and Yverdon-les-Bains, sites, providing scale and more competitive costings to achieve best-in-class global pricing to meet the needs of multiple end-markets  including stationary, microgrid, commercial and industrial and electric vehicle applications. Leveraging the fast-charging and high-cycle capabilities of LTO technology, the alliance will aggressively pursue significant market share in China , the largest electric bus market in the world ( $4b estimated size according to Navigant Research) .

, the largest electric bus market in the world . Narada will make an equity investment in Leclanche alongside licensing for technology transfer.

Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanche SA, said: "This game-changing alliance positions Leclanche and Narada for worldwide leadership in the energy storage market. The alliance will cover the broadest range of battery technologies and systems integration expertise to competitively deliver a full range of energy storage applications across stationary, transport and commercial & industrial markets."

Mr. Bo Chen, president of Narada, said: "We are confident that Leclanche's G-NMC and LTO are advanced-class technologies. Through our cooperation we can drive global-leading technology performance. The alliance provides a foundation for expanding our market share in fast-growing sectors including for electric vehicles, renewable energy integration and telecom. Through our equity investment, Leclanche becomes Narada's strategic systems integration partner which is well-placed to enhance our ability to offer integrated energy storage solutions worldwide. I am confident that this alliance will grow to be a world leader in energy storage."

Detailed terms will not be disclosed until the execution of definitive agreements, expected on or around 31st December 2016. Alexa Capital LLP is advising Leclanche on the transaction.

About Leclanche

Leclanche is one of the world's leading fully vertically integrated battery energy storage solution providers. It delivers a wide range of turnkey energy storage solutions for homes, small offices, large industries, electricity grids, as well as hybridization for mass transport systems such as bus fleets and ferries. Established in 1909, Leclanche has been a reliable partner for battery energy storage solutions for over 100 years. Founded in the tradition of Georges Leclanche, the inventor of the dry cell battery, Leclanche today has a rich portfolio of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that include bespoke battery systems from industry leading lithium-ion solutions.

Leclanche is listed on the Swiss stock exchange. SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

About Narada

Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co., Ltd. engages in the provision of stored energy solutions for industrial applications. Its products include back-up power, power supply and system, and power and energy storage systems. These products are widely used in telecom, electric power, railway and other infrastructure applications, including renewable energy and integration with solar photovoltaic and wind energy generation. The company was established in 1994 in Hangzhou, China and is listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange.

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanche's business, which can be identified by terminology such as "strategic", "proposes", "to introduce", "will", "planned", "expected", "commitment", "expects", "set", "preparing", "plans", "estimates", "aims", "would", "potential", "awaiting", "estimated", "proposal", or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanche's production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanche or any of its business units.

You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanche regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanche's products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanche, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results.

SOURCE Leclanche

Related Links

http://www.leclanche.com


"We truly appreciate the trust and confidence the Republic of Korea has placed in us with this contract," said Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martin's F-16 program. "These upgrades are a critical piece of South Korea's national defense and highlight Lockheed Martin's commitment to the full lifecycle of the F-16, from production to through-life sustainment."

The contract for the ROKAF upgrade is a foreign military sales contract issued by the U.S. Air Force. As Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and design authority of the F-16, Lockheed Martin is uniquely qualified to design, engineer, develop, integrate and sustain a complete F-16 weapons system solution tailored to customer requirements.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter with more than 4,570 F-16s delivered. The F-16 currently serves as the workhorse of the fighter fleet for 25 nations around the world.

For additional information, visit our website: lockheedmartin.com/f16

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

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http://www.lockheedmartin.com


CHESTERFIELD, United Kingdom, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today confirmed that it will initiate a company-sponsored, Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial to assess the efficacy of H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) in patients with Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). The study is expected to begin in the first half of 2017.

Mallinckrodt also announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company's request for a Fast Track designation for its Acthar Investigational New Drug (IND) application in patients with ALS. The company is working closely with the FDA as it establishes the Phase 2 study design.

"We recently completed our pilot study of Acthar in ALS patients, and are pleased to report that the primary objectives of the study were met. The trial explored the safety and tolerability of four potential Acthar dosing regimens in ALS patients," said Steven Romano, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Mallinckrodt. "Although the pilot study was not designed to generate controlled evidence regarding efficacy, we conducted a number of exploratory analyses, including a comparison of the course of disease observed in a small set of patients continuing on Acthar for 36 weeks versus a historical, placebo-treated population. Differences observed suggested further study was appropriate. The study data have also allowed us to select a dose regimen to study the drug further in a rigorous controlled trial. This next proof-of-concept study will evaluate the effects of Acthar on established measures of disease symptoms and progression, enabling us to assess the potential value Acthar may bring to patients with this devastating disease."

The FDA's Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier. The Fast Track program addresses a broad range of serious conditions.

Mallinckrodt's investment into this clinical trial illustrates a tenet of its Acquire to Invest strategy, applying substantial resources on building a robust, organic pipeline.

About the Pilot Study

The 8-week, randomized, open-label evaluation examined the acute safety and tolerability of four different dosing regimens for Acthar in patients with ALS. The study included an optional 28-week, open-label extension phase to gather additional longer-term safety and tolerability data. For more information about the completed trial, click here to visit the ClinicalTrials.gov website.

About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise and when the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate voluntary movement and muscle control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

There is increasing evidence that neuro-inflammation accompanies the death of motor neurons in ALS. Several places in the inflammatory events that appear to accompany ALS might be amenable to drug action that could help in the disease. Research in the field is continuing to find new approaches to implement an anti-inflammatory strategy in treating ALS1.

About H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection)

H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection), is an injectable drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of 19 indications. Of these today the majority of Acthar use is in these indications:

Monotherapy for treatment of infantile spasms (IS) in infants and children under 2 years of age.

Inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

Treatment of acute exacerbations of MS in adults.

Use during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Use during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis).

Use as adjunct therapy for short-term administration in select cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment of symptomatic sarcoidosis.

For more information about Acthar, please visit www.acthar.com. Please click to see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

Important Safety Information

Acthar should never be administered intravenously.

Administration of live or live attenuated vaccines is contraindicated in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of Acthar.

Acthar is contraindicated where congenital infections are suspected in infants.

Acthar is contraindicated in patients with scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or the presence of a peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenocortical hyperfunction or sensitivity to proteins of porcine origins.

The adverse effects of Acthar are related primarily to its steroidogenic effects.

Acthar may increase susceptibility to new infection or reactivation of latent infections.

Suppression of the hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis may occur following prolonged therapy with the potential for adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of the medication. Cushing's Syndrome may occur during therapy but generally resolves after therapy is stopped. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms.

Monitor patients for elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and hypokalemia.

Acthar often acts by masking symptoms of other diseases/disorders. Monitor patients carefully during and following discontinuation.

Acthar can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and gastric ulcer with an increased risk for perforation with certain GI disorders. Monitor for signs of bleeding.

Acthar may be associated with central nervous system effects ranging from euphoria, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, personality changes, depression, and psychosis. Existing conditions may be aggravated.

Patients with comorbid disease may have that disease worsened. Caution should be used in patients with diabetes and myasthenia gravis.

Prolonged use of Acthar may produce cataracts, glaucoma and secondary ocular infections.

Acthar is immunogenic and prolonged use may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions.

There is an enhanced effect in patients with hypothyroidism and those with cirrhosis of liver.

Long-term use may have negative effects on growth and physical development in children. Monitor pediatric patients.

Decrease in bone density may occur. Monitor during long-term therapy.

Pregnancy Class C: Acthar has been shown to have an embryocidal effect and should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Common adverse reactions include fluid retention, alteration in glucose tolerance, elevation in blood pressure, behavioral and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain.

Specific adverse reactions reported in IS clinical trials in infants and children under 2 years of age included: infection, hypertension, irritability, Cushingoid symptoms, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, pyrexia, weight gain, increased appetite, decreased appetite, nasal congestion, acne, rash, and cardiac hypertrophy. Convulsions were also reported, but these may actually be occurring because some IS patients progress to other forms of seizures and IS sometimes masks other seizures, which become visible once the clinical spasms from IS resolve.

For more information about Acthar, please visit www.acthar.com. Please click to see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for additional important safety information.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products and therapies, as well as nuclear imaging products. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and hemostasis products; and central nervous system drugs. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines; its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing; and the Nuclear Imaging segment includes nuclear imaging agents. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CONTACTS

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

908-238-6765

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Chief Public Affairs Officer

314-654-3318

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

1 The ALS Association, Our Research, Focus Areas, Disease Mechanisms. http://www.alsa.org/research/focus-areas/disease-mechanisms/ Accessed November 18, 2016.

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SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

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SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today provided an update regarding its recently announced campaign to evaluate strategic opportunities.

Preliminary Indications of Interest in Reverse Merger Transactions . The Company has received several written indications of interest from privately-held companies, including companies with synergistic clinical-stage drug candidates, and is actively evaluating these opportunities.

. The Company has received several written indications of interest from privately-held companies, including companies with synergistic clinical-stage drug candidates, and is actively evaluating these opportunities. Other Strategic Opportunities . Concurrently, the Company will continue to explore ways to strategically monetize its vepoloxamer assets, including through licensing transactions.

. Concurrently, the Company will continue to explore ways to strategically monetize its vepoloxamer assets, including through licensing transactions. Continued Clinical Development of AIR001. In parallel with exploring strategic opportunities, the Company will continue to support ongoing and planned investigator-sponsored clinical studies of its lead asset, AIR001, for the treatment of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

"Our recently-announced strategic process has generated a number of opportunities that would be transformative for Mast," stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics. "We are diligently and expeditiously reviewing these strategic alternatives, which we believe could maximize returns for our stockholders. We also remain excited about the potential for AIR001 in HFpEF and look forward to more data from investigator-sponsored studies in 2017," continued Mr. Culley.

About Mast Therapeutics

Mast Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. The Company has two clinical-stage investigational new drugs, AIR001 and vepoloxamer. AIR001, a sodium nitrite solution for intermittent inhalation via nebulization, is in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). More information can be found on the Company's web site at www.masttherapeutics.com. Mast Therapeutics and the corporate logo are trademarks of Mast Therapeutics, Inc.

Forward Looking Statements

Mast Therapeutics cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words referencing future events or circumstances such as "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," and "will," among others. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating to potential strategic transactions for the Company and/or its assets and the value such transactions may provide the Company's stockholders. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results because they involve the Company's beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual performance and results to differ materially from expectations indicated by the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual performance or results to differ include, without limitation: that Company's process for identifying and evaluating potential transactions is ongoing and may not result in consummation of a strategic transaction on a timely basis or at all; the potential for companies that have expressed interest in a strategic transaction with the Company to determine not to pursue a transaction or offer terms that the Company determines are acceptable; the risk that any strategic transaction that the Company may consummate may offer limited value for its product candidates and proprietary technology and may not enhance stockholder value or provide expected benefits; the Company's need for additional funding and risk that it may not be able to obtain sufficient funding as needed; risks associated with the Company's ability to manage operating expenses; uncertainty related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; risk of an event of default under the Company's debt facility that could result in the Company being required to repay its outstanding debt obligation and related fees on an accelerated basis and/or at a time that could be detrimental to the Company's financial condition, operations and/or business strategy; the impact of significant reductions in the Company's operations on its ability to develop its product candidates or maintain compliance with laws and regulations relating to public companies; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with NYSE MKT continued listing standards and policies and to maintain the listing and trading of its common stock on a national securities exchange; uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical studies and the risk that the Company's product candidates may not demonstrate adequate safety, efficacy or tolerability in one or more clinical studies for approval by regulatory authorities; the Company's lack of control over the investigator-sponsored clinical studies of AIR001, including whether the studies will commence or be completed on anticipated timelines, or at all; the potential for significant delays, reductions, or discontinuation of current and/or planned development activities if the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional capital as needed; the Company's dependence on third parties to assist with important aspects of development of the Company's product candidates, including the conduct of its clinical studies, the manufacture and supply of clinical trial material, including drug delivery devices, and the conduct of regulatory activities, and the risk that such third parties may fail to perform as expected leading to delays in product candidate development and additional costs; the risk that the Company is not able to obtain or maintain effective patent coverage or other market exclusivity protections for its products, if approved, or that the use or manufacture of the Company's products may infringe the proprietary rights of others; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the Company's press releases and its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date when made. Mast Therapeutics does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement set forth in this press release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof, except as may be required by law.

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SOURCE Mast Therapeutics, Inc.

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http://www.masttherapeutics.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mattress Firm, the nation's largest specialty bedding retailer, is kicking off Black Friday deals early with incredible savings starting Thanksgiving week that will make sleep dreams come true! Starting Monday, Nov. 21 through Wednesday, Nov. 23, shoppers can enjoy exclusive discounts on premium mattress brands, with even more deals beginning on Black Friday, Nov. 25.

Thanksgiving week deals from Mattress Firm include:

Monday, Nov. 21 through Wednesday, Nov. 23

Use hashtag #Thanksavings on Instagram or Twitter to unlock a coupon for free delivery with purchases of $799.99 and above

and above $299.99 Sealy Firm Parsons or HR 200 Pillow Top Queen Mattress and Box Spring (regularly $449.99 )

Sealy Firm Parsons or HR 200 Pillow Top Queen Mattress and Box Spring (regularly ) 0% APR for 5 years  Access to over 40 flat sets starting at $42 per month

per month 0% APR for 72 months  Access to over 25 adjustable sets starting at $64 per month

per month Save up to $600 on select Tempur-Pedic mattress sets

on select Tempur-Pedic mattress sets Bonus Cash with select Custom Collection mattress set purchases Up to $300 good for: pillow, frame, protector



Friday, Nov. 25 (Black Friday)

50% savings on Stearns & Foster and Beautyrest Black queen adjustable bases

20% off accessories

10% off mattress set purchases of $799.99 and above

Visit Mattress Firm's website throughout this sale event for more details on specific sales: http://www.mattressfirm.com/sale.html

About Mattress Firm

With more than 3,500 company-operated and franchised stores across 49 states, Mattress Firm has the largest geographic footprint in the United States among multi-brand mattress retailers. With the 2016 acquisition of Sleepy's, Mattress Firm is the nation's first border-to-border, coast-to-coast specialty bedding retailer. Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is the nation's leading bedding retailer. The company offers a broad selection of both traditional and specialty mattresses, bedding accessories and other related products from leading manufacturers, including Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons and Hampton & Rhodes. Mattress Firm guarantees price, comfort and service with the ultimate goal of ensuring that customers Save Money. Sleep Happy.

Mattress Firm was named Furniture Today's "Top Bedding Retailer" in 2013 and a "Top Workplace" by the Houston Chronicle in 2011, 2012 and 2013. More information is available at mattressfirm.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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SOURCE Mattress Firm

Related Links

http://www.mattressfirm.com


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NarrativeWave, the creator of the first situational intelligence platform for the Industrial Internet, is pleased to announce that Michael Allman, William (Billy) Banks, Jr., and Louis Lauch have joined the company's Board of Directors.

Michael Allman is a veteran CEO and Board Member, with extensive experience in growing, restructuring, and optimizing businesses large and small, from Fortune 300 corporations to start-up technology companies.

"Mike brings a wealth of operational expertise, strategic acumen, and industry knowledge to NarrativeWave. As a top executive, Mike has successfully steered multiple companies within our target markets and his leadership significantly impacted each organization and their growth," said Benjamin Decio, CEO of NarrativeWave. "We are looking forward to Mike's continued operational guidance and strategic insights to aid the further success of NarrativeWave."

"I am thrilled to join the Board of NarrativeWave as it scales its innovative platform for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)," Mr. Allman said. "I look forward to working with NarrativeWave's talented team of executives and advisors as the company deploys new technologies to drive tremendous efficiency improvements for industrial companies."

Mr. Allman is the CEO of H2scan Corporation, and recently served as President of Bit Stew Systems, a leading software provider for the IIoT. General Electric announced last week that it has acquired Bit Stew Systems, which will be integrated into the GE Digital organization.

Previously, Mr. Allman was Chairman, President and CEO of Southern California Gas Company, the largest natural gas distribution company in the United States. Mr. Allman led the company in achieving record profits and a #1 ranking in customer service among large natural gas distribution companies.

William (Billy) Banks, Jr. is an accomplished entrepreneur and executive, with significant experience with founding companies, managing organizations, leading start-ups, and participating in nearly a dozen M&A deals.

"Billy's leadership in operations and entrepreneurial execution is exceptional," said Benjamin Decio, CEO of NarrativeWave. "We look forward to working with Billy as we continue to build, scale, and advance the trajectory of NarrativeWave."

"I am excited to join the Board of NarrativeWave as it continues to solve the big data problem for manufacturers and their end clients," Mr. Banks said. "I look forward to working with the team to build a scalable infrastructure that positions the company for growth and expansion into new markets."

Currently, Mr. Banks serves as the President of Windsor Steel, Inc., a steel stamping operation, and is the Associate Director of The Garage at Northwestern University, the student entrepreneurship and innovation hub that's currently home to approximately 60 student-founded startups. Mr. Banks sits on the Board of Directors of Hubbell Realty Company and is on the Advisory Boards of Design for America, Luna Lights, and Overgrad.

Previously, Mr. Banks founded and scaled M-Tec Corporation and Reach360, which both sold in 2011 and 2012, respectively. As COO of Banks Lumber, a family business focused on forest products and steel fabrication, Mr. Banks assisted the continued growth and then sale of the company in 2006 to Universal Forest Products.

Louis Lauch is an accomplished business executive, investor, and has owned many companies in various industries, over the course of his successful business career.

"Lou's vast experience in building and scaling companies, coupled with his deep operational and finance expertise, will be of significant value to NarrativeWave," said Benjamin Decio, CEO of NarrativeWave. "We welcome his operational guidance that will benefit the company's continued execution."

"I am honored to join the Board of NarrativeWave, which is on the forefront of the Industrial Internet of Things," Mr. Lauch said. "I look forward to using my background in manufacturing to provide practical direction for the company's initiative to increase industrial efficiency."

Mr. Lauch is the owner and President of KBM Inc., a national company that provides housekeeping services for large complex government medical facilities. Mr. Lauch is also the co-owner of Auto Temp, Inc., a large manufacturer of tempered glass products, and also serves as the Director at CBank, a full service commercial bank headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

About NarrativeWave

NarrativeWave is the first situational intelligence platform for the Industrial Internet. The platform ingests large volumes of data, communicates what is relevant, and provides immediate actionable business insights on critical industrial equipment. By having real-time visibility on large industrial equipment, manufacturers and their customers benefit from increased profitability on service contracts, improved SLAs, and proven customer retention. NarrativeWave is a venture-backed private company that has offices in Irvine, California and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Learn more at:

Website: www.narrativewave.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/narrativewave

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/narrativewave

Twitter: @narrativew

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SOURCE NarrativeWave

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NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "Our number one passion is seeing to it that a US Navy Veteran who has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma receives the very best possible financial compensation settlement. We are challenging a Veteran with this rare cancer or their family to call anytime us at 800-714-0303 to ensure they have the most skilled and competent mesothelioma attorneys in the nation assisting them with their compensation claim.

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US Navy Veterans Asbestos Warning Sign

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"Why is having the most experienced and qualified attorneys such a big deal? If you are a US Navy Veteran with mesothelioma and you do not have the very best attorneys - in all likelihood you will not receive the very best financial compensation. Do not hire a local car accident attorney to do a complex mesothelioma compensation claim when the very best mesothelioma attorneys in the nation will almost always want to personally assist a US Navy Veteran who has mesothelioma with their compensation claim. Why settle for less?" http://usnavymesothelioma.com

Vital tips when it comes to a US Navy Veteran or their family related to hiring a lawyer/law firm to pursue a mesothelioma compensation claim from the US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Center:

Do not hire a lawyer or law firm that cannot prove they have achieved at least one million dollar mesothelioma compensation settlement for a US Navy Veteran within the last twelve months.

mesothelioma compensation settlement for a US Navy Veteran within the last twelve months. Make certain the lawyer offering to assist a Navy Veteran with confirmed mesothelioma has family references from a Navy Veteran that will confirm their skill and professionalism.

Make certain the lawyer offering to assist a US Navy Veteran with mesothelioma compensation claim can prove they were the lead attorney on a lawsuit or trial that resulted in a million dollar compensation verdict within the last two years. In most instances not very many lawyers will be capable of answering these questions.

Before a US Navy Veteran with mesothelioma or their family hires a lawyer/law firm to advance a mesothelioma compensation claim please call the US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Center at 800-714-0303 for direct access to the most skilled and capable mesothelioma attorneys in the nation. http://usnavymesothelioma.com

Of the 2,500 people in the United States who will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, about one third will be Veterans of the US Navy. Typically, US Navy Veterans with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos on a US Navy ship, or while their ship was at a shipyard for a retrofit or overhaul.

For a listing of all former and current US Navy ships please refer to the US Navy's website that addresses these topics. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/our_ships.asp

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However a US Navy Veteran with a confirmed diagnosis of mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska.

The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Center says, "If you call us at 800-714-0303, we will see to it that you have extremely honest advice about all that is involved in obtaining the best possible mesothelioma compensation and we will provide a Navy Veteran with direct access to the nation's most capable and skilled attorneys who consistently get the best possible financial compensation results for their US Navy Veteran clients-nationwide." http://usnavymesothelioma.com

Media Contact:

Michael Thomas

[email protected]

800-714-0303

SOURCE US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Center

Related Links

http://usnavymesothelioma.com


LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OriginClear Inc. (OTC/QB: OCLN), a leading provider of water treatment solutions, today announced the designation of its subsidiary, Progressive Water Treatment (PWT), as its complete systems manufacturer. The decision comes on the heels of the completion of the company's fourth field study to date, in Kern County, California.

"A year ago, when we acquired the company, we were not ready to make PWT our systems manufacturer," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginClear CEO. "PWT builds systems at the scale of regional power plants, and requires thoroughly field-proven technology. With the completion of our 2016 field study, we're confident that our technology is now ready for distribution. We plan to make PWT our first complete system manufacturer, for both licensees and end-users."

With help from its longtime suppliers of membranes and other components, PWT is building a showcase trailer-based system that incorporates OriginClear's patented Electro Water Separation (EWS) for a complete water treatment solution.

"I joined OriginClear for its technology," said Marc Stevens, President of Progressive Water Treatment. "I'm extremely happy to take it to market as a complete solution!"

"We have always been focused on licensing the technology, and this won't change," said Jean-Louis "JL" Kindler, President of OriginClear Technologies. "The difference is, licensees who aren't ready to manufacture our systems can now buy them from PWT. Of course, PWT will also be able to sell complete systems directly to end-users where we don't have a favored relationship with a licensee."

OriginClear's EWS with Advanced Oxidation (EWS:AOx) effectively removes several organic contaminants and bacteria in water, preparing it for final polishing stages to operate efficiently and economically. It does this in a single pass, with minimal chemicals involved.

OriginClear commissioned a series of field studies to validate its technology, principally in the following locations:

In 2016, OriginClear successfully demonstrated its ability to decontaminate produced water for reuse in agricultural irrigation in Kern County, CA. The field study employed OriginClear's latest Advanced Oxidation invention, which OriginClear announced in March.

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About OriginClear, Inc.

OriginClear is a leading provider of water treatment solutions and the developer of a breakthrough water cleanup technology serving the rapidly growing $500 billion world market. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, OriginClear provides systems and services to treat water in a wide range of industries, such as municipal, pharmaceutical, semiconductors, industrial, and oil & gas. To rapidly grow this segment of the business, we strategically acquire profitable and well-managed water treatment companies, which allow us to expand our global market presence and technical expertise. To enable a new era of clean and socially responsible water treatment solutions, we invented Electro Water Separation, a breakthrough high-speed water cleanup technology using multi-stage electrolysis, that we license worldwide to water treatment equipment manufacturers. Water is our most valuable resource, and the mission of the "Family of OriginClear Companies" is to improve the quality of water and help return it to its original and clear condition. To learn more about OriginClear, please visit our website at www.originclear.com.

OriginClear Safe Harbor Statement:

Matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this update, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with our history of losses and our need to raise additional financing, the acceptance of our products and technology in the marketplace, our ability to demonstrate the commercial viability of our products and technology and our need to increase the size of our organization. Further information on the Company's risk factors is contained in the Company's quarterly and annual reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there cannot be any assurance that the Company will consummate any acquisitions. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Press Contact:

Antenna Group

Kaitlyn Finegan

415-977-1914

[email protected]

Investor Relations OriginClear:

Tom Becker

Toll-free: 877-999-OOIL (6645) Ext. 3

International: +1-323-939-6645 Ext. 3

Fax: 323-315-2301

[email protected]

www.OriginClear.com

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SOURCE OriginClear, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.originclear.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Timed for the Monday, Nov. 28, opening of Pennsylvania's traditional deer season, the state Bureau of Forestry reminds hunters a revamped, interactive website offering a wealth of maps, statistics and other information is available to make their hunt more enjoyable and rewarding.

"Those hunters who enjoy roaming our state forest and parklands will find an interactive map of the state, and a multi-faceted website designed by hunters -- for hunters," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. "Not just deer hunters but others seeking bear, turkey, small game and even waterfowl in other seasons will find this information invaluable."

Offering details on newly opened roads, timber harvesting activity, forestry office contact numbers and much more, the state forest map can be viewed at http://maps.dcnr.pa.gov/bof/huntmap/index.html.

"The website looks beyond deer for hunters who may be seeking other species," said Dunn. "Grouse and turkey hunters and others in tune with good, healthy habitat will be interested in locations of young aspen stands; winter thermal cover; wildlife openings; oak forests and timber sales."

In addition, the site:

Locates newly opened roads on state forestlands;

Offers directions to locations that prompt interest;

Displays legal shooting hours and supplies current weather conditions including wind direction and strength;

Lists season and bag limits, filtered by species, season type, and/or what's currently in season;

Delineates Pa. Game Commission Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) and what state forests they encompass;

Lists deer harvest statistics and antlered and antlerless license allocations for WMUs;

Facilitates elk hunters in choosing Elk Hunting Zone applications by showing boundaries on base map, along with each zone's public land access, road access and the number of elk tags issued.

Hunters heading into Pennsylvania's state-owned woodlands on Monday, Nov. 28, will find additional roads open in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

"The Bureau of Forestry hopes to improve accessibility while promoting hunting where it is needed to benefit forest regeneration and the overall ecosystem," said Dunn. "For that reason, a total of 540 miles of state forest roads normally open only for administrative use will again be available to hunters and others visiting state forestlands this year."

Meanwhile, top-quality hunting is offered at many state parks -- especially those in the 12-county Pennsylvania Wilds region -- where state forestland often surrounds them. Inexpensive camping can be found at many of those parks.

Primitive camping on state forestlands is also an option, giving hunters a backcountry camping or hunting experience. Camping permits, issued by the managing forest district, are required when camping on state forestlands on designated sites.

Hunters traveling to some north central areas of the state are reminded some hunting areas and travel routes may be impacted by Marcellus Shale-related activities. Some state forest roads may be temporarily closed during drilling operations or other peak periods of heavy use to reduce potential safety hazards. Also, certain areas of Loyalsock State Forest were heavily impacted by recent flooding and access to some areas may be difficult for some.

For more information on Pennsylvania's 20 state forest districts and 121 state parks, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov. Marcellus Shale information can be found on Bureau of Forestry pages under "Natural Gas Drilling on State Forests." Camping opportunities and details can be found on both the "Forestry" and "State Park" pages.

MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Brady, 717-705-2225; [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dcnr.pa.gov


China's Coal-to-Electricity event is a large-scale government-subsidized project which aims to transform the traditional method of coal-fired house-heating during the winter in rural areas of north China, using heat pumps and other more energy-saving environmental protection equipment as an alternative. Winters in northern China are generally cold and dry, and the temperature in some extreme cold areas is often under -25C.

About PHNIX's Low-Temp. Heat Pump HeatPro Series

PHNIX's HeatPro Series of heat pumps, with Enhanced Vapor Injection (EVI) technology for dedicated heat pump applications, deliver outstanding performance and reliability, both in new buildings and boiler replacements. In addition to the existing heating system, PHNIX has now developed a complete product line for R410A, obtaining significant benefits for the heat pump system using this refrigerant, which enables the design of more efficient and more compact equipment.

Thanks to EVI technology, PHNIX's HeatPro Series features a wide operating temperature range; the unit can reach a high water temperature of 55-65C even in cold climates ranging from -20C to 43C, and can work safely and reliably at ambient temperatures as low as -30C with wet injection technology.

Government-Subsidized Coal-to-Electricity Project in China

In order to control the haze and adjust the country's energy infrastructure, some local governments, such as Beijing Municipality and Shanxi Province in northern China, have introduced clean air policy measures to reduce coal consumption by replacing coal-fired house-heating with air source heat pump equipment in rural areas.

In China, the current coal-to-electricity projects are in full swing, and air source heat pumps are in the limelight. Some governments in the northern provinces of China not only call for and recommend the use of air source heat pumps for house-heating, but they have also introduced a variety of subsidy policies. Users have used these subsidies to purchase heat pump products worth anywhere from a few thousand to as much as tens of thousands of RMB. Related to use the heat pumps, consumers get more benefits in the form of special power subsidies, which reduce electricity prices to as low as 1 cent per kilowatt hour. For example, the Beijing government specifies an allotment of 12,000 RMB per household for the installation of air-source heat pump, while the District government provides 6,000-12,000 RMB per household in subsidies. Beijing Fangshan District provides the highest subsidy, 24,000 RMB per household. Shanxi Province is also promoting air source heat pump heating by subsidizing the purchasing of heat pumps and electricity within the province. In Shanxi Province, each of the provincial and municipal Financial Department subsidizes one-third of equipment purchase costs, which totals about 20,000 RMB.

As a result, mainstream heat pump manufacturers, including PHNIX in China, can obtain a large market share, benefiting from national Coal-to-Electricity projects.

About PHNIX

PHNIX, the leading manufacturer of heat pumps in China, is an international enterprise that specializes in the R&D and production of heat pump products and energy-saving solutions. Nearly 50% of PHNIX products are exported to Europe, the United States and other overseas markets. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, PHNIX has been named a China High-quality Brand and Guangzhou High-tech Enterprise. For more information about PHNIX and its products, please visit www.phnix-e.com.

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Contact:

John Zhu

+86-20-3906-7742

[email protected]

SOURCE Guangdong PHNIX Eco-Energy Solution Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.phnix-e.com


PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pirate's Booty Pirate and his first mate Crunchy the Parrot are returning to the historic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the mast of their "Treasure Hunt" ship.

At 40 feet tall, the "Treasure Hunt" float stands out in the crowd with a giant treasure map, guiding the Pirate as he embarks on his journey along the Parade route in Manhattan.

"Pirate's Booty is delighted to set sail once again for this astounding Thanksgiving Day tradition," said Erin Lifeso, vice president of marketing for snacks at B&G Foods. "We hope to bring adventure and the fun-loving spirit of Pirate's Booty to everyone lining the streets and watching at home."

The festivities will air on NBC-TV on Thursday, Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones. To join in on the fun, check out Pirate's Booty on Facebook and @piratesbooty on Twitter, and follow @macys and join the conversation at #MacysParade on various social networks.

For nearly 30 years, Pirate's Booty has been providing delicious, savory and bettarrr-for-you snacking options made with real aged white cheddar cheese that contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and are gluten-free. For more information about Pirate's Booty, including some fun pirate activities and a coupon, please visit www.piratebrands.com.

About Pirate Brands

Pirate Brands has been creating deliciously baked snack treasures since 1987. Pirate Brands was founded on the belief that you shouldn't have to "snackrifice" taste for goodness. Pirate Brands' snacks, which include Pirate's Booty, Smart Puffs and Original Tings, are free from fryers and ingredients you can't pronounce ... you can be sure the only thing we add is fun! For more information, please visit www.piratebrands.com.

About B&G Foods

B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS) and its subsidiaries manufacture, sell and distribute a diversified portfolio of high-quality, branded shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Based in Parsippany, New Jersey, B&G Foods' products are marketed under many recognized brands, including Ac'cent, B&G, B&M, Baker's Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary's, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Emeril's, Grandma's Molasses, Green Giant, JJ Flats, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald's, Mama Mary's, Maple Grove Farms, Molly McButter, Mrs. Dash, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Original Tings, Ortega, Pirate's Booty, Polaner, Red Devil, Regina, Rickland Orchards, Sason, Sclafani, Smart Puffs, Spring Tree, Sugar Twin, Trappey's, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid and Wright's. B&G Foods also sells and distributes Static Guard, a household product brand. For more information, please visit www.bgfoods.com.

About the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. For 90 years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the Parade proudly marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City with more than 8,000 participants in tow including Macy's employees, their families, celebrities, athletes, clowns and dance groups spreading holiday cheer. The Parade also features America's best marching bands, fabulous floats and Macy's signature giant helium character balloons. For more information on the Macy's Parade, please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495.

CONTACT: Sara Schwartz, [email protected]

SOURCE B&G Foods, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bgfoods.com


NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PSEG Solar Source today announced it has acquired a 6.6 MW-dc solar energy facility from BayWa r.e. Solar Projects representing an investment of $12.2 million. The PSEG Hemlock Solar Energy Center is under construction and scheduled to begin operations later this year.

The PSEG Hemlock Solar Energy Center has a 15-year power purchase agreement with Virginia Electric and Power Co. The facility occupies 48 acres that are under a 35-year lease with a private landowner and is located in Northampton County, N.C., about 90 miles northeast of Raleigh.

"We are very pleased to team up with BayWa r.e. on this project, which will bring more clean energy resources to North Carolina," said Diana Drysdale, president of PSEG Solar Source. "This acquisition represents another milestone in growing our business and illustrates PSEG's commitment to providing a sustainable energy future."

BayWa r.e. is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and will operate the project for PSEG Solar Source upon completion. The facility will use approximately 20,500 poly-crystalline Trina Solar panels with SMA inverters.

"BayWa r.e. is excited to have partnered with PSEG in the continuing transformation to a greener and lower cost grid," said Jam Attari, CEO of BayWa r.e. Solar Projects. "This world class facility could not have been completed without the tireless support and involvement from the Northhampton County community and our partners."

PSEG Solar Source owns two other solar facilities in North Carolina. The PSEG Turkey Creek Solar Center is being built about five miles away, also in Northampton County; the PSEG Meadows Solar Center is located in Martin County, N.C., and went online in June.

PSEG Solar Source now has 20 utility-scale projects in 13 states. The company currently has 215 MW-dc in operation with another 135 MW-dc in construction and on schedule to be operational by the end of the year.

About PSEG Solar Source:

PSEG Solar Source is a subsidiary of PSEG Power, a merchant power generation company which is part of the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) family of companies. PSEG (NYSE:PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $10.4 billion. Its other main subsidiaries are Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), a regulated New Jersey gas and electric utility, and PSEG Long Island, which operates the transmission and distribution assets of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).

Disclaimer: PSEG Solar Source LLC is not the same company as PSE&G, the New Jersey-based electric and gas utility. PSEG Solar Source is not regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. You do not have to purchase any PSEG Solar Source products in order to receive quality regulated services from PSE&G.

About BayWa r.e.:

BayWa r.e. Solar Projects, a wholly owned subsidiary of BayWa r.e. GmbH, is responsible for the BayWa group's solar project business in North America. Founded in 2009 and based in Munich, BayWa r.e. acts as a holding company for various business interests in the areas of solar, wind energy, bio-energy and geothermal energy globally as part of BayWa AG, a $17 Billion global company founded in 1923.

From time to time, PSEG, PSE&G and PSEG Power release important information via postings on their corporate website at http://investor.pseg.com . Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the corporate website to review new postings. The "Email Alerts" link at http://investor.pseg.com may be used to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and/or Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings.

Forward-Looking Statement

The statements contained in this communication about our and our subsidiaries' future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences and all other statements that are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe that our expectations are based on information currently available and on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance they will be achieved. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. A discussion of some of these risks and uncertainties is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and available on our website: http://www.pseg.com. These documents address in further detail our business, industry issues and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in this communication. In addition, any forward-looking statements included herein represent our estimates only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our internal estimates change, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.

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SOURCE PSEG Solar Source
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum3D Government Systems, a leading provider of training and simulation services for government applications, today announced the appointment of three new directors to its board: Brigadier General Stephen Seay (Ret.), John G. ("Jerry") Horvath, and Richard P. ("Rick") Boggs.

Gen. Seay's career includes over 30 years in the U.S. Army, and served as the Program Executive Officer for the U.S. Army's Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) Office during 2000-2005. Jerry Horvath has over 35 years of industry experience in Simulation and Training covering engineering, program management, and most recently as Senior Business Development Manager for Lockheed Martin. Rick Boggs has a distinguished career of technical leadership in Training Systems, including assignments as Chief Engineer for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Training System, Project Engineer for the U.S. Army's Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT), and most recently as Senior Fellow with Lockheed Martin's Global Training and Logistics division.

"We're truly honored to have these accomplished leaders join our board," said Mike Pavloff, President, Quantum3D Government Systems. "With Gen. Seay's career Army experience, Jerry Horvath's expertise in government business development, and Rick Boggs' deep knowledge of all relevant training technologies, we are uniquely poised to target and deliver the most effective training solutions to all of our government customers."

About Quantum3D Government Systems

Quantum3D Government Systems is a provider of services and complete training solutions tailored specifically for government customers, both U.S. and worldwide. Quantum3D Government Systems draws from a wealth of past experience in delivering on programs to U.S. military organizations, and operates with a broad network of teaming partners to combine best-in-class technologies to solve any system-level challenge.

Quantum3D Government Systems is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Together with its sister company Quantum3D Inc., both are members of Quantum3D Group, a Delaware corporation which is in turn wholly owned by HAVELSAN, a major global software and systems provider based in Ankara, Turkey.

For more information about Quantum3D Government Systems, please visit www.q3dgs.com.

Quantum3D, and the Quantum3D logo are registered trademarks of Quantum3D Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Quantum3D Government Systems

Related Links

http://www.q3dgs.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents may soon be able to watch their unborn babies grow in realistic 3-D immersive visualizations, thanks to new technology that transforms MRI and ultrasound data into a 3-D virtual reality model of a fetus, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

MRI provides high-resolution fetal and placental imaging with excellent contrast. It is generally used in fetal evaluation when ultrasound cannot provide sufficiently high-quality images.

Researchers in Brazil created virtual reality 3-D models based on fetal MRI results. Sequentially-mounted MRI slices are used to begin construction of the model. A segmentation process follows in which the physician selects the body parts to be reconstructed in 3-D. Once an accurate 3-D model is createdincluding the womb, umbilical cord, placenta and fetusthe virtual reality device can be programmed to incorporate the model.

"The 3-D fetal models combined with virtual reality immersive technologies may improve our understanding of fetal anatomical characteristics and can be used for educational purposes and as a method for parents to visualize their unborn baby," said study co-author Heron Werner Jr., M.D., Ph.D., from the Clinica de Diagnostico por Imagem, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The virtual reality fetal 3-D models are remarkably similar to the postnatal appearance of the newborn baby. They recreate the entire internal structure of the fetus, including a detailed view of the respiratory tract, which can aid doctors in assessing abnormalities.

For the virtual reality device, Dr. Werner and colleagues used the latest-generation Oculus Rift 2 headset. Oculus Rift 2 places the user in an immersive environment, complete with heartbeat sounds derived from the ultrasound of the fetus. Users can study the 3-D fetal anatomy simply by moving their head.

"The experience with the Oculus Rift has been wonderful," Dr. Werner said. "It provides fetal images that are sharper and clearer than ultrasound and MR images viewed on a traditional display."

The technology has numerous potential applications, including assessment of fetal airway patency. Airway patency, or the state of airways being open and unblocked, is an important issue for a developing fetus. For example, if ultrasound showed an abnormal mass near the fetal airway, physicians could use the 3-D images and the headset to assess the entire length of the airway and make better informed decisions about delivery.

The technology also can help coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams and provide better visual information to parents to help them understand malformations and treatment decisions.

"The physicians can have access to an immersive experience on the clinical case that they are working on, having the whole internal structure of the fetus in 3-D in order to better visualize and share the morphological information," Dr. Werner said. "We believe that these images will help facilitate a multidisciplinary discussion about some pathologies in addition to bringing a new experience for parents when following the development of their unborn child."

The researchers have used the technique on patients at a clinic in Rio de Janeiro, including cases where the fetus had evidence of an abnormality that required postnatal surgery. They hope to use the technology more broadly over the next year.

Co-authors on the study are Bianca Guedes Ribeiro, M.D., Jorge Lopes, Ph.D., Gerson Ribeiro, Pedro Daltro, M.D., Tatiana M. Fazecas, M.D., Renata A. Nogueira, M.D., and Leise Rodrigues, M.D.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2016 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press16 beginning Monday, Nov. 28.

RSNA is an association of more than 54,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on obstetric ultrasound and MRI, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)

Related Links

http://www.rsna.org


SUZHOU, China, Nov. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd. (GCL-SI) , (Shenzhen: 002506), a subsidiary of the world's leading energy group GCL, recently announced the cooperation with China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CCEC) in the Chernobyl PV plant project. To help rebuild the "exclusion zone" with solar power thirty years after the Chernobyl accident marks another important move of GCL-SI toward global market.

The 1986 explosion and meltdown in Chernobyl released vast quantities of radiation, contaminating approximately 30 km2 of land with fallout. The Ukrainian government now aims to give a new renewable life to the exclusion zone. In October, the country's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources claimed the plan to build a PV plant at Chernobyl. "Its cheap land and abundant sunlight constitute a solid foundation for the project. In addition, the remaining electric transmission facilities are ready for reuse," said Ostap Semerak, Ukraine's minister of environment and natural resources.

Two Chinese companies will play significant parts in Chernobyl's revival. Whereas CCEC as the general contractor manages the overall project, GCL-SI offers consultancy and planning service as well as PV facilities to the project. According to GCL-SI, construction of the over 1 GW PV plant is expected to initiate in 2017. Once completed, Chernobyl will re-catch the global attention as a revived site of solar energy.

"There will be remarkable social benefits and economical ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy. We are glad that we are making joint efforts with Ukraine to rebuild the community for the local people," said Mr. Shu Hua, Chairman of GCL-SI.

Regarding GCL-SI's overseas strategy, Mr. Shu further commented, "We have been dedicated to providing integrated solar services and will take diverse approaches this year to drive penetration and achieve global presence. The Chernobyl project is also one of our key steps to approach abroad."

About GCL-SI

GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen: 002506) (GCL-SI), is part of the GOLDEN CONCORD Group (GCL), an international energy company specializing in clean and sustainable power production, founded in 1990. With global assets worth nearly USD16 billion, GCL achieved module shipment output of over 2GW in 2015, and supplies 29% of the total wafer capacity yield worldwide, representing a 22.2% silicon market share.

About China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CCEC)

CCEC is a subsidiary of the National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), which is affiliated by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

SOURCE GCL System
LONDON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- We maintain the view that Saudi Arabian telecommunications consumers exhibit strong demand for higher speed data services in the wireless and wireline segments. Despite this, the mobile market has already reached saturation point and displays classic signs of slowing down with penetration rates around 160%. Based on a decline of over 2.5mn subscribers in Q216 alone, we believe the market harbours a significant number of inactive accounts which are being discounted. However, we remain optimistic that operators' investments in enhancing infrastructure capabilities will generate new growth opportunities. Additionally, e-Enterprise solutions are becoming a main pillar for the leading operators, with new datacentres and business solutions popping up regularly. Still, overall competition is keeping ARPU down and infrastructure development in a country as vast as Saudi Arabia is expensive. While investing heavily into their fibre backbones, operators are therefore looking to improve the efficiency of their infrastructure and are aiming to outsource towers.



Latest Updates & Industry Developments



- Latest market data suggest that mobile subscriptions declined to 48.4mn in Q216 after 2.5mn subscribers were lost in the second quarter of 2016. This follows after 1.9mn subscribers were shed in Q116. These losses suggest a significant number of inactive prepaid accounts have been shed by operators and this trend could continue in the future as the penetration rate hovers around the 160% mark. We estimate only modest organic growth prospects in terms of subscriber numbers out to 2020 as our estimates suggest the mobile market will grow to around 52.7mn by end of our current forecast period.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p0177976-summary/view-report.html



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Sunday she is seeking a fourth term as head of government. Merkel told reporters she had a meeting with high ranking members of her Christian Democrats (CDU) before officially sharing the decision.

"I literally thought about this decision endlessly... but I am ready to run for office again," she said.

"It is not about a decision for an election campaign, but a decision for a term of office lasting four years, if -- as is always the case -- health allows this," she added.

Germany's first woman chancellor has been widely considered a stabilizing force in Europe at a time of uncertainty after Britain's referendum to leave the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president.

If the 62-year-old Merkel wins in 2017 and serves the entire four-year term, she would match her one-time mentor Helmut Kohl's post-war record of 16 years in office.

As Germany's chancellor since 2005, Merkel has led Europe's largest economy through the financial and eurozone debt crises, winning international respect. U.S. President Barack Obama called Merkel an "outstanding" ally during his visit to Germany last week, his final one as president. She has also been dealing with the ongoing migrant crisis across Europe.

In September, Merkel surprised the country when she said she wished she could have dealt with the migrant crisis differently, after the CDU suffered a major defeat in Berlin state elections, but stopped short of calling it a policy mistake.

Her handling of the migrant crisis has angered many German voters, after she allowed nearly one million migrants into the country. Her popularity dropped and other parties gained ground in local elections, most notably the Alternative for Germany (AfD - Alternative fur Deutschland).

On Sunday, she said politics is about balancing interests, compromises and progress.

"I always try to do that on the basis of our values: democracy, freedom, respect for the law, the dignity of every human being independent of background, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political position. That is what guides me. That is what I fight for again and again, but we can only be successful together," Merkel added.

The leader of AfD, Frauke Petry, 41, who like Merkel was born and grew up in communist East Germany, will run against her for the chancellors post in 2017 elections.


MIAMI, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents SCAD AT MIAMI during Miami Art Week, showcasing the work of international artists as well as SCAD students and alumni.

"Theater of Self" features work by artist and designer Daniel Lismore and SCAD graduate student Bin Feng on view at 1601 N. Miami Avenue

Theater of Self, a SCAD-curated exhibition featuring ensembles styled by London-based artist and designer Daniel Lismore and photography by SCAD graduate student Bin Feng (M.F.A. photography), will be on view Dec. 113 at 1601 N. Miami Ave., Miami, Florida. In partnership with the Rolls-Royce Art Programme, SCAD also presents Roots, a site-specific installation by SCAD painting alumnus Jose Parla, on display Nov. 29Dec. 15 at The Jewel Box of the National YoungArts Foundation, 2100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Florida.

"Creativity has become an essential currency in the world today, and Miami is one of the world's great exchanges, where contemporary masters and fearless upstarts share their grand visions," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "I'm proud to see SCAD artists represented here every year."

About the exhibitions:

Theater of Self

Dec. 1-13

115 p.m. daily

SCAD AT MIAMI

1601 N. Miami Ave.

Miami, Florida

An exploration of constructed identity through fantasy and materiality, Theater of Self is a joint exhibition of fashion and photography by London-based artist, stylist and designer Daniel Lismore and SCAD graduate student Bin Feng (M.F.A. photography).

Lismore, who was named "London's Most Outrageous Dresser" by Vogue for his outre style and wildly imaginative wardrobe, transforms everyday objects into living art. He juxtaposes the luxurious and unusual  charity-shop finds, vintage custom fabrics, discarded theatrical props and more  to express his unique sartorial vision. These life-size sculptural ensembles, each worn by the artist at one time, are reflections of his own multidimensional identity and are a tapestry of his journey to his true self. Theater of Self features more than 20 of Lismore's most avant-garde, theatrically designed creations fashioned from his collection of couture and ephemera.

Complementing Lismore's work are the cinematically styled self-portraits of Bin Feng, a SCAD graduate student and Shanghai-born artist living in the U.S. Staging himself in dramatic scenes, Feng captures the ethos of the elusive "American dream." His carefully constructed tableaus make powerful statements about class, race and gender in Western society from an Eastern male perspective.

Theater of Self is co-curated by Rafael Gomes, SCAD director of fashion exhibitions, and Ben Tollefson, assistant curator of SCAD exhibitions.

Press preview VIP opening reception Thursday, Dec. 1 Thursday, Dec. 1 56 p.m. 69 p.m. RSVP for press preview only:

[email protected]



Theater of Self is free and open to the public Dec. 113. More information on the exhibition can be found at scadatmiami.com.

Copies of Daniel Lismore: Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken (ISBN: 978-0-8478-5963-4), published by Skira Rizzoli in collaboration with SCAD, will also be available for purchase in limited quantities at the exhibition.

Jose Parla: Roots

Opening reception: Nov. 29, 59 p.m.

Nov. 30Dec. 15

106 p.m. daily

National YoungArts Foundation

The Jewel Box

2100 Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, Florida

Roots, commissioned as part of the Rolls-Royce Art Programme in partnership with SCAD and presented at the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts), features works by Cuban American artist, SCAD painting alumnus and YoungArts Master Teacher Jose Parla during the Miami Art Fair Week this December. An immersive and site-specific installation, Roots brings the renowned and internationally known Miami-native home, where Parla spent his formative years in the underground art scene. The artist has received critical acclaim for his works that lie between abstraction and calligraphy, and document urban life.

For this site-specific exhibition Parla transformed Ignacio Carrera-Justiz's Jewel Box building, at the National YoungArts Foundation, through the construction of walls with select cut out windows that conceal and reveal the thick hammered stained glass of the canopy of this tree-like structure. As light shines through the windows which the artist refers to as "aerial roots" new paintings and sculptures created by Parla are illuminated, invoking a poetic dialogue between the contemporary artwork, the historic space and allusions to growth. The exhibition offers a contemplative space to consider connections between history, one's past, present and the future through the juxtaposition of Parla's contemporary work, family background and historical framework of the building. It is equally rooted in the past and in the present.

Press preview VIP opening reception Tuesday, Nov. 29 Tuesday, Nov. 29 45 p.m. 59 p.m. RSVP for press preview only:

[email protected]



Roots is curated by Laurie Ann Farrell. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

SCAD AT MIAMI artist conversations:

SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace in conversation with artist Jose Parla

Thursday, Dec. 1

11:30 a.m.

National YoungArts Foundation

The Jewel Box

2100 Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, Florida

SCAD presents university President and Founder Paula Wallace in conversation with internationally renowned artist and SCAD painting alumnus Jose Parla. Wallace and Parla will explore themes related to Parla's latest exhibition, Roots, presented by SCAD in partnership with the Rolls-Royce Art Programme during Art Basel in Miami.

To attend this event, RSVP to Ellie McNevin at [email protected].

SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace in conversation with artist and designer Daniel Lismore

Followed by a book signing

Friday, Dec. 2

2 p.m.

Design Miami

790 19th St.

Miami Beach, Florida

SCAD presents an in-depth conversation between university President and Founder Paula Wallace and London-based artist, stylist and designer Daniel Lismore as part of Design Miami's Design Talks program.

They will discuss Theater of Self, Lismore's joint fashion and photography exhibition with SCAD graduate student Bin Feng (M.F.A. photography), and the release of Lismore's first major publication, Daniel Lismore: Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken. This electrifying monograph, published by Skira Rizzoli in collaboration with SCAD, features 32 of Lismore's most avant-garde creations, fashioned from his personal collection of nearly 4,000 unique curiosities. With more than 150 arresting photographs captured by SCAD alumnus Colin Douglas Gray (B.F.A., photography, 2004), Daniel Lismore: Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken evinces the elegance, complexity and meticulous detail of Lismore's multidimensional ensembles. The book is slated for international release in February 2017.

To attend this event, RSVP to Ellie McNevin at [email protected].

About the artists:

Daniel Lismore

Artist, stylist and designer Daniel Lismore, named "London's Most Outrageous Dresser" by Vogue for his outre style, uniquely juxtaposes haute couture garments with found objects to create wildly imaginative ensembles rich with social, historical and cultural themes. His newly released monograph, Daniel Lismore: Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken, features 32 of Lismore's most avant-garde creations fashioned from his personal collection of nearly 4,000 unique curiosities, each worn by the artist.

At the core of Lismore's artistry is sustainable fashion, earning him a position as the face of H&M's 2015 Close the Loop print and video campaign. In 2016, Lismore was named one of OUT magazine's OUT100, a list of the year's most compelling LGBTQ people, selected by the publication's editors. A prominent feature of the London fashion circuit, Lismore's personal style has also been exhibited at the prestigious Tate Modern in 2013 and Tate Britain in 2014.

Lismore studied photography and fashion design before starting a modeling career, appearing in Vogue UK, i-D magazine and L'Uomo Vogue. He progressed from modeling into editorial work and has also been featured in numerous fashion shows and music videos of Boy George, George Michael and Alexandra Burke.

Since 2012 Lismore has been the creative director of Sorapol, a luxury womenswear label worn by fashion influencers such as Naomi Campbell, Kylie Minogue and Nicki Minaj. In recent years he has supported organizations such as Vivienne Westwood's Climate Revolution and New World International Kenya, and he also supports the LGBT community, human rights issues and free speech movements. Lismore lives and works in East London.

Bin Feng

SCAD graduate student Bin Feng (M.F.A. photography) is a photographer and multimedia artist. Born in 1989 in Shanghai, China, Feng received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art in 2012 before attending SCAD.

As a result of the language barrier he faces in the U.S., Feng views himself as an outsider. He takes advantage of this position to create artwork that spans cultural differences. Drawing on his feelings of alienation, Feng's photographs illustrate his experiences and bicultural shock.

Feng lives and works in Savannah, Georgia, where he also creates video installations, sculptures and large-scale oil paintings.

Jose Parla

Miami-born Jose Parla is a SCAD painting alumnus and New York-based artist whose paintings, architectural collaborations, sculptures and photography have earned him international acclaim. Blurring the line between abstraction and calligraphy, Parla works at various scales within different mediums, but he is best known for his permanent, large-scale painting installations. Using the backdrop of world cities, he remakes what can appear to be photorealist fragments of what he sees in the chaos and rush of the metropolis. His paintings reflect the accumulated memories and experiences, the walls that show a place that was, but no longer is  built over, renewed in some other configuration

Parla was recently commissioned by One World Trade Center to create the monumental mural, ONE: Union of the Senses, the largest painting of its kind in New York City, in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. In 2012, Parla presented Performing Painting, an exhibition with artist Wendy White at the university's Gutstein Gallery in Savannah, Georgia.

His work can also be seen in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and in the North Carolina State University James B. Hunt Library by Snhetta in Raleigh, among other locations in the U.S. and worldwide.

Join the conversation with #SCADATMIAMI.

For more information about SCAD AT MIAMI and other participating SCAD student and alumni artists, visit scadatmiami.com.

SCAD (#SCAD): Instagram, Twitter (@SCADdotedu) and Facebook (SCAD  The University of Creative Careers)

SCAD Museum of Art (#SCADMOA): Instagram, Twitter (@scadmoa) and Facebook (SCAD Museum of Art)

SCAD FASH (#SCADFASH): Instagram, Twitter (@scadfash) and Facebook (SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film)

SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace: Instagram, Twitter and YouTube (@PaulaSWallace)

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in 43 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Hong Kong; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications and collaborative projects with corporate partners.

In 2015, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD in the top four universities in the Americas and Europe. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni placement rate. In a study of Spring 2015 SCAD graduates, 98 percent were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. For more information, visit scad.edu.

About the Rolls-Royce Art Programme

Art and creative endeavour are at the heart of Rolls-Royce and its motor cars are commissioned for their aesthetic power. They are created out of the finest materials at the hands of skilled artisans who, in turn, produce rare, unique and ultimately beautiful automobiles. By creating an Art Programme, Rolls-Royce has formally acknowledged this unique shared ethos with the world of art.

The Art Programme comprises new works commissioned in situ, partnerships with leading organisations, art talks with emerging and established artists, art drives, art walks and art receptions around the world. It fosters creativity and enables artists to realise new projects and to explore new areas of their practice.

To date, Rolls-Royce has worked with leading international artists and key figures from the contemporary art world including: Isaac Julien, Ana Maria Tavares, Morgan Wong, Carlos Rolon/Dzine, Angela Bulloch, Ugo Rondinone, Michael Zavros, Regina Silveira and Will Cotton. Rolls-Royce has recently announced collaborations with Mohammed Kazem, Sudarshan Shetty, and Yang Fudong.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441332

SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design
CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the South East Chicago Commission (SECC) and Downtown Hyde Park announced five Small Business Saturday kick off events supporting five mid-south side Chicago neighborhoods: Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park and Woodlawn.

Sponsored by Bank of America and PNC Bank, the five Small Business Saturday kick off events are a call to action for residents to "follow the beat of the drum" and shop locally this holiday season. With performances by Chicago's own Low End Theory Drum Ensemble, shoppers will be entertained with live music, free refreshments and a chance to win up to $100 to spend at the hosting small business.

"When our residents support locally-owned small businesses, the entire community wins," says Wendy Walker Williams, SECC Executive Director. "Maintaining a wide variety of shops and stores in our business districts strengthens the character and attractiveness of our communities!"

Residents, neighbors and visitors are invited to the mid-south side Small Business Saturday kick off events on November 26th at Small Shop Cycles and Cafe on the Grove (9:30 am), Jo Jayden Shoes & Accessories (11:00 am), Jimmy's Famous Burger (12:30 pm), and William Hill Gallery (2:00 pm).

The 2016 Small Business Saturday kick off events are supported by the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, 51st Street Business Association, Quad Communities Development Corporation and the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement.

SECC shop local details are available online. Event graphics are available for download.

About the South East Chicago Commission

The South East Chicago Commission (SECC) works in collaboration with the City of Chicago, University of Chicago and other institutions, businesses and organizations to foster a spirit of community and to enhance the ongoing quality of life across the five footprint neighborhoods we serve including, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park and Woodlawn (Chicago).

About Downtown Hyde Park

The SECC is the service provider for Downtown Hyde Park, Special Service Area #61, which is comprised of the 53rd and 55th Street business corridors connected by Lake Park Avenue. Funds spent by Downtown Hyde Park are used for business improvements, marketing, maintenance, and commercial and economic development initiatives.

SOURCE South East Chicago Commission

Related Links

http://www.secc-chicago.org


LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Silvergate Bank today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, with net income of $2.1 million. The Bank's total assets increased to $986.2 million from $948.2 million at year end 2015 and equity grew to $86.4 million from $83.5 million over the same time period.

"We continued to see strong growth in our residential lending activities, as home refinance activity remained strong in the third quarter," said Alan Lane, the Bank's chief executive officer. "Our operating results reflect our continued focus on strengthening and expanding the strong partnerships we've developed with both our local business customers and our national residential loan originators."

Financial Performance

The Bank's net income for the third quarter of 2016 was $2.1 million, compared to $1.7 million in the second quarter and $2.3 million in the third quarter of last year. For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2016, net income was $5.7 million, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Last year's nine-month period ending September 30, 2015 included a non-recurring gain of $1.1 million from the sale of an asset.

The Bank's net interest income for the third quarter of 2016 was $9.1 million, compared to $8.5 million in the second quarter and $7.7 million for the third quarter of last year. The Bank's net interest margin for the third quarter was 3.86%, compared to 3.76% for the second quarter, and 3.59% for the same period last year. The increase in the net interest margin from the prior quarter reflects an increase in higher yielding assets over the prior period.

The Bank's provision for loan losses was $266 thousand for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $497 thousand for the second quarter and $247 thousand for the third quarter of last year. The Bank added to its allowance for loan losses during the quarter in response to loan growth and the continued expansion of its commercial lending activities. The Bank experienced $3 thousand in charge-offs with no recoveries during the third quarter of 2016, compared to $8 thousand in charge-offs with no recoveries during the second quarter. Year to date total charge-offs are $11 thousand with no recoveries. Over the same period last year total charge-offs were $41 thousand and recoveries were $94 thousand.

Noninterest income was $833 thousand for the third quarter, compared to $652 thousand for the prior quarter, and $1.5 million for the same quarter last year. The increase over the prior quarter primarily reflects an increase in the gain on sale of loans during the current quarter. For the first nine months of 2016, noninterest income was $2.5 million, compared to $4.4 million in 2015. The decrease over the prior year reflects a decline in the gains on sales of loans and other assets. Noninterest expense was $6.2 million for the quarter, compared to $5.8 million for the prior quarter and $5.2 million during the same quarter last year. For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2016, noninterest expense was $18.2 million, compared to $16.2 million last year. The increase over the prior periods reflects increased compensation expense resulting from higher loan production levels as well as additional communication and data processing expenses related to a successful core data processing system conversion.

"The third quarter's net income was supported by continued strong loan production at good yields," noted Derek Eisele, the Bank's president. "The Bank successfully completed a core system conversion during the quarter that will enhance Silvergate's ability to provide innovative products and outstanding service to our customers."

Balance Sheet Activity

The Bank's total loan balances increased by $16.7 million during the third quarter of 2016 to $834.2 million. The Bank's Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division continued to produce strong volumes, with $1.4 billion and $3.5 billion in loans funded in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2016, respectively. This compares to $908 million and $3.0 billion in loans funded during the same periods last year.

Total commercial real estate loan balances increased 11.5% during the third quarter, totaling $350.7 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $317.7 million and $252.7 million at June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2015, respectively. Residential loan balances totaled $306.1 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $327.1 million and $335.4 million at June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2015, respectively.

At September 30, 2016, deposits totaled $769.2 million, compared to $720.8 million at the prior quarter-end and $639.4 million at September 30, 2015. Deposit balances increased by 6.7% compared to the prior quarter and 20.3% compared to September 30, 2015.

At September 30, 2016, Silvergate Bank's Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio was 9.13% and Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 14.52%, both substantially exceeding "well capitalized" minimums of 5.00% and 10.00%. The Bank's asset quality ratios have continued to remain strong; nonperforming loans to total loans increased from 0.33% in the prior quarter to 0.42%, and nonperforming assets to total assets increased from 0.37% in the prior quarter to 0.45%.

About Silvergate Bank

Silvergate Bank is a San Diego-based bank that specializes in meeting the needs of businesses and residential loan producers through a comprehensive offering of lending products and personalized banking services. Silvergate Bank opened in 1988 and is a subsidiary of Silvergate Capital Corporation. Bank branches are located in Carlsbad, Escondido, La Jolla, and La Mesa and a loan production office is located in Seal Beach in Orange County. Silvergate Bank's headquarters office is located at 4275 Executive Square, Suite 800, La Jolla, CA 92037. The Bank's website is www.silvergatebank.com.

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for growth and income forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. When used in this release, the words or phrases such as "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "expect," "projected," "believe," "seeking," or similar expressions, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect views only as of the date hereof. Neither Silvergate Capital Corporation nor Silvergate Bank undertakes any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

CONTACT: Alan Lane

858-362-6300

SOURCE Silvergate Bank

Related Links

http://www.silvergatebank.com


COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sitecore  , the global leader in customer experience management, today announced that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, the company once again delivered double-digit growth and profitability. Sitecore continues to innovate beyond its industry leadership in web content management (WCM) to take advantage of the broader digital transformation market. This is the sixth consecutive year the company has delivered double-digit growth above 20%.

Since the company's 2001 founding, Sitecore has worked with approximately 4,900 world-renowned brands including Carnival Cruise Lines, easyJet, American Express, and L'Oreal. Globally, Sitecore operates in three main regions  Americas, EMEA and Greater Asia -- with approximately 800 employees. In April 2016, Sitecore entered into an agreement to have EQT VII (EQT), a leading global private equity group, take a majority stake in the company which valued Sitecore at approximately EUR 1 billion.

With a partner-led and customer-first strategy, Sitecore has assembled a vast network of more than 900 implementation partners, 11,000 Sitecore certified developers, and 12,000 active members in its developer network worldwide. The company also has 1,200 members interacting daily at Sitecorechat.slack.com, 45 user groups around the globe, and 221 Sitecore Most Valuable Professionals who actively share their real-world expertise with other Sitecore users.

"We are thrilled with how customers and partners continue to adopt our context marketing platform so enthusiastically on a global basis," said Michael Seifert, co-founder and CEO. "Sitecore's built-from-the-ground-up-integrated platform provides marketers a 360 degree view of their customer, allowing delivery of a truly personalized brand experience in context, driving more revenue and greater customer loyalty. We remain very optimistic about Sitecore's growth in the years ahead, particularly as we continue to evolve our capabilities with machine learning (ML) and commerce which are all integral components of our platform today. Further, we saw the portion of revenues coming from subscription business increase with growth of approximately 160% for the last fiscal year, and we expect this trend to continue."

About Sitecore

Sitecore is the global leader in experience management software that enables context marketing. The Sitecore Experience Platform manages content, supplies contextual intelligence, automates communications, and enables personalized commerce, at scale. It empowers marketers to deliver content in context of how customers have engaged with their brand, across every channel, in real timebefore, during, and after a sale. More than 4,900 brandsincluding American Express, Carnival Cruise Lines, easyJet, and L'Oreal have trusted Sitecore for context marketing to deliver the personalized interactions that delight audiences, build loyalty, and drive revenue.

Media contact:

Ryan J. Donovan

[email protected]

Sitecore and Own the Experience are registered trademarks of Sitecore Corporation A/S in the USA and other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Sitecore reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice.

 2016 Sitecore Corporation A/S. All rights reserved.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140227/SF73524LOGO

SOURCE Sitecore

Related Links

http://www.sitecore.net


TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SiteZeus has partnered with TA and Petro Stopping Centers, the largest full-service travel center company in the United States, to provide them with the most intelligent solutions the big-data industry has to offer for real-estate expansions, informed by the most accurate and insightful data sets around.

And while SiteZeus has seen major successes in foodservice partnerships, the nature of their platform is unbounded; they empower retail brands of all industries through automating manual process to increase unit revenues and profitability, enhancing investment and franchise appeal, and reducing growth timelines. When TA and Petro Stopping Centers decided to reinvigorate their growth going into 2017, they recognized SiteZeus as the right tool.

Named the 2016 Startup of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group (BIG), SiteZeus has seen tremendous growth within the last year and was selected for this honor because their powerful predictive modeling empowers growing companies to build analyses in meaningful, personalized ways. Combining massive data sets with individual companies' revenue and performance data, SiteZeus effectively automates what has overwhelmingly remained a consultative and manual process. In short, they understand that the most meaningful suggestions arise when expertise is brought in from both sides: company and client.

"SiteZeus has the power to inform and optimize businesses far beyond the realm of the food-service industry. TA and Petro Stopping Centers immediately saw this value in us; the scope and flexibility to comprehensively cover their spread of services."  Keenan Baldwin; Co-CEO & Co-Founder

To learn more about SiteZeus, visit www.sitezeus.com, contact [email protected] or call (800) 611-0738.

About SiteZeus

SiteZeus is the new evolution in location intelligence, driven by exceptionally engineered big data systems and unparalleled data visualization technology. SiteZeus is establishing the science behind a Powerfully Accurate Location Intelligence process for emerging and established brands, brokers and developers alike. All completely user-driven through state of the art web-based technology. The company's flagship offering, SiteZeus Synergy, enables brands to grow their existing business with a confident and calculated approach. For more information, visit www.sitezeus.com.

About TravelCenters of America LLC

TravelCenters of America LLC (TravelCenters), headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, conducts business in 43 states and Canada, principally under the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands and the Minit Mart convenience store brand. For more information on TravelCenters, TA, and Petro Stopping Centers, please visit www.ta-petro.com. For more information on Minit Mart, please visit www.minitmart.com.

SOURCE SiteZeus

Related Links

http://www.sitezeus.com


BOSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Suffolk University has introduced one of the nation's first experiential courses on crowdfunding, where students launch campaigns to fund their own start-up companies through Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Students in the Sawyer Business School class have launched crowdfunding campaigns during week of Nov. 14, coinciding with National Entrepreneurship Month.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441209

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441210

Wicked Fisha founder, Chuck Gibson, showing off an early prototype of his tackle box/beer cooler combo and his graphic logo. The Wicked Fisha is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to cover CAD design and initial injection mold prototype. WarmUp Protein Coffee founder, James Testa, and his teammate Kenny Ozeki. WarmUp is currently conducting a Kickstarter campaign to fund its first production run of product. Here they were sampling their product at a launch party at the Center for Entrepreneurship at Suffolk University with more than 200 guests. They are also showing off their logos, which were created by graphic design students at the New England School of Art and Design.

"While a few other universities are discussing crowdfunding as part of traditional course content, the real-world approach to this course makes it different," said Entrepreneurship Professor Jennifer Dinger. "Suffolk students in this class are learning how to turn their business ideas into action, and they are going after the funding to support those enterprises."

The concept for the crowdfunding course came out of conversations between Dinger and Professor Chaim Letwin, a colleague in the Sawyer Business School's Management and Entrepreneurship department. Dinger and Letwin both study crowdfunding and how campaign components relate to people's decisions to contribute money to a particular project.

The ventures include:

WarmUp Protein Coffee: Founded by Suffolk senior James Testa of East Boston , WarmUp is targeting the high-protein coffee to fitness-focused people on the go.

Founded by Suffolk senior of , WarmUp is targeting the high-protein coffee to fitness-focused people on the go. The Wicked Fisha , founded by Suffolk senior Chuck Gibson of Malden, Mass. , plans a line of innovative fishing equipment, starting with a cooler/tackle box combo that eliminates the hassle of lugging multiple boxes to a fishing destination.

, founded by Suffolk senior of , plans a line of innovative fishing equipment, starting with a cooler/tackle box combo that eliminates the hassle of lugging multiple boxes to a fishing destination. Buddha Bus Yoga provides traveling yoga classes out of mobile studio. Founded by Suffolk Junior Sara Maloney , of Groveland, Mass. , the business offers on-site classes at various locations.

provides traveling yoga classes out of mobile studio. Founded by Suffolk Junior , of , the business offers on-site classes at various locations. Goliath Gallon, founded by Suffolk senior Zack Smith of Methuen, Mass. , makes a reusable, BPA-free and easily-cleaned gallon bottle for ice, fruits, amino acids, etc.

founded by Suffolk senior of , makes a reusable, BPA-free and easily-cleaned gallon bottle for ice, fruits, amino acids, etc. NEO Miners is a card game focused on resource management and economic principles, with a space-travel theme. Founder Jason Moker is a Suffolk senior from Georgetown, Mass.

is a card game focused on resource management and economic principles, with a space-travel theme. Founder is a Suffolk senior from Vegitano is a health food brand offering alternatives to people who follow a vegan diet or are allergic to dairy and/or gluten. The startup was founded by Willied Hessein, a Suffolk senior from Miami, Florida .

is a health food brand offering alternatives to people who follow a vegan diet or are allergic to dairy and/or gluten. The startup was founded by Willied Hessein, a Suffolk senior from . The Upward Bound Project is aimed at raising money for the social good. The campaign is focused on funding Upward Bound students to participate in Startup Suffolk, a bridge program for rising high school seniors.

Information on student crowdfunding campaigns can be found at entrepreneurship.suffolk.edu/crowdfunding.php

For more information, please contact:

Greg Gatlin: 617-573-8428, [email protected]

SOURCE Suffolk University Center for Entrepreneurship
MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TELA Bio, Inc., a surgical reconstruction company leading the development of Reinforced BioScaffolds (RBSs) for soft tissue repair, today announced that it has settled all litigations and disputes between TELA Bio and LifeCell, and that all pending state and federal court actions between the two companies have been dismissed. Terms of the agreement are confidential. The settlement will allow TELA Bio to continue to manufacture and sell its OviTex portfolio of products for use in ventral hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction, including a hydrated version of OviTex.

"We are very pleased that we were able to achieve a satisfactory resolution to all litigations and disputes between TELA Bio and LifeCell," said Antony Koblish, president and CEO of TELA Bio, adding, "With this successful action, TELA Bio is now free to focus on our strategy to advance our commercial plan for our portfolio of six OviTex products in an environment of fair competition and further develop our robust product pipeline to expand our offerings for surgeons and patients."

In July 2016 TELA Bio announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(K) clearance for OviTex RBSs. OviTex RBSs feature an embedded polymer and an intact extracellular matrix (ECM), a biologic building block derived from ovine rumen, in layered constructs designed for multi-directional cell repopulation and healthy tissue remodeling. Thus far, OviTex RBSs have been implanted in more than 150 patients and have been used in the full range of hernia procedures involving open, laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques.

"TELA Bio is focused on providing innovative cost effective hernia repair implants that support natural healing and durability," Mr. Koblish added. "Our products are designed to provide surgeons and patients with durable repairs while minimizing the potential for prolonged foreign body reactions often associated with use of currently available polymer-based implants."

The OviTex portfolio includes six products in a range of sizes, thicknesses, and degrees of reinforcement. Surgeons can choose the appropriate product for each procedure and surgical technique. OviTex RBSs are available with either permanent (polypropylene) polymer or resorbable (polyglycolic acid) polymer reinforcement.

About TELA Bio, Inc.

TELA Bio, Inc. is a privately owned company focused on bringing innovative, cost-effective, surgical reconstruction solutions to surgeons, hospitals and patients. The company's OviTex Reinforced BioScaffold (RBS) products, designed for hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction procedures, integrate polymer and biologic materials through engineering design principles. The OviTex portfolio is supported by high-quality, data-driven science and extensive pre-clinical research that has consistently demonstrated the advantages of an RBS over commercially available materials for certain patients and procedures. OviTex is commercially available in the U.S., and TELA Bio plans to launch OviTex in the European Union. The company is collaborating with leading surgeons to drive rapid product development and establish TELA Bio as a leader in surgical reconstruction. To learn more about TELA Bio visit http://www.telabio.com.

Contacts

Bill Berry

Berry & Company Public Relations

212-253-8881

[email protected]

SOURCE TELA Bio, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.telabio.com


HELSINKI, November 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Eve-Tech's crowd-developed Eve V computer launches for pre-orders on Monday 2 p.m. GMT. The 2-in-1 device is the first fully crowd-developed computer on the market. The first 500 units are offered worldwide through Indiegogo platform.

The development of Eve V has taken place online at eve.community, the open platform of Eve-Tech. Microsoft has supported the testing and development phases of the project, which is also Intel-backed. Says WK Tan, Corporate Vice President at Intel Corporation: "Intel is fully supporting this Eve-Tech project because we see the potential for success for the crowd-development approach they are taking. Intel is excited to see such a well-designed premium device, based on Intel 7th Gen Core Processors, coming to market soon."

Eve V, previously named as 'Pyramid Flipper', runs on Windows 10 and includes the latest Kaby Lake generation CPUs by Intel. The Core m3 model with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of ROM starts at 699 USD, including the laptop-class detachable keyboard with wireless mode. The prices for the Core i5 (8 GB, 256 GB) and the Core i7 (16 GB, 512 GB) models are 959 USD and 1399 USD, respectively. Eve V prices are notably lower than of the current market leaders Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and Asus Transformer Pro 3. The 500 units sold through pre-orders will be shipped during February 2017.

"With support from Intel, Microsoft, Tekes, and our design partner Propeller we have managed to craft a market-leading configuration, including full Thunderbolt 3 readiness and finished with Scandinavian design. Operating online and crowdsourcing also result in the significant price difference of Eve V", states Konstantinos Karatsevidis, CEO of Eve-Tech. After the initial pre-orders campaign the Finnish company will offer Eve V through its proprietary online shop.

The main features of Eve V are:

12-hour real battery life

2736 x1824 IGZO LCD display

Quad speakers & professional dedicated audio Amp by TI

Thunderbolt 3, USB-C and 2 full-sized USB-A 3.0

Latest 7th Gen Intel Core CPU

Durable aluminum unibody

Detachable laptop class keyboard with wireless mode

No Bloatware, Windows 10 Home or Pro

For more information, please visit:

http://www.eve-tech.com

Press material and resources:

https://eve-techoy.box.com/s/xug9hi2itkp8nw2y6esoi7ov6e2m3c6h

ABOUT EVE-TECH:

Eve-Tech is a consumer electronics company from Helsinki, Finland. Operating through a globally distributed team, Eve-Tech is the first technology company in the world that lets the crowd decide the features for its devices. The crowd-development takes place at http://eve.community, one of the fastest growing technology communities. Interacting with and selling to end-users directly online, Eve-Tech delivers high-end products at decidedly lower prices than its competitors.

Contact: [email protected], +358-45-855-7247

SOURCE Eve-Tech Oy
"Being a great place to work simply comes down to one thing  people," said Scott Hudson, president of TXU Energy. "Our people are responsible for shaping the TXU Energy culture, which is unique, vibrant and a vital part of our success as a company. This is a great place to work because of our employees' enthusiasm and spirit, and because it's a great place to work, we can focus on our customers to make sure every experience is a positive one."

Rank order is a reflection of employee responses to questions about company values, organizational health, work-life balance, leadership, culture and corporate engagement from an anonymous survey administered by third party WorkplaceDynamics.

The first time TXU Energy competed for the DMN Top 100 in 2014, the company landed at No. 21. In 2015, the company jumped up to No. 7. In addition to being the only competitive retail electricity provider to make the 2015 list, TXU Energy was one of 12 companies to receive a "Best of" award, being named "Best at Encouraging New Ideas."

TXU Energy is a subsidiary of the recently announced parent company Vistra Energy, a premier Texas-based energy company focused on the competitive energy and power generation markets through operation as the largest retailer of electricity and generator in the growing Texas market.

About TXU Energy

TXU Energy is a market-leading competitive retail electricity provider, powering the lives of more Texans than any other retailer. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including exceptional customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. Visit txu.com for more information about TXU Energy. REP #10004

Media: [email protected]

www.twitter.com/txuenergy

www.youtube.com/txuenergy

www.facebook.com/txuenergy

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Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150427/211861LOGO

SOURCE TXU Energy

Related Links

http://txu.com


OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rob Knight, chief financial officer of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), will address the Credit Suisse 4th Annual Industrials Conference at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Interested investors may view the presentation and listen to a live Internet webcast through our website at www.up.com/investor. Alternatively, the audio portion can be accessed directly through the following webcast link.

A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter on Union Pacific's Investors website.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

www.up.com

www.facebook.com/unionpacific

www.twitter.com/unionpacific

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SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation

Related Links

http://www.up.com


Hundreds of thousands of people gathered across the country on Saturday for another round of candlelight demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Park Geun-hye over a crony scandal.

In Seoul, police were surprised by the sheer numbers who poured into the streets between Gwanghwamun Plaza and City Hall downtown, but estimates varied between 180,000 and 600,000. Organizers put the total at 950,000 across the nation and police at 240,000.

A more accurate estimate might be based on the number of people who got off at the 12 nearby subway stations, which tallied at 575,000, down about 300,000 from last Saturday when many flocked to Seoul from outside town. But this time many were able to rally in their hometowns.

Saturday's demonstrations again proceeded peacefully and dispersed voluntarily around midnight. Nobody was arrested. Thousands of high school seniors joined the demonstrations for the first time now that they had finished their college entrance exams.

One aspect of the scandal surrounding Park's friend Choi Soon-sil that angered the youngsters was a sweetheart deal giving Choi's daughter a preferential place as an equestrian at the prestigious Ewha Womans University although she missed almost her entire senior year in high school.

"All other students are studying really hard to get into college. I'm angry that such a girl could enter a prestigious university just because her parents bought her a horse," one high-school senior said.

Many protesters brought LED lights this time instead of candles, thumbing their nose at a pro-Park lawmaker who sneered after last week's rally that candles can be "blown out by the wind." Organizers predicted an even bigger turnout in the coming Saturday.


LINTHICUM, Md., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) and the Urology Care Foundation, together with the Bladder Health Alliance  a coalition of groups representing physicians, patients and veterans  today applauded the U.S. Senate for passing Senate Resolution 604, a measure supporting the designation of November 2016 as "National Bladder Health Month" in the United States. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) in September. A companion measure, House Resolution 703, was also introduced during the 114th Congress.

Millions of Americans suffer from a variety of bladder health conditions, including urinary incontinence, overactive and underactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infections, nocturia, bladder cancer, urotrauma and neurogenic bladder. These diseases impact health and quality of life, and result in significant health costs (estimated to be more than $70 billion per year). Medical and behavioral research to better understand and maintain bladder health and to treat bladder conditions is critically needed yet is underfunded compared to other health research.

"As our members work in their communities to improve awareness of bladder health during the month of November, this action by the Senate further supports these efforts," said AUA Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Dr. Jim Ulchaker. "We thank Senator Kirk for his work in helping us achieve national recognition for the conditions that affect millions of Americans."

For more information about bladder health or S. Res. 604, please contact the AUA Communications office by calling 410-689-3932 or sending email to [email protected].

Members of the Bladder Health Alliance: Alliance for Aging Research; American Geriatric Society's Health in Aging Foundation; American Urogynecologic Society; American Urological Association; Association for the Bladder Extrophy Community; Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support; Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network; Blue Thong Society; Chesapeake Urology Associates; HealthyWomen; International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health; Interstitial Cystitis Association; Men's Health Network; Multiple Sclerosis Association of America; Multiple Sclerosis Foundation; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; National Association for Continence; National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health; Simon Foundation for Continence; Society for Women's Health Research; Spina Bifida Association; SUFU - Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; United Spinal Association; Urological Association of Physician Assistants; Urology Care Foundation; Veterans Health Council; Women's Health Foundation; and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN).

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 22,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. We partner with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urological diseases through research and education. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.UrologyHealth.org.

Contact: Wendy Isett, AUA

410-689-3732, [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160210/332064LOGO

SOURCE American Urological Association

Related Links

http://www.AUAnet.org


BERLIN and HONG KONG, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VTech Holdings Limited (VTech, HKSE: 303), the world's leading manufacturer of cordless phones and a global leader in electronic learning products, today announced that the company has completed its acquisition of Snom Technology AG (Snom), the pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephones.

On 21 October 2016, the two companies announced that they had entered into a binding definitive agreement, under which VTech would acquire 100% of the share capital of Snom.

The transaction was completed on 21 November 2016 as it has satisfied all regulatory requirements and closing conditions. Upon completion, Snom is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of VTech.

About Snom Technology AG

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Berlin Germany, Snom is a German multinational corporation. It is the pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP telephones. Snom's German engineering is globally renowned for robust, high-quality and feature-rich business telephones that are designed exclusively for the trained and certified professional IT and PBX installer. All of Snom's products are universally compatible with leading PBX platforms operating under the SIP standard, with over 4 million end-point installations globally. Snom products are sold through distributors to Value Added Resellers across the world. For more information, please visit www.snom.com.

About VTech

VTech is the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy to preschool and the world's leading manufacturer of cordless phones. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Founded in 1976, VTech has been a pioneer in the electronic learning toy category with cutting-edge and innovative products that provide fun and learning to children across the world. By leveraging decades of success, VTech provides a diverse collection of telecommunication products that elevate the consumer experience with state-of-the-art technology and design. The Group is also one of the world's leading electronic manufacturing service providers, offering world-class, full turnkey services to customers in a number of product categories. The Group's mission is to design, manufacture and supply innovative and high quality products in a manner that minimises any impact on the environment, while creating sustainable value for its stakeholders and the community. For more information, please visit www.vtech.com.

For inquiries, please contact:

VTech Holdings Limited Snom Technology AG Grace Pang, Head of Corporate Marketing Heike Cantzler, Head of Marketing +852-26801703 +49-30-39833-103 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE VTech

Related Links

https://www.vtech.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today VTech announced its toys received more than 50 accolades, for the second year in a row, from respected toy and parenting industry experts, toy advisory boards and retailers for the holiday season. The Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe and Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Palace were standouts, each impressively accumulating more than 10 awards. Additional toys that received recognition from multiple organizations include the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Treasure Mountain Train Adventure, Ring & Learn Cash Register, Sort & Discover Activity Cube, Care for Me Learning Carrier, Bizzy the Mix & Move Bot and Gallop & Rock Learning Pony.

"We are pleased and honored with the tremendous recognition so many of our toys have received this year from the most trusted organizations, major retailers and respected experts leading the toy industry," said William To, President, VTech Electronics North America. "These accolades affirm our commitment to deliver innovative, engaging toys that are developmentally appropriate for maximum fun."

VTech toys were named to several of the toy industry's most sought-after lists, including TTPM's "Most Wanted" and the Toy Insider's "Hot 20." Awards and distinguishing honors were received from Scholastic Parent & Child, National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA), Tillywig Toy & Media Awards, PAL Awards, Dr. Toy, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Mom's Choice Awards, Parents' Choice Awards, The Goddard School and Savvy Auntie Coolest Toy Awards. VTech also topped major retailer holiday lists, including the Walmart Chosen by Kids List and Amazon Holiday Toy List.

Additional details about VTech's award-winning products can be found at www.vtechkids.com. The complete list of VTech's awards includes:

Go! Go! Smart Lines

Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Palace

TTPM Most Wanted

Toy Insider "Hot 20"

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Top Fun Award

PAL Awards Winner

Mom's Choice Awards Silver Award

Scholastic Parent & Child : Gold Star Toy Winner

: Gold Star Toy Winner The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Amazon Holiday Toy List

Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products

Savvy Auntie Coolest Toy Awards

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Treasure Mountain Train Adventure

TTPM People's Play Awards Little Explorers Toy of the Year Nominee

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Best Creative Fun Award

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Walmart Chosen by Kids List

Savvy Auntie Coolest Toy Awards

Go! Go! Smart Animals Happy Paws Playland

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Top Fun Award

Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe

Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe

TTPM Most Wanted

TTPM People's Play Awards Little Explorers Toy of the Year Nominee

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Parents' Favorite Products Award

PAL Awards Winner

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

Scholastic Parent & Child : Gold Star Toy Winner

: Gold Star Toy Winner Parents' Choice Approved Award

Amazon Holiday Toy List

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products

Baby, Infant and Preschool

Ring & Learn Cash Register

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Top Fun Award

PAL Awards Winner

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Sort & Discover Activity Cube

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Brain Child Award

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

The Goddard School Preschooler-Approved Toy Test Winner

Care for Me Learning Carrier

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Brain Child Award

PAL Awards Winner

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Bizzy the Mix & Move Bot

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Brain Child Award

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

Amazon Holiday Toy List

Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products

Gallop & Rock Learning Pony

National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Winner

Tillywig Toy & Media Awards Brain Child Award

Mom's Choice Awards Gold Award

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Baby's Light-Up Laptop

Watchdog Reviews' Best Laptops and Accessories for Kids

Tote & Go Laptop

Watchdog Reviews' Best Laptops and Accessories for Kids

About VTech

VTech is a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development and make learning fun. With a rich, almost 40 year history, VTech has not only established itself as a learning authority but also consistently remains at the forefront of innovation with multiple award-winning products. The company also has a broad range of award-winning infant and preschool products available in 24 different languages worldwide, with more than 100 new products introduced every year. VTech was awarded a prestigious 2015 Toy of The Year (TOTY) Award for its Go! Go! Smart Animals Zoo Explorers Playset. In order to further strengthen VTech's position as a learning authority, the company's Expert Panel, with esteemed experts in reading, language arts, science, math, and child development, consult on new product introductions.

VTech Electronics North America, LLC is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. VTech Electronics Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally.

For more information on VTech's additional product lines, visit www.VTechKids.com, www.facebook.com/VTechtoys on Facebook or follow @VTechToys on Twitter

Media Contact:

Nicole Centinaro

Coyne Public Relations

973-588-2000

[email protected]

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SOURCE VTech

Related Links

http://www.vtech.com


IRONDALE, Ala., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When John Finch was 11 years old, his father committed suicide.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441520

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441521

As a result, the fatherless boy, who grew up in government-assisted housing, would become a self-described social alcoholic, a traveling salesman with an unlimited account, and a "Johnny Good Time" life-of-the-party kind of guy, who was always ready to buy a round of drinks.

"I was trying to get affirmation from others because I didn't get it from my dad," Finch says as he looks back over the first 30 years of his life. "My mom was the sweetest angel in the world. If it wasn't for her, no telling where I would be. But she couldn't be a dad."

Underneath all the bluster, Finch says "Johnny Good Time" was also an angry guy. "Growing up without a dad, I bought into everything the world said you should be as a real man: money, power, sex. Not having a father to walk alongside me, I was lost."

About six years ago, a friend brought up the concept of a "father wound."

"In that conversation, God planted a seed. I started to understand the issues I had and how it was a result of the suffering I experienced after my dad abandoned me. If my dad didn't want to have anything to do with me, then I bet God was the same way. God began to show me more and more about my father; how he too grew up without a father. It was a generational thing I didn't even know existed. I said, 'This is going to stop here.'"

The result is a new apostolate, The Perfect Father Ministries, and a powerful 60 minute docu-drama, "The Father Effect," which airs 10 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 3; 1 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 7; 5 a.m. ET, Friday, Dec. 9; and 5 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 10 on EWTN, www.ewtn.com/channelfinder. Find out more at www.TheFatherEffect.com.

Viewers of both sexes will benefit from Finch's interviews with more than 80 people from all walks of life, and from the solutions they provide.

As the testimonials on Finch's website demonstrate, this film has been truly life-changing for many fathers and for their wives. Please share this with everyone you know and tune in. Even if you feel you're already a pretty good dad, this just may provide you with answers to questions you didn't even know you had.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 36th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN's 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 268 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN services also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including "The National Catholic Register" newspaper, and two global wire services; as well as a publishing arm.

For Information, Please Contact:

Michelle Johnson

Director of Communications

EWTN Global Catholic Network

5817 Old Leeds Road

Irondale, Alabama 35210-2198 USA

(205) 795-5769  Office

(205) 441-6248  Cell

(205) 795-5781  Fax

[email protected]

SOURCE EWTN

Related Links

http://www.ewtn.com


"This is an exciting day for WorthPoint as it gives us the opportunity to share our vision and hard work with millions more people," says Chairman and WorthPoint CEO William H. Seippel. "We love what our platform has done to help people and the resources we provide them, and now we're thrilled to offer securities in our company to our current users and new investors."

Although there are millions of collectors around the world, a huge disconnect still exists between how those collectors identify and value antiques and collectibles. WorthPoint has developed a state-of-the-art, online database system -- Worthopedia designed to connect dozens of auction houses, including eBay and Heritage, with the most efficient instant pricing data for antique and collectibles in the world. Currently, WorthPoint is host to over 300 million items with 500 million images.

In line with the company vision of making better use of current technology to connect the antiquities and relics of our past, WorthPoint is launching this investment crowdfunding campaign to invite its users, fans, and new investors their first chance to invest in the company.

For the first time since 1933, non-accredited or "main street" investors can invest in early-stage startups thanks to the Title III Regulation Crowdfunding Rules. Under these rules, WorthPoint aims to use the funds raised to expand its services and operations as well as give those interested in investing the chance to join them in what WorthPoint believes can be their continued success.

Interested individuals can find out more about WorthPoint's services and their crowdfunding campaign by visiting their campaign page on 99Funding.

About WorthPoint

WorthPoint is the largest online resource database for identifying, researching and valuing antiques, art, and vintage collectibles -- utilizing a detailed catalog system of Maker's Marks, an electronic reference library, detailed price guides and other indicators from leading publishers in a wide range of timeless antique and collectibles categories. Official partners with Pook & Pook Inc., eBay, Heritage Auctions, Rago, Cowan's Auctions, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, the company was ranked number 505 on the Inc. list of companies in 2013, #36 in consumer product goods and #17 for growth in Metro Atlanta. WorthPoint Corporation is located on 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2850. Atlanta, Georgia 30328.

Securities are offered through North Capital Private Securities Corp., registered broker/dealer and member FINRA/SIPC. There are risks to investing including loss of capital.

Media Contact:

Pedro Flores

[email protected]

562-322-3840

Video - https://youtu.be/Ib0cNMXKCXE

SOURCE WorthPoint
Imports of luxury foreign cars have increased despite the economic recession.

Some 136,523 foreign cars priced at over W50 million were sold here in the first 10 months of this year, up 3 percent from a year earlier, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association said on Sunday (US$1=W1,185). But sales of relatively lower-priced imports fell 23 percent to 49,278 units during the same period.

Non-German brands led the rise in sales of premium cars. Combined sales of Japan's Lexus, Jaguar of the U.K. and Italy's Lamborghini saw a 43 percent spike on-year.

As for German brands, Audi's sales plunged 38 percent, mainly due to sales bans on some 80 models of the German carmaker here in the wake of wholescale cheating on environmental tests.

Bentley's sales fell by 47 percent, and BMW saw a 3 percent drop. But Mercedes-Benz saw a 17 percent rise thanks to the popularity of the newly released E-Class.

"Discounts and aggressive marketing seem to have persuaded an increasing number of consumers to turn to luxury cars," an industry insider said.


A Korean man in his 30s has been arrested in the execution-style death of three Koreans in the Philippines last month, the National Police Agency here said Friday.

The suspect, identified as Park, has been doing business in the Philippines since 2010 and there met the three victims, who were fleeing repercussions from a boiler room scam in Korea. They were accused of defrauding investors of about W14 billion (US$1=W1,185).

On Oct. 11 about two months after they arrived there, their bodies were found bound and with gunshot wounds to the heads in a sugar cane field in the small town of Bacolor.

Korean police sent investigators to the Philippines to help local security forces, and they found Park's fingerprints in the building where the victims had last stayed.

Police found that three days after the murder Park withdrew W700 million from a casino where the victims had deposited their money and gone into hiding. Last week they tracked him down to a condominium in Manila.

On Oct. 21, police in Korea arrested another man linked to the victims who left the Philippines the day after their death.

A police spokesman said the investigation will now focus on whether the suspects hired a contract killer since the murder bears the hallmarks of an execution by local thugs.


London, Nov 21 : Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond spoke on Sunday of the financial challenges ahead for Britain as it heads towards leaving the European Union.

Hammond delivered his first autumn statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, essentially a "state of the nation" finance report ahead of next Spring's main spending budget, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a round of traditional media interviews ahead of his statement, Hammond and his advisers gave hints about what to expect.

Spending $1.6 billion on road schemes and scrapping a proposed increase in the duty on auto fuel are both expected to be announced.

The main message from Hammond will be the British economy faces a sharp challenge.

Hammond said his Autumn statement will focus on making sure the British economy is "match-fit for the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead."

In one interview he said Britain had to "maintain our credibility" as it still had a significant deficit, adding: "I want to make sure that the economy is watertight. That we have enough headroom to deal with any unexpected challenges over the next couple of years and most importantly, that we are ready to seize the opportunities of leaving the European Union."

He also said he wanted to support people who work hard and "by and large do not feel that they are sharing in the prosperity that economic growth is bringing to the country".

Political commentators are waiting to hear how Hammond will respond to reports that British economy is facing a projected 100 billion pounds ($123.43 billion) "black hole" in its finances as a result of the June 23 vote to leave the European Union.
London, Nov 21 : Actor Eddie Redmayne says it "isn't a problem" for him to take public transport as it is the best way to get around here.

"It's really not a problem at all. How else do you get around London? I mean, in the sense that the traffic is so awful," Redmayne told Britain's Esquire magazine.

However, the Oscar-winning actor said that he will often make a hasty exit from the train if he gets recognised and someone tries to take a sneaky photograph, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Explaining his reaction when he realises someone has taken his image, he said: "You just have this really awkward 37 seconds before you run off the train in embarrassment.

"'You're like, 'Oh, I get it. But couldn't you have asked?' Of course, people go, 'That's what you've signed up for.' Maybe they're right."

The actor gets photographed wherever he goes, but tries not to worry about it too much.

He said: "Your mind starts going to a weird place."

The "Danish Girl" star is instantly recognisable these days, he wasn't always a big name and he struggled to get cast opposite actress Julianne Moore in "Savage Grace" because producers couldn't secure financial backing with him attached to the project.

He was initially cast before the film lost his financing, and then heard the project was back on so shared that on auditioning again - and was again blocked from the role until Julianne intervened.

"I remember calling my agent who said, 'The financier behind the film doesn't think you're a big enough name, and your name is not on the list of bankability.' There's a list, apparently. I flew myself over to New York, I auditioned and auditioned and got cast again, but got told that this financier had again said no," he said.

Redmayne added: "It ended up being Julianne Moore fighting for me to do the part. She was incredibly kind to me, really put her neck out."
Ankara, Nov 21 : Turkish jets on Sunday night destroyed some 17 Islamic State (IS) targets near Al-Bab in northern Syria under the Euphrates Shield operation.

Turkish Air Force hit at least two IS-occupied buildings in Al-Bab region with 16 bombs and 17 IS targets were destroyed by the attack, Xinhua quoted Anadolu Agency as saying.

Meanwhile, two Turkish soldiers were wounded in a IS attack in northern Syria on the same day.

The soldiers were wounded when IS bombed an area near the city of Al-Bab, north of Aleppo, where Turkish troops are located.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Turkey's border province of Gaziantep, according to hospital sources.

On Saturday, one Turkish soldier was killed in a similar IS attack to Turkish troops.
Houstan, Nov 21 : A police officer was killed by a driver on Sunday while writing a traffic ticket outside the police headquarters in San Antonio, a city in the southern part of the US state of Texas.

The 50-year-old Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the police force, had pulled over a vehicle later Sunday morning. When he was inside his vehicle writing a ticket, a vehicle pulled up behind him, Xinhua reported.

The driver of that vehicle got out, walked up to the officer's driver-side window and shot the officer in the head, the suspect then reached into the window and shot Marconi a second time.

He was rushed to a hospital but died on Sunday afternoon, San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a press conference Sunday.

"This is everyone's worst nightmare," McManus said, adding that "It's always difficult, especially in this day and age, when police are being targeted across the country."

Until further notice, police officers will not be allowed to conduct traffic stops alone and they must have cover.

The suspect, who was as a black male wearing a hoodie, baggy pants and possible facial hair, has not yet been arrested and a motive is not known.

Police are now looking for a black car which is believed to be the suspect's vehicle.
Jammu, Nov 21 : One Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and seven others were injured on Monday in Pakistan firing on the Line of Control in Jammu's Rajouri district, an official said.

"Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Manjakot sector of Rajouri district after midnight," the senior BSF official said.

"One BSF trooper was killed, while three others -- four of the Army and three BSF troopers -- were injured," he added.

The Army said that four of its soldiers were also injured in another ceasefire violation by Pakistan during the night in Naushera sector.

Heavy shelling was still underway, the official added.
Washington, Nov 21 : US President-elect Donald Trump's soon-to-be Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, said the incoming White House counsel will be tasked with making sure that there were no conflicts of interest with the real estate mogul's business empire.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Priebus said Americans should not be concerned with potential pay-to-play schemes in a Trump administration despite reports that Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who helms part of the family's business portfolio, sat in on Trump's meeting last week with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"We've been at this for a few days. I mean, this is ridiculous. Let's just kind of take a deep breath. The point is, what Americans should see from President-elect Trump is someone who, by being in action from the moment he was declared the winner, he was on a mission to bring everyone together," Priebus said.

"That, to me, is what we should be celebrating. I think people should be encouraged by what they see. And I think it's a real positive sign for the future of our country."

However, there were some signs Trump has not completely cut ties with his business -- and that foreign diplomats see Trump's business empire as a way to win his favour, CNN said.

Last week, Trump met three Indian business partners building a property near Mumbai, The New York Times reported.

The three Indian businessmen posted photos of the meeting at Manhattan's Trump Tower on social media.
Seoul, Nov 21 : South Korea's main opposition, the Democratic Party announced on Monday that it will initiate impeachment proceedings against President Park Geun-hye, if she does not step down after having been declared an accomplice in a corruption case.

"Park must step down. Under this stance, we will review her impeachment and the issue of forming an interim Cabinet at a proper time," opposition leader Choo Mi-ae said in a meeting with party members.

Choo added that the party will immediately start the necessary formalities for the impeachment process in parliament although she warned it could take up to six months, according to a statement issued by the party.

The announcement comes a day after prosecutors said Park acted as an accomplice in a corruption and influence peddling case, that has sparked strong indignation in the country and intensified demands for her resignation.

The prosecutors on Sunday said that Park colluded with her close friend and confidant, Choi Soon-sil, and another two former aides to pressure over 50 companies to donate a total of $65.7 million to two foundations.

Until now, the main opposition parties, who have a majority in the parliament, had not raised the possibility of initiating an impeachment process believing it would be rejected by the Supreme Court at the last moment.

The so-called "Choi Soon-sil Gate", which came to light a month ago, has caused Park's popularity ratings to plummet to a record low and led the opposition and a large section of society to demand her resignation.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seoul on Saturday demanding that Park steps down.

The indignation largely stems from the widespread perception that the president's friend, who has never held public office, secretly intervened in State matters and used her influence to illegally embezzle funds and secure academic privileges for her daughter.
Washington, Nov 21 : Clashes between protesters and authorities over the Dakota Access Pipeline escalated after an estimated 400 people tried to breach a law enforcement barrier, US officials said.

According to the Morton County Sheriff's Office, Sunday night's clash was a "riot" prompted by "very aggressive" activists, while protesters said authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in below-freezing temperatures.

However, the sheriff office's spokesman, Rob Keller, told NBC News that no water cannon were deployed.

"The water was being sprayed from a fire truck to control blazes set by activists," he said.

In a statement, the sheriff's office said tear gas and other "less than lethal means" were being used after protesters "engaged in organised tactical movement and attempted to flank and attack" a law enforcement line near a bridge.

The bridge had been closed since late October, when it was damaged in a fire after authorities evicted protesters from property owned by the pipeline developer.

The clash comes days after organisers held coordinated demonstrations across the country to protest a 1,170-mile oil pipeline that has generated the largest American-Indian protest movement in modern history.

Thousands of people have flocked to North Dakota, where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe argues that the proposed pipeline could permanently contaminate its water source, the Missouri river.

Energy Transfer Partners, which is behind the pipeline, has said that it has taken measures to prevent such leaks and that the pipeline is far safer than transporting oil with trucks or trains, NBC News said.
Korea is seeing its global standing diminish in terms of car production.

The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association said on Friday the country's output for September stood at 258,016 vehicles, down 22.7 percent from a year earlier and 8th in the world.

China topped the rankings, followed by the U.S., Germany, Japan, India, Mexico and Spain.

Korea's ranking has fallen steadily. Last year, it ranked fifth in total output behind China, the U.S., Japan and Germany. Overtaken by India, it dropped to sixth place for the first seven months of this year, falling to eighth in August behind India, Mexico and Canada.

An industry insider blamed the setback on "a combination of unfavorable factors including sluggish domestic consumption. The decline may be a sign that the Korean auto industry is in crisis."


New Delhi : Title: Askew - A Short Biography of Bangalore; Author: T.J.S. George; Publisher: Aleph; Pages: 116; Price: 299 Often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India for being the hub for information technology (IT) companies in the country, the city of Bangalore (now Bengaluru), according to the arguments put forth in this book, has lost its traditional charm at the hands of modernity and enterprise.

"Askew" may be a rather unconventional title for this scholarly work, but the author's attention to detail in chronicling the journey of Karnataka's capital, "from a paradise for pensioners to an El Dorado of the future", will live to tell the many unknown tales of the old city.

The author's focus on those who have contributed to the city -- in ways both good and bad -- vividly narrates the stories of the planners, writers, intellectuals, actors, politicians, entrepreneurs and their children, theatre artists, the IT sector, hoteliers and even the commoners.

"Looked at through the lens of a Wordsworth poem," George writes, "Bangalore in its youth began in gladness but thereof came in the end despondency and madness."

After careful research and citing historical evidence, the book presents a blow-by-blow account of Bangalore's rise to modernity and, at the same time, its continued march towards losing the age-old charm associated with the city.

This is not a recent phenomenon. Even in the 1980s, when George "embraced the glorious city", he often heard the earlier residents complaining of similar changes.

"They would tell me how in the 1950s telephone numbers were in easy four-digit configurations, how the city bus service went to outlying areas..., and how an air ticket from Bangalore to Bombay cost Rs 285."

These imageries fascinated George, but he thought it was unfair of the old-timers to imply that the "city's charm" was gone. In his Bangalore, "the traffic was civilized, the parks were green and the trees full of birds".

Not surprisingly, by 2015 it was George's turn to grieve over the lost glories of Bangalore. "In all probability," George writes, "what bothered me were non-issues to Bangalore's new citizens just as what bothered folks in the 1950s and 1960s were non-issues for me in the 1980s."

The most significant argument that George makes is that even though Bangalore had etched a narrative of growth throughout history, the speed at which IT altered its sociology and economy made the city "unbearable".

"The old agreeable Bangalore was now replaced by an aggressive Bangalore where no one had time for his neighbours. Everyone was chasing success as measured by a new consumerist value system," asserts George, while also narrating the horrors caused to the city's ecology.

Why did modernity and enterprise make Bangalore unbearable?

"The answer is that Bangalore's elected leaders, administrators and builders disobeyed Kempe Gowda's mother."

Kempe Gowda, the fabled founder of Bangalore, was given two instructions by his mother in the 1530s before setting out to build his dream capital: "Keregalam kattu, marangalam nedu (Build lakes, plant trees)". Gowda created a hundred lakes and lined the pathways with wide, leafy trees.

Fast-forward to modern times. George, with visible sarcasm, regrets that politicians and land dealers of today were born to "different kinds of mothers" as, in just about three decades, 2,000 hectares of lakes were filled up and, in the late 2000s alone, 50,000 trees felled.

The short book makes for a fascinating case study on what Bangalore used to be and what it is today.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Indian Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh is on a four-day visit to China, it was announced on Monday.

"General Dalbir Singh on a four day visit to China. Likely to visit important military installations and meet senior officials," the army tweeted.
Sofia, Nov 21 : Actress Akshara Haasan, who plays an important role in Ajith Kumar-starrer yet-untitled upcoming Tamil spy thriller, will soon join the film's crew in Bulgaria.

"En route Bulgaria," Akshara posted on her Twitter page on Monday.

She shares screen space with Ajith in the film, which marks her Tamil acting debut.

Being directed by Siva, the makers are currently shooting over a month-long schedule in Bulgaria.

"Apart from Bulgaria, they will also be shooting in some exotic locations across Europe. They are currently shooting some important action sequences," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Also starring Kajal Aggarwal and Vivek Oberoi, the film has music by Anirudh Ravichander and is produced by Satya Jyothi Films.
Panjim, Nov 21 : Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu believes in the power of films as a medium, and says movies can portray India's culture and heritage well.

Naidu shared his thoughts at the ongoing NFDC Film Bazaar here on Monday. Organised by National Film Development Corporation Ltd (NFDC), Film Bazaar provides a platform to encourage collaboration between the international and South Asian film fraternities.

"Films can portray our culture and heritage. Films can also take the message of our country to other places. That way, the government of India gives maximum importance. We have also entered into a co-production agreement with different countries and want to work with them. The cultural heritage of India is better portrayed through films," said Naidu.

Emphasizing on the bigger picture that can be achieved through films, Naidu said: "It will help to go a long way in producing films in India and films in turn will also encourage tourism and culture of the country. That's where the three dimensional purpose will be achieved by the films."

Appreciating the idea of the Film Bazaar, Naidu said: "I'm impressed by the idea of the Film Bazaar. It is like a filmy supermarket. You have everything - from incredible locations to viewing of the films, interaction with the producers and experience of seeing films in 3D dimensions. One can get everything what is required for filmmaking."

There are various sections like the Viewing Room and Film Bazaar Recommends, Work-in-Progress Lab, Co-Production Market, Producers Lab along with panel discussions and master classes where many debutante filmmakers will get an opportunity to showcase their work to the industry experts.

While music maestro A.R. Rahman's "Vande Mataram" Live-in-VR Experience is to be unveiled here, Philip Lee (producer of "The Dark Knight" and "The Revenant") will be conducting a master class.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali will converse with author Nasreen Munni Kabir at the Knowledge Series session at the bazaar, which is held every year on the sidelines of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The 10th NFDC Film Bazaar will conclude on Thursday.

(The writer's trip to Goa has been sponsored by NFDC Film Bazaar. Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in)
Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 21 : In a first of its kind, IAF fighter jets on Monday touched down on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Uttar Pradesh as part of the grand opening of India's longest expressway.

The six-lane 302-km-long expressway, connecting the city of Taj Mahal with state capital Lucknow, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Three Mirage-2000s and three SU-30 of the Indian Air Force performed simulated landings on the Expressway at Unnao, around 50 km from Lucknow, as a host of IAF officers, politicians and commoners watched in awe.

The portion of the Expressway, intended to be used for emergency jet landings, has a reinforced cement concrete construction and appropriately marked to facilitate aircraft landings.

The entire operation began with the first three Mirages coming overhead and culminated with a touch and go by the SU-30 fighter jets.

The aim of the exercise is to check feasibility of the expressway being used as alternate airstrips in case of dire emergencies or non-availability of runways for any reason, said the IAF.

Central Air Command chief, Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha was among those present at the venue to oversee the operations.

A pet project of the Chief Minister, the Expressway has been constructed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh Yadav thanked the IAF for the grand show and said the expressway will be opened for public soon.

According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the expressway will halve the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to just 3.5 hours from the current seven hours.

The expressway, which joins the Yamuna Expressway in Agra, is also expected to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Lucknow to between 5 and 6 hours.

An official connected with the project said the expressway is fully equipped with advanced traffic management systems that will work during foggy conditions too.

The state government claimed the Expressway had created a national record of laying a 302-km greenfield expressway in barely 23 months. The six- lane expressway can be later expanded to eight lanes.

Eight bridges on Ganges and Yamuna, four railway overbridges and provision of 3.3 km runway for landing of IAF fighter planes are unique features of the project.

Agra citizens rejoiced on the opening of the six-lane Expressway, that the state government has claimed will bring Taj Ganj nearer to Hazrat Ganj, the premier market in Lucknow.

A few stretches of the mega project are still to be completed but Akhilesh Yadav was keen to present a birthday gift to his father, Mulayam Singh, whose birthday is on Monday.

The formal opening ceremony was held at Khamboli, near RS Chauraha Bangarmau in Unnao district, adjacent to Lucknow.

A few days ago the CEO of the project Navneet Sehgal was seriously injured alongwith a journalist and some staffers, when he visited the site. Sehgal is in Medanta Hospital presently.

The new expressway did not face many legal hassles like the Mayawati project, Yamuna Expressway, as land was purchased from 30,000 farmers after concluding amicable agreements under market terms, an official said.
Srinagar, Nov 21 : Gunmen on Monday looted Rs 12 lakh from a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch in the central district of Badgam.

Police said four gunmen entered the Malpora branch and made away with the money. "A manhunt has been launched to nab them," a police officer said here.
Islamabad, Nov 21 : Renowned mountaineer Hassan Sadpara, the only Pakistani to have climbed six of the world's tallest mountains including Mt Everest, passed away in Rawalpindi on Monday, the media reported.

Sadpara also scaled the K2 (8,611 meters), Gasherbrum I (8,080 meters), Gasherbrum II (8,034 meters), Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) and Broad Peak (8,051 meters), the Dawn reported.

The Dawn said Sadpara was suffering from multiple diseases, including blood cancer.

He was brought to a private hospital in Rawalpindi from where he was moved to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment on the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Hassan's son Arif urged the government to facilitate the transportation of his father's body to their ancestral village in Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan for burial.
Islamabad, Nov 21 : Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has denied being in exile and said he would return to Pakistan within the next few weeks, the media reported on Monday.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, who has divided his time between London and Dubai since June 2015, said he would return to the country "soon", Geo News reported.

Zardari, who was the President from 2008 to 2013, abruptly left the country last year after giving a hard-hitting speech in which he hit out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain.
Jalandhar (Punjab), Nov 21 : India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region, Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim said here on Monday.

Addressing the 7th Convocation of Lovely Professional University (LPU) here, the Mauritian President urged students from India and Mauritius not to leave for other countries after completing their education here.

"India and Mauritius have so many things in common be it traditions, values or culture. India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region. We should have a kind of education in India and Mauritius under which young and ignited minds of both the countries should not leave for other countries," she said.

The Mauritian President was conferred the honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degree of the university for her work towards advancement of science, technology and in recognition of her services to society.

President Fakim honoured PhDs and toppers of various LPU academic programmes and lauded LPU's emphasis on invention, creativity and development.

During the convocation ceremony, over 15,000 students received post-graduate and graduate degrees and diplomas.

LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal pointed out that Mauritius had become a centre of textiles, tourism and advanced technology.
Islamabad, Nov 21 : Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a protest over "unabated violations of ceasefire" at the Line of Control (LoC).

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the government registered its protest over "bloodshed of innocent" people at the border.

A protest dossier was handed over to J.P. Singh by Director General of South Asia desk Dr Mohammad Faisal, Zakaria said.

The latest "unprovoked" Indian firing at the border has claimed two lives on Monday while damaging five houses, he said.
Six presidential hopefuls and two lawmakers in the opposition parties also agreed in a meeting Sunday to call on the National Assembly to start impeachment proceedings. They included the People's Party's Ahn Cheol-soo, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former Minjoo leader Moon Jae-in.

The Minjoo Party on Sunday decided to both demand Park's resignation and seek to impeach her, backed by ruling-party lawmakers outside Parks traditionalist faction.

Opposition parties as well as most Saenuri Party lawmakers not aligned with Park are now set on impeaching her.

Lawmakers and presidential hopefuls are edging closer to plans for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye after she was named as an accomplice in charges against her friend Choi Soon-sil and two aides.

In an emergency meeting of the ruling party, 32 out of 35 lawmakers not aligned with the president supported her impeachment.

A motion to impeach would need just 29 Saenuri lawmakers to vote with the 171-strong opposition to reach the required two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

Article 65 in the Constitution states that impeachment proceedings are justified if a president "violates laws or the Constitution in the execution of his or her duties."

"The fact that the prosecution named Park as an accomplice to crimes in its written arraignment despite being unable to question her in person or in writing shows they are confident of proving her guilt," one former prosecutor said. "This means that the grounds for impeachment as stipulated in the Constitution have been established."

And a judge at the Seoul High Court said, "Looking at the arraignment, Park faces charges of using her status to force businesses to donate money and leaking confidential documents to someone who holds no official post. If the National Assembly deems this as grounds for impeachment and votes on the decision, impeachment proceedings are possible."

One variable to this scenario is that the terms of two Constitutional Court judges end early next year since impeachment requires a majority of six of the nine judges.

Pro-Park lawmakers still have hopes that the charges Park faces are not serious enough to warrant impeachment. However, they favor impeachment over resignation because that could buy Park more time in the maximum six months required for the motion to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.

"Once it gets really cold the number of people taking part in the candlelight protests will drop, and the president still has supporters, so an impeachment motion is not entirely bad for us," a pro-Park lawmaker said.
Colombo, Nov 21 : Sri Lanka has voiced keenness on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, the world's biggest exporter of LNG, as part of the government policy to shift to clean energy.

"In our energy sector, LNG-generated power plants are going to be the next futuristic power generation option. In order to bridge the gap of our energy supplies, we want to move away from coal to LNG. There is a high priority being given to that," Sri Lankan Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem said.

"We have already identified two 300MW LNG-generated power plants that we plan to rollout. We are now projecting our power requirements for the next 20 to 30 years. We need to quickly move on to some energy options, which have less impact on the environment and LNG is one of those options," Hakeem told Gulf Times on the sidelines of an investment forum hosted by Doha Bank on Saturday.

Hakeem said the government is moving away from thermal power to LNG, adding that Sri Lanka's coal-fired power plants "have created a lot of environmental issues" for the local community.

The Minister said energy would be among some of the sectors to be discussed during Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's planned state visit to Qatar in 2017 to boost trade ties.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Ambassador W.M. Karunadasa was quoted as saying by the Gulf Times that Sri Lanka's current LNG needs are met through imports from Iran and Iraq, among other suppliers, but not Qatar.

He said the LNG from Qatar could be imported through the Port of Colombo, which he said, is Sri Lanka's "largest and busiest" port.

"China is now developing a large hub in our port city, which is a main distribution point to adjacent countries. Even in the ancient times, the Port of Colombo was a central hub for trade and other economic activities with many countries," the ambassador said.

Sri Lanka is also considering setting up LNG power plants in Galle and Hambantota, with the country's long term generation plan to be revised.

The sharp fall in LNG prices in last one year has made it attractive for Sri Lanka to pursue gas based power generation.
Kolkata, Nov 21 : Launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "threatening political parties", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday dared him to send her to jail, but said he could not "browbeat" her.

A day after Modi raked up the chit fund scam to hit out at Banerjee's Trinamool Congress which has been rallying against demonetisation, she said that a Prime Minister needed to be sober.

"The Prime Minister is threatening political parties. We have never seen such things earlier. The Prime Minister should be sober," Banerjee told the media here.

She alleged that some political parties were keeping silent on the demonetisation issue as Modi was threatening them every day.

"But I am not scared. He can send me to jail, because he is in power. But he cannot browbeat us," the Trinamool chief said.

Banerjee alleged that some Trinamool leaders were arrested in connection with the chit fund scandal though they had done no wrong.

"My people have been arrested without doing any wrong, because it's a vendetta of the central government."

Banerjee said the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India were under the central government. "Why didn't they investigate the chit funds? Why didn't they take action?"

She said the chit funds were born between 1982 and 2010 when the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front was in power. "But was a single CPI-M leader arrested?"

The CBI, probing the Saradha chit fund scandal, has arrested and quizzed several Trinamool leaders.

Banerjee said the Prime Minister has even threatened his partymen, who are "now very afraid".

"His party people are also not liking it (the prime minister's way of work). But they are afraid. They are being browbeaten. Does he believe his own ministers?" she asked.

Alleging there was a "scam" behind the demonetisation initiative, the Chief Minister said the hidden agenda of the government must be brought out in the public domain.

She referred to the frequent changes made to the guidelines for currency transactions over the past few days proved the government was "confused" and lacked a "plan of action".

"There have already been frequent rollbacks from day one of demonetisation. That means they are confused. There was no planning."
New Delhi, Nov 21 : An unrelenting opposition vociferously attacked the government over the demonetisation move in Parliament on Monday, leading to repeated adjournments in both houses and hitting the scheduled business of the day.

Both the Houses also paid condolences to the people who died in Sunday's horrific train accident near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The opposition, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), resorted to provocative sloganeering, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "chor" (thief) in both the Houses, resulting in repeated adjournments.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice in the pre-noon session and then finally for the day at 2 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha saw four adjournments in the pre-noon session as the opposition members, including the Congress and CPI-M, demanded obituary reference for the several people who have died in bank queues in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, and also demanded the presence of Prime Minister Modi in the House.

In the Lok Sabha, the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill were introduced.

When the House met in the morning, Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Sudip Bandopadhyay urged the Speaker to allow an adjournment motion for discussion on the demonetisation move, announced by the government on November 8 -- but she did not allow it.

The TMC and Congress members then rushed towards the Speaker's podium and began shouting slogans against the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar requested the agitated members to allow the House to run, but they did not relent.

Kumar said the government is ready for debate on any issue, including the "inconveniences" caused to the people due to the recent demonetisation move.

"Let there be a debate. We in the government are ready to reply to all your queries," Kumar told the slogan-shouting members.

As the Question Hour was going on, Opposition members shouted slogans like "Gali Gali me shor hai, Modi sarkar chor hai" (people are saying the Modi government is corrupt).

In the Rajya Sabha, the government accused the opposition of running away from discussion as the opposition MPs demanded obituary reference for people who died in the wake of demonetisation.

"We are with the government in paying condolences to the victims of the tragic train accident. But the 70 people who have died since demonetisation are also our countrymen," Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, supporting CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury's and BSP leader Mayawati's demand for obituary reference for them.

"Around 70 people have died, including 11 bank employees...First this House should pay condolences to the dead (before discussion on demonetisation)," Yechury said.

Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the opposition of deliberately stalling the House.

Later, as the House met for the fourth time at 12.30 p.m, the opposition members again created ruckus. To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Nazqvi said the opposition was creating an impression that it was in favour of black money.

"The mood and atmosphere in the country is against black money and in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (over demonetisation) and the revolution he has brought against black money. Why are you (opposition) trying to scuttle that revolution?" Naqvi said.

"Why don't you hold discussion over it," he said amidst the pandemonium.

As the House met again at 2.00 pm, the opposition objected to MoS Railway Rajen Gohain making a statement over Sunday's train accident.

"This House is not being given due importance. He (Gohain) is not a Cabinet minister. The (Railway) Minister is not busy," Congress leader Anand Sharma said, adding that Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu should have come to the House to make the statement.

"Our demand is that the Prime Minister should come before this House," Sharma said.

"Gali gali me shor hai, Narendra Modi chor hai (It is a public outcry, Narendra Modi is a thief)," the opposition members shouted as they gathered near the Chairman's podium.

The Rajya Sabha was later adjourned for the day at 3 p.m. soon after it met after the fifth adjournment.
Beijing, Nov 21 : India and China on Monday discussed the vexed border issue as Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh met top officials of the Chinese Army including the PLA commander.

Gen Singh, who is on a four-day China visit, will go to the eastern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army and other establishments of the world's largest military power.

Gen Singh and PLA commander Li Zuocheng discussed a "wide range of issues of mutual interest", said an official of the Indian embassy here.

They agreed to further expand defence exchanges between the two armies, said the official.

Gen Singh also met the Vice Chairman of all-powerful Central Military Commission, General Xu Qiliang.

Both the officials "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful".

Gen Singh invited both Li and Xu to visit India. Both accepted the invite and Li said he hoped to visit India soon.

Gen Singh will also go to Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations and interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the eastern theatre command.

The eastern theatre command is one of the five zones of PLA.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Leaders at the Global Citizen Festival India, held in Mumbai on Saturday, have made announcements and commitments towards ending extreme poverty in India and helping people in many other ways, with a collective value of $5.93 billion or Rs 40,500 crore, Global Citizens said in a statement.

It said the 25 commitments and announcements from policymakers are set to affect more than 50 crore people.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made commitments to the value of Rs 17,142 crore to build homes, provide special nutrition programmes and build toilets, set to affect 194 lakh people in Maharashtra, the statement said.

The Central Government has committed to 300,000 villages, 200 districts and six states and two Union Territories being Open Defecation Free by November 19, 2017, affecting the lives of 120 million people.

The International Finance Corporation has committed $2 billion towards banking on women and promoting women entrepreneurship by end 2019, including a $100 million investment in India.

HP has committed to $3.6 million to provide 48 mobile classrooms, which will help 15 million people in rural areas of India get access to quality education and technology over six years.

Ratan Tata has committed to an Rs 300 crore investment from Tata Trusts over the next two years for water and sanitation programmes.

The Toilet Board Coalition has committed to help 130 million people gain improved access to sanitation and hygiene by 2020 with an investment of $15 million.

Hindustan Unilever has committed to reaching one in seven Indians by 2020 with initiatives to improve water, sanitation and hygiene.

The Telangana government has committed to invest Rs 9,000 crore in Mission Bhageerath, which will affect the lives of 9.6 million people, while IDFC Bank has committed to provide 200,000 micro finance loans for water and sanitation, worth Rs200 crore, to reach 450,000 people by the end of 2019, the statement said.

On Saturday November 19, the Global Citizen Festival India was held for the first time at the MMRDA Grounds, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai. World and business leaders, non-profit organizations, socially conscious artists, and thousands of Global Citizens united to kick-start India's progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Global Citizen Festival India is a celebration of what India is already doing, but it is also a powerful force to mobilize Indian youth and facilitate mass behavioral change as well as a call to action for our leaders to do more to achieve sustainable and more inclusive growth, it said.

In just two months since the launch of the Global Citizen India movement, more than 5 lakh young Global Citizens in India took more than 20 lakh actions calling on political, faith and business leaders, along with celebrities, to be more accountable in their efforts to improve education, gender equality and water, sanitation and hygiene in India.

Global Citizens will continue to campaign to make sure that leaders deliver on these promises.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand and George Cardona, Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania, USA, were on Monday presented with the World Sanskrit Award by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) here.

Instituting of an annual 'World Sanskrit Award' was announced by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her inaugural address in the 16th World Sanskrit Conference in Bangkok in June 2015.

On the occasion, Vice President M. Hamid Ansari said that "the case for studying Sanskrit makes itself, and there is no need at all to invoke higher spiritual incentives" in order to justify this.

He congratulated Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who received the award for 2015, and Prof. George Cardona, an American linguist and Indologist who received the award for 2016, for being the first recipients of ICCR's World Sanskrit Awards. Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar among other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

"Her Highness is an eminent scholar of Sanskrit and Pali, is keenly interested in epigraphy and has been a patron of Sanskrit studies in Thailand and propagation of Sanskrit. Prof. George Cardona, Professor Emeritus of linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania has singularly been responsible for making the University of Pennsylvania a centre of Sanskrit learning in North America," he said.

He further said that Thai and other Southeast Asian languages have strong roots in Sanskrit, which reflects their remote past relationship with Sanskrit. In Europe and in the United States also there has been a long and valuable tradition of scholarship in Sanskrit, he added.

The awards were presented to honour eminent Sanskrit scholars and recognise their outstanding contribution to the study, teaching or research in Sanskrit language and literature.

Addressing the gathering, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said, "It is gracious of Government of India to grant me the first World Sanskrit Award. I feel both humbled and honoured by this gesture. What I have done to promote Sanskrit is just a drop in the vast ocean of what other scholars have done in this field."

Princess Sirindhorn described Sanskrit as "the eternal legacy to mankind" and said that it is through Sanskrit that "Indian values and ethos" have been embeded in Thai culture.

She has been awarded with several Honorary Doctorates and awards, including Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature (Sanskrit) from the University of Delhi in 1987; Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development Award from the Government of India in 2004; and Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1991.

George Cardona also expressed his gratitude on receiving the award. "I am honoured to receive this award and very happy to see Sanskrit being celebrated in this manner. My debt to India is enormous", he said.

Prof. Cardona was earlier awarded President of India's Certificate of Honour in Sanskrit in the year 2012.

The Jury comprised of eminent Sanskrit scholars under the Chairmanship of Professor Lokesh Chandra, President ICCR. Nominations for the award are sought from Indian Missions/Posts abroad as well as from the Jury members.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday conveyed his grief and sadness at the "high toll of human lives" in the Kanpur train tragedy.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families of the tragedy, and

wish for rapid recovery of the injured," Abe said, according to a statement from the Japanese embassy here.

"I am sure that the people of India will get over this tragedy under your strong leadership, and Japan is ready to extend any assistance you may require in this

difficult time," he said.

At least 146 people died when the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan station, about 60 km from Kanpur city, on Sunday.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said her first conversation with her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi was in French.

"I met Indira Gandhi in 1965. She started conversing with me in French in our first conversation," the Congress President said in an interview with India Today in Allahabad.

She said she was terribly nervous while meeting Indira Gandhi -- the only female Prime Minister of India till date -- as she was from a completely different culture and background.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : A 28-year-old man, who works as a driver, was held while carrying Rs 49.96 lakh in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes in a car in Delhi, police said on Monday.

The driver, who was identified as Dinesh and a resident of Jhajjar in Haryana, was held at Tikri border in north-west Delhi.

He told the police that he was transporting the cash on the instruction of a Pitampura-based property dealer.

"Dinesh during interrogation told the Police that he was carrying the cash on the instruction of Anuj Gupta," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vijay Kumar said.

Gupta is a resident of Pitampura and deals in finance and property in Delhi, Kumar added.

"We have informed the income tax officials who are investigating the matter," the DCP added.
Kolkata, Nov 22 : An organisation of investors and sufferers in the multi-crore rupee Saradha chit fund scam took out a rally, led by state CPI-M and Congress heavyweights, on Monday against state government's inactivity on the issue.

Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretariat member Sujan Chakraborty and Leader of Opposition in the assembly Abdul Mannan of the Congress were in the vanguard of the rally organised by the Chit Fund Sufferers Unity Forum (CFSUF) from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Avenue in central Kolkata. Many depositors and agents duped by the chit funds were part of the rally.

The rallyists later submitted a deputation to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

"We have waited for six months after the formation of the new government but no action has been taken. The poor victims of the ponzi scheme are in tears while the state ministers and leaders of the ruling party are busy to hide hoards of black money," said Left Front legislature party leader Chakraborty.

"Some leaders are roaming around in Delhi and Kolkata. They don't care about the common man's struggle," Chakraborty said, alluding to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent visit to Delhi.

Chakraborty also warned people not to get involved in money laundering saying it might turn out to be another form of scam post demonitisation.

"Black money holders are targeting the poor people with Jan Dhan Yojona accounts to deposit large sum of money. The people should realise that they would not be considered below poverty level with that amount in their account and would loose out on the subsidy," he said.

Later, Chief Minister Banerjee - who has emerged as one of the staunchest critics of the Narendra Modi led central goverment's recent demonetisaiton initiative - accused the CPI-M of helping out the BJP by organising the protest.

"If somebody wants to side by the BJP one can do it. Many chit funds operated during the Left Front rule. Has any CPI-M leader been arrested? Don't confude these two issues (demonetisation and chit fund scam)," she said.

The multi-billion rupee Saradha ponzi scam came to light in 2013 when the Saradha group's companies downed shutters without repaying lakhs of investors, who had parked their hard earned money in thegroup's companies, lured by the promise of astronomically high returns.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the case, arrested and quizzed a number of ministers, leaders and parliament members belonging to the ruling Trinamool for their alleged involvement in the scandal.
Korea's free trade agreement with Chile, the country's first, will be tuned up 12 years after it went into effect in 2004.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Sunday said negotiations are officially under way "as there have been consistent requests for improvements because the FTA didnt properly reflect the latest global practices, including services, countries of origin, and investment."

Since the FTA went into effect, trade volume between the two countries grew about four times from US$1.58 billion in 2003 to $6.15 billion last year. Korea's investment in the South American country increased more than five times over the period.

Seoul hopes that Chile will lift trade restrictions on Korean refrigerators and washing machines, which were excluded from tariff concessions. Chile in turn wants to export more farm produce to Korea.

"We'll try to minimize possible damage to our farming households," the ministry spokesman said.


Riyadh, Nov 22 : Saudi police arrested an Indian immigrant who allegedly disrespected Islams holy Kaaba site on Facebook, covering it with an image of Buddha, a local report said Monday.

"The region's investigative department were able to capture and arrest a suspect, in his forties and who works in agriculture, who insulted our holy site," said a Riyadh police spokesman cited by the Al-Arabiya TV network.

"He superimposed a picture of the Buddha on the Kaaba and posted on social media," Al-Arabiya quoted the spokesman as adding.

Police were able to identify and arrest the unnamed Indian at a farm in Al Majmaah city in the province of Riyadh, he said.

The Kaaba, an ancient monument at the centre of the Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, is Islam's most sacred place.
New Delhi, Nov 22 : The Supreme Court on Monday said that lawmakers in Uttar Pradesh assembly would only recommend the work of a developmental nature in their constituencies under the Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme but its execution would be by a body of the state government.

"The role of the elected representatives would be to recommend the work of a developmental nature in their constituencies within the budget allotted under the Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme," said the bench of Chief Justice T.S.Thakur, Justice D.Y.Chandrachud and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar in their judgment.

Holding that Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme was not offending constitutional provisions, Justice Chandrachud, pronouncing the judgment, said: "The feasibility of the work, estimate of funds, selection of the implementing agency and supervision of work must be independently determined by a nominated authority or body of the state government".

The court said this while disposing a petition by NGO Lok Prahari seeking to put an end to the misuse of funds under the Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme by some lawmakers in Uttar Pradesh.

It was alleged that lawmakers were spending funds under the Scheme for helping institutions promoted by their kith and kin or acquaintances and not for general good of the public.

Directing the implementation of the recommended work by an independent agency, the court said that "panchayati raj institutions in rural areas and municipal bodies in urban areas may be considered as preferred implementing agencies ... and that "sufficient safeguards should be provided to ensure against conflicts of interest such as the allocation of funds to institutions controlled by an elected representative or a member of his or her family".

It further said that the safeguards should also include "financial transparency, such as proper supervision of work, monitoring quality and timely completion besides procedures to ensure proper audit and utilisation of funds".
New Delhi, Nov 22 : In a major push for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Skill India' mission, skill development experts from across India and Europe joined hands on Monday to find ways in which Europe can contribute in providing skill training to Indian youth entering the job market every year.

Keen about the opportunities that India presents, these major skill development institutions and training companies discussed potential areas of collaboration and challenges facing them at the two-day India International Skill Development Summit and Exhibition which kicked off here on Monday.

Count Christopher de Breza, Chairman of Europe India Foundation for Excellence (EIFE), said that some key sectors have been identified for collaboration combining both very basic and very advanced industries and sectors of economy, all of which are focus areas of India.

The sectors include manufacturing, food processing, infrastructure development, urbanisation (smart cities for example), transportation, hospitality, healthcare etc.

"In all of these sectors, we have identified the partners in the European Union who can contribute to the entire value chain and we have brought them to New Delhi, face to face with their Indian counterparts who are looking for help in exactly these areas," de Breza said.

He added that the intention of the summit is to build a platform where various stakeholders in the world of skill development from the European Union and India can come together to identify potential areas of collaboration and then immediately get to working together.

Uttar Pradesh Vocational Education and Skill Development Mission Minister Abhishek Mishra said that UP started its skill development mission two years before Modi came to power and had received many awards as being one of the best-run skill development missions in the country.

"Community college model of the US is something UP government had been trying to bring here as it paves the path for youth to acquire technical skills to climb hierarchical and social ladder," he said.

Odisha Law and Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo focused on the need of skill development in rural areas.

"We need to create skills which can be used by people in their villages so they don't need to run to the cities," he said.

European countries including France and Germany which have over 80 per cent skilled workforce also participated in the event.

"India and Germany are deepening their collaboration in the area of skill development. German technical assistance will be used to encourage industry-institute partnerships between Indian and German organisations," said Wolfgang Hildebrand-Peters, Head Trainer of Germany's GSI-SLV, one of the leading welding specialists in the world.

Chetan Rajdev from Germany's Rexforth Bosch Group called for partnership between Indian industry and Indian Universities to bridge the gap between the two.

Organised in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the summit is a brainchild of the EIFE, a Belgium-based foundation which has adopted Skill India as its own mission.

NSDC CEO Manish Kumar said that a big problem to bring in investments in skill sector is that one doesn't see the return very visibly as one may see while constructing a road.
New Delhi, Nov 22 : An Open Day for school students was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday to give them exposure to the research being conducted at the varsity and to encourage them towards different career options available in humanities and sciences there.

A total of 800 students from several schools in Delhi-NCR attended the day and visited 16 pavilions and schools at the University during it.

Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar, in his address to the students, emphasised that one of the responsibilities of JNU as a public institution is to inspire the young minds to building their career and also be connected to the larger social realities, said a statement issued by the varsity.

"Children were enthralled with the wide range of exhibits, ranging from a live demonstration of an insect-eating plant from northeast India, to understanding how to convert vibrations to energy, measure air pollution and learn new languages, " it said.

A film on JNU was shown to the students, followed by three parallel sessions on Mind Mapping and basic introduction to Indian sign languages.

Besides that, an animation film on Panchantantra and a documentary from School of Languages were also shown to the students, who were later taken to different stalls and school buildings.

Chief guest, V. Ramagopal Rao, Director of IIT-Delhi also addressed the students and emphasised on the need to be inquisitive and to raise question than provide answers.
Lagos, Nov 22 : Nigeria on Monday released a banner containing photographs and names of 55 Boko Haram wanted for various attacks and terror activities in the northeast where the military currently prosecute war against the insurgents.

Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, who disclosed this while releasing the banner at a brief event, urged the public to facilitate in tracking them down, Xinhua news agency reported.

"With this launching of additional list of wanted terrorists, it is hoped that the public will collaborate to identify the wanted Boko Haram wherever they are," he said.

The defense chief urged Boko Haram who wish to surrender their arms and embrace peace to do so in time so as to benefit from the military Operation Save Corridors programme for repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
Damascus, Nov 22 : At least 10 civilians were killed on Monday by a US-led airstrike on the country's northern province of al-Raqqah, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS) group.

The airstrike targeted a cotton mill in the village of Salhiyeh in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah, killing three workers and a displaced family of six as well as another person from the village, Xinhua cited state news agency SANA as saying.

Children were among those killed, SANA said, noting that the killing is another massacre by the US-led anti-terror coalition.

SANA said huge property losses were caused by the airstrike.

Last month, SANA said the US coalition carried out two "massacres" in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo, killing tens of people.

In July, the coalition airstrikes on the countryside of Aleppo killed 165 civilians and wounded tens of others.

The US coalition has been striking the IS positions in al-Raqqah, the main bastion of the group, and other IS-held areas in Aleppo since late 2014.
Mosul, Nov 22 : Iraqi security forces on Monday recaptured six villages in southeast and north of the city of Mosul, while special forces continued heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) terrorists to clear the districts freed earlier from the terrorists in the eastern part of the city, a security source said.

The army's 9th armoured Division continued their advance toward Mosul and managed to free the three villages of al-Salamiyah, al-Hmeirah and Twajnah al-Jadida, which are located some 20km southeast of Mosul, after sporadic clashes with IS terrorists, Xinhua quoted a statement from the Joint Operations Command (JOC) as saying.

In north of Mosul, the army's 16th Division and allied Sunni paramilitary units freed the villages of al-Abbasiyah, Ortta-Kharab and al-Salam after heavy clashes, bringing the troops closer to the northern edge of Mosul, the JOC statement said.

The security forces have been fighting to push deeper into the eastern side of the city, locally known as left bank of the Tigris River, but met resistance of the militants, who are fighting in small groups who frequently infiltrated behind the advanced CTS forces using tunnels or sneaking through dozens of houses and buildings.

The troops and explosive experts also defuse dozens of booby-traps planted earlier by the terrorists in the freed districts.

After more than a month of military operations against IS terrorists inside Mosul, almost 65,000 civilians have fled their homes and the number went up every day, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on October 17 announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city.
In a long-awaited decision on Friday, the government declined a request by Google to use official Korean map data for its Maps app. A government committee had been reviewing the matter for five months.

National Geographic Information Institute chief Choe Byong-nam said the maps would identify secret installations that are usually left off maps for public use.

"Google's request for mapping data carries the risk of worsening the security threat from North Korea," Choe said. He added the government offered to provide mapping data by blurring out satellite images of classified sites, but the U.S. tech giant refused.

The decision was expected in August, but the government delayed the announcement by two more months to hold further negotiations with Google.

Choe said Seoul's decision placed top priority on national security but the government could consider further talks with Google.

"Security problems change over time," he said. "We can't say for sure that we would reject further requests by Google or other global business for mapping data."

Google was unhappy with the decision. "We're disappointed," Google spokesman Taj Meadows said in a statement. "We've always taken security concerns very seriously and will continue to provide useful map services in compliance with Korea's current map data export regulation."


These extraordinary philanthropic gifts reflect an unwavering belief in the mission and work of this organization and the desire to share it with more community members," said Mark Naud, executive director of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center.

During a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new, world-class community waterfront campus and sailing education center, the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (CSC), a nonprofit with a mission to provide community access to Lake Champlain, today announced two anchor gifts, each for $1 million, in their $5.75 million Love Your Lake Capital Campaign. The gifts, one from the Pomerleau Family Foundation, and the second from family and friends in honor of Raymond P. Sullivan, will help to support the construction of The Pomerleau Community Waterfront Campus and Raymond P. Sullivan Sailing Education Center.

"These extraordinary philanthropic gifts reflect an unwavering belief in the mission and work of this organization and the desire to share it with more community members," said Mark Naud, executive director of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. These investments usher in a new era on Burlingtons waterfront and with additional support from other community leaders and donors, the organization has raised over $5 million toward our capital campaign. With less than one million left to raise, we welcome and encourage community members who value education, recreation and public access to Lake Champlain to give to the Love Your Lake campaign.

The donor support to date and the ground breaking today, which have been achieved through a partnership between private philanthropy and the City of Burlington, represent the first major investments in public access to Lake Champlain in the past 20 years. In 2014, as part of the City of Burlingtons Waterfront Access North Project to redevelop the area adjacent to the Sailing Center, city residents voted in favor of TIF funded infrastructure improvements, totaling $500,000 of project costs, to develop a new world-class waterfront campus and facility.

As my 100th birthday approaches, Im looking ahead to the next century for all Vermonters. Lake Champlain is an inspiring part of our life. With this $1 million gift, the Pomerleau Family Foundation aims to ensure, for the next century, that all Vermonters will enjoy this lake we love, said Antonio Pomerleau, a Vermont real estate developer and philanthropic angel.

The Sullivan family can not think of a better way to honor the life and legacy of our dad. Ray knew first hand the power that water and sailing could have on one's life. It certainly had a profound impact on his. The naming of the Sailing Education Center is made possible by dear friends of his who found it a fitting tribute to man who was so very loved, stated Ashley Sullivan.

Since 1994, the CSC has utilized sailing and human-powered watercrafts to break down the economic and physical barriers of access to Lake Champlain for all Vermonters and visitors alike. For 22 last years, the CSC has operated out of limited facilities, including a public works garage on the lakeshore, expanding programs each year to continually meet the needs of the community. In 2016, the organization served over 6,200 individuals and collaborated with 71 community partners to provide educational lake-based experiences.

Today marks another important milestone in the rebirth of Burlingtons northern waterfront, said Mayor Miro Weinberger. The Community Sailing Center has helped so many children and adults deepen their appreciation and enjoyment of Lake Champlain over the last 20 years, despite serious space constraints and limitations. I am excited to see the Sailing Center grow into its new home and open the Lake to many more Vermonters in the years ahead. The City is proud to have been a partner in this effort. Congratulations to everyone who has made this exciting day possible.

The new community waterfront campus contains a 22,180-square-foot sailing education center that includes: year-round classroom space, new boats and docks, restroom facilities, indoor storage, locker rooms, offices, and maintenance facilities, while ensuring public access, education, and recreation on Lake Champlain for years to come. Construction will begin immediately and the project is expected to be complete in 2017.

For more information on the project and the Love Your Lake campaign, or to learn more about the CSC, visit http://www.communitysailingcenter.org or http://www.loveyourlakevt.org.

# # #

About Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center: A community-based non-profit organization, Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center encourages and celebrates the responsible use and long-term stewardship of Lake Champlain by providing the community with educational and recreational access to Lake Champlain. The Community Sailing Center (CSC) is a vital community resource on the Burlington Waterfront that serves over 6,000 people each year through award winning programs, which use human powered watercraft as a medium to instill a sense of ownership in one of Vermonts most important natural resources. A cornerstone of the Burlington community for over 20 years, the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center inspires lake stewardship, provides universal access to the lake and is helping preserve the beauty of Lake Champlain for future generations. To learn more about the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, please visit: http://www.CommunitySailingCenter.org.
Demonstrated achievement or dedication to objectives consistent with the mission and purpose of UMBA.

For the year 2016, JLJ Law Group, PLLC, a minority-women-owned law firm located in downtown Salt Lake City, is the recipient of this prestigious award.

JLJ Law Group, PLLC, is a minority-women-owned law firm with a practice area that includes: immigration, bankruptcy, family law, tax planning and estate planning. Co-founders Linh Tran-Layton and Jennifer Ha, both of whom are not only the first members in their families to graduate from college; each immigrated to the U.S. when they were only one-year old. The attorneys at JLJ Law Group strive to provide the best possible service to a uniquely diverse clientele by being able to speak to clients in Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese, and English, which allows them to provide a legal voice for many of Utahs under-represented communities. The combination of their expertise and skills reflects UMBAs mission: promoting diversity and addressing issues that impact racial and ethnic minorities, especially within the legal community.

Of winning the UMBA Law Firm of the Year Award, Ms. Tran-Layton states, We are extremely honored to receive this award, and its a proud moment in my career. It solidifies our belief that hard work, doing good work for our clients, and treating all people with kindness and respect goes a long way. Weve been able to be the voice for people whom may not have otherwise had one in our legal system. Also, as mothers, we are living proof that women can be dedicated to both family and career.

Ms. Ha states, "When I went to law school, I always knew that I wanted to create a space where

under-represented people would be given a voice. As a child of an immigrant family, I witnessed first-hand, the inequalities and injustices that occur when cultural and language barriers are present in our justice system. Today, I am proud to be able to assist in improving this situation and am grateful to be a part of the UMBA initiative for equality in our justice system."

The UMBA Law Firm of the Year Award will be presented to JLJ Law Group on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at the UMBAs annual Scholarship and Awards Gala, which will be held at the Little America Hotel starting at 7:00 p.m. At this event, UMBA recognizes law firms, attorneys, and judges who promote diversity and demonstrate commitment to underserved populations, especially within the legal community.

About JLJ Law Group, PLLC: At JLJ Law Group, our attorneys will devote the time necessary to truly understand your unique situation and work hard to make a difference for you. Our most important product is changing peoples lives.

Contact:

Amanda Livnat

JLJ Law Group, PLLC

801.883.8204

http://www.jljlawgroup.com
Im looking forward to working with the iRis team, customers and owner member companies to help grow the business,

iRis Networks is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Redys as Chief Technology Officer, effective November 29. Redys addition to the team is timely, as he will help lead network growth and expansion efforts in the coming months  with planning already underway  as iRis Networks continues to deploy fiber and broadband infrastructure across Tennessee and the surrounding region.

Daves experience in leading network engineering and technology teams at both carriers and enterprise organizations will be an exciting and key addition to our team, said Terry Metze, President of iRis Networks. Because he is a solution-driven expert, we see Dave as another sign of our commitment to lead Tennessee in service as we continue to expand our network.

Redys comes to iRis with 25+ years of experience in product development, network engineering and operations. He most recently was the chief technology officer at TruVista Communications, based in Chester, SC, where, in addition to operational and engineering efforts, Redys also led several functional teams in market integration as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Weve got some great new fiber routes and product launches were going to complete next year, but there is a lot of work to do still. Im looking forward to working with the iRis team, customers and owner member companies to help grow the business, said Redys.

iRis announced earlier this year the expansion of new fiber routes across Tennessee. Along those routes, iRis will offer its full suite of services to include Carrier Ethernet, Dark Fiber and Internet Access to businesses and communication service providers. While weve historically served carriers and wholesale communication providers, our network is built to support enterprise-level customers as well. In fact, healthcare, education and finance groups are already benefitting from our robust connectivity, said Metze.

Dave and his family are relocating to Nashville, home of iRis Networks headquarters and the central hub of the fiber-based network and infrastructure expansion.

About iRis Networks:

iRis Networks delivers state-of-the-art, fiber-based transport for voice, data and Internet in and around Tennessee. Operating over 5,000 route-miles of fiber, iRis is uniquely positioned because it provides a gateway of broadband transport to over 250 rural communities in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. iRis also provides fully redundant, high-capacity transport between the larger regional markets of Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis and Atlanta.

To learn more, give us a call at 615-423-2300 or visit http://www.iristransport.com and connect with us on Twitter

For iRis Networks media inquiries, please contact:

Ronin Technology Advisors

Steve Smith

steve(at)roninpbr(dot)com

303-678-1844 x106
Au Bon Pain thanks its employees and patrons for rallying around No Kid Hungry this fall, raising $50,000 or 500,000 meals to help connect children in America to the nutritious food they need, every day. From September 27 through October 27, the restaurant offered guests who donated $1 to the No Kid Hungry campaign a coupon for one free pastry to be used during their next visit, joining thousands of restaurants nationwide in the No Kid Hungry campaign this season.

One in five children in America struggles with hunger, said Ray Blanchette, CEO of Au Bon Pain. Thats a number we find completely unacceptable. Our promotion is just one way we can support No Kid Hungry, with the enthusiasm of our employees and generosity of our customers, to help make sure that every child in America gets the food they need to learn and thrive. We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and were proud to partner with Share Our Strength to do that in such a meaningful, tangible way.

No Kid Hungry connects vulnerable children to effective nutrition programs like School Breakfast and Summer Meals, creating public-private partnerships that work together to identify and break down barriers to giving children access to meals, and teaching low-income families how to stretch their food budgets and cook healthy, affordable meals. Learn more and make a donation at http://www.NoKidHungry.org.

# # #

About Au Bon Pain

Founded in 1978, Au Bon Pain (the place of good bread) has grown into an internationally recognized leader in the fast-casual restaurant category. The chains signature itemssandwiches, breads, pastries, salads, soups and coffeeare served in welcoming cafe environments emphasizing quick service and hospitality. Au Bon Pain offers consumers a wide array of delicious, nutritional foods that include low-sodium, low-fat, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Calorie counts are clearly posted on menus and full nutritional information is provided in each cafe which has helped the brand earn Health magazines designation as one of Americas Top 5 Healthiest Restaurant Chains over the past three years and one of Americas Healthiest Restaurant Chains by Grellin.

Au Bon Pain operates in six key trade channels including urban office buildings, hospitals, universities, transportation centers, malls and museums. Au Bon Pain currently operates in more than 300 locations in the U.S. and internationally. Additional information about Au Bon Pain, which is headquartered in Boston, may be found at http://www.aubonpain.com.

About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 5 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
According to Forbes, only 10% of applications are accepted into this community. Kelly Samuel was invited and accepted on November 10th, joining the ranks of other media directors, CEOs and executives.

Hand-picked members like Kelly Samuel contribute original business articles and tips to nearly 38 million monthly readers through the Forbes Agency Council. Submitted articles and content will be edited by the Forbes editorial team and posted on Forbes.com.

Qode Social is a division of parent company Qode Media- a top SEO company in Toronto. Since Qode Socials launch in January 2016, it has quickly become a top social media marketing company in Toronto. Kelly Samuels innovative approach to social media and technology has introduced new strategies to completely reinvent marketing strategies for business. Kelly Samuel was also recently interviewed on Global News Television on November 9th as their social media correspondent. She discussed how users incorrectly view social media platforms as objective, and how platforms such as YouTube are not held responsible the same way governing bodies are.

Qode Social has seen rapid expansion since Kelly founded the division in January, working with clients from a variety of national and international companies. The Qode Social team is expanding to meet the growing demand of the new burgeoning age of social media.

Social media is an ever-changing industry, with new updates rolling out for each platform every week. With the expertise of the team of social media managers, Qode Social forecasts how each new update will impact social media for business, and how Qode Socials clients can benefit.

ABOUT QODE MEDIA

About Qode Media Inc.

Qode Media, is a SEO Toronto Company and an accredited Google Partner. The company offers a full range of inbound marketing automation, Adwords & Bing Ads per-per-click management, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, web design, e-commerce, iOS and Android application development to clients in Canada, USA, Africa and Europe. Moreover, Qode Media is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and a member of the Internet Marketing Foundation.

For more information please contact:

Media Contact:

Company Name: Qode Social

Phone: 416-208-0157

Website: http://www.qodesocial.com
Her approval rating in her traditional support base of Daegu and North Gyeongsang has dropped four percentage points since last week. But the poll has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percent because Gallup only asked 1,007 adults.

Park's support is highest in Daejeon, Sejong City and the Chungcheong provinces at 11 percent, followed by seven percent in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province, five percent in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, four percent in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, and zero in Gwangju and Jeolla provinces.

President Park Geun-hye's approval rating languishes at a rock bottom five percent for the third straight week. A record 90 percent in a Gallup Korea poll out last Friday disapproved of her performance for a second week.

There may also be what U.S. pundits have started to call "shy" support after the shock victory of president-elect Donald Trump, a choice many were embarrassed to admit to.

Cheong Wa Dae and the pro-Park faction in the Saenuri Party seem to believe that the president still has significant "shy" support that would allow her to limp on in office and even grow as over time.

But Jang Deok-hyun of Gallup Korea said shy support amounts to at most 10 percent since the official approval ratings of Park and her party are five and 15 percent.

"Park can't hope for a significant enough approval rating to regain momentum even if shy supporters show up," Jang added.

Shy Trump supporters also seem to have existed only in single digits. Bae Jong-chan of Research & Research said, "Shy voters normally show up in elections, but Park's is a different story because her approval ratings plummeted as a direct result of the scandal."

Prof. Park Won-ho of Seoul National University said the whole concept may be inapplicable. "I don't think you can apply the concept of "shy" Trump supporters, which hasn't even been properly validated in the U.S., to Korea," he said.
ubcf.org | 877.822.4287 Women may face psychological stress for remaining vigilant in their appearance after losing either their breasts or hair. The #FlauntYourFight campaign gives a voice to many clients served at UBCF and far beyond.

The United Breast Cancer Foundation (UBCF) follows their recent PSA campaign on the importance of early breast cancer detection with the empowering PSA, #FlauntYourFight airing in New York Citys Times Square. The PSA is a call to action for all breast cancer patients and survivors to be proud of their bodies, their struggles, and their journeys in the fight against the disease. The provocative imagery of women dressed as warriors is airing on a full HD billboard located prominently at 1500 Broadway now through January 5, 2017. The 10 second ad that runs 3 times an hour, 20 hours a day, relays a visual message of UBCFs goal to relieve the stresses of all those who are affected by breast cancer. Neutron Media assisted with creative production.

The images were first seen in a UBCF-sponsored art show, The Faces of Breast Cancer, by French photographer Pascal Latil, in August 2015. Women may face psychological stress for remaining vigilant in their appearance after losing either their breasts or hair. The #FlauntYourFight campaign gives a voice to many clients served at UBCF and far beyond. Stephanie Mastroianni, UBCF President and Executive Director, says, Our hope is to continue to debunk the stereotype of beauty and what defines a woman and her femininity. Mastroianni continued, This is milestone for UBCF; [continuing] a branding opportunity in Times Square, which is truly the center of the world. Over 26 million people visit Times Square every year  thats nearly 50,000 per day seeing UBCF's #FlauntYourFight PSA.

Maintaining a normal lifestyle can be the most comforting service provided by UBCF programs. This new messaging is intended to empower breast cancer patients and survivors to be proactive about treatment and aftercare. UBCFs seven programs offer financial and emotional support, as well as a comprehensive approach to managing many aspects of living with cancer.

About Neutron Media

Neutron Media, Inc. has thrived for fourteen years by providing outstanding customer service and introducing business and non-profit organizations to the exciting, far-reaching possibilities of advertising through LED Outdoor Media. Neutron Medias current jewel in the crown is the stunning HD screen at the corner 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street, in the heart of Times Square in New York City. http://www.neutron-media.com

About UBCF

UBCF is committed to offering breast health and wellness services focused on cancer prevention, screening, treatment and over-all wellness. UBCFs mission, to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer, is carried out every day through seven life-supporting patient and family programs available to women, men and families nation-wide. UBCF never denies services to anyone regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, income or medical insurance coverage. If you are in need of breast health services, please visit UBCF at http://www.ubcf.org or call toll-free, 877-822-4287. Tax-deductible contributions may be made towards UBCFs programs. UBCF accepts vehicle and property donations as well. Contributions may be mailed to UBCF, P.O. Box 2421, Huntington, NY 11743, or donate through the Combined Federal Campaign, #77934.
Kent Runyon, Compliance Officer and VP of Community Relations for Novus Medical Detox Center, addresses solutions for shocking overdose death statistics Gun violence remains a high-priority issue in the United States, as it is responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Yet, statistically, Americans are much more likely to be a victim of a drug overdose than a firearm assault.

A recent government report revealed that firearm assaults killed nearly 11,000 U.S. citizens in 2014, while drug-induced causes claimed over 49,700 lives.(1) In addition, gunshots caused more than 81,000 nonfatal injuries that same year, while overdoses and other poisonings were responsible for nearly 1.5 million injuries.(2) Novus Medical Detox Center, a leading Florida-based drug treatment facility, says the statistics illustrate an urgent need for intervention to reduce these kinds of preventable deaths.

In total, firearms caused 33,599 deaths in 2014; among them were 21,334 suicides, 10,945 homicides, 586 unintentional shootings, and 464 deaths due to legal intervention or war.(1) The 49,714 drug-induced mortalities include deaths due to overdoses as well as medical conditions caused by drug use.(1) The majority of those drug-related deaths47,055 of themwere from overdoses, including 18,893 opioid analgesic deaths and 10,574 heroin deaths.(3)

Beyond these death tolls, guns and drugs led to many injuries and hospitalizations. Gunshots caused 81,034 nonfatal injuries in 2014, while poisonings from drugs and other toxic substances caused 1,474,055 injuries.(2) The data doesnt specify what proportion of those poisonings were drug overdoses. However, another report tracked drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2011 and found that nearly 2.5 million ED visits resulted from drug misuse or abuseincluding over 1.4 million visits linked to pharmaceuticals and nearly 1.3 million related to illicit drugs.(4)

Gun violence remains a high-priority issue in the United States, as it is responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Yet, statistically, Americans are much more likely to be a victim of a drug overdose than a firearm assault, noted Kent Runyon, Compliance Officer and Vice President of Community Relations for Novus Medical Detox Center. Those who do not use illicit drugs or misuse pharmaceuticals may downplay that risk; but if children or others pilfer their prescription medications, the consequences can be seriousor even fatal.

For example, a federal study determined that about 97.5 million American use prescription opioid pain relievers.(5) Another recent survey found that over half of patients prescribed opioids have leftover pills, and nearly half of the respondents did not recall receiving information on how to safely store or properly dispose of leftover opioids.(6) The ramifications of this are evidentof the 12.5 million Americans who misused prescription pain relievers within the past year, 53.7% said they obtained them from a friend or family member.(5)

Education is critical in preventing both firearm and drug deaths, asserted Runyon. Though guns and prescription psychotherapeutics remain controversial topics, I think we can all agree that those who use them have a responsibility to safely store these items and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. And just as gun safety classes can help prevent unintended injuries, physicians and pharmacists have a duty to educate patients on the risks and dangers inherent to prescription pharmaceuticals.

Finally, Runyon calls for expanded access to drug treatment programs to help those struggling to overcome addiction and dependency. Addiction is a chronic illness; and as such, it requires evidence-based treatment, he explained. Even those who want to give up drugs often find that the pain of withdrawal keeps them locked in a cycle of dependency. Federal, state and local governments can help address the problem by increasing funding for treatment, while doctors and pharmacists can play a vital role by identifying patients who show signs of a substance use disorder and connecting them to appropriate detox, drug rehab and recovery programs.

Novus offers medically supervised drug detox programs that minimize the pain and discomfort of withdrawal. The Florida drug detox facility provides custom-tailored treatment plans based on proven medical protocols, including 24-hour access to nursing care and withdrawal specialists. Novus is renowned for its expertise in treating high-dose methadone cases, and is proficient in detoxing patients from other high-dose drugs just as safely, comfortably and effectively.

For more information on Novus Medical Detox Center and its drug treatment programs, visit http://www.novusdetox.com.

About Novus Medical Detox Center:

Novus Medical Detox Center has earned The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation as an inpatient medical detox facility. Licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Novus provides safe, effective alcohol and drug treatment programs that are based on proven medical protocols and designed to minimize the discomfort of withdrawal. The facility is located on 3.25 acres in New Port Richey, Florida, in a tranquil, spa-like setting bordering protected conservation land. Intent on proving that detox doesnt have to be painful or degrading, Novus set out to transform the industry by bringing humanity into medical detox with individually customized treatment programs and 24/7 access to nursing care and withdrawal specialists. Today, Novus is renowned as a champion of industry standardization and a staunch advocate of patients fighting to overcome substance use disorders. Frequently recognized for its contributions to the industry and local community, Novus has become a regular source to media publications such as The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and has ranked in the Tampa Bay Business Journals Fast 50, the Florida Business Journals Top 500 and the Inc. 5000 list of Americas fastest-growing companies. For more information on Novus medically supervised detox programs, visit http://novusdetox.com.

1. Kochanek, Kenneth D.; Sherry L. Murphy; et al. Deaths: Final Data for 2014; National Vital Statistics Reports; June 30, 2016; pages 12 and 87. cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/nvsr65_04.pdf

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nonfatal Injury Reports, 2001-2014; reports generated by WISQARS database; accessed November 14, 2016. webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/nfirates2001.html

3. CDC/NCHS. Number and Age-Adjusted Rates of Drug-Poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics and Heroin: United States, 20002014; National Vital Statistics System, Mortality File; December 9, 2015. cdc.gov/nchs/data/health_policy/AADR_drug_poisoning_involving_OA_Heroin_US_2000-2014.pdf

4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The DAWN Report: Highlights of the 2011 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Findings on Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits; February 22, 2013. samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DAWN127/DAWN127/sr127-DAWN-highlights.htm

5. Hughes, Arthur; Matthew R. Williams; et al. Prescription Drug Use and Misuse in the United States; NSDUH Data Review; September 2016. samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm

6. Arlotta, CJ. More Than 50% Of Patients Prescribed Opioids Have Leftover Pills; Forbes; June 13, 2016. forbes.com/sites/cjarlotta/2016/06/13/more-than-50-of-patients-prescribed-opioids-have-leftover-pills/
International award-winning digital marketing agency, AuthX, has changed their name to Authentic and relaunched the brand to better reflect their focus on creating powerful, authentic connections between brands and their customers. The brand relaunch is also motivated by the companys recent acquisition of Create Digital, which expands their capabilities to include digital strategy, creative design, production, social media, and more. The company leadership feels the new name conveys the mantra, always be authentic, and is an idea that the entire agency can embrace as the guiding principle for the brand.

Authentic CEO, David Roe, explains the reasons for the recent acquisition of Create Digital, and his vision going forward: The entire landscape of digital marketing is evolving incredibly fast. Developments in technology are helping to drive that, which was why we initially started AuthX, which stands for authentic experiences, with a focus on custom technology solutions. Over the last few years, there has also been a huge shift in what customers expect from brands. They want a personalized experience and they want a brand to be authentic with them. We already had the personalization technology piece locked in, so the next step was to acquire Create Digital in order to provide that authentic connection through strategy, creative content, and marketing campaigns. Now were able to handle the technology, the personalization, the creative content, and the strategy that ties it all together.

Authentic CSO, Kendall Morris, spoke about the companys new name. This is a great step forward for our agency. The new name Authentic allows room for growth by partnering with clients who embrace the same fundamental beliefs about the importance of creating authentic digital experiences. We want to help brands establish meaningful connections with their customers in new and unexpected ways.

About Authentic

Authentic is a world-class digital agency that is reinventing the way companies leverage digital channels to reach their customers. We know how digital can be used to create a personalized, constantly evolving marketing approach that garners measurable success. This approach means that our clients can be more creative with less risk, and our clients customers can get authentic digital experiences that matter to them. Comprehensive digital marketing services include marketing and user experience strategy, creative ideation and production, technology implementation, and more.

Authentic is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia with offices in New York, New York; Washington, DC; and Lima, Peru.

To learn more, visit beauthentic.digital.
This program is focused on Fire and Fall Prevention, and will provide practical tips for older individuals as well as for their family members and caregivers, all about maintaining a truly safe home environment.

As we get older, most of us would prefer to remain active and independent, staying in our homes rather than moving into assisted living. The problem with this is that there are simply many health and safety concerns that the elderly face, which makes aging-in-place safety a top concern. The Foundation for Senior Care, along with the North Country Fire Protection District, has received a scholarship to attend a national training conference, focused on this very topic. Representatives from The Foundation for Senior Care will attend the National Fire Protection Associations Remembering When seminar, and return to the community with invaluable tips about safely aging in place.

This program is focused on Fire and Fall Prevention, and will provide practical tips for older individuals as well as for their family members and caregivers, all about maintaining a truly safe home environment, said Rachel Mason, Executive Director of the Foundation for Senior Care. We are excited for the opportunity to absorb this critical information and bring it back to the Fallbrook community.

Mason will attend the advanced training along with a member of the local fire department, and says the conference will underscore the key mission of The Foundation for Senior Carethat is, to provide programs that enrich the everyday well-being of area seniors. The conference will detail strategies that seniors can take to live at home for as long as possibleand when it concludes, the attendees will return to Fallbrook to host special seminars and educational events for the local community.

We are excited to provide this important training to help fire departments and local agencies meet their goals related to older adult safety, said Karen Berard-Reed, NFPA Senior Project Manager. Many communities are seeing dramatic increases in the numbers of older adult residents and are strengthening resources to meet the needs stemming from this growth. Reducing risks related to injury and death is key and the Remembering When program is a helpful tool in this endeavor.

We are grateful for the opportunity to receive this advanced and utterly practical training, and look forward to seeing the difference it can make in local families and households, said Mason.

ABOUT:

Foundation for Senior Care is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of seniors and disabled adults in Southern California. Foundation for Senior Care offers Adult Day Care services as well as transportation, senior advocacy and a Computer Learning Center to those located in Northern San Diego County and parts of Southwest Riverside County (Temecula), California. For more information about Foundation for Senior Care, visit http://www.foundationforseniorcare.org.
Peter Kozodoy, CSO GEM Advertising, and Tony Rescigno, President Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce The event is a testament to how forward-thinking our regional chamber is in its support of young people, and I couldnt be more proud to take part in the evenings festivities as an honoree, said Peter Kozodoy, CSO of GEM Advertising.

The award, given by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, commemorates outstanding millennials doing business and working for the good of the community in the Greater New Haven area.

Peter Kozodoy is the Chief Strategy Officer at GEM Advertising, a New Haven-based communications and marketing agency. He has founded 3 companies in marketing, real estate and E-Commerce, all of which he still owns and operates today. As co-owner of GEM Advertising, he has grown the award-winning agency from one flagship in New Haven to 3 additional offices in other cities: Vancouver, British Columbia; Boston, MA; and Chicago, IL.

Peter also writes articles on business, leadership and entrepreneurship that have appeared in Forbes, Inc., The Huffington Post and Octane Magazine  the global publication for the Entrepreneurs Organization. He has spoken for Microsoft, the US Department of Commerce, CEO Clubs of America and other organizations on topics like millennials, global advertising, user experience and more. Peter is also incredibly active in the community, serving on the boards of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, a non-profit that teaches entrepreneurship to kids.

Congratulations to all of my fellow honorees  they are a deserving group of individuals who are driving incredible value in their respective industries. The event is a testament to how forward-thinking our regional chamber is in its support of young people, and I couldnt be more proud to take part in the evenings festivities as an honoree, said Peter Kozodoy, CSO of GEM Advertising.

Millennial Move Makers is the annual closing celebration at the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerces day-long expo, The Big Connect. It was held at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre on November 17, 2016. At the event, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce honored 12 young professionals who go above and beyond in their careers and in the community. The 2-hour celebration was held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., was a way to recognize all the honorees for all the hard work they do. A crowd of over 200 people attended and food, drinks and music were provided.

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About Peter Kozodoy

Peter Kozodoy is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the Partner/Chief Strategy Officer of GEM Advertising, a communications and marketing agency with four offices throughout North America. GEM has served as a strategic growth partner for midsize to enterprise clients in over 30 industries worldwide since its inception in 2008. Peter is a proud member of both the Entrepreneurs Organization and the Young Entrepreneur Council, and currently serves on the boards of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement of Southwest New England. To learn more about Peter Kozodoy, please go to:http://peterkozodoy.com/ or follow him on Twitter at @PeterKozodoy.
Jay Morgan

Miller Diversified has deepened its executive management team with the addition of Jay Morgan who has joined the Company as its Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Morgan has over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate investing and capital markets. As CFO, he will have responsibility for overseeing Miller Diversifieds financial operations, including accounting, financial and tax reporting, treasury, portfolio valuation and analytics, and financial planning. As a key member of the executive team, Mr. Morgan will be instrumental in helping to drive the long-term strategic plan of Miller Diversified.

Jay brings tremendous experience and thoughtful leadership to our executive team, commented Kurt Miller, Miller Diversifieds president and chief executive officer. He not only brings strong, highly relevant business experience and financial acumen to our Company, but he arrives at a time when we are looking to drive growth by expanding into new markets and businesses. We are extremely fortunate that Jay has decided to join our team.

Prior to joining Miller Diversified, Jay was a Senior Vice President at Welltower Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT) owning more than 1,400 properties in major, high-growth markets in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Over the course of a combined 15-year career at Welltower, he worked in a variety of capacities including investments, capital markets/finance and operations. Jay re-joined Welltower as Vice President of Acute Care Investments in 2006, after serving as an investment analyst for the company from 1996 to 2000. Prior to rejoining Welltower, Jay served as an Associate and Vice President in the real estate investment banking group at Lehman Brothers. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School.

About Miller Diversified

Miller Diversified, with its headquarters in Maumee, OH, is an integrated real estate company providing superior commercial, industrial and residential development, construction and brokerage services. For more information regarding Miller Diversified, visit http://www.millerdiversified.com.
With their robust IP67 housing and slim design, these industrial Ethernet based IO-Link masters can be mounted directly on the machine.

Balluffs new 4-port slim design IO-Link masters can connect a multitude of smart devices over IO-Link to build a truly distributed machine mount controls architecture for todays automation.

With their robust IP67 housing, these industrial Ethernet based IO-Link masters can be mounted directly on the machine closer to the sensors and actuatorskeeping short cable runs and adding enhanced diagnostics. EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and EtherCAT version of the masters are available.

These masters are feature-packed and ready for IIoT and Industry 4.0 application realization.



Full service webserver for EtherNet/IP and PROFINET IO-Link masters enable remote diagnostics and configuration of the master as well as attached IO-Link devices.

With SNMP on-board, the IO-Link master and all IO-Link devices are discoverable for network management systems for critical data gathering. This is made possible with the virtual IP address allocation feature of the master device.

Ease of maintenance with parameter server data on the IO-Link master allows storing IO-Link device parameters for each port, so that when devices need to be changed the parameters can be automatically downloaded making smart devices plug-n-play.

The Balluff Type A IO-Link mini-master can host up to 120 configurable discrete I/O when connected to Balluff IO-Link I/O hubs with an expansion port. Balluff offers add-on instructions and function blocks to promote ease of IO-Link into the existing controls architecture.

Learn more about Balluff's full IO-Link and Networking solutions at: http://www.balluff.us/io-link

Download high resolution image on Flickr.

About Balluff Inc.

Balluff Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Balluff GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany, is a leading manufacturer of a wide range of inductive, photoelectric, vision, capacitive and magnetic sensors as well as linear position transducers, RFID systems, and networking products. Balluff products for OEM and factory floor solutions are used to control, regulate, automate, assemble, position, and monitor manufacturing, assembly, and packaging sequences for industries including: metalworking, automotive, plastics, material handling, wood processing, aerospace, alternative energy, medical, electrical, and electronics.
CR January 2017 Issue Because teaching hospitals are teaching our next generation of physicians, we think its critical to monitor them closely. Our review of their performance on controlling central-line infections is very sobering.

In what is considered a victory for patient safety, hospitals across the U.S. have reduced deadly, but highly preventable, central-line bloodstream infections by 50 percent since 2008. In a new investigation of nearly 2,000 hospitals, Consumer Reports looks at the five-year track record of teaching hospitals to see which have successfully reduced these infections, and which have not.

The report, available in the January issue of Consumer Reports and online at CR.org, identifies 31 U.S. teaching hospitals on its lowest-performing zero tolerance list and 32 on its list of top performers. The story and Ratings are free, in addition to an interactive look-up tool showing hospitals in your area and their five-year track record (go to CR.org/central-line-infections for the tool).

Because teaching hospitals are teaching our next generation of physicians, we think its critical to monitor them closely. Our review of their performance on controlling central-line infections is very sobering, says Doris Peter, Ph.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. Central-line infections are highly preventable and there are no excuses for poor performance on this metric. Its unfortunate to see so many well-known hospitals, some who tout their top rankings and awards, sitting on the sidelines of one of the biggest triumphs in patient safety.

Central-line infections derive from the intravenous lines used to supply medication, nutrients, and fluids to patients who need them the most. When not handled properly, central lines can become host to bacteria, pumping germs straight into the bloodstream of the patient. Once there, the bacteria  including deadly strains such as MRSA that arent easily managed with antibiotics  can spread to the heart and other organs.

About 650,000 people develop infections after they are admitted to hospitals each year, and 75,000 patients die, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes hospital acquired infections the eighth leading cause of death, just behind diabetes. Central-line infections account for roughly 5 percent of all hospital infections, but are considered a critical subset because:



They are deadly in up to a quarter of cases.

They cost an average of $46,000 to treat, which is more than any other hospital infection, and the protocol to prevent them is not costly.

They are almost entirely preventable through the implementation of a checklist developed by Peter Pronovost, M.D., who developed a safety checklist similar to one used by pilots prior to takeoff. Developed in 2001, the Pronovost checklist is still considered the gold standard.

While other hospital infections have stayed steady or declined only slightly in recent years, those linked to central lines were cut in half between 2008 and 2014, according to the CDC. Its one of the nations greatest patient safety success stories ever, says Arjun Srinivasan, M.D., associate director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs at the CDC.

Hospitals are moving in the right direction, but progress is slowing and too many hospitals have not adequately addressed the problem over the past five years, says Consumer Reports Peter.

What Can Be Done

Consumer Reports nine-page investigation outlines the Pronovost principles developed 15 years ago to prevent central-line infections. It also includes profiles of two hospitals, Shore Medical Center in New Jersey and Mount Sinai St. Lukes-Roosevelt in New York, that give insight into how they successfully battled this infection, and how they continue to be vigilant and improve. The story also includes 15 steps that consumers can take to stay safe in the hospital (see sidebar).

From a policy standpoint, CR has worked successfully at the state level to get laws passed that require hospitals to publicly report hospital infections for more than a decade. And while President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act included a provision that lowered Medicare payments to hospitals that had too many infections, more can be done at the federal government to give the public more timely and actionable information, says Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumer Reports Safe Patient Project (SafePatientProject.org).

We think there are many requirements that could keep patients safe. For example, the federal government should require hospitals to immediately report infection outbreaks or infection-control breaches to patients, healthcare providers, state and federal agencies, and the public. In essence, were saying that when there is an outbreak, if the hospital knows, then everyone should know, says McGiffert.

Hospital Ratings

Complete hospital lists and Ratings are available in the magazine story and online. The list below reveals the 31 lowest scoring U.S. teaching hospitals at preventing central-line infections in intensive care units from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. Hospitals appear in alphabetical order.

Lowest Scoring Teaching Hospitals

Atlanta Medical Center (Atlanta, GA)

Banner- University Medical Center Tucson (Tucson, AZ)

Brooklyn Hospital Center (Brooklyn, NY)

Community Regional Medical Center (Fresno, CA)

Cooper University Health Care (Camden, NJ)

Dartmouth  Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, NH)

Emory University Hospital Midtown (Atlanta, GA)

Eskenazi Health (Indianapolis, IN)

George Washington University Hospital (Washington, DC)

Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, GA)

Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring, MD)

Howard University Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

Hurley Medical Center (Flint, MI)

Indiana University Health University Hospital (Indianapolis, IN)

Interim LSU Public Hospital (New Orleans, LA)

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (Long Beach, CA)

MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn, IL)

Maine Medical Center (Portland, ME)

Maricopa Integrated Health System (Phoenix, AZ)

Nebraska Medicine - Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE)

Palmetto Health Richland (Columbia, SC)

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, NJ)

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)

SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital (Brooklyn, NY)

Truman Medical Center - Hospital Hill (Kansas City, MO)

Tulane Medical Center (New Orleans, LA)

UC San Diego Health (San Diego, CA)

UF Health Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL)

University Hospital (Newark, NJ)

University Medical Center of El Paso (El Paso, TX)

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City, IA)

About Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is the worlds largest and most trusted nonprofit consumer organization, working to improve the lives of consumers by driving marketplace change. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on food and product safety, financial reform, health reform, and many other issues. The organization has advanced important policies to prohibit predatory lending practices, combat dangerous toxins in food, and cut hospital-acquired infections. Consumer Reports tests and rates thousands of products and services in its 50-plus labs, state-of-the-art auto test center, and consumer research center. It also works to enact pro-consumer laws and regulations in Washington, D.C., in statehouses, and in the marketplace. An independent nonprofit, Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, payment, or other support from the companies that create the products it evaluates.

_______________

JANUARY 2017

 2016 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports is an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports, ConsumerReports.org and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports.
Our clients continued trust along with the dedication of our team members has enabled us to continue to be one of New Jerseys fastest growing companies.

SBS Group has been ranked No. 42 on the list of New Jerseys 2016 50 Fastest Growing Companies. The award program produced by NJBIZ, New Jerseys premier business news publication, was presented by WeiserMazars LLP sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, Archer Law, M&T Bank, iPlay America and Wilmington Trust.

NJBIZ and program sponsors honored this years event and announced their ranking during an awards ceremony on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, New Jersey. The Palace at Somerset Park hosted a multitude of attendees, where everyone came together to celebrate the great attributions of the fifty companies. The event began promptly at 8 AM for breakfast and was followed by remarks and the awards presentation.

Our clients continued trust along with the dedication of our team members has enabled us to continue to be one of New Jerseys fastest growing companies, said James R. Bowman, President and CEO. As companies navigate their digital transformation journey and our work with Microsofts leading technology portfolio including Dynamics 365 we expect our growth trend to continue.

The NJBIZ 50 Fastest Growing Companies awards program celebrates New Jerseys most dynamic companies who progressively contribute to the success of the states economic growth and stability. To qualify, companies had to meet selection criteria that included a revenue size of at least $500,000 within the past two out of three years and revenue growth over a three-year period, dating from fiscal year 2013 to 2015. Presenting sponsor, WeiserMazars LLP, calculated the nominations and ranked the companies according to revenue growth over the three-year period. Both dollar and percentage increases were taken into consideration.

For more information about the NJBIZ 50 Fastest Growing Companies awards program, please visit http://www.njbiz.com/events.

About SBS Group

SBS Group is a national Microsoft master VAR (Value Added Reseller) with Gold level competency in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM). Over the past 30 years, they have been recognized as Microsoft Partner of the Year, Inner Circle Member and Microsoft President's Club member multiple times. The company is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey and operates offices across North America. For more information, please visit SBS Group's website at http://www.sbsgroupusa.com. Follow us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/sbs-group, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sbsgroup and find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SBSGroupUSA.
Sharon McCarthy Aegis Living Chief Marketing Officer Leaders like Sharon McCarthy are rare because theyve excelled at managing many brands in different business." - Aegis Living President Judy Meleiat

Aegis Living, a leader in the senior assisted living industry, announces that Sharon McCarthy has been named Chief Marketing Officer. McCarthy brings more than twenty years of consumer marketing and senior management experience with Kraft Foods, Taco Bell, Picture People and The Discovery Channel.

Sharon McCarthy replaces Judy Meleliat who was promoted to President of Aegis Living in 2014. Meleliat says, Sharon will be an exceptional addition to our team. Sharons experience demonstrates creativity, insight, and problem solving skills. Meleliat adds, Leaders like Sharon McCarthy are rare because theyve excelled at managing many brands in different business categories, and as such, bring deep expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies. Were excited about how shell be able to help us tell our story here at Aegis Living.

McCarthy will oversee Aegis Livings sales, marketing and life enrichment programs. She says, Im inspired by the caliber and compassion of the team I met at Aegis Living. Im moved by their mission to serve and bring moments of joy to our residents.

Sharon McCarthy brings a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The University of Delaware and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Aegis Living

Aegis Living is a national leader in assisted living and memory care operating 29 communities across the west coast. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, privately held Aegis Living serves residents in Washington, California and Nevada with seven new developments in the Puget Sound region. Aegis Living has 2,000 employees and has been honored as time and again as a Best Place to Work by KING5 and other media entities. The company also ranks as Americas #1 rated senior living company on the employee review site Glassdoor.com. Follow us on Twitter @aegisliving and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AegisLiving

Contact:

John Yeager

Phone 425-765-9845

John.Yeager(at)aegisliving(dot)com
McLeods ongoing development investments in these core products continue, with the introduction of new business process automation solutions that add significant value for carriers and brokers.

Today McLeod Software is releasing Version 16.2 of its flagship products, LoadMaster Enterprise and PowerBroker. McLeods ongoing development investments in these core products continue, with the introduction of new business process automation solutions that add significant value for carriers and brokers.

Carrier Scorecard

Version 16.2 introduces a new brokerage Carrier Scorecard module for PowerBroker to provide a comprehensive measurement system for evaluating carrier performance. The system uses up to 14 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify, rank, and score each of the carriers performance. KPIs can be setup with both positive and negative point assignments, and be used to compare scores against peers over a specific time period. Along with the scoring and ranking, we have included a 5 star system to make it easy to identify the top and bottom scoring carriers. As part of the new Carrier Scorecard Module, a broker rating screen allows customers to setup and capture subjective measurements after the carrier has been dispatched. The ability to capture subjective feedback during dispatch using these definable prompts provides an opportunity to measure how well carriers are actually performing for a broker. Brokers will use these subjective measures along with the captured objective values as part of an overall carrier score.

New scorecard and rating reports are available within the module and provide ways for brokers to view groups of carriers and their performance against each other. The scorecard reports provide detail, summary and grand total options for specific measures and carrier managers. The broker rating report provides several sorting, grouping, and filtering options to allow users to view carrier subjective scores with order detail information.

Accounts Payable Process Automation and Automated Collections

The new McLeod Logix Solutions Automated Collections module helps carriers and brokers reduce Days Sales Outstanding and improve cash flow. Manual collection processes for past-due invoices require lots of non-value added time and labor to follow-up with the collections work. The Logix Solutions Automated Collections gives users the automation to get this work done more efficiently and consistently, in shorter timeframes.

Logix Solutions Automated Collections drives the appropriate activity for collections by organizing communications with the customer based on a defined schedule and the age for delinquent accounts. During this new automated process, Interactive outstanding payment summaries are automatically created and emailed to customers. These summaries are presented with the use of interactive electronic forms, and include links to supporting documentation with details of the original invoice and aging status.

Another new best practice solution within the Logix Solutions Business Process Automation suite streamlines the Accounts Payable process. Users can expect a reduction in time spent auditing AP transactions to avoid late penalty fees and take advantage of early payment discounts with vendors.

Logix Solutions Accounts Payable is designed to improve the AP process by allowing for pre-approval of invoices before entering data into LoadMaster/PowerBroker AP module. During the approval process, email alerts can be setup to notify the designated approver that a new invoice has arrived in their workflow queue. Using the desktop or mobile application interface, approvers are able to easily approve the invoices. Also, the workflow queue monitoring service can be configured to automatically escalate the work if an invoice has not been processed within a defined time frame.

McLeod IQ Enhancements

McLeod has expanded the industrys best business intelligence solution, McLeod IQ, by adding even more data elements and dimensions to the analysis framework that is included in the product:



Customer Relationship Management

Load Claims

Accidents

Fuel costs and consumption

Payroll expenses

These new dimensions of the analysis framework mean that users can expand the elements of their driver scorecards with claim and accident information, keep track of how long it takes to turn prospects into customers, evaluate fuel purchases and MPG, and view payroll expenses in context with productivity.

LoadMaster Enterprise and PowerBroker Enhanced Integration Solutions

Version 16.2 brings new mobile communications interfaces with J.J. Keller Business Services, including Hours of Service and Tractor position reporting. This interface retrieves data from J.J. Keller Encompass and Mobile services periodically throughout the day, and updates LoadMaster with the driver hours and tractor positions.

McLeod Software has partnered with inGauge to provide support for McLeod customers to participate in the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Benchmarking Program. The program is an anonymous cloud-based offering and an extension of the TCA Best Practices Groups that show how truckload carriers stack up in comparison to their peers in the industry. The inGauge reporting tool now provided by McLeod Software collects general ledger activity as well as GL statistical account information needed for both the 334 element Best Practice Group and the 72 element TCA benchmarking reports, dramatically reducing the labor and time required to be a part of this benchmarking initiative.

Bulkloads.com has been added as a posting service to the McLeod Software Private Notification Network (PNN) in PowerBroker. Using the Bulkloads.com FTP interface, users can post loads to the Bulkloads freight board. Non bulk type loads can post to the sister company, Flatloads.com.

The integration solution with MacroPoint Brokerage Tracking has been enhanced to allow tracking of the outside carrier by ELD/GPS. Once a carrier has been onboarded, and the ELD information is on file, the movement can be tracked with only the carriers name and ID within PowerBroker. MacroPoint will then contact the carrier to obtain their preferred tracking method.

The Data Export Interface with MacroPoint automates the export of LoadMaster order and tractor information to MacroPoint to aid shippers in tracking their orders. The export compiles and sends information on actual arrival and departure of stops, unique Mobile Comm events, and callin record updates.

PowerBroker Version 16.2 brings a new integration solution with 10-4 Systems for brokerage tracking. Using the 10-4 Systems interface, brokers can track carrier movements and receive document images that have been captured and uploaded. Any changes to orders regarding date/time, location, and stops are automatically uploaded to 10-4 Systems with no further action required by the dispatcher.

The Data Export Interface with 10-4 Systems automates the export of LoadMaster order and tractor information to 10-4 Systems to aid shippers in tracking their orders. The export compiles and sends information on actual arrival and departure of stops, unique Mobile Comm events, and callin record updates. This information can include Customer, MC/DOT number, Order, Latitude, Longitude, Travel direction, and Stop information based on the type of event record being sent.

The LoadMaster integration with Spireon has been enhanced to include more elements that capture temperature sensor readings within trailers. These updates facilitate temperature monitoring of trailers and storing the complete history within LoadMaster.

McLeod Software

Transportation companies that work with McLeod Software find the best ways to improve customer service levels and operating ratios, attract and retain the best drivers, and drive automation to destroy inefficiency. McLeod Software is the leading provider of transportation dispatch, accounting, operations and brokerage management software, and document management systems. Specifically developed for the trucking industry, McLeod Software's advanced management solutions and services enable transportation companies to increase their efficiencies while reducing costs. Visit us at http://www.McLeodSoftware.com.
It can be difficult for families to participate in traditional holiday activities, such as a visit to Santa, because often the crowds, the lights, and waiting in line in an unfamiliar place can be aversive" -Clinical Director, Laura Britton, MA BCBA

Fort Wayne Autism Center is excited to host a holiday open house and free visit with Santa, tailored to the needs of children with developmental delays. Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit on Sunday, December 4th, from 2:00 PM  4:00 PM. In addition to a visit and photo with Santa, there will be sensory areas, a quiet room and therapists on hand to accommodate the various needs of all individuals.

This free event is intended to involve the whole family, so siblings and parents are welcome to attend. Families can sign up for time slots to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, or stay for the entire event and enjoy refreshments, a holiday craft, and sensory areas.

This event is designed to support the specialized needs of all individuals, said Fort Wayne Autism Centers Clinical Director, Laura Britton, It can be difficult for families to participate in traditional holiday activities, such as a visit to Santa, because often the crowds, the lights, and waiting in line in an unfamiliar place can be aversive! When Santa visits Fort Wayne Autism Center, he knows a quiet area and flexibility are important for families.

Research from the CDC now estimates that 1 in 68 children now have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Advocacy and changing state laws has resulted in a growing number of resources available for children with Autism.

Each year, the number of recognized cases of Autism has increased in Indiana, and the need for intensive ABA therapy services in our state has expanded accordingly. In response to that growing need, Fort Wayne Autism Center was founded in 2010, creating a facility dedicated to providing a supportive approach designed to aid families on their individualized journeys with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Brands like PetSmart are leading the future of retail, responding to a changing industry landscape with fresh ideas and creating cohesive brand experiences for consumers." - David Andreadakis, Chief Strategy Officer at Kobie Marketing

Kobie Marketing, a leading loyalty marketing services and technology provider, today announced its collaboration with PetSmart, the largest pet specialty retailer in North America, to develop fresh strategies for driving brand loyalty and enhancing the customer experience.

The updated loyalty program will help to strengthen the emotional connection the retailer shares with its pet parents. With Kobies strategic counsel, PetSmart expects to increase customer awareness of its industry-leading products and suite of pet services including its grooming services, dog training, in-store PetsHotel boarding facilities, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp and adoption program, as well as an extensive portfolio of digital resources.

We are dedicated to becoming the trusted partner to pet parents and pets in every moment of their lives, and as part of that journey, weve invested a great deal of time listening to what our customers want and need, said Brent Cooke, Vice President of Loyalty, CRM, and Insights at PetSmart. Kobie brings a fresh perspective on how we can use these insights to enhance the customer experience and weave together all of our products and services under one engaging loyalty program. We are excited to collaborate with Kobie as we work to further personalize the experience for our pet parents and connect with them on an even deeper level.

The program will respond to the highly connected world of the modern retail industry, in which consumers interact with brands through multiple channels before making purchases. With digital and in-store experiences now blended, Kobie will help PetSmart develop a cross-channel approach that engages pet parents at every touchpoint in the customer journey.

We are excited about this collaboration and the role it will play in PetSmarts future as the leading pet retailer, said David Andreadakis, Chief Strategy Officer at Kobie Marketing. Brands like PetSmart are leading the future of retail, responding to a changing industry landscape with fresh ideas and creating cohesive brand experiences for consumers. We will help PetSmart to conceive this new program holistically, looking across their popular digital properties and in-store product and service offerings to enhance the overall customer experience and to maintain PetSmarts position as the go-to-resource for all pet and pet parent needs.

For more information about Kobie Marketing, visit http://www.kobie.com. For more information on PetSmart, click here.

About Kobie Marketing, Inc.

Kobie Marketing is a global leader in loyalty marketing and an industry pioneer, delivering end-to-end strategy, technology and program management solutions. For over 25 years, Kobie has provided innovative loyalty experiences to the worlds most successful brands, helping clients receive incremental revenue, product and household penetration, and brand advocacy. Kobie drives results and ROI through Kobie Alchemy, a best-in-class loyalty marketing technology platform. To learn more, visit http://www.kobie.com.

About PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmarts passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 53,000 associates, operate 1,477 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and 203 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp day care services and pet adoption services in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents  including PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com and petMD.com  offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. Through our in-store pet adoption partnership with independent nonprofit organizations, PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada, PetSmart helps to save the lives of more than 500,000 homeless pets each year.
ADLINK's Modular Industrial Cloud Architecture ADLINKs Modular Industrial Cloud Architecture open framework employs a special design to achieve SDN & NFV along with the latest integrated hardware acceleration technology to speed processing of network data packages and video streaming.

ADLINK Technology, Inc., a leading provider of embedded building blocks and application-ready intelligent platforms for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), invites attendees to learn about its Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) offerings at this year's Carrier Network Virtualization (CNV) event, December 5-8, at Crowne Plaza hotel in Palo Alto, CA. The company will also be a featured presenter during MEC Focus Day, the final day of the event.

ADLINK will be highlighting its Modular Industrial Cloud Architecture, providing demonstrations for edge and NFV computing based on the modular platform and vCPE using Wind River Titanium Server, as well as hardware and/or software from partners Brocade, RiverBed, CheckPoint and netElastic.

ADLINKs Modular Industrial Cloud Architecture open framework employs a special, modular design to achieve Software Defined Networking (SDN) and NFV along with the latest integrated hardware acceleration technology in order to speed up the processing of network data packages and video streaming. All functions have been integrated into the open computing structure, satisfying the key requirement of the cloud computing era for resource distribution on-demand.

Unique to the industry, Wind River Titanium Server is a complete, commercial NFV infrastructure (NFVI) software platform that delivers carrier grade reliability and performance for NFV applications. By integrating Titanium Server with ADLINKs rugged hardware platforms, NFV can be achieved at the network edge or in the data center, providing users with greater opportunities to maximize the performance and capacity of their NFV implementation and reduce operating expenses.

With Wind River Titanium Server as a software foundation delivering carrier grade virtualization for NFV infrastructure, service providers can gain new flexibility and scalability while achieving significant improvements in operational costs and energy usage, said Jeff Sharpe, senior strategic product manager for ADLINK. As one of the first to be integrated with Titanium Server, were looking forward to providing a hands-on demonstration to CNV attendees.

Also part of the ADLINK demonstration, netElastic Systems provides virtualized CPE solutions for managed service providers. Its FlexCPE product is a multi-service NFV-based CPE platform that moves network services off dedicated appliances into Virtualized Network Functions running on open compute platforms such as ADLINKs Modular Industrial Cloud Architecture. FlexCPE is comprised of a centralized FlexENG that hosts VNFs and a thin, low-cost, device (FlexGW) at the customer premise.

NetElastic is excited to be partnering with ADLINK for our FlexCPE solution, said David Williams, SVP Sales and Marketing at netElastic. Our partnership creates a robust vCPE platform for service providers, enabling service agility and lower total cost of ownership.

The Carrier Network Virtualization event is being held in conjunction with the Intel Network Builders End User Summit, which takes place at the same location on Monday, December 5. ADLINKs Sharpe will be presenting the session The Edge is the Future: Delivering the Future Today at 11:10 am on Thursday, December 8 during the MEC Focus Day.

To schedule a briefing with ADLINK at the show, please contact Monica Lanctot at monica.lanctot(at)adlinktech(dot)com.

For more information about CNV, please visit the event website.

For more information on ADLINK, please visit http://www.adlinktech.com.

About ADLINK Technology

ADLINK Technology is enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) with innovative embedded computing solutions for edge devices, intelligent gateways and cloud services. ADLINKs products are application-ready for industrial automation, communications, medical, defense, transportation, and infotainment industries. Our product range includes motherboards, blades, chassis, modules, and systems based on industry standard form factors, as well as an extensive line of test & measurement products and smart touch computers, displays and handhelds that support the global transition to always connected systems. Many products are Extreme Rugged, supporting extended temperature ranges, shock and vibration.

ADLINK Technology is a Premier member of the Intel Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. The company is also active in several standards organizations, including PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG), PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA), and Standardization Group for Embedded Technologies (SGeT).

ADLINK is a global company with headquarters in Taiwan and manufacturing in Taiwan and China; R&D and integration in Taiwan, China, the US, and Germany; and an extensive network of worldwide sales and support offices. ADLINK is ISO-9001, ISO-14001, ISO-13485 and TL9000 certified and is publicly traded on the TAIEX Taiwan Stock Exchange (stock code: 6166).

# # #

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the US and other countries.
East 9 at Pickwick Plaza, Downtown Kansas Citys spectacular new multi-use community, offering vintage inspired living spaces with a modern vibe. We searched downtown for the right opportunity over the last two or three years and the Pickwick Plaza project hit on all cylinders.

Hailee Bland-Walsh is the founder and owner of City Gym. She honed her love for fitness and business acumen in California where she managed one of the largest YMCAs in the county for eight years, until she felt ready to head back to Kansas City and open City Gym in 2011. She grew City Gym from a small boutique gym to over 1,400 members by focusing on bringing in the best trainers and listening to the clients needs. In 2015, City Gym was selected by Google for a national commercial focusing on its inclusivity as a small business and has been selected by KC Magazine as KCs Best Fitness Studio and KCs Best Personal Trainer.

City Gym was represented in their downtown search by Gib Kerr of Cushman & Wakefield. Kerr said, We searched downtown for the right opportunity over the last two or three years and the Pickwick Plaza project hit on all cylinders. Its a beautiful development in a dynamic neighborhood with growing residential and office populations nearby. And its just a couple blocks from the new streetcar line. I have no doubt that City Gym will soon be a key element of the community at that location.

East 9 at Pickwick Plaza will open phase one, its North Tower with 45 residential units this December, 2016 and the entire development will celebrate its Grand Opening in the spring of 2017. The new 8,700 square foot City Gym - Pickwick Plaza Downtown location is the perfect anchor tenant for our 30,000+ square feet of retail /commercial space and will serve not only as an amenity to our residents, but will be open for business to all of Downtown Kansas City says Bryan Smith, Executive Vice President of Gold Crown Properties, Inc. We are in the final negotiations with a new Wine Bar concept as well as a national commercial tenant that fits in perfectly with our development plan that will bring much needed vitality to this side of downtown Kansas City.

Katie Roder, a long term veteran of City Gym will serve as the general manager and will oversee the new location. Currently she manages the original location with over 1,400 members. The new Pickwick Downtown facility will feature:

Open Gym (6,000+ Sq. Ft.)



State-of-the-art cardio, strength and functional training equipment

Personal training services

Private shower suites and restrooms

Lifestyle design programs

40+ weekly group exercise classes

Spin Studio (950 Sq. Ft.)



Featuring 20 Blade Ion Spinner bikes. These bikes allow riders to train with instant feedback on their performance and provides the most accurate power measurement available in the indoor cycling world.

Group Exercise Studio (980 Sq. Ft.)



Offering 30+ group exercise classes per week, ranging from boot camp style workouts, to TRX, to Yoga.

Open Gym Hours:

Monday - Friday (5am - 10pm)

Saturday  Sunday (7am  7pm)

East 9 at Pickwick Plaza is Downtown Kansas Citys spectacular new 260 apartment home, multi-use community, offering Flex sized luxury apartments that keep unit prices affordable, while retaining the luxury that parallels Kansas Citys growing market demand. Flush with amenities and boasting one of the only indoor salt water pools in downtown Kansas City. The residents will enjoy additional features such as custom wine lockers, private event space, in-home grocery delivery, attached secure parking garage, business center & conference room, Google Fiber and pet friendly services.
On November 17th, FP Mailing Solutions will continue with its third annual turkey donation to the Addison Community Switchboard. Each of the turkeys will be donated and delivered to families in need around the Addison community. This tradition was founded on the companys belief in having an active presence and giving back to the community.

Were extremely thankful for FPs generous turkey contribution. FP's contribution will help us feed 25 senior families for Thanksgiving and 193 families for Christmas, said Jim Lombardo, Sr. President at Addison Community Switchboard.

The Addison Community Switchboard is a local non-profit organization founded in 1970 by residents of the community. Their mission is to provide general short-term emergency assistance to Addison families and seniors in need of food and clothing. FP is excited to work with Jim Lombardo, Sr. President of the Addison Community Switchboard, to ensure these turkeys find a deserving home. For more information about the Addison Community Switchboard, please visit http://www.addisoncommunityswitchboard.org.

FP is committed to supporting our local community here in Addison, Illinois, especially those in financial need, said Carl Amacker, CEO of FP Mailing Solutions. FPs annual turkey donation is just a glimpse into the consideration and support FP has for our local community.

About FP Mailing Solutions

FP Mailing Solutions revolutionized mailroom technology with the introduction of the first digital meter. Today FP is one of the leading postage meter, folder inserter, address management and mail stream solutions provider offering a wide range of mail center products and services designed to create seamless mailing solutions. The company is plugged into over 230,000 mailrooms worldwide, and is the fastest growing mail machines and systems vendor in the U.S. FP believes in providing all of their customers mailability and quality mailing experiences with minimal error. To learn more about FP Mailing Solutions, visit http://www.fp-usa.com.
YA CFO Bill Koschak

YA Chief Financial Officer Bill Koschak is being honored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal with its annual CFO of the Year award. Koschak, one of 15 financial executives to be named, received the honor in the small private company category.

A panel of industry experts evaluated the nominees, scoring them on their contributions to their companies and to the broader community.

Bill plays a critical role in shaping not only YAs financial success, but in the strategic course we are setting to create continued growth and cutting-edge offerings for our clients, said YA President and CEO Chris Behrens. His background, financial acumen and commitment to YA and our community made him a clear choice for this honor.

Before joining YA, Koschak was vice president of finance and CFO for the $2 billion Convenience and Foodservice business at General Mills. He also held roles within the General Mills Controllers group and led their Global Internal Audit function. Prior to General Mills, Koschak was an audit partner at KPMG LLP where he led the Banking, Finance & Real Estate practice for the Minneapolis office.

Koschak, a certified public accountant (CPA), is also a member of the Board of Directors of 1st Financial Bank USA and the Audit Committee of the Board of Regents at Augsburg College. He is a member of several professional associations, including the National Association of Corporate Directors, Association for Corporate Growth, Financial Executives International, American Institute of CPAs and Minnesota Society of CPAs. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for the nonprofit Panther Foundation for Spring Lake Park Schools.

Koschak received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Augsburg College in the Twin Cities, with a major in business administration and minor in economics.

About YA

For nearly 45 years, YA has been a leader in the promotional marketing services space. We deliver flawless digital, social, mobile and traditional promotions such as rebates/rewards, enter to win and loyalty programs for the nations most respected brands. Our end-to-end management of 3,500+ promotions that reach tens of millions of consumers annually makes us experts at turning even first-time customers into loyal brand advocates. More information can be found at http://www.yaengage.com.
Cruise Planners Supports LLS through CP Cares We are a purpose driven organization and encourage everyone at the company to get involved by turning fundraising and support into an engaging team effort, said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners.

This month, more than 600 travel agents and industry partners joined Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, at the Light the Night walk in Miami in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Cruise Planners has raised and donated more than $1 million for the non-profit charitys South Florida chapter through various efforts during the past few years, including three Woman of the Year campaigns.

At Cruise Planners, we go beyond just giving backwe show up and show support, said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. To see our entire network at an event such as Light the Night, walking together for a cause, is truly inspiring.

At the Light the Night walk hosted in Bayfront Park, more than 6,000 people joined together for an evening walk and celebration of life to bring awareness to LLSs mission of finding a cure for blood cancer. Cruise Planners coordinated the executive opening of its annual convention, held next to Bayfront Park at the Miami InterContinental Hotel, so the entire network of travel agents, industry partners and team could participate in the walk.

Cruise Planners has been involved with LLS since 2012 when COO, Vicky Garcia was nominated and named Woman of the Year. In 2014, CEO, Michelle Fee followed in Garcias footsteps and raised a record-breaking amount for South Floridas Chapter. Then, earlier this year, Cruise Planners campaigned in memory of a late team member, Beverly Brean.

We are a purpose driven organization and encourage everyone at the company to get involved by turning fundraising and support into an engaging team effort, Garcia said. Year after year, the Cruise Planners team is passionate about giving back and making a positive impact, which is part of the organizations legacy.

About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nations largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a network of more than 1,500 franchise owners who independently book amazing vacation and travel experiences for their clients. The Florida-based Home Office Team positions a nation-wide network of franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing, booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industrys top executives. The company continues to be lauded and has been named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 13 consecutive years. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has been ranked as the #1 travel franchise by Franchise Business Review for 5 years in a row, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel since it started ranking companies.

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. with more than 22 years of experience, Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include numerous Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly for the past seven years, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award for 11 consecutive years (2004-2014), American Express Agency of the Year (2010), Royal Caribbean International Chairmans Award (2015), Royal Caribbean International Presidents Award for Overall Achievement (2012 and 2014), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007-2013), Norwegian Cruise Line Franchise Agency of the Year (2011-2015), Celebrity Cruises Field Sales Account of the Year (2015), Celebrity Cruises Home-Based Account of the Year (2013-2014) and Celebrity Cruises Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year (2010), American Express Vacations Best of the Best Globe Award (2008-2015), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009-2014), Platinum Member of the 500 Club for Sales Excellence (2014), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009-2012), Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Top Producer (2008-2014) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. Cruise Planners is one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, the Top Franchise Brand for Veterans according to Franchise Business Review, has been named one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans by Black Enterprise magazine and is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. For more information, visit http://www.cruiseplanners.com.

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Residential injuries send more than 10 million people to the emergency room each year and homeowners have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for family members and guests," said Zagoria Law Founder and Principal David Zagoria.

Zagoria Law, an Atlanta-based law firm specializing in personal injury cases, today announced a pre-trial settlement in the negligence suit of Sandra Birdwell v. Charles Hetzer and Elizabeth Hetzer in favor of the plaintiff. Zagoria Law was able to secure a $155,000 award for their client, Sandra Birdwell, just days before trial.

Birdwell allegedly suffered a fractured tibia and a torn Achilles tendon, as the result of a fall due to an alleged static defect at the defendants home in the Reynolds Plantation community in Greensboro, Georgia. Liability was denied by the defendants homeowners insurance. Subsequently, Zagoria Law, on behalf of Birdwell, sued the homeowners for negligence and sought an unspecified amount of pain and suffering damages.

This case should serve as a warning to homeowners, said Zagoria Law Founder and Principal David Zagoria. Residential injuries send more than 10 million people to the emergency room each year and homeowners have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for family members and guests.

The original complaint for damages was filed in the Superior Court of Greene County, Georgia on March 9, 2015, civil action file number 15-CV-079.

About Zagoria Law

Zagoria Law is an Atlanta-based personal injury law firm dedicated to providing unyielding representation to clients. Founder David Zagoria has more than 20 years of experience as a prosecutor and trial attorney litigating injury cases in State and Federal Courts throughout Georgia. Honored by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia Super Lawyer, the firms focus on personal injury cases, specifically dog bites and serious injury-premises liability cases, ensures unparalleled service and dedication from the very beginning of clients cases until the end. For more information, please visit http://www.lawzagoria.com.
Center for International Private Enterprise By supporting this program, the Australian and U.S. governments are demonstrating their commitment to PNG women and to helping them improve their lives and empower their communities.

In an effort to increase opportunity for women in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has launched the PNG Womens Business Resource Centre (WBRC), a first-of-its-kind institution in that country. The WBRC provides women from all backgrounds access to information and training on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and help with navigating PNGs business landscape.

We couldnt be more excited to lead this initiative, because it is vitally important to Papua New Guinea, said Eli Webb, CIPEs Country Coordinator. Stronger women mean stronger families, which means a stronger PNG.

Women in PNG face daunting legal and cultural challenges to engaging in commerce. At the WBRC, women will have access to services and support that will help level the economic playing field to enable them succeed in business. The Centre will host a mentorship program, networking opportunities, and regular guest speakers.

CIPEs Executive Director Andrew Wilson lauded the U.S. Department of States Office of Global Womens Issues and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs of Trade for their leadership in the initiative. Women in Papua New Guinea have tremendous reserves of talent and initiative. By supporting this program, the Australian and U.S. governments are demonstrating their commitment to PNG women and to helping them improve their lives and empower their communities.

The Centre is a part of a joint initiative supported by the Australian and U.S. governments. United States Ambassador Catherine Russell, head of the U.S. Department of States Office of Global Womens Issues, and Natasha Scott-Despoja, Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls attended the Center launch in Port Moresby. The Australian-U.S. initiative also includes establishment of the Papua New Guinea Womens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNGWCCI) and a partnership with the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan to develop entrepreneurship curriculum to be offered in local PNG universities.

For more information on the WBRC, visit the Centres Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pngwbrc.

The Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is the international affiliate of the United States Chamber of Commerce, CIPE is a global leader in womens economic empowerment programs, among other topics, and operates in more than 50 countries around the world. For more information on CIPE, visit http://www.cipe.org
Scholars Recognized at a BMO Capital Markets Reception Being selected as a BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholar has given me a great boost in my education and confidence as a talented candidate!

Lime Connect and BMO Capital Markets are pleased to partner in offering The 2016 BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. The scholarships are intended for current undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a four-year university program who have any type of disability, and provides USD$10,000 (students in the U.S.) or USD$5,000 (students in Canada) in support of future studies in either the US or Canada.

The Equity Through Education partnership is perfectly aligned with Lime Connects focus on talent and the valuable intellectual capital and strengths that people with disabilities bring to the global workplace, stated Thomas Wilson, Lime Connect board chairman. We are proud to have BMO Capital Markets support the studies of students who will truly help us to rebrand disability through achievement.

Were delighted to be partnering with Lime Connect to help achieve our goal of building a more diverse workforce, said Patrick Cronin, CEO and Group Head, BMO Capital Markets. Lime Connect is a perfect fit for our Equity Through Education program which helps people achieve their dreams by providing them with an opportunity to develop themselves through education.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be:



A current undergraduate or graduate student at a four-year university in the United States or Canada (graduate program itself, i.e., business school, may be shorter in length)

Continuing studies as a full-time student in fall 2017 with a minimum 40% course load

Pursuing a degree in business/commerce, engineering, math, physics, statistics or a related discipline

Interested in a career in Financial Services with a focus on Capital Markets preferred

A person with a (visible or non-visible) disability (defined as someone who has, or considers themselves to have, a long-term or recurring, issue that impacts one or more major activities that others may consider to be a daily function); this definition also includes the perception among others that a disability exists. We know that 90% of disabilities on campus are invisible, and candidates with all disabilities are encouraged to apply

Previous BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education scholars and applicants are encouraged to apply again if they remain eligible

Scholarships are awarded based on merit, not on financial need; and while candidates must acknowledge that they are a person with a disability, disclosure of specific details are not required.

For more information, and to apply, candidates may visit http://www.limeconnect.com. The deadline for application submissions is midnight PST on Sunday, November 27, 2016.

Candidates with disabilities who are not a match for this particular scholarship are encouraged to register for The Lime Network - an exclusive resource for high potential students, and alumni, with disabilities and the broader, virtual program that prepares and connects candidates for career success regardless of their geographic location. Members of The Lime Network are notified of additional scholarship and career opportunities as well as The Lime Connect Fellowship Program launch and professional development webinars.

About Equity Through Education

Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help people realize their educational ambitions by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have. Each year, BMO Capital Markets donates a day of institutional equity trading commissions from the United States, Canada and Europe to charities that provide greater access to education for less advantaged students through scholarships, bursaries and other academic programs. The initiative has raised C$17.9 million since it was launched in 2005.

About Lime Connect:

Founded as a not for profit organization in 2006, Lime Connect is leading the way as the premier resource for top talent in the disability space by attracting, preparing and connecting highly accomplished individuals with disabilities for careers with our partners, the worlds leading corporations. Our goal is to rebrand disability through achievement and lead all companies to realize the importance, and value, of employing people with disabilities at every level of education, talent and ability. For more information, visit http://www.limeconnect.com.

About BMO Capital Markets:

BMO Capital Markets is a leading North American financial services provider offering investment and corporate banking, advisory services, treasury and market risk management, institutional investing, and research.
Lockheed Martin and Harley-Davidson are tremendous supporters of the military and their families, and we are so honored to be working with them on this exciting project.

The National Military Family Association (NMFA), a nonprofit that works to strengthen and protect military families, alongside Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), will auction off a one-of-kind Harley-Davidson, inspired by our nations fifth Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Milwaukee.

In 2015, Lockheed Martin commissioned Harley-Davidson to design a unique motorcycle inspired by the shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin where the Freedom-class LCS vessels are built. Chief Stylist, Ray Drea, designed the motorcycle,which also honors historic WWII-era Harleys, to model some of the authentic Navy and military custom details.

For the last year, the Harley has made its way across the country with Lockheed Martin visiting different trade shows, family events, and helping bring awareness to the issues our nations military families face.

On December 10th, the Harley will go up for bids at a live auction at Ball Park After Dark: Mission Military Families, an extraordinary event being held at Nationals Park. Bidders unable to attend the event in person may also bid online now.

The lucky high-bidder of this bike will not only receive a one-of-a-kind Harley, but will also be helping to make a difference for military families across the country, said Joyce Wessel Raezer, NMFA Executive Director. Lockheed Martin and Harley-Davidson are tremendous supporters of the military and their families, and we are so honored to be working with them on this exciting project.

Proceeds from the auction will directly fund NMFAs military family programs, including camps for military kids and families, and military spouse scholarships and professional support.

We commissioned this motorcycle in honor of the USS Milwaukee and the men and women of the U.S. Navy, so it is appropriate that this custom Harley-Davidson will contribute to various efforts that support military families, said Stephanie C. Hill, Lockheed Martin vice president of Cyber, Ships, and Advanced Technologies. Because about a quarter of Lockheed Martins employees are themselves veterans, NMFAs mission strongly resonates with me and our company, and we are naturally proud to support such a worthy organization.

To learn more about Ball Park After Dark, or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.militaryfamily.org/AfterDark.

About the National Military Family Association

The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit dedicated to serving the families who stand behind the uniform. Since 1969, NMFA has worked to strengthen and protect millions of families through its advocacy and programs. They provide spouse scholarships, camps for military kids, and retreats for families reconnecting after deployment and for the families of the wounded, ill, or injured. NMFA serves the families of the currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA. To get involved or to learn more, visit http://www.MilitaryFamily.org.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Learn more at, http://www.lockheedmartin.com.
It is important to Gumbiner Savett that we stay abreast of current industry trends on behalf of our clients. BKR International always provides speakers and networking opportunities that keeps us at the forefront of the profession.

Certified Public/Chartered Accounting Firm Gumbiner Savett Inc. was among the more than 160 member firms attending BKR Internationals Annual Worldwide Meeting, held this year in Santiago, Chile, November 12-15. Gumbiner Savett Inc. is a member of BKR International, a leading global association of independent accounting and business advisory firms.

As the countrys cultural, political, and commercial center, Santiago proved to be the perfect venue for BKRs 2016 worldwide conference, said Maureen Schwartz, BKRs Executive Director. Program content included a keynote by Dr. Jerry Haar, a clinical professor in the Department of Management & International Business at Florida International University. Jerry, together with a panel of experts from The Economist Intelligence Unit and SAP Latin America, discussed the latest management initiatives being adopted by successful businesses throughout Latin America.

Other program highlights included a presentation by Javier Irarrazaval, general manager of The Walt Disney Company in Chile, who discussed the value of happiness in achieving maximum productivity and job satisfaction. Marketing expert, Felipe Uribe, spoke about trends in digital and social media marketing, while global leadership and change expert, Juan Carlos Eichholz, discussed how successful young leaders predict and manage technological, economic, and environmental changes. Juan Carlos is also credited with starting the Young Leaders Network, whose members are made up of the most influential people in the country under 35 years old.

Valerie Colin, a Gumbiner Savett Tax Shareholder, said, In order to sustain an independent and thriving organization, everyone in our firm needs to learn skills beyond the trade. It is also important to Gumbiner Savett that we stay abreast of current industry trends on behalf of our clients. BKR International always provides speakers and networking opportunities that keep us at the forefront of the profession.

With the theme of Scaling New Heights, BKRs Worldwide Meeting revealed optimism and energy for the future of global public accounting. Members networked with international business leaders, bankers, lawyers, and local CEOs and entrepreneurs for a fresh perspective on trade and commerce. Host firm, Ossandon Auditores Consultores, arranged a business development cocktail reception, and members invited their Santiago contacts as well, resulting in more than a few global connections and future business opportunities.

About Gumbiner Savett Inc.- http://www.gscpa.com

Gumbiner Savett Inc., is a full-service accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Santa Monica. Celebrating 65 years in 2015, the purpose of our work is to enrich our clients lives by facilitating the achievement of their financial objectives and providing career fulfillment for our employees.

We are dedicated to being the preeminent assurance, tax and business advisory firm for growth oriented businesses, middle market enterprises and high-net worth individuals in Southern California. In addition to traditional private and public company accounting and tax services, we specialize in general business consulting, estate and trust planning, fraud examination studies, business services and bookkeeping and litigation support.

Gumbiner Savett Inc. is an independent member firm of BKR International.

About BKR

BKR International is a leading global association of independent accounting and business advisory firms representing the expertise of more than 160 member firms with over 500 offices in over 80 countries around the world. For more information visit: http://www.bkr.com.
Elite Reporting, a dedicated court reporting service in Tennessee, has exciting news to announce regarding two members of their venture. Monica Parker has been promoted to the position of Office Coordinator and Ashley Bird has been promoted to the position of Accounts Coordinator with Elite. The company thanks them for their aptitude skill and dedication as professionals for Elite Reporting Services and their successes are what led to these promotions. The company has continued to grow and promote from within as a result of developing solid relationships with their own customers.

Roles like Office and Accounts Coordinator serve to assist clients with a seamless process from the first time they call Elite Reporting. Elite makes a dedicated effort to address each clients unique needs while using industry best practices for court reporting services.

Elite Reporting Services offers a broad range of opportunities for attorneys in need of real time court reporting services, legal videography, synced transcripts, exhibits, videos and other litigation support needs. Some of the benefits offered by Elite Reporting Services include an online repository, expedited versions for overnight and daily copy, on call reporters every day, certified and licensed reporters, online scheduling capability, conference rooms, condensed transcripts and a premier focus on customer service.

They have been serving the Nashville, Memphis, Jackson and Chattanooga markets in Tennessee for years and are scheduling in more than 70 cities across the United States and even some locations in Canada. The company prides itself on the high quality services provided by their court reporters and is dedicated to making the process as easy as possible for those who need it.

State of the art services and a broad range of experience in the field makes Elite Court Reporting a leader in Tennessee and across the United States. Each client is given personal consideration and care from start to finish. The Elite Reporting difference is to focus on ways that can enhance the relationship with each client while also delivering accurate materials in a timely manner. The company management believes that accuracy is the cornerstone of positive relationship with their attorney clients, since hiring a court reporter requires the ability to see and use the appropriate materials in a timely fashion. Elite Reporting understands the value of accurate information and designs all delivery system with the clients end needs in mind.

To learn more about the court reporting services offered at Elite Reporting Services: visit http://www.elitereportingservices.com
Effects of qsd1 (left) and Qsd1 (right) alleles on seed germination after five weeks of 25 C dormancy reduction treatment. contributes further to the debate as to what extent the development of ancient agrarian societies was driven by the human appetite for flour and bread, or for beer and alcohol.

Press Release

Source: Okayama University, Japan, Planning and Public Information Division

The authors of this paper note that, The wild barleys long dormancy means that, initially, the grain will not germinate in response to transient moisture availability and will therefore survive hot, dry summers. As a result seeds like wild-type barley that undergo a long state of dormancy at maturity  during which they will not germinate are favoured for food crops. In contrast a short dormancy is more efficient and preferable for beer making.

Kazuhiro Sato and colleagues  a collaboration of Okayama University and the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences in Japan and the University of Adelaide in Australia - compared DNA sequences of Haruna Nijo  a type of barley known to have short dormancy  with wild barley H602, known to have long dormancy. After studying over 5000 plants, they identified the section of the barleys DNA that varies with expression of long or short dormancy - AK372829.

The gene AK372829 codes the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), which is known to play a pivotal role in nitrogen and carbon pathways and protein synthesis, and has been implicated in stress responses to low oxygen and nitrogen availability. Further experiments investigated variations in the nucleotide  that is, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)  as well as the structure and diversity of the protein associated with short dormancy.

Haruna Nijo has a dominant short dormancy allele Qsd1, whereas H602 has a recessive long dormancy allele qsd1. The results indicate that Haruna Nijo shares ancestry from long dormancy food-producing barley, suggesting specific selection of reduced dormancy for the malting process. As the researchers conclude in their report of the work, the selection and exploitation of the plants expressing the Qsd1 mutation for short dormancy contributes further to the debate as to what extent the development of ancient agrarian societies was driven by the human appetite for flour and bread, or for beer and alcohol.

Publication and Affiliation

Kazuhiro Sato1, Miki Yamane1, Nami Yamaji1, Hiroyuki Kanamori2, Akemi Tagiri2, Julian G. Schwerdt3,Geoffrey B. Fincher3, Takashi Matsumoto2, Kazuyoshi Takeda1 & Takao Komatsuda2 Alanine aminotransferase controls seed dormancy in barley. Nature Communications 87, 11625 (2016).

doi:10.1038/ncomms11625

Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, 2-20-1, Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-0046, Japan

National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba 305-8602, Japan

ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia.

Further information:

Okayama University, Public Relations and Information Strategy Division

1-1-1 Tsushima-naka , Kita-ku ,

Okayama 700-8530, Japan

Website: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html

Okayama University eBulletin: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/kouhou/ebulletin/

About Okayama University

Okayama University is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Japan with roots going back to the Medical Training Place sponsored by the Lord of Okayama and established in 1870. Now with 1,300 faculty and 14,000 students, the University offers courses in specialties ranging from medicine and pharmacy to humanities and physical sciences. Okayama University is located in the heart of Japan approximately 3 hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen.

Website: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html
Vickie Irwin and Steve Williams of Georgia Power Accept Corporation of Year Award During The Greater Women's Business Council's 2016 LACE Awards At Atlanta's Fox Theatre

The Greater Womens Business Council (GWBC) brought the boom of the Roaring Twenties to Atlanta during its Annual Ladies Achieving Continuous Excellence (LACE) Awards held at The Fox Theatre on November 10. With The Great Gatsby as the backdrop, the regions certified women business enterprises (WBE) and business entities that support them, gathered in a star-studded evening that celebrated their unparalleled achievements in supplier excellence.

Atlanta-based Georgia Power had a great night, snagging three out of four possible corporate wins. In addition to the coveted Corporation of the Year Award, Georgia Power took home the prized Voice Award and Buyer of the Year Award (Jodie Black). Todd Gray of Grady Health System was named Advocate of the Year for his unbridled passion and support for women businesses.

The centerpiece of the evening was the WBE winners from across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, whose accomplishments underscore GWBCs mission and purpose. Its My Affair received the Category I Trailblazer Award, Confero took Category II Trailblazer Award, Category III Trailblazer went to MySupplies, while Category IV Trailblazer Award went to Softpath System. Gail Moore of Custom Plastics and More was named Volunteer of the Year for her tireless support and participation with GWBC.

The evening included the signature LACE Silent Auction and Reception; as well as Party At the Limit Band, who jazzed things up with sizzling selections from the decades. Special award recognitions went to The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlantas Mary Kepler as GWBCs outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors; as well as the Small Business Administrations and Obama-appointee Cassius Butts for his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of GWBC. Legacy Partners were awarded with special gifts for their 10 years of service with GWBC.

Much like the pages of The Great Gatsby -- financial empowerment, style and the pursuit of the American dream all came together on one night in celebration of the economic impact created for and by women-owned businesses.

To learn more about GWBC, visit http://www.gwbc.biz. Media should contact Nichole Taylor at taylor(at)taylorcommunicationsgroup(dot)com for photos/video and more information.
Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, a leading provider of world-class culinary education, today announced the newest additions to its Disciples dEscoffier; a prestigious global society focused on the promotion and preservation of excellence in cuisine, culinary education, wine culture, spirits and hospitality. The new disciples include some of the areas top culinary leaders - Chef Curtis Duffy, chef and owner of three Michelin star restaurant Grace; Duffys inspiration and former home economics teacher, culinary educator Ruth Snider; and Doctors Robert and Sonat Birnecker, founders and owners of KOVAL Distillery. Escoffier also announced a partnership with Duffy to promote the importance of culinary education to aspiring culinarians through a number of presentations and events involving the school as well as a $25,000 Curtis Duffy scholarship program.

The disciples will be recognized at a seven-course dinner and induction ceremony at Grace on November 21. The Disciples dEscoffier International is a premier gastronomic society with a worldwide membership of more than 20,000. The goal of the Disciples dEscoffier International is to honor the memory of French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer Auguste Escoffier, promoting and preserving his work and maintaining the great culinary traditions in which he started. Michel Escoffier, the great grandson of the renowned chef and president of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum, will be in attendance from France.

The esteemed Disciples dEscoffier promotes culinary education and apprenticeship and was designed to inspire and encourage others to continue to pursue the highest standards, said Jeremy Wheaton, President and CEO of Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Our four newest inductees exemplify local culinary at its best and truly personify this mission in their work.

Curtis Duffy overcame a difficult childhood and family tragedy to become one of the most acclaimed chefs in Chicago, receiving numerous recognitions throughout his culinary career. In addition, Duffy was recently the subject of the documentary For Grace, a James Beard Award nominated film. The movie chronicles the chef's remarkable journey of opening his restaurant, Grace. Duffys teacher, Ruth Snider, sparked his initial interest in cooking and remains one of the strongest support systems in his career. The two will be joined in the Disciples dEscoffier by Dr. Robert Birnecker, one of Americas top distilling experts, and Dr. Sonat Birnecker, co-founder and president of KOVAL Distillery, which produces organic whiskey, liqueurs and speciality spirits from scratch, embracing a grain-to-bottle mentality.

I am truly honored to be inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier, said Curtis Duffy. This is one of the great honors a chef can receive, and I am humbled to be able to share this with my amazing friend and teacher Ruth Snider. Such an honor

To learn more about Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, visit http://www.escoffier.edu

About Escoffier School of Culinary Arts:

The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts offers professional culinary arts programs based on the methods, principles and systems of Auguste Escoffier, the international culinary icon and father of modern cuisine. The Schools Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts programs offer rigorous industry skills training as well as a farm-to-table focused curriculum. Campuses are located in Austin, Texas and Boulder, Colo. http://www.escoffier.edu.

In addition to ground campuses, the Escoffier Online Culinary Academy is the first-ever online culinary school, offering professional culinary training for aspiring chefs and food enthusiasts alike. Modeled after the most prestigious culinary institutes in the world and inspired by the world-renowned Escoffier name, Escoffier Online offers a comprehensive curriculum of cooking techniques and fundamentals. http://www.escoffieronline.com

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Inside the SuperGrow Container which uses "terraponics" (soil) to grow organic produce Innovation, such as the terraponics SuperGrow Container is focused on the interests of the consumer. Accurate organic labeling that includes identification of the grow methodology being in soil or not will empower that consumer to make healthy choices

Some consider the 10-4 vote by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to send the decision whether hydroponic grown produce can be certified as organic back to committee as a victory. Others say the vote teeters between being irrelevant and helping everyone except field organic farmers. This leaves the consumer wondering, What is organic?

Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program (NOP), Miles McEvoy, is quoted by members of The Cornucopia Institute present at the NOSB vote as saying in part even a no vote today to allow hydroponics would not change the status quo of continuing to allow hydroponic operations . This is a pragmatic view of the NOSBs role versus that of the NOP.

The NOP is the organic policy arm of the USDA which receives recommendations from the NOSB for regulations related to the organic industry. There is no requirement that the NOP adopt the NOSBs recommendations, although there is an abundance of reason why it would.

The NOSB was established by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1995 and governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. Each NOSB member is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for a five-year term.

The NOSBs standing recommendation since 2010 has been, in part, that Growing media shall contain sufficient organic matter capable of supporting natural and diverse ecology. For this reason, hydroponic and aeroponic systems are prohibited. This seems to be a very clear recommendation. Yet from 2010 up until the 2016 St. Louis NOSB meeting confusion between NOPs policies and its web site rhetoric has led to certain Accredited Certification Agencies (ACA) certifying hydroponic grow operations as organic and allowing hydroponic grow operations outside the U.S. to be imported for organic sales within the U.S.

Appointing experts to make recommendations and then ignoring the recommendations seems counter to the intention of the establishment of the NOSB. Former high tech executive turned agri-technologist, James Massa, founder of Sustainable Essentials Enterprises, maker of the SuperGrow Container, a soil base, terraponics container farm solution, has served as a member of a Presidential Advisory Committee. He offers this insight as to why recommendations might be ignored: On the surface it appears this is a grab by Big Ag to move into the domain of the organic farmer, most of whom are small farmers, to gain access to the premium price the market will pay for produce labeled organic. That may well be the case. Yet, the complexities of state are always far greater than the complexity of the board room no matter how big or small that room is. The NOP is an arm of the United States government and is subject to such complexities.

Massa continues with these examples: This complexity results in U.S. policies that would make no sense to the board room, such as paying for farmers not to grow certain produce or subsidizing farmers to grow produce the U.S. market will not buy. Food is a national resource that can affect the U.S. economy, as well as global relations. There is a reason why the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is commonly referred to as the feed them instead of fight them agency. The Secretary of Agriculture has to be concerned about both the US consumer and the USDAs contribution to the United States ability to feed the world. So, yes, NOPs actions may be politics, but it may not be the type of politics people think.

At the meeting it would appear Deputy Administrator McEvoy was asking for clarity which has already been given by the NOSB. Such clarity is also ubiquitous among other nations with Mexico, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Holland, England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and 17 other European countries all prohibiting hydroponic production to be sold as organic. Yet, the NOP continues to not set forth policy which definitively states whether hydroponic grow methods, which use only water to provide nutrients to the plants, can be certified as organic. Many hydroponic growers in Mexico, Canada, and Holland export hydroponic produce to the United States for sales as certified organic.

What and how organic is defined is at the heart of the complexity. Massa shares, Our Chief Science Officer at large, Ray Nielson, who contributed to the writing of the original National Organic Program, has indicated that a choice had to be made as to whether the definition of organic would be what it is or what it is not. To date the definition of organic has been based on what it is not. This has opened an argument to allow hydroponic and other types of non-soil grow methods to be certified as organic.

Produce which is certified organic cannot have any type of pesticide, herbicide or adamant as part of the grow process that does not occur in a rich, natural, soil biosystem. Having such is considered to taint the grow process and the produce is no longer certified organic.

The question now is whether having less than what occurs in a rich, natural, soil biosystem, as is the case with hydroponic grow methods, makes the produce grown not organic in the same way as adding chemically based pesticides, herbicides, and adamants that do not occur in a rich, natural, soil biosystem disqualifies produce as being organic.

Sustainable Essentials Enterprises has pioneered a container farm grow methodology referred to as Terraponics. Terraponics uses organic soil, composting, and natural soil adamants combined with Sustainable Essentials Enterprises grow apparatus and methods to grow produce year round inside a specially outfitted shipping container, referred to as a SuperGrow Container. This same terraponics methods, grow apparatus, and environmental controls can be used inside a converted warehouse, barn, or spare room, referred to as a SuperGrow Center. Founder and CEO, James Massa, Its a sea of acronyms and self-interests at the St. Louis NOSB meeting. The non-decision by the NOSB helps everyone but organic field farmers. We believe innovation, such as the terraponics SuperGrow Container is focused on the interests of the consumer and that accurate organic labeling that includes identification of the grow methodology being in soil or not in soil will empower that consumer to make healthy choices.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), also present at the recent NOSB vote, indicated in a tweet on Friday, November 18, #NOSB will continue its work on container production and decide the systems that are compatible with #organic principles. The OTA encourages those interested to view page 52 of OTA's NOSB fall meeting PDF found here
Rep. Daley Accepts the Small Business Champion Award from the Pennsylvania SBDC During a period when new jobs are in demand, we are very grateful for the leadership of Representative Daley in advocating for proven and fiscally responsible programs like the SBDC that everyday work to help small companies thrive." -Christian Conroy

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) have named State Representative Peter J. Daley, II (PA-49) a Small Business Champion for his support of small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Daley was presented with the award by Pennsylvania SBDC State Director Christian Conroy while visiting the University of Pittsburgh SBDC during their Planning for Profits seminar graduation that included twenty-four local business owners.

Today we are proud to recognize State Representative Daley as a Small Business Champion, Conroy said. During a period when new jobs are in demand, we are very grateful for the leadership of Representative Daley in advocating for proven and fiscally responsible programs like the SBDC that everyday work to help small companies thrive. Representative Daleys support has been critical to ensuring that the SBDC will continue to be available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the nation.

Im honored to receive the award again, but the proven and fiscally responsible programs provided by Small Business Development Centers are the real story, said Daley, whose 34 years of service in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives concludes on Nov. 30. Small businesses create most of the jobs in our economy and the SBDCs are a great resource to grow them and promote prosperity.

Earlier in March, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the University of Pittsburgh SBDC as one of five winners of the Lean for Main Street Training Challenge competition. A representative from the University of Pittsburgh SBDC attended NSFs I-Corps program in Washington, D.C. this spring, where they received guidance from instructors on how to adapt the curriculum to their own communities. Following the training, the University of Pittsburgh SBDC developed its six-session Planning for Profits seminar to provide in-depth training on lean methodologies and business growth strategies.

About Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

The Pennsylvania SBDC network is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses. SBDC consultants work with entrepreneurs in confidential, individualized sessions to help them with a range of business issues including testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities, and much more. The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 18 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth. For more information on the Pennsylvania SBDC services and impact, please visit http://www.pasbdc.org.

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Guy Milligan, Senior Renewable Heat Engineer

Renewable energy and infrastructure consultancy Natural Power has appointed Guy Milligan as Senior Renewable Heat Engineer. Guy joins the business from a developer and operator of biomass district heating networks in Aberdeenshire.

Andy Yuill, Senior Biomass Manager at Natural Power, said: Guy is an important new member of our growing team. Having taken the development of district heating from inception through construction and into operations, Guys skills and experience will bolster our offering in the full range of services across the project lifecycle. His role will involve the development of new business opportunities for the team and also the delivery of project work.

Guy has a Bachelors degree in Economics and Law and an MSc with distinction in Forest Ecology and Management. He is also a member of the Energy Institute and an affiliated member of CIBSE. His broad range of operational experience and successful project delivery in biomass energy systems has been developed during the course of the last ten years. Guy helped establish a renewable energy services company (ESCo) that built, owns and operates a number of biomass heat networks. The flagship scheme at Hill of Banchory is one of the largest renewable heat networks in Scotland and has been providing renewable heat to an expanding network for more than four years. Guy has also been actively involved in wood fuel production, including growing of short rotation coppice willow, quality management and delivery.

Guy said: I am very excited about joining Natural Power, and with its proven track record in delivering renewable energy solutions it was an obvious choice for me. Renewable heat is an important and growing sector and my skills and experience will support the continued growth of Natural Power in this area.

Natural Powers renewable heat team has practical knowledge and experience in bioenergy technologies for heat, power and cogeneration applications. The business provides expertise in every stage of the project development and plant operations lifecycle, including: site assessment, feedstock assessment, design and engineering, tendering for contractors, consenting, construction management and operational asset management. To find out more about the renewable heat service, you can download the capability statement here https://www.naturalpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Renewable_Heat_UK_Softcopy.pdf

About Natural Power

Established in the mid 1990s, Natural Power is a leading independent renewable energy consultancy and products provider. The company offers proactive and integrated consultancy, management and due diligence services, backed by an innovative product range, across the onshore wind, offshore wind, wave, tidal, renewable heat, solar pv and hydro sectors, whilst maintaining a strong outlook on other new and emerging renewable energy sectors.

http://www.naturalpower.com

https://twitter.com/Natural_Power

https://www.linkedin.com/company/natural-power
Two faculty members at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Jose M. Arguello, the Walter and Miriam Rutman Professor of Biochemistry, and L. Ramdas Ram-Mohan, professor of physics, have been elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the worlds largest general scientific society.

Election as a AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers in recognition of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. This year, 391 members have been awarded this honor.

We are delighted and very proud that Professors Arguello and Ram-Mohan are being honored by the AAAS, said Bruce Bursten, WPIs provost and retiring chair of the AAAS Section on Chemistry. Election as a Fellow of the AAAS is a tangible recognition of our colleagues sustained academic excellence and their dedication to research and education.

Arguello was elected by the AAAS Section on Biological Sciences for distinguished research discoveries elucidating the mechanisms underlying metal ion transport and the role of bacterial metal transporters in agriculture and infectious disease.

A member of the WPI faculty since 1996, he is a biochemist whose research focuses on the structure and function of proteins that transport heavy metals like copper, zinc, cobalt, and iron across cell membranes. These micronutrients perform fundamental functions in all living organisms, for example, maintaining structure, conferring catalytic activity to proteins, and participating in the transport of oxygen in the blood and the synthesis of sugars in plants. Metals also contribute to the virulence of pathogenic microorganisms and the ability of a cell to resist infection.

Because of the importance of these basic biological functions, a better understanding of the mechanisms of heavy metal transport has implications for the treatment of a host of diseases, for human and animal nutrition, and for the bioremediation of heavy metal pollution.

Arguello, who also holds an appointment as a member of the University of Massachusetts Center for Clinical and Translational Science, received a degree in biological chemistry from the National University of Cordoba and a PhD in biological sciences from the National University of Rio Cuarto in Argentina. He completed postdoctoral work in the Department of Physiology at the University of Pennsylvania and in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Cincinnati.

He has received multiple research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including an NIH Research Development Award for Minority Faculty in 1995 and a $1.3 million award in 2016 for a systematic study of copper in the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of hospital-associated infections. He has published nearly 60 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the most-cited biomedical research journal in the world; Arguello was appointed to the journal's editorial board in 2012. He is the co-editor of the 2012 book Topics in Membranes: Metal Transporters (Elsevier).

Arguello served as a program director in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences in 2009, and in 2010 was appointed to a four-year term on the NIH's Macromolecular Structure and Function (A) study section to participate in the review and evaluation of research proposals aimed at understanding the nature of biological phenomena and applying that knowledge to enhance human health. In 2012, he received WPIs Board of Trustees Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Scholarship.

Ram-Mohan was elected by the AAAS Section on Physics for major contributions to the development of computational algorithms and important advances in theory of electronic and optical properties of solid state and semiconductor materials.

Since joining the WPI faculty in 1978 he has developed an international reputation as a pioneer in solid state physics, a field that has helped propel extraordinary advances in the speed and power of computers, telecommunications systems, lasers, and other high-tech devices. In addition to exploring the quantum mechanical properties of condensed matter, Ram-Mohan has developed powerful computational tools that have made it possible to predict with great accuracy the properties of increasingly complex semiconductor and optoelectronic devices and to precisely control the design of these ubiquitous systems.

The director of the university's Center for Computational NanoScience, Ram-Mohan's work on high-energy physics, condensed matter, and semiconductor physics has resulted in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications that have garnered more than 3,800 citations. He is also the founder of wavefunction engineering, a method for specifying certain quantum properties of semiconductor heterostructuresassemblies of two dissimilar semiconductor materials that display unique electrical or optoelectronic properties. This innovative method arises from the application of the finite element method, or FEM, a numerical analysis technique used widely in engineering, to quantum heterostructures.

Ram-Mohan, recognized as one of the foremost authorities on FEM, described this new field in his landmark 2002 book, Finite Element and Boundary Element Applications to Quantum Mechanics. He is also the founder of Quantum Semiconductor Algorithms Inc., which he established to commercialize his software for designing quantum semiconductor heterostructures. In 2012 he was named a Coleman Fellow at WPI in recognition of his entrepreneurial experience and expertise.

Ram-Mohan's research has earned him numerous awards and honors, including election as a fellow of the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America, the American Vacuum Society, Australian Institute of Physics, and the United Kingdom Institute of Physics. He has received the Engineering Excellence Award of the Optical Society of America and the Department of the Air Force Certificate of Achievement, and served as the Clark Way Harrison Distinguished Visiting Professorship at Washington University in St. Louis in 2005. In 2008 he was awarded the Sarojini Damodaran Fellowship to deliver lectures at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.

WPI has recognized his research, teaching, and service with the Sigma Xi Senior Faculty Award for Research Excellence, the Board of Trustees' Award for Outstanding Creative Scholarship and Research, the Board of Trustees' Award for Outstanding Teaching, and the Chairmans Exemplary Faculty Prize.

Professors Arguello and Ram-Mohan will receive an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin during the AAAS annual meeting on Feb. 18, 2017, in Boston. They join four current AAAS fellows at WPI: Provost Bruce Bursten, Dean of Arts and Sciences Karen Kashmanian Oates, and biology professors David Adams and Pamela Weathers.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nations first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 45 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

Contact:

Michael Dorsey, Director of Research Communications

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts

508-831-5609, mwdorsey(at)wpi(dot)edu

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WorldWatch Plus powers FRS Global Security Search Today's global sanctions data, refreshed daily from more than 1,600 official sources.

International Screening Solutions, a global sanctions software and screening firm, today announced that its WorldWatch Plus global sanctions product has been integrated into the screening industry platform of FRS. This integration allows FRS to deliver industry-leading global sanctions and watch lists, adverse media and politically exposed persons (PEP) data to thousands of consumer reporting agencies and their clients. FRS delivers the service under the name Global Security Search, part of its DataLinX product line.

WorldWatch Plus is preferred in FCRA-regulated settings because it delivers current global sanctions information, refreshed daily from more than 1,600 official sources. In addition, WorldWatch Plus provides information from more than 1,100 PEP sources around the world, and has a growing archive of more than 5.4 million adverse media stories. The solution covers more than 200 countries.

We are excited and honored that FRS has chosen WorldWatch Plus to enhance its product offerings, said Ken Kunsman, chief marketing officer at ISS. With an increasingly global workforce and economy, todays global search is the logical evolution of yesterdays multi-state search.

WorldWatch Plus provides report capture and audit capabilities, multiple identifier result prioritization, and other tools to help companies comply with their FCRA-regulated screening programs. WorldWatch Plus also has separate instances to support due diligence operations, including an EU-specific instance for compliance with EU directives for data privacy.

"Providing the latest and most up-to-date information for the background screening needs of our valued clients and their customers has always been at the heart of the services that we strive to offer", said Phil Chapman, President at FRS. "We are extremely pleased to bring these new global search products with uniquely flexible configuration options to our clients and are excited about how these will help improve their businesses."

About FRS

As the background screening industry's most widely used technology, FRS offers B2B clients background screening solutions that attract and maintain top customers who demand accuracy and speed. The FRS suite of technology solutions has been expertly crafted over two decades to assist the users of FRS as they cater to their clients. FRS offers a comprehensive suite of flexible products and services for consumer reporting agencies (CRA), criminal research specialists (CRS) and provides the proven network that pulls all of the pieces together for their clients, the HR professionals. For more information, visit http://www.frssoftware.com.

About ISS

Founded in 2007, International Screening Solutions serves pre-employment and due diligence organizations in the United States and abroad. WorldWatch Plus was launched in 2015 to gather global sanctions, watch list, PEP and media data from thousands of sources for anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) programs. Clients used WorldWatch Plus to conduct more than 13 million global screens on individuals and business entities in 2016. Millions more are being monitored on daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly intervals.

For more information contact:

Ken Kunsman, ISS Chief Marketing Officer, +1 678-784-7640

Elaine Golden, FRS Director of Sales, (704) 282-2320
Pamela Kosanke I am grateful that these awards exist specifically to honor women in business. It is more important than ever before to celebrate the achievements of female leadership  we simply need more female mentors and champions to normalize our success at the top.

(PRWEB) November 21, 2016 -- Renters Warehouse is proud to celebrate the achievements of its Chief Marketing Officer Pamela Kosanke, who won three silver Stevie Awards for Women in Business on Friday, Nov. 18.

Pamela took home silver honors in the categories of Female Executive of the Year - Consumer Services  11 to 2,500 Employees; Woman of the Year  Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations; and Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year for Renters Warehouses Rent Estatecampaign.

I am proud to have been recognized for the work I've done at Renters Warehouse and within the Single Family Rental industry, Pamela said. And I am grateful that these awards exist specifically to honor women in business. It is more important than ever before to celebrate the achievements of female leadership  we simply need more female mentors and champions to normalize our success at the top.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the worlds top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations  public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2016 awards received entries from 31 nations and territories. Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 160 professionals worldwide who participated in the judging process this year. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Stevie Award winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women.

I could not be more proud of Pam for the honors she has received, says Kevin Ortner, CEO of Renters Warehouse. She is an incredibly talented individual who has helped shape our organization over the past several years. Its wonderful to see her being recognized in the industry and larger business community for her creativity, innovation and ability to execute on big ideas.

Renters Warehouse is one of the largest and most awarded residential property management companies in the U.S., managing more than 17,000 homes for over 12,000 investors across the country, and about $3 billion worth of residential real estate. Renters Warehouse is also now investing behind its new Portfolio Services Division that uniquely serves larger, mid- to institutional-level real estate investors with both centralized services and local market expertise and staff.

Pamela came to Renters Warehouse three years ago after more than 15 years of success in the marketing industry. She spent a dozen years in Marketing and Advertising with Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago, representing several blue chip companies across multiple industries like Kelloggs, McDonalds and Allstate Insurance before launching her own marketing consulting business and completing a short passion project as CMO of USA Rugby.

Earlier this year, Pamela was named among the top Women in Housing by MReport as part of its September 2016 special issue celebrating the accomplishments of women in the housing and mortgage industry.

Each award means something special to me as every one of them hits on a variety of roles and responsibilities that I play at Renters Warehouse, she says. It's true when people say 'marketing is everything,' so I wear many hats in navigating both internal and external communications and marketing. I am also a chief steward of our brand mission, and I work hard at achieving profitable growth through the compounding rewards of Rent Estate for our company, investors and clients.

Renters Warehouse exists to help homeowners and investors create wealth and financial freedom through Rent Estate. To learn more about Renters Warehouse or to find out how much your home will rent for, visit http://www.renterswarehouse.com today!

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About Renters Warehouse

Renters Warehouse is one of the fastest growing and highest reviewed residential property management companies in America, and the largest in Minnesota. Backed by growth equity investor and majority stakeholder Northern Pacific Group, and under the leadership of President and CEO Kevin Ortner, Renters Warehouse now manages more than $3 billion in residential real estate, servicing 12,000+ investors across 17,000+ residential homes in 32 markets and 18 states. NPG Managing Partner Scott Honour, who in 1999 was a founder of YapStone, a leading online rental property payment service provider, serves as Chairman. Renters Warehouse expertly serves everyday single-property homeowners as well as real estate investors. In 2015, the company officially trademarked the term Rent Estate to redefine the entire SFR (Single Family Rental) industry as more traditional real estate gives way to this new lucrative asset. Through their dedicated Portfolio Services Division led by Chief Investment Officer Anthony Cazazian, the company also brings professional, scalable and efficient single property management solutions to investment portfolios with both centralized services and local market expertise and staff. Not only has Renters Warehouse received the prestigious honor of being included on the Inc. 500 | 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America seven consecutive years in a row, it was also named one of the Best Places to Work in Minnesota (where they are headquartered) by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The company was also honored as a best place to work in Arizona (a centralized corporate services center) by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2013 and 2014, and achieved a spot on the prestigious 2016 Top Companies to Work for in AZ list. Nationwide, Renters Warehouse has been honored as one of America's "Best Places to Work" in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by Outside Magazine. Recognized as pioneers in real estate, business management and innovation, Renters Warehouse has been awarded 22 Business Stevie Awards both internationally and stateside. In 2016, Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) offering a wide array of services including operational risk assessments, assigned its MOR RV2 residential-vendor ranking to Renters Warehouse as a residential property manager, indicating that the company demonstrates proficiency in managing key areas of operational risk.

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
"My wife Keely encouraged us to start this annual service of remembrance. We recognize that the holiday season can be difficult for those experiencing grief and we hope this service helps bring comfort." states Phil Gunderson Past News Releases RSS "A Time For Angels"...

Gunderson Funeral Home and...

A Time For Angels will again be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church located at 239 North 11th Street in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Sunday December 4th at 1:30 pm. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services has annually sponsored this event since 1998.

Speakers Rev. David Grindberg with St. Olaf Lutheran Church & Monsignor Kevin McCoy with Holy Trinity Parish assist with the program. During the service, names of those being remembered are read and their family are presented with an angel ornament to take home as a keepsake.

This is the 18th year for the annual remembrance service and has grown to over 1,000 angels provided to the families of those remembered. Each year a new angel is specifically designed for the event.

My wife Keely encouraged us to start this annual service of remembrance. We recognize that the holiday season can be difficult for those experiencing grief and we hope this service helps bring comfort." states Phil Gunderson, Owner of Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Invitations are sent to the families Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services has served in the past year. However, it is an event open to the community as well."

Grief does not have a timeline so for those who have lost a loved one and would like to attend, they are encouraged to do so. Additional names to be remembered can be added by registering online on Gunderson Funeral Home's Facebook event page.

Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services is celebrating 50 years of service in 2016. Commenation of the 50 years was part of the planting of 50 trees in the Fort Dodge community. Located at 1615 North 15th Street, Fort Dodge, IA. Additional information is available by calling (515) 576-7128 and visiting http://www.gundersonfuneralhome.com. Follow them on Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn #ThisIsFortDodge
Visit www.PartnerAxis.com to learn more! The partner portal includes a plethora of well-organized information with functionality that will help any partner feel connected to Axiom.

Axiom Upgrades, celebrating 20 years in the channel business, continues to make strides improving its offerings to the partner community. Axioms dedication to solution providers is always evolving proven by the launch of PartnerAxis, Axioms new partner program. Phase 1 of this program offers a variety of services and information to help partners easily market Axiom products and grow their business alongside their objectives.

PartnerAxis was created with a focus on the partners. The goal is to provide tools to help support their business. When CEO, Keith Carpenter was asked the reason behind PartnerAxis he responded by saying: Our partners are very important to us, we wanted to provide more resources to help them drive their business. Axioms Director of Marketing, Danielle Feith added We understand the importance of our partners and we wanted to make it easier for them to sell Axiom. We truly want to provide our partners with the best partner program solution that is effective and easy to use.

The partner portal includes a plethora of well-organized information with functionality that will help any partner feel connected to Axiom. Resellers will have access to a variety of offerings ranging from opportunity registrations, product evaluation requests, email marketing tools, and ready to use co-branded collateral. This powerful tool intends to enable partners to easily execute business objectives and goals with minimal effort and time.

Axiom remains dedicated to all products and services and will always be loyal to their partners and the reseller community. If you would like to learn more or register for PartnerAxis please visit http://www.partneraxis.com. To connect directly with a support team member, please email PartnerAxis(at)axiomupgrades(dot)com.

About Axiom

Established in 1995, Axiom continues to be the leading provider of customer-focused networking connectivity, storage and IT memory computing upgrade solutions. Pace-setting technologies and stringent manufacturing position Axiom to deliver the highest level of compatibility and consistency. Advanced testing ensures Axiom products are 100-percent guaranteed compatible and comply with all industry standards. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Axiom is among the fastest growing memory, storage and fiber-optic connectivity product suppliers in the corporate market segment.

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While point programs are not new, the personal website, its immediacy, and customization is unique to the area," said John Akens, owner of O'Hara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

A new customer rewards program announced by O'Hara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram provides each participant with a private website, personalized digital mailbox, and electronic storage space for all vehicle service records. It also allows customers to directly contact O'Hara dealership managers online with questions and concerns as well as access to the company's various social media sites.

The program's website is also a channel for registrants to receive benefits based on a redeemable point system. Points are divided between sales and service. A ratio of one point per dollar spent on parts or service can be applied to later maintenance savings or put toward the purchase of a new vehicle. Points are also awarded for activities like completing an online survey, a first service appointment, or even one's birthday. The private online mailbox allows coupons or other customized offers to be sent directly to the user, adding a personal touch. All site features are accessible on any Apple or Android device through a free download including access to individual vehicle service history as well as current inventory and special vehicle offers.

"While point programs are not new, the personal website, its immediacy, and customization is unique to the area," said John Akens, owner of O'Hara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. "Once registered, all a customer has to do is visit our main website and click the page's rewards icon. Log in with your personal e-mail and private password that you create." The dealership has served Clinton, nearby Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Jackson since 1994. Akens bought the business five years ago and is now its sole owner. He's a lifelong resident of southeastern Michigan.

O'Hara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is located at 1111 W. Michigan Ave., Clinton, Mich., 49236. They can be reached at 517-456-6555, or visit their website at http://www.oharachryslerdodgejeepram.com.

O'Hara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram sells new and pre-owned vehicles representing these brands and maintains a state-of-the-art service center. It also offers expedient oil changes through its Mopar express lane service, online financing, and credit approval as well as an online trade value estimator. The dealership retains the name of its now retired founder, Bill O'Hara, who opened it 22 years ago.
Lifeline Chiropractic Clinic and Doctors on Liens are bringing Silver Lake and Atwater Village high quality chiropractic care on a lien basis. It is very, very difficult to find a doctor with the years of experience treating injures after an accident that the Tchobanians have accumulated, especially on a lien basis. Both Dr. Seza Tchobanian and her brother truly stand out in their field.

Doctors on Liens is devoted to connecting people injured in an accident with well-qualified doctors who can provide the high quality treatment their patients need. For the last twenty-four years, Doctors on Liens has offered the best chiropractors, orthopedists, physical therapists, surgeons, and much more all on a lien basis for personal injury and workers compensation cases. The most recent addition to their comprehensive network is Lifeline Chiropractic Clinic in Atwater Village.

Both Dr. Gary Tchobanian D.C. and Dr. Seza Tchobanian attended the renowned Cleveland Chiropractic College, and their practice, Lifeline Chiropractic Clinic, is centrally located in northern Los Angeles. With over 45 years of personal injury experience between the pair, both chiropractors have perfected their adjustment techniques to help those suffering from an accident more quickly and effectively than ever. Dr. Gary Tchobanian and Dr. Seza Tchobanian utilize various chiropractic methods including diversified technique, soft tissue therapy, postural balance, and nutritional therapy. Dr. Seza Tchobanian is also fluent in English, Armenian, French, Arabic, and Spanish to better meet the needs of her patients. Lifeline Chiropractic Clinic also provides the following guarantees:



Detailed and accurate documentation of injuries and med-legal reports completed within two weeks of discharge

Thorough communication with personal injury law firms to ensure legal cases progress as quickly as possible

Same day and next day appointments to provide prompt relief

Easy office access with a location close to several major freeways

Says Doctors on Liens President, Samantha Parker, It is very, very difficult to find a doctor with the years of experience treating injures after an accident that the Tchobanians have accumulated, especially on a lien basis. Both Dr. Seza Tchobanian and her brother truly stand out in their dedication to continued education and willingness to learn new techniques and treatments. Additionally, patients are really going to love the family atmosphere they have facilitated in the office and the staff is beyond friendly!

Doctors on Liens is an innovator in the medical lien specialty referral industry and has forged close relationships with both legal firms and medical practices over the past 20 years. Doctors on Liens features medical specialties including board certified orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, general practitioners, psychologists, and chiropractors. Each medical office is independently owned and operated and all appointments can be conveniently scheduled directly with the facility.

Doctors on Liens lists medical professionals who offer medical services on a lien basis throughout California and Nevada.
More home fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. The vast majority of those fires -- 87% -- are caused by cooking. Students Emma Spencer and Scott Johnson have invented "The Fire Mitt," a clever way to quickly extinguish cooking fires.

The Fire Mitt is an oven mitt that quickly and easily unfolds into a fire blanket which can be deployed to put out a cooking fire. "When a fire breaks out in the kitchen, people need to grab something and put it out in a hurry," explained Spencer, "Many homes have fire extinguishers, but most people do not know where their fire extinguisher is or how to use it." "Something easy and accessible is needed," noted Johnson, and we realized that everyone keeps oven mitts in their kitchen and they usually know where they are as they are cooking.

The Fire Mitt won the Grand Prize of $50,000, plus an all-expense-paid patent application, in The Paradigm Challenge, one of the largest youth innovation competitions in the world. The competition challenged students to use STEM skills plus kindness, creativity, and collaboration to generate new ideas to prevent injuries and fatalities from home fires  Americas #1 disaster threat.

We are excited about winning the $50,000 so we can pay for college, said Spencer, but we are even more excited to have won an all-expense-paid patent application because now we can ensure that the Fire Mitt will make it to market and into peoples homes. Spencer and Johnson, both of whom are from Bothell, Washington, now attend Arizona State University and Mesa College, respectively.

Project Paradigm, the private foundation that created, funds, and runs The Paradigm Challenge, is committed to turning winning ideas into reality. We want to empower students to solve real-world problems and, when they do, we will help implement the best ideas, said Jeff Richardson, Project Paradigms founder and CEO. The Fire Mitt patent application is filed in the inventors names and they retain all the intellectual property rights.

Over 50,000 students participated in this years inaugural Paradigm Challenge. The number of youth who stepped up to accept our Challenge to help save lives truly is inspiring, said Richardson. Youth have an innate sense of kindness and a natural ability to innovate for good, noted Michelle Lewis, Project Paradigms CollaborationOfficer, and when presented with a specific problem, the results can be amazing.

Spencer and Johnson received their $50,000 Grand Prize check at a black-tie awards ceremony at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony was attended by the other 1st place teams vying for the Grand Prize, including a team comprised of students from India and New Zealand. It was great to meet the other winning teams, said Johnson. The overwhelming feeling at the awards was kindness. All of us had come together to use kindness and our own talents to help others.

The theme for this years new Paradigm Challenge is the reduction of waste in homes, schools, communities, and/or around the world. The deadline is May 1, 2017 and youth aged 4 to 18 are encouraged to participate and make a difference in the world. There is no cost to participate. Lesson plan videos and supporting materials are available on The Paradigm Challenge website.

About the Paradigm Challenge: The Paradigm Challenge is a new annual competition created by Project Paradigm in collaboration with the American Red Cross and supported by a coalition of partners, including Youth Changing the World and the National Youth Leadership Council. The theme of the competition will change annually.

About Project Paradigm

Project Paradigm, a national private foundation headquartered in Los Angeles, California, aims to identify, support, and collaborate with passionate individuals and organizations to inspire, lead, and facilitate paradigm shifts in the approaches to global challenges. Learn more at projectparadigm.org/founder. Or like us on Facebook and Twitter (@ParadigmChlleng).
Sheila Kloefkorn Joins US Lead Network's Board Sheila is a business growth and marketing expert of the digital community. US Lead Network is excited to welcome her to our advisory board!

Board Developer is pleased to announce the installment of Sheila Kloefkorn, founder and CEO of KEO Marketing Inc, on US Lead Networks board of advisors. A leading healthcare online marketing company, US Lead Network provides quality screened leads (prospective patients) for dental and medical practices nationwide.

Kloefkorns experience includes more than 25 years in developing and executing innovative marketing strategies both online and offline. Improving marketing and advertising approaches internationally, KEO Marketing Inc is a Phoenix based business-to-business marketing agency. Her extensive background also includes being the former Vice President of a New York youth marketing agency that consulted Fortune 500 clients in engaging young adults.

Sheila is a business growth and marketing expert of the digital community. US Lead Network is excited to welcome her to our advisory board, states Founder and CEO, David Greene MD.

Kloefkorn holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wyoming and an MA in Education from Bowling Green State University. Over the years Kloefkorn has been awarded numerous honors, including Best Integrated Marketing Campaign by the American Marketing Association, and was named a Top Western U.S. Women Business Leader by Forbes. In addition to be being recognized by Forbes, she recently accepted an exclusive, invitation-only position as a member of the Forbes Agency Council.

Im excited about utilizing the strengths of Board Developer to further the growth of US Lead Network, states Kloefkorn.

Jim Hayden, Board Developer CEO, remarks, Sheila brings a level of success that will be valuable in extending the reach of US Lead Network. I am confident that Sheila strengthens the breadth of talent and wealth of knowledge Board Developer is known for providing businesses.

Board Developer is a top international consulting firm that specializes in determining and meeting the needs of companies. With high profile clients around the country, Board Developer strategically assembles boards and provides clients with access to a broad range of services and consultants to attain desired growth. For more information visit http://boarddeveloper.com or call (602) 635-6161.
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Bookstores open in Louisiana and Pennsylvania; a Japanese bookstore chain preps for its Texas debut; a Christian bookseller works to stop sex trafficking; and more.

Arts Bookshop Opens in Philly: Cofounders Nerissa Cooney, Lauren Downing, Kayla Romberger, Gee Wesley, Ricky Yanas, and Joel Evey envision Ulises, a not-for-profit bookstore in a converted garage, as a space for exhibitions, lectures, conversations, and other programs organized around quarterly themes, the first one being Active Voice. Although at first glance the name might seem a tribute to James Joyce, the store is named after Mexican poet and conceptual artist Ulises Carrion.

Japanese Bookstore Chain Coming to Dallas: Kinokuniya USA is launching two new stores in Texas early next year: one in Carrollton in January, and one in Plano, inside the Mituwa Marketplace, in February. Both stores will carry a wide selection of newly released and bestselling Japanese titles along with stationery and other merchandise. With the addition of the Dallas stores, Kinokuniya will have 12 stores in the U.S.

New Christian Bookstore Owners Fight Sex Trafficking: Since purchasing Vine and Branches in Lodi, Calif., Lance and Laurie Coffman have added a cafe to raise money to stop sex trafficking in Central Valley. Laurie Coffmans goal is to build safe houses outside the city. Meantime, she has begun to collect used clothing for women and children who escape trafficking.

Ribbon-Cutting for B&N at ULM: The University of Louisiana Monroe is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 22 for the $17.4 million, 88,000 sq. ft. Sandel Hall, which includes a newly renovated Barnes & Noble, the official campus bookstore.

Westhampton Beach Books & Books to Close: For a variety of personal reasons, including the desire to retire to other pursuits, to travel more extensively, and to spend time with extended family in Virginia, bookstore founders and owners Denise Berthiaume and Jack McKeown announced that they will close the six year-old bookstore on Saturday December 3. Berthiaume is chair of Verso Advertising; prior to open the bookstore McKeown was CEO of Perseus Books Groups and held executive positions at HarperCollins.
Two of the countrys most iconic bookstores are about to change hands, Village Books and Paper Dreams in Bellingham, Wash., and Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe in Washington, D.C.s Dupont Circle.

Kramerbooks has already begun an expansion as part of the transition. Later this week it will open an 800 sq. ft. childrens book annex next door in what had previously been Willie Ts Lobster Shack.

As reported by the Washington Post, 33-year-old Steve Salis, cofounder of the local chain &pizza, which recently received $25 million in venture capital to expand to New York City, will take over the 40-year-old bookstore and restaurant in the first half of 2017. Cofounder David Tenney will retain part ownership.

The childrens area is only the beginning of Kramerbookss expansion, which is intended to combine the restaurant with the bookstore, which currently have separate entrances. Over the next 18 months Salis also plans to add a coffee bar, increase the events space, and grow the cookbooks, history, and nonfiction sections.

On January 1 Chuck and Dee Robinson, who founded Village Books in 1980, will transfer ownership to the stores management teamhusband and wife Paul Hanson, general manager, and Kelly Evert, who handles general management; and manager Sarah Hutton, who was the stores childrens book buyer for a number of years.

Village Books had an expansion of its own when it opened a satellite store in nearby Lynden last holiday season.

Chuck Robinson will continue to consult with the stores over the next few years and to direct special projects. He also intends to do some business consulting with bookstores and other retail businesses. Both he and Dee Robinson will continue to be involved with the Chuckanut Radio Hour.

A combined reception for the new owners and farewell to the Robinsons will take place at the Fairhaven store on Saturday, February 4, and at the Lynden location on Sunday, February 5. Evert, Hanson, and Hutton are also planning a series of meet-and-greets over coffee and pastries at both stores during the month of February.
The Cook County medical examiner identified the girl who died Saturday evening as Adriana Douglas of Highland Park, Michigan. Police say authorities responded to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Alsip on reports of an unresponsive person. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital where she died.

The medical examiner's office says the cause and manner of the girl's death were to be released later. Police say they are investigating but don't suspect foul play.
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL  First Army will host the Rock Island Arsenal National American Indian Heritage Observance at 1 p.m. Monday at Heritage Hall.

The keynote speaker will be U.S. Army Maj. (Ret.) Jo Ann Schedler, a member of the Mohican Nation-Stockbridge-Munsee Community based in Wisconsin. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Marquette University and a master of science in management from the College of Business at Cardinal Stretch University.

Ms. Schedler retired in 1995 after working as an RN, clinical nurse supervisor, for Milwaukee County for more than 24 years. She returned to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to be the Stockbridge-Munsee tribal services director and director of the Stockbridge-Munsee Health and Wellness Center.

She was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and retired as a major in 2004 after 20 years of service. In 1985, she became one of the founding board members of Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee; she also is a founding member of the Mohican Veterans. She has served on the tribe's enrollment committee, historic preservation committee, editorial board and pow wow committee.

A food sampling also is planned at 12:30 p.m. before the program.
CHICAGO  Central States Development Partners Inc., which is headquartered in Rock Island, has received $45 million in federal funding to spur economic and community development in distressed and low-income communities, according to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

The funding was part of a $620 million package distributed among 11 entities in Illinois, with the others all headquartered in Chicago.

Organized in 2009, Central States Development Partners Inc. is a nationwide community development entity with a primary mission to serve low-income communities and low-income individuals. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, will provide resources for local jobs, community facilities and safe and affordable housing.
Today is Monday, Nov. 21, the 326th day of 2016. There are 40 days left in the year.

1866 -- 150 years ago: Miss Holcomb was injured when Ed Heflins team broke away and his buggy capsized as they were on their way to the GAR dance.

1891 -- 125 years ago: B.F. Thomas Co. opened a new meat market in the Reynolds Block.

1916 -- 100 years ago: A. J. Lindstrom, of Rock Island, was elected treasurer of the Quincy Diocese of the Episcopal Church.

1941 -- 75 years ago: The Moline Swedish Lodge voted to sell its building at 13th Street and 5th Avenue.

1966 -- 50 years ago: Some fish industry executives predicted today that the lifting of the Friday meat ban for Roman Catholics would have a detrimental short-range effect on the industry.

1991 -- 25 years ago: Franciscan Medical Center this morning unveiled plans to build a new Womens Health Center at 7th Street and John Deere Road in Moline. Construction of the $1.7 million project will start in the spring and should be finished next fall.
A four-minute meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lima, Peru, might have been be the final encounter between the two leaders as tensions continue over Ukraine, Syria, human rights and the U.S. presidential election.

The brief meeting came as Asia-Pacific leaders gathered for a Sunday morning session. There is no plan for second meeting, a Putin spokesman said.

It was the first meeting between the two since Donald Trumps won the election. During the campaign, Democrats accused Russia of interfering in a way that helped Trump, the Republican nominee. U.S. intelligence officials have tied the Russian government to the hacking and subsequent leaking of Democrats emails that hurt Hillary Clintons campaign.

A summary of the brief and informal discussion, provided by the White House, said Obama restated U.S. and allies commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, urged Putin to uphold Russias commitments under the Minsk agreements, and said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov must keep working with other nations community to end the war in Syria.

Bombing by Syrias government has intensified in recent days. The U.S. has criticized Russia for backing the Syrian regime in a civil war that has killed more than 300,000 people.

Obama has called on Trump to stand up to Putin when Russia pursues policies that are at odds with American interests. Trump displayed an affinity to Russia and Putin during his campaign, and the Russian leader has said Trumps election is an opportunity to restore the relationship between the two world powers.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that in his November 14 telephone call with President-elect Donald Trump, the two agreed to work for constructive cooperation. More likely, Putin is eager to engage but not ready to deal.

Although Russia is a great power, he may have an inflated sense of its importance and expect one-sided U.S. concessions. If so, diplomacy could run into headwinds early in the Trump administration.

One obstacle in dealing with the Kremlin is that its positions are sometimes not pragmatic. Despite Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Putin claimed last week that it's not our fault U.S. relations were poor.

In suspending implementation of a U.S. plutonium disposition accord in October, Putin set out unrealistic preconditions for its resumption. One was reduction of U.S. military presence in a number of countries on NATO's eastern flank, in effect requiring a reversal of the main decision at the alliance's summit last July in Warsaw.

A second demand was that America jettison all sanctions imposed in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and, incredibly, provide compensation for the damage they have caused.

Beyond this problem, what kind of Russia can Trump expect to face?

First, Russia is a declining economic power. This erodes its leverage with the West, a vital source of capital and technology. Since 2012, Russia's economic growth has slowed, partly due to wasteful state control of business, which soared from 35 percent of gross domestic product in 2005 to 70 percent in 2015. Combined with lower oil prices and Ukraine-related sanctions, the result is prolonged economic stagnation.

Trump will contend with a Kremlin that seems nervous about its domestic support.

Second, Trump will contend with a Kremlin that seems nervous about its domestic support. Declining household income is causing popular angst, and a rigged Duma election last September exposed voter apathy.

One sign of apparent unease was a surprise shift last spring of 400,000 internal troops to Putin's direct control. Another is the expanding clampdown on independent media and civil society. The arrest on November 15 of Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, allegedly on bribery grounds, hints at intensified Kremlin infighting.

Trump will face a Russia whose foreign policy has led to isolation and criticism. Although the intervention in Syria has bolstered the regime of Bashar al-Assad and held the line on the battlefield, political costs to Russia are high.

On October 10, following attacks on hospitals and other civilian targets in eastern Aleppo, French President Francois Hollande said Russia might face war crimes prosecution for its actions. Undermining ceasefires negotiated by its own diplomats, Russia's forces have joined Assad's to batter the city. An intensified onslaught may now be underway.

U.S. interests in Syria, and potential flashpoints with Russia, may diminish as the Islamic State group (ISIS) loses territory, even though the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, which now calls itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, is expanding. Russia too may lose some interest if the civil war persists and prospects for long-term military basing remain uncertain.

Ukraine may pose Trump's toughest test. Recently, Putin said Russia had no intention of attacking anyone, but Russian proxies and forces continue to fuel a simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine.

In a summit of the Minsk peace process last month with Putin, Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel lamented that no miracles had emerged. Western support for economic, or sectoral, sanctions on Russian entities remains strong, as does the West's commitment to end them if Moscow pulls out of eastern Ukraine.

Trump must deal with a festering Russian violation of the 1987 treaty that bans intermediate-range nuclear missile forces. Diplomacy to resolve the problem has come up short, and presidential-level attention is required.

Some congressional leaders are charging Russia with a material breach. Moscow also opposes U.S. missile defense deployments in NATO's eastern flank even though they do not threaten Russian forces and are meant to hedge against potential Iranian threats.

Russia's cyberespionage and political influence operations have led to bipartisan anger in Washington. The Kremlin may think they helped tip the balance last June in the Brexit vote, and in the Trump victory.

Finally, Trump will take office as both Russia and America are modernizing their strategic forces. Previous leaders have negotiated arms control treaties to lessen nuclear threats. Unless Russia ends its Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty violation, a new treaty would not likely pass muster in the U.S. Senate.

More than any other issue, the coercion of sovereign neighbors has blighted Russia's ties with the West.

In April 2005, Putin lamented that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster. Future historians may conclude that irredentist wars on Ukraine and Georgia were a bigger calamity for Moscow. They have alienated peoples with longstanding ties to Russia, and caused both countries to gravitate closer to Europe and the West.

More than any other issue, the coercion of sovereign neighbors has blighted Russia's ties with the West.

Relations with Russia involve opportunities as well as challenges. Two-way investment and trade, and cooperation on the International Space Station, help stabilize relations. The end of economic sanctions would bring more benefit.

Last month, Putin said great powers pursued their interests in a multilateral format. He is right. The great powers sanctioned Iran and negotiated a pact to delay its ability to build an atomic weapon.

If Russia were to build on this momentum and act more as a cooperative great powernot a spoilerrelations with America in the Trump presidency could improve.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. William Courtney is an adjunct senior fellow at RAND and was U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georgia, and a U.S.-Soviet nuclear testing commission.

This commentary originally appeared on Newsweek on November 20, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Many Western officials worry that the strengthening of ties between Russia and Turkey signifies an increasing eastward drift in Turkish policy and a weakening of Turkey's ties to the West. The signing of a major new gas agreement with Russia during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Istanbul last month has reinforced these concerns and has raised a number of important questions. How serious and durable is the rapprochement? Does it represent a long-term restructuring of the security order on NATO's southern flank or simply a short-term attempt for both countries to gain greater diplomatic freedom to maneuver?

The end of the Cold War and the disappearance of the Soviet threat had a profound impact on Turkish foreign policy and relations with Russia. Geostrategically, it removed the main rationale for the U.S.-Turkish security partnership and reduced Turkey's dependence on the United States for its security. At the same time, it opened up new diplomatic opportunities in areas that had been neglected or were off limits to Turkish policy during the Cold War. No longer a flank state, Turkey found itself at the crossroads of a new strategic landscape that included areas where it had strong historical, political and economic interests  particularly the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Turkey sought to exploit the new flexibility and greater maneuvering room provided by the new, more open post-Cold War international environment to expand economic ties with its neighbors. This was part of a broader process of adapting Turkish foreign policy to the new strategic challenges posed by the end of the Cold War. In the last two decades this process has gained considerable momentum, especially in the economic field. Today Russia is Turkey's number one trading partner and its largest supplier of natural gas. Industrial projects in Russia account for about a fourth of all projects carried out by Turkish construction contractors around the world. Russian investment in Turkey, especially in the energy, tourism and telecommunications sectors, has also increased significantly in recent years.

Political ties have gradually improved as well. In December 2004, President Putin became the first Russian head of state to visit Turkey in 32 years. The visit was crowned by a joint declaration on the Deepening Friendship and Multi-Dimensional Partnership between the two countries, which set out an agenda for future cooperation in a number of cultural, economic and political areas. Since then, high-level political and economic contacts have visibly increased.

At the same time, Turkey's relations with the United States and Europe have become more strained and difficult. Sharp differences over Iraq and the Kurdish issue have been compounded by differences over Iran and most recently Syria. These growing strains with Washington and the stagnation of Turkey's relations with the EU gave important new impetus to the opening to Moscow....

The remainder of this commentary is available on nationalinterest.org.

F. Stephen Larrabee is a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, its Distinguished Chair Emeritus in European Security, and a member of the Pardee RAND Graduate School faculty.

This commentary originally appeared on The National Interest on November 21, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Televisa, TV Azteca and America Movil have seen an increase in credit risk due to Donald Trumps proposed cancellation or renegotiation of NAFTA.





According to a Fitch Ratings Report , the increased trade protectionist measures pose varying degrees of credit risk to Mexican corporate bond issuers, while the Mexican peso has plunged to historic lows following Trumps win.Mexican industrial activity is strongly linked to the US economy given the countries' geographic proximity. Mexico has functioned as a natural industrial hub to the US under the NAFTA framework, said Jay Djemal, director and head of Latin America corporate credit research, Fitch. Given this link, protectionist policies, if enacted by US authorities, and FX risk could impact some Mexican corporate credit profiles. However, other companies might benefit from some of the proposed policies such as increased infrastructure spending.According to the ratings report, the companies to get the most negative impact are America Movil (Mexicos leading telco, and owner of the Claro brands), Grupo Televisa and TV Azteca, leading free-to-air (FTA) TV groups and Mexicos largest content producers . Also within telecoms, Axtel, Famsa, ODM and Servicios Corporativos Javer are in danger, as all have significant degrees of exposure to the devaluation of the Mexican Peso against the USD.Moreover, Fibra Terrafina and Fibra Uno are exposed to potential protectionist measures due to their ownership of industrial parks, which serve the needs of many multinational companies and Mexican exporters.Following an internal memo obtained by CNN last week, renegotiating or withdrawing from NAFTA will be a top priority in the first 200 days of the Trump Administration.
Australians are signing up to Amazon Prime Video services in the UK or the US to receive original series on-demand, such as the forthcoming show The Grand Tour.





It had been rumoured that the Amazon video-on-demand ( VOD ) service would launch in Australia to coincide with the launch of The Grand Tour - a new motoring show featuring sacked Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, along with colleagues Richard Hammond and James May. However, as the 12-part series made its debut for Amazon Prime members on 18 November in UK, USA, Germany and Japan, it became clear that the service had not arrived Down Under.We have not launched Amazon Prime in Australia. The service some Australians have signed-up for is the US or UK Prime Membership, which provides free, fast shipping within the US or UK, as well as access to some Amazon Originals, such as The Grand Tour, where we have the global rights, Amazon said in a statement. Amazon Prime Video is the second largest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in the world with an estimated 57 million to 61 million subscribers, while Netflix subscribers now number around 75 million.The e-commerce giant is yet to launch trading services in Australia, and would face competition from local SVOD service Stan, as well as global player Netflix. Australias third subscription streaming service Presto, a joint venture between pay-TV operator Foxtel and Seven West Media is currently being wound up, calling into question the size of the Australian SVOD service.
To celebrate World TV Day, the leading producers around the world have released data showing the scale and popularity of television as it continues to live at the heart of the worlds media consumption.





The association representing global TV companies says that the aim of World Television Day is to show that TV is sharpening the worlds focus on major issues, providing a platform for freedom of expression and cultural diversity, nurturing education and uniting people around once-in-a-lifetime experiences.In the US, the data from the associations showed that TV reaches 210 million people every day, who collectively watch 840,000,000 hours of TV per day, while across its northern border, Canadians watch 130 million hours of TV every day and the average TV campaign in Canada delivered 317 million impressions. In the UK, so far this year the average viewer in the UK will have watched over 1,300 hours of TV. This is the equivalent of watching all seasons of Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black and House of Cards more than ten times over. In addition, every night in the UK there are 17 million conversations about TV advertising.In the burgeoning Asia-Pacific market, 16 million Australians watch a total of more than four billion minutes of broadcast TV every day while the Chinese watch an average of 251 minutes of TV per day (2015), and in 2014 created 3,277,400 hours of TV content.Back in Europe, Germans watched an average of 223 minutes of TV per day, or 16 billion minutes in total, and in France, 43.5 million people in France tune into TV on a television set while 33 million Spaniards watch TV each day, as do 25 million people in Poland.
MIEL Group founder owes $3 million to Sberbank - court

MOSCOW, November 21 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has granted a lawsuit by Sberbank seeking to include a 196 million-ruble ($3 million) debt of founder of one of the largest federal chains of real estate agencies in Russia MIEL Group, Grigory Kulikov, who stands charged with multi-million embezzlement, on the list of creditors' claims, according to court records.

In mid-June, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Kulikov bankrupt.

Bankruptcy procedure has been initiated against Kulikov as an individual entrepreneur. Later all assets belonging to the businessman must be sold out and the raised funds should be returned to creditors.

In early June, Kulikov was arrested in Latvia by request of the Russian General Prosecutors Office. He faces extradition to Russia.

Russian investigators allege that Kulikov is responsible for large scale embezzlement of funds from the investors of elite settlement Barvikha-Village. The cost of the settlement, according to MIEL Group, is estimated at 4.17 billion rubles ($64 million). Main investigative Directorate of Moscow police charged Kulikov in absentia. Later Kulikov was arrested in absentia. He was put on the Interpol international wanted list.
Russian banker Gitelson appeals recovery of $78.1 mln

MOSCOW, November 21 (RAPSI)  Former chairman of Inkasbank Alexander Gitelson appealed a ruling of the Commercial Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region over recovery of 5.06 billion rubles ($77.6 million) from him on a lawsuit filed by the bank, court documents read on Monday.

Gitelson appealed the November 3 ruling of the Thirteenth Commercial Court of Appeals. The court also granted an application lodged by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) to collect 6.01 billion rubles ($92 million) from another ex-board chairperson, Tatyana Lebedeva, and 284.1 million rubles ($4.4 mln) from her deputy Lyudmila Samorukova. The court held that actions committed by Gitelson, Lebedeva and Samorukova between February 1, 2007 and February 19, 2009 had caused a 7.49-billion-ruble damage ($115 million) to Inkasbank and led to its bankruptcy.

Lebedeva and Samorukova earlier also appealed the ruling.

In July 2014, the St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region Commercial Court, upon request of the Deposit Insurance Agency, the bankrupt banks insolvency administrator, charged Gitelson and two other former top managers of Inkasbank with subsidiary liability. In December 2014, a court of appeals upheld the ruling. The ex-bank managers appealed the rulings in a court of cassation. In May 2015, the Commercial Court of North-West District reversed the lower courts rulings and ordered reconsideration of the case.

Inkasbank was declared bankrupt in May 2009. The banks administrator conducted an inquiry into the circumstances of the banks insolvency. As a result, the Russian Federal Security Service received a motion to open a criminal case (premeditated bankruptcy) against the banks former management.

Gitelson was arrested in Austria in April 2013 and extradited to Russia in December.

In March 2015, Gitelson was convicted and sentenced to three years for embezzling over 2 billion rubles ($30.7 million) in public funds from Inkasbank. A court in St. Petersburg also fined the banker 500,000 rubles ($7,700).

In April 2011, Moscows Meshchansky District Court sentenced Gitelson in absentia to five years in prison and a 1 million ruble ($15,300) fine for embezzling 495 million rubles ($7.6million) from his acquaintance, MP Adnan Muzykayev.
Antonov aircraft company ordered to pay $2.8 mln to Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW, November 21 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court ruled on Monday in favor of Russias Defense Ministry and ordered Antonov aircraft plant in Ukraine to pay 180 million rubles ($2.8 million), according to court records.

The Defense Ministry filed the suit in July 2015 seeking 357.4 million rubles ($5.5 million) from Ukrainian plant in interest payments.

Antonov is implicated in several other disputes in Russia.

Notably, Antonov won a $2.9 million judgement in July against Aviacor Aviation Plant in the Commercial Court of Samara Region. The trademark infringement suit was heard behind closed doors.

The judgement was upheld in October by the Eleventh Commercial Court of Appeals.

However, Antonov failed to collect 146.4 million rubles in royalty payments under a license agreement from OJSC Voronezh Aircraft Joint-Stock Company. The Commercial Court of Voronezh Region dismissed the suit.
Russian government proposes life sentence for endangering doctors lives

MOSCOW, November 21 (RAPSI)  Russias government has drafted a bill introducing life sentence for infringement on life of medical personnel.

The document has been posted on the federal website of planned legislation.

Under the bill, endangering the life of a health worker connected with discharge of his or her professional duties on rendering medical aid would result in prison terms varying from 12 to 20 years plus further supervised release for up to 2 years or life imprisonment.

Punishment for the use of not life threatening force or threat of violence against doctors would range from fines of up to 200,000 rubles ($3,000) or a convicts income over the period of up to 18 months to prison sentence of up to 5 years.

Use of violence dangerous to health would be punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Amendments are proposed to the Criminal Code of Russia.

If adopted, the bill is expected to become effective on July 1, 2018.

Crimes against healthcare professionals who were on active duty at the time were on the rise recently. Russias Interior Ministry is investigating criminal cases launched over intended infliction of light, medium and grave harm to health, battery, threat of murder, robbery.

This August a radiography specialist was beaten in his cabinet in Orekhovo-Zuyevo town of Moscow Region for refusal to see a patient who jumped the queue. Initially investigators have launched a case over intended infliction of medium harm to health, but the case was later reclassified as threat of murder.
European Union may extend sanctions against Russia - report

MOSCOW, November 21 (RAPSI)  The European Union may extend economic sanctions against Russia, which are to expire on January 31, 2017, for another six months, Bloomberg reported Monday citing unidentified sources.

The decision will be passed at an EU-Ukraine summit in Brussels on November 24, according to Bloomberg.

EU governments may extend anti-Russian sanctions because the key condition set for lifting them, namely full compliance with a pact aimed at stopping the armed conflict in Ukraine, has yet to be fulfilled, Bloomberg quoted European officials as having said.

In the spring of 2014, the EU, the United States and Canada slapped the first sanctions on Russian companies, banks and politicians, freezing their bank accounts, denying them entry and refusing to buy Russian products. The move was linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

In June 2015, the EU foreign ministers approved amendments to the EU decision on sectoral restrictions, thereby extending economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2016. In 2016, the penalties were expanded again.

In response, in August 2014, the Russian government introduced a year-long ban on agricultural imports from the EU, the US, Canada and several other countries that imposed sanctions on Russia. Blacklisted food imports included meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables. In late June 2015, Russia extended the embargo until August 5, 2016, and also excluded young oysters and mussels, any cheese and limited non-lactose dairy products.
Since 1980, the U.S. has experienced a sharp decline in the number of companies and their employees participating in defined benefit pension plans. In such plans, the employer is legally obligated to provide its employees with a defined schedule of retirement benefits. But these plans became disfavored after companies were required to disclose their unfunded liabilities for promised retirement benefits.

By contrast, defined benefit pensions are still prevalent in the US public sector, in states and cities. Unfortunately, the unfunded liabilities of these defined benefit pensions in the public sector are huge. In 2016, for example, the total unfunded liabilities of state defined benefit plans approached $1 trillion.

Nevertheless, public sector unions understandably resist the move to a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k) plan. In such a plan, employees and sometimes their employer) contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, which are invested according to the employees' choices. However, the employees bear the risk that their contributions and investments do not generate enough retirement income.

Thus, the challenge is to develop a third type of retirement plan, which manages risk better than a traditional defined contribution plan, while operating at the lower costs of a defined benefit plan. I call this third way a "collective retirement plan," based on a model from the Netherlands.

The key to a collective retirement plan is to invest all employer and employee contributions in one collective pool - with the investment strategies of defined benefit plans, and therefore much lower costs than most defined contribution plans. This type of collective retirement plan would have several key advantages.

First, a collective pool will cost a fraction of the expenses of the average mutual fund offered in a 401(k) plan. That's because collective investing can be done by pension experts at institutional rates for one large and diversified pool. In addition, collective investing would save on the administrative costs of explaining various investment alternatives to employees.

Second, the investment choices of a collective retirement plan will be superior to those of the average participant in a 401(k) plan. Many participants put all of their plan contributions into inappropriate vehicles for long-term investing for retirement - such as a money market fund or a risky stock fund. And many participants have an uncanny ability to shift investments at just the wrong time.

Instead, in a collective retirement plan, independent experts would construct an investment portfolio with a reasonable return at a relatively low risk and cost. In my view, that portfolio should be a balanced fund, with roughly 60percent of its assets in a diversified US stock index fund and the other 40percent in a diversified US bond index fund - rebalanced each year. Such a portfolio has earned a real return over 6percent , with relatively low volatility, during most periods of 20 to 30 years - the appropriate investment horizon for a retirement plan.

Third, a collective retirement plan would not require the employer, a state or city, to recognize an unfunded pension liability on its balance sheet. Rather, the investment risk associated with the plan would be managed by the trustees of the collective retirement plan based on a contingent reserve and other measures. In specific, the trustees would establish a "probable" benefit schedule for retirees based on the amount and timing of their contributions, plus the contributions of their employer. That schedule would assume a 5percent annual return on plan investments and a cost-of-living adjustment based on the consumer price index.

How would the collective retirement plan mitigate the risk that it could not deliver the "probable" benefit schedule? To begin with, the assumed Investment return of 5percent is below the 6+ percent historical return of the balanced portfolio described above, and much below the 7+percent assumed return of most defined benefit plans in the public sector. At the same time, the collective retirement plan would have much lower costs than a traditional defined contribution plan.

As a result, the trustees of the collective retirement plan could gradually establish a reserve of 3percent to 7percent of the plan's asset as a contingent reserve. That reserve, invested in U.S. Treasuries, could be drawn down as needed to meet the "probable" benefit schedule if there were a shortfall in the returns of the balanced portfolio over successive periods. If the portfolio's return plus the reserve were still insufficient to meet the "probable" benefit schedule, the trustees could waive the cost of living adjustment for a few years.

If the collective pool underperformed for many years, there might have to be a modest reduction in the benefit schedule. On the other hand, if the portfolio outperformed for an extended period, those reductions could be restored and/or the reserve could be expanded.

In short, most defined benefit plans in the public sectors are going down an unsustainable path. However, if we want to avoid pension crises like the ones in Detroit and Illinois, we cannot expect public sector unions to accept the investment risks and high costs of the typical defined contribution plan. Instead, we need to create a new type of pension plan, which can be gradually implemented with due regard for grandfathered benefits.

Although a collective retirement plan is not perfect, it is much less risky and much less costly than the typical defined contribution plan. While a collective retirement plan cannot provide "guaranteed" benefits at retirement, it can offer reasonable assurances that the benefit schedule would be met in most instances. And the promised benefits of many public sector plans are not actually "guaranteed" by anyone.
In a combative exchange with State Department spokesman John Kirby at a press briefing last week, a representative from RT, a Kremlin-directed outlet, stated that If you give specifics, my colleagues would be able to ask Russian officials. It was an interesting statement to make and suggested that RT would only question Russian officials if the State Department did their research for them. This is not how journalists work, but RT is not an organization that produces journalism.
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Rape, sexual assault reported, student consumes psychedelic mushrooms and driver run over by own vehicle in the Tate Student Center deck, all between Nov. 3 and 9.
Anyone who has seen the man downtown who paints using his teeth can understand the inspiration behind Tanner Woodsons nonprofit, Art For Athens.
Voter guide: Race previews, what to know before you vote

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Brad Pitt has been in the news far more than usual these past few months, making it nearly impossible to forget that "Allied," the latest offering from Robert Zemeckis, was initially said to be at the root of Pitt's very public split from actress Angelina Jolie. All of the drama surrounding Pitt's involvement steals the spotlight from the true star of the film, the brilliant Marion Cotillard, who single-handedly carries the film through to its (admittedly very predictable) ending.

What happens?

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Allied Forces spy Max Vatan (Pitt) is put on assignment in French Morocco in 1942, taking on the role of husband to undercover French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard). Once their mission to assassinate the German ambassador is complete, the two reunite in London, where they marry and have a child together. Just as all seems relatively calm, Vatan is warned that his wife might be a German sleeper spy assuming the identity of Beausejour, who died years earlier. Given orders to either kill his wife or be executed alongside her for treason, he goes on a mission to prove her innocence.

What's good?

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Cotillard continuously keeps you guessing about her character's motivations in a way that, with a little help, could have saved the plot from its predictability. Until the very end, you're unsure what exactly is going on in Beausejour'sor fake-Beausejour'smind. Set against the backdrop of World War II at its height, Zemeckis creates a tone of ever-present danger and uneasiness that infiltrates even the most intimate of moments between characters. Just as was reality for those who lived through the second World War, nobody in the film is to be wholly trusted.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

What's bad?

Against Cotillard's performance, Pitt falls flat as the Canadian white bread character of Vatan. The role is too straightforward and one-dimensional to allow Pitt (who is fairly white bread himself) to stretch his legs as he can in roles that incorporate some edge or humor.

Without a partner to match her, Cotillard's performance isn't enough to salvage the predictability of the ending, despite half-witted attempts to convince Vatanand by extension, the audiencethat all is not as it seems. The pacing also feels off, with far too little time devoted to fleshing out the mystery of Beausejour's true allegiance.

Final verdict

It is, in a phrase, "very OK." You might enjoy it, but you aren't missing anything if you decide to sit this one out.

2.5 stars (out of four)

@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
IMAGE: Villagers queue outside a bank on the outskirts of Allahabad. Photograph: Jitendra Prakash/Reuters

'The execution has been 100 per cent faulty.'

'The scheme is also a stupid one, a real Tuglaq Darbar scheme.'

'This way of attacking black money is the most ineffective one.'

Economist Venkatesh B Athreya, below. left, is an advisor on food security at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, and also adjunct professor at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development.

He served as professor of economics at the Bharathidasan University in Tamil Nadu for nearly three decades. He also held faculty positions/fellowships/visiting scholarships in various universities like the University of Wisconsin and Bucknell University in the US, Oxford University and the University of Cambridge in the UK, Lund University in Sweden, the Scandinavian Institute of Asian Studies in Copenhagen.

Professor Athreya discusses demonetisation with Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in an exclusive interview.

What is your reaction to demonetisation?

They claim demonetisation would help in four areas: Curbing black money, eliminating counterfeit notes, stopping terrorist funding, putting an end to corruption. I find all these claims not sustainable.

Corruption is an ongoing activity and it will continue to occur in all activities in the future too. You cannot end it by taking out some currency notes from circulation.

Second, terrorist funding does not come only from counterfeit notes or black money.

It is said that stone pelting stopped in Kashmir after demonetisation...

It has nothing to do with this. Stone pelting is an ongoing process, which has its ups and downs.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar claimed that in the border areas, all terrorist activities have stopped. I am amazed by the frivolousness in such statements.

Terrorists get money through proper channels too. This has become an important propaganda weapon for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Let me put this in perspective: Black money is not just idle money kept under mattresses and inside pillows.

Black money constantly is engaged in economic activities like buying and selling of shares, in stock markets, etc.

For example, the whole issue of participatory notes where Foreign Institutional Investors who are not registered here can operate with participatory notes without having any disclosure requirements.

You won't even know where the funds are coming from and who owns them.

This plays an important role in terrorist funding too.

There have been repeated requests for banning participatory notes. I remember (then national security advisor) M K Narayanan used to describe this as the route for terrorist funding.

If you look at the black money issue separately, my point is that black money is flowing all the time.

Is it a parallel economy?

It is not a parallel economy alone; it can intersect also. There is no Chinese wall between the parallel economy and the so-called legal economy because money is generated for legal activities.

So, the activity may be legal, but the income may not be reported and hence black.

Then, there are all sorts of ways to change black into white and the government was facilitating this activity.

For example, when they gave the six-month window to deposit and pay tax at 45 per cent without having to disclose the source of income.

This was an open encouragement in the Union Budget of tax evasion. This was done in 1997 by P Chidambaram and in 2016 by Arun Jaitley.

In this country, the governments are unwilling to politically confront black money power and bring them to book.

Instead they prefer to offer them time to time amnesties.

They say that they got Rs 69,000 crore income and Rs 29,000 crore in taxes. This is trivial in front of the outstanding taxes

So clearly this government's credibility on the issue of black money is suspect looking at the tax concessions given to tax evaders in the past.

Now, the question is: How much of black money is held in cash?

If you look at the income tax raids conducted in 2012-2013, what emerges is roughly 6 per cent of the undisclosed income is held as currency notes.

So, 94 per cent of the wealth is in other forms and it keeps generated in activity and reinvested.

What should the government do to attack this 94 per cent?

I would quote (then RBI governor) Raghuram Rajan. He had said this much earlier and not in connection with this. When he was asked on demonetisation, he had said the perception that high value notes taken out of circulation to control black money is misplaced.

He said if you did something like that, the rich would find a way around it and that they would have their people to manage.

He also said that India now had a reasonable tax rate. The way to make people pay tax is doggedly pursuing it through the regular channels.

As the bulk of the black money is in the form of jewellery and real estate, if you look for the transactions and find the source of income, you can pursue them.

Yes, it is painstaking work. This was what the British administration was famous for -- they keep pursuing.

The same view was expressed by a Government of India committee in 2012 headed by the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

The committee said the perception among the public that taking away high value notes would curb black money was misplaced as only a very small proportion was held as currency.

The way is to do with normal taxation channel carefully. Ultimately, that is the only sustainable way of doing it and not dramatic gestures.

I am very convinced that only a very small fraction of black money will come out by this exercise.

In the case of counterfeit notes, it is also found that counterfeit currency is only around Rs 400 crore out of Rs 17 lakh crore, which is 0.0008 per cent or so.

So, the argument that the move is to find counterfeit money is also completely bogus.

Do you feel the idea is good, but the execution has been quite bad?

I am not saying the idea is great. What I am saying is this is a very poor way to address the black money issue.

Yes, something might still come out of this as 6 per cent of black money is held in currency.

Suppose half of that 6 per cent comes out, it is something, but not a big sum.

The State Bank of India says the bank collected Rs. 1.14 lakh crores as deposits in the last one week...

But why should that be black money?

People have been asked to deposit money in the banks, so you are forced to deposit money and they are limiting the amount to be taken over the counter.

On one hand, the government wanted to stop high denomination currencies to stop black money, but why come out with the Rs 2,000 note?

The government has not given any satisfactory explanation. That is why it looks ludicrous in the eyes of the intelligent public.

This is a completely silly and illogical measure.

In fact, it is causing a lot of inconvenience to people.

If you can print such a large number of Rs 2,000 notes, why not more Rs 100 notes instead?

The move towards lower denomination notes is always a good thing.

Nobody is opposing banking, plastic and all that, but we are very far from achieving all that.

Whatever said and done, 90 per cent of transactions in India is through cash and not plastic.

Only 46 per cent of adult India has bank accounts and many of them are dormant Jan Dhan accounts.

22 per cent of India only has Internet penetration.

19 per cent of Indian households do not have access to electricity.

This is the kind of economy you are dealing with.

The numbers of rural India will be worse as these are averages.

According to me, it has no logic and it need not have been here.

High denomination notes may not encouragem but facilitate illegal activities.

Let me say again: Black money is not stationary like a piece of furniture, it keeps moving.

One major black money activity other than jewellery and real estate is hawala operations where money is taken out of the country and brought back through the Mauritius route, turning black into white.

The other is the participatory notes in the market.

Is scrapping a certain currency denomination all of a sudden the only way to tackle this issue?

That is why I say that the execution has been 100 per cent faulty.

The scheme is also a stupid one, a real Tuglaq Darbar scheme.

This way of attacking black money is the most ineffective one.

The government has given December 31 as the deadline to deposit the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Why didn't they allow people to use Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee for day to day activities till December 31 and gradually phase them out?

Instead of making them illegal, they could have phased out gradually.

Then this would not have inconvenienced people at all. They would have gradually returned the money to the bank.

In my opinion, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that this is a move with the Uttar Pradesh and other state elections in mind.

But don't you feel this would affect the BJP adversely because of the way the common people have been inconvenienced?

The BJP's calculation, I think, seems to be that the regional parties have far less flexibility and manoeuvring possibilities in converting black money into white.

The BJP has already done so.

Also, regional parties have more support from small and medium business players who like to keep cash while the national parties get money from the bigger guys probably through other channels.

So, this will have a greater impact on the smaller parties.

Also, the announcement will make Narendra Modi the great saviour of the country, killing black money.

They (the BJP) will tell people that they are doing it for the country.

The BJP is projecting this as a nation saving measure, a bold decision the PM has taken, which nobody has taken before. They are asking people to bear with them.

Their expectation is things will settle down after a few months.

IMAGE: People queue up for money outside a bank in Mumbai. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

So, you feel this was more a political move?

In my view, this is more of a political intervention to give the BJP some brownie points in the coming state elections, mainly because none of the promises made by the BJP in the 2014 elections were fulfilled.

This government's credibility to speak on black money is very low.

What kind of economic impact will this have?

There are serious consequences because of this. What has it done?

It has taken out 86 per cent of the currency in circulation. There will be a very sharp reduction in liquidity.

This will have a big negative impact on demand.

Purchases will run dry.

At the level of consumption, lot of transactions will stop.

So, the immediate impact will be on consumption.

There will be a demand reduction in the economy and a collapse of the market.

But the more serious is its impact on production.

Suppose I am a unit in Tirupur, and I pay Rs 10 lakh as weekly wages. I can draw only Rs 50,000 from my current account in a week. So how does an honest businessman give wages to the workers and purchase raw material?

The real distress is right now happening in rural India.

Do you call this kadvi chai or poison for the masses?

It is bitter tea for the masses and sweet for the corrupt.

Anyway, the government's policies are like giving poison in small doses every day.

I have a very dim view of the government's free market policies. This is just an addition to it.

This is not a surgical strike against black money, this is the surgical strike against the working poor and farmers.

As a measure, this is ill-advised and extremely ill-implemented too.

For example, if they had confined to just Rs 1,000 notes, it would have been far better as two thirds of the notes in circulation are Rs 500 notes.

Imagine, removing 86 per cent of the notes in circulation one fine day. You are causing a huge liquidity squeeze in the economy, and an artificial crisis in the economy.

You feel this move was completely unwanted?

Completely unwanted and poorly designed.

They shouldn't have done this at all. There are better ways to clean up black money.

Professor Venkatesh B Athreya's photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj
Demonetisation makes its presence felt at the Sonepur cattle fair.

M I Khan reports.

IMAGE: A cattle trader awaits customers in Sonepur near Patna. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Kedarnath Thakur and Ram Naresh Singh, cattle traders, Rameshwar Prasad Yadav and Rajvanshi Rai, horse traders, at Sonepur, Asia's largest cattle fair, curse demonetisation.

"Last year, in the first 10 days of the fair, more than 60% business was done. This year, hardly 10% to 15% business has been done," complains horse trader Jaswant Kumar Singh.

"Thanks to the cash crunch, it has been bad news for horse traders who brought their horses for sale," Singh adds.

Sonepur, about 30 km from Patna, Bihar's capital, is located in Saran district.

People from villages and small towns in Bihar throng to Sonepur every year to buy animals -- horses, cows, oxen, goats, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies, monkeys, rabbits, bears, cats, guinea pigs.

The fair, which began on Kartika Poornima, November 12, is spread across 500 acres near the confluence of two rivers, the Ganga and the Gandak, and has been held every year for many centuries.

"We deal in cash," says Thakur. "Farmers and other buyers of cows are not in a position to visit the fair as they have no cash."

IMAGE: A cattle trader awaits customers at the Sonepur cattle fair. Photograph: M I Khan

Sonepur resident Surender Singh, 76, who has seen the Sonepur cattle fair for seven decades, says visitors are at least 30% to 40% fewer this year.

"Logon ke pass cash kahan hain?" Singh asks.

"There is a chance of only 50% business this year," says a senior Bihar forest department posted at the fair.

IMAGE: Theatres in the area are also affected by demonetisation. Photograph: M I Khan

"We never imagined that people would be without cash," say Reyaz Ahmad and Meraj, Kashmiri traders selling woollens at the fair.

"If people are without cash, how can they buy items from us?" they ask.

"We have been coming here for over a decade," they add, "the situation was never so bad".

Theatre owners, who stage risque dance performances at the fair, are also worried.

"We expected overcrowded theatres like in the past," an employee at one theatre says, "but hardly 50 to 60 per cent of the audience turn up."
'As of now, it seems like they want to tread the Vajpayee line, but the central government has to create trust.'

'It has to be vibrant and unambiguous.'

IMAGE: A child peers from her home as a member of the security forces patrols a street in Srinagar. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

In the last week of October, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha led a delegation of five members -- the others being Wajahat Habibullah, former chairman, National Commission for Minorities; Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retired); senior journalist Bharat Bhushan; Sushobha Barve of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation -- to Kashmir in an attempt to provide some relief to the troubled valley.

It was a significant development when during the group's three-day stay in Srinagar, Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as also trade and business representatives (who had refused to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh) met Sinha's group.

On November 8, the group released a report in Delhi in which, among a string of administrative and reformative measures, it recommended initiating talks with the separatists, setting up of a judicial commission to probe excessive use of force, establishing schools for youth blinded by pellets, and also ban the use of pellet guns.

Pervez Majeed spoke to Yashwant Sinha, left, who hopes his group will break the stalemate in the Kashmir Valley.

You have made several recommendations in your report. How hopeful are you that these suggestions will be accepted by the government?

This report is a follow-up to our visit to Kashmir. We have sent the report to the prime minister.

As concerned citizens of the country, we took the initiative of visiting Kashmir, meeting the people concerned and come up with practical solutions.

We hope the governments in Delhi and Jammu-Kashmir take it up seriously.

The report is our viewpoint and suggestions to end the impasse in Kashmir.

Moreover, we are continuously in touch with the people there (in Kashmir) and our dialogue continues.

Does that mean you are in touch with Hurriyat leaders as well?

I can't share the details, but all I can say is that we are continuously in communication with several people.

Here I want to tell you that we are also in continuous contact with the state government. And from our side whatever we can do, we are trying to do that.

At the moment, our main objective is that schools should open.

Children should be released from jails so that they can go to schools.

We had hoped that the Hurriyat leaders' meeting with stakeholders the other day would help in giving some relief regarding opening of schools, but unfortunately nothing much was clearly said about that.

We hope in the coming days something positive regarding schools and education will happen.

Did you meet anybody from the central government after your return from Kashmir?

As of now, I would not like to talk about that. All I can say is that we are in contact with all; particularly with the state government because it has a huge responsibility and role to play.

Does this 'in contact with all' mean that you are in touch with the representatives of the central government as well?

Yes, other group members are.

Do you favour a dialogue with local militants as well?

If they come for talks, there will be talks. But as long as they have guns hanging on their shoulders, how can there be talks?

Guns are not going to help anybody, rather it is damaging. Those who believe in guns should change their thought.

There have been civilian deaths and massive damage to property. Who is responsible for all this? Why did Kashmir erupt massively again?

I think this is not the time to blame this or that person.

If we talk like this, we will end up offending people. So it is impertinent to talk about such things at the moment.

We should focus on providing immediate relief, which includes opening of schools.

Many hold the perception that the central and state governments' response to the uprising was disproportionate. What is your view on this?

I won't even talk on this issue. At this moment, we need to make efforts to save lives and property and improve the situation.

We appeal to all the stakeholders that we should first bring the situation to normal.

Above all, schools should open, it is our responsibility.

We feel that those who are at the helm of the current agitation should take up the responsibility that they should not hinder the efforts of reopening of schools.

We said it there (in Srinagar) and I want to emphasise through this interview that it is the responsibility of us all to save the future of the students.

Then there are measures to be taken, which we have explicitly mentioned in our report.

IMAGE: Kashmiri boys on a deserted road during a curfew in downtown Srinagar. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters

Separatists and other non-political leaders of Kashmir refused to meet the all-party delegation led by the home minister, but agreed to meet your group.

Do you think this has now put you in a position of responsibility and you have an obligation towards them?

Yes, exactly. We do have a responsibility now. And we are fully prepared to fulfil this responsibility.

Do you think by agreeing to talk to you, the separatist leaders have tossed the ball in your court?

We don't have any court... we had gone to talk to them; rather, I would say we had gone to listen to them.

So we listened to them with an open mind. That's why we are advocating that the government should initiate a dialogue and there should be a dialogue with all.

Then there are some other initiatives to be taken and our report has detailed them. That is our stand.

In your report you have mentioned 'jettisoning of the Vajpayee line' on Kashmir as one of the reasons responsible for the 'anger in Kashmir.' But the prime minister and home minister have been referring to Vajpayee's Kashmir policy quite often!

As of now, it seems like they want to tread the Vajpayee line, but the central government has to create trust in that.

I mean it has to be vibrant and unambiguous. You need to take bold steps if you want to follow the Vajpayee line!

Since your Kashmir visit, how many times have the members of your group met?

We met several times and we continue to meet. As I said earlier, we are serious about what we are doing.

Will you visit Kashmir again?

Of course, when there is a need, we will visit again.

As a senior national leader who has held important positions in the central government, what should be the status of Jammu and Kashmir vis-a-vis India?

When we talk about the status quo aspect, then we have to talk to all stakeholders... because every stakeholder has a different view on the 'quo' status. So I can't give you an answer in a single sentence.

But, yes, our report has recommended certain things which can bring the people of Kashmir closer to the country.
The Army is eager to teach a lesson to enemy of the country and it is just waiting for permission from the government, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.

"The morale of the Army has gone up. Army wants to teach lesson to our enemy. They are just waiting for permission from the government... We gave them permission two-three times," Parrikar said during BJP's campaign meeting in Vasco on Sunday.

His statement came days after Pakistan conducted a military exercise in a strategically located area in Punjab province bordering India with its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying that they will give a "befitting response" to any "ambitious and reckless move" by its enemies.

Parrikar said, "We want to tell our enemy that if they stare at us, we can stare with bigger eyes."

The minister said the country's borders are secured and no one could dare attack India.

"We are completely committed towards the security of the country. It is not just about tightening the border but we have also given required armaments to the soldiers," he said.

Parrikar said the armed forces in Kashmir have complete power to shoot at those wielding guns, instead of waiting for the terrorists to open fire and "getting martyred".

"When I took over as the Defence minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyone's hand, don't expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him," Parrikar said addressing BJP's election rally at Vasco last evening.

"In Kashmir our army was fighting with the terrorists. Congress government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you don't retaliate," he said, claiming that the morale of the Army has gone up since Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has come to power in the Centre.

In the backdrop of intense ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Parrikar said the Indian troops have complete power and they are giving apt reply to the enemy.

"Our soldiers now don't need to seek permission from the Defence Ministry to fire at the person who fires at them. They have complete power and they are giving apt reply to our enemy. I feel bad that some of our soldiers are martyred," the former chief minister said.

Parrikar said it took almost six to eight months for him to understand the functioning of the ministry.

"I was initially not understanding how Defence ministry works. It took 6-8 months for me after that I understood," the former Goa Chief Minister said.

Taking a dig at Congress, Parrikar claimed that after the Bofors scam, the Army did not get a new artillery gun in 30 years until the Narendra Modi government took up the initiative to manufacture "Dhanush" at HAL.

"Tejas aircraft, whose design was on the drawing board for last 33 years, is going to become a reality now. The former governments were not interested as the aircraft was supposed to be built by the government and hence they wouldn't get any commission out of it," he alleged.

Hailing demonetisation of high value currencies, Parrikar said the government has also given importance to "economic security" of the country.

"The country by withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations has taken the challenge to fight against black money," he added.
In a move to ban commercial surrogacy, a bill was on Monday introduced in the Lok Sabha which also seeks to protect women from exploitation and ensure the rights of the child born through surrogacy.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 was introduced by Health Minister J P Nadda amid noisy opposition protest over demonetisation.

Once approved by Parliament, there will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy, but altruistic surrogacy will be permitted for needy infertile couples under strict regulations.

The bill entitles only Indian citizens to avail of surrogacy. But foreigners, Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin are not allowed to seek surrogacy in the country.

Homosexuals, single parents, and live-in couples are also not entitled for surrogacy. Also couples who already have children will not be allowed to go in for surrogacy, though they would be free to adopt a child under a separate law.

With no law governing surrogacy, India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries. There have been incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers and abandonment of children born out of surrogacy.

The bill allows surrogacy only for legally married couples after five years of marriage and with a certificate from a doctor stating that they are medically unfit to produce a child. Women within the age group of 23 years to 50 years and men aged between 26 to 55 years will be eligible to go in for surrogacy.

In an attempt to check commercial exploitation and middlemen, the surrogate mother can only be a close relative, like a sister or sister-in-law who is married and has at least one healthy biological child. A woman can be a surrogate only once in her lifetime.
The Income Tax department on Monday conducted surveys on at least 10 locations of high-end event management firms, catering and multi-media service providers who were engaged for the extravagant wedding of daughter of Karnatakas former Bharatiya Janata Party minister G Janardhan Reddy.

Officials said that taxmen visited seven locations in Bengaluru and three in Hyderabad of those event management companies which were given contracts to give a blockbuster look for the wedding of Bramhani last week. Reddy is also a mining baron.

They said the department, after receiving reports of high spending for the event, initiated the action and is checking the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms who specialise in creating special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during their special events like weddings.

The firms include those providing special swiss tents, expensive cutlery, multi-cuisine food and pyrotechnic dealers who brought a lavish style to the event.

Under the survey action, tax sleuths visit business premises of the trader/operator and make analysis of the available stock and record it whereas under search operations both residential and business premises are visited by the taxman and seizure of cash and incriminating documents, if any, is effected.

Once the scrutiny of accounts and contract books is done, they said, further action of issuing notices to investigate tax evasion by both the contractor and the contractee will be

undertaken.

The multi-crore wedding was in the spotlight recently for its sheer opulence and extravagance at a time when numerous people were facing a cash crunch and had to queue up outside banks and ATMs to withdraw their hard-earned money in the wake of the demonetisation of the two large currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

The five-day extravaganza was held at the Palace grounds with ceremonies held against the backdrop of lavish settings.

The mining barons event presented almost a surreal picture as Bramhani entered into wedlock with Rajeev Reddy, a leading businessmans son from Andhra Pradesh, with rituals conducted by a battery of priests from the famous Tirumala temple.

The grandeur of the wedding was such that huge sets replicating Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and Tirumala Tirupati

temple were erected at the venue, along with the replica of the homes of both of bride and the groom.

Pre-wedding events were also conducted with equal extravagance at the venue for five days.

Artistes and dancers from different parts of the country, including Samba dancers from Brazil, were part of one such bash.

The first glimpse of the ostentatious wedding came with the invitation box with a LCD screen playing a video, where Reddy and family were seen inviting guests, lip syncing to a song.

It was reported that about 50,000 people had been invited for the wedding and people were also ferried from Reddy's bastion, mine-rich Ballari.

Reddy and family had dressed up as "royals" in gold and diamond had left no stone unturned for the wedding.

Most utensils for the wedding rituals were either gold or silver and entire venue was equipped with air conditioners.

While overflowing fountains added to the glitter, orchids and other ornamental flowers were arranged fancily.

The who's who of the Kannada and Telugu film industry attended the wedding ceremony and wished the newly wed.

Reddy, who had served as a minister in the BJP government, is out on bail after serving three years term in an illegal mining case.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was threatening other parties raising voices against demonetisation and said she would hit the streets of Delhi on Tuesday to protest against the Centres move which caused immense hardship to the people.

The prime minister is threatening other parties who are raising their voices on demonetisation. The PM should be sober. The PM should behave like a PM. If necessary, he should convene an all-party meeting on the issue, Banerjee told a press conference at the state secretariat.

There is no ego fight. There should be a plan of action on demonetisation. My humble submission is that let us work together to solve the issue. The people are suffering, the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

Claiming that some political parties were unable to raise their voices because the PM is threatening them, the she said, But I will not be cowed down. I will continue to protest. He can put me in jail. He (Modi) is even threatening his own party.

Modi at a rally in Agra on Sunday said that political leaders behind multi-crore chit fund scams were attacking him because they had been hit hard by demonetisation, indirectly referring to Mamata Banerjee.

Alleging that there was a scam behind this move, she said, There must be some hidden agenda. What is the hidden agenda? Let them bring it to the public domain, she said.

Banerjee said that she would hit the streets in Delhi on Tuesday and visit other states also on this issue.

I will be in Delhi on November 23, 24 and in Lucknow on November 29. I will also go to Bihar and Punjab, she announced.

This is not a political issue. We are speaking on behalf of commoners. Markets are closed. Small traders are hit, she said, adding, I have no personal interest. I am doing this for the sake of the people of the country.

She said that she was not alone in her fight and added at least three other parties had gone with her to the President.

I will request all (opposition) political parties to be with the people, she said.

The chief minister said that the Centre is allowing demonetised notes in various sectors like railways, aviation, petroleum, etc but not for state government sectors.

On the PMs attack against her in the Agra rally on Sunday, Banerjee expressed surprise that since both the Reserve Bank of India and Securities and Exchange Board of India were in his hands what prevented him from getting it (chit fund scam) investigated.

We have never seen a PM who threatens his political opponents, she said adding that NPAs of banks should he investigated as it is a big scandal.

A big damage has been done to the country in the last 13 days. Recession has already started. GDP is down, she said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, asked her to come clean on charges of receiving huge funds from a fictitious company before 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Coming down heavily on Banerjee for saying that anyone who opposed the PMs policy was equated with corruption, BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh claimed, Mamata Banerjee resembles the comic character of betal. She keeps on blabbering lies, false statements and canards. She should stop spreading those lies. She is questioning the prime minister, but what is her credibility?

She had arrested a professor for circulating cartoons and a farmer for seeking a clarification regarding crops. She had asked the police administration to harass a college student for questioning her. She should not make those statements, Singh said.

The BJP leader questioned the TMC supremo about the funds that her party had received from a fictitious company before the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Photograph: PTI Photo
India and China on Monday agreed on the need to keep their borders "tranquil and peaceful" as army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag held talks with top Chinese military officials, including his counterpart, amid frequent transgressions by the People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control.

Kicking off his four-day visit, General Suhag met General Li Zuocheng, the head of China's ground forces which have undergone major restructuring in the last three years.

Suhag was welcomed by Gen Li with a Guard of Honour at the Bayi Building. Later, both held official talks in which a wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed.

They both noted with appreciation the 6th India-China Joint Training Exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' 2016 which is currently going on in Pune and agreed to further expand defence exchanges between the two armies, a statement issued by the Indian Embassy said.

Later Suhag held talks with Chinese air force General Xu Qiliang, who is also the Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission, the high command of China's military.

During the meeting Suhag and Xu "reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful", the statement said.

Gen Xu also accepted invitation to visit India.

Suhag also extended an invitation to Li to visit India, which he accepted hoping to make it soon.

The chief of army staff's delegation is comprised of four senior army officers, holding key posts in the Indian Army. Suhag will also visit Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations, as well as interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, the statement said.

During the visit, General Suhag is expected to discuss a host of issues including efficacy of mechanism put in place to deal with transgressions of troops aggressively patrolling the areas claimed by both the countries.

Several such transgressions by Chinese troops specially in the Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh sectors in the recent past resulted in long standoffs between troops on both sides.

While relations between the two militaries improved with constant visits by high-level officials including the defence ministers, officials say the relations remained tenuous with steady increase of Pakistan-related issues affecting their growth.

General Suhag's visit also comes at a time when relations between the two countries were stressed by issues like the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China blocking India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and move to impose a United Nation ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar.

However, officials on both sides say despite contentious issues, both sides managed to keep up the dialogue at the highest level going, ensuring peace and tranquillity along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control.

Besides the constant interactions under the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement to address ground level issues, the two sides also held 19 rounds of talks to resolve the border dispute.
India on Monday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile twice in quick succession as part of a user trial by the army from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha.

In salvo mode, the two surface-to-surface missiles which have a strike range of 350 km and are capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads were successfully test-fired in quick succession from mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at around 9.35 am, defence sources said.

A similar twin trial had been conducted on October 12, 2009 from the same base where both tests were successful.

The missile is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target, they said.

The missiles were randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially formed strategic force command and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation as part of training exercise, a defence scientist said.

The missile trajectory was tracked by the DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha, sources said. The downrange teams on board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown.

Inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003, the nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II is the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, defence sources said.

Representative Image
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday said there was no comparison between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late Indira Gandhi and rejected suggestions that the party did not have leaders to take him on.

IMAGE: Indira Gandhi surrounded by women folk dancers from Rajasthan while sitting on a swing erected for a Teej Festival celebration at her residence in New Delhi in 1967. Photograph: Express/Getty Images

She also made it clear that she was not troubled by comparisons between Modi and Gandhi and that her party was taking on the Modi government.

Every era in politics or history has its own problems, its own leaders and its own opposition. I think the Congress party is taking on the present dispensation, Sonia Gandhi told India Today TV.

She was replying to a question whether her party needed to be competitive unlike the 60s and 70s when it was dominant and that it did not have a leader to take on Modi.

Asked whether she was troubled by the fact that Modi was being compared with the late prime minister as a strong personality, Gandhi said, It does not trouble me because I do not believe in it. I have my own clear views about it. There is no comparison. Absolutely not.

To another question that her party did not have a tough and competitive leader like Modi, she said, I do not agree with that.

She recalled that Indira Gandhi was ridiculed, insulted and made fun of from within even more than outside when she entered politics, became a Congress president and later prime minister.

There was nothing that she did was right. She was able to overcome that, Gandhi said.

IMAGE: Indira Gandhi at her wedding with Feroze Gandhi in Allahabad on October 8, 1942. Photograph: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

To a question whether her children can take on Modi, Sonia said absolutely, absolutely.

So much is expected of us because we have a certain surname, we belong to a certain family. We sort of gather some sort of inner strength to make it possible for us to face such things, she said.

She exuded confidence that her party will come up from its current position of having merely 45 seats in the Lok Sabha.

It is absolutely possible for the Congress to come back to power, she said.

Asked whether her son Rahul Gandhi or daughter Priyanka Gandhi will carry forward the familys political legacy, the Congress chief said she is not the one to decide or reply.

She also rejected the charge that Indira Gandhi and she herself promoted dynasty.

Just like in the family of doctors, professors, businessmen, one or the other person within the family will choose the same path as the father... In politics, you are

elected and defeated democratically, she said.

She said Indira Gandhi was not terribly keen on joining politics but she did not for the country and its people.

Asked about the Emergency, she said if Indira Gandhi had not felt extremely uncomfortable with it at some stage, she would not have called for election.

Sonia said she joined politics to uphold the values of her mother-in-law and that of the Congress.

Other highlights from Sonias interview:

IMAGE: Indira Gandhi. Photograph: Express Newspapers/Getty Images

>> First conversation between me and Indira Gandhi was in French

>> At home, Indira Gandhi was completely the opposite of how world saw her. She was very gentle and understanding

>> Indira Gandhi's loyalty and devotion towards people of India is her greatest contribution

>> Indira Gandhi was very good letter writer. She used to leave very interesting notes for all of us

>> Indira Gandhi had huge interest in art, folk music, environment and flowers

>> Indira Gandhi had deep compassion for the people in need. This is missing in politics today

>> I believe Indira Gandhi was also not too keen towards entering politics

>> Indira Gandhi never pushed kin into politics, it was always about putting people and country before anything
U.S. president calls for debt relief, reforms in Athens visit

2016-11-20 11:48

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) reviews a presidential honor guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, Nov. 15, 2016. U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Athens Tuesday for a two-day visit amid draconian security measures as his trip marks the first to the country by a U.S. leader since 1999. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated on Tuesday Washington's steady and strong support to Greece's efforts to address the debt crisis while visiting Athens as part of his last European tour.

During talks with the Greek political leadership, the outgoing U.S. leader urged an end to austerity and called for debt relief in combination with Greece's commitment to the path of reforms.

"Austerity cannot be the formula for growth. The Greek economy needs space to recover," Obama said in joint statements with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras broadcast live on Greek national broadcaster ERT.

The U.S. president acknowledged that Greek people faced very difficult times during the seven-year crisis that brought the country at the brink of economic meltdown and Greece was now on the right path to recovery.

Obama sent several times a clear message of support to Greek people dealing with the economic crisis. Athens hopes this official support will help its case in forthcoming talks with its international creditors.

Greece is pushing for debt relief as soon as possible to ensure sustainable growth.

In addition, during Tuesday's talks, Obama praised Greek people's compassion for refugees and promised that the United States would continue to help in coping with the refugee crisis.

"In my message to the rest of Europe, I will continue to emphasize our view that austerity alone cannot deliver prosperity. It is going to be important both with respect to debt relief and other accommodative strategies to help the Greek people during this period of adjustment," he said at the Greek prime minister's office.

Before an official dinner hosted by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Obama also reiterated the U.S. government's willingness to support ongoing efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

The Greek authorities have taken strict security measures, cordoning off a large part of the city centre with approximately 4,500 Greek police officers deployed across Athens.

On Wednesday, Obama is scheduled to visit the Acropolis Hill and deliver a speech at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center before leaving Greece for Berlin.
Ending the suspense over the tenure of its powerful chief, the Pakistan Army on Monday said General Raheel Sharif has kicked off his farewell visits to various army units before his retirement on November 29.

"The COAS (Chief of Army Staff) kicks off his farewell visits beginning from Lahore today," Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

Bajwa said General Raheel met troops and addressed a "huge gathering of soldiers of army and Rangers at (Lahore) Garrison."

General Raheel said accomplishment of peace and stability was no ordinary task.

"Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in off-setting all odds against the country," he said.

General Raheel, 60, is expected to pass on the baton of command of the army to the next army chief at a ceremony by the end of this month.

On Friday, General Raheel visited Government College University Lahore, his alma mater and interacted with the students and faculty members.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has four options before him for the post of new army chief.

The line-up as per seniority is more or less clear.

Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Zubair Hayat is the senior most followed by Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Official sources privy to the development told PTI that Lt Gen Nadeem and Lt Gen Bajwa are the potential candidates for the slot of the army chief for different reasons.

"PM Sharif has completed the consultation with Gen Raheel about the appointment of new chief and he is likely to pick between Ahmed and Bajwa this week," a source said.

Raheel in January had declared he would not seek extension.

"I will retire on the due date," he had said.

There were speculation that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government would give him extension at the eleventh hour citing reasons that he was needed by the country to lead war on terror. The post of Army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan.

This will be the fifth time that Prime Minister Sharif will pick the top commander of the countrys nearly 550,000 ground troops.

If his botched attempt to replace General Musharraf with Ziauddin Butt in 1999 is also counted, this will be the sixth time Sharif gets to choose an army chief.

The appointment of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee -- a position that will fall vacant on the same day as army chiefs - is a major complicating factor in the appointment of the next army chief, Dawn newspaper said.

Theoretically, the CJCSC has to be the senior-most four-star officer from any of the three services -- army, navy and air force. However, since the establishment of the National Command Authority, the army has staked a claim to its leadership, because it controls the key areas of nuclear command and strategic assets.

The CJCSC is the deputy chairman of NCA's deployment committee, which is headed by the prime minister, the paper said.

The position, though a ceremonial one, is in principle senior to the office of the army chief, therefore, a senior general would have to be appointed. It is generally believed that the government would not reverse the seniority order by putting a relatively junior general in the office of CJCSC.
Paris, Iraq 2015 was the year that cities were burnt, innocent blood was spilt and countries destroyed by brutal terrorist groups.

The worlds most developed countries have suffered a dramatic increase in deaths as a result of terrorism in the last year, according to the new Global Terrorism Index, despite a drop in the global number of terrorism-related deaths.

There was a 650 per cent increase in fatal terror attacks on people living in the worlds biggest economies in 2015, the Global Terrorism Index 2016 reveals.

However, the study also shows that across the world as a whole, the number of deaths from terrorism fell 10 per cent to 29,376, compared to the previous year.

Heres a look at the 10 most dangerous countries in the world.

>> INDIA

RANK: 7

IMAGE: Soldiers rush in after terrorists opened fire on a bus and then a ttacked the Dina Nagar police station in Gurdaspur. Photograph: PTI Photo

With 289 deaths in 2015, India ranks seventh in the world of countries most affected by terrorism.

The deaths from terrorism in India decreased to the second lowest level since 2000. However, there were four per cent more attacks, totalling 800 and representing the highest number since 2000.

>> IRAQ

RANK: 1

IMAGE: The site of suicide car attack at a market in Khan Bani Saad, northeast of Baghdad in July of last year. More than 100 people were killed in the suicide car bombing at the busy market. Photograph: Ahmed Saad/Reuters

Iraq has ranked as the country most impacted by terrorism every year since 2004.

The Islamic State is now the deadliest terrorist group in Iraqs history with over 11,000 deaths. The next deadliest group in Iraq is Al-Qaeda.

According to the report, 6,960 people died in 2015 and another 11,900 were injured in 2,415 incidents in the country.

>> AFGHANISTAN

RANK: 2

IMAGE: A man talks on his phone from a damaged building after a blast in Kabul. A car bomb outside a Kabul hospital killed at least 10 people and caused widespread casualties among Afghan civilians, although it appeared to have targeted a vehicle carrying foreign citizens, witnesses and security sources. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters

Afghanistan suffered the worst year so far in its war with the Taliban, resulting in nearly 18,000 deaths from the conflict in 2015. Deaths from terrorism also increased to the highest recorded levels, with 5,312 deaths recorded in 2015, up by 18 per cent from the previous year.

>> NIGERIA

RANK: 3

IMAGE: A soldier walks through the burnt building at the headquarters of Michika local government in Michika town, after the Nigerian military recaptured it from Boko Haram. Photograph: Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters

Nigeria experienced a 34 per cent decline in the number of deaths from terrorism in 2015. This was largely due to a decline in the number of attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria.

In 2015, Boko Haram killed 4,095 people in terrorist attacks in Nigeria, down from 6,136 deaths in 2014.

Four out of five deaths from terrorism in Nigeria are civilians. This is one of the highest targeting of civilians anywhere in the world.

>> PAKISTAN

RANK: 4

IMAGE: Women from the Christian community mourn for a relative, who was one of the victims killed by a suicide attack on a church in March, during his funeral in Lahore. Suicide bombings outside two churches in Lahore killed 14 people and wounded nearly 80 others during services. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters

In 2015, Pakistan recorded a substantial drop in terrorist activity with 45 per cent less attacks and 38 per cent fewer deaths than in the previous year.

This is the second consecutive year in which Pakistan has seen a reduction in terrorism.

Terrorism in the country is now at its lowest levels since 2006. However, with 1,086 deaths, Pakistan is still the sixth deadliest country.

>> SYRIA

RANK: 5

IMAGE: A fighter of the Kurdish People's Protection Units fires an anti-aircraft weapon from Tel Tawil village in the direction of Islamic State fighters positioned in the countryside of the town of Tel Tamr. Photograph: Rodi Said/Reuters

The Syrian civil war continues to drive the increase in terrorism in Syria. In 2015 there was a 63 per cent increase in the number of deaths from terrorism over the previous year, rising to 2,761, the highest yet recorded in Syria.

It is likely that the number of deaths is actually much higher, but due to the intensity of the civil war and the Islamic States territorial control, the information is incomplete.

Terrorism in Syria is very extreme, representing 9.4 per cent of global deaths in 2015.

>> YEMEN

RANK: 6

IMAGE: A broken toy lies among debris in a house damaged in a car bomb attack, near a mosque in Yemen's capital Sanaa. Photograph: Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters

In 2015, Yemen experienced the highest levels of terrorism ever recorded with an increase in deaths of 132 per cent from 2014. There were 1,519 people killed, which is 866 more deaths than the previous year.

Prior to 2015, the worst year for terrorism in Yemen was 2012, the year that Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted, when 372 people were killed.

>> SOMALIA

RANK: 8

IMAGE: A Somali woman walks past the scene of a suicide car bomb attack near Juba hotel in capital Mogadishu in August. Photograph: Feisal Omar/Reuters

Whilst deaths from terrorism in Somalia decreased by 18 per cent to 659 since the previous year, 2015 was still the second deadliest year in Somalia.

>> EGYPT

RANK: 9

IMAGE: Crime scene investigators investigate the site of a car bomb attack on the convoy of Egyptian public prosecutor Hisham Barakat near his house at Heliopolis district in Cairo, Egypt. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

Terrorism in Egypt has increased to the highest levels since 2000. In 2015, there were 662 deaths, an increase of 260 per cent, from 2014. In contrast, from 2000 to 2012 the most deaths recorded in one year was 92, which was in 2005.

Two thirds of the 493 terrorist attacks in 2015 did not result in any deaths. These were mainly bombing attempts by unknown actors. However, there were also some very deadly attacks. The deadliest attack in 2015 killed 224 when an explosive device on a passenger plane flying from Egypt to Russia caused the flight to crash in North Sinai. This attack was claimed by the Sinai Province of the Islamic State.

>> LIBYA

RANK: 10

IMAGE: In January, gunmen attacked the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli, killing three security guards and probably taking hostages, officials said. The gunmen first detonated a car bomb outside the Corinthia Hotel, killing the three guards. At least three of the attackers then stormed the luxury hotel, fighting with security forces who tried to evacuate guests. Photograph: Ismail Zitouny/Reuters

Libya recorded a four per cent increase in terrorist fatalities in 2015 compared to the previous year. Terrorism in Libya is linked to the crisis that began in 2011 after the overthrow of Prime Minister Moammar Gaddafi. The levels of terrorism in the country have increased steadily since then, rising to 454 deaths in 2015.

Also here's a look at the impact of terrorism on different countries across the globe.

Other than the 10 most dangerous countries, the report revealed some other interesting facts.

IMAGE: French fire brigade members aid an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall following fatal shootings in Paris. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

>> Nearly half of all terror attacks in 2015 occurred in four countries  Iraq, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, according to the report, which also said India last year had the highest number of attacks since 2000.

>> In 2015, 731 deaths linked to terrorism were reported in 34 countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which includes United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Turkey.

>> The index also revealed that Islamic State is now officially the deadliest terrorist group in the world, overtaking Boko Haram, after claiming responsibility for 6,141 deaths through attacks in more than 250 different cities in 2015.

>> The global economic impact of terrorism reached $89.6 billion (Rs 6,10,557 crore) in 2015, decreasing by 15 per cent from its 2014 level.

>> The report revealed that terrorism had no impact on 34 countries, including Singapore, Vietnam and Oman.
The Congress president inaugurated a photo exhibition commemorating the birth centenary of Indira Gandhi, with more than 200 pictures depicting various events from her life at the historic Swaraj Bhavan where the former prime minister was born.

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi observe one of the photographs of their grandmother -- Indira Gandhi -- during the exhibition in her honour.

The photograph you see on the wall (right) is a young Indira honeymooning in Kashmir. Photograph: @OfficeofRG/Twitter

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday recalled the sacrifices made by her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for national unity because of which she continued to live in the hearts of people.

Accompanied by children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, the Congress chief, while inaugurating a photo exhibition on the life of Indira Gandhi at the Nehru-Gandhi familys ancestral home in Allahabad, remembered the former PMs courage and compassion and exhorted everyone to draw inspiration from her life that was full of challenges.

The most important takeaway from this exhibition is the inspiration Indirajis brave and courageous life gives us Courage was her unique quality with which she fought all adversities. We still remember her sacrifices for the sake of national unity. She lives in the hearts of people. We can draw lessons from her glorious life, Sonia Gandhi said at Swaraj Bhavan, where Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917.

IMAGE: The Congress vice president takes in the exhbition that honours his grandmother for the ocassion of her birth centenary. Photograph: INCIndia/Facebook

On the occasion of the photo show titled, Indira  A Life of Courage, Sonia Gandhi spoke of the former prime ministers dedication to the cause of national unity and her

struggles against separatist forces.

She told Congress leaders present there that adversities can be overcome.

Indirajis life was dedicated to the poor and the underprivileged for whom she took personal pains. She stood by all Indians and believed in Indias diversity. She bravely

fought the separatist forces that sought to divide our country. Indiraji loved the people and got their generous support in return, she said.

IMAGE: The Gandhi kids talk to each other during the event which was held at their ancestral home. Photograph: PTI Photo

With senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheila Dikshit, Raj Babbar, Pramod Tewari besides family friend and journalist Suman Dubey present, Sonia said Indira Gandhi faced many challenges in her 16 years as prime minister with courage.

She faced challenges on the economic and foreign policy front, challenges of war and terrorism but was determined in all situations.

Her concern was that our country should remain united and we should stand on our own feet. She wanted to make India a nation where everyone is safe, a nation in which everyone takes pride, she said as Priyanka sat among the select audience.

IMAGE: Sonia gave a beautiful tribute to her mother-in-law, saying the former PM's concern was that our country should remain united and we should stand on our own feet. Photograph: PTI Photo

This was Priyankas first formal public appearance in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh where she is likely to play a major role during the campaigning for the 2017 elections.

Priyanka had recently attended a core committee meeting of UP Congress signalling her readiness to canvass for the party outside of Amethi and Rae Bareilly, Lok Sabha

constituencies represented by her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother respectively.

Her formal appearance in UP was long expected to be at Allahabad and more precisely from her family home where she was present with her mother and brother on Monday.

The photo exhibition, Sonia said, was consciously housed in Swaraj Bhavan which was the place of Indira Gandhis birth and where she met the leading lights of the freedom movement.

IMAGE: Sonia peers at a photograph of Indira at the exhibition. Photograph: INCIndia/Facebook

The event is part of Congress commemoration of Indira Gandhis birth centenary that started November 19.

It was here at Swaraj Bhavan that Indiraji took her first lessons in politics. Her mortal remains after her martyrdom were also brought here. Thats why this exhibition has been opened here. From here it will be taken to other places, said

Sonia who, along with her children, dressed in pure whites, interacted with Congress leaders and workers asking them to prepare hard for the upcoming assembly polls.

Sonia and Priyanka stayed overnight at Swaraj Bhavan, which was recently refurbished.

Congress leaders were keen to get themselves clicked with the Gandhis, who also inquired about them and the preparations ahead.

Rahul also shared his thoughts on demonetisation with Congress leaders present there.

IMAGE: Other than her kids, Congress's senior party leaders also attended the event. Photograph: INCIndia/Facebook

Sonia, 69, who briefly stopped her speech for the azaan, also remembered the emotional bond she shared with Indira saying, Indiraji was not just my mother-in-law. She was like my mother. For 16 years we shared a house and also shared joys, sorrows and emotions.

The Gandhis refrained from making any comments on when Priyanka will formally launch her UP election campaign.

No politics today, was their refrain.

IMAGE: Priyanka Vadra poses for photo with Kamla Nehru Trust workers during the inauguration. Photograph: PTI Photo
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday commissioned 'INS Chennai', the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class, in Mumbai.

Built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship's construction also marks the end of the Project 15A to build Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, was also present on the occasion.

The ship is among the largest destroyers constructed in India, with a length overall of 164 meters and displacement of over 7,500 tons.

The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare. Armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface 'BrahMos' missiles, and 'Barak-8' Long Range Surface to Air missiles, the ship possesses formidable prowess of missile technology.

The undersea warfare capable boasts of indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull Mounted Sonar 'HUMSA-NG', Heavyweight Torpedo Tube Launchers, Rocket Launchers and Towed Arrau sonar capability.

In line with other modern naval ships, the INS Chennai features high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks that include TM-based integrated ship data network, combat management systems, automatic power management system and auxiliary control system.

The INS Chennai is expected to sail with the Sanskrit motto 'Shatro Sanharaka', meaning Vanquisher of Enemies.

"The ship is equipped with a decoy that can divert a missile attack. Nearly 60% of the ship was built at Mazagon Dock, while weapons and sensors were brought from Israel and Russia. Destroyers are second only to aircraft carriers in projecting raw combat power," said an official.

"The ship is designed to carry and operate up to two multi-role combat helicopters," said vice-admiral Girish Luthra (chief of naval command western command).

INS Chennai will be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Western Naval Command.

The ship will undergo certain additional sea trials of the ship-borne systems before being assigned to the Western Fleet and based in Mumbai.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited several ATMs in the national capital on Monday morning where he interacted with people standing in long queues to withdraw new currency.

Before heading to Parliament, Gandhi visited ATMs in several areas including Anand Parbat, Zakhira, Inderlok and Jahangirpuri where he enquired from people about the

difficulties being faced by them following the Centre's decision to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

However, this was not Gandhi's first visit to an ATM after the big announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

He had landed up at Parliament Street branch of State Bank of India here on November 11 and stood in the queue with the people there to exchange demonetised currency notes with new ones.

Last week as well he had made an unscheduled brief stop at an ATM in Vakola locality in Mumbai and interacted with the people standing in a queue.

Gandhi who has been critical of the demonetisation move had launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi saying he was "laughing" while people were dying in queues outside banks and ATMs to withdraw money and the move will turn out to be a "big scam".

He had also claimed that many economists including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had found the decision to withdraw the high-value tenders to be without rationale and the government did not seem to be going after the "big players" in black money like Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi.

In both Houses, the Opposition parties have insisted on Prime Minister Modi's presence while opposing demonetisation.

In the Rajya Sabha, treasury benches also resorted to slogans after Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to the Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that more people had died because of demonetisation than had been killed in the Uri terror attack on September 18 this year.

The CPI-M, in a statement, said, "Instead of immediate measures to bring relief to the people, the government has now reduced the limit of exchanging notes per person from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,000. This will hit hard the poorer sections."

The opposition has been clamouring for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the Parliament, saying that he has a moral obligation to answer the common man whose life has been thrown in turmoil because of demonetisation.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for failing to appear in Parliament to face the opposition, the Congress had earlier asserted that the former was "absconding" from the House, but seemed to have enough time on his hands to address the Global Citizen Festival via video conferencing, where the internationally acclaimed band Coldplay performed.

"Fifty five people have died. Crores stand in line for the past 11 days. Banks do not have cash, ATMs do not have notes. People have money in their accounts, but there is no money to be withdrawn from their accounts," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, adding that the Prime Minister was missing from parliament since the Winter Session began.

"Parliament is on and the Rajya Sabha is demanding that the Prime Minister should come and answer on demonetisation, but Modiji has time to address via video conferencing a Coldplay concert in Mumbai," Surjewala added.

Photographs: ANI
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday paid tributes to 26/11 terror attack victims at the Chabad House in south Mumbai, saying it was imperative to pay tributes to the victims.

Terror does not distinguish between people. Terror is evil, Rivlin said, addressing a select gathering in Hebrew, hours before he left for Israel.

Chabad institutions, part of Chabad Lubavitch movement, are community centres that mainly cater to Israelis and Jews across the world.

Rivlin, who attended a prayer meet at the House, said, I could not have returned to Israel without stopping over and paying my respects to the martyrs of this establishment and other victims who were killed during the 26/11 attacks.

It was important for me that I come here, as this is the place where we lost our brave brethren, Rivlin said, as Nariman House (renamed Chabad House), one of the sites

targeted by terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, remembered the victims.

Rivlin unveiled a plaque commemorating the sacrifice of victims, including Rabbi Gavriel and his wife Rivka who were running the Chabad House at the time. Both husband and wife and four others were killed by terrorists.

No creature can compare to the martyrs, reads the plaque, unveiled by Rivlin and his wife Nechama Rivlin.

In memory of Rabbi Gavriel Novach and Rivka Holzberg and all the victims of the terror attacks in Chabad House and across Mumbai on November 26. May the memory of the victims be blessed, it reads.

Rivlin also recalled a meeting in Israel with Moshe Holtzberg, who was a toddler when his parents Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were killed. Moshe survived thanks to his nanny, Sandra Sammuel, who got out of the building with him in time.

He also went around the Chabad House and saw the areas in the building bearing signs of the 26/11 attacks. Rabbi Israel Kozlovotsky, who is presently looking after the Chabad House, was among those present.

Image: Israel President, Reuven Rivlin pays tribute to the 2008 terrorist attack victims during his visit at Nariman House in Mumbai on Monday. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo
Mumbai's Chabad House, which was attacked on 26/11 and which Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited on Monday, is unlike any other Jewish centre, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky tells Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.

IMAGE: A Jewish man seen here against a wall with bullet holes at Chabad House (also called Nariman House) in Mumbai in 2009.

A year earlier, on November 26, 2008, terrorists attacked the Jewish centre of worship, killing 9 people people, including the rabbi and his pregnant wife.

His young son Moshe escaped the carnage.

Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky didn't know till last night that Israel President Reuven Rivlin would visit the five-storeyed, sombre-faced, Chabad House in Colaba, south Mumbai, on Monday, November 21.

The kind of understandable precautions Israel takes for the safety of its leaders meant Kozlovsky was caught off guard. "It was not clear if it was going to happen, or not, due to security reasons," he told Rediff.com

Right from early Monday morning it had been a crazy jumble of activity for the rabbi and his wife Chaya.

The rabbi's pretty wife was organising vases of flowers. The rabbi was having a large picture of the head of the Lubbavitch-Habad order put up -- "Centre," he commanded the staff -- even as he adjusted and aligned the leather-bound holy books, their titles inscribed in gold in Hebrew, on the shelves that line the meeting room, his oddly-matched lunch of alu bhaji and an omelette half-eaten, cold and abandoned.

Israeli visitors, drivers, workmen floated in and out ferrying items and messages. Security passes were being arranged for the staff with the police and Kozlovsky sifted through IDs and photos.

The rabbi -- who has been in India for four years and was responsible for getting Chabad House up and running after the 26/11 terrorist attack killed the rabbi, his wife, six Jewish visitors and an NSG commando -- appeared calm, unflappable, not too worried by the chaos rippling alarmingly around him, talking and multitasking with five people, in person or on the phone, at the same time, occasionally breaking into a few well-chosen words of cheerful Hindi.

"Chalega!" "Barabar!!"

IMAGE: The signage outside the Chabad Centre.

The house pays tribute to Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivka who were killed in the 2008 attacks.

Photograph: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com

Already the narrow, choked lane, that leads up to Chabad House, situated adjacent to the Colaba market and Rex Bakery, was lined with police officers who wrongly inform you that the Israeli president would arrive at 10 am.

The rabbi fielded calls, e-mails and visits from Israelis telling them with a laugh, "The police is around, the National Security Guard is around," looking out of the second floor window at the street below,

"So I believe it is going to happen. Ya, ya, most likely it is going to happen. All the roads are blocked. Expect some traffic."

The president's visit is remarkable, Rabbi Kozlovsky said, because it meant he also has the "understanding that this Chabad House is unlike any other Jewish centre and any other community centre in the world."

The fact that the terrorists staked out as unlikely a target as the Jewish outreach centre in Mumbai, when they had hundreds of other targets to choose from in Mumbai where they could have caused more mayhem, Kozlovsky explained, signifies its importance to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

IMAGE: Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky and his wife Chaya.

When they need energy and inspiration, the couple said they look up to Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg's photograph and imagine what he and his wife went through that horrific night. Photograph: Rediff.com

"The mission of a Chabad House is to spread light in the world. (The mission of the terrorists) was exactly the opposite. (Jews had not been attacked on Indian soil) never, never till then and never since then, and god willing, never in the future," he says.

"So if they have chosen this place, we understand what is the value of this place. We, as Jews, believe that remembering the past is going to help us change the present and it is going to affect the future. (The onus is) on this place is to transform the darkness to light. Even a small light can chase away darkness," he said, contemplatively, combing a hand through his long beard.

The order and Kozlovsky plan to convert the building into a Mumbai landmark as they develop a museum on its roof to honour all the Mumbai victims of 26/11.

The city has no such museum that remembers everyone, "correct me if I am wrong," he added.

Filling the shoes the Holtzbergs suddenly left vacant with their tragic deaths, over the last four years, has been an enormous task for Kozlovsky and his wife Chaya.

"Not trying to compare myself to the Holtzbergs (whose parents, Kozlovsky adds, visit frequently), although we were sent here for the same purpose" because he felt the heinous attack on them was nothing compared to the enormous things they did with their lives, "touching thousands and thousands of souls, Jewish and not just Jewish."

The Kozlovskys, who initially restarted the outreach centre, the restaurant and the synagogue, are now turning their attention to getting the museum off the ground.

"At times, when we need some energy, we definitely look up to their picture and imagine what they were going through during their time here."
While the Chhattisgarh police charged the well-known academic with a tribal man's murder, those who know her say it is vendetta at play.

Shakya Mitra and R Krishna Das report.

Last week, academic and social activist Nandini Sundar along with four other people was booked by the Chhattisgarh police for abetting the murder of a tribal man, Shamnath Baghel, in the insurgency-hit Sukma district.

They were booked under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code at the Tongpal police station.

The first information report, though not made available to the local media, narrates what led to Sundar's booking.

It states that three months ago, Sundar and others came to Nama in Sukma, considered to be the country's worst Naxal-affected district, in the night and held a meeting. Sundar, the police say, travelled incognito.

Two days after Sundar's visit, Baghel lodged a complaint with the police stating that Sundar and others asked the villagers not to support the police and associate themselves with the Naxalites.

It also mentioned that Baghel was warned of dire consequences for opposing the Naxalites.

In his complaint to the police, Baghel mentioned that if he was killed, Sundar and the others would be responsible for it.

On the night of November 4, Baghel was murdered. The police found it highly suspicious that Sundar travelled incognito to Bastar.

Chhattisgarh is easily the worst Naxal-affected state in the country, with Bastar amongst the worst-affected districts. The state is considered the epicentre of Naxal activity in the country.

Bastar is a remote and dangerous area: It is policed by as many as 80,000 armed security personnel.

Sundar, 48, first visited Bastar in the early 1990s as a part of her PhD research when she was a student at the University of Columbia in New York.

Bastar also provided the background for her first book, Subalterns and Sovereigns: An Anthropological History of Bastar, 1854 to 1996, first published in 1997 with an updated version releasing 10 years later.

Currently a professor of sociology at the Delhi School of Economics where she has been teaching since 2005, Sundar makes regular visits to Bastar for her fieldwork. She says about Bastar, "I think everyone who goes there is charmed by the place. Yet at some stage, there is also a certain sense of anger at the way Adivasis have been treated there."

Sundar sees herself as primarily a sociologist/anthropologist. "The discipline is very reflexive, and scholars have challenged the idea that you can just parachute in and study people and then forget them," she says.

"This is not to say that one has to spend one's life fighting court cases against the government, but it's not unusual among sociologists/anthropologists in India and elsewhere to be involved in the lives of the people they study."

Born and brought up in Delhi, where she did a part of her schooling from the Delhi Public School in RK Puram, Sundar is well known in academic circles but remains an elusive figure in the state where she has conducted most of her fieldwork, with most locally based journalists having had little interaction with her.

Sundar's relationship with the Chhattisgarh police and the state can at best be described as stormy.

In 2011, following a writ petition filed by her, the Supreme Court described as illegal and unconstitutional the deployment of tribal youths as special police officers, either as Koya Commandos, Salwa Judum or any other force in the fight against Naxal insurgency.

The ruling strongly indicted the state government for violating Constitutional principles in arming youth who were school dropouts and conferring on them the power of justice.

Sundar's recently released book, The Burning Forest: India's War in Bastar, sheds light on police atrocities and how children have been at the receiving end of the police.

In the book, she also seems to blame the state for turning Adivasis against each other, with many days turning into 'carnivals of rape, looting, arson and killing.'

In October, when the Central Bureau of Investigation held security forces responsible for the March 2011 incident where 160 houses were set on fire in Tadmetla village in Sukma, Sundar released a statement along with Swami Agnivesh calling out the police's lie in claiming that Naxalites had been behind the episode.

These incidents have clearly made her a much bigger troublemaker for the Chhattisgarh authorities than they would have wanted. It has definitely brought her under the scanner, from the perspective of those involved in the anti-Naxal movement, and her being booked for murder could be a diversionary tactic by the police, according to the Left parties, of taking attention away from the CBI chargesheet.

Sundar is predictably outraged at the whole turn of events and feels she is a victim of the police's anger.

"The Chhattisgarh police have been going ballistic because they have been implicated by the CBI in the burning of three villages in 2011. There were also rapes and murders involved," she says.

"The Chhattisgarh police have consistently hounded anyone who has been critical of their excesses. I have been facing police and vigilante threats since 2005. In 2010, the police kept me and a friend in their captivity for a week by posting a whole posse of police to accompany us. That is why this year when we were stopped by the police, I gave a fake name." (Sundar had gone under the name of Richa Keshav).

A couple of weeks prior to being booked on charges of murder, effigies of Sundar and other activists were burnt by security personnel.

Based on the recommendation of the Bastar police, the state government had ordered a Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the matter. Senior police officers refuse to talk on the issue.

S G P Kalluri, under whose command the FIR was filed, took over as inspector general of police of Bastar two-and-a-half years ago. He had drawn an action plan to eradicate Left-wing extremism from Bastar.

While briefing about the operations of security personnel in Bastar, Kalluri had stated that a 'war is going on' elaborating that in war, every weapon is used against the enemy.

As of now, the police have made a strong imprint in Bastar. This has put the rebels on the back foot.

In the last one year, the rebels had failed to inflict any major incident in Bastar. The view from the ground in Chhattisgarh is that under Kalluri, the incidents of violence have reduced, and that he has so far done a good job.

Support for Sundar too has been forthcoming. A Delhi University professor (who does not want to be named) who knows Sundar, says: "This charge of murder is outrageous, this seems to be a clear case of vendetta at play. Sundar is not the kind of person who would instigate people to kill someone."

It may be pointed out that while there has been criticism of the Raman Singh government for allowing this conflict between the activists and the police to build up, it was Manmohan Singh, who led the United Progressive Alliance government for 10 years starting from 2004, who had declared the Naxals to be India's biggest internal security threat in 2010.

In a relief to Sundar and others who were booked, the Supreme Court has asked the Chhattisgarh government to give four weeks' advanced notice before proceeding against them in the case related to Baghel's muder.

The petitioners have also been given the liberty to approach the court once the notice is served.

While refusing to entertain Sundar's plea about the state taking permission from the court before arresting or interrogating her and the others, the Supreme Court did tell the state they should find a peaceful solution to the Naxal problem.

The National Human Rights Commission too seems to have taken the activists' side while summoning Kalluri and Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, 'There is no apparent connection between the murder and the visit of these rights activists and, therefore, it has been alleged that they have been framed in a mala fide manner by police to settle scores,' the NHRC said in a statement.

Ask Sundar on what are the other issues that agitate her, apart from the mistreatment of Adivasis, and she says: "The exciting thing about India is that there is always something to get upset about -- and so many issues to take up. Where does one begin?"
Spotlight: Xi's visit expected to lift China-Ecuador pragmatic cooperation to higher level

2016-11-20 06:46

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Ecuador is expected to further cement political mutual trust and bring pragmatic cooperation between the two nations to a higher level.

At the invitation of President Rafael Correa, Xi will start his state visit to Ecuador on Wednesday, the first by a Chinese president since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1980.

Experts and officials believe that cooperation between the two countries will be further expanded and upgraded thanks to the visit.

Chinese Ambassador in Quito Wang Yulin said that relations between China and Ecuador are at their best and are poised to get a powerful boost from Xi's state visit.

Since establishing diplomatic ties 36 years ago, the two countries have supported each other at regional and international fora and maintained close cooperation.

"China and Ecuador have become good friends who enjoy sincerity and trust and mutually beneficial cooperation," Wang told Xinhua.

Cooperation in various fields has yielded great success. "Pragmatic economic cooperation between China and Ecuador has produced tangible benefits for the two peoples and has been widely praised by the Ecuadoran side," said Wang.

Trade between the two countries reached 4.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, quadrupling in just 10 years. Bilateral trade has great potential as Ecuadoran products such as bananas, prawns and flowers are favored by Chinese consumers.

Investment and financing cooperation is also growing exponentially.

China is now Ecuador's third-largest trade partner, while Ecuador is China's important energy partner in Latin America, a major destination for Chinese investment as well as a market for contract work.

Chinese investment in Ecuador has exceeded 10 billion dollars. More than 90 Chinese companies now operate in Ecuador, and some have been involved in the country's flagship projects, such as its largest hydropower plant.

Of the eight hydropower stations completed or under construction, seven are built by Chinese firms. The power plants have helped turn the once energy-poor country into an energy exporter.

"Economies of the two countries are highly complementary, making them natural partners for cooperation in the economic field. They have enormous potential for cooperation in such sectors as production capacity, investment and clean energy," said Wang.

During his visit, Xi is set to symbolically inaugurate the Coca Codo Sinclair station, the largest of the hydropower stations, at a ceremony in the capital of Quito.

The station, with an installed capacity of 1,500 megawatts, was built by China's Sinohydro.

"These projects have allowed us to obtain our energy independence, to have one of the most environment-friendly energy sources," President Correa told Xinhua in a recent interview. [ "More than 90 percent of our energy can now come from clean and renewable hydropower, and that is due in part to Chinese cooperation and financing," he added.

Correa hopes China will continue to invest in Ecuador, which has a portfolio of profitable projects in ship-building and steel worth about 40 billion dollars.

Katalina Barreiro, an expert on international relations at Ecuador's Institute of Advanced National Studies, spoke highly of China-Ecuador cooperation.

China's presence in Ecuador "is palpable and highly beneficial," Barreiro told Xinhua.

The most effective cooperation came from China in the wake of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that devastated towns along Ecuador's northern coast in April, noted Barreiro.

Chinese companies have also developed Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU 911. The public security service system, equipped and built by Chinese companies, played a vital role in the rescue and relief efforts.

As the command and control center, ECU 911 effectively processed a massive amount of information and sent instructions without delay, thus saving numerous lives and preventing further damage.

Related:

Backgrounder: Key facts about China-Ecuador ties

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday left Beijing for a state visit to Ecuador at the invitation of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.

Xi will be the first Chinese President to visit Ecuador since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1980. Full story

Full text of Chinese president's signed article in Ecuadorian newspaper

QUITO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping published a signed article in the leading Ecuadorian newspaper El Telegrafo under the title "Build A New Bridge of China-Ecuador Friendship and Cooperation" on Wednesday, ahead of his state visit to the Latin American country.

The English translated version of the article is as follows. Full story

Interview: China, Ecuador ties at a peak, says Chinese ambassador

QUITO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ties between China and Ecuador are at a current high and are poised to get an added boost from Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit later this week, according to Chinese Ambassador to Quito Wang Yulin.

Since establishing diplomatic ties 36 years ago, the two countries have supported each other at regional and international fora and maintained close cooperation. Full story
China, Djibouti vow to further strengthen bilateral relations

2016-11-20 06:46

DJIBOUTI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and Djibouti have vowed to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

This came on Tuesday when visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met and held talks with Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed in Djibouti on ways of further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Li, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that China and Djibouti have been enjoying fruitful cooperation in various fields.

China and Djibouti have maintained long-term friendship, he said. Since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 37 years ago, the two sides have always treated each other with sincerity, helped each other and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, said Li.

China appreciates Djibouti's unwavering support for China in issues related to China's core interests on the international stage, said Li.

The vice president further said that China and Djibouti have valuable development opportunities ahead in terms of cooperation.

He expressed China's willingness to consolidate mutual political trust with Djibouti and actively implement the outcome of the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held last December, as well as the consensus reached between the two heads of state during the summit.

Cooperation between the two countries in the areas of infrastructure, talent training and people's livelihoods will be enhanced, to promote greater development in China-Djibouti relations, he said.

The CPC is ready to work with Djibouti's People's Rally for Progress to deepen inter-party exchanges and cooperation and promote the development of state-to-state relations, he said.

Kamil said that Djibouti is very satisfied with the friendly relations and cooperation with China. He also expressed deep gratitude to the selfless assistance provided by China over a long time.

Under the framework of 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans proposed by President Xi Jinping during the FOCAC Johannesburg summit and the Belt and Road Initiative, Djibouti hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in areas including infrastructure, energy and industrial park construction, Kamil said.

Djibouti will, as always, adhere to the one China policy, said the prime minister.

The prime minister said that the People's Rally for Progress hopes to strengthen exchanges at all levels with the CPC and learn from its successful experience.
UN chief denounces attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Syria's Aleppo

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 20 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN chief denounces attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Syria's Aleppo, 20 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c69e40c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

20 November 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as senior humanitarian officials have condemned attacks that have killed and maimed scores of civilians in Syria, including children, and called on all parties to cease such attacks as well as to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to the people in need.

In a statement issued by his office today, Mr. Ban condemned the reported intense air assault over the last several days in eastern Aleppo city as well as indiscriminate shelling reported in areas of Aleppo governorate and the western parts of Aleppo city. Hospitals have been rendered nonfunctional and schools have been stuck in the attacks.

The Secretary-General reminded all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime [and] called on all sides to immediately cease any such attacks, read the statement, adding:

Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account.

Sustained, unconditional and unimpeded humanitarian access urgently needed

Furthermore, in a statement yesterday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Ali Al-Za'tari, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Kevin Kennedy, underlined that the UN stands ready to assist civilians in the war-torn country, as soon as access is granted by all parties.

[We have] shared with all parties to the conflict in Aleppo and Member States [of the UN] concerned, a detailed humanitarian plan to provide urgently needed assistance to the inhabitants of eastern Aleppo, and conduct medical evacuations for the ill and injured said both Mr. Al-Za'tari and Mr. Kennedy.

It is imperative [that] all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need in eastern Aleppo, but equally in all other parts of Syria where there are people in need, they asserted.

Syrian civilians on all sides of the divide are at the receiving end of the escalating violence

Syrian civilians on all sides of the divide are at the receiving end of the escalating violence, read the statement.

Moreover, the besiegement of eastern Aleppo and the strong grip of non-state armed groups in that part of the city has resulted in a dire and urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance, it added.

Highlighting that international humanitarian and human rights laws obligate all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure from the effects of hostilities, the senior UN humanitarian officials called on them to ensure unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the millions of people in need, particularly those in besieged and hard-to-reach areas across Syria.
Noting upcoming elections in Mali, Ban urges Government to engage with all actors to diffuse tensions

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 19 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Noting upcoming elections in Mali, Ban urges Government to engage with all actors to diffuse tensions, 19 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c6d340c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

19 November 2016 - Ahead of local elections in Mali, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged the Government to pursue a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the poll and to ensure that the holding of the elections do not compromise the advances made towards peace in the country.

According to a statement issued by his office, Mr. Ban took note of the Malian Government's decision to hold local elections tomorrow (20 November) and acknowledged that the country's Constitution precludes any further postponement of the polls.

The elections have already been rescheduled three times.

In the statement, the UN chief also noted that important delays in the implementation of key provisions of the peace agreement in Mali, relating to the establishment of interim administrations, as well as the security situation in the north and certain parts of the centre of the country, may compromise the organization of the poll.

He also noted the reservations expressed by the democratic opposition and some of the signatory armed groups to the peace agreement regarding the holding of the local polls on the date envisioned.

The Secretary-General calls on the Malian Government, the democratic opposition and the signatory parties to the peace agreement to ensure the conduct without incident of the elections in the localities where political and security conditions allow their organization, read the statement.

The statement further said that United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) would support the conduct of the polls within its resources and in its areas of deployment where it will be possible to conduct the elections by providing logistical and security assistance as provided for by its mandate.
Yemen: UN envoy announces resumption of cessation of hostilities

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 19 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Yemen: UN envoy announces resumption of cessation of hostilities, 19 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c6ee40c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

19 November 2016 - Announcing the resumption of a comprehensive of hostilities in the war-torn Gulf nation, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has called on all parties to ensure that it leads to a permanent and lasting end to the conflict.

According to a statement issued today, Special Envoy Cheikh Ahmed received assurances from all Yemeni parties of their recommitment to the Terms and Conditions of the Cessation of Hostilities of 10 April 2016.

The cessation will re-enter into force at 12:00 Yemen time (GMT+3) today (19 November), for an initial period of 48 hours and that it will be renewed automatically if respected.

In the statement, Mr. Cheikh Ahmed welcomed the restoration of the cessation of hostilities, which is necessary to avoid further bloodshed and destruction and should allow for the expanded delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The Special Envoy also welcomed the commitments he received from both sides to reactivate the De-escalation and Coordination Committee (DCC) and to deploy its members to Dhahran Al Janoub. The DCC members will work alongside UN experts who have already deployed to restart the DCC's work in support of the cessation of hostilities.

Further in the statement, Mr. Cheikh Ahmed reminded all Yemeni parties that the Terms and Conditions of the cessation of hostilities included an obligation to allow free and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to all parts of Yemen, in addition to a full and comprehensive halt to military activities of any kind.
UN expert warns on Turkish government's 'draconian measures' on freedoms of expression

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN expert warns on Turkish government's 'draconian measures' on freedoms of expression, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c73e40e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 November 2016 - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of opinion and expression raised concerns over the Turkish Government's widespread measures to erode independent opinion and freedom of expression in the country.

Following a week-long official visit to Turkey, David Kaye referred to the Government's actions as "draconian measures" that are occurring "across the board."

"The press, individuals online, artists, opposition voices and many others face unprecedented pressure, from censorship to outright detention," he announced and urged the Government to reverse this course "and return to protecting and promoting the rights that all people in Turkey enjoy under their Constitution and international human rights law."

Turkey is currently facing a wide range of serious threats, particularly after the 15 July attempted coup, to which Mr. Kaye expressed sympathy for those who continue to feel its shock. The coup attempt resulted in a number of deaths and injuries as well as assaults on the country's democratic institutions.

Mr. Kaye insisted that the country must be responsible for the lives of its citizens and the continuation of its democratic freedoms. While the Government expressed to him its concerns about national security, he said "the unjustified attacks on lawyers, judges, journalists, artists, academics and activists undermine security and generate polarization and long-term instability."

Defence of life and protection of democratic institutions must involve measures that are consistent with Turkey's international obligations, he continued in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Several laws in particular, such as the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Emergency Decrees, the criminalization of defamation of the President, and various Internet regulations are imposing unnecessary and disproportionate attacks on the freedom of expression, even in the context of a state of emergency.

The Special Rapporteur determined during his visit that the anti-terrorism laws are regularly being used to criminalize reporting and shut down all forms of media. He said that the situation for freedom of expression is "grave."

A busy street in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: World Bank/Simone D. McCourtie

"I call on the Government in the strongest possible terms to immediately release all those held in prison for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression," Mr. Kaye urged.

With permission from the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Kaye met with a number of people who have been detained due to their media work, an opportunity to he said was an honour.

He met with five detainees from Cumhuriyet newspaper who are being held at the Silivri Prison in Istanbul: Hakan Karasinir, Bulent Utku, Guray Tekin Oz, Mustafa Kemal Gungor, and Onder Celik. He also met with the writer and activist Necimye Alpay at the Borokoy Women's Prison in Istanbul, and spoke with a number of other detainee's lawyers and associates.

Mr. Kaye reported that the Ministry of Justice had denied access to eight other writers and journalists: Asli Erdogan, Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan, Kadri Gursel, Murat Sabuncu, Turhan Gunay, and Musa Kart, as well as the UN criminal judge Aydin Sefa Akay.

He urged the Turkish Government to release the individuals with whom he met as well as their colleagues and numerous others who are detained on similar charges throughout the country.

Others have been dismissed from universities and the media, measures that he said "are not only drastic and disproportionate, but lack any form of transparency."

"As with media professionals," he added, "the Government accuses people of serious crimes, but without presenting evidence, without due process and without any form of transparency."

Mr. Kaye said that review mechanisms and functioning independent appeal systems are critical and also drew attention to attacks on the freedom of expression of Kurdish artists, media outlets, and academics.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country have also reported deterioration in their ability to work. 370 NGOs were suspended on 11 November. Meanwhile, civil society continues to face increased government control, censorship, and administrative pressures.

"Turkey has enjoyed a vibrant civil society, which the authorities have a duty to protect and promote," the UN expert recalled.

"Civil society is any government's ally in the promotion of stability and economic growth. It is with deep regret that I observe the severe measures taken by the authorities in the opposite direction," he underscored.

The Government has blocked websites and networks, including mobile services, actions that the Special Rapporteur said were incompatible with international standards.

"Parliament should consider adopting legislation that would impose restrictions on the arbitrary power to block the Internet and mobile communications," he said.

Mr. Kaye intends to continue to work with the Turkish Government in order to improve the legal and political environment for fundamental rights. He praised the country for maintaining a dialogue with various human rights mechanisms and thanked authorities for their willingness to engage in frank discussions.

The Special Rapporteur will prepare a report for the UN Human Rights Council on the findings of his visit as well as with recommendations on how to promote the right to freedom of expression in Turkey. Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts appointed by the Council to address specific situations or thematic issues around the world. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
Australia's human rights record tainted by 'regressive' migration policies  UN expert

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Australia's human rights record tainted by 'regressive' migration policies  UN expert, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c78140e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 November 2016 - Concluding his first official visit to Australia, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants said the country's human rights standing has been tarnished by its "regressive" migration policies that fall "way behind" international standards.

"The punitive approach adopted by Australia towards migrants who arrived by boat has served to erode their human rights," said Special Rapporteur Francois Crepeau in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

"While Australia has the power to admit, deny entry or return migrants, it equally has an obligation to respect the human rights of all migrants in the process," he added, noting that the country must respect the principles of non-refoulement, of non-discrimination and to act in the best interest of children.

According to the Special Rapporteur, mandatory and prolonged on- and off-shore immigration detention, obstacles in accessing justice and basic services such as health care, and discrimination in all areas of life as a result of one's immigration status or that of their family are causing "immense suffering" to the migrants, as well as taking a toll on their mental health.

"The cure lies ultimately with Australia, which has the responsibility to settle those from the regional processing centres who are found to be refugees," Mr. Crepeau stressed.

"Any agreement regarding third country resettlement must be meaningful - in terms of numbers, timeliness and opportunities to rebuild - and adhere to Australia's international humanitarian and human rights obligations."

Villawood Immigration Detention Centre outside Sydney, Australia, which houses asylum-seekers. Photo: IRIN (file)

Welcoming different visa options for migrants, including work visas, the UN rights expert cautioned that the temporary nature of such visas could increase the migrants' vulnerability as they would often refrain from reporting, protesting and mobilising, in fear of having their visa cancelled, being detained or deported.

"I came across information about the exploitation of backpackers on working holiday visas, as well as of asylum seekers on bridging visas and students by employers in Australia," he said, calling for strong oversight mechanisms to combat such abuse.

Increasing xenophobia in a country with rich history of migration is concerning

The rights expert also voiced concern at an increase in xenophobia and hate speech, despite Australia's rich history of migration.

This, he said, has led to significant negative perceptions of migrants: "Politicians who have engaged in this negative discourse seem to have given permission to people on the street to act in xenophobic ways and to allow for the rise of nationalist populist groups."

Underscoring that Australia must work to fight xenophobia, discrimination and violence against migrants, in both acts and speech, Mr. Crepeau added: "Maintaining section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act sets the tone of an inclusive Australia, committed to implementing its multicultural policies and programmes and respecting, protecting and promoting the human rights of all."

Section 18C of the Act refers to addressing offensive behaviour against someone due to their race, colour, national or ethnic origin.

Further in the news release, the expert hailed several migration policies adopted by the authorities, such as the resettlement program granting humanitarian protection to a high number of refugees and assisting them in their integration process, as well as the welcoming of 12,000 refugees from Syria.

Regional processing centre in Nauru

During his 18-day-long mission, the Special Rapporteur met with Government officials, civil society, trade unions, the country's human rights commission as well as migrants themselves. He also visited on-shore detention centres and regional processing centres in the neighbouring island of Nauru.

The human rights expert will present a formal report on this mission to the UN Human Rights Council in June next year.

Independent experts and Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
Iraq: Sustained funding 'crucial' as Mosul displacement grows, says UN refugee agency

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Iraq: Sustained funding 'crucial' as Mosul displacement grows, says UN refugee agency, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c7c440e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 November 2016 - The United Nations refugee agency today stressed the crucial need for sustained funding to support humanitarian operations for the displaced from Mosul, a major Iraqi city where, for the past month, Government forces have been fighting to expel violent extremists.

"There has been a marked increase over the past week in the number of people fleeing after fighting intensified in the more densely-populated urban areas of Mosul," Adrian Edwards, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters at the regular bi-weekly news briefing in Geneva.

He said that of the 60,000 people who have fled their homes since the start of the military campaign on October 17, about 40,000 have done so since the beginning of November. Close to half are children, according to UN data and UNHCR surveys. Households headed by females, some of whom are survivors of abuse, account for much of the rest.

"The need for sustained funding support as winter approaches, and a redoubling of efforts to reach those displaced by the fighting, many of whom now live in rudimentary conditions in camps, is crucial," Mr. Edwards emphasized.

UNHCR currently has six camps open, hosting well over 14,000 people and with a capacity for 54,600. Three more are under construction and one is in planning, he said. All told, the 10 camps will have capacity for 17,000 plots. Additional land is required for UNHCR's total planned 20,000 plots (with six people on average per family tent/plot), in order to provide shelter for 120,000 people in camps.

Workers load World Food Programme food rations onto a truck in Mosul. The convoy had enough supplies to last 30,000 people for one month. Photo: UNICEF Iraq/Chris Niles

If needed, UNHCR and its partners, including the Government of Iraq, can potentially host 700,000 people, including a number of shelter solutions outside of camps. But funding for this is crucial, he stressed.

So far, more than 5,705 emergency relief packages have been distributed by UNHCR.

And with winter approaching and temperatures declining, the focus is on protecting people against the weather and keeping them safe and warm. The plan is to reach 1.2 million people in Iraq with special winterized kits including blankets, heating stoves, plastic tarpaulins and water and kerosene jerry cans. UNHCR is also providing cash assistance and plans to winter-proof 53,000 tents.

UNHCR is also bolstering protection monitoring and psychosocial and legal assistance through mobile teams to ensure timely interventions when problems are identified. Among the main concerns are family reunifications, supporting female-headed households, a lack of documentation and supporting victims of abuse.

UNHCR is also supporting an initiative with BBC Media Action and Radio Nawa to initiate a programme to help newly-displaced families access timely information. This week, 2,000 small transistor radios were distributed in UNHCR's Hasansham camp. Radio Nawa has installed a new transmitter to reach the camp.

UNHCR is also calling again on all parties in the fighting to respect the rights and lives of civilians, and emphasizes the importance of freedom of movement for residents of Mosul.

"Civilians should not be prevented from leaving the city and should have access to safe areas. Equally, civilians must not be forced to return to unsafe areas," he said.
Senior CPC official meets foreign World Internet Conference guests

2016-11-20 06:46

Liu Yunshan (L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 15, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

WUZHEN, Zhejiang, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yunshan, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met on Tuesday with foreign guests invited to the third World Internet Conference.

The conference, themed "Innovation-driven Internet development for the benefit of all -- building a community of common future in cyberspace" is to take place in the river town of Wuzhen, eastern China's Zhejiang Province, from Wednesday to Friday.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, and President of Qualcomm Derek Aberle.

During his meeting with Hor, Liu recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Cambodia, saying the visit has invigorated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

He said China is willing to further cooperation with Cambodia in various fields including internet development and governance, so as to benefit people of the two countries.

Hor said President Xi's visit to Cambodia is of historical significance and the Cambodian side is ready to deepen all-round pragmatic cooperation with China and enhance bilateral friendship.

When meeting with Hawke, Liu said, China and Australia, as major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, share wide common interests in terms of internet development and governance.

Both sides should be devoted to promoting exchanges in such fields as cyberspace interconnection, internet governance and cyber security, said Liu.

Noting that cooperation between Australia and China ranges widely, benefits both sides and has huge potential, Hawke said he believes China will continue to be a contributor to world internet development.

When meeting with Aberle, Liu hoped that Qualcomm would deepen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese companies, so as to jointly make contributions to internet innovation and the building of a community of common destiny in cyberspace.

Aberle was satisfied with the win-win cooperation between Qualcomm and the Chinese companies, hoping to expand cooperation with China on cyber security and internet technology innovation.

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Myanmar: UN urges aid access, warns of rights violations after 'lockdown' in northern Rakhine state

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Myanmar: UN urges aid access, warns of rights violations after 'lockdown' in northern Rakhine state, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c7e340e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 November 2016 - Deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of civilians in the northern part of Rakhine state in Myanmar, United Nations entities today urged the country's authorities to take immediate actions to address humanitarian and human rights situations.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urged the Myanmar Government to immediately allow humanitarian actors to resume the life-saving activities for some 160,000 civilians, which were suspended on 9 October.

We are urging the Government of Myanmar to ensure the protection and dignity of all civilians on its territory in accordance with the rule of law and its international obligations, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters at the regular news briefing in Geneva.

Rakhine state has been plagued with violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, a minority group.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), tens of thousands of people have fled their homes amid a security operation triggered by armed attacks on border posts in October. Residents, including members of the Rohingya minority and other Muslim communities, are reported to have suffered serious human rights violations including torture, rape and sexual assault, summary executions, and the destruction of mosques and homes.

OHCHR said humanitarian programmes providing health, food, education and nutrition assistance have been suspended and civilians are reported to be caught up in military action including attacks by helicopter gunships.

NGOs provide essential services to unregistered people coming to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state, such as this mother who had been unable to feed her baby properly. Photo: UNHCR /S. Kritsanavarin

We appeal for calm and for humanitarian access to assess and meet the needs of thousands of people who have reportedly been displaced from their homes by the ongoing security operation. The affected population is believed to be in urgent need of food, shelter and medical care, said the UNHCR spokesperson.

UNHCR is also appealing to the Government of Bangladesh to keep its border with Myanmar open and allow safe passage to any civilians from Myanmar fleeing violence, he added.

Meanwhile, a UN human rights expert has called on the Government of Myanmar to immediately tackle the deteriorating human rights situation in northern Rakhine state, noting that a two-day visit by a Government-led delegation to the area in early November, which included a UN official and nine ambassadors, had produced only limited results in terms of addressing the humanitarian crisis.

The Government has now admitted using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops, and there are unverified claims of reprisals against villagers who had shared their grievances with the delegation, said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee.

She criticized the authorities for placing the region on lockdown for six weeks and expressed particular concern at reports from the area that the security operation had been stepped up since the international delegation conducted its visit.

It is not acceptable that for six weeks there was a complete lockdown, with no access to the affected areas, she said.

The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations under the smokescreen of having allowed access to an international delegation. Urgent action is needed to bring resolution to the situation, she added.

Ms. Lee said allegations of human rights abuses, including the alleged rape and sexual assault of women and girls, needed to be investigated.

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has recently stated that the Government is responding to the situation based on the principle of the rule of law. Yet I am unaware of any efforts on the part of the Government to look into the allegations of human rights violations, said Ms. Lee.

It is crucial to recognize the issue at hand  as objectively as possible  and immediately embark on a transparent, non-partial, independent investigation, she said.

Ms. Lee echoed a statement by the Chair of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, former UN chief Kofi Annan, for all communities to renounce violence and for security services to act in full compliance with the rule of law.

She expressed hope that even before the Commission publishes a report next year, the Government would start taking interim measures in line with past recommendations to prevent further restrictions and violations of human rights suffered by the Rohingya population as well as other religious and ethnic minorities.
Security Council extends the mandate of joint UN-OPCW body on chemical weapons in Syria

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council extends the mandate of joint UN-OPCW body on chemical weapons in Syria, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c82640c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 November 2016 - The Security Council has extended, for an additional year, the mandate of the United Nations-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Joint Investigative Mechanism, the body tasked with identifying those behind chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian conflict.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2319 (2016) late last night, the 15-member Council also recalled its decision that Syria shall not use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or, transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors.

Further in the resolution, the Security Council encouraged the Mechanism to engage with relevant regional States in pursuit of its mandate, including to identify any involvement of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), the Al-Nusra Front or other non-State actors in the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria.

Set up by the Council in 2015, the Mechanism was mandated to identify, to the greatest extent feasible, those involved in the use of toxic chemicals as weapons in Syria. Earlier, a fact-finding mission mandated by the OPCW had determined that a specific incident in the Syrian conflict involved or likely involved the use of toxic chemicals as weapons.
DR Congo: Ban takes note of appointment of new Prime Minister

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, DR Congo: Ban takes note of appointment of new Prime Minister, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c88c40c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki moon has taken note of the appointment today of Samy Badibanga as Prime Minister ahead of the formation of a transitional government of national unity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in line with the political agreement of 18 October.

The Secretary-General welcomes this first concrete step in the implementation of the political agreement, which is expected to culminate in the holding of credible elections in the country, said a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

The UN chief called on the Government to be formed by Prime Minister Badibanga to create a climate conducive to upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms essential to political debate and credible, inclusive elections, as called for in Security Council resolution 2277 (2016).

Welcoming the mediation efforts led by the Conference episcopale du Congo (CENCO), the Secretary-general in his statement called on political groups that did not sign the political agreement to remain engaged and work towards the peaceful resolution of their differences.

He further calls on all political actors to continue working in good faith and in a spirit of compromise towards a political solution that paves the way for peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections in the DRC, in keeping with the Constitution and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the statement added.

The statement went on to say that M. Ban thanked Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo for his leadership over the last four years and that he looked forward to working with the Government led by Prime Minister Badibanga.

Last month, the Constitutional Court granted a petition of the National Electoral Commission (CENI) to postpone the elections to 2018. Meanwhile, on 18 October, participants in the national dialogue on elections signed an agreement to conduct the polls in April 2018. However, the dialogue is being boycotted by several of the main opposition groups, some of which have been staging popular protests.

Visiting the DRC this past weekend, members of the UN Security Council called on on Congolese political and social actors to take greater responsibility to adopt a consensual and inclusive electoral calendar and asked that the ban on public demonstrations be lifted.
South Sudan continues to face persistent challenges to peace and stability, Security Council told

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, South Sudan continues to face persistent challenges to peace and stability, Security Council told, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c8a540d.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - Briefing the United Nations Security Council for the last time, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan called on the 15-member body to continue to accord priority to the country and to consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.

"The people of South Sudan have suffered far too much and for far too long. The victims of this conflict still carry hope and have high expectations from the international community," Ellen Margrethe Lj told the Council today.

"I urge all involved and especially the South Sudanese leaders never to lose sight of the ultimate goal - a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of South Sudan," she added.

Ms. Lj underscored that the difference between the success and failure of the South Sudanese Peace Agreement lay in its comprehensive and inclusive implementation by its parties and called for sustained regional and international support to the country.

Further in her briefing, she highlighted that the security situation in the country, particularly in the Greater Equatorias, in parts of Unity, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, remained volatile, with frequent attacks that resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, as well as disrupted supply of essential goods, including food.

The envoy also said the increasingly fragmented conflict - often with ethnic undertones - continued to push the country towards further division and risked a full-scale civil conflict.

"Much more needs to be done by the Transitional Government [of National Unity] to put a stop to these security incidents that contribute to an environment of instability and violence, lead to displacement and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation," she said, underscoring the need to take actions that arrest the increasing ethnic tensions.

UNMISS chief cites 'dire' humanitarian situation

Ms. Lj, also the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), informed the Council that despite an agreement between the Government and the Mission on freedom of movement, military commanders on the ground were either not informed of or disregarded the agreement, causing significant challenges to the Mission's movement and patrols.

In addition, she drew attention to the humanitarian situation that remained "dire" with some 4.8 million people estimated to be severely food insecure and farmers in parts of the country likely to miss the upcoming planting season due to lack of availability of seeds, caused by fragile security.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are doing their outmost best to reach people in need but they continue to face obstacles in terms of movement, bureaucratic procedures and criminality," she said.

This briefing was Ms. Lj's last briefing to the Security Council in her current post. She steps down from these positions at the end of November.

Special Advisor sees 'all the warning signs' conflict could spiral into genocide

Recalling his recent visit to South Sudan, Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, painted a grave picture of the situation, saying he had undertaken the trip because of his growing concern about ethnically-fuelled violence, which is taking place against a breakdown in the political process and a stalled peace agreement.

In the course of the week he was in the country, he had met a variety of stakeholders, including religious and community leaders, including in Yei, which been spared the widespread violence of other areas but has now been identified among the country's conflict hotspots, with escalating violence against multiple tribe and ethnic groups, reportedly carried out by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the SPLA in Opposition, as well as unidentified armed groups and bandits.

Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng. UN Photo/Manuel Elias

"I was dismayed that what I saw confirmed my concern that there is strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines with a potential to spiral into genocide; I do not say that lightly," Mr. Dieg told the Council, noting that the ongoing conflict is also taking an ever-increasing economic toll, both domestically and internationally, causing a drain on funds that could be devoted to much-needed humanitarian assistance.

"South Sudan will see neither growth nor development as long as security accounts for half of Government spending," he warned.

He went on to say that the early July outbreak of violence is fresh in the minds of people he had met and they noted the potential for more such violence in the coming dry season. Violations of the ceasefire by all sides, widespread impunity and lack of accountability, were clearly evident and the feeling seemed to be that what had once been an undisciplined army formed out of two opposing groups is now an "amorphous and undisciplined force that has splintered into multiple armed groups, criminal gangs and bandits, over which the Government is failing to exercise control."

What began as a political conflict has transformed into what could become an outright ethnic war UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

Mr. Dieng said he had sensed a "tremendous mistrust" between civilians and the military and rather than as a source of protection, many ordinary people saw the armed forces as an entity to be feared or joined as one of the country's few employers. One elder had given him a chilling assessment of the ethnic polarization: "in the eyes [of some people] he saw fear, while in the eyes of others, he saw enthusiasm."

The Special Advisor went on to express deep concern about inflammatory rhetoric, stereotyping and name calling have been accompanied by targeted killings and rape of members of particular ethnic groups, and by violent attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of their perceived political affiliation. The media, including social media, are being used to spread hatred and encourage ethnic polarization.

"I am particularly concerned by the involvement of the youth of this country in this dangerous spread of hatred and hostility, as they are particularly susceptible to divisions within society," continued Mr. Dieng, underscoring: "So, all the warning signs are there, that what began as a political conflict has transformed into what could become an outright ethnic war."

Indeed, he said the stalled peace agreement, stagnating economy and spread of arms are the "ingredients for a dangerous escalation of violence - because both motivation and a means" are present in South Sudan.

Here, he emphasized that genocide is a process. "It does not happen overnight. And because it is a process and one that takes time to prepare, it can be prevented. Action can and must be taken now to address some of the factors that could provide fertile ground for genocide."

While the political leadership in South Sudan has and urgent and primary responsibility to this end, the Security Council could also consider, among other options, publicly calling for the political leadership to immediately condemn and take steps against any actions that could constitute incitement to violence, he said.

Moreover, African leaders must coalesce around a coherent strategy to prevent an escalation of violence. "I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it. I urge the Security Council and Member States of the region to take action," Mr. Dieng concluded.
Colombia: UN-led mechanism investigating alleged ceasefire violation

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Colombia: UN-led mechanism investigating alleged ceasefire violation, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c8be40d.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - The tripartite Mechanism coordinated by the United Nations and comprising the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) has started investigations into a 15 November incident in the country's Santa Rosa municipality that resulted in the deaths of two FARC-EP members.

"The tripartite Mechanism deeply regrets and expresses concern about the first deaths since the beginning of the Bilateral Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities, on 29 August," read a news release issued by the Mechanism, which is coordinated by the UN Mission in Colombia.

"Upon completing the investigation, the Mechanism will issue the necessary recommendations to avoid recurrence of such incidents," it added.

A third FARC-EP member - who was unharmed in the incident - is also being investigated, noted the release.

The tripartite Mechanism is monitoring and verifying the ceasefire under a protocol, agreed by the Government of Colombia and FARC-EP, according to which they agreed "not to enter armed contact" and "to maintain the discipline and control of the units so as not to generate acts or incidents that endanger the ceasefire."

As part of its mandate, the Mechanism is also investigating another alleged incident in the municipality of Tumaco, department of Narino (located in southwest Colombia).

Also in the news release, the Mechanism called upon the two parties to facilitate the flow of information and to maintain communications that will strengthen its coordination. It also said that it is open to receiving information from civilians and social organizations.

The release also highlighted that the Mechanism underlined the importance of maintaining the parties' commitment to respect the Bilateral Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities.
UN deputy chief urges donors to support peace consolidation in Central African Republic

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN deputy chief urges donors to support peace consolidation in Central African Republic, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c8dd40c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - In Brussels, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson today urged an international conference for the Central African Republic (CAR) to show solidarity and pledge the necessary financial support to the Government-identified priorities and reforms needed for the African country's rehabilitation and stabilization.

"The Central African Republic is at a crossroads and we need to do all we can to support and unite the forces of good in the country," Mr. Eliasson said in his remarks to the conference, co-organized in the Belgian capital by the European Union, the Central African Government, the UN and the World Bank. The event aims to secure $1.5 billion in funding to ensure a recovery and peacebuilding in CAR for the next three to five years.

The Conference agreed a Framework of Mutual Accountability for the country.

For his part, Mr. Eliasson stressed that peace and security, recovery, development, stabilization and human rights must go hand in hand, and noted the need for progress on the political front and for dialogue. "But without the rule of law, stabilization efforts will be futile," he underscored.

Clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian, plunged the country into civil conflict in 2013. Despite significant progress and successful elections, the CAR has remained in the grip of instability and sporadic unrest. More than 13,000 UN staff are currently based there as part of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSCA.

Security situation in CAR 'still fragile'

"Less than three years ago, the [country] was on the edge of the abyss. We all remember images of the bloodbath, which flooded the media and caused a shock wave around the world," Mr. Eliasson recalled, noting that the international community reacted by deploying troops from the subregion, the African Union (AU), France, the EU and the United Nations.

Noting his recent visit to the CAR, he said the security situation remains fragile. "Armed groups continue to pose a threat to civilians and destabilize the authority of the State. The troublemakers resort to violence to disrupt the political process and promote their interests. Human rights violations remain endemic and have multiplied with the recent intensification of violence," he said.

The UN deputy chief went on to describe a country facing a disastrous humanitarian situation, with some 40 per cent of the population needing some form of humanitarian aid. Moreover, one fifth of the population has been displaced within the country or in neighbouring countries. "Many of these displaced are afraid to return home," he added.

Left to right at the Brussels Conference: President Faustin-Archange Touadera of Central African Republic; Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson. Photo: UNRIC Brussels

During his trip to CAR, the Deputy Secretary-General noted that the wounds resulting from the conflict are still clearly visible. "The social fabric is torn. Many Central Africans are deeply traumatized and reconciliation, in some cases, will certainly take time," he said.

'A country with enormous potential'

The Deputy Secretary-General remains optimistic about the future of the CAR, however, believing that the country can turn the page, consolidate peace, achieve true reconciliation and social cohesion and promote development.

"I found a country with enormous potential, a country with a lot of vitality and dynamism," he told the conference, saying he had been impressed by the substantial human and material resources available in CAR. "Men and women from all walks of life have told me about their desire for peace and their hope for a different future," he said.

Emphasizing that the country's vast natural resources must be exploited for sustainable development, Mr. Eliasson said: "The investment that promotes regional economic integration will help preserve peace." It would also be necessary to mobilize the Central African Diaspora for rehabilitation initiatives.

Signature of the Mutual Engagement Framework

Stressing the importance of the Framework for Mutual Commitment between the Central African Government and the international community, which was to be signed by the President of the CAR, Faustin-Archange Touadera, Mr. Eliasson said: "This agreement will support the political advancement at the highest level to promote peace and ensure the implementation of the National Plan for Recovery and Peacebuilding."

"Coordinated and well-planned initiatives, such as those articulated in the National Plan for Recovery and Peacebuilding will be paramount," he continued, noting that "while we are committed to all these fronts, the priority of saving lives must remain essential."

Mr. Eliasson also stressed that progress on the political front is "more essential than ever, especially as a result of recent violence in the capital, Bangui, and elsewhere in the country. He welcomed the recent adoption by the Central African authorities of key reforms and strategies on demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR), the security sector, police reform and reconciliation.

Need for dialogue remains essential

"Dialogue and continued political commitment will be necessary to carry out the implementation of these national plans," he said, adding that the political and financial support of the international community will also be essential for their success.

"At the same time, we must respond to demands and marginalization through continuous and inclusive dialogue and negotiations and the rejection of violence," said the Deputy Secretary-General. "Armed groups must be disarmed as part of a comprehensive, inclusive and sustained DDR program," he said, stressing that national defence and security forces must be transformed to be representative, balanced ethnically, effectively and responsibly. "National reconciliation must be facilitated at all levels," he underscored.

Stressing that "the United Nations will do its part," Mr. Eliasson announced the immediate availability of $15 million from the UN Peacebuilding Fund to cover relevant peacebuilding needs.

"Our peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, will continue to firmly counter the actions of troublemakers to prevent violence, ensure security and protect civilians," he warned, stating that the UN will also continue political dialogue with the Government on the main priorities of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reform, reconciliation and social cohesion, restoration of state authority and the fight against Impunity.
Nigeria: UN expert seeks urgent answers on 'brutal' eviction of 30,000 people in Lagos

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Nigeria: UN expert seeks urgent answers on 'brutal' eviction of 30,000 people in Lagos, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c8fe40d.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - A United Nations human rights expert has appealed to the Government of Nigeria for an urgent explanation of the forced eviction of 30,000 people in Lagos state in the last week.

"It has been brought to my attention that the evictions may have involved the extreme use of force and fire by the Nigerian police force and Lagos state government, leaving individuals and families scrambling in the middle of the night to find safety and shelter," said the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, Leilani Farha, in a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Four people are reported to have died in the latest operation to clear irregular developments along the state's waterfronts. Residents in the Otodo Gbame community say they suffered brutal treatment and are now homeless. Most of the people affected lived in poor fishing communities and say they have lost their livelihoods and food sources as well as their homes and possessions.

"The mass displacement and reports of four deaths are deeply disturbing," she stressed.

In an urgent communication, Ms. Farha has asked the Nigerian Government for information on the evictions, the methods used and their compliance with international human rights law.

She is also questioning whether the community was given adequate notice or alternative accommodation, as required by international law. The operation took place only days after the Lagos state High Court had issued an injunction restraining demolitions in the waterfront communities.

It takes many years to build a home, a community, and a sense of trust with government, but only days to destroy it

"What makes these evictions particularly concerning is that they were carried out in blatant disregard of a court order and have completely ignored international human rights guidelines on forced evictions," the UN Special Rapporteur said.

"International law is clear: there must be consultation with the affected community, all alternative options to eviction must be explored, and a resettlement plan must be in place should the evictions be carried out," she noted and urged: "Under no circumstances should force or fire be used."

The people affected, from the Egun and other ethnic minority populations, with no other options, lived in poor-quality homes along creeks and other waterfronts.

"It takes many years to build a home, a community, and a sense of trust with government, but only days to destroy it. It is truly unfortunate that so many people are left with literally nothing but memories of their former lives and questions about their human rights," the independent expert said.

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
UN health agency denounces attacks on health facilities in Syria

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN health agency denounces attacks on health facilities in Syria, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c92340e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today condemned attacks on five Syrian hospitals - including two trauma centres and an emergency obstetric centre - as well as a mobile medical clinic, and demanded that all parties to the five-year conflict respect the neutrality of health workers, health facilities and medical supplies.

"The pattern of attacks indicates that health care is being deliberately targeted in the Syrian conflict - this is a major violation of international law and a tragic disregard of our common humanity," WHO said in a statement today.

"These attacks have seriously reduced the availability of health services in northern Syria and resulted in a major disruption of referrals of critically injured and ill patients," the agency added.

The attacks took place between 13-15 November and, according to reports, killed at least two people and injured 19 others, including six medical staff.

Of the facilities attacked, three hospitals - including a frontline trauma centre and a secondline trauma centre - were located in western rural Aleppo and two were located in Idleb - one of which was a key referral hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care.

On a monthly basis, these hospitals were providing more than 20,000 consultations, and performing more than 600 deliveries and 1,700 major surgeries.

In addition, a mobile clinic in Idleb's Jishr-Ash-Shugur area, providing essential basic healthcare to more than 3,500 patients was also attacked.

According to WHO, such attacks in the war-ravaged country have increased in both frequency and scale.

Thus far in 2016, the agency and its partners have documented 126 such attacks across Syria.

"The attack of five hospitals and a mobile clinic in less than 48 hours is an outrage that puts many more lives in danger in Syria and deprives the most vulnerable - including children and pregnant women - of their right to health services, just at the time when they need them most," it noted.
One month into Mosul battle, UN and partners 'profoundly concerned' for civilian safety

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, One month into Mosul battle, UN and partners 'profoundly concerned' for civilian safety, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832c94a40e.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 November 2016 - At the one-month mark of Iraqi military operations to oust terrorists from Mosul, the United Nations and its partners today said tens of thousands of families in newly retaken areas urgently requiring life-saving assistance and warned that the humanitarian community in Iraq faces a "massive scope" of need.

Expressing their "profound concern" in a joint statement, UN relief agencies and their partners underscored that these latest developments further exacerbate a humanitarian crisis in a country where 10 million people already were in need of aid. In newly retaken areas, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure - such as water and power plants - are damaged and medical services are often unavailable.

Families are going hungry as a result of loss of livelihoods, disruptions in food production and supply, and higher market prices. Water supplies and agricultural equipment have also been damaged, leading people to drink untreated well water. Children are not vaccinated, nor do they have access to formal education. Many require psychosocial support.

Furthermore, the agencies emphasized that the armed groups controlling Mosul have created both immediate and long term risks for people and the environment thanks to scorched earth tactics and improvised mines.

"Wherever we can, humanitarian partners are helping displaced people and vulnerable families in newly retaken communities," announced Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, who spoke on behalf of the humanitarian community.

"We are working as quickly as we can and in close coordination with Iraqi authorities to help some of the most at-risk people in the world," she added.

The agencies said that 13,000 displaced people are living with host communities or in public facilities. In addition, 69,000 have been given assistance within 48 hours of their displacement, including more than 114,000 who have received food rations, more than 14,300 recipients of emergency health services, more than 66,000 who were provided with emergency household items, and some 124,000 now have access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services.

More than 6,700 women and girls have received reproductive consultations, including life-saving assisted deliveries. 1,400 sessions have been held to support survivors of gender-based violence. Meanwhile, stakeholders are expanding shelter capacities and building new sites.

Donor support to the UN and NGOs has been critical, but more is urgently needed. Winter is approaching and families who fled their homes have virtually nothing to guard against the cold.

"The humanitarian community calls upon all parties in the conflict to take every possible measure to protect the rights and lives of civilians as part of their obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement concluded.
Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Mauritania : 10 anti-slavery activists released

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Mauritania : 10 anti-slavery activists released, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832ca6b4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In response to today's Appeal Court ruling in Mauritania that acquitted and ordered the release of three anti-slavery activists, and reduced the sentence of 10 others - including seven who will now be released as they have served their sentence - Kine Fatim Diop, Amnesty International's West Africa Campaigner, said:

"The release of three anti-slavery activists who had been unfairly sentenced to up to 15 years for peacefully expressing their opinions is a huge relief for them, their families and for all those who have been campaigning for an end to the brutal crackdown on human rights defenders in Mauritania."

"However the fact that the appeal court still convict 10 of them and three activists remain in jail represents distressing sign of the shrinking space that human rights activists and civil society organizations are facing in Mauritania. It is even more appalling that the Court's ruling ignored the serious allegations of torture that were made by the defendants and that no investigation has yet been launched."

"The authorities should explicitly recognize the legitimacy of all groups working against slavery and discrimination, including the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, and ensure that the criminal justice system is no longer used to target and harass those who defend human rights.''

Background

Today the Appeal Court acquitted and released three anti-slavery activists and reduced the sentence of the 10 others who have been imprisoned since 30 June.

Among the 10 remaining, seven have been sentenced to one year's imprisonment with four months' suspended. Two of them were sentenced to three years with 2 years suspended, and another one to six months' imprisonment. Excepted those acquitted, they will pay a fine of 45, 897 USD.

The Appeal court ruling convicted seven of them for membership of an unauthorized association. The two sentenced to three years are convicted for unarmed gathering, preventing the police from performing its duty and membership of an unauthorized association. Another one is convicted for organizing an unarmed gathering and for membership of an unauthorized association.

In the first instance, the 13 had been sentenced to between three and 15 years in prison, on trumped-up charges of rebellion, use of violence, attacks against the police and judicial officials and membership of an unrecognized organization.

The charges relate to a protest against the eviction that took place in a slum in the capital Nouakchott in July. However, none of the 13 activists were present at the protest and the organization they belong to - the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement - did not provide any support to the protest.

Five of the seven people from the slum who were arrested were also sentenced to between one and five years' imprisonment by the Appeal court. The court ordered them to pay a fine of around 3000 USD. Two were acquitted.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Iran: Suicide fears for ailing British-Iranian prisoner of conscience

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Iran: Suicide fears for ailing British-Iranian prisoner of conscience, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832caac4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Fears are growing for the physical and mental health of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian charity worker who is serving a five-year prison sentence in Iran, convicted of "national security" charges after an unfair trial, said Amnesty International today.

Her husband, Richard Radcliffe, told the organization that her health has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks and she has even contemplated suicide. She became so unwell that the authorities arranged an emergency family visit for her today. She is suffering from heart palpitations in addition to pain in her hands, arms and shoulders and blurred vision. She also began a hunger strike on 13 November to express her despair over the prospect of never being released.

"The news of the decline in Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe's health is deeply alarming. Her imprisonment on spurious 'national security' charges has been utterly unjust," said Philp Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

"After her arrest, she was separated from her baby daughter and held in solitary confinement for 45 days. Instead of prolonging her pain and suffering, the Iranian authorities must end her ordeal by releasing her immediately and unconditionally."

During an emergency family visit today, Nazanin's mother collapsed when she saw how thin her daughter had become since her imprisonment. Nazanin agreed to end the hunger strike today for the sake of her baby daughter.

Despite two visits to the clinic at Tehran's Evin Prison her husband says she has not received adequate medical care.

Her husband told Amnesty International that over the past few weeks she had reached "breaking point". He said her spirits had sunk so low that she even wrote a suicide letter to him. She gave the letter to her cellmate but has not talked about suicide since.

"Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe's ordeal has caused her immense despair and suffering. It is shocking that the Iranian authorities are adding to her pain by failing to grant her adequate medical care," said Philip Luther.

The Iranian authorities announced earlier this year that her arrest was linked to her involvement with a network of bloggers imprisoned in 2014 for taking part in journalism training courses.

On 15 June, Iran's Revolutionary Guards released a statement saying that Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe had "participated in devising and carrying out media and cyber projects aimed at the soft overthrow of the government".

Amnesty International believes she is a prisoner of conscience who has been imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and association.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
DRC: Deadly protest violence must be averted

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, DRC: Deadly protest violence must be averted, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832cafc4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Rising tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are being stoked by crackdowns on freedom of expression and peaceful protests, posing a deadly risk of further violence, Amnesty International said today, one month ahead of the day President Joseph Kabila's constitutionally-mandated second term will end.

Since anti-Kabila protests began in 2014, government security forces have killed dozens of protesters and imprisoned many others on trumped-up charges or following unfair trials. They have also introduced draconian restrictions on media houses.

"This powder-keg of human rights grievances is likely to blow up in more violence unless concrete measures are taken to ease tensions and allow dissenters to freely express their frustrations over the delayed elections," said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

Dozens of protesters have been killed in the last two years, and as recently as 17 November, security forces dispersed opposition supporters in Kinshasa's Limete neighbourhood for no legitimate reason as they distributed leaflets for a protest rally planned for two days later.

"The DRC authorities must rein in the security forces who have used and continue to use excessive force against protesters and launch thorough, independent and transparent investigations into all killings since 2015 to ensure those found to be responsible are held to account."

Amnesty International researchers visited the DRC in October and spoke to dozens of demonstrators who took part in the 19 September protests in Kinshasa. Many of them said not only had the government failed to address their grievances, it had also reinforced their frustration by failing to ensure accountability for the deadly September crackdown.

One activist said, "If the government continues with disorder, we will respond with disorder."

Many opposition supporters are languishing in jail after they were arbitrarily arrested following the protests. Amnesty International researchers were told that many detainees who are unable to raise enough money to bribe their way out of prison have been slapped with spurious charges including murder, arson and looting.

"This a travesty of justice must be brought to an end. Addressing the security forces' abuses may not resolve citizens' questions about presidential succession, but it could at least help ensure that likely protests next month do not descend into bloodshed," said Sarah Jackson.

"Besides ensuring justice for violations of the rights of peaceful protesters, the authorities must also lift the ban on protests, guarantee demonstrators' security and uphold media freedoms, including for foreign broadcasters."

Background

President Joseph Kabila's second, and constitutionally last, term ends on 19 December 2016.

The country has been wracked by protests since it became apparent that the president would not be stepping down in December. He is remaining in power as the head of a new transitional government that will also include some opposition representatives.

A new cabinet is due to be formed under newly-appointed Prime Minister Samy Badibanga. His predecessor, Augustin Matata Ponyo, resigned on 14 November as part of the controversial agreement following a national dialogue which extended Kabila's term by 18 months pending elections in April 2018.

Meanwhile, the government recently issued a directive barring foreign radio and TV stations from broadcasting on their own frequencies, forcing them to relay their programmes on local partner stations.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Greece: Police must protect refugees from ongoing far-right attacks

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Greece: Police must protect refugees from ongoing far-right attacks, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832cb2f4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

As attacks by suspected far-right extremists against refugees in Souda camp on the Greek island of Chios continue for a third day Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Deputy Europe Director, said:

"These shocking attacks against refugees cannot be permitted to continue with impunity. For the last two nights, suspected right-wing extremists have thrown petrol bombs, stones and rocks down on the camp from castle walls, causing injuries and panic. At least one refugee was injured by a stone just this afternoon."

"Police and judicial authorities must not only take urgent measures to investigate these hate crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice but as a third night approaches, they must act to ensure the safety of the refugees on the island."

At a meeting on Chios 13 November, Parliamentarians from the far-right Golden Dawn party called for deportations.

As of Friday morning, no one attacking the camp, which is in a downtown area close to Chios port, has been arrested. An eyewitness told Amnesty International: "I do not know what will happen tonight. If another attack happens and the police is not present. We are very scared."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Malaysia: End crackdown on Bersih activists

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Malaysia: End crackdown on Bersih activists, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832cb784.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Malaysian government must immediately end its crackdown on Bersih, a coalition of civil society groups campaigning for electoral reforms and against corruption, and allow civil society to peacefully exercise its human rights, Amnesty International said today.

A day before a major rally, the Malaysian police raided the offices of Bersih, arresting the chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and secretary Mandeep Singh. They also seized computers, mobile phones and documents. Activists from other sections of Malaysian civil society were also arrested.

"These arrests are the latest in a series of crude and heavy-handed attempts to intimidate Malaysian civil society activists and other human rights defenders. They must be released immediately and unconditionally, and tomorrow's rally must be allowed to go ahead peacefully," said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

"Amnesty International considers all the activists arrested on Friday to be prisoners of conscience. They must be allowed to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association peacefully without any interference, threats or harassment from officials or non-state actors seeking to provoke unrest."

Background

Ahead of Saturday's annual Bersih rally, where members of Malaysian civil society come together to call for electoral reforms and an end to corruption, the authorities have carried out a series of arrests of well-known activists while non-state actors have attacked members of the movement.

Maria Chin Abdullah was arrested on Friday under Penal Code Section 124C, which penalises attempts to "commit activity detrimental to democracy".

Mandeep Singh, Bersih's secretariat manager, was arrested under Penal Code 147, which penalises rioting.

Anthony Loke, a Seremban Member of Parliament, was arrested under the draconian Sedition Act of 1948.

Ronnie Liu, a politician from Selangor state, was arrested under Penal Code 153, which prohibits "wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot".

Luqman Nul Hakim Zul Razali, an activist from the SUARAM human rights organization, was arrested under Penal Code 147 for alleged rioting.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Compassion of the many: Indifference of the few

Publisher Amnesty International Author Giorgos Kosmopoulous Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Compassion of the many: Indifference of the few, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832cbe94.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

On the day President Obama thanked the Greek people for their "extraordinary compassion" in their response to the refugee crisis, I spoke to Haji Mohamad Lound, a Syrian refugee whose experience at the hands of the Greek and European authorities was less than compassionate.

Haji, together with his wife and four young children, was illegally returned from Greece to Turkey last month. "Our situation is desperate," the graphic designer from Aleppo told me on the phone. "My son has respiratory problems. I cannot find work in Turkey and we do not feel safe. I do not know where to turn." He keeps asking me what the chances are that they can come back to Europe but I am not sure what to answer.

Whilst the welcome given to refugees by so many ordinary Greek people has been extraordinary, paradoxically the further one gets from the beaches of Lesvos and Kos, the more attitudes towards refugees calcify. Indeed, amongst those furthest removed from the crisis - in the parliaments of Europe - compassionate words are seldom matched by action.

This is starkly illustrated by the treatment meted out to Haji and his family. They arrived in Greece last month having fled the advance of ISIS in Syria. "After a car bomb explosion shuttered the windows of our home I decided is time to pack our bags" he told me. They risked their lives trying to cross to Europe by sea and were rescued and taken first to the island of Milos and then Leros, where they were registered and expressed their intention to apply for international protection.

Five days later, police told them they would be transferred to Athens and they were escorted to the airport by a group of officers from the EU border agency (Frontex). They boarded a plane but instead of flying to Athens, two hours later they touched down in Adana, southern Turkey. "When I saw the Turkish flag at the airport my dreams were shattered," Haji told me.

Having spent over a week in detention in Turkey, the family were given temporary protection registration documents and were left to their own devices.

Whilst the Greek authorities and the European Union have repeatedly insisted that all Syrian refugees arriving in Greece are having their asylum claims properly assessed, the evidence in this case strongly suggests otherwise. Not only were Haji and his family denied the right to apply for asylum, but no risk assessment was undertaken on the danger they would face if returned to Turkey. They were also denied access to legal advice during the critical hours of their deportation.

Despite Greek authority's claims of no foul play, there is a raft of evidence, including the signed copies of documents that prove that those on board the flight to Adana had formally expressed their intention to seek international protection in Greece.

Whilst Haji and his family are stranded in Turkey, a further 62,000 refugees and migrants are stranded in Greece, living in a state of constant fear and uncertainty. This is the result of the EU-Turkey migration deal and the failure of European leaders to relocate the promised numbers of refugees from Greece.

Whilst in Athens President Barack Obama should shine the spotlight not only on often abysmal conditions for the tens of thousands of refugees stranded in Greece, but also on the failure of world leaders to adequately address the wider global refugee crisis.

As winter closes in and the global political climate grows harsher, President Obama should demand that wealthy countries meet their obligations and take in a significantly greater and fairer share of the world's refugees.

In the meantime, Haji remains hopeful that the family may yet find a hospitable welcome in Europe and provide their children with an education. "We just want to be in a place in Europe that accepts us, where we feel safe, and where our kids can go to school."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Venezuela: Release of prisoner of conscience must mark shift in treatment of political opposition

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Venezuela: Release of prisoner of conscience must mark shift in treatment of political opposition, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d2d74.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The release of a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader unfairly imprisoned since 2014 as punishment for his human rights work must mark a profound shift in the government's approach to dissent and freedom of speech, said Amnesty International.

Rosmit Mantilla, Member of Parliament, human rights activist and prisoner of conscience was released after spending more than two years in pre-trial detention at the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service facilities in Caracas.

"Rosmit's long awaited release is great news for human rights in Venezuela. He should have never been made to spend a second behind bars. The Venezuelan authorities must now build on this positive step and release all imprisoned activists and political leaders whose only 'crime' was to disagree with the government," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

Rosmit Mantilla is an activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) and a member of the opposition party Voluntad Popular.

He was accused of receiving money to finance anti-government protests that took place between February and July 2014. The only evidence against him appears to be an anonymous testimony.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Slovenia: Constitutional right to water "must flow down to" Roma communities

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Slovenia: Constitutional right to water "must flow down to" Roma communities, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d3174.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to water for all must be fully implemented to benefit the lives of Slovenia's Roma communities denied access to water, said Amnesty International.

Whilst the amendment passed today recognises that everyone has the right to drinking water, some Romani communities are still forced to fetch water from polluted streams or public taps and do not have access to adequate toilets.

"Enshrining access to drinking water as a constitutional human right is an important legal step forward for Slovenia, but Roma communities need more than legal changes. Action is now needed to ensure the changes flow down to all those without water and sanitation," said Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International's Deputy Europe Director.

"It is shocking that in a highly developed country like Slovenia, where almost 100 per cent of the population have access to safe water, some Roma communities struggle to collect even small amounts of water to drink, cook and bathe themselves and their families."

Many Roma families in Slovenia live in informal settlements in inadequate and at times unsanitary housing conditions. Some do not have access to water close to their homes and have to travel long distances with jerry cans to get water from petrol stations, cemeteries or polluted streams. These conditions impact their lives and result in illnesses including water borne diseases.

In 2011 a government commission recommended that access to water should be provided to all Roma communities as matter of urgency, but no effective measures have so far been taken.

"The government must now ensure that the constitutional recognition that everyone has a right to drinking water leads to swift and concrete changes," said Fotis Filippou.

"Failure to do so would not only be an abject dereliction of responsibility by the government but could also prove costly since the new amendment will strengthen the case of anyone challenging their lack of access to water in domestic courts."

BACKGROUND

The constitutional amendment requires that water for drinking and household use is provided purely by the public sector.

In 2014 two Roma families from Skocjan and Ribnica took the issue of lack of access to water to the European Court of Human Rights. The case Hudorovic v. Slovenia is currently pending before the Court.

has stated: "The Roma do not need riches, what we really need is a water pipe for our children to wash and to be able to drink water when thirsty."

It is estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 Roma people live in Slovenia. Most of them live in isolated and segregated settlements or slums in rural areas. Many live in poorly constructed homes or informal settlements which lack security of tenure. Widespread discrimination often prevents Romani families from buying or renting housing in other areas.

Under Slovenian law, citizens can only obtain access to communal public services if they own or hold other legal claims to the land on which they live, along with a building permit. Many Roma are therefore denied even minimum levels of access to water and sanitation, as well as utilities such as electricity.

The denial of their rights to adequate housing, water and sanitation, whilst also negatively impacting other rights such as education, work and health, feeds into a cycle of poverty and marginalization. Widespread prejudice against Roma, including children and women persist on the grounds of their lack of access to basic sanitation.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Pakistan: Politically motivated expulsion of teachers will exacerbate education woes

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Pakistan: Politically motivated expulsion of teachers will exacerbate education woes, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d35f4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In response to Pakistan's politically motivated decision to expel more than 100 Turkish school teachers, Amnesty International's South Asia Director Champa Patel said:

"With 24 million Pakistani children out of school, Pakistan's decision to expel teachers from the Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges will only hurt Pakistan's children.

"What the country needs is more classrooms and more teachers, not a politically-motivated decision to purge educators at the behest of the Turkish government."

Background

Pakistan has ordered more than 100 Turkish teachers from the PakTurk schools to leave the country by the end of the week.

The order comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Pakistan.

The PakTurk schools deny the Turkish government's allegation the network is linked to Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, currently in exile in the USA and a former ally of the ruling AK Party.

The Turkish government maintains that Fethullah Gulen was behind a failed coup attempt in July, and has since used it as a pretext to purge tens of thousands of state employees - including academics and teachers - and media organizations of suspected sympathisers and others.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Mexico: Release of women tortured to confess brings glimmer of hope to many others

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 21 November 2016 Related Document(s) Surviving Death: Police and Military Torture of Women in Mexico Cite as Amnesty International, Mexico: Release of women tortured to confess brings glimmer of hope to many others, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d3c04.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The release from prison of three women who were subjected to rape and other forms of tortured in 2011 by marines to force them to "confess" to crimes brings a glimmer of hope to hundreds of others who are held behind bars unfairly across Mexico, said Amnesty International.

Denise Lovato, Korina Urtrera and Wendy Diaz each spent more than five years in prison. They walked out of jail in the State of Morelos this morning after a judge acquitted them and ordered their immediate release.

"Denise, Korina and Wendy should have never been imprisoned in the first place. Their harrowing stories show the tragic state of human rights in Mexico, where security forces routinely sexually abuse women to secure 'confessions' in an attempt to show that they are tackling rampant organized crime," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

The stories of Denise, Korina and Wendy are featured in a recent groundbreaking Amnesty International investigation into the use of torture and other sexual violence against women in Mexico.

All of the 100 women held in federal prisons interviewed for the report, said they had experienced some form of sexual or psychological abuse during their arrest and interrogation by municipal, state or federal police officers or members of the Army and Navy. Seventy-two said they were sexually attacked during their arrest or in the hours that followed. Thirty-three reported being raped.

Denise, Korina and Wendy are not isolated cases of prolonged imprisonment following rape and torture. Amnesty International recently launched an international campaign calling for the release of Veronica Razo, mother of two, who has also spent more than five years in prison after Federal Police subjected her to 24 hours of torture to force her to "confess".

"The release of these three women last night should compel authorities to take action on other cases such as that of Veronica Razo, who deserves to be home with her family for Christmas," said Erika Guevara-Rosas.

"Investigations should now take place into the torture of Denise, Korina and Wendy and those responsible should face justice."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Bahrain: Critic of UK Royals' Visit Faces Charges

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Bahrain: Critic of UK Royals' Visit Faces Charges, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d5d64.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Bahraini authorities have charged a prominent political activist with "inciting hatred of the political system" after he criticized Bahrain's government and the November 8 to 11, 2016, visit to Bahrain by Britain's Prince Charles. The charge against Ebrahim Sharif, former leader of the National Democratic Action Society, carries a prison term of up to three years and is a clear violation of his right to free expression.

On November 11, an Associated Press article reported that the Prince of Wales had made a state visit to Bahrain, part of a seven-day tour of the Gulf undertaken at the request of the British government. The article quotes Sharif expressing concerns that the visit could "whitewash" Bahrain's human rights situation and the government's "absolute power." The Bahrain News Agency said in a November 13 statement that Sharif, had "defamed Bahrain's constitutional system," even though Bahrain's 2002 constitution states that "everyone has the right to express his opinion and publish it by word of mouth."

"The pomp and ceremony of a royal visit shouldn't be followed by the arrest of peaceful critics of the government," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Given that the British government requested this trip, it's incumbent on them to call publicly for Sharif's release."

Sharif, whom authorities released pending trial, told Human Rights Watch that officers from the Cyber Crime Directorate called him in for questioning on the morning of November 13. He said they questioned him about his comments in the Associated Press article, after which a public prosecutor charged him with violating article 165 of Bahrain's penal code, which states that "a prison sentence shall be passed against any person who expressly incites others to develop hatred or hostility toward the system of government." Sharif denied that his comments incited hatred of the government system.

Sharif told Human Rights Watch that Bahrain airport officials had prevented him from leaving the country on November 5, stating that he was under a travel ban. On October 24, officials at the causeway that links Bahrain to Saudi Arabia had informed his wife, Farida Ghulam, that she was under a travel ban.

In 2011, Sharif was one of 21 opposition activists prosecuted for calling for democratic reforms and a republican form of government. They were found guilty of attempting to change the constitution and monarchical system "by force," and Sharif spent four years and three months in prison. He was released in June 2015, but spent another 13 months in jail after his arrest in July 2015 on charges that he "incited hatred toward the system of government" in a speech in which he repudiated violence and supported peaceful protest.

In a statement Sharif provided to Human Rights Watch on November 15, 2016, he described the government's actions as "fear tactics  commonly used by undemocratic governments to prevent human rights defenders and political activists from defending thousands of voiceless people tortured, imprisoned, forced into exile or banned from travel."

On November 14, a United States State Department spokesperson called on the government of Bahrain to drop the latest charges against Sharif. An article on The Guardian website on November 15 quoted a statement from the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office in which they said they would raise their concerns over the case "at a senior level with the Bahraini government."

The article also includes the following statement from a spokesperson for Prince Charles: "Their royal highnesses are aware of the issues that have been raised by human rights organisations in the lead up to, and during the tour, and the actions being taken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerns at a senior level with the Bahraini government."

"Ebrahim Sharif is facing jail for criticizing a royal visit the British government asked for, yet London still can't bring itself to call for the charges to be dropped," Stork said.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Nepal: Decade After Peace, Scant Progress On Justice

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Nepal: Decade After Peace, Scant Progress On Justice, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d6464.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Ten years after signing a peace accord, successive Nepali governments have failed to deliver on its central human rights promises, Human Rights Watch said today. The international community, and particularly the United Nations, should press the government to fulfill its pledges as victims wait in vain for information about missing family members and accountability for crimes committed during the war.

The Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) of November 21, 2006, brought an end to Nepal's civil war, which was started in 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal  Maoist. The war claimed more than 13,000 lives. Both the Maoists and government forces committed serious human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, and sexual violence.

"The ceasefire agreement ended armed conflict, a landmark for a country torn apart by violence and war," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "But the promises of accountability for abuses and the resolution of thousands of disappearances have been broken by Nepal's main political parties, all of which have taken turns at leading the government in the last decade."

The long civil war left a political gap that led King Gyanendra to reassert monarchical autocracy and suspend the constitution on February 1, 2005, with the support of the military. The authoritarian approach and serious human rights violations led to a people's movement to oppose the monarchy. Nepal's political parties formed an alliance, and together with the Maoists, made a commitment to democracy and human rights under the 2006 peace deal.

One of the key undertakings under the peace accord was to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations committed during the war. Yet, all the political parties appear to have forgotten those promises, and the victims' families are still waiting.

Devi Sunuwar is still demanding justice for the killing of her daughter Maina, then 15. Soldiers detained Maina in February 2004, though the army vehemently denied it at the time. Under sustained pressure from the international community, including from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the army finally proceeded with an internal inquiry and military prosecutors brought three soldiers allegedly responsible before a court martial.

According to army records, the accused were only charged with minor offenses of using improper interrogation techniques and not following procedures during the disposal of Maina's body. They were sentenced to six months in prison, effective from March 2005. Since they had already spent that time confined to barracks during the period of investigation, the officers were set free. "The government is protecting murderers," Sunuwar told Human Rights Watch. "But I will keep fighting till I get justice."

Arjun Lama was abducted in May 2005, in broad daylight and in front of many witnesses by men known to be Maoists. Although the exact circumstances of his death are not yet known, his body was partially exhumed at a spot identified by witnesses who said they saw his murder. Agni Sapkota, a Maoist leader accused in the case, was denied a visa to visit the United States in June 2010, but the government has yet to take any action on the case. The National Human Rights Commission has secured the exhumation site but fears that because it is not guarded, his remains are not safe.

After much faltering, a truth-seeking commission and a disappearances commission were established in 2015, but were slow to get under way. The legislation undergirding the commissions is deeply flawed as it allows for amnesty for certain crimes, creating space for those responsible to escape justice. The law has been criticized by international experts, including OHCHR, and has been struck down twice by Nepal's Supreme Court. But the authorities have not amended the legislation to bring it into line with either the Supreme Court's orders or international law.

By September 2016, the two commissions had received nearly 59,000 complaints relating to wartime abuses, according to sources close to the commissions.

In a cynical move designed to provide further shelter for the abusers, the then-prime minister, Khagendra Prasad Oli, signed an agreement in May 2016, with the other main political parties agreeing to withdraw all wartime cases before the courts and to provide amnesty to alleged perpetrators. This agreement was a clear statement that regardless of the Supreme Court directives, all political parties are actively working against accountability and justice.

An unrealistically short statute of limitations on reporting sexual violence has served as a serious bar to women and girls reporting rape, Human Rights Watch said. Social stigma and lack of medical and legal support have suppressed their testimony. Survivors say that they continue to feel a deep sense of injustice at being left out of reparation and reconciliation mechanisms.

In addition to accountability for wartime cases, Human Rights Watch noted that many other obligations under the peace agreement remain unfulfilled. The pledge to end discrimination based on gender, caste, class, ethnicity, and membership in other marginalized groups remains deeply contested, and power continues to rest among traditional elites. Demands to restructure the state to invest more power in marginalized communities, a central pledge of the agreement, led to months of economic blockade and many deaths in the country's southern districts between September 2015 and February 2016. Talks designed to remedy these grievances remain stalled.

"The war was brutal, and Nepal's political leadership should not forget that injustices need redress," Adams said. "Nepali political leaders should stop sweeping war crimes and justice issues under the rug, and instead live up to the incredibly brave promises made under the CPA."

A significant success of the peace accord was the demobilization and rehabilitation of child soldiers from Maoist forces. By early 2010, an estimated 3,000 Maoist soldiers who had joined as minors were reintegrated into civilian life through a government program assisted by the UN.

The UN and Nepal's donors have an important continuing role to play, Human Rights Watch said. The UN had a large and significant presence in Nepal through a dedicated Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the UN Mission in Nepal to enforce and monitor the agreement. Although the Nepali government applied considerable pressure to restrict full operation of the two offices, both provided important independent reports on the implementation of the peace agreement. However, the Nepali authorities, in December 2011, forced OHCHR to shut down its operations.

"The United Nations played an important role in bringing about the peace and in ensuring that both sides abided by the main planks of the peace agreement, including on human rights," Adams said. "The UN and Nepal's donors have a continuing obligation toward the victims of Nepal's conflict to ensure that government delivers on its commitment to justice."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Iraq: Militias Held, Beat Villagers

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 20 November 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: Militias Held, Beat Villagers, 20 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d6b84.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Iraqi government-backed Hashad al-Asha'ri militias detained and beat at least 22 men from two villages near Mosul. The militias also recruited at least 10 children in a camp for displaced people as fighters against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

"Civilians in ISIS-held territory in and around Mosul are asking themselves what will come next. The answer to that question should be greater respect for human rights," said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "For some civilians who have come under the control of Hashad al-Asha'ri militias, however, the change in guard has not meant protection from rights abuses."

On October 17, 2016, the Iraqi central government and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities, with the support of an international coalition, started military operations to retake Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, which ISIS captured in June 2014. The Hashad al-Asha'ri, made up of local Sunni fighters, have joined the fight and are playing a role in Mosul military operations against ISIS. They are being paid by Baghdad's Defense Ministry, two militiamen and two military analysts in Iraq told Human Rights Watch.

On October 21, 2016, the Hashad al-Asha'ri Fares al-Sabawy militia occupied Douizat al-Sufla, 48 kilometers southeast of Mosul, after ISIS pulled out, arresting more than 50 men and holding them in an abandoned house in the village, a local resident told Human Rights Watch. The local resident said that at least two of the men had been beaten. Some others were moved to another site and have not returned home.

On October 30, members of the same militia detained 20 residents of a neighboring village, Tal al-Sha'eir, after ISIS pulled out, also moving them to another village and beating them, two brothers who were among those held said. They said the men were rescued by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), who ensured they were no longer beaten by the militia and freed some of them, but took no action against the group that had detained and beaten them.

The Iraqi authorities should investigate any alleged acts of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment in custody and charge those responsible for war crimes, including anyone with command responsibility who should have known about the crimes and failed to take all reasonable measures to prevent them. Civilians in ISIS-held territory in and around Mosul are asking themselves what will come next. The answer to that question should be greater respect for human rights. For some civilians who have come under the control of Hashad al-Asha'ri militias, however, the change in guard has not meant protection from rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch also documented three recent cases in which children were recruited as fighters from Debaga camp for displaced people, 40 kilometers south of Erbil. One of those recruited said that he was among eight fighters under age 18 in a group taken from the camp. Human Rights Watch documented, in October 2015, that some Popular Mobilization Forces militias, who are allied with the Iraqi military, also used child soldiers in fighting ISIS forces.

All security forces and armed groups should abide by international law and respect the absolute ban against torture and ill-treatment, and demobilize any fighters under age 18, Human Rights Watch said. The ban against torture and ill-treatment is one of the most fundamental prohibitions in international human rights law. No exceptional circumstances can justify torture. Iraq is a party to key international treaties that ban torture under all circumstances, even during recognized states of emergency, and require investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The United Nations Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which Iraq ratified in 2008, prohibits national armies and non-state armed groups from recruiting and using children under 18. As parties to the conflict, the United States and other coalition members conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq should pressure Iraq's government and Iraqi militias to end child recruitment, immediately demobilize children, work to reintegrate them, and appropriately penalize commanders responsible for recruiting children, including those who "volunteer."

"The US should press the Iraqi government to ensure that the troops they are supporting don't have fighters under 18 in their ranks," Fakih said. "The battle for Mosul should not be fought with children on the frontlines."

Douizat al-Sufla

Douizat al-Sufla was taken by ISIS in June 2014. It is part of a group of villages known as Qati'al-Sabaween  a sector of the Sabawy tribe  and the majority of local residents are part of the Sabawy tribe.

On October 21, the forces of Fares al-Sabawy came to the village. Human Rights Watch interviewed 10 local residents who said that about 12 militia fighters patrolled the village for four days, and that residents did not try to flee.

"Ammar," a resident and distant relative of Fares al-Sabawy who spoke to Human Rights Watch over the phone, said that he saw a group of about seven fighters arrest at least 12 local males, including one who was 17, on the day they arrived; at least six more on the second day; and about 40 over the next two days, holding them in the abandoned home of a villager.

Ammar said he was in a market located opposite the abandoned home on the first day at about 7 p.m. when he saw a 38-year-old man arrested that day leave the building with dried blood all over his clothes. "Avoid that house, if you get stuck inside you will be beaten," the man warned as he passed Ammar. Ammar said the man went home and had been too frightened to leave his house or speak to Ammar again.

Ammar saw another man, age 36, detained and released two days later. Ammar said he had blue bruises on his arms, but did not inquire about what caused the bruises.

On October 25, Ammar heard from one of the fighters that they had moved the detainees to a school in Saydawah, a village 1.5 kilometers away. They were apparently rescued by ISF but some are still being held.

Tal al-Sha'eir

On October 30, fighters from the same militia came to the village of Tal al-Sha'eir, 2.5 kilometers away from Douizat al-Sufla, "Ahmad," a 27-year-old laborer, and his brother "Ayman," 26, also a laborer, told Human Rights Watch separately on the phone. They said they knew the fighters personally and that the brothers were distant relatives of Fares al-Sabawy. The fighters knocked on their door and told them all the men in their family had to gather in front of the local school because a team of National Security Service (NSS) officers were there to screen the men of the village.

They said that they, their 15-year-old brother, and about 400 other men and boys from the village gathered in front of the school with at least 50 of Fares al-Sabawy's fighters. The fighters called out 23 names, including the 3 brothers, loaded the 23 onto two trucks, drove them to Douizat al-Sufla, and held them in a house. They said the fighters released three males, one of whom had a relative in the ISF and one of whom was 15, then confined the rest in a room that was about 3-by-4 meters. Despite what the fighters said, the NSS officials never appeared for the screening.

Ahmad said that at roughly 1:30 p.m., he saw a man he knew personally enter the room holding a metal cable. He said:

He pointed at the face of me and my brothers, who were standing together, with the cable and said, "We will deal with you." Then he started humiliating us with slurs about acts they would do to our mothers, our sisters.

Ahmad said that he and his brothers had previously come to blows with some of the Fares al-Sabawy militia fighters who assaulted them. They said they had grown up in the area with them and that they had fought over a car accident that killed the brothers' uncle. Ahmad said that neither he nor his brothers had any links to ISIS.

Guards at the home then blindfolded and handcuffed all 20 men and took them to the school in Saydawah. As they marched the group into the school, Ahmad said that he was hit, punched, and slapped.

Ayman could tell from voices in the classroom that there was another group of prisoners in the room when they entered, who were shuffled out as his group was brought in. He said he heard one fighter say, "Tonight at midnight we will come back and beat you."

A few hours later, the brothers heard a group of guards enter the room and then Ayman felt metal cables and a metal pipe being used to beat him. He said he also felt seven electric shocks. He said the beating lasted roughly two hours.

The men left but returned at 11 p.m. Fighters started beating Ahmad, who said he almost lost consciousness twice and lost count of how many times he was beaten. They did not beat Ayman a second time. After an hour, the brothers heard one of them yell, "The army has arrived," and the beatings stopped.

Fifteen minutes later, they heard a new group enter the room, and Iraqi army officers removed their blindfolds. The officers asked the group, "Why are you here? Who brought you? Are you ISIS? Have you been mistreated?" The group said they had no affiliation with ISIS and that the Fares al-Sabawy forces had been beating them.

The ISF cleared them out of the room, without punishing or chastising the Fares al-Sabawy forces, as far as the brothers saw. They drove the groups of detainees from both villages, 46 in all, to a house in the village of al-Makuk  10 kilometers from Douizat al-Sufla and 2 from Tal al-Sha'eir  that the officers were using as a base. Ahmad said the soldiers gave them water and treated them well.

The next morning, October 31, the soldiers transported Ahmad and seven other men from Douizat al-Sufla from the house in al-Makuk to a base for the Peshmerga, the Kurdistan Regional Government's military forces, in the village of Salahiyah, about five kilometers from Saydawah, and from there to another Peshmerga base in Makhmour, 18 kilometers to the southeast. There, he said, Asayish, which are Kurdish security forces, interrogated the men, checked their identity cards, and then released him back to his village. He did not know if the others were released.

On the same day, Iraqi officers told Ayman and the rest of those still held in al-Makuk that transporting the rest of them to Makhmour would take too much of their time and that they would send paperwork there for a judge to sign for the release instead. On November 7, officers released him, his younger brother, another villager from Tal al-Sha'eir, and three more from Douizat al-Sufla. He said that in all, 10 men had returned home to Tal al-Sha'eir but that as of November 7, the soldiers were still holding 18 men from the 2 villages at the house in al-Makuk.

According to a recent Amnesty report, Fares al-Sabawy forces also unlawfully detained, publicly humiliated, and tortured or otherwise ill-treated men and boys in al-Makuk.

Child Soldier Recruitment

During a Human Rights Watch visit to Debaga camp on October 28, a man from Nimrud, 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, said that the Hashad al-Asha'ri Farsan al-Jubour militia, led by commander Ahmad al-Jubouri, had recruited two boys from his village as fighters  a 16-year-old about four months ago, and a 14-year-old in early October. He said both boys told him they had been recruited in the camp.

A 17-year-old from Nimrud told Human Rights Watch that he had arrived at the camp on October 16, and within five days had registered to join a militia  he did not know which one. He added his name to a list that fighters were passing around, and said that of the 31 names on the list before his, which included age, eight were younger than 18:

I am joining because this camp is miserable. I want to leave and make money. But since I have signed up, they haven't deployed me yet, I am still waiting.

In August, witnesses and relatives told Human Rights Watch that Hashad al-Asha'ri militias recruited at least eight other boys from Debaga camp between March and August 2016.

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Morocco: Convictions Based on Tainted 'Confessions'

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Morocco: Convictions Based on Tainted 'Confessions', 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d7334.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Moroccan courts recently sentenced two French citizens in unrelated cases to prison based largely on "confessions" written in Arabic, which they cannot read, Human Rights Watch, FIDH (the International Federation for Human Rights), and Amnesty International said today. Both defendants repudiated the confessions once they learned their contents.

The cases illustrate a pattern of Moroccan courts, well-documented by the three organizations, of relying on police statements as proof of guilt. The courts frequently ignore or hastily reject defense arguments that the police used questionable methods to obtain the statements and falsify their contents.

"In Morocco, even if the police prevent you from reading your 'confession' or type it in a language you don't understand  once you sign, you're basically on an express train to prison," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

Police detained and questioned both Thomas Gallay, 36, and Manuel Broustail, 32, in French without a lawyer present, and then had each sign the purported minutes of their respective statements in Arabic, also without a lawyer present. In separate trials, a Rabat court sentenced Gallay to six years in prison and Broustail to four years, both on terrorism-related charges. Each has appealed. The appeals trial of Gallay and his co-defendants is scheduled before the Rabat Court of Appeals on November 23, 2016.

Both men said the police used pressure and deceit to persuade them to sign the statements, their lawyers told Human Rights Watch.

Gallay said police agents read back to him in French what he had actually said to them, and assured him that the document was merely administrative paperwork he had to sign before they released him. Throughout Gallay's 12-day pre-arraignment detention following his arrest on February 18, 2016, the police did not tell him what he was accused of, and said they were questioning him about an acquaintance, said his lawyer, Abderrahim Jamai, who is based in Kenitra.

Broustail told his lawyer, Abdelaziz Nouaydi, that the police told him in French that the typed Arabic statement contained harmless details about his identity, personal, and professional life  and promised to release him once he signed. He said that the police slapped him several times when questioning him.

Each man professed shock, after his lawyer later translated the statement into French, that they had signed a detailed, self-incriminating statement, the lawyer for each man said.

Gallay, who until his arrest worked remotely from Essaouira for a French firm as a micro-electronic engineer, repudiated the contents of the statement in front of the investigating judge hearing the case. He denied assertions in the statement that he had any connection to Islamic State (also known as ISIS) or to any terrorist activity and that he had ever converted to Islam.

The investigating judge nevertheless sent Gallay for trial on charges related to forming a terrorist group, along with eight Moroccan co-defendants. A minor, also charged in the case, was tried separately. Gallay maintains that he knew one casually, had met two others very occasionally, and had never met any of the six others, his family said.

The First Instance Criminal Chamber of the Rabat Court of Appeals, the chamber that hears terrorism-related cases, found him guilty, on July 14, of financially aiding persons aiming to commit terrorist acts, holding unauthorized public meetings, and organizing activities within an unrecognized association. The court sentenced all of his co-defendants to terms of between four and 18 years.

The court's written judgment showed that it based the verdict against Gallay largely on his own purported confessions and on police statements in which the co-defendants implicated one another. The judgment does not reflect the language issue or his recantation other than to say, "he was free to sign or not to sign; and if not free, the burden was on him to prove it."

Seven of the co-defendants also disavowed their statements at the trial while the eighth stated that he had no information linking Gallay to armed groups or activities.

Gallay, who his family says has no prior criminal record in any country, is in Sale prison. On October 14, Human Rights Watch and FIDH sent a letter to Moroccan authorities expressing their concerns about the trial, but have received no response.

Manuel Broustail, a former French soldier who had converted to Islam, was moving his family from Angers, France, to Sefrou, Morocco, when police arrested him upon his arrival at Fez airport on March 6. He had spent about two months under house arrest in Angers under a French Interior Ministry order after the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

Moroccan police searched Broustail's luggage, as well as the home he had recently purchased in Sefrou, and seized a number of knives and two non-lethal air guns. They held him for 12 days in pre-arraignment detention, with no contact with a lawyer.

The police statement in Arabic that Broustail signed said he was an explosives expert who was leading a group of extremists in Angers, had praised the Paris attacks, was planning terrorist acts against French interests, and had failed to inform French authorities upon learning that an acquaintance was planning an attack on a police station. Broustail also "confessed" that the seized knives and air guns were for training purposes and that he had uploaded extremist material onto his computer, which police also seized.

After he saw a translation of his confession, Broustail categorically repudiated it during a hearing before the investigating judge on March 18, his lawyer said. Broustail said that he was a pious Muslim, but denied being an explosives expert or having any connection to terrorist groups, and said that the knives and air guns were relics of his army service, for household use, and not for any terrorist purpose. He denied uploading extremist content onto his computer but acknowledged that a friend may have done so.

The investigating judge, in his report sending Broustail for trial, did not address his allegation that the police had deceived and pressured him into signing the statement. He wrote that Broustail's effort to disavow it was no more than an attempt to evade culpability.

The Rabat Court of Appeals tried Broustail alone and convicted him on October 20. The prosecution based its case solely on his repudiated "confession" and the materials seized. The court sentenced him to four years in prison on charges of forming a gang to prepare and commit terrorist acts; possessing illegal arms in the framework of a collective plan to grievously harm the public order; praising terrorism, and failing to denounce a terrorist offense. The court has not yet issued its written judgment.

Broustail has filed an appeal but no date has been set. He is in Tifelt 2 prison.

Morocco's Code of Criminal Procedure guarantees the right of anyone accused of a criminal charge to consult a lawyer within the first 24 hours of custody, or within the first six days in terrorism cases under certain conditions. However, Moroccan legislation does not give the defendant the right to have a lawyer present during the police interrogation or when the statement is presented for signature.

"Morocco is obligated to ensure that the right to a fair trial is guaranteed in practice as well as in theory," said Dimitris Christopoulos, president of FIDH. "The effective protection of a range of other civil liberties very much depends on whether the Moroccan government enhances safeguards in the justice system and halts systematic fair-trail violations."

Additional Details of the Thomas Gallay case

Police arrested Gallay, who holds French and Swiss citizenship, on February 18, 2016, in Essaouira, where he lives, and took him to Rabat.

Gallay's family said that the police did not inform him of the charges he faced. This would violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), article 9(2) and the Moroccan constitution, article 23, which states, "any person who is detained must be immediately informed, in a manner that is understandable to him, of the reasons for his detention." His family said that police who arrested him gave him no information, while personnel who placed him in pretrial detention said he was not under suspicion but was needed for the investigation into a co-defendant, M.L.

In pre-arraignment detention, he signed two statements in which he "confessed" to converting to Islam, supporting ISIS and giving money to a co-defendant who he knew supported ISIS, and organizing meetings with the same co-defendant and others at his home. Gallay signed the more detailed and self-incriminating statement on February 19, before he had access to his lawyer.

Gallay's family said that, contrary to what the police minutes state, Gallay was unable to notify them of his arrest. This would violate Morocco's Code of Criminal Procedure, which states in article 67 that "the judiciary police officer must notify the family of the detainee as soon as a decision is taken to place him in garde a vue."

Gallay learned the contents of the police statements only when he went to court. He immediately repudiated them, his lawyer said, denying all of the assertions.

Abderrahim Jamai, Gallay's lawyer, said that during both the investigative phase and the trial, he unsuccessfully challenged the admissibility of Gallay's police statements and asked the court to summon the agents who interrogated his client to testify.

The court in its written judgment stated that it heard no reason that would warrant suppressing those statements, citing article 290 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides that in misdemeanor offenses leading to prison sentences of under five years, statements prepared by the police are to be deemed trustworthy in the absence of proof showing the opposite.

The court convicted Gallay on three charges:

Financially assisting persons for the commission of terrorist acts (articles 218-1 (para. 9), 218-6 and 218-7 of Law 03-03 of May 28, 2003 on Combating Terrorism); Holding public meetings without prior authorization (articles 3 and 9 of Law n 1-58-377 of November 15, 1958 on Public Gatherings); and Conducting activities inside an unauthorized association (articles 5 and 6 of Law n 1-58-376 of November 15, 1958 on the Right of Association).

The court sentenced Gallay to six years in prison, and expulsion from Morocco upon completing his prison term. He has been detained since his arrest, the court having rejected motions to provisionally release him before trial.

The other defendants in the case received between four and 18 years in prison.

At trial, all of the defendants except M.L, who was represented by a pro bono counsel and received by far the longest sentence (18 years), recanted their statements to the police. At trial, M.L. contested parts of his police statement, including where he linked Gallay to terror-related activities.

Defendant Mohamed Masbouqi had no lawyer present when police questioned him or handed him his statement to sign, his lawyer, Ali Amar, told Human Rights Watch. Masbouqi signed without reading it because the police assured him they would release him afterward, Amar said. He added that Masbouqi was shocked when, before the investigating judge, he learned what he had "confessed" to.

A Pattern of Accepting Disavowed Confessions with Insufficient Scrutiny

In its 2013 report, "Just Sign Here": Unfair Trials Based on Confessions to the Police in Morocco, Human Rights Watch documented several criminal trials in which the defendants credibly alleged that the police had either tortured, coerced or tricked defendants to sign statements without reading them. Appearing before the judge, those defendants disavowed the police statements, claiming they were fabricated.

This did not, however, prompt the court to investigate in any serious way whether the defendant's statement was accurate and voluntary before using it as the main basis for a guilty verdict, even though the Code of Criminal Procedure states in article 293 that no statement is admissible in court if obtained using violence or coercion. The United Nations special rapporteur on torture reached similar conclusions in a 2013 report.

Under article 14 of the ICCPR, to which Morocco is a party, everyone has the right "to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court" and "not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt."

The UN Human Rights Committee, the authoritative commentator on the covenant, has held that the right to an interpreter "enshrines another aspect of the principles of fairness and equality of arms in criminal proceedings. This right arises at all stages of the oral proceedings."

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FIDH urge Moroccan authorities to amend domestic legislation in accordance with international law and standards to ensure that the right to a fair trial is adequately protected, in particular that a detained person has the right to "prompt access to a lawyer and, unless the person has waived this right in writing, shall not be obliged to answer any questions or participate in any interrogation without his or her lawyer being present," in keeping with the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa, 2003. Legislators should also adopt legislation to ensure that no one is subjected to improper pressure or deceit to sign a statement, including in a language the person cannot read.

Lawmakers should also revise article 290 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that in cases involving penalties of no more than five years of prison, allows judges to presume the credibility of statements prepared by the police unless the defense can prove the opposite. This provision undermines the presumption of innocence and a defendant's right to "equality of arms," that is, the possibility to present evidence on the same basis as the prosecution. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that article 290 of the Penal Code contradicts the presumption of innocence by reversing the burden to prove guilt through evidence, and instead creating a burden to prove innocence.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Burma: New Wave of Destruction in Rohingya Villages

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: New Wave of Destruction in Rohingya Villages, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832d7b04.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

New satellite imagery of Burma's Rakhine State shows 820 newly identified structures destroyed in five different ethnic Rohingya villages between November 10-18, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The Burmese government should without further delay invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation of the widespread destruction of villages.

Launch Gallery Updated Damage Assessment of Affected Villages in Maungdaw District. Human Rights Watch identified a total of 820 destroyed buildings in five villages of Maungdaw District from an analysis of very high resolution satellite imagery recorded on 10, 17 and 18 November 2016. These damages are in addition to the 430 destroyed buildings Human Rights Watch identified earlier and represent a second, more destructive round of arson attacks occurring between 10 and 17 November 2016.

The latest images bring the total number of destroyed buildings documented by Human Rights Watch in northern Rakhine State through satellite imagery to 1,250. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, at a November 17 UN Security Council meeting on the deteriorating situation in Rakhine State, called for international observers to be allowed to investigate and for aid groups to have their access restored. After a short visit by diplomats to the area, Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on Burma, said on November 18, "The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations under the smokescreen of having allowed access to an international delegation. Urgent action is needed to bring resolution to the situation."

"These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The apparent arson attacks against five Rohingya villages is a matter of grave concern for which the Burmese government needs to investigate and prosecute those responsible. UN participation is crucial for such an investigation to be credible."

Human Rights Watch identified a total of 820 destroyed buildings in five villages of Maungdaw district from an analysis of very high resolution satellite imagery recorded on November 10, 17, and 18. This damage is in addition to the 430 destroyed buildings Human Rights Watch identified from satellite imagery on November 13. Of the 820 destroyed buildings, 255 were in the village of Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son; 265 in Dar Gyi Zar; 65 in Pwint Hpyu Chaung; 15 in Myaw Taung; and 220 in Wa Peik (in addition to the 100 which were destroyed earlier in the village).

Human Rights Watch also reviewed thermal anomaly data collected by environmental satellite sensors that detected the presence of multiple active fires burning in the village of Pwint Hpyu Chaung on November 12, in Dar Gyi Zar on November 13, and in Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son on November 13, 14, and 15. Dense tree cover may have concealed a limited number of additional buildings that were destroyed, making it possible that the actual number is higher.

At a press conference on November 15 in response to Human Rights Watch's November 13 statement, the Burmese government admitted widespread burning but claimed that the total number of buildings destroyed was significantly lower. The government cited helicopter flyovers of the area to arrive at its figures and blamed unspecified "terrorists" for the burnings.

The new imagery shows village destruction that far exceeds the figures released by the Burmese government, Human Rights Watch said. On November 15, the Burmese military reported that militants burned down 60 homes in Dar Gyi Sar, while the State Counsellor Office's newly created "Information Committee" reported on November 16 that only 30 buildings were destroyed in the same town. The new imagery shows that 265 buildings have been destroyed in Dar Gyi Zar alone. The State Counsellor's information committee press release on November 16 mistakenly attributed a claim that all buildings were destroyed in Dar Gyi Zar to Human Rights Watch.

Both the military and the State Counsellor's information committee reported that 105 buildings were destroyed in Wa Peik village. Satellite imagery collected by Human Rights Watch between November 10-17 shows that an additional 220 buildings were destroyed. This newly documented destruction, coupled with the 100 buildings Human Rights Watch imagery determined were destroyed from images collected between October 9 and November 3, brings the total to 320 buildings destroyed in Wa Peik village.

View All Share Continuing building destruction in the village of Wa Peik, Maungdaw District. Before:  2016 Human Rights Watch After:  2016 Human Rights Watch

"On November 15, a government spokesperson suggested that Human Rights Watch was part of a 'conspiracy' to harm Burma's image," Adams said. "Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity."

The crisis follows violence on October 9, in which gunmen attacked three police outposts in Maungdaw township near the Bangladesh border, leaving nine police officers dead. The government said that the attackers made off with dozens of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The Burmese government asserts the attack was carried out by a Rohingya group, but actual responsibility remains unclear. A second attack on a border guard post that resulted in the death of a police officer reportedly occurred on November 3.

Immediately after the October 9 attack, government forces declared Maungdaw district an "operation zone" and began sweeps of the area to find the attackers and lost weapons. They severely restricted the freedom of movement of local populations and imposed extended curfews, which remain in place. With the area sealed off to observers, local sources reported that government forces committed serious human rights abuses, including torture, rape, extrajudicial executions, and widespread destruction of buildings, including mosques.

On October 28, Reuters published interviews with Rohingya women who allege that Burmese soldiers raped them. The government also allegedly pressured the Myanmar Times to fire one of its editors who reported allegations of rape by Burmese army soldiers.

The Burmese government conducted a government-supervised tour of some impacted sites in Maungdaw on November 2 and 3 with a nine-member delegation of foreign ambassadors, including the UN Resident Coordinator. The delegation conducted no formal investigation or assessment, but confirmed that they saw burned structures in several towns and spoke with several villagers. Allegations of reprisals against those who spoke to delegation members surfaced shortly after the trip concluded.

Another outbreak of violence reportedly began on November 11. The government reported the deaths of 69 alleged militants and 17 security force personnel. Local groups reported significant civilian casualties, but the lack of access makes all casualty reports difficult to verify. The Burmese military said that helicopter gunships called in to provide air support to its troops were attacked by hundreds of militants.

According to humanitarian aid groups, tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the recent violence, with hundreds attempting to flee to Bangladesh.

The government has responded with blanket denials to allegations that the security forces have committed abuses. Officials maintain that terrorists are responsible for the destruction of the buildings and urge that international journalists investigate the claims. However, the government has continued to block journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and human rights investigators from traveling to the impacted areas.

Burma is obligated under international law to conduct thorough, prompt, and impartial investigations of alleged human rights violations, prosecute those responsible, and provide adequate redress for victims of violations. Standards for such investigations can be found, for example, in the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, and the UN Guidance on Commissions of Inquiry and Fact-Finding Missions. Burma's failure to conduct such investigations in the past underscores the need for UN assistance, Human Rights Watch said.

In early November, the government granted the World Food Programme (WFP) one-time access to four villages for a one-time food delivery. However, humanitarian aid groups continue to be denied full access, placing tens of thousands of already vulnerable people at greater risk.

Thousands of people impacted by the violence in the villages of Maungdaw have been without aid for six weeks. Despite assurances from the Burmese government that aid access to all impacted areas would be restored, many of the most significantly affected areas remain sealed to humanitarian assessment teams and human rights groups.

"After six weeks of violence with virtually no aid reaching tens of thousands of highly vulnerable people, the government needs to act decisively to assist them," Adams said. "A government with nothing to hide should have no problem granting access to journalists and human rights investigators."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Ethiopia's internet crackdown hurts everyone

Publisher IRIN Author James Jeffrey Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as IRIN, Ethiopia's internet crackdown hurts everyone, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832ddd94.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Ethiopia has never been an easy place to operate. But a six-month state of emergency, combined with internet and travel restrictions imposed in response to a wave of anti-government protests, means it just got a whole lot harder.

The government has targeted the mobile data connections that the majority of Ethiopians use to get online. Internet users have also been unable to access Facebook Messenger and Twitter, with a host of other services also rendered unreliable.

This has impacted everyone: from local businesses, to foreign embassies, to families, as well as the extensive and vital international aid community.

"Non-governmental organisations play crucial roles in developing countries, often with country offices in the capitals, satellite offices across remote regions, and parent organisations in foreign countries," said Moses Karanja, an internet policy researcher at Strathmore University in Nairobi. "They need access to the internet if their operations are to be efficiently coordinated."

A political decision

The Ethiopian government has been candid about the restrictions being in response to year-long anti-government protests in which hundreds of people have died.

It has singled out social media as a key factor in driving unrest. Since the beginning of October, there has been a spike in violence resulting in millions of dollars' worth of damage to foreign-owned factories, government buildings and tourist lodges across Oromia Region, initially ground zero for the dissent.

"Mobile data will be permitted once the government assesses that it won't threaten the implementation of the state of emergency," government spokesman Getachew Reda - who has since been replaced - told a 26 October press conference in Addis Ababa.

The Oromo are the country's largest ethnic group, constituting 35 percent of the country's nearly 100 million population. They have historically felt ignored by successive regimes in Addis Ababa. In August, similar grassroots protest broke out among the Amhara, Ethiopia's second largest ethnic group. The ruling EPRDF is portrayed by opponents as a narrow, unrepresentative clique that refuses to share power.

Ethiopia is not alone in its approach to political unrest. Around the world, as countries become increasingly integrated with online technology, the more autocratic governments are blocking the internet whenever they deem it necessary.

"The trend appears to be growing because more people are going online and using the internet, often through the use of mobile connections," said Deji Olukotun of Access Now, which campaigns for digital rights. In 2016, it documented 50 shutdowns, up from less than 20 in 2015.

"People are enjoying the freedom and opportunity that the internet provides, which enables them to organise themselves and advocate for what they want," Olukotun told IRIN. "In response, governments are shutting down the net to stop this practice."

Bad timing

An aid worker, who didn't want to be identified as her agency needs to renew its government permit, explained how she relies on Skype to communicate with far-flung colleagues.

"Before, it was hard enough, but now Skype is even more unreliable," she said. "People can't connect with colleagues in the field; people miss invites to meetings, can't arrange logistics."

The squeeze comes at a particularly bad time for Ethiopia, beyond the impact of the protest movement. Ten million people are in need of food aid as a result of drought. The Oromia and Amhara regions, where most of the anti-government unrest is happening, have some of the largest numbers of people requiring assistance.

"Websites like the famine early warning system, FEWSNET, which provides detailed regional analysis and projections on food insecurity, cannot be accessed by most stakeholders," said an international development official.

"Some modern software systems for things like pharmaceutical supply-chain management are not working to their full capacity - making it harder to accurately track inventory and deliveries."

Many humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, are heavily reliant on cash transfers to government organisations that conduct work on their behalf. They are finding it much harder to account for funds.

Another aid worker, again speaking to IRIN on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of operating in Ethiopia, said everything was getting delayed, including the rolling out of new programmes.

"If we can't email or phone, we can't find out how money has been spent, and if we can't account and there's no transparency, we can't authorise new spending," the aid worker said.

Post-truth

The importance of social media to people's lives in Ethiopia is magnified because they so distrust mainstream media, largely controlled by the EPRDF.

"Many Ethiopians are fed up with local and state media and so they turn to diaspora news," said Lidetu Ayele, founder of the opposition Ethiopia Democratic Party. "The problem is, a lot of things they'd view as gossip if heard by mouth, when they read about it on social media, they take as fact."

The worst disaster during Ethiopia's protests occurred at the beginning of October. After police and protesters clashed at a traditional Oromo festival beside a holy lake, a stampede ensued that left about 100 people drowned or crushed to death.

Social media didn't hang around. It pulsed with claims a circling government helicopter had fired down into panicking crowds.

"My brother was telling me on the phone he was about to protest, and asking me how I couldn't after the government had done something like that," an Addis Ababa resident, who is half Oromo and half Amhara, recalled about the days following the stampede. "But I said to him, 'Don't be an idiot, it isn't true.'"

Witnesses and journalists at the event had confirmed that the circling helicopter was in fact innocently dropping leaflets saying "Happy Irreecha", the name of the festival.

Policy backfire?

Even before the state of emergency, Ethiopia was one of the most censored countries in the world and a top jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Independent media does exist in Ethiopia, but it struggles. Last month, the Addis Standard, a well-respected private magazine, announced it was stopping its print edition due to the latest round of restrictions.

"The government has created this problem for themselves," remarked a freelance Ethiopian journalist.

The Ethiopian diaspora in the United States maintains a strong cyber presence and is rallying to the political reform movement. Jawar Mohammed, a particularly prominent US-based social media activist, has 500,000 followers on Facebook, and broadcasts information and footage from protests demanding an end to EPRDF rule.

"The diaspora do amplify what's happening, but it didn't start with us," Jawar said in an interview earlier in 2016.

Internet shutdowns between mid-2015 and mid-2016 have lost the Ethiopian economy about $9 million, according to a recent report by the US-based Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution.

"Internet disruption slows growth, costs governments tax revenue, weakens innovation, and undermines consumer and business confidence in a country's economy," said report author Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

"As internet-powered businesses and transactions continue to grow to represent an increasingly significant portion of global economic activity, the damage from connectivity disruptions will become more severe."

Olukotun of Access Now said such blackouts were particularly damaging for developing countries "striving to embrace the digital economy and innovation".

"We've seen juice sellers, online banks, courier services, and internet companies all lose drastic amounts of money during disruptions," he said.

But for the ruling party in Ethiopia, a country that has known centralised authoritarian rule for millennia, the concept of ceding any of that control is anathema.

"Censoring the internet is not a solution to the protests or resistance," said Karanja, the Kenyan researcher. "It is a blockage to the democratic trajectory of a country."
Migration facts in a post-truth world

Publisher IRIN Author Kristy Siegfried Publication Date 17 November 2016 Cite as IRIN, Migration facts in a post-truth world, 17 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832dec14.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Post-Brexit and post-Donald Trump's election, it's hard to argue with the notion that we're now living in a "post-truth" era in which objective facts often hold less weight than emotional appeals and "fake news" when it comes to shaping public opinion. Nowhere have post-truths gained more currency than in debates around immigration. Here are a few of the most influential post-truths about migration and refugees, and the facts that contradict them:

Refugees are a security threat

One of the most potent post-truths is the idea that terrorists are posing as refugees to gain entry to Europe and the United States. Right-wing politicians and media outlets have successfully made the association between a string of terror attacks over the past year and the unprecedented and chaotic arrival of more than a million asylum seekers to European shores in 2015. Most of those asylum seekers came from countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan that are associated in the public's mind with extremist groups like so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda; never mind the fact that many were themselves fleeing those groups. A July study by the Pew Research Centre found that in eight out of 10 European nations surveyed, half or more people believed that incoming refugees increased the likelihood of terrorism in their country.

Many of the claims about extremists infiltrating refugee flows to Europe stemmed from the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and the discovery of Syrian passports near the bodies of two of the perpetrators. At least one of the passports was proven to be fake and the Paris attackers turned out to be second-generation immigrants who had grown up in France or Belgium and then spent time in Syria after joining IS. But the attacks did expose genuine concerns about the lack of screening on the Greek islands at the peak of refugee arrivals in 2015. Those concerns have been largely addressed by new screening procedures, border controls and fences along the main migration routes through Europe, but the possibility that a small number of would-be terrorists entered Europe and registered as asylum seekers in 2015 can't be discounted. In September, German authorities arrested three Syrian men who had made their way to Germany last year, on suspicion that they were part of an IS sleeper cell. Another Syrian terror suspect, allegedly radicalised after he arrived in Germany, was arrested in Leipzig after three fellow Syrians identified him and tied him up before calling the police.

Despite such cases, the vast majority of acts of terror both in Europe and the US have been carried out by "homegrown" extremists, radicalised over the internet or during trips abroad. Experts note that using terrorism as the justification for increased migration controls has the effect of increasing feelings of alienation within immigrant communities and stoking xenophobia towards them, a vicious cycle likely to create more extremists of the homegrown variety than to have any impact on the few proven instances of violent extremists infiltrating countries posing as refugees.

The Syrian refugees as Trojan horse argument made by Donald Trump has even less factual basis in the US context in which the only way for most refugees to enter the country is via formal refugee resettlement programmes. Contrary to Trump's suggestion that vetting of such refugees is inadequate, it is extremely rigorous and involves security checks by various agencies that can take up to two years. An October 2015 analysis by Kathleen Newland of the Migration Policy Institute found that of 784,000 refugees resettled to the US since 2001, just three had been arrested for plotting extremist activities (two were not planning an attack in the US and the plans of the third were "barely credible").

"The refugee resettlement programme is the least likely avenue for a terrorist to choose," concluded Newland.

The "crisis" narrative

Boats crammed with migrants and asylum seekers had been crossing the Central Mediterranean to Italy at a steady rate for over a year when, around mid-2015, the Eastern Mediterranean route between Turkey and the Greek islands picked up and soon eclipsed the Central Mediterranean route in terms of numbers. It was around this time that we started talking about a refugee or migration crisis. The term became synonymous with images of Syrian families staggering onto Greek beaches and columns of migrants and refugees trudging through the Balkans. The media loves a crisis and this was one that European news outlets could easily cover by dispatching a journalist to Lesvos, Budapest, or Munich.

But migrant and refugee arrivals in 2015 were a crisis only relative to what Europe had experienced before and the degree to which it was unprepared for what was to come. Countries like Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon that had been absorbing large numbers of refugees for years certainly didn't view Europe's predicament as a crisis. Nor did African countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, and Chad that have been hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees for years.

The crisis narrative has helped populist, right-wing political parties push their anti-immigration agenda (look no further than Nigel Farage's infamous Brexit campaign poster featuring crowds of asylum seekers on a Balkan road), but it has also driven the EU's policy responses. The factors driving refugee and migrant arrivals to Europe are complex and long-term and have no clear beginning or end. Defining the phenomenon as a crisis has often resulted in short-term, short-sighted policies like the EU's controversial deal with Turkey.

Development aid to the rescue

In the past year, the EU has announced several new initiatives offering large amounts of development aid to major countries of origin with the goal of stemming migration. The logic goes that such aid spurs economic development, creating new jobs and reducing the need for people to migrate in search of better opportunities.

Migration experts and economists have been making the point for years that this approach goes against all the evidence that development tends to spur rather than reduce migration as more people have the resources (and aspirations) needed to fund the journey to Europe or elsewhere.

The EU has nevertheless forged ahead with the multi-billion-euro Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, announced last November as well as the Partnership Framework with third countries launched in June this year. Perhaps realising that development aid alone wouldn't achieve its migration objectives, the Partnership Framework involves more of a carrot and stick approach. Packages of development aid and trade deals are offered only in return for countries' cooperation in implementing more migration controls.

Migrants and refugees are a drain on the economy

This is perhaps the greatest post-truth of all and the one that Brexit campaigners and Donald Trump manipulated most effectively.

Claims in the UK's right-wing tabloid press and by conservative politicians that migrants are coming to the country primarily to take advantage of its social services (otherwise known as "benefit tourism") have little basis in reality. In many countries, migrants  particularly irregular migrants  have no access to social services. Where they can access the welfare system, they are much less likely to do so than locals, partly because a larger proportion of them are young adults with fewer health and educational needs. A study by University College London found that migrants in the UK contributed significantly more in taxes than they received in social benefits.

Are these the architects of the post-truth era?

The effects of immigration on labour markets are more complex and varied. In developed countries, especially during periods of economic growth, migrant workers often hold low-skilled, low-paid jobs that natives are unwilling to do. Although competition for such jobs may become fiercer during an economic downturn, immigration can also create jobs by stimulating economic growth, and because migrant-run businesses often employ locals. There is a strong correlation between immigration rates and economic growth rates. When growth and job opportunities slow, so does immigration.

The impact refugees and asylum seekers have on labour markets and public spending depends to a large degree on the policies of the host country  how long they must wait before they can legally work, what language and training programmes are available to facilitate integration and employability, and how much support they receive in the form of allowances and housing. An OECD study found that up-front investments in helping refugees integrate are likely to have a long-term pay off as refugees eventually enter the labour market and start making positive contributions to the economy.
Ban Ki-moon's UN legacy clouded by cholera

Publisher IRIN Author Samuel Oakford Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as IRIN, Ban Ki-moon's UN legacy clouded by cholera, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832df0a4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Nearly a month after UN officials announced the idea of a special $400 million package to deal with cholera in Haiti, almost no donors have agreed to fund assistance for its victims. UN peacekeepers imported the disease from Nepal to the Caribbean nation in October 2010. Cholera has since killed 9,100 Haitians and the UN has only recently started to acknowledge its responsibility.

The idea of a package of "material assistance" for victims and survivors was floated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after the publication of a searing report on the crisis by a human rights advisor. Philip Alston, a professor of Law at New York University and the UN's special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, called the organisation's years of denials that it brought cholera to Haiti "a disgrace".

However the aid package itself is not off to a promising start: "It is really hard to advance this plan for material assistance without having some certainty that there will be money," said Ban's Haiti cholera point man David Nabarro. "At the same time it is hard to have certainty that there will be money without clarity on what the actual material assistance might look like."

After Alston's report was leaked to The New York Times in August, Ban's office for the first time conceded that the UN had a "moral responsibility" to provide "material assistance" in response to the cholera outbreak, but stopped short of admitting responsibility or apologising.

Citing existing mechanisms for the UN to settle claims of negligence while maintaining its immunity, Alston said the "new policy remains critically incomplete" without a formal confession and apology. Ban is losing time to make amends before he leaves the job at the end of the year.

A tarnished legacy

"Ban's failings in Haiti are one of the worst stains on his legacy, and the clock is running down on his chance to make it right," said Beatrice Lindstrom, staff attorney at IJDH, a legal group that has filed claims on behalf of cholera victims. "Ban must issue a public apology to the people of Haiti, and follow through on his promise of a 'new response' with real action."

Alston wrote in his report, "the lamentably self-serving legal contortions devised to escape any form of legal responsibility still remain in place Unless the new process also involves a reconsideration in this regard, the [UN's] ability to salvage its moral, let alone its legal, credibility and authority will be gravely undermined."

The office of the secretary-general did not respond when asked if Ban would apologise and take legal responsibility in a speech to the General Assembly on 1 December.

Nabarro, appointed to oversee cholera relief operations in Haiti, says the terms and breakdown of funding of the "material assistance" plan are still being determined. Nabarro, who headed the UN's Ebola response in West Africa, has met extensively with member states, but says the overall response to multiple Haiti appeals is lacklustre. Hurricane Matthew, which struck on 4 October, has increased humanitarian needs and sparked a rise in cholera cases.

As of late October, UN member states have pledged to contribute just 18 percent of a $2.1 billion national plan to eliminate cholera up until 2022; the more general 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is only 33 percent funded; and a $119.9 million flash appeal in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, which Nabarro says is currently the most pressing need, is also less than half funded.

A two-track plan

The new package is expected to be split into two $200 million "tracks"  one aimed at eradicating cholera and funding sanitation improvements, and another to provide what has been termed "material assistance" for victims or communities, though the specifics are still hazy (Nabarro said he did not want to raise expectations in Haiti by offering hypothetical details).

UN officials have taken pains to avoid characterising this tranche of funding as compensation  something critics and lawyers for victims say only adds another layer to the UN's convoluted handling of its legal position on the crisis.

Nabarro said that just one member state had agreed to earmark donations towards material assistance specifically. Other donors are more willing to fund the overall cholera response, or track one, but appear to be steering clear of the more politicised second tranche.

"There's quite a lot of pressure on us officials to have a concept for the material support package... with sufficient clarity for us to engage with member states so that they can decide how they want to deal with it," Nabarro said in an interview with IRIN.

One scenario, Nabarro surmised, could be to fund the material assistance through assessed contributions (UN member states' obligatory dues). But some countries have balked at that, concerned they could be on the hook for other serious negligence attributed to the UN. Critics, including Alston, say that fear is either misguided or, should such claims exist, is something the UN needs to bring out into the open.

"This is the moment of truth for the UN's leadership, but it's also a moment of truth for the UN's member states," said Lindstrom of IJDH, which filed claims with the UN on behalf of 5,000 cholera victims, as well as a class action lawsuit against the UN in the US federal court. "If they're not ultimately willing to step forward and invest in a just response, then the promise of a more accountable UN rings hollow."

In August, a US federal appeals court upheld that the UN was not subject to lawsuits in the US. Lindstrom said that this week an extension had been granted allowing the plaintiffs in the case until 17 January to file with the US Supreme Court. In the meantime, she said they would continue pressuring the UN to act on its own.
Afghanistan: How Abusive Men Escape Justice

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Wahida Shahkar Publication Date 14 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 558 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: How Abusive Men Escape Justice , 14 November 2016, ARR 558, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832dfca4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Her eyes brimming with tears, 20-year-old Nilofar drew back her headscarf to reveal a mutilated ear. She explained that her husband had ripped off a chunk of her earlobe with his teeth during a recent argument.

Nilofar, who lives in Charikar city in Parwan province, said she had been beaten and abused from the start of her three-year marriage.

"One day, my husband gave some pretext [for an argument], asking why his clothes were not ironed. He bit my ear and took off a chunk. I took the piece and went to every clinic I could find hoping it could be reattached, but the doctors were unable to do so."

Nilofar sighed, adding, "I will take [this] to my grave."

Her husband was arrested but only held for a short time before being released. Nilofar said that his connections to powerful local men meant he had been able to escape prosecution.

Activists in Parwan province, 70 kilometres northwest of Kabul city, warn that widespread corruption is allowing perpetrators of gender violence to escape justice.

During a two-month investigation, IWPR spoke to dozens of women and activists about their experiences of gender violence and judicial corruption.

Many domestic violence survivors told IWPR that their cases had been derailed by the intervention of powerful individuals.

People with connections to local warlords or influential officials were routinely able to exploit their position to evade prosecution.

Statistics show an increase in violence against women, although experts say that official data represents only a tiny proportion of actual cases.

According to the office of statistics and planning at the Parwan department of women's affairs, 52 cases of violence against women were registered in the province between March and June 2016. A total of 42 cases were recorded during the same period last year.

Nilofar said she only approached the authorities after traditional methods of arbitration had failed to help the situation.

Her father, Mohammad Salim, told IWPR, "My daughter was tortured from the day she got married. She ran away from her husband's house several times and came to us, but we sent her back to her husband after mediation by elders."

In many part of Afghanistan, especially areas outside government control, communities resort to ad hoc and Islamic courts to resolve disputes and issues of family law.

A local elder, Habibullah, said that he had helped resolve dozens of cases of violence against women through tribal assemblies.

He said that he and fellow elders had repeatedly asked Nilofar's husband to change how he treated his wife.

ENDEMIC CORRUPTION

The director of women's affairs in Parwan, Nadera Giyah, said that major problems exacerbating gender violence were poverty, a lack of awareness of human rights, and the weakness of security, legal, and judicial bodies.

"When cases of violence against women are referred to the government they are not resolved quickly and this causes further violence," she explained. "Besides this, interference by powerful individuals, bribery, and corruption are other factors serving to increase violence."

A source in Parwan's provincial attorney's office confirmed that he was aware of dozens of individuals who had attacked and even killed local women but who remained immune from prosecution.

He told IWPR that his office often came under pressure when a case of gender violence was referred to them.

"A lack of security as well as intimidation and interference by certain individuals means that the law is not implemented equally," he said.

Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has himself highlighted the dangers of intimidation within the judicial system.

He told a Kabul conference on October 31 that the legal institutions were independent and that nobody had the right to interfere in their affairs.

"Whether a low-level employee or the attorney general himself sees violation of the law at any level, he should take legal action," Ghani said.

The attorney general Farid Hamidi also warned at the conference that nobody should be able to evade justice, with protecting the rights of women and children one of his priorities.

"The law is implemented equally for everyone and no criminal can escape from it," he said.

Parwan police chief Mohammad Zaman Mamozai denied that his officers were failing to arrest perpetrators of violence against women, although he did acknowledge that powerful individuals interfered in some cases.

"The police have little authority," he continued. "We cannot hold a [suspected] criminal for more than three days after we arrest him, and we are unable to gather evidence of the crime in three days.

"When the case is submitted to the attorney office, it lacks sufficient evidence. The attorney's office submits the case to the court, and since there is not enough evidence, the court releases the suspect."

He added that the police did their best but had to rely on help from the wider community, particularly elders and religious scholars. This cooperation was often lacking, with members of the public refusing to hand over suspects to face justice.

Parwan activist Mohammad Saber Safar dismissed this explanation.

"Such excuses from the police are irrelevant," he said. "The police try to evade the law. The public have always cooperated with the police and the legal and judicial bodies in Parwan, but the officials are so corrupt themselves that people have lost all faith and trust in them."

Safar said that he knew of many well-documented criminal cases that had ended in the release of the subject after pressure from politicians and local powerbrokers.

Poor people, he continued, had no chance of justice.

Parwan lawmaker Zakia Sangin also accused the security, legal, and judicial bodies of weakness and negligence.

"It is undeniable that when powerful criminals - or those who have the support of influential people are arrested - they are soon released. This serves to increase crime, particularly violence against women, in its own right."

IWPR documented numerous cases of violence in which perpetrators had not been brought to justice.

Malalay, a 15-year-old girl from Ghorband district of Parwan, told IWPR how she had been left disabled after her brother beat her.

"During an argument with my brother over inheritance rights, he beat me up so badly that he broke my leg."

Although her mother informed the police about the incident and her brother was detained, he was released after 15 days.

"My brother is friends with some tough and powerful people in the area. They do whatever they want, because they know that the police will not touch them," Malalay said.

Judicial processes are not always followed even in cases where women have died.

Earlier this year Ghorband resident Mohammad Sarwar killed his 20-year-old daughter Zahra.

He told IWPR, "My daughter had a love affair with someone against the will of the family, which defamed our good name.

"I got very angry at Zahra and began to beat her with a stick, when suddenly the stick hit her head too had, and she died."

Although initially charged with murder, Sarwar was later released in unclear circumstances and has never been formally acquitted.

In an incident in Sayedkhel district, 20-year-old Karima was killed by her brother who suspected that she was involved with a local boy.

A policewoman at Parwan headquarters, who asked to remain anonymous, told IWPR, "No one has been arrested in connection with this case. Powerful people support the suspect and the police are unable to confront them."

A lack of trust in the judicial process means that people are often tempted to take matters in to their own hands.

Fereba, a 35-year-old from the village of Sufiyan, was killed on January 11, 2015. Local police went on to arrest her husband on suspicion of murder.

However her brother, Mohammad Sultan, said he had little faith that her killer would be brought to justice.

"This government is full of corruption," he said. "We do not believe the legal and judicial bodies. We will take revenge for our sister's blood ourselves."

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Afghan Women Limited to Education and Healthcare Roles

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Publication Date 14 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 558 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghan Women Limited to Education and Healthcare Roles, 14 November 2016, ARR 558, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e01f4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Local government officials in Laghman province need to actively recruit female staff to redress the enormous gender imbalance in state institutions, a debate organized by IWPR has heard.

Mohebullah Sorkhrodi, from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), told the event that 7,431 people were employed in Laghman's government offices.

Women filled only 527 of these positions, all in the fields of education and healthcare.

Sorkhrodi said that the government needed to take positive steps to change this, adding, "Our commission has always tried to give female candidates special opportunities during the recruitment process, such as allocating some posts which can only be filled by women."

Debate participant Dil Aqa, a local activist, said that it was unacceptable that women were only working in the fields of education and healthcare.

Sorkhrodi noted that this situation also reflected social realities.

"Women are more interested in working in the field of education than in other areas, because their families allow them to work in education," he said.

Laghman director of women's affairs Nasima Sadat Shafiq called for public awareness campaigns to encourage women to work outside the home.

She also noted that low literacy levels also excluded women from public sector jobs. Girls had little access to education in much of the province, she said.

Hashima Sharif, of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission of Afghanistan (IARCSC), said that corruption and intimidation were also major factors preventing women from finding jobs.

She gave a number of examples from her own experience, explaining that she had received numerous death threats from powerful individuals in the course of her work.

In another instance, Sharif continued, "I wanted to take the exam for a post in Nangarhar province, but I was not able to even obtain the application form, because a person who had connections had already been appointed to the post."

Laghman's director of capacity building, Hafizullah Asad, said that even educated women were affected by conservative Afghan traditions that frowned on women working outside the home.

"This problem is much worse in the districts than in the centre [of Laghman], but we have tried our best despite all these problems to increase the presence of women in government offices," he said.

One problem he identified was that provincial government officials were unable to directly appoint people to more senior management positions. If these powers were extended, Asad said that he would be able to actively work to redress the gender imbalance.

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Herat Businesswomen Demand State Support

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Sodaba Ahrari Publication Date 15 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 558 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Herat Businesswomen Demand State Support, 15 November 2016, ARR 558, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e0534.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A year ago, Telaya Rawak was all set to open a business producing women's clothing. But from day one, she and her six female employees faced one problem after another.

Men dominate the business world in Afghanistan, and Rawak said that even sourcing appliances for her six female employees to use had been a struggle.

"Buying the sewing machines was difficult in itself because in every shop we went to, the men tricked us and sold us either very expensive or poor quality things goods," she said. "We had so many difficulties buying appliances. We took the machines back to the shops several times."

Finding suitable premises was another problem.

"We wanted to rent a shop and so we went to a shopping centre in Herat located in the business district of the city," she said. "But the centre's owner refused to talk to us because he is a religious scholar and we are women. When we went to his office, his secretary would not let us enter and said that he neither talks to women nor rents them shops."

Rawak had little choice but to base her operations in Khadija-tul Kubra, a dedicated market in Herat for businesses run by women. However, it has few customers as it is in a residential area and far from other shopping centres. Sales are poor, she said.

Rawak is just one of many businesswomen in the western province who say that social prejudice and a lack of state support makes it nearly impossible for them to compete with men.

Women have made significant progress in recent years in the field of entrepreneurship, but still face massive challenges in accessing capital as well as national and international markets.

Critics say that government steps to support female-run businesses, such as establishing Khadija-tul Kubra, had not gone far enough.

Sadiqa Tamsaki, another shop-owner in the women-only market, said that she and her fellow female entrepreneurs were perfectly capable of succeeding in business. They just needed a minimal level of support.

"If the government shows determination and moved this centre to another location in the city, we would easily be able to compete with men," she said. "We are no less capable than they are, and our creativity and our products are great. Unfortunately, it's just that the conditions were operate under aren't appropriate."

Mahboba Jamshidi, head of Herat's department of women's affairs, said that conservative traditions were the main obstacle businesswomen faced in Afghanistan.

"Women don't work alongside men because social norms put pressure on them to restrict their movements, and also because they have fewer financial resources and less knowledge of economics," she said.

"There are still traditional issues; women working outside the home is considered a bad thing, and people's beliefs are governed by prejudice. All this restricts women's access to work."

However, religious experts say that there is no theological basis to prevent women working in business.

Islamic scholar Abdul Rahman Azizi said that people in Afghanistan mistook long-standing cultural practices for religious law.

"There is a huge body of commentary about business in Islam, and nowhere does it say that men can do business but not women," he said.

Afghanistan's current economic crisis has not helped matters.

Shafiqa Sherzad, who owns a handicrafts store in the Khadijat-ul Khubra centre, said that the outlook was dire.

"Our sales are down compared to last year, and we are all about to go bankrupt," she said, adding that they had no government help at all.

"We call on the government to support us, do something for us. Otherwise, our situation will just get worse," she said.

Male business leaders in Herat argue that they are already trying to improve conditions for female entrepreneurs.

"We believe in positive change for women," said Sa'ad Khatibi, head of the Herat chamber of commerce and industry

"In various trade exhibitions, we provide them with booths and stalls for free so that they can show their products. Moreover, we have taken their goods to international exhibitions."

Khatibi said that there were few accurate statistics regarding female-owned businesses, but said that he believed women played the most active part in the handicrafts and agricultural sectors, particularly in the production of saffron.

Ali Kawah, a sociology lecturer at Herat university, said that this narrow range was part of the problem.

"Allocating simple tasks to women such as sewing or selling handicrafts prevents them from getting involved in more profitable businesses," he said.

Kawah added that what he described as "male control of the market" meant that women fundamentally needed additional help.

"Economics is an extremely challenging field and women can lose what small share they have in business unless they are supported by the government and other international organisations," he said.

Wahid Wahabzada, an economics lecturer at Herat university, agreed that women needed special measures to enable them to succeed in the field of business.

"Lack of capital, good management, and governmental support are the reasons why products produced by women have such low sales in both national and international markets," he said, adding that measures including tax cuts and foreign investment could boost women's economic activity.

"Because women have little financial capital, it would be better for them not to be taxed so as to encourage them, and the best thing would be for them to be given some financial incentives from the government," he continued. "Bank loans could also help them raise capital."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Summary Justice Still Rampant in Afghan Province

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Qadeer Ghafori Publication Date 16 November 2016 Reference ARR 558 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Summary Justice Still Rampant in Afghan Province, 16 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e0a64.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Local security forces are still failing to act against summary justice procedures in the central Afghan province of Ghor, a year after a high-profile case in which a teenage girl was filmed being stoned to death.

In November 2015, 19-year-old Rukhshana was killed by a group of armed men in the village of Ghalmin, some 40 kilometres from Ghor's main town Firozkoh, after she was accused of adultery.

A video emerged showing the young woman buried in a hole in the ground with just her head showing, while men threw stones at her. She could be heard praying and moaning as she was struck.

Her case highlighted the power that de facto courts still wield in more lawless parts of Afghanistan where state institutions struggle to maintain their authority.

Hajira Bashiri, from the provincial department of women's affairs, said that a culture of impunity helped fuel growing levels of gender violence.

"Illegal courts and violence against women are on the rise because the government has failed to pursue the armed criminals accused of violence," she said.

"Almost a year has passed since Rukhshana was stoned to death. Her killers were less than three kilometres away from the centre of Ghor, but shockingly the government has so far been unable to arrest them."

Fareeda Nasiri, head of women's affairs at the Ghor office of the Afghanistan Independent Humans Rights Commission (AIHRC), agreed.

"The government doesn't control the remote, rural parts of Ghor province, especially the districts and also some areas around the centre of Ghor, which has resulted in the establishment of illegal courts and tribunals," she said.

"The military and justice officials don't arrest or punish the people involved in such trials, which means that cases are increasing."

The proliferation of militias was exacerbating the situation, she continued.

"The presence of armed groups that the government is unable to disarm also has a significant effect on the rising number of illegal justice processes in Ghor province. The main problem is that government can't gain access to some districts and even to some areas near the city. The government has been unable to arrest the killers of Rukhshana. There is also no security; girls cannot access education, their schools are closed and women are deprived of justice."

Colonel Murtaza Musleh, Ghor's deputy police chief, agreed that tribal courts flourished in areas controlled by the insurgents, but denied accusations that his forces had failed to act against this phenomenon.

"Police forces in Ghor province are always working hard and making maximum efforts to capture the criminals accused of violence against women and involvement in illegal trials," he said.

Islamic experts said that, contrary to popular opinion, such tribal justice procedures violated core religious principles.

Abdul Ghani Jame, a religious scholar, said, "Unofficial and de facto courts are forbidden in Islam because they don't follow appropriate judicial procedures and justice is not done."

He added, "The recent trials of women by some radical groups were against Islamic Sharia the government views these radical groups as armed insurgents."

"People who are not responsible and put people on trial without any legal authority or documentation are violating Islamic law and have nothing to do with Islam. Such illegal trials can never be related to Islam."

Mansoor Khisrao and Syed Maroof were two participants of the debate and said that such debates should be held and expanded in all the remote districts and area.

Audience members said that the event had been a valuable opportunity to discuss a key local issue.

"Such debates are really effective in educating people and we hope that similar events are held more often so that people will be even better informed," said debate participant Syed Maroof Saida.

Another participant, Mansoor Khisrao, added, "We hope that more such debates are held, especially in remote districts and areas, to help raise awareness levels."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Kyrgyzstan Poised to Vote on Constitutional Change

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Mariya Zozulya Publication Date 12 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol RCA 800 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Kyrgyzstan Poised to Vote on Constitutional Change, 12 November 2016, RCA 800, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e1124.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Kyrgyzstan is poised for a fresh constitutional referendum that some politicians and analysts warn risks weakening the country's democratic institutions.

A total of 26 amendments are on the table, with the most significant change a power shift from the parliament and the president to the prime minister and the cabinet.

The nationwide vote, initiated by the president's Social Democrats party and scheduled for December 11, has already proved divisive.

The ruling coalition broke up on October 24 amid disputes over whether constitutional change was needed at all.

Kyrgyzstan became the first - and currently only - Central Asian state to embark on parliamentary democracy after the ousting of President Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2010.

"If these amendments are passed, the country will return to authoritarianism," Omurbek Tekebaev, the leader of the Ata Meken party and one of the authors of the current constitution, told local media last month, adding, "It would be the authoritarian rule of the prime minister rather than of the president."

However, parliament voted to support the constitutional referendum on November 2, and the following day the Social Democrats, Bir Bol and Kyrgyzstan parties formed a new coalition.

President Almazbek Atambaev, whose six-year term comes to an end late next year, is a strong backer of the latest reforms.

"Who knows, a foolish person may come to power next time, who only thinks about his or her own pocket," Atambaev said on October 31. "We have all heard someone promising a lot prior to coming to power, saying they will die for the people and for the country. However, they behave differently after gaining power."

DEMOCRATIC RISKS

The last referendum took place on June 27, 2010, in a move welcomed by the international community and Kyrgyz legal experts who argued that the changes would prevent power from being concentrated in the hands of the elite.

The current constitution explicitly banned further amendments until 2020.

Supporters of the reforms argued that this ban could be overcome via a referendum, which in any case is needed to change the Kyrgyz constitution.

Nonetheless, analysts argue now that democratic institutions risk losing their status if the constitution is changed every few years and referendums become commonplace.

The constitution had become "a bargaining chip of political games," said Tamerlan Ibraimov, who heads the Centre for Political and Legal Studies.

"An imbalanced constitution may cause a crisis of authority and other serious consequences," Ibraimov told IWPR.

Lawmaker Cholpon Dzhakupova told IWPR he fear that constitutional reform was being imposed from above rather than being a popular movement as it had been depicted.

"The White House [the popular name for the Kyrgyz parliament and president's office] brought forward the draft. Members of parliament endorsed it happily without reading it. It's called the 'people's initiative'. It has nothing to do with the people," Dzhakupova said.

The constitutional chamber of the supreme court did not respond to IWPR requests for comment.

Analysts also warn that the power shift from president to prime minister may be problematic.

The current constitution does not specify whether the prime minister should be a lawmaker or indeed a member of any political party at all. Recent Kyrgyz premier Temir Sariev was a member of a party that failed to get into parliament, but was nonetheless appointed to the post after the ruling coalition nominated him and the house approved it.

Under the proposed changes, the premier will only be able to be chosen from the ranks of serving lawmakers.

Eyebrows were also raised over changes to security policy. The president, as head of the defence council, will give up direct control of law enforcement bodies and the military.

These duties will pass to a new organisation called the security council, although new draft constitution does not specify how this body will be formed.

Another cause for concern was the extremely rapid progress of the discussions on the changes.

Instead of the legally mandated six-month period, the plenary hearings lasted only one-and-a-half months.

Some analysts suspect that Atambaev, constitutionally limited to a single six-year term, is nonetheless preparing the ground for his inner circle to hold on to power.

Kyrgyz activist Rita Karasartova, who campaigns for oversight over legal reforms, said, "Would we have seen such a rush to adopt the new constitution, if the rewriting of the constitution and the upcoming presidential elections weren't related?"

"One [should] observe all procedures, discuss amendments for enough time, improve them by considering public opinion and only then submit them to a vote," she continued.

Isa Omurkulov, who heads the Social Democratic fraction, told IWPR, "The draft was available online [through the e-gov service] and it was discussed until mid-September. A massive number of [public] suggestions were included. Everyone who wanted to take part did so. In fact, we've eliminated half of the originally proposed amendments."

But Medet Tyulegenov, a political science lecturer at the American University of Central Asia, said that the referendum was indeed a sign that the political elite were thinking about their own agenda.

"The political game has no certain rules. They are reshaped for the benefit of whoever is within the ruling group," he said. "We still haven't got a state development ideology and there is no answer where we are heading to as a country. The new reform doesn't address it either."

Mariya Zozulya is a Bishkek-based journalist.

This publication was produced under two IWPR projects, Investigative Journalism to Promote Democratic Reform, funded by the European Union; and Strengthening Capacities, Bridging Divides in Central Asia, funded by the Foreign Ministry of Norway.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Turkmenistan : RFE/RL reporter hounded for snapping supermarket line

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Turkmenistan : RFE/RL reporter hounded for snapping supermarket line, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e2c14.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the repeated attacks and acts of harassment targeting Soltan Achilova, an RFE/RL correspondent in Turkmenistan, who has been assaulted twice in the past few weeks.

Aged 67 and employed by RFE/RL's Turkmen-language service, Achilova was chased by a policeman and the manager of a supermarket in Ashgabat on 25 October after taking photos of a long line outside the supermarket.

When she went to a sanatorium later the same day, two plainclothes policemen questioned her about her family and place of residence and accused her of taking photos without permission.

After being interrogated for several hours in the street and refusing to go to a police station, she was eventually allowed to leave. But she was attacked, insulted and robbed by a woman and three men just a few minutes later. In a state of shock, she finally managed to return home.

While visiting a sanatorium again on 8 November, Achilova was accosted by two women who accused her of maligning Turkmenistan. The same day, a woman staying in the same building as Achilova was beaten and thrown to the ground by two other women, who shouted: "This is for taking photos." They had clearly mistaken her for Achilova.

"We firmly condemn these attacks on Soltan Achilova," RSF editor-in-chief Virginie Dangles said. "The international community must react to the human rights violations in this country. Despite repeatedly trampling on freedom of information and other freedoms, Turkmenistan continues to enjoy good economic relations with many countries including France."

Turkmenistan is ranked second from last - 179th out of 180 countries - in RSF's World Press Freedom Index. The regime tolerates no dissent and persecutes the correspondents of the Prague-based RFE/RL's Turkmen service, which is one of the very few media outlets providing independently-reported news in the Turkmen language.

Turkmenistan has just one Internet Service Provider and, for most people, the only access is available in Internet cafes, where they have to show an identity document whenever they want to connect. Most of the websites providing independent information on Turkmenistan remain blocked in the country. A campaign to remove satellite TV dishes is currently under way.

Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, a freelance journalist who was arrested in July 2015, is still being held on a trumped-up charge of drug possession. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov is on the list of 35 press freedom predators that RSF compiled this year.
Editor still unable to return to Bolivia after six months in exile

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Editor still unable to return to Bolivia after six months in exile, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e2fc4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Bolivian authorities to restore newspaper editor Wilson Garcia Merida's fundamental rights and allow him to return home from Brazil, to which he fled six months ago to escape a judicial travesty.

The editor of the Sol de Pando newspaper and an outspoken editorial writer, Wilson Garcia Merida was summoned before a prosecutor on 10 May after being accused of sedition by presidency minister Juan Ramon Quintana for no valid reason.

Garcia's lawyer tried to get the summons postponed and to find out exactly what accusations Quintana was making against his client. But to no avail. To escape this denial of justice, Garcia fled to Brazil and is still there. There has been a warrant for his arrest since 16 May.

The sedition accusation was made after Garcia reported the existence of a crime ring specializing in prostitution and human trafficking between Bolivia and Brazil. He claimed that Quintana himself was involved.

"We call on the Bolivian judicial authorities to urgently rescind the warrant for Wilson Garcia Merida's arrest," said Emmanuel Colombie, the head of RSF's America's desk.

"Juan Ramon Quintana must also explain the reasons for this sedition charge and produce evidence to support it. If he cannot, the authorities must drop the charge, which has all the hallmarks of one more in a long list of government manoeuvres designed to reduce the opposition media to silence."

In recent months, RSF has been in contact with Garcia, who wants above all to return to Bolivia and to be reunited with his family. The lawyers he contacted in La Paz told him that they had been harassed and subjected to intimidation attempts aimed at deterring them from handling his case.

From his temporary base in northern Brazil, Garcia is nonetheless now trying to have the arrest warrant withdrawn and to file a submission to Bolivia's constitutional court demonstrating that Quintana's accusations are undermining Bolivia's democracy and constitution.

This is not his first run-in with the government. In 2011, Quintana tried to deprive Sol de Pando of income from state advertising. In 2012, he ordered the seizure of 2,000 copies of the Sol de Pando and broke up his network of newspaper distributors in the northern city of Cobija.

Bolivia is ranked 97th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Women's rights defender, writer and blogger Ghada Jamsheer remains in jail in Bahrain serving a combined ten-month sentence for exercising her right to free expression on Twitter. On 7 November 2016, Jamsheer appeared before Judge Mohamed Al-Khalifa of the High Criminal Court of Appeal to request that she be freed to serve out the remainder of her sentences outside of jail due to health concerns, however the judge has not yet informed her of his decision.

The undersigned more than 20 rights groups from around the world call for the sentence to be overturned, as it violates her right to free expression, and for Jamsheer to be freed immediately so she can receive proper treatment for her debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.

Jamsheer, President of the Womens Petition Committee (WPC), is being held in connection with multiple sentences imposed relating to her tweets exposing corruption within the management of King Hamad Hospital, which is run by members of the ruling family.

Jamsheer was detained on 15 August 2016 upon arrival from London where she was receiving medical treatment for her arthritis. She reports that she needs medication to ease the pain but fears that she will risk her health if she takes the medication in jail, because it compromises her immunity. Jamsheer showed the Judge her medical reports, which have been translated to Arabic.

Following the hearing on 7 November, she was returned to Isa Town women's prison, where conditions are cold and unsanitary. She was told she would receive a decision within a week. The hearing was well-attended by lawyers and other observers, including a representative of the United States Embassy.

On 22 June 2016, Jamsheer was sentenced on appeal to prison by the Second High Criminal Court for four cases of defamation related to her tweets. She was originally misinformed that she was facing one year, but was told after her arrest in August that she is serving a ten-month term. She has now spent three months in prison this year, in addition to three months served when she was first arrested under the same charges on 15 September 2014.

Jamsheer has 12 charges against her related to this case. She was fined 10,000 dinars (approx. USD$26,500) for defamation of the management of the hospital. In addition, she was also sentenced to one year in prison (suspended) on trumped up charges of allegedly "assaulting a police officer" while in custody.

Jamsheer was featured in the #SheDefends campaign on 28 October, organised by the Women Human Rights Defenders Middle East and North Africa (WHRD MENA) Coalition.

Over 250 people have called for her freedom by signing a petition in support of Jamsheer and women human rights defenders in Bahrain. Supporters are still signing the petition at https://action.manifesta.net/petitions/ask-the-king-of-bahrain-to-stop-persecuting-women-human-rights-defenders

We, the undersigned organisations, call on the government of Bahrain to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally free Ghada Jamsheer;

2. Overturn the sentence against Ghada Jamsheer, which violates her right to free expression;

3. Immediately and unconditionally free all detained human rights defenders in Bahrain;

4. At the very minimum, ensure all prisoners, including Ghada Jamsheer and other human rights defenders, have access to proper medical treatment and ensure conditions in prison necessary to maintain health; and

5. End all forms of reprisals against human rights defenders and other activists, including travel bans, in violation of their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.
Central African Republic: Support the Special Criminal Court

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 16 November 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Central African Republic: Support the Special Criminal Court, 16 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e4b74.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

(Brussels) Donor countries meeting in Brussels on November 17, 2016, should support the Central African Republic's Special Criminal Court, 17 Central African and international human rights non-governmental organizations said in a declaration today. The donors should provide technical, financial, and political support for the court and its mandate to end impunity for crimes under international law, the groups said. On November 17, 2016, the European Union will host a conference in Brussels to discuss funding priorities for the Central African Republic.

In June 2015, the Central African Republic's government adopted a law to create the court to pave the way to justice for victims, but the court has yet to become operational.

"The Central African Republic has been the theater of repeated cycles of horrific abuse for over a decade, without any consequences for those responsible," the human rights organizations said. "Donors should back efforts aimed at making the Special Criminal Court operational to break this vicious cycle of impunity, and the Central African authorities should show leadership in following through."

Read the declaration Central African Republic: Justice is Key to Recovery and Peace-Building

After nearly a decade of intermittent conflict, in late 2012, the Central African Republic spiraled into violence, with armed groups known as the Seleka and anti-Balaka committing serious abuses against civilians including murder, sexual violence, and destruction of property, which led to massive displacement. In October, tensions erupted again, with displacement camps in the center of the country attacked and scores of civilians shot, stabbed or burned to death.

In 2014, the then-transitional government referred the situation in the Central African Republic since August 1, 2012 to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, opened an investigation in September 2014. The government's cooperation with the ICC is critical, but the ICC's investigation, which is ongoing, will most likely only target only a handful of suspects. The Special Criminal Court, with its proposed international and national staff, is critical to address more than a decade of serious crimes and help strengthen the justice system overall.

The organizations supporting the declaration are:

Action des chretiens contre la torture (ACAT - RCA)

Amnesty International

Association des femmes juristes de Centrafrique (AFJC)

Association des victimes de la LRA en Centrafrique (AVLRAC)

Avocats Sans Frontieres

Civis et democratie (CIDEM)

Commission episcopale Justice et Paix

Enough Project

FIDH

Human Rights Watch

Lead-Centrafrique

Ligue centrafricaine des droits de lHomme (LCDH)

Mouvement pour la defense des droits de lHomme et de laction humanitaire (MDDH)

Observatoire centrafricain des droits de lHomme (OCDH)

Observatoire pour la promotion de lEtat de Droit - OPED

Parliamentarians for Global Action

REDRESS
Egypt: Newly adopted NGO Bill to annihilate the human rights movement

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Egypt: Newly adopted NGO Bill to annihilate the human rights movement, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e50b4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Egyptian Parliament has approved a new NGO bill which, should it come into force, will eradicate associations in the country, said the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders today. Even more restrictive than the one put forward in September, this new legislative initiative is the latest attempt to crack down on civic space in Egypt.

On November 15, 2016,the Egyptian Parliament concluded the revision of the 89 articles of the new NGO law, drafted by its Abdel Hadi el Qasabi, and adopted it. The new law, which will replace Law No. 84/2002 on Associations and Foundations, contains even more draconian provisions than the one proposed in September [1] by the Cabinet and will close the remaining space for conducting human rights work in Egypt. The law will now be referred to the State Council for legal review, and then it will be sent back to the Parliament.

The Observatory is particularly concerned about the attempt of the Egyptian Parliament to redefine authorised field of action for civil society organisations as being necessarily determined by the State's agenda. In particular, Article 14 of the new law states that NGOs will be only allowed to engage in activities that conform to national development plans. Moreover, NGOs are not allowed to conduct work that may cause harm to "national security", "law and order", "public morals", or "public health", terms that are subject to the discretionary interpretation of government agencies. In addition, public surveys, research and reports will have to be reviewed by the Government and approved both before they are carried out and also after, prior to their publication.

"The provisions included in this newly adopted law leave no doubt about which role the Egyptian State wants civil society to play in this new Egypt: none. By redefining the limits of civil society, the Egyptian authorities are trying to create an illusion of national order and security, while continuing to judicially harass NGOs and human rights defenders" declared Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.

The new legal framework sets the goal of NGO work as "to achieve their purposes in the fields of development and social welfare to achieve social development goals within the scope of the state plans and development needs and priorities." Thus, human rights work will not be a permissible activity for NGOs. It will also require all NGOs to (re)-register under the new law, regardless of their prior status. At the same time, the administrative registration process is even more complex under this law, and practically bans foreign funding, since under Article 24 the Government must explicitly authorise all foreign funding applications. Any failure to comply will expose organisations to judicial dissolution (Article 43).

Moreover, foreign NGOs may only operate in Egypt with the authorisation of the National Foreign NGO Regulatory Agency, a body comprising representatives of different ministries including the Interior and Defence, as well as security and intelligence officials. Finally, Article 87 provides that any breach of the law shall be punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to one million Egyptian pounds (approx. 100,000 Euros).

"All this shows a clear intention by the authorities to isolate the Egyptian human rights movement from the rest of the world, by cutting access to vital foreign funding, prohibiting the conduct of activities by foreign NGOs in Egypt and multiplying restrictions against Egyptian human defenders. If this law is approved, it will have a devastating impact on Egypt's vibrant civil society" added FIDH President, Dimitris Christopoulos.

Footnotes

[1] See the Observatory's Press Release of October 3, 2016.
Plans to reinstate the death penalty must be abandoned

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Plans to reinstate the death penalty must be abandoned , 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832e551a.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Philippine parliamentarians must shelve proposed draft legislation aimed at reinstating the death penalty in the country's legal system, FIDH and its member organization Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) urged today. The Philippines abolished capital punishment for all crimes in 2006.

On 9 November, the House of Representatives' subcommittee on judicial reforms began discussing seven bills that seek to re-impose the death penalty for so-called 'heinous crimes' - a broad, unclear, and ill-defined notion, not a legal category. As of 6 September 2016, members of the Congress had introduced at least 16 bills to either repeal existing legislation that prohibited the death penalty or make a number of crimes punishable by death.

As for the executive branch, President Rodrigo Duterte, elected on 9 May 2016, has vowed to reinstate the death penalty for a wide range of crimes, with a particular focus on crimes involving drugs. Other crimes for which Duterte said the death penalty would be reinstated include rape, robbery, and kidnapping that resulted in the victims' death.

Enacting legislation to reinstate the death penalty is inconsistent with the Philippines' obligations under international law, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. The Philippines is a state party to both human rights instruments.

Article 6 of the ICCPR guarantees every human being's "inherent right to life." In addition, it prescribes that in countries that have not abolished capital punishment, the death penalty may be imposed only for the "most serious crimes," a threshold that international jurisprudence has repeatedly stated drug-related offenses do not meet. The Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR imposes an obligation on state parties to the convention to refrain from carrying out executions. In addition, the UN Human Rights Committee has affirmed that state parties cannot denounce or withdraw from the ICCPR or its Second Optional Protocol. [1]

FIDH and PAHRA call on the Philippines to respect its international legal obligations by dropping the proposed bills aimed at the reintroduction of the death penalty. FIDH and PAHRA also urge the Philippines to vote in favor of the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution - due to be voted on in December 2016 - that calls for a moratorium on executions.

FIDH, a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), reiterates its total opposition to the death penalty for all crimes and in all circumstances.

[1] UN Human Rights Committee, 61st session, General Comments Adopted by the Human Rights Committee under Article 40, Paragraph 4, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, General Comment No. 26 (61), 8 December 1997, UN Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.8/Rev.1, Para 2
More support needed as Mosul displacement grows

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 18 November 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), More support needed as Mosul displacement grows, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832f29c4.html [accessed 2 November 2022]

When displaced Mosul resident Fawzi Mohammed and his family finally reached safety at this camp in northern Iraq, he broke down and wept.

Given a tent, a hot meal and a chance to clean up after a harrowing flight from Iraq's embattled second city, his sense of security is returning for the first time in years.

"We feel stable now," he said. "My neighbour Abo Mostafa got his own tent too. So, we are a settled family now, and I've just had my shower.''

Just over a month since the start of the Mosul offensive, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners have been intensifying life-saving, emergency assistance for tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis like Mohammed and his family.

They are among a rapidly-growing number of people fleeing since fighting intensified in the more densely-populated urban areas of Mosul. Of the 60,000 people who have fled their homes since the start of the campaign on October 17, around 40,000 have done so since the start of November.

''It's very important for every family to have their own shelter, because nobody knows how long they will stay in this camp," Hawre Abdullah, a field officer at Hasansham camp explains. "So, because of that, at UNHCR, we are trying our best to find a shelter per family.''

As winter looms across northern Iraq, UNHCR is stressing the need for sustained funding support and a redoubling of efforts to reach the growing number of people displaced by the fighting in and around Mosul - many of whom now live in rudimentary conditions in camps.

Thanking donors for their support for those fleeing Mosul, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards on Friday (November 18) highlighted the urgent need for "additional resources to support the tens of thousands living in miserable conditions."

Close to half of those fleeing Mosul are children, according to UN data and UNHCR surveys, and more than half are women and girls, including many female-headed households.

UNHCR currently has six camps open, hosting well over 14,000 people and with a capacity for 54,600. Three more are under construction and one is in planning. All told, the 10 camps will have capacity for 17,000 plots.

Speaking at at a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (November 18), Edwards said additional land is required for UNHCR's total planned plots, in order to provide shelter for 120,000 people in camps.

"If needed, UNHCR and its partners, including the Government of Iraq, can potentially host 700,000 people, including a number of shelter solutions outside of camps. But funding for this is crucial," Edwards told reporters.

With partners, UNHCR is providing life-saving protection and assistance to newly-displaced families, making sure they have adequate shelter, and basic household items including mattresses, stoves, kitchen and hygiene sets and jerry cans. So far, more than 5,705 emergency relief packages have been distributed by UNHCR.

"With temperatures declining, the focus is on protecting people against the weather and keeping them safe and warm," Edwards said. "We plan to reach 1.2 million people in Iraq with special winterized kits including blankets, heating stoves, plastic tarpaulins and water and kerosene jerry cans. UNHCR is also providing cash assistance and plans to winter-proof 53,000 tents."

UNHCR is also bolstering protection monitoring and psychosocial and legal assistance through mobile teams to ensure timely interventions when problems are identified. Among the main concerns are family reunifications, supporting female-headed households, a lack of documentation and assisting victims of abuse.

As more families, like that of Mohammed, flee Mosul, Edwards again stressed the need for all parties in the conflict to respect the rights and lives of civilians, and emphasized the importance of freedom of movement for residents of Mosul.

"We remain deeply concerned about the plight of civilians and - at the end of the first month of the campaign - call for international humanitarian law to be upheld."
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns killing of civilians in Kabul mosque attack

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Afghanistan: UN mission condemns killing of civilians in Kabul mosque attack, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5833156540c.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

21 November 2016 - The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned today's attack at a mosque in Kabul that killed at least 32 civilians and injured more than 50 others, many of them children.

This appalling attack on worshippers is an atrocity, said Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, in a statement to the press.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), a suicide attacker detonated his body-borne improvised explosive device at the Baqer-ul Ulom mosque in the nation's capital, deliberately targeting worshippers from the country's Shia Muslim community, which had a particularly large congregation to observe Arbaeen, a commemoration on the 40th day after Ashura.

UNAMA expresses its revulsion at this latest effort by extremists to stoke sectarian violence in Afghanistan, said Ms. Kardel, who is also the acting head of UNAMA. Religious and ethnic tolerance are values the Afghan people hold strong, and I urge the Afghan authorities to do everything possible to defend Afghans of all faiths.

In the statement, UNAMA stressed that international humanitarian law prohibits deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian property, including places of worship. International humanitarian law further prohibits attacks directed against people and places of worship, which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for today's incident.

It followed two similar attacks last month against Shia Muslim congregations during Ashura that claimed at least 29 civilian lives. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) issued an online statement claiming responsibility for one of those attacks. The same group claimed responsibility for a 23 July attack on demonstrators in Kabul that killed 85 civilians and injured more than 400 others, nearly all members of the country's Shia Muslim community, in what was the deadliest single incident recorded by the UN in Afghanistan since 2001.

UNAMA expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.

Afghanistan has been in protracted conflict for some 35 years, which has seen an ever-growing number of civilians killed and poverty reduction and development efforts seriously hampered.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and the people of Afghanistan as a political mission that provides 'good offices' among other measures. 'Good offices' are diplomatic steps UN takes publicly and in private, drawing on its independence, impartiality and integrity, to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading.

UNAMA also promotes coherent development support by the international community; assists the process of peace and reconciliation; monitors and promotes human rights and the protection of civilians in armed conflict; promotes good governance; and encourages regional cooperation.
Afghanistan: Attack on Shia mosque is a horrific crime

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 21 November 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Afghanistan: Attack on Shia mosque is a horrific crime, 21 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/583315eb4.html [accessed 2 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reacting to the bombing of the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque in western Kabul, which killed at least 28 people and wounded 45 others, Amnesty International's South Asia Director Champa Patel said:

"The attack on a Shi'a mosque in Kabul is a horrific and deliberate attack on civilians. The Afghan authorities must investigate this crime immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice. They have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shi'a Muslims from attacks and end impunity for previous abuses against the Shi'a community."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Denver, CO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/21/2016 --In a letter to members of Congress (http://bit.ly/2f637lE), A Just Cause asks them to take an active role in advocating for the freeing of six wrongly-convicted Colorado software executives of the IRP Solutions Corporation who are known on the Internet as the IRP6. The men were wrongly-convicted and have spent over 4 years at a federal prison camp in Florence, Colorado. "This was more than destruction of a small, promising software company...This is a human issue that deserves compassion for the plight of children who have unfairly lost their fathers, mothers who have unfairly lost their sons, wives who have unfairly lost their husbands and siblings who have unfairly lost their brothers," Lamont Banks, Executive Director of A Just Cause, said in the letter.



The letter also discusses how a Colorado federal prosecutor, who, after a grand jury refused to issue him a criminal indictment because the case was a civil matter, intentionally interfered with IRP's business by ruining an "impending" contract with a major government customer to help support a new narrative that he would present to a second grand jury to get an indictment --- a narrative that the executives conspired together to violate federal mail and wire fraud statutes by making false statements to creditors about "current or impending" contracts with large law enforcement agencies to avoid paying creditors. The letter also discusses how the prosecutor eliminated all non-government witnesses used in the first grand jury to call only a single FBI agent to support his new narrative and guarantee an indictment.



Members of Congress are also asked in the letter to review a recent AJC press release (http://bit.ly/2fXvd7b) that presents facts and evidence from court records of an "impending" contract with the City of Philadelphia and that shows high-level city officials in emails (http://bit.ly/2fOxbEJ) finalizing terms with IRP's Chief Operating Officer, David Banks for delivery of their software to the police department and inspector general's office, until the prosecutor told city officials that an indictment was coming. After ruining IRP's business with Philly, the prosecutor would not present his case to a grand jury with his new narrative and a single FBI witness until 5 months later.



Numerous experts who have reviewed the case, whose comments are included the letter, have now concluded that the IRP6 case was strictly a civil matter, including former federal appeals judge H. Lee Sarokin (U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals) who, in November 2015 sent a letter to President Obama asking him to grant clemency on the IRP6's application that has been pending since February 2015 because they were prosecuted and convicted for "failing to pay corporate debts."



"The IRP6 injustice has now reached the hallowed chambers of the United States Congress who are overseers of the Constitution and represent millions of Americans who would want and expect their leaders to stand for justice on behalf of their loved ones," the letters states. The letter concludes by asking members of Congress for their compassion and humanity and requests that they take immediate action by joining with Judge Sarokin and their colleagues, Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) and Danny Davis (D-IL) in efforts to help free the IRP6 in time to enjoy the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with their families.



"Sources tell A Just Cause that the pardon attorney has already requested and received information for the IRP6's clemency application from the Bureau of Prisons over 3 months ago which is usually the last agency in the process," says Lisa Stewart of A Just Cause. "We are asking President Obama in interest of the IRP6's innocence proclaimed by a federal appeals judge and other respected experts, to personally request their clemency application for review," adds Stewart. "It appears that the application may be somehow delayed in the process with the U.S. Attorney's Office or the District Court in Colorado," concludes Stewart.
Brooklyn, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/21/2016 --When it comes to fashion and functional fashion accessories, no country's reputation stands as strong as Italy's. Unfortunately, in recent years many brands have opted for less quality craftsmanship even on Italian soil. Satch & Fable are a new company who are bucking that trend, recently debuting their remarkable new line of all-Italian handmade leather bags, completely ethically crafted by skilled Italian craft men and women of unmatched expertise in their art. No surprise, the new brand, which is based out of Brooklyn, New York has been greeted by fashion enthusiasts with open arms.



"We believe in doings things in an older and better way, to revive the Italian way of making things and this is all clear in our line of handmade leather bags," commented Fabrizio, chief designer of Satch & Fable. "Designed in Brooklyn. Made in Italy by Italians. US customer service. Come see the big difference first hand."



According to Satch & Fable, every bag they offer is Italian handmade from start to finish in Italy and not in Chinese owned and operated factories, a big secret of many fashion brands and an explanation, some believe, for the declining quality much of the fashion pieces and accessories coming from the country. Satch & Fable's vision of re-empowering the native Italian craftspeople, well known for their skill, is certainly an infectious one.



Some highlights of the debut line of Satch & Fable handmade Italian leather bags include: an authentic Italian handmade Leather Briefcase in black or brown; a very luxurious authentic Italian handmade Leather Duffel Carry On Bag; and an authentic Made in Italy Leather Tote Bag, to name just a few. All are made to the highest quality standards, where both look and function are vitally important and close attention is paid to even the smallest of details before a bag is approved for sale.



The importance of true Italian leather to Satch & Fable can't be overstated. Broadly regarded as among the best quality leather in the world, the Satch & Fable team handpick the right hides to make their luxurious bags in a painstaking process that brings them to tanneries in the Italian cities of Naples, Benevento, and Marche, all legendary places for tanning procedures.



Early feedback from shoppers has been quite passionate for the new designer bag brand.



Chris C., from Boston, recently said in a five-star review, "I told myself I was going to finally upgrade from my old messenger bag I have been using for years and get something a lot more stylish and appropriate for where I'm working these days. A friend suggested I check out Satch & Fable and I'm very glad he did. The bag looked amazing and the back story was something I could really get behind so I ordered online. I couldn't be more pleased. Completely in-style, but fully functional too. I literally get compliments on it every day. Fully recommended."



For more information and to see the catalog be sure to visit http://www.satchandfable.com



Contact:

Fabrizio Giuliani

415-819-0771

fab@satchandfable.com
San Francisco, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/21/2016 --Svitla Systems, Inc., a San Francisco-based provider of software development and QA services, is pleased to announce the opening of its office in Guadalajara, Mexico.



Jorge Valadez will lead the Guadalajara office as Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations. "Guadalajara is a great location for Svitla and its clients," says Mr. Valadez. "Because Guadalajara is in the Central Time Zone, our North American clients can get in touch with us easily during normal business hours. Also, there are many direct flights from several major US cities, making it easier for our clients to visit us."



Talia Campillo will lead local recruitment process. "Mexico's strong population of IT professionals in the workforce as well as new IT graduates entering the workforce every year will enable us to find the best talent for our clients."



The Guadalajara office serves as Svitla's near-shore sales and project management center, adding to its personnel a whole new candidate pool to its large roster of technology professionals, most of whom are located in Ukraine and are widely-recognized as elite developers.



"Our outsourcing and developmental expertise fits perfectly with the vibrant technology hub in Guadalajara, and we look forward to using our new near-shore capabilities to help our clients thrive," explains Mr. Valadez. Svitla Systems joins other technology companies, such as IBM, Oracle, and Intel, in Guadalajara, which the Washington Post recently brought up as possibly "the next Silicon Valley" due in part to its many world-class universities and the increasing number of available highly-skilled IT professionals.



Nataliya Anon, President and CEO of Svitla Systems, added: "We are very excited about our new location in Mexico. Guadalajara offers endless opportunities to provide a talented pool of candidates and to deliver efficient software solutions seamlessly through our new near-shore location."



About Svitla Systems

Founded in 2003, Svitla Systems is a leading software outsourcing company, headquartered in San Francisco, California, with sales and development offices throughout the US and Europe (Ukraine, Montenegro, Germany), and now Mexico. Svitla has built its global operations on lasting partnerships with some of the world's renowned companies by providing the finest technical talent. Svitla Systems' customers include large corporations, leading young companies in Silicon Valley, and large educational institutions. Svitla Systems provides a wide range of services - from web and mobile development, design, systems support and testing to Big Data architecture designs and Internet of Things product deployments.



For more information, please visit http://www.svitla.com.
Indiana American Water's $22M water treatment facility up & running in Mooresville

Indiana American Water recently cut the ribbon on its $22 million water treatment facility as part of the largest investment the company has ever made in Mooresville.
Note all articles are independently researched and written by myself. However, if you buy via one of the links it may be an affiliate and I may earn a small commission.

We were browsing King & McGaw earlier, spotting quite a few midcentury advertising posters along the way. In fact, enough for us to do a top 10. All are priced from around 14.95 and available from that retailer.

1. The Design Centre (1956) (pictured above)

We always used to get excited when we saw anything branded Design Centre at at a car boot  and thats perhaps why we love this poster. Very Festival of Britain.

More about the poster here

2. Guinness G poster (1956)

Another from the same year, demonstrating just how eye-catching a simple illustration can be. Designers take note.

More about the poster here

3. Horizon Holidays  Sunshade (1958)

Not sure the travel poster is a thing these days, but if it is, perhaps they should look more like this angular 1950s affair.

More about the poster here

4. UK Board of Trade Exhibition in Moscow (1959)

When the UK went to promote itself in the USSR, it used this clever bit of graphic design to win them over. Still looks contemporary today.

More about the poster here

5. BEA  Olympic Games (1948)

Perhaps still an overhang of the art deco era here, but this is still la very strong image for the return of the Olympics post-war.

More about the poster here

6. Zoo Tiger (1975)

From a little early to a little later, this is a 1970s London Underground poster encouraging us to go to the zoo. Were sold!

More about the poster here

7. London Buildings (1970)

Celebrating and promoting the capital using the buildings themselves. Very clever, very colourful.

More about the poster here

8. Carfree, Carefree (1967)

The swinging sixties are very much in evidence on this public information poster, which encourages us not to drive. Not a bad idea.

More about the poster here

9. Libros sobre Oriente (Books on the East) (1964)

The Mad Men era jumps out of this cool and abstract advertising poster. If you want to liven up a room with a 60s vibe, this is worth checking out.

More about the poster here

10. Cut travelling time Victoria line (1969)

More London Transport, with this clever little image that forces the point home without any subtly. Love it.

More about the poster here

Of course, there are plenty more to choose from. You can browse all the posters here.
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After a series of miscalculations, China's government has called on mining companies to supply more coal and sell it for less as the threat of shortages takes precedence over pollution concerns.



For much of 2016, the government has been pressing coal companies to move faster on cutting their huge surplus of production capacity, which has been blamed for slumping prices over the past four years.



In February, the cabinet-level State Council ordered the industry to slash 500 million metric tons of annual production capacity in three to five years and consolidate an additional 500 million tons under more efficient operators.



China's top planning agency warned for months that the mines were cutting too slowly to meet their reduction targets for 2016.



At mid-year, the industry had achieved only 29 percent of its goal. By the end of August, the closures had reached 60 percent of the target, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.



That was when officials started worrying about the opposite problem. China, which accounts for about half the world's coal output, might have too little on hand rather than too much.



Inventories sank at China's coal-fired power plants to less than 20 days' supply before the winter heating season started and prices began to climb.



"Efforts initially aimed at reversing a four-year collapse and help miners repay debts have pushed coal higher and faster than anyone anticipated," Bloomberg News reported after prices at China's main coal port jumped to 672 yuan (U.S. $97.40) per ton on Oct. 31, the highest since 2012.



The increase represented a rise of over 50 percent since June, the South China Morning Post said. Spot market prices for steam coal hit 710 yuan (U.S. $102.95) per ton on Nov. 4, according a Reuters report.



An early cold snap in northern regions also contributed to the price spike for China's dominant fuel.



Pledges sought



The NDRC responded by calling a series of emergency meetings with coal companies "to admonish producers for not regulating their pricing activities," an official statement said.



The agency sought pledges that the mines would set lower prices for their 2017 supply contracts with major customers such as coal-fired power plants.



The government demanded a rate that would be about 7 percent below the Nov. 4 spot price, according to Reuters calculations.



The second-largest producer ChinaCoal (China National Coal Group Corp.) was the first to respond. The state-owned company initially agreed to a modest price cut of 10 yuan (U.S. $1.44) per ton.



The move was seen as part of a government campaign to persuade both producers and the market that the surge in coal prices had been unjustified.



An unidentified NDRC official told the official Xinhua news agency that high prices were "irrational and unsustainable," citing a recovery of inventories at major ports and power plants.



"There is no basis for recent increases in coal prices in China to be sustained, and prices might even drop after sporadic factors fade away," the official said.



The NDRC also authorized 900 mines to boost output by a collective 1 million tons per day to ease market pressures, but the effect of its serial interventions in the market remained unclear.



Bowing under pressure



Jiang Kejun, a senior researcher at the NDRC Energy Research Institute, said the agency's suggestions "have no legal binding force, and some may still choose to lift output to cash in on the current market," according to the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times.



By Nov. 8, ChinaCoal and industry leader Shenhua Group Corp. appear to have bowed under pressure as they signed supply contracts with power generators under the watchful eye of government officials.



The contracts with a base price of 535 yuan (U.S. $77.43) per ton were 24 percent below spot market rates, Bloomberg said.



While the price crisis has raised concerns about power company costs and losses, there have also been worries about a bubble and sudden collapse.



"ChinaCoal hopes to see more stabilized coal prices. Any big drops or big falls in prices will hurt both producers and utilities," ChinaCoal spokesman Jiang Chun told Reuters.



While the government has acted to cool off the market, its policy decisions have been a major source of the volatility.



Faced with the threat of declining economic growth rates this year, the government boosted activity with a wave of stimulus projects, supported by a flood of easy bank loans.



Partial turnaround



The result has been a partial turnaround in power consumption and other coal-intensive industries like steel and cement, which had also been under pressure to cut overcapacity.



Steel production lines that had been slated for closure rushed to reopen and take advantage of rising prices to offset previous losses.



In the first 10 months of the year, crude steel production increased 0.7 percent to 673 million metric tons, compared with a 2.2-percent decrease, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.



Cement production rose 2.6 percent, reversing a 4.6- percent decline in the year-earlier period, the NBS said.



Electricity consumption jumped 4.8 percent after edging up 0.8 percent in the 10-month period a year before, the NDRC said. But the five largest power producers posted their first combined loss on coal-fired power since 2012 in the first three quarters due to higher fuel costs, Xinhua reported.



The effect of the government's emergency push for more coal is still uncertain.



October production rose 1.7 percent from September, but 10-month output remained 10.7 percent below year-earlier rates, the NBS said. China's coal imports soared over 55 percent last month from a year before.



Last week in a reversal of previous cuts, the NDRC urged coal mines to increase their annual schedule of operations to 330 working days from the earlier limit of 276, Reuters reported.



The government may have succeeded in stabilizing the gross domestic product with third-quarter growth of 6.7 percent, but the consequences may have been price instability for coal and smothering clouds of smog.



Declines over two years



In its annual World Energy Outlook report released last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted declines in China's coal consumption for the past two years since a possible peak in 2013.



But the Paris-based IEA left open the possibility that China's coal use could rise above the "historical peak" over the "medium term," suggesting that the effects of economic stimulus spending, stronger electricity demand, and lower hydropower generation could last for years.



The sequence of events raises questions about the government's interventions. Did it interfere with market forces too little or too much, or should it have intervened at all?



Arguably, loss-making coal mines would have felt market pressure to cut overcapacity anyway after four years of falling prices, but in China many have been kept afloat by state banks and ties to local interests.



Without some intervention, little progress on pollution would be possible under the partially marketized system.



Under a market system, higher coal prices would create pressure to use less.



Parallel dilemmas



Philip Andrews-Speed, a China energy expert at National University of Singapore, sees more than one clash between China's policies and its goals.



"The Chinese government faces two parallel sets of dilemmas in the energy sector: central planning versus the energy sector and keeping energy cheap versus keeping it clean," he said.



The government could have let coal prices rise, leaving power companies to pass on the increase to consumers under newly introduced power market reforms, Andrews-Speed said by email.



"But I guess that this was seen as too risky," he said. "So instead, they will stagger through a series of reactive policy adjustments."



Target-setting may be the source for much of the trouble.



The government's insistence on GDP goals seems to have triggered a chain of reactions. Stimulus-driven pressure for production has been followed by overcompensation that disrupts demand and drives the market to extremes.



The policy conflicts have led inevitably to contradictions.



"ChinaCoal's price cut is just to please China's central planners and has nothing to do with economics," said a blog at www.barrons.com.



The blog cited a Goldman Sachs commentary, noting that coal miners have historically supported prices at the end of the year to gain leverage in annual contract talks, but the government has now pushed them to lower their prices instead.




Leader of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy (R), deputy of CNRP Kem Sokha (C) and workers march to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of labor leader Chea Vichea, in Phnom Penh, Jan. 22, 2015.

The acting president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party plans to continue boycotting the National Assembly, but other party members are free to attend the parliamentary bodys plenary session on Tuesday, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann told RFAs Khmer Service on Monday.

CNRP lawmakers have just unanimously decided that the acting president of the CNRP Kem Sokha should not avail himself to attend the next parliamentary plenary, Yim Sovann said on the RFA TV-Live Show.

However, all CNRP lawmakers who are available are encouraged to attend it, he added. Given the fact that there is still no political solution to the current political tension and atmosphere, Kem Sokha will continue to remain in the CNRP Headquarters.

Kem Sokha has been hiding out in the partys headquarters in Phnom Pehn since police attempted to arrest him in May for ignoring court orders to appear as a witness in a pair of defamation cases related to his alleged affair with a hairdresser.

After a one-hour trial on Sept. 9, Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Keo Mony sentenced Kem Sokha to five months in prison and an 800,000- riel (U.S. $200) fine for failing to appear in one of the related cases.

On Nov. 8 the same court found CNRP President Sam Rainsy guilty of defamation for claiming that Prime Minister Hun Sens social medial team bought likes on Facebook from click farms abroad to increase his support.

Sam Rainsy has been in exile for the past year to avoid a two-year prison sentence handed down in a separate defamation case. Since he left the country Kem Sokha was named acting president.

The cases against the two opposition politicians are just some of the court actions taken by the Cambodian government against opposition lawmakers that many inside and outside the country see as an attempt by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to maintain power as elections loom in 2017 and 2018.

Both the president and acting president of the CNRP have been prevented from serving the people due to the trumped-up charges and politically motivated cases brought against them, Yim Sovann told RFA. Several CNRP activists including a senator and lawmaker are still locked behind bars.

In addition to the convictions of Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy, opposition lawmakers Um Sam An, Hong Sok Hour and CNRP media director Meach Sovannara are all serving jail terms. Opposition lawmaker Thak Lany, who fled to Sweden, was convicted of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this month.

CNRP has been under pressure and suppression, Yim Sovann told RFA. Due to these unresolved crisis, Kem Sokha reserves his rights to remain on strike at the Headquarters. The CNRP demands a political solution so that the upcoming elections are free and fair.

Reported by Thai Tha for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Eight rights activists in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen are missing and believed detained on Monday after a meal they attended was raided by state security police and 10 people were taken away.



"Eight of the people who were detained are now, it seems, incommunicado," a source close to the incident told RFA. "We don't know if they've been formally detained, because there has been no official notification of detention."



"All of their cell phones are switched off, and we haven't been able to get through to them."



At least two people have been released following the raid on a gathering at a restaurant near the Wuhe subway station in Shenzhen last Tuesday, activists said.



Among those detained were Deng Hongcheng, Xiao Bing, Wang Wei, Wang Jun, Li Yan, and Shen Li, sources told RFA.



Calls to the nearby Longgang police station rang unanswered during office hours on Monday.



However, Shenzhen rights activist Huang Meijuan told RFA that Wang Jun's fiancee had been told that the case was being handled by the Bantian police station, and that he could be facing subversion charges.



"She went to the Bantian police affairs office who told her the case was being handled by the Bantian police station, and that he'd been detained on suspicion of incitement to subvert state power," Huang said. "They also said he was being held at the Longgang Detention Center."



"I went with her again to the Bantian police station today, and the duty officer checked for her and said that there was nobody of that name in their computer," she said.



"The police station are now denying all knowledge of any case involving Wang Jun."



Online activist sentenced



Last week, a court in the eastern province of Shandong handed a five-year jail term to online activist Sun Feng after holding him in pretrial detention for two years, rights activists said.



Sun had posted a photo of himself holding a placard protesting growing injustices under the "one party dictatorship" of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.



Sun had also penned an article titled "The Communist Bandits, members of the Marxist-Leninist evil cult of atheism and dialectical materialism have destroyed one of the cornerstones of human civilization," and posted it online, for which he was initially jailed for 10 days under an administrative sentence without trial.



Sun was jailed on Nov. 17 by the Intermediate People's Court in Shandong's Zibo city, which found him guilty of "incitement to subvert state power," the Weiquanwang rights website reported.



He had been redetained after "carrying out further illegal activities" while out on bail in 2014, Weiquanwang reported.



Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hai Nan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




The map shows the border town of Muse in northern Myanmar's Shan state.

Blaming the governments military actions in the region, one of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic militias, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), joined three smaller groups in a weekend attack on 10 government targets in the countrys northern provinces.

Amid conflicting reports on casualties, RFAs Myanmar Service has learned that least nine people were killed and 29 wounded as the coalition pressed a coordinated attack on military and police outposts and a business center.

The KIA joined the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA) in the offensive that took place in the 105-mile trade zone in Kutkai township.

State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's Office announced that in addition to police and military installations, the Thein Ni-Namtu, Nant Pon and Swon Lon bridges came under attack.

"The Burma armed forces have been assaulting to destroy all political and military struggles of the ethnic peoples because they have no will to solve Myanmar's political problem by politically peaceful negotiation methods," the four groups said in a statement.

The alliance warned civilians in the area to avoid travel and to stay in a safe place.

We issue this statement because we dont want ordinary civilians to suffer, AA information officer Kaing Thuka told RFAs Myanmar Service.

We, as the Northern Alliance, will respond accordingly if the Burmese army tries to give us more military pressure, he said. All this happens because the government had left out some of the armed groups in the peace process.

None of the four groups signed onto the countrys 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). But the KIAs political arm, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), took part in Aung San Suu Kyis 21-Century Panglong Conference, also known as the Union Peace Conference, in August.

Complicating the peace process

The AA, MNDAA and TNLA were not invited to participate because they have refused to lay down their arms in advance of the talks.

One of the government's peace negotiators, Hla Maung Shwe, told Reuters the fresh violence may severely delay the peace process.

"It was really regrettable that civilian areas have come under attack, he said. This is likely to further complicate the peace process.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the countrys de facto leader, had high hopes that the conference would help lead to lasting peace in Myanmar after decades of the ethnic separatist civil wars that have followed its independence from British colonial rule in 1948.

Aung San Suu Kyi has little control over the military as the home, defense, border affairs ministries are appointed by the army commander-in-chief under a constitution written by the army.

The military didnt sound like it was prepared to back down on Monday.

"We will increase the operations to secure these areas and protect the civilians," said Ministry of Defense spokesman Major General Aung Ye Win. He did not comment on questions regarding the military's next steps, Reuters reported.

Myanmar's military has actively engaged in offensives using heavy artillery and airstrikes against the four groups in Kachin and Shan states, where they are based.

Thousands seek safety

Shan state Police Chief Aung Aung told RFA that thousands of people had fled to Muse seeking shelter from the fighting.

About 2,000 people from those areas and nearby villages have arrived in Muse and are being looked after in five separate places, Aung Aung said.

The fighting has alarmed Myanmars neighbors, and China put its military on alert after a stray bullet from the fighting reportedly wounded a Chinese resident.

Border trade with China has stopped because of the fighting. Some 80 trucks carrying produce were stopped near the border.

Border trade is disrupted, and the Chinese merchants dare not come to the Mile 105 Border Trade Office, so we have to go as far as Wanteng inside China to sell our produce, a watermelon farmer told RFA.

Reported by RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Vietnamese nationals brought by smugglers into Poland in search of jobs are at growing risk of being caught at the border, where they are held in detention before being sent home, sources say.



Attracted by promises of work in restaurants, markets, or private homes, some pay as much as U.S.$15,000 to trafficking gangs to be taken into Poland by truck from Russia, going heavily into debt to banks or to relatives and friends in Vietnam, some say.



But many never make it to their final destination, one woman told RFAs Vietnamese Service, speaking from a Polish detention center.



My friends in Vietnam told me to come here to work at jobs that I couldnt find at home, the 31-year-old single mother said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of being killed by the gang that brought her in.



But I didnt know about the risks. If I had known, I would never have left, she said.



Traveling on Vietnamese passports, prospective workers typically fly to Russia, where they are loaded onto trucks driven by human traffickers speaking Vietnamese and Russian, sources told RFA.



I came to Poland in a container truck holding nine people, one 26-year-old man said. We drove through the woods, and I was arrested at the border just inside Belarus, where I was kept in jail for one month and 16 days.



It was terrible over there. Our food was worse than dogs food, he said, also speaking on condition he not be named.



Released after his short stay in Belarus, the man said, he reestablished contact with the smugglers who had taken him there, and he then crossed the border into Poland where he was quickly arrested again.



'We are very worried'



Conditions in detention in Poland are fair, RFAs sources said, with detainees provided three meals a day and given access to telephones and the internet. As authorities in both countries work to send detainees home by the end of the year, though, Vietnamese migrants held in Poland fear for their future, the sources said.



I have been here for almost a year hoping to work, and now the Vietnamese police have come here to take us back to Vietnam, one man said.



We are very worried. We dont know what to do.



In some cases, Vietnamese officials sent to interview those being held have taken a threatening tone, warning them to tell the truth about the trafficking networks responsible for smuggling them in, another man said.



They warned us to tell the truth, saying that we would be sent back in any case.



However, they said that if we dont tell them what they want to know, we will face more difficulties when we return, he said.



Reported by Hoa Ai for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Richard Finney.




Hold onto your hats because more election madness is on the way.

France's presidential elections are shaping up as a battle between two candidates who want to mend ties with Russia.

And Angela Merkel will seek another term as Germany's chancellor as the country's domestic intelligence chief, Hans-Georg Maassen, says he is alarmed about potential interference from Moscow.

On this week's Power Vertical Briefing, we look at the Russia factor in Europe's upcoming elections.

Joining me is RFE/RL senior editor Steve Gutterman.

Also on The Briefing, Steve and I discuss the effect Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election is having on Russian domestic politics.

Enjoy...

NOTE: The Power Vertical Briefing is a short look ahead to the stories expected to make news in Russia in the coming week. It is hosted by Brian Whitmore, author of The Power Vertical blog, and appears on Mondays.
Kosovo's authorities have begun implementing a plan to phase out old vehicle license plates issued by Serbia by handing out warnings to owners -- a move seen as a softening of the government's initially hard-line stance on the matter following international pressure.

Drivers with old Serbian plates were issued first warnings at the Jarinje border crossing with Serbia on November 1 and were invited to report to the reregistration center in order to get new Kosovo plates.

Mladen Milojkovic from Leposavic, a Serb-majority municipality in the north of Kosovo, was among the first to receive a warning after entering Kosovo from Serbia at the Jarinje border crossing. He said he was confused and didn't know how to proceed.

"I have no clue [what to do], just like everyone else," Milojkovic told RFE/RL, but added that if he had to pay the fine, he would "do the same as others."

Another driver told RFE/RL he would not pay the 150-euro penalty if he was fined.

"I will go to prison for a day or two or three days -- as long as it takes. I won't pay. I definitely won't. I say that publicly in front of the cameras," said the man, who identified himself only as Tomislav, speaking in Leposavic.

Veroljub Petronic, a security expert from North Mitrovica, told RFE/RL that the issuing of warnings portended problems.



"The solution to this conflict has been protracted -- that is, a potential conflict that could happen is only being postponed," Petronic said. "Once the first fine is issued, we will have a problem. After the first vehicle is confiscated, we will have a problem too. The problem will only get worse."

Kosovo and Serbia fought a bloody war in the late 1990s, with Kosovo eventually declaring independence from Serbia in 2008.



Belgrade -- as well as Russia, China, and five EU member states -- has not recognized its former province's independence and accuses Pristina of suppressing the rights of minority Serbs, who account for 5 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million population, which is 90 percent Albanian.



Kosovo has attempted several times this year to require its Serbian minority to change their old car plates from before 1999, when Kosovo was still part of Serbia.



The attempts have been met with strong and sometimes violent resistance by ethnic Serbs who live in the northern part of the country. On July 31 and August 1, Serbs in the north set up barricades in protest.



Following a postponement, the last deadline was November 1, when around 10,000 owners had to switch their old car registrations.



But after Western warnings that such a move could raise tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, Prime Minister Albin Kurti on October 28 announced a watered-down, gradual phaseout.



Kurti said drivers would first be given warnings during an initial three-week period starting on November 1. That is to be followed by a two-month period when 150-euro ($149) fines will be issued. There will then be another two-month period during which temporary license plates will be valid.



If drivers do not change their plates by April 21, their vehicles will be confiscated, according to the government decree.



Furthermore, to stimulate drivers to get give up their Serbian plates, the government also announced that it will forfeit an additional customs tax for imported used vehicles whose owners switch to new Kosovo license plates.



In addition, they will also benefit from waivers of the license-plate costs and registration fees that altogether amount to 57 euros ($56).



Kurti announced the compromise plan a day after minority Serbs threated to again block roads if authorities in Pristina did not agree to delay implementation of the phaseout.



The European Union has told Kosovo and Serbia that they must normalize ties if they want to eventually join the 27-country bloc.



The EU and the United States recently have stepped up mediation efforts, fearing that uncertainties over the war in Ukraine and Serbia's close ties with Russia could lead to a flare-up of tensions in Kosovo.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers.

Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead.

Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority.

"He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it."

The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police.

In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar.

The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses.

Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound.

At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi.

The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

"He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla.

"We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them."

He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary.

The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried.

"We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces.

But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims.

The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed.

Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved.

He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes."

RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters.

"I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished."

The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces.

Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator."

During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings.

"We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website.

"Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added.

He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces."

"The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran.
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There were scenes of carnage at a Shi'ite mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives among a group of worshipers. Police officials said at least 27 people were killed. (RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan)
ATYRAU, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh prosecutors are seeking eight-year prison terms for two participants in a mass protest against the country's land reforms.

The prosecutors on November 21 asked the court in the western city of Atyrau to convict Maks Boqaev and Talghat Ayan of inciting social discord, spreading false information, and violation of the law on public gatherings.

The defendants, who went on trial on October 12, reject the charges, saying their case is politically motivated.

They were detained on April 24 in the center of Atyrau, where thousands of people had gathered to protest against a bill on land privatization and land leasing to foreigners.

The protests in Atyrau were followed by mass demonstrations across Kazakhstan for almost two weeks.

The protesters expressed concern that the bill would allow foreigners to own farmland in Kazakhstan.

Rights watchdogs have called on Kazakh authorities to release Boqaev and Ayan, saying they have a right to express their views publicly.
Thousands gathered in Kyiv to remember the Euromaidan protests of 2013 which eventually toppled Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych. Groups of rival demonstrators faced off in a series of minor scuffles on the streets, on the evening of November 21, and there were brief clashes with security forces. Many rallied on the capital's Independence Square, also known as Maidan, chanting: "revolution, revolution," and denouncing Russian intervention in Ukraine. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, natural sound)
U.S Ambassador James Warlick says he will step down on December 31 as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"I will be a partner in Russia's largest and most prestigious law firm," Warlick said on Twitter on November 21.

Warlick has worked for the U.S. State Department for more than 30 years.

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners said he will join the company's team in Washington in January.

"He will be responsible for working with U.S. and international clients, development of strategic client relationships, legislation, and public policy," a statement said.

Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years.

Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.

Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict have brought little progress.
5 A topless activist of the women's rights group Femen tries to break a segment of the Berlin Wall on display outside the German Embassy in Kyiv, during a protest against the EU visa regime for Ukrainian citizens on November 24. (Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is a "highly probability" that the world's oil producers will reach an agreement to cut production and boost flagging prices later this month.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers, including Russia, are meeting on November 30 in Vienna to finalize a deal to rein in production.

"We will do everything that our partners from OPEC are expecting," Putin said on November 20 after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. "To freeze crude production is not an issue for us."

"Main contradictions within OPEC if not yet eliminated, they can be eliminated," he added.

In September, OPEC members reached a preliminary deal to cut output, hoping to boost prices that have decreased by around 60 percent since mid-2014.

Russia, the world's biggest energy exporter, is struggling to pull out of recession after the slump in oil prices and international sanctions over its actions in Ukraine.

Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Bloomberg
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a criminal case against the country's former economic-development minister has no impact on privatization plans.

Aleksei Ulyukayev was arrested last week on charges of taking a $2 million bribe for facilitating state-owned oil giant Rosneft's takeover of another state-held oil company, Bashneft.

Such actions of law enforcers "only strengthen the business climate in Russia," Putin said on November 20 after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.

All should know that "the law will be applied to everyone equally," he added.

The "regrettable" detention of Ulyukayev "has not affected my attitude to government in general," Putin insisted, adding that he planned to move forward with the privatization of state assets.

Ulyukayev has overseen the massive privatization of state companies, capped by Bashneft's sale to Rosneft last month.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and Bloomberg
Two more suspected members of a Ukrainian "saboteur group" have been arrested in Russian-annexed Crimea, Russian law enforcement officials say.

A video of the two suspects' questioning was aired on the Rossia 1 television channel on November 20.

The report said suspects Oleksiy Stohnyy and Hlib Shablyy, both former officers of the Ukrainian armed forces, were arrested last week.

Russian news agencies quoted unnamed officials as saying that the two and three other suspected "saboteurs" arrested earlier were members of a single group.

On November 10, officials announced they had "detained three members of a sabotage-terrorist group from the main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry" in the city of Sevastopol.

Ukraines Defense Ministry called the claims "another fabrication of the Russian secret services aimed at justifying its own repressive measures against local residents and discredit Ukraine on the international arena."

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


Russia's Yuliya Zaripova has been stripped of the gold medal she won in the women's 3,000-metr steeplechase at the 2012 London Olympics.

he International Olympic Committee said on November 21 said Zaripova, 30, who tested positive for turinabol, was among 12 athletes disqualified from their events for failing retroactive anti-doping tests.

The others include two Russian silver medalists, the weightlifters Aleksandr Ivanov and Natalia Zabolotnaya.

Other sanctioned athletes were from Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.

The IOC is currently retesting more than 1,000 athlete samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, using new techniques.

Russia has been accused by a World Anti-Doping Agency report of running a "state sponsored" doping program.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP and DPA
On November 20, Denis Karagodin received a unique letter -- an expression of gratitude from the granddaughter of one of the three agents of Josef Stalins secret police who executed Karagodin's great-grandfather in the Siberian city of Tomsk on January 21, 1938.



The letter opened a conversation, Karagodin says, that Russia avoided having in the 1950s, when the Soviet Union underwent partial de-Stalinization, and again in the 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost, or openness.



"I havent slept for several days," the letter from the woman, identified publicly only as Yulya, reads. "I simply can't. I studied all the materials and documents on your website. I have thought everything over again and again, remembering what I could. My mind understands that I am not guilty for what happened. But I cannot convey in words the feelings that I am experiencing.

"Thank you for the enormous work you have done for the sake of these difficult truths," Yulya continues. "It gives us hope that society will finally come to its senses thanks to people like you. Thank you once again, and forgive me!"



Yulya's letter is the latest striking result in a remarkable story that began on the night of December 1, 1937, when Karagodin's great-grandfather, Stepan Karagodin, was arrested for the third time since the 1917 Bolshevik coup. He was never seen again.



Earlier this month, Denis Karagodin received another envelope in the mail, possibly even more remarkable. In answer to one of Karagodin's innumerable requests to the Federal Security Service (FSB), an archivist sent him a copy of the original document in which his great-grandfather's executioners reported to the court -- in the dry language of Soviet bureaucracy -- that its verdict "has been carried out."



The typewritten, stamped document featured the names and scrawled signatures of the three secret-police agents who took responsibility for shooting Stepan Karagodin.

The document clearly shows that Karagodin and six others were shot on January 21, 1938, by Nikolai Ivanovich Zyryanov, Sergei Timofeyevich Denisov, and Yekaterina Mikhailovna Noskova.



It was a "stunning" discovery, Denis Karagodin said.



"The historians and specialists I have spoken with cannot believe that I managed this," he told RFE/RL. "Some of them were simply in shock that such documents even exist and that you can access them. This might be the first time in the history of Russia that a citizen was given such a document."

'The Names Of The Murderers'



Karagodin has no idea why the document was not stamped "secret."

"Maybe the papers were so secret that it never even occurred to bother stamping them," he says. "Or maybe there was a 'secret' seal on a cover page or a folder."

In June, Karagodin told RFE/RL about his yearslong search to find out what happened to his great-grandfather and to learn the names of the people who murdered him.

"The state security services are doing everything they can to make this impossible," the 34-year-old designer said at the time.

Karagodin began his work in earnest in 2012, creating a website on which he painstakingly collected every document and every shred of evidence that he could find about the case. The result is a detailed account of the fate of Stepan Karagodin, a Cossack farmer and father of nine, who was executed on the trumped-up accusation that he was a Japanese spy.



With the stunning new document, Denis Karagodin says his investigation is complete. He says he has established a direct chain of responsibility from Stalin, to secret police head Nikolai Yezhov, to the local security officials in Tomsk, to the members of the tribunal who rubber-stamped the verdict, to the three executioners who pulled the trigger and, presumably, dumped Stepan Karagodin's body into a mass grave on the edge of the city.



Denis Karagodin, who lives in the same city where his grandfather was executed, has even identified the drivers who staffed the secret-police garage and drove the black vans that shuttled the condemned around Tomsk.



"Our investigation is concluded," Karagodin told RFE/RL. "That is the main thing. We found out what several generations of my family have wanted to know -- the names of the murderers. And we did it. Everyone contributed what they could. I began in 2012 and it ended on November 12, 2016."



But it isn't the end of Karagodin's story. He intends to seek to prosecute "the entire criminal conspiracy" that led to the death of his great-grandfather and the other six people named on the crucial document.

When people tell him that the authorities would never allow such a case to go forward, Karagodin has a simple answer.

"Have you ever tried?" he asks. "We have worked out several scenarios for a legal procedure. It would be simply criminal not to try to use this opportunity. Who else has managed to get this far? With such a document and such a mound of evidence? Can you think of anyone? I can't."



"Well try and even if it is unsuccessful. At least it will go down in history as an attempt," he says. "And a precedent can be a powerful thing."



'A Particular Hell'

In a broader sense, Karagodin believes his work is producing a much-needed discussion in a society that has long downplayed the communist state's crimes against its own people and has done little to hold perpetrators to account. He has received dozens of letters from people thanking him for his work or seeking advice on how they can find out more about the deaths of their own relatives.



"I give them advice, but it is really hard for me," Karagodin says. "It is really hard. Each story is a particular hell and you have to delve into it and talk about these events without, at the same time, escaping from the particular hell of the Russian bureaucracy."

The letter from Yulya, the granddaughter of one of Karagodin's great-grandfather's executioners, is a crucial part of the discussion Karagodin seeks to ignite.



"Nothing in our society will ever change if we do not know the entire truth," Yulya wrote. "And this is difficult now because once again the Stalinists have come to the fore, monuments to Stalin [are being erected]. I can't get it into my head that anyone could think of that."



Karagodin wrote back to Yulya immediately, thanking her for her "very sincere and penetrating letter."



"Live with a calm soul," Karagodin wrote to her, "and, most importantly, a clear conscience. Neither I nor any of my relatives or friends will ever accuse you of anything. You are a beautiful person -- I want you to know that. I am sincerely grateful to you. I am glad that now I know there is one more beautiful person in my life -- you."

Yulyas letter is a rare instance of a Russian coming to terms with an ancestor who committed crimes under Stalin. In October, blogger Vladimir Yakovlev wrote a heartfelt post about his grandfather, whom Yakovlev describes as "a murderer, a bloody executioner" among whose many victims were even some of his own relatives.



"My happiest childhood memories are connected with a spacious old apartment on Novokuznetskaya Street [in Moscow] that our family was very proud of," he wrote. "That apartment, as I learned later, was not purchased or built, but confiscated. It was taken by force from a merchant family."



"The couch on which I listened to fairy tales and the armchairs and the buffet and all the other furniture in the apartment -- none of it was purchased by my grandfather and grandmother," he wrote. "They just picked what they wanted from a special warehouse where the property taken from the apartments of executed Muscovites was stored."



Yakovlev writes movingly about the psychological wounds of Stalinism that fester in the present.



"When considering the scope of the tragedies of the Russian past, we usually count the dead," he wrote. "But in order to assess the scope of the influence of these tragedies on the psyches of future generations, we need to count, not the dead, but the survivors. The dead died. But the survivors became our parents and the parents of our parents.

"It took me years to understand the history of my family," he concludes. "But now I have a better idea of the origins of my deep-seated, unmotivated fear. Or my exaggerated secretiveness. Or my absolute inability to trust and to form close relations. Or the constant feeling of guilt that has haunted me since childhood."
Dozens of Turkish teachers in Pakistan bid an emotional farewell to their students as they prepared to leave the country. The Pakistani government has ordered the deportation of about 130 teachers at 28 campuses from PakTurk International Schools due to alleged ties to Fethullah Gulen. (RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal)
ON MY MIND

The results of the French center-right's presidential primary must be making Vladimir Putin smile. Former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who favors an end to sanctions and a rapprochement with Moscow, finished first. Fillon, who took more than 44 percent of the vote, is heavily favored to win a runoff against another former prime minister, Alain Juppe. And with the French left in disarray, what this means is that the second round of France's presidential election in May will probably be between Fillon and National Front leader Marine Le Pen, whose affinity for Vladimir Putin is well documented.

As far as elections in the West are concerned, Putin appears to be on a roll.

IN THE NEWS

Ukraine is marking the Day of Dignity and Freedom, a holiday commemorating the 2013 beginning of the Euromaidan protests that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a criminal case against the country's former economic-development minister has no impact on privatization plans.

Putin also says there is a "highly probability" that the world's oil producers will reach an agreement to cut production and boost flagging prices later this month.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has urged Russia to admit to state-sponsored doping in a bid to regain the trust of the sporting world.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Putin spoke briefly on November 20 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru about Syria and Ukraine, a White House official said.

Obama also says he wants to reach a negotiated peace settlement in Ukraine before he leaves office in January.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said a peace treaty with Russia is "coming into sight."

China and Russia will push for a free-trade area in the Asia-Pacific region.

Estonia's new prime minister comes from a party with ties to Russia.

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has praised Russia as a "great country" in his first meeting with Russian counterpart Putin.

THE LATEST POWER VERTICAL PODCAST

In case you missed it, the latest Power Vertical Podcast, Putin's Nationalist International, looks at Russia's exploitation of antiestablishment forces in the West.



THE NEW POWER VERTICAL BRIEFING

And this week's Power Vertical Briefing looks at France's upcoming presidential election, which is shaping up as a battle between two candidates who want a rapprochement with Moscow. The Briefing also looks at the effect Donald Trump's victory in the United States is having on Russian domestic politics.

WHAT I'M READING

Baltic Jitters

Paul D. Miller, a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., has a piece in Foreign Policy explaining how World War III could start In Latvia.

Veteran journalist Leonid Ragozin has a lengthy piece in Bloomberg about rising fears in the Baltic states that they will be less secure during Donald Trump's presidency.

In The New York Times, Andrew Higgins looks at how Trump's victory is being received by Estonia's ethnic Russians.

The Hand Of Moscow

In a column for Bloomberg, political commentator Leonid Bershidsky argues that Russia is wielding its influence in Europe by cutting deals with technocrats as much as it is by backing antiestablishment parties.

Indispensable Nation No More?

In The Financial Times, Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of the book The World America Made, argues that Trump's victory marks an end to the era when the United States shoulders the burden of global order.

Not So Fast

In a piece in The Washington Post, Josh Rogin argues that Republicans in the U.S. Congress may spoil Trump's hopes for a reset with Russia.

Crime And Punishment

In Intersection Magazine, Vladimir Rubashniy looks at the Russian penal system.

Ulyukayev And The 'Regime Liberals'

In his column for Republic.ru, political commentator Andrei Arkhangelsky looks at the effect Ulyukayev's arrest is having on so-called "regime liberals."

The Fall Of The House Of Romanov

In The New York Times, Serge Schmemann reviews Dominic Lieven's new book The End Of Tsarist Russia: The March To World War I And Revolution.
Thousands of Ukrainians marked the third anniversary of the beginning of mass protests that ultimately ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and prompted Russia to annex the Crimea Peninsula and back an insurgency in the east.

This years November 21 commemoration, known the Day of Dignity and Freedom, saw government officials, former protest participants, and ordinary citizens placing flowers at a monument to the "Heavenly Hundred" -- protesters who were killed in clashes with security forces.

Many rallied on Kyiv's Maidan square, chanting: "Revolution, Revolution," and denouncing Russian intervention in Ukraine. Elsewhere in the capital, a group of demonstrators smashed windows ad ransacked a branch of a Russian bank.

Minor scuffles in the evening as groups of rival demonstrators faced off on city streets and brief clashes with security forces were reported.

WATCH: Protesters Smash Up Russian Bank In Kyiv (natural sound)

In a speech, President Petro Poroshenko called on the nation to unite and stand against the Russian "threat," insisting that the former Soviet republic would never revert to its Moscow-dominated past.

"The Revolution of Dignity put an end to our Russian-Soviet past and the post-Soviet period," Poroshenko said. "It has separated our Ukrainian and European world from the Russian world."

Commemorations were being held in other cities as well.

The 2013 protests erupted in response to Yanukovych's announcement that the would spurn closer ties with European Union and would seek tighten economic relations with Russia.

Thousands of people turned the Maidan square into a vast semi-militarized encampment, amid often freezing temperatures. The demonstrations exploded into full-scale violence in February 2014 and culminated with the shooting deaths of scores of protesters and Yanukovych fleeing to Russia.

In the aftermath, Russia quickly moved to annex the Crimean Peninsula, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based, and nutured a conflict in eastern Ukraine that turned into outright war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists.

t least 9,600 people have been killed.

With reporting by AFP
A Jan. 18 execution date has been set for Ricky Javon Gray for the capital murders of two Richmond girls in 2006.

Richmond Circuit Judge Beverly Snukals set the date during a brief hearing Monday morning. Executions are conducted at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt and, unless the courts or Gov. Terry McAuliffe intervene, Gray will die by injection or electrocution.

Under Virginia law, Gray can choose between the two methods. If he does not choose, lethal injection is the default means of execution. The Virginia Department of Corrections has said it has enough of the three drugs required to carry out one execution.

Rob Lee of the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center, one of Grays lawyers, said Grays legal team is considering an appeal of Snukals action setting the date. He also suggested a clemency petition will be forwarded to the governor.

Much of the discussion at Mondays hearing between Lee, Snukals and a representative of the Virginia Attorney Generals Office centered on a grievance filed by Gray from death row.

The state, and ultimately Snukals, characterized it as a request to the Department of Corrections to suspend the execution, something the department is not empowered to do.

Lee, however, said Gray was explicitly asking for more information about the manufacturing of the chemicals and procedures to be used in a lethal injection so that Gray can make an informed choice about the way he would be executed.

In a letter to Snukals dated Friday, Lee wrote that he understood the Department of Corrections position was that the execution process was beyond its control. That caused concern and confusion because state law requires executions by injection be conducted in accordance with procedures developed by the department.

If carried out, Gray will die a little more than 11 years after a murder rampage that claimed seven lives in Richmond.

He was sentenced to die for the New Years Day 2006 slayings of sisters Ruby Harvey, 4, and Stella Harvey, 9. He also killed their parents, Bryan Harvey, 49, and Kathryn Harvey, 39, in their South Richmond home.

Gray, 39, and Ray Dandridge, 39, murdered seven people in Richmond in 2006. Dandridge was sentenced to life, Gray to death.

Gray and Dandridge also killed Ashley Baskerville, 21, who had been a lookout when Gray killed the Harveys; Baskervilles mother, Mary Tucker, 47; and stepfather Percyell Tucker, 55, in their Richmond home days after the two men killed the Harveys.

Grays most recent appeal was turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court last month, and the justices denied him a rehearing earlier this month.

Because of the reluctance of pharmaceutical manufacturers to make drugs used in lethal injections, many states  including Virginia  did not have enough on hand to conduct execution by injection.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed a law allowing the Department of Corrections to buy special-ordered drugs from compounding pharmacies rather than getting them directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The law took effect July 1 and allows the vendors identity to remain secret.

Compounding pharmacies are not subjected to the same approval process as larger manufacturers, leading to litigation and allegations about the drugs effectiveness and the possibility of a botched execution.

The Department of Corrections has said it now has enough chemicals to conduct one execution. Under Virginias protocol, a sedative is administered followed by a paralytic; the final drug stops the heart.

Last year, the Department of Corrections obtained three vials of pentobarbital from Texas to execute Alfredo Prieto, implicated in the deaths of nine people in two states and the last person executed in Virginia.

Virginia has carried out 111 executions since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. Only Texas, with 538, and Oklahoma, with 112, have carried out more.
The university notified Dr. Art Kellermann he won't continue as the health system's top administrator. The university gave him the option to resign, but it's unclear if he will do so.
A Henrico man has been charged with murder after an apparent domestic incident turned deadly early Monday.

Police and fire crews were called about 12:15 a.m. to a home in the 3900 block of Orion Court. There they found Katrina M. Banks, 35, shot to death, police said.

Authorities did not reveal the nature of the relationship between the two.

Alvin Eugene Banks, 45, has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, police said.

He is being held in the Henrico County Jail.
The Republican chairman of the House of Delegates elections committee has introduced a bill to tighten rules governing voter registration drives after multiple cases of potential fraud leading up to the presidential election.

Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania, prefiled a bill that would add stricter paperwork and reporting requirements for nongovernmental groups that canvass neighborhoods and events to register Virginians to vote.

Coles legislation, which will be considered when the legislature reconvenes in January, would require every individual employee or volunteer working with outside groups to register with the state and submit logs of their activity.

The state would assign each worker a unique identifying number and keep a record of each persons name and contact information. The bill would prevent voter registration groups from paying employees on a per-application basis, which some have speculated could create a financial incentive for phony applications.

Del. Hyland F. Buddy Fowler Jr., R-Hanover, prefiled the same bill.

The legislative proposals come as lawmakers continue to debate how to strike a balance between election integrity and an easy process for democratic participation. The policy battle has played out over the states voter ID law and Gov. Terry McAuliffes push to soften the states policy of felon disenfranchisement.

Several states have laws in place for certifying third-party volunteers and workers before allowing them to register others to vote, a process typically handled by local registrars offices.

Under existing Virginia law, groups are required to register only if collecting 25 or more voter registration applications, a provision the General Assembly passed in 2013. There is no registration requirement for individuals, but all representatives of a group must undergo training and sign a form swearing to follow the law.

The proposals come after people working with third-party groups in Alexandria and Harrisonburg submitted allegedly fraudulent voter applications using false identities, including some applications that used names of dead people.

Both cases involved employees of third-party groups. Charges have been filed in the Alexandria case. The other is under investigation.

In an email, Cole said the Alexandria and Harrisonburg cases brought the issue to light.

There have been concerns and complaints about third-party registration groups before, including the failure to properly complete forms and the failure to turn in forms, Cole said. This can cause people to think they have registered to vote when they may not be.

In 2012, a Republican operative was arrested for allegedly dumping completed voter registration applications in a trash bin behind a Harrisonburg store, but the charges were dropped.

At a pre-election committee hearing at the Capitol, several registrars raised concerns about third-party groups turning in applications after the states legal deadlines. After a would-be voter fills out and signs an application with a third-party group, the organization has 10 days to deliver the form to an official election office.

Some local election officials suggested at the hearing that the state should stop allowing third-party registration altogether.

Cole said he wants to see if problems can be fixed before considering a ban. He said some of these groups do perform a worthy public service.

Like anything else, there are just some bad apples that need to be addressed, he said.

Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of Alexandria-based voter outreach group New Virginia Majority, said her organization already has a tracking system in place. From a practical standpoint, Nguyen said, the legislation would not change much for her groups work.

I think at the end of the day, most organizations that do this want to get as many eligible citizens on the rolls as possible, Nguyen said.

With the focus on voter registration, Nguyen said she hopes lawmakers will consider a system to automatically register voters who conduct business at the Department of Motor Vehicles or other agencies, unless they opt out.

The man charged with fraud in the Alexandria case was working for New Virginia Majority, but the group said it severed ties with him after learning of the issue. Nguyen said New Virginia Majority pays its employees by the hour, not per application.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
The National Park Service and Appalachian Trail Conservancy announce that fire restrictions are in place along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail from U.S. 33 in Shenandoah National Park to the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia.

These fire restrictions include the NPS lands around McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs in Virginia. These restrictions are consistent with and incorporate existing fire bans already implemented by other land management agencies throughout the region. Due to exceptionally dry conditions, as well as the potential for extreme fire behavior, the restrictions listed below will be in effect until the southern portion of the trail receives sufficient precipitation.

Building, attending, maintaining or using an open fire anywhere on or along the Appalachian Trail is prohibited. This ban includes:

 All open-air fires.

 Fires built in grates, grills, rings or pits in campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and huts.

 The use of pressurized gas fuel camp stoves and backpacking stoves is allowed. Visit the Appalachian Trail Updates page at appalachiantrail.org/updates for restrictions of other types of stoves in specific areas.

 In many areas, smoking of any kind is prohibited. Visit appalachiantrail.org/updates for details about local restrictions.

These restrictions will better provide for public safety. The southern half of the A.T. and surrounding lands are significantly dry and the potential for wildland fires is high. Fire restrictions, which began Nov. 17, will remain in effect until conditions improve with significant rain or snow over time or when lifted by the responsible land management agency.

Up-to-date information can be found on ATCs Trail Updates page at www.appalachiantrail.org/trailupdates.

Submitted by Diana Christopulos
When a 24-year-old mentally ill man died in his Portsmouth jail cell last year under questionable circumstances, lawmakers and state officials turned to at least five agencies to ask how someone could waste away in plain sight.

As months passed without answers and the pressure to act increased, Del. Rob Bell, R-Charlottesville, sought a solution: a home for the questions that straddle the gray area between what a jail is required to do and, perhaps, what it should do.

I know a large number of deaths in jails involve people who had complex medical problems inside and would have had them outside, Bell said. But thats not going to be the case every time.

Criminal matters are simple, Bell said. Local police or sheriffs offices come in, investigate and, if needed, a prosecutor will press charges. But an influx of inmates with mental health and substance abuse challenges has stretched jails abilities to respond in increasingly complex cases.

The deaths of Jamycheal Mitchell in Hampton Roads Regional Jail in August 2015 and Henry Clay Stewart last August in the same facility  after filing emergency requests for medical help that went unanswered  have forced the issue of enhancing oversight into the spotlight.

But its a conversation no one seems prepared to have about authority no one seems eager to claim.

At the end of the day, someones got to own this, Bell said. Its too important.

The states board of corrections, a panel of citizens appointed by the governor to oversee local and regional jails, wrote Bell a letter last month saying it was not equipped for additional oversight responsibilities.

Theres a belief out there that weve been receiving these incident reports, and we have never, board Chairwoman Phyllis Randall said last month. Since Ive been on this board, weve never received them.

Bells proposal thus far has leaned toward awarding enhanced oversight to the board, a move supported vigorously and publicly by the Virginia Association of Regional Jails and the Virginia Sheriffs Association. But the seven current members of the nine-person panel say they are not comfortable with the added responsibility.

Before October, Randall was not even notified after a death or other significant incident occurred in a facility. Although she requested that she get the information, she said she would not know what to do with it.

This board has no staff. If I received a call at 2 a.m. about an incident that happened with a jail, I would have nowhere to go with that call, Randall said last month. We do not have staff authority, and so we want to be very careful walking down the road  where we are given more authority when we dont have the infrastructure to handle that.

Oversight gap

So far, 39 people incarcerated in local and regional jails have died in 2016, Virginia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lisa Kinney said.

Stewart, 60, died of a perforated ulcer Aug. 6 after he had begged for help on a written grievance denied by jail officials Aug. 4, despite reporting to guards that he had blacked out twice in less than 24 hours and could not hold down food or water.

A Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis conducted in September of data from two state agencies found that inmates died nearly nine times more often in custody at Hampton Roads Regional Jail than at other local or regional jails in Virginia during the past three years, the period for which data were available.

Since June 2013, 12 of the 6,716 inmates who have been locked up at the Portsmouth-based jail have died  a rate of 178.7 per 100,000. Statewide, 129 inmates had died in Virginia in the same time period  a rate of 20.4 per 100,000.

Virginias top watchdog  the Office of the State Inspector General  was presumed by many, including Bell, to have the authority to investigate jail deaths.

The office no longer receives autopsy reports for inmates who died in custody, and it does not investigate those cases or have the ability to do so, agency spokeswoman Julie Grimes said.

The gap between current oversight and whats needed demands attention, Bell said.

Some third party needs to review what happens when theres a jail death, he said. Its telling thats were just figuring out now how all of these things are regulated.

Both the board of corrections and the Office of the State Inspector General said they ultimately would accept the responsibility if state lawmakers decide they should have it. Grimes said the inspector generals office would need more resources if the state expands its authority.

William Otis Thrower Sr., an inmate at Hampton Roads Regional Jail, also died this year after having emergency appeals for medical help denied. Throwers family members learned of the denials when the administrative forms were tucked into his belongings that were returned to them after his death in March.

Inmates at the jail filed 1,196 grievances from May 1, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2016, according to results the jail provided in response to an open records request. Of those, 76  about 6.3 percent  were deemed substantiated, or valid, by jail workers.

Of those nearly 1,200 complaints, 278 were filed by inmates who said they needed access to medical attention more quickly. Jail workers deemed the complaints valid in about 10 percent of those cases.

Jails pass reviews

Officials have defended the jail, saying the facility is home to Hampton Roads most medically challenging local inmates.

Norfolk Sheriff Robert McCabe, who took over as the facilitys interim superintendent in September after the retirement of David Simons, has said in an interview that the kiosk-based system used by jail workers to process medical requests was not effective.

The jail received a 100 percent rating on the annual life, health and safety reviews of jails conducted by Department of Corrections staff at the boards direction in May 2015, the month Mitchell was admitted. He was charged with stealing $5 in snacks from a 7-Eleven store but died before his case went to trial.

About 40 percent of all jail inmates had not had their day in court during the latest annual snapshot that jails provided of their populations to the state, based on June data.

Currently, two employees of the state Department of Corrections are charged with conducting annual life, health and safety reviews of jails. A more extensive audit is conducted every three years. Many facilities also invite scrutiny from such professional organizations as the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

The annual review performed by Department of Corrections employees centers on standards tightened and expanded after scrutiny of jail conditions by the state legislature more than 20 years ago.

Lawmakers in 1994 directed the states Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to evaluate jail oversight. The research concluded then that the process needed strengthening and that its effectiveness (was) questionable.

The current checklist of compliance with 43 listed regulations spans everything from proof of timely fire inspections and pest control to documentation of a suicide prevention and intervention plan.

A Richmond Times-Dispatch review of the most recent life, health and safety inspection of all facilities provided by the state Department of Corrections in response to a Freedom of Information Act request found an average of less than one strike per facility.

Frequently cited out-of-compliance issues were related to annual fire inspections, an absence of appropriate documentation for various annual training, or proof that inmate kitchen workers had been physically examined for medical issues every few months.

Randall, a mental health therapist who works with inmates who struggle with substance abuse, said in an interview that the review does its job but has limitations.

Those responses give us the facts but not necessarily the nuance, she said. Its like saying, I ate today, but doesnt say if Im full or if what I ate was nutritious.

The board of corrections may vote to decertify a facility based on audit and inspection findings and failure to implement corrective action plans. As a consequence, the facility may face loss of funding, reconstitution of leadership, closure of programs, and cancellation of contractual agreements under state administrative code.

The state Department of Corrections does not track the number of facilities the board has voted to decertify, Kinney said.

The board of corrections has been short two members since the summer. On Wednesday, it did not have enough members present to conduct business.

Instead, the five board members in attendance discussed the health of their children, a recent hunting trip, and the merits of Cobblestone brand 12-grain bread.
RICHMOND  Virginia Del. Rob Bell unexpectedly ended his campaign for attorney general Monday with an announcement that leaves Republicans with two candidates for the office who have little statewide name recognition.

Bell, R-Charlottesville, was the only elected GOP officeholder in the field seeking to take on Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring next year.

In a statement, Bell said his duties as a father to two young children, one of whom has special needs, outweighed his ambitions for higher office.

This school year has brought significant new challenges that require my personal and immediate attention, Bell said. Despite my best efforts, it has become clear to me that I cant possibly fulfill my responsibilities as a father while making a statewide run.

A 49-year-old lawyer and former prosecutor, Bell has served in the House of Delegates since 2002 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for attorney general in 2013.

Bells departure leaves Richmond-area attorney John Adams and Virginia Beach attorney Chuck Smith as the two remaining GOP candidates for attorney general. Adams, a former federal prosecutor, is perhaps best positioned to benefit from Bells departure, having raised $408,089 this year compared with just $4,367 for Smith, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2010 against Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott, D-3rd.

The shakeup could draw more Republican candidates into the race. State Sen. Bill Stanley , R-Franklin, confirmed Monday that hes considering a run.

Rob is a great man, father and delegate, and is a hard candidate to replace, Stanley said in a text message.

Adams released a statement praising Bell as a tenacious and relentless fighter and said he would seek Bells advice in his own campaign.

Bell said he will run for re-election to his House seat but intends to return donations made to his attorney general campaign.

I look forward to continuing my work in the House of Delegates and spending Thanksgiving with my family, Bell said.

Herring announced last year that he would seek re-election to his current office in 2017 rather than run for governor.

Republicans will choose their nominees for statewide offices in a June primary. The 100-member House is also up for re-election next year.
The culprit Santhosh was arrested on Tuesday night. He had molested a lady doctor a week ago while she was on her morning walk.
AN EVENING walk to raise awareness about womens safety issues will include a tribute to a road crash victim.

Rotherhams second Reclaim the Night event will remember Hasina Idris Mohamed (52), who was knocked down and killed in August.

Organisers are also appealing for nominations of women who are community angels to acknowledge the contribution made to their communities.

The walk around Rotherham town centre on Friday (25) will begin at the town hall from 6pm, returning at about 7.30pm for soup and speeches.

A workshop will be held at the town hall from 5.30pm to 7pm on Tuesday to make lanterns to carry on the walk.

Cllr Emma Hoddinott, one of the organisers, said: Reclaim the Night is an opportunity to gather alongside other women to raise issues about womens safety.

It will be one of many Reclaim the Night events happening all over the world and this year will include a memorial to Hasina Idris Mohamed, who was killed near Clifton Park.

We are also collaborating with the Festival of Angels, so we are seeking your nominations for women who are community angels.

We would like to recognise as many as possible on the night and beyond.

Email nominations to rotherhamangels@outlook.com.
IT MAY not seem like much, but a little box containing a few toiletries, a pair of gloves and a little gift could make a childs Christmas.



The annual Operation Christmas Child appeal is up and running and as much need of donations as ever.



Co-ordinator Hazel Adebogun and her team are appealing for kind-hearted Rotherham residents to fill a shoebox with little presents and hand them in over the next week or so.



The boxes will be flown out to Eastern Europe, Syria and Africa.



Hazel said: These little gifts are sometimes the only gifts these children have ever received and are so special to them.



People happy to help out are asked to decorate a shoebox and place inside a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a face cloth together with paper and pencils, a packet of sweets something to keep a child a bit warmer  such as a hat and gloves  and anything else they can fit in and drop it off at collection points borough-wide.



This year, donations can be left at Asda in Aldwarke, Tesco Extra and Shoezone in the town centre, Liberty Church in Station Road, Masbrough, and Talbot Lane Methodist Church opposite the Town Hall.



The processing centre where all the boxes are checked and packed is at Talbot Lane Methodist Church and will be open until Thursday, December 1, from 10am to 4pm, for people to go along and help out or simply see the operation in action.



Previous years have seen up to 3,000 shoeboxes collected.



For more information, visit the Operation Christmas Child UK website or call Hazel on 01709 367516 or Maureen Pearson on 01709 612161.
DOZENS of homes have been left without power as torrential rain and thunderstorms hit Rotherham.

Northern Powergrid said 56 customers were without power in the Kimberworth area as of 5pm on Monday.

A spokesman said engineers hope to have power restored by 7.30pm.

There are also reports of flooding on Aldwarke Lane, near The Station hotel.
Angola had for the past few years been conducting a geological survey as part of the National Geology Plan (Planageo).

The programme was initially slated to complete by the end of 2015, but the geological institute of Angola general director Mankenda Ambroise told Rough & Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that the gathering of data was now due end of the year.

He, however, said the interpretation of the gathered data would be done next year.

Core work on Planageo includes geophysical, geochemical and geological surveys, geological mapping at a 1: 250,000 scale and metallic minerals at a 1: 100,000 scale as well as mineral studies to support construction on the scale of 1: 50,000.

Angola, through Planageo, would have a better knowledge of the countrys geology and mineral resources.

Ambroise said that this would strengthen their position when negotiating contracts with mining companies.

Angola was of the view that the data collected would allow public and private companies to select the most promising targets for implementation of mining projects as well as make it easier to locate deposits.

Apart from diamonds, Angola had iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, tin, nickel and cobalt deposits.

It also has lithium, niobium, tantalum, gold, silver and platinum.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

You were Angolas Geology and Mining permanent secretary and now the general director of the geological institute of Angola. Can you shed some light on the countrys geological survey?

We aim to study the whole country in terms of geology, geochemistry and geophysics to provide the information or data that we need in the country. You cannot even invest in the country without knowing any geological information. So, thats what we are doing now.

So how far have you gone with this programme?

We have already two years into the programme and () we hope to finish the studies by end of 2016 and then start the interpretation of the data in 2017. Surveying is not any easy task. We believe that by the end of 2017 we will not have total information, but acceptable and credible information.

What is the aim of this geological survey?

The target is to have knowledge of the geological and mineral resource of the country and then help attract investors. It will also give power to the country to negotiate with potential investors unlike in the past when we didnt have knowledge of the mineral resource getting into a contract with mining companies.

Are diamonds mainly at the back of your minds as you conduct the survey or you are looking at all minerals available in the country?

It is not only for diamonds only, but for the whole minerals. Diamonds were the best in the past, but not now going onwards.

So, in other words you seem to be saying that Angola wants to diversify away from diamonds?

No! We dont want to, but we have already started diversifying away from diamonds.

How far have you gone with this diversification programme?

Copper mining has already started, while iron and phosphate mining will start soon. We have already finished studies of these minerals and so what it means is that diamonds will not be considered alone in terms of statistics of mineral production in the country. So we are going on.

Do you have any knowledge on the new Luaxe kimberlite discovered in Angola?

You will get adequate information on that from Endiama.

But as government are you excited about this new discovery?

Yes, and the new kimberlite will double the annual output from the current 8 million carats to between 16 million and 20 million carats in the next five years.

When is it coming on stream?

It will start production next year.

Who owns the project?

The partners are Catoca and Endiama. You know Endiama is the main company that explores and exploits diamonds in the country, so you cannot do business in diamonds without Endiama being part of it. Endiama also has a stake in Catoca.

Have you seen an increased demand from foreign companies willing to invest in non-diamond mining?

Yes, lots of applications for all minerals, there is a big queue of people applying because they know that if they waste time they will lose.

How quick are you in processing the applications?

Normally we take 45 days depending on how you organise your [papers].

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Zijn Platinum appoints former SA finance minister as deputy chair Nkwe Platinum and South Africa Zijin Platinum, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Zijin Mining, have appointed former South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni as a non-executive director and deputy chairperson of South Africa Zijin Platinum.

Saudi Arabia seeks support from Australian miners to diversify its oil-dependent economy Saudi Arabia is seeking support from Australian miners to support its $170 bn plan to build a mining industry, and diversify its oil-dependent economy this decade. Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef is in...

WGC: Global gold demand up 28% y-o-y in Q3 The World Gold Councils latest Gold Demand Trends report reveals that gold demand (excluding OTC) in the third quarter of 2022 hit 1,181 tonnes, up 28% year-on-year. Strong demand pushed the year-to-date total to its pre-COVID levels. Gold...

Karo Mining to raise $50m to develop Zim platinum project Tharisa, the platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome co-producer, says its subsidiary Karo Mining has opened a fixed income note offer to raise $50 million to be listed by way of introduction on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX)...
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia), which is wholly-owned by the Namibian government, recently sold diamonds worth about N$2,1 billion ($147 million) to unnamed companies in Dubai, according to news reports.

Namdia distributes up to 15 percent of Namdeb Holdings total production following a sales agreement inked between Windhoek and De Beers last May.

Company board chairperson Shakespeare Masiza said they sold the diamonds to Dubai companies because most major diamond industry leaders or companies were based in Dubai.

Dubai has emerged as one of the most prominent global diamond trading hubs. As such, the focus of the rough diamond industry has moved from Belgium to Dubai, he was quoted as saying by the Namibian newspaper.

In fact, Dubai is the chair of the Kimberly Process certification this year and has the best infrastructure for the diamond industry to work from.

However, The Namibian cited unnamed sources as saying that the decision by Namdia to sell diamonds to Dubai had riled local diamond manufacturing companies who are now being forced to buy Namdia diamonds from Dubai.

However, Masiza said the southern African country was also selling its gems in the capital, Windhoek apart from Dubai.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Port of Montreal

Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau celebrated the debut of a new container terminal in the Viau sector in Montreal, Quebec, Nov. 18.

The new container terminal will boost the Port of Montreals (PoM) handling capacity by 450,000 TEUsa 20-foot equivalent unit. The new terminal is expected to bring the total handling capacity in the Viau sector to 600,000 TEUs, raising the PoMs total handling capacity to 2.1 million TEUs.

The government of Canada recognizes that port infrastructure plays a key role in supporting economic growth, Garneau said on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. In addition to making the Port of Montreal considerably more competitive, productive and effective, this project will also help support economic growth for Canadians in the years to come.

Representatives say the new terminals construction aligns with a broader port capacity optimization project covering three key areas: the terminals container-handling capacity, marine access and road access. The PoM must be active on all three fronts to facilitate the balance needed between maintaining traffic and enabling activities to continue running smoothly, representatives say.

The PoM is currently the second-largest container port in Canada and

is the only container-handling port in Quebec and Ontario. One in four shipping containers handled in Canada passes through the trading hub.

Officials say the PoM is the most direct intermodal link between North America and the markets of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Canadian government says it is committing one third of the funding for all three project componentsup to CA$43,666,667, (US$ 32,530,379.62) under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. Representatives say CA$27.2 million (US$20,263,198.14) of the funding is available to finance the new terminal. The remaining funds will be allocated to the projects other components.

The new Viau terminal will have a considerable impact! Ultimately, it will increase the Port of Montreals handling capacity by 2.1 million TEUs and generate significant benefits for the region, province and country as whole with annual spinoffs of $340 million and the creation of 2,500 direct and indirect jobs, said Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority. The success of this project is the result of a significant collaboration between public and private organizations, including Termont Montreal Inc. and Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. Moreover, the work was carried out with concern for communities and the environment. There is much to be proud of.
Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 496.174 billion yen in October, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday - up 373.5 percent from a year earlier.

The headline figure was shy of expectations for a surplus of 610.0 billion following the downwardly revised 497.6 billion yen deficit in September (originally 498.3 billion).

Exports were down 10.3 percent on year to 5.869 trillion yen, missing forecasts for a fall of 8.5 percent following the 6.9 percent decline in the previous month.

Exports to all of Asia fell 9.9 percent on year to 3.122 trillion yen, while exports to China alone slid 9.2 percent to 1.074 trillion yen.

Exports to the United States skidded an annual 11.2 percent to 1.197 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union slid 9.5 percent to 650.488 billion yen.

Imports sank an annual 16.5 percent to 5.373 trillion yen versus expectations for a decline of 16.1 percent after sliding 16.3 percent a month earlier.

Imports from the rest of Asia dropped 17.4 percent on year to 2.731 trillion yen, while imports from China alone slid 17.9 percent to 1.4156 trillion yen.

Imports from the United States fell 9.9 percent to 616.819 billion yen, while imports from the European Union dropped 12.0 percent to 674.885 billion yen.

The adjusted trade surplus was 474.3 billion yen, topping expectations for 404.3 billion yen and up from 358.5 billion yen in September.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Symantec Corp. (SYMC) announced that it has agreed to buy LifeLock, Inc. (LOCK) for $24 per share or $2.3 billion in enterprise value. The deal, which was approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2017.

Symantec expects to finance the transaction with cash on the balance sheet and $750 million of new debt. Symantec expects the transaction to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal year 2019.

Symantec expects the transaction to have no impact to its quarter ending December 30, 2016 and also to its fiscal year 2017 financial results.

Symantec said its acquisition of LifeLock will create the world's largest consumer security with over $2.3 billion in annual revenue based on last fiscal year revenues for both companies.

By offering each of the company's respective customer bases a broader digital safety solution, Symantec expects to achieve additional revenue upside through higher ASPs and improved retention rates.

Further, Symantec's board increased its share repurchase authorization from approximately $800 million to $1.3 billion, with up to $500 million in repurchases targeted by the end of fiscal 2017.

Looking ahead, the company is reaffirming its prior fiscal year 2017 financial guidance at this time: non-GAAP revenue of $4.040 - $4.120 billion; non-GAAP operating margin of 27-29%; and non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.12-$1.18.

The company is also reaffirming its prior fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP earnings per share guidance of $1.70-$1.80.

Citi and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC are serving as co-lead financial advisors to Symantec's Board of Directors.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Following the highly contentious presidential campaign, the results of a new Gallup poll show that a record high percentage of Americans believes the nation is divided.

The poll found that 77 percent of Americans think the nation is divided on the most important values, while 21 percent believe the country is united and in agreement.

The percentage of Americans that believes the nation is divided topped the previous high of 69 percent set in 2012.

Gallup noted that apart from two surveys conducted shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the public has tended to perceive the nation as being more divided than united over the past twenty-plus years.

While all major subgroups of Americans agree the nation is divided, Republicans are somewhat less likely to believe this than independents and Democrats.

The poll also found that Americans are split on whether President-elect Donald Trump will do more to unite the country or do more to divide it.

Forty-nine percent of Americans believe Trump will do more to divide the country, while 45 percent think he will do more to unite it.

Gallup said Americans are less optimistic about Trump bringing the country together than they were about President George W. Bush and Barack Obama after previous elections.

"Trump prepares to take office as a record number of Americans perceive the nation as divided and less than half believe his actions will help unite the country," said Gallup Poll managing editor Jeffrey M. Jones.

He added, "Those perceptions may reflect his blunt speaking manner and sometimes divisive campaign rhetoric, though he did call for Americans to come together in his victory speech."

The Gallup survey of 1,019 adults was conducted November 9th through 13th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Senator Rand Paul, R-Ken., had some harsh words for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and suggested they may have trouble getting confirmed if nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for Secretary of State.

In an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Paul suggested that Giuliani and Bolton are "out there on the extreme" regarding foreign policy.

"I don't think they're very diplomatic," Paul said. "And I think you want the chief diplomat to be diplomatic."

He added, "I have said before Bolton might be better as a secretary of war, but he's certainly not a diplomat or someone who acts in a diplomatic way or thinks that diplomacy might be an alternative to war."

Paul took particular issue with Giuliani and Bolton for continuing to support the Iraq war and advocating for regime change in Iran.

The libertarian-leaning Senator noted that Giuliani and Bolton are not guaranteed to get any Democratic support and could also see some Republicans voting against them if nominated.

Paul suggested that former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who is also reportedly being considered for Secretary of State, would be a more "reasonable" and "even keel" nominee.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line both won big in the country category at this year's American Music Awards. The former took home the award for Favorite Country Song for his tune "Humble and Kind" while the latter took home the award for Best Country Duo or Group.

McGraw thanked the song's writer Lori McKenna "for writing down this beautiful prayer for her children;" his daughters, "who are an inspiration to me every day."

"And all you fans out there who love music . . ." McGraw concluded. "It's a privilege for us to be a part of your lives and part of your memories."

FGL thanked theirs fans as well, adding:

"This is extra special; I swear, this is icing on the cake for us . . . This is super humbling," Brian Kelley said from stage, before thanking the duo's fans ("You guys are everything to us") and his and Tyler Hubbard's wives. Hubbard added in thanks to "the Lord and our Savior, for letting us do what we love. We never, ever wanna take it for granted."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Entertainment News
By SA Commercial Prop News

Accra World Trade Centre, A-grade15-storey office block with a five-storey retail component



Ghanas real estate investment is drawing millions of dollars into the Ghanaian economy, thereby filling in the infrastructure deficit and providing better prospects for growth.

Supply keeps pace with demands of a burgeoning white collar work force.

As Ghanas economic growth continues at break-neck speed  fuelled by surging output in the mining and nascent upstream oil industries  the outlook for the office market in Accra is looking extremely bright, according to property management group Brolls Q2 Office Barometer for Ghana.

Over the past decade, a rise in foreign investment and an expanded white collar workforce has led to a significant increase in the supply of new office space in Accra. Net rentals vary between US$6 and US$36 per m per month, while tenant service charges range from 10% to 20% of going rates. Lengths of leases run between two and three years.



Office nodes

The effect of increased traffic congestion in the CBD of Accra is compelling many companies to relocate to its periphery, in areas such as West Ridge and Airport, Spintex Road and Adabraka.



CBD

The CBD, covering the Accra Central, Tudu and High Street areas, is home to most financial institutions, large department stores and corporate head offices.



West Ridge

West Ridge, once the first choice of residential area, has metamorphosed into a commercial node. It is now a hub of office properties and the financial district that has come to be known as the Wall Street of Accra. Along the major roads  Independence Avenue especially  several notable developments and refurbishments of mid- to high-rise office space are under way or have recently been completed.



Airport City

Airport City is a prime mixed-use area with a variety of high-rise buildings and a high occupancy rate. It is strategically positioned with easy access to Accra, the CBD and Tema, and is likely to be a target area for the relocation of many businesses. The most recently completed high-rise building is Phase II of Manet Towers, with new buildings coming online including Icon House, One Airport Square and SSNIT Emporium.



Spintex Road

Spintex Road was previously zoned as industrial, but has evolved into a mixed-use area offering residential, industrial and commercial buildings. Its upgrade has spurred the development of commercial properties.



Adabraka

Adabraka was originally a residential suburb, but is now a mixed-use area offering mainly offices and retail developments.



Looking ahead

According to all available data, the outlook is extremely positive with more than 150 000 m office space coming online in Accra in the next 30 months.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Michelle Dickens: MD at TPN Credit Bureau



As the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) continues to change the nature of lease agreements in South Africas real-estate rental market, commercial property landlords need to keep abreast of the interpretation of the Act.

The CPA is a fair legislative attempt by government to protect the rights of the consumer, says Michelle Dickens Managing Director at TPN Credit Bureau, South Africas only specialist property credit bureau. However, because the CPA is a broad piece of legislation regulating all consumer transactions there have been some unintended consequences for certain industries.

The rental property industry might feel they have a strong argument for an exemption from certain sections of the CPA or for specific regulations for the property industry. However in the absence of such an exemption, commercial property landlords should make certain they understand when and to what extent the CPA applies to their tenant.

Essentially all property landlords who enter into leases with natural persons and sole proprietors face having to comply with the CPA which includes section 14 of the Act. Essentially this provides a gap for tenants to cancel the lease agreement with only 20 business days notice. Commercial property landlords might elect to protect themselves by only selecting tenants who are juristic persons. But this discrimination itself could be a breach of the CPA. The CPA also has applicability to juristic persons acting as tenants with a turnover and asset value that is less than R2 million. This places an onus on the landlord to identify who the tenant is as well as the turnover or asset value of the tenant  a tenant disclosure should be a mandatory document in the arsenal of all landlords lease packs.

Dickens adds, One of the bigger risks facing commercial property owners is the upfront tenant installation disbursement provided to new commercial tenants moving into the premises. Should the tenant elect to cancel the lease by relying on the CPAs 20 business days early cancellation provision, a well drafted lease agreement which identifies which tenants are eligible and a clearly worded penalty clause might go a long way to recoup the landlords damages.

Fullard Mayer Morrison Inc., a commercial law firm has partnered with TPN Credit Bureau in creating a Commercial Lease Pack. The aim was to produce quality, legal documents that will withstand scrutiny and may be used by both landlords and letting agents with confidence  and not solely within the context of the Consumer Protection Act.

A particularly useful feature of the suite is that the clauses in the standard commercial lease mirror those of the Consumer Protection Act version (adjusted for the requirements of the Act). This makes it easier because a portfolio manager does not have to get to grips with two entirely different leases.

Legal expert William Fullard, Director at Fullard Mayer Morrison attorneys says, A solid commercial lease agreement should embrace all of the aspects included in TPNs Commercial Lease Pack: a tenant disclosure form; a comprehensive standard commercial lease agreement; a Consumer Protection Act version of that commercial lease agreement; a tenant resolution; and a number of addendums catering for commonly negotiated variants to the standard lease terms.
By SA Commercial Prop News

The argument for healthcare Reits continues to grow. There is a gap for hospital services in SA and property investors can benefit from this, said Ortneil Kutama, SA Commercial Prop News Media Director.



With growing interest in real estate investment trusts (Reits) and a desire for strong returns, it is time to consider listing a healthcare Reit, advises Ortneil Kutama, SA Commercial Prop News Media Director.

Healthcare REITs own and operate properties including hospitals, senior housing facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and other medical office buildings.

The argument for healthcare Reits continues to grow. There is a gap for hospital services in SA and property investors can benefit from this, says Kutama.

In more mature Reit markets, specialised funds are far more abundant. In the US and Netherlands, healthcare Reits are often popular investments.

In SA more hospitals need to be built and current hospitals need to be upgraded. There is a shortage of doctors in the country too.

There are also benefits in investing in these healthcare assets designed to prolong life, Kutama added.

One of the countrys foremost black owned healthcare groups Busamed, this week announced the opening of the world class Modderfontein Private Hospital & Oncology Centre on the footprint of Zendai Developments Modderfontein New City.

The 170 bed hospital boasts of impressive facilities including the most modern medical equipment.

Some fund managers have in the past tried to list a healthcare Reit in SA but struggled to find the scale of assets required to do so. Yet many small funds have listed on the JSE and NSE in the recent past with market capitalisations of around R1bn to R3bn.

Reits have to pay out the majority of their income as dividends and this would have to be the same with healthcare groups.

Healthcare Reits could include retirement or wellness centre assets. South Africas retirement industry needs to professionalised. This can become easier to achieve if the retirement homes and villages are brought into a listed vehicle.

Reits attract investment funds because of the tax benefits attached. Investors in Reits like them because they guarantee dividend payments. Specialised funds can be attractive because they are focused in their niches but they need scale.

Already residential specialised Reits such as Indluplace Properties and self storage property fund, Stor-Age Property REIT Limited have come to the market. Spear Reit, a fund whose specialisation is owning property in the Western Cape also listed recently.

Investors often promote specialised funds because they like it when management of these funds understand their markets well. There could be the possibility that a large hospital owner like Netcare or Life Healthcare could sell hospitals to a property manager which ran a healthcare Reit. The Reit would then lease them back. The sale of the assets would be in order to get cash in a difficult and weak economy.

Fund managers would want specialised property companies to be worth a few billion when they listed. There are probably too many funds with market capitalisations under the R3bn mark on the JSE, says Evan Robins the head of Old Mutual Investment Groups boutique portfolio.

Hospitals also require much operational attention. Beyond having enough beds for patients and the moving around of patients for operations, there is often a shortage of doctors. Hospitals also need to be cleaner than they currently are in SA and that requires lots of staff being available regularly.

Reit managers would outsource hospital management but some investors may feel that Reit managers could put money into hospital assets to make them function more efficiently.

But in the US, the scale is clearly there. Various healthcare Reits have been very successful this year in what is the largest Reit market in the world. They argue that people should invest in assets related to promoting and prolonging everyday life. To invest in a Reit which has assets that have to be well kept in order to keep people healthy is an even more attractive endeavour.

One such fund is Ventas Inc (NYSE: VTR) which operates in the US, Canada and even the UK.
A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border

What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the
New county jail halfway through construction

Construction is at its halfway mark at the new county jail. The Saline County Commission toured the site Tuesday.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Civil Society Support Programme, Vaitoa Toelupe, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of utensil before the Supreme Court yesterday.

The C.E.O. appeared before Justice Vui Clarence Nelson during criminal mention.

Lawyer Alex Sua represented Toelupe and another co-defendant identified as Hitler Nauer.

Lucy Sio and Iliganoa Atoa are the prosecutors for the National Prosecution Office.

Mr. Nauer was not in Court yesterday but Mr. Sua informed Justice Vui that the co-defendant entered a not guilty plea to the same charge. Justice Vui then issued a warrant of arrest for Nauers failure to appear in Court.

He then adjourned the matter for hearing on 26th June 2017.

Toelupe is on bail on conditions to sign at the Apia police station every Friday.

His traveling documents have also been surrendered.

The charge arose from a Police operation at one of the hotels in Apia this year where the defendants were allegedly found with drug-related utensils.
The tiny island Namua lies just off the coast of the most South Eastern point of Upolu island, Mutiatele. Since 1999, the island has become a destination for many visitors looking for total relaxation and peace.

Salaevalu and her husband Levasa Ieti run an accommodation in the traditional Samoan way.

Fifteen Beach fales are opened for the public and invites both, Samoans and foreigners to a true island escape. The name Namua means ancient, yet the name of the island is only a shortcut from Anamua.

Ana is the cave and mua young. Villagers nearby also like to call it Turtle Island, as its shape is similar to the silhouette of a turtle and a few of them live in the ocean surrounding the island.

Namua is only a five-minute boat ride away from Mutiatele, but once you arrive on the island, Upolu seems light years away.

It is not a big place, Salaevalu says.

We started with five fales and now we have 15 altogether. And I think it is a lot, because this is such a small area. This is the flattest area we have on the whole island. Most of it is dominated by steepness.

There is no electricity, so light is only provided by oil lamps lit at night. The $120 rate per night also covers the boat ride, dinner and breakfast. The food is simple local style, but delicious.

The island belonged to the Tuisila family. Salaevalus father was their second title holder. When Samoa was a German colony, the Tuisilas borrowed some money from the government and another family. After New Zealands take over and Samoa gaining its independence, the island was still not back in the family. My fathers uncle tried to see if there was any way the government could release the island back to our family. But they could not.

So, my father took the title and he even wrote to the government. They finally gave us a chance to bring the island back to our family. When my father passed, my brothers, sister and my mother referred the lease under my name and I took it with pride. It was their own will and I took it as a gift, that is how I see it. The people keep this island precious.

Some couples from overseas even come to the tropical island to get married.

Salaevalu tells the Samoa Observer that visitor numbers are only rising slowly. Sometimes especially on the weekend the fales are full but often there are only small groups of six people on the island. I used to say that 95% of the Samoan people did not know about the island.

Most people visit from Australia or New Zealand. Visitors enjoy the tropical surroundings, the beautiful beach and calming silence on Namua.

If I compare Samoa to Fiji and Tonga, we do not have many small islands. But it is a good thing, because we treasure every one of them. Salaevalu is keen on improving the experience at her beach fale accommodation.

I would like to build a nice fale restaurant. I see that Namua has got potential. There is so much to do. I mean, with the water, I have got this 300 acres of big playground area in front of me. So, that is what I am going to do. I think I will ask one of the banks for help and then upgrade this place.

Namua is paradise. A few people especially Chinese have come to the island with a big interest in investing.

They might have money but at the same time they want to ruin the place. My father always told me to watch the nature, the birds. Now, the native pigeons are coming back and just recently we found out that the turtles are starting to get on land and lay their eggs. Salaevalu loves her very own private island and she enjoys giving visitors an unforgettable Samoan experience. She is proud of its achievements and will keep on taking care of the nature while also welcoming guests with open arms and remembering her familys pride.

I still believe Namua is in the family. 
The spirit of Christmas filled the air at Yazaki Samoa Eds at Vaitele yesterday. That was the case when the company launched its Christmas tree with a special assembly where songs, skits, dances and Christmas cheer was spread.

General Manager, Funefeai Oliva Vaai, said the event is an occasion the staff members look forward to on an annual basis.

We usually do this in December but this year we are having it a bit earlier because we know this is the last one for all the employees in Yazaki Samoa, he said.

Everyone deserves to experience the joy of the Festive Season.

From all of us from Yazaki Samoa , merry Christmas and Joyous New Year Samoa.

Yazaki Samoa, the countrys biggest private employer, is shutting shop next year. It means more than 700 workers will be jobless when it happens.
Focusing on creative and critical writing was the focus of a one-day workshop led by Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh, from the University of Auckland yesterday.

The participants ranged in age and experience from emerging writers such as Ariel Ioane, Sosefina Sooaemalelagi, Alesana Eteuati and Derek Fruean through to experienced poets and established writers including Jackie Faasisila and Diana Betham-Scanlan.

Co-ordinated by Silafau Professor Sina Vaai, the workshop was held in the Aoa Conference Room at the National University of Samoa.

As well as providing participants with a documented series of motivational exercises, one of the early morning tasks was to look at Dr Marshs poem Fast Talking PI and follow the format with their own self appraisal in words. This was all set to time limits forcing the participants to think quickly and to focus.

Then, for example, the participants were given a time limit to replace a boring word with another.

Finally, the writers formed a circle and performed their results to the group.

Scary isnt it? said Dr Marsh.

While what followed was a diverse range of revealing information about each person, there were several stand outs including those who used humour and self deprecating honesty, others who employed rhythm in their words and delivery and some of the younger writers specifically Derek Fruean, who created exciting work which would not be out of place if put to beats as rap.

Silafau suggested that with permission from the writers, the pieces could be published later in the year in the Faculty of Arts literary journal.

Dr Marsh was in Samoa as a guest and judge of the 2016 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition which had its award ceremony on Friday night.

On behalf of the regional literary organization, the South Pacific Association of Commonwealth Literary and Language Studies (S.P.A.C.L.A.L.S.), Dr Marsh also presented a special encouragement award, the Tuli prize to Lineta Tamnikaiyaroi of Samoa.
The report by the Ombudsman from his Offices investigation into the arrest of a member of the public at the Fugalei Market  which led to charges against Police Commissioner, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil  is not admissible evidence.

As a result, it cannot be used in Court.

Thats what Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, told the Samoa Observer yesterday when his opinion was sought about the Court withdrawing and dismissing charges against the Police Commissioner.

Fuiava had faced charges including unlawful detaining of a person, disorderly conduct in a public place, perjury and making a false statement in relation to the wrongful arrest of Suitupe Misa at the Fugalei Market last year.

Two weeks ago, New Zealand Queens Counsel and Prosecutor, Paul Dacre, asked the Court to withdraw the charges.

I am of the clear view that in respect of each charge the admissible evidence available is not sufficient to enable the offences to be proved, Mr. Dacre told the Court.

It follows that I am of the clear view that the evidence is no longer sufficient to show a reasonable prospect of conviction.

In these circumstances I am obliged to follow the guidelines which provide and direct that the prosecution must be discontinued.

Contacted by the Samoa Observer for a comment, the Ombudsman made it clear he has not read the report by Mr. Dacre. He said however he understood the substantive part of it to be insufficient admissible evidence.

You should be aware that contents of an Ombudsman Report may not be used in Court as evidence except when somebody is prosecuted for lying to the Ombudsman, said Maiava.

Ombudsman Report is therefore not admissible evidence. The N.P.O would have to produce evidence of their own for charging the Commissioner.

I have no idea what that evidence was or in what respect they were considered by Mr. Dacre to be insufficient.

In the Ombudsmans report on Mr. Misa, Maiava described the incident at Fugalei market on 18th August 2015 as a watershed moment in the history of Samoa where police used firearms in a public place to carry out a pre-planned arrest of an individual.

Mr. Misa was arrested at gunpoint by a contingent of armed plain clothed officers in front of a shocked and distressed Fugalei marketplace.

It transpired that Mr. Misa had "committed no crime" and the arrest was "carried out based on insubstantial and second-hand evidence."

The Commissioner of Police failed to meet basic investigation principles and placed undue consideration on second hand evidence, leading directly to the wrongful and unlawful arrest of Suitupe, the reports findings read.

The Commissioners decision to arm and allow the use of firearms by his officers contravened the Use of Force policy, was irresponsible, and could negatively impact the overall safety and security within Samoa.

The Commissioner failed to take appropriate steps to identify the actions of his officers as being part of a police operation, leading to widespread distress and in one case serious health issues.
ResMed Chief Executive Officier Kieran Gallahue is trading his job with the San Diego medical device maker for another one, but his commute to work wont be any longer.

Gallahue, 47, was named chairman and chief executive of San Diego-based CareFusion on Tuesday, replacing David Schlotterbeck who announced his retirement in November.

CareFusion is a global hospital products spinoff of drug-distribution giant Cardinal Health. The company employs about 15,000 workers and racked up $3.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2010.

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That makes CareFusion more than four times bigger than ResMed, a maker of sleep-disorder machines which employs 3,300 workers and reported $1.1 billion in revenue last year.

Shares of CareFusion were up 59 cents, or more than 2 percent, to $26.32 in late trading Tuesday. ResMed shares were down $1.02, or more than 3 percent, to $30.47.

Gallahue joined ResMed in 2003 as president and chief operating officer. He became CEO in January 2008 when the companys founder and chairman, Dr. Peter Farrell, stepped out of the chief executive role.

Farrell was named interim CEO and president Tuesday while a search begins for a permanent replacement, ResMed said.

At CareFusion, Gallahue will earn an annual base salary of $1.15 million along with a yearly incentive bonus worth at least $1.38 million, or 120 percent of his salary, according to a report filed by the company Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also received a signing bonus of $650,000.

At ResMed, Gallahue earned a base salary of $745,500 plus a bonus of $958,113 in 2010, according to company financial reports.

The executive said he wasnt looking to make a change when CareFusion recruiters contacted him in late December.

This wasnt a situation where I was looking to leave ResMed, he said. Quite the opposite, I was looking forward to the future there.

Instead, the move was fueled by the opportunity to join a company at a critical moment in its evolution, Gallahue said.

You have this company that is in its adolescence and forming its own identity, he said. You have a great fundamental foundation from which to continue to grow.

The change also avoids a geographic relocation, which is a bonus for his family living in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego, Gallahue said.

I have three children in school in the area, and they love the experience they are having, he said. They can continue to grow in their friendships and involvement in their schools.
With more Americans hitting the road  and the skies  for the Thanksgiving holiday, travelers stuck at airports can expect longer lines and bigger headaches.

The busiest airport is expected to be Chicago OHare International Airport, followed by Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, according to an analysis by the travel site Orbitz.com.

Airport officials expect 2.3 million travelers to fly through LAX during the holiday week, an 8% increase from the record set in 2015.

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But the busiest airports dont always cause the worst headaches.

For example, Chicago OHare, Newark Liberty in New Jersey and San Francisco International Airports have had the highest percentage of delayed flights during the Thanksgiving week over the last three years, according to a study by Airhelp, a website that helps passengers collect compensation for delayed, canceled and overbooked flights.

Los Angeles International Airport ranked sixth among airports with a high rate of delayed flights, Airhelp said.

Over the last three years, Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines has delayed nearly 40% of its departures during Thanksgiving week, the highest rate of any airline, Airhelp said. United Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines also ranked high in Thanksgiving delays.

Your best bet for no-hassle flying?

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International is expected to be the least busy major airport during Thanksgiving holiday and Hawaiian Airlines has been ranked as having the lowest rate of delays for that holiday week.

In all, 48.7 million Americans will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, up 1.9% from a year earlier, according to AAA. Air travel is expected to rise 1.6%, as 3.69 million Americans fly to their holiday destinations.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.

ALSO

Traveling this Thanksgiving? So are 48 million other Americans

Airport crowds projected to grow 2.5% for Thanksgiving holiday

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UPDATES:

Nov. 18, 2 p.m.: This story was updated to include a forecast for travel through Los Angeles International Airport.

This article was originally published Nov. 17 at 11:55 a.m.
Yucca Mountain is back on the bargaining table on Capitol Hill.

And if the nuclear waste repository in Nevada gets back on track  and thats a big if, considering the controversial site has been debated for going on 40 years and six presidential administrations  it could provide a destination for the 3.6 million pounds of nuclear waste now beached at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

There will almost certainly be efforts to reintroduce legislation that would re-start the Yucca process, said David Victor, chairman of the Community Engagement Panel, which acts as a liaison between the public and the operators at San Onofre.

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Whats interesting is this is not a normal left-right (political) issue.

Located about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Yucca Mountain at one time was determined to be the best site to deposit the nations nuclear waste, which has now reached more than 70,000 metric tons at some 120 sites across the country.

The site was slated to open in 2017.

But Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, who loathed the idea of storing waste in his home state, became the Senate Majority Leader after the 2006 elections. During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama said Yucca Mountain was an expensive failure and should be abandoned.

The Obama administration cut off funding for Yucca Mountain in 2010.

But Reid is retiring from the Senate in January and the Obama administration is on its way out as the administration of President-elect Donald Trump comes in.

That has led to speculation that Yucca Mountain  which has already cost taxpayers between $9 billion to $15 billion  could be revived and re-funded.

The view from the top of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility in Nevada. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

Trump has not taken a position on Yucca but last month during a campaign stop in Nevada, he said he was going to take a look at it.

A report from Bloomberg News on Nov. 14 cited two people familiar with Trumps transition planning who said reopening Yucca Mountain is being actively discussed by advisers.

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, considered to be in line to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has long maintained that Yucca Mountain represents the fastest, best and most viable solution for storing waste.

Should the Yucca Mountain debate return to the halls of Congress, Victor said its best chance for survival would come if it is combined with another potential nuclear waste solution: consolidated interim storage.

Under consolidated storage, sites would be built in isolated locations like the desert where multiple plants could deposit their waste.

A combination of Democrats and Republicans  many of them anxious to get waste shipped out of their home states  have introduced legislation to help clear the way for consolidated storage.

One site in West Texas and another in eastern New Mexico have been mentioned as potential destinations for San Onofres waste and could open as early as the 2020s  a short time period by nuclear waste timetables  if they can clear a series of daunting political and regulatory hurdles.

I think you can get a bigger coalition by linking Yucca to consolidated storage, said Victor, who is also a professor of international relations at UC San Diego.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, echoed those remarks last Wednesday.

We have tried year after year to get a pilot waste program, Feinstein said at a Senate subcommittee hearing. We know there are people who want to build it, a waste facility, because even if Yucca went ahead, Yucca would be filled.

Feinstein has co-sponsored nuclear waste legislation with two Republicans and another Senate Democrat.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, has also co-sponsored a bill to find alternative sites for nuclear waste. The San Onofre nuclear plant is in Issas congressional district.

Obviously we would love it if we had a permanent site, especially one that had so much time and money spent on it, Issa told the Union-Tribune on Friday.

But if Congress reopens the question, we shouldnt open it with a prejudice that it must be good. And we shouldnt allow the prejudice that Harry Reid always had that it must be bad. The in-between is putting together the proper balance of pros and cons and have it fairly and scientifically re-evaluated.

Issa is involved in a tight re-election race with Democrat Doug Applegate that has election officials in San Diego and Orange counties still counting remaining ballots.

The Union-Tribune attempted to get reaction from Applegate regarding Yucca Mountain but multiple phone calls to his campaign did not produce any comment.

The issue is of particular importance to California, where more than 3,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel is stranded.

Victor was quick to point out that efforts to reach a political solution on Yucca Mountain could end up on the back-burner as other policies promoted by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate take center stage.

There are going to be other things that are going to be much higher on their list  Obamacare, for one, Victor said. Those are going to be very complicated issues that could really suck the oxygen out of the legislative process.

And Victor noted that even if a deal on nuclear waste is reached on Capitol Hill, there is still a regulatory process that has be navigated.

Congress cant legislate Yucca to open, Victor said. Congress can restart the process of Yucca going through all the regulatory approvals, which it is nearly done with, but not completely. That does not insulate Yucca from all sorts of local problems and possible changes in administrations in the future.

rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski

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Why San Onofres nuclear waste stays on the beach

Judge allows San Onofre waste lawsuit to advance

Pro nuclear green group: Bring back San Onofre
Qualcomms technology licensing practices have come under fire from another anti-monopoly regulator in Asia  this time in South Korea.

The San Diego wireless chip maker said Tuesday that it has received a staff report from the Korea Fair Trade Commission alleging that the companys patent licensing practices violate competition laws.

The news, released after markets closed Tuesday, sent the company shares tumbling Wednesday. Qualcomm shares fell 9.4 percent to $48 , their lowest close since October 2011. The stock has declined 35 percent this year.

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Specifically, the commission staff objects to Qualcomms practice of licensing its patents at the device level and requiring its chip customers to sign license agreements. The commission staff wants changes in how Qualcomm licenses its patents in Korea and proposes a fine.

The staff report now will go before the full commission, which can accept or reject all or parts of it. The commission would then make a ruling on remedies.

Earlier this year, Qualcomm settled a 13-month anti-monopoly probe in China, agreeing to pay a $975 million fine and reduce its licensing royalty rate on devices sold within Chinas borders.

In 2009, the Korea Fair Trade Commission fined Qualcomm $208 million over its licensing practices for 3G technologies. The company paid the fine but appealed in court. The case is now pending before the Korea Supreme Court.

In a statement, Qualcomm said it disagrees with the staffs findings and will fight the allegations.

Our patent licensing practices, which we and other patent owners have maintained for almost two decades . are lawful and pro-competitive, the company said. Device level licensing is the worldwide industry norm, and Korean companies have long enjoyed the benefits and protections of access to our patents, which cover essentially the entire device.

Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with Bernstein Research, said in a research note that Qualcomm previously revealed an investigation but didnt outline the specific issues until now.

The allegations in the report are troubling and specifically call out Qualcomms practice of charging device-level royalties as violating Korean competition law, said Rasgon.

Qualcomm charges royalties based on the wholesale price of the smartphone or other device using its technology. Critics of patent licensing want to base royalty payments on the price of chips or other components inside smartphones, which cost much less.
The Jamul Indian Village is seeking a permanent license to sell alcohol at its Hollywood Casino, and nearly 150 local residents showed up at hearings last week to protest the application pending before the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Late Thursday, the presiding administrative law judge overseeing the hearings said they would resume in early 2017.

The casino opened in October with a temporary license to serve alcohol. The casino is on land belonging to the Jamul Indian Village and its gaming facilities run by San Diego Gaming Ventures, LLC.

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The top concern of residents, including county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, is safety along state Route 94, two-lane rural highway where the casino is located. Since 2014, more than 50 collisions have occurred along the part of Route 94 near the casino. The highway has seen nearly 100 DUI-related collisions in the past decade.

Road improvements were promised since 2009 by the tribe and Caltrans, according to Jamul Action Committee. The group has been fighting the Jamul Indian Village and its plans for a gaming facility since 1988.

Richard St. Jean, the general manager of the casino, reiterated on Thursday that the tribe has committed more than $20 million for road improvements. So far, only a stoplight at the casino entrance has been completed.

In the past year, more than 1,000 residents of Jamul sent letters of protest to the ABC, many of them stating that the addition of casino patrons who have been drinking is dangerous. More than 180 letter writers were invited to attend the licensing hearings.

Judge John Lewis left it up to four groups of attorneys  those representing the casino, the ABC, San Diego County and the Jamul committee  to find three days they would all be free. No date has been yet chosen.

The hearings are part of a multistep application process that casino management must go through in order to get an ABC-approved alcoholic beverage license.

The next step after the hearing will be the presiding judge sharing a proposed decision to ABC Acting Director Ramona Prieto. Prieto will then decide whether to approve or reject the finding. Appeals are likely to follow.

The hearings were conducted like a trial with sworn testimony on Nov. 16-17 at Skyline Church on Campo Road in La Mesa

Jamul Action Committee leader Glenn Revell took the stand and said he would like to see certain conditions be placed on a permanent alcohol license. Revell retired in 2011 from a 28-year career with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department.

Those conditions include food being offered where alcohol is served, and no alcohol service on the gaming floor except in a private gaming area.

He suggests that sales, service and consumption of alcohol be limited to:

3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday

3 p.m. to midnight on Friday

Noon to midnight on Saturday

Noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday

The casino, which is open 24 hours a day, currently serves alcohol from 10 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.

California Highway Patrol officials testified at the hearing that there have been no major casino-related accidents since Hollywood Casino opened.

The $360 million casino has been planned by the Jamul tribe since the 1990s. Construction on the four-acre parcel began in 2014.

Hollywood Casino has more than 1,700 slot machines and 50 live table games, and it employs 1,000 workers.

St. Jean said all casino workers have been trained in responsible beverage service and intervention procedures, which includes not overserving and watching for signs of intoxication.

He said employees are able to identify specific behaviors in a person that would prompt them to intervene and refuse alcohol service. St. Jean said employees have called Uber, Lyft, shuttles and taxis to shepherd patrons out of the casino who should not be driving.
The Midway Museum Foundation recently awarded $30,000 in grants to two local YMCAs serving military members.

Camp Pendleton and San Diego Armed Services YMCAs each received $15,000 for programs to help Marines, Navy personnel and their families.

Both grants focused on youth programs for military kids.

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San Diego Armed services YMCA will use the grant for its Camp Hero, a day camp program for military children during school breaks. Camp Pendleton will use the grant to fund the Fisher Childrens Center on base.

The Fisher center provides drop-in child care for several hundred infants and children each month on an hourly or part-day basis. When the bases Armed services YMCA took over the centers daily operations last year, 69 children were participating in programs. Now the center has nearly 400 families families signed up and more than 520 children participating.

Child care is highlighted as one of the greatest needs of our military families, said Christopher Keane, executive director of the Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton.

The center provides a preschool program for children up to 5 years old with activities that include learning numbers and the alphabet, writing and story time. Themed programs range from the Marine Corps Birthday, to Mommy & Me Tea and Dads & Donuts.

The center is the only such hourly-care facility at Camp Pendleton and is one-of-its-kind in the Marine Corps, Keane said.

It offers a toddler part-day program that allows children to build friendships with other military kids led by staff who are both civilian and military, Keane said.

Visit camppendletonasymca.org or call (760) 385-4921.
The men in Larry Kramers The Normal Heart come from many walks of life, but in Ion Theatres bracing revival of the 1985 play, they all pad across the stage the same way: barefoot.

Its a subtle but striking touch  true whether the characters are in suits or shirtsleeves  and it immediately brings to mind the symbolism (in some cultures) of shoelessness representing death.

That would be an apt allusion for Kramers angry 1985 work, a kind of primal scream of a play thats set amid the first stirrings of the AIDS crisis 35 years ago.

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But the costume choice (or anti-choice) also suggests something else thats borne out powerfully in the play: The kind of innocence of these characters whove been enjoying a fleeting paradise in the post-Stonewall era (when the first gains were made for gay rights), and now find themselves flat-footed in the face of a terrifying existential threat.

Directors and Ion co-founders Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza (themselves a married couple) and their committed cast bring The Normal Heart to life with urgency and a surprising sense of immediacy.

It cant be an easy play to stage: Kramers dialogue sometimes strays into the wooden and pedantic, and a few scenes are near-screeds whose tone is pitched so high that they threaten to break the emotional gauges.

But the actors manage to keep the rage and despair from becoming numbing, and bring authentic humanity and even humor to the piece.

Kramer based the play largely on his own experiences as an early advocate of awareness and research into the disease, which had neither a name nor a known cause when he helped found Gay Mens Health Crisis in the early 80s.

His alter ego in the piece, Ned Weeks (played by Raygoza), is a stubborn and neurotic but enormously passionate New Yorker whose clashes (in this warts-and-all characterization) with fellow advocates, GMHC board members, friends and politicians at times threaten to derail the movement.

The Normal Heart

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; plus 2 p.m. Nov. 27. (No performances Nov. 23-25.)

Where: Ion Theatres BLKBOX, 3704 Sixth Ave., Hillcrest.

Tickets: $12-$32 (discounts available). Through Dec. 17.

Phone: (619) 600-5020

Online: iontheatre.com

Raygoza captures expertly the mix of determination and desperation that drives Ned; he also forges a strong sense of intellectual connection with castmate Kim Strassburger (in a potent performance) as Emma Brookner, the equally alarmed and headstrong medical researcher who documents the mounting deaths, as the government and media do next to nothing.

Several of the actors (Raygoza and Strassburger included) unleash what amount to arias of pure fear and fury  but none in quite so wrenching a way as Michael Lundy, who plays the genial activist Mickey. In one climactic scene, his characters grief and frustration coalesce into an unsettling kind of delirium, and Lundy pours himself into the moment.

The production has a large cast for Ions intimate performance space, and there are strong performances by Alexander Guzman as Felix, the charming New York Times fashion writer who takes up with Ned; Daren Scott, a wide-ranging San Diego actor making a welcome Ion acting debut as Neds deeply conflicted brother, Ben; Stewart Calhoun as the courtly and funny Southern transplant Tommy; Joel Miller, picking his way gingerly through the tough role of the closeted GMHC board president Bruce; and Fred Hunting and co-director Paris, both in multiple roles.

Mary Summerdays costumes feel steeped in the 80s, and Raygozas clinically white set and often eerie electronic sound design lend a chill thats hard to shake.

So does the closing scene  a tableau of faces and names thats better seen than described, but captures an agonized legacy that still has plenty to teach us.

Twitter: @jimhebert

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
During his final debate against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump bemoaned the state of Americas schools.

Our inner cities are a disaster, he said. They have no education.

It was a sweeping statement, unaccompanied by a solution.

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But if the president-elects education plans havent been spelled out in detail, he has given some broad indications.

He has said he might eliminate or scale back the U.S. Department of Education. He wants to create a new school voucher program, support home-schooling, beef up childcare subsidies.

Educators across the country are waiting and wondering. Usually they know more by this point.

Traditionally, for example, both candidates appear before the American Federation of Teachers union to be considered for endorsement, said the unions president, Randi Weingarten. Trump didnt come  and the transition team has not returned her calls.

In the U.S., states and school districts control most education dollars and school-level decisions. Still, Trump has some power to act alone and with the help of Congress in ways that might affect California schools. For example, some expect Trump to give the state more breathing room in an ongoing fight over how schools should be rated. Other possible moves:

Michelle Rhee meets with Donald Trump. Could his education secretary be a Democrat? 

1) He could cut federal education funding.

The federal government funds a number of education programs. On average, these dollars made up about 8.7% of school districts budgets in the 2013-2014 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In California as well as for the Los Angeles Unified School District, they have a slightly bigger share: 11%.

Schools on Native American reservations and military bases dont have local tax revenue bases, so they rely on federal money. These schools were hurt most by previous budget cuts.

Such schools in California include Sherman Indian High School in Riverside and Noli School in San Jacinto.

While Congress has to approve budgets, the president kicks off the process with his proposal for spending. What he can do is cut the budget of education, said California State Board of Education President Mike Kirst, who briefly worked in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. He seems to have other priorities, so education might be cut.

2) Minority, disabled and transgender students, and students who are in the country without legal permission, could lose a layer of protection.

Some of Obamas most controversial education policies have come out of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights.

In 2014, the two departments told school districts they could not discriminate against students based on immigration status. The office directed districts to establish families proof of residency without asking for citizenship papers.

In May, the Obama administration directed schools to let transgender students use bathrooms that match their gender identities. More than 10 states sued.

In July, the administration classified ADHD as a specific disability whose status shields students from discrimination.

But nothing enshrines these directives in law so they can be rescinded without congressional approval.

I believe on day one, theyll rescind all of these letters, said Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a right-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C.

How would this affect local schools? According to Judy Chiasson, Los Angeles Unifieds coordinator for Human Relations, Diversity & Equity, the school district and the state have particularly strong protections in place, including for transgender students.

A state can give more protection [than is required], but not less, Chiasson said of transgender students. What happens at the federal level would not preclude a district...from being able to protect students from discrimination.

3) He could take on fewer investigations into school districts wrongdoing or sexual assault on college campuses.

The Education Departments Office of Civil Rights is tasked with investigating school districts and universities accused of violating students civil rights. The office has been the firepower behind the federal governments war against rape on college campus. Last summer, San Bernardino County reached an agreement with the federal government after the office found it to be violating federal law in its treatment of students with disabilities.

Due to federal budget cuts, staffing has declined from about 1,200 in 1990 to 563 in 2016. At the same time, the number of complaints it receives has grown dramatically, particularly over the course of the Obama administration. In 2015, the office reached over 1,000 resolutions and opened more than 3,000 investigations.

Under President George W. Bush, the office still enforced civil rights law but was known for doing desk audits  checking websites and making calls primarily instead of conducting interviews in person, said Dianne Piche, a former OCR deputy assistant secretary.

Trump has called for shrinking the federal government, including the Education Department. He can cut the office of Civil Rights, Kirst said. I see a lot less going on there.

Its asking a leopard to shed its spots to expect this president to take a similar stand against words and actions hes characterized as no more than locker room prattle, said Mark Rosenbaum, a Los Angeles-based civil rights attorney at Public Counsel.

You can reach Joy Resmovits on Twitter @Joy_Resmovits and by email at Joy.Resmovits@LATimes.com.

ALSO

Michelle Rhee meets with Donald Trump. Could his education secretary be a Democrat?

Obamas final foreign trip was his last chance to warn the world about Trump, and to warn Trump about the world

Trump won by rejecting the political rules. Will the GOP Senate give him more leeway with Cabinet nominees?
After five seasons of being the first face that an average 13 million Americans see when they tune into Downton Abbey, Darlene Shiley is still struck by how many people recognize her from a 10-second introductory spot.

They come up to her in airports and on cruise ships to thank her for her financial support of the public television cultural phenomenon. A friend attending a convention sent her a video of strangers exclaiming, Louisiana loves Darlene Shiley! Shes been approached in restaurants, at her hair salon in Valley Center, and was greeted a few weeks ago with Hi Darlene, Im such a fan! as she was leaving the doctors office.

Now Shiley is bracing for a different kind of onslaught.

Tonights episode of Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece marks the beginning of the end for the British costume drama, which enters its sixth and final season.

Im scared to death, Shiley, 69, said only half kidding, predicting those same admirers will turn on the benefactor as fast as the Dowager Countess can say What is a weekend?. Im going to take the hit for it going off the air. Im going to get nasty, terrible letters saying, Why did you stop supporting it?

For decades as one of San Diegos most high-profile and prolific philanthropists, Shiley  with her late husband, heart-valve inventor Donald Shiley  has given away upward of $100 million to science, educational and arts organizations. The Shiley name is everywhere  including the UCSD Shiley Eye Center, the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at The Old Globe Theatre, the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimers Disease Research Center, San Diego State Universitys Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, and as of last month, The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre (MFA) Program.

But its been the one-time actress record-breaking gifts to the fundraising Masterpiece Trust, more than $5.2 million to date, that have made Shiley nearly as famous as a Crawley family member. Along with other major local contributors, notably Conrad Prebys and Debbie Turner, about $8 million of the $12 million-plus that Masterpiece has raised since it was created in 2011, has come from here, making San Diego a virtual sister city with the fictional Downton country estate in Yorkshire, England.

Darlene Shiley Born: Aug. 23, 1946 Education: San Jose State University, theatre arts and humanities Work experience: Acting, semiconductor industry, television public service director, accounting firm, public relations., President, Shiley Foundation Family: Married Donald Shiley, who died in 2010, in 1978; four children from his previous marriage. Civic involvement: Founding donor of the County of San Diegos Alzheimers Project. Past service on boards of national Alzheimers Association, National Corporate Theatre Fund, Old Globe Theatre, Scripps Clinic, KPBS, UC San Diego, Salk Institute, and San Diegos Arts and Culture Commission. Current member of University of San Diego Board of Trustees (past board chair emeritus), and a regent for University of Portland.

And in that rarefied, aristocratic world, Shiley, who has traveled to the set, mingled with the cast and is contributing to the preservation of one of the buildings used as a location, would be San Diegos unofficial Duchess of Downton.

Darlene is a wonderful ambassadress for the show. People recognize her everywhere and she handles it with such warmth and grace, said Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of Masterpiece and one of Downtons executive producers.

Its television and millions of people see her image every week, which is a very powerful thing. As many people go past the Shiley Eye Center or the Old Globe in San Diego every day, its exponential.

Thats exactly why former University of San Diego President Mary Lyons said she hopes Shileys generosity that extends beyond the TV screen isnt overshadowed.

The fact that shes become so well known for her philanthropy because of Downton Abbey, she (Shiley) kind of shakes her head. But shes had such a long history in our region for philanthropy  if that were only the thing she was known for, it would really miss the point of her and Donalds focus, Lyons said.

In recent years, its been very much in the national media, the pledges for giving wealth away, with Bill Gates and others. Donald and Darlene did it before it was quote unquote the thing to do. Long before, just a handful of people had already begun a long history of generosity, without attention. Irwin and Joan Jacobs come into that category, she said.

The example that these folks have shown for many years shouldnt be lost.

Hes still everywhere

Darlene and Donald Shiley were married for 32 years, until his death in 2010 from vascular dementia. She was almost 30 years younger than him when they met after a performance in Berkeley of The Lion in Winter, in which she played the role of the wealthy and powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine.

This 2006 photo of Darlene and Donald Shiley, taken on the terrace of their San Diego penthouse, is the first image guests see when they visit the home. Crissy Pascual San Diego Union-Tibune file photo (Crissy Pascual San Diego Union-Tibune file photo)

She was just acting. While Donald Shiley was already a successful engineer and self-made businessman with a Ferrari and a private plane, Darlene grew up in working class Alameda County and considered her five-year-old yellow Karmann Ghia to be the epitome of luxury.

It wasnt only their income levels that differed. A widower, he was reserved, quiet, deeply religious and not particularly happy. She was the show-woman, gregarious, funny and outspoken. But they clicked and after a false start when he didnt call for six months between their first and second dates (he was afraid shed say no), the couple was all but inseparable for the decades to come.

Darlene Shiley, as well as several of her longtime friends, say theirs was a love story that not even Downton creator Julian Fellowes could have concocted.

Everyone could see what a great relationship we had, Shiley said, sitting in the living room of a two-story San Diego penthouse apartment she shared with her husband. Hes still everywhere for me.

Whether in casual conversation, delivering testimony at a government meeting or addressing a group of Alzheimers researchers, Shiley is quick to tear up when talking about my Donald.

People say, Look, you had 32 years. You should be happy about that. No. I wanted more. I didnt want to lose it. Its crushing. Everybody talks about wanting that one great love  I got it, she said, her voice cracking. I dont know how it happened. We were on such different paths. ... We were so different. But we shared the same philosophies and values.

About six months after they were married, Donald Shiley, creator of the groundbreaking Bjork-Shiley heart valve, sold his company to the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, netting the newlyweds a sizable, but undisclosed, fortune.

The joke at the time was that Shiley couldnt handle both the company and Darlene at the same time and he was going to have to get rid of one of them. And he kept me! she cracked.

The Shileys enjoyed traveling, particularly cruises, that took them to all corners of the globe. (Today, when she goes on a cruise, she wont get off the ship in cities the couple visited together so as not to tarnish the memory, she said.)

Bucking the fineries of their lifestyle  his luxury cars, her Steinway grand piano chosen by the Old Globes Jack OBrien himself  it was decided early in their marriage that their riches would all be given away.

Darlene Shiley, with the Steinway piano chosen for her by The Old Globes Jack OBrien.  Eduardo Contreras (Eduardo Contreras)

And it was Darlene, whose mother instilled in her an ethic of giving back, who suggested they not wait until after they were gone to bequeath their wealth. He agreed, as long as she would be the one to research and vet their philanthropic causes.

It was at their Queen Anne Victorian ranch house in Julian where the couple shared their simplest moments and made some of their biggest decisions.

Those quiet times, when it would be snowing out, we would sit by the fireplace, where we loved to laugh and read and have our coffee, and we decided as a team where the money should go, she said, her voice disappearing into a whisper. We were a great team.

Former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who became close to Shiley through his wife, Rana Sampson, described her as a down-to-earth, self-deprecating, master raconteur, whose life continues to be committed to her relationship to her husband.

Shes still very passionate; I can tell she misses him incredibly, Sanders said. It informs a lot with her giving, whether to caregivers, or to Alzheimers, or biotech, he said.

She thinks its her job to live up to the standards that he set  that they set as a couple  and I just find that really heartwarming.

Steely steward

Sanders and Sampson have Shiley over for dinner about once a month and one of the things they like to rib Shiley about when they make the occasional visit to her in the Pauma Valley is how she doesnt even know where her kitchen gadgets are.

We love to tease her, Hey, did you find your spatula yet? Sanders said.

In fact, she did find her spatula. And she used it just a few weeks back  as a fireplace poker. Local PBS affiliate KPBS, which shares in the largess Shiley donates to Masterpiece, was there to shoot some promos.

They wanted a fire in the fireplace. I bought this house three years ago and had never used the fireplace and I had to use a spatula to move the logs around, Shiley said. Yep, thats me.

A self-described goofball who is quick with a one-liner but who also has a penchant for dissolving into tears wouldnt appear on the surface like a steely steward of donated millions.

Philanthropist Darlene Shiley (right), talking with USD president Jim Harris at a recent USD Trustee Dinner, is a boardroom powerhouse with a deceptively gregarious persona.  Eduardo Contreras (Eduardo Contreras)

Underestimate me at your own peril, Shiley says with eyebrows raised. It fools people into thinking Im fluff because Im approachable. It makes some people think Im not strong because Im very outgoing. Thats a very, very bad thing to think.

In the boardroom, shes not afraid to be the lone no vote. Shell go up against organizations who keep coming to her with their hand outstretched even though they didnt hold up their end of the donation deal.

If you say, If you give me this, Ill do X, you better do X, said Shiley, with frustration. And dont get her started on people trying to pitch her.

I worked in charitable organizations before, so Im hell and a half for some poor development director to come after because theres nothing they can say to me that I havent said to somebody, Shiley said.

Im a nightmare when it comes to being a donor. Generally speaking, youve only made it through the front door because Ive already decided to give you the money. Nobodys ever worked me for a donation. Im either going to do it or not do it  and you wont be talking to me unless Im going to do it.

Masterpieces Eaton learned that one night at dinner with Shiley at the San Diegans favorite restaurant, Mr. As. Shiley had already given the public television station $250,000 because she loved such programming as Prime Suspect, with Helen Mirren.

The Cosmos were flowing and Eaton broached the topic of Shiley renewing her pledge and upping it to a $1 million donation to help finance PBS costly Edwardian drama Downton Abbey (which producers decided to end after six seasons).

Thats a lot of money, Eaton recalled Shiley responding.

Well, that didnt go well, the TV producer thought.

Then, using a phrase that would surely make the irascible, high-brow Dowager Countess shudder, Shiley simply answered, Lets do it.
   10 Comments Capt. Niloofar Rahmani was 18 years old when she heard a news announcement saying the Afghan Air Force wanted to recruit its first female pilots.

Capt. Niloofar Rahmani was 18 years old when she heard a news announcement saying the Afghan Air Force wanted to recruit its first female pilots.

Her father had dreamed of flying in the military as a young man. He became Rahmanis strongest champion when she set out to join the all-male cadre, but he also warned his daughter that many difficulties lay ahead. Go for it, but you must be strong, Rahmani recalled him saying.

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When Rahmani earned her wings in July 2012 and qualified to fly the C-208 cargo plane, she became the first female pilot to serve in the Afghan military since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. She is also the first female fixed-wing Air Force aviator in the nations history, following the flight path of two female helicopter pilots during the Soviet era.

Rahmani shared those milestone memories during a visit to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station on Monday. She also talked about the challenges of being a pioneer.

Distant relatives accused her of shaming their entire family. Men in her flight squadron were openly hostile, despite support from her commander. Taliban sympathizers have repeatedly threatened to kill Rahmani as well as her parents and siblings.

Yet Rahmani, now 23, has refused to quit. If you dont fight for your rights, they will never give them to you, she said during the Monday visit. I do the same things my colleagues do. Why do I have to be treated differently?

Even a conservative society such as hers, where women were forbidden during the Taliban era from attending school or working outside the home, needs women to work for the good of the nation, Rahmani said.

We need females to be a doctor, to be in each part of society. And we need female pilots too, she said.

For her leadership at great personal risk, Rahmani was among 10 women honored this month with the Secretary of States International Women of Courage Award.

After a stop at the White House and praise from first lady Michelle Obama, Rahmani traveled to Miramar to meet commanders and female pilots. Other events scheduled as part of her five-day visit, coordinated by the San Diego Diplomacy Council, include a fighter jet ride with the Navys Blue Angels and lunch with the CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego.

On her final stop, Rahmani and the other State Department honorees will participate in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Rahmani studied English for six months so she could understand her U.S. instructor pilots, then trained for a year and a half at Shindand Air Base in the Herat province of Afghanistan.

To celebrate Rahmanis first solo flight, American women dunked her in the pool  according to tradition. A photo of the event spread on social media, drawing accusations that she was being baptized into another religion or touched by foreign men.

The harassment continued after Rahmani took her first assignment. Her fellow aviators, many of them as old as her father and grandfathers, treated her as if she were a publicity stunt.

It was hard for me to be around people that didnt want me there. They were searching for a reason for me to be disappointed and just leave, she said.

Rahmani couldnt prove them wrong with words. The only way was flight hours, she said. She volunteered for every shift she could and quickly qualified as flight commander.

After that, she was the one issuing orders to the men who doubted her. It was a day I felt so proud, she said. If they see a female, in their mind they see a weak person. But the idea they had about me, its changed now.

On Monday, the female Marine pilots who met Rahmani could relate to being in a predominantly male profession. More than 30 years after the first women joined the Marine air wing as pilots, less than 1 percent of the services aviators are female  194 out of 5,557, according to the 2015 Marine Corps almanac.

Lt. Col. Erin Benjamin, a 40-year-old Cobra attack helicopter pilot by training, told Rahmani: Keep it up. We still face some of the same stuff you do. Not the threats, but ... Ive been in the Marine Corps 18 years. I was going to get out and my mentor said no, you have to stay in for the women behind you.

Rahmanis critics followed her brother out of his university and threatened to shoot him. She fought back her fears and carried on, she told the female Marines, in hopes of becoming an instructor pilot to bring in the next generation of female pilots. She also plans to fly the larger C-130 plane someday.

My goal was to open or to break the very strong walls in front of the females in my country. ... They think the females have to be in the house, doing the housework, Rahmani said.

Inside a C-130 cockpit on the Miramar flight line, Rahmani and Marine Capt. K.C. Koepp, 26, of Vienna, Va., swapped war stories about near mishaps flying cargo planes. Like the time Rahmanis single engine died about 20 minutes from base. We just made it back to the runway, she said, as the two women sighed in relief.

On the way out, Koepp gave Rahmani a big hug goodbye. Good luck out there. Youre doing great things. Teach all those boys how to fly! the American pilot said.

Rahmani can push the fears out of her mind only when she is in the cockpit.

The time when I am most calm and just focused on one thing is when I am in the air, she said. I think of the creator and see what God created, all for humans. ... I see how big it is.

The love of flying unites Rahmani with all aviators, male or female, American and Afghan, the Miramar commanders told her.

Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in San Diego, told Rahmani that his first flight was on his honeymoon. His second was during flight training in Pensacola, Fla.

The view up there was everything he had dreamed of since he was a boy, said Rocco, now a Cobra AH-1 attack helicopter pilot.

Rahmani will always have the international fellowship of aviators, Col. John Farnam, commanding officer of Miramar, told her. You can all get together and talk with your hands  it really is a global community, said the F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot.

Rahmani expects the threats to continue, but she feels buoyed by the support of her immediate family, the inspiration of the female aviators she met at Miramar and the State Department recognition.

I have the support of people all over the world. They know what I am fighting for. This award is for all the females in my community, she said.

The job itself is also its own reward, despite the difficulties. Rahmani remembered flying to Camp Bastion in the particularly violent Helmand province, where severely wounded soldiers and remains of the dead needed to be transported to Kabul.

As a female pilot, she was forbidden from transporting casualties. They think the females have a very small heart. They will cry  and crash the plane, she explained.

Rahmani defied the rule, then explained why to her commanding general. This is my job. I was not that hard of a person to let them die there, she told the Afghan general. That was the first time in my life I felt I did something good. As a human, I was helping people, saving them.  I saved someones life.
Some high-profile researchers are pushing back against a new recommendation about statins that advises cardiologists to prescribe the cholesterol-lowering drugs to Americans if they have one or more risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

The powerful U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, whose guidance is often used by insurance companies to make coverage decisions, this month finalized its stance on statins. The organization recommended their use for patients 40 to 75 who have at least one condition that puts them at a 10 percent or greater risk of a heart attack in the next decade  including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking.

Its position will likely have major implications for public-health policy  and for relentlessly rising health-care costs. A recent study found that about 40 million Americans already take statins on a regular basis, with an estimated cost of $16.9 billion per year. The new standards could result in millions more Americans starting statin therapy.

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The task force issued its guidelines as doctors continue to disagree about whether statins are appropriate for low-risk patients who have not suffered any consequences of arteries narrowing over time due to waxy cholesterol buildup in the bodys main blood vessels.

Statins block an enzyme that allows the body to naturally produce cholesterol. Normally, cholesterol is a building block of human tissue and helps create critically needed hormones. But too much of it can lead to heart disease, which kills an estimated 610,000 Americans each year.

The task force examined the results of six randomized clinical trials to reach its conclusion that giving statins to people as a preventive measure can help reduce the death toll.

Altogether, the research showed that low-to-moderate-potency statins can help prevent heart attack, stroke or even death, said Dr. Doug Owens, a Stanford University professor and a former member of the task force.

Some physicians refuse to accept the task forces analysis of risks versus rewards.

Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist and professor at UC San Franciscos medical school, co-wrote an editorial that ran alongside the task forces recommendations in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The editorial said in looking at the proven benefits of statins, the most evidence exists for their ability to prevent a second heart attack or stroke.

Redberg said for people who have not suffered such an incident, she does not see the same level of certainty that taking statins would deliver a large enough benefit to justify risking side effects such as developing Type 2 diabetes, memory loss and muscle damage.

She noted the task forces accompanying evidence report on statins, which found that one death was averted for every 233 low- to moderate-risk patients who took statins.

Everyone agrees that there is a very small chance that any particular person taking statins for primary prevention will actually have any provable benefit, Redberg said.

Dr. Eric Topol, another cardiologist and director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, offered a similar perspective.

This recommendation, if it is fully implemented, would have something like 10 million more Americans taking statins regularly. There is no evidence to support this extremely broad recommendation, Topol said. I really think they were out of bounds to go to this extreme.

The task force is not backing away from its statin guidelines.

Dr. Philip Greenland, a professor at Northwestern Universitys medical school in Chicago who wrote an editorial supporting those guidelines, pointed to a paper written by United Kingdom researchers that cited significant benefits from statins as proof that critics are off-base.

The risks that some people cite are, in my reading, totally overblown, Greenland said.

Redberg countered that the UK research included patients who already had cardiovascular disease.

The benefits look a lot more significant when you include high-risk groups, she said, adding that many experts believe most of the statin studies performed to date have not analyzed the potential side effects as aggressively as they have the possible benefits.

The statin-related development of Type 2 diabetes is another area where physicians differ sharply. One side insists the risk is very low, while the other brings up studies that indicate heightened risk, especially for women.

The research shows no increased risk of diabetes for either men or women in the six randomized, controlled [clinical] trials that were reviewed in the [task forces] evidence report, said Owens at Stanford University.

Topol said he sees patients every day who convince him otherwise.

I have so many patients in my clinic who came in with a high glucose level and were already diabetic or nearly there. When we get them off the statins, their glucose numbers go right down, he said.

What, then, is a patient to do amid this community of well-intentioned heart experts arguing for diametrically opposed positions?

Dr. Beatrice Golomb, a UC San Diego researcher who said she does see compelling evidence about statins side effects, urged the public to keep in mind that statins are not the only way to prevent heart disease. Eating healthier and increasing exercise levels can help immensely.

I would recommend that [people first] do the other things that have been shown to confer benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease, Golomb said.

Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life

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Sher Mohammad Haidari, a 26-year-old from Afghanistan, spent the last nine years known simply as Mike.

Haidari worked as an interpreter for United States military troops and security contractors in Afghanistan. The nickname was his protection from the Taliban.

If they know your real name, when you go home, theyre going to find you and cut your head off, Haidari said.

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He said several of his friends had been caught helping the U.S. and were decapitated by the Taliban.

Haidari started working for the U.S. military in 2007 with the promise that, after two years, he could apply for a visa to relocate with his family to the U.S. After working for the U.S., it would not be safe for him to remain in Afghanistan. It took nine years and persistent lobbying by Dave Sossaman, a San Diegan who ran contract security details for the state department and department of defense in Afghanistan, to realize that promise.

Theyve had all these things going on with just a ridiculous amount of wait and bureaucracy, Sossaman said. He was pretty much marked. There was a bounty on his head from the Taliban because he worked for us. I had to make quite a few calls and write quite a few letters.

Haidari received a special immigrant visa in exchange for his service. About 500 immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq with such visas resettled in San Diego County in fiscal 2016, according to state data.

Sossaman picked up Haidari, along with his wife and now 8-month-old son, at the airport in Los Angeles in late September. The Haidaris spent the weekend with Sossaman before settling into an El Cajon apartment that he found for them. Sossaman helped stock the apartment with everything they might need to start their new life.

Theres a lot of back-and-forth now about bringing over refugees. Guys like Mike, we have to separate all that fodder from guys like this, Sossaman said. The fact that we had him saved American lives.

Haidari said he came to San Diego because Sossaman was here.

Sossaman, whom Haidari calls Big Dave, hired Haidari in 2012 to lead a group of Afghan nationals who worked on a security detail escorting U.S. contractors.

They got ambushed all the time, but they were able to get their equipment through when nobody else could, Sossaman recalled of Haidari. He said Haidaris job paid $600 a month.

Sossaman remembered the first time he and Haidari went on a mission together. They were traveling through a dangerous area controlled by the Taliban. Sossaman was driving.

Someone started shooting at them.

I looked over, and hes opened the door and shooting back screaming hes a gangster at the Taliban, Sossaman said with a laugh.

Haidari has scars of his time in combat. Shrapnel tore through his right arm in 2009 while he was working for U.S. special forces. He has more than 34 letters and certificates from U.S. military officers commending him for his loyalty and recommending that he be given a visa to the U.S. He keeps them in plastic protective sheets.

He has the stories of a veteran. He recalls losing all of his leg hair on his lower legs because of long days in military boots. He recalls the brotherhood he felt with American troops. He recalls friends losing their limbs, their lives. He recalls the smell of dead bodies.

He recalls going on a special mission with 24 Americans a couple of hours after Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl disappeared. As he was getting off a helicopter, he heard the Taliban on the scanner he held talking about seeing 24 flowers. He realized quickly that the soldiers were being referred to as flowers. He told the platoon leader, and they all hit the ground moments before shooting began. All of the soldiers survived, he said.

He said he knows other interpreters still stuck in Afghanistan fearing for their lives while they wait for visas to come.

Matthew Makowski, a volunteer with the San Diego chapter of No One Left Behind  an organization that helps military interpreters get settled after they arrive in the U.S.  said that people often forget about the interpreters.

In this country, rightfully so, veterans issues get a lot of focus, Makowski said. These guys, people dont think of them as veterans even though theyve fought alongside many of our soldiers.

Makowski helped Haidari move in furniture and worked toward getting him a drivers licence.

He just seemed like a nice guy, very energetic and very grateful to be here and to have any bit of help, Makowski said of Haidari. It seemed like the biggest thing in the world to him.

Haidari moved to San Francisco recently to be closer to some of his wifes relatives, but he knows he and Sossaman will stay in touch.

I told him, When you are old, I will come as a brother and help you out, Haidari said.

Haidari plans to enroll in school and work either as security, police or military. His focus is to raise his son with better opportunities than he had and to put his wife through school so she can learn English. She wants to be a fashion designer.

He said he has no intention of ever returning to Afghanistan.

Our country is finished, man, Haidari said. Our country is finished.

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kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate
The number of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased by more than 20 percent in the past two months.

According to ICE officials, the average daily population in August was 33,957. On Oct. 22, the population nationwide was 41,037.

At the higher count, detainees are costing American taxpayers more than $5 million per day, based on the average bed per day rate of $126 in the 2017 Department of Homeland Security budget.

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The Department of Justice announced in August that it would be moving away from private prisons. Shortly after, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said DHS would review its use of private detention as well. The deadline for that review is at the end of November.

Many have speculated that the forthcoming Trump administration will reverse that trend as deporting the numbers that hes promised to deport will require more detention space. Stocks for private prison companies rose when he became President-elect.

Twelve former immigration judges, including two who worked in California immigration courts, spoke out at the end of October against the expanding use of immigration detention in a letter addressed to Secretary Johnson.

On the basis of our experiences as immigration jurists, we know this expansion comes at the expense of basic rights and due process, the letter says.

According to the letter, 86 percent of detained immigrants do not have lawyers representing them, and due to the complexities of the immigration system, it is extremely difficult to win a case without a lawyer.

It doesnt seem like theres much reason to put them in the system at a rate thats higher than we can find representation for them, said Paul Schmidt, one of the judges who signed the letter. If someone is going to make a serious application for asylum, they need a lawyer. Its virtually impossible for someone who doesnt understand the system and isnt a lawyer to successfully represent themselves.

Schmidt said it was disheartening to see detention ramp up after DHS said it would review its use of private detention companies.

It seems like its going in the wrong direction, he said.

Detaining new arrivals and prioritizing their cases has not deterred people from coming, Schmidt said.

Its an expensive system, Schmidt said. I dont know the result were getting for it.

A private prison company pointed to the influx of Haitians arriving at San Diegos border over the past six months as one of the reasons for the increase in detention needs.

ICE uses a combination of publicly and privately owned and operated facilities to detain immigrants. Those in detention range from people waiting to be deported to people waiting to be interviewed to determine if they qualify for asylum.

Immigration officials said that, unlike private prisons, ICE facilities are used as part of the civil immigration process, meaning that ICE cannot hold someone as punishment.

ICE remains committed to providing a safe and humane environment for all those in its custody. ICEs civil detention system reduces transfers, maximizes access to counsel and visitation, promotes recreation, improves conditions of confinement and ensures quality medical, mental health and dental care, said ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack via email.

Since some facilities are contracted through local governments or the U.S. Marshals Service, it is difficult to determine how many of the facilities ICE uses are owned or operated by private companies.

Each contract specifies a daily rate per detainee, with some contracts requiring that a minimum number of beds be paid for regardless of whether they are filled. Those contracts sometimes include a lower rate for the number of detainees beyond the minimum.

Pedro Rios, director of American Friends Service Committee in San Diego, said the mandatory minimum bed requirements were a waste of taxpayers money.

Locally, ICE has two detention facilities run by private companies. Its Otay Mesa Detention Center is run by CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America, and its Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico is run by Management and Training Corp.

About 10 percent of detainees were housed in government-owned service processing centers in August, according to ICE officials, and 16 percent were detained in privately-owned contract detention facilities. The Otay Mesa facility is one of the contract detention facilities. Government-owned facilities might still be operated by contracted staff instead of federal employees.

Another 46 percent were in facilities operated through Intergovernmental Service Agreements that ICE contracted with local governments for either entire or partial use of a facility. Some of these facilities are county jails that contract space for immigration detainees. Others are private facilities, like the Imperial facility, which is operated through such an agreement, according to an ICE official.

Nineteen percent of detainees were held in facilities in which the contract is maintained by the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Marshals Service uses both publicly owned and privately owned facilities to hold its prisoners.

The remaining nine percent of detained immigrants were held in family or juvenile centers, hospitals, and other infrequently used facilities, according to ICE officials. Some family and juvenile centers are also privately run, like the CoreCivic family detention facility in South Texas. That facility recently had its contract renewed as the detention policy review continues.

RELATED

 Border data reveals not all immigrants come from Mexico.

kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate
'Welcoming cities' label debated as Trump term nears

Even as Donald Trump was running for president on a build a wall platform, the immigration debate was playing out across San Diego County over the past several months involving a much more mundane activity  city councils passing proclamations.

Even as Donald Trump was running for president on a build a wall platform, the immigration debate was playing out across San Diego County over the past several months involving a much more mundane activity  city councils passing proclamations.

Several cities in San Diego County declared themselves welcoming cities, a designation with little practical effect that nevertheless raised strong emotions around an issue that has now been pushed to the front of the American agenda.

Those in favor of such proclamations say the designation is meant to help newly arrived immigrants feel welcome and integrate, and those opposed worry that it will bring in people that they do not know anything about.

Lemon Grove , Encinitas , Solana Beach and Imperial Beach each passed proclamations, similar to those encouraged by President Barack Obamas White House Task Force on New Americans. Imperial Beach also passed one, but revoked it after a public outcry.

I think the city councils are being kind of naive, said John Moore, an unsuccessful candidate for the Assembly district that includes Lemon Grove. They dont fully, I think, understand the types of people that are being brought in under this welcoming cities program. When they did that, they put a neon sign over Lemon Grove and said dump your unvettable refugees here.

Pedro Rios, director of the San Diego office for the American Friends Service Committee, said that those concerns are not based on facts.

Theres no real proof to suggest that immigrants or refugees have been causing harm to the U.S. or that they represent a public safety or homeland security issue, Rios said. From what I understand and what Ive seen, theres a really thorough vetting process for refugees that has been tested over and over again.

Welcoming America, a nonprofit group that is implementing the initiative on behalf of the White House, lists three tiers of participation for welcoming communities. Tier 1 is mostly symbolic  cities at this level communicate to residents that they are welcoming cities and make sure their policies and opportunities are supportive of all residents.

Tier 2 means that the community brings together public and private groups to make a plan to help expand opportunities for new Americans and all residents.

Tier 3 involves higher levels of programming to help immigrants and new Americans integrate through civic participation and English-language learning.

None of the cities in San Diego County took additional steps required to be listed on the nonprofits registry, so its not clear which tiers they joined.

Georgette Bennett, founder of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, said turning refugees away could be a larger problem for national security than letting them in.

"By not rescuing people, we're creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, Bennett said. "We're creating a population that is vulnerable to radicalization. There is nothing more dangerous than people who have nothing left to lose. The way to avoid that nightmare is to rescue them.

Imperial Beach

In August, Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina issued a proclamation at a City Council meeting that Imperial Beach was a welcoming community for immigrants, refugees and asylees.

The proclamation had three main points:

The city affirmed its commitment to doing our part to make the United States a welcoming environment for immigrants, refugees and asylees.

The city committed to standing up against hateful rhetoric, condemning hate threats and condemning crimes motivated by hate.

The mayor directed city departments and urged local businesses to help provide services to families legally relocating to the City of Imperial Beach and integrating into our communities.

According to Imperial Beach resident Ernie Griffes, the proclamation came as a surprise to many of the border town residents.

He and others concerned about the proclamation organized to show up at the next council meeting. They told the mayor they were angry because he had passed the proclamation without alerting them. The mayor responded that he had the proclamation on the council agenda for at least two days prior to the meeting.

Griffes said more than 300 residents signed a petition to withdraw the proclamation.

People are upset about this, regular, everyday people, Griffes said. We feel compassion for refugees and asylees, but we also have compassion with our neighbors.

This is a big problem for quiet little communities, he added.

He said he was worried that the house two doors down from him might end up with a refugee family living in it.

You have ten people living in a three-bedroom house, and we dont know who they are, Griffes said.

Ginger Jacobs, an immigration attorney and chair of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, said San Diego has history of welcoming immigrants and refugees.

We should come together and reject hate in all of its forms, she said. It is important now more than ever to show our support to our friends and neighbors from the immigrant and refugee communities, particularly after an election season that was full of hateful rhetoric and attacks that sadly continue to this day. We will continue to stand with elected officials to reaffirm our region's legacy of inclusion and hospitality."

Not all Imperial Beach residents were against the proclamation.

The mayors father, Michel Dedina, who is Jewish, told the council that the proclamation was a good thing. He came to the U.S. in 1939, at age 6, to flee the Holocaust.

Our cousins who stayed in Europe, many of them were murdered by Nazis, Dedina said. Now in our time, little Muslim boys and girls are being killed in the Middle East. We must welcome as many of them, those kids and their families, as possible.

Boos and cries of No, from the crowded meeting room interrupted the rest of Dedinas time to talk.

Refugee vetting

One of the main issues, voiced repeatedly by those opposed to the welcoming city designation, was the nations vetting of refugees.

Our No. 1 concern about bringing in thousands of unvetted and unvettable refugees and immigrants from Syria and other terrorist countries is safety and security, especially with our many large military bases in San Diego County, said Jeff Schilk of North County, founder of San Diegans for Secure Borders.

Many cited a Congressional judiciary committee meeting in which Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama (who was just named attorney general in the Trump administration) raised questions about the vetting process for Syrian refugees.

I dont believe you you can tell us, with any certainty, that you have an ability to conduct an efficient background check, Sessions told immigration officials.

According to a state department official, who declined to be named, refugees are the most thoroughly screened of any traveler coming to the U.S.

The department says biographical information gathered from the refugee through interviews by both the United Nations Refugee Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials is run through a series of databases. DHS also runs the refugees fingerprints through a series of databases.

Refugees also receive medical screenings checking for communicable diseases like tuberculosis. The state department also conducts two additional interviews with Syrian refugees as an extra precaution, with an emphasis seeing whether their stories can be corroborated.

Other welcoming cities

Opponents of the welcoming cities declarations went to city council meetings for several other cities. None but Imperial Beach have dropped the designation.

Encinitas, the first to declare itself a welcoming city in the county, took a few months to decide.

Inspired by what he'd heard about the Syrian refugee crisis, Councilman Tony Kranz brought the idea to the council in December 2015. He and deputy mayor Lisa Shaffer were asked to work together on a report about what the designation would mean and whether it was right for Encinitas.

Becoming a welcoming community is about recognizing the value to the whole community of creating a supportive environment for everyone who lives here, Shaffer told the council in February.

She proposed that in becoming a welcoming city, Encinitas could work with a county call center to make a list of existing services in the area that help newcomers adjust.

The resolution passed 3 to 2.

When opponents of the declaration later tried to get them to change, Shaffer said residents stood by the council's decision.

They said they were proud of our effort, Shaffer told attendees at a recent panel on Syrian refugees.

The people who voted for this resolution got re-elected with strong numbers, she added. It did not hurt their political careers one iota.

Mary Sessom, mayor of Lemon Grove, said that City Council has no intention of revoking its declaration.

Look at our demographics; we are a city of immigrants or folks who have come from elsewhere because of the affordable cost of housing, she said via email. Rolling out a welcome mat is what neighbors do, and we consider those in our city to be our neighbors. Those who pay attention and aren't looking for an issue for their agenda know that a Welcoming City is not a Sanctuary City.

Welcoming cities are different from sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities involve local law enforcement not cooperating fully with immigration enforcement. Welcoming cities encourage the integration of immigrants into the community but do not offer special protections from immigration enforcement.

David Zito, mayor of Solana Beach, said that hed only received one negative comment about the designation from a man named Roger Ogden and had received more than 50 letters of support. He said many residents had also vocalized their support at meetings.

Ogden declined to comment for this story.

Chula Vista fulfilled one part of the officials welcoming communities protocol by declaring June 2016 to be Immigration Heritage Month. The city has not made a proclamation beyond that to say that it is a welcoming city.

kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate
A teen was shot in both arms while walking by a house party in the neighborhood of Chollas Creek Saturday night, San Diego police said.

The 17-year-old was walking on Altadena Avenue near Sterling Court when he passed a party on the other side of the street about 9:05 p.m., San Diego police Officer Ben Newton said.

A male at the party stared at the teen as he walked past, then pulled out a gun and shot him, Newton said.

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The victim was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds in his right bicep and left forearm. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Investigators have not determined whether the shooting was gang related.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
A 31-year-old man died early Monday morning after he was found stabbed in a house in Clairemont, San Diego police said.

A resident called 911 after discovering Ronald Brandon Labastidas unresponsive body in the home on Channing Street near Doliva Drive about 12:45 a.m., homicide Lt. Ray Valentin said.

Labastida was rushed to the hospital with injuries to his upper torso but died soon after arriving.

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Detectives havent located anyone who witnessed the attack. Labastida may have been wounded somewhere else, before finally collapsing in the home on Channing Street, the lieutenant said.

It rained fairly hard before detectives got to the area, which likely washed away any blood trails, Valentin said.

Four people were at the home when Labastida was found. It was unclear if the victim was also staying there. Detectives do not believe he was homeless.

The mans grandmother, who was too distraught to talk about her grandson on Monday, said, I just hope they find the person who did this.

According to court records, Labastida was a convicted felon, and was sentenced in 2011 to six years in prison for robbery. His criminal history includes drug and driving under the influence charges.

Valentin asked anyone in the area who may have seen individuals or vehicles leaving the area around 1 a.m. to call police at (619) 531-2293.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
Regarding Qualcomm worth considering for stadium solution (Nov. 18): Wayne Raffesberger is right-on in his advocacy for the current Qualcomm site for the new stadium.

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy.

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E-mail letters@sduniontribune.com

Mail: Andrew Kleske, Reader Outreach Editor San Diego Union-Tribune P.O. Box 120191 San Diego, CA 92112-0191.

You can also leave a comment below

It has everything needed for a new or completely renovated current stadium for our Chargers: infrastructure, parking, including plenty for tailgating, and a much more convenient location than downtown.

The Chargers management wanted to tap new downtown hotel taxes, but that is too high a price for the rest of us to pay, all things considered.

Lets bear down on a winning proposal to build the new stadium where it belongs in Mission Valley.

The county should help bear the cost along with the city of San Diego, for we all benefit from the stadium.

Ronald De Fields

Lemon Grove

Opposing views on merits of the protests

Surely the letter from Jim Biers (Planning, not protests, mark path forward, Nov. 16) was meant as irony, right?

Seriously?

Has he been around for the last eight years?

Colleen Sharp

Poway

* * *

Why do you insist on giving these protesters their five minutes of fame?

If the professors and teachers are letting the tail wag the dog, perhaps they should be penalized.

Since none of the high school students and very few of the college students voted, they have no basis for protesting unless they are representing their teachers.

F.R. Sprecco

Lakeside

* * *

The protests following Donald Trumps election should surprise no one; they should instead be quite expected.

Any free society such as ours, which encourages citizens to protest what they feel is unjust, should find such incidents an integral part of the culture we inhabit.

So our president and many ministers, school principals, teachers and other leaders have recently encouraged public expression of dissatisfaction. The media then prominently display these events. Thus, an increase in such should be expected.

However, our countrys future course seems uncertain. Perhaps the considerable increase in tensions between various political and social causes over the last 50 or so years can be attributed to the inevitable Balkanization that protests seem to encourage.

Will the right to self-expression via protest further increase todays civil unrest, and eventually threaten, even destroy the very fabric that has made our nation among the freest in the world? Let us hope not.

Frank Almond

La Mesa

Duncan Hunter at the helm is a scary thought

Thank you for your coverage of Rep. Duncan Hunters personal use of his campaign finances (April 5, Nov. 16) and his efforts to pressure the Coast Guard into purchasing ships from a top donor (Oct. 16). These reports have shown that Rep. Hunter is incompetent at best and unethical at worst.

The latest article, Rep. Hunter mentioned for top Pentagon positions (Nov. 11), states that Rep. Hunter is in contention for defense secretary or national security adviser. Thats pretty scary.

Anne Paulsen

Encinitas

The Navys changes will not help efficiency

In response to J.F. Kellys article Why Navys politically correct changes are divisive, (Nov. 17) on the contrary, impending changes to the way all sailors are addressed: Change is always contrary and sometimes gut-wrenching.

Our U.S. Navy has maintained traditions dating back 200 years. A scuttlebutt is still a drinking fountain more than false testimony.

If Im seeking help with a mechanical problem while looking at the crows on sailors arms and I see the symbol of a Yeoman, then a Ship Fitter, whom do I address? Faster and more efficient than shouting out, Heh, I need help.

Ship names? I remember when only battleships were named after states; cruisers were always named after states, etc. Whats happening to our honored Navy traditions?

William Fox

San Diego

ACLU should defend all of our nations liberties

Logan Jenkins opinion piece (ACLU gets big boost from Trump victory, Nov. 16) exposes a seam, indeed a flaw, in the tireless work of the American Civil Liberties Union.

When he pressed Norma Chavez-Peterson, executive director of the ACLU local chapter, about a civil right that would have been more threatened under a Clinton presidency, the answer reveals that flaw: Not from our analysis so far.

Further pressed about the civil right known as the Second Amendment, the answer is, well, not really the ACLUs focus. In fact, not at all. The ACLU (and others) attempt to pick and choose which of the various civil rights are worthy.

The civil liberties of all Americans include the Second Amendments protections and deserve more than a wan smile. All our rights deserve the full protection, in all venues, of what claims to be Americas foremost protector of civil liberties.

Will Bentley

Oceanside

The Democrats got what they asked for

The Democratic Party got what it deserved in Novembers general election.

It turned away Bernie Sanders, an inspirational, charismatic, idea-driven and bold progressive at a time when people across America were crying out for help and radical change.

Not only did they utterly fail to realize Sanders was the partys life ring, but the Democratic National Committee put its thumb on the scale to nominate a baggage-laden, dynastic insider, and one of Americas biggest political targets.

Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party loved criticizing Donald Trump for his lack of policy specifics, but in the end it was their own lack of bold ideas, and the offering of little more than the status quo, that collapsed the Democratic Party.

James McCord

Carlsbad

Hoping nation survives Trump presidency

The Democratic nominee wasnt the only one who lost in last weeks election for president.

Tolerance lost. Civility lost. Diplomacy lost. Intellectual curiosity and respect for science lost. And the winners were? Vladimir Putin, the Chinese government and a U.S. society in which racism, misogyny and bullying are all more acceptable forms of conduct.

Those of us who care about the future of democracy and civil society can only hope that a Trump presidency does not cause lasting damage to our country and the world.

Susan Fields

San Diego

Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
The San Diego Planning Commission gave final approval on Thursday to a legal medical marijuana dispensary in Mission Valley, the 15th such business the city has approved.

The dispensary, the second OKd for Mission Valley, is expected to be one of the last approved under a 2014 city ordinance allowing legal medical marijuana dispensaries for the first time.

While the citys ordinance allows a maximum of 36 legal dispensaries, strict zoning and other requirements have made the number much lower. Only eight of the 15 approved dispensaries in the city have opened, but most of the other seven are working toward opening later this year or in 2017.

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RELATED: Fewer marijuana dispensaries in San Diego than expected

There are dozens of additional dispensaries across the city, but they are all unpermitted and government agencies are slowly working to close them down. City officials say opening legal dispensaries decrease demand for illegal ones.

The dispensary approved on Thursday is at 3455 Camino Del Rio South. The other Mission Valley dispensary is nearby at 3703 Camino Del Rio South.

The other seven legal dispensaries that have opened are at 2335 Roll Drive in Otay Mesa, 3452 Hancock St. in the Midway District, 658 E. San Ysidro Blvd., 2405 Harbor Drive in Barrio Logan, 7128 Miramar Road in Mira Mesa, 5125 Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa and 10671 Roselle St. in Torrey Pines/Sorrento Valley.

The next two expected to open are located at 1028 Buenos Avenue in Linda Vista and 3385 Sunrise Avenue, just southeast of downtown in Stockton.

The new dispensary, the first OKd since April, was approved despite being within 1,000 feet of city parkland and a church.

City planning staff said the nearby parkland didnt disqualify the site because of a new policy adopted this spring that allows dispensaries to open near sensitive uses if there are natural topographical barriers in between. Access to the park from the dispensary is limited by a steep hill.

The church, which opened in June, was not recognized by the city because it hasnt yet obtained proper building permits.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 @UTDavidGarrick

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When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that law enforcement must get a warrant to search cellphones, the historic opinion changed police protocol across the nation and set a strong precedent supporting privacy in a technological era.

As far as rulings go, the one in Riley v. California was a game changer  for nearly everyone but the man at the center of the case.

Despite the high court opinion in his favor, David Leon Riley was ultimately ordered to remain in prison to serve out his sentence of 15 years to life.

Such outcomes arent all that rare. Many times, an appeals court will find a flaw with how justice was meted out, but also find that the flaw was not big enough to overturn the overall result of the case.

That was what happened in Rileys case. And now his attorney is planning to once again petition the U.S. Supreme Court, this time arguing that the lower appeals court that reconsidered Rileys case after the landmark ruling erred.

Were in long shot territory, but I wouldnt do it if I thought there was not a chance, Pat Ford, Rileys appellate attorney, said last week, noting the relatively few cases the high court accepts each term.

Riley, 24, was convicted of attempted murder and other charges in connection with a 2009 shooting in San Diegos Skyline neighborhood. He was arrested after being pulled over for expired tags on his Lexus, and the officer found two guns hidden under the hood of the car. His smartphone was seized during the stop, and police pulled photographs and other data from the phone  without a warrant. (The law surrounding such warrantless cellphone searches was vague at the time, with competing rulings in various courts.)

Three of those pictures  showing Riley flashing gang signs with another suspect in front of his other car, the Oldsmobile used in the shooting  were later used against him in his trial in San Diego Superior Court.

His conviction was appealed all the way to the top, and the Supreme Court justices were unanimous in finding the phone was improperly searched. The landmark ruling stated that the type and quantity of personal information stored nowadays on cellphones is equal to an entire office full of personal data. The ruling concluded a warrant should be required to search cellphones, just as one is needed to search someones home. .

The ruling marked a rare instance of the Supreme Court tackling modern technological issues. What it didnt do was vacate Rileys conviction. Instead, it sent the case back to a lower court, Californias 4th District Court of Appeal, to decide how the ruling would affect his case.

As the legal standard goes, a defendant is entitled to a fair trial, but not a perfect one.

The 4th District court found that while the phones photographs were improperly seized and admitted as evidence, the error was not important enough to have affected the final verdict. The court pointed to several other pieces of evidence that the jury considered in finding Riley guilty. That evidence included ballistics that matched the guns to the shooting, the DNA of Riley and other defendants on the guns, cell data showing his phone was used in the area at the time of the shooting, and testimony from an expert about Rileys gang affiliation.

Deputy Attorney General Christine Levingston Bergman pointed to the same evidence in her arguments before the court.

The photographs were but a single string in the bow of the experts opinion, the three-judge panel ruled in February.

We are confident the photographs had such a de minimus incremental inflammatory impact that their erroneous admission was unimportant in relation to everything else the jury considered on the issue in question, the state appellate court continued, and therefore was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ford petitioned for a rehearing, which was denied, and then asked the state Supreme Court to review the decision, which was also denied last month.

In his arguments, Ford claims the appellate court was not applying the harmless error standard correctly and cited similar concerns raised by California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu in a separate case. Ford argues specifically that the courts arent putting a heavy enough burden on prosecutors to prove their cases, as required by law.

This standard is supposed to be very hard to meet, but is met regularly nonetheless, said Daniel Yeager, a criminal law and procedure professor at California Western School of Law in San Diego.

Often the controversial piece of evidence is just one item in an otherwise strong case, the professor explained. Or, he conceded, lower courts may not following the standard, giving too much weight to the prosecution and jury verdict.

Appellate courts dont want to upset jury verdicts in criminal cases," Yeager said. "Would the jury have done the exact same thing without those photographs? Its hard to know."

Ford argues the court should have more carefully considered all of the elements that he contends pointed to Rileys innocence. No eyewitnesses could identify him as a shooter, and witnesses said Riley often loaned his Oldsmobile to friends, and that gang members often passed guns to friends to hang onto after a shooting.

In my mind this was a very close case, Ford said, noting the fact that Rileys first trial ended in a deadlocked jury. It hurt him at trial, to see him (in the photos) standing in front of a red car, flashing gang signs with another shooter.

Ford has until mid-September to file his new petition with the U.S. Supreme Court.
A fun way to enjoy the seasons fresh cranberries. Italian Cranberry Sauce is not only a stunner it takes just minutes to put together this spectacular sauce. Feel free to use only orange juice instead of the alcohol.

This cranberry sauce goes so well with dishes of the season. Enjoy it with these slow roasted turkey wings  so good and made with a cranberry sauce glaze. You could also keep it simple and make this turkey pot pie it is just delicious!!

When the holidays are approaching, I love to try out new recipes. There are so many different ways to make cranberry sauce, but this Italian Cranberry Sauce is a new favorite! It is also called a Negroni Cranberry Sauce and it is an Italian Thanksgiving recipe that will simply wow your guests!

Italian Cranberry Sauce

It really doesnt take much to make cranberry sauce and there is always a batch made around here during cranberry season, not just for Thanksgiving. My kids are like me and love the tart flavor in this delicious berry. There are so many things to make with cranberry sauce and especially leftover cranberry sauce.

Like I said, we love it so much theres hardly any leftover to experiment with. If youre not into an Italian Cranberry Sauce recipe, make our traditional easy cranberry sauce recipe.

An Italian Thanksgiving Menu

This is another recipe in our Italian Inspired Thanksgiving Menu series. Stay tuned for more delicious Italian Thanksgiving recipes to inspire you! Our Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing is moms cherished recipe and it is so good! A family favorite is our Roasted Balsamic and Honey Brussels Sprouts. You could see our Pancetta Cornbread and also our Roasted Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Lasagna. For an Italian inspired dessert, try our Amaretti Almond Pumpkin Pie...its so good!!

How to make cranberry sauce?

The first thing to do is sort through the bag and throw away any that are mushy, brown or shriveled up.

The next thing to do is start to boil the water and sugar. You could use less sugar if you would like it more on the tart side. I tend to use less sugar every time I make cranberry sauce. But I may be the only one that likes it more tart over here. Look at the gorgeous cranberries starting to burst!

Cranberry Sauce With Orange Juice?

There is fresh orange juice in this recipe. Just because orange juice and cranberry go so great together! Fresh squeezed orange juice is the best for this recipe. Now this recipe does have a little booze in it. If you prefer it without the booze, simply add more orange juice. And lets say you only have Campari and not the other liqueurs, thats fine. Just use the Campari (or whatever of the 3 you have on hand in this recipe).

So after your cranberries begin to burst and cook up you add your Italian liqueurs and the fresh orange juice. No problem if you would like to use just orange juice to keep it booze free for the kiddos!

What do Italians eat on Thanksgiving in America?

We have had so much fun these years celebrating Thanksgiving with our Italian neighbors. As soon as we moved in, they became part of the family (or we became part of their family!). Whenever we went to any of their celebrations it reminded me of my Italian family parties as a little girl here in the States. At most of the holiday parties we would usually start with a simple broth and pastina (I love pastina).

We would quickly progress to different antipasto dishes and cold cuts. These days, it is usually some of my Calabrian mother-in-laws salami, capicolla or both, some different cheeses, bread. It is the perfect food to nibble on while the turkey is roasting. There are side dishes already made and just heating up.

Once youre done snacking on all the antipasti and small bites, it is time to slice up the lasagna and you have to leave room for the turkey! At this point, does it matter that there is turkey? Of course! The best part of making the turkey meal is the leftovers the next day. I know some people that just dont like leftovers; not a problem in my family! In my family, there was enough food for days after the holiday and this is even after sharing with neighbors or some of the guests. I know, we Italians sometimes exaggerate with the food portions!!

What to drink at an Italian Thanksgiving?

Keeping with the Campari themeif you are a negroni fan like me, read about aperitivo time in Italy and learn how to make your own Negroni Sbagliato!

Do they celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy?

Did you know that there is a Harvest Festival celebrated in certain regions of Italy. It is usually during September and it is a time to be grateful and thank God for a successful harvest season. Festa del Ringraziamento, referring to a number of religious holidays observed throughout the year for patron saints. Even though Thanksgiving is not an Italian holiday, it certainly has become part of the lives of the Italian immigrants that settled in America (like my dad and my husband) and it is celebrated. And for those Americans that do find themselves in Italy during Thanksgiving (think Julia Roberts in one of my all-time favorite movies-Eat Pray Love) and need to shop for the big day or you just wanting to impress you friends with some Thanksgiving foodie terms on Thanksgiving Day (il giorno di ringraziamento), here you go! tacchino ripieno del Ringraziamento= stuffed turkey

whole turkey = un tacchino intero

turkey breast = petto di tacchino

cranberries = mirtilli rossi

sweet potatoes = patate dolci

pumpkin = zucca

turkey breast = petto di tacchino

stuffing=ripieno

mashed potatoes = pure di patate

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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/21/2016 -- From country perspective, Asia Pacific automotive telematics market is segmented into India, China, Oceania, ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. Currently, China dominates the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market and accounts for around 45.4% market revenue share, followed by Japan and South Korea. China is forecast to continue its dominance in APAC automotive telematics market till 2020, as it's expected to capture a 45.3% market revenue share and expected to register a CAGR of 11.6% during forecast period. China, Japan and South Korea collectively contributed around 89% of the market revenues in 2014.ASEAN region is forecast to register a healthy CAGR of 12.6% during forecast period. India is expected to register a highest CAGR of 14.1% during forecast period.



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Drivers and Trends



Governments in advanced and emerging economies such as US, UK, Brazil, Singapore, India, have introduced regulations, policies and initiatives to increase the use of telematics in the automotive industry with a view to improving road safety. Increased acceptance of advanced technology and gadgets, such as mobile phones, laptops, smart phones, tablets, telecommunications, and various other technological goods in advanced and emerging regions has been witnessed in the last few years, particularly in the Asian region. As most of the manufacturers are competing to retain or increase their market share, some players are investing in innovating their product offerings by integrating new features and application in telematics devices. In order to maintain greater margins, OEMs capitalize on the convergence of digital content, wireless communication and automotive electronics. In the short term, however, telematics is expected to represent a product differentiation strategy rather than a revenue play. OEMs have created a new business model to complement their existing car making model. OEMs are investing in telematics to capture the untapped market. By 2020, they want to position their companies globally as the providers of content and services, just like phones or tablets.



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There has been increasing adoption of emerging hybrid technology in vehicles (semi-autonomous vehicles are expected to become commonplace). The importance of remote vehicle diagnostics is slowly growing globally. Automotive OEMs are expected to continue investing in various technology advancements, such as integration of smart phones with the vehicle infotainment unit. This is expected to make embedded solutions more affordable and engaging.



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MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies.
Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/21/2016 -- A one stop destination for ecommerce website operations management, WebsiteOperators is offering website management services for hassle-free operations of ecommerce and other websites. Their website management services include Product Maintenance (entry and editing), Content Development (SEO Best Practices), Banner Management, Email Provisioning, Promotion Management, and much more. They manage all aspects of an internet channels such as eCommerce, Wholesale, Service and distribution operations. They have a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals who work closely with the clients to deliver optimum output from the website management process. Individuals looking for a reputable website management company can rely on them to get their task complete in the most effective manner.



When it comes to offering best-in-class website management services at the most competitive prices, Website Operators is one of the most sought after names in the industry. They have been in the business since 2008, and have helped many business owners in managing their online portals. With their offices in Idaho, Texas, South Carolina and Florida, this firm is well equipped to manage site operations for virtually any company in any location that sells any product over the Internet.



Talking more about their website management services, one of the representatives of the company stated "Our team can manage all aspects of a client's admin console (or build one if necessary), develop and operate inventory management systems and integrate via API or other software tools for warehouse management, in-store POS operations, or any other omnichannel platform where programmatic integration is critical. Our management team will also work with your company from the beginning on a comprehensive Scale Campaign to ensure we're on the same page with you regarding a Growth Plan."



About WebsiteOperators

In business since 2008, WebsiteOperators was founded by Internet Entrepreneurs to be a complete, one-stop-shop for all things eCommerce. The service offerings of many companies that provide support to eCommerce companies are oftentimes focused on specific segments of site operations, whether it be marketing, content development or customer service. This company was founded to take all aspects of site operations into account, combine them into one service offering and provide clients with one place to go to run their website. This company was built for one purpose: to allow those that want to sell online to focus on their business while we focus on their website operations.



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New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/21/2016 -- Land military is one of the basic forms of border defense of a country. Military land vehicles have been growing at a rapid pace due to increasing purchases by the emerging economies with large population who need increased land-protection. However, the military land vehicles market is expected to grow at a sluggish rate in the short term due to austerity in several major markets. The economic slowdown in Europe is another factor for the low growth in the short term. The traditional markets for military land vehicles such are the U.S. are mostly up-grading and maintaining their existing military fleets rather than replacing them with the new ones.



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The expected cuts in the U.S. vehicle programs are expected to lead to a slowdown of military land vehicles market in the region in the short term. The major land military vehicles of the U.S. include Stryker program, MI I3 replacement, Abrams/Bradley/Paladin Capability enhancement, Ground Combat Vehicle JLTV and FMTV. The major land vehicles owned by other countries include FRES, OUVS, Warrior & Challenger (the U.K.), Boxer (Netherlands), Future AIFV (Spain), PUMA AIFV (Germany), Freccia (Italy), Strategic Military Program (Brazil), Altay MBT (Turkey), K21 AIFV and K2 MBT (South Korea), Abrams Tank up-gradation (Iraq), Future MBT and Abhay (India), Land 121 and Project Overlander (Australia), Project Vistula, Sepula, Hoefyster (South Africa), TSS MBT up-gradation (Peru) and Main battle tank (Columbia) .



The asymmetric warfare and increasing operation pressures are compelling the governments to focus on new breed of military land vehicles with focus on mobility and transportation, propulsion, transportability, interoperability with other elements, logistics footprint and lifetime cost. The increasing need for agile and efficient vehicles is driving the market for lightweight and hybrid military land vehicles. The U.K. which played significant role in Iraq and Afghanistan operation faced a defense budget deficit of USD 60billion post operation which led to an aggressive Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) to recover from this. The legacy vehicles in France including AMX-10 RC, VAB and ERC-90 are to be replaced by VBMR and EBRC vehicles.



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The governments in the western countries are practicing lean military force and are therefore downsizing their armed forces. However, they are replacing their cold-war era equipments and investing in new technologies. The Department of Defense (DOD) in the U.S. is planning to downsize its soldier's strength by 80,000 and the marine corps by 20,000. Among regions, North America dominated global sales followed by Asia Pacific. With the economic recovery of Europe by the mid of the decade the military land vehicles market in the region is expected to grow at a fast pace. Military land vehicles market is consolidated with small number of players operating in the market.



About Persistence Market Research

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To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.
Ewen McDonald is co-chair of the governing board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the worlds largest dedicated international climate fund operating in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) financial mechanism. He believes that for the South Korea-based fund to help bring about radical change towards low-emission, high-resilient development pathways it must target ways to trigger systemic change across all involved sectors worldwide.

In this interview with SciDev.Net, conducted on the sidelines of the 22nd UN Conference of the Parties on climate change (COP22) in Marrakesh, McDonald shares his thoughts on accreditation and funding access for the most vulnerable countries, the boards upcoming meeting in the Pacific, its proactive gender requirements and support for climate science.



The GCF has been criticised as having a cumbersome accreditation process, particularly for developing country national entities which may have limited capacity to come up with all the required information. How is the GCF addressing this?

The funds accreditation process is detailed and thorough to ensure that its partner institutions meet relevant fiduciary standards and to safeguard against environmental and social harm. Achieving accreditation does take time, but maintaining the systems high standards is critical and we cannot cut corners.

The GCF board has approved so far US$1.17 billion for projects and programmes to be implemented in around 40 countries that are predominantly LDCs, SIDS and African states. Ewen McDonald, GCF

The GCFs accreditation process is actually performing well. Unlike other funds, it has accredited a diverse range of public and private entities at the national, regional and international levels.

Since the funds launch, 41 entities have been accredited. Of these, 18 are direct access (national or regional entities nominated for accreditation to the GCF by national designated authorities); 4 are private sector entities; and 19 are international access entities.

The GCF emphasises the importance of direct access entities. Its mandate is to pursue a country-driven approach and promote and strengthen engagement at the country level. The board has identified priorities for accreditation to achieve balance, diversity and coverage in the GCFs network of accredited entities. To this end, it will give due consideration to national direct access entities particularly in developing countries.

The fund is currently supporting 16 entities in 13 countries seeking accreditation under direct access to develop an accreditation gap assessment and action plan.



Is the fund also working to improve access to resources by direct access entities, particularly in small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs)?

Yes. At its meeting in June 2016, the board agreed on measures that will help boost the proportion of proposals coming from direct access entities. It decided on the operational modalities of the funds project preparation facility (PPF), which supports all accredited entities, but particularly direct access entities, to prepare project proposals. Entities can receive up to US$1.5 million per request under the PPF. The GCF board also agreed on a range of activities that can be supported by the readiness and preparatory support programme, including specific support for direct access entities. Eligible activities include awareness raising, gaps analyses and capacity-building. So far, US$30 million has been allocated to this programme, half of which will be provided to LDCs, SIDS and African states.

The GCF board has approved so far US$1.17 billion for projects and programmes to be implemented in around 40 countries that are predominantly LDCs, SIDS and African states.



Tell us more about the GCF meeting in the Pacific for the first time this December. What will be the focus at that meeting?

The next meeting of the board  final meeting in 2016  will take place in Apia, Samoa, from 13-15 December. This will be the first time the board meets in the Pacific with many of those attending first time to set foot in the Pacific. In my view, this is a critical opportunity to raise awareness and enable members and observers to see first-hand the vulnerability and climate finance needs specific to the region.

The fund is the first of its kind to include such proactive gender requirements. Ewen McDonald, GCF

The Samoan government is doing a tremendous job organising an event that we hope will trigger greater climate finance momentum and focus in the Pacific.

The Apia board meeting will consider a review of the initial proposal approval process and operational guidelines for a simplified process for certain activities. It will also consider the next round of funding proposals and reveal how well the fund has performed against the boards US$2.5 billion approvals target in 2016.



The GCF has been proactive with its gender requirements. Why did the fund choose to make gender a priority and how do you hope this will change the way private institutions and other international climate funds conceptualise what is needed to craft an effective climate change programme?

It is well-documented that climate change impacts will exacerbate existing inequalities between women and men. Its also widely recognised that both women and men contribute to combating climate change. In this context, the funds governing instrument gives a clear mandate to pursue a gender-sensitive approach, reinforced by the boards adoption of a gender policy and a gender action plan.

An entity must comply with the GCFs gender policy before it can become accredited, let alone submit funding proposals. The fund is the first of its kind to include such proactive gender requirements. We understand that other institutions are developing similar approaches to mainstream gender considerations into their operations. This is a great outcome.



How can the GCF link climate finance and climate science to better meet the needs of developing countries?

GCF project and programme proposals can include support for improving a countrys climate science capacity. For example, the board has approved proposals in Malawi, Mali, Sri Lanka and Namibia that include activities to develop climate information services. It has also approved proposals, for instance in Morocco and Namibia, involving scientific research and capacity-building in specific areas.

The fund also has a role to play in supporting entities when developing proposals to include scientific evidence in their proposals. GCF-funded climate change mitigation and adaptation investments must be guided by the best-available climate science and data. An independent technical advisory panel provides technical advice for the GCF secretariat and board to consider during the project development and approval process.

The GCF is in its first full year of operation. Its operating framework continues to be refined as we learn the practical lessons that can only come from experience. As the fund matures, it will be better able to identify the specific climate science needs of developing countries and where there is a role for the GCF.



Q&As are edited for length and clarity.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets South-East Asia & Pacific desk.
After weeks of rumors and speculations, the Finland-based tech giant has finally confirmed the launch of its 2017 Nokia Smartphone. The company confirmed the launch of the rumored D1C in a slide presented at Nokia's Capital Markets Day 2016 event. The slide clearly states Nokia's return to the smartphones market next year.

Nokias comeback in smartphone industry confirmed for 2017https://t.co/pg9wYpSRh5 pic.twitter.com/Duv0nBZ4Ko  Express Technology (@expresstechie) November 19, 2016

Although not much has been revealed about the 2017 Nokia Smartphone, the D1C, we can still speculate what the smartphone would be like. Some of the other Nokia-branded Android devices like the Nokia 5320 and 1490 models have also been rumored on various sites earlier. Here's what we expect from the upcoming Nokia Smartphone:

2017 Nokia Smartphone: Who's going to manufacture the D1C?

Well, the simplest answer would be Nokia, but that would not be true. After its acquisition by Microsoft, the Finnish company would not manufacture any smartphone on its own. It'll, however, be the owner of the brand and will also supervise the manufacturing of the new phones.

#Nokia announces smartphone entry ! No word on whether they will have green screens and rotary dialshttps://t.co/b9GTwclRWf  Mohan Desai (@22000FT) November 19, 2016

HMD global will be responsible for the development of the 2017 Nokia Smartphone, whereas, Foxconn will be responsible for the devices' R&D and manufacturing. It's worth noticing that Nokia has recently granted HMD to manufacture devices under its brand for the next decade.

2017 Nokia Smartphone: D1C's Expected Features

Although not much has yet been officially announced about the upcoming smartphone, if the recent rumors and reports are to be believed, the D1C could mark Nokia's return to the Smartphone Market. The D1C has been benchmarked both on Geekbench as well Antutu, also revealing some of its key features.

The 2017 Nokia Smartphone is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 430 processor, which will be coupled with an Adreno 505 GPU. Nokia D1C will run on a RAM of 3 GB and will feature a storage capacity of 32 GB. As Nokia has signed a non-compete clause with Microsoft, it'll also ditch the earlier Windows Mobile for good.

Nokia D1C is a phone not a tablet, images leak online https://t.co/VAZeymNmpZ pic.twitter.com/DMebPsdyl4  Applingua (@applingua) November 10, 2016

Nokia D1C will now run on the latest Android Nougat, and may also feature some of the latest specs that come with the new OS. The 2017 Nokia Smartphone will come with a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera.

2017 Nokia Smartphone: D1C's Release Date and Price

The D1C was earlier rumored to be launched before the end of 2016 but till now the company has not revealed much about the smartphone. It's very likely that the Nokia D1C Smartphone will be unveiled during Company CEO Rajeev Suri's keynote address at MWC in February.

The upcoming smartphone is expected to carry a price tag worth $225 in the U.S. As not much is known about the D1C yet, stay tuned to SWR to know more about the 2017 Nokia Smartphone.
A NASA camera captured a mysterious huge blue sphere moving in front of the Sun. The images of the blue sphere were taken by the NASA's STEREO satellites, which orbit the Sun and shared by Facebook User Pamela Johnson from Mexico.

RT reports that the images, which were dated Nov. 17, 2016, can be found on NASA's STEREO Science Center website with "Ahead HI1" Telescope. The images make the conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts snooping and interested. They suggested it was a UFO. On the other hand, the images disappeared and cannot be seen as of this time.

Many people responded upon seeing the images. Meanwhile, Johnson said that the Sun reacted to the object in the middle of November. A YouTube observer described the object as "exceptional." The object appeared on Nov. 15, 2016.

Pamela Johnson stated that the Sun is casting the light that is coming in from the left side of the frame. She further stated that the satellite's archives indicated that the Sun began reacting to this object on Nov. 15 and there are several frames missing on Nov. 15 and Nov 16. The images were uploaded in a YouTube video. It was viewed by around 67,000 people. Some of them were thrilled and the other half seemed skeptical, as noted by HNGN.

One skeptical, Mike Sovereign, said that NASA would not be so careless to allow something like this to reach the public. He further said that it looks like something is projecting this: "image in space, holographic perhaps or project blue beam."

Meanwhile, NASA said that "on rare occasions" the image processor can become "overloaded" resulting in "corrupted images." They further explained that the images are created from many exposures added together. The image is only just the Sun, although overly exposed and not "project blue beam," according to NASA.
In a 3-2 vote on Nov. 19, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has approved the trial of genetically modified mosquitoes to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, Chikungunya and dengue.

Last summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light for the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District to test the use of a genetically modified mosquito to fight Zika transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes for the first time in the United States has been blocked and opposed by not only some commissioners of the group, Stephen Smith and William Shaw but also the residents in the community.

In two Nov. 8 ballot measures, the residents in Key West had split feelings toward GMOs being used to stem the spread of infectious diseases. About 58 percent of the residents in Monroe County approved the trial, while in Key Haven, where the trial was set to take place, 65 percent opposed the trial.

"This is a tool mosquito control needs. When you're sworn into office, your main goal is to kill mosquitoes and to protect the residents and the county," Jill Cranney-Gage, a commissioner who represents Key West, said as reported by NPR.

However, the chairman of the district's board of commissioners, Phil Goodman, reached a decision that if the board approved the trial, it would choose a new site for the experiment since Key Haven residents opposed it. The residents said that they do not want to be used as "guinea pigs" in the experiment and they fear the environmental consequences associated with the trial.

The move is to release genetically engineered (GE) male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes of the line OX513A in Key Haven, Monroe County, Florida. A biotechnology company, Oxitec Ltd., developed the modified strain to reduce the populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by up to 90 percent in trials conducted in Brazil and the Cayman Islands, The Verge reports.
GOES-R spacecraft, the best weather satellite, rocketed on the mission in space on Saturday night. It will monitor the U.S. weather including the tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic ash clouds, lighting storms, flooding, solar flares and wildfires.

NBC's meteorologist Al Roker said that it will get more data, more often, much more detailed, and higher resolution. He further said that in the case of tornadoes, it can give people another 10, 15, 20 minutes, they are talking about lives being saved, as noted by Phys.Org.

NOAA's GOES-R satellite will orbit the Earth and observe the weather conditions on Earth. This could aid the forecasters in predicting the weather accurately. It will also provide increased abilities to trace the storm intensity and the development on Earth. Furthermore, it will track solar and space weather, too.

Good luck GOES-R!! A live look at #GOESR as it heads off into space to start its mission. https://t.co/wEkZBRWnIj pic.twitter.com/PLVU4I10hw  NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) November 20, 2016



NASA reports that GOES-R has sensors that can pick up signals from emergency beacons as part of the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System. It is the 16th in the series of satellites created to monitor meteorological conditions on Earth. It offers four times more spatial resolution, three times more spectral information and five times faster coverage than the past GOES spacecraft.

The weather satellite will be renamed GOES-16 once it reached its orbit. It is conceptualized for up to 10 years of operation with about 18 years of fuel onboard the satellite.

GOES-R leaped off from the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Florida's East Coast. "And liftoff of NOAA's GOES-R. America's most advanced weather eye in the sky," said Michael Curie, the NASA's launch commentator.

Meanwhile, NASA's launch director for the GOES-R mission Omar Baez said that soon there will be an asset for forecasting that is basically a closed-circuit television looking at America's weather.
The detection of a cosmic barcode in a supermassive black hole suggests that one of the four essential forces of nature is constant across the galaxy. The discovery made by Australian researchers is reportedly helping to build the picture of the Big Bang cosmology, just like an intricate piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

According to the research team from the Swinburne University of Technology and University of Cambridge, a distant quasar located beyond the Milky Way has electromagnetism readings that have the same strength as that found on our planet.

"Except for gravity, electromagnetism controls nearly everything around us, from every atom, to light, to how sound travels through the air, why we do not fall through the floor - the list goes on," Professor Michael Murphy from Swinburne was quoted by the Herald Sun. "So the constancy of electromagnetism's strength is a hugely fundamental assumption in our knowledge of everything. But it is an assumption, and one we must test, which is what we have done.

According to The Adviser, Murphy goes on to explain the phenomenon. The idea that the Big Bang and our universe are just one among many was also looked into and that in other universes the power of electromagnetism might be different, which perhaps makes life impossible there.

Incidentally, the four known fundamental forces of nature are electromagnetism, gravity and weak and strong nuclear forces. The professor also adds that the relationship of electromagnetism to the other three fundamental forces of nature is something beyond scientists' current understanding of physics at the moment.

Quasars are celestial objects that eclipse the galaxies that contain them due to their immense brightness, a result of being powered by black holes up to 1 billion times the mass of the Sun. The researchers found that the electromagnetism in the galaxy, where the quasar being studied is located, was within one part per million same as found here on Earth.

The scientists could make comparisons by observing the object's light traveling to Earth with the help of the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope spectrograph and a 3.6 m telescope in Chile, in the course noticing that aspects of it were absorbed by the galaxy's gas 8 billion years ago and casting shadows at certain colors in the process.
As many people can feel the effects of climate change, more scientists are alarmed and research on how to defeat the phenomenon. A new study reveals that volcanic eruption can give coolness to the Earth.

Researchers from the University of Britsh Columbia have conducted a study and published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmosphere. The experts revealed that the climate change is causing the lower layers of the atmosphere to expand. It results to the delaying of the capability of aerosol, making sulfur to rise into the stratosphere, which is where the layer of aerosol reflects the sunlight and heat that keeps the Earth cool.

In the study, the researchers found that the volcanic eruption has sulfur among the other gasses and this sulfur rises, going into the atmosphere until it reaches the stratosphere. Once established up there, the sulfur particles form an aerosol and linger there for a couple of years, according to Top Examiner.

During these years, the aerosol actively reflects the sunlight and heat from the Sun. It then helps the planet Earth to cool down. It has been estimated that every year, volcanic eruptions are three to five times.

According to the computer-based models on climate scenarios that were conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by the end of this century, some of the volcanic plumes caused by the large eruptions at the tropical regions will not be able to thrust high enough to trigger the cooling effect.

Thomas Aubry, a Ph.D. student, said that "Volcanic eruptions also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and that can have a warming effect but on a 100 million-year time scale. That effect is negligible compared with the cooling effect of sulfur gasses."

According to the report by the Ottawa Citizen, Aubry further said that "I hope that the Paris Agreement (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) will change things and that the United States won't exit. Even then it's very uncertain what will happen with CO2 emissions."
President Barack Obama bans oil drilling in some portions of the Arctic for the next five years. This means no oil and gas exploration leasing in the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea for at least five years.

This could be a sudden breakthrough for environmentalists who campaigned for years to stop drilling in the region. On the other hand, it is quite a jolt to Republicans who want to exert effort on expanding the fossil fuel extraction.

Sierra Club stated that today's news could not come at a better time. They further said that President Obama has protected the Arctic and the Atlantic Oceans from Big Oil. Meanwhile, the Pew Charitable Trusts said that the decision will protect wildlife migration routes, crucial feeding grounds, seafloor habitats and the larger marine ecosystem.

Phys.Org reports that the U.S. plans offered 11 potential lease sales. These include 10 in the Gulf of Mexico and one off the coast of Alaska in the Cook Inlet area. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell stated that the plan focuses lease sales in the best places. These include those with the highest resource potential, lowest conflict and established infrastructure and removes regions that are simply not right to lease.

On the other hand, some are against the decision. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, said that lawmakers would work to overturn the plan.

Randall Luthi, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, said that the arrogance of the decision in unfathomable, but unfortunately not surprising. Meanwhile, Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican member of Congress for the region, said that the President had once again ignored their voices to side with the factions who oppose offshore drilling in Alaska, according to BBC.

On the other hand, Jacqueline Savitz, the senior vice president of environmental group Oceana, hailed President Obama for protecting the coasts from the dangerous offshore drilling. In the past summer, about 400 scientists signed a letter appealing to President Obama to eliminate the Arctic offshore drilling.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Christmastime is near, and the Salvation Army of the Pee Dee is looking to assist at least 671 children who are in need this year through its Empty Stocking Fund.

The Morning News is assisting the army in this years efforts by getting the word out about the fund in order to help families this holiday season.

Last year, more than 700 families received bags of gifts for Christmas thanks to the Salvation Army and the hundreds of toy donations provided by members of the community.

The armys goal this year is to raise $60,000 to provide food, toys and other presents to the families that successfully completed the application process.

Wed love to reach that amount, because the money raised will be to provide Christmas dinner as well as Christmas gifts  toys, bikes, clothes, whatever the need is for a family, Major Lynda Thornhill said. Reaching that amount is going to make that possible.

The goal last year also was $60,000. Ultimately, the Salvation Army raised $82,000.

The 2016 fund drive will start Friday, and it will run through Christmas Day, Thornhill said. Donations can be sent to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 4108, Florence, SC 29502, or they can be dropped off at any BB&T location.

The Red Kettle Campaigns bell-ringing is another effort by the Salvation Army that raises money for the needy at Christmas.

Toy donations can be brought from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to the Salvation Army at 2210 Hoffmeyer Road in Florence. They can be brought from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday after Nov. 28 to the Christmas Center at 1611 S. Irby St. in Florence.

The application deadline has passed, but families still can get help.

Weve had a number of people call the Salvation Army that missed the deadline, probably due to Hurricane Matthew, Thornhill said. What were doing is offering an emergency assistance day on Dec. 22, starting at 9 a.m. until supplies last, on a first-come, first-serve basis, at our Christmas Center.

Thornhill said the Salvation Army knows how to stretch dollars.

You can be assured that every dime that is given to the Empty Stocking Fund will benefit a child at Christmas or an individual in need throughout the year, she said.

People who are interested in volunteering as an individual or group or who are interested in sponsoring somebody to ring the Red Kettle Campaigns bells can call the Salvation Army office at 843-662-4461.
Speaking on the sidelines of the DNVGL Bulk Carrier Forum in Hong Kong, Greater China vice-president Torgeir Sterri told Seatrade Maritime News that "especially with the big groups, there is a clear strategy to prepare for when the good times come".

Specifically the major state-owned shipbuilding groups in northern and southern China are building up their capabilities and image as well as a few of the bigger privately owned yards that already have a good reputation and financial strength such as Yangzijiang, he added.

"How many yards in the world are able to invest today?" Sterri asked. He pointed out that the Chinese state-owned yards are the only ones that still have funds to invest for the future, with even the Koreans and Japanese being increasingly cash-strapped now.

They are making investments in areas such as research and development, streamlining and optimising their production processes and improving their equipment manufacturers and suppliers. These investments will be driven by the state, he said and added that they are being done as part of China's latest five-year plan.

Sterri pointed out that key owners are already taking notice of this. For example major product tanker player Stolt-Nielsen has placed orders with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding while major competitor Odfjell has also followed suit.

While he admitted that there remains an image of poor quality, with some Chinese-built bulkers fetching as much as a 40% discount on the second hand market, Sterri maintained that this is set to change in the months and years ahead. "The main goal for China is to build their brands, change the perception, and it is a strategic move to do so," he concluded.
Indeed, the road ahead for shipping is very challenging as was evidenced after an eight-hour debate on greener shipping in Athens 15 November.

We have heard a lot about changes that are going to cost and shipping should not be held responsible for covering this cost, governments need to help, said Haris Giantzikis, technical manager of Greeces Arcadia Shipmanagement, as the day was winding up.

Availability of low sulphur fuel to meet looming regulations was raised early in proceedings. Panos Zachariadis, technical director Atlantic Bulk Carriers, and a long-time member of the Greek delegation to IMO, predicted the sulphur cap will be put back because of the supply issue. Adrian Pask, BP Marine Fuels, said the refining industry is still seeking clarification on deadlines, but believes "there is enough time for refineries". "It will not be easy, but we have started to prepare," he said.

Another fact made very evident is that shipping is in the digital age. Big data is now a part of shipping and while the industry may only just beginning to spread its wings in the age of big data, technologies are being developed which the industry, often seen as being reluctant, must embrace, despite fear from traditionalists that the seafarer is being made redundant, or at least is losing onboard control. This was a particular concern of floor delegates though presenters countered a computerised future provides greater awareness of safety and efficiency while increasing trading potential and thus earning power.

Dimitris Theodossiou, md of Danaos Management Consultants, was adamant crew must be encouraged to provide the onboard data to their owners as it not only proves to the charterer they are dealing with an efficient ship, it makes the operation of the ship more efficient overall, and certainly rings alarm bells when it comes to maintenance. The classification men pointed out there is a wealth of data that can be collected and there "are tools which can sort out this data".

Cyber security and who is actually in charge of cyber security was an issue. Torbjorn Moller, MAN Diesel & Turbo, pointed out "owners own the data collected and control exactly what the data is used for". He said IACS is looking at the issue of cyber security, and it is in the interest of all to collaborate. Giantzikis said, "much like when it comes to your home you are responsible for security, the company is responsible for cyber security".

Shipowner George Tsavliris stressed IMO is in charge of changes in the industry. "Shipping is over-regulated and unilateral decisions and political agendas must be avoided. IMO has the knowledge, experience, realistic standards and goals to take us forward," said Tsavliris. He was among those wondering if there were sufficient funds in the industry to make the changes being demanded. He also pointed out shipping is not mentioned in the final Paris Agreement text, and that the overall target for emissions has been changed.

Then, there is the Trump card said Tsavliris. He said the US president-elect has made a number of statements which indicate the US may abandon the Paris Agreement on climate exchange altogether.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Matthew C. Solomon, the Chief Litigation Counsel for the SECs Enforcement Division, will leave the agency early next month.

Mr. Solomon has led the Enforcement Divisions litigation program since September 2013, managing cases pending both in federal courts and administrative proceedings at the Commission. The trial unit has 48 attorneys at the SECs Washington headquarters as well as more than 100 additional litigators throughout the agencys 11 regional offices.

During Mr. Solomons tenure as Chief Litigation Counsel, the agency received favorable verdicts in 22 federal jury trials, including the SECs cases against two brothers accused of violating the laws governing ownership and trading of securities by corporate insiders, its insider trading cases against two brokerage employees and a pharmaceutical executive and a U.K. resident, and a first-ever case against a recidivist municipality and one of its city officials. The agency also enjoyed strong successes in administrative proceedings before the SECs administrative law judges.

Matt has won the respect of every trial and investigative attorney in the Enforcement Division with his keen intellect, strong strategic sense, and outstanding trial skills, said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SECs Enforcement Division. He has bolstered our already strong litigation program, and been an important reason for our success at trial over the last few years.

Mr. Solomon said, Our enforcement program has been built on a strong partnership between investigative staff and litigators who are prepared to go the distance at trial. I am proud of the strong record we have built over the last few years litigating some of the Enforcement Divisions most complex and challenging cases.

Mr. Solomon joined the SEC in June 2012 as the Enforcement Divisions Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel. Before joining the SEC, Mr. Solomon served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and was later elevated to chief of that offices fraud unit, where he supervised 25 prosecutors handling hundreds of white-collar criminal matters, including securities fraud offenses. Prior to his work in the U.S. Attorneys Office, Mr. Solomon was a trial attorney in the public integrity section of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice and, before that, he served as a counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and then as a law clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Solomon received his B.A. magna cum laude from Wesleyan University, and his J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was notes & comments editor of the Georgetown Law Journal.

Following Mr. Solomons departure, David Gottesman, the Enforcement Divisions Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel, and Bridget Fitzpatrick, a supervisory trial counsel in the Enforcement Division, will serve as acting Co-Chief Litigation Counsels.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2016-245

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Stephen Luparello, Director of the Division of Trading and Markets, will leave the agency by the first of the year. He was named director of the office in February 2014.

Mr. Luparello played a key role in enhancing the transparency and strengthening the integrity of our nations markets, including the operation of trading platforms, clearing agencies, and broker-dealers that investors rely on every day.

We set an ambitious agenda to enhance our market structure, said SEC Chair Mary Jo White. Steve was at the forefront of that effort, and his leadership and expertise have helped produce both important new protections for investors today and a strong foundation from which the Commission can continue to further strengthen our markets for years to come. The agency is extremely fortunate to have the benefit of Steves deep knowledge and commitment to the markets.

It has been an honor to work with Chair White, the Commissioners and the incredible Trading and Markets team, whose dedication and hard work have greatly enhanced the Commissions oversight of the equity, fixed income and derivatives markets, said Mr. Luparello. I know they will continue to make great progress in these important areas on behalf of investors and our markets.

During Mr. Luparellos tenure, the Commission adopted Regulation Systems Compliance and Integrity (Reg SCI), which established new controls to strengthen crucial technological systems, providing greater transparency, accountability and resilience. He also played a key role in the Commissions efforts to enhance operational transparency and regulatory oversight of alternate trading systems (ATSs) that trade stocks listed on a national securities exchange, including dark pools. Additionally, he oversaw proposed rules that for the first time would require broker-dealers to disclose the handling of institutional orders to customers.

With Mr. Luparellos leadership, the Commission also approved a plan to create a comprehensive database that allows regulators to track trading activity in the U.S. equity and options markets. The database, known as the consolidated audit trail (CAT), will greatly enhance regulators ability to monitor market behavior and reconstruct market events.

Mr. Luparello was instrumental in the creation of the Commissions first Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee, and as the Committees designated federal officer, he facilitated significant discussions on the structure and operations of the U.S. equities markets.

Mr. Luparello also acted as the principal liaison for the Commission staff in discussions regarding the U.S. Treasury market in the wake of the events of Oct. 15, 2014. Under his direction, the Commission approved a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rule proposal that would require its members to report U.S. Treasury securities transactions, that for the first time gives regulators enhanced oversight in the U.S. Treasury market.

Mr. Luparello has provided strong leadership on the adoption of many Dodd-Frank Title VII rules that provided a new regulatory regime for security-based swaps, involving cross-border rules for security-based swap (SBS) entities, rules for SBS data repositories, new business conduct standards, and enhanced SBS transactions reporting and recordkeeping. In addition, the Commission approved Division recommendations to approve heightened standards for critical central counterparties, and to propose a rule to shorten the clearance and settlement cycle.

Prior to his arrival at the Commission, Mr. Luparello was a partner at WilmerHale, in its Washington, D.C. office. Previous to that, he spent 16 years at FINRA and its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). As FINRAs vice chairman, he was responsible for its enforcement, exam, market regulation, international and disclosure programs.

Upon Mr. Luparellos departure, Heather Seidel, Chief Counsel for the Division of Trading and Markets, will become the acting director.

Ms. Seidel began her securities law career at the SEC in 1996 in what was then the Division of Market Regulation and later moved to the Division of Investment Management. She then spent several years in the private sector, starting in 1999 as an associate at the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering and in 2001 as an associate and vice president in the law division of Morgan Stanley.

She returned to the SEC in 2003 to the Division of Trading and Markets, serving as an Attorney Fellow, Senior Special Counsel and Assistant Director in the Office of Market Supervision. In 2010 she became an Associate Director in the Office of Market Supervision, and in 2015 she was named as Chief Counsel for the Division.

Ms. Seidel received her bachelors degree from the University of Connecticut in 1992 and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1995.
Eagles, those aerial takedown artists, are at it again. This time, they've taken out nearly all of the unmanned aerial vehicles dispatched to fly over mining lands in western Australia.

According to ABC Science, wedge-tailed eagles are batting nearly 1.000 in the skies near the country's mining town of Kambalda. All told, out of 10 drones to take to the air, nine have been sent to the ground by the eagles.

Thus far, the site reports, South Africa's Gold Fields, which has mining concerns in the area, has spent some $100,000 on replacement drones.

The company uses the drones as surveyors. The flying eyes take high-resolution photographs and use them to create contour maps for future mining forays.

Drones in the area have even been attacked by two eagles at once, and efforts to disguise the machines as other eagles have not fared well.

Eagles Trained to Intercept Drones in Denmark

Eagles far and wide seem to have become mortal enemies of drones (not far behind are chimps, which have also gotten into the drone-swatting act). So much so that the high-flying predators have even gained the notice of law enforcement. Earlier this year, Dutch police began training eagles to take out suspicious drones spotted flying in no-go places.

This footage, shot by Melbourne Aerial Videos in 2015, shows what it looks like, from a drone's-eye-view, to have the business end of a territorial eagle bearing down on you.
Humans and other animals leave their DNA behind wherever they go, and sharks are no different. Lead author Eva Egelyng Sigsgaard of the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark told Seeker that shark eDNA comes "most likely from fecal matter , urine and sloughed skin."

The findings, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, represent a breakthrough in the use of environmental DNA (eDNA), which refers to genetic material taken from environmental samples such as soil , sediment, and, in this case, seawater. Without bothering a single shark, the authors get critical information about a threatened species from its eDNA contained in the water samples.

Seawater samples made up of less than eight gallons can reveal the genetic makeup and estimated population size of the entire whale shark population, according to new research .

Whale sharks are the world's largest known fish, growing 40 feet or more in length. Nicknamed "gentle giants," they are slow-moving filter feeders that pose no threat to humans. One of the sharks' favorite spots is the Arabian Gulf, also known as the Persian Gulf, where they seasonally gather to feed. The location is in waters off the country of Qatar. A researcher from Maersk Oil of Qatar, Steffen Sanvig Bach, was a co-author.

Sigsgaard, Bach and their team collected a few small seawater samples totaling less than 8 gallons from the Gulf. They then sequenced trace amounts of the whale shark's DNA contained in the samples, and estimated the DNA's mutation rate by comparing it with genetic data previously obtained from other whale sharks at various locations. Mutation rates are inherently tied to breeding rates, which are an indicator of an animal's population size.

"The genetic diversity we find in the water samples represents an effective population size - number of reproductively active individuals - of around 70,000 females, based on our calculations," Sigsgaard said. "As we find that the Qatar aggregation belongs to the Indo-Pacific population, we expect this estimate to reflect the entire Indo-Pacific population."

That covers an enormous territory, as the Indo-Pacific comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia.

Many tuna were also detected to be living in the Gulf waters with the sharks, strongly suggesting that whale sharks follow tuna, which they do not even eat. Caviar is what they are after, according to the researchers.

Thomsen explained, "The whale sharks feed on the tuna eggs, not the tuna themselves."

DNA in water has already been used to estimate the populations of many other animals. In freshwater, it has suggested numbers of fish, amphibians, birds, insects and crustaceans in different specific locations. In seawater, it has been analyzed to estimate fish, seals, whales and birds.

Its application to sharks holds great potential since these marine predators are challenging to study due to their wide ranges, location of some species in very deep water and other factors.

Analyzing eDNA in water poses its own challenges, since water is not a stationary substance.

"DNA in water has an approximate degradation time of a couple of days or weeks," senior author Philip Francis Thomsen, an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark Center for GeoGenetics, told Seeker. "This makes it possible that non-local DNA can be transported with ocean currents. But we expect this to be a minor or even non-existing input compared to the local source of DNA."

RELATED: DNA from Mystery Human Species Detected in Pacific Islanders

Ryan Kelly, an assistant professor at the University of Washington's School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, has also conducted studies using eDNA. He told Seeker that Sigsgaard and her colleagues "have certainly pushed the boundaries of what is possible to do with environmental DNA."

He added that the research "represents a conceptual advance, and will be a basis for conversation and thought among those in the field, particularly among those - and I count myself among them - who are interested in moving genetics-based monitoring out of the lab and into the real world."

The applications are seemingly limitless. They include studying other populations of endangered marine species, detecting invasive species on the move, monitoring the effects of climate change on populations and much more, Thomsen said.

They might even solve some long-standing mysteries, such as what exactly lurks in Scotland's infamous Loch Ness.

Thomsen said that "if it is a real animal living there, then it could potentially be detected" via eDNA. "But it would not mean much unless one actually captures the species or photographs it authentically - not just someone seeing something strange."

For now, he and his team are sticking to studies in waters off of Qatar. They are now trying to detect whales, sea snakes, turtles, fish and other sharks using eDNA from seawater samples.

Photo: Whale shark at Al Shaheen, Arabian Gulf. Credit: Steffen Sanvig Bach, Maersk Oil Research and Technology Center, Qatar
In the Catholic Church, women are not allowed to be priests. According to religious doctrine, priests embody the persona of Jesus Christ, and because Jesus was a man, this law can never be changed.

In 2016, Pope Francis said he didn't think women would ever be allowed to enter the priesthood. He essentially pointed to the decisions of former Pope John Paul II, without fully addressing the issue.

Will it ever be possible for women to become Catholic priests? Watch today's Seeker Daily video to learn more.



Big thanks to our sponsor for supporting Seeker Daily: Check out Monster's reimagined boombox



Learn More:

Reuters: Pope says he believes ban on female priests is forever

Pew Research: The divide over ordaining women



Vatican: APOSTOLIC LETTER ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
Press Release

November 21, 2016 Legarda Urges DOH, LGUs to Address Lack of Toilet Facilities as 8M Filipinos Still Openly Defecate In line with World Toilet Day on November 19, Senator Loren Legarda has asked the Department of Health (DOH) to work closely with local government units (LGUs) in addressing the issue of open defecation. According to the DOH, around 8 million Filipinos still openly defecate. "I asked the DOH to work with the LGUs so they can determine which households and barangays still need assistance for toilet facilities. I hope all households will have improved sanitation facilities and every Filipino will have access to toilets by next year because this is a national sanitation and health issue," said Legarda, noting that diarrhea caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water kills 315,000 children every year around the world.[1] The DOH said it needs one billion pesos to provide sanitary toilets for all households in the country but it only proposed P83 million under its 2017 budget. The DOH provides the toilet bowls and the construction is care of the LGUs, thus, their budget request is based on the request of the LGUs. The DOH has a Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) program where it advocates that every household in the barangay has sanitary toilets. Sarangani Province has zero open defecation. "The DOH should meet with LGUs to determine priority areas for the provision of improved sanitary facilities using the Sarangani Province model, which has zero open defecation. If Sarangani which is among the poorest provinces in the country can do it then other LGUs can do it as well, with political will and health leadership," said Legarda. Legarda also said that access to health sanitation facilities is one of the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under SDG 6, Ensure access to water and sanitation for all, one of the targets is to "achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations"[2] by 2030. "Basic sanitation services such as toilets or latrines are important because the lack of these facilities result in diarrheal diseases. The safety of women and girls are also compromised when they use public toilets or have no choice but to defecate openly. I urge our LGUs to be more proactive in addressing this very basic need," Legarda concluded.*** ___________________ [1] WASHwatch.org 2016 [2] UN Sustainable Development Goals
Metaphors, some subtle, others more direct, demand our attention: A preponderance of black and white over color, faces so overexposed you cannot discern the features, entire photographs or portions of them intentionally out of focus, bleakness and beauty competing for visual primacy within the same work.

It is impossible to view the images in Japanese Photography From Postwar to Now, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art through March, without considering the history that attended their creation. If curator emerita Sandra S. Phillips had arranged the nearly 200 photographs chronologically, instead of by category (Performance, the City, Disaster, the Countryside, Interiors, etc.), the evolution of artistic consciousness as Japan struggled to re-establish its own identity after World War II would have been more obvious  almost certainly, too much so. The categorical arrangement invites us instead to consider each work both on its own and as a part of a historical throughline.

Photographer Shomei Tomatsu (1930-2012) said that the history of postwar Japan could be summed up with the word Americanization, and we see convincing evidence of that, especially in the earlier years following World War II. But even in more contemporary work, there is often a visual grace note to cue memories: of the war, yes, but more indelibly, the cataclysmic horror of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which changed not only Japan but also the entire world.

Photographs of garments appear to bookend the exhibit. Entering the third-floor gallery space, you are confronted by a ghostly black-and-white, large-scale photograph of a tattered dress by Miyako Ishiuchi from her Hiroshima series. Evoking an X-ray, the dress is poignantly empty and eerily diaphanous  disembodied, as it were.

With accompanying images of a pair of shoes and a soiled sailors blouse, we are seeing what remained after the bombing in 1945. The photographer, who was born in 1947, intentionally imbues her work with an unsettling mixture of ethereal beauty, mute horror and deep poignancy.

In another room, we are presented with a pair of photographs by Yuki Onodera. Each depicts a blouse, floating in the air, much like Ishiuchis dress and similarly disembodied. But these garments are whole, unworn and seemingly detached from the possibility of human contact. Ishiuchis photographs are filled with light, while Onoderas are opaque, almost leaden.

What do the images tell us? It isnt a stretch to say one set of images speaks to the annihilation of Japanese character more than 70 years ago; the other two suggest a more contemporary absence. Each seeks the identity of the wearer.

As we would expect, Tomatsus photographs, from his Chewing Gum and Chocolate series, provide insistent testimony about the postwar invasion of American culture in Japan. Yokosuko (1966) shows the faces of two African American sailors, shot from below, which, of course, prompted Tomatsus subjects to look downward. Other photographs depict brand icons of American commercialism  a trio of painted Pepsi bottles, peeling on an exterior wall.

Tsunehisa Kimura (1928-2008) specialized in photomontage, whose very form seems to reflect the conflict in cultures Japan experienced in the postwar years. His untitled work from 1977 depicts the head and torch-bearing arm of the Statue of Liberty emerging from the ocean  swimming? Or perhaps about to sink beneath the waves? Either interpretation is possible. Kimura often depicts a comically hyperbolic clash of Western and Japanese iconography, but with very serious purpose.

Yasumasa Morimura acknowledges his American little sister, Cindy Sherman, in one of several striking color images in the show. The work is part of the Performance portion of the exhibition, photos whose subjects were staged for the camera. He re-creates a Frida Kahlo portrait, as well as two by Rembrandt, and a triptych play on Edouard Manets The Fifer, which, again, may seem amusing until the viewer accepts the deeper meaning of the imagery.

There is exquisite artistry in the details of each Morimura re-creation. At the same time, we are aware that he has not only imitated Western art but purposely highjacked it by impersonating the subject of each classic painting. His identity as an Asian man is nearly  but not entirely  subsumed by the re-creation of the original work.

In the early postwar years, in part because of a very strong American military presence, Western culture was a dominant force in Japan. In time, many Japanese, especially those born after the war, enthusiastically embraced American culture, saturated, of course, in commercialism. More recently, Japan has returned the favor, as Americans have consumed Japanese popular art, culture and commercial products: cinema, manga, Hello Kitty, Pokemon, Toshiba, Toyota.

Identity, evolution and dissolution are reflected in other photographs in the show. Naoya Hatakeyama, among Japans most prominent photographers, deconstructs an explosion in the three images that make up Blast. By freezing milliseconds of destruction, he has created almost balletic beauty in each photograph, as well as a kinetic interrelationship.

Taishi Hirokawas 30 November 1991, Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Ikata, is landscape photography, but the landscape is contemporary, with a mountainside and the sea overwhelmed by the iron skeleton of a nuclear power plant under construction.

People of various ages are scattered on a hillside on a bright, cloudless day in Yokohama, by Hiromi Tsuchida from the series New Counting: Grains of Sand. The image  so bright, so pretty  is human pointilism, with figures so tiny in the distance that they are like dots of color. No one person stands out, and the eye sweeps across the brilliant green hillside looking for a dominant point of entry but finds none. As the photographer intended.

Kiyoshi Suzuki (1943-2000) works on a smaller, deceptively serene scale with A Woman, from his series Soul and Soul: Four false eyelashes rest in a metal bowl, quietly suggesting a removable identity. Instead of the present-tense kineticism of Hatakeyamas Blast, we are witnessing movement after the fact  action at rest, in a way.

It is a fit companion to Tsuchidas Yokohama, a black-and-white focus on minutiae, the eyelashes suggesting dead insects. We see the four discarded eyelashes, but the bowl itself is the dominant image here, the rich interplay of light and dark in the metal suggesting a long history of use.

When we think of Japanese photography, our minds may go to cherry blossoms and pagodas  peaceful imagery that is re-envisioned by several photographers in the SFMOMA exhibit. Rinko Kawauchi  among the many female photographers represented here  offers a large-format, square photograph of a rose as part of her Illuminance series (1977). What sets it apart from merely pretty flower images often associated with Japanese photography is that the bloom itself is overexposed  in fact and metaphorically. The explosion of light on the flower blinds us to its details.

At its core, photography is light and its absence, often in degrees. It captures what was, for a second in time, refracts it and creates something new that by itself may seem fixed forever, but that becomes a new moment each time it is viewed. Japanese Photography is filled with new moments, many of which inevitably carry us back into the darkness of the past.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV

Japanese Photography From Postwar to Now: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Thursdays until 9 p.m. $19-$25 (18 and under free). San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F. (415) 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org/tickets
SACRAMENTO  While Democrats question their diminishing national footprint, the party remains strong in California, with Democrats earning a second supermajority in four years in the Assembly.

Democrats took two seats from Republicans in this months election to regain a supermajority in the lower house. The Senate is awaiting the results of a race separated by less than two percentage points to find out whether it too will have a two-thirds voting bloc of Democrats.

At the end of the day, if the Senate doesnt have it, its relatively meaningless in the Assembly, said Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio. Its a major accomplishment for the Assembly, but in terms of the ability to do anything with it, you cant if the Senate is one shy.

Democrats declared a supermajority in the Assembly more than a week after the election when the Associated Press called a close Riverside County seat for Democrat Sabrina Cervantes on Wednesday. Cervantes is ahead of incumbent Assemblyman Eric Linder, R-Corona, by more than 7,000 votes, or six percentage points.

Entering the election, Assembly Democrats needed to gain two seats to pick up the supermajority. They picked up one when former Democratic Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi ousted Republican incumbent Assemblyman David Hadley of Manhattan Beach for the District 66 seat in Los Angeles County.

Democrats could still pick up a third seat in the Assembly. Former Democratic Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva holds a 4,300-vote lead over incumbent Assemblywoman Young Kim, R-Fullerton, in an Orange County race separated by three percentage points.

With Democrats making up two-thirds of the Assembly  54 members  they can vote to pass taxes or put constitutional amendments on the ballot without a single Republican vote. However, anything that passes the Assembly needing two-thirds approval would also have to pass the Senate with the same threshold.

Senate Democrats needed to pick up one seat to earn a supermajority.

The Senates chances of a supermajority rest on the undecided race in which Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar (Los Angeles County), is ahead of Democrat Josh Newman by fewer than 200 votes.

Republicans are hoping Chang holds her lead to keep a seat at the table.

Newly re-elected Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, said the supermajority only further ensures that Democrats in the Assembly wont have to work with Republicans.

We have to have an alternative to brute-force hyper-partisan politics, Baker said.
A feathered fare beater boarded a BART train in the East Bay Monday morning, causing a ruckus among passengers who rallied together to get the freeloader off the car.

Sarah Mason, a daily commuter to the Civic Center in San Francisco, boarded BART at the Richmond station shortly before 8 a.m. One stop later, at the El Cerrito Del Norte station, a pigeon suddenly flew in through the open doors, prompting squeals and shouts from riders as it ducked under seats, Mason said.

Commuters were unsuccessful in their first attempt to shoo the bird out of the train before the doors closed.

As the train continued its route, passengers shot up from their seats when the pigeon skirted down the train car. Passengers called out, Its over here, said Mason, a social worker who helps people find affordable housing in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood.

It was a full train effort, Mason said of the birds capture and release.

Mason said she had a first aid kit in her bag that included a pair of disposable gloves. She whipped out her gloves and joined several others in their attempt to snatch the rogue pigeon.

Mason and the team of commuters eventually cornered the pigeon.

Im not a bird person, said Mason, a former intern for the National Parks Service at the Marin Headlands. Theyre a little too delicate and they kind of freak me out.

But when Mason finally grabbed ahold of the pigeon, she said, she had a bird connection.

She held onto the bird for three more underground stops before releasing it at MacArthur station.

The pigeon was really calm, Mason said. The glistening pink and green neck was beautiful. I could feel its heart beat in my hands.

Michael Gray and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mgray@sfchronicle.com and sravani@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @SarRavani
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At Francisco Middle School in San Franciscos North Beach, more than 80 percent of the students speak a language other than English at home  and they were quick to pick up on the talk about immigration during the recent presidential debates.

Theres a total undercurrent of fear here for our particular students, says Marna Blanchard, a social studies teacher at Francisco, where students other languages include Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Korean.

The complicated emotions students feel as they observe current events  from President-elect Donald Trumps vow to build a border wall to the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe  have led some to connect deeply with their learning materials as they study the Holocaust.

As part of The Big Read, a program launched by the Jewish Family and Childrens Services Holocaust Center this fall, 7,000 Bay Area students read a book about the life of Lisa Jura, a 14-year-old girl who fled Nazi-occupied Vienna in 1938.

Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Lisas mother put her on a train alone, bound for London, where she would live in a group home, comforting other children by playing the piano. Her escape was part of the Kindertransport rescue effort that saved thousands of children in Nazi-occupied Europe.

The Children of Willesden Lane is Lisas story told by her daughter, concert pianist Mona Golabek. The connection to her mothers history through music is what eventually moved Golabek to write the story of her mothers life. Golabek performed her acclaimed one-woman play based on the book for the students recently at the Herbst Theatre.

Like Golabek, Lisa was an enormously talented pianist, and when she said goodbye to her mother at the Westbahnhof train station in Vienna, her mother made her promise she would hold on to her passion for music.

The Gestapo took Lisas parents from their home in April 1942. They were deported to Lodz in Nazi-occupied Poland, and from there, Auschwitz, where they died.

Seven decades later, some students at Francisco  who are about the same age as Lisa when she fled Vienna  see echoes of themselves in her life. For 13-year-old Renee Huang, who has played the violin for two years and the viola for three, the way Lisa used music as an emotional escape in London felt familiar.

When my mom and dad were having tough times, it helped me to get away from the stress. Id play the violin upstairs when I just wanted to block it out and get away from my problems, Renee said.

I have a stepsister who emigrated from China to here. She doesnt speak English. She goes and plays the piano we bought for her when things are tough, she continued.

For many students, Lisa Juras story of change and hardship in an unfamiliar land is not unlike their own experiences.

Im an immigrant from China. My parents have to work really hard to earn money and pay rent, said 13-year-old Finn Liu. I try to be a good student  I like helping my parents.

In the current divided political environment, navigating emotionally loaded history lessons is more challenging than usual for teachers. Last week, a history teacher at Mountain View High School was suspended after a lesson pointing out similarities between Trump and Adolf Hitler.

They hear all this rhetoric, the talk about the Latino population and the issues of legality. These are legitimate fears they have, said Blanchard of her students, some of whom have experienced a parents arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Blanchard said looking at issues through the lens of history can sometimes give students a distance or protection that helps them to process emotionally difficult material  a certain level of cushioning, she called it.

She recalled one memorable instance several years ago, at a lunch with about 12 students and a Holocaust survivor, in which a student shared his experience crossing the border from Mexico with the survivor, his memories of thirst, dirt and fear.

It was the most amazing experience, because they ended up having this common experience, common ground, Blanchard said.

For some students, its both painful and familiar to read about Lisa Jura leaving her family behind.

A lot of my friends come from different countries, come here with only one parent, said 13-year-old Leslie Vallejo. It hurts. My mom, she left her family in Mexico and that was the last time she saw her mom. She had me here.

She said she knows she cant change the past, but she does want to shape the future, noting that at least she will be able to vote.

Filipa A. Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com
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Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness, and if youre traveling the holiday week  its no longer just a long weekend  youll find plenty of company on the highways, at airports, aboard trains and even on long-distance buses.

AAA of Northern California, which releases annual holiday travel projections, says more Californians will be traveling more than 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving holiday than in the past nine years. Thats a 3.1 percent increase over last year.

Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for the association, said Thanksgiving travel has been slowly but steadily on the rise since bottoming out in 2007.

This is an upward trend that were seeing, and its due in large part to an increase in consumer spending, confidence in the economy and people being able to pay off travel expenditures, she said. Its a sign that Californians are eager to travel.

Thanksgiving has grown into more than just a four-day holiday weekend in recent years. Its expanded into a travel period of a week or even more, especially for travelers heading out of state. Some school districts give students the week off, and airports now plan for larger-than-usual crowds starting the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Its just easier to take a whole week rather than a few days, Tiffany Torok, 35, of Petaluma said while getting ready to board a flight at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday.

Torok; her husband, Sandor; and children, ages 6 and 1, were flying to Tucson where they will spend the week with her family.

Its so much more stressful if youre leaving the day before Thanksgiving and then turning right around again, Sandor Torok said. This worked out with our schedule, and traveling on a Sunday is nice  lets face it.

At all three international airports in the Bay Area, officials figure that the holiday travel season started on Friday.

SFO considers the holiday travel season to run from the beginning of Thanksgiving week through Jan. 2. During that time, the airport expects to see 6.5 million passengers  5.7 percent more than last holiday season. The busiest travel day is expected to be Nov. 27  the Sunday after Thanksgiving  when about 160,000 travelers will pass through SFOs gates.

Sarah Simnett and Marcus Lodwick, both 47, were traveling from SFO to Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sunday with their kids, ages 8, 11 and 12.

The Half Moon Bay residents, who are originally from England, wont be doing the traditional turkey holiday. The kids had school off, so to cut costs, they waited until the day before leaving to pick a destination.

We sort of planned it spontaneously, Simnett said. It was a balance between money and the weather, so we waited until the last day. Its a little bit exciting.

As the week neared, the family narrowed their choices down to either New Orleans or Colorado Springs. On Saturday, they looked at the forecast and ticket prices and pulled the trigger on Colorado.

Everything gets super expensive, Lodwick said. We expected airfares to go down, but that never really happened.

Angel Martinez, his fiancee and his 2-year-old son were ready for the price spike. They decided to celebrate Thanksgiving a week early and returned Sunday to the Bay Area from Boulder, Colo.

I was pricing out options and tickets were $500 for each one of us, Martinez said. A week earlier, we got three airplane tickets and a car rental for $500. I told my mom, Ill buy dinner.

Oakland and Mineta San Jose international airports also expect to be busy during Thanksgiving travel season.

From Friday through the Sunday following Thanksgiving, Oakland expects an 8 percent increase in total passenger traffic, or 417,000 additional passengers. The busiest travel day there is also projected to be Nov. 27, with 47,500 passengers traveling through the airport. On an average day, the East Bay airport hosts 33,000 passengers.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

At the San Jose airport, the Thanksgiving travel boom will last through Nov. 29. During that time, the airport expects 400,000 travelers  about 15 percent more than last year. Rosemary Barnes, an airport spokeswoman, credited the increase to the significant growth in the number of flights and destinations in the past year.

While the airports will be bustling, most of the 5 million Californians leaving home for Thanksgiving will drive to their destinations, according to the AAA survey  a 3.4 percent increase over last year.

California Highway Patrol officials will have extra officers on the highways, and as usual, advise drivers to wear seat belts, not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when sleepy, and to avoid speeding.

Trains and buses are also gearing up for a busy week. According to AAA, about 192,000 people are projected to travel by boat, train or bus, an increase of 1.1 percent. Amtrak is preparing for the rush in California by expanding schedules and adding more seats on the Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin and Surfliner trains.

Even Megabus, an intercity bus company with online booking, expects to see big increases. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, for instance, it estimates there will be a 34 percent increase in passengers.

The congestion  or coziness, if you prefer  will extend beyond getting to and from your destination, according to Inrix, a traffic information system.

Traffic around shopping malls, always a popular post-Thanksgiving destination, is expected to boom. Drivers headed to Westfield San Francisco Centre should plan for their shopping excursion to take 23 percent longer than usual, with the worst traffic between 8 and 11 a.m.

Its going to be very busy, Harris of AAA said. Extremely busy.

Chronicle staff writer Evan Sernoffsky contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com @ctuan
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The class ends as all yoga classes do: with a position known as savasana. Corpse pose. A moment meant to be grounding and calm.

But this class is not like most. For one, it takes place in a small conference room on the eighth floor of a San Francisco office building. There are no oms or chants. No group breathing. None of that woo woo stuff that instructor Kim Sin said can intimidate some. And when class is over, everyone in the room will return to their desks.

Its honestly no different than providing a discounted gym membership  its basic well-being, and if you can bring it to folks during the day rather than leaving it up to them to go out and find, why wouldnt you? said Janetta Wood, vice president of people at Ancestry.com, a Utah company whose San Francisco employees are offered yoga classes, guided meditation and on-site massage. Were not talking hours and hours of everyones day; were talking two hours a week.

Yoga and meditation classes have become a staple on the sprawling campuses of companies like Google and Facebook, which offer any number of fitness, dance and aerobics classes to their tens of thousands of employees.

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

But the practices have been growing in popularity in small offices with more modest accommodations as businesses move away from encouraging employees to go to the gym or a yoga studio on their lunch breaks and, instead, offer in-house options.

The yoga that Sin and other in-office instructors teach has largely been severed from its roots as a spiritual practice. Instead its seen  and promoted  as a way to boost productivity, work-life balance and employee wellness. What companies dont say is that yoga and meditation practices may indirectly benefit their bottom line.

After all, studies have shown, happier workers are more productive.

It helps (workers) be in the moment, even for just a micro-part of their day, and forces them to step away from whatever project theyre working on and stop obsessively thinking about checking things off their to-do list, Sin said.

Though there is little reliable research on how many companies offer in-house yoga and meditation classes, the number appears to be on the rise.

Sin said shes seen demand balloon in recent years, prompting her to hire more teachers and expand her business.

In a book on mindfulness training and its popularity in corporate America, journalist David Gelles reported that about one-fourth of the major employers in the U.S. offer some kind of practice in stress reduction and mindfulness  be it yoga, meditation or other means.

Any work environment can be pretty hectic and can get just stacked up with back-to-back meetings and this gives you a little bit of a breather  literally, Wood said. It helps relax both your body and your mind, and I have seen people take that with them through the rest of their day.

Yoga, a mind-body practice that began as a component of ancient Indian philosophical teachings, has become a mainstay for young, urban professionals. But chic studios and expensive classes can often create a barrier to access  financially and psychologically  that Sin said discourages many people from giving yoga a try.

Many of Sins students in the office classes have been first-timers.

Its funny, because you can tell theyre a little nervous at the beginning, like I dont really know what this about but Im going to try it because someone talked me into it, and then they get hooked, Wood said. They recognize how valuable it can be for them during the workweek specifically. One of our scientists on our DNA team even started going to yoga classes with his wife outside work.

Ancestry also offers yoga classes at its Utah headquarters.

Yoga practice is the sixth-most common health practice among American adults, according to a National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2007, the most recent year for which numbers were available.

Research has shown that regular yoga practice can help ease back pain, increase movement, lower blood pressure and reduce stress, in addition to enhancing overall flexibility, strength and fitness.

Meditation, which at Ancestrys San Francisco office is offered separate from yoga, has been found to decrease stress and improve focus. According to research from the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it may also boost the immune system and mitigate chronic inflammation and cardiovascular stress.

Sin, a professional in-office instructor, has been teaching conference-room yoga in the Bay Area for seven years.

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Though she has worked with a variety of companies across fields, she said, tech companies and their workers seem to be particularly in need of some midday yoga.

Here, everyone is super stressed and everyone is at different levels of experience, and theyre all in this room together, no matter what department they work in or what their jobs are, Sin said.

She runs classes throughout the week for San Francisco companies including Zendesk, DroneDeploy and Indeed.

Every office is different, and class sizes vary. At Ancestry, anywhere from a handful to nearly 20 people pack into the conference room turned yoga studio twice a week.

Sins service costs companies between $150 and $250 per class.

On a recent Tuesday at Ancestrys office, office workers fluttered their eyes closed, marking the end of another 50-minute class as muted voices of their colleagues rumbled through the walls.

They were chatting about work, yelling across the crowded room, asking about food orders and lunch plans.

But the other side of the glass, everyone was silent and still.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
Its not enough to say that Allied is set in the 1940s. Its set in the 1940s of collective imagination. A fair portion of it takes place in Casablanca. The musical score, by Alan Silvestri, has the sadness and portent of the music heard in classic World War II documentaries such as The World at War. Theres a lushness to the photography that feels like a color analogue to the soft-focus black-and-white photography of Hollywood in the war years.

Most important of all, Allied finds actual movie stars for the lead roles, and director Robert Zemeckis treats them like movie stars, making their faces the locus of all meaning and their interaction the stuff of romantic fantasy. He creates a movie that is old-fashioned in every possible good way, but that in no way seems passe or cliched.

Coming off of Allied, there were rumors that its stars, Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, were having an affair during its making. Assuming thats not true, its still understandable how people could think so, or even want it to be true. In the midst of a movie-made romantic atmosphere and depicting the kind of life-and-death stakes that can only intensify an aura of excitement and longing, Pitt and Cotillard make us believe that something is building between them from their first moments onscreen.

Written by Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Locke) and loosely based on real events, Allied begins with a covert operation in Morocco. Max (Pitt), a Canadian fluent in French, is parachuted into the desert and makes his way into Casablanca. With a quick shave and a change of clothes, he looks as impeccable as Cary Grant. He goes to the rendezvous point, a nightclub, where he meets the fellow spy posing as his wife, Marianne (Cotillard). Theres no better express train to intimacy than posing as a married couple.

The Casablanca mission is almost incidental to the path of the larger story, but Zemeckis and Knight lavish time on it, and theyre right to do so. The long lead-up to the big event is also the couples entrance chute into real emotional closeness, and the very fact that theyre resisting the attraction and fighting the impulse makes us eager for them to just give in already.

The combustion finally happens inside an old sedan in the middle of a dust storm, and it might well be the most satisfying movie love scene of 2016.

The bulk of the film takes place in London, but again, this is not the workaday London of reality. This is the London of officers who talk like Terry-Thomas (remember him?), the London whose skies look like a fireworks display at night, with British Hurricanes and Spitfires defending the city against German invaders.

Only later can we appreciate Zemeckis accomplishment here: He crafts a mood so heightened that it in no way seems histrionic, but merely appropriate, that the scene of a woman giving birth takes place on a London street during an air raid, with buildings collapsing all around.

Most of Allied revolves around the question of trust and belief. Max and Marianne, after their Casablanca adventure, relocate to London and assume the life of a normal couple. But then one day, British intelligence informs him that Marianne is under suspicion of being a German double agent.

Max makes it his mission to prove her innocent, but the issue is complicated by the fact that this is a woman he has seen lie with charm and grace. He has also seen her shooting a machine gun at people at a party  a party of her supposed friends. So he knows shes not a normal person. He just doesnt know what kind of not-normal.

From that situation  is she or isnt she, and a loving husbands desperate effort to prove that shes not  Allied builds a series of tense adventures, as well as two-person scenes between Pitt and Cotillard that are fraught with an underlying urgency.

To describe Cotillards performance would almost necessitate revealing the ultimate turn of Mariannes character. Better to put it this way: Throughout were never entirely sure about Marianne, and yet by the end, we realize that Cotillard and Zemeckis have not given us a single false note or misdirection.

Cotillard is remarkable, and Pitt does everything a movie star can do, which is what most movie actors cant do. Hes the audiences stand-in, the person viewers are content to be for two hours. He makes us care and then shows us that he cares as much as we do, maybe even more. Needless to say, we believe him.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Allied

Drama. Starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. (R. 124 minutes.)

To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSCQWX-pUSg
Getty Images / /

A 4-year-old boy was killed and a 13-year-old boy was injured Sunday when they were struck by a rolling car at a Benicia senior center while attending a birthday party, police said.

The victims were hit in the parking lot of the Benicia Senior Center at 187 East L St. around 4:45 p.m. The 4-year-old was identified Monday by the Solano County Coroners Office as Mahady Qadir, an El Sobrante resident.
The children were the first to die.

The Chronicles front page from Nov. 21, 1978, covers the aftermath of the Jonestown massacre in Guyana.

The death toll at Jonestown grew to 405 last night from the mass suicides and killings that began Saturday when the babies at the Peoples Temple settlement were lined up and given cups of purple Kool-Aid laced with cyanide, the story read. Then the older children and adults took their turn, marching past the big soup kettle to receive their fatal doses.

By the time all the bodies were counted, more than 900 were dead. A third of them were children. Some members of Jim Jones cult escaped into the jungle, but most of the followers  many of whom were African Americans from the Bay Area  died in heaps, arms around loved ones.

Most went to an altar at the end of the open-air pavilion where the Rev. Jim Jones had summoned his flock to tell them that the plan to kill not only Congressman Leo J. Ryan but also the visiting newsmen and relatives had failed, the story by The Chronicles Keith Power read.

The bodies of the dead were clustered so tightly it wasnt possible to see the ground near the altar.

Other Chronicle reporters were working on the story, too, and one of them, Ron Javers, had been part of Ryans group that traveled to Jonestown. Javers was shot at the air strip but, unlike some of the other journalists, he survived.

This is the beginning of Javers second story after the attack, written from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland after his rescue.

When we were waiting in hopes of being rescued from Port Kaituma Saturday after the death of ... Ryan and four others in our group, we were told that a mass suicide was about to occur at Jonestown.

And we were also told it was to be only the first chapter in a terrible reign of carnage.

The members of the Peoples Temple cult who survived the attack at the air strip with us described how they had once gone through a weeklong rehearsal of their mass suicide.

And they were informed, they said, that not everyone would die.

Jim Jones, they said, was supposed to stay alive, and so were his security troops.

This chosen group of survivors was then to escape from Guyana and smuggle themselves back into the United States.

And then they would seek out their enemies one by one  and kill them.

But Jones planned role in this horrible scenario ended, of course, with his death.

The horrible scenario, however, would never end for the families in Oakland, San Francisco and elsewhere whose loved ones died that day in Guyana.

Read more: See the first reports of the Jonestown mass suicide on The Chronicles front page from the previous day, Nov. 20, 1978.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspapers history.

Chronicle Covers highlights one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken and producers Kimberly Chua, Michelle Devera and Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim ORourke is the executive producer and editor of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke

(Click to enlarge)




In sharp contrast to the national election results, Bay Area election results showed millions of voters marked their ballots yes for a more sustainable and inclusive future. In local elections around the region, people chose to invest in building more homes that people can afford, improve transportation choices, and protect natural landscapes and local farms.

Thats important because weve known for years that we cant simply rely on the federal government to solve the Bay Areas challenges. To get the job done, time and time again, we have to turn to local do-it-yourself solutions. So Bay Area voters rolled up their sleeves and took matters into their own hands. Here are just a few examples:

 In Sonoma County, voters passed Measure K to protect 53,000 acres of beautiful countryside  an area nearly twice the size of San Francisco  from sprawl development.

 In San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, voters passed Measure RR to invest $3.5 billion in repairing and improving BART.

In Santa Clara County, Measure A is headed to victory, raising $950 million to create homes for those most in need.

Voters in the city of Albany adopted Measure N1 to ditch 1970s-era requirements that mandated excessive parking for new homes to foster a healthier, walkable city for all.

Voters priorities are loud and clear. But now that weve emerged from the voting booth, weve got a lot more to do to stand up for the values of environmental sustainability and social inclusiveness that define our region.

Now more than ever, we must remember the old mantra, think globally, act locally.

That means being a welcoming neighbor. Weve all watched the housing affordability crisis force people out of our communities and into ever-lengthening commutes to the edges of the region. Each of us can be part of the solution. When new homes are being considered in town  especially if theyll serve those most in need  we can speak up in support. If a new transit hub or bike lane is being proposed, we can be a positive voice for change. Thats what were about here  giving people of all walks of life a chance to succeed.

And the fight must continue to defend the iconic open spaces that make the Bay Area the envy of the world. If those rolling hills or fertile farmlands at the edge of town come under threat from development, together we must rally to save them.

Our actions may run counter to the desires of the new administration in Washington, but the truth is what we achieve here matters far beyond our borders. Our region is a global center of innovation and leadership thats recognized across the country, and our accomplishments often become the model for the rest of the nation.

Now its up to us to do all we can to make our corner of the world a better place. Here, we can make smart choices. We can make our region a model metropolis, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Together we can forge our own path  and invite the whole nation to follow.

Jeremy Madsen is the CEO of Greenbelt Alliance. Find more inspiring election results at greenbelt.org/voter-guide.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a theater in possession of a good fortune (or seeking one) must be in want of a Christmas play.

Everyone asks for one, says the playwright Lauren Gunderson.

Its a perennial issue. For holiday programming, theatrical pickings are slim. They have Dickens, Gunderson says. Or the David Sedaris piece. Or, like, I dont know, 1940s radio hour.

Its characteristic of Gunderson that, where theaters have a problem, she conjures a solution. The prolific 34-year-old playwright, who is originally from Atlanta but is now based in San Francisco, is the most produced living playwright in the United States in the 2016-17 season, according to a recent report from American Theatre magazine.

She has achieved that feat in part through pragmatism. For Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a holiday-themed Pride and Prejudice sequel that begins previews at Marin Theatre Company this week, Gunderson and co-playwright Margot Melcon didnt sit around and wait for inspiration to strike.

Instead, they set out, as Gunderson recounts in her home office in Ashbury Heights, to reverse-engineer the perfect holiday play  in other words, to ask what are the things you want in a holiday play, and then build one.

The pair got this idea on a six-hour drive to Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2013, when Melcon was dramaturging one of Gundersons scripts for Berkeley Reps Ground Floor program. A former literary manager at Marin Theatre Company, Melcon has served as dramaturg (one of whose duties, as Melcon defines it, is to support playwrights as they realize the story they want to tell) on many of Gundersons scripts since the two met in 2008, but Miss Bennet marks the first time she and Gunderson share a writing credit.

A good holiday play, the two decided on their road trip, should have easily recognizable characters and a plot that involves family, comedy and romance, or something thats nostalgic and gooey-feeling, as Gunderson puts it. Additionally, you want it to be pretty PG-13 so that everyone can go.

Melcon proposed using the characters from Pride and Prejudice. The thinking was, Everyone knows Jane Austen. Even if they dont know her, they know her, Gunderson remembers.

Evidently, other theaters shared their intuition. Northlight Theatre in Skokie, Ill., and Washington, D.C.s Round House Theatre are also producing the show this season, as part of a rolling world premiere.

Though Melcon didnt become an Austen fan until she was in her 20s, she has more than made up for lost time, estimating that she has read Pride and Prejudice about 30 times. Now, she always keeps a digital copy at the ready, reading snippets at moments when others might look at cat videos: Ill read it when Im in line at the DMV, she says over the phone.

Though the two playwrights are reverse-engineering a play, they arent simply following a formula. Melcon says that another reason she and Gunderson wanted to write a holiday play is that, of those that have already saturated the market, none really captured what the holiday felt like to us.

A lot of them are sort of grand metaphors about redemption, Melcon says. But for her, the most salient quality of the holidays is being with family, specifically the way youre all on top of each other, and everybody brings their current self, and yet you also cant help but turn into this person your family thinks you are.

Miss Bennet centers on a character whose family writes her off as a joyless, insufferable pedant: Mary, the middle of Austens five Bennet sisters, played by Martha Brigham in Marin Theatre Companys production. While in the play those qualities are still a part of Mary, she has also grown up since the events of the novel. (Gunderson and Melcons script is set two years later.) But Marys sisters, gathering for the holiday at Lizzie Bennets new estate, cant or wont see her maturity at first, even though its very clear to a potential suitor, the nerdy Arthur De Bourgh (Adam Magill).

Writing the script with Melcon was amazingly organic, says Gunderson. One would take a first stab at a scene, with the other offering edits; for the next scene, they might switch who took the first pass. Although Gundersons the more experienced, Melcon says, She never made me feel like I wasnt a playwright.

The two also brought complementary skill sets to the writing table. Gunderson describes herself as deeply in tune with the pacing of the play and making sure it feels really good and flows and is funny. She takes a scientific approach to comedy, honing a line sometimes to a precise number of syllables to induce a laugh of the desired size. Of dialogue, she says, theres a physics to it.

Melcon, who also has more historical knowledge of Englands Regency era, sees her own strength as an analyst of structure. She jokes that, when she and Gunderson edit together, she might say something like, Yeah, thats sort of important, but also, Aristotle!  referring to the philosophers Poetics, the Western worlds first treatise on dramatic storytelling.

Marin Theatre Company is likely to see a great many more plays from Gunderson. Earlier this year, the company announced she will be its full-time playwright in residence for the next three years, thanks to the support of a Mellon Foundation grant.

If practicality drove the writing of Miss Bennet, Gunderson intends to use some of the next three years to be extravagant. She says in her first weeks of residency, one of the questions she posed to Jasson Minadakis, the companys artistic director, was, Whats a play thats so big and so crazy that I havent done anything like that yet? Weve got three years, so lets get started now.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley: By Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Directed by Meredith McDonough. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 25. Opens Nov. 29. Through Dec. 18. $22-$60. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. (415) 388-5208. www.marintheatre.org

To see a video: https://vimeo.com/186030417
Just five months after opening Cadence in the Mid-Market neighborhood of San Francisco, owner Jay Bordeleau realized that his 100-seat restaurant was not going to make it.

We realized we could point to the problems and we didnt have good solutions, Bordeleau said. Three days later, he gave his staff and customers two weeks notice that Cadence would close in early July.

The fate of Bordeleaus restaurant is not as rare a phenomenon as it would have been several years back. The Bay Area, flush with money and rife with culinary talent, is still in the midst of a golden  or perhaps gilded  era of dining. Yet 2016 has seen the abrupt closures of several restaurants that seemed to have every prospect of success, given their celebrated owners, good food and attractive spaces. The tech mantra fail fast seems to have taken hold in the restaurant industry.

Studies led by H.G. Parsa, a professor at the University of Denvers Daniels College of Business, have found that 30 percent of new restaurants nationally close within the first year, But in past years, a good pedigree and good reviews usually ensured that new Bay Area restaurants lasted beyond 12 months.

Bordeleaus experience with Cadence is typical of 2016s crop of fail-fast places. Buoyed by the success of his Lower Haight restaurant, Maven, he spent three years constructing the Mid-Market project that consisted of Cadence and an adjacent cocktail bar, Mr. Tipples, which remains open.

Peter Prato/Special to The Chronicle

Mid-Market was an underserved neighborhood at that point, he said. Not to mention we saw apartments with high rents and youthful people coming in. The process of opening took eight months longer than hoped, but he still anticipated that residents and workers from the neighborhood would pack the place. They didnt.

In fact, four of this years quick-to-fail restaurants have been in or near the Mid-Market neighborhood: Cadence, Bon Marche, Oro and Volta. Like Bordeleau, owners of the other three restaurants suspect that they bet on a rising neighborhood too soon, or entered the market at the same time as too many other ambitious, pricey restaurants.

Umberto Gibin and Staffan Terje, owners of the decade-old Perbacco, are still searching for explanations for what happened at Volta, which closed in September after just nine months in business. A three-star review from The Chronicle and an initial surge of interest was followed by a 75 percent drop in business in August.

The fail-fast phenomenon has not been limited to San Francisco. The Advocate in Berkeley and Salsipuedes and Grand Fare in Oakland suffered similar fates. Two more, Ninebark and Revival, were located in Napa and Sonoma.

Some restaurateurs admit they simply got the formula wrong. In my opinion, we missed the concept, said Andrew Hoffman, co-owner of the Advocate, which closed in late October after a little more than a year.

Cadences Bordeleau had a similar take. In his excitement over taking advantage of the Mid-Market boom, he said, We forgot to ask what they wanted.

The golden age of dining has rewarded ambition: $200 tasting menus have proliferated, as have international stories celebrating the Bay Areas restaurant scene. At the same time, 2016 has upped the pressure on new restaurateurs, who are entering a tight, competitive market that allows for no misjudgments and little time to pivot, or change focus, as the tech industry prides itself on doing.

San Francisco is one of the most restaurant-dense cities in the country, trailed slightly by San Jose. According to the San Francisco Environmental Health Department, there are more than 7,600 restaurants in the city.

Talented cooks and servers are in demand, and the high cost of living means workers here need to be paid more, so rising minimum wages can barely keep up. Commercial rents are increasingly more expensive, too.

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

One commonality among the quick-to-close restaurants has been size: Almost all had the capacity to seat 100 or more diners at a time. Matt Semmelhack, who closed the 200-seat Bon Marche in August after a year in business, explained that bigger spaces translate into not just higher fixed costs but also higher labor. You have to be ready for a big push, he said. At Bon Marche, where you can seat 200 people, you have to be ready for that. So you staff up.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

In a subtler way, the quick-to-close restaurateurs considerable experience may have contributed to the short life spans of their ventures. First-time restaurateurs, said Staffan Terje of Volta, may wait longer. They hold on because theyve sunk everything theyve saved up for, he said. Of course, the decision to close Volta was an emotional one, but the experience also gave Terje the clear sight to recognize that time would not cure all ills.

Watching their plans crash so quickly, restaurateurs said, has led them to question whether its still feasible to open a traditional bistro with full table service and an a la carte menu. Semmelhack, for example, said hell probably never open another full-scale restaurant in San Francisco. He is encouraged by the response to the Trading Post, his new restaurant in Cloverdale, as well as downtown San Franciscos fast-casual Sababa, in which he is a minority partner.

In San Francisco in particular, younger diners seem to gravitate to casual places or ones with innovative concepts, such as the global dim sum at the Fillmores State Bird Provisions or the communal haute cuisine meals at Lazy Bear in the Mission. More and more, restaurants also compete for diner dollars against delivery services and meal kits like Blue Apron.

The fail-fast phenomenon may be a signal that the golden age may be about to end. A simpler message may be that the Bay Area restaurant scene has become saturated. We have more seats...than we know how to fill at a profitable rate, Bordeleau said.

Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jonkauffman
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Dozens of additional homeless residents of San Francisco will be able to get out of the rain and cold after the citys faith community came together Sunday, opened church doors and began cooking meals for the needy.

The winter shelter program, for which volunteers from 40 local congregations cook and serve two meals a day, got under way just in time to shelter indigent people from the pounding rain that engulfed Northern California.

Sixty beds were made available for homeless men Sunday in the basement auditorium at St. Boniface Church at 133 Golden Gate Ave., where meals will be served every night. It is one of four places of worship that will be opening up space over the winter months, including basements and pews, in the 28th year of the shelter program.

A line began forming early Sunday at St. Boniface, where beds were available in a multipurpose room with bright yellow walls, thin green mats and gray blankets covering the tile basement floor. The 60 men who would sleep in the church Sunday carried plastic bags or rolled suitcases. Many of them were leaning on canes and walkers.

I've been waiting all year for this, said Larry Aragon, 66, who waited in line with a backpack and suitcase for five hours before he was allowed inside Sunday evening. They have good food, and one of the workers, named Carmen, is so nice. She always helps me get the best bed.

Garfield Magpie, 68, said he had just arrived in San Francisco from Los Angeles and had been sleeping in the rain for several nights when a friend told him about the winter shelters.

I didn't have a place to go, he said. I thought this might be a good fit.

This doesn't solve homelessness. Housing solves homelessness, said Jeff Kositsky, director of San Franciscos Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which collaborates with the San Francisco Interfaith Council and Episcopal Community Services to provide shelter space each year.

This solves sleep, he said. Permanent housing is what we are striving for.

The shelter program, which will continue through Feb. 25, will add 295 beds for adult single men to the citys overall total, though not all at the same time. The initial opening of the 60 St. Boniface beds will increase the available beds by 5 to 6 percent.

St. Marys Cathedral will add 100 beds in December, St. Marks Lutheran Church will open 65 beds in January, and the First Unitarian church will open its doors for 70 people in February.

Were pretty much filled each night, said Ken Reggio, the executive director of Episcopal Community Services, which gives out shelter bed tickets good for a week every Sunday. This is a program that is intensive with volunteers. We have hundreds of people who come in from congregations. Every night there is a phenomenal meal.

Episcopal Community Services provides 600 beds every night during the year, along with supportive housing for 1,200 formerly homeless men, women and children. The Providence Foundation also provides 30 beds every night year-round for women at Bethel AME Church at 916 Laguna St.

Those beds, however, solve only a small part of the problem. San Francisco provides beds for 1,173 homeless people, a fraction of the 4,350 folks who live on the streets. There are 900 people on the waiting list for shelter on any given night. The church program works in tandem with the citys emergency shelter system.

In all, there are 6,980 people who are homeless in San Francisco, Kositsky said.

Every San Franciscan deserves a good meal and a warm bed, said Mayor Edwin Lee.

The persistent homeless crisis has dogged San Francisco for decades, prompting many complaints from residents and businesses about trash, feces, used hypodermic needles and theft. So many people camped on Division Street, underneath Highway 101, during heavy rains last year that city health officials declared the resulting tent city an unsanitary public nuisance and cleared it out.

The need is great all the time, Reggio said, but even more so when the weather gets cold and rainy.

Peter Fimrite and Lizzie Johnson are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite, @lizziejohnsonnn

Winter shelter schedule

St. Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Ave., will provide beds for 60 men between Nov. 20 and Dec. 10.

Marks Lutheran Church, 1031 Franklin St., will have beds for 65 men between Dec. 11 and Dec. 17 and between Jan. 15 and Feb. 4.

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 1111 Gough St., will house 100 men between Dec. 18 and Jan. 15.

First Unitarian Universalist Society, 1187 Franklin St., will have 70 beds available from Feb. 5 through Feb. 25.
Devastated by his sons death from a bombing in Afghanistan, Stewart Perry said his anguish was overcome by anger when impatient first-class passengers booed his family because they were allowed to exit a plane ahead of them to catch a connecting flight to meet the soldiers remains.

I was really shocked that adult men and women  from elderly to mid-20s  would behave that way, said Perry, a former Marine who lives in Stockton.

The Perry familys painful journey to meet the body of Army Sgt. John Perry started Nov. 14 when they boarded an American Airlines flight to Arizona at Sacramento International Airport.

Their plane arrived in Phoenix 45 minutes later than expected, causing some panic among the Gold Star family that they would miss a connecting flight to Philadelphia, where a military driver was to meet and escort them to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

The flight captain announced over the aircraft intercom that passengers should remain seated to allow for a military family to deplane first because they have an important place to go, Perry said. He said hes not sure if the other passengers realized the captain was talking about a Gold Star family.

As Perry, his wife and their 8-year-old daughter exited the plane, they overheard passengers saying, This is crap and I paid for first class, this is garbage.

They were asked to remain seated for just a minute or two, Perry said. Their reaction was overwhelmingly ridiculous. They were just classless people. They have no care in the world for anybody but themselves.

Perrys son  a member of the Armys 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas  was one of two soldiers killed Nov. 12 when a suicide bomber attacked the Bagram Airfield, in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan.

John Perry  who turned 30 on Nov. 2  had deployed on his second tour to Afghanistan in September.

American Airlines official said they were honored to have the family aboard, but did not address the rude behavior of the passengers who booed the Perry family.

We will always make every possible effort to ensure a smooth journey in such difficult circumstances, Ross Feinsten, a spokesman for the airlines, said in a statement Monday to The Chronicle.

Perry said he had difficulty explaining to his young daughter why they were booed by the other passengers.

I dont know, we will just ignore that, OK, Perry recalled saying to his daughter. Thats the best answer I can provide.

American Airlines made sure the family caught their connecting flight to Philadelphia, holding the plane at the gate for them for 40 minutes, Perry said.

Perry said the passengers on his connecting flight were considerate and kind when he boarded with his family.

They were respectful. They knew what we were here for and why they were being held, Perry said of the passengers on the flight from Phoenix to Philadelphia. I think it was explained to people that (this flight) was our only option.

They made it to Dover Air Force Base in time for a ceremony with Vice President Joe Biden and other dignitaries from Washington, D.C., on hand to honor Sgt. Perry and Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa, Ill., who was also killed in the explosion.

He was a great kid, Perry said of his son, who was honored at a memorial service in Lodi on Thursday and is to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

His son  who joined the Army in January 2008  was awarded a Bronze Star, a National Defense Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal, among a number of other awards. He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously.

When I look at my sons achievements in the Army, he was head and shoulders above me, said Perry, who served in the Marines for 13 years.

John Perry was quiet and respectful, Stewart Perry recalled, adding that he had a love for fishing and hosted his own fishing channel on YouTube called Fishing on Base.

The fallen soldier is survived by his wife, 5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
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Logan Combs, 25, of Kingsport, Tenn., has walked nearly every day for six months during his epic cross-country trek across the United States, and on Tuesday morning he will arrive at his final destination, San Francisco.

The recent college grad plans to visit Land's End and posted a solicitation in the San Francisco Reddit community asking members to give him tips on other places to go in the city. Combs' time will be short in S.F. as he wants to get back to his folks in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, but he hopes to see the sites and check out some locals' haunts during his day-and-a-half stay. Please offer your suggestions in the comments below.

Combs graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a degree in Japanese last spring, and he needed time to think about the next steps in his life.

He decided to do something that would give him plenty of time to think: Walk across the country.

His route began in Charleston, S.C., in May 2016, and along the way, he mostly camped, went through four pairs of Merrell hiking shoes, and averaged 24 miles a day. On Monday, he's walking over 3o miles from south of Davis, Calif., to as close to Vallejo as he can get. His longest walk was 41 miles through Kansas.

"I didn't want to be in Kansas anymore," Combs said. "You can't walk on the interstate in Kansas and on the backgrounds, you're in the middle of nowhere. Lot of corn fields. The only time I ever saw people or buildings were farm communes."

Walking across the country has been pursued by many people looking to raise awareness around social causes. Peace Pilgrim (born Mildred Lisette Norman) famously walked across the country in 1953 and vowed to continue traveling back and forth until mankind found the way to peace, and she died on her seventh trek across the country.

At age 12, Zach Bonner became the youngest person to ever walk across the country and completed his trek to raise awareness about homeless youth in Santa Monica in 2010, and gay rights activist Richard Nobel walked with a rainbow flat from S.F. to Jacksonville, Fl., in 2010 and 2011.

Combs is raising money for the National Parks system and has made around $400 from strangers he has met along his walk.

The kindness of strangers: An ongoing theme on a long walk

Combs' hardest day was through the Bald Mountains going from Asheville, N.C., to Johnson City, Tenn., where he reached 3,760-feet elevation. Donner Pass was tough too, and he spent a day at a truck stop in Wyoming as snow dumped outside.

People driving by often offered him rides during his walks and he refused them all, but he took a ferry across the Mississippi River and will take the ferry from Vallejo to San Francisco to get home to his mom's turkey dinner in time.

Combs' has been most surprised by the inaccuracy of Google Maps and the kindness of strangers.

"I had a really pessimistic view of people as a whole and it's definitely turned around completely," Combs said. "I think it's because I've met a whole bunch of people. When you get on a personal level with someone, it's a different experience than what you get from a group and making them the other. I expected to get honked at, and really it's the exact opposite. People stop to ask if I need water."

When he walked along Highway 80 through Utah and Nevada for several days, a trucker named Mikey stopped to offer him an energy drink. Mikey's job as a truck driver took him alone the same route several days and he always stopped to offer Logan a snack.

"The first time it happened it really helped my mood as I was going up a really steep mountain and having a terrible day."

After returning home, he plans to head out on his next adventure: teaching English in Japan.

"I definitely feel like there are not many obstacles that I can't overcome now," Combs said. "I've literally climbed mountains."
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Whether you already drive an electric vehicle (EV) or are thinking of acquiring one, you can learn more about EVs and charging at the PG&E exhibit at The San Francisco Chronicle 59th annual International Auto Show from Nov. 19 to 27 at the Moscone Convention Center.

Save money and go green by driving an electric vehicle. At the show, learn about how to:

 Charge your EV on PG&Es special EV rate plans for the equivalent of $1 per gallon on one of the nations greenest power supplies, with more than 50 percent coming from carbon-free sources

 Receive up to $10,000 on EV purchases with federal and state incentives.

PG&Es 4,200-square-foot information and vehicle exhibit will have interactive kiosks addressing special utility EV charging rates, the EVs on the market, purchase rebates and more. PG&E will be exhibiting examples of PG&Es electric and hybrid fleet cars and heavy-duty service trucks.

Representatives from PG&E and the Center for Sustainable Energy will be on hand to answer your questions about EV ownership, including how to qualify for federal and state rebates toward the purchase of an EV.

The utility industrys first plug-in electric hybrid Class 5 bucket truck will be on display. This truck is the product of PG&Es partnership with Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated, based in Dixon.

The truck features 120kW of exportable power capacity, which can be used to charge EVs and is enough to keep the lights on in up to 100 homes during planned or unplanned outages. It can travel up to 50 miles all-electric driving range before switching to extended-range gas-hybrid mode.

We have been aggressively electrifying our fleet of utility vehicles based on their lower overall cost of ownership and reduced carbon emissions. Not only do EVs offer lower fuel costs, but the cost of maintenance is also lower due to the simplicity of their design, said Dave Meisel, senior director of Transportation and Aviation Services for PG&E. We want to share our experience with our customers, so that they can enjoy the benefits of EV ownership.

Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive

PG&E is hosting its third annual EV Test Drive event at the Auto Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Nov. 22. The latest electric vehicles from a variety of manufacturers will be available, including Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, and Volkswagen. These are subject to change.

Participants can receive a free ticket to the Auto Show after completing a brief survey by the Best.Ride.EVer! campaign before and after the electric car test drive. The surveys ask five to six questions about perceptions of electric cars and what transportation options are currently being used. The Best.Ride.EVer! surveying will take place at the electric car test drive registration area.

Participants will also receive a free copy of Electric Car Insider magazines EV Buyers Guide, a comprehensive guide to plug-in electric vehicles. The 64-page full-color magazine contains independent reviews and detailed specifications of every production electric vehicle on the market. The EV Buyers Guide is the most comprehensive and detailed compilation of electric vehicle reviews available.
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A feathered fare beater boarded a BART train in the East Bay Monday morning, causing a ruckus among passengers who rallied together to get the freeloader off the car.

Sarah Mason, a daily commuter to the Civic Center in San Francisco, boarded BART at the Richmond station shortly before 8 a.m. One stop later, at the El Cerrito Del Norte station, a pigeon suddenly flew in through the open doors, prompting squeals and shouts from riders as it ducked under seats, Mason said.

Commuters were unsuccessful in their first attempt to shoo the bird out of the train before the doors closed.

As the train continued its route, passengers shot up from their seats when the pigeon skirted down the train car. Passengers called out, Its over here, said Mason, a social worker who helps people find affordable housing in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood.

It was a full train effort, Mason said of the birds capture and release.

Mason said she had a first aid kit in her bag that included a pair of disposable gloves. She whipped out her gloves and joined several others in their attempt to snatch the rogue pigeon.

Mason and the team of commuters eventually cornered the pigeon.

Im not a bird person, said Mason, a former intern for the National Parks Service at the Marin Headlands. Theyre a little too delicate and they kind of freak me out.

But when Mason finally grabbed ahold of the pigeon, she said, she had a bird connection.

She held onto the bird for three more underground stops before releasing it at MacArthur station.

The pigeon was really calm, Mason said. The glistening pink and green neck was beautiful. I could feel its heart beat in my hands.

Michael Gray and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mgray@sfchronicle.com and sravani@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @SarRavani
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Once again, The San Francisco Chronicle 59th annual International Auto Show will provide attendees with the opportunity to test drive the newest models from a variety of manufacturers.

The show features test drives with Fiat, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Toyota. While the vehicles are subject to change without notices, below are the vehicles expected to be available for each manufacturer:
The proposed health insurance megamerger between Anthem and Cigna headed to court Monday, as the companies face off against a Justice Department seeking to block their $48 billion deal. It will be followed in just a few weeks by the trial for another proposed insurance megamerger, between Aetna and Humana.

Together, those two mergers would remake the industry, resulting in the nations five largest health insurers shrinking to just three, including UnitedHealth Group, which remains independent. And the Justice Department is set to argue that the consolidation would be bad for consumers.

If these mergers were to take place, the competition among insurers that has pushed them to provide lower premiums, higher-quality care and better benefits would be eliminated, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in July when she announced the governments decision to challenge these mergers.

But the election of Donald Trump could recalibrate how vigorously the federal government handles these two mergers, as well as the many other deals now taking place in health care, according to legal experts. On Friday, Trump nominated Sen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative Republican from Alabama, to replace Lynch. While it is unclear how Sessions would have the department handle antitrust cases, Trump has said that he wants less government regulation of business.

In each of the two big cases headed to court, a federal judge will decide whether consumers would be worse off after the mergers take place. The companies contend people would benefit because a bigger company would be more efficient and better able to strike deals with hospitals and doctors that result in lower prices for medical care. In its pretrial brief, Anthem argues the governments opposition threatens to deprive American consumers of lower health care costs.

There is little expectation that the Justice Department under the Trump administration would drop the case if the companies lost and appealed, for example, but it might be inclined to strike a settlement less onerous to the insurer.

There is also a distinct chance, antitrust experts said, that the approach to health care mergers will not pivot much from the current one.

At Mondays hearing, Justice Department lawyer Jon Jacobs said the merger will increase the companies dominance and cut consumer choice. Anthem attorney Christopher Curran responded that the combined company will be able to offer lower rates to health care providers, who will pass on the savings to consumers.

Itll be up to U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to determine which side has the most convincing evidence during a two-part trial, scheduled to span more than a month. In the first phase, the U.S. will attempt to prove that the combined company will hurt large national employers. In the second phase, set to start Dec. 12, the trial will focus on the proposed tie-ups effect on local markets.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
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More than a dozen Bay Area artists are banding together the day after Thanksgiving for an event that will combine music, poetry and social justice.

The Homegrown: Taking Back Thanksgiving Show at Slims on Friday, Nov. 25, will be hosted by Equipto, the San Francisco rapper and activist who staged a hunger strike earlier this year to call attention to police actions, mass incarceration and gentrification in the Bay Area. Equipto will be joined by several local musicians, rappers, poets and speakers at the all-ages event, which is being touted as a networking, social and informational event for Bay Area grass roots volunteer social justice organizations and activists.
Disneys decades-long struggle with its princess addiction finally reaches the acceptance stage in Moana, the latest satisfying musical from the animation giant.

If you wear a dress and have an animal sidekick, youre a princess, the demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, tells the reluctant heroine midway through the movie  stopping just short of turning to the audience with an animated wink.

The studio should populate their casts with whomever they want, as long as the films continue to be this solid. A slow start keeps Moana from reaching Frozen or Beauty and the Beast levels of excellence. But the comic self-awareness, engaging songs and a fulfilling finish are enough to merit a strong recommendation. Walt Disney Animation Studios, which arguably hasnt had a dud since Meet the Robinsons in 2007, continues its roll.

Moana indeed begins with a royal figure  Moana Waialiki (Aulii Cravalho), who is the daughter of a chief on an isolated Polynesian island. But like Anna from Frozen and Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, she is arguably the most capable and liberated person in the movie.

With her island suffering from a curse and the crops barren, Waialiki goes on a mythic voyage with Maui, whose powers are matched by his ego and insecurity. They set sail on the electric blue and green postcard of the sea, meeting flashy mythical sea creatures while they engage in refreshingly romance-free banter on their canoe. (If theres a love interest in Waialikis world, we dont get to meet him or her. Arguably, Moana is too good for everyone in Moana.)

Moana is guided by The Little Mermaid and Princess and the Frog directors Ron Clements and John Musker, whose Disney pedigree goes back to Petes Dragon in 1977. They get off to a shaky start; the initial island scenes feel like a checklist of Disney animated cliches, with awkward introductions and a poor sense of pacing. A sidekick pig seems thrown in just to add another toy selection for the fast food Happy Meals.

The action gets much, much better when the three best characters  Moana, Maui and an unintelligent-beyond-description rooster named Hai-Hai (voiced by Alan Tudyk)  leave everyone else behind. The story finds its sea legs, and the voyage starts to feel like a worthy update of an old Ray Harryhausen Sinbad movie. There are big set pieces, unexpected detours and a dreamlike feel, as if our heroes have passed into another reality altogether.

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda comes along for the ride, providing musical direction. How Far Ill Go is typical Disney Radio fare, as if it was written to be piped through the speakers on the lido deck of the Disney Cruise Line. But the lively Johnson-sung Youre Welcome and Bowie-esque Shiny  voiced by Flight of the Conchords co-star Jemaine Clement as a disco crab monster  are top-shelf Disney soundtrack material, contributing to the story as much as to album sales.

Along with the slapstick and inevitable peeing-in-the-ocean humor, theres a building sense of environmental responsibility in the Polynesian fables that come to life. Mauis animated tattoos are nature-focused movies-within-the-movie, giving Musker and Clements a throwback 2-D palette to work with. The Balrog-like lava monster at the end of the movie is less of a bad guy and more of an obstacle in the heroines journey of self-discovery.

Yes, Moana is a princess of sorts, but whatever distress she runs into shell have to resolve with her own brain and brawn. The animal sidekicks, like the rest of us, are just witnesses to her voyage.

Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub

Moana

Animated adventure. Starring the voices of Aulii Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk and Jemaine Clement. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. (PG. 103 minutes.)

To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsIv=LKFuXETZUsI
NEW YORK  Federal regulators are urging railroads across the country to test train operators for obstructive sleep apnea after the engineer in Septembers deadly New Jersey commuter train crash was found to have the fatigue-inducing disorder.

The Federal Railroad Administration will issue a safety advisory this week stressing the importance of sleep apnea screening and treatment, Administrator Sarah Feinberg told the Associated Press. One railroad that already tests its engineers, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 1 in 9 suffers from sleep apnea.
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Reports say Kanye West has been hospitalized a day after he abruptly canceled the rest of his Saint Pablo tour.

Various media outlets report, based on anonymous law enforcement sources and West representatives, that the hip-hop superstar was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon because of stress and exhaustion and that he is spending the night there for his own safety.

Without confirming that the patient was West, Los Angeles police told The Associated Press that officers were called to a house on Laurel Avenue for a disturbance at about 1:20 p.m. When they arrived, it was clear that nothing criminal was occurring and it was a medical situation instead.

Police tell the AP that West was taken in an ambulance to the hospital and placed on a psychiatric hold.

Representatives for West and his wife Kim Kardashian did not reply to several messages left by the AP seeking confirmation or comment.

The hospitalization was first reported by NBC News.

West walked off the stage three songs into his Saturday night concert in Sacramento and canceled Sundays at the Forum in Los Angeles three hours before showtime. The rapper then canceled the remainder of his tour dates, according to a representative.

West, known for his between-song diatribes in which he reveals his unedited self, had become increasingly erratic  no small feat  and on Saturday he pushed further when he ranted about a few longtime friends and acquaintances, including Jay Z, Beyonce and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Ive been sent here to give yall my truth, even at the risk of my own life, West said on Saturday night. At the risk of my own success. Ill give yall the truth. Jay Z, call me, you still aint called me.  Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please dont send them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man. (To Wests credit, much of his tirade was to advance the career of his longtime collaborator Kid Cudi.)

On Thursday during his concert in San Jose, West editorialized about racism and the Black Lives Matter movement before praising President-elect Donald Trump. West has indicated that he may run for president in 2020.

Over the weekend, West also flooded his Instagram account with nearly 100 fashion photos, many snaps of photos that were out of focus and poorly cropped.

The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a veteran Texas police detective ended Monday night with an arrest in the slaying, which was one of several weekend attacks that authorities say targeted law enforcement in multiple states.

The San Antonio detective as well as officers in Missouri and Florida were conducting routine tasks Sunday when they became the targets of violence.

The detective was writing a traffic ticket when he was shot to death in his squad car outside police headquarters.

I think the uniform was the target and the first person that happened along was the first person that (the suspect) targeted, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Monday.

In Missouri, a St. Louis police sergeant was shot twice in the face Sunday evening while he sat in traffic in a marked police vehicle. The sergeant was released from the hospital Monday.

The shootings were the latest in what law enforcement officials say is an alarming spike in ambush-style attacks. Sixty officers were shot to death on the job this year, compared to 41 in all of 2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Of the 60 killed, 20 were purposely targeted by their assailant compared to eight last year, the group said.

Police officers also were shot and injured during traffic stops in Sanibel, Fla., and Gladstone, Mo., on Sunday night, but authorities have not suggested these were targeted attacks.

McManus identified the San Antonio detective killed Sunday as Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force. At a news conference Monday night, McManus said a 31-year-old man, Otis Tyrone McKane, was arrested without incident after the car he was riding in was stopped Monday afternoon on an interstate.

McManus said earlier that he doesnt believe the suspect has any relationship to the motorist who was pulled over initially.

Video shows the suspect at police headquarters about four hours before Marconi was shot. The suspect asked a clerk a question but left before receiving an answer, said McManus, who declined to say what the man asked.
HALF MOON BAY (BCN)

A woman died when she crash a vehicle into a tree early this morning in Half Moon Bay, a San Mateo County sheriff's spokesman said.

Deputies responded at 12:55 a.m. to the intersection of southbound state Highway 1 and Wavecrest Road where they found the crash.

Sheriff's spokesman Detective Salvador Zuno said only the woman was in the vehicle when it hit the tree.

Sheriff's investigators are working with the coroner's office to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash.

The Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the investigation for the sheriff's office, Zuno said. Investigators are asking for help from anyone who saw the crash.
At a party Wednesday November 16, Ann and Gordon Getty hosted the kickoff of Volti's "On the Way to 40" campaign. Currently in its 38th season,San Francisco's award-winning vocal ensemble is launching an ambitious campaign to support commissioning new works from contemporary American composers for its 40th anniversary season in 2018-2019, and taking those new works on tour to various cities across the country.
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Frantically addressing a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner issue? Or perhaps November just has you all turkeyed out? Well, the restaurant world is here to help. Here is a brief roundup of San Francisco restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving  and most importantly, still have seating available. Not all of the locations require reservations, and most are going to have menus featuring classic Thanksgiving entrees.

Bell Tower: Traditional Thanksgiving entrees will be available at the Polk Street watering hole as a $29 three-course menu, starting at 3 p.m.; regular bar menu options will also be available. 1900 Polk St.; (415) 567-9596. Open 11 a.m. to midnight. No reservations, but larger parties are encouraged to call ahead.

Lefty ODouls: The Union Square hofbrau and bar will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for $16.99, available throughout the day; the regular menu will be available in a limited capacity. 333 Geary St.; (415) 982-8900. 11 a.m. to midnight. No reservations.

Tommys Joynt: Turkey and mashed potatoes are always on the menu at Tommys Joynt, but for Thanksgiving, roasted turkey dinners will be available throughout the day for $24.95; take-home dinners that feed eight are also available  call for pricing. 1101 Geary Blvd.; (415) 775-4216. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; bar closes at 9 p.m. No reservations.

Aunt Charlies: As is its tradition, the Tenderloin dive bar will again offer free Thanksgiving dinners around 3 p.m. 133 Turk St.; (415) 441-2922. Noon to 2 a.m. No reservations required.

Z&Y Restaurant: Plenty of Chinatown restaurants will be open, including Z&Y, one of the citys best bets for spicy Sichuan fare. Regular menu available during business hours. 655 Jackson St.; (415) 981-8988. Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations not required but available online.

John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

Stinking Rose: As reviewer Anna Roth noted in her Chronicle Eat Up column earlier this year, for better or worse, the Stinking Rose belongs wholly to San Francisco. Reservations are still available for the four-course traditional Thanksgiving dinners served all day; regular garlic-filled menu available in its entirety. 325 Columbus Ave.; (415) 781-7673. Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

Old Clam House: Dating to 1861 and billed as San Franciscos oldest restaurant in its original location, the Old Clam House will be serving a three-course traditional Thanksgiving dinner for $34.99 all day; full menu will also be available. 299 Bayshore Blvd.; (415) 826-4880. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

Butterfly Restaurant: The Embarcadero restaurant with Asian and Hawaiian influences will be rolling out a big $58 prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner menu with dishes like ahi poke, curried pumpkin soup and turkey leg confit with sweet potato hash. Pier 33 on the Embarcadero at Bay Street; (415) 864-8999. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4 to 9 p.m. Reservations required.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Perrys Embarcadero: Both Perrys locations in San Francisco  on Union Street and on Steuart Street  will be serving traditional Thanksgiving entrees. The downtown location has better reservation availability; 155 Steuart St.; (415) 495-6500; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations required.

Brendas French Soul Food: The Creole- and French-inspired soul food spot announced on social media recently that it will be serving a brunch version of Thanksgiving dinner. The holiday specials include pumpkin pie pancakes, Dungeness crab and deep-fried turkey. 652 Polk St.; (415) 345-8100; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations required.

Justin Phillips is a Chronicle staff writer. Email jphillips@sfchronicle.com
MOSUL, Iraq  Iraqi troops fighting Islamic State militants in the eastern outskirts of Mosul regrouped on Monday in neighborhoods they recently retook from the extremist group, conducting house-to-house searches and looking for would-be suicide car bombs, a top Iraqi commander said.

Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi militarys special forces said his men also foiled two attempted suicide car bombings earlier in the day, firing from a U.S.-made tank on the approaching vehicles, which exploded before hitting their intended targets. A civilian woman was wounded in the blasts, the commander said.

The Iraqi military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city and the extremist groups last major urban bastion in the country. Most gains have been made by the special forces operating in the part of the city east of the Tigris River. Other forces are advancing on the city from different directions, and the U.S.-led coalition is providing air strikes and other support.

But Mondays pause and the continuing danger to troops posed by suicide car bombs and sniper fire underline the difficulty of the campaign  even in eastern Mosul where Iraqs most combat-seasoned troops are operating. Weighing heavily on their battle plans is the safety of some 1 million civilians still residing in Mosul, a sprawling city cut in half by the Tigris.

The resilience of the Islamic State fighters and the reluctance of the Iraqi military and its Western backers to use overwhelming firepower  in order to avoid civilian casualties  have led to the slow pace of the battle to retake Mosul. More than a month since the operations started, the special forces remain about 6 miles from Mosuls city center.

Meanwhile, Mosul residents reached by telephone inside the city and two special forces officers said an air strike on Monday by the U.S.-led coalition destroyed a major bridge over the Tigris in the southern part of the city. Its the third of the citys five bridges on the Tigris to be targeted by the coalition.

Targeting the bridges appears designed to limit the Islamic State capacity to reinforce or resupply fighters on the east bank of the Tigris where most of the fighting is taking place. The Iraqi military is known to have received U.S.-made pontoon bridges designed for use in combat.

In Baghdad, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made an impassioned call for unity in an address to the nation Monday. Accusing unnamed parties of seeking to raise the specter of sectarian strife, he said: Our strength lies in our diversity. ... We have a tough task ahead of us to rebuild what Daesh destroyed. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Mosul was captured by Islamic State in the summer of 2014 as part of a blitz that placed nearly a third of Iraq under the groups control. Iraqi troops, federal police and allied Shiite and Sunni militias have over the past year pushed the militants from most of the vast province of Anbar, west of Baghdad, and areas to the north and east of the Iraqi capital.
YANGON, Myanmar  High-definition satellite images show 820 structures destroyed this month in five Rohingya Muslim villages in Myanmars troubled Rakhine state where the military is carrying out counterinsurgency operations, a human rights group said Monday.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation.

These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted, said Brad Adams, the Asia director for the group.

The presidents spokesman, Zaw Htay, last week accused Human Rights Watch of exaggeration after the release of an initial set of satellite imagery that showed 430 destroyed buildings in three villages.

He accused the media of misreporting the situation in Rakhine, where the government has mounted a massive security operation since nine police officers were killed by unidentified assailants who attacked guard posts in Maungdaw village bordering Bangladesh last month. The government has acknowledged using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops in the operations.

It has implied that the attacks were carried out by sympathizers of the minority Rohingya, who face intense discrimination, repression and violence in Rakhine state.

They have frequently been targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine majority, who view them as illegal migrants. The state denies them citizenship even though they have lived in the region for generations. More than 100,000 Rohingya still live in camps after being driven from their homes following clashes with the Rakhine people in 2012.

Human Rights Watch said the new satellite imagery  recorded on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17-18  brings to 1,250 the number of destroyed buildings documented by it.

Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity, Adams said. Myanmar is also known as Burma.

The claims are impossible to verify, as are the government allegations, because of access restrictions on journalists and aid workers.
KABUL  A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital Monday, killing 32 people, the U.N. office said, the second large-scale attack targeting minority Shiites in Kabul in just over a month.

Hours later, the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. monitoring service that tracks militant postings.

Afghan police said the bomber, who was on foot, walked into the Shiite mosque in western Kabul where he detonated his explosives among a crowd of worshipers.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the explosion also wounded more than 50 people, many of them children.

In its statement, Islamic State said the groups martyr hit a gathering of close to 1,000 inside a temple of Shiite polytheists in Kabul and detonated his vest bearing 35 pounds of explosives, SITE said. Islamic State claimed nearly 200 Shiites were killed and wounded. However, militants often exaggerate their claims.

Sunni extremists such as the Taliban and Islamic State view Shiites as heretics and apostates and frequently target Shiite mosques and public gatherings.

Mondays bombing hit during a prayer ceremony commemorating 40 days since the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the slain grandson of the prophet Muhammad. The ceremony is known as Arbaeen, meaning forty in Arabic. Hussein is a revered Shiite martyr who was killed in A.D. 680 in the city of Karbala in present-day Iraq.

In early October, militants attacked another Shiite ceremony at a shrine in Kabul, commemorating the anniversary of Husseins actual death. That attack killed 17 people, mostly worshipers but also several police officers. A day later, a similar attack struck Shiites in the city of Mazer-e Sharif in northern Balkh province, killing at least 14 people.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan also claimed responsibility for one of those two attacks, the U.N. statement said.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the criminal investigation department for the Kabul police, said the attacker in Mondays bombing walked into the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque and mingled among the crowd on the first floor of the two-story building where he detonated his explosives.

Suddenly, a huge explosion happened, then everything went dark, said Ewaz Ali, 50, who was inside the mosque but suffered only minor wounds.

Shiites in Afghanistan make up an estimated 15 percent of the countrys population of around 30 million. Their public celebrations and commemorations were largely banned during the five years when the Taliban controlled the country.
ANKARA, Turkey  Since quashing a July coup attempt, Turkeys president has used extraordinary powers from a state of emergency to arrest and purge thousands of opponents. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also vowed to back public demands to reinstate the death penalty and suggested submitting Turkeys long-sought goal of European Union membership to a referendum.

With little leverage over Erdogan, the European Union and the U.S. have been watching a NATO ally that was long held up as a model democracy in the Muslim world slide deeper toward autocracy and move further away from the EU.

The Turkish strongman is unlikely to relent on his hard-line policies as he courts a nationalist party for its support in parliament for constitutional changes that would give his presidency  a largely ceremonial post under the current constitution  full executive powers. Critics fear the changes will concentrate too many powers in Erdogans hands and allow him to rule with few checks.

Fatih Aslan, a shopkeeper in Ankara, says he doesnt agree with the governments clampdown on the media, but says he supports tough measures to fight the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and the arrests of pro-Kurdish members of parliament.

I am behind them 100 percent on the issue in the fight against terrorism, Aslan said. They should lock up all of the (pro-Kurdish) legislators.

Since the thwarted coup blamed on a network of followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Turkey has engaged in an unprecedented crackdown, jailing tens of thousands as part of an investigation into the failed power grab and dismissed or suspended 120,000 suspected of links to the cleric, shut down more than 170 media outlets, detained more than 140 journalists, sacked elected Kurdish mayors and replaced them with government-appointed trustees.

The troubling clampdown comes as Turkey was already in turmoil, rocked by a wave of deadly suicide attacks, including one at Istanbuls busiest airport that killed 54 people. The country is also engaged in renewed conflict with PKK rebels after the collapse of peace efforts, is militarily involved in operations in Syria and Iraq and grappling with 3 million refugees from those two neighboring countries.

Despite some calls for the suspension of Turkeys accession talks, the EU has its hands tied over the migrant issue. In a recent meeting in Brussels, top European diplomats struggled to reach a common stance over Turkey as they walked a tightrope trying to balance their concerns over what they say are rights abuses with their continued need for Turkish support to stem the flow of migrants heading to Europe.

Few believe that a U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump would make an issue of the degrading rights and freedoms in Turkey as he will seek to improve ties with a strategic partner.

Soner Cagaptay, the director of the Turkish program at the Washington Institute, said Trump would likely give Erdogan a free pass as long as he has the Turkey president's support in the fight against the Islamic State.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, the medical device maker, increased first-half profit 26 percent and widened its margins, reiterating its forecast for a record annual profit this year.

Net profit increased to $78.2 million, or 13.6 cents per share, in the six months ended Sept. 30, from $62 million, or 10.9 cents, in the same period a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. Annual profit is likely to be towards the middle of its previously stated forecast range of $165 million to $170 million, it said.

First-half revenue rose 12 percent to $425.2 million, and the company forecast annual revenue of $880 million.

F&P Healthcare, which competes with Resmed and Respironics, lifted first-half sales of hospital products by 19 percent to $236.6 million and sales of homecare-based products by 5 percent to $183.2 million. Its gross margin expanded to 64.9 percent from 63.3 percent as it sold more profitable products, eked out supply chain efficiencies, and increased production in Mexico.

"Our longstanding objective is to double our constant currency operating revenue every five or six years," chief executive Lewis Gradon said. "Our performance this financial year to date is consistent with that objective."

To support its growth, F&P Healthcare plans to expand its infrastructure in New Zealand and Mexico, having agreed to buy a 15-hectare site in Tijuana, Mexico, close to its existing premises, and begun planning for the construction of a fourth building on its site in Auckland, New Zealand.

The new Mexico facility is expected to be completed by 2018, providing further manufacturing capacity to accommodate growth over the next decade, while the Auckland facility is expected to be completed by early 2020, and should accommodate growth in research and development operations for the following five years, it said.

In the latest period, F&P Healthcare increased research and development spending by 16 percent to $41.6 million, and said it was pleased with the response to new products.

The company said its range of masks used in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea continued to take market share and revenue generated from the more profitable consumables and accessories continued to increase.

F&P Healthcare sells its products in more than 120 countries, with almost half of its revenue coming from North America, and almost a third from Europe. In the first half, a gain in the value of the New Zealand dollar meant it booked a foreign exchange hedging gain of $9.7 million to operating profit, compared with $7.1 million loss recorded in the same period a year earlier.

The company will pay a first-half dividend of 8.25 cents per share on Dec. 21, up from 6.7 cents in the same period last year.

Its shares last traded at $8.71 and have shed 2.1 percent this year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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The New Zealand dollar rose along with other commodity linked currencies as raw material prices gained and the greenback slipped from a 16-year high.

The local currency rose to 70.37 US cents as at 8am in Wellington from 69.99 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index rose to 77.56 from 77.29.

The US dollar index fell, having rallied to its highest levels since 2003 on the prospects of stimulatory US fiscal policy with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republican Party in control of the Senate and Congress.The CRB Index of 19 commonly traded commodities rose 2.3 percent, led by gains in crude oil and lifting currencies such as the kiwi and the Australian dollar. US benchmark equity indexes reached record highs overnight.

"The USD has lost some lustre after its strong run and is down against most of the majors," said Jason Wong, currency strategist at Bank of New Zealand, in a note. "The commodity currencies are all higher."

Investors are awaiting the release this week of the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting in a week shortened in the US by the Thanksgiving holiday, which will see its markets closed on Thursday.

The kiwi rose to 78.30 yen from 77.71 yen late yesterday and traded at 4.8498 yuan from 4.8272 yuan. It slipped to 56.47 British pence from 56.71 pence as the pound strengthened after Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain may still be in the European Union after her departure in 2019. The kiwi rose to 66.37 euro cents from 66.03 cents and rose to 95.71 Australian cents from 95.59 cents.

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Metro Performance Glass chief executive Nigel Rigby says the company wants to reduce its gearing but also invest in New Zealand and Australia, where it sees growth in demand.

The company yesterday reported a 5 percent gain in first-half profit to $11.5 million on a 23 percent lift in revenue to $116.3 million, as it benefited from a strong local construction market and booked a one-time gain from its acquisition of Australian Glass Group (AGG)

"The Australian market looks pretty robust on a single family home basis, so we've got a pretty good backdrop," chief executive Nigel Rigby told BusinessDesk. "For the first six months it'll be about integrating and stabilising the business, and the key markets - South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales - are very early in the double glazed penetration curve."

Victoria will be a key market in Australia while the upper North Island is going to see growth in New Zealand, with Auckland residential housing consents expected to stay strong for an extended period, Rigby said.

Metro Glass bought AGG for A$43.1 million in August, and financing for the acquisition increased gearing to 38.5 percent in the first half from 26 percent a year earlier. The board declared a 3.6 cent interim dividend, payable on Jan. 23 with a Jan. 9 record date, which chair John Goulter said reflected both the company's opportunities and its increased gearing level.

Rigby said there is "quite a chunk" of development capital the company wants to invest in New Zealand and Australia.

"In the past, the New Zealand and Australian markets have been counter-cyclical to some extent - it doesn't look like it will change any time soon, but when the cycle starts to turn down, hopefully having an Australian position and a good thriving Australian business will offset New Zealand," Rigby said. "That's the theory - having said that, Australia hasn't been a happy hunting ground for a lot of New Zealand manufacturers, so we've got to make sure we're doubly vigil. We spent a year looking at AGG so we can make it a success."

Rigby said the company was well-positioned following the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Kaikoura which has damaged buildings in the South Island and Wellington.

"In an earthquake, windows and glass are one of the first things to go, unfortunately if you're a homeowner but fortunately for us. We'll be a direct recipient of repairs or rebuilds," he said.

Metro Glass has been investing in automation at its Auckland manufacturing facility, which Rigby said was vital to compete with low-cost imports, especially as there is no tariff on glass importing.

"The efficiencies have started again but there's a lot of gas left in the tank, we're fortunate to have a very strong market," he said. "I's been a little bit difficult over the last half year to get out those efficiencies because the market has been growing so strongly, but over time we'll get those efficiencies out."

The company is one of the largest glass purchasers in Australasia, Rigby said, meaning it has import costs which are "probably better than most" and the AGG acquisition helps with that critical mass.

The shares, which listed at $1.70 on the NZX in 2014, last traded at $2.08, and have gained 25 percent this year. The stock is rated an average 'buy', according to five analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median target price of $2.20.

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Ray and Marilyn Richards say their Mt Manganui leaky home recently sold for $350,000 below market value because of problems with the plaster cladding, now the subject of an estimated $250 million class action against James Hardie.

The couple made the trip to Auckland today to be among several leaky home owners involved in the suit, and sat in the gallery for the start of interlocutory applications at the High Court.

The action involves more than 1,000 owners of 365 buildings that are taking a litigation funding-backed case against the James Hardie group of companies for failure of fibre cement cladding products. The plaintiffs allege they have suffered financial losses and significant health issues arising from the use of the non-performing materials marketed as Harditex, Monotek, and Titan board.

The Richards say they bought their four-bedroom beachside home in a sought-after part of Mt Manganui for $430,000 in 2004. Their plan was to do it up and then on-sell it, downsizing to a smaller home and having some money left over for their retirement.

They spent a further $150,000 fixing remedial problems, including splits in the cladding before putting it on the market.

It didnt sell because then all the leaky homes business came out. We had all our eggs in one basket and this was meant to be our retirement fund, says Marilyn Richards.

It was gut-wrenching, says her husband, Ray Richards. They had to spend more money on the house and recently sold it after ten years on the market for $650,000, well below the prices being achieved by smaller homes in their immediate neighbourhood.

They have accommodation provided as part of their job as resort managers, but the couple, in their sixties, say their future is uncertain because they now dont have enough money to buy a smaller house in the area, are unlikely to get a mortgage at their age, and dont have sufficient savings for their retirement.

All but four of the buildings involved in the class action are residential properties. The three legs of the plaintiffs' claim are that there was negligence in the design, development, manufacture, promotion and supply of the cladding products, that they should have been withdrawn when the company realised there were problems, and that there were breaches of the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act.

The James Hardie companies being sued include the NZ manufacturers  James Hardie NZ (from 1998), Studrop Ltd (products spelt backwards) prior to 1998, the immediate parents of those companies James Hardie NZ Holdings and RCI Holdings Pty Limited, and the ultimate parent of the group, ASX-listed and Irish-registered James Hardie Industries PLC.

Lawyers representing the James Hardie group are seeking to have two of the seven defendant companies removed from the claim under a summary judgment application because they were simply holding companies in New Zealand and Australia, holding shares in the operational units.

The wording of the pleadings is on the basis of control and an argument of an alter ego - being a single economic unit, and that is not part of the law in New Zealand or the basis liability is attributed, said Jack Hodder QC for James Hardie.

He said the products were manufactured and sold in New Zealand by James Hardie NZ and that action should be taken against the four operational companies only.

Mark OBrien QC, representing the plaintiffs, said the holdings companies should remain in the case because the products, at least Harditex which forms the basis for most of the claims, were designed and developed, poorly, by the James Hardie group, not the subsidiaries. The responsibility for the lack of proper testing of the products lies not with the NZ subsidiaries, but the overall group, he said.

When in the 1990s it became apparent that there were problems, it was not just the local subsidiaries that failed to act sufficiently at the time and later  to withdraw the products and to warn homeowners and others of the issues  it was also the parent companies, OBrien told the court.

They shared common directors, some of whom were also group executives, and they share knowledge. We say they shared responsibility. They owed a direct duty of care, breached it and should make good, he said.

But Hodder said while it was orthodox that a group would set up subsidiaries and have the ability to appoint directors to them under its shareholding power, it doesnt mean it then is liable for the actions of any subsidiary under company law.

The group underwent a major restructuring following asbestos liabilities in Australia in particular and tax structuring, OBrien said. It only became the parent company in 2001 but directors of, and group executives reporting to, the former parent assumed the same role with JHI.

The parent company has protested jurisdiction in New Zealand, a move being resisted by the plaintiffs.

OBrien said recent well-known examples of company groups which have accepted responsibility for faults and other issues include Samsung in respect of its Galaxy Note 7 and Vokswagen in respect of emission controls. Responsible parent companies recognise responsibility. So should the law, he said.

OBrien told the High Court that the issues facing the leaky building owners were not isolated. In October, owners of leaky buildings in Wellington, known as the Cridge claim, were given High Court permission to pursue a $25 million representative action against the building materials firm.

In July the Supreme Court dismissed building product manufacturer Carter Holt Harveys appeal over a Ministry of Education claim the company was liable for the cost of fixing about 890 leaky schools. The judgment found that claims in relation to the defective building products could be argued, and would not be subject to the 10-year limitation under the Building Act.

There have also been multiple other claims and proceedings arising from alleged cladding defects.

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Turners, the financial services firm formerly known as Dorchester Pacific, expects a "significant" earnings uplift after buying motor insurer Autosure from Suncorp New Zealand.

Turners has bought the Autosure brand, mechanical breakdown and payment protection insurance portfolios, for $34 million, with settlement due to occur on Dec.1, the Auckland-based company said in a statement.

Autosure distributes through about 750 dealer agencies in New Zealand, and Turners expects it to contribute earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of about $5.5 million in the first full year following transfer of the in-force portfolios, which is subject to regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank.

Turners chair Grant Baker said the firm anticipates group earnings "will lift significantly" for the financial year to March 31, 2018, and said the company is in a strong financial position to keep investing. In the year to March 2016, Turners lifted pretax earnings 13 percent to $21.6 million, exceeding guidance, as revenue jumped 76 percent to $172 million.

Its shares rose 5.2 percent to a 20-month high of $3.45.

About 70 percent of the Autosure acquisition will be funded from Turners' recent bond conversion and share placement capital raising, Baker said.

Autosure will be run as a stand-alone business and all current management and staff will be retained," Turners chief executive Todd Hunter said. Additional synergies are expected to arise for the Turners group from utilisation of Autosures repairer network by our existing insurance business and from cross selling of insurance and finance to an extended dealer network and customer base."

The company also now has a partnership with Suncorp, under which it will sell private motor vehicle insurance through its brands including Autosure and Mainstream, underwritten by Suncorp's intermediated general insurance provider Vero.

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BARCELONA: Nokia is planning to re-enter the smartphone business in 2017, a slide from Nokia's capital markets day 2016 has revealed.

The event that was held on November 15 for investors, the company stated that 2017 will represent "Nokia brand's return to smartphones.," Phone Arena reported on Friday.

Since it does not have the required manufacturing facilities, Nokia will rope in Finnish company HMD Global, and Taiwanese giant Foxconn to manufacture the smartphones.

Led by former Nokia execs, HDM will "develop, market and sell Nokia-branded phones and accessories", while Foxconn is dealing with R&D and manufacturing, the report added.

The first smartphone of Nokia after its come back is rumoured to be the D1C that runs on Android 7 Nougatwith a Snapdragon 430 processor, and offers a 1080p display and 3 GB of RAM.

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MUMBAI: With the aim to encourage more active participation from people across the globe, Global Citizen Festival's CEO Huge Evans said that they are planning to launch a new app within few weeks.

Evans, who was present at the Global Citizen Festival India here, told media: "We are launching an app in some weeks where anyone can take part on the movement and also earn some rewards."

Evans said that only "talking about the cause will not help".

"But the action will do that. So once we launch the app, it would be more accessible to people who want to contribute for our movement to end extreme poverty by 2030," he added.

Global Citizen Festival India is a movement brought to India by Global Citizen, a social action platform, and The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF), an organisation focused on cultivating ethical, altruistic leadership to improve the state of the planet through collective action.

Global Citizen Festival India will in future comprise a distinctive mix of events, grassroots activism, media campaigning and online activation, to catalyse India's 15-year journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and to bring about the end of extreme poverty.

Chris Martin, who is the frontman of British Band Coldplay, is the current creative director of the event, and he will fulfill this role for the next 15 years.

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NEW DELHI: India on Friday signed a revised double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Cyprus, an official statement said here.

"A revised agreement between India and Cyprus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (DTAA) with respect to taxes on income, along with its protocol, was signed today (Friday) in Nicosia (Cyprus)," said the Finance Ministry statement.

The revised agreement will replace the existing agreement signed in June 1994 with Cyprus, which has a reputation as a tax haven.

It was signed by High Commissioner of India to Cyprus Ravi Bangar and Cyprus' Finance Minister Harris Georgiades.

"The new DTAA provides for source based taxation of capital gains arising from transfer of shares, instead of residence based taxation provided under the existing DTAA," the statement said.

"However, a grandfathering clause has been provided for investments made prior to 1st April, 2017, in respect of which capital gains would continue to be taxed in the country of which the taxpayer is a resident," it added.

Provisions of new DTAA will enter into force after the completion of necessary internal procedures in both countries and is expected to come into effect in India in respect of income derived in fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2017.

"The new Agreement also updates the provisions related to exchange of information to accepted international standards, which will enable exchange of banking information," the Indian finance ministry said.

Cyprus was the only country to have been blacklisted by India as a non-cooperative jurisdiction, due to lack of effective exchange of information.

India and Cyprus had entered into a tax treaty in 1994, and are obliged to exchange information.

On November 1, 2013, the Indian government had notified Cyprus as a non-cooperative jurisdiction following failed discussions to secure the desired level of cooperation.

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LOS ANGELES: India is today a land of opportunities like the U.S. if one is ready to "brave the bureaucratic hassles", an Indian entrepreneur who was MITs first international blind student has said.

"The good news is, things are very different now. If you are willing to brave the bureaucratic hassles, India today is the land of opportunities like the US," said Srikanth Bolla, the CEO of Bollant Industries.

"Look at it this way. Our India will grow at 8 pct a year for next 25 years. Assuming that all the growth is in the cities, our cities would grow at 15-25 pct a year in terms of GDP. In other words, you would become rich in India by just starting up a business," Bolla said in his address to the World Hindu Economic Forum here.

"Of course, as long as you are willing to tackle the bureaucrats. If you are not willing to do so you can invest on use, because we are already doing it," said Bolla, who decided against staying in the US after completing his studies at MIT.

Describing his career as a big roller coaster, Bolla, in his mid-twenties, said the US has given him a big launch pad in life.

"When the educational system in India rejected because of my disability, MIT welcomed me with open arms. I will always remain grateful with them," he said, who went on to become the first international blind student to be admitted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.

Explaining the reasons for not settling down in the US, despite having gotten an opportunity, he said he wants to "change the world around" him in India.

"America is an incredible place to live in, but the problems are largely first world problems. If you see how politicians are trying to solve the problem here, they are busy debating what point a fetus becomes a human being. I am sure it must be nice to have the luxury to debate on such things, but back in India we are working figuring it out how to stop people from using roadside as a toilet," Bolla said.

"(In India, we are) trying to solve the problem of the poorest of the poor from their meagre subsidy money from being stolen by the politicians, trying to provide skills for the 90 pct of the Indians who are self-employed and are in low-end jobs," Bolla said.

"We have big problems to solve and it is my generation that need to solve them. And this is why I went back to India," Bolla said, as he received standing ovation from the several hundred entrepreneurs who had come to attend the fifth annual edition of the World Hindu Economic Forum.

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NEW DELHI: India has achieved a milestone of producing the highest number of winners in the Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholarship Programme (MBBISP).

Till date, India has 24 MBBISP scholars from a total of 89 awardees worldwide that includes 30 nations.

The MBBISP programme is the premier scholarship programme that encourages research in rice and wheat breeding.

This year, India has seen three more students being added to this list, who will receive the MBBISP Research Scholarships.

These three students are Gurcharn Singh Brar working in the area of improving genetic resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in durum & brea wheat; Sreya Ghosh, whose Ph.D. project focuses on developing and fine tuning methods for unbiased gene cloning in wheat; and Karminderbir Kaur, who is working in the area of development of an in vivo haploid induction system in rice through distant hybridization & manipulation of CenH3 gene.

MBBISP was launched in India in 2009 by eminent scientist M.S. Swaminathan. It has provided financial support of over $3 million since 2009 to the 24 Indian students that has helped them in pursuing their PHD in plant breeding of wheat or rice at top agricultural universities in India and globally.

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MUMBAI: Karnataka in association with the Union government's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and industry chamber CII, will hold a "Make in India" conference in Bengaluru on February 13-14, 2017, state Industry Minister R.V. Deshpande said on Sunday.

The announcement came at the state government's Make In India conference here organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to attract investors to the state.

Deshpande met a galaxy of Indian corporate leaders here including Godrej Industries Chairman Adi Godrej, Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Asian Paints President Jalaj Dhani, a statement said.

"During the meetings, the minister assured the companies all the required support for implementation of projects in the state and invited them to participate in the forthcoming Make in India conference in Bengaluru," it added.

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hm way

Extremely rare oak panel carved with the best of "Peter Paul Rubens" early 1600's. Flemish. George Way findings. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

(Staff-Shot)

For those devoted collectors of fine art, one never knows what he or she will discover while hunting down antiques, finding many undetected treasures in the oddest of places.

Most serious collectors dream of finding that rare and undiscovered once in a lifetime masterpiece that has either been stored away in some musty old dungeon or passed through the hands of many collectors or dealers over the centuries. We often read or hear about rare works of art that seem to pop out of nowhere, wondering how they have gone unnoticed for centuries and why it took so long to be correctly identified.

Recently, I came upon something that I immediately knew was an important work of art that I personally feel should be displayed in one of our great museums, either here or in Europe. Since I admire and have educated myself in the past 52 years on how to recognize early works of art, it makes it that much easier for me to spot items of great antiquity and importance.

While searching for antiques on eBay, I came upon an oak carved panel measuring around 16" x 12" with a carved bust portrait of a man. In this portrait, the man is sporting a rakish hat, together with a pointed collar, which identified him as the most celebrated Flemish artist in Northern Europe, Peter Paul Rubens.

I also knew this ancient-looking oak panel was not from the 18th or 19th centuries, but much earlier. The thickness of the wood (one inch) indicated to me that the carver chiseled away at this panel during the early years of the 17th century, possibly when Rubens was still alive. I strongly feel this particular carved panel was based on a period etching or an original self portrait carried out by Rubens himself.

Though understandably not carved by the maestro himself, since he was working in oils not wood, it nonetheless represents a time in history when this great artist was hard at work producing the masterpieces that have now captured the interest of millions of viewers. It also occurred to me that his name, which is clearly carved into the rear of this panel (which I was unaware of until it arrived), might indicate it once belonged to Rubens, but that's clearly speculation, of course.

In order to get such accuracy, the wood had to be freshly cut, meaning the wood would be soft enough to handle a chisel. The panel was then sketched out with an image of the carver's liking, in this case a portrait. In order to get a true likeness of this person, you would surely need an image to guide you along. The carver in this case had to have an original self portrait or etching executed by Rubens in order to produce a true likeness of this artist.

Rubens was born to Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelinckx on June 26, 1577. His father was a successful lawyer of Antwerp who, because of his different views on religion, fled to Germany in 1568 in order to escape prosecution. He was escorted to prison for having an affair with the wife of William the Silent Prince of Orange. He was set free after two years, thanks to the pleas of his wife, which allowed him to live in Siegen, in Westphalia, where Peter Paul was born.

A 17th Century piece

Rubens' father died in 1587, and his widow returned to Antwerp, taking her three children with her. Shortly after a brief period of schooling, young Rubens became a messenger to a noble woman named Marguerite de Ligne, the Countess of Lalaing. While in her service, he was exposed to noble and royal circles, and came in contact with masterful works of art, which made him want to be an artist. He was fortunate to study under the watchful eyes of three gifted masters, Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort and Otto van Veen. In 1598, he was accepted into the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke as a master.

When one studies the many faces of European monarchs and famous artists such as Rembrandt or El Greco for many years, they become as familiar as family members -- well, at least for me they do. Knowing the images of so many prominent faces helps me possibly discover masterpieces. Over the centuries, great works of art have escaped the hands of many famous collectors, some times kings and queens, who were avid collectors in their own right.

When the panel finally arrived from the California dealer who sold it, I was pleased to see that it was actually what I originally thought. It was definitely carved during the early years of the 17th century. I did some serious research and have not been able to locate any images of Rubens carved in wood. In the year 2017, the National Gallery in England is planning a Rubens exhibition and I am hoping they will be interested in borrowing this rare, one-of-a-kind likeness of Rubens for the world to see.

As I look at this carved bust, I cannot help but wonder if the wood sculptor knew Rubens on a personal level. Did Rubens meet the individual who carved out his image in wood?

This panel is made of white oak, a timber that was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries throughout the Netherlands and Flanders. Most early pieces of furniture and related carvings were made from this type of wood. Oak was highly regarded not only for the making of furniture or carvings, but was utilized for building materials as well. It was also known for its strength and durability and many pieces of furniture and the like have survived the true test of time. This is not to say other woods were not available for furniture making or for carving . Quite the contrary. I tried in vain to unearth other oak panels carved with the likeness of Rubens or other known artists of its time, but I was unsuccessful.
Islamic State Ancient Sites Photo Gallery

This undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now called the Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria. When Islamic State fighters routed Syrian government forces and took control of the ruins of Palmyra Thursday, May 21, 2015 morning, the ancient city became the latest archaeological heritage site to fall into the hands of the militant group. (Militant Website via AP, File)

(Uncredited)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Brooklyn man was arrested Monday for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in a Times Square terrorist plot, authorities said.

Mohamed Rafik Naji, 37, allegedly travelled from New York to Yemen in March 2015 with the hope of joining the terrorist group, according to a media release from the Department of Justice.

"As alleged, the defendant expressed a devotion to join ISIL through both conversation and social media, traveling to Yemen in an effort to join their ranks," NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Naji, a permanent resident of the United States, allegedly began using social media to display his support for ISIS in December 2014.

He told an associate in the United States via email that the March 2015 trip to Yemen was his fifth attempt to reach territory controlled by the terrorist group, according to the release.

Following the terrorist attack in Nice, France in July, Naji allegedly expressed support for a similar attack in Times Square.

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a statement Monday evening saying there were no specific threats to public safety in the city, but that his office would continue to work aggressively with all local and federal partners.

"The arrest of Mohamed Rafik Naji on charges he provided material support to ISIL is a sharp reminder of the evolving threat of global terrorism," Cuomo said, "New York must remain vigilant in the face of hate and intolerance, and continue to advance the core values of democracy that this state and nation were founded upon."

FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office William Sweeney said Naji told a confidential source "I belong to Islamic State only" in an online conversation.

"He continued to express support for ISIL and violent jihad upon his return in the US months later," Sweeney said. "Terrorism threats, like Naji, are only mitigated through the joint efforts of law enforcement to protect our communities."
NWS COLLEGE

Among those cutting the ribbon to open the new college leadership center at IS 51 are Tim Gannon, left, principal of Port Richmond High School; IS 51 Principal Nicholas Mele, and Wagner College President Richard Guarasci. (Photo courtesy of Markham Intermediate School)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A college leadership center for seventh- and eighth-graders officially opened Monday at Markham Intermediate School (I.S. 51), Graniteville.

The center is a partnership between Wagner College, Port Richmond High School and Markham, explained Markham Principal Nicholas Mele.

"The idea is to get students used to the idea that they are going to apply to and go on to college in a few years. These are students who wouldn't necessarily be exposed to the expectation at home," he said.

Education officials, including Mele, Wagner College President Dr. Richard Guarasci, Port Richmond Principal Tim Gannon, and Staten Island Schools Superintendent Anthony Lodico, cut the ribbon to the second-floor classroom, as curious students peered inside.

The center will feature a library of materials on careers and college classes, as well as programs available in city public high schools, along with opportunities available for community service work in the Port Richmond neighborhood.

Markham teachers and staff have identified about 18 seventh- and eighth-graders to serve on the school's Leadership Team, which will also be based out of the office. Those students will organize and sponsor activities for their peers to benefit the school and community.

Gannon said he was pleased that Port Richmond could serve as the model for the new center. "We'd like to think of it as a pipeline, a continuum, a path students can follow that will guide them from intermediate school to high school, to college," Gannon said.

Guarasci also said he was pleased to see the effort extended to middle school students. Wagner will provide a full-time counselor to staff the office at Markham, as well as other resources for students.

Markham was one of 22 pilot schools throughout the city selected in June to participate in the Department of Education's "College Access for All" program.

Through "College Access for All" intermediate school students will have the opportunity to visit a college campus by the 2018-19 school year, and there will be new student and parent workshops themed around high school, college and career success.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the public's help in identifying two men sought in connection with a violent robbery where a 68-year-old was punched and kicked by his assailants in Port Richmond.

Two individuals approached the male victim in the vicinity of Heberton Avenue and New Street during the evening rush hour at about 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, according to a statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The culprits punched and kicked the 68-year-old man before stealing $20 in cash from him, the statement said.

The victim was not transported to a hospital.

Police released surveillance video which they say shows the incident.

The men being sought are described as two black males, according to a police spokeswoman.

Anyone with information is asked to visit the NYPD's Crime Stoppers website, call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA) or text their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
Bill de Blasio

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a news conference in front of Trump Tower following a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in New York.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

CITY HALL -- The city is prepared to sue the feds and increase taxpayer spending on legal help for immigrants under President-elect Donald Trump.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday outlined how the city would defy Trump policy proposals like mass deportations or a registry of Muslims.

"We don't consent to hatred," de Blasio said during a speech at Cooper Union in Manhattan. "We will fight anything we see as undermining our values, and here's my promise to you as your mayor: We will use all the tools at our disposal to stand up for our people."

Specifically, de Blasio said the city will "refuse" to let police officers "tear families apart" if that's what federal authorities want. The city will also provide New Yorkers at risk of deportation "with the lawyers they need to protect them."

"If all Muslims are required to register, we will take legal action to block it," de Blasio said.

The mayor also said the NYPD wouldn't "comply" with any federal orders to increase the use of stop-and-frisk, and that the city won't "trade-in neighborhood policing for racial profiling."

"If there are threats to federal funding for Planned Parenthood of New York City, we will ensure women receive the healthcare they need," de Blasio added. "If Jews or Muslims or members of the LGBT community or any community are victimized or attacked, we will find their attackers, we will arrest them, we will prosecute them."

NO WORD ON COST

Exactly how much any of this would cost is unclear.

"There's no way to know what these measures would cost because we don't yet know what the Trump administration will do," Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Freddi Goldstein said. "We're preparing cautiously and we'll respond aggressively, but at this point it's all theoretical."

Several city agencies get federal funding that could be cut off under Trump.

The NYPD, for instance, got as much as $303 million from the feds in fiscal year 2016, according to the city's Independent Budget Office. That dropped to $185 million the current fiscal year.

The mayor's office also couldn't point to specific legal arguments for the actions de Blasio described.

"It's impossible to fashion and forecast a specific legal argument to something that hasn't happened," de Blasio spokesman Eric Phillips said.

'THE VALUES OF THE PEOPLE'

De Blasio himself mentioned the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution as the basis for defying some Trump policies. The city already ignores certain federal detention orders.

"Our constitution says it, that so much of what is decided in the governance of our people is decided at the local level according to the values of the people who are governed," de Blasio said.

Democrat Hillary Clinton won New York City, as well as the national popular vote.

But Trump won Staten Island -- with 56.9 percent of the borough vote to Clinton's 40.2 percent.

"Unfortunately for the mayor, not all of New York City is the echo-chamber that envelops the inner-boroughs," former New York Trump campaign co-chair and Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) said.

Borelli said that de Blasio was trying to re-insert himself into national politics before the 2017 mayoral election.

"He's essentially telling homeowners and other taxpayers that they're going to have to foot the bill to pay for a political statement," Borelli said.

'THIS IS NEW YORK'

The mayor met with the president-elect, a native of Queens, at Trump Tower last week and said he tried to convey the real fears New Yorkers have after the election.

"I hope he remembers every day what he saw over all those years in the city and doesn't lose track of the very things that allowed him and countless others an opportunity," de Blasio said on Monday.

De Blasio's speech sought to not only reinvigorate his political base but push for a political movement "of the majority."

He pledged to protect all New Yorkers, especially those who are afraid of what will happen with Trump in the White House. De Blasio said the city will "never turn over" paperwork from the municipal ID card program used by many undocumented New Yorkers.

"This is New York," de Blasio said. "Nothing about who we are changed on Election Day."
AX121_1F97_9.JPG

Children watch firecrackers being lit on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.Diwali is one of Hinduism's most important festivals, dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi. New York's Hindu community wants to see the holiday observed by the city's public schools. (Associated Press)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Hindu community is urging the City Council to support Diwali as permanent official holiday in the city's public schools.

The Council Education Committee is meeting Tuesday to discuss the issue.



A resolution "calling upon the New York City Department of Education to establish Diwali as an official holiday for New York City public school students" is on the November 22 agenda of the Committee, sponsored by Committee Chair Daniel Dromm.



Hindu spokesman Rajan Zed contends that it is not fair for Hindu pupils and their families to attend school on Diwali, the most popular Hindu festival.

"Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion. Moreover, it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these students," said Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism.

Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Besides Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali, which falls on October 19 in 2017.

Hinduism, the oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in the United States.



The Department of Education school calendar for 2016-2017 included holiday closures on Rosh Hashanah (two days), Yom Kippur, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. Good Friday (which falls during the Spring recess of April 10-18 when the schools are closed) is also paid holiday for employees.
Borelli and Trump

Councilman Joseph Borelli was a co-chair of Donald Trump's campaign in New York since before the presidential primary in April and a regular on CNN and Fox News, contributing to discussions of the race.(Photo courtesy of Joe Borelli)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- South Shore Councilman Joseph Borelli says despite published reports, he's not specifically seeking to become the U.S. ambassador to France under Donald Trump.

Borelli was a co-chair of Trump's campaign in New York and a regular on CNN and Fox News, contributing to discussions of the race.

While he admitted to filling out an application to be part of Trump's transition team, he said he wasn't specifically targeting a foreign ambassador position.

"I submitted my resume to the transition team as did 50,000 other Americans eager to serve President(-elect)Trump. I checked the foreign policy box, among other boxes, and if a job offer works out, it does. If not, I enjoy my job in the City Council," said Borelli.

"I know it sounds cliche, but I'm very happy with what I do, and I'm very happy living on Staten Island. It's probably not likely I will leave my current role, despite what others may say," he added.

In fact, he has a fundraiser planned for Tuesday night to raise money for his re-election campaign.

Friends, 2 walk this story back a bit. I am not asking to be the French Amb., Seriously. Not happening. Fun article https://t.co/du23FH0K88  Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) November 21, 2016

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A legendary rock and roll photographer (and father of Skidmore student Erica Blakesberg '18), Jay Blakesberg has spent 35 years documenting America's top bands, and now he has a new coffee-table book. He'll be on campus to present "Chasing the Light," a storytelling and slide show, followed by a Q&A and book-signing Tuesday, Nov. 1, starting at 7 p.m. in Davis Auditorium of Palamountain Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Blakesberg has photographed the likes of the Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, and Jefferson Airplane, as well as more contemporary artists such as My Morning Jacket and Mumford and Sons. His Hippie Chick: A Tale of Love, Devotion & Surrender is a fine-art coffee-table book featuring 445 images. With three short essays by journalist Edith Johnson (known on social media since 2012 as Festival Girl), the book celebrates the free-spirited women who are inspired by, and help to inspire, live music. What the authors call "earth mamas and fairy princesses, hula-hoopers and whirling dervishes, front-row regulars and flower-crown makers" are all presented, alongside anecdotes from scores of women whom Johnson interviewed for the book.

Iconic rocker Grace Slick provides the book's foreword, discussing women in the original hippie-era music scene. In the afterword, Grace Potter mentions those "rebel ancestors" and says her generation is "the living, breathing manifestation of every path they blazed, every war they protested, every song they loved."

"I have felt for a long time that what I was doing is visual anthropology," Blakesberg says, and "this is a unique tribe whose story should be told. These women have . . . forever changed the face of women in pop culture."

Based in San Francisco, Blakesberg regularly contributes to Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Relix, and other magazines. Hippie Chick is his tenth book of music photography.

His visit to Skidmore is sponsored by the Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative.
#PM-apology PM apologizes for quip at press briefing on Itaewon tragedy Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued an apology Wednesday for making a quip at a media briefing with foreign journalists with regard to the Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon. "Re...

#football Tottenham's Son Heung-min leaves Champions League match early after collision Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur was forced to leave his club's latest UEFA Champions League match early following a collision with an opposing defender. Son was subbed out in...
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What is the most efficient way to buy speed in the form of reduced drivetrain friction? There is a technology, not quite new, but not yet seen in the bike industry. If all parties execute up to their verbal warranties it's going to debut in our industry in a very few weeks.



First lets report on the status quo. Last week Ceramic Speed bought the remainder of Friction Facts. The first stage in that purchase was the process by which drivetrain parts were subjected to a special preparation. Ceramic Speed bought that process, known as the UltraFast Optimization (UFO) chain, and the Friction Facts owner, the well-regarded Jason Smith, retained his independent testing facility.



Last week Ceramic Speed bought that too. The Danish ceramic bearing and bicycle component manufacturer brought Mr. Smith aboard as its Chief Technology Officer.

The process Mr. Smith designed, and which Ceramic Speed bought, gives the rider a projected 2 to 5 watts on competition day. After 200 miles under clean riding conditions" the chain still contains traces of the treatment. The 11-speed version of the chain costs $135.



A new company, PremierBike, is soon to release its own new tri bike for sale. In addition it is about to begin selling its own optimized chains. These are alleged by PremierBike to offer benefits that are much longer lasting than the technology Ceramic Speed is currently using.



The idea is to reduce "parasitic drag through a surface treatment process known by the acronym CAVSF. It stands for chemically accelerated vibratory surface finishing, and the process is described in detail elsewhere.

PremierBikes owner, Dan Kennison, has built a suite of businesses over his adult life and one involved this process used to treat engine parts in high performance race cars. In a discussion I had with Mr. Kennison he stated that Indy car engines so-treated would last about three times longer. Working with Indy cars formed the basis of Mr. Kennisons business, but he said he knew of other companies performing the same basic service for those on the NASCAR circuit.



The operative metric is R(a), which is average roughness in -in, that is, micro-inches (millionths of an inch). In laymans terms, removing the microscopic peaks from surfaces that rub and wear against each other decreases friction, which increases performance and extends life.



Rather than cleaning the factory lube off and adding a wax/PTFE lube mixture, which is how Mr. Kennison describes the process as executed by Ceramic Speed, the chain is first subjected to an isotropic surface process (CAVSF). Kennisons company then adds to this the surface impregnation process in combination with the typical wax/PTFE/MSO2 coating, that is to say, he first makes the chain surfaces smoother, and then he does something akin to what Ceramic Speed does during its chain treatment.



The numbers Ive seen are a reduction in the R(a) (surface roughness) of about one-third on each of several chains tested, meaning the R(a) decreases by about a third (the number gets a third of the way from where it starts to zero). Mr. Kennison subjected several chains to the process, recording R(a) before and after. In each case R(a) was reduced by about one-third. He also found, surprisingly, that Wippermann chains had less surface roughness before his CAVSF process than other chains had after the process. In other words Wippermann chains begin their lives very smooth. Nevertheless, Wippermann chains also saw about a one-third reduction in R(a) after the CAVSF process. It is a standard, untreated, stock Wippermann 11sx chain pictured here.

Mr. Kennison expects to sell new post-process chains consumer direct for a price in the $105 to $110 neighborhood. He will use Wippermann Connex 11sx chains, which are nickel chains with stainless inner links. That chain, untreated, from Wippermann, sells for $89 to $99 in the U.S., and $59 from ChainReactionCycles in the UK, as of today. The chain will go through the CAVSF process, followed by a wax/PTFE/MSO2 coating. That latter coating will only lasts 200 or so miles, just as with chains sold today, similarly treated. But the PremierBike chain, according to Mr. Kennison, will then retain all the benefits afforded by the CAVSF process: longer life, less friction. These chains will work on both SRAM and Shimano-outfitted bikes.



At face value it seems an astoundingly good deal, if a chain that costs not much more than an untreated chain will last twice or thrice as long; will lose less power through friction; and will still come with the slippery coating. But the chain is not for sale yet, and I havent seen it, touched it, ridden it.



Mr. Kennison said he expects to begin selling chains to consumers on or about the 1st of December, 2016. There is no site or place to send Slowtwitchers at the moment. Expect a future article when contact and purchase info is forthcoming. As Mr. Kennison is a habitue on the Slowtwitch Reader Forum, he will probably field questions there.
"We agreed on the need that terrorists should get out of east Aleppo to end the suffering of the civilians in the city," he said. He spoke after meeting with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, who acknowledged a "major disagreement" with al-Moallem. He warned the military's approach would drive more moderate rebels into the ranks of the Islamic State.
Erdogan says the U.S. should hand over Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric who has lived in Pennsylvania since 1999. Erdogan says Gulen was behind a failed July coup against his government. Gulen denies supporting the effort, which led to the purge of his supporters from Turkish governmental posts.
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Convenor Helen Musa said the Canadian-born Gregory, 70, who's headed the choir since 1997, was "a tower of strength" and praised her 19-year-contribution to music in Canberra and the high standard of performance she had maintained with the Woden Valley Youth Choir during that time. Recent activities have included performing as the chorus in Opera Australia's The Marriage of Figaro and Saturday's Voices in the Forest concert.

In a ceremony at the Canberra Museum and Gallery she was presented with a cheque for $1000 cheque and a F!NK vase designed by Canberra artist Robert Foster who died in June.

The citation read, in part, "As well as being the Artistic Director of the three choirs which make up the Woden Valley Youth Choir organisation she has been choir conductor, teacher, tour guide, CD producer, administrator, yearbook publisher, choreographer, stylist, fiercest supporter and strongest music critic."

Alpha Gregory has been the artistic director of the Woden Valley Youth Choir for nearly two decades - and it's a multifaceted and deep-reaching role. On Monday night, Gregory was named Artist of the Year at the 26th ACT Arts Awards hosted by the Canberra Critics' Circle.

Gregory, who came to Canberra with her family in 1985, took over the Woden Valley Youth Choir from Don Whitbread, who founded it in 1969. It started with three choirs but earlier this year was consolidated into two, one for children aged from eight to 11, the other, performing, choir for young people aged 12 to 21.

Gregory said she was honoured by the award. Although she had experienced many memorable moments over the years, "the highlight of all highlights" in her time with the choir was its performance for former South African president Nelson Mandela in 2000 when he received an honorary doctorate of law at the Australian National University. The choir sang the Australian and South African national anthems and Australian composer Stephen Leek's Ngana. It's far from the only Australian work the choir has performed and unlike that one, many have been new pieces.

"One of the highlights for me is nearly every year since I've been artistic director we've commissioned a new piece of music from an Australian composer," Gregory said. Every second year the choir has recorded a CD and many of these pieces have been featured, providing the choristers with a permanent record of their participation.

As well as her work with the youth choir, Gregory has taught at the University of Canberra, run a successful early childhood music education program that she began while living in Armidale; and started two other choirs, the now-defunct Sophisticated Swing for women over 40 and Rhythm Syndicate for 18 to 35-year-olds.

She intended to retire from the choir shortly and was in the process of seeking a replacement who could fulfil all the various roles required.
Qantas and American Airlines will fight a US transport regulator's decision to tentatively block an expansion of the pair's alliance which would have seen them fly more between Australia and the United States.

The Flying Kangaroo and the US airline struck a deal in mid-2015 for Qantas to fly between Sydney and San Francisco and for American to fly between Sydney and Los Angeles, connecting to a network of destinations on either end, in a tie-up that was to open doors to new markets for both.

But the US Department of Transportation issued a show cause order on Friday tentatively denying the airlines' application to expand their alliance because it could result in an unfair concentration of market power.

If the deal was allowed to go ahead, Qantas and American would control about 60 per cent of traffic between the US and Australia, the DoT said in its decision, noting that consumers would have few other competitive options on the under-serviced route.
The lesson is this. Political debate must avoid jumping to conclusions based on single opinion polls  especially when polls need to be interpreted with care. The best polls are those that can show trends over time. On matters of social cohesion, the Scanlon Foundation's findings have been robust and reliable.

Which is why there are some findings in this year's survey that should give us pause. There has been an increase in the reported experience of discrimination, which rose from 15 per cent of respondents in 2015 to 20 per cent in 2016. This is the highest proportion recorded since the Scanlon Foundation surveys began in 2007. Those of a non-English speaking background reported the highest experience of discrimination (27 per cent).

There can be no complacency on prejudice and discrimination. It remains fundamentally important that our society sends an emphatic signal that racism is unacceptable.

On occasions, we fail to send this signal strongly enough. There are times in our public debates when there is an asymmetry: when we seem to care more about the feelings of those who may perpetrate racism than about the hurt experienced by those on the receiving end. Too often, the voices of those on the margins who encounter racism get drowned out by the voices of the powerful who are fortunate never to experience bigotry.

This has been true of the frequent public commentary about section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate others because of their race. It is revealing that we hear relatively little from those who have to endure the harm of racial vilification. Yet, of the many Indigenous and multicultural communities I have worked with, I have not yet come across a single representative body that believes there should be a weakening of section 18C.
Leonard Cohen's death this month came after a fall  and it's quite shocking to me to read that of those older patients who suffer a fracture, only a third ever return to independent living. Fractures lead to a greater risk of death and disability  and you can see how the disability sets in. It gets so much for the frail to participate in really successful rehab.

She fell. This is what happens as you age, at least once a year after 65.

My 94-year-old mother-in-law has broken her hip. Broken her hip just two days before she was set to return home after lengthy rehabilitation. She had a fracture in more or less the same place in August.

The last 14 weeks have been a real education for me about how hospitals work, about how the health system operates. But they have also been an education for me in how people relate to each other.

Grandma's been a huge part of my life but not in the way that mothers-in-law are sometimes characterised. She is not overly critical of me and she doesn't take her darling son's side on every occasion, well, not on every occasion. She has always been interested in our children but hasn't condemned us for the choices we have made for them (of course, she would have been really thrilled if we had sent them to Catholic schools but, you know, she became used to our godless ways).

And, because my parents died at, more-or-less, the age I am now, she fulfilled for me a really important role in my life, a role model for ageing.

By the time my parents died, they'd already been unwell for years, a function of the kind of lives they had led after they found refuge in Australia. They worked around the clock and stressed around the clock. And I am now so sorry that I contributed to that in my youth.

But grandma, as my own children call her, was still a guide at art galleries in her 80s, still interested in the world around her, watched the news every night. On her 90th birthday, she was, in black and white, the well-groomed life-of-the-party when 90 of her closest friends and relatives came together to celebrate. She remembered everyone's birthdays, enjoyed lunches and coffees out with all of us.
More than 45 countries, among the most vulnerable to climate change, have said they will switch entirely to renewable energy as soon as possible.

The announcement was made at climate talks in Marrakech, Morocco, where negotiators have been hammering out the details of an agreement made last year to keep global temperature increases "well below" 2 degrees and to "pursue efforts" to stay below 1.5 degrees.

Many of the countries making the pledge to withdraw from fossil fuels belong to the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group encompassing countries committed to ensuring the 1.5 degrees goal is met.

Countries slated to adopt the document would agree to "strive to meet 100 per cent domestic renewable energy production as rapidly as possible".
A senior NASA official has taken the extraordinary step of personally rejecting the claims of One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts that the agency had falsified key data to exaggerate warming in the Arctic.

Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, told Senator Roberts he was "mistaken" in his assertion that the US agency had "removed" Arctic data to mask warming in the 1940s.

"You appear to hold a number of misconceptions which I am happy to clarify at this time," Dr Schmidt told Senator Roberts in letters and emails obtained by Fairfax Media. "The claim that GISS has 'removed the 1940s warmth' in the Arctic is not correct."

Dr Schmidt noted in his letter dated November 18 that the data was freely available on its website.
The state's firefighting capacity has been undermined with the loss of a dozen regional managers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) just as summer risks ramp up, the union and opposition MPs claim.

The Baird government is shrinking the number of NPWS regions from 14 to eight, and all but two or three of the regional managers  with about 300 years' experience among them  will leave, the union says.

"This is just irresponsible," Stewart Little, general secretary of the Public Service Association in NSW, said. "Every populated area adjacent to a national park will be placed at risk in the coming fire season."

Mr Little said the regional managers often took on major roles when a fire emergency was declared, and their experience would be missed. He predicted further depletion of management with more job losses among area managers and park rangers expected early next year.
The text message came from Dr Diana Cousens, one of the Australian women who has been a kind of lifeline for refugees and asylum seekers poised to spend their fourth Christmas in limbo in Papua New Guinea and on Nauru.

An asylum seeker named Amin Afravi had been bashed by two guards on Manus Island on Friday night, she reported, after they found him trying to hang himself. "The bashing was accompanied by racial abuse," she added. "He now has broken ribs and has difficulty breathing."

Attached was the FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS form submitted and signed by Mr Afravi, naming the alleged culprits and ticking all the relevant boxes. Is your complaint about bullying or abuse? Tick.

A racial incident? Tick. Is your complaint about a staff member? Tick. If yes, name. In this box, he wrote the first names of his alleged attackers. The form allows nine lines to provide supporting details and Mr Afravi did his best to describe what had happened in his Farsi language.
Malcolm Turnbull's own department is attempting to bury an "urgent" review of offensive Wikipedia edits made by public servants.

And it is refusing to say what, if anything, its initial investigation found.

An investigation was ordered after Fairfax Media revealed thousands of anonymous edits of the free online encyclopaedia - which included insults to world leaders and a former prime minister, and even a claim that the Holocaust was "justified" - had potentially been made by public servants.

The chief of Mr Turnbull's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Martin Parkinson, personally ordered the heads of the Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Health, Agriculture and Parliamentary Services departments to "investigate as a matter of urgency" and report back within a week.
Nationals MP George Christensen supported his colleagues' stance. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "I am not arguing for a weakening of gun laws and I never have," Senator McKenzie said. "Nearly one million Australians own at least one gun. We champion our Olympic shooters and we manage our feral pests," she said. Senator Penny Wong said the government was in tatters. Credit:Andrew Meares The Victorian senator hit back at critics of relaxing the ban and said they were wrongly conflating illegal firearms and terrorism with legitimate gun use in Australia.

"This particular disallowance motion does nothing to change the national firearms agreement or the strong gun laws which have held up in a such strong stead from a safety perspective, getting that balance right for the last 20 years," she said. "I support the motion," Senator McKenzie told her colleagues. Labor senator and the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Penny Wong, said the government was "now in tatters", with MPs and ministers openly rebuking the prime minister's position. "Yet again we have disarray," said Senator Wong. "The Turnbull government split on the floor of the Senate  the Nationals voting with Senator Leyonhjelm and where were the National cabinet ministers? Were they here?"

Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was relaxed about the split on Tuesday, saying "the National Party is its own party" which believes in the freedom of the individual. "We are in Coalition. Similar to what Labor and the Greens are when they work together, but they are their own parties," he told ABC radio. "[The senators] put very cogent arguments forward about what they believed the deal was in regards to the Adler, that they were respecting that deal they believe they had with Leyonhjelm and they were going to honour it." Mr Joyce said he "absolutely" supports their right to vote independently but declined to say what his position was on the firearm ban. 'Hand forced'

The Nationals' Chief Whip in the lower house, George Christensen, told Fairfax Media his upper house colleagues had been forced into their act of defiance because of the government's inaction on the issue. "There will be no whipping for crossing the floor in this instance. In fact, I fully endorse the stance of the Senate backbench Nationals," he said. "The ongoing import ban on the Adler A110 is something our rank and file supporters are opposed to and our Nationals MPs and senators have been at pains to get the government to address." "I guess the Senate backbench Nationals thought the only way to deal with the inaction was to fire a shot of their own across the government's bow, and cross the floor." West Australian Liberal MP Ian Goodenough, who also supports overturning the ban, agreed that frustration was a factor in the Nationals insurrection, which he said he backed.

"I have had conversations with Senators McKenzie and Williams  they have a good understanding of firearms and are frustrated that their colleagues do not comprehend the absurdity of refusing to classify the Adler." "Their decision to cross the floor is justified as they know there are many other legally available firearms of similar capacity on the market." Mr Goodenough said state police ministers should have reclassified the Adler shotgun into Category B, which makes it somewhat difficult to obtain. He said similar lever-action shotguns and rifles had already been classified in this way. Currently the Adler shotgun is unclassified. Nationals MPs say it would be mainly used by farmers managing feral pests on their properties. But under former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the government agreed to put a time-limit on the ban in agreement with Senator Leyonhjelm for his vote on separate legislation. The ban was due to expire in July but the Turnbull government continued it prompting Senator Leyonhjelm to accuse the government of reneging on their deal. Mr Turnbull initially failed to rule out fresh negotiations with Senator Leyonhjelm to secure his vote for union-busting bills, which prompted a rebuke from Mr Abbott.
The governments of Nigeria, Indonesia and Malaysia - Australia's competitors in the oil and gas export sector - extract twice as much tax revenue from petroleum companies as a proportion of production than the federal and state governments combined.

An analysis, based on International Monetary Fund figures and global resource production numbers, found Australia was at the bottom of the pile when it comes to charging multinationals for selling its natural wealth.

For example, Malaysia took $20.2 billion in oil and gas-related revenues in 2014 - nearly three times the $7.3 billion that went to state and federal coffers in royalties, corporate taxes and the federally-administered petroleum resource rent tax.

That's despite Malaysia's annual production being less than 30 per cent higher than Australia's.
Refugees and asylum seekers held on Manus Island are battling some of the highest rates of depressive and anxiety disorders recorded and this is overwhelmingly the result of their detention experience, a study has found.

The disclosure is included in a submission by the United Nations refugee agency that also reveals refugees and asylum seekers continued to be held in prison-like conditions, well after Papua New Guinea's highest court ruled that the detention was unconstitutional.

While Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said women and children and family groups held on Nauru will have the highest priority for resettlement to the United States, the report highlights the urgent need to address to extreme levels of depression and post traumatic stress disorder among those in PNG.

A study by three mental health experts found rates of depressive or anxiety disorders and PTSD among asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island "amongst the highest recorded rates of any surveyed population".
The Turnbull government's proposed lifetime ban on asylum seeker visas is heading for defeat in the Senate, with key crossbenchers including David Leyonhjelm and Derryn Hinch positioning to oppose the controversial bill.

Failure to pass the measure would be a blow for the government as it eyes a series of legislative wins before the Christmas break, but would not endanger the deal with the US to resettle refugees currently on Manus Island and Nauru.

It comes as the Department of Immigration confirmed at least 857 people had expressed interest in US resettlement, including some of the 377 people who have been temporarily transferred to Australia from Nauru or Manus Island for medical reasons.

That figure included 245 people who were adults when they were first sent to a regional processing centre, meaning they would be subject to the lifetime visa ban. The remainder were minors from about 90 family units and would not be barred for life from Australia.
The key

services

By 2026, Sydneys population will include more school-age children and people of retirement age, increasing pressure on already stressed health and education systems. The opportunities are there. From one perspective, one-stop hubs, rich seams of data and technological progress will allow patients unprecedented control over their healthcare in the next decade. Schools and universities, responding and catering to the innovations of their students, will be able to teach and research in ways and in settings far more engaging than the traditional lecture in a hall. But, from another perspective, what looms ahead is shortage and crisis. If demography is not destiny, it is at least a direction. And the demographics of the Sydney population mean that even as the opportunities for learning and progress in health and education loom brighter than before, they also mean the pressure on resources and infrastructure could, in pockets of the city, become unbearable.

Sydneys greatest health challenges During the next decade, the full force of the post-war baby boom will start to impact on the states health system. Increasing life expectancy, coupled with declining fertility rates since the early 1970s, will create a population with a record high proportion of retirees. The number of Sydney residents over the age of 80 will almost double in the next 10 years, according to population figures. The top-heavy age mix will put greater strain on acute and preventive health services, which are geared towards combating the rising tide of the so-called lifestyle diseases including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Sydneys chronic disease hotspots in the west and south-west will see the biggest population rises and carry the biggest burden. And there are plenty of dire prognostications. Western Sydney Local Health District Chief executive Danny OConnor recently predicted the rising tsunami of diabetes in Sydneys west would overwhelm hospitals within 15 years.

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More than 18 per cent of Australians will be obese by 2025, according to conservative estimates. A NSW Health futures report in 2005 found new cases of non-insulin dependent diabetes will have increased by 127 per cent between 2001 and 2026. Though those projections are more than a decade old they continue to offer a compelling snapshot of the future health of people living in Sydney. The report predicted the incidence of dementia in NSW will more than double between 2001 and 2026, driven by the ageing population. Vision disorders, hearing loss and chronic musculoskeletal disorders will follow suit.

Rate per 100,000 population NSW hospitalisations for all causes By sex, 2001 to 2026

It is, however, not all bleak news. Within a decade new HIV infections will be virtually eradicated thanks largely to a breakthrough NSW-based trial of an pre-exposure prophylactic drug (PrEP) launched in May, experts say. Hepatitis C cases will have almost completely dried up, with the government announcing affordable access to effective combination drugs in July. The number of new cancer cases will also have dropped considerably, while the drop in smoking rates should mean smoking-related conditions will drain fewer resources from health services. But the current system will need to adapt and expand to meet the needs of the growing, ageing and increasingly chronic disease-addled population, by working smarter, adopting e-health at a rapid rate, and giving greater autonomy to patients.

Patients take control Widespread use of patient-controlled electronic health records will drive the shift away from the fragmented healthcare system. Use of the federal governments My Health Record has been sluggish since the initiative was launched in 2012. But NSW Secretary of Health Elizabeth Koff says she is very confident that by 2026 most people would be using smart devices to access their digital records and view test results, appointments and management plans, while controlling who has access to that information. Its going to be a very, very big game changer, says Koff. A digital network of shared electronic health records will also close the information gaps between hospitals and community-based services that stymie continuity of care once a patient has been discharged. Its about joining the dots digitally between all those services, Koff says. Health Minister Jillian Skinner, meanwhile, predicts that one-stop-shop healthcare hubs will spring up across the city. This is the vision at the heart of the federal governments healthcare homes scheme, which will launch trial sites in 2017. But NSW is already testing the model. At the integrated care demonstrator site in Mount Druitt, one of dozens being trialled in the state, the round-robin-style service was designed to give patients easy access to a multidisciplinary team and allow them to dictate to kind of care they want to receive. Theyll be everywhere [by 2026], Skinner says.

Big data driving big changes Where you live in Sydney will determine to a large extent what youre most likely to need from your health services. Mining an unprecedented amount of data from Sydneys diverse population with increasing speed and specificity will enable health authorities to better allocate health services. Big data will be crucial, says Koff. Knowing the socio-economic and geographical divisions [within Sydney], we can have a much more bespoke approach to disease profiles and tailor our health services response even more appropriately, she says. On past trends, while lifestyle diseases will be most prevalent in south-west and western Sydney, the more affluent suburbs in Sydneys north will need a greater focus on childhood vaccination initiatives to boost coverage, and curbing the areas high alcohol-related hospital admissions. This trove of information will potentially include de-identified patient outcomes data, comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments and the performance of the medical teams at the states public hospitals. I want this information in the public domain, says Skinner. We want to know why this patient treated at one hospital has better outcomes than, say, a person treated at that hospital, she says.

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The silicon valley of health Health will be as much about mathematicians and engineers and physicists as it is about actual doctors, thats what medical research is showing us, Skinner says. New personalised medical apps and digital devices  medication managers, real-time blood pressure, and blood glucose monitors  directly linked to local health services will increasingly help patients manage their medical conditions at home. Its a brave new area were entering, where we can monitor symptoms and key indicators from home  [and] its the tech sector that is going to drive a lot of this change, says Koff. The pinnacle of personalised care  genome sequencing  is already used to tailor highly targeted life-saving treatments for specific paediatric cancer patients at Sydneys Childrens Hospital Network. Geneticists are using the techniques to identify people with rare genetic diseases. It is quite remarkable and it will definitely revolutionise how we deliver care in the next 10 years, Koff says. The southern hemispheres first whole-genome sequencing clinical service opened its doors in July this year at the Garvan Institute. Its clinicians are already planning to expand to whole-genome screening for cardiac conditions.

Capital works and infrastructure Emergency services will be adapting to Sydneys new Paramedic Response Network; a hub-and-spokes model replacing the current local stations with mammoth ambulance superstations and smaller response points throughout the metropolitan area. Digital medication monitoring systems will be rolled out across the states hospitals to guard against prescribing and dosing errors, and a real-time drug monitoring system in community pharmacies will track over-prescribing and doctor shoppers who stock up on drugs of addiction. In the past few years, the state government has embarked on an ambitious capital works program for the NSW health sector. By 2026, some of these projects will be treating patients or will be very near completion, including a new hospital at Rouse Hill. Westmead Hospital will have a new acute services building, and Westmeads health precinct  dubbed the mothership of medical science in NSW  could potentially be the states silicon valley of health innovation in 2026. Draft district plans for the city, soon to be released by the Greater Sydney Commission, identify the Central City around Parramatta and Westmead as a health, education and administration hub. A question mark still hangs over Nepean Hospital, serving the ballooning population of western Sydney, which is also a chronic disease hotspot. The hospital was allocated just $4 million in future planning in this years budget. Watch this space, Skinner says.

Sydneys schools Sydneys schools will be denser, taller and more specialised. The citys public schools, already at capacity, will need to adapt to a population that increasingly wants to live in the inner city and offset the higher cost of a mortgage by putting their children through the public education system. Public school enrolments are expected to grow by 45,000 students in the next four years, a rate of growth that would result in at least 173,000 extra students in the public system by 2031. On this basis, the Department of Education has estimated it would need 6250 new classrooms by 2031, with 5450 of them in Sydney. School enrolments growth Enrolments have surged in many of Sydneys inner- and middle-ring suburbs. The areas feeling the squeeze the most tend to be those in Sydneys inner and middle rings  suburbs such as Waverley, Canada Bay, Ryde and the City of Sydney itself are expecting an increase in school-age enrolment of more than 25 per cent. But there are exceptions on the urban fringe. In Camden, around which successive governments have stoked development through the citys south-west growth centre, the surge in school-aged enrolment is expected to exceed 55 per cent. Geoff Newcombe, the executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, also emphasises the strain. Based on past trends, Newcombe says, about 70,000 students are likely to seek enrolment in private schools over the next 15 years. Even if three-quarters of these students are accommodated in existing schools, the other 25 per cent will require around 20 new schools to be built, he says. One of the corollaries of this pressure will be a change in the design of new schools. From this year, Sydney will get its first high-rise public school, Arthur Phillip in Parramatta. Another in the inner-city, Cleveland Street, will follow, along with two others in Alexandria and Ultimo. The Greater Sydney Commission, alongside government architect Peter Poulet, is also looking to get involved in school design. Schools offer the potential to deliver open space that, outside of class hours, can also be used by the community. Expect new schools to be the sorts of places people will want to attend at all times of the day. Critics, however, say the governments current investment program does not go far enough. We believe it will still fall short of accommodating the 23 per cent increase in public school enrolments projected over the next 15 years, says NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Gary Zadkovich.

University competition heats up There are also likely to be significant changes in the university sector. Here, however, universities will focus not so much on how to accommodate a growing population, but on how to attract that population. We are facing an interesting period ahead, says Professor Barney Glover, the vice-chancellor and president of Western Sydney University. Although the region will experience rapid population growth over the next 10 years, the school-leaver population is actually fairly static over the short-term, says Glover. We are likely to see a consolidation of higher education providers over the three- to five-year period, followed by an upswing in demand as the economy transitions and pronounced population growth at the main university entry-point demographic comes online.

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Move over red-tiled roofs on quarter-acre blocks... what will be Sydneys dominant housing forms of the next century, and how will the old make way for the new? Sydney in 10 years? The city will overhaul the Great Australian Dream. That is the message  ambitious, certainly; overly so, well see  from senior figures in the Baird government responsible for helping determine where and how we will be living. The Sydney of 2026 will have crossed over that magical Australian barrier of the love affair with the motor vehicle, offers David Pitchford, the chief executive of government property agency UrbanGrowth NSW. We will have moved away from everybody having three cars, and we will have moved into a situation like most European capitals, where people under 25 dont even have a drivers licence, says Pitchford. And the reason for that is that they dont need it. Their city is designed so well that they can get around and interconnect without it. One of Pitchfords bosses, the Planning Minister Rob Stokes, is also quite willing to place the Sydney of the near future in a new concept of the Great Australian Dream. A student of the history of Sydney housing, Stokes sees the pattern of the citys development for much of the past 70 years flowing from former Prime Minister Robert Menzies ideal of the Great Australian Dream as one of home ownership. In Sydney that ideal had a certain homogeneity of design and shape. The result, says Stokes, is what you see when you fly into and out of Kingsford Smith Airport. You will see the acres and acres and acres of terracotta roofed detached homes in the suburbs, Stokes says. But the Sydney of the future, he says, will need to recognise that a homogeneity of options is not, and probably never was, an accurate reflection of the needs of the population. My vision is certainly for us to see a much more varied and diverse and interesting mix of housing, Stokes says. Flying into Western Sydney Airport some time after 2026, therefore, Stokes says hed like to see something a bit different. Predominated by nothing in particular, but where we have the tools and capacity for different groups of Australians and different families to determine for themselves what the Great Australian Dream is to mean for them, he says. We need a diversity of types, of titles and tenures if we are to bring new life into what I think is a timeless concept of the Great Australian Dream, which is about providing homes, about property not just being seen as a commodity to be traded. So how is this going to happen? According to Stokes, the citys future housing needs will be met in thirds. One-third will be built on the outer south-west and north-west fringes of the city. One-third of Sydneys new housing will be peppered through the citys existing suburbs. And one-third of the citys future dwellings will be delivered in state-government led programs close to existing public transport.

The big developments One of the largest of the big developments will emerge with the thousands of new dwellings David Pitchford and UrbanGrowth want to build along the rail line between Central and Eveleigh, to the south of Redfern. According to Pitchford, the dwellings will be complemented with open space. We are looking, for example, to bring about the crossing of the rail lines with public open space corridors, he says. This will be a place where you can move from east to west much more easily than you can now, and the amenity that would provide will be excellent. But a big challenge for Pitchford is that his organisation does not yet have much of a record of developing land that people like or with which they are comfortable. Formed from the old LandCom office and charged with instigating inner-city housing projects, Pitchfords agency has not yet been able to deliver projects which it can show to sceptical Sydneysiders. It is a point emphasised by City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore who, based on the councils experience fostering developments around Green Square and Harold Park, is determined her council should be involved in any inner-city property project. What Im saying is, its not easy, its really challenging, says Moore, who has criticised UrbanGrowth for its proposed densities around Waterloo. And you cant think you can get away with it just paying for itself. Because you wont provide the things youll need to provide to make it a liveable environment into the future, she says. Moore uses Green Square as an example of the difficulties and opportunities confronting those undertaking mass inner-city development schemes. It will be denser than everything else we know, says Moore. But weve really worked hard to get design excellence. There will be 40 parks, we will be landscaping on all the streets, so there will be canopy and there will be beautiful facilities, so it will be attractive. But weve had to put $430 million in terms of those facilities, and developers are making contributions through voluntary planning agreements, she says.

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Heading west from Central, Pitchford is already encountering the sort of difficulties foreshadowed by Moore. The next large development scheme to emerge in the decade will be the Bays Precinct at Rozelle. There are no published housing targets around the Bays, which is also to include White Bay and Glebe, and possibly seep into Wentworth Park. Previous announcements have indicated there could be as many as 16,000 apartments in the area, though the government has ruled out housing development on Wentworth Park. When UrbanGrowth called for tenders to develop the first stage of the area, the White Bay Power Station, the agency shocked the development industry by rejecting all 13 proposed bids. Behind the scenes, the developer backlash to Pitchford has been fierce. But the public servant says hes not for turning, and continues to talk a big game for the Bays.

There will be some destination type aspects there, there will be housing, there will be commercial development, but fundamentally we will be looking to roll out a technology precinct of world order, Pitchford says. The need to get runs on the board for UrbanGrowth, and the need to make the Bays Precinct work, is a key reason the government has committed to another metro rail line between central Sydney and Parramatta. The line will include stops at the Bays and around Olympic Park, and, as well as providing relief for the over-crowded Western Line, would be unapologetically aimed at fostering development. The first section of the Bays to be redeveloped will be the Fish Markets. A new $250-million market area, about double the size of the existing facility, will be built adjacent to the current market area. Apartments and commercial and retail will be developed on the current site. Again heading west, the much-maligned Parramatta Road is also a development target of the state government. Unlike the Bays Precinct, however, which is mostly government-controlled land, there is no common ownership along the road. The corridor is under the control of eight different councils, who will be required to comply with a final strategy outlined in a development scheme released in November. Its a very problematic element as to how best to treat 41 kilometres of traffic sewer, but the reality of it is that we have got a plan and we will go about that, Pitchford said prior to the release of the scheme. If we are successful there will be a whole range of diverse offerings. The latest plans, in contrast to previous proposals to encourage development along Parramatta Road, are reasonably detailed. There is, for instance, a requirement for at least 5 per cent affordable housing among the 27,000-odd new homes anticipated to be built there in the next 30 years. And there are also granular proposals for developers to make contributions to specific local infrastructure  for instance, the expansion of Auburn Park, an upgrade to Homebush Station, and dedicated cycleways along the corridor. The Greater Sydney Commission, chaired by Lucy Turnbull, will be responsible for administering the scheme. There are further schemes to the south and west again. Along the Bankstown train line, about 36,000 apartments are planned for the next 20 years as the line is converted into a metro rail link. And the heritage precinct around North Parramatta is planned to accommodate around 2700 new dwellings, tucked in around a new light rail line linking Westmead and Parramatta. That line is also intended to run through Olympic Park, where the government envisages another 10,000 dwellings in the next 20 years. And a potentially astonishing number of apartments  as many as 80,000  are being projected internally by Transport for NSW along the light rail lines linking Parramatta, Strathfield and Carlingford.

The missing middle But what animates Stokes, and what could yet prove to be more controversial than the mooted mega-developments, is the idea of encouraging new types of housing in established neighbourhoods. Stokes even has a term for what hed like to see: the missing middle. At one end we have a surge in high-rise apartment development, and on the other hand you have a predominance of detached homes in the suburbs, he says. But there is a distinct lack of what we are calling the missing middle  those human-scale residential apartment buildings and terrace houses and townhouses, which were effectively banned as a typology between 1919 and 1962, he says. To this end, the government is attempting to make it a lot easier to build terrace and townhouses through existing neighbourhoods. Terrace houses are being added to a list of potential complying developments. That means, provided what developers propose conforms to certain standards, there will be fewer opportunities for councils to oppose terraced projects. Thornton, an UrbanGrowth project at Penrith, has demonstrated the potential appeal of the approach. A design competition, organised by the Department of Planning and to be judged by government architect Peter Poulet, will run over summer and is aimed at encouraging terrace-style housing that is both good to look at, and good to live in. Another way in which the government is attempting to flesh out this missing middle is through changes to strata laws. From November it will be much easier for the owners of strata-titled apartments to bandy together to redevelop their lots. They will require only a 75 per cent majority to decide to collectively sell. The problem with strata titling is that it operates like a ratchet to prevent further redevelopment of lots, which in many ways leads to sub-optimal outcomes, says Stokes. So the strata title legislation is perhaps the biggest shift we can bring about in terms of those titling issues. The strata laws are certain to prove controversial, particularly among pensioners and those less able to find new accommodation.

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For Greta Saggus, industrial design is about problem solving.

Concerned about the vast amount of food Australians throw out each year, the 21-year-old designed an appliance that converts kitchen waste into healthy dry food for pets.

Her Scraps Snacks innovation was a standout at the exhibition for industrial design graduates at the University of NSW, where the Director of Industrial Design, Stephen Ward, said it "ticks boxes in waste reduction and urban living".

Ms Saggus, who is finishing her final year at UNSW, said she enjoyed the freedom of industrial design. "It's about finding a product solution to any problem," she said. "It's a very broad thing. You can work in car design, or small-scale bespoke furniture design, or be designing cups for IKEA."
As Wesley College's 150th anniversary year draws to an end, principal Helen Drennen reflects on the school's celebratory events. "We were thrilled with the success of the 150th Anniversary Dinner at the Royal Exhibition Building in July where more than 1600 members of the Wesley community  including staff, alumni, past and present parents  celebrated together. We united our alumni community within Australian and around the world, by hosting sesquicentenary events in major cities across the globe."

The school also marked the anniversary by offering a City of Melbourne Scholarship for 2016 while, for 2018, with the reintroduction of boarding, two scholarships are available for students entering Years 10-12; the Learning in Residence Scholarship for Australian citizens and the Lewis Posner Scholarship for rural and regional students.

Year 5 students explore the world of robotics at Wesley College.

Learning in Residence at the school's Glen Waverley campus, opened in October with 29 students. The school expects numbers will increase to 65 students by the end of 2017.

Dr Drennen says Learning in Residence at Wesley is different from traditional boarding in a number of ways. "There are no institutional style dormitories and there is a curriculum for learning while living in residence, in addition to the curriculum taught in the senior school during the day."
Carey Baptist Grammar School's new Centre for Learning and Innovation "has been a wonderful addition to our school," says principal Philip Grutzner. "There's a tertiary feel to the building with lots of breakout spaces for collaboration."

The centre contains an information resource centre, meeting rooms, private booths for quiet study, formal study areas and a gas fire where students can relax. On the top floor is the United Nations room with sweeping views across Melbourne. The room is designed to "highlight the intersection of Carey's values of integrity, service, spirituality, teamwork, thinking and wellbeing with the values of the United Nations," states Carey's website.

Principal Philip Grutzner catches up with some students at Carey. Credit:Gavin Blue Photography

Within those values is a strong commitment to social justice and two of Carey's scholarships speak to this. The Old Carey Grammarian Association scholarship is in recognition of the relationship the school maintains with its alumni. The scholarship covers 50 per cent remission of tuition fees and is available for entry into Year 10 or 11. Preference is given to children of families who require financial assistance.

Carey humanitarian scholarships include a full remission of tuition fees and are open to children of refugee families in Years 7 to 11. "These two scholarships support Carey's strong commitment to social justice and contribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of Carey's student body," says Mr Grutzner. "These offer families the chance of a lifetime, but what they bring to the school is so enormously valued in terms of culture, language and their commitment to education. It's a fantastic program."
Living in London during the race riots in the late 1960s, St Leonard's College principal Stuart Davis learnt that "if you don't embrace people of all cultures you'll get conflict". "One of the things we need to do better is embrace people into our communities," he says. This philosophy is partly what drives the early learning to Year 12 Brighton school's commitment to social justice.

One of its programs sees students volunteering at the Noble Park Language School to assist ESL and EAL students improve their English skills. Two scholarships that are offered within the social justice realm are the global citizen and indigenous offerings, offered to students entering Years 7  11.

St Leonard's College embraces people of all cultures.

The college has recently formed a relationship with the Warruwi School on South Goulburn Island and two of its students are enrolled at St Leonard's and relishing the experience. Mr Davis acknowledges the difficulties students face leaving their families and moving far away to a very different environment. He believes one of the reasons why the concept has worked so well is because the students board with school families who have embraced and nurtured the young girls as their own.

Another is the fact that the global citizen and indigenous scholarship students fit naturally into the school community and other students understand there needs to be commitment coming from both sides. "They admire them for being able to step out into a different school, environment and language. They don't stigmatise or overplay anything, but ensure these children feel constantly engaged and supported," says Mr Davis.
ELTHAM College's Research campus is set on 50 hectares in the green wedge of northeast Melbourne. Its large natural bushland reserve is used by students for environmental studies, such as those in early learning who are introduced to sustainability concepts and the natural world through exploration and play-based learning.

The school also operates the nearby Swipers Gully Training Centre that "provides a wonderful, unique hospitality experience," says principal Simon Le Plastrier. Students in Year 8 operate a coffee shop from 10am  1pm Monday to Friday. "This provides the students with in-house work experience, barista training, along with the chance to develop skills in customer service and simple cash management."

Performance art is offered to students at all year levels at ELTHAM College.

As part of the VET Hospitality course, students in Years 10 to 12 operate a restaurant four nights a week. "This restaurant is very well supported by the general public and the college community. It is one of the hallmark programs of the college and provides students from local schools the opportunity to study hospitality."

Founded in 1973 within a region known for its creativity, ELTHAM College aims to foster individual talents, and a number of internal awards support this. "These awards are in memory of, or honour former teachers, students and/or family, and support and encourage young people to develop an aspect of their education," says Mr Le Plastrier.




Studying on scholarship can provide lessons and experiences beyond the classroom. Musician Daphne Shum completed a piano scholarship in primary school and, when she reached secondary school age, her parents encouraged her to apply for an academic scholarship.

Shum's older brother was enrolled at The Geelong College and her parents intended for her to follow him onto the campus. "There was no huge pressure to get it," says Shum.

Daphne Shum (centre, wearing sunglasses) with her band NO ZU.

Her parents were determined to send Shum to the college and the scholarship offered both opportunities for her and less financial stress for the family. She was successful and studied at the school on two academic scholarships. "Each one went for a couple of years each," she says. "I got a smaller scholarship. When that ran out I sat for another one."

Shum sat written exams for the scholarships, an experience she had become accustomed to during music exams, but she acknowledges that even promising students may not succeed in that process. "At that age, it wasn't huge; it wasn't too alien for me to sit down in a room and do that," she says. "Don't see it as a measure of your intelligence because not everyone is good at that kind of exam format."
Mike Baird needs to be more "ambitious and interventionist" in tackling Sydney's affordable housing crisis, according to a consortium of faith-based organisations, academics and unions claiming to represent 600,000 Sydneysiders.

In an open letter to the Premier, delivered as the Greater Sydney Commission released its draft district plans on Monday, the group took aim at the commission's proposed 5-10 per cent affordable rental housing target on new housing developments on rezoned government and private land.

"Our organisations all agree that a minimum of 15 per cent [target] is required for meaningful impact on Sydney's housing affordability. A much higher proportion, around 30 per cent, should be achieved on government-owned land," the letter stated.

It was co-signed by an array of Christian, Muslim and Jewish organisations, eight academics from Sydney universities and a number of unions.
Missing schoolgirl Quanne Diec was enticed off her street and detained by a man who intended to hold her for ransom, then murdered her sometime during a 13-hour period in 1998, police will allege.

Details of the 18-year-old cold case emerged in court on Monday following a stunning breakthrough on Sunday resulting in the arrest of Vinzent Tarantino, 49.

Quanne, 12, was plucked off the street on July 27, 1998, just moments after she left her family's home in Granville to go to Strathfield Girls High School.

She was intending to catch a train from Clyde to Strathfield but did not arrive at school and was never seen again.
Pub baron Arthur Laundy was handed a confidential excerpt from a statutory review of alcohol-related violence laws which his lawyers then used to fight a push by the Director of Public Prosecutions to impose a "strike" on one of his hotels.

The extract from a review of the "three strikes" law by former judge Ian Callinan was given to the NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association by counsel assisting the review, Jonathan Horton, QC, after a formal application.

Mr Laundy's lawyers are now using the extract to bolster their case in a court battle against the DPP, despite it not having been tabled in the NSW Parliament.
Police are searching for a man who allegedly threatened a woman and child at a Gold Coast unit on Sunday afternoon.

Darren Windeatt went to a unit on Bottlewood Circuit at Burleigh Waters and allegedly threatened to hurt a woman, 43, and girl, 5, both known to the man.

Gold Coast detectives are searching for Darren Windeatt after a disturbance at Burleigh Waters. Credit:QPS

Mr Windeatt, 48, had a history of violence and may be armed with a gun, police said.

He was described as Caucasian, about 175 centimetres tall with a proportionate build, brown hair, hazel eyes and a beard.
Queensland would ban single use plastic bags under if the Liberal National Party was installed at the next state election, the opposition announced on Monday.

Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said, if he was elected premier, the ban would take effect within the LNP's first term.

By June 30, 2018, single-use plastic bags will no longer be given out at Woolworths stores. Credit:Tamara Voninski

He said a Nicholls government would work with New South Wales and Victoria to ban the bags.

If an agreement could not be made with the other states, a Nicholls government would proceed regardless to join South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory in the ban.
A Queensland coroner says he's alarmed on-the-box warnings about an anti-smoking drug in the US are not included in Australia.

Timothy John, 22, killed himself just eight days after he started taking Champix in 2013.

A Queensland coroner is concerned US medication warnings are not being included on Australian pill packets.

In the US the medication, which can cause suicidal urges, has a warning printed on the packet.

But this is not the case in Australia and the information is only available online or by request, something which has alarmed Coroner John Hutton.
The weather might not be as reliable - but Melbourne and Victoria look to be leading the way in gender equality. Credit:Darrian Traynor "There will no doubt be a full review of what occurred last night and what the clinical outcomes were," she said. "No doubt there will be lessons to learn, there always are in these cases. But every part of our emergency management surge occurred correctly." Did you experience a long wait for an ambulance? Contact the reporter. On Tuesday morning, pharmacists reported a rush on Ventolin and some hospitals were still overflowing with patients.

The Royal Children's Hospital used its Facebook page to warn parents about long waits for care. "During this busy period, for less urgent care, please consider visiting your local hospital ED or GP to avoid longer than usual wait times. If required, they will refer you to the RCH," the post said. Royal Children's general medicine director Tom Connell said there had been almost 500 presentations within 24 hours, placing "huge demand" on the hospital's resources. Dr Connell said the hospital normally received about 220 presentations  children needing treatment  each day, rising to 300 on an exceptional day. "It's a very rare event for this to occur. The last one in Melbourne was about 2011 and before that was in 1989  always in November," he said.

There were about 50 admissions to the hospital compared with a normal admission rate of 20 or 30 a day. Some children were treated for up to 12 hours and then discharged. Dr Connell said the waiting rooms were still busy as a result of the storm. Some children who had not had asthma before did suffer attacks because of the weather. "Most of the parents recognised that their child's symptoms weren't that severe but they were new to them, they had never had them before.

"Therefore it's always a scary time coming into the hospital with your child with an acute respiratory tightening in the chest, which for some would feel like breathing through a straw." Most parents took their children to the hospital rather than calling an ambulance. Dr Connell said the hospital's supply of Ventolin did "come close" to a shortage but there were now adequate supplies. Most children have responded well to treatment and were taken home. Dr Connell said children were still coming through the emergency department, with 65 there at 8.30am on Tuesday.

A Melbourne doctor who didn't want to be named told Fairfax Media two patients died during the event. "All of a sudden about 6pm there was a sudden rush of critically ill asthmatics that continued until about 1am," he said. The doctor, who worked through the night at a Melbourne hospital, said while many staff were called back in to work up to 16 hour shifts, they struggled to keep up. "The hospitals are all at breaking point," he said. "A number of hospitals came very close to running out of Ventolin altogether."

The doctor said he heard five or six crews asking for MICA (mobile intensive care ambulances) with no luck, and that was only in one part of Melbourne. He also heard that two patients in the western suburbs had died, including a 20-year-old. It is believe MICA units, which are prioritised for people people suffering cardiac arrest, were unable to meet demand. "There were many critically unwell patients who were not able to access MICA support as they were just unavailable," the doctor said. Mr Stephenson confirmed two people, including a 20 year old, died while waiting for an ambulance.

He said police had been checking on the welfare of about 12 patients who could not be reached when the ambulance service called them back. State health commander Paul Holman said in his 40 years as a paramedic he had never seen anything like it. Mr Holman said it is thought the storm brought with it an increase in irritants, leading to the huge wave of patients suffering from breathing issues. He said the majority of the patients were so sick they needed to be taken to hospital (rather than being treated at the scene), and at one stage there were 190 people waiting for assistance. "Every ambulance and ambulance manager was recalled," he said.

"It was an unprecedented night. "I have never seen the computer dispatch of Melbourne look like it. It was what we call a sea of red." While Melbourne's air quality has since improved, there are concerns about the ability of hospitals to cope with the surge in demand. Mr Holman said most hospitals in Melbourne and Geelong had been forced to recall staff. "Every hospital is basically full," he said.

It is understood a Code Brown was issued at University Hospital Geelong, which means the hospital discharges patients who are ready to go home so the emergency departments can send patients to wards, and make space for incoming people. Barwon Health, which runs University Hospital Geelong, posted a statement on its Facebook page urging people to seek medical treatment from a GP if their condition was not life-threatening, due to high demand in the emergency department. Tim Lewis, owner and pharmacist at Southern Cross Amcal Pharmacy, said the pharmacy ran out of Ventolin on Tuesday morning, selling up to 60 inhalers in a few hours. A usual morning might see up to 10 sold. "I had to go to our other pharmacy to bring up another box of 20 or 30 inhalers," Mr Lewis said. The last major case of thunderstorm asthma in Melbourne was in 2011, but was not nearly as bad as Monday's event.
When she was a little girl, Jerusha Mather saw many, many doctors. And none of them looked like her.

The medical specialists in her birthplace of Sri Lanka concluded having cerebral palsy meant she would never be independent, or live a normal life. But they were wrong.

Jerusha Mather has cerebral palsy and wants to study medicine. Credit:Justin McManus

Her family migrated to Melbourne, and with intensive treatment she went to mainstream schools and is now in her second year of biomedical science.

Now Jerusha, 21, wants to become the doctor she longed to meet as a child; a neurologist with a disability, with empathy born from personal experience.
There's a new contender for best job title ever - Scientist for the Desert Fireball Network.

Curtin University's DFN is a ragtag gang of dedicated scientists who scan the skies looking for the telltale flames of meteorites burning through the earth's atmosphere.

Every so often a fragment of these space invaders makes it intact to earth - and the DFN scrambles to find it, using a network of more than fifty cameras fitted with fish eye lenses arrayed across Australia's remote areas.

These cameras follow the meteorite from entry to impact, and are driven by advanced algorithms that allow them to identify fireballs and track them.
The behavior of the French authorities or may I say the administrators of the territories of the republic of France in this instance Saint Martin/ St Maarten goes back more than 200 hundred years or the 19th century. The following paragraph is taken from a document I am reading online which says the following: In the 19th century, there was an interest in the bordering territories in each of the French colonies concerned that had implications for their Dutch neighbors. In other words, the French overseas administrators projected acts of contiguous expansion which were not lacking in consequences for the Dutch possessions. After the abolition of slavery the French metropolis planned in 1848 to annex the Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin/St Maarten, so people these acts are not new. These are acts of imperialism which is defined by the Merriam Websters Dictionary as 1 imperial government, authority or system, 2 the policy practice or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political and economic life of other areas or broadly the extension or imposition of power authority or influence. So we have the giant superpower France imposing its power and might on the Dutch side of St Maarten. This act started over 200 years ago and for whatever reason is continuing today. It will be interesting to see what small Netherlands will do. At the same time, however, the brothers and sisters on this small island are caught in the crossfire if I should call it such. History is repeating itself. In conclusion, let me add the following; During this dispute, you might here that laws supports certain actions but let us not forget that it was legal to own slaves based on the laws that were established back then. Morality and integrity had nothing to do with it, hence make sure and take a good look at the laws that were made while we were yet physical slaves.

November 20, 2016

George Pantophlet
PHILIPSBURG:---- For the first time ever have Sint Maarten and Saba gone through to the finals of the Appeltjes van Oranje (Apples of Orange) prize, hosted by the Oranje Fonds in the Netherlands. After making an initial selection of the 34 Dutch Caribbean initiatives entered for the Appeltjes prize with the theme Empowering Vulnerable Youth, 11 were pre-selected to go to Curacao for the semi-finals. Of these top 11, the top 2 were selected to move on to the finals in the Netherlands in May 2017. This selection also included a check worth 2.500,00 euros for both the initiatives. The lucky winners were K1 Britannia from Sint Maarten and Child Focus from Saba.

Fleur Hermanides, the local project coordinator for Samenwerkende Fondsen, was very proud and humbled to see initiatives from the SSS-islands making their way to the top, getting recognized for all the great things they do for the community, and in this case specifically, the vulnerable youth. There are many great initiatives on the islands and this is a great opportunity for everyone to showcase what wonderful results they have achieved thus far. Without such wonderful organizations and initiatives, we would not have come as far as we have. There is still a lot to be achieved, but little by little, with such well-intentioned persons in the community, we can come a long way.

In the Netherlands they are still narrowing down from their top 40 to their top 8 with a potential wild card. This will be made known in January 2017. These will then join the top 2 from the Dutch Caribbean to vie for the Appeltjes van Oranje prize, which includes a 15.000,00 euro cash prize and a bronze Appeltjes statue designed by Princess Beatrix. The prizes will also be handed over by the Honourable King and Queen themselves, a great honour in itself.

The Oranje Fonds, which is one of the 5 funding agencies forming the Samenwerkende Fondsen/Cooperating Foundations, has a history of supporting social initiatives in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The past year alone  31 million has been invested in supporting initiatives that allow for people to meet each other, feel less of a sense of loneliness, understand each other and make an effort for one another. The Oranje Fonds is sponsored by, amongst others, the Nationale Postcode Loterij, De Lotto, as well as by friends and businesses. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have been the official patrons of the Oranje Fonds since its inception.

Ronald van der Giessen, director of the Oranje Fonds, explains: Every child deserves the same opportunities in life. However, due to factors such as a hard family situation or a language deficiency, children sometimes have a difficult start. The initiatives that help them to prosper in life are invaluable. The Appetjes van Oranje have been initiated to recognize the initiatives that are successful in their approach, help these children with their development and make a difference in their lives.

If someone is interested in learning more about these initiatives or the opportunities Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben has to offer, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 586-0808.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As of this week, Prime Minister William Marlin via the Department of Communication (DCOMM) has suspended the Live Weekly Council of Ministers Press Briefing for the period of November 23rd through the 30th.

The cancellation of the Live Weekly Council of Ministers Press Briefing is for DCOMM to facilitate the move of the existing television production equipment to the New Government Administration building, on Pond Island. The timing of the move to the new Government Building is to facilitate the Charlotte Brookson Academy School who will begin to occupy the old Government Building at the Clem Labega Square as of November 30th, 2016.

The Department of Communication hereby makes known to the media and the general public that the Council of Ministers will be available for comments or to answer any questions as is customary. All Ministers will continue with their regular activities and this will be communicated to the public via the media.

The Department of Communication regrets any inconvenience this may cause. Please continue to visit the Official Government website www.sintmaartengov.org, the Facebook page SXMGOV & the YouTube Channel for information from the Government of Sint Maarten.
Unisys Strengthens EMEA Leadership with Appointment of Bill Brown

London, 21st November 2016  Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) today announced a key leadership hire for its Enterprise Solutions organisation in EMEA, with the appointment of Bill Brown. Browns appointment will strengthen the companys client relationships and regional capabilities in a number of key industries of focus for Unisys such as Travel & Transportation, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences.

Brown joins Unisys from Dell Services as Head of Commercial Business in EMEA where he will report directly to Tom Higgins, Vice President and General Manager EMEA. Prior to Dell, Brown held multiple leadership positions at EDS and Perot Systems after starting his career in applications, systems and network programming and design.

Bill is a great addition to our team, said Higgins. Throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to lead businesses, win and implement significant projects for global clients and drive growth. Bill joins us to lead our commercial division in the region, which has a proud heritage in areas such as aviation, where 18 of the top 25 global airlines, and 25 percent of air passengers, rely on our technology every day.

In his new role, Brown will have responsibility for the overall P&L of the commercial division in EMEA and the delivery of solutions to our clients from service lines including security, application services, cloud and infrastructure and end user services. Brown will be located in Unisys Thalwil office in Switzerland.
Collibra Awarded Fastest-Growing Software Company by Deloitte

Posted by Publisher Software

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM  November 21st, 2016  Collibra, a leader in data governance software solutions for business users, has announced it has won the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award in the Best Software category. The award confirms Collibra as one of Europes fastest growing technology companies.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award honours companies headquartered in Belgium that have experienced substantial revenue growth over the last four years. For Collibra, its rapid growth has been driven by its consumerized approach to data governance. The company enables business users to shop for and find data in much the same way they shop for products in their everyday lives on consumer sites like Amazon.

On receiving the award at a ceremony in Brussels, Collibra co-founder and CEO, Felix Van de Maele, said, Being recognized as the fastest-growing software firm in Belgium is a true accolade for our business and I am extremely grateful to both our employees and partners. The Deloitte Fast 50 is widely recognised in the tech-sector, and it is exciting to see all the exceptional businesses that are listed alongside. For us, it is a fantastic endorsement of all our hard work, and is a recognition of the rising numbers organisations adopting our data governance solution.

Founded in 2008, Collibra has seen huge demand for its collaborative technology that easily overcomes the challenges many corporates face when they find data in multiple places, on multiple platforms and in multiple formats. In addition to its Brussels headquarters, the company expanded its global operations to include a New York office in 2014 to accommodate a workforce of 200 employees split across both geographies. Collibra now has more than 150 large company customers across finance, healthcare and retail sectors, and has seen a 1610% revenue growth over the past four fiscal years.

Van de Maele concludes: Data governance has become an important priority for businesses of any sizes, particularly in the light of the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It has been fantastic to see Collibra experience significant growth over a relatively short period of time. This is an incentive for us to keep on doing our very best in helping more businesses drive forward their data-first strategies.
Cell MedX Corp. Appoints Gregory Pek to the Advisory Board and as a Distributor

LAS VEGAS, NV  (Marketwired)  11/21/16  (OTCQB: CMXC), Cell MedX Corp. (Cell MedX or the Company), a development stage bio-tech company focused on the commercialization and development of microcurrent therapeutic devices that promote general wellness and alleviate complications associated with medical conditions including, but not limited to, diabetes, Parkinsons disease, high blood pressure, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Gregory Pek to the Companys advisory board and as a distributor for Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Gregory Pek is a Canadian who has lived in Asia for some 22 years. Mr. Peks career began in accounting, which led to him becoming an entrepreneur more than 30 years ago. Mr. Pek has been the founder and CEO of various public companies either listed on the U.S. or Canadian markets as well as a Deputy Managing Director of two companies listed in Hong Kong. Along with his extensive experience with early stage development companies, Mr. Pek, has a wide range of experience in distribution, logistics and financial services.

Mr. Pek, under the supervision of a physician, commenced his own observational trials of the eBalance device in Manila, Philippines. Due to the positive response and testimonials of over 25 subjects, Mr. Pek has been devoting the majority of his time to this project.

Mr. Pek will assist the Company in a wide range of functions including, but not limited to; input into the structure of the observational clinical studies and developing marketing strategies in Asia, overall business strategy, and financing.

Mr. Pek commented that, It is incredibly exciting to be a part of Cell MedXs project, and witness its technology along with hearing the beneficial results attested to by those involved in the observational studies.

Mr. McEnulty, the Companys CEO, stated, We are excited to welcome Greg Pek to our advisory board. He is a proven entrepreneur with a detailed understanding of business in Asia. Mr. Pek has, very quickly, established himself as a major source of invaluable information for our current project and further development of our eBalance technology.

Cell MedX Corp. is an early development stage bio-tech company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products that promote general wellness and alleviate complications associated with medical conditions including, but not limited to, diabetes, Parkinsons disease, high blood pressure. For more information about the Company and its technology please visit our website at: , for the Companys , please go to

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Cell MedX Corp.

Frank McEnulty

Chief Executive Officer and President.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as expects, intends, estimates, projects, anticipates, believes, could, and other similar words. All statements addressing product performance, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Because the statements are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties, some of which are described in the Companys Quarterly, Annual and Current Reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Companys underlying assumptions prove correct, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on Companys forward-looking statements. In particular, the Companys eBalance technology is still in development. The Company does not currently have any commercially marketable products based on the eBalance Technology, and there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in its development efforts. Except as required by law, Cell MedX Corp. disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory body has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Investors are advised to carefully review the reports and documents that Cell MedX Corp. files from time to time with the SEC, including its Annual, Quarterly and Current Reports.

Cell MedX Corp.

For further information visit:

Or phone: 1-844-238-2692
Pure Files Final Disclosures Before Audit

LAS VEGAS, NV  (Marketwired)  11/21/16  (OTC PINK: PNOW), parent Company of the Central American-Caribbean Online Travel Agency (OTA) , announced today, that the Company has filed what it anticipates to be its final disclosures as a non-reporting Pink Sheet company.

The time has come, where our public company must now advance our growing business, while allowing shareholders to reap the reward of their unwavering commitment to PNOW, stated Melvin Pereira, President and CEO of Pure Hospitality Solutions, Inc. If we are to continue acting responsibly and do our very best to raise the least toxic capital, increase revenues and strengthen our cap table, we must elevate our reporting status. That time has officially come!

With the filing of the , management once again has demonstrated its diligence, preparation and commitment to staving off rapid dilution, raising minimally toxic capital, positioning the Company for ongoing revenue and supporting long-term growth. Management is confident that the Company is in the best fiscal health it has seen in a very long time. Albeit, There is still much more work to do, continued Mr. Pereira.

Much of that work entails a greater focus on revenue, broadening our communications to strengthen our shareholder base, and of course, doing whatever it takes to further build shareholder confidence through positioning the Company for significant value appreciation. This includes our view toward leveraging as a low cost revenue generator and travel marketing tool, and of course, working diligently to make this disclosure our last as a non-reporting company. Both being pertinent efforts.

The process of upgrading the Companys reporting status wasnt taken lightly. Over the past year, management engaged various counsels and professional consultants to explore the various options available, regarding up-grading to the OTCQB, while eliminating debt and raising capital simultaneously. The discovery, as disheartening as it was no option immediately allowed for this. Thus, management moved to initiate these efforts in stages  which took much longer, but would ensure the likelihood of success.

Mr. Pereira concluded, Given that were coming up against the holiday season, we expect that there might be some slow-ups exhibited in the audit process. However, as you all know by now, we are fiercely diligent. Luckily, so are our professional consultants. So, I am surely confident, by the time our Year-End reports are uploaded to the OTC Markets site, PNOW will be a fully reporting Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Were on a mission!

PURE provides proprietary technology, marketing solutions and branding services to hotel operators and condominium owners. The Companys vision is to build competitive operations in the areas of (i) online marketing and hotel internet booking engine services, (ii) hotel branding and, (iii) own, operate and in some instances develop, boutique hotels under the new, by PURE brand. PURE is the creator of , the online travel hub.

Safe Harbor Statements in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements about plans and expectations regarding products and opportunities, demand and acceptance of new or existing products, capital resources and future financial results are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause the Companys actual results in future periods to differ materially from those expressed. These uncertainties and risks include changing consumer preferences, lack of success of new products, loss of the Companys customers, competition and other factors discussed from time to time in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
DIAGNOS sells a purchase option to Majescor Resources for 131 mining claims which comprise 37 kimberlite targets near the Renard diamond mine and Adamantin project in Quebec

BROSSARD, QUEBEC  (Marketwired)  11/21/16  DIAGNOS Inc. (DIAGNOS or the Corporation) (TSX VENTURE: ADK), a leader in the use of knowledge extraction and artificial intelligence (IA) tools, announces today the grant of a purchase option to Majescor Resources (Majescor) (TSX VENTURE: MJX) for 131 mining claims from its Kimberlite-Extension route 169 project.

The 131 claims total 6,875 hectares and comprise 37 kimberlite targets staked through our proprietary Computer Aided Resource Detection System CARDS methodology for screening out and prioritizing anomalies. Some of these targets are located directly beside the first Quebecs Diamond Mine (Renard Diamond project) and the 11 new kimberlites discoveries announced by Stornoway May 5, 2016 on their Adamantin project.

CARDS uses powerful pattern recognition algorithms to analyse digitally compiled exploration data and identifies areas (targets) with signatures similar to areas of kimberlites near the mine owned by the Stornoway Diamond Corporation (Stornoway). During the months of January 2016 through to March 2016, over 23,912 km2 were subject to evaluation by DIAGNOS in the Northern Quebec region between the 50th and the 55th parallels using a mosaic of two leveled and merged airborne magnetic-spectrometric surveys of the South LG4 and the High Eastmain areas, James Bay. Twelve known kimberlite pipes of the Renard and the Beaver Lake originated from the Sigeom database and from Stornoway where used as positive training data.

Two different models, such as the Kimberlite Similarity algorithm (KSM) and the Positive-Negative algorithm, at a 60m resolution were generated over the South LG4-High Eastmain modeling area. DIAGNOS generated and staked two groups of 9 and 28 Kimberlite Pipe Targets based on two levels of similarity at 95% and 90%.

Under the terms of the executed agreement, Majescor will pay CAD $50,000 in cash and issue 2.5 million common shares to Diagnos. The agreement provides for Majescor to spend a minimum of CAD $150,000 on exploration work on the targets sold by Diagnos in the first year following the signature of the agreement and will spend a total of CAD $300,000, including the first year of exploration work, on the targets sold by Diagnos during the second year following the signature of the agreement. The agreement also provides for a 2% GOR (Gross Overriding Royalty) payable to DIAGNOS in the event of commercial production of a diamond deposit. Majescor may redeem 1% of the GOR royalty at a price of CAD $1 million to be paid in shares or in cash, at Majescors option.

In Majescor, we found a partner with a lot of experience in the diamond sector. In addition, Majescor has a large soil geochemistry database covering large areas including the area of the new Stornoway diamond mine. declared Michel Fontaine, Vice-President, Mining division of DIAGNOS.

About DIAGNOS

Founded in 1998, DIAGNOS is a Canadian corporation (TSX VENTURE: ADK) that develops and commercializes technologies that combine contextual imaging and traditional data mining to improve decision-making processes. DIAGNOS world-class products and services support clients in the healthcare (CARA) and natural resources (CARDS). DIAGNOS can count on a multidisciplinary team that includes professionals in geophysics, geology, Artificial Intelligence, mathematics, as well as remote sensing and image interpretation.

Forward-looking information

This document contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

DIAGNOS Inc.

Michel Fontaine, Vice-President, Mining Division

450 678-8882, ext. 222
Adweek

an analytics platform that identifies influential people (experts) on social channels. It evaluates a person based on the connections a person has built with other experts, tapping into social data to do so. Kirkpatrick broke down the evaluation process for TechCrunch: New York tech marketing firm Sprinklr has just acquired Little Bird . Little Bird, a Portland-based company, is. It evaluates a person based on the connections a person has built with other experts, tapping into social data to do so. Kirkpatrick broke down the evaluation process for

Once a big map of influencers and experts has been built, which takes under 5 minutes, then the system tells our customers which of those influencers are already part of their community online, who competitors are connected to, what the hottest conversations among those influencers is, and we deliver alerts over time whenever something important happens.

Founded in 2011 by CEO Marshall Kirkpatrick, a former TechCrunch writer, Little Bird was granted $4.8 million from Mark Cuban, Jason Calacanis, Oregon Angel Fund, and other investors in order to develop its technology. Evidently, it has succeeded, hence the acquisition.





On their website, Little Bird describes Sprinklr as "the most complete social media engagement platform for the enterprise." As a company, Sprinklr provides social media marketing and advertising, content management, advocacy, and social media monitoring to some of the biggest companies in the world. In fact, Sprinklr won't get out of bed for anything less than the best. It services over more than 100 top-tier companies, including Samsung, Microsoft, Dell, Cisco, SAP, Target, Nike, and Virgin America. Offering management tools to enable posting across social networks, analytics, and engagement statistics, Sprinklr allows big companies to maintain a vast social media presence. Additionally, it aids clients in customer care, sales, and commerce. And this big dog has taken Little Bird under its wing.





The technology created by Kirkpatrick and co. will serve to benefit Sprinklr's audience insights, zero in on consumers with tailored advertising, and add another level to analytics. Ragy Thomas, CEO of Sprinklr, tells Tech Crunch that Little Bird will be absorbed into its social media management platform, specifically its "influencer and advocacy management solution."





getlittlebird.com What does that spell for the small company, Little Bird? What does that spell for the small company, Little Bird?





Its six full-time employees will continue to be based out of Portland as a part of Sprinklr's global team. The charming smallness of Little Bird contrasts sharply with Sprinklr's 1300 full-time workers.






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St. Pat's eagles rebuild nest. Plus new vistas created at other parks.

You can watch St. Pat's eagles rebuild the nest via Notre Dame's camera. And the new Lydick Bog platform is good for seeing waterfowl.
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An illustration of Deep Space Industries' small Firefly-class Archimedes spacecraft for asteroid exploration. The small probes are designed for one-way trips to investigate asteroid targets for potential mining.

HOUSTON -- If humans eventually want to become a space-faring species, we'll need to be able to collect basic resources, like water, straight from the space environment; it's too expensive and risky to send everything up from Earth, most experts agree.

As such, multiple companies are now trying to initiate a space mining industry, which could provide those basic resources for space travelers, or for robotic space operations. In the future, asteroids or the moon could even provide humans with resources that are rare on Earth, such as precious metals.

But there are major hurdles that need to be overcome before space mining can get off the ground, so to speak. Representatives from various companies pursuing space mining activities recently spoke about the state of the industry here at the 2016 Space Commerce Conference and Exposition. [How Asteroid Mining Could Work (Infographic)]

The space mining supply chain

Planetary Resources is one of several private companies hoping to mine the precious metals and water ice from asteroids. See how asteroid mining could work in our full infographic here (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor)

Many of the speakers on the panel made comparisons between space mining and terrestrial coal mining or offshore oil and gas drilling. Among other issues, that comparison leads to the idea of a mining supply chain, which refers to the activities that support the actual extraction of the desired materials. In terrestrial mining, that could mean everything from the team that surveys the land to find the best place to extract material, to the company that supplies food to the miners.

"The supply chain has a real place in terrestrial mining, and I'm suggesting that it also has a real place in off-planet mining," said Dale Boucher, CEO of Deltion Innovations Ltd., which has been working with NASA to build robotic mining technology for the moon.

Boucher said that for terrestrial mining, the supply chain can be broken into four major categories: exploration (to find a site that contains the stuff a company wants to mine for), development (essentially setting up an infrastructure to support the mining activity), operations (actual mining), and closure (on Earth, this typically entails returning the mining site to nature).

Many terrestrial mining companies rely on outside companies to provide various aspects of the supply chain, and the same will likely be true for space mining companies, Boucher said. Therefore, there is an opportunity for other groups to get involved in space mining without actually doing the mining themselves.

"During the gold rush, if you're going to be in the supply chain, you don't want to be doing the actual mining," he said. "What you want to be doing is selling the 50 pounds of flour and 10 pounds of baking grease to the guys who are going up there and struggling and looking for gold," he said.

Another speaker on the panel, Chris Lewicki, president and CEO of Planetary Resources, made another comparison between space mining and the gold rush.

"I would love to be the first gold miner in Sutter's Mill [in California] and in the Yukon [in Canada], where gold mining [consisted of] walking up the street and picking up the shiny things," he said. "And what people don't realize is that space resources will, in a sense, start from a base that is very similar to that."

In the early days of space mining, companies may find that the materials they are pulling out of the moon or asteroids are relatively abundant and easy to collect, and that competition is low, Lewicki said. That means companies won't have to produce a large amount of product in order to make a profit.

"Low return, low production; basic technology is how this starts," he said.

Of course, traveling to those space resources is much more difficult than walking up the street to the creek to pan for gold, Lewicki noted. In addition, building a supply chain for space mining will be extremely difficult, some of the speakers pointed out.

Daniel Faber is CEO of Deep Space Industries, a company interested in exploration missions for space mining. Faber said the cost of launching those exploration spacecraft is so high that it might make those exploration missions impractical.

"Launch is the biggest thing slowing us down right now," he said. "We can do an exploration campaign for $3.5 million. But the launch is going to cost us 10 [million dollars]. And that's a boot in the teeth for an exploration company."

What will be mined, and who will buy it?

Many asteroids in the inner solar system are rich in metals, including those in the platinum group, according to Jim Keravala, chief operating officer of Shackleton Energy, another company with moon mining ambitions. Metals in that group have many applications on Earth, including in fuel cells and electronics. So people have discussed the possibility that these materials could be mined in space and be sent back to Earth, he said. That would depend on the cost of mining those materials and sending them back to Earth, and how that compares with the cost of mining those resources on Earth. Factored into that is the availability of those metals on Earth, Keravala said.

"The majority of rare earth minerals generated today, terrestrially, are from China, which is a real risk to our industries in the United States," Bob Lindberg, vice president for flight systems at Moon Express, said during the panel. Moon Express is the first private company to secure government approval to fly a spacecraft to the moon; their long-term business plan includes mining the moon for resources.

But all of the panelists seemed to agree that mining asteroids for minerals (and sending them back to Earth) doesn't make sense in the immediate future. Rather, they said, there's a more immediate resource that space mining companies should pursue: water.

Sending a full, 16-ounce water bottle into space currently costs about $2,500, Faber said; an Olympic-size swimming pool of water would cost about $1 billion. (That's why water is used sparingly on the International Space Station, and liquids are recycled.) Water is not only needed to keep astronauts alive; it is used in cooling systems on the space station, and could be used as fuel for spacecraft, according to some of the speakers.

Deep Space Industries is developing a water-based thruster to use on its asteroid exploration spacecraft; that thruster could also help kick-start a market for water as a fuel. Faber said many near-Earth asteroids are "about 20 percent water by weight" and that extracting water from those asteroids is a "relatively easy process."

Space launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) recently announced plans to have 1,000 people in space by 2045. Part of that plan involves a new rocket stage called Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage (ACES), which could help move people around in space. ULA representatives said it is possible that the rocket stage will use a fuel made from water.

Keravala said that previously, some members of the industry anticipated that water could be used to fuel communications satellites. However, that market seems to be closing as those satellites instead rely on electronic systems and solar energy. But one market he anticipates opening up will be robotic space stations that serve as science or manufacturing platforms. These stations could provide a place for companies to do microgravity experiments or manufacture things such as crystals or pharmaceuticals, he said. (Some crystals and molecules grow into unique arrangements in the absence of gravity; some are unique growth structures, while others may one day simply be cheaper to manufacture in space rather than in an Earth-based facility.)

But Lewicki noted that a market for water extracted from asteroids isn't currently up and running, so companies have to balance the lack of current customers with the potential for future customers.

"Whether you are a space agency or an entrepreneur, you're creating something that has to be worth something to someone, and right now, water on any near-Earth asteroid in the solar system is worth absolutely zero," he said. "It's worth absolutely nothing until we can develop it, figure out how we can use it, [figure out] what is the path from here to that future."

Farber closed by noting that, in order for space mining to thrive, there will need to be multiple players and the opportunity for collaboration.

"There's a whole bunch of things that we need to do to build resiliency into the supply chain, and that's best done with a lot of different actors working on different technologies, at different ends, and also cooperating," he said.

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
In the new film "Arrival," based on Ted Chiang's novella "Story of Your Life," alien visitors appear all around Earth and humankind scrambles to understand their purpose in visiting.

The movie's creators initially approached the computation company Wolfram Research  creator of the math programming language Mathematica, the online problem-solver Wolfram Alpha and more  to produce some charts for use in the movie. Instead, they wound up with a consultant: company founder and CEO Stephen Wolfram, whose ideas about interstellar travel, alien communication and the progress of science informed the entire movie (even if not much made it onscreen). His son, Christopher, generated visualizations for them to use.

Wolfram explained many of the ideas he came up with, and his experience creating "scientific set dressing," on his blog. As he told Space.com, "Who's to know? Maybe something that I invented for science fiction will turn into some real physics." [8 Modern Astronomy Mysteries Scientists Still Can't Explain]

Space.com talked with Wolfram about the way science fits into movies, how aliens are like artificial intelligences and whether math is invented or discovered  and what that would mean for alien mathematics and alien thought.

Space.com: How were you approached to work on the project?

Stephen Wolfram: Because a lot of scientists use our software systems and we produce a lot of interesting graphics, we have a pretty regular stream of requests from moviemakers of various kinds saying, "Can we show this graphic in our movie." This one was kind of amusing, because it was like  we're about to start shooting this fairly big-budget movie, and we need these screens that should look realistic and can you help us do this? We're starting to shoot in two weeks.

The only way one can do that is to say "show us the script," because otherwise you don't know what on Earth you're trying to dress [the set] for. I don't think the people who approached us for the movie were particularly expecting that I was going to look at them. It's just that in a company like ours, if the request is sufficiently bizarre it eventually winds up at me.

Space.com: What parts of the science were already there before you joined on?

Wolfram: There are three levels that one could take the science at. One is the "what the aliens are really doing" type thing, which is future science we don't know yet, at the other end there's the high-school level physics, and in the middle is the leading edge of what physics might have to say about it if a great big black spaceship showed up in your backyard today. I was trying to channel the last of those things, what the high end of physics today would say about these, and they had ended up quite a lot with what the high school physics version would be, which didn't seem like such a good fit.

They hadn't really thought about it. Movies are made or broken by the personal stories, and the science is mostly just dressing. It's fun for science-types to see the science as right or wrong. There's some movies where the science is close enough to what we have that what you can do in the movie really makes a statement about where science can go today. This movie, the science is far enough away from what we have today that it doesn't point us in any particular direction. I had fun figuring out a few things I hadn't figured out about interstellar space travel, and so on, but this movie is much more about alien communication, which happens to be a topic that I've thought a lot about, than it is about some space travel.

Space.com: What are your thoughts on the challenge of communication?

Wolfram: I think that the basic notion of "what do we mean by intelligence" is  it's very hard to have an abstract definition of intelligence that goes beyond just saying it does sophisticated computation. There's an awful lot of stuff that does sophisticated computation, my favorite example being the weather  which many people would say has a mind of its own, so to speak.

In modern times, there's a lovely parallel between extraterrestrial communication and AI [Artificial Intelligence] communication. They're both cases where we're dealing with an intelligence that doesn't have the same historical lineage that ours does.

You've got a neural net and it's learned to recognize 10,000 kinds of things in the world. Cats and dogs and telephones and chairs and who knows what else. And you look inside the neural nets and it's made all kinds of distinctions about how to describe the world [which] we can think of like descriptive words for aspects of those objects. But they're not words that exist in our historically derived language.

In the "Arrival" movie, the fact that the question of greatest interest is "what is your purpose here"  that has a fascinating resonance with probably what is in many ways what is one of the most important questions for AI, which is, you built an AI, what is it supposed to do, what is its purpose supposed to be.  Among the purposes we don't want is "take over the world and get rid of the humans" type thing. But there's a question of how do you get to the point where you can represent purpose in this kind of way that we humans think about purpose. [SETI: All About the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Infographic)]

An image analysis of the aliens' writing in "Arrival," as generated by Wolfram Research (Image credit: Wolfram Research

Space.com: Did you come to any conclusion about the best way to do that?

Wolfram: One thing I thought about for the "Arrival" movie was what do you use to communicate? Do you use math-like stuff or do you use more computation/programming language type stuff? I think the computation/programming language type stuff is actually better than the math-type stuff, but people don't know the words for that so it's not very useful for dialogue in the movie.

[An interesting question] about math and aliens is how much of math is invented by humans as a specific historical accident and how much of it is really just out there and merely discovered by humans. And that's an important question if you're thinking about "Did the aliens make the same math we made?" I think that an awful lot of math is very much in the invented by humans [category].

Space.com: What makes you think that?

Wolfram: The first fact familiar to all kids is that math is kind of hard. It could be the case that once you set up the axioms of math, every question that could be asked would then be easy to answer. That is true for certain kinds of axiomatic systems; it doesn't happen to be true for mathematics. In other words, the fact that there are hard questions in mathematics is the first interesting metafact about mathematics. And as we know from Godel's [Incompleteness] Theorem, there are in a sense infinitely hard questions in mathematics.

So one of the questions is, how come math is doable but hard, as opposed to being essentially infinitely hard and just full of undecidable questions. I think the answer to that is because human mathematicians have carefully walked along those little pieces of land in this ocean of undecidable, infinitely hard math. Did they walk along the unique such paths? Or did they walk along paths that were just the ones that happened to be historically explored? You could ask the same thing about biological evolution. Are the organisms that exist today the inexorable organisms that have to exist after 2.5 billion years on a planet with this chemistry? Or are they the organisms that are simply the result of a series of historical accidents. The question in both cases of how much historical accident, how much inexorable consequences of the situation.

My guess, for math  I've gradually changed my views, a little bit, about this. I'm softening a little bit in my point of view. I had believed that it was really, deeply historical accident, but I think some aspects, I'm becoming a little bit convinced might be slightly more inexorable than I had imagined.

A still from the 2016 sci-fi film "Arrival. In the movie, 12 alien spaceships land on Earth in different locations around the globe. (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Space.com: So some aspects of mathematics might be common for aliens and humans, but a lot wouldn't overlap?

Wolfram: [Take] binary, base 2 numbers. The I Ching, from ancient China, kind of uses those  and there are places where they'd been kind of invented a long time ago, but really nobody cared until modern times, as computers and the whole wave of technology that makes good use of binary numbers. Would the aliens care about binary numbers? Well, if you'd gone back 500 years in human mathematical history and you'd been talking with [Francois] Vieta, the inventor of algebra, about binary numbers, he wouldn't have had a clue, probably. And yet, today, binary numbers look to be fundamental, simple, it's-obvious type aspects of mathematics. That's an example of a historical accident.  I think that the challenge in all these cases with alien intelligence of any kind is there's a big computational universe of possible things you can compute about out there, and the particular ones that one has sampled are very dependent on the detailed history of a civilization.

Space.com: Is there any concept you invented for this movie that you're thinking about exploring more?

Wolfram: [One] thing that I did think about for this movie is the following question: Is there an infinite frontier of technology? If we know the fundamental theory of physics, are we done, or is there always more to discover? What you realize is it's very similar to the problem of axioms in mathematics and how math is hard, and ideas like Godel's Theorem  it's an almost theoretically necessary fact that there is an infinite frontier of technologies to discover. You can always build a more complicated program.

Another question is, is there more interesting stuff to discover? We can write down an infinite number of theorems in some area of mathematics, but we might say we've gotten all the interesting ones. All the other ones are ornate, uninteresting things. That's a really interesting question I don't really know the answer to.

The question of interestingness is very closely related to these questions about purpose and cultural context, because what counts as interesting [depends on] what are you trying to do. A good example of this, coming from the Pythagoreans: They were really into the fact that 1+2+3+4=10, something that we consider now to be just, who cares. But for them, that was a profound fact. And I think that's an example of, is it interesting, or is it just some trivial arithmetical fact? It depends a lot on context.

It's far from obvious that as an alien you are going to be at all into trying to find out as much as possible. That might not be the point.

This interview has been edited for length.

Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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A military family boarded a flight to bid Sgt. John W. Perry goodbye and instead of condolences and words of encouragement, they were met with boos and complaints.

Last week, Stewart Perry, his wife, Kathy Perry, and their daughter booked a flight on American Airlines from Sacramento, California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a short transfer in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Perry family was going to view the body of Sgt. John Perry at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Perry was killed at the Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan on November 12. A suicide bomber took the lives of John Perry, two American contractors, and left 16 other U.S. service members seriously injured.

Mr. Perry, who was an athlete and a generous soul, was training for a 5K run at the base in Afghanistan to take part in an event benefiting disabled veterans. A brief bio of Perry read:

Perry was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He was at the base supporting Operation Freedoms Sentinel.

The mourning father said that the American Airlines flight landed over 45 minutes late and when the pilot discovered that they were about to miss their connecting flight, he decided to help. Via the loudspeaker, the captain asked all passengers to stay in their seats so the special military family could exit the aircraft first.

The announcement angered many travelers in the first class, who started booing at the Gold Star family. Stewart Perry said he does not know if the passengers understood that they were on their way to bury their child, who was serving this great country. Perry explained:

Some people were saying This is just baloney, and I paid for first-class for this? 

He went on to say:

It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see.You could see the disappointment from the flight crew.

He also praised American Airlines for going out of their way to help them during this difficult time. He confessed:

He made a decision that saved a lot of people. I was told that he was found protecting a female soldier.  He didnt get to live a full life, but he lived.

To his family, Sgt. John W. Perry, a proud father of two, was a hero.
Bir Lahlou, 21 Nov 2016 (SPS) President of the Republic and Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, sent Sunday a message of congratulations to his Angolan counterpart Jose Eduardo Dos Santos on the occasion of 41st anniversary of the independence of his country.







"I have the pleasure, at a time when the brotherly people of Angola is about to celebrate the 41st anniversary of its independence, to present to Your Excellency on behalf of the people and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and on my behalf, the best wishes and my most sincere congratulations, praying God Almighty to grant you health, and progress and prosperity to the Angolan brotherly people, "wrote the President of the Republic.

"I therefore take this opportunity to express to you the importance I attach to the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two brotherly peoples, with the hope that they will be intensified and strengthened further In the future," he added. (SPS)

062/090/TRA
Hugh Shedden, of Shedden Farms, Shipton by Beningbrough near York has been awarded the scholarship by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for 2017 and will be using his studies to look at improving practical efficiencies and cost effectiveness to inform and improve British pig production.

Hugh commented:

British pig farmers are amongst the best in the world but I believe we need to take advantage of the technological revolution, which is just starting to happen in the sector. For example, many farms operate a bed and breakfast production system and finish pigs on straw. I want to see if this can be adapted to become more efficient, and thus more profitable and if so, it could transform the industry.

Problem prevention lies at the heart of his studies, for example, looking at the benefits of cameras installed in housing units to provide real time monitoring for an optimum environment and to spot any animal stress early, sound centres to check for potential health problems such as coughing, and sensors to monitor animal weights and growth.

He added: I believe precision is going to be key for UK pig farmers. We are being challenged to reduce our antibiotic usage, reduce our environmental footprint and produce a premium product at a price the market will pay. We have to be able to get the most from our buildings, staff, nutrition and genetics and the correct use of precision technology can go a long way towards helping us achieve that goal. The potential is there, we just need to find the right tools. I believe using the technology of precision farming will enable us to achieve this.
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STAMFORD  Mayor David Martin discussed some of the citys biggest transportation infrastructure projects this week with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.

You got $1 billion? We could use it, Martin told the senator, referring to the citys thinly-stretched capital budget and the growing list of aging streets, bridges and traffic signals in need of serious work.

Murphy came to Stamford Monday to hear about the citys plans to repair an aging bridge and reorient the intersection of Greenwich Avenue and Pulaski Street in Waterside, but Martin had more to share.

The mayor discussed the citys long-term plans for the Urban Transitway and identified some of the improvements needed along the West Main Street corridor, among other traffic infrastructure issues facing the city.

Even though by many accounts we are doing very well in Stamford, our infrastructure is close to shambles, Martin said. We are really struggling, and if there is need its in capital.

Director of Economic Development Thomas Madden said traffic backup caused by the clunky intersection of Greenwich Avenue and Pulaski Street is impeding on business growth in the Waterside neighborhood.

Its all about movement, Madden said. Transportation infrastructure needs to catch up with the development in the city ... the stalling of the transportation bill at the federal level put a constraint on us because we were ready to go on a lot of things, thinking that money would be there.

Murphy wanted to discuss the citys traffic infrastructure needs, since he anticipates a future Donald Trump administration to prioritize investments for these types of projects.

We want to check on these priority projects if infrastructure money comes in next year, Murphy told Martin at the meeting.

Murphy suggested the city to begin considering more creative ways to fund these projects, mentioning the use of tax-increment financing. This strategy, which diverts future property tax revenues from an assigned zone in the city toward the costs associated with redevelopment of that zone, was most recently implemented to aid the Harbor Point project in the South End.

Weve talked about (TIF zones) a lot here, and we may be forced to talk about them again, Murphy said. Were past the point where we can sit around and wait for $1 trillion appropriation.

nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton
Despite progress, the following statistics on workplace diversity should trouble you. Ernst and Young recently did a study which found that more CEOs of large U.S. companies are named John (5.3 percent) than there are CEOs who are women (4.1 percent). There is not even a single solitary openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company and Career Builder found that only 35 percent of women feel confident that compensation is dispensed equitably between the genders.

Why should business leaders care? Well, there are several good reasons.

First, there is an ever-growing business case for maintaining a diverse workforce including studies from MIT and McKinsey that show a gender neutral and diverse workforce is correlated to increases in revenue. However, beyond the bottom line, some executives see it as the right thing to do and as the father of two girls, I fall squarely into this camp.

However, others may simply want to avoid lawsuits and negative publicity. This recent Harvard Business Review cover story, for example, cites lawsuits against big banks in the 1990s as the impetus for diversity programs in the workplace.

Regardless of which motivating factor touches you, the challenge of diversity in the workplace is not going away anytime soon. Whether you champion this issue or are forced to go along to get along, it is critical to learn how to effectively hire diverse candidates because bad hires -- regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation -- will sink the ship.

Related: The Case for Blind Hiring

As the CEO of Peak Sales Recruiting, we have worked with world class companies to bolster their talent acquisition efforts, and in the process, have developed five tips to find diverse candidates that make dollars and sense.

1. Modernize corporate policies.

According to survey findings by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), there is a growing trend of companies offering floating holidays. Does it make sense to give employees off for Christmas but not Ramadan? Or off for Yom Kippur but not Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. According to the study, 43 percent of companies are now offering holidays that allow employees to take time off based on their religious or cultural situation. Additionally, a PwC survey found that Millennials place more importance on a company culture than previous generations and McKinseys research found that the top issue that women want is a flexible schedule. Modernizing your company policies to suite the needs and desires of a diverse workforce is key to attracting the widest range of talent and only serves to strengthen your employer brand.

2. Recruit from a variety of colleges.

It is hard to believe but Google, a company widely seen as global and inclusive, has a diversity problem. More than 70 percent of their global workforce is male. To combat this issue, the Internet search giant is investing hundreds of millions of dollars per year on diversity programs. Last year, Google announced plans to invest $150 million in workforce diversity initiatives. This included doubling the number of schools where it actively recruits to find potential job applicants including historically black colleges such as Alabama A&M. We recommend including in your talent acquisition strategy to recruit from a broader set of colleges from not only across the country, but the world.

Related: A Culturally Diverse Workforce Could Be a Boon to Your Business

3. Play the long game.

The biggest mistake companies make during the recruiting process is that they wait until they need to hire someone. A reactive hiring approach can compromise your ability to locate and objectively assess candidates, thus leading to costly turnover . The key to recruiting is to always be recruiting so you are ready if someone unexpectedly quits or gets sick. The same thing goes for diversity hires. In particular, if you are in a field that is not particularly diverse, you will need to begin to develop relationships -- and remember, every connection made is an opportunity to promote your commitment to diversity and inclusion.

4. Embrace a rigorous hiring process.

An MIT and University of Chicago study sent 5,000 resumes to 1,250 employers and found that white sounding names got 50 percent more callbacks then black sounding names. This underscores the reality that even the most well-meaning people could have issues with subconscious bias. One of the best ways to combat bias and subjectivity in your hiring process is by adopting a structured, rigorous, and scientific hiring process that includes psychometric testing. Creating a points-based hiring scorecard that ranks candidates skills, experience and DNA against the positions requirements will add structure; having all candidates meet with the exact same and diverse set of interviewers on the same day adds rigor; and psychometric testing introduces science into your process. Together, this will help to mitigate the risk that subjectivity will infect your hiring process.

Related: The Myriad Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

5. Partner with outside organizations.

McKinsey conducted research on workplace diversity and found that a mans professional is 65 percent male. To effectively diversify your workforce, it is critical to widen your search by making outreach to professional organizations, conferences, job fairs and networking events catering to a diverse crowd. Good examples include the National Black MBA Association, Urban League and the National Council of La Raza. This will offer a channel to search for good candidates with a positive track record in their own community.

Related:

5 Tips for Finding Diverse Candidates That Make Dollars and Sense

A Recruiter of Oscar-Winning Talent Talks 5 Ways You, Too, Can Build a 'Dream Team'

A New Solution for Efficiently Recruiting Talent



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola know the exact moment that they had a business model that resonated.

The pair of now 23-year-olds met on the first day of business school in 2011 at Philadelphia's Drexel University and quickly became friends. The following year they were living together with four other roommates, and Gola, the only one with a car, found himself always offering to run errands, especially since none of the on-demand platforms had what they wanted when it came to speed and price.

Related: How to Be Taken Seriously As a Young Entrepreneur

They decided they could do better, and the following year launched goPuff, an on-demand delivery service that seeks to make the convenience store obsolete. The founders set up the beta version of the app, bought a 1999 Plymouth Voyager, and no sooner had they affixed the goPuff logo to the vehicle did they get their first order -- a good month before they were officially ready to be up and running.

Image credit: Courtesy of goPuff

Their fellow student ordered Gatorade, M&Ms and Cheetos. The piece de resistance: their first customer's apartment shared a wall with a 7-Eleven.

"I asked him, why would you order from an app when you literally have 7-Eleven right next door?" Ilishayev said. "He said, 'why do I need to go to 7-Eleven when I can order from an app?' I ran back to the car and I said, 'Yakir, we have something here, we need to get to work."

Related: What Young People Must Know About Entrepreneurship

And get to work they did. They officially launched on Dec. 25, 2013. During the first six months, Ilishayev and Gola worked alone for 17 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week in their Philadelphia warehouse taking orders and making deliveries in between classes.

Maintaining their sanity was a challenge, but the duo say that their friendship is more than intact -- it's stronger because of the experience. Today, they have a staff of 80 and a presence in 12 cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Chicago. And while 85 percent of goPuff's customers were 18 to 24 when the company began, that cohort now makes up only 50 percent, they said.

Image credit: Courtesy of goPuff

Ilishayev says that as the company expanded, learning how to step back and delegate was a bit tough, but now his motto is, "Don't stress the little things. Done is better than perfect."

Related: 7 Rules for Entrepreneurs to Delegate Effectively

Of course, the founders also had to deal with the doubts of the people closest to them. "If someone tells you it can't be done, don't believe that," Gola says. "In the beginning we asked our friends and family, 'what do you think of this idea?' [Most] people said that they wouldn't use a service like that and they would rather go to the convenience store. People don't want to hear something that they aren't used to. If someone is going doubt you, don't listen to them."

Going into 2017, they have plans to expand to a new location every three weeks, with their eyes on cities such as Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tenn., and Minneapolis.

Gola says that a number of factors come into play when choosing a new location. They have to buy a new warehouse, hire contract drivers and develop relationships with suppliers in the area. If one piece isnt there, the launch falls apart.

Related: The World on Demand: 23 Startups That Deliver Everything From Sexy Man Servants to Marijuana

All those elements are necessary to make good on the company's promise that when you place an order with goPuff, which features a selection of more than 3,000 items, your delivery will be there in 30 minutes or less. If your order is $49 or more, the delivery is free. Otherwise, there is always a $1.95 flat fee. The pair's main goal is to get the delivery time down to 10 minutes.

Ilishayev says that goPuff doesn't view companies such as Postmates, Instacart or DoorDash as goPuff's chief competition, because the company is dealing in different markets. While those businesses focus on grocery and restaurant delivery, goPuff's stock and trade are convenience store items. The concept of the convenience store is the company's chief competitor, Gola says.

Donna Harris, the co-founder and co-CEO of Washington, D.C.-based startup incubator 1776, says convenience-oriented companies like goPuff are laying the groundwork for an on-demand economy where more established businesses are inspired to apply the models that these startups have perfected to do things such as cut costs and change how they hire.

Related: 4 Essentials for Growing an On-Demand Company

"We've been ordering pizza for decades, so on-demand is not that new, its just in a completely new format, which is that I'm not just calling up Dominos. I can order from any new restaurant, because there is a tasker to go pick it up," she says. "It's a simplistic business model. There are no regulations, there are no big incumbents, I just need people who want the extra income, and I need people who want the convenience, who value their time and are willing to pay people to take on a task to save me time."

Gola and Ilishayev say customers tweet at them all the time asking if they can offer a given item. If one of their suppliers has it, they will try to start carrying it the next week, noting that relationships with their users is what their business model depends on.

"Last year we had a state of emergency in Philadelphia, and we stayed open until we couldn't operate anymore. We were open even after Uber closed." Ilishayev says. "It doesn't matter how much money you make that day -- revenue isn't relevant, it's about being there for your customer. They know that everything else is unavailable, the convenience store is closed, but goPuff is your lifeline."

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A berdeen Asset Management has scrapped a multi-billion-pound tilt at an Italian-owned fund house after baulking at the sky-high price tag.

Chief executive Martin Gilbert said the firm would not pursue a deal for Pioneer Global Asset Management but was still on the hunt for further acquisitions.

Gilbert (pictured) has adopted a tub-thumping mergers and acquisition strategy over the past two decades to become one of Europes biggest fund firms.

But it has spent the past three years digesting the 660 million takeover of Scottish Widows funds unit, which has put paid to any other big deals. Now that time could be over. If the right opportunity came up wed look at it but were not looking at anything else at the moment, he said.

Gilbert said bids for Pioneer, which were inching close to 4 billion (3.45 billion), had risen too high for Aberdeen to stay in the race. A takeover Pioneer would have added $245 billion (199 billion) in funds to the 300 billion Aberdeen presently has under management and given it access to the lucrative household savings market in Italy, as well as Pioneers home market in the US.

Italys biggest bank Unicredit, which bought US-based Pioneer in 2000, raised the for-sale sign on the unit in May to boost the lenders capital cushion. After failing to sell a stake to Santander, it launched an auction in September. Second-round bids, including Aberdeens, were submitted last month. Amundi, Poste Italiane, and Macquarie have also tabled offers.

Asset management M&A has been on the rise this year as fund houses make a play to get bigger so they can cut costs and distribute their products more widely. UK fund house Henderson inked a takeover deal with Janus Capital last month.

Pioneer is one of Americas oldest fund houses, and grew out of the Pioneer Fund which was set up by American finance journalist Philip Carret in 1928.
F acebook will continue to invest in the UK despite the Brexit vote, the social media giants European boss said on Monday as she revealed plans for a hiring spree.

Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry annual conference, the Europe, Middle East and Africa boss Nicola Mendelsohn said: There are hard choices facing the country right now. Unless we keep doing the things that helped London and the UK grow into this incredible incubator for tech, we risk being overtaken and left behind. To keep pace we must remain open to new ideas and look outward for opportunities.

Facebook is planning to hire 500 more people in the UK over the coming year, including engineers and developers. It presently employs around 1000 staff in London.

The majority of the new jobs will be based in London, where Facebook will move into a swanky new head office near Tottenham Court Road next year.

The plans came shortly after Apple and Google made a commitment to expand in the capital.

Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech City UK welcomed the update. He told the Standard: The fact that three of the worlds tech giants are choosing to expand within the UK is a real credit to our tech nation.

He added: "Our digital tech industries are growing 32% faster than the wider UK economy and we have remarkable tech talent coming to the UK through initiatives such as the Tech Nation Visa Scheme. This is another real boost for the UK tech community, one that shows we're playing a key role on a global stage."
A half-share in South East Water, provider of water to more than two million customers across southern England, is up for sale for around 200 million, it emerged on Monday.

Two Canadian investors have hired Canadian bank RBC and PricewaterhouseCoopers to sell their combined 50% stake in the company, which is the UKs largest water-only firm, industry website InfraNews reports.

Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, a pension-fund manager, is selling a 37.5% stake while a further 12.5% is being sold by the Desjardins Employees pension fund.

South East Water has 2.1 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

CDPQ bought a 50% stake in the water company in 2010 from funds managed by Westpac-owned Hastings Funds Management for 165 million, afterwards selling 12.5% to Desjardins.

South East Waters parent, HDF, recently saw pre-tax profits halve to 10.5 million, after rising costs and lower bills.
Y ou cant blame Antonio Horta-Osorio for wanting to seal his turnaround of Lloyds with a monster takeover.

After years ditching assets and closing stuff, what alpha male boss wouldnt want to finish the job with some chest-thumping M n A?

However, as Citi analysts point out on Monday, there are reasons to doubt if splashing out 7 billion of Lloyds cherished capital on MBNA credit cards is altogether wise.

For starters, is it clever to send all of that money out of the door just as new regulatory burdens loom, requiring banks to set aside higher capital buffers? Could the takeover jeopardise Lloyds hard-fought for dividend in years hence?

Some new exposure to PPI claims also seem likely, even if the seller, Bank of America, does promise to cap potential losses.

The biggest risk, though, is the time in the cycle; loan losses for credit-card firms are at a comfortable low point, thanks to the benign economy.

Given whats around the corner with Brexit and all that, the current good times for bad debts may not last.

Bank of America, which is selling MBNA, clearly has its doubts, and something has clearly put off rival bidder Cerberus, which makes its living doing deals like this.

Ah well, perhaps it will all be OK. Given that Lloyds last major takeover was of HBOS, what could possibly go wrong?
T he departing boss of Mitie on Monday hit out at the Government, warning the cuts have gone too deep as the FTSE 250 outsourcer withdrew from the domestic healthcare market, fell to a 100 million half-year loss and slashed its dividend.

Presiding over her last results after almost a decade as chief executive, Ruby McGregor-Smith saw Mities shares plunge 20% on opening, as last years 45 million interim profit swung to a loss and one City analysts verdict was: the outsourcer is in a mess.

Mitie, whose work stretches from dealing with Great Ormond Street Hospitals clinical waste to running immigration detention centres, struck a second profit warning in three months after being squeezed hard by rising staff wages and the uncertain economy.

But most of the loss was from writedowns at its loss-making homecare business MiHomecare, which provides meals on wheels and other services to the elderly and vulnerable.

Its ward-cleaning-to-waste management healthcare arm will continue.

McGregor-Smith, who is handing over Mities reins to ex-British Gas boss Phil Bentley, said local authority cuts had forced it out of the sector.

Were hugely disappointed about leaving the social care market, she said. But its driven by a funding crisis in adult social care. Even if more money is put in the Autumn Statement, it wont be enough to save the sector, which will be a total tragedy for the UK. Between the NHS and local authorities, the cuts have gone too deep. Theres no understanding of what thats going to do to the elderly in the UK.

McGregor-Smith said finding care workers was a problem too: Its so badly paid that its not easy to attract staff to that market. Pay needs to be much higher than the living wage. Thats despite MiHomecare, which Mitie bought for 112 million in 2012, facing an investigation last year amid claims that, when taking into account travelling time, it wasnt paying carers the NMW.

Mitie admitted MiHomecare will still cost it money, on top of todays 107 million charge, until the business is either sold, likely to another large UK outsourcer, or shut down.

McGregor-Smith, who had presided over a doubling of Mities revenue and profits in her tenure, admitted: This wasnt quite the [final] announcement Id been expecting to deliver. Brexit turned a fragile economy into a tougher one, and caused more uncertainty and investment delays.

But the Conservative peer hit out at critics: Im not handing over a poisoned chalice; Phil will say the same. Ive just made the right decisions for the business in the long term.

Shares settled down 10% at 188.3p.
T he Citys tallest tower  known as the Trellis  is set to get the go-ahead after planning officers gave the thumbs-up to the scheme.

Council papers show that the building, formally 1 Undershaft, has been recommended for approval and the decision is likely to get formal rubber-stamping from the City of London Corporations planning and transportation committee next week.

The Trellis will occupy the site of what is now the Aviva Tower in the Citys cluster of tall buildings, near the Gherkin at 30 St Mary Axe and Tower 42, as well as the under-construction Scalpel.

Last month the backers of the Trellis, Singaporean property company Aroland, cut 4.7 metres from the height of the tower to 304.9 metres, just below the height at which buildings are considered a danger to planes on the approach route to City Airport.

The tower is highest in the Square Mile although five metres shorter than the Shard at London Bridge, which is the tallest building in Europe.

Aroland, the development vehicle of palm-oil billionaires Kuok Khoon Hong and Martua Sitorus, is in talks with the Museum of London over creating the capitals highest free public viewing gallery and exhibition space and classrooms on the 71st and 72nd floors of the 73-storey skyscraper.
I n Matthew dAnconas article on Nigel Farage [In his own way Farage is leading a new political order, November 16], you give further publicity to a man who has so far received little in the way of effective criticism or scrutiny.

I would argue that the article did not go far enough in its condemnation of someone who has arguably done real damage to this countrys politics and international reputation, and may yet do more.

In the past month he has subjected the public to his appalling abuse of Barack Obama on radio, in which he referred to him as a creature, he has made wildly irresponsible statements following the case brought by Gina Miller in the High Court, and has acted in a way that suggests he believes he is entitled to a role in government.

Almost any form of Brexit will have the effect of handing him a huge propaganda victory and legitimising the attitudes he displays. The article refers to ill-deserved limelight but rather undermines this by including a large photo of its shamelessly self-promoting subject.

At the very least, responsible media outlets must oppose what Mr dAncona euphemistically calls the new politics or risk becoming its cheerleaders.

Ben Norris

Nigel Farages brand of nationalism has arguably provided fuel for the rise in hate crimes. This should not be applauded or rewarded.

His poster of the refugees in the week before the referendum was viewed in the UK and around the world with horror.

I suspect that the thousands of people whose jobs are now at risk do not think Nigel Farage should be rewarded for all the uncertainty that has followed the Brexit vote either.

If the UK is trying to prove it has some credibility post-referendum, it should not be seen as endorsing  let alone praising  this.

Eleanor Newton

The last few months have revealed huge and ugly divisions in our social fabric, both here and in the US. The Mansion House speech delivered by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month said nothing about our collective future, while US President-elect Donald Trump continues to appear as dangerous as he is amusingly inept.

A Disunited States is not what economies in the world need right now, and following the vote to leave the EU our attempt to govern without the qualities of leadership is proving to be just as damaging.

A general election early next year is not a joyous option, but it might settle matters and reveal a much more positive outcome.

It is an opportunity to elect a genuine leader, along with a credible front bench with the ability and appropriate interpersonal skills, using well-defined policies that can set a course for our leaving Europe as a united kingdom.

Clive Bennett

Fight the poachers to save the elephant

I strongly support any campaign that seeks to end the illegal trade in ivory from elephants and rhinos [William issues rallying cry to halt illegal wildlife trade, November 17].If we dont, the senseless and greedy poachers who slaughter these animals will continue to feed the market, meaning our grandchildren will be robbed of the chance to see these beasts in their natural habitat.

The structures and systems that nurture and promote the ivory trade must be dismantled before elephants are exterminated. I believe part of the solution would be to create a mechanism that effectively stops poachers from profiting from their illegal activities.

For example, earlier this year Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta set fire to a huge stockpile of ivory in an effort to show his countrys commitment to saving Africas elephants.

Poorer countries such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania should be given the resources by the international community so that they can effectively deal with the problem of elephant poaching.

Handsen Chikowore

Selfish banks should be fittingly punished

Ordinary people will be perplexed and angry that yet again financial firms can simply pay a fine to have all charges against them dropped [Banking trio may be hit by big fines over rate-rigging, November 16].

JP Morgans $246 million penalty is just another in a litany of hundreds of billions of pounds in fines that the worlds top 20 banks have been forced to pay since the 2008 financial crisis.

It is a damning indictment of regulators and politicians allegedly determined to clean up a corrupt financial system when their actions are shown to be otherwise. Less than a handful of convictions have been made, yet the degree and scale of financial fraud and deceit has been unprecedented in our history.

Lets hope in the new era facing the UK that London leads on setting standards and enforcing a financial regime where criminal activity is properly punished.

David Caillard

Anthony Hilton may say much that is true in his column but, as is so often the case, he is too respectful in his criticisms [Look in the mirror to begin restoring trust, City Comment, November 17].

Everyone knows what is wrong with big business: it wants to make as much profit for itself, with as little as possible going to the people who sustain them and to whom it should be their ambition to serve.

Aided by an indulgent government, they seem to lack any real moral sense of what is fair, reasonable and right. They are unconscionably greedy, so why doesnt Mr Hilton say so?

Ian White

The cycling blame game must stop

The petition calling for cyclists to hold insurance and to pay road tax has reached mor than 36,000 signatures. But while change is needed the blame game has to stop. Collaboration between the logistics and construction industry and cyclists is important.

While it would be impractical for cyclists to sit theory and practical tests, cyclist insurance is paramount so that drivers are equally protected in the event of a collision caused by cyclist error.

Road safety is a problem that cyclists and motorists have a responsibility to tackle together.

Jacqueline ODonovan, managing director, ODonovan Waste Disposal
Review at a glance









E arly on in this show, I experienced an unwelcome shock: a portrait of Nigel Farage. I shouldnt have been surprised, perhaps: the National Portrait Gallerys walls teem with politicians  and rogues and villains.

I was tempted to quickly move on. But Charlie Clifts portrait tells us much about its subject. Bar the odd celebrity portrait, Farage is mostly surrounded by those far away from his level of renown; real people to use one of his own terms.

The sitters are of all ages: a baby nursed by its mother by Matt Hamon; the elderly caught sensitively by Ebony Finck and Karsten Thormaehlen. While many are pictured at work, like Anna Karis African midwives, several are dispossessed, like the Tanzanian street children captured by Tom Merilion and, in Katie Barlows images, the refugees Farage desperately wants to keep out of the UK. Next to them, the self-satisfied Ukip leader, smoking in a Belgravia cigar club, looks every inch the public-school-educated commodities broker-turned-politician; a member of a privileged elite. In this context, intentionally or not, Clift exposes the fundamental lie behind this self-styled man of the people.

The winners reflect the prizes tendency towards conventional portraiture: Kovi Konowieckis studies of Orthodox Jews have the richness of painted portraits and Claudio Rasanos South African schoolkid in uniform has an appealing directness, but neither are earth-shattering.

Winner: Shimi Beitar Illit by Kovi Konowiecki

Cristina de Middels works  commissioned rather than entered for the prize  are more conceptual and are the best things here, portraying prostitution not through cliched images of female sex workers, but the men that visit them, their stories told in appended texts.

The show amounts to a parade of diverse humanity, amid which Farage, in his piscine sliminess, is a fish out of water.

Until February 26, National Portrait Gallery (020 7306 0055, npg.org.uk)

Visit standard.co.uk/arts for the latest news and reviews from Londons arts scene

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
Review at a glance









C apable of being as sombre as a Sunday night in with Bob Dylan or as wild as a Friday night out with The Pogues, Wilco are not a band for the narrow of mind or faint of heart.

The Chicago sextets recent album, Schmilco, conceals troubled lyrics under sunny acoustic backing, and their Saturday night show was as slippery as an ice rink.

Via Chicago was chugging along harmlessly before being ambushed by pulverising beats  as if Animal from The Muppets had suddenly grabbed the sticks from drummer Glenn Kotche  while the Art of Almost veered left into Radiohead-like weirdness.

That it never felt inaccessible is testament to Wilcos universal melodies and catch-all choruses. Old favourites I Am Trying to Break Your Heart and Jesus, Etc. were bellowed back at them by the devoted clientele.

Stetson-sporting frontman Jeff Tweedy rejoiced in the role of anti-pop star, telling the crowd: This is our best ever London show  but thats only because all our other shows here have been terrible.

In truth, this show had some terrible moments of its own. Random Name Generator ought to have been retitled Generic Riff Generator.

However, Spiders (Kidsmoke), packed more ideas into one song than some bands pack into their entire careers; and in the simple and certain world of rock, Wilco proved themselves masters of ambiguity.

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
W ith the promise of more jobs and a better life, thousands of young people flooded into London in the 1960s.

But without enough affordable housing to accommodate them, many ended up alone and living on the streets of the city.

Reverend Ken Leech was based at St Annes Church in Soho during the period and saw the damage done to those left on the streets, vulnerable to prostitution and drug-taking.

So with just 30 in his bank account, he decided to collaborate with the Simon Community - a collective of homeless people and volunteers - to open up the doors of his church and young homeless people in for temporary shelter.

Homeless shelter: The Reverend Kenneth Leech, taken in 1998, set up the charity / Alex MacNaughton

The first night the basement was opened no one turned up but, within a month, there were 600 people coming for each night.

By the end of the first year the church had hosted 5,000 young people.

Centrepoint gala and awards ceremony 2016 1 /22 Centrepoint gala and awards ceremony 2016 (L-R) Centrepoint's Laura, the Duke of Cambridge, Seyi Obakin chief executive of Centrepoint, and Syeed Lucy Young The Duke of Cambridge with Ellie Goulding at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Frank Augstein/PA Nile Rodgers holds aloft a Centrepoint award given to him by the Duke of Cambridge (right) at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Frank Augstein/PA The Duke of Cambridge with Elizabeth Hurley at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Frank Augstein/PA Ellie Goulding arrives at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Lucy Young Joan Collins arrives at the charity gala Lucy Young Seyi Obakin, chief executive of Centrepoint PA Lady Kitty Spencer arriving at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint, Lucy Young Elizabeth Hurley arrives at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint David Mirzoeff/PA Nile Rogers attended the event Lucy Young Seyi Obakin (centre), chief executive of Centrepoint, poses with award winners PA Jonathan Ross arrives with his wife Jane Goldman (right) and daughter Honey Kinney Ross at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint David Mirzoeff/PA Daniella Lopez arriving at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Lucy Young Lisa Maxwell arriving at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Lucy Young The Duke of Cambridge with Ellie Goulding at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Frank Augstein/PA Magician, Troy arriving at a fundraising event and awards evening in aid of Centrepoint Lucy Young John Terry and Toni Terry turned out to support Centrepoint Lucy Young

Rev. Leech went on to help set up the first homeless hostel for young people the following year.

In an interview with Rev Leech in 2004, The Guardian reported that the name Centrepoint was chosen for the shelter as a pointed reminder of the new tower block Centre Point, built on Tottenham Court Road.

The building stood empty for years as a loophole in the law made it cheaper for the owner, making millions for them as hundreds of young people slept on the streets.

But another theory is that the name is less associated with the landmark building and was, instead, chosen because the church was at the centre of the parish.

Youth homelessnes: The Duke of Cambridge became a patron of the charity in 2005 / JEFF MOORE

One of the first people Centrepoint helped was Sandy Marks, who went on to be the Mayor of Islington in 1996.

Who does Centrepoint work with? Centerpoint has worked with more than 116,000 young people More than a quarter of them have slept rough Around 13 per cent of the young people are refugees One in every five have spent time in care

In 1970, aged just 16, she stayed with the charity when it offered homeless people shelter for up to three consecutive nights.

"A lot of homeless people came to London thinking the streets were paved with gold," she told the BBC in 2005.

"They thought you'd turn up, get a job and somewhere to live. They ended up, like me, sleeping in bushes.

"You got soup and a roll and had to leave early. But it gave me respite to think about what the hell I was doing. In 1970, getting a job, a bedsit and back on your feet was easier."

Ms Marks, added: "Now there are thousands of hostel places, but it's almost impossible to get somewhere to rent.

"The longer a person is homeless, the longer their own strength is destroyed. Projects that enable people to build self-esteem are invaluable."

Prince William became patron of the charity in 2005, following in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana.

Homeless Helpline: Centrepoint want a freephone number for young people facing homelessness

In 2015, almost 50 years after the charity was launched, Centrepoint identified at least 150,000 desperate young people who went to their local authority asking for help because they were homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless.

And with more than 30 accommodation services in London, open seven days a week, the charity provides a temporary home for many who feel they have nowhere to turn.

But Centrepoint is not just about providing a safe bed for those sleeping on the streets.

Christmas appeal: Centrepoint wants to set up a freephone for young people who need help / Centrepoint

It works with 9,000 16 to 15-year-olds each year working to help them turn their life around by teaching life skills, tackling mental health issues and moving into employment.

Once in Centerpoint accommodation young people have access to a range of support including health assessments, cooking lessons, work experience, job interview prep and one-to-one counselling.

In 2010, Centrepoint Parliament was set up to give homeless young people a voice and influence over Government policy and research into homelessness.

Life skills: The charity helps young people to turn their lives around / Centrepoint

When he was awarded his OBE in November 2016, Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin highlighted that the charitys aim is to break the back of homelessness once and for all by help[ing] young people gain skills and take back control of their lives.

He said: One young persons story has stayed with me  a young woman who, having suffered domestic abuse was taken into care at age 11 and came to Centrepoint at 17-years-old, with little qualifications.

Yet, with our help, she gained the skills she needed to get a job with a major multinational company and has thrived in that job so much that she has made it into supervisory ranks.

I am totally committed to seeing fewer young people becoming homeless and more young people gaining the skills and jobs they need to make great homes for themselves and their families.

The Evening Standard's Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate please visit our Just Giving page.
T he total cost of providing the training, technology and support for one phone call to Centrepoint is estimated to be just 10.

So for 10 you could provide a supportive voice at the end of a phone for one desperate young person facing a night staying in an unsafe place.

And with your donation that young person can get the advice to help them access services they need to take control of their lives.

To mark the launch of The Appeal, fundraisers will be on the streets of London this evening asking our readers to give generously.

Christmas appeal: 25,000 young people are at risk of becoming homeless this Christmas / Centrepoint

More than a hundred volunteers will be carrying collection buckets at some 27 stations across London, from Mile End to High Street Kensington, to raise money for our Christmas charity campaign.

Centrepoint staff will be joined by teams of volunteers from companies supporting its work, including Mayfair-based law firm Forsters.

Homeless Helpline: Centrepoint want a freephone number for young people facing homelessness

Seyi Obakin, the chief executive of Centrepoint, urged people to give generously and support the campaign.

He said: The critical thing about the helpline is that it will provide early intervention, giving young people the information that they need to make the right decisions so they dont then end up on the downward spiral.

It is that downward spiral that is really the killer for homelessness, and particularly among young people.

The helpline is going to be key early intervention to stop that. It is critical we can provide that support.

To donate to the appeal, you can:

Call - 0300 330 2731

Text - HOME66 5 to 70070

Post - Freepost RTKC-JRGU-ZYGT, Centrepoint, 40-42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, CO28JY

Or Visit - Our JustGiving page
T he Duke of Cambridge today joins us in telling Evening Standard readers they have the chance to save young lives in a letter marking the start of our Christmas Appeal.

We are partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to launch a helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

As the charity warns that 25,000 young people could be at risk this Christmas, we echo Williams call that we must help our most vulnerable young people.

The money raised will do vital work by launching the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, the first such service to deliver essential information to desperate young people in London and beyond.

Together we can help save young people who are at risk of sleeping on the streets. Thank you.

Homeless appeal: The Duke's letter to Londoners

In a letter to Evening Standard readers, the Duke wrote: As a society we all have a duty to help our most vulnerable young people.

Over the coming weeks you will see and hear more about Centrepoint and the work it does to help young people escape homelessness.

Homeless Helpline: Centrepoint want a freephone number for young people facing homelessness

Ending youth homelessness is not just about putting a roof over someones head. Its about teaching a young person to read and write.

Its about helping them to live with the consequences of abuse and neglect. Its about stopping people becoming homeless in the first place.

When a young persons world falls apart, they have nowhere to go. This is why we are launching the Centerpoint Helpline in 2017.

Centrepoint Helpline will provide information and support that vulnerable young people need before they become homeless.

Youth homelessnes: The Duke of Cambridge has been a patron of Centrepoint since 2005 / JEFF MOORE

Over the past decade I have met hundreds of courageous and inspiring young people trying to escape homelessness.

Unfortunately their courage alone is not enough.

Thanks to the Evening Standard, you have the chance to save young lives.

The Evening Standard's Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate please visit our Just Giving page.
F orget The Shard and Duck and Waffle, theres a new restaurant with a view that Londoners will want to Instagram next year - but its not for the faint-hearted.

A pop-up restaurant is set to open on Mount Everest, located at an altitude of around 17,000 feet.

Former Noma chef and Rene Redzepi protege James Sharman is hiking to the base camp of the mountain this December to launch the new dining venture as part of his One Star House Party series, which will see him hosting dinners in 20 countries over the course of 20 months.

The chef is taking just 15 reservations for the 14-day dining adventure (taking place from December 10-23), which will see guests arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, and trek up the mountain to the restaurant.

The $1,050 (848) cost of the experience includes food and drink from Sharman and professionals from Soho House and the Ledbury.

It also covers board for the 14 days plus all the gear you need to undertake a professional Everest hike and the construction of the restaurant on arrival.

Everest will be the chefs fourth location in the experimental dining series, after Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, and Bangkok, and is without a doubt the most extreme so far.

Michelin-starred restaurants outside London - in pictures 1 /16 Michelin-starred restaurants outside London - in pictures Peel's restaurant at Hampton Manor The Tudor Room The Wild Rabbit's chef The Wild Rabbit restaurant Langoustine at Forest Side restaurant A dish at Forest Side Pheasant with blackcurrant at Chocolate hazlenut for pudding at Chef Doug at Crisp table at Gilpin Hotel restaurant Tender beef on the menu at the Gilpin

Sharman and his team have not yet revealed what is set to be on the menu, but the theme of the project is trying local cuisine in unique or challenging circumstances - in this case, while trying not to freeze to death.

If the thought of climbing the worlds most challenging mountain puts you off your appetite, Sharman is also planning future experimental dining experiences in Reykjavik, Tasmania and Buenos Aires.

If the dining experience is successful, he is also planning to cook and serve a meal on a train travelling through Indias tea fields next year.

Full details are available on the One Star House Party website.

Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
A Londoner is attempting to travel home from Hong Kong without any money in an attempt to show the humanity of the world.

Former film PR director Rhinal Patel started the challenge without a penny and has already made it from Victoria City to Oslo by hitchhiking, scavenging food out of bins and couchsurfing.

She has only spent money on a $16 ferry ride from Hong Kong to Macau and two flights  which she paid for by accepting donations, working and being allowed to empty fountains of coins at a Buddhist temple. The Oslo flight cost around 106 after she found deals.

The 34-year-old said she has sometimes felt terrified, but is happier and more free than ever before.

Ms Patel said: Through doing this month-long experiment I wanted to open peoples minds and show, in an extreme way, that truly living your life, being free and having experiences are more important than earning lots of money or owning a house  those things do not make you happy.

Ms Patel said she became a new person after leaving London to travel the world alone three years ago, when her employer went into liquidation and she broke up with her boyfriend of seven years. Once everything went wrong I knew I needed time and space to find my own identity, she said.

Solo travel destinations - in pictures 1 /13 Solo travel destinations - in pictures Thailand Thailand Borders of Adventure, Becki Enright Essaouria The Gentleman Traveller Essaouria The Gentleman Traveller Essaouria The Gentleman Traveller Madrid Taylor Hearts Travel Mercado San Anton, Madrid Mercado San Anton, Madrid Taylor Hearts Travel New Zealand Intrepid Escape New Zealand Intrepid Escape New Zealand Intrepid Escape Sunset in New Zealand Intrepid Escape

Over the next three years, Ms Patel lived at home in Shepherds Bush and worked for six months at a time, before leaving to explore again on a small budget, traversing South America and Asia. Then she decided to prove she could travel with no money at all.

Patel wantes to prove that she can travel with no money at all.

Ms Patel acknowledges it has only been possible with the kindness of friends and strangers and has accepted donations from people, as well as carrying out some work for which she has been paid, to pay for transport.

You can travel very easily on no money, Ms Patel said. People open their minds and hearts to you when you ask for help  its a beautiful thing. I survive through asking for leftover food at restaurant doors and by going dumpster diving. It isnt as bad as you think as if you know where to go you can find supermarket food still in its plastic wrapping. There is so much waste both in London and abroad.

The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /33 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr

When things have got desperate I have gone to McDonalds to find spare chips. I have managed to get a toothbrush and shampoo by going to hotels and asking for complimentary packs.

Ms Patel has made it to Norway in three weeks. She is looking to raise 1 for each of the 9,800 km (6,100 miles) she will have travelled in the month for Goa Outreach childrens charity in India.

Her blog is at Rhis travel updates on Facebook. Sponsorship at totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/freeworld
F rom sharing the icy landscapes of the Svalbard archipelago with polar bears to coming face to face with mountain gorillas in Uganda, award-winning photographer Harry Skeggs has travelled the world, capturing candid shots of some of the planets most exotic animals and unspoilt vistas.

Skeggs says he started travelling at the age of 17, with a rubbish little camera."

Disappointed with the quality of his photographs and the reactions from family and friends, he began to turn his hobby into a lifelong obsession.

I was kind of frustrated, Skeggs told The Evening Standard. I started to realise [photography] was something that I wanted to improve, and it just spiralled from there really.

Now the photographer has travelled to more than 50 countries, snapping the natural wonders he comes across on his DSLR camera - from ferocious big cats to intricately detailed insects.

An Amur leopard bears its teeth / Harry Skeggs

But getting up close and personal with nature hasnt been an easy ride for Skeggs, who has had a diced with death on several occasions during his time shooting these majestic beasts.

One of his most death-defying moments came while scuba diving in Borneo, when his tank cut out half way through a dive at 32 metres deep.

At this depth you can't hit the surface without risking 'the bends', says Skeggs. I had to make a dash over to the dive leader who was a little way ahead.

We managed to share his oxygen whilst we made a safety stop, but at that depth and the time of day it was dark and gloomy underwater and the panic of being stuck down that deep with no air was more than terrifying.

It took a while to get back into the ocean after that!," he jokes.

Photographer Harry Skeggs in Jordan

Despite laying in wait within spitting distance of the fastest, strongest and most deadly creatures in the animal kingdom, Skeggs still maintains that his favourite animal to shoot are "graceful" sea turtles.

In the sea, everything tries to get you but they are one of the only creatures that seems to be very calm and patient - so Ive always liked them," he enthuses.

As a self-confessed adventurer, the photographer says he is looking forward to ticking more destinations off his bucket list in 2017, and discovering new and inspiring ladscapes to point his lens at.

Follow Harry Skeggs on Instagram: @harryskeggs

Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
A man was stabbed after a fight broke outside a community centre in south London.

Police officers arrested the suspected attacker after chasing him on foot from the Croydon recreation centre.

The victim, who had suffered stab wounds, also ran from the police and was not found.

Officers were called to reports of a fight at Lombard Roundabout in Croydon shortly after 3:30pm on Monday.

Ten minutes later they recieved another call from the recreation centre on Canterbury Road after witnesses saw a man with stab wounds enter the building.

Police have called for the victim to come forward for medical attention.

They believe his injuries are not life threatening.

Police say the suspected attacker was taken to a custody centre in south London.

Enquiries continue.
T wo men were slashed across the stomach in a knife attack outside a pub in north London, police said today.

The pair, aged 19 and 20, were knifed outside the Masons Arms pub in Edgware following what police described as a "petty argument".

They were rushed to hospitals suffering from slash and stab wounds to their abdomens.

Police were called to High Street in Edgware at around 1.40am on November 6.

Both men were attacked by a male suspect who police described as white, Romanian,

He wore a dark jacket and jeans.

Police today issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Both victims have since recovered from their injuries.

Investigating officer DC Thomas Dean said: "This was a nasty attack which appears to have started over little more then a petty argument and some pushing and shoving.

"Lots of motorists drove past the scene during the attack and I would urge anyone who witnessed this incident to contact police."

If you have any information please contact DC Dean at Harrow CID on 020 87333 446 or 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A man has pleaded guilty to stalking Hollywood A-lister Keira Knightley by making miaowing noises through her letterbox and bombarding her with cat-themed messages.

Mark Revill, 49, from Hackney bombarded her with letters and shouted through her letterbox, Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, was told.

He appeared in court in custody wearing a grey jumper and hung his head as he pleaded guilty.

Ms Knightley, 31, star of Pirates of the Caribbean, Bend it Like Beckham and a string of other hits, suffered alarm and distress, according to the charge.

The incidents happened between August 1 and 22 October 2016.

Prosecutor Simma Khan told Highbury Corner Magistrates: He made miaowing noises through the letterbox. He drew in chalk on the street an arrow pointing to her front door. He sent her music about cats on a USB stick... It was bizarre behaviour.

Keira Knightley, pictued with husband James Righton from the Klaxons, who chased Revill down the street / Dave Benett

The charge states: The defendant pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Keira Knightly and which knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her in that attending her address on numerous occasions, making noises through her letterbox and sending letters and other communications.

The incidents took place at the actresss London home.

The court heard that the stalker, a music composer, had stood outside her house for an hour without making contact on at least one occasion.

His lawyer said he was a music composer and merely wanted to promote that by getting the celebrity to listen to it.

The stalker admitted to police that he was in love with her.

The prosecution said: "After putting letters through the letterbox and receiving no response he goes to the letterbox and miaows through it."

One letter had a picture of three cats apparently winking, the court heard.

The Hollywood actresses' husband James Righton, of rock band the Klaxons, gave chase to Revill on one occasion he appeared outside the house.

One message read to the court from Revill, a music composer, said: "Have you listened to my music?"

The court heard the notes were handwritten with no stamps so were hand delivered.

Revill was remanded in custody and will appear at Highbury Magistrates' Court for sentencing on December 1.
T his is the first picture of a devoted father who was stabbed to death in a south London churchyard.

Mohamed Kakay, 33, was ambushed and knifed repeatedly in the chest in the grounds of St Giles Church in Camberwell, south London, at just after 9am on Saturday.

He staggered along a pathway from the back of the churchyard before collapsing on the pavement outside.

Passers-by desperately tried to revive him before paramedics arrived.

He was pronounced dead at Kings College hospital from puncture wounds to his heart and liver.

The aftermath of the stabbing in Camberwell / @humanimated

Mr Kakay fled war-torn Sierra Leone in 1999 to claim asylum and start a family in the UK.

He had been settled in Birmingham, where he raised his three children, before moving to Bromley last year to work as as a porter in hotels across central London.

His brother Joe Thomas, who followed him to Britain two years later, said: Were shocked by this. My brother wasnt a violent man. Were all just trying to hold ourselves together.

He was my mentor he taught me everything, how to ride a bike, how to swim and how to look after kids so I could eventually raise my own.

He would call me every other day to see Im eating properly and getting enough sleep, he was so caring.

The scene after the attack in Camberwell / @humanimated

He was the best father any boy could ever hope to have. All of the 16 years in this country have been spent providing for those boys.

They are still crying, they cant believe their daddy is gone.

Mr Kakay was the eldest of five siblings, and his other brother and two sisters live in the US.

Mr Thomas begged any witnesses of his brothers murder to come forward so his family could get the answers they deserve.

He said: There is no reason why anyone would want to hurt him. If you saw him in the street he was always smiling or cracking a joke.

Police cordon: Officers sealed off the road in Camberwell / @FrStanley2

Somebody killed him and now he is never going to see his boys grow up. He spent all his years working to raise them properly, to see they got a good education and now he will never see their futures.

Our family are suffering and we need to get justice for him.

The government need to take knife crime seriously because innocent people are getting killed, it just needs to stop.

Chez Winakabz, a close friend, said: He thought everything of his children, he was totally devoted to them. He would constantly send me pictures of them so I could see how big they were getting.

Its tragic for his kids. He was so excited to see them over the holidays and bring them Christmas presents. He would get them anything they wanted, he was so happy.

He was supposed to be at his job that early in the morning but he never made it in."

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, who is leading the investigation, appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being held at a south London police station.

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
P olice are hunting as man who sexually assaulted a young woman as she walked up the stairs at a busy central London Tube station.

The 27-year-old woman was climbing the stairs to leave Leicester Square Underground station when she felt someone grab her behind.

Police said she turned to see a man staring at her before confronting him about the alleged sexual assault.

The woman called police and followed the man out of the station through Exit 3 onto Charing Cross Road.

CCTV: Police want to speak to this man in connection with a sexual assault at Leicester Square / British Transport Police

He turned onto Great Newport Street before she lost sight of him at the junction of Long Acre and Cranbourn Street.

British Transport Police officers have now issued CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident at 8.20am on Sunday, October 30.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Suleman Yazdani said: No one should ever be made to feel as violated as this woman felt.

We are doing everything we can to catch the offender and so I would ask anyone who recognises the man from these images to get in touch.

Anyone with information is asked to call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting 181 of 21/11.
B outique hotel-style shared offices targeting grown-ups who do not want to use hipster co-working spaces such as WeWork are being launched in London early next year.

The founders believe there is a huge pent-up demand from businesses disillusioned with the grim working environment of many office blocks but concerned about distractions from noisy activities such as ping-pong in newer shared facilities.

Chief executive and former Deutsche Bank boss Enrico Sanna said: If you think of the old office spaces of little cubicles they are like the sweat shops of the 21st century. Nobody wants to spend their life like that anymore.

Each office has a destination restaurant and lobby bar and a yoga studio as well as a boardroom. The restaurant at the first FORA in Clerkenwell will be called Palatino and is backed by restaurateur Stevie Parle of Dock Kitchen, Rotorino and Craft London.

Facilities will include bike rooms and showers with towels and shampoo as well as a dry room to hang clothes if they got wet during the commute.

Staff, who include a concierge who can help you book a restaurant or hire a car, will all be recruited from the hotel or restaurant sector.

Boutique hotel-style offices launch for those put off by hipster co-workingAll the offices will be installed with special noise masking technology developed by US company Cambridge Sound Management that makes it impossible for people in shared spaces to listen in to private conversations.

Founders: Katrina Larkin and Enrico Sanna

The financial backers of the new service, called FORA, have already bought eight buildings across central London from Ladbroke Grove to Bethnal Green in an investment estimated at close to 400 million.

The first opens in Clerkenwell next February with the first confirmed tenant an Imperial College spin out called Deep Science Ventures who are renting 40 desks.

Fellow co-founder Katrina Larkin, who set up the Big Chill festival in the 1990s, said: Our vision is where the T-shirts meet the suits. We are not afraid of having accountants or lawyers mixed up with the designers and the creatives.

Mr Sanna said: If youre a sub 50 people company there is no reason why you should own your own office in London. Its very expensive and the tenant has all the obligations. We can replace all that if they come to FORA, you have your own space and its a great environment for your employees. WeWork is really for start-ups but this is an office for grown-ups of all kinds.

If you look at the hotel industry there was a time when the bedroom was important and the lobby was not important. Then (US hotelier) Ian Schrager put everything upside down so the lobby became more and more important and the rooms got smaller and smaller. We have been investing incredible effort in developing amazing shared areas

He added: FORA is bringing something completely different to the world of working, or pro-working as we like to call it, taking the best of the hotel experience and applying it to the work environment.

Prices start from 375 per month for an unreserved hot desk, or 475 per month for a dedicated desk while offices start from 600 per month per desk. There is no minimum stay and tenants need to give one months notice if they want to leave.

After Clerkenwell the next FORA offices will be in Ladbroke Grove, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Borough, Brick Lane and Kentish Town. The plan agreed with backers, the property investment fund Brockton Capital is to open up to 20 sites in London in total.
C lubbers, DJs and musicians were celebrating today after a rescue deal was reached for the reopening of iconic London nightclub Fabric.

The Farringdon nightclub was shut down permanently by Islington Council in September following a review sparked by the drug-related deaths of two 18-year-olds.

But today a judge at Highbury Corner magistrates' court agreed Fabric could reopen under new licensing terms agreed by the council, the club and the police including a ban on anyone under the age of 19.

Fabric director Cameron Leslie said the club was looking forward to setting a new gold standard of clubbing when it reopens.

All of us at fabric would like to express our deepest thanks and gratitude for the support shown to us by so many from around the world that has made todays result possible, he said.

Reopening: Fabric has had its licence restored after a deal was agreed by a judge / Carl Court/Getty Images

Its demonstrated to us just how much fabric means to everyone. Its only thanks to this unprecedented worldwide support that we saved fabric.

For now were looking forward to the future and setting a new gold standard of clubbing when we reopen.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "delighted" and British DJ Goldie, who had threatened to melt down his MBE in protest at the closure, also welcomed the news.

Mr Khan said: "We needed to find a common-sense solution that protects both the future of Fabric and the safety of all clubbers - and we have."

Heartfelt: one of the messages left at Fabric / Carl Court/Getty Images

Electronic duo Chase and Status hailed the announcement as brilliant news, while BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac said it was amazing, amazing, amazing.

Chase and Status previously said the DJ culture had been torn apart by the closure of Fabric and had called on Mr Khan to overturn the decision.

Social media was flooded with a string of celebratory messages posted by DJs and music stars from across the world.

Grime rapper Novelist posted: I can't believe I get to re-live some of my greatest moments in life in FABRIC again.

The Black Madonna wrote: A little desperately needed good news here. Congrats!

Electronic music producer Skream, real name Oliver Jones, tweeted: Been offline most of the day so some how missed the amazing news that @fabriclondon WILL re open!!!!

Take Thats Howard Donald tweeted: Great!!! Fabric to reopen after last-minute appeal hearing.

A deal was struck by Islington Council and Fabric in private after the club offered a host of new conditions to be added to its licence.

They include covert surveillance inside the club, a new ID scanning system, lifetime bans for anyone buying or found in possession of drugs and a ban on anyone under 19 entering from 8pm Friday to 8am on Monday.

It is not yet known exactly when Fabric will reopen.

Progress 1000: Sadiq Khan on being named an influential Londoner, night Tube and Fabric's closure

A joint statement issued by Islington Council and Fabric said: There have now been a number of meetings between Fabrics directors and senior management and the authority, and between the authority and the Metropolitan Police.

Fabric has offered many new additional conditions to be added to its licence, all of which are designed to ensure a zero tolerance approach to drug possession, consumption and sale within the club.

The authority welcomes Fabrics acceptance of all these matters.

It is now satisfied that Fabrics directors and senior management understand precisely what has to be done to ensure that Fabric is a safe environment for young clubbers, and that zero tolerance to drugs means precisely that.

A statement posted on Fabric's Facebook page thanked supporters for helping the club to have its licence restored.

It read: "We are hugely thankful to be able to confirm the news that we have won our licence back.

"We owe everything to our supporters. We really would not be here today without your unparalleled support and generosity.

So many different people stepped up to put their voices to our cause, artists from all corners of the music community, fellow promoters who have put on huge events from us and clubbers from around the world who all united behind us.

The mayor earlier hailed his new Night Czar Amy Lame for her part in the rescue deal struck to reopen Fabric nightclub.

The club was due to appeal its licence being revoked at a four day court hearing due to start next Monday following the ruling.

More than 320,000 was raised through a fundraising campaign to save the venue after the licence decision sparked fury among revellers and the countrys top DJs.

Superintendent Nick Davies, from Islington police, said it will ensure Fabric doesn't breach new rules imposed on its licence.

He said: "I fully welcome Fabric's offer to have additional conditions placed on their licence to address these issues and their new zero tolerance approach to drugs.

"Police will continue to robustly enforce the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and maintaining public safety. We will be monitoring the ongoing conduct of Fabric and the activities that take place within it.

"If there are further breaches of the licence, Fabric should be in no doubt that they will be challenged by Islington police and action taken.

"I know Fabric is a venue that holds a great deal of affection in people's hearts.

"We had no choice but to take action to safeguard clubbers and now Fabric has agreed to considerable changes I hope the venue can continue to operate for many years to come within the boundaries of the new licensing conditions."
S adiq Kan has hailed his new Night Czar Amy Lame for her part in the rescue deal struck to reopen Fabric nightclub.

It was announced on Monday that Fabric would reopen its doors after a deal with strict new licensing conditions was approved by a judge.

The superclub was shut down earlier this year when its licence was revoked after two teenagers died taking drugs at the club.

But on Monday, a district judge at Highbury Corner Magistrates agreed the club could reopen following talks with police, the Mayors office and Islington Council.

Sadiq Khan welcomed the news and hailed Ms Lames negotiating skills "in her first week in the job".

The nightclub closed earlier this year after two teenagers died taking drugs in the club / Rex

The mayor praised the progress she had made towards making London "a truly 24-hour-city.

Ms Lame was appointed as Londons Night Czar earlier this month in a bid to boost Londons pub and nightclub scene.

Meet London's first ever Night Czar, Amy Lame

Mr Kahn said: I am delighted that this agreement has been reached and that Fabric will now reopen.

I have always said that we needed to find a common-sense solution that protects both the future of Fabric and the safety of all clubbers  as this does.

I especially want to thank Islington Council for working so hard to come to this solution.

In her first week in the job, my new Night Czar Amy Lame held conversations with Islington Council, the Metropolitan Police and Fabric.

My Night Czar will be working with other businesses, local authorities and Londoners to maximise the economic and social impact of a growing night time economy.

Ill also soon be announcing a new Chair of the Night Time Commission to work with Amy to help deliver a vision for a truly 24-hour city.

Ms Lame took to Twitter to celebrate the deal, writing: "Fabric will reopen- great news the club and Islington Council have come to an agreement! Big thanks to all involved.

"I helf conversations w/ all parties in Fabric case as part of my role supporting London nightlife - Heartened that agreement has been reached."

In a joint statement issued by Islington Council and Fabric, a deal was struck after the club offered new conditions to be added to its licence.

They include covert surveillance inside the club, a new ID scanning system, lifetime bans for anyone buying or found in possession of drugs and a ban on anyone under 19 entering from 8pm Friday to 8am on Monday.

It is not yet known when the venue will reopen.
L ondon superclub Fabric will reopen its doors after a rescue deal was approved by a judge.

The club was shut down permanently by Islington Council in September following a review sparked by the deaths of 18-year-olds Ryan Browne and Jack Crossley.

The teenagers died after taking drugs at the club on June 26 and August 6.

But on Monday, a district judge at Highbury Corner Magistrates agreed the club could reopen following talks with police and Islington Council.

Sadiq Khan posted online: "@fabriclondon will reopen. Thanks to all who helped find a solution that protects the clubs future & keeps clubbers safe."

Reopening: Fabric has had its licence restored after a deal was agreed by a judge / Carl Court/Getty Images

He added in a Facebook post: "As Mayor, Im delighted that agreement has been reached and that Fabric will now reopen.

"We needed to find a common-sense solution that protects both the future of Fabric and the safety of all clubbers  and we have. I especially want to thank Islington Council for working so hard to help find a solution."

Mr Khan added London's nightclubs and live music venues needed to be protected if the capital wanted to retain its status as a 24-hour city with a "world-class" nightlife.

In a joint statement issued by Islington Council and Fabric, a deal was struck after the club offered new conditions to be added to its licence.

Superclub: Fabric is one of London's most celebrated nightclubs / Sarah Ginn/PYMCA/Rex

They include covert surveillance inside the club, a new ID scanning system, lifetime bans for anyone buying or found in possession of drugs and a ban on anyone under 19 entering from 8pm Friday to 8am on Monday.

It said: There have now been a number of meetings between Fabrics directors and senior management and the authority, and between the authority and the Metropolitan Police.

Fabric has offered many new additional conditions to be added to its licence, all of which are designed to ensure a zero tolerance approach to drug possession, consumption and sale within the club.

The authority welcomes Fabrics acceptance of all these matters.

Heartfelt: one of the messages left at Fabric after its licence was revoked / Carl Court/Getty Images

It is now satisfied that Fabrics directors and senior management understand precisely what has to be done to ensure that Fabric is a safe environment for young clubbers, and that zero tolerance to drugs means precisely that.

The club was due to appeal its licence being revoked at a four day court hearing due to start next Monday following the ruling.

More than 320,000 was raised through a fundraising campaign to save the venue after the licence decision sparked fury among revellers and the countrys top DJs.

A statement posted on Fabric's Facebook page thanked supporters for helping the club to have its licence restored.

It read: "We are hugely thankful to be able to confirm the news that we have won our licence back.

"We owe everything to our supporters. We really would not be here today without your unparalleled support and generosity.

So many different people stepped up to put their voices to our cause, artists from all corners of the music community, fellow promoters who have put on huge events from us and clubbers from around the world who all united behind us.

Progress 1000: Sadiq Khan on being named an influential Londoner, night Tube and Fabric's closure

Weve even seen people sporting their #savefabric T Shirts on the other side of this planet showing just how big this thing is.

"So, thank you to all of you. Without the strength of your backing this would not have happened.

Superintendent Nick Davies, from Islington police, said it will ensure Fabric doesn't breach new rules imposed on its licence.

He said: "I fully welcome Fabric's offer to have additional conditions placed on their licence to address these issues and their new zero tolerance approach to drugs.

"Police will continue to robustly enforce the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and maintaining public safety. We will be monitoring the ongoing conduct of Fabric and the activities that take place within it.

"If there are further breaches of the licence, Fabric should be in no doubt that they will be challenged by Islington police and action taken.

"I know Fabric is a venue that holds a great deal of affection in people's hearts.

"We had no choice but to take action to safeguard clubbers and now Fabric has agreed to considerable changes I hope the venue can continue to operate for many years to come within the boundaries of the new licensing conditions."
T he historic London headquarters of the shipping company behind the Titanic is being converted into luxury apartments, with a four-bedroom penthouse overlooking Trafalgar Square expected to fetch 25million.

Developers are transforming 30,000sq ft Oceanic House, built for the White Star Line in 1903, into exclusive homes with decor inspired by the style of the golden age of translatlantic liners.

The cheapest berth in the block, which is due to be complete next spring, is a two-bedroom apartment expected to go on the market for just over 5million.

Developers say the project will be a fresh chapter in the buildings history, more than a century after RMS Titanic sank following a collision with an iceberg with the loss of 1,517 lives.

In a nod to the tragedy, a model of the liner will be displayed in the first-floor atrium, once the office where passengers queued up to buy tickets for the doomed voyage.

The grade-II listed building in Cockspur Street has since been used as offices for Barclays Bank, then the Ministry of Defence and, more recently, the Texas Embassy, a restaurant and promotional centre for the state.

The 100million project is being overseen by Oceanic Developments, working with asset managers Misland Capital.

Barry Polley, project director, told the Sunday Times: Frankly, everything since the actual event has been a huge success.

James Camerons 1997 film is one of the highest-grossing movies ever. Auctions of salvaged Titanic artefacts are always popular, and theres the regeneration of the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

Oceanic Houses architecture and location were at the epicentre of Londons luxury shipping and travel industries in the early 20th century, so we are taking it into a new era.

The spec includes engineered oak parquet flooring, vaulted ceilings, Poggenpohl kitchens and huge master bedrooms with his-and-hers bathrooms. The penthouse features huge terraces with views of Big Ben and the London Eye.

Two commercial areas in the former basement luggage storage area are planned as an upmarket gallery space and coffee shop.
N ot content with internal party warfare, Ukips only MP, Douglas Carswell, has something more cataclysmic in his sights: he has set out a plan for deposing the entire existing political order and will publish it as a book in April.

The tome, dramatically titled Rebel: How to Overthrow the Emerging Oligarchy, will benefit from his varied experiences with political revolution: he served as the Conservative MP for Clacton, resigned from the party, then won the seat back for Ukip in a 2014 by-election. And while most of Ukip campaigned under the Arron Banks- backed Leave.EU, the contrary Carswell was a prominent campaigner for Vote Leave during the referendum.

What can we expect from this tome? I have been elected to Parliament four times  twice as a Conservative and twice for Ukip, he says. But I have not merely changed parties, I have switched many of my views fundamentally. Our democracy and the market system have been subverted. The book tells of my personal journey away from the groupthink found in Westminster and sets out a clear, concise blueprint for change.

Publisher Head of Zeus is equally clinical. Having diagnosed the problem, Carswell prescribes the cure, a series of sweeping economic and political reforms underpinned by digital technology, a representative of the publisher says. The book will face tough competition, however, from Labour MP Jess Phillipss Everywoman: One Womans Truth About Speaking the Truth.

Speaking to the Londoner this morning, Carswell said. I wrote 95% of it in the recess over the summer. It flowed fairly quickly! Glad to hear it, but Carswells political foe, Nigel Farage, back in charge of Ukip, and the party facing a 150,000 bill from the EU for misspent funds, perhaps Carswell should focus on sorting out his own party before fomenting revolution.

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Farewell to Martin Roth, the V&A director who has now officially left the building after resigning earlier this year, apparently leaving Tim Knox, Diane Lees and Simon Thurley among those battling for the top job. He was bestowed with many gifts before his departure but The Londoner hears that the haul included, curiously, a framed photograph of the senior management team. Thats one way to make sure youre not forgotten by the boss.

Mays spider man strikes fear into the Tories

Visiting the whips office is especially scary for Tory MPs. It emerged this weekend that Gavin Williamson, Theresa Mays chief enforcer, keeps a tarantula named Cronus on his desk.

It seems Williamson is taking notes from the spider: Cronus is a perfect example of an incredibly clean, ruthless killer, he cheerfully told The Telegraph. The office pet adds to the Chief Whips formidable image. A former minister said that he makes [House of Cards] Francis Urquhart look like Eddie the Eagle. But perhaps Williamson isnt so bad: Cronus is named after the Greek god who ate his own children to ensure they wouldnt depose him. Even the nasty party wouldnt go that far.

Narnia comes to Claridges

How to decorate for Christmas? The Londoner learned from the best this weekend, joining a crowd including models Lily Cole and Laura Bailey as Claridges unveiled its new tree. Its designers, Apple duo Marc Newson and Sir Jony Ive, discarded tinsel and baubles in favour of a grove of snowy birch trees enhanced with icy mood lighting, creating an all-enveloping magical experience. Its Narnia meets Mayfair.

Making a song and dance of Brexit

Will we have two Brexit musicals before Article 50 is triggered? While politicians are making a song and dance of it, a first Brexit: The Musical debuts at Little Venices Canal Cafe Theatre this week. But The Londoner hears that a second is in the works.

The writer of the first one, David Shirreff, spoke to The Londoner last night. He admitted that the leading Brexit clowns were a gift for comedy songwriting. Boris is a bit of a soft target, he said of our Foreign Secretary. He just has to appear in his cycle helmet and people laugh. Despite skewering leading Brexiteers including Michael Gove and Liam Fox, Shirreff invited the politicians to the theatre. Id love them to come to see the show, he said.

Shirreff describes himself as a Brexit denier, hoping the process will be blocked. But disappointment might tempered by a European tour of his own. I would love to go to Brussels  I am looking for a venue there, he told us. We also want to go to Berlin and Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, Shirreffs competition comes from Jonny Woo and Richard Thomas, whose 10-minute showcase skit of the same name was staged at Hackney Empires Un-Royal Variety earlier this month. A full show, were told, could be in the works. Is this town big enough for the both of them?

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With Brexit and Trump, some might find it hard to find a silver lining to 2016. But you could buy one: artist Kim Anna Smith has opened Dreamers, an exhibition of neons at Ladbroke Groves Golborne Gallery. One star piece is Silver Lining, light emerging from a black background. Presenter Billie JD Porter and model Kara Rose Marshall have both popped in: will Tracey Emin be close behind?

Red faces over a robin

Where's Bill Oddie when an ad exec needs him? In the latest onslaught of festive advertising, Waitrose presents a plucky robin, the supermarkets alternative to Marks & Spencers marvellous Mrs Claus and John Lewiss trampolining boxer.

The Londoner got emotional watching our red-breasted hero flutter across oceans back to England, just in time to watch a family devouring a traditional Christmas lunch but we were brought back down to earth by a point offered by a birdwatching pal. European robins, such as the one in the advert, he complained, are non-migratory. In fact, according to the RSPB, they are largely sedentary and most do not move more than 5km all year. Does Waitrose sell satnavs?

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Number of the day: sales of Irn-Bru across the parliamentary estate have rocketed 60 per cent since the number of SNP MPs jumped from 6 to 56 at the last election. Slainte!
A furious row erupted today over Donald Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament on a State visit to Britain next year.

A senior Tory MP warned it would be an insult to refuse such an honour to the new US president  especially given that Barack Obama spoke to hundreds of parliamentarians gathered in Westminster Hall during his first term in office in May 2011.

But Mr Trump would face a boycott by other MPs who believe his presidency will be a disaster.

The president-elect is expected to be invited on a state visit to the UK in the summer of 2017 after taking office.

US President Barack Obama spoke in Westminster Hall during his first term in office / EPA

Talks have already taken place in Whitehall on using a state visit by the new president, whose late mother was born in Scotland, to strengthen Anglo-US ties, with Mr Trump and his wife Melania staying with the Queen at Windsor Castle and a banquet laid on at Buckingham Palace.

However, politicians are deeply divided over whether he should be given the honour of speaking in Westminster Hall, following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, the Queen, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Pope Benedict XVI.

Explained: How the Obama-Trump handover will work

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: I would be very surprised if that did not happen  and it should happen.

Senior Conservative MP Michael Fabricant stressed: The US is one of our greatest allies and it would be inconceivable that we would not invite its head of state to address both Houses of Parliament.

President-elect Donald Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott believes it would not be appropriate for Mr Trump to deliver a speech to peers and MPs in Westminster Hall.

Hammersmith Labour MP Andy Slaughter believes usual protocol should be followed but added: My view is he is going to be a disaster and I certainly would not turn up for it.
A chronic shortage of new engineers needed by the Navy can be revealed today, as a committee of MPs reported on an alarming decline in the surface fleet.

A dearth of technicians and marine engineers that has plagued the navy for years is worsening, figures obtained by the Standard show.

Currently some 1,500 key technical personnel are being hired on contract from the US Coastguard, and Commonwealth navies, particularly Canada.

There are worries about recruiting enough nuclear specialists to keep the nuclear submarine fleet going.

The Navy currently aims to run seven nuclear Astute class hunter-killer submarines, plus the four Vanguard subs carrying Trident ballistic missiles.

The government is currently planning to bring in a new Successor class of ballistic missile launching subs over the next ten years. There is now concern about finding enough qualified nuclear engineers to ensure that at least one of the four can be kept at sea.

There are questions about getting enough key technicians in other branches of the Navy.

Currently the Navy has a strength of 32,000 in all branches, which includes 7,000 Royal Marines. Some Marines have been allocated to sea duties with the Navy because of the lack technicians.

With an effective strength of around 25,000 the Navy is stretched to meet all its manning targets. Over the next three years the two large fleet aircraft carriers, Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, come into service.

Each ship will require a minimum crew of around 700, many more if they are conducting full flying operations. This means that most naval recruits now entering the Navy will have to serve in the carriers in the next five years.

The lack of engineers in training is being felt across the UK economy  and the crisis has been seen coming for years. It is afflicting all three armed services. Schemes are now under consideration to give special incentives and bonuses for key technical and engineering jobs.

The RAF will now be paying ground crew engineers supporting the new F-35 fighter-bombers for long periods of service at sea.

The F-35, the strike aircraft for the carriers, will be jointly manned by RAF and Royal Navy crews. The RAF ground crews could spend three or four months a year at sea.

Todays blistering report from MPs of the defence committee about the rundown of the fleet and failure to order new ships, underlines the shortage of funding of the armed services for what the government requires them to do.

The biggest issue is recruiting and retention of key personnel.

Todays report says the Navy now has only 19 destroyers and frigates. But with one 1 billion destroyer, HMS Dauntless, being used as a dormitory and training ship, and the frigate HMS Lancaster on extended readiness  in other words semi retirement - there are only 17 available.

Accommodation is needed in Dauntless, apparently, because of the failure to rebuild barracks for 2000 personnel in time. Work began only Last August at Portsmouth the HQ of the navy since Nelsons time.
A businessman whose father founded the company that owns British budget chain Poundstretcher was killed when his car veered off a motorway and hit a tree.

Sabir Tayub, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene when his grey Mercedes coupe left the carriageway on the M45 near Rugby in Warwickshire last Tuesday.

He was the managing director of Leicester firm Sert Investments and the son of Rashid Tayub who founded Crown Crest, the food distribution company which owns the Poundstretcher chain.

The company is now run by Mr Tayubs uncle Aziz. The Standard has approached the firm for a comment.

Friends of Mr Tayub paid tribute to the businessman on social media.

Chain: Mr Tayub's father Rashid founded the company that owns the Poundstretcher chain / Google StreetView

Andy Dunlop wrote: The reason we all work is because we love our customers.

So, when one is tragically killed in a car crash on Tuesday at no age, it is so much more than you may think. Those in my job will understand he was a mate.

Funeral done. RIP Sabir Tayub - An entrepreneur.

Fraser Watson posted: Well bro, I've been fed like a king, have been made most welcome as always, and we have chatted about our funny times together over the years.

The world will never be the same Sabir Tayub. x

Uday Dholakia, a former chairman of Leicestershire Asian Business Association, told the Leicester Mercury: It's deeply saddening for the family. I met Sabir in passing but I know his father Rashid, who encouraged his family to be successful but also very modest."

The newspaper reported that an inquest into Mr Tayubs death was opened on Friday but has been adjourned for Warwickshire Police to make further enquiries.

Police have issued an appeal for anyone who witnessed the crash or see the car being driven before it left the road to come forward.

Officers said they would particularly like to speak to the driver of a white or silver BMW seen in the area before the crash took place.
T heresa May was attacked by an angry moth as she tried to deliver a landmark speech on Brexit to business leaders.

The Prime Minister was addressing the CBI in central London when the winged assailant, which some claimed was actually a butterfly, started zooming around her head.

She soldiered on with her speech, despite the pesky creature dive-bombing and darting about behind her for several minutes.

The surprise guest also caused a flutter on Twitter, where online wags suggested it had come from Chancellor Philip Hammond's wallet.

Uninvited: The rogue moth / Jeremy Selwyn

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire tweeted: "Some think the insect that flew behind Theresa May was a butterfly.

"Others say it was a moth. This could be this year's #TheDress."

A surprised Robert Peston tweeted: "Oddly a highly coloured red moth is flapping around."

Normalbloke60 wrote: "A massive moth is attacking Teresa May at CB I speech."

Fergal O'Brien tweeted: "I think we need a pest control investment plan.

Theresa May backs away from 'workers on company boards' plan

"That's a helluva moth behind Theresa May."

"When Theresa May gets photobombed by a giant moth!" wrote Robert Grant.
U S President Barack Obama has urged the world to take a wait and see approach to Donald Trumps White House rule - but warned he will speak out if the billionaire threatens Americas ideals.

In his final press conference abroad, Mr Obama counselled patience as he was quizzed over what a Trump presidency will mean to the USs relationships with key international allies.

Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, Mr Obama said: I want to be respectful of the office and give the President-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off in every instance.

He said he believes the realities of being Commander-in-Chief would force Mr Trump to adjust some of his more outspoken policies and ideas.

But the president continued: As an American who cares deeply about our country, if theres specifics that have less to do with some proposal or battle but goes to the core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that its necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals then Ill examine it when it comes.

Taking office: Donald Trump will assume the office of President in January / EPA

Presidents typically refrain from criticising their successors and step away from electoral politics after their time in office.

The problem, he claimed, was that it was still up to the US to lead the rest of the world, no matter what the result of the election turned out to be.

Were not going to be able to solve every problem, but if were not on the side of whats right, if were not making the argument and fighting for it even if sometimes were not able to deliver it 100 per cent everywhere, then it collapses, he said. Theres nobody to fill the void. There really isnt.

The president said that despite the election defeat for Hillary Clinton, he was not worried about being the last Democratic president.

While Mrs Clinton may have come up short in the all-important Electoral College, which selects the president, Mr Obama pointed out that she actually won comfortably in the popular vote, with a one-and-a-half million advantage.

He said he does not think the Democratic Party needed a complete overhaul in the wake of the election calamity, but conceded his colleagues will have to do some thinking about their message.

But in the short term, at least, Mr Obama plans to bring his eight-year presidency to a dignified close.

My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job. And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking, he added.
A manhunt has been launched after a gunman shot dead a police officer writing a traffic ticket in Texas.

Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, was parked in his patrol car in San Antonio when he was shot twice in the head.

San Antonio police chief William McManus said the shooter is not thought to have had any relationship to the original motorist who was pulled over and there was no clear motive.

Det Marconi, a 20-year police veteran, was one of four police officers shot during traffic stops in the US on Sunday. It is not known if the incidents are linked.

A police sergeant was left in a critical condition after being shot twice in the face in an ambush attack in St Louis, Missouri.

Police released an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the shooting

The 46-year-old married father-of-three is expected to survive the shooting and has been able to speak to other officers.

An officer was shot in the shoulder in a drive-by shooting on the Florida island of Sanibel. The officer was expected to survive and a suspect is in custody.

The fourth officer was shot last night in Gladstone, Missouri and was expected to survive. A suspect was also shot. His condition was unknown.

The shooter in the San Antonio shooting was described as a dark-skinned male around 5ft 7in tall and wearing a hoodie.

Mr McManus said the gunman pulled up behind Detective Marconis car, got out and shot the office twice before getting back into his car and driving away. Detective Marconi was pronounced dead at hospital.

The shooting came less than five months after a gunman killed five officers in Dallas who were working a protest about the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana.

It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since September 11 2001.

Ten days after the Dallas attack, a man wearing a ski mask and armed with two rifles and a pistol killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

And earlier this month, two Iowa police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

Its always difficult, especially in this day and age, where police are being targeted across the country, Mr McManus said.

Texas governor Greg Abbott called the slaying a horrific act of violence.

He said that attacks against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Texas and must be met with swift justice.

A total of 57 US law enforcement officers have been killed by gunfire so far this year, a 68 per cent increase from the same period in 2015.
M arion Cotillard and Brad Pitt were in good spirits as they gave each other a high five at the London premiere for Allied.

The A-list co-stars, who were plagued by romance rumours after Pitts split from Angelina Jolie in September, put on a united front as they walked the red carpet in Leicester Square on Monday night.

Just a few days after pregnant actress Cotillard, 41, admitted that she wasnt concerned by the speculation, the stars touched down in the UK to promote their new film.

Not shying away from the cameras, Pitt and Cotillard greeted each other with a friendly hug and a kiss before posing side-by-side for photographs.

Reunited: Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard on the red carpet in London (PA) / Ian West/PA

After doing their bit on the red carpet and chatting to the sea of fans who had turned out to see them, the co-stars gave each other a high five before heading in to watch the film.

Cotillard, who is expecting her second child with partner Guillaume Canet, spoke candidly about rumours about her relationship with Pitt last week.

High five: Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard in good spirits / Rex Features

I never take anything personally when it doesn't concern me, she said on the Today Show.

So, I didn't take it personally because I had nothing to do with those rumours or situation.

Allied Film Trailer

She added: No, I don't give energy to this. "It was a wonderful, wonderful experience working with such a visionaire director and an amazing actor, and that's all that matters.

Cotillard became the subject of rumours as she was starring opposite Pitt at the time of his split from Jolie back in September.

Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard at Allied Los Angeles Premiere 1 /14 Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard at Allied Los Angeles Premiere Reunited Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt attend the fan event for Paramount Pictures' 'Allied' at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California Frazer Harrison/Getty Images All smiles Brad Pitt poses for selfies with fans Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Nice to see you Brad Pitt greets Marion Cotillard on the red carpet Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Stunning Marion Cotillard works the cameras Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Catching up Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt catch up on the red carpet Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Film stars Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt play lovers in the new film Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Supportive The actors spent time together on the red carpet Kevin Winter/Getty Images Baby on board Marion Cotillard shows off her growing baby bump Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Lone star Brad Pitt arrived alone for the screening Kevin Winter/Getty Images Leading the way Brad Pitt leads his co-star down the red carpet Kevin Winter/Getty Images Doing alright Brad Pitt poses for the cameras Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The pair star as lovers in Robert Zemeckiss new World War II film about an intelligence officer who meets a French Resistance fighter behind enemy lines.

Speaking about the sex scenes, Cotillard said: We rehearse and had a very determined choreography, and then it allows you freedom.

"When you know exactly what your body will do, then you can act and you can be free to give the emotions and give the feelings because you wont think, What am I going to do next? Am I going to go on top of him? Its an awkward situation.

Pitt and Cotillard have been promoting the film all over the world in the last few weeks, jetting from the US to Europe for the Paris premiere on Sunday.
K anye West has cancelled all of his remaining Saint Pablo tour dates following his latest on-stage meltdown.

The rapper, who stormed off stage after just three songs on Saturday night following a lengthy political rant, will not perform the rest of his planned dates.

Wests rep has confirmed that his remaining concerts have been cancelled with all tickets set to be fully refunded at point of purchase.

The news comes after West pulled out of a make-up concert just three hours before he was due to perform on Sunday evening.

Kanye West cuts concert short after rant on Beyonce and Jay Z

He had been set to perform more than 15 dates in North America and Canada before Christmas as well as a number in between Christmas and New Year.

The rapper was also expected to announce a number of European dates for early next year.

After announcing that he would have voted for Donald Trump in the US elections last week, he had another political rant on Saturday night.

The Kardashians on front row at Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 1 /18 The Kardashians on front row at Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Tyga, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Carine Roitfeld and Pharrell Williams attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Models on the catwalk at Yeezy: Season 4 show in New York Rex Tyga, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Carine Roitfeld and Pharrell Williams attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Models wear the Yeezy Season 4 collection by Kanye West during a fashion show at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York. The show, set to an eery soundtrack, helped kick off New York Fashion Week Leanne Italie/AP Anna Wintour attends the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Tyga, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Carine Roitfeld attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Tyga and Kylie Jenner attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Tyga, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Carine Roitfeld attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Tyga, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Carine Roitfeld and Pharrell Williams attend the Kanye West Yeezy Season 4 fashion show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Im not always going to say things the perfect way, the right way, but Im gonna say how I feel, he said. Get ready to have a field day press.

Get ready because the show is over. Obama couldnt make America great cause he couldnt be him, to be who he was.

Snoop Dogg says Kanye West is 'crazy' after he rants about Beyonce and Jay-Z then ends a concert early

Black men have been slaves. Obama wasnt allowed to do this [screams] and still win. He had to be perfect. But being perfect dont always change s***.

West also took swipes at Jay Z and Beyonce, who he appeared to suggest had rigged the MTV VMAs.

Beyonce I was hurt because I heard that you said you wouldnt perform unless you won Video of the Year over me and Hotline Bling, he said.

In my opinion, now, dont go trying to diss Beyonce she is great. Taylor Swift is great. We are all great people we are all equal but sometimes we be playing the politics too much and forgetting who we are just to win. F****** winning. F*** being cool.


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Two area hospitals recently received grades from a nonprofit organization that ranks the quality of patient safety provided.

Iredell Memorial Hospital received a grade of A, joining 844 other hospitals in the nation that the Leapfrog Group says does a better job at patient safety.

Davis Regional Medical Center scored a D in the most recent rankings after earning grades of A and B last year.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center was not scored.

The Leapfrog Group grades more than 2,600 hospitals nationwide on a variety of criteria, including rate of infection, falls, hand washing and training to improve safety, according to Jillian West, senior communication coordinator with the Leapfrog Group. Hospitals receive grades from A through F.

But the group stressed that care shouldn't be refused due to the grades.

In order to be graded, hospitals need to have enough safety data available. The grades are given to acute care hospitals only.

The data used to calculate the most recent grade was taken from the period of July 1, 2013 to June 6, 2015, West said.

"This recognition is a reflection of the daily commitment we have at Iredell Health System to making safety a top priority, Iredell Health System CEO and President Ed Rush said in a press release. We are proud of the consistent effort from our staff as we work to provide the best care possible for our patients.

In response to Davis Regional's score, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Janie Stikeleather said, "Providing safe, quality care to our patients is our top priority, and we are disappointed with this score. It does not reflect our high expectations and the expectations we know our patients and the community have for our hospital.

Davis received lower grades in areas such as doctors using computers to order patient medications, specially trained doctors for ICU patients, effective leadership to prevent errors, hand washing, serious breathing issues and patient falls, according to grading rubric.

West said a change in the methodology used to calculate the grade may have played a factor in Davis grade. She said recently the safety grade included patient experience reviews and infection reports while surgical care process was removed.

Quality data reporting is a tool to promote performance improvement, different combinations and weight of measures, (which) can lead to a variation in scores for the same hospital, West said in a prepared statement. Thus, a hospital may perform well on one report card and poorly in another.

The grades are derived from 30 measures of public data analyzed by a seven-member panel composed of patient safety experts, West said. The weight of each measure is determined by evidence, opportunity for improvement and impact, but if a hospital is missing more than nine process measures and five outcome measures, it cant be graded.

Process measures represent how often a hospital gives a patient the recommended treatment for a specific medical condition. Outcome measures represent what happens to a patient while receiving care.

We are pleased to note that our hospital has performed exceptionally well on the outcome measures, Stikeleather said.

The measures used are based on the Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services, Leapfrog Hospital Survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency for healthcare Research and Quality, according to the Leapfrog website. The measures are updated frequently as new data is received.

--
Former Education Minister Alexandru Athanasiu was indicted on Monday for abuse of office by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA)'s prosecutors in a Microsoft 2 case. After being heard earlier on Monday, he professed himself innocent, adding that he has always acted in good faith.

Asked who had convinced him to sign the government decision for the now controversial educational licenses, he answered: "Nobody convinced me, it was a document with the Education Ministry and the Communications Ministry that had persuaded me, I mean a census on the computers of the education network was taken and the Communications Ministry decided what kind of Microsoft educational license was compatible with the configuration of those computers. Facing such a document that was saying they were necessary (...) I'm telling you I'm no IT expert, I mean that is why qualified people exist in this field and had the official position very well defined. (...) I don't believe a minister should know how many screws are there in a machine, as long as they've got specialty departments organised and running exactly for this purpose."

Athanasiu added he is no longer charged with bribe taking, influence peddling and money laundering. "The other charges have been dropped; well, it's no joy the abuse of office either, the abuse of office carries huge punishment, and I'm not thinking yet seriously to get into a confinement regime knowing I didn't touch a penny as a public servant. (...) It is not normal that those who have stolen enormously in this country from their public officess, from businesspersons' positions and in general from the public money to laugh at fools like me. (...) I've always acted in good faith, this is what Mr. prosecutor admitted, too, I told him it is not good what they are doing. (...) I'm not a petty person, I don't inform on people," he said. Athanasiu said no damage has been assessed in his case, adding that he took out no document when he left office.

Agerpres
Former Director with Microsoft company Silviu Hotaran arrived on Monday at the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) headquarters, where he was heard by the prosecutors.

Upon exiting the DNA headquarters, Hotaran claimed that "all his life" he had lived and promoted values based on ethics and morality.

"I didn't offer bribe, I have never taken bribe, I don't have bank accounts," said Hotaran, who was heard in the Microsoft 2 case.

agerpres.
Silviu Hotaran, a former Microsoft Romania director, was indicted by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors, on charges of corruption offenses, judicial sources told agerpres. on Monday.

According to the sources, Ovidiu Artopolescu, former general manager with Microsoft, was also indicted in the same case

The two went to the DNA offices on Monday, summoned for hearings in the Microsoft 2 case. Ovidiu Artopolescu came with his lawyer.

Upon exiting the DNA premises, Hotaran maintained he has always lived by and promoted values based on ethics and morality.

"I have never offered bribe, I haven't taken bribe, I don't have [bank] accounts," Hotaran said.

DNA prosecutor-in-chief Laura Codruta Kovesi said at the beginning of October that the Microsoft 2 case, involving several former ministers, was being worked on.

"A number of 60 home searches were conducted, a number of over 120 information searches were conducted on data saving devices, mainly computers and other IT units. Tens of persons were heard, documents were seized from the institutions that held such documents of interest to the case," the DNA head showed.
The leader of National Liberal Party (PNL), Alina Gorghiu, accuses the head of Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, of leading an "aggressive campaign of disparagement" against the Liberals. "The PSD campaign entered a phase of intimidations, Mr Dragnea dreams of times when justice was at PSD's service. Dragnea thinks that criminal complaints scare us, that an aggressive campaign of disparagement against PNL and Dacian Ciolos will shut our mouth, will stop us from saying how populists and demagogues PSD members are. Nastase and Iliescu proceeded likewise. The same discourse can be found at their successors, Ponta and Dragnea: threats of jail, criminal complaints, repression, they are fond of censor. But Romanians reacted to their brutality and lack of democratic structure by voting", Gorghiu posted on Monday on Facebook, .

She says that "nothing is more false than the word 'justice' said by Dragnea". "Liviu Dragnea and the PSD showed us countless times what justice means according to them: They have done enough justice to Romanians from abroad in 2014, when they hindered their vote. They also have done enough justice to Romanians from communities ruled by PSD 'barons', where you know how difficult those people lives are and how well 'barons' are living. Most of PSD members have also done justice to Romanians when favoring Mr Oprea and other politicians that have gained immunity through their colleagues' vote. After 11 December, the PSD justice means a state of immunities. The anti-justice front will be institutionalised, the plan for suspending the President will become reality; Romania's engagement for Defence - 2 pct of GDP - will be abandoned, as well as the Western affiliation. Romanians do not need PSD's poor meaning of justice," stated Alina Gorghiu.

The PSD President, Liviu Dragnea, claims that there are suspicions of frauding the elections by PNL and USR and mentioned that in the Government are young employees who initially were volunteers and "who are shills for PM Dacian Ciolos". "I ask the state institutions with attributions in the upcoming elections and those who are working in those institutions not to think that those technocrats will stay forever and to think that everything that infringes the law will have to be paid by those institutions after the elections. Even if they have the feeling of being under a protective umbrella, those from the Government and those from the counties' institutions, should not be fooled, as all of them will have to pay," Dragnea stated on Sunday evening, at private broadcaster Romania TV.

Agerpres
China has pounced after Donald Trump's election win to claim the mantle of the world's champion for free trade and against climate change, prompting a melancholy warning from President Barack Obama that the U.S. risks getting left behind in Asia.

Obama met in Peru on Sunday with leaders of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that Trump vowed to kill along with the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. Obama said that TPP members told him they want to move forward with the pact, "preferably" with the U.S.

"I believe that TPP is a plus for America's economy," Obama told reporters while attending meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, the first major global summit since Trump's win. "Not moving forward would undermine our position across the region."

China has wasted no time in seeking to reassure nations wary of a more protectionist U.S., with President Xi Jinping telling APEC leaders that he aimed to boost global trade and provide a level playing field for foreign companies. Last week, China indirectly chided Trump for his views on global warming, which he has called a Chinese hoax to hurt American manufacturing.

At the meeting in Peru over the weekend, leaders of 21 Pacific Rim nations agreed to continue working toward a regional free trade area and resist any shift toward protectionism. The 21-member group said the benefits of trade, investment and open markets required better explanation.

Yet divisions remained on how to move forward. China made its case for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a 16-nation trade pact that excludes America. Other countries wanted to preserve the TPP, with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski saying that leaders discussed using it as one possible pathway to the Free Trade Area of Asia Pacific, APEC's ultimate goal.

"It seems like many Asian leaders want to make one last ditch effort to help TPP and try to get it back on the table, but given the political climate that will be very difficult," Joseph Incalcaterra, Asia-Pacific economist for HSBC Holdings Plc, told Bloomberg Television.

U.S. allies in Asia who backed the TPP are hedging their bets. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who flew to New York last week to discuss free trade with Trump, told Xi at APEC that he wanted to improve ties.

"China will need to continue opening itself up to the world," Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo said in a Bloomberg TV interview from Canberra on Monday. "We'll be looking at working alongside countries like China, indeed any country, that's willing to open up the contestability of those services and investment market places."

Xi used his time in Lima to tout the benefits of the 16-nation RCEP trade deal.

"We should deepen and expand cooperation in our region," Xi said. "Any attempt to undercut or exclude each other must be rejected."

Xi also called for "a smooth transition" to a new U.S. administration. Trump has blamed China for taking U.S. jobs and has said he will instruct his treasury secretary to label the country a currency manipulator.

"For years, China free-rode on America and Europe to make global rules and develop free trade," said Nick Mabey, who used to advise the U.K. government on climate issues and now runs E3G, a policy-research group. "Now China realizes it needs to be more responsible for global rules because it needs that for its own development. They want stability globally so they can invest abroad while they manage the transition of their own economy."

While China has long pushed for other countries to open up their markets, and has inked trade pacts with countries like Australia, the U.S. has criticized Beijing for not opening up the economy more to foreign companies.

Obama said on Sunday that there were calls for a "less ambitious" trade agreement with fewer protections that the U.S. wouldn't participate in. The TPP would go further than a traditional trade pact, including provisions on intellectual property, labor rights and state-owned company reform.

Investing in China is very difficult, and RCEP is "low level" compared with the TPP, according to Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor in political science at Hong Kong Baptist University.

"China is taking advantage of the statements made by Trump during the presidential campaign to occupy, if not monopolize, the high moral and political ground," Cabestan said. "We will see on the ground which side will be fairer than the other. I continue to doubt that it will be China, because of the structure of its economy, the lack of transparency, of rule of law and the confusion between political and economic power."

Still, Trump's election has effectively changed perceptions of the U.S. and China throughout the world.

Just months ago, it was the U.S. pushing for China to respect the "rules-based" international order, chastising Beijing for ignoring the outcome of an arbitration court in The Hague that found its claims to most of the South China Sea had no legal basis. The ruling determined that China had "aggravated" tensions with other claimants and was seen as a set back for China's neighborhood diplomacy.

Now, China was in a position to tell the U.S. to be more of a responsible stakeholder, according to Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, the New York-based political risk consulting firm.

"America's role in the world is changing in front of our eyes," Bremmer said in a key note address on Saturday. "The good news about being the world's only superpower is that other countries cannot damage you anywhere near as much as you can damage yourself. That's also the bad news."

With assistance from Ting Shi, Margaret Talev, John Quigley, Jessica Shankleman and Ben Bartenstein
Monday

Andrea Nichols  Author discusses Sex Trafficking in the United States: Theory, Research, Policy, and Practice at 4:30 p.m. at Washington University, Olin Librarys Room 142, 1 Brookings Drive. Free. 314-935-5418.

Joe Buck  Sportscaster will discuss Lucky Bastard at 7 p.m. at Skip Viragh Center for the Arts, Chaminade College Preparatory School. Sold out. left-bank.com.

River Styx  Poet James Crews (The Book of What Stays) and novelist Jacinda Townsend (Saint Monkey) read from their work at 7:30 p.m. at Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Boulevard. $5. riverstyx.org.

SATURDAY

Piper Punches  Author signs 60 Days at 10 a.m. at 6 North Cafe, 10 Cliff View Drive, Wentzville. Free. 636-856-8066.
Looks like a couple of former STLers will be back home for Thanksgiving, according to Sirius XM host and Parkway Central grad Melissa Musen Gerstein.

Gerstein, who along with Denise Albert hosts "The MOMS with Denise & Melissa, recently had Sterling K. Brown as a guest. The radio show discusses various topics and also interviews celebrities.

Brown, who exploded onto the acting scene earlier this year playing prosecutor Christopher Darden in "The People vs. O.J. Simpson, now stars on the new NBC show, "This Is Us."

Brown told Gerstein that he would be stopping back in our fair burgh during the Thanksgiving break. Brown grew up in Olivette and graduated from Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School.

Gerstein, the daughter of Ed and Debbi Musen of Creve Coeur, also said she was coming home this week for some food-friends-and-family time.

At a live event last week for the radio show, Gerstein said she talked up Brown about all the essential STL items: "The Cardinals, toasted raviolis, Imo's pizza, St Louis hospitals ..."

Wait, St. Louis hospitals?

Gerstein said Brown shared a story of meeting his wife in college and finding out they both had been born at Barnes Hospital.
FRONTENAC  A St. Louis County grand jury has indicted a man for murder in a what authorities said was a street-racing crash that killed an innocent motorist last summer.

Haven A. Sooter, 39, was indicted Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder and DWI as a persistent offender.

Sooter was arrested Saturday. He was held Monday in the St. Louis County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Authorities said Sooter was street racing on Lindbergh Boulevard in Frontenac on July 8 when he struck a womans SUV, fatally injuring her. Kathleen Kay Koutroubis, 73, died the next day.

A lawyer for her family says the two men racing were going more than 110 mph before the crash.

The second man in the race was identified by police as Scott A. Bailey, 44, a lawyer in Clayton. The prosecutors office had no update on his situation Monday; public court records did not show charges against him.

Authorities originally said they planned to seek manslaughter charges against both men. Prosecutors said the second-degree murder charge was warranted against Sooter because he has a prior offense of driving while intoxicated.

Sooter pleaded guilty of driving while intoxicated in 2001 in St. Charles County, and he was convicted in 2002 of a similar crime in Los Angeles, charges say.

The St. Louis County case was taken directly to the grand jury instead of the prosecutor issuing charges first.

Frontenac police said both men were racing on Lindbergh, near Chaminade College Preparatory School, the evening of July 8 when Sooters BMW crashed into Koutroubis SUV. The SUV then veered into the next lane and was struck by Baileys Ford Mustang.

Koutroubis was conscious after the crash, police said. But she was taken to a hospital complaining of pain in her abdomen and died of internal injuries, police said.

Attorney John Rogers, hired by Koutroubis family, said Sooter and Bailey were driving 120 and 114 mph respectively, based on accident reconstruction analysis and downloads of black box recorder data from the cars.

Bailey was arrested after the crash, but Sooter was taken to a hospital with a broken arm and a concussion. Baileys attorney, Travis Noble, told the Post-Dispatch shortly after the crash that he had not seen any evidence that the men had been racing.

Bailey and Sooter are fighting the states revocation of their drivers licenses for allegedly refusing to submit to breath tests for intoxication after the crash.

Sooter argues in court documents that there were no reasonable grounds to assume he was driving drunk and insists he did not refuse a breath test. He also says that he has a hardship and needs his license to drive to work and to alcohol treatment.

Sooter lives in the 600 block of Bluff Manor Circle in St. Charles. His attorney, Dan Diemer, was unavailable for comment.
UPDATED at 12:20 P.M. with name of man shot by police, prayer circles planned for police.

ST. LOUIS  Police sources said Monday that George Bush III, 19, was the man killed in a shootout with police Monday morning after allegedly wounding a police sergeant in a separate incident.

His address was listed in a pending resisting arrest case as in the 7000 block of Winona Avenue in St. Louis.

Undercover officers had found the suspect's car abandoned at a parking garage at Laclede's Landing, police said.

A woman had picked him up there and officers tracked their vehicle to the intersection of Smiley and Leola avenues in St. Louis. The suspect, about 19 years old, apparently realized he was being followed, jumped out of the car and fired a shot at the officers, striking the windshield of their pickup truck.

The suspect ran and officers pursued. He was killed in front of a house about 100 yards up the street, police said, about 12:45 a.m.

The sources said the woman had asked him for a cigarette and then given him a ride from the garage and was not involved in the crimes.

Bush was being sought for questioning in the shooting of a St. Louis police sergeant about 7:30 p.m. Sunday near Hampton and Pernod avenues. A driver had pulled up next to the sergeant's SUV and opened fire.

He was targeted because he was a police officer, Mayor Francis Slay said at a press conference at Barnes Jewish Hospital. He didnt stop anybody. He didnt point a gun at anybody."

Police said the sergeant, 46, had been shot twice in the face and was conscious. He was in critical but stable condition and expected to live. He is a 20-year veteran of the department.

The shooting in St. Louis came on the same day that a police officer in San Antonio was shot to death while writing a ticket. Also, a police officer in Sanibel, Fla., was shot and wounded as he conducted a traffic stop Sunday evening. And late Sunday, a police officer and a suspect were shot during a traffic stop about 10:30 p.m. in the Kansas City suburb of Gladstone, Mo. That officer is expected to recover; no information on the shooter was available.

When police arrived at the shooting scene in St. Louis, the sergeant was sitting in his SUV, his seatbelt was fastened and his gun was holstered.

He didnt have time to react to this threat, Police Chief Sam Dotson said.

A source told the Post-Dispatch that the sergeant said a car had pulled up beside his SUV and the officer thought the driver was going to ask him a question. Instead, the person in the car fired at the officer.

The sergeant did not get a good look at the shooter, the source said.

The officer says he saw the muzzle flashes and felt the glass breaking in his window as the shots came through and struck him in the head, Dotson said.

The police sergeant has two bullets lodged in his face, one near his nose, the other in his cheek, a source told the Post-Dispatch. The officer has three children and works out of the Second District.

Volunteers are planning a silent prayer chain starting at St. Gabriels at 7 p.m. in which hundreds are expected to hold a blue ribbon the length of three football fields along the route from the church to the St. Louis Police Officers' Association hall near the shooting scene. The sergeant who was shot is a parishioner there.

When other police arrived at the scene Sunday, the sergeants SUV was in the left lane on Hampton facing south. Shattered glass from the drivers side window could be seen on the street.

Police thought the car involved in the shooting may have been connected to a car taken in a carjacking Saturday in the Affton area, a source said. Police said the suspect in the Affton case also was being sought for questioning in a homicide Saturday in St. Louis. In that case, firefighters responding to a car fire found a man who had been shot in the head in the 500 block of West Poepping Street.

Dotson said it was too early in the investigation to say whether this shooting was related to the Affton case. The car in that case was tan; the police sergeant said the car that had pulled up next to him was silver.

Police were looking for a silver vehicle that may have gone east on Pernod. They also were scouring the area near Pernod for surveillance video, Dotson said.

Fortunately, and for the blessing of God, the officer is going to survive tonight, Dotson said. But he was shot twice in the head, twice in the face.

He, too, asked for the help from the public.

Its not [just] a threat to our police department, its a threat to our community, our city, Dotson said. This officer was driving down the road and was ambushed by an individual who pointed a gun at him from inside of his car and shot out the police officers window. This just shows the dangers of policing, not only here in St. Louis but around the country.

All officers are now patrolling two officers to a car, he said.

The site of the shooting was by St. Joan of Arc School and a half block north of the St. Louis Police Officers Association Union Hall.

The San Antonio officer was shot to death in his squad car Sunday outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind. San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the officer as Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the force.

McManus said the shooter had not been apprehended Sunday night. He said he didnt believe the man had any relationship to the original motorist who was pulled over, and no motive has been identified.

In Sanibel, the Fort Myers News-Press reported, the officer was shot in a drive-by shooting while he sat in his patrol car after completing a routine traffic stop. The officer was released from the hospital late Sunday. A suspect was in custody.

Few details were available late Sunday on the Gladstone shooting, althought the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police tweeted that the Gladstone officer is expected to live and that it was the best news we could have asked for.

Missouri Governor-elect Eric Greitens tweeted Sunday night: A St. Louis Police Officer was ambushed this evening. Another officer in Gladstone shot while on traffic stop. We must always have the backs of those who keep us safe. Prayers with their families tonight.

CrimeStoppers in St. Louis offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. The number is 1-866-371-8477.

David Carson of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
The sergeant, 46, had been shot twice in the face and was conscious. He was in critical but stable condition and expected to live.
JEFFERSON CITY  After two police officers were shot this weekend in St. Louis and Gladstone, Mo., Governor-elect Eric Greitens on Monday called for an emergency alert system that will help law enforcement more quickly apprehend someone who has injured or killed an officer.

The Blue Alert system is similar to Amber and Silver alerts, which help police find missing children and senior citizens, respectively. The alerts would go out statewide and include information describing the offender and his vehicle.

Twenty-seven other states have the system, and Greitens vowed to work with the Legislature to put it into place in Missouri.

In the face of this violence, we must take action. We must stand up for those who stand guard for us, Greitens said. In the year ahead, my administration will push for the strictest possible punishments for anyone who assaults a police officer.

In St. Louis, a 20-year veteran police sergeant was shot in the face Sunday evening near Hampton and Pernod avenues. A suspect was later killed in a shootout with police early Monday.

Also on Sunday in Gladstone, a Kansas City suburb, a police officer and suspect were shot during a traffic stop. The suspect was fatally wounded in the encounter.

Both officers are expected to recover. It is unclear whether a Blue Alert system would have helped officers find the suspects in either case.
ST. LOUIS  Surveying the wreckage of Election Day, Missouri Democrats trudge toward a new year in which they will hold few levers of power and face one big question: What now?

The answer thats emerging, according to party leaders, includes a renewed focus on working-class issues, better communication of the partys strengths and an unwavering certainty that Missouri voters will soon rethink putting the Republicans so completely in charge.

Buyers remorse is coming, predicted Roy Temple, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. The priority is to, No. 1, hold the Republicans accountable. They now have control over all the apparatus of government. They will undoubtedly do foolish things, and when they do, Democrats need to point that out.

That kind of political bravado is part of Temples job, but even he acknowledges what he calls the structural problem his Democrats face: With the partys biggest names  Chris Koster, Jason Kander, Russ Carnahan  having just lost big races, and with few paths for Democratic stars to rise in the Republican-controlled Legislature, we have fewer and fewer people in the farm system.

By 2018, voters may want a dramatic course correction from total Republican rule, said Temple. The problem will be, there might not be very many Democrats for them to vote for.

In a written statement, Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock indicated he wasnt concerned his party would overreach and spawn a voter backlash.

With economic growth and job-creating policies just around the corner, the future is very bright for the people of Missouri and for the Missouri Republican Party, Hancock said.

Of course, Democrats all over America are downcast since the Nov. 8 elections. But by most measures, the plight of Missouri Democrats going forward is far worse than that of the party nationally.

Democrat Hillary Clinton lost the White House, but she won the popular vote, marking the fifth time in the past six presidential elections that more Americans voted for the Democrat than the Republican. That doesnt alter the outcome in the Electoral College, but it does signal future challenges for a GOP that relies more heavily than ever today on white voters even as the country turns increasingly nonwhite.

Its a different story in Missouri, where some key demographic groups  including African-Americans and Hispanics  have barely edged up, percentage-wise, from their lower-than-the-national-norm levels during the past generation.

That probably helped Republican Donald Trump rout Clinton in Missouri on Election Day by almost 20 percentage points, with a campaign that was targeted toward stoking white resentment of liberal political correctness and illegal immigration from Mexico. It was the widest margin of victory here in a presidential race since Ronald Reagans historic landslide over Walter Mondale in 1984.

Trumps coattails were enormous. Bucking Missouri polls that had indicated several tight races, Republicans easily swept all six statewide offices on the ballot, including a crucial U.S. Senate seat, and held their veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

One of the lessons that was apparent to me was the importance of who is at the top of the ticket, said Missouri state Rep. Tracy McCreery, D-Creve Coeur. In the case of Clinton versus Trump, she said, that translated into a lack of urban turnout and an increase in rural turnout. [Trump] awoke a lot of people in the rural areas who dont normally vote.

Hancock argues that the GOPs success here on Election Day wasnt just a matter of Trumpian coat tails but also was due to strong state candidates and a strong commitment to conservative government among the voters.

After the election winners are seated in January, the two lone Missouri Democrats holding statewide elective office will be U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, who recently labeled herself the underdog when her seat comes up in 2018; and state Auditor Nicole Galloway, who wasnt elected to that post but was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, after the suicide in February 2015 of Auditor Tom Schweich, a Republican.

McCaskill recently told the Post-Dispatch that Democrats had to do a better job in convincing working-class voters that Democrats are on their side. My party has done a terrible job of communicating how hard we are working for people in hourly jobs, she said.

Others in the party, both in Missouri and nationally, have echoed that sentiment, after watching the Republicans snatch away what had been a key Democratic voting bloc since the days of Bill Clinton.

People, in their frustration, supported people who will be actively working against their interests, said Temple, referring to working-class voters. Certainly, the Democrats need to be more effective at articulating that.

They may get that chance right off the bat, with the expected Republican move to make Missouri a right to work state, weakening the bargaining power of labor unions. Its part of a national partisan battle, with Republicans claiming it will create jobs and Democrats warning it will lower wages.

The GOP-led Legislature has been trying for years to institute right to work over the opposition of Nixon, the outgoing Democratic governor. Republican Governor-elect Eric Greitens made his support for it a central pillar of his campaign.

For the new, all-Republican Missouri government not to press it into law, and quickly, would be a startling backtrack. But in doing it, they could find themselves at odds with many of the blue-collar supporters who put them into office.

On the other hand, said Dave Robertson, political scientist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the fact that right-to-work is likely to be implemented quickly could, in itself, make it harder for Democrats to organize their labor allies around it in future elections.

An issue like right-to-work can unite people in the labor movement who are against it, said Robertson. But implementing right-to-work can certainly weaken the labor unions, too, hitting Democrats in a key area of their support.

In addition to the urgency of winning back those working-class white voters, Missouri Democrats have a special challenge in that they operate in a state where the national Democrats social-issue agenda simply wont fly.

Clearly [Missouri] Democrats are going to have to take pretty moderate positions and be open to coalitions with people who have strong opinions on gun rights and abortion that dont match the national Democrat Partys platform, Robertson said.

They need to focus on economic issues. All of those issues that were brought to the floor by Trump are things that Democrats can address ... but they sort of let that go.

McCreery acknowledged that the Nov. 8 outcome was like getting the rug pulled out from under us, especially in the wake of pre-election polls that showed Clinton winning the presidency and Missouri Democrats with strong chances of winning the governors office, the U.S. Senate seat and other offices.

But when asked how Democrats can regroup after such a drubbing, she noted how quickly a political partys fortunes can change. A little while ago, she noted, most people were asking that same question about the demise of the Republican Party.
ST. LOUIS  Jeffrey Boyd, the citys 22nd Ward alderman, announced Monday that hes marching onto the field of the mayoral race, a nod to the 23 years he served in the U.S. Army.

He finds that field crowded. Boyd becomes the seventh person  and the fourth member of the Board of Aldermen  to announce a run for the mayors seat since the surprise announcement last spring that Mayor Francis Slay would not seek a fifth term.

Boyd, an alderman for nearly 14 years, has previously run unsuccessfully for city treasurer and license collector. In his announcement for mayor, he talked up his experience rehabilitating properties in distressed neighborhoods, including his own.

It is a testimony to how our community can be transformed against all odds, he said. Its time for the city to plan development rather than react to developers plans.

Boyd also joined the chorus of announced candidates calling for new public safety strategies. He cited the 2015 killing of his nephew Rashad Farmer, 23.

Last year, Boyd received a lot of attention for public statements he made following Farmers fatal shooting.

This has to stop, Boyd said at the time. Its absolute madness. Absolute madness. People say they need jobs. Well, damn it, go get a job. There are plenty of jobs out here. People say they need stuff to do ...

Theres plenty to do besides shoot and kill each other. Its sad and its sickening.

On Monday, Boyd said theres a need for more police presence in our neighborhoods and productive strategies that bridge the trust gap between our community and police. He called it vital to the fabric of stabilizing our communities and making them safer.

Citing his and his childrens experiences in the public school system, Boyd said he would be committed to building a closer relationship with the system as mayor.

Our next wave of residential development must be prioritized around schools and provide the school system a seat at the table as a real stakeholder and not just a placeholder, he said.

Finally, Boyd said the organizational skills he learned through his military service will help him make city government more efficient.

In addition to Boyd, 28th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French, city Treasurer Tishaura Jones and elected St. Louis School Board member Bill Haas have all announced their candidacies for mayor. Jimmie Matthews, who was defeated in last years race for aldermanic president, has also said hes running.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed has filed papers to raise money for a run. Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly also considered running but announced last week that hes going to sit out the race because of what he says is a negative tone occurring behind the scenes.

Police Chief Sam Dotson, who announced a run for mayor earlier this fall, has since taken himself out of consideration.
With the first news bulletins, frantic people grabbing for telephones overwhelmed the circuits. They gathered around office radios and jammed appliance stores to follow the jumbled live TV news reports.
Two police officers have been shot in separate incidents in what authorities are calling targeted attacks. One died while the other was shot twice in the face but was expected to survive.

Authorities say a San Antonio detective writing out a traffic ticket to a motorist was shot to death in his squad car late Sunday morning outside police headquarters by another driver who pulled up from behind.

San Antonio police Chief William McManus identified the officer as 50-year-old Benjamin Marconi, a 20-year veteran of the force.

In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive after being shot twice in the face Sunday night in what the police chief called an "ambush." Police reported early Monday that the suspect was later killed in a shootout with police.

In Sanibel, Fla., an officer was shot and wounded as he conducted a traffic stop Sunday evening. And late Sunday, a police officer and a suspect were shot during a traffic stop about 10:30 p.m. in the Kansas City suburb of Gladstone, Mo. That officer is expected to recover.
Like many of General Cigars new releases, the Cohiba Macassar comes with a story about its tobacco. In this case, theyre all proprietary and spent some time aging in rum barrels.

The wrapper is described as a low-yield Connecticut Habano grown in a micro-climate that helps to achieve a richer, more flavorful tobacco. A Connecticut Broadleaf binder covers filler from Dominican seed grown in Mao (distinct from the Mao tobacco used in Generals new Macanudo Mao) and from Nicaraguan Jalapa leaf grown for Cohiba.

This new regular-production addition to Cohiba was introduced last summer. As youd expect from Cohiba, its an expensive smoke. The 6-inch, 52-ring gauge Toro Grande weighs in with an MSRP of $21.99, though Ive seen it online for as little as $14 each for a 5-pack, and even less for the box of 10.

The other two sizes in the line are the Gigante (6 x 60, $23.99) and a Double Corona (7.25 x 52, $24.99). The name comes from an exotic Indonesian wood with a variety of uses, including a veneer on the cigar boxes.

The first thing I noticed about the Macassar was a gritty feel to the wrapper and an almost nonexistent pre-light aroma. It also gave me some occasional minor burn problems among the several sticks I smoked, requiring a touch-up now and then to keep it even.

Otherwise, construction and smoke production were first-rate.

Taste-wise, the Macassar is a good cigar, though not the most complex. The predominant flavors I got were wood, particularly in the beginning, and light spice that tended to ramp up and down throughout the smoke.

At the list price, it would be hard for me to recommend it. To me, at least, $22 is a lot of money for a cigar. But in the area of $14 it becomes much more reasonable, especially when you consider that it is a big cigar that burns slowly and lasts a long time.

If you can try one at a lower price point, youll find it enjoyable and satisfying. I give it three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys
Two weeks following the 2016 presidential election, MKM Partners' engineering and construction coverage has seen an average jump of 20%. Investors have shifted into industrial, energy and mining, with the expectation of the government to award more contracts to these areas under a Republican administration.

"Our broad E&C coverage has outperformed strongly since the election results, up an average of 20% in our coverage versus the S&P500 up 2.1%, as investors have shifted into industrial, energy and mining." MKM analyst Daniel Scott commented. "In general, we are raising our target multiples on our valuation year of 2017 to be reflective of our expectations for higher awards moving forward in government, defense, energy and infrastructure. We believe investors should be more willing to pay premium multiples on forward year earnings given that improved bidding environment outlook beyond 2017."

Engineering and Construction company's covered by MKM include:

Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) (Buy) - MKM partners is maintaining a $43/share price target for CBI. The company continues to have the overhang of a pending court ruling on its $2 billion lawsuit with Westinghouse. Sentiment around investors has been leaning towards the expectation that the court will send the case down to arbitration instead of ruling now on contract law. MKM cautions investors against overreacting to such a potential ruling, as CBI would have the opportunity to argue contract law at arbitration and apparently would have the recourse of appealing to the same judge currently considering the case should the arbitration result be less than favorable. However, once the company is able to get past this binary event, investor attention should turn to the strong cash flow story and corresponding balance sheet de-levering. Management has steadfastly guided this year to cash flows from operations exceeding net income, and that trend is expected to continue.

Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR) (Neutral) - FLR recently released initial 2017 guidance of $2.75 - 3.25/share on their 3Q earnings release and followed it up with an investor day in New York. Fluor has long been the blue chip name in the space, but has had a rough 2016 with multiple downward guidance revisions followed by a major loss on its CPChem ethylene cracker project. It also saw roughly $5 billion of projects drop out of backlog for projects that have been suspended, which should correspond to a de-risked backlog. The company continues to enjoy a strong balance sheet and cash position, along with great diversity across end markets. MKM raised the target multiple to 17x from 15x to reflect the more constructive outlook for many of their key markets as the new administration takes over, resulting in a higher $51/share fair value objective compared to $45/share previously.

Jacobs Engineering (NYSE: JEC) (Neutral) - MKM raised the fair value estimate for JEC to $57/share from $49/share, and continues to be impressed with JEC's repeat business win rate and diversified end market exposure. Revenues are evenly balanced across their four main segments, with profit skewed a bit more towards Buildings & Infrastructure and Aerospace & Technology.
Concho Resources Inc. (NYSE: CXO) announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 24,000 gross (16,400 net) acres in the northern Delaware Basin for approximately $430 million. The acquired acreage is complementary to the Companys leasehold position in the northern Delaware Basin, with approximately 12,000 gross (10,000 net) acres located in the Red Hills area in Lea County, New Mexico.

Acquisition Highlights

Includes approximately 2.5 MBoepd (69% oil) of current production

Expands position in Red Hills area by more than 25% to approximately 47,000 net acres

Doubles long-lateral drilling inventory in Red Hills

Provides significant development upside across multiple, de-risked zones

Accretive to cash flow per share and leverage neutral

Tim Leach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, This transaction is an opportunistic bolt-on in the Red Hills area where we are consistently delivering strong well performance. Our evaluation provides for multiple opportunities to enhance value through increased density development on multi-well pads as well as additional zones beyond the Avalon Shale, Wolfcamp Shale and the emerging Wolfcamp Sands. With a continued focus on driving capital efficiency gains and actively managing our portfolio, this acquisition further strengthens our industry-leading position in the Permian Basin and reinforces our ability to deliver differentiated long-term growth.

The Red Hills area is an oil-prone fairway generating exceptional returns at current commodity prices. With more than 5,000 feet of resource-rich hydrocarbon column, this area is highly prospective for multi-zone development. The acquisition more than doubles the Companys long-lateral drilling inventory in Red Hills and enhances its ability to drill long laterals on existing Concho leasehold.

Consideration in the transaction includes approximately $150 million of cash and 2.18 million shares of Conchos common stock. Concho expects to fund the cash portion of the transaction with cash on hand, borrowings under its credit facility and potential non-core asset sales. The acquisition is expected to close in January 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

A presentation summarizing the transaction is available on Conchos website at www.concho.com.

Full-Year 2017 Outlook

As a result of this acquisition, Concho plans to increase its operated rig count to an average of eight rigs in the northern Delaware Basin during 2017. Concho expects to grow oil production volumes by more than 20% year-over-year in 2017 and total production by 18% to 21%, up from the previously disclosed guidance range of 17% to 20%. The Company maintained its capital expenditure guidance of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion for 2017. Based on the current commodity price outlook, Concho expects to fund its 2017 capital program within cash flow. The Companys 2017 capital program excludes acquisitions and is subject to change depending upon a number of factors, including commodity prices and industry conditions.
Companys UD3-LX and UD3-W7+ Thin Clients Take Top Honors in the 2016 PC  Workstations/Desktops Category

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IGEL Technology, a world leader in the delivery of powerful workspace management software, IGEL Linux-powered thin clients, zero clients and all-in-one thin client solutions, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized IGEL with a 2016 CRN Tech Innovator Award. These annual awards honor standout hardware, software or services that have helped to move the IT industry forward. In compiling the 2016 Tech Innovator Award list, CRN editors evaluated 230 products across 27 technology categories using several criteria, including technological advancements, uniqueness of features and potential to help solution providers solve end users' IT challenges. IGELs UD3-LX and UD3-W7+ Thin Clients took top honors in the PC - Workstations/Desktops category.

The IGEL UD3 series thin client is a channel-favored solution for businesses looking to provide their users with greater access to high-performance computing applications and more intense graphics and multimedia functionality, said Jed Ayres, President and CEO, IGEL North America. By improving the efficiency of modern end-user computing environments and giving customers the freedom to choose the protocol they prefer without costly hardware upgrades, IGEL is delivering the flexibility the channel needs with the exceptional partner-led focus they want. We are very pleased to be recognized by CRN with this 2016 Tech Innovator Award.

IGELs Universal Desktop 3 (UD3) thin clients includes the IGEL UD3-LX (IGEL Linux v5) and UD3-W7+ (Windows Embedded 7) models, which are ideal for meeting the demands of graphics and multimedia-intensive environments. The UD3 series is also available with an optional integrated smartcard reader, which supports highly-secure two-factor authentication and faster login times; a connectivity foot that offers two additional serial ports for legacy peripherals; and, wireless network connectivity or an anti-theft USB port. And, because there are no moving parts, the thin clients are almost noise-free, and fail-safe due to minimal heat generation.

Through the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS 5), IT organizations can manage their IGEL thin and zero clients, and PCs, notebooks and thin clients from other manufacturers  converted into software thin clients using the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter (UDC). This minimizes support costs, and offers maximum security and reliability. The IGEL UD3 series thin clients are Citrix HDX Ready and VMware Ready, and in August 2016, IGEL became one of the first thin client manufacturers to integrate the VMware Blast Extreme Protocol.

Each year, CRN recognizes vendor offerings that excel in increasing worker productivity, reducing cost, and minimizing complexity for solution providers, IT departments and end users through innovation and technical advancement, said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. From cloud to data storage to the Internet of Things, the products on this years list solve a wide range of difficult IT problems, truly enabling solution providers to better serve their customers.

The Tech Innovator Awards will be featured in the December issue of CRN and can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators.

IGEL on Social Media

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IGEL_TechnologyFacebook: www.facebook.com/igel.technologyGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igel-technologyYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IGELTechnologyTV

About IGEL

IGEL delivers powerful endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The companys world-leading products, including the IGEL Universal Management Suite, IGEL Linux-powered thin and zero clients, and all-in-one thin client solutions, deliver a smart and secure endpoint management experience that shifts granular control of thin and zero client devices from the end user to IT. This enables enterprises to remotely control all thin client devices from a single dashboard interface. With IGEL, IT teams can do more with less, lower their total cost of ownership and operation, and future-proof their organization. IGEL has 10 offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com/us.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005734/en/

Suzanne Collier PR for IGEL

Suzanne Collier, 714-469-0140

[email protected]

or

The Channel Company

Melanie Turpin, 508-416-1195

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Source: IGEL Technology
SINGAPORE, Nov 21, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - SGX Mainboard-listed ISR Capital Limited ("ISR Capital" or the "Company"), which intends to acquire a Madagascar rare earths mining concession valued at over US$1.0 billion, announced today that it has appointed Mr Chen Tong, a mining and resources sector expert, as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors.With over 29 years' experience in metallurgical mining and investments, Mr Chen, a Singapore national, has been involved in developing mineral resources assets and businesses in China, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the ASEAN region over the last ten years, with leading corporations such as Minmetals, Chinalco, Winsway and Sumitomo. ISR Capital is awaiting regulatory and shareholder approvals to acquire a 60%-stake in Tantalum Holding (Mauritius) Ltd, which owns 100% of Tantalum Rare Earth Malagasy S.A.R.L ("TREM"). The latter company holds a concession for a rare earth oxide resource in Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world and located off the southeastern coast of Africa. The concession has been estimated by two independent valuers at over US$1.0 billion.Mr Chen was initially appointed to the Board as a Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director in October 2016, and currently owns a 1.5% stake in the Company. Mr Chen's re-designation as Executive Chairman comes on the back of the commencement of bulk sampling activities at the Madagascar site prior to initiating pilot production.Bulk sampling involves leaching ammonia sulfate fluid through samples of rare earths oxide to produce a concentrate from which the viability and cost of retrieval, and quality of the elements can be assessed. Mr David Rigoll, Executive Director of ISR Capital, commented, "I welcome Mr Chen Tong into this key leadership role within the Company. Mr Chen is well placed to effectively position ISR Capital with strategic partners and key stakeholders as it moves into natural resource project development, and to facilitate the Company's domestic and international expansion. Mr Chen will augment the leadership of the Board at this important time in the Company's development and I welcome his appointment as part of the continued strengthening and development of the Company's corporate governance.""I am very pleased to have been appointed Executive Chairman by the Board of ISR Capital. As a shareholder, I have had the interests of ISR Capital at heart even before joining the Board. Visiting the rare earth mine in Madagascar last week has made me even more confident of the Company's future development, and I believe that with the concerted efforts of all my colleagues, ISR Capital will become a key player in the supply of rare earth resources around the world. I will aim to fulfil my duties faithfully, and lead the company to provide better returns for all shareholders and create greater value. Finally, I would like to thank all directors for their trust in me," said Mr Chen.About ISR CapitalEstablished in June 2000, ISR Capital Limited is in the business of proprietary investments and providing investment advisory services, focusing on the natural resource space, as well as selectively participating in non-resource projects which show compelling growth prospects, by way of either direct or indirect investments. ISR Capital Limited has grown from strength to strength, forging strategic partnerships in Singapore, Asia and the Australasian region. Through strategic alliances with the best, ISR leverages on its strong business network and expertise to achieve collaborative growth. www.isrcap.com Media & Investor Relations Contact [email protected] Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The logo of Aixtron SE is pictured on the roof of the German chip equipment maker's headquarters in Herzogenrath near the western German city of Aachen, October 25, 2016. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

By Harro Ten Wolde and Sabine Siebold

FRANKFURT/BERLIN (Reuters) - Concerns over China gaining access to the secrets of producing a little known material used in military equipment appear to be behind the U.S. block on a 670 million-euro ($713 million) Chinese bid for German chip equipment maker Aixtron .

Gallium nitride, a powdery yellow compound used in light-emitting diodes (LED), radar, antennas and lasers, is grown using Aixtron-manufactured technology, which has in the past been sold to U.S. military equipment maker Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC).

Aixtron said on Friday that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) would recommend that its takeover by China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC) be blocked.

CFIUS never gives reasons for its decisions. But sources have previously told Reuters it blocked the $3.3 billion sale of Philips' (NYSE: PHG) lighting business, Lumileds, to a consortium of Chinese investors last January over gallium nitride concerns.

Experts suggest the United States would want to stop China and Russia getting hold of gallium nitride technology, which can boost the power and sensitivity of weapons systems while reducing their cost as it requires less electricity.

The technology is being used to upgrade the radars of both U.S. and foreign-owned Patriot missile defense systems  which are key to defeating air and missile attacks by enemy countries.

Colin Humphreys, a physics professor at Cambridge University, said the technology enabled military radars to operate at much higher frequencies and are used in jammers that allow fighter jets and other aircraft to fly undetected.

In order to sense such radar waves, potential enemies such as Russia or China would have to have access to military technology using gallium nitride, he said.

"I'm not aware that the Chinese or the Russians have such weapons systems at the moment," said Humphreys, an expert on gallium nitride.

Another European expert, who did not wish to be named, said he believed fewer than 10 countries had access to the technology, including the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Japan.

The global gallium nitride market is expected to grow to $1.1 billion in 2020 from an estimated $518 million last year, according to research firm Technavio.

The U.S. resistance to the Aixtron deal shows concern is rife in Washington about a leading manufacturer of the gallium nitride technology coming under Chinese ownership.

"The Americans' big problem is not Moscow, but Beijing  in economic terms and maybe also in military terms," the European expert said, adding he would expect U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to significantly raise export restrictions for the technology.

A German economy ministry spokeswoman said its review of the Aixtron deal was ongoing and independent of the United States.

The German government withdrew its approval for Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP (FGC), a Chinese investment fund controlled by businessman Zhendong Liu, to take over Aixtron last month, citing security concerns.

OUT OF OPTIONS?

Aixtron on Monday defied calls to scrap the sale, saying it had "objective arguments" to overcome U.S. and German concerns about it being bought by Fujian, without elaborating.

"We are in close contact with the authorities in the USA and Germany," a spokesman said. He added it was up to customers to decide to what use they would put Aixtron equipment.

Aixtron's decision to stick to the plan marks the first time that companies involved in such a takeover have tried to press ahead with a planned merger despite CFIUS objections. After concerns were raised over the Lumileds sale, the parties walked away from that deal.

Aixtron is seen as having a bleak future as a standalone company as it struggles with overcapacity in a market dominated by Chinese buyers.

The decision will now be referred to U.S. President Barack Obama, who must block or allow the transaction within 15 days.

Shares in Aixtron were down 7 percent to 4.38 euros by 1414 GMT, at the bottom of the German technology index , which was down 0.3 percent, and well below Grand Chip Investment's offer price of 6.00 euros per share.

Earlier, the stock hit a 6-month low of 4.25 euros.

"What Aixtron needs is a white knight from Europe or the U.S. (e.g. Applied Materials) as the company has no viable future as a stand-alone business, in our view," said analyst Tim Wunderlich at German brokerage Hauck & Aufhaeuser in a client note, sticking to its "sell" recommendation.

($1 = 0.9401 euros)

(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde in Frankfurt, Anneli Palmen in Duesseldorf and Sabine Siebold and Andrea Shalal in Berlin.; Additional reporting and writing by Caroline Copley.; Editing by Georgina Prodhan and Alexander Smith)
U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Lima, Peru November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

LIMA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke for about four minutes on Sunday at the APEC summit about Syria and Ukraine, a White House official said.

"The president urged President Putin to uphold Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, underscoring the U.S. and our partners' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty," the official said.

The summit is taking place in Peru's capital, Lima.

Obama also emphasized the need for their two countries' foreign ministers "to continue pursuing initiatives, together with the broader international community, to diminish the violence and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people," the official said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Pro-government fighters ride in the trunk of a car in the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen November 21, 2016. REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub

By Mohammed Ghobari

SANAA (Reuters) - A two-day ceasefire after nearly two years of war in Yemen expired at midday (0900 GMT) on Monday would not be renewed, a spokesman for a Saudi-led military coalition told al-Arabiya TV, with each side blaming the other for violations.

The 48-hour truce, announced unilaterally by the Saudi coalition on Friday, failed to halt fighting across the country between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-led forces.

Gulf Arab states led by Saudi Arabia launched a military offensive on the side of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in March 2015 after the Houthis, backed by government troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, advanced on Hadi's temporary headquarters in Aden.

Hadi was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia.

The 20-month conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than three million.

Residents in the capital Sanaa said that Saudi-led coalition jets had bombed army bases on a mountain overlooking the city earlier on Monday, and the force of the explosions had shaken buildings in several city neighborhoods.

Sanaa is controlled by the Houthis, who still hold vast swathes of Yemen. Despite Saudi-led forces gaining territory from the northern Yemeni rebels, they have not succeeded in restoring Hadi to power.

OBSERVERS

An official from the Saudi-led coalition told Reuters that it would like the international community to deploy neutral observers on the ground to help monitor any future ceasefire.

"To help apply a future ceasefire, observers on the ground who can certify any truce is what the coalition is looking for, provided the legitimate Yemeni government agrees," he said, referring to Hadi's government.

The official said that the coalition had recorded 563 violations of the truce by the Houthis and their allies in Yemen's military inside the country during the weekend ceasefire, and 163 more across the border in Saudi Arabia.

Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for Yemen's exiled government, declined to comment on the proposed deployment of observers but said Houthi violations had made extending the truce meaningless.

A spokesman for Yemen's pro-Houthi military said in a statement that coalition and pro-Hadi forces had violated the truce 114 times and that its forces had "reserved the right to respond to violations and abuses of aggression".

Visiting neighboring Oman last Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that both sides had agreed to a deal whereby the Houthis would quit Yemen's major cities and the factions would form a national unity government.

But Hadi's government rejected the announcement that the warring parties had agreed to an open-ended truce and to work toward forming a joint government.

It said it was not consulted about the accord and objected to demands that the Houthis withdraw from cities they had captured since 2014.

The Houthis have also said the ceasefire was designed to undermine the agreement reached in Oman.

The Saudi coalition has made no comment on the deal.

(Additional reporting by William Maclean; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Louise Ireland)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police arrested two Moroccan citizens on Saturday in Madrid and Barcelona on suspicion of recruiting young people as Islamist militants via the internet, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Since Spain raised its national security threat alert in 2015 in response to Islamist attacks in Paris, police have arrested 163 people suspected of militant activity.

(Reporting by Julien Toyer; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 21, 2016

Rowan Companies plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 1-5491 (Commission File Number) 98-1023315 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) Rowan Companies plc 2800 Post Oak Boulevard Suite 5450 Houston, Texas

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) 77056-6189 (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code: (713) 621-7800

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On November 21, 2016, Rowan Companies plc (Rowan) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), through their subsidiaries, entered into a Shareholders Agreement to create a 50/50 joint venture to own, manage and operate offshore drilling units in Saudi Arabia. The new entity is anticipated to commence operations in the second quarter of 2017.

At formation of the new company, each of Rowan and Saudi Aramco will contribute US$25 million to be used for working capital needs. The Asset Contribution and Transfer Agreements provide that at commencement of operations, Rowan will contribute three rigs and its local shore based operations, and Saudi Aramco will contribute two rigs and cash to maintain equal equity ownership in the new company. Rowan will then contribute two more rigs in late 2018 when those rigs complete their current contracts, and Saudi Aramco will make a matching cash contribution at that time. At the various asset contribution dates, excess cash is expected to be distributed in equal parts to the shareholders. Rigs contributed will receive contracts for an aggregate 15 years, renewed and re-priced every three years, provided that the rigs meet the technical and operational requirements of Saudi Aramco.

Rowan rigs in Saudi Arabia not selected for contribution will be managed by the new company until the end of their current contracts pursuant to a management services agreement that provides for a management fee equal to a percentage of revenue to cover overhead costs. After the management period ends, such rigs may be selected for contribution, lease, or they will be required to relocate outside of the Kingdom.

Each of Rowan and Saudi Aramco will be obligated to fund their portion of the purchase of up to 20 new build jack-up rigs ratably over ten years. The first rig is expected to be delivered as early as 2021. The partners intend that the newbuild jack-up rigs will be financed out of available cash from operations and/or funds available from third party debt financing. Saudi Aramco as a customer will provide drilling contracts to support the new company in the acquisition of the new rigs. If cash from operations or financing is not available to fund the cost of the newbuild jack-up rig, each partner is obligated to contribute funds to purchase such rigs, up to a maximum amount of $1.25 billion per partner in the aggregate for all 20 newbuild jack-up rigs.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD

On November 21, 2016, Rowan issued a press release announcing its joint venture with Saudi Aramco and related transactions. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 In addition, Rowan filed a presentation to be used with investors, which is included as Exhibit 99.2 hereto.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report and in the exhibits attached hereto is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report and in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Description 99.1 Press release dated November 21, 2016 99.2 Presentation to be used with investors

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: November 21, 2016 Rowan Companies plc By: /s/ Melanie M. Trent Melanie M. Trent

Executive Vice President, General Counsel,

Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary

Index to Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description

99.1 Press release dated November 21, 2016 99.2 Presentation to be used with investors

Exhibit 99.1

Rowan Partners with Saudi Aramco to Create a New Offshore Drilling Company

HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowan Companies plc ("Rowan") (NYSE: RDC) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company ("Saudi Aramco") have signed, through their subsidiaries, an agreement to create a 50/50 joint venture to own, operate, and manage offshore drilling rigs in Saudi Arabia. The new joint venture company will use Rowan's established business in Saudi Arabia as its base with a scope of operations covering Saudi Arabia's existing and future offshore oil and gas fields. The new company is anticipated to commence operations in the second quarter of 2017. Tom Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Rowan has had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Saudi Aramco and we welcome this opportunity to further strengthen our partnership and extend our commitment to the region. The new company will uniquely position Rowan to participate in the growing Saudi Arabian offshore drilling market, and provide Rowan with a compelling opportunity for a long-term partnership with the world's leading oil and gas company, and create a long-term, profitable growth platform with firm rig commitments." At commencement of operations of the new company, Rowan will contribute three of its jack-up drilling rigs and Saudi Aramco will contribute two of its jack-up drilling rigs. Rowan will contribute an additional two jack-up rigs as they complete their current Saudi Aramco contracts in late 2018. The new company will also manage the operations of five Rowan jack-up rigs currently in Saudi Arabia, until their associated drilling contracts expire, which then may be released, leased by or contributed to the new company thereafter. Rowan and Saudi Aramco have committed the new company to purchase future newbuild rigs that will be constructed in Saudi Arabia. Interested parties are invited to view additional materials on the Investor Relations page of Rowan's website at www.rowan.com . Rowan is a global provider of contract drilling services with a fleet of 30 mobile offshore drilling units, comprised of 26 jack-up rigs and four ultra-deepwater drillships. The Company's fleet operates worldwide, including the United States Gulf of Mexico, the United Kingdom and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea, the Middle East and Trinidad. The Company's Class A Ordinary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RDC." For more information on the Company, please visit www.rowan.com . Statements herein that are not historical facts are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements as to the expectations, beliefs and future expected business, financial and operating performance and prospects of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to certain risks, assumptions, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include oil and natural gas prices, the level of offshore expenditures by energy companies, variations in energy demand, changes in day rates, cancellation, early termination or renegotiation by our customers of drilling contracts, risks associated with fixed cost drilling operations, cost overruns or delays in transportation of drilling units, cost overruns or delays in maintenance and repairs, cost overruns or delays for conversion or upgrade projects, operating hazards and equipment failure, risks of collision and damage, casualty losses and limitations on insurance coverage, customer credit and risk of customer bankruptcy, conditions in the general economy and energy industry, weather conditions and severe weather in the Company's operating areas, increasing complexity and costs of compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations, changes in tax laws and interpretations by taxing authorities, civil unrest and instability, terrorism, piracy and hostilities in our areas of operations that may result in loss or seizure of assets, impairments, the outcome of disputes, including tax disputes, and legal proceedings, effects of the change in our corporate structure, and other risks disclosed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.



CONTACT: Chris Pitre, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, [email protected], +1 713 968 6642, Carrie Prati, Manager, Marketing and Investor Relations, [email protected], +1 713 960 7581

Exhibit 99.2

Rowan and Saudi Aramco New Offshore Drilling Company Investor Presentation November 2016 1

Statements herein that are not historical facts are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements as to the expectations, beliefs and future expected business, financial and operating performance and prospects of the Company. These forward - looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to certain risks, assumptions, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward - looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include oil and natural gas prices, the level of offshore expenditures by energy companies, variations in energy demand, changes in day rates, cancellation, early termination or renegotiation by our customers of drilling contracts, risks associated with fixed cost drilling operations, cost overruns or delays in transportation of drilling units, cost overruns or delays in maintenance and repairs, cost overruns or delays for conversion or upgrade projects, operating hazards and equipment failure, risks of collision and damage, casualty losses and limitations on insurance coverage, customer credit and risk of customer bankruptcy, conditions in the general economy and energy industry, weather conditions and severe weather in the Companys operating areas, increasing complexity and costs of compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations, changes in tax laws and interpretations by taxing authorities, civil unrest and instability, terrorism, piracy and hostilities in our areas of operations that may result in loss or seizure of assets, the outcome of disputes and legal proceedings, effects of the change in our corporate structure, and other risks disclosed in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward - looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward - looking statements, except as required by law. 2 Forward - Looking Statements

3 Joint Venture with Saudi Aramco A Strategic Partnership for the Future  Rowan and Saudi Aramco will form a 50 / 50 offshore drilling joint venture  The offshore drilling market in Saudi Arabia is expected to expand, creating considerable demand for drilling services  Rowan benefits from :  A unique and compelling opportunity to secure long - term rig commitments with the worlds leading oil and gas company  Certainty of sustained high asset utilization levels, as well as better visibility into long - term cash flows and earnings through a long - term relationship with Saudi Aramco  Increased near and long - term liquidity from cash distributions  Saudi Aramco benefits from :  Improved localization of the drilling industry in Saudi Arabia  Increased efficiency and quality of drilling operations  A long - term supply of fit - for - purpose jack - up rigs designed specifically for its drilling needs  Minimal upfront capital investment with the potential for significant growth  The new company is expected to be the leader in the Saudi Arabian offshore drilling space  The new company intends to utilize internally generated funds and debt financing to fund future rig purchases  Targeting the operation of a fleet of approximately 20 jack - ups by 2026  World - class driller will benefit from a combination of Rowans strong jack - up franchise and Saudi Aramcos financial and contract support

4 Agenda Saudi Arabian Energy Landscape Company & Structure

5 The Saudi Arabian jack - up market is the largest in the world 4 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 11 17 22 23 36 44 4 Saudi Aramco Petrobel ConocoPhillips Chernomorneftegaz Chevron (incl. CABGOC) Vietsovpetro IOOC Pars Oil & Gas Adma - Opco PEMEX CNOOC ONGC Total Maersk Oil ZADCO 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 23 23 31 32 37 44 5 Ukraine USA Norway Egypt UK India Saudi Arabia Thailand Denmark Qatar Vietnam Mexico Iran UAE China Top 15 Users of Jack - ups by Customer # of jackups contracted Top 15 Users of Jack - ups by Country # of jackups contracted SOURCE: Includes data supplied by IHS - Petrodata , Inc ; Copyright 2016 as of November 1, 2016

6 The new company was initiated as part of Saudi Arabias 2030 Vision and Saudi Aramcos In - Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Program Source: Saudi Aramco  There is a growing recognition around the world, especially in the developing world, that suppliers and investors must build long - term partnerships with companies and countries they do business with . They must invest in the long - term prosperity of their host nations . And they must help with long - term employment opportunities   With our In - Kingdom Total Value Add  or IKTVA  program we now have that mechanism, which is systematic, fair, and transparent . It puts local content at the heart of our procurement process, and will be a requirement of doing business with Saudi Aramco going forward .  Amin H. Nasser, President & CEO, Saudi Aramco K eynote S peech IKTVA Forum December 2015

7 Agenda Saudi Arabian Energy Landscape Company & Structure

Key details about the new company ( 1of 2) Scope  Rowan and Saudi Aramco will form a 50/50 joint venture to own and operate jack - up drilling rigs in Saudi Arabia  In 2017, Rowan contributes three rigs, related inventory and local shorebase operations; Saudi Aramco contributes two rigs, related inventory and additional cash to make up the difference in value of asset contributions between the partners.  In late 2018, Rowan contributes two additional rigs as they complete their current contracts, and Saudi Aramco will contribute equivalent value .  The new company will manage Rowans existing rigs until current contracts expire, when the new company will lease the rigs from Rowan as needed Rig Contributions and Matching Contributions Cash Capital Contributions  Both partners intend for the new company to be self and externally funded.  No additional equity injections are expected (although both Saudi Aramco and Rowan remain fully committed to the success of the new company). Financials and Expected Returns  Both partners are committed to progressively implementing efficiencies and optimizing costs to improve profitability over time.  Expected returns are commensurate to Rowans target for similar risk profile opportunities. 9

Key details about the new company (2 of 2) Newbuild Strategy Management  Rowan will nominate CEO and head of operations; Saudi Aramco will nominate Chairman and CFO. Governance  Saudi Aramco and Rowan will each own 50%, with proportional voting rights and Board representation.  The new company will operate independently with a separate dedicated management team, ensuring an arms length relationship.  The new company plans to order up to 20 rigs to be delivered over ten years beginning as early as 2021 to meet base load offshore drilling demand in the Kingdom.  Rig purchases will be supported by contracts from Saudi Aramco as customer, at defined returns commensurate to similar risk profile opportunities. 10

10 The new company benefits from the partners unique contributions Global drilling experience , best - in - class performance and technical expertise World Class Drilling Expertise Acquire Saudi built rigs and support the training and development of a local drilling workforce Partnership in L ocal Development Demand Certainty Through a long - term relationship with Saudi Aramco Scale & Growth Benefit from economies of scale by providing Saudi Aramco with a significant portion of its rig requirements Rowan Saudi Aramco New Company 1. 4. 2. 3.

Investor Contacts: Chris Pitre VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Development [email protected] + 1 713 968 6642 Carrie Prati Manager, Marketing and Investor Relations [email protected] +1 713 960 7581 12
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah paid a sea visit to Chinese Navy ship Handan on Sunday during the ongoing joint exercise by the Pakistan Navy and the Peoples Liberation Army (Navy).

The exercise, being held in the Arabian Sea between the two brotherly navies from Nov 16 to 21, covers a wide spectrum of maritime and naval operations by ships, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, joint boarding operations by special forces, air defence exercises, communication drills and joint manoeuvres by ships of both navies.

Commander of Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini accompanied the CNS during the visit.

The naval chief interacted with the PLA (Navy) ships crew and appreciated their operational competence. He expressed his satisfaction over the regular visits of PLA (Navy) ships and conducting of exercises between the two navies.

Read more: IDEAS 2016 set to begin on Nov 22

The naval chief said that the Pak-China friendship was highly valued and continued cooperation between the two countries had proven to be a source of strength for both of them. He said regular conducting of PN-PLA (Navy) exercises would further enhance the level of cooperation and interoperability between the two navies that would contribute towards regional peace and stability.

Admiral Zakaullah later visited PN Fleet units and expressed satisfaction over their readiness in keeping vigil over the PN area of responsibility.

During interaction with officers and men on-board, the naval chief commended their moral, preparedness and resolve to defend the maritime frontiers of the motherland. Pakistan is a peace-loving country and wants peace and stability in the region, but any act of aggression will be answered befittingly, he asserted.
US President Barack Obama has held a brief meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to talk about the situation in Syria and Ukraine.

Sundays short talk on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, was the first one the two world leaders had since Donald Trump won the US presidency and believed to be the last one to be held in person.

The lame duck US president called on Russia to be committed to the Minsk deal, aimed at controlling the crisis in eastern Ukraine, while stressing the need for continuation of talks on Syria, according to the White House.

"The president urged President Putin to uphold Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, underscoring the US and our partners' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty," AFP quoted a White House official as saying.

Obama also noted the need for Secretary (John) Kerry and Foreign Minister (Sergei) Lavrov to continue pursuing initiatives, together with the broader international community, to diminish the violence and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people."

Speaking in the Peruvian capital later, Putin said the two "always respected each other's positions  and each other" despite their difficult relationship, noting that Obama would be welcome in Russia "at any time."

The four-minute meeting was held during Obamas last foreign trip as the president.

In the run-up to the 2016 presidential election held on November 8, Trump, the GOP nominee, called for a "very, very good relationship" with Putin, saying he is a better leader than Obama.

As Obama prepares to leave the White House, ties between Moscow and Washington remain at the lowest point since the Cold War, most notably over the situation in Syria and Ukraine.
Marriage guardianship: Why the deathly silence? By Asiff Hussein View(s): View(s):

One wonders why the proposed amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) have not addressed the issue of marriage guardianship? There has been a deathly silence surrounding this matter with all those involved in the review process being so tight-lipped about it that one wonders whether there is a hidden agenda to promote a repressive brand of Islamic law here.

To give you a background, deliberations on reforms to the MMDA have been going on for several years with almost everybody dragging their feet. It was only earlier this month with the statement of the Minister for Law and Order, Sagala Ratnayake, that the long due reforms to the MMDA had to be enacted as part of the conditions to regain GSP+ concessions from the European Union, that everybody got excited. The Ministry of Justice appointed a committee of Muslim representatives under the leadership of former Supreme Court Judge Saleem Marsoof to make recommendations to reform the Act. So at last something is happening now.

Whats wrong with the law?

So whats wrong with the existing Act? Well, a few things. The MMDA which came into effect in 1951 has a few provisions that militate against basic human rights. For one thing there is no provision for the written consent of the bride as it is her marriage guardian (wali) who signs on her behalf. True, the Act requires the consent of the bride, but her consent is communicated by none other than her wali. This can understandably lead to abuse since the wali can simply give his ward away in marriage and declare she consented to it. Its his word against hers since there is no proof of her consent.

For another, it requires the brides guardian (relative such as father or brother) to consent to her marriage, thereby placing obstacles on her free choice of spouse. It is a very basic human right that a grown-up woman should have the discretion to contract a marriage of her own liking. This the entire world accepts and which Islam too recognises, albeit not conceded in the local law which is based on the Shafi school of jurisprudence which the majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka follow. However, the predominant school of Islamic law, the Hanafi, found in most parts of the Muslim world, recognizes this right as do the majority of Muslim states.

From what little we know of the proposed reforms, it seems that at long last some provision is being made for the written consent of the bride. However, there seems to be no indication of removing the requirement for a marriage guardian even in the case of a grown-up, divorced or widowed woman, thereby considering Muslim women as legal minors under the law. It needs no gainsaying that this is the only law of the country, General or Personal, that regards women as legal minors in this matter of marriage.

Until now, there have been instances where Muslim women who could not obtain their walis permission to marry resorted to the expedient of changing over their sect (school of law) from Shafi to Hanafi for the purpose of contracting marriage under Muslim Law. The existing MMDA implicitly recognizes the Hanafi school which is followed by the Memon Muslims and others of North Indian origin since it refers to the application of the law to those of the Shafi Sect, and this is supported by case law as well.

However, one wonders whether this right to change over from Shafi to Hanafi has been recognized in the proposed reforms as an individual right or would ones parentage determine the persuasion in which case it could affect the rights of Muslim women, not for better but for worse. Why, because the only channel Muslim women would have recourse to, to contract a marriage of their choice, would be deprived them. Would this be the price they have to pay in the name or reforms?

However, lets see what the Islamic faith truly says of this matter, rather than relying on diverse schools of law or patriarchal prejudices.

Religious basis

Many passages in the Quran clearly imply women have a free choice in choosing their life partners. To start with, the Quran clearly implies a partnership between equals since it describes marriage as a covenant (mithaq) between husband and wife, as in Surah al-Nisa (Verse 21):

And how could ye take it when ye have gone in unto each other, and they have taken from you a solemn covenant (mithaqan ghalizan).

It goes further, when it says:

O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will.

Although the inheriting of women as existed in pre-Islamic times where the widows of deceased men passed on to the latters relatives with or without their consent is illegal in Islam, this verse is relevant to our discussion here as it shows that the right to dispose of their persons has been given to the women themselves and not their guardians. If their guardians had any right over them, the right to decide would have been given to them, which is however not the case.

The Quran further says in

Surah al-Baqarah (verse 230):

If he has divorced her, then she is not lawful to him until she marries another man

When ye divorce women, and they fulfill the term of their (`iddat), do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on equitable terms. (2: 232).

If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: when they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner, and God is well acquainted with what ye do.(2: 234)

In the following verse

(2:235) we are told:

There is no blame on you if ye make an offer of betrothal or hold it in your hearts. God knows that ye cherish them in your hearts: But do not make a secret contract with them except in terms honourable, nor resolve on the tie of marriage till the term prescribed is fulfilled.

Do not the above Quranic verses imply that the decision to wed is a matter for the men and women concerned and that none else has the right to interfere in such affairs? We also find that the act of marrying as in 2:30 which uses the verb tankiha in the feminine singular mode is specific to the woman and not her wali and is not even conjoined with that of her wali.

This freedom to contract marriage on the part of women is also evidenced in the Sunnah or Prophet Muhammads Example:

Subaia al-Aslamiyya had delivered after her husbands death by half a month. Two men asked to marry her. One was young and the other was old. She preferred the young man. The old man said: You are not free yet (to marry). Her family was away, and he hoped that when her family would come, they may prefer him over the other man. She went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him Peace, and he said: You are free to marry, so marry whomever you wish (Muwatta of Imam Malik)

We will find many instances in the Prophets time when women appointed or were represented by an agent (not necessarily an agnate relative) to contract a marriage due to reasons of propriety. Thus Sawdah bint Zamaah, following the Prophets (peace be upon him) proposal of marriage, said My affair is in your hands. The Prophet subsequently appointed a third party to represent her (Kitab Tabaqat Al Kabir). Abd ar-Rahman bin `Awf asked Umm Hakim, Qarizs daughter Do you entrust the question of your marriage to me?. She said yes. He said to her I have married you (Saheeh Bukhari).

A womans right

All these only go to show that a woman did not give herself in marriage, but could appoint a third party as an agent to represent her and so contract a marriage of her choice. This was for reasons of propriety and decorum and was not intended to place obstacles on her free choice of mate. This is what we need to recognize, it is an agency rather than an absolute prerogative of a womans male kin.

Morocco which once had some very discriminatory laws against women including marriage guardianship reformed its Mudawana Code of Family Law under King Mohamed in 2004 giving top priority to womens free choice in marriage. The reforms included at the very top of the list :

Once a woman comes of age, she does not need a marital tutor (a male relative). Women cannot be married against their will, though if they wish to designate a male relative to act as their marital tutor, they may.

In 2010, two-thirds of Moroccan women surveyed said they felt the new law had improved womens status in Morocco, and 59% of men agreed. More men are probably coming around now.

In conclusion, we will find that the proposed reforms to the MMDA do not address the very important issue of marriage guardianship and may in fact be placing greater restrictions on Muslim womens freedoms in other ways. It is high time the state, international human rights organizations and womens rights groups intervened to ensure that the rights of Muslim women are safeguarded within the solid foundation of the Islamic faith.

(The writer is a commentator on Muslim matters and Vice President, Outreach, Centre for Islamic Studies)
The best of our contemporary art View(s):

If you want to browse through the best of contemporary Sri Lankan art, head down to the J.D.A. Perera Gallery on Horton Place, Colombo 7. The George Keyt Foundations annual exhibition brings together artists and sculptors of many different shades and it is a rare opportunity to see this talented group under one roof. The exhibition Sri Lankan Art 2016 is open until November 21 from 10 a.m. -6.30 p.m.
Legislation has been introduced to enable DHBs rather than local authorities to decide whether community water supplies are fluoridated.

The government believes increasing access to fluoridated water will improve oral health and mean fewer costly trips to the dentist.

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says New Zealand still has high rates of preventable tooth decay.

We know that children have up to 40 per cent less tooth decay in fluoridated areas compared to areas without fluoride.

This change would benefit over 1.4 million New Zealanders who live in areas where networked community water supplies are not currently fluoridated.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says moving the decision-making process from local councils to DHBs recognises water fluoridation is a health-related issue.

Decisions would be based on the assessment of health-related evidence and local needs. Recognition that fluoridating water is the single-most important initiative to improve dental health, particularly child dental health, is long overdue and Im sure this move will be welcomed by the wider community.

Tauranga fluoride-free advocate Ken Evans says the city rejected fluoride in 1992, and he intends to fight if the government forces it on communities.

Theyre going to empower the DHBs to make the decision, but they need the council to implement it, because they own the equipment, filtering stations, etcetera, says Ken.

It would be an interesting day when they can compel the council to medicate the water supply. This is going to be a major issue in the upcoming election, and well certainly shake the cage in Tauranga.

He points to dental health statistics showing the percentage of cavities in children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated are almost the same.

Theres only four per cent of the world that is fluoridated, he says.

Nations everywhere have abandoned it.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Helen Mason says the board remains committed to the fluoridation of water supplies.

People can learn more about the different perspectives on fluoride here and here in order to make up their own minds.
Katikatis new St John Ambulance Station is now fully operational, and officially blessed.

Reverend Brendan Gibbs blessed the Sheffield Street building and each of its rooms in during ceremony attended by members of the Katikati St John Area Committee and the St John 365 Fund Raising Committee on Saturday. The official public opening of the building will be held early next year.

Katikati St John paramedic Karen Gordon says full time staff and volunteers are delighted with the new station and its much-improved facilities.

We had outgrown the old station in Beach Road which compared to this one, was not only small but also quite dark.

The new purpose-built station next to the Katikati Fire Station, has a large double garage which also houses an emergency response trailer. It has storage and sluice facilities, over-night accommodation, showers and toilets, offices and a common-room-kitchen plus an adjoining meeting room which will be available for community use.

Mike Williams of the Katikati St John committee says its a remarkable achievement the small community of Katikati was able to raise the $811,000 needed to build the station.

While $500,000 came from a bequest from a local resident, and other sizable donations were made by individuals and businesses, a significant amount of the final total was made up of donations from individuals, including children, and community groups.

The amount raised, per head of population for our district, means if Katikati had as many people as Tauranga, it would have raised close to $6 million  which just goes to show what a small community can do.

Katikati St John paramedic Karen Gordon and Mike Williams of the Katikati St John committee inspect the emergency response trailer now housed at the Katikati St John Ambulance Station .

During the event, Mike presented members of the St John 365 committee with certificates of appreciation for their efforts in coordinating the fund raising.

The support of those who donated to the St John 365 (build in a year) fund is recognized in a special artwork on the wall inside the public foyer of the station.

Mike Williams of the Katikati St John committee with St John 365 Fund Raising Committee member Kirsty Warden.
Don Brash wants to end race-based policies in New Zealand  and hes not apologising for it.

The former Reserve Bank governor and politician is coming to Tauranga for a public discussion about Hobsons Pledge, the movement aiming to end perceived Maori separatism.

The group received a bruising from the media on their debut last month, which Don says echoes the reaction to his famous Orewa speech in 2004.

The mainstream media were very hostile, but the benefit was we got an enormous amount of coverage, says Don.

The extent of the coverage this time around was better than we could have dreamt possible. Yes, a lot of it was very negative, although not all of it.

In the Bay of Plenty, for example, where I spend a bit of time these days, almost everybody I speak to agrees with me.

Don says Hobsons Pledge has been called racial intolerant, despite their ambition to see all races equal under the law.

We want the same political rights for all New Zealanders, regardless of when they or their ancestors came to New Zealand.

He wants to scrap the Maori seats, but supports Maori Television, because its an important way of preserving the culture.

But its not our only culture, says Don.

He says he went to a grandparents day concert at his grandchildrens North Shore primary school, where most of the pupils were of European or Asian descent.

However, every single item performed was Maori.

I have absolutely no problem acknowledging Maori culture, says Don. But I worry the impression created at that school was Maori culture is New Zealands only culture.

Politics aside, the name of the group has often been confused with Hobsons Choice: a situation in which there is no real choice at all. For example, take it or leave it. Some might see this as ironic, but Don reveals it was actually their original name for the group.

Initially, we called it Hobsons Choice, and it had two meanings. Firstly, it was what Governor Hobson chose for New Zealand, in a sense, making us one people.

But its second meaning referred to the fact that, at the time, there was only one political party sharing the message. So in that sense, there was a political Hobsons Choice  for example, no choice.

Then we discovered Hobsons Choice was the name of a bacon company. So we couldnt use it, laughs Don.

He believes there is a lot of support in Tauranga for this political movement  and hes hoping for a high turnout.

The free public meeting is at Hotel Armitage from 1:30pm-2:30pm. For more information, visit: www.hobsonspledge.nz or contact Bonnie Leonard 0274933878.
Tauranga new city council has its first meeting today where the legal power to operate the city is handed over from chief executive Garry Poole to new mayor Greg Brownless and the new city council.

Garry Poole will chair the meeting until after the new council adopts standing orders, the legally required national rules by which New Zealand local bodies operate.

Also expected from the first meeting are the appointment and election of council committees and chairs.

The election of the deputy mayor is not required as Kelvin Clout was appointed at the swearing in ceremony last month  although the law does provide the council the legal ability to outvote the mayors decision.

The meeting begins at 1pm in the city council chambers.
The Louis Vuitton Americas Cup World Series in Fukuoka was the last platform to gain bonus points awarded for next year in Bermuda at the Americas Cup Qualifiers.

While four teams had a mathematical possibility of earning the points awarded to the top two finishers, it was Land Rover BAR, ORACLE TEAM USA and Emirates Team New Zealand acting as the three teams fighting for the top two positions.

Sir Ben Ainslie led the Land Rover BAR team to the top spot by winning the regatta, while Jimmy Spithills ORACLE TEAM USA fended off the Kiwis for a second position on the series leaderboard.

Its been an incredible day of racing and for our team, Land Rover BAR, to come out on top here in Fukuoka, Japan in the final race of the series, and to win the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup World Series, that was our goal and to achieve that is special for us," Ainslie said following the regatta.



While Land Rover BAR was the winner on the water, it was the cultural revelation of Japan embracing the America's Cup that provided the intense atmosphere for the racing itself.



This weekend has completely exceeded all my expectations," said Dean Barker, the skipper and CEO of SoftBank Team Japan. "The number of people that have turned up, both in the Event Village and out on the water, and the genuine support for the team, its just really cool, especially when you consider that this team is only just over a year and a half old. Weve not only quickly built up this following, weve also renewed interest in the Americas Cup and what it is now, so its been a fantastic experience."



For Japan's Kazuhiko Sofuko, the Fukuoka event was an amazing homecoming, with 'Fuku' quickly becoming a household hero in his home country. I am really quite overwhelmed about how well this event has gone and I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it happen," he said.

With the end of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, attention now shifts to Bermuda. The next racing in the America's Cup will be the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers, starting May 26, 2017.
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca police officers said they helped a man after he was shot Sunday by applying a tourniquet to control the bleeding.

Police were called to a report of "shots fired" about 7:20 p.m. Sunday in the area of the 100 block of South Meadow Street, according to an Ithaca Police Department news release. Responding officers found a man with a gunshot wound to the leg in the 600 block of West State Street and used the tourniquet to control the bleeding, the release said.

The victim, whose name or age was not released, was then transported to a regional trauma center, police said.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Ithaca police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact them by calling police dispatch at (607) 272-3245, police administration at (607) 272-9973 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at (607) 697-0333. Tips also can be submitted via Facebook or @IthacaPolice on Twitter.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- On the surface it looks as if Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry are open during the storm pounding Central New York Monday morning.

Seventeen college and trade schools are closed or have delayed opening this morning according to the list of school closings on Syracuse.com. SU and SUNY-ESF aren't among them.

Don't picture 23,000 plus students from SU and ESF trudging through howling winds on University Hill, though. The students are on Thanksgiving break.

While the students are gone, however, work goes on the for the staff.

SU's website said the university expects to remain "fully open and operational" today. Employees were expected to report to campus

"If employees encounter weather conditions that could affect their safety when traveling to/from the University, they should use their judgement as it relates to their travel. Faculty and staff concerned about their safety should contact their department head or supervisor respectively," the website said.

There are no notices on the SUNY-ESF website, but then again there are no classes either.

There were no messages from the university to staff about reporting for work, said Claire Dunn, director of communications. Most of her staff were in the office, she said.

"We're a hearty bunch," Dunn said.

Contact Charley Hannagan anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2161.
Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, chairman and CEO of Facebook, at the CEO summit during the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.

(Esteban Felix / AP)

Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Post's media columnist. Previously, she was The New York Times public editor, and the chief editor of The Buffalo News, her hometown paper.

By Margaret Sullivan | The Washington Post

Two days after the election of Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg found himself on the hot seat.

At a tech conference, an interviewer grilled the Facebook chief executive about the fake news that proliferates there, suggesting that it had swayed the election toward Trump. One widely shared story, for example, said that Pope Francis had endorsed the Republican nominee.

Zuckerberg scoffed:

"Personally I think the idea that fake news on Facebook, which is a very small amount of the content, influenced the election in any way -- I think is a pretty crazy idea. Voters make decisions based on their lived experience."

But since then, under fire (including from President Barack Obama who railed against the fake-news epidemic last week), Facebook has taken some positive steps.

Late Friday, Zuckerberg posted about how he grasps the seriousness of the problem and outlined the ways Facebook might deal with it. He mentioned third-party verification services; better ways for users to flag hoaxes; and efforts to keep fake websites from getting rich on advertising dollars.

That's welcome progress.

Now it's time for a bolder move: Facebook should hire a top-flight executive editor and give that person the resources, power and staff to make sound editorial decisions.

Zuckerberg may not want to call this person an editor, since he has been insistent that Facebook isn't a media company. He sees it as a technology company, a platform for connectivity. And indeed, Facebook itself does not produce news content but merely allows its community members to share their own offerings -- whether baby pictures or hoaxes about political candidates.

That's fine. Call this person the chief sharing officer or the engagement czarina.

Whatever the title, Facebook needs someone who can distinguish a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph from child pornography and who can tell a baseless lie from a thoroughly vetted investigative story.

What rules the roost at Facebook is "engagement." To oversimplify: The more an item is shared among your friends, the more likely you are to see it.

Clearly, that's not nearly enough. What's needed is sound judgment.

The Silicon Valley behemoth is a major news source -- for some demographic groups, the leading one. Its influence is only going in one direction: ever upward.

Understandably, Facebook doesn't want to turn into the world's censor in chief. And it shouldn't and doesn't have to.

When Zuckerberg said recently that identifying truth is hard, Ben Smith, chief editor of Buzzfeed, had a ready answer:

That might be the case, he said, "for algorithms and epistemologists. But it's something that professional journalists are asked to do every day, and it's not actually that complicated."

It comes down to judgment -- the kind that can't be done by complicated code or by relying on well-intentioned but vague "community standards."

The need for editorial judgment at Facebook didn't start with this post-election finger-pointing. It's been growing for many months.

Last summer, for example, a Minnesota woman named Diamond Reynolds used her smartphone to livestream a horrific scene onto Facebook: Her boyfriend, Philando Castile, had been fatally shot by a police officer. Her post was removed for about an hour -- Facebook said that was because of a technical glitch -- then restored.

Then, in September, Facebook deleted Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a Vietnamese girl fleeing a napalm attack because it violated the platform's standards on nudity and child pornography. When global outrage followed, it too was restored.

Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, has called on Zuckerberg to change his mind about Facebook's role in the media ecosystem.

"By acknowledging that Facebook can and should play a more active part in editing -- yes, editing -- its own platform, and hiring actual people to do so, Zuckerberg will further the civic commons as well as address a growing problem of how people perceive Facebook," she wrote in Columbia Journalism Review.

And last week, author Jeff Jarvis and tech entrepreneur John Borthwick, writing on Medium, offered 15 ways to combat the fake-news epidemic. Among them: hire some editors, "not to create content, not to edit ... but instead to bring a sense of public responsibility to their companies and products."

Editors, of course, are far from infallible. Most of them would be quick to admit that. But this move would put someone in charge -- at a high level -- who could help journalists and technologists talk to one another and who could make decisions based on sound judgment.

Would it be enough to stamp out fake news? Certainly not.

But Facebook's appointment of an executive editor would be a step forward, bringing accountability and good sense where it's sorely needed. It would also set a good example for other tech companies and social platforms that are grappling with the same problems.

Another "pretty crazy idea"? Maybe so. But one whose time has come.
Coal mining

In this Nov. 15, 2016 photo, a haul truck with a 250-ton capacity carries coal from the Spring Creek strip mine near Decker, Mont.

(Matthew Brown | AP)

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. (AP) -- The hard-eyed view along the Tug Fork River in West Virginia coal country is that President-elect Donald Trump has something to prove: that he'll help bring back Appalachian mining, as he promised time and again on the campaign trail. Nobody thinks he can revive it entirely -- not economists, not ex-miners, not even those recently called back to work.

But for the first time in years, coal towns are seeing a commodity that had grown scarcer than the coal trains that used to rumble through around the clock: hope.

Around here that hope is measured. Still, most voters saw Trump as the only choice for president. He vowed to undo looming federal rules and said President Barack Obama had been "ridiculous" to the industry. Trump told miners in Charleston: "We're going to take care of years of horrible abuse. I guarantee it."

West Virginians went all in, backing Trump and electing a coal mine-owning billionaire, Democrat Jim Justice, as governor.

But a lot of people had gone under already.

Coal miner, Roger Prater, of Williamson, W,Va., talks about being laid off for almost 20 months in Williamson , W.Va., Friday, Nov. 11, 2016.

"Lost my home, vehicle, everything," said Roger Prater. Wearing the miner's telltale blue pants with reflective strips on the legs, Prater would be heading underground that night. He'd been laid off for 20 months but now benefits from a small hiring surge that started before the election.

At 31, Prater said he can get everything back, but he's uncertain for how long.

"In Trump's term, I feel we'll do good, but after that who's to say?" he said.

That skepticism is supported by industry analysts, who say any recovery won't be centered in the eastern coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia and will never bring U.S. coal back to what it once was.

Last year, the nation had about 66,000 coal mining jobs -- the lowest since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began counting in 1978. That's down 20,000 since a high point in 2008, and preliminary data show 10,000 more lost this year.

Mines out west stand to gain the most under Trump because of the huge reserves beneath public lands in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah.

At the Wolf Mountain Coal company near Decker, Montana, superintendent Dave Bettcher said he's been praying Trump can do just that.

Wolf Mountain gets coal from the nearby Spring Creek strip mine, where operator Cloud Peak Energy has cut workforce and production. Wolf Mountain's 20 workers still have jobs, but Bettcher said eight years of anti-coal leadership in Washington have left the industry in peril.

"I believe in the guy," Bettcher said of Trump as a conveyor belt dumped coal into a truck bound for North Dakota. "If he can hold up his end, he's going to help a lot of people."

In January, the Obama administration -- prompted in part by concerns about climate change -- imposed a moratorium on new lease sales pending a three-year review of the federal coal program. Trump has vowed to rescind the moratorium, which could open huge coal reserves.

Burning them would unleash an estimated 3.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide -- equivalent to a year's worth of emissions from 700 million cars, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations. But Trump has promised, too, to roll back Obama's Clean Power Plan, emissions restrictions that would make it more expensive for utilities to use the fuel.

Such proposals would "level the playing field for coal," allowing it to better compete with natural gas and renewable energies, said coal analyst Andy Roberts with the firm Wood Mackenzie.

Yet industry executives expect that pressure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will continue.

"It can't just be, 'We're going to get rid of these regulations, and you guys can party until the next administration comes,'" Cloud Peak Energy Vice President Richard Reavey said. "There are serious global concerns about climate emissions. We have to recognize that's a political reality and work within that framework."

Owners of more than 200 coal plants, almost half the nation's total, plan to retire the facilities by 2025, said Mary Ann Hitt, director of the Sierra Club's anti-coal campaign. That trend is unlikely to be reversed, she said, with wind and solar power becoming more cost effective and natural gas offering a cheap alternative.

But Hitt said environmentalists would be naive to think they've won.

"The coal industry is going to have friends in high places," she said.

In West Virginia, Justice reopened four of his mines this month, saying they'll provide 375 jobs, before being elected governor. They produce metallurgical coal for making steel; its price has risen sharply with lower Chinese production. Justice acknowledged during campaigning that the coal business is tough -- mining jobs in the state fell to about 15,000 last year, with 7,000 gone since 2008 -- but said he believes it will help power the U.S. economy and West Virginia's future.

"You're going to see more miners go back to work in West Virginia to some level," he said.

On Saturday, Justice said he and Trump talked for 15 minutes about efforts to put miners back to work. He didn't disclose specifics.

For now, Williamson resembles the small Rust Belt cities of the North after factories closed, leaving empty storefronts and sidewalks. On a recent afternoon, a young man stood on the city bridge over the Tug Fork, which mostly separates southern West Virginia from Kentucky, holding a sign asking for help.

Greg Blankenship from Pike County, Kentucky, across the river, lost his $50,000-a-year mining job in 2009 and got a lower-paying county job months later. His father made a good living as a miner and raised three kids. At 44, Blankenship hopes Trump's election means he'll be able to go back but says he knows "the president can't do everything."

He's right: Trump won't control the economics of low natural gas prices or slow global growth, two big factors hurting coal demand, said John Deskins, director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Trump will have some control over environmental regulation, but it's not clear how much.

Gary Chapman, 25, has worked right along for almost eight years, surviving seven layoffs, though he'd been down to four shifts a week. He returned to five or six shifts, including overtime, days before the election.

"I believe they'll bring a lot of it back," he said. "Do I believe it will be what it used to be? No. It'll never be that again."
MarketWatch

After record-breaking sales of I-bonds in October, the U.S. Treasury is dangling another good deal in front of savers for the next six months. Starting Nov. 2, when I-bonds will be available again after site maintenance at TreasuryDirect.gov, the inflation-adjusted annualized rate will be 6.89%, down from 9.62%. The fixed rate at the time of purchase will stay with the bond as long as you hold it  up to 30 years  but the inflation adjustment resets every six months in November and May.
*** CONTENT NOTE: the production this article discusses is trigger warned for sexual violence and miscarriage ***

The striking tableau created onstage by the cast of Bed as the audience entered the theatre set the tone for a bizarre, intriguing and saddening performance. The sleepers stood upright, with a white sheet and pillows suspended around them, and the surrounding set gave an effective impression of the abstract dream-world the characters inhabit.

This play is an ambitious challenge, particularly on a student budget, as its very form demands innovative staging and set design. The production team behind this rendition did a fairly good job: the use of projection onto the bed sheet was particularly well thought out and added excellently to the dream-like emotional intensity of certain moments. But overall the production choices left the performance very static, making it difficult for the actors to maintain the initial energy of the piece.

A couple of, admittedly minor, points need to be made about the lighting: though the lighting plan was often successfully atmospheric, there were moments where it hindered the performance. The key monologues were performed in a harsh spotlight which, because the actors didnt seem to be front-lit, cast shadows across their faces so that facial expressions were completely obscured. Frequent and sharp changes in lighting sets felt somewhat disorientating and clunky, where slower cross fades might have been slicker.

The acting was generally of a good standard. Shimal De Silvai must be commended for her energetic portrayal of the Sermon Head, particularly considering the staging choices limited her almost entirely to use of only vocal and facial expression. Maya Yousif gave an emotive rendition of her final, poignant speech which provided a cleverly jarring moment of emotional realism within the abstract domain of the play. Unfortunately, the whole performance lacked any dynamic tension and so truly powerful moments such as this lost their shimmer amongst many lulls in pace and vigour. I cannot decide if this was a symptom of staging and directorial choices which were a little too restrictive, or a slight lack of commitment to the dramatic style on the part of the performers.

If you are going to put on a play that relies on expressive movement and elements of physical theatre, then every movement of the actors must be decisive and actually expressive, rather than lack-lustre and undefined. A particularly low ebb in this respect came as two actors did a really poor job of frantically looking for a glass of water amongst the relatively minimalist set; there was almost no true commitment to this action. Sustained energy and dynamism is something which I dont feel is beyond the capabilities of the team behind Bed. So many elements of the production appear to have been well devised and choreographed: there were some truly powerful, exciting theatrical moments in the play. It is just a shame that these could not be unified to produce a coherent whole. I found myself willing the actors to make more daring decisions, rather than just appeal emotively to the audience, in order to truly portray the strange and nightmarish limbo in which they appear to be trapped.

6/10
The minds behind Cambridge Experimental present a fun and playful farce and make a good effort to reinvent Jarrys pataphysical masterpiece Ubu Roi in such a way that, above all else, it flagrantly resembles a theatrical interpretation of a Chanson Paillarde. It prioritises aesthetic over subtext, but the strength of the cast sees it through to a satisfying conclusion.

The energy and commitment of the cast was admirable, and mostly worked, even if lines got lost and there was often little light and shade in their way of expressing themselves. It works because you are struck by the sense that they hadnt really been given the task of acting, but of presenting. Incoherent babbling like 'Allo 'Allo! on steroids actually added a certain something to the proceedings, and the conviction with which Ma and Pa Ubu expressed their characters pulled the audience along on a riotous spin through the highs and lows of King Ubus regime. Donald Trump: take note! Grainne Dromgoole as Ma Ubu is the highlight of the production and reacted well to stimulus, whether that was Henry Baxter in the titular role of Pa Ubu or a particularly shapely courgette. All the performers maintained intensity throughout, though none perfected the knitted brow quite as well as Jasper Vardag-Hunter in the role of Piles, bracing himself for the aneurysm that could have come at any moment.

There were too many cheap thrills, naked men deep-throating microphones and penises drawn on hands, to be hard-hitting or shocking. This deviated from the creative approach that might have come from injecting nuance and more inspired direction. Truly, only two things were uncomfortable  the salmon pink ponchos that clung cloyingly to the flesh, and the very real attempt to blind me with a handful of glitter. This was either a clever metaphor for the way in which we, as individuals, are blinded by the glitz and the three-ring circus: blind to real issues (the glitter was an act of war, ostensibly) and global political climate, then egotistically occupied with our own sight where we could be paying attention to the abattoir tableau onstage  or it was the fault of an overzealous cast member. Though willing to give this performance the benefit of the doubt, I want the head of the aforementioned cast member on a silver platter, preferably dipped in glitter.

This production was very good and much fun was had by all. It did slightly feel like it built up towards nothing in particular, and there was no climax, but that is not necessarily a bad thing in the case of plays such as this. It could also be the reflection of the fact that it is one of those shows that you could happily continue watching for hours, engaging in the most raucous ribaldry ever dreamt up and forced onto a Cantabrigian stage.

8/10
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Google on Monday posted to the Internet a previously unpublicized flaw that could pose a security threat to users of the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Google notified both Microsoft and Adobe of zero day vulnerabilities in their software on Oct. 21, wrote Neel Mehta and Billy Leonard, members of Googles Threat Analysis Group, in an online post.

Google has a policy of making critical vulnerabilities public seven days after it informs a software maker about them. Adobe was able to fix its vulnerability within seven days; Microsoft was not.

This [Windows] vulnerability is particularly serious because we know it is being actively exploited, wrote Mehta and Leonard.

However, Googles Chrome browser prevents exploitation of the vulnerability when running in Windows 10, they added.

Flaw Not Critical

Microsoft challenged Googles analysis of the Windows flaw in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by spokesperson Charlotte Heesacker.

We disagree with Googles characterization of a local elevation of privilege as critical and particularly serious, since the attack scenario they describe is fully mitigated by the deployment of the Adobe Flash update released last week, Microsoft said.

After cracking a system, hackers typically try to elevate their privileges in it to obtain access to increasingly sensitive data.

Additionally, our analysis indicates that this specific attack was never effective against the Windows 10 Anniversary Update due to security enhancements previously implemented, Microsoft noted.

The Windows vulnerability Googles team discovered is a local privilege escalation in the Windows kernel that can be used as a security sandbox escape triggered by a win32k.sys call, according to Mehta and Leonard.

The sandbox in Googles Chrome browser blocks win32k.sys calls using the Win32k lockdown mitigation on Windows 10, which prevents exploitation of the sandbox escape vulnerability, they explained in their post.

Short Deadline

Although Google contrasted Adobes quick action in patching its zero day vulnerability with Microsofts inaction, the comparison may be less than fair.

The time to patch code in Adobe Reader or Flash versus something that integrates into an operating system is considerably different, said Brian Martin, director of vulnerability intelligence at Risk Based Security.

What takes time is not so much changing the code as testing it after its changed, he explained.

If Microsoft patches code in one version of Windows, it will likely affect several other versions, Martin told TechNewsWorld.

Then they have platform issues  32-bit and 64-bit  and then the different versions  home, professional, server, whatever, he pointed out.

The amount of time it takes to patch it is one thing, he said. The amount of time to go through the full QA cycle is another. Seven days is generally considered unrealistic for an operating system.

To Disclose or Not

The short deadline was necessary because it saw the vulnerability being exploited by hackers, Googles team maintained. That logic, though can be a two-edged sword.

To me, this doesnt ultimately help achieve everyones goal, which should be keeping consumers and their data safe, said Udi Yavo, CTO of enSilo.

By disclosing a vulnerability early, without allowing time for a patch, Google opened up the small pool of people who found the vulnerability and knew how to exploit it, to all, he told TechNewsWorld.

However, keeping the vulnerability under wraps at all is questionable, suggested Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Considering how closely the hacker community communicates, seven days may have been too much time, he told TechNewsWorld.

Google was being a friendly corporate citizen by letting Microsoft know about the vulnerability, but in my mind it would have been more appropriate to make it public knowledge once you see it in the wild, McGregor said.

A vulnerability can spread though the hacker community in milliseconds, he remarked. By not making the vulnerability public, the only people who dont know about it are the people who should know about it.
Despite previously downplaying the effect of Facebook's fake news stories, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a plan over the weekend to tackle the growing problem. In a post on the social media site, the CEO outlined some of the projects designed to stop the spread of misinformation, including the use of third-party fact-checking organizations.

Zuckerberg's announcement came the day after Barack Obama spoke out against fake news items appearing on platforms such as Facebook. "If we are not serious about facts and what's true and what's not, if we can't discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems," the President said during a news conference in Germany.

Earlier this month, Zuckerberg said the idea that Facebook's fake news items influenced the US elections was "crazy," and that it took a "profound lack of empathy" to conclude someone voted the way they did based on an untrue social media story.

In Saturday's Facebook post, Zuckerberg seemed to backtrack on these comments.

The bottom line is: we take misinformation seriously. Our goal is to connect people with the stories they find most meaningful, and we know people want accurate information. We've been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously. We've made significant progress, but there is more work to be done.

The CEO stressed that Facebook does not want to discourage the sharing of content or restrict accurate news items. "We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties," he wrote.

To address the "relatively small" amount of misinformation on Facebook, the company is introducing better technical systems to detect fake news before people flag it themselves. It has also reached out to fact checking organizations, will make it easier to report fake items, and is exploring labeling stories that have been flagged, which will show warnings when people read or share them.

Additionally, Facebook is working with those in the news industry to understand their fact checking systems. Zuckerberg also noted that, like Google, his company now prevents fake news sites from using its ad networks to generate revenue.

There's no timeline for when these projects will come into effect, and he stated that "some of these ideas will work well, and some will not."

It was reported last week that a group of Facebook employees had created an unofficial task force to stop fake news stories. Whether it will now become an official part of the solution is unclear.
You may have heard about the Italian Neurosurgeon, Sergio Canavero, who plans to carry out the world's first human head transplant next year. Having secured a volunteer for the operation, the professor has just unveiled a virtual reality system that will hopefully "prepare patients for life in a new body," an experience that could cause unexpected psychological reactions.

Professor Canavero is determined to perform the operation in 2017 on wheelchair user Valery Spiridonov, who runs an educational software company in Russia and suffers from the muscle-wasting Werdnig-Hoffman disease.

Assuming the complex transplant take place, Spiridonov will have his head nearly frozen - reaching around 12 to 15 degrees Celsius - to stop his cells from dying, making him temporarily brain dead. His brain will then be drained of blood and flushed, and tubes made of Silastic will be used to tie up the carotid and jugular veins. These will be loosened to allow circulation when the head is attached to the new body.

Surgeons will slice through the spinal cords of both Spiridonov and the brain-dead donor using a $200,000 custom-made diamond nanoblade that can control cuts to a micrometer. After this part of the operation, the transplant must be completed within an hour, at which point the blood from his new body will theoretically raise Spiridonov's head back to normal temperatures.

To prepare Spiridonov for the procedure, US company Inventum Bioengineering Technologies has created a new VR system that will help acclimatize him to the sensation of having a different body and being able to walk. Precise details of the VR experience are unclear, but we do know that Spiridonov will require months of sessions before the operation takes place.

"We are combining the latest advancements in virtual reality to develop the world's first protocol for preparing the patient for bodily freedom after the transplantation procedure," said Inventum CEO Alexander Pavlovcik.

Canavero claims to have performed the head transplant on both a monkey and a dog, and successfully reconnected the severed spinal cords of mice. One of the many people taking part in the operation will be Ren Xiaoping, a controversial surgeon from the Harbin Medical University in China who has conducted 1000 head transplant operation on mice.

Many within the scientific community have expressed concerns over the procedure. Not only do they believe the chance of success to be extremely slim, but there are fears that Spiridonov could suffer a level of insanity never before experienced in human history.

"I would not wish this on anyone," said Hunt Batjer, president of the American Association for Neurological Surgeons. "I would not allow anyone to do it to me as there are a lot of things worse than death."

Canavero is still looking for a location to perform next year's procedure, though it seems the UK and China are favorites. We'll have to wait and see if it works, and whether the virtual reality experience helps Spiridonov cope with the effects.
Microsoft's upcoming Creators Update for Windows 10 will, among other things, add native support for virtual and augmented reality headsets. The update is still several months out although details are starting to trickle in.

According to The Verge, the latest test builds of Windows 10 include a Windows Holographic First Run app intended to gauge a machine's compatibility and readiness as it relates to virtual reality. Having run the app on a variety of machines, it appears as though the minimum requirements are as follows:

A processor with at least four cores (including dual-core chips with four threads)

At least 4GB of system RAM

A graphics card compatible with DirectX 12

An undisclosed amount of free disk space

USB 3.0 support

While the requirements are a touch vague at this point, it would appear as though Microsoft's platform is a bit less demanding than the proprietary software used by the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, respectively. Then again, it's also not clear as to the level complexity of apps and games that these minimum specs encompass.

At its Surface Studio event in New York City last month, Microsoft said it was partnering with a number of tech firms including Asus, Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo on the development of virtual reality headsets that utilize six-degree-of-freedom head tracking.

More information regarding that collaboration - and perhaps a comprehensive list of minimum and recommended Windows Holographic specs - is expected sometime in December.
GOES-R, the most advanced weather satellite of the United States was launched on Nov 19, Saturday. The rocket, carrying the satellite lifted off with jets of orange and yellow flames aiming to enter an orbit that is 22,000 miles above the Earth.

Launched atop an Atlas V rocket, GOES-R is a collaborative mission between NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The four-satellite program (GOES-R/S/T/U) is seeking to expand the ongoing GOES satellite system's operations until 2036.

Fitted with the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system, GOES-R is the 16th in the series of satellites that will be observing meteorological conditions on Earth.

Designed for 10 years of operational life GOES-R will be renamed GOES-16, once it enters the orbit.

Michael Curie, NASA's launch commentator described the liftoff as "America's most advanced weather eye in the sky."

In the words of Curie, the liftoff has elevated environmental intelligence to new heights.

Smooth Launch of GOES-R

At 6:42 p.m. Eastern, the United Launch Alliance rocket and GOES-R spacecraft roared into the sky with a smooth climb.

The two-stage Atlas V rocked was backed by four solid-fueled boosters, which leaped off from the Space Launch Complex 41 on Florida's East Coast to the sky above the Atlantic Ocean.

"The flight hardware performed beautifully throughout the count and the weather was perfect," said Omar Baez, the NASA launch director.

A few minutes after the launch, the single-engine Centaur upper stage took over the propelling of the three-ton satellite to the low-Earth orbit before ushering it to the designated geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Three-and-a-half hours later, the GOES-R spacecraft segregated from the Centaur and the satellite started flying on its own to the planned orbit. The solar arrays meant for providing power to the spacecraft were also unfurled.

GOES Legacy Of Four Decades

In 1975, the first operational GOES satellite was launched. Later the NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center took over the launches in 2000 and placed the GOES-L into space, using the Atlas IIA rocket.

Already, a group of GOES or Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite is in orbit and delivering objective observations of the Western Hemisphere. What makes GOES-R special is the status as the most advanced in the series.

GOES-R is deemed a game changer as it will be using the most advanced instruments in the operational mode for observation of weather on Earth and deliver them with extreme accuracy in storm intensity, Earth related developments, solar and space weather.

In terms of efficiency, GOES-R will be delivering three times more spectral information, spatial resolution and five times more coverage than previous GOES satellites.

The new weather satellite will deliver real-time lightning maps and imagery with updates coming at every 30 seconds.

"Soon, we'll have an asset for forecasting that is basically a closed-circuit television looking at our weather," added Omar Baez.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kanye West just had a meltdown on stage, blasting that Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and the radio lied to you.

A Sacramento concert ended shortly after beginning, as Kanye felt more like ranting rather than singing. Just three songs in, the star cut the concert short and ended the show with a 15-minute rant about lies, feelings, unfairness, the internet, the radio, fellow stars, aliens and more.

TheFader has a full transcript of Kanye's Sacramento show meltdown and it's a lot to take in.

Kanye West Meltdown

Beyonce hurt Kanye, Jay Z won't call him back, the radio lied, Facebook lied, Zuckerberg lied, Google lied, MTV played favorites, only iPhones are "originals," Obama failed to make America great  these are only a few topics Kanye West complained about.

Facebook And Google Lied

Following the U.S. presidential elections, Facebook went under fire for spreading fake news and misinforming the public, affecting the elections as a result and leading up to Donald Trump's win. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was compelled to make a lengthy statement regarding this matter, dismissing claims that fake news on Facebook had anything to do with the election results.

At the same time, Google also had some trouble fending off fake news, listing a fake website as the top result for searches on the final election numbers.

With this in mind, Kanye blasted that both Facebook and Google lied to you, and news misinformed people that Hillary Clinton was ahead of the race only to find out that Donald Trump has actually won the elections and became the president of the United States.

People Feel Like They Lost

Kanye said that many people feel like they lost, and that's because they were lied to.

"You might not like it, but they gotta hear it. I ain't here to massage you with a fake truth, telling you that Hillary gon' win over and over and over and then you wake up [and] you still can't believe it! You know why? Because you was lied to by Google. You was lied to by Mark Zuckerberg," ranted Kanye.

He went on to ask Zuckerberg if he'd call this time, if he's right this time. Earlier this year, Kanye asked Zuckerberg for $1 billion that he never got, so Kanye also ranted about this at the Sacramento concert on Saturday. He also said Zuckerberg promised he'd help back then, but he "went to look for aliens."

It remains to be seen whether Zuckerberg will answer this time or just chalk it down to yet another Kanye meltdown, as it's not the first time the rapper goes off like this.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft continues to aggressively push its Windows 10 OS and features, and the latest trick is a pop-up telling users that Edge is safer than Chrome and Firefox.

To say that Microsoft has heavily promoted Windows 10 would be a gross understatement. The company went above and beyond to push its latest operating system and harassed users with constant notifications, pop-ups, alerts and other nagware.

Not too long ago, Microsoft started pushing intrusive notifications alerting users that Google Chrome drained their device's battery life faster than the Microsoft Edge browser. In fact, Microsoft said that Edge was the best browser for battery life, but it didn't stop there.

Windows Tips

Earlier this month, Microsoft started a blatant Windows 10 promotion that urged Google Chrome users to switch to Microsoft Edge. Microsoft served these suggestions as Windows Tips notifications, but instead of getting tips on how to navigate the OS or use various features, Chrome users got Edge ads that Microsoft denied were ads.

Microsoft is now at it again, introducing a new Windows tip that now informs Chrome and Firefox users that Edge is safer. According to the pop-up, Edge can fend off 21 percent more socially engineered malware compared to its rivals, VentureBeat reports.

The new notification tip appears just above the Edge task bar icon and aims to convince more Windows 10 users to rely on Edge for their browsing needs. Still, Microsoft allows users to opt out of such notifications, at least in theory.

To turn this feature off, head over to Settings > System > Notifications and toggle off "Get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows."

If this doesn't work, however, it wouldn't be the first time. There have been cases before when users disabled various Windows 10 features only to see Microsoft continue its aggressive push, ignoring their settings.

Microsoft Edge Push

Microsoft Edge is not among the most popular browsers currently in use, and not for lack of trying. Microsoft has constantly struggled to improve its browser and appeal to more users, promising to keep hackers at bay, preserve battery life and more, to no avail.

Other browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera are still leading the charge and it remains to be seen whether this new Edge promotion will work out in its favor or in its detriment. Users tend to get frustrated by intrusive ads and aggressive promotions, so the end result could be opposite of what Microsoft's hoping for.

Have you tried out Microsoft Edge? If not, would such an ad promoting it as the safer option convince you to switch from Chrome or Firefox to Edge? Let us know in the comment section below.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung wants users to know that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are safe to use and that they shouldn't worry about the devices catching fire.

This move is presumably to assure consumers that the fiasco surrounding the canceled Galaxy Note 7 is an isolated case and that the Galaxy S7 family doesn't have faulty batteries.

Of course, after the whole debacle of the phablet, it's reasonable why some customers would be wary of getting a Samsung handset as their day-to-day device, and by the same token, it's also understandable why the company is releasing such a statement.

Don't Fear The Galaxy S7

Samsung has released a brief statement that acknowledges some of the incidents that involve a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge exploding, but it says that there's still no confirmation they have been caused by internal battery failures.

"Samsung stands behind the quality and safety of the Galaxy S7 family. There have been no confirmed cases of internal battery failures with these devices among the more than 10 million devices being used by consumers in the United States; however, we have confirmed a number of instances caused by severe external damage," the South Korean manufacturer says.

It also mentions that until it can acquire and examine a device that caught fire, it's "impossible to determine the true cause."

The Recent Exploding Galaxy S7 Incidents

For starters, one incident worth pointing out is when a Galaxy S7 started to flare up in a Winnipeg man's pocket and combusted when he grabbed it, leaving the owner with second-degree burns on his hands and third-degree burns on his wrists.

Another noteworthy instance is when a Galaxy S7 edge burst into flames at a time when the Galaxy Note 7 debacle was beginning to die down.

According to the unfortunate owner, the handset was a replacement unit that was part of the Galaxy Note 7 recall program, which more or less adds insult to injury.

They said that they had left the device charging overnight with the official charger included in the box, taking out of the equation that a third-party charger may have caused the incident.

The Bottom Line

There haven't been that many reported cases of an exploding Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge  compared with the Galaxy Note 7, at least. However, there's no reason not to trust Samsung's statement regarding the safety of the smartphones in question.

Interestingly enough, the company's marketing group may have thought it was a good idea to assure customers about the current flagships the brand has in store with Black Friday around the corner.

Will you be nabbing the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge considering all of this? Feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Findings of a new study have found an association between sexual activity and the risk of developing prostate cancer in men.

Researchers of the study published in the International Journal of Cancer have found that the more sexual partners a man has had, the higher his risk of developing prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer among men in the United States.

More Sexual Partners And Early Puberty

Study researcher Visalini Nair-Shalliker, a research fellow at Cancer Council NSW, and colleagues involved 10,000 men to examine the potential risk factors for prostate cancer and found that the risk of developing the condition increases with the number of a man's sexual partners.

Men who had more than seven sexual partners in their lifetimes have twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared with those with fewer than three sexual partners.

Researchers likewise found that men who had their first sexual contact before reaching the age of 17, those who had more than five orgasms in a month before diagnosis and those who entered puberty earlier had increased odds for the disease.

Not A Causal Link

Nair-Shalliker explained that sexual activity and metabolism were linked with the male sex hormone antigen, which is also associated with the initiation of prostate cancer.

She said that it is important to identify the factors that can increase risks for the disease so men could be advised. Men who are older than 50 years old who have risk factors are urged to speak to their doctors particularly if they also have a family history of the disease.

An earlier study suggests that men men with metastatic prostate cancer should get genetic testing since the result may also benefit their family members.

The researcher, however, said that having more sexual partners does not necessarily cause prostate cancer. The study merely found an association between the two.

"We can't make any recommendations around sexual activity because it's multi-faceted," Nair-Shalliker said. "We're not saying 'increase or decrease your sexual activity' because the evidence is still gray about that."

Body Size

Obesity or being overweight was also linked to an increased risk, albeit to a lesser extent.

"No associations were found between [prostate cancer] risk and vertex balding, erectile function, acne, circumcision, vasectomy, asthma or diabetes. These results support a role for adult body size, sexual activity and adolescent sexual development in [prostate cancer] development," the researchers wrote in their study.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
U.S. network operator T-Mobile, which already has its Magenta Friday sale on, is poised to entice consumers with some amazing deals as part of its T-Mobile Tuesdays promotion.

For those wondering what T-Mobile Tuesdays is all about, it is basically a new application from the carrier which expresses gratitude to its customers by showering a lucky few with recurrent Customer Exclusives i.e. presents. T-Mobile customers also have the opportunity to win major prizes every Tuesday.

The carrier's current deals are for Tuesday, Nov. 22. The T-Mobile Tuesdays offer has the Thanksgiving eCookbook up for grabs, to help you whip up some tasty meals for the holiday.

That is not all, T-Mobile is also set to gift customers plenty more goodies such as free plane tickets, subscription to ShopRunner and more.

To be eligible to participate one must be over 18 years (or 21 years if in Puerto Rico) and "on a T-Mobile branded monthly rate plan, including consumer and business, postpaid and prepaid plans." To participate the line has to have an active status.

How To Participate?

This is week number 25 for T-Mobile Tuesdays and the "Game" will start on Nov. 22 at 5:00 a.m. ET and end at 4:59:59 a.m. ET on Nov. 23.

To participate, any person who is "eligible to win epic prizes can visit amoe.T-MobileTuesdays.com and follow the instructions to register and enter for a chance to win prizes from T-Mobile and our select Partners," said the carrier.

Here's a look at the free gifts one can win thanks to T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Thanksgiving eCookbook

This recipe book is from Weldon Owen and BookShout and will help you rustle up not only a turkey, but a grand holiday feast in a jiffy.

ShopRunner Subscription

Customers also get gifted a 6-month subscription to ShopRunner for free. This entitles then to 2-day shipping at over 140 retailers.

Free Lyft Ride

T-Mobile also offers a free Lyft ride worth $15 to its customers as part of the promotion. The ride, however, can only be redeemed till Friday, Nov. 25.

Grand Prize

The grand prize winner of T-Mobile Tuesdays will get a gift card worth $2,500 from Sur La Table. This is a site that retails blenders, homeware, coffee makers etc.

The winner also gets two airplane tickets, round trip, worth $1,200. These tickets can be used to visit or call family over for Thanksgiving. That is not all, there is also a check of $1,585 included to cover any taxes/other expenses.

First And Second Prizes

A Demeyere Industry5 Roasting Pan is the first prize for 25 winners. There are 200 second prizes and these people get a code that gives them access to one session of an online cooking class from Sur La Table.

Checkout all the prizes from T-Mobile as part of its T-Mobile Tuesdays promo in the Thanksgiving week.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung kicked off the Android 7.0 Nougat beta program for its flagship Galaxy S7 edge and Galaxy S7 smartphones in early November. Thanks to the beta program, users of the handsets in the United States, China, the UK and South Korea could register and get access to the firmware's beta version once they were selected.

Those excited by the news will be a little disheartened to know that the Android 7.0 Nougat beta for the Samsung smartphones does not bring support for the Gear VR headset.

That's right, if you attempt to connect your Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7 smartphone to the Gear VR headset, you will not be able to establish a connection.

This news was first reported by the folks at VRheads who share that once one installs the preview version of Android 7.0 Nougat on their Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge smartphone, access to any Gear VR games is lost.

What's The Issue?

When a user opens the Oculus Store app post the installation of Android Nougat beta on their Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7 smartphone, they are greeted with the "Network error" message and asked to try again later.

When the app on the smartphone attempts to connect to the Oculus Store, this error message basically stops the entire virtual setting from loading. Therefore, Gear VR cannot be used in conjunction with either smartphone running the beta version of Android 7.0 Nougat.

Why The Error?

The error message likely pops up because the Oculus app is not updated to support Android 7.0 Nougat beta.

Any Workarounds?

No temporary workaround to make Gear VR work on the beta version of the Android Nougat OS for the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge is available currently. Moreover, it is unlikely that an Oculus Services update will be pushed out to address the problem during the beta stage because Samsung's beta program is not performance-optimized yet.

However, we anticipate that Samsung will push out an update before it rolls out the public release of Android 7.0 Nougat for its flagships.

Any Other Solution?

If you have updated your phone to Android 7.0 Nougat beta and wish to use the Gear VR headset in tandem with your Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7, there is only one option - downgrade to Marshmallow.

To do so, you have to deregister from the Galaxy Beta Program via the app. Once this is done, you will be prompted to install a file. Installing this will enable you to roll back to the latest and most stable available firmware for your Samsung handset.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Uber Introduces UberWEDDINGS Service In Delhi | TechTree.com

World's most valuable start-up, Uber, changed the way people commute in most countries including India. Compared to the incredibly rude can and auto-rickshaw drivers, Uber offers excellent experience at a slightly higher cost. After providing an option to get around the city with less hassle, the American app cab service is now planning to assist you in the last minute errands.







Since your family would be rushing to get things done, you can buy promo codes for them in times when currency notes are hard to come by. This also helps you keep track of your travel expenses. Uber is also offering a way to generate custom promo codes that can be shared with your guests. What's more, the company will even print and ship those coupons to you. The UberWEDDINGS service is live in Delhi NCR. Interested parties can request for the plans by applying on this website.





TAGS: Uber
Fresno County supervisors have slapped a moratorium on cellphone towers that a company has proposed building in three areas of the county, and they are not alone in their concerns about the Southern California firms plans.The same company, Mobilitie , also told the cities of Clovis and Fresno it wants to build the same 120-foot-high towers at seven other sites along public right-of-way, which could be along roads or sidewalks, or in medians.Earlier this year, the company sent similar letters to communities in Connecticut, which have since banded together seeking action from the states public utilities authority.The companys plans differ from how other firms propose and build cellphone towers, which generally involves the purchase of private property and county approval before construction.The countys 45-day moratorium allows officials to evaluate requirements they could place on the towers. The steel tower construction is markedly different from how other communication infrastructure is built on public land, such as utility poles.The utility poles that go in the public right-of-way are generally designed to have some give or break away, said Bernard Jimenez, deputy Fresno County planning director. If you have a 120-foot steel tower with a 4-foot diameter and cement foundation, thats not going to have a lot of give.County Counsel Dan Cederborg said the company could obtain rights to construct in public right-of-way, but typically the county requires a permit that allows access to the property.While state law allows high-tech equipment on public property, he said, It doesnt stop the local agency from developing necessary standards within the zoning processes.The 45-day moratorium could be extended to 10 months because Cederborg expects the process to take months to resolve. He said the county will meet with companies that build towers, as well as other cities and affected agencies.Representatives of AT&T told Fresno County supervisors Tuesday that they oppose the countys moratorium. Cederborg said they werent the focus of this issue because they generally use cell towers on private property.A spokeswoman for Mobilitie said the company works cooperatively with public agencies across the country and in California to improve technologies to meet current and future wireless demand.Most communities that we work with are excited to bring such technological innovation to their residents  opening new jobs and new services that support community growth, said Colleen Williams, a spokeswoman for Mobilitie. That forward view allows municipalities like these to stay ahead of the innovation curve and not be left behind.But, she added, Jurisdictions that choose to create roadblocks are doing their citizens a disservice and are ultimately deepening the digital divide. As a result, carriers will move on to build and invest elsewhere.Cederborg said Fresno County isnt trying to block access to better technology services. If people want the services, these will have to go somewhere, he said.A spokeswoman for the California Public Utilities Commission said local agencies have the final say in the way towers are built.Local governments have primary authority to approve tower sites, said Constance Gordon, a CPUC spokeswoman.In Mobilities Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which is required before a company can build facilities in California, the company said it does not intend to construct any facilities, other than equipment to be installed in existing buildings or structures.Under this state permit, Cederborg said, the company does not have authority to build towers on public land.But Williams said the company is in the process of applying for an additional permit.David Wolfe, Clovis city attorney, said the city could authorize an encroachment permit to allow construction in the citys public right-of-way.He said it appears Mobilitie has a limited right of necessity, which would require the citys permission to build towers.We dont intend on leasing our rights away for a cell tower, Wolfe said. Our concern is that this company isnt very straightforward.Before building actual facilities, the states certificate says the company must file for additional authority and submit to any necessary California Environmental Quality Act review.Mobilitie also wrote to Fresno city officials explaining plans to build 120-foot towers at about six locations throughout the city.The Fresno City Council conducted a recent workshop to propose new policies that would allow poles and other facilities in public right-of-way. The city likely will require permits before tall poles can be built.Some of those guidelines could include prohibiting new poles in front of homes or apartments without construction of a block wall, setting poles back from intersections and driveways to maintain sight lines for motorists and require five feet of sidewalk clearance for pedestrians.Fresno also has a height limit for towers of 45 feet. Any would require the public works directors approval.Were supportive of technology businesses and consumers having better service, said Scott Mozier, Fresnos public works director. Were not in a position to say no everywhere, but we can set criteria.He said state and federal court rulings support giving discretion to cities in granting wireless carriers access to city right-of-way.The state Public Utilities Commission documented several different issues with Mobilitie in other states. The agency reported the company failed to comply with reporting rules and didnt make fee payments.In its certification, the state ruled that the company now meets its guidelines after hiring a third-party firm to ensure that it meets rules in those states.Earlier this year, Mobilitie sent letters to several Connecticut communities saying it was going to build 120-foot towers, which met with resistance from local officials who brought the issue to that states Public Utility Regulatory Authority.Michael Milone, town manager in Cheshire, population 29,000, said the communities, many of which have centuries-old buildings, were told in writing by Mobilitie they had no recourse.This was like a demand letter telling us this is what were going to do and gave us a map, Milone said.In Cheshire, he said, the company wanted to place antennas and equipment on existing structures such as poles, but other cities faced the prospect of 120-foot towers.This is New England; we have Colonial roots we try to preserve and maintain, he said. People arent so excited about cell towers because it ruins the character of the landscape and our history.Communities across Connecticut banded together to work with the states consortium of cities and filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.Its contrary to the way we do business in this state, Milone said. The company sent enough letters that it created a galvanized effort to stop them.He said the state authority already has jurisdiction over siting and heights of towers that Mobilitie didnt recognize.Now, Milone said, the cities lobbying group is working on legislation to keep companies from using heavy-handed methods in attempts to get their way.They may have accomplished what they wanted if they went about it the right way, Milone said. Now, there are such negative feelings toward these folks that I dont think anyone will feel comfortable working with them.
The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance currently stands at 4.35 million, a rise from 4.1 million in June. | Read More
(Repeats story published earlier with no changes to text.)

* India palm oil imports expected to fall 20 pct m/m in Dec

* Tight cash has disrupted India distribution, slowed buying

* Vegoil buyers in India slowing purchases from all suppliers

By Rajendra Jadhav and Emily Chow

MUMBAI/KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Reuters) - India's palm oil imports are expected to slip next month by up to a fifth, including from the top two producers Indonesia and Malaysia, as New Delhi's removal of high-value rupee notes from circulation disrupts distribution systems and curbs demand.

Traders in Malaysia, India's largest palm oil supplier taking up half of its imports last year, say the absence of the large bills has already impacted sales. Indian buyers are delaying shipments and cancelling vessel space bookings, and the traders expect them to hold back further in the month ahead.

In India - top importer of vegetable oils - traders are forecasting up to a 20 percent drop in crude and refined palm oil imports for December from the previous month, with edible oil refiners reducing purchases as the cash crunch weakens retail demand.

Having fewer high-value notes in circulation is also hampering distribution because village shops typically pay local wholesale dealers in cash.

"Bulk buyers are not ready to lift stocks. Most of November shipments we cannot cancel or postpone as tankers have already left Indonesian and Malaysian ports. So we are postponing shipments in December to January," said a senior official with an Indian oil refiner who declined to be named.

Cargo surveyor data shows Malaysian palm oil shipments to India for the first half of November have already dropped by 81-85 percent versus the corresponding period last month.

"Inquiries have fizzled out since last week," said a Kuala Lumpur-based trader, who reported an over 50 percent decline in sales volumes. "It's not going to be easy now for the market to sustain high price levels."

Benchmark palm oil prices have been volatile in recent trading sessions, hitting a four-year high a week ago and then posting its biggest intraday drop in more than four months in the next session.

Story continues

Palm oil looks set to fall more than 3 percent this week, down about 0.2 percent on Friday around 2,870 ringgit per tonne.

Purchases from top consumers India and China typically fall-off at year-end because palm oil solidifies during the Northern Hemisphere winter, but this year the numbers are being hit hard.

India's total palm oil imports stood at 739,159 tonnes, according to traders, and are expected to fall to 650,000 tonnes in November and by another 20 percent from there in December.

Total palm oil imports in December 2015 were 790,368 tonnes, according to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA).

NO CASH IN A CASH MARKET

Exact numbers aren't available from largest producer Indonesia, but analysts there also expect lower shipments to India because of the cash shortage, while Indian buyers said they have cut vegetable oil imports from all suppliers, even for soyoil from Brazil and Argentina in December.

Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee bills no longer legal tender to crack down on corruption and bring unaccounted wealth back into the economy, leaving millions with insufficient cash.

"Retail sales are going down as many people don't have cash to buy essential commodities. Refiners are not able to dispose their stocks, so they are likely to cut imports in the short-term," said B.V. Mehta, executive director of SEA.

Still, while India cannot do without imports due to limited local supplies, it is not clear how long the slowdown will last.

Jitendra Kadam, a grocery shop owner from India's western state of Maharashtra, said consumers have cut down purchases of everything from sugar to edible oils.

"Until they get notes of smaller denominations, demand will remain weak," he said.

Said a Malaysian trader: "Everything is at a standstill. There is not enough cash around, so people are not going to trade much. They are going to wait and see."

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI and Emily Chow in KUALA LUMPUR; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Heads up to prevent injury from falls Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at...

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The weekend shootings of police officers in Texas and Missouri follow a string of surprise attacks  many of them deadly  that have targeted officers around the country.

In San Antonio, a detective was shot and killed while writing a traffic ticket in his squad car Sunday morning outside police headquarters, authorities said. In St. Louis, a police sergeant was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday evening after he was shot twice while sitting in traffic in a marked police vehicle. In other cases:

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Nov. 2: Two Des Moines, Iowa area police officers were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars. Scott Michael Greene, an unemployed 46-year-old father, is charged with killing first-year Urbandale police officer Justin Martin, 24, and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio, 38, within minutes of each other.

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July 17: A Missouri man armed with two rifles and a pistol and wearing a ski mask ambushed and killed three officers near a gas station and convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The gunman, Gavin Long, was killed by police. His mother said the Iraq war veteran suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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July 7: A gunman in Dallas opened fire on police officers working at a protest about recent killings by police of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The attacker, Micah Johnson, killed five officers and wounded nine others and two civilians before police killed him with a robot-delivered bomb when negotiations failed. Authorities say Johnson, who was black, told negotiators he wanted to kill as many white police officers as he could. It was the deadliest day for American law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001.

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Dec 28, 2015: Officer Guarionex Candelario Rivera showed up unannounced at his police station in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and fatally shot three fellow officers. Candelario, a 19-year police veteran, killed Lt. Luz Soto Segarra, Cmdr. Frank Roman Rodriguez and policewoman Rosario Hernandez De Hoyos. Candelario was shot twice but survived.

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July 13, 2014: Jersey City, New Jersey Officer Melvin Santiago was shot in the head by a man who had grabbed a security officer's gun, waited for police to arrive and then opened fire outside a drug store. The shooter was killed by other officers. Investigators later said the suspect had alcohol and PCP in his system and cocaine in his possession.

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Dec 20, 2014: Two New York City police officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were ambushed and fatally shot while in their vehicle without warning by a man who approached the passenger window of their marked police car. The suspect, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, then fatally shot himself. Brinsley was black; the officers were Asian and Hispanic, police said. The shooting came amid heightened tensions between law enforcement and minority communities.

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September 12, 2014: A survivalist ambushed two Pennsylvania state troopers outside of a police barracks late at night, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass. Suspect Eric Frein led authorities on a 48-day manhunt through the heavily wooded Pocono Mountains before U.S. marshals captured him at an abandoned airplane hangar. He has pleaded not guilty.

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June 8, 2014: A man and a woman ambushed two police officers eating lunch at a Las Vegas pizza restaurant, fatally shooting them before fleeing to a nearby Wal-Mart where they killed a third person and then themselves in an apparent suicide pact. Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo died.

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May 25, 2013: Bardstown, Kentucky Police Officer Jason Ellis was fatally shot in an ambush as he cleared debris from a parkway exit ramp. Investigators believe tree limbs were put on the exit ramp to force Ellis to stop.

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Aug. 28, 2010: Two police officers were ambushed in a tiny Alaskan village of Hoonah before a SWAT team and dozens of other law officers surrounded a house where the gunman took refuge. Officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka died after the shooting. Hoonah resident John Marvin Jr. was captured and charged in the deaths.

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May 20, 2010: Two West Memphis, Arkansas, police officers doing anti-drug work were shot to death by two men wielding AK-47s along a busy Arkansas interstate. Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans died at a nearby hospital. The suspects were later killed in a shootout that injured the local sheriff and a deputy at a crowded Wal-Mart parking lot.

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Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Police officials are talking about how to respond to potential protests following the U.S. Department of Justice's release of its investigation into the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by a Baton Rouge policeman in July.

Speaking after a meeting with Baton Rouge community activists and leaders hosted by Gov. John Bel Edwards at the state Capitol Monday, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr. and State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson said they anticipate getting advance notice of the federal announcement. If people decide to protest, Dabadie and Edmonson said law enforcement will support people's right to express themselves with demonstrations, but as over the summer police will respond to what they called "unlawful" behavior, such as blocking streets.

Exactly when federal investigators will conclude their probe remains unclear. Federal officials have steadfastly refused to comment on the investigation into the shooting, and state and local officials  including the governor  said Monday they haven't been briefed on the federal review or its timeline.

"We have no idea when the Department of Justice will make an announcement on whether to prosecute the officers in the Alton Sterling shooting," Edwards said, "and we have no idea what that announcement will be."

Several community activists and political organizers who attended the meeting criticized of the Justice Department's silence as it investigates the shooting.

"They haven't had any transparency as far as I'm concerned," said Cleve Dunn Jr., who repeated previous calls for the federal agency to release keys pieces of evidence in the July 5 shooting, including the original 911 call and surveillance footage from the North Foster Drive convenience store where Sterling was shot.

The death of the 37-year-old Sterling prompted large protests in Baton Rouge as well as demonstrations across the country, which grew after two different cellphone videos surfaced of police officers wrestling Sterling to the ground before the fatal shooting. Sterling was shot by an officer outside the Triple S store, where he had been selling CDs. The officers responded to a call about a man who allegedly threatened someone with a gun outside the store.

A Baton Rouge police report filed as part of a search warrant shortly after the incident says the officers spotted the butt of a handgun in Sterling's pocket and that Sterling appeared to reach for the weapon before the shooting. Abdullah Muflahi, the owner of the Triple S who witnessed the shooting and recorded one of the publicly released cellphone videos, disputed that account in several interviews with The Advocate, saying that the officers were the aggressors in the incident and that Sterling  whom Muflahi had known for several years  didn't go for the gun.

Baton Rouge police, which initially began an investigation into the shooting internally, turned the review of the shooting over to the FBI and the Justice Department the day after the shooting. Federal officials, including local U.S. Attorney Walt Green, have not provided any details on their ongoing investigation since.

Federal prosecutors will review the findings of the investigation before deciding whether to pursue criminal civil rights charges against Blane Salamoni or Howie Lake II, the two Baton Rouge police officers involved in the incident. A source with knowledge of the investigation identified Salamoni as the officer who fired the fatal shots.

If federal prosecutors choose not to charge the officers, the results of the investigation will be turned over to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's office for consideration of possible state charges.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III  whose office would normally have jurisdiction over the case  recused himself, citing a long working relationship with the Salamoni family. Both of Salamoni's parents are career Baton Rouge police officers.

Salamoni and Lake remain on administrative leave, Lt. Jonny Dunnam, a Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, confirmed Monday. A separate internal affairs investigation into the shooting  which will examine whether either officer violated department policies or procedures  is also still pending.

Edmonson said after Monday morning's meeting that he remains pleased with the way law enforcement handled the demonstrations in Baton Rouge, which continued for several days and resulted in nearly 200 arrests. Edmonson highlighted the relatively small number of injuries  which he pegged as including one protester and one policeman  and a lack of damage to property.

Edmonson credited community leaders and Sterling's relatives for helping keep demonstrations in Baton Rouge peaceful.

But the handling of the protests by law enforcement came under fire over the summer, with some criticizing the use of military-style gear and arguing that lines of riot police appeared overly aggressive. Two lawsuits have been filed alleging authorities used excessive force violating protesters' rights during demonstrations near Baton Rouge Police headquarters.

Dabadie and Edmonson said authorities will help people protest peacefully but suggested that they'll again draw a hard line against attempts to block major roads or interstates. The vast majority of those arrested during the July protests were booked on counts of obstructing a highway  mostly Airline Highway  and attempts to block traffic prompted some of the sharpest confrontations with police.

"We're not going to allow it to be violent, destructive or unlawful," Dabadie said.

Monday morning's meeting also included a discussion of potential police reform efforts and steps to improve relations between police officers and the community. Edwards said he was encouraged by what he described as an honest dialogue over rifts in the relationship between law enforcement and communities they patrol.

"We have too many police who are scared of the public and too many in the public who are scared of police," said Edwards. "It doesn't have to be that way."

Dabadie repeated a point he made while speaking with new BRPD recruits last week: That the law enforcement profession is changing in response to recent protests over police use-of-force.

"Aggressive law enforcement is no longer going to be tolerated in any way, shape or form," Dabadie said.

Edwards said he anticipates steps soon to improve training for police  including what he said is a pending increase in the number of hours needed to be certified as an officer in the state  and said some agencies have already made strides in being more professional in their interactions with the public.

The governor also suggested training on how the public should deal with police officers may soon be included in schools and as part of obtaining a driver's license in the state.
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CONVENT  The defense attorney for indicted St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel seized on his clients political fight with the district attorney over funding earlier this year to call into question the appearance of impartiality by the entire parish judiciary as well as the parishs top prosecutor.

Defense Attorney Brian Capitelli asked for the recusal of all judges in the 23rd Judicial District and District Attorney Ricky Babin on Monday as Roussel was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to six counts of malfeasance in office.

Projecting his voice loudly on each count, Roussel entered his pleas after Judge Jason Verdigets refused to waive the reading of the charges. The judge also refused to weigh in on the recusal request, saying another judge has to make that call.

Blaise Gravois, Roussels director of operations and his co-defendant in the malfeasance case, was present for the hearing along with other parish employees, friends and family. Gravois pleaded not guilty last week.

In motions filed Monday, Capitelli alleges that Roussels indictment was politically motivated and so, under state law, it is also necessary for the judiciary to recuse itself to prevent an appearance of impropriety or bias to the public.

In the motions, Capitelli indicates a motion to quash the indictment will be coming, noting that a major step in the prosecution of Roussel happened four days after the parish president refused Babins funding requests on April 25.

In this instance, when a request for funding for one of Mr. Babins assistants was denied, a grand jury subpoena was the District Attorneys response, Capitelli wrote. The clear conflict and public dispute between Mr. Babin and Mr. Roussel requires recusal.

Furthering the need to recuse the judiciary, in Capitellis view, is that just as with Babins office, Roussel has budgetary authority over the supplemental pay of the judges law clerks. The 23rd Judicial District encompasses St. James, Ascension and Assumption parishes.

Roussel and Babin have had an ongoing dispute over the pay of Bruce Mohon, an assistant district attorney who has represented parish government since 1997.

Roussel had asked for another parish attorney because of his longstanding issues of trust with Mohon, but, with no success on that front, later told Babin he was withholding part of Mohons pay.

Babin claimed in an April 28 letter to the Parish Council that the denial of funding was political payback and a vendetta over last years parish president election, a charge Roussel denied. Mohon is a childhood friend of Roussels runoff opponent, Pete Dufresne. Mohon and Dufresne have said Mohon stayed out of the race.

Tyler Cavalier, spokesman for the district attorney, disputed in an interview Monday any political motivations in the case against Roussel and added theres no need to recuse Babin's office because the office hasnt been a part of the prosecution.

The (State) Attorney General is completely handling the case as it pertains to Mr. Roussel, Cavalier said.

He said Babins office did assist in the initial investigation but was not part of the grand jury proceeding or the subsequent prosecution. In late September, when Roussel, Gravois and another parish official were indicted on malfeasance counts, Babin said his and Attorney General Jeff Landrys offices conducted a joint probe going back to January.

At the same time, Cavalier said no motion to recuse Babins office has been filed because Babins attorneys never enrolled as prosecutors on the case.

Last week, Babin did formally recuse his office in another public corruption case against the parish president in neighboring Ascension Parish, also ceding control to Landrys office.

That move came on the eve of a grand jury hearing into allegations of attempted bribery leveled against Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa and another man. It emerged in press accounts that Babins staff donated to Matassas campaign last year.

Babin, Landry and the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office had previously handled that probe for the past several months.

New grand jury seated in Ascension Parish; no witnesses called yet in bribery probe GONZALES  A new grand jury was seated Friday in Ascension Parish that is expected to hear a

In St. James, Roussel is accused of directing parish employees, equipment, materials and cash to benefit private companies and landowners. The work and cash, which had a total value of more than $70,000, included tearing down backyard sheds and installing water lines for a new company relocating to the parish.

Though Cavalier disputed any continued involvement in Roussels case, Babins office is leading the prosecution of Gravois on virtually the same charges. Roussel is facing a sixth count for which Gravois, his director of operations, has not been charged.

The District Attorney's Office is also prosecuting the assistant finance director on separate malfeasance counts unrelated to those brought against Roussel and Gravois.

+4 St. James Parish president, administrators at work one day after indictment CONVENT  A day after a grand jury indicted him and two parish administrators on public corr

In court Monday morning, Capitelli did not delve into the reasons behind his request to recuse the judiciary after a brief sidebar with Judge Verdigets and Assistant Attorney General Jeff Traylor, the lead prosecutor in the Roussel case.

Verdigets did not grant Roussel's recusal request  the judge didn't think there is a conflict  but agreed to have a randomly selected judge consider the motion.

The Louisiana State Attorney General's Office opposed the motion, arguing that Roussel's lawyers didn't even have standing to make that request: Traylor, the assistant attorney general, claims defense attorney Capitelli and his firm can't represent Roussel because of a conflict of interest.

Traylor said after the hearing that Capitelli's firm has done prior work for the Parish Council and that Roussel signed the check.

Capitelli, in an interview after the hearing, said criminal defendants have an absolute right to the attorney of their choosing under the 6th Amendment.

"I find it very interesting that after we filed the motion to recuse the District Attorney  after we learned he's still involved in the case  I have a conflict of interest," Capitelli said in the interview.

Judge Verdigets acknowledged the "interesting" dilemma of which motion should be considered first, but he said he believed the recusal request had to be dealt with.

Parish officials did not immediately respond Monday to Traylors allegations about Capitellis firm. A copy of Traylors expected motion was not yet filed in the courthouse by early Monday afternoon.

If a judge rules for Roussel, the Louisiana Supreme Court would have to select an ad hoc judge to hear his case. Verdigets set a status conference for Dec. 19.
Louisianas economy is not at all bad everywhere.

In fact, there are bright spots, even after the flooding in our state destroyed thousands of businesses and even more residences, particularly in the Baton Rouge region.

Louisianas floods constituted the fourth-largest disaster for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but perhaps a greater jobs disaster was the collapse in the price of oil over the last two years.

At the Legislature, economist Greg Albrecht sketched out the bad news for a legislative committee, saying the state as a whole is in recession. Theres no improvement in sight so far, he said.

We've had declining employment or slowdown since the beginning of 2015, Albrecht said.

That has a ripple effect across income and sales tax collections, as people earn and spend less money, hitting state coffers  generating fewer tax dollars to pay for state services and programs.

Oil and gas jobs are classified as mining in federal statistics, and the number of people working in that category has fallen 30 percent since December 2014.

However, those impacts  leading Louisiana to the third-worst unemployment rate among the states  are not distributed evenly.

In the oil patch of Houma and Lafayette, where energy is produced, companies and jobs tumble. In the petrochemical manufacturing sector jobs continue to increase, with the low price of natural gas helping to drive industrial construction in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and the river region parishes along the Mississippi toward New Orleans.

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber noted a rise in unemployment in its nine-parish region, but continued job growth and stellar ratings for the capital city as a place to do business. If trends of the last few years hold, BRAC analyst Andrew Fitzgerald said, the region should match the U.S. median household income by 2019  significantly ahead of other state markets.

Even with those and other indicators including job growth in Baton Rouge pointing up, BRAC President Adam Knapp said, the region faces the future with some tempered optimism, because of uncertainties, including energy prices and a President-elect Donald Trump.

The latter, we think, is a bit of wild card: The new administration might dial back federal regulations, although that is easier said than done. But as Knapp also noted, Louisianas petrochemical manufacturers need access to global markets, and the president-elect also campaigned against trade pacts long supported by business.

The upsides for employment include a growing number of information technology jobs in the capital, long pushed by economic development agencies. It is good to see that translating into activity, Knapp said of the regions knowledge industries.

In such a mixed report over the holidays, Louisiana can face the future with some optimism, but it is certainly tempered with caution.
Hey, who wants to replay that presidential election we just had?

Anyone? Anyone?

Actually, I can think of one guy  and in a way two, both of whom are running in Louisiana's Dec. 10 U.S Senate runoff.

The big showdown between Republican state treasurer John Kennedy and Foster Campbell, a Democratic public service commissioner, was always destined to hinge on party. That's just the way Louisiana Senate races have been playing out in recent years, less as contests between two distinct individuals and more as referenda on the side each represents in the nation's great partisan wars.

And developments in the two weeks since Donald Trump's electoral college victory have only emphasized the dynamic.

For Kennedy, running in a state in which Trump got 58 percent of the vote, adopting an "I'm with him" theme is a no-brainer. Ads promoting his candidacy, including one in which Kennedy latches on to Trump's promise to drain the swamp, are pounding the connection and brushing right past Kennedy's own credentials as a long-serving elected official.

The calculation is more complicated for Campbell. He never embraced the national Democratic Party and is not criticizing Trump. But he is attempting to raise money and generate some excitement by tapping into national Democratic frustration over the new landscape, and some media outlets outside Louisiana are playing right along.

Typical was Campbell's recent interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, whose audience skews heavily Democratic. Maddow introduced Campbell as the Democrats' last hope to minimize the GOP's Senate majority and perhaps "mitigate some of Trump's damage."

"He is carrying the hopes of Democrats not just in Louisiana, but honestly around the nation," she said.

That's not what Campbell said in the interview. Instead, he emphasized his populist platform, criticized Kennedy for being a flip-flopper, and honed in on a potential area of Republican vulnerability by promising to protect Social Security and Medicare. Trump did the same thing on the campaign trail, but his new allies in Congress are reportedly considering changes to the two popular programs.

The exchange highlights just how tricky a task Campbell faces, as he tries to tap into anger over Trump's victory while convincing voters who supported the president-elect to switch sides.

What Campbell needs is for Louisiana voters to flip the script. Kennedy just needs them to follow it.
The New Orleans Police Department says it has identified one of four women involved in a kidnapping in which a perpetrator posed as an Uber driver.
The ACT government has overturned a ban on hotels being built at the Kingston arts precinct, in a move expected to lead to a new "high-density" development among the heritage-listed buildings in the area.

The government passed a "technical amendment" to the Kingston master plan earlier this month to allow a hotel to be built on the Section 49 block, a final step towards selling the block to private developers.

Hotels will be allowed in the new Kingston Arts Precinct. Credit:Jamila Toderas

While the land sale and "art precinct" development tender ruled out buying the Heritage-listed Powerhouse, it would allow private owners to buy the Heritage-listed Old Bus Depot and potentially Wentworth Offices, currently home to design and printing firm Megalo.

Two firms are in the running to win the project, after a request for tender was issued last year calling for proposals for the "arts precinct" that included residential, retail and commercial developments and also pledged to overturn the ban on hotels on the site.
Australia's banks need more than pledges from CEOs to improve their culture following a series of scandals at their financial planning and insurance arms, a leading finance expert has warned.

Professor Paul Kofman, dean of business and economics at the University of Melbourne, says while promises to improve bank culture by CEOs were welcome, it was not enough to fix the erosion of trust that had opened up between the public and the industry.

Speaking at a conference on banking and culture in Melbourne on Tuesday, he says culture needed to be improved throughout organisations, not just top-down.

"The public image of banks and financial institutions leaves much to be desired and is hardly a glowing endorsement for the profession," he says.
Conventional theory on the strategy of mergers and acquisitions says that timing plays a large part in success or failure. For Australia's construction industry giant, Boral, cementing a deal to acquire the US building and construction group Headwaters on the eve of the Trump-led splurge on infrastructure, the timing is fortuitous indeed.

This is a $3.5 billion deal that Boral was working on well before the US election  a deal that was nutted out at a time when most thought Hillary Clinton would take the White House.

While there is plenty of uncertainty around how the Trump presidency will unfold given many of his election policies have not been fleshed out, there seems to be general consensus that the statements made that he plans to invest $1 trillion in US infrastructure is clear enough.

The markets are clearly taking Trump on his word. Headwaters' share price has risen 25 per cent since the election as has many construction and building materials stocks in anticipation of an infrastructure-led construction boom.
The New Daily, a free news site set up by six super funds as a "commercial venture" three years ago, has been handed over to a single parent fund and is barely profitable after three years.

The site attracted controversy when it was set up in November 2013 because industry super funds  which are not-for-profit and have members instead of being commercially owned  are legally obliged to spend money in the best interest of members.

The New Daily offers free online news and is 'a vehicle to promote financial literacy among members'. Credit:Louie Douvis

Critics questioned whether setting up a free news site was the best use of members' money. There were also questions over its independence.

A superannuation industry umbrella group has now emerged as the single owner of The New Daily.
Some years ago a fellow company director asked if my financial analysis was "Jewish accounting". While offended by the embedded insult in his casual racist stereotyping, I said nothing for fear of disturbing the social niceties. He clearly meant his remark as a joke. However, in a civil society like ours racism or sexism is deemed unacceptable and hard won legislation protects citizens.

So where does that leave the satirists, the cartoonists and the comics whose profession is based on transgression and ridicule? The best make us reflect on our prejudices and blind spots. Bill Leak's recent cartoon was intentionally provocative. The illustration that accompanied Leak's caption seemed to approximate the illustrations of Eric Jolliffe, the creator of Witchetty's Tribe, which graced (sic) the pages of Pix magazine last century? The text was equally disturbing. So why was Leak surprised when citizens responded equally robustly? Doesn't a civil society defend both the cartoonist's right to his point however upsetting for "derelict" Indigenous fathers and our right to find the slur of his generalisation offensive?

Glen Le Lievre was castigated for his cartoon of an Israeli Zionist bombing Gaza with a remote control from an armchair, which depended on an equally unpleasant stereotype. So why has Leak has become the poster boy for critics of 18C? There was outrage over Michael Leunig's cartoon comparing the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation with the plight of Jews under Nazism. The counter-argument was that the Holocaust is unparalleled in human history and any equivalence trivialises the enormity of Nazism's crimes. Do we only defend the principle of freedom of speech when we share the offender's views? Surely we must defend the right to hold views even those we find vile?

Underpinning this most recent iteration of the free speech debate is the thornier issue of taste.
Mr Shorten played to heightened Trump-like fears of migration and elites ripping off the workers. He even followed up by demanding that trade deals have to protect workers as well as businesses.

The 457 scheme is easily gamed and urgently needs fixing. Labor has some good ideas about tougher market testing before businesses can bring in temporary staff.

Days after Donald Trump's neo-isolationism shocked the political orthodoxy, Labor leader Bill Shorten rode the "save the local blue collar worker from immigrants and trade" wave to revive his party's attacks on the 457 skilled worker temporary visa program.

The Coalition understandably pounced on Labor for playing the "they're stealing Australian jobs" card  and for being cynical.

But the Turnbull government's attack also looked pure politics given it was pointing the jingoism finger at Labor while trying to sell tougher treatment of migrants and watering down of hate speech laws, all the while planning to fine-tune the 457 scheme any way. Within a day or so the Coalition had also ridden the Trump wave on the visas and reduced from 90 days to 60 days the time unemployed migrants on the visa have to find a new job. The justification? To give Aussie workers a fair go.

Clearly, the Coalition feared that if it was not seen to be acting on this, Labor's rhetoric on the scheme might win support for its proposed reforms, which might in turn hurt small businesses through higher costs and more red tape.

In 2013 the Herald said the then Labor government's approach on the 457 visas should have been to deal with rorts where proved  without burdening business, jeopardising projects and playing the race card. At the time the attacks on the 457 skilled visa program had expanded beyond any alleged rorting of the system by business to become claims that all immigration threatens Australian jobs, conditions and lifestyle.

The Herald supports flexible labour markets so businesses can prosper and more people gain work.
Premier Daniel Andrews was right to make a measured call for calm in the aftermath of Friday's alleged arson attack at a Springvale bank. It is natural enough for fear to take hold in the community following such a horrific and unexpected event, especially at a time of heightened concern about terrorist threats. But tensions will be needlessly raised by efforts to seize on a tragedy of this type to make political arguments.

Investigations into the fire at the Commonwealth Bank branch on Springvale Road will eventually determine exactly what happened. From what is known so far, it appears Nur Islam, a 21-year-old man from Myanmar who fled to Australia by boat in 2013, entered the bank with a drum of fuel and started a wild blaze, causing injuries to himself and 26 others. Treating the number of injured posed a considerable test for Victoria's emergency medical system, and the quick response is a credit to ambulance and hospital staff.

What drove Mr Islam in this alleged attack is a question for authorities to now assess. But the absence of information will not stop people leaping to conclusions, attempting to impose an explanation that suits their world view.

Mr Islam's claim to be from a persecuted Muslim community has already prompted the rabble-rousing far right to cast further aspersions on migrants. This is rank opportunism. Yet nor should Mr Islam's background as an asylum seeker become an excuse by advocates to rehash arguments about Australia's hardline policy towards refugees, especially the uncertain limbo of people on bridging visas.
President Barack Whatever the obvious criticisms of Trump as a ham-fisted statesman, under Obama's watch President Xi run amok in the South China Sea. Credit:AP Instead, China took over the task of writing the rules, just as Obama had foreseen. "Openness is vital for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific," China's President Xi Jinping declared at the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation group, meeting in Lima. "China will not shut the door to the outside world but will open it even wider." Already, China is the biggest source of growth in the world economy. China accounted for two-thirds of all global growth in the past 15 years.

It's not just Australia that counts China as its biggest trading partner. More than 120 countries out of the world total of 196 have China as their main trading partner. And so Xi's stance is tremendously appealing to governments and companies around the world. As NZ Prime Minister John Key said at APEC: "The reason that President Obama pursued the TPP was all about the United States showing leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. We like the US being in the region. "But if the US is not there that void needs to be filled, and it will be filled by China." The US hasn't just shut its door to further trade liberalisation. Donald Trump promises to clog up existing trade routes with new tariffs on goods and new rules restricting investment.

The historic significance of this is that America has provided a global public good for the past 70 years. An open, global trading and investment system has allowed poor countries to trade their way to prosperity. And it allows rich countries to grow even richer. On the proviso that it is well managed. But the US is now saying that it will not provide this global public good any longer. It is not interested in maintaining a well-proven road to prosperity. And China is saying that it will: "We will fully involve ourselves in economic globalisation," said Xi. He promised to support the multilateral system, but he also specified three initiatives, all Asia-centric. One is China's alternative to the American-led TPP.

"This is playing out in real time," said the US Trade Representative Mike Froman, explaining the realpolitik to reporters outside the APEC summit. "We see people around the table here that are now saying that if the TPP doesn't move forward they are going to have to put their eggs in an RCEP basket," referring to the China-sponsored Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The TPP does not include China. RCEP does not include the US. Australia, intelligently maximising its options, is a member of both. RCEP also includes the 10 countries of Asean plus India, Japan, South Korea, NZ and China. It's not just leadership in the global route to prosperity that America is abandoning.

It's also a question of leadership on another big, shared global problem  climate change. The US and China have been co-leaders in recent years in world progress towards curbing carbon emissions. Here too, Trump promises to take the US out of the picture. Though he may have trouble quickly extricating the US from the Paris accord, it's clear that he will not take any further initiatives in dealing with climate change, which he says is a Chinese hoax to con America into de-industrialising. Third is the other great public good, security. Trump, who has spent the past 30 years criticising US allies for "free riding" on American defence spending, said during the election campaign that he'd be prepared to walk away from US allies Japan, South Korea and NATO unless they paid more. He's now making reassuring noises about some allies. We wait to see what the final US position will be, but in the interim a destabilising set of doubts and fears is afflicting America's traditional allies. Future historians might well look back on this moment as the threshold event in what the late Australian strategic analyst Coral Bell foresaw a decade ago as "the end of the Vasco da Gama era".

The Portuguese explorer made the first ocean link from west to east, opening the way for European colonisation of Asia and India, more than 500 years ago. It was a threshold moment in Occidental ascendancy over the Orient. But American abandonment of leadership is one thing. It's quite another for China to assume the mantle. It's inevitable that China will dominate by sheer scale. But size alone is not the qualification for leadership. To become the true leader of the world's most dynamic zone, the Asia-Pacific, and perhaps even further afield, Beijing will need to supply the global public goods that other nations crave, the goods that the US has offered in recent decades: routes to prosperity; security; and leadership in solving shared problems like climate change. China has shown a capacity for some magnanimity, but its behaviour in the South China Sea and East China Sea has been narrowly and aggressively nationalistic.
Early signs of what the Trump administration may look like: A man associated with white supremacy and misogyny will be White House Chief Strategist; a man rejected for a judgeship because of alleged racism will be Attorney-General; and an Islamophobe who has taken money from Moscow will be National Security Adviser.

No, this is not satire.

I've repeatedly noted that my side lost this election, that elections have consequences, and that President-elect Donald Trump should be given a chance. He seems intent on blowing that chance.

The announcement that Trump has recruited Lieutenant-General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser is particularly alarming. Flynn is smart and knows the world very well, but he was fired from his last government job for incompetence. Worse, he today is regarded by many Republican and Democratic foreign policy specialists as a kook.
It's the beginning of the final sitting fortnight of the year for the Australian Parliament, and it looks awfully like being fieldwork for a thesis entitled "The 2016 Double Dissolution: who thought that was a great idea?"

The government of Malcolm Turnbull looks set to attempt to pass the pieces of legislation which acted as the triggers for the dissolution of parliament and the subsequent election, and two of the senators put in the upper house thanks to said election will not be participating for reasons that are a wee bit embarrassing.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:AP

The registered organisations bill seeks to force corporate levels of responsibility on the heads of non corporations  or, more accurately, unions  and is probably going to pass the senate after Labor forced the government to make some amendments. It's a win  but if the law is only passing because of Labor, it's hard to see why we needed to go to an early election to get this moderated outcome.

The second is the reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. It's odd that it needs reintroduction since it still exists: it's just called the Fair Work Commission and still has the same powers as it did as the ABCC, only with more transparency, accountability, and oversight. These things, presumably, are the problems.
Here is a survey of public opinion in Australia to tell you what the other surveys have got wrong, and suggest the political climate might not be quite as toxic as some would have you think.

Muslims are less and less welcome in this country, right?

Not it you take a long, hard look.

Asked in 2010 "is your attitude positive, negative or neutral towards Muslims," about 23.5 per cent of Australians told Monash University researchers said they felt "very" or "somewhat" negative.
"This is before I started strength training," the 31-year-old personal trainer wrote of the first photo. "I was obsessed with being as skinny as I could be. I was starving myself & was really unhealthy & unhappy. I suffered depression & had terrible body image."

Emily Skye has ditched cardio for weight training, and is all the happier for it. Credit:Instagram

The Australian, from the Gold Coast, has opened up about her battle with her body and cautioned her 1.8 million Instagram followers against liking her thinner 'before' photo without reading her story.

Emily Skye, one of social media's most well known fitness personalities, has revealed that putting on 13 kilograms has helped her to become happier and healthier.

Skye, a former model who began documenting her fitness journey and foray into health seven years ago, said she swapped cardio for strength training and stopped obssessing about what she ate.

She now eats "more than I've ever eaten in my life" and feels better in her body.

"I'm ... happier, healthier, stronger & fitter than I have ever been. I no longer obsess over the way I look. I eat & train to feel my best, for overall 'health' & longevity," she wrote.

"I LOVE having muscle & I feel more confident than ever."

"When I first started lifting weights seven years ago, I was finally starting to become healthy & happy for the first time in my life. I had friends at the time telling me I wasn't healthy and was taking it 'too far,'" she recalled. "This devastated me ... I couldn't believe that the people who were supposed to love me weren't happy for me even though I was obviously much happier & healthier than I'd ever been.
Ruby Hamad.

This is where I had intended to give you some statistics on how Lebanese immigrants have indeed "successfully integrated" in every country they have landed in  often reaching the highest echelons of government and business. I was going to devote several paragraphs to my own family tree and what my parents had to sacrifice in order to give their children a life that didn't involve snipers and bombs and the risk of being snatched off the street and never seen again. I was even going to implore you to consider the many tens of thousands of Lebanese Australians who have enriched this society we live in; a society we like to describe as a vibrant tapestry but which now appears as dirty and threadbare as an old kitchen rag.

But I am through trying to convince people of my humanity. For all of my school years and throughout my 20s I was ashamed to be Lebanese. Not because Lebanese people themselves had done anything to make me feel ashamed, but because Australian society demanded that shame through its attacks on my language, my culture, my looks, and even my name.

And so I went from Ruba to the much more acceptable Ruby. And so I spent hours trying to comb my uncooperative curls sleek and straight. And so I stopped reading, writing, and speaking Arabic; this poetic gift of my ancestors is now largely lost to me and I grieve it every day.

It has taken me more than a decade to lose that shame, to embrace my heritage and accept myself, my family, and to wear all of it like the badge of honour it is. And there is nothing the likes of Peter Dutton or Pauline Hanson or Donald Trump can say that will induce that shame again.
I was reprimanded in the park recently. A grandmother didn't approve of the T-shirt I was wearing and decided to make it her business to tell me what she thought.

"You shouldn't be wearing that here. It's totally inappropriate," she said, as I watched my kids run about.

Cat Rodie in the offending T-shirt

There wasn't any swearing or sexually explicit imagery on my T-shirt. The grandmother was offended by the word "box". Of course the word "box" on its own would probably have gone unnoticed. But my T-shirt also came with an image of a triangle and the words "donate to gynaecological cancer research now".

"Box" may be an old-fashioned euphemism, but in the context of gynaecological cancer it's hardly offensive. And yet, there I was, being told off.
A biofabrication institute will image, model and manufacture 3D patient-specific tissues under the one roof, it was announced at Herston on Monday.

Two floors at the Herston Health Precinct would be converted into a space where researchers, engineers, doctors, nurses and scientists could collaborate on how 3D tissues could improve a patient's quality of life, in a partnership between QUT and Metro North Hospital and Health Service partnership.

Animation of what the Biofabrication Institute would look like.

Minister for Health Cameron Dick said biofabrication was a field that brought together medicine, science, engineering and in some ways science fiction to find solutions to problems by manufacturing individual tissue to replace or patch broken bones or cartilage.

"It will be the first time a biomanufacturing institute will be co-located with a high-level hospital," he said.
A coronial inquest into the 1989 death of Annette Mason has been reopened following a lengthy campaign by the Toowoomba teenager's family.

Late last year, the Mason family presented a petition with 4000 signatures to Queensland Attorney General Yvette D'Ath calling on her to re-open the inquest.

Annette Mason was found dead in her Toowoomba home in 1989.

In June, the Queensland opposition committed to reopening the case if they took government.

Annette Mason was 15 years old when she was found beaten to death in her home on November 19, 1989.
Jack Elliott is cojoint fellow at the University of Newcastle's centre for literary and linguistic computing. Credit:Janie Barrett Of their findings, Dr Elliott and Dr Greatley-Hirsch said: "It is impossible to reconcile the results we have found with a belief that Shakespeare had no hand in Arden of Faversham, thus the play takes its rightful place in the canon of his works." Professor Hugh Craig, director of the centre for literary and linguistic computing at the University of Newcastle, helped develop many of the methods used to analyse literary works. He also sits on the attribution board of the New Oxford Shakespeare. An inside illustration of a 1633 edition of the play Arden of Faversham, now believed to have been largely written by William Shakespeare. Credit:Folger Shakespeare Library He said the computer models are used to look for how often a word is used or word patterns such as phrasing and pairing. They also help identify patterns of pronoun use and how conjunctions and prepositions are used by authors.

It is easy enough to identify the grammatical trope of Star Wars character Yoda  or rather, the grammatical trope of Yoda identify it we can. In a much more subtle way, the computer models look for structures in language that act as the literary fingerprints of an author. Professor Hugh Craig, director of the centre for literary and linguistic computing at the University of Newcastle. Credit:University of Newcastle However, Professor Craig said what is truly remarkable about these findings is what it tells us about the culture of the early modern theatre. "There is a natural temptation with a towering figure like Shakespeare to imagine that they could only have worked alone. But he actually comes out of this as very much a team player," he said. The play's the thing: A painting of the Bard.

Professor Craig said that many plays of the time were written by teams, much like a writing team for a modern sit-com like Seinfeld. "We need a play out in a few weeks. You can do this scene, come back in a week with a draft," he said. Front page of a 1633 edition of Arden of Faversham, a play about "unsatiable desire of filthy lust". Credit:Folger Shakespeare Library Professor Craig said Shakespeare's early plays seem to have been more collaborative than work he did as an established writer. Huw Griffiths, a Shakespeare scholar at the University of Sydney, said "it feels right to me" when asked about the play being attributed to Shakespeare.

Dr Griffiths, who is unconnected to the study, agreed with Professor Craig that the study helps "place the author into a dynamic collaborative culture" of the early theatre. Arden of Faversham was first attributed to Shakespeare as far back as 1770 by Edward Jacob. More recently, Shakespeare scholar Emeritus Professor Macdonald Jackson from Auckland University painstakingly analysed the play to show its Shakespearean provenance. The play concerns a plot to kill Master Arden of Faversham in Kent, concocted by his wife, Alice, and her lover, Mosby. It is based on a true crime committed in 1551. Or rather, as the original title page puts it, Faversham "was most wickedly murdered by meanes of his disloyal and wanton wife, who for the love she bare to one Mosby, hired two desperate Ruffins, Blacke-Will and Shakebag, to kill him.

"Wherein is shewed the great malice and dissimulation of a wicked woman, the unsatiable desire of filthy lust and the shamefull end of all murderers." The play's two murderers are Blacke-Will and Shakebag. I asked if these were possibly plays on the Bard's name. "Those names have been remarked on. However, Black Will [Blacke-Will] is named in the official account of the murder. 'Losebagg' is also named as another conspirator. "Still, the names may well have attracted Shakespeare to the story, especially since Arden was his mother's maiden name," Professor Jackson said. Dr Greatley-Hirsch, who is now at Leeds University, said their data analysis "independently confirms and extends Macdonald Jackson's earlier attribution of selected scenes to Shakespeare".

The methods used by the Australian scholars include: "delta method", which is a machine learning technique applied to the humanities; "random forests" methodology, a statistical technique to find distinctive marker words; and finally, "nearest shrunken centroid" technique, taken from the bioinformatics community. Professor Jackson told Fairfax Media that there were distinctive language uses that could almost certainly only be the work of Shakespeare, particularly the famous Quarrel Scene (scene 8). Professor Jackson points to differing uses of language in the scene in his 2006 article "Shakespeare and the Quarrel Scene", published in Shakespeare Quarterly. Our conspirator Mosby is concerned that Alice might betray him: Yet mistress Arden lives; but she's my self, And holy church rites makes us two but one.

Professor Jackson said while the idea of marriage making two people one is not uncommon, the way it is expressed here is very Shakespearean and reminiscent of lines that later appear in Romeo and Juliet: For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone Till holy church incorporate two in one. Professor Jackson also points to "repetition and playing on a particular word", with "love" very often being that word as a strong literary style of the Bard. In Arden of Faversham, we have: Mosby: It is not love that loves to anger love. Alice: It is not love that loves to murder love.

In a less known Shakespeare work, Venus and Adonis, Venus woos a reluctant Adonis: My love to love is love but to disgrace it. In Richard II the Duchess of York tells her husband Love loving not itself, none other can. In Two Gentlemen of Verona we find:
It's been 10 years and $20 million in the making, but the new Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car at Dromana will open to the public within weeks.

And it's received the stamp of approval from the man who, 56 years ago, was the first to ride the chairlift it replaces.

After a test ride on Monday, Colin Matthews, now 69, said the new ride was "amazing" and higher-up with better views.

He noted that the 30 minute return trip down the 314m summit and up again was smooth and quiet despite strong winds, without the unsettling rattle the chairlift used to make crossing pylons.
A euthanasia advocate who promised to provide a lethal drug to a terminally ill man has told a tribunal he only did it to ease the man's psychological pain.

Urologist Dr Rodney Syme promised to provide Brighton man Bernard Erica with the drug, which cannot legally be prescribed in Australia.

Mr Erica, 71, is dying of tongue and lung cancer, and approached Dr Syme to obtain the drug after he saw him on the ABC program Q&A, the Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal heard on Monday.

The Medical Board of Australia imposed a condition on Dr Syme in February, prohibiting the former vice-president of Dying with Dignity from doing anything that has the "primary purpose of ending a person's life" after a GP  whose name is suppressed  notified them of Dr Syme's promise to Mr Erica.
Dozens of health professionals, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, are dying of fatal drug overdoses every year, and some of them are using drugs found in their workplaces.

There were 404 fatal drug overdoses among health professionals between 2003 and 2013, with an average of 37 each year, a study of coronial investigations has found.

Nurses - particularly females - dominate the group, accounting for 63 per cent of the deaths. They were followed by mostly male doctors, who made up 18 per cent of the deaths.The remaining groups were psychologists, paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dentists, and veterinarians.

While half of the deaths were documented as intentional, 38 per cent were unintentional. The researchers said the latter was "alarming given that health care professionals are presumably highly skilled in the appropriate administration of drugs, but made fatal errors in self-administration".
A large grassfire burning in severe conditions in Victoria's north-west has been brought under control after a cool change reached the area.



The blaze destroyed a fire truck, after it had to be abandoned by its crew who walked away unharmed.

The fire covered around 350 hectares at Parson Road, near Swan Hill. A watch-and-act alert was issued for residents in Swan Hill, Castle Donnington, Goschen, Kunat and Lake Boga.

Paramedics treated two women for smoke inhalation. They were taken to Swan Hill District Health in a stable condition.
How much is a piece of Donald Trump memorabilia worth?

Morris Boccabella is trying to answer that question, using his "TRUMP" personalised numberplates as the litmus test.

Morris Boccabella is selling his "Trump" number plates on Gumtree. Credit:Jason South

"I get stopped in the street a lot ... people want to take photos and tell me how great a man Donald is ... while other people walk away in disgust," he said.

He's sure many people have mistaken him for a hardcore Trump supporter, which he's not.
The Human Rights Law Centre has launched legal action in a bid to stop the Andrews government sending up to 40 juvenile offenders to adult prison.

An application for an interim injunction was heard in the Supreme Court's Practice Court on Monday night, just as the first group of juvenile detainees was being transferred to a segregated wing of the maximum-security Barwon prison, known as the Grevillea unit.

A decision is expected to be made on the injunction next week, although the second group of detainees is set be transferred on Tuesday.

Victoria's minister for families and children, Jenny Mikakos, said the government stood by its plan to temporarily house the teenage detainees in the wing of the adult prison, despite the view of the Human Rights Law Centre.
Emergency services are searching the Yarra River in Melbourne's CBD following reports of a car entering the water.

Police were called to Batman Avenue, near Melbourne's sporting precinct, after they were told the vehicle was driven into the river just after 10.50pm on Monday.



It is believed the car was travelling towards the city when it deviated from the road at a slow pace and headed into the water, a police spokesman said.



The car became fully submerged and was dragged along by the river's current.

Police search the Yarra River after reports a car was driven into the water. Credit:Patrick Herve

The police spokesman said investigators were trying to establish if the occupant of the car is still in the vehicle.
German supermarket giant Aldi has confirmed it will open a store at the South Fremantle Market Place on Hampton Road by mid-2017.

An Aldi spokesperson said the company was currently working with the landlord to finalise the store opening date.

Aldi's previous attempts to move into the port city were quashed by Fremantle council after the discounter tried to open a store in Hilton in June last year.

The city knocked back Aldi's bid to build a supermarket on the old Hilton Fresh site on South Street because it was not considered "sensible urban design".
A Perth taxi driver will face court on Monday, accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger during a fare on Saturday October 22.

The alleged incident occurred around 4.20am when the 30-year-old man collected a 24-year-old woman in Shoalwater.

"It will be alleged during the journey the driver stopped the taxi and indecently assaulted the woman before taking her to her destination," a police spokeswoman said.

"On Wednesday 2 November 2016, sex assault squad detectives charged the Baldivis man with one count of unlawful and indecent assault."
WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has again lobbied to lower the threshold for children to be taken away from extremely dysfunctional families, labelling claims he was advocating for another stolen generation as "bullshit".

Speaking on Radio 6PR on Monday, the state's top cop said there were around 100 families in the Perth metropolitan area that needed significant wrap-around services and support to give the children any hope of a "normal life".

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has called for the threshold to remove children from dysfunctional families to be lowered.

"I don't buy this bullshit about the stolen generation," he said.

"Every time I've come out in the paper over the last few years and said we should lower the threshold, some of the most prominent people around Perth jump up and say you're advocating another stolen generation.
Paul Keating famously said "when the government changes, the country changes". One might also say that when the president of the United States changes, the world changes. Speaking at the APEC summit in Lima, Chinese President Xi Jinping described it as a "hinge moment", but at times it seems we are simply unhinged.

Having watched the rise of Jeremy Corbyn across the Channel, and his reliance upon what is known as "entryism" to get elected to leadership of the British Labour Party, it seems extraordinary that the Gaullist right in France should fall victim to the same phenomenon.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, right, with former French president Nicolas Sarkozy at a campaign meeting in Marseille last month. Credit:AP

Yet that is what appears to have happened with the ejection of Nicolas Sarkozy from the French presidential race. Whether Francois Fillon, who has replaced him as the front-runner for the Republicans, is really a breath of fresh air or just more of the same remains to be seen.

For some of those who cannot stomach the notion of Donald Trump as leader of the free world, much importance is now attached to the future of Angela Merkel, and her decision to run for Germany's highest office again has come to be seen by them as a candle in the populist darkness.
Based on Mohammed's account to Cody, he and the other driver ended up next to each other at a stop light on Crescent Street. The man can be heard cursing after seeing Mohammed, who recorded the incident with his phone. "You're a loser. You're not even from here, [expletive]!" the man said. "[Expletive] you and your family you terrorist [expletive]!" The man flashed a middle finger as he drove away. Cody, who's also a doctoral student studying modern world history at St Johns University, said Mohammed told him the attack was unprovoked. "I could tell he was upset," Cody said. "He didn't tell me exactly why he decided to take a video. I think he was just so shocked by what happened."

Cody said that Mohammed was initially hesitant, but that he was able to persuade him to send the video to him, so Cody could share it on social media. He said Mohammed was unsure about reporting the incident to police and does not want his full name to be known. "There's definitely some Islamophobic and anti-Muslim sentiment out there right now," Cody said. "I don't blame him for being intimidated, especially with the stuff coming out of that guy's mouth." Cody said Mohammed told him he moved from Morocco about six or seven years ago and has been living in New York City since. The video has gone viral on Facebook. Cody said he sent it to his friend Karim Metwaly, a YouTube actor, who then posted the clip to his Facebook fan page. The video had been viewed more than 3 million times and shared about 40,000 times as of Sunday morning.

New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, who represents Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Ridgewood and Woodhaven, has publicly condemned the actions of the other driver. "In this community, we pride ourselves on our diversity and tolerance. Hateful rhetoric should not be tolerated in a neighbourhood where all races and different beliefs are welcome," Gianaris wrote on Facebook on Friday. "More than ever, now is the time to unite and organise. We will stand together against cowardly attacks and show that our values and vision for our country will triumph over hate." The Arab-American Family Support Centre in New York also has publicly criticised the other driver, saying that "racism and anti-Muslim bigotry are real threats to our community." The incident occurred just a few days after New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said his state is a refuge for those who think they are under attack.

"Whether you are gay or straight, Muslim or Christian, rich or poor, black or white or brown, we respect all people in the state of New York," Cuomo wrote on Facebook last week. "It's the very core of what we believe and who we are. . . . We don't allow a federal government that attacks immigrants to do so in our state." Cuomo also announced on Sunday that he is directing the New York State Police to create a special unit that will specifically address hate crimes. Reports of intimidation and harassment have spiked since Election Day. The Southern Poverty Law Centre has tallied 701 such incidents as of Friday. The hate watch group, however, cautions that not all incidents have direct references to Trump and not every report could be independently verified. Many were allegedly committed in Trump's name and directed toward immigrants, African Americans, Muslims and other minorities. Anti-Semitic vandalism with swastikas that appears to be in support of Trump has been reported in several states, including New York.

The hate watch group also has tracked 27 anti-Trump incidents as of Friday. In Texas, two high school students were reprimanded for staging a skit depicting Trump being assassinated. In California, the former chief executive of a San Diego start-up company resigned after attracting criticism for threatening Trump's life in a series of Facebook tirades on election night. In Ohio, a 24-year-old man is facing a federal charge for allegedly threatening Trump's life on Twitter. It's unclear whether these incidents are included in the hate watch group's tally. The president-elect's victory was followed by a wave of anti-Trump protests in several cities nationwide. Thousands took to the streets for several days after the election, holding signs that say "Not My President." Trump has said that he intends to be "president of all Americans." Loading
Mazda CX-4 Wins 2017 China Car Design of the Year







HIROSHIMA, Japan, Nov, 18 2016; Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the new Mazda CX-4 has been named China Car Design of the Year in the 2017 China Car of the Year awards organized by the Chinese Automotive Media Chief Editors' Club (C-Club) and PRIME Research & Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd. It is the first time a Mazda has won the award.

Launched in China in June, the CX-4 crossover SUV features SKYACTIV Technology and KODO-Soul of Motion design throughout. It offers outstanding environmental and safety performance and Jinba-ittai driving for various scenes, with large wheels, genuine SUV-like clearance and excellent all-road ability courtesy of Mazda's i-ACTIV AWD new-generation all-wheel drive system. A beautiful design imparts a striking presence and intuitive functionality makes the vehicle easy to use in daily driving situations. Sales in China reached 21,860 units at the end of October.

"Thank you very much for this prestigious award," said Iwao Koizumi, Chief Designer of the CX-4. "I'm delighted that people in China appreciate the value of CX-4's design. I sincerely hope the beauty of the CX-4 strikes a chord with Chinese customers, provides them with pride and joy, and helps to strengthen their connection to the Mazda brand."

About Mazda Mazda Motor Corporation started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.com
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
Only Albuquerque police really know what happened early one April morning in 2014, when officer Jeremy Dear shot and killed 19-year-old Mary Hawkes, a suspected car thief, after a foot chase.

Dears body camera was off, he said, and the footage from body cameras of his fellow officers doesnt give a clear picture of the teenagers death. While Hawkes family accused police of a cover-up, their best evidencethe footage from the other body camerasis either conspicuously absent or incomplete.

Now, one former police department records keeper is claiming the damaged or missing footage was deliberate, and alleging proof lies in the computer softwarecalled Evidence.comthat the department uses to manage its body cameras.

I have reviewed the lapel camera video [which two officers] provided to APD Forensic after the shooting of Mary Hawkes, Reynaldo Chavez said in a court statement. Based on my knowledge of Evidence.com, I can see that [one officer]'s lapel camera video has been altered by changing the gradient of the resolution on the video. I can see as much as the first twenty seconds of [the other officers] video has been deleted.

Chavezs allegations are included in a sworn affidavit in the familys civil lawsuit against the police department alleging Hawkes wrongful death at the hands of the Albuquerque PD.

In the affidavit, made public by New Mexico In Depth, Chavez accuses his former employer of altering or destroying evidence related to multiple high-profile police shootings, including that of Hawkes.

Before he was fired in 2015he claimed in a lawsuit that his firing was retaliation for reporting an alleged police plot to destroy evidenceChavez spent four years handling the Albuquerque Police Departments public records requests. Chavez and his team were responsible for releasing public records, including police reports, photo evidence, and body camera footage. But in three high-profile cases two years ago, Chavez said his superiors blocked him from releasing evidence.

In a response to Chavez's lawsuit, the City of Albuquerque said: "There is always more to the story when the City finds it necessary to fire an employee. That is true here, as well. The City takes these claims seriously, especially as they relate to our responsibilities under public record laws. We are committed to those responsibilities and are constantly striving to improve transparency and responsiveness to public requests."

In addition to Hawkes killing, Chavez claimed in his affidavit that evidence was altered or destroyed in the high-profile killings of an alleged probation violator and a mentally ill man, who was killed during a raid on his homeless encampment. All three incidents prompted public backlash, partially due to the lack of body camera evidence to support what police described as justifiable shootings.

Chavez claimed this lack of evidence was deliberate. When he received records requests related to the three controversial killings, members of the citys legal team ordered him to deny, withhold, obstruct, conceal or even destroy records, Chavez alleges in the affidavit.

The City of Albuquerque did not yet respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment on Chavez's latest claims. Reached by email, the Albuquerque Police Department said they planned to release a statement on Monday. We will update this article when that statement becomes available. To a local outlet, the police department noted that the city questions the motives and disputes the accuracy of the information relayed by Mr. Chavez. The city stands prepared to defend against these allegations that records or evidence have been compromised.

New Mexicos Inspection of Public Records Act allows members of the public to request police and government records, without stating the purpose of their request. As records supervisor, Chavez was responsible for producing police materials as requested by the public.

In his affidavit, Chavez says the orders to conceal evidence came from the top. He claims he was told by a deputy city attorney that evidence to the three shootings wouldn't be released, and that the attorney allegedly added, there are items we will just not release and we will pay the fines or lawsuits.

Chavez says he was ordered to create barriers to baffle journalists and members of the public who pursued the records. His supervisors allegedly encouraged him to invent loopholes under which records could be withheld, or ask journalists for requirements that were not needed such as case numbers.

Meanwhile, Chavez claimed, the sought-after evidence was either being edited or eliminated altogether.

We can make this disappear, Chavez claims one of his superiors allegedly said of a cameras memory card after Chavez received a public records request for pictures from that camera. The tiny SD cards were easy to alter, Chavez said.

I heard from many people working in and around the APD Evidence Unit that SD Cards were easily bleached or deleted or altered by APD personnel in the Forensics Unit, he wrote in his affidavit.

Chavez says he began to question how evidence could have potentially been altered, especially from officers body cameras.

Evidence.com is a subscription service run by stun gun company Taser. The software, which is sold alongside Taser-brand body cameras, allows police departments to upload and store footage. Albuquerque Police use the Taser surveillance program, reportedly alongside police departments in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, and London.

Evidence.com also allows users to edit and delete body camera footage. The tools can theoretically be used to highlight important frames of a video, or blur faces in order to protect identities. But Chavez, who had extensive training with the program, claims he saw the editing software put to more sinister use.

I was able to see, via the Evidence.com audit trail, that people had in fact deleted and/or altered lapel camera videos, he alleged in the affidavit, accusing detectives of training officers, particularly those in the Forensics Unit and the Major Gangs unit how to edit video, meaning you could delete video and add images and blur video and/or corrupt video so they were either not usable or altered.

Chavez claims that officers in these units were allegedly instructed not to file crime reports until after their body camera footage was viewed. If the footage presented the officers in a good light, Chavez said, they could release the film in the name of transparency. If the footage was problematic, they were allegedly encouraged to claim a faulty camera.

In the case of Hawkes, Dear claimed he had shot her in self-defense and that a faulty cable had caused his camera to malfunctionan account that was backed up by other officers on the scene. Dear claimed that a stolen car led to a foot chase at the trailer park where Hawkes lived. Dear said Hawkes pulled a gun on him at short range, giving him no choice but to shoot in self-defense.

But Hawkes family is claiming a cover-up in its civil lawsuit against the police department. According to an autopsy, Dears three shots entered Hawkes from the side, an indication that she might not have been facing the officer. The gun allegedly found on Hawkes body also had no DNA or fingerprint evidence that conclusively tied the teenager to the firearm (a detail which has been confirmed by police).

In addition to the two body camera records that he accused of being edited, Chavez also allegedly found fault with the footage from a third officer on the scene, I can tell looking at [the] video that it has been altered by using the functionalities within Evidence.com where you can make the slides of the video blurry or unclear, he said in his affadavit. I know that these alterations to Taser lapel camera video are possible using Evidence.com and that an audit trail on these videos is also available on Evidence.com.

Chavez made similar observations about the case of Jeremy Robertson, one of the three police shooting cases for which he alleges he was instructed to suppress public information. Robertson had allegedly violated his probation when police spotted him and took chase in July 2014. Officers shot and killed him, claiming he had pointed a gun at them, although Robertsons family said he had been shot from behind while climbing a fence.

Chavez said he reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby salon and he claimed that film had also been edited.

Based on my knowledge of Evidence.com, I can see the salon video has the tell-tale signs that it has been altered and images that had been captured are now deleted, he claimed in the affidavit. Among those the missing frames was the most important image in Robertsons case.

One of the deleted images captured the officers shooting Jeremy Robertson, Chavez said.
If posh, liberal nerves are shot because of the election, then Showtime wants to shred them to their rawest, tingling ends. Yes, The Affair is back, that everyday story of happy, settled metropolitan folk who spend their days and nights engaged in friendly, intellectually zinging conversation, and hot romancing in fancy Manhattan brownstones.

Joking!

As any fan knows, The Affair is a tortuous parlor game, focusing on the fallout of an upper middle-class marriage which has progressed to affairs within affairs, abuse, murder, and a miscarriage of justice. The Affair is now so complicated that one comes to dread the beginning-of-episodes, Previously on The Affair because how on earth do you compress the precis of the merry-go-round of dysfunction these people excel at in their perfectly appointed milieus of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Montauk.

Welcome then, dear brave fellow masochists, to Season 3. We left horny and mostly scoundrel-embodying author Noah Solloway (Dominic West) standing up in court and claiming responsibility for the death of Scotty Lockhart (Colin Donnell).

He didnt do it. Noah was a passenger in a car driven by his ex-wife Helen (Maura Tierney), after Scotty was pushed into the trajectory of said car by Noahs perhaps-not-now-present partner/former mistress Alison (Ruth Wilson). He was protecting both of them, in no small part because they are the mothers of his children.

Or at least he thought he was, because hes actually not the father of Joanie, Alisons daughter, whose father is her ex-husband Cole (Joshua Jackson). Before the car crash, we had seen both original, pre-affair couplesNoah and Helen, Cole and Alisontogether again and pretty happy. Not for long.

The first surprise of Season 3: Fiona Apple has remastered the lyrics to that opening theme to make it even more staccato and creepy; the credits themselves are darker and still feature the sea, but it looks even blacker, and even more characters descend blurrily into its depths.

The cast list has expanded to include Noah and Helens children, and Irene Jacob, who plays a sultry academic, Juliette Le Gall.

And, for at least this first episode, just one perspective. Affair fans are used to seeing two perspectives, sometimes of the same events, in one episode. In this season opener, written by Sarah Treem, the shows co-creator, it was just Noahs point of view we saw and not much of the wonderful Tierney and Wilson, which, this viewer hoped, was a temporary blip.

It turned out his false courtroom confession had worked: He had been locked up for three years, and this first hour weaved between his time inside and his new life outside, working as a creative writing tutor at Princeton University to a bunch of namby-pamby, mollycoddled millennials.

Noah is his usual difficult-to-love self, but is so sexy that any heterosexual female who may object to him, or is hurt by him, ends up fancying him or having sex with him. The message of Noah Solloway: All is not lost for terrible partners and terrible dads, who happen to be charismatic stud-muffins.

Noah begins Season 3 with a heavy beard (he really should shave it off, his sister says rightly, he looks insane), at his dads funeral, his sister protecting him from her husbands charges that he is a selfish asshole. The husband, scary as he may be, is rightwe know that.

But the first brilliant piece of screenwriting saw Noah deliver his fathers eulogyhaltingly because the niceties of the traditional tribute caught in his throat. He didnt know his father, he admits, and didnt like him.

We see Helen at the funeral, hopeful of a future with Noah, which he does not want. His eldest son Martin (Jake Siciliano) wants nothing to do with himso a nice bit of history repeating itself there. Noah calls Alison later to try and build a bridge (but we dont see her), and we have no idea what has happened to his relationships with Alison and Helen. We as yet have no idea how they lived with him accepting guilt for something he didnt do to protect them.

He is no longer the lauded famous author, but an ex-con tentatively rebuilding his life. We see he is also pill-poppingly shaken-up and vulnerable because of some terrible experience related to a prison guard.

This first episode, with blurry sightings of said person first outside and thenliterally most shatteringlyin a liquor store, had elements of horror movie about it. Whatever happened between Noah and the guard is somehow caught up with the outdoors and the sound of a train. This season: sounds of train/forests/nighttimeall BAD.

Vogueishly, The Affair trod into the hot current topic of campus sexual assault and cosseted millennials. Noah verbally rounded on Audrey, one of his students in his creative writing classrightly, her composition was navel-gazing dirge-drivelwho dashed out in tears.

Later, exhausted, he awoke after taking a nap in a church (as you do) to the dulcet tones of foxy Juliette. They chanced upon a campus demonstration about sexual assault, and Juliette mused about students wanting to feel secure now. In their day, the whole idea of going to university was being in an arena where you, and your ideas, were challenged.

Juliette is smitten by this screw-up, because why not, and invites him over for dinner where there are two male students and two female students (including Audrey). The female students are exercised about sexual assault and gender transgressions, the male students feel they cant fuck a female counterpart without being accused of being potential rapists, depending on the young womans whims the morning after.

Noahs own crimes of passion and real crimes are bought up by Audrey. In Descent, his potboiler distillation of what happened in Seasons 1 and 2 between him, Helen, and Alison, the moment he and Alison had rough sex against a tree is brought up. Audrey describes it as rape; Noah describes sex as blurred itself, a war between intellect and instinct.

Merveilleux, sighs Juliette, tres French-ly, tres predictably. She spends this first episode gazing at Noah in horny wonderment. Because she is French and so much more laconic and worldly than the fools of American academia around her, she just loves ze fucked-up men like Noah who say ze bad things and outrage all ze social mores. Oohlala.

Audrey is bewitched too, because what point are your staunch feminist principles when confronted by the hot sex magnet that is Noah Solloway? That is until he wonders why she feels unsafe in his class, and says he only pushes her in class to take her out of her comfort zone; and she says, as a woman, she never feels safe, or in any comfort zone.

Well, OK. And well-distilled from headlines and all the right websites, Affair scribes. And thanks for listening to us watchers, whoas bewitched by Wests gorgeous butt as any reasonable human would behave struggled to see Noah thus far as anything but an indulged, screwed-up abuser. But Audrey, just FYI: no one is in a safe space or in a comfort zone in The Affair, so welcome to the freakin party.

Lucky Juliette gets to bed the newly non-bearded Noah, and just as his muscular, zero-body fatted loins are getting into their rhythmic stride, there roars a train outside. Nightmare time. Evil guard time. Out into the night Noah sprints. Is this the evil guard he sees in the shadows? No, it isnt.

But back at his digs, it all gets very Cronenberg. For some reason, his kitchen light is the only one in any suburb anywhere that is the flickering blue neon of a horror film mortuary. (We suggest a softer bulb. Theyre a steal in Home Depot.) Ants are crawling everywhere. (Noah, babe, get some Raid.)

Horror appears imminent, because the bulb is also menacingly loud in its flickering. And indeed, our anti-hero is soon hitting the deck in his weird suburban mortuary kitchen, slashed in the neck by an unseen assailant, blood spurting from the wound as if Wes Craven himself had popped in to say a cheery hello.

The Affair, then, has a new mystery: Who tried, and maybe succeeded, to kill Noah? We have a missing three years, the usual cast list of suspects (minus Scotty), plus an evil guard for a storyline that looks set to be six parts Oz to four parts Shawshank. In short: another whodunnit, with loads of philosophical and sexual-political musing on the side to class it up. And, it would seem, the writers are going make Noah decent, just as they line up a gallery of suspects to kill him.
The Russian presidential administrations readout of the phone call was terse but telling. Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump, it stated, both spoke of the need to work together in the struggle against the number one common enemyinternational terrorism and extremism. In this context, they discussed issues related to solving the crisis in Syria.

That marriage of true minds occurred on Nov. 14, exactly six days after the world began referring, however reluctantly, to Donald Trump as president-elect of the United States.

It was an unknown number of days after the New York real estate baron received what he described as a beautiful letter from his soon-to-be Russian counterpart, a man whose steadfast leadership he has professed to admire and whose regime is currentlyalthough perhaps not for longunder U.S. sanctions owing to its invasion and occupation of parts of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putins military is also responsible, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, for killing more Syrian civilians in a single year than ISIS has managed to do in three-and-a-half yearsand all in the name of combating what Putin calls international terrorism and extremism.

Not that Trump is aware of that latter statistic (he has, at times, been unaware of Russias invasion of Ukraine), and not that he would be much bothered by it even if he were. His Syria policy, such as it can be divined from his statements and claims on the hustings, and now in his turbulent transition period, has remained doggedly opposed to reality.

His handle on the contemporary Middle East is both a monochromatic caricature of the war on terror (bomb the shit out of them) and a semi-conscious regurgitation of authoritarian propaganda and disinformation, the sort of lies he doesnt dismiss and many enemies of the United States have long hoped a Western leader such as him would swallow.

The so-called Islamic State, as Trump sees it, is the sole problem bedeviling a region teeming with intractable dilemmas and bloody conflicts. It is therefore the only natural security consideration for the United States. He told the Wall Street Journal that he does not trust the anti-ISIS Sunni Arab rebels the CIA and Pentagon have trained in Syria, whereas he places a lot of faith in the armies that have been killing both, often to the benefit of the ISIS fanatics.

My attitude was youre fighting Syria, he said, Syria is fighting ISIS, and you have to get rid of ISIS. Russia is now totally aligned with Syria, and now you have Iran, which is becoming powerful, because of us, is aligned with Syria.  Now were backing rebels against Syria, and we have no idea who these people are.

It scarcely matters that Syria is here represented by a mass murdering dictator who has in the past instructed his intelligence services to dispatch jihadists into Iraq to blow up American soldiers, and more recently released al Qaeda veterans from his prisons, as he continues to trade with ISIS in oil, natural gas, weapons and electricity.

Of no apparent consequence, either, is the fact that U.S. spies and military officials have drawn a straight line from scorched-earth tactics deployed by the Syrian regime, Russia, and Iran, and the successive waves of Syrian refugees pouring into Europe and North America. This is the most politically and socially destabilizing mass migration the likes of which have not been seen since World War II, and yet which Trump seems to think its the work of the caliphate, not his future friend Assad.

Indeed, Trumps telegraphing of executive intent to the Journal was sufficient to earn a cautiously happy reply from Bashar al Assad himself. We cannot tell anything about what hes going to do, Assad said on Portugals RTP television channel, in an interview that aired Tuesday, following a rather successful reputation laundering press junket he allowed into Damascus. But if he is going to fight the terrorists, of course we are going to be an ally, a natural ally in that regard with the Russian, with the Iranian, with many other countries.

Putin and Assad would surely welcome a realignment of the worlds only military superpower into the Damascus-Tehran-Moscow orbitone which Trump blames the weakling Barack Obama for enabling even as he vows to work with it as a geopolitical fait accompli, making the United States a moral underwriter of that troikas war crimes.

Trumps worldview suffers from a major strategic contradiction: one cannot be both pro-Putin and anti-Ayatollah at the same time. Least of all in Syria.

The Assad regime does not even have control over the military forces fighting in its name, Jennifer Carafella, a Syria analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War told The Daily Beast. Iran has disproportionate control over pro-regime forces. So if the U.S. is talking about entering into an alignment with Assad or Assad plus Russia, its actually talking about entering into an alignment with Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps, Carafella said, referring to the elite expeditionary force of the mullahs. Trump has blamed the incumbent president for enriching that same group, to Americas peril, by way of the Iran nuclear deal.

Perhaps it is precisely because of uncertainty about how Trump will square this forbidding circle that the jubilant reception his dark-horse victory prompted in Moscow a few days ago now appears to be giving way to a creeping sense of buyers remorse, as Oliver Carroll, the managing editor of The Moscow Times, said.

Yes, its true that the Russians feel theyve got their man, as Carroll put it, but the brighter bulbs in Putins inner circle know that a Trump foreign policy can swing wildly in either or both directions, depending upon his top cabinet picks. Naming former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as Secretary of State, for instance, would be met with something less than delight in the Kremlin, according to Carroll, given Boltons hawkish consistency on both Iran and Russia.

As such, Putin isnt waiting around to see how things shake out. Hes busying with his own transition.

On Nov. 15, some 24 hours after Putins congratulatory phone call to Trump Tower, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the start of a large-scale operation to deliver strikes against terrorists all across the Syria, relying both on Russias year-old Khmeimim air base in Latakia and its recent naval deployment in the Mediterranean. Kalibr cruise missiles have been fired from the Admiral Grigorivich frigate on targets in Idlib, Aleppo and Homs provinces. Su-33 and MiG 29K fighter jets have taken off fromand sometimes successfully landed onRussias only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.

Crucial to Putin, the design of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Assad is to retake east Aleppo, a redoubt held by mixed rebel and jihadist forces for several years. The enclaves fall would constitute a decisive morale and propaganda victory for Damascus, albeit not an end to the anti-regime insurgency. That would chug along indefinitely, as even that perennial optimist Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, explained to the Guardian following Trumps election.

Much of the state-sponsored heavy lifting, on the opposition side is being done by Qatar and Turkey, according to Carafella. In the continued absence of American ownership of the rebel cause, these U.S. allies have grown even bolder in their financing and arming of hardline Islamist and jihadist factions to beat back Iranian hegemony in Syria and/or Kurdish expansionism.

A U.S. cutoff of armaments and cash to various Free Syrian Army units would not necessarily affect the course of this hinge battle.

However, Aleppos fall would do the opposite of what Trump claims he wants to do: destroy international terrorism.

Jihadist recruitment would spike. Already it has been on the rise as a result of Russias year-long campaign, Carafella says. Even when Russia has targeted terrain held by ISIS, theyre violating the laws of armed conflict. Theyre targeting ISIS-controlled market places. Theyre killing civilians. We dont want the Russians to target ISIS-held terrain because it wont be effective militarily.

This is why both the CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff have characterized the sacking of East Aleppo as an impending humanitarian catastrophe as well as an urgent U.S. counterterrorism threat. The area contains no known ISIS militants. What it has got a lot of is civilians, some 250,000, now facing extermination, internal displacement or radicalization.

According to the pro-opposition Local Coordination Committee (LCC), 82 people were killed on Wednesday in Aleppo alone. Most of them, the report noted, were hit by Russian and Syrian warplanes. In the last week several hospitals have also been destroyed, including a specialized pediatric one, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. The World Health Organization has claimed that all hospitals in the area are now inoperablealthough the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights disputes that, saying that civilians are simply too terrified of being killed should they seek treatment at any of the still-functioning facilities.

Death from above can come quickly or slowly. Russian warplanes dropped parachute bombs on Hanano and Haidaria, two neighborhoods in Aleppos northeast, according to the LCC.

It was the heaviest bombardment this month, Monther Ekaty, an activist in the Seif al Dawla area of the city, told The Daily Beast on Wednesday, two days into the renewed campaign. Tactical rockets, regular bombs, barrel bombs, cannon, mortars and surface-surface rockets had all been fired on the city, which offers no escape from the inevitable slaughter. Other eyewitnesses say that chlorine-gas filled barrel bombs have been unleashed. Al Jazeera captured horrifying footage of an air raid striking on childrens hospital just as a father and his two children were being treated for asphyxiation from just such a chemical attack. The nurses scramble to rescue undernourished and near-lifeless infants from incubators, amid the smoke and debris.

There is nowhere to run to, said Ameen al Halabi. Were completely besieged and there are no routes out of the city.

Contrast this claim of total encirclement with a text message sent to East Aleppo residents by the regime on Sunday, Nov. 13. The ill and wounded, it read, should flee the city or die as a strategically planned assault using high precision weapons [would occur] within 24 hours.

At the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday, Sen. John McCain said that precision bombs are being used to purposefully target hospitals in Aleppo and characterized what Assad, Iran and Russia are doing as one of the greatest acts of genocide in modern times, for which the United States, through its fecklessness and inaction, is complicit.

If Trump didnt give them a green light, the Russian wouldnt have started the Aleppo campaign again, al Halabi said, echoing a widely held view.

The activists and rebels interviewed for this story responded to the prospects of a Trump presidency with a collective, What else is new? Theyve been through it all already.

Okay, so look at what happened during the past week, said photographer Fuad Hallak. Trump got elected and more than 100 civilians were killed in Aleppo alone. If Clinton got elected instead, would these 100 be alive now? I dont think so.

Whatever hope may have once existed for American-led resolution to Syrians suffering ended in 2013, all interviewees said, when Barack Obama failed to punish Assad for using chemical weapons in Damascus. Instead, he cut a deal with Putin, which, East Aleppo residents believe, Trump is only likely to expand upon, with little or no bearing on how they live or die.

Yesterday, Liwa Shuhada al-Islam were receiving ammunition from Turkey, via the Atmeh crossing, said Suhel, a fighter with that unit of the Free Syrian Army. So the arms did not stop yet, but I have no idea how Trump will affect us. I am not worried because the American government never really supported us. They are supporting us only with statements, but they act against us.

The unavoidable truth, said Carafella, is that al Qaeda has been fighting and dying in the trenches with the Syrian opposition against the Assad regime since the beginning of this war. If the U.S. enters into a partnership with Russia that is committing repeated war crimeseven if we manage to shift Russias campaign to anything productivewe still fail to recover legitimacy with the local population.

Were in a competition with al Qaeda, she added. We have invested enough for our reputation to be on the line, but not enough to affect the outcome in any serious way. And thats a terrible place to be.

And theres no guarantee that a President Trump could fix it even if he wanted to, and even if he had the remotest idea how to.

With additional reporting by Loubna Mrie.
With Hillary Clintons defeat the Obama era ended abruptly. This was not the outcome the polls and the media had predicted. There was conjecture that when Trump inevitably lost the election, the Republican Party would unravel and perhaps cease to exist. But now it is the Democrats who are in disarray after losing the Presidency and control of the Senate. How did this happen?

Twenty years ago, I wrote a book titled Divided They Fell: The Demise of the Democratic Party: 1964-1996. The book traced how the Democrats shifted from a mainstream centrist party to one of the left, adopting policies that eventually alienated many Americans, causing them to move over to the Republican column. The 2016 election is the result of that process.

The seeds of Trumps victory were planted in the first progressive reforms instituted during and after the campaign of George McGovern in 1972, marking the beginning of the Democrats decline. At the Chicago convention, the McGovern Democrats pushed out the old party bosses and trade union leaders, and put in their place self-proclaimed progressives chosen by the identity group to which they belonged; i.e., African-Americans, students, women, etc.

In carrying this out, the Chicago delegation that had been put together by the union leaders was literally kicked out of the convention. Attacking organized labor as a conservative group made many union Democrats slowly move into the ranks of the Republican Party. That trend culminated during the Ronald Reagan campaign, producing the large group dubbed Reagan Democrats.

The Democrats had begun their long march to the left by choosing to appeal to liberal constituency groups rather than the traditional electorate that made up the old New Deal-Fair Deal coalition. They also instituted quotas to make sure that future delegates would consist of a solid representation of members of these identity groups through institution of a quota system. As McGovern explained: The way we got the quota thing through was by not using the word quotas.

The Democratic Party was, in effect, captured by the left. There was an interregnum when Bill Clinton won the election as a New Democrat, arguing for a centrist path. Even so, during his first two years in office, Clinton had tried and failed to institute policies of a leftist nature like instituting a universal health care system to be run by his wife, supporting affirmative action, and cutting the defense budget. In the end, he found he found that to get anything done, he would have to work with Republicans, adopting a policy that was then called triangulation.

Now we have come full circle. The Trump victory this month was a wake-up call to the Democratic Partya group whose main support came from elites in Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and East Coast backers in or close to Wall Street, professionals, minority groups, and many members of the public service trade unions. This year, women were supposed to be all in, but failed to come through. Missing above all was the white working class, once the heart of the Democratic Party during the years of F.D.R. and Harry S Truman.

What happened in this election is explained well by John B. Judis in the Sunday Washington Post:

For Clinton, the adversary was Trump, but it was also, as the campaign developed, the basket of deplorables who backed him. While Clinton claimed she meant only a subset of Trumps white working-class supporters, her charge was takenwith some justiceas applying to the group in its entirety. So instead of creating a majority that included her base plus a significant slice of potential Republican voters, Clinton defined her coalition against them. (Many liberal pundits reinforced this perception by repeatedly characterizing Trumps voters as poorly informed and racist, even though in 2008 and 2012 many of these voters backed Obama.)

Now Democrats are searching for answers about their shellacking and what they should do about it if the party is to have a future. Fingers are being pointed. To find answers, Politico reports that George Soros and other liberal-left big money people met in a private three-day event in the nations capital with what reporter Kenneth P. Vogel calls the darlings of the left including Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who is the Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairman. The Conference, sponsored by the Democracy Alliance (DA) donor clubwho, according to Vogel, have had a major hand in shaping the institutions of the leftis assessing what went wrong. One thing they agree on is to wage full-on trench warfare against President-elect Trumps 100-day plan.

Some urge rebuilding the Clinton/Obama coalition, but many question whether that will be sufficient to win national elections in the future. Others, including Ellison, argue that winning the working-class vote is necessary. The way to do that, he believes, is by arguing for a form of economic populism.

Today, the old guard, represented by Hillary Clinton and the DNC, is in a fight for its life, pitted against the socialist far left represented by the campaign of Bernie Sanders. Their favorite for chairman of the Democratic National Committee-previously run by Clinton stalwarts like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Donna Brazile-is Ellison, who took a parting shot at Clinton:You cant tell working people youre on their side while at the same time youre raising money from Wall Street and the billionaire class. The Democratic Party has to be focused on grass-roots America and not wealthy people attending cocktail parties.

Ellison recently received the endorsement of Sen. Chuck Schumer, although his main backers include Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Competing for the job, with a visible lack of support, are the more moderate figures Howard Dean and Martin OMalley.

The Democrats, while ranting about the racism of Steve Bannon, are seemingly uninterested in exploring Ellisons past and finding out what he stands for. Some answers can be found in an article written by Dennis MacEoin six years ago, which appeared in Middle East Quarterly, where he is the editor. MacEoin notes that despite a predictably liberal voting record, Ellison consorts with groups and individuals that represent a threat to democracy and America. In Ellisons sympathy for Islamists, MacEoin accuses him of being at best naive in his associations, and at worst a fifth columnist, who provides cover in the House for anti-American discourse, and possibly, anti-American actions.

Ellisons record includes association with Louis Farrakhans Nation of Islam during his law school days and again in 1995 when he endorsed the Million Man March, which has been extensively documented. In his nuanced article, MacEoin points out that Ellison has in fact taken positions at odds with Islamic doctrine, for example, denouncing the views of Sayyid Qutb, who he said was responsible for what we would regard today as violent extremism with what I call a Muslim veneer. Ellison has, however, received funding for his campaigns from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, including thousands of dollars from Nihad Awad, its executive director. He is a man who has openly supported Hamas and other violent Islamist groups. Ellison was also keynote speaker in 2002 for the Muslim American Society, the American chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is pledged to wage Jihad in America and work toward destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging their miserable house so thatAllahs religion is made victorious over all religions, writes MacEoin.

In the end, MacEion concludes that Ellison is a bundle of contradictions. While his legislative record was within the mainstream of American life, at the same time he also did fundraising for groups whose leadership would replace the Constitution with the laws of Islam.

After 9/11, Ellison said the attack was like the Reichstag fire, which Hitler blamed on the Communists and used as the excuse to assume total power in Germany. Rep. Eric Cantor replied: Even if Ellison asserts that he was not implying that 9/11 was orchestrated by the administration, the comparison he draws between Hitler and the President of United States is disgraceful. These comments inflame hatred and division at a time when we should be promoting our unity and reconciliation.

If Ellison wins his post, as it seems he will, given Senator Chuck Schumers support, it will be a sign that the Sanders wing of the party has won control of the DNC. They believe left-wing populism will appeal to the same voters who just voted for Trump and that in the next election, a socialist or progressive candidate will be able to win. Of course, this assumes that the national electorate will vote for the destruction of Americas democratic capitalism and put a self-proclaimed socialist or far left radical into office.

The Democrats lost the election because they lost the support of the white working and middle class. The arguments of the progressive wing of the party that they should appeal to them by using Trumps playbook, only with left wing solutions, will be hard to resist. But they should think twice about solving their problems by once again by moving further to the left, instead of choosing to be a responsible centrist and mainstream opposition political party.
BERLIN  Just about the time President Barack Obama touched down in Berlin last week, students at Humboldt University were invited by a niche society called International Youth and Students for Social Equality to attend a talk called The election of Trumppolitical causes and teachings.

Sitting in a stuffy classroom, which looked onto an empty train track (some public transport had been cancelled because Obama was in town), the young attendees buzzed excitedly amongst themselves and at first every seat was filled.

But after 30 minutes, much of the room had cleared out. People had come with a lot of questions: Can we accept Trump as the U.S. president?; Will there be militarization in Germany? (still a sensitive topic); and, Was Hillary Clinton really the lesser of two evils? And they werent getting very good answers.

Two editors from the World Socialist Web tried to advocate working class revolution as the antidote to populism. Obama gave a speech in Athens today where he implied that giving power to Trump is evidence for democracy being intact, one of them said disdainfully. It is as if one would say that giving power to Hitler proved that Weimar democracy was intact.

A young woman who was halfway out the door stopped, turned and commented. I would be careful about comparing Trump to Hitler, comparing Guantanamo to death campsyou are in danger of relativizing the Holocaust.

Germans, young Germans particularly, want answers for dealing with a world according to President Donald Trump. But a satisfying explanation is proving hard to find.

***

That evening not one word was spoken about German Chancellor Angela Merkel, even though many English-language media had talked about Obama passing the baton to her as the next defender of the free world. That may not mean much now, but is understood to include the defense of human rights, protecting the environment, reduced trade barriers, the rule of law  what were thought to be settled principles until Trump crowned the ambitions of many extremists in the United States and Europe as well.

Then, on Sunday night, to no ones great surprise, Merkel announced that she will run for a fourth term as chancellor in the 2017 elections.

Merkel said that she had been told in these uncertain times that people would have little understanding if I now do not again throw the entirety of my experience, and those talents that have been given to me, into the scales to do my service for Germany.

So, now that Merkel has made her highly anticipated decision, she is already receiving some criticism about her failure, in between long, sleepy sentences, to offer concrete ideas for the next four years (apart form the topic of pensions and broadband internet in rural areas).

While there is no chance that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could take power, if it wins enough seats in the Reichstag, even if no one brings it into a coalition, it can wield power as a strong minority party.

Indeed, AFD leader Frauke Petry seemed pleased with Merkels decision. The AFD has put a lot of effort into demonizing the refugee chancellor. Now they dont need to prepare for a new scapegoat.

***

In a joint press conference on Thursday, Obama had praised Merkel as absolutely extraordinary, adding, If I was a German and allowed to vote, I would support her.

Obama had arrived on his final trip to Europe Sorgenfresser (translation: worry-muncher), as Der Spiegel lovingly nicknamed him a week after printing a Trump-shaped meteor about to hit planet earth on its cover.

Berliners still remember the time when Obama shrugged off his jacket while speaking to a crowd of 200,000: We can be informal in front of friends, hed said, captivating the Germans in a way they had rarely seen a politician do before.

But while newspapers got excited printing the most elegant pictures of Obamas time in office, the weather in Berlin was not welcoming, and neither, it seemed, were the people. Only a few lingered in front of the Hotel Adlon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the statesman. The magic had gone.

Which doesnt mean there isnt a lot of Obama nostalgia going around. While Germanys feelings for Obama may have cooled since 2008, lastly because of the NSA surveillance leaks, he is still rated as one of the most popular American presidents.

Now it looks like difficult times lie ahead for German-American relations. On Thursday, Obama said that he was optimistic that Trump would rise to the demands of the presidency but acknowledged that Merkel would have great burdens to carry internationally.

But making dramatic promises that one cant keep is not Merkels style. The expectations being put on her as the last pillar of western liberalism, she said on Sunday evening, were grotesque, even almost absurd.

***

According to Sudha David-Wilp from the German Marshall Fund in Berlin, while established parties agree that Trumps election is a game-changer for politics as usual, its possible that upstart and fringe parties may see Trump as a way of gaining leverage for their own policies.

The question, of course, is whether they will succeed in using that leverage to effect changes, and what sort of response to the right there will be from the left.

Not everyone in Germany is worried about the Trump-meteor. My opinion is very different, one young woman says cheerfully, stubbing out her cigarette on a metal barrier. Of course I dont like Trump, but maybe his presidency will be part of a positive development, where Europe will be able to distance itself from America, from capitalism. We can take it back to the roots.

Merkel and Obama represent the enforcement of commercial interests, Left party politician Sevim Dagdelen tells The Daily Beast, dismissing their joint appeal for the trans-Atlantic free trade agreement and climate protection, which was published in Wirtschaftswoche this week.

Some 70,000 people demonstrated against that transatlantic agreement in Berlin in September. According to Dagdelen, Obama stands for social division and social inequality, thats why he gets on so well with the conservative Angela Merkel.

When Merkel was asked on Thursday whether saying goodbye to Obama is hard, she admitted it was. But we are all politicians, she said. And democracy lives from change.

Merkel clearly hesitated before making this decision to run again.

In 1998 she had told the photographer Herlinde Koelbl, I dont want to be a half dead wreck once the time comes to get out of politics. But when asked about this comment on Sunday evening, Merkel smiled sweetly. Well, I looked at myself in the mirror and I dont think I am that yet.
PARIS  Marine Le Pen hadnt counted on this.

For months, a wave of populist nationalism has swept across the West, humiliating pundits, discrediting pollsters, and surprising even some of the voters who pulled the European ejection cord in Britain and pumped Donald Trump into the presidency of the United States.

It has looked like Le Pen could count on that trend to get a very serious shot at the French presidency in May, and she still might. But there are also signs that in France, at least, there is a new yearning for more mainstream personalities. And the spectacle of Trumps incoming administration in the United States may actually serve to undermine the European version of the alt-right rather than support it.

In the streets of Paris these days, one often hears the question: How can such a man as Trump be president of the United States? People are genuinely baffled by his buffoonery. In France, traditionally, they prefer their presidents to be serieux.

On Sunday night, as votes were counted in the first ever presidential primary held by the French political party that now calls itself Les Republicains, that sort of serious mainstream conservatism made a stunning comeback.

The top two finishers, both of them former prime ministers, were Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had tried to appear more right-wing even than Le Pen, came in a humiliating third, ineligible for the runoff next Sunday.

Hence the surprise: Le Pen, as leader of the far-right-wing National Front, has seen the whole French political establishment swerving in her direction in recent years, using rhetoric and advocating policies hostile to immigrants and, increasingly, skeptical of the European Union. And she and her supporters were confident that nobody could out-Le Pen her.

The National Front election strategy had been quite clear. It is assumed that President Francois Hollande, a Socialist whose approval ratings now hover in the range of 4 percent (yes, four percent), has no prayer of winning if he runs, and any other Socialists will be so tainted by his aura of impotence and failure that they will have no chance either.

So the likely scenario is a two-round election next spring in which the Socialists are knocked out early, Le Pen will win a plurality, and then she will face the nominee of Les Republicains in the runoff.

Sarkozy was an easy mark, since his hyperkinetic manner and many unkept promises when he was in office are a serious electoral liability. In 2012, Hollande won largely because so many voters cast their ballots against Sarkozy. Now, the voters in Sarkozys own party primary have knocked him out of the race for good and opted instead for the man who served as his prime ministerial understudy from 2007 to 2012: Francois Fillon.

Le Pen also reportedly figures she has a good chance against Juppe, who was President Jacques Chiracs prime minister in the 1990s, if he manages to win the presidential nomination next weekend. Juppe is 71, distinguished, and very s erieux, a classic French presidential figure. But while he may inspire confidence in some voters, he does not inspire much passion. And Fillon, who had languished in third place in the polls for the last several months, came from behind to crush Juppe as well as Sarkozy.

The numbers were 44.1 percent for Fillon; 28.6 percent for Juppe; and 20.6 percent for Sarkozy, with four other candidates picking up the crumbs.

The next few days will see Fillon and Juppe focused on explaining the differences in their policies, and voters who picked Fillon as the handsome, controlled alternative to the ever-twitchy Sarkozy may look more closely at his platform than they did previously.

He is a mainstream statesman, but also very conservative by French standards, advocating some policies modeled on those of Britains Margaret Thatcher. Fillon has promised, for instance, to eliminate 500,000 public sector jobs, whereas Juppe talks about cutting 200,000 to 300,000. And Le Pens National Front is much less radical  much less austere  in its domestic economic policies.

Fillon identified strongly with the Catholic right wing in France, and opposes the current law allowing adoption by gay couples. Juppe would let the present law stand.

Juppe is skeptical about the intentions and actions of the Russian and Iranian leaders, while Fillon, like Trumpand like Le Penadvocates closer ties and cooperation with Moscow, especially when it comes to fighting terrorists in Syria and around the world. Unlike Trump, Fillon recognizes that such a policy would have to embrace Iran as well.

On the question of radical Islam, Fillon sounds much like Le Pen and Trump. To promote his recent book, Defeating Islamic Totalitarianism, he writes. Lets forget whats politically correct. It is time to call a cat a cat and totalitarianism totalitarianism. Yes, the bloody invasion of Islamism in our daily lives prepares the way for a Third World War. Yes, the real question today is how we can overcome the terrible threat that has plagued France and the French. Enough contortions, enough demagoguery!

Did we say Fillon is a moderate? Not exactly. Just more of a mainstream statesman and more moderate than Le Pen and Sarkozy, and, now, more likely than anyone else to be the next president of France.
Earlier this week, the Whitney Museum announced that artist Annette Lemieux had asked that her 1995 work, Left Right Left Right, be reinstalled upside down, so that its 30 photographs of raised fists mounted on wooden stakes now point toward the ground.

The reinstallment was a response to Donald Trumps electiona gesture that suggests a commitment to individual agency, the continuing power of protest, and a feeling, in her words, that the world has turned upside down, the Whitney wrote in a statement.

Lemieuxs work is more ambiguous than the images alone suggest: While one of the fists belongs to Richard Nixon, another is Martin Luther King Jr.s, which is to say that its not simply a uniform reflection of solidarity and protest.

But Lemieuxs recent gesture is a straightforward response to, as the artist said herself, our upside down world under President-elect Donald Trumpand the first high-profile art commentary since his shocking victory last Tuesday.

Its also an indication that well likely see much more political and protest art in response to Trumps election. Artists throughout history have reacted to cultural and political discourse, with art often serving as a powerful political weapon.

As Nina Simone, the jazz musician and civil rights activist, once put it: How can you be an artist and not reflect the times?

Indeed, weve seen plenty of art thats done just that during Trumps campaign, from Portland-based artist Sarah Levys painting of the grimacing candidate made with her own menstrual blood (a response to his blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever comment suggesting that Megyn Kelly criticized him during the first debate because she was on her period) to Los Angeles artist Illma Gores depiction of a nude Trump with micropenis-sized genitalia.

In the most mainstream satire of the president-elect, Alec Baldwin continues to play Trump on NBCs SNL, itself criticized for allowing Trump to once host the show.

In August and September, statues of a naked, testes-bereft Trump were erected in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Cleveland, and Miami by the anarchist collective Indecline. The internet was mesmerized by photos of the effigiespart of an aptly titled project, The Emperor Has No Ballsand amused passersby inspecting the statues folds of veiny, yellowish-pink flesh and tiny genitalia.

Many were removed within hours of going up, though one of them reportedly sold for $22,000 at auction in October.

Some of the most prominent election art, including these works, wouldnt have garnered as much attention had they not gone viral on social media. But one group of anonymous, anti-Trump guerilla artists called the Birch Reincliff Art Collective has recently been engaging the public in different ways.

Last week, the Chicago-based collective installed 6-foot-tall golden elephant sculptures around the city, each one emblazoned with the question, What would a Trump presidency look like?

More than 1,000 people wrote or illustrated their responses on the sculptures, which the collective declared public bulletin boards to create the opportunity to have a voice in a statement, writing that overwhelmingly, people were horrified at the idea of Trumps future presidency.

In October, the collective decorated the city with 25 gold toilets in public locations, their lids graffitied with the names of Trump surrogates and allies (Putin Was Here; David Duke Was Here).

Inside each one were the collectives Donnie The Poo dog toys, and postcards addressed to the RNC. The $14 toys are also available for purchase online, with the collective promising to donate $5 for every toy purchased to organizations like Disabled American Veteran, Planned Parenthood, and the Human Rights Campaign.

In a phone conversation with The Daily Beast, one of Birchs anonymous artists said theyre currently in the blueprint stages of planning more interactive, anti-Trump art (none of us expected that he would win) with the goal of forcing people to engage one another in conversation.

Giving people the opportunity to write on our elephants got them out of their echo chambers and even inspired arguments, he said, speaking on behalf of the collective and noting that posting their art online wouldnt have the same effect. So we decided our work needs to be out in public where people will actually communicate face-to-face. Its important to get people who dont agree to talk to one anotherthats the whole purpose.

He also criticized arguments in mainstream media that echo chambers exist as much on the left as they do on the right.

To say that these are equally recursive echo chambers filtering the same information isnt true, he said, adding that right-wing media outlets like Breitbart and Fox News intentionally censor facts and that the media has created a false equivalence by suggesting these echo chambers are problematic on both sides of the political spectrum.

We have to report the facts as they are and to get the Rush Limbaughs and Ann Coulters of the world out of their echo chambers and to start engaging in reality, he said.

Birch is currently in the early planning stages with members in New York City to launch projects there, their representative said, though he declined to reveal the total number of artists in the collective. We started out as [a group of] five, but Birch Reincliff has made a lot of new friends since then, he said, clarifying that, while its members have known each other for some time, the collective formed during the election.

The collective is named after a friend of several members, who they claim had become disenchanted with society when, roughly a year ago, he had an outburst one night when they were together.

We knew he had been dealing with a lot of stress at home with his family and job, but as weeks went by it seemed more likely hed had an extreme mental breakdown, the collectives representative artist told me, adding that the group was formed in Reincliffs honor and that they havent seen or heard from him since.

The collective doesnt necessarily believe great art is more likely to emerge from communities of marginalized groups or climates with less socio-political stability.

Its easy to say that suffering inspires art, but theres a bit of romanticism there, he said, alluding to the cliche of the tortured artist. I think its more true great art just strives and exists in spite of adversity.

He argued that lack of resources can prevent people who arent privileged from making art. People who have a safety net to fall back onwhether its money or a supportive familycan afford to see the benefits of their work without the same risks of someone who is working poor, for whom the risk might be homelessness.

Indeed, many prominent political protest artists of our times have risked their lives, from Ai Weiwei to Pussy Riot.

Unlike China and Russia, America has long been a free society where political protesters are protected by the First Amendment.

But Trumps alignment with Putin and fascist rhetoric has led many people to believe that, once hes moved into the White House, he just might crack down on dissidents.

Its hardly surprising that people fear a Trump administration, considering that its incoming chief strategist Steve Bannon has been accused of being a white nationalist (today, he claimed he was a nationalist, who said that he hopes to build a political movement similar to Andrew Jacksons populism, referring to the Democratic president whose legacy is associated with the mass death of Native Americans).

We think hes a monster, Birch said of the president-electall the more incentive for the collective to storm cities like Chicago and New York with anti-Trump art.
Dire predictions that a Trump victory would send the market into a nosedive have proved premature. Quite the opposite, stocks have gone through the roof. The only question is why anyone should be surprised. Donald Trump may be the best thing that ever happened to Wall Street.

The belief of Forgotten America that Trump was somehow a champion of Main Street against Wall Street was as foolish as it was illusory. On this issue, at least, Trump cannot be accused of dissembling. He vowed not to raise tax rates on the 1 percentwhich included himselfand he appears ready to keep his promise. Consequently, the tax burden will fall inequitably on the very middle-class and blue-collar faithful who voted for him, making them poorer and less equal than they already were.

Moreover, Trumps Republican allies in Congress will now be able to promote various pet projects such as the flat tax, a regressive levy in which both the struggling and the well-to-do will have the opportunity of paying taxes at the same rate, affording an equality of sorts. And a successful GOP campaign against government regulation may well remove the remaining safeguards against financial manipulation by banks, speculators, and hedge funds, bringing back the good old days that gave us George W. Bushs Great Recession.

As for advancing the cause of workers, Republican lawmakers are already targeting recent federal actions to grant added pay for overtime, mobilizing to undermine minimum-wage laws, and taking aim at job safety protections under the guise of removing regulatory rules that impede corporate competition. This may be the culmination of almost 40 years of union-busting, starting under Ronald Reagan, that has systematically vitiated the strength of organized labor. A Republican administration has its sights set on the National Labor Relations Board, one of the few government bodies that still offers a fair hearing in labor disputes.

The coal miners looking to Trump as a savior whod restore their jobs had best look again. The coal industry is dying with little chance of being revived. As has been well reported, its demise came not at the hands of Washington but was wrought by competition from cheaper sources of fuel: gas, oil, shale, and renewable energynot the least of which generates the wind and solar engines that power the agri-business of their fellow GOP voters in the Midwest, who also profit from, dare we say it, farm subsidies. The last hope of coal country is to keep exporting to its best customer, China, which would evaporate if Trump ever initiated the trade war he threatens with Beijing.

Blue-collar voters in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, aggrieved at Washingtons perceived neglect, voted to reject a third-term for President Obama by putting Trump in the White House. They seem to have misremembered that Obama bailed out the auto industry at significant political costmost directly from the free-market Republicans they voted for. In doing so, Obama saved a potential 340,000 jobs in Michigan, more than 200,000 in Ohio, almost 50,000 in Pennsylvania, and close to 45,000 in Wisconsin.

He also added 640,000 jobs to a revived American auto industry. This does not count the tens of thousands of jobs that would have been lost by parts suppliers throughout the not-so-rusting belt of the Midwest. (It might be noted that the government earned back $70 billion of the $80 billion it lent to the industry.) Without Obamas bailout, Midwestern workers would have been vulnerable to even further job loss by foreign competition. Donald Trump, who derided the bailout as a pro-Obama conspiracy, neglected to mention that many auto jobs that left the Rust Belt went not south of the border but to the American South where foreign automakers saw production opportunities in a region in which right-to-work and anti-labor laws allowed them Made-in-the-USA privileges. The Rust Belt aggrieved had to look no further than the Old Confederacy to find where their jobs had gone. As often happens in a fluid national economy, one group of Americans profited at the expense of another. It is doubtful that most, if any, were illegal immigrants. And this is how Midwestern workers punished the Democrats for overlooking them.

Much has been made of Donald Trumps overtures to his blue-collar constituency.

To be sure, he will probably try to protect Medicare and Social Security (although the lure of privatizing is still a gleam in some Republican eyes) since he knows on which side of federal benefits his bases interests are buttered. Similarly, he will probably try to foster a job stimulus package in the form of infrastructure, a policy that was bitterly opposed by the Republicans when it was introduced by President Obama. And in a lapse of generosity, he has indicated that he wont completely gut the Affordable Care Act, maintaining such features as guaranteeing insurance for people with pre-existing conditions.

But, like so many of his forays into compassion, on closer examination, the cure is worse than the disease. As critics have pointed out, while insurers may be required to accept consumers with pre-existing conditions, they dont have to sell insurance to anyone at all. Insurance companies may be required to keep the baby, but they dont have to sell you the bathtub that holds it. Those who purchase health care through the exchanges will be worse off than before.

One of the great issues for conservatives during the Obama years was balancing the budget. Government spending has gotten so out of hand, the refrain goes, that the federal deficit will grow until we are bankrupt, mortgaging the future to the runaway spending of a profligate Washington. But how will Donald Trump pay for a ballyhooed infrastructure, a ballooning military program and maintaining the social safety net while cutting taxes on the 1 percent? Most discretionary social programs have already been cut to the bone. The others are mandated. If we tax less and spend more, the only alternative is to borrow more, sending our national debt soaring by quantum leaps, a prospect that makes the current imbalance seem puny. This could well generate a domino effect that would reverberate through GOP-leaning state legislatures. The result would be fewer municipal services at greater cost, punishing many of the very people who voted for Trump.

This does not even begin to address such issues as global warming whose effects, GOP dismissals notwithstanding, may have a serious impact on flooding, droughts, storms, heat waves, and assorted ecological disasters that can make life precarious for millions of Americans, much less those who dwell on the rest of the planet. In fact, the bogus dystopia that Trump envisioned could well become a reality under his tenure.

As for Trumps immigration policy, his declared intention to round up 3 million illegal alien criminals may not provide jobs for many American workers but it could be a boon for such entrepreneurs as the Crips and the Bloods (with a little help from the Mafia) who may now be rid of competition from the Latin Kings in the drug trade. This might not keep any more narcotics off the streets but it could well restore the business to its domestic players. The deported Latino criminalsassuming there are 3 million such predators stalking red-state Americawould then be free to wreak havoc in their native lands, thereby prompting a further exodus of desperate victims willing to take their chances with Trumps wall.

The conventional wisdom explaining Trumps victory is that the Democrats arrogantly embraced the politics of cultural identity while ignoring the economic frustrations of a disgruntled white majority that deserted them for someone who appealed to their justified grievances. It was the economy. But was it?

As we look more carefully at the voting results a different pattern emerges: In effect, the election was a contest between two coalitions reflecting not an equality gap but a cultural one. The first, and much ballyhooed, was the Democratic alliance of the upwardly mobile, the college educated, the urban, together with ethnic and social minorities who had often been on the fringes of American society. But there was a second coalition as well: the religious right, composed of Protestant evangelicals and conservative Catholics who felt their confessional principles were under assault by a state that had tilted far too secular; millions of NRA members who felt assailed by government intrusions on what they took to be their Second Amendment rights; political conservatives and right-wing ideologues who were affronted by the liberal policies of the Democrats; the affluent who had never left the Republican ranks and were appalled by the idea of sharing their earnings with the unworthy; and, yes, the disaffected left-behind rural whites who formed only a segment of this cohort, albeit an impassioned one.

In fact, this alliance was not primarily economicalthough painting it so was politically potentbut cultural. Many of its members were affluent, quite a few well off. They had little problem with technology and globalization, much less well-placed lobbying, from which many benefited. Their grievance was that they were being left behind not economically but socially. As Donald Trump astutely pointed out in cultivating them: This is your last chance. His brilliant appeal to make America great again, was, for most, not a call for economic redistribution or job opportunity but for social relevance. His message was nothing less than to literally Take America Back to an imagined past that was as longed for as it was illusory, a past where their values were ascendant and where the others knew their place.

Make no mistake, this election was not primarily about the economy. For Trumps adherents, it was about nothing less than saving the soul of the nation. Their quarrel with government was not that they were doing badly but that the others were making inroads, catching up, and, if unchecked, they would somehow surpass the Real Americans. The impulses of Trumps legions were not racial, but tribal. What was elite about their foes was not their finances but their fluidity, their openness to change, which conservatives saw as a challenge not to their pocketbooks but a threat to their belief system.

Which is why the passions of this election had the force of a religious war and Donald Trump was seen as a savior. It explains why so many people voted for him, well aware of his deficiencies and how unfit he was for the White House. In religious terms, a tool of divine deliverance may be flawed, but it must still be wielded. Trump was such a scourge. We will see how he does the Lords work.
PORT-AU-PRINCEWhen a small private Cessna Citation plane landed after dark at Haitis Toussaint lOuverture airport on Nov. 10, 2015, it wasnt the traditional airport band that greeted its two passengers, but local and U.S narcotics agents.

Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 31, and Franqui Francisco Flores de Freita, 30, nephews of Venezuelas first lady, Cilia Flores, were immediately arrested and flown to the United States.

The tip came from the Dom Rep, an intelligence source directly familiar with the case in Haiti told The Daily Beast. The private Citation aircraft had stopped in the Dominican Republic before heading on to Haiti, according to the source, who said the two nephews were supposed to be on semi-official business.

It was not clear why the aircraft made the stop in the Dominican Republic and then went on to neighboring Haiti, but the source confirmed it was not to refuel, and Dominican officials definitely did not want the arrest to take place there. The DR authorities were thinking, Jesus Christ, theyre the Petrocaribe friends! Let them go over there [to Haiti].

Ah, Petrocaribe: one of the Caracas regimes most important tools for building regional influence. The organization was set up more than a decade ago by then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to lighten the burden of imported oil costs for his Central American and Caribbean neighbors, and draw them more closely into his orbit. Over time, several countries in the region became addicted to Chavista largesse.

So there was an inclination by the dependent Caribbean governments to deal gingerly with anyone who had, or might have, Petrocaribe connections. And the nephews of the wife of current President Nicolas Maduro? Those were not people you wanted to pick a fight with.

Asked why the private Citation aircraft and its passengers werent apprehended in the Dominican Republic in the first place, the source told The Daily Beast, It was a let your neighbor take the fall, then he paused, or get the credit.

In any case there was no way the Flores boys were going to walk out of Toussaint lOuverture Airport as free men.

The indictment states that five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine were found onboard the Citation aircraft at the time of the Flores arrest in Haiti. But that was just a taste of what they were plotting to bring into the States.

The two Flores cousins had been under investigation for a month, according to the indictment unsealed by the Southern District Court of New York, and they were charged with conspiring to smuggle 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds) of cocaine into the U.S. via Honduras.

Much of the evidence grew out of conversations the two nephews of the first lady had in Caracas and Honduras with DEA informants posing as drug traffickers. And the DEA agents making the arrests here in Haiti probably thought they had an open-and-shut case. But when the case went to trial in the United States it took a new twist.

***

According to court records cited in detail by the Associate Press, the two informants were a father and son team who continued to sell narcotics on the side while peddling information to the DEA for six- and even seven-figure sums. Jose Santos-Pena, the 55-year-old father, had been on the DEA books for years, receiving upward of $1 million from the U.S. government. His son, Jose Santos-Hernandez, got hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Then, just as the Flores case was ready to go to trial, the two pleaded guilty to dealing drugs while on the DEA payroll. Testimony from the father revealed more infractions, like using cocaine throughout the investigation, and allowing his sons friends to sit in on some of the DEA phone calls about Venezuelan targets.

The vaudevillian display in the U.S. court by the DEAs own key witnesses seemed to defy reason. At the end of the day, the jury returned a guilty verdict, but this was no open-and-shut case, and it is not surprising that the defenders of the Flores cousins are still trying to prove it was politically motivated.

***

The conviction on Friday came on the heels of a string of U.S. investigations of high-ranking Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in narcotrafficking since former President Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999, joining the ranks of other left-wing governments that swept into office in Latin America in the late 1990s.

In 2005, Chavez expelled the Drug Enforcement Agencys representatives, and according to several sources the DEAs genuine concerns about trafficking mingled with a spirit of vendetta against the Chavistas.

In August 2015, two former leading officials of Venezuelas anti-narcotics agency were indicted in absentia by U.S. federal courts for facilitating drug traffickers shipments from Colombia. General Nestor Luis Revrol Torres was a particular target of that investigation, but days after his indictment was unsealed, he was promoted to the cabinet level position of interior minister, running the countrys law enforcement. The list runs long. In September 2015, the U.S. unsealed indictments against Pedro Luis Martin Olivares, the former chief of finance for the intelligence service, and also the former anti-drug tsar, Jesus Alfredo Itriago.

But with the arrests of the Flores nephews, the DEA has gotten up close and personal.

***

Even if the Caracas government were inclined to cooperate with Washington, which clearly it is not, the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Venezuela. On the other hand those alleged criminals who can be lured or tricked into a stop on Haitian territory appear to have virtually no protection.

One example: Fabio Lobo Lobo, the son of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa, was arrested in May 2015 in Haiti during a joint operation between Haitis BPLS, the anti-narcotic Haitian police division, and the DEA.

Despite the risks, there might be several incentives for wanted drug traffickers to visit Haiti. It has been a favored transshipment point going back as far as 1985, when barely visible landing strips speckled the island, many of which were run by high-ranking Haitian military officers. Today, according to the source The Daily Beast spoke to, transhipment in Haiti is at an all-time high.

Meanwhile U.S.-Venezuelan relations have steadily deteriorated since Chavez came to power, and diplomacy has given way to uncompromising vitriol on both sides. But as often as Washington denounces what is going on in Caracas, it has shown no appetite to intervene directly.

Maduro, who succeeded to the presidency in 2013 after Chavez died of cancer, has faced angry, widespread opposition to nearly two decades of socialist policies that have been badly managed and brought the countrys economy to the brink. In 2002, Venezuelas opposition took to staging million-people marches, but to little avail.

Today, Maduro faces the same opposition, clamoring with pots and pans through Caracass central avenues. The movement is making a lot of noise, but so far, has been unable to unseat its president.

If the DEA believed the Flores case might contribute to Maduros downfall in the face of an outraged public, they probably should have given that another think. If we have learned anything in todays politics and diplomacy, its that people will believe what they want to believe. Some might even convince themselves that Maduro is a good leader, or that his wifes nephews were just daydreaming about drug trafficking.

The jury didnt see things that way at all.
HALIFAXForeign leaders gathered in Nova Scotia this past weekend to talk high affairs of state, matters of war and peaceand what to do with a problem like Donald Trump.

The Halifax International Security Conference is one of the first opportunities for world leaders to huddle and exchange views on the American election. The shock results and the ambiguity of what Trump would do with his unexpected ascendency to power meant the prevailing mood of the worlds diplomats, academics, and politicians is one of utter uncertainty.

Many of the attendees reflect a pro-NATO, bipartisan Western order that has held together since the end of World War II, and they gathered for one of the calendars most important national-security conferences. The hundreds who met in Halifaxthe experts, the experienced, the policy veteransmight have been dismissed by Trump during his campaign as so-called globalists or the elite.

But now many of them will be called on by their nations to fix the worlds challenges: the mass slaughter of civilians in Syria by Russian and Assad regime forces; the reemergence of nationalism; and the dangers of various cyberthreats.

Trump would have been a punchline when the annual Halifax summit gathered here last yearthe serious money was on Jeb or Marco Rubio or Hillary. But the predictions and assumptions of these diplomats, ministers, and heads of state were shattered two weeks ago when Trump defied expectations to become the president-elect of the United Statesand in turn, sent shudders down the spine of the leaders gathered here.

The shadow of Trump cut through every issue, as politicians like former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean intermingled with a crowd that featured National Security Agency chief Michael Rogers, retired Gen. John Allen, and former chairman of the British Joint Intelligence Committee Lillian Neville-Jones.

Theres a whole series of threats to our stability. What the election of Donald Trump will mean for that stability is of course the newly-emergent central topic of every discussion, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons told The Daily Beast.

Trump is no longer a joke to them, but instead a cause for profound alarmespecially his pronouncements on the NATO alliance, his talk of torturing prisoners, and his willingness to improve Americas relationship with Russia.

The Trump anxiety is most profound from countries in Eastern Europe who are terrified that Trumps will usher in an era of Russian dominance and a resultant decline in their freedoms and independence.

From my conversations with them, theyre very nervous. There have been mixed messages, obviously, and theyre continuing to get enormous pressure from Putin and the Russian propaganda machine, Sen. John McCain, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Daily Beast. We dont really know exactly what President Trump will do. Some of it depends on who his selection for Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense are.

In the halls of the Halifax Westin, officials from countries like Ukraine and Estonia hustled from meeting to meeting to take the temperature of American support in this new age of Trump. Trumps election has ushered in a moment of uncertainty for Americas allies. Will he withdraw from Asia? How will he address the Iran nuclear deal? Will he recognize the illegal Russian annexation of Crimea?

There is a strong concern among many in Congress about any attempt by Trump to dramatically change our policies towards Russia, particularly with regard to recognizing [Putins] illegal occupation or his intervention in Syria on behalf of Assad, Coons added.

The conference, which is sponsored in part by NATO, was particularly focused on what Trumps election would mean for an alliance which has existed for nearly 70 years. During the campaign, Trump had suggested that the United States might want to distance itself from the organizationa major red flag for the diplomats and politicians assembled here.

I think NATO may be obsolete, Trump said in a March interview, adding that he would certainly look at getting rid of it.

But the conferences participants are staying optimistic at what they see as positive developments by Trump since Election Day. In fact, as the conference was underway, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller announced that Trump and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had spoken by phone.

Both agreed that we have work to do in the NATO alliance but that we also have important missions going forward.

Both Congressional and foreign leaders are trying to tread a fine linenot to needlessly antagonize Trump, but also to anticipate standing up to him at worthwhile moments.

I believe that theres every opportunity for us to work together. The approval rating of Congress is 14 percent, McCain said. It would be far better for all of us if we gave the president a honeymoon, and worked together, presented him with things like tax reform [and] a good solid defense bill.

But McCain, who led the conferences largest Congressional delegation ever, is also beginning to show flashes of the maverick reputation that he developed during the George W. Bush administration for bucking the Republican Party on certain issues. In this administration, McCain said he will push back on issues such as torturehe had spent more than five years being tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Asked about Trumps pledge to bring back waterboarding and much worse interrogation techniques, McCains response was fierce and adamant. There would be no honeymoon for that.

I dont give a damn what the president wants to do, McCain said, pointing out that he helped passed legislation last year that prohibits torture. We will not waterboard. We will not torture people.

Ultimately, however, the assembled leaders were trying to find a silver lining in the American elections, which in some ways was a rebuke of the pro-Western, democratic ideals that are the cornerstone of the NATO alliance. Sen. Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clintons running mate, tried humor on for size, while receiving an award from the conference.

A few years ago I went to a fortune teller, and she told me I was going to win something very big in November of 2016, Kaine joked, upon receiving the award, to peals of laughter. But he quickly turned serious to point out a major positive that is missed in the negative news cycles of this year.

With the ceasefire arrangement in Colombia, in the civil war between Colombia and the FARC, [North and South America are] two continents without war for the first time in recorded history, Kaine said.

Alliances are more important now than they were 70 years ago, before the Marshall Plan was implemented and the Truman doctrine was described and NATO was formed, the senator argued, adding, and that is why it is so important that we gather here.
Outside the Grand Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, hundreds of protesters decried bigotry and hatred. Inside, the Zionist Organization of America heard that Donald J. Trump had been guided into the White House thanks to divine intervention.

A Long Island neurologist, who delivered the dvar torah at the ZOAs gala, regaled the ballroom with tales of the ancient Israelites who witnessed miraculous interventions into the natural order. Well, so did we, bellowed Alan Mazurek. He declared that the election had been divinely directed.

The crowd roared.

Once again, the United States will be blessed. Once again, the prime minister of Israel will enter through the front door of the White House, he said.

The guests broke into applause as he called on the world to unite with Trump to stop barbaric radical Islamic savages.

On a jubilant evening where food was plentiful, and booze flowed, President-elect Donald Trumps right-hand man, Stephen Bannon, was expected to appear as a last-minute speaker.

Bannons appointment as chief strategist, a job for which he wont have to undergo a potentially embarrassing Senate confirmation, unleashed a slew of criticism for his tight links to the emergent alt-right. He once proclaimed Breitbart, the website he headed, as the movements de facto platform.

His new role was swiftly denounced by the Anti-Defamation League for his role in promoting hateful rhetoric, if not anti-Semitism, on Breitbart. The ADL acknowledged that Breitbarts Jewish employees have defended Bannon from charges of anti-Semitism. (Those allegations stem from a bitter divorce in which his ex-wife accused him of domestic violence and making three anti-Semitic remarks, including one in which Bannon allegedly said that Jews raise "whiny" children while choosing a private school for his daughters. New York magazine found that at least one of the exchanges she described, regarding Bannon asking a school about why it has so many Hanukkah books, is confirmed by a third party.)

The ZOA, though, jumped to Bannons defense, arguing that Breitbart was staunchly in favor of Israel, and Jewish people. (Breitbart is the most pro-Israel site in the United States of America, Bannon told The Wall Street Journal.) Soon enough, news broke that Bannon would be appearing at the groups annual Louis D. Brandeis award dinner, as a last-minute featured speaker.

I think Bannon was grateful that I defended him against this ludicrous charge of anti-Semitism, ZOA President Morton Klein said. Thats why he is coming, I guess.

The Daily Beast purchased this reporter a ticket to hear him out. But Bannon never showed.

Early in the night, hopes were high. Rumors swirled about when Bannon would speak. Perhaps even Trump himself would make the trek down, some whispered, as a man in an autographed Make America Great Again cap pushed his way through the crowds.

All of his Israel advisers are here, said one New York board member.

The crowd was still flying high from Trumps unexpected electoral sweep two weeks ago. One woman pulled up a January 20, 2017: The End of an Error meme to show this reporter.

Klein, the president, opened with a joke about people with Tourettes syndrome, which he has, having a higher IQ but fewer dates. I wouldve preferred a lower IQ and a few gals, you know?

Donald Trump told me to say that, he added. Its guy talk. Dont worry, ladies.

The nod to grab them by the pussy was a hit with the crowd.

Kleins introduction-cum-stump speech socked everyone from the ADL to Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who Klein suggested is an anti-Semite for his past links with the Nation of Islam. Then he turned his ire to the Arab-Islamic war against Israel.

Americas oldest Zionist organization has, in recent years, been accused of veering away from its mission and into right-wing Islamophobia under Kleins leadership. He was a speaker at the anti-Muslim ACT! for America conference, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and is scheduled to speak to Frank Gaffneys organization next month.

Our holiest place is the Temple Mount. You notice its not called the mosque mount! Klein shouted at the dinner. Its a propaganda myth that Jerusalem is holy for Muslims! It is not!

The bravest man of the night turned out to be Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, who delivered a bitter pill when he came on stage to accept the Mortimer Zuckerman award for pro-Israel journalism.

Im a little worried today that there are Jews in many parts of the world that are being seduced by the hard right. We must not become complicit in bigotry, whether it is from the right or the left, he told the fiery crowd. I think that being pro-Israel can never serve as an excuse for bigotry against any other group.

The professor himself is no stranger to controversy, most recently for declaring Black Lives Matter an anti-Semitic group and saying that he cannot stand with them, though he stands with the cause. He also condemned Bannons anti-Muslim rhetoric in a Haaretz op-ed, saying that bigotry against any group should be disqualifying for high office.

But while those comments left the room in a fitful silence, it was his commentary on the election as a tie that nearly got him booted off stage.

One person won the electoral and one person won the popular vote, Dershowitz said.

First there was a cough, then a boo, then a chorus. (The crowd had warmed up by booing The New York Times earlier in the evening.) The response put the good-natured ribbing of Dershowitz as the token Democrat in sharp perspective.

In a slip of the tongue, or perhaps disconcerted by the response to his statement of fact, Dershowitz called the ZOA the Zionist Association of America towards the end of his acceptance speech.

Zionist Association? a woman whispered.

Thats why he never should have been invited, her tablemate replied.
Oil major ExxonMobil Corporation XOM recently declared that its Liza oil discovery, in Stabroek block offshore Guyana, is now commercial.



Last week, the company sent a letter to the countrys Minister of Natural Resources comprising the official notice of its discovery of commercial quantities of oil in the area.



According to the Minister, the notice sent by ExxonMobil was essential under Section 31 of the Petroleum Act. The Minister said that it is the first time in Guyanas 50-year history as an independent nation that the section of the Act has been implemented.



Per the Minister, this marks a major milestone in the development of the country and includes the huge responsibility that comes with the notice. The year 2016 lays the basis for future developments, while 2017 would mark implementation of assigned plans and programs. The minister eagerly awaits the development plan for the offshore discovery.



ExxonMobils partner in the project  Hess Corporation HES  mentioned in its financial report that the estimated recoverable resources for the Liza prospect are expected at the upper end of the earlier announced range of 800 million to 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent.



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ExxonMobil drilled the Liza-1 well in Mar 2015, while the Liza-2 well was drilled earlier this year by ExxonMobil affiliate  Esso Exploration and Production Guyana. The second well lies about 2 miles (3.3 kilometers) away from the first Liza well.



ExxonMobil is the worlds best run integrated oil company based on its track record of high return on capital employed. ExxonMobils strength lies in its balanced operations, strong financial flexibility and continuous efficiency and cost control. The companys efforts to build an unconventional resource portfolio both in North America and overseas reflect its aim to increase production through higher exposure to large energy resources with long reserve life and low field declines.



ExxonMobil currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players from the same sector are SunCoke Energy Inc. SXC and Futurefuel Corp. FF. Both these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



SunCoke Energy posted a positive earnings surprise of 177.78% in the preceding quarter. It reported a positive earnings surprise in three of the four preceding quarters.



Futurefuel Corp. posted a positive earnings surprise of 20.83% in the preceding quarter. It reported a positive earnings surprise in all of the four preceding quarters.



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Italian on-line wine retailer expands into UK

New online retailer Tannico aims to drive the UK Italian wine market. We ask Marco Magnocavallo about the start of the company in Italy, its move into the UK and its development internationally

Marco Magnocavallo Tannico

Italian on-line wine retailer, Tannico has launched its first international branch here in the UK. The company became the Italian market leader after just three years, with 15% of the market share and 40,000 customers. Over 250,000 bottles were sold in 2015 and the company has already achieved an impressive 50% return customer rate. The website offers a portfolio of 6,000 wines, of which 500 are stored in a UK warehouse to meet 48 hour delivery deadlines. The entire Italian portfolio will be available to ship from Italy by the end of 2016, with delivery within 10-12 working days.

How did Tannico begin?

I have a passion for start-ups. I set up Tannico in late 2012, in Italy, having previously founded Blogo, an online vertical publishing business, and Boox, a startup accelerator. I decided I wanted to create a new Italian start-up in the retail sector. I chose wine because: 1) Italy is one of the worlds largest wine producing countries with over 100,000 wineries, and 2) the Italian online wine market was at only 0.2% of penetration with huge opportunities for growth over the next few years. In just three years, the company became Italian market leader, with 15% of the market share and 40, 000 customers. Over 250,000 bottles were sold in 2015 and the company has already achieved an impressive 50% return customer rate. We believe firmly in representing small producers, who represent a huge 10% of our sales.

Why are you focusing on the UK?

Italy can seem complicated for consumers, with so much to offer from so many regions. We aim to position Tannico as the leading online shop for the Italian wine enthusiast, at any level of knowledge. I feel Italy is underrepresented here in the UK when it comes to small producers, and I will bring these directly to the market, through an easy to use, factual and enjoyable online retailing platform. Later this year, we launch the entire catalogue available to ship from Italy, which will contain over 6,000 different bottles. If youre seeking a Barolo  we will have more than 70, whereas other UK merchants may only have up to five.

Accoding to the IWSR, sales of Italian still wine were down by 4% in 2015, whereas Italian sparkling wine has boomed by +58%. Do you think Tannico can reverse these figures?

Tannico will offer the most extensive list of Italian wines to UK consumers, many of which are exclusive so not available from any other source. Our site educates and provides informative tasting facts and figures and descriptors to help our customers navigate their way around Italy. We hope to spark customer intrigue about still Italian wine.

What are your launch plans for the UK, and how much are you investing into this market?

Throughout September, we have been running a soft launch to ensure that the operational side of the business and the functionality of the site work perfectly, as well as investing a lot in online marketing (Facebook, Google Adwords etc). We are also planning a launch party for the trade at the end of October/beginning of November.

The online wine shop is a competitive market here with many established retailers. What makes you think Tannico will succeed over others?

Firstly, we have a catalogue of well over 6,000 Italian wines, thus the choice for the consumer is extremely broad. We also believe in having detailed information that is informative as well as aesthetically pleasing, making the consumer journey easy and educational. For each wine, we cite tasting notes, awards and scores (JS, Gambero Rosso, Luca Maroni, Parker, etc.), food pairings, a description of the winery, and our own score. All our listed wines are tasted by our sommelier team.

We will replicate our Italian model, which uses a lot of intellectual technology, including IA Algorithms, personalisation, and one-to-one emailing.

We are warehousing 500 wines in North London which can be delivered anywhere in the UK within 48 hours. Delivery is free for orders over 89. We have a portfolio of 6,000 wines which will be available on a 10 day to 2 week delivery basis from Italy. We aim to price the wines competitively for the UK market, and offer promotions on a rolling basis.

The aim is for this to be the dream shop for any consumer who is passionate about Italian wine  whether that be Prosecco, Sicilian whites, fine Amarone...

You mentioned earlier that you feel smaller producers are underrepresented over here. What do you feel can be done to change this?

We call them Piccoli Produttori. From the end of 2015, we began a new line of business that focused on the small producers, which we define as under 100,000 bottles produced per year. Italy has an enormous wine production  over 100,000 wineries. The majority of these have issues getting their products listed and/or exported, hence many of these wines remain local. However, we find many of our customers are developing a keen interest in small producers, who produce artisan wine with love and passion, resulting in wines with highly unique characters. We travel around Italy in order to find these wineries, and already have well over 200 on board. At the moment, we have 44 of these wineries listed on our UK site. This figure will continue to grow.

After just one year, the small producers already represent more than 10% of our sales, and this figure is growing month on month.

Where do you see Tannico going in the future?

Later this year, we are launching Tannico Intelligence, which is targeted at wineries and consorzi. It will help the wineries to better understand the dynamics of the online market, with data available regarding their brand and products. This will include pricing around Italy, who is buying their wines and where from, brands they are similar to, and comparisons with other brands.

We achieved market leadership in Italy in just three years with a 15% market share. Following the UK launch, we are looking to expand to Switzerland and France in 2017. The combined online market for these three countries is 1 billion. By 2019, we are aiming for half of our revenue to come outside of Italy.

How is Tannico funded, and who are the shareholders?

The company was launched with a 200,000 seed investment from Boox. Six months post launch, 500,000 was raised from different Italian angel investors. We aim to expand to Switzerland and France in 2017, with by 2019 the target of 40,000,000 in revenue, half from outside of Italy. In order to reach this objective, we have just released a new round of funding for 4,000,000 on September 29.

21 November 2016
Community at heart of Deanston redesign

Distell brand Deanston is celebrating its long history within its community by launching a new packaging design for its Highland single malt, highlighting its craftsmanship and community spirit.

Recent consumer trends have shown a return to craft spirits and a growing demand for locally-made products. Deanston claims that its strongest attribute is that it offers truly authentic, hand-crafted malts made in small-batches from locally sourced ingredients only.

The redesign aims to showcase authenticity, increasing its appeal to consumers seeking authentic brands with strong character and an interesting story to tell.

Heavily influenced by its past, Deanston Distillerys team of craftsmen produce its single malt range using traditional equipment and methods, barley from local farmers and soft water from the River Teith.

Deanstons location on the banks of the river has also allowed it to become Scotlands only distillery to produce all of its own electricity using hydro power.

The main changes to the packaging are the introduction of a bespoke bottle and capsule, which includes an embossing of a replica coin representing the currency used by the employees of the cotton mill in the 18th century.

Deanstons community roots and handcrafted identity have been further enhanced with signatures from key members of the distillery team, as well as a stamp effect to highlight its small-batch production. Each element of the packaging plays a part in telling the distillerys story.

Carina Gous, Distell says: Deanston has a unique tale to tell and the redesign not only highlights this but also the craftsmanship and quality of the single malt.

The original mill was at the heart of the community and this remains the case for the distillery. The bespoke packaging creates a lasting legacy for the generations of people who have worked at both the mill and the distillery, paying tribute to the community who have helped make Deanston what it is today.

The bottle was designed by the agency Good, who placed the words 'Doune Scotland', a reference to the location of the distillery, in a new typeface and redrawn icon.

Mike Hunter, senior designer at Good says: "We wanted to create a new look for Deanston, which paid tribute to its history and legacy, and told its story through design. Deanston has genuine craft, community and heritage - things so many brands look for these days, but few can truly possess. Deanston is a brand with a great story and integrity, and of course, a great product at its heart."

21 November 2016 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editorial assistant
Label redesign for Sauza Tequila

Beam Suntory's Sauza Tequila has been redesigned to present consumers with a premium and contemporary proposition.

The 150 year old tequila brand has evolved its branding and packaging following a 14 month review process, which included quantitative and qualitative research across Europe, the US and Canada.

The new label design centres on the iconic imagery of the cockerel or gallo that has been part of the Sauza family crest since 1873. It was chosen by the founding father Don Cenobio Sauza to represent courage, passion and perseverance, three traits that have helped to build and maintain the brand.

The Hecho en Mexico stamp on the label highlights the point of origin of tequila, marking the location of the distillery, La Perseverancia.

Don Francisco Javier Sauza played a part in ensuring that tequila won the Denomination of Origin status restricting the use of the tequila name only to spirit made in the Jalisco region of Mexico.

Sauza Tequila claims to be the second biggest tequila brand in the world and is Beam Suntorys largest tequila brand in its second largest category globally. The Sauza tequila range is distributed in the UK by Catalyst Brands, a brand agency division of Conviviality.

Mike Miller, marketing director for UK distributer Catalyst Brands says: Sauza have put a huge amount of research and insight into this redesign to produce a brand range with premium stand-out emphasising its authentic tequila credentials.

21 November 2016 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editorial assistant
Two Texas students and their teacher were reprimanded after the 10th-graders performed a skit portraying the assassination of President-elect Donald Trump.

One of the boys used a gunfire sound effect from a cellphone while the other student, who was portraying Trump, fell to the ground, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The skit, titled "The Assassination of Donald Trump," was performed as a class presentation last week for the students' English class at John Marshall High School in San Antonio.

The boys' teacher instructed her students to create and perform a skit following their study of Shakespeare and asked them to submit their scripts for approval, Brian Woods, superintendent for the Northside Independent School District, said in a statement on Friday.

Woods said the two students changed their skit after their original script had been submitted, and the teacher did not know beforehand that they planned on performing a mock assassination of Trump.

The teacher stopped the skit immediately, Woods said.

"I want to be clear: NISD does not condone the action of these students or anyone else who would threaten violence," Woods said.

The school district did not release the names of the students or their teacher.

Barry Perez, school district spokesman, said that "appropriate action" had been taken against the three, and the teacher had apologized, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Harold Bean, a parent of a student who watched the skit, told the paper that he doesn't believe the teacher's apology was enough, saying "it does not make the situation right."

"Honestly I have run out of words to describe how angry I am and how shocked I am that they're still in school today," his wife, Melinda Bean, told the paper on Friday.

This is not the only instance in which violence against the president-elect was portrayed or communicated in some way.

Last Tuesday, the former chief executive officer of a cybersecurity start-up in San Diego resigned after attracting criticisms for threatening Trump's life in a series of Facebook tirades on election night.

"I'm going to kill the President Elect," Matt Harrigan, former CEO of PacketSled, wrote on Facebook. "Bring it secret service."

Harrigan's post was private and was meant to be read only by his Facebook friends. But pictures of his posts later showed up on social media and quickly went viral.

Harrigan has since apologized for the threats, saying they were meant to be a joke.

"I said some things that I'm deeply regretful for, and I would apologize to anybody, including the president-elect," Harrigan told The Washington Post. "If I could take it all back, I absolutely would, because of course I don't mean any of those things. They're absurd."

In Ohio, a 24-year-old man is facing a federal charge after he allegedly tweeted violent messages against Trump on Nov. 9. Zachary Benson was charged last week with threats against the president and successors to the presidency.

Benson told investigators that he was in his room watching the election returns when he decided to post the threatening messages, according to a federal complaint.

"Diplomacy. (Expletive) fools. I hate you all. I want to bomb every one of your voting booths and your general areas," Benson tweeted at 1:25 a.m., the complaint states.

Seventeen minutes later, at 1:42 a.m., Benson tweeted again:

"My life goal is to assassinate Trump. Don't care if I serve infinite sentences. That man deserves to decease (sic) existing."

Benson said he has no intention to harm anyone and was just frustrated with the result of the election. He added that he knew he "went too far" with the posts, which he later deleted, the complaint states.

Benson was arrested after the U.S. Secret Service was alerted of his tweets. He appeared in federal district court in Cleveland on Thursday.

The president-elect's victory was followed by a wave of anti-Trump protests in several cities across the country. Thousands took to the streets for several days following the election, holding signs that say "Not my President."

Supporters of the president-elect, and even Trump himself, have criticized the protesters. Some called them paid or professional protesters. Rudolph W. Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and a Trump adviser, had said they're "a bunch of spoiled crybabies."
There is a great deal of uncertainty about how these passive approaches would actually work in practice, and since, like the EPR reactor proposed for Hinkley Point C, there are no operating AP1000s anywhere in the world, there is no operating experience to draw from.

Conventional reactors rely on 'defence-in-depth' made up of layers of redundancy and diversity - this is where, say, two valves are fitted instead of one (redundancy) or where the function may be achieved by one of two entirely different means (diversity). In contrast 'advanced passive' designs rely much more on natural processes such as natural convection for cooling and gravity rather than motor-driven pumps to provide a backup water supply.

That may sound like a good idea in principle, however the AP1000 'advanced passive' nuclear reactor design has a weaker secondary containment, and fewer back-up safety systems than current reactor designs.

Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen, of US-based Fairewinds Associates, has repeatedly warned that the AP1000 design suffers from a design flaw which makes it vulnerable to a very large release of radioactivity following an accident if there were just a small failure in the steel containment vessel.

In that event gases released from the reactor would be sucked through existing 'pinhole' containment flaws in the AP1000 Shield Building due to the 'chimney effect', potentially leading to the rapid venting huge amounts of radioactivity to the environment.

Recent experience with existing reactors, collated by Fairewinds, suggests that containment corrosion, cracking, and leakage is more common than previously thought, and AP1000s are more vulnerable to containment corrosion than conventional reactors.

In addition the AP1000 shield building lacks flexibility and so could crack in the event of an earthquake or aircraft impact.

The AP1000 reactor design should be rejected!

Although the Fukushima reactors were not AP1000s Fairewinds has reviewed the design in the light of the Japanese accident to see if there are lessons which can be learnt which might apply to all reactor types and AP1000s in particular. Its report concluded that:

Ongoing nuclear fission after a reactor has supposedly been shutdown continues to be the source of significant pressure inside the containment. The AP1000 containment is extraordinarily close to exceeding its peak post accident design pressure which means post accident pressure increases could easily lead to a breach of the containment.

At least seven ways in which an AP1000 reactor design might lose the ability to cool the reactors in an emergency have been identified. These include damage to the water tank which sits on top of the shield building and some sort of disruption to the air flow around the steel containment.

The accidents at Fukushima, especially the overheating and the hydrogen explosions in the Unit 4 Spent Fuel Pool showed that the calculations and assumptions about the AP1000 Spent Fuel Pond design were wholly inadequate.

Fukushima showed that when several reactors share a site an accident at one reactor could damage other reactors. In the AP1000 the water tank on top of the reactor, and the shield building could be vulnerable to damage.

Westinghouse assumes that there is zero probability of an AP1000 containment breach. But the accidents at Fukushima have shown that there is a high probability of Containment System failure resulting in significant releases of radioactivity directly into the environment.

The nuclear regulators - the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Environment Agency - have been carrying out a new process called 'Generic Design Assessment' (GDA), which looks at the safety, security and environmental implications of new reactor designs before an application is made to build that design at a particular site.

Initially the GDA for the AP1000 was expected to be completed around spring 2011, when the regulators would have issued a statement about the acceptability of the design. In December 2011 the Regulators issued only an interim approval. At that point Westinghouse decided to request a pause in the process. The process has now resumed and is expected to be completed by March 2017.

The GDA process is being carried out in what is described as 'an open and transparent manner', designed to facilitate the involvement of the public, who are able to view and comment on design information published on the web.

That gives us all the chance to 'blow the whistle' on a reactor design with serious built-in flaws - one that should never be approved for use in the UK or any other country.

Make your views known: Questions and comments can be submitted electronically via the Westinghouse website, or direct to the UK regulators. The deadline for making a comment on the AP1000 plant, as part of the GDA process is 30th November 2016. The Office of Nuclear Regulation's describes the process in more detail.

The report: 'The AP1000 Nuclear Reactor Design' is written by Peter Roche, November 2016, and commissioned by Radiation Free Lakeland.

Peter Roche is an energy consultant based in Edinburgh and policy adviser to the Nuclear Free Local Authorities. Until April 2004 he was a nuclear campaigner for Greenpeace UK for thirteen years. He has an honours degree in Ecological Sciences from Edinburgh University. He was co-founder of the Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace (SCRAM) in 1976, which organised some of the largest anti-nuclear power demonstrations in the UK at the Torness nuclear station outside Edinburgh in the 1970s and 80s.



No2nuclear power: Peter Roche also edits the no2nuclearpower website which produces a daily nuclear news update - essential reading for all working or campaigning in the nuclear field.
It's not rainforests, mangroves, or even disappearing coral reefs, but rather seagrass beds that have recently caught the attention of hundreds of scientists as the effects of pollution and development continue to take their toll on this little-known ecosystem.

A flowering plant, seagrass shouldn't be confused with seaweed - it's thought there are in fact some 60 different species of seagrass which make up large meadows' underwater. There they pollinate and live out their lifecycles all beneath the surface. Seagrass meadows' can be made up of one single species, or a mixture of many different varieties, but all offer important habitats for marine life.

Seagrass beds harbour thousands of fish, bird, and invertebrate species; and provide a major food source for endangered species across the planet such as dugong, manatee, green turtle, and seahorses.

But with no specific protection for these habitats, more than 100 scientists have now called on global governments to back the protection of seagrasses. The good news is that these experts remain optimistic that seagrass beds can thrive well into the future but only if the scientific community becomes more unified and joins forces to support a singular approach to tackle the ongoing environmental threats to these underwater grasses.

Seagrass is important for many forms of life, and has an ability to modify its physical environment, so it can trap and bind nutrient-enriched sediment, encouraging the deposit and suspension-feeding invertebrates.

The leaves of seagrasses provide shelter for bacteria, algae, protozoans, coelenterates, molluscs, bryozoans, and echinoderms, yet they are threatened by coastal development including tourism, aquaculture, energy projects, and from environmental changes and sea levels rising.

In a report by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) entitled Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems, a global assessment of 215 studies found that seagrasses have been disappearing at a rate of 110 km2 per year since 1980 and that 29% of the known areal extent has disappeared since seagrass areas were initially recorded in 1879.

Dr Richard Unsworth, fisheries ecologist based at Swansea University, specialises in researching seagrass ecosystems and is also the founding director of marine conservation charity Project Seagrass, and president of the World Seagrass Association. A statement from the World Seagrass Association calling for action to secure the future of seagrass has been backed by 122 scientists across 28 countries.

Dr Unsworth says there is clear global evidence of a widespread trajectory of seagrass loss in all areas of the world, driven mostly by poor water quality and coastal development. And having just led a widespread analysis of evidence (using expert witnesses and scientists) of seagrass loss at the heart of the Coral triangle in Indonesia, he has discovered that extensive seagrass loss has occurred at almost all the locations he investigated. This places the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in jeopardy.
EY has named J.W. Bill Marriott, Jr., Marriott (MAR) International Executive Chairman, its 2016 US EY Entrepreneur of the Year. The honor was announced at the EY Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, California.

The legendary hotelier credits hard work and high expectations for his associates as two key reasons for his success. Under his more than 50 years of leadership, Marriott has grown from a family restaurant business into the worlds largest hotel chain.

I love the business. I love the fact that were providing opportunity for people, Marriott told Yahoo Finance contributor Bethany McLean in the interview above. I love to see people grow in their jobs. I love to see them excited about what theyre doing and I love to see the business grow. Its been a big kick for me to grow from one hotel to 6,000.

In September, Marriott completed its $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, bringing 30 hotel brands and more than 1.1 million rooms under the Marriott umbrella. Today, Marriott has more than 650,000 employees serving guests throughout the world, and its the creation of jobs and new opportunities for people that keeps Bill Marriott going on a day-to-day basis.

The biggest benefit we bring to society is jobs. We have 650,000 people working for us in 110 countries and probably 80% of those are hourly workers, said Marriott. The vision is to try and continue to grow the business and provide opportunities for our people We have a tremendous company now.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award program is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Mr. Marriott now moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Monaco in June 2017.
Setting out his order in court today (21st November, 2016), concluding ClientEarth's case against the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr Justice Garnham gave the Government until 24 April 2017 to produce a draft plan and 31 July to deliver a final one.



The Judge rejected the Government's suggested timetable which would have allowed it until September of next year to produce a final plan, saying it was "far too leisurely".



In another important development, the Judge obliged the government to publish the technical data on which it was basing its plans. The original judgment in the case ruled that Defra had used over-optimistic estimates of future emissions from diesel cars.



He also granted ClientEarth permission to go back to court if there were any further problems with the draft plan, which seeks to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as quickly as possible.



Speaking outside the court, James Thornton, CEO of ClientEarth, said: "It is very clear that the Government must now act swiftly and decisively to protect British people from toxic and illegal air pollution.



"We are delighted with the ruling and the fact the Judge did not agree with the government's timetable for tackling this public health crisis.



"The Government has said throughout this process that it takes air pollution seriously. Until now, it's actions have not lived up to this claim. Now is the time for the Government to prove that it truly cares about people's health and the environment and take decisive action to tackle illegal air pollution in this country."



The current air quality plan, which the High Court ordered was unlawful because it was based on faulty projections and would not bring air pollution down to within legal limits as soon as possible, will remain until the new plan is put in place.



This original plan proposed six clean air zones in London, Birmingham, Derby, Southampton, Nottingham, and Leeds. During the hearing today, the judge suggested the Government might need to include Glasgow and the Government's lawyer, Ian Rogers QC, also mentioned South Wales.



Alan Andrews, ClientEarth's air quality lawyer added: "A total of 37 out of 43 zones in the UK have illegal levels of air pollution. The Government will now have to show it has the ambition necessary to tackle the problem.

"If they are at all serious about complying with the court order, a national network of clean air zones must be part of their plans, which means including the dirtiest diesel cars and creating far more than the current six which are planned. Otherwise, the risk is the problem will just be pushed elsewhere.

"We are confident that the Government will see the urgency of today's ruling and that we won't have to return to court. But we will be watching on behalf of everyone living in the UK, and will return to court if the Government is failing to adhere to the terms of this judgment."
* Two former prime ministers to contest runoff

* Fresh uncertainty over next year's presidential vote

* Another battle looming between mainstream and populist (Adds Socialist's quotes)

By Richard Lough

PARIS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Former prime minister Francois Fillon is favourite to become the French centre-right's presidential candidate after a voting upset that puts him in pole position for a showdown with far right leader Marine Le Pen in next year's election.

Fillon, who has said he will cut public sector jobs and rein in government spending, won 44 percent of votes in Sunday's first-round of voting for the centre-right's nomination. He faces a second-round vote against another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, who trailed him by 15 percentage points.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy came third and, after being eliminated, endorsed Fillon for the second-round vote next Sunday.

The outcome adds to uncertainty about the result of next year's presidential election, likely to be decided in a runoff against the anti-immigration, eurosceptic National Front leader Le Pen in May. There is, though, no clear evidence Fillon would fare worse against her than would Juppe.

The only near certainty is that the deeply divided ruling Socialist Party is headed for a drubbing. Even so, some senior left-wingers expressed optimism that an eventual defeat for Juppe would open a space for them in the centre.

The surprisingly big lead hands Fillon, 62, a strong advantage in the runoff. An admirer of late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he is probably the closest thing France has to an economic liberal and social conservative.

Although Fillon's triumph on Sunday was a surprise, opinion pollsters had said he made a late surge in campaigning, and several stalwarts from the conservative Les Republicains party threw their weight behind him after his first-round success.

"I will vote for Francois Fillon because it is he who will best defend the values of the right," said party president Laurent Wauquiez, a close Sarkozy ally.

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A snap poll by Opinionway after Sunday's results showed Fillon winning the head-to-head contest against Juppe with 56 percent of support.

With the French left in turmoil, the opinion polls indicate that whoever becomes the centre-right challenger is likely to face Le Pen in May's presidential election runoff.

The polls have suggested Le Pen has only a remote chance of winning that runoff but the more centrist Juppe, 71, had been seen as the best placed candidate to defeat her in a two-horse race.

TARGETS FOR NATIONAL FRONT

A BVA poll in September showed Fillon, who drives racing cars for a hobby, would beat Le Pen by 61 percent to 39 percent if they contest a presidential runoff vote.

But that consensus predates Donald Trump's U.S. election win, which exposed the same popular anger against political elites as in Western European countries such as France, Italy and Austria that Le Pen has tapped into.

It also raised questions over the accuracy of opinion polls, which were under scrutiny again on Monday in France.

With his socially conservative and pro-business policies, Fillon lacks the broad appeal of the more centrist Juppe, and so may increase Le Pen's chances of taking power.

Fillon stood down as social affairs minister after big street protests in 2003 when he championed reforms extending the age at which people are entitled to retirement pension payments.

"We believe Fillon's lead introduces additional uncertainty when it comes to the presidential election," said Raphael Brun-Aguerre of JP Morgan in a research note.

But Juppe, who served as prime minister form May 1995 until June 1997 under President Jacques Chirac, would also be vulnerable to National Front barbs.

"Either of the candidates would probably be targeted by far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen for being part of the old political guard, and Juppe, on this front appears relatively more vulnerable," said Morgan Stanley in a research note.

Juppe was not giving up.

"I believe more than ever that the people of France need to come together to turn the page of a disastrous five-year term that has demeaned our country and to block from power the National Front which would lead us into the worst of adventures," he told supporters on Sunday night.

OPPORTUNITY FOR LEFT?

Fillon and Juppe have clashed most forcefully over Fillon's proposals to slash the cost of government, notably by axing 500,000 public sector jobs over five years.

Fillon's plans for market-oriented reforms - including scrapping the 35-hour working week and raising the retirement age - go beyond what his challenger advocates for a country where the state remains a powerful force in the economy.

Born in a western region of France where the secular nation's catholic roots remain strong, Fillon has said France faces a problem "linked to Islam". Juppe has sought a more conciliatory tone with France's large Muslim minority.

Any registered voter can take part in the conservative primaries, and polls showed many of those that did on Sunday were from the left and extreme right.

"The only chance for Juppe is a strong turnout in the second round, including from left-leaning voters. His message will be: we need reforms, but nothing that is horribly painful," said Claire Demesmay, an expert on Franco-German ties at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

The ruling Socialists and their allies will hold their own primaries in January. President Francois Hollande, whose popularity ratings are abysmal, has yet to declare if he will stand again.

Some on the left hope a Fillon candidacy would provide an opportunity to win back the centre ground.

"Ultra-conservative, ultra-liberal, ultra anti-social. Fillon ticks all the boxes," Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, the Socialist Party's secretary general, told France Info radio.

Cambadelis appealed to the fragmented field on the left not to split the vote. He urged former economy minister Emmanuel Macron not to run as an independent but instead join the primary contest. Macron swiftly rejected the call, Le Monde reported.

The former investment banker who quit Hollande's government in the summer launched his outsider run for the presidency last week saying that he was neither of the left or right.

Although a popular politician, polls indicate Macron's chances of reaching the election's second round are slim.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Callus in Paris and Noah Barkin in Berlin, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Podcast: Who comes out ahead in the Charlie Jones vs. Iowa football reunion?

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From family gatherings to gift exchanges, the holidays have finally arrived. This festive time of year is not only exciting for people but retailers, too. Businesses are pushing their special promotions, organizing in-store events and restocking inventory to ensure a successful holiday season. But probably most importantly -- at least for us consumers -- are the magical holiday windows.

Related: The 5 Most Stunning Holiday Windows in New York City -- and What You Can Learn From Them

Since we can recall, retailers across the country have been sprucing up their window displays with festive decor to showcase their latest offerings and entice people to enter their store -- with one being Macys.

Known for its stunning holiday windows in major metropolitan areas -- including New York City, San Francisco and Chicago -- Macys windows are a tradition for thousands of people. But pulling off such a massive exhibit isnt easy. According to Roya Sullivan, the national window director for Macys, the ramp up to the big unveil takes about eight months. Between negotiating with the fashion office, marketing team, vendors and merchants; putting together the years calendar, being ahead of trends and designing and sourcing materials, there is a lot of work and strategy that goes into those beautiful holiday windows.

And while increasing foot traffic is definitely a goal, so is building brand awareness and goodwill within the community. [We are] interested in exciting our customers and creating experiences that the customers will enjoy, Sullivan says.

Today, that means keeping up with trends, incorporating technology into the displays and seeing how people interact with the windows. For instance, for this years Believing the Magic theme, the team noticed how kids have steered away from writing letters to Santa Claus, and instead sending emails and creating YouTube videos. So one of Macys holiday windows features Santa Claus communication center, where elves are receiving YouTube videos from kids of their Christmas lists.

Related: The 6 Musts of a Successful Holiday Marketing Campaign

These engaging window displays arent just for the big guys; small businesses should seize the opportunity, too. The displays are a way for any brand to connect with customers, show off their products, create experiences and join in the holiday conversation.

Below, Sullivan shares some advice for businesses looking to jazz up their holiday windows.

1. Focus on quality over quantity.

If you have great products, they should be shown in your holiday windows. But dont overdo it. Rather than flooding your windows with products, be strategic about it. By focusing on the composition of your window display, such as clever details and ways to interact with customers, a company can create a compelling story or theme. This will help to engage people and catch their attention.

2. Plan your schedule early.

Macys plans its holiday window displays a year in advance. Immediately after taking down the holiday windows, come January and they are in the ideation process for the following holiday displays.

Related: 5 Tips to Get Your Website Ready for the Holidays

And while small businesses likely dont have an entire department devoted to display, that doesnt mean they should ignore the opportunity to plan early. By doing so, the store be able to create quality and well-executed window displays.

3. Add some movement.

Sullivan is confident that movement will engage consumers -- even if its just the slightest. Its attention grabbing and helps create an interactive aspect that will get customers through the doors. For us, looking at how people receive information and interact with technology is a major factor that influences what will be put in the windows, says Sullivan.

Being ahead of the trends both in your industry and in technology will drive engagement and enhance the consumer experience.

Related:

Macy's Holiday Window Designer Shares 3 Secrets for Better Holiday Displays

The 5 Most Stunning Holiday Windows in New York City -- and What You Can Learn From Them

19 Beautiful But Practical Tech Gifts



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
NORWALK  More people die of lung cancer every year than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined, according to the American Cancer Society.

Yet, while regular preventative and early detection screening is the standard for those cancers, lung cancer is often ignored until its too late.

As is true with all cancers, if you catch it early, theres a much better chance of survival, said Dr. Robert Gallagher, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Norwalk Hospital and the Western Connecticut Health Network. Early detection is crucial and will have a huge impact on the survival rate for lung cancer. Even though the percentage of people smoking has gone down, its still the leading cause of cancer death, and part of the reason for that is that its asymptomatic and people often dont find out they have it until its too late.

In an attempt to diagnose lung cancer earlier, Norwalk Hospital became the first hospital in Connecticut to implement a low-dose CT lung cancer-screening program to identify lung cancer in its earliest stages, offering the screens at no charge to at-risk patients.

The program, launched in 2012, was based on the National Lung Screening Trial, a multi-year research study of more than 53,000 people, which showed a 20 percent survival advantage among those who were screened by CT versus those who had standard chest X-rays or who werent screened at all. Lung cancer has a five-year survival rate of 50 percent if caught in an early stage, but only a 1 percent survival rate if not caught until a later stage, Gallagher said.

Since the programs inception, nearly 3,000 patients have been screened for free at Norwalk Hospital and 25 seemingly-healthy people without symptoms were diagnosed with lung cancer at an earlier stage than would have been detected without the screening. These cancers would not have been detected through a standard chest X-ray, said Linda Versea, site director for Cancer Services for the Western Connecticut Health Network.

While less than 1 percent of patients screened have been diagnosed, Versea said the hospital will continue to offer the screenings for free as a service to the community.

In 2012 when we first started this program, we noticed that with a small fee, we werent reaching the community, Versea said. Cost was a barrier and it was preventing people from getting screened and diagnosed earlier. As a community hospital, its fitting that we offer this service for free because our goal is to catch cancer earlier and save lives. Most hospitals now offer lung cancer screening.

Based on the initial success of the lung cancer-screening program, the hospital continues to offer free lung cancer screenings for people who are at risk, effectively eliminating cost as a barrier. The hospital also offers a free smoking cessation program to active smokers, and provides educational information to all patients who enroll in the screening program.

The screening, which takes less than a minute to complete, uses a low-dose CT scan, meaning there is less radiation than a regular CT scan. Gallagher said the scans are similar to a mammogram, a regular screening used to detect breast cancer.

Dr. Robyn Scatena, director of pulmonary medicine at Norwalk Hospital, said the added benefit of a CT scan is that it produces a three-dimensional image of the lungs and chest, so in addition to the early detection of lung cancer, the scans can also provide a risk assessment for heart disease.

Its just one part of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment, Scatena said.

Those at highest risk are current or former heavy smokers between the ages of 55 and 79. Versea said people who work or have worked in some industries  particularly construction or fields where theyre exposed to asbestos and other airborne hazards  could also be at higher risk, even if theyve never smoked.

I think its appropriate for the screening to be done at a comprehensive facility, Versea said. If a patient is diagnosed, we have the resources here to get them through every step of the process.

Gallagher, who joined Norwalk Hospital earlier this year from Hartford Hospital, is the only cardiothoricic surgeon in Connecticut and one of two in New England with advanced expertise in robotic-assisted cardiac surgery. He said lung cancer is inoperable after Stage 3, so early detection is essential to survivorship.

He added that since joining WCHN, hes been impressed by the breadth of the cancer program at Norwalk Hospital.

The cancer program here is solid, Gallagher said. Ive been impressed with the caliber of people in the pulmonary division, and I think sometimes people here maybe feel dwarfed between Yale and New York City, but this is a great program many people dont even realize they have in their backyard.

KKrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt
NORWALK  For some local children affected by abuse or neglect, a gift from the community may be the only one they open on Christmas morning.

To that end, Norwalks first responders have mobilized to collect toys for children in need who are being served by local social service agencies. Several events are planned.

Stuff-A-Cruiser

On Dec. 2, Norwalk police officers will be outside of Toys R Us, 59 Connecticut Ave., accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for children ages infant through 12.

The annual Stuff-A-Cruiser event will take place from noon to 8 p.m. outside the toy store.

All donations will benefit families in need through the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

3rd Annual Toy Drive

The Norwalk Fire Department and the Human Services Council will present their 3rd annual Toy Drive to benefit children served by the Human Services Councils Childrens Bank.

This program helps local children who have been abused, neglected and/or are at-risk, many of whom live in foster care or group homes and are struggling with frightening and unclear futures.

Every year, the generosity of residents and participation in this toy drive is amazing, these gifts make a difference in the lives of children and teens who are in crisis, said Michele DeLuca, Norwalks deputy emergency management director. Having five drop-off sites throughout the city makes it easy for people who live or work in Norwalk to drop off their donations and its becoming a nice holiday tradition.

Beginning on Friday, Nov. 25 and running though Wednesday, Dec. 21, new and unwrapped toys/ gifts can be dropped off at any of the five fire stations in Norwalk.

Station 1, 90 New Canaan Ave.

Station 2, Fire Headquarters, 121 Connecticut Ave.

Station 3, 56 Van Zant St.

Station 4, 180 Westport Ave.

Station 5, 23 Meadow St.

Financial donations and gift cards for teens are always welcome. Contact Kari Pesavento, 203-849-1111 at HSC for more information.

Pancake Breakfast with Santa

On Dec. 10 the Norwalk Fire Department and the Public Safety Cadets will host a Pancake Breakfast with Santa. Toys will be collected for the Human Services Council.

The pancake breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Norwalk Fire Headquarters, 121 Connecticut Ave. Doors open at 8:15.

The event is free, but we are asking for donations of new and unwrapped toys/gifts for our annual Toy Drive, Deluca said.

The number of tickets available for the pancake breakfast is limited. Please visit Eventbrite to reserve a ticket: https://nfdpancakeswithsanta.eventbrite.com

The Norwalk Public Safety Cadets is a program sponsored by the Norwalk Police and Fire departments for students 14 to 20 years old. The youths receive leadership and skills training.
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NORWALK  Vicki DiMeglio sat patiently in a neatly arranged row of chairs in Norwalk City Halls Community Room Wednesday afternoon.

Nervous candidates sat nearby in formal business attire with updated and freshly printed resumes.

The voice of Norwalk Public School administrators interviewing people echoed in the background.

Ive been a stay-at-home mom for a while now, DeMeglio said, anticipating her interview. Im looking to get back in the workforce.

DeMeglio, a Norwalk resident and mother of two students in the district, was attending the Norwalk Public School Districts Substitute Hiring Fair, where people ranging from former teachers to office workers stopped by to interview for a chance to nab a spot substitute teaching Norwalks youth.

The school district currently has a bank of 144 active substitute teachers registered in its systems, according to district spokeswoman Brenda Wilcox Williams. But the number of subs needed varies and thats something the district needs to be prepared for.

During the winter, when people tend to catch colds and sometimes the flu, we need more subs, Williams said. The district looks to expand the pool of available subs every year, because just having a substitute teacher in the system doesnt mean that he or she will be available on that particular day.

The district held the substitute hiring fair to increase the size of its available bank. With roughly 900 certified teachers district-wide, the district needs to ensure they have enough subs to cover absences should a cold or flu outbreak spread through a school or the district.

More Information Requirements to become a substitute teacher in Norwalk Public Schools: Applicants for substitute teaching positions must have at least a bachelor's degree. All candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check. Interested candidates should fill out an employment application by visiting www.norwalkps.org and clicking on "Employment." See More Collapse

During Wednesdays event a small line of candidates trickled into the room.

DeMeglio got there early. She said her interest in becoming a substitute teacher was drawn from her work as a preschool teacher in Westport, which she did before becoming a stay-at-home mom to raise her kids.

Plus, it would help to (have a job) on the same schedule as them. she said.

Abigail Lebron, a Bridgeport resident who grew up in Norwalk, was also looking for employment.

She currently substitute teaches for Stamford Public Schools but was looking to get another gig to increase her income and eventually get into communication work within a local education system.

In Norwalk, substitutes are currently paid $90 per day. Subs who work over 40 days make $100 per day. Longer term subs, who tend to be certified teachers who take over for teachers for a leave of absence, are paid at a rate of $239 per day.

The total 2016-17 budget for substitutes in Norwalk is $1.7 million, according to Williams.

A minimum of a bachelors degree is needed in order to qualify for a substitute teaching position. Anyone who substitutes over 40 days must be a certified sub.

But, Cherese Chery, the school district's chief talent officer for human resources, said its about more than just meeting technical requirements.

We actually are looking for a cultural fit ... It's really important that the adults who are working with the students have a relationship with them, Chery said. Wed also like to see how they might be a fit in the classroom ... how they speak and present themselves.

She said it's also important to find those who want to work in a priority district.

Once substitute teachers are hired, they are placed into an online system that makes automated calls to available subs when a teacher cant make it in for the day.

To make decisions on long-term substitutes, Chery said the decision is usually something a principal would have a say in.

Chery said the district will hold a similar fair to allow substitutes with only bachelor degrees to get certified.

She said that would take place in mid-December, in the same location, with officials from local colleges on site to help attendees along in the process.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
WILTON  At independent schools like the Montessori School in Wilton, the curriculum is more student-directed. Meaning, students have greater control of how they spend their day while teachers serve more as guides, redirecting them in areas that may need more attention or development.

At the school, most lessons are given in small groups or individually, while others work independently. And classrooms are designed in a multi-age mix, with areas set up in open style.

This type of environment allows students to explore and engage themselves in different ways to learn about themselves, while also building their confidence, competence and respect for others, said Ted Stonbely, the schools director of admissions.

Both of his children attend the Montessori School.

What I know and feel, mostly as a parent, is that my my son Henry and my daughter Jane are being given the opportunities to be the best that they can be  not because an adult is making them do things, but because theyre finding it within themselves, he said. Thats what I think is missing from traditional education.

Although the school doesnt run on a standardized curriculum, there is enough structure and guidance from teachers to ensure that every student achieves the necessary milestones for their respective grade level, Stonbely said, which is often the minimum of what their students achieve.

Our children often perform well above grade level because we are able to give them lessons when appropriate to expand their skills, he said. Independence, it means something to the children.

While Wilton District Assistant Superintendent Charles Smith finds merit in this type of teaching, he does see a flaw in the system that traditional education tries to correct, he said, although both approaches have their pros and cons.

The pro to Montessori is that you probably get greater engagement from kids because they are pursuing their interests. The problem is that if they only pursue their interests, theres going to be a whole body of knowledge and skills they dont develop, Smith said. With a traditional way of learning, I think maybe we sacrifice a little bit of engagement to make sure to cover all the domains that people think kids should learn.

Smith said the district is leaning toward somewhere in the middle  where there is a set curriculum but more choices for students to decide how they go about their learning  by adopting the Universal Design of Learning, which the Board of Education announced last Thursday.

Universal Design of Learning is basically a way of making sure that our curriculum has options built into it so that as students come into your classroom, you can match the options to their particular needs, Smith said. Rather than having a standard curriculum that you kind of modify, you build your curriculum to begin with to have multiple options along several dimensions.

Leaving one for the other

Douglas Lyons never thought hed leave the public school system. But now he said he never wants to go back, after leaving his tenured position as superintendent of schools in Manhattan for a head position at the Greenwich Country Day School for 12 years.

Now, hes the current director of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, which is comprised of 93 independent schools, including the Montessori School in Wilton.

I became convinced that public education would not work, would not meet my standards  certainly as as a parent or an educator, Lyons said. I do not believe that the design of the school day is in the hands of the public school teacher. It is designed to maximize standardized test scores.

So it is a fundamental difference between one system that is free to make decisions based upon educator knowledge of childhood and the other system, the program is designed in response to Legislature-mandated testing, he added.

On the other hand, Wilton Board of Education Chairman Bruce Likly had both of his sons enrolled in a Montessori school before moving to Wilton. His oldest was enrolled through Kindergarten and his youngest left the school and did Kindergarten at Miller-Driscoll School.

One is now a junior at Wilton High School and the other an eighth-grader at Middlebrook School.

I think Montessori is very process-oriented and I think both kids thrived from that, he said. We moved to Wilton because of the schools.

SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim
CULVER CITY, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 21, 2016) - FlitWays Technology Inc. (OTC PINK: FTWS) ("FlitWays" or the "Company"), a Los Angeles-based ground travel technology company, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to present at the VISIT FLORIDA Digital Innovation Forum at the Omni Resort Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

The VISIT FLORIDA Digital Innovation Forum is a two-day event (Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2016) where global travel executives can hear insights from other industry experts, learn how to leverage unique business opportunities, and attend presentations from innovative travel companies showcasing emerging technology and trends.

VISIT FLORIDA, the state of Florida's official marketing corporation, serves 11,000+ travel and tourism industry businesses. Florida is the #1 travel destination in the world, welcoming 106.6 million visitors in 2015 that spent $89.1 billion, employing 1.2 million Floridians.

"This is a great opportunity and honor for FlitWays to be selected as one of a small group of companies to showcase their technologies to a respected international travel marketing organization such as VISIT FLORIDA," commented FlitWays Director of Growth, Zacky Hamraz. "We strive to give our B2B partners in the travel industry a true seamless experience for their travelers when they use FlitWays to connect to ground transportation. We are very confident that global travel executives at the Digital Innovation Forum will understand and appreciate how FlitWays innovative technologies that can help improve travelers' experiences while visiting Florida."

About FlitWays Technology Inc.

FlitWays, a Los Angeles-based travel technology company, offers Pre-Booked and On-Demand ground transportation in 170 cities around the world -- including rideshares, taxis, black cars, and airport shuttles. Currently servicing over 400 airports with a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles, FlitWays is there to handle all travel ride needs. FlitWays provides security and peace of mind for both business and private travelers with secure booking and all-inclusive rates.

Story continues

For additional information regarding FlitWays, visit www.FlitWays.com.

Additional information regarding FlitWays Technology, Inc. can also be found in the Company's most recent filings with SEC at www.sec.gov and further Company press releases.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Flitways Technology Inc. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to; the proposed corporate name change; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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Sometimes it takes a foreigner who is fighting for democracy to remind Americans of how much we take our system for granted. Such a wake-up call is particularly useful when we have a president-elect who admires strongmen and displays indifference to democratic norms.

So it was bracing to talk with Joshua Wong, a leader of the movement for democracy in Hong Kong in the face of implacable opposition from Beijing. All the more so since the slight, intense Wong has just turned 20 years old.

While many Americans fear that Donald Trump may abuse civil rights, Wong and his fellow activists are challenging a Beijing regime that brooks no dissent. They know the odds are against them.

When we fight for democracy we dont have a formula, Wong told me, in Washington. It is a dynamic process. We are trying to create a miracle.

Yet they fight on.

Hong Kong is a former British colony that was granted considerable autonomy when Britain turned it over to China in 1997. But Beijing considers it an inalienable part of China. The territorys mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, permits the territory to have its own capitalist economy and political system until 2047  a formula known as one country, two systems.

But Beijing has been steadily restricting those political freedoms, especially in 2014 when it insisted on prescreening the candidates for chief executive (who, the Basic Law says, should ultimately be chosen by universal suffrage). As a high school student, Wong became world-renowned in 2014 when he led the Umbrella Movement, a 79-day sit-in in the center of Hong Kong protesting Beijings prescreening directive.

You may have seen the pictures of massive crowds, often reaching 100,000, sitting under an endless canopy of umbrellas in the pouring rain, and often braving tear gas.

The protesters lost that round, as Beijing refused to budge. Wong was vilified by the Chinese government, assaulted, and arrested  and still faces some charges. Under pressure from China, Malaysia and Thailand kicked him out when he tried to visit those countries.

But, says Wong, We still created a miracle with the Umbrella Movement.

It was the most important (democracy) movement since Tiananmen (Square in 1989, when the Chinese government shot and arrested thousands). Our movement was not just young people, but also middle-class professionals and the elderly.

And two years later, Wong and fellow democracy activists moved into electoral politics, fielding candidates for the Legislative Council. Wong cofounded a new political party called Demosisto, which daringly called for self-determination for Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy forces from several parties won 30 seats in elections to the 70-member council this fall. Then came the newest setback. Pressed by Beijing, Hong Kong courts banned two of the youthful winners from taking office because they refused to swear loyalty to Beijing.

Two steps forward, one and three-quarters back.

I asked Wong whether he was scared. President Xi Jinping has been squelching any hint of political activism on the Chinese mainland. The once-freewheeling Hong Kong press has been intimidated. Despite the Basic Law, the president clearly has Hong Kong activists in his sights.

Its a long-term battle for us, Wong told me. We are fighting against the largest communist dictatorship in the world. We hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

He says he is in the United States meeting with think tanks, media, and members of Congress to explain the importance of Hong Kongs democracy struggle. He is fully aware that a President Trump is unlikely to be receptive.

I worry about the isolationist strategy of the president-elect, he says.

But this savvy young activist even has an argument for Trump. Apart from the moral question, it is also necessary for businesses and investors to care about Hong Kong because it is the most important financial center in Asia, he said. How Beijing puts aside the rule of law, and independence of the courts in Hong Kong affects business interests and the stock markets.

We hope isolationism wont be the policy of the next U.S. president.

However, even as this brave activist was making his case, Trump was telling Xi by phone that the United States and China would have one of the strongest relationships. This, despite the Donalds campaign threat to impose stiff tariffs on Chinese imports.

And in a 1990 Playboy interview, Trump expressed support for the Chinese government crackdown in Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government almost blew it, Trump said. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.

Trumps admiration for Chinese (and Russian) strongmen may or may not indicate a predilection to crack down at home. But it should remind us of the need to preserve and protect the democratic institutions weve taken for granted.

Joshua Wong, barely 20 years old, is willing to risk more for democracy than most Americans could ever imagine. Keep him in mind.
With Christmas shopping growing in peoples minds, a Glen Carbon woman, has recently released a new childrens book that would make a great gift for little readers.

Pauline Petersen recently published her first book, Christmas Bears Wish, and says she hopes the message in the book fills people with the Christmas spirit.

The book is about a sad little Christmas bear that sits in a closet most of the year and only comes out for the holiday season. But the little bear has a wish - a very big wish.

The message I hope people get from the book is that everybody wants to be involved, she said. I hope it also sends the message that the love and magic of Christmas should be in peoples hearts all year long.

Petersen, who was president of the Glen Carbon Friends of the Library for several years, said her mother was the inspiration for the childrens book.

Her mother had a tradition of making and giving Christmas bears to her grand children and friends children for many years.

Petersen said after her mother died in 2002, she woke up one morning and had the first line of the book in her head.

It started from the first line and just grew from there, she said. And there are more in the works.

Dawn Peterson illustrates the book.

Petersen said it was only chance that the illustrator and her share similar names.

Her name is spelled different that mine, she said. She is from Maine and after talking with the publisher about my idea for illustrations they put me in contact with Dawn.

She said the children portrayed in the books illustrations are likenesses of her own grandchildren.

The book is available locally at Miss Baileys Poppy Patch gift shop in Glen Carbon and at Afterwords Books in Edwardsville.

Petersen said the book is also available at mayhavenpublishing.com.
The Maryville Board of Trustees approved numerous upgrades and purchases of equipment for the police and fire departments at the last regular meeting.

Trustees unanimously approved communication system firewall upgrades for the villages computer network at the fire department, police department, public works, water department and village hall.

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.

A bid was awarded to CompuType IT Solutions, Belleville, for $2,396. Trustee Todd Bell cast the only no vote on the motion.

Board members unanimously approved the purchase of six Motorola Minitor 5 channel VHF pagers for the fire department.

In a document provided to the trustees, Assistant Fire Chief Doug Drobisch said several of the departments pagers are beyond repair as Motorola has stopped supporting the models due to their age. He added that the department has no spare pagers.

Trustee Craig Short said the pagers and programming kits will be purchased from Whiteside Communications, Sorento, for $2,783.

We received three bids and we chose Whiteside as they currently work on all of our other pagers, Short said.  These are replacements for pagers that have just been worn out.

The motion passed unanimously.

Short also made a motion for the purchase of five sets of personal protective equipment for the fire department.

The protective equipment includes bunker pants and coats, firefighting gloves, hoods and boots.

Short said the new gear is to replace equipment that is no longer serviceable and for three firefighters that recently completed their training and probationary period.

These are Quaker bunker gear which is what we currently have, this is in the budget and not to replace the gear that was damaged at the gas leak on Route 162. That is still an insurance issue that we are working through, Short said.

Drobisch said in a document to the trustees that the department has used the Quaker brand of gear for the last four years and firefighters find the gear durable.

Mayor Larry Gulledge commented that the expense does not include helmets.

Trustees unanimously approved the motion for purchase in the amount of $9,170 to Banner Fire Equipment out of Roxana.

Shorts final motion requested trustees to approve the installation and upgrade of a front suspension for ambulance 2440.

Drobischs memo informed the board that the ambulance has received four sets of front tires and the front suspension has been rebuilt, under warranty four times since the ambulance was purchased in 2011.

He stated that Troys EMS service had an aftermarket upgraded front suspension installed on its 2012 Ambulance and has not had any tire wear or front suspension issues since the work was done.

Trustees unanimously approved the $1,990.45 repair. GDS 4X4 of Maryville will do the work.
At the final meeting presided over by Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, board members passed a spending budget of $127.5 million, nearly $1.7 million less than the 2016 budget.

We are the envy of the state of Illinois because of the condition that were in, Dunstan told a packed County Board Room at the November meeting on Wednesday.

We have made a lot of tough decisions. We have 325 less employees than when I came to office. Its not something Im proud of but its something that we did. We had to do what we had to do to make the budget balanced, Dunstan said.

"And Ive always said that if the state of Illinois and the federal government operated like Madison County wed be a much better nation. We would be a much better state today.

The estimated tax levy for 2017 is 2.6 percent lower than the previous year.

Its the third straight year that property owners will see a drop in the countys portion of the tax bill.

The board also approved a capital project budget that includes $4.9 million in capital projects for the 2017 fiscal year. That funding will help finance the jail renovation project as well as improvements at the Madison County Courthouse.

Dunstan lost his bid for re-election to Kurt Prenzler by a 506-vote margin out of more than 12,000 votes cast. Dunstan said he wished Prenzler the best of luck, as well as to the new County Board. The County Board changed from 18 Democrats and 10 Republican to a 15 to 13 Republican majority. Its the first time Republicans have been in the majority in several decades.

In 1978, Dunstan became the youngest city official in Illinois when at age 21 he was elected alderman in the City of Troy. Two years later, he was elected to the Madison County Board, where he was again the youngest ever elected. He became County Board Chairman in 2002.

I am proud of this county. Im proud of this county board. And I can leave this job holding my head high, Dunstan said. I do wish Mr. Prenzler the best of luck. I wish the Madison County Board the best of luck. I hope that this county continues to be run in an efficient manner.
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Linkedin Mario Rustan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Chinese-American journalist Wilfred Chan was in harms way in the East and the West in the same week. On Sunday, he covered a demonstration and took a picture of the Hong Kong Police riot squad coming his way. On Wednesday, he showed an election map that showed what would have happened if only people of color (non-white) Americans had voted. Democrats would have won in all states. His message was: White folks, sincerely, you have work to do.

Two days later, Chan revealed the hate messages hes received. Hes been called Mr. Chinaman and his personal favorite is Wonton. Someone wrote that he and other people of color will be deported from the United States or would be killed. Why? Because the US is a white country.

There are two competing views on the unexpected defeat of Democratic Party. Both views agree that the majority of white voters chose Donald Trump and fewer non-white Americans voted for Hillary Clinton compared to how they voted for Obama in 2012. The first view argues that inequality and economic concerns among the white working class prompted them to vote for the populist Trump, since Clinton was out of touch with the masses. The second view claims that millions of Americans voted Trump because they support his racism and sexism.

The first view is more popular among economic and political pundits and can also be related to in an Indonesian context. Supporters of this first view do not support Trump, but they blame the modern world economy for driving the working class to frustration and anger, thus making them vulnerable to Trumps message. In the Indonesian context, this mean that a capable candidate can lose to an incompetent opponent who is more adept at capturing the anger and the raw emotion of the poor. The solution is for the capable candidates to listen to the commoners and adopt pro-poor measures. Therefore, this theory is popular among socialists and Marxists in the US and elsewhere.

The second view is less popular among pundits and the media not because its argument is weak, but because racism and sexism are supposedly sensitive topics that cannot be discussed in polite company. Critics of this view say that the 60 million Americans who voted Trump cannot all be racist and sexist. After all, more than half of them are women. After all, so many white Americans voted for Obama in 2012.

The ongoing racist threats made across America, however, show that economic hardship might have less to do with the ascent of Trump. Groups of white boys and men have been screaming at Asians on the street. White women have been yelling at Latina and Muslim women on the trains and in supermarkets. Graffiti with swastika have been painted throughout dozens of universities and schools. Similar reactions happened following the Brexit vote in Britain, where many white Britons believed migrants and nonwhite Britons would be deported.

White people, of course, are not the poorest group in America or Britain. So many migrants live in harsher conditions than they do, especially Caribbean migrants in both places. Black women, the most economically vulnerable group, voted overwhelmingly for Clinton. Other minority races also voted for Clinton, no matter their economic situation. Of course, we could also say that the whites voted for Trump, no matter what their economic conditions. The only exception is college-educated women.

Many white women voted for Trump not because they were concerned about their income, but because they are the Ivanka voters. Their vote was for Ivanka instead of Donald. They love her style and success story. Many see themselves as non-political people and dislike Donalds gross sexism. So why did they still vote for him? They prefer to see Ivanka in the White House over Hillary (or Chelsea), since Ivanka has no relation to Barack Obama, whom they dislike.

Replace Hillary Clinton with Elizabeth Warren and the result would have been the same. Many Democrats insist that Bernie Sanders should have been the Democratic candidate and their insistence highlights sexism among left-wing men, as well as racism. Sanders was even less popular among non-white Democrats during the primary, since by concentrating on class, he ignored the concerns of African-Americans. Now many of his male supporters, dubbed brocialists or brogressives, dismiss the parlance of young feminists and tell black commentators that the white working class is the most important group to reach.

In 2016, white Americans and white Britons have selfishly turned the world into a dystopia. What were you thinking? While speaking of inequality, you were listening and supporting rich men with immigrant wives  the winners of this inequality. You feel sorry for the folks in the rust belt, but you do not feel pity for your even poorer neighbors. You are afraid of the Islamic State (IS) movement, yet you shrug off mass shootings committed by white boys. Your grandfather fought the Nazis, yet you are liking Nazi messages on your Facebook pages.

Its not about whats good for white working class is good for the rest. Whats good for working class Americans is good for white people.

If you are offended by my words, good. I am very offended by the way our world has been ruined. If Britain stayed in the European Union and if Hillary Clinton was the presidentelect, then we would be able to figure out how to control the extreme weather, how to keep the South China Sea secure and open and how to complete the 2010s as the safest decade to date in history.

Instead, just because you are afraid of Muslims and black people, just because you are angry that the first black president of US is one of the greatest, just because you dont want to be led by a non-conservative woman, you have set back the progress of world history for years and brought back the horror of the 1930s. French and Germans, now the world counts of you. Indonesia saved itself from self-destruction in 2014. Now it is your turn.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Two hundred e-commerce players are slated to participate in National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) from Dec. 12-14.

Under the motto Indonesia Online, the event aims not only to advance the ecosystem of the e-commerce industry, but also to educate potential consumers about the convenience and security of conducting online transactions, the head of the event's committee, Miranda Suwanto, told tempo.co.

Lazada, Zalora, elevenia, MatahariMall.com, Blibli.com, Bukalapak, Alfacart.com, ShopBack and Berrybenka.com are among the e-commerce firms taking part in Harbolnas. With 35 percent more online stores participating this year compared to last year, Miranda anticipates a surge in the number of customers and in transaction value.

(Read also: Indonesia's e-commerce must look at India)

Participating stores are set to offer special discounts and good deals to consumers during the period of the event. Regarding payments, Miranda said Harbolnas would be fully supported by BCA and mainly sponsored by the Midtrans payment gateway.

Miranda expressed her hope that the event would inspire and advance the e-commerce industry, which includes telecommunication providers and companies offering services in banking, payments and logistics. "Hopefully it can support the governments efforts to advance the e-commerce industry of the nation," she added. (mra/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

The work of renowned director Riri Riza featured prominently at the 2016 Indonesian Film Festival held at the Wolff Hogg Chatarijn theater building in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Nov. 17-20.

Hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Den Haag in cooperation with the Rumah Budaya Indonesia cultural space, this annual festival showcased Riri's major films, including Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2, Drupadi, Atambua 39 Celcius and Athirah. The festival also marked Riris 15th year working in the film industry.

As reported by Antara news agency, the 46-year-old director expressed his gratitude for the attention.

I feel that this is a tremendous opportunity for the film industry and for me personally. This is because [I was] involved from the beginning of the [festival] process, from the format to the selection process of films.

(Read also: Eko Supriyanto's 'Cry Jailolo' dazzles in Paris festival)

In Utrecht for Indonesian Film Festival. Introducing the drawing of artist @benangbaja for #aadc2 A photo posted by Riri Riza (@rizariri) on Nov 20, 2016 at 1:20am PST

Children, teenagers and adults reportedly lined up in front of the theater to watch Riris nationally celebrated film, Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2.

Visitors were also eager to take photos with Riri and the movie stars, Nicholas Saputra and Sissy Priscillia. A meet-and-greet and a Q&A session with the audience were held after the screening of the movie.

Last years festival featured films by another celebrated Indonesian director, Nia Dinata.

The films screened at this years festival acted as a window for the Dutch public, especially its younger generation, to get a sense of Indonesias diverse cultural heritage.

Not only was the beauty of Yogyakarta featured in Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2, but also the beauty of nature and culture in eastern Indonesia, like East Nusa Tenggara, in the film Atambua 39 Celcius," said Riri. (mra/kes)
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Linkedin Hans David Tampubolon (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, November 19 2016

Under the Shadow is not only an impressive debut film from Iranian-born director Babak Anvari, but it is also

a refreshing work in the horror movie genre.

Set in post-revolution Iran during the war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s, Under the Shadow dives deeply into numerous social political issues on politics, women, patriarchy, religion and family, using the ancient fear of djin (genie) as a thread that links them into a brilliantly presented story.



Anvari demonstrates the strong storytelling quality of Under the Shadow right from the opening scene, which introduces the main character, Shideh, played by Narges Rashidi, a wife and mother who tries to resume her medical studies but fails to do so because of her past activities with the leftist movement.



During this opening scene, the camera takes a wide-angle shot. We see Shideh and her university dean seated facing one another in front of a big window.



Suddenly, an explosion is heard. Through the window, we can see a building has been bombed by an Iraqi missile. Shideh and the dean, however, remain unfazed and act as if it is another day at the office. This scene acts as a platform base for Anvari to present the story of the lives of Iranians during wartime.



After being rejected from resuming her studies, Shideh sadly returns home to live a life she resents. She simultaneously loves and hates her husband Iraj, played by Bobby Naderi, who lives Shidehs dream of being a doctor while at the same time, is a reliable husband and father.



Shideh feels similar emotions for her daughter, Dorsa, played by Avin Manshadi, whom she subconsciously blames as the reason she needed to take a leave from medical school. To escape, Shideh puts on Jane Fonda aerobic videos, something that is a criminal offense under the sharia law of post-revolution Iran.



Amid Shidehs struggle to cope with her feelings of failure and mixed feelings toward her family, she is soon left without a husband as the military summons him to serve on the frontline. She insists staying with Dorsa in their apartment in Tehran despite Iraj begging them to relocate to a safer place.



Several days after Irajs departure to the frontline, a missile strikes Shidehs apartment building. The missile does not detonate, but it causes Shidehs neighbor to die of a heart attack. Following this attack, Dorsa starts showing erratic behavior and an obsession for her doll, named Kimia, which was lost when the missile struck their building.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama is scheduled to undergo an interrogation at the National Police headquarters on Tuesday morning as a suspect over blasphemy allegations.

"We will conduct the first questioning of the suspect, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.," National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar told reporters on Monday.

Boy added that police expect to complete the case dossier, which will include information from the probe into Ahok and from some witnesses, within a week and then to submit it to prosecutors.

Boy said police would not detain Ahok.

"The police investigators have not found any urgency to detain Ahok," he said.

On Wednesday, police officially charged Ahok for blasphemy for talking about people who cited a Quranic verse in late September during a visit to the Thousand Islands regency.

The naming of Ahok as suspect has apparently mollified thousands of Muslim people who protested on Nov. 4 because they claimed to have been offended by Ahok's criticism of people who allegedly misused the Quranic verse for political purposes.

Some organizations that had threatened to stage another protest again on Nov. 25 in case police had decided not to charge Ahok, postponed their protest to Dec. 2. (dmr)
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Linkedin Esther Samboh (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, November 21 2016

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group sees huge potential in the Indonesian market as the government, through a recent e-commerce road map, pushes efforts in developing the sector to make the country the biggest digital economy in Southeast Asia by 2020. The Jakarta Posts Esther Samboh was invited by Alibaba Group to Shenzhen, China, to learn about its globalization plans, in which Indonesia is among its strategic markets, during the 11.11 Alibaba Group Global Shopping Festival, more commonly known as Singles Day, the worlds largest shopping event.



Alibaba Group vice chairman Joseph Tsai said the diversified company  which has assets in e-commerce, technology, payment systems and logistics  saw huge potential in Indonesia for two reasons: the young population and a mobile phone savvy public.



We acquired [Southeast Asia e-commerce platform] Lazada so that we could be in Indonesia as well as five other Southeast Asian countries  Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with Indonesia obviously being the largest market, Tsai told a press briefing on the sidelines of the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival on Nov. 11.



Alibaba Group acquired Lazada for US$1 billion earlier this year, its largest international investment ever. Lazada, which operates its own logistics and networks, is currently one of the fastest growing online shopping platforms in Indonesia.



We see that consumers in Indonesia are even younger than consumers in China. Indonesia is very much a mobile first e-commerce environment. People are enthusiastic about mobile phone use, Tsai said.



A survey on smartphone owners in Indonesia, who account for 43 percent of the population, showed that up to 57 percent of online shopping in the country is done on mobile phones, with average time spent on smartphones reaching more than two hours (136 minutes) per day, according to recent Google research.



Theyre skipping computers and instead using mobile phones as their premier technology device. That growth is extremely fast, and were extremely excited about that, Tsai said of the Indonesian market.



Indonesias e-commerce transactions are expected to reach $24.6 billion this year, three times the $8 billion recorded in 2013, thanks to emerging numbers of internet users and middle class Indonesians.



The government even expects e-commerce transactions to reach $130 billion in 2020 as it introduced the 14th economic stimulus package on an e-commerce roadmap covering support for funding, human resources training, logistics and telecommunication infrastructure, among other elements.



In tapping into the growth potential in Indonesia, Alibaba Group aims to localize its operations to make them relevant in serving domestic consumption, which accounts for more than half of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP).



We want to be as local as possible to understand consumers locally through the Lazada platform, Tsai said.



In doing so, Alibaba Group may introduce the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in local platforms to capture more transactions from Southeast Asia.



The service will also roll out to other markets, such as Southeast Asia, leveraging Alibaba Groups investment in Southeast Asia e-commerce site Lazada, and markets that have a sizeable Chinese community, the companys press statement explained.



The 11.11 Alibaba Group Global Shopping Festival is considered the biggest shopping event in the world, with transaction values reaching $17.78 billion during the one-day online sale, surpassing sales made on the USs Black Friday and Cyber Monday events combined.



This year, the Double-Eleven event, which is more widely known as Singles Day, is dubbed the most global with participation from over 11,000 international brands and more than 200 countries, as part of Alibaba Groups globalization agenda.



Alibaba Group has a global expansion strategy to recruit 2 billion new consumers worldwide, of which 1.5 billion are expected to come from growth markets, such as Southeast Asia, India, Russia and Brazil, said president Michael Evans.



[We want to be] not just the gateway to China, but also the gateway to Southeast Asia and the gateway to India. The gateway to consumer markets around the world, markets that want to buy branded products, retail products and small business products, Evans told a media briefing.



Through Lazada, Evans added, Alibaba Group plans to include the Southeast Asian market, with half of its 600 million population burgeoning toward middle class incomes, in the companys platform to establish the connection between brands and consumers.



Think of markets like Indonesia. Difficult, not politically, but difficult because there are 17,000 islands in Indonesia. How do you get to an Indonesian consumer? [] Even if you can get to them on the internet, what does that consumer want? Evans said of the challenges operating in Indonesia, which Alibaba Group hopes to address through Lazada.



Commenting on the possibility of the local market being encroached by foreign players, such as Alibaba Group, BliBli.com CEO Kusumo Martanto said the growth of the local e-commerce platform ultimately lies within the decisions of the consumers themselves.



When youre talking about Alibaba, it has already been available to customers in Indonesia. But its all a matter of choice on which platform the consumers want to use. Hopefully by opting for the local platforms, this could help us so that our product and services could match theirs, he said.

______________



Dylan Amirio contributed to the story.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Lima, Peru  Mon, November 21, 2016

On the first day of the APEC summit in Lima on Saturday, Indonesia made a proposal for the setting up of a new trade bloc that could counterbalance the dominance of the United States and China.

The US has so far dominated the APEC forum with its lucrative Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), championed by outgoing US President Barack Obama, which comprises 12 of the 21 APEC members, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

However, the future of the TPP, a US initiative to contain the dominance of China in APEC, is uncertain under president-elect Donald Trump, who pledged to shore up the US domestic economy and to review the trade agreement once he is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

With the fate of the TPP uncertain under a Trump presidency, China has stepped up its effort to prop up the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which excludes the Americas and includes Australia, India and more than a dozen other countries. The RCEP is now seen as perhaps the only path to broader free trade areas of which APEC aspires.

Given its strategic position as a member of both ASEAN and APEC, Indonesia has called on APEC members to consider forming a free trade bloc between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance countries if Trump decides to kill the TPP.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who attended the Second Informal Dialogue with the Pacific Alliance session on the sidelines of the APEC summit on Saturday, said Indonesia had officially tabled the proposal and urged countries in the two groups to consider.

If the TPP is voided, then ASEAN and Pacific Alliance members should establish a trade cooperation, which could be better than the TPP. It is the right moment to think about such an alternative, Jusuf told reporters in Lima on Saturday.

Jusuf said although many APEC members expect Trump not to follow through on his campaign promises with regarded to ending the TPP, the countries were still prepared with alternatives should the US, the initiator of the TPP, withdraw its commitment.

In addition to the Pacific Alliance meeting, on Saturday Jusuf attended APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) with 21 leaders of APEC countries, including top international leaders like Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaux, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the APEC summit, Indonesia joined Brunei, China and New Zealand in a group to discuss the theme of Growing Global Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises [MSMEs] and Promoting Sustainable Development.

The results from this discussion will be drafted as an official statement; all issues discussed during the meeting were related to the economy and business sectors. The main takeaway from the forum was that we agreed to establish connectivity between domestic and international businesses, Jusuf said.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi pledged to open its economy further as leaders of Asia-Pacific countries sought new free-trade options following Trumps promise to scrap and void the TPP.

As Obama is winding down his administration, he has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the TPP deal, which was signed by 12 countries in the Americas and Asia Pacific, excluding China. Without US approval, the current agreement cannot be implemented.

China will not shut its doors to the outside world but instead open more doors, Xi said in a keynote address at APEC. Were going to [...] make sure the fruits of development are shared. Xi said on Saturday.

The Peru forum carries the theme, Quality Growth and Human Capital Development: Foundations for Sustainable Growth in the Asia-Pacific. It will conclude on Sunday evening with leaders of APEC member countries issuing a statement.
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Linkedin Ben Fox and Joshua Goodman (Associated Press) Lima  Mon, November 21, 2016

Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations ended their annual summit Sunday with a call to resist protectionism amid signs of increased free-trade skepticism, highlighted by the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum also closed with a joint pledge to work toward a sweeping new free trade agreement that would include all 21 members as a path to "sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," despite the political climate.

"We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism," the leaders of the APEC nations said in a joint statement.

APEC noted the "rising skepticism over trade" amid an uneven recovery since the financial crisis and said that "the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasizing how trade promotes innovation, employment and higher living standards."

Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of the summit, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said the main obstacle to free trade agreements in Asia and around the world is the frustration felt by those left behind by globalization.

"Protectionism in reality is a reflection of tough economic conditions," said Kuczynski, the meeting's host.

Referring to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's election win in the US, he said those results highlighted the backlash against globalization in former industrial regions in the US and Britain that contrasts with support for trade in more-prosperous urban areas and developing countries.

"This is an important point in recent economic history because of the outcome of various elections in very important countries that have reflected an anti-trade, anti-openness feeling," he said.

This was the last international summit for US President Barack Obama and he had been expected to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, a 12-nation trade deal. But he is no longer expected to seek ratification by Congress before he leaves office because of the election victory by Trump, who called the agreement a "disaster" for jobs.

Obama told reporters that the way to address income inequality and to create jobs is through crafting trade policy and agreements like the TPP in ways that will increase exports to the Pacific Rim countries that make up a third of the world's population.

"When it comes to trade, I believe the answer is not to pull back," he said at his last overseas news conference. "The answer is to do trade right, making sure it has strong labor standards, strong environmental standards  that it addresses ways in which workers and ordinary people can benefit rather than be harmed by global trade."

Questions about Trump trailed Obama throughout trip as anxious world leaders quizzed him on Trump's stances on key issues like trade, foreign policy and the NATO alliance. On his final day in Peru, Obama sought to reassure the leaders gathered here that their longstanding ties with the US wouldn't falter under Trump.

Leaders of other nations said at the APEC meeting that they might seek to modify the TPP deal to make it more appealing to the incoming president or seek to implement it without the US But the statement issued at the close of the summit said the organization would also work toward adoption of a broader 21-nation pact favored by the Chinese government known as the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is keeping an open mind about Trump, who has threatened to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement between his country, the US and Mexico.

"We're not going to jump to any conclusion about what the incoming American administration is going to actually do," Trudeau said. "There's been a certain amount of things said. But at same time we know that trade is good for the middle class and those working hard to join it. "

The APEC statement also said the members would adhere to the carbon reduction goals set in Paris last year to address climate change, a problem that they called a threat to food production and food security.
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy said a lack of collaboration between business players and the government to improve the quality of vocational education has left the sector underperforming, as many vocational school (SMK) graduates are not well absorbed in the labor market.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that as of August, 11.1 percent of SMK graduates were unemployed, the highest in Indonesia for all graduates. The unemployment rate for senior high school graduates, meanwhile, stood at 8.73 percent, while that of other education levels, such as university and junior high school, is lower than 6 percent.

If industry players provided [the government] with a labor requirement forecast, like how many auto mechanics or hotel employees they would need in the next five years, then we could adjust the SMK curriculum to meet such needs," Muhadjir said Monday at an Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) meeting in Jakarta.

Data from the Education and Culture Ministry show that Indonesia currently has more than 13,000 vocational schools, each of which specializes in one of several fields, including tourism, business, maritime industries and machinery.

(Read also: Teaming up for vocational education)

Muhadjir suggested that local business players work together with provincial administrations to map out their specific needs.

The ministry, for instance, is currently working with the North Sulawesi provincial administration to develop a tourism school that specializes in managing Chinese tourists, who now make up the biggest proportion of foreign tourists in the region.

Students, for example, are learning how to cook Chinese food and speak Mandarin at the school," he said.

Kadin deputy chairman of trade Benny Soetrisno welcomed the idea and said the chamber will coordinate with industry associations to share such data with regional administrations. (hwa)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Mon, November 21 2016

Thousands of Buddhists of different denominations held a mass prayer on Saturday, with the hope that sectarian riots like a recent temple attack and the Buddha statue removal from the top of a temple in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, do not reoccur.

The mass prayer was held at the Soewondo Air Base, Medan, on Saturday afternoon. Also present at the event initiated by the Nusantara Buddhist community were dozens of Buddhist priests from other parts of the country and abroad.

One of the priests, Agga Sara, expressed concern over a number of recent incidents in the country, including the recent attack and removal of the Buddha Amithaba statue from the top of Tri Ratna Temple in Tanjungbalai in late October.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Lima. Peru  Mon, November 21, 2016

The government and social media giant Facebook are seeking cooperation to boost internet access for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Saturday after a meeting with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the sidelines of an APEC summit in Lima.

Better internet access could help thousands of Indonesian SMEs in remote regions of the country that so far have not been able to promote their products domestically and internationally.

Kalla said Zuckerberg had offered Indonesia to use Facebooks Aquila drone, a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, to beam the internet to remote parts of Indonesia. He added that the government welcomed the plan and had assigned the Industry Ministry to work on the details.

He said better connectivity could help SMEs in the regions grow their business. An online system provides information about the market and products. This system could unite markets and protect the quality of products being sold in the market, Kalla said.

Facebooks offer to Indonesia is part of the companys effort to help small businesses tap the potential economic benefits from around 4.2 billion people around the world who have yet to get access to the internet.

Mark [Zuckerberg] in his speeches cited Indonesia as an example where regions could be connected through the internet to produce economic benefits, Kalla said.

Under President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration, Indonesias vision for the digital economy foresees local companies valued at a total of US$130 billion and the birth of 1,000 so-called technopreneurs by 2020.

Jokowi has issued a number of policies to implement its e-commerce road map, including economic stimulus packages and greater access to financial support for SMEs and IT-based companies.

Kalla said the government had given financial support to SMEs across the country, which would be supplemented by an agreement by APEC members to help each other in conducting training to support SMEs.

When we talk about SMEs, we are talking about the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals]. With strong SMEs a country can alleviate poverty, as demanded by the APEC, Kalla said.

On Saturday, the first day of the two-day APEC summit, Kalla joined the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) along with 21 leaders of APEC member countries, including outgoing US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to discuss a theme titled Growing Global MSMEs and Promoting Sustainable Development.

Kalla said that during the forum Indonesia had proposed that APEC member countries cut import tariffs on what he called Indonesias development products, such as crude palm oil, coffee, cocoa, rubber and rattan.

The development products must be accepted without tariffs in those countries, because that is one of the ways to support agricultural products in a developing country like Indonesia. If such products are prevented [from entering foreign markets] it will create a new kind of poverty, Kalla said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir said Indonesia welcomed the adoption of APECs Education Strategy and the APEC Baseline Report on Current Education Status during the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM), which had Developing Human Capital as its theme.

Indonesia is committed to creating an education community that is strong and cohesive at the APEC, said Fachir.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia has appointed Chappy Hakim as president director of the Papua-based company.

Through an interoffice memorandum on Nov. 19, Richard C. Adkerson, CEO of Freeport McMoran Inc. said the appointment was made after a consultation with the Indonesian government and was in the process of getting approval from shareholders.

Chappy Hakim has been a senior adviser for PT. Freeport Indonesia since August 2016, Adkerson wrote in the letter quoted by tribunnews.com.

Chappy is a retired Indonesian military air chief marshall born on Dec. 17, 1947. He was Air Force chief of staff from 2002 until 2005.

He is also known as an aviation industry expert and prolific writer, having produced 10 books.

Freeport previously appointed retired military officer Air Vice Marshall (ret.) Maroef Sjamsoeddin as president director.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

To overcome funding constraints, the government is looking to team up with the World Bank in an attempt to attract foreign investors to become engaged in its toll road projects.

The government hopes that partnering with the World Bank to set international standards for its toll road projects will help it gain foreign investors trust.

Herry Trisaputra Zuna, who heads the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) under the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, said many previous projects had been ill-prepared and had therefore failed to convince foreign investors.

Investment is often about trust. Even if we keep saying that we have changed [in terms of bureaucracy and the investment climate], they might not buy it. With the World Bank helping us prepare, were sending a clear message that the projects are intended for international players as well, he said recently.

The projects the government hopes will appeal to foreign participants in the initial phase are the Yogyakarta-Bawen toll road in Central Java and the Sukabumi-Ciranjang-Padalarang toll road in West Java.

The Yogyakarta-Bawen toll road is expected to support tourism around the Borobudur temple and in Yogyakarta, while the Sukabumi-Ciranjang-Padalarang is expected to ease congestion on the Cileunyi-Padalarang toll road. The latter connects Jakarta and Bandung and has seen worsening congestion over

the years.

Both projects were recently presented to ASEAN member countries to be included in the final project list of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has made infrastructure development, including overland connectivity, one of his administrations priorities. In the 2017 state budget, the government has allocated Rp 387.3 trillion (US$28.88 billion) to infrastructure development, 22 percent more that what it set aside this year.

Infrastructure development in the country will require Rp 4.7 quadrillion until 2019. However, the government can only cover about 40 percent of the total funding, according to data from the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

Toll road construction has relied heavily on funding from the respective state-owned construction firms to which the government assigns toll road concessions. The government itself is only in charge of land procurement for the roads.

Herry said only a few players had been interested in various toll road project auctions. State-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga and state-owned construction firm Waskita Karya are among a handful of companies dominating toll road construction this year.

The participation of foreign entities has been limited. Among the foreign firms are Malaysias UEM Group Bhd. and HCM Engineering Sdn. Bhd, which participated in a tender for the 37.62-km-long Pandaan-Malang toll road in East Java and Plus Expressways Bhd., which holds a majority stake in private toll road operator Lintas Marga Sedaya.

University of Indonesia infrastructure expert Wicaksono Adi and Indonesian Toll Road Association (ATI) chairman Fatchur Rochman acknowledged that infrastructure funding remained a major obstacle in the country.

Fatchur noted that aside from the lack of interest among foreign investors, there was also limited participation by domestic private-sector companies.

He said the government should increase the upper limit of its viability gap funding (VGF)  a form of government subsidy used to partially finance construction projects deemed commercially unfeasible  to more than 49 percent of a projects value to reassure investors.
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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

With the rise of social media, insulting the government for its flaws, or just for fun, has become easier than ever.

However, the government may no longer take such insults lightly if the House of Representatives approves its proposal that insulting the government be made a crime in the new Criminal Code (KUHP) bill.

The Houses Commission III, which is tasked with deliberating the bill, has been considering the proposal, asking the government to elaborate on what it means by the terms insult or the government to prevent any abuses of the legislation if the bill is passed.

We havent made any decision yet. We still want to discuss it [with the government], the commissions deputy chairman, Benny K. Harman, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

In principle, the House has agreed to the proposal, acknowledging the fact that the government is chosen by the people. Although, it still has reservations.

First, what constitutes the government? Second, whats the definition of insulting? If theyre not clear, therell be problems, Taufiqulhadi of the NasDem Party said.

Further deliberation was needed, he added, as we believe the proposed article would be subject to multiple interpretations.

The article could easily be abused by regional governments because there is a tendency that the further [a region] is from the capital, the looser the interpretation [of the law by the political leaders] will be there.

Muladi, a former law and human rights minister who is serving as a government representative in the deliberation of the bill, argued that there was a need to protect the government from insults because the public was also protected from insults by the law.

Individuals are protected by the law. Why is the government, which is formally established, not protected by the law? he said during a meeting at the House complex last week.

Muladi acknowledged the article was contentious, saying that it was imported from the British Indian Penal Code, which was at the time used to arrest freedom fighters during the colonial era.

The [old] penal code was formulated with loose interpretations and without taking into account the consequences, he said.

Therefore, the government has changed some wordings of the article from the penal code version.

The words feud and hatred have been changed into insults. Insults mean any action that attacks someones good name and lowers his or her dignity, said Muladi.

Furthermore, there has to be proof that the insults result in public chaos. With these changes, we hope that [the article] will be more democratic and not easily used by people without any proof.

Pro-democracy activists are not happy with the proposal.

The proposed article was still extremely dangerous and had no place in a democratic country like Indonesia, Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) executive director Supriyadi Eddyono said.

It is certain to create problems because this article was made by the Dutch for its colonies [to protect the Dutch], he told the Post. It was taken from the British penal code and inserted into the colonials criminal code. But now, the Dutch government no longer uses it because the context was to protect the Dutch government during colonialism.

Supriyadi said the article would have the same adverse effects on freedom of speech as another article in the KUHP bill that criminalizes insulting the president. The article on insulting the president was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2006.

Criticizing the president and the government should be fair game, Supriyadi said, adding that it was impossible to objectively differentiate between an insult and legitimate criticism. What makes the government think that it has a higher position than the public that it has to have its own defamation article with harsher punishment? he asked.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Various non-profit, non-governmental organizations will hold a national conference on child protection on Nov. 21 to 22 in a bid to get commitments from regulators, businesspeople and academics to find solutions for the child exploitation and abuse that is rampant across the country.

Child protection group ECPAT Indonesia organized the conference in collaboration with the Childrens Protection and Studies Center (PKPA), JARAK, Rumah Faye and Gugah Nurani Indonesia.

We want to supervise the policies that had been made by regulators concerning children and ensure that the government allocates a sufficient budget for it, Misran Lubis, the director of PKPA, told a press conference Sunday.

In addition to that, the conference was meant to reflect on the 25 years of progress since the ratification of the convention on the rights of the child because the serious challenges of child exploitation and abuse still persist, said Abdul Haris, the head of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

The two-day event consists of panel discussions about the children protection systems in Indonesia, a global study on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and best practices that could be implemented in areas beyond where they were formulated.

This is the only conference that gives space and spotlight to children [] the panel in which children of aged 12 to 18 years old can voice their opinions is very special, said 14-year-old Faye Simanjuntak, who is the director of a foundation specializes for helping child traffickings victims, Rumah Faye.

More than 200 people and 40 speakers from government institutions, non-governmental organizations and the general public, as well as researchers and academics, were expected to participate in the conference. (win/dmr)
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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo had lunch with former president Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday to discuss social and political issues, including the regional elections.

Although I often meet with Megawati, visiting each other, like this, is always very nice and should be established as a tradition, Jokowi told reporters while having tea in the palace backyard with Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Jokowi reminded people that the regional elections would be conducted in 101 regions, not just Jakarta, and he called on candidates to respect each other.

Recently, Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who has been nominated by PDIP, Hanura Party, Golkar Party and Nasdem Party to run in the upcoming gubernatorial elections, has faced protests by groups of people during his campaign.

On Nov. 4, hundreds of thousands people, led by conservative Muslim groups, staged a rally in front of the palace demanding the government to legally prosecute Ahok for alleged blasphemy.

(Read also: Jokowi leaves Yudhoyono out in the cold)

Recently, Jokowi has also had lunch with chairman of Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto at the palace to discuss similar issues.

Gerindra has nominated former education and culture minister Anies Baswedan to run as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate in the upcoming election.

Asked whether the President would invite former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who is also a Democratic Party chairman, to have lunch at the palace, Jokowi said, we will arrange it later.

The party has nominated SBYs son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate. (jun)
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Linkedin Rod McGuirk (Associated Press) Erra, Australia  Mon, November 21, 2016

Two Canadian lawyers came to Australia's Parliament House on Monday to persuade lawmakers to pass a motion urging China to immediately end the practice of what they say is organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.

David Kilgour, a former prosecutor and Canadian secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific, and David Matas, a human rights lawyer, have published evidence they say shows that China performs an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 transplants a year, with organs primarily taken from Falun Gong practitioners, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists and Christians.

China says it performed 10,057 organ transplants last year and has not harvested organs of executed prisoners since January 2015.

The US House of Representative passed a resolution in June calling on the State Department to report annually to Congress on the implementation of an existing law barring visas to Chinese and other nationals engaged in coercive organ transplantation. The resolution also condemns persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual group China calls a cult and has outlawed.

China accused Congress of making "groundless accusations."

The European Parliament passed a similar declaration in July calling for an independent investigation of "persistent, credible reports on systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience" in China.

Kilgour said the Australian government was reluctant to accept evidence of large-scale, forced organ harvesting in China. Kilgour blamed Australia's close economic ties with China, its largest trading partner.

"The greatest amount of skepticism seems to be in Australia," Kilgour said.

Kilgour and Matas first published a report on organ harvesting in China in 2006, which became the basis of their 2009 book "Bloody Harvest. The Killing of Falun Gong for their Organs."

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Graham Fletcher told a Senate committee last month that he had doubts about the credibility of Falun Gong reports of forced organ harvesting.

"They are not given credence by serious human rights activists," Fletcher said, referring to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International's Australian spokeswoman Caroline Shepherd said the London-based organization had not done its own research into organ harvesting in China and supported United Nations' calls for an independent investigation of such allegations.

The Australian Health Department said at least 53 Australians traveled to China for organ transplants between 2001 and 2014.

Matas said it was not possible for such a large organ-transplant industry to thrive without the support of the Communist Party.

"This is an institutionalized, party-driven scheme, with an institutionalized cover up," Matas said.

Around 200 Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated outside Parliament House against forced organ harvesting on Monday as Matas and Kilgour addressed a meeting of lawmakers from several political parties.
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Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu  Mon, November 21 2016

Frequent blackouts in the Central Sulawesi regency of Donggala could soon be a thing of the past, as the local administration plans to build a 100 megawatt coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in collaboration with state-owned electricity company PLN.



Donggala Regent Kasman Lassa said the project would require 42 hectares of land in the sub-districts of Lero and Sindue, which are located in the western part of Donggala.



PLN would fund the land acquisition, while the administration would assist with land negotiations with local residents, he said. We are currently negotiating with the local people, Kasman told The Jakarta Post recently.



PLN has been working on an electrical grid to connect all regions of Sulawesi, similar to the system that connects Java, Bali and Sumatera.



The development of the new power plant in Donggala is deemed crucial to address frequent blackouts in the area amid limited electricity supply. The sub-district of Ogoamas and the districts of North Sojol and Sojol often suffer blackouts lasting up to six hours.



The PLTU will be built to serve the electricity needs of the marginalized people, Kasman said, adding that the administration had stepped up the licensing process to construct the 2x50 MW power plant.



The plant will exceed the capacity of the existing PLTU Mpanau in Palu, Central Sulawesi. The PLTU Mpanau has four units, two of which have a combined capacity of 30 MW and the remaining two have a combined capacity of 36 MW, according to PLN data.



PLN Palu manager Emir Muhaimin said the electricity for the Palapas area  consisting Palu, Donggala, Parigi and Sigi  was supplied by PLTU Mpanau, the Sulewana hydropower plant (PLTA) in Poso and the Silae diesel-fueled power plant (PLTD) in Palu.



In addition to electricity from PLNs power plant, Central Sulawesi residents will also benefit from electricity provided by local power producer Soma Power Indonesia. Soma Power plans to develop a hydropower plant at the Bongka river in Tojo Una-Una regency, with a capacity of up to 100 MW.



Soma Power Indonesia director Franky Yason said investment into that project would be between US$300 million and $450 million. The company has presented its plan to Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola and several institutions and has already obtained the construction license.



Everything is ready. We just need to begin building, he said.



Central Sulawesi Energy and Mineral Resources Office head Bambang Sunaryo previously said the provincial government planned to provide 600 solar home systems (SHS) to eight regencies as well.



In 2013, we distributed solar panels to people living in the Menui Islands district, he said in Palu.



Villages that already obtained the solar home systems include Lumbulama in Donggala, Langudon in Buol regency, Bunta in North Morowali regency and Tokonanaka in North Morowali regency. (wnd)

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DailyFX.com -

Talking Points:

Gold prices treading water after falling to six-month low

News on Trump cabinet makeup represents volatility risk

Crude oil prices rise on OPEC output cut deal optimism

Gold prices are treading water having dropped to the lowest level in nearly six months. Bets on a steeper Fed rate hike path after the US presidential election have undermined demand for anti-fiat and non-interest-bearing assets. A lull in top-tier news-flow may allow for a corrective retracement in the week ahead but prices will probably remain highly sensitive to headline risk as the Trump cabinet takes shape.

Crude oil prices jumped higher at the open of the trading week. The move seems to reflect encouraging comments about the fate of an output reduction deal introduced in September. Implementation details are meant to be unveiled at OPECs formal meeting on November 30 but cartel members have struggled to find common ground on production cut quotas.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said it is highly probable that OPEC countries will reach consensus, according to comments made to the governments Shana news service. Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there are no major obstacles left to agreement. OPEC has sought participation from top non-member producers including Russia to boost the schemes chances of success.

See the schedule of upcoming webinars and join us LIVE to follow the financial markets!

GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS  Gold prices fell for a third consecutive day but failed to secure a break below the $1200/oz figure. From here, a daily close below the May 30 low at 1199.55 targets the 123.6% Fibonacci expansion at 1171.83. Alternatively, a reversal back above the 76.4% level at 1234.97 exposes the 61.8% Fib at 1254.50.

Gold Price Volatility May Return on Trump Cabinet News

CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS  Crude oil prices are attempting to rebuild upward momentum with a push to test the $47/bbl figure. A daily close above the 50%Fibonacci retracementat 47.05 exposes the 47.65-48.19 area (trend line support-turned-resistance, 61.8% level). Alternatively, a reversal back below the 38.2% Fib at 45.90 paves the way for a retest of triple bottom support at 43.02.

Story continues

Gold Price Volatility May Return on Trump Cabinet News

--- Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for DailyFX.com

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Contact and follow Ilya on Twitter: @IlyaSpivak



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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian is trying to discourage protesters from holding another mass rally against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Dec. 2, suggesting that it would be unnecessary and would disrupt public activities.

We are working on Ahoks legal proceedings and soon prosecutors will follow up on the case. Therefore, another rally will be unnecessary," Tito said.

"I am sure the public is against the rally as it will hamper their activities, Tito added, citing that so far police investigators had questioned 69 witnesses in the case.

Tito said the allegations that Ahok had committed blasphemy was a legal matter and had nothing to do with SARA [ethnic, religious, racial and social group] issues.

People can blaspheme against their own religions. It is by chance that this alleged blasphemy was charged against someone of a different belief, he said.

Muslim conservatives, grouped under the National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Councils Edict (GNPF-MUI), have planned to hold a massive rally on Dec. 2, demanding the police detain Ahok because of his suspect status. The group previously planned to have the rally on Nov. 25. (adt/dmr)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Top leaders of the countrys two-biggest political parties  Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto  met on Sunday as the nations political landscape appears to be shifting balance amid sustained tensions centering on a blasphemy case involving incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama.

Megawati, however, did not face the press after the two-hour closed-door meeting at the former presidents residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

As government coalition parties, [PDI-P and Golkar] have to help create a calm and peaceful situation, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said when asked if the meeting was connected to a possible shake-up in the government coalition.

Setya said he sought input and advice from Megawati, whose party is the main supporter of President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration.

Its a silaturahmi [friendly meeting] between pro-government parties. [] we are committed to ensuring the countrys plurality and diversity. We must promote peace and prevent moves that threaten our unity, Setya said.

Like Jokowi, Setya has intensified his political tour, especially after the two had a closed-door meeting at the State Palace on Thursday.

Later on Thursday, Setya met with Surya Paloh, chairman of the NasDem Party, which is also a member of the government coalition. Surya said the one-hour meeting resulted in a commitment to maintain national spirit and pluralism.

Setya was previously accused of ethical misconduct in negotiations involving a major mining firm. Following the case, Setya resigned from his position as House of Representatives speaker. He then won the Golkar chairmanship race, after which he declared the party a government supporter.

The series of recent political moves by the countrys top politicians have sparked speculation that another coalition shake-up might be imminent.

Political observer Ray Rangkuti of the Lingkar Madani Foundation said the Anti-Ahok Nov. 4 large-scale rally had let Jokowi see who his real friends are.

The meetings must go beyond talking about diversity. All of them were certainly angered by the three parties, he added.

Ray was referring to the National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and National Awakening Party (PKB), whose elites were among the demonstrators in front of the palace on Nov. 4.

Their participation in the rally raised questions regarding their loyalty to the government coalition, especially following suggestions that political actors aiming to undermine the government were behind the protest.

PDI-P executive Andreas Hugo Pareira signaled that a coalition shake-up was possible.

There has never been a truly permanent coalition in Indonesian politics. In fact, theres actually no coalition. Right now there is temporary cooperation among parties, Andreas said.

PPP secretary-general Arsul Sani shrugged off the speculation, saying its cooperation with the Democratic Party was limited to the Jakarta election.  The PPP will continue on as a government loyalist, he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered on Saturday at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta to conduct a unity in diversity parade.

NGO Cahaya Guru Foundation is among organizations promoting unity amid religious tensions.

We realize that our efforts might not be enough to answer the big challenges in promoting nationalism, Cahaya Guru chairwoman Henny Supolo Sitepu said at an event held to mark International Tolerance Day at the National Museum in Central Jakarta on Saturday.

In Lima, Vice President Jusuf Kalla appreciated the initiative of the march.

We should keep in mind that we should also maintain unity by not mocking differences, Jusuf said in Lima on the sidelines of the APEC summit on Saturday. (fac/vny)

 Haeril Halim contributed to the story from Lima, Peru
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba and Evi Mariani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Sorong Police in West Papua province confirmed they ordered a group of people praying on SPG Sorong field on Saturday to disperse and accused the congregation of separatism because the police claim the congregation yelled, demanding independence.

The event was organized by West Papua National Committee (KNPB) to celebrate their eighth anniversary by organizing an event to pray together.

KNPB said the police took all 106 people at the event to Sorong Police office for questioning. Later, they released 99 people and detained the other seven: Agustinus Kossay, Arnoldus Kocu, Jack Badii, Kantius Heselo, Mika Giban, Oskar Solossa and Yance Assem.

KNPB said the police accused the seven of treason and provocation.

Sorong Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edfrie Maith said they only detained seven of them for 24 hours, in compliance with the procedure.

Its our duty to question them within 24 hours. After we questioned them, we released them, Edfrie said.

Veronica Koman, a public interest lawyer with Papua Itu Kita, who often helped KNPB with legal advocacy, said the seven were released on Sunday, but they had to report to the police daily.

Edfrie said the police ordered the event to disperse because in the event notification letter from KNPB, the organization used a symbol that is not an Indonesian symbol. Of course we didnt let them organize it, they refuse to acknowledge the Republic of Indonesia, he said on Sunday.

Veronica said KNPB produced a notification letter about the event using the KNPB logo, which was the usual procedure for any other organization. The stamp resembles the Morning Star flag, but I think thats beside the point. This is an attempt to muffle freedom of expression in Papua, she said.

Gema Demokrasi, a Jakarta-based network of 75 civil society organizations, criticized Edfries statement in which he made a deal with Sorong journalists not to publish the story. Sorong journalists and I have agreed not to make news of the event. They intentionally made such an event to get some outside exposure to be acknowledged, Edfrie said as quoted in tabloidjubi.com.

Gema Demokrasi said Edfrie's attempt was a violation of the 1945 Constitution on freedom of expression.

KNPB is an organization promoting self-determination for Papuan people.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

The National Police is set to make an announcement that prohibits participants of a planned rally organized by the National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Councils Edicts (GNPF-MUI) for Dec. 2 to use Jakartas thoroughfares to ensure public order, an official has said.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian says carrying out a demonstration is the constitutional right of every Indonesian citizen, however, it should be conducted in a way that does not disrupt public order.

If protesters block roads in carrying out their rally, it will disturb peoples activities. It will also cause traffic gridlock, Tito said at National Police headquarters, on Monday.

He was responding to GNPF-MUI spokesman Habib Rizieqs statement, which said the Dec. 2 protesters would carry out Friday prayers across the capital's two main roads, namely Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.

Tito said if demonstrators insisted on holding their rally on those roads, the police would disperse them and act firmly to anyone who opposed the police. Violent protesters would be charged with articles 212 to 218 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on attacks against public officials.

Tito said he would also instruct police chiefs across the country to prohibit residents from their respective areas to come to Jakarta to join the rally.

The GNPF-MUI stated earlier that it would hold a peaceful rally on Dec. 2 to call for the arrest of non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who had been named a suspect in a blasphemy case on Nov. 16.

Tito said the police were working on completing Ahoks case dossier as quickly as possible so that he could face trial. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

The National Police have prepared anticipatory measures to secure two anti-government rallies scheduled for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, during which millions of people will reportedly take to the streets across Jakarta to demand the resignation of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, a high-ranking officer said on Monday.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the police had obtained information that protesters might occupy the compound of the House of Representatives during the Nov. 25 rally.

There will be a protest at the House complex on Nov. 25. There is speculation that several groups of protesters will enter the House compound and occupy it. According to existing rules, this is an unlawful action, he said.

He was speaking after a video conference at the headquarters of the National Police in Jakarta on Monday. Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo attended the event.

Tito said the police, supported by military personnel, would beef up security in areas around the House complex during the Nov. 25 rally.

The police also claim that they will act firmly against any protesters who violate the law.

Tito said participants in the Dec. 2 rally, which will be organized by the National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Councils Edicts (GNPF-MUI), would hold Friday prayers on two main roads in Central Jakarta, starting from Jl. MH Thamrin to Jl. Jend. Sudirman.

GNPF-MUI organized a mass rally on Nov. 4 to protest Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas alleged blasphemy. Tito said, however, that he believed the planned Dec. 2 rally would be unrelated to Ahoks alleged blasphemy because authorities have taken legal measures in the case. (ebf)
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands  Mon, November 21, 2016

A Singaporean man died on Saturday evening due to cardiac arrest while participating in an obstacle course race on Bintan Island, Riau Islands.

The man, identified as 37-year-old Syed Mohamed Yusof, collapsed during the 21-kilometer race held on the opening day of the two-day Bintan Reebok Spartan Race.

Syed was later rushed to Tanjung Pinang General Hospital (RSUP), located 50 km south of the events venue, but it was too late.

The medical team pronounced him dead upon his arrival at the hospital, Riau Islands Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Saptono Erlangga said on Monday.

The hospital, Saptono added, had confirmed that cardiac arrest was the cause of death. His body was returned to Singapore on Sunday.

Over 3,000 participants from 25 countries participated in the Bintan Reebok Spartan Air, one of the biggest tourism events in the province. Before reaching the finish line, participants in the 21-km race must conquer more than 30 obstacles, which test their strength and endurance, including rope and wall climbs. (hwa)
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Linkedin Mustafa Izzuddin (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Mon, November 21 2016

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo held their first leaders retreat when Lee visited Semarang on Nov. 13 to 14.

In an otherwise mundane bilateral diplomatic meeting normally conducted between leaders of countries, what was it that made Lees Indonesia visit particularly significant?

This visit had a clear purpose of accelerating economic collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore. Not only was this investment trend taken up a notch during Lees trip, including the establishment of an Indonesia-Singapore business council to boost cooperation, but greater emphasis was also placed on diversifying Singapores traditional investment destinations of Jakarta and Batam.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said his personnel were ready to keep the country safe in light of more threatened protests against Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama over alleged blasphemy.

The TNI stood ready to back up the police in maintaining security, the four-star general said at the National Police headquarters on Monday.

He added that police and TNI intelligence officials would work together to identity the mastermind and lead actors behind the recent protest in Jakarta.

(Read also: Security measures prepared to prevent expulsion of Jokowi in upcoming rallies)

National Police chief Tito Karnavian said earlier at the same occasion that the planned demonstrations were no longer about Ahok's case. There was a hidden agenda against the government behind the protests planned for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, he claimed.

There has been speculation that protesters plan to occupy the House of Representatives building for days and push House members to conduct a session to impeach the President.

On Nov. 4, hundreds of thousands of people, led by conservative Muslim groups, staged a rally to demand the government legally process Ahok over blasphemy. (jun)
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Linkedin Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah (Associated Press) Kabul  Mon, November 21, 2016

A suicide bomber killed at least 28 people inside a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials and eyewitnesses said.

Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said Monday that at least 45 others were wounded in the attack. Kawasi added that at least one small child is among the dead.

Faredoon Obiadi, head of the criminal investigation department for the Kabul police, said the attacker detonated his suicide vest among the crowds inside the Baqir-ul Ulom mosque in western Kabul.

The attack took place on the first floor of the two-story building where Shiite worshippers had gathered to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and an iconic Shiite martyr, in Karbala, Iraq in 680 A.D.

"I was inside the mosque and the Mullah was reading the prayer, suddenly a huge explosion happened then everywhere was dark," said Ewaz Ali, 50 who suffered minor injuries.

No group has yet claimed responsibility but militant Sunni fundamentalists like the Taliban and the Islamic State group view Shiites as apostates and frequently attack Shiite mosques and public gatherings. Monday's bombing struck a ceremony commemorating 40 days since the anniversary of Hussein's death. In early October, at a gathering commemorating the actual death anniversary, militants attacked another Shiite shrine in Kabul, killing 14.

Amnesty International's South Asia Director Champa Patel said, "The attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul is a horrific and deliberate attack on civilians. The Afghan authorities must investigate this crime immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice. They have a duty to take effective measures to protect Shia Muslims from attacks and end impunity for previous abuses against the Shia community."

Shiites in Afghanistan make up an estimated 15 percent of the population of around 30 million. Their public celebrations and commemorations were largely banned during the five years when the Taliban controlled the country. But Afghanistan's Shiites have become more public since the extremists were overthrown in the US invasion of 2001.

In July this year, a suicide bomber targeted ethic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite, as they marched through central Kabul to protest discrimination. At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 wounded in the blast that was claimed by the Islamic State group.

In 2011, at least 54 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his device at a Kabul shrine where hundreds of people had gathered.
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Manila  Mon, November 21, 2016

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to issue a formal order declaring a sprawling lagoon in a disputed South China Sea shoal a maritime sanctuary where Filipinos and Chinese will be prohibited from fishing, officials said in a statement Monday.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Duterte relayed his plan to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru.

Esperon and other Philippine Cabinet officials present at the meeting said Xi did not say whether he agreed to Duterte's plan in the Scarborough Shoal.

China seized Scarborough in 2012 after a tense maritime standoff with the Philippines. Duterte's plan is delicate because it may imply Philippine territorial control in a strategic shoal, which Chinese coast guard ships have closely guarded.

Both governments have also mutually suspected each other of harboring plans to erect concrete structures in the Scarborough's shallow lagoon to cement their territorial claims.

If Duterte's plan proceeds, Filipino, Chinese and other fishermen would only be allowed to fish in the deeper waters just outside Scarborough, which has a vast triangular-shaped lagoon naturally fenced by coral outcrops with an entryway watched by Chinese coast guard personnel.

"You can go in but ... don't fish because it's a maritime sanctuary," Duterte's Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

After taking control of Scarborough, which lies off the northwestern Philippines, Chinese coast guard personnel shooed away Filipino fishermen, at times with the use of water cannons or by deploying armed personnel on speed boats to chase them off.

Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, responded by bringing the shoal dispute and other territorial issues against China to international arbitration. An international tribunal ruled in July against China, saying it violated the Filipinos' rights by banning them from fishing.

China, however, ignored the ruling, which also invalidated its vast claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. Duterte, who took office in June, reversed his predecessor's adversarial stance and reached out to China.

Shortly after Duterte discussed the Scarborough dispute with Xi in a state visit to Beijing, Filipinos were allowed to return to the shoal to fish. Philippine coast guard ships also resumed patrols in the vicinity of the shoal.
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Linkedin Esther Htusan (Associated Press) Yangon, Myanmar  Mon, November 21, 2016

Human Rights Watch said Monday that high-definition satellite images show 820 newly identified structures destroyed this month in five Rohingya Muslim villages in the Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state where the military is carrying out counter-insurgency operations.

In a statement, the US-based group urged the government to invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation.

"These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted," said Brad Adams, the Asia director of the group.

The president's spokesman, Zaw Htay, last week accused Human Rights Watch of exaggeration after the release of an initial set of satellite imagery that showed 430 destroyed buildings in three villages.

He accused the international media of misreporting the situation in Rakhine, where the government has mounted a massive, ongoing security operation since nine police officers were killed by unidentified assailants who attacked guard posts in Maungdaw village bordering Bangladesh last month.

The government has acknowledged using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops in the operations.

The state's implication has been that the attacks were carried out by sympathizers of the minority Rohingya Muslims, who face intense discrimination, repression and violence in Rakhine state.

They have frequently been targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine majority who view them as illegal migrants. The state denies them citizenship even though they have lived in the region for generations. More than 100,000 Rohingya still live in camps after being driven from their homes following clashes with the Rakhine people in 2012.

Human Rights Watch said the new satellite imagery  recorded on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17-18  brings to 1,250 the number of destroyed buildings documented by it.

"Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity," Adams said. Myanmar is also known as Burma.

Ko Ko Linn, an activist of Arakan Rohingya National Organization, said more than 100 people have been killed, at least 1,000 houses in Maungdaw have been burned and hundreds have been arrested.

The claims are impossible to verify, as are the government allegations because of access restrictions on journalists and aid workers.

Rohingya villager says the government is trying to systematically to drive Muslims minority from their villages.

On Friday, the United Nations warned of a worsening rights situation in Rakhine state. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes amid the security operation. Humanitarian assistance has been suspended and civilians are reported to be caught up in military action, and there are reports of human rights abuses, including the alleged rape and sexual assault of women and girls.

The government blames the unidentified attackers of the border posts for burning homes but rights groups say the army is responsible for those and other abuses.

"After six weeks of violence with virtually no aid reaching tens of thousands of highly vulnerable people, the government needs to act decisively to assist them," Adams said. "A government with nothing to hide should have no problem granting access to journalists and human rights investigators."
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Kuala Lumpur  Mon, November 21, 2016

The families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say they will mount a debris-hunting trip to Madagascar to search for clues to what happened to the missing plane.

Investigators have identified six pieces of wreckage to have either definitely or almost certainly come from the jet, which vanished with 239 people while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Voice 370, a family association, says the debris collected so far has all been found off Africa's east coast, but there has been no systematic, organized search by investigators.

It said Monday that next-of-kin believe the search will provide find answers and closure. An ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, has been fruitless and could be suspended soon.
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Manila  Mon, November 21, 2016

Human rights victims who suffered during the regime of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos filed petitions Monday asking the Supreme Court to order the exhumation of his remains that were buried last week at the country's Heroes' Cemetery.

They also want the court to hold his heirs and officials involved in contempt for carrying out the burial before the court had heard final appeals against it.

Left-wing former lawmaker Saturnino Ocampo and other activists urged the court to hold Marcos' widow Imelda, their three children, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and two military officials in contempt for "the hasty, shady and tricky" burial on Friday of the long-dead president at the Heroes' Cemetery.

They should be fined and detained for mocking the legal process that gave petitioners 15 days to appeal the court's Nov. 8 ruling allowing the burial, the petition said.

Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman, who represents another group of petitioners, sought a court order to have the remains exhumed "because the hasty and surreptitious interment was premature, void and irregular."

He asked that the remains be examined to determine they are not a wax replica.

The secrecy-shrouded burial at the cemetery reserved for presidents, soldiers and national artists shocked democracy advocates and human rights victims, prompting street protests across Manila and in other cities.

Marcos, whose rule was marked by massive rights violations and plunder, was ousted by a largely nonviolent army-backed uprising in 1986. At the height of the political turbulence, he flew to Hawaii, where he lived with his wife and children until he died in 1989.

Groups opposed to the burial called for a national day of protest on Friday at Manila's Rizal Park and in other parts of the country. Organizers called on Filipinos to protest against the burial of Marcos in the cemetery and to hold President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for allowing the burial and the Supreme Court for obscuring "the crimes of the dictator."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 21, 2016

There are at least four reasons that should make Indonesia a major destination for the worlds yachters: its rich natural resources, pleasant climate, safety from pirate attacks and freedom from typhoons -- according to an official with the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister.

The office's maritime services deputy assistant II, Okto Irianto, told Antara news agency on Sunday that yachters were particularly fond of the archipelago's beauty and richness on land and underwater. "While the pleasant climate allows yachters to visit Indonesia any time of the year."

(Read also: Jokowi opens Sail Karimata Strait 2016 in West Kalimantan)

The Philippines, which has 9,000 islands, is said to be Indonesias biggest competitor in terms of attracting yachters. However, the neighboring countrys seas are known for being home to pirates, said Okto.

Meanwhile, compared with Thailand, the Caribbean and Taiwan, Indonesia is free from typhoon. Based on these four reasons, Indonesia is the most attractive place to visit for yachters. Plus it has an attractive culture," said Okto.

Despite this huge potential, Okto said, the government is still facing challenges attracting yachters to the country.

(Read also: Govt to allow yacht, private jet visits to boost tourism)

Since 2015, the government has tried to support marine tourism development by changing the procedures for entering Indonesian territory, the Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory (CAIT). The new regulation would no longer force yachters to wait for three to six months to get a permit to enter the country. The new registration system shortens the process to only one hour. Hopefully we can attract up to 6,000 yachters by 2019 with this new system, he explained.

Yacht visits are said to be able to contribute to the countrys foreign exchange, since each yacht that carries an average of five passengers could spend about US$750 during a three-month visit. (jes/kes)
The Department of Education has decided to put a plan to create more diversity in District 1 schools on hold. Lower East Side parents are not happy. [New York Times]

At 11 a.m., Mayor de Blasio appears at Cooper Union to talk about, the challenges we face, the differences we welcome, and values that will always unite us. It will be live on Facebook.

NYU is launching a new program that will allow some students to live in the apartments of local senior citizens. The school is partnering with the Lower East Sides University Settlement to offer the pilot program. [New York Post]

At a shipyard in Alabama, workers are racing to build the boats for New Yorks new ferry service. A Lower East Side stop is scheduled to be part of the second phase of the project. [New York Times]
Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 19 November 2016

The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 19 November 2016



Dixon spoke candidly and politely about the importance of a multicultural America and a diverse world: "We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us", he said; "We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and to work on behalf of all of us."The theatre is a space where stories are told, opinions are shared and where art can be used to convey a message. Hamilton: An American Musical, features a diverse cast of different races, orientations and gender. Dixon used this as a platform to create a discussion; a discussion America needs to have and one that the world in 2016 needs to have. It seems the globe is in fear of multiculturalism. We had it in the UK when we voted Brexit and now America have gone one step further and elected someone who is homophobic, sexist, racist and discriminative. After Dixon made the speech, Trump took to Twitter insinuating that Pence had been victimised:Unfortunately, its hard to take Trumps opinions seriously. He cannot discuss safe and special places when he is making America a very unsafe place for many of the people Dixon was referring to in his speech. He has called for the cast to apologise and claimed the musical is overrated  very childish to demean some of the most successful art to appear on Broadway in recent years just because someone took two minutes to politely ask you to care about each and every person in your country. Donald Trump and Mike Pence playing the victim is laughable. Luckily, Brandon Dixons message is spreading and once again the theatre proves it is a place that can encourage real and inspiring change. You can watch the full speech here:
While US president Barack Obama has said he doesnt intend to become his successors constant critic, he reserves the right to speak out if Donald Trump or his policies breach certain values or ideals.

Obama suggested that once he is out of office he would uphold the tradition of ex-presidents stepping aside quietly to allow their successors space to govern.

He praised former president George W Bush, saying he could not have been more gracious to me when I came in and said he wanted to give Trump the same chance to pursue his agenda without somebody popping off at every turn.

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

But Obama did suggest that there may be limits to his silence.

He said: As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle or go to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that its necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, Ill examine it when it comes.

Obama spoke out throughout the election campaign against Trumps calls for banning Muslim immigrants, deporting millions of people living in the US illegally, reinstituting waterboarding, repealing Obamacare and cancelling the Paris climate deal.

(Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Many Americans who oppose Trump are hoping that challenges from Obama and other Democrats might prevent the president-elect from implementing these policies.

However, this is not to say that Obama is going to spend all his time slamming the next president.

My intention is to, certainly for the next two months, just finish my job, Obama said. And then after that, to take Michelle on vacation, get some rest, spend time with my girls, and do some writing, do some thinking.

(Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Obamas remarks came at a news conference in Lima as he concluded his final world tour as president.

On his final day in Peru, Obama chatted briefly with Russian president Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the Syria crisis. The four-minute chat is likely to be their last face-to-face conversation, and comes amid speculation about whether Trumps election will herald a more conciliatory US approach to Russia.

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Putin, speaking later in Lima, said he and Obama had noted that while their working relationship had been difficult, theyd always respected each others positions  and each other.
registry

Thompsons National Registry for White Males was created in response to Donald Trumpsand his suggestions for the implementation of a. In a Facebook status, posted on the 17th November, Thompson provided details of a letter that she had sent directly to Trump via his website. In it, Thompson explains the motive behind the registrys creation: "I am trying to keep America safe from the ethnic group thatposes the largest threat to national safety: white, straight, CIS-gendered men." She also informs Trump that his name has already been added to the registry before ending the letter with hopes for a personal meeting between her and the President-elect: "I sincerely hope that we have the chance to meet in person one day so that I can grab you by your most esteemed man-p***y." The questions in the registry require answers relating to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status, to name but a few. Presented in a multiple-choice format, the registry also includes answers that force the respondent to admit to benefitting from "white male privilege", or to having made derogatory comments about a "marginalized group or person". According to Thompsons status, all white men may voluntarily register themselves until the 20th January 2017. She also encourages "anyone and everyone" to register any white male(s) whom they perceive is a threat to personal or national security. At least 205 men have been registered already.
(Yui Mok/PA)

(Andrew Selsky/AP)

(Andrew Selsky/AP)

(Ben Birchall/PA)

(Steve Parsons/PA)

(PA)

(PA)

(PA)

(Yui Mok/PA)

Former deputy prime minster Nick Clegg and former health minister Norman Lamb joined other political figures to back a new report which claimed legalisation could net the Treasury more than 1 billion a year in tax revenue.The Adam Smith Institute and Volteface study argued that the UK should follow the lead of the United States, where four further states legalised marijuana in this months elections. It came as Germany gets ready to legalise cannabis for medical purposes and Canada prepares for all-out decriminalisation. The Netherlands effectively decriminalised cannabis decades ago, while Portugal went the other way and legalised it in 2001.The report argued that Britains dark ages drugs policy has failed to stop drugs being manufactured and used  and to stop associated crime, corruption and killings. It called for root and branch reform to legalise and regulate cannabis to ensure it meets acceptable standards, and to remove the market from criminal gangs. A legal cannabis market could be worth as much as 6.8 billion to the economy annually  potentially netting between 750 million and 1.05 billion in tax revenues and reduced criminal justice costs. The number of offenders in prison for cannabis-related offences in England and Wales would also likely drop from the current 1,363, who cost taxpayers 50 million a year, the report said.T he full group includes Lib Dems Clegg and Lamb, Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley, Conservative MP Michael Fabricant, Labour MP Paul Flynn and co-leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas. This is what they all had to say British politicians need to open their eyes to what is happening in the rest of the world. Cannabis prohibition is being swept away on a tide of popular opinion and replaced with responsible legal regulation.Now is the time for ministers to start writing the rules for this legal market, including age limits and health warnings, so that we can finally take back control from the criminal gangs.Prohibition is harmful and counter-productive, helping neither to reduce drug use nor the risks to public health. While other countries and US states are increasingly coming to adopt a more enlightened approach to drug policy, we are stuck in the dark ages, filling the pockets of criminals and perpetuating the stigma which prevents so many drug users from seeking help.It is time we legalised cannabis. Currently cannabis can only be obtained from illegal gangs who also push hard drugs. So we are driving soft drugs users into the arms of hard drugs pushers.There can be no doubt that just as prohibition on the sale of alcohol failed in the United States and encouraged gangsterism, the banning of drugs has promoted a wicked and lucrative black market which pushes illegal drugs on the innocent.The UKs 45 years of harsh prohibition has multiplied use and harm. A legal market would destroy the drugs attraction as forbidden fruit and encourage users to ingest cannabis, of known strength and quality, in ways that will the avoid deadly dangers of smoking.The War On Drugs has been an abject failure, and the continued criminalisation of cannabis users is deeply counter-productive. Britain needs an evidence-based drugs policy, rather than continuing the expensive and ineffective prohibition regime.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @fabriclondon will reopen. Thanks to all who helped find a solution that protects the clubs future & keeps clubbers safe.  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) November 21, 2016

I held conversations w/ all parties in Fabric case as part of my role supporting London nightlife-Heartened that agreement has been reached  Amy Lame, Night Czar (@nightczar) November 21, 2016

Flowers left outside Fabric nightclub in London after it was closed (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Scotland Yard applied to the council for the clubs licence to be reviewed (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan previously spoke out against the decision to close Fabric (Yui Mok/PA)

Fabric soon get their license back, common sense to prevail. Hoping that reverses the trend of club closures for a while and we can build  Logan Sama (@djlogansama) November 21, 2016

Fabric nightclub will be reopening pic.twitter.com/R8Kh2V9MNQ  MOBO AWARDS (@MOBOAwards) November 21, 2016

Fabric walking into Monday like pic.twitter.com/So5PEl4Sgj  Jennifer Hassan (@GuinnessKebab) November 21, 2016

Fabric nightclub, in Farringdon, was forced to close in September after Islington Council found it had a culture of drug use which staff were incapable of controlling.The venue was to appeal against the decision at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court next week, but reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Police and the council.London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who previously spoke out against the decision to close Fabric, said he was delighted that an agreement had been reached. The new conditions for the clubs licence were approved by a judge at the court on Monday, a spokeswoman for the council said. It includes a ban on anyone under the age of 19 entering the venue between 8pm on Friday and 8am on Monday and also states that anyone found in possession of drugs in the club or who tries to buy drugs will be handed a life ban from the venue.Islington Council said the changes, offered by Fabric, were designed to ensure a zero-tolerance approach to drugs. The club closed temporarily after the drug-related deaths of two 18-year-olds earlier this year, and in August Scotland Yard applied to the council for the licence to be reviewed.A joint statement released by the council and the club following the decision said: Fabric is committed to doing all it reasonably can to ensure that no more of its clubbers come to drug-related harm. It also recognises that there needs to be, and will be, changes to its management structure and accountability. The statement added: The authority welcomes Fabrics acceptance of all these matters. It is now satisfied that Fabrics directors and senior management understand precisely what has to be done to ensure that Fabric is a safe environment for young clubbers, and that zero tolerance to drugs means precisely that.The club has also pledged to introduce a new ID scanning system, improve search procedures and introduce covert surveillance in the venue. And, well, the news of Fabric reopening seems to have been met with a lot of excitement from some Twitter users.
Lars Konig has a very positive message for you. The Dutch national has hitchhiked from Georgia to Iran in order to show the world that humanity is good everywhere and you can trust people everywhere you go.

Konig has made a video of himself speaking near the citadel walls in Erbil, Iraq, explaining why he undertook the journey. He believes that the world is a much safer place than what the media and our own prejudices want us to believe. "This is something I knew a long time ago he says, but I wanted to prove it by hitch-hiking to a place I knew was completely safe, but in the media has portrayed as an incredibly unsafe place."

Konig's epic journey started in Tbilisi, Georgia, on September 5th, from where Konig travelled via Iran to arrive in Iraq on October 22nd. He says he has met some amazing people on the way, and has gained many stories to tell.

This was not Konigs first hitchhiking journey, having previously travelled from the Netherlands to Georgia in the same way three years ago. In total, he claims to have hitchhiked 50,000km across 35 countries.

Why is it so important to believe in humanity? Well, according to Konig, a deeper trust in other people can heighten our compassion and treatment of regugees. In his video, Konig describes his trip to a radio station in Halabja, where he learned that in Iraqi Kurdistan a population of 5.5 million is hosting 1.5 million refugees.

There, Konig says, refugees are treated humanely and have a lot of freedom outside refugee camps. According to him this is a lesson "that we can all learn from, that we should trust our fellow human beings."

Erbil is less than 100km away from Mosul, a site of violent conflict between ISIS and the Iraqi army. According to UN figures, 1,792 people were killed in October, including 1,120 civilians.Perhaps some people in the UK would do well to take a leaf out of Konig's book.
When Santa Claus visits Gibraltar this year hell be sitting pretty.

Former Fire Chief Pat Manning, Lynda Krauser, Alan Krauser and Parks and Recreation Director Tamey Gorris all put in dozens of hours to build a new throne for Santa to sit in during Christmas themed events in the city.

This was my first throne, Manning said. I like to build tables. If you look closely you can see it has the base of a table and was modified from there.

He said he spent about 12 hours making the base of the throne, which was then modified by Alan Krauser who made some cut outs at the top and installed finials to make the chair look more regal.

Gorris hand-made the cushions and did some base coat painting, and then Lynda Krauser did all the detail painting.

Lynda Krauser said it took about two weeks, working five hours a day, to get the chair looking the way she wanted it.

Im a detail painter, she said. You dont just paint it red and add dots. There are about 15 layers of paint on there the no one will ever see, but it adds depth to the painting.

She said there are white, black, purple and blue undercoats before the red paint was added for the final effect.

The throne will be used Dec. 3 for the Gibraltar Christmas parade, and again Dec. 10 for the annual Breakfast with Santa. It will then be kept at the Community Center and be available for the use of anyone who rents the building in December.

Itll be well used, Gorris said. Its all custom made and custom tweaked.

Decorations in the Community Center are new this year as well. They were donated by Jo Amo for the use of the city.
Boat Lagoon Yachting to showcase stars at Phuket International Boat Show

PHUKET: Princess Yachts and Boat Lagoon Yachting will complete the line-up on Dock E at the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX), to be held at the award-winning Royal Phuket Marinas international exhibition centre from January 5-8.



By The Phuket News

Monday 21 November 2016, 10:28AM

The Princess 49 will be one of the global stars on display by Boat Lagoon Yachting at the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMX) at Royal Phuket Marina on Jan 5-8. Photo: Princess Yachts

Boat Lagoon Yachting is set to put six of its luxury yachts on display during PIMEX, announced event organiser Andy Dowden.

The local agent represents world-class brands such as Princess Yachts, Jeanneau and Prestige.

Featuring in Boat Lagoon Yachtings showcase at the event will be the Princess V39, Princess 56, Princess 49, Princess 75 Motor Yacht, Prestige 500 and Jeanneau CAP CAMARAT 8.5 CC.

Boat Lagoon Yachting represents some of the most prestigious brands in the world of yachting and we are again proud to be part of the PIMEX Show, said Vrit Yongsakul, Group Managing Director of Boat Lagoon Yachting.

Following a record-breaking 13th Phuket International Boat Show in 2016, presented by Thailand Elite, Royal Phuket Marina will once again host the event in 2017 and Thailand Elite will be back on board as Presenting Sponsor.

A record of more than 5,000 visitors  verified by an independent auditing company  made PIMEX 2016 the biggest yet. For 2017, however, the organisers are introducing a host of new and improved features.

The in-water display of yachts up to 35 metres is complemented by a unique Superyacht Zone with private island access for up to 20 yachts over 35 metres. As well as yachts of all types and sizes, marine suppliers with engines, electronics, chandlery, sportswear and accessories, dive equipment and watersport toys will add to the range of exhibits.

Property projects, including luxury local property development Anchan Villas, will return to PIMEX 2017 to showcase their latest villa developments for both sales and rental.

Luxury goods together with enticing motor car brands will ensure a great experience for all exhibitors and visitors alike, Mr Dowden said.

The 14th edition will see the addition of complementary events and activities, including being co-located with Very International Phuket, a brand-new exhibition for luxury and lifestyle products, he added.

An exciting programme of fashion shows, live bands and cooking classes will enhance the visitor experience and with more emphasis on Charter Cruising, a comprehensive Conference Programme, a Mariners Market and additional al fresco food and beverage outlets, PIMEX 2017 will have something for everyone, he added.

For more information or to register to join PIMEX, click here.
India train disaster leaves 142 dead, number likely to rise

INDIA: The death toll from an Indian rail disaster rose to 142 today (Nov 21) after workers toiled through the night removing victims from the wreckage, with grim warnings that more bodies were trapped inside.

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By AFP

Monday 21 November 2016, 02:43PM

Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district. Photo: AFP

There was little hope of finding survivors among the mangled remains of 14 carriages, which came off the tracks in northern India yesterday (Nov 20) in a rural district of Uttar Pradesh state.

The actual toll will still be higher and it would be a difficult task to identify all the persons, particularly those whose bodies are very badly damaged, a senior local government official said.

We do not have an exact figure for the injured as of now. Rescue work is still going on, district police chief Zaki Ahmad said as workers cleared the most severely damaged carriages.

More than 2,000 people are believed to have been on the train, though many were travelling without reserved seats  or without tickets at all  making a precise estimate impossible.

It is difficult to say how many people were exactly travelling but it was definitely over 2,000, said a spokesman for regional railway network.

A large crowd gathered at the rescue site today, with many combing through the bags and clothes strewn across the area in the hope of finding clues to the fate of their loved ones.

The disaster occurred at the peak of Indias marriage season, and at least one wedding party was on board the train.

Local media said wedding clothes, jewellery and invitation cards could be seen spilling from abandoned bags.

Hundreds of injured were being treated in nearby hospitals, including many young children who had become separated from relatives.

Police were reportedly showing the children pictures of the dead in an effort to identify their parents.

A fracture in the track is thought to have caused the Indore-Patna Express to derail, sending the carriages crashing into each other and leaving some twisted beyond recognition.

Indias railway network, one of the worlds largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.

A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on Indias railways, describing the loss of life as an annual massacre.

The latest accident  one of Indias deadliest  comes at a time when the government has signed numerous deals with private companies to upgrade the countrys ageing rail network.

Last year, Japan agreed to provide $12 billion in soft loans to build Indias first bullet train, though plans remain in their infancy.
Let's get Social: Targeting your ads

Last week, Facebook hit US$7.01 billion (B244.8bn) in revenue in the third-quarter of this year. Thats a 56-per-cent increase compared with the same period last year. In 2012 Facebook passed the billion-user mark and as of the third quarter of 2016, Facebook had 1.79 billion monthly active users.



By Daniel Villota

Monday 21 November 2016, 09:58AM

Use the tools Facebook provides to help you zero in on your target market. Photo: Eran Sandler

According to Facebook Chief Financial Officer David Wehner, there are three main factors contributing to Facebooks growth  an increase of ad load, an increase of users and an increase in time spent on the platform.

While Facebook has more than 50 million active business pages, it only has three million active advertisers  and in 2017, it is expected that many more advertisers will join Facebook and Instagrams advertising platforms.

So will your business be one of them and how can spending money on Facebook ad campaigns benefit your business?

As I wrote in a previous article, Facebook has an incredible capability to deliver content to a very targeted audience, something that no other media platform can offer.

With Facebooks massive user base, even tapping into a targeted niche market with your product or service can expose you to a huge number of potential customers.

However, keep in mind that even though Facebook may look straightforward for your advertising campaigns, you must spend your money wisely  particularly with the Boost your post option. Boosting every photo, video or link posted may garner your business with many Likes.

However, that does not necessarily turn those Likes into customers. Good social media marketers are increasingly shying away from the boost button and developing more complex and focused marketing strategies.

Some of the best advertising practices on this platform involve a feature called Power Editor or Ads Manager. These simple-to-use programs allow you to easily identify 11 different objectives you want to achieve with your ads and, with the use of detailed metrics, enable you to gauge whether your ad is having the desired affect.

For example, if your source of business is around your physical location, targeting people around your area would be a great option. You can even customise your audience from a customer list made up of existing customers email addresses or by targeting people who have visited your website.

You can also create many versions of similar ads to test them out on different audiences to see what works best. This is a powerful tool to hone your ads and really target them for specific purposes and audiences.

By arranging the placement of links, photos, text and so on, you can begin to see which style of ad is working better and continue to hone it so your ads become more targeted and much more effective at their goal, whether it be garnering page Likes, click-throughs to your website or downloading your app.

This ability to start wide and narrow down your campaign to the most effective ads, aimed at the right demographic, helps you reduce spending and get more bang for your buck.

For those of you who have tried this already, its easy to see why this is one of the most essential tools for any successful advertising campaign.

There is a lot to learn when you begin to create and optimise your campaigns. But the more you do it, and take note of the feedback metrics, the better you will get.

That doesnt necessarily mean that you will always succeed, but its probably the best advice to keep in mind when spending your money.

In this column we will work towards connecting hospitality businesses with the right customers through social media channels. Its a brave new world for business and we will do our best to equip you for it!

Daniel Villota is the Managing Director of E-Media Asia, the number one social media consulting agency in Southern Thailand. He can be contacted at daniel@e-media.asia or visit www.e-media.asia




Phuket big biker rear-ends bus, hospitalised

PHUKET: A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital yesterday (Nov 20) after he crashed his big bike into a bus parked on the side of the road in Koh Kaew.

accidentspolicetransport

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 21 November 2016, 10:04AM

The driver rear ended the bus at around 5am yesterday. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket City Police Lt Surachart Thongyai was notified of an incident at 5am yesterday where it reported that a motorcyclist had been injured when he crashed into the back of a parked bus near the entrance of Soi Koh Kaew 29 off Thepkrasattri Rd northbound. Lt Surachart arrived at the scene with Kusoldhram rescue workers to find a damaged Kawasaki lying in the road behind a tour bus. The driver of the motorbike driver, named by police as 33-year-old Piyapong Sawasdee, had suffered scrapes all over his body as a result of the crash. He was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital after receiving first aid treatment at the scene. Lt Surachart said, Witnesses said that the motorbike slammed heavily into the back of the bus which had been parked at the side of the road overnight. People assume the driver had rented a nearby room and left the bus there. We are currently looking for the bus driver.
Phuket man investigated for impersonating military officer

PHUKET: A 27-year-old Phuket man is under investigation by the 41st Military Circle and police after he was found dressed in full military uniform and pretending to be military personnel in Chalong.

militarycrime

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 21 November 2016, 12:17PM

Prapoj Nunphakdee (left) was taken in for questioning to answer why he was impersonating a military officer. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Prapoj Nunphakdee was taken in for questioning to answer why he was impersonating a military officer. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Prapoj Nunphakdee (left) was taken in for questioning to answer why he was impersonating a military officer. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Four army officers led by chief of peace and order operations Maj Sathit Naikul on Friday (Nov 18) escorted Prapoj Nunphakdee to Chalong Police Station to question him as to why he was pretending to be a high-ranking army officer.

Maj Sathit said, The Commander in Chief of the 41st Military Circle ordered a peace and order operation team to investigate Mr Prapoj, who was pretending to be a Lieutenant Colonel while dressed in full military uniform.

Maj Sathit declined to name the location where officers found Mr Prapoj but revealed that if found guilty of impersonating a military official he could face jail time of up to one year and fined up to B2,000, or both.

Police will question Mr Prapoj further to see if he can be charged with fraud. They will also seek to find the motive behind his antics,Maj Sathit added.
Phuket migrant camp mass brawl leaves man dead, another injured

PHUKET: Police are investigating a drunken brawl over a wage disagreement which left one man dead and a second injured at a migrant workers camp in Kamala last night (Nov 20).

violencedeatheconomicspoliceimmigration

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 21 November 2016, 12:29PM

The body of the unidentified migrant worker was found in front of a hut at the workers camp. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Kamala Police Lt Col Somnuek Damkaew received a call from residents at 1:30am this morning (Nov 21) when it was reported that a large numbers of migrant workers were engaged in a mass brawl at a workers camp located behind Phuket FantaSea in Kamala.

Police were told that one man had died and another had been injured during the melee.

Col Somnuek arrived at the camp with Kusoldharm and Kamala Municipality rescue workers to find the body of a man lying face down on the ground in a pool of blood in front of a hut.

It appears that the victim was slashed on the back of his neck with a sharp object. He also had head injuries. We have yet to identify the man or even confirm his nationality, Col Somnuek said.

I think he was about 25-30 years old. His body was taken Patong Hospital for doctors to confirm the time and cause of death.

We also have yet to identify the injured man. His friends had already taken him to Patong Hospital by the time we arrived, Col Somnuek added.

All we know so far is that the brawl started when two groups of workers had a dispute over wages and that more than 10 people were involved in the fight.

When we arrived, most of those involved had already fled the scene, he said.

However, we are investigating the incident and will bring in all those for questioning to find out who was responsible for the death and injury to the victims, he added.
Woman, 74, arrested in Phuket with over 50 kilos of kratom

PHUKET: A 74-year-old woman was taken into police custody today (Nov 21) when she was found to be in possession of 58 kilograms of kratom. The arrest came following raids on two properties in the Saphan Ruam community in Rassada.

crimedrugsmilitary

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 21 November 2016, 04:02PM

Some of the kratom leaves were packed ready to be sold together with a bottle of cough syrup. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

At 10am this morning, the 41st Military Circle led by chief of peace and order operations Maj Sathit Naikul together with defence volunteers led by Phuket District Office official Mr Mr Wiratdej Boonriangkhao raided two homes in Moo Baan Saphan Ruam Soi 6 in Rassada after receiving a tip-off that the home owners had been selling drugs to local teenagers.

Following the raids, it was announced that 58.5kg of kratom, 45 bottles of cough syrup and B13,000 in cash had been seized and one arrest made.

Maj Sathit said, When we arrived at one of the homes (No. 33) we saw one woman come out, but she quickly fled the area.

Inside the home officers found an elderly woman, Ms Jai, 74. She had had many bags of kratom leaves placed in a sack and basket which were hidden in the bathroom and bedroom.

Some of kratom leaves were clearly ready to be distributed as the were bagged together with cough syrup, he said.

Ms Jai told us that she is from Khon Kaen and that she has no income. She and the home owner know each other and she looks after the house when the owner is away. She admitted that she sometimes helps sell kratom for the owner which she sells for B200 per set (two bundle of leaves and one bottle of cough syrup).

When we went to the other address (No. 30) there was nobody there to open the door so we asked a neighbour to contact the owner. The owner still refused to cooperate, so the neighbour gained access to the property and during our search we found more kratom leaves both fresh and cooked, he added.

Ms Jai was taken to Phuket City Police Station where she was to be questioned further. Police will also issue a summons for both homeowners to come to the police station to face charges.
Victim who died in Thursday crash was from Sisseton
In November of 2008, Islamic terrorists entered the Chabad House run by Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg in Mumbai, India, and murdered them and four of their guests in cold blood. In the immediate aftermath of the gruesome attack, photos of the smiling couple were transposed with images of their crying 2-year-old son, Moishe, and the bullet-riddled shell of the Jewish center the Holtzbergs had built in the heart of Indias largest city.

Despite the devastation of an attack that paralyzed a subcontinent and transfixed the world, Chabads crucial work in Mumbai continued unabated. The goal, say those who were involved with ensuring Chabads presence in Mumbai, was to make certain that the Holtzbergs work of spreading goodness and kindness by offering Jewish programs of every kind to local residents and visitors continued stronger than ever.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, surrounded by guests and more than 25 Chabad emissaries in Asia who will be there for a regional conference, Chabad of Mumbais headquartersalso known as Nariman Housewill open its doors once again.

This will definitely be very emotional for many people, affirms Rabbi Yisroel Kozlovsky, who now co-directs Chabad of Mumbai together with his wife, Chaya. This six-story building was continuously operating until the attack. Were not moving into a new building; we are returning to our original building, and we will be continuing all of the activities that took place here, and hopefully, grow even more.

We remember what happened, but we are working for the future.

Years in the Making

Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg moved to Mumbai in 2003, establishing a Chabad House to serve Israeli backpackers, international Jewish businesspeople and the local Indian Jewish community. He was a soft-spoken shochet, mohel and Torah scholar; she was an empathetic and warm host and shlucha, always ready to lend a listening ear.

The Holtzbergs came to be known and loved by those they encountered, and their activities rapidly grew. Soon, Gabi purchased Nariman Housea large building in the Colaba neighborhood of Mumbai not far from the iconic Gateway to Indiato serve as their full-time Chabad center.

One of Gabi Holtzbergs closest mentors and supporters was Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos LInyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, who had advised and encouraged the young rabbi even before he stepped foot in India. It was he who helped Gabi secure the necessary funds from the Rohr Family Foundation to purchase Nariman House, and the two remained in close contact while the Holzbergs worked in Mumbai.

The attack left a deep imprint on him, and at the couples funeral, which was televised around the world and drew thousands of mourners, Kotlarsky vowed to rebuild their center and their mission.

He explains that while redoing the physical center was undoubtedly important, continuing to reach out to Jews from every backgroundthe mission the Holtzbergs ultimately gave their lives forwas the central goal.

We didnt pause after this great tragedy, recalls Kotlarsky. We regrouped immediately and continued working, never stopping. That was our response to what happened in Mumbai.

No sooner had the emotional funeral and customary seven days of mourning passed did Chabad programs resume in the traumatized city, first through rotating shifts of young rabbinical students from abroad working out of rented apartments and then with the eventual arrival of the Kozlovskys.

We build communities, says Kotlarsky of Chabads response in the weeks following the attack. Therefore, while reconstructing the building was something we felt was important, serving the Jews in Mumbai, both locals and foreigners, was and continues to be our priority.

Kozlovsky explains that after a year-and-a-half of living and working together with his wife in Mumbai, he more fully understands why Gabi rushed to purchase a large building for his operation.

There are so many possible complications here, bureaucratic and otherwise, that it becomes very difficult to work without a permanent base, he says. Now we will have security rooms, a synagogue, offices, guest rooms, a restaurant and a commercial kitchen. It will be very different than running things out of a 1,200-square-foot apartment, but it will, Gd willing, allow us to grow. And it is, of course, fitting that we do this in the same place as Gabi and Rivky.

He adds that the official opening will also serve as the starting point for the next phase of reconstruction: a $2.5 million museum to be built in the apartment where the Holtzbergs lived and on the floor where most of the murders occurred.

Kozlovsky notes that when people entered the wreckage of the building after the attack, they quickly grew emotional. I think for people to learn about Gabi and Rivky, and the lives they led herein the place where they worked and lived and were taken fromit could have a very powerful, positive effect on people.

A Joint Statement

Timed to coincide with the buildings reopening, Mumbai will also play host to the regional conference of more than 25 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in Asia, organized by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, who serves as both director of Chabad of Thailand and Chabad regional director. Kantor, too, was intimately involved with the Holtzbergs work, and following the terror attack threw himself into the rebuilding process.

Through his tireless effortsKantor has traveled to Mumbai countless times in the last half-decadethe new emissaries have settled in, and the Chabad Houses renovation is at last complete. He says it is only fitting that this city, which has seen the darkest of times, hosts a gathering of spiritual torch-bearersnamely, the surrounding Chabad emissaries.

The lamplighters from throughout Asia, the Lubavitcher Rebbes (Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory) shluchim on this side of the world, are going to be in Mumbai to honor the work that our colleague started, and was so abruptly and shockingly stopped, Kantor explains. We want to make a joint statement that the work here continues.

He adds that there is no way of getting around the symbolism behind the reconstruction effort and the reopening, and sees it as the most proper response to terror, no matter where it has been perpetrated. This was a building that was built with hard work and was full of life, he says, and now we have the opportunity to use it once again for holiness.

I think this is really a message for the whole world, adds Kotlarsky. You can overcome challenges, even the most horrific of challenges. You can and must rebuild, and this project serves as a beacon of light and hope that evil will not prevail.

The Work Continues

By all accounts, Jewish life in Mumbai has benefited a great deal since the Kozlovskys arrived. And the size of the community itself has grown, including the new addition six weeks ago. Chaya Kozlovsky gave birth to their second child, a baby boy, whose brit milah was celebrated at the Knesses Eliyahu Synagogue in the city.

I think its the first Indian Menachem Mendel, jokingly observes the new father.

While continuing ongoing Chabad projects, many of which were initiated by the Holtzbergs, the Kozlovskys have worked diligently on increasing their activities. A Jewish kindergarten will open in time for this school year, and with the recent opening of Mumbais new diamond district in a different part of the city, they have established a satellite Chabad center in that area to serve business travelers.

It took time before the right couple could be found to fill the void left by their predecessors, but those familiar with the Mumbai community and charged with finding a new couple say they have been electrified by the couples work and presence thus far.

Rabbi Kozlovsky has done a tremendous job, says Kantor. Hes energetic and enthusiastic, and hes got the mission uppermost in his mind.

Yossi Gansbourg, a Montreal native working in the diamond industry who has been traveling to Mumbai consistently for the last five years for business, visited Mumbai before the terrorist attack. In fact, he volunteered in Chabads Roving Rabbis program, assisting Gabi in his work at the Chabad House.

The diamond bursa used to be near the Opera House, and then it moved to a new area, so Rabbi Kozlovsky has a space on that side of town with organized prayers and kosher food. Its a place where Jewish businesspeople can gather, says Gansbourg, adding that he is impressed with how much the two have been able to accomplish in the short amount of time theyve been in Mumbai.

Gansbourgs family connection to the Holtzbergs and to Mumbai itself runs deep. His father, Berel Gansbourg, has been visiting Mumbai for some 20 years and was instrumental in helping the Holtzbergs settle in the city. So when the building reopening was scheduled, Yossi Gansbourg made sure to arrange to be there.

I dont know what Ill feel until the event happens, he acknowledges, but it will probably still be a bittersweet type of an event.

It is not only business types who have gained from Chabads presence. One Jewish womana Mumbai local who asked to be identified only as Sarahrecalls meeting Rabbi Kozlovsky on Purim day, right after they arrived in India. She had come late to synagogue, missing the reading of the Megillah. But sure enough, the rabbi invited her to his home to hear a Megillah reading. Since then, she says she has grown closer to both the Kozlovskys and her heritage.

India, and specifically Mumbai, can create challenges for a person who comes from the West. The language and cultural differences can be overwhelming to anyone who is not used to it, but nothing stands in the rabbis way, insists Sarah. The Chabad House is always open to anyone, from morning to evening; the rabbanit Chaya is always there to make sure visitors will have a warm meal and place to sit around the table.

Reflecting on the upcoming event, Sarah says it is truly inspiring: Many people around the world and in Mumbai are looking forward to the reopening of the Chabad House, as it symbolizes the Jewish spirit and belief of looking forward with great faith.

(Source: Chabad.org)
Magen David Adom, Israels national emergency medicine service, broke ground on the worlds first innovative underground blood bank facility on Wednesday, 15 Cheshvan, in Ramle. With the constant security threats faced by Israel on all fronts and rapid growth of its population, there is an urgent necessity for a highly secured and technologically advanced underground national blood storage facility to house the states self-sufficiency blood supply from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

One of the prime missions of Magen David Adom is running the National Blood Services Center (NBSC) which secures and provides 97% of the increasing requirements for high quality blood units and components needed by Israeli hospitals and the IDF. The existing blood center located in Ramat Gan, collects approximately 295,000 blood units annually, employs 250 employees and volunteers, constantly hosts blood drives, and operates MDAs advanced blood bank laboratories.

Eli Bin, Director-General of Magen David Adom, said in a statement: Israel is constantly gearing up for the next war and the imminent threat of a missile attack on its territory. Magen David Adom, Israels national emergency medicine and disaster relief organization, is responsible for functional continuity in times of emergency, and is therefore establishing a complex, first of a kind facility thats more secure and technologically advanced than any other blood services facility in the world.

This, he continued, aims to ensure that Israeli citizens will have blood transfusions available to them at any circumstance or time of need. With all blood transfusions stored in an underground space, the facility will ensure that they remain unharmed even when the building is under a massive barrage of missiles. Securing the national blood center to prevent blood shortage and meet the Israeli transfusion requirement is a national goal of the utmost importance.

As it is, NBSC is not suitable to the requirements of the state of Israel as it will not remain intact during an earthquake or missile attack  scenarios that are likely to face Israel within its near future. Although Magen David Adom renovated and upgraded the center to comply with state regulations, it will never meet the security or population requirements without major alterations.

Although this project is of high priority for the Israeli government, it is unable to fund it and therefore, Magen David Adom is responsible for raising the total amount required for the construction of the facility.

American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) has already raised $110 million (which only amounts for a portion of the total funding required). AFMDA also largely fund the current blood center in Ramat Gan, just outside Tel Aviv, which will be used as an annex for the new facility when the new building is completed.

In addition to being reinforced against rocket attacks, the new facility, to be named the Marcus National Blood Services Center after a lead, $25 million gift by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and his wife, Billi, will be closer to Israels main highways to help distribute blood more rapidly to Israels hospitals. Prof. Eilat Shinar, MDAs director of blood services, emphasized the importance of rapid distribution of blood transfusions: A slowdown in processing is particularly dangerous to the welfare of the state, especially during a war, when the amount of blood needed is critical to both wounded civilians and soldiers.

Construction of the facility began this Wednesday with a groundbreaking ceremony featuring remarks from US Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro, and Israeli health minister MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Toronto Mayor John Tory visited Israeli volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organization United Hatzalah on Wednesday evening 15 Cheshvan and was impressed by what he saw. Its remarkable what you do here, Tory said after receiving a brief tour and explanation of the national headquarters during his seven-day visit to Israel. I knew a bit about your program and about the Hatzolah teams in Toronto, but I didnt know how extensive it is and how much good you do here in Israel. Its simply remarkable.

Tory spent just under an hour visiting the organization that is responsible for coordinating and dispatching over 3,000 EMS volunteers across Israel. The organization, which started out as a chareidi volunteer organization has, over the past few years, broken down the cultural and ethnic divides in Israel, incorporating secular Jewish volunteers as well as Muslim, Druse Bedouin, and Christian volunteers. Recently, the organization graduated the first Deaf EMT http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/465066/deaf-emt-assists-other-emts-saves-deaf-patient-via-use-of-sign-language-and-video-call.html in the country. That is what we mean when we say United Hatzalah or United Rescue, said Dov Maisel, the Director of International Operations at the organization. We unite all of the people of Israel, no matter their background or walk of life, and they take time out of their busy lives to volunteer and save the lives of others every day.

United Hatzalah has succeeded in lowering the average EMS response time in Israel to under three minutes across the country and under 90 seconds in populated cities such as Jerusalem and parts of the Tel Aviv metropolis. The formula used is a combination of advanced location technology that dispatches the closest available responders to an emergency and the community-based responders who are fully trained and equipped with advanced medical equipment, able to respond to calls in their communities at any time. The innovation that we created here is harnessing the power of the community, said Maisel. No ambulance service, no matter how good they are, can put an ambulance on every street corner. Its just not feasible. But harnessing the community, which is already present, training them to respond and giving them the equipment and knowledge, that we can do.

Present at the visit was former Torontonian Dr. Joyce Morel, who saved lives under fire during the 2014 terror attack at a synagogue in Har Nof. Dr. Morel is a specialist in family and emergency medicine and was involved in Hatzolah of Canada before she immigrated to Israel four years ago. She told the mayor how she got involved in the organization in Israel and how much of a joy it is to volunteer with them. The organization is very welcoming. Being part of the organization has made the move to Israel and being part of the community here so much easier.

Following the visit, Tory went on record to say, People are always told to be careful when going into dangerous situations. But there is a certain amount of community involvement that is necessary in any emergency situation. This organization proves that if you do it right, then in can work and you can save lives. If you have the proper training, equipment, volunteers, and sufficient donor support, you can make it work. Here, you (United Hatzalah) proved that and it is saving lives. At the end of the day, that is what we are all trying to do. I am going to go back to Toronto and take a look at how the Hatzolah works there in the northern sections of our city.

Tory got a moment to sit on one of the organizations signature ambucycles and said This is the highlight of my trip so far.

Photo: Toronto Mayor John Tory sits astride an emergency ambucycle, the hallmark vehicle of Israels volunteer EMS service United Hatzalah.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: United Hatzalah)
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) will honor Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, with its Yehi Or Award on Monday, November 28, at 6:30 PM at The New York Public Library. Edmonds is posthumously being honored for his heroic efforts in protecting 200 American Jewish prisoners of war during World War II at the organizations annual dinner.

Master Sgt., Edmonds was captured during the Battle of the Bulge by the German army on December 19, 1944. As the highest ranking officer in the Stalag IXA, a prisoner of war camp, Edmonds was responsible for the camps 1,292 American POWs. The camps commandant ordered Edmonds to identify the Jewish soldiers in order to separate them from the other prisoners. Instead, Edmonds refused, and when the German commandant placed his pistol against Edmonds head, demanding that he identify the Jewish soldiers, Edmonds responded We are all Jews here, refusing to identify the Jewish soldiers thereby saving their lives.

Edmonds survived 100 days of captivity, and returned home after the war, but never told his family of his actions. Edmonds passed away in 1985, and only long after was first recognized for his heroic actions. The JFR will be honoring several of the surviving Jewish GIs saved by Master Sgt. Edmonds. His son, Pastor Chris Edmonds, will accept the award.

Over the years we have worked with and honored many holocaust survivors and their rescuers, but the story of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds saving 200 Jewish-American soldiers truly distinguishes the man and leader he was. Though unfortunately we were not privileged enough to honor him during his lifetime, we hope that this years Yehi Ohr Award will show the gratitude and appreciation that our nation has on behalf of his heroic actions that day, said JFR chairman Harvey Schulweis.

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous was created by Rabbi Harold Schulweis to fulfill the traditional Jewish commitment to hakarat hatov, the searching out and recognition of goodness. The JFR provides critical financial support to aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, offering a degree of dignity to their lives that would not otherwise be available.

As it moves forward, the JFR continues its work of providing monthly financial assistance to more than 425 aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, living in 20 countries. Since its founding, the JFR has provided more than $37 million to aged and needy rescuershelping to repay a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Jewish people to these noble men and women. Its Holocaust teacher education program has become a standard for teaching the history of the Holocaust and educating teachers and students about the significance of the Righteous as moral and ethical exemplars.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Magen David Adom presented a certificate of recognition to two El Al cabin attendants who acted promptly and saved a life. The certificates were awarded during a Friends of MDA gala dinner held in Israel.

During the multi-day event MDAs instructors were acknowledged, for their ongoing training efforts as well as two El Al cabin attendants who had completed a MDA CPR course.

The two were heading to a flight to Tel Aviv literally moments before takeoff near the Beijing Airport. The two, Nitzan Rabinowitz (25) and Mori Levy (22) were close to the airport when Nitzan realized she had dropped her phone. They decided to turn back to look for it and there they ran into a Chinese man about 80, who lost consciousness. They did not hesitate to use their training and began CPR near the train to the airport. They used the automated defibrillator as well, successfully saving his life as his pulse and spontaneous breathing returned. The man was transported to a local Beijing hospital and the two headed to their flight back to Israel.

MDA EMT Shlomi Erez, who was their first aid instructor, praised their actions and the program that continues training Israelis around the country in CPR and basic life-saving efforts and the organizations expanding Neemanei Chaim program which permits one who is certified in CPR to download an cellular app.

In the event of a CPR call in the area, the volunteer and others in the area would be notified based on the phones GPS reading and they have the option to respond. The program has enrolled thousands to date and is hailed a success by MDA officials.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

In recent weeks, there have been a number of attacks against chareidi IDF soldiers in uniform by chareidim in Beit Shemesh as well as violence directed against police. An attack occurred on 10 Cheshvan during the afternoon hours when a chareidi soldier in uniform was attacked by chareidim. A chareidi officer in plainclothes traveling with his family saw the attack and headed towards the scene. Baruch Hashem he succeeded in extricating the soldier from the mob as both of them were being attacked with rocks.

A week earlier, chareidim held a stormy protest in Beit Shemesh after one member of the community was arrested for not reporting to a draft center. Police were pelted with stones by the chareidim taking part in the protest.

Following the investigations into the above-mentioned events, police during the night of motzei Shabbos arrested three Beit Shemesh residents for attacking the soldier and for violence during the protest against the arrest of the talmid. Two adults are going to be charged with attacking police and a 14-year-old will be charged with attacking the soldier.

After the detainees were processed in the Beit Shemesh police station they were remanded in front of a Jerusalem Magistrate Court.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
France some time ago announced a regional peace summit towards renewing diplomatic talks between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority). Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu thanked France on a number of occasions but signaled Israel was not interested in the initiative, explaining Israel and the PA must work out their issues one on one, inviting PA Chairman Abu Mazen to return to the negotiating table without preconditions. This is yet to occur.

France has finally dropped the idea of the summit, apparently in response to the election of President-elect Donald Trump and not Hillary Clinton. Aware Trump does not share the views of the democratic party vis-a-vis the diplomatic process with the PA, France has apparently arrived at the conclusion a major participant in the summit, the United States, may not hold the same views as the outgoing administration has during the past eight years.

The report is based on Arabic media reports quoting French sources.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A resident of the Beit Haninah neighborhood of Jerusalem was sentenced to six years imprisonment for failing to pay NIS 20 million in income tax.

The sentence was handed down by the Jerusalem District Court against the defendant who leased taxicabs which he owned and operated by hiring others.

He launched a business to rent the cabs to drivers on a weekly basis. The amount of weekly rent depended on their earnings, not a flat rate but he never declared the earnings from the rentals.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The residents of the community of Reut opposed to the construction of a new Chabad house seem to have succeeded in their mission. The battle has been ongoing for some time as they worked to gather signatures on a petition opposing the move. They used Facebook to instill fear in residents, warning that once the bulldozers begin working, it will be too late, telling them the frum will overrun their secular haven.

The city committee responsible for the allocation of the land for the shul has announced that after the petition of opponents is officially submitted it will review the over 2,000 signatures, weigh the matter and render a decision. One official is quoted saying that with so many persons signing against the project, there is no question it will have to be reconsidered. The committee never believed opponents would gather 500 signatures and they are now over the 2,000 mark.

Members of the opposition movement to the shul explain Rabbi Neuman went too far with his grandiose structure and it finally worked against him. The community would not have objected to a regular shul but this large building and the name Chabad has instilled panic among residents.

Committee chair Kfir Cohen published on Facebook that he and his colleagues cannot ignore the sizable opposition and this will compel them to rethink their approval for the project. I spoke with Rabbi Neuman and his daughter Rachel and explained their battle is lost and there is nothing to be done. I added the current reality does not leave a chance of pushing this through the coalition.

Rabbi Yitzchak Neuman responded the version that the petition has over 2,000 signatures is misleading. It shows as if they had two choices, a community center or a shul. This is simply not true as there is no body interested in building a community center in the area and while the municipality published a law (60 days) for anyone wishing to compete for the space, no one stepped forward. We off a community center which will be available to the entire population in one building and the second building would have two shuls, Chabad and one for the Yemenite community. Opponents suggest to not build anything. Many who signed the petition against us erred as they believed by opposing us a community center would be constructed.

The rav added the opposing petition was accompanied by a smear campaign against m, my family via social media and other channels. Many residents are annoyed and aggravated and afraid to express their support. Therefore, in our application to the allocation committee we asked for the minimum required after meeting the legal requirements and showing total transparencyI appeal to residents to open an honest open dialogue for we have no desire to cause any inconvenience. I am certain dialogue can lead to creative solutions.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Former Likud cabinet minister Gideon Saar was a guest speaker at the Hamodia-sponsored Economic Conference in Yerushalayim on Sunday, 19 Cheshvan.

Saar, who was seen as a likely replacement for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced he is taking a hiatus from political life and stepped down from his cabinet post and has yet to officially announce he return. However, there is speculation he will run in the next Knesset elections on an existing ticket or possibly launch a new party.

Saar told the forum When I look at todays chareidi politicians I see they serve all sectors and not just chareidim. Even the current generation of chareidi leadership in local government knows how to do things from a broad perspective and are oriented with a general Klall Yisrael approach.

Saar added the chareidim are an integral part of the Israeli leadership and achdus does not compel one to give up that which differentiates the different streams. Different is not a disadvantage and it is not something to be corrected. For each sector of Israeli society has its unique qualities. Unfortunately, the chareidi tzibur is the object of attacks against the lifestyle based on their beliefs.

Speaking about Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Saar added I wish Health Minister Yaakov Litzman much success in his struggle for long-care health insurance  something that touches each of us personally. With all of the terms I have served I do not believe citizens of Israel recall who was the Minister of Health before Yaakov Litzman.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Egypts state news agency says nearly 300 suspects linked to the Islamic State group have been referred to a military tribunal over attacks and an alleged plot to assassinate President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

MENA reported Sunday that the 292 suspects are accused of taking part in terror attacks and of plotting to kill both el-Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.

An IS affiliate in the northern Sinai Peninsula has carried out scores of attacks in recent years, mainly targeting security forces. The insurgents stepped up their attacks in 2013 when el-Sissi, who was then the army chief, led the overthrow of Egypts first freely elected president, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi.

(AP)
Its a confounding mystery of World War II: What happened to the 136 missing sailors from the explosion and sinking of the USS Turner?

After all, the ship did not go down in battle or even in the open sea, but while anchored near New York Harbor in 1944, so close to the city that shockwaves from the onboard munitions blasts shattered windows in some buildings.

Now, newly discovered documents show that the remains of four of the missing sailors were indeed found and buried not long after the disaster in separate graves for unknowns in a Long Island veterans cemetery.

And the researcher who found the documents suspects many more remains could have been found and buried along with them in those same simple gravesites, marked only with the words Unknown U.S. Sailor and January 3, 1944, the day the destroyer sank.

Just dont throw them in the ground and forget about them, said military historian Ted Darcy, who is turning over his findings to the Pentagon. These guys have been neglected by our government. Its not fair, especially to their families.

Darcys hope is that the military will exhume the four gravesites, identify the remains and rebury them with a proper memorial.

The Pentagon still officially lists 136 Turner sailors as missing. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the federal office responsible for recovering and identifying the nations missing war dead, didnt respond to repeated requests from The Associated Press about Darcys findings.

The Turner, a 10-month-old destroyer returning from convoy duty in the Atlantic, was anchored a few miles off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, when an explosion erupted below deck, setting much of the ship ablaze. More explosions followed, the last breaking the ship in two.

While no cause of the initial blast was ever determined, a Navy report mentioned anti-submarine munitions were being defused around the time.

More than 150 men were rescued, but 136 others went down with the ship, according to Darcys research. He said the Navys National Archives file on the yearlong salvage operation contains no information, including how many sets of remains were eventually recovered from the 55 feet of water where the ship sank. Darcy contends many of the bodies would have likely been intact on the ship in compartments sealed with watertight doors.

According to 1944 interment records for the Long Island veterans cemetery in Farmingdale, the remains of four Turner sailors were buried in individual graves within a year of the disaster.

But Darcy, a retired Marine from Locust Grove, Virginia, believes all or most of the remains were found and comingled in the four graves. I went to the Navy and they said, Hey, we dont know how many are in there,' he said.

Darcy said comingling of unidentified remains was a fairly common practice, particularly when the Navy was overburdened at the height of World War II. The Long Island cemetery has multiple graves containing the remains of more than one WWII serviceman, while the remains of 388 USS Oklahoma crewmembers disinterred in 2015 for identification were buried in 45 mass graves in Hawaii.

Another WWII MIA expert, Mark Noah, founder of Florida-based History Flight, said he wouldnt doubt it at all if Turner graves contained the remains of multiple sailors. Skeletal remains can pack out a full coffin with more than a dozen people, he said.

Loved ones from the Turner disaster were initially told only that their sailor was missing. If remains had been found and buried, they were never informed.

Oh, my goodness. I wouldve liked to have known that, 82-year-old Marjorie Avery, of Corsicana, Texas, told the AP by phone. Her father, Henry S. Wygant Jr., was the Turners captain and still officially listed as missing.

Several relatives of now-deceased Turner sailors who survived the disaster told the AP their loved ones also were never told about the graves. Two of the last Turner survivors still living  James Thomas, of Leivasy, West Virginia, and Robert Mowry, of Irwin, Pennsylvania  also said they didnt know.

More than 70 years later, their memories of the disaster remain clear yet tinged with stoicism typical of so many WWII veterans.

Its just one of those things that happen in a war, said Mowry, 91. It was just us at the wrong place at the wrong time, thats all.

(AP)
Hatem Abu Riziq used to prowl the narrow alleyways of the West Banks largest refugee camp battling the Israeli army. But these days he is turning his guns barrel toward the Palestinian leadership.

With the long-ruling Palestinian Fatah faction torn by rivalries, fierce shootouts between Palestinian security forces and Fatah-aligned gunmen have erupted in recent months, plunging the Balata camp into unrest and lawlessness.

The violence, much of it directed at a Fatah leadership seen as corrupt and out of touch, comes as the movement prepares to hold an overdue leadership conference at the end of the month and reflects a combustible power struggle between the factions aging leader, President Mahmoud Abbas, and exiled rival Mohammed Dahlan, a former top aide who has the backing of some gunmen and disaffected Fatah activists.

I no longer want to fight Israel. Im not willing to die for these officials who are only taking care of their families and letting us suffer, said Abu Riziq, 30, who spent nearly seven years in an Israeli prison for assisting in a suicide bombing.

The violence has left about a dozen people dead this year. Observers warn it could spiral out of control the longer that Fatah remains divided.

Abbas, 82, is pushing for leadership elections in his Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization, an umbrella movement dominated by Fatah, before the end of the year, as part of what officials say is largely an elaborate attempt to cement his power and block Dahlans return.

Abbas has no plans to step down or designate a successor, despite a recent health scare in which doctors ordered an unscheduled heart exam prompted by complaints of fatigue. Those elected to top Fatah and PLO posts could form a pool of potential successors, though none would likely challenge Abbas as long as he is in office.

The last Fatah convention was held in 2009, and one should have taken place in 2014. Abbas repeatedly delayed it, both because Dahlan still enjoyed strong support and because the Palestinian leader had no great interest in making changes. Since then, many Dahlan followers have been purged from Fatah.

Abbas fierce opposition to Dahlans return is both personal and political.

The two men, who had been close for years, fell out after Dahlan made thinly veiled corruption allegations against Abbas two businessman sons, Yasser and Tarek, in 2010. A Palestinian court has since convicted Dahlan in absentia on corruption charges, and he would face arrest if he attempted to return to the West Bank without Abbas blessing. He now lives in exile in Abu Dhabi.

Fatah leadership elections are tentatively set for Nov. 29, to be followed a month later by a vote for the PLOs main decision-making body, the Executive Committee.

While the internal elections are being held to revive the flagging appeal of Fatah and the PLO, organizations seen as stale and ossified, the upcoming convention is whipping up the tensions that have sparked waves of internecine violence around the West Bank. Clashes have spread to Jenin, another city in the northern West Bank, and to the Amari refugee camp near Ramallah.

The fighting in the streets is a sign of the fighting within the movement, and its a small scenario of what will happen if the succession battle takes place, said Jihad Harb, a Palestinian analyst.

The clashes have also been fueled by the tough economic situation in the West Bank, where the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, the areas largest employer, can no longer dole out jobs to its supporters the way it used to.

Each side is believed to be pumping funds to supporters, among them armed men, in a bid to buy loyalty. Palestinian officials have accused Dahlan, who receives financial support from the United Arab Emirates, of purposely fomenting chaos to pressure Abbas.

Palestinian police say their incursions into Balata, a teeming slum of 20,000 people crammed into just one square kilometer (less than half a square mile), are an attempt to arrest 10 gunmen wanted for a number of crimes, including murder.

Gunmen like Abu Riziq have defended their turf, and the resulting clashes have struck fear in the camps residents. On Wednesday, a gunbattle between Palestinian police and gunmen in the nearby city of Nablus killed a 39-year-old woman caught in the crossfire.

Akram Rajoub, the governor of Nablus, said the raids are meant to arrest criminals whom the gunmen are protecting. He said the gunmen are fighting the police in an attempt to weaken the Palestinian Authority, adding that they are being provided with expensive guns and ammunitions to fight us.

He did not provide evidence or say where the guns have come from, but residents agree outside forces are involved because of the steep price of the weapons.

The Palestinian Authority has struggled to disarm militants since the end of the second Palestinian uprising in 2005, and some parts of the West Bank are still flush with weapons.

Israel has been cracking down on weapons in Palestinian hands, shuttering gun-producing factories and seizing caches, but illicit trade continues nonetheless. Military-grade M16s, bought from the Israeli underworld or produced in makeshift Palestinian factories, are the weapon of choice, but gunmen also use handguns and more crude arms based on the Swedish Carl Gustav submachine gun.

The gunmen deny Dahlan is providing the money for their weapons. They described gun buying and selling as a legitimate occupation for men who are jobless and need to make a living. But with the Israeli crackdown driving up prices, it remains unclear how these men can afford M16s that cost upward of $15,000 apiece.

Dozens of M16 guns were displayed in a recent parade in the camp to mark the death of Fatahs founder, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Abu Riziq delivered a speech during the event, surrounded by men armed with M16s, as he criticized the Palestinian Authority for the raids into the camp.

Abu Riziq and other gunmen are digging in their heels, vowing not to lay down their arms so long as Abbas remains in power.

We will never vote for Abbas again, said Abu Riziq. If he remains, we will remain suffering.

(AP)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

IDF soldiers working with Shin Bet agents and border police during the night of 20 Cheshvan (Sunday to Monday) arrested nine persons in Yehuda, Shomron and the Jordan Valley on suspicion of involvement in terror. Four of the suspects are wanted for violent acts perpetrated against civilians and security forces.

In the PA (Palestinian Authority) village of Rantis in the Ephraim District, security forces confiscated thousands of shekels used to fund terror. A computer and notebooks containing inciteful materials were confiscated.

In Shuhada in the Menashe District, security force found weapons manufactured in the PA along with parts for various weapons. All of the weapons and parts were confiscated.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: via Media Resource Group)
No one can forget the tragic terror attack in the Mumbai Chabad House in November 2008 that resulted in the murders of the shluchim, Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg HYD along with a number of other Yidden and more locals and security personnel. The only survivor of the Holtzberg family was little Moishe, who was two at the time, and his faithful caretaker Sandra, who is credited with saving his life.

Today, the family recalls the tragedy on the yahrzeit while marking Moishes tenth birthday BH.

Also murdered in the attack were: Norma Rabinovitch Shvarzblat HYD, R Bentzion Chroman HYD, Rabbi Aryeh Leibish Teitlebaum HYD, and Yocheved Orpaz HYD.

Moishe was taken in by his grandparents, Rav Shimon and Rebitzen Yehudis Rosenberg and with the assistance of government agencies, Moishes Indian caretaker, Sandra, was given permission to remain in Israel at his side and she was willing to make the sacrifice to assist raising him, leaving her own family behind.

For Moishe, the birthday includes visiting the kevarim of his parents next week to mark the eighth yahrzeit. Mrs. Rosenberg told Yediot Achronot that their oldest grandson is 20 and for them, Moishe has become another son, not a grandson. She explains raising him is another shlichus from HKBH, to direct him in the derech of his parents who were Chabad shluchim.

Mrs. Rosenberg admits there are some very difficult times, adding that on the last yahrzeit, while reciting Tehillim at Har HaZeisim, he ran and she had to chase after him. I found him standing by the fence and his body language was clear. He simply wanted to run away from his painful reality. I called him and he came with me to say Kaddish. This week, as we prepared for another yahrzeit, Moishe asked to daven [shachris] at the 5:30 minyan instead of his regular 7:00AM minyan explaining too many people and too many eyes. I do not want to say Kaddish there. Last year we flew Moishe to NYC for the Kenos Shluchim. He was invited officially as a representative of Mumbai. He was apprehensive but at the end, got on the stage and read Tehillim in memory of his parents in front of 5,000 people without fear or embarrassment. How did this miracle occur? Love and boundless love and the koach shown to him by the chassidim.

Moishe gives tzedaka daily in memory of his parents, morning and evening. When his grandfather covers him and wishes him a good night, they look at the photo of his parents which hangs over his bed and together they say good night abba, good night ima.

Moishe was in 5th grade in a talmud torah in Migdal HaEmek. Twelve years ago, Mrs. Yehudis Rosenberg, 64, retired from teaching after 33 years and established the Chasdei Malka Chaya organization in memory of her mother, working with volunteers to distribute food to 70 needy families. They also run a gemach for women, offering clothing for a simcha. Rabbi Rosenberg, 67, continues giving shiurim and spends most of his time with Beit Gabi & Rivki HYD  a house of maasim tovim. The structure was recently completed after three years and according to Rav Rosenberg It is a house that shines love to northern area residents, invites soldiers, children and others. There is a memorial room for his children as well.

Moishe also speaks fluent English, for this is the language he uses to communicate with Sandra. He also appears to be very good in math and his grandparents feel he is above average intelligence.

For his birthday, Moishe has asked for Jewish comics which contain stories of rabbonim and a CD of Avraham Fried. Moishe also knows how to count from one to ten in Hindi and remembers a few songs as well from his childhood. Sandra explains Moishe is constantly correcting her Hebrew and they both laugh.

She adds He has three globes and dreams of traveling in Australia, South Africa and Brazil. His grandparents have different plans for him. They hope to escort him to his chupah at the age of 22 in line with the Chabad minhag and Rav Rosenberg hopes he will become a Chabad Shaliach, preferably in Israel.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Despite promises from City Hall, 64 Bnei Brak children are still without a school a situation that has existed since the new schoolyear began. On Monday, 20 Cheshvan, the children and their parents blocked the Bnei Brak City Hall parking lot on Yerushalayim Street demanding action on their behalf.

Parents explain the girls are moved from place to place and each day is a new challenge to make arrangements for the girls, who has yet to be placed in the system. We arent interested in the internal politics and fighting exclaimed parents, adding Our children are suffering and we have already gone to the mayor and his deputy and we are fed up.

Some carried signs that if they do not have schools, public officials will not having parking.

From the parking lot, they entered the City Hall complex and went upstairs to the city council chamber.

City Hall explains it has filed an urgent motion calling for a court ruling regarding a temporary injunction issued against City Hall for failing to act in the case of 3 HaNatziv Blvd. Officials add that numerous petitions to the court have delayed construction as has done the area planning committee. The city was investing NIS 300,000 to refurbish as was needed but efforts were blocked by numerous petitions to the court by neighbors. The Education Ministry is also involved along with other government agencies, contributing to the complicated situation for the girls and their families.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Chicago OHare International Airport workers will strike on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Service Employees International Union Local 1 officials announced the date of their strike Monday morning at the airport and on the unions Twitter account.

About 500 workers committed to a strike after a vote Thursday. The workers involved have been trying to organize with the unions help. They work mainly for private contractors at the airport.

The workers are seeking union rights and a $15 per hour wage. They include baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, janitors, and wheelchair attendants.

SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff says they dont expect to shut down the airport but will create a disruption. The strike comes during the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week.

(AP)
Yesh Atid opposition party Yair Lapid, who many feel will be a serious contender in the next race for Prime Minister, is calling for a probe into the submarine deal signed with Germany by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Channel 10 News broke the story recently, alleging Mr. Netanyahu pushed through a deal for additional advanced German-built submarines over the objections of former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and the IDF including IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott. It is alleged Mr. Netanyahu did so to assist a close confidant who would also benefit financially for the deal.

Lapid stated the sum of the deal is unprecedented, perhaps the largest military deal made by the IDF ever, and he feels that with the allegations hanging over Mr. Netanyahus head, a probe must be carried out to clear his name of bring the damaging evidence against forward.

That said, Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit has announced that the deal does not require an investigation and he has not found evidence of law-breaking or a tainted deal. The attorney general added that regarding the purchase of the three advanced submarines, he would continue the probe to determine if there was a conflict of interest in the deal.

Mandelblit has already met with the state prosecutor on the matter and a number of senior officials in both offices will continue the probe.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[By Rabbi Hershy Z. Ten  President, Bikur Cholim Of Los Angeles]

With the Jewish New Year just over a month behind us, and the long nights of winter closing in, Jewish communities throughout the world have begun their new cycle of the weekly Krias Hatorah. The parshios throughout sefer Bereishis describe the greatness of our Avos and the permanent impact they had on the world in which they lived, the children they bore, and the future of the Jewish people and humanity. The first of the Avos, Avraham Avinu, is presented to us as a majestic and benevolent individual who possessed an unsurpassed level of empathy. Avraham Avinu was deeply affected not only by the plight of his own family, but by that of strangers whose lives may be in jeopardy. Despite his unwavering compassion for all, his steadfast commitment to those in need was never confused with weakness. Avraham was able to convey his kindness for the frail, the forgotten, and the sick while still exhibiting great strength and resolve when demanded of him. G-d bestowed upon him the title Av Hamon Goyim (the father of many nations) and Avraham is identified throughout the literature of our Sages as the embodiment of chesed. It is the actions, character, and values found in our Patriarchs that we must look to for inspiration and the blueprint for a meaningful life.

I believe I speak for many of us in stating that this years election cycle has been an almost never-ending litany of drama, featuring passionately opposed politicians and supporters coupled with a barrage of media bias unlike no other in my memory. Adding fuel to the fire was the disheartening rhetoric and dishonesty prevalent throughout social media and our national news sources, regardless of the candidate or political affiliation. This year more than ever, we witnessed news outlets sharing half-truths, even flat-out lies, solely to promote their agenda; where sensationalism outplayed accuracy, and bias prevailed over accountability. This breakdown of common decency seemed aimed to strip away peoples dignity and illustrated a tragic collapse in our society with regard to how we treat those of opposing views, and more specifically, how we treat our fellow man.

To be human is to be flawed. Even the holiest of men and women who do their utmost to maintain the highest moral standard throughout their daily lives can suffer from making a poor decision regardless if it was of their own accord, or if they fell prey to anothers malice intent. However, does a single flaw define ones entire character while negating a lifetime of achievement or public service?

In America, our president must possess inordinate strength and wisdom balanced with a genuine compassion and desire to answer the call for help from those whom are underserved and less fortunate. Above all else, when a president reveals their steadfast commitment to humanity, it humanizes all of us and reflects the greatness of Americans as one people. Its human nature to believe things that jibe with our own beliefs; however in this day and age, the endless plethora of misinformation at our fingertips can warp ones opinion in the very worst way. We often take stories we read at face value, because the writers opinion validates our own. However we all know that not everything we see or hear is true, and its up to us to be diligent in vetting stories that carry such magnitude.

With this is mind, I am compelled to retell a very personal story featuring the extraordinary kindness Donald Trump showed to me and my family many years ago. I share this with the hope that it may inspire some readers to take a step back from the incessant negativity perpetuated by the media; to take a breath before reiterating another sensationalized headline thats solely designed to distract, and learn the firsthand account of two parents whose desperate call to a NY icon on behalf of their critically ill son was answered without hesitation.

My history with Donald Trump began in July 1988. At that time, my wife and I had been living in Los Angeles for 5 years after moving here from New York. Our beautiful 3 year-old son Avraham Moshe was suffering from a severe lung condition.

When Avraham Moshes doctors found themselves at a loss to remedy his pain and suffering, I looked to my former home of New York with the hope that a set of fresh eyes could offer a chance at recovery. However, in order to pursue this we needed to fly my son across the country, but no private or commercial airline would do so due to potential liabilities, and our health insurance wouldnt cover the cost. So there we were, with seemingly nowhere else to turn; but the thought of doing nothing was not an option. In the 1980s, Donald Trumps fame was well-known to me, and well-known to most of the world. So when I once again awoke early one morning to the familiar sight of my son struggling to breathe, I decided to take a bold step  I picked up the phone and called Donald Trumps office, spoke with him, and bluntly asked him to lend us his private plane for this mission of mercy. Without knowing me and without hesitation, he said yes.

A week later, Donald Trumps 727 landed in Los Angeles and flew me, my wife, and my son along with 3 ICU nurses to LaGuardia Airport. We landed at sunrise and were greeted by our family-members on the tarmac, as well as an army of reporters. You must bear in mind that at this time there was no social media or internet; nevertheless the news was out and the NY press was abuzz with the story of the famous entrepreneurs generosity with dozens of headlines such as, Trump to the rescue of tyke and On two wings and a prayer. Sadly, there was no new hope that could be provided to our son, and weeks later we returned home on the same plane. Though Avraham Moshe bravely battled for his life for years to come, he passed away just months shy of his bar mitzvah  yehi zichro baruch.

While my sons zl outcome was devastating, Mr. Trumps enormous act of chesed rendered me forever grateful and gave me a unique insight of his character. Since that first contact, we were indelibly connected and remain so to this day. For almost 3 decades Ive dropped by his office to say hello and not a year has passed without he and I exchanging wishes of a Lshana Tova and a Gut Yor. Those who know me both personally and in my role as president of Bikur Cholim (Los Angeles) know that Ive carried the impact of his kindness with me every day. However, for many years I had often wondered as to what personal impact this may have had on him.

In September of 2008 our country was in financial crisis, with major Wall Street firms failing, individuals and families losing their savings, their homes, and their future. That year, the upcoming Rosh Hashana was approached by many with trepidation and uncertainty. As was tradition, I made my annual call to Mr. Trump to wish him and his family all the blessings that we hope and pray for on the Jewish New Year.

Sometime thereafter, I received a package from the Trump Organization, in which there was a book titled Think Like a Champion authored by Donald Trump accompanied by a handwritten note. Within the book was a chapter titled An Early Thanksgiving where Mr. Trump recalled the moment our paths crossed and the lasting impression it had on him. He prefaced this with a poignant quote from Albert Schweitzer: At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

In this passage, Mr. Trump wrote, On the day before the Rosh Hashanah holiday each year for the past eighteen years, I receive a message from a Rabbi in Los Angeles. I am not Jewish, but have many observant Jews who work for me, so I am well aware of the holiday schedule and that Rosh Hashanah is their New Year, a time for celebration. I find his message of thanks to be especially resonant because he and his wife lost their son years ago, yet they call to remind themselves (and me) of the many blessings theyve had in life. The reason the Rabbi calls me every year is a wonderful example of the spirit of Thanksgiving.

The chapter went on to describe in detail my call for help and his response, going on to share, I had small children at the time and I immediately said yes to his request. How could I say no? I sent my jet out and brought the little boy and his parents to New York with the hope that doctors here might find a cure for the severe breathing illness from which he was suffering. His cure was not to be, but his parents have remained grateful to this day. I am always touched that they remember me. In these recent days of upheaval in our country, I found the Rabbis yearly message to be an insight into a good way to handle difficult and even tragic times  to find a blessing in the midst of adversity. This family and their faith is a wonderful example for all of us, and I would like to thank them for their yearly reminder. We should realize that we all have a lot to be thankful for, whether its New Years, Thanksgiving, or just another Wednesday in our lives.

As I read his words, written with such clarity of the events, what struck me deepest was how moved he was by the gratitude of another.

Gratitude has no expiration date; Hakaras Hatov is a fundamental Jewish principal and should never be abandoned for ones personal agenda. Today Donald Trump is our President-Elect. What I know for a fact about this man is that he has consistently shown heartfelt gratitude for the blessings in his life; whether it be for his family or his accomplishments. This awareness is a much-needed quality in the leader of the free world, as it reflects a central understanding that life is precious, and we must remain grateful and empathetic to the struggles of others. Great leadership must include in its foundation a depth of kindness and charity. Regardless of ones political leanings, it is my hope and prayer for our new President to lead us well, and that we as Americans can rise above the distractions that impede unity and find the best in ourselves and others to accomplish great things for all mankind.

Follow Rabbi Hershy Ten at:

facebook.com/hershy.ten

instagram.com/bikurcholim

twitter @hershyten

L. Quaytman contributed to this article.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Tesco has unveiled a radical new plan to add residential flats on top of some of its largest urban stores.

The retailer wants to sell the so-called air rights to developers in a plan which it believes could generate 400m.

The scheme is part of 1.5bn of fundraising targeted by Tesco, which also includes buying back some freeholds in a bid to reduce rent.

On the market: The retailer wants to sell the so-called air rights to developers in a plan which it believes could generate 400m

Tesco is not the first retailer to add residential properties to its sites. Last year, Sainsburys announced a joint venture with property firm Land Securities to develop 12 locations. The first two, in Londons Nine Elms and Fulham Riverside, were forecast to earn the supermarket giant 155m in profit.
Travel terror

Thomas Cook is expected to report a drop in full-year profit as European terror attacks and political instability in Turkey hit the balance sheet.

Analysts expect profit to drop from 310m to 296m in the year to September 30, from a slight rise in revenue to 7.95bn, when the group posts results on Wednesday.

In the balance: Analysts expect profit to drop from 310m to 296m in the year to September 30

Profit lift

B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher is expected to enjoy a post-Brexit boost from the fall in the pound when it reports third-quarter results this week.

James Grzinic, equity analyst at Jefferies, upgraded its group estimates by 1 per cent-4 per cent on expectations that events following the EU referendum would drive up earnings.

He warned that French sales could be soft, but expected solid sales growth of 9.7 per cent to 2.91bn in the three months to October 31 thanks to sales in the UK and Poland.

Driving away

The former finance boss of failed Uber rival Karhoo took home a 342,000 pay packet last year despite the firm careering towards a collapse.

Dynshaw Italia oversaw the bank balance of the London-based technology firm which collapsed last month, leading to the loss of more than 200 jobs. Karhoos flamboyant boss Daniel Ishag came under criticism over claims he spent company cash on haircuts, vets bills and designer shoes.

Downs success

A health firm which specialises in non-invasive prenatal screening has signed an agreement to launch its tests across Thailand.
The pharma industry is facing a challenge caused by shrinking healthcare budgets and a growing ageing population that means cost-benefit analysis increasingly provides the benchmarking for those who pay for our prescription drugs.

It means in the not too distant future that giant pharma companies will be paid on results, or whats known in the jargon as patient outcomes.

Actually, its not just simple health economics as practised here in the UK by NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) thats the motive force driving through change.

Its the realisation that a one-size-fits-all approach to healing the ill or treating the elderly just does not work.

Clever products: IXICO is an expert in brain scanning. It makes its money monitoring the effects of drugs on behalf of the companies developing them

Because the genetic make-up of every human is subtly different, so we all react in different ways to the medication we are plied with.

With certain people the pills will work; with others they just dont, or worse, the side-effects make them sicker.

But how do we tell just who will be susceptible to the latest cancer or MS drug and who will not?

The answer is both simple and quite complicated.

The simple answer is companion products, using the best of digital and medical technology, will be brought in to provide the answers.

The problem is that businesses such as Apple, which revolutionised the music industry, Google, Amazon or IBM, just dont have the expertise required to enact the revolution.

The obstacle is not one of processing power or having the coders to pack a huge amount of medical knowledge into a series of algorithms.

No, the stumbling block is how the latest innovations are deployed within a heavily regulated framework.

And it is this that has kept the big boys out of the frame thus far, according to Derek Hill, chief executive and founder of IXICO.

'Companies are trying to get into the space but they are bit nervous of the regulated environment, thats why there are opportunities for companies like us,' he said.

IXICO is an expert in brain scanning. It makes its money monitoring the effects of drugs on behalf of the companies developing them.

In the year ended September it generated around 3million in revenues from this source, which makes it a rarity among the minnows of the healthcare and technology sectors in that it is paid for its services.

In fact, it is being paid while it is developing products and it is working with the companies it reckons will be the early adopters of its technology  big pharmaceutical companies.

In September it made a breakthrough that reflects the way the landscape is changing within the industry, but also points in the direction the IXICO business is heading.

It landed a deal with the American giant Biogen to provide the brain scanning expertise that will allow physicians to monitor the effects of the companys flagship product, Tysabri for multiple sclerosis.

IXICO at a Glance AIM ticker: IXI Value: 6.3mln Share price: 23p Year-high: 42p Low: 22p

While it is a hugely effective treatment, there is a risk of a serious side effect.

Certain patients are susceptible to the John Cunningham virus, which, once the immune system is suppressed, can affect the brain and ultimately result in serious harm or death.

IXICOs technology is able to help spot the infection early, before it ever becomes a problem.

For Biogen this offers a huge boon  it is a way of keeping tabs on patients and it actually means more people can be safely put on the MS drug than are currently receiving it.

In providing such a drug monitoring kit, IXICO has crossed the commercial Rubicon (if one can actually do that).

It has taken a really useful piece of technology deployed in the clinical development of drugs and developed a companion product that will help doctors prescribe drugs more effectively.

Now, this is a hot area, one potentially worth tens of billions of pounds when it is fully developed and IXICOs strategy is quite simple  it wants a small slither of the pie.

It is using the DNA from its current digital product, TrialTracker, and transplanted it into to new innovations  Assessa and mehealth.

The former will be used by doctors to support clinical decision-making, while the latter is designed for the patients and their care-givers.

Remember, IXICO is already working with the likely first adopters of this technology  the major pharmaceuticals companies.

Its work to date means it has compiled and is augmenting the datasets required to excel in this field.

Why are the multi-national drug giants interested in companion products and willing to shell out for them?

Well, it speaks to our opening point: very soon these businesses may be paid on results.

Link-up: IXICO has landed a deal with US giant Biogen to provide the brain scanning expertise that will allow physicians to monitor the effects of the companys flagship product, Tysabri

The Biogen collaboration is currently in its infancy, but it provides proof positive that IXICOs strategy has legs.

Hills plan is not simply to support one company (Biogen), but to provide a solution across a host of drugs to a number of companies.

IXICO aim is to leverage its long-standing expertise in brain scanning and its more recent expansion into collecting data directly from patients, such as with wearable smart watches.

As well as MS, its devices could be deployed to monitor drugs for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Huntingdons and Parkinsons disease.

'Companies wont just be selling pills in the future, they will be selling pills together with companion products that support those drugs in a personalised way,' Hill says.

'This area of e-therapeutics is a big potential market. Investors might want exposure to this area, but where do they find it?

'There are a lot of private companies in VC [venture capital] hands, particularly in the US. There are not a lot of public companies that give you exposure to this growing digital healthcare market.
The pound briefly topped $1.25 today after the Prime Minister promised to avoid a 'cliff edge' change after Brexit and dropped hints about a future stimulus spending spree.

Sterling rose by more than 1 per cent against the US dollar as investors welcomed the soothing words from Theresa May, who pledged to offer clarity to firms where possible during the Government's negotiations with the EU. It also rose by 0.7 per cent against the euro to trade at 1.18.

During her speech at the Confederation of British Industry's annual conference, Mrs May said: 'People don't want a cliff-edge; they want to know with some certainty how things are going to go.'

Theresa May: Prime Minister dropped hints about a future stimulus spending spree in speech to business leaders today

Sterling has slumped 18 per cent against the US dollar and 11 per cent versus the euro since Britain voted in June to leave the European Union.

Mrs May acknowledged Brexit fears, but said businesses would benefit from global trade opportunities after leaving the bloc.

The pound was also buoyed by May's intention to keep UK corporation tax lower than that of international rivals.

It may mean going beyond the cut from the current 20 per cent rate to 17 per cent by 2020 already announced by former chancellor George Osborne, as US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he will slash the equivalent tax in America to just 15 per cent.

Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, said: 'While it might be a case of scrambling around for a narrative to explain a rather sudden movement, it appears that May's (attempted) reassurances that the Government is working to avoid a Brexit 'cliff edge' for businesses, comments that perhaps suggest a transitional deal, have caused sterling's resurgence.'

However, Neil Wilson, markets analyst at ETX Capital, said analysts were struggling to explain the 'sizeable move' in sterling.

'No one is terribly sure what caused it, although it may be down to stops being hit in thin trade. A bit of pro-business rhetoric from Theresa May helped overall sentiment but doesn't really explain the timing of that jump.

'The shine has since come off the pound a little after a spokesman for Theresa May said the Prime Minister won't seek to extend the Article 50 process.'

Mr Wilson said there was still room for more volatility from the pound as the markets second guessed what Chancellor Philip Hammond would deliver in Wednesday's Autumn Statement.
Troubled: The once-popular young Italian premier Matteo Renzi is facing defeat as voters plan revenge on political leaders

The Prime Minister has called a referendum he may live to regret. Losing the poll will almost certainly cost him his job, and with anger mounting against a once popular young leader, that's a real possibility.

Sound familiar? This isn't David Cameron, though.

It's the Italian premier, Matteo Renzi, who is on the brink of a high-risk referendum in early December.

The parallels are all too obvious, not least to Renzi himself who at this stage can only pray for a different ending.

The referendum is about reforms to the constitution that are intended to make it easier for the government to boost the sluggish economy.

It sounds dry, but it's explosive, because in the eyes of many ordinary voters it is an opportunity to take revenge on the political establishment  and that could be very bad news indeed for the troubled eurozone.

Why should we care? Well, following Brexit and Donald Trump's victory in the US, a lot of smart money is on the next major upheaval happening in Rome.

If Renzi loses on December 4 it will herald even greater political and economic uncertainty across the single currency bloc.

Italy's enfeebled banking sector will be weakened further and that could undermine the stability of Europe's financial system. It's a concern for UK investors because Britain is likely to be caught in the backlash.

Italy's problems will weaken the eurozone, which is a major trading partner. Pro-Brexit investment experts see Italy's plight as evidence we are better off out of the EU.

Yesterday, the Mail told how Steve Eisman, the investor who predicted the financial crash, and who was portrayed in the book and movie The Big Short, now believes Italy will be the next banking sector to crash.

'The situation in Italy shows why many of us voted to leave the European project  because it looks like an unholy mess,' says Mark Dampier of Hargreaves Lansdown.

Other experts argue Brexit will not protect us because the process of extricating ourselves from the EU is at such an early stage.

'Brexit will take time to implement. In the worst case scenario there could be a recession in the eurozone. That would definitely affect the UK,' says Florian Baier, an economist at Fathom Consulting.

One thing everyone agrees on is that the Italian economy and its banking system are in a horrible state.

The third biggest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, is in the throes of a rescue plan after being rated the weakest bank in Europe in stress tests over the summer.

Some analysts believe that plan could be jeopardised if the referendum goes against Renzi. Either way, it remains a bleak picture.

Ivo Pezzuto, a professor at the Catholic University of Milan, says the banks have been undermined by the severe and long-lasting slowdown since 2008.

Italy's economy has shrunk by around 9 per cent in that period and the country has lost more than a fifth of its manufacturing capacity. Unemployment is running at 11.4 per cent  more than double the rate in the UK.

The banks are weighed down by more than 300billion of toxic debt  or almost a fifth of total lending that might never be paid back.

Threat: If Renzi, pictured speaking at a meeting in Matera. Italy, last week, loses on December 4 it will herald even greater political and economic uncertainty across the single currency bloc

They are also afflicted by low profitability and outmoded business models. Not surprisingly, share prices have plunged.

A bombed out banking sector is obviously bad news anywhere. In Italy there are some particular problems. Tens of thousands of ordinary Italians have already lost large amounts of their savings in the recent collapses of a string of small banks.

Straightforward deposit accounts are protected under the same European scheme that operates in the UK. A quirk of the Italian market, however, is that many people ploughed their money into bank bonds and shares, which are not covered, often without realising the risks.

Giovanna Mazzoni, 68, a retired civil servant from Ferrara in Northern Italy, lost 53,000 when her local bank went to the wall.

Her adult children have moved away for work, so she had earmarked the money for a carer when she is older. Now, she says, she will have to fend for herself.

Another problem is that most of the small and medium-sized, family-run firms that form the backbone of the Italian economy are heavily dependent on bank loans for finance.

'It was not only a banking crisis but an industrial crisis,' says Gianpiero Lotito, the co-founder of Facility Live, a high-tech start-up based in Pavia near Milan.

When he and his fellow founder Mariuccia Teroni set up the business in 2010, they bypassed the banks.

'We raised almost 30million from Italian private investors,' he says, though he acknowledges that traditional firms outside of the fashionable high-tech sector might find that harder to achieve.

Other business owners I spoke to had sold stakes in their family company to outside investors in order to reduce their reliance on banks.

And while entrepreneurs hunt for capital and pensioners fear for their savings, younger Italians worry about their future.

Antonio Alia, a 34-year-old social worker, told me his financial situation is too precarious even to consider marriage and children. With youth unemployment running at nearly 40 per cent, there are fears of a brain-drain.

It is not just the young who want to leave. Despite having just entered his sixth decade, Corrado Simonato is prepared to make a fresh start in a new country and has just applied for a job in France.

Simonato, 50, from Vicenza province, and his elderly parents lost 35,000 they held at the Banca Popolare di Vicenza.

'Many thousands of others are in the same situation. My future is in another place,' he says.

The referendum is a litmus test for the EU, according to veteran City commentator David Buik.

Markets are expecting Renzi to lose, in line with the polls.

Most experts do not believe that in the short term this will lead to 'Quitaly', an Italian exit from the EU. It will, however, strengthen the hand of the anti-establishment Five Star movement, which wants another poll on membership of the single currency.

'Europe is at a crossroads,' Buik says. 'If investors in the UK are not worried about Italy, then they should be.'
Banking customers will soon be able to withdraw cash at ATMs by tapping their contactless card or mobile phone, as Barclays trials the first contactless cash withdrawals in the UK.

From next month, customers will be able to withdraw up to 100 at cash machines inside the bank's branches, either by tapping their Android smartphones or by using their contactless debit cards. The service, however, will not be available to customers with an iPhone.

It will initially be trialled in the North of England and later will be rolled out to around 600 cash machines at over 180 Barclays branches across the country, the bank said.

Contactless withdrawals: Barclays will roll-out the new cash machines next month in the North

Barclays claims that contactless cash machines are more secure than traditional ones because they remove the risk of card skimming - when fraudsters copy debit cards' information by using a magnetic stripe.

It also said that the new feature diminishes the risk of distraction fraud, where customers are watched as they put in their PIN and then distracted as their cards are swapped out for a fake.

Barclays added that, whilst their ultimate ambition was to introduce these new cash machines on the High Street, for the moment they will only have them inside their branches.

Initially, customers will have to either tap their phone or debit card on the ATM's reader and then enter their pin as usual.

However, from January those using their phone will be able to pre-enter their card pin on their mobile phone and the amount they would like to withdraw, using the Barclays mobile banking app.

They will then have 30 seconds to tap their smartphone on the cash machine, and the amount requested will be dispensed.

In both cases, customers will first need to add their debit card to their mobile banking app by clicking on contactless cash.

Barclays move follows in the steps of Bank of America, which launched contactless withdrawals using Android phones earlier this year.

In-branch: Barclays said that for the moment the new cash machines for contactless withdrawals will only be installed inside their branches, not on the High Street

Barclays UK chief executive Ashok Vaswani said: We are always looking for new ways to make our customers' lives easier and their finances even more secure.

Our customers now expect to be able to use their smartphone to make their everyday purchases. We want taking out cash to be just as easy.

The use of contactless cards in the UK has been growing since its introduction over two years ago.


EZULWINI  About 30 Swazi Muslim students who can recite 1 000 verses of the Quran by heart graduated yesterday.



This, happened at Ezulwini Islamic Centre during the historic first ever graduation and Jasla ceremony held in the country.

Over 600 Muslims based in the country attended the event.

The ceremony saw one graduate, who had been part of the class that studied the Quran, able to recite all 6 600 verses without reading from the sacred book.



Musabashraf Muhammed is a Pakistan citizen who arrived in Africa in 2013 when he was just 13 years of age.

He started attending classes of the Quran when he was the same age in South Africa and yesterday he graduated for his ability to recite all the verses of the Quran without having to open the holy book.



The historic event saw guests from different corners of the continent grace the ceremony as they honoured the invitation of the Mosques Imam, Feroz Ismail.



Guest of honour, Ismail Kathrada, said they had come to witness an amazing event where the word of God, in its original form, the Arabic text, was being preserved for all mankind.



The Quran, together with Islam is 1 438 years old and up to now, it is an anonymous fact that the Quran has never been changed or altered, said Kathrada.

He said if one could put five Bibles on the table and start reading from each, the person would be surprised on how much it has been altered by those who had translated it to different volumes.
MBABANE  Mfanzile Hlophes family has more questions than answers following his burning last Friday at his home in Mangwaneni.



Hlophe is the man who caught fire after rangers from the Municipal Council of Mbabane and security guards from 4Him Security Company came to demolish part of his house.



Hlengiwe Kunene, who is Hlophes wife, narrated what she knew about the events leading to last Friday. Kunene said her husband went to the Municipal Council of Mbabane to ask for permission to extend their house as the one they lived in was in danger of collapsing on top of them.

She said they were advised to write an affidavit stating that they would not dispute having their home demolished by the municipal council for the sake of development.



Kunene said her husband wrote the affidavit in May this year and then began to extend the house because the house they lived in was no longer safe for them and their children.



The house we live in is made of sand bricks and has cracks which enable rains to flow into it. It is a source of danger, said Kunene.

The Public and Information Officer of the Municipal Council of Mbabane, Lucky Tsabedze, denied that the municipal council advised Hlophe to write the affidavit. Tsabedze said Hlophe made the affidavit after it transpired that there was a land dispute regarding the property he was occupying.



It had nothing to do with his application for a building permit or that we allow him to build a new structure, said Tsabedze.
MBABANE  Miss Tourism Second Princess Noncedo Mdluli broke her silence and said education was at the centre of her life and nothing else.



She was found at the University of Swaziland (Mbabane Campus) busy with her studies as she is currently writing tests. It was noted that none of the security men she was captured with a week ago were lurking in the background.



Noncedo told this reporter that she was doing well and focusing on her education, which is her life, requesting that she be left alone.

According to Noncedo, people will always talk and have assumptions which she cannot change.

The beauty queen refused to talk about the events surrounding what took place during a live album launch of Ukuthokoza KwaMadodana, where she was captured under heavy security surveillance.



In fact, there was drama as Noncedo grabbed the camera and began deleting pictures when an attempt to take her picture was made during the interview.

She angrily wanted to know what was important about her picture as she had been harassed enough already. Other students who were found on campus informed this reporter that the beauty queen had never missed classes.



In fact, she had been attending classes as normal prior to her controversial appearance in the paper a week ago. They said they were also taken aback as they had never seen her accompanied by the men she was with during the launch.

Following the article where this publication revealed that the second princess had attended a public event under heavy security watch, Imbali Foundation suspended her from continuing to hold her title as second princess until further notice.
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By Ann Juliano Jawin

Stronger together!

This is not just a slogan! It is true. On Election Night, I had just finished a short live broadcast interview on QPTV. I had been invited to share my thoughts on this important election when we were poised to elect the first woman president!

Following the tradition of the women in the suffrage movement and in anticipation of this celebration of the election of the first woman president, I wore white. I gave a brief history of the efforts of the fight for the presidency from the first woman candidate, Victoria Woodhall, in 1872 when women did not even have the right to vote.

Susan B. Anthony and her sisters in the movement worked incessantly to bring equity to women. It took 100 years of struggle and great personal sacrifice, jailings and forced feeding of women who challenged the national police force to get the right to vote, which finally came in 1920!

After getting the right to vote, women assumed that the fight was won. They directed their energies to getting a good education. They formed many organizations to help their communities in the area of education, health and culture.

The two World Wars with their conscription of men to fight in the Armed forces created large vacancies in the factories and positions in government. The shortage opened opportunities for women to shatter traditional roles of what was womens work. Women were encouraged, as a patriotic duty, to take their places in the workplace. After the war, they were fired and encouraged to go home and have children. But in government, their positions were protected and many stayed on in positions of leadership.

It wasnt until the late 60s and early 70s that the second wave of womens liberation produced profound changes. The civil rights movement of the black population woke women up to their own secondhand status and lack of equality. On the backs of the civil rights momentum, the women gave loud voices and actions to their calls for equality. They marched to Washington and in their own cities demanding equality in many areas of government, education, financial rights.

Their actions produced passage of laws prohibiting outright sex discrimination. In 1972, one of the most powerful lawsthe Equal Rights Education Act in 1972was passed, forbidding sex discrimination in any institution receiving federal funds. Most important and still controversial among many segments of our society, the Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs. Wade guaranteed women reproductive rights and freedom over their own bodies from government control.

In 1972, benefiting from the womens movement for equality, a woman from Brooklyn, Shirley Chisholm, whom I had the privilege of knowing, ran for president of the United States. Although she had no chance of victory, Shirley Chisolm was a strong, dynamic black woman who made a very large crack in the glass ceiling and inspired many women, including myself, to run for elected office.

There were other women who followed her.

Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, the outspoken woman leader from Queens, challenged the status quo. Her studies on the feminization of poverty documented the large gap in earnings, 59 cents to $1, that men earned due to the stereotyping of womens jobs and mens jobs, which blocked womens progress into high paying jobs and leadership positions in professional jobs.

In 1984, her role as the vice presidential candidate with Walter Mondale as president, although unsuccessful, marked a huge jump in womens confidence and efforts to make inroads in government and private industry. That campaign, however, resulted in a strong backlash from men and many in our society that the nation was not ready for a woman for vice president. There was strong criticism of every phase of her lifeher husbands life and finances, how she dressed, her role as a motherwhich was shocking. Questions and comments that had never been put to male candidates and their spouses were thrown at her. The presidential campaign failed, but Ferraro continued her role in public life as a strong personality and a defender and champion of womens rights.

In 1995 in the United Nations Decade for Women conference in Beijing, Hillary Clinton, as first lady in the Clinton administration, was a galvanizing force for women all over the world. For the first time, issues of domestic violence, genital mutilation of girls and issues of equality in education and civil rights were being highlighted on a world stage. She declared that womens rights were human rights and human rights were womens rights. Thousands of women from all over the world attending the conference waited overnight in the pouring rain to hear her words and were inspired by them.

While the numbers of women as governors, congresswomen and senators did increase and some achieved high officer as secretary of state, it wasnt until 2008 that a woman tried again to win the Oval Office.

Encouraged by the strong wave of support she received from women, with the end of the Bush years she felt emboldened to seek the presidency herself only to be defeated by a young black man, named Barack Obama. The glass ceiling received a lot of cracks but still held strong

The entry of Sarah Palin for vice president was still another strong crack in the ceiling. Many women will be surprised to hear her being given credit for achieving progress for women. However, she was a strong figure as a mother with a large family and even a disabled child, still going for the prize of being part of the presidential team. Her popularity in Alaska resulted in a very traditional blue collar worker, an enthusiastic Palin supporter, complaining that she was being asked questions about the care of her children but no one is asking Joe Biden how he is taking care of his children while he is campaigning! This surely was an advance in accepting women as political equals.

So now we have the heartbreak of another defeat. This time so tantalizingly close with Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote but technically not the Electoral College.

For feminists, minorities and people of color, immigrants and others Clintons loss is particularly bitter because Donald Trump, the victor, has made statements that affect them and theirs directly.

Why did women and the others vote for Trump? I believe that many in our country are racist and misogynistic. There has been a war on women. A steady stream of governors and legislators have passed bills to weaken Roe vs. Wade and made getting an abortion extremely difficult, especially for poor women.

But this is still the country that four and eight years ago voted for a black man. What happened? I believe the severe shock of the 2008 recession has not abated for many people in our country. If you have the opportunity to visit former factory towns, you will see all the dark and empty buildings. Many people lost their homes and good jobs and have never been able to get back to their once secure economic status

Job bills to improve infrastructure and create new opportunities have been stuck in a Congress that cannot move forward because of partisan attitudes.

Now the streets are filling with protests from people who are outraged with the outcome of the election and filled with fear for themselves and their country.

We hope that cool heads will prevail and that our elected leaders will work to heal wounds and give them hope.

In the meantime, Hillary Clinton told us in her concession speech, we have to keep fighting for our ideals and we cant give up in discouragement.

The War on Women is real. We have to work together to preserve the rights we have won and move forward. It is time for another March on Washington Jan, 21 and a number of people are already planning to demonstrate our commitment and resolve to get the Equal Rights Amendment finally passed. We must let our legislators understand that we are ready to defend our hard-won victories and move ahead with the unfinished business of gaining equality for women in the United States.

In another step, the Center for the Women of New York opened our landmark, historic building at Ft. Totten to bidding by contractors this week to finally do the restoration.

This building will be dedicated to preserving the history of the womens movement and accomplishments in all areas of society. It will also have a section devoted to helping women achieve economic equity and stability by helping them with career exploration and a conference center.

Join us. We need more help, more funds so that we will have a real source of pride for the community.

When we march for equality and equal opportunity on Jan. 21, we are especially hopeful to have the millennials take part and get the 3rd Wave to complete the peaceful revolution that we women of the 2nd Wave got started.

Ann Juliano Jawin,

Founder and Chair

Center for the Women of New York

Borough Hall
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By Mark Hallum

The auction date for President-elect Donald Trumps boyhood home in Jamaica Estates will be released within the next couple of weeks after the public bidding on the Tudor-style home located at 85-15 Wareham Place was postponed last month, according to the real estate firm handling the property.

The sellers originally scheduled the auction for Oct.19, but held back in order to give interested buyers more time to evaluate the home. It was not known whether they were hoping for a bump if Trump won the election.

The Trump family has not owned the house for years, but a copy of Trumps birth certificate citing the address of the house on Wareham is included in the due diligence paperwork, which can be downloaded on Paramount USAs webpage for the listing.

Paramount Realty USA previously listed the property at $1.65 million, but starting bid was just $849,000 when it was about to be auctioned in October. It features five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a half bath.

Bidders interested in participating are asked by Paramount to bring a bank check for $90,000 and the necessary due diligence paper work. The date for the auction is to be announced.

According to a DNAinfo map depicting how neighborhoods voted in New York City, Trumps old neighborhood went blue, with small patches of red showing up less than a mile north of Jamaica Estates in Fresh Meadows, part of Assemblyman David Weprins (D-Fresh Meadows) district.
Times' Game of the Week Preview: No. 7 Beaver Area vs. No. 10 Deer Lakes

Beaver enters the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs riding high after closing the regular season strong. Up next: Deer Lakes for had coach Cort Rowse's Bobcats.
HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - November 21, 2016) - KBR, Inc. (KBR) announced that its Saudi Arabian joint venture engineering operation, KBR-AMCDE, has signed an amendment to extend its existing General Engineering Services Plus (GES+) Contract with Saudi Aramco.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide front-end engineering design (FEED), detailed design, material procurement, and project management services (PMS) to support Saudi Aramco's capital programs in Saudi Arabia. This amendment will extend the contract from an initial five years for a further five years with options for additional extensions.

The contract will be executed by KBR-AMCDE using resources located within its Saudi Arabia offices and focus on the development and utilization of local talent throughout the execution phases.

"We are proud to extend our contract with Saudi Aramco and look forward to the successful execution of future projects," said Jay Ibrahim, President - Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "Saudi Aramco has always been and continues to be a very important client to our business, both in Saudi Arabia and globally, and we are delighted to continue providing our engineering and project management services for a wide range of Saudi Aramco projects and to continue to grow and maintain a substantial presence in the Middle East Region," Ibrahim continued.

Revenue associated with this project was undisclosed and will be booked into backlog of unfilled orders for KBR's Engineering & Construction Business Segment as purchase orders are issued under the contract.

About KBR, Inc.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Hydrocarbons and Government Services Sectors. KBR employs over 31,000 people worldwide, with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses:

Government Services, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full life-cycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics

Technology & Consulting, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining; gasification; oil and gas consulting; integrity management; naval architecture and proprietary hulls; and downstream consulting

Engineering & Construction, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU) and program management

Story continues

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
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Bob Nevins of Greenwich, a co-founder of Saratoga WarHorse, a program that helps wounded veterans recover and cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, received the Veteran of the Year Award from the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.

New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Patrick Center gave the keynote address.

Nevins, who as a chief warrant officer flew medical evacuation helicopter missions in combat with the 101st Airborne Division in the Vietnam War in 1970-1971, received the award from Congressmen Paul Tonko, Chris Gibson and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik during a ceremony at the museum in Saratoga Springs.

Nevins was wounded during one of the medevac missions transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield to the nearest medical aid stations.

The pilot earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses for Heroism, a Purple Heart, a Soldiers Medal for non-combat heroism and 10 Air Medals.

After Nevins left active duty, he served with the New York Army National Guard. As a civilian he was a commercial airline pilot for 24 years before he retired in 2011.

Afterward, he and Marilyn Lane founded the WarHorse as a therapy program for at-risk veterans. Research shows that the bond that evolves between veterans and the horses enhances trust, confidence, and self esteem as well as reduces stress. Also, the Saratoga Warhorse three-day experience has proven to be effective and invaluable to those struggling to adjust to life after military service. The program is provided at no cost to the veterans and is approaching 500 veteran graduates.

They use retired racehorses to help the wounded veterans. The program operates at Willow Run Stables in Wilton.

Wreaths Across America

Volunteers are hoping to receive enough Christmas wreaths with red ribbons to be placed on each of approximately 14,500 veterans graves at the Gerald B. Solomon National Cemetery at 200 Duell Road in Schuylerville. So far donors have provided more than 2,200 wreaths.

To achieve their goal, they are asking people and businesses to sponsor wreaths.

For every wreath sponsored for $15, the national Wreaths Across America donates $5 of it to a fundraising cause. Deadline for order is Nov. 28. The Patriot Guard Riders of Eastern New York have been granted Group Sponsorship status by national WAA organization. When someone sponsors two wreaths by adding the Patriot Guard Riders code to their order, the cemetery will received three wreaths. To get started and to sponsor a wreath or more, log onto to http://www.wreathsacross america.org. On the home screen, scroll down and click on "Donate." On the right-hand side of page, click on "Sponsor a wreath with a local fundraising group."

A map will appear with a Search By box. In the box, type " NY0057"  once entered, a drop down window will appear and show "NY0057 - Patriot Guard Riders of Eastern New York for Gerald B. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery." Move the cursor over the drop down window and click on it.

The next screen will confirm again the selection of "NY0057  Patriot Guard Riders of Eastern New York for - Gerald B. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery (NYGSNS)." Click on the RED button VIEW. The screen will refresh, showing Patriot Guard Riders of Eastern NY (NY0057) then click on the Donate.

Donate screen appears with "Sponsor Once" highlighted. In the box move the slider to select your wreath selection, then hit Next.

Another Donate screen appears confirming your selection. Skip name  Email and Specific Grave request (no specific grave requests will or can be honored), then select payment method "By Credit Card  By Electronic Check."

Appropriate payment window appears for you to complete. Agree and pay, then click Finish.

Patriot Guard member, Civil Air Patrol members, and others will lay the wreaths on Dec. 17 at the Schuylerville cemetery. For information, contact CAP Lt. Col. Anita Martin at amartin3192@juno.com or 225-0442 or Maj. John Peneto at caporion416@aol.com.
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Albany

Robert Geer, the No. 2 executive at Albany's SUNY Polytechnic Institute, is stepping down at the end of the month to return to teaching. It appears to be the highest-profile departure since the school's former president, Alain Kaloyeros, resigned following his arrest on state and federal corruption charges.

Geer, a physics professor at the University at Albany who rose to become Kaloyeros' top academic official, has led SUNY Poly's Utica campus since 2013 when he was tapped by Kaloyeros as interim president before the school's merger with UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. That merger created SUNY Poly.

Geer, senior vice president and chief operating officer at SUNY Poly, held the No. 2 spot in the SUNY Poly hierarchy under Kaloyeros, according to organizational charts. As a professor, Geer's salary was $165,000, but as an administrator, his salary surpassed $200,000, rising to $279,000 this year, according to SUNY payroll data compiled by the Empire Center.

Some observers thought Geer might be a candidate to lead SUNY Poly in the wake of the Kaloyeros scandal, but ultimately the State University of New York's board of trustees went with a relative outsider when it appointed Bahgat Sammakia, the vice president for research at Binghamton University, as interim president.

It was not immediately clear whether Geer chose to resign or was forced out. SUNY spokeswoman Holly Liapis would not address specific questions about Geer's decision.

There has never been any indication Geer had any connection to  or knowledge of  the allegations against Kaloyeros, who has been accused of awarding construction bids for hundreds of millions of dollars of SUNY Poly projects to favored developers.

Geer will step down Dec. 1, at which time he will resume his SUNY Poly faculty post, according to a memo sent to the SUNY Poly community on Thursday  the same day that Sammakia visited SUNY Poly's Utica campus.

"I am writing to announce that Dr. Geer has made the decision to return to the faculty effective Dec. 1," wrote SUNY Vice Chancellor Alexander Cartwright, who has been overseeing SUNY Poly since the Kaloyeros arrest. "I want to express my thanks to his long-standing commitment to SUNY Poly and the positive impact he has made in his numerous leadership roles."

For now, there does not appear to be any move to replace Geer. Sammakia officially begins as interim president on Dec. 1, and William Durgin, SUNY Poly's provost and chief academic officer at the Utica campus, remains in his post.

Durgin has been at the Utica campus since 2012, back when it was still SUNY IT and led by Bjong Wolf Yeigh, who left in 2013 to become chancellor of the University of Washington Bothell.

Geer is an expert in nanoscale measurement and computer chip manufacturing who has a long research publication history. He got his bachelor's degree in physics from Miami University in 1986 and his Ph.D. in experimental condensed matter physics from the University of Minnesota in 1991.

News of Geer's departure from SUNY Poly's executive ranks comes after two other SUNY executives, Carl "C.J." Kempf III, a top lawyer at SUNY Poly, and Christine Waller, a grant administrator, left their jobs at the school earlier this month.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
Gamification Can Help Improve Business Communication

While younger Americans perceived shortcomings are often touted by older generations  they cant focus on a single task, they have short attention spans  the truth is that in business, older methods of learning and work processes were boring for non-millennials, too. Employee engagement has always been a problem in business, and newer ideas for combating it will apply equally to older and younger workers.

Gamification is one of those business techniques that can raise employee engagement across the board. Think about it: we played with games as children because theyre fun. Many adults continue to play video games or social media games such as Words with Friends because theyre fun. Adding a little fun to daily business processes, therefore, is a compelling technique for improving the daily grind of jobs. The trick is to use the gaming fun to direct workers to desired outcomes, according to a recent article for Huffington Post Business by George Beall.

Gamification is a way to encourage desired behaviors, help employees develop necessary skills, and enable innovation through problem-solving, he wrote. Businesses use it to improve performance, educate and inspire employees to advance in their careers, and to engage customers.

The Internet has changed employee behaviors, for better or for worse. By using its good aspects  collaboration, visual interaction, point-and-click and video  companies can energize their businesses, from the basic business VoIP (voice over IP) to customer relationship management, training software and workforce management.

Even communications can be gamified today. Nextiva, a business VoIP communications company, provides users with its Nextiva Analytics feature, which uses comprehensive reporting and analytics to create leader boards that allow employees to measure their performance against that of their co-workers. Workers can compete and rank themselves according to a number of points, including number and length of inbound, outbound or total calls, and by individual or team performance. This helps drive employees to find better ways to communicate in order to rank themselves more highly.

Gamification is focused on engagement, Nextiva CEO Tomas Gorn told Huffington Post. Human beings are naturally competitive, and friendly competition spurs them to improve. This leads to increased productivity for the entire team. Success can be measured and defined by innovation. In order to win, employees are challenged to find more streamlined processes to meet customer needs.

Gamification in communications is particularly critical when companies are measured (in terms of customer engagement and customer loyalty) by how well and how frequently they communicate with customers and partners. Making communications fun and compelling, therefore, can have a direct impact on the quality of customer support being offered. Its also a great way to informally measure employee performance, and understand where theyre falling short, so targeted training can be implemented.

Gamification based on analytics can help you pinpoint issues and streamline processes, wrote Beale. This data gives you a clear understanding of whats happening so you can help your employees move forward.

More importantly, gamification can help employees  many of whom stagnate with apathy under the best of circumstances  to want to improve their performance.
Nextiva Brings Industry Experts to Phoenix to Add Value for Clients

By Susan J. Campbell , Business VoIP Contributing Editor

Its not always easy for Silicon Valley to travel, but when they need to, Nextiva is there to help them get it done. The business VoIP solutions provider recently hosted NextCon in Phoenix between November 14th and 16th, bringing together some of the most innovative speakers and thinkers in the technology communications space.

According to a blog about the business VoIP provider in the Huffington Post, the thinkers and speakers included Gopi Kallayil, Googles Chief Evangelist of Brand Marketing, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, Pat Wadors, LinkedIns Chief HR officer, Mike Michalowicz, the author of Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, Kirsten Davidson, Glassdoors illustrious Head of Employer Brand and Guy Kawasaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

So why a conference in an industry that already offers a number of different events to attend? According to Nextivas CEO, Thomas Gorny, the company is about more than just selling products. The business VoIP solutions provider wants to help businesses get together. To do so, they created an event where Nextiva could provide content that truly helps businesses. To that end, the event offered workshops like SEO strategies, small business marketing strategies, landing page optimization and so much more.

The goal of the conference wasnt to connect with individuals and sell them products. The idea was to create an environment of learning. And with the strong entrepreneurial spirit in Phoenix, why not bring the resources to those who could benefit the most? Nextiva believes that as part of that community, its their responsibility to help build a strong business community where all participants have and can share value.

In one workshop on social media, the Huffington Post writer had the opportunity to learn how to boost the bottom line with social media. The workshop was run by an Arizona startup known as the Bloguettes. A focus on Pinterest taught participants that 82 percent of Pinterest users are female, 70 percent of them under the age of 45 and that Pinterest drives high traffic volumes to websites. Therefore, businesses that want to target females under the age of 45, Pinterest is an ideal location.

The point is that Nextiva is all about bring more value to their customer base beyond the business VoIP solutions they offer. By giving business leaders access to information and learning opportunities, they extend the value of the relationship and make them the more viable provider in competitive situations. Its a win, win.

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
[November 21, 2016] EnergySage Launches First-Ever Community Solar Marketplace

BOSTON, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EnergySage announced today that it has launched the country's first Community Solar Marketplace, which drastically simplifies how property owners and renters research and sign up for community solar by both aggregating the many available options in one place and standardizing project information. Now, interested consumers can locate and compare multiple community solar projects in their area with ease. With states like California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Minnesota in the lead, dozens of other states are now in the process of enacting community solar legislation. This momentum has led to projections that community solar will be the fastest growing solar segment over the next several years, resulting in 1.8 gigawatts by 2020 according to GTM Research, compared to just 66 megawatts through the end of 2014. "Until now, this fragmented industry was very difficult for consumers to navigate and for community solar providers to acquire customers in," said Vikram Aggarwal, CEO and founder of EnergySage. "As the leading online marketplace for solar, we saw a clear need to streamline the search process between buyers and sellers, just as we've done for rooftop solar. We're proud to be taking the lead in helping peoplewho cannot or prefer not to install solar panels on their property find community solar projects near them."



With leading community solar companies such as Arcadia Power, BlueWave, SunShare, and Syncarpha already signed on, EnergySage's Community Solar Marketplace provides interested consumers with the ability to search for projects across 43 states plus the District of Columbia. People in states not currently covered by the Marketplace or outside of a project's eligibility can still sign up to be notified of future community solar projects in their area. EnergySage is in discussions with nearly all community solar providers in the U.S. regarding their participation on the Marketplace. Clean Choice Energy is the latest solar provider to join and is in the process of listing its projects. "EnergySage is helping to bring our inclusive Community Solar program to both renters and homeowners in all 50 states," said Kiran Bhatraju, co-founder and CEO of Arcadia Power. "They have a proven track record of successfully helping consumers make informed solar decisions and a unique ability to convert solar shoppers into solar buyers. The EnergySage Community Solar Marketplace is a perfect channel to help facilitate the increasing demand for community solar across the country."

Consumers interested in learning about the benefits of a Community Solar Marketplace can learn more on the EnergySage website. Qualified developers interested in listing their projects on the Community Solar Marketplace, or organizations interested in leveraging it as a free informational resource, should contact Tess O'Brien at tess at energysage dot com for further information. About EnergySage, Inc.

EnergySage is the country's leading online marketplace for solar, and the trusted source of information for over 1 million homeowners and commercial property owners across 30+ states. The company sends an estimated $700 million worth of solar installation requests annually to more than 350 pre-screened, high quality solar installation companies. The EnergySage Marketplace is unique in that it allows consumers to request and compare competing installation quotes online, unlike traditional lead-generation websites. For this reason, leading organizations like National Grid, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, and Staples leverage the platform to empower their audiences as they consider adopting solar. The EnergySage formula of unbiased information, transparency and choice helps property owners go solar with confidence  at a higher rate of adoption, and lower cost. For more information, please visit EnergySage and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160909/406072LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/energysage-launches-first-ever-community-solar-marketplace-300366077.html SOURCE EnergySage, Inc.

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[November 21, 2016] Global Commercial Smoke Detector Market to Grow Through 2020, Owing to Increased Investments in the Construction Industry, Says Technavio

According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global commercial smoke detector market is expected to post an impressive revenue of almost USD 2 billion by 2020. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005573/en/ Technavio publishes a new market research report on the global commercial smoke detector market from 2016-2020. (Photo: Business Wire) This research report titled 'Global Commercial Smoke Detector Market 2016-2020' provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. This market research report also includes an up to date analysis and forecasts for various market segments and all geographical regions. "The Americas dominated the global commercial smoke detector market in 2015, however, APAC is expected to report the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. Growing awareness of the availability and importance of smoke detectors and an increase in investments in quality commercial infrastructure facilities in APAC are key factors that will aid the growth of the market in this region," says Anju Ajaykumar, a lead analyst at Technavio for tools and components research. Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=54474 Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. The report categorizes the global commercial smoke detector market into four major segments based on types of sensors, of which the top three are discussed below. Photoelectric smoke detectors

Dual sensor smoke detectors

Ionization smoke detectors

Other smoke detectors



Photoelectric smoke detectors The photoelectric smoke detector segment is expected to grow exponentially during the forecast period. The fast response of this smoke detector to smoldering fires is a major reason for its growing demand. The support from both local as well as international organizations such as International Association of Fire Fighters, along with ordinances passed by local authorities like in the state of Ohio, US, will further propagate the use of these smoke detectors.

The low number of nuisance alarms by the photoelectric smoke detectors is another reason for their growing popularity. "The growth of the global commercial construction industry fueled by the rise in GDP across many countries will further support the growth of this segment in conjunction with the factors mentioned above," says Anju. Dual sensor smoke detectors The demand for dual sensor smoke detectors is expected to grow at a rapid rate during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to their high efficiency in detecting various types of fires, whether smoldering or fast flaming. The dual sensor smoke detectors combine the features of both ionization as well as photoelectric smoke detectors. Various test studies like the National Research Council of Canada test series suggest that dual sensor smoke detectors have a shorter response time than other types of smoke detectors in case of a typical fire. Advances in technology in dual sensor smoke detectors as well as its their decreasing prices will further support the growth of the segment. Global commercial smoke detector market by ionization Although this segment dominated the global commercial smoke detector market until 2010, with more than 70% of the market share, the market has experienced a significant and drastic shift in terms of technology. The demand for ionization smoke detectors has suffered significantly due to the growing demand for photoelectric and dual sensor smoke detectors. The key reason attributed to the decreasing use of ionization smoke detectors is their susceptibility to cause a high number of nuisance alarms. Thus, users deactivate these alarms by removing the battery or completely disconnecting the smoke detector system. The other major reason for the declining use of ionization smoke detector is its long response time to smoldering fires. In addition, the disposal issue of ionization smoke detectors due to their radioactive content such as Americium-241 has prompted regulatory bodies to adopt stringent regulations on the use of ionization smoke detectors. The US states such as Massachusetts, Vermont, and Iowa have banned the use of ionization smoke detectors in buildings. The top vendors highlighted by Technavio's heavy industry research analysts in this report are: Apollo Fire Detectors

Gentex

Honeywell (News - Alert)

Siemens

Tyco Browse Related Reports: Global Smoke Detectors Market 2016-2020

Global Residential Smoke Detector Market 2016-2020

Global Fire Sprinklers 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 [email protected] with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005573/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Isetan Mitsukoshi, Japan's Largest Department Store Group, to Open Online Store on Alibaba Group's Tmall Global on Friday, Nov. 25

TOKYO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. has positioned its digital strategy as the core of its business, and integrated cyberspace and the real world to develop new values, customers and business projects. As part of its efforts toward that end, Isetan Mitsukoshi has begun tests in preparation for opening the first online store by Japan's department store operator on Tmall Global, an electronic commerce website operated by the world's largest retailer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., in late November. (Photo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201611156242/) Purpose of opening online store on Tmall Global: Isetan Mitsukoshi group stores' sales of duty-free items in the first half of 2016 were approximately 3.7 times those in the corresponding period of 2013. Chinese customers, who account for about 70% of Isetan Mitsukoshi's sales of duty-free goods, are interested in high-quality Japanese products that are selling well to Japanese customers. Isetan Mitsukoshi will participate in Tmall Global as a strategic partner to build a long-term relationship with its customers who have done shopping at its stores in Japan and develop new customers in China.



Isetan Mitsukoshi will select safe and high-quality goods to 1) sell mainly high-quality Japanese products on Tmall Global; 2) facilitate an alliance between its Chinese and Japanese stores; and 3) help accumulate know-how on marketing in China. Assortment of products:

Isetan Mitsukoshi will sell its unique products to differentiate itself from other companies that mainly deal with daily necessities. Category: Isetan Mitsukoshi will initially sell hundreds of types of products ranging from fashion clothing, miscellaneous goods, cosmetics and foodstuffs to daily necessities, and subsequently expand the scope of goods it will sell. Initially, the company will focus on its own brands and seasonal products. It will gradually add Japanese brands to its lineup. In spring 2017 and beyond, the company will increase special campaigns in collaboration with designers, thereby adding new brands and items to its lineup. Services: Isetan Mitsukoshi will provide unique services, such as after-sales services, including repair and additional processing, and pop-up stores showing its products to customers, by utilizing its store network in China. About Alibaba Group and Tmall Global: Alibaba Group, which operates Tmall -- China's largest BtoC online shopping mall -- and other e-commerce portals, had 434 million active users on China's retail market as of June 2016. Alibaba Group's total sales on China's retail market had surpassed 3 trillion yuan (approximately 46 trillion yen) by March 2016. About Isetan Mitsukoshi: Isetan Mitsukoshi was formed in 2008 by merging Mitsukoshi and Isetan, originally inaugurated in 1673 and 1886, respectively, as kimono shops. It is the operator of Japan's largest department store network comprising 27 outlets in Japan and 31 others overseas. *For more details, visit the following websites:

http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/company/about.html http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/company/number.html

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[November 21, 2016] Kentucky County Leaders And CNX, A Kentucky-based Broadband Consulting Firm, Unveil Southeastern Kentucky Final Mile (SKY FM) Broadband Fiber Plan In First Step To Expand High-speed Broadband Across Clay, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, And Perry Counties

HAZARD, Ky., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southeastern Kentucky Final Mile (SKY FM) broadband fiber planning project, which kicked off earlier this summer, culminated today with the release of a broadband action plan-- the first step in expanding high-speed broadband across Clay, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, and Perry Counties. This plan helps communities identify priorities in anticipation of the KentuckyWired middle mile fiber networkplans for how to expand networks and use them more effectively. Congressman Hal Rogers supports the county leaders' efforts to bring broadband to southeastern Kentucky. "I want to commend the leaders of southeastern Kentucky for this insightful and important plan to expand highspeed and high-capacity broadband to the mountains. We have lost more than 11,000 coal mining jobs in our regions since 2009, so this broadband network is key to diversifying our economy and revitalizing our communities." The plan, authored by Kentucky-based Connected Nation Exchange (CNX), was unveiled on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College before a diverse group of interested public and private sector representatives, engaged citizens and elected officials from across the five-county area. Highlights from the plan include: A detailed accounting of where each county stands in terms of existing connectivity and a more precise understanding of areas underserved by broadband.

Information collected throughout the course of the project from concerned citizens, public and private sector representatives, and others participating in the self-assessment and planning effort across the five-county region over the last several months.

Challenges and opportunities faced by various sectors of the communities, and an analysis of the issues presenting barriers to growth in broadband access, adoption, and use.

Information from providers regarding their planned network expansions.

A blueprint, or action plan, for community broadband success based on the self-assessment, information collected, practices that garnered success for other communities, and the resulting shared vision for solving broadband challenges and making best use of broadband opportunities, inluding the KentuckyWired project.



In connection with this first step of developing an informed plan, Thacker-Grigsby Communications/TVS Cable, shared its most recent upgrades within Perry County to a welcoming and appreciative audience.

"We are excited to be working with the SKY FM project as we strive continually to improve our network," said David Thacker, Technical Operations Manager of Thacker-Grigsby Communications/TVS Cable. "The SKY FM project has allowed us to interface with local leaders and make adjustments to service based on customer demand. We are excited to have recently announced that Hazard is now as a 'Gig City' with gigabit fiber connectivity available to all locations in Hazard. We have made network upgrades that have allowed us to increase to 50 meg download speeds to many of our Perry County customers." Perry County Judge Executive Scott Alexander is encouraged by the outcomes of the SKY FM planning effort. "We are thrilled to witness now, firsthand, the fruits of this planning exercise and our public-private collaborative efforts as Thacker-Grigsby and TVS Cable announces gigabit fiber connectivity to all locations here in Hazard," said Alexander. "To be recognized as a 'Gig City' and to have 50 meg download speeds offered to many Perry County residents provides us with additional tools to compete for good-paying, 21st century jobs. Much work remains, however, to capitalize on this vital resource as we continue to expand coverage in underserved portions of our County and work to improve adoption rates; but this announcement as we conclude our planning portion of this effort is extremely encouraging and allows us to take a giant step forward together for the good of our citizens." The participants in the SKY FM project hope this first step of an informed plan and the initiative observed by providers within Perry County will lead to the expansion and construction of additional fiber networks across the five-county area and serve as a working model for use across the Commonwealth and nation, as states and cities are increasing investments in broadband-capable infrastructure and related assets. "Kentucky communities have an unprecedented opportunity to make their communities Gigabit cities and counties," according to CNX CEO Brian Mefford. "The Commonwealth's investment in a high capacity fiber backbone that will provide connection points in all 120 Kentucky counties means that broadband can expand in places that previously were too costly for a private sector business case. In true public-private partnership fashion, KentuckyWired is creating a better business case for broadband investment statewide." Those interested can access the SKY FM fiber broadband plan on CNX's website, www.kentuckywiredhelp.com. The project was awarded a state grant from the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA). About CNX Through its unique software platform and public-private partnership know-how, CNX bridges the divide as a broker between cities and states desiring to expand broadband and the private companies that seek to invest in broadband networks. The CNX industry-leading platform aggregates all relevant public sector asset data to support public-private transactions that allow companies faster speed to market and higher impact for deployed capital, focusing on solutions for fiber construction, small cell and 5g wireless. CNX offers technical, financial, legal, and operational expertise to implement geo-relevant public-private partnerships that solve broadband access challenges and expand the network effect for the good of all. We operate as a cross functional integrated solutions team, providing expertise that bridges the divide between the public and private sectors in order to get deals done and accelerate time to market for network investment. More information at www.cnx.io. Contact: Robert Shannon Morgan, Vice-President External Affairs, CNX, 1900 Three Springs Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42104, 1-866-881-9425, [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151124/290706LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kentucky-county-leaders-and-cnx-a-kentucky-based-broadband-consulting-firm-unveil-southeastern-kentucky-final-mile-sky-fm-broadband-fiber-plan-in-first-step-to-expand-high-speed-broadband-across-clay-knott-leslie-letcher-a-300366784.html SOURCE Connected Nation Exchange (CNX)

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[November 21, 2016] Leading Health Systems Join the AvaSys Revolution in Patient Monitoring

AvaSure has built on another stellar year by adding more of the nation's leading academic and not-for-profit community medical centers to its roster of clients. Each of these centers of excellence has decided in the past several weeks to adopt the company's AvaSys TeleSitter Solution, a system for remote video and audio monitoring of patients at risk of falling and other self-harm. AvaSys allows clinicians to see and hear patients around-the-clock from a central monitoring station. Trained monitoring staff anticipate patient needs, identify risky situations and intervene using two-way audio to keep a patient safe while floor staff are alerted. Among the new AvaSure clients are: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, founded in 1773 and home to the famous Hopkins Burn Center, a trauma and surgical center of excellence.

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, the flagship of the Partners Health system, where AvaSys is now in seven facilities. Mass General, the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, has been ranked one of the top three hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report since 2010.

since 2010. Providence Health & Services, the third largest not-for-profit health system in the United States, where AvaSys is being deployed in four hospitals in Oregon and California. University of Minnesota-Fairview Health Services, where AvaSys is being deployed in seven hospitals, including the flagship East Bank Hospital-University of Minnesota Medical Center. Fairview hospitals are consistently on U.S. News' Best Regional Hospitals list.

Best Regional Hospitals list. UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, the flagship of the 20-hospital system affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and listed on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the 20 best hospitals in America for well over a decade.



"When you look at this list of new health system clients, it is like a 'Who's Who' of leaders in clinical care, medical research and medical education," said Patricia Quigley, RN, PhD, MPH, a nationally renowned expert on rehabilitation nursing and patient falls and an AvaSure board member. "It is truly amazing to see so many of the nation's top health systems choosing the same solution for preventing falls among patients with dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke and other injuries, as well as keeping behavioral health patients from self-harm."

The past year also saw publication of several articles on clinical and financial outcomes from using AvaSys. Only AvaSure has multiple peer-reviewed reports on its efficacy, including more than two dozen clinical articles, posters and podium presentations. AvaSure also debuted a new comparative database for outcomes on utilization and outcomes. "We are proud of our track record of helping to solve hospitals' persistent and complex safety problems and improve the patient experience of care, all while saving hospitals millions of dollars formerly used to pay nursing aides to sit and watch individual patients," said Brad Playford, AvaSure's founder and CEO. For more information, go to avasure.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005217/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Leumi Card Becomes First Financial Institution to Implement User Authentication Based on Mobile Behavioral Biometrics

Bank Leumi, one of Israel's largest banks, today announced that its credit card subsidiary, Leumi Card, will introduce the first-of-its-kind integration of a mobile security product based on behavioral biometrics. Based on the cutting-edge technology of Israeli startup SecuredTouch, the solution embedded in the Leumi Card app will provide an advanced layer of security to its customers and will eliminate the need for complex passwords. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005673/en/ SecuredTouch's technology allows user identification based on a unique personal usage profile within the mobile device, including such attributes as finger size, touch pressure, touch surface and more. By verifying the profile, Leumi Card will be able to identify, in real time, whether the card owner is the one operating the app. Ohad Maimon, EVP Business Development & Strategy, Leumi Card, said: "This is an international breakthrough that enhances user experience while solving the known problem of poor conversion in financial apps, due to the need for complex passwords. Integrating the technology in Leumi Card's mobile app is aligned with regulators' directives for digital banking communications that require two factors of authentication." The completed integration of this technology follows a comprehensive experimental and testing phase. The technology has proven high user recognition abilities that could protect the user without compromising prvacy, as the recognition process doesn't include any identifying details (like fingerprints).



The product, which will be available in Leumi Card's mobile app in the coming months, allows for the use of a seamless security factor and does not require any prior registration. The solution's identity verification continuously monitors every in-app activity, in addition to the initial login stage. Leumi Card has presented the pilot results, demonstrating the technology's excellent recognition capabilities, to global financial institutions with which the company has collaborations in the field of innovation. As a result, SecuredTouch is in advanced engagements towards further integrations with these parties.

As part of Leumi Card's ongoing effort to identify and embrace new technologies, the company has adopted an approach that implements innovation through partnerships with Israeli start-up companies and initiatives. Leumi Card's Innovation Team meets with dozens of companies in Israel every year, leading to the integration of new services and opening business opportunities to young companies. Please find below a video demo of SecuredTouch's cutting-edge technology:

https://youtu.be/Ej5kkVCmFsw About Leumi Card Leumi Card is one of Israel's leading credit card companies, providing a wide range of card issuing and clearing services, as well as payment and credit solutions. The company has already issued about 2 million Visa and MasterCard (News - Alert) branded credit cards, and provides clearing servicing for some 50 thousand businesses. Leumi Card offers credit card holders an extensive range of financial services including loans, credit solutions and flexible payment options. Leumi Card is proud of its high quality customer service set up, characterized by the highest service standards. For more information, please visit: http://english.leumi.co.il/WnnnWn/Leumi_Card/27194/. About SecuredTouch SecuredTouch develops mobile-optimized identity solutions for Mobile Banking and eCommece apps based on mobile behavioral biometrics. Its innovative product continuously verifies mobile user identity by analyzing more than 100 parameters of their physical interaction with a mobile device, in a way that is invisible to end users. The company provides an SDK that can be easily integrated into any mobile channel and an API to receive risk indications using advanced machine-learning algorithms, the industry's most accurate in the mobile category. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005673/en/

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[November 21, 2016] The New York Times Company Names Diane Brayton General Counsel

The New York Times Company (News - Alert) announced today that Diane Brayton will succeed Kenneth Richieri as its general counsel, effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Richieri, who has served as general counsel of The New York Times Company since 2006, will retire on December 31, 2016. Ms. Brayton joined the Times Company in 2004 and most recently served as deputy general counsel since May 2016 and corporate secretary since 2011. In those roles, Ms. Brayton provided critical support to the Company's senior management and Board of Directors on a variety of legal and policy issues, including corporate transactions, securities law matters, corporate governance and compensation. She will report to President and CEO Mark Thompson. In making the announcement, Mr. Thompson said, "Diane's keen understanding of the legal environment in which The New York Times operates and her broad range of legal and corporate governance expertise make her ideally suited to lead our legal department. She is known across the company not just for her reasoned approach to addressing legal matters but also for her passion for our business and her deeply collaborative spirit. I'm looking forward to continuing what is an already strong partnership. " Reflecting on Mr. Richieri's retirement, Mr. Thompson said, "Ken has been a trusted advisor who helped guide The Times as it underwent a remarkable evolution from a national print newspaper to a truly international digital media outlet during his three decades of service. His broad legal experience, commercial instincts and expertise in digital publishing and intellectual property rights were invaluable to that transformation. He has also provided strong leadership, helping to develop the next generation of legal executives"



Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the chairman of the Company and publisher of The New York Times, added, "Ken has been a tireless defender of our journalism and legal champion of this company for 33 years and his contributions over that time are too many to count. The Times and our industry more broadly have benefited from his advocacy on behalf of the First Amendment and I'm confident he will continue to be a leading voice in this arena. On a personal level, he's provided support, advice and counsel that has helped me be a better publisher. I'm enormously grateful and while I will miss him very much, I wish him the very best as he begins his next chapter, post-retirement." Prior to joining the Times Company, Ms. Brayton was vice president and counsel in the legal department of Credit Suisse First Boston from 2002 to 2004 and an associate at the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York, Moscow and London from 1997 to 2002. Ms. Brayton received a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Nebraska in 1991 and a J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1996.

Kenneth A. Richieri became general counsel of The New York Times Company in January 2006. Mr. Richieri was named senior vice president in December 2007 and executive vice president in March 2013. Mr. Richieri served as deputy general counsel from 2001 until 2005, and was promoted to vice president in December 2002. Previously he served as assistant general counsel since 1993 and senior counsel since 1989. He joined The New York Times Company in January 1983 as legal counsel. Mr. Richieri received an A.B. degree in political science from Brown University in 1973 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1976. About The New York Times Company The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The company includes The New York Times, NYTimes.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. Follow news about the company at @NYTimesComm. This release can be downloaded from NYTCo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005321/en/

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[November 21, 2016]

Nokia collaborates with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to pave way for safe and sustainable drone operations in the country

Espoo, Finland, Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press Release

Nokia and the UAE's GCAA to develop end-to-end ecosystem to support regular commercial use of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) in the UAE

Nokia's unmanned aerial vechicle (UAV) Traffic Management concept will give GCAA ability to track and manage all UAS in UAE airspace, supporting use of automated drones for both commercial and government applications

Project will enable the UAE to become the world's first country to allow UAS usage in safe and secure environment and embrace drone technology as part of smart city operations

21 November 2016

Dubai, UAE - Nokia and the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have entered into a strategic collaboration to drive the development of an end-to-end UAS ecosystem that will make the UAE the first country in the world to allow the operation of drones by both businesses and government agencies in a safe, secure and managed environment. The project is part of an initiative by the GCAA to make Dubai one of the world's smartest cities by 2017, and will allow Dubai government security network operator Nedaa to develop a next generation network for mission-critical and smart city services within the GCAA regulatory framework.

At the heart of this new ecosystem will be Nokia's UAV Traffic Management (UTM) concept, which is being developed to manage drones in and around cities, and coordinate their interactions with people, manned aircraft and an increasingly diverse array of connected objects. The Nokia UTM system will provide capabilities such as automated flight permissions, no-fly zone control and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) that are critical for the safe operation of UAVs in densely populated urban areas. The ecosystem will also serve as a testing ground for various applications of drone technology, which can be explored in a safe and controlled environment.

Drones are quickly emerging as important tools for businesses and governments alike, providing substantial benefits such as infrastructure monitoring and maintenance, public safety applications, logistics and transport and many more. The GCAA has launched this initiative so businesses and local government can take advantage of these benefits, making the city smarter while minimizing any hazards that UAVs may present.

Nokia's UTM concept combines its expertise in 4G LTE and leadership in developing 5G and Mobile Edge Computing and related services - including managing the Network Operations Center, planning and optimizing the network for UTM connectivity and integrating UTM to other application platforms - to provide a platform that can support the extreme low latency and exceptional reliability and resiliency neded to manage UAV traffic. The system will be able to monitor airspace and flight paths, and share data between UAVs, operators and air traffic controllers and establish no-fly zones that can be continually refreshed with the latest data.







This agreement complements a recent Nokia's initiative to establish and develop a UAV test facility at Twente Airport in the Netherlands.

Bernard Najm, head of the Middle East Market Unit at Nokia, said: "The UAE is committed to making Dubai the smartest city in the world, and UAVs are expected to play a critical role in this process by supporting a wide variety of smart city services. This collaboration with the GCAA, the first of its kind in the world, gives us a unique and extensive test bed where we can trial and refine our UAV Traffic Management system, and shape the future of UAV management overall. This is an exciting opportunity that builds on our strong relationship with the UAE to help facilitate its smart city journey."

Ismaeil Mohammed Al Blooshi, Assistant Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, said: "We, as a civil aviation regulator, are pleased to partner with Nokia for such an innovative initiative for the UAE aviation sector and to build a safe and secure drone ecosystem. Being the number 1 aviation industry in the world with regard to safety standards, the UAE has superb aviation infrastructure and is qualified to play a key role in innovative aviation projects such as this drone collaboration."

Did you know?

According ABI Research, by 2025, the commercial sector (including agriculture, industrial inspection, and professional videography applications) will account for more than 70% of all small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) ecosystem revenues. Nokia is a world leader in communication technologies and its UTM concept using an LTE network is a great enabler for safe and secure usage of drones.

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About Nokia

Nokia is a global leader in creating the technologies at the heart of our connected world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.

From the enabling infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, to emerging applications in virtual reality and digital health, we are shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. www.nokia.com

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late show with stephen colbert oxford word of the year cbs

"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert and "Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver, both formerly of "The Daily Show," discussed their greatest fears regarding the presidency of President-elect Donald Trump at a fundraiser for a film festival in Colbert's hometown of Montclair, New Jersey.

During the wide-ranging discussion, the duo touched on the fake news proliferating on social media that some believed influenced the election in comparison with the brand of satire the two men presented on "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," with Colbert bemoaning his possible role in perpetuating fictional news:

"What we did was fake news," he said. "We got on TV and said: 'This is all going to be fake. We're making fun of news.'" The fact that they call this fake news upsets me because this is just lying."

Later, when asked about how the US would fare under the new administration, Colbert suggested he genuinely feared that the US political system's checks and balances would be unable to rein in Trump.

"Here's why we are most screwed," Colbert said. "Everyone tried to stop Trump except the people he is going to appoint  they tried to stop Trump and they didnt. He owes them nothing."

"Thats what scares me," Colbert said. "He owes the checks and balances of Washington nothing. Because they tried to stop him and they couldn't. And he's a vindictive person. Merry Christmas."

NOW WATCH: 'HOLD UP!': Watch Obama defend a Trump protester and scold the crowd at a Clinton rally





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[November 21, 2016] PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at Academy Prep Center

As part of its global community engagement efforts, PPG (NYSE: PPG) announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project that helped to brighten and revitalize classrooms at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, the PPG Foundation donated $20,000 on behalf of PPG's architectural coatings business to support the school's science, technology, engineering and math programs. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005987/en/ As part of its Colorful Communities program, PPG helped to brighten three classrooms at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo: Business Wire) Approximately 10 local volunteers from PPG and Lowe's Commercial Painting used 25 gallons of PPG PAINTS products to beautify three of the school's classrooms. Academy Prep students voted to select the new paint colors for creative learning environments, and they created and presented a colorful banner commemorating the project to display in the school. The $20,000 PPG Foundation grant enables Academy Prep, which is a private, nonprofit organization, to purchase a well-known science, technology, engineering and math curriculum and provide training for teachers on the program, along with providing an after-school robotics program to students. This supports the school's mission to inspire and empower students qualifying for need-based scholarships to become future community leaders through a rigorous middle school program coupled with ongoing graduate support. "We are very thankful for the generosity of PPG and the PPG Foundation as they support our efforts to create more colorful learning experiences and brighter futures for our students," said Gina Burkett, head of Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg. "The colorful PPG Paints products beautifully refreshed the important spaces where our students learn and spend much of their time. And, like PPG, we believe in empowering today's students with education to inspire tomorrow's scientists, mathematicians and innovators." Premium PPG Paints products, including PITT GLAZE B1, were used to protect and beautify three classrooms. Academy Prep students selected a custom color palette including vibrant colors such as PPG Paints Minerva (PPG1231-3), Flemish Blue (PPG1238-3), Always Blue (PPG1156-3), Copper River (PPG1196-5), Artesian Well (PPG1231-5) and Rojo Colonial (PPG13-15). Specifically designed with a washable formula that withstands the rigorous cleaning and wear and tear in schools, PPG Paints brand Pitt Glaze product was selected for the walls of the classrooms.



Robb Butler, PPG regional sales manager in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area said, "At PPG, we protect and beautify the world while investing in our local communities, especially in support of local educational opportunities. We are proud to be a community partner in the Greater Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg area and hope this project helps Academy Prep continue its mission of providing students with enriching educational opportunities." PPG operates eight PPG Paints stores in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area. Visit www.ppgpaints.com for more on the PPG Paints brand, and visit www.ppgpaints.com/store-locator to find a PPG Paints store.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Images available. Contact [email protected] or [email protected]. The Colorful Communities program is PPG's signature initiative for community engagement efforts, with the aim to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. The program increases PPG's commitment to invest in communities by adding $10 million to support efforts made during a 10-year period. Together with community partners and PPG employees who volunteer, it supports projects that transform community assets using donated PPG products. In 2015, PPG completed 11 Colorful Communities projects, and it expects to complete more than 30 this year. PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We donated more than $7.8 million in 2015 to hundreds of community organizations across 20 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today's skilled workforce and develop tomorrow's innovators in industries related to coatings and specialty materials. Plus, we empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com and follow @PPG_Communities on Twitter (News - Alert). PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.8 billion in 2015. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com. PPG Paints, We protect and beautify the world and Colorful Communities are trademarks and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. Pitt Glaze is a registered trademark of PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005987/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Teva Secures European Approval of Trisenox for First Line Treatment of Low to Intermediate Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (NYSE and TASE:TEVA) today announced it has obtained approval from the European Commission for an indication extension of Trisenox (arsenic trioxide). This marks an important advancement in treatment for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) patients in Europe, as it is the first time that a form of acute leukemia can be effectively treated with a regimen that is entirely chemotherapy-free. APL is a rare and aggressive type of acute leukemia that can kill within hours or days if left untreated2. Trisenox, in combination with retinoic acid, has shown a 99% overall survival rate with almost no relapses after more than four years (50 months) of median follow-up1. "Teva is committed to providing wider access to high-quality medicines to ensure more people can benefit from the treatments they need. We're very pleased by this decision of the European Commission, and we look forward to offering a chemotherapy-free treatment option for all newly diagnosed APL patients," said Rob Koremans, MD, President & CEO, Teva Global Specialty Medicines. The decision by the European Commission, which follows a positive recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA (News - Alert)) on October 13, grants marketing authorization for first line use of Trisenox in the 28 countries of the European Union. The indication extension is for newly diagnosed low to intermediate risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) in combination with retinoic acid. Today's announcement points to a recognition by the European Commission that treating low to intermediate risk APL with a chemo-free regimen of Trisenox plus retinoic acid can increase survival rates, dramatically reduce the risk of relapse, and help avoid chemotherapy-related side effects, such as the risk of life-threatening infections. Welcoming the approval, Francesco Lo-Coco, Professor of Haematology and Head of the Laboratory of Integrated Diagnosis of Oncohematologic Diseases, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy said, "This approval by the European Commission is good news for APL patients as we now have access to a cure for an acute leukemia without using chemotherapy. Moreover, this decision is a very positive endorsement by the European Commission, as it was made based solely on published academic research and studies. From now on, APL patients with non-high risk disease will have access to this chemotherapy-free regimen of Trisenox plus retinoic acid at diagnosis, which has the potential to increase survival rates while minimizing side effects associated with chemotherapy." In Europe, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people are diagnosed with APL each year3. APL, a life-threatening form of leukemia, can cause uncontrollable bleeding leading rapidly to death if left untreated2. The rapid progression of APL leading to early mortality is a substantial problem, affecting up to 30% of patients4. Rapid diagnosis and commencement of treatment is essential to avoid early mortality2,5. About Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia is a form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood-forming tissue (bone marrow). Approximately 5% to 10% of patients initially diagnosed with AML present with the aggressive sub-type of the condition, APL6. In normal bone marrow, hematopoietic stem cells produce red blood cells (erythrocytes) that carry oxygen, white blood cells (leukocytes) that protect the body from infection, and platelets (thrombocytes) that are involved in blood clotting. In APL, immature white blood cells called promyelocytes accumulate in the bone marrow. The overgrowth of promyelocytes leads to a shortage of normal white and red blood cells and platelets in the body, which causes many of the signs and symptoms of the condition. People with APL are especially susceptible to developing bruises, small red dots under the skin (petechiae), nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, blood in the urine (hematuria), or excessive menstrual bleeding. The most important lethal bleeding sites are pulmonary (35%) and intracranial (65%)7. The abnormal bleeding and bruising occur because leukemic blasts produce anticoagulant factors and substances are released that cause excessive blood clotting, leading as a consequence to a low number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia). The low number of red blood cells (anemia) can cause people with acute promyelocytic leukemia to have pale skin (pallor) or excessive tiredness (fatigue). In addition, affected individuals may heal slowly from injuries or have frequent infections due to the decrease of normal white blood cells that fight infection. Furthermore, the leukemic cells can expand into the bones and joints, which may cause pain in those areas. Other general signs and symptoms may occur as well, such as fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. APL is generally diagnosed in much younger patients than in AML (the median age is approximately mid-408,9 for APL patients and 67 for AML patients10), and can be diagnosed in patients of any age. About Trisenox On 5 March 2002, the European Commission granted approval for the Marketing Authorizatin Application (MAA) for Trisenox. The authorization, which was valid throughout the European Union (EU), was granted to treat patients with relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and characterized by the presence of the t(15;17) translocation and/or the presence of the Pro-Myelocytic Leukaemia/Retinoic-Acid-Receptoralpha (PML/(RARa) gene. Trisenox, a targeted drug, degrades the PML- RARa fusion protein. Trisenox received marketing authorization in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.



The marketing approval for Trisenox was granted based on results from a multicenter study in which 40 relapsed APL patients were treated with Trisenox 0.15 mg/kg until bone marrow remission or a maximum of 60 days. Thirty-four patients (85 percent) achieved complete remission after two cycles. When the results for these 40 patients were combined with those for the 12 patients in a pilot trial, an overall response rate of 87 percent was observed11. 1mL of Trisenox contains 1mg of arsenic trioxide. Trisenox is a concentrate for solution for infusion. It is a sterile, clear, colorless, aqueous solution. Trisenox must be administered under the supervision of a physician who is experienced in the management of acute leukaemias, and special monitoring procedures must be followed.

Study Results The APL0406 Intergroup GIMEMA-AMLSG-SAL study was a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase III non-inferiority study1. Eligible patients were adults between 18 and 71 years of age with newly diagnosed, genetically proven low- or intermediate-risk APL (WBC at diagnosis = 103 x 109/L). Overall, 276 patients were randomly assigned to receive ATRA-ATO or ATRA-CHT between October 2007 and January 2013. Of 263 patients evaluable for response to induction, 127 (100%) of 127 patients and 132 (97%) of 136 patients achieved complete remission (CR) in the ATRA-ATO and ATRA-CHT arms, respectively (P = .12). After a median follow-up of 40.6 months, the event-free survival, cumulative incidence of relapse, and overall survival at 50 months for patients in the ATRA-ATO versus ATRA-CHT arms were 97.3%v 80%, 1.9% v 13.9%, and 99.2% v 92.6%, respectively (P , .001, P = .0013, and P = .0073, respectively). Post-induction events included two relapses and one death in CR in the ATRA-ATO arm and two instances of molecular resistance after third consolidation, 15 relapses, and five deaths in CR in the ATRA-CHT arm. Two patients in the ATRA-CHT arm developed a therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. References: 1. Journal of Clinical Oncology, July 11, 2016 as 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.1982.Improved Outcomes With Retinoic Acid and Arsenic Trioxide Compared With Retinoic Acid and Chemotherapy in Non-High-Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Final Results of the Randomized Italian-German APL0406 Trial. Professor Uwe Platzbecker et al. http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/doi/10.1200/JCO.2016.67.1982 2. Coombs CC, et al. Blood Cancer J. 2015;5,e304. 3. Sant M, Allemani C, Tereanu C, De Angelis R, Capocaccia R, Visser O, et al. Incidence of hematologic malignancies in Europe by morphologic subtype: results of the HAEMACARE project. Blood 2010;116(19):3724-34. 4. Lehmann S, Ravn A, Carlsson L, et al. Continuing high early death rate in acute promyelocytic leukemia: a population based report from the Swedish Adult Acute Leukemia Registry. Leukemia 2011;25:1128-34 5. Lo-Coco F. Blood. 2011;118:1188-9 6. Cicconi L, Lo-Coco F. Ann Oncol. 2016;27:1847-81 7. De la Serna J, et al. Blood. 2008;111:3395-402 8. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al, eds. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2012, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2012/, based on November 2014 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2015. Accessed June 8, 2016. 9. Lo-Coco F, Cicconi L, Breccia M. Current standard treatment of adult acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 2015. doi.10.1111.bjh.13890. 10. National Cancer Institute SEER Stat Factsheet Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/amyl.html accessed 16 Nov 2016 11. Soignet SL, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19:3852-3860. 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 were $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 (News - Alert)"). 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/20161120005027/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Largest Digital Billboard North of Times Square to be Erected by RCBS Media Group at George Washington Bridge Market/Mercado

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighting the expansive $183 million dollar George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovation Project between West 178th and West 179th streets in Upper Manhattan, will be a 46 foot wide by 13.5 foot tall high-definition digital billboard. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441280 Located on Broadway Avenue in the center of the George Washington Bridge Mall/Mercado, the state of the art digital billboard will be the largest full motion digital billboard north of Times Square and will run 24-hours a day featuring live streaming video and digital displays including promotions by national brands and local businesses. The George Washington Bridge Mall/Mercado billboard, owned and operated by RCBS Media Group, will also serve a vital role in the community by alerting the public of emergencies. It will display AMBER Alerts for child abduction cases, Silver Alerts to report missing persons especially seniors who have gone missing and are suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementiaor other mental disabilities as well as other emergency notifications. These alerts will be displayed within minutes and will be given precedence over other digital content. Additionally, the billboard will present campaigns to educate and inspire the public with messages regarding quality of life issues.



The official launch of Upper Manhattan's largest full motion digital billboard is currently set for January 2017 with local lawmakers, representatives of the new George Washington Bridge Mall / Mercado, the New York and New Jersey Port Authorities and community leaders in attendance. "This billboard will serve the community and the citizens of New York as well as contribute to the economic growth and vitality of the region 24 hours a day," noted Rick Bacchus, a partner with RCBS Media Group. "It is a fine example of our country's technological growth and advancement and of our future filled with increasingly dynamic visual displays and presentations that inform, educate, inspire and entertain us."

With just two months remaining before its official launch, numerous slots on the RCBS digital billboard have already been reserved. For further details, please contact: Rick Amor

Director of Media Relations

RCBS Media Group

[email protected]

1-800-942-0131 (x105)

(702) 299-5898 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/largest-digital-billboard-north-of-times-square-to-be-erected-by-rcbs-media-group-at-george-washington-bridge-marketmercado-300366139.html SOURCE RCBS Media Group

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[November 21, 2016] Brands For Canada, in partnership with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and P&G kick off the 'United Hearts' program

A Ground-Breaking Sustainability-Focused Initiative, and the

First of its Kind in Canada, to Help Those Living Below Canada's Poverty Line TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Celebrating its 25th year, Brands For Canada  Canada's #1 cost-efficient charity, is launching their United Hearts campaign and program. This revolutionary initiative has been developed to bring awareness to the 1 in 7 Canadians living below the poverty line. "Brands For Canada's United Hearts initiative will impact thousands of TDSB students and their families by providing them with basic essential items to help meet their needs. At the TDSB, we are committed to ensuring that every student achieves success and this initiative will help do just that," stated Robin Pilkey, Chair, Toronto District School Board. Brands For Canada's new United Hearts program creates care packages of new clothing, personal care goods and other basic-needs items for students, and their families and delivers them to TDSB schools. The United Hearts care packages are purposefully created to alleviate the stress many students live with on a daily basis, so they can focus on prospering intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. Joyce Law, Senior Communications Manager, P&G Canada said, "P&G has a longstanding commitment in giving back to the community. We are honoured to partner with Brands for Canada and the TDSB to support families in need with everyday essentials like Crest toothpaste, Ivory soap, and Gain laundry detergent." "By engaging individuals, corporations and organizations in conversations about how they can make a direct impact on the lives of those in need, we are creating a circular economy as we bridge the gap between surplus production and meeting the immediate needs of communities dealing with poverty," says Helen Harakas, Executive Director, Brands For Canada. Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, will be onsite at Brands For Canada headquarters for the public launch of the United Hearts program; a partnership among Brands For Canada, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and leading name brands from Procter & Gamble who have provided an unprecedented donation of goods to assist in launching the program. Other major brands such as, GAP, H&M, McCarthy|Beatties, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Winners, YM Inc., Bell, Rogers Uptown, Mendocino, Brooks Brothers, Moores, and William Ashley donate on a regular basis.



"As the Government of Ontario works to lift our province's most vulnerable children out of poverty and help families in their every day lives, I commend Brands For Canada for partnering with local school boards through this very important program to support children in their pursuit of their full potential."  The Honourable Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education

Brands For Canada to help expand their community programs, are working with United in Change, an e-commerce solution provider to develop an online portal that will engage corporations to form a sustainability-focused ecosystem where their brands can enrich the lives of communities in need of the very goods these companies have to spare, while also reducing their environmental footprint. United Hearts encompasses two specific programs: UNITED HEARTS STUDENT PROGRAM

In partnership with the Toronto District School Board; Brands For Canada delivers care packages filled with basic necessities such as new clothing, personal care items and school supplies directly to 600 schools for their students in need. UNITED HEARTS SHELTER PROGRAM

Children, women, men, and families entering shelters will be gifted with backpacks of new, comforting items such as pajamas, slippers, toys, toothbrushes and blankets. The United Hearts program is linked to a new poverty awareness campaign directed at educating students and the public about Empathy, Gratitude and Unity for all members of the community. *The press conference will be: Monday, November 21, 2016

Time: 8:30  9:30 a.m. Location: 3-29 Connell Court, Toronto, ON M8Z 5T7 ABOUT BRANDS FOR CANADA

Brands For Canada (formerly known as Windfall Basics) was founded in 1992. We collect surplus and unsold new goods, redirect goods that would otherwise end up in landfills and distribute new goods to Canadian families. By 1996, the organization was receiving and distributing more than 9,000 pieces of clothing per month. We have over 200 brand partners consisting of leading Canadian brands, retailers and corporations. We receive more than 900,000 pieces of clothing, personal care items and housewares annually and were rated as the number one most cost-effective charity in Canada by MoneySense Magazine in 2010 and 2013. Over the last 25 years, in conjunction with our donors and social service agency distribution partners, we have helped over 1.2 million individuals, kept almost 4 million kilograms of goods out of landfills, saved Canadians in need over $420 million, donated over 420 million dollars' worth of goods and saved 31.7 billion litres of water. www.brandsforcanada.com About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. SOURCE Brands for Canada

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[November 21, 2016] CANARIE National Summit to Focus on How Canada Can Navigate Our Data-Driven Future

Summit welcomes leaders from public, private and not-for-profit sectors to demonstrate how Canadians can lead in driving data-rich innovation OTTAWA, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - CANARIE, a vital component of Canada's digital infrastructure supporting research, education and innovation, today announced the final speaker lineup for its National Summit, being held in Montreal on November 22 and 23, 2016. The Summit will showcase a range of leading thinkers, doers and visionaries from business, academia, and the not-for-profit sector to explore how Canada can take advantage of new opportunities in an era of abundant data. Speakers will provide insight on how they are using data to accelerate research discoveries, create new commercial opportunities, and train a new generation of students to use data in creative and inspiring ways. In order of appearance, the keynote speakers include: Dr. Jennifer Gardy  Senior Scientist, BC Centre for Disease Control

Senior Scientist, BC Centre for Disease Control Mark Leggott  Executive Director, Research Data Canada

Executive Director, Research Data Canada Campbell Robertson  Public Sector Lead, IBM Cognitive Solutions Group

Public Sector Lead, IBM Cognitive Solutions Group Dr. Leanne Elias  Associate Professor of New Media, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge

Associate Professor of New Media, Faculty of Fine Arts, Erik Huizer  Chief Technology Officer, SURFnet

Chief Technology Officer, SURFnet Dr. Paul Terry  CEO, PHEMI Systems

CEO, PHEMI Systems Kevin Tuer  Managing Director, Canada's Open Data Exchange

Managing Director, Open Data Exchange Dr. Maribeth Murray  Executive Director, Arctic Institute of North America

Executive Director, Arctic Institute of Kevin Chan - Head of Public Policy, Canada , Facebook and Instagram



Canada's research, education and innovation communities. "At Juniper Networks, we create innovative technologies that help our customers connect their ideas, compete, and thrive in an ever-changing world. These technologies enable our customers to quickly bring new services to market and deliver richer end-user experiences, through open, programmable, and automated high-performance networks," said Chris Bachalo, Chief Architect Canada, Juniper Networks. "Juniper is proud to sponsor the CANARIE National Summit 2016, which highlights some of the extraordinary technology innovation happening here in Canada enabled through CANARIE."

In addition to the keynote speakers, a panel session titled Infrastructure for Data: A Canadian Status Report will focus on how Canada's digital research infrastructure ecosystem is preparing to manage unprecedented amounts of data flowing from research instruments, sensor arrays and newly digitized resources. The Summit has almost reached capacity, but limited seats are available. More information may be found at canariesummit.ca About CANARIE CANARIE strengthens Canadian leadership in science and technology by delivering digital infrastructure to support world-class research that directly benefits all Canadians. Twelve provincial and territorial network partners, together with CANARIE, collectively form Canada's National Research and Education Network (NREN). Canadians at universities, colleges, research institutes, hospitals, and government laboratories rely on this ultra-high-speed network to collaborate in data-intensive, cutting-edge research and innovation within Canada and with colleagues in over 100 countries. Beyond the network, CANARIE funds and promotes reusable research software tools to accelerate scientific discovery. CANARIE also supports Research Data Canada as it leads national research data management initiatives, and through the Canadian Access Federation, provides identity management services that enable secure, ubiquitous connectivity and content access to the academic community. To boost commercialization in Canada's technology sector, CANARIE offers cloud resources to startups through its DAIR service, and links a powerful community of public and private sector partners in the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN). Established in 1993, CANARIE is a non-profit corporation, with the majority of its funding provided by the Government of Canada. For more information, please visit: www.canarie.ca. SOURCE CANARIE Inc.

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[November 21, 2016]

Dealer.com Digital Advertising Products Approved for GM iMR Turnkey Participation

BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer.com, a Cox Automotive brand, today announced that its Digital Advertising Solution has been approved by General Motors as an in-Market Retail (iMR) Turnkey Product. The certification allows GM dealers to purchase Dealer.com's Advertising product and receive co-op reimbursement from GM for their investment.

Dealer.com provides dealers with a best-in-class multi-channel advertising solution that integrates paid search, retargeting and display advertising, and unified analytics into a combined strategic portfolio. The solution leverages proprietary real-time bidding, machine learning, and audience targeting of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader shoppers, enabling dealers to reach more in-market consumers and generate demand for their inventory







With this approval, Dealer.com Advertising will be included within GM's Dealer Vendor Advisor Portal, which connects iMR Turnkey Vendors with GM Dealers.

"GM's approval of Dealer.com Advertising will create more lucrative advertising and sales opportunities for their entire dealer network," said Andy MacLeay, Director of Digital Marketing at Dealer.com. "Dealers now have greater choice on where to most effectively spend their digital advertising dollars."

Dealers who would like to learn more can visit dealer.com/gm/advertising.

About Dealer.com

Dealer.com provides an integrated platform of Advertising, Website and Managed Services products which allow OEMs, dealer groups, retailers and agencies to leverage advanced digital technology and data to better engage and connect with their customers. The company practices a deep commitment to its culture of innovation, with a focus on health and wellness, making it one of the most desirable places to work, and a valuable partner for automotive retailers. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Dealer.com is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.dealer.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151207/293908LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dealercom-digital-advertising-products-approved-for-gm-imr-turnkey-participation-300366342.html

SOURCE Dealer.com
[November 21, 2016] Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Now Offers SilverSneakers Fitness to Members in Its Currently Marketed Medicare Supplement Plans

Existing and new members of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's currently sold Medicare Supplement plans in Virginia are now able to exercise at participating SilverSneakers Fitness locations at no additional cost. Through a variety of fitness offerings that accommodate all fitness levels and preferences, as well as invaluable social interactions, SilverSneakers helps older adults maximize their health, maintain their lifestyle and improve overall well-being. Members in Anthem's currently marketed Medicare Supplement Plans A, F and N in Virginia now have full access to these programs at no extra cost. Exercise is important for the well-being of everybody, but particularly seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exercise can prevent many health problems associated with aging. The CDC recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week for people ages 65 and older who are generally fit.1 However, participants should always consult a health care professional before beginning an exercise program. "SilverSneakers Fitness is a great program for members to either get started, or to continue with, a physical activity regimen. The value-added program provides a variety of fitness options and social activities for developing new peer groups and friends," said John Caby, president of Anthem Medicare's east region. "We are pleased to be able to offer it to most Medicare Supplement members in our currently marketed A, F and N plans in Virginia and we encourage them to take advantage of it." Members can take advantage of a host of comprehensive program features including facility amenities and a variety of specialized group exercise classes all taught by instructors trained specifically in senior fitness. The program offers access to more than 13,000 fitness and wellness facilities nationwide, as well as the SilverSneakers FLEX network, which includes classes and activities at community-based locations. "For more than 20 years, SilverSneakers Fitness has helped to increase physical activity in older Americans, resulting in higher well-being and lower health care costs," said Sheri Pruitt, PhD, vice president and behavioral scientist for SilverSneakers Fitness. "For years, we have been a proud partner with Anthem and its Medicare Advantage members in delivering a comprehensive program that offers a variety of health and fitness opportunities, at all levels of fitness. We are happy to expand our offering to eligible Anthem's Medicare Supplement members in Virginia."



Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private companies to help pay health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. These plans may include additional services like SilverSneakers. Interested parties can learn more about Anthem's Medicare Supplement offerings by visiting www.anthem.com/shop. For details about SilverSneakers, visit www.silversneakers.com. The SilverSneakers Fitness Program is provided by an independent company. SilverSneakers is a value-added program. It is not insurance and not part of the Medicare Supplement Plans. It can be changed or withdrawn at any time.

About SilverSneakers Fitness SilverSneakers Fitness is the nation's leading exercise program for older Americans. The program was founded in 1992 and is available to more than 13 million Medicare beneficiaries through many Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement carriers and group retiree plans. For more information, or to check eligibility, go to silversneakers.com. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is available at www.anthem.com. Also follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at www.twitter.com/AskAnthem or on Facebook (News - Alert) at www.facebook.com/AskAnthem. 1 http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/olderadults.html View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121005681/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Socius Expands Partner Program to Include Dynamics 365, Business edition

DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Socius, an award-winning business technology and consulting company, announces the addition of Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business edition to the Socius Partner Program. As a Direct CSP (Cloud Solutions Provider) with Microsoft, Dynamics 365 Early Adopter and Microsoft Dynamics Master VAR, Socius now offers both Dynamics and Office 365 Partners a suite of benefits designed to support their business growth and success. Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business edition is part of an evolutionary step by Microsoft which brings together a suite of business tools including financials, CRM, Azure Cloud, and Microsoft Office productivity and communication capabilities. Designed for small- to mid-size businesses, Dynamics 365 for Financials offers a modern user experience that enables business growth and bridges the gap between QuickBooks and Dynamics mid-market ERP solutions. Socius Affiliates have the ability to offer expanded solutions and services through Socius, including all of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, Dynamics 365, Business and Enterprise editions, Office 365, BI and Analytics, and private and public Cloud hosting services through Socius One Cloud. Socius Affiliates are afforded more opportunity to focus on their core competencies and client success while partnering with a national Partner to ffer more to customers.



"The foundation of our Socius Affiliate Services program, which is based on Microsoft's Dynamics Master VAR program, is to fuel our Affiliates' growth through proven business development processes, marketing efforts, brand recognition, extensive resources and award-winning status in the Microsoft Partner Network," said Jeff Geisler, Chief Executive Officer at Socius. "Dynamics 365, Business edition presents a new opportunity for Socius and our partners to offer great options for both growing companies and existing small- to mid-market ERP clients who need a different level of functionality and mobility."

Some of the benefits of partnering with Socius:

Marketing Readiness and Support

Sales Support and Tools

Resell Packaged Implementation Services from Socius

Earn Higher Margins

Product Readiness and Support

Expand Business Beyond Office 365 with Dynamics 365

Leverage National Socius Resources and Affiliate Partner Network

Customer Lifetime Value and Lifecycle Management To learn more about how Socius can help businesses leverage technology for their growth with Dynamics 365, visit www.socius1.com. To learn more about Socius Affiliate Services, visit www.socius1.com/why-socius/socius-affiliate-services. About Socius: Socius (www.socius1.com) is a strategic business consulting partner that provides comprehensive business management solutions to help companies leverage technology to fuel their growth and profitability and compete more successfully in today's economy. As a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner, Microsoft Dynamics Master VAR, a Sage Authorized Partner, and the largest NetSuite Partner in Ohio, Socius represents the most trusted accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and business intelligence and analytics technologies on the market. Backed by over 30 years of award-winning experience, Socius proudly serves clients throughout the country from its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, and its 28 additional locations. For more information, contact:

Bill Knapp

Managing Director

614.389.5122

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160412/354341LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/socius-expands-partner-program-to-include-dynamics-365-business-edition-300366716.html SOURCE Socius

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[November 21, 2016] Humana Wins Two Stevie Awards for Women in Business

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), a leading health and well-being company, has won two Stevie Awards - one for its Workplace Voluntary Benefit (WVB) well-being benefit and one for Sharon Parsons (News - Alert), Humana's integration product category leader - in the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Humana's Workplace Voluntary Benefit (WVB) well-being benefit won a Bronze Stevie Award in the Best New Product or Service of the Year - Business Products and Services category. Meanwhile, Sharon Parsons received a Bronze Stevie Award in the Employee of the Year - Business - All Other Industries category. Launched in 2016, Humana's WVB well-being benefit is designed to help employers engage their employees in healthy lifestyle choices by incentivizing employees to enroll in and complete wellness programs that are offered on almost all employer wellness programs. In addition to being first-to-market, the WVB benefit was nominated for its innovative approach to outcomes-based benefits that tie into existing wellness programs and the positive feedback Humana has received within its distribution channels. In her role, Parsons spearheads the product development efforts for Humana's dental, vision and WVB product portfolios. She was nominated for leading the simultaneous launches of Humana's new vision and WVB benefits in early 2016. In the past year, Parsons has been elected to the Product Development and Management Association's board of directors and recognized as one of the Top 25 Rising Stars of Distribution Under 40 by LIMRA. "We are honored to have Sharon recognized by the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business for her contributions to women in business, as well as our Workplace Voluntary Benefit for providing a tool to help employees achieve their best health," said Beth Bierbower, President, Group Segment at Humana. "Through Sharon's leadership and her team's work in successfully launching this innovative benefit, we are better positioned to achieve our bold goal of helping the communities we serve become 20 percent healthier by 2020." The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the world's top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizatios they run. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2016 awards received entries from 31 nations and territories.



Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned," the awards were presented to winners on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, during a dinner event attended by more than 500 people at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The event was broadcast on Livestream. More than 1,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories, including Entrepreneur of the Year, Executive of the Year, Company of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women Run Workplace of the Year, among others.

Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 160 professionals worldwide who participated in the judging process this year. "Each year we think the quality of achievements portrayed in Stevie-winning nominations couldn't possibly get any better, and each year the amazing women who are recognized in this program prove us wrong," said Michael Gallagher, Stevie Awards founder and president. "We are thrilled and humbled to be able to recognize so many outstanding women in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and to share the stories of their achievement with the world." Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women. About The Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. About Humana Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company's strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders

Securities and Exchange Commission filings

Most recent investor conference presentations

Quarterly earnings news releases

Calendar of events

Corporate Governance information View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121006001/en/

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[November 21, 2016] Vectrus announces contract modification at Maxwell AFB

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectrus Systems Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectrus, Inc. (NYSE: VEC), has been awarded a $20 million modification for continued base operations support at Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Ala. This modification is expected to be completed by May 14, 2017. "Our past performance on Maxwell is strong, and this modification provides an opportunity for Vectrus to continue our excellent performance, and increase our track record of success with this customer," said Ken Hunzeker, chief executive officer and president of Vectrus. The contract, initially awarded in 2009, was extended in May 2015. At that time, Vectrus was awarded a bridge contract extension at the air force base worth $62 million. The one-year bridge ran through May 2016 and had the potential for an additional two, three-month option periods, which were exercised. Vectrus provides day-to-day base operations and maintenance at the air base. The 42nd Contracting Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala., is the contracting activity. About Vectrus p>Vectrus is a leading, global government services company with a history in the services market that dates back more than 70 years. The company provides facility and logistics services, and information technology and network communication services to U.S. government customers around the world. Vectrus is differentiated by operational excellence, superior program performance, a history of long-term customer relationships, and a strong commitment to their mission success. Vectrus is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo. , and includes about 6,000 employees spanning 132 locations in 18 countries. In 2015, Vectrus generated sales of $1.2 billion . For more information, visit our website at www.vectrus.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.



Contacts:

Media

George Rhynedance

(719) 637-4182

[email protected] Investors

Mike Smith

(719) 637-5773

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160621/382112LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vectrus-announces-contract-modification-at-maxwell-afb-300366847.html SOURCE Vectrus, Inc.

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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / Today, True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. (CSE: MJ) made a substantial announcement by acquiring the assets and intellectual property of OregaPet, an award-winning Canadian brand of medicinal products for pets, based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.

The family-run herbal company has been researching and experimenting with oregano essential oil for almost 20 years, and their love for this herbal extract has led to the development of OregaPet products. Products from OregaPet can be purchased not only online at countless distributors, but have been for sale on the shelves of retail stores in Canada for several years, thus generating revenues which now will flow into True Leaf. The company hopes to complete the acquisition by January 1, 2017, and then roll out a refreshed, True Leaf Pet branded line to Canadian and US customers early next spring.

OregaPet is the first and only brand available in the global marketplace offering the power of oil of oregano in products designed specifically for pets. Oil of oregano's efficacy is widely known  most commonly as a preventative treatment when the first signs of a cold appear. The herbal oil is known to be an anti-viral and also a powerful anti-microbial that can help fight off infections. OregaPet's product line has attracted industry recognition for its quality and innovation. OregaPet Bed and Body Spray has received the 2016 NationalNutrition.ca award for 'Best Pet Product' and OregaPet Oil of Oregano received the 2013 Alive Consumer's Choice Silver Award for 'Best New Product'.

True Leaf CEO Darcy Bomford commented in today's press-release:

"We saw the potential and jumped at the opportunity to acquire the brand. The full range of products  infused with oil of oregano  is a perfect complement to our True Leaf Pet supplements. It supports our mission to provide quality of life for people and pets. Consumers are looking for alternatives to strong pharmaceuticals, and we see OregaPet's award-winning natural-focused line of medicinal products as an effective and sought-after alternative."

The full report can be accessed with the following links:

Story continues

English (PDF):

http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/TrueLeaf19en.pdf

English (Webversion):

http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/en/research-reports/2088-True-Leaf-acquires-OregaPet,-a-revenue-generating-company-with-award-winning-medicinal-products

German (PDF):

http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/TrueLeaf19de.pdf

For smartphones, an APP from Rockstone Research is available in the AppStore for Apple devices and in the GooglePlayStore for Android devices. Recently, Zimtu Capital Corp. launched the Beta Version of its Advantage APP, in which all interlisted stocks (i.e. all public companies listed in Canada and Germany) can be tracked. After a cost-free registration, the full features of the APP are unlocked, e.g. sorting all stocks with the biggest daily trading volumes on all German or Canadian exchanges (see instructions in the section "How To Use"): www.app.zimtu.com See Rockstone Report introducing and explaining the Zimtu Advantage App here.

Disclaimer: Please read the full disclaimer within the full research report as a PDF as fundamental risks and conflicts of interest exist.

SOURCE: Rockstone Research
[November 21, 2016] root9B Technologies Announces Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- root9B Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: RTNB) ("RTNB") today announced financial results for the third quarter ("Q3") and nine months ("YTD") ended September 30, 2016, and reiterated its commitment to becoming a pure-play cybersecurity firm. Financial Highlights Q3 2016 net revenue rose 29.1% to $8.6 million from $6.6 million in Q3 2015; YTD 2016 net revenue increased 7.4% to $25.9 million from $24.1 million in Q3 2015.

from in Q3 2015; YTD 2016 net revenue increased 7.4% to from in Q3 2015. Q3 2016 revenue at root9B, RTNB's wholly-owned cybersecurity business, rose 59.8% to $1.5 million from $940,000 in Q3 2015; cybersecurity revenue for YTD 2016 increased 61.1% to $3.3 million from $2.1 million in YTD 2015.

from in Q3 2015; cybersecurity revenue for YTD 2016 increased 61.1% to from in YTD 2015. Revenue at the IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions segment, which focuses on Anti-Money Laundering and regulatory risk mitigation, rose 24.4% to $6.6 million in Q3 2016 from $5.3 million in Q3 2015; IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions revenue for YTD 2016 increased 4.3% to $21.5 million from $20.6 million in YTD 2015.

in Q3 2016 from in Q3 2015; IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions revenue for YTD 2016 increased 4.3% to from in YTD 2015. S,G&A as a percentage of net revenue declined to 54.4% in Q3 2016 from 68.4% in Q3 2015.

Q3 2016 operating loss was $3.7 million as compared to $3.6 million in Q3 2015; YTD 2016 operating loss was $11.9 million as compared to $9.4 million in YTD 2015. Business Highlights In August 2016 , RTNB announced a shift to a pure-play cybersecurity company focused solely on the operations of root9B. As part of this strategic realignment, RTNB has: appointed a new President and COO reconfigured its Board to reflect the pure cybersecurity focus commenced evaluating the possible sale of non-cybersecurity assets

, RTNB announced a shift to a pure-play cybersecurity company focused solely on the operations of root9B. As part of this strategic realignment, RTNB has: In connection with its pursuit of an up-listing of its common stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market, in October 2016 RTNB shareholders approved a reverse stock split at a ratio within the range of 1:9 to 1:18 with the exact ratio and timing to be determined by the Board of Directors.

RTNB shareholders approved a reverse stock split at a ratio within the range of 1:9 to 1:18 with the exact ratio and timing to be determined by the Board of Directors. root9B has secured more than $12 million in new contracts during 2016, which will be serviced over the next several years, and span engagements across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and blanket purchase agreements.

in new contracts during 2016, which will be serviced over the next several years, and span engagements across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and blanket purchase agreements. root9B has also been approved to participate in a number of US Government indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multi-year contracts.

In November 2016 , root9B was ranked #1 on the Cybersecurity 500 for the fourth consecutive quarter.

, root9B was ranked #1 on the Cybersecurity 500 for the fourth consecutive quarter. In November 2016 , IPSA announced a third contract extension with a global digital and mobile payments company valued at $1.5 million . "Although we are pleased with the revenue growth at root9B and IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions, there is still much work to be done with respect to scaling cybersecurity revenue to levels sufficient to offset higher investments in this business, enhancing corporate cash flows and liquidity, and achieving overall profitability," said Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RTNB. "As our business development activities progress, we will continue to align RTNB's cost structure to reflect our outlook and strategy, which is now focused on supporting the growth of our root9B cybersecurity business. We have added more than 50 cybersecurity professionals to root9b over the past two years, further strengthening what we view as a significant industry barrier to entry. We also generated a 1400 bps decline in SG&A during Q3 2016 as a result of cutting costs at IPSA, Energy Solutions, and corporate." "We are resolute in our belief that becoming a pure-play cybersecurity company puts us in the best position to create long-term and sustainable shareholder value," said Mr. Grano. "Commercial and government demand for cyber defense solutions is growing, as CIOs, CISOs and IT security teams face rising cyber threats and a severe cybersecurity workforce shortage. Led by Eric Hipkins, root9B's executives and technical teams are comprised of cybersecurity professionals who worked at the highest levels of the military and government, including the National Security Agency and Department of Defense. They have developed more than 15 organic threat-defense software capabilities, and opened a first-of-its-kind Adversary Pursuit Center, a 24/7 manned operations facility that combines internal and external threat intelligence feeds to drive pursuit operations and perimeter defense within client networks. We believe that the disruptive, multi-platform products and services created and deployed by root9B are helping to change the way that companies address what many view as the nation's number one security threat." "Our focus is clear," Dan Wachtler, President and COO of RTNB, said. "We are pleased with, and will continue to support, root9B's progress in expanding its new business pipeline, securing new contracts, and elevating the brand. IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions is successfully focusing on expanding its sources of revenue and cutting costs. At the corporate level, we are continuing to evaluate the sale of our non-cybersecurity assets and taking the necessary actions to optimize and enhance enterprise-wide operations." Consolidated Q3 2016 Overview

Net revenue for Q3 2016 increased 29.1% to $8.6 million from $6.6 million in Q3 2015. Each of RTNB's three business segments reported higher revenue in Q3 2016 compared to Q3 2015: Cybersecurity revenue increased 59.8% to $1.5 million; IPSA/Business Advisory Solutions revenue rose 24.4% to $6.6 million; and Energy Solutions revenue increased 19.9% to $507,000. Q3 2016 gross profit was $1.5 million, or 17.5% of net revenue, as compared to $1.4 million, or 21.2% of total revenue, in Q3 in 2015. Higher gross profit at IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions offset gross profit declines at Energy Solutions and root9b, where the Company continues to invest in future revenue creating resources and the expansion of the cybersecurity platform. Lower gross margin was attributable to lower gross margin at root9B. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $4.7 million in Q3 2016 as compared to $4.5 million in Q3 2015. As a percentage of net revenue, however, SG&A declined to 54.4% from 68.4% in Q3 2015, driven primarily by higher revenues, as well as ongoing cost containment efforts. SG&A expenses at IPSA / Business Advisory Solutions, Energy Solutions, and corporate were reduced by a combined $731,000 in Q3 2016, which partially offset approximately $854,000 of higher costs at root9B reflecting ongoing investments in personnel and business development activities. The loss from operations in Q3 2016 was $3.7 million and $3.6 million in Q3 2015. RTNB reported non-cash derivative income of $1.1 million in Q3 2016 as compared to a non-cash expense of $22,000 in Q3 2015. This expense is associated with detachable common stock purchase warrants issued with various securities for the period May 2010 through Q1 2013. These warrants are recorded as derivative liabilities and "marked-to-market" based on fair value estimates at each reporting date. The Company also recorded a goodwill impairment write-down of $2.0 million in Q3 2016 at the Business Advisory Solutions business segment, reducing the goodwill valuation to $0.3 million from $2.3 million as of June 30, 2016. No impairment charges were required for the IPSA and Cyber Solutions business units. Net loss for Q3 2016 was $5.1 million, or 0.06 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $4.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in Q3 2015. 2016 Financial Outlook Given RTNB's ongoing initiatives to re-focus its operations as a pure-play cybersecurity company, which includes significant investments in its root9B subsidiary and an ongoing review of its non-cybersecurity assets, management believes it is prudent to withdraw its previously issued annual guidance for 2016. If and when circumstances permit, RTNB will provide an appropriate update to the market. "We remain quite optimistic about root9B's growth prospects, as well as our progress in taking the necessary steps to enhance the long-term value of RTNB," said Mr. Grano. About root9B Ranked as the #1 Cybersecurity company for three consecutive quarters by Cybersecurity Ventures (Jan 2016), root9B stands in defiance of the unwanted human presence within our clients' networks by attacking the root of the problemthe adversary's ability to gain entry and remain undetected. root9B's application of advanced technology developed through cutting-edge R&D and engineering and refined through relevant, hands-on training is revolutionary. root9B combines cutting-edge technology, tactics development, specialty tools, and deep mission experience. root9B personnel leverage their extensive backgrounds in the U.S. Intelligence Community to conduct advanced vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, digital forensics, incident response, Industrial Control System (ICS) security, and active adversary pursuit (HUNT) engagements on networks worldwide. For more information, visit www.root9B.com. About root9B Technologies, Inc. root9B Technologies (OTCQB: RTNB) is a leading provider of Cybersecurity and Regulatory Risk Mitigation Services. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries root9B and IPSA International, root9B Technologies delivers results that improve productivity, mitigate risk and maximize profits. Its clients range in size from Fortune 100 companies to mid-sized and owner-managed businesses across a broad range of industries including local, state and government agencies. For more information, visit www.root9btechnologies.com Forward Looking Statements Certain information contained in this press release may include certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future financial performance, future growth and future acquisitions. These statements are based on root9B Technologies' current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of root9B Technologies business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies are indicated from time to time in root9B Technologies filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that root9B Technologies financial results in any particular period may not be indicative of future results. root9B Technologies is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.







Media Contact: Investors: Andrew Hoffman Devin Sullivan Zito Partners The Equity Group Inc. 908-546-7447 212-836-9608 [email protected] [email protected]

ROOT9B TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



(Unaudited)





September 30,

December 31,

2016

2015 ASSETS













CURRENT ASSETS:





Cash $ 2,032,338

$ 795,682 Accounts receivable, net of reserve for doubtful accounts 4,983,565

3,010,161 Marketable securities -

33,366 Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings 445,729

357,625 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 740,419

758,240







Total current assets 8,202,051

4,955,074







Construction in Progress - at cost 341,870

108,095







Property and Equipment - at cost less accumulated depreciation 3,985,080

3,782,388







OTHER ASSETS:













Goodwill 13,631,769

15,676,246 Intangible assets - net 4,525,762

5,509,642 Investment in cost-method investee 100,000

100,000 Deferred income taxes 56,409

56,409 Cash surrender value of officers' life insurance -

167,371 Deposits and other assets 209,290

233,579







Total other assets 18,523,230

21,743,247







TOTAL ASSETS $ 31,052,231

$ 30,588,804

(Unaudited)





September 30,

December 31,

2016

2015 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY













CURRENT LIABILITIES:





Convertible Promissory Note Payable, net of debt discount of $0 at September 30, 2016 and $59,307 at December 31, 2015 $ 1,600,000

$ 1,540,693 Related Party Note Payable 500,000

- Capital Lease Obligation, current portion 19,835

1,500 Factored receivables obligation 1,027,393

- Accounts payable 3,039,568

1,607,166 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings 176,170

217,336 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 3,073,331

2,560,048







Total current liabilities 9,436,297

5,926,743







NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:













Convertible Promissory Notes net of debt discounts of $2,072,842 at September 30, 2016 and $0 as of December 31, 2015. 1,623,158

- Capital Lease Obligation  net of current portion 35,072

2,373 Derivative liability 2,733,149

3,540,084







Total noncurrent liabilities 4,391,379

3,542,457







STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:













Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 4,985,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. -

- Class B convertible preferred stock, no liquidation preference $.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. -

- Class C convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value, 2,500,000 shares authorized, 2,380,952 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. 2,381

2,381 Common stock, $.001 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 84,370,314 and 76,990,639 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. 84,372

77,009 Additional paid-in capital 87,071,033

77,983,593 Accumulated deficit (70,252,123)

(57,080,942) Accumulated other comprehensive income 318,892

137,563 Total stockholders' equity 17,224,555

21,119,604







TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $31,052,231

$ 30,588,804 ROOT9B TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(Unaudited)



Three Months

Ended

September 30,

2016

Three Months

Ended

September 30,

2015

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

2016

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

2015 NET REVENUE $ 8,571,977

$ 6,637,849

$ 25,908,590

$ 24,122,081















OPERATING EXPENSES:













Cost of revenues 7,072,845

5,232,364

22,410,844

18,630,208 Selling, general and administrative 4,661,496

4,537,800

13,832,055

13,108,647 Depreciation and amortization 549,727

417,491

1,608,010

1,093,521 Acquisition related costs -

-

-

649,442















Total operating expenses 12,284,068

10,187,655

37,850,909

33,481,818















LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (3,712,091)

(3,549,806)

(11,942,319)

(9,359,737)















OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):













Derivative (expense) income 1,089,617

(22,477)

1,912,821

3,768,199 Goodwill impairment (2,044,477)

-

(2,044,477)

- Loss on extinguishment of debt --

-

(226,380)

- Interest expense, net (201,110)

(167,427)

(460,745)

(698,068) Other income (expense) (94,472)

(128,667)

(138,880)

(39,430)















Total other income (expense) (1,250,442)

(318,571)

(957,661)

3,030,701















LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (4,962,533)

(3,868,377)

(12,899,980)

(6,329,036)















INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE) (131,468)

(157,485)

(264,723)

1,881,017















NET LOSS (a) (5,094,001)

(4,025,862)

(13,164,704)

(4,448,019)















PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS -

-

(6,857)

(406,372) NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS ($ 5,094,001)

$ (4,025,862)

$ (13,171,561)

$(4,854,391) Net loss per share:















Basic $ (0.06)

$ (0.05)

$ (0.16)

$ (0.07) Diluted $ (0.06)

$ (0.05)

$ (0.16)

$ (0.07) Weighted average number of shares:



Basic 84,356,405

73,807,736

82,277,509

68,970,960

Diluted 84,356,405

73,807,736

82,277,509

68,970,960

























(a) Net loss for YTD 2015 included $3.8 million in non-cash derivative income and a $1.9 million income tax benefit. This compared to $1.9 million in non-cash derivative income and a $0.3 million income tax expense in YTD 2016. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/root9b-technologies-announces-third-quarter-2016-financial-results-300366956.html SOURCE root9B Technologies, Inc.

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[November 21, 2016] Fitch Rates Jennie Stuart Medical Center's (KY) 2016 Revs at 'BBB-'; Outlook Remains Negative

Fitch Ratings has assigned a 'BBB-' rating to the following County of Christian, Kentucky, Hospital Revenue Bonds (Jennie Stuart Medical Center Project), issued on behalf of Jennie Stuart Medical Center (JSMC): --$55.5 million series 2016. In addition, Fitch has affirmed the following ratings: -$60.1 million of series 2006 (remarketed in 2008). The Rating Outlook remains Negative. The series 2016 bonds are expected to be issued as fixed rate. Proceeds, together with proceeds of an approximately $10 million taxable bank loan and an equity contribution, will be used to advance refund all of the series 2006 bonds, fund certain capital improvements, create a debt service reserve fund (DSRF), and pay for costs of issuance. SECURITY The bonds will be secured by a pledge of gross revenues, a first mortgage lien on certain property and a DSRF. KEY RATING DRIVERS ONGOING NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE: Maintenance of the Negative Outlook is driven by JSMC's three years of negative operating performance. In 2015, JSMC had a negative 6.1% operating margin ($7.0 million operating loss) and a 3.0% operating EBITDA margin, both significantly below Fitch's 'BBB' category medians of 1.5% and 8.7%, respectively. Operating margin improved slightly to a negative 3.9% through the nine-month interim (ended Sept. 30, 2016). IMPROVED DEBT BURDEN: Post issuance, JSMC's maximum annual debt service (MADS) drops to $4.4 million, representing a manageable 3.6% of total annualized revenues through the interim. Pro forma debt to capitalization of 41% is favorable to Fitch's 'BBB' median of 50.2%. The lower MADS results in improved debt service coverage of 1.9x through the interim, still unfavorable to Fitch's median of 3.0x, but improved from 1.3x in 2015. ADEQUATE LIQUIDITY POSITION: At Sept. 30, 2016, JSMC's $52.5 million in unrestricted cash and investments, equated to 161.4 days cash on hand (DCOH) and a 12x pro forma cushion ratio, both in line with Fitch's 'BBB' medians of 161.2 days and 11.7x, respectively. Pro forma cash to debt of 80.6% was slightly unfavorable to the 90.8% median. Pro forma cash to debt does not incorporate the impacts of the potential equity contribution and the expected reimbursement for prior capital from the 2016 issuance. Liquidity has remained largely stable over the last three years and is a key credit strength at the rating level. VANDERBILT AFFILIATION: JSMC signed an affiliation agreement with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Vanderbilt) in 2016, with JSMC becoming part of Vanderbilt's Clinically Integrated Network. Under the agreement, Vanderbilt will assist JSMC with several specialty service lines including oncology and cardiology. Fitch views the affiliation positively and believes it should benefit JSMC's quality indicators, physician specialty coverage, and financial results over the medium term. LEADING MARKET POSITION: JSMC's has a leading market share of 66.7% in its primary service area (PSA), which has remained stable over the last three years. However, the service area remains economically challenged, as JSMC's payor mix consisted of 23.3% Medicaid in 2015. RATING SENSITIVITIES OPERATING IMPROVEMENT NEEDED: The 'BBB-' rating on Jennie Stuart Medical Center is contingent upon operating improvements in 2016 and 2017 and continued stability of liquidity levels. Failure to improve operating profitability and coverage to levels more consistent with the 'BBB' category will likely result in a downgrade. CREDIT PROFILE JSMC is a 194 licensed bed inpatient acute care hospital located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, approximately 70 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee. JSMC had total operating revenues of $113.9 million in 2015. WEAK OPERATING PERFORMANCE JSMC's operating losses of $8.1 million in 2014 and $7.0 million in 2015 equated to negative 7.4% and 6.1% operating margins, respectively. The operating losses are attributed to declining inpatient volumes and significant losses at JSMC's employed physician practice. Management has developed a cost reduction and process streamlining initiative in regards to its physician group in 2015. The initiative is currently being implemented and all physician contracts that come up for renewal are being reviewed and renegotiated to reflect current market conditions and productivity. Other initiatives center around vendor contract renegotiations and volume improvements. JSMC's operating margin improved slightly to a negative 3.9% through the nine-month interim period, and management is budgeting to end 2016 with a negative 3.2% operating margin. JSMC was approved for Sole Community Provider (SCP) status in April of 2016. The annual benefit going forward should be in excess of $800,000. Furthermore, JSMC received approval for reclassification into the Nashville MSA effective October of 2016, which will increase its wage class index reimbursement level, with an estimated net operating benefit of approximately $1.3 million annually. Neither the SCP status nor the MSA reclassification is incorporated in the 2016 budget. Fitch views the realization of the financial benefits from both programs as essential to maintaining the rating. IMPROVED DEBT BURDEN JSMC's pro forma MADS represents a manageable 3.6% of total annualized revenues through the interim period, equal to Fitch's 'BBB' median. Pro forma debt to EBITDA improved to 7.9x through the interim due to better operating performance, but still remained unfavorable to Fitch's median of 4.3x. Lower MADS and better operating performance helped improve pro forma debt service coverage to 1.9x through the interim period, still below the 30x median, but improved from 1.3x in 2015 and 1.2x in 2014.



Capital spending has been tempered over the last three years, averaging at just 57% of annual depreciation. Lower CapEx resulted in an increased average age of plant of 15.6 years in 2015, unfavorable to Fitch's median of 11.4, and indicative of deferred capital spending. Management is not planning any large capital expenditures over the medium term, and the new money from the 2016 issuance will fund up to $8.3 million in future capital, which should help JSMC further build its liquidity. DEBT PROFILE

The series 2016 bonds and the taxable bank loan will be issued as fixed rate and will have the same financial covenants. The bank loan fully amortizes over a 15 year period. The advance refunding of the 2006 bonds will allow for the release of the Assured Guaranty insurance. CONTINUING DISCLOSURE JSMC covenants to disclose audited annual information within 150 days of fiscal year end to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's EMMA system. JSMC also discloses quarterly statements to EMMA, and Fitch notes that disclosure has been timely and thorough. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Applicable Criteria Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 16 Jun 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/750012 U.S. Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Systems Rating Criteria (pub. 09 Jun 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/866807 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=1015154 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1015154 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/regulatory ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. Copyright (c) 2016 by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. 33 Whitehall Street, NY, NY 10004. Telephone: 1-800-753-4824, (212) 908-0500. Fax: (212) 480-4435. Reproduction or retransmission in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission. All rights reserved. In issuing and maintaining its ratings and in making other reports (including forecast information), Fitch relies on factual information it receives from issuers and underwriters and from other sources Fitch believes to be credible. Fitch conducts a reasonable investigation of the factual information relied upon by it in accordance with its ratings methodology, and obtains reasonable verification of that information from independent sources, to the extent such sources are available for a given security or in a given jurisdiction. The manner of Fitch's factual investigation and the scope of the third-party verification it obtains will vary depending on the nature of the rated security and its issuer, the requirements and practices in the jurisdiction in which the rated security is offered and sold and/or the issuer is located, the availability and nature of relevant public information, access to the management of the issuer and its advisers, the availability of pre-existing third-party verifications such as audit reports, agreed-upon procedures letters, appraisals, actuarial reports, engineering reports, legal opinions and other reports provided by third parties, the availability of independent and competent third- party verification sources with respect to the particular security or in the particular jurisdiction of the issuer, and a variety of other factors. Users of Fitch's ratings and reports should understand that neither an enhanced factual investigation nor any third-party verification can ensure that all of the information Fitch relies on in connection with a rating or a report will be accurate and complete. Ultimately, the issuer and its advisers are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide to Fitch and to the market in offering documents and other reports. In issuing its ratings and its reports, Fitch must rely on the work of experts, including independent auditors with respect to financial statements and attorneys with respect to legal and tax matters. Further, ratings and forecasts of financial and other information are inherently forward-looking and embody assumptions and predictions about future events that by their nature cannot be verified as facts. As a result, despite any verification of current facts, ratings and forecasts can be affected by future events or conditions that were not anticipated at the time a rating or forecast was issued or affirmed. The information in this report is provided "as is" without any representation or warranty of any kind, and Fitch does not represent or warrant that the report or any of its contents will meet any of the requirements of a recipient of the report. A Fitch rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a security. This opinion and reports made by Fitch are based on established criteria and methodologies that Fitch is continuously evaluating and updating. Therefore, ratings and reports are the collective work product of Fitch and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating or a report. The rating does not address the risk of loss due to risks other than credit risk, unless such risk is specifically mentioned. Fitch is not engaged in the offer or sale of any security. All Fitch reports have shared authorship. Individuals identified in a Fitch report were involved in, but are not solely responsible for, the opinions stated therein. The individuals are named for contact purposes only. A report providing a Fitch rating is neither a prospectus nor a substitute for the information assembled, verified and presented to investors by the issuer and its agents in connection with the sale of the securities. Ratings may be changed or withdrawn at any time for any reason in the sole discretion of Fitch. Fitch does not provide investment advice of any sort. Ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of payments made in respect to any security. Fitch receives fees from issuers, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, and underwriters for rating securities. Such fees generally vary from US$1,000 to US$750,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent) per issue. In certain cases, Fitch will rate all or a number of issues issued by a particular issuer, or insured or guaranteed by a particular insurer or guarantor, for a single annual fee. Such fees are expected to vary from US$10,000 to US$1,500,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent). The assignment, publication, or dissemination of a rating by Fitch shall not constitute a consent by Fitch to use its name as an expert in connection with any registration statement filed under the United States securities laws, the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 of the United Kingdom, or the securities laws of any particular jurisdiction. Due to the relative efficiency of electronic publishing and distribution, Fitch research may be available to electronic subscribers up to three days earlier than to print subscribers. For Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and South Korea only: Fitch Australia Pty Ltd holds an Australian financial services license (AFS license no. 337123) which authorizes it to provide credit ratings to wholesale clients only. Credit ratings information published by Fitch is not intended to be used by persons who are retail clients within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161121006213/en/

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Three seek NLCS Board District 1 seat in upcoming election

Three candidates are seeking election to the district one seat on the NLCS board: Incumbent Kirsten Collier, Craig Godsey and Jason Johnson.
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and comprehensive portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories, and in 50 different languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences around the world through its iconic brands and products, including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Spanish, Hogar de HGTV, among others. More information: www.wbd.com.
FRANKFURT, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The growth of solar and wind power in the United States could slow under President-elect Donald Trump, the chief executive of German utility E.ON told German newspaper Handelsblatt, but added he expected any change to be slow.

"It is possible that future growth may slow and that the focus will shift again towards coal and oil. But we have seen these shifts in Europe, too. Just think about nuclear energy," Johannes Teyssen was quoted as saying.

E.ON has assets of about 4 billion euros ($4.25 billion) in the United States, the world's second-biggest market for wind turbines after China, mostly in the form of onshore wind parks.

Global renewable stocks fell following Trump's election victory, fuelling concerns about the long-term prospects of the industry in the United States.

Teyssen said most jobs in the renewables industry were located in states dominated by the Republicans, adding any change in legislation would happen very slowly.

"I also rule out a change to existing assets," he said.

($1 = 0.9406 euros) (Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tina Bellon and Dale Hudson)
Samsung Galaxy S23  all the rumors so far

As good as the Samsung Galaxy S22 is, Samsung could do even better with its next flagship. Here's a look at some of the features we hope make the cut for the Galaxy S23.
A decent price for some excellent hardware and software should make the Nokia 8.3 5G a better option than it feels like. But other phones like the Pixel 5, OnePlus 8 and Galaxy S20 FE offer more for the same price.

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

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Nokia 8.3 5G: Specs Price: $699

Display: 6.81-inch LCD (2400 x 1080; 60Hz)

CPU: Snapdragon 765G

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 128GB

Rear cameras: 64MP main (f/1.9); 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2); 2MP macro; 2MP depth

Front camera: 24MP (f/2.0)

Battery size: 4,500 mAh

Size: 6.8 x 3.1 x 0.35 inches

Weight: 7.76 ounces

Recent months have seen an explosion in the number of $699 phones that balance some premium features with prices well below what youd pay for a flagship device. Include the Nokia 8.3 5G in that group. Like its fellow $699 phones, this device built by HMD Global offers a reliable processor and a list of other specs that, on paper, seem quite competitive for the asking price. It certainly offers a better bang for buck than the Nokia 7.2.

And yet to my dismay, I dont like the Nokia 8.3 5G. Sure, there are some clear positives to go with that affordable price. But with so many other similarly priced phones on the market, our Nokia 8.3 5G review revealed an ultimately lackluster device that doesnt offer anything truly special to stand out from the crowd. Lacking some features that others have for the same cost makes it very forgettable.

Note that there are actually two 5G phones carrying the Nokia 8 name  this model and the Nokia 8 V 5G UW , which is an identically priced version retooled to work with Verizons high-speed 5G network. Other than that, these two Nokia 8 devices are essentially the same.

HMD Global actually introduced the Nokia 8.3 5G nearly a year ago, though it didnt reach the U.S. until very late in 2020. The $699 phone is available unlocked from Amazon (opens in new tab) as well as the Nokia website (opens in new tab). That $699 gets you a phone with 128GB of storage  double the amount found in the Verizon version of this same phone  and 8GB of memory.

Over in the UK, youll fork over 499.99 for a 64GB/6GB variant and in Australia, you get the same specs as the US for AU$899.

As far as the US is concerned, the Nokia 8.3 5G faces fierce competition from the likes of the Pixel 5 ($699), the Galaxy S20 FE ($699), the OnePlus 8T ($749). But there are even cheaper 5G phones like the Pixel 4a 5G ($499) and Galaxy A71 5G ($599) that measure up well against the Nokia 8.3. That presents HMD Global with an uphill battle in trying to carve out a space for this device. And as well see, it isnt always successful.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Design

Ill just get the obvious out of the way. The Nokia 8.3 5G is a big phone  a real Oh Lawd He Comin on the Chonk Cat scale. I have large hands, and I can safely say that this is a two-handed device thats difficult to stash in a pocket.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Nokia 8.3 5G comes in at 6.8 x 3.1 x 0.35 inches and a weight of 7.76 ounces. For reference, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra , a large device in its own right, measures 6.5 x 3 x 0.32 inches and weighs 7.34 ounces. So surprisingly, the Nokia 8.3 is the heavyweight of these two devices.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Beyond that, the Nokia 8.3 5G is a looker with a gorgeous deep blue finish on the back. Its a fingerprint magnet, though, but when its wiped clean, its beautiful. Ill hand it to HMD  they designed a really pretty phone that catches light wonderfully.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The round, Zeiss-branded quad camera module sticks out noticeably from the Nokia 8.3s back, meaning the phone doesnt lay flat when you set it down on a table. For some reason, this has always bugged me, but your level of irritation may vary.

Along the right side of the frame is the Nokia 8.3s SIM/SD card tray, the volume rocker, and the power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor. Over on the left side is the Google Assistant button all by its lonesome. Thats an awkward placement that invites accidental presses, should you try to unlock the phone thinking youre hitting the power button. It doesnt help that both buttons are placed directly opposite of each other.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Over on the face of the Nokia 8.3 5G, theres a hole punch cutout for the front-facing camera in the top left corner and a rather noticeable chin with a Nokia logo. Im not a huge fan of the design direction here, especially with the comparatively large bottom bezel. Other phones in this price range minimize the chin, but HMD Global seemingly hasnt gotten the memo.

The Nokia 8.3 5G lacks any kind of IP rating for water resistance, so be careful with it near water. Theres also no wireless charging, something similarly priced rivals such as the Pixel 5 offer.

My other disappointment with the phone physically is the mono bottom-firing speaker. Its tinny and doesnt sound good at all. Notifications and system sounds made me grit my teeth, so I set the phone to vibrate and forgot about it until I watched a YouTube video. Having come from using a Pixel 4 XL and its stereo speakers, I found the Nokia 8.3 5Gs audio rather underwhelming.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Dont get me wrong, I mostly like the design of the Nokia 8.3 5G, even if it is a behemoth. Plus, theres a headphone jack on the bottom next to the USB-C port, something a lot of phone makers forego these days. There are just some quirks or poor decisions in other parts of the design that left me scratching my head.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Display

Its the 6.81-inch 2400 x 1080 IPS LCD panel that makes the Nokia 8.3 5G so big. You get a 20:9 aspect ratio with a grand total of 386 pixels per inch, meaning that its not as sharp as a QHD display, though resolution will be fine for most people.

Colors are plenty vibrant with the display covering 142.5% of the sRGB color gamut. Thats more than the 128.8% covered by the Pixel 5 and about equal to the 140.6% covered by the LG Velvet , one of the more colorful displays weve seen among the $699 phones. Contrast on the Nokia 8.3 5G is pretty good, and the displays brightness hit a maximum of 607 nits with adaptive mode turned on. Thats about equal with the 610 nits that the Pixel 5 managed. Overall, the Nokia 8.3 features a nice LCD panel, even if it lacks the punch of an OLED with noticeably weaker blacks to boot.

When discussing color accuracy, the Nokia 8.3 5Gs display hits a Delta-E score of 0.28 in our lab tests (where the lower score is best). That beats the Galaxy S20 FEs 0.3 and the OnePlus 8Ts 0.29.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The big display is great for media consumption, especially gaming. Playing Xbox Game Pass titles such as Destiny 2 or Master Chief Collection was a joy especially with headphones hooked up. Dare I call the Nokia 8.3 5G screen immersive? I think so. It may not win awards, but it gets the job done with decent colors and good brightness.

The sad part about the Nokia 8.3 5Gs display is that the refresh rate is locked at 60Hz. If you havent experienced Android at higher frame rates before, Id forgive you for not caring. But once you see a 90Hz screen like the Pixel 5s or 120Hz like the Galaxy S20 FE, its really hard to forget how smooth scrolling is on those comparably priced phones.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Camera

The Nokia 8.3 5Gs quad camera setup features a 64MP main shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. Many of the images shot under well-lit conditions offer decent colors and detail. The ultrawide sensor is also fun and produces some good wide-angle pictures, perfect for large groups or landscape shots.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Only half of the camera array is useful, however, with the macro proving to be effectively pointless in comparison to a good zoom on the main lens. I also didnt notice too much use of the depth sensor in my photos compared to what I captured with my Pixel 4 XL  if anything, the Nokias shots appear to lack depth in comparison to the Pixels pictures.

You can see some real differences between the Nokia 8.3 5G and my Pixel 4 XL in this sample shot of a forest. The Nokia 8.3 5G seems to have overexposed the scene, while the Pixel captured sharp details and has a better sense of depth. The Nokias shot feels almost flat in comparison. Theres not a whole lot of color or light going on in this scene, but the Pixels image is noticeably better than the Nokias.

In this photo of my living room window (from the ground level under pitch black conditions), you can see the true difference between Googles Night Sight and the Nokia 8.3 5Gs night mode. The Pixel 4 XL pulls in so much more light and contains less noise than the Nokias effort. While you can still make some details, like the bricks and mortar of my house, the Nokia shot is noticeably darker. Both photos caught some of the tree shadows cast from a distant street light, which impressed me, even if the Pixels is clearer.

The Pixel 4 XL also captured the colors of the railroad bridge much better than the Nokia 8.3 5G. The latter warmed up the temperature more than the Pixel, making the rust look much more orange than it is in real life. Everything about that bridge is faded and the Pixel captures that true-to-life detail.

Lets chat about the portrait mode on the Nokia 8.3 5G. I had my photographer stand the same distance away from me with both phones, and you can clearly see the differences in just the zoom levels, though thats not the biggest takeaway from this comparison. More critically, theres a difference in how much light both phones bring in, with the Pixel 4 XL being a clear winner in both brightness and clarity. Toward the bottom of the picture on my sleeves, the Nokia made things noisy and blurry. If I was going to post either on my Instagram, the Pixel is the obvious winner with both its realism and artistic vibe.

When discussing the performance of the Nokia 8.3s 24MP selfie cam, you can see some notable differences between its self-portrait and the one I shot with the Pixel 4 XL. The Nokia cooled things down a lot, likely due to the blue from my shirt. The Pixel, meanwhile, captured the light better and kept the temperature much closer to reality. It also brought in the blue and even the threads of my shirt better than the Nokia, which sort of flattened my attire like it did with the outdoor shot we talked about at the top of this section.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Performance

The Nokia 8.3 5G rocks a Snapdragon 765G, a step down from the Snapdragon 865 found in many of last years flagship Android phones. Still, the 765G is a very capable and reliable chip, and unless youre a spec junky, this chipset will be more than enough for your needs.

The Nokia 8.3 5G flies without a hitch, locking and unlocking quickly. Animations remain smooth and consistent, apps open almost immediately, and gaming performance is strong. The 8GB of RAM inside the Nokia 8.3 5G also helps things run well, and Im very impressed with how the Nokia 8.3 5G feels in daily use. I never once was left wanting for more oomph.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

In Geekbench 5, the Nokia 8.3 5G scored 1,878 for multicore. Compared to Snapdragon 865-powered phones like the Galaxy S20 FE (2,928) and OnePlus 8T (3,203), that is a lower score. But it was also better than a lot of other Snapdragon 765G-based phones like the Pixel 5 (1,617 on Geekbench 5) or the Snapdragon 765-powered Samsung Galaxy A71 5G (1,796).

In the graphics department, the Nokia 8.3 5G managed to earn a score of 1,664 (10 frames per second) in the 3DMark Wildlife Unlimited test. That was better than the Pixel 5 (1,160), but slightly behind the LG Velvet (1,680).

As noted, the Nokia 8.3 5G works just fine with low-band 5G coverage like the nationwide networks launched by AT&T and T-Mobile. If you want high-speed millimeter wave-based 5G, though, youll need to look elsewhere  like the Nokia 8 V 5G UW.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Battery life and charging

Battery life is one of the Nokia 8.3 5Gs strongest selling points. The efficient Snapdragon 765G combined with the 4,500 mAh battery powering the phone makes for an excellent team, easily getting through two days in my use. Your mileage will vary depending on what you do and what you have going on in the background, but its possible to skip charging this at night sometimes.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

While we tested the Nokia 8.3 5Gs battery using the custom Toms Guide test where we have a phone surf the web over cellular until it runs out of power, we ran into a strange problem where the device would shut off with 10% of its battery still left. While we tried some fixes, including consulting with HMD Global, we were never able to run the test to its full completion, so we cant include the Nokia 8.3 5G on the best phone battery life list. Thats a shame, because the phone was usually around the 10 hours, 12 minutes mark when it hit 10% and shut down, so it likely would have lasted more than 11 hours. It certainly beat the Nokia 8 V 5G, which only lasted 8 hours and 26 minutes on the full test.

The Nokia 8.3 5G offers decent recharge speeds, getting back to 36% after half-an-hour of charging. Thats about equal to the Nokia 8 V 5G (34%), and Motorola Edge 5G (36%). An iPhone 12 mini can get to 60% in that time if you spring for a 20W charger.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Software

Software is another of the Nokia 8.3 5Gs strengths. HMD Global is one of the last holdouts for the Android One program, which ideally operates a lot like Googles own Pixels do with fast updates.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Out of the box, you have a very stock, Pixel-like Android experience. Theres no fluff, no tweaks, just a clean interface. Having used Pixels (and Nexuses before them), Im well accustomed to Googles semi-minimalist vision. People who are used to Samsungs One UI or something similar may find things to be a bit spartan, but trust me, youll adjust.

There is, however, a sticking point with the software. See, HMD Global has promised two OS updates for the Nokia 8.3 5G, which is all well and good until you realize that Android 11 is one of those updates since this phone ships with Android 10 out of the box. That means the phone wont receive an Android version update past this years Android 12, especially with the Android 11 update now arriving on the Nokia 8.3.

Nokia 8.3 5G review: Verdict

Compromise is the name of the game with the Nokia 8.3 5G. Considering its affordable flagship pricing, I honestly expected more from this phone given what other similarly priced devices offer. But $699 earns you a Nokia phone with no wireless charging, IP rating or special features beyond 5G connectivity.

I have a soft spot for the Nokia brand name, so I wanted to like this phone. But when your $699 can buy you a Galaxy S20 FE or a Pixel 5, both of which have more to offer, its hard to justify a Nokia 8.3 5G purchase. And for $200 less, you can grab yourself a Pixel 4a 5G with the same Snapdragon 765G SoC and a better camera.

Despite some great performance and battery life, a good display and a pleasant software experience, theres not a lot that stands out about the Nokia 8.3 5G. In a world with so many similarly priced competitors, this is a phone that gets lost in a crowd.
Involved in almost every aspect of our local scene, Unified are a powerhouse of Australian music, and today theyve announced the winners of their newest initiative The Unified Grant, a $25,000 award divided amongst five deserving creatives also working tirelessly to change things for the better.

Announced earlier this year by Unified founder and CEO Jaddan Comerford during his keynote speech at BIGSOUND 2016, the grant is specifically for people working in music not on the stage, but in a background role, and intends to foster the next generation of driven creatives who want to work in music but dont play an instrument.

In its first year, The Unified Grant had close to 200 applicants from around the world putting together a wide array of impressive creative initiatives, and it took a dedicated panel to select the five talented and incredibly worthy winners:

Georgia Beach  Office Gossip Design

Neal Walters  Neal Walters Photography

Aaron Dobos  Producer/Engineer/Mixer

Ashleigh Hills  Tram Sessions

Michelle Grace Hunder & Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore  Her Sound, Her Story

Its with great pleasure we announce the winners of The Unified Grant. Reading close to two hundred applications gave me so much inspiration and excitement, says Comerford. Its great to see so many amazing people out there with ideas that are contributing to Australian culture.

We are very proud to support the industry and the future growth and health of it. Choosing five winners was near impossible, but we got there, and I couldnt be more proud to be awarding The Unified Grant to these extraordinary individuals.

If you have some similarly impressive ideas, The Unified Grant will be open to applications again in 2017, to people from all areas behind the scenes of the music industry, from photographers and designers to journalists and app builders, so start getting your application together to get your initiative off the ground.

For some inspiration about exactly what can be achieved by people in this industry when they set their minds to it, weve chatted to each of the winners about what lead them to this point in their careers, what winning The Unified Grant means for them, and what comes next.

Love Pierce Brothers? Get the latest Pierce Brothers news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more JOIN

Unified CEO Jaddan Comerford announces The Unified Grant winners

Neal Walters  Neal Walters Photography

Neal Walters is a professional music photographer who captures musicians at their most candid. He is currently working on a photography book that will feature portraits of people in the music industry alongside photos of the subject in their happy place.

How did you find your way to photography, and specifically music photography?

My camera was never intended to find its way into live music. I started out in a completely different field, but over time a few friends within the music industry asked me to come down and shoot their shows. I developed those relationships over time, and started shooting bigger bands and bigger shows. Which has lead me to this.

What do you hope to achieve through your work?

Im probably the most critical person of my work that there is. Its always hard for me to set goals and really see a road to the next stage. All I have ever intended to do with my photos are make people feel an emotion when looking at them; which can be anything from happiness to feeling uneasy looking at something they havent seen before.

What inspired you to put this book together?

This book has been top of the list for a very long time. Being able to leave behind a physical copy of something when Im gone is a must for me. Ive worked in the music industry for quite a while now, and Im lucky enough to get an insight into these musicians lives that most people never see. So now that Ive built some solid relationships with a lot of people, I feel that its time to put that into print.

Whats your happy place?

My favourite cafe, with my camera, my friends, and a coffee in hand.

What does The Unified Grant mean for the project?

It means it exists. Without this grant, realistically, the book would have just been yet another idea that I write down in my pocketbook and doesnt get any legs. It will mean our travel, marketing, graphic design, and everything is able to happen.

Neal Walters amazing photography will finally be preserved in hard copy

Georgia Beach  Office Gossip Design

Office Gossip Design bridges the gap between creators and their community through graphic design. Located in Darwin, Office Gossip Design works out of the Skinnyfish creative hub and travels to remote parts of the Territory to help indigenous and Northern Territory creatives share their work with a broader audience.

What is Office Gossips goal, and how do you go about achieving it?

I am really excited to see territory artists represented in the national scene so my goal is to present the work of all these incredible musicians in a way that is more on par with the national level as thats something it has been lacking.

There is not a great deal of access particularly in remote areas and in indigenous communities to professional services such as graphic design. I strive to provide that and to see these artists put their music out in a way that allows them to expand their audience.

Whats it like working as a creative in Darwin  is it a creative hub?

There are challenges working in an area like Darwin, as there are so few doing what I do that sometimes it feels like Im in a silo, but I am really lucky as I work out of Skinnyfish music so we have created our own little hub.

In there we have Skinnyfish, Perambulator Records and sometimes [record label] Bad Apples and Baronga festival. We also have a lot of creatives and musicians coming in and out of there so its great to be surrounded by all that creative energy.

Is it becoming easier or more achievable for Indigenous artists to reach wider audiences with their work? If so, why?

I think that is. Its a bit of a double edged sword. The internet has made it easier for people to get their music out but it has also meant that its in a much bigger pool and its really easy to get lost in the noise. Without proper support its so expensive to tour so reaching new audiences and finding new audiences is really challenging as its really difficult to find the funding to go on tour.

Its a tricky one. There arent enough services that provide what an artist needs and so a lot of the time the work isnt perceived as professional. Thats what Im really trying to change with skinnyfish who are really trying to help the artists and the community and help them to produce work on a national level.

What else still needs to be done to provide Indigenous creatives with greater exposure, and provide greater opportunities?

Definitely there needs to be more funding in the area of providing and allowing access to touring. Also, expecting artists to go down south to record, which is often not a viable option for most indigenous artists  they cannot leave their communities for cultural reasons.

You can expect people to just move down to Melbourne to pursue their music career, so access to all kinds of professional services from developing musicianship and producing and recording [needs to be improved]. People need to go out to the regional communities instead of assuming they can come to them.

What does winning the Unified Grant mean for you and your work?

Its very exciting. I work off this dinosaur of a laptop that has to be tied to a dock at all times as the charger doesnt work. I cant go out to community and work with artists as I dont have a computer that allows me to do that.

So it will actually allow me to go out and do work with the Lonely Boys, and actually work with these artist to develop the artwork and communications strategies that actually work for them. It will allow me to be mobile which is tricky when mobility means eight hours away.

Ashleigh Hills  Tram Sessions

Tram Sessions is a Melbourne initiative that takes the joy of live music and seats it next to unsuspecting commuters. Since launching in 2010, Tram sessions has hosted over 100 artists including Paul Kelly, Josh Pyke, Paul Dempsey and Hands Like Houses and recently pulled into Adelaide.

How did Tram Sessions come about?

I actually didnt start Tram Sessions, it was a guy named Nick from Sweden who started it around the time they were trying to close The Tote. He wanted to bring music to the people, so he decided to put it on a tram. It took about six months to get approved, and then about three and a half years ago he moved back to Sweden and gave it to me to look after.

What have you hoped to achieve with the gigs?

Really just to get the clips out to as many people as possible and to give emerging artists a platform to reach more people, rather than just doing a radio interview or a Q&A  this is in front of an audience, an unsuspecting audience on a tram.

Did you ever expect it to reach the level that it has?

I think so, but I think its certainly just now starting to grow a lot more. We have just signed on a sponsor for the next 12 months and are talking to a bunch of cool people and artists at the moment, so I think its just now starting to get a bit bigger.

What have been some of the highlights of tram sessions so far?

Vance Joy, Hands Like Houses, The Smith Street Band The Pierce Brothers were amazing, and we recently got Gavin James, a UK artist touring whos just recently just started getting play on commercial radio in Australia. He has toured with Ed Sheeran and everyone, so that was pretty awesome.

What will the Unified Grant mean for you and the project?

It just really helps us to continue to grow, and hopefully get some new audio equipment because were still using the same stuff that we were using five years ago when it started.

Tram Sessions has seen great success presenting music in a different way

Aaron Dobos  Producer/Engineer/Mixer

Aaron Dobos has been working in studios around Melbourne for over seven years and has set up his own space which will allow him to work with up and coming Australian bands with limited budgets to produce a world-class sound that previously may have been out of reach.

How did you get involved in studio work, and whats your experience been?

I played in bands in high school and then realised I wasnt that great at playing in bands so I thought Id get into the technical side of it. I guess experience wise Ive worked at sing sing recording studio for the last seven to eight years, and through that have been able to work with all sorts of bands and musicians for all over the world.

What prompted you to get involved with helping emerging acts?

Its really fun to help emerging acts. You can see how they grow in the studio and how the song writing gets better and how the band gets better and grow.

Tell us about the space, and what youre hoping to achieve there?

My space is set up for mixing and overdubs, so there Im hoping to achieve being able to put out really good mixes as if they were mixed in a mega studio. The space is at sing sing in South Yarra.

What are some of the key factors in keeping the cost down for emerging bands?

Emerging bands dont really have a lot of money, lots are working in retail or hospitality and so its really important to be able to put out really good sounding music at a good price, because no one is really going to listen to it if it sounds like crap. I try and tailor all my rates to each project and as its my space the studio hire fee is a lot less, which helps a lot to work within a bands budget.

What does winning The Unified Grant mean for your work?

It means that I can upgrade a lot of things, take the space to the next level, and make it similar to what it would be in a big studio.

Unified CEO Jaddan Comerford announced the Unified Grant during his BIGSOUND 2016 keynote

Michelle Grace Hunder & Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore  Her Sound, Her Story

Her Sound, Her Story is a collaborative art project that contributes to the very important narrative about women in the Australian Music Industry through photography and film. Her Sound, Her Story documents the experiences of women of all ages, genres, sexuality and ethnicity within the industry with the hope to challenge stereotypes and break down stigmas.

What prompted you to begin work on Her Sound, Her Story?

Michelle: The project came about because I did a previous project on the Australian hip hop scene, a photo documentary. I got to the end of that process and realised I had worked with over 150 artists and only about 10 of them were female.

So when I was deciding what my next project was going to be I was a: really wanting to work with women and kind of add to the conversation that I kept hearing about the gender disparity but instead of, I guess there was so much talk but not really any kind of action so from an artistic point of view I wanted to add to that conversation but actually talk to the women and get their views and thoughts and let me them tell their stories.

So thats when I brought Claudia on board because I thought a photo series is great, but its not going to do what Im trying to do justice. I think we really needed to add the film element to actually put a voice to all these incredible women.

Claudia: And I guess from a documentary point of view we feel that we want to stamp this moment in time thats happening, because theres a lot going on and its really shifting  the music industry is shifting, the women coming through are shifting. Its a real historical moment, so it felt like the right time to kind of bring this conversation to the forefront.

Have you ever felt unsupported or marginalised in the industry due to your gender?

Michelle: Yeah, I think we have. I mean, we have spoken about it even happening in this process. Personally from a music photographer point of view you definitely notice it. If youre in the pit its rare that there are any other women.

Ive definitely noticed a change in the past couple of years but its even just attitudes with security guards or comments that youll get if your shooting for an artist and your back stage there is an assumption sometimes that youre a groupie or a girlfriend. Certainly when I first started that was the assumption, which is just frustrating really. Ive had commetns from security guards and yeah, it can be annoying.

Im a little bit older, so its kind of like water off a ducks back at this stage  I just get on with it. What is really encouraging is that in the last two years Ive really started noticing a change, so going from being the only woman in the pit to now sometimes there being three or four.

Although its still there, I still feel like all it takes is young aspiring photographers to see that its possible and Ive tried to be really visible as well and really outspoken  so it is possible. Ive felt a lot of support within the scene in terms of artists, its been incredible so thats encouraging.

Claudia: I would say definitely. I dont dabble in the world of mainstream filmmaking that much, and I feel like its a whole other beast, its totally male dominated and even in my own small experiences of making music video clips or within any creative project often the people Im trying to employ or engage are men and they are older than me.

Ive sort of been doing this for a good decade now, and when I was very young it was really tough. Lots of men, perhaps not even being aware of it, going who are you and what do you think you know?

Michelle: Thats even when youre directing video clips, Ive seen that.

Claudia: Yeah, in the role of me being the director, still getting questioned.

Michelle: Im assistant directing a lot, so I see it a bit.

Claudia: Yeah, and I think you just have to kind of put your boots on and get your tough skin and get really articulate. Thats what Ive learnt over the years, how to not get scared or stunted in those moments and go okay, I see whats happening, Im just going to address this really calmly and articulately.

Michelle: Its definitely a micro-aggression thing sometimes, and I dont even think they are aware of it that often, its just once youve had it a few times it can get boring.

Claudia: Absolutely, and through the process of this project, having that happen again while we were actually doing a project about women in the forefront within industry or creative industries, there were so many moments when I went wow I am one of those women right now, one of these very women that Im trying to talk about? I thought that I wasnt, but you end up in those positions so quickly that you dont even know how you got there.

Michelle: I guess this particular project was about celebrating the women that have gotten through all that adversity, and speaking to them about how they have got that innate confidence, or they have gained it over the years.

I think its really inspiring to know that even those women that are total powerhouses and are just so full of confidence, they have gone through these moments of just debilitating lack of confidence, or moments where they just want to quit, or all of those things.

So its just really important to know that youre definitely not alone and that you just kind of get on with it like you just put your head down and say it happens to everybody. And so, its shit, but yeah, lets work through it.

Claudia: I think its also about people learning the language. I had someone say the same thing  a manager of a band, and she wasnt even allowed in the media pit because they were like youre the girlfriend. And she was like I have the correct accreditation around my neck, if you dont let me in Im going to call the festival organisers, and security would let her in.

It was such a moment that he grabbed the lanyard and ripped it off her, and she felt so debilitated and didnt have the words. Later on it made her really angry, but its about training women what to do when these instances happen, because youre caught off-guard and you dont really know what to say or do.

Michelle: That has happened to me so many times.

Tell us a bit about your experience with MMW this year. How did each of the elements go, how was the reaction, and did you achieve what you hoped to?

Claudia: Yeah! I would say doing a concert for us and having the opportunity to bring female artists together was a huge priority and essential to the outcome of the project. It was really lucky in terms of how it came about with MMW. We put the application in the night before it closed, not even thinking what would happen and thought may as well, its a beautiful concept. They were really excited about it, and they said we theyd like to give us the opening night in the beautiful Queens Hall, which was really such a perfect backdrop.

The energy in the room was electrifying and for the women particularly  I think we had about 15 of the artists down there on Friday night for the concert  and that experience alone was worth all the work for us. To have the bonds that they have formed and these new connections and friendships, yeah, its very hard to speak about because it phenomenal.

Michelle: The collaborations that came out of that night were so beautiful because there were women that were covering each other, and then there were duets that happened. It was really special.

Claudia: And that thing, of bringing it back to music, bringing it back to that thing you have when you hear a piece of music or a song  its essentially why we are doing this. There are so many women making incredible music that for many of us its a really integral part of our life and how we exist, and get on with it and what inspires us. It was bringing it back to that simple essence and the real fundamental reason of why we are doing this.

Michelle: Yeah, I just wanted to touch on the photographic and audio installation thats at Emporium that we launched last Wednesday  even that night, there were about 20 industry people as well, which made it feel so supported by the industry. The writeups that came from that have been phenomenal and so beautiful, and show that people are actually getting it, which is so great.

It is such a big project and there are so many elements that it took a while for people to get their head around it but now people are finally getting their head around it and do understand what Her Sound, Her Story is about.

What are the plans for the future of HSHS?

Michelle: It does feel like its just the beginning, and everyone kind of consents that there will definitely be more to it. We have been asked to tour it.

Claudia: It depends what Michelle lets me do!

Michelle: There have been suggestions on touring the photographic installation and the concert, so were just working out how to do that. Also the documentary was always the first thing we wanted to do, so getting it together is really exciting, and this grant is going to go so far to help us do that as we have been so under-funded up until this point.

Claudia: For me, its really the sense of community that we want to keep going  bringing these amazing women together, because thats that intangible strength in numbers to just give everyone that spirit to just keep going, and its so exciting.

What does winning The Unified Grant mean for you and the project?

Claudia: Funds to get this project to reach broader audiences.

Michelle: Getting this documentary element together and not having to ask people ridiculous favours. Actually paying people to do the stuff that we really need done to get it over the line is so important to us.
The news that legendary guitarist Carlos Santana would return Down Under next year was music to the ears of blues and rock fans Australia, made all the more special that he would be joined by The Doobie Brothers as the latest additions to the rapidly expanding Byron Bay Bluesfest 2017 lineup.

Now, fans have even more reason to celebrate with the news that both of these iconic acts will be appearing together during a string of special headline performances. The legendary Doobie Brothers will be joining multi-Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Santana during five arena and theatre shows.

Joining Santana and The Doobie Brothers at select shows will be none other than homegrown rock icon Russell Morris, best known for his timeless 1969 hit, The Real Thing, which is to this day considered a watershed moment in the evolution of Australian rock and roll.

Meanwhile, fans heading to the intimate Canberra show at the Royal Theatre will be treated to an opening performance from local buzz magnet Tash Sultana. Few artists have seen the kind of rise in 2016 that Tash Sultana is currently enjoying, selling out shows around Australia and Europe and going viral over and over again online.

Check below for all the dates and ticketing details.

Santana & The Doobie Brothers Australian Tour Dates

Friday, 7th April 2017

Perth Arena, Perth (All Ages)

*With Special Guests The Doobie Brothers

Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849

Sunday, 9th April 2017

Botanic Park, Adelaide

*With Special Guests The Doobie Brothers and Russell Morris

Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100

Tuesday, 11th April 2017

Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (All Ages)

*With Special Guests The Doobie Brothers

Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849

Thursday, 13th April 2017

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney (All Ages)

*With Special Guests The Doobie Brothers

Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849

Saturday, 15th April 2017

Royal Theatre, Canberra (All Ages)

*With Special Guest Tash Sultana

Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849

Saturday, 15th April 2017

Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay (Doobie Brothers)

Tickets: Bluesfest

Sunday, 16th April 2017

Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay (Santana)

Tickets: Bluesfest

The Doobie Brothers Headline Australian Tour Dates

Sunday, 16th April 2017

The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)*

Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100

*Santana not appearing
There are protests forming all over the country in protest of the election of the new fascist regime that is Donald J. Trump. The largest being in Washington D.C. Since many obviously cant make it to D.C. but still want to protest this atrocity, we will be gathering here in KC as well.





We will be gathering at the Fountain on the Plaza and marching to City Hall . . .

TKC IS COMMITTED TO FIERCE SKEPTICISM OF ALL POLITICOS AND THE BEST LAID SCHEMES OF MICE AND MEN.

Looking toward the upcoming work week, the holiday season and the near future  It's clear to see the continuation of divisive politics and hateration betwixt Trump supporters and so many detractors.In Kansas City organizers are already planning another series of protests to coincidence with Prez-Elect Trump's inauguration.Take a look:Deets:This weekend,. The only gripe with this conversation is that a few Trump supportersthink that this blog supported Hillary when,, we clowned her candidacy consistently and blogged her difficulty in attracting any significant support in the metro. Fact is, while thewas the only fun thing to come from the campaign . . .Along with sharing our love for dumb jokes and hotties.And so, we dutifully await another winter of fighting, stealing, killing and discontent as we take a pause for tonight. Hopefully, we'll have more, discussion, discourse, our fair share of hateration and then all kinds lots of good stuff for the morning update . . .
The FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), was first formed in 1972 under the name the Behavioral Science Unit. The foundation of the unit was agents Robert Ressler and John Douglas. Ressler and Douglas wanted to bring in elements of psychology to help develop a profile of unidentified spree or serial killers, which they called Unknown Subjects, or UNSUBs. Ressler is also credited with coining the term serial killer.

Since its inception, the unit has investigated some of the most infamous cases in American history. Also, over the decades the unit has split into more specific fields and the BAU as one single entity disbanded in 2014. As of this writing, the unit that focuses on crimes like serial and spree killers is now known as BAU-2.

Nevertheless, the BAU is a fascinating division of crime fighting and it is featured on shows like Criminal Minds and Hannibal. These are the cases that helped shape the real life BAU.

10. George Metesky

Between 1940 and 1956, New York City was being terrorized by someone who was placing bombs in random places, such as movie theaters, subway terminals, libraries, and buildings owned by the energy company Consolidated Edison (Con Ed). In total, 33 bombs were planted and 22 detonated. Thankfully, no one was killed, but 15 people were hurt.

There were no clues as to the identity of the person who became known as the Mad Bomber. The problem was that the police couldnt just sit around and wait for the Mad Bomber to screw up or catch him red handed because innocent people, including children, could be killed at any time. Not to mention, he had been getting away with it for 16 years.

Desperate for a lead, the NYPD sought assistance from James A. Brussel, a private psychiatrist that worked in counterintelligence profiling in World War II and the Korean War. They asked him to develop a personality profile based on the Bombers crimes and the locations of where the bombs were placed.

In his profile, Brussel had several predictions, including:

He was a male foreigner from Europe

He worked at Consolidated Edison

He was between 40 and 50-years-old

He was a bachelor that was living with female relatives

Hed be clean-shaven and neatly dressed with an athletic build

He would be a textbook paranoid

He would be wearing a buttoned double-breasted suit

At this point, we should note that this was the first real criminal profile, so Brussel was a bit ambitious with his predictions, especially pertaining to the Bombers clothes.

Nevertheless, using the profile, the NYPD published a letter directed to the Bomber in the New York Journal American. In the letter, they told him to give himself up. The Bomber wrote the NYPD a reply letter stating he wanted to make a truce, but he still needed to bring Con Ed down. In the letter, the Mad Bomber gave away an important clue about himself: he had been injured on the job. The NYPD wrote a response and had it published, and again, the Bomber wrote back.

Both of the Mad Bombers letters were published in the local newspapers and this prompted a file clerk at Con Ed to look into their files. When she did, she came across the file for a former employee named George Metesky. He had been hurt on the job and he was fired after receiving only 26 weeks of pay. He later got sick due to the injury he received while working at Con Ed, but when he reapplied for benefits, he was too late and his claim was denied.

The clerk soon became sure that Metesky was the Mad Bomber because he had sent a letter to Con Ed. In the letter, Metesky used similar sayings and phrases that the Mad Bomber used in his letters. The police questioned Metesky and then got a search warrant.

Metesky was arrested, found unfit to stand trial and died at the age of 90 in a state hospital.

As for how accurate the profile was, Brussel was right about a few things. Metesky worked for Con Ed and he was a 48-year-old paranoid bachelor. But Brussel also got a lot of things wrong, notably Metesky was born in America, lived alone, and he wasnt wearing a buttoned double-breasted suit.

9. Ted Bundy

One thing youll probably realize as you go through this list is that Robert Ressler interviewed the most heinous and terrifying killers in modern American history. However, the serial killer that disturbed Ressler the most was Ted Theodore Bundy.

Bundy, who was known for his good looks, intelligence, and charisma, cut such a swath of violence along the west coast of America between 1974 and 1978, that his name can still bring chills to people at its mere mention. It is believed that Bundy killed at least 30 women, but since he was executed in 1989, we will probably never know the true amount of victims he claimed.

The BAU was asked to get involved with the Bundy case in 1977 after Bundy escaped from a courthouse library in Aspen, Colorado, while preparing for his upcoming murder trial. Using Bundys history, the BAU developed a victim profile to warn young, pretty girls with dark hair that was parted down the middle, that they could be targeted by Bundy, making it the first time that profiling was used to warn the public about a dangerous predator.

Another way that Bundy changed crime fighting in America, specifically the BAU, was a result of Bundy moving from state-to-state. This is what allowed Bundy to claim so many victims, because the police werent able to link the crimes in different states. To tackle this problem, the BAU started a national database based on the modus operandi, personality, and victim type.

Years later, after interviewing Bundy, Ressler said that Bundy was an animal. He also often wondered if Bundy got into his head, more than he got into Bundys.

8. John Wayne Gacy

Between 1972 and 1978, John Wayne Gacy lured 33 young men to his house in Chicago, where he murdered them and buried many of their bodies in the crawl space underneath.

The profilers werent called in before Gacy was arrested because when Gacy first fell under police suspicion, it was only for one murder and no one really considered the horrifying extent of his crimes. Instead, Ressler became involved with the case after the bodies were being dug out of his crawl space.

In one of those incredibly bizarre, cosmic coincidences, Gacy, who, at the time was the most prolific American serial killer, was from the same neighborhood as Robert Ressler. In fact, Ressler claims that the two were in the Boy Scouts together.

Gacy was an important case for the BAU because it was the first organized serial killer that Ressler interviewed, and the two had frank and very graphic discussions about his crimes. This helped reinforce what Ressler believed about organized killers.

Before he was executed, Gacy painted Ressler a painting of himself dressed like a clown and on the back it said:

Dear Bob Ressler,

You cannot hope to enjoy the harvest without first laboring in the fields. Best wishes and good luck.

Sincerely,

John Wayne Gacy, June 1988.

Ressler asked what it meant, and Gacy cryptically replied, Well, Mr. Ressler, youre the criminal profiler. Youre the FBI. You figure it out.

Gacy invited Ressler to come to his execution and the profiler refused.

7. Richard Chase

Organized serial killers are considered the most dangerous type of killer because they are methodical and elusive. This allows many of them to hunt for years without drawing suspicion to themselves. On the other end of the spectrum are disorganized serials. What makes disorganized serial killers so dangerous is that they are unpredictable and police never know who they will kill next or what is driving their need to kill.

One such example of a disorganized serial killer was the Vampire of Sacramento. In January 1978, Ressler got a call from the Sacramento Police Department. Earlier that evening, a 22-year-old woman had been murdered in such a gory fashion that even the police had a hard time looking at the crime scene.

Ever since the BAU started, it only developed profiles for cold cases because that is when investigators were desperate enough to try profiling. But with the Vampire case, for the first time, Ressler was part of an active investigation.

His immediate profile predicted the following:

White Male

25-27

Thin and would look undernourished

Home will be dirty and unkempt, there will also be evidence of the murder there

History of mental illness

Drug use

Loner who spends most of his time at home

Unemployed and probably receiving disability pay

Probably suffering from paranoid psychosis

Ressler gave his official profile to the Sacramento P.D., but days later, three people, including a six-year-old, were found shot to death and a fourth person who was at the house was missing. Police believed that the killer kidnapped the fourth person using one of the victims cars.

With the information from the new killings, Ressler determined that the killer was single and would live within a one to two mile radius of where the car was abandoned.

Shortly after the murders, the police got a phone call from a woman who had a run-in with someone she used to go to high school with, a 30-year-old man named Richard Chase. The run-in happened not far from where the first vampire murder took place. What was so unsettling to the woman was that Chases appearance was dramatically different. He looked malnourished, thin, disheveled, had a yellow crust around his mouth, and he was wearing a sweatshirt covered in blood. Chased tried to get into her car, but she drove away and called the police when she got home.

Once they looked into the call, the police realized that Chase lived less than a block away from where the car was abandoned and less than five miles from two of the crime scenes. Chases apartment was searched and they found evidence of the murders, including blood that Chase had been drinking.

Chase was arrested and most of the predictions in Resslers original profile were correct. Chase, who suffered from schizophrenia, talked with Ressler after his arrest and it was clear that Chase was mentally ill; he mostly talked about UFOs and Nazi mind control.

It total, Chase murdered six people, but never stood trial for his crimes. He committed suicide the day after Christmas in 1980 by overdosing on his antidepressants, which he had been saving for weeks.

6. Wayne Williams

Starting in 1979, the bodies of young African American children, mostly boys, were found discarded throughout the city of Atlanta. All of them had been strangled. The case is notoriously known as the Atlanta Child Murders.

At first, the police believed that, since the victims were all black children, the killings were racially-motivated and the most likely suspects were the Ku Klux Klan or Neo-Nazis. They didnt think it was a serial killer because, up until then, serial killers had only been white men who killed people of their own race and there were no well-known black serial killers.

In the spring of 1980, after the 16th body was discovered, the police were desperate for leads. BAU agent John Douglas went to Atlanta and his profile was rather controversial. Douglas didnt believe the murders were hate crimes because the bodies were being dumped in areas that were predominantly or exclusively black, suggesting the killer was more comfortable in those areas. Also, if the killer was white, he probably would have stood out in these neighborhoods. At first, the police, especially African American officers, were resistant to the idea that the horrible killings were the work of a serial killer who was from their own community.

Another aspect of the profile, that turned out to be incredibly helpful, was that the killer would probably dump the body of his next victim in the river. The police staked out the Chattahoochee River and on May 22, 1981, at about 3:00 a.m., heard a splash in the water. When they went to the rivers edge, they caught 23-year-old Wayne Williams driving away. Williams, who was African American, was allowed to leave the area because, at the time, the police werent sure what caused the splash so they had no reason to hold Williams. Two days later, the body of a 27-year-old man was found in the river and Williams was arrested.

Williams was convicted of two murders and both of them were adults. Williams denied the murders and no one has ever been convicted for the murders of the 22 children, although he is suspected in most of the them. However, many people, including Douglas, do not believe he is responsible for all of them.

5. Joseph Paul Franklin

Serial killers who are also drifters are some of the hardest killers to track down because, before the internet, it was hard to link killings from state to state and drifters often use unconventional means to stay off the grid.

One of the first drifter cases that the BAU got involved with was that of James Clayton Vaughn, Jr., who was born in Mobile, Alabama, to a poor family and suffered horrible abuse as a child. As an adult, he became fascinated with Evangelism and Nazism, even going as far as to change his name to Joseph Franklin to honor Evangelist Benjamin Franklin and Nazi Joseph Goebbels.

After reading Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf, Franklin decided to start a race war. In July 1977, he started firebombing synagogues and in October of that year, he graduated to murder. Over the next two years, Franklin roamed the east coast, killing people that he thought were inferior to him. Often he would do it from a distance using a sniper rifle. This included shooting civil rights leader Vernon Jordan and paralyzing Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.

The FBI knew that some of the hate crimes were connected to one UNSUB, but they didnt have any inkling that it was Franklin, nor did they know the true extent of his crimes. In September 1980, a police officer in Kentucky noticed a gun in the back of Franklins car. The officer called in a record check on Franklin and found out that he had an outstanding warrant, so Franklin was arrested. Shortly after being brought into the police station, Franklin escaped from detainment. When his impounded car was searched, they found evidence that connected him to a number of shootings throughout the eastern United States, and they realized they had let a very dangerous man escape their custody.

The problem was that Franklin had been a drifter for years and he was incredibly resourceful, which is how he was able to kill for so long while avoiding detection. It also made him very dangerous because the police had no idea where Franklin was going, meaning they couldnt even warn people, let alone catch him.

The good news was that now that the BAU knew who Franklin was, they found out how he managed to live as a drifter. They thought that he would stay on the east coast and that he would donate blood for money or commit a bank robbery. They released a memo to blood banks around the east coast informing them to keep an eye out for someone matching Franklins description. A few weeks later, a blood bank operator in Florida contacted the FBI saying that a man matching Franklins description came in to donate blood. From there, they traced him to Lakeland, Florida and he was arrested on October 28, 1980.

It is believed that Franklin murdered at least 15 people. He was executed in November 2013 for the first murder that he committed.

4. Edmund Kemper

One of the most interesting and terrifying American serial killers is Edmund Kemper. Kemper, who is genius level smart with an IQ of 136, committed his first murders when he was 15. In 1964, he shot both of his grandparents to death. He was committed to a psychiatric hospital, where he essentially outsmarted the staff and they released him to his mothers care when he was in his 20s.

As an adult, Kemper was physically imposing: he was 6-foot-9 and weighed over 300 pounds. His mother worked at a university in Santa Cruz and while living there, Kemper picked up and murdered six co-eds, earning him the nickname The Co-ed Killer. Kempers crime spree came to an end in 19793, when he killed his mother and her friend. Kemper hated his mother because of years of abuse, and after she was dead, Kemper took out that anger on her body.

Kemper was amazingly articulate and this drew the BAUs attention. One day Ressler was visiting Kemper alone in an interview room and when Ressler pressed the button for the guards, no one came. It quickly dawned on Ressler that he was locked up alone with a serial killer who was the size of a professional wrestler and he started to feel anxious. Kemper sensed it immediately and said, If I went apes*** in here, youd be in a lot of trouble, wouldnt you? I could screw your head off and place it on the table to greet the guard.

Kemper didnt harm Ressler and said he was only joking. Amazingly, Ressler, who obviously saw the merit in talking with Kemper, continued to interview him. However, he never did it alone again.

3. John Joubert

In September 1983, a 13-year-old boy disappeared while delivering newspapers in Bellevue, Nebraska. A few days later, his body was found dumped in a ditch. He had been stabbed multiple times and there were bite marks on the body. Due to the savagery and the age of the victim, the BAU was called in. The BAU knew there was a sexual element to the murders, so they rounded up sex offenders in the area. However, none of the men fit the profile they developed, so they were removed as suspects.

Sadly, in December 1983, a 12-year-old boy in Papillion, Nebraska, was kidnapped and murdered while walking to school. Like the first victim, the second boy also had bite marks on his body.

Six weeks later, a worker at a preschool saw a man loitering nearby. She confronted him and the man pushed her before fleeing in his car. The worker wrote down the license plate and phoned the police. The police traced the car to 19-year-old John Joubert, a man who was enlisted in the Air Force and stationed at a base not far from where the murders occurred. Joubert, who matched the BAUs profile, confessed to the murder of the two boys.

A short time after the murders, Ressler was speaking at a FBI training course, where he presented Jouberts case to the attendees. Two detectives in attendance from Portland, Maine, noticed similarities between the Nebraska murders and the unsolved murder of an 11-year-old boy in their town. The police and Ressler soon learned that Joubert had lived in Portland and they believe he joined the army to distance himself from the Portland murder.

The Nebraska Boy Snatcher case showed that profiles were not only useful to find potential suspects, but they are also very helpful in eliminating suspects as well. With fewer suspects, police can focus their attention better, and it leads to less false arrests; which is exactly what happened in the Portland murder. Another man had been tried for the murder and found not guilty. Police and the District Attorney spent a year focused on the wrong man, during which time, Joubert went to Nebraska and killed two innocent boys.

Joubert was convicted of all three murders and sentenced to death. He was executed in July 1996 at the age of 33.

2. John Crutchley

During the week of Thanksgiving in 1985, a motorist in Brevard county, Florida, came across a naked 19-year-old woman who was handcuffed. The police were called and an ambulance took her to the hospital. She was immediately given a blood transfusion because 40 percent of her blood had been drained. When the police interviewed her, she told them that 22 hours before, a man picked her up while hitchhiking. They stopped off at his house because he said he needed something for work. When they did, he surprised her by throwing a rope around her neck. The man brought her into his house where he assaulted and tortured her. He also drained her blood and drank it. When she asked him why, he said he was a vampire.

The woman was able to give the police the location of the house and it belonged to 39-year-old John Crutchley, who lived in the home with his wife and young child. When the woman was held captive, Crutchleys son and wife were out of town for the holiday.

When the police looked into Crutchleys life, he certainly didnt seem like a vampire. He was a meek and slight man who held a high paying job as a computer expert. A math genius with his masters in engineering, Crutchley had clearance with the Pentagon and worked on several projects, including developing a computer language for the Navy.

Crutchleys house was searched and inside they found troves of BDSM props, womens identifications, dozens of womens necklaces, hair clippings, and equipment used to drain blood.

Not long after Crutchley was arrested for kidnapping, police began to look into over 30 deaths and disappearances of women that he may have been responsible for. However, there was no direct physical evidence linking him to the murders. With only circumstantial evidence, the prosecutors decided to cut a plea deal with Crutchley. He could plead guilty to kidnapping, rape, and theft of blood, and he wouldnt be charged with any of the murders.

While the District Attorney wasnt going to charge Crutchley with murder, they asked Robert Ressler to interview him. Then, at Crutchleys sentencing trial, Ressler testified that Crutchley had all the earmarks of being a serial killer. As a result, Crutchley was given the maximum sentence, which was 25 years in prison with 50 years of parole.

The Crutchley case showed how far that the BAU had come since its inception. In its early days, the FBI was resistant to using profiling because it wasnt hard evidence. 13 years later, Ressler was able to testify about a persons personality at a sentencing hearing and it impacted the outcome.

However, due to the laws in Florida, Crutchley, a.k.a. the Vampire Rapist was, to the shock of many, released after serving only 11 years. But on the very same day that he was paroled, he was arrested for having marijuana in his system and for violating parole. This amounted to three strikes and Crutchley was sent back to prison to serve out the rest of his sentence. Crutchley was found dead in his cell in 2002.

1. Jeffrey Dahmer

In July 1991, when Milwaukee cannibal Jeffrey Dahmers crimes became public, it shocked people anywhere that it made the headlines. What so many people had a hard time wrapping their head around was, if Dahmers actions arent a sign of insanity, then what is? That is when Dahmers defense lawyer asked Ressler to testify that Dahmer killed during psychotic episodes. Ressler, who had just retired from the FBI, was fascinated by the idea that someone who acted like an organized serial killer simply lost control when he committed the murder, which is an element of a disorganized serial killer. So far, all serial killers he had come across were organized or disorganized, not both.

Ressler interviewed Dahmer a few times and he found the young man to be likable, despite being one of the most horrifying serial killers he had ever met. What separated Dahmer from the likes of Gacy and Bundy, whom Ressler had interviewed years earlier, was that Dahmer was very open and honest and he let Ressler into his head. Gacy and Bundy, on the other hand, had been guarded and coy.

Ultimately, while Dahmer displayed both characteristics of an organized and disorganized serial killer, Ressler was not allowed to testify at the trial. Ressler said interviewing Dahmer gave him a new perspective on his work. He realized that the killers that committed these inhuman crimes are really just flesh and blood people with families, just like the rest of us.

Robert Grimminck is a Canadian freelance writer. You can friend him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, follow him on Pinterest or visit his website, or his true crime YouTube channel.

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The primary surplus targets after 2018 and the repayment of the public debt are being negotiatied

The talks between the Greek government and the institutions continued over the weekend, in an effort to reach an agreement by the Eurogroup scheduled for 5 December. The Greek side has been presented with draft agreements by the institutions on labor, social insurance and further tax reforms.

According to these drafts, aside from the 6.1 billion euros in aid, Greece will be facilitated in paying off 20% of the public debt. This is the so-called first phase by the ESM, in order to address 65 of the 324 billion euros worth of debt. Overall, banking sources indicate that the actions towards facilitating payment of the loans may save 15 to 17 billion euros.

The primary surplus targets after 2018 will be the next major issue to tackle, with the government aiming for a annual target under 3.5% of the GDP. The IMF also supports such a development, with the Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem seemingly open to setting a realistic target.

The Governor of the Bank of Greece Yannis Stournaras has argued that the target was must lowered to 2% in order to provide the necessary breathing space for the economy, which in the mid-term will allow for a reduction of the tax burden.

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One stock that might be an intriguing choice for investors right now is Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. BPFH. This is because this security in the Banks-Northeast space is seeing solid earnings estimate revision activity, and is in great company from a Zacks Industry Rank perspective.

This is important because, often times, a rising tide will lift all boats in an industry, as there can be broad trends taking place in a segment that are boosting securities across the board. This is arguably taking place in the Banks-Northeast space as it currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 30 out of more than 250 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned from this perspective, especially when compared to other segments out there.

Meanwhile, Boston Private is actually looking pretty good on its own too. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firms prospects in both the short and long term.

BOSTON PRIV FIN Price and Consensus

BOSTON PRIV FIN Price and Consensus | BOSTON PRIV FIN Quote

In fact, over the past month, though current quarter estimates have remained constant at 20 cents per share, current year estimates have risen from 80 cents per share to 81 cents per share. This has helped BPFH to earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), further underscoring the companys solid position. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

So, if you are looking for a decent pick in a strong industry, consider Boston Private. Not only is its industry currently in the top third, but it is seeing solid estimate revisions as of late, suggesting it could be a very interesting choice for investors seeking a name in this great industry segment.

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While ongoing peace negotiations between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Cypriot newspaper Politis speaks of an imminent agreement and presents the new map of the island

While ongoing peace negotiations between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Cypriot newspaper Politis speaks of an imminent agreement and presents the new map of the island.

Anastasiades and Akinci are in negotiations in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland to decide which territories will be returned to Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots have so far only offered a list of principles that should govern the delineation of the borders. Anastasiades says the territories should be clearly defined on maps.

According to the newspaper report, after intense negotiation, that started with the Turkish side claiming 32% of Cyprus, Anastasiades and Akinci put on the table the last percentage they would be willing to accept. Anastasiades appointed 28.2% and Akinci 29.2%. The distance of one percentage point shows that convergence is very close to a rate close to that envisaged by the Kofi Annan plan (28.7%).

However, Akinci has made it known to all that he would like the final territorial map to be completed during the conference, so that Turkey would be responsible for the final map. This way, the Turkish-Cypriot leader suggested, there will be limited reactions by the communities that will be relocated and easier for them to adopt to the solution after the referendum. Furthermore, Anastasiades is unlikely to raise an objection to the plan as long as there is a clear framework regarding territories.

If the two leaders come to any sort of initial agreement in the two-day talks, a new round of deliberations would follow involving Greece, Turkey, the United Nations and possibly the European Union.

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President Pavlopoulos and the country's political leaders have offered their condolences

Greeces political leaders have issued statements on the passing of the former President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

During his entire career, especially as President of the Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos set an example of serving the public interest in selfless, dignified and consistent manner noted current President Prokopis Palvopoulos.

The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stated that the Mr. Stephanopoulos was a politician with a grand vision for Greek society and always with the countrys interest on his mind.

Main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted Mr. Stephanopoulos was exemplary in exercising his duties and as such was loved by the majority of the Greek people, as an approachable, modest and friendly President.

The head of the River Stavros Theodorakis commented that Konstantinos Stephanopoulos leaves a legacy of political ethos and truth, while PASOK president Fofi Gennimata expressed her sorrow for the passing of a President who honored the country with his ethics, seriousness and consensus.

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Thailand is coming right on top with 56 per cent of married couples in the study admitting to infidelity

According to data from Durex, these are the 10 most adulterous countries in the world. Thailand is coming right on top (pardon the pun) with 56 per cent of married couples in the study admitting to infidelity.

Denmark: so whats going on there, with almost half of all Danes playing away?

Italy, unsurprisingly for the Land of Love, ranked almost as high of Denmark, with 45 per cent of its couples admitting to infidelity.

But perhaps more surprising were the Germans ranking exactly the same as Italy on the cheating stakes.

France recorded its fair share of liaisons dangereuses: 43 per cent of couples.

Lower, but still rather unfortunate, were the rates of adultery among us Brits  36 per cent.

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French police arrested seven terrorist suspects, Monday, who were reportedly plotting to carry out attacks in the country. The French authorities made the arrests in the cities of Strasbourg and Marseille, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said. Cazeneuve told reporters during a press conference that the individuals were of French, Moroccan and Afghan origin.

It enabled us to prevent a long-planned terror attack on our soil, he said, without identifying the targets. The arrests came five days before the opening of the famed Christmas market in Strasbourg, which attracts tourists from across Europe and was the target of a failed extremist plot in 2000. Cazeneuve said 43 people have been arrested in November alone as part of anti-terror operations following deadly Daesh terrorist attacks on France over the past two years.

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RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
The Oman government has signed an agreement with Muriya, a key developer of sustainable towns in the sultanate, to build a vibrant beachfront commercial city complex in the North Al Hail region, said a report.



The 47,999-sq-m City Walk is part of the continued collaboration between the Ministry and Muriya to bring long-term value to Omans tourism, retail and real estate sectors, reported the Oman Tribune.



Muriya, a majority-owned company by Orascom Development Holding, said the project will comprise a 355-m waterfront, a retail area with shops and restaurants as well as an upscale five-star hotel.



It will also feature a commercial area with offices and a dedicated cinema complex, stated Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, after signing the agreement with Samih Sawaris, the chairman of Orascom Development Holding.



The minister said the development joins a long list of projects launched by the ministry and its partners to leverage Omans position as a year-round tourism destination.



"Inspired by its 2040 tourism strategy, the ministry is currently spearheading the establishment of world-class infrastructure to spur rapid growth within the sector. Under the ministrys approach, each of the new projects is being built in accordance with international best practices, combining Omans authentic culture of hospitality and unique natural environment with state-of-the-art facilities," he added.



Sawiris pointed out that since 2007, Orascom has invested over $600 million as part of its commitment to develop touristic and commercial destinations creating unique lifestyle experiences for families, residents and tourists of all kinds.



"We believe there is huge investment potential in Oman and, thanks to our strong collaboration with the Ministry, we have seen solid growth and long-term value in all our destinations," he stated.



According to him, the City Walk is a new milestone in Orascom's investments plan.



"This new project will have a ripple-effect on direct and indirect job creation, as well as lead to thriving adjacent markets and even greater prosperity for the sultanate," he added.

Work on the project has already begun and is expected to be completed in five years.
Twenty teams of young entrepreneurs from across the Mena region will compete in the 10th annual Injaz Al-Arab Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition which opened today in Bahrain.



Being held under the patronage of Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the Waqf Isa bin Salman Educational Charity, the event is organised by Injaz Al-Arab, a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA), in coordination with Injaz Bahrain.



The event will be attended by over 400 guests at the Art Rotana Hotel in Amwaj, where the competition will run until November 24.



Injaz Bahrain executive director Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa said: Bahrain is proud to act as host for the 10th edition of the Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition, and is thrilled to welcome our teams from across the region. We hope students will utilise this opportunity that celebrates young peoples vision of future businesses and enjoy their time. We look forward to their final presentations and to demonstrate all that theyve learned in the six-month build up to the competition. In the lead up to the finale, all participants have been exemplary in their unwavering dedication and commitment to creating truly innovative companies.



Injaz Bahrain chairman Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery stated: Injaz Bahrain is proud to have dedicated itself fully to ensuring the success of this event and its first time in Bahrain. We hope that this competition will demonstrate the true distinction and aptitude of Injazs students as they take this opportunity to learn as well as compete. Through this competition we hope all participating student teams will expand their horizons, tap into their limitless potential and learn to apply creativity in all their ideas as the future business leaders of the Arab world.



Akef Aqrabawi, Injaz Al-Arabs president and CEO welcomed the teams of young entrepreneurs from across the Mena region to the competition.



We started preparing for today a year ago, and today our entrepreneurial ship has finally arrived. To all who are present today and will be in the next few days, may we find the strength and passion to embark on a creatively charged journey. We are overjoyed and eager to support and observe youth in their innovative spotlights, and I hope our combined energy will empower and encourage our promising youth to build their own futures.



The 20 participating teams will be competing to win in the following award categories: University Company of the Year; High School Company of the Year; University Product of the Year; High School Product of the Year; University Company for Best Social Impact; High School Company for Best Social Impact; 2016 FedEx Access Award; Citi Client Focus Award and the MBC Al Amal Best PSA of the Year Award.



The regional competition will be conducted in partnership with a variety of esteemed sponsors such as GPIC, Tamkeen, EDB, Banagas, Bapco, Batelco, MBC Al Amal, Citi Foundation, FedEx, Ithmaar Bank, Alba, Gulf Air, Khaleeji Commercial Bank, Al Salam Bank, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Bahrain Ministry of Education, Sadiq Transport and Bahrain Airport Company.



The annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition follows the completion of individual country rounds and closes six months of training in work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship based on Injaz Al-Arabs internationally acclaimed Company Program. In total 20 teams from Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Pakistan will showcase their business insight, financial knowledge, marketing support and feasibility studies. Guests in attendance will include government officials, ambassadors, business leaders, and regional board members.  TradeArabia News Service


facebook account kit

It's not everyday that Facebook shows off new products by the flicker of candlelight.

But for the team of a dozen Facebook employees traveling the world, adapting to unpredictable situations and local customs was inevitable.

Over the course of several weeks, the 12 Facebook employees toured Brazil, India and Germany on a quest to help Facebook forge stronger ties with international app developers and to expand Facebook's reach overseas  a vital effort as Facebook's growth in the US reaches its limit.

When the team met with a group of German developers at a Berlin coffee shop one evening, the plan was to have a series of 2-minute "speed dating" chats between Facebook staffers and local developers. The team had printed screenshots of the first version of a new product aimed at overseas app developers.

But the big reveal was sullied by coffee shop lighting so dim, nobody could actually see anything. The Facebook team had to run out to the store so they could do their first demonstration by candlelight.

facebook deb liu f8 2016

Luckily, the public debut of the product's final version several months later went more smoothly.

At Facebook's F8 conference in April, VP of Platform and Marketplace Deborah Liu officially unveiled the product of the group's worldwide travels, dubbed Account Kit.

As soon as it was announced, the Facebook team started to see their e-mails and Messenger accounts light up with praise from the developers they had met with in their travels, and more besides. It looked like Account Kit was a hit.

"That was just a really exciting moment," says Facebook Research Manager Shivani Mohan, a member of the travelling team. "We worked so hard."

Story continues

Crying babies

Account Kit lets app developers choose to sign up new users without forcing those users to create new accounts and passwords. It gives them the option of letting their users sign up with their choice of a phone number, an email address, or a Facebook account.

It's an extension of Facebook Login, the company's existing universal login system in which a person can use their Facebook credentials to start using third-party apps.

But Account Kit takes it one step further. Users don't even need a Facebook account anymore, and can simply use a mobile phone number as a universal log in. That makes it easier for users and for developers in certain countries where people often have mobile phones but not necessarily Facebook accounts.

And as the "next billion" internet users come online, making things "convenient and easy" is very important, says Mohan.

Another Facebook traveler, Product Manager Amee Kamdar, talked to one developer who told her "he would rather sit next to a crying baby on a plane than remember another username and password."

facebook account kit

Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

Instead of just doing focus groups and one-on-one sessions, the Account Kit team brought along designers and programmers, too.

As the Facebook customers and developers they talked to gave feedback on how this should all work, the designers and programmers were able to mock up new ideas on the spot, rather than send it back to Menlo Park and wait for a turnaround.

Mark Zuckerberg F8 Messenger

What seems straightforward  a simple way for developers to use a phone number with Facebook Login, with a pin number as a password  actually has a bunch of moving parts, as Facebook Product Designer Ravit Cohen explains.

The danger is giving developers "too much freedom," Cohen says: The goal is to keep the experience of using Facebook Login consistent enough across apps that users don't get confused as to how to use it, while also giving developers enough options and controls to make it a seamless part of their app.

Two big things

The knowledge the team gathered on the trips resulted in a product that Facebook hopes will give it a leg up as it courts new users overseas. But it's not the only thing Facebook team took away from the experience.

First, was a renewed understanding of just how important Facebook is to these developers all over the world. Big companies and small entrepreneurs alike who build apps rely on the social network to work with their customers, and the Account Kit team found themselves with a certain weight of responsibility to do right by all of them.

"There's a trust we'll do the right thing for them," says Product Marketing Manager Pat Lai.

The second big thing is that, as you may have noticed by now, the Account Kit team's leadership is comprised of all women  a relative rarity anywhere in Silicon Valley, let alone at the male-dominated Facebook.

It was the first time in that situation for the whole team, and Product Designer Emilia Dallman Howley says that they all benefitted from the support as they undertook their global journeys.

"It's a really, really refreshing change," says Howley.

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Hosted for the first time in the Middle East, the24th Women in Nuclear Annual Global conference has opened in Abu Dhabi, UAE to celebrate and inspire women in all aspects of the nuclear industry including energy and healthcare.



Gathering global experts from the nuclear industry at the Fairmont, Bab al Bahr hotel until November 23, the conference is held under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, president of the General Womens Union, chairwoman of Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council, and hosted by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).



It gives me immense pride for the UAE to be the first country in the Middle East to host this conference, said Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak. Emirati women are playing an increasingly important role in the UAEs nuclear industry holding critical positions at different levels. The conference is a great platform to reinforce the role our female citizens play in the UAEs nuclear industry and encourage the next generation of women interested in contributing to the worlds future to be more involved.



The women working for the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and its operating company, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) are at the forefront of the nuclear industry in the region and both organisations place strong emphasis on nurturing and supporting their female employees.



Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive officer, ENEC said: ENEC is privileged to welcome the WiN Global Conference to the region. As a key leader of the UAEs Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, we have always taken a dynamic approach to creating a diverse workforce- by nationality, knowledge, skills, experience and gender. With women making up a substantial portion of our total employees, in a variety of positions including nuclear engineers to project managers to support staff, we greatly benefit from the breadth of skills and expertise our female colleagues bring.



ENECs mission to deliver safe, clean, efficient and reliable nuclear energy to the UAE grid will support economic development and diversification, providing highly-skilled job opportunities for UAE Nationals.



He added: I am confident that the 24th Women in Nuclear Annual Global conference is going to build on our already strong ties with the international community, inspiring more Emirati women to pursue opportunities in this field and embark on a rewarding career in the development and implementation of peaceful nuclear energy in the UAE.



Mohammed Sahoo Al Suwaidi, acting chief executive officer of Nawah, said: Nawah is privileged to be part of the 24th Women in Nuclear (WiN) Annual Global Conference - an ENEC sponsored event. The WiN conference will bring together nuclear professionals under a unique platform, to share knowledge, network, and form relationships for future collaboration.



This international approach reflects Nawahs key objective of building a diverse workforce to safely operate and maintain the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plants. Women are essential in this drive for diversity and currently make up over 20 per cent of our workforce.



We aim to be globally recognized as a top nuclear operator and the UAE employer of choice. People are our most critical asset and our Emirati-led, multi-national, multi-cultural organization is working together to achieve our desired results, he added.



In a burgeoning environment of peaceful nuclear energy, the 24thWomen in Nuclear Annual Global conference is a dynamic platform to engage women playing an active role in this field, across the globe, and identify opportunities for the next generation of women to participate in.



Commenting on the conference, Dr See Moon Park, president of Women in Nuclear Global said: I would like to express my appreciation to the UAE for progressing the nuclear energy agenda and reinforcing the countrys position as a leader in addressing climate change in the Middle East. Hosting the WiN conference in Abu Dhabi this year will unite key players from across the globe to discuss key issues to ensure long term sustainability.  TradeArabia News Service
Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of plans to shift to clean energy, a top government official said.



In our energy sector, LNG-generated power plants are going to be the next futuristic power generation option. In order to bridge the gap of our energy supplies, we want to move away from coal to LNG. There is a high priority being given to that, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem was quoted as saying in a Gulf Times report.



We have already identified two 300MW LNG-generated power plants that we plan to rollout. We are now projecting our power requirements for the next 20 to 30 years; we need to quickly move on to some energy options, which have less impact on the environment and LNG is one of those options, Hakeem told Gulf Times.



There is a free trade agreement that we are finalising with Qatar and hopefully that would be signed when the president visits the country next year. The free trade agreement will further facilitate better bilateral trade ties between Qatar and Sri Lanka and give better incentives to people from both countries to trade with each other, Hakeem noted.


Coco Collection, the iconic Maldivian luxury hospitality brand, has appointed Antony Paton as the group general manager and Andrew Ashmore as the head of sales and marketing.



As group general manager, Paton will oversee the operations of all three properties in the portfolio. With 40 years of experience, knowledge and background of the travel and hospitality industry, Patons recent role as general manager of Galle Face Hotel in Sri Lanka saw him lead a $30m restoration and re-launch of the hotel in 2015. He has a deep understanding of the Maldives and the luxury market with the successful opening of Six Senses Laamu in 2011, and as the managing director of operations at the Soneva resorts after that. His time with Soneva saw him lead the operations for Soneva Fushi, former Soneva Gili in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. With past experience of having served the royal family of Jordan, their majesties King Hussein and Queen Noor, Antony is well accustomed to anticipate the needs of individuals who lead high powered lifestyles.



With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ashmore brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing to his new role at Coco Collection. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer of Hashoo Hotels, Pakistans largest hotel chain. During Ashmores time there, he was overseeing all the marketing operations of the hotel group and was responsible in developing their vision and strategy in an environment that was challenging for tourism and hospitality. Prior to that, a prominent period of his career was with the renowned Hyatt group. With a Hyatt career that began in 1985, Ashmores last role was as vice president of Global and Operational Sales for Hyatt hotels across EAME and India saw his strategic role in handling and managing over 350 key global sales accounts across the region from 2011 to 2013.



I am very pleased to extend a very warm welcome to both Antony Paton and Andrew Ashmore who joins the dynamic team at Coco Collection. Paton will be leading the teams to reinforce personalized service and to deliver a consistent brand experience to all guests of the properties within the collection. Together with the experienced team at the corporate office, Ashmore is devising a strategy to boost our sales and marketing efforts, and to strengthen Coco Collections image among the luxury market. With Paton and Ashmore at the helm of the teams, we are looking forward to a very successful year ahead! comments Shabeer Ahmed, Founder, chairman and managing director of Sunland Hotels and Coco Collection. - TradeArabia News Service
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Al Maryia Real Estate Establishment to open a Four Points by Sheraton in the Saudi Arabia's capital city Riyadh.



Scheduled to open in 2019, Four Points by Sheraton King Abdul Aziz Road will offer 130 keys in the Sulaimaniyah district of the city. The Four Points brand is on track to open six properties in Saudi Arabia in the next five years.



We are delighted to sign this agreement with Al Maryia. The expansion of the Four Points brand in Riyadh will help meet the needs of todays modern traveller looking for timeless design and stylish comfort," said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. This deal reinforces our commitment to Saudi Arabia where we continue to see a strong demand for our brands across the country with over 30 hotels and nearly 10,000 rooms in our development pipeline.



Mohammad Bin Saad Al Hammaly, chairman of Al Maryia added: Marriott International is now the biggest hotel company in the world and we look forward to building a strategic relationship with them that is aligned with Kingdoms Vision 2030 which enforces the importance of strengthening and expanding the tourism sector in the country. For Al Maryia, this deal is a great step forward in expanding the companys portfolio in the hospitality sector.



The new Four Points will offer 130 spacious and contemporary guest rooms, including 30 suites. Guests have the option to choose from three food and beverage outlets, relax in the pool or book functions in one of the five state-of-the-art meeting spaces in the hotel.



Reflecting the brands promise to provide what matters most to todays independent travellers, the hotel will offer the brands defining touches, including the Four Points signature bed, Wi-Fi in all public areas, an energising breakfast and other brand signature programmes.



Located in the Sulaimaniyah district in central Riyadh, the hotel is 15 minutes from King Fahd Road and Olaya Road, and within close proximity from the King Khalid International Airport, King Abdul-Aziz Metro Station and the King Abdullah Financial Center.



Marriott International currently operates 19 properties and over 5,000 rooms in Saudi Arabia. The company is on track to reach its milestone of 50 operating hotels in the country in the next five years. - TradeArabia News Service


Oman's Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mihrizi has signed an agreement with Orascom Development Holding to transform the Seeb area of Muscat into a tourist hub.



The deal was signed for a 47,499-sq-m City Walk in Seeb - a multi-million-dollar beachfront commercial city complex - and is expected to include a five-star hotel with 123 rooms and 76 shops; a suq with 110 shops, 47 restaurants and 23 offices; and an events centre and serviced apartments with 42 apartment units, a shop, a cafe, three restaurants, a cinema and a multi-purpose hall.



Work on the project has already begun and is expected to be completed in five years. - TradeArabia News Service
Etihad Airways has honoured key stakeholders in Bangladesh to mark a decade of partnership and celebrate the 10th anniversary of operations between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka.



Diplomats, government and aviation officials were joined by corporate and travel industry partners, along with the airlines Dhaka-based employees as Etihad Airways recognised their loyalty and support.



Dr Saeed Bin Hajar Al Shehi, UAE Ambasador to Bangladesh, and Rashid Khan Menon MP, Minister of Civil Aviation of Bangladesh, were guests of honour at the anniversary event, held at Le Meridien Hotel, Dhaka.



Etihad Airways launched scheduled flights between the capital cities of the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh on 4 May 2006 with four services a week. Frequency rose to daily soon after, with a bigger 380-seat Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft now operating on the route.



More than 1.5 million guests have flown between the two cities and beyond since 2006.



Configured in two classes with 40 seats in Business and 340 in Economy, the aircraft caters for corporate and leisure traffic offering convenient onward connections over Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi hub to key cities across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America. These include New York, Toronto, Chicago, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Milan, Paris, Venice, Dublin, Lagos and Cairo.



Etihad Airways also operates three dedicated cargo flights every week and has carried over 136,000 tons of freight on the route since 2006. Freight includes garments, pharmaceuticals, fishery and other perishables.



Bilateral trade between the UAE and Bangladesh has topped $1 billion over the past 10 years  double the 2006 figure.



Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways vice president Indian Subcontinent, said Bangladesh was an integral part of the airlines global network, providing guests with ease of travel to Abu Dhabi and destinations worldwide.



Our guests from Bangladesh are offered a world class, award-winning service to over 600 destinations around the world with Etihad Airways and our partner airlines, she said.



It is our strong partnership with key stakeholders here and globally that has helped Etihad Airways excel to great heights in just a few years. This spirit of dedication and commitment is part of Etihad Airways DNA and we recognise their support and achievements to help make Etihad Airways the airline of choice."



Hanif Zakaria, Etihad Airways general manager Bangladesh, expressed his appreciation, stressing the importance of the unique facilities and services offered that gave Etihad Airways the competitive edge.



Etihad Airways complimentary bus service between Dhaka, and both Chittagong and Sylhet, has provided ease of transfers on our departing and arriving flights. In addition, for those travelling to the US, the unique US Pre-Clearance Immigration and Customs facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport provide guests with the extra convenience of arriving in the US as domestic passengers ensuring they avoid lengthy formalities on arrival.



Etihad Airways has also supported a leading charity initiative in Bangladesh over the years by giving opportunity and hope to children at the Choice To Change Elementary School in Dhaka.



Launched by a former Etihad Airways cabin crew employee, the charity supports children in need with free education, food and basic health care. It engages with Etihad Airways employees whose support has given children a real chance to break away from the cycle of poverty and to improve their lives. - TradeArabia News Service


Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) recently celebrated Cathay Pacifics 40 years of service between Bahrain and Hong Kong.



The celebration took place at Bahrain International Airport and was attended by Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Bahrain; Jonathan Ng, country manager Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Offline Middle East of Cathay Pacific Airways; Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, chief executive officer of Bahrain Airport Company, top officials from the Civil Aviation Authority and Bahrain Airport Company as well as senior representatives from the government and airport community.



Speaking at the ceremony, Al Binfalah said: As one of our longest serving long-haul carriers we are pleased to be able to celebrate 40 years of service with Cathay Pacific Airways. They continue to offer the thousands of people in our catchment area a daily flight to Hong Kong with a world renowned service. As the airport grows over the coming years we hope Cathay Pacific Airways will continue to be part of our growth.



He added: Bahrain international Airport will remain committed to providing excellent services to all airlines and passengers at the airport as we endeavor in promoting airline success and leading partnership initiatives."



Ng said: Bahrain International Airport has played an instrumental role in Cathay Pacifics network expansion beyond Asia Pacific. We remain committed to serving Bahrain with our daily service to Hong Kong and providing passengers travelling from this region greater choice and convenience when connecting to our extensive network in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia and North America."



Ng added: As Cathay Pacific marks our 40th year of operations in the Kingdom, we would like to thank Bahrain International Airport for its unwavering partnership and support." - TradeArabia News Service
Flag carrier Oman Air marked the sultanates 46th National Day with the arrival of a new Boeing 737- 800 to its fleet on November 18.



This was the sixth brand new Boeing 737-800 joining the young Oman Air fleet this year as part of the airlines expansion plan. Oman Air has operated B737s for many years and the aircraft provide the backbone of the airlines long and medium haul fleet.



The new aircraft was deployed to Bahrain on November 19 for its first commercial flight, which exemplifies Oman Airs experience in swiftly introducing new aircraft into operations as soon as they join the fleet.



With the addition of the new Boeing 737  800, Oman Airs fleet stands at 46. Currently Oman Airs fleet consists of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 22 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and four Embraer 175s. Three more Boeing 737  800s are scheduled to join the fleet next year.



Clearly guided by the vision of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman Air is well on its way ahead with a growth strategy that brings the fleet size to 70 aircraft and 75 destinations by 2020.



Oman Airs contribution to the national economy stands at OMR415 million ($1.07 billion) that is achieved by creating employment opportunities to Omani nationals, bringing tourists to the sultanate, building global connections, and through supporting small and medium enterprises. It is also pertinent to note that the financial support that Oman Air was receiving from the government has been reduced over the last two years from over OMR100 million ($259.1 million) to just OMR34 million ($88 million) in 2016. - TradeArabia News Service
Sourcing and mining precious metal assets in British Columbia

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2016 / (XIM.V) Ximen Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that it has completed the diamond drill program on the Brett Epithermal Gold-Silver Property, located 30 kilometres west of Vernon, BC. A total of 16 HQ diamond drill holes totaling 2364 meters, were drilled into specific targets between July and September 2016. Assay results from a few selected intervals of the drill holes returned significant results. Additional sampling of the drill core is being carried out so that the Company will have all holes fully assayed. The assay results will be released upon receipt.

"We are extremely pleased with the work that has been complete so far this year, and that our market cap has appreciated over 300%. The company is now in a superior position to advance the Brett Gold project, since we own it 100% and have no further cash commitments. Prudent decisions are currently being made to advance the project as the technical team sees appropriate." says Christopher Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Ximen Mining.

Some of the significant results of the selected intervals are as follows:





Table 2: Drill hole Locations

Note ; 2016 Drill Holes 3,4,8,9,12 have not been drilled as of yet

To view the first image, please click on the following link:

http://fscwire.com/sites/default/files/NR/1108/14028_image1_0.jpg

to view the second image, please click on the following link

http://fscwire.com/sites/default/files/NR/1108/14028_image2.jpg

A total of 553 core samples where submitted to ALS Canada Ltd. and analyzed for Au. and Ag., including a 32 element I.C.P. analysis. Blanks and standards for all sample series in accordance to 43-101 guidelines was carried out by ALS.

Epithermal gold silver mineralization on the Brett property consists of native gold, electrum and argentite and is associated with multiphase silicification, chalcedony breccias, veins, stockwork veinlets as well as late-state calcite fillings within the silicified zones and veinlets. The structural orientations and interpretation of the breccia zones, veins and veinlets from the systematic drilling carried out to date is being compiled to delineate higher grade bonanza shoots close to existing underground workings. Systematic channel sampling is also planned in the historic open pit to determine the limits of the mineralization.



Past drilling assay results have returned many bonanza-grade drill intercepts through the Main Zone structure. The best one to date is from hole R-88 with 4.9 ounces per ton (169.6 gpt) over 25.1 feet (7.65 m). Additionally, 10 more intercepts of over one ounce per ton are reported while another 14 intercepts ranging from 0.3 opt to 1.0 ounce per ton are also reported. Besides multiple high grade drilling intercepts, 291 tonnes of ore was removed and processed at the Cominco smelter in Trail, where the recovered values averaged 27.74 g/t Gold and 63.7 g/t Silver.

Story continues

Mohan R. Vulimiri, M.Sc., P.Geo, Technical Advisor, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Vulimiri has approved the technical content contained in this press release.

The Company has granted 1,200,000 stock options at an exercise price of 12 cents per share. The options are exercisable for five years and will be cancelled 30 days after cessation of acting as director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

Ximen Mining Corp.

604-488-3900

About Ximen Mining Corp.



Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100 percent interest in all three of its precious metal projects. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Gold Drop Project and Brett Gold Project located in southern British Columbia. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XM and WKN with the number as A1W2EG

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

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.

Contact:

Ximen Mining Corp

888 Dunsmuir Street, Suite 888

Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

Tel: 604-488-3900

SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp
Seoul has become very popular today. It has become very influential in many areas. The country is quite successful. From culture, natural wonders to its delicious cuisines, coming to Seoul will never be boring. May it be showcasing their traditional or modern living, tourists embraces the country wholeheartedly.

Since many tourists visit Seoul these days, there are also more new and fun activities the country offers to its visitors. There are activities and different places tourists finds attractive. Two Wandering Soles and Just One Way Ticket suggested some of the best activities tourists can do in Seoul.

1. Dog and Cat Cafe

Seoul is known for its dog and cat cafes. These cafes allow customers to have their favorite drink while spending time with cute and fluffy dogs and cats. If you are a dog lover, then these cafe will surely lighten up your mood. One of the suggested dog cafe in Seoul is the Bau House.

2. The Seoul Tower

The Seoul tower is considered the highest building in the city of up to 240 meters high on top of a mountain. It is also called Namsan Tower. Visitors get to see the view of almost the whole city. In order to get to the top, visitors need to ride the cable car and walk up the tower.

3. Bukchon Hanok Village

This village is one of the most visited traditional villages in Seoul. With an age of about 600 years old, the village is quite lovely. It has traditional wooden houses and small alleys that you usually see in Korean historical movies. The village has cafes, restaurants and even galleries that would be worth visiting.

4. Korean food lessons

Many people love Korean foods. One thing every tourist will appreciate is the Korean food cooking classes. Students of these classes get to learn different Korean dishes that are popular and delicious. These classes are from the Food & Culture Academy.

5. Night Clubs

Hongdae is a neighborhood in Seoul that is popular for their fun and entertaining night clubs. Clubs in this neighborhood offer cheap drinks and great clubbing experience. If you're fond of partying hard, the fun never stops until the sun rises the next morning here in Hongdae.

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The Denver International Airport is set to hire more staff for Thanksgiving, as projection shows an expected 8-10% increase from last year.

The Denver Post reported that a rush of about 1.1 million travellers are predicted to travel this year. Sunday following the holiday is predicted to be the busiest. The airport management is targeting for a more systematic operations this year which is hoped to be achieved by hiring more contract workers.

Carrie Harmon of the Transportation Security Administration stated: "DEN will be fully staffed and ready to accommodate the additional passengers we see this time of the year." The goal is to strengthen the TSA in doing their primary job , which is to make sure the security's tight and efficient.

Earlier in April this year, the airport was packed with unsatisfied passengers in long queues for security check. The hub does not want to have a similar scenario again. The increase in manpower staff and canine teams are ensured by the agency. The additional staff will be assigned non-security tasks. The Transportation Security Administration assured that real-time monitoring of the airport processes will be conducted.

The public is requested to be aware of their responsibilities as passengers and are come to the airport a little early. On the official website of the DEN, there is a message about checkpoint hours, screening policies, transit times.

These reminders could be read in advance and would be able to help passengers navigate their way through airport facility. Knowing that there is an expected higher volume of travellers this coming week, passengers can prepare well in advance.

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Foreign travelers to India are advised to use their debit or credit cards in purchasing amenities and products because of the current crisis the country's facing from demonetization.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi recently announced a sudden declaration for demonetization and stated that all 500 and 100 Rupee notes will be invalid. Because of this, Indians formed long queue at ATMs and Banks to exchange their money.

The Indian government is not producing nearly as much new Rupee notes as the public demanded resulting to disorder and confusion. ATMs only allow not more than 2500 Rupees per card to withdraw and most of the time these ATMs are empty or filled late in the day.

Travelers are advised not to accept denominators higher than a hundred or better use cards for transactions to avoid the long queues.

"If you're exchanging money at a bank, take photo ID along with a copy of it... foreign tourists will be able to exchange foreign currency or old notes of not more than 5000 Rupees into legal tender until 24 November," stated by their government website.

The prime minister institutes this decision to break corruption and black market money. Half the population of India don't have a bank account as it is a cash-dominated country. Because of this, black market of producing fake money is predominant here.

According to the Times of India, since the demonetization declaration of the prime minister, travelers started to trickle down and tourism is affected. The airlines' sector booking a day fall by 10%.

"We were looking at promotional fares from February due to low season then. But because of the dip in travel demand caused by demonetisation, we may start the offers from December to entice demand from Jaipur, Amritsar to Singapore," stated Scoot head Bharath Mahadevan.

Interviewed tourists of BBC who are currently spending their time in India expressed disappointment and frustration, one saying that it is like "India's Brexit and Trump rolled into one". The problems faced by these tourists include lack of cash withdrawals, restaurants and bars only accept cash, a small percentage of establishments accept Visa cards, and seeing local small traders losing their business.

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The Dead Sea is known to be the saltiest sea on Earth. It is 1,388 feet or 423 meters below sea level. Due to the degradation of the Dead Sea, swimmers from all over the world were gathered to raise awareness of saving the amazing sea. EcoPeace organized a 7-hour swim from Jordan to Israel through the Dead Sea. A total of 25 swimmers from Israel, Palestinian territories and even those from New Zealand, Denmark and South Africa came to support this 17-kilometere swim.

As reported by The Star and Daily Nation, the sea level of the Dead Sea has fallen up to 80 feet for the past 50 years. The sea's degradation began way back during the 1960s. Due to irrigation and heavy industialization, Jordan and Syria diverted water from the Jordan River which slowly led to the degradation of the sea. According to Gidon Bromberg, EcoPeace Middle East co-director, "This is the lowest place on Earth, these are the deepest saline waters on the globe, a unique composition, and sadly for the last 50 years they have been dramatically on decline."

Mira Edelstein, from the group EcoPeace, said "We're here for the first ever Dead Sea swim challenge with 25 swimmers from all over the world to send out a clear message to save the Dead Sea, which is shrinking today at an alarming rate." Due to the high salinity of the sea, swimmers had a difficulty swimming through the sea ad they had to wear special masks. "It was tougher than we expected." As testified by Samuel Moran, a Spanish swimmer.

He also added: "The worst was the sun and the feeling of the salt on your skin that is very irritating. You feel like you are burning all the time." Which made him want to quit a couple of times. The efforts of the swimmers and organizers are really heart-warming. Their dedication and participation in this extraordinary swim to raise awareness to save the Dead Sea should be recognized by people all over the world.

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Airbnb is known for providing great accommodation for travelers in any part of the world. Recently this week, it was announced in a yearly conference called Airbnb Open that Airbnb will be adding a new option to their services. It is said to help travelers find their "where to say, what to do and the people you meet all in one place".

This new service offered by Airbnb is named 'Trips'. It will provide travelers to have a more immersed travel through engaging with locals and local activities of a country. According to reports by Telegraph and Web In Travel, local and cultural experts will be available to guide travelers through their immersion. This makes Airbnb a one stop shop when it comes to travelling and getting the most out of your travel experience.

Travelers who will use the Trips option from Airbnb will surely discover a different experience such as engaging in more local activities and local citizens. They will also be guided throughout the different places where the richness of the country's culture can be seen. As of now, 12 cities are available for such experiences such as Seoul, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Detroit, Tokyo, Havana, Paris, London, Cape Town, Florence, Nairobi and many more. Local experts are expected to expand to over 39 countries in the future. The price of the tour packages available on Airbnb Trips depends on the experience. Over 100 Insider Guidebooks are available for use to help tourists navigate through many cities around the world. They will also meet many locals and tourists in different themed events and gatherings.

Airbnb has now innovated and improved new services to offer the public. They want tourists to get the most out of their travel experience without the hassle. Bringing together tourists and locals is one of the best things when traveling. Will you avail of these great services from Airbnb?

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It's over for Marc Anthony and his wife of two years, Shannon de Lima. The news comes just hours after he and Jennifer Lopez shared a very public kiss, TMZ reports.

Seven months after J.Lo and Marc Anthony decided to terminate their marriage in January 2013, Shannon de Lima and Marc were then romantically linked. The couple had a brief split, but reconciled shortly after. Eventually, they got married in a private ceremony in the Dominican Republic in 2014. However, the pair does not have any children together.

During the Latin Grammys, J.Lo presented Marc with the Person of the Year award, wherein the audience started chanting "Besol", which means "kiss" in Spanish and the two went in for a smooch. Prior to the kiss, Lopez shared an emotional speech saying, "You will always be many things in my life: my mentor, my soulmate, a father. He isn't just the Person of the Year, he is the person of an entire lifetime, for all of history. And it is an honor, to present you with this award for Person of the Year", Huffington Post reports.

The ex-couple had earned the title of "Friendliest Exes in Hollywood" because they regularly support one another at various events and saying how much they still love each other. As told by TMZ, Lopez's manager, Benny Medina said the two "are absolutely, categorically, 100% not back together."

De Lima did not attend the award ceremony and Anthony was not wearing his wedding ring either. Marc Anthony's Magnus Media and Sony Music will be developing and producing Jennifer Lopez's upcoming Spanish language album, said to be released this month was recently revealed.

Lopez has since separated with her on-again and off-again boyfriend Casper Smart on August. Meanwhile, this is the fourth trip down the aisle for Marc Anthony since he was previously married to Marie Von Ritchie Lopez, former Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres, whom he shared two sons Cristian and Ryan, and subsequently, Jennifer Lopez whom she also shares twins Emme and Max.

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Hyatt aims to expand their property of the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency brands in Pakistan by opening four branded hotels. These are the Grand Hyatt Islamabad, Hyatt Regency Karachi, Hyatt Regency Lahore, and Hyatt Regency Rawalpindi. Bahria Town, one of the largest real-estate development company in Asia, will own these four hotels.

"We look forward to collaborating with the Bahria team to open the first Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency hotels in Pakistan," said Peter Norman, senior vice president of Hyatt.

"Following last year's announcement for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, we are optimistic about the growth of Hyatt's brands in Pakistan. The opening of these hotels will serve as a testament to the global appeal of the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency brands as they continue to expand worldwide and offer more choices to our guests."

Hyatt aims to expand their growing presence and service in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. It had roughly 60-Hyatt branded hotels that are under development in EAME/Southwest Asia, according to their website.

The Grand Hyatt Islamabad will showcase 400 guestrooms, seven food and beverage outlets, two ballrooms, seven meeting rooms, a spa, fitness facilities, private club, and kids club. This hotel is expected to open in 2023.

The Hyatt Regency Karachi will offer 200 guestrooms, a lobby lounge, and a three-meal restaurant. It is also a perfect place to handle meetings and events as it offers a 17,000 square feet space. This hotel is also expected to open in 2023.

The Hyatt Regency Lahore is perfect for tourists and travelers of Pakistan as it offers authentic food that will show Hyatt's high- end culinary experience. The hotel is aimed to cater for large events like weddings, social banquets, exhibitions, meetings, and conferences. It is expected to open in 2021.

The Hyatt Regency Rawalpindi will offer 165 rooms and 11,000 square feet for meeting and events. It is expected to open in 2022.

"We are honored to work with Hyatt and to bring the first Hyatt-branded hotels to Pakistan", said Ahmed Ali Riaz Malik, CEO of Bahria Town.

"Pakistan offers a wealth of opportunity for hotel operators and Grand Hyatt Islamabad, Hyatt Regency Karachi, Hyatt Regency Lahore, and Hyatt Regency Rawalpindi will be excellent additions to our company's real estate projects within the country and wider region. The combination of the hotels' locations, style and service will be attractive to both business and leisure travelers."

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